Every Xbox One bundle is $50 off right now in the United States, and this includes the higher-power Xbox One X consoles and the Fortnite bundle, Microsoft has announced.The discount goes even deeper if you just want a console. The Xbox One X, which normally sells for $500 USD, is now available at retailers for $400 USD. Microsoft does not appear to sell the Xbox One S in a non-bundle, but you can get that system starting at $250 in bundles that come with games like Fortnite, Minecraft, NBA 2K19, Battlefield V, Forza Horizon 4, and PUBG.The Xbox One X, meanwhile, has numerous bundles available going for $450, including those that come with Battlefield V, Fallout 76, PUBG, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Forza Horizon 4, and others. You can visit the Xbox website to see a full rundown of all the Xbox One S and Xbox One X bundles.It's not just Xbox consoles that are on sale this holiday. Beginning on December 9, Microsoft is offering $10 off the Phantom Black and Sport White Xbox One controllers. Another deal Microsoft is offering is $10 credit for the Microsoft Online store when you buy three months of XBL Gold.It's not immediately clear when the Xbox One console and accessory deals will end, but Microsoft describes the offers as being available only for a limited time.In the past, competitor Sony responded to Microsoft's Xbox console deals with offers of its own, so it will be interesting to see if the company does so again this time. Info from Gamespot.com

NBC has renewed the wacky and wonderful comedy The Good Place for a Season 4 to air in 2019-2020, the network has confirmed. In a statement, NBC programming bosses Tracey Pakosta and Lisa Katz congratulated show creator Mike Schur and the cast and crew for their contribution to making The Good Place a "thoughtful, mind-bending, and hysterical series.""We can't wait to see what unexpected stories the new season will bring," the pair said in the statement, which was noted by The Hollywood Reporter.Kristen Bell stars in The Good Place, alongside William Jackson Harper, Jameela Jamil. Ted Danson and D'Arcy Carden also star in the comedy-drama about aliens, the afterlife, and the devil. The show contains numerous unexpected twists and turns, and with only three seasons to catch up on, we won't spoil the big details here if you haven't caught The Good Place yet and want to catch up.According to THR, The Good Place is averaging 4.6 million viewers in its current season over its first nine episodes. The last episode of Season 3 this fall will air on Thursday, with the final three episodes of Season 3 landing in January 2019.Schur, the creator of The Good Place, also worked on The Office, Parks and Recreation, Brooklyn Nine-Nine. On The Office, he played Dwight Schrute's cousin, Mose Schrute.Info from Gamespot.com

Before Red Dead Online launched in November, developer Rockstar Games said it couldn't guarantee that player progress and stats wouldn't be wiped after the beta ended. The good news today is that Rockstar has confirmed that, at least right now, it has no plans to reset anything.Back in November, Rockstar warned that it might have to reset player ranks and stats in Red Dead Redemption 2's multiplayer mode. The developer pointed out that it is not uncommon for large-scale betas to reset ranks and player stats ahead of the full release. As one example, progress in the annual Call of Duty betas get wiped before launch. So it's especially good news to hear now that Rockstar doesn't plan to reset stats or rank for Red Dead Online after the beta. As Rockstar said earlier this week, it is hoping to release a new update for Red Dead Online this week to address general stability and the issues with the game's economy balancing. Red Dead Online, which is the free multiplayer mode for Red Dead Redemption 2 on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, features new story missions set before the events of the single-player campaign that can be played solo or with others. It also features a variety of co-op and PvP modes, including Red Dead's own battle royale mode.Rockstar says to expect "lots more updates to the Red Dead Online beta in the coming weeks and months." It hasn't shared much about what to expect in terms of future updates to the game, though Grand Theft Auto V welcome numerous and significant updates over time. Microtransactions are coming to Red Dead Online in the future, and players will be able to purchase the in-game currency gold with real money. Gold can also be earned by playing, and it's used to buy certain weapons and other items, as well as a shortcut to lower your Honor level.For more on Red Dead Online, check out GameSpot's recent opinion piece, "Red Dead Online's Beta Misses What Makes RDR 2 Great."Info from Gamespot.com

Earlier this week, Netflix confirmed that the acclaimed sitcom Friends will stay on the streaming platform through the end of 2019, following rumours of it being removed in January. Now, a New York Times report reveals the gargantuan licensing fee that Netflix is paying licensor WarnerMedia to keep Friends on the streaming network for another year.Two people said to have knowledge of the matter told NYT that the price tag was $100 million. According to the report, that's up from the $30 million that Netflix previously paid WarnerMedia annually to keep the beloved show on its platform in the United States. Friends isn't available on Netflix everywhere; for example, in Australia it streams on Stan, not Netflix.The controversy, if you want to call it that, started after people noticed that the Friends page on Netflix's website stated--for a period of time--that the show would leave in January. According to NYT, Netflix's deal with WarnerMedia was indeed set to expire at the end of 2018. However, Netflix and WarnerMedia owner AT&T were in discussions "for at least a few months" about coming to terms on a deal to extend the licensing agreement.WarnerMedia is set to launch its own streaming platform at the end of 2019, and obviously, Friends is a property that would help get people to sign up. Indeed, AT&T boss Randall Stephenson said during an investor conference this week that he "definitely" wants Friends on WarnerMedia's platform, while acknowledging it is "important to Netflix as well."Referencing the new deal between WarnerMedia and Netflix, Stephenson confirmed it is non-exclusive, so Friends could appear on Netflix and WarnerMedia's own network simultaneously.WarnerMedia and Netflix are already discussing a licensing fee for Friends after 2019, but it's expected to be much less than $100 million given that it wouldn't necessarily be exclusive to Netflix, according to the report. The sources added that another possibility is for Friends to leave Netflix after 2019. Officially, Friends is only confirmed to stay on Netflix through the end of 2019.You can read the full NYT report here.Critically acclaimed, Friends ran for 10 seasons from 1994 through 2004. Its May 2004 finale drew 52.5 million viewers in America, according to The New York Times. As of 2015, the show was bringing in $1 billion every year from syndication, with stars Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Matt LeBlanc, Lisa Kudrow, David Schwimmer, and Matthew Perry making $20 million a year from that based on their 2 percent share of syndication revenue, according to USA Today. Info from Gamespot.com

