Google's Stadia is a service that allows players to stream video games via the cloud across a variety of different devices. With most of the finer details about Stadia still under wraps, we sat down with Google VP Phil Harrison at GDC 2019 to further dive into the service.During the interview, we asked about game exclusives on Stadia. "It was a conversation that I had with Google leadership before I joined the company." Harrison said. "[My] point of view was in order to really deliver on the promise of this platform, we had to build our own games. We had to build our own experiences, and that was a very fundamental, strategic direction that we needed to move in."He continued, "I understand that [for a gamer] the word 'exclusive' can sometimes be a challenging terminology. [I would] rather we moved the narrative towards [games] that are built specifically for a data center. And if those games also show up on other streaming platforms, that's okay, because what that means is that the developers are starting to innovate and think about the future and [build] a 21st century game, rather than a 20th century game."Harrison further clarified that any game that Google makes will "obviously only" be on Stadia. At GDC 2019, Google revealed it has a new first-party studio that's being led by Jade Raymond, a former head at both Ubisoft and EA. The new studio hasn't announced any specific games or projects it's working on yet.We also asked Harrison about Sadia's pricing model. Apparently, one already exists, but Harrison said Google just isn't ready to talk about it yet. Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot predicts Stadia will 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 did confirm that Stadia will never support offline downloads. It's just "not technically possible," he told GameSpot. "It would be a compromise of our vision if we were to do that."During its GDC 2019 keynote presentation, Google announced Stadia will release within 2019, and come to the US, Canada, UK, and "most of" Europe. The only games confirmed for the service as of this time are Assassin's Creed Odyssey and Doom Eternal.We have more information on how cloud gaming works, and have outlined the top companies investing in gaming's possible cloud-based future.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.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.Arriving on 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.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

Disney has finally, officially closed its $71 billion deal to buy the majority of Fox's entertainment assets. As part of the acquisition, Disney is expected to cut "thousands" of jobs as it eliminates duplicate jobs as part of the massive the restructuring, according to multiple reports.Disney CEO Robert Iger sent a memo to staff regarding the Fox deal, and in it he acknowledged that tough times lie ahead. CNBC obtained the memo."I wish I could tell you that the hardest part is behind us; that closing the deal was the finish line, rather than just the next milestone," he said. "What lies ahead is the challenging work of uniting our businesses to create a dynamic, global entertainment company with the content, the platforms, and the reach to deliver industry-defining experiences that will engage consumers around the world for generations to come."Iger went on to say that the "integration process" will affect some business units more than others. "We've made many critical decisions already, but some areas still require further evaluation. We may not have answers to all of your questions at this moment, but we understand how vital information is, and we're committed to moving as quickly as possible to provide clarity regarding how your role may be impacted," Iger said his note to employees.Iger said he has a "deep appreciation" for how an acquisition like Disney's impacts people involved both personally and professionally. "I ask for your continued patience in the days to come as we combine this collection of great assets to create the world's premier entertainment company," he said.As part of Disney's acquisition of Fox, the House of Mouse gets franchises like Deadpool, X-Men, The Simpsons, Family Guy, and numerous others, as well as a series of TV networks and film studios. Indeed, it is one of the biggest mergers in the history of the entertainment business.As of September 30, The Walt Disney Company reportedly had more than 201,000 employees, and this was before the Fox deal closed.Fox will live on in a limited capacity, with a new company--Fox Corporation--operating units such as the Fox News Channel, Fox Sports, and other TV networks. Info from Gamespot.com

Marvel Studios has released 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.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

You know what's good? A nice freebie. Luckily, you can get a pretty cool freebie today if you're a Spotify Premium for Family subscriber in the UK.If you are, you can claim a free Google Home Mini. The offer works for both new subscribers and existing ones, but only until stocks last, so be quick. Also note that standard Spotify Premium members do not qualify for the deal--you must be a Premium for Family subscriber, which is an extra £5 per month and allows you to add up to five family members onto your plan. Claim your device here.Spotify ran this promotion in the US last year, but has now decided to bring it to the UK. Google Home Mini launched in 2018 as Google's answer to Amazon's Echo Dot. They typically sell for £49 at retail, so getting one at no extra cost with a monthly £15 Spotify Premium for Family subscription is not too shabby.GameSpot sister site Cnet said Google's miniature device "stands tall as one of the best affordable smart speakers out there, along with the Amazon Echo Dot, but it doesn't do enough to supplant the Dot at the top of the list." Read more in Cnet's 8.4/10 Google Home Mini review.Info from Gamespot.com

