Phoenix Labs has launched the new Path of the Slayer content update for its Monster Hunter World-like hunting co-op action RPG, Dauntless. Path of the Slayer releases alongside the latest expansion to Dauntless's Hunt Pass: Season 4: Burndown.Path of the Slayer introduces the new Mastery system to Dauntless, which allows you to earn rewards for finishing challenges related to hunting certain Behemoths or wearing specific gear. "Each Behemoth and crafted weapon--not just weapon class--has its own unique Mastery card for players to delve into," Phoenix Labs PR manager Andy Burt wrote in a press release. "Players will also find new alternate special attack options for the Hammer, War Pike, Sword and Chain Blades, allowing Slayers to further customize their experience."The expansion also introduces a new progression system into Dauntless. "The progression rework introduces a brand new End of Hunt screen that provides Slayers with a wealth of information, including progress made in various Mastery cards, quest rewards, Behemoth break parts earned, and more," Burt wrote. "Quests and the Dauntless map have also been revamped to clearly define the challenge Slayers can expect on any given hunt, and Behemoth hunts are now organized by their elemental attribute." This system plays into Dauntless' new crafting features and mechanics which has replaced the multitude of crafting parts for a simpler system of elemental Orbs and Arcstones.Ahead of Dauntless' console release, the game begins its fourth Hunt Pass season. "[Burndown] transforms Ramsgate into an arid landscape marked with ceremonial braziers spread throughout the city, and offers Slayers a number of limited-time barbaric rewards," Burt wrote.Currently available in open beta on PC, Dauntless will officially launch on the Epic Games Store this summer. PS4 and Xbox One versions of the game are planned as well. Every version of Dauntless will support cross-platform play and progression, allowing you to move your account between multiple systems and party up with your friends regardless of system.Info from Gamespot.com

During the latest Kombat Kast, additional details about the server-side update that went live in Mortal Kombat 11 right after release--which reduced the maximum health of AI opponents in the Tower--as well as a coming hotfix update were announced. The live stream also addressed in-game microtransactions in Mortal Kombat 11 as well.After player outcry in concern for the Towers of Time in Mortal Kombat 11, NeatherRealm agrees that the mode is too difficult in its current state--adding that it made earning rewards to go through the Krypt "punishingly slow" as a result. The developer is working on a patch "as quickly as they can" to balance the issue, with the update scheduled for the end of this week. However, NeatherRealm added that the update could be pushed back to as late as early next week. The update will specifically address AI difficulty and modifiers in the Towers, and also adjust the frequency of modifiers so that they show up less and make certain unblockable modifiers into blockable ones.Despite these changes to make the Towers of Time less difficult, certain aspects of the mode will remain challenging. Group Battles, for example, will remain a difficult challenge for players because "they are meant" to be.During the Kombat Kast, NeatherRealm also addressed in-game purchases. The developer said they don't want to artificially drive people toward microtransactions. As a result, cosmetics, Time Crystals, and easy fatalities will remain the only things you can buy in Mortal Kombat 11's in-game store outside of DLC. The store will not be changed to allow you to buy in-game currencies.NeatherRealm also has a bundle of free in-game currency coming to all Mortal Kombat 11 players. The developer doesn't have a timetable for when the bundle will release quite yet, but it will include 500k Coins, 500 Hearts, 1000 Souls, and 1000 Time Crystals--the latter of which is enough for two premium skins.Mortal Kombat 11 is available for Xbox One, PS4, Switch, and PC. In our Mortal Kombat 11 review in progress, Edmond Tran wrote, "MK11 isn't just a sequel for series fans and Netherrealm devotees, it's a gateway into the realm of fighting games for anyone who has a passing interest in watching ruthless warriors beat each other silly. Streamlined mechanics keep the act of fighting furiously exciting no matter what your skill level, and comprehensive tutorials encourage you to dig into the nitty-gritty. There's a diverse roster of interesting characters and playstyles, and the story mode is an entertaining romp. The unfulfilling approaches to the game's dynamic single-player content and progression may feel like they've totally whiffed (at least at this early stage), but Mortal Kombat 11 hits where it matters."Info from Gamespot.com

