Season 7 of Fortnite is now live across all platforms, and it's introduced a ton of new features and content to the hit battle royale game, including a snow biome, new pets, and more. Now it appears a sword is on the way, which would make it the first weapon of its kind in Fortnite.The official Fortnite Twitter account shared a brief video teasing the arrival of the sword. The weapon appears to belong to the Ice King--the new Legendary skin you can unlock through the Season 7 Battle Pass. "Coming soon... a weapon fit for a King," the tweet reads, while the accompanying video shows the Ice King pulling the sword from a pedestal atop a snowy mountain.Coming soon... a weapon fit for a King 🗡👑 pic.twitter.com/n3kMDCS5IH — Fortnite (@FortniteGame) December 10, 2018Epic didn't reveal exactly when the mysterious sword will appear in Fortnite, only noting that it's coming soon. However, the developer frequently introduces new weapons and items to the game on a weekly basis, so the sword will presumably arrive as part of this week's update.A lot has changed in Fortnite since the game's big 7.00 patch. The iceberg that could be spotted in the ocean toward the end of Season 6 has collided into the island, creating a new snowy environment to explore. Moreover, Epic introduced the game's first aerial vehicle, the X-4 Stormwing plane, which seats up to five players and allows you shoot at opponents from the skies.On top of that, the first weekly set of Season 7 challenges is now available. This batch tasks players with dancing in forbidden locations and dancing on a crown of RVs, among other things. You can find tips on how to complete all of the season's new challenges in our Fortnite Season 7 challenges roundup.Info from Gamespot.com

Some DLC is minor--new character skins, a new weapon, a random new mode thrown in for fun. But other DLC and expansions are game-changing, letting you experience a game from an entirely new perspective or vastly improving what was already there. In 2018, the best expansions reinvented games for the better. This includes Destiny 2, which had a rough time earlier in the year and got just the boost it needed, as well as Civilization VI, which had a strong foundation and whose first DLC refined it in a number of ways. All the expansions on this list were released in the calendar year, though some of the base games were released earlier. In no particular order, here are the best expansions of 2018.Destiny 2: Forsaken[Read the review]After two mediocre expansions, Destiny 2 was struggling going into the final quarter of 2018. It had a good foundation in its outstanding shooting and movement mechanics as well as a variety of activities for different types of players, but it was lacking a compelling endgame for the most dedicated Guardians. Forsaken finally answered the call--so much so that it took weeks for us to properly dive into all of it. A fun new mode in Gambit, extensive endgame activities like the Ascendant Challenge, and a new Raid added a much-needed layer of satisfying things to do and powerful loot to chase. Forsaken both filled in what was missing from Destiny 2 and reminded us what we liked about the game in the first place.No Man's Sky: Next[Read the review]When it released in 2016, No Man's Sky was caught between what it was in reality and what people expected it to be. The Next update not only added a number of things that had been promised at launch, but it also doubled down on the best parts of No Man's Sky as it's always been. Next introduced true multiplayer--a much-requested feature--as well as base building and other sandbox-y elements. It also brought with it a number of improvements, namely visual enhancements that made the already ethereal world feel even more alive and look more beautiful. Perhaps most importantly, Next made us give No Man's Sky a second chance--it reminded us of the awe-inspiring, breathtakingly lonely game that No Man's Sky had always been.Prey: MooncrashPrey was a divisive game for us in 2017, as its outstanding level design and rewarding combat were somewhat let down by uneven pacing and a lackluster story. The Mooncrash DLC capitalizes on all the best things about Prey--meaning its immersive sim elements--by recontextualizing them in the structure of a roguelike and keeping the story to a minimum. Because Mooncrash takes place in a simulation that you can reset, you're encouraged to experiment and find creative solutions to problems in the environment. That is, after all, what we liked about Prey in the first place, and Mooncrash allows us to enjoy it all over again.Civilization VI: Rise and Fall[Read the review]As the first expansion to Civ VI, Rise and Fall faced a difficult challenge: How do you add to a game that's already deep to begin with? The base game has plenty going on, and any new features could have been in danger of bloating its systems. But Rise and Fall added smart tweaks and improvements that complemented the base game while changing it for the better. The headlining feature, the Ages system, introduced rewards for improvement and consequences for stagnation. This in effect helps prevent players from coasting to victory on a strong lead and gives an edge to underdogs who play smart. That, alongside smaller improvements, make Rise and Fall a standout expansion in 2018.Sonic Mania Plus[Read the review]Sonic Mania had both the nostalgia factor and smart design, making it one of the best--if not the best--Sonic games ever made. Sonic Mania Plus, an update to the digital version that was included with the physical one, made it even better. It added new characters with their own unique abilities as well as Encore mode, which takes you through remixed versions of the base game's stages. Both the new characters and the new mode let you experience Sonic Mania differently than you did before, and that in turn showcases what's so great about the game to begin with.GameSpot will be unveiling our picks for the best games and entertainment of 2018 throughout December. Head to our Best of 2018 hub to see all the winners so far. Info from Gamespot.com

The original 1993 Doom released 25 years ago, and to mark the occasion series creator John Romero has announced a new, free expansion coming early next year. "Sigil" is a free megawad--the name given in the Doom community for fan-made content--which adds nine single-player stages and nine deathmatch levels. It will release in February 2019.As detailed on Romero's site, you'll need a registered copy of the original 1993 Doom to play. It's intended as a spiritual successor to the fourth episode of Doom. Romero is also working with Limited Run Games to create two limited edition boxes. Both exclusive boxes include music from heavy metal band Buckethead, including one track made exclusively for Sigil, and feature art from metal cover album artist Christopher Lovell.A standard box includes Lovell cover art, a 16GB USB made to look like a 3.5 inch floppy disc (which contains the megawad and extra content), a 2-disc jewel case with the megawad data and a Buckethead soundtrack, and Sigil and Romero Games stickers. The bigger Beast Box will include box art numbered and signed by Romero and Lovell, a 2-disc booklet case with behind-the-scenes features, a Lovell art print, Sigil coin, a pewter statue of an impaled Romero head, and a T-shirt. They're priced at $40 and $166, respectively, and pre-orderes are available through December 24.Meanwhile, as the current rights holder, ZeniMax is celebrating the anniversary in its own way. Signing up for an account at the Slayer's Club will get you a Zombie Doom Slayer skin once Doom Eternal launches. It also released a 25th anniversary Doom trailer to mark the occasion, which you can view above. Doom Eternal is due sometime in 2019. Check out our pre-order guide for more.Info from Gamespot.com

