Ninja Turtles in Smite means we're blessed with footage of Michelangelo catching big air over a fire demon

3 years 6 months ago

Where were you when Tony Hawk landed the 900? Where were you Danny Way jumped over the Great Wall of China? Where were you when I went over the half-pipe, through the secret room, collected the hidden tape, and grinded the quarter-pipe along the whole back wall?

Iconic moments in skateboarding history. More iconic than the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles skating all over Smite? Tough to say.

Smite's new battle pass launches tomorrow, and it's completely TMNT-centric. We learned about this collaboration last month, and how Hi-Rez Studios is reskinning the Turtles to play the roles of existing gods. We were not prepared for the sheer number of ollies and kickflips and pizza-eating that we'd get. Judging by the new trailer that dropped today, I'm not convinced the Turtles will make good on any of the battle arena aspects of MOBA.

And maybe that's why I love this trailer. It's not bogged down in attack stats and roles. There's no minutiae, there's just skateboards and pepperoni. Here are the TMNT Battle Pass update notes for anyone who is interested in the nitty gritty. I'm just here to watch Michaelangelo catch big air over a Fire Giant.

Ninja Turtles in Smite means we're blessed with footage of Michelangelo catching big air over a fire demon screenshot

Author
Brett Makedonski

Merry Christmas, it's time to play Skeal

3 years 6 months ago

Skiing downhill past two flags with the face of Seal in the silly free skiing game, Skeal.

While carved pumpkins and turnips have barely begun to rot on windowsills, Christmastime is in full swing as far as the shops are concerned. There’s nowt else on this year so sure, let’s break out the old Christmas traditions already. And where better to start than Skeal? Pop on your mittens, brew a flask of cocoa, and hit the slopes in this free game to experience the snow, sleigh bells, power, pleasure, and pain of the Yuletide season. It’s the best bit of daft wordplay this side of a Christmas cracker.

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Author
Alice O'Connor

New Assassin’s Creed Valhalla TV Spot Brings the Cinematic Hype

3 years 6 months ago

Assassin’s Creed Valhalla is only a few weeks out from its launch, and Ubisoft has released a new cinematic T.V. spot to make sure fans’ hype is to the max.

Streamed by the publisher and developer via YouTube on Nov. 2, the spot sees a narrator detail the basic premise of the game’s plot to images of the main character’s Viking tribe. Following an unknown disaster, the tribe found their idyllic life thrown into disarray. Fortunately, they were guided by a sign from their gods to travel toward new lands where they might once again find a peaceful life.

This appears to be easier said than done though. Right after the narrator completes his explanation, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla’s main character and their tribe is seen in combat with an army from the lands they wish to settle on. Flaming arrows are set loose, weapons clash in scattered battles, and bodies litter the ground as far as the eye can see.

The Vikings push on though, with the narrator chiming in to say that they will show their gods that they will achieve victory and claim their new home.

It’s a grand introduction to the premise of the game, and the cinematics used certainly paint the concept in the best light possible. Those looking forward to the game will want to check out the full spot below.

Author
Keenan McCall

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Call of Duty: Warzone to stick with existing engine for Black Ops Cold War integration

3 years 6 months ago

Call of Duty: Warzone will stick with its existing engine for the upcoming Black Ops Cold War integration, an Activision employee has said.

In a post on ResetEra, a user called ShutterMunster, who is verified on the site as an Activision art lead, stepped in to say "there will not be an engine shift for Warzone". Eurogamer has asked Activision for comment.

There had been speculation about whether Warzone would move over to the engine powering Black Ops Cold War after Activision confirmed Cold War's integration with Warzone kicks off in December 2020.

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Dragon Quest XI Interview: Developers Discuss Definitive Edition for PS4, Xbox One, & PC

3 years 6 months ago

Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age – Definitive Edition will be coming soon to PS4, Xbox One, and PC.

