Baldur's Gate 3 Patch With 1,000+ Fixes And Changes Is Coming

Larian Studios has already released multiple "hotfixes" for Baldur's Gate 3 that have addressed more than 650 items, but now the studio is preparing to release the game's first patch, and it sounds like a big one. Larian boss Swen Vincke said on Twitter that in addition to a fourth hotfix, the studio is planning "Patch 1," which will contain 1,000+ fixes and tweaks. Patch 2 is coming after this, and it will incorporate "some requests" made by fans so far, but Vincke did not provide any specifics. "We're all very enthused by your feedback," Vincke said. "It's very rewarding."Continue Reading at GameSpot
http://dlvr.it/Sts6RM

Xbox Game Pass Losing These 6 Games Very Soon

As it does each month, Microsoft removes titles from the Xbox Game Pass library. The next wave of removals has now been announced, and there are six titles headed out on August 31. As announced in an Xbox blog post, Microsoft is removing titles across console, PC, and the cloud at the end of the month. The games heading out include Black Desert, Commandos 3 - HD Remasters, Immortality, Nuclear Throne, Surgeon Simulator 2, and Tinykin. Immortality, released in 2022, was highly acclaimed, so it's a notable loss to the library. As usual, Game Pass members save 20% on all games when buying them outright, so that's a silver lining for anyone who wants to keep playing any of these titles when they leave the catalog.Continue Reading at GameSpot
http://dlvr.it/StrqF0

Xbox Brazil's Final Fantasy 7 Remake Post Was A Mistake, Microsoft Confirms

When Xbox Brazil's official Twitter account posted a Father's Day post that included Barrett from Final Fantasy 7 Remake, some fans speculated that Microsoft could be teasing an upcoming port. The post was swiftly deleted, however, and Microsoft has now clarified that Barrett's inclusion was a mistake, not a hint. The original post, as caught by The Gamer, featured a selection of notable video game dads from various Xbox titles -- with one exception. An image of Barrett with his daughter Marlene was placed smack bang in the middle of the collage, and while the original Final Fantasy 7 is available on Xbox, the screenshot used was from the PC and PlayStation exclusive Remake. The post was quickly taken down, but not before it was seen and screenshotted by plenty of people. Fans speculated that its speedy deletion could have meant the Xbox Brazil account had accidentally leaked an upcoming announcement.Continue Reading at GameSpot
http://dlvr.it/StrFmj

Margot Robbie To Take Home $50 Million From Barbie's Huge Success - Report

Actress Margot Robbie is poised for a huge payday thanks to the massive, ongoing success of the Barbie movie. Robbie, who stars in the movie and is a producer on it, could earn $50 million in combined salary and bonuses, according to a report from Variety. Robbie is getting a massive payday, and director Greta Gerwig is lined up to receive a bonus as well, tied to the performance of the movie. The value of Gerwig's pay package for Barbie is unknown, however, but it is presumably a back-end compensation based on box office grosses. If this sounds familiar, it's because Warner Bros. had another surprise hit on its hands years ago with the Joker movie starring Joaquin Phoenix. That movie also earned more than $1 billion, and director Todd Phillips is reported to have earned a $100 million bonus, with Phoenix also enjoying a "generous" pay package.Continue Reading at GameSpot
http://dlvr.it/Str23S

Rainbow Six Siege Operation Heavy Mettle Will Launch New Operator And Commendation System

Rainbow Six Siege is soon launching the third season of Year 8, entitled Operation Heavy Mettle. It will introduce a new South Korean operator named Ram, a new commendation system, and a variety of tweaks to game modes and player characters. Operation Heavy Mettle is set to release on August 29. New operator Ram is an attacker with a BU-GI Auto-Breacher gadget. With her automated tank, Ram can destroy walls and floors to open up tactical advantages. A tank can smash gadgets and soft surfaces. Ram is a one-speed, three-health operator. Her loadout includes a R4C or LMG-E for the primary weapon and an MK1 or ITA12S for the secondary weapon. The season will also bring a new commendation system to Rainbow Six. It will allow players to rate each other on what it was like to play together. The system is moderated to ensure fairness. Highly commended players will also be rewarded, with a legendary Alpha Pack drop at the end of the season. According to internal review, around 50% of players who were given a warning for toxicity or abuse changed their behavior and avoiding a second penalty.Continue Reading at GameSpot
http://dlvr.it/StpNhp

Overwatch 2 Is Steam's Worst User-Reviewed Game Of All Time, But For A Surprising Reason

Overwatch 2 has finally arrived on Steam, to less than great user reviews. Of 118,000 user reviews (a number that dwarfs other recent releases), the majority are "overwhelmingly negative," as fans take aim at how Blizzard has handled the FPS franchise since Overwatch 2's launch on Battle.net and consoles almost a year ago. That has made it the worst user-reviewed game on Steam of all time just a few days after its launch, with only around 9% of reviews being positive. Review-bombing is nothing new. That, however, isn't the full picture. As pointed out on Twitter by Daniel Ahmad, a video game analyst specializing in the Asian market, over two-thirds of the game's Steam reviews are written in Chinese, with the majority of those being negative. While many of the reviews from Chinese players sport similar complaints to those of negative reviews from the rest of the world--like Blizzard's cancellation of Overwatch 2's planned PvE Hero mode and the price of the game's microtransactions--Ahmad said the reviews also reflect larger feelings of frustration that have long gone unanswered. Here's something that no English language media outlet has caught on to: Overwatch 2 currently has 100k reviews on Steam since launching 3 days ago, of which 91% are negative. However, nearly 2/3 of those reviews (63k) are written in S.Chinese, with 97% of them being…
https://t.co/sbnSxRdraW — Daniel Ahmad (@ZhugeEX) August 13, 2023 Chinese players have been unable to play Overwatch 2 (or any Blizzard games aside from the NetEase co-developed Diablo Immortal) for nearly eight months following the end of Blizzard and NetEase's 14-year distribution agreement back in January 2023. The breakup between Blizzard and NetEase was messy, with both companies issuing statements accusing the other as being the reason a new agreement or contract extension couldn't be reached. Blizzard games are still largely inaccessible in China as a result, as Blizzard searches for a new distribution partner in the region for its games.Continue Reading at GameSpot
http://dlvr.it/Stp46t

