Hot on the heels of its next-gen update, Fallout 4 will receive another update May 13 for all platforms that will introduce "new options for graphics and performance settings as well as further fixes and improvements," Bethesda Game Studios has announced.

No further details, or patch notes, have been shared just yet, but Fallout 4's long-awaited next-gen update arrived on April 25 and left a lot to be desired, breaking mods and not quite delivering the graphical and performance improvements fans had hoped for. As broken down by Digital Foundry, the Xbox Series X|S version of Fallout 4 post next-gen update seemed to be in a particularly bad place, with no difference between its performance and graphics modes and a buggy implementation of ultrawide monitor support for PC.

The update was so poorly received, mods on PC that removed the update entirely saw a surge in popularity. There was also a bug preventing players on PlayStation who had claimed the game as part of PS Plus from receiving the update, something Bethesda did eventually fix.

Continue Reading at GameSpot

One of the best ways to keep yourself safe online is by limiting how much personal information you share. That includes everything from what you post on social media to the account information you include when signing up for a new service. Manually deleting unnecessary personal information is a solid strategy, but it can be difficult to remember just where all that data is hiding, and things can slip through the cracks for even the most avid data-privacy aficionado.

Luckily, the folks who made the popular Surfshark VPN have created a handy service called Incogni that searches out and deletes your lingering online personal data. The service cross-references your personal information against a list that includes "hundreds of data brokers and people search websites," and deletes your information from those databases if it finds a match. Doing so limits who can access and sell your personal information, and having your data saved in fewer places lowers your risk of identity theft in the event of a data breach.

Normally, Incogni costs $13/month, but for a limited time, GameSpot readers can get 55% off a full year of service by using the promo code GAMESPOT55 at checkout. Anyone in the US, UK, Canada, EU, and Switzerland are eligible for the deal.

Continue Reading at GameSpot

Suikoden is a beloved--and untouched--part of gaming right now, but at least Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes is here to carry the torch of that JRPG series. A spiritual successor, Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes is now available and anyone interested in trying it out on PC can get a 24% discount on it. You'll want to move fast though, because this deal will end on May 11 at 8 AM PT / 11 AM ET.

Normally $50, Fanatical is offering the game for $38, a pretty substantial cut. The digital deluxe edition is also on sale for a short time--$63.19 instead of $80--and this version comes with a digital art book, soundtrack, season pass, and some in-game customization items. To make this offer even more tempting, your purchase will earn you a spin on Fanatical's May Madness wheel, which could get you a big discount on your next game or a freebie for your backlog.

Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes

• Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes -- $38 ($50)
• Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes Digital Deluxe Edition -- $63.19 ($80)

"Overall, Eiyuden Chronicle hits the retro-RPG sweet spot nicely. It's focused on delivering that warm, comforting feeling of a classic JRPG, and even all of the side distractions--the card minigame, the weird Pokemon/Beyblade hybrid top minigame, the raising/racing sim, even commodities trading--don't distract too much from the game's prime mission," Heidi Kemps wrote in GameSpot's Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes review. "Add some gorgeously painted and animated spritework and a stellar soundtrack into the mix, and you've got a delightful experience that sometimes falters, though not enough to make you put it down."

Continue Reading at GameSpot

Brandon Sanderson is one of the most prolific authors of our time, responsible for dozens of popular sci-fi and fantasy novels. Few series are as popular as his Stormlight Archive saga, which began in 2010 with The Way of Kings and will get its fifth installment, Wind and Truth, on December 6. But if you can't wait that long, why not check out some Sanderson-inspired board games to help bide your time? Many of them are currently on sale, but all offer an in-depth RPG experience that pulls directly from books published by Sanderson.

Alongside The Stormlight Archive game, you'll even find ones inspired by Patrick Rothfuss novels and the Mistborn series. Here's a look at our favorite deals.

Call to Adventure: Stormlight Archive

Call to Adventure is a tabletop RPG that lets you build a hero before sending them on a sprawling adventure. The base game includes over 150 illustrated cards and 24 custom runes, allowing you to build different quests every time you play. Several expansions are also available to help you extend your journeys. And while you'll need the base game to play most expansions, The Stormlight Archive can also be played as a standalone adventure.

