It's been a busy week for news out of the Epic Games Store, as it was recently announced that Rocket League developer Psyonix will be acquired by Epic and the vehicular soccer game will be coming to the service later this year. In addition, Epic continues to challenge Steam with its biweekly free game offerings, with past freebies including acclaimed titles like The Witness, Oxenfree, What Remains of Edith Finch, and Subnautica.Now, the latest free PC game from Epic is available: World of Goo replaces Transistor as the newest giveaway. From now until May 16, you can download the game, and it'll be yours to keep. If you don't already have an Epic account, all you have to do is create one (which is free). It's worth the 30 seconds it'll take you to sign up, as Epic has already established a track record of offering some great games at no cost.Get World of Goo for free »Create a free Epic Store account »World of Goo is an award-winning, physics-based puzzle game that involves building bridges, towers, and other structures to navigate various levels. Your building tools are balls of goo, and there are several different types of goo with their own unique abilities. The game also includes a multiplayer sandbox area where players around the world can compete to build the tallest towers of goo and complete other challenges. World of Goo initially launched on PC back in 2008 but just received its first update in 10 years (likely to prepare for this Epic giveaway). The update includes a full remaster of the game, including improved frame rate, HD resolution, and 16:9 aspect ratio. So there's truly no better time to snag this classic (and very silly) game.If World of Goo isn't your thing, hang tight, because another freebie will drop later this month. Stories Untold, which includes a genre-mixing anthology of mysterious and innovative story-driven games, will be Epic's next PC giveaway. Look for it in the Epic Store starting May 16.Info from Gamespot.com

Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night has undergone several delays, but now it's just around the corner. A new trailer drops a release date for the Castlevania homage, but also makes a point of showing just how far it's come during its long development cycle.The trailer (below) gives a release date of June 18 for PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One, and one week later, June 25, for Nintendo Switch. But most of the time is spent showing internet naysayers mocking the early graphics, and juxtaposing that old "poop" look with the game as it will release in a little more than a month. Yes, the trailer actually does call the old graphics "poop."It doesn't shed much light on the reason for the Switch version following a week after the others. This follows an announcement, from a Nintendo Direct in fact, that all of the versions will be coming this summer.The Kickstarter for Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night promised a game in the style of Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, the most famous work from Bloodstained creator Koji Igarashi. That crowdfunding concluded almost four years ago, so it's spent quite a bit of time in development--so long, in fact, that the target platforms have changed over time. It was originally targeting PlayStation Vita and Wii U, and development started before the Nintendo Switch was even announced, so those plans have shuffled to the new platform. The studio also recently canceled the Mac and Linux versions.Our recent hands-on showed a game that's right up the alley of classic Metroidvania-style adventures, with some minor trade-offs from taking it 3D. A notably clever 8-bit style prequel is already available on all platforms as well.Info from Gamespot.com

[Update 4 PM ET: This deal has now sold out.]First-party Nintendo Switch games are notorious for not budging in price, while other games see price drops are early as release day (we're looking at you, Mortal Kombat 11). However, we've recently seen quite a few Nintendo Switch games on sale at places like Amazon, where you can currently find many titles discounted by $10, $15, or even more. Now, Best Buy is getting in on the deals action with a fantastic offer for anyone looking to pick up Nintendo's latest console. For a limited time, the retailer is giving away a free Switch game of your choice when you buy a Nintendo Switch console. Previous deals have bundled the console with a handful of game options for 50% off, so this offer is one of the best Switch bundle options we've seen to date.Another bonus: This offer extends to over 200 Switch games (222, to be exact), and that number includes a mix of acclaimed first-party titles like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, new releases like Mortal Kombat 11, and indie gems like Undertale. The console options include the standard gray Joy-Con or neon red-and-blue Joy-Con versions ($300), as well as the Pikachu & Eevee special edition that comes with Pokemon: Let's Go, Pikachu and a Poke Ball Plus ($400).Just choose your console and an eligible game, add them both to your cart, and you'll see the discount applied at checkout. Visit the official offer page to get started:BUY A NINTENDO SWITCH, GET A FREE GAME AT BEST BUY »Plus, check out some of the available titles below, and see the full list of eligible games at Best Buy.Bayonetta 2Civilization VIDark Souls RemasteredDarksiders: Warmastered EditionDiablo III: Eternal CollectionDonkey Kong Country: Tropical FreezeFifa 19Final Fantasy X/X2 HD RemasterFinal Fantasy XII: The Zodiac AgeMario Kart 8 DeluxeMario Tennis AcesMinecraftMonster Hunter Generations UltimateMortal Kombat 11New Super Mario Bros. U DeluxeOctopath TravelerPokemon: Let's Go EeveePokemon: Let's Go PikachuSplatoon 2Super Mario OdysseySuper Mario PartyThe Elder Scrolls V: SkyrimThe Legend of Zelda: Breath of the WildThe World Ends with You: Final RemixUndertaleWolfenstein II: The New ColossusXenoblade Chronicles 2Info from Gamespot.com

