Phoenix Labs, an independent game studio built on the foundation of delivering AAA experiences for players to enjoy together, today revealed details on the first expansive content update for their free-to-play co-op action RPG Dauntless. Titled “Fortune & Glory,” the update will arrive July 16 on PlayStation 4, Xbox One and the Epic Games store as a free update, bringing with it the challenging Trials experience, a new Hunt Pass, new cosmetic rewards and more.
Strengthened by “One Dauntless,” the cross-play and cross-progression system supported across PlayStation 4, Xbox One and the Epic Games store, Dauntless has surpassed 12 million players, becoming the fastest growing hunting action game of all time.
“Fortune & Glory” provides Slayers with a formidable new challenge in the form of Trials. The Trials experience is a new gameplay offering from Lady Luck, an enigmatic figure who arrives in Ramsgate with a mysterious island in tow. Trials will pit adventurous Slayers against dangerous, modified Behemoths and all-new environmental challenges, like terrain-transforming pests. With the clock ticking through each hunt, it will be up to Trials challengers to prove that they can execute under pressure. Trials are split into two difficulty levels: “Normal” and “Dauntless.” Completing “Normal” difficulty Trials nets Slayers with Steel Marks, used to purchase unique rewards such as weapon mods and alternate special attacks, while completing “Dauntless” difficulty Trials rewards Slayers with Gilded Marks: currency used to purchase exclusive cosmetic rewards that showcase more advanced accomplishments. Both Steel and Gilded Marks are exclusive to Lady Luck’s shop, and can only be earned through Trials.
Slayers can see how they stack up to Trials competition by viewing the Wall of Champions outside Lady Luck’s shop in Ramsgate. The wall displays a list of the top performers in both solo and group hunts. And because Trials rotate on a weekly basis, there’s always a chance for Slayers to see new names – or even their own – on the wall.
“Fortune & Glory” marks the beginning of the “High Skies” season in Dauntless. It will include two consecutive Hunt Passes complete with new and stylish content. The first Hunt Pass is marked by a swashbuckling pirate theme, and Slayers will quickly familiarize themselves with Lady Luck and her corsair fleet. “Fortune & Glory” offers 50 levels of content to unlock and numerous cosmetic and consumable rewards to earn. Slayers can look forward to more adventures and content as the “High Skies” season continues later this summer.
Indie developer Cherry Pop Games today confirms that the ultimate billiards simulator Pool Nation, has today launched on the PlayStation Store. Not only that, they’ve pulled the ultimate trick shot and have teamed up with award-winning video games publisher Wired Productions Ltd to bring the title to physical retailers August 30th! Pool Nation will launch with an SRP of £15.99 / €19.99 / $19.99
Pool Nation for PlayStation 4 delivers a stunningly realistic on – or offline billiards experience, expanding upon the incredibly popular original PlayStation 3 release with a variety of new multiplayer features, new locations, rule-set customization and more. Developed with Unreal Engine 4, Pool Nation is a great addition for pool and snooker fans on the PlayStation 4 – offering the most comprehensive pool game on the market!
Prepare yourself for pixel perfect physics, photo-realistic graphics and super-detailed visuals in this truly immersive representation of the sport. Play live matches seamlessly online, compete in Leagues, enroll in the Pool Nation Cup, explore the unique rule set customization tool and re-discover this much-loved sport. Pool Nation gives players the ability to pot with:
Leagues (Online competitive mode) – Players must climb the ladder and play with skill to avoid relegation to lower leagues
Play for In-game Cash – Online competitive mode. Players progress through varying difficulty levels, the more coins you earn, the higher levels you unlock
Friendlies – Invite friends to play online, customize your game type, rules, locations and more
Versus – Offline game for one or two players. Play against the AI or locally against friends.
Pool Career – Offline single-player career, start out in the qualifiers earn your place in the first cup.
