First-Person Shooters

This Reboot Wants to Make You Uncomfortable

By Ryan McCaffrey  @ IGN

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare is probably going to upset people, perhaps by design. The reboot, which brings familiar characters like Captain Price into modern-day, “ripped from the headlines” missions but is otherwise not connected to the previous entries in the brand’s best-known subfranchise, brings with it all of the expected technical upgrades: ray tracing, multi-layer shading, spectral rendering, 4K resolution, HDR, etc. But it’s the renewed focus on realism and the single-player campaign, which was so unimportant to Call of Duty in last year’s Black Ops 4 that it literally didn’t have one, that’s going to help Modern Warfare leave its mark.

Read on…

One of the Most Iconic Series in Gaming History Returns in Ground-Breaking Experience

Prepare to go dark, Modern Warfare is back! The most celebrated series in Call of Duty will make its highly-anticipated return when Call of Duty: Modern Warfare launches October 25th in a powerful experience reimagined from the ground-up. The all-new title, published by Activision and developed by Infinity Ward, engulfs players in a modern-day conflict, where split-second decisions could affect the global balance of power. The new Modern Warfare features a unified narrative experience and progression across a heart racing, epic single-player story, an action-packed multiplayer playground, and new cooperative gameplay.

View the Official Call of Duty: Modern Warfare – Reveal Trailer HERE.

“This is an all-new Modern Warfare reimagined in every way,” said Dave Stohl, co-Studio Head, Infinity Ward. “We are creating an emotionally charged experience that’s inspired by the headlines in the world today, where the rules are grey and battle lines are blurred. Players will join a varied cast of international special forces and freedom fighters in gripping and heart-pounding missions through iconic European cities and volatile expanses of the Middle East. It’s intense, it’s exciting, and we can’t wait for our fans to play this October.”

“Every design decision has been made with our players in mind,” said Patrick Kelly, Creative Director and co-Studio Head, Infinity Ward. “With the launch of Modern Warfare, we’re taking steps to unite the community. First, we plan for Modern Warfare to be played together across PC and console through cross-play support. Second, we’re eliminating the traditional season pass, so that we can deliver more free maps and content as well as post-launch events to all players. This is just the beginning – there’s much more to come.”

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare features a new engine delivering an immersive and photo-realistic experience. The new technology utilizes the latest advancements in visual engineering, including a physically-based material system allowing for state of the art photogrammetry, a new hybrid tile based streaming system, new PBR decal rendering system, world volumetric lighting, 4K HDR, DirectX Raytracing (PC) and more as well as a new GPU geometry pipeline. Spectral rendering delivers thermal heat radiation and infrared identification for both thermal and night-vision in-game imaging. The technical investment provides a cutting edge animation and blend shape system, while the new suite of audio tools supports full Dolby ATMOS, on supported platforms, along with the latest in audio simulation effects.

Starting today, fans can pre-order the digital version of the new Modern Warfare and receive a prestige token to be used immediately in-game in Call of Duty: Black Ops 4*.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare is scheduled for release globally October 25th on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC. The title features a fully-optimized PC version, developed in partnership with Beenox, which will be available exclusively on Blizzard Battle.net®**, Blizzard Entertainment’s online gaming platform. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare is published by Activision, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Activision Blizzard (NASDAQ: ATVI) with development led by award-winning developer, Infinity Ward, with additional development support from Raven Software.

Winner of numerous awards and honors following its release in 2007, including the Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences “Game of the Year,” the original Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare received worldwide acclaim as it won the hearts of fans everywhere. With the two sequels that followed, the Modern Warfare series has left an indelible mark as one of the most iconic and decorated gaming series in history.

*Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 game on pre-order platform required. Sold separately.
**Battle.net is a trademark or registered trademark of Blizzard Entertainment, Inc., in the U.S. and/or other countries.

On May 30, the fight moves to the Mediterranean as a brand-new map becomes part of the ever-evolving Battlefield V. Prepare for a violent struggle along a beautiful coastline. This is Mercury.

Map Overview

Based on the events of Operation Mercury in 1941, this map lets you deploy on the coast of Crete where the British take on the invading German forces. Gameplay-wise, Mercury is all about verticality, all-out war, and asymmetrical vehicle forces; British troops have tanks and only a small number of planes while Germans will control the skies. Leverage the rocky slopes for intense vertical gameplay and close quarters gameplay.

Watch the Battlefield V – Mercury Map Official Reveal Trailer HERE.

