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The Last Of Us Part 2 Ellie Statue, Art Book Announced For Outbreak Day

It’s been a big week for The Last of Us news: The Last of Us Part 2 got a release date and a new trailer, and we also learned Joel is returning in the sequel (although Ellie is the focus this time around). To top it all off, developer Naughty Dog has announced some free stuff, new merchandise, and a PlayStation Store sale to get fans even more excited about Part 2.

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Notably, there’s a new limited-edition, polyresin Ellie statue that you can pre-order directly from Dark Horse Comics. The Ellie statue is 12 inches tall and was designed by Naughty Dog character artists. It features Ellie poised with her bow and arrow and comes with a round terrain base and certificate of authenticity. Listed at $180, the statue is currently sold out at Dark Horse but will hopefully come back into stock for anyone hoping to snag it for themselves. It’s expected to start shipping between May and August of next year.

Dark Horse is also publishing a new art book, The Art of The Last of Us Part 2, which, similar to the compendium they made for the first game, includes hundreds of pieces of original concept art, character designs, and more from the game. It’ll be available to pre-order starting Monday, September 30, and will release March 3, 2020. If you never picked up the official art book for the first game, it’s currently on sale for $19.95 at Amazon, although it’s temporarily out of stock, which means you can still place your order but shipping will be delayed.

There are also deals and freebies to be had, including a new dynamic PS4 theme for The Last of Us Part 2 that you can download for free right now. The “Grunge” theme features Ellie in different situations and has a grainy, black-and-white filter to it. All other The Last of Us Part 2 avatars and themes are half off on PSN right now.

Finally, the PlayStation Gear Store has new merch for The Last of Us Part 2 available now to purchase, including Joel and Ellie graphic T-shirts and a logo hat. Use promo code OUTBREAK to get 20% off all The Last of Us items in the store. And if you’re a PS Plus member, don’t forget you can snag The Last of Us Remastered (and MLB The Show 19) for free starting October 1.

The Last of Us Part 2 is available to pre-order now–be sure to check out our pre-order guide for all the details on its pre-order bonuses, special editions, and more.

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/the-last-of-us-part-2-ellie-statue-art-book-announ/1100-6470145/

The Last Of Us 2 Extended Trailer Gives Story, Gameplay Details

It’s Outbreak Day, the unofficial celebration of Naughty Dog’s The Last of Us series, and the studio celebrated with a behind-the-scenes look at The Last of Us 2. In the video, the team sheds more light on the story and some new gameplay mechanics for the upcoming sequel.

It starts with what appears to be early in the game, with Ellie and her friend Dina living in Jackson. The video mentions that Joel is living there too, though we’ve only just seen him for the first time in the latest story trailer. The first part of the story takes place with Ellie and Dina exploring an area through the snow, and apparently this is where Ellie and Dina express their feelings for each other.

Though that’s a tender sentiment, the mission itself is dangerous. Naughty Dog noted that it wanted to make enemies more threatening this time around, so even runners are more threatening. Ellie has new capabilities to her advantage, like increased agility and the ability to squeeze through small spaces. A new workbench also serves as the up-close look at your arsenal as you upgrade weapons. Later in the gameplay portion, we see enemy dogs who can track your scent, as opposed to most enemies who can only see or hear you.

The Last of Us 2 is coming February 21, 2020, and we got extended hands-on time with it. You can now download a new free dynamic theme. We also received word, however, that the game won’t include multiplayer.

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/the-last-of-us-2-extended-trailer-gives-story-game/1100-6470146/

GTA 5 Online Giving Free $1 Million Login Bonus, Double Rewards

Grand Theft Auto V Online is celebrating another anniversary, and that means extra rewards if you play during the celebration period. Simply logging in by October 2 will net you $1 million in-game currency, to be deposited in your Maze Bank account by October 9. Another freebie is the Declasse Logo White Tee, yours for the taking by playing online.

If that isn’t enough, you can get double rewards on all Survival Series events through that period. This comes along with the release of seven new Survival challenges, like fighting off a Ballas attack on Grove Street or fighting Juggernauts in the Nuclear Bunker.

