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How did the US video game industry fare in March 2019? The NPD Group has released its report for the month, shining a light on the best-performing consoles and games in March.

Starting with games, The Division 2 was the top-selling game of the month, and it becomes the second best-selling title of 2019, only behind Kingdom Hearts III. Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice came in at No. 2, and it is the second-highest launch-month sales for FromSoftware; it’s only behind Dark Souls III.

Another highlight in March was MLB 19: The Show, which came in at No. 3. The PS4-exclusive set a new franchise record for first-month sales; it also set a new all-time record for first-month sales across the entire baseball category. Devil May Cry 5 also came out in March, and it enjoyed the second highest launch-month sales in series history; only Devil May Cry 4 outperformed it. One final highlight was that Kingdom Hearts III, which released back in January, is now the best-selling Kingdom Hearts game ever.

Overall, total game spending in March 2019 amounted to $547 million; that’s down 11 percent year-over-year.

Moving to hardware, the Nintendo Switch was March 2019’s best-selling console, and the first quarter of the year overall, across units sold and dollars spent. The Switch’s strong performance wasn’t enough to stabilise the entire hardware sector, as total hardware spending for March 2019 dropped 15 percent to $282 million.

Microsoft and Sony are working on new consoles, so it might be people are holding off their purchases for now. Retailer GameStop has said it expects new console to be announced soon. Just recently, a new report said Nintendo will release a cheaper Switch model in June.

With games, hardware, and accessories sales combined, total US industry video game spending reached $1.2 billion in March; that’s down 11 percent year-over-year.

March 2019 US Sales

Top 20 Games All Platforms

1. The Division 2^
2. Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice^
3. MLB 19: The Show
4. Devil May Cry 5
5. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate*
6. Red Dead Redemption II
7. NBA 2K19
8. GTA V
9. Yoshi’s Crafted World*
10. Call of Duty: Black Ops 4^
11. Anthem^
12. Mario Kart 8*
13. Jump Force
14. New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe*
15. Far Cry New Dawn
16. Minecraft#
17. Battlefield V^
18. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild*
19. Borderlands
20. Assassin’s Creed : Odyssey

2019 Year-To-Date Top 10 Games

1. Kingdom Hearts III
2. The Division 2^
3. Anthem^
4. Resident evil 2
5. Red Dead Redemption II
6. Jump Force
7. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate8
8. Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice^
9. Call of Duty: Black Ops 4^
10. New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe*

All Platforms 12 Months Ending March 2019

1. Red Dead Redemption II
2. Call of Duty: Black Ops 4^
3. NBA 2K19
4. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate*
5. Madden NFL 19^
6. Spider-Man
7. God of War
8. Assassin’s Creed Odyssey
9. FIFA 19^
10. Mario Kart 8*

March 2019 Xbox One

1. The Division 2
2. Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
3. Devil May Cry 5
4. Anthem
5. Red Dead Redemption II
6. Call of Duty: Black Ops 4
7. NBA 2K19
8. Battlefield V
9. Far Cry New Dawn

March 2019 PS4

1. The Division 2
2. MLB 19: The Show
3. Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
4. Devil May Cry 5
5. Red Dead Redemption II
6. NBA 2K19
7. Call of Duty: Black Ops 4
8. Jump Force
9. Spider-Man
10. GTA V

March 2019 Nintendo Switch

1. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate*
2. Yoshi’s Crafted World*
3. Mario Kart 8*
4. New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe*
5. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild*
6. Super Mario Party*
7. Super Mario Odyssey*
8. Pokemon: Let’s Go Pikachu*
9. Pokemon: Let’s Go Eevee*
10. Mario & Rabbids: Kingdom Battle

March 2019 3DS

1. Kirby’s Extra Epic Yarn*
2. Pokemon: Ultra Sun*
3. Pokemon: Ultra Moon*
4. The Legend of Zelda: Marjora’s Mask 3D*
5. Super Mario Maker*
6. Mario & Luigi: Bowser’s Inside Story + Bowser Jr.’s Journey*
7. Super Smash Bros.*
8. Mario Kart 7*
9. Super Mario 3D Land*
10. Luigi’s Mansion*

* Digital sales not included

^ PC digital sales not included

# Minecraft digital sales on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One included

Anthem developer BioWare has announced some changes to the game’s extra-content release schedule. Writing on Reddit, the developer announced seven planned releases have been delayed, including the major Cataclysm event.

