The Definitive Book of SNES RPGs Volume One

$48 | Releases October 15

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Bitmap Books has announced the next entry in its library, The Definitive Book of SNES RPGs. This is a deluxe tome designed to be a visual guide to an iconic era of video game history, and if that piques your interest, you can preorder it for $40 ahead of its shipping date later this month.

The Definitive Book of SNES RPGs Volume One $48 | Releases October 15

The first volume in this new series will cover games titled to A-K, and this 550-page book is written by game critic and researcher Moses Norton. The hardcover edition will focus on games like The 7th Saga, Eye of the Beholder, Breath of Fire, Chrono Trigger, EarthBound, EVO, Final Fantasy 2, and many more, and it features detailed writing, developer quotes, and genre history.

Additionally, there's restored art and "lost knowledge", and Bitmap Books says it's "an uncompromising and exhaustive study of the artistry, ideology, and legacy of SNES RPGs" using a methodology that doesn't rely on picking favorites. The cover features striking art, provided by professional artist Stephen "Stumpyfongo" Sitton.

Preorder at Bitmap Books A Guide to Japanese Role-Playing Games $45

A great book to pair this with is A Guide to Japanese Role-Playing Games. A massive collection of reviews and essays on over 600 JRPGs, A Guide to Japanese Role-Playing Games explores the expansive history of this genre, from its early days on 8-bit microcomputers to modern entries on PC and console. It covers a variety of titles like Fire Emblem and Etrian Odyssey, and it's another high-quality print from Bitmap Books.

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Other noteworthy books from the publisher include recent entries like From Ants to Zombies: Six Decades of Video Game Horror for a deep-dive into digital terror and The Art of the Box for a visual tour of how retro games grabbed your attention with stunning paintings and illustrations.

• A Guide to Japanese Role-Playing Games -- $45
• The Art of the Box -- $38 ($45)
• Game Boy: The Box Art Collection -- $43.50
• SNES/Super Famicom: A Visual Compendium -- $66.30
• I'm Too Young To Die: The Ultimate Guide to First-Person Shooters 1992–2002 -- $42.49
• The Art of Point-and-Click Adventure Games -- $43.50
• From Ants to Zombies: Six Decades of Video Game Horror -- $36.11 ($42.49)
• PC Engine: The Box Art Collection -- $40
• NEOGEO: A Visual History -- $66.24
• NES/Famicom: A Visual Compendium -- $63
• The SNES Pixel Book -- $73.57
• The Secret History of Mac Gaming: Expanded Edition -- $55.82
• The CRPG Book - Expanded Edition -- $61.24
• Run 'n' Gun: A Guide to On-Foot Shooters -- $38.86
• 50 World-Changing Indie Games -- $58
• Commodore Amiga: A Visual Compendium -- $49.31
• Artcade: The Book Of Classic Arcade Game Art -- $65
• Metal Slug: The Ultimate History -- $102.71
• Sinclair ZX Spectrum A Visual Compendium -- $50.75
• The Games That Weren't -- $68.41
• Super Famicom: The Box Art Collection -- $50.75

Another video game history book you can add to your collection is PlayStation: The First 30 Years. Scheduled to ship out in 2026, the book is now available to preorder and is priced at $125.

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In a shocking development, Electronic Arts announced on September 29 that it will go private as part of a $55 billion leveraged buyout. Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, Jared Kushner's Affinity Partners, and private equity company Silver Lake are taking 100% ownership of the company behind franchises like Battlefield, Mass Effect, Madden, and many others.

Industries tend to consolidate over time as they mature, and EA going private is just the latest example of such a move in the video game space. Prior to this, Microsoft bought Activision Blizzard, Take-Two acquired Zynga, Sony purchased Bungie, and the list goes on from there.

There are a number of particulars pertaining to EA's sale that make it unique, however, and the setup has led to numerous questions from industry-observers about what happens next. No one knows the answers for certain, but here are some of the key things to know and unanswered questions about the EA deal to a private consortium.

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Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario Galaxy 2 finally made their way to the Switch, and they've never looked better. Before now, you could only play them on the old Wii or through the limited-time Super Mario 3D All-Stars collection on Switch--which didn't even include Galaxy 2. Now, both games are available on the regular Switch and Switch 2.

