Super Smash Bros. Ultimate's big 4.0 patch is out now and it introduces a variety of changes and tweaks. Alongside the release of Hero from Dragon Quest--who can be acquired via the $25 USD Fighters Pass or purchased individually for $6 USD--the game's growing roster has seen some balancing. Most notable are changes to Charizard and Ridley.The 4.0 update buffs Charizard significantly. His side smash attack now has increased power and launch distance. The pinwheel-like air attack--executed by performing a neutral jump and pressing attack--sees Charizard's vulnerability reduced after landing, but the hit detection lasts a little longer. Further, his forward throw now launches players just a little farther and his side special, Flare Blitz, causes him to grab the edge a little faster.Ridley also sees a buff in the 4.0 patch. His back air attack hits harder now, while his dash attack has more range. The up smash attack's hit detection lasts longer and it launches farther. Ridley's side special, Space Pirate Rush, has reduced vulnerability, but players will get launched farther if thrown at the edge of a map. And Wing Blitz, Ridley's up special, now has increased attack and movement speed.In addition to modifications to a plethora of fighters, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate's 4.0 patch notes introduce a variety of changes. Among the many changes are balance tweaks and a new adventure difficulty. The new Very Easy difficulty for adventure mode gives you more leniency while fighting through the World of Light. The Final Smash also gets a time limit, meaning you can no longer just sit on the attack. Finally, the 4.0 update introduces two new modes: Online Tournament, which occasionally offers special rule sets, and Spectate, which gives rewards for betting on the winner.You can check out the full fighter adjustments below and on Nintendo's website.Super Smash Bros. Ultimate 4.0 Update Balance ChangesFighterMoveChangeCommon for All Fighters Using Shields (Link, Young Link, Toon Link, Hero)Basic MovementsCharacters who carry shields can now shieldstun shuffle when blocking a projectile with their shield.All FightersFS MeterOnce the FS Meter is fully charged, the Final Smash must be used within 20 seconds or the FS Meter will reset. Note: This change will not affect Spirits mode.All Fighters--The max combo count in Training will stop counting when the opponent can moveAll FightersItem AttackShortened the distance opponents can hitstun shuffle when attacked by the Daybreak item.All FightersItem AttackA fighter on the ground will now be launched after one hit from the Thwomp assist trophy.MarioBasic MovementsAdjusted the vulnerability when waking up from sleep to match other fighters.Donkey KongBasic MovementsAdjusted the vulnerability when waking up from sleep to match other fighters.LinkBasic MovementsAdjusted the vulnerability when waking up from sleep to match other fighters.LinkUp SpecialShortened launch distance when the full combo doesn't connect.SamusBasic MovementsAdjusted the vulnerability when waking up from sleep to match other fighters.SamusUp Smash AttackShortened launch distance when the full combo doesn't connect.Dark SamusUp Smash AttackShortened launch distance when the full combo doesn't connect.YoshiSide Smash AttackReduced the range opponents will be pushed while charging.FoxBasic MovementsAdjusted the vulnerability when waking up from sleep to match other fighters.PeachNeutral SpecialWhen blocking an attack from the rear, Toad’s counterattack will hit opponents easier.PeachUp SpecialShortened launch distance when the full combo doesn't connect.DaisyNeutral SpecialWhen blocking an attack from the rear, Toad’s counterattack will hit opponents easier.DaisyUp SpecialShortened launch distance when the full combo doesn't connect.BowserDown Air AttackImmediately descend when using the attack after being launched.SheikDown Air AttackImmediately descend when using the attack after being launched.MewtwoBasic MovementsReduced the area of the tail that can take damage.MewtwoUp Smash AttackIncreased the amount of time hit detection lasts.Extended launch distance.MewtwoDown Smash AttackReduced vulnerability.MewtwoBackward ThrowIncreased power.MewtwoSide SpecialIncreased attack speed.Increased the speed to reflect projectiles.Mr. Game & WatchDown Air AttackImmediately descend when using the attack after being launched.PitNeutral Attack 1Increased attack speed.PitUp Tilt AttackReduced vulnerability.PitDown Smash AttackExtended launch distance when hit with the first attack.PitBack Air AttackReduced vulnerability when landing after using the move.PitDown Air AttackExtended launch distance when hitting an opponent in the air with a meteor effect.Dark PitNeutral Attack 1Increased attack speed.Dark PitUp Tilt AttackReduced vulnerability.Dark PitDown Smash AttackExtended launch distance when hit with the first attack.Dark PitBack Air AttackReduced vulnerability when landing after using the move.Dark PitDown Air AttackExtended launch distance when hitting an opponent in the air with a meteor effect.Zero Suit SamusDown Air AttackImmediately descend when using the attack after being launched.SnakeBasic MovementsAdjusted the vulnerability when waking up from sleep to match other fighters.Pokémon TrainerOtherThe invincibility time for grabbing edges is no longer shortened when performing a Pokémon Change in the air and then grabbing an edge.IvysaurDown Air AttackReduced the range of the strong launching attack.Shortened the launch distance when the weak launching attack hits.IvysaurSide SpecialReduced attack speed and increased vulnerability.IvysaurUp SpecialShortened launch distance for the high-damage range when using the attack in the air.CharizardSide Tilt AttackExtended launch distance when hit in the high-damage range.CharizardSide Smash AttackIncreased power. Extended launch distance.CharizardUp Smash AttackShortened launch distance when the full combo doesn't connect.CharizardNeutral Air AttackIncreased the amount of time hit detection lasts. Reduced vulnerability when landing after using the move.CharizardForward ThrowExtended launch distance.CharizardSide SpecialIncreased the speed of the edge-grab timing.LucasDash AttackIncreased the amount of time hit detection lasts.LucasSide Tilt AttackIncreased the range at the beginning of the move.Extended launch distance when hit in the high-damage range.LucasUp Smash AttackExtended the invincibility time at the start of the move.LucasUp Air AttackReduced vulnerability.LucasSide SpecialReduced vulnerability when landing after using the move.SonicDown Air AttackImmediately descend when using the attack after being launched.OlimarSide Smash