In a challenge to Apple Arcade, Google Play Pass offers ad-free games and apps
Had enough of ads on your apps and games? Google Play Pass is the latest service from Google that offers Android device owners ad-free access to select apps and games. You also won't see in-app purchases, and won't have to pay upfront fees. At the moment, only 350 apps and games are available.
Fighting world hunger with a trivia game? It’s not as crazy as it sounds
Freerice is a quiz game from the United Nations' World Food Programme. It lets players donate the equivalent of 10 grains of rice for every correct answer. The recently revamped version of the game featurre a variety of categories, including languages, math, literature, and more.
Authorities arrest suspect behind World of Warcraft Classic DDoS attacks
The suspect behind the recent distributed denial of service attacks against World of Warcraft Classic servers has been tracked down and arrested. It remains unclear if the person held by the authorities was the same one behind the Twitter account that took credit for the incident.
Nintendo Switch Lite teardown reveals same analog sticks as drift-prone Joy-Cons
A Nintendo Switch Lite teardown by YouTube channel Spawn Wave revealed that the console's analog sticks are similar to the Joy-Cons of the original Nintendo Switch. This means that the new portable console will still be prone to drifting issues, dashing hopes that Nintendo has fixed the problem.
Street Fighter 2 CPU cheated with instant God Mode, unblockable attacks
YouTuber Desk uploaded a video that revealed the many ways the Street Fighter 2 CPU cheats its way to victory against human players. CPU-controlled characters may enter instant God Mode, break out of dizzy status almost right away, and launch unblockable attacks, among other methods.
No wait for PlayStation 5 Pro? Rumor claims console to launch with PlayStation 5
Sony is reportedly planning to launch the PlayStation 5 Pro alongside the base model of the upcoming console, according to a reliable Japanese journalist. The more powerful version is said to cost $100 to $150 more than the PlayStation 5, which is expected to arrive in 2020 or 2021.
Minecraft character creator augments skins with new body parts, accessories
The Minecraft Character Creator, currently in beta testing, will allow players to personalize their avatars beyond using custom skins. The feature will make changes to the actual models, including body size and shape, some body parts, and characteristics like the eyes, mouth, hair, and skin tones.
Amazon Prime rolls out perks for gamers, starting with free PUBG Mobile items
Amazon Prime subscribers will be able to get free content in iOS and Android games, starting with six items in PUBG Mobile. Over a span of 12 weeks, players will receive the complete Infiltrator set, the new weapon Blood Oath - Karabiner 98K and lastly, the Black Magma Parachute.
Nintendo Switch Lite’s $200 price tag made possible by months of negotiations
Pulling down the Nintendo Switch Lite price tag to $200 was not an easy task, as it took months of negotiations between Nintendo and component suppliers. Nintendo was reportedly even trying to get the portable console's price to below $200, but apparently, that was a goal too lofty to reach.
Vault over the competition with our FIFA 20 Volta Football guide
New in FIFA 20 is Volta Football, a street-based take on soccer that shrinks down the pitch and the player-count. Here is how you can make the most out of your team in Volta Football, even if you are new to soccer video games. This definitely isn't your grandfather's take on The Beautiful Game.
Crypto seeks to show the truth in Apex Legends Season 3: Meltdown
Apex Legends Season 3: Meltdown will show the next stage in Crypto's revenge against The Syndicate, which framed him for murder. The new season will also add a new Battle Pass, an updated Ranked League, and the Charge Rifle, a powerful weapon that further links the game to the Titanfall universe.
Batman: Arkham Collection, Lego Batman Trilogy now free on Epic Games Store
The Epic Games Store, in celebration of Batman Day and the Dark Knight's 80th anniversary, is offering free downloads for six games. Batman: Arkham Collection and the Lego Batman Trilogy are available to download on the digital storefront with no purchase required, until September 26.
iPhone gamers, be on the alert: iOS 13 makes Fortnite, PUBG Mobile unplayable
iPhone gamers may want to delay upgrading to iOS 13, as it makes Fortnite and PUBG Mobile unplayable. The issue is caused by the new text-editing gesture that is called up by pressing three fingers on the screen, which conflicts with the traditional method of playing mobile shooters.
French court case against Valve may have serious implications for games sales
In 2015, the French group UFC Que Choisir took Valve to court over the way that the store sells digital games. The case focused on the fact that consumers cannot resell a game once they have purchased a digital copy. Now, a court has ruled that Valve will have to change their policies or face a fine.
FIFA 20 review: Volta brings flair to the familiar
FIFA 20 largely keeps teh franchise's standard pitch-based soccer intact with iterative mechanical changes, but it thrives in the street-based Volta Football mode, which is great for longtime fans and newcomers. The Frostbite engine is starting to show its age, however, and the game could use a new coat of paint.
We spoke to Sega about designing the Genesis Mini
The Sega Genesis MIni is a wonderful mini console that authentically captures the original feeling of playing classic Genesis games. We spoke with Hiroyuki Miyazaki, the project lead on Sega's first mini console, to learn more about the development process and what went into choosing the 42-game library.
The Arcade1UP home arcade machines are cheaper than ever
Bring the retro arcade experience into your home with one of these 3/4-scale Arcade1UP machines, three of which are on sale right now for the lowest prices we've seen yet.
