EA DICE has revealed the 2019 content roadmap for Battlefield V. The first piece of content drops next week, while the rest is scheduled for the summer and fall. All of the content is free across Xbox One, PS4, and PC.On March 25, Chapter 3: Trial By Fire begins in Battlefield V. Firestorm, the game's battle royale mode, launches day one, with additional Combined Arms challenges coming in April and a new multiplayer game mode, called Outpost, coming in June.Firestorm is the major piece of new content releasing as part of Trial By Fire. The battle royale mode plays similarly to other games in the genre, but Battlefield V changes up the formula by putting an emphasis on vehicles and including destructible environments. The zone wall is also an encroaching wall of flame that burns down everything in its path.Chapter 4: Defying the Odds is scheduled for June. The new chapter adds a multiplayer map called Marita and a new multiplayer mode that pits two teams of five against each other in a tight space. In Fall 2019, Chapter 5: Awakening the Giant launches and adds even more content to the game. EA hasn't announced exact details for this fifth chapter, promising to reveal more at a later date.In our Battlefield V review, Michael Higham gave the game an 8/10, writing, "The Battlefield series has a winning formula that Battlefield V doesn't deviate far from, at least for now," he wrote. "Conquest and the map roster don't mesh well together, however, Grand Operations--and the other modes within it--steal the show and foster some of the greatest moments the franchise has offered. You might be surprised by the impact of the slight changes made for this entry, especially when you're deep into pushing or defending objectives in Frontlines alongside teammates fulfilling their roles. That's when Battlefield V is at its best."Info from Gamespot.com

Capcom has released a number of updates for Monster Hunter World since it launched last year. Most notably, Dante, Geralt of Rivia, and even Street Fighter's Ryu have found their way into the game's expansive world. Ahead of the major Iceborne expansion's launch this fall, Capcom is planning to release an update that introduces graphical changes to the PC version of the game.The news comes via a message on Steam. The update, scheduled to go live on April 4, will include a new high-resolution texture pack, and will be available as free DLC through the Steam store. Hunters must make room for 40GB of data on their hard drive and have at least 8GB of VRAM installed to accommodate. Further system requirements will be outlined after the update.Also in the update is a new "TAA+FXAA" (temporal anti-aliasing and fast approximate anti-aliasing, respectively) option, which will be added to the Advanced Graphics Settings menu. Additionally, when selecting the "Take All" option, all items will display at the rewards screen upon quest completion. Hunters using the "Focus Camera" option should notice smoother, more precise mouse controls. "Friends Can Join" will be included in the Private Session Settings, and, finally, the update will include bug fixes related to localization and more, though Capcom hasn't specified what other bugs will be ironed out.Check the full list of updates coming to Monster Hunter World below.Major New Features/Design Changes:Added support for High-Resolution Texture Pack DLC. You can change to high-resolution in-game textures by downloading this pack as free DLC from the Steam store.Note: The High-Resolution Texture Pack requires at least 40GB of free space and 8GB of graphics memory (VRAM). We will provide more detailed information on the system requirements after the update.Added a "TAA+FXAA" option to Anti-Aliasing in the Advanced Graphics Settings.When selecting "Take All" at the rewards screen after completing a quest, a list of all items received will now be displayed.Added a new mouse control type that is less sensitive to unintentional movement when controlling the Focus Camera with the mouse.Added a "Friends Can Join" option to the Private Session Settings.Various bug fixes, including localization-related issues.In our Monster Hunter World review, Ginny Woo said that the "Monster Hunter formula has definitely honed its claws, [making] Monster Hunter World a meaningful evolution for the series at large." Info from Gamespot.com

In Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, From Software takes a step away from the stamina-focused action RPG gameplay it popularized with Demon's Souls, the Dark Souls trilogy, and Bloodborne. If you think your experience with the Soulsborne games is going to make your journey in Sekiro an easy one, think again.There are plenty of similar themes to be sure. Even though Sekiro takes place in a more realistic setting in comparison to the likes of Lodran or Yharnam, Ashina is still a society on the edge of complete collapse and home to a host of nightmarish monsters and god-like figures. The playable protagonist, Wolf, is also a stoic, undying figure, whose ability to return from the dead is the only reason he's able to overcome the powerful enemies he encounters.The similarities pretty much end there, though. Combat in Sekiro is focused on posture instead of stamina, for example, so now deflecting enemy strikes is the ideal path to success. New attacks are unlocked via experience as opposed to weapons found as well. There are plenty of other differences--you can even swim in Sekiro. From Software has crafted a completely different game, and it can all be a little overwhelming to get a grasp on it all. Especially since, without any co-op multiplayer, you'll have to take on most of the game alone.If you're struggling in your journey across Ashina and need a little help, read through our collection of guides. We've got most of the early game covered, from the prosthetic upgrades you want to find first to the cure for Dragonrot. We'll update this hub of information with additional guides as we create them, so be sure to check back on GameSpot whenever you run into a seemingly insurmountable hurdle in Sekiro.In our Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice review-in-progress, Tamoor Hussain gave the game a 9/10, complementing the game's "exhilarating combat," intricate environments that "reward exploration," and satisfying stealth mechanics "that encourage you to observe and strategize."Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice Boss And Combat GuidesHow To Beat The Chained Ogre MinibossHow To Outsmart Juzou The Drunkard BossSekiro: Shadows Die Twice Death GuidesEssential Tips To Help You Stop Dying So MuchHow Death In Sekiro Impacts Your JourneyDragonrot Guide: Curing Rot EssenceSekiro: Shadows Die Twice Item GuidesEssential Early-Game Shinobi ProstheticsWhere To Find The Shinobi Axe ProstheticWhere To Find The Firecrackers ProstheticWhere To Find The Flame Vent ProstheticWhere To Find Snapseeds Info from Gamespot.com

