Save Big On Gaming PCs And Other Hardware In Flash Sale

Best Buy is offering a 24-hour flash sale that includes some big savings on gaming PCs and other hardware. You have to be a My Best Buy member in order to participate, but signing up for that is free, and frequently nets you $5-10 discounts on games, among other perks. On top of the immediate savings, you’ll also get a $10 promotional reward certificate with any flash sale purchase. The gift certificate will be added to your account by July 7 and is valid from 7/7/19 to 7/28/19. The sale ends tonight at 10:00 PM PT / 1:00 AM ET on June 20, so get in there quickly if you want to take advantage.

Save big on gaming PCs and more in Best Buy’s Flash Sale »

PC gamers have a variety of options for brand new rigs, ranging from a reasonable $800 Acer 17.3″ gaming laptop up to a fully tricked-out, $2,150 iBUYPOWER desktop with an NVIDIA RTX 2080 Ti graphics card. As an added bonus, the two top-end desktop models from iBUYPOWER also include a digital code for the upcoming first-person shooter sequel, Wolfenstein: Youngblood.

If you go for any of the desktops, you’ll need a monitor to display all those crisp visuals. Alienware’s 25″ LED monitor refreshes at 240 Hz at 1080p, allowing for fast and smooth gaming at almost half of the full price. There are also options for a living room setup as well, with 4K UHD smart TVs from Hisense, LG, and TCL all available for at least $200 off. There are also good deals available on a Switch-compatible memory card from SanDisk that’s over half off and an 8TB external hard drive for all your deep storage needs.

Of course you’ll need something to play on that new rig once you have it set up. You can spend the included gift card on Arkane’s fantastic immersive sim, Prey, which is already $10 on PC (making it free!). You can also drop it on some hotly-anticipated pre-orders, such as Jedi: Fallen Order and Doom Eternal. Check out all the sale highlights below.

Gaming PCs

TVs and Monitors

Storage

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/save-big-on-gaming-pcs-and-other-hardware-in-flash/1100-6467891/

Harry Potter: Wizards Unite Release Date Announced, And It’s Very Soon

Harry Potter: Wizards Unite, the Pokemon Go-style AR game from Niantic set in the fantastical world of Harry Potter, is launching very soon. It was confirmed today during a presentation in Los Angeles that the game will launch on June 21.

Wizards Unite is already out in parts of the world, including Australia and New Zealand, where the game is in beta.

Wizards Unite is a free-to-play game supported by microtransactions. You can spend money to buy Gold, which can be spent on numerous different time-savers and more. For more on the game’s microtransactions, check out GameSpot’s breakdown here.

Wizards Unite was originally scheduled to launch in 2018 before being delayed into this year. You can read more about the title in our hands-on impressions, and Android users can pre-register for it on Google Play.

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/harry-potter-wizards-unite-release-date-announced-/1100-6467882/

Pokemon Go: New Legendary Pokemon Now Available For A Limited Time

A new Legendary Pokemon has arrived in Pokemon Go. Following Cresselia‘s departure, the Legendary Water-type Kyogre is making an encore appearance in Raid Battles for the next few days–and this time, you’ll have a chance to encounter its Shiny form.

Kyogre will appear in Raids from now until June 27. As before, you’ll first need to team up with other players in-person and battle the Legendary Pokemon before you can have an opportunity to capture it. Kyogre is a pure Water-type, which makes it susceptible to Grass- and Electric-type Pokemon. Your best bet for success is to bring along monsters such as Roserade, Leafeon, Manectric, and Magnezone when challenging it.

Kyogre is the second of three Legendary Pokemon developer Niantic is bringing back to Go. After it leaves on June 27, its counterpart from Pokemon Ruby, Groudon, will take its place until July 10. Just as was the case with Kyogre and Cresselia, you’ll also have a chance to encounter a Shiny Groudon when it returns to Raids. You can read more details on the official Pokemon Go website.

Kyogre’s return comes on the heels of the annual Pokemon Go Fest, which took place in Chicago this past weekend. As a reward for completing enough Global Challenges during the event, Niantic is giving players twice the usual amount of Candy for capturing and hatching Pokemon until June 25. Eggs will also hatch at half of their normal distance until then, and you’re guaranteed to earn one Rare Candy per Raid.

On top of those bonuses, Niantic is bringing one of the three Legendary dogs, Raikou, back for a special Raid day. The Legendary Electric-type will return to Raid Battles on Saturday, June 29, from 4-7 PM local time. During the event, you’ll be able to receive up to five free Raid Passes from Gyms, and you may even encounter a Shiny Raikou.

