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Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

LICENSED MERCH*

Every fighter ever in their biggest clash yet

It’s World War 2 like never before in the series’ most immersive instalment yet REVEALED

Just Cause 4

Rico returns in the eye of the storm INSIDE STORY GET STARTED

Livestreaming

Broadcast your gaming and build a fanbase *Save on licensed merch when you pre-order and pick up. Terms and conditions apply – see page 26.

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How Epic’s battle royale took over the world 25/06/2018 12:35

£79.99* *PC version £69.99

© 2018 Bethesda Softworks LLC, a ZeniMax Media company. Bethesda, Bethesda Softworks, Bethesda Game Studios, ZeniMax, Pip-Boy, Vault-Tec and related logos are registered trademarks or trademarks of ZeniMax Media Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries. Fallout, Vault Boy and related logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of Bethesda Softworks LLC in the U.S. and/or other countries. All Rights Reserved.

GEARS 5

HOW FORTNITE TOOK OVER THE WORLD

Summer 2018 | Issue #1

CONTENTS The best games on every format in Britain’s biggest gaming magazine

BATTLEFIELD V

SPIDER-MAN

PRESS START

SUPER SMASH BROS. ULTIMATE

Welcome to Issue 1 of GAME magazine! GAME has long been the best place to buy the biggest games on all formats, with exclusives you can’t find anywhere else – and now we’re the best place to read about them too! Enjoy the mag, and stop by our social channels (see p. 66) to give us your feedback. #GAMEMag

N@ ie

Natalie Amosu Chief Marketing Officer GAME

Download the GAME app

Make the most of this interactive magazine with Scan-It. Simply download the GAME app from the App Store or Google Play and then use your device’s camera to scan where you see the Ads Reality marker to reveal trailers and videos.

Watch game trailers Look out for this icon throughout the magazine to see amazing game trailers.

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2018’S BIGGEST ARE 01 BETTER AT GAME Pre-order exclusive versions of the year’s most exciting games

Scan these pages for Ads Reality game trailers (see p. 3 for details).

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E3 is where the gaming industry shows off what’s coming next, and this year’s event did not disappoint when it came to revealing some of 2018’s biggest new titles. Now we know what to get excited about, the good news is that GAME has worked to secure the ultimate editions of the most hotly awaited titles, available to pre-order exclusively with us. Start your epic journey in Assassin’s Creed Odyssey with

the advantage of the Omega Edition’s art book and world map, plus digital extras. Or emerge from Fallout 76’s vault in GAME’s Tricentennial Edition with weapon customisations and an Uncle Sam outfit.

Crushing it

Then there’s the literal conversation piece in the Rage 2 Collector’s Edition: a Ruckus the Crusher Talking Head, with lover of hard partying Andrew W.K. providing the voice.

Assassin’s Creed Odyssey Omega Edition is only available at GAME.

Whatever you’re excited about, pre-ordering from GAME will give you even more to look forward to come release day. From Code Vein’s vampiric statue to Shadow of the Tomb Raider’s steelbook, to Red Dead Redemption II’s lockable metal collector’s box, with GAME’s exclusive preorder editions available, why would you buy anywhere else?

| Info Find out more at tinyurl.com/y8nl7ock

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THE HOTTEST STORIES IN GAMING

It’s the apocalypse. It’s not an amusement park. Todd Howard on Fallout 76 (p. 43)

BIOWARE MECH A 02 DATE WITH DESTINY Less love, more war as Anthem pushes the benefit of friends

Buy Bungie’s sci-fi epic from GAME at: tinyurl.com/ ybd5d4t8

Fancy feet

FIFA 19’s new active touch system promises greater control and slicker footwork.

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BioWare’s latest is a co-op shooter with secrets to explore and bosses to take on in a colourful open world. Sound familiar, Destiny fans? But rather than picking a particular class, you’ll be choosing from a suite of Javelins – armoured mech suits with their own mobility, defensive, and ability options. Like the best RPG parties, it’ll take the perfect mix of attack, defence, and support suits to

bring down the baddest foes. There’s still some classic BioWare character charm going on behind the scenes, though. Familiar character moments will play out at your home base of Fort Tarsis, but the main thrust will be you and your mates squadding up for adventure when the game is out on 22 February on PS4, Xbox One and PC.

FIFA 19 nets the Champions League license The UEFA Champions League is coming to EA’s football giant. As announced at E3, FIFA 19 will feature the prestigious club tournament, previously found in competitor PES. FIFA 19 will also conclude Alex Hunter’s single-player career through the leagues. This year’s FIFA won’t tear up the rulebook, just continue EA Sports’ ceaseless quest to create the ultimate footy game. Expect greater team control plus new ways to feign direction or gamble on striking power with a mini-game to hit your shooting sweet spot. It’s released on all platforms on 28 September.

CATCH ’EM ALL ON SWITCH Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Let’s Go, Eevee! are the next games in the franchise. They occupy a middle ground between the core series and Pokémon Go on mobile. Battles are swapped for Go’s balltossing, but there’s also a top-down world to explore. A rare Mew is available if you also pick up Nintendo’s Pokéball Plus controller. The games and the vibrating Pokéball are set for release on 16 November.

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A typically intense Gears journey will take players from lush tropical jungles to oppressively claustrophobic corridors.

Gears 5 features characters old and new, from this unnamed COG to franchise mainstay Marcus.

Squadmate Kait takes centre stage in Gears 5, in what looks set to be one more actionpacked ride.

Call that a gun? In the Gears universe, if it doesn’t have logging machinery attached, it’s barely dangerous.

SHIFTING GEARS INTO UNCHARTED TERRITORY Gears 5 drops half the title and takes us out of Fenix boots for the first time Since The Coalition picked up the Gears of War franchise with 4, the studio’s been looking to move the series away from its burly Epic roots. Yet the previous entry played it rather conservatively, putting us in the boots of main man Marcus Fenix’s son Del. Gears 5

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(they’ve dumped the ‘of War’ bit) follows the journey of the last game’s leading lady, Kait. We’ve been promised a more story-driven adventure through grassland and glaciers. But if you’re concerned that Gears 5 will drop the grit of past entries, don’t fret. You’ll still be messily chainsawing alien brutes in half with a selection of gaming’s most ridiculous weaponry come 2019.

We don’t know who this robot is yet but it’s bound to come in handy at some point.

| Info Pre-order now at tinyurl.com/ybl8s366

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…it’s the hardest thing to do in a videogame.” The Last of Us Part II’s Kurt Margenau on that kiss. (p. 36)

FORZA HORIZON 4 06 HITS UK STREETS Seasons change everything as this cross-country racer tours Great Britain

Without the episodic structure, you’ll only need to scan one barcode this time.

Forza Horizon 4 is trading sandy beaches for traffic islands as it brings the adrenaline-filled racing party to the UK on Xbox One. Get ready to set off speed cameras everywhere from winding Edinburgh streets to windswept coastal roads as you race against your friends. Developers Playground Games recently showed off a wide roster of sports cars and superbikes, with a hovercraft

thrown in for good measure. They also demonstrated their seasonal environment system, where the weather and road conditions change every week from blazing summer sunshine to, eventually, drifting snow. Pre-order now for when it hits the road on 2 October.

Green light

Forza Horizon 4 gives you free rein along Britain’s roads, without a tractor or caravan in sight.

AGENT 47 AIMS FOR A KILLER COMEBACK IN HITMAN 2 2016’s Hitman was an unexpected triumph – a superb reboot of a franchise that had begun to lose focus. It looked like it might have been a one-hit wonder for a moment, when Square Enix split from developers IO Interactive. But the studio are back, with a new title and publisher. Hitman 2 won’t be shaking up the structure too much, and if you enjoyed the trial-and-error antics of the last game, you’ll love this too. The sequel does drops the episodic structure, releasing as a whole on 3 November across PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC. However, pre-order the Gold Edition at GAME and you get access four days early!

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A NEW ELDER SCROLLS UNROLLED Bethesda has announced that The Elder Scrolls VI is officially in the early days of development, and while the location hasn’t been revealed yet, eagle-eyed fans are betting on High Rock, home of the Orcs and Bretons. Todd Howard’s ambitions for his next fantasy epic are high and it’s unlikely we’ll see it on the current generation of hardware, since the Bethesda boss stated that it won’t arrive until Starfield - the studio’s next RPG project - is out the door.

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RETURN TO RACCOON CITY Survival horror classic Resident Evil 2 is getting a makeover 20 years after it was originally released, a remake of Resident Evil 2 was announced by Capcom at this year’s E3 conference. The updated police station section we’ve played so far is fantastic and, with the game now considered a masterpiece of the genre, the hope is that the rest of the scares will remain fresh for even the most hardened veterans of the original. To mix it up a little,

| Info Find out more at tinyurl.com/ybs5jfhk

objects and monsters won’t always be quite where you remember them, plus the camera’s been zoomed in to a more intimate, over-theshoulder position. A 2019 level of visual and audio quality should make this the definitive way to experience a modern classic on 25 January, for PS4, Xbox One, and PC.

DO YOU FEEL LUCKY, CYBERPUNK? 10

What’s cyberpunk?

When a tech-modded guy eating noodles is threatened by a robot-armed man… that’s cyberpunk.

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After a five-year wait since its initial tease, Witcher developers CD Projekt Red have finally given us our first glimpse of Cyberpunk 2077. Players take on the role of (fully customisable) mercenary V in a first-person open-world adventure that sees you dive into an alternate future world of gang warfare and hostile takeovers. Expect Cyberpunk 2077 to be a vast, slick, and immersive experience.

| Info Pre-order now at tinyurl.com/y8eqlsku

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SPECIAL REPORT

HOW FORTNITE CONQUERED THE WORLD The online shooter that became the biggest game on the planet

hort of a tweet from Kanye, it’s hard to imagine a way for Fortnite Battle Royale to get any bigger. Epic Games’ colourful multiplayer shooter has blown up since last September, becoming a cultural phenomenon that’s dominated newspaper headlines as well as the gaming landscape. Created by Epic Games, an industrysavvy studio whose previous successes include the Xbox 360’s Gears of War trilogy, Fortnite’s swift rise shows the power of strong foundations allied with inventiveness, and an ongoing dedication to your fans. The rules of Battle Royale are simple: glide down onto an island with up to 99 other players, then be the last person or team standing. This basic premise makes it easy to pick up, while a deceptively deep methodology makes it difficult to put down again. Random weapon and loot drops create tension from the off, forcing you to scurry

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around looking for decent gear in order to out-gun your competition. The game’s destructible environment and base building require constant vigilance. Players can break down objects into usable materials such as wood and steel and then build new structures on the fly. This allows combatants to throw up cover even as they’re under fire and lets experienced battlers create forts and elevated firing positions to outfox dug-in enemies. Then there’s the storm that circles the map, gradually tightening inwards and forcing players to keep moving towards each other. Being caught in the storm and outside the circle kills you quickly, making it impossible to hide away in a far-flung corner and avoid the action. The best form of offence, and all that…

Free for all

Microtransactions are for entirely cosmetic items, with the fast-changing storefront offering daily selections of skins and emotes to jazz up your avatar.

