Clubhouse Games: 51 Worldwide Classics is now available on Switch in many regions around the world, and it has launched with a surprise demo that not only lets players check out a few of the full game's offerings, but also lets you experience multiplayer across multiple screens as long as at least one player owns the full game.The demo, which is called Pocket Edition in Japan and Local Multiplayer Guest Edition in Australia (at the time of writing it's not up on the US Eshop yet), will let you play 4 games from the collection for free. The demo features four-in-a-row (think Connect 4), Dominos, President, and Slot Cars, all of which can be played with one or two players on a single console, with AI joining in if you don't have enough players. There are tutorials available for the four games included, and you can adjust rules, CPU difficulty, and the number of rounds you're playing on each game.More players can join in locally if they also have the demo, and if you connect with someone who owns the full game you can play any of the Worldwide Classics together through it. President and Dominos both support up to four players across two systems.Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

Ari Aster has emerged as an exciting horror director with his debut film Hereditary and its follow-up Midsommar, both of which were intense and disturbing. Now, in an interview with the Associated Students Program Board of the University of California, Santa Barbara, Aster has opened up about what he's working on next.Aster, who calls himself a "genre filmmaker" rather than a horror filmmaker, says that his next film will be a "nightmare comedy". While there were certainly elements of comedy to his earlier films, this makes it sound like his third film will skew funnier than Midsommar's moments of levity.Aster has just finished a new draft of the film, and has revealed a few thin details about the length and content--and he's planning for it to be long. "All I know is that it’s gonna be four hours long, over 17," he said, referring to the likely age rating the film will receive.Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

It's 3 AM. Your two-person ship, a modest sloop, is anchored at Golden Sands Outpost while you sell off the loot from a five-hour voyage. You've been sailing as an emissary of the Gold Hoarders, and through questing for a lengthy stretch without your ship sinking, you managed to make it to rank 5. Now, every chest, trinket, and gem you sell is worth two and a half times its normal value, but there's a catch: Sailing with an emissary flag, particularly a high-level one, etches a giant red "X" on your back. Any player that sinks your ship and steals your emissary flag will get their own big payday, and pirates sworn to the new Reaper's Bones faction can even see you on their ship's navigation map if they rank up their own emissary flag high enough.In an instant, your triumphant loot turn-in transforms into a disaster. Another duo's sloop rounds the corner behind your boat, positioning their cannons to lay waste to all your hard work. Adrenaline washes through your body like an icy tidal wave, but you saw them coming too late: An enemy player has boarded your ship with a dangerously explosive stronghold keg, which erupts as you hurl yourself from the deck. There's almost no way to recover from this onslaught; your entire boat is on fire, the hull is punched through with holes that gush water at an alarming rate, your mast is leaning uselessly to one side, your steering wheel is missing several pegs, the capstan (which raises your anchor) is half-broken, and the incoming cannonballs are knocking you around inside your own boat.Somehow, incredibly, you and your crewmate repair the mast, raise the anchor, put out the fires on your deck, and lower the sails, all the while bailing water, hammering planks over the gouges in the hull, and using your trusty blunderbuss to fend off the other crew's continued attempts to board. By this point, your hands are violently shaking. You sail off and do the only thing you can: With the pursuing ship directly behind, you set your boat on a clear heading, jump off the back, and grab their ladders. Distracted as they are, you slay them both; in the interim before they respawn, you steer their boat onto some rocks, destroy their mast, lower their anchor, and use some handheld firebombs to light the whole thing up like a floating tinderbox.Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