You can also score 2X GTA$ and RP on Mobile Operations missions. Meanwhile, Mobile Operation Centers will be 40% off so you can get it for a song. A variety of Declasse vehicles, Benny’s upgrades, and weapons are 40% off too.

This comes alongside some other regular rotational events. The Diamond Casino and Resort still offers a free daily spin, and the top prize this week is the roadster Declasse Mamba. The Casino Store is also offering a new refreshed selection of clothing and accessories.

And while you’re celebrating the anniversary, you can always get really drunk (in the game) and go on a secret mission to increase your inventory by retracing the steps of your drunken stupor (again, in the game).

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/gta-5-online-giving-free-1-million-login-bonus-dou/1100-6470144/

Fortnite Bullseyes: Where To Land For Week 9 Challenge

Season 10 of Fortnite is almost over, but developer Epic Games still has a few more challenges for players to complete before Season 11 kicks off next month. Week 9’s set of challenges is called Bullseye, and as you can probably guess, most of the tasks revolve around hitting targets or taking precision shots. One challenge even literally asks you to land on different bullseyes. If you’re not sure where those can be found, fret not–we’ll show you where to go.

Where Are The Bullseye Locations?

There are three different bullseyes painted on the ground, and they’re all spread out around the island. Fortunately, so long as you dive in their general vicinity, the targets should be fairly easy to spot when you leap out of the Battle Bus. If you need help finding them, though, we’ve marked down all three bullseye locations on the map below.

  • Northeast of Lucky Landing, at the edge of the desert
  • At the edge of the snow biome directly north of Greasy Grove
  • On the mountain southeast of Frosty Flights

How To Complete The Challenge

Once you know where the bullseyes are, all you need to do is make sure you land on them after you dive from the Battle Bus. You’ll need to land on all three of them to complete the challenge, so the quickest way is to touch down on a bullseye, get eliminated, then jump into another match and land on a different bullseye until you’ve been to all three. Do that and you’ll earn 10 Battle Stars and unlock another Week 9 challenge to complete.

Season 10 of Fortnite is set to end on October 6, so you have until then to complete any remaining challenges from this season. If you need help finishing any, we’ve rounded up all of our maps and guides for this season’s trickier tasks in our complete Fortnite Season 10 challenges guide.

Week 9’s missions arrive in the midst of Fortnite’s Batman crossover event, which includes its own special set of challenges to complete. Those will be available until October 1, so you have until then to unlock some cool Batman-inspired cosmetics, like a Catwing glider.

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/fortnite-bullseyes-where-to-land-for-week-9-challe/1100-6470139/

Borderlands 3 Patch Notes: New Update Launches Later Today

After receiving a hotfix update last week, developer Gearbox has revealed that Borderlands 3 will receive a new patch later today that will address a variety of community concerns, including multiplayer problems, user interface issues, and more.

The new Borderlands 3 patch is scheduled to go live today by or before 3 PM PT / 5 PM CST / 6 PM ET / 11 PM BST for PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One. A bulk of the patch is dedicated to the looter-shooter’s multiplayer and user interface, though the patch also targets performance and implements general fixes.

Some headlining changes center around multiplayer like audio troubles–such missing or quiet sounds when player two moves too far from player one in split-screen–and animation interruptions–including sprinting getting interrupted when other players open the ECHO menu in split-screen. Online multiplayer will also see some fixes, particularly relating to three-player squads having issues connecting to solo players.

Borderlands 3’s patch will also update the game’s user interface. Subtitles should now display after the initial cutscene, spending skill points will give off an audible flourish that previously failed to execute, Crazy Earl’s store has been modified, and more. PC players will notice a visual change with this new patch, too, as the focus from the mouse’s last known location should no longer hang around the screen even after plugging in and playing with a controller.

Some other changes come with Borderlands 3’s patch, including general improvements–like localizing special prompts–and performance updates–such as the game’s stability getting ironed out. Check out the full patch notes below.