Week 4 of Fortnite Season 8 has arrived, and with it a new batch of challenges to complete across PS4, Xbox One, PC, Nintendo Switch, and mobile devices. Clear this week's challenges and you'll earn more Battle Stars, leveling your Battle Pass up and bringing you another step closer to unlocking Season 8's new skins and rewards. But there's another good reason to complete all of the tasks; doing so will also clear one of this season's Discovery challenges, earning you a special loading screen that points to a free Battle Star or Banner hiding somewhere around the island.Which of those two items you'll be able to find depends on which loading screen you've unlocked, which in turn is determined by how many weekly sets of challenges you've completed this season. If you've finished four weeks' worth of them, you'll receive the loading screen pictured below. This one features a regal Peely being carried up the volcano while a procession of lowlier bananas trails behind. Look closely at the background, however, and you'll be able to spot a Banner hanging from one of the torches lining the path.That torch marks the spot where this week's free Banner will appear, and it's fortunately very easy to get to. The quickest way to find it is to glide toward the volcano at the beginning of a match. As you can see on the map below, the torch is along the patch leading to the mouth of the volcano. Make your way to it and the Banner will pop up as you approach. Collect it just as you would any other item then finish the match and the Banner will be yours to use as a new profile icon.If you need another look at where the Banner is hiding, you can watch us collect it in the video at the top of this guide. However, like other secret Banners and Battle Stars, the item will only appear if you've completed enough challenges and unlocked the Peely loading screen; you won't be able to simply go to the right location and expect to find the Banner unless you've fulfilled all the necessary steps.If you need help completing any of this season's previous challenges, you can find more tips and guides in our full Season 8 challenges roundup. In other Fortnite news, Epic has recently rolled out the game's 8.11 update, which introduced a new weapon--the Flint-Knock Pistol--and unvaulted the Impulse Grenade. The patch also adjusted the spawn rater for the Baller--this season's new vehicle. You can read the full patch notes here.Info from Gamespot.com

Next week is shaping up to be a busy one for Pokemon Go players. In addition to Giratina's return to Raid Battles, Niantic has announced a new Limited Research event, which will give players their first opportunity to catch two new Shiny Pokemon.The event takes place on Saturday, March 30, and runs from 11 AM to 8 PM local time. During those hours, Pokemon that are affected by weather conditions, such as Castform, will appear more frequently in the wild. You'll also receive special Field Research tasks from Poke Stops, which will culminate in encounters with Lotad.On top of that, the Shiny forms of Lotad and Castform will appear during the event, marking the first time either has been available in Pokemon Go. Niantic is also adding the move Weather Ball for Castform permanently to the game. You can read more details about the new Limited Research event on the official Pokemon Go website.In the meantime, a few more days still remain in Pokemon Go's ongoing spring equinox celebration. Until March 26, Grass Pokemon will appear more frequently in the wild. On top of that, the rare Rock/Psychic Pokemon Lunatone and Solrock have swapped regions, and their Shiny forms have likewise started appearing for the first time.Pokemon Go's next Community Day takes place on March 23. Not long after that, the Legendary Pokemon Giratina will make an encore appearance in Raid Battles. You'll be able to catch it again in its Altered Forme from March 28 to April 2, after which point it'll assume its Origin Forme--the appearance it takes in Pokemon Platinum--for the first time in Pokemon Go until April 29.Info from Gamespot.com

Respawn has released the patch notes for a PC update for Apex Legends. The update is already live and is specifically aimed at fixing game crashes on PC."The game should now write an apex_crash.txt file to your My Documents folder when it crashes," Respawn community manager Jay Frechette wrote in a Reddit blog post. "The apex_crash.txt files we got from players had a lot of information that we needed… We had never seen the crash in any of our internal testing before, but now we could finally reproduce the bug and that meant we could find it and fix it."More updates for Apex Legends are planned for next week. Frechette didn't provide specifics, but did list several issues that Respawn is working towards fixing. Those broad problems are outlined below.FPS capped to 144: It was the intent to cap to 300 but a bug is keeping it at 144. We're aware and looking into it and I'll provide an update when I can.Hit reg issues: we are aware and testing a fix locally.Audio issues - we've heard the feedback on numerous issues you folks have been reporting. Working with audio guys to address the stuff we can answer next week.The Apex Legends Season 1: Wild Frontier battle pass is now available for purchase, as is