Author: Trafficblast

Activision is bringing back Call of Duty: Modern Warfare with a reboot, and a big part of capturing the spirit of the original will be refreshing its signature multiplayer. We’ll get our first extended look at that aspect of the game today, with a multiplayer reveal livestream.

So far we’ve only gotten a brief glimpse at the new 2-on-2 Gunfight mode, so this livestream looks to offer more details on that mode and any other modes coming to this year’s shooter. We also expect to hear more about its promised cross-play feature. You can bookmark this page to tune in and watch below.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Multiplayer Livestream Start Time:

• 10 AM PT
• 1 PM ET
• 6 PM BST
• 3 AM AET on August 2

Activision promoted the livestream by teasing the return of killstreak rewards. That tease came with its share of controversy, however, as one of the killstreak rewards is use of the controversial chemical weapon white phosphorus. Other killstreak rewards include the juggernaut care package and an armored assault vehicle.

For more on Modern Warfare, check out how weapon customization will work, as well as the pricey Premium Edition with working night vision goggles. We’re likely to see more about the Premium Edition during today’s event as well.

The start of a new season in Fortnite brings with it changes to the island all the action takes place on, and that is the case with the newly launched Season 10, officially dubbed Season X. However, things are a little different this time around, as some of the new elements are actually older ones from previous seasons. The theme for Season 10 involves a little bit of time travel to create a kind of best-of experience in the game. Items from seasons gone have reappeared and, similarly, the map has changed to reflect the old alongside the new.

The biggest change to the map is the introduction of Rift Zones, which transform different locations on the island when you venture to them. Developer Epic Games has indicated that, over the course of the season, how these Rift Zones impact the areas around them will change and evolve, which makes sense given that the studio likes to mix things up regularly to keep the game fresh.

In terms of what’s returned, the main one is Dusty Depot. In Season 4, a comet crashed onto the island and transformed it into Dusty Divot; it seems this has been undone in Season 10. Now there are a few warehouses there and a Reboot Van, if you need to bring friends back to life. The newly introduced Brute mechs will also appear there.

The comet that caused all the destruction has also returned and is hovering above the island, positioned so that players can visit it and get a closer look. It’s frozen in the sky, so you can safely drop or build your way up to it and, if you do, there’s usually a chest to be opened there. There’s also a way inside the actual comet for those looking to explore.

Over in Loot Lake, you’ll find a giant orb, which seems to be the cause of all the time manipulating shenanigans. It looks to be expanding, with the time suspension bubble around it growing in influence. If you venture close enough, you’ll notice the gravity changes, allowing you to float around. You can be sure that this orb will play a big part in the events that unfold in the coming weeks.

Another noticeable addition is the giant skeleton of a monster with a sword pierced through it. Interestingly, there’s a strange purple fluid of some sort leaking out onto the ground around it. What’s peculiar about this is the liquid seems to be forming spiral-like patterns around it. The question is how far this will spread, and will it result in the monster being resurrected in some fashion?

A couple of other noteworthy things include the Durr Burger Head and Stone Head Statue reappearing. These seem to be just a nice little throwback for a bit of Fortnite nostalgia. You can see the new map above.

Again, the Rifts have opened the door for Epic Games to make more frequent updates to the island. Previously, significant changes to the map were tied to major events such as the comet crash or the pirate invasion, but with these new time anomalies, the orb, and the skeleton, there are ample ways to get creative with more regular changes. The Rift Zones can also impact the gameplay, such as by preventing the use of Harvesting Tools, for example.

The way you play Fortnite has also changed in Season 10, as challenges are now themed and grouped together as “Missions.” Currently, there are no weekly or daily challenges, as there have been in the past, but it’s unclear whether this will remain the case throughout Season 10 or if they will return in the future. More information can be found in our Fortnite Season 10 Challenge and Mission breakdown.

Of course, there’s a new Battle Pass too, and it functions in the same way it has for the past few seasons. To make the most of Fortnite you’ll need to have one, especially as there’s much less for those without a Battle Pass to do. We’ve put together a comprehensive gallery featuring all the new Fortnite skins, emotes, back bling, wraps, pets, and more, so you can take a look and figure out if you want to invest the time and money.

For a wider view of what’s new and different, head over to the Fortnite update 10.00 patch notes.

The United States Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has set a date and an agenda for its upcoming public workshop on video game loot boxes. The event, which will take place on August 7 in Washington DC, is titled “Inside the Game: Unlocking the Consumer Issues Surrounding Loot Boxes.” A schedule posted on the FTC site outlines three key panels to take place throughout the day.

The first panel to take place at 10:15 AM ET promises to explore the role of loot boxes and “the impact of these monetization models on end users.” It will include panelists from the National Consumers League, Common Sense Media, International Game Developers Association, and Entertainment Software Association.