It's been 35 years since The Karate Kid crane kicked its way into theaters--and our hearts. In the time since, there's been a long list of movies of varying quality and a revival series on YouTube Premium that, against all odds, is pretty amazing. Now, celebrating its milestone 35th anniversary, the original Karate Kid is back with a 4K release. Is it worth replacing the copy you already own, though?The answer, honestly, depends on what you're looking for in the set. If film's quality is what you covet the most, this is by far the best-looking version of The Karate Kid you're going to find. That said, this is still a 35-year-old movie shot on 35mm film. The 4K scan of the original camera negative can be grainy, but that's to be expected--and it a bit comforting--when it comes to a movie this old. The colors are definitely more vibrant in this release, though.The sound has also been given an upgrade. There's still stereo and 5.1 mixes of the movie's soundtrack; however, there's also a new track option for those with Dolby Atmos audio systems.If the movie's picture quality isn't as important to you as the bonus content packaged with the set, this is what might hold you back. While the 4K release comes with all of the special features that the 2010 Blu-ray release, including audio commentary with Ralph Macchio (Daniel LaRusso), Pat Morita (Mr. Miyagi), director John G. Avildsen, and writer Robert Mark Kamen, there's not a ton of new content offered. On the 4K disc, you'll find a 1080p version of the movie's theatrical trailer, along with a new 10-minute featurette that looks back on the movies featuring interviews with Macchio, William Zabka (Johnny Lawrence), and Martin Kove (Sensei Kreese).Were it not for Cobra Kai, this featurette would be a truly exciting addition. However, that trio has done so many interviews promoting the series over the last year that there's only so much new ground to cover. That said, it's still a short and fun watch.Even without a bunch of new bonus features, though, it's hard to ignore just how good this movie looks. This is the best transfer of The Karate Kid you're going to find. So if you're looking for an excuse to upgrade from your DVD or Blu-ray copy, it's definitely worth it--especially if you're planning to watch it on a large TV or have an impressive home audio setup. And if you somehow don't own a copy of The Karate Kid, what are you waiting for? It's an '80s classic and it's going to be hard to ever get a better version of it than this.The Karate Kid is available now on 4K at participating retailers.Disclosure: GameSpot was provided a copy of Karate Kid's 4K release by Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.Info from Gamespot.com

Avengers: Endgame is setting box office records left and right, so chances are pretty good that you've already seen it. If you haven't made time, though, you might want to head to the cinema over the next few days, because directors Joe and Anthony Russo have declared that the statute of limitations on spoilers is almost over. As of Monday, May 6, spoilers are fair game.Co-director Joe Russo gave the end date in an interview with Good Morning America, and then the brothers collectively shared the clip on Twitter. Russo said he feels there has to be an end-date when spoilers are no longer off-limits, because part of the reason they make movies is to encourage discussion. With that in mind, it's fair enough if you couldn't make it out opening weekend, but after two weekends the conversation should be free to spoil.This film is the final one in the Infinity Saga, and culminates in a lot of story and character payoffs that have been building for more than ten years. As a result spoiler sensitivity has been higher than usual, as fans eagerly await seeing what happens to earth's mightiest heroes. If you've managed to avoid plot details so far, now you have a firm due date. The Russos have previously pleaded with fans not to spoil the film, and of course not everyone has or will abide by their own determination of when to begin spoiling.If on the other hand you already have seen Endgame, you may still be puzzling out some of the finer details. In that case check out the endings explained and read up on plot holes. Or for the lighter side you can catch up with a ton of Easter eggs and scenes that weren't in the trailers.Info from Gamespot.com

This week has been jam-packed with Golden Week game deals at Steam, the PlayStation Store, and the Nintendo Eshop, and the latest deal is actually a freebie that Final Fantasy XIV Online players will want to snag. If you don't already own Heavensward, the critically acclaimed DLC is available for free on both PC and PS4 until June 27.Important things to know: The PC edition is free from the Square Enix Store as part of its Golden Week sale, while the PS4 version is available from the PlayStation Store. However, both the PC and PS4 expansion require The Final Fantasy XIV Online Starter Edition to play (and in PlayStation's case, you must own it to even claim). Square Enix notes that its PC download of Heavensward isn't compatible with Steam's version of the Starter Edition, so you'll have to own the base game in some capacity outside Steam.Here's where a Twitch Prime membership comes in handy--the streaming site is currently giving away a free PC download of Final Fantasy XIV Online: Starter Edition, but that deal ends tomorrow, May 3, so grab it ASAP if you're also planning to get the Heavensward DLC while its free. On the Twitch Prime website, scroll right under "Free In-Game Loot & More," and you'll see the FFXIV offer.Get Final Fantasy XIV Online Starter Edition for free on PC » (US) Get Final Fantasy XIV: Heavensward for free on PC »(EU) Get Final Fantasy XIV: Heavensward for free on PC » (US) Get Final Fantasy XIV: Heavensward for free on PS4 »The Heavensward expansion earned a 9/10 from GameSpot for its exciting and epic continuation of Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn's story, gorgeous visuals, detailed environments, and variety of dungeons and challenges."Heavensward is an essential purchase for those who have spent more hours than they'd care to admit in Eorzea," wrote critic Pete Davison in his Heavensward review. "While new players--or those who never beat A Realm Reborn's complete story--may feel aggravated at being locked-out of the expansion until they catch up, there's little denying that Final Fantasy XIV as a whole offers astonishing value for those willing to immerse themselves, and it will only continue to grow and expand over time."Info from Gamespot.com