the game's first post-launch add-on playable character, Octane. The battle pass costs 950 Apex Coins--about $9.50 USD--and offers a variety of rewards, such as cosmetic skins, stat trackers, new Legend voice lines, and Apex Coin and XP drops. Each reward is unlocked by earning XP and climbing up the battle pass's 100 levels. It's unfortunate there aren't any challenges, like the Fortnite battle passes, but thankfully, Apex Legend's pass allows you to earn enough Apex Coins to buy next season's.You don't need to put the Apex Coins towards the next pass, though. Instead, you can use them to purchase the new character, Octane (although he can be unlocked using Legend Tokens too). The ninth Legend in Respawn's battle royale game, Octane is all about being the fastest. His tactical gives him a boost of speed at the cost of his health, while his ultimate throws out a launch pad that can propel Legends and items through the air. In order to keep on running, Octane's passive heals him over time, provided he's not in combat.Apex Legends is available for Xbox One, PS4, and PC. Info from Gamespot.com

It was bound to happen one day, but that doesn't make it any easier of a pill to swallow. The CW's Supernatural--which recently celebrated its 300th episode--will officially come to an end after the previously-announced 15th season, which will premiere in the fall of 2019.The news was announced by stars Jared Padalecki, Jensen Ackles, and Misha Collins in a social media video, where they revealed the crew of the show has just been informed of the decision. "Though we're very, very excited about moving into our 15th season, it will be out last," Ackles said. "Fifteen years of a show that has changed my life, I know it's certainly changed these two guys' life. We wanted you to hear it from us that, though we're excited about next year, it will be the finale. The big grand finale of an institution."Hey #SPNFamily here’s a little message from @JensenAckles @mishacollins and me. I’m so grateful for the family that’s been built because of the show. Excuse me while i go cry. pic.twitter.com/QDXDsAyIfK — Jared Padalecki (@jarpad) March 22, 2019The final season will consist of 20 episodes, bringing Supernatural's run to an incredibly impressive 327 episodes. For some perspective, Supernatural is the only CW TV show that's older than the network itself. The series originally premiered on The WB."Firstly, we would like to thank all the people who have been involved with the show both in front of and behind the camera. For us, it has been an experience of a lifetime. The support we have had from both Warner Bros Television and The CW has been incredible," executive producers Robert Singer and Andrew Dabb said in a statement. "We'd like to give special thanks to Jensen, Jared, and Misha for making this journey so special. It is now most important to us to give these characters that we love the send off they deserve."With Supernatural and Arrow coming to an end next season, that leaves The CW without their two longest-running shows as the network looks to the future. Whatever the case is with the future of the network, chances of a Supernatural spin-off aren't likely. The CW has tried more than once to expand the show's universe with no luck. Recently, The CW president Mark Pedowitz said at the TCA press tour, "If there was a spin-off to be had, I’d love to have it. That said, I've come to somewhat of a conclusion that the show is the two brothers."Supernatural airs Thursdays on The CW.Info from Gamespot.com

By restricting traditional movement and thrusting you into carefully constructed 2D mazes, simply getting around Ethereal's levels presents challenging conundrums that are deeply satisfying to overcome. Despite some uneven pacing and technical issues marring the overall experience, Ethereal is a delightful game that contrasts a soothing ambiance with intricate and challenging puzzle designs.Ethereal's opening is mysterious, but not in the best way. Starting in a monochrome world with harsh black and white streaks across the screen, it's difficult to make sense of your surroundings and options. It's an unnecessarily confusing introduction to Ethereal, which otherwise takes care to slowly introduce new mechanics before nudging you towards increasingly complex puzzles.Outside of its central hub, Ethereal is wonderfully colorful. Your avatar leaves inky streaks of color behind them as they move, corresponding to a limited but carefully chosen palette that paints the walls around you with bright hues. A fish-eye style lens warps each world near the edges, making it feel like you're traversing a wrapped around globe rather than an endless 2D plane set on top of a harsh white background. Ethereal's stylings are subtle but work well together, producing a distinctive look that never wears thin.Movement in Ethereal is central to its puzzles. You're restricted to sliding across 2D planes, with carefully placed walls blocking your progress. You overcome them by hopping through the closest wall either above or below you, shifting you into an entirely new row to move across. It's slightly confusing to wrap your head around at first, but getting the hang of seamlessly moving around each stage is satisfying to learn. Identifying patterns in level layouts lets you quickly zip around each of them, allowing you to reach your objectives with ease and comfortably map a route to your exit once you're done.Each stage tasks you with obtaining a series of color-coded shapes in sequential order. It's easy to see where most are placed as soon as you enter a level, but reaching them in the order required is rarely straightforward. Although levels are small, they are labyrinthine. They are sometimes made overly complicated, with unnecessary routes and obstacles littering the peripheral of the main stage and baiting you into considering red-herring routes. Misdirection is a core principle of well-designed puzzles, but Ethereal doesn't make it easy enough to rectify a foolish misstep. You'll typically have to redo all your previous moves in reverse to get back on track, which