Monster Hunter Rise launched alongside three new Amiibo figures, each of which unlocks a special set of layered armor in the game. Unlike the other armor you can craft through regular gameplay, layered armor is cosmetic--it doesn't offer any stats of its own, but you can wear it over your current armor set to change up your look.If you've gotten your hands on the new Monster Hunter Rise Amiibo, here's a rundown on how to scan them in the game and claim their armor sets.Monster Hunter Amiibo ArmorThere are three Monster Hunter Rise Amiibo figures: the Magnamalo Amiibo, Palamute Amiibo, and Palico Amiibo. Each figure unlocks a set of Sinister Seal layered armor, all of which are themed after the game's flagship monster, the Magnamalo (and look really cool).Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

Preorder listings for a new pair of Xbox wireless controller colors have appeared at Amazon and Best Buy today, though Amazon's listings appear to have been temporarily taken down after they started accepting preorders earlier today. The two colors, Electric Volt and Daystrike Camo, retail for $65 and $70 USD, respectively, and you can still check out the listings at Best Buy, which indicates the two new shades are "coming soon."Both controllers can be used across all of Microsoft's devices, including PC, Xbox Series X|S, and Xbox One as well as other devices like Macs, Android devices, and iPhones. The two controllers feature a hybrid D-pad, a headphone jack, textured grips and triggers, and a USB-C port. Xbox Wireless Controller - Electric Volt $65 The Electric Volt controller features a striking lime green color with textured grip on the bumpers, back-case, and triggers. Like other wireless Xbox controllers, this one takes AA batteries but is also compatible with rechargeable battery packs. Further, it can connect to the Xbox Accessories app--letting users remap the buttons on the controller--comes with a USB-C port, and has a hybrid D-pad. See at Best Buy See at Amazon Xbox Wireless Controller - Daystrike Camo $70 Much like the Electric Volt, the Daystrike Camo controller comes equipped with textured grips in all the same places. This red-and-black camouflage controller also features a USB-C port, rechargeable battery pack compatibility, a hybrid D-Pad, and button remapping capabilities through the Xbox Accessories app. See at Best Buy See at Amazon Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

The 2021 Oscars ceremony is reportedly expected to start walking back its recently announced strict in-person requirements, according to The Hollywood Reporter. While producers detailed a vision for a "safe, carefree evening" at "an intimate, in-person event" taking place and also airing on ABC on April 25, the announcement sparked some backlash.Among those pushing back were nominees and film distributors who "expressed concerns about the quarantine requirements on both sides of travel, which would come with significant financial burdens." The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the organization behind the Oscars, has seemingly heard these concerns and have contacted nominees directly for a planned Tuesday morning "conversation with show producers" on Zoom, where "updates about the show" will be shared--which is expected to also include options to participate remotely. Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

On the heels of winning the BAFTA Fellowship, Media Molecule's Siobhan Reddy spoke to Gamesindustry.biz about her win, issues of diversity in the gaming industry, and the work culture Media Molecule strives to create.Reddy is the first woman to win the BAFTA Fellowship, a prestigious accolade that recognizes "exceptional contribution to film, television or games." Former awardees include Hideo Kojima, Tim Schafer, and Gabe Newell. Reddy was awarded for her "pioneering work on advocacy for diversity, inclusion, and creative and collaborative working culture."Viewing the BAFTA win as a sign of "real encouragement for all of us to care even more about inclusivity, diversity, and building a work culture that celebrates creativity," Reddy spoke more in detail about what creating that work culture looks like.Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

A COVID-19 vaccine site in Northern California will reportedly close this Thursday and Friday to host an anime event, according to The Sacramento Bee. That event will be SacAnime, a gathering for anime enthusiasts taking place at the Roebbelen Center in Roseville, California.County spokesperson Katie Combs-Prichard told The Sacramento Bee that SacAnime was a "pre-existing event" booked far in advance, and that the vaccine site will extend its hours Monday through Wednesday this week into the evening to "maximize the volume" of doses administered this week, and to attempt to compensate for the closures.Combs-Prichard also added that 90% of the week's 5,400 appointments at the site were second-dose vaccine appointments, "so closure or not, the impact on first dose appointments available in that time window is not very large." Still, it does not help with the optics as the seasons have been changing and the people have steadily finally been getting their vaccines.Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