There are a lot of things to appreciate with the new remasters, and Digital Foundry took a deep dive into the biggest differences and the mild downgrades. The biggest difference is that the original Switch runs the games at up to 1080p, while the Switch 2 boosts the visuals all the way to 4K resolution, making everything look much sharper and cleaner, especially on modern TVs. You can check out the full breakdown below.

Basically, most of the menus, cutscenes, and controls are the same as the 2020 3D All-Stars version, including things like touchscreen and motion controls. The pre-rendered cutscenes still run at 1080p, even on Switch 2, and haven't been upgraded to 4K. That's a bit of a letdown, especially since those scenes also show some compression issues and color problems. Still, the improved resolution and sharper gameplay visuals on Switch 2 do a lot to make up for it. Shadows now show from farther away, and character models look better at a distance, too.

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Stack Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Prepaid Codes

1 month for $20 / 3 months for $60

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Microsoft has announced a price hike for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, raising the price by 50% from $20 to $30 per month. You do not have to pay that much everywhere, however. GameStop, for example, has announced that it will not raise the price of Game Pass Ultimate for in-store and online shoppers, at least not yet.

The retailer continues to sell one-month Game Pass Ultimate memberships for $20 or three-month memberships for $60. This appears to be a promotion, so it's not likely to last forever, meaning you may want to snap it up now before it's too late. The price comes down to $19 for one month or $57 for a three-month subscription if you're a GameStop Pro member ($25/year).

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Microsoft is raising the price of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass, and the company has now attempted to defend the hikes.

Speaking to The Verge, Microsoft director of gaming and platform communications Dustin Blackwell said, "We understand price increases are never fun for anybody, but we're trying to reinforce by adding more value to these plans as well."

He added: "It's something we don't take lightly, and we're listening to the feedback of players and the community to try to provide them with more of what they’re asking for."

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Developer Sucker Punch Productions' samurai fantasy sequel, Ghost of Yotei, is finally out on PlayStation 5, and it's already received favorable reviews from critics. As such, it's safe to think that we could see yet another entry in the Ghost franchise in the future; however, the team isn't quite sure about that, as Sucker Punch Productions said in a new interview that timing is key.

Speaking to VGC on October 2, co-founder Brian Fleming explained that the next Ghost game or a return to Sly Cooper isn't out of the question, but because the team only gets to develop a new game "about every five years," that idea has to be "the best idea" possible.

"The truth is that whatever we do next, whether it's continuing Ghost or going back to Sly, the decision is really more limited by, again, our cherishing of focus and time to iterate, which means that we really can only do one thing at a time," Fleming said. "If we were good at juggling four projects, yeah, we’d have a remaster, and let’s go do one of those, and one of those, and do some fan request, that would be really popular. But we only get to do one thing. So it kind of has to be your best idea, right? And that's really clarifying. It's not like there aren't 15 good ideas. But you only get to do one. And by the way, you only get to do one about every five years. So that choice is really important. I mean, that is choosing your college and your major every five years … that's a really big decision, so you better think carefully about it."

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When it comes to building a winning team in EA Sports FC 26, the right formation is just as important as the players you pick. A good formation can unlock your team’s true potential, while the wrong one can leave you exposed at every turn. But whether you’re someone who favors the gegenpress over tiki-taka, there’s a formation for you.

Table of Contents [hide]

• 4-1-2-1-2 Narrow

This guide will explain the best FC 26 formations, breaking down their strengths and weaknesses, while explaining what type of players you’ll need to make it work. From tried and tested setups like 4-2-3-1 Wide to more experimental systems like 3-5-2, we’ll help you find the perfect shape to dominate in your next Division Rivals or Career Mode game.

4-1-2-1-2 Narrow

The 4-1-2-1-2 Narrow meta is back, and we couldn’t be more delighted. This diamond formation wasn’t really favoured in the FC 25 meta, but it’s having a bit of a resurgence.

