Month: February 2019

Gears of War 5, which is actually called Gears 5, is coming together well ahead of its 2019 release date, it seems. Xbox boss Phil Spencer recently traveled to Vancouver to visit Gears 5 developer The Coalition, and he came away impressed, apparently.

Spencer took a sneaky picture of the team playing Gears 5. You can zoom in on the image to try to get a closer look at what’s on screen, but in any case, it’s hard to make out. Spencer remarked of his trip to see the game, “Gears 5 is looking great.”

That’s all there is to go on from Spencer’s visit to The Coalition to see Gears 5. Earlier in February, The Coalition boss Rod Fergusson teased that the game was at that point still recording voice lines.

Gears 5 is the first entry in the series with a female playable lead. The game tells the story of Kait Diaz, who was first introduced in Gears of War 4 and whose character arc culminated with a conclusion that left many wondering what could happen next.

The game drops the “Of War” from its title because it’s “a cleaner look for the brand.” Some of the other upcoming Gears of War games, including Gears Tactics and Gears Pop, also don’t have “Of War” in their titles.

If you’ve missed out on the Gears of War games or want to revisit them, all of the Gears of War games are available through Xbox Game Pass.

In addition to Gears 5, a Gears of War movie is in development. There is no word yet on who may star in the film, but Guardians of the Galaxy and James Bond actor Dave Bautista has said Marcus Fenix is his dream role.

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As part of a wide-ranging Reddit AMA recently, Epic Games answered loads of questions about the hugely popular free-to-play battle royale game Fortnite. One topic that came up in the AMA was respawning.

Fortnite’s non-solo modes allows players to revive teammates, but there is never true respawning like there is in Respawn’s new battle royale game Apex Legends. In the AMA, one of the game’s producers said Epic has been “considering [respawning] for a while and have been exploring it.”

We haven’t seen it in Fortnite yet because Epic still needs more time to fully understand the impact it would have on the overall balance. “We’ve been considering this mechanic for a while and have been exploring it. Want to make sure we give it the time it needs and fully understand its impact on the game as a whole,” Epic said. “Look for further updates during Season 8.”

Season 8, which may have a pirate theme, is set to begin on February 28, so it may not be long until we learn more about Epic’s plans for respawning in Fortnite.

Fortnite is a last-player-standing, Hunger Games-style battle royale game, so respawning seems to run counter to the appeal of the experience. Apex Legends allows players to respawn teammates–but it’s not always easy or effective. And that game is different, as players are put into squads of three and there is generally more of a focus on teamplay.

Also during the Reddit AMA about Fortnite, Epic confirmed that it’s planning to update and improve the game’s sounds, while the developer is also looking into measures to help prevent accidental purchases. Epic also talked about how it has no plans to offer 60 FPS support on Nintendo Switch and how it’s working on a new single-occupancy vehicle to be added in the future.

Would you like to see respawning come to Fortnite? Let us know in the comments below!

Rage 2 is coming out in May for PS4, Xbox One, and PC, but before that, publisher Bethesda is planning a big promotional event for the game in Australia. The publisher is installing a “Goonfest Marquee” at the metal-themed Download Festival in Sydney and Melbourne in March.

According to a press release, those in attendance can visit the Rage 2 installation to get (temporary??) tattoos and makeup, and have their hair done with a punk flair. “Join the squad at the ‘Goonfest’ Marquee so you too can experience the ultimate chaos of dystopian characters, contortionists and firebreathers!” reads a line from Bethesda’s press release.

Download Festival comes to Sydney on March 9 and Melbourne on March 11. The bill includes heavy metal juggernauts such as Slayer and Judas Priest, as well as Alice in Chains, Rise Against, Sum 41, Anthrax, Pennywise, Halestorm, and Australia’s own Airbourne, among others. Ozzy Osbourne was set to play at the main headliner, but he dropped out recently due to health issues.

Rage 2 is developed by Avalanche Studios in Sweden, a country home to loads of metal bands including Amon Amarth, In Flames, At The Gates, Opeth, and Meshuggah, among others. Id Software, the developer of the original Rage, is also assisting in the game’s development.

The game is set 30 years after the events of the first Rage, which was released in 2011 for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC. The Earth has started to recover after being ravaged by a global catastrophe, and plant and animal life have begun springing up around the planet, making it more colourful.