Pokemon Company Makes Donation For Hawaii Relief After Honolulu 2024 World Championships Announcement

With the Pokemon World Championships returning to Hawaii next year, the Pokemon Company has announced a $200,000 donation to a relief fund for the Maui wildfires. The natural disaster has seen the death toll climb to near 100 people, with a reported $6 billion in damages. The 2024 Pokemon World Championships will specifically take in place in Honolulu, which isn't the same island as Maui. Instead, it resides on Oahu. Hawaii has been host to the championships three times in the past--2007, 2010, and 2012--but all three events were on the Big Island. An official statement on the donation was provided on the Pokemon website: "Our hearts go out to all those who have been impacted by the devastating wildfires in Hawai'i," said Colin Palmer, a vice president with the Pokemon Company International. "Our immediate priority is to aid children, families, and their affected communities. To support relief efforts, The Pokemon Company International is making an immediate monetary donation of $200,000 to its partner at GlobalGiving through its Hawai'i Wildfire Relief Fund."Continue Reading at GameSpot
http://dlvr.it/StnTwJ

CoD: Modern Warfare 3 Beta Will Be On PlayStation First - Report

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3's beta will be available to PlayStation players first, according to a video that's been discovered. This timed exclusivity agreement on PlayStation is reportedly based on a video from Sony's Arabic YouTube channel that states the beta will be on that platform at least five days before any other platform receives it. Additionally, you must preorder the game in order to get access to the early beta. Modern Warfare III Beta will be available first on PlayStation (img via Sony Arabic YT channel/@BKTOOR_) pic.twitter.com/kD5kflPUH3 — CharlieIntel (@charlieINTEL) August 11, 2023 Sony has a history of working with Activision Blizzard on Call of Duty, including PlayStation getting early access to last year's Modern Warfare 2 beta, as well as 2021's Call of Duty: Vanguard. Sony also got exclusive early access to 2020's Black Ops Cold War and 2019's Modern Warfare betas.Continue Reading at GameSpot
http://dlvr.it/StnFNH

NHL 24 Cover Star Revealed, And It's The Guy Who Ate Cookies During A Game

EA Sports has revealed NHL 24's cover star, and it's none other than Colorado Avalanche phenom Cale Makar. The 24-year-old who also plays for Team Canada is one of the NHL's brightest stars and most electric players, and he's also known for that time he ate a cookie on the bench. Makar won a Stanley Cup with the Avalanche in 2022, also taking home the Conn Smythe trophy as the playoff MVP. Makar also won the Norris trophy in 2022 for being the league's best defenseman. Posting on Twitter, Makar said he "couldn't be more excited" to be this year's cover star. "Honored to have this opportunity," he added. The game's full reveal is taking place on August 16.Continue Reading at GameSpot
http://dlvr.it/StlhRj

B1G1 Free Licensed Apparel - Nintendo, Anime, Marvel, DC, And More

More than 500 items are featured in the latest B1G1 free sale at GameStop, with much of the collection composed of T-shirts, hoodies, hats, pin sets, and other accessories. The gear comes from a wide range of series (including Pokemon, Naruto, Dragon Ball, Zelda, Kirby, Halo, Call of Duty, Mario, Marvel, DC, and more), so there’s bound to be something that catches your eye. See all eligible items Best of all, there’s no need to be a PowerUp Rewards member. Paying members will get a bit of a discount on most items, but the actual B1G1 free sale is open to everyone. Just add two eligible items to your cart and the cheaper of the two will be discounted to $0.Continue Reading at GameSpot
http://dlvr.it/StlNqR

Respawn Wants To Move Apex Legends' Storyline Between Revenant And Loba Along

Apex Legends Season 18 sees Revenant return to the forefront of the battle royale game's story, as the murderous simulacrum undergoes unexpected changes in his programming. Revenant's role in Apex Legends' story has consistently been the silent villain, the omnipresent threat to the rest of the legends. But with Duardo--Octane's grandfather--beginning to take the reins as the game's big bad, it seems like it's finally time to see Revenant narratively grow beyond the reputation he's cultivated for so long. "Revenant has always been someone who, ever since we've known him, he's never chosen to be a simulacrum or anything that was out of his control, and he really hates feeling like he doesn't have any agency," Respawn writer Jaclyn Seto told me during a press roundtable. "So these changes that happened to him are a pretty big blow and he's really struggling with that. And so that's something that we wanted to bring to the forefront of his story this season, and you'll see how he deals with that over the course of Kill Code's story." Following that up, IGN's Stella Chung asked whether that means fans can expect to see a conclusion to Revenant's arc, regardless of what that might entail. Revenant's big goal, after all, is regaining control of his life by killing himself. It would be tricky for him to finally achieve his goal given that Apex Legends is a live-service game that needs to keep going for as long as it can and Respawn just offing one of the game's main characters and removing him from the roster is probably not conducive to keeping players invested.Continue Reading at GameSpot
http://dlvr.it/StkqJZ

Wheel Of Time Stars Discuss How The Series Separates Itself From Game Of Thrones

Prime Video's Wheel of Time series, based on the beloved and best-selling fantasy series of the same name, took a lot of criticism for its first season, but after two years and solid viewership, Season Two will arrive September 1 on the streaming service. Having filmed seasons two and three back-to-back, and with the main goal being able to get five altogether, the show takes some rather large liberties with how the story unfolds compared to the book series. The Wheel of Time book series consists of 14 main books, with a prequel novel detailing the origins of Moiraine and Lan, played by Rosamund Pike and Daniel Henney on the show, respectively. However, the biggest challenge for the series to get there might not be fan backlash, but the fact that even though The Wheel of Time predates A Song of Fire and Ice's publication date, the show has a lot of catching up to do to be part of the cultural zeitgeist the same way Game of Thrones has for over a decade. To complicate that even more, Amazon is also home to a show with an even larger following--The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power.Continue Reading at GameSpot
http://dlvr.it/Stkbny

