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STALKER 2 Will Use Unreal Engine, Epic Games And Steam Status To Be Determined

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In a tweet from the official Twitter account for the STALKER game series, developer GSC Game World officially announced that it is using Unreal Engine 4 for the upcoming sequel STALKER 2. The previous games, which are several years old at this point, used the proprietary X-Ray Engine that allowed those games to stand out visually at the time with stunning lighting, shadows, and weather, but it seems that Unreal will make things simpler for the devs.

GSC Game World stated that “UE was the most suitable choice for us.” Its statement continued, “It gives the opportunity to make the game you wait for with the atmosphere of tension and mystery, the flesh and blood of the STALKER universe.” The team also mentioned that mods factored into the decision, saying, “Unreal Engine harmonizes well with our goal to make modding more easy and accessible.”

For those unaware, Unreal Engine is owned and developed by Epic Games. Questions about Epic Games Store exclusivity naturally begin to pop up in light of the engine announcement, but GSC Game World addressed the speculation rather bluntly. It stated, “Yes, we know what you are thinking about, but this announcement has nothing to do with platforms or digital stores. We will talk about this later.”

Very little is known about the game at the moment, though it’s likely to build on the open first-person shooter/RPG hybrid foundation of the original games. Back in March of last year, the official STALKER 2 website was updated with key art and foreboding atmospheric music. A full STALKER sequel was planned in 2010 and was eventually cancelled in 2012; this upcoming STALKER 2 is a separate project. STALKER 2 is said to launch sometime in 2021.

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/stalker-2-will-use-unreal-engine-epic-games-and-st/1100-6472473/

Pokemon Go: Last Chance To Catch Virizion

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Pokemon Go is kicking off the new year with a variety of events this month, including the return of the Legendary Pokemon Heatran. Before it arrives, however, you still have a little time left to catch the current Legendary, Virizion, but you’ll need to act fast as it leaves the game on January 7.

Until then, you can encounter Virizion in five-star Raids. As usual, you’ll first need to team up with other players and battle the Legendary Pokemon before you can earn a chance to catch it. Virizion is a dual Grass/Fighting type, which makes it especially vulnerable to Flying Pokemon like Zapdos and Lugia. Fire, Ice, Poison, Psychic, and Fairy types also have an advantage over Virizion.

Once Virizion leaves Raids, the aforementioned Heatran will take its place until February 4. Heatran was previously available in Pokemon Go, but this time around, you’ll have your first chance to capture its Shiny form. You can read more details on the official Pokemon Go website.

In the meantime, Pokemon Go’s Hatchathon event returns for another year from January 2-16. During that time, you’ll be able to hatch party hat-wearing versions of Pichu and Wurmple, while party hat Pikachu, Raticate, and Wobbuffet will appear in the wild and Raids. You’ll also earn extra Stardust, Rare Candies, and other rewards like the Unova Stone when you walk certain distances.

On top of that, a new Research Breakthrough reward is available this month. Each time you achieve a Research Breakthrough in January, you’ll encounter a Lapras that knows Ice Shard or Ice Beam, making this the first time you can get the Pokemon with those moves since 2018.

Finally, January 2020’s Community Day is set for Sunday, January 19, although Niantic has not yet revealed this month’s featured Pokemon. You can catch up on more Pokemon Go news below.

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/pokemon-go-last-chance-to-catch-virizion/1100-6472471/

Dragon Quest 12 Is Still “A Ways Away,” Series Creator Says

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Game designer Yuji Horii has confirmed that the next mainline Dragon Quest installment, Dragon Quest 12, is “still a ways away.”

Horii took to Twitter to share the news on New Year’s Day. He couldn’t divulge a lot of details in the accompanying statement but said there might be “something we can announce” sometime in the future. The statement, translated by Siliconera, says Horii is grateful to the fans who support the franchise and the staff who support his vision. You can read Horii’s full statement below.

