Blizzard announced over the weekend that Overwatch 2 finally has a release date. The team-based shooter will launch on October 4, 2022, for PC, PS4, Ps5, Xbox One, Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch. The news comes as part of the Xbox and Bethesda showcase during Summer Games Fest 2022. It coincides with the reveal of a brand-new tank: Junker Queen. 

Overwatch 2 will feature full cross-platform play and cross-progression, but perhaps most tantalizing is that it will be free-to-play. Currently, the base version of Overwatch retails for $19.99, with various other editions on platforms like PlayStation going for $59.99. 

As pointed out in a press release accompanying the announcement, Junker Queen moves fast, implementing a railgun and cybernetics. The video at the top of this article shows her in action. There's also mention of the game's new Push mode, "a symmetrical map type where teams battle to take control and advance a centrally located robot deeper into enemy territory than the opposing team."

Those interested in taking part in the Overwatch 2 beta can sign up right here. Blizzard said that they will share more information on the upcoming beta, as well as the game's "live service model and seasonal content," via a live stream on June 16, 2022, at 1 p.m. EDT. It can be viewed on the Overwatch YouTube channel or the Overwatch Twitch channel. 

Apex Legends

The discussion around Apex Legends was incredible when it stealth launched in the winter of 2019. There was no marketing or hype -- it just randomly came out for free and exploded in popularity.

This battle royale takes a wonderful cast of characters (much like Overwatch) and mixes in the multiplayer survival elements popularized by Fortnite or PUBG. Though, Apex Legends is arguably a step up, thanks to its fluid gameplay. Sliding, jumping, running, and shooting just feels on point, making it tough to stop playing.

Each character has their own backstory and they all look, play, and feel different from one another, which is one of the games greatest strengths. Since Apex Legends is free, there's no excuse to skip this one. 

The PS4 is home to a slew of excellent shooters that are absolutely worth your time -- but these are some of the best you can currently play on PS5. There are lots to look forward to that will launch for PS5 in the future, but in the meantime, you've got plenty to hold you over. Let us know some of your favorites in the comments below.

Far Cry 3 Classic Edition

All of the Far Cry games are good, but something about Far Cry 3 has stuck with us more than the rest. Maybe it's because of the exotic island on which the game takes place, or the satisfying FPS gameplay. Or perhaps it has to do with the game's iconic villain, Vaas. 

Whatever the reason, there's a lot to love in Far Cry 3. Nowadays, open worlds are a dime a dozen, but in 2012 when this game debuted, it was a novel experience to see one as well done as this one. And sure, it's technically an Xbox 360/PS3 game, but the Classic Edition released for PS4 recently, featuring minor enhancements. 

It has smart upgrade systems, tons to do, and a gameplay loop that makes it hard to put down. The other entries are definitely worth checking out, too, but Far Cry 3 is on a league of its own. 

Wolfenstein: The New Order

Wolfenstein: The New Order is absolutely fascinating. Its alternate version of history is unsettling, the narrative and performances from its characters are exceptional, and the fantastic FPS gameplay ties everything together.

This game could have been bad, but MachineGames did a smart thing by doubling down on the story elements with The New Order, offering tense, and dramatic moments from beginning to end. 

And of course, it's wildly cathartic to mow down Nazis in the most brutal way possible: dual-wielding two massive machine guns to ensure they're taken out effectively. Or perhaps you'd rather use a rocket launcher. Either way, The New Order gives you plenty of toys at your disposal. It's worth checking out its sequel, The New Colossus, too! 

Resident Evil 7 Biohazard

Since the release of the original Resident Evil in 1996, each game has always been presented from a third-person perspective. That's why it was such a shock when it was announced that Resident Evil 7 Biohazard would be featured in first-person. And, to be frank, it's exactly the refresh the series needed at the time.

The first-person perspective made it feel scarier and much more personal. And with the shift away from traditional zombies introduced in the past, RE7 was a welcome change of pace that oddly enough felt more Resident Evil than many of the entries we got on the Xbox 360/PS4.

While this game is certainly a survival-horror game first, it has its action oriented shooter moments, as well. 

Metro Exodus

It's a shame Metro Exodus doesn't get talked about more because it's truly great. The best way to describe it is like a healthy mix of Fallout (with more polish) and Far Cry, with survival-horror elements.

It features an engaging story, an open world to explore, and all the crafting and weapon upgrading you could want. But the horror elements are what really draws us in — with a slew of tense moments that you can only overcome if you conserve ammo and supplies.

There are stealth mechanics, various branching story paths, and lots of upgrades to unlock, all tied together with a fantastic, but gloomy narrative. The entire Metro series, and Exodus in particular deserves more love.

DOOM Eternal

While many games on this list are complex, DOOM Eternal shines because of its simplicity, at least from a moment-to-moment gameplay perspective. Sure, it's got a slew of upgrade systems, but when it comes to the way it plays, understanding DOOM Eternal is simple enough.

And running around obliterating demons never felt so good and is made even better with all the new weapons and gadgets you have at your disposal. Particularly the grappling hook, which implements a layer of verticality not present in the 2016 predecessor. 

DOOM Eternal builds upon the foundation set by 2016's DOOM reboot and both are absolutely worth checking out, especially due to their metal soundtracks. 

Call of Duty: Warzone

Video games are built on iteration and Call of Duty: Warzone wears its inspirations on its sleeve. That isn't a knock as it builds upon other popular battle royale games and improves upon them,offering an intense and complex tactical FPS. 

It almost feels like Rainbow Six at times, wherein you must be deliberate with your decisions as you try and survive against over 100 other players. The unpredictable nature of the way each match plays out leads to some action-packed moments that feel like once in a lifetime situations.

And all of that is nicely held together with that beloved Call of Duty gameplay, which even after nearly 20 years remains unmatched in the shooter space. Warzone isn't the first battle royale game, but it's certainly one of the best. 

Overwatch

Hero shooters had certainly been around for a while when Overwatch debuted in 2016, but this game absolutely nailed the formula thanks to the fun balanced FPS gameplay and wonderful cast of characters.

Considering Overwatch is a live service game, it's important that its developer, Blizzard, has kept up with it and offered plenty of updates and in-game events to ensure it feels fresh. That's exactly what the team at Blizzard has done and their work should be commended.

But aside from the fun gameplay, this game wouldn't be as successful without its diverse, robust cast of characters. 32 in all, each one feels unique from a narrative perspective as well as in the way they play, giving you plenty of reasons to stick around and try all of them out.

Titanfall 2

It seems like the Titanfall series has been forgotten about, but that doesn't mean we can't jump back into the second entry in the series. Titanfall 2 is a game that extrapolated on the original in more ways than one, featuring a fully fleshed single-player campaign and a return to the beloved online multiplayer popularized by the first game.

One of the most memorable things about Titanfall 2 is its fast, frenetic gameplay — which often allows you to run along walls and chain together moves that make you feel superhuman at times. 

It's a game that suffered from launching too close to other shooters in 2016 and as a result, underperformed in EA's eyes. That does not mean you should skip out on it, because it's one of the most unique shooters in years.

Battlefield 1

There are a few different Battlefield games to check out on PS4 and all of them are — at the very least — good (including Battlefield Hardline). But out of all the entries on PS4, we like Battlefield 1 the best.

It takes place during WWI and has a new take on the single-player campaign. The story mode is comprised of shorter "vignettes" with different characters rather than one over arching story with a single hero.

That, combined with the fantastic online multiplayer mode makes for action packed moments that hit hard -- whether you're a support player or someone who likes to be on the offense more. Battlefield 1 is Dice at the top of its game and we can't wait to see what the team does next.

As the launch lineup for any console tends to be, the PlayStation 5 doesn't have a ton of games just yet. Full on PS5 games will be coming, but for now you can bolster your collection with a variety of fantastic PlayStation 4 titles.

The great thing is that most of your PS4 games work on PS5, thanks to backwards compatibility. That means you can pick right where you left off on your favorite PS4 shooters with little to no issues on PS5.

Thanks to the PS5's backwards compatibility feature, you can play any PlayStation 4 title on the platform with no hurdles at all. Anything you played on your PS4 can be brought to the PS5 with no issues at all, and the same can be said for anything you haven't played yet.

Let's take a look at some of the best PS4 shooters you can play on your PS5 right now.

Torchlight 3 Halloween — Gears 'N' Goblins Update

The Torchlight 3 Halloween update brings the pets along for the ride. Players can rescue three new Halloween-themed pets from bosses and dungeons: the Midnight Cat, Spooky Retriever, and Dragonling Spirt. Each with a special skill that summons skeletons in battle, but the pets are only available until December.

Aside from battle-pups, the update introduces the Ancient Ember gear set and two new skills along with it, plus new fort decorations and two new weapons: Sword of the Lost and Lightning Baller mace.

And that's it for now! Feel free to bookmark this page for more Halloween event updates throughout October! If you found this list frightfully delightful, please consider sharing it! 

Hardspace: Shipbreaker Halloween: Haunted Frontier

Hardspace: Shipbreaker's Halloween event is Haunted Frontier, full of spooky haunted ships that put your bravery — and desire for salvage — to the test.

The update, which is live now on Steam, turns any ship into a potential ghost ship. Things start deteriorating as you gather materials and fend off rogue AI nodes. Lights flicker on and off. Air gets sucked out of the room. And somewhere deep in the ship, unsettling sounds can be heard...

Should you make it out alive, you can show off your hard-earned rewards with new stickers and badges.

Hunt: Showdown Halloween Event

Hunt: Showdown has its first-ever Halloween event on now until November 4, with a gourd-full of ghoulish events and treats to earn.

Players earn Event Points for special equipment and other items by doing the following:

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• Destroying pumpkins scattered through the world 
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• Destroying the Butcher's pumpkin head 
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• Investigating a Halloween-themed Clue or Rift 
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• Destroying pumpkins mounted on scarecrows 
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There's only so many Event Points you can earn each day, but using the special Halloween item Wormseed Shot increases the points earned by 25%.

1,000 Event Points are needed for all the event's special gear. Any points earned over that will be converted into Blood Bonds once the event ends.

Minecraft Halloween in the Minecraft Marketplace

Minecraft Halloween celebrations run through November 2, with frights aplenty in the Minecraft Marketplace. Mojang's got Halloween-themed maps and items in store there, plus Halloween Collections to choose from in the Character Creator and Marketplace.

Until November 2, you can grab a free Halloween skin pack and Halloween character creation item for free. These will still be available to get after November 2, but they won't be free then.

[Source: Mojang]

Fire Emblem Heroes Halloween — Special Heroes (Dragons Harvest)

Fire Emblem Heroes' Halloween event runs through November 7 at 7:59 p.m. EST and offers a chance to summon four new Halloween-themed units:

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• Fall Vessel Robin (Awakening)
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• Autumn Trickster Xane (Mystery of the Emblem)
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• Harvest Goldoan Dheginsea (Radiant Dawn)
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• Harmonic Hope Ninian and Tiki duo unit (Binding Blade and Shadow Dragon)
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As always, the seasonal Fire Emblem Heroes' units come with a new Paralogue event, Dragons Harvest.

