A new Evil Dead game is on the way, actor Bruce Campbell has confirmed. Writing on Twitter, Campbell--who plays Ash Williams in the series--clarified that the game is being developed for console and PC, not virtual reality as some reports might have suggested.That's all the information there is to go on at this stage, so we don't know what kind of game it will be, when it will release, who is developing it, and other key particulars.Hey, groovy gamers, this is a swell time to clarify some incorrect info that might be out there (including from me!): the upcoming Evil Dead video game is being developed for consoles and PC, not VR. Sorry for any confusion. Game on! #MyBoomstickIsTooBigForVR #EvilDeadTheGame pic.twitter.com/Jqh2BGW82p — Bruce Campbell (@GroovyBruce) July 1, 2019Whatever the case, it'll be the first new Evil Dead game in a long time. Three Evil Dead games were released in the 2000s, including Evil Dead: Hail to the King (2000), Evil Dead: A Fistful of Boomstick (2003), and Evil Dead: Regeneration (2005). Each title was developed by a different studio, though they were all published by the now-defunct THQ.While THQ went under, the THQ name was acquired by Nordic Games which later re-branded itself as THQ Nordic. The company is now bringing back a number of THQ properties, including SpongeBob: Battle for Bikini Bottom, but it's not clear if THQ Nordic owns the rights for Evil Dead.In August 2018, Campbell confirmed to Bloody-Disgusting that the new Evil Dead game is a "whole immersive kind of dealio." He also confirmed that he'll be voicing Ash in the game because he "wouldn't want someone else's voice hamming it up."Would you be interested in a new Evil Dead game? Let us know in the comments below!Info from Gamespot.com

Infinity Ward has shared some new details about how reloading works in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, and it includes some notable changes.Starting off, you'll be able to reload in ADS (aiming down sights). That sounds like a small change, but it's significant because previous Call of Duty games did not support this. According to animation director Mark Grigsby, this will keep players in the action better."One other thing we added this year is the ADS [Aiming Down Sight] reload. In the past, if you're ADS, and you're shooting and you reload, the weapon would go off to the side, and you'd have to retrain to get to your target," Grigsby said in an interview for Activision. "This time if you reload, it stays on the target, so you can stay in the battle."Also in the interview, Grigbsy spoke at a high level about why the reload animation is so important for Modern Warfare. "The reload to me is the pinnacle of the weapon; it makes you feel--after you've taken down five different dudes in a room--and you reload, you go, 'Sh*t yeah, you're done!'" Grigsby said.In Modern Warfare, the reload animation you see will be dependent on how many bullets you've fired. If you're reloading an empty magazine, the animation will show the reload and the rack in full. However, for a "tactical reload," where there are still rounds left in the chamber, you'll see a completely different reload animation."In the past, we would never physically show that transition of one mag to another, but this time around, everything's physical, so if you have an extended mag, like a drum perhaps, or a long magazine, all of the movements within every reload are visceral, strong, aggressive, it gives another feeling of power and representing the Tier 1 operators that utilize these machines," Grigsby said.Go to Activision's website to read the full interview, which touches on other subjects such as how the weapons look in the game and lots more.Modern Warfare, which is a soft reboot of the 2007 game Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, launches on October 25 for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC. In another big change for the series, the game has no Season Pass. Info from Gamespot.com

The next Gran Turismo game is in development. It hasn't been announced yet, but the CEO of series developer Polyphony Digital has now offered some high-level comments about it. Kazunori Yamauchi told GT Planet that traveling the world and seeing the various World Tour events has given him some insight into what should go into the next Gran Turismo title."Having done all these World Tours, it gave me the opportunity to feel the history of Gran Turismo," he said. "It gives me pointers and hints of the things we should make sure that we do in the future of the series."Yamauchi plainly stated that a new Gran Turismo game is coming, confirming that "obviously we're working on the next Gran Turismo already." However, he wouldn't confirm if it will be a new Gran Turismo Sport title or a sequel to Gran Turismo 6. Whatever the game is, Yamauchi said it aims to be a the "complete form of Gran Turismo.""I think the next title that we're going to create will be a combination of the past, present and future--a complete form of Gran Turismo," he said.With the PlayStation 5 coming, and rumored to release in Holiday 2020, it's thought that a new Gran Turismo game would release for the new, more powerful hardware. Yamauchi didn't confirm anything, but he said that more power will help provide better virtual reality experiences."I don't think that there's anything else that requires that much processing power," he said. "I really like VR; I'm one to believe in the possibilities of it, and it's very suited for a driving game."The latest Gran Turismo title is Gran Turismo Sport, which was released in 2017 for PlayStation 4. Before that, Gran Turismo 6 was released on PlayStation 3 in 2013. Info from Gamespot.com

Ubisoft has revealed a brand-new limited-time mode for Rainbow Six Siege. The mode, named Showdown, is out now on PS4, Xbox One, and PC.Showdown is a new 3v3 game type that takes place on a new map designed specifically for the mode. The map, Fort Truth, is a "small size, outdoor map" that has a distinct wild west theme.The mode only allows the BOSG 12.2 shotgun and the Magnum LFP586 revolver. You can also choose from a smaller selection of Operators than traditional Siege modes: it's three of Maverick, Ash, Twitch, Capitao, and Glaz up against a trio from Alibi, Kaid, Caveira, Maestro, and Rook.To tie in with the mode, a new selection of Alpha Packs are available, named Showdown Packs. Each one costs 300 R6 credits and will grant you a number of 31 new exclusive customization items.Showdown is live now and runs until July 16. For more on the Tom Clancy game, check out everything we know about the new Rainbow Six Siege Operators, Nokk and Warden.Info from Gamespot.com

