NewsRadar

The most expensive gaming computer

2017-06-26T03:17:00.000-07:00

$30,000!!!!

If you’ve got an extra 30 grand to spend, forget about housing payments for a couple years, round trip flights to Europe every two weeks, or a BMW 3-series—follow your heart, and put all of it into a single gaming desktop.

8Pack OrionX

the $30,000 8Pack OrionX looks like it just came out of a top secret lab. The monstrous machine is actually composed of two diverse systems packed inside a single Phanteks Enthoo Elite ($900) case. The higher-end system is powered by the 10-core Intel i7-6950x processor, which will run you about $1,600. The secondary system operates on a more budget-friendly Intel Core i7-7700K processor, the same chipset you’ll find in many new high-end consumer desktops.

New PSN Flash Sale On PS4, PS3, And Vita Games Has Begun

2017-06-25T16:51:00.003-07:00

New PSN Flash Sale Has Begun

Get your co-op fix this weekend.

A new Flash sale is now underway for the weekend on the PlayStation Store. It discounts a number of PS4, PS3, and Vita games, with a focus on co-op titles.

PS4 has by far the most games on sale in this promotion, which doesn't require a PlayStation Plus membership. Among the highlights are Resident Evil 5 and 6 for $8 each, Sportsfriends for $4.49, and Helldivers: Ultimate Edition for $16. Some other noteworthy PS4 deals:

7 Days to Die -- $10.49
The Jackbox Party Pack Trilogy -- $24
Marvel Ultimate Alliance 1 and 2 -- $16 each
Nidhogg -- $5
Tropico 5 -- $9
Videoball -- $2

PS3 deals include the first two Borderlands games for $4 each, Sportsfriends for $4.49, and Guilty Gear Xrd Sign for $12. Vita, meanwhile, has a fairly limited selection, although Helldivers ($16) and Nidhogg ($5) are also available on there, as is Earth Defense Force 2 for $6.

This Flash sale runs from now until 8 AM PT / 11 AM ET on Monday, June 26. You can see everything in the sale here. This all coincides with the ongoing weekly PSN sales, which include discounts on a bunch of Metal Gear Solid games.

Rockstar Releases New Statement On PC Mods [UPDATE]

2017-06-25T16:36:00.002-07:00

After Angering GTA 5 Fans,

Rockstar and Take-Two won't take action against single-player mods, but it's not quite that simple.

Update: A new update for OpenIV has now been released, seemingly with Rockstar's blessing. It's unclear what exactly about it has changed to abide by the rules outlined by Rockstar and Take-Two below, but this appears to be a positive move for the modding community.

Original Story: The recent legal shutdown of Grand Theft Auto V mod tool OpenIV angered fans, to say the least. Developer Rockstar Games has now released a new statement addressing its stance on mods, and while there is some good news, it still likely isn't what many people are hoping for.

In a post on its website, Rockstar reveals that it's spoken with its parent company, Take-Two, and convinced it to avoid pursuing legal action against certain types of mods. "Rockstar Games believes in reasonable fan creativity, and, in particular, wants creators to showcase their passion for our games," the statement reads. "After discussions with Take-Two, Take-Two has agreed that it generally will not take legal action against third-party projects involving Rockstar's PC games that are single-player, non-commercial, and respect the intellectual property (IP) rights of third parties."

There are, of course, other restrictions as well: "This does not apply to (i) multiplayer or online services; (ii) tools, files, libraries, or functions that could be used to impact multiplayer or online services, or (iii) use or importation of other IP (including other Rockstar IP) in the project," the statement continues. "This is not a license, and it does not constitute endorsement, approval, or authorization of any third-party project. Take-Two reserves the right to object to any third-party project, or to revise, revoke and/or withdraw this statement at any time in their own discretion. This statement does not constitute a waiver of any rights that Take-Two may have with respect to third-party projects."

All of this started when Take-Two issued a cease-and-desist to the developers of OpenIV, which is a tool that is used to power numerous GTA V mods. Take-Two and Rockstar subsequently explained that this wasn't intended to specifically target single-player mods and that "malicious mods that allow harassment of players and interfere with the GTA Online experience for everybody" were the real problem. The companies also said they were investigating how to "continue to support the creative community without negatively impacting our players." Despite this, there was an outcry from fans, who sunk the game's average user review score on Steam. Additionally, a petition calling for OpenIV to be left alone has attracted nearly 77,000 signatures as of this writing.

