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Halo 3: ODST Releases On PC This Month

Halo 3: ODST is finally arriving on PC on September 22 as part of Halo: The Master Chief Collection. Both the campaign and Firefight–the wave-based survival mode–are heading to PC for the very first time following a recent beta period.

The Halo 3 spin-off is the penultimate game coming to The Master Chief Collection on PC, with Halo 4 wrapping up the compilation at some point in the future. ODST’s campaign has been available on Xbox One since 2015, but Firefight is only scheduled to arrive on the platform this year. Developer 343 has yet to announce a release date but it might only be a matter of time now that it’s pencilled in for a PC release.

Update: Microsoft just announced the next wave of games coming to Xbox Game Pass on console, Android, and PC, including ODST. The game’s description says, “Firefight is joining The Master Chief Collection on console and PC for the first time, with online matchmaking, dedicated servers, and new custom game modes.” This would imply that Firefight is also coming to Xbox One on September 22, but it’s not an explicit confirmation.

ODST originally launched back in 2009 for the Xbox 360. Critic Tom McShea awarded it a score of 9/10 in GameSpot’s Halo 3: ODST review, saying, “The delicate construction of the story adds a new wrinkle to the typical Halo plot, and the action-packed campaign levels are full of intense battles and surprising encounters. Firefight mode is a standout addition, crafting highly addictive cooperative battles for players to experience.”

The latest game in the series, Halo Infinite, was due out this year before it was delayed until 2021. This means that the Xbox Series X and Series S will launch on November 10 without a first-party exclusive.

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Nintendo Switch Bested Wii’s 2008 US August Hardware Sales Record

The Nintendo Switch was once again the best-selling system in August 2020, and it also set the record for the Highest August dollar sales for a hardware platform in US history, surpassing the August 2008 dollar sales of the Nintendo Wii.

As revealed by The NPD Group’s Mat Piscatella, the Switch also more than doubled its unit sales total from August 2019.

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As for games, Madden NFL 2021 was the best-selling title of August 2020, achieving a “double-digit percentage dollar sales growth compared to the release month of Madden NFL 20.” It debuted at the 6th best-selling game of 2020, and this marks the 21st consecutive year a Madden NFL franchise game has been the best-selling title in its release month.

UFC 4 claimed the second spot, setting a new franchise record, and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare took third place. Final Fantasy VII Remake returned to the top 20 best-selling list at #19 after finishing #41 in July 2020, following a discount in the month of August.

In addition to the Switch selling incredibly well, Nintendo games accounted for 10 of the top 20 games this month. The full list of August 2020’s top 20 best-selling games is as follows;

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August 2020’s Best-Selling Games

  1. Madden NFL 21
  2. UFC 4
  3. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare
  4. Ghost of Tsushima
  5. Animal Crossing: New Horizons
  6. Ring Fit Adventure
  7. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
  8. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
  9. Paper Mario: The Origami King
  10. Mortal Kombat 11
  11. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
  12. The Last of Us Part 2
  13. Minecraft: PlayStation 4 Edition
  14. PGA Tour 2K21
  15. New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe
  16. Super Mario Party
  17. Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege
  18. Super Mario Odyssey
  19. Final Fantasy VII Remake
  20. Luigi’s Mansion 3

Consumer spending across video game hardware, content, and accessories was $3.3 billion, a 37% increase when compared to August 2019.

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Adam Bankhurst is a news writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @AdamBankhurst and on Twitch.

Puyo Puyo Tetris 2’s New Adventure Mode Has An Overworld And New Game Modes

Puyo Puyo Tetris 2 is releasing on December 8 for current and next-gen systems, and it’ll feature a new Adventure Mode. The first game’s single-player mode was wonderful, and it looks like the sequel will add a few new features.

The trailer below features an introduction by Alexey Pajitnov, the creator of Tetris, and shows what’s changed. Characters from the first game (such as Ringo and Tee) are back, but the structure of the game has changed a bit. There’s a world map to move around through now, complete with optional levels to complete. It’s a better way to visualize your progress than what the first game had.

A new “Skill Battles” form of play has been added, too. You can choose your play style in these fights (between Tetris and Puyo Puyo) and level up your characters. You can change difficulty levels and see how you stack up, too. There’s a separate Skill Battle mode outside of Adventure Mode, too, so you can carry your skills over.

Item Cards can be earned throughout Puyo Puyo Tetris 2’s Adventure Mode, which will give you special abilities in Skill Battles. You’ll be able to unlock characters, levels, and backgrounds through these battles, too, through credits that can be spent at the in-game shop.

So far, no drastically different modes have been revealed for Puyo Puyo Tetris 2, so fundamentally, it looks a lot like the first game–but there could be more reveals ahead of the game’s release.

The first Puyo Puyo Tetris earned an 8/10 in GameSpot’s review.