➤

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22/06/2018 10:21

SPECIAL REPORT | Fortnite REPORT Fortnite

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SPECIAL REPORT

Did you know?

Celebrity fans of Fortnite Battle Royale include Stranger Things star Finn Wolfhard (above), Chance The Rapper, and Avengers directors Anthony and Joe Russo.

While purchases can be made with actual cash, the in-game currency can be earned by hitting weekly and daily challenge targets, as well as ranking up. Play well and you can earn that special look. The Battle Pass, available to buy with a one-off down payment each Season, unlocks an advanced ranking system with greater rewards at a higher frequency. But such economic considerations are just a small part of Fortnite’s success. At its core, it offers an entertaining, family-friendly and accessible

multiplayer experience that plays as good as it looks. It’s also distinctive enough to stand out in a crowded market.

Fun and gun

The shooting emphasises playfulness over violence – there’s no blood and bodies disappear quickly. Then there’s the look, which manages to be vibrant without ever being too over-the-top. The avatars are cheery and diverse, while the extra costumes cover a variety of different fashions – and more are being added all the time.

Thematic changeovers and limited time events prevent content from getting stale. Every two months, the newest Season brings with it a fresh theme – previous iterations include space travel and superheroes – while landmarks on the island come and go. (Season 4, for instance, saw a spectacular – and for a while mysterious – meteor shower event that completely altered the map.) Limited time events are new modes that spice up the gameplay by appearing for a while before disappearing

REUTERS / Mike Blake - stock.adobe.com

Everything is bright, shiny and welcoming – you even get air-dropped into matches via a flying bus

GUN, SEA, AND SAND Six of the coolest things you may have missed in Fortnite

ith each new Season, Fortnite Battle Royale’s island is altered in a number of ways. In the last transition, a giant Godzilla footprint emerged, meteor craters pitted the landscape, and players found a green screen. There are a lot of basements and passages to check out, and even if they don’t all include an Easter egg, some will have some supplies to aid you in battle. When you do find something cool though, be sure to drop by the game’s subreddit and let the whole community know that another secret has been discovered.

Royale with breeze

Screen with envy

Bunker mentality

Lairy nice

Club classics

On location

The descent into battle gives you great views of all the island’s freshly-torn craters.

This superhero lair looks cushy, although those chairs should obviously be closer to the TV.

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Find the green screen in Risky Reels Drive-In and see what bizarre scenarios you can create.

Someone at Epic was a clubber in the ’90s by the look of this secret warehouse dance floor.

This Salty Springs house has a bunker – no protection from the storm outside the circle, mind.

Keep a look out for locations that have been impossibly built into the sides of cliffs.

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25/06/2018 11:38

SPECIAL REPORT | Fortnite REPORT Fortnite

SHOW ME THE DIGITAL CURRENCY forever, forcing gamers to develop more off-the-cuff strategies for winning. Put simply, Fortnite looks easy on the eye and constantly evolves in a way that most online multiplayer shooters don’t. While the default setting used to be military-grade realism with maps washed in greens, browns and dilapidated buildings, Fortnite favours a more abstract, cartoonish look. Everything is bright, shiny and welcoming – you even get air-dropped into matches via a now-iconic flying bus.

A winning formula

It’s the blend of all these elements that makes Fortnite so special. It’s a multiplayer game that isn’t all about selfinterest and murder. Instead, exploration, ingenuity, and patience are highly prized. Squads and duo modes encourage teamwork and companionship, letting friends plot and build together as they try to make their mark on the island. The whole game serves to remind players not to take things too seriously. Fittingly, the next chapter in the Fortnite story has been its debut on Nintendo Switch. Popular and playful, the game already feels right at home on Mario and Zelda’s format of choice. Fortnite remains fun to play, week after week, no matter your age or skill level. And that’s not easy to achieve. Still... that Fortnite shout-out from Kanye seems a bit overdue, doesn’t it?

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Loot doesn’t get more epic than this. Stand out from the crowd with these items

layers can customise their character a number of ways via the Item Shop. There are new skins, emotes, and different designs for the pickaxe and glider. The lineup rotates both daily and weekly, meaning you have to check regularly if there’s a particular

ensemble you’re looking to grab. They may be just for show and offer no advantage in-game, but each one provides a cheap, novel way to invest in your avatar and stand out. The in-game currency can be purchased online, so keep yourself topped up.

Save your skin

World of gain

Falling star

Crash and burn

Weird and wonderful

All over the shop

Skins offer a chance to add some personality beyond the humdrum standard soldier outfit.

New items and skins arrive constantly, like this fetching Burnout outfit and the Chomp Jr. Pickaxe.

| Info Format PS4, XO, Switch, PC, Mobile Released Out now Publisher Epic Games Developer Epic Games Find out more at tinyurl.com/y7youdbt

Goalbound Outfits and Gear were introduced for the World Cup. Ideal for celebrating a victory.

Sometimes, the looks on offer can get a little weird. Cute, without doubt. But definitely weird.

Some of the additional glider skins are ideal ways for you to plummet to Earth in style.

The Item Shop storefront updates regularly, so check back for any items on your wish list.

How to buy Fortnite items ✚ Buy digital currency at GAME for your chosen format ✚ Use cash, card, or trade-in credit ✚ Redeem in-game and get shopping!

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24TH- 27TH AUGUST nec, birmingham

THE UK’S BIGGEST GAMING FESTIVAL Experience Insomnia63 this Summer. With special guests from the world of gaming, live stage shows, exclusive first play of AAA games, the UK’s biggest PC LAN and huge esports tournaments. This is a weekend you don’t want to miss. Buy your tickets today & be part of our fast growing Insomnia community.

TICKETS START FROM £25 PLUS BOOKING FEE

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BEHIND THE SCENES

BE A PART OF THIS SUMMER’S ACTION Make space in your diary for the biggest event of the season: Insomnia63 WHY ATTEND?

The weekend will be jampacked with amazing things for gamers and their families. With global YouTube stars, interactive zones, live stage shows, and merchandise to buy, Insomnia63 is a mustnot-miss event for anyone of a gaming persuasion. If you’re a hardcore gamer, grab a BYOC (Bring Your Own Computer) ticket and take your PC along – you can meet some of our 3,000+ LAN community members. Compete in tournaments to win big cash prizes by playing titles including League of Legends, Overwatch, Rocket League, and many more.

This will be the biggest summer Insomnia yet.

TICKET OPTIONS

Day Ticket This lets you experience the festival as a family or with group of friends, grab a selfie with one of the many YouTubers attending, pick up their merchandise, and see some amazing stage shows. Plus, you can play the latest games including PUBG, Fortnite, Minecraft, and more. Weekend Ticket With so much to see, why not stay for the weekend and be part of all four days? There’s top evening entertainment, alongside different YouTubers, and interactive zones, to make August 2018 a bank holiday you’ll remember.

WIN A FAMILY TICKET TO INSOMNIA63

Want to get in on the summer’s biggest gaming event? We’re giving away two family tickets for four on a day of your choice* How to enter

1 Follow @IGFestUK on Instagram

2 Take a photo of this magazine page next to a copy of your favourite game

3 Post your image on Instagram

4 Tag #i63GAMEMag

Winner will be announced on Instagram on 16/08/2018 Closing date is 15/08/2018 *Family ticket is for four people. Entrants must be available to attend at least one of the days of Insomnia63. No purchase necessary. Under-18-year-olds require parental consent to enter. Prizes cannot be exchanged for cash value. Visit https://insomniagamingfestival.com/terms-and-conditions/ for full terms and conditions.

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OUT 26TH OCTOBER

ULTIMATE EDITION UK RETAIL EXCLUSIVE WHAT’S INCLUDED? + ULTIMATE EDITION SLIPCOVER + EXCLUSIVE STEELBOOK + EXCLUSIVE WORLD MAP + EXCLUSIVE STORY MODE CONTENT + EXCLUSIVE BONUS CONTENT IN ONLINE

COLLECTOR’S BOX*

UK RETAIL EXCLUSIVE WHAT’S INCLUDED? + TREASURE MAP + WHEELER, RAWSON, AND CO. CATALOGUE + PIN SET + PLAYING CARDS + METAL TITHING BOX WITH LOCK & KEY + COLLECTIBLE CHALLENGE COIN + SIX SHOOTER BANDANA + 12 CIGARETTE CARDS + DOUBLE SIDED PUZZLE * WHILE STOCKS LAST.

SPECIAL EDITION WHAT’S INCLUDED? + SPECIAL EDITION SLIPCOVER + EXCLUSIVE WORLD MAP + EXCLUSIVE STORY MODE CONTENT

ON THE COVER

A World War 2 journey the likes of which we’ve never experienced before

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TELLING NEW STORIES FROM AN OLD WAR Thanks to a bold new direction across singleand multiplayer modes, Battlefield V is forcing us to rethink our expectations of WW2 gaming

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ON THE COVER What’s beautiful is that War Stories allows us to portray a human story Lars Gustavsson, Creative Director

Developers DICE also announced at E3 in June that a battle royale mode will be available in the game.

hether it’s new game modes, the supply of diverse vehicles and weaponry, huge maps, or the ability to destroy absolutely everything, the Battleﬁeld franchise has developed a well-deserved reputation for pushing boundaries and creating its own rules. Because of this, we’ve all come to trust developers EA DICE far more than most when it comes to delivering first-person shooters that both entertain and force the entire genre to evolve. From what we’ve seen of Battlefield V so far, our trust is well placed. Across both single- and multiplayer modes, this 19 October release is pulling no punches when it comes to taking us on a World War 2 journey the likes of which we’ve never experienced before. Up until now, when a house or command post was blown up, it became useless as a defensive position. Now, however, you can partially reconstruct and fortify bombed-out

buildings to use as makeshift bases of operation. Walls can be patched up to hide what and who is inside, sandbags can be placed to mount machine guns on, razor wire can be laid to slow down infantry, and even concrete bollards can be brought in to stop tanks in their tracks.

