The ongoing Halo 3: ODST beta test on PC and Xbox One for The Master Chief Collection will run for longer than expected. Developer 343 Industries has confirmed that the beta test, or "flight," will now run through Monday, August 31.The beta remains closed, so you will need an invitation to get in. Just recently, 343 sent over 100,000 more invitations on PC alone, so be sure to check your email. To get into the beta you need to be a member of the free Halo Insider program--you can sign up here.Our Halo 3: ODST flight has received an extension until next Monday, August 31. Head to https://t.co/SPefehh2zu to see if you're invited and check it out today! pic.twitter.com/isEkqK6bkS — Halo Support (@HaloSupport) August 24, 2020Those who are selected for the beta test on PC can try out six campaign missions and seven Firefight maps, plus some of the new changes and improvements coming to the Master Chief Collection, including new weapon skins and guns for Halo 3.Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

It's hard to separate talking about Mortal Shell from discussing the Souls games--Dark Souls, Bloodborne, and Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice--because developer Cold Symmetry has obviously created a love letter to From Software's work. But Mortal Shell isn't a simple retread. It adds ideas and mechanics that shift your way of thinking about its duelist-style combat. Mortal Shell is a small-scale Souls-like game, demanding less of an investment of time and frustration. It feels tuned for more casual players--people who have been interested in this brand of experience, but who maybe struggled in the twitch reactions department--while still striking all the same essential nerves.You play a faceless, voiceless being dubbed "The Foundling," more akin to a spirit than a person, who leaves what seems to be a sort of astral plane in order to venture into a decaying, poisonous world known as Fallgrim. There, you meet various characters who give typically spooky, cryptic speeches about the gradual degradation of the world and the religious zealots who populate it. Practically, just about anyone you come across wants to murder you, and in your white spirit-ish form, you're little match for them--one hit will destroy you.To survive, you need a better body, which is where the name Mortal Shell comes from. You're able to inhabit the corpses, or shells, of some tough warriors you find along the way, which make you a little less prone to instant death. The four shells in the game each play a little differently from one another, providing a set of different character builds you can swap between as you play. Each also has unique special perks you can unlock in a typically Souls-like way by spending currencies you earn from killing enemies--currencies you can permanently lose if you're killed and don't retrieve them from your own dead body. The four shells keep Mortal Shell approachable, as you only need to learn how to handle each one (or just your favorite), rather than worry about developing the stats of an RPG-style character build.Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

A closed beta test for NHL 21 is coming up very soon, and now EA Sports has detailed what's in it and what to expect. The beta test will start on August 28, the studio has confirmed.Those accepted into the beta test will be able to try out two modes: Online Versus and World of Chel. Because it is a closed test, users are forbidden from streaming their gameplay, so don't expect to see footage. Registrations for the NHL 21 closed beta test are closed, so if you did not already sign up for a chance to get in, you're out of luck. Those who did should check their emails to see if they have been accepted. Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

Things come easily to the Spiritfarer because everything they do is to help others. This utterly marvelous game charges you with the most precious of cargo: spirits making their last pass through a fantastical world between ours and the next. As the Spiritfarer, it's your duty to aid these souls in their final moments before crossing into eternity. That duty quickly becomes a pleasure as every inch of this spirit world unfolds into joy and wonder. For a game all about death and letting go, Spiritfarer is joyous, full of light and life, while still remaining impossibly true to its raison d'être.Spiritfarer is a 2D platformer with a heavy dose of crafting and management. Your job is to sail the oceans, visiting islands, landmarks, and anomalies to gather and expand your abilities by finding shops, resources, and even ability-granting shrines. Your life as the Spiritfarer is not just a simple ferryman for wayward souls. Instead, you're there to help. It's more than just listening to tales of past lives and learning about your guests--they have needs to be fulfilled before they can move on, too.Some may want to eat certain foods to reminisce, and you'll need to discover the ingredients and recipes to cook for them. Others may want to visit places that spark their imagination, or even just learn how to be comfortable on their own. The knowledge and materials you bring back to your ship will help to expand your enterprise. You'll create a temporary home for the spirits that choose to join you, caring for their every need while strengthening your ability to make these journeys possible, so that when their final one comes, you'll be ready too.Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

