Category: Games

After multiple content updates for the 9.30 version of the game, Fortnite developer Epic Games has finally released update 9.40. It is available now on PS4, Xbox One, PC, Switch, and mobile and re-introduces the Tactical Shotgun. It also makes a number of changes to other weapons, such as reducing the Semi-Auto Sniper Rifle’s zoom while scoped, vaulting the Suppressed Bolt-Action Sniper Rifle, and making the standard Bolt-Action Sniper.

The Tactical Shotgun is available in Epic and Legendary variants from floor loot, chests, supply drops, loot carriers, and vending machines. It has a maximum damage of 83/87. It does 1.5 shots per second and holds eight shells. If you manage to land a headshot with it, there’s a multiplier of 2.25.

The update also makes some changes to other gameplay elements, such as allowing players to automatically pick up a consumable if it is already in their inventory and not maxed out, which is nice quality of life addition. You can see the full list of changes for the Battle Royale mode below, or read the full Fortnite patch notes on the game’s website for further information on what’s new with the Creative and Save the World modes.

Weapon + Items

• New Epic and Legendary Tactical Shotgun.
  • 83 / 87 maximum damage.
  • 1.5 shots per second.
  • Holds 8 shells.
  • Headshot multiplier of 2.25.
  • Available from Floor Loot, Chests, Supply Drops, Loot Carriers, and Vending Machines.
• Semi-Auto Sniper Rifle now has reduced zoom while scoped.
  • This is a Quality of Life change to help improve the usability and feel of this weapon.
• Combat Shotgun changes
  • Reduced Headshot multiplier from 1.7 to 1.5.
  • Reduced the long range effectiveness of the Combat Shotgun
    • Reduced the falloff curve ranges from:
      • 2.44 tiles (unchanged)
      • 4.88 tiles to 4.39 tiles.
      • 9.77 tiles to 6.84 tiles.
      • 19.53 tiles to 11.72 tiles.
  • After observing recent changes to damage falloff, we decided to further reduce its long range effectiveness and alter the curve to fall a bit more in line with other shotguns but still retain its unique flavor.
• Vaulted
  • Suppressed Bolt-Action Sniper Rifle
    • Epic and Legendary variants.
• Unvaulted
  • Bolt-Action Sniper Rifle
    • Rare, Epic, and Legendary variants.

Bug Fixes

• Drum Shotgun now has the correct environmental damage falloff.
• Fixed a bug in which a Launch Pad couldn’t be destroyed by a pickaxe.

Gameplay

• Picking up an item that fills a stack and creates an overflow will no longer result in the currently equipped item being dropped.
  • Instead of causing the currently equipped weapon to be dropped, the overflow will be dropped.
• Players will now automatically pick up a consumable if it is already in their inventory and not maxed out.
  • If the auto pickup fills a stack, the overflow will be dropped.
• A new Glider and Harvesting Tool have been added for Save the World Founder’s Pack owners.

Bug Fixes

• Fixed an issue involving Supply Drone Boxes not being visible after players shoot down the Supply Drone.
• Supply Drones no longer remain stationary after getting stuck for too long.
• Changed Invert “Aircraft Keyboard Controls” to “Invert Airborne Keyboard Controls” in the Options menu to reflect the fact that airborne land vehicles’ controls become inverted in the air.
• Fixed some edge cases involving damage number display rounding down for some shotgun hits.
• Blueprint doors now consistently render when players are building.
• Players can now pick up items more easily when standing on top of them.
• Foot controllers now properly allow players to rotate the next and previous weapon.
• Bushes no longer block players from being healed by a Chug Splash.
• If a player using a Shadow Bomb enters a vehicle, the Shadow Bomb effect will no longer remain active after the effect should have ended.
• The Chug Splash now properly auto-sorts to the rightmost inventory slot when picked up, like other consumables.
• Fixed an issue in which players would experience abnormally slow gliding after using a Rift-to-Go.
• Consumables associated with a bar (Shield Potion, Med Kit, etc.) are now consistently usable by players riding a Zipline.
• Fixed a rare issue involving Shadow Bombs not allowing for wall jumps at certain angles.
• Players can no longer wall jump off of the corn fields while using a Shadow Bomb.
• Players can no longer wall jump off of Slipstreams while using a Shadow Bomb.
• Fixed an issue in which the rings for Fortbytes 4, 67, 70, and 89 would not appear even though the player was wearing the correct cosmetic.
• To prevent players from exploiting the Deep Dab emote, it now has a delay before players are able to shoot after starting it.
• Fixed an issue in which damage done to shields was causing the VFX to appear larger than normal, blocking players’ vision.
• Foot Controller support improvements
  • Switched over to use dead zone and max throttle end points.
  • Better vehicle controls for Quad Crasher.

