The Game Awards show is imminent, and we've already seen developers teasing big announcements for the event. The show will boast ten new game announcements along with updates on current games, alongside the awards. But while some companies like Obsidian are eager to tease that they'll be showing new wares, others have taken the opportunity to set expectations by stating they definitely won't.Rocksteady has announced it won't be showing its next game at the show, and also took a moment to dispel some persistent rumors about what that next game actually is. Game director Sefton Hill wrote that the team is looking forward to the show, but they're "still hard at work in [their] development bunker." He ended the statement by flatly stating, "Spoiler: it's not Superman." That marks the first time the studio has openly addressed the rumors that it is working on a Superman game to follow its acclaimed Batman: Arkham series.CD Projekt Red, by comparison, has already announced its next game: Cyberpunk 2077. However, to stave off expectations that we'd get a fresh look at the award show, community lead Marcin Momot said on Twitter that it won't be sharing any new details.Similarly, Naughty Dog has stepped forward to state that The Last of Us 2 won't be appearing at The Game Awards either. This one seemed the most likely of any, because we already know the game is relatively close. Given that Sony bowed out of a PlayStation Experience event this year, the Game Awards seemed like the next most likely venue for another look at the anticipated sequel.We do know that we'll see Obsidian's next game, a Far Cry announcement, and an update for Fortnite at the show. The Game Awards starts at 8:30 PM ET / 5:30 PM PT / 1:30 AM GMT (Friday) / 12:30 PM AET (Friday). You can watch live right here on GameSpot. In the meantime, check out the full list of nominees.Info from Gamespot.com

PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds started out as an early-access PC game before coming to Xbox One last year for a period of console exclusivity. That period is officially coming to an end, because PUBG is set to release for PlayStation 4 on December 7. It took a while, but better late than never.The PS4 version will include most of the content the other versions contain, although custom matches and event mode will be arriving later. Publisher PUBG Corp. also notes that "map and mode selection will be turned on after servers fill up to a suitable population that can support these features." You can find more details on the PUBG PS4 FAQ.If you're a PS4 owner who's been jonesing to see what all the fuss is about with this blockbuster battle royale game, you might be wondering where you can get it and what bonus goodies you can expect. Read on, and all your questions will be answered.Pre-Order BonusPre-order PUBG for PlayStation 4, and you'll get some Naughty Dog digital goodies: a Nathan Drake outfit from Uncharted and Ellie's backpack from The Last of Us.Pre-Order PUBG PS4 Disc EditionThis version comes with the pre-order bonuses listed above, and it comes on a disc.Buy from Amazon -- $30Buy from Best Buy -- $30Buy from GameStop -- $30Buy from Newegg -- $30Buy from Target -- $30Pre-Order PUBG PS4 Digital EditionsLooter's EditionSony is offering three digital editions of the game on PSN. The Looter's Edition is the standard edition. Although the game description states it comes with "unknown avatar," it seems safe to assume that means it will come with the Uncharted and Last of Us cosmetic items detailed above. It also comes with a PS4 theme based on the game's Miramar map.Buy the Looter's Edition -- $30_____________________Survivor's EditionThe Survivor's Edition costs an additional $20, and includes everything from the Looter's Edition, as well as the Vikendi Event Pass, 2,300 G-Coins, and 20,000 BP.Buy the Survivor's Edition -- $50_____________________Champion's EditionThe Champion's Edition costs $10 more than the Survivor's Edition and comes with all the same items, except it includes 6,000 G-Coins rather than 2,300.Buy the Champion's Edition -- $60_____________________Info from Gamespot.com

Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice was a huge surprise in June when it was revealed on stage at Microsoft's E3 2018 press conference. A From Software Game? Set in 1500s Sengoku Japan? Without "Souls" in the title?Despite the surprises, Sekiro appears to similar to From's previous work in a number of ways. It's a third-person action-adventure RPG, for a start, with a similar combat system to the company's portfolio that includes hit games like Dark Souls and Bloodborne. Shadows Die Twice adds a few new features to the fan-favorite formula, the most notable of which is the ability resurrect yourself after death. This ability will be limited, so you can't just keep resurrecting forever, however it can also be used to your advantage. Allow yourself to be killed and enemies will walk away, pleased with their success, opening themselves up for you to come back to life and stab them in the back.Sword combat has received a few changes by incorporating both Prosthetic Tools, such as the Grappling Hook, and special Sword Arts to supplement regular attacks. Stealth will also play a part, with the player able to skulk around quietly and perform lethal sneak attacks. Without further ado, then, let's get into everything we know about Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice.Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice Release Date And Collector's EditionActivision announced Sekiro's release date for PS4, Xbox One, and PC at Gamescom in August 2018. The game will launch on March 22, 2019, accompanied by the release of a collector's edition. That special version comes with the full game, a steelbook case, a 7" shinobi statue, art book, physical map, digital soundtrack, and replica game coins.Does Sekiro Have Multiplayer?From's recent games have included a form of multiplayer in which other players can join your game and help or hinder your progress. Sekiro, on the other hand, will not include any way of interacting with other players."This title is designed, from the beginning, to be a single-player experience," From Software's Yasuhiro Kitao said at E3. "As a part of that, one of the focuses of the game is, instead of having a choice between various classes from the beginning, you must play as a ninja. As a result, [the team] has really been able to focus in on what those mechanics are and make them as deep as possible."When GameSpot asked if this means there is no multiplayer of any kind in Shadows Die Twice, Kitao was unequivocal in his answer. "Yes. No online components."Does Sekiro Have Difficulty Options? Will It Be As Hard As Dark Souls?Demon's Souls, Dark Souls, and Bloodborne are famed for their difficulty, with ultra-hard bosses and infrequent checkpoints providing a tough challenge for players. This led to some players asking for From's games to include difficulty options, but the developer has declined that particular request for Sekiro."We don't want to include a difficulty selection