If you've been looking forward to the upcoming March movie Captain Marvel, then the past few days have been a whirlwind for you. The latest trailer has dropped, and it looks pretty amazing. We also learned her story is getting a bit of retooling, which is a good thing since her comic book origin is very confusing. And now, Hasbro has revealed the first set of toys based on the movie.Hasbro expands its highly-articulate Marvel Legends line with figures based on the upcoming movie. The new set consists of five figures: Captain Marvel with interchangeable hands and head, Captain Marvel in Bomber Jacket with her cat Goose, Talos, Nick Fury, and Star Force Commander. The line will be available for purchase in Spring 2019 and all the figures will cost $20 each.In addition, there will also be a Photon Power FX Glove toy available in January for $16. The electronic glove lights up and makes noise. Hasbro will also be releasing four dolls priced $13-$25: Captain Marvel Power FX Electronic Doll, Captain Marvel Doll and Goose, Captain Marvel (Star Force) Doll, and Cosmic Captain Marvel Doll. The dolls are in the 11.5-inch scale and all feature 11 points of articulation. They will hit stores this January.While the movie starring Brie Larson doesn't hit theaters until next year, there's a lot of talk about the new trailer, especially when fans found out Annette Bening is playing a Kree whose name hasn't been revealed to fans yet. Captain Marvel follows the story of a cosmic superhero engaged in an intergalactic war who finds out she was once from Earth. She heads to her original home to learn more and finds there are shapeshifting aliens on the planet as well, some of which are disguised as old women that end up getting punched.After Captain Marvel hits theaters on March 8, 2019, we'll get to see Larson in the role once more as she suits up for the unnamed Avengers 4, which comes out May 3. The post-credit sequence of Infinity War showed off the Captain Marvel logo, so she'll have to be the one that comes and saves the day for all of the superheroes of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.Info from Gamespot.com

Madden NFL 19 is erasing Kareem Hunt. After TMZ posted a video of the former Kansas City Chiefs running back assaulting a woman, Hunt was quickly dropped by his team, and now EA Sports is wiping the digital version of Hunt from the newest Madden games. Hunt is being erased from the main game, the mobile game Madden Overdrive, and the card-based Ultimate Team mode."We are in the process of removing Kareem Hunt from the Madden NFL 19 roster, Madden Overdrive, and Madden Ultimate Team," an EA Sports representative told TMZ.Anyone who has Hunt on their Ultimate Team roster will receive a replacement player who has identical stats.Removing a player from Madden is not unprecedented. EA also wiped Aaron Hernandez and Ray Rice from Madden after their own assault charges emerged. Rice was removed after video emerged of him punching his then-fiancee, while Hernandez was dropped after he was charged with murder.TMZ released a video last Friday that showed Hunt assaulting a woman in a hotel back in February. The Chiefs cut Hunt from their roster after the video emerged, and no team has picked him up.EA Sports also found itself in the midst of controversy this year when the rape investigation into FIFA 19 cover star Cristiano Ronaldo was re-opened.Info from Gamespot.com

Epic Games has confirmed that it has stopped actively developing the new, community-infused Unreal Tournament game. Epic Games boss Tim Sweeney confirmed to Variety that the free game is still playable and available to new users, but Epic itself has stopped working on it."Unreal Tournament remains available in the store but isn't actively developed," he said.This may be sad for those who were playing and enjoying Unreal Tournament, but it's no surprise to learn Epic has stopped working on it. Back in September, Epic said the team working on it moved over to Fortnite to support that game's ongoing development. As of September, the game was officially "on hold," and that appears to continue to be the case.Announced in 2014, the new Unreal Tournament was developed on Epic's Unreal Engine 4 and aimed to be "true to its roots as a competitive FPS." Epic was planning to develop the game "in the open," as a collaboration between Epic Games, Unreal Tournament fans, and Unreal Engine 4 developers. Epic also planned to offer a marketplace where fans can buy and sell new content.Unreal Tournament is not the first game Epic stopped working on after Fortnite grew in popularity. In January this year, Epic announced its free-to-play MOBA Paragon was shutting down, with refunds available to everyone. More recently, some Fortnite: Save the World players have said they feel second-class as the battle royale mode gets seemingly more attention than the paid game. Save the World will transition to a free-to-play game like Fortnite: Battle Royale, but the transition was recently delayed to 2019.Fortnite is hugely popular on a level that seems unprecedented in gaming, so it makes sense that Epic would pour significant resources into its ongoing development. Still, it remains to be seen if Epic becomes a one-game studio now that Fortnite is riding high. Of course, the studio also operates the massively successful Unreal Engine, while it also announced a new Steam competitor; so even if the studio's game development output is relatively lower, the studio is absolutely keeping busy with huge projects.For more on the game, check out GameSpot's report on how Fortnite's success has impacted the industry in 2018. Info from Gamespot.com

The Xbox One's backwards compatibility catalog continues to grow bigger still. As announced on Twitter by Major Nelson, the new Xbox 360 additions to the backwards compatibility library on Xbox One today include three titles from 2K Games: The Darkness, The Bureau: XCOM Declassified, and Duke Nukem Forever.And in a round of extra-good news, each title is currently on sale. The Darkness, which features Faith No More and Mr. Bungle singer Mike Patton doing the voice of a horrible monster, can be had for only $4 USD. The Bureau: XCOM Declassified, which was originally announced as a first-person shooter before changing directions, is also available for $4 USD. Duke Nukem Forever is also available for only $4 USD. The Gearbox Software-developed game is the Chinese Democracy of video games, sort of, in that, like the Guns 'N Roses album, many believed it would never release. But it did. The Darkness, The Bureau: XCOM Declassified, and Duke Nukem Forever are coming to Xbox One Backward Compatibility today (and all three are currently on sale) https://t.co/qPMRNs2ZLo pic.twitter.com/z4sEROLxUs — Larry Hryb (@majornelson) December 4, 2018As always, if you own these games already, you can simply put the disc into your Xbox One and start playing. If you own them digitally you can find them in your game collection and redownload them. Check out our full list of backwards compatible games for more.Info from Gamespot.com