“It’s been 10 weeks since the early access release of Anthem. While we have been quiet publicly, we have been hard at work in the background and we wanted to provide an update on the state of the game,” BioWare said. “We have learned a lot since the game went live. We have heard a lot of feedback from all of you, and we have been working diligently to improve as many things as we can in the short term.”

BioWare has supported Anthem with bug fixes and additional changes (including the new 1.1.0 update that’s out now) that help “point us in the right direction for the future.” However, BioWare acknowledged that it still has “a long way to go before Anthem becomes the game we all want it to be.”

Looking ahead, BioWare said it plans to prioritise fixing bugs and improving the overall stability of Anthem. “The reality is there are more things to fix and improve than we planned for. While this is the best thing to do for the game, it means some items from the calendar will be delayed,” BioWare said.

The following Anthem features have been delayed:

• Mastery System
• Guilds
• Legendary Missions – Phase II
• Weekly Stronghold Challenge
• Leaderboards
• Some Freeplay Events
• Cataclysm

For now, BioWare is keeping quiet on these delayed features, but new information should come in due time. “We want to make sure everything we add to the game has a purpose and fits with our long term goals. When we have information to share on the items above, we will do so,” BioWare said.

The studio did, however, address some part of it. For example, the Cataclysm event is a “big focus,” and BioWare said it sees it as an “important addition to the game.”

“The Cataclysm will bring new challenges and rewards and pushes the story of Anthem forward. As our work continues, we will share more with you in May,” it said.

BioWare also said it’s aware of the concerns some have about end-game loot. “We agree that our loot and progression systems need to be improved and we are working towards this. When we have more information to share, we will,” BioWare said.

Also in the post, BioWare admitted that it hasn’t done the best job at communicating with fans. Going forward, BioWare said it plans to stay quiet for longer.

“A lesson we have learned is we have been talking about things too early. There are so many factors that can cause us to pivot on our plans–whether it’s bugs & stability issues, player feedback, or complications with a feature that require us to take more time to deliver it,” it said. “Our goal is to tell you about new content and features once the work is closer to being done.”

While that is true, BioWare is also hoping to communicate better with players earlier, too, through a test server on PC. BioWare will launch a Player Feedback Environment (PFE) where players can check out new content before it’s released publicly to share feedback with BioWare.

In closing, BioWare said Anthem faces an long, uphill battle to get where it needs to be.

“We believe in Anthem. We believe the game will be great, but we recognize getting there will take a lot of hard work,” the developer said. “We want to do that work and we want you all to join us on the journey to get there.”

Anthem launched in February behind mixed reviews. Despite that, it had a strong first month of sales, in the United States at least.

A new, cheaper version of the Nintendo Switch will launch “by the end of June,” according to a source speaking to Bloomberg. This is at least the second time this year that we’ve heard reports about a less expensive Switch model, as The Wall Street Journal reported in March that Nintendo would release a pared-down, less expensive Switch system in 2019.

That report also mentioned a second new Switch model, one that has “enhanced” features that is targeted at “avid” gamers. However, the specs won’t match PS4 Pro or Xbox One X, the report said. Bloomberg’s sources, meanwhile, suggest that the current Switch model will get a “modest upgrade” in 2019. However, it’s unclear what the upgrade will entail. Whatever the case, Bloomberg reported that the more powerful Switch system “is not in the works.”

The Wall Street Journal’s report suggested that the new, less expensive Switch would cut features like controller vibration to save on costs. Bloomberg’s story had no details on that.

It could be a big week for Nintendo news, as the company is holding its next earnings report on April 25. It could be here that Nintendo confirms it’s working on new consoles. That also might not happen. We’ll have to wait a few days to find out for sure.

Another big news story surrounding Nintendo currently are the rumors and reports about the company launching the Switch in China with the help of Tencent. Nintendo might share more details about this during its earnings report this week.

The new Switch consoles are rumoured to be announced at E3 and then released relatively soon thereafter. Keep checking back with GameSpot for the latest.