No Man's Sky Halloween Update

Head back to the outer reaches of the galaxy to find some new loot in the No Man's Sky Halloween update. Brave explorers can scour Desolation's wrecked vessels again to find a new item, Tainted Metal, and have a chance to snag some Quicksilver. But it comes at a cost. The freighters are full of new treats and a security system gone haywire.

Trade Tainted Metal with the Scrap Dealer to get new base decorations and additional customization options, or you can stockpile it to exchange for the Horrific Flesh-Helmet.

Scrap Dealers also have Orange Pustules and Detoxified Slimes for infesting and purifying bases.

[Source: Hello Games]

PixARK Halloween

PixARK Halloween brings a spooky makeover to the survival game from now until November 2, with costumes and treats galore.

Things kick off at the main menu, which is getting a Halloween re-skin. The main attraction is the Pumpkin Soul Reaper though.

When you defeat the Pumpkin Soul Reaper, it might drop:

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• Pumpkin Seed
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• Magic Broom
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• Flying Firework
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• Clown Costume
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The Firework and Broomstick only last seven days, but you have a slight chance of getting a permanent one from defeating Ancient Wyvern King, Beach Bully, and Aurora Butterfly King enemies.

Then there's candy grenades, Halloween decorations, a creepy scarecrow costume, and plenty of events to make the most out of the season.

[Source: Steam Community]

Apex Legends Halloween: Fight or Fright 2020

Apex Legends' Halloween Fight or Fright event is back with Shadow Royale and more from now until November 3.

Shadow Royale sees night fall on Kings Canyon and its trio matches. When a Legend falls, they're reborn in Shadow form with a thirst for vengeance.

This year's event sees several all-new skins plus re-imagined versions of last year's, including Sweet Dreams Caustic and Wicked Harvest Bloodhound. Skins from last year are available on rotation in the in-game store as part of bundle offers or special offers.

There's a set of exclusive rewards in the event's Prize Track too with skins, charms, and more.

[Source: EA]

War of The Visions Final Fantasy Brave Exvius Halloween Special

War of the Visions is celebrating Halloween with two featured UR summons and a bucketful of rewards. Players can summon UR Little Leela and UR Rairyuu from now until November 10, both in Halloween attire with appropriate skills to match.

The Halloween Special also includes a Rewards From the Producer reward period from now until November 10. It features:

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• 2,000 Visiore
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• 20,000,000 Gil
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• 1 Rainbow Fragment of Thought
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• 3 Rainbow Vision Sphere
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• 50 Adamantite (Large)
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• 50 Burst Pot
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• 50 Armor Pot
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In a separate update, new players who start the game get a 7-day free summon period where a UR summon is guaranteed.

From October 28 through Halloween, players can take advantage of 6-UR Guaranteed Step Up 10x Summon, which guarantees:

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• one UR unit or vision card on step 1
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• two UR units/vision cards on step 2
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• three UR units/vision cards on step 3
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There's also a  5-step 10x Summon which guarantees a MR+ unit or vision card on steps 1-4 and UR “Exorcists” on step 5.

And there's even more, from daily login bonuses and Halloween Challenge Missions to a spoopy new Halloween-themed game icon.

GTA Online Halloween Bunker Series

GTA Online has a bunker full of frightful delights this Halloween. Halloween Bunker Series features triple RP and GTA$ plus three Slasher maps: the depths of the bunker, the silo, and The Diamond.

Taking part in the Halloween Adversary modes such as Beast Vs. Slasher and Come Out To Play doubles your RP and GTA$.

The peyote plants are back, in keeping with the spooky season, though Rockstar isn't saying what they'll transform you into yet. Nightclub income rates are going up as part of the event, and there'll be an influx of Freemode Events with triple payouts through October 28.

[Source: Rockstar Games]

Mortal Shell Halloween: Rotten Autumn

Mortal Shell's first content update just so happens to be a Halloween update called Rotten Autumn.

After downloading the update, speak with Gorf to unlock a new mini-quest. Completing it earns you new shades to deck out your Shell with. And you can show the world just how you spruced up your Shell with Mortal Shell's brand-new photo mode.

There's also a separate download alongside Rotten Autumn that adds a new soundtrack for boss fights, courtesy of Rotting Christ.

Those who haven't jumped into Mortal Shell yet can do so with a limited-time 20% discount for the digital version on PS4 and PC. That same discount isn't live for Xbox players yet, but it will be come October 27. 

Mortal Shell's physical version releases November 3 on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One in the U.S., then on October 23 for PlayStation 4 and PC (case containing a key) in Europe and October 30 for Xbox One in Europe.

Fortnite Halloween — Fortnitemares 2020

King Midas is back from the great beyond in Fortnite's Fortnitemares 2020 event from now until November 3, and he's giving you the chance to wreak havoc on friend and foe alike.

When you're eliminated in a Solo, Duos or Squads match, you get the chance to return as a Shadow in Nitemare Royal. Attack surviving players from the shadows and even possess vehicles to bring their game to an end.

That's the trick side of things, but the island has plenty of treats in store too. You can get your hands on the Pumpkin Rocket Launcher, Fiend Hunter Crossbow, a special Midas invention, and of course, candy.

There's a suite of Fortnitemares challenges where you can unlock costumes and weapon skins such as the Smash-O'-Lantern Pickaxe and Midas' Shadow Wrap.

Finally, on Halloween night (October 31) at 9 p.m. EST, award-winning reggae singer J Balvin kicks off the Afterlife Party at the Party Royale Main Stage.

[Source: Epic Games]

PUBG Mobile Infection Mode

PUBG Mobile's Infection Mode is back from the dead from now until November 9, with new content, themes, costumes, and plenty of zombies.

Infection Mode's classic combat returns, pitting a team of Defenders against a team of Zombies in an all-or-nothing fight. Zombies — sporting Halloween masks, if you so choose —  can only use melee attacks, but fallen Defenders transform into Zombies with chances for form shifts and stat buffs.

If it all gets too much for the Defenders, they transform into Vanquishers when their team is down to three members. Foes they vanquish can't be resurrected.

These hellish fights unfold across maps decked out with pumpkins, gravestones, and other seasonal paraphernalia. More costumes and decorations are planned before the end of the event.

World of Tanks Halloween — Burning Games

Free-to-play war game World of Tanks is hosting the Burning Games Halloween event until October in partnership with Korn and their new video for "Finally Free." It's a chance for Tier V and higher vehicles to complete challenges and earn special items and take part in the new Wasteland map.

In World of Tanks Wasteland, tanks start with 1 HP and have to attack others to replenish it. Players can attack allies to restore teammates' health, and respawning increases the tank's overall power.

From October 16 through October 31, players can join The Way of the Raider 60-stage event to earn XP, camo, and the two new tanks featured in Korn's music video.

Finally, from October 24 through October 31, World of Tanks brings back Mad Games, a limited-time chance to outfit your tanks with the wildest abilities possible.

Red Dead Online: The Halloween Pass

It's spooky time at the Red Dead Online corral, with the game's first-ever Halloween Pass. Now through November 16, players can get their hands on wagon-loads of Red Dead Online Halloween rewards, ranging from weapons and costumes to decorations for the tavern. Everything acquired during the event lasts after it ends.

The Halloween Pass is available in the progress menu or the Wheeler, Rawson & Co selection.

Pokemon GO Halloween 2020

Pokemon GO Halloween 2020 runs from October 23 at 9 p.m. EST through November 3 at the same time and offers the first chance to get your hands on Galarian Yamask among other things.

Completing the Halloween Special Research "A Spooky Message Unmasked" gets you one step closer to finding both Galarian Yamask and Spiritomb. Other Field Research tasks will also center around Halloween themes during the event.

Ghost-type Pokemon will be more common in the wild, in Raids, and in Eggs. You might even find a costumed Gengar in Raids or hatch a Sableye in costume if you're lucky.

Talking of Raids, Darkrai takes center stage for five-star Raids, but there's more Halloween Raid goodness in store.

On October 31 from 11 a.m. local time through 5 p.m. local time, there's a higher chance Alolan Marowak will show up in Raids.

There's a special Halloween Cup from October 26 at 4 p.m. EST through the end of the event where only Poison, Dark, Bug, Ghost, and Fairy Pokemon can compete, and they have to have less than 1,500 CP.

It just wouldn't be Halloween without costumes. Pokemon GO Halloween 2020 amps up the costume game with a Gengar onesie, Sableye goggles, Pikachu mask, and more, along with bundles in the in-game shop.

Finally, there's an all-new event on October 26, the Catch Mastery event, which we cover in more detail elsewhere.

Harry Potter Wizards Unite: Darkness Rising 2020

Harry Potter Wizards Unite is back for 2020 and, like its Pokemon counterpart, you can play it safely from home.

This year, Darkness Rising revolves around weekly events where completing tasks — brewing potions, collecting notes, and the like — earns you rewards such as extra XP, Portkeys, and books.

The ultimate goal is finding the Dark Witch, masquerading as a Brilliant Oddity. Other oddities abound, too, including Brilliant Witch, Brilliant Dark Wizard, and Brilliant Giant Stone Hand.

Dreams Halloween

If you're looking for a more atmospheric experience, Dreams' Halloween event, All Hallows' Dreams, may be for you. The whole thing is user-generated, like the rest of Dreams, and All Hallows' Dreams pops up at the top of the world list when you boot the game up.

Choosing it takes you to a dream world with different scary mansions to explore.

Some are reportedly very scary indeed, though they have their biggest frights confined to the upper floors. Others are just fun, creepy haunted houses to explore, complete with pumpkins carved by other Dreams players and a costume zone.

Call of Duty Halloween 2020 — Haunting of Verdansk

Call of Duty Warzone and Modern Warfare share a Halloween event in 2020: Haunting of Verdansk. The event runs from October 20 through November 3. It's a multi-pronged event featuring crossovers with SAW and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, but some of it does come at a cost.

If you want the film crossover treats, you'll have to shell out for the SAW and Chainsaw Massacre bundles, both of which include skins, items, and weapons inspired by their respective franchises.

Activision promised more Halloween-themed bundles for the in-game store, including the new Dr. Karlov bundle focused on regional Verdansk folklore and a Grim Reaper bundle.

In addition to Trick or Treat crates with Halloween items galore, Haunting of Verdansk adds night modes to event maps, zombie battle royale, scavenger hunts, and much, much more.

[Source: Call of Duty]

Minecraft Dungeons Spooky Fall Halloween Event

Spooky Fall is coming to Minecraft Dungeons from October 26 until November 3 with challenges and rewards galore.

Seasonal Trials are summoning up ghoulish mobs for players to take on. If that weren't spoopy enough, the event turns down the lights with Night Mode — but only until the event ends.