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/pokemon-go-new-legendary-pokemon-now-available-for/1100-6467879/

Top 10 Best-Selling Games Of May 2019 Revealed, As Switch Outsells PS4 And Xbox One

The NPD Group has released its monthly report for May 2019, revealing which games and consoles sold the best in the United States during the month.

Beginning with game sales, NetherRealm’s Mortal Kombat 11 was the best-selling game in the US for the month, repeating its top performance from April when it was released. Mortal Kombat 11 now becomes the best-selling game of 2019 so far. Its second month was a strong one, as the NPD said month-two sales nearly doubled comparable sales of any other Mortal Kombat game in history for its second month.

The No. 2 overall best-selling game of May 2019 in the US was PlayStation 4 exclusive Days Gone. Also notable for May was that Minecraft re-appeared in the top ten list, coming in at No. 9.

Overall, game sales in the United States reached $262 million in May, which is down 13 percent year-over-year. It was a particularly tough month, as May 2019 sales were the lowest for a May month since May 2013 when total game sales reached $222 million. In terms of new releases specifically, May 2019 is the lowest for a May month since May 1998, the NPD added.

On a year-to-date basis, however, total game sales have now reached $2.2 billion, which is up 2 percent year-over-year. Sales of Nintendo Switch games are growing, but the uptick in Switch software sales was offset by lower sales on every other platform that the NPD tracks.

Moving to hardware, the Nintendo Switch was the best-seller of May 2019. It’s also the No. 1 best-performing console of 2019 across unit sales and dollar revenue.

For May 2019 specifically, spending on all video game consoles dropped 20 percent to $149 million year-over-year. The Switch grew, but all other systems dropped. Looking at year-to-date, total hardware spending is now $1.1 billion, which is down 17 percent.

Looking at the full picture–covering games, hardware, and accessories–total US video game spending reached $641 million, which is down 11 percent. Year-to-date sales are also down, falling 3 percent to $4.7 billion.

May 2019 Best-Selling Games

All Platforms May 2019

  1. Mortal Kombat 11
  2. Days Gone
  3. Total War: Three Kingdoms
  4. Rage 2*
  5. Grand Theft Auto V
  6. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate*
  7. Red Dead Redemption II
  8. MLB The Show 19
  9. Minecraft#
  10. NBA 2K19

All Platforms Year-To-Date 2019

  1. Mortal Kombat 11
  2. Kingdom Hearts III
  3. The Division 2^
  4. Anthem^
  5. Resident Evil 2
  6. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate*
  7. Red Dead Redemption II
  8. Days Gone
  9. MLB The Show 19
  10. Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice

All Platforms 12 Months Ended May 2019

  1. Red Dead Redemption 2
  2. Call of Duty: Black Ops 4^
  3. NBA 2K19
  4. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate*
  5. Madden NFL 19^
  6. Spider-Man
  7. Assassin’s Creed Odyssey
  8. Mortal Kombat 11
  9. FIFA 19^
  10. Kingdom Hearts III

May 2019 Xbox One

  1. Mortal Kombat 11
  2. Rage 2*
  3. Red Dead Redemption II
  4. The Division 2
  5. Grand Theft Auto V
  6. NBA 2K19
  7. Minecraft
  8. Forza Horizon 4
  9. Call of Duty: Black Ops 4
  10. Rainbow Six Siege

May 2019 PS4

  1. Mortal Kombat 11
  2. Days Gone
  3. MLB The Show 19
  4. Rage 2*
  5. Grand Theft Auto V
  6. Spider-Man
  7. Red Dead Redemption 2
  8. Call of Duty: Black O ps 4
  9. NBA 2K19
  10. The Division 2

May 2019 Nintendo Switch

  1. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate*
  2. Mario Kart 8*
  3. New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe*
  4. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild*
  5. Mortal Kombat 11
  6. Yoshi’s Crafted World*
  7. Super Mario Party*
  8. Super Mario Odyssey*
  9. Pokemon: Let’s Go Pikachu*
  10. Pokemon: Let’s Go Eevee*

May 2019 3DS

  1. Pokemon: Ultra Sun*
  2. Pokemon: Ultra Moon*
  3. Detective Pikachu*
  4. The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask 3D*
  5. Super Mario Maker*
  6. Mario Kart 7*
  7. Super Smash Bros.*
  8. Kirby’s Epic Yarn*
  9. Luigi’s Mansion*
  10. Mario & Luigi: Bowser’s Inside Story + Bowser Jr.’s Journey*

* Digital sales not included

^ PC digital sales not included

# Minecraft digital sales on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One included

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/top-10-best-selling-games-of-may-2019-revealed-as-/1100-6467880/

The Division 2 Update Out Now, Adds New Gunner Specialization

Ubisoft has rolled out another update for Tom Clancy’s The Division 2. Title Update 4 is now live on PS4, Xbox One, and PC, bringing a new specialization to the loot shooter: the Gunner, which comes with a new skill and its own unique weapon, the minigun.