AttackIncreased the distance for Purple Pikmin.Increased the amount of time hit detection lasts for Purple Pikmin.R.O.B.Neutral Attack 1Reduced the amount of time opponents will be in the damage animation when hit with the tip’s attack range.Toon LinkDown Air AttackImmediately descend when using the attack after being launched.VillagerUp Smash AttackMade it easier to hit multiple times.Rosalina & LumaBasic MovementsRosalina can be more easily grabbed from the front when walking, crouching, and shielding when Luma is following.Rosalina & LumaNeutral Attack 1Luma will be in front when reversing the attack.Rosalina & LumaSide Smash AttackLuma will be in front when reversing the attack.Rosalina & LumaUp Smash AttackLuma will be in front when reversing the attack.GreninjaDown Air AttackImmediately descend when using the attack after being launched.Little MacNeutral Attack 3Depending on the timing of continuing from neutral attack 2 to neutral attack 3, neutral attack 3 will no longer decrease vulnerability.Mii BrawlerBasic MovementsReverted falling speed to match version 3.0.0.Mii BrawlerNeutral Special 2Increased attack speed.Extended launch distance.Mii BrawlerUp Special 1Extended launch distance.Mii SwordfighterNeutral Special 3Made it easier to hit multiple times.Mii GunnerUp Smash AttackMade it easier to hit multiple times.Shortened launch distance when the full combo doesn't connect.PAC-MANNeutral SpecialWill no longer drop the Bonus Fruit while charging the neutral special even if flipped left or right with attacks like Mario’s side special.RyuBasic MovementsThe attack after a perfect shield will be unleashed after facing the opponent.KenBasic MovementsThe attack after a perfect shield will be unleashed after facing the opponent.CorrinSide Smash AttackExtended launch distance.CorrinDown Air AttackImmediately descend when using the attack after being launched.CorrinSide SpecialReduced vulnerability when jumping after stabbing the ground.CorrinUp SpecialExtended vertical and horizontal distance.BayonettaDown Air AttackImmediately descend when using the attack after being launched.RidleyUp Smash AttackIncreased the amount of time hit detection lasts.Extended launch distance.RidleyBack Air AttackIncreased power.RidleyUp Air AttackIncreased the high-damage range.Made easier to hit the high-damage range.RidleyDash AttackIncreased attack range.RidleySide SpecialReduced vulnerability when jumping after grabbing an opponent.Extended launch distance when throwing an opponent at the edge.RidleyUp SpecialIncreased attack speed.Increased movement speed.SimonDown Air AttackImmediately descend when using the attack after being launched.RichterDown Air AttackImmediately descend when using the attack after being launched.IsabelleBasic MovementsExtended distance of forward and backward dodging.IsabelleNeutral Attack 1Made it easier to hit multiple times.IsabelleUp Smash AttackExtended launch distance.IsabelleSide SpecialExtended launch distance of upward throws.Increased the speed of the grab detection.IsabelleDown SpecialIncreased attack speed of the Lloid attack.Piranha PlantDash AttackAdjusted launch angle.Piranha PlantUp Tilt AttackReduced vulnerability.Piranha PlantSide SpecialCapped the attack-power increase when repeatedly reflected.Increased attack speed.Increased the amount of time hit detection lasts.Piranha PlantDown SpecialReduced vulnerability.Increased the power against shields.Shortened the charge time until reaching max charge.JokerDown SpecialWhile Arsene is summoned, projectiles that deal 50% or more damage cannot be reflected.Info from Gamespot.com

The Xbox Store is constantly offering new deals on a weekly basis, but this week's round of game discounts will be exciting for any fighting game aficionados. In celebration of Evo 2019, the annual fighting game tournaments held August 2-4 in Las Vegas, the Xbox Store is offering huge discounts on some of the event's biggest games, like Dragon Ball FighterZ and SoulCalibur VI. The following deals are available through Monday, August 5.If you've yet to pick up Dragon Ball FighterZ, the anime-inspired fighting game is only $15 USD (was $60), with its FighterZ edition on sale for $38 (was $95) and its Ultimate Edition marked down to $44 (was $110). The Dragon Ball FighterZ Fighter Pass is also discounted to $19.24 from $35. Tekken 7 is also majorly discounted right now, with its standard edition selling for $20 (was $50), its Rematch edition selling for $40 (was $80), and its Ultimate edition selling for just $50 (was $100). Alternatively, you can also pick up Tekken 7's season passes separately, as both passes are also on sale.You can also grab SoulCalibur VI for super cheap--the standard edition is marked down to $19.79 (was $60), while the Deluxe edition is now $36 (was $90). Other highlights from the Evo sale include the Capcom Beat 'Em Up bundle for only $10 (was $20), Marvel vs. Capcom Infinite - Deluxe Edition for $19.79 (was $60), and the Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection for $20 (was $40).If you've already got all the fighting games you need, it's worth checking out all the DLC marked down as part of the sale, too. There are a ton of discounted characters, costumes, music packs, and more, so now's a good time to grab various upgrades for any titles you own.See all Xbox One game dealsBest Xbox One game deals | 7/29 - 8/5Capcom Beat 'Em Up bundle -- $10 / £8Dragon Ball FighterZ -- $15 / £12.49Dragon Ball FighterZ Fighter Pass -- $19.24 / £16.49Dragon Ball FigherZ - FighterZ Edition -- $38 / £30Dragon Ball FighterZ - Ultimate Edition -- $44 / £41Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite -- $13.19 / £10.88Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite - Deluxe Edition -- $19.79 / £16.49Mortal Kombat 11 - Kombat Pack -- $34 / £27.87Mortal Kombat 11 - Premium Edition -- $85 / £68Samurai Shodown -- $51 / £42.49Samurai Shodown - Deluxe Edition -- $68 / £56.94SoulCalibur VI -- $19.79 / £16.49SoulCalibur VI - Deluxe Edition -- $36 / £30Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection -- $20 / £17.49Tekken 7 -- $20 / £16.49Tekken 7 - Rematch Edition -- $40 / £32.49Tekken 7 Season Pass -- $15 / £12Tekken 7 Season Pass 2 -- $22.49 / £18.74Tekken 7 - Ultimate Edition -- $50 / £40Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 -- $10 / £8Info from Gamespot.com