Completing the Season Trials earns exclusive seasonal weapons and gear, whether Night Mode is enabled or not.

Elder Scrolls Online Halloween — Witches Festival 2021

Elder Scrolls Online's annual Halloween Witches Festival is back once more with double XP and plenty of treats to go around. ESO's 2020 Witches Festival runs from October 22 at 10 a.m. EST through November 3 at the same time.

If this is your first time taking part, you'll need to complete "The Witchmother's Bargain" quest from the Crown Store and earn the Witchmother's Whistle item. If you already have it, just select it from your collections to get started.

Using the Whistle kicks off a two-hour period of bonus XP, but there's a lot more.

Players can earn new mementos, furnishings, and Dremora and Hollowjack-themed items through Plunder Skulls earned in battle.

Bosses drop Dremora Plunder Skulls with extra goods, including treasure maps and pages for the Grave Digger weapon style.

There's the final evolution of the Indrik, a costume gala, grab bags, deals, and more. Check out the full details on the ESO event site.

Overwatch Junkenstein 2020

Overwatch's Halloween Terror 2020 event, aka Junkenstein 2020, is live now through November 3, bringing the Junkenstein's Revenge Brawl back alongside new skins and more.

Baptiste and Ashe are added to the brawl mix as playable characters this year, and there are weekly challenges to take on to earn new skins.

These are the new Legendary skins for the Halloween Terror 2020 event:

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• Karasu-Tengu (Genji)
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• Dai-Tengu (Hanzo)
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• Werewolf (Winsto)
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• Flying Dutchman (Sigma)
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• Shin-Ryeong (D.Va)
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That's in addition to three new Epic skins:

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• Fantasma (Sombra)
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• Stone (Brigitte)
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• Ragdoll (Echo)
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Here' the schedule of events.

October 13-20

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• Vengeful Ghost — get chased by ghosts
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• Frenzied Stampede — chase down fast-moving zomnics
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October 20-27

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• Volatile Zomnics — zomnics explode when you get close
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• Three They Were — take on missions with just three characters
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October 27-November 3

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• Mystery Swap — heroes get randomly changed
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• Shocking Surprise — shock tires spawn from defeated enemies
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Overcooked! 2 — Moon Harvest Festival

Overcooked! 2's Halloween celebration isn't technically Halloween-themed. It's in honor of harvest and autumn celebrations throughout eastern Asia, but it's fall-ish, so it works.

Better yet, it's a free update with no end time, and the content will appear in Overcooked! All You Can Eat for next-gen consoles.

Overcooked! 2's Moon Harvest Festival introduces new kitchens themed around water and lily pad obstacles. There are five new levels total, plus three succulent-looking mooncakes to add to the menu.

Doom Eternal Halloween 2020

Doom Eternal's Halloween 2020 event is pretty straightforward. Until October 29, log in every day, complete campaign missions to earn XP, play Battlemode, and complete weekly challenges to unlock skins. Challenges refresh every Thursday.

These Doom Eternal skins include:

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• Halloween Slayer
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• Black Widow Mancubus
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• Webenant Revenant
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• Cultist Marauder
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[Source: Bethesda]

Dragalia Lost — Postmortem Panic

Dragalia Lost's Halloween event for 2020 is Postmortem Panic, a series of increasingly difficult challenges with a slew of rewards. It's live from October 12 at 2 a.m. through October 19 at the same time, but the event rewards can be claimed until October 26 at 1:59 a.m.

Postmortem Panic divides its missions by difficulty. Completing all the challenges at one tier earns battle charts and stratagems for unlocking the next level of quest.

Some of these are special dragon battle challenges, pitting adventurers against the toughest of foes like Astral High Mercury.

Victory earns wind and water tomes to unlock new skills for certain characters, while completing quests earns primal crystals used for treasure trading.

[Source: Nintendo of America]

Splatoon 2 Halloween Splatfest — Splatoween

Splatoon 2 is hosting a Halloween Splatfest called Splatoween, where the Tricks face off against the Treats. The special Splatfest kicks off on October 30 at 6 p.m. EST/3 p.m. PST and runs through November 1 at 5 p.m. EST/2 p.m. PST.

During the event, players can get their tentacles on some Halloween Splatoon 2 gear, including:

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• Kyonshi Hat
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• Li'l Devil Horns
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• Hockey Mask
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• Anglerfish Mask
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These will be available via a Switch News article, so make sure you're signed up to get Splatoon 2 news on your Switch system. 

Star Citizen: Alpha 3.11 High Impact and Halloween

Star Citizen's Alpha 3.11 update includes a bounty of additions, and among them is Star Citizen's first-ever Halloween event. It kicked off earlier this month and runs through Halloween on October 31.

During the event, players can earn Halloween helmets and a special Day of the Vara Cutlass skin. There's a cosplay competition and even a pumpkin carving contest with plenty of "sweet prizes" in store for those who take part.

Borderlands 3 Halloween — Bloody Harvest Returns

Borderlands 3's Bloody Harvest Halloween event is back for October 2020. The ghoulish festivities run through November 5, and it's easier than ever to get your hands on some sweet, ghastly gear.

To kick things off, head to Sanctuary III, and speak with Maurice. Maurice tasks you with collecting Hecktoplasm from haunted enemies, easily spotted by their ghostly green glow.

Defeating haunted enemies spawns specters you'll need to defeat as well, and that's when you finally get ahold of Hecktoplasm.

After collecting enough of Hecktoplasm, Maurice opens the gate to Heck, where you can chat with Captain Haunt to access a number of quests, through which you'll earn Bloody Harvest items and cosmetics.

This year, the Bloody Harvest quests are less demanding than before, making it easier to get loot.

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• 4 challenges completed — “A Shrinking Feeling" weapon trinket
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• 8 challenges completed — "Message from Beyond" ECHO Device skin
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• 12 challenges completed — "Haunted Look" shared Vault Hunter skin
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• 15 challenges completed — "Porphyrophobia" weapon skin
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Destiny 2: Festival of the Lost 2020

Destiny 2 brings back the Festival of the Lost and the Haunted Forest for 2020, with new weapons, triumphs, armor sets, and cosmetics for Exotics to celebrate the spookiest season of the year. Festival of the Lost 2020 is free for all Destiny 2 players and runs from October 6 through November 3. 

Festival of the Lost 2020 adds new perk rolls for the Braytech Werewolf and Horror Story, plus new sets for a few classes:

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• Hunter — Lycanthrope Set
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• Warlock — Daywalker (vampire) Set
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• Titan — Promethean Set
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On the official Festival of the Lost blog post, Bungie provided more information on the Halloween event. The Spider is a new NPC that gives players Cipher Decoders that unlock special chests at the end of The Haunted Forest. The chests are worth pursuing because they contain Legendary items specific to the Festival of the Lost. 

Rounding things out, there are new Sparrow skins available, as well as festival masks and vanity items for various armor sets, including broomsticks and witch hats. 

Resident Evil Resistance October Update

Resident Evil Resistance has a big October update in store, which is basically a Halloween update without actually being called a Halloween update.

Jill Valentine joins the ranks of the Survivors, with powerful weapons and her characteristic dodge mechanic from Resident Evil 3: Nemesis remake. And as is only fitting, Nemesis itself is a playable Mastermind for the first time. Players control Nemesis through playing as Nicholai, another new Mastermind.

The Prison is a new map added in RE Resistance's October update, and the Uptown Raccoon City and Bemusement Park maps get a remix with new layouts.

Finally is a slew of new costumes and weapon skins, Survivors' perks and customizable abilities, and Mastermind traps.

[Source: Capcom]

Grounded October Update

Grounded’s October update adds ziplines and more to the survival game, including some Halloween-themed items. The initial announcement is relatively light on details, but players can expect decorations, recreational items, and doodads to use with friends. These include harvestable Candy Corn and a new landmark in the Frankenline, which is described as "a creepy discarded Etch-a-Sketch you can actually draw on."

Aside from washing The Backyard in a spooky glow, the October update for Grounded does a lot on the backend as well, including fixing a handful of bugs, fine-tuning combat, and unlocking new perks. You can see the full patch notes here. 

Mortal Kombat 11: Aftermath — All Hallows' Eve

Mortal Kombat 11 Aftermath is getting some Halloween goodness with the All Hallows’ Eve character skin pack. It’s available now and is free for Aftermath owners. Those who haven’t upgraded to Aftermath yet would need to purchase the expansion, which also unlocks the Summer Heat and Femme Fatale packs from earlier in 2020. 

Mortal Kombat 11’s All Hallows’ Eve skin pack trailer highlighted three of the included skins. One is the “Blizzard King” outfit for Sub-Zero, and then there’s the part-werewolf part-school spirit “Beast Within” skin for Johnny Cage. Then there’ “Bad Medicine” for D’Vorah, turning the Kytinn fighter into a spidery nurse from hell. 

It’s not certain if Warner Bros. is adding anything else to Mortal Kombat 11’s Halloween event, but we’ll update if something new turns up.

Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp Halloween

The Halloween fun isn’t limited to New Horizons, as Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp celebrates spooky season in its own way. The 2020 Pocket Camp Halloween event features a number of special activities with ghoulish treats on offer for those who complete certain goals.

Jack comes around and demands sweet treats. Hand over bat-themed lollipops to get bat furniture as a reward, and plant pumpkins during the month’s Garden Event to nab hatbats. Jack offers exclusive items such as mystical pumpkins in return.

Taking part in the October Fishing Tourney nets some goodies as well, with potion-themed furniture on offer every time players reach a size goal with the fish they catch.

Then there’s a fright night gyroidite scavenger hunt, new Happy Home classes and challenges, wall and carpet sets, special cookie items and more. The Pocket Camp Halloween and October events are live now.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons Halloween

Animal Crossing: New Horizons' Halloween update is available to download for free now, and it’s bringing more than just the Czar of Halloween to the island. 

Animal Crossing patch 1.5 paves the way for Halloween by adding Candy as an item players can purchase from the Nooklings’ store and pumpkins as growable DIY fodder.

The patch 1.5 trailer shows players planting, watering, and harvesting at least four different pumpkin varieties and then using them in various Halloween-themed DIY recipes.

On Halloween night (October 31), Jack himself visits the island. It’s not clear yet what he requires of the player, but all the residents will be lurking about, asking for Candy and showing off their costumes.

The patch adds new skin tone options for players to look their creepy best as well. We’ll update with more information about what New Horizons Halloween brings to the table as it becomes available.

Monster Hunter: World Iceborne — Fun Fright Fest

Capcom’s brewing up a special Monster Hunter: World Iceborne Halloween event called the Fun Fright Fest, part of the hefty Title Update 5. It runs from October 15 at 8 p.m. EST through November 5 at the same time and is exclusive to the expansion.

The Autumn Harvest Fest is returning to the base Monster Hunter: World game, but Capcom hasn’t said much about it yet.