Borderlands 3 Full Patch Notes

Performance

  • [PC Only] Reduced the amount of texture streaming that was occurring when aiming down sights.
  • Addressed a reported concern where certain users with a lot of people in their friend’s list saw more frequent hitching.
  • Implementing general stability improvements.

General Fixes and Improvements

  • Addressed a reported issue where KillaVolt’s Shield Storm attack does not disable the tiles around KillaVolt, resulting in the entire floor being activated.
  • Addressed a potential progression blocker in the mission “Footsteps of Giants.”
  • Addressed a reported issue where Guardian Rank had the potential to become non-functional and/or the player could potentially lose Guardian Rank tokens into the negatives.
  • Modified vending machines so it will now sort items by rarity.
  • Console FOV is now set to 75 by default. This will not affect players who have already started the game.
  • Special prompts for particle text (Tediore guns, “critical,” “immune”) are now properly localized.
  • Addressed a reported concern that certain players experienced where their vehicle’s boost could continue into the next map.
  • Addressed a reported concern with “Porcelain Pipe Bomb” where it set off multiple explosions when colliding with objects.

User Interface

  • Adjusted the verbiage for “left stick” and “right stick” inside the Russian localized version of the control options screen.
  • Addressed a reported issue where certain users experienced a failure of the audio to play when spending skill points in the UI.
  • The text is now correctly marked “invalid” when you enter an invalid e-mail address on the SHiFT account creation page.
  • Addressed a reported issue where the item of the day item card would flash briefly before displaying on vending machines.
  • Addressed a reported concern that certain players were served an unread mail icon when they didn’t have mail to read.
  • Iron Bear button prompts will now correctly update if you re-bind your controls.
  • Modified various features and elements of Crazy Earl’s store.
  • Addressed a reported issue where subtitles wouldn’t display until after the initial cutscene.
  • Addressed an issue experienced by certain players that social notifications could become stuck on-screen.
  • Addressed a player concern that certain item preview images were failing to load inside the player bank.
  • [PC Only] Addressed an issue reported by certain PC players where the focus from the mouse’s last known location was sticking around even when playing with a gamepad.
  • Addressed an issue reported by certain players where the cursor would snap to an unintended location in the UI.

Splitscreen and Online Multiplayer

  • Addressed a concern reported by certain players that the dialog volume faded too low before switching to ECHO audio during split-screen gameplay.
  • Addressed a concern reported by certain players that sounds were quiet or missing for the second split-screen player if they move too far from player one.
  • Addressed a concern reported by certain players that three-player groups were having trouble matchmaking with an additional solo player.
  • Addressed a reported concerned experienced by certain players that in split-screen one player’s sprinting animation could be interrupted by the other player opening the ECHO menu.
  • Addressed a concern reported by certain players that in split-screen where one player’s aiming down sights could be interrupted by the other player opening the ECHO menu.
  • Addressed a handful of reported client replication issues:
    • Addressed Tina’s pizza bomb so it displays correctly for clients.
    • Modified certain audio elements that were reportedly looping for clients.
    • Addressed a reported player concern so the Guardian Skill “Dead Man’s Hand” now functions properly.
  • Player icons are now pinned to the side of the mini-map when playing in any kind of multiplayer.

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/borderlands-3-patch-notes-new-update-launches-late/1100-6470142/

New Xbox One Bundles Revealed For Star Wars: Jedi Fallen Order

The release date for Star Wars: Jedi Fallen Order is drawing ever closer, and if you’re looking to get an Xbox One S or upgrade to the more powerful Xbox One X, then there are a couple of great bundles coming alongside the new game. The Xbox One X and S bundles will be joined by a special edition Xbox One controller based on Fallen Order.

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Star Wars: Jedi Fallen Order Xbox One bundles

Pre-order the Xbox One S bundle Pre-order the Xbox One X bundle

Both 1 TB console bundles come with a digital download of Star Wars: Jedi Fallen Order Deluxe Edition, in addition to one-month subscriptions to Xbox Live Gold, Xbox Game Pass, and EA Access. The Xbox One S bundle costs $300 USD, while the Xbox One X bundle comes in at $500.