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Starbreeze has canceled its upcoming Dungeons & Dragons game, which was in the works under the working title Project Baxter. The developer said its board of directors and management opted to cancel the project after a "strategic review" found that resources would be better deployed on its successful Payday franchise instead.

Starbreeze is taking an impairment charge of about SEK 255 million ($27.2 million) as a result of Project Baxter's cancellation.

"This was a difficult but necessary decision," Starbreeze CEO Adolf Kristjansson said. "Our strategy is clear: Payday is one of the most iconic IPs in gaming, with unmatched reach and potential. By focusing our investment and talent here, we can accelerate delivery, engage players with more content, and reinforce Starbreeze's position as the clear leader in the heisting genre. This is about sharpening our focus to create the strongest long-term value for our players, our people, and our shareholders."

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Like most games on the Roblox platform, the developers of Grow A Garden give away free stuff to celebrate big updates in the form of codes. Valid for only a limited time, these can give you access to items that aren’t available anywhere else, or a handful of rare items that are tough to get otherwise.

While there haven’t been all that many of them in the Roblox game’s lifespan so far, the ones that have been made available have mostly been cosmetic items, and in some rare cases, eggs for Grow A Garden pets. Sadly, none of these can help summon rare weather conditions, as it’s only those with admin permissions who can use Grow A Garden console commands, but there are plenty of freebies available. Here are all the currently known Grow A Garden codes, along with instructions on how to redeem them.

Table of Contents [hide]

• All active Grow A Garden codes

This Torii Gate is one of the many exclusive items that was made available via Grow A Garden codes.All active Grow A Garden codes

All of these Grow A Garden codes have been checked and verified since the last update. You can only redeem them once, and the vast majority of them will either appear in your backpack or in the separate cosmetic items section.

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Microsoft opened preorders for the ROG Xbox Ally X and ROG Xbox Ally on September 25, and they quickly sold out at some retailers. The high-end handheld is still two weeks away from launch, but at least one fan in Europe got it early thanks to a mistake by Amazon France.

The fan in question goes by TechnicalFun77 on Reddit (via Xbox Era), and the user largely had positive things to say about it before deleting their account for some unexplained reason.

"It's a good console," wrote TechnicalFun77. "Very good ergonomics, controlled weight, pretty nice handheld, armory crate in the full screen experience is very responsive, no latency problem when pressing buttons, quite fluid in the menus in general, and superb battery life at 17-25w. And my god, the console is quiet and well-cooled even at high TDP. One of the main strengths is the sound of the device. It [feels] like the sounds are going all around my head, I almost don't need headphones."

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Are you excited to play Ghost of Yotei? The sequel to Sucker Punch's hit game, Ghost of Tsushima, stars a new protagonist: Atsu. After surviving a harrowing ordeal as a child and plying her trade as a mercenary, she has returned to her homeland to seek vengeance. You'll find yourself trekking across lush valleys and towering mountains, while delving into dark caverns and massive fortresses, all to put an end to your rivals. Our Ghost of Yotei guide tackles various facets to help you with the campaign.

Ghost of Yotei guides hub

Beginner's guide: 15 things you need to know before you play - Are you a newcomer who's just getting started or a long-time fan of Ghost of Tsushima who's ready for the sequel? Well, we've got a bunch of tips related to combat and exploration.

Which horse to pick - You can choose from several horse mounts, and you can even name your trusty pal.

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J.R.R. Tolkien Collector's Edition Hardcovers

All five matching hardcover editions are steeply discounted.

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J.R.R. Tolkien fans can snag the 2024 Collector's Editions of The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, and The Silmarillion for exceedingly low prices at Amazon. As part of the retailer's early Prime Big Deal Days sale, the eye-catching hardcover editions are on sale for up to 68% off. Normally $35 each, all five Tolkien Collector's Editions are discounted to $15 or less, with The Hobbit being the cheapest at $11.33.

Each book has foil-stamped cover art and stained edges. The interior covers have detailed maps of Middle-earth, and you can mark your progress to Mordor with the built-in ribbon bookmarks.