“Last year we started with publishing the movie Dragon Quest: Your Story, then releasing the Switch version of Dragon Quest 11, the mobile version of DQ Walk, the announcement of The Adventure of Dai anime along with its game adaptation, the production of [DQ]12 and more; even now after 33 years have passed since I made the 1st game, I feel very glad that I can do new challenges like these. Thank you very much to all users who have cheered on Dragon Quest until now, and also to all of the many staff members who have supported me. I don’t know how long I can go on, but I feel like I want to do my best just a little bit more. I hope this year will be an amazing year to everyone. I’m looking forward to work together in this year.”

The last Dragon Quest entry, Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age, was released in 2018 for the Nintendo 3DS, PC, and PlayStation 4. An enhanced edition of the game launched on Nintendo Switch in September 2019. We gave the title a 9/10 in our review, saying, “Once you find yourself sucked into the world of Dragon Quest XI, it’s going to be hard to put down until you reach the grand finale.”

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/dragon-quest-12-is-still-a-ways-away-series-creato/1100-6472472/

New Animal Crossing: New Horizons Trailer, Screenshots Revealed

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Nintendo is kicking off the new year with another look at one of 2020’s biggest Switch titles, Animal Crossing: New Horizons. Ahead of the game’s release in March, the company has shared a new trailer that offers another brief glimpse at its gameplay–as well as our first look at a returning fan-favorite character.

The video, which you can watch below, is presented as a commercial for Nook Inc.’s Deserted Island Getaway Package. An audience of Animal Crossing characters watches clips of some of the new tasks you’ll be able to perform in the game, such as collecting material to craft furniture and paving pathways with a new trowel tool.

What’s most notable about the trailer, however, is that it also provides our first glimpse at Isabelle. Up until now, Isabelle has only been teased for New Horizons, but her appearance in the video confirms she’ll indeed return in the game, and her excited reaction to the clips of island life seems to suggest she’ll play a fairly major role.

In addition to the trailer, Nintendo has released a handful of new Animal Crossing: New Horizons screenshots on the game’s Japanese website, along with new key art. The latter in particular is interesting because it reveals two new characters and offers another look at Isabelle, who seems to be showing a village around the island–possibly hinting at her role. Harvey, the dog who runs the RV campground in Animal Crossing: New Leaf, can also be spotted in the background, confirming he’ll likewise be returning in New Horizons. You can take a look at new screens and key art below.

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Animal Crossing: New Horizons launches for Nintendo Switch on March 20, 2020. No pre-order bonuses for the game have been announced yet, but you can already reserve a copy at various retailers. You can learn more in our Animal Crossing: New Horizon’s pre-order guide, and be sure to check out our roundup of everything we know about New Horizons to catch up on all the details that have been revealed so far.

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/new-animal-crossing-new-horizons-trailer-screensho/1100-6472468/

Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare Update Adds A Familiar Game Mode

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Infinity Ward has introduced a new mode to Call of Duty: Modern Warfare with the start of 2020. The studio shared details about Grind, a deathmatch mode combining two Call of Duty game types into one fast-paced battle for dog tags, in a blog post.

Grind, as seen in 2013’s Call of Duty: Ghosts, is an amalgam of Hardpoint and Kill Confirmed, and is now playable on all platforms. The objective is to kill your enemies and collect their dog tags by delivering them to your team’s location. Similar to Kill Confirmed, you can deny dog tag confirmations by grabbing them yourself. But you also drop your own dog tag, along with the many you may have collected, when you are shot down.

Infinity Ward said Grind “add[s] multiple levels of tactics into an already tension-filled battlefield,” and the studio shared several strategies and tips on how to perform best while playing the new mode.

Infinity Ward also tweeted a playlist update alongside Grind’s announcement, saying the new mode replaces Drop Zone, Shoot House 24/7 replaces Shoot the Ship, and Snowfight has been removed.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare received an update on December 18 that added several new pieces of content and implemented numerous balance changes and bug fixes. Packaged within that update were new multiplayer maps brought back from 2007’s Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare. The patch also included a new Operator and Special Operation, addressed issues with audio and weapons, and much more.