Mortal Kombat 11 recently revealed the roster's final playable character, Frost. The stylish Sub-Zero apprentice is unlockable by playing the campaign, but for those who want a shortcut or just aren't interested in the story mode, you can purchase her separately.Frost is available on Steam and consoles for $6. On PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch, she appears to only be listed through the in-game marketplace, rather than as a separate game item on the storefronts themselves. The price is consistent throughout the different platforms.Frost is a unique inclusion on the character roster, as all of the other playable characters are available right from the start. Frost is a locked character, only obtainable after completing chapter four in the story campaign--or by purchasing her.While selling a shortcut to an item that can be unlocked through normal play isn't uncommon, the store listings do not appear to give an indication that she can be obtained without a purchase. In fact, her store listing is very similar to the one for Shao Kahn, who can only be obtained through purchase if you missed him as a pre-order bonus. The Steam reviews on the DLC are mostly negative, with many players citing the fact that you can unlock her through play.GameSpot has contacted NetherRealm for comment, but has not received a response as of the time of publishing."There's a diverse roster of interesting characters and playstyles, and the story mode is an entertaining romp," Edmond Tran wrote in GameSpot's Mortal Kombat 11 review-in-progress. "The unfulfilling approaches to the game's dynamic single-player content and progression may feel like they've totally whiffed (at least at this early stage), but Mortal Kombat 11 hits where it matters."Info from Gamespot.com

James Gunn will return to write and direct Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, completing the trilogy he's overseen from the beginning. Chris Pratt, the actor behind the lead character Star-Lord, recently said he's "thrilled" to have the director back."I was so thrilled, so excited," Pratt told People. "I think it's the right move, I really stand behind it. I'm really proud of Disney for hiring James back and ultimately thrilled for not only us, but also for the fans. I think it's going to wrap up the trilogy in the best way."Shortly after Gunn was fired from the project in 2018 for controversial tweets made years prior, several celebrities came out to voice their support. Dave Bautista and Michael Rooker, who play Drax and Yondu, respectively, were especially vocal very quickly. Shortly after, though, the entire key cast of the Guardians series signed a collective letter of support to rehire Gunn. That included Pratt, Bautista, and Rooker, along with Zoe Saldana, Karen Gillan, Bradley Cooper, Vin Diesel, Pom Klementieff, and Sean Gunn.The tone of the support was often that Gunn's old social media posts were inappropriate, but that he had learned and grown as a person since then. Pratt's latest comments reflect that attitude as well."Guardians of the Galaxy are really all about second chances and giving people an opportunity to be their best," he said. "We're a ragtag squad of people coming together and having each other's back. I think it really worked out the way it was supposed to, and I feel good about it."Though Gunn had been fired from the project, Disney maintained that it was still going to use his script--perhaps in part because Bautista openly threatened to quit if it didn't. Before Gunn was brought back on, DC took the opportunity to make Marvel's loss their gain, tapping him to write and direct a Suicide Squad film. Though it was first understood to be a sequel, it's now said to be a total reboot.Before Star-Lord and his squad of spacers can get back to guarding the galaxy, though, there's some unfinished business with Thanos to attend to. Almost the entire Guardians roster--Peter Quill, Groot, Drax, and Mantis--were dusted when Thanos enacted his plan to wipe out half the population in Infinity War. Since Gamora was killed in a much more personal fashion as well, that only leaves Rocket to help the Avengers in the upcoming Avengers: Endgame. Check out our review for more (spoiler-free) thoughts on the blockbuster that will settle up Thanos' body count.Info from Gamespot.com

One of the most popular slice of life anime from 2018, Laid-Back Camp, is getting a short follow-up story early next year. Called Heya Kyan (which translates to Room Camp and has thus been nicknamed Heya Camp), the short anime will premiere January 2020.According to Comic Natalie, and translated by Anime News Network, Laid-Back Camp opening animation sequence director Masato Jinbo will be heading Heya Camp. Laid-Back Camp writer Mutsumi Ito and character designer and chief animation director Mutsumi Sasaki are returning to reprise their roles in Heya Camp as well. The director of Laid-Back Camp Season 1, Yoshiaki Kyougoku, will supervise.After Heya Camp, Laid-Back Camp will be getting a full second season, as well as a movie. A key visual for Laid-Back Camp's future direction and stories was released alongside the announcement of Heya Camp's premiere date. The artwork sees main characters Nadeshiko and Rin take center stage at the base of Mount Fuji, while Nadeshiko's fellow Outdoor Activities Circle members Chiaki and Aoi and Rin's friend Saitō stand to their left. On their right stands the Outdoor Activities Circle advisor Minami and Nadeshiko's older sister Sakura. The key visual can be viewed below.Laid-Back Camp follows Nadeshiko and Rin, two high school girls who love camping. Rin is a quiet girl who prefers to camp alone, while Nadeshiko is quite boisterous and would rather spend time with others. Despite their different personalities, the two high schoolers forge a very close relationship and continue to camp together--with Rin beginning to open to the idea of occaissionaly spending time with others and Nadeshiko learning to appreciate more solitude excursions.The anime is one of our favorite series from 2018 and it was nominated in both the Best Girl and Best Japanese Voice Acting Performance categories for the Crunchyroll Anime Awards. Laid-Back Camp is a fairly relaxing series to watch that's mostly geared towards making the audience laugh and teaching them the basics of camping. The anime is based off an ongoing manga series, and is currently streamed on Crunchyroll.Info from Gamespot.com