Fun Fright Fest (starting at 7:06 in the above trailer) sees the Seliana Gathering Hub decked out with spooky furnishings, and the handler dons a Cute Demoness outfit to celebrate the occasion. There are two special ticket types to collect during the event and trade in for loot: the Fun Fright Ticket and the VIP Fun Fright Ticket. 

The former get doled out as daily login bonuses for the MHW Halloween event and can be used to craft armor with Decoration slots. Players can exchange the latter for in-game decorations and Layered Armor, but these are only available as random item drops. Both ticket types can be exchanged for Melding Tickets too.

There’s at least one new set of armor coming to the Fun Fright Fest, Demon Lord Alpha+. Wearing pieces of this armor set increases the chance of getting VIP Fun Fright Tickets.

Capcom may reveal more about Monster Hunter: World Iceborne’s Fun Fright Fest as the start date approaches, and we’ll update if that happens.

Killing Floor 2: Infernal Insurrection

It wouldn’t be Halloween without Killing Floor 2’s annual Halloween celebrations, and 2020 is no different. This year’s Halloween event is Killing Floor 2: Infernal Insurrection, and it brings treats galore, including new weapons, maps, and cosmetics.

Infernal Insurrection’s new map is Hallmark Station, a twisted take on London’s famous King’s Cross Station. Hallmark Station has been overrun by zeds, of course, and players must team up with fellow mercenaries to take down the demonic threat. Hellmark Station includes Survival, Endless, and Weekly modes.

Two new HRG weapons make their debut in Killing Floor 2’s Halloween event.

\n
• HRG Scorcher (Firebug class bonus) — a flare gun that marks targets by setting them on fire
\n
• HRG Arc Generator (Survivalist class bonus) — fires EMP blasts in short bursts or powerful charges
\n

From now until November 10, Killing Floor 2 is also introducing a number of Halloween events, objectives, bonuses, and cosmetics.

October 2020 is upon us, which means it's time for scary movies, The Simpsons Tree House of Horror, and Halloween events in all our favorite video games! While we're still on announcements from Overwatch and Apex Legends, games like Killing Floor 2, Animal Crossing: New Horizons, and MHW already have their in-game-event plans laid out for the spooky season.

From new weapons and outfits to new DIY recipes and Palico Halloween costumes, there are plenty of tricks, and even more treats, in store for the witching month. 

Games that haven't announced Halloween plans yet likely will in the coming weeks, and we'll update this list of Halloween events when that happens. Be sure to bookmark this and check back throughout October!

It was no secret that BlizzCon, Blizzard's own convention to show off upcoming titles and expansions for its popular titles such as World of Warcraft and Overwatch, was getting cancelled this year and pushed to early 2021. Now we have the exact dates it will be running, and its new fancy name: BlizzConline.

BlizzConline will be taking place from February 19 to February 20, 2021, but Blizzard are still tight-lipped about what games they'll be showing over the course of the streamed convention.

What they aren't quiet about so far is the host of Community Showcase events happening over the course of the two days, which will include:

• A cosplay exhibition
• A cosplay contest
• An art contest
• A digital storytelling contest
• A talent spotlight

The entry deadline for each of these Community Showcase events is January 4, 2021, so be sure to read up more on what they will entail through the official announcement.

BlizzConline will also feature the March of the Murlocs despite being a remote event, which also has a January 4, 2021, deadline for those interested in entering a photo or video marching and dancing while dressed up as a Murloc in World of Warcraft.

There are no further details known about BlizzConline just yet, but it sounds like it may be just as focused on the fans as ever. Keep your eyes here on GameSkinny for further news as we edge closer to 2021.

In a move that probably doesn't surprise anyone, Blizzard announced today that BlizzCon 2020 is canceled. There's a possibility of an online event taking its place, but it's not likely to happen anytime soon.

The news comes from a post by BlizzCon Executive Producer Saralyn Smith, which PCGamer first spotted earlier today.

Smith said:

...we’ve had many discussions about what holding a convention could look like in light of all the health and safety considerations we’d want to make.

We’ve also talked about different paths we could take, and how each one could be complicated by fluctuations in national and local health guidelines in the months ahead. Ultimately, after considering our options, we’ve come to the very difficult decision to not have BlizzCon this year.

News of BlizzCon's cancellation is just one part of what's basically been the year of cancellations and delays, from E3 2020 and GDC 2020 being canceled to Minecraft Festival 2020's delay.

But just like Summer Game Fest was born from E3's cancellation, Blizzard is looking into alternative ways to host a convention. Smith mentioned:

We’re talking about how we might be able to channel the BlizzCon spirit and connect with you in some way online...

We’d want to do this as soon as we could, but given that this is new-ish territory and the different factors involved, it will most likely be sometime early next year.

It might not be a proper replacement for this year's convention, but at least it's something. You can check out the original story on PC Gamer and Smith's full post on Blizzard's website. Stay tuned to GameSkinny for more video game event news as it develops.

After the success of the animated Castlevania and live-action Witcher series on Netflix, it shouldn't be much surprise that other games might start receiving similar treatment. Other studios are lining up behind Konami and CDPR to release adaptations of their most popular franchises in the near future.

While there's been no official confirmation from Activision Blizzard as of writing, a LinkedIn profile seems to have accidentally unveiled that both Diablo and Overwatch are getting their own shows soon. 

According to the LinkedIn profile of Activision Blizzard Studios co-President Nick van Dyk, an anime version of Diablo is coming via Netflix, while Overwatch will get an animated show through a currently-unknown studio.

The relevant parts of the van Dyk's profile can be seen below, but he says he is the "executive producer of Diablo, a TV adaptation of Blizzard Entertainment's IP." He goes on to say that with his "creative partner," he "developed and sol an animated series based on Blizzard's Overwatch franchise."

It's worth noting that developing and selling a series does not mean that the series will actually get made into a television series. From the sound of it, the Diablo show is much closer to fruition than the Overwatch series, though that's purely speculation at this point. 

While we wait for more news on the Overwatch and Diablo shows, an avalanche of high-quality video game adaptations are set to release over the next year. Aside from the recently-released Sonic The Hedgehog movie, we're gearing up for the impending Resident Evil live-action series, an animated Witcher film, and, of course, the second season of Henry Cavill's Netflix Witcher series.

We're expecting to have plenty more news about those latter three Netflix releases very soon, so check back often!

The decade is coming to a close, and while there was controversy — and a few franchises flopped — the last 10 years provided some of the best moments in the history of gaming.

If you lived through the 2010s, you witnessed new, powerful console launches, new developers knocking it out of the park, and new, exciting tech releases from the ill-fated Kinect to the still burgeoning VR field.

All of that and more led to an unforgettable 10 years in gaming that rivaled much of what came before. Don't believe me? Let's take a look back at the industry's defining achievements over the past 10 years.  

The Early 2010s

Certain moments will live forever. Lady Gaga's meat outfit. Rebecca Black's Friday. Kony 2012. The color of that stupid dress. Marriage equality. "But her emails." Leo finally getting that damn Oscar. 

For me, the decade began in earnest when I put GLaDOS into a potato in Portal 2. The combination of humor and disturbing horror sold it as much as the game's top-notch voice acting and rock solid gameplay. That overall package had me sitting in awe, thinking: "Did modern video games just become amazing right this second?" 

Aside from the hilarious legacy of Portal's sequel (which itself will never be a follow-up since Valve sadly can't count to three), the 2010s kicked off in earnest with notable returns from major series featuring big changes. Mass Effect 2 ditched the extraneous RPG elements and somehow came out better for it; Dead Space 2 ramped up the horror and gore of the first game; and, of course, Starcraft 2: Wings Of Liberty arrived with a makeover and revamped multiplayer.

The early 2010s proudly brought the gaming universe a re-tooled horde mode in Gears of War 3, and it's one that stood the test of time. Aside from still holding the title of "one of the least toxic cooperative multiplayer modes" ever made, horde in Gears of War 3 remains the gold standard of multiplayer. Horde is one of the primary reasons why fans return to the Gears series even after the IP switched developers.

While those big-name AAA franchises made their marks, Minecraft became a phenomenon. Mojang's smash hit created an enduring legacy that can't be denied, even if the survival/open-world LEGO mashup has been endlessly emulated. Somehow the pop phenomenon still has hundreds of millions of active players, showing Mojang's vision wasn't just a fluke. 

Between an insane number of skins, seeds, maps, and mods, Minecraft has to be one of the most expansive gaming experiences of all time, and it will probably still be up and running long after we are all dead and gone. As we move into the next decade, we're preparing for Minecraft Dungeons, which could possibly be a game we'll still be talking about in 10 years. Who knows?

      OK, maybe it wouldn't have been the worst
thing if we didn't know about this guy...

Another low-key title that had a bigger impact than many realize — though not Minecraft big — came in the horror genre. 

Amnesia: The Dark Descent kicked off the "defenseless" horror subgenre that has seen the likes of Outlast, Layers of Fear, and Alien: Isolation follow in its footsteps. Although the Amnesia series is now quaint when compared to what came after it, it brought the horror genre to the masses. Why? Because big-name streamers loved it.

Reaction videos to Amnesia's scarier scenes caught on like wildfire, and it's partly to thank for the sudden spike in video game streaming personalities in the early part of the decade. Without Amnesia, it's possible that the likes of PewDiePie and Markiplier might remain relatively unknown.

       It is an absolute tragedy that this didn't catch on.

Despite all of the unexpected successes, there were some "sure things" that ended up nosediving in the early part of the decade. Nintendo — normally a pillar of stability — saw the Wii U ultimately flop, even though the hardware itself had some fantastic applications.

If you haven't experienced Rayman Legends local multiplayer using both the Wii U pad and your television screen, then you missed out on a critical piece of amazing gaming history.

While the Wii U has been consigned to the dust bin, other parts of the early 2010 gaming landscape caught on like wildfire and still haven't gone out.

Though I point blank hated Skyrim, credit must be given where it's due. Bethesda captured the imagination of a generation with that particular Elder Scrolls entry, and Skyrim managed to remain popular enough to see re-release some dozen or so times across multiple consoles throughout the decade.

Without question, Skyrim played a large role in the success of the 2010 console cycle, but it had an even bigger impact on the PC landscape. Simply put, Skyrim is the king of mods, and has born an entire generation of modders that have created some truly fantastic experiences. 

To date, Skyrim has more than 56,000 downloads available on Nexus Mods. Yeah, a lot of them are nude mods, but between the total conversion mods and extremely clever gameplay tweaks, Skyrim can be an amazing game with the right modding.

The mod effect went well past Bethesda's fantasy baby this decade. Other open world games like Red Dead Redemption 2 are getting a slew of mods, but everything from XCOM to the Resident Evil 2 remake are finding extra play time through some pretty genius mods.

While story took a back seat to open-world exploration in Skyrim, storytelling as a whole wasn't left in the dust in this early period of the decade. Plenty of games weren't afraid to go with more mature or unexpected themes, from the devastating opening of The Last Of Us to the mind-bending twist in Bioshock Infinite. 

