Promising Narrative Adventure Game Welcome To Elk Gets September Release Date

Welcome to Elk, a narrative-heavy adventure game with some intriguing twists, has announced a release date. The game will be available on Steam and Xbox One on September 17, letting players experience Elk Island and all the stories it holds.

The announcement trailer, below, shows how the game mixes story-telling with puzzles and mini-games, and also introduces one of the game’s most interesting elements–many of the events in it are based on real events, and the game features footage of people telling their stories.

These events are often horrible moments within people’s lives, and the trailer suggests that the game will switch tones throughout.

GameSpot previously covered Welcome to Elk in the article 6 Upcoming Narrative Games To Get Excited About. The brief playable demo we played raised a lot of questions: “Is the island limbo? What’s the connection between the real-world stories and the ones told in game? The Welcome to Elk demo was all of 10 minutes long, but I am already surprisingly invested in exploring this island.”

If you want to experience Welcome to Elk before release, you can play the recently released demo, Welcome to Elk: The First Stories, on Steam.

GameSpot may get a commission from retail offers.

Series X Price & Release Date Coming When Xbox Is “Ready” | Save State

In this video, Persia talks about an Xbox representative stating on Twitter that the exact release date and price for Xbox Series X will be revealed when the company is “ready”. According to the spokesperson, it seems once we get the release date, the launch games will also be more clear.

Persia also goes over the new details about Stasis subclass customization in Destiny 2: Beyond Light. The Beyond Light content will introduce three new sub-classes when it launches in November. All three subclasses can be customized using new Aspects and Fragments. Different combinations will give you different ways to play and strategize. Stasis is the first new elemental power added to Destiny since the original trio of Arc, Solar, and Void.

Lastly, Persia talks about another update coming to Fall Guys in the form of a giant, randomly appearing hammer called Big Yeetus. Fall Guys posted a gif that showcased Big Yeetus in action but no further information was given in regards to when it would be popping up in the game.

This is your Save State for Wednesday, September 2nd.

Marvel’s Avengers Had The Most Downloaded PS4 Beta Ever

Marvel’s Avengers will launch for everyone on September 4, but many players have already had a chance to experience the game thanks to its beta program, culminating in an open weekend beta in late August. As it turns out, this was a big success–the biggest in the history of the PS4, in fact.

Square Enix has announced that the Marvel’s Avengers beta was the biggest ever on PS4. Or, more specifically, it was the “most downloaded,” meaning that a lot of people installed it onto their system.

While the tweet does not provide numbers, Gamesradar estimates a figure close to 5 million people across PS4, Xbox One, and PC by extrapolating play data. The actual figures remain unknown–especially since there would be some who installed the beta and did not get a chance to play it, and this likely combines players across the earlier access beta and the open beta.

While we don’t have firm numbers on the biggest beta on PS4 prior to this, we know that Call of Duty: Modern Warfare had the biggest beta for a Call of Duty title, and before that Black Ops III was touted as the biggest PS4 beta. Apparently, the Marvel’s Avengers beta has outperformed these games’ tests. Square Enix did not comment on the performance of the Xbox One or PC versions.

Of course, an Avengers game was always going to be successful–the last Avengers movie, Endgame, is the highest grossing film of all time.

In GameSpot’s early review impressions of Marvel’s Avengers, Phil Hornshaw gives some thoughts on the game so far. “I’m really enjoying what Crystal Dynamics is doing with these characters and with the Avengers story the developer is able to tell. It’s the heavily video gamey portions that are dragging me down, and I’m hoping Marvel’s Avengers will grow into them as I continue my adventures.”

Now Playing: Marvel’s Avengers – Official Kate Bishop Reveal Trailer

GameSpot may get a commission from retail offers.

Amazon Has Deleted Job Listing For Union-Busting Roles

Amazon has taken down two job listings for intelligence analysts that generated controversy over their anti-union/labor organizing language. The positions were charged with gathering information on threats to Amazon and reporting that data. One of the alleged threats these positions were meant to monitor was “labor organizing.”

These analysts were also going to be set to monitor “sensitive topics that are highly confidential, including labor organizing threats against the company,” “funding and activities connected to corporate campaigns (internal and external) against Amazon,” as well as briefings on “dynamic situations” including protests, geopolitical crises and other topics “sensitive to human resources and employee relations,” as reported by CNBC.

Amazon’s postings came under heavy fire online, and were removed by afternoon. In a statement to CNBC, an Amazon spokesperson said “The job post was not an accurate description of the role โ€” it was made in error and has since been corrected.” They did not elaborate on what, exactly, was inaccurate about these ads.

This is not the first time Amazon has been in hot water publicly for its stance on labor organizing and workers’ rights. Last year, Prime Day was met with employee protests in Minnesota and Germany over both Amazon’s working conditions and wage practices. This year, warehouse workers came into conflict with the company in March over safety concerns in their workspaces regarding the pandemic. This was followed up in April with the firing of three employees who were openly calling out the company’s labor practices.