To learn more about the upcoming release, Twinfinite interviewed director Masato Yagi and producer Hokuto Okamoto.

The developers talked about the new release, its features, the work on the voice-overs, and more.

Giuseppe: Many PS4 and PC players already have the original Dragon Quest XI and have already played them to completion, me included. What would you say are the most important factors that should tempt us to buy the Definitive Edition?

Masato Yagi: We have made many adjustments that make playing all aspects of the game more convenient, from movement to battle, to crafting, etc., so players will be motivated to explore every corner of Dragon Quest XI’s world.

There are also additional new stories featuring your allies, so players will be able to delve even deeper into their various personalities.

On top of that, the 2D mode doesn’t just let you enjoy a retro feel but also allows you to make new discoveries about things you wouldn’t have noticed in the 3D mode, so I really want existing players to have a go on that too.

Giuseppe: Many JRPG series have shifted toward action, while Dragon Quest XI has remained faithful to its turn-based roots, which I personally love. Do you think today’s audience is still receptive to turn-based RPGs?

Masato Yagi: You do have to adjust with the times, but there are ways to play other than action, so I feel that this style is still something that modern gamers can appreciate.

Author
Giuseppe Nelva

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Godfall PC System Requirements Revealed

3 years 6 months ago

Today Gearbox Publishing and Counterplay Games revealed the system requirements for the PC version of Godfall.

The reveal was made via the official Twitter account of the game, showcasing both the minimum and recommended specs.

While the game’s demands are fairly modest in terms of CPU and GPU, it’s quite hungry in terms of memory.

You can check everything out below.

Author
Giuseppe Nelva

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PS5 Pre-Order Uncertainty Is Seriously Stressing Me Out

3 years 6 months ago

Regardless of where you live in the world, 2020 has been a trying year. Fires, floods, pandemic, and civil unrest are just some of the hurdles we have all had to try and overcome, and so it would be nice to end the year on a more positive note. For many gamers, securing Sony’s eagerly anticipated new console, the PS5, offered just such an opportunity.

But alas, demand is high, and supply is limited. Pre-orders for the console went live Sep. 17 and sold out within hours worldwide. Even for those lucky few that got in early, actually receiving the console on launch day (Nov. 12 for the U.S. and select territories Nov. 19 for the rest) isn’t exactly a given, what with the state of logistics in 2020.

Here in Australia, EB Games (a subsidiary of GameStop) are one of the major suppliers of the new console and have, for a long time, been the most recognizable video game retailer in the country. It was through EB that I placed a pre-order of my own.

In the spirit of full disclosure, I was employed by EB Games in a casual capacity back in 2013 and actually worked on the day the current generation of consoles, the PS4 and the Xbox One, launched.

It was an exciting and fun experience, in that special kind of chaotic way that anyone who has worked retail sales on a holiday can attest to, but I’ll admit that might just be nostalgia speaking.

I was a part of a fantastic team, and we had enough stock to meet the number of pre-orders sold, but even then, we still had to turn away dozens of disappointed customers, and not all of them went quietly.

I think most people understand by now that the current state of things is far from usual, and that actually getting a next-generation console is going to be more difficult this time around, at least for the first few months.

Author
Khayl Adam

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Dragon Quest XI Definitive Edition Demo Released on PS4, Xbox One, & PC

3 years 6 months ago

Today Square Enix announced with a press release the launch of a demo of Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age – Definitive Edition.

The demo is rolling out today for PS4, Xbox One, and PC via Steam.

It offers up to ten hours of content from the beginning of the game.

The demo serves to showcase the features added in the Definitive Edition, which may be useful for fans who previously player the game on PS4 and PC.

Progress from the demo will transfer to the final game and completing its story will grant you three Seed of Skill that can be used either in the demo or in the final game. These grant an extra skill point upon use.

You can check out a trailer celebrating the demo below.

If you’d like to learn more about Dragon Quest XIyou can check out our review of the original game.

