The Xbox Series X and S are both available now, and Microsoft is coming into the generation with an impressive line-up of first party development studios. According to a new report by Bloomberg, the US company has been eyeing Japanese studios for potential acquisition, looking to bolster its lineup despite Xbox historically underperforming in Japan. However, in an interview with GameSpot, Xbox boss Phil Spencer says that, as far as he knows, this isn’t true.
“I don’t think so… I mean, I’m not in every meeting that every team has, but I’ll say not from me,” Spencer says.
While Spencer says that he has an “affinity” for Japanese studios, there’s been no push to acquire more of them. “Most of the opportunities that we’ve had to date have been a long lasting relationship, and so, I don’t think we’re out there with our business card, throwing them out on the corner, trying to find people.”
However, as part of the Bethesda deal Microsoft has acquired Shinji Mikami’s studio Tango Gameworks (The Evil Within), Spencer points out. “I’m excited when the deal closes to get to spend more time with Tango and the work that they’re doing,” he says. But in terms of the report from Bloomberg, he says plainly: “I think that’s not accurate.”
The challenge system in Apex Legends Season 7 is getting a big overhaul in order to make its grind less frustrating and more rewarding. Changes include a new Stars system for battle pass levels as well as additional objectives and challenge trackers.
In place of recurring weekly challenges, the rewards for these have instead been reworked into the daily challenges system, but unique weekly challenges can still be completed and have more consistent difficulty across the board.
To fill battle pass levels, you’ll now earn Stars. Each star is worth 1/10th of a level and the meter will be reset whenever you reach a new level. You’ll also be able to more easily track challenges with an overhauled system that sorts into three different categories: daily, weekly, and event. Challenge information will be included in end-of-match summaries, too.
The XP Challenge was changed to fit this new system, as well, with one Star awarded for every 10,000 experience you earn. This is bumped up by another 50% if you have the Premium Battle Pass.
On Twitter, game director Chad Grenier also shared a full breakdown of all the changes to rewards compared to the previous system. More changes are coming next week, including lower difficulty levels for weekly challenges and a free 10 battle pass levels for all players.
In last week’s Reddit AMA, I said we had more changes to the S7 Battle Pass planned. Starting today, we’re reverting the difficulty of the daily challenges to S6 levels while keeping the number of stars rewarded the same. See image below for the before-and-after comparison: pic.twitter.com/Bbcp6NUKUX
Pokemon Home first launched in February 2020, and now after a long wait, it will finally allow players to transfer their Pokemon from Pokemon Go to their Pokemon Sword and Shield games. Some players are finding the limitations on transfers too extreme, however, with the service only available to Level 40 Pokemon Go players, along with extensive wait times for transfers.
While previously select Pokemon were able to be transferred from Pokemon Go to Pokemon Home using the Pokemon Let’s Go! games as an in-between, now transfers can be made directly to Home. Pokemon can’t be transferred back to Pokemon Go, however, so be careful with what you transfer.
According to Serebii.net, the transfer option is currently only available to players at Level 40, and works on an ‘energy’ basis. The Go Transporter slowly recharges energy for transfers, with a maximum of 10,000 energy stored. To recharge the maximum, players will either have to wait 6 days and 23 hours, or pay 1000 PokeCoins for a full charge.
Energy costs range from 10 for a standard Pokemon to a full 10,000 for a shiny mythical Pokemon, with additional costs for high CP. Stat conversion is calculated with the same method as transfers into Pokemon Let’s Go!
Due to the differences in the games, some multi-form Pokemon will change form when transferred, while most of Pokemon Go’s special event Pokemon and a few Pokemon types can’t be transferred at all. Players who transfer a Pokemon out of Pokemon Go will get a one-time gift of a Gigantamax-capable Melmetal.
While a lot of Pokemon fans have been waiting eagerly for this function, many aren’t happy with the extensive wait times or the high level requirement.
If I wanted to transfer all my shinies to the main games, it will take 183 weeks, or 3 and a half years.
Niantic has released a support article explaining how the integration works, as well as how to link your account to Pokemon Home. While the feature is currently only available for level 40 players, it appears Niantic will be rolling it out to lower level players in the future.
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Developer Counterplay Games has described Godfall and its mixture of action RPG-style loot progression and third-person melee combat as a new type of genre: the looter-slasher. After spending five hours with Godfall–which included an abundance of loot and plenty of things to slash (or stab, crush, and beat to a pulp)–it’s clear that this modest twist on the looter-shooter holds up, even if there’s little about it that feels intrinsically “new.”
