Update 2/28: Ubisoft has released a new trailer for The Division 2, called Enter the Dark Zone. It details the story behind these infamous quarantine zones that will test players through PvP combat, allowing them to obtain rare loot in the process. Check out the trailer below.
The previous update follows:
Update 2/27: Ubisoft has announced details for The Division 2’s first year of free post-launch content and some info on what’s coming with the Year 1 Pass.
The free post-launch content includes new episodes, additional narratives and missions, new PvP and PvE modes and new specializations that each include a new signature weapon and skill tree to unlock.
The enduring popularity of zombie stories might say more about us than the zombies themselves. Plagues of undead corpses provide a convenient excuse to indulge in addictive thought experiments. “In a world gone mad, would you survive?” That question is front and center in LifeAfter, a massively-multiplayer Android / iOS survival sim that’s finally being unleashed on the English-speaking world.
When it comes to designing new controllers for classic game consoles, 8BitDo is one of the best. For a lot of Super Nintendo players, the company’s line of wireless SN30 controllers are an excellent alternative to original SNES controllers. They come in the same form factor as Nintendo’s original 1990 design, and barring any signal interference, they essentially feel the same in action–and if you opt for the Bluetooth versions, you can even translate that experience over to your PC or Nintendo Switch games. Similarly, the 8BitDo Bluetooth adapters let you use a range of controllers, including a DualShock 4, on your Super Nintendo.
Ahead of Analogue’s high-end Sega Genesis clone console, the Mega Sg, 8BitDo has just released its new line of Sega Genesis controllers and adapters. Available in both black and white color schemes, the M30 controller sports a distinct design that’s also slightly more compact compared to the Sega-made originals. In addition to the standard d-pad, six face buttons, and Start button, there’s a shoulder button on each side. Three buttons below the Start button in the middle serve varying functions based on the device the controller is paired to–this includes enabling turbo functionality on the fly via a simple button combination.
A rare example of a third-party controller that looks better than the original model.
Third-party controllers rarely look as good as 8BitDo’s, and the M30 is one of the most attractive to date. Beyond the actual shape, the range of materials used gives a premium feel to each individual component–the d-pad being particular pleasing, with its matte finish and just a hint of grip. The top row of buttons wobble the tiniest bit, but it’s ultimately a non-issue. The M30’s mass is evenly distributed as well, making it a very comfortable to hold for extended periods of time.
All of this would be moot if the M30 exhibited latency issues, but in the handful of hours spent playing fighting games, platformers, and arcade shooters–all exacting genres–the Bluetooth version I tested never skipped a beat. When compared side by side to a wired controller it is possible to notice the slightest amount of input delay in some games, but that’s typical of wireless controllers in general and it’s such a minor distinction that it quickly becomes a non-issue once you’re focused on the game at hand. Though the pairing process for each supported device is slightly different, it’s all laid out concisely and clearly in the included one-page manual. Due to the six-button design on the face of the controller, it’s easy to imagine the M30 becoming your portable retro controller of choice.
There is so much about the M30 worth admiring, but it’s not perfect out of the box. To give a bit of background: In a small number of cases, certain Genesis games fail to play appropriately when a six-button controller is connected to the console. Capcom’s co-op arcade shooter Forgotten Worlds triggers a game over screen immediately after the opening dialogue, and Golden Axe 2 will oddly map the directional inputs to the X, Y, and Z buttons, disabling the d-pad altogether. Sunset Riders, a port of a popular co-op arcade game from Konami, won’t let you select the 2-Player mode when two six-button controllers are in use. At present, these are issues that exist when playing with the M30 as well.
The original six-button controller by Sega features a Mode button on its top edge that was used to bypass some of these glitches, but there doesn’t seem to be a baked-in equivalent for the M30.
The original six-button controller by Sega features a Mode button on its top edge that was used to bypass some of these glitches, but there doesn’t seem to be a baked-in equivalent for the M30. There’s nothing in the manual regarding this setting and 8BitDo has yet to respond to my inquiry for a solution. The two shoulder buttons currently replicate the C and Z buttons, but plugged into a PC, it’s clear that they are in fact distinct inputs, meaning they can be remapped however 8BitDo wishes. Assuming there isn’t some secret functionality that I’ve overlooked, it would be great to see a combo of these, or other buttons, used to replicate the functionality of a dedicated Mode button.
