Author: Trafficblast

While Bethesda hasn’t made any announcements about how well the controversial multiplayer-focused Fallout 76 did commercially, a report from the NPD Group contains some clues.

The NPD Group’s report for US game sales in November show that Fallout 76 was the fourth best-selling game of November, only behind Battlefield V, Call of Duty: Black Ops 4, and Red Dead Redemption 2. While the NPD Group’s reports now contain digital sales numbers, this only applies to some publishers. Bethesda doesn’t share digital game sales, so Fallout 76 ranking fourth with only physical sales accounted for is a more impressive achievement.

Fallout 76’s physical sales in the US in November amounted to the third highest launch-month sales in the history of the Fallout series, only behind Fallout 4 and Fallout: New Vegas.

Critics generally did not enjoy Fallout 76, and GameSpot’s review scored it a 4/10. While Bethesda hasn’t announced any specific sales numbers for Fallout 76, the company said last month that “millions” of people have played the game.

Fallout 76 will be supported with new updates for a long time to come, according to Bethesda. Marketing boss Pete Hines says he believes the game’s servers will stay online until the sun burns out and humankind is left in ashes.

While Fallout 76 might have had a good start sales-wise in November, it did not crack the top 10 list for best-selling games of 2018 so far. Grand Theft Auto V, a game originally released in 2013, has sold better than Fallout 76 this year.

Some of the other game sales highlights for November in the US include:

• Red Dead Redemption 2 sales after just two months exceed the lifetime sales of Red Dead Redemption 1 by almost 40 percent.
• Black Ops 4 continues to be the best-selling game of 2018. It is also the second fastest-selling game on PS4 and Xbox One ever, only behind Call of Duty: WWII.
• Launch-month sales for Pokemon: Let’s Go Pikachu and Let’s Go Eevee were the second-highest in Pokemon history, only behind 2000 Pokemon Stadium.
• Spyro Reignited Trilogy’s launch-month dollar sales were more than 30 percent higher than the launch-month sales of all other Spyro games ever combined, except Skylanders.
• Hitman 2 didn’t make it into the Top 20 list of best-sellers.
• Total software sales for the US in November amounted to $1 billion, which is down 15 percent compared to last year. NPD said Black Ops 4’s shift from November to October this year is to blame for the downturn.

On the hardware side, the Nintendo Switch was the top platform during November based on dollar sales, while the PS4 continues to be the leader year-to-date in terms of hardware dollar sales. Another notable takeaway is that, for the first time ever, three console systems sold more than 1 million units each in a November month; the Switch, PS4, and Xbox One each sold more than 1.3 million units during the month. In November 2010, the DS, Wii, and Xbox 360 each sold more than 1 million units, but the DS is apparently not counted as a console platform.

Total hardware sales in the US for November 2018 came to $1.18 billion, which is up 3 percent. Looking at games, hardware, and accessories combined, total US spending on games in November reached $2.7 billion.

November Best-Selling Games All Platforms

1. Red Dead Redemption 2
2. Call of Duty: Black Ops 4^
3. Battlefield V^
4. Fallout 76*
5. Pokemon: Let’s Go Pikachu*
6. Pokemon: Let’s Go Eevee*
7. NBA 2K19
8. Madden NFL 19^
9. Spyro: Reignited Trilogy
10. FIFA 19^
11. Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey
12. Super Mario Party*
13. Spider-Man
14. Mario Kart 8*
15. WWE 2K19
16. God of War
17. Shadow of the Tomb Raider
18. Just Dance 2019
19. Grand Theft Auto V
20. Forza Horizon 4

All Platforms Year To Date

1. Call of Duty: Black Ops 4^
2. Red Dead Redemption 2
3. NBA 2K19
4. Far Cry 5
5. Madden NFL 19^
6. Spider-Man
7. God of War
8. Monster Hunter: World
9. Grand Theft Auto V
10. Assassin’s Creed Odyssey

