Star Wars: Jedi Fallen Order Patch Coming Soon To PC, PS4, And Xbox One

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Developer Respawn Entertainment’s newly-released third-person action-adventure game, Star Wars: Jedi Fallen Order, will receive a patch that will address texture pop-in, stuttering performance, and more.

On Jedi Fallen Order’s official subreddit, a Star Wars community manager confirmed that the update is currently in the process of rolling out on PC, with PlayStation 4 and Xbox One to follow sometime this week. Full patch notes aren’t available just yet, but the patch is said to take aim at the following areas:

  • Fixed a texture flickering issue that would display on the screen while driving the AT-AT on Kashyyyk
  • Fixed an issue where the input from the arrow keys would sometimes fail to respond within menus.
  • Fixed an issue where Dynamic resolution settings would not save properly.
  • Fixed an issue where the game could become slow and loading times longer than expected.

Many users in the subreddit report a bevy of performance issues that impact gameplay, such as frames dropping consistently and texture pop-in causing the game to slow down. Publisher Electronic Arts and Respawn have not publicly commented on Jedi Fallen Order’s performance issues, and it’s unclear whether these fixes will be addressed in this week’s PS4/XB1 patch.

Star Wars: Jedi Fallen Order released on PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One. The game has garnered a fairly positive reception since its November 15 launch, with our own reviewer Phil Hornshaw saying, “Fallen Order represents one of the most compelling game additions to the Star Wars franchise in years.” If you need more time to explore the game’s multiple planets and paths, Respawn has you covered with a sick note from Cal Kestis’ droid sidekick, BD-1.

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/star-wars-jedi-fallen-order-patch-coming-soon-to-p/1100-6471538/

Before Playing Stadia, Google Has Some Suggestions

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Google Stadia officially launches tomorrow–at least for the people who were the quickest to order–and in preparation for the big day the company has outlined some tips to get the most out of your Stadia experience. Some of the tips distributed to pre-purchasers through email are good common tech-savvy sense, while others may be a bit harder to swallow.

The most difficult suggestion is the final one: “For the best performance, don’t stream movies or music to other devices in other parts of the house while playing games on Stadia. It can slow things down.” Naturally, that’s more of a suggestion than a requirement, but telling your family or roommates to stop binging Netflix for a couple hours so you can play Stadia is probably going to be a tough sell.

Other tips include how to make sure the included Google Chromecast works ideally. Google recommends connecting it with an Ethernet cable, or failing that, at least setting them up in the same room, at least one foot apart. It also suggests using a 5Ghz network on your wifi router, if you have that option. Plus, make sure to set up the Stadia controller, Chromecast Ultra, and any other devices you want to use (like your laptop or phone) on the same network.

Google recommends making sure your TV is set to Game Mode and Ultra High Definition (UHD) if available. And download the Google Home App on your mobile device, since it will be required to set up your Chromecast.

Google’s Tips For The Best Stadia Experience

  • Don’t stream movies or music while playing Stadia
  • Connect your Google Chromecast to an Ethernet cable, or,
  • If using a wifi router, set it up in the same room as your Chromecast
  • Use the 5Ghz setting on your wifi router
  • Set up Stadia controller, Chromecast Ultra, and any other devices on the saame network
  • Set your TV to Game Mode and Ultra High Definition (UHD) mode
  • Download the Google Home App on your mobile device for setup

Google Stadia is launching with a bigger launch library than previously announced, but it’s missing some key features that are supposed to help set the platform apart.

“So far, Google’s tech has impressed me to the point where I would comfortably play most in a browser tab or on a phone without batting an eye, but then I consider that I will have to buy the vast majority of games, and I’m left in awe of the value Microsoft and Sony are offering, even if their overall services lack Stadia’s flexibility,” Peter Brown wrote in GameSpot’s review-in-progress. “For the moment, cloud gaming still feels like a decent alternative to the real thing, and I don’t think I’m ready to dedicate a full-price game purchase to a secondary platform.”

