Fortnite Dev Responds To Concerns Over Proposed Matchmaking System

Last week, Fortnite developer Epic Games announced that some changes are coming to the popular Battle Royale game’s matchmaking system. Some voiced concerns about the proposed changes, and now Epic has said it will take this feedback into “careful consideration” before making any concrete changes to matchmaking.

In a tweet, Epic said, “We heard you loud and clear concerning changes to matchmaking! We’ll be sorting through all of the feedback we’ve been given and take it into careful consideration before taking any steps.”

The root of the concerns come from a single line in a recent Fortnite “State of Development” blog post. Epic said said in the post, “We are working on changes to matchmaking that are aimed at creating matches with a more balanced distribution of skill.”

The suggestion here is that Fortnite might be adopting a skill-based matchmaking system, meaning that players would be matched with those who have a comparable skill level. Many games used skill-based matchmaking, so it wouldn’t be a new phenomenon. But for Fortnite, some expressed concerns that such a system would make the game feel more serious in nature instead of a more casual experience.

We have followed up with Epic Games in an attempt to get more details about what might be changing in Fortnite’s matchmaking system. We’ll report back with anything we hear from the developer.

If Fortnite does end up adopting a skill-based matchmaking system, one possibility is that this is limited to a specific playlist. Other games have “serious” and “casual” playlists, giving players an option for how they want to play. It could be that Epic adopts something similar for Fortnite, though no announcements have been made as of yet.

In other Fortnite news, the game recently passed 3.4 million concurrent users, which is ahead of the record that PUBG set earlier this year. Additionally, a 60 FPS mode is coming to PS4 Pro and Xbox One X later this month. For more on Fortnite, check out GameSpot’s gallery of 12 things we wish we knew before getting started.

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V The Movie Officially Announced

A movie based on the ’80s sci-fi series V is coming from the show’s original creator, Kenneth Johnson.

V The Movie will presumably retread the story of the two-part mini-series, which focused on human-suit-wearing reptilian visitors to earth who may or may not be there for nefarious purposes. The series focused heavily on humanity’s reactions to the ‘Visitors’, including those who resisted against assimilation. The 1983 mini-series was followed by 1984 sequel V: The Final Battle, a short-lived 1985 series, and a 2009 reboot starring Morena Baccarin.

Deadline reports that the movie will be the first project for a reborn Desilu Studios, originally founded in 1950 by Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball.

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The Best Laptop Deals of 2018

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It’s pretty amazing how quickly laptops have progressed from expensive, but ultimately underpowered, to the modern versions. Higher-end laptops have desktop-grade GPUs in them, so the tradeoff between power and portability is smaller and smaller. Prices, too, are at a point now where buying a laptop as a matter of convenience can land you a good machine at a great price.

With the insane cryptocurrency mining bubble right now, GPU prices are through the roof, so if you’re after a gaming rig at a not-insane price, a laptop is a great place to start. Whether you just want something for work, school, or to replace a desktop, it’s a great time to pick up a laptop. We’ll be updating this list throughout the year with the best deals, so make sure to keep checking back.

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New Splatoon 2 Amiibo, Map, and Weapon Coming Soon

A pair of new amiibo, as well as a new map and weapon are coming soon to Splatoon 2.

The amiibo are of Splatfest hosts Pearl and Marina, an they’ll be available in a two-pack later this year for $25 USD. Details regarding their specific functionality have yet to be revealed.

For a sneak peek at the figures, check out the reveal trailer below:

A new map called Goby Arena and a new weapon known as the Dark Tetra Dualies, which allows the wielder to perform four consecutive dodge rolls, are also on the way for Nintendo’s ink-based shooter.

Check out the gallery below to see a few images of the new map and weapon, courtesy of Nintendo Versus on Twitter.

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Anime Games Confirmed For 2018

For anime fans, there’s a lot to look forward to in 2018. The year started out strong with Dragon Ball FighterZ, which is full of references to classic moments from Dragon Ball Z and a new story for fans to enjoy. But it’s not the only anime game coming out this year; Sword Art Online, One Piece, Naruto, and more are all getting new games. Click forward to see all the games based on existing anime confirmed for 2018.

If you’re curious about 2018 in general, you can check out our features on Switch exclusives, PS4 exclusives, Xbox One exclusives, and PC exclusives. There’s also a wealth of exciting games coming out in 2018 that aren’t necessarily exclusive to one platform or another, so be sure to check out our individual features highlighting the most anticipated PS4 games, Xbox One games, PC games, and Switch games for a broader look at the year ahead.

For more on anime, be sure to check out our gallery of the biggest anime to watch in 2018. If you’re looking for recommendations of shows to watch, see the best anime available on Netflix and our top 10 anime of 2017.