The Lord of the Rings Collector's Editions (2024)

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Twin Peaks: From Z to A - Complete Series (Blu-ray)

$49 (was $70)

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Twin Peaks: From Z to A is on sale for $49 (was $70) ahead of Prime Big Deal Days at Amazon. Reissued by Paramount earlier this year, From Z to A collects all three seasons of the surrealist masterpiece, the prequel movie Fire Walk with Me, and 20-plus hours of special features across 21 discs. Fans can also save on preorders for The Criterion Collection's 4K restoration of Fire Walk with Me. Slated to launch next Tuesday, October 7--the official start of Big Deal Days--Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me on 4K Blu-ray is up for grabs for $35 (was $50).

Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me (4K Blu-ray)

$35 (was $50) | Releases October 7

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We rounded up and compared all of the in-print Twin Peaks Blu-rays and DVDs below.

Quick look: Twin Peaks Box Sets & Books

• Twin Peaks: From Z to A: The Complete Series (Blu-ray) -- $49 ($70)
• Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me (The Criterion Collection)
  • 4K Blu-ray -- $35 ($50) | Releases October 7
  • Blu-ray -- $25.34 ($40)
  • DVD -- $22
• Twin Peaks: The Television Collection
  
  • Blu-ray -- $56.63 ($77)
  • DVD -- $42 ($51)
• Twin Peaks: A Limited Event Series
  • Blu-ray -- $21.55 ($40)
  • DVD -- $18.45
• Twin Peaks Official Tie-in Books
  • The Secret Diary of Laura Palmer (Paperback) -- $14 ($18)
  • The Secret Diary of Laura Palmer (Audiobook) -- $17.46 ($20)
  • The Secret History of Twin Peaks (Audiobook) -- $14 ($20)
  • Twin Peaks: The Final Dossier (Audiobook) -- $7
  • The Twin Peaks Tapes of Agent Cooper (Audiobook) -- $3.27

Twin Peaks: From Z to A - Complete Series (Blu-ray) $49 (was $70)

Twin Peaks is one of the most memorable TV series of all time. Created by the late David Lynch, who died earlier this year, Twin Peaks was a hit in both the early '90s and in 2017 when Showtime revived the groundbreaking series for a third season.

As mentioned, From Z to A is a one-stop shop. You'll get all 30 episodes of the original two-season run, the aforementioned 1992 prequel film, and the 2017 revival that ran on Showtime for 18 episodes. That's 48 episodes of superb TV and an awesome feature film in one package.

• Season 1 (1990) -- 8 Episodes
• Season 2 (1990-91) -- 22 Episodes
• Season 3 (2017) -- 18 Episodes
• Fire Walk with Me (1992) - Prequel movie

You'll also get a long list of special features, including 4K versions of the original series Pilot episode and Twin Peaks: A Limited Event Series Episode 8. Here's a look at the highlights:

Twin Peaks: From Z to A Special Features

• The Missing Pieces: Fire Walk with Me deleted/alternate scenes (90 minutes)
• Behind The Curtain: Making of Footage From Twin Peaks: A Limited Event Series
• Full-length versions of all Roadhouse Bar music performances
• A Talk with Kyle MacLachlan and Sheryl Lee
• On the Couch with Kimmy and Harry
• 4K versions of the Original Series Pilot and Twin Peaks: A Limited Event Series Episode 8
• Additional special features from previous Twin Peaks home releases

In total, that's over 20 hours of additional Twin Peaks content. It's worth noting that the packaging for this Twin Peaks: From Z to A reprinting differs from the original 2019 version. The new edition uses a plastic case rather than the premium fold-out box of the original, and it lacks the collectible art prints. This cost-saving measure probably makes producing the sets easier, which hopefully means this reprint run will remain in print longer. It's no longer a collector's item like the original release, but it does offer an affordable way to watch the entire series on Blu-ray.

See at Amazon See at Walmart Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me (4K Blu-ray + 1080p Blu-ray) $35 (was $50) | Releases October 7

Fire Walk with Me's 4K Blu-ray edition includes 4K UHD and 1080p Blu-ray discs. Both discs have the film and all of the special features outlined below.