Story rich or story lacking, open world or linear, the early part of the 10s was drowning in genre-defining games... but things would take a turn just a few years later. 

The Mid 2010s

         Telltale looking at Telltale and getting ready to pull the trigger       

Has a developer ever risen so quickly and then fallen so far as Telltale? The Wolf Among Us and the first season of The Walking Dead are still hallmarks of interactive storytelling, but sadly, the development team, under immense pressure, faced insurmountable hurdles.

A badly aging engine, lack of new ideas, and overspending on major franchises weighed the dev down by the time Game Of Thrones Season 1 ended. Sadly, things did not improve, and the company shuttered later in the decade. We never got to see the heights this style could have reached if material like Stranger Things, Hellraiser, or True Detective had been made available.

While the Telltale name is currently clawing back from the dead, it appears this new version of the company won't feature the same people (which may be a good thing) and will work on a much smaller scale. Will we ever get anything as compelling as Bigby's murder mystery or Clementine's journey to adulthood? Probably not, but at least we've still got our memories. 

       Goodbye old friend. You will be missed.

Another amazingly bittersweet moment arrived in April 2016 as the beloved Xbox 360 finally met its end. While Games With Gold is still offering up free titles each month and a handful of games are still hitting the platform, production on this console legend officially stopped. If you've still got a 360, be sure to keep hold of it -- because no more are being made! Microsoft managed to bring out the longest-running console cycle in gaming history, lasting more than 10 solid years. 

The next-gen got off to a rocky start not long before the 360 ceased production (remember the horror that was Assassin's Creed Unity?) but the decade's trend of disappointing trilogy conclusions with Dead Space 3 and Mass Effect 3 would come to a shattering and conclusive close with The Witcher 3.

Without question, The Witcher 3 put CD Projekt Red on the map and showed that an open-world RPG could be story-rich and offer more than just endless fetch quests and following map markers. Even more impressively, The Witcher 3 remains one of the very few titles to feature DLC that is easily as strong as the base game.

Considering the many amazing ladies of the series (oh, and Geralt too, I guess) just made the leap to a Netflix Original Series, it seems The Witcher franchise is going to live on for quite some time.

The same time period didn't just see the arrival of some truly great games — it also saw a change in how games are developed and the ways in which developers interact with players.

Although the method had been around for some time, it was around the mid-2010s that Early Access started to become a vehicle for on-going development. 

Though Early Access has seen its fair share of hate and has been legitimately abused, it gave us titles as diverse and satisfying as Darkest Dungeon, Slime Rancher, and later, Subnautica. Early Access has shown that supporting developers along the way and allowing tweaks to be made from fan feedback can result in better-finished products.

      Should have called it Baldur's Wind Dale: Temple Of Elemental Torment.

Rising alongside Early Access, the crowd-funding revolution also emerged in the 2010s, giving us an amazing crop of old-school RPGs like Pillars of Eternity and Wasteland 2. 

Fans wanted classic isometric games utilizing tactical real-time-with-pause or turn-based combat, but publishers just weren't willing to take the risk. They couldn't see that nostalgia equals money. Kickstarter and Indiegogo stepped in.

While Obsidian and InXile got snapped up by Microsoft in 2018 — and it would seem are now cranking out some very off-brand console titles — we still had a good number of years where fans had the final say on what would get released in those instances.

Kickstarter would later grow to feature revitalized classics such as Shenmue 3 and the Castlevania-adjacent Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night. Whether you asked for a refund and still think its a scam or are eagerly playing along, Star Citizen showed just how massive a crowd funding campaign can become. Somehow its still earning crowd funding revenue, having raked in more than $250 million from fans who know what they want and are willing to pay to get it.

Outside the realm of the typical gaming sphere, a surprising new genre would emerge and make a bigger impact than anyone suspected: absurdist games meant entirely for Let's Plays, reaction vids, and water-cooler talk.

"Classics" like Goat Simulator and Octodad: Dadliest Catch saw gamers re-thinking what truly makes a game great, while also laying the foundation for newer entries like Untitled Goose Game.

The Late 2010s

      Welcome back, Nintendo!

Breath Of The Wild was exactly what Nintendo needed to retake its position near the head of the pack. A major shift in gameplay towards an open-world style gave the Zelda franchise and the Switch a serious shot in the arm.

A brand new design for Nintendo's latest console didn't hurt either, as the combination of permanent home base console and mobile device re-captured the imaginations of gamers. While the controller and movement-based games like 1-2 Switch don't seem to have caught on, Nintendo is still very clearly back into position as console innovator. 

Another open-world game that defined this same period, but on the PlayStation 4, was Horizon Zero Dawn. The combination of old and new styles with a gripping mystery of humanity's past pushed forward by a fiery main character gave many players a reason to stick with the PS4. 

Considering the lauded Red Dead Redemption came out in 2010 and Red Dead Redemption 2 was one of the most highly anticipated titles of 2018, it's clear that the open-world trend has reigned supreme this decade.

One game refutes that claim, though, is Fortnite.

You might love to hate it, but you have to ask yourself: has any other title done more to bring gaming into the public consciousness? When Star Wars and Avengers hold in-game events in Fortnite, I think it's clear we've surpassed fandom boundaries and hit the big time.

The concept of Battle Royale has been around for quite awhile, and one could argue it hit its stride with PUBG not long after getting popular through the DayZ mod to Arma 2. That being said, it wasn't until Fortnite that the term became a household name and a genre giant in its own right. 

The resurgence of Battle Royale aside, Fortnite still plays a major role in live streaming, catapulting it to a previously unknown level of popularity with celebrity appearances and major eSports events. Fortnite managed to hit just about every platform imaginable, including mobile phones, and that's another area of gaming worth looking at that made a huge splash in the '10s.

      Not only is this peak 2010s, I'd argue it was also the
reason the internet was invented

Forget Angry Birds and Candy Crush, because there was an absolute explosion of mobile gaming covering every conceivable genre this decade. Aside from the clear cultural significance, Pokemon Go's launch started the AR craze meant to get gamers off the couch and out into the world of sunlight and exercise.

Even if you didn't care for the change in mechanics from the other monster-collecting titles, Pokemon Go was the gift that just kept on giving, from Pokemoan dildos (yep, they exist) to a Chuck Tingle erotica book, to a news cycle that kept bringing up new insanity every, single day.

While some games got smaller and more mobile, others got larger and more tethered — VR broke into the mainstream. The PSVR brought true virtual reality to console gamers for a (sort of) affordable price for the first time.

Meanwhile, a number of dueling PC VR platforms are now pushing the boundaries and getting the tech where it needs to go. Vive and Oculus are currently duking it out, with the Oculus Quest now ditching wires and even the PC entirely for a more liberated experience. We haven't seen the best VR has to offer yet — that's for sure — but what's available today is already impressive.

If virtual worlds are less important to you than the interactions that occur within them, the late 2010s were a time when communities really started coming together through platforms like Twitch and Discord.

While the former popped up in 2011 and the latter in 2015, it hasn't been until recent years that they've really come into their own. Whether a mobile gacha title or a graphics-intensive PC shooter, pretty much every game worth playing has its own Discord community where players help each other out and forge new relationships.

New consoles, new tech, new ways of communicating, and new and returning franchises made this is a decade to remember in gaming history.

Looking Forward to 2020 and Beyond

That all about brings us to the present: 2019 was filled to the brim with major gaming news. Bungie parted with Activision but kept the Destiny series; Blizzard stepped in it with their poor handling of eSports players discussing Chinese democracy protests; and Xbox Game Studios snapped up Double Fine back in August.

On the release front, the tail end of the decade hasn't slouched with top-notch new games in a number of surprising genres. Disco Elysium came out of nowhere, and yeah, it deserves the hype. If you miss Planescape: Torment style text-heavy experiences, you want to play this one. The movie snippet experimentation with Telling Lies is also well worth experiencing and shows gaming can be just as interesting and story-rich as cinema. That's not to mention Netflix's Bandersnatch.

As the year ends, we're seeing more changes to the gaming landscape with monthly game services like Game Pass, PS Now, EA Access, and more coming into prominence. Even the mobile gaming crowd is getting in on the monthly subscription action with Apple Arcade and Google Play Pass. If you want to try out a bunch of games for a low monthly price, there's never been a better time to explore what's available on console, PC, or mobile devices.

Of course, the obvious next step of this digital revolution was the advent of the all-streaming Stadia and XCloud. The effect of those changes is still anyone's guess, but it sure looks like we're barreling towards a digital future with a Netflix style library of games.

As Google and all-streaming services come into the spotlight, the console wars still raged between Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo. The PS4 managed to become the fourth best selling console of all time this gen, and some killer exclusives likely played a big role there. How the PS5 and Xbox Series X stack up against each other still remains to be seen.

Far more happened in this decade than we ever could have covered in one article, and I'm sure you'll be happy to tell me which games and events I missed that made this the best 10 years in gaming history.

For now, it's time to look toward the future, as next-gen consoles are well into development and are expected to arrive next holiday season. Major titles like Cyberpunk 2077, Baldur's Gate 3, and The Last Of Us 2 are mere months away, and we can't wait to see what the next 10 years have in store! 

What were your favorite video game moments from 2010-2019, and do you agree that it was the best decade in gaming history? Sound off in the comments below!

Overwatch fans have felt a bit left behind for a while, but that may change with the announcement of Overwatch 2 at Blizzcon today.

Overwatch 2 will bring a whole new buffet to the table over the first game, with brand new PvE-centric content — that's right, story content! Overwatch 2 will have a campaign for players to push through in co-op, and it will have Hero Missions which allow players to manually level their heroes and make them stronger a la' ARPGs.

The game will pack plenty of a PvP punch, though. A new Push PvP mode and new PvP maps are inbound, but that doesn't mean players of the current game will be pushed to the side.

Those who own the original Overwatch will be able to play with Overwatch 2 players on maps and with characters from the sequel. Not only that, but everything that players have unlocked in the original title will carry over to the sequel as well. That is not too shabby, and almost gives this a bit of an expansion vibe over a straight sequel.

The announcement of Overwatch 2 wasn't the biggest surprise, but Blizzard's approach to it being a sequel is. More about the game is sure to be announced over Blizzcon 2019.

After being leaked earlier in the day, team-based multiplayer shooter Overwatch was officially revealed for the Nintendo Switch during the most recent Nintendo Direct. 

The game will launch for the system on October 15. It was not revealed if it would see a physical release or simply be available on the eShop. However, since the previous leaks came from retailers, it seems as if a physical release is in the cards. 

It was confirmed that the Switch version of Overwatch would employ gyroscopic controls, joining other shooters on the system, such as Fortnite, Wolfenstein, and Doom, that employ the control scheme. 

Overwatch initially released for the PC, PS4, and Xbox One on May 24, 2016. The popular first-person shooter is developed by Blizzard and has enjoyed immense success in its three years on the market. Since launch, the game has seen its popularity rise to extreme heights, specifically in the realm of esports. 

