In a press conference ahead of E3 2019, The Pokemon Company has announced a new cloud-based service for Nintendo Switch. Called Pokemon Home, the service will allow you to transfer Pokemon from all current Pokemon games–including Pokemon Go and the upcoming Pokemon Sword and Shield–to the cloud.

Longtime Pokemon game director Junichi Masuda took the stage to detail the service. You’ll be able to transfer Pokemon from Pokemon Go, Let’s Go Pikachu and Eevee, Pokemon Sword and Shield, and Pokemon Bank on 3DS into Pokemon Home. According to a graphic shown during the conference, you’ll also be able to transfer Pokemon from Home into Sword and Shield. This is much like how Pokemon Bank works; you’re allowed a one-way transfer from older games, and from the cloud, you can transfer those Pokemon into the newest game (Sword and Shield in this case). If that’s indeed how it works, it means you’ll be able to transfer your shiny Pokemon from Go and Let’s Go into Sword and Shield.

Masuda added that you’ll be able to trade Pokemon from within Home as long as you have a smartphone with you. The details are vague, but you’ll apparently be able to use your phone to trade Pokemon locally and globally, both with friends and with others, so long as those Pokemon have been transferred to Pokemon Home.

Pokemon Home is set to launch in early 2020 for iOS, Android, and Nintendo Switch; Pokemon Sword and Shield are set for a late 2019 launch. The Pokemon Company did not detail whether a Nintendo Switch Online subscription will be required to use the service.

For more on the Pokemon 2019 Press Conference, check out the stories linked below:

• Pokemon Sleep Is A New App That Helps You Sleep Better
• New Pokemon Game, Pokemon Masters, Coming To Smartphones
• Detective Pikachu Game Coming To Nintendo Switch

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/pokemon-home-a-pokemon-bank-like-service-coming-to/1100-6467213/

As part of the Pokemon 2019 Press Conference today, a wacky-sounding new Pokemon app called Pokemon Sleep was announced. Seriously. The Pokemon Company and Nintendo are working together to try to “turn sleep into entertainment.”

Pokemon Sleep is launching in 2020, and The Pokemon Company joked that “several Snorlax were consulted on this.”

“Pokemon Sleep aims to turn sleeping into entertainment by having a player’s time spent sleeping, and the time they wake up, effect the gameplay,” reads a line from the app’s official description.

More details about the specific functionality of the app are being saved for a later date.

Nintendo is working on a new peripheral called the Pokemon Go Plus Plus. That is actually its name. The idea is that you’ll sleep with the new peripheral and it’ll monitor your sleep patterns, apparently. The device has an “embedded accelerometer” that can track how you sleep and then beam it to your phone.

“This new device also has the same functions as the original Pokemon Go Plus, so Trainers can use it with Pokemon Go during the day and with Pokemon Sleep at night,” The Pokemon Company said.

While you have to wait a while longer to experience Pokemon Sleep, Pokemon Go is being updated to introduce some sleeping Snorlax for players to catch. Here is what the Plus Plus looks like:

For more on the Pokemon 2019 Press Conference, check out the stories linked below:

• Pokemon Home, A Pokemon Bank-Like Service, Coming To Nintendo Switch
• Detective Pikachu Game Coming To Nintendo Switch
• New Pokemon Game, Pokemon Masters, Coming To Smartphones

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/pokemon-sleep-is-a-new-app-that-helps-you-sleep-be/1100-6467211/

The Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC) is going after Sony over claims that the PlayStation company made “false or misleading statements” to Australian gamers in regards to refunds. Specifically, the ACCC said in a statement that it takes issue with Sony Europe’s statement in September 2017 that the company was not required to provide refunds for downloaded games, or if two weeks had passed since the purchase.

“Sony Europe also allegedly told consumers it did not have to provide refunds unless the game developer told the consumer the game was irreparably faulty or otherwise authorized a refund. It also told consumers that it could provide refunds using virtual PlayStation currency instead of money,” the ACCC’s statement continues.

The ACCC says these claims are “false or misleading.” Under Australian Consumer Law, consumers are entitled to a refund, repair, or replacement “if a product is faulty because it is not of acceptable quality, is not fit for purpose or does not match descriptions made by the businesses, depending on the seriousness of the fault.” Sony is running afoul to this with its refund policy, the ACCC says.

“We allege that Sony Europe gave false and misleading information to their customers about their rights in relation to games sold via its PlayStation Store,” ACCC Chair Rod Sims said in a statement. “Consumer guarantees do not expire after a digital product has been downloaded as we allege Sony Europe told consumers, and refunds must be given in the form of original payment unless a consumer chooses to receive it in store credit.”