The second panel, to take place at 1:15 PM ET after a short break for lunch, will take a look at the “social, psychological, and economic motivations” behind loot boxes. It will feature university professors in the fields of psychology, industrial engineering, marketing, and computer science.

The final afternoon session, set for 2:45 PM ET, is centered on how to make sure concerns around loot boxes are addressed. It will review current initiatives for disclosing microtransactions, as well as “other mechanisms that may enhance consumer protection.” That panel will include representatives of Common Sense Media, Consumer Reports, the ESA, and the National Council on Problem Gambling. Each of the three panels will be moderated by an FTC representative.

All of this comes amid a backdrop of criticism of microtransactions, including comparisons to gambling and concerns about them being targeted towards children. The FTC hasn’t formally made any moves to restrict the practice, but proposed the workshop as a “non-law enforcement option” that could “help elicit information to guide subsequent consumer outreach.” U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO) has introduced a bill that would ban the practice.

Various countries have responded in their own ways to loot boxes, including some like France and New Zealand that have determined that the practice does not constitute gambling. Still, some countries have already banned the practice, leading games like Rocket League to remove those purchases in select countries.

Fortnite: Season 10 is now live, introducing “Brute” mechs, new skins and emotes, and a fresh batch of challenges. However the launch of the new season has not been without its issues, and developer Epic Games has been forced to disable a number of features as it investigates the problems further.

First, the company tweeted that “the mech has been disabled in the Creative and Playground playlists, due to an issue with movement speed.” It then said that “due to an issue, gifting the Battle Pass on PC has been disabled.” Finally, it stated the following: “We’re aware of some players experiencing an increased level of hitching/stuttering while in-game. We are investigating this and will provide status updates once we have more information.”

None of the problems seen so far have been serious enough to bring the game’s servers down–Epic’s service status page still lists all Fortnite’s systems as “operational”–but it’s still disappointing to see some of these problems crop up on such a big day for the battle royale game.

If you want to see all the changes and tweaks in Season 10, check out the Fortnite update 10.00 patch notes. We’ve also put together a comprehensive guide on the Season 10 Battle Pass, which includes everything you need to know about what it is, what you get for having one, and making the most of one. For more on the new season, take a look at our Fortnite Season 10 hub, which collects all the pre-release teases, information on the season’s launch, and details on everything that is new. This hub is being updated regularly, so check back for the latest updates on what’s happening with the game.

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The start of a new season in Fortnite inevitably brings with it a number of new features and tweaks to the way the popular battle royale title plays. However, the newly launched Season 10, has one of the most significant changes the game has received in quite some time. Developer Epic Games has done away with Weekly Challenges and, in turn, made playing the game without spending money on a premium Battle Pass far less rewarding.

Previously, players could load up Fortnite and see a set of Daily Challenges alongside a set of Weekly Challenges. The Weekly Challenges would have a set of challenges that could be completed by anyone playing the game and another set that was only available to those that purchased a Battle Pass.

Now, however, the Daily Challenges have been replaced by Limited Time Missions. Epic Games has explained in a statement that these Limited Time Missions “are free for all players” and “by completing objectives, players can earn rewards.”

It continued: “As part of the Limited Time Mission, a new objective will unlock daily at 9AM ET. Players will have a week to complete these objectives. They will then be replaced by a new set of Limited Time Mission objectives.”

All players will now have 70 unique objectives to undertake and complete over the course of the Season 10. Additionally, free events will be introduced throughout the season along with additional rewards. Weekly Challenges, meanwhile, have been morphed into themed sets.

Currently, there’s the Rumble Royale and Road Trip Mission sets available and, in both cases, the challenges that are included in them are locked entirely behind a Battle Pass. This is a huge change as it effectively locks out Fortnite players that don’t spend money on a Battle Pass from a huge part of the game that they’ve become accustomed to engaging with.

While a free silver tier of the Battle Pass still exists and there are unlockable rewards attached to them, the rewards aren’t nearly as exciting as those available to Battle Pass owners. And unlocking them is done primarily through simply playing the Battle Royale mode to score kills and earn Victory Royales. You can take a look at the difference between challenge availability with and without a Battle Pass above.

Those that purchased the Breakpoint bundle, which includes Daily Challenges that must be completed to earn its rewards, are now finding that the challenges are not available, halting their progress entirely.

Fortnite is a game that is continuously evolving, so it may be that the way challenges work changes in the coming weeks and, similarly, more to do is introduced for those without the premium Battle Pass. GameSpot has contacted Epic for further insight on why these changes were made and if players can expect more free-focused content in the future.

If you want to see all the changes and tweaks, check out the Fortnite Update 10.00 patch notes. We’ve also put together a comprehensive guide on the Season 10 Battle Pass, which includes everything you need to know about what it is, what you get for having one, and making the most of one. For more on the new season, take a look at our Fortnite Season 10 hub, which collects all the pre-releases teases, information on its launch, and details on everything that is new. This hub is being updated regularly, so check back for the latest updates on what’s happening with the game.

