At the Gamescom Opening Night Live, Tarsier Studios announced Little Nightmares 2, a follow-up to the horror platformer. The announcement was accompanied by a creepy trailer, showing off a new character, outdoor environments, and kitchen utensils as weapons. It's coming to PC, PS4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch next year.Developing...Info from Gamespot.com

During the Opening Night Live stream for Gamescom 2019, the developers of Star Theory unveiled the follow-up to their wildly popular space-sim Kerbal Space Program. In Kerbal Space Program 2, the spacefaring Kerbals will once again venture out into the unknown with their cobbled-together space ships to reach new planets--or die trying. In the trailer, with M83's popular hit 'Outro' setting the mood, we got to see brief glimpses of what the Kerbals are capable of, including building new civilizations on new planets. Kerbal Space Program 2 is set for a 202 release on PC, PS4, and Xbox One.The original Kerbal Space Program was something of a bizarre game, which took off in a big way on Twitch and YouTube. In it, you would craft your own spacecraft to help the little green astronauts leave their planet and reach the stars beyond. Throughout the 2010s, it's been something of a quirky game that many variety streamers played to test all the weird mechanical configurations. Success was always the goal, but more often than not, you'd see your hours of work come crashing to the ground--which as it turned out was the most fun to be had from the game.With the sequel, it looks to be continuing on the overly ambitious spacefaring from the original game. However, the Kerbals looks to be setting their sights on more ambitious plans, such as reaching entirely new galaxies and setting up colonies on new worlds.For more on Kerbal Space Program 2 and all other games at Gamescom 2019, including Death Stranding and Gears 5, be sure to check back with GameSpot for updates as they come in.Info from Gamespot.com

Gamescom 2019 is underway, and with the bevy of announcements came a new trailer for the upcoming online multiplayer game Predator: Hunting Grounds, launching sometime in 2020 for PlayStation 4.The trailer opens with Little Richard's "Long Tall Sally," marking a strange juxtaposition for the treachery the Fireteam is preparing to face. As the squad moves through thick forestry to neutralize targets, the Predator stalks from tree branches above, jumping between the leaves while wreaking havoc with its high-tech weaponry. Predator: Hunting Grounds seems to present tactical, objective-based multiplayer wrapped in a frenetic asymmetrical hunted-becomes-the-hunter framework.PlayStation pulled the curtain back on Predator: Hunting Grounds back in May 2019. Developed by Friday the 13th: The Game creators IllFonic, Predator: Hunting Grounds is a a 4v1 online asymmetrical multiplayer game where everyone--including the titular hunter--is player-controlled like Turtle Rock Studios' Evolve. IllFonic CEO Charles Brungardt says Predator: Hunting Grounds "still pretty early in development," but assured that more updates are coming in the future.Info from Gamespot.com

Sega took the stage at Gamescom Opening Night Live to debut a new game from Amplitude Studios called Humankind. The strategy game has you building your civilization up from the Neolithic era to a modern age. As your culture develops, you can combine different societies together for unique combinations. The game will launch with 60 historical cultures like Ancient Egyptians, Romans, Khmers, and Vikings, and you can mix them to more than a million combinations. The game will throw real historical events and figures at you to deal with, and you can make your own scientific discoveries and visit wonders of the world. Combat will include tactical intricacies like terrain elevation. You can build your city on high ground to make it more difficult to siege, keep archers in the woods to serve as a line of defense. The game is slated for release on PC in 2020."Amplitude Studios was founded with the intention of creating this game, all the games we've created up until now have been leading up to this moment," said Romain de Waubert in the announcement. "We are so excited to finally be able to share with the community what has been at the heart of Amplitude since day one." Info from Gamespot.com

Gamescom 2019 kicked off with the Opening Night Live conference hosted by Geoff Keighley, and one of the many announcements made during the presentation was the release date for the Nintendo Switch version of CD Projekt Red's critically acclaimed RPG. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt - Complete Edition is coming to Switch on October 15, 2019.We recently got our hands on with the Switch version of the game; you can watch our gameplay clip which showcases it running in handheld mode. You can also check out our in-depth analysis on what it's like to play The Witcher 3 on Switch in the video above.A new trailer was shown off as well, which you can watch above. Visual compromises have to be made of course, but this is the complete game along with its two full expansions Hearts Of Stone and Blood And Wine. It's regarded as one of the best games of the current generation, and you can read our review of The Witcher 3 in which it earned a score of 10/10.Info from Gamespot.com

