The latest chapter in Battlefield V‘s Tides of War has introduced new content to the game over the past few months, including free maps, weapons, vehicles, and quality of life improvements. An adverse effect of all this new content, however, is that Chapter 4: Defying the Odds has also introduced a number of issues to the overall quality of the Battlefield V experience. As a result, the upcoming competitive 5v5 mode has become an unfortunate casualty.

In a post detailing the current status of Battlefield V, DICE senior producer Ryan McArthur has provided an update on the studio’s current commitments. “We’ve been hard at work to address these [issues] with several updates and will continue to do so until Battlefield V is where it should be,” the post says. “We’re fully committed to expanding and improving our core multiplayer experience. That’s why fixing the issues is our highest priority. This commitment will be met by keeping our focus and resources invested in producing the great content our players deserve.”

The upcoming 4.4 update contains fixes for stuttering issues, desyncs seen on hitboxes, and tweaks to the Commo Rose. It will also deliver two new infantry maps and an increase in max Rank, allowing you to go beyond Rank 50 and start earning XP on a journey to Rank 500. Improving game stability, UI communication around damage, and other items the community has flagged will also be part of future updates.

The recently released Al Sundan map is currently only available in Squad Conquest and Team Deathmatch, but will eventually make its way to large-scale modes such as Conquest. The reason for the delay is an unforeseen issue that accompanied Chapter 4, causing an unusual graphical problem when playing the larger version of the Al Sundan map. “The team is pushing to get the fix into our 4.6 release next month, but we can’t confirm that just yet, as we first want to make sure the fix is working properly and won’t create problems elsewhere, which has been the case with some past updates.”

Due to “the added focus on improving the quality of the experience and adding more of the content you want,” McArthur says the upcoming 5v5 mode has been cancelled. “Not creating this mode was a tough decision, but vital for us to more quickly reach our bug-crushing and content goals.” Despite this, DICE aims to continue building a competitive experience in Battlefield V.

In more positive news, the infantry-only maps Provence and Lofoten Islands, are set to arrive in Battlefield V’s 4.4 update. Both maps will initially feature two modes: Squad Conquest and Team Deathmatch. Looking ahead to update 4.6, meanwhile, sees the classic Operation Underground map arrive in Conquest, Team Deathmatch, Breakthrough, and Squad Conquest. The map is a reimagining of Operation Métro from 2011’s Battlefield 3 and is being worked on by its original creator.

Beyond this, DICE is returning to the Pacific in the future with two new Iwo Jima, as well as two other locations you’ll deploy to before the end of the year.

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/battlefield-5s-competitive-5v5-mode-has-been-cance/1100-6469329/

The Mandalorian is one of the premium shows being offered at launch with the upcoming Disney+ streaming service. The series from producer Jon Favreau is introducing an original character within a familiar framework set by Boba Fett. Favreau explained his inspiration for the series came from his fascination with the grungy parts of the Star Wars universe that have gone less explored.

“I’m trying to evoke the aesthetics of not just the original trilogy but the first film. Not just the first film but the first act of the first film,” Favreau told THR. “What was it like on Tatooine? What was going on in that cantina? That has fascinated me since I was a child, and I love the idea of the darker, freakier side of Star Wars, the Mad Max aspect of Star Wars.”

Favreau says he actually approached Disney about the series, not the other way around.

“I wrote four of the episodes before I even had a deal, because I wanted to do this but only if they wanted to do the version that I wanted to do,” he said.

To bring his vision to life, he’s utilizing some of the same green screen techniques used in the prequels. He says George Lucas’ work serves as the foundation for everything he’s doing here, but noted that different types of storytelling demand different types of sets and effects. He’s using these digital techniques because it suits the project, but it wouldn’t be right for a larger episodic movie.

“When you see Lawrence of Arabia, how much of that is informed by really being there and not shooting it in Calabasas–I think you get a different movie,” he said. “The way I work and the stories I’m telling are geared specifically toward what this technology has to offer, so I could not make Episode IX using these tools.”

The Mandalorian recently released its first poster, showing Pedro Pascal’s armored antihero walking across a desert landscape with his ship in the background. It appears to be set on Tatooine, since the background has clearly visible Sandcrawlers and moisture vaporators. But it also shows the scale of the world and ship that Favreau mentioned. A trailer may be incoming soon as well, as part of Disney’s annual D23 convention.

The show will be one of several offerings available on day one of the Disney+ service. That streaming service will offer a host of movies from Disney’s catalog, along with original series, for $7 per month or $70 per year. It will launch on November 12.

