Month: May 2018

So you made it through Avengers: Infinity War. The payoff you’ve been waiting ten years for has finally arrived. Thanos has snapped his fingers and–well. That’s when things start to get a little more complicated.

The finger snap isn’t exactly surprising–it’s been pretty thoroughly teased in the promotional material for the last three months and it’s one of the most iconic comics moments of all time. We can’t say we didn’t see this ending coming. But of course, just because it’s not surprising doesn’t mean it’s an easy thing to process. The heroes lost, half the universe is crumbling, the Infinity Stones are all far out of reach, and the universe itself has been virtually turned upside down.

We’re left with one all important question: What the hell is going to happen in Avengers 4?

Thankfully, we don’t have to take a total shot in the dark. Thanos’s victory is something that has happened before in the comic. And while the MCU is certainly never going to be a shot-for-shot recreation, we might be able to get a pretty good grasp on just what to expect in Avengers 4 next year by going back and checking out some history.

The first and most obvious place to check is Infinity Gauntlet, the six ssue mini series from 1991 that Infinity War borrows pretty heavily from. It’s the origin of the infamous finger snap, except in this version of the story Thanos starts with all six stones and the remaining five issues are a laundry list of Marvel heroes scrambling to pick up the pieces.

While a lot of Infinity Gauntlet’s major players have not been properly introduced in the MCU, both Nebula, who survived Thanos’s ultimate sundering, and Adam Warlock, who was teased in the post-credits stinger of Guardians of the Galaxy vol. 2, play pivotal roles. Nebula’s role isn’t exactly heroic, however, as she steals the Gauntlet and winds up using it to exact her own revenge on her adoptive father. The resolution of Infinity Gauntlet involves Adam and Thanos teaming up with other cosmic Marvel entities to stop Nebula–a surprising twist, but one that probably won’t make it all the way to the big screen.

It’s not that Nebula doesn’t have it in her to go full turncoat on the universe if the opportunity presents itself, especially now that she’s got Gamora to avenge. But the idea of Thanos not being the actual final boss after seven years of build-up seems pretty far fetched.

Still, the potential for a major Adam Warlock reveal in Avengers 4 is definitely on the table. Infinity Gauntlet set a precedent that the only real way to undo the work of the Infinity Stones is to, well, use the Infinity Stones. Traditionally, Adam has the same sort of inherent connection to the Stones that we see in the live action incarnation of Scarlet Witch, who, unfortunately, didn’t survive Thanos’s big balancing act. It’s not too hard to assume that some new Stone-attuned character will need to come in before the dust settles in Avengers 4. Adam Warlock isn’t a bad bet.

As for the other big components of Infinity Gauntlet? Well, best not to get too many hopes up. Despite their major roles in the mini series, characters like Silver Surfer, Galactus, and Mephisto probably aren’t going to be making any big cameos between now and 2019. Call it a hunch, but Ant-Man and The Wasp and the 1990s-set Captain Marvel probably don’t have enough screen time to properly introduce them to the chess board. Mistress Death, Thanos’s comic book love interest (and the inspiration for the finger snap in the comics), probably won’t show up any time soon, either, considering Infinity War has already done a pretty good job of re-writing Thanos’s motivations.

Another place to look for post-Infinity War clues is the more recent comics event, Infinity, from 2013. This event provided the introduction for the Black Order, or the Children of Thanos as they’re known in the movie, and also involved the Avengers teaming up to circumvent an extremely near miss at Thanos’s hands. Most of the plot of Infinity involved multiple isolated camps of Avengers (specifically a team stuck in space and a team fighting for their lives in Wakanda–sound familiar?) fighting against the Black Order, Thanos himself, and a new cosmic force known as The Builders, who essentially build and destroy universes.

The ultimate resolution of Infinity lies in a scheme to actually fake surrendering while Captain America organizes disparate alien factions (including the Kree Accusers under the leadership of Ronan, or, that guy from the first Guardians movie) to team up and ultimately bring Thanos and The Builders down.

It’s a loose connection, to be sure, but considering the post-credits sting implying the imminent approach of Captain Marvel, the fact that both Tony and Nebula are still trapped on Titan, and the fact that Thanos is, apparently, off enjoying a quiet life on some backwater planet, the idea that some serious interstellar support is going to have to swoop in is a possibility. In addition to Steve Rogers, Thor plays a pretty large part in turning the Infinity tides as well, and given that he’s still on the playing field (with his new, extremely powerful axe Stormbreaker), we might be on the verge of seeing some serious Hail Mary plays.

