Month: January 2018

You splurged on your PC, so all you need now is a swanky home for your new battlestation.

Dota 2 developer Valve has issued a statement regarding DotaTV streaming following this week’s controversy surrounding the ESL One Genting 2018 tournament.

In a new post, Valve states that it is the only entity with the power to send out DMCA notices for games streamed off of DotaTV (assuming the stream isn’t using the broadcaster’s unique content). Valve goes on to say it designed the guidelines to be flexible, and that it will be Valve’s judgment alone to decide who has violated its broadcasting rules.

Valve’s full statement is below:

We’ve been seeing a bunch of discussion regarding DotaTV and want to expand on what we’ve said before.

Continue reading…

Fortnite‘s latest patch is out now, after Epic Games’ server maintenance went longer than anticipated. However, the game is back up and running now and features some tweaks and and improvements to various parts of the game.

Following issues with server maintenance, update 2.3.0 was released to Fortnite on PS4, Xbox One, and PC, and it focuses a lot on bug fixes, item balancing, and small, quality-of-life improvements. For example, Epic has added auto-run to the game, triggered by pressing “=” and “NumLock” on PC, and by double-clicking the left stick on consoles. In addition, it has added the Chug Jug item, which takes 15 seconds to consume but grants max Health and Shields. Additionally, you’ll no longer earn stat or challenge progress when quitting a match early. Those will only be awarded upon elimination or victory.

In the Save the World game mode, the Mutant Storm Event has begun once again. This time around, Mutant Storms will appear more frequently, and Mutant Storm mission alerts award Storm Tickets as well as Evolution Materials. You can see the rest of the Mutant Storm features and additions in the patch notes.

Epic originally took Fortnite down late last night in order to work on its servers and deploy the update, but the outage lasted longer than it anticipated. According to a post by Epic on Fortnite’s subreddit, the outage resulted from issues with a database.

“During our downtime to upgrade to 2.3, we were performing recommended tasks to resolve a lingering database issue,” it wrote. ‘Those tasks ended up causing the database to go into a bad state. After significant consideration, we decided our best option was to restore from a backup at the moment we took the servers down for the patch. Our first restore failed (due to issues unrelated with the quality of the backup) and we’re working on a second attempt at the restore. We’re on it and it will be up as soon as humanly possible.”

Finally, about 14 hours after Fornite was taken down, it went live again, complete with the new 2.3.0 patch. In other news, Fortnite received an even more substantial patch that significantly reworked the map.

The Iron Banner is returning from January 30 to February 6, and the update is bringing new armor and raid rewards with it.

In a post on Bungie.net, the team confirmed the featured mode for the upcoming Iron Banner event is Control, and Iron Banner Engrams earned during the event will provide Season 2 weapons, and more.

Bungie is adding new items to the engrams players receive by visiting Lord Saladin. Season 2 weapons will be included, and the team is adding more in the next event. Players will be able to obtain a hand cannon, scout rifle, shotgun, and other items including a ghost, sparrow, and emblem, shown above. Another possible reward is an Iron Banner ship, but Bungie isn’t revealing what it will look like, choosing to save it as a surprise for lucky players to discover for themselves.

Continue reading…

Venom is getting his own movie later this year, with Tom Hardy in the leading role as Eddie Brock. From the cast to the comic inspiration to the release date, here is everything we know about the upcoming Venom movie!

Come To Switch!

Nearly a year after the Switch’s release, we’ve received a handful of ports for some of Nintendo’s best Wii U games, like Mario Kart 8, Pokken Tournament, and Lego City Undercover. And with the recent confirmation of Bayonetta 1 + 2, Hyrule Warriors, and Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze on the console, the ports keep coming. But all of this has got us thinking about what other Wii U games we want to see make a comeback—-especially those of us who never owned a Wii U.

After all, it would be a shame for past big-name exclusives like Xenoblade Chronicles X and Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker to remain landlocked on a system Nintendo is quickly phasing out. Not to mention that Switch also makes for a wonderful multiplayer console, even on the go. The thought of playing Super Mario 3D World or Super Smash Bros. at the drop of a hat is a reality we would love to be a part of; one we hope Nintendo is planning to make possible.

Considering Nintendo only has control over its own properties, we narrowed down the list of Wii U games we want to see on Switch to first-party published games only. But you never know: Nintendo has a lot of sway at the moment with the success of Switch, and a publisher or studio need only look at Switch sales numbers .

If you had the chance to pitch any Wii U game to Nintendo for a Switch revival, what would you choose? Take a look at our picks, and let us know your thoughts and suggestions in the comments below.

