The Hearthstone portion of the BlizzCon 2019 presentation focused mostly on the new expansion, Descent of Dragons, dropping next month. But Blizzard also teased an entirely new game mode coming to the game as well, using the Hearthstone framework for a new auto-battler.

The new mode is called Hearthstone Battlegrounds, and it features eight players taking the role of familiar Hearthstone characters and doing battle against AI minions. It will launch with 24 heroes, each with a unique Hero Power. Blizzard gave the examples of Millificent Manastorm, who gives +1/+1 to recruited Mechs, or Arthas, who lets you give your right-most minion Reborn.

An early access beta will begin on November 5, for anyone who has pre-purchased a Descent of Dragons bundle, along with BlizzCon attendees and Virtual Ticket holders. Then on November 12, it will go into open beta. Once it’s released you’ll find it in a new “Modes” menu that also houses the Arena.

Blizzard also announced how its monetization will work for the new mode. Battlegrounds will be free-to-play just like the main game, but acquiring Hearthstone packs from the latest expansion will get you bonus perks. At 10 Packs, you’ll get stat-tracking, at 20 packs you can select three Heroes instead of two at the start of a match, and at 30 Packs, you get access to emotes.

That means those who simply purchase new packs will get access to the bonuses immediately, but any method of acquiring packs will count as long as they’re from the latest expansion.

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/hearthstone-battlegrounds-is-blizzards-take-on-aut/1100-6471099/

With Black Friday just around the corner, retailers are starting to reveal what we can expect from their sales. Dell is the latest company to reveal a sneak peek at its Black Friday deals, and there are quite a few worth getting excited about. From laptops and PCs to gaming and 4K TVs, the hardware manufacturer has a slew of deals that will become available later this month. Thankfully, the company is also kicking off early deals starting today, November 1.

Some of the standout Black Friday deals are the discounts seen for Dell’s XPS models of laptops. The XPS 13 is a particularly great laptop for students and those who need a laptop for work. It has a fantastic keyboard, good battery life, and a slick look–not to mention, it’s one of GameSpot sister site CNET’s choices for best laptops of 2019. It’s not a great option for gaming, but there are discounts on a handful of powerful laptops that can handle modern games at various settings.

Dell also has deals on 4K TVs, smart devices, and some excellent Bluetooth speakers. We’ve collected some of the company’s best upcoming Black Friday deals in the lists below. Some of these items go on sale at specific times, and the deal will only last as long as they’re in stock.

Dell Black Friday Deals

Live now

• Dell XPS 13 Laptop
  • 8th Gen i5 Processor – $1,400 ($1,700)
  • 10th Gen i5 Processor – $1,500 ($1,750)
  • 10th Gen i7 Processor – $1,449 ($1,700)
  • 4K + 10th Gen i7 Processor – $1,950 ($2,350)
• Alienware m17 Gaming Laptop
  • RTX 2060 – $2,150 ($2,600)
  • RTX 2070 – $2,550 ($3,250)
• Dell G3 15 Gaming Laptop GTX 1050
  • i5, 1 TB HDD – $880 ($1,150)
  • i7, 128 GB SSD + 1 TB HDD – $1,100 ($1,350)
• Dell G5 15 Gaming Laptop
  • GTX 1650, 128 GB SSD + 1 TB HDD – $1,350 ($1,550)
  • GTX 1660 Ti, 256 GB SSD + 1 TB HDD – $1,750 ($2,100)
• Dell G7 15 Gaming Laptop
  • i5, GTX 1660 Ti – $1,580 ($1,850)
  • i7, RTX 2060 – $1,900 ($2,350)

Upcoming deals

November 24

Bose SoundTouch 10 Wireless Music System – $100 ($200) 11/24 – 12/29

November 28

• JBL Charge 4 Bluetooth Speaker – $100 ($180) – 11/28 – 12/1
• Logitech MX Sound Bluetooth Speakers – $50 ($100) – 10 AM ET
• Dell 24″ Monitor S2419HGF – $100 ($300) – 10 AM ET
• LG 65″ 4K TV HDR 65UM6900PUA + $50 Dell Gift Card – $480 ($650) – 2 PM ET
• Dell G7 15 Gaming Laptop – $1,100 ($1,500) – 8 PM ET
• Dell G5 Gaming PC – $500 ($630) – 10 PM ET

