Rockstar Games has confirmed that Red Dead Redemption 2 will launch on Xbox One and PlayStation 4 on October 26, 2018. The announcement was made on the official Rockstar Games blog where the company apologised for a delay. The game was originally due out during Spring 2018, following an earlier delay from fall 2017. According to Rockstar, this new delay affords the studio extra time to improve the game.

“We are excited to announce that Red Dead Redemption 2 will be released on October 26 2018,” it said. “We apologize to everyone disappointed by this delay. While we had hoped to have the game out sooner, we require a little extra time for polish.”

It continued: “We sincerely thank you for your patience and hope that when you get to play the game, you will agree the wait will have been worth it. In the meantime, please check out these screenshots from the game. We look forward to sharing a lot more information with you in the coming weeks.” Alongside the release date announcement, a selection of new screenshots have also been released, which you can check out below.

Click image to view in full screen gallery

As previously detailed, Red Dead Redemption 2 follows protagonist Arthur Morgan and the Van der Linde gang “as they rob, fight and steal their way across the vast and rugged heart of America in order to survive.”

In May 2017, we got new screenshots showing off various environments, and prior to that, we got Redemption 2’s first trailer. More recently, in September 2017, Rockstar released a second Red Dead Redemption 2 trailer teasing the game’s story, combat, characters, and some notable moments from throughout.

Red Dead Redemption 2 is coming to both PS4 and Xbox One; however there’s no word on a PC version as of yet. The first Red Dead Redemption has not been released on PC, but Rockstar’s last major release, Grand Theft Auto V, made its way to PC.

Interestingly, in December 2017, Grand Theft Auto V players discovered references to secret missions in an update that connects to Red Dead Redemption 2. Rockstar later sent GTA Online players an email in-game that provides a clue to help them pursue “rumors of a lost relic from the frontier.” Completing this mission awarded players with a Double-Action Revolver for use in Red Dead Redemption 2.

One of the big questions surrounding Red Dead Redemption 2 is how the huge success of GTA Online will factor into it. Although Rockstar hasn’t announced an online component to the game, Strauss Zelnick, CEO of the studio’s parent company Take-Two, previously said to expect a “recurrent consumer spending” element to be included in most if not all of the company’s games going forward. He left the exact form this model will take ambiguous, however.

“We’ve said that we aim to have recurrent consumer spending options for every title that we put out at this company,” Zelnick said. “It may not always be an online model. It may not, probably won’t always be, a virtual currency model, but there’ll be some ability to engage on an ongoing basis with our titles after release across the board.”

With three major Xbox One consoles out on the market, it’s easy to be a little confused as to the different specs and features of each model. We’re going to clear that situation up in this article and break down which of Microsoft’s systems is right for you. Make sure you also check out our review of the original Xbox One, our Xbox One S review, and our Xbox One X review. To see how all the modern consoles compare, check out our in-depth system spec chart.

Xbox One Specs

	Xbox One	Xbox One S	Xbox One X
CPU	1.75GHz 8-core AMD custom CPU	1.75GHz 8-core AMD custom CPU	2.3GHz 8-core AMD custom CPU
GPU	Integrated AMD graphics clocked at 853MHz with 1.31 teraflops of performance	Integrated AMD graphics clocked at 914MHz	Integrated AMD graphics with 6 teraflops of performance
RAM	8GB DDR3	8GB DDR3	12GB GDDR5
Storage	500GB (5,400rpm) hard drive, supports external hard drive storage	500GB, 1TB, 2TB (5,400rpm) hard drive options, supports external hard drive storage	1TB hard drive
Dimensions	13.1×10.8×3.1 inches	11.6×8.9×2.5 inches	11.8×9.5×2.4 inches
Weight	7.8 pounds	6.4 pounds	8.4 pounds
Color	Black	Black and white	Black
Optical Drive	Blu-ray/DVD	4K/HDR Blu-ray drive	4K/HDR Blu-ray drive
Networking	Gigabit Ethernet, Wi-Fi A/B/G/N 2.4GHz and 5GHz	Gigabit Ethernet, Wi-Fi A/B/G/N/AC 2.4GHz and 5GHz	Gigabit Ethernet, 802.11ac dual band 2.4GHz and 5GHz
Internet Subscription	Xbox Live required to play online	Xbox Live required to play online	Xbox Live required to play online
Ports	Power, HDMI in, HDMI out, 3x USB 3.0, S/PDIF, Kinect port, IR out	Power, HDMI 2.0a in, HDMI 2.0a out, 3x USB 3.0, S/PDIF, Kinect port, IR out	Power, HDMI 2.0a in, HDMI 2.0a out, 3x USB 3.0, S/PDIF, IR out
4K Support	No	Yes (video)	Yes
HDR Support	No	Yes	Yes
Release Date	November 22, 2013	August 2, 2016	November 7, 2017
Release Price	$499.99	$299.99 (500GB), $349.99 (1TB), $399.99 (2TB)	$500 / £449 / AU $649
Current Price	$249.99	$299.99 (500GB), $349.99 (1TB), $399.99 (2TB)	$500 / £449 / AU $649

What are the differences between the Xbox One and Xbox One S?

