After several teases on social media from Mortal Kombat creator Ed Boon, we finally got footage of returning antagonist Shang Tsung in Mortal Kombat 11. As the first character for the upcoming Kombat Pack, Shang Tsung will be available early for current owners of the DLC on June 18 on PC, PS4, and Xbox One. In addition to the new character, Kombat Pack owners will also get early access to Klassic Skins for Scorpion, Noob-Saibot, and Sub-Zero.
As the original antagonist for the Mortal Kombat series, before quickly being brushed aside in favor of big-bads Shao Khan and Shinnok, the sorcerer has gone through many changes throughout the series. However, his combat style has always focused on his abilities to steal men’s souls and use their talents against them. In addition to copying his opponent’s appearances and skills, the warlock also harnesses the souls of returning ninjas Rain, Smoke, and Ermac–who are interestingly enough found dead in MK11’s Krypt. During the battle, he’s able to call upon their abilities in mid-combo, allowing him to use Smoke’s teleports, Ermac’s telekinesis, and Rain’s…water-based skills. His fatality, however, features his most gruesome callback, with the MKII mid-boss Kintaro making an unexpected and violent return.
For those who’ve already played Mortal Kombat 11, you’ll know that Shang Tsung is presently in the game as a guide for MK11’s Krypt. In the Krypt, you’re able to explore his island fortress and uncover its secrets, with him taunting you for any untimely deaths that occur during your journey. Now that he’s playable, the soul-stealing warlock looks right at home in Mortal Kombat 11’s gruesome battles. For fans of the original live-action film, you’ll notice that Shang Tsung is performed by Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa–the same actor from the movie.
The new trailer was all about Shang Tsung. However, it also teased what was to come. Towards the end, three other characters were briefly referenced–which included returning characters Nightwolf and Sindel, both of whom made their first appearances in Mortal Kombat 3. However, the last character to get a shoutout was Image Comics’ Spawn–who is the first guest character to make it to MK11. This news will likely be no surprise to those who have been keeping up with certain leaks from the last month, which hinted at the return of these characters, along with Sheeva from MK3 and Ash Williams from the Evil Dead.
In total, the Kombat Pack–which is priced at $39.99–gives you access to six new characters and 19 additional skins for the roster. Just like the current characters, each new fighter will have their own suite of gear and skins to unlock. In 2015, Mortal Kombat X’s roster expanded significantly with the influx of DLC fighters, so it’ll be interesting to see how much MK11 will change over the course of its post-launch period. Curiously, though, mentions of the Switch version weren’t present in the trailer. So it may seem likely that the Switch will receive its own release of the characters from the Kombat Pack at a later time.
For more on Mortal Kombat 11, along with details on when you can expect to learn more about the other characters, be sure to check back with GameSpot.
Five classic Dungeons & Dragons-based RPGs are coming to consoles for the first time, developers Skybound Games and Beamdog announced today.
The Enhanced Editions of Baldur’s Gate, Baldur’s Gate II, Neverwinter Nights, Planescape: Torment, and Icewind Dale will be sold in three separate collections, all of which are set to be released on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch later this year.
You can watch the reveal trailer above, and here’s a breakdown of what comes in each collection:
The Baldur’s Gate: Enhanced Edition Pack: Includes Baldur’s Gate: Enhanced Edition, Baldur’s Gate II: Enhanced Edition, all previous DLC, the Siege of Dragonspear expansion, and “new original content developed by Beamdog to bridge the two games.”
Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Breakpoint is the follow-up to 2017’s Ghost Recon: Wildlands, though developer Ubisoft is taking a different approach this time around. Breakpoint will have a darker tone, the developer says, in its new fictional New Zealand-esque setting, Aurora.
Aurora is home to Skell Technology, a corporation specializing in AI drone tech. When communication with the company ceases, you’re sent to the archipelago to investigate. When you arrive, however, you find yourself not in the role of the hunter, but the hunted.
Throughout Breakpoint, you’ll encounter a paramilitary group known as the Wolves, who Ubisoft says are just as skilled on the battlefield as the Ghosts. Because of this, the game places a greater emphasis on stealth. You’ll be able to employ drones and hide the bodies of any enemies you kill. Similarly, you can avoid detection by crouching in foliage or covering yourself with mud. The game also features some survival elements; any injuries you sustain need to be treated, and you need to maintain your weapons. Ghost Recon Breakpoint launches for PS4, Xbox One, and PC on October 4.