To unlock the Gunner specialization, you’ll need to complete the Special Field Research–five stages of challenges that each boast their own objectives and rewards. Once you’ve completed all five stages, you’ll earn access to the Gunner.

Those who’ve purchased the Year One Pass, meanwhile, will unlock the Gunner immediately. However, you can still take on the Special Field Research challenges to unlock an assortment of exclusive cosmetics, including the following:

  • Fisticuffs and Front Flex emotes
  • Charcoal and Detritus gear dyes
  • Rosethorn and Pineapple weapon skins
  • Gunner mask and Gunner specialization uniform

As previously mentioned, the Gunner wields the minigun, a rapid-fire weapon that Ubisoft says can dish out “massive damage in short periods of time on the enemy while sustaining incoming damage thanks to its bonus armor.” Gunners can also throw Riot Foam Grenades, which will cover enemies in foam and prevent them from moving. The Banshee signature skill, meanwhile, can confuse targets.

Ubisoft has a lot more content lined up for The Division 2. The game will receive three DLC episodes as part of its year-one roadmap, the first of which–DC Outskirts – Expeditions–is arriving this summer. At E3 2019, Ubisoft shared more details about these new Expeditions, which are free events that let players travel to unexplored locations to discover new narrative and gameplay opportunities.

The Division 2 launched for PS4, Xbox One, and PC this part March. It earned a 9/10 in our Division 2 review. Critic Edmond Tran wrote, “The range of enemy types continues to keep combat encounters challenging, the equipment I earn and pick up continues to feel different, valuable, and asks me to consider new ways of play. The ravaged environments continue to intrigue, and sometimes they’re so stunning I find myself needing to take screenshots before I move on. It might not have much to say, but The Division 2 is a perpetual cycle of tension, relief, and reward that’s difficult to stay away from.”

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/the-division-2-update-out-now-adds-new-gunner-spec/1100-6467876/

Oh, Hey, The Long-Awaited Bloodstained Is Finally Out Now

They say the demons come out at night, and so does Miriam the demon slayer. Famed auteur Koji Igarashi’s spiritual successor to Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night, is out now–but you might not have realized it after some delays and the recent E3 hubbub.

Ritual of the Night recently underwent a huge graphics overhaul and made a brief appearance at E3 2019, but the buzz surrounding the game has been relatively quiet. Very few reviews have been published so far, with our own coming soon.

Iga released an announcement trailer, below, declaring Ritual of the Night will receive 13 pieces of DLC for free post-launch. The trailer goes through a variety of the game’s mechanics, including accessorizing, crafting, fighting, and posing. Zangetsu, the katana-wielding protagonist of Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon, is one of three playable characters. The retro-style spin-off Curse of the Moon launched in 2018 as one of the original Kickstarter’s stretch goals. Yacht Club’s Shovel Knight will also make an appearance and may be another of the three playable characters, based on what’s seen in the launch trailer.

In a feature following a PAX East demo, we said the game is close to but not quite Castlevania. “On the whole, though, the classic sensation of quick, piston-tight platforming and combat has made the transition [to 3D]. Miriam’s variety of weapons feel alternately light and swift or heavy and thumping. The level design pitched a good balance of graceful platforming, tough combat, and occasionally a blend of both.”

Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night is available now for PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One. The Nintendo Switch version will launch next week on Tuesday, June 25.

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/oh-hey-the-long-awaited-bloodstained-is-finally-ou/1100-6467875/

Apex Legends Has Dragons Now, Apparently

Apex Legends has been teasing something big coming to the game, and now it appears to have arrived. Players have reported hearing and seeing dragons roaming about the map, potentially laying the groundwork for a world event to come with Season 2.

The flying beasts can be spotted in the game or on screens posted to the Apex Legends subreddit. The community has taken to calling them “Flyers” and if you bring one down you can get some loot. In a potentially related development, the Leviathan that wanders in the waters outside the map has moved significantly as well.

The trailer for Season 2 that debuted at EA Play, just before E3 2019, showed a giant lizard-like eyeball as a teaser at the very end. These creatures are significantly smaller than the one that implied, so they could be harbingers of some larger event to come.

Apex Legends’ battle royale competition Fortnite has become known for big world-changing events that accompany each season, and so far Apex hasn’t followed suit. Respawn has suggested that it is comfortable with a slower pace for its content drops so as to not burn out the team, but that was as compared to weekly and monthly updates. A new season could still bring big changes, so we’ll have to see if a giant dragon is among them.