Fortnite Season 6 is a few weeks in, and already the game is set to receive its first major shake-up according to the patch notes for version 16.10. A new kind of wildlife, which dataminers leaked at the launch of the season, seemed all but certain. Now the official patch notes seem to confirm what many were speculating this morning: dinosaurs arrive tomorrow.A new update is about to hatch.v16.10 is scheduled for release on March 30. Downtime will begin at approx. 4 AM ET (08:00 UTC). (1/4) pic.twitter.com/bajSRNRWKe — Fortnite Status (@FortniteStatus) March 29, 2021The full patch notes also include a nerf to the Primal Shotgun by way of a lowered firing rate, adjustments to crafting, and the addition of Animal Bones and Mechanical Parts to floor loot. That means players will no longer need to rely on finding those crafting items on wildlife, vehicles, or the NPCs who sell them, though those hotspots are probably still going to be your best bets.With more abundant crafting parts also comes a change to how much of each resource players will need, as Epic revealed patch 16.10 will cause upgrade costs to scale with a Makeshift weapon's rarity. It won't be the standard four Animal Bones or four Mechanical Parts anymore, it seems, though this may also mean more common weapons take even fewer resources to craft than what players have been used to so far this season.Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

Titans clash this Wednesday, March 31, when Godzilla vs. Kong hits HBO Max (and theaters). Once the movie hits HBO Max, you have 31 days to view it before it leaves the service again. Here's how and when to watch the legendary ape and the King of Monsters as they come to blows for the first time in over half a century.How to watch Godzilla vs. Kong on HBO MaxGodzilla vs. Kong will stream exclusively on HBO Max once it releases. As with Warner Bros.' other 2021 theatrical releases, the film will be available for 31 days from when it hits the streaming service. While Godzilla vs Kong is live, you can watch the monsters battle using the HBO Max app. The app is available on Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, mobile devices, many smart TVs, and on video game consoles like the PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.For the ultimate experience, you'll want to watch on a television and streaming device that supports 4K Ultra HD resolution and HDR. Godzilla vs. Kong will support both the HDR10 standard as well as Dolby Vision HDR and Dolby Atmos audio.Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

Niantic is kicking off a spring celebration in Pokemon Go on April 4. The event runs for four days and features various spring-themed Pokemon, including Shiny Bunnelby and Mega Lopunny, the latter of which will be available for the first time in the game as a Mega Raid boss.Throughout the spring event, flower crown-wearing versions of Pikachu and Chansey will appear in the wild, as will the following Pokemon:ExeggcuteMarillPlusleMinunBunnearyBunnelbyYou'll also be able to find some Shiny Pokemon during the event. In addition to the aforementioned Shiny Bunnelby, you'll have a chance to catch Shiny Chansey in the wild. You may also hatch a Shiny version of Chansey's pre-evolved form, Happiny.Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

Niantic, the studio behind Pokemon Go, has teased that it's making a new kind of device. Based on the image, it looks to be a new brand of smart glasses."Exciting to see the progress we're making to enable new kinds of devices that leverage our platform," founder and CEO John Hanke tweeted.Exciting to see the progress we’re making to enable new kinds of devices that leverage our platform... pic.twitter.com/yYglk4q89G — John Hanke (@johnhanke) March 29, 2021In a quote tweet response, Wired senior writer Lauren Goode wrote, "Last time we spoke, Hanke said it will still be a couple of years before we see a truly consumer-friendly AR glasses experience." So we may still be months (or even years) away from getting official confirmation on what this new tech is.Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

There's still some time to grab the free Amazon Prime games for March--including the huge library of SNK classics--but if you've already done that, you can check out what's next. Amazon has revealed April's free Amazon Prime games, which are available through April 30 and include five excellent titles: The Escapists, Moving Out, Move or Die: Couch Party Edition, Aces of the Luftwaffe: Squadron, and Before I Forget.The Escapists is one of the biggest Prime Gaming offerings available during April. A prison-escape simulator, you'll take the role of a prisoner with one goal in mind: get the heck out. There are a lot of different ways you can go about breaking out, but you'll have to avoid the stringent eyes of the guards as you plan out and execute your escape. Amazon Prime 30-day free trial Get free games, fast delivery, Prime Video, and more See more at Amazon In The Escapists, you're on your own, but you'll be joined by your friends in the moving-out simulator, Moving Out. You and up to three friends tackle various moving jobs around the neighborhood, working together to transport bigger items out of the house and into the truck. You'll want to finish jobs as fast as you can as your score is dependent on your speed.Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