Between the arrival of Shiny Rayquaza and the long-awaited debut of Team Rocket, this summer has certainly been busy for Pokemon Go, and now the game's next Community Day is just around the corner. Niantic is hosting its next monthly event this Saturday, August 3, which means players around the world will soon have another opportunity to catch a rare Pokemon and add a special event-exclusive move to their repertoire.Traditionally, each Community Day only runs for three hours, but the specific details of the events--such as what Pokemon will appear more often in the wild and what other bonuses will be available--tend to vary month by month. To help you prepare for this month's event, we've rounded up all of the most important details about August's Community Day below, from its start times to its featured Pokemon and everything else you need to know.What Is August's Featured Pokemon?Every Community Day revolves around one "featured Pokemon," which serves as the sort of star of the event. Not only will this monster spawn in the wild much more often than it normally does during the Community Day hours, you'll also have your first opportunity to find and catch a Shiny version of it. This month, the featured Pokemon will be Ralts, a Psychic/Fairy Pokemon originally introduced in Ruby and Sapphire.Throughout the Community Day, Ralts will appear in the wild much more frequently than usual, making this a good opportunity to catch as many as you can and stock up on Ralts Candy, which you'll need to power up its CP and evolve it. On top of that, you'll have your first chance to catch a Shiny Ralts during the Community Day hours. Shiny Pokemon are a rare sight in Pokemon Go, however, so you'll want to stay out as long as you can to ensure you encounter one before the event ends.Pokemon Go Guide: How To Catch And Purify Team Rocket's Shadow PokemonPokemon Go: Shiny Rayquaza Appearing In Raids This WeekWhat Is August's Community Day Move?In addition to appearing in greater numbers than normal, each featured Pokemon is capable of learning a special event-exclusive move that it otherwise couldn't normally use in Pokemon Go. To obtain this move, you typically need to evolve the featured Pokemon into its final form by the end of the event. Ralts is unique in that it has two possible final evolutions, Gardevoir or Gallade, but regardless of which one you choose, it will learn the Psychic attack Synchronoise if you're able to evolve it up to an hour after the Community Day ends.Any Gardevoir or Gallade you obtain during August's Community Day will learn Synchronoise, even if you originally captured their pre-evolved forms before the event. However, they'll only learn the special attack if they're evolved during the aforementioned time frame. Evolution is a costly process in Pokemon Go, so you'll need to capture as many Ralts as you can during the event to amass enough Candy.What Time Does August's Community Day Start?Community Days typically run from 3-6 PM local time, but much like last month's event, August's Community Day will take place from 4-7 PM local time instead. According to developer Niantic, the hours were pushed back slightly to make the event more enjoyable during the hot summer months. This is only a temporary change, however; Niantic says the schedule will return to its normal times once summer is over.What Other Bonuses Are There?Along with increased Pokemon spawns, Niantic offers a few other bonuses during each Community Day as another incentive to participate in the event. As usual, any Lure Modules you use will last three hours during the Community Day, rather than their usual 30-minute duration. On top of that, Incubators will be four times as effective as normal; that means Pokemon Eggs will hatch at a quarter of the distance they normally require. You can read more about August's Community Day on the official Pokemon website.Info from Gamespot.com

Ubisoft looks to be targeting its Chinese market, as the publisher announced a new Rabbids game featuring Chinese themes is on its way to Nintendo Switch. The game, possibly titled Crazy Rabbid: Adventure Party, will be shown at ChinaJoy this weekend.Industry analyst Daniel Ahmad tweeted that the game is a four-player "Rabbids meets Journey to the West" experience developed by Ubisoft Chengdu. It has a Mario Party quality to it, with various mini games where you cooperate with and play against your friends. Check out the reveal trailer below.New Rabbids Party game coming to Nintendo Switch. Will be shown at ChinaJoy this week. Rabbids meets Journey to the West. 4 Players. Developed by Ubisoft Chengdu. pic.twitter.com/E9AAV1g3N5 — Daniel Ahmad (@ZhugeEX) July 31, 2019A post on the official Chinese Ubisoft page says "the world[s] of [the] game [are] inspired by 'The Journey to the West,' a traditional Chinese literature." Journey to the West, normally attributed to Chinese novelist and poet Wu Cheng'en, was published in the 16th century and serves as an extended look at the travels of Buddhist monk Xuanzang, who explored the Western Regions of Central Asian and India.While the post is in Chinese and translator services aren't always accurate, Crazy Rabbid is looking to test "your ability to react, remember, endurance, and accuracy." ChinaJoy, the largest gaming and digital entertainment conference in China, runs from Friday, August 2 to Monday, August 5. We'll learn more about Crazy Rabbid: Adventure Party then, though there's no confirmation whether the game will release in other regions.Crazy Rabbids wouldn't be the first exclusive Rabbids game for Nintendo Switch. In August 2017, Ubisoft released Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle, a turn-based, tactical RPG similar to XCOM: Enemy Unknown, for the console-handheld hybrid. In our review of the game, we said, "Coupled with the annoyingly infectious allure of Rabbids, and the always delightful, colorful world of the Mushroom Kingdom, Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle is an implausibly engrossing formula that is positively challenging and endlessly charming."Info from Gamespot.com