Making is to 100 episode of TV in the modern landscape is no easy feat. So many shows last only a season or two before meeting an untimely end. That's what makes The Flash's achievement so special and worthy of celebration. What you might not have expected, though, was an episode that also served as a game changer for not just this season, but the series as a whole. Warning: The following contains spoilers for The Flash's 100th episode, "What's Past is Prologue."While visiting the past was a nice way to honor all that the show has become, what was especially important is how it shaped the future--namely how it involves Nora (Jessica Parker Kennedy). "I really didn't think I'd have a big part of it because I always sort of felt like the 100th episode should represent everyone that had been in the show so I was so surprised when I knew I was going to be such a huge part of it," Kennedy told GameSpot on The Flash 100th episode red carpet.She did play a massive role, though, which involves her own future. After meeting the Eobard Thawne (Tom Cavanagh) that tormented her father throughout Season 1 of the series, it was revealed she's actually working with him--or some version of him--in the future, long after her father disappeared. What her goal is, though, has yet to be revealed."There's something going on but we don't understand it exactly what it is," she said. "Obviously, as the season goes on, that will make sense but I think the biggest thing is, is Norah good when there's a part of Norah that's bad? What are the reasons she's there?"That's the question on the minds of every fan after realizing Barry Allen's (Grant Gustin) daughter is working with his most dreaded enemy in some way. What would bring her to it and what happens now that she sees the man he truly was?Of course, looking at it from Cavanagh's point of view, bringing back Thawne is an exciting challenge. How do you revisit a former character but keep it fresh and new?"I always think if you're fortunate enough to be on a long-running TV show, maybe you don't necessarily have to reinvent but it's best not to get too staged in, you know, what you present to the viewership because I think they know you know an occasional ignition in one way or another," he explained. "I think that with taking the classic villain, keeping him the classic villain, but showing a different error or different side or different aspect, if you will, with it was enjoyable."That was also the route showrunner Todd Helbing and his writers wanted to take when it came to penning the script for the episode and deciding where it would lead as the season goes on. "We don't wanna just do the same villain over and over and if we had the exact same attitude with Eobard Thawne, that we've seen this whole time, that's not going to be interesting either," he said. "So, he was part of the pitch from the beginning and I think what we really wanted to do was just see a different attitude from Thawne that we hadn't, see him in a different light and, you know, there's a big theme of legacy this season. And so, when we started talking about that with every other character and then we got to Thawne, it's like, 'What does legacy mean to him?' So that's what we start to touch on in the background."What does this mean for Sherloque, though? The version of Wells helping the team out in current day was certainly teased to show a connection to Eobard. In the 100th episode, they both refer to Nora as a "clever girl," referencing Jurassic Park. However, as Helbing revealed, the two are not the same person."I'll just say he's has a different agenda than Thawne." the showrunner teased. As for what that agenda is, and whether it's good or evil, you're going to have to wait for the season to play out. We'll also have to wait to see whether Barry and Nora traveling back in time will have any impact on the timeline. "I feel like towards the end of the season is where we're going to see what kind of repercussions episode 100 had," Gustin said. Helbing, meanwhile, teased, "There's something that will happen probably way down the line that you realize but, no, right now we're not playing it in the same way like that we do."With such a massive episode that featured so many major moments, you're going to have to wait for any kind of immediate follow-up. Next, The Flash--along with Arrow and Supergirl--head into the massive "Elseworlds" crossover. The event kicks off on December 9. Make sure to check out our "Elseworlds" photos and spoiler teases so you're ready to take it all in.Info from Gamespot.com

It's been a long time coming, but Kingdom Hearts III is almost here. Set for a worldwide release on January 29, 2019 for PS4 and Xbox One, the next game in the incredibly complicated yet whimsical action-RPG series will conclude the main story with Sora, Donald Duck, Goofy and other friends as they face off against the evil Organization XIII and the swarming blight known as the Heartless. Since its debut, the Kingdom Hearts series blended together the exuberance and wonder of a Disney spectacle with the mechanics of an JRPG, offering something that really shouldn't have worked as well as it did.There's a lot anticipation for Kingdom Hearts III, but at the same time there's a number things that will be important to clear up. Just ahead of the game's release, we've compiled a number of important details regarding Kingdom Hearts III, when it first debuted, the platforms it will launch on, and whether it'll be safe to dive into this game if you're a first timer. Here's everything we know about Disney and Square Enix's upcoming action-RPG spectacle.Table of Contents [hide]What Is Kingdom Hearts III?Can I Start With KH III?Debut And The First TrailerWhere Does It Fit In The KH Timeline?The Second TrailerWhat's New In Kingdom Hearts III?All The Confirmed Worlds (So Far)The Third TrailerWhat Systems Is It On And What's Its Release Date?Will It Come To PC?How Can I Catch Up?Will there be a Theme Song?The Fourth TrailerIs There A Special Edition?What Is Kingdom Hearts III?Kingdom Hearts III is the next game in the long-running series that debuted in 2002 on the PlayStation 2. Created by Tetsuya Nomura, Kingdom Hearts is an action-RPG amalgamation of the memorable movies and games from both Disney and Square Enix (particularly the Final Fantasy series). Over the course of the series, Sora and his allies have travelled across the expansive multiverse, forming bonds with many familiar characters such as