To date, Overwatch has generated more than $1 billion for Blizzard from in-game sales alone. That does not include the $1 billion it made between its combined game sales and microtransaction sales as of 2017, which was the last year available for data. 

For more, make sure to catch all of our coverage of the latest Nintendo Direct here. 

Sign-ups are now open for Belong Gaming Arena's Summer Arena Clash. Qualifiers started earlier this week.

Belong Gaming Arena's tri-annual tournament allows players to experience the world of eSports as casuals or pros. Added to the fray of competitive games for this summer's lineup are Rocket League and Mortal Kombat 11. Staple games still being featured are League of Legends, Overwatch, and FIFA 19.

Each of the games has its own qualifier dates, so check out Belong Gaming Arena's site for specific dates and times.

Taking place over several weeks, teams comprised of players from specific regions, known as tribes, will compete throughout the U.K.

Those interested can search for their local tribe to find like-minded teammates or other groups to join. Those who make it to the finals will play on stage in front of a live audience for the 2019 Championship Title. Not only that, hardware, peripherals, reward points, and merchandise are all on the line.

The competition culminates with the finals being played at Insomnia65, the U.K.'s biggest gaming festival. This year, Insomnia65 will be held during the August Bank Holiday at NEC Birmingham in Birmingham, England. With the U.K. Masters tournament, tabletop gaming, and cosplay masquerade, Insomnia65 has a little bit of everything for those in the gaming community.

For those that are interested in casting games, Belong Gaming Arena is looking for a color caster for League of Legends and Rocket League matches. Those looking to cast League of Legends should mark off Thursday's as their studio day and prepare to head to Insomnia65 to cast the finals live on stage. Hopeful Rocket League casters will be in the studio for the Rocket League Arena games.

Whether competing, casting, or enjoying the show, the inclusion of Mortal Kombat 11 and Rocket League brings new action to the Arena Clash. 

Blizzard's Overwatch turns three this year, and the festivities are just beginning. From now until June 10, a slew of new skins and features are being added to the game.

On top of that, players can log in for a chance to claim a legendary anniversary loot box with at least one legendary item inside. 

Here's what you can expect. 

Skins

Blizzard has released 11 new skins in celebration of the game's anniversary. Featuring a variety of themes from school girl to waitress to legendary creature, the skins join the ranks of the game's more than 300 skins.

While previous anniversary skins didn't typically have a theme, this year seems to have the widest variety in terms of inspiration and design. 

Three new emotes also made their way into the mix. Bust a move with Hamster Dance, Line Dance, and Konpa Dance.

Replays

Replays have long been one of the first go-to's for players looking to improve their skills. Showcasing mechanical errors as well as macro play and strategy implementation, replays contain massive amounts of data for players looking to up their game.

Thankfully, replays are now live on the Public Test Realm, allowing players to review their 10 most recent games and refine their skills. While available on PC only, this feature will soon be making its way to console. 

Brawls

Brawls are back on a rotating basis. Featuring Uprising, Yeti Hunt, Lucioball, Junkenstein's Revenge, and more, each week brings a slightly different brawl lineup to Overwatch. Check out the schedule for more information and specific times.

Skins in the Game

Along with the anniversary festivities, a new event has been launched by Overwatch League. Running from May 27-31, Skins in the Game is a team-based competition revolving around the Overwatch League skins.

Whenever a player ques up Quick Play or Competitive games, completes the map, and is wearing a team skin, they will earn that team a point. The top team, announced on June 3, will win an Overwatch League Instagram takeover.

While the anniversary event is just starting, there is already so much to take advantage of. What are you most excited for this anniversary?

Today on Twitter, Blizzard announced the next new Overwatch event and provided some narrative background for it. The event is titled "Storm Rising" and will run from April 16 through May 6. 

The video features new character Sojourn giving a debrief about the upcoming mission and who would be involved in it. Storm Rising picks up Overwatch's ongoing narrative that sees the game's heroes in a seemingly hopeless struggle against Doomfist. However, this time, the heroes must take a different approach.

There is apparently nothing the team can do against Doomfist thanks to a lack of strong evidence, so his accountant, Maximillian, is the primary objective.

Sojourn tells Strike Commander Morrison that Tracer will lead the team, with Genji, Mercy, and Winston as support.

> Accessing archived file...

Decryption status: IN PROGRESS
Target: Located pic.twitter.com/AUmV8LlUJc

— Overwatch (@PlayOverwatch) April 8, 2019

The new event's name coincides with a lengthy lore post on the official Overwatch website from April 7 and suggests it will take place in Cuba during a hurricane. It's possible Sojourn may be added as a playable character as well.

Rising Storm follows the same pattern as previous years, where a new Overwatch Archive event takes place from April to May. These events included new, special loot and PvE challenges, but no other details have been announced about Rising Storm yet.

After initially taking the world by storm, Overwatch doesn't make headlines as frequently anymore. Some cite toxic fan communities as the issue, though others say the game is still fun and newcomer friendly and that it has a sizeable community.

Still, there's no denying Overwatch has been eclipsed by the rise of games like Fortnite and especially the battle-royale/hero shooter combination of Apex Legends. Where some estimates put Overwatch's total number of players at 40 million last year — during its two-year anniversary — Apex Legends reached 50 million within a month.

This month will be filled with all sorts of new content for you to enjoy, so be sure to celebrate the season by playing with your friends this month while these additions are available.

We'll be keeping an eye out for more announcements from developers as new holiday events arise, so check back for further updates.

Killing Floor 2 -- Twisted Christmas: Season's Beatings 

Killing Floor has tons of new content for its players this season with Season’s Beatings.

Play as killer Santa Clause as you slice through zeds and take on Krampus to reclaim your workshop on the new map Santa’s Workshop.

You can also fight the crowds of Black Friday zeds in the new map Shopping Spree. On top of that, use an arsenal of new weapons which include Krampus Battle Axe, M32 Grenade Launcher, Fire Axe, and the Road Redeemer.

Oh, and did we mention that the one and only Gary Busey voices Badass Santa? That alone is worth checking out. 

Rocket League -- Frosty Fest

No official announcements have been made regarding Rocket League’s Frosty Fest. However, last year’s event ran from December 11 to January 2, and it brought all sorts of antennas, toppers, wheels, rocket boosts, and decals.

Playing various matches, including hockey, rewards players with snowflakes, used to obtain new holiday content.

While we wait for the Frosty Fest to return, we can still look forward to the recent Rocket Pass 2 announcement, which will be available starting December 10. Buying a premium upgrade for this pass ($9.99) will include the new Artemis Battle-Car.

Fortnite -- Winter Royale: Season 7

Winter Royale will officially dropped on December 6 and the seventh season has brought all sorts of holiday-themed themed content. Remember, however, this content comes at a price. You must purchase the battle pass for exclusive tier content, primarily skins.

Some of these new skins include:

\n
• Srg. Winter -- A ripped and battle worn version of santa
\n
• Yetti -- A blue skinned monster with white fur and crossed eyes.
\n
• Pajama -- A burger onesie complete with slippers and a googly eyed hood.
\n
• Lynx -- A legendary sleek cat suit.
\n
• The Ice King -- Another legendary skin of a cloaked man with glowing blue eyes and icy boots.
\n

Once jumping from the bus with your new skin and gear, you’ll find the map coated in snow and ice to fit the season.

Destiny 2 -- Dawning 

Destiny 2’s Dawning event will be returning once again this year, but at a later time that it’s previous release.

The official start date will be December 11, but no end date is currently in sight. You’ll find the farm and tower decorated, Dawning engrams, game modes, and quests.

Though there are few announcements on what to anticipate in this year’s Dawning event, there may be returning game modes and content. Be sure you check into the Crucible once the event is released because the developers may bring back last year’s Mayhem PvP mode, which lowered cooldowns for intense and fast-paced matches.

Another added feature were snowball fights. It is likely you will be able to pummel your friends and enemies with snowballs both inside and outside matches.

New quests and milestones usually come with the winter updates, and though there are no official announcements on what they could entail (outside of confirmed powerful gear drops), rumors suggest it could be centered around Eva Levante.

Rewards and engrams for the crucible, strike, and quests are bound to contain themed armor, weapons, shaders, and more.

Overwatch -- Winter Wonderland

It’s round three for Overwatch’s Winter Wonderland event, so here’s what you should expect as far as game modes, skins, loot boxes, and environmental map changes.

This update will be active December 11 to January 2, but for those of you who have added new game modes to your wish list, you may be disappointed.

The Overwatch team has expressed that they will not be adding new game modes for events this year and will instead bring back recurring seasonal game modes while focusing on new heroes and balancing current ones.

This means we will most likely be seeing “Mei’s Snowball Offensive” on Ecopoint: Antarctica and 2017’s “Yetti Hunter” on Nepal return to the arcade for the winter season.

However, some of the maps will be adjusted to fit the holidays. The locations that will be festive and decorated with snow, lights, and trees this year include Blizzard World and King’s Row.

Along with these game modes and environment changes, be prepared for new legendary and epic skins, one of which Overwatch has already announced as Zarya’s Snowboarder Legendary skin, equipped with furry bear hat and tail.

This year’s previous Halloween Terror event brought with it nine new skins, so players can expect a similar turnout for 2018’s Winter Wonderland. Loot boxes are also bound to contain seasonally themed sprays, emotes, highlights, and voice lines.

Monster Hunter World -- Winter Star Fest

Capcom is joining the festivities this year with their latest update for Monster Hunter: World, the Winter Star Fest. Log in each day between November 30 and December 17 for rewards, consumables, quests, costumes, emotes, and festivities.

Celebrate the season at the The Celestial Pursuit, which is decked with cascading lights and ornaments. NPC characters also don winter wear to match the holiday spirit.

Along with changes to the environment, you will find new gear for your hunter. Every day that you jump into the game, you will be gifted with Winter Star tickets. Gathering star tickets will allow you the craft the new Orion winter gear for your journey, along with adorable snowcat costumes for your paleco and sweaters for your pig, Poogie

If you missed special event quests throughout the year, you will now be able to seek them out again since the star fest is bringing back old and new quests for players. Be sure to keep up with the winter schedule here to avoid missing opportunities. 

Sleigh bells ring in the distance. Gamer’s rage, but we won’t listen. It’s a beautiful site. We’re happy tonight. Season events are coming 'round again.

December is here -- and you know what that means. Holiday events are back on our PC’s and consoles this month with new winter and Christmas updates. It’s time to dive back into those games we love and spend these cold days wrapped in a warm blanket with a steamy cup of coffee.

Let's warm up, boot up, and level up. 

On Tuesday, November 27, Sen. Maggie Hassan called for the serious scrutiny of video game loot boxes from the Federal Trade Commission. Hassan said she requested the inquiry as an investigation into loot box marketing and its potential effects on children. 

Hassan also stated that the inquiry would work to educate parents on the potential dangers loot boxes pose as it relates to gambling and virtual chance. 