He added: “Consumers who buy digital products online have exactly the same rights as they would at a physical store. Sony Europe’s alleged conduct may have caused Australian consumers to not seek a refund, replacement or repair for a faulty game when the Australian Consumer Law gave them a right to do so.”

Further still, the ACCC says Sony Europe made a statement in October 2017 that its own liability to provide a refund for faulty products was “limited,” but the ACCC says this is not true. According to Australian Consumer Law, all businesses that operate in Australia must comply. This is the same argument that the ACCC used against Valve over that company’s refund policy. Valve ended up paying a $3 million fine related to the ACCC’s campaign, and a notice is now posted on Steam’s Australian store that outlines the refund policy.

“No matter where in the world a company has its headquarters, if it is selling to Australian consumers, the Australian Consumer Law applies,” Sims said.

The ACCC is demanding that Sony make good to consumers with “pecuniary penalties, injunctions, declarations, correctives, and costs.”

You can read the full complaint against Sony here on the ACCC’s website [PDF]. This action comes amid rumors of Sony preparing to officially announce the PlayStation 5.

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/sony-is-being-sued-in-australia-for-not-offering-p/1100-6467209/

Fortnite appears to be teasing another world event, and this one is massive. A giant eyeball has appeared locked in the ice, and it very likely belongs to an equally enormous creature of some kind..

The eyeball can be spotted underneath Polar Peak, after recent volcanic activity shaved off some of the ice. It will even watch you and follow your movements if you happen to be close enough. Rumblings also suggest that the monster is able to move and won’t stay locked in that iceberg forever.

Speculation ranges from some kind of dragon to another movie tie-in with Godzilla: King of the Monsters. Whatever it is, it could represent a community event around taking down one enormous enemy, as Epic has been toying with the idea of collectively chipping away at an ultra-sized health bar. Recently it had users “vote” on a community reward by striking at an object encased in a vault, but that event ran into an error, forcing Epic to offer a replay.

Fortnite has been frequently doing tie-ins with popular movies alongside their release, such as the recent events surrounding John Wick and Avengers: Endgame. For more on Fortnite, check out our Challenge Guide for a leg up on getting those battle stars and earning your cosmetic loot.

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/fortnite-may-be-teasing-a-giant-monster-invasion/1100-6467205/

Twitch Prime has been bulking up its free offerings recently. For example, right now you can get four PC games, 12 months of Nintendo Switch Online, and 30 days of Crunchyroll Premium for completely free if you’re signed up for Twitch Prime, a service offered to all Amazon Prime subscribers. Twitch Prime also gives away free in-game loot on a rolling basis for a variety of games, and the latest offer will be of interest to League of Legends players.

Starting today, Twitch Prime members with a League of Legends account can claim the Rift Herald’s Capsule, the first of four capsules that will become available every 30 days with free skin shards and emotes for players. Once you claim the Rift Herald’s capsule, the other three capsules will arrive automatically in your League of Legends account every month.

Here’s an overview of the free loot to expect from each capsule. You’ll notice the first three capsules will get you the same amount and type of random loot each month, while the final capsule will net you a permanent legendary skin instead of a legendary skin shard. You’ll also receive one less regular skin shard that last month.

1. Rift Herald’s Capsule
   • Two random skin shards, one random legendary skin shard, and one exclusive emote
2. Red Buff’s Capsule
   • Two random skin shards, one random legendary skin shard, and one exclusive emote
3. Blue Buff’s Capsule
   • Two random skin shards, one random legendary skin shard, and one exclusive emote
4. Baron’s Capsule
   • One random skin shard, one random permanent legendary skin, and one exclusive emote

In total, after four months, you’ll have three legendary shards, one permanent legendary skin, seven skin shards, and four exclusive emotes for free.

You have until August 28 to claim the first capsule. Once you do, you’ll receive the additional capsules every 30 days as long as you remain a Twitch Prime member. To claim the offer, you’ll need to log into your Twitch Prime account. Afterward, you’ll be prompted to link your Twitch Prime and League of Legends accounts.

Claim the first capsule with free loot »

Sign up for Twitch Prime »

Download League of Legends »

While you’re at it, be sure to check out the other current offers at Twitch Prime, where more free in-game loot is available to claim for Call of Duty: Black Ops 4, Path of Exile, Smite, and more.

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/amazon-prime-is-giving-away-four-months-of-free-le/1100-6467199/