because we want to bring everyone to the same level of discussion and the same level of enjoyment," director hidetaka Miyazaki told GameSpot earlier this year. "So we want everyone … to first face that challenge and to overcome it in some way that suits them as a player."The creator continued: "We want everyone to feel that sense of accomplishment. We want everyone to feel elated and to join that discussion on the same level. We feel if there's different difficulties, that's going to segment and fragment the user base. People will have different experiences based on that [differing difficulty level]. This is something we take to heart when we design games. It's been the same way for previous titles and it's very much the same with Sekiro."Finally, Miyazaki said Sekiro is "probably even more challenging than previous From games." This is gonna be a tough one.Where Does Sekiro Fit In With Demon's Souls, Dark Souls, And Bloodborne?Despite the similarities between Sekiro and From's previous games, the developer insists this is an entirely separate entity. "Sekiro was not designed as an evolution of Soulsborne, of the Souls series," series creator and Sekiro director Hidetaka Miyazaki told GameSpot. "It was designed from the ground up, from scratch, as an entirely new concept, as a new game. So we don't know if you'd call this an evolution of the series in this sense."The director continued: "Of course with Sekiro, we don't intend to disappoint or turn away fans of previous From Software games, that core fan base. We want to keep the challenge. We want to keep that core experience very much intact for those people."Where Can I Pre-Order Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice?Pre-orders for Sekiro are now live in a bunch of different outlets. Check out our full US pre-order guide for Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice for the rundown, including details on that collector's edition.Info from Gamespot.com

There has never been a movie quite like Avengers: Infinity War, and there likely will never be one again. The culmination of ten years of shared universe world building by Marvel Studios, the movie was touted as the "biggest crossover event in history" for good reason--it brought together the casts of no less than six individual franchises from every corner of the MCU, boasting a roster of A-list actors so massive it necessitated a "class photo" style shoot that only barely managed to cram everyone into frame.But beyond its scope and scale, Infinity War also represented something fans of the MCU have been desperately craving for years: payoff. After first being teased in The Avengers back in 2012, Infinity War's big bad, Thanos (Josh Brolin), finally made his real deal cinematic debut, and brought with him the weight of six whole years of anticipation. A masterclass in slow burn narratives coming to explosive boiling points, Infinity War was at once a love letter to the MCU's legions of devoted fans and a bold, unprecedented act of experimentation in filmmaking and franchise building--not only because it was huge and not only because it managed to wrangle an appropriately comic book event sized cast, but because it dared to deviate from Marvel's carefully crafted "the good guys always win" mold in a way that some might even call traumatic.Turns out, we've had good reason to be anxious about Thanos's arrival for all these years--and for as bleak as Infinity War's last shot may have been, it was still oh so worth it.Infinity War managed to take the disparate pieces of Marvel's scattered lore and, against all odds, blend them into one cohesive unit, plucking the humor and irreverence of comedies like Thor: Ragnarok and Guardians of the Galaxy with the high-stakes action of thrillers like Captain America: Civil War and Black Panther. And it did so with the unselfconscious ease of something that knew exactly what it was--there was no time wasted in trying to re-familiarize viewers with who and what they were watching. The movie just expected its audiences to be already up to date. This was a movie with some serious prerequisite reading--which, in any other franchise, probably would have been frustrating. But here, in the MCU, it only managed to make a decade (or more) of fandom feel worth it. It was dense, sure, and packed to the brim with plotlines to track and characters to follow, but it managed to never feel bloated or stagnant.In our review, we singled out the unlikely balance Infinity War managed to strike with it's gargantuan cast. "Incredibly, Infinity War actually manages to do every single one of these characters justice. Some of them only get a few lines in the movie, or just a couple of awesome shots during a huge battle, but that's understandable. The fact that Infinity War actually feels like a well-balanced movie, with time for small, emotional moments between characters in addition to the multiple budget-breaking battles, is undeniably impressive." And it's not just that balance that makes Infinity War stand out--it's the fact that it manage to strike that balance, all while ostensibly focusing on a villain who had, prior to this movie, only lurked in the shadows. Make no mistake: Infinity War is Thanos's movie, the same way movies like Iron Man or Captain America belong to Tony Stark or Steve Rogers, it's as much his origin as it is everything else. The potential for things to go off the rails for that fact alone--the juggling act required to both build up and sell what amounts to be a brand new character in a believable way, while simultaneously showcasing an entire roster of tried and true fan favorites--was so high the fact that the movie came together at all, let alone that it managed to be good, is nothing short of miraculous.It really has all been leading to this. Ten years, eighteen plus films, and the tireless dedication of both fans and filmmakers alike coming together to make a movie experience unlike anything else 2018 had to offer.What do you think was the best movie of the year? Do you agree or disagree with our decision? Let us know in the comments below, then check out our lists of the 10 best TV shows of 2018, the best streaming services we used in 2018, and the best Netflix exclusives of 2018. Info from Gamespot.com