Everything new in The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening
While thoroughly a remake, The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening for Switch features a bunch of improvements and new features beyond the adorable new art style. If you're curious about the changes, we've outlined everything new in Link's Awakening that we discovered after dozens of hours of play.
Digital Trends Live: Roku’s new OS, Apple’s “slofie,” storming Area 51, and more
In this episode of Digital Trends Live, we dive into the biggest trending topics in tech, including Roku’s updated operating system, Apple’s slow-motion selfie cam the “Slofie,” a VR Groundhog Day game, more deepfake tech, SpaceX’s new Starship rocket, and more.
From tips to locations, here’s our Fortnite telescope challenge guide
Players are tasked with dancing at different telescopes locations for the season 10, week 8 challenges in Fortnite. This guide has tips on how to complete this challenge as well as the telescope locations so you can complete both the normal and prestige versions of this challenge with ease.
You can pre-order the Nintendo Switch Lite today for $200 at Best Buy
The Nintendo Switch Lite is due to be released on September 20, but you can already get the system you want on launch day by ordering in advance. Best Buy is accepting pre-orders for all variants — gray, turquoise, yellow, as well as the Zacian and Zamazenta Pokémon edition. Reserve yours today for $200.
The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening review
The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening is a near-perfect remake of one of the best Zelda games. With a beautiful new art style, plenty of welcome improvements, and a ton more collectibles to find, Link's Awakening is brilliant for both newcomers and longtime fans. Chamber Dungeons is a dud, though.
Get no-scope headshots on the go when Call of Duty: Mobile launches October 1
Call of Duty: Mobile will be free on both iOS and Android devices on October 1. The game comes with both competitive multiplayer and battle royale modes, and features maps and characters from other games in the franchise. It arrives just a few weeks before the launch of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare on consoles and PC.
Razer Huntsman Tournament Edition review: All pro, no fun
The Razer Huntsman Tournament Edition is a keyboard made for e-sports. It ups the performance and the mobility to suit the lifestyle of the competitive gamer but excludes a lot of the features that make the Huntsman line so great. Overall, it's a minimalist keyboard that does what it sets out to do.
Pokémon Sword and Shield for Nintendo Switch: Everything we know
Pokémon Sword and Shield will bring the mainline Pokémon RPG experience to home consoles for the first time when they arrive on Nintendo Switch later this year. Here's everything we know so far, from starters to gameplay and even information on the bizarre Curry Dex system.
The newest Pokémon in Sword is the sophisticated and unibrowed Sirfetch’d
The latest exclusive monster in Pokémon Sword is Sirfetch'd, a dapper evolution of Farfetch'd who can use its leek as a sword and a shield for defeating the toughest enemies in Galar. Pokémon Shield players will have to find someone with Sword in order to trade the monster between Nintendo Switch systems.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare hands-on
After playing the beta, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare's core mechanics feel as good as ever. The discovery of potentially predatory microtransactions, however, could undermine the experience. With microtransactions sullying the gameplay of Black Ops 4, we can only hope player criticism has been heard.
Overwatch’s latest event gives Bastion a Lego-themed skin
Overwatch's cutest robot has a whole new Lego-themed look in the game's latest event, Bastion's Brick Challenge. You can unlock the skin by winning games, and access other new Lego sprays and player icons by watching Twitch streams.
Fortnite is getting a new alien skin just in time for the Area 51 raid
The hype of the Area 51 raid has trickled over into the gaming world. Fortnite is about to get a new alien skin just in time for with the September 20 event. A Fortnite player uncovered the new skin, or character outfit, that looks just like an alien -- complete with an Area 51 badge on the arm sleeve.
Apple Arcade’s iOS 13 beta launch surprises game developers
Apple Arcade launched for iOS 13 beta users several days ahead of its planned September 19 launch date. This was news to not only excited players, but also some game developers partnered with the program. Reactions from studios varied wildly between excitement and frustration at not being kept in the loop.
Get a free copy of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare with Nvidia RTX graphics cards
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare is the latest AAA title to support real-time ray tracing, and it will now be bundled free with every purchase of an eligible Nvidia GeForce RTX card, or equipped laptop or desktop. The game is set to launch October 25 with an open beta starting September 19.
The best Nintendo Switch accessory deals on Amazon this week
The Nintendo Switch is a portable system with tons of accessories. The problem is, hooking it up doesn't come cheap. From controllers and chargers to carrying cases and screen protectors, we keep our eyes peeled on the best deals on Nintendo Switch accessories on Amazon every week so you don't have to.
A beginner’s guide to healing in World of Warcraft Classic
Every World of Warcraft dungeon party needs a good healer to survive. It's a difficult and stressful job for sure, but learning the ropes early can really catapult your WoW Classic leveling experience. This guide will teach you which classes to use at an early level and how to heal your first dungeon.
Tips to reach the top of the scoreboard in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare
The Call of Duty: Modern Warfare multiplayer beta is here, and you can start getting destroyed in the game starting on September 19. If you want to succeed, make use of our Call of Duty: Modern Warfare tips and tricks so you can hit the top of the scoreboard and win games for your team.
Section Editor, Gaming
Giovanni is a writer and video producer focusing on happenings in the video game industry. He has contributed stories to Inverse, Fanbyte, The Inventory, and more. He was previously a segment producer on Polygon’s daily gaming show Speedrun and he currently hosts the Left Trigger Right Trigger podcast. Four Tetris 99 wins, and counting.