Mario Maker 2 Switch Sales Off To An Impressive Start

Nintendo has released its earnings report for the first quarter of the fiscal year 2019, which covers the period from April to June 30. Not only did the company move another 2.13 million Switch consoles worldwide during that time frame, bringing the system’s lifetime total close to 37 million, it also launched one of the system’s most anticipated releases this year, Super Mario Maker 2, and the game is off to an impressive start.

According to Nintendo’s earnings report, Super Mario Maker 2 sold 2.42 million units worldwide during the fiscal quarter. What makes this especially impressive is that the game launched right at the end of the quarter, on June 28, so it managed to move more than 2 million copies in only three days of availability.

Mario Maker 2 wasn’t the only Nintendo game that performed well during the recent fiscal quarter. The company’s best-selling Switch title, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, shifted another 1.2 million units worldwide, bringing its lifetime sales up to 17.89 million. The star-studded mascot fighter Super Smash Bros. Ultimate also continues to perform well; the game now sits at 14.73 million units and will likely soon overtake Super Mario Odyssey as Switch’s second-best-selling game. You can see Nintendo’s revised top 10 Switch best-sellers list here.

Nintendo recently increased the number of levels players can upload in Super Mario Maker 2. Prior to the update, players could only share a maximum of 32 courses on the game’s online Course World hub, but that limit has now been doubled. Nintendo says it will increase the level upload limit one more time in the future. The company will also release an update that allows players to play online with friends, although it hasn’t yet announced when that update will go live. You can read more about the game in our Super Mario Maker 2 review.

Nintendo is releasing a cheaper, portable-focused version of the Switch–dubbed the Nintendo Switch Lite–this September. This iteration of the console removes some of the system’s features, such as its detachable Joy-Cons and ability to connect to a television, to better suite handheld play. Meanwhile, the base Nintendo Switch is also receiving a modest revision, with much longer battery life. The revised Switch will cost the same as the original model ($300 USD) and will launch in the US sometime in mid-August.

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/mario-maker-2-switch-sales-off-to-an-impressive-st/1100-6468772/

Destiny 2 Solstice Of Heroes Guide: Tips For European Aerial Zone, Armor Upgrades

Solstice of Heroes 2019 is live in Destiny 2, marking the final big event to take place before the Shadowkeep expansion arrives in September. This year’s event again centers around obtaining and upgrading a series of Solstice armor for Titans, Hunters, and Warlocks, but it also involves partaking in a brand-new mode called the European Aerial Zone. We’re still digging into everything the event has to offer following the release of the new update, but based on our experience so far, we have some tips on how to quickly upgrade your armor and get the most out of your EAZ runs.

Understanding The EAZ

As the name suggests, the European Aerial Zone features a lot in common with the European Dead Zone, at least in terms of visuals. The “aerial” part of the name comes in when you look at how the area is laid out–this is the most vertically oriented area in Destiny. The area has small groups of floating islands surrounding the outside, but the landmass is primarily composed of familiar EDZ elements. However, the ruined cityscape has you going through buildings and ascending to rooftops quite frequently. It’s a much different way of navigating the world than we’re accustomed to, and you’ll want to do what you can to familiarize yourself with the general layout. It’s easy to get lost and generally waste time, and speed is the name of the game.

A run through the EAZ consists of a few rounds:

  • Kill as many minibosses you can within the time limit
  • Kill the boss
  • Unlock the chests within the time limit

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You’ll want to focus on the miniboss targets throughout the first section; it’s easy to get distracted by small skirmishes that don’t matter. Having your team of three split up and take out as many minibosses as possible seemingly dictates the number of chests that open once you kill the boss. The boss fights are relatively straightforward encounters (although there is some potential wrinkle where a Prismatic Taken spawns during this stage, though we’re not entirely sure how that plays out yet).

Once you’ve slain the boss, a chest will appear nearby. Once you open that, a countdown will begin before a series of chests randomly spawn around the map. Just before they appear, you’ll briefly see their locations on your HUD–make sure to look around and make note of the general direction of each one. Once the chests actually spawn, you’ll have to get close to them in order to see them pop up on your HUD again. As with the minibosses, spreading out to cover more ground is your best bet, because you only have a limited time to open as many chests as possible. Any player who opens the chest earns the rewards for everyone in the group, so you don’t need to worry about hitting up each one yourself.