Daily Challenges – Play the daily game of 3 Ball to unlock a chance to win free coins, pot 3 balls to win a random daily prize
Endurance – Keep sinking balls into pockets as they fall from above. Pot multiple balls in a row, or perform a skill shot and earn a ‘Drop Stop’ giving you a brief respite from the falling balls.
Trick shots – New and updated trick shot editor giving you the ability to easily make epic trick shots will be launched soon as free DLC.
Introducing Nintendo Switch Lite – a compact, lightweight console that’s dedicated to handheld play! This new addition to the Nintendo Switch family arrives September 20th in three different colours.
“Adding Nintendo Switch Lite to the lineup gives gamers more color and price point options,” said Nintendo of America President Doug Bowser. “Now consumers can choose the system that best suits how they like to play their favorite Nintendo Switch games.”
The Nintendo Switch launched in March 2017 and offers three different play modes: playing in TV mode by placing the system into a Nintendo Switch dock, playing cooperatively or competitively in tabletop mode by sharing Joy-Con controllers and playing in handheld mode. The system comes with either Gray Joy-Con controllers or Neon Red and Neon Blue Joy-Con controllers.
Nintendo Switch Lite has integrated controls and is smaller than the flagship version of Nintendo Switch. It has no kickstand and, as a dedicated handheld gaming device, does not support video output to a TV. Therefore, it does not come with a dock or HDMI cable. For a full list of the differences between Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch Lite, visit https://www.nintendo.com/switch/compare.
The new device can play all games in the robust Nintendo Switch library that support handheld mode, although some games will have restrictions. Compatible game modes will be listed on the back of game packaging and in Nintendo eShop.
There is still a lot we do not know about the stand alone Joker film starring Joaquin Phoenix but after the first full trailer for it, I was certainly won over by it. But some controversy has struck following an exclusive interview with EMPIRE with the writer and director of the film, Todd Phillips where he admits that his film will not be using any of the comic book stories that make up The Clown Prince of Crime, The Joker.
In the interview Todd Phillips explains: “We didn’t follow anything from the comic-books, which people are gonna be mad about, we just wrote our own version of where a guy like Joker might come from. That’s what was interesting to me. We’re not even doing Joker, but the story of becoming Joker. It’s about this man.”
Now the reaction has been very mixed to this reveal, but personally I am rather glad it is telling its own story. There has never really been a true origin of The Joker either in the comic books or media like TV or the big screen. Each has a different version of how The Joker came to be and why he does the things he does just as there have been so many iconic versions of Batman’s greatest nemesis from the instantly recognisable Mark Hamill voiced Joker from ‘Batman: The Animated Series’ to Jack Nicholson’s Joker and Heath Ledger’s version of him.
The one constant is that there is always one simply truth that the character of the Joker believes in, that all it takes to make someone like him exist….is ‘One Bad Day’. So far it seems as though this film will take a man named Arthur Fleck and literally give him many bad days until he reaches that breaking point and that is very much, a story I want to see told. I do not need to see a Batman swooping about or even mentioned. The power in the story of what would it take to get someone that low that they break and become such a villain as The Joker is enough for me to spend money on a cinema ticket to watch it.
Right now DC Fans probably are worried about what to expect from a low budget full stand alone story being told this way, but for me this is exactly where DC can do some real magic with their big screen stories, take their characters and just deliver fresh stories for them and considering that Joker is to be R Rated, anything is possible with it.
Joker is scheduled to hit Cinema’s on October 4th 2019.
Earth’s enemies will be blown away when Katsuki Bakugo joins the JUMP FORCE! This gifted U.A. student is thirsty for victory and ready to fight his way to the top. Get him with the Character Pass!
The Pokémon Company International revealed details today about the Gigantamax phenomenon in the highly anticipated upcoming video games Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield.Newly discovered Pokémon, details about the Galar Pokémon League, and more were also revealed. Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield launch November 15, 2019, exclusively on the Nintendo Switch.