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/before-playing-stadia-google-has-some-suggestions/1100-6471536/

Bizarre Pokemon Sword & Shield/Roku Issue Has Been Fixed

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A strange interference bug that caused “a limited number of Roku devices” to crash and enter a boot loop has been fixed. Stranger still, the bug was caused by Game Freak’s newest Nintendo Switch exclusive, Pokemon Sword & Shield.

Apparently, Pokemon Sword & Shield and Roku devices share the exact same network. Because both listen to the port 26037, and Pokemon Sword & Shield constantly searches for nearby consoles and players, some have theorized that this is where the problems occurred. Roku can’t update the other hardware on the same network while the Switch looks around for challengers, whether the console is in the same room as the Roku device or not.

Roku has rolled out a firmware update for its devices that should address this bizarre issue. You can check for the update by going into Settings > System > Software Update. The company also shared detailed instructions if you’re currently stuck in a boot loop. Roku suggests powering off or putting your Switch in airplane mode before turning your Roku device on, at which point you can install the update.

Pokemon Sword and Shield launched on November 15 for Nintendo Switch. Both titles have received relatively high marks, with our own review giving them a collective 9/10.

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/bizarre-pokemon-sword-and-shieldroku-issue-has-bee/1100-6471534/

Pokemon Sword and Shield Post Game guide: the Master Ball, Legendary Pokemon and Rare League Cards

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Pokemon Sword and Shield Post Game guide: the Master Ball, Legendary Pokemon and Rare League Cards

What should you do once you’ve been crowned champion? Here’s some post game suggestions for Pokemon Sword and Shield.

source /feature/9203-pokemon-sword-and-shield-post-game-guide-the-master-ball-legendary-pokemon-and-rare-league-cards

Animal Crossing Pocket Camp Getting Paid Membership Tier

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Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp is preparing to turn two years old, and in lieu of presents you can just send them more money. A notification in the Pocket Camp app reveals that starting on Thursday, November 21, you can join a paid subscription called the Pocket Camp Club.

The announcement explains that two memberships will be available. One allows you to assign a villager as a camp caretaker to help manage your camp. The other will grant you fortune cookies and allow you to store items in warehouses. The announcement didn’t detail how much each membership will cost, or if they can be combined at a discount. More details are said to be coming on Wednesday, November 20.

This seems similar to the model found in Mario Kart Tour, which launched with an optional Gold Pass. That item entitles you to extra rewards when you reach reward tiers in the rotating events, as well as special gold badges to earn and display on your profile. It costs $5 per month.

The addition of a similar model in Animal Crossing suggests Nintendo may be pleased with how it has worked for Mario Kart, though it was one of the more divisive parts of the game. The company recently said it expects “remarkable results” for the Mario Kart, but didn’t give specific figures. It also promised that the online mode, which was missing at launch, will come in December in beta.

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/animal-crossing-pocket-camp-getting-paid-membershi/1100-6471532/

Pokemon Sword And Shield: How To Unlock Mew

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Pokemon Sword and Shield have finally arrived on Nintendo Switch. This pair of games take players to Galar, a picturesque region that’s home to a wide variety of Pokemon to collect. While not every monster from the series is available in the titles, Sword and Shield feature a good mix of new Gen 8 Pokemon and old favorites, some of which can even take on new forms by Gigantamaxing.

In contrast to recent Pokemon games like Sun and Moon, there are only a couple of new Legendary Pokemon to catch in Sword and Shield, but it’s also possible to get your hands on an old Mythical Pokemon, Mew–if you have the right accessory, that is. If you want to add the adorable Mythical Pokemon to your collection, we’ve broken down how to unlock Mew in Pokemon Sword and Shield below.

How To Unlock Mew In Pokemon Sword & Shield

To unlock Mew, you’ll need to have the Poke Ball Plus, a Poke Ball-shaped controller that was first released alongside Pokemon: Let’s Go Pikachu and Let’s Go Eevee last year. The Poke Ball Plus could either be purchased individually for $50 USD or bundled together with a copy of either Let’s Go game.

The accessory itself functions much like a Joy-Con and can be used to play the Let’s Go titles, but the real incentive to pick one up is that it comes with Mew as an exclusive bonus. If you have not already redeemed Mew in Let’s Go, you can connect the Poke Ball Plus to your copy of Sword or Shield and claim the Mythical Pokemon in those games instead.