Wheel Of Time Stars Discuss How The Series Separates Itself From Game Of Thrones

Prime Video's Wheel of Time series, based on the beloved and best-selling fantasy series of the same name, took a lot of criticism for its first season, but after two years and solid viewership, Season Two will arrive September 1 on the streaming service. Having filmed seasons two and three back-to-back, and with the main goal being able to get five altogether, the show takes some rather large liberties with how the story unfolds compared to the book series. The Wheel of Time book series consists of 14 main books, with a prequel novel detailing the origins of Moiraine and Lan, played by Rosamund Pike and Daniel Henney on the show, respectively. However, the biggest challenge for the series to get there might not be fan backlash, but the fact that even though The Wheel of Time predates A Song of Fire and Ice's publication date, the show has a lot of catching up to do to be part of the cultural zeitgeist the same way Game of Thrones has for over a decade. To complicate that even more, Amazon is also home to a show with an even larger following--The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power.Continue Reading at GameSpot
http://dlvr.it/Stj4RT

Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Is A Full Price $70 Game

Activision has once again stated that this year's Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III is a "premium release." As such, it will cost $70 USD for the standard edition. Activision confirmed this to CharlieIntel, following ongoing speculation that Modern Warfare III might be a lower-priced game. There has been great speculation and uncertainty about 2023's Call of Duty game in the past year. It was at one point reported that Activision would not release a full Call of Duty game at all this year. But Activision quickly stamped that out and confirmed that 2023's game would be a full, premium release. The game is a direct sequel to 2022's Modern Warfare II, and it's expected to have a campaign, multiplayer, and Zombies. The full reveal of Modern Warfare III will take place inside Warzone on August 17, and there is an in-game event happening where players can earn special items and rewards. Continue Reading at GameSpot
http://dlvr.it/SthnBG

Call Of Duty Modern Warfare 3 Is Still Coming To PS4 And Xbox One

As we get further and further into the current console cycle, more studios are deciding to leave the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 behind. But Activision isn't ready to do that yet, because Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III (MW3) will be playable on the last-gen consoles. Thanks to an IGN report, we know that this confusion started gaining traction because of a Call of Duty content creator called TheGamingRevolution. They originally tweeted a picture from the Microsoft store yesterday, August 10, showing that MW3 would only be playable on the Xbox Series X|S. This caused some confusion because just a few days prior, PlayStation posted an MW3 trailer on its YouTube channel titled "Modern Warfare III - is Coming | PS5 & PS4 Games''. The IGN report explains that since that picture was tweeted, the Xbox website has been updated to say that MW3 will be playable on the Xbox One, and it'll also be playable on the PlayStation 4 when it launches later this year.Continue Reading at GameSpot
http://dlvr.it/SthFyp

Baldur's Gate 3 - How To Beat Gortash

Lord Enver Gortash is one of the main antagonists in Baldur's Gate 3. A ruthless politician, he seeks to rule the city and surrounding lands in service to Bane, lord of tyranny. It's up to you to put an end to his schemes. Our guide discusses the Baldur's Gate 3 Gortash boss fight, including alternate scenarios and potential issues that you may encounter. Likewise, please be aware that this article contains spoilers.Table of Contents [hide] * How to Beat Gortash in Baldur's Gate 3 How to Beat Gortash in Baldur's Gate 3 There are several ways to trigger the Baldur's Gate 3 Gortash boss fight. And, in one scenario, you don't even need to battle him at all. Just know that all of these take place in the game's third act, once you've reached Wyrm's Rock Fortress.Continue Reading at GameSpot
http://dlvr.it/Sth2vX

Dozens Of Video Game Art Books Receive Huge Price Cuts At Amazon

Looking to keep the adventures rolling after stepping away from the controller? Check out this massive list of discounted video game books at Amazon, which includes content from Sonic, Zelda, Dead Space, Final Fantasy, and other iconic series. Artbooks are heavily featured in the discounted Amazon catalog, and one of the best deals is for The Art of Halo Infinite: Deluxe Edition. With 200 pages of exclusive content wrapped in a gorgeous hardcover, the book is now just $43 (down from $80) and should make a great addition to any bookcase. Other cool Deluxe Edition hardcovers are discounted to great prices as well, including Sonic the Hedgehog Encylo-Speed-ia for $46, The Legend of Zelda Encyclopedia for $59, and The Art of Horizon Forbidden West for $67.Continue Reading at GameSpot
http://dlvr.it/Stfc4j

Warner Bros. Is Racing Ahead With Hot Wheels Movie

Before a Barbie sequel happens--if it ever does--Warner Bros. Discovery and Mattel seem set on creating a track for a Hot Wheels movie to come beforehand. Reportedly the studio is already trying to get a director behind the wheel for the project. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Hot Wheels doesn't have a script yet. But that's not stopping Warner Bros. from searching for a director, since they're not on strike like writers and actors. J.J. Abrams' company Bad Robot is producing the film based on the toy cars from Mattel. Barbie hit $1 billion at the global box office this past weekend, becoming the highest-grossing movie directed by a woman (Greta Gerwig) in the process. Previously, Patty Jenkins held that record for Wonder Woman in 2017.Continue Reading at GameSpot
http://dlvr.it/StfKV1

NBA 2K24 Reveals Ratings For Top Players And Rookies

NBA 2K fans, it's that time again. As is tradition, 2K is slowly revealing its player ratings for NBA 2K24 and encouraging fans to discuss them, drumming up hype ahead of the September 8 release. Even though it's Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokić in the top spot with a rating of 98, it's rookie Victor Wembanyama who is causing the most discussion. The Spurs number 1 pick has been rated 84, the highest rating any rookie has received in NBA 2K history. Prior to Wembanyama's rating, the highest rated rookies were Kyrie Irving and Zion Williamson, who both received an 81 on their debuts. Wemby reacts to his first ever rating in #NBA2K24 👀@Ronnie2K #2KRatings pic.twitter.com/h8u1oE14cI — NBA 2K (@NBA2K) August 10, 2023 "That's nice, that's alright," Wembanyama said in a video where his rating was revealed, though he promised Ronnie 2K that his rating would be over 90 by the end of the season "for sure." Fans have compared the high rating to other top players' rookie years--LeBron James debuted at 78, while this year's top player Nikola Jokić had a 68 rating in his rookie year.Continue Reading at GameSpot
http://dlvr.it/Stdp7B