For as much as superhero movies have taken over the box office over the past decade, it's surprising how few major video games are based on comic books these days. Switch owners have one to look forward to, because Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order has been announced as a Nintendo Switch exclusive. It's set to launch sometime in 2019, but you can pre-order a copy now.Developed by Team Ninja, this follow-up to 2009's Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 will be an action-RPG starring many of the superheroes we've seen on the big screen in recent years. We know it will include the Avengers, X-Men, Guardians of the Galaxy, and an assortment of familiar villains like Thanos, the Black Order, Kingpin, Sandman, and Green Goblin. The game description also states it will feature an original story, along with local and online multiplayer for up to four players.If you're ready to secure your copy of Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3 for yourself, read on to find out where it's currently available and how much it costs.Pre-Order BonusNo pre-order bonuses have been announced yet for Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3, but we'll update this section if that changes.Standard EditionSo far, no special editions of Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3 have been announced. If that changes, we'll add additional editions below.Buy it from Amazon -- $60Buy it from Best Buy -- $60Buy it from GameStop -- $60Buy it from Nintendo Eshop -- $60Info from Gamespot.com

During 2018's Game Awards, a new trailer for Devil May Cry 5 showcased the game's cameo system. Capcom has revealed further details about the new system and how people will be able to use it to play co-op in the upcoming game.Devil May Cry 5 features a single-player campaign told through the eyes of three different protagonists: Dante, Nero, and V. At certain points in the story, these characters cross paths with one another. If you play Devil May Cry 5 online, when another character runs into whomever you're controlling, you'll be meeting another player. In some cases, this might just be seeing a player-controlled character run by in the background of the level. However, in some cases, you and another player will be fighting side-by-side and performing combos off of each other in the same battle. This will only happen in instances where it makes sense based on what's happening in the story, though.Capcom wants to ensure Devil May Cry 5 is still a single-player experience, so you won't encounter downtime or long loading screens if the game can't find another person for you to connect with. In cases where there are no other players to connect to--or you play offline--the game will use "ghost data gameplay recordings of the development team instead," writes Capcom in a blog post. After encountering another person, the game will ask you to rate the other player. Players with good rankings will unlock "useful rewards."Devil May Cry 5 is the first mainline entry in the series since 2008. Three playable characters and the cameo system aren't the only new additions that the game is bringing to the franchise, as Devil May Cry 5 features updated weapon systems and combat mechanics as well. There are a surprising number of callbacks to previous games in the franchise though, and Devil May Cry 5 continues the series' sense of style, action, and combo-heavy fights. We've compiled everything we know about the new game if you want to catch up on anything.Launching for Xbox One, PS4, and PC, Devil May Cry 5 releases on March 8, 2019. Devil May Cry 5 has a few different editions, which come with special bonuses if you pre-order the game.Info from Gamespot.com

Switch's inaugural year was packed with arguably some of the best games Nintendo has ever made. Heavy-hitters like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Super Mario Odyssey helped bring the console-handheld hybrid into the cultural consciousness, resulting in massive popularity and record-breaking sales. But when 2017 wrapped up, many wondered how the fan-favorite company could possibly follow up such a fantastic debut.Fortunately, you didn't need to look hard to find great Switch games in 2018. Nintendo delivered a wealth of new games in some of its most iconic franchises, like Super Smash Bros., Mario Party, Pokemon, and Kirby. These new first-party games were each fantastic in their own right, but the real star of the show this year was the Switch's substantial lineup of critically acclaimed indie games, which truly defined the console this year. With so many amazing games, there was more than enough to keep you busy--whether you were sitting on a couch playing at home or on the go. In no particular order, these are the five best Switch games of 2018.Dead Cells[Read the review]One look at Dead Cells and you might think it's just another indie metroidvania game, but don't let its 2D retro appearance fool you. Dead Cells elegantly blends the metroidvania, roguelike, and action genres for an experience that stands on its own. It's tough as nails, and you're likely to die hundreds of times in your journey to reach to the end, but that difficulty is precisely what'll keep bringing you back. It helps that Dead Cells is so brilliantly designed, with a progression system that carries over from run to run, making even your worst attempts worthwhile. The action is also refreshing and often unpredictable; you'll cross your fingers before each run hoping to get the right weapon and equipment allotments that'll push you past that boss you're stuck on. All the while, you'll race towards time-gated doors in the hopes of looting their spoils, so that you might level up further to better your odds of survival. Dead Cells always keeps you on your toes, killing you nearly every step of the way, but always compelling you to go on one more run.Celeste[Read the review]Celeste's merits lie in its ability to blend its poignant storytelling about mental illness with its unapologetically difficult platforming. The two are symbiotic, elevating each other in ways that bring the adventure to an incredible emotional high. You play as Madeline, who's on a self-imposed mission to climb Celeste mountain. While the journey starts simple by having you beat platforming challenges and gather optional collectibles, the game soon explores Madeline's mental health in ways that make each challenge you overcome gripping and profound. Celeste's heartfelt story will pull you in, while its platforming is an intricate high-speed dance that'll keep you busy for hours. It's a must play this year and one of the Switch's best.Into The Breach[Read the review]Into The Breach is deceptively simplistic in its