Infinity Ward released a heap of new details about Call of Duty: Modern Warfare's multiplayer mode this week, both on a livestream and to journalists at a hands-on press event in Los Angeles. Those details included some of the game's new Killstreak rewards, which struck up controversy in the days before the announcement when Infinity Ward revealed that white phosphorus is one of the weapons players will have access to in multiplayer.In the real world, white phosphorus is a chemical weapon that has horrific power. The chemical ignites when it interacts with oxygen, creating a thick white smokescreen that can obscure troop movements and disorient soldiers on the battlefield. But white phosphorus also burns extremely hot, making the chemical very dangerous. It can melt skin and burn through muscle and even bone; it also is capable of reigniting days or weeks after its use.Infinity Ward saw criticism for choosing to allow players to use white phosphorus against each other in the game. The inclusion of the weapon also seems at odds with Infinity Ward's stated goals for its single-player campaign. The studio has said it means for Modern Warfare's narrative to be gritty and realistic, exploring morality and gray areas soldiers have to navigate when balancing completing their missions and doing the right thing.We Saw White Phosphorus In Action In Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare -- Here's What HappenedModern Warfare Multiplayer Hands-On: Rebuilding Call Of Duty From The Guns UpCall Of Duty Reveal: Modern Warfare Multiplayer News RecapModern Warfare's Night Multiplayer Maps Are Its Coolest New FeatureModern Warfare Multiplayer Supports Up To 100 PlayersCall of Duty games of the past have included weapons in multiplayer that are horrific in the real world, including flame throwers, napalm, and even nuclear weapons. Art director Joel Emslie pointed out during an interview with GameSpot that Modern Warfare's multiplayer trailer ended with a nuclear detonation. Nuclear bombs have been Killstreak rewards in past Call of Duty games."Ultimately, I think it's a realistic game," Emslie said. "It's mature-rated and, you know, you saw a nuclear bomb go off at the end of the trailer."As far as the disconnect between what the narrative is trying to say about war and the way multiplayer portrays it, Emslie said the two modes are trying to accomplish different things."I think that, in the end, the narrative is telling a story, a serious story, and it does things in a way, to make things--it's trying to get a dramatic reaction out of the player, and making you feel things," Emslie said."We want people to be thoughtful about what they're playing," audio director Stephen Miller added."In the narrative experience, you're using this landscape and this universe to make people care about these characters," Emslie continued. "And then when you're in the multiplayer space, you're trying to get them, using the same things in the same universe, to care more about the fun that they're having. It's almost like a mental chess game, where you're solving puzzles with mechanics and doing these things. And the characters that are in there, it's more about representing you in this play-space."...It's almost like having two different actors in the same film," he said. "You might have a really dramatic, deep, disturbed character with a horrible past and all this trauma. And then over here, you've got another character that's devil may care, whatever. But I look at it that way. I almost look at the game as, it's three very different characters and actors in the same film, in the same play."As NPR reports, the US military has used white phosphorus in Iraq during the war there and in fighting the Islamic State. The substance isn't banned under the Chemical Weapons Convention, as long as it's used to create smokescreens and not as a weapon itself. Human rights organizations have pushed the US and others to stop using the chemical weapon, however, because of the risk to civilians, especially in urban settings.We saw white phosphorus in use in Modern Warfare during our hands-on session. It blankets the battlefield in white smoke, which does a small amount of damage to enemy players, renders their screens in black-and-white, and disorients them as they go cough through it. We didn't encounter any canisters, which apparently will "burn any that wander too close," according to Infinity Ward's description of the Killstreak reward. You can see white phosphorus used in our gameplay capture of a 20-vs.-20 Modern Warfare match.Info from Gamespot.com

Cute life-sim adventure game Ooblets did the thing that some people aren't fond of: sign an Epic exclusive deal. Now, Ooblets will launch exclusively for the Epic Games Stores on PC, while the Xbox One release remains unaffected. Indie developer Glumberland has some words on the matter, explaining the choice in a surprisingly frank message to fans.In a blog post, Glumberland stated that signing with Epic was a "big decision" the studio didn't take lightly. "[Epic] offered us a minimum guarantee on sales that would match what we'd be wanting to earn if we were just selling Ooblets across all the stores," Glumberland wrote. "That takes a huge burden of uncertainty off of us because now we know that no matter what, the game won't fail."The financial security, according to Glumberland, gives the studio peace of mind, allowing the small team to "focus on making the game without worrying about keeping the lights on [and] afford more help and resources to start ramping up production and doing some cooler things."Glumberland also responds to common complaints leveled against the Epic Games Store, writing, "Venting anger is cathartic and natural, but let's have