Author
Giuseppe Nelva

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Dragon Quest XI S has a 10-hour Definitive Edition demo on PC, PS4, and Xbox One

3 years 6 months ago

If you're in the mood for Dragon Quest XI S and want to get a head-start on December's Definitive Edition release for PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One, there's a meaty new demo on all three platforms.

The demo spans "the entirety of the opening chapters," according to Square Enix, and apart from being able to transfer your file to the full game, you'll earn three stat-boosting Seed of Skill items as a bonus. It's pretty wild to think about a demo exceeding the length (and quality) of full commercial games.

There's a lot packed into this version of Dragon Quest XI, hence that long-ass name. This improved port of the Nintendo Switch game runs better and has all of the previous niceties like the orchestrated soundtrack, an ultra-fast speed toggle, Japanese VO, and the nostalgia-inducing top-down 2D mode.

Things get a little funky when you look into side-by-side-by-side comparisons of Dragon Quest XI, the Switch edition, and this Definitive Edition release, but I think the pros far outweigh the cons.

Is it just me, or has there been an influx of unusually generous game demos lately? I'm in heaven.

Author
Jordan Devore

Watch Dogs: Legion Urges You To Wear A Mask To Save Lives

3 years 6 months ago

Within the opening moments of Watch Dogs: Legion, you learn you can equip your agents with masks. Ubisoft is using some of these in-game personas to illustrate the importance of wearing a mask during the Covid-19 pandemic. The short video (which you can see below) is on Watch Dogs: Legion's official Twitter and Instagram channels, and will hopefully be a nice reminder for people that they should wear a mask and always have one on hand when going into public spaces.

Covid-19 cases continue to surge in the United States and in other parts of the world, and we all need to do our part to limit its spread and keep the people around us safe – whether it's family, friends, or even strangers who we just happen to be standing in line with.

Click here to watch embedded media

Watch Dogs: Legion released last Thursday on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC, and is the third installment in the series, set in a dystopian version of London that is ruled by a militaristic company. Enhanced next-generation versions of Legion will be available at launch for both PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S.

Author
Andrew Reiner

Here's an extended look at Apex Legends Season 7 gameplay

3 years 6 months ago

Only a few days remain until players can drop into Apex Legends Season 7 for the first time, in a season that promises a glitzy new map, clubs, a new legend and the game's very first vehicles. But if you're struggling to wait until 4th November, then hopefully this gameplay footage will keep you going.

Following the release of an official gameplay trailer along with previews and interviews on Friday, those who attended the preview session are now allowed to share their footage: so you can take a look at mine in the compilation video below. In a pool full of professional Apex streamers and QA staff, I did my best, but thankfully Season 7 also has a map preview mode which allows you to roam around without fear of being shot. Which was very much needed.

Obviously, one of the most exciting new additions is new map Olympus, which was originally a Titanfall 3 concept before the artwork was used to inspire the map for Apex Legends. In Apex lore, Olympus once hosted the best minds in the Outlands until a major explosion forced everyone to abandon the city (it's also the home town of Lifeline and Octane, and the place where Revenant murdered Loba's parents). The map boasts ramps and roads for players to test the new Trident vehicles, and is packed with glamorous shopping centres and modern homes. There's also a Hadron Collider-style portal which pops you out into a massive dome of energy, which probably gives you a clue as to why the city was evacuated.

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Best Gamer Halloween Costumes, Including Hilarious "Gamer Grill"

3 years 6 months ago

Halloween as a holiday may be over, but our love for some of the coolest gaming costumes lives on forever in our hearts. From one gamer's pun-y take on the "Gamer Grill" gamer girl meme to some seriously impressive Miles Morales love, here are some of our favorite Halloween costumes we've come across. 