is more confusing than it should be. It quickly becomes frustrating, making each error feel more like a waste of time than a constructive learning experience.Thankfully, Ethereal's 24 unique puzzles don't struggle with variety. Early ones simply rely on the freshness of the game's movement to generate complexity, but it's not long before new interactions change how you think about moving through each level. One will rotate the level by 90-degrees, for example, turning previously insurmountable walls into new points for you to hop between. Another creates a black, negative space that offers a larger range of movement, which gives you the ability to move walls and alter a level's layout.These mechanisms are introduced intelligently too, by first appearing in the hub world that precede levels designed around them. Their simple introduction whets your appetite while the larger puzzles they're used in build upon their numerous possibilities in inventive ways. At first, each stage is centered around only one of these mechanics at a time, but puzzles get increasingly challenging as Ethereal starts combining them. The difficulty curve can feel a little steep around the half-way point, and remains a little uneven up until the end, but Ethereal rarely feels unfair, only dipping into frustration when technical issues get in the way.There were numerous instances where, after interacting with one of the aforementioned mechanisms, a bug inexplicably transported me to another end of the level--often in a position that made movement impossible. In these instances, the only solution is to restart the level entirely, which is frustrating given how long some stages can be. Having to tediously repeat numerous movements in order to return to the same spot you were before is frustrating enough, but occasionally encountering the same bug numerous times in the same level is infuriating.Ethereal's soothing ambient soundtrack and delightfully catchy sound effects do alleviate the frustrations to a degree, while its ever-changing aesthetic is suitably elegant and effective at keeping you engaged with its puzzles and not distracted by unnecessary visual information. The soft water colors of each stage shift with each objective you reach, eventually being diluted into a simple monochromatic theme once you've finished. It's an effective way to measure your progress through a stage and help inform you of what color shape you've just cleared from the stage without the need for a HUD. Ethereal's visual simplicity echoes its ease of control but doesn't compromise its beauty in the process.Ethereal's 24 puzzles shouldn't take that long to complete, only overstaying their welcome when technical issues force you to repeatedly restart them. Although there are also a few uneven spikes in difficulty, the game's inviting visuals and soothing sound effects dress puzzles that are intelligently designed around your limited mobility. Ethereal is a satisfyingly challenging and unique puzzle game that serves as a delightful way to spend an afternoon. Info from Gamespot.com

I don't know why I'm in Washington DC; some lady just told me to be here. But there are civilians in distress, armed gangs roaming the streets, and me, my pals, and the second amendment are apparently the only ones who can actually do anything about it. I have no idea what, if anything, is going on with the seemingly important people I meet. But so long as I'm helping folks, sending (presumably) bad people to bed, walking the pretty streets, and picking up a new pair of gloves every so often, I'm very happy to hang around.In the world of Tom Clancy's The Division 2, the USA has been ravaged by a virus and society has crumbled. While those who remain try to survive by banding together in groups of various dispositions, the Strategic Homeland Division activates highly specialized sleeper agents to try and restore order. It's a setting ripe in potential, perhaps to tell a ripping techno-thriller story that scrutinizes the structures of our modern society and government, or perhaps to make a video game that leverages the chaos that occurs when multiple idealistic groups clash in a vie for power in a lawless city. The Division 2 only does one of these things.It's not the story. Throughout the entirety of The Division 2's main campaign, never did the game spend a satisfactory amount of time on any semblance of an overarching plot, or the predicaments of its supposedly important figures. There are no character arcs, only abrupt setups and consequences. Narrative devices, like audio logs found in the world, add little of consequence. Even the game's biggest macguffins--the President of the United States and his briefcase containing a cure for the virus--have a minimal amount of absolutely forgettable screen time. The opportunity to use The Division 2 to create meaningful fiction is wasted.Instead, The Division 2 focuses its narrative chops into worldbuilding. The city, a ravaged Washington DC, initially feels a little homogenous in the way most Western cities do. But after some time, the personality of the different districts--the buildings, the landmarks, the natural spaces, and the ways they've been repurposed or affected by the cataclysm--begins to shine through. It's this strength of environment which lays a very strong foundation for The Division 2 as a video game, creating an engrossing, believable, and contiguous open world.Moving from your safehouse to the open world and your next mission area is almost entirely seamless. It's something that was also true of the original Division, but that doesn't take away from the fact that the simple act of going from place to place in The Division 2 is one of the game's more rewarding aspects. One road may lead to a skirmish with a rival patrol or an optional activity, another might simply give you another stirring scene of urban decay in the morning sun. An obscured shortcut through an apartment block might turn up some useful items in an abandoned home, which you might decide to donate to the makeshift settlements where civilians have attempted to rebuild