Mercury at a Glance

Units:

• Infantry
• Aircraft
• Vehicles

Size:

• Medium-Large

Tempo:

• Moderate-Fast

Playstyle

Mercury caters for many different playstyles. It’s built to be a proper all-out war map, where players will be pushing with tanks, holding out for air support, or desperately defending a flag position. Battlefield veterans will see shades of three classic maps from older titles: Guadalcanal from Battlefield 1942, the Altai Range map from Battlefield 4, and Battlefield 1’s Monte Grappa.

Due to the size and verticality of the map, tempo will vary. Find holes in the defense to flank or engage in a hot firefight around one of the flags. There’s a place in the map for SMGs to clash with shotguns, while Recon players can snipe at Support players, who in turn suppress enemies with their LMGs.

More info about the new Battlefield V  Mercury Map can be found HERE.

What if humanity suddenly encounters extraterrestrial intelligence on Earth?

Bohemia Interactive is excited to present: Arma 3 Contact – a spin-off expansion for their military simulation game Arma 3 (watch trailer). Scheduled for release on Steam (Windows PC) on July 25, the Arma 3 Contact expansion features a military science fiction singleplayer campaign, which will arrive together with a fresh new sandbox terrain, factions, weapons, vehicles, gear, and more.

In the “First Contact” singleplayer campaign, players will assume the role of NATO drone operator Aiden Rudwell, who is deployed to Eastern Europe as part of a military training exercise. When a massive alien vessel suddenly enters the atmosphere, you are sent to investigate the extraterrestrial visitors and determine their intentions. However, amid the tension and chaos, armed conflict inevitably unfolds. Over the course of the campaign, players will engage in field science, electronic warfare, and combat reconnaissance, in an experience delivered in authentic Arma style.

Although conventional infantry engagements can be expected, a significant portion of the campaign will focus on non-shooting gameplay. This involves operating a mini UGV sampling laser and CBRN defense equipment to study strange alien anomalies, as well as controlling the electromagnetic spectrum with the aptly named Spectrum Device. This advanced modern tool – depending on what antenna is fitted – can be used for navigation, intelligence gathering, and deception.

Besides its story-driven campaign, the upcoming Contact expansion also brings various additions to the greater Arma 3 sandbox. One highlight is the massive new 163 km2 terrain set in the fictional Polish-speaking country of Livonia. With this new locale come two smaller yet capable fighting forces: Livonian Defense Force and Russian Spetsnaz. These new factions are equipped with their own combat fatigues, vests, and helmets. Furthermore, the expansion packs 5 additional weapons, 2 new vehicles plus variants, extra gear, and more.

“Many of us have wondered if humanity is alone in the universe. I, for one, want to believe we are not. The premise of intelligent life visiting Earth from outer space has fascinated me since childhood, and combining that with the military authenticity of Arma 3 always seemed like it would make for a very cool and unique experience“, said Arma 3 Contact Project Lead, Joris-Jan van ‘t Land. “After our team’s previous project – Laws of War DLC – proved that players enjoy gameplay that’s a little different, our team felt motivated to go for it. I am personally very grateful for the opportunity to explore this theme, and I want to thank all Arma 3 players for their support and making it possible for this dream to come true.”

Key Features of Arma 3 Contact

• Singleplayer campaign “First Contact” – You are a member of a NATO training deployment to a remote region of Livonia, presented with a mysterious event that will forever change the face of human history.
• 163 km2 Livonia terrain – A temperate summer environment set in a partly abandoned militarized region of the (fictional) Eastern European country of Livonia.
• 2 Factions – Livonian Defense Force and Russian Spetsnaz, who are equipped with their own gear, and made complete with reskinned variants of existing Arma 3 assets, new character faces, and Polish or Russian radio protocols.
• 5 Weapons – Promet Assault Rifle, RPK-12 Light Machine Gun, AKU-12 Carbine, Mk14 Classic Hunting Rifle, and Kozlice Shotgun – most of which come with various attachments and camo paints.
• 2 Vehicles – ED-1 Mini UGV (a small electric tracked robot with a modular chassis and swivel arm that comes in both a Science and Demining variant) plus the Tractor.
• Gear – CBRN clothing, masks and backpacks, Spectrum Device, radio backpack, blindfold, and tin foil hat.
• Multiplayer Scenarios – Additional Zeus Game Master, Combat Patrol, and Warlords scenarios for the new Livonia terrain.
• Free Bonus Content – NATO woodland camouflage, civilian clothing, 100+ decorative props and terrain objects, and more. These will be made available for free to all owners of Arma 3.