At Gamescom Opening Night Live, Hideo Kojima appeared on stage to debut new gameplay footage from his upcoming PS4 game, Death Stranding. In the brief segment, we saw Norman Reedus' character exploring the environment and making a special delivery.First, Reedus' character Sam stood up in the middle of a hilly field, and after making a menu selection he urinated on some plants. (The camera strategically kept focused on Sam's back, and they demonstrated how you cannot swing it around to see his front.) Somehow, that appeared to grow a mushroom. After climbing a hill with a high-tech deployable ladder, Sam delivered a package. Then he exited the building, but fell down a hill. Since he was caring for the baby (BB) at the time, he comforted it before sliding down the rest of the way. You can watch the gameplay video below or check out the full Death Stranding portion of the stream above.Kojima spent some time both before and after the presentation talking about his upcoming game. And since this event was being hosted by Geoff Keighley, the two made a point to point out that the man Sam delivered a package to was played by none other than Keighley himself, and voiced by Matthew Mercer.Before this, we also got a better looked at another of Death Stranding's characters, Mama. The game still largely remains a mystery despite its launch coming up quite soon--its release date is scheduled for November 8 on PS4.Info from Gamespot.com

During the Opening Night Live event at Gamescom 2019, Gearbox announced what the endgame content for Borderlands 3 would look like. Though some of it is what fans have come to expect from a Borderlands title, there is some brand-new content that's never been seen in one the loot shooter games before.Fans are most likely familiar with Circle of Slaughter, a horde-like mode where you and your friends have to defeat waves of enemies in difficult challenges. Borderlands 3 is adding a new mode called the Proving Grounds. To activate the Proving Grounds, you'll need to discover Eridian Writings scattered throughout the galaxy. These writings will point you towards coordinates on certain planets where you can begin missions that put you up against tougher threats but reward you with high-tier loot. It sounds like a good way to upgrade your loadout if you're struggling with any late-game missions."Proving Grounds are races against the clock, tasking you with blitzing your way through three areas filled with baddies and beating a boss in 30 minutes or less," Gearbox wrote in a blog post. "If you complete your chosen Trial quickly and efficiently you'll earn better bounties, and for even greater rewards you can complete bonus objectives like beating the Proving Grounds without dying, completing it with a certain amount of time remaining, or managing to find and eliminate an elusive Fallen Guardian who roams the area. The chest that awaits at the end of the Proving Grounds always contains valuable loot, but you'll need to display true mastery if you want the best rewards."During the latest Borderlands 3 preview event, we discovered strange purple-colored symbols behind a waterfall on the planet Eden-6. We can't be sure, as Gearbox wouldn't tell us at the time what they were, but these could be the Eridian Writings you have to discover to begin Proving Grounds missions. Eridian is purple after all. We'll have to wait and see, though.At the preview event, we had the opportunity to try out FL4K, one of the four playable Vault Hunters in Borderlands 3. Having now played as Zane, Moze, Amara, and FL4K, we've seen how each of the four Hunters evolves based off of their three distinct skill trees. For the first time in the franchise, the playable Vault Hunters seems to have skill trees that are built in a way to allow for better customization in how your character evolves. At the very least, Borderlands 3 feels better suited for those who want to play solo than any previous Borderlands game before it.Borderlands 3 is scheduled to release for Xbox One, PS4, and PC on September 13. The game will be a day one title for Google Stadia as well, which is scheduled to launch in November 2019.Info from Gamespot.com