Competitive

• New Tournament: Xbox Cup (July 20th & 21st) [$1,000,000 in Cash Prizes!]
  • Solo Game Mode
  • This tournament is open to all players on Xbox One and does not require reaching any division in Arena.
  • The prize pool will be distributed across all server regions, with official rules and details released later this week. Check the tournament inside the game client for exact times.
  • Format:
    • July 20th – Round One: All Eligible Players
    • July 21st – Round Two: Top 1500 Players from Round One
• New Tournament: Trios Cash Cup (July 21st) [$1,000,000 in Cash Prizes!]
  • Trios Game Mode
  • Participation in this event requires players to have reached Champion League in Arena play prior to the start of the event.
  • The prize pool will be distributed across all server regions, with official rules and details released later this week. Check the tournament inside the game client for exact times.
  • Format:
    • Single Day Tournament – July 21st
      • Round One: All Eligible Players
      • Round Two: Top 150 teams from Round One
• Players can now choose a flag to display on their career profile.
  • This flag can be selected and changed from a player’s profile.
  • After changing or selecting their flag, players cannot change flags again for 30 days.
  • A player’s flag is visible to others when visiting a player’s profile and on tournament leaderboards.
  • For teams of two or more players, the flag chosen by the majority of the team will be displayed. If there is no majority, the globe flag will be displayed.
  • We are launching with an initial set of 37 total flags. Any additional flags added in the future will be announced in future updates.

Performance

• Improved server performance of Zipline.
• Improved client performance of Chug Jug.
• Optimized the way pickaxes are spawned to reduce the chance of loading issues during the initial skydive landing.

Audio

• Improved enemy footstep volume consistency, and changed volume falloff to logarithmic to make the sound diminish more naturally.
• Decreased volume of a few sounds:
  • Chug Splash explosion.
  • Proximity Launcher explosion.
  • Ambient hum of the Slipstream platforms.
• Added a wall impact audio layer for close quarters combat as an additional warning that an enemy is shooting a structure you’re on the opposite side of.

Bug Fixes

• Wood/stone/metal bullet impacts are no longer silent on Mobile/Switch.
• Revolver equip sound is no longer silent on Mobile/Switch.

UI

• Escape Menu & Social Panel updates:
  • The input action that would bring up either the Escape Menu or Social Panel will now bring up both of them in the lobby and while in a match.
  • A third tab has been added to the Social Panel. It contains all voice chat-related functionalities.
  • The Escape Menu and Top Bar received a visual update.

Mobile

• Added new Edit From Touch setting to enable/disable editing from touches (defaulted to enabled).
• Bluetooth microphones have been enabled to support voice chat.
• The emote wheel buttons are now bigger.