Continue Reading at GameSpot

It appears Shogun may come back for a second season. Deadline reports that Shogun star Hiroyuki Sanada has closed a deal to reprise his character, Lord Yoshii Toranaga, in a new season of the show.

Shogun, a 10-episode miniseries based on James Clavell's novel, was a huge success for FX. Deadline said FX is till working out deals for other actors and "other elements" of a potential Season 2. Also uncertain is whether or not Shogun will be reclassified as a drama series as opposed to a limited series, which could affect the show's categorization amid the 2024 Emmy campaign.

Before this, Shogun series co-creator Justin Marks said he would be open to the idea of making more seasons of Shogun if the team found the right story.

Continue Reading at GameSpot

God of War Ragnarok is reportedly the next PlayStation game that will come to PC, and its reveal could be coming soon.

According to Dealabs, God of War Ragnarok's PC version might be announced this month. However, the release date is currently unknown. There's a rumor that Sony will be holding showcase this month as well, which could be a likely venue for such a reveal.

Dealabs has had a consistent track record when it comes to these kinds of announcements. Last year, it correctly reported that Horizon Forbidden West Complete Edition would come to PC. Dealabs also reported that Supermassive's Until Dawn would be receiving a "new version." A remake from developer Ballistic Moon was indeed announced back in January during PlayStation's last State of Play.

Continue Reading at GameSpot

Actor Joel Edgerton was among those who auditioned to play Star-Lord in the Guardians of the Galaxy series, a role that Chris Pratt ultimately landed and is now famous for. Edgerton said on the Bingeworthy podcast (via Variety) that he didn't understand the tone of what director James Gunn was going for with Star-Lord and that ultimately he's glad he didn't get the part.

"I wasn't really sure how I could be a part of that tone. And I truly think that the world is a much better place that I'm not Star-Lord, even if I had the opportunity or I did a good enough audition because it is the way it's meant to be," he said. "And there was never a real conversation that it would have definitely been me. It was just, I had the opportunity to try and audition. I just didn't quite understand it."

Edgerton isn't the only actor who auditioned for Star-Lord. Adam Brody previously discussed trying out for the part and how he really "wanted that one." Other actors who auditioned for Star-Lord or were said to be in the mix for the part included Lee Pace, Eddie Redmayne, James Marsden, Jim Sturgess, and Glenn Howerton. The It's Always Sunny star was reportedly Gunn's second choice.

Continue Reading at GameSpot

Microsoft will open a mobile game store in July to compete with Google Play and Apple's App Store. Xbox president Sarah Bond recently announced the move at the Bloomberg Technology Summit, stating that the store will launch on the web, rather than through an app, in order to maximize accessibility across many devices.

Microsoft stated that it planned to launch a gaming storefront last year after the European Union's Digital Markets Act made it easier for tech companies to start their own direct-to-consumer stores, eschewing Apple's dominant "walled garden" approach. Bond said that the store will initially feature games from Microsoft-owned studios, such as Candy Crush Saga.

This storefront marks Microsoft's latest attempt at entering the lucrative mobile gaming space, a market segment that Xbox is not usually associated with. The platform holder's $69 million acquisition of Activision Blizzard helped set up this move, as that publisher includes Candy Crush developer King, one of the biggest players in the mobile space.

Continue Reading at GameSpot

Following its breakout from this year's Sundance Film Festival, the nonagenarian action comedy Thelma, starring Oscar nominee June Squibb (Nebraska) and the late Richard Roundtree (Shaft) is heading to theaters on June 21.

The feature marks the directorial debut of Josh Margolin, who also wrote the film has Squibb as the titular Thelma, a feisty 93-year-old grandmother who gets conned by a phone scammer pretending to be her grandson (Fred Hechinger). The film follows Thelma and her family attempting to get her money back. Check out the trailer below.

