Player's Choice Video Game Superstore

Category: Gamespot

  • Xbox One Is Getting 19 New Classic Xbox Backwards Compatible Games This Month

    As teased, Microsoft revealed a bunch of new original Xbox games that will soon be backwards compatible with Xbox One. During the latest episode of Inside Xbox, the company announced that 19 original Xbox titles will be playable on the current-gen console this month, including some of the platform’s most beloved releases.

    The next round of backwards compatible titles will be divided up into two batches, the first of which will arrive next week, on April 17. That batch includes the acclaimed open-world RPG The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind (which was one of the new BC games leaked ahead of the broadcast), as well as the Conker’s Bad Fur Day remake, Conker: Live & Reloaded; BioWare’s martial arts RPG, Jade Empire; the time-bending platformer Blinx: The Time Sweeper; and Sega’s rail shooter, Panzer Dragoon Orta.

    The second batch of BC games arrives the following week, on April 26. It consists of Destroy All Humans, MX Unleashed, Full Spectrum Warrior, and an assortment of Star Wars titles, including Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy, the original Battlefront and Battlefront II, Republic Commando, Jedi Starfighter, and Knights of the Old Republic II. You can take a look at the full list of upcoming BC games below.

    Like all other backwards compatible games, you’ll be able to pop their original disc into your Xbox One and begin playing once they’re added to the BC catalog. You’ll also be able to download a digital copy of the aforementioned games from the Xbox Store.

    In addition to the new backwards compatible titles, Microsoft announced a handful of Xbox 360 games will receive Xbox One X enhancements via updates today, April 10. Those include the original Red Dead Redemption, Gears of War 2, Portal 2, and Sonic Generations, which is now playable for the first time on Xbox One.

    New Original Xbox Backwards Compatible Games

    April 17

    • Blinx: The Time Sweeper
    • Breakdown
    • Conker: Live & Reloaded
    • The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind
    • Hunter: The Reckoning
    • Jade Empire
    • Panzer Dragoon Orta
    • SSX 3

    April 26

    • Destroy All Humans
    • Full Spectrum Warrior
    • Mercenaries: Playground of Destruction
    • MX Unleashed
    • Panzer Elite Action: Fields of Glory (Europe only)
    • Star Wars: Battlefront
    • Star Wars: Battlefront II
    • Star Wars Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy
    • Star Wars: Jedi Starfighter
    • Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords
    • Star Wars Republic Commando

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  • God Of War PS4 Review Roundup

    Ever since God of War was revealed for PS4, it’s been clear the game would differ from its predecessors in the series. It appeared to be slower, with more of an emphasis on character development and very different combat. The game has also learned a lot from fellow PS4 exclusive The Last of Us.

    Now, with God of War’s release date drawing ever closer, reviews have gone live for the next big PS4 game, and it seems critics are impressed. In our God of War review, Peter Brown awarded the action-adventure title a 9/10, saying it’s a “spectacular action game with epic set pieces, big-budget production values, and hard-hitting combat.” For more on what critics thought, check out our review roundup below, or head over to Metacritic for a wider view of the game’s critical reception.

    • Game: God of War
    • Developer / Publisher: Sony Santa Monica / Sony
    • Platforms: PS4
    • Release Date: April 20
    • Price: US $60 / £53 / AU $100

    GameSpot — 9/10

    “In many ways God of War is what the series has always been. It’s a spectacular action game with epic set pieces, big-budget production values, and hard-hitting combat that grows more feverish and impressive as you progress. What may surprise you is how mature its storytelling has become. Like Kratos, God of War recalls the past while acknowledging the need to improve. Everything new it does is for the better, and everything it holds onto benefits as a result. Kratos is no longer a predictable brute. God of War is no longer an old-fashioned action series. With this reboot, it confidently walks a new path that will hopefully lead to more exciting adventures to come.” — Peter Brown [Full review]

    IGN — 10/10

    “I expected great action from God of War, and it delivers that handily. But I didn’t expect it to be a thrilling journey in which every aspect of it complements the others to form what is nothing short of a masterpiece. It’s a game in which Kratos, a previously one-note character, becomes a complex father, warrior, and monster, embattled both on the field and within his own heart about how to treat his son; one in which the world opens up and shifts, offering rewards in both gameplay and knowledge of its lore that I treasured with each accomplishment. The obvious care that went into crafting its world, characters, and gameplay delivers by far the most stirring and memorable game in the series.” — Jonathon Dornbush [Full review]

    The Guardian — 5/5

    “It is rare to play a game so accomplished in everything it sets out to do. God of War is a standard-setter both technologically and narratively. It is a game that, until recently, would have been impossible.” — Keza MacDonald [Full review]

    Game Informer — 9.75/10

    “Years ago, Kratos killed the deities of Mount Olympus in a gory rampage. Now, in the Norse realm, he has remade himself into a different kind of god. He is quieter and more deliberate, affected by his history but not constrained by it. Kratos’ reinvention serves as a narrative hook, but it also parallels the series’ evolution as a whole; where God of War once relied on bombast and bloodlust, now it leaves space for strategy and nuance. It still has superb action and plenty of jaw-dropping moments, but it supports them with a new level of depth and maturity. God of War learns from its past while clearing an exciting path for the future, and emerges as one of the best games of this generation.” — Joe Juba [Full review]

    Eurogamer — Recommended

    “Like Kratos, the god of fury who must learn not to fear his son, this is a strange beast, really. The latest technology and astonishing craft and artistry are employed to deliver a game of extremely simple pleasures–a wash of new pseudo-ideas that cannot hide the fact that the basics remain unfixed because they were not broken. God of War dresses things up, in other words, but it is ultimately the same deal it always was. As is the way with myths, I guess. As is the way with gods.” — Christian Donlan [Full review]

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  • Fortnite Update 3.5 Is Out With New Port-a-Fort, Patch Notes Released

    Fortnite Update 3.5 Is Out With New Port-a-Fort, Patch Notes Released

    Fortnite has another update out, and Battle Royale has a new item available now on PS4, Xbox One, PC, and mobile. In addition, the previously announced replay system has been implemented, a new limited-time mode is coming soon, and a bunch of new cosmetics have been added to Save the World.

    Version 3.5, as the update is called, adds the recently teased Port-a-Fort feature, which is a throwable item that spawns a fort in seconds. You can carry up to five of these, though they only drop in stacks of one. Take a look at the Epic-tier item below. Battle Royale will also revive the 50v50 mode “soon” with a few small changes. Additionally, the console versions should load faster and some weapon changes have been made.

    Save the World, meanwhile, adds some new cosmetic options that include four new Heroes with a cyberpunk theme and a set of neon weapon skins. Take a look at those in the images below.

    Aside from bug fixes and balance tweaks, the only other meaningful addition is Fortnite’s replay system. This allows you to save your matches and watch them back from any angle. This is designed for sharing options but could also allow you to learn from where you and other players go wrong. Take a look at the full patch notes at the bottom of this article, via Epic.

    No Caption Provided
    Gallery image 1Gallery image 2

    Our Fortnite: Battle Royale review went live just recently. Critic Michael Higham enjoyed the multiplayer title and awarded it an 8/10. “While there are several moving parts in the game’s ecosystem, Fortnite’s biggest accomplishment is in how it seamlessly merges a number of simple mechanics to create a distinguishable battle royale game,” he wrote. “What looks to be a straightforward building system steadily escalates to an elaborate display of tactical prowess. As the saying goes: It’s easy to learn, hard to master. Although a few shortcomings in the map design eventually surface and fatigue in looting can set in, Fortnite rarely fails at challenging you in unexpected ways, resulting in something more than just another typical last-person-standing shooter.”

    For more on Epic’s hit game, check out six common mistakes players make in Fortnite: Battle Royale or our Vending Machines location guide. Alternatively, take a look at our Fortnite beginners guide.

    Fortnite Update 3.5 Patch Notes

    General

    • Wood, Stone, and Metal resources will now always be the first items in the inventory list (e.g. instead of Traps).
    • Purchased V-Bucks are now shared between Xbox One, PC and Mobile.
    • Login Queue Improvements:
      • During wait periods, login will now remember your place in line if you quit out of the game and return.
      • Mobile devices will not enter the login queue more than once per login attempt.
      • Two-Factor Authentication challenges will not put you back into the login queue.

    Bug Fixes

    • Adjusted the Login screen layout to better support varying screen sizes and safe zones.
    • Fixed a rare crash that occurred during logout.
    • Fixed PS4 players leaving their party after a match where they are playing with players on other platforms.
    • Fixed Survivor and Hero squads being locked after switching to Save the World from Battle Royale.
    • On PC, fixed PS4 controllers showing Xbox buttons, even after the controller type was changed in the settings.
    • Fixed rare cases in which character parts would stretch unnaturally.
      • (Example) Ears of the Rabbit Raider outfit.
    • Fixed the inability to rotate elements in the Battle Royale Locker after buying a Llama in Save the World.

