Ever since Mario Kart Tour released on phones last year, it has only been playable vertically in portrait mode. Nintendo announced today on its mobile YouTube channel that landscape support is coming in a future update. This will give players a wider and more familiar view akin to past Mario Kart titles and addresses a common gripe that some players had.
The horizontal view will arrive via a free update for both the Android and iOS versions of the arcade racer on July 21, 2020. Players will be able to choose between the two views, so you can continue using portrait mode if you have come to prefer it. There is also a new control scheme to use for the landscape view called “Left/Right Controls.” When enabled, it will allow players to steer their kart with the left side of the screen, while using the right side to use items.
The July 21 update brings the latest major change that Nintendo has implemented to the free-to-play mobile game. When it launched in September 2019, it was only playable in single player against computer-controlled opponents. However, an update in March brought in a multiplayer mode that added in the competitive play that the series is best known for. It has also regularly received new characters and karts to unlock and limited-time tours to play that are generally available for half a month.
Mario Kart Tour can be downloaded on both the App Store and Google Play Store.
Sea of Thieves’ launch wasn’t the smoothest back in March 2018, but it’s since managed to lure in many players with its high seas hijinks. According to a recent blog post, the pirating adventure has notched over 15 million players in over two years, and June 2020 was its biggest month ever, with more than 3.3 million players walking the plank. The game has also sold more than a million copies on Steam.
In a previous blog post back in January celebrating 10 million players, an executive producer at Rare called Sea of Thieves Microsoft’s most successful new IP of the Xbox One generation. A recent update added ghastly ghost ships to the game, along with more shanties and a new special event that challenges players to sink Captain Flameheart’s flagship, the Burning Blade.
While initial reviews of Sea of Thieves were muted, the game has improved quite a lot over its two year lifespan. In GameSpot’sSea of Thieves re-review, critic Michael Rougeau called the game a voyage worth embarking on. “Since the game’s launch over two years ago, Rare has worked continuously to build on Sea of Thieves’ strong framework, and the countless features and systems they’ve added have all enhanced that core, undeniable truth,” he wrote. “They still have work to do, and for some players, it will never be enough. But there are open seas and clear skies ahead.”
In a tweet, developer Techland announced the new release date, saying it wanted to implement suggestions from its recent beta.
Hellraid has had a tumultuous development, with the original Hellraid game being previously announced to release in 2013 for Xbox 360, PS3, and PC before being bumped to 2014 for Xbox One, PS4, and PC. The game was officially put on hold in January 2015, later to be folded into DLC for Techland’s Dying Light.
Dying Light: Hellraid sees players transported inside an arcade cabinet, where they must battle demons using axes, hammers, and swords. The DLC features the base game’s first-person melee combat and can be played in four-person co-op.
A gaming monitor is a must-have for PC gaming, but thanks to its low response time, it’s also a great option for console gaming. If you’re in the market for a PC monitor, then Staples has a fantastic deal on one. Staples is discounting an AOC 27-inch IPS gaming monitor for $100 with promo code 88147. It’s also eligible for free next-day shipping if you order it soon.
This AOC monitor comes equipped with a 27-inch, 1080p display with a 60Hz refresh rate. It only has one HDMI port and one VGA port, however, so if you’re looking to plug multiple things into this monitor, your options are limited. You can solve this by buying an HDMI multiport that increases the number of HDMI ports you have access to. You’ll also want to snag an HDMI cable as this monitor only comes with a cable for the VGA port.
AOC is a budget brand that makes great, reliable monitors. They’re not the highest-end products you’ll find on the market, but for the prices you can find the displays at, AOC is hard to beat. This particular monitor can be used for gaming, but it’s not going to match up against even some of AOC’s other monitors that boast higher refresh rates and resolutions. However, this is still an excellent monitor that won’t disappoint–and if you want a dual-monitor setup, then this is an excellent opportunity to do exactly that.
If you’re looking for more options when it comes to gaming monitors, then you’re in luck. There are a number of budget monitors available right now, including displays for gaming, work, and everything in between. Also, if you’re planning on building a PC to pair with a new monitor, then be sure to check out our accessible guide on how to build a gaming PC. We walk you through step-by-step and explain every part of the process to make it as stress-free as possible.
Another Bug Off is just around the corner in Animal Crossing: New Horizons. The bug-catching event returns for players in the Northern Hemisphere this Saturday, July 25, giving you another chance to earn exclusive bug-themed furniture, clothing, and even trophies.
Like the Fishing Tourney, the Bug Off is a long-running tradition in the Animal Crossing series, but it works a bit differently in New Horizons than in past games. To help get you up to speed, we’ve broken down everything you need to know about the Bug Off, how to participate, and what prizes you can earn below.
