Click here to watch embedded media

In a world of skill-based matchmaking and unending third-parties from lesser-skilled squads, Fuse emerges from the flames with an ability kit made to devastate enemies as well as create space for his teammates. Respawn Entertainment has given us a new look at Season 8 with a gameplay trailer that you can watch above. Fuse, the latest Apex Legends character, can stun and damage opponents with his pellet launcher or throw grenades from a mechanism on his wrist (just like at the end of the previous cinematic trailer). His ultimate casts projectiles that fall to the ground and burn any foes that might be standing in the area of effect. Fuse seems like the perfect legend for players that simply want to watch the world burn and his laissez-faire personality is just an added bonus. 

In addition to Fuse, new battle pass cosmetics will be available (the Lifeline skin in the gameplay trailer looks pretty sweet). But, more importantly, a higher tier for magazines is joining the loot rotation. Gold ammo attachments contain the same capacity as their purple counterparts but come with an autoloader perk. You can watch Rampart attach the gold mag to her Spitfire and lay waste to an entire squad. The perk likely means that reloading times will be reduced but there’s no word on whether or not this stacks with Rampart’s passive ability. 

The 30-30 repeater finally got some time to shine. The new weapon seems to be a cross between the semi-auto fire of the popular G7 Scout and the charge functionality of the Sentinel. One could even say that the rifle’s mid- and long-range versatility is reminiscent of the ADS-activated choke that makes the Peacekeeper shotgun so powerful. And with the radical Kings Canyon changes that are set to come at the start of Season 8, the 30-30 repeater might just find its way at the top of the loadout charts alongside the Volt SMG.

Speaking of geographical changes, Kings Canyon has been obliterated by Fuse’s childhood friend Maggie. So, new areas have emerged from the ashes of old ones. With the inclusion of armories, on-the-fly high ground, never-before-seen points of interest, and optimized map rotations, wandering Kings Canyon in search of firefights will feel refreshing again. You can see these awesome features for yourself here. 

Apex Legends Season 8 launches on February 2 so be sure to grind during the final days of Season 7 to secure more wins for your in-game player card. Or, you can get set to jump into the Apex games for the first time on Nintendo Switch (if the rumors are true, of course.)

The world had no idea that it needed a Gollum-focused video game until Daedalic announced its Lord of the Rings project in Summer 2019. The game was set to launch at some point this year, but GamesRadar reports that The Lord of the Rings – Gollum will be delayed to 2022. 

Apparently, a recent email announced a new partnership between Deadelic Entertainment and Nacon who is now set to be a co-publisher on the game. Nacon has been involved with a few sports titles as well as the upcoming Vampire: The Masquerade - Swansong. The email ends with the information about the game's delay.

A narrative-centric experience, Daedalic’s Gollum game chronicles ex-Hobbit Sméagol’s vile journey as he is corrupted by the One Ring. While players will likely see story beats that they are already familiar with, the game will also delve into new events in Gollum's life. "We tell Gollum's story from a perspective never seen before, in any storytelling medium, all the while staying true to the legendary books of J.R.R. Tolkien," says Daedalic CEO Carsten Fichtelmann. "At a time when the games industry is undergoing structural changes and seeing new business models evolve, we are excited to realize a huge new production based on a story that has stayed fresh and relevant for more than 60 years."

The Lord of the Rings – Gollum will be available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, and PC. Check out some photos from the game in a gallery here. 

[Source: GamesRadar] 

Halo Infinite was delayed following an overwhelming amount of feedback when gameplay was first shown off last year. Originally meant to be an Xbox Series X launch title, the move to push the latest Halo adventure back to November 2020 was one not made lightly. That being said, communication on the status of the development pivot has been scarce and that's why 343 Industries is committing to doing better. 

As the launch date of Halo Infinite looms closer, community director Brian Jarrard took to Reddit to offer a promise of more steady updates going forward. When one Redditor took to the Halo Infinite forums to express concern over the lack of updates, Jarrard responded with context surrounding the silence in addition to a promise to be better. 

When addressing the lack of updates being a negative sign for the state of the game, Jarrard responded saying, "Not saying it's right or a good thing, but considering we went 12 month stretches of total darkness and our last update was on December 8, I don't think there is any cause to worry. Keep in mind that many of us around the studio were out of office for two or more weeks to end the year and then it takes time to get back into the swing of things."

Regarding what the studio plans to do moving forward, he added "We're committed to at least monthly high level updates and the next Inside Infinite is coming out this week! This month we're talking with members of the sandbox team to share some insights into their vision for Halo Infinite and the work they're doing." 