Loosely inspired by a real-life experience of Margolin's grandmother, Squibb was eager to do most of her own stunts, getting praised by the director.

Continue Reading at GameSpot

New details have emerged on Nintendo's upcoming Switch 2 console, following the company officially confirming that it was in development. During a briefing for the financial year ending on March 31, 2024, Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa briefly touched on several topics regarding the upcoming games system.

Several times in the briefing, Furukawa spoke about the "successor to the Nintendo Switch," suggesting that the new device will build on the foundation established by the Switch console.

"At this stage, we cannot say anything more about the successor to Nintendo Switch," Furukawa said when asked why that term was used specifically. "For today's announcement, we determined that the most appropriate expression to use was 'successor to Nintendo Switch.' Information will be released in stages leading up to the launch, as we have done with previous new hardware announcements."

Continue Reading at GameSpot

Wingspan first launched in 2019 as a traditional board game before releasing on the Switch eShop in 2020. Both versions were so well-received that the title is finally getting a physical Switch release on July 31. Preorders for the Wingspan Special Edition are now available, costing just $40 and including a few nice bonuses.

Wingspan Special Edition $40

The Wingspan Special Edition includes the base game and three DLC packs--European Expansion, Oceania Expansion, and the Seasonal Decorative Pack. On the eShop, you'll regularly spend $24 on this DLC bundle, while Wingspan is regularly $20--so getting everyone for just $40 is a pretty solid deal.

Preorder at Best Buy

If you're unfamiliar with Wingspan, the goal of the strategic card game is to discover and attract birds to your wildlife preserves. Depending on how you build your preserves and what birds flock to your property, you can set off chain reactions that lure other winged creatures to you, earning additional points. The big draw is its stunning artwork, which faithfully recreates the image of each real-life bird and makes the game a joy to play on the big screen.

Aside from the upcoming physical release of Wingspan on Switch, you'll find the original Wingspan board game available at a discount. The physical expansions are also on sale, giving you plenty of ways to experience the unique board game for cheap.

Continue Reading at GameSpot

Nintendo isn't big on discounting its games or hardware, and it's not unusual to see products listed at full price years after launch. That's often the case for Switch consoles, as you don't often see worthwhile price cuts unless it's a big shopping holiday. However, if you know where to look, it is possible to get meaningful discounts on Nintendo Switch consoles. Outside of buying from a friend or local seller, one of your best options is eBay, as there are huge distributors with bulk stock of new Nintendo hardware.

From the OLED Model and Lite to the original Nintendo Switch, here's a look at the best deals at eBay. Keep in mind that all of the console deals from eBay listed below are Japanese imports, but because the platform is region-free, outside of some text on the box, there isn't a tangible difference between these and the ones you'll find at your local GameStop. As long as that isn't a dealbreaker, you can get special-edition consoles that often sell for above retail price in North America for a nice discount.

And if you need some extra controllers to go with your new Switch, take a look at the (slightly) discounted Switch Pro Controller and Tears of the Kingdom-themed Pro Controller ($10 above list price).

Continue Reading at GameSpot

Microsoft recently closed multiple Bethesda studios, including Tango Gameworks, the developer of the well-received rhythm action game Hi-Fi Rush. Xbox executive Sarah Bond, the president of Xbox, recently reacted to and explained the company's decision to close the outfit. The game might have won numerous awards, but the company doesn't have a one-size-fits-all approach to defining success, she said.

Reporter Dina Bass asked Bond this question: "One of the shuttered studios in particular just created a hit game; it did really well on Game Pass in terms of engagement and won a ton of awards. Shouldn't succeeding in that way ensure the future of a studio?"

She was no doubt referring to Hi-Fi Rush, and Bond answered by saying Microsoft takes a number of factors into consideration when attempting to define what "success" is for a given game or project.

Continue Reading at GameSpot

In 2007's Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, the entire movie built towards Galactus, the devourer of worlds, only to reveal him as a space cloud at the end. Marvel's upcoming reboot, The Fantastic Four, won't be making the same mistake. Ralph Ineson has been cast as Galactus, and confirmed as the primary villain in the movie.