12 Months Ended November 2018

1. Call of Duty: Black Ops 4^
2. Red Dead Redemption 2
3. Call of Duty: WWII^
4. NBA 2K19
5. Far Cry 5
6. Madden NFL 19^
7. Spider-Man
8. God of War
9. Monster Hunter: World
10. Super Mario Odyssey*

November Xbox One

1. Red Dead Redemption 2
2. Call of Duty: Black Ops IIII
3. Battlefield V
4. Fallout 76*
5. Madden NFL 19
6. NBA 2K19
7. Assassin’s Creed Odyssey
8. FIFA 19
9. Spyro Reignited Trilogy
10. Forza Horizon 4

November PS4

1. Red Dead Redemption 2
2. Call of Duty: Black Ops 4
3. Fallout 76*
4. Battlefield V
5. NBA 2K19
6. Spyro Reignited Trilogy
7. Madden NFL 19
8. Spider-Man
9. FIFA 19
10. Assassin’s Creed Odyssey

November Nintendo Switch

1. Pokemon: Let’s Go Pikachu
2. Pokemon: Let’s Go Eevee
3. Super Mario Party
4. Mario Kart 8
5. Super Mario Odyssey
6. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
7. Just Dance 2019
8. Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy
9. Mario & Rabbids: Kingdom Battle
10. Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze

November 3DS

1. Luigi’s Mansion
2. Pokemon: Ultra Sun
3. Pokemon: Ultra Moon
4. Super Mario 3D Land
5. Mario Kart 7
6. Super Smash Bros.
7. Minecraft
8. Detective Pikachu
9. Donkey Kong Country Returns
10. The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds

* Digital sales not included

^ PC digital sales not included

Life Is Strange 2‘s second episode, “Rules,” will launch on January 24, Square Enix and developer Dontnod Entertainment have announced. Episode 1, “Roads,” was released at the end of September, so the wait will be around four months between episodes if the follow-up stays on schedule.

In addition to announcing Episode 2’s release date, Square Enix released a live-action trailer featuring Gonzalo Martin, who voices one of the main characters, Sean Diaz. The trailer references a pivotal, emotional scene from the first episode, so be aware of that if you’re worried about spoilers. You can watch the trailer in the embed above.

Additionally, Square Enix has released a plot synopsis for Episode 2, and it confirms that Captain Spirit from the free spinoff is in the game. You can find the full plot synopsis at the bottom of the page.

Square Enix’s Jon Brooke said in a statement that Episode 2 will be a turning point for the five-episode series. “Previous seasons have both had a point that was just, ‘that moment’, that captivated fans from all over the world, and we feel like this will be the one for Life isStrange 2.”

GameSpot’s Life Is Strange 2: Episode 1 review scored the game a 9/10. “Life Is Strange 2: Episode 1 is a triumphant first chapter, featuring a narrative that fearlessly reflects the lives of two Latino brothers living in our politically-charged climate,” reviewer Jess McDonell said.

Life Is Strange 2: Episode 2 “Roads” Plot Synopsis:

“Sean and Daniel’s story continues in Episode 2. On the run from the police following a tragic incident in Seattle and the manifestation of a strange supernatural power, Sean and Daniel Diaz continue their journey into the winter months. As the two brothers struggle against the cold, Daniel gets increasingly ill. Sean decides that they must take the risk and make their way to their distant grandparent’s house to recover and seek shelter.

There, they encounter next-door neighbour Chris Eriksen, a young boy who believes he has powers eerily similar to Daniel’s, and they come face to face with his superhero alter ego, Captain Spirit. As Daniel and Chris are becoming fast friends, it’s up to Sean to make sure Daniel follows a set of rules they agreed on for his power: Never in public. Never talk about it. Run from danger.

Can Daniel successfully hide the truth from the people around them, will the temptation to explore the immense power within him be too much, or will he break the rules in a time of need?”

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Call of Duty: Black Ops 4‘s first big content update, Operation Absolute Zero, has expanded to other platforms. Following its release on PS4 last week, the big update is now available on Xbox One and PC, bringing a new playable character, Blackout area, and more to the online shooter.