The Purge Trooper Limited Edition Xbox One controller will be available to pre-order starting October 4. It features a mostly black design with some red and white, mimicking the armour of the aforementioned Purge Trooper.

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Star Wars: Jedi Fallen Order is scheduled to release on November 15 for PS4, Xbox One, and PC. A new trailer was recently released, which focuses on its terrifying villain. We did a breakdown of the trailer, pointing out the Jedi Temple, Purge Troopers, and a possible appearance by Darth Vader.

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/new-xbox-one-bundles-revealed-for-star-wars-jedi-f/1100-6470140/

Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order Trailer Breakdown – Darth Vader, New Planets, And More

Respawn has released a new trailer for Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order. There’s plenty to unpack in the new trailer, which is embedded below, and we’ve listed out the more significant details in the following article.

Though there’s an underlying current of adventure, the sense that the odds are stacked against Cal is at the forefront throughout the trailer. There’s a near-constant sense of danger looming over the young Jedi, which helps convey the feeling that he’s being constantly hunted throughout the game’s campaign. Hopefully, that feeling is captured in the game itself when it releases. Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order is scheduled to launch on Xbox One, PS4, and PC on November 15.

Cal Visits Quite A Few Planets In Fallen Order

At 0:34 we see an ice-covered planet, at 0:39 the trailer transitions to the marshy surface of a different planet, and at 1:10 a galaxy map reveals four possible planets to fast-travel to. However, one of the four planets–the one on the far left–looks like it could just be the planet seen at 0:39.

There are a lot of planets in Star Wars and many of them possess similar landscapes, so it’s difficult to definitively say which are included in this trailer without a bit more to go on. The ice-covered planet certainly looks like Hoth and the marsh-covered one does seem to be Pillio–first seen in Star Wars Battlefront II–but those are just educated guesses. Thanks to the trailers that were released during E3 2019, we do know that at least one of the planets that Cal visits is Kashyyk though.

There’s A Jedi Temple On One Of Those Planets

At 0:43, Cal uses the Force to access a temple. Inside, there are puzzles that can only be solved by moving large pieces of stone into certain positions (seen at 0:50), murals of robed figures (seen at 0:53), and the symbol of the Jedi Order (seen at 0:56). This is most likely an ancient Jedi Temple–and judging by the vegetation overgrowth it looks like no one has been inside in years.

Is Second Sister Talking To Darth Vader Or Simply About The Sith Lord?

Briefly, at 0:48, you can hear Darth Vader’s trademark breathing in the half-second fade to black shot that transitions the scene of Cal opening the Jedi Temple to the one of him exploring it. It’s only one breath though, and then the Second Sister begins talking, saying, “He’s searching for something, something very precious to the Empire.”

Though the scenes show Cal searching for something, it doesn’t show who Second Sister is talking to when she delivers that line. Is the “he” that she’s referring to Cal, or–given the breath–is it Darth Vader?

What this could mean:

If the Second Sister is just talking to Vader, then the “he” she’s referencing is most likely Cal. If that’s the case, we have no idea what the “something” could be. However, if Second Sister is talking to someone else and the “he” is in reference to Vader, then that could open up some intriguing possibilities–including the chance that the Empire is seeking out a way to locate Force-sensitive individuals. Not only would that benefit the Empire’s efforts in hunting down the last of the Jedi, but it would also give Vader the necessary tools for hunting down both his former apprentice Ahsoka Tano and former master Obi-Wan Kenobi, as both managed to escape Order 66.

That’s A Big Bat

Strange creatures aren’t uncommon in the galaxy of Star Wars, but the monstrous bat (seen at 1:15) is a new one for the franchise. It’s way too big to be a Shyrack or Loth-Bat, which means we’re probably seeing a never-before-seen species for Star Wars.