approach to turn-based strategy. An 8x8 grid and the ability to see every enemy action before it occurs might seem like a turn-off for hardcore strategy fans in search of a challenge, but don't be fooled; the complexity and nuance of the tactics demanded here is right up there with the genre's best. Developed by the studio behind the critically acclaimed FTL, Into the Breach puts you in command of a time-travelling mech squad tasked with defending the Earth from giant monsters. However, the catch is the transparency of the action, with the details of every enemy attack being made available to you. The focus on foresight makes encounters empowering in their predictability yet tense and dynamic, as almost every tactical blunder that occurs could have been avoided with better planning. In addition, there's a remarkable diversity provided by the game's various unit types that each change your outlook of a battlefield. Regardless of whether you're a strategy fan or not, Into The Breach is a fantastic tactical journey that you should queue up to the top of your list.Super Smash Bros. Ultimate[Read the review]Super Smash Bros. Ultimate offers multiple under-the-hood changes that make it one of the most accessible and complex entries in the long-running Smash Bros. franchise. While subtle changes make it a joy to play, it's the game's "everything and the kitchen sink" approach to design that is its most endearing quality. Every character who has ever appeared in a Smash Bros. game is here, plus new additions. If you're a long-time fan, it's fantastic to see everyone across the series' history represented and playable. There's also a significant amount of single-player content available that pays homage to all the franchises that appear--a lovely bonus on top of the hundreds of hours you can spend in multiplayer. It's a wonder that Ultimate is able to include so much but not feel bloated in everything it refines and introduces. It's an all-encompassing collection of varied content and mechanics that'll keep you constantly coming back for more in 2018--and likely for several years thereafter.Pokemon Let's Go Pikachu / Let's Go Eevee[Read the review]Not many expected Pokemon Let's Go Pikachu and Let's Go Eevee to be as delightful as they are. After all, the upcoming mainline entry on Switch, which is set to release in 2019, always seemed to overshadow Let's Go's more beginner-focused approach. But it's Let's Go's accessibility and smart improvements to the series' established mechanics that truly makes the adventure shine. The Pokemon Go-style catching mechanics makes the world feel more lively and fun to explore, the removal of hidden moves and stronger direction through the world streamline the journey, and a better onboarding experience spares you from tedious tutorials. Fans of the series might be let down by the absence of more complex features from recent franchise entries, but don't let that stop you from playing Let's Go. It's a worthwhile adventure that pushes the Pokemon formula in exciting new directions, and it's one of the best RPGs on Switch this year.GameSpot will be unveiling our picks for the best games and entertainment of 2018 throughout December. Head to our Best of 2018 hub to see all the winners so far.Info from Gamespot.com

If you've been waiting for a sale to buy any PC games, you'll want to take a look at this. Fanatical is running its Winter Sale, which features big price drops on hundreds of games from all genres. And if you enter promo code FANATICAL10 at checkout, you'll get an additional 10% off nearly anything on the site. Most of the games come as Steam download codes, and the prices go back up at varying times between now and the end of the year. So if you see something you want, it's best to jump on it fast.Among the newer games on sale right now are Hitman 2 for $42 and Valkyria Chronicles 4 for $28. Hitman 2 offers a series of sandbox-style levels that let you explore, dress up in costumes, and showcase your creativity as you bring your targets to an untimely demise. Valkyria Chronicles 4 meshes turn-based strategy and RPG mechanics with real-time third-person shooting. They're both excellent games; check out our Hitman 2 review and Valkyria Chronicles 4 review for details.You can save even more money on games that came out just a few years ago. Batman: Arkham Asylum, City, Origins, and Knight are on sale for $5 each. Before diving into the new installment, you can brush up on Darksiders and Darksiders II with their remastered editions, both of which are priced under $5. Or you can get ready for the upcoming game Mortal Kombat 11 by picking up Mortal Kombat XL for $9.You'll find more of our picks below, or you can check out the full list of deals on Fanatical. More games will be going in and out of the sale in the coming days, so check back later if you don't find one you've been dying to play.Alien Isolation -- $10Batman: Arkham Asylum -- $5Batman: Arkham City -- $5Batman: Arkham Origins -- $5Batman: Arkham Knight -- $5Bayonetta & Vanquish Pack -- $13Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel -- $11Civilization VI -- $13Darksiders: Warmastered Edition -- $3Darksiders II: Deathinitive Edition -- $4.50Hitman 2 -- $42Homeworld Remastered Collection -- $9Injustice 2: Legendary Edition -- $24Lego Worlds -- $15Middle-earth: Shadow of War -- $12.50Mortal Kombat: Komplete Edition -- $5Mortal Kombat XL -- $9Ori and the Blind Forest Definitive Edition -- $10Puyo Puyo Tetris -- $12.50Red Faction: Guerrilla Remarstered -- $6.60Total War: Warhammer II -- $30Valkyria Chronicles: Remastered -- $6.40Valkyria Chronicles 4 -- $28Yakuza 0 -- $12Yooka-Laylee -- $8Info from Gamespot.com

It may not have been known at the time, but Japan (in July 2008) and North America (in December 2008) received what would be remembered as one of the greatest role-playing games ever made. Over the course of a decade, Persona 4 has become more than just an incredibly fun RPG with a refined battle system and quirky characters, though. A story about Japanese high school students confronting their worst fears, fighting for what's right, and becoming the best of friends spawned a lasting legacy that has empowered the people who played it and continually inspired new games. Our love for Persona 4 has kept it alive for so long with several fighting games, two anime adaptations, an adorable (and difficult) spin-off RPG, and even a rhythm game. And after 10 years, we're still seeing our good friends from Inaba in a new light.For the uninitiated, Persona 4's foundation closely resembles that of its predecessor, Persona 3. You're a transfer student new to a school surrounded by unusual circumstances; supernatural phenomena that endanger your new hometown is the crux to the overarching mystery. On a typical day, you go to class, do extracurricular activities, and try to grow closer to those around town and at school. Better yourself through hobbies or take on a part-time job, it's up to you how to pass the time. In particular, Persona 4 takes you to a fictional rural town of Inaba where the biggest thing to happen before your arrival was the opening of a Junes department store (think Super Walmart, but with an infectious jingle). Even your little cousin Nanako is utterly convinced that every day's