Canada Deal: Samsung’s Galaxy S9 and S9+ are $200 off right now

Don’t pass this deal up!

Amazon currently has both the Samsung Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ on sale for $760 and $900 respectively. These are both the unlocked versions, meaning you’ll be able to just take your existing SIM card and pop it in and start using it. Normally, both phones sell for around $200 more and considering they were only just released a few months back, this is a great offer that you won’t want to miss out on.

The discount only applies to the Titanium Grey Galaxy S9 and Lilac Purple Galaxy S9+, though odds are you’ll pop a case on it anyway, so the color shouldn’t matter too much.

Read all about the Galaxy S9 on Android Central through the original review and followup articles. This model has a 5.8-inch Super AMOLED capacitive touchscreen with 1440p resolution, the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 processor, the most recent Android OS, and 64GB internal memory.

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Lenovo’s first Yoga Chromebook launches this October for $599

There are also two cheaper Chromebooks priced at $249 and $279.

Lenovo’s no stranger when it comes to Chrome OS, but if you’ve followed the Chromebook’s the company’s released, you’ll know they’ve all mostly been focused on the budget and education markets.

At IFA 2018, Lenovo announced that it’s now ready to create a Chromebook that can compete with the likes of the HP Chromebook X2, Pixelbook, and more. Its name? The Lenovo Yoga Chromebook. This is the first time Lenovo’s Yoga brand has been attached to a Chromebook, and looking through the gadget’s specs, the wait appears to be well worth it.

The Yoga Chromebook has a sturdy metal chassis and is available in a vibrant Midnight Blue color. The keyboard is fully backlit, the display is a touchscreen, and as you’d expect with the Yoga branding, you can fold the hinge up to 360-degrees and instantly transform it into a tablet.

Intel’s 8th-gen Core i5 Kaby lake processor is at the heart of the Yoga Chromebook, in addition to 8GB of RAM and 64 or 128GB of eMMC 5.1 storage. The screen measures in at 15.6-inches and is available in either Full HD (1920 x 1080) or Ultra HD (3840 x 2160) configurations. There’s also an estimated 9-10 hours of battery life, two USB-C ports, one full-size USB-3.0 port, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and microSD card slot.

The Lenovo Chromebook C330 (left) and S330 (right)

In addition to the Yoga Chromebook, Lenovo also announced two new budget-focused Chromebooks — the C330 and S330. Both machines are powered by MediaTek processors, have 4GB RAM, and promise 10 hours of battery life.

All three Chromebooks will be available this October with the Yoga Chromebook coming at a starting price of $599. As for the C330 and S330, these cost $279 and $249, respectively.

Dell Inspiron Chromebook 14 hands on: Much too good for children

Lenovo’s Jedi Challenges headset is getting a Dark Side update

Finally, we can be bad guys.

Disney and Lenovo are pushing out the biggest update to the Jedi Challenges experience yet, and releasing some new hardware to accompany the release. The Dark Side Expansion is a free update for existing Jedi Challenges owners, and as the name suggests it allows you to fight and train as the only living wielder of that power in the Star Wars universe today. But since it would be weird to fight as Kylo Ren using Rey’s weapon, Lenovo is also making his now infamous cross-guard saber available as a limited edition upgrade you can buy.

Jedi Challenges owners have been asking about playing as the baddies from day one, and this new content pack gives you the whole experience. As Kylo Ren, you’ll be able to fight Rey, Yoda, Luke, and many more as you climb through a similar difficulty tree as the original game system. Also found in this update is a new PvP gameplay mode, called Ship Battles. Like the original map-based strategy game included int he headset, you control troops in the form of starships and wage intergalactic war against a human opponent with a matching fleet.

You can expect the Dark Side content update to be available for new and existing Jedi Challenges owners this October, but the limited edition Kylo Ren lightsaber for the game will be available for $99 later this winter. Jedi Challenges was already well worth the money you pay for it, and with this new content expansion you can expect not only hours more unique gameplay but also a new way to play with others who own the headset.

Augmented Reality

Lenovo Jedi Challenges AR headset

$200 at Amazon

Easily the best augmented reality headset you can buy today.

Lenovo and Disney teamed up to make a headset you can put on and live out your fantasy of being a Jedi in the real world, complete with returning blaster fire and cutting down your opponents with your very own lightsaber. It’s a game unlike any other.

Lenovo Yoga Chromebook hands-on: $599 gets you a whole lot of laptop

A great upgrade pick for people who value size and screen quality over weight and portability.

