Today Only: Mario Rabbids, Starlink Bundled For $30 At Best Buy (Switch)

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If you’ve held off on picking up Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle or Starlink: Battle for Atlas Starter Pack, you’ll want to take advantage of what might be the best Nintendo Switch deal we’ve seen all week: a bundle with both products selling for only $30 at Best Buy right now. Normally listed at $120 ($60 for each product), that’s a whopping $90 savings. This daily deal won’t be around long, however–according to the countdown timer, the deal ends at 10 PM PT / 1 AM ET.

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Starlink: Battle for Atlas Starter Pack, Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle bundle

$30 ($120)

See deal at Best Buy

The Starlink: Battle for Atlas Starter Pack (which is on sale for $33 individually at Amazon, for comparison) includes the Starlink action-adventure game as well as physical elements that actually attach to your controller and impact gameplay, such as a starship, weapons, controller mount, and pilot. The Nintendo Switch version also comes with a Fox McCloud pilot and an exclusive mission.

The game itself received a 7/10 in GameSpot’s Starlink: Battle for Atlas review, in which one of the main criticisms was how expensive the game’s physical models are. “Starlink is an interesting and enjoyable open-world game, one that fully understands the appeal of exploring new planets and dogfighting in the cold depths of space,” wrote critic James O’Connor. “With a small fleet of ships at your disposal, it can be a lot of fun to progressively assault and weaken the Forgotten Legion’s hold on the galaxy. It’s just a shame that if you’re interested in the physical models, you’ll have to spend more to get the same experience as the digital version.”

You’ll also get Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle as part of the bundle, a crossover between the Mario and Raving Rabbids franchises created for Nintendo Switch. Mario + Rabbids, a turn-based tactical game with both single-player and co-op gameplay, has sold extremely well on the Switch, breaking into the console’s top 10 bestsellers list, and it earned an impressive 9/10 in GameSpot’s Mario + Rabbids review.

“Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle exudes off-beat optimism that never dissolves. It’s a consistent delight, no matter how challenging the road becomes, because Kingdom Battle’s unique turn-based tactics system is in every way a pleasure to engage with,” wrote GameSpot’s Edmond Tran. “Coupled with the annoyingly infectious allure of Rabbids, and the always delightful, colorful world of the Mushroom Kingdom, Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle is an implausibly engrossing formula that is positively challenging and endlessly charming.”

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/today-only-mario-rabbids-starlink-bundled-for-30-a/1100-6469119/

Fan-Made Mod Brings The Elder Scrolls: Oblivion Into Skyrim Engine

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The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion remains one of the most beloved entries in the long-running open-world RPG franchise. Now, some decade later, a new fan-made mod seeks to capitalize on this adoration, bringing the world of Cyrodiil into the The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim engine.

Skyblivion, a mod created by a group of volunteers known as TESRenewal, is a project aiming to bring Oblivion “to a new generation of gamers and re-introduce it to long time fans of the series” by rebuilding and baking Cyrodiil (and all of Oblivion’s DLC) into the Skyrim and Skyrim: Special Edition engines. As expected, this means you must legitimately own Oblivion, Skyrim, and all DLC for both games. Otherwise, Skyblivion will be inaccessible.

After meeting the above requirements, accessing Skyblivion is simple. You download it from Nexus, Steam Workshop, or Bethesda mods, install it, launch Skyrim, and create a new character. From there, Skyblivion–and all of its rebuilt assets, including Oblivion’s creatures, locations, quests, create-a-class system, spellmaking mechanic, and more–will be available and you will be able to travel between Cyrodiil, Morrowind, and Skyrim freely.

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There’s no release date for Skyblivion, but it will be 100 percent free when it does arrive on PC. Unfortunately, due to its size, TESR says the mod won’t launch on consoles. Even still, progress is being made steadily, as the mod’s exterior map is almost complete.

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/fan-made-mod-brings-the-elder-scrolls-oblivion-int/1100-6469122/

New PS4 Controllers Are Coming This Fall, And They Look Amazing

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There have been no shortage of colours released for the PS4‘s DualShock 4, but it appears that Sony isn’t quite finished yet. The company announced via the PlayStation Blog that a handful more are coming this fall, and while I thought it couldn’t get any better than the translucent models from a couple years back, it seems I forgot all about my favourite colour: PURPLE!

