Author: Trafficblast

Destiny 2’s Five-Year Plan Likely Means Destiny 3 Is Far Away

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With Destiny 2 gearing up for the release of Shadowkeep, developer Bungie outlined what’s to come in the first-person looter-shooter MMO. Destiny 2’s five-year plan is now underway–and it really kicks off when Shadowkeep comes out this October. This likely means Destiny 3, if it ever happens, is years away from release. In the meantime, here’s how Guardians can expect Destiny 2’s ongoing updates to work.

Various Bungie developers–including game director Luke Smith, community head Eric Osborne, production director Justin Truman, and more–spoke about their vision for Destiny 2 with Shadowkeep and beyond in a new vidoc. Bungie is investing in a large system overhaul for the looter-shooter. Everything is changing: armor, enemies, missions, and even the game world itself. The studio claimed it wants to “build Destiny for its core fans [and] the people who love it.”

Everything Is Changing

Director Luke Smith started the vidoc by saying he wants to construct a world where you feel like all your actions move the universe forward in some meaningful way. To achieve this goal, Smith said Shadowkeep is the “first step” for Bungie to build the world it is envisioning for Guardians. Shadowkeep will call you back to the Moon, an important Destiny locale that has undergone some frightening changes. Community head Eric Osborne explained that part of the game is understanding what has changed the Moon and why, and what has the Vanguard Hunter Eris Morn discovered on or in it. Whatever discovery this is, according to Osborne, will have drastic implications on Destiny’s world, extending possibly to March 2020, all the way to this time next year, and beyond. But returning to the Moon will induce nightmares that manifest into enemies from the past.

Shadowkeep doesn’t just present a new suite of missions and raids. It also changes the way you play Destiny 2, according to production director Justin Truman. The studio transitioned to talking about armor, which is seeing a drastic overhaul with Shadowkeep. Armor 2.0, at its core, is about making every character slot count. Stats have returned in the character screen, finishers have mods that affect their properties, and more. Further, Shadowkeep will introduce a bevy of new weapons, from seasonal equipment to Shadowkeep gear and some that glow when nightmares are nearby. Smith says Shadowkeep will allow you to “build your character your way.”

More Ways To Play

With Shadowkeep comes the evolution of how Bungie handles its season pass. The studio is focusing more on how the seasons actually connect and relate to each other in order to create a more cohesive narrative across the whole of Destiny 2. The studio wants to tell “one continuous story” that poses and answers questions, all starting with Shadowkeep.

Fellow production director Matt Zitterman explained that each time you log in to Destiny 2 there’s a new way to play thanks to the seasons. Each system–from season rank to the Artifact–is “designed to make the game more compelling as a character-building game,” according to Zitterman. The Artifact, an infinite power grind, will give you the tools you need to defeat Destiny 2’s new harder enemies, the Champions, as well as the new Nightfall modes. With the introduction of the Artifact, the endgame will soon be about overleveling your character so you can take on Destiny 2’s hardest challenges.

Repurposing Familiarity

Having a “healthier PvP game” is part of Bungie’s focus within the five-year plan. That includes bringing back original Destiny maps–like Fragment and Widow’s Court–placing Elimination back into the Crucible’s rotating game modes, and more. Each week will feature different iterations on game modes, where Bungie will be looking for player-feedback to make tweaks.

Bungie also wants Destiny 2 to have a single, evolving world. The Season of the Undying sees the Vex invading the Moon, and it kicks off the first act of Year Three. From there, Destiny 2 will see a bevy of new content, including new raids, nightmare hunts, exotic quests, and “so much more no matter what player you are,” Osborne said. Creating a single, evolving world is “one of the biggest changes” coming to Destiny 2 overtime. All of these changes follow Activision and Bungie’s break up earlier this year, which now sees the FPS developer showcasing the breadth and scope of its vision for Destiny 2.

Shadowkeep is expected to hit PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One on October 1. Destiny 2 will be a day-one launch title when the Google Stadia comes out sometime this November.

Toy Story 4: Exclusive Deleted Scene Introduces Buzz Lightyear’s ‘Knockoffs’

While Toy Story 4 introduced a number of new toys into an already massive cast, there are even more new characters who didn’t quite make the cut. We have an exclusive clip that showcases some of these characters, as Buzz Lightyear meets three “knockoffs” crudely designed in his image.

Check out this deleted scene in the video player above.

Director Josh Cooley breaks down the origins of the scene as he introduces the clip. The idea being that Buzz would meet several bootleg toys while trapped as a prize inside a carnival booth. The toys look like him (more or less) but they aren’t quite the real deal. And as we can see from one of these characters, Buzz’s iconic catchphrases didn’t quite make the transition.

