Category: Gamespot

Fortnite developer Epic Games announced today that it has secured $1.25 billion in funding from a number of venture capital companies. Not only that, but with the new round of funding, WSJ reports that Epic Games, which is based in Cary, North Carolina, is now valued at a massive $15 billion.

The new round of funding at Epic came from seven different companies: KKR, ICONIQ Capital, Smash Ventures, aXiomatic, Vulcan Capital, Kleiner Perkins, and Lightspeed Venture Partners.

According to Epic, “This investment creates powerful partnerships with highly strategic investment firms and individuals at the forefront of technology, entertainment, professional sports, esports, and live events.”

The seven new companies join Tencent, Disney, and Endeavor, all of which previously invested in Epic Games at various funding levels. Tencent paid a reported $330 million for a 48% controlling interest in Epic Games back in 2013. Even with all the new investment, Epic has retained ownership of itself, and continues to be controlled by founder and CEO Tim Sweeney.

“We’re excited to partner with the finest minds in the financial, sports, and entertainment communities. This reinforces Epic’s position of leadership in real-time 3D technology, and accelerates our ability to improve the way people play, work, and interact with the world,” Sweeney said in a statement.

It’s not immediately clear where the $1.25 billion in new funding will go at Epic, but sources told WSJ “not all of the money is going directly to the company. A portion of that amount represents shares being sold by existing stakeholders who are cashing out some of their investment.”

Epic has always been a big name in the video game industry. It created the Gears of War franchise and worked on every major entry until Epic sold the series to Microsoft after Gears of War 3. Epic’s profile has been dramatically increased of late after the gargantuan and ongoing success of Fortnite. The other major part of Epic’s business is the Unreal Engine, the ubiquitous game engine that it licenses to developers around the world.

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The GameSpot Theatre returns to PAX Australia this year, with a swath of panels to inform and entertain. We’ve got panels featuring Hitman 2, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, and Pete Hines from Bethesda, and more!

If you’re in Melbourne, come visit us! The theatre is located by the main entrance on Level 1, next to the Take This AFK Room.

If you’re not lucky enough to be at PAX Aus in person, you’ll be able to watch all the action via livestream and on-demand video right here on GameSpot, so stay tuned after the show!

Friday, October 26 (All Times Are AEDT)

11:30 AM – The Ultimate Super Smash Bros. Panel

Super Smash Bros. started off as a crazy experiment by Nintendo that morphed into a game of enormous scope—insanely spanning more than 30 game franchises and featuring third-party characters. With Super Smash Bros. Ultimate due out in December, join us as we rummage through Smash’s history, look at how it’s revived dead franchises, discuss what we want to see in the upcoming game, talk about how it has become a popular competitive fighting game, and learn a few tips from the pros.

PANELISTS: David Johnson [Publication Director, Zelda Universe], Shona Johnson [Project Manager, Zelda Universe], Cody Davies [Community Manager, Zelda Universe], Jack “Pudge” Gorman [Smash Tournament Organiser, Couch Warriors], Joshua “Sora” Lyras [Pro Melee player, ORDER], Nick “Extra” McKenzie [Pro Smash 4 player, Dark Sided]

1:00 PM – Let’s Hack A Video Game!

Have you ever wondered how you might go about breaking into a video game, and twisting its gross, hidden insides to your will? Join Lance McDonald (Warpchair), known for cracking open hidden Bloodborne and Dark Souls secrets, as he performs a live hack of PS1 horror classic Silent Hill using only cutting edge technology from 1999. We’ll show processes, talk methods, and answer your questions about video game hacking!

PANELISTS: Edmond Tran [AU Editor, GameSpot], Lance McDonald [Warpchair]

2:30 PM – Voice Actor Showdown

When it comes to building memorable characters in a game, what you see on screen is only part of the story. So what goes into creating an entire character with just your voice? We grill the experts on the voice acting process and put them through their paces recreating their favourite characters (and maybe a few new ones) live on stage.

PANELISTS: Claire Reilly [Senior Editor, CNET], Cissy Jones [Voice Actor, The Walking Dead, Firewatch], Courtenay Taylor [Voice Actor, Regular Show, Fallout 4]

4:00 PM – Hitman 2: Six Million Ways to Die…Choose One

Join IO Interactive’s Eskil Møhl for an hour of creative, murderous hijinks as he goes hands-on with Hitman 2. And he wants you, the PAX audience, to be an accessory!

