Month: October 2018

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Assassin’s Creed Odyssey has received an update aimed at squashing some bugs and issuing minor (but unspecified) quality-of-life features. The 1.0.3 update is now available, and the patch notes are relatively vague. Among its features are “quality-of-life and usability improvement” and “various ‘game breaking’ issues that could happen in specific conditions.” It also says it improves performance and stability.

The patch notes end with a note promising more info. “Stay tuned for additional information concerning the changes included in 1.0.3,” it says. GameSpot has contacted Ubisoft for more detail and will update if more information becomes available.

Ubisoft is likely happy with the success of Odyssey so far. Though it didn’t give specific sales data, it announced it had the best launch week for any game in the franchise on the current generation of consoles. That would include Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag (2013), as well as all the follow-ups including Assassin’s Creed Unity (2014), Assassin’s Creed Syndicate (2015), and Assassin’s Creed Origins (2017). That number does include revenue from microtransactions, which could mean other games outsold it on a per-unit basis, but Odyssey generated more money altogether.

Odyssey has gotten extra attention from an emerging market as well, as Google is using it as a test subject for its Project Stream technology. Players selected for the limited test can play it unlimited through their Chrome browser until January of next year, and are given $10 in in-game currency to purchase any microtransactions. As a trade-off, though, players lose all progress after the end-date.

If you’re just getting started in Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, check out our story primer and tips for beginners. If you’ve gotten a few more Grecian hours under your belt, you may be ready to take on some mythological beasts or get some legendary armor sets.

The Xbox One October update is rolling out today, offering a few new bells and whistles for the Microsoft console. The features in this update allow you to use more voice interactions, more easily watch HDR movies with streaming services, and personalize your Avatar.

The Xbox Skill feature lets you interact with your Xbox using Alexa or Cortana devices, with a greater degree of precision than the previous Kinect voice commands. As an example, Microsoft says you can tell Alexa to “launch Forza Horizon 4” and in response the Xbox One will start up, sign you in, and launch the game, all without additional commands needed. Other commands include starting Mixer broadcasts, capturing screenshots, and adjusting the volume. You’ll need to download the Xbox Skill in the respective stores to get started.

To promote the new functionality, Amazon will be offering a bundle that includes an Amazon Echo Dot with new Xbox One S or Xbox One X purchases. That deal is coming soon, but supplies will be limited.

The newly revised Avatars are available for all users today as well. These have a focus on inclusiveness, with a greater range of body types, more accessories, and the ability to dress in any kind of clothing you’d like. You’ll see the new Avatars on your own profile, in the activity feed and Gamerscore leaderboard, and more. You can use a Photobooth to take a picture of your Avatar to use as your profile image. Plus, if you want to stick with your original Avatar, that option is available too.

The update also adds Dolby Vision HDR streaming across supported televisions. For now it supports Netflix only, but Dolby Vision will expand to more apps in the coming months. You can enable it through the Settings menu. Finally the Narrator has added Spanish, Portuguese, Polish, Swedish, Dutch, and Australian English.

Scarlett Johansson appears to be making a healthy amount for her upcoming solo Black Widow film. The star is reportedly set to earn $15 million, which would be equal the payouts for Chris Evans and Chris Hemsworth in both Avengers: Infinity War and their own starring roles movies, Captain America: Civil War and Thor: Ragnarok.

The Hollywood Reporter reports that most actors in the Marvel cinematic universe have made much less for their initial standalone movies. Robert Downey Jr. made just $500,000 for the first Iron Man, while Chadwick Boseman is said to have pulled down $2 million for the first Black Panther. Brie Larson is making $5 million for the upcoming Captain Marvel, with a reported seven-picture deal (which Larson disputes). Then again, this won’t be Johansson’s first time around as Black Widow, as the character has been a mainstay in Marvel’s team-up films for years.

The news comes as Hollywood’s actresses are applying more pressure on studios to pay them the same as their male counterparts. Some actors like Benedict Cumberbatch have publicly said they’ll refuse roles that do not give equal pay to his female counterparts in solidarity.

A spokesperson for Marvel told THR, “Marvel Studios disputes the accuracy of these numbers, and as a matter of policy, we never publicly disclose salaries or deal terms.” Black Widow will be directed by Cate Shortland (Lore). She was the ultimate pick after interviewing a list of more than 70 potential picks to direct. A release date hasn’t been announced. Black Widow will next appear in 2019’s Avengers 4, which will presumably resolve the plot threads left by Infinity War.

Fortnite‘s challenges for Week 3 of Season 6 are now available, which means it’s time to get back on the grind and get those precious Battle Stars. As a refresher, completing these challenges reward you with Battle Stars which, in turn, level up your Battle Pass and allow you to unlock the sweet, sweet cosmetics for your character. Challenges are available in two sets, with one for all players to do and another just for those that have paid for a Battle Pass.

In the free to everyone section, this week’s challenges involve reviving a player in five different matches, getting one Damage Trap elimination, and starting the multi-stage challenge by searching a chest in Lonely Lodge. That’s all self-explanatory, though the Damage Trap elimination may take some perseverance.

In the paid Battle Pass section, there’s some trickier ones, the first of which is a multi-stage challenge that begins with visiting Risky Reels and Wailing Woods in a single match. On top of that you’ll need to hit a player with a Tomato from 15m or more away, eliminate an opponent in 10 different matches, and complete timed trials. Take a look at all the challenges for Season 6, Week 3 below.

Fortnite Season 6, Week 3 Challenges

Free Challenges

• Revive a player in different matches (5) — 5 Battle Stars
• Stage 1: Search a chest in Lonely Lodge (1) — 5 Battle Stars
• Damage Trap Eliminations (1) — 10 Battle Stars

Battle Pass

• Stage 1: Visit Risky Reels and Wailing Woods in a single match (2) — 5 Battle Star
• Hit a player with a Tomato 20m away or more (1) — 5 Battle Stars
• Complete timed trials (3) — 10 Battle Stars
• Eliminate an opponent in different matches (10) — 10 Battle Stars

These aren’t the only challenges that are available to do this week, as developer Epic Games has also rolled out a set of Halloween-themed unlocks to acquire. While the Skull Trooper (Male), Skull Ranger (Female) skin, Skull Sickle Harvesting Tool, and Crypt Cruiser Glider are available to purchase in store, in order to get the Ghost Portal Back Bling you’ll need to complete the Skull Trooper Challenges.

It’s been a busy week for Fortnite as, along with the two sets of challenges, Epic has also launched Fortnite Update 6.02. This new patch introduces a Limited-Time Mode called Disco Domination as well as the new Quad Launcher weapon. You can read all about those, as well as the other tweaks and changes made, in the Fortnite 6.02 patch notes.