The four colours coming are Electric Purple, Titanium Blue, Rose Gold, and Red Camouflage–I’m guessing the latter will come in extra handy if you want to hide amongst all of autumn’s red trees. All four controllers will arrive this September in the US and Canada for a list price of $65 USD / $75 CAD. The controllers are also set for a fall release in Europe and other regions as well.

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On top of the new controllers, we’ll also see the arrival of a new design for the PlayStation Gold Wireless Headset. This new version matches the Rose Gold DualShock 4 and will hit stores after the controllers, sometime this fall. You can expect a list price of $100 USD / $120 CAD.

We’ll keep our eyes out for when these controllers hit retailers, so be sure to stay tuned to GameSpot. In the meantime, check out this deal on the Fortnite Neo Versa PS4 bundles. These bundles finally came out in the US this week and offer exclusive Fortnite content with a PS4, DualShock 4, or Gold Wireless Headset.

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/new-ps4-controllers-are-coming-this-fall-and-they-/1100-6469121/

Fortnite Week 3 Worlds Collide Challenges (Season 10): Visit Cube Memorial, Rift Zones, And More

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Week 3 of Fortnite Season X has arrived, which means there’s a new set of challenges for players to complete in Epic’s popular battle royale game. This week’s batch of missions is called Worlds Collide, and as its name suggests, many of its challenges hearken back to Season 5, revolving around Rifts and even the infamous purple cube.

As has been the trend this season, only three of the Worlds Collide challenges are available from the outset, with additional missions unlocking as you complete them. Fortunately, the initial batch is fairly straightforward, tasking you with using a Rift, visiting a Rift Zone, and dealing damage to opponents either at the Viking Village or Loot Lake.

Most of the other Worlds Collide challenges are equally straightforward, but one has you visiting a memorial to Kevin the Cube, which infamously arrived partway through Season 5 and rolled around the island before transforming Loot Lake. You can see the full list of Week 3 Worlds Collide challenges below. Once you’ve cleared all the challenges, you’ll unlock “Prestige” versions of them, which often impose an extra condition to make them tougher to complete.

Unlike previous seasons, the World Collide challenges are only available to those who own a Season X Battle Pass. In the past, Epic offered a few challenges for free to all players this week, but this season, the studio has gated most of the missions behind the pass, so you’ll need to pick one up before you can set off on these challenges. You can find all of our tips and guides in our full Season X challenges roundup.

Epic recently rolled out Fortnite’s 10.10 update, which brought back Retail Row and kicked off a new limited-time mode called World Run. The patch also nerfed the Plastic Patroller skin; it now sports some visible mud smears and wear and tear so that players no longer blend in quite as well with the environment.

Fortnite Season X, Week 3 Worlds Collide Challenges

  • Use a Rift (1)
  • Visit a Rift Zone (1)
  • Deal damage to opponents at a mountaintop Viking Village or Loot Lake (200)
  • Visit a memorial to a cube in the desert or by a lake (1)
  • Eliminate opponents in the desert (3)
  • Search chests at Loot Lake (3)
  • Consume foraged mushrooms (10)

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/fortnite-week-3-worlds-collide-challenges-season-1/1100-6469110/

Bethesda Updates Doom Ports To Address Annoying Login Requirements

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Bethesda surprised gamers with releases of Doom, Doom 2, and Doom 3 for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One during QuakeCon 2019. While exciting, fans quickly discovered that all three re-releases required a Bethesda.net account to access the game and/or certain features. A new patch now provides the option to skip the login altogether.

Bethesda tweeted that a new update for Doom and Doom 2 lets you skip the Bethesda login screen. The patch will also remove the message that you have disconnected from the server during gameplay, letting you slaughter demons in heavy metal peace.

While there isn’t a release date yet, Bethesda says it’s working on a permanent fix to “reduce [the login’s] visibility.” Bethesda notes that the login is optional, though several outlets–including Eurogamer and Kotaku–have pointed out that though Doom and Doom 2 can be played offline, an internet connection and a Bethesda account are required once before playing either title offline.

Bethesda and developer Id Software are gearing up for the hellish release of Doom Eternal, which is expected to launch for Google Stadia, Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One on November 22. It serves as a direct sequel to 2016’s Doom and aims to be a “fantasy combat puzzle,” a phrase creative director Hugo Martin used to describe the “well-crafted experience” the team’s making.