Earlier this summer, we marveled as the PlayStation Classic--Sony's retro plug-and-play box, which launched at $100--became widely available for $30. That deal is trash now, and anyone who bought it should feel bad, because now you can get the PS Classic for just $25 at Best Buy, which is a full 75% off the original price.Get the PlayStation Classic for just $25 »The PlayStation Classic is a retro plug-and-play console in the style of Nintendo's NES and SNES Classics, packing 20 beloved games into one small box. Those include genre-defining originals like Metal Gear Solid and Grand Theft Auto, and the breakout RPG Final Fantasy VII, for which Sony is currently deep in production on a high-profile, top-to-bottom remake. The console features an HDMI connection and two wired controllers. GameSpot's Peter Brown was disappointed by the visual fidelity and controller quality at launch in his PS Classic review, but those issues sting a lot less when you're paying $25 instead of $100, as it initially retailed.Deals-conscious gamers will also want to get ready for Amazon Prime Day, which is coming up soon and sure to feature lots of excellent deals on gaming software and hardware. The Amazon-owned Twitch is also getting in on the event this time around, with free in-game goodies and a variety of special events for Prime subscribers.Info from Gamespot.com

San Diego Comic-Con is now only a few weeks away, and we're starting to get an idea of what fans can expect from the latest convention. Marvel will make its return to SDCC after it stayed away from last year's event, with a number of event across the weekend. It has also been revealed that Avengers: Endgame directors Joe and Anthony Russo will be appearing at their own panel.As reported by Deadline, the Russo brothers will be hosting a panel to promote their production company, AGBO Studios. The panel will take place in Hall H on Friday July 19 at 11am PST, and will be moderated by Collider editor-in-chief Steve Weintraub. The site states that the panel will reveal the Russos' plans for AGBO, as well as looking back at their time working for Marvel.Deadline's sources also state that an Avengers reunion is also likely to take place at SDCC. It is unknown whether this means Endgame and Infinity War stars appearing at the AGBO panel, or at a panel later in the weekend. While a number of Marvel events have been announced, a Marvel Cinematic Universe panel is yet to be announced. However, Deadline suggests this will take place on the Saturday night.Other Marvel events taking place at SDCC include a panel focusing on Marvel Games, an Agents of SHIELD panel, a conversation with Endgame writers Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely, a look at how Marvel's comics are put together, and a showcase on the women of Marvel. Check out the Marvel SDCC schedule so far here, and then read GameSpot's guide to everything else happening at the convention. Info from Gamespot.com

Apex Legends has launched its Season 2 update, bringing with it a new character, a totally revamped Battle Pass, Ranked Leagues, and tons of other changes. All the big-ticket updates launching with Season 2 came alongside a number of smaller tweaks to factors like weapon balance, and Respawn has outlined all those in the patch notes. Read on for the full list and a look at some of the stand-out additions and changes.Posted on the Apex Legends subreddit, the patch notes are extensive. It outlines a few of the major changes--namely, significant adjustments to the map and the addition of a new playable Legend named Wattson--but then goes into the nitty-gritty detail. There are several balance adjustments to Legends and weapons, some quality-of-life changes, and bug fixes. New hop-ups are also available, including disruptor rounds that deal additional damage to shielded targets, hammerpoint rounds for unshielded targets, and a change to the skullpiercer.The patch notes also detail some free rewards you can get simply by playing Season 2--no need to purchase the Battle Pass. Those include a Hot Rod skin for Wattson, five Apex packs, and stat trackers for each Legend. You can read the full patch notes below, or check out our wrap-up of all the big changes in Season 2. Also be sure to keep up with how King's Canyon has changed and the revised challenge system, which ties into the new Battle Pass that's available for purchase this season. Aside from the new Legend Wattson, we've seen hints of a second new Legend coming to the game this season as well.Apex Legends Season 2 Patch NotesBATTLE PASSTo get the Battle Pass, jump into Apex Legends and head to the Battle Pass tab in the store. Grab the Battle Pass for 950 Apex Coins or the Battle Pass Bundle for 2,800 Apex Coins (containing 4,700 Apex Coins’ worth of content!), and you’re all set.CHALLENGESTake on Daily and Weekly Challenges to score bonus Battle Pass XP and level up even faster. Read more here.NEW CONTENT TYPESSkydive emotes, music packs, and unique loading screens are now part of the rewards track.MORE LEGENDARIES AND CRAFTING MATERIALSGrab even more Legendary skins from the reward track and earn enough Crafting Materials to create a Legendary item of your choice.FREE REWARDSEveryone who plays Apex Legends Season 2 can earn:Season 2 stat trackers for each Legend.Five Apex Packs.The Wattson Hot Rod skin.Many new things to discover on Kings Canyon!KINGS CANYON CHANGESThe Leviathans have breached Kings Canyon and it’ll never be the same! Many areas have been affected by our new guests. Enjoy exploring the new changes!NEW LEGEND: WATTSONWattson has entered the arena and is available for 750 Apex Coins or 12,000 Legend Tokens.PASSIVE: Spark of GeniusUltimate Accelerants fully charge Wattson’s ultimate. Standing near the Interception Pylon boosts Wattson’s tactical recharge rate.TACTICAL: Perimeter SecurityCreate electrified fences by connecting nodes. Fences damage and slow enemies.ULTIMATE: Interception PylonPlace an electrified pylon that