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/call-of-duty-modern-warfare-update-adds-a-familiar/1100-6472469/

New Animal Crossing: New Horizons Trailer, Screenshots Revealed

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Nintendo is kicking off the new year with another look at one of 2020’s biggest Switch titles, Animal Crossing: New Horizons. Ahead of the game’s release in March, the company has shared a new trailer that offers another brief glimpse at its gameplay–as well as our first look at a returning fan-favorite character.

The video, which you can watch below, is presented as a commercial for Nook Inc.’s Deserted Island Getaway Package. An audience of Animal Crossing characters watches clips of some of the new tasks you’ll be able to perform in the game, such as collecting material to craft furniture and paving pathways with a new trowel tool.

What’s most notable about the trailer, however, is that it also provides our first glimpse at Isabelle. Up until now, Isabelle has only been teased for New Horizons, but her appearance in the video confirms she’ll indeed return in the game, and her excited reaction to the clips of island life seems to suggest she’ll play a fairly major role.

In addition to the trailer, Nintendo has released a handful of new Animal Crossing: New Horizons screenshots on the game’s Japanese website, along with new key art. The latter in particular is interesting because it reveals two new characters and offers another look at Isabelle, who seems to be showing a village around the island–possibly hinting at her role. Harvey, the dog who runs the RV campground in Animal Crossing: New Leaf, can also be spotted in the background, confirming he’ll likewise be returning in New Horizons. You can take a look at new screens and key art below.

No Caption ProvidedGallery image 1Gallery image 2Gallery image 3Gallery image 4Gallery image 5

Animal Crossing: New Horizons launches for Nintendo Switch on March 20, 2020. No pre-order bonuses for the game have been announced yet, but you can already reserve a copy at various retailers. You can learn more in our Animal Crossing: New Horizon’s pre-order guide, and be sure to check out our roundup of everything we know about New Horizons to catch up on all the details that have been revealed so far.

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/new-animal-crossing-new-horizons-trailer-screensho/1100-6472468/

PS4’s Free PS Plus Games For January 2020 Announced

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2020 is here, and with the new year, Sony has announced the first month of free PS4 games for PlayStation Plus subscribers. They become available on January 6, so be sure to snag Titanfall 2 and Monster Energy Supercross before then.

Starting January 6, PS Plus users can claim Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection and Goat Simulator. They’re free until February 3, and you’ll have access to both of them for as long as you’re subscribed to PlayStation Plus. Once they become available, you can claim them through the links below.

GameSpot’s Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection review scored the game an 8/10, thanks in part to its more stable frame rate and the “masterful pacing of Uncharted 2 and 3.”

“Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune was a fine game in 2007, but its wrinkles are deeper now, its age more apparent,” critic Mike Mahardy wrote. “With Uncharted 2 and 3, though, Naughty Dog transcended Drake’s own small beginnings. The Nathan Drake Collection is a firsthand account of Naughty Dog’s growth as a storyteller, and this collection is the best way to relive that history, and witness its transformation up close.”

Goat Simulator, on the other hand, is a hilarious romp through multiple open worlds that each offer ample opportunity for goat shenanigans. There’s no denying it’s a weird game, but if you’re the kind of person who likes to mess around, inadvertently cause explosions, and stick your goat tongue to things to see what happens, then Goat Simulator is absolutely worth trying when it goes free with PlayStation Plus.

PS Plus free games for January 2020

Available January 6 – February 3

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/ps4s-free-ps-plus-games-for-january-2020-announced/1100-6472465/

Some Of 2019’s Best PC Games Can Be Bought At Their Best Prices Yet

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The holidays may be over, but that doesn’t mean the sales have to be. The Epic Games Store agrees and has kicked off an encore sale, featuring a selection of the PC games that were on sale during its holiday specials, including Red Dead Redemption 2, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, and Control–the latter is one of GameSpot’s best games of 2019.

The best part about the encore sale is that if you still have a $10 holiday coupon, you can use it on any game that is $14.99 or more. Every Epic Games Store user should still have one, as the holiday sale would grant you another every time you used it on an eligible game. However, unlike the holiday sale, you won’t earn any additional coupons–it’s one and done in the encore sale. That means you can still get Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order for $39.79 or Red Dead Redemption 2 for $38. This brings a lot of these games to their best price yet.