their lives.Visiting those settlements--initially as hovels, before they gradually grow and become more charming, vibrant places thanks to your efforts in the world--becomes a strong motivator early on in the absence of a plot to chase. Outside main missions, which are dedicated to the weakening of rival factions and achieving indiscriminate objectives, the game's "Projects" are one of the most lucrative means of earning experience to better your character. Projects ask you to donate resources you find out in the world and participate in side activities, encouraging you to spend more time in the world, see new areas, fight new battles, search for new equipment to use, and find enjoyment in that. The Division 2 is, after all, a game devoted to providing you with a continuous stream of gripping conflicts, valuable rewards, and a perpetual sense of progress and satisfaction from doing these things. It does those things very well.You spend a lot of time hunkered behind cover, popping out to fire at any enemy dumb enough to expose themselves. With the large amount of weapon variety available, this familiar facet of combat is solid in itself. Add to that the ability to equip two special skills from a possible eight--which include tools such as riot shields, drones, and from what I can gather, robot bees of some sort--and combat gets pretty interesting. But the vector that really keeps The Division 2's combat lively for upwards of 60 hours is the behaviour and diversity of its enemy types.That time you spend in cover? The Division 2 doesn't want you to just stay there. You can go down very quickly if you're out in the open, but the game has a dozen ways to always keep you taking those risks and finding better firing positions--aggressive melee units, remote control cars equipped with sawblades, even the regular assault units frequently attempt to outflank you. Those special abilities? You absolutely need to use them to their full potential to survive some encounters, whether by throwing out the seeker mines or the automated turret to keep enemies at bay while you focus on a priority target, or perhaps utilizing the chemical launcher to start a fire and create a zone of denial.The effort needed to take out an adversary is relatively reasonable for a shooter that prioritizes the RPG nature of its combat model, but some of the tougher enemies have additional, visible layers of protection which you need to focus on breaking if you want to land critical hits. On the flip side, some enemies have additional, obtuse weak points which can work to your advantage, but only if you can hit them. The fuel tank on the back of a flamethrower unit might be feasible, but when you start running into the terrifying robotic quadruped in post-campaign activities, whose tiny weak point only reveals itself seconds before it fires its devastating railgun, you have to assess whether you can afford to take on that challenge among all the other things pressuring you. The Division 2 throws a lot of hurdles at you, but also gives you the means to quickly counter and resolve them. Whether you can juggle that many balls at once is what keeps combat continually tense and exciting.What's also exciting is the treasure at the end of these gauntlets. The Washington locations, refashioned into memorable combat arenas, are often rewarding in their own right (a fight in a planetarium is an early standout). But improving your equipment is the vital, tangible part that keeps you feeling like you're making progress. You receive new gear in generous amounts, some dropped by an enemy or looted from a container found in the world, others rewarded for completing a mission, and the next dose always feels in reach. The weapon variety forces you to consider something completely different to take advantage of a power boost, and the armor variety provides an impressive number of different cosmetic looks. The Division 2 incorporates a microtransaction and loot box system for its inconsequential clothing options, though these can be found in the world and earned of your own accord, too.Like combat, gear remains intriguing throughout The Division 2 not just because of the abstract desire to have bigger numbers attached to your person and progress further through the game's challenges, but also through a raft of "talents." These add unique perks that complement particular skills or styles of play, like providing bonuses within a certain range or when enemies are burning or your armor is depleted. The brands of armor also have a part to play, whereby equipping a number of pieces from a single manufacturer provide additional advantages. These bonuses become particularly attractive to obsess over in the endgame, when the world is retaken by a tougher, more merciless enemy faction called Black Tusk, and you need to ensure your ability to fight them is the best it can be.For the hundreds of pieces you will inevitably want to discard, the ability to sell or dismantle them for parts to either purchase or craft pieces you want gives value to everything you pick up. Or you might retain them in order to move their talents to better gear of the same type, And, as a wonderful convenience, The Division 2 implements numerous features to inspect, mark, dismantle, or equip things you find so quickly and elegantly--sometimes without ever having to enter a menu--that it improves the whole experience of being in its world.The same can be said of the game's multiplayer integration, which allows you to easily group up and progress with friends (the game will scale any underpowered players to match the most powerful). You can also start or join a clan, which opens up a variety of weekly challenges, granting valuable rewards, and features integrated game-wide group communication options. Even if you're only interested in playing alone (which is more challenging, but entirely feasible for everything but the most demanding of endgame activities), the ability to matchmake with other players at any time, whether that be in the open world, before you start a mission, or when you're at a final boss, is a very