GameSkinny Weekend Download: Video Games Blamed for Violence, Loot Boxes Get Nerfed(?), Planetfall Impresses, and More

In the wake of two mass shootings in Texas and Ohio, politicians, including President Donald Trump, blamed video games for violence. Days later, Walmart began removing from its stores advertisements for violent and “aggressive” video games and movies. 

Elsewhere, Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo, along with other ESA members, pledged to (somewhat) regulate loot boxes in all future games that use the mechanic. What’s more, the ESRB released official numbers showing that 18% of games rated by the service since April 2018 have some type of microtransactions. 

However, some consumer advocates, such as those with Consumer Reports, say that tags and warnings aren’t enough. 

On a far less political front, Age of Wonders: Planetfall released to rave reviews, including here at GameSkinny. In fact, we called it the strategy game of the year, so be sure to check out our review of the game below, alongside reviews for Metal Wolf Chaos XD, Wolfenstein: Youngblood, and more.  

Of course, we’ve rounded up other gaming news such as the rumor that Modern Warfare might actually get a battle royale mode and that the game will feature mouse and keyboard support on console; that Humble Bundle has more than 200 games on sale right now; and Cyberpunk 2077 will get a new game plus mode. 

On top of all of that, we’ve got culture pieces on X-Wing VR mods and why Madden 20‘s story mode is dope. And naturally, we have a good handful of guides for some of the latest games. 

Sit back. Relax. Enjoy. It’s the weekend. What else are you gonna do? Play video games? 

• President Trump, Other Politicians Blame Video Games for Mass Shootings
  Video games once again become an area of focus for politicians following two horrific mass shootings in El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio.
  
  
• Walmart Removes Violent Video Game, Movie Advertisements From Retail Stores
  An internal notice urges employees to remove depictions of “violence” and “aggression” from stores, specifically those found in video games and movies.
• Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo to Add Loot Box Chance Rates in Future Games
  The Big 3 and other developers will add loot box probability rates to all games with the crates by next year, but some notable names have yet to commit.
• 18% of ESRB Ratings Include In-Game Purchases, But Some Say Tags Aren’t Enough
  The ratings tag and probability disclosure rates aren’t going to stop consumers from falling prey to predatory design practices, advocates say.
• We’re Giving Away 5 Keys for Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night on PS4
  505 Games gave us 5 PS4 keys for Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night. Now we’re giving them to you.
• Humble’s Indie Hits Sale Live Now, Over 200 Games Included
  Humble’s latest sale offers steep discounts on recent releases and old favorites, with everything else in between.
• Google’s Next Stadia Connect Stream Will Be “All About The Games”
  Stadia’s upcoming pre-Gamescom press conference will focus less on the hardware and more on games.
• Rumor: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Could Get a Free Battle Royale Mode In 2020
  Call of Duty: Modern Warfare doesn’t have a battle royale mode, but a recent rumor hints that it might get one for free next year.
• Modern Warfare on Console to Get Mouse and Keyboard Support
  The fully cross-platform title will support all peripherals, but a small catch means players won’t necessarily have the advantage.
• Cyberpunk 2077 To Get New Game Plus Mode
  Work is already underway on the user requested feature, although it isn’t clear at this point if it will be available at launch or later with a patch.
  
  
• Nintendo Signals Release Dates for Fire Emblem: Three Houses DLC
  Fire Emblem: Three Houses‘ expansion pass gets a general release date timeframe, plus a few extra details about what to expect.
• Cook, Serve, Delicious! 3?! Entering Early Access January 2020
  A third Cook, Serve, Delicious! is on the way, this time putting you in the driver and cook seat of a food truck.
• Galarian Forms and Team Yell Revealed for Pokemon Sword and Shield
  The Pokemon Company shows off Galarian Forms and special Galarian Evolutions, new rivals, a new opposing team, and a very hangry ‘mon.
• Level-5 Releases New Trailer for Yo-Kai Watch 1 for Nintendo Switch
  The first title in the monster befriending series comes to Nintendo Switch this fall.
• Red Dead Redemption 2 Ships Over 25 Million Copies
  Demand remains high for Rockstar and Take-Two’s open-world Western adventure, while the online variant is expected to continue to grow.
• Vermintide 2‘s Winds Of Magic Expansion Release Date Announced
  This major expansion to Vermintide 2 brings beastmen enemies, leaderboards, new weapons, an extra map, and a brand new progression system.
• Greedfall Teases Massive Player Choice in New Gameplay Trailer
  A brand new trailer for Greedfall showcases hundreds of combinations between classless progression, equipment, and companion options.
• Immortal Realms: Vampire Wars Closed Beta Available With Pre-Orders
  The dark fantasy title will infuse turn-based strategy with card game elements on PC this spring, with console versions to follow in 2020.
• Have You Played Judgment Yet? PS4 Prologue Demo Gives You the Chance
  You can give Judgment a try right now on PS4 with its new prologue demo.
• Shenmue 3 Pre-Order Bonuses Are Full-On Shenmue
  Shenmue 3’s pre-order bonuses detailed for Amazon, Best Buy, and GameStop.
• Hyper Light Drifter, Mutant Year Zero Free on Epic Games Store Next Week
  Epic continues its two-free-games-per-week deal with Hyper Light Drifter and Mutant Year Zero next week.
• Roblox Passes Another Milestone with Over 100 Million Monthly Users
  Roblox just keeps on growing, and for a short time, players can get a free in-game item to commemorate the milestone.