• Film and special features on both discs: 4K Blu-ray & 1080p Blu-ray
• 4K digital restoration supervised by David Lynch
• DTS TrueHD 7.1 Master Audio supervised by David Lynch
• DTS 2.0 Master Audio
• The Missing Pieces: 90 minutes of deleted scenes pieced together by David Lynch
• Actor interviews: Sheryl Lee, Ray Wise, and Grace Zabriskie
• Composer interview: Angelo Badalamenti
• Trailers
• English subtitles
• Excerpts from 1997 book Lynch on Lynch

Criterion's edition of Fire Walk with Me makes for a nice display piece and includes an exclusive booklet of essays. The actual on-disc content is the same as what you'll find in From Z to A, but you won't be able to watch the movie in 4K unless you get Criterion's upcoming release.

Fire Walk with Me joined The Criterion Collection on standard Blu-ray back in 2017.

Preorder at Amazon See all editions at Amazon Twin Peaks: The Television Collection (Blu-ray) $56.63 (was $77)

Twin Peaks: The Television Collection released on Blu-ray in 2019. Up until the launch of the Z to A reprint earlier this year, this 16-disc collection was the default choice for anyone who wanted to own the series in physical format in 1080p resolution. It include the original 30-episode run and the 18-part Limited Event Series.

The Television Collection is missing some of the special features in From Z to A, and it doesn't have Fire Walk with Me prequel film. But if you pick up one of the Criterion Collection editions of the movie, the omission here isn't a big deal.

The one thing The Television Collection has on the repackaged version of From Z to A is the box art and packaging. The Television Collection definitely looks better than From Z to A's oversized plastic case.

See at Amazon Twin Peaks: The Television Collection (DVD) $42 (was $51)

Twin Peaks: The Television Collection is also available on DVD in a 17-disc box set that matches the Blu-ray edition. Some fans may prefer to watch the show--or the first two seasons, at the very least--on a CRT TV in 480p resolution. To be clear, we wouldn't recommend this if you don't have a TV that plays nice with DVDs, as the picture often looks terrible on modern displays when watching DVDs.

See at Amazon Twin Peaks: A Limited Event Series (Blu-ray) $21.55 (was $40) with coupon

Season 3 also received a Blu-ray reprint in February. The 18-episode Showtime revival--often called The Return or A Limited Event Series--is on sale for $21.55 thanks to a limited-time coupon deal. If you don't see the coupon on the store page, the price is $30.79.

Along with all of the Showtime episodes, you'll get a variety of featurettes, a behind-the-scenes photo gallery, and a video of the Twin Peaks Season 3 panel at Comic-Con.

If you buy From Z to A or The Television Collection, there's really no reason to buy this separately, since all 18 episodes of the Showtime series are included in those box sets. And unlike the Criterion Collection edition of Fire Walk with Me, you're not getting any fancy packaging, bonus inserts, or higher resolution to justify buying the "same thing" twice.

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In the Mouth of Madness

$36.69 (was $60) | Releases October 28

Preorder at Amazon

When it comes to horror, John Carpenter easily ranks among the genre's greatest filmmakers. With a storied career that includes numerous cult-classics to his name. Soon, one of his lesser-known works, In The Mouth of Madness, is getting a new Limited Edition 4K Blu-ray from Arrow Video on October 28. This version features all-new cover art and a long list of special features. Even better, you can preorder the Lovecraft-inspired thriller at a discount via Amazon, where it's down to just $36.69, saving you nearly 40% compared to its $60 MSRP.

In the Mouth of Madness $36.69 (was $60) | Releases October 28

The Limited Edition release from Arrow Video is a brand-new 4K restoration from the original 35mm camera negatives, and it has been enhanced with Dolby Vision, HDR10 compatibility, and Dolby Master Audio 5.1 and 2.0 audio. Like other releases from Arrow Video, you're getting several physical extras as well, like a reversible sleeve with original artwork, a poster with new and original illustrations on both sides, and a collector's book offering essays by several film critics and historians.