destroys incoming ordnance and repairs damaged shields [can place up to 3 Pylons at one time].RANKED LEAGUESOne thing we forgot to mention in the blog post: Players abandoning in Ranked will be penalized both with a matchmaking penalty, as well as have any potential RP gains zeroed out. On top of that, they will pay an additional penalty RP cost equal to their match entry cost. For example: if a Gold player gets 4 kills and would have finished top 5 but abandons his or her match on purpose, that player will get 0 RP for kills and placement, pay the 2 RP entry cost, and on top of that pay another 2 RP abandon penalty cost.WEAPONSNew Airdrop Weapon: L-STAR EMG Fires large high-damage plasma projectilesWill overheat if player fires for too longComes with its own limited ammo supplyOnly available in AirdropsNew Hop-Up: Disruptor RoundsIncreased damage to shielded targets.Compatibility: Alternator / RE-45New Hop-Up: Hammerpoint RoundsIncreased damage to unshielded targets.Compatibility: P2020, Mozambique.New Attachments: Energy MagsIncreases magazine capacity.Increases reload speed at rare and above.Compatibility: Havoc, Triple Take, Devotion.Reduced default mag sizes on compatible weapons.Skullpiercer Hop-Up: Upgraded to gold tier & increased rarity.Flatline:damage 16 -> 19P2020:damage 12 -> 13Triple Take x Precision Choke:choke time 1.5 -> 1.1Alternator:damage 13 -> 15recoil mitigation increased for all barrel attachments.Kraber:damage 125 -> 145headshot scale 2.0 -> 2.05leg damage scale 0.76 -> 0.8slightly increased rarityArc Star TweaksIncreased ignition delay from 2.5 to 2.8 seconds.Sticking a full health player with no armor will now down them.Players at the edge of the explosion no longer get their shields completely shredded.Ammo Stack SizesShotgun max stack reduced from 64 to 16. Players now need multiple stacks of ammo to run a shotty.Energy max stack increased from 60 to 80; now matches Light/ Heavy ammo.Rotated Gold WeaponsFlatlineAlternatorRE45MozambiqueP2020Airdrop Weapon Spawn RatesL-STAR added to airdrop weapon loot tables.Airdrop weapon spawn rates now change based on early/ mid/ late game. For example, early game will spawn more Krabers, end game will spawn more Mastiffs.Performance OptimizationsImproved performance when firing weapons, especially for multi-projectile weapons like shotguns and Triple Take.In our testing this has contributed to delivering a smoother overall experience on both server and client, particularly during early game combat situations.Bug fixesFixed exploit where players could use weapon inspect to cancel out other weapon behaviors.EVA-8: ADS recoil now resettles back to starting point instead of a randomized offset of the starting point.Thermite Grenades: fixed an issue where players downed with thermite could be invincible to thermite after being revived.GeneralFortified [ Gibraltar, Caustic ]Damage reduction increased: 10% -> 15%Fortified Legends are now immune to slow effects from weapon fire.Low Profile [ Wraith, Lifeline, Pathfinder ]Low Profile increases incoming damage by 5%.BloodhoundEye of the AllfatherEnemies scanned now are tracked in real time instead of leaving a ghost image behind. The tracking lasts for 1.5 seconds.Increased the angle of the scan to 110 from 90.TrackerIncreased clue duration to 90 seconds from 60 seconds.Fixed a bug where energy weapons wouldn’t leave behind weapon fired clues.Fixed a bug where movement clues would sometimes not be generated.MirageVanishing ActMirage can now cancel out of his ultimate cloak early.Mirage now has a small delay when disabling cloak.CausticNox GasThe magnitude of the slow is reduced by 50% when effecting teammates.GibraltarDome of ProtectionIncreased the duration by 3 seconds.PathfinderUpdated the hit box to better conform with the base model.We are also planning to make adjustments so his hitbox better reflects Legendary Skins as well for cases where it’s not matching up.LifelineD.O.C. heal drone now gets destroyed after 2 damage ticks by the circle.STATS PAGEAdded a stats page. You can access it by hovering over your name while in the Lobby and clicking it to inspect. The page will show you your overall account stats as well as access to your stats for each season and Ranked Series.We're sure you all will have feedback on other stats you'd like to see here. What we're shipping with Season 2 is just the start and we're planning to build on it. We won't promise anything but definitely let us know what other stats you want shown after you've played around with it.KNOWN ISSUES: There will be some stats [like assists for example] that will start counting for Season 2 but won’t account for progress before that. This is because until we added the feature, this stuff wasn’t being counted. We’re looking at future improvements to retroactively update these areas that we hope to address down the road.THE RINGWith Season 2, we’ll trying out new circle closing speed, size, and damage that now applies to both Ranked Leagues and the normal Apex Queue.Ring Damage is now the following:Round 1: 2% damage taken per tick.Round 2: 5% damage taken per tick.Round 3: 10% damage taken per tick.Round 4: 20% damage taken per tick.Round 5: 20% damage taken per tick.Round 6 and beyond: 25% damage taken per tick.Ring start and closing speed is now the following:First CircleStarts closing after: 3 minutes.Time to close: 2 minutes.Second CircleStarts closing after: 2 minutes 30 seconds.Time to close: 2 minutes.Third CircleStarts closing after: 2 minutes 15 seconds.Time to close: 2 minutes.Fourth CircleStarts closing after: 2 minutes.Time to close: 2 minutes.Fifth CircleStarts closing after: 1 minute 30 seconds.Time to close: 1 minutes 40 seconds.Sixth CircleStarts closing after: 1 minute 30 seconds.Time to close: 1 minutes 40 seconds.Seventh CircleStarts closing after: 2 minutes.Time to close: 1 minute 20 seconds.Eighth CircleStarts closing after: 20 seconds.Time to close: 1 minute 20 seconds.Ring radius for the first circle has been slightly reduced [it’s about 9% smaller than it was before].QUALITY OF LIFEPingsWhen pinging a closed door, the player will now say “closed door here”.When pinging an open door, the player will now say “someone’s been here”.When a player requests a hop up, if the gun only accepts one kind of hop up, the player will callout that specific hop