Bandai Namco has released a new dev diary for Digimon Survive, an upcoming survival strategy RPG based on the franchise about digital monsters. The video acts as a lead-up to both the game’s release and the upcoming 20th anniversary for the international debut of the original Digimon Adventure anime, recounting the history of Digimon and how it has influenced the development of Digimon Survive. This video is linked below.
“At present, the Digimon Story series is acting as our core property since we believe that it’s our best property to further expand Digimon’s reach, but we also have another series known as Digimon World that while strongly supported by our core fans, is rather specialized in its game mechanics making it somewhat harder for more casual fans and customers to get into, leading us to spend some time thinking about how we can change this, how we can keep the unique gameplay style and feeling of a new game while also creating a Digimon game that’s a new approach, and this is what led us to develop Digimon Survive,” producer Kazumasa Habu said.
“We also looked at one of the key features of the Digimon Adventure anime, where Digimon grew stronger to reflect people’s hearts, and wondered what would happen if we incorporated that element into a game,” he continued. “We thought it would be fun to have the drama between the characters factor into how the Digimon evolve within the game.” Habu went on to describe how Digimon Adventure played a huge role in Digimon Survive’s development, citing the anime as inspiration for the game’s storytelling, art style, and character designs.
In this regard, the Bandai Namco team turned to the original source when it came to building Digimon Survive’s world–director Hiroyuki Kakudō. “One of the most interesting things I heard from [Kakudō] was that Digimon, as titled, were not born because humans created computers but instead became visible to human beings only because they created computers and digital technology,” Habu said. “He told me that he wrote the world of Digimon with this in mind, that Digimon have been living alongside humans throughout history and that Digimon in the past may have been manifested through magic or sorcery or in Japan, via the ancient art of onmyo, subjugating them as shikigami, or as yokai, or even as demons… One of the concepts we have for this game is whether or not we can bring to life and expand on this challenging fictional world [Kakudō] has envisioned.”
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Digimon Adventure (Tentative Title) – 20th Anniversary Official Film Teaser
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Bandai Namco’s contribution to Digimon’s lore seems to be the end of the Digital World or at least some sort of implication that it undergoes a cycle of destruction and rebirth. Habu describes Digimon Survive’s world as a place of “severe ruin, the sort of tragic place so broken that it might vanish at any given moment.”
Even though we still don’t know much about Digimon Survive, it’s my most anticipated game of 2019. The game is expected to launch on Xbox One, PS4, PC, and Nintendo Switch.
What is a Pokemon Center? Why is Tokyo DX special?
Pokemon Centers are, in the most basic terms, Pokemon stores–and Tokyo is full of them, which can make navigating them a little bit tricky. Functionally, they all fulfill the same role, as places where you can go and buy any Pokemon merch your heart desires, from home goods to trading cards and everything in between. But not every Center is created equal. Available stock, ease of access, and typical foot traffic affect each location as you might expect–some Centers, like the one in Ikebukuro’s Sunshine City, for example, are located in the middle of very popular shopping centers, making them a little bit more high stress to see and visit.
By comparison, the Tokyo DX Center is both the newest and the largest Pokemon Center in the city, situated around a themed foyer complete with a life-sized Snorlax statue diorama that separates it from the adjacent Pokemon Cafe. Luckily, a little over a year after opening, the crowds have become completely manageable, especially during the week.
Like virtually all of the Centers in Tokyo, DX has a selection of exclusive Pikachu-centric plush merch, but it also has a full touch screen PokeDex wall and a dedicated gaming area.
E3 2019 is just around the corner and the GameSpot team will be ready to bring you the best coverage and so much more! If you are in Los Angeles from June 11 to June 13 you should stop by our Base Station, located at the Chick Hearn Court, between Staples Center and the Microsoft Theater.