Dig for victory

Essentially, these changes mean that multiplayer maps can be adjusted on-the-fly by players to add new threats and create new pathways. You can even hook up an anti-aircraft gun to a tank or truck and tow it to your new base as the ultimate defence from aerial attacks. One side can gain a clear tactical advantage if enough teammates work together towards a common goal. Indeed, teamwork is set to be more important than ever, with Battlefield V putting a huge emphasis on engaging the enemy as a squad rather than as individuals. Simply put, if you plan on playing the role of lone wolf, you’ll find it diﬃcult to take advantage of everything

➤

RANK AND STYLE

For the first time in the series, Battlefield V is giving you the option to customise the look of your soldier as well as their equipment. You can choose their gender, hairstyle, skin tone, camouflage style, clothing, and even weapon paint jobs and vehicles. This is your battle, so fight it with your soldier.

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ON THE COVER COVER | Battlefield V

The

Interview

Creative director Lars Gustavsson on what’s inspired the team Why Battleﬁeld V?

Battlefield V is one of our dream projects that takes Battlefield back to where it started in the Second World War, but with all the technological advances that have happened since then. We wanted to portray the different sides of the war that haven’t been captured in games.

What’s new in multiplayer?

Ground Operations, which take place over four days. The first airborne assault takes place during midnight but with Nordic light. The second day, you’re fighting on the ground during daylight. The fourth day is called the final stand. We accept that you’ve been fighting for four days, so you may be running around with a pistol but only one clip, so every bullet counts. One life means you fight until there’s one man standing.

➤

Any personal favourites when it comes to the War Stories mode?

What’s beautiful for us as developers is that War Stories allows us to portray a human story. The E3 trailer was set in Norway in 1943. Here you are playing a female Norwegian resistance fighter, trying to save her family in all of this. You have your skis and some knives, and the whole story is about going undetected, otherwise you’ll have the German army going after you.

As history buﬀs, do you have recommendations of war movies? When it comes to inspiration, for Battlefield 1942 it was a lot of Alistair MacLean – The Guns of Navarone, Where Eagles Dare – but also Kelly’s Heroes. We now have the Battlefield communities sending us movies for inspiration, which has given us an endless pool of possibilities.

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ON THE COVER

new on offer. For example, while every player is able to build and repair these new defensive structures, the Engineer subclass does it so much better than everyone else that it pays to have an Engineer on your team who must be protected as they set up a frontline defence.

Band of brothers 3

Total war

1 Few things remind you of how vulnerable you are like a bomber wasting your squad. 2 The E3 demo levels took place in a swirling Norwegian snowstorm. 3 War Stories bring narrative elements to proceedings. 4 Tanks, trucks, and halftracks all make an appearance.

C onfirmed classes so far include Assault, Recon, Medic, and Support.

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Similarly, everyone is able to heal and revive their mates to some degree, but the Medic class is the real key to squad survival as they are the only ones who can heal injured allies back to full health. Lose your Medic and your entire squad loses its long-term potential. So while abilities are partially shared across your team, it benefits the whole side if everyone is aware of specific skill sets and how it might be best to use them in the heat of battle. The idea is to promote fluid and cooperative play by recognising that World War 2 was won by soldiers working together, as well as by moments of heroic individuality

by those who, when the time was right, went off and did their own medal-winning thing. As well as encouraging connections between players, Battlefield V wants to use its multiplayer modes to emphasise the realities of long, drawn-out battles. Grand Operations is a mode that takes place over a series of matches that, together, work to paint a far broader and immersive narrative picture.

Do or die

One of these Operations sees one team dropping in as paratroopers over Rotterdam in a bid to destroy artillery that’s shelling the front. The other team protects the guns, and how well your side performs in this skirmish will determine how many respawns you’ll have in the next engagement, which takes place on a fresh map in a different part of the city This idea of one match’s result affecting how the next one begins is then played out over the course of four different rounds, the whole epic battle taking well over

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ON THE COVER | Battlefield V

PICK YOUR BATTLES Deploy WW2 hardware and tactics on land and in the air

It uses its multiplayer modes to emphasise long, drawn-out battles an hour to be decided. By contrast, single-player is a much more personal affair, shining a light upon theatres of war that have previously been ignored by World War 2 games and movies. Instead of a traditional campaign, these missions are vignettes that tell individual stories and, when considered together, highlight the emotional impact of this conflict on those involved. One such vignette puts you in the shoes of a Norwegian resistance fighter who is out to undermine the occupying Nazi forces and save those around her. While we’ve yet to see this mode in action, teasers thus far suggest that the story will at least be partially set among the snow-capped mountains of Norway’s frozen Arctic north.

War on all fronts

Battlefield V looks to show history’s bloodiest conflict from all sides, from personal stories of valour to the importance of teamwork and reliance on your fellow soldier. Combine these

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threads with controlling land, sea, and air vehicles, the new ability to build defensive structures, plus superior graphics and epic game modes, and it’s clear that DICE are set on delivering something with the potential to bring fresh aspects of WW2 into sharp focus. Whether you’re more interested in seeing it through the eyes of an individual, or jumping in with friends, 19 October can’t come soon enough.

Ace of aces

In skilled hands, a nimble fighter can sweep the skies clear of all enemies before strafing infantry.

Death from above

Bombers are slow and lumbering but drop a devastating explosive payload.

| Info Armoured fury

Pre-order Standard Edition

Elite members get 50% extra trade-in credit when they pre-order and purchase Format PS4, XO, PC Released 19 October Publisher Electronic Arts Developer EA DICE Find out more at tinyurl.com/ybtxctp9

In support of infantry, a tank can make all the difference by bringing firepower to the fight.

IF YOU LIKE…

PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds, you’ll love Battlefield V.

Airborne division

Your squad can now parachute into battle to destroy artillery which the other side defends.

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TRADE MORE

SPEND LESS We trade the latest tech, phones & tablets if you’re in need of an upgrade or want all the newest releases cheaper.

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*APPLE IPHONE 7 32GB UNLOCKED TO ALL NETWORKS “B” GRADE CONDITION, SAMSUNG GALAXY S8 64GB UNLOCKED TO ALL NETWORKS “B” GRADE CONDITION PS4 PRO AND XBOX ONE X CONSOLES MUST BE “B” GRADE CONDITION SEE Ts&Cs ONLINE FOR DETAILS. PRICES CORRECT AT TIME OF PRINT & ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE.

RECEIVE £1 MORE FOR EVERY GAME YOU TRADE IN WITH THIS VOUCHER* *Get an additional £1 credit on top of standard in-store credit price when you trade-in any PlayStation 4, Xbox One or Nintendo Switch game at a GAME Retail Limited store during opening hours and present this voucher during the transaction. Voucher valid in-store only and may only be redeemed between 2 July 2018 and 16 July 2018. Multiple games may be traded in as part of the same transaction and an additional £1 will be credited for each game traded in. One voucher per person and per transaction, vouchers are not reusable. Credit may be used in-store immediately or placed on a GAME gift card for later redemption. Offer not available where items are traded in for cash. The trade-in element of any purchase is non-refundable but can be used against alternative items at the time of return. Total trade-in credit value, including the extra credit, cannot exceed the current selling price of the product. Photocopied, reproduced, damaged, defaced or illegible vouchers will not be accepted. This voucher has no cash value and cannot be exchanged in whole or part for cash. This voucher cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer. GAME reserves the right to amend or cancel this offer at any time. Your legal rights are not affected. GAME Trade-In terms and conditions and GAME Reward terms and conditions apply, please see game.co.uk/terms or ask staff for details.

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WHEN YOU PRE-ORDER AND PICK UP

Get 20% off licensed merchandise when you pre-order and place a deposit on a new game. Deposit must be placed on a game that releases on or before 31st August 2018. Discount becomes available when you redeem your deposit and purchase the game on release, provided the licensed merchandise is purchased as part of the same transaction. A till voucher will be provided when you place your deposit and this must be presented when purchasing the licensed merchandise to qualify for the discount. Discount may be applied to multiple items of licensed merchandise purchased as part of the same transaction. Discount may only be redeemed once. Deposit must be placed between 11st June 2018 and 31st August 2018, and discount must be redeemed by 31st August 2018. Offer available in store only. Subject to availability. Licensed merchandise that has been discounted for clearance purposes is excluded from this offer â&#x20AC;&#x201C; ask staff for details. GAME Reward account required. This offer cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer. GAME reserves the right to refuse anyone believed to be representing a trade buyer. GAME reserves the right to amend or cancel this offer at any time. Your legal rights are not affected. GAME Reward terms and conditions apply, please see game.co.uk/terms or ask staff for details.

JUMP FORCE

SHADOW OF THE TOMB RAIDER

PREVIEW

The hot new games you should be getting excited about in 2018 and beyond…

THE LAST OF US PART II

JUST CAUSE 4

METRO EXODUS

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THE DIVISION 2

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21/06/2018 23:04

PREVIEW 1 2

MARVEL’S SPIDER-MAN 4 Marvel in wonder

1 Entering a construction area without a hard hat and hi-vis vest? Spidey violates Health & Safety at work regulations… again. 2 Classic villains like Electro line up to take our hero on after a prison break. 3 “Maybe we’ll be the first streetlevel hoodlums to do a crime and get away with it!” - every NYC common thug. 4 Peter Parker spends at least some of his time outside the Lycra, during which the story takes centre stage.

| Info Pre-order Standard Edition

Get an extra 25% trade-in value when you pre-order Format PS4 Released 07 September Publisher Sony Developer Insomniac Games Find out more at tinyurl.com/ycwcmo49

28 Summer 2018

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Our senses are tingling for Peter Parker’s PS4 homecoming

irtualising the life and times of Spider-Man has long been a noble pursuit among game developers, but none have got it this damn right before. Swinging between Manhattan skyscrapers never felt so real, while the city itself has never popped with so much detail. Spidey’s finally found a game that brings out his finest qualities. Developer Insomniac Games are among the best in the business at animation, having cut their teeth on Spyro, Ratchet & Clank, and Sunset Overdrive, among others – each one famed for their silky smooth movement. These decades of experience clearly paid off when Marvel’s Spider-Man licence arrived at the studio, since swinging round the city is a real pleasure, while the combat finds its own identity by taking a slight sidestep from the Arkham mould and working around a focus bar that builds up as you regularly land hits. Once it’s filled, you have two options: heal yourself if it’s been a punishing crimefighting day for Petey, or unleash a cinematic finishing move to end the fight

in style. That’s not to say that any ‘regular’ attack is that regular, though. After all, you are a superhero with arachnid-spliced DNA, and it’s well within your powers to lower city-wide crime rates by tethering thugs to objects à la Just Cause’s Rico Rodriguez, albeit with some homespun web. It’s also possible to lash enemies to each other, upping the giggle factor with the game’s unique slapstick sensibilities. And if one of those enemies happens to be standing precariously near a high ledge, well… you know what to do.