So, you know, if Avengers 4 promotion starts up with the ominous implication that surrender is the only recourse, don’t start panicking just yet.

It’s a good day to be a Legion fan. The trippy FX series, which has ties to Marvel Comics, is getting an 11th episode added to its 10-episode season. That means more psychedelic scenes, more bizarre metaphorical moments, and more weirdness before Season 2 comes to a close.

The new season finale will air on June 12 at 10 PM ET on FX, according to Deadline. The series follows a young, troubled man named David Haller (Dan Stevens), who is the son of the famed Professor X. He was misdiagnosed with schizophrenia but came to realize he was an exceptionally powerful mutant who has the powers of telepathy and telekinesis. He quickly learns that there are more people out there just like him, and he’s no longer alone. However, some of these other mutants aren’t very friendly.

The newest season revolves around Haller fighting for the future. He continues his battle with the Shadow King, an incredibly powerful telepath in his own right. There have been hints to what could be coming in future episodes, like Haller’s father finally appearing on the show. However, it can be tough to figure out just where this show is going sometimes because it’s a bit of trip and tends to play with the audience.

While Season 1 of Legion was a blast, it felt pretty disconnected from its source material. In Season 2, there are a lot of nods to the X-Men comics, whichmake it finally feel like an X-Men TV series. But this isn’t the X-Men universe we know or have seen on the big screen.

“With the X-Men comics, there are a lot of alt universes, so that has allowed me some leeway,” Legion showrunner Noah Hawley told Variety. “And obviously it’s a sort of origin story for David, but none of the other characters that I’ve surrounded him with are from the comics. It’s sort of an invented world.”

We’ll have to wait and see what Hawley and company has planned as the season progresses. Legion airs Tuesdays at 10 PM ET on FX.

It’s the beginning of a new month, which means Pokemon fans will soon have a chance to claim another free Legendary in Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon. This month’s featured Pokemon are the X and Y cover monsters Xerneas and Yveltal, and they’ll be available via a free download code for a limited time.

From May 4-27, US residents will be able to pick up a download code for the Legendaries from GameStop stores around the country. Those in the UK will be able to grab one from participating Game locations, while players in Canada can get the code from EB Games stores.

As usual, the code can be redeemed in any seventh generation Pokemon game, and the Legendary you get will depend on which version you’re playing. Sun and Ultra Sun players will receive the Dark/Flying-type Yveltal, while those with Moon or Ultra Moon will get the Fairy-type Xerneas.

The Legendaries will also come at different levels depending on which version you have. If you redeem the code in either of the Ultra games, the Pokemon will be level 100 and come equipped with a Gold Bottle Cap, which can be used to max out a Pokemon’s IVs in Hyper Training. Likewise, the Legendaries know different attacks depending on the version. You can see their movesets in each game below.

Pokemon Ultra Sun

• Yveltal — Level 100
  • Oblivion Wing
  • Dark Pulse
  • Heat Wave
  • Tailwind

Pokemon Sun

• Yveltal — Level 60
  • Oblivion Wing
  • Dark Pulse
  • Phantom Force
  • Psychic

Pokemon Ultra Moon

• Xerneas — Level 100
  • Geomancy
  • Focus Blast
  • Grass Knot
  • Moonblast

Pokemon Moon

• Xerneas — Level 60
  • Geomancy
  • Horn Leech
  • Night Slash
  • Moonblast

To redeem the code, select Mystery Gift from the games’ main menu and choose the option to receive your gift via a code/password. Input the code when prompted and you’ll download the Legendary. You can then claim it from the deliveryman waiting inside any Pokemon Center, although you’ll need to have an empty slot in your party to pick the Pokemon up.

Xerneas and Yveltal are the latest freebies available as part of the ongoing Year of Legendary Pokemon promotion, which gives players the chance to snag a different free Legendary every month in 2018. Next month, The Pokemon Company will give away another Legendary Pokemon from X and Y: a shiny Zygarde. Until then, you can see all of the free Pokemon available for Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon right now.

A new week means a new set of video game deals has appeared at storefronts both physical and digital. In our ongoing quest to inform you about all the best deals in the wide world of gaming, we’ve gathered all the most notable sales into one place: right here. So whether you play games on PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PC, or older platforms, we have you covered for all the best games available at the lowest prices this week.