just a little perspective about what we decide to get angry about." The developer suggests, instead of getting riled up over "low-stakes video game stuff," gamers should "look at the things going on and ask if there might be anything just a tad more worthwhile to be upset about." Suggestions include climate change, human rights abuses, the new Twitter desktop UI, and the final Game of Thrones season--though Glumberland says the last two are jokes.Check out the full blog post for tons of laughs and further insight behind the decision.The indie studio did say the Epic investment "might delay" the game's initial launch, though no release date has been confirmed. Increased resources will speed up development time, but Glumberland confirmed that "it takes some time to ramp things up." Ultimately, the lack of financial pressure won't force the team to push out an incomplete product. Ooblets will arrive on other PC distributors after "a pretty long while." Info from Gamespot.com

It's August. Can you believe it? With the big fall games season right around the corner, the releases are slowly ramping up. This month has plenty of games worth grabbing as you wait for 2019's heavy hitters. You can expect to play big games like Madden NFL 20, Astral Chain, and Control. You can find out more about each below.Aside from new games, it seems like there's always an unexpected Switch port releasing every month, and August is no different. Pillars of Eternity, Sword Art Online: Fatal Bullet, and Friday the 13th: The Game are all getting ported to Nintendo's fan-favorite hybrid console-portable.There's plenty of other noteworthy releases in August, so be sure to check out the table below for all things big, small, and cult-classic. For a wider look at what's still in store for the rest of this year, be sure to check out our complete list of game release dates in 2019.Madden NFL 20 (PS4, Xbox One, PC) -- August 2It's another year, another Madden. However, this year's iteration of the massively popular American football franchise is one of the most intriguing ones yet, featuring a new scenario engine that creates subtle storylines the more games you play in a season. There's also a special player trait system called Superstar X-Factor that allows famous players to activate special abilities after fulfilling certain conditions on the field.Further Reading:Madden NFL 20 ReviewMadden NFL 20 Ratings Revealed For Every Player And TeamControl (PS4, Xbox One, PC) -- August 27Control is the latest third-person shooter from Remedy Entertainment, the studio that brought you several cult-favorite games like Max Payne, Alan Wake, and Quantum Break. It plays more similar to something like Quantum Break but amped up to a new extreme. You control protagonist Jesse, who possesses near superhero-like powers, such as the ability to glide mid-air and move objects with her mind, which creates some dynamic, over-the-top firefights. It's all wrapped up in a surreal storyline about being stuck in a shapeshifting government facility that houses paranormal experiments.Further Reading: Remedy's Control: We Played An Hour And Still Have No Idea What's Going OnHow Remedy's Control Will Trust Players To Figure Out Its Unreal StoryAstral Chain (Switch) -- August 30Platinum Games is back with another exciting new action game called Astral Chain exclusively available for Nintendo Switch. It iterates upon the studio's classic action with new ideas, putting you in the role of a special police force cadet with the ability to summon an entity that fights alongside you. All the while, you'll conduct investigations to solve petty crimes and unravel the mysteries of the larger overarching plot.Further Reading:Astral Chain Hands-On Preview: Two Characters Make Combat A Fast-Paced BlastPlatinum Games On Making A New Kind Action Experience With Astral ChainFull August Release ScheduleGamePlatformRelease DateBuy / Pre-OrderMadden NFL 20PS4, Xbox One, PCAugust 2 The Church in the DarknessPS4, Xbox One, PC, SwitchAugust 2 Age of Wonders: PlanetfallPCAugust 6 Metal Wolf Chaos XDPS4, Xbox One, PCAugust 6 Pillars of EternitySwitchAugust 8 Sword Art Online: Fatal Bullet Complete EditionSwitchAugust 9 Friday the 13th: The GameSwitchAugust 13 Rebel Galaxy OutlawPCAugust 13 RadPS4, Xbox One, PC, SwitchAugust 20 Remnant: From the AshesPS4, Xbox One, PCAugust 20PlayStation, Microsoft, SteamYu-Gi-Oh! Legacy of the Duelist: Link EvolutionSwitchAugust 20 Life is Strange 2: Episode 4PS4, Xbox One, PCAugust 22PlayStation, Microsoft, SteamOninakiPS4, PC, SwitchAugust 22 Ancestors: The Humankind OdysseyPCAugust 27SteamThe Bard’s Tale IV: Director's CutPS4, Xbox One, PCAugust 27 CrystarPS4, PCAugust 27 ControlPS4, Xbox One, PCAugust 27Best Buy, EpicWorld of Warcraft: ClassicPCAugust 27 Azur Lane: CrosswavePS4August 29 Pokémon MastersiOS, AndroidAugust 29 Astral ChainSwitchAugust 30AmazonBlair WitchXbox One, PCAugust 30 The Dark Pictures: Man of MedanPS4, Xbox One, PCAugust 30 The Ninja Saviors: Return of the WarriorsPS4, SwitchAugust 30 Info from Gamespot.com