up they are looking for. If the gun accepts multiple hop ups, the player won’t vocalize it but all possible hop ups requested will show up in the obit feed.Arc stars that are stuck to players should no longer fail to do damage when the part of the player it is stuck to is intersecting another object.Made visual improvements to the Legends while in the Lobby and character select.Added improvements and polish to the Legend’s animations while skydiving.Improved melee hit detection on the hover tank while it’s moving.Server optimizations.Improved server and client performance when firing weapons, especially for multi-projectile weapons like shotguns and TripleTake.Large doors and Supply Bins can now be used while viewing them from more extreme angles.Slow Effects will now slow players equally regardless of their controller settings.Wraith’s Heirloom will now more reliably show its lightning visualFX.Heal items will now more reliably show the correct model when switching between different types.General optimizations to improve framerate.Fixed issue with geometry sometimes flickering when viewed from a long distance.Death Box rarity colors are now more visible from a distance.“Send Friend Request” tool-tip now shows up when hovering over teammates Banners while viewing the “Squad Eliminated” screen and “Squads” tab during a match.Made it so that your weapon won’t play its priming animation when you pull it out after skydiving.Fixed issue with skydive continuing to loop falling soundFX after landing.Apex will no longer swap from full screen to windowed mode automatically if you shift to focus on other applications while Apex is booting up.Fixed issue with players seeing their Origin friends listed as offline when they aren’t.Made improvements to voice chat for PC.Fixed issue where you could lose your Steam friends list after restarting Apex on PC.Fixed issue where sometimes players would get a black screen during character select.Added “Flash Hider” description to the Gold Barrel Stabilizer attachment. It always did this but the information wasn’t provided well so we added it to the description when inspecting the attachment.BUG FIXESFixed a hit registration bug that could occur if you fired your weapon while being damaged by an enemy shotgun.Fixed a bug where sometimes load screens would not appear properly and players would temporarily see the training map before loading into a match.Fixed issue with players not always hearing selected quip dialogue when performing a finisher or being executed.Fixed issue with Apex not working correctly when SLI or Crossfire is enabled.Fixed bug with the consumables wheel sometimes appearing blank.Fixed bug where players would sometimes get stuck on the Battle Pass Level screen.Fixed bug where The Unlock button would be greyed out when it shouldn’t be when trying to view rewards.Fixed bug where players would sometimes be unable to exit the Battle Pass tab after selecting it from the Lobby.Fixed an exploit where players could jump while downed.Fixed issue where sometimes the client would crash to the Dashboard when entering character select on Xbox One.Fixed a bug where pinging a sniper stock in your inventory would show up as “looking for Grip”Fixed a bug that caused players and loot to begin sliding permanently or launching inconsistently onto Supply Ship surfaces after doing melee attacks against the Supply Ship walls.Fixed bug that could cause players to shift to a location under the map when switching between players while spectating.Fixed bug for cases where performing a melee attack while inspecting an item would cause the attack to slow down and not deal damage.[X1 only] Fixed bug where players were not being rewarded “The Player” achievement after hitting level 50. If you have reached level 50 and not received it in the past it should now be awarded retroactively.Fixed the bug that sometimes caused Apex to crash when plugging a PS4 controller into your PC while the game is active.Fixed bug that caused an “Out of Bounds” warning and timer while riding the Supply Ship over certain areas of Kings Canyon.General improvements to game stability related to various script errors.LEGENDSBloodhoundFixed bug where players wouldn’t create movement evidence markers unless they were sprinting.Fixed bug where sometimes energy weapons wouldn’t create ‘weapon fired’ evidence markers.WraithFixed bug where Wraith’s jetpack boosters could still be seen while phasing.Fixed issue where in some rare cases, performing a Finisher while down player is entering a Wraith Portal.Fixed an exploit that allowed players to place extra Dimensional Portals.OctaneFixed a bug that caused throwable items to bounce off a jump pad without actually touching it.Info from Gamespot.com

When Konami revealed PES 2020, many fans noticed the game had a new naming convention. Gone was the full Pro Evolution Soccer title, to be replaced by the new eFootball moniker. Now, Konami has discussed its reasons for changing the series' name."The full product name moving forward will be "eFootball: PES," the franchise's European brand manager, Lennart Bobzien, told GameSpot. "For this year we've announced eFootball PES 2020. We want to put a bigger focus on esports moving forward. In the past we've already shown [this] by having competitions such as PES League and eFootball Pro, the professional club competition. Moving forward, there will be bigger esports competitions coming up. We simply thought that by including it in the product naming, we're making a statement and showing our community of fans, but also the wider audience, that esports will play a very big part moving forward."Talking about Pro Evolution Soccer--in Europe, it was always a tricky one, and when we discussed this repositioning we thought, let's call it football, it's a European market [so] we want to have football. We still keep PES in the product name since we feel that's still part of the heritage and we want to keep it in there. Therefore, the combination will be eFootball: PES."Konami announced just recently that Manchester United will be officially licensed in this year's game, with Scott McTominay a cover star in some regions. The club's Old Trafford stadium will be fully scanned into the game, along with the entire first team squad.PES 2020 launches for PS4, Xbox One, and PC on September 10. A demo version, which includes online and offline match types as well as the game's edit mode, will launch on July 30. Stay tuned to GameSpot for a full PES 2020 gameplay preview.Info from Gamespot.com

