The past few months for the Sonic the Hedgehog movie have been a trying one for everyone involved in the film. Now, Jim Carrey–who plays antagonist Dr. Ivo Robotnik in the upcoming 2020 film–has given his take on all of this.
During the Television Critics Association presentation for Carrey’s Showtime series Kidding, the actor opened up for the first time about the controversy.
He discussed fans loving these characters since they were children and claiming ownership of them. “I don’t know quite how I feel about the audience being in on the creation of it. We’ll see what that entails because sometimes you find that the collective consciousness decides it wants something and then when it gets it, ‘I just wanted it, I didn’t care about it. I just jumped on the bandwagon,'” Carrey explained. “Ownership of anything is going out the window for all of us.”
The first trailer was released in May, and after fan backlash about the titular character’s look, director Jeff Fowler announced the character would be getting redesigned, which ended up pushing back the movie to a 2020 release. This has been the first time that a major studio has given in to fan backlash after the release of a trailer.
Sonic the Hedgehog is voiced by Ben Schwartz (Parks and Recreation) and features Carrey as Dr. Robotnik. James Marsden (Westworld) plays a state trooper who catches onto Sonic’s super speed. Obviously, both Marsden’s character and Sonic are trying to stop the evil Robotnik. Sonic’s new release date is February 14, 2020.
The Evo Championship is where the best players show their skills at fighting games, but this year the show opened with a new game announcement. Riot Games, the company behind League of Legends and its associated tournaments, is working on a fighting game.
The new game is coming from Radiant Entertainment, which Riot acquired in 2016. At the moment, Riot isn’t saying when the game will be coming–other than to warn fans not to expect it too quickly. “We’ll be in touch; not soon, but someday,” said Radiant’s Tom Cannon.
At the moment, Riot isn’t even saying what the game is. It recognizes that players are assuming it’s a fighting game based on League, which already has a deep roster of characters, but hasn’t indicated whether it will leverage the popularity of League characters for a fighting game.. It also may not necessarily a follow-up to Rising Thunder, the fighting game that was scuttled when Riot acquired Radiant.
Season X of Fortnite has arrived. The new season of Epic’s popular battle royale shooter is officially underway on PS4, Xbox One, PC, Nintendo Switch, and mobile devices, and it’s shaken things up considerably. As expected, there are new areas of the map to explore, as well as a new Battle Pass to purchase, which gives you access to a load of challenges to complete and rewards to unlock.
That isn’t all that’s different this season, however; this time around, Epic has also made some big changes to how challenges work. In the past, the developer would release a new set of challenges to complete each week throughout the season, some of which would be available to everyone, even if they didn’t own a Battle Pass. Now, however, most of the game’s missions are locked behind the Season X Battle Pass.
The missions are also structured a bit differently this season. Instead of weekly challenges, Epic is grouping tasks together under different, themed sets. Each set also only initially offers three challenges, with additional ones being unlocked as you complete them. There are two themed sets available thus far, Road Trip and Rumble Royale, although more will be available as the season progresses.
You can see the full list of Fortnite Season X challenges thus far below, along with links to our dedicated guides to help you complete them. We’ll continue to update this list throughout the season as more challenges become available, so be sure to check back regularly for all the latest tips and guides.
Fortnite: Battle Royale Season X Challenges
Road Trip Challenges
Destroy Stop Signs With The Catalyst Outfit
As its name states, this challenge involves destroying stop signs while wearing the Catalyst skin. The outfit is unlocked in tier 1 of the Season X Battle Pass, so once you’ve gotten it, equip the skin and get ready to commit some casual vandalism. You’ll need to destroy 10 stop signs in total to complete this challenge, and this can be done across matches. As you’d expect, the stop signs are scattered across the entire island, but you’ll find several of them in a handful of locations, particularly Pleasant Park, Salty Springs, Mega Mall, and Paradise Palms. Once you’ve destroyed 10, the challenge will be complete and you’ll earn 10 Battle Stars. Be sure to check out our stop sign locations guide for more details on where to go.
Visit Drift-Painted Durr Burger Head, A Dinosaur, And A Stone Head Statue
This challenge is straightforward enough on the face of it–all you need to do is visit the three specified locations. The Durr Burger head can be found atop a hill just east of Pleasant Park. The dinosaur, however, is on the opposite end of the map–you’ll see it beside a road to the south of Paradise Palms. Finally, the stone head statue is located near the frozen lake to the north of Polar Peak–it resembles a Moai statue (with a chair on top of it for some reason), so you can’t miss it. Once you’ve visited all three monuments, you’ll complete the challenge and receive 10 Battle Stars. For a more detailed look at where to go, check out our stone head statue, Durr Burger head, and dinosaur locations guide.