Bug Fixes

• Air Strike shots no longer create large polygonal outlines.
• Fixed an issue involving Pump and Combat Shotguns not correctly firing while Auto-Fire is selected.
• Resolved voice chat issues when joining another player’s party.
• The chest located in the Neo Tilted hotel is now openable.
• Live spectating on mobile will display the spectator’s UI.
• Players no longer remain logged into their account when they close the game.
• Wallet in the Lifetime Refund Screen will now correctly display.
• Leaving the “Show Help” open in the Warm Up stage won’t cause the Button to remain present during the match.
• The “Tournament Region” text in the Compete tab is bigger.
• Map Marker HUD Layout won’t be displayed when in the Battle Bus.
• Emote HUD Layout will be displayed only in vehicles where it is possible to emote.
• Players will be able to rotate cosmetics when using a touchpad.
• The proper SFX will be played when equipping the Revolver.
• Graphical improvement on the Wonder outfit while playing the Llama Bell emote.
• Storm Eye Glider and Storm Bolt Harvesting Tool will display proper VFX.
• Graphical improvement of the Flutter outfit.
• Graphical improvement on the String Lights contrail.
• Lantern contrail will display properly in-game.

Fortnite Season 9 is now reaching its conclusion and, as is tradition, we expect there will be a big event to mark the transition to Season 10. Dataminers have discovered evidence that a large battle between the monster formerly beneath Polar Peak and the giant robot being assembled at the Pressure Plant will kick off in the game on July 20.

Nintendo unveiled a handful of surprises during its E3 2019 presentation, including Super Smash Bros. Ultimate‘s next two DLC characters: the Hero from Dragon Quest XI and the long-requested Banjo-Kazooie. While the bear and bird duo won’t join the roster until sometime this fall, the Hero is slated to arrive this summer–possibly as soon as this month, if a new trailer is any indication.

The video, which was originally titled “Fan-Favorites & Newest Releases – July,” highlights some of the new games and content Switch owners can enjoy this month, from Fortnite Season 9 (which is scheduled to wrap up soon) to July’s big Switch-exclusive releases, Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order and Fire Emblem: Three Houses. Interestingly, the video also showcases Smash Ultimate’s new Hero fighter, which seems to suggest he’ll also be arriving this month.

Since the trailer went live, however, Nintendo has tweaked its title to say “Summer” rather than “July,” so it’s possible the original title was either incorrect or it revealed a little more than intended. Given that every other game highlighted in the video is either launching or already available this month, however, it seems safe to say the Hero is on the way soon. You can watch the trailer above.

The Hero’s default look is based on Dragon Quest XI, but his alternate costumes are the heroes from Dragon Quests VIII, IV, and III. He wields a sword and shield for his standard attacks, while his specials are various spells from the Dragon Quest series. For his Final Smash, the Hero is joined by other Dragon Quest protagonists to deliver the Gigaslash.

Hero and Banjo-Kazooie are included as part of Smash Ultimate’s $25 Fighters Pass, which gives players access to all five of the game’s announced DLC character as they’re released. Each add-on fighter also comes alongside a new stage as well as several new music tracks. Individual fighter packs can be purchased for $6. Following Banjo-Kazooie, there are two more DLC fighters in the works for Smash Ultimate, although their identities haven’t been revealed yet.

For several years now, Quentin Tarantino has been stating that his tenth movie as director will be the last. This month’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood is film no.9, and there have been rumors that he might also be planning to make a Star Trek film. Tarantino has now commented on whether a Star Trek film–if it happens–would count as his tenth and final film.

In an interview with CinemaBlend, Tarantino discussed the possibility that a Star Trek film might be excluded from his 10-movie plan, because it’s a franchise entry and not an original creation. “I guess I do have a loophole, [if] the idea was to throw a loophole into it,” he said. “Which would be [to go], ‘Uhhh, I guess Star Trek doesn’t count. I can do Star Trek … but naturally I would end on an original.'”

However, Tarantino ultimately said that he would stand by his original decision, no matter what his tenth movie turns out to be. “The idea of doing 10 isn’t to come up with a loophole,” he explained. “I actually think, if I was going to do Star Trek, I should commit to it. It’s my last movie. There should be nothing left handed about it. I don’t know if I’m going to do that, but that might happen.”

