Author: Trafficblast

Sony’s PlayStation 4-exclusive God of War launched in April behind rapt praise from critics and commercial success. Some fans might have expected DLC to follow, but that never happened. It remains to be seen if the action game will ever receive any additional content, but what we do know is that game director Cory Barlog pitched a DLC idea that was too ambitious. As a result, this expansion, at least in the way Barlog imagined it, may never see the light of day.

“I had a really fun idea for a DLC that I only regret because I would love to have done that,” Barlog told Kinda Funny. “But it was too ambitious.”

Barlog said it would have been like The Last of Us 1‘s Left Behind or Uncharted Lost Legacy releases, which were big enough to warrant their own standalone releases.

“It would [have] ended up being its own thing,” Barlog said of the mystery God of War DLC. “Rightfully so, everybody said, ‘Dude, this is crazy, this isn’t DLC, this is a little too big.”

One of the only regrets that Barlog said he still has about God of War is that the team wasn’t able to release the Photo Mode and New Game+ options at launch. Instead, these were released through free updates after the game was released. The New Game+ mode did add some new armor and customisation items, but it might not have been the proper expansion some fans would have wanted.

God of War was one of GameSpot’s favourite titles of 2018, while it beat out Red Dead Redemption 2 to win the overall Game of the Year award at The Game Awards in December. The game may not be finished winning awards yet, as it is nominated for a top writing award at the Writers Guild Awards this year.

At CES 2019, Samsung unveiled its new 75-inch MicroLED TV. Despite its size, this is actually the smallest MicroLED TV that supports 4K resolution. Even though both OLED and LCD technology are already pushing 8K resolution, CNET’s coverage of CES reports that Samsung plans on further developing its MicroLED technology so that it can rival the two older display types by the end of 2019.

Samsung first showcased this MicroLED TV technology at CES 2018, showcasing how the screens were composed of millions of individual LEDs. Individuals screens could be combined to create massive displays, which the company calls The Wall TV. Previously, the smallest size for The Wall–that could support 4K–was 146 inches. The company could go larger and still support 4K though, and it proved that this year with the reveal of a larger 219-inch version of The Wall too.

According to CNET, Samsung is taking advantage of the new-generation display’s thinner panels to make plans for selling MicroLED TVs to US consumers in 2019. The panels have previously been 80mm, which is more appropriate for industrial use. However, they’ve recently been shrunk down to 30mm. Samsung will announce the TVs’ release date and prices at a later time.

Just because Samsung plans on promoting MicroLED, does not mean the company plans on abandoning its OLED and LCD TVs. At CES 2019, Samsung revealed a new 98-inch 8K QLED resolution TV. Relying on 33 million pixels, the television is about the size of an average living room. For context, if you were to play Red Dead Redemption 2 on this TV, it would probably display a nearby horse close to a believable real-life size. No price has been announced for this TV either, but Samsung sold last year’s 85-inch 8K QLED TV for $15,000 USD, so you may want to expect at least that price.

Game streaming accessory maker Elgato debuted two more products aimed at streamers at CES. The first is a piece of software that makes it easier to stream mobile games, while the other is an accessory to increase the production value for streaming personalities.

The Elgato Screen Link is PC/Mac software that makes your iPhone or iPad appear as an input source for streaming apps like OBS Studio, Streamlabs, XSplit, and Game Capture. You can sample it for free now through the official site, with a limitation of 15-minute streams and a max bitrate of 16 Mbps. A Pro version, said to be coming soon, will unlock unlimited streams and a 32 Mbps bitrate for $10.

The Key Light is a simple solution for streamer lighting, so that viewers can see your face nice and clearly. It’s designed to attach to desks for streamers, and the interface lets you adjust the intensity and warmth of the light from your desktop. It’s releasing on January 14 for $200.

Of course, much of the technology at CES has been targeted towards people who simply play games. Those have included new announcements like Viveport Infinity, an all-you-can-eat VR game service, new TVs from Samsung, and gaming laptops. You can check out all that and much more at all of our at CES 2019 coverage, and even more at GameSpot sister site CNET.

One of the biggest games announced for 2019 is Metro Exodus, an open-world shooter that’s set in post-apocalyptic Russia. The third game in the Metro series, Exodus will be enhanced for Xbox One X, featuring 4K resolution and HDR graphics. To help get players acquainted (or reacquainted) with the series, Microsoft has announced it will release the Xbox One X Metro Saga Bundle on February 15.

The Xbox One X Metro Saga Bundle comes with a 1TB Xbox One X console, a controller, one-month trials for Xbox Game Pass and Xbox Live Gold, as well as digital copies of Metro 2033 Redux, Metro: Last Light Redux, and Metro Exodus. That’s all you need to play through the entire Metro series from the beginning. Like most Xbox One X bundles, this one will retail for $499.

Metro 2033 is a shooter with survival elements that first launched in 2010. It was followed in 2013 by Metro: Last Light, a direct sequel. Both games were remastered for modern consoles in 2014 with the release of Metro Redux. The remastered versions are what appear in this Xbox One X bundle.

Both games received high scores from GameSpot, though they’re not exactly light, happy fare. In our Metro Redux review, Kevin VanOrd wrote, “In both Metro: Last Light and in the refashioned Metro 2033, there is more dread in the deafening silence than there is in the retort of a shotgun. In the metro tunnels beneath Moscow, you scavenge for ammo to use as currency as well as munitions, burn away cobwebs with your lighter, and search for gas masks that allow you to breathe the perilous air should you approach the surface.” For more information about the upcoming sequel, which launches on February 15, check out what to expect from Metro Exodus.

As for the Xbox One X, it’s the most powerful version of Microsoft’s current-gen console. It supports Ultra HD Blu-ray disc playback, 4K resolution, and HDR. For more information, read or watch our Xbox One X review.