The GameSpot Base Station will be open to the general public for all ages. You won’t even need a badge to enjoy non-stop live gameplay on the eSports truck, hit the Galactic Gaming Station for some arcade gaming, take some memorable pictures at the Jack in the Box Fuel House Photo Opp, or get some exclusive swag from the Jack in the Box Loot Box. Be sure to stop by from 3 pm to 8 pm.
Remember to follow us on Twitter to find out the latest updates on our meet & greet schedule, keep up with surprises, and for the best coverage of E3 2019.
Only one weekend remains before Destiny 2 receives its next content drop: Penumbra, the final content addition covered under the game’s Year Two annual pass. June 4 starts the Season of Opulence, the last new content addition before Bungie outlines the “next chapter” of Destiny–and since it’s the weekend, that makes this the last visit by Exotics peddler Xur before the start of the new season.
Xur is hanging out in the Tower this week. Head to the Hangar and turn left from the stairs, past Dead Orbit, to find Xur up on the catwalk near the edge of the area. Things are a bit out of character for Xur this week: He’s not carrying a weapon for you to buy, but only three pieces of armor.
For Warlocks, Xur offers the Wings of Sacred Dawn chest armor, which you can use with the Dawnblade Super. When you’re using the Exotic, aiming your weapon will let you hover in midair, and landing weapon hits while you’re up there will extend the effect. Titans can snag the Aeon Safe gauntlets, which grant grenade and class ability energy to your allies and even more energy if they’re wearing Aeon Cult gear themselves. Finally, Hunters get the Frost-EE5 boots, increasing your sprint speed when you dodge and speeds up your ability regeneration while sprinting.
Frost-EE5 (Exotic Hunter leg armor) — 23 Legendary Shards
Wings of Sacred Dawn (Exotic Warlock chest armor) — 23 Legendary Shards
If you’re bummed about not getting a gun from Xur this week, you can also buy a Fated Engram, if you can afford it. Dropping 97 Legendary Shards on the item will grant you one Year One Exotic you don’t already have for that character. Xur also offers the Five of Swords challenge card for free, which allows you to add difficulty modifiers that increase your score in Nightfall runs.
And if you haven’t finished all nine of Xur’s Invitations of the Nine, you can snag one of those as well. The bounty was new in Season of the Drifter, dispensing Powerful gear rewards, a bit of story about the Nine and the Drifter, and a lore drop.
E3 2019 is fast approaching, and the biggest publishers are preparing to show off their slates of games for the upcoming year and beyond. Square Enix is holding a press event on Monday, June 10 at 6 PM ET / 9 PM PT. Regular show watchers will recognize that time slot as one that usually belongs to Sony, which is forgoing the conference this year.
We already know some of Square Enix’s plans, while others are less clear. The company has teased a reveal of its long-anticipated Marvel’s Avengers game. Some details have purportedly already leaked, but seeing it announced live is almost certain to reveal more information. Square also recently announced it will show off Dying Light 2 from Techland at its E3 event. And while it isn’t quite confirmed, the latest State of Play presentation showed of the Final Fantasy VII remake with an intriguing “more to come in June” teaser, which probably means it will be part of the E3 presentation too.
Make sure to check out all of GameSpot’s coverage of E3 2019 for the latest breaking news, and read our full E3 conference schedule to plan your watching for the weekend. Below is a standing list of all of the confirmed Square Enix games we know are slated to make an appearance at the show, so far.
The way we play games changes by the year, but there’s something particularly special about 2019: the advent of cloud-based streaming. Google is leading the charge with Stadia, which is a hardware-less gaming platform that relegates all graphical processing to remote data centers. Through an internet connection, you’ll be able to stream games directly to any capable device using the power of high-end machines housed elsewhere. So, it doesn’t matter what your actual local hardware is; as long as you can run a Chrome browser and have a sufficient internet connection, you can play any game available on Stadia.
Stadia was first unveiled at the Game Developers’ Conference 2019 with a keynote presentation outlining the first details of this new platform. We were given a breakdown of how the tech works, a few on-stage demonstrations, some of its unique capabilities, and a tease of which studios would be contributing to Stadia. And we even got hands on with Stadia itself on the GDC show floor. With E3 2019 right around the corner, we expect Google to make another push with new announcements and more information since the company said it’ll have more to share in the summer. This could encompass Stadia’s business model, upcoming game library, and possible release date–it’s set to launch sometime this year in the US, UK, and “most of Europe” after all, and E3 is as good a time as any to go big.