Rumble Royale Challenges
In contrast to the Road Trip challenges, the Rumble Royale challenges are all tied to Team Rumble mode. You’ll begin with a total of three tasks, with additional ones unlocking as you complete them. These are fairly straightforward compared to the Road Trip missions, ranging from winning a certain number of matches to assisting teammates with eliminations. You can see the list of Rumble Royale challenges we’ve unlocked so far below.
Play matches of Team Rumble with at least one elimination (5) — 10 Battle Stars
Win a match of Team Rumble (3) — 10 Battle Stars
Assist a teammate with eliminations in Team Rumble (20) — 10 Battle Stars
Earlier this year, GameSpot celebrated gaming history and gave recognition to some of the most influential games of the 21st century. If you happened to miss this series, then you’re in for a treat.
The games we highlighted aren’t the best, and they aren’t necessarily games that you need to rush out and play today, but there’s no question that they left an indelible impact on game developers, players, and in some cases, society at large. These are the games that helped shape the industry’s current most cutting-edge trends and design philosophies.
We spent countless hours as a team debating which games would make up this concise list of 10. Alongside each game we’ve listed here, you’ll find a link pointing to a feature detailing why we’ve deemed as one of the most influential games of the 21st century.
Below you’ll find what we’ve come up with, and we hope you’re as satisfied as we are with what we’ve chosen. Though if you’re inclined to see what the best games are on current platforms, then be sure to check out our features highlighting the best PS4, Xbox One, and Switch games. Otherwise, scroll down to see GameSpot’s picks for the most influential games of the 21st century.
Which games from the 21st century do you think are some of the most influential? Let us know in the comments below.
Capcom is asking for feedback on a new game it has in development–interesting enough in itself, but the kicker is that it’s specifically asking the Japanese Resident Evil community. The email to Resident Evil ambassadors, which was seen and translated by Resi fansite Biohaze, informs them of a new “game that’s in development.”
The email reads: “To all Resident Evil Ambassadors, thank you for your patronage regarding the Resident Evil series. Today, we are letting you know that we are recruiting testers for a game that’s in development!
“We are interested in incorporating the feedback of all Ambassadors into our development, so please read the details below and, if you are interested in participating, click the Entry button.”
It’s unclear which game Capcom is referring to in the email. It’s possible the company is working on the next mainline entry to the series or another remake akin to this year’s Resident Evil 2 remake. However, Resident Evil 5 and 6 are being ported to Switch later this year, so it could merely be these versions undergoing testing. It may not necessarily be a Resident Evil title at all, of course, though it would perhaps be a strange move to ask the Resi community for feedback on a non-Resi game. GameSpot has contacted Capcom for more information.
The most recent Resi game is the Resident Evil 2 remake, which launched in January to a positive reception. “Resident Evil 2 is not only a stellar remake of the original, but it’s also simply a strong horror game that delivers anxiety-inducing and grotesque situations, topping some of the series’ finest entries,” said our critic, Alessandro Fillari.
“But above all, the remake is an impressive game for the fact that it goes all-in on the pure survival horror experience, confidently embracing its horrifying tone and rarely letting up until the story’s conclusion. Though Resident Evil 2 has its roots firmly in the past, it reworks the familiar horrors into something that feels brand new and all its own.” You can read more in our full Resident Evil 2 remake review.
Cyberpunk 2077 is one of the most highly-anticipated PS4, Xbox One, and PC games on the horizon, and now there’s an extra element to be excited for. Developer CD Projekt Red and tabletop publisher Cmon have announced a new Cyberpunk card game.
Titled Cyberpunk 2077: Afterlife, the card game is due to launch in 2020. Its official description states: “The game thrusts players into the dark alleyways of Night City, where ruthless gangs clash with corporations in an endless war for money, power, and control.”
It continues: “In Cyberpunk 2077: Afterlife, players become Fixers, the data brokers and masterminds in Night City that recruit cyberpunks, equip them with gear, and send them out on missions. But nothing’s free in Night City. Players need to balance between what they want and what they can actually afford. Using an innovative drafting mechanic and special dashboard, players must decide which cards they want to buy, and which to sacrifice for funds in order to purchase new ones.
“Each successful mission raises the player’s Street Cred, with mission survivors becoming Veterans, imparting their knowledge and experience to newer recruits. In this chrome-infused world, Street Cred is the only currency that truly matters.”
The press release goes on to state this is the first collaboration between CD Projekt Red and Cmon, “with plans for more to follow.” It’s unclear if this refers to more Cyberpunk card games, Witcher titles, or something else entirely.