    Battle Royale

    Replay System

    • Save your matches and watch them from any angle!
    • Speed up or slow down the action.
    • Help tell your story better with player outlines and name plates.
    • Several Camera Modes to choose from:
      • Third Person
        • Follows and orbits around the selected player.
        • 3 different follow modes; Off, Auto, Lazy.
      • Drone Follow
        • Drone style camera that always keeps the selected player in frame.
      • Drone Attach
        • Drone style camera that is loosely attached to the selected player.
      • Drone Free
        • Drone style camera that is free to fly around the island.
      • Gameplay
        • This camera shows what the selected player saw during gameplay.
      • Adjust cinematic camera settings
        • Exposure
        • Aperture
        • Focal Length
        • Focus Distance
      • Currently available on PC and console only.

    Weapons + Items

    • Port-a-Fort added.
      • Epic rarity.
      • Drops in stacks of 1. Can stack up to 5 in inventory.
      • When the Port-a-Fort is thrown, a pre-made fort is constructed instantly at the impact point.
        • The Port-a-Fort is made out of metal and is three stories tall.
        • The bottom floor is 1×1 with a door for entry. Tires inside allow for easy access to the roof.
    • Decreased Guided Missile maximum turn rate by 75%.
    • Reduced Guided Missile movement speed by 15%.
    • Added a short equip time to many weapons (particularly, those with a slower rate of fire).
      • This will reduce the effectiveness of quickly switching between weapons for high burst-damage.
      • Removed the reloading animation on the Pump Shotgun.
      • Weapons affected are:
        • Rocket Launcher
        • Hand Cannon
        • Revolver
        • Tactical Shotgun
        • Pump Shotgun
        • Heavy Shotgun
        • Bolt-Action Sniper Rifle
        • Hunting Rifle
        • Crossbow
    • Adjusted item availability in Vending Machines.
      • Reduced chance of Chug Jug by 50%.
      • Increased chance of Medium Ammo weapons in Rare Vending Machine by 100%.
      • Reduced chance of Explosive Ammo weapons in Rare Vending Machine by 50%.
      • Reduced chance of Explosive Ammo weapons in Epic Vending Machine by 25%.
      • Increased chance of Heavy Ammo weapons in Epic Vending Machine by 25%.
      • Reduced chance of Explosive Ammo weapons in Legendary Vending Machine by 25%.
      • Increased chance of Heavy Ammo weapons in Legendary Vending Machine by 25%.
    • Reduced drop rate of Remote Explosives in floor loot by roughly 33%.
    • Updated Medium Ammo inventory icon to make it more easily identifiable.

    Bug Fixes

    • Fixed weapons floating in the air under certain network conditions after quickly switching between items.
    • Guided Missile weapon fixes:
      • Eliminating a downed player with a Guided Missile no longer reports as a self elimination.
      • Picking up an item at the same time as firing a Guided Missile will no longer cause the picked up item to disappear.
      • Firing a Guided Missile prior to the victory screen displaying will no longer prevent the player from returning to the lobby.
      • Players will now correctly spectate the player that eliminated them instead of spectating their own active missile.
      • While spectating a player that fires a missile, you will now follow the missile instead of the player.
      • Fixed an issue that caused the player to spectate a floating Guided Missile weapon on the starting island if they were eliminated by a missile during the match.
      • Fixed an issue preventing the player from firing a guided missile while riding a guided missile.
      • Fixed an issue causing the player’s name plate to display over the guided missile while controlling it.

    • Fixed an issue where the Rare Scoped Assault Rifle was incorrectly giving an Epic version in Vending Machines.

    • Fixed an issue causing the Loot Llama to be empty in Limited Time Modes.

    Gameplay

    • Limited Time Mode: 50V50 v2
      • Two teams of 50 fight to the finish!
        • Due to this being a “large squad” mode, Profile Stats will not be tracked. Daily & Weekly challenges will still work, with the exception of the Squad-based challenges (‘Place Top 6 in Squads’, etc.).
      • Storm & Map
        • Each team has a bus, approaching the island from opposite directions. On the map, the friendly bus has a blue outline, enemy has red.
        • Final storm circle visible on minimap at start.
        • Players have 10 minutes to loot the map as the storm closes in on the circle, then 5 minutes to fight, and another 5 minutes as the storm shrinks to the end.
        • Supply drops come in batches of 3-6, fall every two minutes, and only land in the final storm circle.
        • Added dotted line to map, which indicates the “battle lines” between the two teams. Crossing the line will make running into enemies more likely.
      • Loot
        • Farming resources increased 75% over default.
        • Increased floor loot spawn likelihood by 15%.
        • Floor Loot spawns double ammo.
        • Ammo boxes spawn triple ammo.
        • Chests spawn double ammo & consumables.
        • Supply drops spawn double ammo, and an extra consumable, resource drop and trap.
      • Bug Fixes + Mode Improvements
        • Fixed a bug that created uneven teams where one side could have more than 50 players.
        • Downed players lose health more quickly than normal (10 health per tick).
    • New ‘Builder Pro’ controller configuration
      • This configuration is similar to “Combat Pro”, but optimized for fast placement of building pieces.
      • Wall, floor, stairs, and roof have designated buttons on controllers.
      • The first button press will switch to the mapped building piece, then every press after will place that piece.
      • To switch between materials or traps, press the Left D-Pad button.
    • New Squad Comms wheel
      • This allows you to communicate quickly without voice.
      • The following callouts are currently available:
        Enemy Spotted, Need Meds, Need Shields, Need Materials, Need Weapon (context-sensitive), and Need Ammo (context-sensitive).
      • Defaults to ‘V’ key, Right D-Pad on controller, or in the Emote menu on Mobile.
    • The Loot Llama can now be opened through destruction as well as an interaction.
    • Added a blue tint to friendly traps to help distinguish them from enemy traps.

    Bug Fixes

    • Fixed an issue preventing players from editing their own structures.
    • Supply Drop fixes:
      • Fixed an issue preventing players from opening supply drops in rare cases.
      • Fixed an issue causing supply drops to jitter as they fall if a player destroys the object that it landed on.
      • Fixed an issue causing supply drop loot to spawn in the air after the drop had been shot down.
      • Fixed an issue causing players to be pushed under the map if they stood under a falling supply drop.
      • Fixed an issue causing players to launch out of the map after landing on a supply drop.
    • Fixed an issue where building would be blocked for 3 seconds at a time under poor network conditions.
    • Fixed an issue causing controllers to vibrate during the skydiving phase when vending machines loaded into the world.
    • Fixed an issue that would hide structure health bars when the player aimed their weapon.
    • Fixed toggling aim down sights not returning to its previous state after reloading.
    • Fixed an issue where poor network conditions could prevent buildings from streaming in.
    • Fixed an issue where you could not select the same Banner Icon and color combination in Battle Royale that you have in Save the World.

    Audio

    • Added unique equip/reload sounds for the following weapons (all others remain the same):
      • Epic/Legendary Assault Rifle
      • Heavy Shotgun
      • Pump Shotgun
      • Bolt-Action Sniper
      • Hunting Rifle
    • Added more variation to the Tactical SMG fire sound.
    • Added more variation to the medium-range Epic/Legendary Assault Rifle fire sound.

    Bug Fixes

    • Remove the second “insert magazine” sound during the grenade launcher reload animation.

    UI

    Bug Fixes

    • Fixed the controller button label for Toggle Map not shown after being eliminated.
    • Fixed a bug in the Locker that made skydive previews appear without the correct animation.
    • Fixed text on the minimap that was too small.
    • Fixed the map marker not retaining its location when zooming in and out.
    • Fixed an issue with map markers not pinning at your cursor when placing them while zoomed in.
    • The controller analog stick can now be used to scroll the map while zoomed in.
    • Fixed an issue causing the eliminated player count displaying as zero when spectating a Guided Missile.

    Art + Animation

    • Tweaked the object pop in animation so objects ease in rather than pop in.

    Bug Fixes

    • Fixed inconsistent Battle Bus position changes that could occur every few seconds.
    • Fixed the Rock Paper Scissors emote so that it replicates properly in the lobby.
    • Fixed the Rainbow Smash and Candy Axe harvesting tools not always activating.
    • Fixed the Guided Missile firing animation so that it plays properly while spectating the player that is firing the weapon.
    • Reduced the size of Mushrooms that were too large.

    Performance

    • Major optimizations + improvements made to console load times and CPU performance.
      • We’ve made some data layout optimizations in order to improve load times and performance. Load times reduced by 25-30 seconds as a result of these changes on Xbox One and around 10 seconds on PS4. On both platforms, we expect to see fewer issues with geometry or cosmetics failing to load in time, and FPS drops during skydiving. The Xbox One download will be larger than normal in this release as a result of these optimizations. We’re working to minimize the impact of this type of optimization in future releases. – Developer Comment
    • Reduced download and patch size for players who just have access to Battle Royale (PC only).
    • Fixed various issues causing the game to freeze up/hitch while loading assets, especially on console. These assets are now preloaded before the game starts.
    • Optimized servers to reduce network lag when firing weapons and taking damage.

