May 2018 – Page 116

State Of Decay 2 Beta Sign-Ups Going On Now

Microsoft’s anticipated zombie game State of Decay 2 launches for Xbox One and PC later this month, but some players will be able to try it a little early. Developer Undead Labs has opened registration for State of Decay 2’s technical beta, giving select players a chance to jump into a slice of the open-world survival game ahead of its release.

As is typically the case with closed betas, space is limited, and not everyone who registers will be selected to participate. Xbox One sign-ups have already filled up, but PC players can still apply for access to the beta on the game’s official website. However, everyone will need to have an Xbox Live account to participate, regardless of your platform.

State of Decay 2 launches for Xbox One and PC on May 22. The game will be released in two versions: the Standard Edition retails for $30, while the Ultimate Edition costs $50. The latter includes a free Xbox One copy of State of Decay: Year One Survival Edition and grants players early access to the game on May 18. Microsoft is also offering a $70 Collector’s Edition, although that doesn’t contain a copy of the game.

We recently got an opportunity to go hands-on with State of Decay 2 at a preview event and thought it feels rough despite featuring some interesting ideas. We also got to speak with Undead Labs about what it learned from the original game. If you’re hankering to see more of the title, be sure to watch our State of Decay 2 gameplay footage from PAX East.

State of Decay 2 is one of the most-anticipated Microsoft exclusives of 2018. Like Sea of Thieves, it will also be available on Xbox One’s Game Pass service on the same day it officially releases, as part of Microsoft’s new initiative to offer first-party titles on Game Pass at launch.

This My Hero Academia-Themed Crate Comes With Tons Of Japanese Snacks

Season 3 of My Hero Academia is now streaming on Funimation and Crunchyroll. The hit superhero show tugs at heartstrings, has plenty of great fight scenes, and apparently inspires some tasty snacks. Funimation, which exclusively streams the dubbed version of My Hero Academia, has partnered with Japan Crate for a bundle based on the anime.

Japan Crate specializes in Japanese snacks and sweets, many of which can be hard to come by if you don’t have access to Japanese import stores. The MHA crate includes taiyaki, a fish-shaped cake, and Lifeguard, an energy soda. You can see examples (guest-starring Midoriya) below.

The crate also includes an exclusive pin and is available on Japan Crate’s website through May 31. A subscription costs $30 per month.

For more on My Hero Academia, check out our list of the best anime of 2017. For other shows to watch, see our recommendations for anime to watch on Netflix.

Red Dead Redemption 2 Trailer Breakdown: John Marston, Arthur Morgan, And Dutch’s Gang

After nearly eight months since Red Dead Redemption 2‘s previous trailer, a new one has finally been revealed by Rockstar Games. This time around there’s greater focus on the game’s narrative, giving us more insight into the inner turmoil of new protagonist Arthur Morgan, as well as information about the Van der Linde gang.

As previously revealed, Red Dead Redemption 2 is a prequel to the original RDR. In a press release, Rockstar wrote that the game tells the “story of outlaw 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.”

The latest trailer makes it feel like the end of the road for outlaws, who seem to feel their time has come. The era of the Wild West was very much on its way out by the year 1899, which is the time period in which the game takes place. In addition, there were a multitude of narrative and mechanical elements teased about the game, along with the perhaps unsurprising confirmation that RDR protagonist John Marston–another member of the Van der Linde gang–will make an appearance. Here are 11 fascinating details that we caught from the latest Red Dead Redemption II trailer, including Marston and one aspect this game will apparently reveal about him.

Red Dead Redemption 2 is set to release on October 26 for PS4 and Xbox One. However, as with the first game, Rockstar hasn’t announced any plans for a PC version. Hopefully, as with Grand Theft Auto V, we’ll eventually see the game also make its way to PC and Steam. As for the release date itself, it’s been delayed in the past, but Rockstar parent company Take-Two has said it is “confident” that the game won’t have another setback.

Did you spot any interesting details from the trailer that you don’t see here? Let us know in the comments below. For more about what we want from the game, you can see our feature on the 11 things we want to see from the game.

DC Reveals New Swamp Thing TV Series From Aquaman, Conjuring Director

DC is getting its own streaming service soon–DC Universe–and one of the first announced series for it is a live-action Swamp Thing show. Even better, the team behind the new series has created some of the best horror movies in the past decade.

Swamp Thing has tapped some of the best horror minds to put together this series. Mark Verheiden (Ash vs. Evil Dead/Constantine), Michael Clear (Annabelle: Creation), Gary Dauberman (It, Annabelle: Creation), and James Wan (Conjuring, Aquaman) will executive produce the show. Verheiden and Dauberman will write the series.

Warner Bros.–DC’s parent company–revealed in a press release that the new show follows a CDC researcher named Abby Arcane as she returns to her childhood home in Louisiana. She’s there to investigate a virus that originates from a swamp. Arcane makes a bond with scientist Alex Holland who dies during their time together, but she quickly discovers the mystical secrets within the swamp and that Holland may not be dead.