As the next generation approaches, both Microsoft and Sony have been outlining their respective visions for the coming years. And while upgraded hardware that pushes more triangles is always a priority in the games industry, both companies have increasingly turned their messaging toward the consumer-friendly features of the impending Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5. One such highlight from Microsoft, the promise of a unified library that works across generations, could signal the way forward for the industry as a whole.Backwards compatibility has been a talking point for platform holders for years, but in practice, the feature has been spotty. Some generations have eschewed it almost entirely, as hardware architecture became more complex and distinct from prior generations, and this marked a stark distinction from PC where most games remain playable forever. Microsoft refocused efforts on backwards compatibility in a big way on Xbox One. After first cutting ties with the Xbox 360 library almost completely, the company made inroads with fans by announcing a major initiative to retroactively import older games through firmware updates that would increase compatibility. Nowadays, it's difficult to find a popular 360 game that isn't playable on Xbox One, and those who amassed a large digital collection in the heady days of Xbox Live Arcade can see it all waiting to be downloaded in their game library. This effort has extended to a selection of the original Xbox's library as well, giving players access to almost 20 years of games.Concept art for Halo InfiniteA day might be coming when games are no longer thought of as tethered to a specific console.With the Xbox Series X, the company appears primed to take the next logical step. It has made a point of hyping its "Smart Delivery" feature, which ostensibly allows you to transfer your ownership license of a game over to a new console when you upgrade, as long as a publisher enables the feature. But Microsoft has been clear that the transfer goes both ways--if you own a game and sign in to your account on a friend's Xbox One, you can still download cross-gen compatible games you purchased on Xbox Series X. Microsoft boasts that Smart Delivery will always provide the version optimized for your hardware, which may be increasingly important if the company adopts a multi-device approach to the new generation. Xbox Series X is expected to be the first of many hardware iterations to come, and the promise of Smart Delivery is that you won't have to think about which version to buy or fiddle with your graphics settings. The software will simply know what's best.Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

Following the game's official PC launch on June 2, developer Riot Games has partnered with Kanga to build Valorant's first-ever content hub. The platform, Operator.gg, is now live for players to check out.It mimics the look of Twitch, with content creators and livestreams sharing their videos. Additionally, the platform allows users to filter content by their favorite agent and map, and it will include the rank of content creators as soon as Riot implements Ranked play. Operator.gg will feature livestreams that will occur in real-time across various social platforms, including Facebook Live, Mixer, Twitch, and YouTube Gaming.Though Valorant only recently launched to the wider gaming public, Riot Games is already hard at work fine-tuning the tactical FPS. The studio recently rolled out Update 1.0 that includes, among many other things, a brand-new agent. Additionally, Riot is cracking down on cheaters, banning over 8,000 players before the game left its closed beta state.Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

PlayStation's Days of Play sale, an annual event that normally runs during E3, has returned this week with deals on products exclusive to the PS4. Unlike recent years, however, Days of Play doesn't feature PS4 consoles or PSVR hardware, which feels a tad strange considering the PS5 arrives later this year. That said, Days of Play is still offering great discounts on exclusive games, including MLB The Show 20, Nioh 2, Dreams, and more. Days of Play is live now until June 17, and major retailers are joining in on the fun as usual.Below, we've rounded up the available PS4 deals in this year's Days of Play Sale and where you can buy them. You can also get 20% off full-priced merchandise from the PlayStation Gear Store during the sale by using promo code DAYSOFPLAY2020.Participating retailersAs they do every year, multiple major retailers are offering PS4 deals as part of the Days of Play sale in addition to PSN and the PlayStation Gear Store. You can check out the sale page for your preferred retailer below. For the most part, deals are identical from store to store, although some deals are sold out or unavailable at certain retailers.Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

Summer is that special time of the year where you can finally put away that coat and start wearing T-shirts. It's also that time of year when we get treated to an absolute truckload of PC game discounts on Steam during the platform's annual summer sale. People are always clamoring to find out when that fated sale starts, and thanks to a rumor posted by SteamDB developer Pavel Djundik, we may now know when that is.Djundik recently tweeted that "Chinese sources are saying the Steam summer sale starts on 25th of June." Djundik noted that his sources are "generally trustworthy, but not fully confirmed" before tweeting, "Confirmed now, [June] 25 to [July] 9" a few hours later. We've reached out to Valve for comment.Chinese sources are saying the Steam summer sale starts on 25th of June. Generally trustworthy, but not fully confirmed. — Pavel Djundik (@thexpaw) May 8, 2020Confirmed now, Jun 25 to Jul 9 — Pavel Djundik (@thexpaw) May 8, 2020SteamDB is a database that deals in Steam information that isn't always provided by Valve. This includes a game's current players, the value of a specific Steam account, and more. SteamDB is also well-known for leaking new features and sales coming to Steam and has been reliable in the past when previous years' summer sale dates leaked. It's also worth noting June 25 to July 9 were the exact dates of the sale last year as well.Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