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/apex-legends-has-dragons-now-apparently/1100-6467873/

PS4 Sale: Persona 5 For $16, Shenmue 1 And 2 For $21, And More Deals To Grab Now (US)

Sony’s annual Days of Play sale, which ran during E3 2019 with steep discounts on games and consoles, is finally over. But a new week means new deals, and luckily, the PlayStation Store has some eye-catching bargains available now.

Most notably, quite a few Persona games and DLC are currently scattered throughout the PSN deals section, including Persona 5, which is on sale for $16 (and only $14 if you have PS Plus). With well over 100 hours of content, this is a phenomenal deal on one of the console’s best games. If you already own Persona 5, there’s also a DLC bundle on sale with added Personas, which each bring unique battle skills to your team. That bundle is available for $14 ($12 with PS Plus). You can also get Persona 4 Golden on Vita for only $12 ($10 with PS Plus) and the Persona Dancing: Endless Night Collection for $70 ($60 with PS Plus).

With Shenmue III scheduled to release this August, fans of the classic, open-world adventure series might be interested in grabbing Shenmue I & II at a discount. You can get the bundle together for only $21 ($18 with PS Plus). Monster Hunter World is also still on sale for $20, and with the Iceborne expansion beta launching this weekend for PS Plus members, there’s no better time to pick up the base game.

See all the weekly game deals in the PlayStation Store, and check out more of our picks below!

  • Circuits — $3.34
  • Destiny 2: Forsaken – Complete Collection — $40
  • Monster Boy and the Cursed Kingdom — $34
  • Monster Hunter World — $20
  • Moonlighter — $10
  • My Time At Portia — $24
  • Overcooked 2 — $17.49
  • Persona 3: Dancing in Moonlight — $42 / $36 on PS+
  • Persona 4 Golden (Vita) — $12 / $10 on PS+
  • Persona 5 — $16 / $14 on PS+
  • Persona 5: Dancing in Starlight — $42 / $36 on PS+
  • Persona 5 DLC bundle — $14 / $12 on PS+
  • Persona 5 – Ultimate Edition — $59.49 / $51 on PS+
  • Persona Dancing: Endless Night Collection — $70 / $60 on PS+
  • Regalia: Of Men and Monarchs – Royal Edition — $15 / $12.49 on PS+
  • Shenmue I & II — $21 / $18 on PS+
  • Tom Clancy’s The Division 2 — $42
  • Utawarerumono: Mask of Truth — $18 / $15 on PS+
  • Utawarerumono: Mask of Deception — $18 / $15 on PS+
  • Yoku’s Island Express — $10

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/ps4-sale-persona-5-for-16-shenmue-1-and-2-for-21-a/1100-6467872/

The Best Xbox One Deals This Week: Sonic Classics, Wireless Controllers, And More (US)

Now that the frenzy of E3 2019 is over, all those great game deals are no longer available, but while the big Xbox One game and console sale has ended, the Xbox Store is back on its regular schedule of offering new weekly game deals. The newest batch of Xbox One deals is available now, including a Sonic anniversary sale, discounted indie games, $10 off Xbox wireless controllers, and more.

The spotlight is on everyone’s favorite speedy hedgehog this week, as Sonic the Hedgehog debuted on the Sega Genesis in North America 28 years ago this month. To celebrate, Sonic’s recent games on the Xbox One are marked down along with a collection of Xbox 360 games, many of which are backward-compatible with Xbox One. For the next week, you can get the newly released competitive racer Team Sonic Racing for $30, the gorgeous, retro-style Sonic Mania for $12, and 3D platformer Sonic Forces for $15. If you feel like taking a trip down memory lane, you can also save on classics like Sonic Adventure 2 for $5 and the original Sonic the Hedgehog for $2.49, both of which can be played on Xbox One.

The Xbox Store is also highlighting discounts on games from independent developers, who can self-publish digital games on Xbox One and PC with the ID@Xbox program. Some of the best indie games to grab on sale this week include My Time At Portia for $24, The Witness for $20, Observer for $9, and The Gardens Between for $12.

Plus, if you’re in the market for a new Xbox wireless controller, this is a good week to pick one up, as many styles are marked down by $10 in the Xbox Store (excluding, sadly, the new Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2). Both the Phantom White and Phantom Black special edition controllers are down to $60, and some older styles, like the pink Minecraft pig design and Armed Forces II special edition, are discounted to $55. However, consider checking Amazon first, where some wireless controllers are as cheap as $45 this week.

Check out the full offering of deals at the Xbox Store and more of our picks below!

Xbox One

Xbox 360

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/the-best-xbox-one-deals-this-week-sonic-classics-w/1100-6467860/