GameSkinny Weekend Download: Rockstar Makes Headlines, Fire Emblem is Awesome, Madden 20 Takes the Field, and More

This week, we look at Madden 20 and if this year’s installment earns the franchise a contract extensions. We also give our thoughts on the criminally-good Fire Emblem: Three Houses, which has all of us that don’t already have a Switch want to run out and get one right now!

In the news, Rockstar faces accusations of tax evasion, while GameStop begins its “reboot” in earnest, laying off 50 employees.

Sony says that the PS4 has now sold 100 million units, putting it past the PS2 in the same timeframe, while U.S. tariffs might increase the price of the popular system. The Switch is also doing (really) well, in both hardware and software. 

PEGI, the European ratings board, seems to have accidentally leaked an impending Doom 64 re-release on PS4 and PC, while Turok and Turok 2 are getting physical releases on the Switch.  

And rounding out the news, Capcom is up to something with (could it be an RE3 remaster?)…

Of course, we also have a slew of guides for some of the most popular releases, as well as as a handful of gear reviews and lifestyle roundups. 

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

• Claim Against Grand Theft Auto Studio Says It’s Dodged U.K. Taxes for Years
  Rockstar Games comes under fire for alleged tax dodging and taking subsidy money meant for struggling game developers.
• GameStop Lays Off 50 Field Leaders as Part of Reboot Restructuring
  GameStop’s restructuring program is costing 50 people their jobs.
• PlayStation 4 Passes the 100 Million Mark, Demand Still High
  The PlayStation 4 passes a major milestone in record time, while sales remaining fairly steady.
• Nintendo Sees Switch Hardware and Software Numbers Climb
  The Nintendo Switch’s hardware and software sales are up from last year, and it’s closing the sales gap with its smaller handheld sibling.
• U.S. Tariffs on Chinese Goods Could Drive Up PlayStation Prices
  With tariffs on Chinese goods and game consoles still looming, Sony’s CFO says the company might have to respond with hardware price increases.
• Will Doom 64 Finally Emerge from Eternal Limbo?
  European ratings board PEGI releases Doom 64 classification for PS4 and PC — then quickly removes it.
• Hitman 3 Could Be In Development By Io And May Be Episodic Again
  Sounds like IO Interactive has big things in store for the future of Agent 47 and the Hitman franchise.
• Switch Charging Case and Bluetooth Audio Connector Now Available From Bionik
  Charge your Nintendo Switch on the go and use your favorite wireless Bluetooth headphones without the hassle.
• Dragon Quest Hero Kaswooshes Into Smash Bros. Ultimate Today
  Smash Ultimate Version 4.0.0 drops the Hero into the game, but it brings a lot more along with it, too.
• The Outer Worlds Comes to Life on Nintendo Switch — At Some Point
  Obsidian’s hotly-anticipated sci-fi title is making the jump to Nintendo Switch, though when that jump happens isn’t quite clear.
• Expeditions is a Brand New Free Mode in The Division 2
  Ubisoft just released Episode 1 for The Division 2 which is packed full of new content and a brand new game mode called Expeditions.
• Pokemon GO Celebrates Its Third Birthday with 1 Billion Downloads
  It’s one of the most profitable Western mobile games available as well, with more than a third of the game’s revenue coming from the U.S.
• Google Is Testing Play Pass, a Google Play Subscription Service
  Google moves one step closer to launching its mobile subscription service as a rival to Apple’s already-announced subscription plan.
• Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Open Beta Coming in September, Early Access For Pre-Orders
  Activision and Infinity Ward revealed details about Modern Warfare‘s upcoming Early Access pre-order beta and cross-platform Open Beta periods in September.
• Nintendo Serves Free Mario Tennis Aces Trial for Nintendo Switch Online Members
  Nintendo Switch Online members in North America are getting limited-time access to the full version of Mario Tennis Aces, plus some incentive to buy it if they like it.
• You Can Play Diablo For Free On Your Browser Right Now
  The limited shareware version is available at no cost, while anyone with an installed full game can access the entire Diablo experience via a web browser.
• Red Dead Online Update Bringing Specialist Roles, New Gameplay Tweaks
  RDO‘s newest update will bring specializations to the game, allowing players to specialize as a bounty hunter, stationary trader, or roving collector of rare items.
• Dino Fans Rejoice: Turok and Turok 2 Getting Physical Editions on Switch
  Pre-orders for Turok and Turok 2‘s physical editions open soon, but like always with Limited Run’s games, they’ll be gone for good before you know it.
• Capcom Recruiting Resident Evil Fans to Test New Game
  Could Capcom be getting ready for Resident Evil 8? Might we see an RE3 remake coming soon? Is testing for the Switch ports of RE5 and RE6?

• Fire Emblem: Three Houses Review — Cream of the Crop
  Fire Emblem: Three Houses is the definitive Fire Emblem experience, with a compelling story, streamlined gameplay, and a staggering amount of content.
  