Sony has added another acclaimed studio to its development family. Ahead of Gamescom 2019, the company announced today that it has acquired Insomniac Games, the developer behind the Ratchet and Clank series and, most recently, PS4's critically acclaimed Marvel's Spider-Man."Big news: Insomniac Games is joining PlayStation's Worldwide Studios!" the official PlayStation Twitter account announced. "We are honored and thrilled to join forces with this legendary developer."Big news: @InsomniacGames is joining PlayStation’s Worldwide Studios! We are honored and thrilled to join forces with this legendary developer. Please join us in congratulating our friends and partners at Insomniac! pic.twitter.com/hhhqhxZE7k — PlayStation (@PlayStation) August 19, 2019"Joining the WWS family gives Insomniac even greater opportunities to achieve our studio vision of making positive and lasting impressions on people's lives," Insomniac founder and CEO Ted Price said in a press release. "We've enjoyed a special relationship with PlayStation practically since our inception. Our partnership amplifies our potential, and Marvel's Spider-Man was a testament to this."Insomniac is responsible for some of PlayStation's most beloved titles. In addition to the aforementioned Ratchet and Clank series, the studio developed the original Spyro the Dragon trilogy, as well as the Resistance games. While most of Insomniac's output has been exclusive to PlayStation consoles, it has occasionally branched out onto other platforms, notably with Sunset Overdrive on Xbox One and PC.Insomniac's latest effort, Marvel's Spider-Man, launched exclusively on PS4 last September. GameSpot selected it as one of the best games of 2018. "Minor shortcomings don't detract from Insomniac's achievement in creating a game that feels like an authentic interpretation of a beloved creation," critic Edmond Tran wrote in our Marvel's Spider-Man review. "he feeling of embodying Spidey and using his abilities is astonishing, and the time spent on exploring its major characters help make its story feel heartfelt, despite superhero bombast."Info from Gamespot.com

Coming from the co-creator of the Halo series, Marcus Lehto, Disintegration is a new type of FPS that blends traditional multiplayer gameplay with the PvE experience. First revealed at E3 2019, we saw our first look at gameplay during the Opening Night Live stream at Gamescom 2019. The developers from V1 Interactive showed off what to expect from the new multiplayer FPS. According to the creators, Disintegration will have a full single-player campaign focusing on a variety of different characters--including the grav-cycle pilot Roamer--along with a comprehensive multiplayer mode.In the trailer, we got to see brief glimpses of the 5v5 multiplayer matches, which seems to blend traditional multiplayer with PvE elements. Following the debut of the trailer, game creator Lehto took to the stage to talk about their focus on creating an FPS that has elements from his previous work on Halo, while also putting a new spin on the formula. From the gameplay we saw, it looks as though the game will have some mechanics similar to a hero shooter. In the trailer, we saw Roamer interact with another character, the latter of whom makes some jokes at the other's expense. Despite how grim the title is, there seems to be a lot of humor, which is shown off by the unique characters in the game. As of this time, Disintegration is set for launch on current platforms in 2020.For more on Disintegration and all other games at Gamescom 2019, including Death Stranding and Gears 5, be sure to check back with GameSpot for updates as they come in.Info from Gamespot.com

Whenever new hardware releases, especially the latest PC graphics card, I tend to fight myself over it--adding it to my cart, removing it from my cart, adding it back again. Eventually, I lose (I always lose), but if you're more sensible than me and have waited for the right deal, then this one from Best Buy is a good option.GeForce RTX 2080 and RTX 2070$680 ($800) | $480 ($600)See the RTX 2080 at Best Buy See the RTX 2070 at Best BuyThe RTX 2080 and RTX 2070 Founders Editions are on sale for $120 off. This brings the RTX 2080 down to $680 and the RTX 2070 to $480. As part of Nvidia's current game bundle promotion, you'll also get the upcoming Control and the recently released Wolfenstein: Youngblood.Nvidia has been touting Control as a showpiece for its ray-tracing technology. You shouldn't expect the best performance with ray tracing turned on, but turned off, the RTX 2080 and 2070 will absolutely deliver an awesome experience. You can check out the two Founders Editions' specs at the bottom of this article.If you're not quite sold on these two cards, then you should check out our recent review of the best graphics cards under $500. We cover the RTX 2070 Super, RTX 2060, the Radeon RX 5700 XT, and RX 5700.GeForce RTX 2080Founders Edition specs:Base Clock Speed: 1515 MHzBoost Clock Speed: 1800 MHzMemory Configuration: 8GB GDDR6Memory Speed: 14 GbpsMemory Interface: 256-bitMemory Bandwidth: 448 GB/sCUDA Cores: 2944RTX-OPS: 60TGeForce RTX 2070Founders Edition specs:Base Clock Speed: 1410 MHzBoost Clock Speed: 1710 MHzMemory Configuration: 8GB GDDR6Memory Speed: 14 GbpsMemory Interface: 256-bitMemory Bandwidth: 448 GB/sCUDA Cores: 2304RTX-OPS: 45TInfo from Gamespot.com