Xbox has announced its next two batches of games included with its all-you-can-eat Game Pass subscription service. The announcement covers games coming over the next two weeks, and once again it lists the games as coming to console, PC, or both.On July 4, Undertale will be available on PC, and Middle-earth: Shadow of War and My Time at Portia will be on both console and PC. Then on July 11, Timespinner and Unavowed will come to Game Pass for PC, Lego City Undercover will hit the console version, and Dead Rising 4 and Blazing Chrome will come to both.Xbox Game Pass is available separately on PC and console for $10 apiece, but you can also get Xbox Game Pass Ultimate for $15, which includes Xbox Live Gold. You can still get a good deal on the combined package if you happen to have some existing Gold or Game Pass time. Gold also includes its own rotating free games, which this month includes Inside and Castlevania: Symphony of the Night.Some games will also be exiting the service in July as the library rotates. Some notable departures include Warhammer Vermintide 2, Dead Rising 2, and Hitman Season 1. Check below for the full list with dates.Xbox Game Pass Additions in JulyJuly 4Middle-earth: Shadow of War (Console, PC)My Time at Portia (Console, PC)Undertale (PC)July 11Blazing Chrome (Console, PC)Dead Rising 4 (Console, PC)LEGO City Undercover (Console)Timespinner (PC)Unavowed (PC)Xbox Game Pass Games Leaving in JulyAftercharge (July 9)Warhammer Vermintide 2 (July 10)LEGO Movie: The Videogame (July 16)Dandara (July 31)Dead Rising 2 (July 31)Hitman Season 1 (July 31)Metal Slug XX (July 31)Defense Grid: The Awakening (July 31)Hexic 2 (July 31)Iron Brigade (July 31)Info from Gamespot.com

If you've ever played Mario Kart or Mario Party, you're probably familiar with the vicious tactics required to win. By design, those games encourage you to be ruthless to your competitors, charting a path to victory by any means possible--even if that means stabbing them in the back. This approach to design is precisely what Rooster Teeth's upcoming PC multiplayer shooter Vicious Circle thrives upon. Described as an "uncooperative shooter," it's somewhat of an unusual breed against its contemporaries. Other shooters encourage jolly cooperation or heated PvP battles, but Vicious Circle is more about playing dirty and screwing over your friends--while being as entertaining to watch as possible.At a glance, Vicious Circle resembles an asymmetrical multiplayer shooter, pitting a team of four mercenaries against a player-controlled giant chicken monster. If the monster kills all the mercenaries, it wins. On the other hand, the mercenaries win not by killing the monster but gathering a special resource called nuggets scattered across the map. Once they've collected enough, they can call in an evac and end the match, but there's a catch: only one mercenary can escape and emerge the winner.That chicken monster is actually the least of your worries.This twist creates a competitive dynamic that encourages you to troll other players. If you're the monster, this is as easy as causing chaos to the opposing team by virtue of being a hulking beast. However, the mercenaries have it harder, not being able to harm each other with their weapons physically. Instead, they have to be crafty. As a mercenary, there are several strategies and tools available to facilitate your effort to throw other players under the bus. Gadgets like a vacuum suck the nuggets out of other mercenaries, while a teleporter grenade can zap mercenaries or the monster to the opposite side of the map. These mischievous plays felt distinctly Mario Kart in nature, and according to Vicious Circle lead designer Casey Donnellan, that was the point."There's a lot of Mario Kart influence in [Vicious Circle]," said Donnellan. "That was really like a huge part of the design of this game. We took to it for inspiration. That's why we have all these gadgets that allow you to ruin somebody else's day, basically. It's so much worse than getting shot."Though, the chicken monster is well worth freaking out about.Thinking about how to work alongside and contend against a team of players all looking out for their own self-interest felt overwhelming at first. Despite my best efforts, my natural inclination was to immediately shoot my "teammates," which, of course, did absolutely nothing. Instead, I had to think of other ways to stop them from stealing my precious nuggets. Sometimes this meant breaking the line of sight--a strategy that became increasingly important the more I played and observed subsequent matches. Special doors on the map allowed you to do just that, temporarily closing the way behind you to block pursuing players. And the mercenary I used--the four playable each have unique abilities--had a blink-like skill that allowed me to navigate in and out of danger easily.Even death offers unique ways to rain on people's parades. If you die as a mercenary, you respawn as a small alien called a Little Dipper. As this snarling, highly-mobile tentacle creature, you can possess other mercenaries to inherit their skills, abilities, and more importantly, their nugget supply. However, successfully hijacking someone's body turns them into a Little Dipper themselves, inevitably encouraging them to possess you, others, or both. One person in the match I played got possessed as they were in the lead, and as you'd expect, things got delightfully salty.Little Dipper + Unsuspecting Mercenary = Big Success.Winning is more about being crafty, intelligent, and highly adaptable.With so many different tools and strategies at your disposal, a lot can happen in a single round, and since each only lasts about 4-5 minutes, it all happens rather quickly. I was constantly challenged to strategize while remaining swift and spontaneous. Did I want to establish a temporary truce with other players to kill the monster to secure a wealth of nuggets only to risk being betrayed later? Or maybe I could purposefully get myself killed to become a Little Dipper and hijack the winning player’s body right before evac? Heck, both these strategies could