In the past, Ubisoft has received criticism for not tackling the political issues its games touch upon, and while the newly announced title Ghost Recon Breakpoint features some heavily political topics, it seems the company's stance remains unchanged.Breakpoint's story focuses on a silicon valley genius who develops advanced AI and drones to help humanity and save American lives. The tech giant and its drone army are hijacked by a group of rogue US soldiers, and the game's reveal stream states the drones assassinate an election candidate. Despite all this, lead developer Sebastien Le Prestre says Ubisoft isn't trying to make any particular point."We're creating a game here, we're not trying to make political statements in our games," he says. "We've rooted ourselves in reality, and you'll get what you get out of your playthrough--everybody will get something different out of their experience. The story might make you see different situations, but we're not trying to guide anybody or to make any sorts of statements. It's a 'What if?' scenario, it's Tom Clancy, it's purely fictional."Community developer Laura Cordrey elaborated by saying Ubisoft is "always inspired by what's happening around us, and it's always our goal to stay authentic ... but the story does remain fictional."Many Ubisoft games touch on political topics, such as The Division 2's defence of the White House in Washington DC or Far Cry 5's disaffected, ostracized community and Donald Trump references. However, Ubisoft executives have previously described engaging in politics in video games as "bad for business."As for the new Ghost Recon game itself, check out our hands-on impressions and thoughts on why Breakpoint is both promising and concerning. It's coming to PS4, Xbox One, and PC on October 4.Info from Gamespot.com

Following a classic Ubisoft leak, Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Breakpoint was announced at a reveal event today and is scheduled to release October 4 for PS4, Xbox One, and PC. A sequel to Ghost Recon: Wildlands, the open-world game is described as a "story-driven four-player experience" and will feature Major Cole D. Walker, a rogue special ops soldier with an army of weaponized drones at his disposal. Walker is voiced by actor Jon Bernthal.More info about Ghost Recon Breakpoint is still being revealed, but in the meantime, the game is already available for pre-order. If you were a fan of Wildlands and know you'll be picking up Breakpoint, here's what we know about the available pre-order bonuses and its various editions, including the Wolves Collector's edition. Note that this story is still being updated as more retailers open pre-orders.Ghost Recon: Breakpoint pre-order bonusesPre-order Ghost Recon Breakpoint, and you'll receive the Sentinel Corp Pack, which includes the Hammer MK.2 vehicle, the Sentinel MK.2 heavy outfit, and the Valor assault rifle. Those who pre-order are also guaranteed beta access.My Best Buy members will receive $10 reward credit when pre-ordering the game.Ghost Recon Breakpoint standard editionThe standard edition will include the base game and any applicable pre-order bonuses.PS4:Amazon -- $60GameStop -- $60Best Buy -- $60Walmart -- $60Ubisoft Store -- $60Xbox One:Amazon -- $60GameStop -- $60Best Buy -- $60Walmart -- $60Ubisoft Store -- $60PC:Epic Games Store -- $60Ubisoft Store -- $60Ghost Recon Breakpoint Steelbook Gold editionIf you decide to upgrade and get the Steelbook Gold edition, you'll receive:Base game with any pre-order bonusesThree-day early access starting October 1Year 1 Pass Two DLC: "Deep State" and "Transcendence"Launch mission, "Siren's Call"One-week early access to three new classes, released throughout the yearSpecial Operations Forces Pack Quiet DMRCovered ACHCrye G3 combat pantsCross Draw vestCollectible steelbook (physical version only)Here's where you can pre-order the Steelbook Gold edition:PS4:Amazon -- $110GameStop -- $110Best Buy -- $110Walmart -- $110Xbox One:Amazon -- $110GameStop (physical) -- $110GameStop (download only) -- $100Best Buy -- $110Walmart -- $110PC:Epic Games Store -- $100Ghost Recon Breakpoint Steelbook Ultimate editionAnother step up is the Steelbook Ultimate edition, which includes:Everything offered in Steelbook Gold editionBonus missionUltimate Pack (Survivor Pack, Sacred Land Pack, Off-Road Pack)Trail TX motorbikeSpider buggyCollectible steelbook (physical version only, exclusive to GameStop)Here's where you can pre-order the Steelbook Ultimate edition:PS4:GameStop -- $130Xbox One:GameStop (physical) -- $130GameStop (download only) -- $120PC:Epic Games Store -- $120Ubisoft Store -- $120Ghost Recon Breakpoint Wolves Collector's editionThe fanciest edition of Ghost Recon Breakpoint is the Wolves Collector's edition, a Ubisoft Store exclusive that includes in-game bonus content and some physical collectibles. The Wolves Collector's edition comes with the following:Everything offered in Steelbook Ultimate edition24 cm collectible figurine of Cole D. WalkerExclusive steelbook metal caseConfidential file containing three lithographsGame soundtrackWalker's dog tagWaterproof map of AuroraAs usual with these types of collector's editions, it's very likely the Wolves Collector's edition will sell out soon, so don't wait to pre-order if you're interested in owning it.Ubisoft Store -- $190 Info from Gamespot.com