Pokemon Go's Meltan event has returned for a limited time, giving you another chance to catch a rare Shiny Meltan if you missed it the first time around. Not only will the special Pokemon appear from now until May 5, Niantic has also made it easier to find more Meltan than usual, allowing you to stock up on the Candy you need to evolve it.Unlike other Mythical Pokemon, which can typically be found through either EX Raids or Special Research questlines, Meltan will only appear in Pokemon Go if you've used an item called the Mystery Box, which can be obtained exclusively by linking the game with either Let's Go Pikachu or Eevee on Nintendo Switch. If you're unsure of how to get your hands on one, here's how to catch and evolve the Hex Nut Pokemon.How To Catch MeltanAs mentioned above, the key to finding Meltan is obtaining the Mystery Box, which you'll automatically receive after you've transferred a Gen 1 Pokemon to either of the Let's Go titles. You can read more information about how Pokemon Go transfers work here.After you've received a Mystery Box, open it and Meltan will begin to spawn in the wild for the next 30 minutes. Once you spot one, you can catch it just as you would any other wild Pokemon in Go. During this event, you'll also have a chance of encountering a Shiny Meltan when you open the Mystery Box; however, whether one appears will be down entirely to luck, so you'll need to be persistent if you're hoping to catch one.After the 30 minutes have elapsed, the Mystery Box will close, and you'll typically need to wait seven days before you can open it again and capture more Meltan. However, from now until May 5, Niantic has greatly reduced this cooldown timer to three days, so you can re-open the Mystery Box and catch Meltan again much more quickly than before. How To Evolve MeltanEven if you've already caught the Hex Nut Pokemon, the Meltan event is a good opportunity to stock up on more, as you can transfer any excess ones to Professor Willow in exchange for Meltan Candy. You'll need a whopping 400 of those Candies to evolve Meltan into Melmetal, but you can expedite the process in a few ways. Rare Candies will work toward powering up any Pokemon, even Meltan, and feeding Pinap Berries to one during the capture phase will increase the amount of Candy you receive if you successfully catch it.If you evolve a Shiny Meltan, it'll retain its Shiny coloration as Melmetal. This version of the Pokemon sports a slightly darker head and a blue tail rather than a red one. You'll also be able to transfer any Meltan or Melmetal you've obtained in Pokemon Go over to Let's Go, where you can add them to your party or show them off in online battles. You can read more about how to get Meltan and Melmetal here.The Meltan event is scheduled to run until 1 PM PT / 4 PM ET on Sunday, May 5. More details about the event can be found on the Pokemon Go website.Info from Gamespot.com

If you're a little fuzzy on who the Mad King is, and why he matters so much, you're not alone.One of the quirks of Game of Thrones: Season 1 (rewatch it, if you haven't) is that the show never stoops to obvious, expository dialogue, where the characters explain the context of their actions for the audience's benefit. This is immersive, but it can also be confusing.The show forces its viewers to be attentive and infer necessary information from the conversations we do hear. And it trusts the actors to fill in the rest through non-verbal language and facial expressions.It's from various sources like this that over the years, we've learned about the Mad King, who once sat on the Iron Throne and ruled over the Seven Kingdoms. He is one of the most significant characters on the show, despite being dead before the series premiere; it was his disastrous reign that precipitated the current chaos in Westeros.Now we're in Season 8, and with the Mad King's daughter, Daenerys, poised to take the Iron Throne, you'll be hearing a lot more about him. Here's an explainer on Aerys II Targaryen, Mad King of the Seven Kingdoms and an objectively horrible individual. We've supplemented information in the show with information from the books to provide some additional, interesting context.Targaryen MadnessPrior to Robert Baratheon, the Mad King reigned supreme. His derisive nickname was well-earned, especially because Aerys was not always mad. Targaryens, on the whole, had a very good track record as monarchs; Aerys was the sixteenth member of his family to sit the throne. And Aerys's first decade of rule was marked by prosperity.The young king (20 years old when he ascended) was aided greatly by his Hand, Tywin Lannister. Tywin was coldly objective and efficient--everything that Aerys was not. Aerys talked big and charmed people, while Tywin went about the sordid, detail-heavy business of actually running the realm. It was an arrangement that worked out for everyone at first.But Aerys was insecure, and over time, he went mad. Perhaps his mental instability was the product of incest; generations of Targaryens intermarried to keep the lineage pure and consolidated. Aerys alienated Tywin over a period of years; while drunk, he made a crude sexual remark to Tywin's wife and cousin, Joanna. He also made Tywin's eldest son, Jaime, a member of the Kingsguard. Since Kingsguards are not allowed to marry, have children, or hold property, this was an insult disguised as an honor; he deprived Tywin of an heir to Casterly Rock.Tywin resigned as Hand. And without a mediating influence in King's Landing, things quickly went off the rails. Administrative positions were increasingly occupied by a rotating cadre of yes-men and charlatans. And the king himself grew paranoid, fearing that his subjects were out to kill or usurp him. He tortured and killed entire families of those