The steelbook cover uses the original--and eerie--theatrical poster art for the cover, and for on-disc special features, you can expect a mix of archival audio commentary, newly filmed interviews, behind-the-scenes footage, and brand-new featurettes:

In the Mouth of Madness special features

• Reversible sleeve showcasing both original and newly commissioned art by Francesco Francavilla
• Double-sided fold-out poster with original and newly commissioned artwork by Francesco Francavilla
• Perfect-bound collector’s book with new essays on the film by Guy Adams, Josh Hurtado, Richard Kadrey, George Daniel Lea, Willow Catelyn Maclay, and Alexandra West
• Archival commentary track with director John Carpenter and producer Sandy King Carpenter
• Archival commentary track with John Carpenter alongside cinematographer Gary B. Kibbe
• Newly recorded audio commentary from filmmakers Rebekah McKendry & Elric Kane, hosts of the Colors of the Dark podcast
• Making Madness: A new on-camera interview with producer Sandy King Carpenter
• Do You Read Sutter Cane: A brand-new conversation with actor Jürgen Prochnow
• The Whisperer of the Dark: An archived sit-down with actress Julie Carmen
• Greg Nicotero’s Things in the Basement: Vintage interview with FX maestro Greg Nicotero
• We Are What He Writes: A fresh featurette celebrating John Carpenter and In the Mouth of Madness
• Reality Is Not What It Used to Be: A new appreciation piece by film scholar Alexandra Heller-Nicholas
• Horror's Hallowed Grounds: Archival featurette exploring the movie’s filming locations
• Home Movies from Hobb’s End: Candid behind-the-scenes footage
• The Making of In the Mouth of Madness: A classic making-of featurette
• Original theatrical trailer plus television promo spots

Preorder at Amazon In the Mouth of Madness (Blu-ray) $18 (was $34.93)

If you don't feel like waiting or mind watching the movie in 1080p, you can pick up In the Mouth of Madness on standard Blu-ray for just $18. Released in 2018, this is a high-quality version of the movie from Shout Factory, using 4K scans of the original film negatives. While you will be missing out on all of the new content from the Arrow Video version, the archival bonus materials on this release are still great overall for a tour of the filming locations, behind-the-scenes documentaries, and the insightful audio commentary tracks.

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In the Mouth of Madness starred Sam Neill as John Trent, an insurance investigator exploring the recent disappearance of a celebrated author of horror novels. When his investigation eventually leads him to a small town, Trent finds himself questioning his very sanity as the boundaries between reality and fiction begin to merge, with all of humanity at risk. The film is the final chapter in the unofficial Apocalypse Trilogy of films from Carpenter, which includes The Thing and Prince of Darkness, movies that also deal with cataclysmic themes.

The movie is heavily inspired by the work of author HP Lovecraft, with the title itself being a play on his novella, At the Mountains of Madness. While In the Mouth of Madness was a box office flop, it still received positive reviews and it has been reevaluated over time as one of Carpenter's most technically impressive movies with its polished production and meta-narrative.

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With Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, Treyarch is going back-to-back with Black Ops releases. The new game brings a futuristic setting for multiplayer, the largest round-based Zombies map ever, and a new Resurgence map for Warzone called Haven's Hollow. GameSpot went hands-on with Black Ops 7 during Call of Duty: Next, and while the jump into the future does enough to distinguish the multiplayer from last year's offering, and the latest iteration of Zombies creates a new experience, Warzone's upcoming integration currently falls flat for Black Ops 7.

Futuristic and refined multiplayer

I've always believed that Call of Duty was at its best with a rotating developer cycle. I liked flip-flopping between developers and the different series within Call of Duty. Going from Modern Warfare to Black Ops was refreshing because the different teams each introduced different styles, modes, and features to their takes on the game, lessening the yearly "CoD fatigue."

So, with another Black Ops title coming so soon, my biggest concern was how Treyarch would make Black Ops 7 feel fresh enough. I didn't want another year that felt like more of the exact same, because we already lived through that with back-to-back Modern Warfare titles. Thankfully, I can happily report that Black Ops 7 does enough to remain an invigorating multiplayer experience.

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Walton Goggins' character, The Ghoul, is one of the breakout creations from Prime Video's Fallout TV series. Now, The Ghoul is coming to Fallout 76 later this year as part of the Burning Springs expansion. While Burning Springs won't officially launch until early December, a public test server for the expansion is going to be open on October 2.