This was truly a year ruled over by horror and, for our money, it got no better than the Netflix original series The Haunting of Hill House. This adaptation of the 1959 novel elevated horror in a way rarely seen on TV, where cable is loaded with shows like The Walking Dead and American Horror Story. What's more, it took horror to a place not unlike films like Hereditary and A Quiet Place, showing just how far this genre can be stretched.While it utilized jump scared to keep viewers on the edge of their seat, The Haunting of Hill House spent its 10 episodes building immeasurable amounts of tension and sympathy as we watched this tale of a family being ripped apart by a force stronger than they were collectively. On the surface, this is a show about the Crain family, a couple and their children who spent a portion of their lives living in a haunted house. That's truly just the beginning, though.Because this isn't a haunted house show, as much as the title might lead you to believe it is. This is a family drama. Yes, it's loaded with horrific scares and some truly disturbing imagery, but The Haunting of Hill House never forgets that the through line of the series is the Crain family and the trauma they continue to experience--and inflict on each other as a result of it--long after they've left the titular home. Watching this show, it's hard not to feel distraught over what life in Hill House have done to the Crain children and how they continue to inform them as adults. Then, when the old house of spirits comes calling again, it's a waking nightmare for each of them.It's not just the story that makes The Haunting of Hill House stand out, though. The casting of the adult Crain children--and the young actors who play them as kids--is remarkable. It's easy to see not only a family resemblance in all of them, but also similarities between the adults and their kid counterparts.Another impressive creative choice comes in the sixth episode, which is set almost entirely in a funeral home. In it, there is a continuous 17-minute tracking shot that goes throughout the mortuary--and even into Hill House--without breaking away once. In this one shot, viewers are shown each individual member of the Crain family present as they grieve the loss of one of their own. It's an incredibly ambitious and impressive feat. And as creator Mike Flanagan has explained, it certainly was no easy task. In the end, though, regardless of how good the cast is or how stellar the directing, cinematography, and camera work turned out, the only thing that's going to hook viewers into The Haunting of Hill House is the Crain family themselves. This is a show that lives and dies on their story. That's why an episode like "The Bent Neck Lady" can rip your heart out and leave you in a ball of tears that have nothing to do with horror. Instead, you're just devastated as you realize that, for some in the Crain clan, all hope is lost.That's a stunning realization that even some of the best shows on TV wouldn't be able to tackle as effectively as Hill House. Yet this series carries it out almost flawlessly, leaving you wanting more from the story of the Crain family of Hill House, but realizing there's no more of their story to tell.Still, while this one season of TV may be all viewers see of the Crain family, there is plenty of incentive to watch Hill House again. The drama may be what engages you during your first time through, but it's the horror Easter eggs that will have you coming back for more. Whether you realize it or not, the ghosts of Hill House were hiding in plain sight all along, and a second watch of the series should show you just how scary life in that creepy old house was.What do you think was the best show of the year? Do you agree or disagree with our decision? Let us know in the comments below, then check out our lists of the 10 best movies of 2018, the best streaming services we used in 2018, and the best Netflix exclusives of 2018. Info from Gamespot.com

One of the benefits you get for subscribing to the Nintendo Switch Online service is access to a growing library of classic NES games. Nintendo has been rolling out new titles for the service every month since it launched this past September, and now the company has confirmed that another batch of titles is scheduled to arrive next week.Three more classic NES games are coming to the service on Wednesday, December 12. This month's lineup consists of the falling block puzzle game Wario's Woods, the notoriously challenging sidescroller Ninja Gaiden, and the puzzle adventure game Adventures of Lolo. You can take a look at them in the trailer below.This marks the third batch of NES games that Nintendo has added to the service since it launched. October's update brought NES Open, Super Dodge Ball, and Solomon's Key to the library, while Metroid, TwinBee, and Mighty Bomb Jack arrived in November. With December's additions, there are now 30 NES games available on Switch.On top of the three new titles added each month, every batch of NES games thus far has come with an additional surprise: a special save data for a game in the library. In October, Nintendo added a version The Legend of Zelda that gives players access to Link's entire arsenal of weapons and a ton of Rupees from the outset, while November's update brought a special save of Gradius that starts you off with a fully-upgraded ship.While Nintendo hasn't confirmed if another special game save will arrive with its latest batch of NES games, the company has previously teased that more "fun new entry points into fan-favorite games" are coming, so we'll likely see another surprise addition next week. The company also says that more NES games will be added in 2019 beginning in January, but it has yet to announce what the next titles will be.NES games on Switch can be played with a special set of NES-style Joy-Con controllers. These resemble the classic NES gamepad and are only available to order through Nintendo's website for Nintendo Switch Online subscribers. Each set comes with two controllers and costs $60. Nintendo says the first shipment will be sent out next week.Info from Gamespot.com

Peter Parker met a tragic end in Avengers: Infinity War, but we can all rest easy knowing he's already bouncing back from his Thanos-related injuries and filming the follow up to his MCU solo debut Spider-Man: Homecoming, the playfully titled Spider-Man: Far From Home. While details about the specifics of the plot have remained unsurprisingly vague, the rumors of Jake Gyllenhaal joining the cast to play villain Mysterio were confirmed by on-set photos of Gyllenhaal in costume. Gyllenhaal subsequently confirmed his role with a cheeky Instagram post. That begs the question: Just who the hell is Mysterio, and what does his entrance into the MCU actually mean for Spidey?The name Mysterio actually refers to four different Marvel villains dating all the way back to 1964, and while there has been no official confirmation of which version Gyllenhaal is actually playing, the safest bet is the first and most prolific of the lot, Quentin Beck, who premiered in The Amazing Spider-Man #13 in 1964.Beck's vintage origin story is your typical '60s superhero fare. He was a struggling special effects artist and wannabe actor who eventually realized that his skills as an artist could be used to turn a real profit if he used them to build a villainous alter ego. Of course, after carefully constructing his costume (complete with his iconic fishbowl-style mirrored helmet) and making his debut, Beck was stopped and humiliated by Spider-Man--which, unsurprisingly, led to a life long vendetta. He joined the original incarnation of the Sinister Six, a team that also included Vulture, Dr. Octopus, Kraven the Hunter, Electro, and Sandman.Over the years, Mysterio became a perpetual thorn in Peter's side. Beck has no real superpowers, but his exhaustive knowledge of special effects trickery and