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Halo Infinite Merchandising Continues With New “Premium” Bags, See Them Here

Although Halo Infinite has been delayed to 2021, it appears a number of the tie-in merchandise items for the game will be released as scheduled. Microsoft recently announced new Halo Funko Pops, while the company also partnered with Monster Energy for a new campaign. The next merchandising opportunity for Halo Infinite is a new collaboration with the apparel company Hex for branded backpacks and more.

Described as “premium bags,” these new backpacks and duffels were designed in partnership with developer 343 Industries as part of the marketing campaign for Halo Infinite. The Hex Halo collection includes four items in total, including a Spartan backpack ($100 USD), a Spartan Tech backpack ($200 USD), an ONI sling ($80 USD), and a UNSC duffel ($150 USD). They are all available to pre-order now, and shipping is free for orders of $75 USD or more, so all of these items qualify. International shipping is also available.

The Spartan backpack has multiple compartments and can hold a laptop up to 15″. The bag is inspired by Master Chief, and as such, it sports an olive-green color and Chief’s Spartan-117 ID number. The Tech backpack is a super-sized version of the backpack, with more space for storing equipment like gaming gear. As you can see in the image above, this bag has enough space to hold a standard-size Xbox (probably not the much-bigger Xbox Series X, though), along with headphones and two controllers.

The ONI sling, meanwhile, features a military-style molle clip system so you can strap gear onto it. There is also a padded main compartment with a movable divider, while the front has a zipper pocket. The ONI bag also sports the badge and logo for the Official of Naval Intelligence (ONI).

Finally, the UNSC duffel is just that–a duffel bag with numerous accessory pockets and magnetic handles. It is water-resistant and it has a shoulder strap as well. It’s a fitting grey color with the United Nations Space Command (UNSC) logo on it. You can see the full descriptions for each of the Hex items below, and they are all available for pre-order now.

Hex Halo Collection:

The Spartan Backpack is a sleek sturdy daypack equipped with an organizer, grab handle, hidden zipper pockets, and EVA foam shoulder straps with airmesh for breathability. There is also a front accessory pocket, and a padded laptop compartment for laptops up to 15”. This limited edition bag is inspired by the legendary super-soldier, the Master Chief, and carries his Spartan-117 ID number, signature olive-drab color story and badging package.

The Spartan Tech Backpack is the ultimate bag for the serious gamer, photographer, streamer, etc.). This bag features EVA foam padded laptop storage (up to 15”), a luggage handle pass-through, deluxe organizer, passport pocket, and grab handle. Inside there is a full setup of custom configurable EVA foam dividers so you can set up your bag to accommodate your specific gear requirements. There is also a lay-flat water bottle pocket as well as an innovative combo pockets that holds both a phone and a passport. This bag is inspired by the legendary super-soldier, the Master Chief, and carries his Spartan-117 ID number, signature drab-green color story and badging package.

The ONI Sling is a versatile, limited edition bag. It features a molle clip system for clipping gear onto the front of the bag. It also features a generous padded main compartment with adjustable padded divider to hold anything from game controllers to cameras. There is also a front zipper pocket for your phone, and accessory pockets on both sides of the bag. The strap corners feature secret velcro stash pockets as added attention to detail. Custom Halo hardware and a padded shoulder pad round out the feature set. The Sling’s badging and color story identify it with Halo’s ONI (Office of Naval Intelligence).

The UNSC Duffel features a roomy main compartment, EVA foam padded laptop pocket, various accessory pockets, a luggage handle pass-through, and hidden magnetic handles. The grey color story and custom badging identify it as Halo UNSC (United Nations Space Command) property

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Netflix Pays $30 Million For Secret Zendaya/John David Washington Movie Filmed During Pandemic

Streaming giant Netflix has acquired the rights to a new movie starring Zendaya and John David Washington that was filmed during the pandemic.

The movie is called Malcolm & Marie, and it was directed by Euphoria creator Sam Levinson. According to Deadline, Malcolm & Marie was filmed “quietly” during the pandemic in June and July this year at the Feldman Architecture’s Caterpillar House in compliance with COVID-19 health and safety measures. The movie is black and white, and it was shot on 35mm film.

It’s a Euphoria reunion of sorts, as Zendaya also stars in that show. Additionally, Euphoria cinematographer Marcell Rév also worked on Malcolm & Marie.

The site also reported that numerous companies expressed interest in Malcom & Marie before Netflix won–other interested parties reportedly included HBO, Amazon, Searchlight, MGM, Apple, A24, and Focus Features. These parties were reportedly shown a 20-minute promo reel of the film before Netflix opened its wallet and paid a reported $30 million for it.