Game of Thrones' "Long Night" is over, for better or worse, and with the White Walkers defeated, what remains is what's always been there: the battle for the Iron Throne.But before Jon or Dany (or Jaime or Tyrion or Arya or basically every other character on the show) can shove a knife through Cersei's stupid face and plant a more deserving butt in that seat, Game of Thrones has to do something it's been building toward for many years: Cleganebowl, the battle between the Hound, Sandor Clegane, and the Mountain, Gregor Clegane.Why does this matter? We'll get to that. But there's more than just the history of Game of Thrones to look at; the show's most recent events, including the Hound's visions in the flames and adventures with Thoros of Myr and Beric Dondarrion, may give us some new insight into how Cleganebowl might play out.Let's get that context out of the way first, though.What Is Cleganebowl?"Cleganebowl" is the name Game of Thrones fans (and fans of the book series A Song of Ice and Fire before them) have given to the theorized clash between the Hound, Sandor Clegane, and his brother, the Mountain, Gregor Clegane.This theory was born long ago for those who read the novels, and the reasoning behind it is the same in the show as it was in the books. But since the last book came out almost a decade ago and as far as the books are concerned, the Hound has retired to a religious commune and is out of the running, the most egregious and tantalizing foreshadowing for this fight has taken place in the show's recent seasons. Admittedly, it's a pretty simple story: As Sandor has discussed at various points throughout both versions of Game of Thrones, his brother Gregor is a total dick. When they were kids, Gregor bullied Sandor incessantly, even burning the Hound's face in a hot brazier as they fought over a toy. That gave Sandor the distinctive scars on his face, an all-encompassing cynicism for the world in general, the fear of fire that has influenced the Hound's participation in at least two battles, and a burning hatred for his brother that's lasted their entire lives.For his part, Gregor "The Mountain" Clegane has lumbered here and there throughout the books and the show, wreaking havoc and despair everywhere he went. He brutalized a horse at the tourney in Season 1, and he terrorized Arya during Season 2. In Season 4, he smashed Oberyn Martell's face even while succumbing to the Red Viper's deadly poison, and was later revived as an apparently unthinking, mute zombie to lead Cersei's personal Queensguard. He also has a history of being super terrible in the past; When Daenerys's father, the Mad King Aerys Targaryen, was overthrown, the Mountain reportedly raped and murdered Elia Martel, the wife of Prince Rhaegar Targaryen, and killed her children--including an infant. Just about everyone has a score to settle with the guy. When Sandor and Gregor finally came face to face again for the first time since Season 1, it was in the show's Season 7 finale, during The Fateful Meeting of Named Characters in the dragon pit outside King's Landing. "Remember me? Yeah, you do," the Hound told his brother. "You're even uglier than I am now. What did they do to you? Doesn't matter. That's not how it ends for you, brother. You know who's coming for you. You've always known."In other words, Sandor doesn't give a flying chicken whether his brother is a brainless zombie or there's still a glimmer of the old rotten son-of-a-gun in there somewhere behind those purple eyes. The Hound is going to kill the Mountain in the end, and we couldn't be more excited for their final throwdown.How Could The Lord of Light, R'hllor, Fit In?After Arya Stark casually slipped a dagger into the Night King's exposed belly fat like so many joking Reddit commenters and fandom s***-posters had accidentally correctly guessed she would over the years, a question arose: Is the story of R'hllor, the Lord of Light, the God of Flame and Shadow who the Red Priests worship, now finished?Melisandre is dead, her mission to gently suggest that Arya do what Arya does complete. Beric is also dead, having protected Arya so she could reach said pep talk. Thoros died last season after getting mauled by a zombie bear, then being fine, then dying later for no reason. And the Red Priestess Kinvara, who you probably don't remember because she appeared in a single scene back in Meereen two seasons ago, might as well be dead, because there's no way she's ever appearing on this show again.But R'hllor might have one follower left on the continent of Westeros: Sandor Clegane. With every other R'hllor-loving character dead, the Hound may be next to take up the Lord of Light's cause.The narrative set-up is all there. The Hound witnessed Thoros bring Beric back to life many seasons ago (after being the one to land the killing blow, in fact), and seemed shaken. He saw visions in the fire that inspired his group of misfits to head north to the Edifice Formerly Known As The Wall, where they helped Jon on his extremely stupid mission to kidnap a zombie. He's been hanging around with these characters for seasons on end, and despite his projected cynicism, Sandor has seen the signs himself. And there's plenty of thematic pay-off to be had in Sandow Clegane embracing the God of Fire. Fire is the tool his brother used to scar him for life, both physically and emotionally; fire is the source of Sandor's cynicism, and his greatest fear, producing a primal response in him that we've seen over and over, whether at the Battle of the Blackwater, his duel with Beric long ago, or the recent Battle of Winterfell. Fire is the Hound's greatest weakness, and overcoming that weakness could represent the growth of his character if he finally abandons his cynicism and finds inner calm.Plus, Red Priests get to light their swords on fire. There's poetic justice in the idea of the Hound bashing his undead brother's big, stupid head in with a flaming blade, and more importantly--the reason I think the show may actually follow through on this one--it would look awesome.There are three episodes left to go in Game of Thrones' final season, and more than anything else, Cleganebowl happening is just shy of certain. Here's hoping the show manages to do it in a way that has actual narrative and thematic pay-off, and looks cool too.More Game of Thrones:Season 8, Episode 3 "The Long Night" ReviewWhy The Battle of Winterfell's Deaths Left Me ColdWhere is Jon's Direwolf, Ghost?What Did Melisandre Say To Arya In Season 3?What Was Their Actual Battle Plan in "The Long Night"?What Happened To Jon's Dragon?Who Was Daenerys's Father, The Mad King, And Why Does He Matter Now?Info from Gamespot.com