The news comes as Cyberpunk Red, a tabletop prequel to 2077, launches its Jumpstart Kit, with a full version coming at a later date. As well as an updated lorebook, the starter set includes a set of custom dice, six customizable characters, four physical maps, and a new adventure scenario.
As another week comes to an end, two more PC games are free from the Epic Games Store if you need some weekend entertainment: mystery thriller Alan Wake and action fighting game For Honor. Epic has been giving away free games regularly for over eight months now, but it seems to be switching things up a bit lately. For one, this week’s free games became available on a Friday, rather than a Thursday, as usual. Secondly, for the past two weeks, Epic has been offering a pair of games rather than just one. The company explained that anytime it gives away a game with an M or PEGI-18 rating, which could be restricted by Parental Control settings, it will offer another free game that’s more accessible to younger players. In this week’s case, For Honor is rated M, and luckily, that means Alan Wake is available too.
Alan Wake is an action-adventure game that unfolds like a mystery-thriller. The story follows best-selling writer Alan Wake, whose wife disappears during their vacation in the Pacific Northwest; soon after, he discovers pages from a thriller novel he doesn’t remember writing. “The foreboding atmosphere that permeates every inch of this wilderness never lets you forget the dangers that await the unprepared, but the feeling of dread that defines the early portions dissipates as you get deeper into this moody adventure,” wrote critic Tom McShea in GameSpot’s Alan Wake review, which scored the game an 8.5/10. “Alan Wake doesn’t offer enough surprises to keep you unhinged, but the storytelling is so enthralling and the combat is so frantic that you’ll be sucked in until the thrilling conclusion.”
For Honor is also free this week. Set in a medieval-fantasy world, the fighting game features four main factions to choose from–Knights, Vikings, Samurai, or Wu Lin, the latter of which was added in the Marching Fire expansion. It earned an 8/10 in our For Honor review for its satisfying combat, rewarding skill progression, and multiplayer modes, although GameSpot’s Matt Espineli found the narrative lacking. “In its highest moments, For Honor is difficult to put down,” he wrote. “Its slow combat pace and narrative shortcomings might turn off those unwilling to take the time to dive deep into what it has to offer. However, make no mistake–those who do will be rewarded with some of the most satisfying multiplayer melee fighting conceived in recent years.”
Both Alan Wake and For Honor are free to claim now through August 9, when they’ll be replaced by Epic’s next freebie, GNOG. To claim the games, all you need is an Epic account, which is free to create if you don’t already have one. After adding the games to your account, they’re yours to keep forever.
The developer behind Call of Duty: Modern Warfare has addressed criticism over its decision to use the controversial real-world weapon white phosphorus in multiplayer mode.
Multiplayer design director Geoff Smith told VG247 that Infinity Ward views multiplayer as a playground and separate to the darker themes of single-player campaign. As such, it doesn’t make comment on any real-world aspects of war.
“Our game is more about two sides, that there is no good guy or bad guy, you play on either one. We’re just creating this playground to play on,” he said. “I always felt like in the previous games that multiplayer is like the distant weapon fire that you hear a few blocks away from where the single player is.”
Cardy and Matt have been lucky enough to see Quentin Tarantino’s 9th/10th (depending on who you ask) film, Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood. They possess different views on the film, sparking MUCH chat. Joe’s been spending more time playing hard Japanese games so here is to tell us all about Fire Emblem: Three Houses and the upcoming Monster Hunter: World expansion, Iceborne. We also break down Amazon’s The Boys and pay a brief visit to Fast and Furious spin-off, Hobbs and Shaw.
Joe has a new Endless Search offering this week and crisp conversation also takes place, but we’re opening up the tuck shop this week…
Hello Games has announced that No Man’s Sky will receive its next major update, called Beyond, on August 14. The Beyond expansion includes the ability to play the entire game in virtual reality. It will be a free update on PC, PS4, and Xbox One.
Beyond includes No Man’s Sky Online, which introduces a new social and multiplayer experience, allowing players to meet and play together. Hello Games previously announced this feature as an easier way to meet up and play with your friends, but it says it doesn’t consider this a shift to an MMO structure because it doesn’t feature a subscription or microtransactions. The update also brings NMS Virtual Reality to PS4 and PC, letting you explore the entire procedurally generated galaxy in VR.
This is the seventh major expansion to No Man’s Sky. Last year, the game received the Next expansion, which was such a major overhaul we named it one of the best expansions of 2018. It also recently released the underwater Abyss expansion and tons of new biomes in the Visions expansion.
All of this has helped revive the game after a release window that some considered disappointing. Hello Games recently opened up about why it went dark after No Man Sky’s rocky launch, and how attempting to placate the fans with words wouldn’t have worked.
