Night School Studio, the developer behind the much-beloved choice-driven adventure game Oxenfree, has provided a release date for its next game, Afterparty. Just in time for Halloween, the comical adventure game about two friends barhopping across hell will release on October 29.Much like Oxenfree, Afterparty is a story-driven game decided by player choice. As best friends Milo and Lola--you can switch between the two any time you want--you've found yourself trapped in hell with no idea as to how you got there. Though hell is a never-ending party of drinking and clubbing, the two desperately wish to return home. There's only one way out though: you have to defeat Satan in a drinking contest.As you continue to explore hell and work your way to Satan's home, you'll encounter demons and other condemned human souls who have their own problems. Talking to them presents you with new quests to complete and decisions to make, and there's actually no way to do it all in one playthrough. Depending on what you decide to do, the relationship between Milo and Lola will change and your perspective on what's best for them will alter as a result. "By the end of the night, you'll have created your own story arc for Milo and Lola," Night School Studio co-founder Sean Krankel wrote in an Xbox Wire blog post. "Will they escape hell? Do they even want to escape if they're having fun?"Along the way, you can stop in a bar to have a drink, with each concoction altering your stats in certain ways--like making you more aggressive so you can pull off more impressive insults during an argument. Just be sure you don't drink too much. "Get too drunk, and you'll vomit up your conscience," co-founder Adam Hines said in an interview with the Los Angeles Times. "The conscience is a little character and you have to chase him around. Until you get him back, every choice you have is awful, very selfish, and narcissistic."Afterparty is a day one Xbox Game Pass launch title, but the game is also releasing on PS4 and PC on October 29. A Switch version is scheduled for a later date.Info from Gamespot.com

The Nintendo Switch family has grown with the release of the Switch Lite, a more compact and affordable version of Nintendo’s hybrid console. While there's little reason to pick one up if you already own a standard Switch, if you're anything like us, you may find it hard to resist the lure of a new piece of gaming hardware--particularly one as lovely as the Switch Lite--and plan to use it as a secondary console.If you fall into that camp, you’ll undoubtedly want to know how to share your game data between your two Switch systems. The good news is that it’s a relatively straightforward process, but you’ll need to have a Nintendo Switch Online subscription to do so, and it won't work with every game. Here’s a full breakdown of how to share your data between the Switch and Switch Lite. If you're trading in your regular Switch for a Switch Lite and want to transfer all of your data to the new system, check out our Switch transfer guide.The Nintendo Switch Lite launched alongside The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening's remake on September 20. The system is available in three colors—turquoise, yellow, and gray—and retails for $200, which is $100 cheaper than a standard Switch. However, to cut costs and emphasize portability, the system is missing some of the Switch’s most distinctive features, such as detachable controllers and the ability to connect to a television.In addition to the three launch colors, Nintendo is releasing a special Pokemon edition Switch Lite on November 8, a few days ahead of Pokemon Sword and Shield. This edition has blue and magenta face buttons, a light grey tone, and illustrations of the games' Legendary Pokemon, Zacian and Zamazenta, on the back. You can read more about the console in our Nintendo Switch Lite FAQ, and if you're interested in picking one up, be sure to check out our Nintendo Switch Lite pre-order guide.Nintendo Switch OnlineFirst things first: if you're hoping to share your save data between your Switch and Switch Lite (or even another standard Switch), you'll need to have an active Nintendo Switch Online subscription. Through the service, you're able to back up most of your game saves to the cloud, allowing you to access them on another console. However, there are a handful of games that don't support cloud saves, which we'll discuss further below, so you'll need to think carefully about which Switch you play certain titles on, as your save will be locked to that system (unless you go through the hassle of manually transferring that data between consoles). Link Your Nintendo AccountWith the prerequisite NSO subscription out of the way, the first thing you'll need to do is link your Nintendo Account to your new Switch. Once you've set up the console, here's what you'll need to do:Go into System SettingsHighlight UsersChoose the appropriate player profile (if there is more than one user on your console)Select Link Nintendo AccountFrom there, log in to your account and follow the remaining prompts to complete the process. If you have trouble you can read more about linking your Nintendo Account to Switch on Nintendo's support website.Changing Your Primary ConsoleYou can link your Nintendo Account to multiple Switch systems; but you need to designate your main switch as the primary console. This means that any user on that system will be able to play the games you've downloaded. By contrast, only your user profile will be able to play your downloaded games on your non-primary console--something to keep in mind if you have multiple users on that system. Keep in mind that when you transfer your account from one Switch to another, the receiving Switch will be designated as the primary console.There's an additional caveat: you'll need to have a persistent internet connection in order to play your downloaded games on your non-primary console, even if it's single-player, so if you're planning on using your Switch Lite on the go (the system's entire raison d’être), it is recommended you make that your primary system. Fortunately, designating a new primary console is easy to do. Here's what you need to do:Open the Eshop on your primary consoleClick on your user icon in the upper righthand cornerSelect the option to deactivate that Switch as your primary consoleOnce that's done, access the Eshop on your second system with that same Nintendo Account and it will automatically become your new primary console.Sharing SavesWith all that out of the way, you can begin filling out your new Switch Lite with any digital games you've previously purchased. To bring your save data over as well, highlight a game on the system dashboard, press the plus (+) button on your controller, then select Save Data Cloud Backup. After that, select Download Save Data and your cloud save will be downloaded to your system.Note that this applies to physical games as well. Unusually, all Switch game save data is stored onto the system, not on the actual game cartridges, so if you're picking up your progress in a physical game on your Switch Lite, you'll need to first insert the game card into the system, then hit the plus button and follow the aforementioned steps to download your cloud save.If you've enabled automatic backups, your data should be saved to the cloud automatically after you close your game or put your Switch to sleep, but if you'd like to ensure your save backups are up-to-date, you can also manually back them up. It is recommended you do this to make sure nothing goes wrong with the automatic backups, particularly if you're planning