The final season of Game of Thrones is upon us, and it's wrapping up plot threads and offing characters left and right. Season 8 is only six episodes, but it has a lot of heavy lifting to do in acting as the culmination of everything that's happened in the show up to now. We're halfway through Season 8, we've seen the Battle of Winterfell, and there's still a lot of ground to cover.We know it's a big undertaking to remember everything that has happened in Game of Thrones while readying to tune in each Sunday. There are any number of theories, callbacks, Easter eggs, and lore dives to keep in mind for each episode. That's why we've got a massive rundown of all our Game of Thrones coverage--everything you need to know about each episode, what might be coming down the pike, and what's important that has come before.Read on for a mess of links bringing you everything you might want to know about Game of Thrones Season 8. We've arranged our coverage by episode, but keep in mind: If you're not caught up, later stories are going to include spoilers!Table of Contents [hide]Everything You Need To Know Right NowEpisode 4Episode 3: "The Long Night"Episode 2: "A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms"Episode 1: "Winterfell"Everything You Need To Know Right NowFirst and foremost, here's everything you should remember from past seasons, and where all the characters are at the start of the season. If you need a little backstory refresher, read up about Daenerys's father, the Mad King Aerys Targaryen, and what his whole deal was.We also have a complete rundown of who's still alive through the show's latest episode, and a running list of all the deaths in Season 8--but these take into account all the episodes of Season 8, so if you're not caught up, beware of spoilers.Meanwhile, if you're thinking about what happens after Game of Thrones, here's the latest on the show's first spin-off. It's also worth noting that a second one has been canceled.Episode 4The halfway point of the season means the Battle of Winterfell is behind us, but there's still a lot going on. Check out these photos from HBO to give you a look at the next episode, and watch a teaser trailer for the upcoming episode. You might also want a refresher on a plot point set up at the start of the season: That meaningful crossbow that Qyburn gave to Bronn, with orders to use it on Tyrion and Jaime. There's also an interesting theory about Cersei's pregnancy. And don't forget about Cleganebowl, the theorized showdown between the Hound and the Mountain.Episode 3: "The Long Night"The dead brought the battle to the realms of men in Episode 3, "The Long Night," Game of Thrones' longest and most-watched episode ever. Read our review of the episode, which Senior Entertainment Editor Mike Rougeau found to be disappointing, and watch Lucy, Ryan, Dave, and Tamoor's Episode 3 breakdown video.And here are all the Easter eggs and references you might have missed in the episode, plus 10 new theories about the show after "The Long Night."You might be wondering what happened to Jon Snow's direwolf, Ghost, and his dragon, Rhaegal. Both were part of the battle, but both disappeared before the end. We can also give you some insight into who the Night King was and what his goals were.You can also get a refresher on what Melisandre told Arya all the way back in Season 3, an explainer of what the battle plan actually, uh, was, and a look at what Gendry made for Arya. And there was a cameo in the episode you might have missed.There were a lot of discussions flying around Episode 3 as well. Read Mike Rougeau's take on why the deaths in the episode left him cold, and an explanation of why calling Arya Stark a Mary Sue is the dumbest Game of Thrones opinion on the internet.Episode 2: "A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms"The night before the Battle of Winterfell saw a number of big moments between characters at Winterfell as everyone prepared to die. It was also full of callbacks: Check out a rundown of all the episode's Easter eggs, read our review, and watch our full and lengthy video breakdown of the episode.The character moments were many and meaningful. Arya Stark and Gendry fulfilled a fan ship that had been simmering for years, and Brienne of Tarth made Westerosi history. The episode also included a deep cut from the books in the form of the song "Jenny of Oldstones," sung by Podrick Payne--you'll want to learn more about that one. And we saw the sneaky return of Ghost the direwolf.You can also read about the fan theories that developed out of Episode 2, to see how they track with what took place in Episode 3, and watch a behind-the-scenes feature about "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" from the show's creators.Episode 1: "Winterfell"The start of Game of Thrones Season 8 was all setup for the coming battles, both against the Night King and, eventually, for the Iron Throne. Read our review of the premiere, catch up on the list of Easter eggs hidden within it, and watch our big video breakdown. "Winterfell" is also full of visual references with Game of Thrones' very first episode, so check out this list of all the callbacks and parallels.You should also read about why Jon Snow riding the dragon Rhaegal is a big deal, prophecy-wise, and find out what happened to Ed Sheeran's character in Season 7. There are also all the theories that the first episode of the season generated, many of which have since been dashed.Info from Gamespot.com

We've finally reached the end of Fortnite Season 8, but there's still one more set of weekly challenges to complete before Season 9 officially begins. Week 10's challenges are now live across PS4, Xbox One, PC, Nintendo Switch, and mobile devices, which means this is your last chance to level your Battle Pass up and unlock any remaining Season 8 skins and rewards.As has been the case this whole season, there's an added bonus for completing as many challenges as you can. If you finish all of the tasks from a given week, you'll complete one of Season 8's Discovery challenges, which in turn will unlock a special loading screen. These screens all feature some cool artwork, but the real reason you want to unlock them is because each one contains a subtle clue that points you to a free Battle Star--which levels your Battle Pass up by one tier--or a Banner--which can be used as a profile icon--hidden somewhere around the game's map.If you've finished all 10 weeks' worth of Season 8 challenges, you'll be able to pick up one final Banner before the season ends. To find it, though, you'll need to look carefully at the loading screen below, which is your reward for completing the tenth Discovery challenge. This screen depicts a group of characters gazing at the mysterious alien vault beneath