Today's statement doesn't totally clarify what the future of GTA V mods looks like. OpenIV would seemingly still be disallowed by these rules, despite not directly targeting GTA Online. Rockstar told Motherboard that it's spoken with OpenIV's developer about allowing it to continue, but at this point, it remains unclear where things go from here.

China Bans Live-streaming On Three Major Websites

2017-06-25T15:49:00.001-07:00

The People's Republic of China has strict censorship laws regarding media in all formats for the sole purpose of protecting national security and maintaining social stability. While it has made some strides in regards to lifting gaming bans, Reuters reports these laws are now targeting a different form of communication: livestreaming.

China has reportedly contacted three major social media and news websites to take down all video and audio streaming services due to politically charged social commentary. China's Twitter-esque social media website Sina Weibo, video-sharing and game streaming platform ACFUN, and news website Ifeng.com are being affected by the ban.

The move is due to the presence of politically charged material that violates China's censorship laws within these websites' livestreaming content. User commentary is also inciting "negative opinions."

Because of its censorship laws, China's government regularly combs through its social media websites for potentially harmful comments and content. This includes, but isn't limited to, politically charged comments, anything that slanders and insults others, promotion of cults or superstitions, mockery of China's culture and traditions, and the showing of drug use and violence. While pictures and written comments that include these things can be deleted, it's harder to regulate livestreams, videos, and audio content.

Foreign social media websites like Facebook and YouTube are banned in China entirely. Videogame streaming platform Twitch is banned; even Google is banned. Although China in 2015 lifted its videogame console manufacturing and ownership ban made in 2000, while its laws regarding content censorship remained in place. To this day, the content of video games is subject to the government's censorship for the same reasons as its internet and media censorship: national security and stability.

Sina Weibo has acknowledged the notice issued by the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television (SAPPRFT) of the People's Republic of China and is in the process of evaluating who the ban will affect from the staff to its major influencers. But what's most interesting is that the SAPPRFT notice states that Sina Weibo does not have the proper licenses for internet livestreaming services, in addition to its content violations.

Sina Weibo, like other livestreaming social platforms like Momo and YY, is part of a booming livestreaming market in China, which grew 180% in 2016 alone, according to Technode. The same story includes a report from the China Internet Network Information Center, stating that there were over 344 million livestreaming users in China in 2016, which constitutes about 47 percent of all of the internet users in the country. Video game streaming was the largest part of this market to grow, led by gameplay streaming platform Douyu and gaming and social media giant Tencent.

Without question, this ban will have effects on that livestreaming market, and the bans on Sina Weibo, ACFUN, and Ifeng.com could just be the beginning.

It is currently unclear when these livestreaming services will be taken down from the websites under the ban.

Hitman Free for PC, PS4, and Xbox One

2017-06-21T09:43:00.004-07:00

Hitman Episode 1 for PS4, Xbox One, and PC

PlayStation Store offers downloads of Hitman Episode 1 for PlayStation 4 for free. (Microsoft offers it for Xbox O ne and steam offers it for windows.) That's a savings of $15 and the first time we've seen any part of this highly-rated game for free. Episode 1 features the ICA Facility location and includes two story missions (including all cut-scenes), two Escalation Contracts, more than 40 challenges, and 17 achievements and trophies. (You'll be able to keep your progress if you upgrade to the full game.) Click here for more information and to see a trailer for Episode 1.

Watch Dogs is Free on Xbox

2017-06-21T09:28:00.000-07:00

Watch Dogs for Xbox One

Hello everybody Now you can grab you watch dogs copy for free on xbox but For Xbox Live Gold members only, Microsoft Store offers downloads of Watch Dogs for Xbox One for free. That's the lowest price we've seen and $13 under the best deal we could find for a physical copy. Deal ends July 15.

Twitch and Blizzard sign a deal to bring big e-sports events to the streaming service

2017-06-21T08:04:00.003-07:00

Overwatch, Hearthstone, Starcraft, and other Blizzard tournaments will be available on Twitch

Twitch announced today that it has signed a deal with Blizzard Entertainment that gives the popular video game streaming site two-year, third-party live-streaming rights to some of Blizzard’s biggest e-sports events in popular games like Overwatch, Starcraft, Hearthstone, and Heroes of the Storm.