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/bethesda-updates-doom-ports-to-address-annoying-lo/1100-6469116/

Power Stone Producer “Would Love” To Make Sequel

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Though dormant for over a decade, Power Stone remains one of the most memorable games Capcom has ever released. There may not be any definitive plans to bring back the series, but the game’s producer would love to see the quirky 3D brawler make a return–especially on Nintendo Switch.

In an interview with The Guardian, designer Hideaki Itsuno broke down how Power Stone came into existence. By assembling arcade and console developers for a project way outside Capcom’s usual wheelhouse, the Dreamcast brawler aimed to be “something that would be well received by players other than just hardcore fighting fans,” according to Itsuno. It seems to have worked, as Power Stone producer Takeshi Tezuka reports “still get[ting] messages from fans” about the much-loved series.

Tezuka says some of these messages come in the form requests for him to bring Power Stone back. “People tweet requests to me to make another Power Stone, which I’d love to do if I got the chance,” Tezuka told the Guardian. “It would be a particularly great fit for the Nintendo Switch.”

Power Stone debuted in 1999 for arcades and the Sega Dreamcast. The game made such a splash for Capcom that an anime adaptation was approved and aired from April to September of 1999. About a year and a half later, the sequel, Power Stone 2, made its way to the same platforms. Six years later, in October/November 2006, the PlayStation Portable saw the Power Stone Collection, a two-pack featuring ports of both Power Stone titles.

In our Power Stone review, we said, “All in all, Power Stone is a very fun and unconventional fighter. However, the excitement is short lived.”

In our Power Stone 2 review, we said, “Fans of the original Power Stone will be pleased with the similar, yet definitely enhanced feel of Power Stone 2. As a four-player game, it’s definitely one of the wildest fighters to come to the Dreamcast.”

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/power-stone-producer-would-love-to-make-sequel/1100-6469115/

Six Movies Have Made $1 Billion This Year; Disney Made Five Of Them

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Toy Story 4 has crossed a massive money milestone that makes it one of the biggest movies of 2019 and yet another example of Disney’s domination at the box office.

The movie, which was made by Disney’s Pixar studio, has now surpassed $1 billion USD in box office receipts worldwide. Toy Story 4 has made $421.3 million from the Americas and $579.9 million from international markets, according to box office numbers posted by BoxOfficeMojo.

Toy Story 4 is the sixth movie of 2019 to make at least $1 billion at the box office. The other five include Avengers: Endgame ($2.79 billion), The Lion King ($1.34 billion), Captain Marvel ($1.12 billion), Spider-Man: Far From Home ($1.098 billion), and Aladdin ($1.035 billion).

As you can see, five of the six movies that made $1 billion or more this year came from Disney, with Sony’s Spider-Man: Far From Home the only exception. All of them are sequels or franchise movies of some kind. Disney will probably get at least one more billion dollar-earning movie this year, as Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker opens in December.

Toy Story 4 also becomes Pixar’s fourth movie to make more than $1 billion, joining Incredibles 2 ($1.24 billion), Toy Story 3 ($1.06 billion), and Finding Dory ($1.02 billion).

Only 43 movies in history have made more than $1 billion at the worldwide box office. All of the box office numbers here are not adjusted for inflation.

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/six-movies-have-made-1-billion-this-year-disney-ma/1100-6469117/

Fornite Nerfs “Plastic Patroller” Skin With New, Less Camouflage Paintjob

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Epic has decided to change a recent Fortnite skin, after finding that it was giving players an unfair advantage. The “Plastic Patroller” skin was designed to look like the green army men toys you may have played with as a child or stepped on as an adult. But the faded green made this particular soldier a little too camouflage, so the studio has issued a change in the 10.10 update.

According to the version 10.10 patch notes, the visual update adds mud smears, wear and tear, and a brighter outline. Anyone who wants to refund the Plastic Patroller can do so without a refund token within 30 days from your next login. The patch notes explain, “These changes were added to prevent this Outfit from providing a camouflage effect in certain areas of the map, which was making it very difficult to see.”

This is the second Fortnite skin controversy in the last few days. Recently Epic was criticized for selling a reskinned version of a Battle Pass item, a dog pet named Gunner. Shortly after, the studio pulled the item and issued an apology. The studio also recently toned down the B.R.U.T.E. mech for being overpowered.