Loot Lake, which will presumably play a pivotal role in the seasonal changeover as Season 9 begins.Among the things you can spot in the loading screen is someone in the Peely banana skin and, more importantly, the hidden banner. It's located just near the perimeter of the hole, in the northwest corner.You can see the Banner's exact location on the map below. We also walk you through where to find it in the video at the top of this guide. However, the usual caveats will apply. This particular Banner won't appear in the game unless you've completed all 10 weeks' sets of challenges and unlocked the above loading screen, so you won't be able to simply go to the right area and collect it unless you've done all the necessary work.You only have a few more days to complete any outstanding Season 8 challenges and unlock all of this season's Battle Pass rewards. If you need help mopping up some remaining missions, be sure to check out all of the tips we've put together in our complete Fortnite Season 8 challenges guide. You also still have a little more time to take part in Fortnite's Avengers: Endgame crossover event and unlock the new Avengers-inspired rewards.Fortnite's final update of Season 8, patch 8.51, arrived on May 2. Along with the usual assortment of bug fixes and gameplay tweaks, the update introduced the recently teased Shadow Bomb item, which gives players the ability to turn invisible temporarily and gain additional movement speed and abilities. You can read the full Fortnite 8.51 update patch notes here.Info from Gamespot.com

Xbox One players have two more games they can now play on their console. Microsoft's director of programming for Xbox Live, Larry "Major Nelson" Hryb, took to Twitter to announce that the Xbox One now supports two more Xbox 360 titles via backward compatibility.Both Team Ninja's Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor's Edge and RedLynx's Trials Evolution join Xbox One's forever-growing backward compatibility list. These titles are available to download starting today.NINJA GAIDEN 3: Razor's Edge and Trials Evolution are coming to Xbox One Backward Compatibility today https://t.co/qPMRNrLoTQ pic.twitter.com/tBeZTGSQoy — Larry Hryb (@majornelson) May 2, 2019Developed by Team Ninja for the PS3, Wii U, and Xbox 360, Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor's Edge is an enhanced Ninja Gaiden 3 port that includes the original DLC, as well as a variety of performance enhancements and improvements. Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor's Edge released nearly a year after the initial game's March 2012 release date and brought alongside a host of changes like increasing the speed of kunai climbing, introducing new weapons like the lunar staff and kusarigama, improving enemy AI, and more.Trials Evolution was developed by RedLynx. Released for the Xbox 360 in April 2012 before speeding to iOS and PC in 2013, Trials Evolution--the fourth mainline entry in the Trials franchise--tasks you with facing and overcoming a variety of motorcycle trials in a bid to claim the top spot on the leaderboards. Trials Evolution includes two course editors (Lite and Pro) that allow you to create and share courses online.In our Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor's Edge review, we called the update "a welcome gesture, and one that makes for an improved action game--yet a hundred small fixes are no substitute for a game built from the ground up to be a challenging, fluid, and fulfilling action extravaganza."In our Trials Evolution review, we said it's "a great game that not only tests your skill and patience, but keeps you laughing at the ridiculous scenarios."Info from Gamespot.com

Actor Peter Mayhew, who is best known for his portrayal of Chewbacca in the Star Wars series, has passed away. Mayhew died on April 30 in his home in North Texas, USA. He was 74.His passing was announced by his family in a statement posted to Twitter. After the news broke, tributes poured in. Luke Skywalker actor Mark Hamill said, "He was the gentlest of giants-A big man with an even bigger heart who never failed to make me smile & a loyal friend who I loved dearly-I'm grateful for the memories we shared & I'm a better man for just having known him." Harrison Ford, who played Han Solo opposite Mayhew's Chewbacca, told The Hollywood Reporter, "Peter Mayhew was a kind and gentle man, possessed of great dignity and noble character. These aspects of his own personality, plus his wit and grace, he brought to Chewbacca. We were partners in film and friends in life for over 30 years and I loved him. He invested his soul in the character and brought great pleasure to the Star Wars audience."Mayhew played Chewbacca in the original Star Wars trilogy, as well as Episode 3: Revenge of the Sith and The Force Awakens in a role shared by Joonas Suotamo. Mayhew did consulting work for The Last Jedi to help Suotamo feel capable in the role.Outside of his film career, Mayhew did a lot of charitable work for groups like Wounded Warriors, Make-A-Wish, and the 501st Legion. He also created his own Peter Mayhew Foundation that supports individuals and families in need.The family of Peter Mayhew, with deep love and sadness, regrets to share the news that Peter has passed away. He left us the evening of April 30, 2019 with his family by his side in his North Texas home. pic.twitter.com/YZ5VLyuK0u — Peter Mayhew (@TheWookieeRoars) May 2, 2019Mayhew is survived by his wife, Angie, and three children. "His kindness, generosity, and care will live on in the Peter Mayhew Foundation with Angie taking the helm as his voice," his family said in their statement.Mayhew's first big movie role was in 1977's "Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger," which was released in the same year as A New Hope.He was the gentlest of giants-A big man with an even bigger heart who never failed to make me smile & a loyal friend who I loved dearly-I'm grateful for the memories we shared & I'm a better man for just having known him. Thanks Pete #RIPPeterMayhew #Heartbroken @TheWookieeRoars pic.twitter.com/8xbq9HEWF2 — Mark Hamill (@HamillHimself) May 2, 2019 Info from Gamespot.com