Aladdin, Mulan, and Hercules, while also facing off against foes such as Scar from The Lion King and Sephiroth from Final Fantasy VII.Kingdom Hearts III will continue the tradition of offering richly realized worlds to explore, with each locale having a set of iconic characters to team up with. Though technically not the third game in the series--it's really the eighth--KHIII will be the conclusion of the main storyline focusing on Sora and his friends and their travels across the Disney/Square universe. During their adventure, they'll encounter many returning characters and explore new worlds, which have a greater level of freedom and advanced combat mechanics.Can I Start With KH III?While the Kingdom Hearts series is known for its incredibly involved and complex plot, possessing an interconnected web of character relationships and timelines, it's still possible to jump into Kingdom Hearts III fresh. Much like other games, KHIII will offer a way for newcomers and fans who need to brush up on the story an opportunity to get up to speed with the new game. There will be numerous text files and docs that detail the major events throughout the series, key characters, and how it all led up to this point.Debut And The First TrailerKingdom Hearts III made its debut during Sony's E3 2013 press conference, revealing new visuals and designs for Sora, Donald, Goofy, and the locations they would visit--all powered by Unreal Engine 4. In this trailer, we saw some familiar scenes with the key characters before witnessing Sora fight off swarms of Heartless in a reimagined Twilight Town from KHII.Where Does It Fit In The KH Timeline?KHIII is the latest game chronologically on the series timeline. Though the numbered entries are seen as the core entries in the series, several important events have happened in the spin-off games that are vital for anyone looking to get the full story. While Kingdom Hearts Union X [Cross] (yes, that's the actual title) is a mobile/browser title, it also expands the overall plot. It shows off the events prior to the Keyblade War--one of the more notable events referenced throughout the series.Aside from the main games, the side-stories in Birth By Sleep and Dream Drop Distance not only reveal the backstories for many key side-characters, they reveal events that have come to shape the present story in Kingdom Hearts III. Here's a list of every KH game in chronological order.Kingdom Hearts: Union X [Cross]Kingdom Hearts: Birth By SleepKingdom Hearts 1.5 (Final Mix)Kingdom Hearts: 358/2 DaysKingdom Hearts: Chain of MemoriesKingdom Hearts 2.5 (Final Mix)Kingdom Hearts Re:CodedKingdom Hearts: Dream Drop DistanceKingdom Hearts IIIThe Second TrailerDebuting at E3 2015, the next trailer revealed footage of the Kingdom of Corona world from Tangled, along with Olympus Coliseum from Hercules. In the trailer, we also got to see footage of the new combat mechanic known as Attraction Flow, and saw two new characters exchange in cryptic dialog discussing the fate of other characters.What's New In Kingdom Hearts III?The gameplay in Kingdom Hearts III is very similar to how it was in Kingdom Hearts II, albeit with a much larger scope. In addition to larger environments to explore, players will now be able to have five characters in a party at once, with two guest characters joining the trio. Continuing from Kingdom Hearts II, Sora will be able to call upon his allies and trigger special combination attacks and special moves. Summoning also makes a return as well, allowing you to call forth famous Disney characters like Wreck-It-Ralph and Ariel from The Little Mermaid.However, Kingdom Hearts III tosses in several new abilities, which helps to bring combat to the next level. One of the new combat abilities is known as Attraction Flow, allowing Sora to conjure up a vehicle that's based on a famous Disneyland ride--such as Splash Mountain or the teacups from the Mad Tea Party attraction. By taking control of these rides, Sora can quickly deal heavy damage to multiple enemies. Another new twist is the addition of the various Keyblade transformations. While the previous games had you collect a whole assortment of special keyblades, many of which referenced classic Disney films and Final Fantasy games, KHIII takes things further by having each weapon possess its own signature move--giving you another new skill to use in battle.All The Confirmed Worlds (So Far)With every Kingdom Hearts game comes an assortment of levels that strongly contrast with each other. Kingdom Hearts III is no different, and we've already gotten a taste of where we'll be able to travel to in the upcoming game. Though the final game still has a number of worlds that have yet to be revealed, here's a quick rundown of the worlds we know of so far.Kingdom of Corona (Tangled)Olympus Coliseum (Hercules)San Fransokyo (Big Hero 6)Monstropolis (Monsters Inc.)Toy Box (Toy Story)Arendalle (Frozen)The Caribbean (Pirates of the Caribbean 3)Hundred Acre Wood (Winnie the Pooh)Twilight Town (Kingdom Hearts)The Third TrailerDuring D23 2017, Square-Enix and Disney released a new trailer showing off a first look at the Toy Box world from Toy Story. During the footage, Sora, Donald, and Goofy are transformed into action figures and have to battle Heartless in Andy's room. They eventually meet up with Woody and Buzz Lightyear, and soon find themselves exploring the outside of Andy's room and towards a massive toy-store where they control large mecha toys and confront another member of Organization XIII.What Systems Is It On And What's Its Release Date?Kingdom Hearts III will be available for PS4 and Xbox One on January 29, 2019. Though the series has mostly been a fixture of the PlayStation consoles, with a few appearances on Nintendo's handhelds, this game will mark the first time that the series will be available on a Microsoft console. Kingdom Hearts III will be available worldwide for PS4 and Xbox One on January 29, 2019. However, the game will be out in Japan nearly a week before on January 25.Will It Come To PC?As of now, there is no word on a PC release for the game. Though it's not outside the realm of possibility for it to make its way to PC, since Kingdom Hearts III will be the first multi-platform release, Square Enix have been quiet about a PC launch for the series.How Can I Catch Up?If you find yourself with the urge to revisit the previous games, or you simply want to see what all the hype is about, then you'll be pleased to know that Square Enix has re-released both the previous core Kingdom Hearts games in the 1.5 + 2.5 Remix edition for PS4. Originally released on PS3, these collections remaster the two games with new visuals and add in some new content.Featuring the Final Mix versions of Kingdom Hearts I and II, along with remasters of Birth By Sleep, Chain of Memories, Dream Drop Distances, and Recoded--ReMIX on PS4 also include a brand-new epilogue episode for Birth By Sleep [Kingdom Hearts 0.2 Birth by Sleep - A fragmentary passage], running