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/the-mandalorian-showrunner-talks-about-exploring-t/1100-6469328/

Fortnite: Battle Royale‘s overpowered mechs have finally been cut down a peg or two. An update recently went live for the multiplayer shooter, introducing sweeping changes that nerf the B.R.U.T.E. mech’s powerful weaponry and expansive movement.

The new mech has been a source of much chagrin in the Fortnite community since its introduction at the beginning of Season 10. An earlier patch reduced the frequency with which the mech would appear in competitive game modes, and Epic followed this up by explaining that they added the controversial vehicle to help players who were struggling to win. After further outcry, however, Epic has now addressed some of the player base’s vocal concerns. The mech hasn’t been vaulted as many had hoped, but this is a positive step in the right direction.

In a blog post last night, Epic detailed the balance adjustments recently applied to the pesky metal killing machines. The B.R.U.T.E.s now fire six rockets in a single charge as opposed to 10, and have seen the blast radius shrink by 42%. Rockets also now fire 56% slower, which Epic says will “allow the players on the receiving end of the missile volley to have more time to react and protect themselves.” The developer added that “B.R.U.T.E.s will continue to be a strong option against structures, but less lethal against players.”

In terms of movement, the dash cooldown has been increased by two seconds, while boosting in the air will give you decreased velocity by 33%. “The adjustment here reduces the ability to close gaps quickly while in the B.R.U.T.E. while also increasing the ability to land shots on target for players facing the B.R.U.T.E.,” Epic added. “In general we hope to shift B.R.U.T.E.s away from being highly mobile and put more emphasis on their already defensive nature.”

The B.R.U.T.E. no longer grants materials to the driver and passenger when stomping or dashing through the environment, either. “Our goal is to add more tension between being in and out of a B.R.U.T.E. as well as reduce instances where players can farm faster than intended without exposing themselves to danger.”

Finally, mech spawn rates have been changed in Fortnite’s core modes after the change was previously implemented in its competitive modes. There’s now a possibility that no mechs will spawn at the beginning of each storm phase, and if they do there will be fewer than before.

As a counter to all of these nerfs, the mech has also received some slight buffs. The material cost of using the gunner’s overshield has been decreased from 200 to 75, and the mech’s overall health has seen a slight boost from 1000 up to 1250. This plays into Epic’s reworking of the mechs as a defensive vehicle. “With the above changes, users of the B.R.U.T.E. need to play a bit more strategic than before, so we want to give a little bit longer of a window to do so.”

These changes probably won’t placate everyone, but they should hopefully lead to Fortnite matches feeling a little bit fairer.

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/fortnite-has-finally-nerfed-the-brute-mech/1100-6469325/

Riot Games has had a turbulent 12 months. In August of last year, Kotaku published a story alleging that the League of Legends developer has a toxic and sexist workplace environment. This was followed up earlier this year when five lawsuits were filed against the company from employees who state the studio has violated the California Equal Pay Act. Each of the five lawsuits cites in-house sexism influencing hiring practices and creating a “bro culture” within Riot Games. When the company responded by filing a forced arbitration against two of the cases, more than 150 employees staged a walkout in protest.

One of the lawsuits–a class action that alleged claims of gender discrimination in pay and promotion, sexual harassment, and retaliation against women working at Riot offices in California–has, in principle, been settled outside of court

“We realize that this is a path that many companies in our position may not have chosen,” a Riot statement says, “but we felt it was the strongest statement we could make to Rioters, and prospective Rioters, that we’re prepared to go over and above in order to move forward. Both sides believe that this proposed settlement, once finalized, is fair for all parties involved. In addition, we’re hopeful that the settlement will allow us to continue our momentum (as described here and here) in making Riot a leader in inclusive workplaces.”

Riot says it has been working to review and address the concerns that were raised in the lawsuits. “We will continue to strive to be a great company and one that cares about its employees and its players,” the statements goes on to say. “After extensively reviewing these issues, we can confidently state that gender discrimination (in pay or promotion), sexual harassment, and retaliation are not systemic issues at Riot.

“But, what we also learned during this process was that some Rioters have had experiences that did not live up to our values or culture. In addition, we’ve encountered considerable fatigue among Rioters, who have been drained by constant engagement with the internal and external dialogues emerging from these lawsuits and recurring media cycles.”

Finalizing the settlement is still in its early stages so details are sparse, but Riot has expressed a desire to be transparent with its communication. “We’re continuing to work with the class plaintiffs and their counsel to finalize the details. Most importantly, we want to emphasize that any proposed settlement will be subject to the Court’s oversight, and the Court will need to review and approve all details of any agreement. We want to be respectful of this process.”