In response, FTC Chairman Joe Simons and fellow members of the FTC pledged, without hesitation, to investigate the matter of loot boxes.

The pledge, alongside recent developments in countries such as Belgium, could indicate upcoming regulations in the U.S., depending on the FTC's findings.

Gateway Transactions

Loot boxes are virtual items awarded at random in an increasing number of video games. There are two ways to acquire loot boxes in-game: using in-game currency or real-world money. 

Although many games do allow players to purchase some or all loot boxes with in-game money, that in-game money is often very hard to acquire, making the use of real-world money more enticing.  

Loot box "prizes" range from various in-game boosts to weapons to new characters, skins, and/or outfits. More often than not, loot boxes do not grant access to items that help players beat other players.

Although there are pay-to-win structures in place for some games, specifically in the mobile space, players typically buck against pay-to-win structures in most console and PC games, such as those originally found in Star Wars: Battlefront 2.  

When Hassan introduced concerns about loot boxes to the FTC, those concerns were not unique to the United States but rather common in the gaming industry. She reported:

Loot boxes are now endemic in the video game industry and are present in everything from casual smartphone games to the newest, high-budget video game releases. Loot boxes will represent a $50 billion industry by the year 2022, according to the latest research estimates.

So why does this matter to the FTC? Primarily, the children.

The rising correlation between loot boxes and gambling may come as no surprise to seasoned players or anyone paying attention to the gaming industry as a whole.

Hassan reminds us that Belgium, the Netherlands, and Japan have all already made moves to regulate the use of loot boxes. These efforts have been attempts to curtail gambling in younger generations.

To correlate this further, Hassan also cited that earlier in November, the United Kingdom's gambling commission reported that "30% of children have used loot boxes in video games."

To further drive this point home, Sen. Ed Markey cited the rise of manipulative marketing techniques in correlation to loot boxes. Although the game and character were not named, Markey pointed to a virtual character that continually cries if an in-game purchase isn't made, effectively manipulating some players (such as children who are more susceptible to such tactics) to make purchases they otherwise might not have. 

Talk about laying it on thick.

A Point of Contention

Hassan made claims that loot boxes constitute an "integral part" of video games.

Regardless of your personal opinion on chance-based revenue, this precise wording may become part of the debate and could influence FTC investigative findings.

It's true that titles like Star Wars: Battlefront 2 have been criticized for play-to-win structures. But not every game that features loot boxes punishes players' who don't fork over extra cash.

Consider Nintendo's response to digital revenue concerns. Back in June, Reggie Fils-Aimé, President and Chief Operating Officer of Nintendo of America, addressed the nasty reputation of loot boxes in an interview with Bloomberg.

He compared loot boxes to the same sort of chance kids have taken for decades with packs of baseball cards. This example is admittedly outdated, but his point still stands with cards for tabletop games like Pokemon, Yu-Gi-Oh!, and Magic: The Gathering.

Fils-Aimé further differentiates loot boxes as a necessity versus an engaging option:

What we believe at Nintendo is that a gameplay mechanic that offers the consumer something to buy that they’re not sure what’s inside can be interesting as long as that’s not the only way you can get those items. And that’s where some developers have made some mistakes. For us, its one of many mechanics we can use to drive on-going engagement in the game.

Fils-Aimé isn't alone in his interpretation. The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) released a statement to Variety regarding Senator Hassan's assertions:

Loot boxes are one way that players can enhance the experience that video games offer. Contrary to assertions, loot boxes are not gambling. They have no real-world value, players always receive something that enhances their experience, and they are entirely optional to purchase. They can enhance the experience for those who choose to use them, but have no impact on those who do not.

Why the Definition Matters

Let's back-track for a moment and look at this from a slightly different perspective.

Sen. Hassan cited Belgium as an example of countries that have raised flags on loot box inclusions in games. Interestingly enough, the Belgian Gaming Commission (BGC) has emphasized how loot boxes alter gameplay experiences in their own studies, considering massive titles like FIFA 18 and Overwatch.

The stance it's taken could be bad news for the ESA if America follows suit; according to the BGC, "enhancing" the experience through loot boxes still equates to gambling, where the BGC defines gambling as "a game in which a cost from the player can lead to loss or win for at least one person, and where chance plays a role in the progression of the game, the winner, or worth of the winnings."

The concern then shifts to the possibility of how gained advantages manipulate players into making loot box purchases. Since children aren't known for their impressive impulse control, that temptation becomes more pronounced.

Some suggestions from the BGC for loot box regulation mirror those implemented by other countries, as well as those suggested by a range of psychologists.

They include:

• player-spending limits
• age verification methods to avoid targeting children
• easy access to the odds of winning and the value of the rewards
• clear indication on any and all titles that contain gambling

Depending on the FTC's findings, the United States could see similar adoptions of these recommendations. 

How do you feel about loot boxes? Are you hoping the FTC pushes regulation in the United States?

Share your thoughts and/or loot-driven horror stories in the comments.

It's that time of year again. Black Friday is three short days away and gaming companies are rolling out the deals. Today, Blizzard kicked off its sales on both the Battle.net Shop and the Blizzard Gear Store.

From now, until November 26, players can save up to 66% on games in the Battle.net store -- as well as select in-game content and StarCraft 2 announcer packs. If you still haven't picked up Overwatch, that's where the biggest savings are at. The standard edition has dropped in price from $40 to $15, while the Legendary edition is $20 instead of $60. This is also the only game for which the sale is extended a few days -- until November 28.

For those looking for goodies they can stick under the tree, the Blizzard Gear shop has everything from leggings to the Blizzcon 2018 goodie back on sale until November 30. There are over 200 items listed at 75% off. Other items featured have  30% and 50% discounts.

As an added bonus, Blizzard has also decided to offer gamers a chance to try out Overwatch for free. The free trial kicks off today and runs through November 26.

The newest Overwatch hero Ashe wasn't originally planned to be a playable character in the game. She was simply a part of a short animated film "Reunion," where she played the role of the Deadlock Gang member. Fortunately, the developers figured out that Ashe is more than just cartoon character and made her into a true hero.

Ashe is an excellent midrange character that carries a rifle, which is her main weapon. But that is just the tip of an iceberg of this incredible hero. If you want to know more about her abilities, strengths and weaknesses, then follow our guide below.

Ashe Weapons and Abilities

The Viper

Viper is Ashe's primary weapon that can deal damage in two different modes. You can shoot Viper faster with a slightly reduced damage, or slower but with a higher damage using her scope.

But even with the latter mode it would be hard to insta-kill another character, unless Ashe receives some sort of boost. This doesn't mean that Viper is a weak weapon. On the contrary, it can easily disrupt any enemy and prepare them for others to finish them off.

Dynamite

Here is a solid companion to Ashe's rifle. You can throw a bundle of dynamite that explodes with a short delay. But you can speed up the explosion by shooting it with your shotgun, and this is where things get really fun.

Before throwing a dynamite you need to aim your weapon at the target, and the dynamite will follow the crosshair. As soon as the bundle reaches the crosshair you can shoot it for an immediate explosion.

But be careful with this ability as it can also burn Ashe herself. So stay away from shields and such that can deflect it.

Coach Gun

Ashe carries a second weapon in her holster, which is a shotgun. It can help her out in a close combat where her Viper doesn't seem to be that great. And she can use Coach Gun to propel herself into the air and out of combat, as this weapon has a serious knockback.

This is not the type of gun you want to use for headshots, but if you need to shake up the situation, then it fits just right for that kind of purpose.

B.O.B

Now here's something completely different and unexpected. Ashe's ultimate ability summons her sidekick B.O.B that can be easily perceived as another character. B.O.B can be buffed, healed and even hacked.

If the enemy player allows B.O.B to catch them, then it's over for them. In this case he will use his excruciatingly powerful uppercut that creates a perfect opportunity for Ashe to either use her Dynamite or Viper to finish them off.

B.O.B is an excellent ability when used right, but there are also a few cases when he can get in the way of you winning the match.

Ashe Tips and Tricks

B.O.B's Strengths and Weaknesses

B.O.B is a fantastic supporting character when used right. For example, if you have Ana as your ally, she could apply her Nano Boost on B.O.B and make him almost invincible.

However, if you're playing against Sombra, she could easily Hack into B.O.B's AI and stun him for an entire six seconds, which is huge in such a fast-paced game as Overwatch.

There are a few more interactions where B.O.B can be easily disrupted, such as against Reinhardt's Earthshatter or Wrecking Ball's Minefield. This means that summoning B.O.B isn't always a universal solution.

Perfect Against Pharah

Pharah is one of the most powerful heroes in Overwatch and it is usually really hard to kill her due to high mobility and both of her jet abilities. But you can use Ashe to really break Pharah's gameplan and blast her out of the sky using Viper and Dynamite, which are perfect solutions for long and midrange combat.

In case Pharah sends her barrage of mini-rockets at you, just use Coach Gun to quickly disengage with the area of effect. As you see there is more than enough tricks under Ashe's sleeves to make Pharah players cry.

Use Your Guns Properly

There is one distinct feature of Ashe's weapons that we haven't discussed yet, and that is how she reloads her weapons. She doesn't simply replace full clips of ammo, but places each bullet separately. This should really make some players impatient, but you need to learn to always reload Ashe's weapons in order not to stay empty at an important moment.

Taking this into account try to preserve your ammo and shoot only when you are absolutely sure that you will hit your target. Also, don't waste your dynamite on one target, but try to hit at least two other players with it. It's a really powerful ability that shouldn't be wasted.

---

This tips and tricks guide should help you master Ashe's abilities to wreck havoc in various modes, and for other Overwatch guides at GameSkinny, please see the links below:

• Hammond Guide: Best Team Compositions
• How to Play As Hammond the Wrecking Ball
• How to Use Hanzo's Storm Arrows
• The 7 Best Overwatch Heroes for the Defensive Minded Player

If you have spent the last two years avoiding Overwatch due to its price tag, Blizzard has you covered. As per today's announcement, PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One owners will have a chance to play the acclaimed multiplayer shooter (for free) from November 20 at 2pm EST to November 27 at 2:59am EST.

This announcement comes only two days after the release of the game's newest hero, Ashe, and the Overwatch Free Trial will give players the full game experience -- 29 playable characters (including Ashe), 19 maps, a variety of game modes, and as many Loot Boxes as you can acquire (or purchase).

Additionally, if you fall in love during the trial, all of the progress you make can be carried over to a purchased copy of Overwatch Legendary Edition on PlayStation 4 or Xbox One, or Overwatch on PC.

The Overwatch free trial will be available in all regions on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One and in Blizzard's Americas, Europe, and Asia gameplay regions (excluding Korea) on PC. If you are planning to play on PlayStation 4 or Xbox One, you will need an active PlayStation Plus or Xbox Live Gold account.