To connect the Poke Ball Plus with Sword and Shield, go into the menu screen and select Mystery Gift. From there, select the option to connect to a Poke Ball Plus and you’ll be able to download Mew into your game. As previously mentioned, however, this will only work if you haven’t already claimed the Mythical Pokemon in a Let’s Go title; if you have, then you’ll either need to purchase another Poke Ball Plus or wait until the Pokemon Home service launches sometime next year to transfer it into Sword or Shield.

What Else Can The Poke Ball Plus Do In Sword & Shield?

While you can’t use the Poke Ball Plus as a controller to play Sword and Shield, you can send your Pokemon to the accessory and walk around with them, just as in Let’s Go Pikachu and Eevee. To do so, first select Mystery Gift from the menu screen, then choose Take a Stroll with Poke Ball Plus. The Pokemon you take on a walk won’t receive any experience points, but it will come back with items such as Rare Candies, Poke Balls, and other items.

Pokemon Sword & Shield Guides

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/pokemon-sword-and-shield-how-to-unlock-mew/1100-6471527/

Nintendo Switch Lite Gets Official Flipcover That Makes It More DS-Like

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Nintendo made some smart improvements to the Switch design with the release of the Switch Lite, but making it handheld-only may accent some of the lingering differences between it and its predecessors. If you want your Switch to be more like a DS system, Nintendo has just the accessory.

An official Switch Lite Flip Cover and Screen Protector is available to purchase online starting December 8, and in stores in 2020. It will cost $40. The item gives your Switch Lite a fold-over cover from the DS and 3DS families of systems, albeit with little nubbins for the analog sticks. It isn’t quite the same as having a handheld with a dedicated clamshell design with two screens, but it’s a nice elegant-looking way to keep your system covered and protected.

That’s if you’re all-in on the Switch as a handheld system, though, as the Switch Lite removes the docking functionality. The GameSpot Switch Lite review found that it’s an attractive little system, but thought that its missing features highlighted how well the original model balanced these different functions.

“If anything, I hope the Switch Lite is an indication of where Nintendo might go with its theoretical upgraded Switch model in the future,” Peter Brown wrote. “I don’t remember the last time I detached my Joy-Cons, and I constantly gripe over the fake d-pad whenever I have to use it. And after playing with the Switch Lite for an extended period of time, I now look at my standard Switch as being more fragile than ever. The Switch Lite has almost everything I’m looking for in a Switch–I just wished it lived up to its name.”

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/nintendo-switch-lite-gets-official-flipcover-that-/1100-6471530/

Gears 5 Outsold Gears 4 Despite Being On Xbox Game Pass

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Xbox boss Phil Spencer has confirmed that The Coalition’s Gears 5 has outsold the studio’s previous title, despite both Gears of War 4 and Gears 5 being available on Xbox Game Pass.

Spencer, in an interview with Eurogamer during Microsoft’s X019 event, said that giving players choice is important for the company. He also wasn’t shy to admit that Gears 5 outperformed Gears 4, though he did not provide any concrete numbers. However, Gears 5 hit 3 million players during its opening weekend, setting a new record for Microsoft’s first-party studios this generation.

“Gears 5 sold well for us. It sold better than Gears 4. And we feel good about it,” Spencer said. “If people want to make the choice of buying Gears, that’s an option we want to give them. I’m not trying to funnel everybody who wants to play Gears into the subscription. It’s about giving gamers [a] choice. Certain players will make the decision as part of Game Pass that they’ll either want to start to subscribe, or they’re already a subscriber and they stay subscribed.”

Spencer later said that Gears 5’s success is in no small part thanks to the amount of players getting their hands on the third-person shooter through Xbox Game Pass or otherwise.

“What I will say is we’re incredibly happy with Gears 5. It did review well. It has a tonne of players,” Spencer said. “We’re taking feedback on certain things. The economy – I see the feedback on the game as well. But I thought it was a great release in the Gears franchise and it drove a tonne of players who wanted to go play, and that’s awesome.”