A new entry in the Ghost Recon series is on the way this year. Ubisoft officially revealed Ghost Recon Breakpoint during a world premiere presentation on Thursday. The game is slated to launch for PS4, Xbox One, and PC this October but some players will have a chance to go hands-on with it a little early thanks to an upcoming beta.Those who pre-order any edition of Ghost Recon Breakpoint will receive access to the game's beta test. Ubisoft hasn't yet announced when the beta will take place, only stating that it will occur "closer to launch," but this will likely be most fans' first chance to try the game's numerous new mechanics out ahead of its release.Breakpoint will launch in standard, Gold, Ultimate, and Wolves Collector's editions. In addition to beta access, those who pre-order any edition will receive a Sentinel Corp. pack that includes exclusive gear, while those who spring for the Gold, Ultimate, or Collector's versions will get access to the full game three days early and an assortment of other goodies. You can read more details on those in our Ghost Recon Breakpoint pre-order guide.Breakpoint is a sequel to 2017's Ghost Recon: Wildlands. The game sends players to Auroa, a fictional island in the Pacific, to investigate the military tech corporation Skell Technology after the company has gone radio silent. However, players quickly discover the island has been taken over by a military group known as the Wolves, led by former Ghost Cole D. Walker, who is portrayed by actor Jon Bernthal and appeared in Wildland's recent Operation Oracle update.New in Breakpoint are stealth and survival elements; players will be able to cover themselves in mud to avoid detection and will need to treat any wounds they sustain. The game also features distinct character classes that will determine what perks and abilities you'll use. Ubisoft says four classes will be available at launch, with more to come later. Solo, co-op, and PvP modes will all also be available right at launch.Ghost Recon Breakpoint releases on October 4. We recently had a chance to go hands-on with the game and thought it was promising and concerning. Despite its prevalent military themes, however, Ubisoft insists the game isn't making political statements.Info from Gamespot.com

The directors of Avengers: Endgame revealed yet another moment they cut from the finished film in an interview with Entertainment Weekly. Apparently Thor had a very near miss with Valkyrie during his final scenes where he attempted to go in for a kiss.Anthony Russo explained, "He had this beat with Valkyrie where she puts her arm on his shoulder and he sort of starts to lean in for a kiss. She goes, ‘What are you doing?’ Thor is confused. “‘Oh, I thought that touch…’ and she was like, ‘No, that was, like, a goodbye tap I was giving you."He went on to elaborate that the scene itself was mostly improved--and very funny--but was cut for the sake of time because they "wanted to keep things tight" in the final version of the movie.This is the second deleted scene the Russos have revealed, following the confirmation that actor Katherine Langford had been cast to play the adult version of Tony Stark's five-year-old daughter, Morgan. Apparently in that scene, Tony was going to visit the adult version of his daughter in the "metaphysical waystation" after his snap--the same way Thanos visited baby Gamora after his. Unlike the moment with Thor and Valkyrie, which was trimmed for time, that particular beat was trimmed for clarity after confusing test audiences.Now that Endgame is out there in the wild and we're left just counting down the days until it's home release which will inevitably bring a whole slew of new deleted scenes and bonus footage. We may not have an official date for that just yet, but we do know that it will be streamed exclusively on the Disney+ platform on on December 11. Info from Gamespot.com