Godfall’s influences are apparent from the get-go, ranging from games like Diablo and Borderlands to Monster Hunter and Warframe. So far, after fighting my way through the opening few missions, Godfall doesn’t yet feel derivative of any one of these influences. Familiar as many of its elements may be, Counterplay presents them in such a way that it never imitates any one game, instead combining all of these facets with some original ideas to create something almost singular.
As with any game like this, however, Godfall will still live and die on the quality of its combat and loot progression. Although you start the game equipped with a basic longsword, your arsenal eventually grows as you loot chests, defeat enemies, and complete missions. Godfall has the usual assortment of gear rarities, from common up to legendary, while your collection of weapon types includes a rangey polearm, rapid dual blades, and a hefty warhammer, among others. Each weapon type dictates your playstyle, although they all share the same basic combos and an array of abilities that can be unlocked via a skill tree.
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Light and heavy attacks comprise your basic moveset, and you also have access to a nifty dodge as well as a shield that can be used to block damage or parry attacks if you time its deployment correctly. Each weapon type also has both a Southern and Northern Technique. These are special moves you can pull off by spending energy that’s accumulated by damaging enemies. The longsword’s Southern Technique, for instance, has a deadly spinning attack that cuts through any opponents around you, while the dual blades can utilize a whip that drags foes toward you. If you need to immobilize, say, a healer who’s on the periphery of the action, you can also throw your shield, Captain America-style. There are a number of shield-specific attacks that can be unlocked as well, such as a ground slam that both damages and petrifies anyone unlucky enough to feel the brunt of it.
Combat is satisfyingly meaty no matter which weapon type you choose. Each one feels noticeably different, too, even if you’re often repeating the same four-button combo. That’s because, while Godfall is relatively simple on the surface, it has a lot of hidden depth that can boost your damage output and keep combat engaging. Weapon Timing Attacks add a rhythmic element to your combos by giving you a brief window in which to execute a light or heavy attack toward the tail end of your initial attack’s animation; get the timing right and you’ll launch into a flurry of quick strikes that dish out more punishment than a regular attack. Light attacks and Northern Techniques, meanwhile, apply Soulshatter buildup to an enemy’s health bar, while heavy attacks and Southern Techniques consume this pent-up energy to deal devastating Soulshatter damage.
There’s also Rampage to consider, which rewards your aggression with 20% more damage output–the only catch is you’ll lose it if you don’t hit anything for 10 seconds–and Polarity Attacks that encourage you to swap between both of your equipped weapons in the midst of battle. You have a number of options to choose from when squaring up with a mob of foes, and even in my short time with the game I’ve seen a decent variety of enemy types that challenge you to alter your approach and make use of your entire arsenal of moves. Combat also has a surprisingly measured feel to it, mainly because there’s no way to cancel out of attacks. You need to be deliberate with your actions if you want to successfully dodge and parry incoming damage. Learning enemy patterns and knowing when to attack and when to defend are key when facing tougher enemies.
The early signs are promising, then, particularly when it comes to combat. Mission design is uninspired thus far, with each one shuffling me from one fight to another with little else in between. Whether the combat has to carry the load throughout the entire game remains to be seen, but it just might be up to the task. I still need to dig into the Valorplates, which are sort of like skins for your character that come with different passive abilities and ultimate moves, and it seems to be a key piece of the game’s loot grind. You can expect my full Godfall review once I’ve finished the rest of the story and explored the endgame.
If you’re picking up a PlayStation 5 this week, you might be interested in checking out the launch title Godfall, which is published by Borderlands company Gearbox.
We’ve got a new video where we show off 14 minutes of gameplay from the next-generation title, and be sure to stick around to the end to see the game’s first boss fight. The video showcases Godfall’s gorgeous graphics and its fighting mechanics. The game’s striking art style and lovely environments are also on display in the video.
Godfall launches on November 12 for the PS5, and it will also be on PC. The game was developed by Counterplay Games and published by Gearbox.
Keep checking back with GameSpot for more on Godfall, PS5, and more next-gen news!
Dynamite, All Elite Wrestling‘s weekly TNT series, recently celebrated its one-year anniversary, and there is another milestone on the horizon. AEW is launching multiple video games, one of which is from Yuke’s, the developer of numerous WWE 2K titles.