  
• Madden NFL 20 Review: Rebuilding for Prime Time
  Madden NFL 20’s major new features are good on their own, but they are even better as a foundation for the years to come.
• ARMA 3 Contact Review: Occasional Aliens
  A classic science-fiction story functionally told, ARMA 3 Contact doesn’t try to reinvent any wheels in its narrative or gameplay. Instead, it occasionally fails to find its feet even with a strong premise and interesting aliens.
• The Church in the Darkness Review: Heaven’s Great
  The Church in the Darkness is an ambitious game and delivers on its premise almost all the way. It’s worth sipping this Kool-Aid.
• The Blackout Club Review: Stranger Things Meets Thief In One of the Year’s Best Games
  Stranger things have happened, but they’re rarely as scary or as fun as The Blackout Club, a dynamic co-op adventure that beckons with its bellowing song of hypnosis.
• Logitech G Pro X Gaming Headset Review: Sound Like a Pro
  The Logitech G Pro X is perfect for streamers and professional gamers, but it might not be the best bang for many player’s bucks.
• Turtle Beach Recon Spark Headset Review: A Colorful, Slightly Pricier Recon 70 Upgrade
  The first in a planned line of colorful new affordable headsets, the Recon Spark has a little more going for it than an unusual color scheme.
• Steelseries Arctis 9X Review: Mission Accomplished
  Nine is for the 9th Generation, the X is for Xbox, and the result is a potent combination of wireless Xbox sound.
• Lexip Pu94 Gaming Mouse Review: Unusually Customizable, But Who Actually Needs These Features?
  Lexip’s crowdfunded Pu94 is mounting a comeback after improvements to its notoriously janky software. It’s got a lot of unique features, but how many players will actually want or need them?

• 10 Best Islands & Creations in Dragon Quest Builders 2 So Far
  Dragon Quest Builders 2‘s user submissions have it all, from builder inspiration to awe-inducing wonders. There’s a lot to sift through when trying to find your next island getaway, so we’ve compiled the 10 best creations to check out so far.
• The Top 20 Minecraft 1.14.4 Seeds for August 2019
  The final major update for Minecraft 1.14 has arrived! It focuses mainly on villages and villagers, which makes them much smarter.
• Hearthstone: 15 Best Saviors of Uldum Cards for Standard
  Quest cards and league of explorers are back in Hearthstone! Here are 15 of the best cards from the new Saviors of Uldum expansion.

• Wolfenstein: Youngblood Guide — All Red Crate Codes
  Here are the codes of all 25 red crates in Wolfenstein: Youngblood.
• GTA Online Guide: All Playing Card Locations to Get High Roller
  Here are the locations of all 54 playing cards in GTA Online with exact map markers, which will allow you to unlock a unique High Roller outfit.
• GTA Online Casino Missions Aren’t Working Fix
  If GTA Online‘s casino missions aren’t working for you, here are two possible solutions.
• Fire Emblem: Three Houses Instruction Guide
  Being a prof. in Fire Emblem: Three Houses got you down? Our instruction guide has everything you need to know to lead your students to victory.
• Fire Emblem: Three Houses Lost Items Guide
  Feeling lost over what to do with Fire Emblem: Three Houses‘ lost items? Our comprehensive lost items guide will show you the way.
• Recruiting Students in Fire Emblem: Three Houses
  Stealing students from other Houses is completely acceptable, but not easy. Here’s how to recruit students from other Houses in Fire Emblem: Three Houses.
• Fire Emblem: Three Houses Reclass and Class Mastery Guide
  Knowing when to change class and why can be daunting, but fortunately, we break it down for you in this handy Three Houses class guide.
• Fire Emblem: Three Houses Cooking Together Guide
  Cooking Together is an important activity in Fire Emblem: Three Houses, and this is what you need to know.
• The Blackout Club Beginner’s Guide: Best Upgrades, Routes, and Character Builds
  The Blackout Club is an awesome mix of horror, co-op, and immersive sim. That sort of mix can be daunting to new players, but with our beginner’s guide, it doesn’t have to be.
• The Blackout Club Lore Guide: Dreams, Rituals, and Voices Explained
  The Blackout Club loves to keep players confused as its central mystery unravels slowly. If the game’s system of dreams, rituals, and tributes confuses you, we’ve got your guide right here.
• Madden NFL 20 Guide: All Superstar X-Factor Abilities and How to Use Them
  Madden NFL 20‘s major new addition is Superstar X-Factors. If you’re wondering which elite 50 players earned these new skills and how to use them, we’ve got your guide right here.
• Monster Chef: All Best Recipes List Guide
  All the best recipes for every dish in Monster Chef in one place.
• Minecraft: The Conduit and You
  Why make a conduit in Minecraft? Find out why and how to right here!
• Minimal Grind Required: Get the Building Boffin Trophy in Dragon Quest Builders 2
  A real boffin knows how to get the Building Boffin trophy with minimal grind. Don’t waste time hunting for it like me. Use this quick Dragon Quest Builders 2 guide instead.

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