illusions make him formidable in his own way--typically he'd set up elaborate gags involving smoke machines, stage magic, and even robotics to pull of his plots. Occassionally, his smoke based illusions are actually laced with hallucinogenic drugs, making him more similar to someone like Batman's Scarecrow than a hoaky magician. He trained in hypnotism, inventing a second alter-ego he called Dr. Ludwig Reinhart, and generally did his best to try and force his victims to lose their minds with elaborate gimmicks and cons designed to make them believe all sorts of wild lies.Sometimes the lies were pretty goofy. Other times, they were considerably less so. he tried to force Peter into believing he'd been shrunk down to action figure size. He later tried to con Aunt May out of house and home using a revolving door of disguises and assumed identities designed to gaslight and confuse her. Eventually, and with the help of Kingpin, he set his sights on Daredevil, trying to manipulate him into insanity using mood altering drugs and by targeting and manipulating his friends. At one point he actually tried to convince Matt that a baby was the biblical antichrist. True story.That particular plan didn't work out all that well and ended with Beck apparently committing suicide after Daredevil unmasked and beat him within an inch of his life. Of course, in typical comic book fashion, the death didn't stick. And although Beck's resurrection was never completely explained in any concrete way, the simplest answer was that he had staged his own death and gone into temporary hiding--though some stories insinuate that he really did die, and in fact spent some time in Hell before being magically revived. Beck resumed his antics, rejoining with the Sinister Six as the need arose. He briefly retired (and built himself a robot daughter--don't ask) in Las Vegas, but was prompted to pick up the Mysterio mantle yet again after getting wrapped up in some complicated, demonic dealings with Ben Reilly, the Scarlet Spider.All told, Mysterio's place in the Marvel universe is malleable. He's a bit less prolific and recognizable than someone like Green Goblin or Doctor Octopus, and that slightly-less-than-top-tier notoriety, coupled with his expansive repertoire of skills, means he can fit into stories in any number of ways. He's been the campy comic relief, the dangerous mastermind, the bumbling gloryhound, and the vicious sociopath, depending on the needs of the moment.Thematically speaking, it seems more likely that we're going to be seeing Gyllenhaal as one of Beck's softer sides in Far From Home, especially considering the multilayered approach Homecoming took to his Sinister Six teammate Vulture. It's certainly not impossible that we're going to see a Mysterio on the big screen who is furious at Spider-Man for ruining his shot at fame and stardom, but it's maybe a bit improbable.There's also the potential for Gyllenhaal's character to borrow from the other incarnations of Mysterio: Daniel Berkhart, a con who temporarily replaced Beck at both Beck's behest and after being hired to impersonate him by J. Jonah Jameson; Francis Klum, a mutant with teleportation powers who briefly took over the mantle while Beck was dead; and Mysterion, a mysterious new incarnation who was brainwashed and forced to join a team called the Superior Six lead by Otto Octavius. While none of the other Mysterio mantle wearers have quite the history Beck does, the MCU's willingness to play fast and loose with classic characters means they probably shouldn't be ignored. Info from Gamespot.com

Ubisoft has teased an impending Far Cry announcement for The Game Awards with a short video that hints at a post-apocalyptic theme. Though the brief look doesn't explicitly say the announcement is connected with Far Cry 5 or that it's explicitly Far Cry 6, the setting of this new game or expansion appears similar to be similar to the latest game in the series. Spoilers for Far Cry 5 follow.The teaser begins with a nuclear explosion over a track of farm land, echoing the ending of Far Cry 5 when the cult leader Joseph Seed was proven right after all. His prophecy came true and the world--or at least a sizable chunk of rural Montana--was obliterated by nukes. The connection suggests this game will follow the events of Far Cry 5.The teaser says the world recovered and vegetation regrew, and the survivors thought the threat had passed. But, in an ominous twist, the narration says they were wrong, as we see a figure picking up a sawblade for an apparent makeshift weapon. This would appear to be a post-apocalyptic Far Cry, complete with scrappy survivors.The brief video doesn't indicate much about whether this will be downloadable content for Far Cry 5, a new standalone spin-off like Blood Dragon, or an entirely new game. Far Cry 5 already had a full season pass of content, complete with zombies, outer space, and Vietnam.We'll know more tomorrow when the full reveal airs live during The Game Awards. It all kicks off starting at 8:30 PM ET / 5:30 PM PT / 1:30 AM GMT (Friday) / 12:30 PM AET (Friday), and you can watch it right here at GameSpot. While some studios are teasing reveals for The Game Awards, others have stepped forward to say they won't be showing their games.Info from Gamespot.com

Seems like it used to take a long time for games to dip down to half price. Battlefield V has only been out a few weeks and it's already available for $30 (or $40 for the Deluxe Edition). The only catch is that you have to own and have access to a recent Battlefield game. But if you don't? You can still get the standard edition for $40 from various retailers.The Battlefield subreddit has been abuzz with people posting that the deal has popped up when they've signed in to games like Battlefield 4, Battlefield Hardline, and Battlefield 1. We tested it out on Battlefield 1 on Xbox One, and sure enough, the deal appeared in the game's start menu. So if you have a previous installment and are interested in trying out the new one, boot it up and grab the deal.Everyone else can get the standard edition of Battlefield V on PS4, Xbox One, and PC for $40 from Best Buy, Target, and Walmart. Just click the appropriate link below.PS4Buy Battlefield V from Best Buy -- $40Buy Battlefield V from Target -- $40Buy Battlefield V from Walmart -- $40Xbox OneBuy Battlefield V from Best Buy -- $40Buy Battlefield V from Target -- $40Buy Battlefield V from Walmart -- $40PCBuy Battlefield V from Best Buy -- $40As for how the game is, critic Michael Higham scored it 8/10 in our Battlefield V review, writing, "The Battlefield series has a winning formula that Battlefield V doesn't deviate far from, at least for now. 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."Battlefield V is scheduled to get numerous free DLC expansions in the coming months, the first of which, Chapter 1: Overture, is available now. A free battle royale mode called Firestorm is scheduled to arrive in March. Info from Gamespot.com