welcome and useful feature.And when you beat that final boss of the game's final mission (though, such is The Division 2's lack of plot framing, I honestly couldn't tell you his name to save my life) and you think you've finally run out of treasure to keep luring you through more fights, the metaphorical table gets flipped. Flipped hard. The Washington DC you spent so long liberating from rival factions becomes completely retaken by the aforementioned Black Tusk. You unlock three unique class specializations, each with their own skill trees to build out. Your focus on growing two-digit numbers on your character (your level) moves to three-digit numbers (the quality of your gear). The wealth of activities available to you once you complete the campaign is enormous, and it capitalizes on your momentum. It motivates you to continue seeing more, doing more, and growing more.More challenging, remixed versions of campaign missions and lengthier stronghold missions featuring Black Tusk become available. These "Invaded" missions often leverage the new enemy types to create terrifying new combat scenarios that maintain the steady ramp-up of challenge, and they give you a fantastic reason to revisit the memorable combat arenas with purpose. Open-world events become more dynamic and riskier--factions clash more frequently for control of territory, and your involvement in certain activities can dramatically increase the danger and rewards in others. Limited-time challenges, which take the form of new Projects, higher difficulty missions, and additional bounty targets found in the world, offer avenues for more lucrative bonuses. There are even more activities beyond that, and the strength of The Division 2's endgame is not just in the wealth of content available, but how viable it all is in improving your standing in the world.The journey to bolstering your Gear Score to qualify for higher tiers of challenges and content is always clear. The game continues to make sure you're always meaningfully rewarded no matter what you do, and that feeling of bettering your character persists throughout.It's remarkable how straightforward the game makes it for you to see the full breadth of its content and maintains that feeling of continual advancement all the way to the bitter end, especially in spite of its unsubstantial plots, characters, and narrative themes. Once I finally hit the game's current soft cap for progression, I was impressed by how much there still was to pursue.The world of The Division 2 also features three separate Dark Zone areas, systematically accessible throughout the campaign, which promise the possibility of high-quality equipment but pose more risks beyond the regular open-world. The power dynamic between you and enemies are normalized, and there's the uncertain element of having other players to interact with. In the Dark Zone, players can choose to cooperate with others in the world to clear out enemy outposts and explore the regions for equipment, but the option to go 'Rogue' and undermine the work of other players provides the opportunity for greater rewards at the risk of greater losses if you fail to get away with it. Exploring the Dark Zone is a fascinating aspect of The Division 2 that adds additional facets of tension, distrust, and dishonesty to a game that already features high-stakes combat. Moreover, it is a completely optional pathway to reaching the game's highest tiers of achievement. The game's similarly optional Conflict activities offer gear incentives for participating in traditional team-based multiplayer modes, which felt serviceable in the few matches I played, but were comparatively underpopulated compared to other avenues of matchmaking at the time of writing.The setting of The Division 2 is ripe for potential, and it's a shame the game doesn't use it to say anything. I have absolutely no clue why I'm here, what anyone's motivations are, and I wish I had a strong narrative driver to fuel a purpose behind my endless hunger for progression. This letdown is hard to ignore for the game's initial hours, but the strength of the systems and design that fuel The Division 2 as a game are compelling enough to keep you captivated for dozens more. The range of enemy types continues to keep combat encounters challenging, the equipment I earn and pick up continues to feel different, valuable, and asks me to consider new ways of play. The ravaged environments continue to intrigue, and sometimes they're so stunning I find myself needing to take screenshots before I move on. It might not have much to say, but The Division 2 is a perpetual cycle of tension, relief, and reward that's difficult to stay away from. Info from Gamespot.com

Google's announcement of Stadia is a big step towards the future of cloud gaming. The service allows players to stream video games via the cloud across a variety of different devices. Google is still keeping a lot of details about Stadia close to the chest, leaving us with some big questions. Perhaps chief among them is how much it will cost to use the streaming service, a subject that could play a major role in its success. During GDC 2019, Google VP Phil Harrison sat down with GameSpot to further delve into the service and the topic of price.During the interview, we asked Harrison about Stadia's pricing model. We didn't get too many details, but Harrison did reveal that a pricing model for Sadia already exists--it's just being revealed at a later date. In an interview with Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot, Guillemot predicted Stadia would launch with a "multitude" of pricing models. "Either you buy full price and you play; or you will be able to also register, possibly, to play either one hour or two hours a day. There will be plenty of ways," he said.Harrison was able to talk about the process behind deciding the specific model for Stadia, though. "[It was a lot] of very deep conversations with our developer and publisher partners over many many months, and years in some cases. A lot of deep consumer research. We have had a fantastic user research team as a