Hearthstone's upcoming Saviors of Uldum expansion is introducing a lot of interesting new cards that are sure to shake up the meta-game. But during its final card reveal livestream, Blizzard introduced one of the coolest and (according to its engineers) most complicated cards yet: the Legendary Zephrys the Great.Zephrys is a 2-Mana 3/2 Legendary minion that grants you a wish for "the perfect card." Under the hood, that means the game is examining all the public factors in your game, and offering you three options for cards that might help. If you happen to need to clear the board, he might offer you some area-of-effect spells. If your board is already solid, maybe he'll offer you a buff.It's a simple concept, but it was apparently extremely hard to implement. Game Designer Chadd Nervig said on Twitter that "the amount of effort that went into bringing you this one individual card absolutely dwarfs all other cards." He also pointed out that Zephrys is even smart enough to hand you lethal damage to finish a match before you necessarily realize why it's offering a particular card.My favorite card that we've ever made. The amount of effort that went into bringing you this one individual card absolutely dwarfs all other cards.My favorite thing is when you play him, and are like "? That's weird, why would it... OH WAIT THAT'S LETHAL!" pic.twitter.com/7BuD6WPlTp — ✨🐉 (@Celestalon) July 31, 2019In follow-up tweets, Nervig explained that Zephrys only looks at all the public info in a game--like how many cards are in your hand, minions on the board, and Mana crystals--but not private info like what you or your opponents' cards are. Also, for obvious game balance reasons, Zephrys won't ever offer you a way to replay him, like a bounce-back effect. It also comes with a limitation in that your deck can't have any duplicates. This is commonly known in Hearthstone as a "singleton" or "Reno" deck.As a Legendary card, Zephrys will be difficult to pull from random packs and expensive to craft. But as a value-generator that's smarter than the average card, it's probably a smart pick to be among your first crafted cards for Uldum.For more cards from Hearthstone's Saviors of Uldum expansion, including our own reveal of the powerful puzzle Mogu Cultist, check out our full gallery of all the cards coming in the expansion. Saviors of Uldum launches on August 6.Info from Gamespot.com

The immensely-popular Pokemon Go has surpassed another impressive milestone. According to Pokemon website Serebii, the mobile game has been downloaded more than one billion times since its July 2016 launch.Serebii caught a Japanese Pokemon Go advertisement released by the Pokemon Company. The video notes that the augumented reality game has been downloaded more than one billion times worldwide.Serebii Update: Pokémon GO has been downloaded 1 billion times since its launch in July 2016 https://t.co/gDbXkHSvkT pic.twitter.com/2XcXzUbo5u — Serebii.net (@SerebiiNet) July 31, 2019Pokemon Go's rising numbers aren't too surprising. Two months after market introduction, the game was downloaded 500 million times by September 2016. By February 2017, developer Niantic announced that Pokemon Go surpassed 650 million downloads. 800 million downloads was the last figure Niantic announced back in May 2018 before jumping over the one billion download mark.The announcement comes off the heels of new features being introduced to Pokemon Go. A shiny version of Pokemon Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald legendary Rayquaza is now catchable until September 2. Team Rocket finally made its debut, bringing along sShadow Pokemon as the evil corporation took over PokeStops. And with August right around the corner, Niantic confirmed that Saturday, August 3, is the next Pokemon Go Community Day.Info from Gamespot.com

The Fast & Furious spin-off Hobbs & Shaw hits theaters this week, and ahead of that, reviews have started to appear online. To help you get an idea about if the film is worth your time and money, we've rounded up review scores and opinions from various outlets. GameSpot reviewer Chris E. Hayner said it is "wildly entertaining and loaded with the kind of thrills you come to expect from Fast & Furious movies"Hobbs & Shaw stars Dwayne Johnson as former federal Agent Luke Hobbs and Jason Statham as mercenary-for-hire Owen Shaw. The pair are forced to become reluctant allies to take on genetically modified ex-MI6 agent Brixton Lore, played by Idris Elba. It's directed by David Leitch, who made Deadpool 2 and Atomic Blonde, as well as co-directing the first John Wick movie.You can see a rundown of Hobbs & Shaw reviews below, while more information on the film's critical reception can be found on GameSpot sister site Metacritic.Hobbs & Shaw (2019)Directed By: David LeitchWritten By: Chris Morgan, Drew PearceStarring: Dwayne Johnson, Jason Statham, Idris Elba, Vanessa Kirby, Helen MirrenRelease Date: August 2 (United States)GameSpot"Ultimately, Hobbs & Shaw is probably the movie you want it to be. It's funny with massive-scale action, the likes of which you rarely see outside of this franchise. It's loaded with car chases, explosions, and fight scenes in which every character should repeatedly die. It's just unfortunate that the pieces of the film that aren't soaked in action don't add up. This movie could have been incredible. Instead, it's just a lot of adrenaline-fueled fun. Sometimes, though, that's more than enough." -- Chris E Hayner [Full review]The Wrap"Hobbs & Shaw generally doesn't reinvent any wheels in the franchise. But it does underscore the undeniable chemistry between bonafide action figures Johnson and Statham in a film that doesn't try to be anything more than a frivolous blockbuster, but with heart." -- Candice Frederick [Full review]Indiewire"Overloaded with hit-or-miss action sequences, a half-baked supervillain, and paint-by-numbers plotting about a virus with the potential to destroy the world, Hobbs & Shaw often struggles to surmount the low bar of today's blockbuster standards. But at the center of it, Johnson and Statham inhabit a higher plane, with such alluring chemistry as their hatred pulls them together it's a wonder they don't just get a room." -- Eric Kohn [Full review]Entertainment Weekly"If you can ever be too fast or too furious, too banter-y or too bald, that's a vanishing point that goes unrecognized in Hobbs & Shaw — a testosterone motherlode so relentlessly, ridiculously adrenalized, it doesn't so much unfold as steadily defibrillate you." -- Leah Greenblatt [Full review]The Hollywood Reporter"Hobbs & Shaw can be a great deal of fun much of the time. The two leads' highly competitive shtick is more amusing than not — the insults fly hot and heavy — as are the outrageously adverse predicaments over which they invariably manage to gain an upper hand. Director Leitch figuratively winks at the audience and elbows it in the ribs as he has his characters break the laws of physics time and time again.." -- Todd McCarthy [Full review]The AV Club"The sincere dopiness never sits well with the wiseass, self-mocking tone that Leitch adopts in the early, more energetic stretches of the film. The difference between being too smart for one's own good and not being smart enough can be perilously thin. " --Ignatiy Vishnevetsky [Full review]ScreenCrush"Hobbs & Shaw is the movie version of a replacement-level player. It is adequate, but not exceptional. It's the baseline version of what one of these movies should be, now that they're not about undercover cops chasing thieves anymore.." -- Matt Singer [Full review] Info from Gamespot.com

