2020-09-25
Halo 4 is coming to PC soon, marking the sixth and final game in The Master Chief Collection that will complete the package. In developer 343's latest weekly blog post, the studio announced that Halo 4's first public beta tests will be held "before the end of October."That is the current plan, but 343 admitted that beta dates are "always subject to change." If history is any indication, the beta tests will start with a small group before expanding to a larger audience as 343 ramps things up. You must be a Halo Insider member to have a shot at participating in the betas--sign up for the free Halo Insider program here.When Halo 4 does arrive, it will complete The Master Chief Collection on PC. The games in the package have been released in chronological order, including Halo: Reach, Halo: Combat Evolved, Halo 2, Halo 3, and Halo 3: ODST.Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com
2020-09-25
Destiny 2 developer Bungie is making some changes to how it updates the game, and for the upcoming Beyond Light expansion, this means you'll need to re-download the entire game.Bungie said in a blog post that it recongizes this could be a "painful" problem for people with slow internet or caps on their data. "We're sorry about that," Bungie said.To help make this sting less, Bungie will start pre-loading for Beyond Light on the evening of November 9 PT, so people have at least 10 hours to download the expansion before it officially goes live.Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com
2020-09-25
The 2020 NFL season has wrapped up its second week, and with that, EA has adjusted player ratings in Madden NFL 21 based on how the athletes performed on the field.Some of the players who saw their player ratings rise included Buffalo Bills QB Josh Allen, who rose from a 77 OVR to a 78 OVR after throwing for 417 yards and four touchdown passes in his team's win over the Miami Dolphins.Seattle Seahawks wide receiver D.K. Metcalf also had a successful week on the field, thanks to his epic 54-yard touchdown reception against the reigning defensive player of the year, Stephon Gilmore. Thanks to his strong performance, Metcalf rose to an 80 OVR rating.Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com
2020-09-25
With NBA 2K21, you just know what you're getting into--a basketball simulation with the presentation chops, star power, and gameplay mechanics to embody the sport on a professional and cultural level. You know you'll build a custom player to go through a story that leads into a full career and take to the streets and rec center for pick up games. You know you can play a management sim through MyGM or build a playable fantasy team through card packs in MyTeam. And you also know all too well about the scheme of VC that looms over it all, which remains one of the prominent offenders of intrusive microtransactions.At this point, NBA 2K21 suggests that the franchise is out of surprises. It comes with a robust suite of modes, but despite minor remixing year after year, the annual releases are starting to blend together (if they haven't already). Mechanics get minor tweaks or additions, but largely remain untouched. So, for those embedded in the 2K cycle, you know what the deal is, but because this year's game changes things mostly on a surface level, it's hard to be excited about yet another entry.Your player in MyCareer starts in high school, goes through college for a short time, then gets drafted.Don't get me wrong, as a lifelong basketball fan who embraced the culture as a wee lad and cherishes street ball memories from back home, I'm still a bit in awe of how well the sport has translated into video game form (I said as much in my NBA 2K19 review). And that doesn't just come from the player likenesses, character creation tools, or the broadcast-style presentation; it's a matter of the core gameplay, too.Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com
2020-09-25
Mafia: Definitive Edition may look like a contemporary video game, but it doesn't exactly play like one. This shouldn't be too surprising considering it's a remake of the classic 2002 mobster epic, but it also doesn't play like that game either. This is a remake that's been built entirely from the ground up, with a stunning visual overhaul, expanded story, and greater sense of place. Yet its gameplay systems have only been modernised to a limited extent. As a result, Mafia: Definitive Edition feels archaic as it covers the well-trodden ground of its contemporaries, hindered by many of the same ailments that held back Mafia III, despite that game's strong narrative.The same is true here, as Mafia: Definitive Edition's story is far and away the best part of this remake. You play as Tommy Angelo, a timid cab driver who gradually turns to a life of crime in the fictional city of Lost Heaven during the 1930s. Tommy's an interesting and often conflicted protagonist, and a few new scenes have been added to the original story to flesh out the rest of the cast and inject some levity into Tommy's