PANELISTS: Eskil Møhl [Associate Game Director, IO Interactive], Edmond Tran [AU Editor, GameSpot]

5:30 PM – Zelda Universe Presents: Ocarina of Time, 20 Years Later

2018 marks the 20th anniversary of Ocarina of Time, a game that not only influenced the Legend of Zelda series for decades but also quite literally changed the video game landscape. We return to the polygons of the past and discuss how it shaped the industry, whether the game still deserves its accolades, whether it’s still relevant today, and if it’s been surpassed by more recent titles. There will be trivia with prizes for correct answers, so brush up on your knowledge of the game.

PANELISTS: Shona Johnson [Project Manager, Zelda Universe], David Johnson [Publication Director, Zelda Universe], Cody Davies [Community Manager, Zelda Universe], Sebastian Wilkinson [Contributor, Zelda Universe]

Saturday, October 27 (All Times Are AEDT)

10:30 AM – What?! Pokémon is Evolving!

Join a group of six Pokémon community leaders and competitive players, as they come together to talk about how the series has evolved since Red and Blue first fired upon our GameBoys. From how Pokémon GO helped revive the franchise to taking the next steps with Pokémon Let’s Go, Pikachu! & Let’s Go, Eevee!, to picking up some pro tips from actual champs on your road to competitive Pokémon Mastery, to maybe a few extra surprises, there’s no better place for Pokémaniacs to be this weekend.

PANELISTS: Emma Williams, Sam Pandelis, Russell Peters, Tiffany Keane, Alfredo Cheng-Gonzalez, Jesse Wilsone

12:00 PM – Lee Carvallo’s Simpsons Game Reviewing Challenge

You’ve seen plenty of reviews of real Simpsons games, but what about the fictional games of The Simpsons? How DO you Escape From Grandma’s House? What’s the best way to win Triangle Wars? Our panel of Simpsons Superfriends review the best Simpsons games that absolutely don’t exist… except in our cromulent imaginations. As they say in Bonestorm, “Come to this panel or go to hell!”

PANELISTS: Claire Reilly [Senior Editor, CNET], Lucy O’Brien [Games & Entertainment Editor, IGN], Mark Serrels [AU Editor, CNET], Edmond Tran [AU Editor/Senior Producer, GameSpot], David Milner [Editor, Game Informer Australia]

1:30 PM – This Year’s Indie Game-Changer

The Nintendo Switch hasn’t just revolutionised the way we play games, but also the games we’re open to playing. Indie games are seeing a lot of success on the hybrid console, so join a panel of Aussie independent game developers as they share their stories about how the Switch has changed the landscape, and share their favourite Nindies.

PANELISTS: Joe Park [Harmonious Games], Ash Ringrose [SMG Studios], Henrik Pettersson [The Voxel Agents], Matthew Rowland [League of Geeks], Eugenia Woo [Switch Focus], Edmond Tran [GameSpot]

3:00 PM – Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Let’s Play

Let’s keep this friendly! The biggest ever Smash Bros. game is coming soon. Very soon. So soon that we’re getting a whole theatre in on the training for its arrival! A Nintendo exclusive, come and check out panel teams take on Smash and the audience on the big screen!

PANELISTS: Edmond Tran [GameSpot], Jess McDonell [GameSpot], Mark Serrels [CNET], Dan Crowd [IGN], Shannon Grixti [Press Start], Eugenia Woo [Switch Focus]

4:30 PM – We Rate Video Games Dogs

Watch as we review some of the best (and worst) dogs in gaming. They’re good video game dogs, Brent.

PANELISTS: Mark Serrels [CNET], Stephanie “Hex” Bendixsen, Leah Williams, Goldie Bartlett, Amanda Yeo

Sunday, October 28 (All Times Are AEDT)

10:30 AM – Getting Started Painting Miniatures

Some of the most impressive board games and RPGs today bring us amazing miniatures. If you want to help bring your tabletop adventures to life but don’t know where to begin, start here and step into the world of miniature painting! Join us as we show you how to get started on your miniature painting journey, and take you through the simple steps to go from a bare model to your very first miniature masterpiece.

PANELISTS: Marc Chee [Marc Chee], Natalie Szymczak [Eva Studios]

12:00 PM – Why The Mainstream Media’s Reporting On Fortnite Is Dumb And Harmful

What does it take to turn an on-screen avatar into a real-world cosplay masterpiece (aside from a lot of duct tape)? We grill cosplay experts Henchwench and Scrap Shop Props’ Cain Halliwell on designing, constructing and finessing the perfect cosplay creation. Do you need to be a serious seamstress or pro painter, or can you get started with the basics and build from there? Come along for practical advice, design ideas and tips to make your cosplay legit enough to make the mainstage.