Yes, Christopher Nolan's new movie Tenet will be in theaters soon. At least, it will be in theory. As it stands, many indoor movies theaters across the United States remain closed due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, while drive-ins have been growing in popularity. If you were planning to watch the movie at the drive-in from the comfort of your own car, though, you might have to rethink your plans.A report from Variety says that Warner Bros. has very specific rules about what drive-ins will be allowed to screen Tenet--and many of them won't be eligible. In its report, Variety claims that the only drive-ins that will be able to screen Tenet are those in markets where indoor theaters are also open. So in a state like California, where theaters remain closed, Tenet won't be shown at drive-ins. The Chicago area, on the other hand, will be able to screen it both indoors and outdoors, according to Variety.Of course, this could all change at some point leading up to Tenet's September 3 big screen debut in the United States. As it stands, The Russell Crowe-starring Unhinged is the top movie at the domestic box office. It managed to attain that goal by earning $4 million during its opening weekend, which in any other year would be considered low.Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

Grand Theft Auto V is one of the most commercially successful games and pieces of entertainment in human history, and it's set to grow bigger still when it comes to PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X in 2021. Given the enormous success of the title and its online mode, it makes sense that developer Rockstar Games would make a sequel ... eventually. It probably won't happen soon, but Rockstar's parent company, Take-Two, is now seemingly protecting its future right to do so by renewing the domain registration for GTAVI.com.This is nothing new or extraordinary; it's normal and expected for video game companies to secure domains for upcoming or unannounced titles, whether they intend to actually make them or not. Take-Two has also renewed its domain for gtavicecityonline.com, according to GamesRadar.Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

Sports games generally tend to be more arcadey than simulation, with easy-to-learn basic mechanics that make the experience breezy off the bat while also having enough depth to appeal to competitive players. HB Studios' The Golf Club series has consistently defied that mantra by embracing the exacting challenges and unpredictability of golf since its debut title in 2014. With the 2K Games rebrand, I thought PGA Tour 2K21 might aim to be more like EA's defunct golf series. Instead, what's here is a refinement of The Golf Club 2019, with welcome new features and mechanical tweaks that make for a smoother experience on the course.For those unfamiliar with the franchise, PGA Tour 2K21 is technically the fourth entry in The Golf Club series that was originally self-published by HB Studios. It's the second title to be published by 2K Games following The Golf Club 2019 Featuring PGA Tour, which 2K helped polish ahead of its release in 2018. The transition to the 2K Sports naming convention will likely garner more eyeballs, but for dedicated fans of The Golf Club like myself, you don't have to worry about HB Studios messing with the formula too much.PGA Tour 2K21's major gameplay change comes with the motion you repeat over and over: your swing. HB Studios removed backswing tempo, which in turn promotes consistent, crisp ball-striking. Every golfer at all levels of play--including Tour pros--has different backswing timing, making this change quite welcome. Overall, I found it much easier to get "perfect" tempo swings. That's not to say the analog stick swing mechanics are too easy now. You still have to make the transition to your downswing in one smooth turn to hit the golf ball on target; the removal of backswing timing merely tosses one unnecessary variable out of the equation, freeing you up to get into a nice groove. Solid swings have a cleaner and fluid look in PGA Tour 2K21, with speed feeling more in-step with real life.Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

It's a big week for Call of Duty. Activision will officially announce and unveil Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War on August 26, but ahead of that, the Season 5 Reloaded update for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare and the battle royale game Warzone will arrive late in the day on August 24.The full patch notes for the update will arrive soon, Infinity Ward's community director Ashton Williams said in a tweet. We'll post the full patch notes here when they are released.Patch notes for tonight’s update will go live later tonight. Keep your 👀 on @InfinityWard for details. — Ashton Williams (@ashtonisVULCAN) August 24, 2020Season 5 Reloaded adds a new weapon, the FiNN LMG, as well as a new Warzone mode called King Slayer. A new operator named Morte is coming to the game as well, while there is a new Games of Summer event where players can represent their country in single-player missions where they can earn rewards. For more on Season 5 Reloaded, check out GameSpot's breakdown of everything you need to know.Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