on moving between both consoles frequently. You can enable auto backups on both systems, not just your primary one; however, an automatic backup will be canceled if data was already backed up from your other console.To manually back up your save data to the cloud, select System Settings, then scroll down to Data Management on the left sidebar. From that menu, click on Save Data Cloud, select the appropriate user, and you'll see a list of all your games that have cloud saves. If a title hasn't been backed up recently, it will say "Not backed up" in red letters. If that's the case, click on the game, and you'll have the option to manually back up its save data to the cloud. Which Games Don't Support Cloud Saves?As previously mentioned, while you're able to back up most of your Switch game saves to the cloud, not all titles support this feature. Only a handful fall into this category thus far, but they include some of the system's most notable releases, such as Splatoon 2, Pokemon: Let's Go Pikachu/Let's Go Eevee, and Dark Souls Remastered, and it appears the upcoming Animal Crossing: New Horizons also won't allow you to back up your data. You can see the full list of games that don't support cloud saves so far below.1-2-SwitchBass Pro Shops: The Strike - Championship EditionBlade II - The Return Of EvilCabela's: The Hunt - Championship EditionCatanColor Zen KidsDaemon X MachinaDark Souls RemasteredDawn of the BreakersDeath MarkDungeon StarsEA Sports FIFA 18EA Sports FIFA 19ExorderFortniteGems of WarGo VacationIN-VERTLightseekersMinecraftMinecraft: Nintendo Switch EditionModern Combat BlackoutNBA 2K Playgrounds 2Nidhogg 2Pixel Devil and the Broken CartridgePokemon: Let's Go, Eevee!Pokemon: Let's Go, Pikachu!The Raven RemasteredRobbie Swifthand and the Orb of MysteriesSid Meier's Civilization VISplatoon 2Super Dragon Ball Heroes World Mission - Launch EditionTaimumari: Complete EditionWarhammer Age of Sigmar: ChampionsYu-Gi-Oh! Legacy of the Duelist: Link EvolutionIf you'd like to carry any of these saves over to your new system, you'll need to manually transfer them. To do this, first highlight the game on the dashboard, press the plus button, then select Manage Software. From that menu, you'll see an option to Transfer Your Save Data to a nearby system--click that to move your save over to your new console. Once this is done, however, you won't have access to that save data anymore on your original system unless you transfer it back.Other Things To Be Aware OfFor the most part, the Switch Lite is compatible with most of the games released for the platform. However, due to the fact the system lacks some of the base Switch's features, not all games will work with it. The Nintendo Labo line, for instance, is incompatible with the Switch Lite because it lacks detachable Joy-Cons and an IR camera, and some titles, such as Super Mario Party, are not playable in handheld mode. You can see all the games that have compatibility issues with the Switch Lite in our roundup. Info from Gamespot.com

NBA 2K20's MyCareer story mode goes for something a little more real and a little less escapist. Narratively, it's only partially successful; your character's ethical code doesn't gel with the materialistic wish fulfillment at the heart of the franchise.An upside to the more serious tone is that none of the characters are deliberately obnoxious. For years, the NBA 2K MyCareer storylines were filled with bizarre, unlikable characters. Your avatar was a fame-chasing cornball. Your agent was a cowardly shill. And you were saddled with hangers-on from your old neighborhood who crashed your apartment and ate your Reese's Puffs.In NBA 2K20, the attempts at comedy and "hip" dialogue are gone. Your character is a reflective guy who takes a debatable moral stand and pays a price for it.You play as Che, a basketball superstar and locker room leader for your college team, the Bay City Flames. You have a heated argument with your head coach (played by Idris Elba) after he pulls the scholarship of your injured teammate. You drop out with one semester left, and suddenly, your well-laid path to the NBA is in shambles.Che must take the long route to glory. He plays in the Portsmouth Invitational, grabs the attention of scouts, and scores an invite to the NBA Combine. And eventually, after tryouts with several interested teams, he enters the NBA Draft. Whether he's drafted in the first round or not at all depends upon your performance in the aforementioned activities.Built To BallFirst, you design your character. After choosing your floor position, height, weight, and wingspan, you create your playstyle by balancing four different categories: Finishing, Shooting, Playmaking, and Defense / Rebounding. You further customize your player through badges, which are very important in this year's MyCareer. Unlike in prior years, you have the choice to assign and upgrade the badges you want to, rather than grinding redundant plays to earn your bronzes, silvers, and golds.To upgrade your MyPlayer to an 85 rating (from his initial rating of 60) will require anywhere from 150K to 200K in Virtual Currency, better known as VC, depending on what type of player you create. The game sells VC as a separate microtransaction from the core game; assuming you bought the standard edition, you would have to spend an additional $50 to start MyCareer as the prodigal talent you're hyped to be.If you decide to earn your 200K VC through gameplay instead of a microtransaction, you're in for a grind, though it'll be less strenuous than in years prior. NBA 2K20 is more generous with its sponsorships and contract negotiations, which provide VC incentives for making X rebounds or Y assists. We're talking weeks to get to 90 or above, rather than months.NBA 2K20's on-ball and off-ball play has been adjusted in noticeable ways, too. Some are minor quality-of-life improvements, but other changes are more consequential. Blocking, for example, is much easier for both you and your computer-controlled opponents; you can no longer charge the basket on a prayer and expect to score. It feels organic to learn these new mechanics in the context of MyCareer. You're forced to adjust and react to difficulties that you hadn't experienced in prior iterations of the game, just as a real-life rookie has to step up his game in the big leagues; there's an adjustment period.Working The PR And Press RoomsAnd as you negotiate this learning curve, the people surrounding your MyPlayer--the fans, the commentators, the press, and your fellow players--pull you in multiple directions. As your profile and notoriety increases, you're made to choose between practice and enjoying the perks that come with stardom. You answer probing questions from the press. You endure heckling from fans.Will you take the high road or stand up for yourself? Will you take sole credit for your accomplishments or defer to your team's contributions? MyCareer makes you choose between building your team's morale and building your fan base (literally; the game tracks both), which feels fallaciously binary. Not everyone loves a shameless braggart, but the game forces you along this path if you want to sweeten your corporate partnerships.The entire mechanic is a musty holdover from the prior NBA 2K games, where your character was broadly rendered. But in NBA 2K20, Che has a modicum of depth, and your decisions can undermine what the audience has been told about him and his high-minded principles in cutscenes. Must he choose between team chemistry and fan adoration? Why not both? Nuanced characters deserve multiple, nuanced choices.King James Decrees It