Season 7 of Fortnite is nearly here. The new season is scheduled to kick off this Thursday, December 6, and developer Epic Games has been building up excitement by sharing a series of teaser images each day leading up to it. The studio has now shared the final teaser, and it hints that some rather big things are in store for Season 7.The image, which you can see below, zooms in on the ziplining character spotted in the background of the second teaser. "Ascend to new heights," the accompanying tweet reads, suggesting that Season 7 will feature a greater emphasis on verticality. What's even more interesting, however, is that the image also features a biplane in the background, which seems to hint that Fortnite will receive its first aerial vehicle.Epic hasn't confirmed many details about Season 7 beyond its start date, but we've gotten a good idea of what to expect from the three teaser images it has shared so far. The first featured an icy silhouette of a character with the caption, "A bitter ice spreads..." seemingly confirming fan theories that the new season will be winter-themed. The image also featured a character snowboarding down the side of the silhouette.Hints that Fortnite's next season would be snow-themed first began to appear within the game itself a few weeks ago, when players began noticing distant clouds in the ocean surrounding the map. Since then, some users on Reddit have discovered that the clouds are actually shrouding an iceberg that is slowly approaching the island.We'll find out soon just what changes await Fortnite in Season 7, but we do know something else that'll be arriving alongside it. Epic announced a new sandbox-style mode called Fortnite Creative, which will allow players to design their own games and unique Fortnite experiences. Fortnite Creative will be available to everyone on December 13, but those who purchase the Season 7 Battle Pass will get access to the mode beginning December 6.In the meantime, you still have a few more hours to complete any remaining Season 6 challenges and unlock the last few Battle Pass rewards. If you need pointers, we've put together some helpful tips on how to complete the game's trickier missions in our Season 6 challenges guide.Info from Gamespot.com

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is almost here to close out the year for Nintendo, and controller manufacturers aren't wasting any time putting out new controllers to ride the wave of excitement with Smash fans. The series' competitive roots are grounded in the GameCube entry, Super Smash Bros. Melee, and thus using the GameCube controller is for many the preferred way to play. Nintendo isn't blind to this, releasing another round of GameCube controllers emblazoned with the latest Smash logo, just as it did for the Wii U game, but they aren't the only options out there.Below is a quick look at a few of the options that players can consider when shopping around for new controllers, and even though they aren't the real deal straight from Nintendo, they come with selling points all their own that Nintendo doesn't have an answer for.Editor's note: these items are highlighted as examples, not as endorsements by GameSpot.Nintendo GameCube Controller and GameCube Controller Adapter $25/$20Nintendo's official products are a great place to start if you are looking for a reliable, no frills way to play Super Smash Bros. Ultimate with a GameCube controller. There are cheaper options available from no-name manufacturers, but you can generally count on the real deal to get the job done.Though you can likely convince your friends to play a few rounds with you using Joy-Cons, they are far too fiddly to be effective during competitive matches. The GameCube Controller Adapter is the first step to ensure all four fighters are on an even playing field. You will, of course, need an adapter if you use Nintendo's controllers anyway, because of their GameCube-style plug.- Buy Nintendo GameCube Controller on Amazon- Buy Nintendo GameCube Controller Adapter on AmazonPowerA Wireless Controller for Nintendo Switch - $50PowerA is taking a unique approach compared to the other third-party manufacturers on this list. Its controller is built like a GameCube one, but on the inside, it's effectively a Switch Pro controller--it's wireless and support motion controls. It's unfortunately not rechargeable--it requires two AA batteries--and it lacks rumble support, but it's the simplest wireless solution that offers GameCube-like controls on this list.- Buy PowerA Wireless Controller for Nintendo Switch on Amazon8Bitdo Gbros. Wireless Adapter for Nintendo Switch - $20If you definitely want to play wirelessly with a proper GameCube controller, you can alternatively pick up 8bitdo's Gbros. wireless adapter. It allows you to plug in a GameCube controller and have it work wirelessly with Switch, and the adapter has buttons to account for Switch functions not represented on the controller itself. You can also connect NES Classic, SNES Classic, or Wii controllers on the opposite end of the adapter. And the icing on the cake? There's a toggle that lets you convert the adapter to work with a Windows PC.- Buy 8bitdo Gbros. Wireless Adapter for Nintendo Switch on AmazonPDP Nintendo Switch Wired Fight Pad Pro - $25PDP's new controllers aren't wired for GameCube the way Nintendo's controller is--PDP's connect via USB directly to the Switch. Otherwise, the design is mostly in line with Nintendo's own, with a couple of exceptions. PDP is obviously going for a more colorful approach, with branding to entice Pokemon, Mario, and Zelda fans, but a 10-foot cable and a swappable C-Stick/Analog Stick introduces a unique feature that no other controller on this last can match. It's not a critical feature, but it could make a difference for the right player.- Buy PDP Nintendo Switch Wired Fight Pad Pro - $25 Hori Nintendo Switch Battle PadHori's Smash Bros. Ultimate controllers follow a similar path as PDP's solution: themed controllers with a 10-foot USB cable. Hori does offer a few more color options, and most of the controllers sport a semi-transparent casing. They do not, however, feature the swappable C-Stick option.- Buy Hori Nintendo Switch Battle Pad on AmazonInfo from Gamespot.com