tale. Characters like Don Salieri have been given more ambiguous motivations, while weapons supplier Vincenzo is now a point of comic relief instead of the self-serious tough guy he was before.Dialogue has also been reworked and sharpened throughout, although the main story beats of the original game are still present. It's clichéd at times, and sometimes relies on homages to classic gangster cinema, but it's easy to become attached to its relatively small cast of characters, particularly now that each one has been enhanced with new voice work and facial capture from its accomplished cast. Aside from looking a whole lot better, these new performances allow for more subtlety in each scene, as facial expressions are able to express more than words often can.Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com
2020-09-25
In Serious Sam 4, the long-running FPS series may have finally found a workable identity. Through each entry, developer Croteam has held onto the core gameplay loop that defined Sam's initial jaunt across Egypt. You will always back-pedal, you will always circle-strafe, and you will always fight dozens of Sam's memorable cadre of alien enemies at once. But, at times, that loop has been obscured by some of the strange decisions Croteam has made with the series. It was never broken, but each game finds the developer trying to fix it.Enter Serious Sam 4, yet another reinvention that seems to draw from every period of the series' long life. As in Serious Sam 3, the graphics are realistic (though a little stiff). As in Serious Sam 2, there's vehicular combat and humor to spare (and a surprising portion of the jokes land). And, as in First and Second Encounter, the gameplay is razor-sharp and front-and-center. It's been nine years since the last mainline entry, and in that time we've witnessed the revival of circle-strafing shooters thanks to games both big (Doom) and small (Dusk). But, in this newly crowded landscape, Serious Sam 4 has a secret weapon. Croteam is simply willing to throw a ridiculous number of enemies at you at all times and it has the tech to pull it off.In this outing, which functions as a prequel to The First Encounter, Sam and a small group of resistance fighters are attempting to push back the villainous Mental's assault on Earth. The alien horde has already won, but the resistance hopes to score a strategic advantage by tracking down the Holy Grail, which is actually an alien artifact hidden somewhere among the art and architecture of an impressively unspoiled Italy.Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com
2020-09-24
After five-plus years on the market as one of the most popular multiplayer games around, Rocket League is now free-to-play on consoles and PC. As part of its move to free-to-play, Rocket League has also launched on the Epic Games Store. Both newcomers and seasoned veterans alike will want to claim Rocket League at Epic right now thanks to a great promotion. If you add Rocket League to your Epic account before October 23, you'll get a $10 coupon as well as a couple of in-game bonuses.The $10 coupon will automatically apply to your next purchase at the Epic Games Store totaling $15 or more. It's a pretty sweet deal that costs you nothing at all. Epic has run this promotion during big sales in the past, so now's your chance to secure another coupon for a rainy day. You'll still get the coupon even if you already have one from a previous sale. The new coupon expires on November 1. Even if play Rocket League on console, it's worth claiming at Epic just for the coupon. You'll also get the Sun Ray Boost and Hot Rocks Trail items to use in the game.If you don't already have an Epic account, you can sign up for free to claim Rocket League. In addition to the free coupon, creating an Epic account will allow you to snag free games every week.Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com
2020-09-24
Nintendo has filed new trademarks for Pokemon HeartGold and Pokemon SoulSilver, according to listings that were spotted by Japanese Nintendo. HeartGold and SoulSilver were complete remakes of the 2001 Gold and Silver games, first appearing on the Nintendo DS a decade ago.While the trademarks do cover 50 different types of products and services related to HeartGold and SoulSilver, there's no mention of a new re-release of those classic games in them.Japanese trademark rights expire ten years from the day on which it as registered, and seeing as how Pokemon HeartGold and Pokemon SoulSilver were first released in Japan in 2009 and then in the rest of the world in 2010, this is likely a case of Nintendo protecting its intellectual property.Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com
2020-09-24