The deal doesn’t seem to include total exclusivity for Twitch, just third-party streaming-platform rights, so Blizzard will still be able to offer a first-party stream through its own site. And Twitch only has some of Blizzard’s events, including the Heroes of the Storm Global Championship, StarCraft II World Championship Series, Hearthstone Championship Tour, World of Warcraft Arena Championship, Overwatch APEX League, and Overwatch Premier Series.

That said, it’s still a pretty significant signing for Twitch given the massive popularity of Blizzard’s games, especially in the competitive and streaming contexts. Additionally, as part of the deal with Blizzard, Twitch will be offering in-game loot for Overwatch, Heroes of the Storm, and Hearthstone for Twitch Prime subscribers, starting with a Golden Loot Box in Overwatch that guarantees a legendary item.

Spotify is now available in the Windows Store

2017-06-21T08:01:00.003-07:00

Spotify is now available

Microsoft revealed at Build last month that Spotify would be arriving in the Windows Store, and it's now available today. While Spotify has created mobile apps in the past for Windows Phone, the company has opted to convert its desktop app to a Windows Store one using Microsoft's Centennial Desktop Bridge tool. That means this isn't a Universal Windows App, and won't run on Windows Mobile or the Xbox One console.

The Spotify app in the Windows Store is identical to the desktop app that is available online, and the only major change is that Spotify will now be updated through the Windows Store. Spotify arriving in the Windows Store does mean that Surface Laptop owners still running Windows 10 S will be able to download and install the app. Microsoft's Windows 10 S variant will only support apps from the company's Windows Store.

Samsung’s Galaxy Note 8 Release date

2017-06-21T07:55:00.000-07:00

Samsung’s Galaxy Note 8 will reportedly be announced in August

Samsung is planning to announce the Galaxy Note 8 in August, according to a new report from Reuters, citing a source that claims to be familiar with the matter.

The Reuters report also claims that the Note 8 will feature a dual-camera system and a slightly larger curved display than the Galaxy S8 Plus, which is in line with rumors from earlier this year. An August announcement would make sense, as Samsung has announced previous Note devices, including the Note 5 and the ill-fated Note 7, in a similar time frame.

A late August release date would also mean that Samsung would have a chance to get its newest flagship device on the market before Apple’s own upcoming iPhone 8.

Steam Summer Sale Start Date Revealed By PayPal

2017-06-21T07:24:00.000-07:00

Get your wallet ready for Thursday.

Although Valve itself has still not announced a start date for the Steam Summer sale, it wouldn't feel right if it weren't leaked ahead of time. That appears to be the case with PayPal once again--and the sale is set to begin quite soon.

PayPal's UK Twitter account today sent out a message revealing that this year's Summer sale kicks off at 6 PM BST (10 AM PT / 1 PM ET) on Thursday, June 22. It claims, "It's official," though, as noted above, Valve has still not made an actual announcement itself. Dubious as this may seem, PayPal appears to have a promotion (at least in the UK) where spending £20 on Steam with PayPal during the sale will save you £5. You can read the details of this here.

Deals from a previous Steam sale

PayPal's promotion runs until July 5, which may be the end of the Steam sale. These dates line up with an image that surfaced on Reddit last month, which alleged that the Steam sale would run from June 22 until July 5.

Assuming Valve doesn't implement any major changes, you can expect this to be a fairly straightforward sale. The company has moved away from complex setups where deals are rotated in at regular intervals throughout the day. We'll report back as more details are announced.

6 Things About Xbox One X

2017-06-20T21:33:00.000-07:00

E3 2017: 6 Things We Learned About Xbox One X

The console's official name

Microsoft's upcoming console was previously codenamed Project Scorpio, and despite rumors that it might be called Xbox Scorpio or Xbox S, we learned from the company's E3 2017 press conference that the upcoming system has been officially named Xbox One X. What's slightly interesting about the name is that its acronym spells out XBOX.

While we already knew that it would feature an 8-core AMD SOC outfitted with an integrated GPU capable of delivering six teraflops of performance when we covered its tech specs, we also learned a bunch of new details about the system, which include its price, release date, design, and more.