Fortnite is in the midst of Season 10, offering an array of new cosmetics to earn with the Battle Pass. For more on how to complete the latest challenges, check out our ongoing Fortnite Challenge Guide.

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/fornite-nerfs-plastic-patroller-skin-with-new-less/1100-6469113/

Anthem Lead Producer Leaving BioWare

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Ben Irving, the lead producer on BioWare’s action-RPG Anthem, has announced he’s leaving the company. In a statement on Twitter, Irving said that he has accepted a position with another company and that the game still has a “bright future” under current leadership.

In his series of tweets, Irving says BioWare was “the dream place” since the first time he played Baldur’s Gate. He thanks the community for being so engaged “through the good times and the tough times,” and says they’re in good hands with Jesse Anderson and Andrew Johnson. It’s unclear, from his statement, who will be filling the lead producer role for future Anthem updates.

Irving has been with BioWare since 2011, serving a variety of roles including lead development director for The Old Republic franchise and the lead producer on Star Wars: The Old Republic. Anthem struggled with a rocky launch, and recently launched its anticipated Cataclysm update.

GameSpot has reached out to EA for comment.

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/anthem-lead-producer-leaving-bioware/1100-6469114/

Epic Games Store Adds Cloud Saves, Humble Bundle Keyless Integration, And Announces Its Next Free Game

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The Epic Games Store’s latest update has seen the storefront receive a visual face-lift, while also implementing Humble Bundle keyless integration and additional cloud save functionality.

Cloud save support has been added for a number of new games, including The Sinking City, World War Z, and the recently released Rebel Galaxy Outlaw. All Ubisoft titles have supported cloud saves since launch due to their Uplay integration, and Epic says more games will include the feature moving forward. “We’re working with the developers of other released games to test cloud saves, and will be enabling more games over time,” the studio said. “Upcoming games that support cloud saves will have them enabled at launch!”

Here’s the full list of games with added cloud support over the past month:

  • Alan Wake
  • Close to the Sun
  • Darksiders III
  • Enter the Gungeon
  • Genesis Alpha One
  • GNOG
  • Hyperlight Drifter
  • Kingdom New Lands
  • Limbo
  • Moonlighter
  • Mutant Year Zero
  • Overcooked
  • Rebel Galaxy Outlaw
  • Sherlock Holmes: The Devil’s Daughter
  • The Sinking City
  • This War Of Mine
  • World War Z

Keyless integration with Humble Bundle and Humble Store has also launched on Epic’s service. Once you’ve linked your Epic Games account to a Humble account, you can purchase games from the Humble Store and they’ll automatically be added to your Epic Games Store library without requiring a redemption key. “This is one step we are taking towards creating an open ecosystem for players, and we’re looking at more partnerships with highly reputable digital game sellers.”

Elsewhere, product pages on the Epic Games Store have received a redesign that revolves around visual and informational improvements when it comes to purchasing games. There are now more comprehensive game descriptions, improved release date visibility for upcoming titles, and additional space for images and videos, allowing developers more control over how they present their games and placing more pertinent information in the hands of potential customers.

Epic is also close to rolling out some other new features such as special patch optimization for developers that will cut down on patch download sizes, and a playtime tracking feature that will help when it comes to submitting refunds.

Aside from this, Epic also revealed the next free game in the Epic Games Store’s library. Both Hyper Light Drifter and Mutant Year Zero: Road to Eden are free from now until August 22, at which point Fez will be available for free until August 29.

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GameSpot reviewed Fez back in 2012. Critic Tom McShea awarded it a score of 8/10, saying, “Fez has pitfalls you have to accept if you’re going to enjoy this adventure. Technical problems, baffling map design, and obtuse puzzles can serve as a serious barrier to entry. But it’s worth putting up with the missteps for the wondrous adventure that awaits. Fez goes far deeper than the simple platformer it initially appears as, and figuring out the solutions to the many puzzles is an experience that harks back to a time when games weren’t scared of taking off the leash and letting you run wild. Invest time in Fez’s colorful world, and enjoy the wealth of incredible ideas buried within.”

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/epic-games-store-adds-cloud-saves-humble-bundle-ke/1100-6469111/