Released in 2016, the Xbox One S represents a smaller, marginally more powerful version of the 2013-released Xbox One. With its 11.6×8.9×2.5 inch chassis, the black and white redesign is 40 percent smaller. It’s also 1.4 pounds lighter, weighing 6.4 pounds. This is impressive when you consider that the S has an integrated PSU, unlike the original Xbox One, which came with a large external power brick.

There S has several design tweaks. For instance, it replaces the capacitive power button with a physical one, which helps prevent accidental shutdowns. The S also removes the Kinect port. Unlike the original Xbox One, which was designed to lay horizontally, the S can also stand vertically.

In terms of specs, the Xbox One S has an overclocked GPU that got boosted from 853MHz to 914MHz. There’s a chance you may see a slight performance improvement in games that don’t have locked frame rates, but Microsoft primarily implemented the higher frequency to provide more overhead to support 4K HDR video playback, which is a feature the original Xbox One lacks. To supplement this new feature, the S also comes with a 4K HDR blu-ray player. While the original Xbox One debuted with a 500GB hard drive, the S features 500GB, 1TB, and 2TB variants.

The S model also comes with a slightly more refined controller that features a new textured grip. It also now supports Bluetooth, so users can use it with their Windows 10 PCs.

Should you upgrade to an Xbox One S if you have an Xbox One?

While the Xbox One S offers a small performance boost over the original, if you have a perfectly functional Xbox One, a more meaningful upgrade would be a move to the Xbox One X, which is significantly more powerful than either system.

Xbox One/Xbox One S vs Xbox One X

Formerly codenamed Project Scorpio, the Xbox One X represents a significantly more powerful version of the Xbox One that’s tailormade to take advantage of the burgeoning 4K TV market. Like the S model before it, it also supports HDR and comes with a 4K HDR Blu-ray drive.

Measuring 11.8 x 9.5 x 2.4 inches (30 x 24 x 6 cm), the Xbox One X is the smallest Xbox yet. This is especially impressive when you consider that, like the S model, it also has an integrated PSU. Aesthetically, it looks like a black version of the S and maintains its physical power button. It also doesn’t have a Kinect port.

In terms of specs, it features improved hardware across the board. While it still uses a custom 8-core CPU from AMD, it’s frequency has been boosted from 1.75GHz to 2.3GHz, which is 550MHz faster than the Xbox One/S before it. It also features a new integrated GPU from AMD that’s capable of delivering six teraflops of graphics performance, which is more than 4.5 times as much as the original Xbox One. In terms of memory, the Xbox One X eschews the 8GB of slower DDR3 RAM for 12GB of GDDR5 memory. Microsoft says that 9GB of it is allocated for games with the rest of the 3GB going to the operating system.

While the Xbox One X still uses a hard drive as opposed to an SSD, its HDD is faster than its Xbox One equivalent and can load games more quickly.

What are some of Xbox One X’s advantages?

The Xbox One X has specialized hardware that will allow every game to run with anisotropic filtering, which will allow textures off in the distance to look cleaner and sharper.

Games that carry the Xbox One X Enhanced label have been tweaked to take advantage of the console’s superior hardware. These improvements may take the form of native 4K rendering, added HDR support, or an FPS boost.

While the Xbox One X works best with 4K HDR TVs, 1080p TVs can also benefit by using the extra processing power to bolster frame rate or add extra graphical features like improved lighting and textures. 1080p TVs can also benefit from the Xbox One X’s ability to enable supersampling, which is a potent form of anti-aliasing that mitigates unwanted jaggies.

Which Xbox One consoles support HDR?

Both the Xbox One S and Xbox One X support HDR. The original Xbox One does not.

Are there any user interface differences among the Xbox One, Xbox One S, and Xbox One X?

No. All versions of the Xbox One use the same operating system and user interface.

Which Xbox One console should you get?

If you don’t already have an Xbox One and have a 1080p TV and just want an affordable option to play Xbox One games, the Xbox One S is a sensible choice. We wouldn’t suggest upgrading to an Xbox One S if you already have an Xbox One, however, considering you won’t get a significant performance boost. If you have a 4K TV, or are interested in getting one in the near future and have the extra cash to spare, the Xbox One X is a better long-term investment. It’s the most powerful console out today and can potentially provide sharper visuals, more vibrant colors, better performance, and added graphical bells and whistles. Should you upgrade to an Xbox One X if you already own an Xbox One? We would generally only recommend upgrading if you have a 4K TV and the disposable income to spare.

Sega has revealed that the first installment in Creative Assembly’s new Total War Saga brand, Thrones of Britannia will release for PC on April 19, 2018. This standalone return to the British Isles is set in a tumultuous and uncertain time period where Gaelic, Anglo-Saxon, and Viking factions are fighting for control.