SoThere's also an underlying meta-debate in MyCareer: Should athletes use their platforms to speak out publicly on issues that matter to them, or should they "stick to sports?" It's something that LeBron James, who executive produced MyCareer, has increasingly dealt with.The MyCareer storyline reaffirms James' proactive ethos... but it's difficult to meld the NBA 2K franchise with that ethos.In 2014, James took an explicit stand against police brutality when he wore an "I Can't Breathe" shirt in honor of Eric Garner. In 2016, he vocally supported Hillary Clinton. In 2018, he spoke out against President Trump on social media, and told his critics that he would not "shut up and dribble" as they said he should. The MyCareer storyline reaffirms James' proactive ethos, albeit about the treatment of college athletes, with a character in a more precarious, unstable position than James was when he first became outspoken.I don't doubt James' sincerity in celebrating athletes who speak out. But it's difficult to meld the NBA 2K franchise with that ethos. MyCareer works as a power fantasy about becoming an NBA Hall of Famer with lucrative sponsorships. A story of principled sacrifice naturally conflicts with that.The Odd ParallelAnd there is also an impossible-to-ignore situational irony in this game: Although the game definitively supports Che's rejection of materialism and easy success in favor of higher, ethical principles, the gameplay links his on-court abilities to the earning or purchasing of virtual currency--currency that you can earn by signing a multi-million dollar shoe deal. The game hints at and provides lip service to social justice, but the core conflict is solved with a single conversation and a neat bow. And the game's more implicit narrative--of earning enough in-game money to facilitate your character's growth--reigns supreme.Is it even possible to have a truly woke narrative in a game so relentlessly money and fame-driven? Perhaps not. But NBA 2K20 asks you to accept this melding at face value. That's impossible, but thankfully, there's a legacy of NBA 2K quality that makes the reconciliation less important. The story and how it's told don't hold up to scrutiny. But the gameplay, honed from years of incremental development and effort, always does.NBA 2K20 is, even in its contradictions, an excellent facsimile of the NBA itself. Info from Gamespot.com

Ahhh, FIFA. Like the setting of the sun, the drawing in of the nights, the putting on of an old winter coat, there's both an inevitability and a level of comfort that comes with the release of a new FIFA game. The football season is properly back. The squads are correct again. A couple of new features to keep us occupied through the long, dark nights. All is right with the world.FIFA 20 might not be the series at absolute peak form--so far, Volta doesn't seem like the revolution it perhaps could have been and Career Mode still feels underdeveloped--but modern FIFA is such a broad, deep, and complete offering that it remains a must-buy for football fans.On the pitch, FIFA 20 is remarkably similar to last year. Sports games do change year-on-year--I just feel that rate of change is slowing as we reach the end of this console generation. So while there are some welcome improvements--more natural first touches and more satisfying ball physics--things feel very similar to FIFA 19 once you walk out of the tunnel.Set pieces, have, however, received a bit of a makeover--specifically direct free kicks and penalties. In a throwback to the halcyon days of FIFA 2003, both now have you aim a reticle at the precise location you want to place the ball. Then, incorporating last year's genius timed finishing mechanic, you'll need to press shoot again at the right time, while also adding curve in the case of free kicks. Both take a little time to get used to, but they offer greater depth and satisfaction when you smack one into the top corner.In another nostalgic move--and in an attempt to offer greater improvements off the pitch--FIFA 20 introduces a new mode, the FIFA Street-like Volta Football, bringing street soccer to the main series for the first time. You control a squad of street superstars aiming to become the world's best in a journey that takes you across various unique, exotic locales. These three-, four-, or five-a-side matches are shorter and more chaotic than a standard 11-a-side game, and they feel sufficiently different and entertaining to become a worthwhile staple in FIFA's roster of modes. Fancier tricks and flicks and simplified tactics make it a mode that feels a little more focused on, well, fun, than the more traditional game types--but don't expect the depth FIFA Street gave us all those years ago. There are no Gamebreaker shots here, and it's not as easy to utterly humiliate your opponent with outrageous nutmegs and rainbow flicks. Volta League, the mode's online portion, hasn't been populated enough to find a match so far, so we'll bring you more on that in the days ahead--but the ability to play against human opponents, recruit opposition players, and kit your created character out in new gear means this will almost certainly present more longevity than the mode it replaces, The Journey.Volta's campaign mode, meanwhile, is a single-player, uh, journey in which you'll face off against AI teams. The world tour structure is compelling and those locations are well-realized, with unique personalities and play styles of their own. However the characters you share your travels with are so irritating, and the writing so aggressively How Do You Do, Fellow Kids, that it becomes a bit of a chore to play. Hopefully, more time with the mode will lead to these characters endearing themselves a little more. In a final, strange note, Volta requires an internet connection, even when playing the single-player mode, for reasons that remain unclear.Career Mode is FIFA's other main single-player offering, and it comes with a raft of new features. Proper conversations between manager and players are finally possible, for example; players will come to you to complain to or thank you about their game-time, as they have for many years, but you now have the opportunity to reply, with the aim to keep their morale--and hence performance levels--high. The system is shallow, with the morale bar seemingly the only variable you can affect, and messages still repeat far too often, but it at least feels a little more interactive than the stagnant old email system.Similarly, pre- and post-match press conferences have been overhauled, and they now appear more like those seen in The Journey in previous seasons. Again, the objective here is to maintain your team's morale, and again there isn't much more to it, but it is more visually and intellectually stimulating than a simple menu screen, as it was before. The final big new feature is dynamic player potential, which I haven’t gotten deep enough into a save to test just yet, but I’ll report back on its effects soon.Disappointingly, despite all the changes, Career Mode still feels a little barebones so far, and it still contains a number of inaccuracies. The transfer window ends erroneously late for English clubs, for instance, while VAR and short goal kicks are yet to be introduced into FIFA at all. Transfer negotiations are unchanged, save for two new background locations in which to hammer out a deal, and scouting and youth teams are the same for yet another year in a row. Career Mode has taken some steps forward this year, but a revolution is needed.Ultimate Team, meanwhile, continues its expansion and is now bigger and better than ever. The