2019's Call of Duty game from developer Infinity Ward is rumoured to be Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4. Whatever it is, the game will be announced in the coming months.During the Activision Blizzard earnings call today, management confirmed that the game will be revealed before the end of the current fiscal quarter, which means it'll be announced before June 30. That makes sense, given new Call of Duty games are typically announced in May before getting shown off further at E3 in June. This year could be different in a way, however. Activision typically showcases the new Call of Duty game during Sony's E3 briefing due to its exclusive content deal, but that won't happen this year because Sony isn't attending E3.On the earnings call, Activision management says it feels "incredibly good" about how the new Call of Duty title is shaping up, and they're excited to finally reveal it eventually.Not only that, but Activision boss Coddy Johnson teased that Activision plans to support the game's release with even more content after launch to keep players engaged."We need to do even more to maintain the breadth of our Call of Duty player base beyond the launch quarters," he said. "The Call of Duty team is hard at work on that for this fall's big content release, excitement for which is incredibly high around the organisation. We expect that both the launch and the post launch will bring game-changing experiences to our fans."Activision is able to create more content for this year's Call of Duty game because it's increasing development headcount across the board, including the Call of Duty team. Activision announced it was increasing aggregate headcount for its development teams by about 20 percent following its layoff of 800 people primarily from non-game development roles.Little is known about the title, but Activision previously said the game will feature a campaign mode. That's notable because 2018's Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 did not include a campaign but instead added a battle royale mode called Blackout.Additionally, it was confirmed that the Call of Duty series has sold more than 300 million copies since it premiered back in 2003.Also on the call, Activision said interest in the new Call of Duty mobile game from Tencent is high; the game has more than 10 million pre-registrations on Google Play. Info from Gamespot.com

After Paramount and Sega unveiled the first official trailer for the upcoming Sonic the Hedgehog movie, fans of the blue blur took to the internet to complain about the film's design of the titular hero. In response, Sonic the Hedgehog director Jeff Fowler announced Sonic will undergo a redesign ahead of the movie's release."Thank you for the support," Fowler tweeted. "And the criticism. The message is loud and clear... you aren't happy with the design and you want changes. It's going to happen. Everyone at Paramount and Sega are fully committed to making this character the BEST he can be." Fowler did not clarify what this redesign would entail, nor if the effort to do so will push Sonic the Hedgehog past its scheduled November 19 release date.Criticism for Sonic's design in the movie has been aimed at pretty much every part of the speedy blue hedgehog. Most of the dislike seems to stem from the movie version's legs, torso, teeth, and eyes. Most of the changes to Sonic's design in the coming movie currently make him appear uncannily human, which some fans have found unnerving. Most likely, the planned redesign will make Sonic look closer to his original cartoonish appearance.Sonic the Hedgehog sees Sonic partner up with a state trooper to stop Dr. Ivo "Eggman" Robotnik, a mad scientist and skilled roboticist working with the government to uncover the secrets of the blur blur. In the movie's trailer, we see the sassy Robotnik devise contraptions to capture Sonic, only for the mad scientist to become more deranged as the hedgehog continues to escape as a result of his super speed.In the movie, Sonic is voiced by Ben Schwartz, a seasoned actor who's been seen on Parks and Recreation and House of Lies, and also voiced characters in the new Duck Tales Show and BoJack Horseman. Dr. Robotnik is played by Jim Carry, an actor well known for portraying that exact archetype in numerous films throughout his career. In an interview, Carry said, "I made sure that there are some winks and nods, and edgy things that are still acceptable to [all] age groups."Info from Gamespot.com

The new big bad in Mortal Kombat is named Kronika, and she's causing a ruckus by messing with time and rewriting history. Characters are getting erased or colliding with their past selves, while alliances are reverting and new ones are being made--it's the kind of chaos that's ripe for conflict. Nothing that happened with Mortal Kombat before really matters anymore; the series is giving itself a clean slate, and not just with the lore in the story. NetherRealm's multifaceted fighting system has been streamlined, and comprehensive tutorials and practice functions are focussed on making sure no matter where you're coming from, you're well-equipped to dive deep into Mortal Kombat 11.It's hard not to get excited about the story mode in a NetherRealm game given the studio's history of crafting involved narratives, and Mortal Kombat 11 unsurprisingly delivers an entertaining and polished blockbuster-style cinematic experience with its tale of Kronika's time-bending antics. Combat is woven in with a number of cutscenes, though you'll probably spend more time watching well-choreographed action rather than participating. But the story is a great primer for some of the series' more popular characters nonetheless, and the joys of Kronika's time manipulation means that even if you're a passing fan and aren't up-to-date with all of the wacky stuff that's happened in the universe lately, you can still get a kick out of seeing classic versions of familiar faces, who are just as baffled as you about what's happened to their future selves since.Watching the character interactions between young and old selves are a highlight, and with the exception of a somewhat flat Sonya Blade, the solid performances are endearingly sincere with some unexpected moments of introspection. By the time it ended I was eager for more--more of Johnny Cage being embarrassed by his younger self, more of the bromance between Liu Kang and Kung Lao, the sappy dynamic between parents and children. But the story mode hits that perfect balance of being just enough and not overstaying its welcome. The plot conceits are regularly ridiculous, especially when family members and lovers get into fatal tiffs, but it's a delightfully bombastic and outlandish visual spectacle if nothing else.Mortal Kombat 11's eclectic roster includes a solid selection of the series' iconic fighters, along with