    Mobile

    • Audio indicator no longer shows silenced weapons, crouched footsteps or ally pickaxes.
    • Multiple graphical improvements were made to the skybox, vegetation and anti-aliasing.

    Bug Fixes

    • Fixed an issue that caused input to continue when no longer touching the screen.
    • Fixed an issue where the message about jailbroken devices being unsupported wasn’t being shown
      • Attempting to play using a jailbroken device will result in being kicked.
    • Fixed various interacting actions, including:
      • Icons not showing properly on lower-end devices
      • Supply Drops not being able to be opened.
      • Doors not consistently opening and closing.
      • The Map not being able to be zoomed & panned.
      • Instances where accidental button presses would occur.
    • Fixed an issue causing Revolver and Grenade Launcher ammo to float outside the gun.

    Save The World

    Gameplay

    • Enabled environmental damage for ranged weapons.
      • Percentage of damage done to the environment varies by weapon.
      • Environmental damage scaling for ranged weapons should remain consistent relative to the health of the environment, taking into account the rarity and alterations on the weapon.
        • NOTE: Environmental damage increases with tier and rarity only and is not multiplied through Offense.
      • Ranged weapons can not damage structures you or your team have built.
    • [Rework] Outlander Fragment
      • Fragment abilities, other than the Loot Llama, no longer require equipped Fragment ammo to activate.
      • Fragment abilities now have a cooldown and Energy cost, as other abilities do.
      • Fragment abilities are now improved when the Outlander expends Fragment ammo in their activation.
      • Fragment Ammo capacity has been dramatically increased.
    • [Rework] Melee Weapons + Environment
      • Melee weapons (aside from Pickaxes) can no longer damage structures that you or your team have built, and have had their environmental damage increased.
      • Environmental damage scaling for on-level melee weapons should now feel more consistent, relative to the health of the environment
        • NOTE: Environmental damage increases with tier and rarity only, and is not multiplied through Offense.
      • Axes do increased damage against wood. Hardware does increased damage against stone.Swords, Clubs, Scythes, and Spears do not favor any material type.
    • [Rework] Anomaly
      • Anomaly rewards increased, changed from BluGlo to mission rewards.
      • Anomaly shards will take full damage from the Pickaxe, reduced damage from other melee weapons, and can no longer be damaged by projectiles (Throwing Stars, Rockets, etc).
    • Crafting queue size increased from 10 to 20 (this means 1 in production and up to 19 pending).
    • Cozy Campfire no longer grants any Utility score for healing and instead grants more for placing the trap.
    • Falling Damage has been adjusted so that damage occurs at higher heights.
      • Players now first take damage after falling 1300+ units instead of falling 850 Units
        • (Example) You can now walk off a 3 story building, but you can’t jump off.
      • Initial fall damage increased from 5% max HP to 10% max HP.
      • Next Damage Threshold is now 20% max HP at 3 tiles.
      • Next Damage Threshold is now 50% max HP at 3.75 tiles.
      • Next Damage Threshold is now Knockdown at 4.5 tiles.
        • Farther than 4.5 tiles will also result in Knockdown.
      • Enemy fall damage values have been adjusted to be in line with these changes.
    • The vehicles that Survivors stand on top of will no longer take damage from ranged or melee weapons.
      • Only the Pickaxe can damage them.
    • Increased wood, stone, and metal stack size and carry limits.
      • The default building resource capacity has been increased from 999 to 2000.
      • Building Resource Capacity nodes have replaced the previously existing Weapon Skill nodes in the Skill Tree. These new nodes allow players to upgrade their resource carrying ability by 1000 apiece to a maximum of 5000 per type.
        • Weapon Skill has been effectively uncapped since v3.3, which allowed us the opportunity to remove and repurpose their nodes in the skill tree. So don’t worry – your ability to use weapons of all levels remains unchanged! – Developer Comment
      • Existing items will not automatically restack.
      • You can condense stacks by dropping and picking up items or transferring between backpack and storage.
    • Economy Tuning
      • Increased Hero and Schematic Quest XP for Stonewood, up to Mid Plankerton.
      • Players who have already completed these Quests will be awarded the difference.
    • Challenge Quests have been extended to 20 Stages.
      • The ‘Leave No One Behind’ Challenge Quest now awards Survivor XP, scaled based on stage.
      • Players who have already completed Stages 1-10 of this Quest line will be awarded the Survivor XP.

    Bug Fixes

    • Fixed a long delay that occurred when joining a party when first loading-in on PS4.
    • Fixed an issue that could cause BluGlo pylons to spawn on top of one another.
    • The buff from BluGlo pylons is no longer lost after 10 minutes.
    • Fixed an issue that would cause players to pick up items much slower than normal.

    Missions And Systems

    • New Questline: Into the Storm: Opening Act
      • Accompany Lars and Ray on their journey into Lars’ past in the brand new questline, ‘Into the Storm’!
      • Brand new Survive the Storm map – Thunder Route 99.
      • Into the Storm Llama is available in the Loot Tab.
        • Cost: 1000 Storm Tickets
        • Event Llama guarantees at least one Epic (or higher) Neon Weapon or Cyberpunk Hero
        • Every 1000 Firecracker Tickets will be converted into a Spring Llama.
      • Quest Rewards:
        • Choice of Legendary Ranged Neon Weapon (Pistol, Shotgun, Assault).
    • Survive the Storm returns!
      • Improved rewards.
        • Added Spring It On! Gold, scaled by difficulty and number of days completed.
        • Improved the amount of Hero / Schematic / Survivor XP earned.
          • Increases more with difficulty and number of days completed.
        • Increased the rarity of items (Survivors, Schematics, Transform Keys, etc.) that drop from Survival mode, especially at high difficulties.
          • Reduced the number of low-rarity items that drop.
      • Mission Alerts award between 300 and 1500 tickets, scaled based on Survival length and difficulty.
        • Quota: Three 3-Day Survivals per 24 hours.
        • Quota: One 7-Day Survival per 24 hours.
      • Added side quests with new banner rewards!
        • Power 15 Event Themed Banner + 1000 Storm Tickets.
        • Power 40 Event Themed Banner + 1000 Storm Tickets.
        • Power 70 Event Themed Banner + 1000 Storm Tickets.
      • Changed the Survival Mode vote to skip the day to majority vote (from unanimous) to keep consistent with all other voting.
      • Mutant Storms
        • Mutant Storms are more active during this event and award between 100 and 240 Storm Tickets, scaled based on difficulty.
          • Quota: 10 per 24 hours.
        • Repeatable Quest to complete 2 Mutant Storm Mission Alerts that awards 100 Spring It On! Gold
      • Opt-in difficulty boost and group missions do not award tickets during this event.
    • Mini-boss Mission Alerts can no longer be selected if you have not unlocked the mission the alert is attached to.
      • This will prevent low-level players from attempting Mission Alerts that are too difficult for them, unless they are invited into a group by a higher-level friend.
    • Mimic Reward Updates:
      • Mimics will always award the equivalent to at least a Level 3 (Blue) Treasure Chest.
      • Some Mimics will instead award the equivalent to a Level 4 (Purple) Treasure Chest.
    • ‘Evacuate the Shelter’ adjustments:
      • In non-group missions, the number of enemies needed to be killed after reaching the shelter has been reduced to 10 per players in zone instead of 35
      • The final encounter in non group missions has been reduced to 6 minutes from 8
    • ‘Repair the Shelter’ adjustments:
      • See-Bot will no longer be attacked on arrival.
        • See-Bot will now arrive with a 5 minute counter. After 5 minutes it will leave to recharge and then return later to a different location on the map.
        • The Husk attack now begins when a player deploys the See-Bot. See-Bot is safe before then.
        • Players have 5 minutes to start the scan and then defend See-Bot.
      • Husk attack difficulty has been reduced for first two attacks.
      • Shelter will now automatically start diagnostic scan when player reaches the shelter instead of having to interact with it.
        • Decreasing the difficulty of the mission and initial combat encounter allowed us to double down on the mission core: scrambling to rescue a sieged shelter and creating a time pressure. -Developer Comment
      • With the automatic diagnostic scan the length of time until first raid occurs has been increased to 8:30 minutes after diagnostics are complete to allow more time to prepare, used to be 6:30 minutes.
    • Progress for the quest ‘Air Quotes’ is now given when the first 25 enemies have been successfully eliminated after activating the Storm Chest. Rather than having to eliminate all waves of enemies before the timer is up.

    Bug Fixes

    • Fixed an issue where some players were locked out of their Storm Shield.
    • Visual level of Survival mission reward chest increased (so it reaches max-level chest appearance at 7 days).