For starters, Target has a host of top-notch recent games on sale for up to 50% off. Some highlights include Monster Hunter World ($45), as well as Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle and Persona 5 (both $30). Not to be outdone, Best buy is running a fantastic sale on PS4 games this week. You can save big on games like Horizon: Zero Dawn Complete Edition ($40) and Shadow of the Colossus ($30). For multi-platform games, the Xbox One versions are also on sale.

This week, to celebrate May 4–.KA Star Wars day–Sony has cut prices on many digital Star Wars games in half. It’s called the May the 4th sale, and it has offers like $30 for Star Wars Battlefront II going on all week. That’s in addition to the Golden Week sale (also running through May 8) and the Totally Digital sale, which lasts through May 29. That’s a lot of sales on PS4, PS3, and Vita games.

But Sony’s not done yet. May’s free games for PlayStation Plus members are now available, meaning you can grab Beyond: Two Souls, Rayman Legends, and more without spending an extra cent.

And because it’s a new month, Twitch/Amazon Prime subscribers can now download their six free PC games for May 2018. While you’re at it, be sure to grab your free Heroes of the Storm loot, too.

Check back all week, because we’re not done posting about the best video game sales available.

Some links to supporting retailers are automatically made into affiliate links, and GameSpot may receive a small share of those sales.

It’s a big day for Fortnite, as Season 4 has officially begun with the release of the big 4.0 update on PS4, Xbox One, PC, and mobile. The long-awaited comet crash has finally happened, changing the map, and there have been balance and gameplay changes made. But with the patch officially starting Season 4, Epic Games has also launched the new Battle Pass–complete with new skins and rewards. Here’s everything you need to know.

Like previous Battle Passes, this one is bought exclusively with V-Bucks–there’s no real-world money option. It costs 950 V-Bucks, which works out to just under $10/£8 if you buy the smallest bundle of V-Bucks (1,000). Purchasing it gets you instant access to a handful of rewards that Epic estimates are worth more than 3,500 V-Bucks: two skins (Carbide and Battlehawk) and two bonuses for the duration of the season (50% extra match XP and 10% more when playing with a friend). You also get access to challenges.

All Fortnite players get access to a set of free Starter challenges and can unlock a small handful of rewards, but the weekly challenges and vast majority of unlockables are only for Battle Pass owners. In addition to 10 weeks of challenges that will progressively unlock between now and early July, the Battle Pass also includes new Blockbuster and Carbide challenges. Blockbuster involves completing all of the challenges in each week and unlocks some as-of-yet unknown cosmetic reward. Carbide involves reaching different level milestones, with each one offering some piece to upgrade the Carbide skin, along with a pickaxe.

In terms of rewards tied directly to the Battle Pass, there are more than 100. You can see a selection of skins above or check out everything available in our Season 4 rewards roundup. Again, as in the past, Epic estimates that unlocking everything will take between 75-150 hours of gameplay.

If you owned Season 3’s Battle Pass, you’ll gain five levels of the new Battle Pass automatically. Purchasing Season 4’s will also carry over a five level bonus into Season 5 once that begins. Those in a hurry to level up can also purchase additional levels for V-Bucks.

Fortnite Season 4 runs through July 9, so provided you start early, you’ll have just over two months to get your hands on all the rewards. There’s plenty of other new Season 4 content to check out, including the crashed meteor and updated map. For more, read through the Season 4 update patch notes.

Hyperkin is known for its catalog of retro gaming accessories and the latest throwback peripheral available is the original Xbox controller, commonly referred to as The Duke. This rendition is nearly identical to the first gamepad released alongside the Xbox back in 2001 that was swiftly replaced in 2002 with the more sensible Xbox S controller. Whether it be for nostalgia’s sake or genuine affinity for the ergonomics of this hulking controller, the original design is back with a few modern touches that are detailed throughout this photo gallery.

Seamus Blackley, one of the leaders in marketing the first Xbox console, expressed excitement earlier this year around CES 2018 and stated, “I discovered to my horror and fascination that The Duke was an object of nostalgia and comfort and happiness and childhood memories, and all these people with big hands saying it was the only controller that was comfortable.” Blackley comically recalled, “I contacted Phil [Spencer, Head of Xbox], who is a buddy of mine, and asked, ‘Phil, is this crazy enough to do?’ and some of the hardware guys who were there when the Xbox was on the drawing board said we should absolutely do it.”