Sony capped off its latest State of Play presentation with a new trailer for Square Enix's highly anticipated Final Fantasy VII remake. This marks the first new footage we've seen of the game in quite some time, but it offers a tantalizing look at how the remake is shaping up.The trailer, which you can watch above, shows off what appears to be footage from the early portion of the game. We see Cloud and other members of AVALANCHE infiltrating a plant as part of the famous bombing mission sequence. The video also gives us a quick glimpse at the game's revamped battle system. Despite its fairly brief duration, the trailer ends with a promise that more details will come in June, presumably as part of Square Enix's E3 press conference, which takes place on Monday, June 10, at 6 PM PT / 9 PM ET.Following the presentation, the official Final Fantasy Twitter account shared a message from Final Fantasy VII remake director Tetsuya Nomura, reaffirming that fans won't have to wait much longer for more info about the game. "Most of the plans are already in place in the run up to launch, so please bear with us a little longer until we can release more information next month," the message read.The Final Fantasy VII remake was first announced during Sony's E3 2015 presentation, although since then, details about the game have been scarce. Nomura was directing the game concurrently with another long-awaited title, Kingdom Hearts III, although the developer claimed that directing them both made his life easier. Kingdom Hearts III finally launched earlier this year, although the Final Fantasy VII remake is still without a release date.Sony's latest State of Play presentation was only roughly 10 minutes long, although it game us a look at quite a few games during that time. Along with new footage of the MediEvil remake, the presentation revealed new details about Monster Hunter World's Iceborne expansion and showed off a new Predator game from Friday the 13th developer IllFonic.Info from Gamespot.com

During Sony's recent State of Play, Capcom released a new trailer for the upcoming Iceborne expansion for Monster Hunter World. In addition to seeing some new monsters and locations from the expansion, which will bring the hunters to a new region on the expansive island that has its own secrets to uncover. Capcom also revealed the release date for Iceborne, which is set to launch on September 6 for PS4 and Xbox One. Unfortunately, the PC release will launch sometime after in the winter.Capcom followed up with their own livestream as well, revealing more details about what to expect with Iceborne. Though Monster Hunter World has seen a steady flow of new content since its debut, this marks the first time the game will have a proper expansion. If you already own Monster Hunter World, you can upgrade to the expansion once it's released. However, if you haven't had the chance to dive into the game just yet, then you can buy the new edition of MHW in September, which includes the full game, its many updates, and the new expansion with Iceborne.The new area you'll travel to is called the Hoarfrost Reach, a new region on the massive island from the core game. Snow plays a big part into the core gameplay, which also ties into the existing temperature mechanics from the main game. If you find yourself walking in heavy snow, then your character's movement will become significantly slower. To combat the cold effects, you can find herbs to boost your stamina and attributes. You can even find a hot springs, which will greatly improve your character's status.Iceborne will also include a whole suite of new monsters. During the livestream, the developers showed off Banbaro, an early brute wyvern that tends to use the environment to its advantage. Another new monster is the Beotodus, Iceborne's first large-scale monster you'll encounter. This particular beast will bury itself beneath the snow and strike from below. These two monsters, in particular, are incredibly hostile towards one another, which will result in some brutal fights between the two. Some monsters from previous games will also make a return in Iceborne, including Freedom Unite's Nargacuga.There's also some new upgrades to existing Hunter gadget. The Slinger has been upgraded with the use of a new Clutch Claw, allowing you to freely grapple and mantle enemies. Another upgraded gadget is the Power Shot, which can improve the flinch rate on monsters. Some of these modified gadgets can be used in mid-combo, and even during evades.Along with new monsters and quests, there will be all new gear and upgrades for your character to collect. This expansion is looking to be a sizeable update to an already massive game. Iceborne also introduces a new rank called Master Rank, which is similar to the G-Rank from previous games. The big bad of Iceborne is the new elder dragon Velkana, who's you got to see in the trailer.In our review of Monster Hunter World, Ginny Woo gave the game a 9/10:"Ever since the title was first announced, it was clear that Capcom was gunning for something grander than Monster Hunter Generations. It has succeeded, and this is likely the biggest and best that the franchise has ever been. It's not just the comparative depth of the narrative; it also boasts almost seamless integration between combat systems that were previously incomprehensible for amateurs. The Monster Hunter formula has definitely honed its claws, and all the above factors play their part in making Monster Hunter World a meaningful evolution for the series at large."For more on Monster Hunter World, be sure to check outInfo from Gamespot.com