The Hollywood Reporter broke the story about Ineson's role as Galactus, but Marvel signaled this direction a few weeks ago when Julia Garner was cast as Shalla-Bal, an alternate version of Galactus' herald, the Silver Surfer. Both Galactus and the Silver Surfer first appeared in 1966 in The Galactus Trilogy, one of the most famous Fantastic Four stories by Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby. Galactus has since taken on a prominent role in Marvel's comic book universe, but he is neither truly good nor evil. Instead, Galactus is a cosmic force of nature who needs to feed on living worlds in order to survive.

Ineson has actually appeared in the MCU once before as a Ravager pilot in Guardians of the Galaxy. He also appeared as Amycus Carrow in the final three Harry Potter movies. Other previous credits include The Witch, Kingsman: The Secret Service, The Northman, The Creator, and most recently, The First Omen.

Continue Reading at GameSpot

Turn-based RPGs aren't nearly as prevalent as they once were, but when you find one that nails the charming loop of hits from the genre's heyday, it's a nostalgic treat to be savored. Sea of Stars is a prime example of just that, and fans of the genre can finally grab a physical edition of last summer's buzzy turn-based RPG. At $40, the physical edition is slightly more expensive than the digital edition ($35), but it also comes with a double-sided poster.

One of the best RPGs of 2023, the physical version of Sea of Stars was put together by the retro specialists at iam8bit and comes with the aforementioned double-sided poster. A $45 Nintendo Switch-exclusive edition with alternate cover art and some extra goodies was previously available to order via iam8Bit's store. Unfortunately, that version sold out quickly, and it's easy to see why: It came with a game manual, collectible slipcase, four sticker sheets, and the complete soundtrack.

The edition that's available now at major retailers, including Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart, is for all console platforms: Nintendo Switch, Xbox (backwards compatible), PS5, and PS4 (backwards compatible).

Continue Reading at GameSpot

While we already know that Microsoft's first-party games are included in Game Pass on launch day, Xbox leadership has once again reiterated that fact.

In an interview with Bloomberg at Bloomberg Tech in San Francisco, Xbox president Sarah Bond said, "You're going to see some more really big games going into Game Pass later this year" The interviewer interjected to say "from Activision?" and Bond replied, "Across the whole slate."

This suggests that the next Call of Duty game will be added to Game Pass on launch day, even though there are reports that Microsoft is internally debating on whether to go down that route. Some theorize that putting future Call of Duty releases onto Game Pass could negatively impact the game's sales.

Continue Reading at GameSpot

Trigun was one of the big manga and anime series of the '90s, and a few decades later, you can relive the adventures of Vash the Stampede in a beautifully oversized collection of the original comics. Collected for the first time in its original oversized page format, the Trigun Deluxe Edition contains the original two volumes of author Yasuhiro’s Nightow’s manga and is over 700 pages in size.

Trigun manga collectionsTrigun

• Trigun Deluxe Edition -- $43 ($50)
• Trigun Maximum Volume One -- $45 ($50)
• Trigun Maximum Volume Two -- $50
• Trigun Maximum Volume Three -- $50

Trigun anime

• Trigun: The Complete Series (DVD) -- $28 ($40)
• Trigun: Badlands Rumble (Blu-ray) -- $19.50 ($25)
• Trigun Stampede (Streaming)

If you've never read or watched Trigun, you're in for a treat. A sci-fi western set on the desert planet of Gunsmoke, Trigun follows Vash the Stampede, a pacifist with uncanny marksmanship skills and the ability to destroy entire cities with a single blast if he ever uses his Angel Arm weapon. With a $60 billion bounty on his head, Vash regularly runs into trouble when trigger-happy bandits try to capture him.

This new collected edition also features a faux-leather cover with foil stamping and burnishing, making them look and feel more luxurious than your typical pocket-sized paperback manga book. It'll be released on September 10 and is priced at $50, but you can get it for $43 from Amazon.