The Duke is compatible with the Xbox One and PC, and it works exclusively through a wired USB connection. The controller is available now on Microsoft’s store, but on May 15 at GameStop for $70 USD / £70 GBP.

Season 4 of Fortnite is officially underway, and with it, we’ve gotten a new Battle Pass. This works largely like those in the past, offering weekly challenges for players to complete in order to unlock new skins and rewards. Week 1 challenges are the usual mixture of easy and tricky objectives; here are the key locations and how to complete them all.

Two specific challenges stand out as ones with which you might need a guide. The first asks you to follow the treasure map found in Tomato Town. You can head there and pick up the map to get started or, as with previous instances of this objective type, go right to the treasure if you know where it is. This one is fairly easy–it’s in Loot Lake. Head to where the ‘E’ in Lake is shown on the map, as seen in the image below, and you’ll find the wrecked remains of a small boat just to the south of a small slab of land. Jump on the part sticking out of the water and you’ll see the Battle Pass icon to collect, which is done by holding the same key or button you use to open chests.

The other difficult challenge is to search F-O-R-T-N-I-T-E letters; there’s no real indication of what these are or where to start your hunt. Essentially, these work a lot like the aforementioned treasure map locations, only there are no in-game hints. You’ll head to certain spots and find a hovering blue letter that must be “searched” like a chest to collect. No matter which order you go to the locations, you’ll always find the letters in the order that spells out “Fortnite.”

Some are in popular places to land–for instance, there’s one at the top of the clocktower in Tilted Towers. Others aren’t so easy, but luckily, there are more than eight locations total spread across the map. With the help of Reddit users Strantjanet and thesquatingdog, we’ve verified eight locations–the exact number you’ll need to complete the challenge. Here’s where you’ll find them.

F-O-R-T-N-I-T-E Letters Locations

• Tilted Towers — on top of the clocktower
• Salty Springs — just to the east, on top of the fire lookout tower
• Flush Factory — on top of the largest building in the unnamed area to the northeast; you’ll have to destroy the glass ceiling to collect it
• Snobby Shores — in the northern most area, on top of a lightpole in front of a decrepit house
• Anarchy Acres — on top of the red barn
• Pleasant Park — on top of the roof in the middle, immediately north of the soccer field
• Lonely Lodge — in the unnamed area to the southeast, on top of the building
• Risky Reels — in the hole on the movie screen

Week 1’s other challenges are much more straightforward and generally rely on a mixture of luck and being in the right location. You’ll need to deal damage to opponents using sniper rifles, which is just a matter of finding such a gun and having good aim. You’ll want to head to Haunted Hills and search for chests; hopefully, in the process, you’ll also get your hands on a Port-a-Fort. If you do, be sure to use it before dying to complete another challenge.

The aforementioned Tomato Town map is one of three Hard-difficulty objectives. Another simply has you rack up eliminations at Flush Factory, so head there and take down some opponents. The third calls for you to get three pistol eliminations. Pistols aren’t the greatest of weapons, so you may want to attempt both this and the Flush Factory challenge in the Solo playlist. That way, you don’t have to worry about revives or competing with teammates for a kill.

Each of these challenges rewards you with Battle Stars to level up your Battle Pass and earn new skins and rewards. Additionally, once you’ve complete four of them, you’ll receive a 5k XP bonus. Keep in mind, access to the weekly challenges requires the purchase of the Battle Pass for 950 V-Bucks. In addition to weekly challenge access and the ability to earn lots of skins and rewards, the Battle Pass also includes new Blockbuster and Carbide challenges, which involve reaching level milestones and completing all challenges in a given week.

Season 4, Week 1 Battle Pass Challenges

• Deal damage with sniper rifles to opponents (500) — 5 Battle Stars
• Search chests in Haunted Hills (7) — 5 Battle Stars
• Use a Port-a-Fort — 5 Battle Stars
• Search F-O-R-T-N-I-T-E letters — 5 Battle Stars
• Hard: Follow the treasure map found in Tomato Town — 10 Battle Stars
• Hard: Pistol eliminations (3) — 10 Battle Stars
• Hard: Eliminate opponents in Flush Factory — 10 Battle Stars

Reward: 5k XP (after completing four challenges)