There’s another seemingly new creature at 1:34 but it also could just as easily be a new variant of Rancor. Though no longer canon, The Force Unleashed showcased how this ogre-like species has evolved in multiple ways on different planets, with some even developing tusks. The battle against the creature–and the aforementioned bat–certainly looks inspired from The Force Unleashed.

What this could mean:

We might get to go to a planet in Fallen Order that hasn’t been included in Star Wars before. Of course, if this bat is just a Shyrack (which are native to Korriban) or a Loth-Bat (which is native to Lothal), then that would likely mean we’re visiting the Sith home planet or the location of the World Between Worlds. But both possibilities seem less likely in comparison to this bat just being a new species on a new world.

New Purge Troopers

In previous trailers, we’ve only seen one type of Purge Trooper–the one that carries an electrostaff. However, this trailer gives us three more examples of the special Stormtroopers that are specifically trained to hunt down Jedi.

At 0:59, there’s gameplay of Cal fighting off a Purge Trooper armed with what appears to be an ax variation of the electrostaff. It has one giant cleaver-like blade on one end, with a current running along the length of the weapon so that the staff portion can still block and deflect lightsaber blades. Then, at 1:22, there’s a snippet of a cutscene that includes several Purge Troopers that carry firearms–as well as one in the back armed with an electrostaff, which again we’ve already seen. Finally, at 1:26, there’s gameplay of Cal using the Force to push a Purge Trooper back, and this particular Jedi killing Stormtrooper uses twin blades.

More Than One Inquisitor

The Second Sister isn’t the only Inquisitor we’ll meet in Fallen Order, as the trailer reveals we’ll run into at least one more. At 1:25, we see the Ninth Sister, a hulking Dowutin who is a former Jedi Knight. In the comics, her specialty in the Force is forced empathetic connection, allowing her to understand what another person is feeling in mere moments. This skill is twisted by Darth Vader, transforming the Ninth Sister into one of the Empire’s best interrogators, one who can use the Force to instantly glean who amongst a group is guilty as well as what they fear most.

The Second Sister Doesn’t Use Her Double-Bladed Lightsaber

Although the Second Sister carries a double-bladed lightsaber throughout the entire trailer, we never see the Jedi-hunting Inquisitor ignite her second blade. It’s odd, especially when you consider that the Inquisitors’ signature double-bladed lightsabers are designed to make the Jedi hunters more intimidating and seem more adept with the weapon than they typically are.

What this could mean:

The Second Sister might not need to seem competent with a lightsaber. She might just be skilled with the weapon. We’ve seen this before in the Grand Inquisitor, who would occasionally only use one blade because–as a former Jedi–he was skilled enough to fight with the gimmick of a twirling double-bladed saber. We learn in Star Wars Rebels that the Grand Inquisitor is so powerful because he was a temple guard–in fact, his skill was so great, he was one of the temple guards trusted with subduing Barriss Offee during her trial in Star Wars The Clone Wars.

So perhaps, like the Grand Inquisitor, the Second Sister is also a powerful fallen Jedi. Given her stature, voice, and fighting style (which we finally get a look at in this trailer, and it appears to be a mixture of Form III and IV) there’s some support to the theory that she’s Barriss–the Jedi traitor who managed to hold her own against Anakin Skywalker while still a Padawan learner. Regardless if she’s Bariss or not, the trailer does seem to at least suggest that the Second Sister is more skilled in using the Force and fighting with a lightsaber than her peers.

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/star-wars-jedi-fallen-order-trailer-breakdown-dart/1100-6470110/

New Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order Trailer Focuses On Its Terrifying Villain

A brand-new trailer for Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order has been released. The trailer, which is above, provides a better sense of the places that protagonist Cal Kestis will visit, as well as the type of threats he’ll have to battle and overcome on his journey through Fallen Order’s campaign. After watching the trailer, be sure to check out our breakdown for a more in-depth analysis of the characters, places, and creatures.

The trailer begins with Cal racing to escape the Second Sister, an Imperial Inquisitor and the main antagonist of Fallen Order. Despite being a Jedi, Cal is clearly outmatched and just barely manages to escape with the help of Cere and Greez. The experience leaves the young Jedi shaken. However, instead of returning to a life of anonymity, he decides to join his new allies in their search for a way to bring back the Jedi Order and stop the Empire for good.