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Arrow: Oliver Queen’s Final Mission Begins With a Shocking Return

All September long, IGN is highlighting the best TV coming your way in the 2019-2020 season. Today we’re featuring Arrow, which is set to begin its eighth and final season in October. The series is undergoing its most dramatic status quo shift ever in Season 8. Oliver Queen is coming out of his short-lived retirement to join forces with the Monitor and prepare for the coming Crisis, a conflict he’s been told will lead to his own death. Along the way, the series will revisit the most popular characters and conflicts from the past seven seasons, even as it also continues exploring the future of Team Arrow in the year 2049. We recently had a chance to chat with showrunner Beth Schwartz about the final season and how it pays tribute to Oliver Queen’s legacy in the Arrowverse.  

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Save 18% on the LEGO Harry Potter Advent Calendar

The holiday season is fast approaching, and LEGO has a few Advent Calendars on sale. Right now you can grab the LEGO Harry Potter 2019 Advent Calendar for 18% off, saving you $7 on this festive package which includes the calendar, as well as a host of Harry Potter themed LEGO pieces and figures.

LEGO Harry Potter 2019 Advent Calendar for $32.99

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Call of Duty: Modern Warfare and the Cruel Realities of White Phosphorous

War is particularly ubiquitous in video games. From the original Metal Gear to Battlefield: Bad Company to Spec Ops: The Line, it has become one of the most popular backdrops for a long line of games, and the de-facto setting for online multiplayer. It makes sense; after all, video games are so often about conflict resolution, and what type of conflict is more recognizable than war? And there’s no more recognizable name in war games than Call of Duty.

Since the first game was released in 2003, Call of Duty has grown from a singular game about World War II into one of the most popular franchises in the world. CoD has dropped players into battlefields ranging from occupied France in the 1940s, the mid-2000s Middle East, the front lawn of the White House, and even into outer space. Players have rescued hostages, conducted black ops missions, fought in the Battle of the Bulge, and stopped nuclear weapons from striking the continental United States.

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Nintendo Switch’s Next Tetris 99 Event Offers Rewards In Another Game

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The Mario Kart 8 North American Open isn’t the only online competition Nintendo is hosting this weekend. The company has also announced the details of Tetris 99‘s next Maximus Cup event. This month’s contest kicks off on Friday, September 20, at 12 AM PT / 3 AM ET, and it’ll give players a chance to win a couple of Kirby-themed rewards.

The seventh Maximus Cup runs until 11:59 PM PT on September 23. Like previous events, this one is point based; you’ll earn points depending on how well you place in each match, and if you can amass at least 100 points by the end of the competition, you’ll earn a special in-game theme based on Switch’s new free-to-play game, Super Kirby Clash.

That’s not all; this time, there’s a second prize up for grabs. In addition to the Kirby theme, players who reach 100 points during the Maximus Cup will also take home 99 Gem Apples for Super Kirby Clash. Gem Apples are the title’s in-game currency, and they’re used to craft new gear, purchase items, and unlock levels. You can read more details about the contest on the Tetris 99 website.

Tetris 99 is free to download and play for Nintendo Switch Online subscribers. If you have a paid subscription, you can also pick up a free bundle of Gem Apples for Super Kirby Clash right now from the Switch Eshop (as well as a free Spirit Board Challenge Pack for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate). You can learn more about the service in our guide to Nintendo Switch Online.

Meanwhile, the aforementioned Mario Kart 8 North American Open takes place on Sunday, September 22. The top eight players in that tournament will win 2,500 My Nintendo Gold points, which equates to $25 in credit for the Switch Eshop. The full contest rules can be found on Nintendo’s website.

Watch The Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare Beta And Cross-Play Stream Here

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A Call of Duty: Modern Warfare stream scheduled for Tuesday, September 17 is slated to unpack what Infinity Ward learned from the first beta weekend, and share new details about cross-play. It will all go down at 10 AM PT, and you can watch it right here.

The first beta ran from September 14-16, though pre-orders got a few days of early access as well. Another phase of the beta is set to begin on September 19, for PC and Xbox One pre-orders along with all PS4 users. A final open beta will run September 21-23 across all platforms, available to everyone regardless of pre-order status.

We know that the second phase will open up Ground War, a massive 32v32 mode. That test will take place on a new map called Karst River Quarry. It will also start to put cross-play through its paces, which we expect to hear more about on the stream today. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare releases October 25.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Beta Livestream Start Times

  • 10 AM PT
  • 1 PM ET
  • 6 PM BST
  • 3 AM EAST (Sept 18)

Ever Wonder What Spider-Man: Far From Home Would Look Like As A PS2 Game?

The special features for home releases of movies typically contain cool deleted scenes, short films, and plenty of featurettes. However, the digital release of Spider-Man: Far From Home contains something so enthralling, it was impossible not to watch it all: pre-visual effects action sequences… The Potato Mode of movies.