Baldur's Gate 3 - Cazador's Palace And Dungeon Guide

Astarion's quest, A Pale Elf, reaches its climax during the third act of Baldur's Gate 3. There, you'll meet his creator, a vampire lord who's out for power. Our guide discusses the Baldur's Gate 3 Cazador's Palace and Cazador's Dungeon objectives, as well as the endings of this quest chain. Likewise, please be aware that this article contains spoilers.Table of Contents [hide] * How to Clear Cazador's Palace and Cazador's Dungeon in Baldur's Gate 3 How to Clear Cazador's Palace and Cazador's Dungeon in Baldur's Gate 3 The Baldur's Gate 3 Cazador's Palace objective is in the Lower City. You'll find the entrance, the Szarr Palace South Tower, near the Lower City waypoint. The coordinates are X:-68; Y:-53.Continue Reading at GameSpot
http://dlvr.it/StdZZ4

Red Sox Are Hosting A Movie Night And Showing The Real Green Monster: Shrek

Fenway Park and Alamo Drafthouse have announced an unexpected promotion that will see beloved 2001 animated movie Shrek shown on the big screen at the home of the Boston Red Sox. But why Shrek? Baseball fans are well aware that the park's iconic left field wall is known as the Green Monster, and, well, Shrek is also something of a green monster. Maybe don't think about it too much. This is part of Fenway Park's annual Movie Night at Fenway Park series. Shrek features the voices of Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz, and John Lithgow. The event takes place on August 22. A different kind of Green Monster! Join us for Movie Night at Fenway presented by @alamodrafthouse!
https://t.co/gznwdZ79ri pic.twitter.com/sNj65b8bA8 — Fenway Park (@fenwaypark) August 10, 2023 Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children 12 and under. Red Sox season ticket holders get in for free. To make sure people can actually see the movie on Fenway's 40x100-foot videoboard, tickets are only available in the lower bowl and down the first base line.Continue Reading at GameSpot
http://dlvr.it/Stc6dS

Disney Plus Password-Sharing Crackdown Might Be Coming

Like Netflix before it, Disney is seemingly getting serious about cracking down on password-sharing for its Disney+ streaming service. During the company's latest earnings briefing, Disney CEO Bob Iger said the company is "actively exploring ways to address account sharing." Subscriber agreements that include "additional terms" and updates to "sharing policies" will launch later this year. The executive added that Disney will "roll out tactics to drive monetization" in 2024, The Verge reported. Iger declined to share a specific number as it relates to people sharing accounts, but said it is "significant." Netflix, meanwhile, said it had 100 million accounts that were sharing passwords until it cracked down and started charging fees.Continue Reading at GameSpot
http://dlvr.it/StbtZx

FIFA 24/FC 24 Ultimate Team: Everything You Need To Know

EA Sports has released a deep dive into Ultimate Team for FC 24, the next game in the franchise formerly named after FIFA. Ultimate Team for 2024 will include a handful of new features including player Evolutions and PlayStyles, as well as community-requested updates, as well as the addition of women's football for the very first time in FUT. Here's everything you need to know. Evolutions Evolutions is a brand new feature in Ultimate Team that will allow you to customize and upgrade players, with the potential to make a lower-rated player one of your top performers. Evolutions will allow you to upgrade overall stats or specific attributes, and can even involve customizing or upgrading skill moves, playstyles, work rates, alternative positions, or a player's weak foot. Evolving a player will also add unique visual upgrades. A limited selection of Evolutions will be available every season, with some freely available and others requiring coins, or a mix of coins and points to unlock. Some Evolutions will also be time-limited across the season. Each Evolution slot will have specific requirements for what players it can be used to upgrade, from broad categories like "any Silver player" to specifics like "a left back with 3* skill moves," as the examples given by EA.Continue Reading at GameSpot
http://dlvr.it/StbVvF

Baldur's Gate 3 - Best Fighter Build Guide

The best Baldur's Gate 3 Fighter build is all about taking advantage of the Fighter’s best assets: bonus attacks. In this guide, we’ll show you how to get your plain swordsperson in armor and turn them into a furious engine of death, able to take out multiple enemies in one turn or cripple single targets with similar gusto. Baldur's Gate 3 - Fighter build guide - Battlemaster There is but one build if you want a Fighter that can master the battlefield: the Battlemaster. It takes swinging your weapon to the next level, giving you an extra turn if you crit or kill an enemy, Action Surge to get another attack regardless of what you did before, and Riposte attacks which let you take advantage of your enemies' missed strikes. It’s a lot, and that’s why I love it. Fighters can multi-class with the best of them, and that’s one of the reasons why they are ranked in the S tier of our Baldur’s Gate 3 class tier list, but this build is all Fighter, all the time.Continue Reading at GameSpot
http://dlvr.it/StbM9b

Baldur's Gate 3 - Paladin Build Guide

In terms of sheer versatility, few classes in Baldur's Gate 3 can match what the Paladin brings to the table. You gain access to strong melee attacks, dozens of support spells, and can pass just about check in the entire game. The Paladin's biggest attributes are its strength and charisma stats, allowing it to deal massive damage and charm their way out of any situation. You can build your Paladin just about any way you want in Baldur's Gate 3, and that doesn't even include the multiclassing possibilities. If you're just looking for a level-by-level build guide for the Paladain, though, you've come to the right place. Baldur's Gate 3 Paladin Build Guide - Oath of Devotion For this build, we will be choosing the Oath of Devotion subclass, as it allows you to uphold your oath easier than the other Paladin subclasses. If you're not aware, Paladin is the only class in Baldur's Gate 3 that forces you to stick to your backstory, and in this case, it's your oath. If you break that oath, you will have to either pay to restore it or become an Oathbreaker Paladin, which comes with its own advantages. Becoming an Oathbreaker will give you access to new spells, but these replace your original oath's spells and do not allow you to respec your character. Our build will be staying away from both the Oathbreaker subclass and multiclassing, as we want to keep it as simple as possible. With that in mind, we'll be sticking with the Oath of Devotion.Continue Reading at GameSpot
http://dlvr.it/StZJfh

GTA Executive Says Consoles Without Backwards Compatibility Are Not Ideal

A prominent gaming executive has commented on the potential impact of a console that does not have backwards compatibility, saying it breaks a contract with consumers and is far from ideal. Speaking to GI.biz, Take-Two boss Strauss Zelnick shared his thoughts against the backdrop of a report from VGC that said some developers don't want to see the next Nintendo console feature backwards compatibility support for original Switch titles. "You need to give consumers what they want and optimize their experience, and you can't not deliver a feature you're able to deliver so as to maximize sales. That isn't fulfilling your contract with consumers," he said. "You have to do the very best you can for them. I suppose it's possible the lack of backward compatibility could enhance your revenue for a period of time, but at what cost?" Zelnick pointed out that Take-Two doesn't make hardware so it doesn't get to decide, but it's his belief that, "if you can be compatible technically, then you want to be." But in certain circumstances, "if the leap forward is great enough, that's not a possibility," he said.Continue Reading at GameSpot
http://dlvr.it/StZ5f1