Continue Reading at GameSpot

Apple announced a new line of iPad Pro and iPad Air models this week, and as you'd expect, these premium tablets to command a very high price. While it might be hard to justify spending this much cash on this hardware, the good news is that the older--and still highly capable--older iPad models have gotten a nice discount. Apple has reduced the MSRP on the 10th-gen iPad by $100, and if you're looking for a multimedia device to watch some Netflix on or play a few rounds of Marvel Snap, this will do just fine. In comparison, the new iPad Pro tablets are workhorse machines designed to give creative people and professionals a robust tool to perform multiple tasks on, hence their higher price.

That's not to say that you can't use an older iPad for similar tasks, as the A14 bionic chip can still deliver an impressive amount of power and performance. For more moderate tasks and some of the more less-demanding games via Apple Arcade, this is a more affordable option. On the other hand, if you're just looking to browse the web or stream some series at night, the 8th-gen iPad might be a better option. You can pick a base 64GB model up for $250, and if you're looking to get more storage capacity bang for your buck, the 256GB model is currently priced at $379 on Amazon.

iPad AiriPad 10th Gen

• 64GB -- $350 ($450)
• 256GB -- $490 with coupon ($599)

iPad 9th Gen

• 64GB -- $250 ($329)
• 256GB -- $379 ($479)

iPad Air 5th Gen

• 64GB -- $500 with coupon ($599)
• 256GB -- $650 with coupon ($749)

Apple Pencil deals

• Apple Pencil (2nd Gen) -- $79 ($129)
• Apple Pencil (USB-C) -- $69 ($79)
• Apple Pencil (1st Gen) -- $79 ($99)

If you're looking for a middle-ground option between power and affordability, the iPad Air is the go-to device here. This has a powerful M1 chip and a sharp liquid retina display, so it can handle plenty of tasks and easily function as a portable entertainment device for you. Amazon has the 64GB and 256GB models listed with a $50 discount, but if you click the coupon box, you get an extra $49 off the price. It's worth mentioning that you might be better off waiting for the new iPad Air models with the M2 chip when they launch this month, as these will only be $100 more per model.

Continue Reading at GameSpot

After the first two models of the ROG Ally released last year, Asus is ready to reveal the next iteration of the handheld PC gaming device. While the upcoming ROG Ally X isn't a proper second generation for the handheld, the new model addresses much of the major feedback from the device's early adopters.

While a ROG Ally 2 is on the cards at some point, Asus told The Verge, that's not the plan for the Ally X, which is more of an optimized version of the original device--similar to a mid-gen refresh on a traditional console. Sporting the same chipset and screen as the original, the Ally X won't see a substantial performance or quality boost over the base device, and instead will focus on quality-of-life improvements.

One of the main improvements is a bigger battery, as this was one of the main complaints players had about the original Ally. "We're not looking at 30 to 40% more capacity," Asus SVP Shawn Yen said about the improved device. "We're looking at way more than that."

Continue Reading at GameSpot

Call of Duty's adorable new Wubz and Friendz bundle is live now in Modern Warfare 3 and Warzone, bringing a quirky collection of skins and cosmetics. The bundle arrived in the in-game store alongside the game's latest patch, which introduced a handful of fixes and balance changes.

The Wubz and Friendz bundle includes four operator skins depicting all mascot-type characters with fluffy fur in different colors and big googly eyes. The skins include Wubz and his three friends: Stubz, Bubz, and the Harbinger of Dread. The 3,000 COD point bundle also includes two weapon blueprints, The Womper and New Friend, a sticker, a large decal, and a charm.

Wubz, Stubz, and Bubz bundle is now in Warzone and MWIII pic.twitter.com/D9KRC8oaHM

— CharlieIntel (@charlieINTEL) May 9, 2024

The bundle comes with a party skin bonus, which awards double XP and weapon XP when you play in a team of two or more with all of your party in Wubz and Friendz skins. Players will also get an additional 2X bonus to battle-pass XP when playing in a team of three or more with the matching skins.

Continue Reading at GameSpot