First up, I've got to give a nod to r/the_mess_express because we've seen a million iterations of this meme, but this costume is beyond perfect: 

My Halloween costume!! I’m a gamer grill!! [OC] from r/gaming

But wait, there's more: 

Author
Liana Ruppert

The Dark Pictures Anthology's next horror story is House Of Ashes

3 years 6 months ago

Horror anthology The Dark Pictures is apparently jumping even further back in time for its next spook story. Little Hope just launched last week, taking a group of students and their professor to a town haunted by the ghosts of witch trials past. A post-credits scene in Little Hope contains a teaser trailer for the next chapter: House Of Ashes, which will haul some modern-day military folks out to be haunted by Sumerian myths.

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Author
Lauren Morton

Apple TV Coming to Xbox Consoles for Series X Launch

3 years 6 months ago
Microsoft has revealed all the entertainment streaming apps that will be available with the launch of the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S, and has also confirmed that Apple TV will be ready at the launch of the new next-gen systems and Xbox One for the first time on November 10. As revealed on Xbox Wire, Microsoft wants to make the transition from Xbox One to Xbox Series X/S as seamless as possible, and it is bringing forward all the entertainment apps currently available on Xbox One, including Netflix, Disney+, HBO Max, Spotify, YouTube, YouTube TV, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, NBC Peacock, Vudu, FandangoNow, Twitch, Sky Go, NOW TV, Sky Ticket and more. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/10/28/xbox-series-xs-official-next-gen-walkthrough"] This news confirms that both the Xbox Series X/S and PlayStation 5 will have mostly similar launch line-ups for those looking to watch TV shows or movies on their new consoles. Microsoft's message of a seamless transition to next-gen also extends to its games, as it has previously stated that it has performed more than 500,000 hours of testing to confirm that every game playable on the Xbox One - from the original Xbox, Xbox 360, and Xbox One - will work on Xbox Series X/S, except for Kinect-only games. The Xbox Series X, and the cheaper, all-digital Xbox Series S, will be released on November 10, 2020, just two days before the PlayStation 5 arrives on November 12. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=confirmed-xbox-series-x-games&captions=true"] [poilib element="accentDivider"] Have a
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Adam Bankhurst

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Xbox Series X and S entertainment apps confirmed

3 years 6 months ago

Microsoft has confirmed the entertainment apps available on Xbox Series X and S at launch.

Apps already available on Xbox One will be available on Xbox Series X and S, Microsoft said. These include the likes of Netflix, Disney+, YouTube, Spotify, Sky Go, Now TV and Amazon Prime Video.

But also out on 10th November is the Apple TV app. That's for Xbox One, Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S.

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Apple TV And More Streaming Apps Coming on Xbox Series X & S at Launch

3 years 6 months ago

Today Microsoft announced the streaming services that will be available on Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S at launch.

First of all, all the apps available for Xbox One as of now will also be on the two new consoles when they release.

These include Netflix, Disney+, HBO Max, Spotify, YouTube, YouTube TV, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, NBC Peacock, Vudu, FandangoNow, Twitch, Sky Go, NOW TV, Sky Ticket and more.

On top of that, today we learn that Apple TV will also come to Xbox when Xbox Series X and S launch on November 10, and will be available on Xbox One as well.

Users will be able to subscribe to Apple TV+ directly on their Xbox console for  $4.99 per month with a seven-day free trial.

The Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S will release on November 10.

Recently, we read that the two consoles will be the only ones in the next-generation to fully support all the RDNA 2 capabilities revealed by AMD.

We also heard from Microsoft’s executives about their predictions for the launch of the new consoles.

On top of that, we know that Microsoft will host a launch celebration for its new consoles on their release day starting at 11:00 am PST/2:00 pm EST.

The post Apple TV And More Streaming Apps Coming on Xbox Series X & S at Launch appeared first on Twinfinite.

Author
Giuseppe Nelva

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Apex Legends Season 7 Trailer Shows Off Horizon’s Gravity-Defying Abilities

3 years 6 months ago

Apex Legends Season 7 is going live this week, on Nov. 4. It’s right around the corner, so EA is keeping the trailers rolling. Today’s trailer gives us a detailed look at all of Horizon’s abilities before she joins the rest of the Apex Legends roster.