Google has formally announced its plans for a video game streaming platform called Stadia, offering games on demand streamed through the cloud. Stadia is planned for launch this year and allows you to stream games across a variety of devices with very little friction.The platform aims to bring together playing, spectating, and developing games onto a single platform. As an example, you could view Assassin's Creed Odyssey on YouTube and then begin playing it through streaming in "as little as five seconds." Things like game updates and patches and system requirements are effectively a non-issue, because the game is running on Google's servers, rather than your local device.Google VP Phil Harrison promised the technology will work across desktops, laptops, TV, tablets, and phones. In a demonstration, the same demo was seen working across a Chromebook, smartphone, tablet, and TV, the latter through a Chromecast Ultra HDMI streamer. At launch it will stream in 4K at 60 FPS with surround sound and HDR support, and in the future Google is planning to support 8K resolution and frame-rates upwards of 120 FPS. Harrison also promised that the platform will embrace cross-platform play.You'll be able to use existing controllers on laptops and PCs, and Google will offer its own Stadia controller. The Google Stadia controller links to whichever device you're playing on, and it sports a dedicated Google Assistant button for referencing walkthrough videos if you get stuck.Google also announced it has partnered with Unreal and Unity for development, along with middleware developers like Havok. Id Software's Marty Stratton took the stage to announce that Doom Eternal will be coming to Stadia. Google also announced it is starting its own studio called Stadia Games and Entertainment, to be headed up by former Ubisoft and EA studio head Jade Raymond, which will create exclusives for the platform.The presentation outlined a few key features. "State Share" will let you create moments for friends or viewers to pick up from your own state in a game. "Crowd Play" will let viewers of a stream join a queue to join in the multiplayer game themselves. Both will need to be enabled by developers.Google first hinted at an interest in game streaming last year, when it partnered with Ubisoft for Project Stream. The service allowed testers to play Assassin's Creed Odyssey to completion through its Chrome browser. Since then the rumors of "Project Yeti" only intensified.For more on cloud gaming, check out how cloud gaming works and the companies investing heavily in cloud technologies. Or check out all of the Google gaming news from today's event.Info from Gamespot.com

The first trailer for Toy Story 4 is here. The latest movie in the long-running animated Pixar series hits theaters in June and sees Woody, Buzz, and the gang in another highly anticipated adventure. A few amusing early teasers were released in December, but this new trailer finally gives us an idea of what to expect from the new movie.It reveals that the new character of Forky that was teased last year--literally a fork with pipe-cleaner arms--will be one of the main characters. He's the favorite toy of Woody and co's new owner Bonnie, but he's less than pleased about being turned into a plaything. Forky goes on the run with Woody in tow, and the pair end up encountering another old friend--Bo Beep. Meanwhile, the rest of the gang set off to get their pals back. It looks every bit as funny, exciting, moving, and spectacularly animated as the previous movies in this classic series. Check it out above.Toy Story 4 sees all the main cast return, including Tom Hanks (as Woody), Tim Allen (Buzz), Annie Potts (Bo Peep), Joan Cusack (Jessie), Blake Clark (Slinky Dog), Wallace Shawn (Rex), and John Ratzenberger (Hamm), plus Arrested Development's Tony Hale as Forky. It hits theaters on June 21, 2019.The movie is directed by Josh Cooley, who previously co-wrote Inside Out for Pixar, and Jonas Rivera. It was originally announced back in 2014 with a 2017 release date, but delays caused the film to switch release slots with The Incredibles 2. In addition, former Disney Animation head John Lasseter was set to direct, but sexual harassment allegations against him resulted in him stepping away and ultimately leaving the company.In a recent interview, Hanks spoke about what fans can expect from the movie. "Toy Story 4 is going to have an impactful ending," he revealed. "The way you record Toy Story; you're in a room with the team that has created it. When I went in for my last day of recording, I wanted to have my back to them, because usually you're facing them so you can look right up and you can talk about it. But I didn't want to see them and I wanted to pretend they couldn't see me. When I realized what they were going for, I realized, 'Oh, this is a moment in history.'" Info from Gamespot.com