The Bug Off is a recurring event hosted by Flick, one of the many NPCs who will regularly visit your island. The Bug Off takes place on different dates depending on if your game is set to the Northern or Southern Hemisphere, but it always falls on the third Saturday of the summer months:
Northern Hemisphere
June
July
August
September
Southern Hemisphere
November
December
January
February
The Bug Off runs from 9 AM to 6 PM your time. Unlike during his regular visits, Flick will be camped out in your town’s plaza throughout the entire event, so you won’t need to track him down. Simply speak to Flick to enter the competition and he’ll give you three minutes to catch as many bugs as you can. Once time elapses, return to him to tally up your points and sell your haul. You can enter the Bug Off as many times as you’d like until the event ends at 6 PM, but each entry will cost 500 bells.
What Rewards Do You Get For Doing The Bug Off?
Based on how many bugs you catch during a round, Flick will award you points. Each bug you net is worth one point, and you’ll receive an added two-point bonus if you can catch at least three before time runs out.
The points you earn during the Bug Off can be redeemed for exclusive prizes. Flick will give you a special piece of bug-themed clothing or furniture for every 10 points you amass. You can’t choose which item to spend your points on, as they’ll be given out at random, but you’ll get one of each before Flick starts handing out duplicates. You can see the full list of prizes below:
Bug Off Prizes
Artisanal Bug Cage
Bug Aloha Shirt
Bug Cage
Bug Wand
Butterfly Backpack
Butterfly Wall
Ladybug Rug
Ladybug Umbrella
Spider Doorplate
Termite Mound
Toy Centipede
Toy Cockroach
In addition to those prizes, you’ll also receive a special bug trophy if you hit certain point milestones before the Bug Off ends. Flick will tell you when you’ve reached these milestones, so you don’t need to save up points or keep track of them. Your points will also carry over to the next Bug Off, so you won’t be starting from scratch each time. We’ve listed all the bug trophies and how many points you need to accumulate to win them below:
Bug Trophies
Bronze bug trophy (mailed to your house after amassing 100 points)
Silver bug trophy (mailed to your house after amassing 200 points)
Gold bug trophy (mailed to your house after amassing 300 points)
Bug Off Tips
Much like the Fishing Tourney, although you can participate in the Bug Off solo, your best bet is to team up with a friend or two for the event. The number of bugs each player catches will be added together at the end of the round, making it much easier to amass points and earn prizes.
Another thing to keep in mind while you hunt bugs is where they commonly spawn. You’ll frequently see butterflies, stinkbugs, and other insects around flowers, so keep checking any flower beds you may have around the island. Since we’re in the midst of summer, you’ll also want to check tree stumps and palm trees, as that’s where you’ll commonly find beetles. Be sure to check out our bugs guide and our list of July bugs and fish for more details on what bugs are available now and how you can catch them.
K.K. Slider’s Rescheduled Concert
Since the Bug Off always takes place on a Saturday, K.K. Slider won’t hold his regular weekly concert that day, but you’ll still have a chance to catch him live. Prior to the game’s 1.3.0 update, the wandering musician would stop by your island on Friday during weeks that an event is taking place Saturday; now, however, he’ll be showing up on Sunday. That means the next time you’ll catch him live this week is July 26, so don’t miss your chance to take home another K.K. song then.
Don’t panic, Game of Thrones fans. George R.R. Martin may be taking his time in wrapping up the book series, but there’s still plenty of Westeros-based content on the horizon to keep an eye on. HBO’s prequel series, House Of The Dragon, has officially begun the casting process, Entertainment Weekly reports, which means that pre-production is underway.
Unfortunately, we don’t know much about the prequel show and, currently, there are no casting breakdowns or synopses available. But we do know that HBO has committed to 10 episodes and that Ryan Condal (Colony) will act as showrunner alongside Migel Sapochnik (who directed the Battle of the Bastards and The Winds of Winter episodes of Game of Thrones). Sapochnik is also slated to direct the pilot.
In terms of story, the show will be based on Martin’s novel Fire & Blood, which covered the history of the Targaryens, one of the great houses of Westeros, from around 300 years before the events of A Game Of Thrones. The events of the novel span around 150 years of history, however, so how the show will handle the timeline and which parts it will choose to emphasize remains a mystery. Likely candidates for featured characters include historical heavy-hitters like Aegon The Elder, the first King Viserys (not to be confused for Danny’s horrible brother, who inherited the name), and Rhaenyra Targaryen, his daughter. It’s probably a safe bet to assume there will be plenty of dragons, though, so at least there’s that.
