Animal Crossing: New Horizons' second summer update has arrived, and it adds a handful of new features to the game, including a weekly summer fireworks festival, the ability to fall on your face, and save backups. You'll need to have a paid Nintendo Switch Online subscription to take advantage of the latter, and it works a little bit differently than the typical cloud saves offered through the service. If you're unsure how the process works, here's how to back up your Animal Crossing save data.How To Back Up Your Save DataAfter installing New Horizons' 1.4.0 update, you'll see Backups - Not Set beneath the Settings option in the lower lefthand corner of the title screen. Press the Minus button to access the Settings menu, then select Island Backup from the list of options that Tom Nook presents you to begin the backup process.Once Island Backup has been selected, Nook will emphasize that this backup function is only intended to be used if your Nintendo Switch is lost or has been damaged. He'll then present you with options to Enable island backup or Listen to explanation. Select the former to enable save backups; select the latter to learn more about the process and its requirements.Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

Editor's note: This review evaluates Grounded based on its early access state. We plan on reviewing Grounded again once it gets a full release.Think about your favourite survival games. Think back to how they launched. Think of their initial public showing. If your favourites are like mine, you'll notice a trend: None of them were very good when they first launched to the general public.Subnautica had me on the edge of my seat at launch, but it ran terribly. Four years later and its 1.0 build was one of my favourite games in a year that included God of War and Red Dead Redemption 2. The Forest, similarly, launched a mere shadow of the terrifying adventure it would eventually become. No Man's Sky was near-universally criticised at launch, but it eventually reached its potential and went beyond. Grounded, from Obsidian Entertainment, is currently in the early part of the aforementioned Early Access phase, and is lacking in many respects. But, like the games mentioned above, it has what feels like the potential to grow into something much, much greater.Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

Controllers can be expensive, especially when it comes to fight pads, fight sticks, and those that come with back paddles and extra buttons. Any discount is appreciated, and Razer is currently slicing the prices of its best PS4, Xbox One, and PC controllers on Amazon. The sale runs from now until August 3, but supplies are limited and may deplete by then, so you may want to snag the controllers you're interested in as soon as possible.All five of the discounted controllers have been tested by us and rank among the best PS4 controllers and best Xbox One and Series X controllers. We've also tested the Razer Junglecat and the Raiju Mobile, controllers that are specially designed for mobile devices. These are great for Project xCloud and other controller-supported mobile games. Razer Wolverine Ultimate Xbox One controller $130 (was $160) Razer's take on the Xbox One Elite controller is one of the pads on sale. The Razer Wolverine Ultimate is down to $130 and features an interchangeable D-pad and analog sticks as well as four back buttons and two extra shoulder buttons. Each and every button is remappable, allowing you to keep your thumbs on the sticks if you want to reload, jump, crouch, and everything in between. It also comes with Razer's Chroma lighting feature and a quick control panel that gives you easy access to muting your mic, adjusting your volume, remapping your buttons, and more. See at Amazon Razer Raion PS4 fight pad $80 (was $100) The Razer Raion is a great fight pad that can also replicate every action of a regular DualShock 4, making it absolutely essential for fight pad fans on the PS4. Its buttons also feel excellent and easy to press, making them great for knocking out combos. Likewise, the D-pad is clicky and satisfying, especially when rolling out quarter-circles. See at Amazon Razer Atrox Xbox One fight stick $170 (was $200) The Razer Atrox is a great Xbox One fight stick that feels good with everything from Street Fighter and Tekken to any number of anime fighters. While it does work excellently on Xbox One (and will work with the upcoming Xbox Series X), it's not 100% compatible with PC like Razer's PS4 fight sticks are. See at Amazon Razer Junglecat mobile controllers $90 (was $100) The Razer Junglecat controllers connect to your mobile device via Bluetooth but can also be inserted into the included case to turn your Android phone into a Nintendo Switch-like handheld device. These work great with Project xCloud and any other controller-supported app, though it's worth nothing they are not compatible with iPhones. See at Amazon Razer Raiju Mobile controller $100 (was $150) If you're looking for a more versatile mobile controller, then the Raiju Mobile is a great choice. It features two back buttons and two extra shoulder buttons, all of which are remappable. It provides an experience more similar to playing on consoles, thanks to its more traditional design, and works great with Project xCloud and more. It even comes with its own clip that you can set your Android device into. See at Amazon Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