“Washington plays a filmmaker who returns home with his girlfriend (Zendaya) following a celebratory movie premiere as he awaits what’s sure to be imminent critical and financial success,” reads a line from the movie’s description. “The evening suddenly takes a turn as revelations about their relationships begin to surface, testing the strength of their love.”

Zendaya stars on Euphoria, and the idea for the movie came when they were informed that Euphoria needed to shut down production due to the virus. Deadline said Zendaya specifically asked Levinson if he could write and direct a movie for her, and it all happened, with Washington joining the cast after his starring roles in BlackKklansman and Tenet.

Levinson told Deadline that he is “thrilled” that Malcolm & Marie landed at Netflix, while the streaming giant also confirmed the news with a first promo image that you can see above.

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Nvidia Buys Arm For $40 Billion, Will Create A Super-Computer

After announcing its next series of graphics cards, Nvidia has made another bombshell announcement. The company is buying the British semiconductor company Arm for $40 million. Nvidia acquired Arm from SoftBank, which paid $31 billion for it back in 2016.

In a statement, Nvidia said buying Arm will help the company become the “premier computing company for the age of artificial intelligence, accelerating innovation while expanding into large, high-growth markets.”

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While SoftBank has now sold Arm, the company is making an ownership stake in Nvidia which is expected to be “under 10 percent.”

“AI is the most powerful technology force of our time and has launched a new wave of computing,” Nvidia founder and CEO Jensen Huang said. “In the years ahead, trillions of computers running AI will create a new internet-of-things that is thousands of times larger than today’s internet-of-people. Our combination will create a company fabulously positioned for the age of AI.”

The team at Arm will stay at their current headquarters in Cambridge, but thanks to the new investment, the company will expand on the offices and build a “world-class AI research facility” that will support the development of new technology for health care, life sciences, robotics, and self-driving cars. The company also plans to build a “state-of-the-art AI supercomputer” that uses Arm CPUs.

“Arm and Nvidia share a vision and passion that ubiquitous, energy-efficient computing will help address the world’s most pressing issues from climate change to healthcare, from agriculture to education,” Arm CEO Simon Segars said in a statement. “Delivering on this vision requires new approaches to hardware and software and a long-term commitment to research and development. By bringing together the technical strengths of our two companies we can accelerate our progress and create new solutions that will enable a global ecosystem of innovators. My management team and I are excited to be joining Nvidia so we can write this next chapter together.”

This is the second major technology deal to be announced late Sunday. The viral app TikTok has partnered with Oracle after the company rejected Microsoft’s acquisition offer.

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Microsoft’s Bid To Buy TikTok Has Been Rejected; Oracle Emerges As Winner

Microsoft will not acquire TikTok’s US operations. The Xbox company announced on Sunday evening that TikTok owner ByteDance has rejected Microsoft’s offer.

Microsoft said it believes its proposal was a good one, but the two companies ultimately could not come to terms. The Wall Street Journal reported that Oracle has emerged victorious in the discussions, though it’s not an outright sale. Instead, Oracle will become TikTok’s “trusted tech parter” in the US.

Microsoft’s statement follows below.

“ByteDance let us know today they would not be selling TikTok’s US operations to Microsoft,” the company said. “We are confident our proposal would have been good for TikTok’s users, while protecting national security interests.

“To do this, we would have made significant changes to ensure the service met the highest standards for security, privacy, online safety, and combatting disinformation, and we made these principles clear in our August statement,” Microsoft added. “We look forward to seeing how the service evolves in these important areas.”

In other news regarding the potential sale of TikTok, it was reported by the South China Morning Post that ByteDance will not sell or transfer its “for you” algorithm, which is the driving force behind the app. “The car can be sold, but not the engine,” a source said.

US President Donald Trump has said he may ban TikTok in the US unless its US operations are sold by September 15. ByteDance has filed a lawsuit against this action.

Microsoft shut down streaming site Mixer last month as it continues to focus on its enterprise-related businesses. It was never clear how a TikTok acquisition might have factored into the Xbox business as the Xbox Series X‘s release approaches, but that’s all out the window now.

Top New Game Releases On Switch, PS4, Xbox One, And PC This Week — September 13-19, 2020

It’s a great time to be a fan of platformers, thanks to Super Mario 3D All-Stars and Spelunky 2 both launching this week. It’s also a really action-packed week, with Crysis Remastered and WWE 2K Battlegrounds on the horizon, too. If you prefer to play something at a slower pace, you can also check out narrative adventure game Welcome to Elk. Here are some of the hottest games launching this week.

Spelunky 2 — September 15

Available on: PS4

The long-anticipated roguelike sequel has arrived. Spelunky 2 has you take control of new characters exploring randomly generated levels on the moon, which is full of new enemies to beat, traps to dodge, and treasures to collect. There’s a base camp where the explorers can hang out between runs, too. This week’s launch is for PS4 players only: PC gamers will have to wait until the 29th for the Steam version.