Xbox One X price

As suggested from the rumored pricing leaks this morning, Microsoft confirmed that the Xbox One X will retail for $499. This puts it on par with the Xbox One's original retail price when it released in 2013. This also makes it cost roughly $100 more than the PS4 Pro's suggested retail price. It is worth mentioning that the Xbox One X will be noticeably more powerful than Sony's high-end console.

While $499 may be prohibitively expensive for some, it is inline with some predictions. Microsoft also offers the more affordable Xbox One S console geared for 1080p gaming. The cheaper system recently got a $50 price cut and retails for $250.

Xbox One X release date

The console is set to release worldwide on November 7, 2017. This puts it a year behind Sony's PlayStation 4 Pro, which released on November 10, 2016 for $399. While the PS4 Pro plays certain games at 4K, many of them are up-scaled using a rendering technique called checkerboard rendering. Microsoft asserts that the Xbox One X will be the "world's most powerful console" and can run games natively at true 4K.

Improvements to existing Xbox One games at 1080p

In addition to allowing you to play games at 4K, Microsoft asserted at its press conference that the Xbox One X would bolster existing Xbox One games in a number of ways that include adding anisotropic filtering, supporting AMD FreeSync, faster load times, and enabling supersampling; the latter of which renders games above 1080p and then downsizes them to an HDTV. This makes them look sharper than traditional 1080p.

$100 off the PS4 VR headset

2017-06-20T21:25:00.001-07:00

$300 PlayStation VR Available For A Limited Time

Price of entry is one of the main barriers holding some people back from picking up their own VR headset. Sony's PlayStation VR aims to be a lower-priced option compared to its PC counterparts, but it's still an expensive purchase. At the moment, however, its cost is a bit more palatable.

Over on eBay, Newegg is selling the $400 PSVR for only $300. Discounts on the headset have not been commonplace, and this might well be the cheapest that a new version of the headset has been sold for since its launch last October.

Shipping on this deal is free, and Newegg is a reputable seller, but the offer is only available to those in the United States. It's unclear how long this discount will be available for, so you should act quickly if you're interested.

An important thing to note is that this doesn't come with anything but the headset itself--you'll still need a PS4 and a PS4 camera at a bare minimum. PlayStation Move controllers (two of which are included with $500 PSVR bundles) are optional but do often enhance the experience. You can GameSpot's PSVR review for more details.

Overwatch Update : New Map Out Now, Patch Notes Detail Roadhog, Reaper Changes

2017-06-20T21:12:00.001-07:00

Roadhog, Reaper, and McCree all now play a bit differently.

The next big update for Overwatch is now available, introducing the Horizon Lunar Colony map for all players. It also makes some significant balance changes that Roadhog players are unhappy about, along with other tweaks and fixes.

The Horizon Lunar Colony map, which was first announced in May, is set on the moon. A portion of the map includes a low-gravity area, but this functionality extends to other maps. When creating a Custom Game, you can now adjust both player and projectile gravity to make for a much different sort of experience on any map.

In terms of character updates, Roadhog's is the most significant. The hitbox for his head has been shrunk to improve his survivability, but his primary change comes to his weapon. The Scrap Gun's clip size is now five (up from four) and can fire 30% faster, but each bullet's damage has been reduced by 33%. This reduces the effectiveness of his hook combo, but Blizzard says it "keep[s] his DPS roughly the same."

Reaper also sees a fairly significant change. Rather than being able to pick up health orbs after an enemy dies, he now regains health as he deals damage--specifically, 20% of the damage dealt is returned to him as health. McCree's Ultimate also sees an adjustment, as you'll only have to wait 0.2 seconds (rather than 0.8) to begin locking on. The damage dealt during the first 1.0 seconds has meanwhile been increased, going from 20 to 80. After the 1 second mark, the damage is unchanged.

The Oni Genji and Officer D.Va skins, which were previously only available by playing Heroes of the Storm, are now obtainable in Overwatch itself. They can both be found in classic Loot Boxes.

The UI also sees a number of tweaks, including the removal of the Rate This Match option, which Blizzard has deemed less than useful. The Damage Done stat has been replaced by Hero Damage Done in "multiple locations," while averages are now calculated based on 10-minute "slices," instead of on a per-game basis.