Look, everybody knows it: Video game movies are usually pretty embarrassing for everyone involved. Depending on who you ask, the 1995 Mortal Kombat movie is entertainingly cheesy or just plain cheesy--much like the Mortal Kombat franchise itself--but most of us fans can agree it's one of the better examples put to celluloid. Now, it seems that MK developer NetherRealm Studios is further embracing the '90s nostalgia, this time by introducing Mortal Kombat 11 DLC that would feature voices from the actors who played Johnny Cage, Sonya Blade, and Raiden in the film.The proof of the pack's existence comes in the form of a now-removed YouTube video that showcases actors from the MK movie recording existing Mortal Kombat 11 lines. This wouldn't be the first time that MK11 has referenced the 1995 film, as the game's version of Shang Tsung is portrayed by the actor Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, who played him 25 years ago. A similar video posted on Twitter showcases Christopher Lambert's growling take on Raiden.pic.twitter.com/ODk8ZMO5eM — deez nutz #deeznutz (@deeznutz_OFC) September 23, 2020The fact that they copyrighted the video proves how legit this leak is.Harley, Smoke, Takeda, Michael, Mileena, Sektor. These are the 6 character that were chosen earlier this year. Everything is subject to change of course. pic.twitter.com/I4XAnbwvcX — thethiny 🰠(@thethiny) September 22, 2020As Eurogamer points out, this lends credence to the above leak posted a few months ago that claimed more movie voices would be added to the game. That leak also claimed more characters would come to the game, including horror icon Michael Myers, Harley Quinn, and fan-favorite Mileena. Currently, there's no announced plans for a new Kombat Pack--though a Halloween costume pack is coming soon--but given all this digital evidence, it seems likely at this juncture, so keep your eyes peeled.Info from Gamespot.com
2020-09-24
Microsoft surprised nearly everyone when the company announced it was spending a jaw-dropping $7.5 billion USD to acquire ZeniMax/Bethesda. With the buyout, Microsoft is getting all of the franchises published by Bethesda Softworks--including Fallout, The Elder Scrolls, Doom, and more--as well as their respective developers, making Xbox's first-party lineup the strongest it has ever been. It was a gigantic moment for both Microsoft and the entire gaming landscape, and the deal may well leave a lasting impact.Money, Money, MoneyThe $7.5 billion that Microsoft paid to acquire ZeniMax is the company's biggest gaming acquisition in its history, and close to the biggest-ever in the video game industry overall. Before this, Microsoft's highest-profile and most expensive gaming-related buyout came in 2014 when it acquired Minecraft and developer Mojang for $2.5 billion. The ZeniMax deal is three times that, and the news understandably sent shockwaves through the industryMicrosoft has been on a hiring spree of late, and ZeniMax is just the latest effort in that department. In 2018, Microsoft announced it had acquired Ninja Theory (Hellblade), Playground Games (Forza Horizon, Fable), Undead Labs (State of Decay), and Compulsion Games (We Happy Few). Microsoft also announced at the time that it had started a brand-new studio in Santa Monica called The Initiative, with former Crystal Dynamics and Activision executive Darrell Gallagher leading the team for its new project.Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com
2020-09-24
Next gen is here. We have the Xbox Series X in hand, a real, fully functioning console (though it is technically a non-final build of the system). Microsoft sent us the hardware ahead of the Xbox Series X launch date of November 10, so we can get hands-on experience with what next-gen gaming offers in advance.We have preview coverage lined up such as impressions, technical breakdowns, and discussions of the overall gaming experience, but that'll be coming in the near future. That's all we can share for now, but we have a ton of current coverage of Microsoft's next-gen consoles that you can check in the meantime.It's here! We have the Xbox Series X! Look at this beautiful glowing face (@michaelphigham is ok too) Stay tuned for hands-on preview coverage ✨🕺🻠pic.twitter.com/DAL9j6UG3k — GameSpot (@GameSpot) September 23, 2020If you're looking for analysis on technical specs, be sure to read our comparison of the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S, and if you want to get a closer look at how the two systems stack against other console, check out our size comparison with the official Xbox Series mockups. Microsoft also made a big splash this week by acquiring Bethesda and all the game studios under the prominent publisher, so you can read up on what that means for the future of gaming. If you're still looking to get one yourself, consult our Xbox Series X pre-order guide for help. You can also catch up with all our Xbox-related stories below.Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com
2020-09-24
