Month: April 2020

Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order and a ton of other EA-published digital PC games are seeing some truly ridiculous discounts on Amazon. In addition to Jedi: Fallen Order, some of EA’s best PC games of the last decade are discounted below $5. This includes The Sims 4, some fantastic shooters, and much more. Each game is available as a digital copy that can be redeemed via Origin.

Last year’s Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order is currently 50% off at $30. Set five years after the events of Revenge of the Sith, Fallen Order is an engaging action-adventure game starring Cal Kestis, a young Jedi living in the aftermath of the Great Jedi Purge. In GameSpot’s Jedi: Fallen Order review, critic Phil Hornshaw scored it an 8/10. He said, “It’s true that Fallen Order borrows liberally from other action games, but those elements work together with Respawn’s combat and environment design, and a story that finds humanity in the Force and in its characters, to hone in on what makes the world of Star Wars worthy of revisiting again and again.”

Some of EA’s best shooters of this past generation are also discounted. Titanfall 2, Battlefield 1, and Battlefield 4 are all down to a measly $3 each. Titanfall 2 features an incredible single-player campaign that makes $3 an absolute steal, even if the multiplayer has seen more popular days. On the other hand, Battlefield 1 and Battlefield 4 both still have devoted communities that make finding a great multiplayer match fairly easy–and their campaigns are pretty good to boot.

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Pokemon Go‘s Remote Raid Passes have arrived, and to celebrate, Niantic is bringing back a handful of Legendary Pokemon to the game. Darkrai, Altered Forme Giratina, and Virizion will all return as five-star Raid bosses over the next few weeks, and this time around, you’ll have a chance to catch their Shiny forms.

Darkrai is the first to return; the Pitch-Black Pokemon will appear as a Raid boss from April 28 to May 5. Immediately following Darkrai’s departure, Altered Forme Giratina will return to Raids until May 12, and Virizion will be back from May 12-19. You can read more details on the official Pokemon Go website.

Thanks to the aforementioned Remote Raid Passes, you can challenge these Legendaries without having to physically travel to a Gym. You can get three Remote Raid Passes through a special one-PokeCoin bundle available now in Pokemon Go’s in-game shop. Niantic is also selling additional Remote Raid Passes at a limited-time price of 100 PokeCoins.

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You’ve finally bought that DSLR or mirrorless camera you’d been eyeing for months, and now it’s time to protect your new investment. After all, you wouldn’t dream of carrying your precious new camera around by its strap, right? Harry Benson didn’t get where he was with such reckless behavior. Shame on you.

You need protection. Whether it’s a shoulder or messenger bag, your new camera deserves a comfortable, safe mode of transportation. Lucky for you, there are heaps to choose from. These are the ones we think are the best right now.

TL;DR – These are the Best Camera Bags

• Peak Design Everyday Messenger V2
  
• AmazonBasics Backpack
• Billingham Hadley Pro 2020 Camera Bag
• LowePro ProTactic 450 AWII
• Domke F-5XB
• Ona Brixton Bag
• Manfrotto Advanced2 Active Backpack

1. Peak Design Everyday Messenger

Best Camera Bag

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• See it at B&H Photo

What started life as a Kickstarter campaign has become the bag of choice for many serious photographers. The bag was created in partnership with renowned American shutterbug Trey Ratcliff, so you know it’s made of the right stuff: FlexFold dividers to keep your gear organized, and a weatherproof shell to keep it all safe. Fast forward to the latest V2 version and this already great bag has gotten a new luggage pass-through on the back and some revamped pockets.

On top of carrying your camera gear, this bag can accommodate 13-inch and 15-inch laptops depending on which size you select. Best of all, its clean design and low-key aesthetic doesn’t make it stand out or look like a camera bag if you’re trying to be more discreet about your hobby.

2. AmazonBasics Backpack

Best Budget Camera Bag

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Big enough to hold two camera bodies but with a price tag small enough to keep your bank balance healthy, Amazon’s own take on the camera backpack deserves a shout out. Internally, it measures 10 x 4.2 x 14.2 in space, which is enough for 3-4 lenses plus some accessories. You should be able to squeeze in a laptop too.