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Stadia Explained – Google GDC 2019 Gaming Announcement
The unveiling of Stadia at GDC 2019 gave us plenty of details about the platform. Aside from the fact that it’s entirely based in the cloud, making it accessible on multiple devices, we know about its technical specifications. At launch, Stadia users will have the power of a custom multi-core hyper-threading CPU clocked at 2.7 GHz, 16GB of RAM, cloud SSD storage, and most notably a brand-new AMD GPU rated at 10.7 TFLOPs–for comparison, the Xbox One X (the current powerhouse for consoles) is rated at 6.0 TFLOPs. Stadia will be able to play games at 4K resolution at 60 frames-per-second, though that may vary depending on games, optimization, and your own internet connection. There are plans to gradually upgrade Stadia’s specs over time, and Google is aiming to support 8K and 120 FPS in the future. But Stadia’s capabilities aren’t bound by a simple TFLOP number, since cloud-based tech can account for much more.
You won’t have to wait around for game downloads, and updates or patches since Stadia is pulling from a cloud-based version whichever game you’re playing. Google is also going to great lengths for YouTube integration, and we’ve seen it in action, like being able to jump into specific parts of a game based on a video, which is called State Share. Streamers can also let viewers join their multiplayer games instantly through what’s called Crowd Play. Google Voice Assistant will be featured as well, and could have significant implications for guides and instant access to information for games you’re playing.
When it comes to cloud-based services, bandwidth is always a huge concern as this could be a deal-breaker depending on ISP conditions and data caps. Google stated that 20 to 25 mbps is necessary for a proper 1080p 60FPS experience and around 30 mbps for 4K. As for input lag, Google VP Phil Harrison said in response to whether or not he’s confident in Stadia’s performance will satisfy players, “Absolutely, unequivocally, yes.” He cited the expectations that id Software has for Doom Eternal and how Stadia has been able to meet those expectations with its responsiveness in gameplay.
What’s Confirmed For E3
Nothing has been confirmed for E3 2019 on Google’s behalf, yet. However, the GDC reveal was capped off by saying that there would be more details to come in the Summer. Well, E3 is in June, and June is in the Summer, so it’s fair to think that Google would insert itself into (or at least around) the biggest convention for the gaming industry. Whether it’s officially part of E3 proper isn’t likely. We may see some publisher/developer booths with Stadia running certain games, but we don’t expect to Google to have an official presence at the show since it is not part of the ESA.
What We Hope To See At E3
As much as we know about Google Stadia, there are still plenty of questions that need answering and finer details that need explaining. Most importantly, what does the Stadia pricing model look like? Will it be a subscription based service, or is it simply a platform where you purchase access to specific games, or will there be options for incremental play time? Maybe it’s a hybrid of all these? It’s a mystery at this point, but Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot predicted that it would blend several purchase options. Back in April, Google stated that it already decided on a pricing model but planned on sharing details at a later date. Well, Stadia launches this year and the coming days would be as good a time as any to make the announcement.
Up to now, we’ve seen Assassin’s Creed Odyssey and the upcoming shooter Doom Eternal (see above) running on Stadia live. While those are some big names, that’s only two games, one of which has been out for months already. Google has boasted wide ranging partnerships with notable developers and publishers like Ubisoft, Bethesda, and 2K Games, and introduced its own first-party studio led by former EA and Ubisoft head Jade Raymond. With this in mind, we’d expect to see more games running on Stadia. A tentative launch lineup would also be nice to drum up hype for the platform, but to also get a better idea of what we can expect to play on it.
While Stadia’s key selling point is the elimination of a hardware requirement, Google is still going to offer its own controller specifically designed to give you convenient access to the platform’s unique tools. The Stadia controller was on display at GDC 2019 when the platform was first announced, but attendees couldn’t actually get their hands on it. We’d hope to get a feel for how it works and how its ergonomics compare to the DualShock and Xbox controllers, gamepads we’ve been using for years now.
We’re covering cloud-based game streaming from all angles as this is a big shift in the gaming industry, and you can keep up with all the Google Stadia news and details here on GameSpot.