Page to screen

Anyone really wanting to immerse themselves in comic book lore will be pleased to hear that this is packed with characters old and new. At one point, Spidey even fights Electro, Rhino, Scorpion, and more in a single encounter – but that type of craziness is bound to happen when all the bad guys are let loose during a prison break. Full of spectacle, dutiful homage to the comics, and the right amount of humour, this seems set to become one of SpiderMan’s best ever game outings.

Marvel Mighty Muggs Spider-Man (£12.99). Press a button to send Spidey’s head spinning.

GAME.CO.UK

25/06/2018 11:39

PREVIEW | Marvel’s Spider Man

Swinging between Manhattan skyscrapers never felt so real

EAGER TO GET THAT RIPPED SPIDER-MAN PHYSIQUE? Cancel the gym membership and work out like Pete

Flex those guns

Superhero arms don’t happen overnight. Try some web curls to increase tone and definition.

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Head for heights

Nothing builds core strength like clinging to a helicopter while it flies through Manhattan.

Hang tough

We hear that web slinging is great for the lats. Watch your grip strength max out, too.

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25/06/2018 11:39

PREVIEW

1 2

JUMP FORCE

Unite to fight as this all-star anime cast clashes spectacularly in the real world

The Big Apple crumbles

1 Charge your super meter by holding the right trigger, but watch out for enemy counterattacks. 2 Battles take place in real-world locations, such as New York’s Times Square and the Matterhorn.

| Info Pre-order Standard Edition

Jump Force is cheaper when you trade-in Format PS4, XO, PC Released 2019 Publisher Bandai Namco Developer Spike Chunsoft Find out more at tinyurl.com/ycch7vnd

30 Summer 2018

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li versus Frazier. Batman versus Superman. That time Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson punched Jason Statham through a plate glass window in a movie that was ostensibly about cars. Until now, these were widely considered some of the greatest fights to ever grace the history books. But today you can hurl your history book into a dumpster and obliterate it with a Death Beam because Jump Force is here with one of the greatest fighting lineups of all time. Named in honour of a legendary manga magazine, Jump Force is an unprecedented crossover that picks up your favourite characters from Dragon Ball, One Piece, Naruto and more, before plonking them all down again in a single location: Earth. All of these classic anime universes have collided with our own, you see, and our world is about to become the stage for some of the most visually spectacular

fisticuffs you’ve ever laid eyes on. Pick up the controller, and you’ll immediately discover that Jump Force offers a much more accessible breed of brawl than your typical fighting game, and anyone can execute thrilling complex combos, aerial beatdowns, and screen-filling supers with just a few button presses. Dig a little deeper, though, and you’ll discover that the 3 vs. 3 fights offer considerable depth alongside all of the visual fireworks.

I’m just Saiyan

If you’re an anime fan, you’re probably already delirious with anticipation at the thought of putting Goku, Luffy, Naruto and the rest through their paces on the same battlefield. But even if you struggle to grasp the difference between sage mode and a Super Saiyan, Jump Force offers a sense of scale, spectacle, and speed that few games can match. All that’s left to do is jump in and experience it for yourself.

GAME.CO.UK

22/06/2018 11:37

PREVIEW

DIVINITY: ORIGINAL SIN II – DEFINITIVE EDITION Sometimes, fantasy role-playing games take themselves too seriously. You fulfil ancient prophecies, you reclaim magical artefacts, and you slay ancient evils. Then, if you’re lucky, you return home for a discussion about dire portents and experience points. Divinity: Original Sin II is not that kind of roleplaying game. Or rather, it doesn’t have to be. So, when you encounter an armoured enemy wandering Divinity’s massive world, you could attack with your sword. Or you could use your magical abilities to turn them into a chicken instead.

Clucking hell

The choice is always yours, and this Definitive Edition offers more ways than ever for you to leave your mark on the world. Also, pre-order and you’ll get the Sir Lora DLC, providing a new mini-companion with their own unique storyline, look, and animations. Oh, and he just happens to be a squirrel. Obviously.

ACE COMBAT 7: SKIES UNKNOWN It may have been the Wright Brothers who invented the first true aeroplane, but it was the creators of the Ace Combat series who perfected the art of flight and fight. Because, while life in the cockpit can seem a little dry and serious in the real world, here it’s a non-stop rush of adrenaline-fuelled dogfights and aerial heroism, all rendered in astounding detail. Ace Combat may have debuted some 20 years ago, but thanks to the power of current generation consoles, this latest instalment has the looks to leave onlookers slack-jawed in awe. Particularly if they then strap on the PlayStation VR headset for some exclusive missions.

Cloud strife

And then there’s the sheer speed of it all. The near-photorealistic visuals and immaculately recreated weather effects create an exhilarating sense of pace as you hurtle through the air, but it’s the roar of the jets and the hum of the wind rushing past that really sell the sensation.

CODE VEIN If you ask us, vampirism seems like a pretty sweet deal. You get to live forever, you gain supernatural strength, and you never have to look at yourself in the mirror and wonder what happened to all your youth and optimism ever again. And while Code Vein’s anime vamps may not fit neatly into the Dracula mould, they’re still fearsome beasts. As such, your undead player character is equipped not only with imposingly pointy blades and brutal bloodsucking attacks, but also a range of vampiric spells known as ‘gifts’. Used correctly, these can buff your attacks, enhance your abilities, or let you fling powerful projectiles at your grotesque foes.

Bloods and crypts

But don’t think for a second that all these Nosferatu tricks will make Code Vein a cakewalk. You’ll also have to manage your stamina and resources carefully to survive this hostile world, and enemies will pounce mercilessly on your every misstep. Looks like it’s time to put that immortality to the test.

| Info | Info

| Info

Pre-order Collector’s Edition

Divinity: Original Sin II – Definitive Edition is cheaper when you trade-in

Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown is cheaper when you trade-in

Format PS4, XO Released 31 August Publisher Bandai Namco Developer Larian Studios

Format PS4, XO, PC Released TBC 2018 Publisher Bandai Namco Developer Bandai Namco Studios

Format PS4, XO, PC Released 28 September Publisher Bandai Namco Developer Bandai Namco Studios

Pre-order at tinyurl.com/ydhdugyp

Pre-order at tinyurl.com/yaa9el5e

Pre-order at tinyurl.com/y97tlcen

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22/06/2018 11:37

PREVIEW 2

It’s not long before Lara is back in her element

Tricks of the trade

1 Tombs are back big time - as well as brain-scratching puzzles bristling with traps. 2 A bustling town presents Lara with a fresh set of challenges. 3 As well as using the bow, there will be even more options for stealthy play. 4 Rope -swinging brings Lara back into her element, although she can now also rappel to lower levels.

| Info Pre-order Steelbook Edition

Shadow of the Tomb Raider is cheaper when you trade in Format PS4, XO, PC Released 14 September Publisher Square Enix Developer Eidos Montréal Find out more at tinyurl.com/yd88jdz4

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SHADOW OF THE TOMB RAIDER

Back in black, Lara Croft dives into her moodiest, darkest adventure to date

ive years have passed since gaming’s most iconic heroine had a reboot. We’ve seen this younger, untested Lara survive a shipwreck as well as the Siberian wilderness, all the while honing the skills she needs in order to become the Tomb Raider we’re familiar with. This final chapter sees her once again battling the shady Trinity organisation in a quest that’s led her to a town in Mexico. As she arrives, it’s a busy evening and the locals are celebrating The Day of the Dead. This is in marked contrast to the often isolated and dangerous locations that Lara’s more used to, and sees her pushing through crowds before tailing a Trinity agent to Mayan ruins on the town’s outskirts. It’s not long before Lara is back in her element though, stealthily taking out enemies from the shadows. She also has a range of new traverse abilities, such as running along walls and using her rope to rappel down to lower ground.

In a return to the original games, there is also a lot more deep underwater swimming. Along with her existing pickaxe and climbing skills, all these are necessary if Lara is to reach the Mayan pyramid hidden deep inside a mountain.

Making waves

It’s in this pyramid that she finds an ancient dagger, the artifact that Trinity is also seeking. But, in a rash decision, Lara takes it for herself, instantly triggering the Mayan apocalypse that starts with a violent storm and tsunami sweeping away the nearby town and everyone in it. This opening to her latest adventure is a new low point for young Lara, especially once she’s failed to stop a child falling into the violent waves. Despite growing as both a survivor and explorer, she realises that she must now take stock of the power and responsibility that come with her role. Shadow of the Tomb Raider will no doubt take her to further depths to make things right again.

GAME.CO.UK

22/06/2018 10:39

ADVERTORIAL | Nintendo Labo

THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX

With Nintendo Labo, bringing cardboard creations to life is only the start of the fun

very kid knows the limitless potential of a cardboard box. While parents only wonder how to cram it into the recycling bin, children are imagining spaceships, action figure hideouts, and unicorn stables. Nintendo have taken that childlike joy of discovery, making, and playing to create Labo. It’s a unique mix of cardboard construction and gaming that only they could have dreamed up. Open your Nintendo Labo Variety Kit (Robot Kit also available) and the on-screen instructions will help you step-by-step crease-and-slot your cardboard into five Toy-Con creations: RC car, motorbike, fishing rod, piano, and house. You then place your Joy-Cons inside and bring your creations to life. Catch a fish with your sturdy cardboard rod, win a race on your motorbike, or

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perform a song on your piano, and you’re just at the start of discovering new ways to play with Labo. The ‘lab’ part of the name is a clue. Young inventors and their families can also explore the mechanics of how their creations work, program new ways to play in the Toy-Con Garage, and create their own Toy-Con projects. A simple visual system of inputs and outputs will turn your Switch screen into a guitar, or upgrade your RC car into a night vision tank. It might be made from cardboard, but Nintendo Labo has the long-lasting appeal of a toy that you can reinvent and play with from new every time you re-open the box. From simply customising them with stickers and pens to creating and coding new Toy-Cons, it’s an experience that's far too much fun to be so educational.