San Diego Comic Con International announced this weekend the dates for its first in-person convention since the COVID-19 pandemic began, with Comic-Con Special Edition set to run over the Thanksgiving weekend from November 26 to November 28. Now, organizers are having to defend those dates to fans disappointed that they have to choose between family and a convention this fall.Comic-Con Special Edition is a three-day event, one day shorter than a full-size Comic-Con, and quite a bit later than its usual July dates. Fans decried the announcement on social media, and convention organizers have now released a statement in hopes of appeasing those conflicted con-goers."As conventions and events have had to cancel their in-person shows or have converted to virtual formats during the pandemic, some have been postponed to later years while others have been rescheduled to the later part of 2021, resulting in a very packed Convention Center calendar," said convention organizers in an official statement. "When reviewing dates for an in-person event, it was clear that available meeting and exhibit space would limit our options. Of the dates presented with the fewest restrictions, Friday through Sunday of Thanksgiving weekend seemed to be the best balance of available space and our envisioned event. As longtime fans ourselves, we have attended many conventions over that holiday weekend, opting to spend Thanksgiving day with family and the rest of the weekend with friends and our families of choice. While this is not unusual in the convention trade, we understand this choice is not optimal for everyone."Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

Following player feedback, Ubisoft is changing Reda's Shop in Assassin's Creed Valhalla. The update for the shop will go live on March 30 and will make it easier to buy new items without spending all the opals you've discovered.In Valhalla, Reda joins your settlement upon the completion of securing an alliance with Ledecestrescire. For opals, an in-game currency you can find by exploring the world, Reda will sell you unique weapons, armor, and cosmetics that rotate out of his shop on a weekly basis. Up till now, he'd sell you three new items each week. The March 30 update will increase that number to six.This update also corresponds to a change in Reda's stock. So starting March 30, you'll have a limited window to purchase six new items. They're listed below:Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

The locations you explore in Monster Hunter Rise have already felt the delicate touch of humanity's hand. Traditional Japanese torii can be found weaving through mountainside paths, leading to sacred shrines, while decaying temples have been reclaimed by nature as local plant life envelops the aging architecture. Signs of human life can even be found at the base of a raging volcano and in the midst of a flooded forest, where a Mesoamerican-style pyramid dominates the landscape.If 2018's Monster Hunter World was all about unearthing a new continent as an intrepid frontiersman, then Rise is a triumphant return to the Old World with valuable lessons learned. An enhanced port of the 3DS title Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate may have already graced the Nintendo Switch, but Rise is the first game in the series built from the ground up for Nintendo's latest console. As such, Rise closely follows in the footsteps of World while reneging on some of its changes and introducing plenty of new impactful ideas that excellently shift the focus towards the series' heart-pumping action.The core Monster Hunter gameplay loop has remained relatively unchanged as you hunt down gargantuan monsters, harvest their materials to craft new weapons and armor, and tackle increasingly tougher foes. World coalesced both the single and multiplayer parts of the experience into one cohesive whole, but Rise reverts back to the old ways by splitting them into disparate Village and Hub quests. Village quests can only be played alone, while Hub quests can still be tackled solo but are designed with multiple players in mind. This isn't the most welcome setup for newcomers since it isn't immediately clear which quests progress the story, nor is there any indication of whether or not you should be alternating between both paths. The impact this structure has on the game isn't as substantial as it initially seems, though. Hunting the same monster multiple times has always been a part of Monster Hunter's DNA, so repeating the same mission as both a Village and Hub quest is something you would typically seek out anyway.Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

