In The News
One Special Day, the United Kingdom charity companies like EA, Unity and Twitch participated in, raised almost $400,000. That’s triple what host SpecialEffect hoped for. “Apart from the one-day event, a number of companies also contributed through game-themed events, gaming auction items and livestreams before the fundraiser,” GamesIndustry.biz’s James Brightman reports.
Lenovo and Disney Interactive are working together “for Lucasfilm’s Star Wars augmented reality gaming,” AListDaily’s John Gaudiosi writes. “Star Wars: Jedi Challenges launches Nov. 3 for $199 and comes with the new Lenovo Mirage AR headset, which works with any Android or iOS smartphone, along with a replica Luke Skywalker lightsaber and tracking beacon.”
Hinted-at additions to Battle.net have been confirmed. Blizzard Entertainment announced yesterday that “the new Social tab, Blizzard Groups, profiles, avatars, and the ability to appear offline” are live in Battle.net’s desktop app beta version.
Discord received an upgrade, including “the ability to video chat and screen share,” PC Gamer’s Shaun Prescott reports. “Video chat supports up to ten people in a group direct message, and it supports ‘picture in picture’, which means you can chat via video while also looking at other stuff.”
All hail Scorpion-riding Master Chief. YouTube channel Unocero discovered “every [Xbox One X] unit also contains a tiny cartoon Master Chief from Halo,” Windows Central’s Asher Madan reports.
Destiny 2’s first Iron Banner event is Oct. 10-17. IGN’s Matt Davidson reports that “Combat will now be between two teams of four players, and level advantages have been removed … The first Prestige Raid has also been announced, featuring a souped-up version of the Leviathan Raid.”
Arms’ graphic novel series comes out in 2018. Nintendo and Dark Horse are partnering. “Details on the Arms graphic novels are scant; Dark Horse and Nintendo got the news out in advance of New York Comic Con, but didn’t offer specifics on what the books will focus on,” Polygon’s Michael McWhertor reports.
Choose your Champion, “Hearthstone’s fantasy sports game … is back for the Hearthstone Championship Tour Summer Championship,” Dot Esports’ Nicole Carpenter writes. “The selection window opened on Oct. 4 and will continue through Oct. 11.”
Carentan from the original Call of Duty is returning in Call of Duty: WWII. Eurogamer’s Wesley Yin-Poole explains that “To play Carentan at launch you have to get the Call of Duty: WW2 season pass. The wording of Activision’s note to press suggests the map will be made available to all later.”
Creation Club is live for Skyrim. “Bethesda has brought its Creation Club mod … program over to The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim after a short testing period late last month,” Gamasutra’s Alissa McAloon writes. “Skyrim Creation Club is a microtransaction marketplace that offers players a selection of additional content like armor, items, and game modes created by both Bethesda and third-party mod makers.”
Begone! “Thousands” of Fortnite players “have been banned and we have no plans to stop!” Fortnite’s Nathan Mooney said yesterday.