Nintendo entered 2018 riding a wave of momentum following the successful launch of the Switch. The hybrid console hit the market in March 2017 and quickly became one of the fastest-selling systems in the company's history, thanks in large part to a steady stream of major exclusives such as The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, and Super Mario Odyssey. Whereas Nintendo's focus in 2017 was on establishing its new platform, its goal this year was to sustain the impressive momentum it had built, and it did so by releasing another solid string of exclusives for the console, along with additional system features like cloud saves and the Nintendo Switch Online subscription service.But while 2018 was generally another strong year for the company, it certainly wasn't without its missteps. Despite keeping up a regular release schedule, Switch hardware sales dipped compared to the console's debut year, and new ventures like Nintendo Labo, a line of games bundled with DIY cardboard peripherals, were met with very modest commercial success--certainly not in the league of Wii Fit or any of Nintendo's other mass market breakthroughs on the Wii and DS. With 2018 coming to a close, let's take a look back at how the Switch fared during its sophomore year.A Solid Year of Game Releases, Despite No Clear System-SellerSince the Switch launched, Nintendo has released at least one notable first-party game for the console nearly every month, and that trend continued throughout 2018. While none of this year's releases thus far were quite on the level of Breath of the Wild or Super Mario Odyssey, the system still saw a handful of well-received exclusives in Kirby Star Allies, Mario Tennis Aces, Octopath Traveler, Super Mario Party, and Pokemon: Let's Go Pikachu and Eevee, while its biggest release of the year--Super Smash Bros. Ultimate--arrives on December 7.With fewer original games lined up for the console this year than in 2017, Nintendo relied a little more heavily on Wii U ports to buoy the Switch during its quieter months, and that undoubtedly was reflected in slower hardware sales compared to last year. Still, software sales remained impressive, and this year's spate of re-releases included some of Wii U's finest games. Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze arrived on Switch four years after it first launched on Wii U and has since become one of Nintendo's best-selling games on the console. Bayonetta 2, Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker, and Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition all released for Switch as well, giving them another chance to shine on the newer hardware.A few of Nintendo's biggest titles from 2017 also received substantial new pieces of content this year, further bolstering Switch's library. Splatoon 2's first paid DLC, the Octo Expansion, arrived in June and added 80 new single-player-focused challenges to the game, while Xenoblade Chronicles 2's expansive prequel story, Torna - The Golden Country, launched in September, both as part of the game's expansion pass and as a standalone release. Nintendo also rolled out a steady stream of free updates for both Kirby Star Allies and Mario Tennis Aces in the months following their release, introducing new characters, gameplay modes, and other content to extend their longevity. Moreover, Nintendo continued to make inroads in courting more third-party and indie support. While the company has traditionally struggled to attract other developers to its platforms, this year saw a number of major third-party titles arrive on Switch. Epic's phenomenally popular battle royale game, Fortnite, released for the console in June and has since been downloaded on "nearly half" of all Switch systems worldwide, but it was far from the only notable third-party game to hit the platform. Mature titles like Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus, Dark Souls Remastered, Warframe, and Diablo III: Eternal Edition all also launched in 2018; the latter is particularly notable as it marked the first Blizzard game to come to a Nintendo console in nearly two decades.Likewise, indies continued to thrive on Switch, and this year saw the release of Celeste, Dead Cells, Into the Breach, Hollow Knight, and other critically acclaimed gems. Despite the lack of a Breath of the Wild-calibur system-seller, 2018 proved to be another all-around good year for Switch software.Nintendo Switch Online Finally Launches, But It's A Mixed BagAfter several delays, Nintendo finally rolled out its paid online subscription service for Switch in September 2018. While online features were free on the console up until then, Switch owners are now required to subscribe to the service in order to play games such as Splatoon 2, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate online with other players. Subscribers also receive a number of other benefits as part of the service, including access to cloud saves, special offers through Nintendo's website, and a library of classic NES games on Switch, all of which now support some form of online play.Given that the service only recently launched, it's still fairly early to pass a verdict on Nintendo Switch Online. That said, there are already some clear positive and negative aspects of the service. While it doesn't seem to offer nearly as many perks as PlayStation Plus or Xbox Live Gold--both, for instance, give members a selection of free games every month, something that Nintendo's service currently lacks--Nintendo Switch Online subscriptions are significantly cheaper than the competition. A yearly NSO membership runs for $20 (as opposed to $60 for PS Plus or Xbox Live), while an annual family plan costs $35 per year and can be shared between eight Nintendo Accounts across multiple systems.The included NES library is also a welcome benefit. While it certainly isn't a replacement for the Virtual Console, having unlimited access to a selection of classic NES games as part of your subscription is more appealing than having to purchase the titles individually, as you had to on previous Nintendo consoles, and the addition of online play is a nice new feature. However, Nintendo has been slow in introducing additional NES games to the library; only three new titles have been added each month since the service launched, and it's still missing some of the console's most iconic games. On top of that, there is still no word on whether Nintendo will bring SNES, N64, or other legacy titles to Switch either through the NSO service or the Eshop, which remains frustrating.Moreover, despite a subscription now being required to play Switch games online, the actual online experience isn't appreciably different from when the service was free. Features such as voice chat are still handled through the separate NSO smartphone app rather than being built into the service--a confounding decision when Fortnite implemented native voice chat directly through the console. If it is able to, there seems to be no reason why other games couldn't follow suit.The aforementioned special offers through Nintendo's website have potential to be worthwhile, but the two sole offers thus far are fairly disappointing. In addition to a set of free gear in Splatoon 2, NSO subscribers can order an exclusive pair of NES-style Joy-Cons. These resemble the classic NES gamepads and look quite neat, but they come with a few caveats that make them little more than a novelty. Overall, the Nintendo Switch Online service has room to grow, but its offerings thus far have been middling.3DS Still Has Some Life LeftWhile Switch was naturally the focus of Nintendo's attention in 2018, the company didn't abandon the dual-screen 3DS line just yet. Despite being over seven years old at this point, the platform received a handful of notable releases over the past year, among them Detective Pikachu, the Pokemon spin-off that would inspire the upcoming live-action movie starring Ryan Reynolds. On top of that, this year also saw the release of WarioWare Gold, Radiant Historia: Perfect