Season X of Fortnite has officially arrived, and much has changed in Epic Games' popular battle royale shooter. Not only are there new areas of the map to explore, there's also a new Battle Pass to purchase, which gives holders access to an assortment of new challenges to complete and cosmetic rewards to unlock.This time around, however, the challenges work a little differently than in past seasons. Previously, Epic offered new missions to complete on a weekly basis, some of which were available to everyone, even if they didn't own a Battle Pass. Season X does away with these free missions. Now, most of the challenges are gated behind the pass, so you'll need to pick one up if you're hoping to get the most out of the new season.The challenges are also no longer doled out weekly; rather, they're now grouped into different themed sets. Three challenges are available from the outset, with additional ones unlocking as you complete them. The first themed set is called Road Trip, and it features a couple of tasks that may give you some trouble if you're not too familiar with the island, such as one that asks you to destroy stop signs with the Catalyst outfit. If you don't know where those are, we've put together this guide to point you in the right direction.Where Are The Stop Sign Locations?The stop signs that you need to destroy are scattered all around the island. You need to vandalize a total of 10 in order to complete this challenge. Fortunately, you don't need to destroy all 10 within a single match, so you can jump into a game, visit an area where a few of the signs are bunched together, then get eliminated and repeat the process until you've completed the challenge.The most stop signs can be found in Pleasant Park, which is home to 10 of them, so you can potentially clear this challenge in one go if you land there--although it will surely be a hotbed, as other players will be looking to complete this challenge as well. If you'd prefer to avoid the crowd, you can find three stop signs scattered around Salty Springs, and another two by Mega Mall. We've also found at least two stop signs around Paradise Palms, so you have plenty of options to choose from. You can see some locations in the tweet below.Stop sign locations ❤🛑 #Fortnite #FortniteSeason10 #GamerGirl #NintendoSwitch pic.twitter.com/DyG8e8e4Zg — Lydia Deneez (@LydiaDeneez) August 1, 2019 Fortnite: Where To Visit Stone Head Statue, Durr Burger Head, And A Dinosaur (Season 10) How To Complete The ChallengeAs the challenge name states, it isn't enough to simply destroy the stop signs; you need to be doing so while wearing the Catalyst skin, which is unlocked at the first tier of the Season X Battle Pass. Equip the skin, then located some signs and destroy them using either your Harvesting Tool or any weapons you're able to pick up during the round. Once you finally manage to break all 10 stop signs, you'll complete the challenge and earn 10 Battle Stars.Season X has only just begun, and much has changed in the game. Be sure to check out our Fortnite Season X hub, where you can find more details about what's new this season, from all of the new unlockable skins and cosmetics to the Season 10 patch notes.Fortnite Season X ChallengesRoad TripVisit Drift-painted Durr Burger Head, a Dinosaur, and a Stone Head Statue (3)Deal damage to opponents while riding in a vehicle (200)Destroy stop signs with the Catalyst outfit (10)Info from Gamespot.com

A new trailer for My Hero Academia: Heroes Rising has been released. Though most of the trailer reuses scenes from MHA: Season 3, there are some new clips. The trailer can be watched in the tweet embedded below.The trailer begins with our first look at Nine, the villain of the movie. We know almost nothing about Nine--even his abilities are still unknown--but he seems to be connected to All for One, one of the biggest bads in MHA, as he dresses just like All Might's archenemy, even adopting similar headgear. The end of the trailer sees a badly injured Midoriya and Bakugo once again temporarily putting aside their differences and teaming-up, presumably to take on Nine.ヒロアカ映画特報が来た!12/20(金)全国ロードショー『僕のヒーローアカデミア THE MOVIE ヒーローズ:ライジング』特報ムービー解禁!! https://t.co/Zag30vWwG9 https://t.co/Dud81V0oSe#ヒロアカ #heroaca_a #ヒーローズライジング pic.twitter.com/K6kC4nh4vz — 『僕のヒーローアカデミア THE MOVIE』公式 (@heroaca_movie) August 1, 2019Heroes Rising is the second MHA movie, following Two Heroes, and is being advertised as the final chapter of the superhero story, as it incorporates elements from how MHA's creator originally wanted the manga to end. Whether Heroes Rising remains MHA's finale remains to be seen, though. The movie will be released in Japan on December 20 with an international release presumably scheduled for 2020.In My Hero Academia, Midoriya is one of the few powerless humans born in a world where superpowers are the norm. Wanting to be a hero, despite his lack of superpowers, Midoriya strives to get into the high school where All Might, his idol and the number one hero in the world, attended. After being impressed by Midoriya's heroic potential, All Might lets the young boy in on a secret: his super strength and speed actually come from a power that can be passed from one person to the next. Midoriya is chosen as All Might's successor, but his sudden strength irks Bakugo--a boy born with the ability to sweat and detonate nitroglycerin in his palms--who's always strived to be the world's next number one hero and now, for the first time, must acknowledge that the peer he's been bullying for years might actually be stronger than him.Two Heroes acts as a bridge between Season 2 and Season 3 of the MHA anime series. The movie sees All Might taking Midoriya to the US to see an old friend of his, David Shield, who's an inventor that created All Might's original hero suits. While visiting, Midoriya befriends David's daughter, Melissa, who's also exceptionally intelligent and seeks to help others by building support devices for heroes. Midoriya's vacation is cut short, however, when a metal-controlling villain attacks and captures All Might, forcing the young aspiring hero to work together with Melissa and other members of his high school class in order to save the day. Though originally a one-off character, Melissa reunites with Midoriya in My Hero Academia: Team Up Mission, a brand-new manga that acts as a bridge between Seasons 3 and 4 of the anime.Info from Gamespot.com