You crease me up

1 Reprogram the piano's sound with knobs and punch cards. 2 The house reveals new minigames. 3 Your RC car can shoot targets with the Joy-Con’s infrared camera. 4 Try using the rod to make sweet music. 5 You can scan in objects to make new race tracks.

| Info Get Nintendo Labo Variety Kit cheaper when you trade in Format Switch Released Out now Publisher Nintendo Developer Nintendo Find out more at tinyurl.com/yaj9omr4

Summer 2018 33

22/06/2018 10:46

PREVIEW

Who wants some?

1 Snake’s back. This time he can plant bombs on his opponents. 2 The Ice Climbers fight better as a team. 3 Mario has Mario Odyssey and Mario Maker costumes. 4 The stage is set for some huge fights.

| Info Pre-order Standard Edition

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is cheaper when you trade in Format Switch Released 07 December Publisher Nintendo Developer Bandai Namco, HAL Laboratory, Sora Ltd. Find out more at tinyurl.com/y9sneyw8

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SUPER SMASH BROS. ULTIMATE The gang’s all here for the biggest Nintendo fighting game ever

hile it may have long been most Nintendo fans’ other favourite series, after Mario or Zelda, Smash Bros. is undoubtedly beloved. And with this upcoming Ultimate instalment, it’s fighting harder than ever to win gamers’ hearts. Everyone has their own preferred entry in the series. Some loved Melee on the GameCube, others enjoyed the story mode in Brawl on the Wii, while many, many others feel that the recent 3DS and Wii U versions were the very best to date. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate now aims to bring everyone together by offering the biggest, most complete Smash Bros. game ever made. To achieve this, the game has an all-star character roster. While all Smash Bros. games are famous for offering up

fighters from a wide range of Nintendo and third-party series, Ultimate will include every single character that’s ever appeared in any one of then. That’s not just every character from the most recent ones, but also everyone who previously appeared, only to fail a later audition or callback.

Linking up

We’ll all be saying hello again to forgotten favourites such as the Ice Climbers, Pokémon Trainer, Pichu, Young Link, and Wolf. All the crossover characters return too, including Sonic, Pac-Man, Mega Man, Ryu, Bayonetta, Cloud and – for the first time in Smash for a decade – Metal Gear Solid’s Solid Snake. Some of the existing characters have been updated to match their most recent games. Mario, for example, now wears Cappy and can choose his wedding

GAME.CO.UK

21/06/2018 17:15

PREVIEW | Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

outfit from Super Mario Odyssey or his builder suit from Super Mario Maker. Link, meanwhile, is dressed in his Breath of the Wild outfit. Then there are the brand-new characters, with the Inklings from Splatoon, Princess Daisy, plus Ridley from Metroid confirmed so far. Add to this a bunch of other features, including eight-player fights, amiibo support, and new stages, and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is already looking a safe bet to live up to its name.

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YOUR NEW CHALLENGERS With three fresh faces already confirmed, are there more still to come? Daisy

Making her debut by popular demand, Daisy’s fighting style is similar to that of Peach.

Inkling

Straight out of Splatoon, Inklings have eight costumes and ink colours to choose from.

Ridley

Samus’ sworn enemy looks like one of the most dangerous fighters in the roster.

Summer 2018 35

21/06/2018 17:16

PREVIEW PREVIEW 2

4 Survival mechanics

1 What an adorable couple, surely nothing could go wrong? 2 Expect Ellie's stealthy progress to be rudely interrupted – like this. 3 Some folk just don’t respect your personal space. 4 Even classic hiding spots won’t keep you safe.

| Info Pre-order Standard Edition

The Last Of Us Part II is cheaper when you trade in Format PS4 Released TBC Publisher Sony Developer Naughty Dog Find out more at tinyurl.com/y76rt8v7

36 Summer 2018

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THE LAST OF US PART II

It started with a kiss... but life’s not all smiles in this post-apocalyptic sequel

aughty Dog’s next outing might be a way off yet, but there’s little doubt that the developer looks set to extend their flawless track record once Ellie’s upcoming adventure does arrive. Our latest look at The Last Of Us Part II shows a game that’s both tonally and technically a step up from what’s come before, bringing together tension, action, and tenderness, and some of the most remarkable animation we’ve ever seen. This time, rather than menacing guitar playing, Ellie is looking bored at a barn dance before being charmed by an as-yet-unknown love interest. The presentation is striking – a clear continuation of the work that went into Uncharted 4 and The Lost Legacy – and we also see possibly the first kiss in gaming history that doesn’t look like two plastic dolls clumsily smacking together. One camera swing later and the tone completely changes. We’re following Ellie on a mission as she sneaks through a

forest, met with instant brutality as she grimly gouges out a man’s throat. The scene continues stealthily, enemies being picked off with arrows and shivs, but it doesn’t take long before cover is blown.

Sneak peaks

The seamlessness of the resulting firefight is captivating. There’s a fantastic naturalism to each animation, as Ellie grabs discarded melee weapons on the run and gathers scattered arrows as she goes. The pacing is equally fluid, with open combat moving into tense bouts of hide-and-seek, and then back again. Enemies react to what’s occurring with dynamism and believability, and you get the sense of a scene that could play out in a multitude of different ways. The previous game’s protagonist, Joel, is hinted at but never shown, leaving the door open as to what part he might play. Whatever it turns out to be, expect The Last Of Us Part II to pack a technical and emotional punch when it does arrive.

GAME.CO.UK

21/06/2018 15:13

PREVIEW PREVIEW

1 2

JUST CAUSE 4

There’s not a quantum of Solis that Rico Rodriguez can’t visit – or blow up

Laws of nature

1 lf it’s man made, Rico can unmake it. 2 If it can be driven, Rico can have a go. 3 Armour won’t save you.

| Info Pre-order Steelbook Edition

Get an extra 25% trade-in value when you pre-order Format PS4, XO, PC Released 04 December Publisher Square Enix Developer Avalanche Studios Find out more at tinyurl.com/y8x9ylzq

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or gamers, Rico Rodriguez’s madcap sandbox adventures have always had a memorable hook. Specifically, the absurdly awesome grappling hook that’s strapped to his arm. The hunky freedom fighter’s favourite toy returns better than ever in Avalanche’s latest sweltering open world destroy-’em-up, since you can now customise the hook by attaching rockets and even lifting balloons to tethered objects. Just Cause 4 also comes with a brand-new dynamic weather system, which the game shows off with a truly outlandish escort mission. Rather than protecting a sheepish prisoner, Rico must guide an interactive tornado past enemy forces, who try to stop it with their own wind cannons. And if that seems odd to you, you’ve probably not played enough Just Cause games to realise that’s merely another day at the office for Rico. The Mediterranean islands of Medici from the third instalment are replaced by

a fresh South American setting called Solis. This new environment spans rainforest, grasslands, mountains, and a desert. Since each area is governed by different dynamic weather effects, you can expect sandstorms in the desert but avalanches up high. The developers say their new Apex engine will greatly increase draw distances as well as detailed destructibility, meaning Just Cause 4 will most likely go down as one of the most spectacular-looking sandbox games around.

Boom time

Rico’s upcoming South American adventure will also add a villainous new faction to the mix, with the Black Hand being described as the world’s most powerful army. Thankfully, Rodriguez has his own allied forces watching his six, with this army fighting a more conventional war along a hotly-contested and continually moving front line while Rico goes it alone. Get ready for some deliciously daft mayhem this Christmas.

Rico’s had a tough time since his Just Cause debut in 2006.

GAME.CO.UK

22/06/2018 11:16

ADVERTORIAL | Cable Guys

INTRODUCING… CABLE GUYS

12 inches!

Officially licensed collectable figures that also make themselves useful

Ruin Cable Guy Price £24.99

Crash Bandicoot XL Cable Guy Price £39.99

Store

Cable Guys can hold your controller or phone for you. Who better to grip your precious device than the likes of Sonic, Darth Vader, or Ruin?

Watch

Watching is just as important as playing. Your Cable Guy can also hold your tablet or mobile while you watch Twitch, Mixer, and YouTube as you game or relax.

Sonic the Hedgehog Cable Guy Price £24.99

Stormtrooper Cable Guy Price £24.99

©&TM Lucasfilm Ltd

Charging doesn’t have to be boring. With no small black box in sight, every Cable Guy comes with a two-metre long USB charging cable and adapter. So it's ready to work and power up your devices.

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Darth Vader Cable Guy is ready to feel your presence (or hold your phone).

| Info

©Sega

Charge

amers love their collectables. Our desks, shelves and gaming areas wouldn’t look the same without a supporting cast of our favourite game characters. Maybe it’s time they earned their place by being functional too. Cable Guys from EXG are a range of officially licensed iconic characters that do more than just look cool on your shelf. (Although they do that too.)

Collect

These officially licensed figures stand 8” tall (XL are even bigger at 12”) and are the perfect squadmate for any bedroom, office, or lounge. They are compatible with PlayStation controllers, Xbox controllers, and most smartphones.

Available now Check out the full range of Cable Guys in store at GAME Find out more at exgpro.com/cable-guys

Summer 2018 39

21/06/2018 13:39

PREVIEW

METRO EXODUS

Grab a one-way ticket to Hell as the subterranean shooter sees the light

E | Info Pre-order Standard Edition

Get an extra 25% trade-in value when you pre-order Format PS4, XO, PC Released 22 February Publisher Deep Silver Developer 4A Games Find out more at tinyurl.com/yczc5w9r

40 Summer 2018

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merging from the tunnels and heading out of Moscow, Metro Exodus is also leaving the traditional linear structure of the series to date behind. This postapocalyptic shooter is now exploring new vistas with an open world design. Metro Exodus will offer players greater freedom to decide how, when, or even if to deal with the enemies in their path. And after several hours spent playing the game, it’s safe to say that it’s going for a ‘bigger is better’ approach. Set in a ruined Russia, you play as the returning protagonist Artyom. After escaping from Moscow in the previous

game, Artyom is travelling to the Far East aboard the iron horse Aurora, searching for a new life for him and his wife, and accompanied by the battlehardened Spartan Rangers. Metro Exodus is one of the most visually impressive games we’ve ever seen. Whether you’re paddling through a swamp in a tiny wooden boat that’s being stalked by a huge mutant crocodile, or creeping through a nuclear bunker to try and get the jump on an enemy with your shotgun, you’ll always want to take a moment to appreciate the horrifying beauty of this ravaged world. Touted by the developers as a “survival shooter”,

GAME.CO.UK

22/06/2018 09:09

PREVIEW | Metro Exodus Crossing the void

1 An old steam train is the perfect machine for taking our heroes to a new life. 2 In this more open world, expect changes in climate and scenery as well as day/night cycles. 3 The carnage and killing is tinged with the hope of a better, safer life. 4 On-the-fly weapon customisation is a key gameplay feature.