EA has confirmed a new event is coming to Apex Legends ahead of the battle royale game's third season. The publisher made the announcement during its latest earnings call, where it also revealed that Apex Legends: Season 2 is performing beyond expectations.According to VG247, Respawn will debut an in-game event in Apex Legends that will "bring new content and deliver one of the most fan-requested features." EA CEO Andrew Wilson said the event will release "in the next few weeks." No other details were provided, but if the event is scheduled to release fairly soon, it's possible we'll be given more concrete details before long.Fans have requested numerous features for Apex Legends, so it's difficult to deduce what Wilson might be teasing. The most common requests are typically the addition of Titans--as Apex Legends is a part of the same universe as Titanfall and Titanfall 2--or a singles mode where players compete without a team. It's possible either one could happen, especially if the event turns out to be limited-time--meaning Respawn wouldn't be required to devote long-term resources towards balancing the mode.Also during the call, Wilson said that Apex Legends: Season 3 is "shaping up to be even bigger" than Season 2, though it will utilize a similar schedule of content drops and patch releases. Season 3 is currently scheduled to begin in the second quarter of the fiscal year, so sometime between now and the end of September. Apex Legends Season 2 battle pass is scheduled to end in the final days of September, so it's probably safe to assume Season 3 will begin then. Wilson also reiterated that EA plans on porting Apex Legends to mobile devices, though he did not share when that might be.Apex Legends is available for Xbox One, PS4, and PC. In our Apex Legends review, Phil Hornshaw wrote, "Apex Legends is a mix of smart shooter ideas that makes for a competitive, team-based game that gets at all the best parts of battle royale while addressing a lot of the weaknesses. Respawn's intense focus on team play makes Apex more than just a worthy addition to the genre; it's an indicator of where battle royale should go in the future."Info from Gamespot.com

It's been over six months since the Dark Souls Trilogy Compendium first went up for pre-order on Amazon, and the book has since been plagued by multiple delays that led some to believe it may not come out at all. But luckily for any fans who submitted their pre-order requests as far back as January, the guide is finally arriving on people's doorsteps. You can order a copy for yourself today, and it's even 34% off right now, selling for $33.09 with free shipping on Amazon. Its list price is $50.Dark Souls Trilogy Compendium$33.09 ($50)See it at AmazonDubbed "the ultimate Dark Souls reference book," the Dark Souls compendium is a stunning hardcover book with pages printed on premium art paper. Inside, you'll find everything you need to know about the critically acclaimed trilogy, from in-depth lore to detailed, illustrated maps and a chronicle of every piece of NPC dialogue in the three games. The book also includes a bookmark ribbon and four art prints you can hang on your walls.German publisher Future Press, which has produced collector's edition guides for other games like Bloodborne and Horizon Zero Dawn, took to Twitter to clear up some of the confusion around the Dark Souls compendium's shipping delays. On April 29, Future Press tweeted that all copies were being printed on a high-quality printer in Europe, causing an initial delay to ensure quality control. Then, on July 15, the publisher updated its followers that the books were being held for two weeks by US customs for inspection. Finally, on July 23, Future Press confirmed that the books are now in stock at Amazon, despite conflicting information in Amazon's listing and in emails some people have received.And fortunately, people are corroborating that claim, with many reporting that their copies have finally arrived.Completly forgot that I had this on pre order, well it arrived today, Dark Souls Trilogy Compendium. pic.twitter.com/mW01L0JBFr — James 🎧 Playing: Star Ocean 4 (@ARKphoenix) June 13, 2019Finally got my hands on @FuturePress Dark Souls Trillogy Compendium it was worth the wait. #DarkSouls #fromsoftware #gaming pic.twitter.com/7oMNskQulZ — Jlt_jr (@jlt_jr) July 31, 2019Future Press’ gorgeous Dark Souls Trilogy Compendium is finally here! Almost 500 pages worth of DS goodness! 🙌🏻 pic.twitter.com/8aKqHxnOCN — Eric Flaris (@EricFlaris) July 31, 2019So whether you've been on the fence about pre-ordering or are hearing about the compendium for the first time, it finally seems safe to place your order. There's no knowing how long it will be discounted at Amazon, where prices fluctuate frequently, so there's no better time to snag a copy for yourself or even a friend or family member (early Christmas present, perhaps?). Let us know in the comments down below--will you be picking up the Dark Souls Compendium now that it's finally shipping? Info from Gamespot.com

Kono Oto Kamare: Sounds of Life, which wrapped up its first season in June 2019 and landed on our best of Spring 2019 guide, will return this October, Funimation confirms. With 20 volumes in the manga series, written by Amyu, there's plenty of material fans may see in the upcoming second season.With Sounds of Life receiving a second season, the Shonen anime will get a new opening. Crunchyroll reports that the new opening, titled "Harmony," is performed by Shouta Ao, Mio Kanzaki's Japanese voice actor in the anime. There's also a new ending, and while it doesn't have a title, Crunchyroll states that it's performed by Chika Kudo's voice actor Yuma Uchida.Sounds of Life is a slice-of-life anime, following the Tokise high school Koto club's last member--a sophomore named Takezo Kurata--as he seeks to revitalize the club after the rest of its members graduate. Production company Funimation, where Sounds of Life is streaming, says the story is about how difficult it can be to find harmony, especially "when a delinquent and a prodigy player sign up." Sounds of Life is available on Hulu as well, so it's likely the anime's second season will arrive on the streaming platform.According to Crunchyroll, Kono Oto Kamare: Sounds of Life's second season will air at the following times:Tokyo MX: every Saturday during the 25:00 time slot beginning on October 05, 2019.BS11: every Saturday during the 25:00 time slot beginning on October 05, 2019.AT-X: every Monday during the 22:00 time slot beginning on October 07, 2019.Tochigi TV: every Monday during the 23:00 time slot beginning on October 07, 2019.WOWOW: every Wednesday during the 24:00 time slot beginning on October 09, 2019.Hokkaido Television Broadcasting: every Monday during the 25:25 time slot beginning on October 14, 2019.According to the video above, Sounds of Life Simulcasts on Saturdays at 10:30 AM PT / 12:30 PM CST / 1:30 PM ET / 6:30 PM BST and SimulDubs at 1 PM PT / 3 PM CST / 4 PM ET / 9 PM BST on the anime's official Funimation page.Info from Gamespot.com