    Heroes

    • Cyberpunk Heroes added, available in the new ‘Into the Storm’ event Llama.
      • Bullet Storm Jonesy (New Soldier Subclass)
        Bullet Storm: Uses high magazine weapons to build up attack speed and mow down enemies.
        • New Perks:
          • Start Up – Firing with a ranged weapon increases rate of fire by 1.2% per shot for up to 20 shots. Resets on reload or weapon switch.
          • Start Faster – Increases ‘Start Up’ rate of fire bonus to 2.4% per shot.
      • Harvester Sarah (New Ninja Subclass)
        Harvester: Close range scythe Ninja who uses Smoke Bomb and Shadow stance to survive on the battlefield.
        • New Perks:
          • Scythe to Meet You – Scythe attacks apply a 30% snare for 1 second.
          • Late Arrival – Scythes deal 48% increased damage to slowed or snared targets.
      • Heavy BASE Kyle (New Constructor Subclass) –
        Heavy BASE: Constructor focused on taking down enemies within BASE to charge up a great energy nova.
        • New Perks:
          • Feel the BASE – BASE generates energy when enemies die within the area affected by BASE. After 30 kills BASE emits an explosion that knocks husks back and deals damage in a 3 tile radius.
          • Turn Up the BASE – Increases the radius of ‘Feel The BASE’ by 2 tiles and damage by 80%.
        • New Tactical Perk:
          • Feel the BASE – BASE generates energy when enemies die within the area affected by BASE. After 30 kills BASE emits an explosion that knocks husks back and deals damage in a 3 tile radius.
      • T.E.D.D. Shot Jess (New Outlander Subclass)
        T.E.D.D. Shot: Deploys T.E.D.D.Y. to provide cover fire while sniping foes from a distance.
        • New Perks:
          • Quick Scope – Increases sniper rifle rate of fire by 35%.
          • Precision Handling – Hitting a headshot increases the speed of your next reload by 7% (Max 35%). Resets after reloading.
          • Eye on the Prize – Getting 15 headshot kills grants 1 Charge Fragment.
        • New Support Perk:
          • Sure Shot – Increases sniper rifle critical hit damage by 35%, 53%, 70%.
    • Outlander
      • Shock Tower
        • No longer requires a Fragment to operate.
        • Cooldown has been set to 60 seconds.
        • Stamina cost has been set to 50.
        • Using a Fragment will reduce the cooldown by 30% and reduce the stamina cost to 0.
        • Damage has not been adjusted.
      • T.E.D.D.Y.
        • No longer requires a Fragment to operate.
        • Cooldown has been set to 60 seconds.
        • Stamina Cost has been set to 50.
        • Using a Fragment will reduce the cooldown by 30% and reduce the stamina cost to 0.
        • Damage has been unadjusted.
      • Impossibility Matrix
        • Now increases the cooldown reduction for ‘Shock Tower’ and ‘T.E.D.D.Y.’ to 50% when using a Fragment.
      • Fragment Ammo
        • Cap has been increased to 25 + Llama fragment.
      • Llama Fragment
        • Acquiring a Llama Fragment now immediately resets the cooldown of all your Fragment abilities.
    • Constructor
      • Recycling
        • Increased the maximum storage capacity of BASE Recycling from 150 to 450.
      • Hyperthreading
        • Increased the maximum storage capacity of BASE Hyperthreading from 300 to 900.

    Bug Fixes

    • Fixed an issue where the ‘Plasma Pulse’ tooltip wouldn’t reflect the current ‘I.F.F. Coding’ functionality.
    • Fixed an issue with Fragment Flurry Jess and Shamrock Reclaimer’s support bonus ‘Energized’ not scaling correctly across multiple star levels.
    • Fixed an issue where ‘Dragonslash’ caused Ninjas to lose collision against Heroes and Enemies.
    • Fixed an issue where ‘Decoy’ wasn’t taking damage from Husks.
    • Fixed an issue that could cause ‘Mantis Leap’ to stack velocity infinitely.

    Weapons And Items

    • Neon Weapon set added, available in the new ‘Into the Storm’ event Llama.
      • Ranged Weapons:
        • Argon Assault Rifle
        • Helium Shotgun
        • Krypton Pistol
      • Melee Weapons:
        • Argon Axe
        • Krypton Sword
        • Neon Scythe
    • Impulse Grenade
      • Doubled the knockback distance against enemies.
      • No longer affects allies.
    • Easter Egg Launcher Eggs no longer detonate when a player is downed but are cleared when a player respawns or disconnects.

    Bug Fixes

    • Fixed an issue where crystal Scavenger melee weapons had the same durability as ore Scavenger melee weapons.
    • Fixed an issue where the Vacuum Tube Spear and Axe knocked enemies back instead of stunning them in place.
    • Dragon’s Might shotgun projectiles no longer bounce off of deep water.
    • Fixed an issue where Dragon’s Might shotgun projectiles weren’t exploding on contact with enemies.
    • Bullet tracers shot from other players single shot weapons no longer travel through walls.
    • Fixed an issue where the Boost Trap would give more resources than intended from recycling.

    UI

    • Added an option to show a Collection Book indicator on items in the Armory menus.
    • Added an option to toggle whether or not ‘Favorite’ items are grouped together in the Armory menus.Added tooltip text for the cinematics volume setting in the audio settings tab.
    • Items in the Armory that don’t have stats no longer display a stats panel.
    • Replaced references of the word “Vault” with “Armory” in skill tree nodes.

    Bug Fixes

    • Fixed an issue where players using the Combat Pro control scheme would see “Unable to Edit Building” when pressing the button to get on their Hoverboard.
    • Fixed an issue where the ‘Place Trap’ controller button icon was missing when using the Combat Pro control scheme.
    • Updated reward summary cards to no longer be selectable once they move off screen.
    • Fixed an issue where damage return values for Traps that deal elemental damage were not indicating what type of elemental damage was dealt.
      • Updated Electrical Wall and Ceiling Trap descriptions to mention their elemental damage traits.
    • Fixed a spelling error in the Mythic Wukong Berserker description.
    • Fixed an issue that prevented players from selecting options (mute, add friend, etc.) in chat.
    • Fixed an issue where the camera would jump when zooming in on a skill tree tier.
    • Fixed the ‘Import Friends’ button not being selectable with a controller.
    • Fixed 4-player level difficulty being cut off in the in-zone objectives screen.
    • Fixed the ‘Research’ purchase button’s cost icon being offset when using a controller.
    • Fixed BluGlo having the ‘Equip’ button active in the in-zone inventory.
    • Fixed a crash that occurred when typing a comma while naming your Homebase.
    • Updated player revive screen text.

    Audio

    • Metal toilets now plays a metal sound when destroyed.
    • Unsearched shopping carts now have impact sounds.

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  • Xbox One Adding 19 New Classic Xbox Backwards Compatible Games This Month

    As teased, Microsoft revealed a bunch of new original Xbox games that will soon be backwards compatible with Xbox One. During the latest episode of Inside Xbox, the company announced that 19 original Xbox titles will be playable on the current-gen console this month, including some of the platform’s most beloved releases.

    The next round of backwards compatible titles will be divided up into two batches, the first of which will arrive next week, on April 17. That batch includes the acclaimed open-world RPG The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind (which was one of the new BC games leaked ahead of the broadcast), as well as the Conker’s Bad Fur Day remake, Conker: Live & Reloaded; BioWare’s martial arts RPG, Jade Empire; the time-bending platformer Blinx: The Time Sweeper; and Sega’s rail shooter, Panzer Dragoon Orta.

    The second batch of BC games arrives the following week, on April 26. It consists of Destroy All Humans, MX Unleashed, Full Spectrum Warrior, and an assortment of Star Wars titles, including Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy, the original Battlefront and Battlefront II, Republic Commando, Jedi Starfighter, and Knights of the Old Republic II. You can take a look at the full list of upcoming BC games below.

    Like all other backwards compatible games, you’ll be able to pop their original disc into your Xbox One and begin playing once they’re added to the BC catalog. You’ll also be able to download a digital copy of the aforementioned games from the Xbox Store.

    In addition to the new backwards compatible titles, Microsoft announced a handful of Xbox 360 games will receive Xbox One X enhancements via updates today, April 10. Those include the original Red Dead Redemption, Gears of War 2, Portal 2, and Sonic Generations, which is now playable for the first time on Xbox One.

    New Original Xbox Backwards Compatible Games

    April 17

    • Blinx: The Time Sweeper
    • Breakdown
    • Conker: Live & Reloaded
    • The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind
    • Hunter: The Reckoning
    • Jade Empire
    • Panzer Dragoon Orta
    • SSX 3

    April 26

    • Destroy All Humans
    • Full Spectrum Warrior
    • Mercenaries: Playground of Destruction
    • MX Unleashed
    • Panzer Elite Action: Fields of Glory (Europe only)
    • Star Wars: Battlefront
    • Star Wars: Battlefront II
    • Star Wars Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy
    • Star Wars: Jedi Starfighter
    • Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords
    • Star Wars Republic Commando

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  • Red Dead Redemption And Other Xbox 360 Games Get Xbox One X Enhancements

    Microsoft announced some big backwards compatibility news during tonight’s Inside Xbox broadcast. Along with a huge selection of original Xbox games that will soon be playable on Xbox One, the company revealed that another batch of Xbox 360 titles are getting enhancements on its new Xbox One X console.