According to a community update from Activision, Call of Duty Mobile will be expanding its battle royale map in the next update, bringing not only new areas for combat but also things like new vehicles. This update was scheduled to fall around June 4, roughly the same time that a Ranked Mode season would kick off, but it has been delayed in the wake of the George Floyd homicide.The upcoming update was announced on the official Call of Duty Mobile subreddit on May 29 by the Activision team. A Ranked Mode refresh and the new battle royale map are expected to be implemented in the game in early June.The month of May was home to a number of other season events such as the Ride Off Into the Sunset event and the currently active Gun Game Team Fight. Rapid Fire Mode is also now available in Multiplayer on Call of Duty Mobile and will be until June 4, with the team promising that it is likely to return based on feedback from the community.Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

Breaking from longstanding tradition, the next round of PlayStation Plus freebies began before the new month even arrived. PS4 users can currently claim June's free games, Call of Duty: WWII and Star Wars Battlefront II. This is one of the strongest free games lineups we've seen this year.Developed by Sledgehammer Games, Call of Duty: WWII released in 2017 and brought the series back to its original World War II-era setting for the first time since World at War in 2008. Call of Duty: WWII is particularly known for having a strong single-player campaign, which clocks in around six hours. The online servers are still live, and while they aren't extremely active, you can expect the player count to tick up since far more people will have access to it on PS4.In addition to the campaign and traditional multiplayer playlists, WWII also has a fun narrative-focused War mode with unique maps and lengthy attack/defend objectives. The strong package earned the first-person shooter a 9/10 in our Call of Duty: WWII review: "Ultimately, if every shooter set in the European Theater of World War II is measured by how it depicts its D-Day landing--assuming it has such a mission--Call of Duty: WWII emphatically succeeds in its impactful designs and delivery. The sensation of riding the troop carrier as it approached the beach filled me with depression more than dread, knowing I'd survive eventually while many of my surrounding brothers in arms wouldn't. While not equally emotional, this battle's reinterpretation in War mode proves to be a highlight in a superb suite of competitive modes," we wrote. If you're looking to jump in, check out our Call of Duty: WWII tips and tricks roundup for all of our guides.Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

Nintendo and Game Freak are releasing two big DLC expansions for Pokemon Sword and Shield this year: The Isle of Armor and The Crown Tundra. The former will release on June 17 while the latter is slated to follow this fall, and each will introduce a wealth of additional content to the titles, including new gameplay features, locations, characters, storylines, and even Pokemon.Since the expansions were announced earlier this year, The Pokemon Company has been gradually revealing more details about Isle of Armor and The Crown Tundra in the lead up to their launch. To help get you up to speed on the upcoming DLC, we've rounded up everything we know so far about Isle of Armor and The Crown Tundra below. Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition has arrived on the Nintendo Switch, adding another sprawling adventure to the hybrid system's library. It can also be an overwhelming one between its vast environments and numerous complex systems, particularly if you've never played the Wii original or the New 3DS port.While this version of Xenoblade Chronicles greatly cleans up the UI and makes other tweaks to improve its accessibility, there are still some aspects of the game that aren't fully explained by its tutorials. To help you out, we've rounded up some essential tips and other things to be aware of before you set out on your adventure across the Bionis.We gave the remastered RPG a 9/10 in our Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition review. Critic Jake Dekker called it "just as vast and fantastical as it was in 2010" and said, "Although not every aspect of Xenoblade Chronicles has aged as well as others, Definitive Edition proves that Xenoblade Chronicles is still a fantastic JRPG with an immense amount of strategic depth that's still impressive in 2020."Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition has arrived on Nintendo Switch, and it features a deep battle system with a lot of different mechanics to master. This system is fundamentally similar to the one in Xenoblade Chronicles 2, so if you've played that entry, you'll already be familiar with the basics. That said, there are some notable differences that set the two apart.While the in-game tutorials do a good job of acclimating you to the various components of Xenoblade Chronicles' battle system, there are some nuances that aren't as well explained. To help you out, we've put together this guide breaking down the battle system's different mechanics and how to effectively use them.We gave the remastered RPG a 9/10 in our Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition review. Critic Jake Dekker wrote, "Although not every aspect of Xenoblade Chronicles has aged as well as others, Definitive Edition proves that Xenoblade Chronicles is still a fantastic JRPG with an immense amount of strategic depth that's still impressive in 2020."Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition is finally out on Nintendo Switch. The remastered Wii RPG arrives almost three years after the series' most recent installment, Xenoblade Chronicles 2, and if you've played that game, you'll find a nice free gift waiting for you.If you have save data for Xenoblade Chronicles 2 on your Switch, you'll receive a special one-time bonus upon booting up Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition--100,000 gold. Note that you'll only have one chance to claim this bonus, so make sure to select Collect before setting off on your adventure, as you won't be able to receive the gold after you've started the game.Xenoblade Chronicles has received a number of tweaks and touchups in its move to Switch. Not only have the character models been significantly updated (you can get a better look at the improved models in these screenshots), the game also features an entirely new epilogue story called Future Connected, which follows Shulk and Melia one year after the events of the main game. Xenoblade director Tetsuya Takahashi estimates that Future Connected takes about 10-12 hours to complete if you focus on the story and about 20 hours if you include all of the side content.Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