adoption of a Fortnite-esque battle pass model in FUT Seasons--not to be confused with FUT Seasons, the sub-mode--is somewhat confusing, but a masterstroke. It essentially manifests itself as an expansion of the existing daily and weekly challenges, with new tasks you can work towards over multiple weeks. Rewards include packs, players, new cosmetic options including tifos and balls, and more. It all adds another way to be rewarded and another objective to work toward--especially useful for those who struggle to compete in the weekend league (which, by the way, is unchanged and hence remains as moreish, and as grindy, as ever).FUT's other new addition is Friendlies, which are a new way of playing casually within Ultimate Team. There are no great rewards for playing FUT Friendlies, but you do still earn coins, and, crucially, player injuries, contracts, fitness, and your playing record remain unaffected. The community has been crying out for a place to go when they can't face the pressure of Rivals or Squad Battles, and finally they have it. It also contains the same in-depth stat tracking and bizarre mode variants as was introduced in FIFA 19's Kick Off mode, along with new House Rules options. They're a weird, entertaining place to go to have fun with friends and they mean that, if it wasn't already, Ultimate Team really feels like its own game now. You might understandably disagree with its pay-to-win tendencies--yes, spending more money on packs means you're still more likely to get Lionel Messi than someone simply grinding for in-game currency--but FUT is as compelling and complete as game modes come, and I am horribly obsessed once again.Completeness appears to be the ethos FIFA lives by, and despite the omission of Juventus (forza Piemonte Calcio), this year's game feels more complete than ever. The same goes for its aesthetics and licensing, which continue to offer the closest virtual approximation of real-world football--or, more accurately, Sky Sports' version of football--available.Flawed and iterative, but comforting, complete, and compelling, FIFA 20 is as frustrating and as essential as ever. The Journey and FIFA Street will continue to be missed, but Volta offers a genuinely different option for those who want to dip in and out across FIFA's smorgasboard of game types, while Ultimate Team continues its route to world domination. It's just a shame Career Mode continues to stagnate--even if EA has finally remembered it exists.Editor's note: With servers online but currently unpopulated before release, we'll bring our final verdict on FIFA 20 soon, once we've had more chance to test out Pro Clubs, Volta League, and Ultimate Team.Info from Gamespot.com

Untitled Goose Game--a game in which you play as a jerk goose who waddles through a small English town ruining everyone's day-- feels like a miniature version of Hitman, but with mischief instead of murder. Like those games, it's all about learning an environment inside-out and figuring out how to play various people and systems against each other to achieve your goals. You wander between four small, quaint locations and tick off objectives from your list by wreaking havoc on the people you encounter and generally being a nuisance. At first, you're annoying a man as he tends to his garden, turning on his sprinklers as he stands over them, stealing the keys to his gate, nicking his produce, and generally getting in his way. The game continues like this, as the goose's to-do list demands that it causes upset to most of the people it encounters. Working through the game means figuring out how each element interacts with everything else and how to corralling various people, who all react to the goose differently.It's a comedy first and foremost. Figuring out how to complete each objective might be essential to your progress, but the real fun is in seeing how harried you can make everyone. When you need to make a man spit out his tea, steal his shoes, and ruin his garden, you might start to feel sorry for him, but you also won't want to stop terrorizing him. The goose can only run, grab onto things, honk, and flap its wings, but through some combination of these actions you can manipulate the folks you encounter and cause chaos. One character might run in fear if you honk at them; another might bend over if you drop something for them, giving you a chance to steal their hat; another might leave their post if you steal something of theirs and drop it far away, giving you the chance to go back while they're distracted and steal the object you were really after all along.The humor of Untitled Goose Game is built into the mechanics and animations; seeing the goose waddle along, honking and flapping its wings, is inherently amusing and satisfying even before you start causing mischief because of how perfectly evocative it is of a real bird. The clean, colorful visual style is also a treat. But the reactive soundtrack is what really sells the goose's charms. The music, based on Claude Debussy's Préludes, springs into action dynamically based on the goose's actions, punctuating moments when it shocks someone and adding a buoyancy to any scene involving a chase. It gives the game a feeling of farce; at its best, it's reminiscent of a Buster Keaton film, especially since there's no dialogue.The objectives you're asked to complete often require some lateral thinking. Getting into the headspace of the goose and figuring out how a few actions can spiral into something that's going to annoy one of your targets is very entertaining. Sometimes it's immediately clear what you need to do, and sometimes the solution is more abstract, but most objectives will name an object that you can find within the environment. In the second location, for instance, you're told to "get on TV"--the solution isn't immediately obvious, but finding the TV you need to interact with is not difficult. Untitled Goose Game lightly leads you towards its puzzle solutions without explicitly holding your hand through them, so figuring out a clever solution is rewarding.You need to complete all but one objective in each location to advance, which is a nice concession, as it means you can progress to the next area even if one of the puzzles just isn't clicking for you. Sometimes it's just a matter of figuring out what needs to be done and then doing it, but you also need to practice some level of finesse: The goose can't get too close to anyone who's going to try to shoo it away, and you'll often need to be stealthy, sneaking under tables, causing distractions, and hiding behind bushes and in boxes like a long-necked, web-toed Solid Snake.Each area also features a fetch quest objective, for which you need to gather several items and put them in one place while making sure that you're not caught. These objectives are the least fun, generally, because too much is left to the imagination; the first one asks you to "have a picnic" by dragging a variety of particular items to a picnic blanket, but once you've done so the objective is immediately complete, with no additional vignettes or animations to reward all that effort. Untitled Goose Game's best objectives reward you not only with a feeling of satisfaction, but with a fun, charming bit of interaction between the goose and the people it encounters, whether that means watching a man stumble around with a bucket on his head or watching someone else wearily resign themselves to their favorite hat being gone.Untitled Goose Game is also extremely short. When I reached the end, I was surprised at how little time it had taken--I had only been playing for about two hours. Thankfully, after