he suspected, and laughed while doing it.He allowed his physical appearance to degrade; he no longer cut his hair or bathed, and his nails grew long and yellow. He developed an unhealthy fascination with wildfire and with burning people alive. The Targaryen family had always been closely associated with dragons and fire, but this was a step too far.The Tipping PointThe situation became untenable when Aerys's son, Rhaegar, "kidnapped" Lyanna Stark. Lyanna's father Rickard and brother Brandon protested, as did Robert Baratheon, to whom Lyanna was betrothed. In response to their righteous anger, Aerys burned Rickard and Brandon alive in the throne room for their "treason."This triggered an uprising known as Robert's Rebellion, during which the Starks, Baratheons, and eventually the Lannisters all united to overthrow the king. And in the midst of this coup, Jaime Lannister slit Aerys's throat. For this, and for doing so as a member of the Kingsguard, his enemies tagged him with the derisive nickname "Kingslayer."What most people didn't know was that Jaime had saved King's Landing with his actions. Aerys had wildfire planted all over the city in its underground tunnels, so that in the event of a rebellion, he would reduce the city (and its inhabitants) to ash. This plan never came to pass, thanks to Jaime betraying his vow.It's also important to note that Rhaegar never actually "kidnapped" Lyanna. In reality, the two had eloped and were in love. But no major player on either side knew this.The FalloutAerys's pregnant sister-wife, Rhaella, fled to Dragonstone with Aerys' second son, Viserys. She gave birth to Daenerys and died shortly afterward.Robert Baratheon ascended to the Iron Throne. He pardoned Jaime and married Jaime's twin sister, Cersei. He allowed Eddard (Ned) Stark, Lyanna and Brandon's younger brother, to remain as Warden of the North.Rhaegar Targaryen, Aerys's first son, died during Robert's Rebellion. And Lyanna Stark died after giving birth to his son, Aegon Targaryen. Lyanna made Ned promise to keep the boy safe; had Robert known that Aegon existed, he would have killed him. So, Ned renamed him Jon Snow and presented him to the world as his bastard. And the wildfire that the Mad King had planted all over the city was used by Cersei in Season 6 to destroy the Great Sept of Baelor and kill the High Sparrow and the Tyrells. This ultimately resulted in Tommen Baratheon's suicide, and Cersei ascended to the Iron Throne in her son's place.The Mad King's other caches of wildfire are presumably still scattered throughout the city. Should Cersei choose to light them, she may fulfill Aerys's plan after all.The FutureThe reason why Aerys is still important, all these years later, is multifaceted. As the saying goes, "The North Remembers." Aerys burned Rickon and Brandon Stark to death. And remember: As far as the North knows, the Targaryens raped and killed Lyanna Stark as well. Some of this distrust and anger naturally manifests itself toward Daenerys.Daenerys, to her credit, consistently disavows her father, conceding that he was a bad man. She promises to her doubters that she will be better, fairer, and more just. But there is darkness in Daenerys. Like her father, she's demonstrated, on occasion, an uncompromising desire for power. And when Randyll and Dickon Tarly initially refused to bend the knee, Daenerys had them burned to death by her dragon Drogon, much to Tyrion's alarm and dismay.There's an interesting parallel here; just as Aerys was advised by Tywin, Aerys's daughter is advised by Tywin's son. This might foreshadow that she is following in her father's "mad" footsteps. After all, Aerys didn't get that way overnight.As of Season 8, Episode 2 of the show, Jon Snow and Daenerys Targaryen are together, and in love. Jon has just told Daenerys his true lineage; his claim to the Iron Throne is stronger than hers. And Dany didn't have time to react; the horn sounded three times, which meant that the White Walkers were imminent.Assuming Dany (Aerys's daughter) and Jon (Aerys's grandson) survive the battle against the Night King, they'll have a lot to talk about and negotiate. How do they take down Cersei? Who rules the Seven Kingdoms? And will there be a power struggle between them before the show airs its final episode? The Mad King may be dead, but his influence, and the fear and resentment he sowed, live on. Info from Gamespot.com

One of the major surprises to come out of February's big Nintendo Direct presentation was Super Mario Maker 2, a Switch follow-up to the acclaimed Wii U/3DS creation game. Nintendo had previously announced the title would arrive sometime this June, but now the company has pinned down an exact release date: June 28.Much like the first Super Mario Maker, the Switch game allows users to create and share their own custom Mario levels. As before, the stages can be created in the style of the original Super Mario Bros., Super Mario Bros. 3, Super Mario World, or New Super Mario Bros. U, and this time around Nintendo has also added Super Mario 3D World assets to the suite of options.That isn't the only major difference in the upcoming game; unlike the original, Super Mario Maker 2 also gives players the ability to create slopes and angled surfaces, something that wasn't previously possible. Other improvements include the ability to customize how autoscrolling levels scroll, and an assortment of new tools such as on/off switches and more. You can watch the Super Mario Maker 2 announcement trailer above.The first Super Mario Maker launched for Wii U back in 2015 and was subsequently ported to 3DS the following year. GameSpot awarded it a 9/10 in our original Super Mario Maker review and called it "a game of joyous creation and fun surprises." Critic Justin Haywald wrote, "The game won't necessarily turn you into the next Shigeru Miyamoto, but you can almost feel a little bit of that magic rubbing off every time you upload a new creation."The other big surprise announcement from February's Nintendo Direct was the Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening remake for Switch. That game is likewise slated to launch this year, although Nintendo still hasn't announced a firm release date. You can read more about it and all the big Nintendo exclusives of 2019 in our roundup.Info from Gamespot.com