After making plenty of successful Chromebooks in the cheaper price segment, Lenovo is stepping up to something a bit more premium with the launch of the new Yoga Chromebook. That “Yoga” name means this is, of course, a convertible laptop with a 180-degree rotating hinge, but it’s also a sign that Lenovo is willing to position a Chromebook with the more premium-focused Yoga brand. And the price fits — the Yoga Chromebook starts at $599 and can go up a couple hundred dollars from there depending on how you spec it out.

So what do you get for the price tag that’s over double the other two Chromebooks Lenovo just announced? For starters, you get physically more computer: the Yoga Chromebook is a 15.6-inch machine, which is bigger than most mainstream Chromebooks out there. Then, there’s how it’s made. This is a solid, all-aluminum build that feels sturdy and looks great with its subtle angular lines and tight tolerances. It looks every bit worth the asking price, and is accompanied by nice features like dual USB-C ports for charging and data.

With the big screen, Lenovo is positioning the Yoga Chromebook as a media-focused “around the house” computer rather than one you’d carry with you or even take to/from work on a daily basis. The base model has just a 1080p display, but you’ll want to opt for the 4K model if at all possible — it’s gorgeous, and the small bezels give it a modern look. Both variants are touchscreens as well. You also get a big, comfortable trackpad and backlit keyboard under the screen with all of that extra deck space, though it’s odd that the pair of speakers are down-firing considering the room available up top.

The fact that you can flip that massive screen over into various convertible modes doesn’t seem all that useful at first in a laptop this big, but when you think about getting the keyboard out of the way to enjoy some TV episodes or movies on that excellent 4K screen, it makes sense. It’s downright comical to try and it up even with the firm grasp of two hands, but just because you fold over the screen doesn’t mean you have to keep it up in the air in your hands. Flipping it into the display or tent modes, this will be a great Netflix machine for people who don’t have any other computer, giving you a comfortable viewing size compared to traditional 11- and 13-inch Chromebooks.

This thing is great — I just wish it came in a smaller size, too.

With all of that case size and an increased price, Lenovo filled the Yoga Chromebook with specs far above what you find on the cheaper models. It comes standard with an 8th-gen Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB of RAM an 64GB of storage — with an option for 128GB in addition to a microSD slot. The 56Wh battery inside isn’t particularly large, but considering this isn’t a super-portable machine it isn’t surprising. And because it’s already north of 4 pounds as it sits, adding in more battery would make it even more immobile.

For as nice as this machine is, I sure wish Lenovo would’ve paired it with a release of a smaller model in this exact same design, materials, and specs. The fact that this is a big, heavy machine with a 15.6-inch display designed primarily for home use severely limits its potential market, and clouds its many redeeming qualities and desirable features. I know some people are looking for this type of larger laptop and don’t need the portability — but Lenovo can (and does) make more than one size of each laptop model.

The best Chromebooks you can buy today

The hardware is efficiently designed and extremely well executed, the specs are wonderful for a Chromebook, and the screen looks really good. I just wish it was also available in a 12- or 13-inch version that I could carry with me every day — even if the price was roughly the same. But if this is the type of laptop for you, and you like the simplicity of Chrome OS, you can get one starting in October for $599 and up, depending on the spec.

ZTE Axon 9 Pro officially announced with no plans for a U.S. release

Pricing is set at €649 in Europe.

Following a teaser from the company earlier this month, ZTE’s officially unveiled the Axon 9 Pro at IFA 2018 in Berlin.

The Axon 9 Pro is the long-awaited successor to the Axon 7 from 2016, and if you live in a market where the phone’s being sold, you’re in for a real treat.

At first glance, the Axon 9 Pro has all the makings of a typical 2018 flagship. There’s a 6.21-inch AMOLED display with a notch and 18:9 aspect ratio, dual 12MP + 20MP rear cameras, 20MP selfie camera, Snapdragon 845 processor, 6GB RAM, 128GB of internal storage, a 4,000 mAh battery, and Android 8.1 Oreo.

None of that is particularly exciting on its own, but the Axon 9 Pro manages to stand out for two main reasons — a new feature called Axon Vision and its price.

Axon Vision is making its debut on the Axon 9 Pro, and according to a hands-on from Engadget, this system uses the phone’s screen and an RGB sensor to enhance the color and sharpness of anything that’s on the display based on the color temperature of the environment around you. In addition to making everything look prettier, Axon Vision can even add frames to videos so that 24 and 30 FPS content is turned into a much smoother 60 FPS.