PANELISTS: Alice Clarke [Herald Sun], Tim Biggs [Sydney Morning Herald], Chris Ferguson [Stetson Univesity], Raelene Knowles [IGEA], Eddie Makuch [Gamespot]

1:30 PM – Video Games, Ya Baw Bag

Can you guess what video game the angry Scottish man is talking about in his beguiling Scottish brogue? We challenge a host of Australia’s best games journalists. Can you understand a single word of what this guy is saying?

PANELISTS: Mark Serrels [CNET], Claire Reilly [CNET], Joab Gilroy [Red Bull], Jess McDonell [GameSpot], Dan Crowd [IGN]

3:00 PM – The Great Port Resurgence

Ports, remasters, and remakes of games are getting increasingly common. But how does a new version of a game change the way we see it and play it? We talk about the value and apprehension behind HD re-releases and Nintendo Switch ports, and try to come to a definitive conclusion of what works and what doesn’t.

PANELISTS: Pete Hines [Bethesda], Lee May [Defiant Development], Dean Woodward [League of Geeks], Jess McDonell [GameSpot], Edmond Tran [GameSpot]

4:30 PM – One Perfect Game’s Mario Tennis Invitational 2018

It’s time to lace up the Dunlop Volleys, string up the rackets and step on the court. Eight of Australia’s best and brightest streamers, podcasters and presenters will duke it out in a highly prestigious Mario Tennis Aces tournament in what is sure to be a smash hit. Come and help cheer your favourite gaming personality to glory!

PANELISTS: Matt Tilby [Podcaster/Presenter, One Perfect Game/Sabotage Media], Naysy [Twitch Broadcaster, Naysy (Twitch)], Vondle [Twitch Streamer/Influencer, Vondle], Maedi [Streamer/Marketing Manager, Hanabee Entertainment/Maedi], HolmesInFive [Twitch Streamer, HolmesInFive], JackHuddo [Partnered Twitch Streamer, JackHuddo], Alexander Foldi [Caster/Commentator]

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Red Dead Redemption 2 is a massive game, both in terms of file size and its sheer scope. The title features a variety of side activities to steal your attention, from hunting and fishing to old-fashioned robberies. Even if you plan on ignoring these ancillary tasks and just focusing on the story, however, you’re going to need to devote a lot of time to the game.

We’ve been playing through Rockstar’s western for our Red Dead 2 review, and we now know how long its main campaign is. By our estimates, it takes approximately 45-50 hours to clear the story, if you focus primarily on completing story quests and largely ignore its side activities. Of course, individual playtimes will vary, so you can expect to sink considerably more time into the game if you plan on pursuing its many side missions.

Red Dead Redemption 2 casts players in the role of Arthur Morgan, one of the members of the Van der Linde gang, who are traveling across the American frontier to escape the law. During the journey, Arthur will encounter many new and familiar faces, including the protagonist of the first Red Dead Redemption, John Marston. He’ll also be able to wield more than 50 weapons, each of which has a range of customization options that affect their performance and appearance.

On top of that, Arthur will be able to visit many of the same areas featured in the previous game; an image of RDR2’s full map leaked ahead of the game’s release, showing that the world encompasses a fair chunk of the original Red Dead Redemption’s map. As a result, the game will require quite a bit of storage space on your console of choice, as it weighs in at approximately 100 GB.

Red Dead Redemption 2 launches for PS4 and Xbox One on October 26. The game will be available in several different editions, many of which come with various bonus items; you can learn more in our Red Dead Redemption 2 pre-order guide. Those who pick the game up on PS4 will also receive early access to some items 30 days before they arrive on Xbox One. The first batch of timed-exclusive content includes an outfit, horse, and gun.

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There’s nothing better in Destiny 2 than seeing a yellow Exotic engram drop after blasting some giant alien fiend. That excitement is often immediately dashed, though, because there’s no guarantee that the Exotic weapon or armor that comes out of that engram will be something players don’t already have. Hopefully those days of crushing engram disappointment are about to come to an end, thanks to an upcoming Destiny 2 update.

Bungie’s preliminary patch notes for its next update run down a bunch of quality-of-life improvements coming to Destiny 2. While there are a handful of nice changes coming with the update, the one that’s probably going to matter most to players affects the drop rates of duplicate Exotics. Bungie is changing the way Destiny 2 creates random drops, increasing the chance players will get an Exotic they don’t already have, and changing the chances for which duplicates they’ll receive if and when they do.