More Spelunky 2:

Welcome to Elk — September 17

Available on: Xbox One, PC

Welcome to Elk
Welcome to Elk

Frigg is a carpenter living on the island of Elk, and they spend their time talking to the island residents and listening to their stories. You’ll complete minigames to match what each islander is talking bout, and what’s more, all of their tales are based on true stories told to developer Triple Topping.

More Welcome to Elk:

Super Mario 3D All-Stars — September 18

Available on: Switch

Super Mario 3D All-Stars
Super Mario 3D All-Stars

Super Mario 64, Super Mario Sunshine, and Super Mario Galaxy are all coming to Nintendo Switch in one tidy package. All three games offer shiny new HD graphics to see, full soundtracks to listen to, and Switch-specific controls to try. Just note that you don’t have forever to pick this one up if you’re interested: 3D All-Stars will only be available through March 2021.

More Super Mario 3D All-Stars:

WWE 2K Battlegrounds — September 18

Available on: PS4, Xbox One, PC, Switch, Stadia

WWE 2K Battlegrounds

The WWE wrestling sim series is taking a year off, so we’re getting this cartoony take on the franchise instead. Battlegrounds features WWE superstars from all throughout wrestling history, from Andre the Giant and Jake “the Snake” Roberts to Bray Wyatt and Becky Lynch. You can throw down in all the modes you expect: Tag Team, Triple Threat, Royal Rumble, and more.

More WWE 2K Battlegrounds:

Crysis Remastered — September 18

Available on: PS4, Xbox One, PC

Crysis Remastered

Crysis Remastered is already out on Switch, but now gamers on other platforms can get their hands on it. The remaster includes new 8K textures, improved lighting, and ray-tracing support. Crysis was once the game used as a PC benchmark, but now it should look even better as you battle your way across an island occupied by enemy soldiers and alien invaders.

More Crysis Remastered:

September isn’t over yet: New Releases will be back to highlight even more games next week. We’ll be taking a look at Mafia: Definitive Edition and Serious Sam 4.

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Tenet Box Office Passes $200 Million Worldwide

Releasing into a movie market where many theatres remain closed and in regions where they are open, people are choosing to stay home, the box office results for Christopher Christopher Nolan’s new movie Tenet was always going to face an uphill struggle at the box office.

The financial fortunes of the mind-bending action movie continue to come into focus, with Deadline reporting that the film has now crossed $200 million worldwide at the global box office.

The film made a further $6.7 million in the US over the weekend, which is down compared to the Labor Day opening weekend in America. Across all regions in the world, Tenet made $37.3 million this weekend to push its global haul past $200 million.

Deadline reported that Los Angeles was the top market in the US for Tenet this weekend, which is odd given that theatres there are largely still shut. However, cinemas in Orange County recently opened, and the film is doing especially well at some theatres there.

The top 10 overall US markets for Tenet this past weekend were: Los Angeles (Orange County), Dallas, Chicago, Salt Lake City, Phoenix, Toronto, Greater New York (New Jersey and Connecticut), Houston, Atlanta, and San Diego.

According to EW, Tenet had a budget of as much as $225 million (before marketing), and it’s reported that the movie may need to earn $400 million worldwide just to break even.

Tenet stars John David Washington, Robert Pattinson, Elizabeth Debicki, and Kenneth Branagh in a mind-bending story involving espionage and lots of action. For lots more on the film, you can check out GameSpot’s Tenet review and hear from the cast about their favorite video games in the story below.

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Crash Bandicoot 4’s Joyous Japanese Live-Action Trailer Is A Vibe We Need In Our Lives

Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time is, in many ways, a throwback to the 90s: a Crash game that aims to take players back to the time when mascot platformers were at their best. And now, the game has a new commercial that reminds us of another 90s icon, one of the greatest game commercials of all time–the Japanese ad for The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past.

The latest Japanese ad for Crash Bandicoot 4 features someone in a huge Crash Bandicoot suit dancing and cavorting with a family. They dance in their home, in the forest, and on the streets, and the father seems to be really getting into it.

There’s really nothing in the way of game footage here until the very end. Instead, this trailer is tapping into a feeling–the sheer joy of Crash’s return. The exaggerated actions, the silly song, and the emphatic dancing all feels pretty true to the Crash Bandicoot that fans know and love.

Check out the trailer below. It’s impossible to watch without smiling.

There’s a shorter version, too–but we say that you should treat yourself to the longer video above. It’s been a tough year. You’ve earned three good minutes and a fun song to hum to yourself for the rest of the day.

Crash Bandicoot 4 launches on October 1 for PS4 and Xbox One. It will feature a new N.Verted mode, which will change each level’s art style. If you’ve been waiting for a true Crash sequel since Crash Bandicoot 3, check out GameSpot’s pre-order guide.

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