The confirmation of the Inside Infinite is a good first step towards the monthly updates, especially for those excited to see more of that gorgeous hunk Craig the Brute (kidding). That being said, 343 wants to be careful about making sure expectations don't spin out of control, a smart boundary to lay down when considering how dangerous overhype has been for major titles in the past. To this point, the community director added "To manage expectations, this won't have world premier big screenshots or huge things like a date announce, but our goal is to offer our community more context and insights into our team and the game we're making while we're all awaiting the larger beats and full marketing machine later this year."

As for the game itself, Halo Infinite is expected to launch sometime in November of this year. Thoughts on the gameplay reveal and the polarizing reactions to it? Thoughts on 343's pledge going forward into 2021? Sound off with your spiciest of spicy takes in the comment section below! 

A new expansion is on the horizon for Elder Scrolls Online players, taking them back to the world of Oblivion with the return of the Daedric prince Mehrunes Dagon. The upcoming expansion is set 800 years before the events of the single-player Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion experience, setting up an incredible backstory to add to the phenomenal lore surrounding Tamriel. But it's not just a new location and a returning baddie to look forward to. For the first time ever, Elder Scrolls Online will allow for companions that players can spec out to their heart's content. But first, let's look at what else was revealed by Bethesda. 

With the latest trailer, players have their first look at the Gates of Oblivion adventure, exploring a new tale through the Flames of Ambition DLC and the Blackwood chapter. This saga will continue all year long with new chapters to further unravel the mystery surrounding the Daedric prince with never-before-explored areas of Tamriel and fresh takes on some familiar places as well. 

Click here to watch embedded media

Flames of Ambition launches on March 8 for PC, and March 16 for Xbox One and PlayStation 4. Blackwood commences a new chapter entirely, beginning on June 1 for PC and June 8 for Xbox One and PS4. There are two more DLC slated with one dungeon pack dropping in Q3 and another Q4 DLC story zone unlocking at an undisclosed time. 

As for Blackwood, here is what players can look forward to: 

• A new zone: Blackwood
• A fiendish main storyline that ties into the Gates of Oblivion adventure
• The new Companions System
• A new 12-player Trial: Rockgrove
• New world events: Oblivion Portals
• New delves, public dungeons, world bosses, and stand-alone quests
• Updates and quality-of-life improvements

Pre-purchasing the upcoming expansion will unlock the Nagahide Welwa Ravager mount and the Nightmare Bear cub pet, with the latter only being available until March 17 as the pre-order deadline. Even more pre-order bonuses are also on the way, including: 

• Dremora Kynreeve Outfit
• Deadlands Wamasu Pet
• 1× Iron Atronach Crate
• 3× Blackwood Treasure Maps
• 2× Experience Scrolls

For those that already own previous chapters of the game and the base title itself, there is the Blackwood Upgrade edition of the expansion and the Upgrade Collector's Edition. For those that don't own the game already, there are the standard Blackwood and Blackwood Collector's Edition options that include previous expansions and the base game itself. 

"Including the Imperial City of Leyawiin (first featured in The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion), the Niben Forest, and open wetlands of the Blackwood Bog, you’ll have the opportunity to explore a diverse land in strife, investigate the emerging Daedric threat, and discover all-new stories, challenges, and rewards not found anywhere else in Tamriel," Bethesda Softworks tells us about the upcoming story. 

In Blackwood’s main storyline, you shall investigate a conspiracy involving the exiled Longhouse Emperors and uncover a deadly pact that spells doom for the people of Blackwood. Behind it all, of course, is the Prince of Destruction, Mehrunes Dagon himself, but what exactly are his plans are for Blackwood and Tamriel? While a stand-alone tale that can be enjoyed in of itself, the events of the Blackwood Chapter’s story progresses the larger Gates of Oblivion narrative that begins with the Flames of Ambition DLC and will continue throughout the rest of the year.

Most importantly? Companions. The single-player counterparts of the Elder Scrolls games include companions that have their own skills; they are characters who add an additional RPG element to build players' connection to the story. For the first time, ESO is adding companions to the online game, allowing for a chance to spec them out. This also offers fans a chance at building meaningful relationships with them and enjoying the world of Tamriel with help without feeling forced to play with other players. 

Thoughts on everything revealed so far in the latest Elder Scrolls Online showcase highlighting what's new with  Oblivion? Are you excited to learn more about the backstory that set up the beloved Elder Scrolls IV title? Sound off in the comment section below! And for those interested in some physical merch to ring in the new expansion, there's an exclusive Oblivion statue found right here.