It would be no surprise at all to see the Switch get a hardware revision. Historically, Nintendo–along with Microsoft and Sony–have released hardware revisions over time.

The Tolkien Estate, which manages the Lord of the Rings author’s works, has come out with a statement that seeks to distance itself from Fox’s new movie starring Nicholas Hoult. The estate released a statement this week where it said it does not “endorse it or its content in any way,” according to The Guardian.

The estate further noted that it “wish[es] to make clear that they did not approve of, authorise, or participate in the making of this film,” adding that “they do not endorse it or its content in any way.”

A representative for the estate told The Guardian that issuing this statement is not the first step in pursuing legal action, but instead to let viewers know what the estate’s position is.

The new movie, which is called Tolkien, tells the story of the author’s upbringing, including his time at school, his bond with Edith Bratt, and his time serving in World War I as a backdrop to how these experiences shaped his acclaimed fantasy novels.

Here is the full statement, as obtained by io9.

“The family of JRR Tolkien and the Tolkien Estate are aware of the Fox Searchlight motion picture entitled Tolkien that is due for release in May 2019. The family and the Estate wish to make clear that they did not approve of, authorise, or participate in the making of this film. They do not endorse it or its content in any way.”

Tolkien’s son, Christopher Tolkien, told French newspaper Le Monde in 2012 that “the commercialisation [of Tolkien’s work] has reduced the aesthetic and philosophical impact of the creation to nothing.”

The estate has been involved in various lawsuits over the years related to Lord of the Rings properties, leading some to believe no more officially endorsed films or shows based on Tolkien or his creations would happen. But in 2018, Amazon and the Tolkien estate announced an agreement to make a Lord of the Rings TV show. Amazon reportedly paid $250 million for the rights alone to do so.

Tolkien hits theatres on May 10. It’s directed by Dome Karukoski (Heart of Finland), based on script from David Gleeson and Stephen Beresford.

Nicholas Hoult (Mad Max: Fury Road, X-Men series) plays the adult Tolkien, while Lily Collins (To The Bone, Stuck In Love) plays Tolkien’s wife, Edith Bratt.

Middle-earth Enterprises, which is the rights-owner of Tolkien’s work, continues to reach new deals. Just this year, it was announced that Daedalic Entertainment is making a Lord of the Rings game about Gollum. Additionally, Electronic Arts remains a Lord of the Rings licensee, as does WB Games and Lord of the Rings Online developer Standing Stone Games.

Marvel’s hugely anticipated superhero film Avengers: Endgame is finally in theaters (at least in some parts of the world), and as such, reviews have started to show up online.

You can see a rundown of Avengers: Endgame review excerpts below, while more information on the film’s critical reception can be found on GameSpot sister site Metacritic. In addition to GameSpot, the excerpts include those from our sister sites CNET and ComicBook.

Endgame is a direct sequel to last year’s Infinity War, which ended in dramatic fashion with the evil Thanos wiping out half of the galaxy’s population with the snap of his fingers. Among the dead are a number of Avengers, so fans have been eagerly waiting to see what happens next.

The movie is expected to make a lot of money during its opening weekend. In fact, some projections are saying the film will enjoy the best start in the history of cinema.

Avengers: Endgame

• Directed By: Joe and Anthony Russo
• Written By: Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely
• Starring: Robert Downey Jr, Brie Larson, Scarlett Johansson, Karen Gillan, Tessa Thompson, Chris Hemsworth, Chris Evans, Josh Brolin, Tom Holland, Paul Rudd, Bradley Cooper, Elizabeth Olsen,, Dave Bautista, Tom Hiddleston, Jeremy Renner, Mark Ruffalo, Chadwick Boseman, Michael Douglas, Don Cheadle.
• Runtime: 181 minutes
• Release Date: April 26 (United States)

GameSpot

“Holy hell is it an emotional, fulfilling ride. I have no doubt we’re going to spend the coming weeks picking and pulling it apart until we’ve over-analyzed every single aspect imaginable. But right now, in the aftermath, Avengers Endgame feels like a win. — Michael Rougeau [Full review]

CNET

“Every single action sequence here deserves to be seen on the largest screen possible. In Infinity War, the Russos demonstrated their ability to take action from Earth to space and back, and each of Endgame’s locations provides plenty of epic clashes and gorgeous vistas to relish. Even the more basic settings, like the Avengers’ headquarters somewhere in upstate New York, get made over into expansive settings.” — Mike Sorrentino [Full review]