During the May State of Play stream, PlayStation announced Predator: Hunting Grounds. The game is scheduled to release in 2020. The announcement was accompanied by a trailer, which is embedded above.An online asymmetric shooter game, Predator: Hunting Grounds sees a group of players take on the titular hunter, who's also controlled by a player. The game is being developed by Illfonic, the same studio behind Friday the 13th: The Game, and Fox is assisting. A new trailer for the game showcases some soldiers sneaking their way through a dense jungle, as the Predator--hidden with its cloaking technology--watches them from the tree tops."As the Fireteam attempt to carry out paramilitary missions--annihilating bad guys and recovering important items--the Predator will be closing in, using its advanced vision mode to track and ambush its prey," Illfonic CEO Charles Brungardt wrote in a PlayStation blog post. Brungardt added that Predator: Hunting Grounds is "still pretty early in development" so it will probably be some time before we get a gameplay reveal.Predator: Hunting Grounds wasn't the only game announced during the State of Play stream. PlayStation also revealed Riverbond, a four-player couch co-op hack and slash game, is coming to PS4 this summer. Another new game, Away: The Survival Series, got a trailer as well. Away is a third-person adventure game that has you control a Sugar Glider that must find its way to safety after a series of natural disasters.The stream also provided a release date for the previously announced MediEvil remaster--which is coming October 25. Details were released for Iceborne, the upcoming DLC expansion for Monster Hunter World, as well, including that it launches September 6. PlayStation ended the stream with the reveal of a new limited edition PS4 console and a trailer for the upcoming Final Fantasy VII remake. PlayStation announced more Final Fantasy VII details would be revealed this June. Normally that would definitely mean Sony's PlayStation E3 press conference, but Sony is skipping out this year. Square Enix is hosting a presentation this year though, so we can expect the new details will be revealed then.Despite being announced in 2015, Final Fantasy VII hasn't had much of a spotlight, with very few details and trailers being provided over the past four years. The new trailer seems to showcase the bombing mission sequence that takes place right at the game's start, and also reveals the remake's revamped battle system and some of the voices for its characters.Info from Gamespot.com

Season 9 of Fortnite has officially begun, and some big changes await players this season. Not only are there new areas of the map to explore, there's a new Battle Pass to purchase, which means a load of new skins and other cosmetic rewards to unlock.Of course, with a new Battle Pass comes a new assortment of challenges to complete, and Week 1's missions are now live on PS4, Xbox One, PC, Nintendo Switch, and mobile. Completing these will level your Battle Pass up and, in turn, unlock the aforementioned Season 9 rewards. That's not all you can get by completing challenges, however.Just as in previous seasons, there's a secondary set of missions to complete called Utopia challenges. These are Season 9's equivalent of last season's Discovery challenges, and they can only be completing by finishing all seven challenges from a given week. If you manage to do that, you'll unlock a special loading screen that features a subtle clue pointing you to a free Battle Star (which levels your Battle Pass up by one tier) or Banner (which can be used as a profile icon) hidden somewhere around the island.Complete all of the challenges from one week in Season 9 and you'll unlock the loading screen pictured below. This time, the clue is fairly easy to spot. Look at the minigun and you'll see a set of coordinates written onto the side of the weapon: I5, I6, J5, and J6. This is where you'll need to go to find the free Battle Star.The area where the coordinates converge is just south of Lonely Lodge; you can see its exact location marked on the map