The previously discovered phenomenon known as Dynamaxing can only occur in specific areas of the Galar region. While Dynamaxing seems to be a phenomenon common to Pokémon from Galar, it’s been discovered that there’s a special phenomenon known as Gigantamaxing. Not only do Gigantamax Pokémon become bigger, but their appearance also changes. Like normal Dynamaxing, Gigantamaxing boosts the power of the Pokémon—and it also allows each Gigantamax Pokémon to use a unique move known as a G-Max Move. Each G-Max Move is particular to a specific species of Gigantamax Pokémon, and regular Dynamax Pokémon are not able to use G-Max Moves. Only certain species of Pokémon can Gigantamax—and even among such species, only rare specimens will be able to Gigantamax. The majority of Pokémon will keep their usual appearance when they Dynamax. Two Pokémon species revealed to have Gigantamaxing capabilities today are Drednaw and Corviknight.
The power of Gigantamaxing has allowed Drednaw to stand on its hind legs and become bipedal. From its standing position, it can come crashing down on opposing Pokémon and crush them with its massive body. Drednaw normally keeps its neck retracted within its shell, but when it attacks, it can rapidly shoot its neck out. Its jaws are also incredibly strong and can easily bite through huge metal towers. The strength of its jaws combined with the force of its neck gives Drednaw the power to punch a hole through a rocky mountain in a single strike. Water-type moves used by Gigantamax Drednaw will change to G-Max Stonesurge. G-Max Stonesurge doesn’t just deal damage to an opponent—it will scatter sharp rocks around the opponent and cause Pokémon entering the battlefield to take damage.
Corviknight uses its massive wings to catch updrafts created by Gigantamax energy to hover in the air while it battles. The armor on its body has been reinforced, so attacks from Pokémon on the ground barely have any effect. Gigantamax energy has caused the armor covering Corviknight’s wings to separate and become blade birds, capable of flying independently. Flying-type moves used by Gigantamax Corviknight will change to G-Max Wind Rage, which removes any effects of moves like Reflect, Light Screen, Spikes, and Electric Terrain that the opponents may have.
Newly Discovered Pokémon of the Galar Region Alcremie
Category: Cream Pokémon
Type: Fairy
Height: 1′
Weight: 1.1 lbs.
Ability: Sweet Veil
Alcremie can produce whipped cream, which becomes richer the happier Alcremie is feeling. Desserts made using this cream are invariably delicious, so many pastry chefs strive to have an Alcremie as their partner. When attacked by an opponent, Alcremie will throw sweet-scented cream to distract them or temporarily blind them, giving itself time to escape.
The cream pouring out of its body hardens when subjected to impacts—the stronger the impact, the harder it becomes—giving Alcremie an impressive resistance to physical attacks. Additionally, the giant “Berry” decorations on Alcremie’s body are as hard as diamonds, and it’s said that most attacks won’t even be able to leave a scratch. Alcremie will launch high-calorie cream missiles around itself to attack its opponents. Any Pokémon that touches this cream will be filled with energy and euphoria but at the same time will fall into a state of complete confusion. Fairy-type moves used by Gigantamax Alcremie will change to G-Max Finale, which will heal all Pokémon on Alcremie’s side while dealing damage to an opponent.
Yamper
Category: Puppy Pokémon
Type: Electric
Height: 1′
Weight: 29.8 lbs.
Ability: Ball Fetch
Yamper tends to be drawn to things that are moving quickly. It can chase after people, Pokémon, or even vehicles. It has an organ in its body that generates electricity, and it’s activated when Yamper runs around. Yamper can’t store the electricity it generates, so it’s often seen running around with electric sparks crackling around it. Yamper’s Ability, Ball Fetch, is a new Ability that comes into play when the Trainer throws a Poké Ball at a wild Pokémon but fails to catch it. If Yamper isn’t holding an item, it will fetch the first Poké Ball that failed to catch the Pokémon, regardless of what type of Poké Ball it is.