Every month, Netflix reveals what is new to its service for the upcoming month, and there are plenty of new offerings to get excited about. However, plenty of movies and TV series leave the service each month as well. And in April, Netflix loses its best animated series, Star Wars: The Clone Wars.On April 7, the Star Wars: The Clones Wars movie, all five seasons of the animated series, and the home release of The Lost Missions all leave Netflix. While many folks look down on the Star Wars prequels, everyone can agree that the Clone Wars animated movie and series are the best things to come out of that era in Star Wars lore. For those who are unfamiliar, the series follows Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi during the aforementioned Clone Wars, taking place between Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith. While the show is leaving Netflix, it is headed to Disney's streaming service, alongside new episodes, by the end of this year.And there are plenty of new options for you to check out in April--after you've watch Clone Wars one more time. On April 1, Netflix is dropping plenty of movies, including Freddy vs. Jason, Pineapple Express, and the classic sci-fi movie The Fifth Element. Additionally, the classic Japanese character Ultraman gets a Netflix original animated series.There are two big original series to keep your eye on for the rest of the month. On April 5, Sabrina the teenage witch returns for Part 2 of Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. This time around, she'll be exploring her darker side, all while trying to keep her non-witch friends in her life.Additionally, much like Black Mirror's Bandersnatch, Netflix has a new "choose your own adventure" show coming on April 10. The show is called You vs. Wild, and it is hosted by TV personality Bear Grylls. The viewer watches Grylls try to survive in some of the world's harshest environments, and their decisions could help him. If there isn't an option at some point for Grylls to ingest his own urine, then this show missed the boat.Below you'll find the complete list of everything coming and going for Netflix in April, and make sure to check out the lists for Amazon Prime Video and Hulu as well.What's Coming To Netflix In AprilAvail. in AprilChambers -- NETFLIX ORIGINALAvail. 4/1/19ULTRAMAN -- NETFLIX ANIMEAcross The LineAll the President's MenBonnie and Clyde (1967)DeliveranceDivine Secrets of the Ya-Ya SisterhoodEvolutionFreddy vs. JasonFriday the 13th (2009)I Am LegendLakeview TerraceMonster HouseObsessedPenelopePineapple ExpressPokémon the Series: Sun & Moon: S2P.S. I Love YouSnatchSpy KidsTexas Chainsaw Massacre 3DThe Bone CollectorThe Fifth ElementThe Golden CompassThe Sisterhood of the Traveling PantsThe Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2ValkyrieAvail. 4/2/19Kevin Hart: Irresponsible -- NETFLIX ORIGINALAvail. 4/3/19Suzzanna: Buried Alive -- NETFLIX FILMAvail. 4/5/19Chilling Adventures of Sabrina: Part 2 -- NETFLIX ORIGINALIn The ShadowsLegacies: Season 1Our Planet -- NETFLIX ORIGINALPersona: Collection -- NETFLIX ORIGINALRoman Empire: Caligula: The Mad Emperor -- NETFLIX ORIGINALSpirit Riding Free: Season 8-- NETFLIX ORIGINALTijuana -- NETFLIX ORIGINALUnicorn Store -- NETFLIX FILMAvail. 4/9/19Trolls: The Beat Goes On!: Season 6 -- NETFLIX ORIGINALAvail. 4/10/19New Girl: Season 7You vs. Wild -- NETFLIX ORIGINALAvail. 4/11/19Black Summer -- NETFLIX ORIGINALAvail. 4/12/19A Land Imagined -- NETFLIX FILMBand AidHuge in France -- NETFLIX ORIGINALMighty Little Bheem -- NETFLIX ORIGINALThe Perfect Date -- NETFLIX FILMThe Silence -- NETFLIX FILMSpecial -- NETFLIX ORIGINALWho Would You Take to a Deserted Island? -- NETFLIX FILMAvail. 4/15/19Luis Miguel - The Series: Season 1No Good Nick -- NETFLIX ORIGINALThe New RomanticAvail. 4/16/19Super Monsters Furever Friends -- NETFLIX ORIGINALAvail. 4/18/19My First First Love -- NETFLIX ORIGINALAvail. 4/19/19A Fortunate Man -- NETFLIX FILMBrené Brown: The Call to Courage -- NETFLIX ORIGINALCuckoo: Season 5 -- NETFLIX ORIGINALI, Daniel BlakeMusic Teacher -- NETFLIX FILMRilakkuma and Kaoru -- NETFLIX ANIMESamantha!: Season 2 -- NETFLIX ORIGINALSomeone Great -- NETFLIX FILMAvail. 4/20/19Grass is Greener -- NETFLIX ORIGINALAvail. 4/22/19Pinky Malinky: Part 2 -- NETFLIX ORIGINALSelection Day - New Episodes-- NETFLIX ORIGINALAvail. 4/23/19I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson -- NETFLIX ORIGINALAvail. 4/24/19Bonding -- NETFLIX ORIGINALAvail. 4/25/19The Hateful Eight: Extended VersionThe Ugly TruthAvail. 4/26/19The Protector: Season 2 -- NETFLIX ORIGINALReMastered: Devil at the Crossroads -- NETFLIX ORIGINALShe-Ra and the Princesses of Power: Season 2 -- NETFLIX ORIGINALStreet Food -- NETFLIX ORIGINALThe SapphiresYankee -- NETFLIX ORIGINALAvail. 4/27/19American HoneyAvail. 4/28/19Señora Acero: Season 5Avail. 4/29/19BurningThe Imitation GameAvail. 4/30/19Anthony Jeselnik: Fire in the Maternity Ward -- NETFLIX ORIGINALBaki: Part 2 -- NETFLIX ANIMEIngress: The Animation -- NETFLIX ANIMEWhat's Leaving Netflix In AprilLeaving 4/1/19American PieBilly MadisonBlue Mountain State: Seasons 1-3Casino RoyaleDiamonds Are ForeverDie Another DayDon't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the HoodGoldfingerHappy FeetHappy GilmoreHeatI Love You, ManL.A. ConfidentialLive and Let DieLuther: Series 1-4OctopussyPokémon: XY: Seasons 1-2SevenSex and the City: The MovieThe Living DaylightsThe Man with the Golden GunThe Spy Who Loved MeThe World Is Not EnoughWallander: Series 1-4You Only Live TwiceLeaving 4/4/19RawLeaving 4/7/19Star Wars: The Clone WarsStar Wars: The Clone Wars: Seasons 1-5Star Wars: The Clone Wars: The Lost MissionsLeaving 4/13/19Video Game High School: Seasons 1-3Leaving 4/18/19Silver Linings PlaybookInfo from Gamespot.com