The Wonderful 101

“With The Wonderful 101, game director Hideki Kamiya has made a game featuring a stumpy posse of cartoon heroes, with the stylish combo strings of Bayonetta, and the bouncy, vibrant style of Viewtiful Joe. This is an ambitious, funny, and inventive game that’s keen to impress but slightly scrappy in its presentation, packed with ideas but is slightly confused about how to express all its abundant creativity. This might not be the Wii U’s killer app, but it’s a much-needed shot in the arm.” – Martin Gaston, 8/10

Read: GameSpot’s review of The Wonderful 101 for Wii U

The Legend Of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD

“Twilight Princess HD is unmistakably a product of its time; one that was cursed from birth with a warped identity. Crafted during anxious times for Nintendo, developed for two consoles simultaneously, this was the GameCube’s last hurrah, a Wii launch title, and a defining test for motion controls (which have been stripped out). Perhaps now, ten years later, it can finally be remembered how it ought to be; the dark and violent showpiece of a treasured series.” – Rob Crossley, 9/10

Read: GameSpot’s review of The Legend Of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD for Wii U

Super Mario Maker

“The first time I discovered that not only could I make a giant, flame-spewing piranha plant, but I could also make it fly, I cackled with horrible glee at the possibilities. And for the first time in a creation-focused experience, I look forward to returning again and again for more than just the amazing levels I know other people will create. I want to keep making my own levels better. The game won’t necessarily turn you into the next Shigeru Miyamoto, but you can almost feel a little bit of that magic rubbing off every time you upload a new creation.” – Justin Haywald, 9/10

Read: GameSpot’s review of Super Mario Maker for Wii U

Super Mario 3D World

“Sure, co-op play is hardly a game changer, but when so much of 3D World is so successfully built upon a bevy of brilliant ideas, this can be forgiven. Everything that you can see and do within its enchanting levels is so bright, colourful, and full of wonder that it’s impossible not to be taken in by its charms. Mario has always had that uncanny ability to cross the boundaries of age and gender, to bring a smile to the face of every player who crosses his path. Super Mario 3D World is no different. This is a dazzlingly inventive game that brings the fun in spades, and will leave you grinning like a loon from start to finish.” – Mark Walton, 9/10

Read: GameSpot’s review of Super Mario 3D World for Wii U

Super Smash Bros.

“Between the Masterpiece Collections, which are short demos of the classic games that inspired Smash Bros., the many fighters and stages, the deep character customization for fine-tuning your fighters to suit your play style, and the extensive screenshot editing tools, there’s just so much to do. With the Wii U release, Smash Bros. has fully realized its goals. There’s something here for nearly everyone–from young to old, from novice to expert–presented almost without compromise. Super Smash Bros. Wii U invites everyone to join in its undiluted, joyous celebration of the broad community that Nintendo has built over the past forty years.” – Daniel Starkey, 9/10

Read: GameSpot’s review of Super Smash Bros. for Wii U

Pikmin 3

“Pikmin 3 doesn’t offer much growth from previous games in the series, and actually takes a step backward in some areas. But there’s no shame in falling just short of the classic offerings that came before it. Scouring the environment for all of the hidden goodies is eminently enjoyable because of the clever problem solving you have to employ, and the competitive mode should test the strength of any friendship. There’s nothing quite like Pikmin out there, and its delightful combination of survival strategy and unflinching cuteness should entertain you throughout this lengthy adventure.” – Tom Mc Shea, 8/10

Read: GameSpot’s review of Pikmin 3 for Wii U

Xenoblade Chronicles X

“Mira and its inhabitants are awe-inspiring, and experiencing everything X has to offer is a monumental and rewarding task. It makes the journey consistently interesting by giving you intricate control over your characters’ abilities and gear, and by offering a wealth of new toys to play with as time goes on. You will roll your eyes at characters, and bemoan the unnecessary story padding, but these frustrations are quickly forgotten when you head into the wilderness in search of unexplored territory and unforeseen challenges. X is a grand adventure that satiates your appetite for exploration and combat in ways that few games ever do, but because getting started is half the battle, it’s an experience reserved for dedicated players who have the patience and energy to unearth its greatest treasures.” – Peter Brown, 8/10

Read: GameSpot’s review of Xenoblade Chronicles X for Wii U

The Legend of Zelda HD Collection (Wind Waker HD and Twilight Princess HD)

Wind Waker: “The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD is a loving restoration of a bold and beautiful adventure, with Nintendo shifting some elements of the original game’s aesthetic, and streamlining the pace where it had occasionally sagged. The Wind Waker is a game about a young hero saving the world from the past actions of old men, but its HD update reaffirms that Nintendo’s most colorful Zelda game remains timeless.” – Martin Gaston, 8/10