You can check out all of the UI additions and adjustments, along with a long list of bug fixes and other changes, in the patch notes here. The update is out now on PC, PS4, and Xbox One.

Rainbow Six Siege Update 2.1 Out Now

2017-06-20T21:10:00.002-07:00

Here Are The Patch Notes

Matchmaking receives some welcome improvements.

Rainbow Six Siege's next patch, version 2.1, is now available on all platforms. It's positioned as the "first major title update" coming as part of the ongoing Operation Health initiative, the aim of which is to improve the "overall Rainbow Six Siege experience."

In terms of update 2.1's major focuses, there are no big surprises, as Ubisoft has previewed the changes that are to come. That doesn't make them any less welcome, though. 2.1 introduces One-Step Matchmaking, which "means more stability and faster matchmaking results." Ubisoft describes it as a "giant step towards better performance and faster queue times."

Interactive Matchmaking is also new, allowing you to freely browse the menus while waiting for a match. You can purchase new Operators, tweak your loadouts, and so on, all of which could previously only be done if you hadn't yet entered a matchmaking queue. Following a match, you and your party can vote to go back to the menu, re-enter matchmaking, or continue with your current group.

In terms of gameplay itself, the previously discussed hitbox changes have been implemented. Put simply, players will no longer suffer damage when they take hits to things that should not hurt them, such as baggy clothing or accessories. This is true for all existing and future Operators. Ubisoft says it "will allow for a full artistic freedom on character models and customization without a heavy impact on gameplay balancing."

On the balance side, Glaz has been deemed too effective, particularly in high-level play. As a result, his weapon's damage has been reduced and his accuracy lowered when firing repeatedly. "At short distance especially, defenders will take more body shots before dying to the Dragunov," Ubisoft says. This and some changes to the availability of smoke grenades are discussed in detail on the Siege website.

Other changes include resolving certain exploits, such as being able to melee kill someone through Mira's mirror. Three locations where spawn kills are possible have also been addressed (shown in the images above), and others will be targeted in future updates. You can check out all of the other bug fixes in the patch notes below. For the full rundown on the update, head here.

The game's next patch will be update 2.2.2. Ubisoft says this will "issues with Hibana, smoke grenade replication, aiming consistency, Alpha Pack deployment, and other long-persisting issues. However, it should be noted that a lot of what we are working on regarding gameplay fixes will be arriving in Season 3."

Rainbow Six Siege Patch 2.1 Main Bug Fixes

Gameplay

Fixed - Players are able to melee others through Mira's One Way Mirror.
Fixed - Audio from Impact grenades does not always trigger properly.
Fixed - Players receiving Timeout error 6-0x00001000 when first connect to server on creating squad.
Fixed - Nitro Cell does not deal damage if placed on the vans of Consulate.
Fixed - Players will sometimes not see a prompt for "To Enter" when rappelling.
Fixed - Defenders are registered as outside on the Master Bedroom door frame on House.

Operators

Kapkan

Fixed - EDD cannot be deployed in certain locations.
Fixed - EDD is difficult to deploy on doorframes when an object is nearby.
Fixed - The prompt to deploy the EDD is only available in a small angle on certain windows.
Fixed - EDD is hidden when placed at the bottom of the Geisha room doorway.

Caveira

Fixed - Caveira will sometimes use a placeholder audio bark when throwing an Impact grenade.

Fixed - Friendly gadgets are detected when using the RED MK III "Spectre".

Game Modes

Terrorist Hunt

Fixed - AI pathing on Club House.
Fixed - AI pathing on Chalet.

Level Design

Skyscraper

Fixed - Geisha room floor is unbreakable.
Fixed - The floor surrounding the trapdoor in Geisha room cannot be destroyed properly.
Fixed - Defuser cannot be placed on multiple locations due to objects.
Fixed - Black Eye cameras are able to float in mid-air in the Wine Cellar once all bottles are broken.
Fixed - Stairs in 1F Toilet do not have bullet collision, and damage can be dealt through them.
Fixed - Attackers can reach an inaccessible location while being pushed in rappel, causing players to fall out of bounds.
Fixed - Carpets on the second floor are unbreakable.
Fixed - Kapkan's EDD clips through the lamp on the right side of the window in 2F Geisha Room.