Rolycoly
Category: Coal Pokémon
Type: Rock
Height: 1′
Weight: 26.5 lbs.
Ability: Steam Engine / Heatproof
Rolycoly’s red eye can illuminate dark areas, while it uses the lump of coal attached to its body like a wheel to move through coal mines and caves. It is able to travel smoothly even over rough terrain. Until about one hundred years ago, every household in the Galar region had a Rolycoly. The families would use the coal that dropped off its body for cooking and heating their homes. Rolycoly’s Ability, Steam Engine, is a new Ability that provides a Speed stat boost if it’s hit with a Fire- or Water-type move during battle.
Duraludon
Category: Alloy Pokémon
Type: Steel/Dragon
Height: 5′11″
Weight: 88.2 lbs.
Ability: Light Metal / Heavy Metal
Duraludon live in caves and mountainous areas. Their two arms have slightly different shapes, and they use them to grind down rock surfaces for food. Its body is composed of incredibly durable metal but is also surprisingly light, so Duraludon can move quite quickly despite its appearance. Its body is susceptible to corrosion, however, and is known to rust easily. They share their habitat with Tyranitar, so these two Pokémon are often seen battling each other in the mountains of the Galar region.
The Galar Region Pokémon League
In the Galar region, where Pokémon battles are big entertainment, the region’s Pokémon League holds tournaments to determine the next Pokémon Champion. Players will have to compete with their rivals and challenge the Gym Leaders of the region for their chance to take part in this tournament.
The Gym Challenge is a true celebration of Pokémon battling. Participating Trainers strive to collect all eight Gym Badges, and only Pokémon Trainers who have been endorsed by specific people, such as Gym Leaders, can join. During the Gym Challenge, each challenger wears a special uniform for the occasion. Trainers can choose the combination of three numbers on their own uniform.
Once a year, a series of Pokémon battles known as the Champion Cup are held in the Galar region. The Champion Cup decides who will be able to challenge the reigning Champion for their seat. Exemplary Trainers throughout the region, such as those who successfully complete the Gym Challenge, can participate in the Champion Cup tournament. The Champion Cup battles are broadcast on TV in the Galar region and are watched by everyone.
People of the Galar Region
Leon
Leon is the strongest Trainer in the Galar region, and he won the Championship in his first-ever Gym Challenge—without being defeated in battle a single time. To this day, his winning streak continues to grow, and his formidable talent for Pokémon battles is unmatched. He’s aided in his countless victories by his partner Charizard, and he’s known to go all out during battles, no matter who he’s facing. His battle style has captured the hearts of the people of Galar.
Chairman Rose
Rose is the chairman of the Galar Pokémon League and the president of a large business conglomerate. He’s made the Galar Pokémon League famous by implementing Gym Battles featuring the Dynamax phenomenon. Chairman Rose was also the first to endorse Leon for the Gym Challenge.
Oleana
Oleana is Chairman Rose’s secretary and is known for her calm and collected personality. She also serves as the vice president of Rose’s company and is largely in charge of the day-to-day running of the company.
Bea
Bea is a prodigy in Galar karate, carrying on its century-old traditions and techniques. Known for her stoicism and rarely showing her emotions, Bea is also an expert on Fighting-type Pokémon. Her battle style remains very precise even when she’s backed into a corner.
Allister
Allister is a talented Trainer of Ghost-type Pokémon who has taken on the mantle of the Ghost-type Gym Leader at a young age. He’s extremely shy and fearful, and he always hides his face with a mask when around other people. Allister rarely makes public appearances and apparently spends most of his time around ruins or in cemeteries.
Certain towns in the Galar region will have different Gyms that Trainers can challenge depending on whether they’re playing Pokémon Sword or Pokémon Shield. In Pokémon Sword, they will face down Bea, while in Pokémon Shield, they can test their skills against Allister.
Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield Dual Pack SteelBook® Edition
As a special bonus for purchasing the Dual Pack SteelBook® Edition, Trainers will receive two codes (one per game) that will reward them with special items known as Dynamax Crystals. By using the Dynamax Crystals in the Wild Area, Trainers will be able to face Dynamax Larvitar and Dynamax Jangmo-o, Pokémon that are normally encountered later in the game, in special Max Raid Battles. Larvitar won’t appear in Pokémon Sword and Jangmo-o won’t appear in Pokémon Shield during normal gameplay, but players will be able to catch them in either version by using these Dynamax Crystals.
On Saturday, at the Lavecon Elite Dangerous fan event, Frontier unveiled a number of new features coming to the game later this year in the September and December updates, including a new in-game currency and the much-anticipated first look at the Fleet Carrier. Full details can be found on the game’s forums here: https://forums.frontier.co.uk/forums/elite-dangerous-news/
The Lavecon announcements also included information on the December Update for the game and this is what really grabbed my attention. The first glimpse of Elite Dangerous’ December Update was given to Lavecon attendees with the premier of the Fleet Carrier Teaser, here:
For the September Update a brand new “Starter Ship Experience” will be added to the game. A whole new starting experience right from the cockpit of a Commander’s first ship wiith clearer instructions and guidance during the beginning of Elite Dangerous, the new starting flow should provide a more engaging way to learn the basics on their way to becoming fully-fledged pilots.
At the start of the experience, commanders will be guided through essential pilot training by a flight instructor from the Pilots Federation. During this training, a number of lessons will be taught to commanders, from space flight to combat.
Basic flight controls and scanning.
Supercruise and navigation.
A combat exercise around a megaship.
Culminating with the final lesson: completing a first Hyperspace Jump and docking at a Starport.
All of the training will include VO across supported languages. Veteran Commanders out there who wish to experience the training will also be able to access it in the ‘Training Section’ via the right-hand panel of their cockpit.
New Virtual Currency: Arx which those on consoles will already be familiar with the concept of Frontier Points and, as part of the September Update, they will be reworked and re-named Arx, across all platforms (including PC). This new currency can be purchased, as well as earned by simply playing the game and participating in regular in-game activities. Players can spend Arx on items such as Paint Jobs, Ship Kits, Bobbleheads and more.
The Arkham gaming series is something very near and dear to my gamer heart and when they remastered both Arkham Asylum and Arkham City for current gen consoles as the “Return to Arkham” release, I was surprised that they never felt the need to do a full collection that would also include Arkham Knight, the final entry in the Rocksteady series.
Well thanks to an earlier leak by Amazon UK listing this, Rocksteady finally came our via their Twitter channel to confirm that they would be releasing the ‘Arkham Collection’ which would include the remasters of Asylum and City along with their DLCs but now Arkham Knight and its DLC this September for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One:
Hello! We've just announced The Batman Arkham Collection with exclusive steelbook, available for PS4 and Xbox One players in the EU this September. Check with your local retailer for info. pic.twitter.com/ryqIKfQxqI
— Rocksteady Studios (@RocksteadyGames) July 8, 2019
Rocksteady went on to tweet that “Batman: Arkham Collection will include the Earth 2 Dark Knight Skin, exclusively on PS4. This marks the first time the Earth 2 Dark Knight Skin has been available to players in Europe. It’ll be made available to all owners of Batman: Arkham Knight on PS4 worldwide January 2020!”
Well that is quite annoying for fans on Xbox, personally not a fan of console exclusives especially when it comes to collections of old games that have all the DLC but now this new collection will have something that the Xbox collection won’t have.
You may also be wondering why the infamous Arkham: Origins has not been included in this collection, well the answer is that Rocksteady never worked on Origins, it also had a different voice cast than the regular series and was essentially WB Montreal studio reusing the assets from Arkham City who also tagged in a terrible and never fully working MP mode to the game. Whilst the story for Origins, which was essentially the Batman Year One story of the series where we saw a very rough and inexperienced Batman heading out to save Gotham, it was plagued with problems and bugs from day one, may of which were never fixed. It also remains the only entry in the series not to be remastered for current gen consoles.