During the Opening Night Live stream from Gamescom 2019, PlayStation released a new trailer for Erica, a live-action interactive thriller for PS4. Erica focuses on the story of the titular main character, who goes on a journey of self-discovery while trying to solve the mystery behind her father's death. Playable with a PS4 controller or with the Erica app--available on iOS and Android--you'll be able to solve puzzles with touch-sensitive mechanics and make choices that will alter the flow of the story. At the end of the trailer, it was revealed that the game is out now for PS4.Originally announced in 2017, the Erica that's been released today has seen some changes. In addition to having a new lead actress--Holly Earl, from Skins and Law and Order UK--several new mechanics and scenes have been introduced. When looking at the game, it takes a noticeably similar approach to Quantic Dreams' adventures games like Detroit: Become Human and Heavy Rain. What's different here is that it's all live-action. Erica also has some similarities with 2018's Black Mirror episode Bandersnatch, which took the familiar techno-horror storytelling from the series and introduced a Choose Your Own Adventure mechanic. Going off from the trailer, Erica looks to continue that focus on letting you alter the events fo the story, and seeing how your choice play out in a live-action format. Developed by Flavourworks, Erica is out now on PSN for $10. For more on PS4's Erica and all other games at Gamescom 2019, including Death Stranding and Kerbal Space Program 2, be sure to check back with GameSpot for updates as they come in.Info from Gamespot.com

Microsoft first announced Xbox Game Pass Ultimate at E3 2019, and it's been ramping up its offerings for the subscription ever since. Game Pass Ultimate combines Xbox Live Gold, a service that gets you free monthly games and exclusive discounts, with Game Pass for both Xbox One and PC, which grants you unlimited access to a huge library of games, with new games added regularly. While generally priced at $15 a month, Microsoft is offering a limited-time promotion that lets new subscribers claim two months of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate for $2.The deal will be available now through September 20. Note that your subscription will automatically renew at full price after the two months unless you cancel.There's no better time to try out Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, as Microsoft announced a slew of new games for the service during its Inside Xbox stream before Gamescom 2019. With the subscription, you can dive into games like Devil May Cry 5 and Age of Empires starting today. The two-months-for-$2 deal also coincides with the release of Gears 5, the highly anticipated shooter and sequel to Gears of War 4 scheduled to release September 10. If you have Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, you'll be able to install Gears 5 Ultimate Edition during the game's early access period starting September 6. Gears 5 also has some neat pre-order bonuses worth checking out.Get 2 months of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate for $2Below, you'll find an overview of what's coming to Xbox Game Pass in the near future. All of these games will be available via Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.August 19Age of Empires: Definitive Edition (Xbox Game Pass for PC, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate)Devil May Cry 5: (Xbox Game Pass for Console, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate)Stellaris: (Xbox Game Pass for Console, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, and coming soon to Xbox Game Pass for PC)August 22Ape Out: (Xbox Game Pass for PC, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate)Kingdom Come: Deliverance -- (Xbox Game Pass for Console, Xbox Game Pass for PC, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate)August 27Bard's Tale IV: Director's Cut -- (Xbox Game Pass for Console, Xbox Game Pass for PC, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate)August 30Blair Witch: (Xbox Game Pass for Console, Xbox Game Pass for PC, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate)September 5Dead Cells: (Xbox Game Pass for Console, Xbox Game Pass for PC, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate)Info from Gamespot.com