Border

Fixed - Ramps at the top of stairs flicker, and present a graphical glitch.
Fixed - Glowstick prevents a Defuser plant in 2F Armory Locker Room.
Fixed - Gadgets cannot be placed on wall in 1F Customs Inspections room.
Fixed - Defuser cannot be placed on the metal steps in the Server Room.
Fixed - Players are able to climb onto the handrail in the stairs of Main Hallway, and then vault into the scaffolding.
Fixed - There is a gap between the walls located in 2F Security Room, allowing players to fire on 1F VIP Section.

Chalet

Fixed - Tree and flower pots do not have collision at 1F Main Entrance, and allow players to shoot through walls to the Snowmobile Garage corridor.
Fixed - Operators do not take damage from Nitro Cells or grenades when rappelling from 2F Bedroom Terrance.
Fixed - Players are able to shoot through the floor in Master Bedroom and kill enemies outside.
Fixed - Defenders are able to spawn kill Attackers spawning at Campfire.

Plane

Fixed - A small flag prevents the placement of the Defuser in Executive Office.
Fixed - Players are able to vault through the top of the plane using a deployable shield.
Fixed - Drones are able to break collision with the partially destroyed ceiling near the entrance of 2F Front Hallway.
Fixed - When player 1 is running and crouching on a prone player 2 at the same place, player 1 will have an advantage.

Clubhouse

Fixed - Broom prevents Defuser placement in Church.
Fixed - Defuser cannot be placed on dumbbells in 2F Gym.
Fixed - Players do not receive damage from a Nitro Cell if it is thrown against the brick wall near the jukebox.
Fixed - The vault option does not appear on the bar counter in the Strip Club.
Fixed - Players are able to shoot through the metal frame of the barred windows in 1F Garage.
Fixed - Location indicator is missing in the room with the destructible wall that is next to 2F Secret Stash.

University

Fixed - Defuser cannot be planted in multiple locations.
Fixed - Some gadgets cannot be placed near the trapdoor found in Model Hall.
Fixed - Floor above the furnace can be destroyed from above and players are then able to place gadgets and cameras within the Furnace. These gadgets and cameras cannot be seen from the outside.
Fixed - University nameplates can be shot through, but not destroyed.
Fixed - Players are able to shoot through the ceiling of the Service Room.
Fixed - Defenders can be detected if crouched near a partially destroyed wall in 2F Model Hall.

House

Fixed - Players are able to shoot from EXT Patio towards Laundry Room, through non-LOS objects.
Fixed - Valkyrie is able to place her cameras between walls, and see through them.

Kanal

Fixed - Defenders are able to have line of sight on the Attacker Spawn point from CC3F Control Room Window.

Consulate

Fixed - Defenders have a direct line of sight into the Side Entrance spawn point by jumping outside from Visa Office.
Fixed - Players are able to vault over a deployable shield onto the metal pipes found under Service Stairs.

Coastline

Fixed - Attackers are able to vault from the exterior canopy inside the 2F Penthouse room.
Fixed - Invisible collision is present around the flowers of 2F Hallway.
Fixed - Defenders are able to shoot through the guitar supports located in 2F Hall of Fame and kill Attackers.

Hereford

Fixed - Players are able to shoot through the lower half dividers in 1F Dining Room.
Fixed - Vaulting through the window from 2F Office that is partially destroyed will result in the Operator remaining stuck.

Oregon

Fixed - Players will not receive any damage from a detonated Nitro Cell if they are on the bed in 2F Small Dorms.
Fixed - There is a seam gap on the ceiling of Tower Stairs.
Fixed - Players are able to fire through a gap between the walls of 1F Office.
Fixed - Players are able to break collision with the freezer in 1F Pantry.
Fixed - A wall reinforcement in the Supply Room does not fully cover the wall.
Fixed - Players are able to reach an inaccessible area in the Boiler Room.
Fixed - Metal decals appear even though bullets do not penetrate through the big dresser in 2F Kids' Room.

Bank

Fixed - Drones are able to clip through the ceiling of Bank Garage.
Fixed - Walking over the box in 1F Archives will interrupt the Secure Area process.
Fixed - Drone can be placed on top of pipes in Garage to see through all floors.