The Arma 3 Contact expansion is scheduled for release on July 25 and will be distributed as DLC for Arma 3 on Steam. It is already available for pre-purchase on Steam and the Bohemia Store for 24.99 EUR / 27.99 USD / 21.99 GBP (with a temporary 10% discount up until one week after release). Those who pre-order will also receive Sneak Preview Access to the new Livonia terrain as of today.

People who are entirely new to Arma 3 can also decide to pick up the Arma 3 Contact Edition on Steam or the Bohemia Store, which bundles the Arma 3 base game and Contact expansion at a much lower price than when both are bought separately. Fans might be interested in the Bohemia Store-exclusive Arma 3 Contact Collector’s Edition (available here). This limited-edition also includes the base game (Deluxe Edition) and Contact expansion, plus more than five unique collector’s items such as a rugged field case, topographic map, two-way radio transceivers, tin foil hats, and more.

For more information about Arma 3 Contact, visit www.arma3.com/contact. Here you will also find the system requirements for Arma 3 and answers to some of the most Frequently Asked Questions about the new expansion.

Rediscover the glitz and glamour of Kafe Dostoyevsky in a major map rework alongside two new eye-opening Operators in Year 4 Season 2

Ubisoft has announced the full details of the second season of Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six: Siege Year 4 content. Operation Phantom Sight introduces an all-new Attacker and a Defender, Nøkk and Warden, as well as a major map rework of Kafe Dostoyevsky, situated at the heart of Moscow. Furthermore, in Year 4 Season 2, Rainbow Six: Siege will introduce new changes to the recently implemented feature, Reverse Friendly Fire, as well as updates to the Rainbow Six: Siege storefront and the Ranked playlist,

In this new season, Nøkk and Warden will redefine how intel is gathered as the newest additions to the Rainbow Six: Siege Operator line-up. Armed with her FMG-9 and SIX12-SD, Nøkk uses her high-tech HEL Presence Reduction gadget to quietly navigate behind enemy lines, invisible to cameras and drones alike. Warden uses his Glance Smartglasses to enhance his vision, providing him with better visibility in smoke as well as immunity to flashes while remaining still. His M590A1 and MPX makes him a powerful anchor in defence.

In addition to these two new Rainbow recruits, players will be able to explore the map rework of Kafe Dostoyevsky, which incorporates significant changes to the current map in order to open up and diversify gameplay: the first floor has been redesigned, new Bomb sites appeared on the second floor, and many other updates gameplay opportunities. Other features that will be introduced in the upcoming season include further updates to Reverse Friendly Fire based on data and community feedback, a reworked Ranked playlist and a new in-game storefront.

The Test Server for Operation Phantom Sight will go live on 21st May. The Test Server is an alternative version of Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six: Siege, allowing players to test upcoming gameplay features that will make their way into the main game itself. Since this is a testing environment, a consistent gameplay experience is not guaranteed on the Test Server. Players are invited to submit the issues they encounter on the Test Server on the R6 Fix platform [link: here]. The Test Server is exclusive to Windows PC.

For more information about Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six: Siege, please visit rainbow6.com.

Contain The Outbreak, Before It’s Too Late

The premier over-the-top action sandbox experience gets even crazier! Prepare for an all-out battle against the demonic forces from an ancient past, in the all-new Los Demonios DLC for Just Cause 4, releasing July 3rd, 2019, on XBOX ONE®, the all-in-one games and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system and Windows PC.

Watch the Just Cause 4: Los Demonios trailer HERE.

When Rico & Javi, investigate a newly discovered temple off the shore of Solis, an archaeologist working with the Black Hand unexpectedly releases an ancient demonic force from its imprisonment.

A parasitic infestation now spreads across Solis, terrorizing its inhabitants and attacking any Black Hand forces that stand in its way. Rico must tackle a horrifying new threat and seek out answers to eradicate the demon invasion from the island permanently, before it’s too late!

Discover a completely new sandbox gameplay experience with Los Demonios, as demonic hordes, pulsing tendrils and spore-filled clouds infest the towns and people of Solis in an exciting new supernatural addition to Just Cause 4.

Face the demons across new missions that will require all the skills and tools at Rico’s disposal to emerge victorious. Vicious demons spit corrosive projectiles, possess soldiers, and even take over military vehicles and turn them against Rico.

Seamlessly integrating into the Just Cause 4 sandbox, the new missions enhance the crazy open world experience further and provide a return to the popular liberation gameplay of the Just Cause 3. Introducing new weapons and equipment to unlock, including the Demon Crossbow and Demon Egg Supply Drop, Los Demonios lets you take the new tools of destruction into the open-world sandbox of Just Cause 4 for explosive new action packed moments of glorious mayhem.