ComicBook

“The final movie in Marvel’s Infinity Saga is a masterpiece. It’s an absolute spectacle which needs to be watched on the biggest screen possible. It’s a love letter to fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. In fact, I’d argue that Avengers: Endgame is the film event of our lifetime and lives up to every bit of global hype it has garnered. It is setting a new standard and raising the bar for event films and likely will not be matched in this generation of filmmaking.” — Brandon Davis [Full review]

Slant Magazine

“Every serious narrative beat is ultimately undercut by pro-forma storytelling (the emotional beats never linger, as the characters are always race-race-racing to the next big plot point), or by faux-improvised humor, with ringmaster Tony ‘Iron Man’ Stark (Robert Downey Jr., so clearly ready to be done with this universe) leading the sardonic-tongued charge.” — Keith Uhlich [Full review]

The Globe And Mail

“Even if I could muster the strength to defy studio marching orders on plot details, there is no point. There is little in Endgame that is worth spoiling, given how its core is spoiled rotten to begin with.” — Barry Hertz [Full review]

Empire

“A victory lap that moonwalks through the best part of the MCU back catalogue and emphasises emotion as much as action, this is an intensely satisfying piece of blockbuster filmmaking.” — Helen O’Hara [Full review]

The Associated Press

“Generous in humor, spirit, and sentimentality, Anthony and Joe Russo’s Endgame is a surprisingly full feast of blockbuster-making that, through some time-traveling magic, looks back nostalgically at Marvel’s decade of world domination. This is the Marvel machine working at high gear, in full control of its myth-making powers and uncovering more emotion in its fictional cosmos than ever before.” — Jake Coyle [Full review]

The Wrap

“Yes, there are some moments when the lengthy running time makes itself known, and yes, this is a corporate product even more so than most of the stand-alone MCU movies. But if you like what that product is about, the laughs and tears here feel genuine. The Marvel movies are by no means over, but Avengers: Endgame does offer rare moments of catharsis in an ongoing serialized saga.” — Alonso Duralde [Full review]

Avengers: Endgame brings together story threads that have been building and developing over the last 21 Marvel Cinematic Universe movies. That’s a whole lot of stuff for the movie to wrap up–some 11 years’ worth–and it’s going to take a while (you can read our spoiler-free review to get a sense of the movie’s success). Endgame clocks in at three hours long, and while it’s a pretty brisk movie in terms of pacing, plenty of us will still need a bathroom break in the middle.

The trouble is finding the right time to abscond to the restroom. A lot happens in Endgame, with a great deal of setup taking place as the remaining Avengers prepare for a rematch with Thanos. Luckily, we’ve seen the movie and have identified a few moments where you’ll suffer the least story damage if you have to get up.

Now, be warned: We don’t actually recommend you head to the bathroom if you can avoid it. Endgame is super dense and there’s a lot of important stuff all over the place, and you’re going to miss some of it. But if you have to make a sacrifice, these are the times to do it. No spoilers!

Pee Break No. 1

Your first potential wee comes during about act 2, after the team returns to the Avengers compound. Again, we’re trying to stay as vague as possible here, but when you hear the phrase “Test no. 1” with the characters preparing to do a bunch of science stuff, you’re pretty safe. You’ll miss a couple of fun jokes, but nothing in this moment is essential to what happens afterward.

Pee Break No. 2

Sometime later in the second act, you’ll get another shot if you act quickly. This one comes when the Avengers start leaving for their “missions” that have been teased in the trailers. Watch for Nebula and co. reaching their destination in space; you’ll be able to slip away during some jokey discussions that don’t advance the plot beyond what you already know is happening. The same is true of Thor’s arrival at his destination in the same stretch.

Pee Break No. 3

If you’re really desperate, you can run for the bathroom during the final act, but this is when all the big action is starting to really pop off, as one might expect. Amidst the superhero antics, you’ll get a chance when things calm down for a moment. When you see a portal open followed by a…let’s say recognizable line from Captain America, you’ll be able to slip away during the ensuing action scene–but only if you really, really have to go. It’s a desperate time for a desperate measure.