Take Two Hints At Late 2024 Or Early 2025 Release For GTA 6

Take Two's latest earnings report only has the barest direct mention of Grand Theft Auto 6, which says that active development is "well underway" on GTA 6--the same wording Rockstar used when it announced the game over a year ago. CEO Strauss Zelnick has dropped a hint that the company will be dropping something major in the 2025 fiscal year, however, which seems likely to be the highly anticipated GTA sequel. It's clear from Take Two's forecasting that GTA 6 won't be released within the 2024 fiscal year, which ends on March 31 2024--though it was already unlikely that we would see the game that early. Take Two CEO Strauss Zelnick instead hinted that the 2025 fiscal year, which runs from April 2024 to March 2025, would have a "a significant inflection point ... which we believe will include new record levels of operating performance." It's highly likely that the inflection point refers to Grand Theft Auto 6's release, as one of the most anticipated games currently known to be in production. Until then, Take Two's focus appears to be on getting more value out of its existing games, after seeing higher-than-expected profits out of its live service games including Grand Theft Auto Online and NBA 2K23. Its continuing strategy hinges strongly on a live service model, including developing "season passes and DLC packs" for key titles, preparing a "post-launch monetization plan" for each new title that's released, and even releasing select free-to-play titles for consoles.Continue Reading at GameSpot
http://dlvr.it/StYkWf

Two Classic Pokemon Games Have Been Added To Switch Online

August's Pokemon Presents event had a lot of good info on the upcoming expansions for Scarlet & Violet, The Teal Mask and The Indigo Disk, including the fact that they will add completely new Pokemon to the game. However, the Presents also had a nice surprise: Pokemon Trading Card Game and Pokemon Stadium 2 are now available on Nintendo Switch Online, and they include online multiplayer. As a Game Boy Color game, Pokemon Trading Card Game is now available to all Nintendo Switch Online subscribers. However, because Pokemon Stadium 2 is a Nintendo 64 game, only Expansion Pack subscribers can play it. The fact that online multiplayer works for both titles is a really nice addition, considering that both of these games are fairly multiplayer-focused, albeit in their own way. It's also worth noting that Pokemon Stadium and Pokemon Snap are available on NSO already, which means that you have your pick of the best N64 games in the series on Switch these days. Though it's nice to see Pokemon TCG on the service, fans have repeatedly called for the service to add beloved entries in the series from earlier days. These games include first-gen titles like Pokemon Red and Blue, but also later ones like Gold and Silver. For more on August's Pokemon Presents, check out our rundown. The Teal Mask and Hidden Treasure of Area Zero will add several new legendary Pokemon, as well as Pokemon from previous generations.Continue Reading at GameSpot
http://dlvr.it/StYZss

Baldur's Gate 3 - Help The Cursed Monk Guide

Baldur's Gate 3 has numerous quests for you to complete. Often, you'll need to help other people in distress. One of these happens to be the spirit of a Monk, who's quite giddy for some reason. Our guide discusses how you can complete the Help the Cursed Monk quest in Baldur's Gate 3. How to complete the Help the Cursed Monk quest in Baldur's Gate 3 To help the Baldur's Gate 3 Cursed Monk, you must return the amulet to the spirit's granddaughter, Shirra Clarwen. Sadly, the game isn't particularly clear about Shirra's whereabouts. Where to Find the Cursed Monk You'll meet the Cursed Monk upon acquiring the Sentient Amulet in Grymforge. Here's a quick summary:Continue Reading at GameSpot
http://dlvr.it/StXTbQ

Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Trailer Featuring Makarov Coming Soon

The first trailer for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III is coming tomorrow, August 9, Activision has confirmed. This will be the "Makarov Reveal Trailer," and as such, it'll probably focus on the villain Makarov. "The ultimate threat returns," Activision said in the video's description. The trailer is set to go live at 7 AM PT / 10 AM ET on August 9, so check back then to see the full thing. Modern Warfare III, which is developed by Sledgehammer Games and Activision's network of other internal Call of Duty developers, launches on November 10. Continue Reading at GameSpot
http://dlvr.it/StXCPk

Microsoft Has Been Cleared To Buy Activision Blizzard By New Zealand Regulator

New Zealand is the latest country to approve Microsoft's $69 billion buyout of Activision-Blizzard. The decision from the Commerce Commission of New Zealand leaves Australia as the only country yet to make a decision, with the UK's block still to be navigated. "With today’s approval from New Zealand, we’re cleared to move forward with our acquisition of Activision Blizzard in 41 countries," Microsoft president Brad Smith said in a tweet. "We will continue to work to resolve outstanding concerns and bring this deal to a close." "In reaching its decision, the Commission focused on the importance of Activision games (such as Call of Duty, Overwatch and World of Warcraft) to New Zealand gamers, and whether Microsoft would be likely to stop rivals like Sony and NVIDIA from offering those games on consoles and on cloud platforms," the Commerce Commission said about its reasoning for approving the deal in a statement shared by Press Start.Continue Reading at GameSpot
http://dlvr.it/StWhxD

Activision Teases Return Of Sweaty Advanced Movement In Call of Duty: Warzone

Modern Warfare 2 and Warzone launched with changes that scaled back the fast-paced movement featured in recent titles, which included Call of Duty's slide cancel mechanic. Now, popular content creators have received packages of items that tease the return of this advanced movement. Activision sent mysterious packages to a variety of content creators and professional Warzone players, including Kris "Swagg" Lamberson of FaZe Clan and Tyler "TeeP" Polchow of OpTic Gaming. The packages contained an odd mix of items, with a pair of slides footwear, a can, and a burner cell phone, which seemingly hints at the return of the slide canceling movement. Put the three random items together and you get Slide+Can+Cell. Originally introduced in Modern Warfare 2019, slide canceling was a popular and advanced movement trick that high-skilled players used to avoid enemy fire and keep their movement momentum. It allowed them to cancel the game's slide animation, resetting their tactical sprint and maintaining momentum with more fluid sliding.Continue Reading at GameSpot
http://dlvr.it/StWVCy