“Los Demonios is the second DLC pack in the ‘Dare Devils, Demons and Danger’ Expansion Pass, and it brings a totally new experience to Just Cause 4,” said Bryan Rodriguez, Creative Producer at Avalanche Studios. “For the first time, Rico is tangling with an otherwordly threat that will push him to his limits. This is our chance to see if Rico is as good at squashing demons as he is at toppling dictators!”

The Just Cause 4 Spring Update is in full effect! Just Cause 4 has improved vastly since launch, with improved graphical elements across the board on all formats, as well as gameplay tweaks for a smoother player experience. Today, a massive patch rolled out that completely changes the world lighting, improving the way light interacts with the environment and bringing considerable visual upgrades to the Just Cause 4 sandbox world. In addition to this, it also includes destructible statues & train bridges, new chaos objects to destroy in the open world, more ammo and a dialled-up ‘heat’ system that will have the Black Hand challenging Rico like never before.

You can read more about the improvements to Just Cause 4 on the Developer Blog.

Gold Edition purchasers will receive 7 days early access to the Just Cause 4: Los Demonios DLC. Gold access begins on June 26th, 2019.

For more information on the Gold Edition visit: http://justcause.com/buy-now

By Jason Schreier @ Kotaku

Next year’s Call of Duty has gone through a major upheaval, as publisher Activision informed developers this week that studios Raven and Sledgehammer, which had until now led the project, will no longer be in charge. Instead, according to three people familiar with goings-on at the companies, Treyarch will lead development on a new Black Ops for 2020.

It’s a significant shift for Activision’s massive first-person shooter franchise, which is one of the most lucrative video game series on the planet. Every fall for the past 15 years, Activision has put out a new Call of Duty game, supported by a stable of different developers who rotated duties as required. Since 2012, Activision has followed a three-year cycle for its three lead studios: Infinity Ward, Treyarch, and Sledgehammer.

Read on…

Deep Silver and 4A Games today revealed the details of the downloadable content which will make up the Metro Exodus Expansion Pass.

There will be two major pieces of story-driven DLC for the game, following brand new stories from the world of Metro. Instead of Artyom, players will have the chance to see through the eyes of a brand new character and of one of the Spartan Rangers, the Aurora’s only American, Sam. Both of these will be available as part of the expansion pass, but will also be available for purchase separately.

A quick word of warning: if you have not yet completed the Metro Exodus campaign, the following contains spoilers.

Coming in Summer 2019, the first story that players will follow, The Two Colonels, is that of Colonel Khlebnikov, just below the surface, under the dead city of Novosibirsk, as he makes his way home to his son, Kirill, for New Year’s Eve.

But all is not well with the people here: the slime is further consuming the tunnels, mutant attacks appear to be on the rise and the precious ‘green stuff’ that protects the people from radiation poisoning is running low. In order to secure the survival of any of the people, those in charge may need to take drastic measures…

Following the journey and experiences of Khlebnikov during the last days of life in Novosibirsk, which Colonel Miller retraces a year later, players can expect the classic story-driven gameplay of the Metro series in this new linear chapter, complete with a brand new weapon, the deadly flame-thrower, claustrophobic environments, and the all-too-familiar hair-raising tension.

The second piece of DLC, Sam’s Story, coming to players in early 2020, is the brand new sandbox survival level based on Vladivostok. Sam, a US marine at the Moscow embassy before the bombs were dropped, has long dreamed of returning to his homeland, and maybe finding his family alive. The prospect seemed impossible in the darkened tunnels of the Metro, but when the Spartans discovered that Moscow was not the only city left alive after the war, holding out hope didn’t feel so foolish anymore.

Sam makes his way away from the Aurora in search of a way back to the USA, arriving at the remains of Vladivostok’s tsunami ravaged harbours, ruined industrial buildings, and crumbling residential districts. To complete his journey, Sam will discover that he needs every tactic he has learned so far to survive, as his surroundings prove to be far trickier than expected.

Players will forge Sam’s path through the sandbox survival landscape of Vladivostok, as they take a brand new journey across the wasteland of post-apocalyptic Russia.

Visit the official Metro Exodus website for more game information.

Independent developer and publisher Rebellion is celebrating today’s release of Sniper Elite V2 Remastered with a stunning new launch trailer.

Showcasing gripping gameplay, revamped visuals and new features, the trailer highlights the improvements fans old and new can look forward to in Sniper Elite V2 Remastered.  Today’s release is available on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch and PC.