Stephen King's novel The Stand is once again coming to television, as a limited series. And today, the cast for the upcoming CBS All Access adaptation has been revealed at the TCA press tour. It was also announced that King himself would be writing the final installment of the series, which will include a new coda not features in the book.The starring role for the series will go to James Marsden (Westworld), playing the part of Stu Redman, a working-class man. Playing the role of Nadine Cross--the woman conflicted by her allegiance to humanity and the Dark Man--is Amber Heard (Aquaman). Odessa Young (A Million Little Pieces) will portray Frannie Goldsmith, the pregnant woman who sees the larger evil in the world. The final announcement today was the deaf and mute leader Nick Andros will be played by Henry Zaga (13 Reasons Why).The Stand follows survivors in a post-apocalyptic world that has been destroyed by a plague and is stuck in the eternal battle between good and evil. All of the world's evil is embodied by Randall Flagg, also known as Dark Man, who has abilities no other human has. On the good side of the battle is the 108-year-old Mother Abagail, and the previously mentioned characters in the announcement. "I'm excited and so very pleased that The Stand is going to have a new life on this exciting new platform," producer Owen King told The Hollywood Reporter. "The people involved are men and women who know exactly what they're doing; the scripts are dynamite. The result bids to be something memorable and thrilling. I believe it will take viewers away to a world they hope will never happen."Back in 1994, The Stand was adapted to a four-part miniseries starring Gary Sinise and Molly Ringwald. For this new take, CBS All Access has ordered 10 episodes for the series on its streaming service. Josh Boone (The New Mutants) and Ben Cavell (Justified) will write and executive produce, and Boone will direct. A release date for the series has yet to be revealed.Disclosure: CBS is GameSpot's parent company.Info from Gamespot.com

Another fan-favorite Legendary has returned once again in Pokemon Go. Rayquaza, the Legendary cover monster from Pokemon Emerald, is making an encore appearance in the popular mobile game for a limited time. Not only does this mark its first stint in Raid Battles since this past March, you'll have your first chance to catch a Shiny Rayquaza. If you'd like to add one to your collection before it leaves the game again, here are some tips on how to catch Rayquaza.How To Catch RayquazaFor the next several weeks, Rayquaza will appear as a boss in five-star Raid Battles. If you find a nearby Rayquaza Raid, you'll need to head to the Gym where the Raid is taking place and challenge it. You'll need to have a Raid Pass in order to participate in the Raid, but you can receive one for free when you spin the Photo Disc at a Gym.To earn an opportunity to capture Rayquaza, you'll first need to battle it. Rayquaza and other Legendary Pokemon are quite powerful, so you'll need to team up with other players in-person if you hope to defeat it. Rayquaza is a dual Dragon/Flying Pokemon, which means it has a 4x weakness to Ice-type Pokemon such as Mamoswine, Weavile, and Glaceon--they'll be your best bet. Fairy, Rock, and other Dragon Pokemon will also be effective against it. If you manage to defeat Rayquaza, you'll receive a handful of Premier Balls among other rewards; you'll need to use these Premier Balls to capture it. Study Rayquaza's movement pattern before your throws to ensure you have the best chance of snagging it. Feeding it a Golden Razz Berry will also make it a little easier to capture.How To Find Shiny RayquazaShiny Pokemon are fairly rare in Pokemon Go, so there's no sure-fire way to ensure you find a Shiny Rayquaza. That means you'll need to participate in as many Rayquaza Raids as possible if you're hoping to add a Shiny one to your collection. Fortunately, you'll know for sure if you've encountered one; if the Pokemon has black scales instead of green ones, then you've found yourself a Shiny. Follow the steps outlined above to add it to your collection and make other trainers envious.Pokemon Go Guide: How To Catch And Purify Team Rocket's Shadow PokemonPokemon Go August 2019 Community Day: Start Times, Shiny Ralts, Event Move, And MoreHow Long Will Rayquaza Be Available?Each Legendary in Pokemon Go typically hangs around for about a month, and that holds true for Rayquaza. The Sky High Pokemon will appear in Raids from July 31 to 1 PM PT / 4 PM ET / 9 PM BST on September 2, when it will be replaced by a different Legendary, so you have until then to capture as many as you can.Info from Gamespot.com

With Shang Tsung getting unleashed and Sindel's new look being unveiled, Mortal Kombat 11 continues to receive more content additions and updates since its April 2019 release. NetherRealm's latest fighting game will see another fighter join its ever-increasing roster soon. Nightwolf enters the fray, bringing with him ephemeral animals and vicious tomahawk attacks.Nightwolf looks to retain a lot of his signature style from previous Mortal Kombat games, including the ability to use lightning. He can also use animal spirits to enhance his abilities, effectively changing his stance and slightly altering his moveset depending on the animal selected. The bear gives more defense while the wolf seems to increase attack speed, providing a strategic element while in battle. Check out the gameplay reveal trailer below.Nightwolf is part of the Kombat Pack, a set of DLC that includes six additional fighters, alternative skins, new gear sets, and more. While the final two characters have yet to be announced, Nightwolf, Spawn, Shang Tsung, and Sindel are already available as part of the Kombat Pack. The Kombat Pack retails for $40 USD / $59 AUD / £33 GBP, with Nightwolf being downloadable starting Friday, August 13 if you own it. Everyone else will be able to download the character starting Friday, August 20.Info from Gamespot.com