Solstice Packages And Key Fragments

You should earn a Solstice Package from each EAZ run, along with a series of key fragments. The packages seem to consist of a variety of random gear and items, including planetary materials and armor. You’ll need 15 key fragments in order to open a package. While you can earn key fragments from the EAZ, there are other ways to earn them, including completing patrols and public events.

Upgrading Solstice Armor

Early in your adventures in Solstice of Heroes, Eva Levante at the Tower will grant you a set of green-tier armor (dubbed the Drained version). Each one has a series of objectives attached to it (seen by hovering over it in your inventory), and you’ll need to complete all of these in order to upgrade the set to the next level of rarity.

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These objectives run the gamut–some are tied to running through the EAZ and opening the aforementioned chests, while others ask you to generate elemental orbs (more on those below), complete public events on a specific planet, kill opposing players, or open those Solstice Packages. The specific objectives vary by class.

The key thing to be aware of with these is that you need to have the armor equipped in order to register progress. If you’re eager to do this as quickly as possible, pay attention to the objectives that overlap. You may need to complete Crucible or Gambit matches while also needing to collect Void orbs in those modes, so you’ll want to ensure you’re equipped correctly to make that happen.

How Elemental Orbs And Empowerment Buffs Work

One of the core parts of Solstice of Heroes is the element of the day, and the accompanying elemental orbs that can be generated. Throughout the event, a specific element will be chosen each day–Arc, Void, or Solar–and as you earn elemental kills (meaning final blows with an elemental weapon or ability), corresponding orbs will be dropped on the ground. Pick up 30 of these, and you’ll receive a temporary buff, Empowerment, that grants you a different effect. Here’s how Bungie describes each of them:

Solar Elemental Buff

  • Equip your Solar subclass and weapons to generate Solar orbs. Then, collect them to wield their Solar elemental power. While empowered, Guardians emit a burning wave of energy that damages anything around them.

Void Elemental Buff

  • Equip your Void subclass and weapons to generate Void orbs. Then, collect them to wield their Void elemental power. Crouch while empowered to become invisible and gain Truesight plus enhanced ability regeneration.

Arc Elemental Buff

  • Equip your Arc subclass and weapons to generate Arc orbs. Then, collect them to wield their Arc elemental power. While empowered, Guardians move with enhanced speed and deal greater melee and Sword damage.

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Once your Empowerment buff activates, your stack of orbs–designated in the bottom left of the screen by “Elemental Charge” followed by the number you’ve collected–will be consumed. However, you can begin picking up orbs while Empowerment is active.

As noted above, these orbs are also tied to the Solstice armor objectives. You can luckily create whatever type of orb you need for these objectives regardless of the daily element, but if you’re looking to collect orbs, you’ll need to be fast. Unlike Orbs of Light, these elemental orbs disappear fairly quickly.

Also bear in mind that all of this is true across the game. While the elemental buffs aren’t available in Gambit Prime or Competitive playlists, they are present everywhere else. As such, you don’t have to rely on the EAZ to generate the orbs you need for armor objectives. In fact, based on what we’ve seen so far, your best bet for rapidly acquiring orbs might be Heroic public events, particularly those in confined spaces.

Solstice has only gotten underway, and we’ll report back with more information as we further learn how everything works. This is all now live for all Destiny 2 players, as is a slate of event-specific items that can be bought from the Eververse store.

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/destiny-2-solstice-of-heroes-guide-tips-for-europe/1100-6468774/

XCOM Spiritual Successor Phoenix Point Has Been Delayed

Snapshot Games has announced that Phoenix Point has been delayed. Instead of releasing on September 3, the XCOM-like strategy game is now scheduled to launch in December.

“While the development team is working hard, and Phoenix Point is shaping up really well, we now know we’re going to need more time to get it to meet our very high standards,” Snapshot Games wrote in a backer update. “As you probably know, Snapshot has a commitment to keep crunch to a minimum–and that is a commitment we take very seriously.”

This is the third time Phoenix Point has been delayed; the game was first scheduled for 2018 before being pushed back to July 2019 and then again to September. In response to the delay, Snapshot Games is offering a reward to backers who have been patiently waiting. “We know this is a significant delay,” the developer wrote. “The good news is that Backer Build 5 will be releasing on our original launch date, September 3, 2019, meaning backers and early-access buyers will be able to play a much more robust version of Phoenix Point very soon.”