For the photographer who’s just starting out, there should be enough pockets and compartments here to satisfy, but as your hobby matures, you’ll probably want to upgrade to something bigger and better looking. Still, this is great for first-timers. Amazon’s nifty SLR Camera Sling Backpack is also worth a look if you want something a tad smaller.

3. Billingham Hadley Pro 2020 Camera Bag

Best-Looking Camera Bag

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Chances are you’re familiar with Billingham’s camera bags; they’re pretty iconic. Its Hadley Pro Camera Bag is an easy top choice for us, with a perfect mixture of style and utility. The new 2020 version gets an improved top handle and an added luggage trolley strap on the back for convenience.

Beyond that, you’ve got a (removable) adjustable shoulder strap, and a weatherproof zipper on the back for holding important documents. Better yet, the padded insert can be removed, transforming it from a camera bag to something more general in a flash. It will handle a DSLR or mirrorless camera with enough space left over for two to three lenses.

4. LowePro ProTactic 450 AWII

Best Rugged Camera Bag

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• See it at B&H Photo
• See it at Walmart

LowePro makes solid camera bags, and the ProTactic 450 AW is as robust as it looks. Big enough to hold two pro-level DSLRs, including one with a 70-200mm f/2.8 lens attached, it’s roomy, with a compartment that can hold a 15-inch laptop.

With four points of access, it’s also perfect for situations where speed is of the essence. The removable waistband is just the icing on the cake, but if you don’t need all the bells and whistles, the 350 AW version offers up something a little smaller for less.

5. Domke F-5XB

Best Compact Camera Bag

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• See it at B&H Photo
• See it at Walmart

With a rugged, retro look, this shoulder bag from Domke has a lot going for it – price included. The main compartment is padded nicely, with fixed divider walls; it’ll hold a DSLR and a couple of lenses, but won’t leave much room for additional accessories.

For something roomier, check out the Domke F-2 Shoulder Bag, which has become something of a classic among photographers in the know.

6. Ona Brixton Bag

Best Leather Camera Bag

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• See it on B&H Photo
• See it on Walmart

For the more style-conscious among you, the Ona offers camera protection wrapped in high-quality leather. It’s one of the more compact bags on our list, but still big enough to hold a DSLR, three lenses, plus accessories.

There’s space for a 13-inch laptop, while the rear open slip pocket will take a 10-inch tablet. It will, however, get quite heavy should you max out all that space. A bag for the photographer who wants to be photographed, but not a great choice if you plan to be out in the rain.

A little out of your price range? A bit bigger than you need. Ona’s Bowery bag still exhibits plenty of style.

7. Manfrotto Advanced2 Active Backpack

Best Camera Backpack

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• See it on B&H Photo
• See it on Walmart

The Advanced2 is another great all-rounder but in backpack form. It’s both comfortable and roomy enough to fit a DSLR and up to three lenses, with a compartment that can hold a 14-inch laptop. As a bonus, there’s also a strap for carrying a small tripod.

Many camera backpacks focus on function over fashion, but we really love the look of the Manfrotto. All of the outer fabric is water-repellant, but there’s a rain cover included just in case you find yourself caught in a torrential downpour.

Camera bags: What should you look for?

Backpacks: Camera bags come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. Backpacks aren’t as good for easy access, but they often provide better protection. They’re also often more spacious than messenger and shoulder bags, and distribute weight across two shoulders, making them a better choice for bigger excursions.

Messenger/shoulder bags: These bags have just one strap, which means all the weight is put on one shoulder. The benefit here is access: it’s easier to grab your camera and accessories in a flash, making them perfect for the type of photography where time is of the essence. However, they’re not as good for big outdoor trips where you’re carrying a lot of gear.

How many compartments do you need? When browsing camera bags you’ll see details of dimensions and the number of compartments. How much space you need comes down to how much gear you have and how you plan to travel. You may only have one camera, but if you like to carry around a lot of lenses, make sure the bag can hold them all. Some bags also come with modular compartments, so you can rearrange according to your needs.