User Experience

Fixed - Jackal's default and Photon uniforms are different from their thumbnails.

Top 10 UK Sales Chart

2017-06-20T09:05:00.001-07:00

Horizon Zero Dawn Beats Switch's Arms To No.1

Sony's open-world title Horizon Zero Dawn has finished top of the UK sales chart this week, meaning the game returns to No.1 for the first since its release in March. Nintendo's Switch exclusive Arms, meanwhile, debuts at No.2 for the week ending June 17. According to sales monitor Chart-Track, it was the fourth-biggest Switch game launch so far, behind The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Mario Kart 8: Deluxe, and 1-2-Switch.

Below that, Grand Theft Auto V continues to chart well at No.3, and Dirt 4 drops one place from No.3 to No.4 in its second week on sale. Wipeout: Omega Collection, which debuted at No.1 last week, falls to No.5.

Horizon Zero Dawn has sold well for Sony since its launch--the company recently revealed the game has sold through over 3.4 million units, up from 2.6 million units sold in its first two weeks.

New Horizon Zero Dawn DLC was revealed at E3 last week. The expansion, titled The Frozen Wilds, is scheduled to launch in 2017, though a specific release date was not announced. The first trailer was shown during Sony's E3 briefing, and you can watch it above.

You can read the full top 10 sales chart below, courtesy of Chart-Track. Note this table does not include digital sales data, and so should not be considered representative of all UK game sales.

Horizon Zero Dawn
Arms
Grand Theft Auto V
Dirt 4
Wipeout: Omega Collection
Tekken 7
FIFA 17
Overwatch
Injustice 2
Rocket League

Medal of Honor: Pacific Assault is free right now on Origin

2017-06-20T07:18:00.003-07:00

Claim your free copy of Medal of Honor: Pacific Assault

If you're in the market for some free gaming (and generally who isn't?) then you'll probably want to head over to Origin, where Medal of Honor: Pacific Assault is currently free as the latest "On the House" offering.

On the House games are giveaways that EA throws out now and then, with nowarning or pattern that I can detect, and no indication as to when the offer will come to an end. Basically it's the Karma Chameleon of digital distribution programs, so grab it while you can.

To claim your free copy of Medal of Honor: Pacific Assault, just go to origin.com, click the "get it now" button, and do what it says. You will need to have Origin installed, so you'll want to take care of that too, if you haven't already. And if all this strikes you as a little familiar somehow, you're not wrong: Pacific Assault was also an On the House game in March of last year.

Blizzard explains one of patch 2.6.0's new features

2017-06-19T17:32:00.003-07:00

Here's How Diablo 3's New Challenge Rifts Work

Among the features on the way to Diablo III in the upcoming patch 2.6.0 are Challenge Rifts. Blizzard has provided new details explaining exactly how they work, and they sound like a good change in pace from the usual style of play.

Challenge Rifts do away with the normal randomization of Diablo in favor of a set experience. A Challenge Rift challenges you to beat another player's Greater Rift run time. The game takes a snapshot of a Greater Rift run--complete with that Rift's layout and the character's gear and skills--and then tasks other players with finishing it more quickly than the original player.

A new Challenge Rift will be released every Monday, and a selection of crafting materials and Blood Shards are available to anyone who can beat the target time. This reward is available only once per week, but you're free to replay the Rift as much as you want, as you'll be able to compete with friends on weekly leaderboards.

As shown in the video above, choosing to take part in a Challenge Rift won't immediately launch you into one. You can first reassign the keys that your skills are assigned to (but not change which skills you have access to) and test the setup out on two groups of enemies: one comprised of a single tough enemy, and one consisting of a bunch of weak enemies.

In addition to patch 2.6.0, the Necromancer Pack is also on the way to Diablo III. This is positioned as a "content pack" rather than an "expansion pack" along the line of Reaper of Souls. Its primary addition is the Necromancer class, which returns from Diablo II. Blizzard recently revealed the Necromancer-specific Legendary effects and Set items that are on the way. You can see the sets in this video or read the details abou-of-diablo-1-in-diablo-3-anniversary-patch" width="468">

SNES-Style Controller For Nintendo Switch Coming This Year

2017-06-19T17:25:00.001-07:00

SNES-Style Controller For Nintendo Switch Coming This Year

Nintendo Switch players looking for a more retro experience will be happy to know 8Bitdo is making a replica SNES controller built with the system in mind. The SNES30 Pro features Bluetooth, USB-C, rumble vibration, motion controls, and player indicator LEDs--of course, it looks just like a traditional SNES controller. Check it out below.