Borderlands 3 has officially gone gold. Gearbox confirmed the game's status on Twitter and thanked everyone who contributed to its completion.For those not up to date on the lingo, a game that's "gone gold" has been completed and is ready for manufacturing. So Borderlands 3 is in its final stage before release. Any additional changes to the game's code that are made from now on will come in the form of a day one patch or post-release updates.We are pleased to announce that #Borderlands3 has gone GOLD! Thank you to everyone who worked so hard to make this happen! We’ll see you September 13th Vault Hunters! pic.twitter.com/CgwKbTgP9A — Gearbox Official (@GearboxOfficial) July 31, 2019Borderlands 3 takes place shortly after the events of both Tales from the Borderlands and Borderlands 2: Commander Lilith and the Fight for Sanctuary. The game launches with four new playable Vault Hunters--Zane, Amara, Moze, and FL4K--each of whom has some of the most uniquely designed skill trees seen in any previous Borderlands title.We've already had a chance to play as the first three. Zane can sacrifice his grenades to equip two different active skills at once, Amara's mastery of the elements allows her to mix and match the skills of every Siren that's come before her, and Moze is able to change what her active skill does by putting different weapons and armor on her Iron Bear mech.Launching on September 13 for Xbox One, PS4, and PC, Borderlands 3 has a limited-time exclusivity deal with the Epic Games Store. Once the deal is complete, the game will go to other PC platforms like Steam. Borderlands 3 is also releasing on Google Stadia once the cloud-based game streaming service launches. Though it won't have cross-platform play at launch, Gearbox is "committed" to making it happen.Info from Gamespot.com

The 1,000-player PC battle royale game, Mavericks: Proving Grounds, has been canceled. Developer Automaton Games is scuttling the project due to "insufficient funding," while the studio overall appears to be closing up shop.The developer confirmed the news in a post on its website. "Please be advised that due to insufficient funding, the development of the Mavericks: Proving Grounds game has now ceased."Automaton Games, which is based in the UK, has become insolvent, and insolvency practitioners Paul Appleton and Paul Cooper have been brought in to wind things down and close up the studio.It's an out-of-nowhere update for Marvericks. Just last week, the developers announced that the game reached the Alpha stage of development--which is a major milestone for any game. Marvericks was playable at E3 2019 back in June.Marvericks used the cloud-based SpatialOS tools that allowed the team to make massive worlds that could accommodate 1,000 players on a map. A public beta was planned for November.One of Automaton's other games, the asymmetrical first-person multiplayer horror game Deceit, may still see the light of day despite the studio going into administration. The administrators said they are currently working on a licensing deal for the game, presumably with a different company. The free-to-play games remains available on Steam, where it has mostly positive reviews, and the joint administrators said "there will be no change in the live operation and provision of this game."Info from Gamespot.com

Oscar-winner Ben Affleck was at one point attached to write, direct, and star in an all-new Batman movie. However, the actor eventually dropped out, and Matt Reeves came in to direct and write a new script. But what was Affleck's Batman movie going to be about?Robert Richardson, who was set to be the cinematographer on Affleck's movie, said on the Happy Sad Confused podcast that the Batman flick would have delved into "the insanity aspects.""Well, he was going more into the insanity aspects. So I think you would’ve seen something a little darker than what we've seen in the past and more into the individual, who's inside Batman," Richardson said, via Batman-News. "What element may be sane and what element may actually not be sane. So he was entering into a little more of the Arkham, as you know, he's going into where you keep everyone who was bad, everyone that shifted and Batman."Richardson said it was "very fascinating" to visit the darker side of Batman. Another interesting element is that Arkham Asylum is rarely seen in Batman movies, though Rocksteady's Batman: Arkham Asylum is set there. The new Joker movie starring Joaquin Phoenix will see the character visiting the "Arkham Hospital."Robert Pattinson stars in the new Batman as the caped crusader in the film that's due in theatres in June 2021. The movie has been in the works for several years; Affleck stepped down as director in early 2017, and more recently confirmed that he was no longer involved at all, stating that he had "tried to direct a version of it, but couldn't crack it." Info from Gamespot.com

According to a leak, the new DLC fighters for Street Fighter V are E. Honda, Lucia, and Poison. The leak suggests the announcement is supposed to be officially made during EVO 2019, which begins August 2 and continues through the weekend.Breaking on Steam, the leak included a new trailer for Street Fighter V that revealed the summer 2019 character bundle for the game. The video has now been taken down, but it featured E. Honda, Lucia, and Poison, who are all coming to Street Fighter V on August 4. A bundle including all three fighters will supposedly release the very next day. The trailer states that "certain costumes and Honda Senta stage" are excluded from the bundle.Edmond Honda, a talented sumo wrestler, has been a part of the fighting game series since Street Fighter II and also appeared in Street Fighter IV. Lucia has never appeared in a Street Fighter game before. An unorthodox detective, she made her fighting game debut in 1995's Final Fight 3. Like Lucia, Poison is a Final Fight character, first appearing in the original 1989 game. She made her Street Fighter debut in Street Fighter III: 2nd Impact but only as a cameo. She wouldn't be playable in the series until Street Fighter X Tekken. She'd return in Ultra Street Fighter IV.In our Street Fighter V: Arcade Edition review, Tamoor Hussain wrote, "With a slick new interface, fully-featured online and offline modes, and every character released thus far--plus Sakura, the first fighter from Season 3 of its DLC--Street Fighter V feels like a complete package. It has always been a strong fighting game that continues to get better over time, but it remained a game for genre enthusiasts. Arcade Edition, however, is a game that you can confidently recommend to anyone. Two years after its launch, Street Fighter V is finally fighting fit."Info from Gamespot.com