below. Make your way to the area and the Battle Star will appear. Collect it as you would any other item in the game, then finish the match and you'll level your Battle Pass up by one full tier. If you need more help locating the Battle Star, we walk you through where it can be found in the video at the top of this guide.If you're familiar with how Season 8's Discovery challenges worked, you'll know there are a few caveats to keep in mind before you can find Season 9's Utopia challenge rewards. Most importantly, this particular Battle Star won't appear in the game unless you've complete one full week's set of challenges and unlocked the loading screen pictured above, which means you can't simply go to the right area and pick it up unless you've completed all the necessary steps.If you need help finishing any of this season's challenges, you can find tips in our complete Fortnite Season 9 challenges guide. We'll continue to update the guide as the season rolls on, so be sure to check back each week for the latest tips and walkthroughs. You can also see everything that's new this season in Fortnite's 9.0 update patch notes.Info from Gamespot.com

Sony's State of Play event today had a lot of news, including the reveal of a PlayStation 4 edition of the third-person adventure game where you play as a Sugar Glider possum. The game is called Away: The Survival Series, and developer Breaking Walls says it's inspired by nature documentaries. Previously, the game was only announced for PC.It's not easy being a possum close to the bottom of the food chain, but it gets worse: a cataclysmic storm is coming. As that's happening, you will zip around the world using the possum's elastic skin to glide around environments like forests, caverns, and swamps. In addition to gliding, the little Sugar Glider can run quickly and dodge, which comes in useful when evading a stinging scorpion. Check out the new trailer below.The music in Away was composed by Mike Raznick, who worked on the acclaimed nature documentaries Life and Planet Earth II.Away is in development for PC and Xbox One, but a release date hasn't been announced at this stage. Keep checking back with GameSpot for the latest.The State of Play broadcast had a lot of news, including new trailer for the Final Fantasy 7 remake, a release date for Monster Hunter World's Iceborne expansion, and the announcement of a new PS4 model is coming to celebrate the Days of Play event. Check out GameSpot's news recap to see a rundown of all the big news. Info from Gamespot.com

The massive scale of Monster Hunter World is set to grow even bigger this year with the release of Iceborne. Launching on September 6 for the PS4 and Xbox One, with the PC release coming later this winter, you'll be able to explore the new region of Hoarfrost Reach, unearthing new challenges and gear to craft. To celebrate the launch of Monster Hunter World's expansion, players who haven't had the chance to dive into the game will be able to purchase the Master Edition of the game, which features all existing content along with the Iceborne expansion. At launch, this edition of the game will cost $60.During Capcom's Monster Hunter livestream, the developer detailed what to expect from Iceborne, and how much there is to find in the new expansion. For fans who've already spent hundreds of hours hunting and crafting new gear, you'll be able to buy the expansion separately for $40 MSRP. There's also a special deluxe edition of Iceborne, which includes special items and gear, including a new Yukumo armor set and additional items for your hunter.Iceborne features a massive amount of new content to uncover. In addition to new challenges to tackle, there's also a suite of new upgrades and gadgets to use, including a new grappling hook and modifiers to existing gear. Moreover, there's also a suite of new monsters to battle, such as the brute wyvern Banbaro and the new elite monster Velkana.In our review of 2018's Monster Hunter World, Ginny Woo gave the game a 9/10 and stated:"Ever since the title was first announced, it was clear that Capcom was gunning for something grander than Monster Hunter Generations. It has succeeded, and this is likely the biggest and best that the franchise has ever been. It's not just the comparative depth of the narrative; it also boasts almost seamless integration between combat systems that were previously incomprehensible for amateurs. The Monster Hunter formula has definitely honed its claws, and all the above factors play their part in making Monster Hunter World a meaningful evolution for the series at large."Be sure to check out our more detailed breakdown of Iceborne following Capcom's livestream, along with some of the highlights from Sony's recent State Of Play.Info from Gamespot.com