November 29

• Alienware m17 Gaming Laptop – $1,900 ($2,410) – 9 AM ET
• Alienware Aurora Gaming PC – $1,700 ($2,080) – 9 AM ET
• UE Megaboom Bluetooth Speaker – $100 ($200) – 11 AM ET
• Dell G3 15 Gaming Laptop – $600 ($800) – 11 AM ET
• Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 Laptop – $1,150 ($1,400) – 12 PM ET
• Dell XPS 13 Laptop – $800 ($1,200) – 2 PM ET
• Dell G5 15 Gaming Laptop – $650 ($950) – 2 PM ET

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/early-black-friday-deals-at-dell-revealed-gaming-l/1100-6471049/

Kohl’s is more known as a clothing department store than a place to get gaming and tech products, but each Black Friday the retailer has some unexpected deals. Black Friday 2019 will be no different, as Kohl’s has some pretty awesome sales on PS4, Xbox One, and Switch bundles as well as discounts on a variety of awesome tech products.

Along with the low prices, Kohl’s is also throwing in $15 Kohl’s Cash for every $50 you spend November 25-29. Kohl’s Cash earned during Black Friday weekend has to be spent from November 30 to December 9. If that wasn’t enough, select products are eligible for an additional 15 percent off both in-store and online with the promo code THANKS15.

Doorbuster sales actually begin at 1:01 AM ET on Thanksgiving day on their website and in-store starting at 3 PM PT / 6 PM ET. You can browse the full 60-page ad on the Kohl’s site and check out our picks below.

PlayStation 4 Slim 1TB Fortnite Neo Versa Bundle with $60 Kohl’s Cash — $200 ($300)

This 1TB PS4 Slim normally goes for $300, but Kohl’s will have it for $200. It comes with exclusive Fortnite content, including the Neo Versa outfit, Neo Phrenzy Back Bling, and 2,000 V-Bucks. Though this isn’t the holiday bundle that appears to include God of War, Marvel’s Spider-Man, and Horizon Zero Dawn: Complete Edition for the same, the $60 in Kohl’s cash makes it worth a look, especially if you plan on shopping at Kohl’s more throughout the holiday season.

Xbox One S 1TB Star Wars: Jedi Fallen Order Bundle with $60 Kohl’s Cash — $200 ($300)

Sure to be one of the most popular Xbox One bundles this holiday season, the Xbox One S with Star Wars: Jedi Fallen Order will be $200 at Kohl’s. Like the PS4 deal, you can get $60 Kohl’s Cash with your purchase to spend at a later date in-store. Fallen Order releases November 15 and will almost assuredly be one of the most desired gaming gifts this Christmas.

Xbox One X 1TB NBA 2K20 Bundle with $105 Kohl’s Cash — $350 ($500)

You can grab the Xbox One X with NBA 2K20, the latest entry in Visual Concept’s basketball sim series, for $350. That’s a pretty awesome deal, and you also get $105 Kohl’s Cash with your purchase.

Nintendo Switch with carrying case and charging dock with $90 Kohl’s Cash — $320 ($345)

The Nintendo Switch probably won’t get discounted very much this holiday season. Instead, you’re more likely to see bundles such as this one. For $320, you can get the Nintendo Switch, the Game Traveler Deluxe Travel Case ($20 value), and what appears to be the PowerA Joy-Con Charging Dock ($25). Kohl’s doesn’t currently have either the case or charging dock on its website, but based off of the small ad images, it appears you’ll save $25 overall. On top of that, you’ll get $90 Kohl’s Cash.

PlayStation VR Astro Bot and Moss Bundle with $60 Kohl’s Cash — $200 ($300)

This stellar PSVR bundle was a hot Black Friday item last year. It’s returning this year for the same $200 price. Astro Bot: Rescue Mission and Moss are two of the best platformers on Sony’s VR headset, so any PS4 owners thinking about taking the plunge into VR should think about scooping up this bundle at Kohl’s that comes with $60 Kohl’s Cash.

Arcade 1Up Pac-Man Countertop Arcade Machine with $45 Kohl’s Cash — $150 ($200)

For countertops that are a tad barren, the Arcade 1Up Pac-Man arcade machine can give that space some much needed style. Arcade1Up is one of the most popular manufacturers of personal arcade machines, and this one is a beauty. It’ll be discounted to $150 and comes with $45 Kohl’s Cash.