Anthem's launch had its share of issues, from crash bugs to weapon balance bugs and more. Now BioWare general manager Casey Hudson has conceded to the launch issues while also recommitting to long-term support.In a post-launch update on the BioWare Blog, Hudson says it was a "rougher launch than expected," and says that the studio was "ready for the possibility that unexpected issues might arise." In a broader sense, he said that the degree of the problems didn't become apparent until the scale of players had increased, and that the studio shares in the community's disappointment at these issues."It makes me sad to hear about any issues that would hold someone back from fully enjoying the game," Hudson said. "I take that very personally, and it’s been our top priority to get improvements out to you in the fastest, safest way."He then transitioned to plans for the future, explaining that improvements are coming to endgame loot, game flow, and stability. This is in addition to adding more world events and story content, as outlined in its roadmap."But we understand there is skepticism out there," he continued. "We hear the criticisms and doubts. But we’ll keep going anyway, working hard every day on Anthem – an ever-changing world, constantly improving and growing, and supported well into the future by our team of passionate developers."Anthem's rocky launch has included crashing PS4 consoles that forced Sony to issue refunds, an update inadvertently broke the game, and mediocre reviews. At one point a bug made Legendary and Masterwork items more common, and BioWare irked players by fixing it. The studio later issued a patch that adjusted drop rates more intentionally.Info from Gamespot.com

