Fortnite‘s popularity is not slowing down. The game had its biggest month ever in August when 78.3 million people played the popular battle royale game, Epic announced. That’s the highest single-month player figure for the game since it launched.
The massive figure led to some issues. With so many players logging in, “This exposed weak points and allowed us to make targeted improvements to critical systems, such as stats and servers,” Epic said.
While nearly 80 million players is absolutely a massive figure, Fortnite is free, so it’s theoretically available to everyone who has a console, PC, or mobile device. And more importantly, Epic did not say how much Fortnite brings in from its microtransactions.
In other Fortnite news, the game’s mysterious narrative continued this week as the Cube sank into Loot Lake. This is all some kind of tease for the upcoming Season 6, apparently.
Fortnite is currently available on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, and PC, as well as mobile devices.
Today word came that Disney CEO Bob Iger believes his plan to release a new Star Wars movie every year was “a little too much, too fast” and that fans can expect “some slowdown” in the studio’s output of films set in that galaxy far, far away. From where I’m sitting, this is a good thing — for Disney as well as for fans.
Much has been made about the box office performance of Solo: A Star Wars Story, so there’s not too much point in re-litigating that here, but suffice to say that the film’s worldwide theatrical take clocked in at $393 million. Meanwhile, the other Star Wars Story standalone, Rogue One, made just over $1 billion. For two Star Wars films that were only released two years apart, that’s a big difference.
The internet is awash in anticipation for Red Dead Redemption 2, and it’s easy to see why. Rockstar doesn’t release new games often, and when it does, the games tend to be landmark events in the gaming world. From everything we’ve seen so far–and we’ve finally gotten to go hands-on–Red Dead Redemption 2 promises to be one of the biggest games of the year.
It stars Arthur Morgan and the Dutch van der Linde gang–whose members include John Marston, the star of the original game. The game launches for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One on October 26, 2018. Its accompanying online multiplayer mode, Red Dead Online, will launch in beta at some point in November. All owners of the base game will receive free access to it.
You don’t have to wait until October to secure your copy–you can pre-order Red Dead Redemption 2 right now from a number of retailers, both in-store and online. Here’s all the information you need to know to lock in your Red Dead pre-order.
Red Dead Redemption 2 Pre-Order Bonus
Pre-order Red Dead Redemption 2, and you’ll get a couple of digital goodies for your trouble.
War Horse: An Ardennes War Horse with greater courage and stamina than the average steed.
The Outlaw Survival Kit: Contains a collection of key supplies, including items to replenish Health, Dead Eye, and more.
Red Dead Redemption 2 Digital Pre-Order Bonus
Anyone who pre-orders a digital version of Red Dead Redemption 2 from the PlayStation Store or Xbox Store will get the bonuses listed above, plus a handful of other digital freebies thrown in for good measure.
Cash Bonus for Red Dead Redemption 2 Story Mode
Treasure Map: Gives you a head start on the hunt for hidden riches. Must pre-order by July 31, 2018 to receive.
Bonus GTA$: Immediate download that contains in-game currency for Grand Theft Auto Online. Here’s the breakdown of how much GTA$ you get for each edition: Standard Edition – $500,000 | Special Edition – $1 million | Ultimate Edition – $2 million.
Red Dead Redemption 2 Standard Edition
This edition comes with the relevant pre-order bonuses listed above, plus the core game. Here’s where you can pre-order it.
The ultimate edition comes with all the content from the special edition, plus the following.
Bonus Outfits: The Blackrose Bounty Hunter Outfit and The Copperhead Enforcer Outfit.
Black Chestnut Thoroughbred: A racehorse and special saddle, both available in online.
Free Access to the Survivor Camp Theme
Free Access to Additional Weapons: Get access to the Volcanic Pistol, Pump Action Shotgun and Lancaster Varmint Rifle, free of charge from Gunsmiths in online.
Rank Bonuses: As a great start for all Ultimate Edition players, you can rank up faster in online, up to rank 25.
Here’s where you can pre-order the ultimate edition.