on the same engine as Kingdom Hearts III, giving many a brief taste for what's to come in the next game. Unfortunately, this edition is only available on PS4, so Xbox One owners will have to wait for the digest in Kingdom Hearts III or play the ReMIX on PS4.Will there be a Theme Song?Much like other mainline entries in the series, there's always an opening number to kick off the new adventure--and KHIII is no different. In the new song, Face Your Fears, series vocalist Utada Hikaru returns for the main theme. In an interesting twist, the theme song is also produced by Skrillex, who made a name for himself over the last decade with his work in the dub-step sub-genre. The song will be released shortly before the launch of the game on January 18.The Fourth TrailerDuring E3 2018, we saw the next trailer for Kingdom Hearts 3--revealing the first look at the worlds for Frozen and the return of Pirates of the Caribbean. First shown during Microsoft's E3 press conference, Sora and friends encounter Elsa in the frozen wilderness, who's under attack from Heartless. We also saw a return visit to the Pirates of the Caribbean world, adapting the events from the third film At World's End.Is There A Special Edition?Square Enix plans to release a deluxe version of the game on both PS4 and Xbox One for $230. The bundle comes packed with Sora, Donald, and Goofy action-figures based on their appearances in the Toy Box, along with a steelbook and an artbook. There are also plans to release a special PS4 Pro bundle for Kingdom Hearts III, which is available for pre-order on the official Square Enix online store.Info from Gamespot.com

The Big Bash League, or BBL, is cricket's answer to the ever-increasing pace of modern life; a 20-over-a-side slogfest where smashing the ball out of the park to the sound of fireworks and loud rock music takes the place of five-day-long tests of endurance and patience. Big Bash Boom takes this concept and smashes it into the arcade game-o-sphere by introducing nice-looking power-ups, unlockable customizations, and a streamlined approach to gameplay that speeds up the action, while leaning into a goofiness that cricket games rarely embrace. But with a litany of technical problems and no meaningful tutorial to help you work out the basics, Big Bash Boom feels like it needs more time in the practice nets.Big Bash cricket is all about smashing the heck out of every ball and scoring as many runs as possible, and Big Bash Boom does a superb job of recreating the buzzing atmosphere you'll find at the ground during a BBL match, complete with wild crowds, fireworks displays, and unintentionally terrifying-looking mascots. You can pick any of the eight licensed teams from either the BBL or Women's BBL, taking them to glory in a casual match, full tournament, or online head-to-head.When jumping straight into a casual match, you can customize match options, team lineups, and ball type, which includes a few fun varieties--pie, anyone? You're led out onto the pitch and greeted by real-world commentator Pete Lazer, though his occasionally charming reads come off as a series of one-liners instead of actual commentary, and they begin to grate after some repeats.Out on the field is where Big Bash Boom shows off its main differences to past cricket games, including Ashes Cricket, which was by the same developer as Big Bash Boom. The action has been streamlined to cut out a lot of the dead air time that you tend to get at a cricket match, which gives the game its arcade feel. You're never asked to pick bowlers or select lineups. You can if you wish, but the game will otherwise make these calls to ensure a faster flow. The players all have NBA Jam-style big heads, which shows off the player likenesses in a way that's easy to appreciate. Faces are detailed, if a little robotic and expressionless, but the overall look works in context, especially combined with the great use of special effects to mark big shots.Batting and bowling feel more pick-up-and-play than in any other cricket game; however, the lack of a meaningful tutorial means things that should be obvious knowledge, like what the changing cursor colour on the pitch means, remain a mystery until you just happen to work it out through the natural course of playing. But that aside, it's simple enough to get into a match and start slogging balls left and right, with timing and shot selection all coming into play. Time it perfectly, and you'll probably make it sail over the ropes, but get it wrong and you might pop the ball up for an easy catch or swing and miss entirely. Bowling is a touch more complicated, involving selecting a bowl type to start the run in and then keeping the cursor on the pitch in place while timing your release. It often feels like you're up against it as a bowler; there's little you can do to avoid being belted around the park apart from bowling the occasional short ball, and you're limited to performing only one of those per over. Getting belted around every ball takes some getting used to, but thankfully if you'd rather spare yourself the embarrassment, you can always simulate the innings.The inclusion of power-ups for batters and bowlers help pump up the excitement of a match, and you can activate these after filling a special meter by hitting runs and boundaries as a batter, or dot balls and wickets as a bowler. Each exhibits some excellent-looking animations and special effects, and you'll get some extra power for the next few balls. Bowlers can bowl twice as fast, fielders are able to run at double their speed, and batters can force slower throws from the outfield or hit twice as hard, sending loose balls into the stratosphere. It's immensely satisfying.Everything you do in a match will earn you coins that you can put towards buying new in-match celebrations, which you're prompted to perform after hitting a big six or taking a wicket. While it's somewhat satisfying to rub it in your opponent's face, the lack of gameplay benefits makes showboating feel a little arbitrary. You can also purchase cosmetic customizations like new hats and helmets, but that's as far as personalization goes; disappointingly, there's no player or team editor.Beyond the excellent special moves and vibrant aesthetic, the rest of the game struggles to hide its seams, most notably when it comes to animations. Fielders will move about awkwardly when chasing the ball before settling and sending in the return throw, while batters often warp into place before setting off for a run. There are also some more obtrusive bugs that, when they hit, can change the outcome of a match. A few times I was called out for a catch on one side of the field when the camera made it look like the ball had gone in the opposite direction. I've also had catches made in the outfield seem as though they don't count, with my player harmlessly throwing the ball back to the keeper as though nothing happened--something that can be immensely frustrating.Big Bash Boom's potential is clear. Despite its singular focus making it feel a little barebones when compared to other cricket titles, the shift towards arcade gameplay feels perfectly suited to the relatively flamboyant presentation of the BBL. But it's washed with bugs that affect the core of the experience, and those technical issues make it difficult to warm up to. Info from Gamespot.com