In the remaining scenes of the trailer, we see brief flashes of both gameplay and cinematic cutscenes. There are moments when Cal is exploring what appears to be an ancient Jedi Temple as well as snippets of battles between the young Jedi and different Stormtroopers, Purge Troopers, Imperial Inquisitors, and violent wildlife. Cal’s adventures take him to several different planets, all of which seem fairly distinct. In the trailer’s final moments, Cal faces off against the Second Sister and her aggressive attacks prove too overwhelming for the young Jedi. She is one terrifying antagonist.

Fallen Order takes place between Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope, during one of the darkest periods in the Star Wars timeline. Developed by Respawn–a studio also responsible for Titanfall 2 and Apex LegendsFallen Order is a Souls-like action RPG that utilizes a combat system similar to the one found in From Software’s Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. In terms of exploration, Respawn took inspiration from Metroid Prime, constructing multiple worlds that you will have to revisit once you unlock additional upgrades if you want to fully explore each environment.

Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order is scheduled to release for Xbox One, PS4, and PC on November 15.

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/new-star-wars-jedi-fallen-order-trailer-focuses-on/1100-6470107/

New Xbox Game Pass Games For Console And PC Include Some Absolute Gems

Xbox has announced a number of new games coming to Game Pass for Console and PC. Just days after the company announced a selection of new Game Pass titles, 13 more were revealed in the latest ID@Xbox showcase–seven coming to console and PC, two headed only to console, and four premiering exclusively on PC.

Some of my favourite titles coming to Game Pass for Console and PC include The Talos Principle, Minit, and The Red Strings Club (PC only). There are also quite a few games I’ve been looking forward to playing, such as Lonely Mountains: Downhill, which is a downhill cycling game that I’ve had my eyes on for quite a long time. Genesis Noir is another of my anticipated games, a noir-style adventure set before, during, and after the Big Bang–yes, the one that created the universe. And lastly, there’s Demon’s Tilt which is a digital pinball game inspired by the TurboGrafx-16 classic Devil’s Crush–it’s also available on Steam right now.

Unfortunately, no release date for these Game Pass titles has been announced. We’ll be sure to keep an eye out and, as always, report back when more is revealed. You can check out the full Game Pass lists below.

Xbox Game Pass for Console and PC games

Xbox Game Pass for Console games

Xbox Game Pass for PC games

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/new-xbox-game-pass-games-for-console-and-pc-includ/1100-6470138/

Check Out The New Last Of Us Part 2 PS4 Dynamic Theme

There’s been a lot to take in following the recent deluge of news for The Last of Us Part II. As the sequel to Naughty Dog’s seminal post-apocalyptic game, Ellie is still trying to survive in what remains of the USA, and the stakes have been raised significantly following her travels with Joel. To celebrate Outbreak Day–the fictional date for when the fungal virus in the game’s plot hit critical mass–along with the recent reveal of the game’s launch date, set for February 21, 2020, Sony and developer Naughty Dog have released a special dynamic PS4 theme, which is free for everyone.

On Twitter, Naughty Dog revealed the new “Grunge” theme, which features two background images focusing on Ellie in different situations. This new theme also adds a quasi-grain filter over the UI, which certainly gives the PS4’s home menu a more grim look. The theme is available now on the Playstation Store via a web browser or through the console’s interface.

There’s certainly been a lot to talk about with the game following our recent hands-on session. In editor Phil Hornshaw’s recent impressions article, he talked about several gameplay changes coming to the sequel, and how the game’s tone is exceedingly bleak. One of the biggest revelations to come from our time with the game, however, is that it will be a strictly single-player game, which means the Factions mode from the original won’t be making a return.

For more on the game, be sure to check out our hub for The Last of Us Part 2

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/check-out-the-new-last-of-us-part-2-ps4-dynamic-th/1100-6470137/