First, the update is changing how Exotics are “weighted” when Destiny 2’s RNG determines what Exotic drops in an engram. Exotic weapons and armors you don’t already have get weighted heavier than Exotics you do. Bungie is also eliminating Exotics that are earned by completing quests, like Malfeasance and Ace of Spades, from the pool of possible random Exotic drops, which should further decrease the chances of getting something you’ve already got in your inventory.

The changes won’t totally eliminate the possibility of duplicate drops, but Bungie is also tweaking drop rates so that when you do end up with an Exotic you already have, it’s a little less annoying. When duplicate drops happen, the chances that you’ll get Exotic armor will be higher than getting an Exotic weapon. That’s because Exotic weapons have set perks, but armor perks are randomized–so even when you wind up with an Exotic armor drop you already have, there will be a chance that it’ll be better than what you’re already carrying.

There are more quality of life changes due in update 2.0.5, and you can read all about them on the Bungie blog. The update is set to drop with the Destiny 2 weekly update, slated for 9 AM PT / noon ET on Tuesday, October 30.

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Battle royale style games took off in popularity last year thanks to PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds and reached new heights with Fortnite. Now, the Call of Duty franchise has hopped onto the fray with Black Ops 4‘s new Blackout mode, which you can read about in our Black Ops 4 review. If you haven’t experienced battle royale for yourself, but plan on hopping into Black Ops 4, this is for you. We’ll run through some of the basics of the mode and cover the ways in which Call of Duty puts its own spin on it.

Battle Royale 101

First off, you can enter matches either as a lone wolf (solo), with a partner (duos), or a team of four (quads); you’ll be matched with up to 100 players who choose the same group size option. Every player gets flown over the map in the same trajectory–visualized when you pull up the map–and it’s up to you when and where to drop. Exiting the helicopter has you deploying your wingsuit, and you can glide horizontally to go further out or look straight down to drop faster.

The overall goal is to be the last player or team standing since everyone has one life, which makes combat encounters much more tense and risky compared to traditional Call of Duty multiplayer. Now more than ever, you should be aware of your surroundings; that or have a teammate watch your back. Also keep in mind that you can revive squadmates if they fall, but be sure to do so before they bleed out or take more damage from enemies.

Another basic ingredient of battle royale is the impending pressure of a deadly circle closing in on the battlefield. Every match has the circle contracting on a random area of the map, and it gets smaller as the match goes on to force remaining players into combat. If you get caught outside the circle, you’ll take damage until you can get into the safe zone.

A Huge Map To Traverse

Blackout’s map is much larger than any previous Call of Duty map since it has to accommodate 100 players. However with size of the map, it also induces a slower pace; so expect plenty of downtime between encounters. This change of pace may take a while for Call of Duty veterans to adjust to, but it also feeds into the high-stakes nature of combat in battle royale games since one small mistake can cost you an entire match.

There are 14 concentrated areas in the Blackout map, many of which pay homage to past Black Ops maps. For example, Nuketown Island, Estate, and Array will look and feel similar to the multiplayer maps they’re named after. The in-between of these main locations is interspersed with smaller towns and groups of buildings that can have valuable loot. But vast forestry and open fields make up most of the terrain, so be on-guard when traversing between locations as firefights may break out at any moment.

The full map in Blackout mode.

Luckily, vehicles litter the map. An ATV doesn’t provide much protection but it can get up to two players around from point A to point B fairly quickly. The cargo truck fits up to five players and doesn’t leave the squad as vulnerable, but it moves pretty slow. Getting through the river that splits the middle of the map is quite easy with a zodiac boat, which holds up to four players. And unlike most battle royales, Blackout features air transportation via the helicopter that has five seats total. That’s not the only means of air travel, though; you can deploy your wingsuit by sprinting and jumping off a building and holding the jump button.