$20 Bluetooth Genesis Adapter
Depending on your situation, you may want to consider the 2.4 Ghz M30 over the Bluetooth version. The Bluetooth M30 controller costs $30 and can be used with your PC, Mac, or Nintendo Switch on its own, but to use it with a Genesis, you will need to buy the $20 Bluetooth adapter. Simply using the Bluetooth adapter on its own, you can play Genesis games with a DualShock 4, Switch Pro Controller, or Xbox One controller. If, at the end of the day the only thing you care about is using the M30 on your Genesis, the 2.4 Ghz version and the bundled dedicated wireless adapter will only set you back $25.
The M30 isn’t the only modern wireless Genesis controller; I also own Krikzz’s excellent controller and its dedicated wireless adapter, but at $72 on Amazon, the higher price tag is difficult to ignore–at least it has a dedicated Mode button. The few incompatible Genesis games aside, 8BitDo’s $50 bluetooth controller and adapter pairing both left a great impression during my tests. The M30 is a reliable and comfortable controller with enough inputs that you’ll appreciate having it available to use on multiple systems, let alone working on the Genesis at such a competitive price point.
Editor’s note: 8BitDo provided the M30 Bluetooth controller and the Bluetooth adapter for review.
Apex Legends reviews have praised the game for a number of features, but one specific detail people like is the battle royale game’s ping system, which allows players great versatility when communicating. Fortnite’s Season 8 update, which is fresh out of Epic Games’ oven, has introduced a remarkably similar feature.
Fortnite: Battle Royale players can press middle mouse button on PC or left bumper, L1, or L on Xbox One, PS4, and Switch, respectively to mark various points of interest for teammates. Similar to Apex Legends’ system, pressing that button once will simply create a ping towards a location, item, or weapon, while double tapping it will produce a red icon indicating an enemy nearby.
Epic could have been working on this since before Apex Legends’ launch, of course, but the timing–the feature making its way to Fortnite just weeks after Apex’s release–would be a remarkable coincidence.
Fortnite’s Season 8 began just recently, which brings with it gameplay changes and tweaks, as well as a brand new Battle Pass. For those not familiar, the Battle Pass allows players to unlock cosmetics and customization features, provided they play Fortnite to accrue experience and level it up. The Battle Pass has over 100 levels, which means over 100 rewards.
Fortnite‘s weekly challenges are back. Not a lot has changed in terms of what they offer or how to complete them, but since they’re such a critical part of the overall Fortnite gameplay experience, it’s worth taking the time to understand them and what they offer. The weekly challenges are intricately linked to the Battle Pass and the cosmetics that become available through that. Completing challenges awards a player with Battle Stars, which in turn level up the pass and push it through higher tiers. As it ascends through the tiers, more cosmetic unlocks become available to a player.
Season 8 has a brand new Battle Pass, which is available for 950 V-Bucks (1,000 V-Bucks are available for roughly $10/£10 in the in-game store). The Battle Pass has over 100 tiers, which means there’s over 100 cosmetics to be unlocked. You can see of them in our Fortnite Season 8 Battle Pass unlocks gallery. You’ll get two of the coolest skins–Blackheart and Hybrid–for simply purchasing the Battle Pass. These two particular skins evolve as you accrue experience and level them up. You can see all the new Fortnite Season 8 skins here.
Every week, Epic Games will refresh the challenges, so you’ll need to keep coming back to get the necessary Battle Stars needed to upgrade the pass and unlock items. We’ll be regularly updating this article with the challenges as they become available. Additionally, any guides that we create to help players complete the challenges will be found here, so think of this article as your Fortnite Season 8 challenges super-guide.