some of the great additions from Mortal Kombat X, like gunslinger Erron Black and the grotesque insectoid D'Vorah. Three brand new characters do their best to help the lineup branch out--Geras is an imposing heavy with the ability to rewind and manipulate time, Cetrion is an elder god with flashy elemental projectiles, the Kollector has a wonderfully unsettling and bamboozling six-armed demonic design--and they all add an inspired diversity to the familiar roster of magical ninjas and military hard-asses. Character variations also help to keep things diverse. A returning concept from Mortal Kombat X, each character can select between different sets of special moves that alter their playstyle. You can now customize these loadouts in MK11, but only two predetermined movesets are acceptable for serious competitive play. Even so, it means there are a few things to consider when picking which fighter to use.Some key changes streamline the mechanics of MK11, resulting in a fighting system that feels more active and aggressive than its predecessors. The special meter system has been simplified, allowing for amplified maneuvers to be used at almost any time--gone is the idea of needing to hold back and save up two or three bars of a meter to perform a particular kind of technique. Separate meters for offensive and defensive techniques, along with rapid recharge rates, mean they can be used more liberally, too. "Fatal Blows" replace MKX's X-Ray techniques, serving as a last-ditch comeback mechanic that can be activated once per match when your health is nearly depleted, adding a heightened tension when things get down to the wire. Significant block damage discourages you from being overly defensive, while learning the perfect-timing demands of the "flawless block" system is encouraged to mitigate some damage and open up turnabout opportunities. Running and stamina meters have been removed and dash distances feel shorter, honing MK11's focus on always being within striking distance of your opponent. All of these tweaks mean there is rarely a low moment in a Mortal Kombat 11 fight.If you're new to the series, learning all those intricacies of the fighting system, special moves, and combo strings for characters can be intimidating. Fortunately, Mortal Kombat 11 does a lot to help onboard you to almost all of its concepts. Following the good work seen in Injustice 2, Mortal Kombat 11 features a comprehensive series of fantastic practical tutorials, with everything from teaching you basic attacks to more advanced lessons on managing the ebb and flow of a match, strategies on how to change or maintain the dynamic of a fight (like dealing with corners or projectile spam), and how to approach building your own combos. What's more, there are also a series of tutorials that succinctly break down expert-level concepts, such as one that shows you what frame data is and how it works in clear, visual terms. Not only that, there are lessons on how to interpret that information and use it in a practical scenario--it'll teach you what makes a move "safe" or "unsafe," how to create pressure in a fight, and even how to perform frame traps. It's an impressive resource that doesn't just give you a better understanding of Mortal Kombat 11's systems, but a deeper understanding of fighting game mechanics in general--knowledge that you can take to any other title.Character-specific tutorials exist, too, and are more than just a simple rundown of all available techniques. These helpful lessons focus on the most useful and practical abilities and combos for a particular character and give you suggestions on when to use them, the pros and cons of doing so, and what you could follow up with. Furthermore, the in-game move lists are incredibly comprehensive, providing all sorts of helpful data for each move's properties, so you can easily discern something like which of your character's moves has the quickest startup. It's valuable information and knowledge that NetherRealm has been building upon in its last few games and is presented at its best in MK11. Of course, if you're the kind of player that couldn't care less about the advanced stuff and just wants to jump in and see blood spilled, Mortal Kombat 11 can certainly be just as entertaining. Predetermined combo strings, flashy special moves, and humorously over-the-top barbarity means that the game is a joy to watch and participate in, whether the players are just messing around or taking it seriously.In addition to the game's story mode, MK11 sees the return of Klassic Towers, a more straightforward single-player mode where you fight a series of opponents before eventually facing big boss Kronika. But the real meat of the single-player offering is the Towers Of Time, MK11's version of the limited-time ladders seen in other NetherRealm games, which feature unique modifiers that can affect the playing field, combatants, and mechanics.When our review-in-progress was first published, the balance of difficulty seen in the Towers Of Time was in such a state that the odds were always stacked against you--negative environmental modifiers only affected you and not your opponent, AI difficulty was relentlessly high, opponents were more robust, and as a result the challenges often felt horribly cruel and unbalanced. The mode's focus on using "Konsumables," a variety of limited-use items that you can equip and activate during the fight, did little to even the playing field, and their method of attainment was too dependent on luck to even make them a reliable strategy in the first place. In fact, the drip-feed of rewards you received from completing towers were overall too meager (and random) at the game's release to justify the amount of effort they demanded.One week later, NetherRealm released a major patch (1.03) that acknowledged and adjusted a large number of variables related to the Towers of Time, reducing (and in some cases, eliminating) a number of unbalanced modifiers, normalizing the resilience and difficulty of AI opponents, and increasing the amount of rewards for completing activities across the board. That's fortunate, because the modifiers in the Towers of Time add genuinely interesting dynamics to MK11's already enjoyable fighting flow. One tower might pit you against a series of fighters who can poison you if they get a string of hits in, another might place a totem in the middle of the stages that electrocute whoever is standing closest. Other towers might team you up with two or three other online