The thought of watching a fight sequence without polished FX seems like a bad idea, but the five pre-vis special features on the digital release of Far From Home are exceptionally entertaining to watch because the graphics look like a PS2 game.

No Caption ProvidedGallery image 1Gallery image 2Gallery image 3

The feature offers a side-by-side comparison between the working product and the finished product, which you can see directly above. Just look how MJ awkwardly had her hand on Spider-Man’s shoulder. Looks like romance to me, right?

Also included are a few other moments we found rather amusing, like when Ned was trapped on the Ferris wheel, waving his hands around in fear. There’s also a “hero shot” of Spider-Man and one of Mysterio, and it all looks like a weird mod for Grand Theft Auto III, which probably exists somewhere on the internet.

In total, around eight minutes of pre-visual effects sequences are included in the special features for the movie, with the Molten Man sequence making up the bulk of it at just over four minutes. Typically, the public doesn’t get to see these, so if you’re into how these FX-heavy movies come together, you’ll want to watch them all. Even if you’re not, you’ll probably just want to watch them because of how weird everything looks.

No Caption Provided

Spider-Man: Far From Home

$20 in 4K

See it at Google Play

The digital release contains tons of special features from deleted scenes, featurettes, and a gag reel, all of which are detailed below.

  • New Original Short, Peter’s To-Do-List: Peter has a few errands to run before he can leave on his class trip.
  • Teachers’ Travel Tips: Mr. Harrington & Mr. Dell present a few tips on how to traverse the European continent.
  • Stepping Up: Explore how Spider-Man was introduced in the MCU, the ways Tom Holland transformed the character of Peter Parker, and what the future holds for Spider-Man.
  • Suit Up: The suit doesn’t make the hero – but it does play a big role in who they are and who they can become. This piece examines all of Peter’s different suits in the movie, and with behind the scenes footage, we see why some suits are better than others.
  • Far, FAR, Far from Home: The film’s illustrious locations serve story points and establish tone, but they’re also amazing to travel to! Hear from the cast on their experiences filming on-location.
  • It Takes Two: A special look at the chemistry between Jon Watts and Tom Holland.
  • Fury & Hill: MCU stalwarts Cobie Smulders and Samuel L. Jackson are back as Agent Maria Hill & Nick Fury!
  • The Ginter-Riva Effect: A look at the villain sub-plot and how William Ginter-Riva ties Spider-Man: Far From Home all the way back to the beginning of the MCU.
  • Thank You, Mrs. Parker: A look at Marisa Tomei’s reimagining of Aunt May, from Homecoming to Far From Home.
  • The Brother’s Trust: A quick look into some of the amazing work Tom Holland and his brothers have done through their charity, The Brothers Trust.
  • The Jump Off: Interviews with the cast & crew take us through all of the amazing stunts of Far From Home.
  • Now You See Me: We examine the evolution of Mysterio and why Jake Gyllenhaal was the perfect fit for the role.
  • Stealthy Easter Eggs: Allow E.D.I.T.H. to reveal some of the hidden Easter Eggs you may have missed!
  • Select Scene Pre – Vis: A side by side comparison of the Pre-Vis with the film
  • Gag Reel & Outakes
  • Never-Before-Seen Alternate & Extended Scenes

The products discussed here were independently chosen by our editors. GameSpot may get a share of the revenue if you buy anything featured on our site.

Spider-Man Far From Home Deleted Scene Blips The Movie’s Most Entertaining Characters

We’re well aware that in Avengers: Infinity War, Thanos, played by Josh Brolin, dusted so many people–half of all living beings, in fact. And yes, it was painful to watch characters like Peter Parker (Tom Holland) temporarily meet the ends of their lives, not realizing what’s happening to them. However, it’s not until the deleted scenes from Spider-Man: Far From Home that we see the most devastating victims of the blip, as the movie called it.

In the scene, which is titled “Betty Blips,” we see both Betty Brant (Angourie Rice) and Jason Ionello (Jorge Lendeborg Jr.) doing their news broadcast at school when the snap happens. All too quickly they start turning to dust. Well, actually, they start fading away because visual effects on the scene clearly aren’t done. Honestly, it makes the moment kind of funny.

As they fade out, Betty begs for help and asks what’s happening. The scene then quickly cuts to Iron Man’s (Robert Downey Jr.) snap from Avengers: Endgame, with the two instantly returning to the show’s set, only to find someone else in Betty’s spot, anchoring the news. “What just happened?” she screams in the scene. “Oh, excuse me. You’re in my chair.” Jason is much less composed, vomiting behind them and asking where his chair went.

It’s a very funny moment, but one that would have been hard to place in the movie. While footage of the reverse snap is scene during Far From Home, in which the school’s marching band reappears during a basketball game, it’s such a quick moment that dwelling on it even longer would not have worked. Still, it’s exciting to see that this particular moment was filmed and is now available.