    Five more 360 games from Xbox One’s backwards compatible library are receiving updates to support the X today, April 10. The biggest of the bunch is Red Dead Redemption, Rockstar’s critically acclaimed western, though the rest of the batch consists of some of 360’s most beloved games, including Gears of War 2, Portal 2, Darksiders, and Star Wars: The Force Unleashed.

    In addition to those titles, Microsoft announced that another 360 game is joining Xbox One’s backwards compatible library: Sonic Generations, the 2011 installment that features both classic and modern Sonic gameplay. It likewise is receiving an update to support Xbox One X today, April 10.

    With the update, all of the above titles will run at higher resolution and feature other visual improvements when played on Xbox One X. This is done using the Heutchy Method–named after the Microsoft engineer who developed it–which “leverages the power of Xbox One X to let the Xbox 360 emulator present the very best version of the game possible with the existing assets–all without touching the game code.”

    On top of those games, Microsoft announced 19 more original Xbox games will be backwards compatible with Xbox One this month. Those will be divided up into two batches, with the first arriving April 17 and the second following on April 26. Among the games receiving backwards compatibility are The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind, Panzer Dragoon Orta, Conker: Live & Reloaded, and Jade Empire.

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  • New Avengers: Infinity War Video — Thor's Physique Makes Star-Lord Jealous

    While every new Marvel movie is big news for fans, there has never been a superhero film as big as Avengers: Infinity War. It hits theaters later this month, and it features every major hero that has appeared in the Marvel Cinematic Universe over the past decade. A new behind-the-scenes featurette has now been released that includes interviews with many of the stars.

    You’re not going to find many fascinating insights into the movie-making process here, but it’s cool to see like the likes of Robert Downey Jr., Chris Hemsworth, Elizabeth Olson, Mark Ruffalo, Karen Gillan, Chris Pratt, and Danai Gurira hanging out on set and saying nice things about each other. There’s also some new footage from the movie. Check it out above.

    This is just the latest in a long line of promotional material that has been released for Infinity War over the past few weeks. We’ve had this trailer that focuses on T’Challa and Wakanda, a TV spot featuring lots of serious-looking superheroes, and a series of cool Infinity Stone color-themed posters.

    Last week, co-director Anthony Russo spoke about the challenges of making a movie with so many characters. “This is one of the most complicated movies ever made in many ways,” he said. “I think all of us appreciate what a special and unique opportunity this was. No one has ever seen a film like this. No one has ever seen this number of loved characters in a single film with this caliber of cast. And that’s really what drove all of us.”

    Avengers: Infinity War hits theaters on April 27, so you’ve still got a couple of weeks to catch up on all things Marvel to prepare. If the sheer number of characters involved in the film is a bit overwhelming, be sure to check out our recap of the Marvel Cinematic Universe here. You can also read our coverage of the locations of the Infinity Stones to which Avengers we’re expecting to die.

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  • Xbox One Adding A Load Of Original Xbox Backwards Compatible Games This Month

    As teased, Microsoft revealed a bunch of new original Xbox games that will soon be backwards compatible with Xbox One. During the latest episode of Inside Xbox, the company announced that 19 original Xbox titles will be playable on the current-gen console this month, including some of the platform’s most beloved releases.

    The next round of backwards compatible titles will be divided up into two batches, the first of which will arrive next week, on April 17. That batch includes the acclaimed open-world RPG The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind (which was one of the new BC games leaked ahead of the broadcast), as well as the Conker’s Bad Fur Day remake, Conker: Live & Reloaded; BioWare’s martial arts RPG, Jade Empire; the time-bending platformer Blinx: The Time Sweeper; and Sega’s rail shooter, Panzer Dragoon Orta.

    The second batch of BC games arrives the following week, on April 26. It consists of Destroy All Humans, MX Unleashed, Full Spectrum Warrior, and an assortment of Star Wars titles, including Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy, the original Battlefront and Battlefront II, Republic Commando, Jedi Starfighter, and Knights of the Old Republic II. You can take a look at the full list of upcoming BC games below.

    Like all other backwards compatible games, you’ll be able to pop their original disc into your Xbox One and begin playing once they’re added to the BC catalog. You’ll also be able to download a digital copy of the aforementioned games from the Xbox Store.

    In addition to the new backwards compatible titles, Microsoft announced a handful of Xbox 360 games will receive Xbox One X enhancements via updates today, April 10. Those include the original Red Dead Redemption, Gears of War 2, Portal 2, and Sonic Generations, which is now playable for the first time on Xbox One.

    New Original Xbox Backwards Compatible Games

    April 17

    • Blinx: The Time Sweeper
    • Breakdown
    • Conker: Live & Reloaded
    • The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind
    • Hunter: The Reckoning
    • Jade Empire
    • Panzer Dragoon Orta
    • SSX 3

    April 26

    • Destroy All Humans
    • Full Spectrum Warrior
    • Mercenaries: Playground of Destruction
    • MX Unleashed
    • Panzer Elite Action: Fields of Glory (Europe only)
    • Star Wars: Battlefront
    • Star Wars: Battlefront II
    • Star Wars Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy
    • Star Wars: Jedi Starfighter
    • Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords
    • Star Wars Republic Commando

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  • Red Dead Redemption And More Xbox 360 Games Get Xbox One X Enhancements

    Microsoft announced some big backwards compatibility news during tonight’s Inside Xbox broadcast. Along with a huge selection of original Xbox games that will soon be playable on Xbox One, the company revealed that another batch of Xbox 360 titles are getting enhancements on its new Xbox One X console.

    Five more 360 games from Xbox One’s backwards compatible library are receiving updates to support the X today, April 10. The biggest of the bunch is Red Dead Redemption, Rockstar’s critically acclaimed western, though the rest of the batch consists of some of 360’s most beloved games, including Gears of War 2, Portal 2, Darksiders, and Star Wars: The Force Unleashed.

    In addition to those titles, Microsoft announced that another 360 game is joining Xbox One’s backwards compatible library: Sonic Generations, the 2011 installment that features both classic and modern Sonic gameplay. It likewise is receiving an update to support Xbox One X today, April 10.

    With the update, all of the above titles will run at higher resolution and feature other visual improvements when played on Xbox One X. This is done using the Heutchy Method–named after the Microsoft engineer who developed it–which “leverages the power of Xbox One X to let the Xbox 360 emulator present the very best version of the game possible with the existing assets–all without touching the game code.”

    On top of those games, Microsoft announced 19 more original Xbox games will be backwards compatible with Xbox One this month. Those will be divided up into two batches, with the first arriving April 17 and the second following on April 26. Among the games receiving backwards compatibility are The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind, Panzer Dragoon Orta, Conker: Live & Reloaded, and Jade Empire.

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  • New Fortnite Update Out Now, Patch Notes Released

    New Fortnite Update Out Now, Patch Notes Released

    Fortnite has another update out, and Battle Royale has a new item available now on PS4, Xbox One, PC, and mobile. In addition, the previously announced replay system has been implemented, a new limited-time mode is coming soon, and a bunch of new cosmetics have been added to Save the World.

    Version 3.5, as the update is called, adds the recently teased Port-a-Fort feature, which is a throwable item that spawns a fort in seconds. You can carry up to five of these, though they only drop in stacks of one. Take a look at the Epic tier item below. Battle Royale will also revive the 50v50 mode “soon” with a few small changes.

    Save the World, meanwhile, adds some new cosmetic options that include four new Heroes with a cyberpunk theme and a set of neon weapon skins. Take a look at those in the images below.

    Aside from bug fixes and balance tweaks, the only other meaningful addition is Fortnite’s replay system. This allows you to save your matches and watch them back from any angle. This is designed for sharing options but could also allow you to learn from where you and other players go wrong. Take a look at the full patch notes at the bottom of this article, via Epic.

    No Caption Provided

    Gallery image 1Gallery image 2

    Our Fortnite: Battle Royale review went live just recently. Critic Michael Higham enjoyed the multiplayer title and awarded it an 8/10. “While there are several moving parts in the game’s ecosystem, Fortnite’s biggest accomplishment is in how it seamlessly merges a number of simple mechanics to create a distinguishable battle royale game,” he wrote. “What looks to be a straightforward building system steadily escalates to an elaborate display of tactical prowess. As the saying goes: It’s easy to learn, hard to master. Although a few shortcomings in the map design eventually surface and fatigue in looting can set in, Fortnite rarely fails at challenging you in unexpected ways, resulting in something more than just another typical last-person-standing shooter.”

    For more on Epic’s hit game, check out six common mistakes players make in Fortnite: Battle Royale or our Vending Machines location guide. Alternatively, take a look at our Fortnite beginners guide.

    Fortnite Update 3.5 Patch Notes

    General

    • Wood, Stone, and Metal resources will now always be the first items in the inventory list (e.g. instead of Traps).
    • Purchased V-Bucks are now shared between Xbox One, PC and Mobile.
    • Login Queue Improvements:
      • During wait periods, login will now remember your place in line if you quit out of the game and return.
      • Mobile devices will not enter the login queue more than once per login attempt.
      • Two-Factor Authentication challenges will not put you back into the login queue.