very well play out in a single match amid several other unexpected twists and turns. That’s what excites me the most about Vicious Circle; rather than speedy reflexes and brute force alone, winning is more about being crafty, intelligent, and highly adaptable.But I need to be honest; I had to drop out of playing after a few matches or so. As someone easily prone to motion sickness, the high frame rate in combination with the mouse and keyboard setup made me nauseous real quick. As I regained my composure on the sidelines, I observed that Vicious Circle's speed and intensity makes it highly entertaining to watch. The cartoony art style and Rooster Teeth brand of over-the-top humor certainly kept things fun and light, but it was the diversity of strategies and battles ensuing that kept me continuously engaged. Once again, this was intentional by way of the designers.At random, a gnarly appendage like this will briefly spawn on to the map and spew nuggets.“We designed the game to be fun to watch from day one," commented Donnellan when asked about its spectator-friendly nature. "The whole drama where you die, you come back as this other thing, and now you're pitted against the people that you were with. It was always very central to the game."It was amusing to watch folks get ambushed by the ridiculous chicken monster, whose powerful charge move easily flustered the greedy mercenaries. I'd hear groaning from those possessed by Little Dippers at inopportune moments, and then be on edge as I anticipated their comeback. Persistent nugget drop events kept players sprinting around the map, contributing to the chaos of a given round. All the while, a clearly-defined UI made it easy to keep track of who was currently in the lead, who was a Little Dipper, and how much health the monster has, ensuring I was rarely lost in the action.Vicious Circle's wild antics make it a joy to simply watch.Whether you're playing or watching, everything in Vicious Circle seems built to facilitate good-natured silliness and salt. At times, it almost seemed unfair how the game's tools allow players to quickly gain the lead regardless of how well you might be doing in a match, but the resulting misfortunes rarely kept me frustrated for long. Terrorizing others is a big part of why a game like Mario Kart is so enjoyable, and to see it enacted in an Overwatch-like, Evolve-ish multiplayer shooter like this is refreshing. Vicious Circle's merits still need to be tested by my buddies (many of which are easily susceptible to being upset and bitter) and me, but what I played has me more than enthusiastic about double-crossing them once it arrives later this Summer. Info from Gamespot.com

Amazon Prime Day is right around the corner, but lots of American retailers are offering serious summer savings already this weekend in Fourth of July sales. Best Buy, Walmart, and Microsoft in particular all have some great deals on games and consoles that we've highlighted for you below so you can spend your Independence Day doing that most American of activities: shopping.Get Marvel's Spider-Man Free With 1TB PS4 »Best Buy is getting patriotic with a huge Fourth of July sale running now through this Saturday. There are big savings available across the store, but most notably, buying a 1TB PlayStation 4 console will net you a free copy of the fantastic Marvel's Spider-Man. You can also get set up for multiplayer on that console with the option to save $30 when you buy two DualShock controllers, which is half off the price of the second one. Best Buy is also offering the PS Classic retro console for a record-low $25. Note that My Best Buy members also get free shipping as part of the sale.Over at Walmart you can grab Red Dead Redemption 2 for half off at just $30 on both PS4 and Xbox One. The Overwatch: Legendary Edition (which includes five epic and legendary hero skins, along with various other goodies) is also just $30 on both PS4 and Xbox One. With NBA 2K20 pre-orders now available, last year's NBA 2K19 is available for just $20 on PS4 and $18 on Xbox One. The base game of Destiny 2 is also now just a mere $8 on either PS4 or Xbox One, which is the lowest price we've ever seen for the game.Meanwhile, Microsoft is offering savings from $50 up to $300 off various gaming PCs. You can also save $60 when you buy a white 1TB Xbox One X console bundled with a free, second wireless controller.Deals-conscious gamers will also want to get ready for Amazon Prime Day, which is coming up soon and sure to feature lots of excellent deals on gaming software and hardware. The Amazon-owned Twitch is also getting in on the event this time around, with free in-game goodies and a variety of special events for Prime subscribers.Best BuyPlayStation 4 1TB console with Marvel's Spider-Man -- $3002 DualShock 4 PS4 controllers -- $90PlayStation Classic -- $25WalmartRed Dead Redemption 2 (PS4) -- $30Red Dead Redemption 2 (XB1) -- $30Overwatch: Legendary Edition (PS4) -- $30Overwatch: Legendary Edition (XB1) -- $30NBA 2K19 (PS4) -- $20NBA 2K19 (XB1) -- $18Destiny 2 (PS4) -- $8Destiny 2 (XB1) -- $8Microsoft Store$50-$300 off gaming PCsXbox One X 1TB two controller bundle -- $500Info from Gamespot.com

Amazon's upcoming Lord of the Rings show is set to be the biggest in the studio's history, and pre-production has already started in New Zealand. It has now been announced that two episodes will be directed by Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom's JA Bayona.Amazon has confirmed that Bayona will helm that first episodes in Season 1, and also executively produce alongside partner Belén Atienza. As well as last year's Jurassic World sequel, Bayona is known for the Guillermo Del Toro-produced horror The Orphanage and the acclaimed drama A Monster Calls.In a statement, Bayona said: "J.R.R. Tolkien created one of the most extraordinary and inspiring stories of all time, and as a lifelong fan it is an honor and a joy to join this amazing team. I can't wait to take audiences around the world back to Middle-earth and have them discover the wonders of the Second Age, with a never-before-seen story."The Lord of the Rings show will be set before the events of JRR Tolkien's trilogy of books and Peter Jackson's movie adaptations. It will take place during the Second Age, which is a 3,441-year period that covered major events like the forging of the Rings of Power, the War of Sauron, the beginning of the Ringwraiths, and and the Numenor island sinking into the ocean.The series will be written by JD Payne and Patrick McKay, who have also penned the upcoming Dwayne Johnson vehicle Jungle Cruise. It currently has no confirmed cast or release date.In related news, a new Lord of the Rings video game focused on Gollum is in development at Daedalic Entertainment, while a AAA online Lord of the Rings game is also on the way.Info from Gamespot.com