What's another oppressive dictatorship to series protagonist Rico Rodriguez? Not much. He does encounter a new kind of enemy in Just Cause 4, however: extreme weather. It's the common thread that runs through both the story and new mechanics and tops off the explosive spectacle the series is known for. And alongside new gadgets to send objects (and people) flying across the world, Just Cause has become a physics playground. Unfortunately, there just aren't enough opportunities to put these features to good use; underwhelming mission structure and a world slim on enticing activities makes Just Cause 4 a short-lived blast with untapped potential.The best and most prevalent piece of Just Cause games is at the forefront once again. An exceptional traversal system lets you propel Rico across the beautiful landscapes of Solis and effortlessly soar through the skies. With the combo of a grappling hook, parachute, and wingsuit, Rico can basically go wherever, whenever (and often more efficiently) without a vehicle. Like past games, you build momentum and essentially catapult yourself using the combination of these tools and hardly ever have to touch the ground. It's tough to overstate how satisfying it is to escape enemy hordes and hook onto the underside of a helicopter to hijack it and tear them all down, or slingshot yourself out of harm's way toward the next target you'll blow to bits.Rico isn't only built to move fast, however: if you aren't causing explosions on a regular basis, you might be doing something wrong. Fuel tanks, red barrels, and vehicles are unusually explosive, and set the stage for over-the-top action. Since the grappling hook can also be used to tether objects together, you have lots of opportunities to get creative outside of exhausting your arsenal of firearms--some of which have their own wacky practical applications, like the wind cannon or lightning gun. Some weapons just wreak havoc such as the railgun or burst-fire rocket launcher, and even modest small arms like the SMG have impactful alternate fire modes. This may be the expectation for Just Cause, but it still pulls you in for a wild ride.It's tough to overstate how satisfying it is to escape enemy hordes and hook onto the underside of a helicopter to hijack it and tear them all down, or slingshot yourself out of harm's way toward the next target you'll blow to bits.Its identity as a destructive playground is further emphasized by grappling hook mods, three of which you customize: air lifter, retractor, and boosters. All three devices coincide with the new physics engine. Air lifters (essentially mini hot air balloons) let you launch things into the sky, and they can be further customized in terms of velocity, behavior, and altitude. Retractors pull targets together violently, and boosters work like jet engines that'll send objects into a speeding frenzy, whether it be an attack helicopter or a poor enemy soldier. Multiple permutations of these contraptions are made possible, since their effects can be stacked into a single tether and three loadout settings let you switch between loadouts on the fly. These gadgets are unlocked through side activities, and you're given plenty of avenues to make them work as you desire, which leads to the most disappointing part. Just Cause 4 gives you so many shiny new toys to play with but seldom a reason to use them.Mission structure is uninspired, as you are continually asked to escort NPCs, defend a specific object for a set duration, activate (or destroy) inconspicuous generators, or hit a number of console panels to activate some sort of process. The worst offender has to be the timed missions that ask you to sink bomb-rigged vehicles into the ocean; they're tedious and prone to mishaps at no fault of your own. These are tied to Region Strikes, which are required to unlock territories on the map and progress to main story missions. While blasting through waves of enemies and their military-grade vehicles offers some great moments, you're often asking yourself: okay, what else? Shielded heavies, snipers perched from a mile away, and flocks of attack helicopters can become enjoyably overwhelming, since you have to rapidly make use of your diverse toolset. But several missions are designed in such a way that's oddly restricting, limiting the game's strongest assets. Enemies simply swarm and act as basic obstacles rather than clever challenges, and that leaves you with objectives that rarely bring out the best in the mechanics and systems of Just Cause 4.At a time when open-world games sometimes overstay their welcome, Just Cause 4 is at the other end of the spectrum, where you wish there was more to experience because it has so much going for it.There are a few stellar moments in the main story missions that make proper use of the extreme weather system that is the core of Just Cause 4's premise. Specifically, the conclusion to a stormchaser-themed questline funnels you through a number of battles while a tornado rips through your surroundings. Your ability to parachute and glide are drastically affected by the wind velocity and turbulence, which throws some welcome unpredictability into the mix. One particular sequence is also indicative of what the grappling hook mods are capable of; destroying massive wind cannons that impede progress with boosters wasn't only the most efficient method, but watching these heaps of steel frantically spin out of control was a sight to behold. The last stand in this mission, a sequence of rooftop firefights amid the harsh weather, brings the many great pieces of the game together.The same can't be said about the other extreme weather conditions, however. Sandstorms challenge you with violent winds and obscured vision, and thunderstorms bring torrential rain and lightning strikes that make for a visual treat. But they're not game-changing in the way tornadoes are since they have a minimal effect on gameplay. Even then, the questlines tied to these weather conditions and their respective biomes are over before you get to fully experience their unique qualities.All the while, a vaguely coherent story about family and a rebellion against an evil regime serves as the platform for Rico's wild ride. Stories in Just Cause haven't been more than excuses for environmental destruction and a way to make you feel comically powerful, and the same holds true here, though you may find the ties to previous entries somewhat endearing. The harsh forecasts are justified by villain Oscar Espinoza's high-tech devices that control the weather and oppress the people of the fictional South