Director of the labor and activist coalition Athena, Dania Rajendra, said that the now-deleted tweets were “disturbing” and showed that Amazon is actively targeting workers for speaking out.

“This job description is proof that Amazon intends to continue on this course,” said Rajendra. “The public deserves to know whether Amazon will continue to fill these positions, even if theyโ€™re no longer publicly posted.”

So far, there don’t seem to be replacement listings, meaning Rajendra’s question is currently up in the air.

Pokemon Recreating The Avatar Opening Is Content We Need Right Now In The Year 2020

We all know Avatar: The Last Airbender’s opening credits. The four elements–air, earth, fire, and water–come together to retain the balance between their respective kingdoms before the Fire Nation attacks. It’s an iconic intro, one that has been recreated multiple times over. As cliche as it might seem to use Pokemon to replace the elemental benders of the story, an animator took the obvious and made it adorable in this recreation.

An animator named Kay took the Avatar intro and smashed four Pokemon in the place of the benders. This premise had been something Kay thought about for over 10 years and was “a long time coming.” In the delightful recreation, the four elements are replaced by Charmander, Pidgey, Sandshrew, and Squirtle. What we get is a fluid, if short, animation showcasing the devastating power of these four pre-evolutions. Check it out below.

Earlier this year, Netflix gained the streaming rights to the Avatar franchise. You can stream both The Last Airbender and its sequel series, The Legend of Korra, on the streaming platform right now. A live-action adaptation that was announced by Netflix back in September 2018 has stalled after the show’s creators, Bryan Konietzko and Michael Dante DiMartino, quit the production due to creative differences.

“Netflix’s live-action adaptation of Avatar has the potential to be good,” DiMartino said. “It might turn out to be a show many of you end up enjoying. But what I can be certain about is that whatever version ends up on-screen, it will not be what Bryan and I had envisioned or intended to make.”

In Pokemon news, developer Niantic detailed this month’s Pokemon Go events alongside planning adjustments for Mega Evolutions. Meanwhile, a brand-new Max Raid event for Pokemon Sword / Shield is now live through September 30.

The Last Of Us 2 Receives Its First Major Discount

Marquee first-party games don’t usually get discounts until long after release, but PS4 users can now snag The Last of Us Part II at a great price, thanks to its first major markdown since launch. You can buy The Last of Us Part II for $50 from Amazon. The deal is also available through Best Buy and GameStop–if you’re a PowerUp Rewards Pro member, you can get it for $45 from GameStop today only.

It’s unclear how long this deal will last for, so you’ll want to order as soon as possible if you’re interested. All retailers offer free shipping and can arrive by the end of the week–though you’ll need Prime for two-day shipping if you’re buying from Amazon. Best Buy and GameStop also offer in-store pickup if you’d rather grab it in person.

The story from the first game continues in The Last of Us Part II, as we follow Ellie and her partner Dina on their hunt to find a group of survivors that have wronged them. It’s a dark story about revenge and anger, but it’s also about companionship and what we’d do for those we love. The combat is also very tense and quite violent, so if you’re into stealth action, you’ll likely enjoy it.

We scored the game an 8/10 in our The Last of Us Part II review, thanks in most part to the complicated, flawed characters, and the impactful story.

“In Part II, I wanted nothing to do with Ellie’s bad decisions,” reviews editor Kallie Plagge wrote. “There’s no ‘oh god, I’m the monster’ moment; just profound sadness about all the pain she’s caused. Without Abby, none of that works. Abby is a fantastic character in her own right, and the way the game pits her against Ellie is what makes the story powerful. It’s a tragic, heartbreaking exploration of the consequences of the first game, even if not all your actions here have real consequences.”

GameSpot may get a commission from retail offers.

43 Karate Kid Easter Eggs In Netflix’s Cobra Kai Season 1

43 Karate Kid Easter Eggs In Netflix’s Cobra Kai Season 1 – GameSpot

“/>

]]>

]]>

]]>

]]>

]]>

]]>

]]>

]]>

]]>

]]>

]]>

]]>

]]>

]]>

]]>

]]>

]]>

]]>

]]>

]]>

]]>

]]>

]]>

]]>

]]>

]]>

]]>

]]>

]]>

]]>

]]>

]]>

]]>

]]>

]]>

]]>

]]>

]]>

]]>

]]>

]]>

]]>

]]>

]]>

]]>

]]>

]]>

]]>

]]>

]]>

]]>

]]>

]]>

]]>

]]>

]]>

]]>

]]>

]]>

]]>

]]>

]]>

]]>

]]>

]]>

]]>

]]>

]]>

]]>

]]>

]]>

]]>

]]>

]]>

]]>

]]>

]]>

]]>

]]>

]]>

]]>

]]>

]]>

]]>

]]>

]]>

]]>

Disclosure: ViacomCBS is GameSpot’s parent company


The Division 2 September 1 Update Adds Season 2 Level Skips, Full Patch Notes Revealed

Developer Massive Entertainment rolled out an update for The Division 2 on PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One that makes some minor adjustments. The full patch notes are outlined below.