Among the additions to the game is the new Specialist, Zero–a hacker who can use her skills to “disrupt and distract enemies.” Players can unlock her by completing tier 1 of the newly revamped Black Market, which now features 100 “clearly defined” tiers to streamline progression. Treyarch has also added a new batch of weapons and “more diverse content” to unlock in the Black Market, including Reactive Camos, Epic Outfits, Reticles, and Mastercrafts.

On top of the new Specialist, Operation Absolute Zero introduces a new area to Blackout mode: Hijacked, which is inspired by the fan-favorite Black Ops II map of the same name. It can be found in the northwest quadrant of the map. Additionally, a new armored vehicle–the ARAV–has been added to the battle royale mode as well.

Players who’ve purchased the Battle Pass on Xbox One or PC can access additional content, including two new multiplayer maps: Elevation and Madagascar. Reaper from Black Ops 3 has also been added to Blackout mode for Battle Pass holders, as has a new Zombies chapter: Dead of the Night, which features a cast of big-name celebrities including Kiefer Sutherland and Helena Bonham Carter.

Along with Operation Absolute Zero, Treyarch has rolled out some changes to all version of Black Ops 4. Among them, the developer has made some balance tweaks to the aforementioned new Specialist, Zero. Treyarch has also updated the featured playlist in multiplayer and introduced Custom games for Blackout mode, which let players start a private match and “explore the map at their own pace.” You can find the full patch notes on Reddit.

The live-action Pokemon movie is coming next year.

The third Forge of Destiny 2‘s expansion, The Black Armory, is here, but accessing it is not especially easy. Like the other Forges, you’ll have to complete a mission to locate the Izanami Forge, and it’s not exactly obvious how to get started. This Forge quest is a lot more involved than those to open the first two, Volundr and Gofannon, and while the objectives are mostly pretty clear, there are a few best practices that can help you get through the quest more quickly.

Unlocking the Izanami Forge will take you to Nessus, and it has you fighting all kinds of Vex enemies. You’ll also need to knock out several Public Events, a few missions, and even a special Strike. Expect to get your Power level to at least 630 in order to unlock the Izanami Forge, and possibly even higher. If you can get a Fireteam together, you’ll probably have an easier time, although it’s fully possible to do everything alone.

Here’s everything you need to know about unlocking the Izanami Forge of The Black Armory and how best to get through all the steps. And check out a look at completing the Forge in action above.

Get Some Vex

To start the quest to access the Izanami Forge, you’ll want to head to Nessus. The quest seems to trigger when you kill Vex, much like the Gofannon Forge quest was started by killing Fallen. However, the seemingly most reliable way to kick off the quest is by completing the Daily Heroic Adventure on Nessus. That’s how we started our search for Izanami–the Vex Transponder item it requires dropped when the Adventure was completed.

Fire Up The Transponder

The Transponder will take you to the Forge’s location on Nessus, but first you’ll need to get it going. It requires you to kill 100 Vex. You’ll find them all over Nessus, so attack this the way you see fit–Lost Sectors are usually a good bet, as are Public Events. Both are also useful for completing the Nessus Flashpoint, which is one of the rare instances while you hunt for the Forge where you get to kill two birds with one stone.

Vex Spire Integration

Now head to the Nessus area known as the Hallows. You’re waiting for the Spire Integration Public Event to start. That’s the Vex event in which robots march toward a spire, which you need to defend. You need to complete the event on Heroic difficulty, which means standing on three round pressure plates scattered around the spire for a set amount of time. Complete the Heroic event and you’re on to your next requirement.

Kill Some Minotaurs

Next you have to rack up some kills on Vex Minotaurs. You need 20 Minotaurs in total, which can be tough because they’re somewhat more rare than other Vex models. Check Lost Sectors and the Spire Integration event to find some.

Find The Forge

Finally, you get to head to Izanami Forge. You’ll now have a new Mission marker on Nessus, which will take you to the Forge’s location and require you to clear it of Vex enemies. Your objective is to jump around the Forge room, hacking several Confluxes. After that, you’ll kill a Forge boss, much like in the other two Forges.