great at your Junes, and begs you and her dad to take her there like it's the greatest place on earth.Sure sounds like all fun and games until you and your new friends become the centerpiece for a dark murder mystery and an absolutely perplexing world that lives behind TV screens. At first, it's not quite clear why outlandish versions of certain townsfolk inexplicably pop up on TV sets and go missing on rainy midnights. The one way to get to the bottom of this is to actually jump into a TV screen to enter the shadow world where you and your friends of the Investigation Team fight evil with makeshift weapons and the ability to summon powerful magical incarnations of your inner selves.Aha! Is this our chance? It's time for an All-Out Attack!While dungeon crawling and sneaking up on shadows through randomly generated floors make up the exploration, an intricate turn-based combat system is where you'll find excellence in gameplay. Most enemies have elemental weaknesses which factor into how you construct your party and devise a tactical approach. Sounds par for the course in an RPG, but the unique press-turn system that Shin Megami Tensei is known for shines brighter than it had previously by giving you full control to pull off flashy, effective attacks. Receiving a bonus attack after targeting a weakness before enemies get a turn is endlessly satisfying, especially as dungeons become inhabited by trickier, stronger shadows.A story about Japanese high school students confronting their worst fears, fighting for what's right, and becoming the best of friends spawned a lasting legacy that has empowered the people who played it and continually inspired new games.However, nothing in battle matches the joy of seeing your crew team up for the most adorable, yet devastating All-Out Attacks, a franchise staple. Everyone in the party piles on heavy damage that usually puts an end to the fight, and you sense their ferocity in character portraits that pop up just before everyone jumps in. A cloud of dust erupts as they whale on enemies, sometimes popping out of the chaos only to jump back in for another hit, and all you need to do is watch as they take care of business. If you're lucky, someone will offer a follow-up attack turn-free; and it should be taken as fact that nothing is as absurdly cute as Chie's galactic punt where she literally kicks an enemy into outer space (her kung fu DVDs really paid off). Even in battle, everyone's distinct personality isn't lost or put off to the side, which highlights Persona 4’s greatest accomplishment: its commitment to a relentless charm embodied by this cast of misfits.So effortlessly does Persona 4 merge the two pillars of a social simulation and traditional RPG; nothing feels disconnected, and how days are spent matters. These two realities feed into each other, and Igor--the series-long, omniscient owner of the ethereal Velvet Room--alludes to this up front: true strength is born from the bonds you form. The power of friendship is a prevalent trope in similar stories, but to have that power manifest as a tangible benefit in combat gives us further reason to invest in relationships. I call back to how Rise came in clutch to buff the party or cast healing during tough boss fights, or when Yukiko dealt the final blow casting Agidyne using her final-form persona with the last bit of SP: moments like these solidify the feeling that my companions really do have my back in times of need.Gas up your scooter 'cause we're going on a road trip!From the mother who wishes for acceptance from her stepson to your basketball teammate who finds it impossible to live up to his adopted family's legacy, these vignettes serve to tell very human stories. We help Nanako open up to her dad about his lack of presence and break through Uncle Dojima's hard-boiled temperament to reveal an empathetic father who constantly struggles with his wife's death and his job as a detective. In the end, a heartwarming father-daughter scene results in a newfound commitment to family. Other social links struck a more personal nerve.This cast harbors the painful secrets that so many teenagers and young adults repress, and it carries the perceptions and labels society puts upon them. These are the burdens everyone bears throughout Persona 4, but burdens that no one has to bear alone.When Yosuke overlooks Inaba, the town he once hated, and realizes that what makes him happy is the people he's surrounded by rather than big city glamour, I felt that. Even though Kanji maintains the tough guy attitude, he eventually embraces his sewing skills and love for cute plushies--as he began to handcraft toys for kids around town, I sensed a big, cathartic middle finger to societal expectations for masculinity. Naoto's strive for justice, as the genius detective, makes a firm statement against workplace gender discrimination. Life as an idol sure sounds great, until Rise decides she needs to walk away from stardom for her own sanity. As endearing as Chie's and Yukiko's friendship, their dynamic evolved and reached new heights after confronting their shadow-selves, leading to more open and honest relationship.This cast harbors the painful secrets that so many teenagers and young adults repress, and it carries the perceptions and labels society puts upon them. These are the burdens everyone bears throughout Persona 4, but burdens that no one has to bear alone. The TV world and Midnight Channel work not just as metaphors for the fear of what you think everyone sees in you, but to illustrate the sense of imprisonment and helplessness that's born from it. And by navigating the maze-like dungeons and crushing enemies, the crew breaks through obstacles to finally support each other in overcoming their monumental insecurities. Many of the game's pieces sound silly on paper, but they all come together to inspire you before you know it.When spread across 100+ hours of play-time, spanning an in-game calendar year, you're given room to breathe and let events, big and small, sink in. Moments of levity work alongside the more heartfelt revelations, which creates an ingenious balancing act. To its benefit, the game never takes itself too serious. Persona 4's greatness lies in its execution and presentation; story, gameplay, visual style, and its soundtrack all complement each other to elevate beyond the sum of its parts.Persona 4 wouldn't be the same game without the masterful composition of series composer Shoji Meguro. A collection of J-pop, J-rock, and catchy instrumentals make for incredible tracks on their own, but the right song at the right time elevates the emotional impact. As soon as I hear the brass horns start up for the track that plays during social links, I can't help but smile and sense the fun being had between characters. The boss battle theme of "I'll Face Myself" instills a feeling of danger, but also the determination to defeat your worst enemies. And the emblematic battle theme "Reach Out To The Truth" is such an uplifting song that brings back all my memories of this game. Sometimes I look outside my own house and "Heartbeat, Heartbreak" pops into my head on cloudy days and "Your Affection" when the sun shines. Music isn't relegated to just the background, and it cannot be overstated how evocative its soundtrack