Respawn CEO Vince Zampella has revealed there are no plans to do weekly updates for Apex Legends. The battle royale game will continue to have seasonal updates instead, in an effort to prevent development crunch at Respawn.Although Zampella didn't reference Epic Games or Fortnite in Respawn's reasoning, his announcement does come in on the heels of a Polygon report that revealed Epic Games maintains its ability to do weekly content updates for Fortnite with severe work crunch. Employees have reported working anywhere between 70-100 hours a week. Some employees have even been fired for missing deadlines after choosing to not work weekends, which further cultivates a culture where working long hours is expected of all employees."Our intention was to always be seasonal, so we're kind of staying with that," Zampella saidin an interview with Gamasutra. "The thought was 'Hey, we kind of have something that's blowing up here, do we want to start trying to drop more content?' But I think you look at quality of life for the team. We don't want to overwork the team, and drop the quality of the assets we're putting out. We want to try and raise that."Zampella explained that the plan for Apex Legends was always going to be from season to season, despite the popularity of Fortnite thanks in large part to its weekly updates. However, Zampella did admit that Respawn is still figuring out the pacing for new content in Apex Legends. For now, the length of Apex Legends' seasons is a "total guess," and there's a chance they could either be made shorter or longer in the future.Respawn knows Season 1 was too light on new content, Zampella continued, and the developer already has plans to provide a much larger offering in Season 2. "All the resources on the team are focused on getting this game in a better position so it plays well, so we have enough content, so the seasons are better," Zampella said.Apex Legends is available on 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

With Cobra Kai Season 2 now released on YouTube Prime, fans of the Karate Kid series are getting a proper reintroduction to John Kreese (Martin Kove), Johnny's (William Zabka) former sensei and the founder of the Cobra Kai dojo. Now the big question is what his presence means for the future of the series. Warning: The following contains spoilers for Season 2 of Cobra Kai.In the final scene of the Season 2 finale, it's revealed Kreese has taken control of the dojo, essentially stealing it away from Johnny--he even managed to get the property it's run on signed over in his own name. With his star pupil, Miguel, clinging to life in a hospital and Cobra Kai's remaining students now being mentored by Kreese, it sets the stage for what could be a very emotional showdown in Season 3.For Kove, though, it's easy to justify why Kreese made the move against his former student. "It happens because he sacrifices what the essence is of Cobra Kai [is], what it really means. And it means no mercy," the actor told GameSpot. "I see that he's violating the very concept of Cobra Kai. And so, I sort of sway the students."For Zabka, this rift between them has similarities to a father-and-son dynamic. "A father has a different point of view than the kid, and maybe Kreese doesn't agree with what Johnny's doing," he said. "But Johnny loves these kids and he loves his dojo, and he's not just going to go down without a fight."And his refusing to give up is what should make for a very interesting Season 3. With Johnny booted from Cobra Kai, perhaps this will finally be the moment he and Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) bury the hatchet and work together to overcome the greater evil. After seeing how out of hand things got with them on opposing sides in Season 2, it's clearly time for this war to come to an end.Cobra Kai Season 2 is streaming on YouTube Premium now.Info from Gamespot.com

Avengers: Endgame is almost here. Its release this week comes amid massive anticipation, and as a result, the superhero blockbuster is expected to have a huge opening at the box office. Be sure to check out our Endgame review for impressions of the film.We'd previously heard that Endgame's first week of pre-sales saw it almost double the combined pre-sales of Star Wars: The Last Jedi, Avengers: Infinity War, Aquaman, and Captain Marvel. Clearly, the movie was primed for major success, but now there's further evidence to suggest this coming weekend could shatter records.Deadline put some projections together, and Endgame is expected to have the biggest domestic opening in the history of movies. Sources told the site that pre-sale tickets alone in the United States have reached as high as $140 million, which is uncharted territory in film.This is absolutely insane. There hasn't been a (non-sports) globally monocultural event like this... Ever. ‘Avengers: Endgame’ Presales Estimated At $120-140M+; $300M Domestic Opening In PlayChina is even hotter on a relative basis.https://t.co/kKuacRpAQx — Matthew Ball (@ballmatthew) April 22, 2019I'm still doubtful it will break