Apex Legends Season 18 Patch Notes Confirm Disruptor Rounds Are Returning

Apex Legends Season 18: Resurrection is just a few hours away, and Respawn has given players a detailed look at all the changes coming to the game this season via Season 18's patch notes and the Resurrection battle pass trailer, both of which were released this morning. In addition to the known changes, like "Revenant Reborn" and a new animated series, Season 18 will also see the Charge Rifle get a complete overhaul. Additionally, Ranked Mode rewards will also receive some changes, with Ranked-exclusive skydive trails being removed and replaced with banner frames instead. But the patch notes revealed some other interesting changes to gameplay, like the reintroduction of the Disruptor Rounds and Selectfire Receiver weapon hop-ups. Revenant Reborn Though Revenant's new ability set was confirmed last week, the Season 18 patch notes revealed an additional detail: Revenant's new legend class. Currently, he's an Assault-class legend, but when he's "reborn" on August 8, he'll be moved to the movement-focused Skirmisher legend class, which will give him the class-exclusive Care Package Insight perk. This perk allows Revenant to see (and ping) Care Packages--and the highest-tier loot item inside them--through walls, terrain, and other obstacles.Continue Reading at GameSpot
http://dlvr.it/StV1gG

Red Dead Redemption Coming To Nintendo Switch And PS4 Next Week With PS5 Compatibility

Rockstar Games has officially announced that its beloved 2010 western action game Red Dead Redemption and its Undead Nightmare expansion are headed to additional platforms. The game will be available next week on Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4, Rockstar has confirmed. It will also be playable on PS5 through backwards compatibility. Red Dead Redemption and Undead Nightmare are already available on Xbox platforms, including Xbox Series X|S via backwards compatibility. Red Dead Redemption releases digitally for Switch and PS4 on August 17 for $50. A physical edition is set for release on October 13, Rockstar said on the Red Dead Redemption website.Continue Reading at GameSpot
http://dlvr.it/StTkCv

PS5 Gets Big Discount Alongside Best-Ever Deals On DualSense And Exclusive Games

Sony PlayStation 5 Console (Standard Edition) $450 (was $500) See at Best Buy See at Amazon See at Walmart PS5 DualSense Controller $49 (was $70-$75) See at Amazon See at Best Buy See at Walmart PS5 Game Deals See all PS5 deals at Amazon See all PS5 deals at Best Buy Sony Pulse 3D Headset $70 (was $100) See at Amazon See at Best Buy See at GameStop PS5 Call of Duty Modern Warfare II Bundle $490 (was $540) See at Best Buy See at Walmart The PS5 is on sale at major retailers for a limited time. As part of PlayStation's Back to School sale, the standard PlayStation 5 is discounted to $450 until August 19--but it's certainly possible retailers will sell out before the promotion officially ends. After all, this is the first outright discount on the PS5 at major retailers, so it's a deal you don't want to pass up. As of now, the console is available at the $450 price at all of the big retailers, including Best Buy, Amazon, Walmart, GameStop, and Target. If you plan on buying Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II for your PS5, you can skip the standalone deal and grab a PS5 bundle with a copy of Modern Warfare II for $490.Continue Reading at GameSpot
http://dlvr.it/StTB8c

Baldur's Gate 3 - How To Improve Initiative In Combat

When you're going into a fight in Baldur's Gate 3, a dice roll determines who makes the first move. More often than not, attacking first can affect how the rest of an engagement plays out. Your party can deal some serious damage against enemies who haven't gotten a chance to reposition or buff themselves in any way. Rogues, for example, can use a melee or ranged sneak attack against enemies who have yet to take a turn yet, which is far easier to do if those characters go first in a fight. While it might seem like the attack order in Baldur's Gate 3 is based on a random dice roll, that's not the case. Each character's Initiative determines the order, i.e. the higher a character's Initiative, the sooner they get to attack. As this is such an important mechanic in the game, you might be curious about how it works and, more crucially, how to improve your party's Initiative so you can always go first in combat. Improving Initiative in Baldur's Gate 3 Initiative is mostly based on a character's Dexterity stat in Baldur's Gate 3. At the start of a fight, every participant will have the word "Initiative" and then a number appear over their heads. This number is determined by the roll of a d20 dice and then adds each participant's Dexterity modifier to that number.Continue Reading at GameSpot
http://dlvr.it/StSywd

John Cena Joins Overwatch 2 As The Enigma

Contrary to his iconic tagline, you can now see John Cena in Overwatch 2. After a week of teases "leaked" during popular streamers such as Shroud, Emongg, Kyedae, and Scump's Twitch streams, Blizzard has revealed that the wrestler-turned-actor is joining the game as The Enigma, a mysterious figure seemingly aiding Overwatch's heroic efforts. Blizzard shared the news in a brief trailer showcasing Cena's Enigma. In the video, The Enigma is seen hunched over a computer, working in the shadows as he observes omnic uprisings emerge in Rio, Gothenburg, and Toronto. The Enigma then begins a transmission to the former agents of Overwatch, alerting them to these invasions before stating: "Answer the call, heroes. It's time to fight back." After sending the message, he removes his hood, revealing not an animated character, but John Cena himself. Though Cena's inclusion is certainly a bit surprising--this is the first time Blizzard has added a real-life figure to Overwatch--particularly sleuthy fans predicted he'd be coming to the game thanks to some serious detective work. Last week, a Reddit user shared a clip from one Emongg's recent streams, noting that the code was in the font family "Felix-Antony'--John Cena's middle names. In addition, a shortened URL shown in the clip linked to an image reading "JC" using the color code "#042377," which translates to Cena's birthday, April 23, 1977.Continue Reading at GameSpot
http://dlvr.it/StRQnC

Apex Legends Season 18 - Revenant's New Abilities, No More Skydive Trails, And Double XP