    Bug Fixes

    • Adjusted the Login screen layout to better support varying screen sizes and safe zones.
    • Fixed a rare crash that occurred during logout.
    • Fixed PS4 players leaving their party after a match where they are playing with players on other platforms.
    • Fixed Survivor and Hero squads being locked after switching to Save the World from Battle Royale.
    • On PC, fixed PS4 controllers showing Xbox buttons, even after the controller type was changed in the settings.
    • Fixed rare cases in which character parts would stretch unnaturally.
      • (Example) Ears of the Rabbit Raider outfit.
    • Fixed the inability to rotate elements in the Battle Royale Locker after buying a Llama in Save the World.

    Battle Royale

    Replay System

    • Save your matches and watch them from any angle!
    • Speed up or slow down the action.
    • Help tell your story better with player outlines and name plates.
    • Several Camera Modes to choose from:
      • Third Person
        • Follows and orbits around the selected player.
        • 3 different follow modes; Off, Auto, Lazy.
      • Drone Follow
        • Drone style camera that always keeps the selected player in frame.
      • Drone Attach
        • Drone style camera that is loosely attached to the selected player.
      • Drone Free
        • Drone style camera that is free to fly around the island.
      • Gameplay
        • This camera shows what the selected player saw during gameplay.
      • Adjust cinematic camera settings
        • Exposure
        • Aperture
        • Focal Length
        • Focus Distance
      • Currently available on PC and console only.

    Weapons + Items

    • Port-a-Fort added.
      • Epic rarity.
      • Drops in stacks of 1. Can stack up to 5 in inventory.
      • When the Port-a-Fort is thrown, a pre-made fort is constructed instantly at the impact point.
        • The Port-a-Fort is made out of metal and is three stories tall.
        • The bottom floor is 1×1 with a door for entry. Tires inside allow for easy access to the roof.
    • Decreased Guided Missile maximum turn rate by 75%.
    • Reduced Guided Missile movement speed by 15%.
    • Added a short equip time to many weapons (particularly, those with a slower rate of fire).
      • This will reduce the effectiveness of quickly switching between weapons for high burst-damage.
      • Removed the reloading animation on the Pump Shotgun.
      • Weapons affected are:
        • Rocket Launcher
        • Hand Cannon
        • Revolver
        • Tactical Shotgun
        • Pump Shotgun
        • Heavy Shotgun
        • Bolt-Action Sniper Rifle
        • Hunting Rifle
        • Crossbow
    • Adjusted item availability in Vending Machines.
      • Reduced chance of Chug Jug by 50%.
      • Increased chance of Medium Ammo weapons in Rare Vending Machine by 100%.
      • Reduced chance of Explosive Ammo weapons in Rare Vending Machine by 50%.
      • Reduced chance of Explosive Ammo weapons in Epic Vending Machine by 25%.
      • Increased chance of Heavy Ammo weapons in Epic Vending Machine by 25%.
      • Reduced chance of Explosive Ammo weapons in Legendary Vending Machine by 25%.
      • Increased chance of Heavy Ammo weapons in Legendary Vending Machine by 25%.
    • Reduced drop rate of Remote Explosives in floor loot by roughly 33%.
    • Updated Medium Ammo inventory icon to make it more easily identifiable.

    Bug Fixes

    • Fixed weapons floating in the air under certain network conditions after quickly switching between items.
    • Guided Missile weapon fixes:
      • Eliminating a downed player with a Guided Missile no longer reports as a self elimination.
      • Picking up an item at the same time as firing a Guided Missile will no longer cause the picked up item to disappear.
      • Firing a Guided Missile prior to the victory screen displaying will no longer prevent the player from returning to the lobby.
      • Players will now correctly spectate the player that eliminated them instead of spectating their own active missile.
      • While spectating a player that fires a missile, you will now follow the missile instead of the player.
      • Fixed an issue that caused the player to spectate a floating Guided Missile weapon on the starting island if they were eliminated by a missile during the match.
      • Fixed an issue preventing the player from firing a guided missile while riding a guided missile.
      • Fixed an issue causing the player’s name plate to display over the guided missile while controlling it.

    • Fixed an issue where the Rare Scoped Assault Rifle was incorrectly giving an Epic version in Vending Machines.

    • Fixed an issue causing the Loot Llama to be empty in Limited Time Modes.

    Gameplay

    • Limited Time Mode: 50V50 v2
      • Two teams of 50 fight to the finish!
        • Due to this being a “large squad” mode, Profile Stats will not be tracked. Daily & Weekly challenges will still work, with the exception of the Squad-based challenges (‘Place Top 6 in Squads’, etc.).
      • Storm & Map
        • Each team has a bus, approaching the island from opposite directions. On the map, the friendly bus has a blue outline, enemy has red.
        • Final storm circle visible on minimap at start.
        • Players have 10 minutes to loot the map as the storm closes in on the circle, then 5 minutes to fight, and another 5 minutes as the storm shrinks to the end.
        • Supply drops come in batches of 3-6, fall every two minutes, and only land in the final storm circle.
        • Added dotted line to map, which indicates the “battle lines” between the two teams. Crossing the line will make running into enemies more likely.
      • Loot
        • Farming resources increased 75% over default.
        • Increased floor loot spawn likelihood by 15%.
        • Floor Loot spawns double ammo.
        • Ammo boxes spawn triple ammo.
        • Chests spawn double ammo & consumables.
        • Supply drops spawn double ammo, and an extra consumable, resource drop and trap.
      • Bug Fixes + Mode Improvements
        • Fixed a bug that created uneven teams where one side could have more than 50 players.
        • Downed players lose health more quickly than normal (10 health per tick).
    • New ‘Builder Pro’ controller configuration
      • This configuration is similar to “Combat Pro”, but optimized for fast placement of building pieces.
      • Wall, floor, stairs, and roof have designated buttons on controllers.
      • The first button press will switch to the mapped building piece, then every press after will place that piece.
      • To switch between materials or traps, press the Left D-Pad button.
    • New Squad Comms wheel
      • This allows you to communicate quickly without voice.
      • The following callouts are currently available:
        Enemy Spotted, Need Meds, Need Shields, Need Materials, Need Weapon (context-sensitive), and Need Ammo (context-sensitive).
      • Defaults to ‘V’ key, Right D-Pad on controller, or in the Emote menu on Mobile.
    • The Loot Llama can now be opened through destruction as well as an interaction.
    • Added a blue tint to friendly traps to help distinguish them from enemy traps.

    Bug Fixes

    • Fixed an issue preventing players from editing their own structures.
    • Supply Drop fixes:
      • Fixed an issue preventing players from opening supply drops in rare cases.
      • Fixed an issue causing supply drops to jitter as they fall if a player destroys the object that it landed on.
      • Fixed an issue causing supply drop loot to spawn in the air after the drop had been shot down.
      • Fixed an issue causing players to be pushed under the map if they stood under a falling supply drop.
      • Fixed an issue causing players to launch out of the map after landing on a supply drop.
    • Fixed an issue where building would be blocked for 3 seconds at a time under poor network conditions.
    • Fixed an issue causing controllers to vibrate during the skydiving phase when vending machines loaded into the world.
    • Fixed an issue that would hide structure health bars when the player aimed their weapon.
    • Fixed toggling aim down sights not returning to its previous state after reloading.
    • Fixed an issue where poor network conditions could prevent buildings from streaming in.
    • Fixed an issue where you could not select the same Banner Icon and color combination in Battle Royale that you have in Save the World.

    Audio

    • Added unique equip/reload sounds for the following weapons (all others remain the same):
      • Epic/Legendary Assault Rifle
      • Heavy Shotgun
      • Pump Shotgun
      • Bolt-Action Sniper
      • Hunting Rifle
    • Added more variation to the Tactical SMG fire sound.
    • Added more variation to the medium-range Epic/Legendary Assault Rifle fire sound.

    Bug Fixes

    • Remove the second “insert magazine” sound during the grenade launcher reload animation.

    UI

    Bug Fixes

    • Fixed the controller button label for Toggle Map not shown after being eliminated.
    • Fixed a bug in the Locker that made skydive previews appear without the correct animation.
    • Fixed text on the minimap that was too small.
    • Fixed the map marker not retaining its location when zooming in and out.
    • Fixed an issue with map markers not pinning at your cursor when placing them while zoomed in.
    • The controller analog stick can now be used to scroll the map while zoomed in.
    • Fixed an issue causing the eliminated player count displaying as zero when spectating a Guided Missile.

    Art + Animation

    • Tweaked the object pop in animation so objects ease in rather than pop in.

    Bug Fixes

    • Fixed inconsistent Battle Bus position changes that could occur every few seconds.
    • Fixed the Rock Paper Scissors emote so that it replicates properly in the lobby.
    • Fixed the Rainbow Smash and Candy Axe harvesting tools not always activating.
    • Fixed the Guided Missile firing animation so that it plays properly while spectating the player that is firing the weapon.
    • Reduced the size of Mushrooms that were too large.

