Monthly Archives: November 2017
New Overwatch Hero Moira Revealed
Today at BlizzCon, the Overwatch team announced the game's next hero, Moira.
The character is a support healer, but can also deliver a significant amount of damage. Additionally Moira has the Fade ability, making her incredibly mobile on the battlefield.
Earlier this year, Blizzard discussed Overwatch's next hero, saying they're "very playable." No word yet on when Moira will officially join the roster of playable heroes, but those at BlizzCon will be able to go hands on with the character on the show floor.
In addition to this new character reveal, the Overwatch team announced Blizzard World, a new map for Overwatch that draws inspiration of Blizzard's array of different games. It's a hybrid map that's part Assault, part Payload. It will go live early next year and arrive on the PTR very soon.
New Overwatch Map Blizzard World Announced
Blizzard announced Blizzard World for Overwatch at BlizzCon 2017 today, a new map pulling inspiration from all of Blizzard's various games.
The map, featuring a Blizzard-themed amusement part, will be going live in the game next year, though Blizzard's Jeff Kaplan said it will be going live on the PTR "very, very soon."
Blizzard World is part-payload and part-assault map.
Blizzard's Jeff Kaplan spoke earlier this year about the game's next hero, calling them "very playable" but not set to be released anytime soon. However, Blizzard also revealed that new hero, Moira, during BlizzCon.
Hearthstone’s Next Expansion ‘Kobolds and Catacombs’ Revealed
Hearthstone's next expansion, titled "Kobolds and Catacombs," was revealed today at BlizzCon 2017.
Due out in December, the expansion will feature 135 brand-new cards. Players will be able to equip nine new Legendary Weapons, one of which they’ll receive for free the first time they log into the expansion.
Kobolds and Catacombs will also bring a new single-player game mode called Dungeon Runs. This will task players with defeating increasingly-difficult bosses and building a deck while progressing through a classic fantasy-inspired dungeon crawl. Blizzard describes it as a "Hearthstone Roguelike."
Hearthstone's last expansion, Knights of the Frozen Throne, was released back in August.
Overwatch, WoW Characters Join Heroes of the Storm
Blizzard has announced the newest playable characters coming to Heroes of the Storm during its BlizzCon 2017 keynote.
Overwatch's Hanzo and World of Warcraft's Alexstrasza the Life Binder have joined HotS. Alexstrasza is a durable Ranged Support, while Hanzo is an Assassin who can deal plenty of damage from long range. Check out the reveal trailer below:
Blizzard also revealed the Dragons of the Nexus event coming to the game, which will earn players a log-in reward, the Stained Glass Alexstrasza or Hanzo Portrait, between Nov. 14 and Dec. 12. The event features the quest the Dragons of the Nexus, which can be completed in Versus AI, Quick Match, Ranked, and Unranked modes.
StarCraft II Goes Free to Play
At BlizzCon today, Blizzard announced that StarCraft II is going free to play.
Starting November 14, the full Wings of Liberty campaign will be free for everyone. Meanwhile, those who have already purchased Wings of Liberty will get Heart of the Swarm free of charge.
This free-to-play version will provide full access to the ranked ladder and free access to every co-op commander up to level 5.
StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty launched back in 2010, followed by expansions including 2013’s Heart of the Swarm and 2015’s Legacy of the Void. Last year, Blizzard released nine new downloadable missions known as Nova Covert Ops.
Guess Which Jedi Survived Revenge of the Sith?
Star Wars: Darth Vader #7 just added another name to the official list of Jedi who survived the events of Revenge of the Sith. And this one should be instantly recognizable to fans of the Prequels.
Warning: this article contains spoilers for Star Wars: Darth Vader #7!
Having established how Vader defeated Jedi Master Kirak Infil'a and constructed his red lightsaber, the series is now turning its attention to Vader's efforts to take control of the Inquistorius and mold them into the deadly warriors seen in Star Wars Rebels. As the Grand Inquisitor reveals in this issue, Emperor Palpatine has given him a list of Jedi who likely survived Order 66. And the highest priority target on that list is none other than Jocasta Nu, the Jedi librarian introduced in Attack of the Clones.
Alias Grace is the Perfect Binge After The Handmaid’s Tale
Renowned author Margaret Atwood is in high demand these days, especially after the successful adaption of The Handmaid’s Tale earned an impressive eight Primetime Emmys for Hulu. Alias Grace is the latest Atwood series based off one of her books, and it's looking to make an impact of its own when the entire season drops on Netflix on Friday, November 3. Make sure to check out IGN's spoiler-free review.
At first glance, these two series look nothing alike. Alias Grace is a historical account of a young Irish immigrant to Canada who is convicted of murder, while The Handmaid’s Tale is set in a dystopian society where women have lost all their freedom and are forced to act as breeders for the upper class. When we sat down for a conversation with lead actress Sarah Gadon (Dracula Untold) about her portrayal of Grace Marks, she believes the shows are deeply connected.
COD: WW2 Mission Makes You Watch Other Players Open Loot Boxes
Call of Duty: WW2's social space Headquarters features a mission that can only be completed by watching other players open loot boxes that fall from the skies onto the beaches of Normandy.
Watch the video above to see the mission, called Loot Spectator, play out in Headquarters. The quest is one of various daily missions Headquarters tasks players with finishing — in this case, completing Loot Spectator requires watching three players open the game's loot boxes.
This mission is, of course, not required to complete any campaign or part of Call of Duty: WW2, but is included among the game's various multiplayer Orders, which can be completed for Social Score points and XP boosts. Loot Spectator currently earns players 25 Social Score points.
EA Reveals UFC 3, Coming February
EA has today unveiled EA SPORTS UFC 3, which will be available worldwide on February 2, 2018 for Xbox One and PS4.
UFC 3 will feature a new fighter animation system with over 5,000 new animations captured and rebuilt from the ground up. According to EA the new tech brings “uninterrupted fighter movement” to the game, meaning fluid footwork and seamless combinations. Strikes can now also be combined with slips and lunges so that every move can be performed while in motion, and position and stance now has an even greater effect on the impact of every strike.
EA also promises the UFC’s biggest stars will now “move and feel exactly as they do in real life”, with their fighting tendencies replicated within this new tech.
Check Out This Life-Sized Gears 4 Gold Lancer
The Gears of War series' most iconic weapon is getting life-sized, gold replica.
Not only does it have "authentic lights and sounds," it includes a Gold Lancer skin for Gears of War 4. Oh, and a detachable flashlight, too. It's the only way to get the DLC in-game.
The $169 gold lancer comes with a Gears 4 gear pack to unlock "skins, emblems, bounty challenges, and Horde abilities," as well as weapons.
The Gold Lancer isn't just simple replica to toss on the shelf and gaze at longingly. The ammo cartridge is on a hinged release, so it can be removed, an articulated chainsaw handle "that slides back and forth" to activate chainsaw bayonet sound effects, and LED lights to add to its authentic look.