Compatible with PCs and mobile devices too.

On the right, you'll also see the Super Famicom-style model, if you'd like to capture the classic Japanese design instead. Both are replacements for the Switch Pro Controller, but they will work on PCs and mobile devices as well. They're slated to be released this holiday season.

There are two other new ways to play Switch (and PC) coming from 8Bitdo too. You can get even more old school with the NES30 Arcade Stick (below).

The company is also releasing the set of speakers below called the Twin Cube Stereo Speakers, to boost the audio experience. They're wireless, but have an AUX input. Both the speakers and the NES Arcade Stick are due out sooner than the SNES-style controllers, coming this fall.

Last month, 8Bitdo updated the firmware on its full library of controllers to make them compatible with Nintendo Switch. Not all the controllers will work perfectly with every Switch game, but the company says the new SNES controllers by the end of the year will be perfect fits for Switch's full library of games.

8Bitdo revealed its new controllers at E3, and you can click here to see our full coverage of all the gaming hardware that was released during the expo on day 1 and on day 2.

Enjoy Friday The 13th Game DLC for Free and here is the reason

2017-06-19T17:21:00.002-07:00

Free Friday The 13th Game DLC Coming Soon As Apology For Server Issues

Friday the 13th: The Game encountered no shortage of server issues following its launch last month, the effects of which are still being felt to some extent. To make up for this, publisher Gun Media has announced it will make the game's first content update available for free.

As the trailer above notes, Gun wants to "make up for [the issues] and thank you for your patience" by giving away "cool free s***." The main component of this DLC is a retro version of Jason that comes with new chiptune music created by Mitch Murder. You can get a glimpse of him (and hear some of the music) toward the end of the video.

Also in the DLC is new clothing for every counselor, as well as 13,000 free customization points for all players. Everyone will also be able to partake in a double XP scheduled for this weekend, running from June 23-25. The DLC itself launches tomorrow, June 20.

"Overall, Gun Media is very thankful to our fans, supporters, and those interested in the game," it said in a press release. "We were completely overwhelmed by the amount of users that tried to play at launch, enough to break our servers and force us to upgrade. That process has evened out since then, however we are still working to smooth out the experience even more across all three platforms."

In our Friday the 13th review, Peter Brown wrote, "As of now, a week after launch, it's short on content and performs poorly all around, especially on consoles. The story goes that the developers weren't prepared for amount of people who wanted to jump on day one, but that does little to assuage players who were convinced that they were paying for a finished product. Despite showing potential that may one day be realized, Friday the 13th comes across as an unfinished game that shouldn't have been released in its current state."

If you've been playing the game, be sure to check out our gallery of the Friday the 13th Easter eggs you might have missed.

Detroit: Become Human Will Release In 2018

2017-06-19T17:15:00.004-07:00

Detroit: Become Human is coming next year, David Cage confirms.

Detroit: Become Human--the upcoming neo-noir game from Heavy Rain and Beyond: Two Souls developer Quantic Dream--will launch in 2018, director David Cage has confirmed.

Until now, no release window had ever been mentioned for the PS4 exclusive, and its E3 2017 story trailer also did not confirm a date, as some thought it might. However, Cage told GameSpot at E3 that "it's going to be next year."

Some people had believed the game would launch this year, after a PlayStation sizzle reel had listed it as part of the platform's 2017 releases. However, Sony's president of Worldwide Studios, Shuhei Yoshida, later stated the listing was a mistake.

Elsewhere in our interview, Cage discusses a bunch of different topics, from how he wants the player to be Detroit's co-writer, co-director, and co-star to how real-world issues, including terrorism, affected the game's story. Take a look at the full interview here. For our impressions of Become Human, check out our video roundup of the best PS4 games at Sony's booth.

Detroit was shown on-stage at Sony's E3 2017 press conference, during which the company announced a Shadow of the Colossus remake, a PSVR version of Skyrim, and a new Monster Hunter game. For more, check out all the Sony press conference news or all the Sony press conference trailers.