LEAVING MOSCOW BEHIND

3 4

All aboard the Trans-Siberian express for a wasteland tour

Shattered dreams

Artyom may be out of the city but new places look set to contain the same old threats.

Exodus forces you to craft ammo, health packs, and weapon customisations on-the-fly to suit whatever situation you find yourself in. Need a sniper scope to put some long-range hurt on the bad guys? No problem, open up your backpack and switch out that iron sight. Do it quickly though, as enemies are likely to change tactics too.

Stock check

Survival is entirely dependant on you finding supplies out in the field, meaning you’ll have to weigh up the risk-to-benefit ratio of every encounter or side-quest as well as count every single bullet. There are few more terrifying moments in gaming than realising you have five bullets as you face six enemies. But since Exodus boasts some of the best

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shooting mechanics in the business, landing those perfect shots is not only possible but also incredibly satisfying. To ground you in this hellish world, 4A Games have gone for a minimalist user interface, so while there is an ammo counter, you’ll never see glowing waypoint markers. If you really are lost, you’ll have to risk a peek at your map and compass, leaving yourself defenceless. A day/night cycle means that in the dark you’ll have a much better chance of pulling off stealthy attacks, but will be more likely to run into marauding mutants. These monsters hide during the day, but then all your human enemies will spot you a mile off. Due for release in February next year, Exodus already stands a good chance of being 2019’s most intense shooter.

Unnatural nature

Just as men and animals have been twisted into monsters, the woods too are scary places.

Eastern promise

Will the trek east help our crew escape the wastes, or is everything gone for good?

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PREVIEW

1 2

Divided we fall

1 One of the firefights we’ve seen so far is a battle over the carcass of Air Force One. 2 Build a squad with up to seven of your friends to retake objectives. 3 Once again, it’s up to The Division to bring order to a chaotic, post-calamity nation.

| Info Pre-order Special Edition

Tom Clancy’s The Division 2 is cheaper when you trade in Format PS4, XO, PC Released 15 March Publisher Ubisoft Developer Massive Ent. Find out more at tinyurl.com/y8menjhc

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TOM CLANCY’S THE DIVISION 2

Capital gains as the rescue squad relocates to Washington, D.C.

ong-rumoured sequel The Division 2 was shown off in full at E3 this year during a bombastic showcase by publisher Ubisoft that revealed the original game’s infection has spread across the country. This time around, New York’s glacial skyline is replaced by the sweltering swamplands of Washington, D.C. as a fresh set of Division agents struggle to bring law and order to a different sprawling urban environment. A major change in this instalment concerns the endgame. One new feature is eight-player raids, which increase the squad size for greater challenges and shinier loot. This game really begins when the story ends, with class and weapon specialties only coming into effect at this point. The 2016 original saw extensive post-launch support, which will be carrying over to The Division 2. For its first year, all major episodes will be free for all players. The specifics of the timings across that first 12 months are yet to be formalised, but what is clear is that every player will get to play everything. The Division 2 won’t be reinventing the wheel too much. Combat is still based on finding cover in order to take down roving gangs of raiders and looters, only

this time round it will be enhanced with new weapons, gadgets, and character specialisations While your tooled-out soldiers from the first game won’t be carried over, a series of challenges in the old game will unlock new content, so if you’ve already sunk hundreds of hours into this world, they will at least be rewarded.

Modes of operation

The Division 2 encourages players to specialise and the endgame raids will require a well-balanced squad to bring a range of skills. Post-campaign classes revolve around picking a specialist weapon (grenade launchers, sniper rifles, and crossbows have been mentioned so far), and levelling through a suite of skills for each. Like Destiny’s roles, this is an interesting modern military twist on the RPG classes of so many fantasy MMOs. The dark zone – a hybrid multiplayer space – makes a return to challenge the toughest agents. Expansions like Survival created novel experiences last time around, so expect the updates to mix things up with new obstacles. Ubisoft aren’t ignoring the success of games like Fortnite and PUBG but, for now, they seem keen on keeping a battle royale mode out of The Division 2.

GAME.CO.UK

22/06/2018 09:10

PREVIEW

ASSASSIN’S CREED ODYSSEY The next entry in Ubisoft’s erahopping franchise is swapping hoods for helms as it rewinds all the way back to Ancient Greece. Choose between Spartan warriors Kassandra or Alexios as Odyssey promises an epic tale of family and revenge. With Athens and Sparta locked in civil war, you’ll be pulled into the largest land and sea battles ever seen in Assassin’s Creed.

FALLOUT 76 This may be Bethesda’s first shot at bringing multiplayer to its nuclear apocalypse, but don’t worry – you don’t have to play the first 75 games to understand the plot. Two decades after the bombs fell, the survivors of Vault 76 emerge into a ruined West Virginia to start society afresh. And so it all begins…

Wasteland disposal

While Origins moved away from the franchise’s established format, Odyssey appears to break the mould even further, becoming a fully featured action-RPG. There’s not a hidden blade or white cowl in sight, just shining armour sets and the return of sprawling skill trees. Odyssey also brings branching dialogue to the series for the first time. And taking a leaf from BioWare’s book, there’s romance too. Whether you opt to play as a man or a woman, Odyssey promises there’ll be a groovy Greek out there for you, no matter your orientation.

Although it promises a map four times larger than Fallout 4’s Commonwealth, there’s more to set 76 apart than just scale and player count. There’s an added emphasis on survival and resource collection as alone, or alongside three friends, you’ll need to rebuild the scorched setting across six distinct regions. Choose to play nice and you’ll construct settlements, explore the wastes and cooperate with other parties. Choose to be nasty though and there’s always the option of dropping a big, fat nuke on the heads of your more unruly neighbours. Betting on multiplayer to keep friends staying together to slay together, Fallout 76 looks to recent trends to keep players coming back to its new worlds.

| Info

Old gods, new tricks

CALL OF DUTY: BLACK OPS 4 We’re now 15 entries in and Call of Duty is still going strong. From back in time to WWII to flung far sci-fi realms with Infinite Warfare, this time it’s a brief hop into the near-future for Black Ops 4. This far into such a long-running franchise, what exactly can Activision do to keep things fresh? Well, dropping a single-player component is certainly a bold move. While multiplayer is still a popular staple, and zombies are making a comeback with three brand-new settings, in place of a globetrotting adventure Black Ops 4 is aiming its sights at the hottest genre of the moment.

There can be only one

Blackout is Call of Duty’s take on the battle royale formula, and the largest map the series has ever seen will mash together ten years’ worth of iconic characters, weapons, and locations. While there’s definitely a gold rush as far as the genre is concerned, with a lineage as long and a fanbase as fervent as Call of Duty’s, there’s a real chance of Treyarch serving up something special.

| Info

Pre-order Assassin’s Creed Odyssey Omega Edition only at GAME

Pre-order Fallout 76 Tricentennial Edition from GAME

Pre-order Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 Specialist Edition only at GAME

Format PS4, XO, PC Released 05 October Publisher Ubisoft Developer Ubisoft Quebec

Format PS4, XO, PC Released 14 November Publisher Bethesda Softworks Developer Bethesda Game Studios

Format PS4, XO, PC Released 12 October Publisher Activision Developer Treyarch

Pre-order at tinyurl.com/ycxelorh

Pre-order at tinyurl.com/yc2lclmp

Pre-order at tinyurl.com/yd3fhd9d

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STANTLY IN Y A L P D N A R E PRE-ORD

HITMAN™ 2 © 2018 IO Interactive A/S. IO Interactive, IOI logo, HITMAN 2, HITMAN 2 logo, and WORLD OF ASSASSINATION are trademarks or registered trademarks owned by or exclusively licensed to IO Interactive A/S. Distributed by Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Inc. “ 2 ”, “PlayStation” and “Ø” are registered trademarks of Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. WBIE LOGO, WB SHIELD: TM & © Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. (s18)

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08/06/2018 15:21

GET STARTED IN… LIVESTREAMING

GAMING HEADSETS

GET MORE Guides, accessories, and expert knowledge to take your gaming to the next level

CONSOLE CONTROLLERS

CLASSICS: SUPER MARIO BROS.

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GET STARTED IN… ESPORTS

EVOLUTION OF… POKÉMON

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PREVIEW

GET STARTED IN…

Livestreaming How to start gaming for an audience live online

ivestreaming has evolved from a fringe internet curiosity to a massive industry in its own right, where the biggest names have fanbases numbering in the millions. The basic idea of livestreaming is pretty simple: you set up a channel, livecapture footage from a game, then just broadcast it out to your online audience.

Start here

Actually doing this can be kind of tricky, though. What equipment do you need? How do you start building an audience? Can you make money doing it and, if so, how? We’re here to give you a quick rundown on how to get started livestreaming simply and easily.

Clip your favourite moments on Twitch by pressing Alt + X - you can then share these on social media.

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WHICH SERVICE?

First things first – where are you going to live stream? There are plenty of options but the best one is undoubtedly Twitch.tv. While it does have its flaws, it’s also the biggest streaming site by a mile, so you’re better off going where the viewers are if you want to start building an audience. YouTube has streaming functionality but unless you already have an established channel it’ll be tough to get eyes on your streams in the short term.

STREAMING ESSENTIALS

The right software is key for effective livestreaming. The most popular options are OBS (Open Broadcaster Software), Nvidia ShadowPlay, and XSplit. While the last two are easy to use, they don’t have as many options and performance is variable. We'd recommend OBS for its range and consistency, but if all the extra options make you nervous there’s nothing wrong with starting out on its more accessible competitors.

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22/06/2018 15:19

GET MORE | Livestreaming

WHAT KIT DO I NEED?

Having a high-quality headset with a good on-board microphone is absolutely essential. Decent audio quality can make the difference between success and failure when streaming because, believe us, viewers notice. If you really want to bump up your audio, invest in a separate desk mic and maybe even soundproofing panels for your streaming room to reduce annoying echoes. Showing the streamer while they’re playing is also popular, so consider picking up a good webcam too.

WHAT DO I STREAM?

KIT YOU NEED FOR YOUTUBE

Ultimately, you should only stream whatever you find most fun to play, but be aware of your computer’s limitations. Streaming puts a lot of strain on your hardware, so you might find it difficult to get smooth performance out of games that usually run fine. If you want to stream console games, you can use the Twitch app on Xbox One or the Share button on PlayStation 4 to get started. With the Nintendo Switch, or an older console if you want to go retro, you’ll need to invest in a capture card.