Avatar's record (and certainly won't when inflation adjusted, to say nothing to massive growth of Chinese box office since 2009).But this is leagues higher than anything else in history when it comes to actual launch demand, concurrent views — Matthew Ball (@ballmatthew) April 22, 2019Avengers: Infinity War holds the record for biggest domestic box office debut, coming in at $257.6 million in 2018. Deadline reports that Endgame could reach $300 million in the US for its opening, to set a new record. Endgame is a very long movie, coming in at 3 hours and 1 minute; by comparison, Infinity War was 2 hours, 29 minutes and The Force Awakens was 2 hours, 16 minutes. Box office analysts told Deadline that if the 12,000 or so US theatres have four or five showtimes for Endgame per day day at each location, with each theatre at 70 percent capacity, then Endgame might have a chance of reaching $300 million for its opening weekend. We've already seen some theaters adding additional showtimes in order to meet demand.Deadline acknowledges that tracking estimates are challenging for Endgame, considering the sample size of movies that have made more than even $200 million over their opening weekends is so small. "More realistic projections for Endgame have it beating Infinity War's all-time domestic opening record of $257.6M last year at this time, and coming in within a range of $260M-$270M," Deadline reported.Also bear in mind that Deadline's report is only for the US. The movie of course is opening around the world, but box office projections for international markets weren't included in the report. Infinity War made $640.5 million for its opening weekend to hold the worldwide opening-weekend record.As for Endgame's total box office haul, that will be interesting to watch. Infinity War made $2.048 billion globally, while Avatar remains the highest-grossing movie worldwide in history with $2.78 billion.Endgame is expected to make so much money, but it's also been a very expensive film to produce and market. The film no doubt has a massive budget due in part to its cast of A-list talent and extensive VFX, among other things. In addition, Deadline reports that Marvel is spending an unprecedented $200 million to promote the film.Endgame is coming on April 26, with some screenings scheduled for the evening of April 25. Spoilers have begun to leak on the Internet, making this a very perilous couple of days for fans who want to be surprised when they see the conclusion of this decade-long story. The film's directors have politely asked everyone not to spoil the fun for others, but we've also put together some practical advice on how to avoid being spoiled.In other news, Fortnite has teased a new Avengers-themed crossover event. We've gotten two teasers for it so far, showing both Captain America's shield and Thor's Stormbreaker. Epic Games has not explained exactly what this event will consist of; last year, for Infinity War's release, it launched a special mode where you could equip the Infinity Gauntlet and become Thanos, so it's possible we'll get another limited-time mode this year along those lines. We'll know for sure on Thursday, April 25.Info from Gamespot.com

A new update for Square Enix's Kingdom Hearts III is coming soon. As announced on Twitter, the new update is coming during morning hours PT on April 23. It adds the Critical Mode. [Update: We've now got exact release timing and patch notes for the new update.]If it's the same as in previous Kingdom Hearts titles, Critical Mode is a new, more challenging difficulty level, above Proud Mode. As IGN reminds us, Critical Modes in previous Kingdom Hearts titles added things like more damage taken and dealt by enemies, and other things. It remains to be seen how Kingdom Hearts III's Critical Mode varies from past games.Greetings, it’s been a while since I last posted. Spring is here, and I hope everyone is doing well. #KingdomHearts III's long-awaited Critical Mode is available as a free update tomorrow (PT). We’ve changed things up from the previous games, so I hope you enjoy - Nomura pic.twitter.com/Npz8FeKmCK — KINGDOM HEARTS (@KINGDOMHEARTS) April 22, 2019Critical Mode is free for all players; there is no word yet as to exactly when in the morning PT time the update will arrive, but keep checking back with GameSpot for the latest.Kingdom Hearts III launched back in January for PS4 and Xbox One. The game quickly shipped more than five million copies, making it the fastest selling game in the series.GameSpot's Kingdom Hearts III review score the game an 8/10."What sticks with me is the exciting battle against elemental titans with Hercules, taking Rapunzel out into the unfamiliar wide world for the first time, snapping selfies with Winnie the Pooh, and going toe to toe with Davy Jones," critic Tamoor Hussain wrote in GameSpot's review. "In 2002, as Sora, I left Destiny Islands to travel across the universe and make new friends. In 2019 I brought old ones home, and I had so much fun doing it."Info from Gamespot.com