Now as someone who has the original Arkham series games from Xbox 360 as well as Arkham Knight and Arkham Returns for PS4, this is a great collection for anyone who may not have played these games. I should also point out that the Arkham Returns set and recently added Arkham Knight are all currently available in the Xbox Game Pass so will be interesting to see if that remains the case once this collection comes out in September.
When the Emperor of China issues a decree that one man per family must serve in the Imperial Army to defend the country from Northern invaders, Hua Mulan, the eldest daughter of an honoured warrior, steps in to take the place of her ailing father.
Masquerading as a man, Hua Jun, she is tested every step of the way and must harness her inner-strength and embrace her true potential. It is an epic journey that will transform her into an honored warrior and earn her the respect of a grateful nation…and a proud father.
“Mulan” features a celebrated international cast that includes: Yifei Liu as Mulan; Donnie Yen as Commander Tung; Jason Scott Lee as Böri Khan; Yoson An as Cheng Honghui; with Gong Li as Xianniang and Jet Li as the Emperor. The film is directed by Niki Caro from a screenplay by Rick Jaffa & Amanda Silver and Elizabeth Martin & Lauren Hynek based on the narrative poem “The Ballad of Mulan.”
It’s time for our review of the Outlier Air Wireless In-Ear Headphones from Creative.
The Creative website describes the Outlier Air as follows:
“Boasting a playtime of up to 30 hours, a 5.6mm superior graphene driver diaphragm and Bluetooth 5.0 with aptX and AAC audio, the Outlier Air impresses with detailed and immersive audio reproduction. It is also certified IPX5 water-resistant with a comfortable fit for all-day wear — perfect for work, gym sessions, or even while travelling!
In pursuit of audio excellence, Outlier Air carries the true spirit of endurance and true performance.”
What’s in the box?
The box contains the headphones, the charging box, a manual, spare tips and a charging cable.
A Closer Look
Final Thoughts
The first thing you need to do is charge the headphones – they sit in their protective box (which is also the charging box) and you connect the cable to a power source. On the side of the charging box there are a number of lights showing the status of the charge, and which headphone is charging.
Creative claim that you can get 30 hours of use – this is split down by 10 hours when you first take them out of the charging box (when fully charged) and then an additional two full charges without having to connect the box back to a power supply. I found this to be a fairly accurate claim and there was no point that they suddenly ran out of power or I didn’t have enough power left in the box to recharge them. That said, it’s wise to charge the box (and the headphones) whenever you get an opportunity so that you don’t run out!
In terms of connecting them to a device that was very simple. What you do is connect either the left or the right headphone to your device via Bluetooth, and then once that has connected the other headphone pairs automatically with the other. It does look strange on your Bluetooth device list to see them listed as either L or R but it works fine.
Fitting the headphones are very simple – although they don’t quite block out a lot of noise around you, this is mainly due to the tips, so you might want to consider getting better tips for them. I actually found the tips that came with the headphones to not actually be that comfortable over extended periods, but when I replaced them it was fine. So really it’s going to be down to personal preference along with your specific ears as well!
Controlling various functions with the headphones were easy although there were occasions I had to press quite hard, which isn’t great when they are in your ears.
The microphone works very well, although there were a few times that the background noise was louder than my voice (according to the people I called), but that was easily rectified when I adjusted their position in my ears. So again, most likely down to me!
You can use them with both Siri and Alexa, and that works very well.
All in all the Creative Outlier Air In-Ear Headphones are a great set of wireless in-ear headphones at a reasonable price, if you get a chance to test them for yourself you should, you never know, you might just buy a pair.
The Creative Outlier Air In-Ear Headphones are available now priced around £74.99.