• Age Of Wonders: Planetfall Triumphantly Propels the Series Into a Sci-Fi Future
  The turn-based strategy game of the year has arrived, and the unexpected transition from fantasy to sci-fi is handled superbly.
• Wolfenstein: Youngblood Review — Old Meets New
  Youngblood is no New Colossus, but it offers something fresh and new, even though that alone may turn away lots of old-time fans of the series.
• Metal Wolf Chaos XD Review: Back to the Past
  After 15 years, Metal Wolf Chaos XD doesn’t quite live up to the hype, but it’s still a worthwhile experience for fans of the genre.
• The Forbidden Arts Review: Raking Up the Past
  The Forbidden Arts tries recreating games of old, but it manages to conjure flaws that should have stayed buried.
• Rotor Riot Controller Review: This Mobile Gamepad Expands Our Horizons
  The Rotor Riot MFI Gamepad brings a design very similar to the Xbox One controller to iPhones, and in turn, allows mobile gaming to finally feel compelling.
• Silver Chains Review: Tried and True Haunted House Horror That’s Better as a Let’s Play
  Gorgeous graphics and excellent sound design don’t make up for a lack of gameplay and an extremely short playtime.
• Sairento PSVR Review: Tech Keeps This Ninja Fantasy From Being Reality
  Terribly dated visuals and wonky movement mechanics get in the way of what should be an amazing ninja slice ‘n shoot adventure.

• Best Standard Hearthstone Decks for Saviors of Uldum Meta
  Looking for a new Hearthstone deck to climb up the ladder in the Saviors of Uldum meta? Here are nine of the best new Standard decks that will get you to legend rank in no time.
  
  
• GENKI’s Portable Switch Dock Actually Lets You Take Your Switch Anywhere
  Genki’s latest accessory is a portable Switch dock that fits in your pocket, shouldn’t overheat, and more importantly, won’t brick your Switch.
• Hop Into an X-Wing With This VR Mod for Star Wars: X-Wing Alliance
  Star Wars: X-Wing Alliance might be nearly 20 years old, but that doesn’t mean modders aren’t working to bring modern updates to the game, including VR.
• Madden 20‘s Story Mode is Everything Last Year’s Wasn’t, and That’s Why It’s Great
  Madden NFL 20 has a new story mode, and it’s miles better than the travesty of Longshot. It builds a strong foundation for the future with a new-look drama.

• Age Of Wonders: Planetfall Strategy Guide to Winning
  By taking advantage of undefended resources and early unit summon abilities, you’ll be in a much better position to win any Planetfall scenario.
• Age Of Wonders: Planetfall Best Hero Skills Guide
  Want to maximize your hero’s capabilities and annihilate the enemy factions? We show you all the best skills to pick so you don’t waste any precious skill points!
• Fire Emblem: Three Houses Recommended Class Guide
  Which is the best Fire Emblem: Three Houses class? That’s not quite so easy to answer, so we’ve put together this list of recommended classes spanning the tiers.
• Madden NFL 20 Guide: How To Break Tackles for More Yards After Contact
  In flag football, speed and agility reign supreme, but in the bruising pro game of the NFL, breaking tackles can bust open an average gain into a long touchdown. Here’s how to break tackles in Madden 20.
• What is Sleeve Temp in Madden NFL 20?
  Sleeve temp is a small, but new addition to Madden NFL 20. Here is what sleeve temp means when editing a player’s equipment.
• WWE 2K20 Playable Wrestler Roster
  The Four Horsewomen dominate this year’s WWE roster, with cover superstar Becky Lynch joining Charlotte, Bayley, and Sasha Banks in the official WWE 2K20 lineup.
• Quickest Ways to Get Money in GTA Online: How to Make Cash Fast
  Learn how to make quick cash in GTA Online with the help of this guide to all the fastest and most profitable methods.
• Best Properties to Buy in GTA Online
  Can’t decide which type of property to buy in GTA Online? Look no further than this short list of the most profitable properties in the game.
• How To Fix Twitch PS4 Error 0495ba16 (The Easy Way!)
  Can’t log in into the app and watch streams because of the 0495ba16 Twitch PS4 error? We’ve got a short term workaround and a more long fix available!
• No Sessions Found Fix for ARK: Survival Evolved
  If you’re having trouble finding servers on the PC or PS4 version of ARK: Survival Evolved, then follow this step-by-step guide for some solutions.

Check back next weekend for another roundup of news, reviews, guides, and features. Be sure to check previous weeks for more content: 

• GameSkinny Weekend Download: Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3, Nintendo’s Joy Con Lawsuit, Rebel Galaxy: Outlaw, and More
• Gears 5 Bans Smoking, Nintendo Recharges, and Gamestop Goes Retro to Stay Alive
• Nintendo Switch Lite, Stranger Things 3, Cyberpunk 2077
• Console Tariffs, Canceled WoW Successor, New PUBG, More
• E3 Previews + Roundups, Bloodstained, Harry Potter, More
• Sony Partners With Microsoft, Plus Rage 2, Super Mario Maker, More
• Days Gone, Sea of Thieves, Borderlands 3, More
• More PS5 News, MK11, World War Z, and Minecraft
• PUBG Banned Again (Again), PS5 News, New Star Wars, More