Angry Birds developer Rovio has announced a new game in its popular bird-flinging franchise. Angry Birds AR: Isle of Pigs, the series' first-ever step into augmented reality, is coming exclusively to iOS devices in late spring, with pre-orders opening in the App Store today, March 19.Like other Angry Birds games, the object of Isle of Pigs is to slingshot your small flock of birds at increasingly complex block towers, toppling them over and crushing the pigs lurking within. The game is divided up into four themed worlds and is "initially launching with at least 40 levels," according to Rovio, suggesting more may be on the way.Where Isle of Pigs differs from most other Angry Birds games is that it reinterprets the series' gameplay in a 3D space. Using Apple's ARKit technology, the game overlays the levels onto your surroundings, making them appear as though they were in the real-world. You still drag your finger on the screen to draw the slingshot back and fire your birds, but like the series' VR spin-off, you'll be doing so from a first-person perspective rather than a side-on view.The AR tech also allows you to get a 360-degree view of each level. You can maneuver your iPhone or iPad around to better angle your shots, and many levels feature explosive blocks and other items hidden around the back, encouraging you to play around with the angle in order to clear the stages in as few shots as possible.Angry Birds AR: Isle of Pigs will be free to download when it launches, with optional in-app purchases. The game will be compatible with any iOS device that supports ARKit, meaning it can run on iPhone 6 and newer models, as well as fifth- and sixth-generation iPads and all iPad Pro devices.Info from Gamespot.com

With the end of Phase 3 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe on the horizon, Marvel Studios come up with a very fitting name for the group of films that stretch from Iron Man to Avengers: Endgame. The new moniker is also another sign that there are some big changes coming to the film series shortly.As revealed in Empire Magazine (via IGN), the first 22 films in the MCU will become known as The Infinity Saga. Explaining the decision, Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige said, "We wanted to bring to a conclusion a series of movies in a way that had never been done before. Harry Potter had an ending because there were only so many books. Lord of the Rings too. But we thought, 22 movies in, wouldn't it be fun to bring some finality to the storyline."The word finality is a scary one where this particular saga is concerned. After Thanos (Josh Brolin) snapped half of the universe out of existence in Avengers: Infinity War, it seemed only logical that by the time Endgame's credits rolled, some members of the MCU would be dead for good. At this point no, there's no telling who it is--though one major theory posits that it's Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.) that will bite the dust once and for all.Whatever happens in Endgame, though, it will be the end of the Infinity Saga. Whether that means it's the end of Infinity Stones in the MCU is a question that will be answered in time. Though we have some thoughts on what the future of the MCU will look like. Until then, get ready for Avengers: Endgame's April 26 release by checking out our latest trailer breakdown and deep dive into the character Kate Bishop and whether she'll appear in the movie.Info from Gamespot.com

About a month and a half after the game's initial release, Season 1 of Apex Legends has begun. The game's Wild Frontier Battle Pass is now available to purchase on PS4, Xbox One, and PC, bringing a new assortment of skins, stat trackers, and other exclusive rewards to unlock in Respawn's popular battle royale game. This arrives as part of a new Apex Legends update that also adds the new playable legend, Octane.Much like Fortnite's own seasonal Battle Pass, the Wild Frontier Battle Pass costs 950 Apex Coins, which roughly equates to $10 / £8. If you're eager to get a head start, EA is also offering a Battle Pass bundle for 2,800 Apex Coins that will instantly unlock the first 25 tiers, giving you immediate access to those rewards.Apex Coins are Legends' premium currency. They can typically only be purchased with real money, although there are a few other ways to get your hands on some for free. You'll receive 1,000 Apex Coins by signing up for EA/Origin Access, which effectively amounts to a 50% discount if you spring for a one-month subscription. You'll also be able to earn up to 1,000 Apex Coins by leveling up the Battle Pass.As in Fortnite, you'll unlock rewards as you level up Apex Legends' Battle Pass, and you'll receive three exclusive character skins automatically just for purchasing it. Even if you don't decide to buy the pass, however, you'll still be able to earn a handful of rewards, and you'll retroactively unlock any you would have earned if you decide to purchase it partway through the season.Unlike Fortnite, however, Apex Legends' Battle Pass doesn't offer any challenges. According to Respawn, this was a deliberate decision in order to let players focus on learning the ins and outs of the game rather than striving to check off contrived tasks."You'll notice the first version isn't built around a complex quest system where you need to do a 720 backflip off of Watchtower Artemis and get two Wingman headshots before hitting the ground," Respawn wrote in a blog post. "While we think there's really cool design space in quests and challenges for future Battle Passes, we wanted the initial version to allow our players to just play and learn the game."You can read more about how the Apex Legends Battle Pass works here. Also arriving to the game today is Octane, Apex Legends' newest playable character. However, he isn't included as part of the Battle Pass; rather, players will need to purchase him separately from the in-game store for 12,000 Legend Tokens or 750 Apex Coins. He comes with a bunch of new skins for you to earn.Info from Gamespot.com