You’ll soon be able to buy a TV that can disappear from your living room, thanks to a new OLED TV LG is showing off at CES 2019. The rollable TV is based on a prototype the company showed off last year, and which can roll down into an unobtrusive piece of furniture when it’s not being used.

As GameSpot sister site CNET reported, LG intends to make the new TV, which right now is called the Signature OLED TV R, available in the second half of 2019. When off, it rolls up into what looks like a small table, and cloth covers a Dolby Atmos sound system as part of the machine. When you turn the TV on, a sliding door on top moves out of the way to allow the screen to roll up.

The Signature’s moving screen also supports at least one screen configuration beyond just “on” and “off.” You can also set it to “line” mode, which raises part of the screen to display a home screen with information like weather and a clock, or to a 21:9 ratio mode to display ultra-widescreen movies without the letterbox bars. It can also just play music with no screen present.

LG says the only version of the rolling set available this year will be a 65-inch version. It hasn’t said what it’ll cost–but it seems likely the Signature OLED TV R will be pretty expensive. Still, the set sounds like it impressed the folks at CNET, and could be the first step toward what your future living room could look like.

There has been a lot of interesting stuff showed off at CES 2019 in Las Vegas this week, including huge new TVs from Samsung and LG, and a bunch of new virtual reality goodies from HTC. For all our CES coverage throughout the show, check out our CES hub page.

The Year of Legendary Pokemon may have ended, but The Pokemon Company has another free gift in store for fans. For a limited time, anyone with a copy of Pokemon Sun and Moon or Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon can receive a bundle of Berries for free via Mystery Gift.

The bundle consists of five different types of Berries: Enigma, Micle, Custap, Jaboca, and Rowap. You’ll receive 12 of each variety as part of the gift, which you can then equip to a Pokemon for use in battle or plant in Isle Aplenny of the Poke Pelago in order to grow more.

What makes these particular Berries special is that they can’t otherwise be obtained in Sun and Moon or their Ultra counterparts, making this your first opportunity to get your hands on them in the seventh-generation titles. You can read about the effect each one has when it’s equipped to a Pokemon below:

• Enigma Berry: Restores some HP after being hit by a super-effective attack
• Micle Berry: Raises accuracy one time when your Pokemon is in a pinch
• Custap Berry: Allows your Pokemon to move first one time when in a pinch
• Jaboca Berry: Opponent also takes damage when your Pokemon is hit with a physical attack
• Rowap Berry: Opponent also takes damage when your Pokemon is hit with a special attack

To claim the Berries, you’ll first need to select Mystery Gift from your game’s main menu. Choose the option to receive your gift via the internet, and the Berries will be downloaded into your game. You’ll then need to pick them up from the deliveryman waiting inside any Pokemon Center.

A new Pokemon RPG is slated to release for Nintendo Switch this year. Unlike Let’s Go Pikachu and Let’s Go Eevee, which were designed to be more welcoming to newer and younger players, The Pokemon Company says this year’s title will be a “core” installment, although few details have been announced beyond that. You can read everything we know about Pokemon for Switch here.

In June 2018, From Software announced that its upcoming Souls-like action RPG, titled Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, would not have online multiplayer. The developer has now further clarified that, because Sekiro lacks this feature, it will allow you to pause your game.

With the exception of Dark Souls Remastered on Switch, no From Software Soulsborne game has allowed players to pause wherever they want since Demon Souls. For anyone who might think this will make Sekiro somehow easier in comparison to Dark Souls III or Bloodborne, don’t worry. Sekiro is just as hard, if not much harder, than its predecessors. In an interview with Game Informer, From Software revealed that, without the option for online play, every environment and boss has been specifically catered to providing a challenging experience for a single person.

“When creating these playspaces, we don’t have to take into consideration how players will operate with one another in these maps, or how they may exploit the playspace by cooperating or something like this,” From Software marketing and communications manager Yasuhiro Kitao said. “So it allows us, again, to hone in on the player experience, and really capitalize on that lack of restriction that comes with creating a multiplayer-based game, and let our imagination run wild in these places.”

Just because Sekiro is abandoning the online features of previous Soulsborne games–such as leaving notes, teaming up with other players, and invading–doesn’t mean From Software is done with them entirely. “Of course, we at From, we love those online elements,” Kitao said. “We love to create our own characters just as much as everyone else. We hope players are looking forward to something in the future where we might go back to that, but for now, Sekiro is very much its own thing.” From Software hasn’t yet announced what the future past Sekiro might be, but the company has revealed that it is already working on two unannounced games. There’s a chance that one might be an Armored Core sequel.

Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice releases for Xbox One, PS4, and PC on March 22. The standard version of the game releases alongside a Collector’s Edition, both of which are available for pre-order.

At CES 2019, Samsung revealed a new TV that is irresponsibly large. The television comes in at 98 inches and 8K QLED resolution, giving it more than 33 million pixels. Those who want to play Red Dead Redemption 2 with horses that appear actual size, the new model will go on sale this year.

However, it may prove a difficult sell. CNET reports that Samsung’s line of 8K TVs offers upscaling, but for a TV that size you’d probably want native 8K. So far most programming isn’t offered at such a high resolution.

Last year Samsung released the first 85-inch 8K QLED TV, which goes for a cool $15,000. No price has been given for this new 98-inch model. Samsung says sales of TVs with screens above 75 inches have more than doubled in the United States over the past year.

Samsung’s super-sized TV is one type of showpiece for CES, as existing technologies get bigger and better. Meanwhile we’re seeing a big uptick in the development of new technologies, including displays like VR headsets. We’ve also seen new announcements in gaming hardware like the Mad Box console and a slate of new gaming laptops from Nvidia. You can check our full coverage of CES 2019 for more details.