Fortnite: Battle Royale Season 8 Challenges
Week 1
Free
Visit all Pirate Camps (7) — 5 Battle Stars
Search chests at Retail Row or Junk Junction (7) — 5 Battle Stars
Stage 1 of 3: Deal damage with a Shotgun and an explosion weapon in a single match (2) — 3 Battle Stars
Premium
Visit a giant face in the desert, jungle, and the snow (3) — 5 Battle Stars
Use a Volcano Vent in a different matches (5) — 5 Battle Stars
Get an elimination with a Shotgun, Assault Rifle, and Explosive Weapon (3) — 10 Battle Stars
Deal damage to a vehicle driven by an opponent (200) — 10 Battle Stars
Reward: 4K XP (after completing four challenges, only for Battle Pass owners)
Are you running out of new things to watch on Hulu? If so, how? March is almost here, and that means a whole bunch of new content for you to take in. From movies you know and love to brand-new Hulu originals, there is something for you.
March 1 is when Hulu has a massive dump of movies, some of which you may have seen and others that may have passed you by, and there are a lot of films dropping you’ll want to watch. If you’re a Batman fan, then you’re in for a treat. Both Batman Begins and The Dark Knight are coming to Hulu. Once again, you can watch Heath Ledger’s performance as the Joker in the Batman sequel, and it’s still–to this day–the best Batman movie.
If you’re looking for something a bit more light-hearted, then how about a gentleman talking out of his butt? Both Ace Ventura movies hit the service on March 1, so you can watch Jim Carrey search for animals and make references to The Crying Game. If you want something a tad less silly, but need a Jim Carrey fix, Yes Man also hits the service that day. It’s Liar Liar but Carrey’s character has to say “Yes” to everything.
While there is a lot coming to Hulu in March, there is also a lot leaving. On March 31, Hulu waves goodbye to Hollywood classics like Mortal Kombat and Mortal Kombat: Annihilation. Jokes aside, a bunch of Stephan King movies are leaving, so you may want to check them out before it’s too late: Pet Semetary, Graveyard Shift, Silver Bullet, and Thinner.
If you’re looking for more arrivals from your favorite streaming services, check out what Netflix and Amazon have coming in March. And below, you’ll find what’s coming to Hulu.
Coming to Hulu in March
Available March 1
Drifters: Complete Season 1 (Funimation)
Into The Dark: Treehouse: Episode 6 Premiere (Hulu Original)
Rick Steves’ Europe: Complete Season 10 (PBS)
8 Heads in a Duffel Bag (1997)
Abduction (2011)
Ace Ventura: Pet Detective (1994)
Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls (1995)
Alex & Emma (2003)
American Beauty (1999)
An American Haunting (2006)
Astro Boy (2010)
Basic Instinct 2: Risk Addiction (2006)
Batman Begins (2005)
Black Sheep (1996)
Blast from the Past (1999)
Boomerang (1992)
Breakheart Pass (1975)
Bruce Almighty (2003)
Bushwhacked (1995)
The Chumscrubber (2005)
The Cider House Rules (1999)
The Crying Game (1992)
The Dark Knight (2008)
Death at a Funeral (2007)
Deuces Wild (2002)
Dirty Work (1998)
The Dogs of War (1981)
Double Jeopardy (1999)
Easy Rider (1969)
Edward Scissorhands (1990)
Fire in the Sky (1993)
The French Lieutenant’s Woman (1981)
He Named Me Malala (2015)
Heaven’s Gate (1981)
I, Dolours (2018)
The Ice Storm (1997)
Impostor (2001)
Inventing the Abbotts (1996)
Ironweed (1987)
It’s Arbor Day, Charlie Brown (1976)
JFK (1991)
Jumanji (1995)
Legally Blondes (2009)
Lego Batman: DC Super Heroes Unite (2013)
Lego DC Comics Super Heroes: The Flash (2018)
The Mighty Quinn (1989)
Nacho Libre (2006)
Not Another Teen Movie (2001)
Office Space (1999)
Open Season (2006)
Open Season 2 (2009)
Open Season 3 (2011)
Open Season: Scared Silly (2016)
Ouija House (2018)
Ouija Séance: The Final Game (2018)
Perfect Creature (2005)
The Piano (1993)
The Pope of Greenwich Village (1984)
Rambo III (1988)
Reasonable Doubt (2014)
Red Corner (1997)
Red Dragon (2002)
Regarding Henry (1991)
Return of the Living Dead 3 (1993)
Return of the Living Dead 4: Necropolis (2006)
Return of the Living Dead 5: Rave to the Grave (2007)
River’s Edge (1987)
S.F.W. (1995)
Saved! (2004)
Shaolin Warrior (2013)
Small Soldiers (1998)