Read: GameSpot’s review of The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker HD for Wii U

Twilight Princess: “Twilight Princess HD is unmistakably a product of its time; one that was cursed from birth with a warped identity. Crafted during anxious times for Nintendo, developed for two consoles simultaneously, this was the GameCube’s last hurrah, a Wii launch title, and a defining test for motion controls (which have been stripped out). Perhaps now, ten years later, it can finally be remembered how it ought to be; the dark and violent showpiece of a treasured series.” – Rob Crossley, 9/10

Read: GameSpot’s review of The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD for Wii U

Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE

Tokyo Mirage Sessions #Fe is gorgeous, fun, and a smart collaboration all around. Backtracking through dungeons and running up against tedious bosses can bring the momentum down, but overall the game is something worth exploring. After a few dozen hours the semi-ludicrous story and systems set in front of you feel so comfortable together that this mashup of developer Atlus’ most popular franchise and Intelligent Systems’ beloved strategy RPG seems like it was destined to be.” – Alexa Ray Corriea, 8/10

Read: GameSpot review of Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE for Wii U

Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker

“From goombas in swim rings that flap their little feet underwater, to the tiny birds that land on Toad’s head when he’s idly wasting time, Treasure Tracker has a lighthearted and lovable presentation. It has the right mix of atmosphere and challenging puzzles to keep you engaged, and it’s a great experiment within the larger Mario universe. It may have started out as a minigame, but with its original take on the Toad character and a large number of enjoyably tricky puzzles, it’s great to see it in the spotlight it so truly deserves.” – Peter Brown, 8/10

Read: GameSpot’s review of Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker for Wii U

Destiny 2‘s Iron Banner tournament is coming back, and it’ll arrive with new weapons and Ornaments for you to collect. And you won’t have long to wait: it starts next Tuesday, January 30 and runs through February 6.

This is the first Iron Banner of Destiny 2’s second season of content, and it features Control as its game type. It comes with a whole bunch of new rewards, as well. Several more weapons and items have been added to the possible drops from Lord Saladin’s Engrams, including a cool-looking hand cannon, scout rifle, shotgun, Sparrow, Ghost, and ship. You can see all of them, except the ship, in the gallery below.

If you still have past Iron Banner gear to collect, first-season items can still drop from Engrams. In addition, Bungie has added a way for players to directly buy Iron Banner gear, rather than relying on Engram drops. You can now purchase armor and three weapons from Lord Saladin during each event. Finally, if you complete Lord Saladin’s challenges, you can earn Ornaments for Iron Banner gear.

In other news, Bungie also revealed more changes in the works for Destiny 2’s Raid rewards and Masterwork items. It’s also Faction Rally’s victory week right now, and you can grab an awesome New Monarchy weapon.

Over the past few months, Bungie has talked a lot about how it plans on changing Destiny 2 to make it more rewarding, engaging, and transparent, especially for end-game players. Today, the studio revealed some of the results of that effort: Raid perks and Masterwork armor.

Up until now, weapon and armor perks have been fairly general. But now, Bungie is adding new mods that apply Raid-specific perks to gear. For example, a new mod called Emperor’s Blaze grants a 25% buff to Solar ability damage while playing the Leviathan Raid. These mods drop on Raid armor pieces and will be selectable on Raid armor that you already own. They’re reusable, meaning that you can swap to more general mods while running other activities, then swap back for the Raid, although you’ll have to pay one Calus Token to reuse one. Finally, they all are Legendary mods, meaning that you’ll still get the five Power bonus for using them.

Destiny 2’s Raid is getting a few more tweaks, as well, that should make it more rewarding to play multiple times. Completing the Prestige Raid now grants both Prestige and normal Raid awards, so you won’t have to go back and do the Raid again on normal mode to get all of the drops. Additionally, Raid encounters will now always drop a Raid gear piece so that players won’t be left with nothing after completing an encounter. Further, if you’ve completed the Raid during a certain week, you can purchase the remaining Raid gear you didn’t get from the vendor Benedict. Finally, a new Exotic Ghost Shell can drop from the final encounter in either Leviathan or Eater of Worlds.

Bungie is also adding Masterwork armor to the game. Masterwork weapons have already been in Destiny 2 for a while, and you get them the same way: Legendary items have a chance of dropping as a Masterwork, or you can upgrade any Legendary to a Masterwork. Each piece of Masterwork armor grants a 3% damage resistance while using a Super move, and this stacks as you acquire more Masterwork pieces.

In other news, Destiny 2 is also getting a new Iron Banner starting next week. In addition, as it’s Faction Rally’s victory week right now, there’s a cool New Monarchy weapon available for purchase.