As for the Axon 9 Pro’s price, it’s going to cost €649 when it goes on sale this September. That’s not the most affordable Snapdragon 845-touting phone, but it’s considerably less than the €999 Galaxy Note 9.

Unfortunately, while the Axon 9 Pro will be making its way to Europe, there aren’t any plans to bring the phone to the United States.

BlackBerry KEY2 LE hands-on: A $399 ticket to the hardware keyboard party

FIFA 19 vs. Pro Evo 2019: How do the two best soccer games compare?

Two juggernauts of video game soccer, compared.

There are few video game battles like the one between FIFA and Pro Evolution Soccer. This decades-long rivalry is not slowing down in 2018.

Both titles have benefited from the stiff competition, with each company working tirelessly to prove their vision of what the game of soccer should be is the best one. Wondering what makes these two games just as different as they are alike? We’ll jump into the comparison right here.

Which game has the best soccer licenses?

If you’re after some of the most powerful licensed authenticity in a game, there is no longer any choice but to grab FIFA. The FIFA license already gave EA’s game a massive edge over Pro Evolution Soccer over the years, and the latest swap tips the scales heavily in their favor.

EA has secured both major UEFA licenses, including the Champions League and the Europa League. This means the world cup and Europe’s biggest competition can only be experienced in FIFA.

Pro Evolution Soccer hasn’t lost out on all its licenses just yet. It still boasts direct club deals, as well as licenses for the top regional competitions and leagues in several major countries, including Portugal, Turkey, Belgium, Argentina, Scotland, and Russia.

FIFA 19 clearly dwarfs Pro Evolution Soccer 2019 in the authenticity area, and that alone will be the biggest point of contention for most who are on the fence.

Do these games play similarly?

When it comes to actual on-field stuff, FIFA and Pro Evo both offer compelling gameplay experiences, which make the game of football feel fun.

In FIFA’s case, the gameplay is a bit more streamlined and easily approachable for an average gamer. This series was mocked for its arcade-style gameplay for years until EA made a huge effort toward improving its realism. It’s probably not the most painstakingly accurate game in this regard, but it does feel damned good to play.

Pro Evolution Soccer, meanwhile, has built up a reputation for providing the deepest soccer gameplay you’re going to find. This actually works a bit against their favor, as the mechanics and controls needed to get the most out of the game will take quite a bit of practice to master and is known to scare newcomers off. If you put in the time to learn it, however, Pro Evolution Soccer offers a more satisfying translation of the game from real life to digital form.

How do they compare graphically?

Both FIFA and Pro Evolution Soccer look absolutely stunning. The beauty of these games is most apparent when they get a chance to cut to broadcast-style shots of players, coaches, and referees throughout the match.

FIFA will get the edge when it comes to things like broadcast graphics and commentary. Having the rock-solid commentary team of Derek Rae and Lee Dixon going as the FIFA and UEFA banners transition in and out of the frame is a game changer. Having a brand new version of the Champions League’s iconic theme song as you look to fight for the great prize in Europe is a game changer.

Both Konami and EA will take advantage of the PS4 Pro (or Xbox One X for our Microsoft-owning friends) to offer up their idea of the perfect afternoon at the pitch in glorious 4K + HDR.

Which gameplay modes are available?

Noticing a pattern here? FIFA simply has too much licensing power for Pro Evolution to compete with. Thanks to EA having the rights to likenesses for all major football players, FIFA’s Ultimate Team mode gives you a massive roster of both former and current stars to build a fantasy squad. Being able to run the Champions and Europa leagues in their own dedicated mode will be quite the treat. The Journey continues to offer a cool sports story. And FIFA’s career mode, while not seeing massive improvements this year, is still top notch.

That’s not to say Pro Evo 2019 won’t have its own goods. Its Master League mode still offers deep club management gameplay, with the addition of team roles for this year’s release. And while it won’t have the big swatch of licenses it had before (notably missing several Spanish, English, and Italian leagues), a community assets feature will let you fill in the blanks however you see fit.

Which one will you buy?

FIFA 19 is out September 28, 2018, and will be available for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One for $59.99.

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Pro Evolution Soccer 2019 is out now for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One for $59.99, giving it a bit of a head-start to have a better chance up against FIFA.

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PlayStation 4

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• Playing PS4 games through your phone is awesome

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The New 3DS XL, gaming mice, and more are discounted today

Whether you’re looking for new tech gear or household items, we’ve got you covered.