    Performance

    • Major optimizations + improvements made to console load times and CPU performance.
      • We’ve made some data layout optimizations in order to improve load times and performance. Load times reduced by 25-30 seconds as a result of these changes on Xbox One and around 10 seconds on PS4. On both platforms, we expect to see fewer issues with geometry or cosmetics failing to load in time, and FPS drops during skydiving. The Xbox One download will be larger than normal in this release as a result of these optimizations. We’re working to minimize the impact of this type of optimization in future releases. – Developer Comment
    • Reduced download and patch size for players who just have access to Battle Royale (PC only).
    • Fixed various issues causing the game to freeze up/hitch while loading assets, especially on console. These assets are now preloaded before the game starts.
    • Optimized servers to reduce network lag when firing weapons and taking damage.

    Mobile

    • Audio indicator no longer shows silenced weapons, crouched footsteps or ally pickaxes.
    • Multiple graphical improvements were made to the skybox, vegetation and anti-aliasing.

    Bug Fixes

    • Fixed an issue that caused input to continue when no longer touching the screen.
    • Fixed an issue where the message about jailbroken devices being unsupported wasn’t being shown
      • Attempting to play using a jailbroken device will result in being kicked.
    • Fixed various interacting actions, including:
      • Icons not showing properly on lower-end devices
      • Supply Drops not being able to be opened.
      • Doors not consistently opening and closing.
      • The Map not being able to be zoomed & panned.
      • Instances where accidental button presses would occur.
    • Fixed an issue causing Revolver and Grenade Launcher ammo to float outside the gun.

    Save The World

    Gameplay

    • Enabled environmental damage for ranged weapons.
      • Percentage of damage done to the environment varies by weapon.
      • Environmental damage scaling for ranged weapons should remain consistent relative to the health of the environment, taking into account the rarity and alterations on the weapon.
        • NOTE: Environmental damage increases with tier and rarity only and is not multiplied through Offense.
      • Ranged weapons can not damage structures you or your team have built.
    • [Rework] Outlander Fragment
      • Fragment abilities, other than the Loot Llama, no longer require equipped Fragment ammo to activate.
      • Fragment abilities now have a cooldown and Energy cost, as other abilities do.
      • Fragment abilities are now improved when the Outlander expends Fragment ammo in their activation.
      • Fragment Ammo capacity has been dramatically increased.
    • [Rework] Melee Weapons + Environment
      • Melee weapons (aside from Pickaxes) can no longer damage structures that you or your team have built, and have had their environmental damage increased.
      • Environmental damage scaling for on-level melee weapons should now feel more consistent, relative to the health of the environment
        • NOTE: Environmental damage increases with tier and rarity only, and is not multiplied through Offense.
      • Axes do increased damage against wood. Hardware does increased damage against stone.Swords, Clubs, Scythes, and Spears do not favor any material type.
    • [Rework] Anomaly
      • Anomaly rewards increased, changed from BluGlo to mission rewards.
      • Anomaly shards will take full damage from the Pickaxe, reduced damage from other melee weapons, and can no longer be damaged by projectiles (Throwing Stars, Rockets, etc).
    • Crafting queue size increased from 10 to 20 (this means 1 in production and up to 19 pending).
    • Cozy Campfire no longer grants any Utility score for healing and instead grants more for placing the trap.
    • Falling Damage has been adjusted so that damage occurs at higher heights.
      • Players now first take damage after falling 1300+ units instead of falling 850 Units
        • (Example) You can now walk off a 3 story building, but you can’t jump off.
      • Initial fall damage increased from 5% max HP to 10% max HP.
      • Next Damage Threshold is now 20% max HP at 3 tiles.
      • Next Damage Threshold is now 50% max HP at 3.75 tiles.
      • Next Damage Threshold is now Knockdown at 4.5 tiles.
        • Farther than 4.5 tiles will also result in Knockdown.
      • Enemy fall damage values have been adjusted to be in line with these changes.
    • The vehicles that Survivors stand on top of will no longer take damage from ranged or melee weapons.
      • Only the Pickaxe can damage them.
    • Increased wood, stone, and metal stack size and carry limits.
      • The default building resource capacity has been increased from 999 to 2000.
      • Building Resource Capacity nodes have replaced the previously existing Weapon Skill nodes in the Skill Tree. These new nodes allow players to upgrade their resource carrying ability by 1000 apiece to a maximum of 5000 per type.
        • Weapon Skill has been effectively uncapped since v3.3, which allowed us the opportunity to remove and repurpose their nodes in the skill tree. So don’t worry – your ability to use weapons of all levels remains unchanged! – Developer Comment
      • Existing items will not automatically restack.
      • You can condense stacks by dropping and picking up items or transferring between backpack and storage.
    • Economy Tuning
      • Increased Hero and Schematic Quest XP for Stonewood, up to Mid Plankerton.
      • Players who have already completed these Quests will be awarded the difference.
    • Challenge Quests have been extended to 20 Stages.
      • The ‘Leave No One Behind’ Challenge Quest now awards Survivor XP, scaled based on stage.
      • Players who have already completed Stages 1-10 of this Quest line will be awarded the Survivor XP.

    Bug Fixes

    • Fixed a long delay that occurred when joining a party when first loading-in on PS4.
    • Fixed an issue that could cause BluGlo pylons to spawn on top of one another.
    • The buff from BluGlo pylons is no longer lost after 10 minutes.
    • Fixed an issue that would cause players to pick up items much slower than normal.

    Missions And Systems

    • New Questline: Into the Storm: Opening Act
      • Accompany Lars and Ray on their journey into Lars’ past in the brand new questline, ‘Into the Storm’!
      • Brand new Survive the Storm map – Thunder Route 99.
      • Into the Storm Llama is available in the Loot Tab.
        • Cost: 1000 Storm Tickets
        • Event Llama guarantees at least one Epic (or higher) Neon Weapon or Cyberpunk Hero
        • Every 1000 Firecracker Tickets will be converted into a Spring Llama.
      • Quest Rewards:
        • Choice of Legendary Ranged Neon Weapon (Pistol, Shotgun, Assault).
    • Survive the Storm returns!
      • Improved rewards.
        • Added Spring It On! Gold, scaled by difficulty and number of days completed.
        • Improved the amount of Hero / Schematic / Survivor XP earned.
          • Increases more with difficulty and number of days completed.
        • Increased the rarity of items (Survivors, Schematics, Transform Keys, etc.) that drop from Survival mode, especially at high difficulties.
          • Reduced the number of low-rarity items that drop.
      • Mission Alerts award between 300 and 1500 tickets, scaled based on Survival length and difficulty.
        • Quota: Three 3-Day Survivals per 24 hours.
        • Quota: One 7-Day Survival per 24 hours.
      • Added side quests with new banner rewards!
        • Power 15 Event Themed Banner + 1000 Storm Tickets.
        • Power 40 Event Themed Banner + 1000 Storm Tickets.
        • Power 70 Event Themed Banner + 1000 Storm Tickets.
      • Changed the Survival Mode vote to skip the day to majority vote (from unanimous) to keep consistent with all other voting.
      • Mutant Storms
        • Mutant Storms are more active during this event and award between 100 and 240 Storm Tickets, scaled based on difficulty.
          • Quota: 10 per 24 hours.
        • Repeatable Quest to complete 2 Mutant Storm Mission Alerts that awards 100 Spring It On! Gold
      • Opt-in difficulty boost and group missions do not award tickets during this event.
    • Mini-boss Mission Alerts can no longer be selected if you have not unlocked the mission the alert is attached to.
      • This will prevent low-level players from attempting Mission Alerts that are too difficult for them, unless they are invited into a group by a higher-level friend.
    • Mimic Reward Updates:
      • Mimics will always award the equivalent to at least a Level 3 (Blue) Treasure Chest.
      • Some Mimics will instead award the equivalent to a Level 4 (Purple) Treasure Chest.
    • ‘Evacuate the Shelter’ adjustments:
      • In non-group missions, the number of enemies needed to be killed after reaching the shelter has been reduced to 10 per players in zone instead of 35
      • The final encounter in non group missions has been reduced to 6 minutes from 8
    • ‘Repair the Shelter’ adjustments:
      • See-Bot will no longer be attacked on arrival.
        • See-Bot will now arrive with a 5 minute counter. After 5 minutes it will leave to recharge and then return later to a different location on the map.
        • The Husk attack now begins when a player deploys the See-Bot. See-Bot is safe before then.
        • Players have 5 minutes to start the scan and then defend See-Bot.
      • Husk attack difficulty has been reduced for first two attacks.
      • Shelter will now automatically start diagnostic scan when player reaches the shelter instead of having to interact with it.
        • Decreasing the difficulty of the mission and initial combat encounter allowed us to double down on the mission core: scrambling to rescue a sieged shelter and creating a time pressure. -Developer Comment
      • With the automatic diagnostic scan the length of time until first raid occurs has been increased to 8:30 minutes after diagnostics are complete to allow more time to prepare, used to be 6:30 minutes.
    • Progress for the quest ‘Air Quotes’ is now given when the first 25 enemies have been successfully eliminated after activating the Storm Chest. Rather than having to eliminate all waves of enemies before the timer is up.