Rumors that Tarantino had an idea for a new Star Trek movie first appeared in January 2018. It was reported that he had spoken to JJ Abrams, who directed the first two Star Trek reboot movies, about the possibility of directing it. More recently, Tarantino told Empire that a script based on his initial pitch had been written, and if it happened, his Star Trek movie would be R-rated.

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt, and Margot Robbie, and releases on July 26. Check out the first trailer here.

Streets of Rage 4‘s soundtrack is being created by a veritable supergroup of legendary Japanese composers including Yuzo Koshiro, the composer of the soundtrack for the first three games in the beloved beat-em-up series. Joining Koshiro is Motohiro Kawashima, who is known for his work on Streets of Rage 2 and Streets of Rage 3, as well as Shinobi 2, and the Batman Returns video game. Yoko Shimomura, one of gaming’s greatest composers, is also contributing. Her list of works is vast and includes some of gaming’s most beloved titles, including Street Fighter 2, the Kingdom Hearts series, Super Mario RPG, Legend of Mana, and Parasite Eve.

Another Sega alum, Hideki Naganuma, is also working on Streets of Rage 4’s music. His credits include the fantastic Jet Set Radio and Jet Set Radio Future soundtracks, in addition to Super Monkey Ball and Sega Rally 2. Finally, Ninja Gaiden, Captain Tsubasa, and Tecmo Bowl‘s Keiji Yamagishi is also on board.

Since Streets of Rage 4 was announced the question of whether Koshiro would be returning to lend his talents to the soundtrack has been key for fans of the series. Not only is he returning, but along with him developers Dotemu and Lizardcube have gathered an all-star team of talent.

“Among these names stand some of the most legendary and memorable musical architects in video game history,” said Streets of Rage 4’s executive producer Cyrille Imbert. “Since we first announced the title last fall, fans have been asking who will be involved in the game’s soundtrack as it is a vital element to the Streets of Rage games. We are thrilled to confirm this world-class lineup of musical talent for Streets of Rage 4.”

Alongside the announcement, a video offering insight into the direction the team is taking for the soundtrack has been published. For fans of the series, it has lots of interesting tidbits of information, including the fact that Koshiro pitched a Streets of Rage sequel, but Sega, which owns the property, wasn’t interested.

We played Streets of Rage 4 at PAX West 2018. GameSpot’s Alessandro Fillari said “the game reflects its predecessors’ history and legacy.” He went on to state that the gameplay feels familiar, with the developers citing Streets of Rage II and Streets of Rage 3 as being starting points. Read our full Streets of Rage 4 hands-on preview for more.

A definitive release date for Streets of Rage 4, and the platforms it will be released for, are unknown as of yet.

The Nintendo Switch is getting a hardware revision in mid-August that gives a significant boost to battery life. However, this isn’t a Switch Lite-style revision with a completely new look. The new Nintendo Switch looks exactly like the old one. So if you’re looking for that better battery life, how can you tell the difference?

The key is in the packaging, per Nintendo’s product site. The original packaging features the system against a white background with a TV on the left side. The packaging for the new system is very similar, but instead shows the system against a red background with a TV on the right side. The revision also has the TV and Nintendo Switch itself shown from a slight angle, rather than a straight-forward shot. You can see the difference below:

Of course, if you end up purchasing the system used and out of the packaging, you may need to rely on a serial number to tell the difference. The old models start with a serial number “XAW” while the new model will start with the serial number “XKW.” You can locate the serial number on the bottom of a Nintendo Switch, on the left side.

The battery life difference is rather large, though. The old system promises a battery life from 2.5-6.5 hours, with more intensive games like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild draining the battery much faster and ending on the lower side of that spectrum. The new one boasts 4.5-9 hours.

This news comes shortly after the announcement of the Nintendo Switch Lite. That hardware revision is much more different, and aimed at portable players. It removes the docking ability to connect with a TV and the controllers are no longer detachable. The reduced functionality may impact some games. It also has a budget price: $200 as opposed to the standard Switch’s $300.