The essential gadgets to make it big online Streaming microphone

The GXT 252 Emita Streaming Mic (£99.99) will capture your every word with great quality.

Streaming webcam

BUILD AN AUDIENCE

You probably won’t be one of the lucky few who rakes in millions by livestreaming (like Ninja, below), but who knows? Build an audience and you might get a bit of pocket money coming your way every so often. The main way of monetising on Twitch is by becoming a Partner, which allows your viewers to pay for a subscription to your channel. While you’re working towards that Partner status, use Streamlabs or Ko-fi to collect donations from your fans.

Game recorder

Record HD footage on the fly with the Elgato Game Capture HD60 (£149.99).

If you want to get eyes on your streams, there are a few things you can do. Playing something that’s currently popular on Twitch could help boost your viewership, but pick a time when the most popular streamers of that game aren’t also live. Interact with your audience, strike up conversations with them, be friendly and accessible, and moderate your chat to keep it a nice place to hang out. LoadingReadyRun (below) use humour to get viewers.

GXT 1160 Vero Streaming Webcam (£49.99) broadcasts in HD with a fixed focus.

WILL I GET RICH?

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Xbox Live Gold/PS Plus Get membership to Xbox LIve Gold (from £14.99) or PS Plus (from £19.99) for more games and chances to connect.

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Games Play Best on Xbox One X SMOOTHER GAMEPLAY A 2.3GHz custom AMD CPU brings enhanced AI, real world detail, and smoother interactions to your gaming.

LIFE-LIKE DETAIL

A 6 Teraflop GPU enables 4K environments and characters to become more realistic than ever, with more detail and smoother animations.

“Quite simply, games look absolutely amazing running on Xbox One X” - ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY

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FASTER LOAD TIMES

Game graphics are faster and more detailed with 326 GB/sec memory bandwidth, to keep your gaming momentum flowing.

BIGGER WORLDS

12GB GDDR5 graphic memory adds speed and power to enable bigger worlds, further horizons, and quicker load times.

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Xbox One X Enhanced HIGHER PERFORMANCE

Better performance, faster load times, and higher resolution.

STEADIER FRAME RATES

Run at higher or steadier frame rates with the full power of the Xbox One X.

AMAZING DETAIL

Lose yourself in a more immersive gaming experience.

All games look and play great on Xbox One X. But select titles are optimised to take advantage of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most powerful console. These games are Xbox One X Enhanced.

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PREVIEW

GUIDE TO…

PREVIEW | Xxxxxxxxxx

Gaming headsets

Crank the immersion to the max and make sure your ears are working overtime

ant to pinpoint enemy footsteps in Fortnite? Underwhelmed by the roar of your engine in Gran Turismo? Looking for a way to better communicate with your fellow pirates in Sea of Thieves? Well, a gaming headset might just be the thing you’re looking for.

Sound investment 2 Copy that, gold leader

1 lf you play team games then having a good mic will be vital. 2 On those longer missions, a comfortable headset can make all the difference.

In a nutshell, gaming headsets take the sound coming out of the TV or monitor that you’ve always been familiar with and ramp it up in every aspect, making it more impactful, more personal, and more dynamic. Plus, you can turn the volume up – way, way, way up – without worrying about disturbing your loved ones, neighbours, or the local cat and dog population.

More than that though, headsets deliver a clear advantage by putting your ears to work locating enemies and pinpointing gunfire within 3D game environments. Quality headsets are available at a wide range of prices, are compatible across different gaming systems, and pack a huge diversity of features. Whether you’re a casual gamer looking to add some drama to your experiences or an aspiring esports pro, there’s bound to be something that matches your specific budget and needs. We’ve put together this handy breakdown of the components that make up a headset and what you should be on the lookout for when deciding which is the best fit for you. Trust us, once you’ve played a game using a headset, you’ll never want to go back.

ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS Get to know the core components of any good gaming headset

Microphone

Essential for communicating with teammates, the best headsets use noise-cancelling technology to make sure that it’s only your voice, not a whole room full of noise, that travels to your friends.

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Earchamber

Open-backed headsets generally provide superior sound quality but leak a lot of noise, so can disturb people around you. Closed-back headsets leak less but suffer a little on quality.

Earcup

Match the size and shape of an earcup to the dimensions of your head and you'll achieve maximum comfort and stability. Glasses wearers will want something with a little give to prevent irritation.

Headband

Without a good headband, your headset isn’t going to stay in position. Headband stiffness differs wildly, so finding the perfect one is going to be a matter of personal preference and trying on lots for size.

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GET MORE | Headsets

HOW TO BUY You’ll want to think about these key features before you make a choice Cup support

It’s best to use a headset that employs a support system that allows the cups to swivel and bend to the shape of your head.

Headband

Frame

How many times will this be stressed over a lifetime? Durability is key in a good headset.

While you want this to be comfortable, you also want the headband to be stable, since it rubs constantly against your head so takes a lot of wear.

HYPERX CLOUD II PRO GAMING HEADSET Price £74.99

Earcups

Memory foam is often used in the creation of earcups, giving you a snug fit and comfortably accommodating glasses wearers.

Headchamber

Some headsets have ventilation grids to stop the heat building up when you’re engaged in long play sessions. After all, no one likes sweaty ears.

Wire

Wired headsets are usually a little less expensive than wireless editions but can be more cumbersome to use, depending on your environment.

Microphone

Make sure the adjustable positioning works for you to either have it near your mouth or moved out the way.

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Turn over for round-up of our favourite headsets…

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GET MORE

CHOOSE YOUR AUDIO

What kind of headset fits your needs?

More available at game.co.uk

GAMEWARE STEREO

LOGITECH G231

CORSAIR HS50

Price £19.99

Price £49.99

Price £54.99

This entry-level console headset has everything you need to get started. The sound is crisp and can be muted or cranked up with in-line controls. The boom microphone is compatible with all chat-supported multiplayer games.

Comfortable, lightweight, and compatible with PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC, these are a great first time headset option from Logitech. The cloth earcups are both soft and comfortable and can be removed easily for cleaning.

At this price point, you’re going to struggle to find better sound and build quality, making the HS50s a great and durable mid-range choice. They feature memory foam cups for maximum comfort and minimal sound leakage.

TURTLE BEACH® STEALTH 700

STEEL SERIES ARCTIS PRO

SENNHEISER G4ME ONE

Price £129.99

Price £174.99

Price £189.99

There are no wires to get in the way with this premium Xbox One headset using Microsoft’s Xbox Wireless technology. You also get surround sound, active noise-cancelling, and a competitive advantage with Turtle Beach’s Superhuman Hearing setting.

One of the best-looking headsets out there and one that delivers incredibly crisp, sharp sound, you’ll not be embarrassed to wear these on your daily commute. Exclusive AirWeave ear cushions use sports clothing design to maximise comfort.

An open-backed design from German audio giants Sennheiser, the G4ME One is a quality, pro-level option for audiophile gamers looking for something that will be just as good blasting their favourite music as it is for playing their favourite games.

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22/06/2018 13:26

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CI D

PREVIEW

GUIDE TO…

Console controllers Get the most out of your gaming sessions by making sure you have a pad that suits you

M Comfort, control, response Hundreds of inputs can go through your controller every minute you play so build quality is vital.

| Info Check out these controllers and more online or head in store to save by choosing a pre-owned controller with a 12-month guarantee. Find out more at www.game.co.uk

aybe it’s stating the obvious, but controllers are a vital part of any gaming setup. Without one, you’re not even going to have much luck getting past the title screen. What some people don’t realise, however, is that the type of controller you use can have a real impact on your gaming experience. A good controller can make all the difference, in more ways than one. The most obvious is with performance. Most of us have had that awkward experience of going to their friend’s house to play games only to end up at an extreme disadvantage by being lumbered with their dodgy old second controller with the floppy sticks and that wonky fire button. Find a controller that meets all of your personal needs and you’ll be able to

play your favourite games secure in the knowledge that you’re doing so to the very best of your abilities, with nothing holding you back.

Like a glove

Comfort is another massive factor, especially if you play for extended periods. There’s nothing better than a controller that sits comfortably in your hands, has buttons and sticks in all the right places, and that just feels like an extension of your arms. Here’s a selection of controllers available for your PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch, from the official models to some that are a little different. Find the one that suits you and your gaming sessions will be as smooth, seamless, and satisfying as possible.

GET A GRIP These extras can make your controllers even more useful

Thumb grips

When you’re in a tense deathmatch or battle royale session, things can get a little sweaty. A set of thumb grips, like the GTX Pro Thumb Grips (above, from £4.99) or Kontrolfreek Inferno Thumbsticks for PS4, can make sure that your thumbs won’t ever slip off the analogue sticks.

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Skins

Controller skins, like these Gioteck camo ones (from £9.99) for PS4 and Xbox One, serve two purposes. Firstly, they help your hands maintain grip on the controller. Secondly, and arguably more importantly, they come in a variety of designs, instantly giving your pad a cool makeover.

Keyboards

There are few things more annoying than using a console’s on-screen keyboard to slowly type messages to friends. If you regularly text chat in games, a controller keyboard like this GAMEware model (from £19.99) for PS4 or Xbox One lets you type much quicker than the usual dreary D-pad.

GAME.CO.UK

22/06/2018 14:24

GET MORE | Console controllers

PS4

XBOX ONE

SWITCH

DualShock 4

Official Wireless Controller

Joy-Con Pair

Price £49.99 | Manufacturer Sony

Price £49.99 | Manufacturer Microsoft

Price £69.99 | Manufacturer Nintendo

Sony’s standard controller is still one of the best for the system, with a layout that dates back to the original PlayStation but with the up-to-date touchpad and light bar.

This core controller is comfortable, has a vast wireless range, and also the option to map your buttons. Additionally it works with Windows 10 PCs, tablets, and phones.

The Switch’s Joy-Con controllers are a work of genius. Together, they offer control plus rumble and motion-sensing. Yet they can also be split apart for two-player gaming.

AtPlay Wired Controller

Pro EX Wired Controller

Pro Controller

Price £29.99 | Manufacturer AtPlay

Price £19.99 | Manufacturer PowerA

Price £59.99 | Manufacturer Nintendo

If you’re after a wired controller, AtPlay has you covered. This is a little smaller than the DualShock 4, making it ideal for younger gamers. It comes with a three-metre cable.

Only available at GAME, this officially licensed wired controller has all the same features of Microsoft’s wireless one, but at a fraction of the cost.

Switch owners who prefer the feel of a traditional controller will love this for its long battery life and ease of use, especially when playing your Switch on the TV.