First off, it’s important to note that the Collector’s Box does not include the game. So if you’re going to pre-order it, make sure you also get yourself a separate copy of the game or you’ll be very disappointed come launch day. What the Collector’s Box does include is a bunch of physical goodies.
Metal Tithing Box with Lock & Key
Collectable Challenge Coin
Double Sided Puzzle
Six Shooter Bandana
Treasure Map
Pin Set
Playing Cards
Wheeler, Rawson and Co. Catalogue
12 Cigarette Cards
Here’s where you can pre-order the collector’s box.
The Pokemon Company has shared another new trailer for Let’s Go, Pikachu and Let’s Go, Eevee. While the last video focused on Celadon City and some of the new attacks your partner Pokemon can learn, the one above provides another look at the Go Park–the facility where you’ll transfer monsters from Pokemon Go–as well as the Legendary birds Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres.
As hinted at in a previous trailer, while the Let’s Go games don’t feature wild Pokemon battles, you will be able to fight the Legendary birds. Just as in Pokemon Go, however, you’ll only earn a chance to capture them if you first defeat them in battle. There appears to be another caveat; in the screenshot below, you can see a timer in the upper lefthand corner of the screen, suggesting you’ll only have a set amount of time to defeat the Legendary birds.
The trailer also shows off more of the Go Park. As previously revealed, this facility replaces the Safari Zone in Fuchsia City. Any Pokemon you transfer over from Pokemon Go will appear here, and you’ll be able to recapture them and add them to your team. If you store 25 of a particular species in the Park, you’ll also be able to play a minigame that rewards you with Candies, which you can then use to power up your Pokemon.
Finally, the trailer provides our first look at Alolan forms in Let’s Go. These are tropical variants of familiar Pokemon native to the Alola region in Sun and Moon, meaning they can’t be found in the wild in Kanto. However, you can transfer any Alolan forms that you’ve obtained in Pokemon Go to Let’s Go. The Pokemon Company says you will also be able to trade for the Alolan variants with certain NPCs you’ll encounter on your adventure.
Let’s Go, Pikachu and Let’s Go, Eevee launch on Nintendo Switch on November 16. That same day, Nintendo will also release Pikachu and Eevee-themed Switch console bundles, which come with a digital copy of the game, the Poke Ball Plus, Pikachu and Eevee-colored Joy-Cons, and a Switch dock with Pikachu and Eevee designs.
It appears that Loki’s story in the Marvel Cinematic Universe isn’t done. Even though he was the first of many major MCU characters to seemingly bite it in Avengers: Infinity War, Marvel apparently has big plans for the god of mischief in the years to come. This week word broke that Marvel is reportedly developing several MCU spin-off series for the upcoming Disney streaming service, with Loki and Scarlet Witch series named as two possibilities. Which raises the question: Did Loki really die in Infinity War?
While we’re excited for all of these upcoming projects, Loki may well be the perfect candidate for a streaming series. That’s both because of his story so far in the MCU and the path this character has taken in Marvel’s comics over the past decade. Read on to learn more about why Loki truly deserves a series of his own.
The release date for Red Dead Redemption 2 is fast approaching–it’s due out for PS4 and Xbox One on October 26 (with a rumored PC version to perhaps come some time after that). Despite being only about a month away, we were still very in the dark about most of the game, but that’s just changed. A flood of new information has been released, and we’ve even gotten to go hands-on with Rockstar’s new open-world western game for ourselves. We’ve also learned the first tidbits about Red Dead Online, the game’s multiplayer mode that won’t debut until November.
As you’d expect from a new Rockstar game that has been in development for years, this is a deep, detailed game. And as a result, there’s a lot to dig into. More information is sure to come between now and launch, but below we’ve rounded up everything new that we’ve just learned about the game. For more on how to buy it, check out our Red Dead Redemption 2 pre-order guide.
We Played Red Dead Redemption 2
A number of us at GameSpot recently got to go hands-on with the game. The demo lasted 90 minutes and included two story missions, but we were also able to check out the open world itself. In addition to writing up everything we saw, we’ve rounded up all of the new features, as well as the details that surprised us.