Unfortunately, you’re not done here: the Forge’s igniter is broken, and you’re stuck repairing it. Take the Igniter to Ada to trigger the next step.

Repair The Igniter

To fix the Forge, you need components from all the alien races. You’ll get them from specific Public Events–the Hive Witches Ritual, Vex Spire Integration, and Fallen Glimmer Extraction–all of which you need to clear on the Heroic difficulty. You can reliably find Witches Ritual on Mars, in the Glacial Drift area, or on Titan, in Sirens Watch. Glimmer Extractions are easiest to find on Earth in Trostland. And you can get more Spire Integrations on Nessus in the Hollows and Exodus Black.

Repair The Igniter, Uh, Some More

After you’ve done the Vex stuff, you’ll have a half-repaired Igniter with more steps to complete. They’ll send you to Io for Condensed Blights, and in search of Fallen, on whom you need to rack up precision multikills.

The Condensed Blights are a bit easier. Head to Io and venture into its three Lost Sectors. It doesn’t matter which you visit, because each one has a Taken Blight inside that you’ll need to find and destroy. It’s always about midway through the Lost Sector, and there’s always just the one. The good news is that you don’t have to clear the Lost Sectors to get what you need, and it’s quicker to just run in, find the Blight, and destroy it. The bad news is that you’ll need to do so five times.

For the Fallen multikills, Earth or the Tangled Shore are good bets, and you’ll probably want to pick a Lost Sector where you can get at lots of Fallen at once, without having to deal with other players stealing your kills. Pick a scout rifle or something similarly precise, and concentrate on headshots. You need to get two headshots in a row fairly quickly, and getting a body shot kill in between two headshots will break the streak. This is an annoying step to be sure, but you only need two kills in a row for it to count as a multikill, and every headshot kill after the second will also drop the Ether you need. If you can get long chains, you can finish this one up pretty quickly. Each multikill only counts for 3% of what you need, though, and the game is a bit finicky about counting certain kills toward the goal.

Gather Vex Energy

You’ve got one more mission to complete, but this one isn’t too difficult. This one will bring you back to Nessus and have you killing Vex, before venturing out onto a series of platforms to reach confluxes. There’s a bit of a strange mechanic here, where you’ll find that no platform is waiting for you to jump as you head out into the abyss. To make those platforms appear, you’ll have to shoot some blue floating diamonds that hang nearby. Shoot them quickly, or the platform you’re standing on will fade away before you can make the next one appear.

Fire Up Volundr

After you’ve killed all the Blights and Fallen you need, you’ll be sent back to Earth’s Volundr Forge. There’s nothing special to this objective, and at this point, you’re probably a seasoned Forge-igniter, so this is an easy step. This is a good opportunity to clear Forge bounties and other objectives as well. Finish the Forge and your next stop will be to talk to Ada with a fully repaired Igniter.

Fight Through The Insight Terminus

Time to go back to Nessus. You gathered Taken, Vex, and Fallen components for the Igniter, but you need something from the Cabal. To get it, you’ll take part in a special version of the Insight Terminus strike on Nessus. The Recommended Power level on this Strike is 630, and it doesn’t have matchmaking, so you’ll need to find a crew of friends or run it alone. There’s another caveat, though: If your team wipes on the Strike, you’ll be kicked to orbit and have to try it all over again.

Luckily, it sounds harder than it is. We completed the Strike solo at a Power level of 640, so it’s possible to take it on alone and perfectly doable with a completed team. Just take your time and be careful, and bring along your best gear.

One More Forge Mission

Finally, it’s back to the Forge. You’ll face down a 630-Power mission to clear the Forge one more time. Complete it and you’ll have full access to the Forge just like the other two, although Izanami is a bit weirder than the others thanks to its three-island layout. It ends with a Vex Hydra as its boss, and completing it this week can net you a Black Armory bow and pulse rifle. According to reports from players, there’s also a chance Le Monarque, The Black Armory’s Exotic bow, will drop from completing the Forge as well.

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