Summer Catch (2001)
Tapeheads (1988)
Toys (1992)
Tristan & Isolde (2003)
Two Weeks Notice (2002)
Vice (2015)
W. (2008)
Waterworld (1995)
What a Girl Wants (2003)
What Lies Beneath (2000)
What’s the Worst That Could Happen? (2001)
Witness (1985)
Yes Man (2008)
Available March 4
American Idol: Season 2 Premiere (ABC)
Cosmos: Possible Worlds: Series Premiere (FOX)
Good Girls: Season 2 Premiere (NBC)
Available March 5
A Frozen Christmas 3 (2018)
The Closet (“Le Placard”) (2001)
Where Hands Touch (2018)
Available March 6
MasterChef Junior: Season 7 Premiere (FOX)
Mental Samurai: Series Premiere (FOX)
Available March 7
Dudes (1987)
Rock ‘n’ Roll High School (1979)
Suburbia (1983)
Available March 8
A.P. Bio: Season 2 Premiere (NBC)
For The People: Season 2 Premiere (ABC)
Hang Ups: Complete Season 1 (Fremantle)
I Can Only Imagine (2018)
Available March 9
Keeping Up with the Kardashians: Complete Season 15 (E!)
Available March 10
Black Clover: Complete Season 1 (Dubbed) (Funimation)
Middle Men (2009)
Available March 11
The Party’s Just Beginning (2018)
Available March 12
Acrimony (2018)
Trigger (2018)
Available March 13
Free Solo (2018)
Available March 14
Shoplifters (2018)
Available March 15
Shrill: Complete Season 1 Premiere (Hulu Original)
Like Water for Chocolate (1992)
No Way Out (2018)
The Fog (2005)
Wings of the Dove (1997)
Available March 16
Tea with the Dames (2018)
Available March 17
Divide and Conquer (2018)
Available March 18
Assassination Nation (2018)
Available March 19
Fear the Walking Dead: Complete Season 4 (AMC)
Juda: Complete Season 1 (Banijay)
The Fix: Series Premiere (ABC)
A Frozen New Year’s (2018)
Available March 20
The Act: Series Premiere (Hulu Original)
The Village: Series Premiere (NBC)
Girl Most Likely (2013)
Available March 21
Pretty Little Liars: The Perfectionists: Series Premiere (Freeform)
The Last Race (2018)
Available March 22
Cardinal: Complete Season 3 (CTV)
Available March 24
Catfish: Season 7, Episodes 1-28 (MTV)
Available March 26
Dr. K’s Exotic Animal E.R.: Season 7 Premiere (National Geographic)
FortniteSeason 8, Week 1’s challenges are live now. Among them are a couple that will be tricky, primarily because the new world event has changed the way the island looks and introduced new areas. The first of these difficult challenges is available to everyone and asks players to visit the new Pirate Camps. The other, however, is exclusive to those that have paid for a Battle Pass and involves visiting three giant faces that are hidden around the map.
Specifically, these faces can be found in the desert, the jungle, and the snow. Now, the areas of the map these correspond to are fairly obvious, given that the Fortnite island is split up into distinct biomes. However, each of these locations are pretty big, so you could end up aimlessly running around looking for them. Fear not! We’ve done the challenge and have put together a map that shows you exactly where to go. Take a look at it below. Remember that you don’t have to do anything special when you get there, simply gaze in wonder at it for a brief period and then move on.
Giant Face In Desert, Jungle, Snow Locations
East of Sunny Steps
South of Paradise Palms
South east of Happy Hamlet
If you haven’t already seen it, make sure to read the Fortnite update 8.0’s full patch notes. This has all the information you need on the new weapon that has been added as well as those that have been vaulted. There’s also details on the limited time modes and a new feature that lets players group up with friends to complete challenges together. We also have a Battle Pass explainer, if you need a bit more information on how you can unlock the skins and other cosmetics. You can also take a look at the cool new skins for Season 8, as well as all the other cosmetics in our Fortnite Season 8 Battle Pass cosmetics gallery.
The final season of Game of Thrones is now just over two months away, and while a full trailer is yet to be released, HBO is definitely increasing its marketing in the build-up. Following the new footage from Season 8 that was revealed during the Oscars this week, a series of new characters have been released.