Blizzard has also outlined how to setup the Free Trial on the various platforms:

FOR WINDOWS PC
(November 20):

• Step 1: Download and install the Blizzard Battle.net desktop app, if you haven't already, and launch it.
• Step 2: Create a free Blizzard account, or log in with an existing account.
• Step 3: Click the Overwatch icon, located on the left-hand side of the Blizzard desktop app.
• Step 4: Select your region from the drop-down menu, then click "Install" to begin the installation process.
• Step 5: Once installed, click "Play" to begin!

The Overwatch Free Trial will be available for download from November 20--27.

FOR PLAYSTATION 4
(Requires PlayStation Plus membership; pre-download starting at 11:00 AM PST on November 15th):

• Step 1: Turn on your PlayStation 4 and log in to your preferred local user.
• Step 2: Go to PlayStation Store and select "Search" from the top menu.
• Step 3: In the search field, type in Overwatch.
• Step 4: Select "Overwatch Free Trial" from the search results and then click "Download."
• Step 5: Once the download and installation process is complete, click "Start" to begin!

The Overwatch Free Trial will be available for download from November 15--26 for PlayStation® 4.

FOR XBOX ONE
(Requires Xbox Live Gold membership; pre-download starting at 11:00 AM PST on November 15th):

• Step 1: Turn on your Xbox One and log in to your Xbox Live account.
• Step 2: Go to the Xbox One Store, then select "Search."
• Step 3: In the search field, type in "Overwatch."
• Step 4: Select "Overwatch: Origins Edition" from the search results and then click "Free Trial."
• Step 5: Once the download and installation process is complete, click "Launch" to begin!

The Overwatch Free Trial will be available for download from November 15--26 for Xbox One.

Finally, Blizzard is offering limited-time loot to players during the free trial -- three Ashe-themed sprays will be available to those that watch at least two hours of Overwatch streams on Twitch (assuming their Blizzard and Twitch accounts are linked).

Years after its release, Overwatch remains extremely popular due to Blizzard's continual updates and tweaks. If you have never played before, this is the perfect opportunity to jump on a team and give it a spin. And, if you would like to prepare yourself before going into battle, be sure to check out our Overwatch guides for more details.

Black Friday is just around the corner, and of course, that means it's time to start planning your shopping list. With so many retailers and so many games to choose from, it's difficult to know just where to start. Except when you have our handy Black Friday 2018 guide at your fingertips!

We've put together a list of the major retailers' upcoming Black Friday sales including console sales and price drops, and we've broken them down by price and platform, making your Black Friday shopping easier than ever before.

Walmart

Walmart's putting out a variety of deals this year, including the $199.99 PS4 Spider-Man bundle. But, there are plenty of other smaller deals the retail giant's offering, and here are some of the best ones. Not all items in the ad are available online, so in-store would be your best bet, and the sale is good for Thanksgiving night and Black Friday only.

Consoles

• Xbox One X, 1TB: $399.00 ($70.00 off all other XB1X bundles)
• Xbox One S, 1TB Minecraft Bundle: $299.00 (All other XB1S bundles priced at $229.00)
• Nintendo Switch, Neon Joy-Con, Mario Kart 8 Bundle: $299.00

$35 Games

PlayStation 4

• Soul Caliber VI
• We Happy Few
• Assassin's Creed: Odyssey

Nintendo Switch

• Xenoblade Chronicles 2
• ARMS
• Kirby Star Allies
• The Elder Scrolls: Skyrim
• FIFA 19

Xbox One

• Sea of Thieves
• For Honor: Marching Fire
• Forza Horizon 4

$25 Each

PlayStation 4

• God of War
  
• Call of Duty: WWII
• Detroit: Become Human

Nintendo Switch

• Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy
  
• Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle
• Rocket League

Xbox One

• Far Cry 5

$17 Games

PlayStation 4

• Diablo III
• Monster Hunter: World

Nintendo Switch

• LEGO Worlds
• South Park: The Fractured But Whole

Nintendo 3DS/2DS

• Super Mario 3D Land
  
• The Legend of Zelda: Link Between Worlds
• Animal Crossing: New Leaf--Welcome Amiibo

Target

Target's Black Friday ad is huge, but it's game selection isn't quite so impressive. Still, you can pick up some good deals on hot titles and older favorites.

Consoles

• PlayStation 4, 1TB, Spiderman Bundle: $199.99
• PlayStation VR Bundle (includes Creed: Rise to Glory and SuperHot VR): $249.99; save $100.00 on all other PSVR bundles

$35.00 Games

PlayStation 4

• Soul Caliber VI
  
• NHL 19

Xbox One

• Assassin's Creed: Odyssey
  
• Sea of Thieves
• Forza Horizon 4

$25.00 Games

PlayStation 4

• Call of Duty: WWII
• God of War
• Detroit: Become Human
• Dragon Ball FighterZ

Nintendo Switch

• Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle
  
• Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy
• Nickelodeon Kart Racers

Xbox One

• Far Cry 5
• LEGO The Incredibles

$15 Games

PlayStation 4

• The Evil Within 2
• Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus
• DOOM
• Overwatch

Xbox One

• Star Wars Battlefront II
  
• The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
• PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG)

Miscellaneous

• Starlink: Battle for Atlas Nintendo Switch Starter Pack: $39.99

Best Buy

The tech king's putting on some pretty good sales this year, including console bundles. These sales start Thanksgiving night and continue into Black Friday.

Consoles

• PlayStation 4, 1TB, Spiderman Bundle: $199.99
• Xbox One S, 1TB, Minecraft Bundle: $199.99
• Nintendo Switch, Neon Joy-Con, Mario Kart 8 Bundle: $299.99
• Nintendo 2DS Super Mario Maker Edition: $79.99

$29.99 Games

PlayStation 4

• Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age
• FIFA 19
• Assassin's Creed: Odyssey
• Shadow of the Tomb Raider
• LEGO DC Super Villains
• Naruto to Boruto: Shinobi Striker

Nintendo Switch

• LEGO DC Super Villains
  
• Hello, Neighbor
• Overcooked! 2
• Nickelodeon Kart Racers
• Dragon Ball FighterZ

Nintendo 3DS

• Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker

XBox One

• FIFA 19
  
• Assassin's Creed: Odyssey
• LEGO DC Super Villains
• Shadow of the Tomb Raider
• Naruto to Boruto: Shinobi Striker
• For Honor: Marching Fire

Save $20 on Select Switch Games

• Donkey Kong Country Returns: Tropical Freeze
• Kirby Star Allies
• Bayonetta 2
• Valkyria Chronicles 4
• Scribblenauts Mega Pack

GameStop

As usual, GameStop offers a wide variety of discounts and deals, including a buy 2 get 1 free on all preowned products from November 23-26.

Consoles

• PlayStation 4 Pro, 1TB: $349.99
• PlayStation 4, 1TB: $199.99
• $100 off all PSVR headsets
• Xbox One S, 1TB: $299.99
• Xbox One S, 1TB, Middle Earth: Shadow of War Bundle: $299.99
• Xbox One S, 500GB: $189.99

$30 Games

PlayStation 4

• Persona 5
• Yakuza 0
• LEGO Ninjago Movie

XBox One

• F1 2017: Special Edition
  
• Project Cars 2

$25 Games

PlayStation 4

• Dragon Quest Heroes II
  
• NieR: Automata

Xbox One

• The Witcher III: Wild Hunt Complete Edition
  
• Tekken 7
• Dirt 4

$20 Games

PlayStation 4

• Kingdom Hearts 1.5 + 2.5 Remix
  
• Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8: Final Chapter Prologue
• Uncharted 4: A Thief's End
• Final Fantasy XIV: Stormblood
• World of Final Fantasy
• Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2
• Knack II
• Rise of the Tomb Raider: 20 Year Celebration Edition
• Horizon: Zero Dawn
• Everybody's Golf

Xbox One

• Dead Alliance
  
• Cities: Skylines
• Golf Club 2
• LEGO City Undercover
• The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

$15 Games

PlayStation 4

• Dishonored: Death of the Outsider
• Borderlands: The Handsome Collection
• The Last of Us

Xbox One

• Wolfenstein: The Two Pack
• MS Vs ATV Supercross Encore 2017 Track Edition

Save $20

Xbox One

• Cars 3: Driven to Win
  
• NHL 18
• Halo Wars 2
• Forza Motorsport 7

Save $10

PlayStation 4

• Batman: The Telltale Series--The Enemy Within
  
• NBA 2K18

Xbox One

• Resident Evil 7: Biohazard
  
• LEGO Worlds
• Super Lucky's Tale
• Disneyland Adventures
• Outlast Trinity

---

That's it for now, but be sure to check back for more sales updates as they become available. And if you're looking for what to get for the young ones on your list this year, check out our family-friendly buying guides.

• Best PS4 Games for Kids 2018
• Best Nintendo Switch Games for Kids 2018
• Best Xbox One Games for Kids 2018
• Best PC Games for Kids 2018

If there's on thing that really makes Blizzard's Overwatch the game it is, it's the  incredibily diverse collection of Heroes. Today, Blizzard announced the game's 29th Hero, a tough-as-nails thief and gangleader by the name of Ashe.

Elizabeth Caledonia "Calamity" Ashe is the leader of the notorious Deadlock Gang -- as well as an old associate of the BAMF himself, Jesse McCree. Despite her current occupation and appearance, Ashe grew up in a world of privlege as the daughter of business consultants. Even after running off to become a criminal, she still holds on to one part of her old life, B.O.B., the omnic butler.

Ashe is a damage dealing hero with impressive sharp-shooting skills. But she doesn't just rely on her gun. She can also call on B.O.B to help her out in battle. Unlike a lot of summoned allies, B.O.B almost functions as an addition team member. He can be healed, buffed, and debuffed. This makes Ashe and B.O.B a unique team.

An overview of Ashe's abilities is available in the video below.

If you'd like more information where Ashe comes from, Blizzard also dropped the origin story video from today's Overwatch panel on YouTube. It can be watched here.

For more news from BlizzCon, be sure you stay tuned to GameSkinny this weekend.

Today, during the BlizzCon preshow, Blizzard surprised fans with a cereal ad. It was unclear whether or not the ad was a real thing or if Blizzard was having fun.

Until, that is, the pre-show hosts Alex Albrecht and Michelle Marrow excitedly said, "It's real!", and Michelle ate a bowl of them on air.

Lucio-ohs, a cereal that started life as a spray in Blizzard's popular shooter Overwatch, is now a real breakfast item manufactured by Kelloggs.  

Today may not be the first time you've heard of the real-life cereal. Over a year ago, fans begged Blizzard to make the spray a real-world item -- even creating a change.org petition for it.

Even more recently, pictures of the cereal box were leaked online. Neither Blizzard nor Kelloggs would confirm the authenticity of the leak. But today, we know it's legitimate.

Not only did Blizzard reveal the cereal, they also announced that players will get a free loot boost code in every box.

Lucio-ohs will be available to purchase in stores this December.

For more news on all the awesome things coming out of Blizzcon this year, stay tuned to GameSkinny.