PlayStation 4 DualShock 4 Wireless Controller — $40 ($60)

This appears to only be available in black, as Kohl’s only has the black DualShock 4 normally listed for $60. Nonetheless, it’s always great to get $20 off of a pricey controller.

Xbox One Wireless Controller — $40 ($60)

Available in either white or black, you can also save $20 on Xbox One controllers. While it’s not eligible for Kohl’s Cash when you just buy one, remember that for every $50 you spend, you get $15 in Kohl’s Cash.

Fitbit Charge 3 or Fitbit Versa Lite Edition with $30 Kohl’s Cash — $100 ($150)

A pair of great fitness-focused smartwatches will be available for $50 off each at Kohl’s. The Fitbit Charge 3 is a slim fitness band that hones in on comfort rather than features. The Versa Lite is a more traditional smartwatch with a larger display and more apps. Both of these Fitbit watches come with $30 Kohl’s Cash.

Canon EOS Rebel T6 DSLR Camera Bundle — $400 ($750)

Normally $750, the Canon EOS Rebel T6 DSLR Camera Bundle will be discounted to just $400. This doorbuster comes with the highly rated camera, a carrying case, and two lenses (18-55mm and 75-300mm).

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/kohls-black-friday-deals-ps4-xbox-one-and-switch-s/1100-6471097/

It’s been a wild couple of weeks for Blizzard, following the company’s decision to punish professional Hearthstone player Ng Wai Chung (aka Blitzchung) after he used a post-match interview to express his support of the Hong Kong protests. Though Blizzard already released an official apology for its actions, the company took advantage of its platform at BlizzCon 2019 to further address the situation.

“Blizzard had the opportunity to bring the world together in a Hearthstone tournament,” company president J. Allen Brack said. “We did not. We moved too quickly in our decision making, and to make matters worse we were too slow to talk with you. We didn’t live up to the high standards we really set for ourselves, and second, we failed in our purpose. I’m sorry, and I accept accountability.”

Brack went on to talk about BlizzCon being an opportunity to showcase the global community for its games, and promised, “We will do better going forward.”

In response to the original ban against Blitzchung, a protest was organized that is currently ongoing just outside BlizzCon. “That Blizzard has shown a willingness to re-evaluate their decision is a small step in the right direction, but make no mistake; Blizzard continues to punish these individuals despite widespread outrage from gamers around the world,” protest organizer Dayton Young said in a statement to GameSpot.

“We understand that game publishers and developers have a responsibility to moderate the content that appears on their platforms to ensure that gamers are safe from harassment, threats of violence, and other dangerous behavior,” he continued. “But silencing gamers who speak up about issues that affect their freedom makes us all less safe from oppression and institutional abuse.”

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/blizzcon-2019-blizzard-addresses-recent-hearthston/1100-6471087/

The open beta for Nioh 2, the sequel to 2017’s Samurai-souls experience Nioh, is now live on the PlayStation Store.

Nioh 2’s open beta clocks in at 12.51 GB and runs from November 1-10. It’s free for all PlayStation 4 owners to download and can be played either solo or in two- to three-player online co-op. Of course, accessing the game’s online features requires an active PS Plus membership.

The open beta gives you the chance to test out Nioh 2’s revamped combat system, in addition to new weapons like Switchglaive and an extensive character creator. With the new Yokai powers, you will trek through two levels and face-off against two very tough bosses. Completing Nioh 2’s open beta nets you The Mark of the Demon Slayer, a reward which unlocks the Kamaitachi Helmet for use in the full game.

Developer Team Ninja revealed that Nioh 2 launches on March 13, 2020. Pre-orders for the action-adventure RPG are now open on PS4. Picking up the Deluxe Edition scores you the game’s season pass, three separate pre-order avatars, a PS4 theme, an armor set, and a charm–all for $80 USD.

Those who missed the original Nioh and have an active PS Plus subscription can pick up the 2017 title for free as part of November’s PS Plus lineup. You can begin downloading Nioh on November 5 and the deal lasts all through the month.

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/nioh-2-open-beta-now-live-on-playstation-4/1100-6471082/