A gameplay video showcasing the new map, Olympus, was released recently, and now, the focus is on the new Legends, Horizon.

Horizon’s tactical ability allows her to throw down a device that launches anyone near it high into the air. It’s a bit like Octane’s jump pad, except the lift is vertical.

Her passive ability allows players to gain more control over how they land and maneuver in the air, so it works well if you’re the one stepping into the tactical.

Horizon’s ultimate ability creates a small black hole that sucks opposing Legends into it, making them easy targets for you and your teammates to make short work of in the Apex Games.

Check out the trailer below to see all of Horizon’s abilities in-game before you get to use them in Apex Legends Season 7:

Author
Ethan Anderson

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Podtoid starts November by remembering its favorite Treehouse of Horror episodes

3 years 6 months ago

There are many great autumn traditions we celebrate in this country. Pumpkin-spiced everything, Thanksgiving, radio stations playing Christmas music way too damn early, but my favorite tradition is taking time to watch the newest "Treehouse of Horror" episode on The Simpsons. Are they are good as they used to be? Nah, but they're still usually better than the rest of the season.

That's just one of the topics on this episode of Podtoid. CJ, Chris, Occams, and Charlotte talk TV, No More Heroes, Duolingo, Silent Hill, and Cruel Jaws. All that, plus we answer some listener questions, on Podtoid Episode 465.

Podtoid starts November by remembering its favorite Treehouse of Horror episodes screenshot

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Author
CJ Andriessen

What to Do if You're Intimidated at Your Polling Site

3 years 6 months ago

Although millions of people have already voted, plenty more are expected to stand in line at their local polling places tomorrow. Sure, Republicans relied upon voter suppression tactics in 2016, but this time, the president has issued multiple calls to action to his supporters, requesting that they serve as “poll…

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Author
Elizabeth Yuko on Lifehacker, shared by Riley MacLeod to Kotaku

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Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot just added a free card battle mode and I'm getting Triple Triad flashbacks

3 years 6 months ago

Final Fantasy VIII. Final Fantasy XIV. The Witcher 3. Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot. Am I just naming cool RPGs, or games that have card battlers inside of them? Both!

The onslaught of Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot DLC and updates continues, as Bandai Namco just recently added the free new mode "Card Warriors," which allows players to build decks and take on opponents...in card form. This joins the Time Machine mechanic (that lets you go back and repeat previous content) and two major DLC packs (one of which is still on the way).

The below video will give you a gist of the game, which should be enough to judge whether or not it's worth booting up or re-installing your copy. In short, you build your deck with 25 character or event cards, as well as five "SP" cards (which are triggered by combinations of event cards). Your job is to defeat your opponent by knocking down their health total (much like Magic or Hearthstone): simple enough! It even uses the Hearthstone "mana" style economy, with the power to "bank" energy once.

As someone who regularly plays a ton of deckbuilders (Marvel Champions, Lord of the Rings LCG, Arkham Horror: The Card game, Magic, Hearthstone), I'm glad that card games are still so prolific in just about every corner of media.

Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot just added a free card battle mode and I'm getting Triple Triad flashbacks screenshot

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Author
Chris Carter

Mod Corner: Silent Hills P.T. Recreated In Doom

3 years 6 months ago

While the future of Silent Hills remains unclear and P.T. remains an unfinished journey, one Doom fan decided to carry on this horror adventure's legacy in a different way. Hideo Kojima's P.T. has seen many iterations since the demo was released, including mods meant to piece everything together to create a 'full' game. The latest fan to try their hand at solidifying this horror experience decided to recreate P.T. in Doom. 

This isn't a total 1.1 remake but the P.T. Doom creation from Andrea Gori is still darn impressive. Every sequence has been recreated within Doom as close to the original P.T. experience as possible. The best part for those that love the retro feel of Doom, this experience looks incredibly accurate to the P.T. demo without losing the retro texturisation we are all so fond of. 