During the AEW Games event on YouTube, which began 47 minutes after its scheduled start time, three new games were announced, one of which was being developed by Yuke’s. Footage was shown of Kenny Omega vs. Chris Jericho, and Hikaru Shida interferes. While AEW doesn’t have intergender competition, it seems like the AEW game will. Hosted by Omega, Dr. Britt Baker, Cody, and Aubrey Edwards, the untitled game is currently in development. There is no release date set at this time.
Previously, Yuke’s was behind games like the Smackdown series, along with WWE 2K’s series–alongside Visual Concepts. Yuke’s left development after WWE 2K19, the year before 2K’s notoriously glitchy and unpolished WWE 2K20 was released.
In addition to the untitled console game that was announced, two other games were revealed: AEW Casino Double or Nothing and AEW Elite General Manager. The latter of the two is mobile game where you build a wrestling show and battle other people. It’s described as an “evolution of the GM simulator genre.” A beta test for the game is coming soon.
The Casino Double or Nothing game is available this winter on mobile devices. It features “AEW-branded versions of slots, blackjack, poker and roulette, along with AEW music, sounds, videos, wrestler virtual avatars, gift packs and more.” Players can win real AEW merchandise by playing various casino-related games, according to the official description.
Additionally, check out a special, additional episode of Wrestle Buddies above. Chris and Mat discuss their thoughts on the upcoming AEW video games right after the event aired. New episodes of Wrestle Buddies arrive on Thursdays.
Assassin’s Creed Valhalla features a massive world to explore during the age of the Vikings. The world of Valhalla has an impressive sense of scale, and you will have your work cut out for you when taking on new missions and unearthing the many secrets that the land has to offer. One of your safe havens in the game is the settlement of Ravensthrope, which is your main base of operations in the campaign. As you continue with Eivor’s story, you’ll uncover some unique opportunities to expand the settlement in some interesting ways.
In this guide, we’re highlighting some key details to consider when it comes to building your base and expanding Eivor’s influence in England and beyond. While the settlement opens up early in the game, you’re only scratching the surface of what opportunities it can bring you for the first 10 or so hours of the campaign. Along with fishing, hunting, and online trading, the settlement can also introduce new quest lines that will let you bond with its inhabitants. So here’s a quick rundown of some things to consider when it comes to building your base.
Patience Is Key
Surprisingly, this is one of the more critical things to consider when working on your settlement. As soon as you reach England and break ground on your new base of operations, you’ll likely want to drop everything and focus on recruiting followers, building new structures, and generally just making your base the best it can be. Building your settlement is very much a long-term project in Valhalla, and while you can take part in raids to net some new resources, you’ll need to level up more and take on new story missions to continue building it beyond your more modest means in the opening hours.
One of the key resources you’ll need to build structures are Supplies and Raw Materials. Raw Materials are gained from Raids, which has your squad of Viking comrades invading enemy bases and towns. While a few Raids will be available to take part in early on, the bulk of them will require a higher Power Level for Eivor, which makes them extremely difficult to pull off in the opening hours. Eventually, you will be able to unlock a cartographer in your settlement, who can clue you in to hidden caches of building materials for your settlement, but this is also a long-term goal. Once you get your base on its feet, don’t be in such a rush to try and unlock everything. As you complete more story quests, the true potential of your settlement will become more clear.
Focus On The Essentials
After establishing the base, you’ll only have a set amount of resources to spend on your settlement. After opening up the Blacksmith shop, you’ll have a chance to get another structure on its feet. We’d recommend opening up the Hidden Ones bureau immediately. Run by Hytham, the Assassin will introduce Eivor to the web of Order members throughout Valhalla’s world, most of whom hide in plain sight. In addition to granting Eivor the ability to use the leap of faith, the bureau and its secrets will clue you in on various hidden Assassin bases. However, the bureau’s primary function is to hunt and assassinate the members of the opposing Order. Similarly to Odyssey’s hit list of hidden targets, the bulk of these individuals are optional. Upon pulling off an assassination of these targets, you can acquire an Order medallion, which you can turn in for great rewards back at the bureau, such as poison and fire abilities to weaken foes. Getting started on this early can be a massive help in the long run, so when you’re looking around the base for things to build, always consider what can help you, but also further down the road.
Setting up the Hidden Ones bureau will open up new targets to find in Valhalla’s world.