Loot Your Loadout

You start each match without anything in your inventory and must loot all your equipment–a stark contrast to Call of Duty’s tradition of letting players customize their loadouts. You’re allowed to carry two weapons and have to scavenge for the proper ammo type for each as well. The following is a list of all the weapons available to loot in Blackout:

• Pistols: Strife, Mozu
• SMGs: SAUG-9mm, MX9, GKS, Spitfire, Cordite
• Shotguns: MOG 12, SG12
• Assault Rifles: KN-57, ICR-7, VAPR-XKG, Maddox RFB, Rampart 17
• Tactical Rifles: Auger DMR, Swordfish, ABR 223, Essex Model 07
• Sniper Rifles: Koshka, Paladin HB50
• LMGs: Titan
• Explosives: War Machine, Hellion Salvo
• Zombie Weapons: Ray Gun, Galil, MP-40, Zweihander

Attachments are crucial for getting the most out of your weapons. A reflect sight or 4x scope will come in clutch for nailing precise shots with ADS, and a grip or stock will help control your recoil, but you need to scavenge for those items and get them onto your gun. Zombie weapons add a twist to combat, which can be found in zombie supply stashes after killing AI-controlled zombie hordes at certain locations in the map, like the Asylum. Even the sillier items find their way into Blackout, like the Ray Gun, Monkey Bomb, Acid Bomb, and RC Car (though it doesn’t explode). Look out for blue beacons that shine in the sky as this indicates stash locations where you may get your hands on these rare items.

Inventory management in Blackout mode.

You’ll also have to loot armor in Blackout; there are three levels and each one provides better protection (level 3 armor is the only one that’ll protect from headshots). Backpacks open up five additional item slots, which comes in handy later in a match as you loot more useful equipment. And it goes without saying that stocking up on health items is important, too; first aid and med kits heal 25 and 50 health, respectively. Trauma kits will fully heal you and tack on an additional 50 health temporarily.

Be on the lookout for supply crates that randomly drop onto the map throughout the match; you’re likely to find high-level loot, but creates a hotspot for preying enemies.

The Perks Of Call Of Duty

In another interesting twist, Blackout’s take on battle royale also brings in the familiar Perks system, which act as consumable items found across the map. Each perk has a specific effect, usage limit, and duration. While some may be more useful than others, it’s important to know what your equipped perk does as it can make the difference between life and death, especially in their most effective situations. The following is a perk list and what they do:

• Awareness: Louder enemy footsteps. (Usage: 2, Duration: 2 mins)
• Brawler: Increases melee damage, gain 50 health for each melee attack landed. (Usage: 1, Duration: 4 mins)
• Consumer: Health and consumable items activate 50% faster. (Usage: 1, Duration: 5 mins)
• Dead Silence: Silent movement and less noise when opening stashes. (Usage: 2, Duration: 4 mins)
• Engineer: Reveal all nearby vehicles and enemy equipment. (Usage: 2, Duration: 4 mins)
• Iron Lungs: Steady aim with scoped weapons and underwater breathing time increased. (Usage: 2, Duration: 5 mins)
• Medic: Health items and team revives replenish more health and with faster activation. (Usage: 2, Duration: 4 mins)
• Mobility: Movement and weapon switch is faster, fire and use items while sprinting, move fast while reloading. Fall damage negated. (Usage: 2, Duration: 5 mins)
• Looter: Reveals nearby loot and stashes. (Usage: 3, Duration: 2 mins)
• Outlander: Take less damage and move faster when outside safe zone. (Usage: 2, Duration: 3 mins)
• Reinforced: Reduce explosion and fire damage. Reduce effectiveness of razor wire, flashbangs, and concussion grenades. (Usage: 3, Duration: 4 mins)
• Skulker: Faster crouch and prone movement. (Usage: 3, Duration: 3 mins)
• Stimulant: Increase health cap by 100. (Usage: 2, Duration 3 mins)
• Squad Link: Teammates visible through walls. (Usage: 2, Duration: 2 mins)
• Paranoia: Audio cues for when you’re targeted by an enemy via ADS. (Usage: 2, Duration: 4 mins)

Black Ops 3 introduced Specialists, unique characters that provided a variety of ways to play the game with their own attributes and abilities–akin to a hero shooter. While you can choose to play as a certain Specialist in Blackout, the equipment that was once tied to them are now items found in the field. Those abilities–such as the razor wire, mesh mines, and grappling hook–are hard to find, but they can give you a significant advantage when used in the right situation.

You can unlock different characters to play as in Blackout, as detailed in our guide on that subject.

Tips

Those are the basics when it comes to playing Call of Duty Black Ops 4’s Blackout mode. Battle royale veterans may know how the rules work, but the equipment system and map are still things that need to be experimented with and explored on your own. The most important thing to do is to play more and more matches to get a feel for how Call of Duty’s take on battle royale flows. And now that you know what you’re getting into, take the next step and check out our Blackout beginner’s guide.

For a more comparative look, see how Blackout, Fortnite, and PUBG differ from one another. We’ve spent a lot of time with the game and working to reach a verdict on it, but check out our Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 early review impressions in the mean time.

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