Apex Legends Season 18: Resurrection is almost here, and it's bringing some serious changes to the game. The upcoming season includes a new battle pass, a new animated web series, a new collection event, and a brand new set of abilities for the oldest character in the game. But there's a lot more to Season 18 than murderbot makeovers, and we've got the scoop. Keep reading for a detailed breakdown of everything we know about Season 18, including map rotations, details on the removal of an iconic Ranked Mode reward, and a sneak peek at the next Heirloom Weapon set to hit the game. When does Apex Legends Season 18 begin? Apex Legends Season 18: Resurrection will go live on Tuesday, August 8 at 10 AM PT / 1 PM ET. No end date has been announced yet, but Apex's seasons always last approximately three months, so Resurrection is likely to end in late October or early November. No new legend Similar to Season 16, Season 18 will not feature a new legend, but will instead be reworking the abilities of a pre-existing legend. This shouldn't come as a surprise--Respawn devs have previously stated that new legend releases are likely to slow down in the future. But that's not necessarily a bad thing. In fact, Respawn has stated that although Season 17 did not meet the studio's financial expectations, Season 16--which also lacked a new legend debut and instead focused on quality-of-life improvements--was one of the game's most successful seasons.Continue Reading at GameSpot
http://dlvr.it/StR6m6

Supreme Court Denies Gamers' Last Ditch Effort To Block Microsoft's Activision Acquisition

Ten self-proclaimed gamers filed for an emergency injunction in an attempt to stop Microsoft from buying Activision-Blizzard, but were rejected by the Ninth Circuit of Appeals, and now have also been turned down by the Supreme Court. While the plaintiffs involved in the so-called Gamer's Suit were unlikely to succeed where even the FTC failed, there is now one less obstacle for Microsoft in buying Activision-Blizzard. The gamers originally filed a request with the federal Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals for an injunction to stop the acquisition, and after it was turned down, appealed the decision with the Supreme Court, Variety reports. Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan denied the motion without explanation. Kagan denies
https://t.co/UYQ9wnC4zA pic.twitter.com/gGP5l2CJWq — Stephen Totilo (@stephentotilo) July 18, 2023 The basis for the Gamers Suit is that the plaintiffs, as consumers, would suffer "threatened loss or damage" from the merger, which they claim would "substantially lessen competition" in the gaming market.Continue Reading at GameSpot
http://dlvr.it/StQZkT

Banned SpongeBob Episode Returns To Streaming, Gets Pulled Again

Mr. Krabs was feeling it earlier this week once again when it was discovered that a banned SpongeBob SquarePants episode made its way to Paramount+ via Amazon Prime Video, only to be pulled again. According to IGN, we know that "Mid-life Crustacean" was the episode in question, and it was viewable because of a "technical error." In Mid-life Crustacean, Mr. Krabs deals with a mid-life crisis. So to battle that, he decides to hang out with SpongeBob and Patrick, which eventually leads them to go on a "panty raid," where Mr. Krabs steals his mom's underwear. Mid-life Crustacean has been out of rotation for the past five years. When Paramount+ launched last year, a Nickelodeon representative stated that the episode was removed because it was "determined some story elements were not kid-appropriate." Many fans believe it was pulled primarily due to the "panty raid" scene.Continue Reading at GameSpot
http://dlvr.it/StQLtG

Microsoft And Activision Reportedly Negotiating Deal Extension As Today's Deadline Looms

Microsoft is reportedly negotiating an extension of its acquisition contract with Activision Blizzard, as of July 17. The contract is set to expire Tuesday, July 18. According to a report from Reuters, the two companies will continue to negotiate the extension, even if a resolution is not reached by the end of day July 18. To be clear, the expiration of the contract does not necessarily mean that acquisition will not occur; it simply means either company has the legal power to walk away from the deal. According to the report, Microsoft wants to make sure that Activision does not enter into a contract with another acquirer or back away from the acquisition. After the Federal Trade Commission lost its case against Microsoft, the key obstacle against the tech giant's acquisition of Activision is the UK's Competition And Markets Authority (CMA). The CMA previously decided against the acquisition, citing concerns about cloud gaming. Microsoft opened an appeal case shortly afterwards. Negotiations were reopened after the FTC's case in the US was closed. Both the CMA and Microsoft requested a pause in Microsoft's appeal case to allow more time to negotiate a potential divestment. Extending the contract with Activision will help Microsoft have more time to negotiate with the CMA.Continue Reading at GameSpot
http://dlvr.it/StNrgQ

One Punch Man Free-To-Play Multiplayer Game Announced

Crunchyroll Games has announced a new upcoming game based on One Punch Man, the webcomic-turned-manga-turned-anime that began gaining major recognition in 2015. But One Punch Man: World isn't the series' first foray into the gaming world, and previous games in the franchise haven't always been successful. Still, based on the trailer, One Punch Man: World might looks to be quite loyal to the source material. Crunchyroll senior VP of emerging business and Crunchyroll Games general manager Terry Li echoed this sentiment, calling the game "the most ambitious Crunchyroll Games title to date," and describing the game as "an immersive online action game that transports players into the universe of One-Punch Man." "The game, developed by Perfect World, brings iconic characters and abilities to life with premiere production values that we are excited to unleash on anime fans and gamers," Li added.Continue Reading at GameSpot
http://dlvr.it/StNXc2

Portal Prelude RTX Gives Nvidia GPU Users Major Improvements

Like several other classic games over the last few years, Portal Prelude--a free and unofficial prequel to Portal--is getting a big graphical update. Available on July 18, Portal Prelude RTX overhauls the game and adds several new features that Nvidia GPU owners can take advantage of, including full ray tracing, performance improvements via DLSS 3, minimized system latency through Nvidia Reflex, and faster load times for textures through Nvidia RTX IO. This version of the game will be available as a free download on Steam and playable for anyone who owns the original version of Portal, and new GeForce Game Ready drivers will be available to complete the transformation. An unofficial Portal prequel first released in 2008, Portal: Prelude is a community remaster that is set before the time of GLaDOS and offers a more challenging experience that's composed of 19 new test chambers, new advanced gameplay mechanics, and a fully voiced story with NPCs. Nvidia collaborated with Nicolas "NykO18" Grevet, the original creator of Portal Prelude, and modder David “Kralich” Driver-Gomm to modernize the game and add new features such as path tracing. The team of five modders spent eight months upgrading the game, adding full ray tracing, hand-crafted high-resolution textures, and enhanced high-polygon models. To get the most out of these new enhancements, users will need to own one of Nvidia's newer GPUs such as RTX 4080 and 4090, although previous 20- and 30-series GPUs can still benefit from the Portal upgrades.Continue Reading at GameSpot
http://dlvr.it/StMztq