Sony is having a busy 2020. After showing off the tech specs of the PS5, as well as the PS5 controller this year, it's expected to show off what the console actually looks like and what its launch lineup might be sometime soon. The PS4 isn't going anywhere, either, and will have some of the biggest games of the year, like The Last of Us Part II and Ghost of Tsushima, which will launch on June 19 and July 17, respectively. It's the console's last big year in the spotlight, but that also means we'll get some fantastic deals on all things PS4 in 2020, including games, accessories, and both the Slim and Pro versions of the console. In fact, we've rounded up some cool deals you can take advantage of right now.Although we're seeing a lot of game deals, hardware has been hard to find, and we're mostly seeing the PS4 Slim, PS4 Pro, and PSVR going for the standard prices. If you already have a console, however, it's a great time to sink some time into PS4 exclusives like God of War, Marvel's Spider-Man, and Horizon Zero Dawn, which are all available for cheap. And of course, you don't want to miss out on some of the highly anticipated PS4 games releasing later this year.May 2020's PS Plus GamesIn May, there are excellent discounts on tons of games, as well as DualShock 4 controllers and even a big discount on the PlayStation Classic. Check out the best PS4 and other PlayStation deals available so far in May below.Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

Last month, Nintendo partnered with Walmart and GameStop to offer a free Nintendo Switch 128GB memory card with the purchase of two select digital games. Now Nintendo has linked up with Best Buy to offer the same deal until June 7. This time around, far more games are eligible for the promotion. The list of 20 games includes most of the Switch's most popular exclusives as well as some stellar third-party titles.Mario Kart 8 DeluxeThe Legend of Zelda: Breath of the WildSuper Mario OdysseySplatoon 2New Super Mario Bros. U DeluxeArmsFire Emblem WarriorsMario Tennis AcesYoshi's Crafted WorldSuper Mario PartyFire Emblem: Three HousesDragon Quest Builders 2Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive AgeXenoblade Chronicles 2Pokemon: Let's GoPokken Tournament DXKirby Star AlliesDonkey Kong Country: Tropical FreezeDaemon X MachinaOctopath TravelerNintendo Switch Memory Card Deal Nintendo Switch digital game deal See bundle options Every game in the promotion is listed at $60, but considering these games are rarely on sale anyway, the free microSD card is a nice perk. (As a point of reference, the same memory card is on sale for $27.74 at Amazon, usually listed at $35.) You'll receive your digital game codes via email so you can redeem in the Eshop and start playing right away. The memory card will be shipped separately with free two-day delivery.Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com