You can find the full joint press release from the plaintiff’s counsel and Riot Games below:

Preliminary Settlement Agreement Reached in Lawsuit Filed by Women Against Riot Games

August 22, 2019 – LOS ANGELES – All parties have reached an agreement in principle today to resolve the class action case against Riot Games.

“This is a very strong settlement agreement that provides meaningful and fair value to class members for their experiences at Riot Games,” said Ryan Saba of Rosen Saba, LLP, the attorney representing the plaintiffs. “This is a clear indication that Riot is dedicated to making progress in evolving its culture and employment practices. A number of significant changes to the corporate culture have been made, including increased transparency and industry-leading diversity and inclusion programs. The many Riot employees who spoke up, including the plaintiffs, significantly helped to change the culture at Riot.”

The parties will now move toward seeking court approval of the proposed settlement, and we will provide additional details about its terms when that filing takes place.

“We are grateful for every Rioter who has come forward with their concerns and believe this resolution is fair for everyone involved,” said Nicolo Laurent, CEO of Riot Games. “With this agreement, we are honoring our commitment to find the best and most expeditious way for all Rioters, and Riot, to move forward and heal. Over the past year, we’ve made substantial progress toward evolving our culture and will continue to pursue this work as we strive to be the most inclusive company in gaming.”

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/riot-games-settles-gender-discrimination-class-act/1100-6469323/

Marvel’s Avengers isn’t out until May 15, 2020, but Square Enix has already encountered one big issue: struggling to bring clarity to what the game actually is. At E3 2019, a trailer and description of the game left a lot of people confused. Explaining that it featured a “bespoke campaign,” cooperative play, and additional heroes who are not the core members of the Avengers didn’t help matters. At Gamescom 2019, Square Enix provided a much closer, less muddy look at Marvel’s Avengers, and now we have a much better sense of what it is: Think Marvel’s Spider-Man meets Destiny, and you’re pretty close.

We played the opening 20 or so minutes of Avengers at Gamescom, which consisted of the prologue portion shown at both E3 and San Diego International Comic-Con 2019. The A-Day level, which introduces the story of a mentally anguished and disbanded Avengers team who are trying to deal with the loss of Captain America, isn’t anything new. But actually putting hands on Avengers really cleared up how the game will play on a moment-by-moment basis, and Square Enix’s presentation helped us to understand what the larger picture of Avengers looks like.

The A-Day level takes you through a cinematic battle on the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, which is a fairly on-rails experience. As minions of Taskmaster attack the bridge, you take on the role of each of the Avengers in turn and get a sense for how they handle. The combat is mostly of the melee variety, and each Avenger has a light attack and heavy attack, as well as a quick dodge move that lets them get out of trouble. Incoming enemy attacks are marked with indicators on the screen to tell you when to move, and holding down the attack buttons triggers different versions of the attacks. In the case of Thor, your first character, holding down the light attack lets him spin his hammer around to pummel enemies with rapid hits, while holding down the heavy attack triggered a blast of lightning along the ground that could zap multiple enemies in front of him. If your character has a ranged ability, you can aim it by holding down the right trigger and fire it by hitting your attack button. Thor throws his hammer, Iron Man fires repulsor blasts, Cap hucks his shield, and so on.

You try out each of the characters on A-Day and get a sense of their strengths and weaknesses. Thor is great for crowd-control and dealing with groups of melee fighters, while Iron Man can hover over the battlefield and snipe away at more irritating enemies. Hulk is more or less a runaway train, picking up enemies and smashing them into each other to dispatch them quickly or leaping into the air for devastating impact attacks upon landing. Black Widow can whip a grapple at enemies to fling herself at them for melee combos, or fire away with a pair of handguns. And Cap’s shield means he can close distances on dangerous enemies and avoid their attacks.

The core combat of Avengers has the feel of something like Spider-Man or God of War. You have a handful of close-combat abilities, some ranged attacks, and some powerful “heroic” moves that charge up and let you unleash things like Hulk’s Sonic Clap or Iron Man’s Unibeam, rocking multiple enemies and dealing high damage. Everyone plays similarly enough that you can pick up any hero and go to work, with key differences based on their abilities and powers that make them all feel distinct.

Combat is satisfying thanks to the breadth of moves you have at your disposal. Avengers’ core combat encourages you to chain together moves to keep opponents off-balance. Walloping one guy with Thor’s hammer to send him flying before you throw Mjolnir at another and pin him to a truck has the same kind of tight fluidity as other big third-person action games. Each of the heroes has their own capabilities and requires a different style, adding variety to the fights. At least in the brief portion we played, Avengers did a pretty good job of making you feel you’re inhabiting one of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, complete with their unique set of powers.