Spider-Man: Far From Home closes this phase of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and plants some seeds for narrative threads that will presumably start to take root in Phase 4. But they also raise some questions--particularly about Samuel L. Jackson's Nick Fury--and we have answers. Spoilers for Far From Home follow.In one of the post-credits scenes, we learn that Nick Fury and his right-hand Maria Hill have been Skrulls in disguise. Many fans immediately wondered: wait, exactly how long has Nick Fury been a Skrull?The particular Skrull in question is Talos, who has been on good terms with Fury since the 1990s when they met through Captain Marvel. So when did the body switch happen? Some fans have theorized that the key is toast. Yes, as in toasted bread. In Captain Marvel, Fury reveals that he can't eat toast that has been cut diagonally. But fans noticed that he did that exact thing in Avengers: Age of Ultron, which has led some fans to conclude that he was already a Skrull in disguise at that point.However, that bread wasn't actually toasted. So was he a Skrull or wasn't he? We're through the looking glass here, people.For answers, we turn to Far From Home director Jon Watts. And his answer is that Talos spent a lot less time in the iconic eyepatch than you may have thought."The timeline for me is that Maria and Fury are Skrulls just starting at the beginning of this movie," Watts told GameSpot. That would appear to settle it, unless another director gets clearance to ret-con the timeline in a future film.Fury and Maria's first appearance in Far From Home is when they meet up with Mysterio fighting an Elemental. So everything that follows, from tranquilizing Ned to the climactic showdown, is actually Talos. As fans have noticed, this makes sense of certain aspects, like Fury referring to Earth as "your world" and being particularly defensive of Captain Marvel. It also means it was Talos, not the remarkably paranoid Nick Fury, who was fooled by Mysterio.But it also means that Fury really was himself during scenes such as the funeral at the end of Avengers: Endgame. Apparently his current digs on a massive space station is a fairly recent development, and Talos was lending a hand as best he could.For more on Spider-Man: Far From Home, check out our review roundup as well as our own review.Info from Gamespot.com

Bugbear Entertainment's Wreckfest, which first launched on PC in June 2018 to favorable reviews, is making its way to PlayStation 4 and Xbox One on August 27, publisher THQ Nordic announced. The high-speed demolition racing game will come in standard and deluxe editions and includes a Bandit Ripper V8 racer for those who pre-order digitally or physically.Cashing out for the deluxe edition grants one-day-early access to the game and the Season Pass, which includes 20 new cars, 20 special roof decorations, and extra customization options like armor, rims, and more. This additional content will roll out periodically after release, alongside more free content updates. The standard edition retails for $40 USD / $57 AUD / £32 GBP, while the digital deluxe edition sets you back $60 USD / $85 AUD / £48 GBP.Check out the announcement trailer below.PC players won't be left behind, as the PC version of Wreckfest will receive a massive update on August 27. The free update will include three new race tracks and one new derby arena; three new challenge cars; a new reward for completing career mode; new and improved career mode events; new paint jobs for existing cars; more daytimes for all tracks; and more.Finnish developer Bugbear is best known for the FlatOut action derby racing game series. The studio also developed Sega Rally Revo (with Sega) in September 2007 and Ridge Racer Unbounded (with Bandai Namco Entertainment) in March 2012 before working with THQ Nordic on Wreckfest.In our Wreckfest review, we said, "Minor issues with menus and its soundtrack aside, [Wreckfest] wows with a gorgeous look and wonderful driving feel, along with a damage system that satisfies in the most brutal of fashions. With its array of different cars, tracks, and event types, Wreckfest is a brilliantly fun and frenetic racing game that can be thoroughly enjoyed by anyone, not just racing game fans."Info from Gamespot.com

If you stuck through the Spider-Man: Far From Home ending credits (and we hope you did--Endgame may have broken the tradition of post-credits scenes in the MCU, but Far From Home has brought it back with a vengeance) you will have seen one very familiar and very surprising face--and, if you didn't? Turn back now. Because we're about to talk about one of the most surprising returns in superhero movie history.Major Spider-Man: Far From Home spoilers from here on out!During the mid-credits scene, we see Peter Parker back home in New York City, happily Spider-Manning around with MJ, until a special broadcast cuts into the Times Square jumbotron. A news outlet called The Daily Bugle has received a special report--a video taken by Mysterio--and the one and only J. Jonah Jameson is here to report.Oh, yeah. And J. Jonah Jameson is played by none other than J.K. Simmons.It's a one-two punch of Spider-Man significance that involves some pre-MCU movie knowledge and some seriously weighty comics history. So, with that in mind, let's break it down.The Bugle, JJJ, And Peter ParkerThe Daily Bugle was first introduced all the way back in Fantastic Four #2 by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby in 1962--a little over a year before Peter Parker would be given his own solo ongoing series. The early '60s were a hugely experimental time for superhero stories, and the idea of a proper shared-universe continuity was just beginning to really solidify--something that the existence of the Bugle really helped cement. The