Gears 5 launched on September 10 for PC and Xbox One. The title received fairly positive reviews, with our own review scoring the game a 7/10.

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/gears-5-outsold-gears-4-despite-being-on-xbox-game/1100-6471531/

Everything Missing From Stadia At Launch, And When To Expect Updates

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Google Stadia is primed and ready to go for those who bought into the Founder’s Edition–well, sort of. The launch of Stadia is rather complicated as there are several features that won’t be included on day one–even the hardware package that comes as part of the Founder’s Edition will gradually roll out to customers. You can get a detailed breakdown of our initial thoughts of the new cloud-based gaming platform in our Stadia review-in-progress, though we’re here to outline what features are missing from Stadia at launch and when you can expect them to be implemented.

While Stadia works across different hardware, the Founder’s Edition comes with a Chromecast Ultra video streaming device, and many specific features will only be available on that device. Several other capabilities are said to come next year as well, such as State Share, Crowd Play, and Family Sharing, which were touted as Stadia-specific features that separate it from other platforms. Those who pre-ordered Stadia Founder’s Edition should be receiving their units this week or by early December. If you want to purchase a unit now, the Premiere Edition is currently available, though you’ll have to wait a while for that as well.

As for a detailed breakdown of what’s going to be available at launch, in the near future, and in 2020, here’s an exhaustive list of Google Stadia features that are subject to roll out:

  • 4K, HDR, and 5.1 surround sound is only on Chromecast Ultra for now and will be added for PC users in 2020
  • Stadia controller only works wirelessly with Chromecast Ultra, must be wired for PC and mobile (Pixel phones) for now–update coming in 2020
    • Xbox One and DualShock 4 controllers will work on PC and mobile, but not Chromecast
  • Voice assistant features on Chromecast Ultra limited at launch; full integration coming in the future, including functionality on PC and mobile
  • Three-month Buddy Pass will not be in the launch package, said to ship soon after
  • Multiplayer features such as Stream Connect, State Share, and Crowd Play won’t be available at launch
    • The first game to use Stream Connect is set to launch before the end of the year
    • State Share and Crowd Play coming in 2020
  • Achievement system won’t be implemented until 2020, though the platform will track what you’ve done and award achievements to your account once the feature is live
  • Family Sharing, which lets you share purchased games with other accounts, is coming early 2020
  • At launch, only the Chromecast Ultras shipped with the Founders/Premiere Edition can run Stadia, meaning existing Chromecast Ultras will not until a firmware update is rolled out, said to be shortly after launch day
  • Purchasing games must be done through the Stadia mobile app for now, no direct purchasing through a web browser or on Chromecast Ultra yet
  • Google Pixel phones are said to be the only mobile devices to support Stadia this year; ChromeOS tablets can run Stadia, too
    • Android and iOS support coming in the future
  • Free games are planned for the future, though there is no schedule yet

Some of this information was revealed in a Reddit AMA with Andrey Doronichev and Beri Lee from the Google Stadia team. In it, Doronichev also said, “Our approach to releasing features on Stadia is similar to how we run Google Search, YouTube, and other Google services: gradual rollout and continuous improvement, based on your feedback.” He continued, “We always start with nailing the key user-journey and then proceed with releasing extra features. New features will start popping as soon as one week after launch….there are many more cool new platform features on the roadmap.”

Just this past weekend, Google announced that it’s beefing up its launch lineup with 10 additional games on top of the original 12 that have been set for release day; more games are slated for 2019. Keep in mind that Stadia users must purchase games individually. As of launch, only Google Stadia Pro subscribers can use the platform since Founder’s/Premiere Edition owners will get three months included; after that, they must pay $10 a month to keep access to Stadia Pro. A free version will be available but with limited features.

We’ve been able to experience Stadia in the lead-up to its launch and will continue to test and evaluate its features as the platform matures. For our initial thoughts, be sure to read our Google Stadia review-in-progress or watch our discussion on the state of Stadia in the video above. For more on Stadia, check out our stories below:

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/everything-missing-from-stadia-at-launch-and-when-/1100-6471528/