Swamp Thing has a targeted 2019 launch, and the format for the show will be a one-hour drama. The series will only appear on the DC Universe service, which was just announced today. Additionally, three more series titles have been announced: Titan, a live-action series; Young Justice: Outsiders, most likely a continuation of the animated series which aired for two seasons between 2010 and ’11; and Harley Quinn; which we don’t know anything about yet.

There is no news yet as to when the DC Universe service will launch or its pricing. Currently, DC Universe has a Twitter account and a website, but details are scarce at this time. GameSpot reached out to DC for more information regarding the Universe service but has yet to hear back from the company.

DC Streaming Service’s Name Revealed

The official name for DC’s upcoming streaming service has been revealed, along with the official logos for its exclusive series.

Per DC Comics, the digital service is called DC Universe. It promises to offer unlimited access to the live-action Titans show, the third season of Young Justice, dubbed Outsiders, and the Harley Quinn animated series. There’s a Swamp Thing series in development as well. Check out the logos for all four shows in the image gallery below.

DC Universe will make its debut sometime this year, however the subscription price has yet to be revealed.

Titans will headline the service, which is being written by Akiva Goldsman (Star Trek Discovery), DC Entertainment president Geoff Johns, and Greg Berlanti (Arrow, The Flash, Supergirl). The drama will follow Dick Grayson as he leads a band of new heroes featuring Starfire, Raven, and more. Check out every character confirmed for Titans so far.

Nintendo President Explains Why He’s Stepping Down

Last week Nintendo president Tatsumi Kimishima announced that he will retire in June, and will be succeeded by Shuntaro Furukawa. The new president will assume his role sometime around E3 2018 and kick off a new initiative that will, as Kimishima puts it, “promote a generational shift to bring stronger momentum to Nintendo.” Kimishima, who was only ever appointed as an interim-president, believes that he has fulfilled his duties at Nintendo and feels like the right time to hand over leadership to the next generation.

Here’s Kimishima’s full statement from the most recent financial results briefing:

Opinion: Why Marvel Games Can Never Have Their Own Infinity War

2018 is proving to be a year where Marvel tests the limits of their whole Avengers experiment as a media brand. Along with this past weekend’s Avengers: Infinity War bringing together all the disparate parts of the Marvel Cinematic Universe for an epic showdown with Thanos, there’s also The Avengers Project, a game in collaboration between Marvel and Rise of the Tomb Raider developer Crystal Dynamics.

While Avengers Project likely won’t arrive until 2019 at the earliest, there’s sure to be some information on the game before 2018 ends, and it’s hard to think about it outside of Infinity War’s orbit. Whatever one’s feelings are on the MCU, there’s an undeniably tremendous effort being made here, and one has to wonder – can that scope or feeling can ever be transferred to the games of the future?

SteelSeries Rival 110 Gaming Mouse Review

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With its comfortable design, accurate sensor, and limited but useful customization options, the SteelSeries Rival 110 (See it on Amazon) is a well-rounded budget gaming mouse. It’s a six-button, 7,200 DPI mouse with a polished look that makes it appear to be more expensive than just $40. It lacks some of the DPI options of other budget gaming mice, but it boasts one of the largest DPI ranges in a mouse at this price point. Let’s take a look under the hood and see how it stacks up to other budget gaming mice:

Fortnite Fans Discover Dinosaur Print

Season 4 of Fortnite has only been running for a day, but fans have already discovered a secret battle token and what appears to be the footprint of a giant dinosaur.

The mysterious imprint can be found within the now-crushed house south of Snobby Shores and west of Greasy Grove. Items from a film set were also found, specifically a camera pointed right at the destroyed house. Several other additions to the map feature movie sets and filming locations, leading fans to believe the dinosaur references and the cameras may be connected.

The Dinosaur print seen on Fortnite’s map.

A Promising New Era Dawns for the Avengers

It can be tough to keep track of Marvel’s numerous Avengers relaunches, especially as they seem to be arriving more and more frequently. By my count, this is the fourth comic since 2010 to bear the name “The Avengers #1.” But at the end of the day, a great creative team and a great pitch are all a series needs to stay on track, and Marvel seems to have both with this latest incarnation of the series.

The Avengers #1 builds directly on the backbone of last fall’s Marvel Legacy #1 one-shot, to the point where readers are probably better off making that book their starting point. Not that this issue isn’t perfectly accessible on its own, but it’s better to have that context for the Avengers of 1,000,000 BC and the threat currently facing the Marvel Universe. Especially given that the flashback elements are by far the most compelling element of the series at this early stage. Without them, this issue tells a pretty straightforward “getting the gang back together” story. But by opening with another glimpse of Odin and his team at the dawn of humanity, this series suddenly gains a much greater sense of scope.