Patrice Desilets, the creator of the Assassin’s Creed franchise, has a mind full of game ideas. He told GI.biz that in addition to making the long-awaited 1666 Amsterdam, he has ideas for numerous other games, including some that are very personal to him.

Desilets heads up the independent studio Panache Digital Games, which is working with Take-Two’s indie label on Ancestors: The Humankind Odyssey, which launches this year. That game sees you playing as human ancestor animal and trying to survive in a harsh world. 1666 Amsterdam, which Desilets had returned to him amid a lawsuit with Ubisoft, is also set in a historical time period. But Desilets does eventually plan to make games that take place in different time periods.

“Panache has another IP called 1666 Amsterdam, which we will eventually make,” he said. “But I have my own personal portfolio of ideas and they’re not all set in the past. Eventually, for sure, we will need to do a game set in the future, or a fantasy land, or set in reality… I have a game idea that’s really precise about a story that happened to my father. My father is a survivor of the earthquake in Haiti in 2010, and I want to tell that story eventually.”

Ancestors is Desilet’s first new game since 2010’s Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood. According to GI.biz, Desilets also said he doesn’t plan to make AAA games again; Panache is staffed by 35 people, according to the report. Additionally, the site reported that Desilets said the team could eventually work on multiple games at the same time; one example reportedly provided was supporting a live service game alongside developing a different title.

Also in the interview, Desilets talked about how Ancestors is being positioned as “the next game from the creator of Assassin’s Creed.”

“We have an understanding between each other that if the game is good, it is them,” he said. “If the game is sh**, then it’s my fault. So I make the decisions. Panache is not a democracy, but I am open to discussion and saying let’s create the game together.”

You can read the full interview here at GI.biz.

In 2017, Desilets shared some high-level details on 1666. “That’s my game about the devil in us that we are all good guys but sometimes we’re not and how come sometimes we’re not?” he said. “And it’s an international subject matter also and in our culture the devil symbol is there so I want to attack that and eventually we’re going to make it here at Panache.”

Assassin’s Creed and Far Cry publisher Ubisoft has added another studio to its stable.

The company bought a 70 percent stake in the “hyper-casual” free-to-play game developer Green Panda Games. The studio and Ubisoft are both headquartered in Paris, France. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed, though Ubisoft did say the agreement gives Ubisoft the option to buy 100 percent of Green Panda’s shares in the next four years.

Green Panda–which is staffed by 30 people–is the developer and publisher of mobile games like Sushi Bar, Terrarium, Emoji Craft, and Golf Inc Tycoon, among many others. In all, the company has released 55 games since its founding in 2013. Altogether, the studio’s games have reached 85 million people around the globe, according to a press release from Ubisoft.

As for why Ubisoft is buying a controlling stake in Green Panda, the company said Green Panda gives Ubisoft a “sharp editorial vision in the idle games segment, data-based iterative creative processes, and undisputed expertise in both user acquisition and ad monetization strategies.”

Ubisoft Mobile boss Jean-Michel Detoc said, “This acquisition strengthens our position in the hyper-casual market, particularly within the idle games segment.”

Green Panda founder Guillaume Sztejnberg, meanwhile, said in his own statement that the studio is “delighted to be coming on board with Ubisoft…”

This is just the latest move from Ubisoft to invest further into mobile games. In 2016, the company acquired developer Ketchapp. Ubisoft already has a mobile game business, one of its biggest and best-known franchises being Hungry Shark.

Activision’s new Call of Duty: Modern Warfare re-imagining is set for a big multiplayer reveal on August 1, but ahead of that, details about the game’s “Dark Edition” have come to light.

Leon Hurley posted images of the googles, which look pretty extreme. As fans may recall, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 also had a premium version that came with night vision goggles.

Pricing for the Dark Edition hasn’t been confirmed yet, but a since-removed GameStop listing suggests the premium bundle will cost $200 USD. Developer Infinity Ward also tweeted about the night vision goggles, and you can see their image below. The caption strongly suggests that the Dark Edition will be formally announced during the multiplayer reveal event on August 1.

The Call of Duty: Modern Warfare multiplayer reveal on August 1 is expected to bring news about, of course, the multiplayer mode. The franchise is known for its strong multiplayer elements, so people are understandably excited to find out more about what Modern Warfare has to deliver.

We’ve already learned about the close-quarters 2v2 mode Gunfight (see the video above), but Activision has more to share about the full suite of offerings for Modern Warfare’s multiplayer package.

Recently, Activision confirmed that killstreaks will return in Modern Warfare, and one of them involves chemical warfare.

The new Modern Warfare, which is inspired by the 2007 game Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, launches on October 25 for PS4, Xbox One, and PC.