It's been a big week for Monster Hunter: World. Not long after Capcom announced the game had reached 12 million copies shipped and revealed the next major expansion, the publisher has announced a free trial version of the game is now available on PlayStation 4.The trial, which isn't available on Xbox One or PC, lets you play up to the Tobi-Kadachi assignment quest at Hunter Rank 4. Players can create a Hunter and Palico companion and play everything up until that point; online play and access to the Spring Blossom Fest event is also included in the free trial version.Progress from the free trial carries forward to the full version, which is on sale right now for $20 USD. The trial is available only for a limited time; it ends on May 20.Capcom also announced that Monster Hunter World is adding a new, more challenging event called the Arch-Tempered Nergigante Event Quest on May 11. "This quest has been a long time coming, and for good reason. The development team worked really hard to make this a special challenge; one that will remind you of when you first fought Nergigante during one of our Beta tests, or perhaps even the first time fighting him in the game," Capcom said.The quest will be available on PS4 and Xbox One on May 11, with the PC edition coming later.Monster Hunter: World's new expansion, Iceborne, launches on September 6 for PS4 and Xbox One. The PC version is coming later. The expansion adds a cold new island to explore and more monsters to face off against. Check out the new gameplay trailer embedded above.Be sure to check out our more detailed breakdown of Iceborne following Capcom's livestream, along with some of the highlights from Sony's recent State Of Play.Info from Gamespot.com

The third episode of Life Is Strange 2 takes place two months after we last saw Sean Diaz and his little brother Daniel escaping Beaver Creek, Oregon because of yet another plan gone wrong. There's a lot to get caught up on here, but Sean's journal does a good job of making sure you don't feel like you've missed out. The end of Sean's most recent entry reads, "It's not easy," and as I sat there a couple of hours later completely unable to decide how Sean should proceed in a high stakes situation, I couldn't have agreed more.The road has taken a toll on the brothers, but they've found themselves a ragtag group of friends and a makeshift community campsite in Humboldt County, California to call home. Their financial situation is also looking up thanks to a couple of not-so-legal jobs working on a weed farm. These were arranged by Finn, a hippie backpacker they first met back in Oregon who now works on the farm. The pace slows right down in Episode 3, and while that's reflective of life on the road, it means that having an investment in the characters and their development is essential in keeping you engaged. Fortunately, with a campsite full of colorful characters to learn from and bounce personalities off of, you get to learn a lot about who the boys are apart from one another and watch them discover who they want to become.Just in case you've lost track of the events so far (it has been almost four real-world months since the last episode), Episode 3 begins with a flashback to a time before the brothers were forced to leave Seattle. Initially, this feels like retreading ground you're already familiar with, but it serves to reintroduce not only what life was like before the brothers were on the run, but it's also a reminder that the growing pains of their adolescence are the same, no matter how much their lives have changed.For example, there's a flashback of a sibling tiff that leads to a conversation between Sean and his father Esteban, who asks his son to help take care of his little brother. The discussion is compassionate and respectful; Esteban tells Sean he's proud of him and asks him to go talk to Daniel. Sean does so and this moment mirrors the beats of the prior conversation. The reintroduction of Esteban weighs on your decision-making over the rest of the episode as you try to play the role of brother, father figure, friend, and keeper to Daniel and his supernatural abilities. The realization that there is no way to do all of the above is a frustrating reality for both you and Sean, and this adds nuance to your decision making.As with the previous episode, Life Is Strange 2's greatest strength is the care it puts into characterization and writing. The ongoing complication of this episode is Sean discovering who he is, what he thinks, and facing very tangible romantic prospects while Daniel feels like he's losing his brother. There are almost a dozen vastly different characters to engage with in Episode 3, and relationships feel fluid and