Chronology, Yo-kai Watch Blasters, and a remake of the GameCube classic Luigi's Mansion.It remains to be seen just how long Nintendo will continue to keep the 3DS line afloat, but it's clear the company has plans to support the platform for the immediate future, with another batch of 3DS games on the way in 2019. In the first half of the year, Nintendo will release a remake of Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story and Yo-kai Watch 3, while a port of the charming Wii platformer Kirby's Epic Yarn is slated to arrive at some point in 2019. Atlus's Etrian Odyssey Nexus, the final 3DS installment in the acclaimed dungeon crawling series, is also set to hit the handheld in the early part of the year, and there may yet be one or two surprise releases still in store for the platform before Nintendo finally ushers it into the sunset.A Promising Look AheadNintendo used its E3 2018 presentation to reveal a ton of new details about this year's marquee Switch release, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, but it also provided a tantalizing glimpse of what lays ahead for the system in 2019. Among other things, we got our first look at Fire Emblem: Three Houses, the upcoming Switch installment in the long-running strategy-RPG series, as well as surprise announcements like Daemon X Machina, a stylish new mech-action game from Armored Core veteran Kenichiro Tsukuda.In the months that would follow, Nintendo would reveal additional titles coming to Switch in 2019, painting a very promising picture for the console's future. Perhaps most notably, the company finally confirmed that an Animal Crossing game is indeed in development for Switch and is set for release next year. We also learned about Luigi's Mansion 3 and got another look at the beautiful Yoshi's Crafted World, which is now slated to arrive in Spring 2019.Additionally, The Pokemon Company reiterated that the previously announced "core" Pokemon RPG for Switch will release in 2019, and Pokemon developer Game Freak has another RPG in the works for the system tentatively titled Town, which is likewise slated to launch next year. There's also New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe, which releases in January and combines both New Super Mario Bros. U and its more challenging DLC expansion, New Super Luigi U, together into one package.Taken together, it appears Nintendo has laid the groundwork for another year of steady Switch releases. There will likely be even more surprise games in store for the console throughout 2019, and that's nothing to say of Metroid Prime 4 and Bayonetta 3, both of which Nintendo has publicly announced but not shared any details about just yet.Other Matters, In BriefFollowing its initial shipment in 2016 and cancellation in 2017, Nintendo re-issued its notoriously hard-to-find micro console, the NES Classic, this past summer. Together with the SNES Classic, the company has sold a combined 10 million-plus micro consoles to date.Nintendo released its fifth mobile game, Dragalia Lost, on iOS and Android this September. Co-developed by Cygames, the title launched to mixed critical reception but generated more revenue during its first two weeks than the company's previous mobile game, Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp, did during that same point in its life.With the exception of Hulu, the Switch still lacks many dedicated entertainment apps, but a YouTube app finally arrived this November. Netflix, meanwhile, has said it is still "exploring the opportunity" to bring its app to the console.Nintendo's long-lost arcade game, Sky Skipper, was unearthed and finally received a proper North American release through the Switch Eshop this summer as part of Hamster's Arcade Archives line.Tatsumi Kimishima, who has served as Nintendo's president following the passing of Satoru Iwata, stepped down from the role in June and was replaced by Shuntaro Furukawa, a longtime member of the company who has held high-level titles across marketing and corporate planning.Nintendo announced it is working with Despicable Me studio Illumination on an animated Super Mario movie, with Mario creator Shigeru Miyamoto involved as a producer.The VerdictBetween a handful of well-received exclusives, some big-name third-party releases, and Nintendo's continued support for older games, the Switch had another solid software lineup in 2018, although the lack of a true heavy hitter like Breath of the Wild and Super Mario Odyssey resulted in slightly slower hardware sales this year. The long-delayed Nintendo Switch Online subscription service is also fairly weak in its current state, but it has the potential to grow as Nintendo rolls out more classic games and exclusive offers for subscribers.After the disappointing performance of the Wii U, it seems Nintendo has struck on a winning formula with Switch, and the early glimpse we've gotten at the system's 2019 lineup suggests its best days are still ahead of it.The GoodThe BadAnother steady stream of well-received exclusives and notable third-party and indie gamesNo clear system-seller this year on Switch besides the still-to-be-released Super Smash Bros. UltimateCloud saves and NES games with online play are welcome additionsNintendo Switch Online's other features and benefits feel lackingSwitch's 2019 lineup is already shaping up well, with many future big-name exclusives revealed in 2018 3DS continues to receive a steady amount of support Info from Gamespot.com

The Game Awards are coming, promising not only a celebration of the last year in video games, but also a slew of new announcements for the coming year and beyond. The annual award show has become known for hosting game reveals, and this year's event promises to be no different. Eager to get started, some studios have already begun teasing their impending news.The festivities will begin on Thursday at 8:30 PM ET / 5:30 PM PT / (Friday at 1:30 AM GMT / 12:30 PM AET). You can check out all of the games we are certain or expect to see below, or read about the games we know won't be there.Ten New Game AnnouncementsAs part of the promotion behind the event, host Geoff Keighley teased that ten brand new games will be shown for the very first time. This is on top of other updates for various existing games. That will make for a packed show, especially given that it needs to fit all those reveals around the accolades, musical performances, and other variety events.Obsidian's New Take-Two GameObsidian, the developer behind RPGs like Fallout: New Vegas and Pillars of Eternity, has stated very directly that it will be announcing its next game at the award show. We've seen teases of a retro-futurist space setting. This one will be published by Take-Two's indie label, Private Division. It remains to be seen how Microsoft may be involved in this project, having recently acquired Obsidian.Far Cry Plus Nuclear FalloutUbisoft is planning a Far Cry reveal for the awards. The studio released a short teaser trailer that showed a nuclear explosion and the resulting devastation over rural farmland. The narration explained that