core part of the Stadia team for two years now. And so, we have our point of view, we then test various hypotheses with consumers and publishing partners, and then get to the right result."During the interview, Harrison did confirm that Stadia would not support offline downloads. When asked if Google would consider adding the option down the line, Harrison said it was "not technically possible." He further clarified that adding offline downloads to Stadia "would be a compromise of our vision."During the Google GDC keynote, the company announced that Stadia is scheduled to launch in 2019 in the US, Canada, UK, and "most of" Europe. More details, such as which games are coming to the service, will be revealed at a later time. For now, we know both Assassin's Creed Odyssey and Doom Eternal are confirmed for the service. If you happened to miss the keynote, we've compiled every bit of Google gaming news.If you're still confused about how cloud gaming works, be sure to read our in-depth explanation. We've also outlined the top companies investing in cloud gaming tech.Info from Gamespot.com

The massively popular battle royale game Fortnite continues to grow. Epic Games announced at GDC 2019 this week that the title has now reached 250 million registered players, which is up from 200 million in December.In terms of people actually playing the game, Epic also revealed that Fortnite reached a new concurrent player record of 10.8 million. That's up slightly from February when 10.7 million people logged on at the same time during the Marshmello in-game concert. This number accounts for the peak number of players who are online at the same time. Bear in mind that Apex Legends released in early February, and that game's incredibly success hasn't prevented Fortnite from reaching new heights.While Fortnite is one of the most popular games in recent history, it may still be behind Minecraft on one metric. Microsoft's sandbox game reportedly has 91 million monthly players, which is ahead of Fortnite's 78.3 million. However, these figures haven't been updated in some time, so it remains to seen if anything has changed. Remarking on Fortnite's massive success, Epic boss Tim Sweeney told Engadget, "It's a real game. It's a shooter. It's worldwide. It's the first shooter with a huge female population. Somebody estimated it at roughly 35 percent, which is unprecedented--why isn't it 50?--but it's unprecedented for anything like this. It's because it brings together players in a social experience."In other Fortnite-related news, Epic announced at GDC that it's created a $100 million fund for developers that was made possible thanks to the success of Fortnite. What's more, Epic announced that Quantic Dream's PlayStation-exclusive titles including Heavy Rain, Beyond: Two Souls, and Detroit: Become Human are coming to the Epic Games Store this year.Info from Gamespot.com

The Xbox Game Pass catalog continues to grow in March and April. Microsoft today announced six more games headed to the library today, including some very big names that will soon be playable on Xbox One for all subscribers.Out now, as of March 21, are the action role-playing game Deus Ex: Mankind Divided and the adventure game What Remains of Edith Finch, while Telltale's The Walking Dead: Michonne hits Xbox Game Pass on March 28. Also out that day is the action RPG Vampyr, while dungeon-crawler Operencia: The Stolen Sun lands on March 29.On April 1, the fighting game Marvel vs. Capcom Infinite hits Xbox Game Pass. After that, Microsoft's sandbox game Minecraft comes to the platform on April 4.If you're not among the millions of Xbox Game Pass subscribers already, you can sign up and get the first month for only $1. After that, it's $10 USD/month. We recently learned that the upcoming addition of Halo Reach to the Master Chief Collection will be available to Game Pass members. Those who only own MCC will just receive access to the game's multiplayer mode without a separate purchase of the campaign and Firefight modes.Xbox Game Pass Upcoming Titles:March 21 - Deus Ex: Mankind Divided, What Remains of Edith FinchMarch 28 -- The Walking Dead: Michonne, VampyrMarch 29 - Operencia: The Stolen SunApril 1 - Marvel vs. Capcom InfiniteApril 4 - MinecraftInfo from Gamespot.com

Marvel Studios has released a new TV spot and what looks like the official plot synopsis for Avengers: Endgame. It doesn't contain any spoilers or surprises if you've seen Infinity War. Instead, it focuses on hyping up a dramatic conclusion to a story that's been 22 films in the making.The synopsis comes from Marvel's official website, which people recently discovered was updated to include the following description for Endgame: "The grave course of events set in motion by Thanos that wiped out half the universe and fractured the Avengers ranks compels the remaining Avengers to take one final stand in Marvel Studios' grand conclusion to twenty-two films, Avengers: Endgame."The 22 films reference to the all of the Marvel Cinematic Universe films released since 2008, beginning with Iron Man. Endgame is the 22nd film in the series.Marvel has also shared a new TV spot for Endgame dubbed "Honor," which you can watch below. While not a new trailer--don't expect any new footage--it does remix what we've already seen to further build up some hype for the new movie.Avengers: Infinity War ended in dramatic fashion, with the evil Thanos snapping away half of the galaxy's population. Lots of people died, including superheroes that fans have come to know and love. In Endgame, the remaining members of the Avengers have apparently devised a plan to make things right--though it remains to be seen if the beloved fallen heroes will be resurrected by some means.Many fans believe "the snap" may be undone in Endgame, given that many of the characters who perished have future movies in the pipeline. According to writer Christopher Markus, the deaths from Infinity War are "real," at least in some fashion."It is a different movie than you think it is," Markus said about Endgame. "We broke your heart. Now we're going to blow your mind."Endgame hits theatres on April 26. It'll be the second Marvel movie in as many months, following the box office smash Captain Marvel in March. Captain Marvel actress Brie Larson returns to play the character again in Endgame, and she can be seen in the newest Endgame trailer that's embedded above.Info from Gamespot.com