The next episode of Game of Thrones will be the longest ever for the acclaimed HBO series. Season 8, Episode 3 has a run time of 82 minutes, which is 2 minutes longer than the Season 7 finale, "The Dragon and the Wolf," which was the previous record-holder for length.The new episode, which doesn't have a title yet, airs Sunday, April 28. It'll be followed up by three further episodes that are all within four minutes of the record for longest-ever. Episode 4 is 78 minutes long; Episode 5 is 80 minutes in duration; and the series final Episode 6 runs for 80 minutes. The episode runtimes were announced by HBO back in March.Given the way things ended in Episode 2 and the first teaser for Episode 3, this new episode could be the one that shows some or all of the epic battle scene that's been hinted at since the show started back in 2011. The Night King and his army are lined up to do battle against Jon Snow, Dany, and other fighters at Winterfell in what could be the show's defining moment.Episode 3 is directed by Miguel Sapochnik, who previously directed the Battle of the Bastards episode. According to a report, the upcoming Battle of Winterfell scene "longest consecutive battle sequence ever committed to film." At 40 minutes, the Helm's Deep battle from The Lord of the Rings: Two Towers is said to be the longest battle sequence from cinema history.Co-executive producer Bryan Cogman spoke about the epic battle scene, calling it unprecedented for TV or film."What we have asked the production team and crew to do this year truly has never been done in television or in a movie," he explained. "This final face-off between the Army of the Dead and the army of the living is completely unprecedented and relentless and a mixture of genres even within the battle. There are sequences built within sequences built within sequences. [Showrunners David Benioff and Dan Weiss wrote] an amazing puzzle and Miguel came in and took it apart and put it together again. It's been exhausting but I think it will blow everybody away."Filming the episode took 11 weeks of night shoots. According to the report, up to 750 people worked all night for almost three months in sub-freezing temperatures and enduring cold rain, mud, and heavy wind.The actor who plays Ser Jorah Mormont, Iain Glen, said filming the battle was the "most unpleasant experience I've had on Thrones.""A real test, really miserable. You get to sleep at seven in the morning and when you wake in the midday you're still so spent you can't really do anything, and then you're back," he added. "You have no life outside it. You have an absolute f**ked bunch of actors. But without getting too method [acting] about it, on screen it bleeds through to the reality of the Thrones world."For lots more on this week's episode of Game of Thrones, check out the stories below:Game Of Thrones Finally Fulfills Two Years-Long Fan ShipsGame Of Thrones Season 8: Jon Snow's Direwolf Ghost Is Back--Did You Catch His Stealthy Return?Game Of Thrones Season 8 Episode 2 Review: A Long Night And A New KnightGame Of Thrones Season 8: This Theory Explains How Sean Bean's Ned Stark Might Return In Episode 3Game Of Thrones Season 8 Episode 2: The Meaning Behind "Jenny's Song"Game Of Thrones Season 8 Episode 2: Brienne And Jaime Just Made Westerosi HistoryGame Of Thrones Season 8 Episode 3 Teaser Previews The Big Battle ComingInfo from Gamespot.com

The first reviews of Marvel's latest movie are here. Before that, the hugely anticipated superhero conclusion to the Infinity Saga, Avengers: Endgame, had its premiere in Hollywood last night. Now that people have seen the film, the first reactions have made their way online, and you can also check out our Endgame review for more in-depth thoughts.Here in this post we're rounding up opinions of the film from movie critics and other lucky early viewers. We've attempted to keep the reactions to the ones that were mostly spoiler-free, but as always, especially if you're searching Twitter with the Avengers hashtag, be careful out there.Endgame opens in Australia on April 24 before coming to the US and other parts of the world on April 26. The movie is expected to have a massive start at the box office; it's potentially tracking to have the best start in movie history in the US. Pre-sales may be as high as $140 million, and it's possible that it could see a $300 million opening weekend in the US alone. With early demand proving so strong, we've already seen theaters adding additional showtimes, even at unusually early hours on Friday morning.In the meantime, another new Endgame TV spot has been released, this one featuring new voiceover dialogue we hadn't yet heard. With the movie's debut so close, Marvel isn't slowing its marketing engines at all.In other news, Fortnite has teased a new Avengers-themed crossover event. We don't yet have any firm details, but a pair of teasers have suggested you might be able to wield Captain America's shield and Thor's Stormbreaker in a special limited-time mode. Whatever the particulars might be, the event or mode goes live on Thursday, April 25.Avengers: Endgame First Reactions:Imagine the best possible version of #AvengersEndgame and somehow the film still surpasses all expectations. I cried 5-6 times. It’s the most emotional, most epic, MCU film. A tribute to ten years of this universe and holy shit the great fan service in this movie. Soooo good. — Peter Sciretta (@slashfilm) April 23, 2019#AvengersEndgame is the film of the year. If you thought you’d seen comics brought fully to the big screen already, prepare to reset your expectations AGAIN.