With both the PlayStation 5 and the Xbox Series X on the horizon, you might be thinking now is the right time to start looking at a new, fancy TV. But with so many new technologies to consider, which will be the best for your new console? Two of Sony's new TVs promise to simplify things.At least it is with its own range of Bravia television, with two new models specifically marked as "Ready for PlayStation 5." Both the Bravia Z90H and Z8H will be the first in the Bravia series to bear this labelling, assuring you that your Sony gaming console will make full use of its special features.But what exactly are those features? Many are standards that come with HDMI 2.1--a new format for your HDMI cables that lets them deliver much more information over compatible ports. This allows for 120 frames per second at a full 4K resolution, which isn't possible on the same HDMI cables you're using on your current consoles.Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

Blizzard could make a big change to one of the key features in the upcoming World of Warcraft Shadowlands expansion. One of the key mechanics revolves around four Covenants, each with their own bonuses and gear, and Blizzard has always posed your alignment with one as a permanent choice. But the studio may be reconsidering.Covenants are the end-game content for Shadowlands. After sampling the four factions and completing the campaign, you can align yourself with one. That opens up exclusive abilities, an upgradable base, and a faction-specific narrative campaign. For that reason, your alignment was meant to last.But now Wowhead has detailed how a player can swap Covenants in the current beta test for Shadowlands. It requires you to cycle through multiple confirmation messages just to make sure you're absolutely, positively, 100% sure you want to defect. And if you go off to a different faction and then come back to rejoin your previous one, you'll need to complete a longer test chain to regain their trust.Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

Stardew Valley fans, our time has come--you can now purchase yet another version of Stardew Valley in physical form. Developer ConcernedApe announced on Twitter today that a physical version of Stardew for Nintendo Switch and PC (DRM-free disc with Steam key) is coming soon, including a collector's edition with bonus goodies. Both the standard and collector's editions are up for pre-order at Fangamer right now, with orders planned to ship on November 6. You can check out the pricing and pre-order below.Nintendo Switch collector's edition -- $69Nintendo Switch standard edition -- $34PC collector's edition -- $64PC standard edition -- $29 Pre-order at Fangamer Stardew Valley collector's edition for Nintendo SwitchThe Stardew Valley collector's edition is just as wonderful as you'd expect, including a gorgeous collector's edition box and several physical goodies. If you pre-order before August 15, you'll also get a bonus poster. Check out everything the collector's edition comes with below:Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

If you're an Origin Access Premiere subscriber, Sonic Mania is now at your fingertips. EA and Sega have announced a new partnership where some of the latter publisher's games will come to EA's Origin storefront, including Sonic Mania, Two Point Hospital, and Endless Legend.As with many of the newest games on Origin, Sonic Mania is now free for Origin Access Premiere subscribers, which is the higher tier of EA's subscription program. Two Point Hospital will come to the service later this summer, and Endless Legend will arrive later this year. Both games will be available for Premiere subscribers when they launch.The Origin Access Basic tier is $5 a month, which comes with access to over 250 games, a 10% discount for the Origin Store, and access to trials for upcoming EA titles. The $15 Origin Access Premier tier includes the same perks, but with access to an even bigger array of games, including newly released EA titles, DLC, and expansions.Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

Star Wars: Squadrons is currently scheduled for an October release, right on the eve of a new console generation. Launching on PS4, Xbox One and PC, EA Motive's starfighter simulator will receive landing clearance on PS5 and Xbox Series X. Just don't expect the game to be a next-gen version for those consoles initially. This doesn't rule out a next-gen upgrade forever, as EA will use backwards compatibility to bring Star Wars: Squadrons to future platforms.Asked on Twitter if EA had plans for Star Wars: Squadrons to land on PS5 and Xbox Series X, Ian Frazier, creative director for the game at EA Motive confirmed that a backwards compatibility plan was in motion. "We're not planning a separate version of the game for the next-gen consoles, but yes, the backwards compatibility should work," Frazier tweeted.Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

Following rumors and teasers earlier this month, it has been confirmed that Call of Duty: Modern Warfare and Warzone's Season 5 will officially start on August 5 for PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.The new season will introduce a new Battle Pass, but developers Infinity Ward and Raven Software have yet to outline it. Furthermore, the co-developers haven't detailed what's inside Season 5. Still, publisher Activision shared an announcement trailer revealing the start date and the new Shadow Company agency.The trailer, above, plays out like an Army recruitment video for the Armistice Alliance before a gruff-sounding narrator interjects with musings on what the Shadow Company will do following Armistice's collapse.Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