The home release of Spider-Man: Far From Home comes loaded with other special features, including more deleted scenes, a bunch of featurettes, and even a short film about Peter Parker’s daily routine–most of which is footage that was included in the theatrical rerelease.

Spider-Man: Far From Home won’t be out on DVD, Blu-ray, and 4K UHD until October 1, but it is now available digitally through various storefronts, like Google Play, Vudu, Movies Anywhere, and iTunes.

No Caption Provided

Spider-Man: Far From Home

$20 in 4K

See it at Google Play

The digital release contains tons of special features from deleted scenes, featurettes, and a gag reel, all of which are detailed below.

  • New Original Short, Peter’s To-Do-List: Peter has a few errands to run before he can leave on his class trip.
  • Teachers’ Travel Tips: Mr. Harrington & Mr. Dell present a few tips on how to traverse the European continent.
  • Stepping Up: Explore how Spider-Man was introduced in the MCU, the ways Tom Holland transformed the character of Peter Parker, and what the future holds for Spider-Man.
  • Suit Up: The suit doesn’t make the hero–but it does play a big role in who they are and who they can become. This piece examines all of Peter’s different suits in the movie, and with behind the scenes footage, we see why some suits are better than others.
  • Far, FAR, Far from Home: The film’s illustrious locations serve story points and establish tone, but they’re also amazing to travel to! Hear from the cast on their experiences filming on-location.
  • It Takes Two: A special look at the chemistry between Jon Watts and Tom Holland.
  • Fury & Hill: MCU stalwarts Cobie Smulders and Samuel L. Jackson are back as Agent Maria Hill & Nick Fury!
  • The Ginter-Riva Effect: A look at the villain sub-plot and how William Ginter-Riva ties Spider-Man: Far From Home all the way back to the beginning of the MCU.
  • Thank You, Mrs. Parker: A look at Marisa Tomei’s reimagining of Aunt May, from Homecoming to Far From Home.
  • The Brother’s Trust: A quick look into some of the amazing work Tom Holland and his brothers have done through their charity, The Brothers Trust.
  • The Jump Off: Interviews with the cast & crew take us through all of the amazing stunts of Far From Home.
  • Now You See Me: We examine the evolution of Mysterio and why Jake Gyllenhaal was the perfect fit for the role.
  • Stealthy Easter Eggs: Allow E.D.I.T.H. to reveal some of the hidden Easter Eggs you may have missed!
  • Select Scene Pre-Vis: A side by side comparison of the Pre-Vis with the film
  • Gag Reel & Outtakes
  • Never-Before-Seen Alternate & Extended Scenes

The products discussed here were independently chosen by our editors. GameSpot may get a share of the revenue if you buy anything featured on our site.

Weekend Box Office: Hustlers Scores Big, The Goldfinch Flops Badly

The horror sequel It: Chapter 2 continued to do great business at the US box office this weekend, but it faced strong competition from the Jennifer Lopez-starring crime drama Hustlers. In its second week on release, It: Chapter 2 made $39.6 million, bringing its US total to $152 million. Worldwide, the movie has made $322 million to date. The first It, which was released in September 2017, made more than $700 million worldwide and stands as the most successful R-rated movie of all time.

While Hustlers could only get to second place on the chart, it still scored an impressive weekend result. The movie has benefited from strong reviews and made $33.2 million at the US box office. This is the biggest ever live-action opening for a movie starring Lopez, beating 2005’s Monster-in-Law.

However, it wasn’t all success stories on this weekend’s chart. The highest new entry was down at No. 8, where The Goldfinch, which was co-produced by Amazon Studios, opened with a paltry $2.67 million. The adaptation of Donna Tartt’s award-winning novel scored the sixth worst opening of all time from a movie on a wide release of over 2,500 locations. It stars Ansel Elgort, Nicole Kidman, Jeffrey Wright, and Sarah Paulson, and currently has a Rotten Tomatoes score of 25%.

The rest of the chart consisted of titles that have held on over the past few weeks. The action sequel Angel Has Fallen moved to No. 3 and added another $4.4 million to its total US take of $60 million–it is now only $2 million away from overtaking its predecessor, 2016’s London Has Fallen. The comedy Good Boys, The Lion King, Hobbs & Shaw, and Overcomer all fell one place each to occupy No. 4 through to No. 7.

Top 10 Films in the US for the weekend of September 13 -September 15 (via Box Office Mojo):

  1. It: Chapter 2 ($39,606,550)
  2. Hustlers ($10,210)
  3. Angel has Fallen ($4,494,056)
  4. Good Boys ($4,223,875)
  5. The Lion King ($3,649,905)
  6. Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw ($2,791,425)
  7. Overcomer ($2,725,781)
  8. The Goldfinch ($2,679,027)
  9. The Peanut Butter Falcon ($1,843,310)
  10. Dora and the Lost City of Gold ($1,835,864)