the credits roll you unlock a new list of objectives across the now fully unlocked map, but there isn't the same incentive to complete them when you know that you won't be rewarded with a new location to explore, or even, necessarily, new interactions. Most of them are twists on previous objectives or more complicated versions of things you've already done, often involving moving items between different locations.I'm glad that those extra objectives are there, though, and I had a good time working through them. It's just a shame that there isn't a bit more, because Untitled Goose Game ends far before I felt like I'd had my fill or seen everything the game was going to throw at me. Being short isn't inherently bad, but Untitled Goose Game's playground could stand to be bigger. I wished that I could keep riding the high of unlocking new areas and messing with new people, and it still felt like there was plenty of room to escalate things.For all the jerkiness I performed, my favorite moment in Untitled Goose Game was the one scene where the game leaned into the goose's charms. I wandered up behind two people having a chat at the pub and hit the button dedicated to honking. The two women turned to look at me, startled, but far less hostile than most of the characters I'd encountered. When I stood in a specific spot they mimed commands for me to perform, fulfilling one of my objectives while absolutely delighting the two women. Untitled Goose Game is a hilariously antagonistic experience most of the time, but I identified strongly with these characters and how lovable they found this horrible goose.The important thing is that Untitled Goose Game is a hoot. It's a comedy game that focuses on making the act of playing it funny, rather than simply being a game that features jokes. Wishing that it was longer speaks to how much fun I had with it. There's nothing else quite like Untitled Goose Game; it's charming and cute despite being mean, and both very silly and very clever. It's also probably the best non-racing game ever to feature a dedicated "honk" button.Info from Gamespot.com

A figure who appears to be Cryto--long believed to be the eleventh playable character coming to Apex Legends, thanks to datamining and outright leaks--has been spotted in Respawn's battle royale. If you travel to Singh Labs, added to King's Canyon during the limited-time Voidwalker event, you can spot the character believed to be Crypto in a secret room. [Update: Respawn has officially announced Crypto with a first trailer along with details on the start of Season 3.]Crypto disappears once you spot him, so if you want to see him, your squad will have to reach the Singh Labs and enter the secret room ahead of other players. Upon entering the labs, head towards some suspiciously propped open doors, noticed by Reddit user FrozenFroh, and break them down. You can also squeeze by them if you prefer. Inside you'll see Crypto finishing up a download on one of the labs' computers. Upon noticing you, he'll panic, yank out his hard drive, and run out with his drone in tow.The mysterious hacker has had a presence in Apex Legends for a long time, first teased back in June after Octane's introduction and before Wattson was even on most player's radar. FrozenFroh found that teaser too--Crypto's laptop secretly hidden on the King's Canyon map. Crypto would then be alluded to again during the start of Apex Legends Season 2, when the cinematic trailer for the season showcased the hacker as the one responsible for destroying the tower that kept the flyers and leviathans at bay.As Season 2 has wound down, Crypto's presence in King's Canyon has grown more noticeable. In the Wraith-focused cinematic short that released alongside the start of the Voidwalker event, you can see the interdimensional skirmisher insert a flash drive into a Singh Labs' computer, which injects hacking software that's marked with Crypto's trademark callsign.King's Canyon has experienced strange glitches too, most likely the result of the person who's attempting to decrypt...the King's Canyon computers? Maybe? It hasn't been very clear. All we know is that some of the screens in King's Canyon have glitched out and begun showing a progress bar for the decryption and the bar has been steadily filling up more each time throughout the Voidwalker event, finally completely filling this past weekend--which coincides with Crypto's appearance on the map. The announcer's voice has also been occasionally garbled in the game--the glitch popped up whenever one of Crypto's decryption attempts failed to fully complete. Crypto wants something, but what he wants remains unclear.His recent appearance on the map presents the most clues, hinting that Crypto's hacks have not been malicious against the Legends and he is actually trying to achieve something. The computer Crypto is pulling data from seems to control the massive void portal connected to the labs. Thanks to the Wraith cinematic short, it's now confirmed that the void portals can connect to other dimensions and someone can travel to them with the right harness. In Wraith's case, she uses the gauntlet on her forearm and the labs seem to be studying how to emulate this technology so others can do the same.Before he shuts down what he's working on, you can see Crypto is trying to redirect the void portal to connect to a place called World's Edge. World's Edge isn't a reference to anything Titanfall-related so it's difficult to accurately guess what it could be, or if it even matters for Crypto's official introduction--which is expected to coincide with the addition of a new weapon and map change with the launch of Season 3. Given that it seems to be a new location, however, it could be possible that World's Edge is in reference to the Season 3 map change or a hint that we're getting a brand-new, second map for Apex Legends. Only time will tell.Apex Legends is available for Xbox One, PS4, and PC.Info from Gamespot.com

Pokemon Go's September 2019 Community Day may have recently ended, but developer Niantic has already announced the first details for next month's event. October's Community Day will take place on Saturday, October 12, and this time, players will have more chances to catch another Pokemon originally from Ruby and Sapphire: Trapinch.Throughout the event, Trapinch will appear in the wild much more often than normal, and you'll also have a chance of encountering a Shiny Trapinch in Go for the first time. On top of that, the Ant Pit Pokemon will be able to learn a special event-exclusive move if you evolve it all the way into its final form, Flygon, by the end of the Community Day, although Niantic hasn't revealed what that attack will be yet.Trainers we have some groundbreaking news featuring a little Pokémon...Trapinch, the Ant Pit Pokémon, will be featured in the next #PokemonGOCommunityDay! 🐜🕳️https://t.co/d9NW6x5gaF pic.twitter.com/KC4Qq3hkoF — Pokémon GO (@PokemonGoApp) September 18, 2019In addition to increased Trapinch spawns, Niantic will offer a couple of other bonuses during October's Community Day. This time, you'll earn three times the usual amount of XP when you capture a Pokemon during the event. As usual, any Lure Modules you use during the Community Day will also last for three hours rather than 30 minutes.Much like September's Community Day, October's event will take place earlier than usual, from 11 AM to 2 PM local time. You can find more details about the event on the official Pokemon Go website.In the meantime, the first Gen 5 Pokemon have made their debut in Pokemon Go. The new monsters arrived as part of the mobile game's final set of Ultra Bonuses, which also includes the return of Mewtwo to five-star Raids. Alongside the new Pokemon, Niantic has added a new evolutionary item called the Unova Stone, which is used to evolve certain Gen 5 monsters. You can read how to get the Unova Stone in our guide. For more Pokemon Go news, be sure to check out the links below. Pokemon Go News Pokemon Go: How To Get Unova Stones And Evolve Gen 5 Pokemon Pokemon Go Adding Gen 5 Pokemon And New Unova Stone Item Today Pokemon Go Thousand Year Slumber Research: How To Catch Jirachi Guide Eevee Pokemon Go Guide: How To Get Any Eevee Evolution Info from Gamespot.com