Continuing the Madden franchise's recent tradition of story modes, Madden NFL 20 introduces a new narrative campaign. This new mode generally falls flat, but the pro football sim stands out on the field, with new additions that faithfully capture the essence of the NFL experience while making it fun to play again and again.The new story mode, QB1: Face of the Franchise, replaces the Longshot story mode that was featured in Madden 18 and 19. Unlike those campaigns, which featured a pre-set character, Madden 20's QB1 mode lets you create an entirely unique football star and guide him through the final stages of his collegiate career with the hopes of making an NFL starting roster, and, on a longer timeline, complete a journey to hoisting the Lombardi Trophy at the Super Bowl.QB1's story picks up as you decide which college to attend and play for. However, the college football elements within Madden 20 are not anything significant. You select a school from 10 options, including heavyweights like Florida, Oklahoma, Texas, and Clemson. It's a treat to see fully licensed college football teams, complete with true-to-life jerseys, logos, stadiums, and marching band songs, but the gameplay experience in reality is limited to two games in the College Football Playoffs--and you can't play the college teams in quickplay later on.After winning the National Championship against all odds, you're off to the NFL Combine where your performance in front of scouts and GMs determines how high you go in the draft. There are some genuinely funny moments here with your aloof agent Les Moore, and interactions with him are some of the best character moments in the story mode. After making it to the NFL, the game then disappointingly becomes the standard Franchise mode, except your character has more backstory that acts as fuel to drive you to succeed on the field. That's the idea, at least; in practice, it leaves much to be desired.In part, that's because QB1's cinematic cutscenes and Telltale-style choices end once you get to the NFL. At that point, the narrative beats play out through text messages you receive from fans and other players from around the league. This delivery method makes conversations awkward and ultimately forgettable. There is one storyline in particular involving a sick child rooting for you that falls flat; it tries too hard to tug on your heartstrings, moody piano pieces and all, without earning any payoff. Without giving too much away, another major storyline in QB1 involves your college teammate and friend, and it ends abruptly, with the strong suggestion that the story will continue in Madden NFL 21. That's too bad, because this character, in the limited screen time he gets, is far more interesting than the cookie-cutter, run-of-the-mill one you create.In general, QB1 moves at such a fast pace that it doesn't allow for thoughtful character development. Not only that, but the story that QB1 does tell is hokey and clumsily unraveled. The story overall feels barebones and incomplete, with the entirety of the QB1 mode feeling like a half-baked idea in the end.Despite the lackluster story and the way it's delivered, QB1 succeeds in connecting you to your on-field performance and inspiring you to improve or play differently each week once you've made it to the NFL. The text message system, while not the best avenue for full conversation, is better utilized in delivering week-to-week objectives and challenges. You can complete these to earn XP, which you can then invest into your character in an RPG-lite-like system where you choose which aspects of your game you want to develop.As an example, I responded with some trash talk against one of the league's best cornerbacks, Richard Sherman, and my Game Day Goal, as it's called, was to achieve 400 yards or more of offense and a 60-yard pass--not an easy task with Sherman in the backfield. The system is dynamic and responsive to what happens on the field week-to-week, and this is a nice touch that provides a further level of connection to your character and their status in the league.Madden 20's standard Franchise mode, which is separate from the QB1 mode, gets a welcome update this year. Its implementation of the new Scenario Engine, which lets you interact with players and coaches through the aforementioned text-message system, is the best new feature for Franchise. Like with QB1, having weekly objectives that you decide on is a compelling way to keep you interested and engaged in a 16+ week season that can otherwise get monotonous and repetitive. However, Franchise mode overall doesn't get any other significant or meaningful updates this year, which might be a bummer for seasoned players wanting more.Perhaps the biggest and most exciting change for Madden 20 are the new X-Factor and Superstar abilities. 50 of the league's best players have been given these super abilities, and they revamp the fundamentals of Madden playmaking. X-Factor abilities are unlocked when you meet the qualifications to get "in the zone"--for some QBs, it's throwing for 5 or more yards in the air multiple times without making a mistake--while Superstar abilities are passive traits tied to your player that are always active.The new X-Factor abilities are truly game-changers, and they further emphasize the distinction between the average NFL player and elite athletes. For example, the Gambler X-Factor ability--which only Aaron Rodgers has--makes it impossible for AI defenders to intercept his passes. Similarly powerful X-Factor abilities are available for defenders as well, and that helps balance things out. Not only that, but X-Factor abilities can be lost quickly; a QB who takes a sack is immediately out of the zone, while dropped passes and fumbles also cancel out these abilities.These abilities, when combined with an elite player like Madden 20 cover star Patrick Mahomes (who has incredible baseline stats to begin with), become overly powerful in some instances. Mahomes' unique passive Superstar abilities give him immense speed and dexterity out of the pocket, on top of his already powerful and accurate arm. When teammate Travis Kelce unlocks his own X-Factor ability (which gives him a guaranteed aggressive catch on any single-man coverage), it becomes