has been throughout the years.For all Persona 4's inspirational moments and pushes for social progressivism, we can't turn a blind eye to where it gets things wrong; to truly love something is to also recognize its flaws. By no means is it perfect when it comes to the portrayal of certain social groups and character conduct. Teddie himself exhibits unscrupulous behavior that can easily be interpreted as harassment, and it's never really confronted. Despite the personally uplifting story of Kanji, his sexual ambiguity is occasionally used as a punchline, and his shadow self can be seen as too over-the-top. Certain insensitive decisions can be made in relation to Naoto's struggle with gender identity; the interpretation of her character continues to be a point of contention to this day. And as time has gone on, the less amusing the cross-dressing pageant scene has become. To its credit, a Japanese game from 2008 was willing to explore subjects often seen as taboo; it misses the mark in critical moments, but there's value in its earnest effort. Regardless, some jokes weren't necessary to be humorous and it would've been much better without them.Despite all its absurdity, Persona 4 is grounded with thoughts and feelings that so accurately resemble our own; it's a human experience, one that many games aim for, but rarely come close to capturing.The sheer number of games that spawned afterward speaks to the love we've shared for this game. A PS Vita exclusive remaster, Persona 4 Golden, launched in 2012 as the definitive version; it refines core mechanics and includes a slew of meaningful additions. Along with new songs that perfectly fit the original soundtrack, Chie's new voice actress (Erin Fitzgerald) brought a whole new life into an already-beloved character and truly captured the spirit of Persona 4's best girl. A whole extra dungeon, an important new character, additional social link events, and new tag-team attacks round out Golden as the best version of an already-amazing game.An anime adaptation premiered in 2011, and another based on the remastered game released in 2014. Although it's difficult to capture an RPG in a condensed format, the anime offered a new way to experience the journey. Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth brought along our buddies from Persona 3 into the mix in a wonderfully executed dungeon crawler RPG on 3DS--it bursts with charm as chibi versions of these two beloved casts band together to fight evil and have a good time. I'd also say Q features the best introductory theme and video in all the franchise. If the fan service wasn't already good enough, Persona 4: Dancing All Night leveraged the beautiful soundtrack for a delightful (and admittedly ridiculous) rhythm game--hearing my favorite songs remastered and remixed is a real treat. If all that wasn't enough, Persona Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth recently launched in Japan, a 3DS follow-up to the RPG spin-off that unites the Phantom Thieves of Persona 5 with everyone else; there's currently no word on a North American release, however. BlazBlue Cross Tag Battle brings back our friends at Yasogami High to meet the casts of BlazBlue, Under Night, and RWBY.Persona lends itself so well to fighting games that Arc System Works took up creating a 2D fighter in Persona 4 Arena, which remained true to both the developer's fighting game philosophy and the spirit of the source material. Persona 4 Arena Ultimax built on that foundation even further. And just this year, ArcSys circled back on Persona 4 by crossing worlds with BlazBlue, Under Night In-Birth, and RWBY in BlazBlue Cross Tag Battle. Each of these fighters introduced new characters and storylines, and were included in the fighting game community's biggest stages. Rarely, if ever, does a single entry in a larger franchise spin off in so many different directions, but thankfully, it's helped keep our Persona 4 love alive all these years later.After becoming personally invested in their journey that started it all and pouring so much time into seeing them grow, it was genuinely hard to say goodbye as the credits rolled and the ending theme "Never More" began to play. In the decade since the original game, we were fortunate to see the charming crew of knuckleheads time and time again in so many different games. It's almost silly to think that fictional Japanese high school students could empower us to be better, but Persona 4 has given me, and countless others, boundless joy and also an opportunity for self-reflection. Yes, I played an incredible RPG, but what I saw was a group of best friends pulling for each other to become stronger people and make the world a better place. Despite all its absurdity, Persona 4 is grounded with thoughts and feelings that so accurately resemble our own; it's a human experience, one that many games aim for, but rarely come close to capturing.Info from Gamespot.com

Treyarch has been rolling out a regular stream of updates for Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 since the game launched this past October, but its biggest one yet is set to arrive this week. On December 11, the developer is releasing Operation Absolute Zero, a free series of content updates that includes a new playable character, daily Zombies missions, a revamp of the Black Market, and more.Operation Absolute Zero will arrive first on PS4, with a PC and Xbox One release set to follow a little later. Among other things, it'll introduce a brand-new Specialist to the mix: Zero. She'll be available to use in both multiplayer and Blackout mode once players unlock her by completing tier 1 in the new Black Market, and she can "disrupt and distract enemies with powerful hacking tools."Operation Absolute Zero will also bring a new location to the Blackout map: Hijacked. Treyarch says the area is inspired by the classic map from Black Ops II. The developer is also added a new armored vehicle to the battle royale mode called the ARAV. Zombies mode, meanwhile, will receive Daily Callings, new daily challenges that players can complete to earn XP and Nebulium Plasma.On top of that, Operation Absolute Zero will revamp the Black Market. Treyarch says that progression will be "simpler and more rewarding" following the update, and it'll introduce "new types of content that have been commonly requested from the community." Moreover, the developer is adding a new Assault Rifle and a "fast-firing" SMG to the Contraband stream pool.Shortly after the update, Treyarch is kicking off a holiday event in Black Ops 4, beginning first on PS4 on December 13. The developer is introducing seasonal Special Event tiers and decorations to Blackout mode as part of the event, while Zombies mode will get the limited-time Winter Calling event, which gives players a chance to earn new "seasonal personalization rewards." You can read more details about Operation Absolute Zero on Treyarch's official website.Info from Gamespot.com