First announced in 2016, Phoenix Point is designed by XCOM creator Julian Gollop. An E3 2019 demo of the game revealed just how much Phoenix Point is the spiritual successor to the strategy franchise, featuring a similar story and virtually the same mechanics. Phoenix Point expands on the formula, however, with additional features–such as enemies that mutate and adapt to player strategy, AI-controlled factions that compete with the player’s goals, and brand-new combat tactics. The game takes place on Earth in 2047 and sees you take command of the last remaining base standing against a Lovecraft-inspired alien threat.

Phoenix Point will release on PC, launching with a one-year exclusivity deal with the Epic Games Store.

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/xcom-spiritual-successor-phoenix-point-has-been-de/1100-6468771/

Division 2 Update Makes Episode 1 Available To All

We were introduced to The Division 2‘s new Expeditions feature during Ubsioft’s E3 2019 press conference. The first of a three-part episode series, titled Episode 1: DC Outskirts – Expeditions, went live last week for those who own a Year One Pass. Now, Ubisoft has announced that Episode 1 is available to all The Division 2 owners.

Episode 1 adds two new main missions and a new Expeditions experience, which introduces weekly, exploration-driven challenges. You will travel to two new settings: Manning National Zoo and Camp White Oak. The former will see you “explore 11 different biomes to confront the leader of the Outcasts,” while the latter will have you “hunt down a traitor.” You will also head to Kenly College, where you can earn rewards by “exploring, investigating, and solving puzzles to uncover the fate of a lost convoy.”

According to a press release, this wide-spread launch of Episode 1 comes with a care package. The care package, available now through Tuesday, August 13 for free, contains three pieces of equipment and more. What the contents are specifically hasn’t been clarified, but you can access the package by going into your mailbox in the stash.

Expeditions are free events split into three different wings that release weekly. The first, which takes you to Kenly College, will give you access to an exclusive treasure room with a new exotic weapon (Diamondback Rifle), exotic gear (BTSU Datagloves), and two more weapons (Stoner LMB and Carbine 7) for finishing all three wings.

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/division-2-update-makes-episode-1-available-to-all/1100-6468773/

Destiny 2 Update Kicks Off Solstice Of Heroes; Patch Notes Released

The final major event of Year 2 of Destiny 2 is now live, as is a new update. Patch 2.5.2 is out now and coincides with the start of Solstice of Heroes 2019, which features a limited-time mode and a variety of cosmetics (including sparrows, emotes, and ghosts, among other things). Here’s what’s new in the update itself and a look at the full patch notes.

While the update’s release marks the start of a big event, the patch itself doesn’t feature much in the way of significant new features. Instead, it largely deals with fixing or improving a variety of areas of the game, starting with Lord of Wolves. The Exotic has been dominant of late in Crucible, so much so that Bungie will be rewarding players with an emblem if they took part in Iron Banner while it was left unchecked. But this patch should mark the end of that, as the shotgun’s effective range has been reduced, and shotgun scavenger perks will now provide the weapon with less ammo when it’s in Release the Wolves mode.

The Triumph Hall sees some adjustments, including making the Emperor’s Gladiator and Scoundrel in Uniform triumphs less difficult to complete. Rather than requiring a full set of Leviathan gear, you’ll now earn progress based on how many pieces you have equipped, bringing it in line with other, similar triumphs. Additionally, Bungie has addressed a glitch that allowed players to farm tributes by using alternate characters; those who did this to obtain the Bad Juju catalyst or emote will no longer have access to those things until they fulfill the requirements the proper way.

Iron Banner may have just wrapped up, but Bungie has made some changes to it, too, making it easier to complete the quest steps involving grenade and sword kills. Likewise, the Menagerie has been updated so that its Heroic version is now guaranteed to drop a sword for players after their first completion. Subsequent completions have a 25% chance to drop a sword.

Various other nagging issues have also been resolved, and you can see everything that’s changed in the patch notes below. Note that the new content–including the European Aerial Zone mode and various cosmetics and Solstice armor–aren’t mentioned here, but all of those are now available for you to check out and obtain for a limited time.