Splinter Cell, the long-running stealth-action franchise developed by Ubisoft, is getting its own animated Netflix adaptation, according to Variety. The first season is in development and helmed by John Wick writer Derek Kolstad.Two seasons have already reportedly been ordered, encompassing a total of 16 episodes across them. There's no indication yet if the series will adapt stories from some of the games, or whether series stalwart Michael Ironside will be reprising his role as Sam Fisher. Ironside was last involved with the series in Splinter Cell: Conviction, having been replaced in the most recent entry, 2013's Splinter Cell: Blacklist. He later returned as Fisher in multiple cameo appearances across other franchises.Derek Kolstad is no stranger to action productions too. He's served as a writer on all three John Wick films while also recently providing writing for the Disney+ exclusive Falcon and The Winter Solider. The series was recently delayed after initially planning to launch this August.Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

This week on Wrestle Buddies, GameSpot's professional wrestling podcast, Chris E. Hayner and Mat Elfring have a lot to talk about--and they're not alone. The Good Brothers--Doc Gallows and Karl Anderson--are here to talk about all manner of things.First up, Mat and Chris watched an episode of Impact Wrestling on AXS TV and had a bunch of thoughts. In the great wrestling war between AEW and WWE that technically doesn't exist, Impact is often an afterthought. After checking out the product though, we can't figure out why that's the case.Next, we dive into the rich history of WWE Studios filmography to study cinematic achievements like The Marine 5 and 12 Rounds 3 to come up with our Top 5 movies from the company. Yes, while WWE has released quite a few bad films, there are also a number of great movies you should check out.Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

The studio behind Bulletstorm and Gears of War 3, People Can Fly, has announced it's working on a new "original AAA" game that will launch on PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and "streaming platforms."Though exact details about this game are unknown for now, the studio said it will be a "highly ambitious, groundbreaking action-adventure title" led by People Can Fly's New York team in conjunction with the Newcastle, Rzeszow, and Warsaw sister studios.As a result, People Can Fly--especially the New York division--is planning to hire dozens of new staff over the next year. In fact, the studio clarified that the New York team will grow over the next 12-18 months in addition to opening a new "startup studio" in Montreal.Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

Magic Legends is a Diablo-like action-RPG based in the Magic universe, and so its traditional colored mana system is joined with specialized classes. Developer Cryptic Studios has unveiled the latest of the five Planeswalker classes, the white mana-based Sanctifier. The Sanctifier is a long-range support class that can use both healing magic and powerful attacks. Their healing magic can apply to both allied characters and your summoned creatures, and their primary attack is Divine Bolt, which fires holy energy from a distance. The secondary ability Wave of Radiance generates a wave of light that both hurts enemies and heals allies.Sanctifiers also have a powerful utility ability called Salvation. Each trigger will regenerate health, heal summons, and gain a Devotion stack. Once you've used it four times, you'll get an Angel to fight alongside you with a "Lifelink" ability, which heals you as it does damage. Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

Early on in Ghost of Tsushima, protagonist Jin encounters an easily missed poet in the forest around Hiyoshi Springs who teaches him the art of haiku, one of Japan's oldest and foremost poetic traditions. Heeding the poet's advice, Jin rests at a nearby rock and tries his hand at composing a haiku, scanning the idyllic scenery for inspiration as he contemplates his quest and the natural beauty around him in a moment of quiet reflection.It's a picturesque scene that captures the solemnity and Zen-like nature of haiku in Ghost of Tsushima's interpretation of 13th century Japan. The only problem is none of this would have actually happened.While it's true that samurai were expected to be versed in other arts beyond swordsmanship and often practiced poetry, haiku as they are presented in the game did not begin to emerge as a standalone poetic form until around the 1600s--roughly 400 years after Ghost of Tsushima takes place. Moreover, none of the characters in the game would have referred to their poems as "haiku," as the word did not enter into common usage until the 19th century, when it was coined by noted writer Masaoka Shiki--widely regarded as the last of Japan's "four great haiku masters."Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

You may not have heard of the 1997 Japanese RPG Moon, but it's had a major influence on many famous games, particularly Toby Fox's offbeat Undertale. Now, the cult game is finally receiving a long-overdue English translation when it comes to Nintendo Switch on August 27.Described as an "anti-RPG" by several of the developers behind it, Moon satirizes many of the conventions of the genre, particularly the concept of killing endless hordes of monsters in order to level up. It was one of the very first games to have NPCs follow a set schedule, presaging the more famous Shenmue by only a few years.Moon will cost $19 on the Nintendo eShop. Many of the developers behind Moon worked on more notable RPGs of the era, particularly Chrono Trigger and Super Mario RPG. The game is often compared to Shigesato Itoi's fellow cult hit Earthbound for its irreverent attitude and playful twists on classic RPG tropes.Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com