Bugle appeared in most early Marvel publications as a bit of background flavor--something to really sell the idea that Marvel's characters all existed in the same version of New York City at the same time.After its year of relatively background-level existence, the Bugle's offices and the characters within were introduced in Stan Lee and Steve Ditko's The Amazing Spider-Man #1 in 1963. This is where things really started to heat up, giving us our first glimpse of the paper's over-the-top editor, J. Jonah Jameson, and some idea of his zany, antagonistic relationship to put-upon freelance photographer Peter Parker.Jameson and The Bugle's connection to Peter were instrumental in sparking Spider-Man's initial popularity as a breakout solo hero. In its infancy, Marvel made a name for itself in the superhero genre by publishing stories that bucked the square-jawed conventions put forth by competitors like DC (or National, as it was known at the time). Marvel's heroes were angst-ridden and outcast, products of the post-war era where nuclear anxiety and brewing complications with Vietnam were more relatable than the hard-boiled crime fighting and goofy, ray-gun slinging sci-fi of the '40s and '50s. In those early years, Marvel's characters' ennui usually manifested in a physical way--the X-Men and their mutations that immediately marked them as different, the Fantastic Four's superpowers that looked strange, impossible, or disturbing. But Spider-Man took a different approach--there was nothing physical that denoted Peter as an outsider or a freak, and everything that sparked his angst and confusion was almost entirely mundane.Sure, he had his Spider-powers, but the things he struggled with were making it through high school as a bullied nerd, hitting deadlines at his thankless job, and trying to survive an endless barrage of complaints by his impossible-to-please boss. You know, the same stuff virtually every human in the world can relate to at one point or another.JJJ and The Bugle really sold the concept on multiple levels. Not only was Jameson (and by extension, the paper itself) the perfect caricature of a furious editor, the anti-comics panic that pervaded the 1950s, and of Marvel's editorial bullpen itself, he was also given a cartoonish hatred of Spider-Man, making things for Peter even worse as he tried to thread the needle between work, life, and superheroics. It was the perfect blend of high flying escapism and completely relatable existential dread to really hook readers and keep them coming back for more.In the decades since their introduction, the dynamic between Peter, Jonah, and The Bugle has shifted around countless times--Jonah doesn't always hate Spider-Man (though he usually does), Peter doesn't always work as a photographer, and so on. There have even been a few fleeting moments where Jonah's learned the truth about Peter's identity--though those don't tend to last very long. But, even with a status quo that continues to evolve and change over time, the connection between Spider-Man and The Bugle has crystallized into one of the most universally understood and recognized parts of the character--which, of course, makes it a little odd that it took the MCU this long to cross that particular bridge.JK Simmons, Spider-Movies, and The MCUIf there's one thing we, as comic movie fans, have absolutely no shortage of, it's live-action Spider-Man movies--and, love them or hate them, Sam Raimi's original trilogy starring Tobey Maguire has cemented itself pretty firmly in the zeitgeist as a watershed moment for superhero movies. But that honor (or disgrace, depending on who you ask) doesn't just sit on Peter's shoulders--the world Raimi and his teams created for these movies informed a whole generation of new Spider-Man fans.And that absolutely includes JK Simmons and his portrayal of J. Jonah Jameson. Pre-dating the MCU by almost a decade, Simmons was one of the most immediately and fondly recognized elements of the first Spider-Man movie. He looked the part, down to the letter, and sold it with the fist-clenching, cigar-chomping scowl that had defined the character for the last forty-some years of comics. Say what you will about the rest of the cast, from Kirsten Dunst's Mary Jane to James Franco's Harry Osborn, but Simmons was perfect in the role.In fact, you could argue that he was too perfect. After Raimi's trilogy concluded, the reboot duology starring Andrew Garfield didn't even attempt to bring him in. He was referenced in The Amazing Spider-Man 2, but never actually brought on screen.For the most part, the MCU has avoided the problem entirely--Tom Holland's Peter Parker is dramatically different from his other live action and comic book incarnations in some key ways. He's not a photographer, he has no interest in reporting or writing, his supporting cast has all been aged down and shifted to mesh with his new status quo rather than his traditional one, and so on. Sure, The Bugle may be one of the things just about everyone, no matter how well they know the comics or the movies, associates with Spider-Man--but the MCU has never really needed it.At least, until now--and how do you solve the problem of recasting a beloved, well-remembered pop culture icon for a new franchise? Easy: You don't.JJJ is back in live action, played by JK Simmons, here to ruin Peter's life as per usual--except this time the stakes are dramatically different. For one, Tom Holland's Peter has no relationship with The Bugle or with Jameson at all, making the attack on him both more and less brutal. Make no mistake, having his identity outed is going to royally screw things up, but at least he doesn't have to worry about handling the complete implosion of his day job simultaneously.On the other hand, this is the first time we've had any experience with The Bugle in the MCU, so we have no idea whether or not this sort of anti-Spider-Man/anti-Superhero rhetoric is part and parcel with Jameson's "brand" or if this is a new thing. Either way, it's perfectly clear that he is more than OK with ruining the life of a high school kid, superhero or otherwise, which is rough, to say the least.But despite the new context and slight changes to his character, one thing is certain: Now that JJJ is in the mix, nothing in the MCU will ever be the same. Info from Gamespot.com