The Unfinished Swan, a classic PS3/PS4/Vita puzzle game about splashing paint around a barren environment, might be getting a follow-up. At least, that's what fans are speculating after a cryptic tweet from publisher Annapurna Interactive.The Unfinished Swan was developed by Giant Sparrow, which went on to create What Remains of Edith Finch. The two games are explicitly connected, although explaining how would be a spoiler. Edith Finch was published by Annapurna Interactive, and the company has now tweeted out a picture of a paint splash from The Unfinished Swan.You can see it below. Despite the image just consisting of a black paint splash, The Unfinished Swan's style was distinctive enough that we have no doubt it's a reference to that game.🎨 pic.twitter.com/hUwpuIeEkd — Annapurna Interactive (@A_i) August 24, 2020The game was published by Sony, and was thus exclusive to PS3, PS4, and PS Vita. It could be that Annapurna has the rights to port the game to new systems; it could be that they have the rights to a sequel. While some have noted that the tweet was published from an iPhone, which could be a sign of a mobile port, it's worth noting that many of the account's tweets are made from the iPhone Twitter client.Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

Netflix has released a trailer for Dragon's Dogma, the anime adaptation of Capcom's RPG of the same name. The show is coming to the streaming service on September 17.As with the game, it looks like the protagonist will be the "Arisen", although here, he's called Ethan. The Arisen has had his heart stolen by a dragon, his family has been murdered, and he's out for vengeance. As with the game, Ethan has a "pawn" travelling with and protecting him--her name is Hannah, who fans of the game might recognize as a companion character. The trailer also hints at a dark side emerging within Ethan as he's consumed by his mission.You can watch the trailer below. The anime seems to use a 3D animation style for its characters. The series is being handled by animation studio Sublimation, the studio behind zombie anime movie Walking Meat.Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

Grand Theft Auto V is a game with many paranormal and alien secrets, and more continue to come to its Online mode over time. A group of dataminers have found evidence of a new alien spacecraft in the game, and activated a mission that has been added to the game's files but is not properly accessible yet.Kotaku has reported on the Fort Zancudo UFO Business Battle, which was uncovered by The Game File Gurus. The mission, which quietly slipped into the game's code alongside the Summer Special update, involves breaking into the hanger the UFO is being stored in and stealing spaceship parts.You can watch the mission--which likely isn't in its final form--in the video from The Game File Gurus below.Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

Whenever I board a passenger jet to go somewhere, my stomach sinks and my brain says, "Well, I guess you're gonna die now." But the thought of flying is still magical to me. Whether it's fighter jets in Ace Combat 7 or TIE Interceptors in Star Wars: Squadrons, the idea of a hunk of metal flying through the air (or space) is an exciting, fantastical idea. Flight is very real, of course, even if a lot of science behind it can initially seem unreal. With the return of Microsoft Flight Simulator, a game that is built to mimic reality as best as current technology will allow it, I can wield that magic for myself, operating and flying a plane with the understanding that the actions I'm performing have a strong basis in real life. It is terrifying. And it is absolutely phenomenal.Microsoft Flight Simulator's greatest boon is how easy it is to start experiencing the wonder of flight. It's a simulator first and foremost, of course--the amount of buttons, knobs, indicators in any one aircraft is staggering. Nearly all of them have a tangible function, too, and it's easy to see how the game could be used to train actual pilots to operate particular planes or navigate certain routes. But the first thing Flight Simulator throws up at you is a menu to determine your level of assistance--a whole manner of optional modifiers and notifications are there to help you get in the air or guide you on what to do and how to do it. At its most basic level, it's easy to get into the sky very quickly with minimal input using only a gamepad.Microsoft Flight Simulator pushes you to learn more, though. The tutorial attempts to teach you how to read the dials and meters in your cockpit, runs you through basic flight theory and etiquette, and guides you on how to navigate your way through the air by yourself. While my experience with arcade flight games led me to choose a middle-ground experience that let me control the plane in a mostly realistic manner, I found myself very eager to learn more. I wanted to stay in the incredibly detailed cockpit view more often in order to try and internalise the meter readings. I wanted to know what all the dials and buttons did and when to use them. At the time of writing, I'm now at the point where I'm operating my plane primarily through manual activation with my mouse and keyboard, using a controller only for its analog stick, and I feel incredibly accomplished.Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