Sniper Elite V2 Remastered takes players to Berlin, 1945, and the heart of World War 2. As veteran sharpshooter Karl Fairburne you must use skill, patience and cunning to prevent the unthinkable. Your mission is to go behind enemy lines and prevent the cataclysmic Nazi V2 rocket technology from falling into the hands of the Red Army. Deadly aim and a stealthy approach are vital as you find yourself trapped between two armies in a race against time.

Sniper Elite V2 Remastered amplifies the original’s iconic sniping and advanced ballistics with a host of improvements and added extras. In addition to impressive 4K and HDR support on available platforms, the game features stunning remastered visuals, from overhauled assets to modernized rendering and much more.

Sniper Elite V2 Remastered also adds a versatile new photo mode that lets you pause and move the action frame-by-frame for that perfect X-ray Kill Cam shot. You can also play the campaign and multiplayer modes as one of 7 new characters from Rebellion’s Zombie Army series. And now multiplayer is expanded for up to 16 players online across all modes.

On top of all this, Sniper Elite V2 Remastered includes all the DLC ever released for the game including the iconic “Assassinate the Führer” mission, making it incredible value-for-money.

Sniper Elite V2 Remastered is now available on digital platforms across PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch and PC, including Steam and GOG. Physical editions are available from Friday 17th May on PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch.

Sniper Elite V2 Remastered is priced £29.99 across all platforms. Steam and GOG users who already own the original Sniper Elite V2 can upgrade to Sniper Elite V2 Remastered for just £6.99.

Visit the official Sniper Elite website for more game information.

Source: Blue’s News

The PS4 exclusivity for Operation Spectre Rising has run out, and this new content is now also available for the Windows and Xbox One editions of Call of Duty: Black Ops 4. This includes the debut of Spectre in Multiplayer, a Wetworks map update and Bounty Hunter mode in Blackout, “Super Blood Wolf Moon” Gauntlet in Zombies, as well as new weapons and cosmetics. The Alcatraz map also returns to Blackout, and they celebrate all the news by awarding 2XP in Multiplayer, Zombies, and Blackout modes. Here’s the overview of all the changes:

The PS4 exclusivity for Operation Spectre Rising has run out, and this new content is now also available for the Windows and Xbox One editions of Call of Duty: Black Ops 4. This includes the debut of Spectre in Multiplayer, a Wetworks map update and Bounty Hunter mode in Blackout, “Super Blood Wolf Moon” Gauntlet in Zombies, as well as new weapons and cosmetics. The Alcatraz map also returns to Blackout, and they celebrate all the news by awarding 2XP in Multiplayer, Zombies, and Blackout modes. Here’s the overview of all the changes:

Multiplayer

• Spectre in MP and Blackout after unlocking Tier 1 in the Black Market (Xbox One/PC).
• 3 Black Ops Pass Multiplayer maps: Masquerade, Artifact, and WMD (Xbox One/PC).
• Prop Hunt gameplay improvements.

Featured Playlists:

• Earn 2XP in Map Pack Moshpit through 10AM PT Friday, May 10.
• PS4: Map Pack Moshpit, Prop Hunt, Barebones Moshpit, Deathmatch Domination, Mercenary Deathmatch Moshpit.
• Xbox One: Map Pack Moshpit, Infected, Barebones Moshpit, Deathmatch Domination, Mercenary Deathmatch Moshpit.
• PC: Map Pack Moshpit, Infected, Barebones Moshpit.

World League Hub

• Restricted Tigershark LMG.

Blackout

• “Wetworks” map update now live in Blackout, flooding large portions of the main map (Xbox One/PC).
• “Wetworks” map now available in Custom Games.
• Bounty Hunter mode now live in Blackout (Xbox One/PC).
• Earn 2X Merits in Bounty Hunter through 10AM PT Friday, May 10.
• DART now available to find and equip in Blackout (Xbox One/PC).
• Uncle Frank character now playable with the Black Ops Pass (Xbox One/PC).
• Tuning changes to Spectre in Bounty Hunter.
• Alcatraz returns to Blackout on all platforms.

Zombies

• New “Super Blood Wolf Moon” Gauntlet (Xbox One/PC).
• Earn 2XP in “Super Blood Wolf Moon” through 10AM PT Friday, May 10.
• New Tigershark LMG added to Mystery Box (Xbox One/PC).

Black Market

• 50 Tiers with new Contraband items to earn (Xbox One/PC).
• New Death Effects and Weapon Charm item types added (Xbox One/PC).
• New weapons in the Contraband stream: Tigershark LMG and Nifo’Oti melee weapon (Xbox One/PC).

For more information, fans can visit www.callofduty.com.