There's a lot happening in Destiny 2 right now. A major update and event just launched, and Bungie revealed that it's pushing back the release of its Shadowkeep expansion. With the DLC and the accompanying New Light free-to-play version of the game now launching later than expected, Bungie has altered its upcoming schedule and revealed some of the changes on the way, including a few that seem to directly address fan feedback.Along with a few new Shadowkeep screenshots, Bungie's latest blog post outlines what the next two months or so will look like for Destiny 2 now that Shadowkeep won't arrive until October 1. Moments of Triumph have been extended and will run until September 17. The just-launched Solstice of Heroes, however, will still end as previously scheduled on August 27. On the bright side, we're getting two more Iron Banner events, one starting on August 27 and another on September 17. There will also be some Valor and Infamy boosts between now and Shadowkeep. The updated scheduled follows below.Destiny 2 Season Of Opulence Updated ScheduleSolstice of Heroes -- 7/30 - 8/27Iron Banner -- 8/27 - 9/3Destiny 2 Update 2.5.2.2 -- 9/3Moments of Triumph Week, Infamy Boost -- 9/10 - 9/17Iron Banner -- 9/17 - 9/24Mayhem, Valor Boost, Infamy Boost -- 9/24 - 10/1Another major item in there is the 2.5.2.2 update. While we'll have to wait until closer to release for the full patch notes, Bungie did provide a preliminary look at what to expect from it. Many of these changes deal with player feedback and complaints about particularly grind-heavy aspects of the game. For instance, weapon reward rates for Gambit Prime and Reckoning will be "highly increased," with the addition of bad-luck protection that ensures you're guaranteed drops after completing an unspecified number of runs. Reckoning's difficulty is also being adjusted, which is great news for those who have grown frustrated with failed runs that yield no rewards.Other aspects of the update of note include changes to the pinnacle quests to earn the Mountaintop grenade launcher and Wendigo GL3 grenade launcher. Bungie simply says the corresponding quests "will become more accessible," with specific objectives being "tuned based on player feedback." Wendigo currently requires an intense amount of grenade launcher usage in Strikes, while the same is true for earning Mountaintop in Crucible's Competitive playlist.And while the Menagerie chest glitch has long since been closed, Bungie says, "As the season comes to a close, Menagerie chests will become more rewarding as Calus sees fit." Again, no specifics are shared, but it sounds as if you might again be able to earn more than one drop per run, though given the wording, it's unclear if this is only a temporary change.In case you missed it, Cross Save is still coming later this month! https://t.co/HJeiAJ6lc6 — Jared Berbach (@darkhorse4life) August 1, 2019And although it's not mentioned in this blog post, Destiny 2 cross-save is launching at some point in August, according to a tweet from lead producer Jared Berbach. An exact date has not been shared.Destiny 2 Update 2.5.2.2 Early Patch NotesMoments of Triumph has been extended through 9/17.Gambit Prime and Reckoning weapon reward rates will be highly increased. They will also have bad-luck protection to guarantee a drop after a set amount of runs.Reckoning difficulty will be tuned to be more welcoming as you hunt for rewards.BrayTech Schematics will no longer have a daily lockout and will give better chances toward weapons that players do not own.Mountaintop and Wendigo GL3 pinnacle quests will become more accessible. Specific quest objectives will be tuned based on player feedbackThere will be multiple weeks of increased Valor and Infamy to look forward to in September. Iron Banner will be accompanied by increased Valor in each event.As the season comes to a close, Menagerie chests will become more rewarding as Calus sees fit.On the week of Destiny 2 Update 2.5.2.2, we'll be hosting a Community Challenge of sorts. Stay tuned for more details.Info from Gamespot.com

July was a busy month for Twitch Prime, which is included with any Amazon Prime subscription, as Prime Day 2019 ran for a full 48 hours this year and spawned a huge number of counter-sales in the weeks leading up to it and afterward from retailers trying to compete. Now that August is finally here, the sales are starting to calm down in preparation for fall deals and the holiday season, but in the meantime, Twitch Prime continues to offer regular perks in the form of free monthly games and various in-game loot. This months' free games are available now through September 3--check out the offerings below.The most notable freebie this month is Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap, which is the 2017 remake of the 1989 Sega Master System title with new, hand-drawn animations and a re-orchestrated soundtrack. It's a Metroidvania-style game where you play as a young adventurer-turned-lizardman who gradually gains more abilities and forms as you explore. The game earned a solid 8/10 in GameSpot's Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap review."Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap shines as one of the best retro remakes yet. It knows not to tamper too much with the enjoyable, exploration-driven gameplay that made the original so good, instead focusing on updating the presentation to reintroduce the game to a new generation of players," wrote Heidi Kemps. "While it's a bit on the short side--you can probably beat it over the course of a lazy Saturday--its small world is packed with personality."While we haven't reviewed the other games Twitch Prime is offering this month, they're free, so you might as well grab them if they sound interesting. Pumped BMX Pro is an arcade racing game where you pull off bicycle stunts and trick combinations in side-scrolling, platform-style levels. Then there's Mable and the Wood, another Metroidvania-style game where you can hunt down beasts and take their form, granting you power to either save or destroy the world. Finally, you can claim Automachef, a resource-management game where you design kitchens, program machinery, and literally put out fires.Free games are cool, but some of Twitch Prime's other benefits are even more appealing, like the free 12 months of Nintendo Switch Online and free skins, outfits, emotes, and more for games like Apex Legends, Red Dead Online, League of Legends, and Grand Theft Auto Online. You can check out all those offers over at Twitch.As a reminder, to claim these free games and loot from Twitch Prime, you just have to make sure your Twitch account is linked to your Amazon Prime account. And if you're not already subscribed to Prime, which gets you plenty of other perks like free two-day shipping, you can sign up for a 30-day free trial anytime. After the trial ends, Prime membership costs $119 / £79 a year.SIGN UP FOR TWITCH PRIME »How to link an existing Amazon Prime account to Twitch »Free Twitch Prime games for August 2019Wonder Boy: The Dragon's TrapPumped BMX ProMable and the WoodAutomachefInfo from Gamespot.com

Team Rocket recently made their debut in Pokemon Go, and the villainous trainers have brought with them Shadow Pokemon--dark versions of Pokemon that are surrounded by a sinister aura. Only a few Shadow Pokemon have been available thus far, but it appears Team Rocket will be expanding their lineup.The official Pokemon Go Twitter account revealed that Team Rocket will have a variety of new Shadow Pokemon in their possession. Up until now, the evil team has only had Shadow versions of Bulbasaur, Charmander, Squirtle, Rattata, Zubat, and a few other Gen 1 Pokemon, but players will begin to encounter Shadow Poliwag, Muk, Scyther, Houndoom, and several other monsters. You can see all of the new Shadow Pokemon coming to the game below.Luckily, we’ve intercepted a list. Take a look! 👀😈 Poliwag 😈 Grimer😈 Muk 😈 Drowzee😈 Hypno😈 Cubone😈 Scyther😈 Magikarp😈 Houndour😈 Houndoom 😈 Ralts (coming soon!) pic.twitter.com/Q6IBAeZgbj — Pokémon GO (@PokemonGoApp) August 1, 2019Players can encounter Team Rocket grunts at certain PokeStops. When you spin the Photo Disc at one of these stops, the Rocket grunt will emerge and challenge you to a Pokemon battle. If you defeat them, the grunt will leave one of their Shadow Pokemon behind, giving you an opportunity to rescue them.You can choose to either keep Pokemon in their Shadow form or spend Stardust and candy to "purify" them, but the latter is definitely the more appealing option (provided you don't prefer the Shadow version's looks). Not only will the Pokemon's stats increase after it is purified, you'll notice a few other benefits to the process: Purified Pokemon will require less candy to power up, and they'll all have the attack Return. You can read more about the process in our Shadow Pokemon guide.In other Pokemon Go news, the Legendary Rayquaza has returned to Raid Battles until September 2, and this time, you can encounter its Shiny form. Pokemon Go's August Community Day is also just around the corner. The event takes place this Saturday, August 3. The featured Pokemon this time will be Ralts, and if you evolve it all the way into Gardevoir or Gallade up to an hour after the Community Day ends, it'll learn the special attack Synchronoise.Info from Gamespot.com

Streamer Ninja, whose real name is Tyler Blevins, is ditching Twitch for rival streaming platform Mixer. The super-popular streamer announced the news in a fake press conference video today.He stated that nothing will change in terms of content. "It's the same me, just a different platform," he said. Intriguingly, Ninja also said he plans to "get back in touch with my roots" as it relates to streaming. That's noteworthy because Ninja started out as a popular Halo streamer before going on newer titles; he is most recently famous for streaming Fornite. Microsoft's next Halo game, Halo Infinite, launches in Holiday 2020.Master Chief even makes an appearance in the announcement video, which further suggests Ninja coming to Twitch may be related to Halo and specifically helping to promote Halo Infinite.The next chapter,https://t.co/lvn9KBjEYq pic.twitter.com/tljVgyM3bG — Ninja (@Ninja) August 1, 2019A little more! pic.twitter.com/SMQEygjNiE — Ninja (@Ninja) August 1, 2019Who's that hanging in the back? pic.twitter.com/rIPscpHLti — Tashi (@Tashi343i) August 1, 2019Ninja was far away and away the most-followed Twitch user, with some 14.7 million followers. Microsoft is surely hoping that a portion of Ninja's audience moves with him to Mixer. Ninja's Mixer page is already incredibly popular, picking up 100,000+ subscribers in its first day.Ninja is offering free subscriptions in August; that gets you 22 Ninja-themed emoticons and no ads. Just like on Twitch, Ninja said he plans to stream from 9:30 AM CST to 6 PM CST every single day.Microsoft's signing of Ninja comes not long after the company laid off content creators and producers at Mixer and Insider Xbox, according to GameDaily.Mixer, which was formerly known as Beam, was acquired acquired by Microsoft, distinguishes itself from Twitch with its emphasis on real-time viewer interaction. In 2018, Mixer introduced the ability to buy games directly from streamers (Twitch has this option as well). Info from Gamespot.com