The encore sale lasts from now until January 7 at 8 AM PT / 11 AM ET. If you have Xbox Game Pass Ultimate or Xbox Game Pass for PC subscription, then you don’t need to pay anything extra to be able to play a select few of these games. Game Pass’s PC library currently includes The Outer Worlds, Metro Exodus, and Metro: Last Light Redux. And right now, you can subscribe to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate for $1 for your first three months.

During the holiday sale, the Epic Games Store offered a new free game every day. And with the new year, Epic isn’t stopping there. It’s currently giving away three great games for free: Darksiders: War-Mastered Edition, Darksiders II: Deathinitive Edition, and Steep.

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/some-of-2019s-best-pc-games-can-be-bought-at-their/1100-6472464/

A Trio Of Great PC Games Are Free Right Now

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The Epic Games Store is ringing in 2020 by giving away three free PC games until January 9 at 8 AM PT / 11 AM ET. The freebies represent the end of Epic’s 12 Days of Free Games promotion that actually ended up lasting a full two weeks. To claim the free games, you just need to have a free Epic account.

Two of the free games come from the Darksiders series. If you haven’t played the post-apocalyptic action series that pits angels against demons, now’s your chance to start from the beginning of the saga. Darksiders Warmastered Edition and Darksiders II: Deathinitive Edition are remastered versions of the first two games in the series. Both games offer quality hack and slash gameplay and awesome atmospheres. Darksiders received an 8/10 in GameSpot’s original 2010 review, and Darksiders II earned an 8.5/10 in GameSpot’s original 2012 review.

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If you like what you play, you can move onto 2018’s Darksiders 3 and the recently-released Darksiders Genesis, which introduces more role-playing mechanics and a new top-down perspective.

Quite a departure from Darksiders, Steep is a 2016 extreme sports sim from Ubisoft. Though focused on snowboarding and skiing, Steep also has paragliding, sledding, base jumping, and wingsuit flying. Steep earned a 7/10 in GameSpot’s review. Critic Leif Johnson praised the open world mountain and the game’s overall variety while lamenting the lack of objective rewards beyond cosmetics.

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/a-trio-of-great-pc-games-are-free-right-now/1100-6472463/

Fortnite Snowflake Decoration Locations (Winterfest Challenge Guide)

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Fortnite‘s Winterfest event is almost over, but there’s still a little time left to complete its challenges and unlock special holiday-themed rewards. One task that may pose a bit of trouble, particularly if you don’t know where to look, is to destroy snowflake decorations. If you need help finding those, we’ve put together this guide explaining where to go.

Where Are The Snowflake Decorations?

Unlike ice boxes, which you need to track down to complete a separate Winterfest challenge, the snowflake decorations are much more difficult to spot because they’re small and typically hanging in windows, so it’s easy to overlook them. However, the decorations are fairly plentiful, and you only need to destroy three of them to complete the challenge, so you shouldn’t have too much trouble tracking the required number down once you know where to look.

As previously mentioned, the snowflake decorations are typically hanging on different houses, which can be found in specific named locations. We’ve spotted decorations in the following areas, so your best bet is to look in any of these places:

  • Holly Hedges
  • Frenzy Farm
  • Pleasant Park
  • Lazy Lake
  • Retail Row
  • Salty Springs

How To Complete The Challenge

Once you’ve tracked down a snowflake decoration, all you need to do is either shoot it with a gun you picked up or hit it with your pickaxe to destroy it. Repeat this process until you’ve destroyed three decorations and you’ll complete the challenge.

You don’t need to destroy all three within a single match, although you will most likely be able to anyway since the decorations are usually hung in bunches. After you’ve completed the challenge, you’ll unlock your reward: a special holiday back bling.

Fortnite’s Winterfest challenges will only be around a few more days, so you’ll need to act quickly if you’re hoping to complete them and unlock the special Winterfest rewards. You can see the full list of challenges, along with all of our maps and guides for this season’s trickier missions, in our ongoing Fortnite Chapter 2 challenges roundup.

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/fortnite-snowflake-decoration-locations-winterfest/1100-6472461/