Destiny 2 Update 2.5.2 Patch Notes

Sandbox

Weapons

  • Lord of Wolves
    • Reduced the amount of ammo that Shotgun Scavenger perks can give to Lord of Wolves when it is in the Release the Wolves state
    • Decreased the effective range on Lord of Wolves
      • This decrease is more aggressive when the weapon is in the Release the Wolves state
  • Perks
    • Fixed an issue that allowed the Feeding Frenzy perk to be applied to any weapon

Armor

  • Fixed an issue where the cloth component of the Iron Symmachy Cloak wasn’t rendering correctly
  • Fixed an issue where the cloth component of the Terra Concord Mark wasn’t rendering correctly
  • Fixed a bug where the Titan Exotic leg armor Peregrine Greaves glowed 130x too bright when wearers were at maximum velocity
  • While our intention was for this Exotic to help Titans destroy opponents with 130x efficiency, we did not intend for its glow to burn out the corneas of the user

Investment

Tribute Hall

  • Triumphs
    • The Tribute Hall Triumphs “The Emperor’s Gladiator” and “The Scoundrel in Uniform” no longer require you to equip a full set of Leviathan gear to progress
    • Players will now earn more points based on the number of gear pieces worn, similar to other Triumphs
  • Tributes
    • Players will no longer be able to place the Tribute Hall introductory tribute on an alternate character to gain credit for a large number of tributes placed
    • Players who accessed the catalyst or emote rewards through this method will have those items relocked until they place enough unique tributes to meet the actual unlock requirements

Iron Banner

  • Iron Banner pursuit objective values have been adjusted
    • Reduced the grenade kills required by 50%
    • Ally grenade kills are now worth as much as your own
    • Reduced the Sword kills required by 25%
    • Ally Sword kills are now worth as much as your own
  • Fixed an issue where players were unable to equip Season 3 Iron Banner ornaments on their Season 7 armor
  • The Wolf’s Favor will no longer drop from daily and weekly Iron Banner challenges
  • Fixed an issue where the Triumph “Efrideet’s Gift” was not unlocking for players who earned enough Iron Banner rank-up packages during Season 7
    • This fix is retroactive; it will get players up to speed who have met the requirements

Menagerie / Chalice

  • Heroic Menagerie now drops a Sword for first-time completion (100%)
    • Subsequent completions have a moderate chance to drop a Sword (25%)
  • Fixed an issue where the Triumph “Drink Deep” would not unlock for some players who claimed the Masterwork slot on the Chalice of Opulence
  • Fixed an issue where players could become stuck in the Season of Opulence intro quest by unlocking the first rune slot on the Chalice before completing the Lost Sector The Conflux and being on the correct quest step
  • Imperials and runes can no longer be earned by idling through matches of Crucible and Gambit

Truth Quest

  • Replaced the step of the Truth quest chain requiring the bounty “Corsair Down” with a step requiring completion of three patrols in the Dreaming City
  • Fixed a bug where players could become blocked from earning Truth if they opened the Ascendant chest in the strike “Warden of Nothing” before being on the appropriate quest step

General

  • Fixed an issue where completion notifications would not appear after players completed bounties
  • This will also fix an issue where players would sometimes not spawn during a Crucible match

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/destiny-2-update-kicks-off-solstice-of-heroes-patc/1100-6468770/

New Fortnite Season 10 Teaser Image Hints At Another Returning Skin

Season 10 of Fortnite: Battle Royale is fast approaching. The new season kicks off this Thursday, August 1, and in the lead up to it, developer Epic Games has been sharing cryptic images that seem to tease that some older content will be returning to the game. The studio has now released the third Season 10 teaser so far, and it looks like another skin from the past will be making a comeback–albeit with a twist.

The teaser, which you can see below, showcases what appear to be two skins. The one on the right bears a clear resemblance to the Drift skin from Season 5, although it’s colored differently, while the other is presumably a new skin being introduced in Season 10. “Twist time,” the accompanying caption reads, which further hints at some kind of time warp theme for the season.

The first teaser image came with the caption “Think Back,” and depicted Dusty Depot, which was famously destroyed by a giant meteor and became Dusty Divot at the start Season 4. The second, meanwhile, featured a mech with the caption “Look Forward.” Interestingly, one of the symbols on the side of the mech matched that on The Visitor, a skin from back in Season 4, suggesting it may also return in some form in Season 10.

Ahead of each seasonal changeover, Epic typically hosts some kind of world-changing event in Fortnite that sets the stage for the upcoming season. Earlier this month, a giant robot did battle with the monster that was lurking beneath Polar Peak. The robot managed to defeat the monster, whose skeleton can still be found on the island, but in the confrontation, the Vault in Loot Lake was damaged and appears to be growing increasingly unstable, which may be sets into motion whatever time-related event leads to Season 10.