Red Dead Redemption Can Be First-Person, Lets You Turn Off The Hud
One of the many ways Red Dead Redemption 2 follows the path that Grand Theft Auto V established is in adding a new perspective. While third-person remains the default, Rockstar has introduced the option to navigate the world with a first-person camera. Additionally, those looking for a less game-like experience can opt to disable the hud.
Like the GTA games of old, Red Dead Redemption did not allow you to swim. But like more recent entires in the series, Red Dead Redemption 2 protagonist Arthur Morgan is capable of jumping into the water–he just doesn’t much care for it. Additionally, Arthur gets his hands on a camera, which he can use to take pictures of the world or even himself for some old-school selfies. And when you’re on horseback, you’ll be able to pull off some neat tricks, like essentially drifting to change directions.
If you were a fan of the music from the original Red Dead Redemption, you’re in luck. RDR2 features the return of composer Woody Jackson, and the game’s original soundtrack remains quite good.
In what’s obviously the most significant bit of news to come out as part of this embargo is word that you can lose your hat. If you want your hat back, you’ll have to guide Arthur to where it was lost. Alternatively, you can pick up someone else’s hat. This has been your Hat Update.
Red Dead Redemption had a distinct cutscene of sorts that would play out whenever you skinned an animal, but it didn’t involve watching the animal be cut up. RDR2 goes a different and much more intense route.
Alongside all of this information, Rockstar shared some new screenshots from the game. In addition to the videos and screens we got recently, these provide yet another look at what to expect from the game’s world.
Just prior to all of this information hit, Rockstar actually shared the first details about the game’s online component, which is known as Red Dead Online. As with GTA V and GTA Online, Red Dead Online won’t launch at the same time as the game. Instead, it’ll hit in November–and even then, only in the form of a beta. Rockstar has warned players in advance that they may encounter some difficulties, as it’s learned from GTA Online that launching a mode of this magnitude is never going to be problem-free.
If you’re a GTA Online fan, you needn’t worry. Rockstar reaffirmed it will continue to support that game. In fact, it even plans to stagger the release of updates for it and Red Dead Online to avoid overlapping too heavily.
Red Dead Redemption 2 is an incredibly dense open-world game that’s jam-packed full of details. In our time spent playing the high-anticipated sequel recently, we discovered a wealth of mechanics that go above and beyond those from the original Red Dead Redemption. While the game features improvements to pre-existing mechanics, there are light survival systems this time around that have you paying attention to body temperature, gun maintenance, and meat expiration. As fans of the original, all of these new details are surprising and unexpected. But what has us the most enthused about it all is how these mechanics are likely to foster tons of ridiculous shenanigans in the game’s world.
We got to experience many of the new systems at work–most of which you can read about in our comprehensive feature compiling them all. But there were some fascinating standouts we wanted to highlight that we feel will contribute to some of the game’s most memorable and entertaining moment-to-moment experiences. Included in this feature are nine of the most unexpected mechanics and details in Red Dead Redemption 2.
If you haven’t already seen our Red Dead Redemption 2 preview covering the story missions we saw, make sure to read it for our in-depth impressions on the game. Though, if you want to get caught up with everything there is to know about Red Dead Redemption 2, check out our roundup of everything we’ve learned about RDR2. In the meantime, what details are you most excited to experience in Red Dead Redemption 2? Let us know in the comments below.
Clothes Make The Outlaw
The game’s clothing customization options are comprehensive–each character will have different sets to coincide with hot and cold weather conditions. The type of clothes you wear will affect Arthur’s performance. For example, if you wear a weighty jacket during a hot summer day, your running stamina will take a big hit.
Other customizations will allow layering and minor adjustments, like the option to roll up your sleeves or tuck your pants into your boots. Whatever you end up choosing, you’re free to craft Arthur into the high plains drifter you want him to be.
You Can Fire Warning Shots And Whistle For Fun
By having your gun unholstered and holding Up on the d-pad, you can fire warning shots into the air. This is handy for intimidating people, scaring off animals, or generally being a rowdy buffoon while you’re riding around.