At the Game Developers Conference, Google unveiled its vision for the future of video games: a cloud streaming service called Stadia, which gives instant access to play games across Chromebooks, smartphones, tablets, and TVs. In other words, it's a platform that is accessible through devices you may already own, and it will will be compatible with keyboards and other input devices you might have, too. However, Google will also release its own proprietary Stadia controller, and now we know what it looks like and how it works.The Stadia controller was shown off at GDC in three different color schemes. It connects to Google's servers through Wi-Fi, and it identifies what screen you want to play on. In addition to the standard array of inputs, it also features two unique buttons: one allows you to capture gameplay and share and save it to YouTube, while the other is a Google Assistant button, which accesses the controller's built-in microphone to get gameplay advice from an assistant. And in a fun reference, the back of the controller is home to the Konami Code.The streaming tech behind Stadia is the same that powered the Project Stream test that ran last year, when Google partnered with Ubisoft to stream Assassin's Creed Odyssey for free through a Chrome browser. The company has made other big moves into the video game space, recently hiring Jade Raymond, best known for her work at Ubisoft and EA. Raymond will head up Stadia Games and Entertainment, a new first-party studio that will develop games exclusively for Stadia.Stadia will launch later this year. It'll be available first in the US, Canada, the UK, and "most of Europe." Google hasn't shared any pricing details for the service or its controller, but it promises to reveal more information this summer, including what games will be available at launch "and beyond."One key detail we don't know beyond specific pricing is how you'll buy games--will they be available through a subscription or like a standard game purchase? That remains to be seen, though we know Doom Eternal is coming to Stadia. Odyssey was also featured prominently during the GDC keynote. Ubisoft, the publisher of the latter, seems to be a big supported of Stadia, and when we spoke with CEO Yves Guillemot at GDC, he suggested there could be multiple ways to buy Stadia games.For more on cloud gaming, check out how cloud gaming works and read up on the companies investing heavily in the cloud. Be sure to catch up on all of the Google Stadia gaming news from today's GDC event.Info from Gamespot.com

Google has revealed a vague release window for its new Stadia platform. The service will launch later this year, coming first to the US, UK, Canada, and "most of Europe," with a worldwide release coming at some point after that.Pricing was not revealed for the new platform; while you won't need specific hardware, you will presumably need to buy access to games or some kind of subscription service, but Google didn't share any information regarding this aspect of the service. However, we did get lots of other details besides that, including the basics of what Stadia is: Google's vision for a new kind of gaming service powered by the cloud. You'll be able to play games, even high-end ones like Assassin's Creed Odyssey or Doom Eternal, on most any internet-connected device. As well as offering cloud streaming of games to phones, laptops, PCs, and TVs, it will also launch with its own controller. In addition, the company has founded a first-party development house to make games exclusively for Stadia.Stadia will support cross-platform multiplayer and allow you to seamlessly switch between devices. You can also simply click a link while watching a game on YouTube to dive into that very same game at the exact same point. Alternatively, streamers can allow viewers to sign up to join in to play in the same game session with them. All of this is done seamlessly; you don't have to download anything or have specific, high-end hardware to play.At launch, Stadia will support 4K HDR gameplay at 60 FPS, with plans to scale that up to 8K at 120 FPS. Ubisoft, Doom Eternal developer Id Software, and Q-Games were among the developers mentioned as partners at Google's GDC conference, while more than 100 studios already have Stadia in their hands. For more, check out everything we know about Google Stadia.Info from Gamespot.com