Gamescom 2019 just kicked off and it's already full of high-profile announcements. During the Opening Night Live conference, it was announced that the PlayStation 4 alpha test for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare will take place starting on August 23 and conclude on August 25. It'll be free for all PS4 players, even those without a PS Plus subscription.The alpha will only feature Gunfight, which is the new fast-paced 2v2 multiplayer mode for the game--five maps are also included in the test. We recently got hands-on with Gunfight mode in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, and you can read about our experience and how it changes things for the series.For all the details, check out the official PlayStation blog post outlining the details and general tips for those looking to get into the alpha. For more on the game overall, be sure to read our impressions of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare's Ground War 20v20 mode and how night-time maps bring a fresh take to the long-running FPS franchise.A few new screenshots were also published ahead of the alpha test, and you can take a look at them below. Info from Gamespot.com

Gamescom officially opens its doors on August 20, but leading up to the show several publishers and platform-holders have already held events detailing their software lineups--and sometimes, surprise-releasing software. As a result, several new games are now available to download and play across PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.You can check out a list of games that are available now below, and check out all of our Gamescom coverage for more news and hands-on impressions throughout the show.Hotline Miami and Superhot on Nintendo SwitchNintendo devoted its Gamescom presentation to indies, including a few beloved games that are available for Switch right now. Those include the time-bending shooter Superhot and the brutal overhead Hotline Miami games. Both Superhot and the Hotline Miami collection, which bundles both Hotline Miami and Hotline Miami 2, are now available.Erica on PlayStation 4The live-action interactive thriller Erica was announced in 2017, but it has gone mostly silent since then. It's been released now on PlayStation 4, and is playable with a PS4 controller or with a dedicated app on iOS or Android. You can solve puzzles and make choices that will impact the direction of the story.A New Slew of Xbox Game Pass GamesXbox spent some of its Inside Xbox presentation announcing the upcoming games for its Game Pass service, including a handful that are available right now. Those include Age of Empires: Definitive Edition for PC, Devil May Cry 5 for Xbox One, and Stellaris for both platforms. Even more are coming by the end of the week, as Ape Out for PC and Kingdom Come: Deliverance for both PC and Xbox One are due on August 22.Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Alpha Test on PS4While not a full game available right now, Activision did announce that a special PS4-exclusive alpha test for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare is coming soon. The alpha will start on August 23, and it will be free for all players, even if you don't have a PS Plus subscription. The alpha test is limited to the new 2v2 Gunfight mode, across five maps.Info from Gamespot.com

It's been over a month since online retailer ThinkGeek closed its digital doors and moved its offerings over to GameStop's website. Now, longtime ThinkGeek shoppers who had saved up Geek Points (ThinkGeek's old program that let you earn points with purchases and redeem them for free stuff) can finally get some use out of them. According to deals site Cheap Ass Gamer, people are beginning to receive emails from GameStop with a reward certificate that can be used on games, hardware, collectibles, accessories, and more at GameStop stores or GameStop.com.The amount varies based on how many Geek Points you had saved up. People are reporting certificate amounts of anywhere from $5 to $50. CAG user ceadondifortu posted that he received a $10 certificate having made only a few ThinkGeek orders, all under $100, in the past. So even if you only shopped at ThinkGeek once or twice, it's worth checking your email (including your spam folder) to see if you scored any free store credit, especially since you can apply it toward games.ThinkGeek's online closure in July was the first of many major changes at GameStop, which recently redesigned its website as well. The retailer also has big plans in store for its brick-and-mortar locations and revealed it's working on new store concepts, such as a way for people to try out new titles before they buy them. Some new locations will focus purely on competitive gaming and "home-grown e-leagues," while other stores will focus completely on retro gaming software and hardware. With the rise of digital gaming and the slow decline of GameStop stock prices, it's clear the company is making big moves to ensure its relevancy in 2019 and beyond.If you're not sure what to spend your reward credit on, GameStop's new weekly deals are now live, including a pretty extensive Back to School sale on things like backpacks, apparel, kitchen items, and a retro PlayStation mug we like a lot.Info from Gamespot.com