Based on the potential success of this game, Sega and Creative Assembly have plans in making the Total War Saga a spin-off series that hones in on major conflicts spanning a couple hundred years, rather than the longer wars that the franchise is known for. Although no price point has been set, Sega and Creative Assembly said that it will be lower than the standard $60/£40 price point, reflective of the smaller, yet substantial content the Total War Saga games are designed to offer. That said, Thrones of Britannia will still be as feature-rich as any other Total War game, employing the franchise’s familiar gameplay mechanics like Faction Politics, War Fervour, and Diplomacy.

A Total War Saga: Thrones of Britannia will be available as a digital download. For those who prefer a boxed product, there will also be a limited edition physical version available in some territories from selected retailers. It comes in an embossed steelbook inspired by ornately decorated Anglo Saxon helmets of the period. Along with the game discs, the limited edition will include a double-sided poster showing the campaign map and collectable art cards featuring five of the most prominent in-game faction leaders.

Developer Creative Assembly is primed for a busy 2018 as it makes a return to historical warfare after two Warhammer spin-offs in 2016 and 2017. The last Total War game based on history was Total War: Attila in 2015, which was set at the beginning of the Dark Ages. Creative Assembly is also due to release Total War: Three Kingdoms later this fall, which marks the series’ debut in Ancient China.

Sega has also shared the game’s system requirements:

MINIMUM:

• OS: Windows 7 64Bit
• Processor: Intel® Core™ 2 Duo 3.0Ghz
• Memory: 5 GB RAM
• Graphics: NVIDIA GTX 460 1GB | AMD Radeon HD 5770 1GB | Intel HD4000 @720p
• Storage: 60 GB available space

RECOMMENDED:

• OS: Windows 7 / 8 (8.1)/ 10 64Bit
• Processor: Intel® Core™ i5-4570 3.20GHz
• Memory: 8 GB RAM
• Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 770 4GB | AMD Radeon R9 290X 4GB @1080p
• Storage: 60 GB available space

Last week it was announced that the title of the next movie in the long-running Mission Impossible series is Mission Impossible: Fallout. It has now been confirmed that the first trailer will screen during the Super Bowl this weekend. While we wait for that, the movie’s poster has been revealed.

The poster is more subdued than those of previous entries in the franchise and is dominated by the silhouette of star Tom Cruise, with a helicopter stunt placed on top of the image. Check it out below:

It’s likely that this stunt is taken from the same sequence pictured in one of the images released last week. There was also an image of Cruise performing a scary-looking jump between buildings.

Mission Impossible: Fallout hits theaters on July 27, 2018. While we don’t have many plot details yet, director Christopher McQuarrie previously stated that it will be an “emotional journey” for Ethan Hunt. “I’ve seen five of these movies and I don’t know who Ethan Hunt is,” he said last year. “One movie sort of dealt with his personal life; the other movies are about people speculating what’s really going on in Ethan’s head. I want to know who Ethan is in this movie, I want an emotional journey for this character, and Tom really embraced it.”

Mission Impossible: Fallout will pair Cruise once again with co-stars Rebecca Ferguson–the breakout star of the last movie–Ving Rhames, Simon Pegg, and Alec Baldwin. Interestingly, Michelle Monaghan will also appear. The actress has previously played Julia, Ethan’s wife. After being a major figure in Mission Impossible III, she made an uncredited cameo in 2011’s Ghost Protocol but was nowhere to be seen in Rogue Nation.

The movie will also see Superman himself, Henry Cavill, starring as the villain. His character has a mustache in the movie, which led to the infamous CGI manipulation of Superman’s face in Justice League.

Konami, the publisher of the Metal Gear series, has reported a rise in both revenue and profits. The company stated its strong results were due in part to Western economies’ continued recovery and “stable performance” of its games lineup.

For the nine months ending December 31, 2017, the company’s revenue stood at $1.6 billion, a 9% rise over the same period last year. Operating profit for the same timeframe increased by 30% to $351 million. Its digital entertainment division was the strongest performer for the period in terms of revenue, accounting for over 50% of the company’s total earnings.

The publisher attributed its success to “strong performance” of its Japanese mobile games and “stable” performance of its console lineup, specifically citing PES 2018 and Super Bomberman R. Konami also has a substantial health and fitness division, its second-biggest section in terms of revenue.

Despite celebrating Western economies’ recovery, the company did warn that “the future remains uncertain because of concerns about political and policy movements and a heightening of geopolitical risks.”

On the horizon for the company is Metal Gear Survive, a multiplayer stealth game coming to Xbox One, PS4, and PC. The spinoff is set in the same universe as Metal Gear Solid V and takes place after the events of Ground Zeroes. Metal Gear Survive’s release date has been set as February 20 in the US and February 22 in Europe.