players to take down a particularly hardy "boss" fighter, letting you tag each other in, or perhaps assist the active fighter with Konsumables.These kinds of challenges are a welcome exercise that push you to consider different ways to approach a MK11 fight, forcing you to, say, become extra defensive or keep a closer eye on your positioning. The variety of Konsumables--which have abilities that range from letting you call in another character to perform an assist attack, rain missiles down from the sky, or simply replenish your health--can give you extra tools to help keep a handle on the situation. But, in my experience after the 1.03 patch, using Konsumables isn't strictly necessary, so long as you're playing diligently.As they stand at the time of writing, the Towers of Time succeed in providing an endless, compelling palette of single-player content to tackle once you've completed the story mode. The difficulty curve and number of challenges you need to tackle are reasonable enough that achieving the prizes at the end of a tower, and the end of a whole island of towers, always feels within reach. What was previously a frustrating experience at launch is a compulsive one a week later. Even the demanding boss fight-style challenges only ask you to endure one round before showering you with the payouts on offer. They're enticing pools of goods, too--the aforementioned Konsumables, character cosmetics, and large denominations of the various currencies needed to open chests in the Krypt, MK11's third-person quasi-puzzle-adventure mode designed for unlocking even more collectibles.The Krypt in Mortal Kombat 11 is a completely reimagined recreation of Shang Tsung's island, the location of the very first Mortal Kombat game from 1992. Exploring the location, which involves finding items to open up paths to new areas, is an exciting experience in itself--there's a basic joy in simply taking in the visual splendor of certain locations, especially if you retain any memories of Mortal Kombat's stages (although it should be noted that the Nintendo Switch version is noticeably less visually splendorous). A mess of treasure chests litter the island, requiring one of three different currencies to open them, but the catch is that aside from chests that require "Hearts," the rewards you get seem to be completely randomized. Regardless of their asking price, chests have the capacity to furnish you with something exciting, like new costumes or brutality finishers for a specific character, or something as basic as a piece of concept art. It can be a bummer to come away from a Krypt session with nothing of value for your favourite fighter, but it's at least heartening to know that the game doesn't have any avenues to let you spend real-world money to open more chests, and that your pool of currencies will continue to grow at a steady, reasonable rate by simply playing the game.Now, it's pertinent to mention that Mortal Kombat 11 relies on a persistent online connection to keep track of progression in every single mode. Naturally, being offline means that you can't access the game's rotating Towers of Time, but it also means you won't get rewarded for playing the story mode or tutorials until you reconnect. In most cases, given the ever-connected nature of PCs, PS4s, and Xbox Ones, this aspect should rarely present any major issues, but it certainly can. There was one instance where game servers went down on all platforms, and I lost my progress on a Tower of Time. Losing progress can also be an issue if, for example, you duck out to your console's dashboard to share a video clip of a close victory, which will suspend your game and disconnect you from its servers. The always-online nature of the game can pose a much larger concern on Nintendo Switch, however, especially if you're looking to play the game in handheld mode away from a wireless connection. Even if you're content to simply hang out in practice mode or play a standard tower on the train, you'll be hounded by network error messages every step of the way.There are a range of online multiplayer modes, of course, including ranked and casual matchmaking, a king-of-the-hill mode, and forthcoming ranked seasons, as well as private options like lobbies and the ability to use practice mode with a friend. MK11 also features tools that help you have some control over your experience--in casual matches, you have the ability to see your opponent's win/loss ratio, your estimated chance of success, and information about each player's internet connection--and the game thankfully allows you to decline a match if you think you're going to have a bad time. I encountered no major issues with online play during the game's first week, and found matchups to be fairly even in most cases, meaning fights were often heart-poundingly close. The robust online options make it a worthwhile avenue to pick a fight without the modifiers of the Towers Of Time.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 randomization of Krypt rewards and the odd issue with the game's always-online nature can occasionally chip away at your patience, but Mortal Kombat 11 absolutely hits where it matters. Info from Gamespot.com

The Call of Duty franchise continues to soar. Activision announced today that the shooter series has now cleared 300 million copies sold since it debuted back in 2003. For comparison, the Pokemon franchise passed 300 million copies sold after the release of Ultra Sun and Moon back in 2017. Meanwhile, the Sonic the Hedgehog series reached 350 million copies a few years ago. Exact numbers for other franchises are tougher to track down.The Call of Duty series premiered in 2003 with Infinity Ward's World War II shooter Call of Duty. No mainline Call of Duty game was released in 2004, but a new entry has launched every year since, with development shifting around between Activision-owned studios like Infinity Ward, Treyarch, and Sledgehammer Games, with support from other owned studios like Raven Software and High Moon, among others. Activision has not provided a breakdown of sales by individual title or brand, but the Black Ops and Modern Warfare brands are believed to be the most successful. The next Call of Duty game is launching later this year, and it's rumoured to be Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 from Infinity Ward, which created the brand. The game will be announced in the coming months. On top of that, a new Call of Duty mobile game from Tencent is coming.Info from Gamespot.com