    Bug Fixes

    • Fixed an issue where some players were locked out of their Storm Shield.
    • Visual level of Survival mission reward chest increased (so it reaches max-level chest appearance at 7 days).

    Heroes

    • Cyberpunk Heroes added, available in the new ‘Into the Storm’ event Llama.
      • Bullet Storm Jonesy (New Soldier Subclass)
        Bullet Storm: Uses high magazine weapons to build up attack speed and mow down enemies.
        • New Perks:
          • Start Up – Firing with a ranged weapon increases rate of fire by 1.2% per shot for up to 20 shots. Resets on reload or weapon switch.
          • Start Faster – Increases ‘Start Up’ rate of fire bonus to 2.4% per shot.
      • Harvester Sarah (New Ninja Subclass)
        Harvester: Close range scythe Ninja who uses Smoke Bomb and Shadow stance to survive on the battlefield.
        • New Perks:
          • Scythe to Meet You – Scythe attacks apply a 30% snare for 1 second.
          • Late Arrival – Scythes deal 48% increased damage to slowed or snared targets.
      • Heavy BASE Kyle (New Constructor Subclass) –
        Heavy BASE: Constructor focused on taking down enemies within BASE to charge up a great energy nova.
        • New Perks:
          • Feel the BASE – BASE generates energy when enemies die within the area affected by BASE. After 30 kills BASE emits an explosion that knocks husks back and deals damage in a 3 tile radius.
          • Turn Up the BASE – Increases the radius of ‘Feel The BASE’ by 2 tiles and damage by 80%.
        • New Tactical Perk:
          • Feel the BASE – BASE generates energy when enemies die within the area affected by BASE. After 30 kills BASE emits an explosion that knocks husks back and deals damage in a 3 tile radius.
      • T.E.D.D. Shot Jess (New Outlander Subclass)
        T.E.D.D. Shot: Deploys T.E.D.D.Y. to provide cover fire while sniping foes from a distance.
        • New Perks:
          • Quick Scope – Increases sniper rifle rate of fire by 35%.
          • Precision Handling – Hitting a headshot increases the speed of your next reload by 7% (Max 35%). Resets after reloading.
          • Eye on the Prize – Getting 15 headshot kills grants 1 Charge Fragment.
        • New Support Perk:
          • Sure Shot – Increases sniper rifle critical hit damage by 35%, 53%, 70%.
    • Outlander
      • Shock Tower
        • No longer requires a Fragment to operate.
        • Cooldown has been set to 60 seconds.
        • Stamina cost has been set to 50.
        • Using a Fragment will reduce the cooldown by 30% and reduce the stamina cost to 0.
        • Damage has not been adjusted.
      • T.E.D.D.Y.
        • No longer requires a Fragment to operate.
        • Cooldown has been set to 60 seconds.
        • Stamina Cost has been set to 50.
        • Using a Fragment will reduce the cooldown by 30% and reduce the stamina cost to 0.
        • Damage has been unadjusted.
      • Impossibility Matrix
        • Now increases the cooldown reduction for ‘Shock Tower’ and ‘T.E.D.D.Y.’ to 50% when using a Fragment.
      • Fragment Ammo
        • Cap has been increased to 25 + Llama fragment.
      • Llama Fragment
        • Acquiring a Llama Fragment now immediately resets the cooldown of all your Fragment abilities.
    • Constructor
      • Recycling
        • Increased the maximum storage capacity of BASE Recycling from 150 to 450.
      • Hyperthreading
        • Increased the maximum storage capacity of BASE Hyperthreading from 300 to 900.

    Bug Fixes

    • Fixed an issue where the ‘Plasma Pulse’ tooltip wouldn’t reflect the current ‘I.F.F. Coding’ functionality.
    • Fixed an issue with Fragment Flurry Jess and Shamrock Reclaimer’s support bonus ‘Energized’ not scaling correctly across multiple star levels.
    • Fixed an issue where ‘Dragonslash’ caused Ninjas to lose collision against Heroes and Enemies.
    • Fixed an issue where ‘Decoy’ wasn’t taking damage from Husks.
    • Fixed an issue that could cause ‘Mantis Leap’ to stack velocity infinitely.

    Weapons And Items

    • Neon Weapon set added, available in the new ‘Into the Storm’ event Llama.
      • Ranged Weapons:
        • Argon Assault Rifle
        • Helium Shotgun
        • Krypton Pistol
      • Melee Weapons:
        • Argon Axe
        • Krypton Sword
        • Neon Scythe
    • Impulse Grenade
      • Doubled the knockback distance against enemies.
      • No longer affects allies.
    • Easter Egg Launcher Eggs no longer detonate when a player is downed but are cleared when a player respawns or disconnects.

    Bug Fixes

    • Fixed an issue where crystal Scavenger melee weapons had the same durability as ore Scavenger melee weapons.
    • Fixed an issue where the Vacuum Tube Spear and Axe knocked enemies back instead of stunning them in place.
    • Dragon’s Might shotgun projectiles no longer bounce off of deep water.
    • Fixed an issue where Dragon’s Might shotgun projectiles weren’t exploding on contact with enemies.
    • Bullet tracers shot from other players single shot weapons no longer travel through walls.
    • Fixed an issue where the Boost Trap would give more resources than intended from recycling.

    UI

    • Added an option to show a Collection Book indicator on items in the Armory menus.
    • Added an option to toggle whether or not ‘Favorite’ items are grouped together in the Armory menus.Added tooltip text for the cinematics volume setting in the audio settings tab.
    • Items in the Armory that don’t have stats no longer display a stats panel.
    • Replaced references of the word “Vault” with “Armory” in skill tree nodes.

    Bug Fixes

    • Fixed an issue where players using the Combat Pro control scheme would see “Unable to Edit Building” when pressing the button to get on their Hoverboard.
    • Fixed an issue where the ‘Place Trap’ controller button icon was missing when using the Combat Pro control scheme.
    • Updated reward summary cards to no longer be selectable once they move off screen.
    • Fixed an issue where damage return values for Traps that deal elemental damage were not indicating what type of elemental damage was dealt.
      • Updated Electrical Wall and Ceiling Trap descriptions to mention their elemental damage traits.
    • Fixed a spelling error in the Mythic Wukong Berserker description.
    • Fixed an issue that prevented players from selecting options (mute, add friend, etc.) in chat.
    • Fixed an issue where the camera would jump when zooming in on a skill tree tier.
    • Fixed the ‘Import Friends’ button not being selectable with a controller.
    • Fixed 4-player level difficulty being cut off in the in-zone objectives screen.
    • Fixed the ‘Research’ purchase button’s cost icon being offset when using a controller.
    • Fixed BluGlo having the ‘Equip’ button active in the in-zone inventory.
    • Fixed a crash that occurred when typing a comma while naming your Homebase.
    • Updated player revive screen text.

    Audio

    • Metal toilets now plays a metal sound when destroyed.
    • Unsearched shopping carts now have impact sounds.

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  • Best New Games On PC: Minit Is Bursting With Charm And Secrets

    This is Steam Punks, where we take a look at the top PC Steam games each week, cutting through the clutter and showing you the best hidden video game gems. We all know about the big releases of course (another version of Skyrim, anyone?) but here are some smaller titles that are still well worth your time.

    The charming new Zelda-style adventure Minit askes you to complete your quest with the restriction of 60-second lives. It’s not the first RPG-style game to explore this time mechanic, but Minit sets itself apart with its incredibly focused design, and its unbridled creativity in its quests, characters, and wealth of secrets.

    The Adventure Pals is an off-the-wall, Cartoon Network-inspired action platformer which Jess finds very comforting to play. The difficulty echoes something along the lines of a Kirby game, and there’s a lot of joy in seeing what kinds of bizarre characters and designs the game can surprise you with.

    Airmech Strike, is the latest in the Airmech series of games, this time with a MOBA twist, which has just graduated from Steam Early Access. Even if you’ve got genre fatigue, the fast-paced, shoot-em-up nature, along with some actual real-time strategy components might be enough to win over that part of your brain. With its focus on 1v1 and 2v2 matches, along with simple fact that you get to fly around in a transforming robot, Airmech Strike a low-investment game that is worth giving a shot, even just to watch some AI opponents explore.

    Finally, Train Valley 2 is a Steam Early Access tycoon puzzle game that lets you play at your own pace in order to think about the logistics of a rail network and create the most efficient infrastructure possible. It’s got a lovely, calming low-poly graphical presentation so if you like your micromanagement tasks to be a little more chill, Train Valley has got your back.

    Minit is also available on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. The Adventure Pals is also available on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.

    Have you been playing any fantastic new PC games that we missed? Let us know on Twitter: @EdmondTran + @JessMcDonell

    Steam store links: Minit | The Adventure Pals | Airmech Strike | Train Valley 2

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