After several delays and a change in distribution company, Andy Serkis's Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle is now out on Netflix. And it's now clear why it didn't get a theatrical release: As stunning and well directed as this adaptation of The Jungle Book is, there is no way parents would have allowed their kids to see this. Andy Serkis was crazy to make a gritty and bloody adaptation, and it is insane that it was rated PG-13, but that’s exactly what makes this version entertaining. Prepare for a whole new generation to be traumatized by what looks like a children's movie.From the opening scene, Mowgli wants us to know this will not be the sweet, funny, sing-along version of the tale you’re used to. We begin with the brutal murder of Mowgli's parents at the claws of the man-eating tiger Shere Khan (Benedict Cumberbatch, playing an even more evil version of Smaug the dragon). You thought Khan throwing that wolf over a cliff in Jon Favreau's version was unexpectedly dark? Well how about a tiger jumping at a frightened family and then mauling the mother to death? Worst yet, the murder occurs just barely off-screen to maintain a PG-13 rating, but then when the black panther Bagheera (Christian Bale) finds Mowgli, he's bathed in the blood of his dead mother. This culminates in a brutal battle that challenges Mowgli's moral compass, as the film skips the use of fire and goes straight to a ferocious showdown between a tiger and a knife-wielding child. Nothing says kid-friendly like a knife fight!From there, any similarity with the previous adaptations is just a bare necessity, as we still get to follow Mowgli's struggle to fit in as a wolf, being bullied by his pack for being different and hanging out with the panther and the bear who talk. Oh, and the kidnapping monkeys are also here, but instead of a jazz number, they try to kill Bagheera and Baloo. Speaking of, this Baloo (voiced by Andy Serkis) has no intention of singing and relaxing by the river, as he is a horribly scarred and droopy-mouthed drill sergeant who mumbles every word like he's drunk. Bale's Bagheera also gets a new backstory that reflects Mowgli's journey, but like everything else in the movie, it's so grim that any children who witness it will likely never want to go to the zoo again.Where Disney's live-action version emphasized Mowgli's humanity and how it made him special, Andy Serkis and first-time screenwriter Callie Kloves make it a point to show you that Mowgli (wonderfully played by Rohan Chand) doesn't belong with either man or wolf. For the first half-hour, he only walks on all fours, which makes him slower than all the other wolves in his class (Baloo is also a teacher for the cubs) and puts him at risk of expulsion from jungle school.Kloves not only shows the dark side of the characters, but most specifically the serial killer in everyone. In a disturbing scene, we see Bagheera training Mowgli to hunt, telling him to show respect to his victim by staring straight into its eyes as the soul departs the body. Oh, and the man-eating tiger? He's not only obsessed with killing the man cub before he grows to be a fire-wielding man, but wants to straight up mutilate him. Shere Khan taunts Mowgli by repeatedly telling him how he wants to drink his blood--"The man cub's blood will run down my chin!"--and how he loved the taste of his mother's blood.Andy Serkis proves he's not only adept at doing motion-capture, but he's also determined to push the limits of technology to tell a story. He moves the camera in impossible angles, down cliffs and through caves. One highlight of the film involves Mowgli hiding in a lake, before looking up at the surface to find a blood-soaked Khan, as the water he drinks turns crimson red. Unfortunately, Serkis pushes too far into showing the performances from his cast of A-list actors. Not only does the CGI often dive into "uncanny valley" territory of real-but-not-quite with the facial animation, but the landscapes look rough at times. The weakest part of Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle is that it must follow the established plot points we already know by heart. While the tone and some of the characterizations are different enough to justify the retelling, it isn't until the 1-hour mark (Mowgli going to the human village) that the film finally shines and proves that it has something new to say. After Mowgli gets to the village, he befriends a British hunter played by Matthew Rhys, who was hired to hunt down Shere Khan. While the rest of the village teaches him about local traditions, dance and food, the hunter teaches him how to throw a knife. While we have seen previous adaptations dealing with Mowgli being a bridge between two world, this film truly shows us both worlds colliding, and how exactly Mowgli connects and saves both. If only the script had dived into this earlier instead of waiting until the last 40 minutes.It is baffling that this version of Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle ever got made. It is insane that the film got a PG-13 rating. It is mind-blowing that this is actually getting released. But here we are. This film takes too long to get going, and has some uncanny CGI. But it's also a brutal retelling of a classic story that shows just how dangerous the world is, and how you have to be the same if you want to survive.The GoodThe BadAndy Serkis's directingTakes a while to truly shineStrong performances by Rohan Chand and the A-list castPlot often feels familiarInsanely brutal and violent fight scenesUncanny CGIAn elephant gets revenge against a poacher Best "Khaaaaan" cry since 1982 Info from Gamespot.com

From the accounts of its creators, Atlas is an absolutely sprawling game. It's a survival game. It's an MMO. It's a pirate fantasy with a ton of sailing. It's a government simulator with real-time character aging. It has full support for drawing your own pirate flag and painting your boat, which you construct plank by plank.Listening to Jeremy Stieglitz, Atlas's director, talk about the game, the amount of stuff that you can do becomes overwhelming. Following the game's reveal at The Game Awards 2018, Stieglitz told GameSpot about what players can expect in the game, which launches in early access on December 13. It might be quicker to talk about what the developers aren't planning on putting in the MMO than what they are.Developer Grapeshot Games is a spin-off team of Studio Wildcard, the developer of Ark: Survival Evolved, borrowing its co-creative directors Stieglitz and Jesse Rapczak, and others who worked on Ark. So it's no surprise that Atlas borrows a lot from Ark as well, refining and adding onto many of its systems and ideas. But as Stieglitz said, Atlas is more MMO with survival game elements than the other way around."One thing we like about Ark is the emergent gameplay aspects--what happens when you get a lot of players together and they start doing things that you don't expect," he continued. "So we figured, okay, if you get interesting scenarios with a hundred players, what will happen if you got thousand players, or 10,000, or when we ultimately did the math, 40,000, into the same world and have them all interact in ways we don't predict? And we think that is frightening for us as developers, but also really exciting, and so with Atlas we've tried to construct systems that facilitate those kinds of emergent gameplay behaviors."A Fantasy Ocean WorldYou can play Atlas in both first- and third-person, and the MMO side means that there will be quests and objectives for you to complete, Stieglitz said. You play as a