Assassin's Creed Mirage Has No DLC Plans "For Now"

Ahead of its release in October, Assassin's Creed Mirage's developers have revealed that there are no plans "for now" to release DLC for the game. According to creative director Stephane Boudon, who responded to a fan question in a Reddit Ask Me Anything session, Mirage will be a standalone game. "For now, Mirage has no plan[s] for DLC or extensive post-launch," Boudon wrote. This is something og a surprise move for Ubisoft, given its history of DLC-focused post-launch support for its games. Assassin's Creed Origins and Odyssey saw several expansions released that added more mythical elements to those games, while Assassin's Creed Valhalla had two years of DLC and live-season content that rolled out over the months.Continue Reading at GameSpot
http://dlvr.it/StMlqm

Christopher Nolan Says He Won't Make Another Superhero Movie, Dodges Star Wars Question

Writer and director Christopher Nolan has commented on whether or not he would ever make another superhero movie or direct a Star Wars film. Talking to Hugo Decrypte during a rapid-fire Q&A segment of a wider interview, Nolan was asked if he would come back for another superhero movie after famously directing the Christian Bale Batman series years ago. He bluntly said, "No." As for a Star Wars movie, Nolan took more time to consider his response before saying "pass" and declining to answer the question. Would he make a TV show, like his brother Jonathan Nolan did with Westworld for HBO? "No," Nolan said. Does he see himself still making movies in 10 years? Yes, the director confirmed. Nolan also confirmed in the interview that he does not play video games, for whatever that's worth.Continue Reading at GameSpot
http://dlvr.it/StLCK3

FBI Uses Nintendo Switch Data To Find A Missing Girl 2,000 Miles From Home

A recent missing-persons case in Virginia was solved thanks to an unconventional tool, as The Federal Bureau of Investigation revealed a Nintendo Switch was used to locate a missing 15-year-old girl and return her to her family. According to court documents obtained by ABC 15 in Arizona, the girl--whose name has not been disclosed due to her status as a minor--had disappeared from her home on August 3, 2022. After attempts to find her in the neighborhood failed, a friend noticed the girl's Nintendo Switch Online account was showing recent activity and alerted the authorities.Nintendo Switch The girl had befriended a then-28-year-old man named Ethan Roberts on the internet. Roberts traveled to Virginia to meet the minor, and then brought her with him to his home in Tolleson, Arizona, and eventually forced her into child pornography.Continue Reading at GameSpot
http://dlvr.it/StKw7P

Madden 24's Best Players Revealed (So Far)

Madden NFL 24 is less than a month out from its release, so it's time to start learning the top players at every position. Madden Ratings Week, as the league likes to call it, kicks off today with more ratings to be revealed as the week goes on. Each day we'll update this post with the newly revealed players across each position, such as the best quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers, tight ends, and defensive players across multiple spots. Check out all the ratings revealed so far below--to start, we've got the game's first 99 OVR player, Justin Jefferson.Table of Contents [hide] * Best QBs in Madden 24 Best QBs in Madden 24 A team rises and falls with its signal-caller. That's true in Madden and in real life. Once revealed, you'll find the top 10 Madden 24 QBs here.Continue Reading at GameSpot
http://dlvr.it/StKP1z

Older CoD Games On Xbox See Huge Player Growth, And Here's Why

Players have recently flocked to older Call of Duty games on Xbox 360, including Modern Warfare 3 and Black Ops 2. Despite these games being over a decade old, the communities are still thriving thanks to a recent change to the matchmaking. On July 12, players reported that the matchmaking--which previously disallowed users from joining matches--was suddenly fixed. Players then shared videos of them finally joining matches across older Call of Duty games. Prior to the fix, these older games were practically unplayable online due to the matchmaking issues. According to CharlieIntel, Black Ops 2 had over 10,000 players on Xbox 360 this weekend, following the matchmaking fix. Likewise, Modern Warfare 3 had over 7,000 active players on Xbox 360. While these numbers might not sound like much, it's noteworthy considering the age of the platform.Continue Reading at GameSpot
http://dlvr.it/StK9qk

Xbox Live Gold, Games With Gold Finally Being Phased Out In Favor Of Xbox Game Pass Core

Microsoft has announced a new version of Xbox Game Pass that will replace Xbox Live Gold and confirmed that the Games with Gold program is ending later this year. Xbox Game Pass Core is a new offering that costs $10/month or $60/year, and comes with a collection of 25+ games on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One. The program launches on September 14 with games like Gears 5, Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice, Grounded, Halo 5, Inside, and Elder Scrolls Online in the library. After that, new titles will be added 2-3 times per year. You can see a list of all the confirmed Xbox Game Pass Core titles below, but note that Microsoft will announce more for the catalog before the offering goes live in September. Xbox Game Pass Core also includes access to online multiplayer on console and various deals and discounts. It does not, however, include access to the full Game Pass library, including day-one releases like Starfield. The announcement of the Core version of Game Pass comes not long after Microsoft raised prices on Xbox Game Pass to $11/month and Game Pass Ultimate to $17/month.Continue Reading at GameSpot
http://dlvr.it/StHjvY

The Last Of Us Season 2 Isn't Delayed Yet, But Could Be Soon

Writing is paused on The Last of Us Season 2 for HBO, but showrunner Craig Mazin is hopeful that the new season won't be delayed due to ongoing Hollywood strikes. Speaking to Deadline, Mazin said the production timeline hasn't been shifted enough yet to cause a delay, but "we're getting pretty close." "We had a little more flexibility I think than normally just because we had to wait a little bit longer anyway to line up production with the weather. A lot of what we do is outside, and so we had a schedule that weirdly hasn’t been immediately impacted. But we're getting pretty close; wе can't keep our original start dates forever obviously," he said. The big Hollywood writers' union, WGA, went on strike on May and there is no end in sight as of yet. The actors' union, SAG-AFTRA, began its strike on July 13. Writers and actors are striking for better pay and residuals, and protections against the rise of artificial intelligence, among other things. It is expected that a number of film and TV projects will be delayed due to the strikes.Continue Reading at GameSpot
http://dlvr.it/StHTfr