The latest patch makes three particular adjustments to The Division 2. The first pertains to issues with sniper turrets and irons out problems that cause inconsistencies while aiming and shooting. Additionally, the update addresses issues with checkpoints not working during the Tidal Basin Heroic boss encounter and adds Season 2 level skips to purchase from the in-game store so players can advance through The Division 2’s battle pass-like progression system.

In other The Division 2 news, a release date for Title Update 11 has still not been announced. However, Massive Entertainment outlined some of what players can expect when it drops. One such feature is gear appearance customization in the form of Transmogrification, which allows you to alter the look of any gear–except for Exotics, of course.

Full The Division 2 Patch Notes (September 1)

Maintenance Notes:

  • Fixed an issue that caused inconsistencies with sniper turret aiming and shooting.
  • Fixed an issue with the Tidal Basin Heroic boss checkpoint sometimes not working.
  • Added Season 2 Level Skips for purchase in the in-game store.

Publisher Ubisoft will hold another Forward livestream next week on September 10 at 12 PM PT with a pre-show starting an hour before. The company shared a teaser trailer disclosing the potential line-up of titles to be discussed during the event, including Hyper Scape, Rainbow Six Siege, and Watch Dogs Legion, among others.

Now Playing: Everything New in The Division 2: Warlords of New York Expansion

GameSpot may get a commission from retail offers.

Welcome To Blumhouse Horror Series Trailer Delivers Scares and Madness

Welcome to Blumhouse is a new collection of horror movies from the producers of such scary hits as Get Out, the Purge series, and the most recent Halloween film. It brings together eight new films, four of which are set to hit Amazon Prime Video next month. The first trailer has now been released.

The trailer provides a look the four movies–Black Box, Evil Eye, The Lie, and Nocturne. All four are quickly intercut throughout the trailer’s short running time so it’s hard to get a sense of the stories, but it looks like an intriguing mix of supernatural scares and more psychological terror. Check it out below:

Blumhouse previously provided synopsis for the four movies, which you can read below. The final four films under the Welcome to Blumhouse banner have not been revealed yet, but they will be released sometime in 2021.

The Lie

  • Release date: October 6
  • When their teenaged daughter confesses to impulsively killing her best friend, two desperate parents attempt to cover up the horrific crime, leading them into a complicated web of lies and deception.

Black Box

  • Release date: October 6
  • After losing his wife and his memory in a car accident, a single father undergoes an agonizing experimental treatment that causes him to question who he really is.

Evil Eye

  • Release date: October 13
  • A seemingly perfect romance turns into a nightmare when a mother becomes convinced her daughterโ€™s new boyfriend has a dark connection to her own past.

Nocturne

  • Release date: October 13
  • Inside the halls of an elite arts academy, a timid music student begins to outshine her more accomplished and outgoing twin sister when she discovers a mysterious notebook belonging to a recently deceased classmate.

This is Blumhouse’s second collection of straight-to-streaming movies, with two seasons of Into the Dark released onto Hulu in 2018 and 2019. Meanwhile, two of the company’s biggest upcoming movies were set to hit theaters this year, but both have been delayed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Forever Purge, the fifth movie in the dystopian action/horror series, will now release in May 2021, while the slasher sequel Halloween Kills arrives in October next year.

For more, check out GameSpot’s guide to the biggest upcoming horror movies of 2020 and beyond, plus our look at the best new horror films to watch on streaming.

Fall Guys Is Going To Yeet Us With A Huge Hammer

Fall Guys is getting a new obstacle in some of its current mini-games. A giant hammer the studio calls “Big Yeetus” will “randomly appear” in several levels to throw the little bean characters across the map.

Mediatonic tweeted out the news on September 2, although the studio didn’t say when the hammer would be live in the game. The studio included a short gif of a player getting thrown across the Dizzying Heights map–all the way to the finish line. I’m sure most encounters with Big Yeetus won’t be as generous.

Fruit appeared to be getting shot out of the cannons on the Dizzying Heights map in the gif as well. Usually nothing but balls come out of those cannons, suggesting Mediatonic is making other changes to the game without saying much.

“WAIT WHY IS THERE FRUIT AND NOT B A L L,” said one reply to the tweet. Mediatonic replied with a gif of Dwight Schrute shushing.

Fall Guys Season 2 is coming in October. It brings new mini-games and costumes based on “epic quests.” New costumes and mini-games where players have to dodge giant axes were both revealed at Gamescom. Mediatonic’s battle royale of the brands also came to an end recently. Ninja, G2 Esports, MRBeast, and Aim Lab came together with a one million dollar donation for UK-based charity Special Effect.

GameSpot may get a commission from retail offers.