X-Men Black Transforms a Major Marvel Villain

Marvel’s new X-Men Black series is shaking up the status quo of a major X-Men villain.

Warning: this article contains spoilers for X-Men Black: Magneto #1!

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As the title suggests, Magneto is the main focus of this issue. After a number of years spent fighting alongside the X-Men, Magneto is finally returning to his classic role as a mutant terrorist. Though given that he encounters a prison facility full of illegally detained mutant children, you can’t really blame the Master of Magnetism for resuming his war against humanity.

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New Nintendo Switch Model Coming In 2019 Could Feature Improved Display, Report Says

Just as predicted, a new Nintendo Switch model is coming next year to help keep sales going strong. This is according to a report from The Wall Street Journal, which sources the information to suppliers and other people with “direct knowledge” of Nintendo’s plans.

“Nintendo is still debating what new hardware and software features to include in the upgrade and weighing the cost of the features, people with knowledge of the discussions said,” WSJ reported.

One possibility is that Nintendo will improve the Switch’s display with the update, sources said. As WSJ points out, the display on the current edition of the Switch lacks some of the tech found in modern smartphones. A new display could make the tablet smaller and more energy efficient.

Sources told WSJ that the updated Switch model could launch as soon as summer 2019. It is expected and normal for platform holders to update their consoles over time in part due to new technology becoming viable and to drive interest and spur sales.

WSJ reported in March that Nintendo would wait until 2019 or later to release the first Switch hardware revision, with the company instead focusing on beefing up the Switch’s online features. That is precisely what happened, as Nintendo recently launched its Nintendo Switch Online paid membership.

Importantly, the new Switch model does not appear to be a generational change like the one from Wii U to Switch, but instead a smaller-scale upgrade of components such as potentially the display and other elements. WSJ’s report specifically states that the new Switch model will share “many features” with the original model and play existing games.

Back in January, Nintendo president Tatsumi Kimishima teased that the Switch will have a longer lifecycle than previous Nintendo consoles. “Up until now, the hardware lifecycle has trended at around five or six years, but it would be very interesting if we could prolong that life cycle, and I think you should be looking forward to that,” he said.

As of June 30, Nintendo has sold 19.67 million Switch units and 86.93 million games worldwide.

One of the Switch’s next big games is Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, which launches in early December and is sure to be a big-time system-seller.

You Can Make A Battle Royale-Style Game In The PS4 Exclusive Dreams

Dreams, the wildly ambitious PlayStation 4 exclusive that lets you create games within the game, will allow players to make battle royale-style experiences.

Game Informer interviewed Media Molecule co-founder Alex Evans, and he succinctly stated “yes” when asked if can make a battle royale game within Dreams. However, Evans also confirmed that online multiplayer will not be available until after launch.

Later in the interview, Evans said Dreams supports 4-8 players, though it wasn’t clear if he was talking about local or online play.

Media Molecule studio director Siobhan Reddy previously talked about making a battle royale game within Dreams. “The answer to a lot of these questions is, ‘Where there is a will, there is often a way.’ We learned that with LBP. We would be like, ‘No, that can’t be done.’ And then someone would go do it, and you’d go, ‘Oh, okay, that can be done!'” she said.

Announced all the way back in 2013, Dreams is not a typical game that you play from start to finish and then move on. From what we have seen and understand, it is more akin to a platform where you can play all types of different games. Dreams is a game and the tools to make games in one package. There is a central campaign featuring three “interweaving narratives,” but what seems to be more exciting is what the community creates.

A beta for Dreams is coming this year, and Evans confirmed in the interview that the levels you create in the beta will carry forward to the full release in 2019.

With no PlayStation Experience event happening this year, it’s unclear when we might see more of Dreams next. For more on Dreams, check out GameSpot’s preview that covers the nine new things we learned about it. You can also watch the video above to learn more.

New Version of Nintendo Switch Reportedly Planned for 2019

Nintendo is planning to release a new version of the Switch to maintain the console’s sales momentum, according to a new report from Wall Street Journal Japan. The unofficial report cites suppliers and “others with direct knowledge of the plan” as sources.

WSJ Japan’s sources reportedly told the publication that there are active discussions about new hardware and software functions and the cost to implement them – including upgrading the system’s “low-end” LCD display. The sources also indicated this new Switch could arrive in the second half of 2019, and perhaps as early as the Northern Hemisphere summer.

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The Best Nintendo Switch Accessories

The Switch is pretty sweet as-is, but add in some accessories like a second Nintendo Switch dock, the amFilm tempered glass screen protector, and a Switch Pro Controller, and it’s even better.