Now that Rocket League is free-to-play, developer Psyonix has outlined the official patch notes for the soccar game's latest update. It mirrors last week's patch but adds a few more notes about Competitive and the start of Season 1.The inaugural season of Rocket League, now that the game is free-to-play, began on September 22. Season 1 introduces three new ranks to Competitive, removes the Solo Standard mode, adds a level 10 requirement for Competitive play, and more. There's also a new Tournament system that Psyonix said feels like Rocket League esports but for all ranks, where players can participate in daily tournaments to rank up and receive rewards.The most prominent addition to Rocket League thanks to the free-to-play update is cross-progression. This feature lets players carry over their save data from Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One by connecting to an Epic Games account. Furthermore, claiming the game on the EGS comes with a free $10 coupon, which can be applied to the next EGS purchase.Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com
2020-09-24
New Releases highlights some of the hottest games launching each week, and this one is home to the much-anticipated Mafia: Definitive Edition. That's not the only re-release we're getting either, thanks to RollerCoaster Tycoon 3: Complete Edition. The action continues with Serious Sam 4 and Going Under, plus the console release of Rebel Galaxy Outlaw.Rebel Galaxy Outlaw -- September 22Available on: PS4, Xbox One, PC, SwitchNow that its Epic Games Store exclusivity is over, Rebel Galaxy Outlaw is headed to PS4, Xbox One, Switch, and Steam this week. This space combat game sees pilot Juno sitting down with all sorts of aliens. Carry out jobs for them, and you'll be able to pay for sweet new weapons and gear for your ship.Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com
2020-09-24
Having your account hacked and stolen is a serious fear in online games, especially if you have dozens of desirable cosmetic items that can't be easily obtained. According to a new report from Night Lion Security, stolen video game accounts are a billion-dollar industry, with Fortnite, Minecraft, and Runescape logins being particularly popular.The report details how criminals use tools to check if credentials stolen in data breaches unlock Fortnite accounts. If the account has valuable skins or cosmetic items, it can sell for thousands of dollars, though the average account sells for $200 to $250. One seller that Night Lion interviewed said that they turn over $20,000 in Fortnite accounts alone per day.Though Epic Games notes that selling your Fortnite account is in violation of their Terms of Service, many users do it anyway. In a response to the report, Epic says that it uses captcha, IP addresses, and machine learning to protect players from account thieves. Night Lion also notes that the demand for stolen accounts has increased recently due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, and that it has shared this report with the FBI.Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com
2020-09-24
One of the PlayStation Store's best sales is back this week: The Big in Japan sale launched today and runs until October 7, bringing huge markdowns on games from Japanese developers. You'll find discounts on some of the best PS4 games from series like Final Fantasy, Resident Evil, and Yakuza and other hits like Gravity Rush 2, Persona 5 Royal, and Nier: Automata.Big in Japan Sale: The Best PS4 DealsDanganronpa 1+2 Reload -- $20 ($40)Dragon Ball FighterZ - Ultimate Edition -- $17.59 ($110)Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot -- $30 ($60)Final Fantasy VII -- $8 ($16)Final Fantasy VIII Remastered -- $10 ($20)Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age -- $25 ($50)Final Fantasy XV - Royal Edition -- $17.49 ($35)Gravity Rush Remastered -- $9.89 ($30)Gravity Rush 2 -- $7.39 ($20)Judgment -- $24 ($40)Kingdom Hearts III -- $18 ($60)Kingdom Hearts All-in-One Package -- $30 ($100)Nier: Automata - Game of the Yorha Edition -- $20 ($40)No no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch Remastered -- $15 ($50)Nioh 2 -- $30 ($60)Persona Dancing: Endless Night Collection -- $22 ($55)Persona 5 Royal -- $39 ($60)Resident Evil 2 - Deluxe Edition -- $25 ($50)Resident Evil 3 -- $30 ($60)Resident Evil 4 -- $8 ($20)Resident Evil 7 - Gold Edition -- $20 ($40)SoulCalibur VI -- $15 ($60)Tekken 7 -- $10 ($50)Yakuza 0 -- $18 ($20)Yakuza Kiwami 2 -- $10 ($20)Yakuza Remastered Collection -- $30 ($60)Zero Escape: The Nonary Games -- $15 ($50)The Resident Evil series sees discounts across the board, including the Deluxe edition of last year's Resident Evil 2 remake, which gets you the extra DLC pack unlocking character costumes and more. Released in April, Resident Evil 3 remake is 50% off at just $30. You can also snag 2017's incredibly creepy Resident Evil 7 (Gold edition) for 20 bucks and catch up on the most recent game in the series ahead of Resident Evil: Village.Naturally, several Final Fantasy deals are present as well, including the original Final Fantasy VII for $8 if you're looking to replay it after FFVII Remake. Final Fantasy VIII Remastered is just $10, Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age is discounted to $25, and Final Fantasy XV: Royal Edition is $17.39.Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com