after the earth recovered, people became the deadlier threats. It all appears to set the stage for a post-apocalyptic Far Cry game, possibly tying into the events of Far Cry 5. It's unknown at this point if it will be DLC, a spin-off, or an all-new game.Anthem Shows OffEA has announced that its upcoming multiplayer RPG Anthem will get a new trailer presented by general manager Casey Hudson. It launches next February, so this will be one of the last big public events to show off the game.Fortnite Reveals Abound, But More On The WayFortnite is teasing something big for the Game Awards. We don't know what it is, but we know a few things that it isn't. Epic has already noted that it won't be related to Season 7, which the studio has already started outlining elsewhere. It also won't be the new creative mode. Keighley emphasized that the creative mode reveal was just "part 1 of the story" and that the Game Awards reveal will "get even crazier." Creative director Donald Mustard will be on-hand to drop the announcement himself.Dragon Age Breathes Some FireCall this one an educated guess. BioWare's Casey Hudson will already be on-hand to reveal something new for Anthem, but that may not be all. Hudson also recently said that the studio is preparing to outline plans for the next Dragon Age. In fact, he specifically said that news will be coming in December, but stopped short of outlining exactly where or when. The Game Awards is one of the few high-profile announcement vehicles in the month of December, so the smart money is on this being the venue.Super Smash Bros. MaybeNintendo always plays its cards close to the blue overalls, but a recent promotional tweet raised eyebrows. The company specifically told fans to watch the Game Awards just before the release of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, possibly implying an announcement on the way. It could be just the place to announce a solid release date for Piranha Plant, outline the first of the impending DLC roster, or something else entirely.Info from Gamespot.com

This week's sale at GameStop is now live, which means you can save money on PS4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch games. You can check out some of the deals in this week's GameStop ad, or you can look below to find the highlights. And if you'd prefer to shop elsewhere, it's worth noting that Amazon has matched many of these prices. In any case, the GameStop deals are going away on December 11, so make your purchases by then.Super Smash Bros. Ultimate hits Nintendo Switch on December 7; buying it from GameStop gets you a free poster. And if you buy a Switch to go along with it, you'll get a free $25 GameStop gift card. On the other hand, if you have a Switch, PS4, or Xbox One console to trade in, you'll get $50 in extra credit. Trade in two or more Switch games, and you'll get 25% extra credit. Finally, Pokemon- and Nintendo-themed collectibles are 30% off.As for the games, there's something for everyone, no matter which console you do your gaming on. PS4 owners can pick up titles like No Man's Sky for $10, Mass Effect Andromeda for $14, and Kingdom Come: Deliverance or World of Final Fantasy for $20 each. You can also get the unique racing game Onrush for $20, though you might be able to get it for free, seeing as it's one of December's free PS Plus games.Xbox One owners can pick up action-RPGs like Dark Souls Remastered for $30 and Kingdom Come: Deliverance for $20. If you're into anime, you may be tempted by Naruto to Boruto: Shinobi Striker for $40 and Sword Art Online: Fatal Bullet for $20.Nintendo fans can can get some fine discounts on games like Cave Story+ and America's Greatest Game Shows: Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy on Switch for around $20 each. Finally, 3DS owners can grab WarioWare Gold for $35 or Metroid Samus Returns for $21. Check out the list below for more picks for each console.PS4Dark Souls Remastered -- $30Kingdom Come: Deliverance -- $20Mass Effect Andromeda -- $14Naruto to Boruto: Shinobi Striker -- $40Ni No Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom -- $20Nickelodeon Kart Racers -- $30No Man's Sky -- $10Onrush -- $20Sword Art Online: Fatal Bullet -- $20Warriors Orochi 4 -- $40World of Final Fantasy -- $20Xbox OneDark Souls Remastered -- $30Kingdom Come: Deliverance -- $20Naruto to Boruto: Shinobi Striker -- $40Nickelodeon Kart Racers -- $30No Man's Sky -- $30Onrush -- $20Sword Art Online: Fatal Bullet -- $20Warriors Orochi 4 -- $40Nintendo Switch and 3DSAmerica's Greatest Game Shows: Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy (Switch) -- $20Cave Story+ (Switch) -- $21Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 (Switch) -- $30Metroid Samus Returns (3DS) -- $21Monopoly (Switch) -- $20Nickelodeon Kart Racers (Switch) -- $30WarioWare Gold (3DS) -- $35Info from Gamespot.com

It may have begun in an entirely different era of filmmaking, but the Predator franchise is still going strong over 30 years later. The latest entry, simply called The Predator, finds a vicious alien on Earth's soil with a few genetic upgrades. Now it's up to a group of former soldiers to stop it. It's a delightfully violent action flick that Rafael Motamayor called "a bloody, funny mess" in our Predator review. The movie is available now on digital and is coming to 4K UHD, Blu-ray, and DVD on December 18.If you'd like a copy of The Predator to call your own, you probably have a few questions. Among them: when does it come out, where can you buy it, and how much does it cost? We have answers to all of those queries below, so let's dive in.DigitalIf you want to watch The Predator at home right now, you can do so buy purchasing a digital copy. But if you can wait a few days, most of the disc-based versions also come with a digital copy.$20 -- Buy it from Amazon$20 -- Buy it from Google Play$20 -- Buy it from iTunes$20 -- Buy it from Microsoft Store$20 -- Buy it from VuduThe Predator 4K Ultra HDThis version of The Predator comes with 4K UHD, Blu-ray, and digital versions of the film.$25 -- Buy it from Amazon$25 -- Buy it from Best Buy$25 -- Buy it from Target$25 -- Buy it from WalmartThe Predator Blu-RayThe Blu-ray edition of The Predator also includes a DVD and digital copy of the movie.$20 -- Buy it from Amazon$20 -- Buy it from Best Buy$20 -- Buy it from Target$20 -- Buy it from WalmartThe Predator DVDUnlike the pricier editions, the DVD version of The Predator just comes with a DVD version of The Predator.$18 -- Buy it from Amazon$18 -- Buy it from Best Buy$18 -- Buy it from TargetPredator 4-Movie CollectionThose in the mood to marathon the series (or pick it up as a holiday gift for the action-horror movie fan in your life) can grab the 4-movie collection. It comes with the 1987 original film, its 1990 sequel, the 2010 film Predators, and this year's The Predator.Digital$30 -- Buy it from Google Play4K UHD$55 -- Buy it from Amazon$57 -- Buy it from Target$55 -- Buy it from WalmartBlu-ray$30 -- Buy it from Amazon$40 -- Buy it from Best Buy$40 -- Buy it from Target$30 -- Buy it from WalmartInfo from Gamespot.com