Revolution Pro Controller 2

Elite Wireless Controller

PowerA Wired Controller

Price £89.99 | Manufacturer Nacon

Price £119.99 | Manufacturer Microsoft

Price £24.99| Manufacturer PowerA

This esports-focused controller has a vast range of customisable features, including PC support, custom shortcuts, and layout profiles set via a support app.

Microsoft’s high-end Xbox One controller comes with a variety of swappable metal thumbsticks and D-pads, interchangeable paddles, and hair trigger locks. It’s a beast.

Only at GAME, this traditional wired controller features Link and comes in a soft finish with a removable 8ft cable. See the full officially licensed range in store or online.

Official, wired or esports From standard to Elite

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Go Pro or double down

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Pre-order now in-store or online at GAME.co.uk

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Get up to 10% back on everything you buy & sell in credit.

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Exclusive offers every month Win big with Elite level competitions Exclusive email program

Explore hidden content in the GAME app Points back guarantee Didn’t make your money back? We’ll give you the difference

we promise you can’t lose Pre-ordered?

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50% extra credit. £36 per year One upfront payment 12 months of epic offers

Ready ? Join the Visit game.co.uk/membership for more details. Terms and conditions apply.

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PREVIEW

GET STARTED IN…

Esports

Ever dreamt about making gaming your day job or winning the Overwatch League? You Belong here

VISIT BELONG

Belong Gaming Arenas are the perfect place to join the Belong community and play the latest and greatest games on the most powerful PCs and consoles currently available. So whether you’re a hardcore player looking to compete with the best or a fresh face in the world of gaming, your esports career could start here. At the very least, you’ll have fun honing your skills. Invite your friends and play from as little as £5 per session. You can book from between one and eight hours*, or just drop in to see if you can play on the day.

Book a session at Belong with friends and never run out of controllers.

JOIN A TRIBE

To take your gaming to the next level you may want to join a local Belong Gaming Arenas tribe. These groups meet regularly to practice playing as a team, in order to enter our tournament: Arena Clash. Players must be 16+ to join a tribe and enter tournaments.

Arena Hire

You can also book Arenas for special events, parties, or just a gaming session for up to 12 people.

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GET MORE | Esports

ARENA CLASH

FIND A TRIBE

Your tribe can then enter into the Arena Clash tournament to find out who is the best Belong Gaming Arenas UK team. Arena teams from around the country compete across a number of titles in three different leagues, with awesome prizes on offer and a Grand Final at the Insomnia63 gaming festival. Members of the public can also attend these events to watch the action live. Games include Tekken 7, COD WWII, Overwatch, and League of Legends.

Head to your nearest Arena and sign up

Bradford

Bradford Rams

Bristol

Bristol Smugglers Bristol Brawlers

Cardiff

Cardiff Saints

Colchester

Colchester Centurions

Craigavon

Craigavon Kestrels

Gateshead

Tyneside Guardians

Glasgow

Clyde Claymores

Hull

Humber Hunters

Kingston

Kingston Harriers

BOOK BELONG Secure gaming sessions at Belong stores Book tickets to Arena Clash events Hire Arenas for private parties and events You can also join community nights to meet new people, get involved in events, and play the latest releases.

Visit belong.gg *Subject to availability. Players under 12 must be accompanied by an adult, and must be the required age on age-restricted products. Maximum of six players in a single booking. You must be 12+ years old to make a booking. Opening times and prices vary depending on location, length of stay, and peak versus off-peak times.

London

London Lionhearts

Manchester

Manchester Swarm

Milton Keynes MK Enigmas

Norwich

Norfolk Nighthawks

Plymouth

Plymouth Armada

Portsmouth

Portsmouth Pirates

Preston

Preston Invincibles

Teeside

Teeside Steelers

York

York Vikings

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CLASSICS Super Mario Bros. 1985

DID YOU KNOW?

When Mario became Super I wanted to make a game that would be the culmination of all NES games up to that point. So, we ended up making the player character larger, and creating long courses that scroll. And then we decided that you’ll lose a turn when the smaller Mario runs into an enemy. When big Mario runs into an enemy, he would just get smaller. That would be a brandnew game mechanic. Starting with the small Mario would make players happier when Mario got big later, and it would also give a better impression to players. And since Mario had gotten bigger, we added ‘Super’ to the title to make it Super Mario Bros.” Shigeru Miyamoto Creative Fellow, Nintendo

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THE EVOLUTION OF…

Pokémon

Why catching ’em all continues to be popular after more than 20 years

| Info Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Let’s Go, Eevee! are cheaper when you trade in Format Switch Released 16 November Publisher Nintendo Developer Game Freak Find out more at tinyurl.com/yd7ebqsg

ou can usually tell someone’s age by the first Pokémon game they owned, since the chances are that everyone has owned at least one. Pokémon is, after all, the second-highest selling videogame series in history, behind only Mario. Since 1996, its compelling mix of turn-based RPG battling, monster training, and collection has led to over 300 million Pokémon games being sold worldwide.

Pokémon Red and Blue 1999 Publisher Nintendo Developer Game Freak

First on Switch!

The upcoming release of Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Let’s Go, Eevee!, the first Pokémon RPGs on the Switch, is set to bump that number even higher. Here are some milestone moments in the series so far…

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Pokémon Gold and Silver 2001 Publisher Nintendo Developer Game Freak

Where it all began. Originally released as Pocket Monsters Red and Green in Japan in 1996, the UK didn’t get a taste of Pokémon action until 1999. With 151 weird and wonderful monsters to catch, train, and battle, Pokémon was a huge deal at the time. It also breathed new life into the Game Boy which, by the mid-’90s, was starting to show its age. It also turned the Game Boy Link Cable into the must-have accessory. The ability to link up to your friend’s game to trade and battle meant that Pokémon connections became a regular occurrence in playgrounds all around the world.

The huge success of Red and Blue meant a sequel was inevitable, and, sure enough, Gold and Silver followed a couple of years later. Released on the Game Boy Color (anyone with an old Game Boy had to upgrade), this one was bigger and better in every way. The number of Pokémon increased from 151 to 251, with favourites such as Pichu, Togepi, and Wobbuffet making their debuts. Initially set in the new region of Johto, beating the game’s Elite Four then unlocked the entire region of Kanto from Red and Blue, doubling the size of the world as well as the length of your adventure.

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CLASSICS

Pokémon Diamond and Pearl 2007 Publisher Nintendo Developer Game Freak

Pokémon X and Y 2013 Publisher Nintendo Developer Game Freak

Pokémon Sun and Moon 2016 Publisher Nintendo Developer Game Freak

GAME.CO.UK

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Pokémon continued to be hugely popular right through the life of the Game Boy Advance, with Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald, FireRed and LeafGreen all launching on it. Although each of these games offered bigger and more visually impressive adventures, it was the arrival of the Nintendo DS and Pokémon Diamond and Pearl that marked the series’ next giant leap forward. For the first time, players could connect online via the DS’s Wi-Fi to trade or battle with people anywhere in the world, not just those in the same room. With 493 Pokémon to now catch, the timing of this global expansion was perfect.

After a bunch of other DS games in the shape of Black, White, Black 2 and White 2, Pokémon came to the 3DS with X and Y, named after the popular Coldplay album. No, not really. This was the first ever Pokémon game – and also the first ever Nintendo game – to be released in all regions worldwide on the same day. The game moved the action to a new region (the Paris-inspired Kalos) and added another bunch of new Pokémon to bring the total to 721. It also finally ditched character sprites, meaning that for the first time in a main Pokémon game, battles used polygonal characters.

As the first games of the most recent Pokémon generation, Sun and Moon take place in the Hawaii-like region of Alola, where certain Pokémon from previous games can now take on special Alolan forms. Interestingly, the two games work on different time zones: Pokémon Sun’s time is the same as that on your 3DS system clock, while Pokémon Moon runs 12 hours ahead, meaning if you play during the day, it’s night-time in the game. Good luck with catching ’em all now, though: as of Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon (released in late 2017), there are now an incredible 807 Pokémon in total.

GOTTA MERCH ’EM ALL There’s also a great range of accessories to catch and collect Poké Ball Plush £8.99

Team Rocket Mug £7.99

Rowlet T-shirt £12.99

Pikachu ears snapback £12.99

Large plush Rotom Pokédex £19.99

Popplio T-shirt £12.99

Check out loads more in store or at www.game.co.uk

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SPEND LESS 3 reasons why gamers love pre-owned. 1. You get a 12 month guarantee. 2. Pre-owned is the best value for money. 3. We quality test our products so you don’t have to worry.

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Prices correct at time of print. Terms and conditions apply. Visit Game.co.uk for more info.

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Chief Executive Officer James Binns Chief Operating Officer Tim Edwards Publishing Director Joel Gregory Design Director Ian Miller Printed in the UK by Adare. Distributed by GAME Retail Ltd, Unity House, Telford Rd, Basingstoke, RG21 6YU Published by Network N, Circus Mews House, Circus Mews, Bath, BA1 2PW © 2018 GAME Retail Limited (“GAME”), all rights reserved. This publication may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form, in whole or in part, without GAME’s written permission. Liability: While every care has been taken in the preparation of this magazine, GAME cannot be held responsible for the accuracy of the information herein or any consequences arising from it. All prices are correct at the time of going to press. If you submit material to us, you warrant that you own the rights/ permissions to supply the material and you automatically grant GAME and its licensees and partners a licence to publish your submissions. GAME reserves the right to edit, amend and adapt all submissions. Extra 25% trade-in value when you pre-order, terms and conditions: GAME Reward customers who purchase any new software release and trade in preowned software as part of the same transaction between 00:01 on 19/01/18 and 23:59 on 01/12/18 get an extra 25% of trade-in credit for your existing software. Offer only available to customers who have placed a deposit on the new software release being purchased. Receive 25% extra trade in credit on top of standard in store credit price when you trade-in any software products towards any new software release at a GAME Retail Limited store and use the credit towards a purchase in the same transaction.

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© 2018 Koch Media GmbH and published by Deep Silver. Developed by 4A Games. 4A Games Limited and their respective logo are trademarks of 4A Games Limited. Metro Exodus is inspired by the internationally bestselling novels METRO 2033, METRO 2034 and METRO 2035 by Dmitry Glukhovsky. All other trademarks, logos and copyrights are property of their respective owners. ©2018 Valve Corporation. Steam and the Steam logo are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Valve Corporation in the U.S. and/or other countries. All rights reserved. “2”, and “PlayStation” are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. “Ø” is a trademark of the same company.