The prologue ends with Black Widow taking on Taskmaster alone, in a fight that’s full of prompts for quick-time events as she dodges the villain’s jetpack-powered dives. It’s a cool fight in which Widow has to constantly change her tactics to deal with Taskmaster’s ability to adapt to her style, but relies largely on prompts, and thus feels tightly controlled. According to Rich Briggs, senior brand manager at Crystal Dynamics, the game will move away from QTEs soon after the prologue. The focus is still on making a cinematic, story-driven action game, but don’t expect anything as directed as what’s been shown so far. Briggs said players can expect big, open levels.

Once you’re through A-Day, Briggs said, Avengers opens up. The game consists of two kinds of missions: story missions that will be somewhat similar to A-Day, but focus on one hero at a time; and Warzones, which are looser missions that you can play with up to three other people cooperatively. Working through the story campaign has you re-assembling your Avengers team by convincing each hurt, broken hero to rejoin the team to face a new enemy: longtime Marvel evil corporation Advanced Idea Mechanics, or AIM. In the absence of the Avengers, AIM has stepped in with “advanced synthoid AI soldiers” to protect the world from superpowered people. Of course, AIM is evil, and there’s a conspiracy afoot the Avengers will need to unravel to stop the bad guys and their world-dominating ambitions.

Recruiting the characters returns them to a reclaimed helicarrier you’ll use as a base of operations, adding them to the team you can then take into more missions. They’re going to take some convincing, though. Tony Stark has withdrawn from the world because he feels he’s failed it; Thor abandoned Mjolnir at Cap’s memorial site and no longer feels worthy of fighting as a hero; Black Widow is back to her life as a lone-wolf spy; and Bruce Banner’s anguish has him trapped in a Hulk state, unable to revert to his human form.

As you progress through the narrative, you’ll unlock additional story and Warzone missions that you can choose to play at your own pace, which are spread across the globe. Briggs said all the missions will feed back into the narrative; completing a story mission might give you access to new Warzones, and finishing Warzones might in turn unlock more missions of both types.

But while story missions make up what Crystal Dynamics previously referred to as Avengers’ bespoke campaign, Warzone games take on more of an open-world flavor. Playable alone or in co-op, they’re a bit more generic in that they send you out to cool down conflict “hot spots,” but have less of a narrative hook. You can take any hero you’ve recruited into Warzones, and the missions are dynamic based on which heroes you bring along for the fight and what powers and abilities they have. All the missions include a Power level ranking number when you see them on the world map, which gives you a sense of what you’ll encounter–but you’ll also set your own difficulty levels for missions.

This is where Avengers starts to approach the more loot-focused live-game end of the spectrum. Completing missions helps you level up your heroes, which allows you to customize them using skill trees, unlocking new moves, abilities, and combos. Over time, your Tony Stark will become different from another player’s Tony Stark based on your choices. At the same time, you’ll also earn gear during your missions to outfit your heroes. Like in Destiny, Anthem, or Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey, that gear comes in a variety of rarities, and the rarer it is, the more powerful it is. Briggs showed off some gear drops for Iron Man, including armor pieces that gave bonus perks to amp up some of his stats and abilities. You’ll also be able to grab complete sets of gear for additional bonuses.

Gear drops mostly come as mission rewards, and missions you take on tell you what kind of rewards you can expect for completing them so you can take on tougher challenges to chase better rewards. You can also expect some random drops as you play, though, and all the gear drops you receive will be specific to the character you’re playing–which sounds similar to Destiny and Anthem.

Your gear, skills, and decisions as you level up all work together to help you adjust your Avengers to match your playstyle for each hero. To customize how they look, you’ll use cosmetic items that range from both classic comic looks and new, original spins. Like in other live-service games, expect to earn some just through playing, while others you’ll purchase from Avengers’ marketplace. Cosmetics won’t affect how your heroes perform, but they’ll make them stand out more from other players’ heroes.

There are other elements in play we haven’t seen yet that further expand on the RPG-esque systems at work in Avengers. Briggs mentioned a resources system that Square Enix will explain further down the road. He also said that we can expect the story of Avengers to span years as new heroes and story missions are added along the way, all of which will be free. And we’ll also get more information about how the co-op experience works in early 2020, Briggs said, ahead of Avengers’ launch on May 15, 2020.

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/we-played-marvels-avengers-and-finally-understand-/1100-6469317/