Speaking of possible buffoonery, you can even whistle at people to get their attention or call your horse. And if you keep holding down the button, you can keep whistling until Arthur runs out of breath. Imagine combining both warning shots and whistling; you’ll become the countryside menace you’ve always dreamed of being.
Your Guns Can Degrade And Jam
You need to take care of your weapons in Red Dead Redemption 2. You have the option to clean them, which is incredibly important to do regularly because guns can jam mid-fire due to disrepair and environmental conditions. You don’t want to be caught with a rusted gun–lest you seek to dig yourself an early grave.
Hunted Materials Can Rot And Be Damaged
The components you acquire from hunting all have an expiration date. If you’re not careful, time will eventually take its toll and both the fresh pelt and carcass you’ve acquired will start to rot and attract vermin, reducing its value and making you generally unpleasant to be around. Not only that, but if you use a firearm to kill an animal as opposed to an arrow or knife, its pelt will be damaged and will sell for less at local stores.
Cleaning. Grooming, And Feeding Yourself
Speaking of unpleasantness, NPCs will react not just to the stink of your rotting deer corpse, but also if you haven’t taken a bath in a while. Arthur needs to get clean and change his clothes every once in a while, since townsfolk may refuse to talk or serve him based on his appearance–having blood on your jacket doesn’t attract the best reactions.
Time also has an effect on Arthur’s hair, which actually grow longer. Customizing Arthur’s haircut and facial hair styling is also dependent on length since you’re allowed to cut things shorter, but won’t have access to options that require more hair–a more realistic take on customization compared to GTA V. Of course, you’re welcome to not pay attention to grooming. In fact, you can totally rock the mountain man look by just letting Arthur’s hair and facial hair grow to its max.
Arthur will need to eat to keep his health and stamina meters up, but will also lose and gain weight depending on his food intake. He’ll have to stay active in order to keep in top shape.
You Will Get A Camera
We started a side quest during our time with Red Dead Redemption 2, and the mission giver handed Arthur a camera. This camera could be used at any time via your inventory, and yes, the first thing we did was take a selfie.
These aren’t arm-out handheld selfies, though. The mode is titled “self-portrait” and will frame Arthur’s whole body as if the camera were set up on a tripod. You’ll be able to adjust expressions and poses, too–expect to see a whole bunch of self-portraits depicting Arthur squatting in front of various things on Twitter once the game releases.
You Can Lose Your Hat
If you’re not careful, you can easily lose your hat in the midst of a shootout. If you drop your hat, you need to physically pick it back up to get back to looking like a proper outlaw. And if you ride away from your hat, you can only get it back by returning to the location where it dropped. Alternatively, Arthur can swap his hat for any other one that just happens to fall off someone else’s head. Sometimes you just have to adjust your style on the go.
There’s A Killcam That Changes Depending On Your Honor
When you take out the final opponent during a gunfight, a killcam will frame that final blow a la Max Payne 3. This will change depending on Arthur’s moral standing: If you’ve been a naughty cowboy, these kill cams will be gorier. If you’ve been upstanding and honorable, they’ll be framed in a more heroic fashion like those from the classic film Westerns of old.
You Can Break Enemy’s Weapons
Speaking of heroic behavior: if you want to go the more non-lethal route, it’s possible to shoot weapons out of enemy hands. Not only that, but you can even shoot at their weapons and break them. This seems like a handy technique if you’re looking to be an outlaw with a heart of gold as opposed to a straight-up cold-blooded killer.
Horse Dressage And Drifting Techniques
Horses are an important part of Red Dead Redemption 2, but it seems like they’re far more capable creatures than they’ve ever been in previous games. During our hands-on, we were able to rear our horse on its hind legs, perform drifts to change direction quickly (apologies to equestrian enthusiasts), and move our horse precisely by performing dressage techniques.
Disney will reduce the pace of Star Wars movie releases, with CEO Bob Iger calling his previous timing decisions a “mistake”.
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Iger was presented with the opinion that there shouldn’t be a Star Wars movie every year. His response was candid:
“I made the timing decision, and as I look back, I think the mistake that I made — I take the blame — was a little too much, too fast. You can expect some slowdown, but that doesn’t mean we’re not going to make films.”