Video game retailer GameStop has suffered another setback, it seems, as the company has reportedly announced a "GameStop Reboot initiative" that is resulting in dozens of layoffs.A memo announcing the move leaked on Twitter. It states that more than 50 "field leaders" are losing their jobs. Those affected include regional managers, district managers, loss prevention managers, and HR staff, according to the letter (via Gamasutra).The memo states that GameStop is looking to "reduce our cost structure and build efficiencies into our field leadership organization so that we can reinvest in the business."It goes on to state: "These decisions are not easy, but necessary to help us reduce costs to enable revenue-driving initiatives that will help grow the business once again."GameStop did not respond to GameSpot's request for comment, which was made outside of business hours.Earlier this year, GameStop closed the ThinkGeek website, and folded that business into the wider GameStop umbrella. The company's share price of $3.84 today is close to the lowest its been in the company's history.Recently, GameSpot spoke with GameStop's chief customer officer, Frank Hamlin, who spoke about why the rise in popularity of digital games won't kill the retailer. Info from Gamespot.com

More than six years after it launched in October 2013, Grand Theft Auto V's online mode continues to set records. The new Diamond Casino update was immensely popular, giving GTA Online the most number of players in a single day (July 23) and for the entire week after launch (July 23-29).Developer Rockstar Games shared these numbers with The Hollywood Reporter. However, the always-secretive company did not share specific player numbers. In November 2015, GTA Online was averaging 8 million players per week, so the new figure related to the Diamond Casino update is at least known to be higher than that.GTA V, meanwhile, has shipped a jaw-dropping 110 million copies worldwide, making it one of the most successful entertainment products in history.The Diamond Casino update for GTA Online is massive and rich in content. In addition to finally letting players into a casino where they can gamble, the update contains six new story missions and numerous other new competitive modes. You can read GameSpot's previous coverage to find out more on the Diamond Casino update.GTA Online is the free multiplayer mode for GTA V that makes money from the various microtransactions it offers. The game is incredibly lucrative for Rockstar and parent publisher Take-Two.Fans have for a long time wondered if GTA V would get single-player DLC, but Rockstar confirmed in 2017 that the game will never add new story content. "We did not feel single-player expansions were either possible or necessary, but we may well do them for future projects," Rockstar design director Imran Sarwar said.Info from Gamespot.com

Mutant Year Zero took me by surprise. When you tap the space bar to switch from the real-time exploration mode to the turn-based tactical mode, it's not considered activating combat. You're not entering into battle. The word “Fight!” doesn't leap out of the centre of the screen. Instead, the space bar is labeled “Ambush” and, while pressing it does indeed initiate a turn-based XCOM-style encounter, the semantics make all the difference.Road to Eden is all about using stealth to thoroughly scout dangers ahead, then applying that knowledge to maneuver your squad into position for the perfect ambush. Do your research and plan well, and you can take out your target without them (or their cohorts) even realizing what has happened. Proceed without caution and you'll soon be bleeding out, your impatience severely punished. Approached properly, Mutant Year Zero isn't a difficult game; it’s a tight, cohesive tactical masterclass that rewards the diligent player.Road to Eden depicts a post-apocalyptic Scandinavia where resources are scarce and knowledge of what the world used to be is even harder to come by. Stalkers are sent from the Ark, one of the few remaining hubs of human civilization, into the Zone to scavenge for scrap and fend off the bandits, ghouls, feral dogs and worse that now occupy the ruined towns and suburbs. Everyone, even those safe in the Ark, has been touched by mutation. But Dux and Bormin, the two starting playable stalkers, are different; they're mutated animals, a duck and a boar, respectively.At first glance, there's a lot you can do to customize each stalker and gear them up to specialize in certain fields, letting you mix and match your active squad based on the task at hand. The limited number of weapons and sheer expense of upgrades means you're forced to make tough choices. Should you spend literally all your weapon parts on the close-quarters effectiveness of Bormin's scattergun, or are you better served improving the ranged potency of Dux's crossbow? You can only afford one right now and, since there's no capacity for grinding, it may be some time before you can afford the other.Sometimes the decisions are easier. Up against robots? You'll want at least one stalker, probably two, with an effective EMP attack. Up against dogs? You'll want at least one stalker, probably two, with crowd control abilities to prevent their melee rush. If you've done your scouting properly, you'll know what's coming and know which stalkers to swap in and out before you tap that spacebar. But don't tap that spacebar just yet. You're not quite ready.The Zone is divided into a couple dozen maps networked across southwest Sweden. They're not especially large--bigger than an XCOM map, but hardly sprawling--and typically