The beta for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare has begun pre-loading on PC and Xbox One in addition to PS4, so you can load up your version of choice to be ready for the impending test. The beta starts for all platforms today, September 19, although only PC and Xbox One players who have pre-ordered can pre-load or play during the first stage of this weekend's test. If you're eligible, you can hit the links below to start pre-loading now; those on PC can do so through the Blizzard Battle.net client.Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Open Beta on PS4Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Open Beta on Xbox OneThe pre-load comes on the heels of a successful first beta test that ran from September 12-15. That one was exclusive to PS4 owners, but another test planned for the weekend of September 19 will expand to PC and Xbox One pre-orders as well. It will include the first taste of the massive Ground War multiplayer mode, as well as the ability to throw down against other players cross-platform. According to an FAQ, you can opt out of cross-platform play if you only want to play with your own platform compatriots. You can also earn a shotgun by participating in the beta.A bonus for your Beta grind.Reach level 10 before 9/23 to earn the Hammer Shotgun in #ModernWarfare at launch on 10/25. See https://t.co/DZSsHtw4VF for more details. pic.twitter.com/f4MV52slz6 — Call of Duty (@CallofDuty) September 17, 2019Meanwhile, Infinity Ward recently revealed that the campaign will be around the length that you've come to expect from a Call of Duty title, though studio narrative director Taylor Kurosaki did say that the hour count can vary.One thing Modern Warfare definitely won't have, though, is a battle royale mode. The studio said while it loves battle royale, it's just not pursuing that direction for this game. Kurosaki joked that with all the other modes, battle royale "won't fit in the box" and asked, "how much do you want?!"Modern Warfare releases on October 25 for PC, PS4, and Xbox One. For more details, check out our Call of Duty: Modern Warfare pre-order guide.Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Beta DetailsPS4 Exclusive Beta DatesSeptember 12-13 (Early Access, PS4)September 14-16 (Open beta, PS4)Cross-Play Beta DatesSeptember 19-20 (Early access, PC and Xbox One; open beta, PS4)September 21-23 (Open beta, PS4, Xbox One, and PC)Cross-Play Beta Start TimesSeptember 19 (PS4 open beta; Xbox One/PC early access) 10 AM PT1 PM ET6 PM BST3 AM AET (September 20)September 20 (PS4, Xbox One, PC open beta) 6 PM PT9 PM ET2 AM BST (September 21)11 AM AET (September 21) Call of Duty: Modern Warfare News Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare Beta Details - Start Dates, Cross-Play, And More CoD Modern Warfare's PS4 Players Will Have A "Day One Advantage" CoD: Modern Warfare Makes A Huge Change To How DLC Maps Are Released Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare Pre-Order Guide Info from Gamespot.com

The first wave of Gen 5 Pokemon have officially invaded Pokemon Go. Players around the world can now catch a handful of monsters originally from the Unova region in Pokemon Black and White versions, and to coincide with their arrival, Niantic has also introduced a new evolutionary item to the game called the Unova Stone.Similar to the Sinnoh Stone that debuted earlier this year, the Unova Stone is used to evolve certain Pokemon from its respective region, making it a valuable item to have. However, getting your hands on one will require quite a bit of work. If you're unsure of how to obtain one, we break down how to get an Unova Stone and which Pokemon require it to evolve below.How To Get Unova StonesAt present, the only known way to get an Unova Stone in Pokemon Go is by achieving a Research Breakthrough, which is tied to how many Field Research tasks you complete. As a refresher, you can obtain Field Research tasks by spinning the Photo Disc at Poke Stops. The first task you clear each day will reward you with a stamp, and once you've collected seven stamps, you'll achieve a Research Breakthrough and earn a handful of items--including potentially an Unova Stone. However, it's not guaranteed that you'll get the stone, so you may need to achieve a few Breakthroughs before you finally obtain one.Which Pokemon Evolve Using Unova Stones?Only a handful of Gen 5 Pokemon are currently available in Pokemon Go, and among them, four require an Unova Stone--as well as a number of Candies--to evolve. That includes the three elemental monkeys Pansage, Pansear, and Panpour, each of which is currently exclusive to certain regions. You can see the full list of Pokemon that require an Unova Stone to evolve below:Lampent -> ChandelurePansage -> SimisagePansear -> SimisearPanpour -> SimipourMore Pokemon Go News Pokemon Go News Pokemon Go: How To Get Unova Stones And Evolve Gen 5 Pokemon Pokemon Go Adding Gen 5 Pokemon And New Unova Stone Item Today Pokemon Go Thousand Year Slumber Research: How To Catch Jirachi Guide Eevee Pokemon Go Guide: How To Get Any Eevee Evolution Info from Gamespot.com

Activision is giving players another chance to try out Call of Duty: Modern Warfare ahead of its release. The game's second open beta session is now live for those who've pre-ordered the game on Xbox One and PC (as well as all players on PS4). But it'll soon expand to include everyone on Xbox One and PC, and if you're looking to try out the game on the latter, Activision has revealed what kind of rig you'll need to run the test.On its official site, the publisher shared a blog post detailing the minimum and recommended specs your PC will need for the Modern Warfare beta. In both cases, you'll need to have a DirectX 12-compatible system, a DirectX-compatible sound card, and at least 45 GB of space on your hard drive. You can take a look at the full minimum and recommended specs below; keep in mind you'll also need the free Blizzard Battle.net client to download the game.Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Beta Minimum SpecsRequires DirectX 12 compatible systemOS: Windows 7 64-Bit (SP1) or Windows 10 64-Bit (1709 or later)CPU: Intel Core i5 2500k or AMD equivalentVideo: Nvidia GeForce GTX 670 2GB / GTX 1650 4GB or AMD Radeon HD 7950RAM: 8GB RAMHDD: 45GB HD spaceNetwork: Broadband Internet connectionSound Card: DirectX CompatibleRecommended SpecsRequires DirectX 12 compatible systemOS: Windows 10 64 Bit (latest Service Pack)CPU: Intel Core i7 4770k or AMD equivalentVideo: Nvidia GeForce GTX 970 4GB / GTX 1660 6GB or AMD Radeon R9 390 / AMD RX 580RAM: 16GB RAMHDD: 45GB HD spaceNetwork: Broadband Internet connectionSound Card: DirectX CompatibleThe first Modern Warfare open beta took place last week on PS4 from September 12-15. This week, Activision is expanding the test to include Xbox One and PC players as well. If you pre-ordered any edition of the game on those platforms, you'll get early access to the beta from September 19-20. The test will then open up to all players on PS4, Xbox One, and PC from September 21-23.Among other things, this week's beta test will give players their first chance to sample cross-play (although you can opt out of that if you so choose). The beta will also feature Ground War, a massive team-based multiplayer mode that can support 100 players. You can read more about the upcoming test in our Modern Warfare beta roundup.Call of Duty: Modern Warfare launches on PS4, Xbox One, and PC on October 25. Unlike previous games in the series, Activision says that "most" of Modern Warfare's DLC will launch simultaneously on all platforms rather than arriving first on PS4, but the publisher teased that PS4 players will "have an exciting day one advantage." It's still unclear what the publisher means by that, but in the meantime, you can find out where to secure your own copy of the game in our Modern Warfare pre-order guide. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare News Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare Beta Details - Start Dates, Cross-Play, And More CoD Modern Warfare's PS4 Players Will Have A "Day One Advantage" CoD: Modern Warfare Makes A Huge Change To How DLC Maps Are Released Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare Pre-Order Guide Info from Gamespot.com

The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening was a quirky side-story on the handheld Game Boy when it was first released in 1993. More than a quarter-century later, Nintendo is rolling out the red carpet and making it a major release on its lead platform, the Nintendo Switch. The remastered version sports a new visual style, a revised control scheme, and a new dungeon-editing feature. But does the cult favorite Zelda game hold up?The critical consensus seems to be that slight technical hiccups aside, the core of Link's Awakening is as strong as ever, and improved by the Switch interface that allows you access to multiple tools without constant swapping. Response to the dungeon editor is more tepid, with many reviewers agreeing that it's limited and uninspiring."Though the remake has a couple of blemishes, it's still an easy game to recommend," Peter Brown said in GameSpot's Link's Awakening review. "People speak of Link's Awakening as the secret best Zelda game. That's a tough call to make, but it's definitely one of the best."Several other outlets have also published reviews for Link's Awakening. We've gathered a range of them below to give a broader look from around the industry. For even more, check out GameSpot's sister site Metacritic. If you're thinking about picking it up, be sure to read up our Link's Awakening pre-order guide.Game: The Legend of Zelda: Link's AwakeningPlatforms: Nintendo SwitchDeveloper: NintendoRelease date: September 20Price: $60 / £50 / $68 AUDSee Link's Awakening at AmazonGameSpot -- 8/10"If you haven't touched a classic Zelda game in a while, Link's Awakening will almost instantly transport you back to the '90s. It's simple, in many ways, but the orchestrated journey still conveys a sense of adventure, and this new version is without question the best way to experience it. And more than anything else, it will put a smile on your face. Remakes are a dime a dozen nowadays and often easy to overlook. Don't make that mistake with Link's Awakening." -- Peter Brown [Full review]Forbes -- 10/10"Overall, this is a excellent remake of an already faultless Zelda game. If you never played the Game Boy original, then you absolutely need to pick this up. If, like me, you grew up playing this game, then there is a lot of new content to keep you busy. While Breath of the Wild was the game many bought their Switch for, Link’s Awakening has only reinforced that decision for me. So buckle up and let a friendly owl show you what Koholint Island has to offer." -- Ollie Barder [Full review]US Gamer -- 5/5"The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening remake for the Switch improves most of the flaws from the original game while maintaining (or enhancing) everything that makes Link's Game Boy adventure a classic. Its shiny new coat of paint suits it well, even if slowdown issues pop up from time to time. A few hours of play is all it takes to remind you why Zelda fans love Link's Awakening so very much." -- Nadia Oxford [Full review]Game Informer -- 9/10"This remake beautifully captures the essence of the Game Boy original while adding some quality-of-life upgrades to bring it up to contemporary standards." -- Jeff Cork [Full review]Kotaku -- Unscored"You may recall that two years ago, Nintendo released The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, an all-time great that revitalized the iconic series. The company’s latest Zelda game is so radically different that they basically feel like different genres, but when taken together, they help explain what makes The Legend of Zelda so special. On one end of the spectrum, there’s the vastness of a polished, beautiful open world full of strange places to explore; on the other, there’s the density of an island packed with secrets. If the two games have one thing in common, and offer one reason to keep playing Zelda all these years later, it’s this: They both make it feel pretty damn incredible to swing a sword." -- Jason Schreier [Full review]The products discussed here were independently chosen by our editors. GameSpot may get a share of the revenue if you buy anything featured on our site.Info from Gamespot.com

Sega has announced the latest title in Creative Assembly's Total War Saga franchise with a brand-new cinematic trailer. Called A Total War Saga: Troy, the strategy game is scheduled to release on PC in 2020.In the trailer, which can be watched above, Achilles mourns for his close friend Patroclus, whose dead body is burning on a funeral pyre. The loss of his brother-in-arms motivates Achilles to return to battle and face off against Hector, a prince of Troy. The relationship between Achilles and Patroclus is one of the most important aspects in stories surrounding the Trojan War, and it was made into this deeply meaningful, almost romantic connection in Homer's Iliad--which Creative Assembly is using as the main inspiration for Troy.Troy will not just be from Achilles and the Greek's perspective though, as the game will see the player explore both sides of the Greek and Trojan conflict. Through a mixture of turn-based empire management and real-time battles, Troy will delve into the story of the Iliad and--similar to the storytelling style of the Assassin's Creed franchise--use fictionalized real events to explain the more mythical and legendary moments of Homer's book. Of course, this being a Total War game, you can choose to break away from the established timeline of history to forge your own unique path.The Total War series has seen mostly positive praise with its annual releases since 2015's Total War Attila, with this year's Total War: Three Kingdoms being another popular entry in the franchise. In GameSpot's Total War: Three Kingdoms review, Ginny Woo wrote, "This is the most ambitious that Total War has ever been, from the variety of different ways that you can enjoy the game to the sheer scope of the stories that they've weaved around each unique character's playable experience. Three Kingdoms feels like the rightful evolution of the series, pulling from its roots in historical military tactics to come up with an engrossing modern strategy game that is always a delight, even in its less well-oiled moments."Info from Gamespot.com