We found plenty of great deals today that include big discounts on the Amazon-exclusive New 3DS XL, TP-Link’s Kasa security camera, a SteelSeries gaming mouse, and more!

View the rest of the deals

If you want to know about the deals as soon as they are happening, you’ll want to follow Thrifter on Twitter, and sign up for the newsletter, because missing out on a great deal stinks!

What’s new in the Destiny 2 2.0 update?

This is the big update before the big update

With Destiny 2: Forsaken just around the corner Bungie is front-loading a lot of changes this week so we can all be a little more prepared for the rest of the changes coming on September 4. While there is a lot happening on the back end with balancing weapons and armor there are some obvious changes to the system UI as well with a new planet select screen in the Director and changes to the way the Subclasses look.

If you are interested in all the minutiae of the changelog it can be found at bungie.net but I will try to give you the most important points here so you can know what to expect moving forward.

More: Everything we know about Destiny 2: Forsaken

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Weapon changes

This is the biggest and most important change to the 2.0 update before the release of Forsaken. The weapon slots have been completely altered, bringing them more in line with the original Destiny system while maintaining a level of choice from the original Destiny 2 loadout.

The weapon slots have been completely altered, bringing them more in line with the original Destiny system

The change seems to be focused on the ammo and the way it used by the assorted weapons, so instead of Kinetic, Energy, and Heavy you now have Primary, Special, and Heavy, much like you did in Destiny 1 but the big difference is those ammo types are not tied to the same slots as they were before.

Heavy is still tied to heavy but the rest of the ammo is now tied to specific weapons rather than slots. So snipers can once again be used as your secondary weapon and have plenty of ammo to boot while some snipers, exotic ones mainly like the Whisper of the Worm, will keep using Heavy ammo to maintain their balance?

The new ammo system opens up more avenues to play differently.

It feels like it could be confusing but really it just opens up more avenues for people to play differently. Do you enjoy playing like Destiny 1 with specific types of weapons in specific slots? you can do that now. Do you like the Destiny 2 style of having two auto rifles in your arsenal and a sniper in your heavy? you can do that too, this system really does give you the best of both worlds.

Bungie has given us a list of which weapons types fit in which slots and it may take getting used to, but with everything else happening in Forsaken one more thing isn’t going to make to much difference. The list is as follows:

• Primary Ammo Weapons
• Hand Cannons
• Scout Rifles
• Auto Rifles
• Pulse Rifles
• Sidearms
• Submachine Guns
• Special Ammo Weapons
• Fusion Rifles
• Shotguns
• Sniper Rifles
• Trace Rifles
• Single-Shot Grenade Launchers
• Heavy Ammo Weapons
• Drum-Loaded Grenade Launchers
• Rocket launchers
• Linear Fusion Rifles
• Swords

Interestingly, Bungie made no mention of the new weapon type, bows. I assume they are holding that back for the 2.0.0.1 update that will arrive on September 4 with all the new content though it would be nice to know where they fit in the new hierarchy.

Small changes

As I said earlier there are lots of small changes in the 2.0 update that don’t make a huge difference but are noticeable. The planet UI has been shifted around to allow for the reef to take over the right-hand side of the map. Guessing by the amount of room they have given it, I think the Reef will have multiple entry points, perhaps the Reef proper and the Prison of elders again.

The other UI change is how the Subclasses are laid out, again because of the introduction of new supers and new subclasses, though whether they are fully new subclasses remain to be seen, they have shifted all the information over to the left side of the screen to make some room.

The former residents of the Prison of elders are loose though they do not, as yet, drop any loot.

There also new enemies roaming the world that can appear at any time. They are the former residents of the Prison of elders though they do not, as yet, drop any loot. When Bungie says the former residents I don’t know if they mean Skolas and his friends or the new barons that Cayde-6 put away. I’m sure one of you guardians will have spotted one by the time this article goes live though so let me know.

The final noticeable change is the retiring of the Tokens used by each of the planet vendors. Now you seem to use just the planetary consumables you find in the world to level up your guns and pay for the unique armor and weapons the planetary vendors like Ana Bray give you. This seems to be a complete reworking of the way we buy and sell in the game so I will definitely be looking into this in much more depth as the days count down to Forsaken.

Final thoughts

This is an unusual step for Bungie. By bringing about some of these changes before the main update on September 4th Bungie is giving everybody a taste of what is to come. They are even opening up the Gambit game mode on September 1st for us all to try out. This is a good move as they need people to want to buy forsaken and invest in this next year of Destiny 2.