centered on an identifiable feature: a scrapyard, a school, a subway station, a fast food restaurant, and so on. When you first enter an area you're in exploration mode and free to walk around in real time. When you spot an enemy you can enter stealth mode by switching off your flashlight, thus slightly reducing your visibility but also greatly reducing the distance at which the enemy will spot you. You're still moving around in real time, just slower and more discreetly.The tension is ratcheted up during this pre-combat exploration phase, as you're tip-toeing into hostile territory, identifying how many enemies await you, what types they are, what levels they are, whether they're patrolling, where those patrol routes take them, where their vision cones intersect, and so on. You've noticed one enemy's patrol route takes him away from the others. You hit F to split up your party and guide them individually into position. Bormin has his back to a tree, Dux is on the roof of a nearby building, and Selma is crouched behind a rock at the end of the unsuspecting enemy's patrol route. He's there now. Time to hit the spacebar.It's all about the ambush. It's about analyzing each scenario in the exploration phase and identifying which enemies you can eliminate, one by one, without alerting others. But pulling off a series of clean hits isn't always possible. Inevitably something will go wrong--you'll miss that 75% chance shot you were counting on or fail to do quite enough damage before the enemy gets its turn and calls out for reinforcements--and suddenly the whole area is on alert and you're scrambling to improvise a new plan. In these moments of high chaos, when the rug is pulled out from under you, this is where the game really shines.The tactical combat engine borrows a lot from Firaxis' revival of XCOM and offers as much depth alongside a presentation that ensures all critical information is clearly communicated at all times. And you need to be well-informed, because most of the time--outside of the odd simple skirmish that introduces a new element--there's an awful lot to think about. Enemy variety is key; there are basic brutes who charge you in melee, snipers who hunker down on overwatch, shamen who can call in reinforcements, and medbots who can revive enemies, pyros who flush you out with molotovs, and that's just the early stages. Later, there are high-HP tanks who can ram your cover, priests who can buff fellow enemies or deliver chain lightning attacks, giant dogs who can knock you over and maul you for multiple turns, while others possess mind control powers and more. Tackling groups of enemies drawn from several of these types can be hugely challenging, even when you've culled their numbers with some decisive early stealth takedowns.The stakes are high, especially on the harder difficulty settings. Your stalkers' health will be measured in single and low-double digits for much of the game, meaning it only takes a couple of direct hits to put them down. Similarly, your weapons can only fire once, twice, or if you're lucky, three times before you need to use up valuable action points to reload. These limited resources echo the post-apocalyptic themes of scarcity and survival while also raising moment-to-moment tactical considerations in combat.Juggling all the demands of combat, from patiently surveying the field beforehand through to learning how to best counter each enemy type and improvising a new strategy when it all goes horribly wrong, make for an immensely satisfying tactical experience. But as enjoyable as the predefined encounters on offer over the course of Road to Eden's mostly linear story are, it's still a linear story. On a new playthrough, that same map will still feature the same enemies standing in the same spots or running the same patrol routes. Outside of testing yourself against the hardest difficulty and a permadeath mode (assuming you don't opt for these first time through), there's not a lot of replay value to be found.It's a shame, because the combat engine is so robust I would love to continue pitting myself against some sort of randomly generated map long after completing the main story. Mutant Year Zero's clever focus on stealth and pre-combat preparation reward your diligence, its turn-based combat encounters are complex, and they help bolster its all-encompassing post-apocalyptic atmosphere. It is a superb tactical combat campaign that you shouldn't let sneak past.[Update, 08/01/2019: Mutant Year Zero: Deluxe Edition is now out on Nintendo Switch, and it includes new expansion, Seeds Of Evil. While this version runs smoothly, it exhibits poor visual fidelity compared to its console and PC counterparts. Whether in handheld or docked mode, a low resolution and blurry overall look reduce the luster of post-apocalyptic Sweden. It also makes scavenging areas for scrap and weapon parts--essential to keeping your Stalkers well-equipped, and already difficult items to spot--a lot harder.The Seeds Of Evil expansion, also available on other platforms, expands the game's story past the somewhat abrupt ending of Road To Eden. Additional map areas and new enemy archetypes introduce challenging new scenarios; a new character, additional weapons, and upgraded perks give you more options to consider as you plan your ambushes. Seeds of Evil also adds a system that will occasionally repopulate existing map areas with enemies and items, which effectively adds a continual stream of optional encounters and mitigates the base game's issues with replayability. These new additions feel like a natural continuation the game's already robust tactical offering, both in terms of its plot and difficulty scaling, and comes recommended.]Info from Gamespot.com