American country Solis. Rico remains the plausible one-man army who has the capabilities of a superhero with the air of a grounded, unassuming protagonist. If there's anything that Just Cause does well story-wise, it's convincing you to accept the absurdity of it all.Throughout the game, you'll be building a revolution across Solis, bolstering what's called the Army of Chaos. It's a fundamental piece to progression and the key to taking down Espinoza and toppling The Black Hand private military again. The Army of Chaos serves as a tool to controlling territories across the map since you need to accumulate squad reinforcements to overtake regions, which also gates your ability to take on story missions. Cause destruction and raise your chaos level, and get squads to progress. It boils down to a numbers game, and once you understand the structure of this system, you can easily snowball squad numbers and control all of Solis without having to grind your chaos level. Side activities from three minor characters litter the map as well; Sargento has you teaming with NPCs to destroy enemy infrastructure, Garland makes you do stunts, and Javi provides a bit more context to Solis by asking to do a few easy puzzles. It's more things to do, and they unlock the aforementioned grappling hook mods, but they're simple in nature and aren't enough to compensate for the shortcomings of other missions.Just Cause 4 has incredible moments where beauty and destruction cross with Rico's ability to zip around the world at a moment's notice. It's gratifying and easy to grasp, especially when you're able to string a series of wingsuit fly-bys, vehicles hijackings, and fiery explosions all in the name of revolution, but those moments are either short-lived or tied to rudimentary missions. You're given an awesome toolset that paves the way for creativity in a world with too few problems to solve. At a time when open-world games sometimes overstay their welcome, Just Cause 4 is at the other end of the spectrum, where you wish there was more to experience because it has so much going for it.Info from Gamespot.com

The revival/reboot era of television is truly in full swing, with shows like Full House, Roseanne, Twin Peaks, Will & Grace, and many others returning after years away with varying degrees of success. Could the American version of The Office be next? There have been a few reports stating the show is coming back, but NBC has yet to make any official announcements.While we wait for official word, the teases for an Office revival continue. Angela Kinsey, who played Angela from accounting on the show, posted a picture on Twitter today of herself and (almost) all of the main cast attending some kind of get-together. The gathering, whatever it was for, took place at the home of Greg Daniels, who famously adapted Ricky Gervais' The Office for American TV.Some of the old gang got together today... it was so great to see everyone! I turned to Ed and said, “I feel like we are at a family reunion.” He smiled and said, “We are.” ❤️ Thanks Greg for hosting! For those who couldn’t make it... you were missed! pic.twitter.com/DwF42lNGHk — Angela Kinsey (@AngelaKinsey) December 3, 2018Pictured here are Rainn Wilson (Dwight Schrute), Jenna Fischer (Pam Beesly), Leslie David Baker (Stanley Hudson), Brian Baumgartner (Kevin Malone), Ed Helms (Andy Bernard), Paul Liberstein (Toby Flenderson), Phyllis Smith (Phyllis Vance), Creed Bratton (Creed Bratton), and Oscar Nunez (Oscar Martinez), along with Kinsey and Daniels.As you'll immediately notice, some people are missing. John Krasinski, who played Jim Halpert, is nowhere to be seen, nor is Steve Carrel, the glue that held the show together with his character Michael Scott. According to one report, the character Michael Scott won't be in the reboot, with the show instead bringing in a new boss. As for Krasinski, there are any number of reasons as to why he wasn't in the picture, though intriguingly he re-tweeted Kinsey's picture today. Also missing are B.J. Novak (Ryan Howard) and Mindy Kaling (Kelly Kapoor), who in addition to their acting duties, wrote some episodes of The Office. Kate Flannery, who played Meredith Palmer, is also nowhere to be seen, nor are any of the characters from the newer seasons such as Ellie Kemper (Erin Hannon).Back in July, Krasinski said he would love to reunite with his Office castmates for something new; he called them his family. Krasinski also said he thinks The Office could return as a one-off Christmas special.On a November episode of Saturday Night Live, Carrel trolled the audience with a playful opening monologue in which cast members talked about bringing the show back because they need the money. Even Carrel's real-life family urged him to do it. You can watch the silly segment below.It's just like the good ol' days with Ellie Kemper, @edhelms, and @jennafischer joining @SteveCarell for his #SNL monologue. #TheOffice pic.twitter.com/g76oPCVjHf — The Office (@theofficenbc) November 18, 2018Before that, Carell said in an interview that he thinks it's a bad idea to bring back The Office. Not only should the show not come back, but it also might not work if it has a similar tone."The climate's different. I mean, the whole idea of that character, Michael Scott, so much of it was predicated on inappropriate behavior."Michael Scott being out-of-touch and kind of a jerk is the point, Carell said, but this attitude probably wouldn't fly in 2018. "A lot of what is depicted on that show is completely wrong-minded. That's the point, you know? But I just don't know how that would fly now. There's a very high awareness of offensive things today--which is good, for sure. But at the same time, when you take a character like that too literally, it doesn't really work," he said.Would you like to see The Office return? Let us know in the comments below!Info from Gamespot.com

The Nintendo Switch continues to get great games. Developer Campo Santo has announced that its acclaimed 2016 adventure game, Firewatch, is coming to Switch very soon.You don't have to wait long at all to pick it up on Nintendo's hybrid console, as it arrives in the eShop on December 17 in the Americas, Europe, Australia, and Japan. It's being published by the Portland, Oregon-based independent studio Panic. Campo Santo announced Firewatch for Switch earlier this year, at the time pegging it launch in spring 2018, so the wait has been longer than expected.Firewatch is coming to Nintendo Switch on December 17th! We'll be in the Americas, Europe, Australia, and Japan eShops. pic.twitter.com/BJvPnTd4KU — Campo Santo (@camposanto) December 1, 2018Set in 1989, Firewatch takes place in the Wyoming wilderness and puts you in the role of Henry (voiced by Mad Men's Richard Sommer), a man with a troubled past who seeks a new life as a fire lookout. The other main character is Delilah (Cissy Jones), whom Henry speaks with using a walkie-talkie. The game was originally released in February 2016 for PC and PlayStation 4, before landing on Xbox One in September of that year.It was Campo Santo's first title and reviews were positive across the board. Here at GameSpot, it was one of our favourite games of 2016. It was also a commercial success, selling more than 1 million copies in its first year.A Firewatch movie is currently in the works at Good Universe, the film company that also produced the well-received horror movie Don't Breathe and Last Vegas.Campo Santo's next game is the intriguing-looking In The Valley Of Gods, which was announced during The Game Awards last year. In other news, Valve acquired Campo Santo earlier this year for an undisclosed sum. Info from Gamespot.com