Next Stop Nowhere gets off to a promising start. You play as Beckett, a sci-fi courier who pilots a spacecraft and is best friends with an AI program. While visiting a bar, he meets Serra, and gets embroiled in her family drama when he learns that she’s trying to track down her wayward thief son before the authorities can get to him. The game is framed as a sort-of road trip through space, where the choices you make will change how the story plays out. At first, the charming characters and intriguing plot are enough to pull you from one location to the next. But unfortunately, a lack of meaningful consequence and a plethora of horrific bugs make for a trip not worth taking.Next Stop Nowhere is, by design, a very simple game. You guide Beckett by touching where you want him to go, and the points you can interact with in each map are highlighted with big white circles. There are, essentially, no puzzles--moving forward is simply a matter of interacting with every object signposted in a room, and it’s all but impossible to get stuck. It’s a slightly awkward control system, as I found that Beckett often did not go where I wanted. There are also a handful of sections where you fly your ship through dangerous areas, piloting it with simple touch controls between floating debris and avoiding other ships that try to ram you. These sections offer some variety, although there are only a few of them. Judging the distance between your ship and the objects you’re trying to avoid is difficult and the degree of control you are offered is quite limited, but they’re also the best indicator the game gives of the vastness of the space you’re exploring--each of the game’s locations is otherwise very small.This is an adventure game that focuses largely on the choices you make, and how (or whether) they impact the story. Choices rarely have huge ramifications, and I never found myself having to think about what to do for long. Most decisions boil down to dialogue responses to things other characters say, and framing what sort of relationship you want Beckett and Serra to have. A few of the choices you have to make are framed as though they have major implications within the story, like if you should wipe a robot’s memory or try to reprogram it to be nicer, or whether you should hold a character captive or let them go after they hack into your ship’s computer. However, by the time the credits roll, most of these decisions end up feeling inconsequential to how things played out--if they factored in at all.Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

WB Games Montreal has finally revealed its long-rumored Batman project at DC Fandome, after months of teasers and rumors. As the rumors suggested, the game is called Gotham Knights, and features multiple playable characters from within the Bat-family. It's coming to PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X in 2021. Unlike the Arkham games, you won't be playing as Bruce Wayne. In fact, the billionaire Caped Crusader is dead. The reveal trailer showed Gotham City grappling with the death of Bruce Wayne. Before he went, though, he recorded a message calling the four protagonists into action: Nightwing, Robin, Batgirl, and Red Hood. The trailer showed each of them in action, including heroes fighting together. A separate press release confirmed it can be played solo or with two-player co-op. The cinematic ended with confirmation that the story will include the Court of Owls, with an eerie recitation of the poem from the comic book arc.The developer chat and extended gameplay demo that followed seemed to suggest some degree of a live aspect to the game, with the ability to customize your hero and enemies shown with HP, XP, and level indicators. The studio said it chose each hero for their "unique starting point and a long runway for growth." A press release said players can "reinvent themselves into their own version of the Dark Knight." The demo also showed a boss battle against Mr. Freeze.Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

The Flash movie has certainly been put through its paces, with multiple directors entering and exiting the project, script changes, and massive delays. However, it would seem that there's finally a light at the end of the tunnel. The Flash's DC FanDome panel passed the mic to director (for real this time) Andy Muschietti and screenwriter Christina Hodson (Birds of Prey) to set the record straight and tease what will actually be happening in the final version of the film.Oh, and they also debuted a brand new look at Barry Allen's new costume, which, Muschietti explained, was made by Batman himself. Take a look.The movie will focus on Barry's ability to travel through time, and manipulate the DC Multiverse, something we've already seen glimpses of in the Arrowverse with the Crisis On Infinite Earths event.Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com