How do you feel about these changes Guardians? I know a lot of people have wanted a return to form for the Destiny team but is this just going backward for fanservice? let me know in the comments?

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Sennheiser just unveiled its first-ever truly wireless earbuds

Because good music can brighten up a bad day.

IFA 2018 in Berlin has been brewing with new product announcements of consumer electronics from brands like Marshall and Harman Kardon, with Sennheiser being one of the latest to show off its upcoming tech.

The Momentum True Wireless kicked off Sennheiser’s announcements as its first truly wireless earbuds, just as the name suggests. The company does offer the HD1 In-Ear Wireless Headphones, though they include a wire connecting the two earpieces, whereas these new headphones are similar to Apple’s AirPods which are entirely wireless. They offer high-resolution audio quality with 7mm dynamic drivers, AAC codec support, and the ability to work with Google Assistant, Siri, and other smart assistants.

These earbuds feature a battery life of up to four hours, though they also come with a charging case which can extend your playtime past 12 hours. You’ll be able to snag a pair for yourself beginning mid-November for $299.99; you can even pre-order now at Sennheiser’s website.

The company next showed off its AMBEO Soundbar, even giving the public at the event the chance to listen to the soundbar for themselves. It offers immersive 5.1.4 sound powered by 13 drivers. It’s compatible with 3D audio formats Dolby Atmos, MPEG-H and DTS:X and is slated to become available in early 2019.

See at Sennheiser

PlayStation Plus gives Destiny 2 away for free

It looks like Forsaken may bring a lot to Destiny 2

Destiny 2 has been getting a lot of flack recently, well since it was released in some circles, and Bungie has been working hard to address the fans problems with the game. A lot of the issue with the last two expansions is there were largely already done by the time Destiny 2 was released so there wasn’t a lot that Bungie could do to address the issues.

With Forsaken, Bungie has a chance to really change the game for the better. Like the Taken king from Destiny 1, Forsaken is adding a huge amount of new gameplay, story, powers, weapons and essentially altering the groundwork of the base game. Let’s take a look at what we know so far and what it might mean for us as players.

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Whats new with Destiny 2?

Update 8/30/2018: New Information about Mods

With a look at the new exclusive content for PlayStation 4 players, we also got a chance to see the new mod system in action. Over at PlayStation.blog they have a video from the PS Underground Team showing off some of the new content and they talk a little about the Mod system.

Your mods will now be more like Perks you can assign yourself. Instead of being really common and fairly dull, these new mods will allow you to significantly tailor what your gun can do, working in concert with the random perk rolls that you will now get. This feels like a much more powerful system than before and i look forward to seeing what comes of it.

Update 8/2/18: PlayStation Plus gives Destiny 2 for free

Sony has added the base game of Destiny 2 as part of their September lineup of free games for PlayStation Plus users. This means if you were on the fence about getting Forsaken you can get the Base game for free and only pay for the expansions, saving yourself a little bit of money over the bulk buy you would have needed. Sony has made Destiny 2 available today so you can take advantage of the early access to the new Gambit mode that is happening on September 1st.

Here’s your PlayStation Plus lineup for September 2018! https://t.co/IbNpaejKK2 Fight to reclaim your Light in Destiny 2, or challenge the gods of Olympus itself in God of War III Remastered pic.twitter.com/ik5hDt2zVW

— PlayStation (@PlayStation) August 29, 2018

What is the Forsaken update?

Forsaken is the newest expansion for Destiny 2 which seems to center around the Reef, one of the social spaces in Destiny 1 and home of the Prison of Elders. In this new storyline, Cayde-6 has been using the prison to store away some of the worst villains in the Solar System and, you guessed it, they break free.

Bungie is describing it as a western revenge story, dark and gritty.

On the Bungie Livestream they talk about you being outside the Vanguard authority as you hunt the escaped prisoners down. Bungie is describing it as a western revenge story, dark and gritty, which sounds great, though Nathan Fillion’s Cayde-6 is always light-hearted so I’m not sure how that will play out.

There are a lot of new gameplay mechanics, one called Baron Hunts, where you chase down and kill the “reverse magnificent seven” as Bungie call them, each with their own special abilities and skillset to test you. We don’t know a lot about the Barons right now, or the Scorn nation as a whole. What we do know is a sniper Baron and a melee Baron are key parts of the enemy combatant lineup, which will require some new tactics to take on effectively.

Oh my God, they killed Cayde!