changeable. The relatability of Sean's character makes it easy to sink into his shoes when you talk to your companions. Your connection to Sean's mindset is most clear when Daniel grows close to Finn and you feel an undeniable sense of jealousy when he trades out the watch you gave him for a bracelet from Finn. You feel fear when Daniel acts out and endangers himself, nervous when testing out the waters of a new relationship, and the constant weight of trying to make the right decision when there isn't one. The natural performances, writing, and genuine character moments coalesce to give each character weight and complexity, making them easy to care about.The environment is lovingly rendered down to the most minute details, and it paints a full and clear picture of what life is like with your makeshift community in the California forest. You can overhear conversations as you walk around the campsite, there's a chore list nailed to a tree, and there are giant redwoods to admire in every direction. There is a larger focus on the series' contemplative cutscenes set to an evocative alternative soundtrack, which underpins the coming of age vibe of the episode.Aside from a couple of late-game scenes, interactive moments are less of a focus--though there are narrative reasons behind it. Occasions where you're trimming buds of marijuana, sketching your companions, and trying to steal a truck break up the blocks of wandering and conversation in a refreshing way, but they're the minority of your playtime. Fortunately, it's far more interesting to watch Daniel grapple with having to grow up so quickly and Sean trying to decide between doing what's right for his brother or what's right for himself as a young adult figuring out who he wants to be.With Sean and Daniel spending all their time around other people, there are few occasions for Daniel to use his powers, despite them having grown significantly stronger. While his abilities spark some interesting conversations and eventually shift the flow of the plot, they largely take a back seat to the rest of the narrative right up until they're used to cause some inescapable dramatic upheaval. As they've been used this way multiple times in the story so far, these moments begin to feel predictable--and though the implications are interesting, it's certainly a crisis you can see coming.Your connection with Daniel will begin to fray regardless of your prior relationship and binary decisions can still not go the way you'd like because characters act out of their own interest. This agency makes the people you interact with far more interesting. Just because you make a choice doesn't mean the story will unravel that way as the motivations of independent characters are prioritized, so they won't necessarily do as Sean asks. The story branches are also starting to bear pretty significant fruit, with a few wonderful scenes regarding the exploration of romance, sexuality, individuality. While there is less interactivity this episode, the achievement in portraying genuine and evolving young characters and the challenges of adolescence remains engaging.Despite its supernatural themes, Life Is Strange almost always delivers an honest moment instead of a sensationalized one. There's something far more relatable about a teenager mumbling apologies after their "first time" instead of dancing down the street to the tune of "You Make My Dreams Come True," and it's these moments that truly solidify your investment in Sean. At one point, Finn tells Sean, "Memories are just lessons for the future." For a story that so rarely lets its characters escape unscathed no matter how you choose to act, it's a solid adage. The goal of making it to Puerto Lobos feels increasingly immaterial given the escalation of Daniel's powers and the hurdles in their way. As they say, the journey matters far more than the destination, and Sean and Daniel's journey is one that continues to intrigue. Info from Gamespot.com

Microsoft is expected to announce a next-generation Xbox at E3 next month, but ahead of that, the company today launched the brand-new all-digital Xbox One S. Called the Xbox One S All-Digital Edition, the system costs $250 / £200 / AU $350, and it's available anywhere you buy consoles.Buy the Xbox One S All-Digital Edition:AmazonBest BuyWalmartMicrosoft StoreThe new model is the same form factor and size, but it has no disc drive. It sports a 1 TB hard drive and it comes with three games: Forza Horizon 3, Minecraft, and Sea of Thieves.The release of the Xbox One S All-Digital Edition is noteworthy because it's the first major home console to offer a disc-free version. Microsoft announced the system in April, at which time it said "consumer appetite for digital content and