The end of the year is always a busy time for video game releases, as publishers roll out their best and brightest for the gift-giving season. September, October, and November are usually particularly busy, but this year the industry seems to have concentrated a lot of its attention into this weekend in particular.The games flood phenomenon appears at least partially caused by the planet-aligning coincidence of several major releases like Link's Awakening occurring right next to the launch of Apple's new Arcade subscription service. Several indie games have been planned for release across multiple platforms including iOS. But being Arcade-exclusive and part of Apple's launch plans mean that many of them are shooting for the exact same launch date across all of their planned platforms. On top of that, the Apple Arcade announcement revealed several new games we didn't even know about, like a new Chu Chu Rocket or a new RPG from the Bravely Default team.Even if your wallet can handle all the offerings on tap going into the next few days, the physical constraints of time will prevent you from playing absolutely everything. It's an embarrassment of riches. Here's a wrap-up of just some of the games dropping.The Legend of Zelda: Link's AwakeningThe Game Boy classic returns on Nintendo Switch with overhauled graphics, control tweaks, and a dungeon-maker feature. In GameSpot's review, Peter Brown said, "Remakes are a dime a dozen nowadays and often easy to overlook. Don't make that mistake with Link's Awakening."Call of Duty: Modern Warfare BetaThough Call of Duty: Modern Warfare already ran a limited beta on PS4, it expands this weekend to PC and Xbox One. The beta test is open to pre-orders on Xbox One or PC, or all PS4 players regardless of pre-order. All Xbox and PC players can jump in starting Friday. You can pre-load now to be ready to jump in and test the new Ground War new mode.Genesis/Mega Drive MiniFor retro fans, Sega enters the micro-console market with a Genesis Mini. The little retro console sports a look just like you remember from the 16-bit heyday, and comes packed with dozens of games including some rarities. According to Gamespot's review, "Genesis fans have waited a long time for a system like this, and for once, we're happy to say that the latest official Genesis console is one worth buying."Untitled Goose GameThe wacky Untitled Goose Game is coming to PC and Switch, putting you in role of a mischievous goose who terrorizes the townsfolk across several settings. It's a bizarre concept, right down to its winking title, and it looks like it's just brimming with personality. Goose personality.Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch RemasteredThe Level-5 RPG Ni No Kuni from 2010 is coming back as a remastered version with improved visuals on PlayStation 4, letting you experience it with a new generation or on the go with a Nintendo Switch port. The standout art style is inspired by Studio Ghibli, and its battle mechanics are something akin to Pokemon as you catch and battle magical creatures.Puzzle Quest: The Legend ReturnsBetween Link's Awakening, Ni No Kuni, and Puzzle Quest, it's not just a big week for games, but for remakes of games. Puzzle Quest: The Legend Returns compiles both the original Challenge of the Warlords and its Revenge of the Plague Lord expansion on Switch. It also includes 100 new quests, five new job classes, and remastered graphics.OverlandThe post-apocalyptic tactics game Overland hits PC, Xbox One, PS4, Nintendo Switch, and iOS. You're a band of survivors trying to make a cross-country road trip while managing supplies and fending off hordes of monsters.Sayonara Wild HeartsA stylish rhythm action game, Sayonara Wild Hearts has you ride motorcycles and skateboards, dance-battle your way through enemies, and break a few hearts along the way. It's coming to PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, and iOS.Card of DarknessThe latest from TypeShift developer Zach Gage is a card battling strategy game with a fantastical setting and a quirky sense of humor. It's hitting iOS through Apple Arcade.Even More Apple ArcadeTons more games are debuting on Apple Arcade, and we'll be recommending more as we experience them for ourselves. Check out all of our recommendations on Apple Arcade so far. The Arcade service is a $5 subscription with a one-month free trial.Info from Gamespot.com

The latest in Sony's line of PlayStation livestream events, State of Play, is coming next week and is set to reveal brand-new PS4 games. The company has announced that the next of these Nintendo Direct-esque streams will take place on September 24, with the promise of a "pretty hefty show."In a post on the PlayStation Blog, Sony says the stream will be about 20 minutes in length and feature a "fresh new look." No specifics were shared about what games we can expect, but there will be game reveals, "new content from PlayStation's Worldwide Studios," and more. The one thing we know for sure is that Sony won't be talking about the PS5 or its next-gen console plans in general.The stream starts on Tuesday, September 24 at 1 PM PT. You can find the start time for your timezone below. We'll also embed the livestream here in this article for you to watch once it begins.Sony State Of Play Livestream Start Time1 PM PT4 PM ET9 PM BST6 AM AET (September 25)The most recent State of Play event took place back in May and was packed with news. We got a look at and release date for Monster Hunter World's recently released Iceborne expansion, the reveal of Predator: Hunting Grounds, a new trailer for Final Fantasy VII Remake, and more.Info from Gamespot.com

Good Shepherd Entertainment has released a new trailer for John Wick Hex, the upcoming action strategy game based on the popular film franchise. The trailer, which can be watched below, reveals John Wick Hex is scheduled to release on October 8.John Wick Hex sees Ian McShane and Lance Reddick reprise their respective roles as Winston and Charon, while Troy Baker has been cast as the titular antagonist, Hex. The trailer showcases the game's cel-shaded art style and teases the original story that will be told. Most of the trailer focuses on the game's combat, though.The game is turn-based and sees you strategically run through a variety of different environments and gun through a series of enemy henchmen. The trailer showcases that you'll need to manage your health and focus and can change your stance to perform different moves, such as dodge rolls and hand-to-hand takedowns. "Each action you choose has risks and consequences, and each weapon changes the tactics at hand," Good Shepherd Entertainment wrote in a press release. "Ammo is finite and realistically simulated, so time your reloads and make the most of the tools you find on the job."Unlike traditional turn-based strategy games, John Wick Hex will not include random percentages for each action. Every action will have a logically set success rate to aid in making tactical decisions. "It's the logic of the fight that when you're watching as a viewer, you think, yeah, that seems how you would fight, and that's the driving principle of every choice we're making is, does this feel like it's sensible?" developer Bithell Games co-founder Mike Bithell said. "Like you say, if I'm directly in front of a guy, the chance of me hitting him is 100% every time. Because it is. If I'm John Wick, he would not miss at this range. One of our starting assumptions with the game was that we thought that John Wick never misses. You go back, watch the movie, he totally does, but he misses in places where that feels logical."John Wick Hex will launch on PC as an Epic Games Store limited-time exclusive.Info from Gamespot.com