Pathfinder, a descendant of a magical realm that formerly existed in the world of Atlas."As a so-called Pathfinder, you are the heir to this legacy--it's actually a fantasy world," Stieglitz explained. "I would say it kind of takes a page from Game of Thrones, where it's like similar aesthetics to real history, but its own fantasy background and magic, and history of the world. And so essentially [the players] are all descendants of the guardians of this magic power from the old world, and that world actually existed in the sky hundreds and hundreds of years ago."And then a war happened, and all the continents that were floating the sky, powered by magic, essentially exploded, and created all these islands in the water world that existed below. And hundreds of years after that catastrophe, people are starting to branch out again and explore the reformed world on the water."That magic power probably explains the Game Awards trailer, which showed a world not only filled with other people, but also fantasy creatures like dragons and krakens. There will be other animals you can find, tame, and breed around the world, too.Surviving The SeasSo Atlas will have a more traditional MMO questing base, with an overarching story about special people searching after special power. But there's also the survival side of things, inspired greatly by Ark, that pushes you to explore the world of Atlas and start to take it over. As Stieglitz explained, there are a whole lot of systems in Atlas that are aimed at encouraging players to interact, cooperate, and make each other miserable.The biggest extension of yourself is your ship. Once you build your first vessel, most of your time will be spent exploring the world and becoming more powerful so you can create bigger, better ships. You can also steal ships from other players--after all, this is a game about being a pirate. You'll also need a crew, whether one of other players, or AI-controlled sailors."You can actually have AI crew [members] that you can command around your ship," Stieglitz explained. "One of the things we noticed in other games--well, other games being Sea of Thieves--is it wasn't really easy to play by yourself because you had to do every single thing on the ship yourself. And so that kind of limited the scope of the game for small groups of players or a single player. So we made it possible to recruit AI crew who you have to pay in gold and you have to feed, or they'll mutiny. They don't always do exactly what you tell them to do for now, but you can basically put them on your boat at various stations, whether its sails or cannons. And then if you get into the captain's wheel you can issue them orders or you can even like control them en masse."Banding TogetherAs you explore the world and lay claims to the lands you discover, you'll be able to set up structures, and those will be things other players can steal as well, just like your ship--although Stieglitz said that since your ship and your territory essentially make up your in-game life, they'll be difficult and time-consuming to capture. Don't expect to be boarded and then marooned on deserted islands every few minutes as you play.There might be a bigger incentive to work alongside others, in groups called companies, than to plunder other players, though. As your territory expands, you'll be able to control it with NPCs to defend it, and you can even set up taxes and laws for other players who use your territory. Stieglitz said the biggest, most powerful territories and the companies who control them will be featured on a world map on the Atlas website, which may well incentivize other companies to band together to take them on. It's all about creating chances for emergent, unpredictable gameplay interactions."We don't just want the game it feel like it static, where everything is always the same all the time," he said. "We want the world to start having its own internal history that the players build."There are lots of other systems at play in Atlas, so much so that it seems nearly impossible to balance it all."That's what early access is for, hee hee hee," Stieglitz laughed. "You get the best testing and balance feedback you could ever have when you have a hundreds of thousands of people tell you their opinion. You just have to find a way to kind of synthesize that into some actual outcome, but it is very useful--it's the only way to do it." Info from Gamespot.com

The Lord of the Rings director Peter Jackson initially said he was not involved with Amazon's billion-dollar show based on J.R.R. Tolkien's epic fantasy series. But now, the Oscar-winning director said he may have some hand to play after all, if only in a consulting capacity.Speaking to Metro, Jackson said he expects the writers of the new Amazon Lord of the Rings show to send Jackson and writing partner/producer Philippa Boyens some scripts for them to look over and potentially help out with. But Jackson and Boyens have not been involved with Amazon's Lord of the Rings series as of yet because they've been deep at work on the new movie Mortal Engines, which they wrote alongside another Lord of the Rings veteran, Fran Walsh."I think they are going to send us some scripts when they have some scripts written, and see if we can figure out a way to help them or not," Jackson said. "It's not something we can jump in and get involved in, because we're obviously busy with [Mortal Engines]. We don't have any time."Jackson added: "They've been getting scripts written--until we see the scripts we won't really know. But whatever, I wish them all the best. And if we can help them we certainly will try to figure out a way, but it's a big task."For her part, Boyens stated that it's probably for the best that Jackson and Boyens are not directly involved with Amazon's new show. It's important for Amazon's show to be written by people who have "fresh eyes," she said. The show's writers are JD Payne and Patrick McKay; they have no previous TV writing credits, but neither did Game of Thrones writers D.B. Weiss and David Benioff before they wrote that show, and that seemed to work out pretty well.Payne and McKay have been writing partners since high school when they were on the debate team together. In addition to the Lord of the Rings show, they are writing the upcoming Star Trek 4 and the new Jungle Cruise movie for Disney.Jackson and Boyens both won the Oscar for Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay for The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King, so it makes sense that the writers of the new Lord of the Rings show would seek their input, even if it's only in an advisory capacity.The new Amazon Lord of the Rings show is based on Tolkien's acclaimed body of fantasy writing. Amazon is making multiple seasons of the show, which will be produced in partnership with the Tolkien Estate, HarperCollins, and New Line Cinema.Little is known about the story for Amazon's Lord of the Rings show, but it's been confirmed that it's set in Middle-earth and will "explore new storylines" in the time before The Fellowship of the Ring.One of the storylines in Season 1 could involve a young Aragorn. Given his age, it's also possible that Gandalf could show up, but this is only speculation.Per the reported terms of the agreement between Amazon and Lord of the Rings rights-holders, the show must enter production within two years, so we're expecting more news soon.Info from Gamespot.com