Check In With Your Settlers
Eivor is responsible for making sure the settlers are happy and that the camp’s resources are used effectively. One thing you should always remember to do is to check out Eivor’s letterbox on the regular. In their room located in the central building, Eivor has a box where settlers can send in requests. Reading these messages will clue you in on new opportunities, such as potential leads on new quests and points of interest. Depending on who these requests come from, they can potentially lead to some fun side-quests that show off what’s located around the settlement. You can also check in with many of the settlement’s key members when exploring the camp, such as the shopkeepers, blacksmith, and traveling merchants. As you upgrade the base’s key installations, you’ll also open new dialogue with them. Some of these villagers can also lead to some potential romances, which can further strengthen your bond with your favorite people in Ravensthorpe. Also, make sure to visit your pets scattered around the base, because why wouldn’t you?
Keep Building Your Ranks
Once you build enough structures, you’ll eventually level up your base’s renown. Upon leveling up the settlement, more expansion opportunities will open up. These lead to new side activities, but they also bring in new people and more high-end structures to build. One of the new buildings you can establish once you hit rank two is the Stable & Aviary. Once you make it, you can swap out rideable horses or wolves (yes, you can ride wolves), along with changing the look of Eivor’s raven. This particular structure also allows you to add new perks to your rideable mount, which can be useful later on when exploring the map’s further reaches. Along with the stable, you can upgrade housing to open up access to the dinner bell, which can be rung to grant you a buff after the entire camp eats a meal. Not only does this make for a more worthwhile upgrade, but it also makes for a more connected community for everyone in the base.
Though you will have modest beginnings, your settlement will soon become a major base of operations over the course of the story.
Recruit Some Muscle
One of the more surprising additions that can be added to your settlement is the Jomsviking. As you increase your renown, you’ll open up the barracks, which will allow you to take a custom character out on remote missions. Like Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood, these characters are sent out on faraway missions and can come back after a set amount of time with rewards. Their success on these missions depends on their gear loadout and skills, so you’ll need to outfit them with some decent weapons to ensure their survival. In Valhalla, your Jomsviking can be sent to another player’s game to undertake a mission, which adds more of a sense of community with others online. So once you have the renown and resources available, open up the barracks to add another revenue stream for your base.
We’ve got much more coverage on Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. In addition to this settlement breakdown, check out our beginner’s tips focusing on the game’s key pillars, along with a rundown of some of the game’s important skills and abilities.
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With the release of the PlayStation 5, certain PS4 games will be getting a boost, so we’re playing through several PS4 games on PS5 to see how Sony’s next-gen console improves the performance or experience of current-gen games.
In the video above, we show off Days Gone. We first played the game on PS4 Pro and then played it on PS5—in both instances, focusing on the first 30 minutes of the campaign. As you can see, Days Gone plays at a much smother frame rate on PS5, which is especially noticeable when zooming through its zombie-infested world while on motorcycle.
There are other, less noticeable differences as well. For instance, Days Gone features less pop-in textures on PS5, and the game loads a whole lot faster on next-gen, too. If you’re thinking about picking up Days Gone, it appears you’ll have a much smoother experience on PS5 in comparison to PS4.
In GameSpot’s Days Gone review, Kallie Plagge writes, “I did a lot of things in Days Gone. I burned every single Freaker nest; I cleared every ambush camp; I maxed out my bike; I took out a few optional hordes just because. Like Deacon with Sarah, I kept going because I hoped to find something, to follow a thread to a possibly fascinating or satisfying or impactful conclusion. But at the end of it all, I’d only gotten scraps.”
The official Call of Duty charity of military veterans has announced a partnership with a toothbrush company to help raise money for veterans looking for work after leaving the service.
The Call of Duty Endowment and Burst Oral Care have announced a special-edition Sonic toothbrush that has a camo print inspired by Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War. Burst is donating 20 percent of each toothbrush sold, and it guarantees a minimum of a $100,000 donation to the Call of Duty Endowment.
The toothbrush costs $100 USD on its own, while you can also purchase a bundle that comes with various extras like a travel case, floss, and toothpaste, and a snapback hat for $130 USD.
Since its founding, the Call of Duty Endowment has placed more than 70,000 former soldiers in jobs with an average starting salary of more than $60,000. The charity estimates that it spends around $500 to help find new jobs for soldiers, which compares to $3000+ if they go through other means, including the federal government’s own programs.
“Veterans continue to face unparalleled obstacles compared to their non-vet peers in securing high-quality employment opportunities,” Call of Duty Endowment executive director Dan Goldenberg said in a statement. “During such a difficult time for our country, and the world, we are more appreciative than ever of partners like Burst Oral Care who understand and value the sacrifice of veterans and are giving back in impactful ways to those struggling to find jobs and return stability to their lives.”