It should also be noted that House Of The Dragon is independent of the Naomi Watts-lead prequel series that HBO canceled in November of last year. Currently, House of the Dragon is the only GoT prequel show in development at HBO.
House of the Dragon is scheduled for release in 2022.
Undoubtedly, the most popular streaming service around is Netflix. This August, three huge movies arrive, and they’re huge because they are blockbusters and because they have dinosaurs eating people. Alongside that are plenty of new Netflix originals coming too. While the full list for August Netflix releases has not arrived yet, we do know a few things headed your way.
On August 1, the original Jurassic Park trilogy arrives: Jurassic Park, The Lost World, and Jurassic Park III. Relive your favorite moments like when a theme park with real dinosaurs fails and the dinos eat a bunch of people, or when people go back to the island and the dinos eat a bunch of people, or when Jeff Goldblum hung out shirtless. All of these moments can be relived on the first of the month.
If you’re looking for something more along the lines of superheroes, you may want to watch Project Power, which arrives on August 14. Starring Jamie Foxx, the Netflix original follows a soldier who starts taking a new drugs which gives people superpowers. However, the superpowers are all unique to each people. Foxx’s character works with a cop (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) to take on the manufacturers of the drug. It looks ridiculous in the best way possible.
Finally, the sci-fi series The Rain returns for Season 3 on August 6. The show follows Danish siblings as they try to survive in a world where the rain carried a virus that killed almost everyone in Scandinavia. From there, they meet up with other survivors and realize the world is a far different place.
Below, you’ll find the films and TV shows coming to Netflix for August. This isn’t the full list, so keep checking back with GameSpot to see it when it arrives.
The Bugsnax theme song by Kero Kero Bonito is now available in full for your listening pleasure. The hit song is available on YouTube, streaming services like Spotify and Apple Music, and for the truly dedicated fans, on vinyl.
Produced by iam8bit, the 7″ vinyl has a screen printed strawberry design on the vinyl, with a strawberry scented scratch-n-sniff jacket. The vinyl is available for pre-order and costs $12 USD.
After becoming a surprise hit during Sony’s PS5 reveal event, the Bugsnax theme song — “ooOoo! Talkin’ ’bout Bugsnax” — will be released on vinyl later this year.
Performed by the British indie pop group Kero Kero Bonito, “It’s Bugsnax!” comes on a custom seven-inch vinyl record in a strawberry-scented scratch-n-sniff jacket. Preorders cost $12 USD on iam8bit, with shipments going out in Q4 2020.
Bugsnax on vinyl. (Image: iam8bit)
The earworm of a theme song debuted alongside Bugsnax during the PS5 event in June. Developed by Young Horses (Octodad), Bugsnax takes players to Snaktooth Island, home to bug-snack hybrid creatures, like the googly-eyed strawberry seen on the album art above.
The game itself is a first-person adventure in which you study the behaviors of various Bugsnax, according to Young Horses president Philip Tibitoski. The developer has yet to show off gameplay, though Kevin Geisler, a programmer on Bugsnax, lists Ape Escape, Viva Piñata, Pokemon Snap, and Dark Cloud among its inspirations.
Bugsnax will be released on PS5, PS4, and PC this holiday. Head to IGN’s PS5 wiki for the full list of confirmed games coming to Sony’s next-gen system.
Mario Kart Tour is finally getting a landscape mode. Nintendo’s mobile games have been met with financial success but that doesn’t stop them from receiving their share of criticism. Since the launch of Mario Kart Tour, players have been wondering why a landscape mode doesn’t exist and in turn, asking for one to be implemented. Just two months shy of its original launch day, the game is finally getting a landscape mode.
“Here’s a sneak peek at some of the content that’s planned for the next #MarioKartTour update,” a tweet from the official Mario Kart Tour account reads. “Players will have the option of racing in either the existing portrait mode or the new landscape mode!”
You can check out the new viewing mode in action below.
Here’s a sneak peek at some of the content that’s planned for the next #MarioKartTour update. Players will have the option of racing in either the existing portrait mode or the new landscape mode! Landscape mode includes a new control layout, so find your favorite way to play! pic.twitter.com/KchRRfnGtj
As you can see, the landscape mode will come with a unique control layout to make it feel right at home when playing horizontally. The original vertical portrait mode will still exist for players not looking to switch up the game’s controls. Landscape mode will come with the game’s next update which is scheduled to hit Android and iOS devices on July 21.
For more Mario Kart Tour, read about how the game’s last big update brought multiplayer to the game. We updated our thoughts on the game after that update and you can read about that in our Mario Kart Tour review. Despite the apparent financial success of Nintendo’s mobile games, it hasn’t been enough for the company which is why it’s reportedly moving away from the mobile market.