Season 7 of Fortnite kicked off with the release of the big 7.00 patch last week, and now the second update of the season is on the way. Developer Epic Games confirmed that Fortnite's 7.01 update is scheduled to roll out for all platforms--PS4, Xbox One, PC, Nintendo Switch, and mobile--tomorrow, December 11, and it looks like it'll introduce a new type of weapon to the game.The official Fortnite Twitter account confirmed that the new update is scheduled to go live Tuesday morning at 2 AM PT / 5 AM ET / 10 AM GMT. Epic hasn't revealed what will be added to the game in the new patch, but the announcement tweet teases players to "keep sharp," referencing the newly unveiled sword that's on the way.Epic introduces new weapons and items to Fortnite on a regular basis, but most of those have come in the form of guns or traps, making the recently teased sword the first of its kind in the battle royale game. This also makes it clear that the developer plans to keep up Fortnite's impressive weekly update schedule, despite the new Block area providing a good opportunity to slow down updates.A number of big changes were made to Fortnite in Season 7. Epic added a new arctic region to the game's ever-changing map, as well as Fortnite's first aerial vehicle: the X-4 Stormwing plane. The developer also introduced a ton of new rewards to unlock through the Season 7 Battle Pass, among them additional pets and Wraps, a type of cosmetic that can be applied to weapons and vehicles to customize their look.Fortnite's second set of Season 7 challenges are slated to arrive on December 13. In the meantime, you can still complete Week 1's challenges, which include dancing in forbidden locations and dancing on a crown of RVs. You can find tips on how to complete them in our Fortnite Season 7 challenges roundup.Info from Gamespot.com

Activision is losing one of its most senior Call of Duty developers. Glen Schofield, who co-founded the Activision-owned Sledgehammer Games in 2009, is leaving Activision at the end of the month. In a statement posted on Twitter, Schofield said he's enjoyed a "great run" at Activision, but said he now wants to "try something new." Schofield and Sledgehammer's other founder Michael Condrey left the studio in February for new jobs at Activision HQ.He's taking some time off to rest and relax before jumping into "something else exciting." He didn't share any details on what he might be up to next.Schofield told GameSpot that he thinks he still has "a couple good games" to make, so you can bet his next gig will be in game development. "I have nothing but good things to say about my time at Activision," he said. "After nine years of CoD (which I love), I just think I need a change. I seriously am going to take my time finding my next gig. Make sure it's exactly what I want to do. I still have a couple good games in me."According to his LinkedIn page, Schofield got his start in gaming at the now-defunct Absolute Entertainment, where he served as its Art Director from 1991-1994 for Atari 2600 and NES titles. In 1996, he joined Crystal Dynamics as its vice president and executive producer. At that company he worked on a range of titles, including Soul Reaver, the licensed game 101 Dalmatians: Puppies to the Rescue, GEX 2, and more, before leaving in 2002. After Crystal Dynamics, Schofield moved to Electronic Arts where he worked on as the company's general manager of the now-shuttered Visceral Games label. One of his biggest credits there is Dead Space, which he created; he was also the executive producer for licensed games including The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King and James Bond: From Russia With Love.He left EA in 2009 and founded Sledgehammer alongside Michael Condrey the same year. He served as a game director and chief creative officer at Sledgehammer where he worked on Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare, and most recently, Call of Duty: WWII. He also contributed to Sledgehammer's canceled Call of Duty Vietnam War game, which unlike the previous games, would have used a third-person perspective. Sledgehammer stopped working on the game to help finish Modern Warfare 3, after Activision fired Infinity Ward's Vince Zampella and Jason West.Writing on Twitter back in November, Schofield teased a new project that he wasn't allowed to talk about. It seems likely he was referring to a new game, but Schofield also does a lot of artwork, too. Given that Schofield was promoted to a new VP of Development position at Activision HQ, the project he was teasing theoretically could have been anything from Activision, and not necessarily the next game from Sledgehammer. The Call of Duty series is on a three-year, three-studio development schedule, so Sledgehammer's next game isn't expected until 2020.Still under the cone of silence but what I’m working on is pretty freaking cool! Hope it sees the light of day. It’s special. — Glen A. Schofield (@GlenSchofield) November 11, 2018We've reached out to Schofield to see if he has any further comment regarding his departure from Activision and what he might do next. Condrey remains at Activision. Info from Gamespot.com

Capcom has been supporting its hit action RPG, Monster Hunter World, with a steady stream of updates and events since the game's launch earlier this year, and it appears there's still a lot more in store for it in 2019. In addition to the surprise Witcher 3 collaboration and the game's first major expansion, Capcom has announced it will hold a special anniversary event for Monster Hunter World early next year.The Appreciation Fest is slated to take place in January 2019. Capcom hasn't shared many details about the event yet, but it will feature a variety of new and returning quests to take part in, as well as new equipment to earn. As with other seasonal events, the Gathering Hub will also be decked out with special decorations during the event. You can take a peek at how it'll look below.Also coming in early 2019 is the aforementioned Witcher collaboration event, which will bring the Witcher himself, Geralt of Rivia, into the New World. Capcom says that players will "get to utilize his signature fighting style" to take on an assortment of Witcher-inspired quests. According to the publisher, these quests will "offer a unique gameplay experience blending RPG mechanics of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt with Monster Hunter World's game systems."Then, in Fall 2019, Capcom will release Iceborne, the first major expansion for Monster Hunter World. This "massive" update will introduce a wealth of new content to the game, including new quest ranks, environments, monsters, and gear to craft. The expansion will also feature a new storyline that takes place following the ending of the base game.In the meantime, you still have a little more time to take part in the ongoing Winter Star Fest. The winter event is slated to end on December 17. Capcom is also bringing the Kulve Taroth Siege back on December 20. This time, it'll feature a more challenging Arch-Tempered version of the monster that'll offer even better rewards.Info from Gamespot.com