Before Season 10 officially arrives, there’s still a little time left to complete any remaining challenges from Season 9, including those from the ongoing birthday event. If you need help completing any outstanding missions, we’ve collected all of our tips and guides for the trickier ones in our complete Season 9 challenges roundup. Epic has also released a handful of Overtime challenges to help you earn XP and unlock any remaining Season 9 Battle Pass rewards before the season comes to an end.

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/new-fortnite-season-10-teaser-image-hints-at-anoth/1100-6468766/

Another Nintendo Switch Game Gets VR Support

If you happen to own Nintendo’s new VR Kit, Captain Toad has an adventure for you. Nintendo Europe has announced that Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker has a free software update which uses the virtual reality goggles–and it’s available now.

Captain Toad’s new mini VR adventure lets you view courses in 360 degrees and explore four courses in virtual reality. One lets you pan around the stage to better gauge what’s around pillars and obstacles, while another puts you in a minecart to hunt for treasure. Check out the announcement trailer below.

Treasure Tracker isn’t the only game with VR support. Nintendo America announced back in April 2019 that two of the company’s most popular Switch games–The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Super Mario Odysseywould receive VR support for free as software updates.

The VR Kit is part of Nintendo Labo, a sort of toys-to-life concept using cardboard to introduce new ways of interacting with the Nintendo Switch. Released throughout 2018, there are currently four Labo Kits available: Robot, Variety, Vehicle, and VR.

Treasure Tracker landed on Nintendo 3DS and Switch in July 2018, almost four years after its initial December 2014 launch. In our Treasure Tracker Switch review, we said, “Despite a smattering of minor complaints, Captain Toad stands as a pint-sized version of Nintendo’s stellar first party pedigree. It’s among the best Mario spin-offs around and a delightful iteration on old ideas.”

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/another-nintendo-switch-game-gets-vr-support/1100-6468769/

Code Vein Behind the Scenes video 3 goes over character design

Code Vein Behind the Scenes video 3 goes over character design

Learn some of the philosophy behind the game’s characters and clothing

source /news/8789-code-vein-behind-the-scenes-video-3-goes-over-character-design

New Xbox One Games With Gold For August 2019 Announced

A new month means new free games for Xbox Live Gold members, who can claim two Xbox One and two Xbox 360 games (which are backward-compatible with Xbox One) as part of Games With Gold. August’s free games have finally been revealed, and it’s a solid batch of games for Xbox owners this month.

The first freebie that’ll be available starting August 1 is Gears of War 4, which isn’t a huge surprise considering this game was also included in Twitch Prime’s recent “spend $15, get $15 credit” offer. Gears of War 4 is a third-person shooter with a story campaign that includes both local and online co-op. If you’re interested in its upcoming sequel, Gears 5, which releases September 10, this is a great time to hop into Gears of War 4, where Gears 5 protagonist Kait Diaz is first introduced. Plus, you’ll be able to play on both Xbox One and PC.

During the first half of August, you’ll also be able to claim the hack-and-slash dungeon crawler Torchlight for free. Developed by the creators of Diablo and Fate, the game is set in the town of Torchlight, where you’ll control a lone hero to explore randomly generated dungeons, take down monsters, gather loot, complete quests, and more.

Then, starting August 16, Forza Motorsport 6 and Castlevania: Lords of Shadow will become available. Racing game Forza Motorsport 6 will be available for a full month (until Sept. 15) on Xbox One and features 24-player races, 27 total tracks, a new story mode, night racing, weather elements like rain, and more. Castlevania: Lords of Shadow, which will be available only during the second half of the month, first released in 2010 on consoles as a pseudo-reboot of the Castlevania series. The 3D action-adventure follows Gabriel Belmont on his mission to resurrect his wife and take down the evil Lords of Shadow.

Games with Gold August 2019

  • Gears of War 4 — August 1-31 (Xbox One, PC)
  • Torchlight — August 1-15 (Xbox 360)*
  • Forza Motorsport 6 — August 16-September 15 (Xbox One)
  • Castlevania: Lords of Shadow –August 16-31 (Xbox 360)*

*Also available to play on Xbox One due to backward-compatibility

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/new-xbox-one-games-with-gold-for-august-2019-annou/1100-6468765/