Pokemon Sword and Shield are only two weeks away. The Gen 8 Pokemon games arrive on Nintendo Switch on November 15, but if you’re eager to start your Galar journey as soon as possible, you can now pre-load the titles ahead of their launch.

If you purchase the titles digitally from the Switch Eshop, you are now able to download them so that they’ll be available to play the moment they go live on November 15. According to the Eshop, each game weighs in at 9.5 GB, and you’ll need 19 GB of free space if you decide to spring for both versions.

Pokemon Sword and Shield are both eligible for the Switch Voucher program, so if you’re a Nintendo Switch Online subscriber and have been holding onto some vouchers, you can use one to download either title. While vouchers are no longer available to purchase, you can redeem any that you still have up to a full year after you bought them. You can see the full list of voucher compatible games on Nintendo’s website.

If you purchase Sword or Shield digitally, you’ll receive 12 free Quick Balls within the games as a bonus. These have a high chance of catching a Pokemon if used immediately after the encounter begins. Meanwhile, everyone who purchases a copy–either physically or digitally–by January 15, 2020 will receive a Meowth that’s capable of Gigantmaxing.

Those aren’t the only freebies you can get. Players who have save data of either Let’s Go Pikachu or Eevee on their consoles will also receive a Gigantamax-capable Pikachu or Eevee. You can see all the free Pokemon for Sword and Shield here. For more on the upcoming Gen 8 games, be sure to check out our Pokemon Sword and Shield pre-order guide.

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/pokemon-sword-and-shield-now-available-to-pre-load/1100-6471023/

A new version of Battlefield V is available to buy digitally on PC, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One today, October 31. Titled Battlefield V Year 2 Edition, it arrives just as Battlefield V’s big Pacific Theater update, War in the Pacific, kicks off.

The Year 2 Edition comes with the base game, allowing you to play Battlefield V’s hectic multiplayer and its single-player War Stories, as well as a host of year one content from the game’s Tides of War chapters. This includes 17 primary weapons like the Boys AT Rifle and MAB 38, four vehicles such as the Archer tank destroyer, and customisation options that comprise two Epic soldier outfits, 10 weapon skins, and four vehicle skins.

The Xbox One store also lists a Year 1 Catchup Pack for those who already own Battlefield V and want access to the year one content they didn’t have a chance to unlock, but it’s currently not available to purchase. If you skipped Battlefield V’s first year, this is a great way to jump in and gain access to all of the content you missed out on.

As a result of Battlefield V Year 2 Edition’s release, the Deluxe Edition and Deluxe Edition upgrade will no longer be available to purchase.

With War in the Pacific in full swing and update 5.0 implementing dozens of gameplay changes and bug fixes, now’s an ideal time to revisit Battlefield V or hop in for the very first time.

In GameSpot’s Battlefield V review, Michael Higham wrote, “Conquest and the map roster don’t mesh well together, however, Grand Operations–and the other modes within it–steal the show and foster some of the greatest moments the franchise has offered. You might be surprised by the impact of the slight changes made for this entry, especially when you’re deep into pushing or defending objectives in Frontlines alongside teammates fulfilling their roles. That’s when Battlefield V is at its best.”

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from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/a-battlefield-5-year-2-edition-is-now-available-to/1100-6471020/

Red Dead Redemption 2 is coming to PC in less than a week on November 5, and so far the looks we’ve gotten at the game in action on high-end hardware have been impressive. With a launch trailer that dropped on Halloween, Rockstar gave us one more visual treat before the game’s release.

The trailer showcases a specific point in the story of RDR 2, when Arthur Morgan and his fellow Van der Linde gang members are hounded off the mainland and into the Caribbean. It’s maybe very slightly spoilerish, but it also gives Rockstar an opportunity to show off some truly beautiful vistas again.

If you’re already rustling in the Old West with Red Dead Online on consoles, you can participate in the spooky Halloween event for special rewards and partake in discounts on bladed implements like tomahawks. It also introduces a limited-time mode, Fear of the Dark, which grants extra in-game currency. The PC version will still be able to play the special mode for the first week after launch, since it ends on November 12.

Meanwhile, the fast-approaching launch means you only have a little longer to pre-order and claim bonuses through the Rockstar Games Launcher. Be sure to check out our pre-order guide to see what you can get, and make sure you’re prepared with the system specs. Meanwhile, if you order through Green Man Gaming, you could potentially get a big discount of sorts. The game is hitting several platforms on November 5, but notably not Steam, which will get the game in December.

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/red-dead-redemption-2-pc-launch-trailer-shows-para/1100-6471017/

Apex Legends is finally getting a Duos mode next week, though only for a short while. Developer Respawn Entertainment announced the news in a recent tweet, revealing that Duos will be arriving in the battle royale shooter on Tuesday, November 5.

The mode will only be available for a limited time, but Respawn didn’t say when it will be removed. This is similar to when Apex Legends introduced a highly requested Solos mode back in August. Apex Legends’ emphasis on teamwork and communication is what initially deterred Respawn from deviating away from the standard three-person setup, but with the success of Solos and the current Halloween-themed Shadowfall game mode, the developer is clearly more willing to branch out and offer different experiences, if only for a limited time.

You only have a few days left to try Shadowfall if you haven’t already, as it will be going away when Duos launches on November 5.

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/apex-legends-duos-mode-coming-for-a-limited-time/1100-6471013/

The Star Wars MMO, The Old Republic, launched in 2011 behind much anticipation. The game couldn’t sustain its paying player population, however, and EA dropped the mandatory subscription in favor of a free-to-play model just 11 months after release. Developer BioWare continues to support the game years after release with its new hybrid business model spread between subscriptions and a microtransaction-supported free-to-play option, and it seems that’s working out.

Publisher Elctronic Arts announced on an earnings call that The Old Republic is now closing in on $1 billion in lifetime revenue. “Believe it or not, we are close to $1 billion on Star Wars: The Old Republic revenue from the start of its history,” EA CFO Blake Jorgensen said. “So it’s a business that just keeps on going. We like those types of businesses.”

$1 billion is a lot of money, but the game itself was a massive, expensive production. According to a 2012 report, EA spent $200 million to produce the game. The report claims 800 staffers on four continents worked for six years to bring game to market.

For further context, Blizzard’s genre-defining MMO, World of Warcraft, reportedly brought in $1 billion per year during its heyday. Unlike many other MMOs, World of Warcraft continues to be a subscription-based MMO with no true free-to-play option.

The Old Republic’s latest expansion, Onslaught, arrived on October 22. It is the game’s seventh expansion, following Rise of the Hutt Cartel (2013), Galactic Starfighter (2014), Galactic Strongholds (2014), Shadow Revan (2014), Knights of the Fallen Empire (2015), and Knights of the Eternal Throne (2016).

The next Star Wars game is Jedi Fallen Order, which was developed by Apex Legends studio Respawn. As for BioWare, the studio is working on Dragon Age 4 and other unannounced projects.

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/the-star-wars-mmo-the-old-republic-has-now-made-al/1100-6471011/