simply too easy to complete big plays down the field.Outside of that issue, the new X-Factor and Superstar abilities introduce a level of strategy that the Madden series has never seen. I found myself often weighing up whether I should pursue the X-Factor qualification conditions or choose lower-risk plays that are more likely to be successful. At pivotal stages, like in the fourth quarter or in a third-and-long situation, this level of risk/reward is heightened. Not only that, but with 50 X-Factor abilities spread across players on the 32 NFL teams, it encourages you to try new teams and strategies.Importantly, X-Factor abilities do not feel gimmicky or too overpowerful for the most part as they're difficult to unlock and have numerous counters. Stephon Gilmore of the New England Patriots, for example, has an X-Factor ability called Acrobat that allows him to perform a diving move where he makes an incredible pass breakup. Some pass-rushers, too, including Aaron Donald of the Los Angeles Rams, can shred the defense and break the O-Line easily to sack the quarterback for a big loss. The saying "any given Sunday" is truer than ever in Madden 20 thanks to the X-Factor abilities.Overall, the on-field action in Madden this year is better than ever. The game provides more on-screen info than last year's iteration, making it easier to see things like decision-making specifics (such as average yards-per-play or yards given up) and which elite offensive and defensive players have X-Factor and Superstar abilities. This makes for an easy way to help you see the odds of having success with a play before the snap. The playbook menus (and menus overall, for that matter) are cleaned up and brighter, which helps you see important information at a glance.Also new this year are Run-Pass Options added to playbooks. These hybrid plays provide yet another way for play-callers to mix things up and keep defenders guessing. There are also numerous player-specific animations, including Aaron Rodgers' signature quick release and Patrick Mahomes' sidearm throw. This all works together to make Madden 20 closer than ever to replicating the look and feel of actual pro football. Nothing in the updated gameplay mechanics for Madden 20 is as substantial as the introduction of Real Player Motion from last year, but the controls in Madden are as good as they've ever been thanks to further refinement on last year's improvements and the introduction of some welcome tweaks and small changes. A subtle gameplay change for 2019 is that you can double press the receiver icon to pump fake; this small change makes it easier than ever to trick a defender into biting on a pass route, providing yet another level of depth and control.The core fundamentals that underpin Madden 20's gameplay feel more solid and dependable than ever. Mistakes like poor passes, missed tackles, and bad decision-making are yours and yours alone to own because the controls rarely, if ever, let you down.Also notable for Madden 20 is what's (generally) not there: bugs. After many hours with the game, I only experienced a handful of minor glitches, though your mileage may vary, and it's worth noting that you can continue to expect other oddities like out-of-place commentary and some sideline players executing the same animations all the time. I also experienced what felt like an unusually high number of facemask calls and injuries.Now in its third year using EA's Frostbite engine, Madden 20 also looks very good with its better-looking player models that have richer detail and more realistic flourishes (except for Greg Olsen; what happened there?). The Madden 20 game engine also provides gorgeous environmental effects like glistening sun rays peeking through the clouds and casting shadows on the field and snow effects that limit your vision and force you to suggest playing more conservatively to accommodate for the wintry conditions.The commentary team composed of Brandon Gaudin and Charles Davis also return in Madden 20, and they are consistently a treat to listen to. Despite some lines being repeated from time to time (how many times do we have to hear that Julian Edelman was a quarterback in college or that Tom Brady was initially drafted to play baseball?), the pair deliver the right mixture of lines that keep you informed and engaged in equal measure. Madden 20's overall broadcast, presentation, and gameplay packages aim to replicate the real-life NFL experience, but it continues to be a shame that the voicelines--at least all the ones I heard in over 20 hours with Madden 20--do not comment on real-world NFL issues. As with previous years, the commentary will be updated regularly throughout the season.Among Madden 20's other modes is the fantasy team-building card-based Ultimate Team, and this continues to be the game's richest when it comes to the sheer multitude of challenges to complete. It remains a thrill to build a fantasy team and compete either against other fantasy AI teams or the world at large through online play.A subtle yet enjoyable change for MUT this year is how you can move from one challenge to the next without returning to the menu screen, which is great considering how many there are to complete. There is also a new "Mission" system that helps you select the right challenges to complete in order to acquire items for your deck. In years past, MUT could feel like a hard-to-parse system that you slogged through waywardly, but the new system gives you more direction, and as such it is more respectful of your time.Ultimate Team does have issues with microtransactions, however. At the very start, the tutorial instructs you to visit the store where you can make real-money purchases, which feels like an unnecessary nudge toward spending extra. As with past iterations of MUT, it can feel like a grind to get the cards you want, which in turn encourages you to consider spending money on microtransactions when you otherwise might not. That rubbed me the wrong way, but MUT overall is still an enjoyable and engaging mode that I expect to return to again and again.Madden NFL 20 is an improved version of the annualized professional football series that excels in some areas and leaves something to be desired in others. The new QB1 career mode--which includes a barebones NCAA football experience--overall feels like a half-baked idea that doesn't deliver anything meaningful or interesting. When it comes to the on-the-field action, however, the new X-Factor and Superstar abilities shake up the familiar gameplay formula to give seasoned players and newcomers alike a fresh way to scheme plays and orchestrate strategy on both sides of the ball. Info from Gamespot.com