Ubisoft's massive Assassin's Creed Odyssey offers the series' largest open world to date, greatly dwarfing the scale of its predecessors. With no plans for another AC game in 2019, fans will be firmly set in the realm of Ancient Greece for some time, though the developers at Ubisoft plan to keep things interesting for the foreseeable future. Players have already seen some new events in the form of the free Lost Tales of Greece series, along with tweaks to the core gameplay. Now, the debut installment of the first major DLC releases on December 4 for season pass holders on PC, PS4, and Xbox One. With the first episode, Odyssey shows off a promising start for its post-launch initiative.In Legacy of the First Blade, the lead character will encounter Darius, son of Xerxes and one of the earliest assassins to wield the original hidden blade. Fans with a sharp eye will recognize the character from one of the hidden tombs visited in Assassin's Creed II, and you'll eventually team up with him to take down a new threat in the form of the Order of the Ancients. As something of a mini-series, Legacy of the First Blade will span across three episodes, with the conclusion coming sometime in early 2019. We had the opportunity to play the first episode prior to launch, and we also spoke with game director Scott Phillips about how much has changed since release and where Ubisoft plans to take things from here."We've been very happy with the feedback from fans so far," said the director. "It's been very cool to see the reception from people that like the big things we've all worked on, such as the role-playing and progression aspects, the dialog systems, the massive world, the naval [systems], and all that stuff. People have been coming back for the daily and weekly events, and so on. So having players being continually engaged with the events has been super fun to see. We wanted to keep that going for the long-term with this new DLC."Legacy of the First Blade feels very much like a continuation of the gameplay loop from Odyssey. Taking around four to five hours to complete, the new questline will unlock after completing the events on Naxos in Chapter 7, with a minimum level cap of 29. In the first episode, Hunted, you'll travel to the existing region of Makedonia in the northern section of the map and find it in turmoil. Though this location, along with others, felt underutilized in the main game, the area is put to better use in the DLC. Once you learn of the Order of the Ancients--setting the stage for their appearance in Origins--you'll work with Darius to dismantle their influence. Continuing the Cultist gameplay from the main game, you'll find a brand-new page in the sub-menu to dive into, with the following episodes adding even more targets to uncover.Prior to the first story DLC, Odyssey has had many updates since launch, which includes a new level cap, new quests, and mastery levels that allow you to spend ability points on stats boosts. In Legacy of the First Blade, a brand-new skill is also added to the mix. In the Assassin ability tree, you'll find a new passive skill known as Death Veil. With this ability, any target that's killed with a stealth takedown, and without any witnesses nearby, will vanish instantly--leaving no traces behind. Though it only has a single rank, as opposed to the typical three levels, the passive skill is a great fit and should make stealth-focused players feel more at ease during some of the more challenging encounters in the episode.Over the course of the first episode, we took on missions that covered the gamut of what you'll find in Odyssey: investigations, stealth gameplay, naval travel and battles, and plenty of on-foot combat. Though the missions themselves consist of the sort of events you'd find in the main game--save for a few standout encounters--the narrative in the DLC offers many surprising and heartfelt moments with the lead character as they realize the growing impact their choices have throughout the world. Moreover, seeing the earliest traces of the Assassin order in Odyssey's world--which is largely devoid of their influence--is interesting. Though it all manages to tie back into the larger story, especially if you've played the game to completion, the developers wanted to keep it as a side story for the sake of those who haven't seen the game's main arc to completion."We knew that there were certain systems that were sort of infinite and would continue to expand--such as the mercenaries and conquests--but it was important for us to gradually expand and pace things out for players to keep them coming back to the game with interesting events," says Phillips. "We're aware that more people will be coming into the game later on as the months go by, so we wanted to make sure that new content we are adding wouldn't negatively impact the core game itself. This DLC is a great way for newcomers especially to level up and take part in an interesting quest while stepping away for a bit from the longer term odyssey."The most apparent thing playing through Odyssey to completion is the massive scale of the game. However, the first episode of The First Blade sticks with the island of Makedonia, making it feel like an interlude during many of the core chapters throughout the game. That's not a bad thing. Given the scale of Odyssey, easing into a new quest that slowly builds up to what's to come is a nice change of pace--especially for those that have already completed all the main stories.It is a bit of an adjustment seeing Assassin's Creed take a different approach to launching new content. The series has seen all sorts of standalone DLC over the years, so having a continuing story unravel over several weeks could make for a more engaging story. Along with the free updates adding new quests and enemies to fight, there always seems to be something new happening in the world. The events in the first episode of Legacy of the First Blade does keep things a bit subdued compared to some of the larger events in the main game. However, the teases for what's to come during the brisk first episode hints at a much larger battle with greater stakes, and it'll be intriguing--especially for longtime fans--to see how it all manages to play out within the broader setting of the world.Info from Gamespot.com