experiences are stronger today than ever before."Indeed. Just today, Electronic Arts reported that a whopping 49 percent of all of its full-game sales on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One over the past 12 months were digital. The share of digital sales at other publishers is expected to be rising as well.The new all-digital Xbox One S is not replacing the standard Xbox One S or the Xbox One X, both of which have disc drives. The new digital version is only an option for people who want it.The lack of a disc drive means the console doesn't support DVDs or Blu-ray discs, but Microsoft says people can still experience 4K content through Netflix, Amazon, and other destinations. The form factor is the same, and the all-digital Xbox One has the same functionality as the standard Xbox One S. It just cannot play game discs or disc-based media.Looking ahead, Microsoft is expected to announce one or multiple next-generation Xbox consoles at E3 2019 in June.Some links to supporting retailers are automatically made into affiliate links, and GameSpot may receive a small share of those sales.Info from Gamespot.com

The cancellation of Bayonetta developer PlatinumGames' action-RPG Scalebound was one of the biggest news stories of 2017. Microsoft, the game's publisher, took a lot of the heat about the cancellation. But Platinum boss Atsushi Inaba says Platinum is to blame as well."Both sides failed," he told Video Game Chronicle. Inaba added that Scalebound the game "didn't do all of the things that we needed to do as a developer."Inaba went on to say that it "wasn't easy" to watch fans yell at Microsoft over Scalebound's cancellation. "The reality is, when any game in development can't get released it's because both sides failed," he said. "I think there are areas where we could've done better and I'm sure there are areas that Microsoft as a publishing partner wish that they could've done better. Because nobody wants a game to be cancelled."The studio head said Platinum learned "a lot of painful lessons" from Scalebound's cancellation, and these lessons have helped the studio grow. Neither Microsoft nor Platinum have said why Scalebound was canceled, but Inaba acknowledged that the game might have been announced too early in development.Bayonetta director Hideki Kamiya was leading development on Scalebound, which had reportedly been in development for years before it was shut down. In the wake of Scalebound's cancellation, Xbox boss Phil Spencer said the cancellation is ultimately "better for Xbox gamers."There was a rumor that Scalebound might be revived as a Nintendo Switch game, but that's not in the cards, according to Video Game Chronicle. J.P. Kellams, who was a producer on Scalebound, said he knows "exactly why" Scalebound was canceled but details haven't emerged as of yet.Platinum is currently working on multiple projects, one of which is a game idea that "has never been done before." For whatever it's worth, Platinum says 2019 is an "incredibly important" year for the studio.Info from Gamespot.com

A little show called Game of Thrones is currently in the midst of its eighth and final season, and it is very popular. The ratings for Sunday's Episode 4 have arrived--and they are massive.17.2 million people watched "The Last of the Starks" across all platforms--including standard television and digital networks such as HBO Go and HBO Now, according to TV Line. Some portion of those people noticed the coffee cup, which has since been digitally erased (but not forgotten).Episode 4's 17.2 million viewers is down slightly from Episode 3's 17.8 million viewers, which is the most-watched episode of the final season so far. Episode 2 has been the least-watched, with 15.9 million viewers. You can see a breakdown of viewers by episode below.Episode 6, which is the finale of the entire Game of Thrones series, is likely to draw the biggest crowd, but whether or not it cracks 20 million remains to be seen.So far, the four aired episodes have been together tallied more than 68 million views, and that doesn't count all members of groups or families watching together and views from other means. Check out our full Game of Thrones, Episode 4, "The Last of the Starks" review to see what we thought of it. You can also watch the preview trailer for Episode 5 and check out some fresh theories about where things will go from here. There are just two episodes left, but each one clocks in at 80 minutes, so there's still plenty left.Game of Thrones Season 8 Ratings:via TV LineEpisode 1 -- 17.4 millionEpisode 2 -- 15.9 millionEpisode 3 -- 17.8 millionEpisode 4 -- 17.2 millionEpisode 5 -- Who knows.Episode 6 -- Probably a lot; we'll know soon.Total (so far) -- 68.3 million.Info from Gamespot.com