Take a look at the walkthrough in the video below: 

Click here to watch embedded media

For those that want the Doom P.T. experience, it's downloadable now for those that have GZDOOM (which is free) on PC. For those that have other mods active, it is important to keep an eye on what's compatible and what isn't. According to the creator, this experience won't be game-breaking with other mods as long as they are specifically using GZPT. Anything outside of that is liable to cause crashing and other breaking bugs. 

Author
Liana Ruppert

Animal Crossing: New Horizons Villagers Talk About Their Favorite Fall Things in Latest Trailer

3 years 6 months ago

Animal Crossing: New Horizons is smack-dab in the middle of Fall or Autumn as some folks would call it. Nintendo has released a short little trailer that showcases the villagers talking about their favorite parts of the crisp season and some other adorable things like a pleasant impromptu concert in the middle of the day.

We see a villager named Kevin mentioning how the temperature decrease is making him workout even harder; Beau can’t help but praise all of the different kinds of Fall pie, such as Pumpkin and Pecan; and then Poppy brings up the crisp breeze and how great it feels to feel the leaves crunching beneath your feet. Ahh, the Fall season truly is the best season.

You can check out the ‘Autumn Deepens’ trailer down below:

Animal Crossing: New Horizons is now available exclusively for the Nintendo Switch. If you’re on the hunt for more of our coverage on the life-sim game, make sure to check out our extensive Guide Wiki that’s full of tips and tricks.

Author
Greysun Morales

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Upcoming England Lockdown Affecting Xbox Series X, S, PS5 Pre-Orders

3 years 6 months ago
The nationwide lockdown beginning in England on Thursday, November 5 has caused multiple retailers with physical stores to change their policies regarding collecting preorders for PS5, Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S. All non-essential retailers in the UK will be closed to visitors from midnight on Thursday until December 2 – crossing launch dates for Xbox Series X, S and PS5. However, deliveries and collection services can continue to run. UK retailer Game addressed the potential issues on Twitter, explaining that customers with preorders should go into shops and pay for their new Xbox Series X and S units by Wednesday, meaning they will be able to pick up the units on launch day:
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Joe Skrebels

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Raw Fury's Kingdom is free on Humble right now

3 years 6 months ago

"My kingdom for a horse." King Richard III would've done well to live 500 years later because Kingdom is free and it comes with a horse.

Humble is doing that thing again where it gives away games for keepsies. This time it's Raw Fury's Kingdom, the side-scrolling simulation game where you ride a horse and everyone tries to steal your gold and your crown. Kingdom is good enough that it spawned two highly-regarded sequels.

Anyway, go hit up Humble if you want a no-strings-attached freebie. The promo ends on November 9. I promise to never bastardize the words of Shakespeare like that again. That first paragraph was far more tragedy than comedy.

Kingdom: Classic [Humble]

Raw Fury's Kingdom is free on Humble right now screenshot

Author
Brett Makedonski

November Is Full of New Sci-Fi and Fantasy Books to Help You Make It Through 2020's Home Stretch

3 years 6 months ago

Seems like just yesterday we were all adjusting to the concept of “lockdown,” but it’s now become a full-on lifestyle. Fortunately, the output of new sci-fi and fantasy books is one thing that hasn’t slowed down—and November is full of adventures in deep space, chaotic kingdoms, other dimensions, and beyond.

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Cheryl Eddy on io9, shared by Riley MacLeod to Kotaku

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Fortnite Is Ready For PS5 And Xbox Series X/S

3 years 6 months ago

When the Xbox Series X/S and PlayStation 5 consoles drop next week, so do new versions of Epic’s popular battle royale. Next-gen console Fortnite is prepped for launch, with 4K60 performance, faster loading, and enhanced visuals on each system.

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Author
Mike Fahey

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