Players won't be able to control The Ghoul, but they can find him in Burning Springs, Ohio, where he operates out of a bar called The Last Resort. His function in the expansion is to give the players bounty hunter assignments. The grunt hunts are the lower-tier bounties that can be used to gain experience and the occasional legendary item. Tougher targets can be purchased in exchanged for caps. The most difficult assignments are the head hunts, which are "open to anyone in earshot." Those are some of of the most difficult targets to handle, and players may need backup to bring them down.

Burning Springs is also introducing an important new character called the Rust King. He's an intelligent super mutant who hasn't lost his taste for violence and is described as "super threatening." Players will work with the Rust King as they get acclimated to Burning Springs' cutthroat environment. In the accompanying dev chat, the Fallout 76 team teased that the Rust King may have a role beyond this expansion.

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Microsoft announced some significant changes for Xbox Game Pass today, headlined by a 50% price increase for Game Pass Ultimate, bringing it up to $30/month. But it may not be the last change for the service, according to at least one expert.

According to Niko Partners analyst Daniel Ahmad, Microsoft is betting that its console players stay loyal to Game Pass even at the higher price while the company continues to release more and more games on rival platforms like PS5 and Switch 2, in addition to its ongoing efforts in the PC market. Ahmad also suggested Microsoft could look at an ad-based tier for Game Pass to help the subscription service remain sustainable.

"The primary concern for Xbox at this time is managing the transition from a closed-console-based ecosystem to an open multi-device ecosystem. Console sales have dropped considerably, PC Game Pass uptake has been slow, and cloud is still seen as an extension of existing play, rather than a primary entry point," he said.

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Pokemon Go's new Tales of Transformation season is officially underway, and the mobile game is kicking it off with a variety of events and Pokemon debuts in September. In keeping with the season's theme, numerous Mega Pokemon will appear in Mega raids this month, including the debuting Mega Sharpedo.

That's certainly not the only new Pokemon coming to the game. A few other monsters are set to make their debut this month, such as the psychic Pokemon Indeedee and a special Psyduck wearing a swim ring to celebrate the new season of the Netflix hit Pokemon Concierge. You'll also have more chances to catch the rare fairy Pokemon Flabebe during September's Community Day.

There are plenty of other activities lined up for the next few weeks. You can read more about all the biggest events happening in Pokemon Go this month below.

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Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 is a little over a month away from its November 14 launch on PC, PlayStation 4 and 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S now that we're in October. The good news, though, is that the game's multiplayer beta starts this weekend if you've preordered the military shooter, and you can now preload it to get ready to shoot your friends--and strangers--in the face.

There's a catch here, of course, if you want to preload the beta: You either had to have preordered the game, subscribed to the more expensive Xbox Game Pass Ultimate tier, or watched Call of Duty's September 30 Next livestream. For the latter, CharlieIntel noted on an October 1 X post that download codes will be "sent out soon."

There's also a new trailer highlighting the beta. Set to Playboi Carti's "FEIN," the video (below) shows off many of the game's maps, tons of bullets flying and bombs exploding, airstrikes, RC cars, and so much more.

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Amazon's Luna cloud gaming service, now in its third year, has been a constant part of their Prime lineup, allowing Prime members to stream games at no extra cost right from their PCs or TV sets. Today, the company has announced its plans to overhaul the Luna experience, with new social features and a slew of new games coming to the service later this year.

The main new offering of the Luna redesign is called GameNight, which will offer a collection of multiplayer-focused games that players control with their cell phones. The collection will include adaptations of classic board games like Taboo and Clue, established party games like Exploding Kittens, and new titles like Courtroom Chaos: Starring Snoop Dogg, where players must try to convince Judge Snoop Dogg to rule in their favor by spinning stories and placing the blame on other players.

The selection of games available to stream on Luna will also increase with the overhaul, with Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, Kingdom Come: Deliverance II, and Dave the Diver among those announced. Luna Premium members will gain access to even more games, including Lego DC Super-Villains, Team Sonic Racing, Batman: Arkham Knight, and more.

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