Sony's PS4 exclusive action game God of War has won yet another Game of the Year award. Tonight at the Game Developers Choice Awards, Sony's PS4 game went home with the top prize. This is just the latest win for God of War, as it also won Game of the Year at December's The Game Awards and in February at the DICE Awards.Other winners tonight included Celeste for Best Audio, Into the Breach for Best Design, and Red Dead Redemption 2 for Best Technology. Australian developer Mountains won Best Debut for Florence; that game also Best Mobile Game. Amy Hennig, an industry veteran who directed Uncharted, took home the Lifetime Achievement Award.You can see a full rundown of the categories and winners at the bottom of this post."The Game Developers Choice Awards represent the most refined games of the year, and the sheer variety of games honored tonight showed that games can still represent wholly new and unique creative visions," GDC general manager Katie Stern said in a statement."A number of independently developed titles like Celeste, Gris, and Florence helped prove how internal or deeply personal turmoil can make for massively appealing games for millions of fans. While games like God of War and Red Dead Redemption 2 capture our imagination with poignant moments juxtaposed against epic tales of staggering scale and technical prowess. We embrace and accept all these amazingly creative works, and we're proud to recognize these nominees and winners alike for the imagination and hard work that brought them here."Also at GDC this week, Google announced its new game-streaming technology, Stadia, which is set to launch later this year. Former Microsoft and Sony executive Phil Harrison is heading up the Stadia team, and he believes latency won't be an issue.GDC 2019 continues all week, leading directly into PAX East in Boston at the weekend, so keep checking back with GameSpot for lots more.More readingIs Google Stadia What The Next-Gen Of Gaming Will Look Like?Google Stadia: Hands-on Impressions With New Game-Streaming Service From GDC 20192018 Game Developers Choice Awards WinnersBest AudioCeleste (Matt Makes Games)Best DebutMountains (Florence)Best DesignInto the Breach (Subset Games)Best Mobile GameFlorence (Mountains)Innovation AwardNintendo Labo (Nintendo EPD / Nintendo)Best NarrativeReturn of the Obra Dinn (Lucas Pope / 3909)Best TechnologyRed Dead Redemption 2 (Rockstar Games)Best Visual ArtGris (Nomada Studio / Devolver Digital)Best VR/AR GameBeat Saber (Beat Games)Audience AwardBeat Saber (Beat Games)Game of the YearGod of War (Sony Santa Monica / Sony Interactive Entertainment)Pioneer AwardRieko KodamaLifetime Achievement AwardAmy HennigInfo from Gamespot.com

From Software's latest game, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is nearly here. Its March 22 release date is just around the corner, and reviews are starting to go live across the web. So what do the critics think of the highly anticipated follow-up to Bloodborne and the Souls series?GameSpot's Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice review-in-progress awarded the game a 9/10, with critic Tamoor Hussain calling the stealth-action title "an experience that is as challenging as it is gratifying"--it is a From Software game, after all.For more on the critical consensus of Sekiro, check out the selection of reviews below. Alternatively, take a look at GameSpot sister site Metacritic.Game: Sekiro: Shadows Die TwiceDeveloper / Publisher: From Software / ActivisionRelease date: March 22Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PCPrice: US $60 / £60 / AU $100GameSpot -- 9/10 (Review-In-Progress)"Sekiro marries From Software's unique brand of gameplay with stealth action to deliver an experience that is as challenging as it is gratifying. At the time of publish I haven't completed Sekiro. While I have invested upwards of 30 hours into it, there are still a few more locations I need to explore and bosses I need to beat before the credits roll, and I'm excited to do it." -- Tamoor Hussain [Full review-in-progress]IGN -- 9.5/10"Sekiro evolves From Software's formula into a stylish stealth-action adventure that, naturally, emphasizes precision and skill in its combat. It walks the line between deliberate and patient stealth and breakneck melee combat against threats both earthly and otherworldly. Its imaginative and flexible tools support a more focused experience that shaves down some of From Software's overly cryptic sensibilities without losing its air of mystery. Sekiro is an amazing new twist on a familiar set of ideas that can stand on its own alongside its predecessors." -- Brandin Tyrrel [Full review]Polygon -- Recommended"I have to put in a lot of work and effort to meet Sekiro on its own terms, but what might feel ponderous in a lesser game becomes rewarding in one created with this much care. Sekiro meets me with just as much effort and enthusiasm as I've put into it. It lets me know I'm capable and skilled, and that I can figure it out. And then it hands me my ass again." -- Dave Tach and Jeffrey Parkin [Full review]Game Informer -- 9.0/10"Sekiro's story moves in strange and compelling ways that defy the initial adherence to the trappings of feudal Japan, and allows the player to discover multiple endings and confrontations depending on choices and secrets. It's a challenging journey through a weird and wondrous world that forces you to learn and master its punishing combat to succeed. However, the sweet thrill of victory keeps you pushing forward despite myriad disheartening deaths. Sekiro is one of the most difficult games I have ever played, but for those seeking adventure, exploration, and a truly realized ninja fantasy, the trek is worth the high demands." -- Daniel Tack [Full review]Info from Gamespot.com