Building a criminal empire isn't all fun and games, you know. In Evil Genius 2, the sequel/reboot of the 2004 cult classic strategy game, running a casino and super-secret volcano lair with a doomsday device takes vision… and the ability to manage an army of minions. It's a management sim that requires careful planning and timing; you need to build a base that runs like a well-oiled machine that can mint the resources you'll need to conquer the globe. To succeed where every Bond villain has failed, the base needs to double as a labyrinth of wild traps like shark pits and laser walls that can keep nosy secret agents from bringing too much heat down on you. Though aspects of the game can feel like they're at cross-purposes from time to time, Evil Genius 2's goofy, lighthearted vision perfectly captures a cartoony retro spy vibe that lets you revel in pretending you're the ultimate evil boss.Taking advantage of nearly 20 years of technological advances since the original, Evil Genius 2 makes good on the promise of making a Bond Villain simulator. The art, music, and style channel the cartoon camp of ‘60s and ‘70s spy movies and TV. In cutscenes, the Genius banters with rival villains and super spies or berates his minions, who maintain a sheepish, aww-shucks attitude. All of this paints the Genius' rise to power as a fun, free-wheeling romp. The swanky lounge soundtrack, punctuated by dramatic musical cues likewise feels like it's pulled out of the early-era Bond that permeates every pore of the game.The '60s and '70s spy-movie vibe permeates every aspect of Evil Genius 2 to great effect.You can feel it most acutely in the characters. Though you are the mastermind, there are actually many Evil Geniuses. At the start of the game you can choose one of four to be your avatar. From the gold-obsessed Maximilian to the metal-armed Russian General Red Ivan, the geniuses all have the larger-than-life international crime syndicate boss look and feel. You can also recruit "henchmen," unique lieutenants with similar powers and Bond villain personas. Lastly, each region of the world has a singular Super Agent who can disrupt your base pretty handily and deliver some of that crucial hero-villain banter.Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

GameStop's annual Spring Sale has already begun and will run all week, ending Saturday, April 3. As usual, the GameStop Spring Sale brings a medley of game deals for PlayStation, Xbox, and Switch as well as discounts on collectibles and accessories. Several games also support next-gen upgrades, should you have or plan to buy one of the newer systems soon. GameStop has released a preview of its Spring Sale deals ahead of time, so we're rounding up the best ones here. The sale doesn't have any particularly mind-blowing offers, but there are a few things worth calling out. There's a preowned games sale that's a good opportunity to snag a bunch of older games for relatively cheap--the offer lets you pick five games for $50 (they must be preowned games under $20 though). In terms of new games, some of the best game deals include Yakuza: Like a Dragon for $40, Little Nightmares II for $20, and Persona 5 Royal for $30. You can also pick up Splatoon 2 for $50--that's not a huge discount, but Splatoon 2 rarely crops up in sales like this, so it's notable.Game dealsPreowned games -- get five for $50 (on titles under $20)Assassin's Creed Valhalla -- $30 ($60)BioShock: The Collection -- $20 ($50)Borderlands: Legendary Collection -- $20 ($50)Immortals Fenyx Rising -- $30 ($60)Just Dance 2021 -- $30 ($50)Little Nightmares II -- $20 ($30)Mortal Kombat 11: Aftermath Kollection -- $20 ($40)Persona 5 Royal -- $30 ($60)Plants vs. Zombies: Battle for Neighborville Complete Edition -- $30 ($40)Splatoon 2 -- $50 ($60)Star Wars Squadrons -- $20 ($40)XCOM 2 Collection -- $20 ($50)Watch Dogs Legion -- $20 ($60)Yakuza: Like a Dragon -- $40 ($60)Aside from games, accessories and gaming tech are seeing discounts in the GameStop Spring Sale as well. If you have more than one pair of Joy-Cons, you can snag PowerA's Joy-Con Charging Dock for $20, letting you charge four Joy-Con controllers at once. GameStop is also releasing a Razer PC gaming bundle that gets you the Cynosa Lite gaming keyboard, Viper Mini gaming mouse, and Gigantus V2 gaming mouse mat for $70 during the Spring Sale. And if you're in need of a cheap gaming chair, the Victorage gaming chair will be $40 off and is made of thick PVC faux leather, reclines up to 145 degrees, and comes with head and lower back pillows.Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com