Like the character images revealed earlier this month, they don’t exactly tell us what to expect from the new season, but they’re still pretty stylish. There’s 20 of them in total, and show all the main cast sitting on the show’s iconic Iron Throne. Check them out below:
In terms of what we do know about Season 8, this week’s new footage showed Daenerys’s lethal Unsullied army of eunuchs arriving at Winterfell, along with her dragon Drogon. A cryptic first teaser was released in January, and while that didn’t contain any actual footage, it did hint at the fates of members of the Stark family.
We also know the big battle in the new season is the largest in the entire series, and that creator George RR Martin won’t have a cameo in Season 8, despite showrunners D.B. Weiss and David Benioff asking him to appear. It premieres on HBO on April 14.
Although Game of Thrones is nearing the end, there is a prequel spin-off on the way. X-Men: First Class’ Jane Goldman will serve as showrunner and has developed the story with Martin. This week it was revealed that the show will start filming early this summer.
While it’s yet to receive an official title, Martin suggested last year that it would be called The Long Night. He subsequently walked that back, perhaps due to pressure from HBO that didn’t want that name shared yet. In any event, it does provide some insight into what to expect. It is expected to premiere in 2020 or 2021.
One week after its official launch, BioWare is planning major revisions to the loot drops in its latest game, Anthem. In a lengthy post on Reddit, the studio summarized the pieces of feedback it has received from the community, as well as what an imminent update will do about them.
BioWare identified a few key takeaways from its first week. Players feel inscriptions are too random and not useful for the item they’re attached to, which leads to repeatedly seeking different masterwork items to find one with a good matching inscription. This has led to requests for more masterwork drops, or more useful inscriptions.
In response, the studio plans to do both. In an update set to drop February 28 or March 1, inscriptions for items will better match the items they’re on, and masterworks will come more readily. The better inscriptions will only apply to newly found items, not ones already in your Vault. Crafting materials for a masterwork will reduce from 25 embers to 15, letting players craft them more easily. Finally, uncommon (white) and common (green) drops will be removed from level 30 drop tables entirely.
On the whole, these changes seem aimed at getting players better loot faster and easier. That should help ease one of the common complaints about the game, that getting the best gear in the post-game can turn into a grind. Coming just one week after launch, it also shows that BioWare is willing to be pretty nimble with its updates.
BioWare’s take on the loot shooter has received mixed reviews on GameSpot sister site Metacritic, and in our own Anthem review.
“Anthem has good ideas, but it struggles significantly with the execution. It’s a co-op game that works best with no one talking; it buries genuinely interesting character moments and puts its most incomprehensible story bits at the forefront; its combat is exciting until you get to the boss fights and find your wings have been clipped,” wrote critic Kallie Plagge. “Even the simple, exhilarating act of flying is frequently interrupted by the limitations of your javelin, and you never quite shake that feeling of disappointment–of knowing, throughout the good parts of Anthem, that you’ll inevitably come crashing back down.”
The new season of Fortnite has officially started, which means new challenges to do. The way it works hasn’t changed from previous season–though developer Epic Games has overhauled the interface so it looks slick and modern. As always, you’ll need to complete challenges to unlock Battle Stars, which level up the Battle Pass and give you new cosmetics. Among Season 8, Week 1’s challenges is one which asks players to visit all the Pirate Camps.
These camps are new for the season, as they have just appeared alongside the arrival of the pirates. This means you’ll need to spend some time running around the island trying to locate them. All you need to do is visit one to progress towards completing the challenge, but there’s a total of seven, so it could take some time and effort.
To speed things up for you, however, we’ve put together a quick guide that will direct you to exactly where these camps are located. Simply use the map below, head to the marked locations, and you’ll be done in no time. The fastest way to do it is to jump off the Battle Bus and land at one location, get yourself killed, and then repeat.
We’ve put together an image gallery that shows off all the cosmetics in the Fortnite Season 8 Battle Pass. Epic Games previously estimated that it will take players between 75 and 150 hours to unlock all the new cosmetics in a Battle Pass, so we suggest taking a loot to see what’s included before committing, and doing that will also help you prioritize.