Final Fantasy 7 Remake’s co-director Tetsuya Nomura has said that he would like to deliver the next part of Final Fantasy 7 Remake’s story quickly, and to do so would require focusing on a “smaller portion” of the overall plot.

The quote comes from an interview in Final Fantasy VII Remake Ultimania, a guide and lore book now available in Japan. The quotes were shared online by Twitter account aibo and translated by IGN Japan, and include this snippet from producer Yoshinori Kitase and co-director Nomura.

[ignvideo url=”https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/04/06/final-fantasy-7-remake-review”]

When asked about how many parts the remake will compirse of, Kitase said: “We have a rough idea on that, but it’s not been completely decided yet. It’s impossible to talk about this right now. It seems that many people think it will become a trilogy.”

“It all depends on how many parts we make,” said Nomura. “If we separate it into bigger chunks it will take more time, but if we take smaller portions it can be done on a shorter span. Personally, I would like to deliver it fast.”

By smaller portions, it seems that Nomura is suggesting that – like the first game in the series – subsequent games will focus on parts of the storyline that take just a few hours to play out. Taking into consideration Final Fantasy 7’s very varied world, with its multitude of styles from area to area, it’s easy to see how focusing on a smaller portion would help speed up production.

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To cover the remaining plot of the original game in a trilogy format- including weaving in new narrative changes and expanded areas akin to the first game – would mean for two further massive games that would arguably need to be much larger than the first. As Kitase points out, the final number of games has yet to be decided, but Nomura’s comments about preferring to take smaller chunks suggest that this project could be larger than just three games.

For more on Final Fantasy 7 Remake and where it may go next, check out our ending explained guide, and the news that the next game is already in the works.

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Matt Purslow is IGN’s UK News and Entertainment Writer. You can follow him on Twitter. 

During its latest Stadia Connect, Google announced 11 more games coming to its cloud-based game streaming service, including several games scheduled to arrive over the next month, like PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds: Pioneer Edition. This special edition of PUBG is actually available for Google Stadia right now.

The base version of PUBG costs $30 USD, while this new Pioneer Edition is available for $40 USD. That higher price tag includes the base game, the Survivor Pass: Cold Front, and Google Stadia-exclusive skins. Cold Front is the current battle pass for PUBG, offering a new prize track to go with the start of Season 7, which sees the return of snow-covered Vikendi.

PUBG is one of several high-profile games on the way to the service, with the likes of Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, as well as the Madden and FIFA series, on the way.

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A few more big-name games are coming to Stadia, Google announced during its latest Stadia Connect. In addition to the newest slate of Stadia Pro titles, including the just-released PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds, nine more games are on the way to Google’s streaming platform over the next few months.

Headlining the new additions is a trio of titles from EA. First is Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, the acclaimed Star Wars action-adventure game from Respawn. Jedi: Fallen Order hits the service this fall, with installments of Madden NFL and FIFA set to follow in the winter.

In addition to the three EA games, Stadia is getting the acclaimed RPG Octopath Traveler this week, as well as the co-op game Get Packed. Rounding out the upcoming additions are Crayta, Wave Break, Embr, and Rock of Ages 3. You can see the full list of newly announced Stadia games below.

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For fans of video games, June is one of the most exciting times of the year. Over a week, we as a community come together and watch as the future of gaming is laid out before our eyes. We’re regaled with exciting new game announcements, get hands-on with interesting titles that are on the horizon, and hear from developers and executives about their visions. More importantly, we share all that passion and excitement with each other.

This year, however, things are a bit different–we don’t need to tell you how, you know that well enough at this point. But what we can say is that we at GameSpot don’t want to lose that energizing sense of excitement for gaming that we’re all so used to having around E3. We look forward to it every year, and we know you do too.

At the same time, there’s a greater responsibility now to look at the world around us and think about how we can do our part to improve conditions. This is especially the case as brave people put themselves at risk every day to ensure the safety of others.

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