#MCU #Avengers #Endgame #EndgamePremiereLA #EndgamePremiere — Mark Hughes (@markhughesfilms) April 23, 2019#AvengersEndgame is every bit the masterpiece it deserves to be. It’s extraordinary. It is a conclusion worthy of the greatest cinematic saga of all time! Congratulations to everyone who had anything to do with this film, or the 21 films before it. I am emotionally spent. pic.twitter.com/2Yiu3ZIimC — Sean Gerber (@MrSeanGerber) April 23, 2019Nothing can truly prepare you for the emotional journey you are about to go on with this film. Anyone who has been watching these films in the MCU for the past 10-years is in for some of the most incredible and emotional surprises. Stay away from any spoilers. Trust me. ❤️🎥🎞 — Kevin McCarthy (@KevinMcCarthyTV) April 23, 2019#AvengerEndgame is an immensely satisfying payoff, not just to Infinity War but to all the films that came before. This is why the MCU. (And I say this as someone who was not especially enamored of Infinity War, FWIW.) ♥️💙💜 — Angie J. Han (@ajhan) April 23, 2019INCREDIBLE!! #AVENGERS #ENDGAME brings the entire MCU to a rousing, exciting, deeply moving & wholly satisfying conclusion! It’s a *BEAUTIFUL* film! Fun, smart, clever, BRILLIANT! Perfect blend of action, heart & humor! This is as good as it gets! Greatest superhero movie EVER! pic.twitter.com/dMeLtvO7Gy — Scott Mantz (@MovieMantz) April 23, 2019Just got out of the world premiere of #AvengersEndgame. Have a lot of feels. pic.twitter.com/Ayv3eOfNpP — Steven Weintraub (@colliderfrosty) April 23, 2019#AvengersEndgame is an astonishing, amazing film. I’ve never seen anything like it. This movie is everything I wanted to be and SO much more. Amazing. — Brandon Davis (@BrandonDavisBD) April 23, 2019This can't be understated: #AvengersEndgame is everything you want it to be and more. I am absolutely floored. A perfect reflection on the last 11 years that pays off everything in the best way possible. Without question my new favorite Marvel Cinematic Universe film. Stunned. pic.twitter.com/5LvFw9UEBQ — Eric Eisenberg (@eeisenberg) April 23, 2019#AvengersEndgame premiere party specialty cocktails. #WhateverItTakes pic.twitter.com/XZPVlavbmW — Matthew Ball (@ballmatthew) April 23, 2019 Info from Gamespot.com

Will the Halo franchise follow the likes of Call of Duty and Battlefield into the battle royale space? It doesn't seem like it.Halo franchise boss Frank O'Connor said recently that the multiplayer modes for Halo Infinite available at launch are not 100 percent locked in yet, but what he can say for sure is that battle royale will not be among them. Writing on ResetEra, O'Connor's statement came in response to a video from noted Microsoft insider Brad Sams who said 343 was in the early development stages of a battle royale mode for Halo Infinite."We will not talk about the launch content of Halo Infinite until we're ready," O'Connor said. "I haven't watched the video so if I am misinterpreting the headline as 'Halo Infinite is launching with/as a Halo Battle Royale mode' that is still not the case," he said. "You can probably make your own Battle Royale mode in Forge even right now though. It's a mode not a genre. And all the variants out there now are in my opinion quite radically different from my perspective. Apex vs Fortnite is chalk and cheese--one focuses on movement and map traversal and the other on building and budgeting. Like CTF. BTB Super Fiesta (for example) contains a lot of the shenanigans and emergent fun of that kind of large experience but big sandbox modes are not Battle Royale any more than Oddball is CTF."O'Connor joked that Halo Infinite will still have BR--the Battle Rifle, that is. And while Halo Infinite may not have a battle royale mode, O'Connor teased that 343 is looking into "big social modes with loads of organic shenanigans.""The launch modes for MP are not 100% defined and are subject to change till quite late in the process--but Battle Rifle will still be there," he said. "So you can have BR. But are we interested in big social modes with loads of organic shenanigans? Yes. Specifically A blimp full of survivors heading to an Island after a (metaphorical) lecture from Beat Takeshi? No. We are NOT doing this as of now--and no plans to--but Battle Royale could be made for any of the Halo games in MCC or [Halo 5] with some content and scripting additions, because it is a mode. It would have limits based on each engine. I'm pointing that out to be clear that it's one of the ways we think about gameplay possibilities rather than a single direction for a title."Brad Sams, who has accurately reported on many unannounced Xbox endeavours, may be accurate in stating Microsoft has done some work on a Halo battle royale game. Game development is highly iterative. So it might be possible that 343 experimented with battle royale and decided not to pursue it further. Given the enduring appeal of the battle royale genre, it makes sense that Microsoft would at least consider a battle royale mode for Halo Infinite.The Call of Duty franchise added battle royale with Black Ops 4's Blackout mode, while Battlefield V's battle royale mode is called Firestorm. These are modes within the games, not standalone experiences like popular free-to-play battle royale games like Fortnite and Apex Legends.Also in the Sams video, he claims a new trailer for Halo Infinite is being prepared for E3 this June. That would be no surprise, as Halo is one of Microsoft's tentpole franchises, and we've already heard that Halo Infinite will be part of the show. He also responded to the recent claim that Halo Infinite has a $500 million budget. He said he's heard that the actual budget is "in that region." Given the sizeable investment, Sams added, "Careers will be made or broken on [Halo Infinite]." As Sams understands it, the reported $500 million budget would cover game development and development costs associated with the brand-new engine, Slipspace, that Microsoft created for Halo Infinite. It's unclear if marketing costs are included.A spokesperson for Microsoft told GameSpot about the $500 million budget, "We do not comment on speculation and rumor."Halo Infinite is in development for Xbox One and PC; a release date hasn't been announced yet.In other Halo news, it was recently announced that Orange is the New Black and American Gods actor Pablo Schreiber will play Master Chief in the Showtime Halo TV series. GameSpot and Showtime are owned by CBS.Info from Gamespot.com