That’s right, everyone’s favorite wisecracking hunter is no more. I don’t think this should have been in any of the promotional footage, it would have been a far more emotional moment if we had found out about it in the game but it has certainly caused a stir in the Destiny world.

Nathan Fillion as Cayde-6 has been one of the highlights of Destiny, with his almost Deadpool like quips and being so close to breaking the fourth wall it will be a shame to see him go. In a recent statement, Bungie did confirm his death is final and not just a gimmick, they want us to feel the emotional connection to his loss all the way through the expansion.

What new worlds are there?

There are two new playable areas in this update, the Tangled Shore and the new Raid area Dreaming City. The Tangled Shore is going to be where the storyline for Forsaken will be played out. A twisted interconnected group of busted up asteroids, the Shore is described by Bungie as an otherworldly landscape with tumbleweeds, very western and gritty. Like all the other playable areas, it will have missions and public events to help with the grind as well as the new collectibles that are available.

The Dreaming City is where the Awoken, one of the playable races in Destiny 2, come from. This new Raid area looks to be unlike any other before it, with a full story to explain the Awoken and persistent changes over time. Bungie has said what one Raid team does affect the Dreaming City for all the subsequent Raid teams who play it after, with secrets and quests to do inside the City that alter everything about it. This new dynamic will hopefully bring some much-needed replayability to these Raids.

Is there a new enemy?

Yes! This is something Destiny fans have been asking for since Destiny 1. The Taken were never really new enemies, just reskinned versions of the old ones. The Scorn, however, are all new. Bungie describes the scorn as hyper-aggressive with little regard for their own skins. They will come at you with everything they have till either you, them or everyone is dead. Think of them as the Hive Thrall on ‘roids, all push all the time, making tactical play a little harder, after all, when the enemy engages at close quarters all battle plans fly out the window.

There seems to be a lot of variation in the Scorn ranks, from suicidal, explosive Screeb, to the mystic Chieftans – they use the three elements to generate different obstacles to hurt or hinder you – Bungie seems to have tried hard to make an enemy to test your metal like never before.

Talk to me about Weapons and Armor

Of course, there will be a whole new collection of exotic and legendary weapons and armor in Forsaken. From what we have seen on the live stream there is a definite western feel to a lot of the armor, we get a close up of boots with spurs on them, and some hand cannons that look suspiciously like Captain Mal Reynolds’ pistol from Firefly. There really isn’t a lot of detail on this yet, it’s still very early but we will keep you up to date as we hear more. what we do know about though is the new weapon class.

The bow seems to be an almost one shot kill weapon in PvP. if used correctly.

The bow is being introduced for the first time in Destiny 2: Forsaken, well you could use a bow as Hunters super but this will be a different kettle of fish. Available in short, medium, and long-range types, the bow seems to be an almost one shot kill weapon in PvP and may come in all three slots, kinetic, energy, and power, for the maximum destructive force.

Bungie has also tweaked how players can handle weapons allowing you to use the same weapon in all three slots if you want to — Shotguns are going to be insane in PvP so get ready for shotty shotty shotty matches — I can see some amazing all bow matches happening and that sounds awesome.

Do we get new PvP?

Yes we do, with a twist as well. Gambit mode is a PvP mode that also incorporates PvE. You start with two teams but instead of fighting directly with each other you are in two separate arenas fighting waves of enemies and collecting motes as you kill them. These motes can then be used to do multiple things. You can use them to summon your big bad to end the match, you can use them to shut down the other team’s mote bank until they have killed the miniboss that protects it, or my personal favorite, you can teleport one of your teammates over to their arena to cause some mayhem!

I get the feeling Gambit is going to become the main event for Bungie, with the clearly sporting nature of the event — you get to stand opposite your opponents before the match and emote at them — this will be a chance for Destiny 2 to make a name for itself in eSports in a way it hasn’t before. the addition of being able to affect the other team while still having AI enemies is exciting to me, I’m not really a big PvP guy so mixing the two makes me far more likely to try it out.

Anything else we should know?

The last two things are supers and collections. Collections are what they sound like, an area in the Director where you can see all the assorted collectibles in the game, from exotics to ghost shells, the collection tab will let you know what you have and don’t have. This is something a lot of people love to have in games, I’m not a hoarder personally but I know a lot of gamers who don’t feel complete until every little thing is in their hands. There is also a section called Triumphs, similar to collections, but instead collecting physical things you collect prestige for completing challenges. We are unsure if any mechanical bonus comes from completing collections or triumphs but we will keep an eye out.

The last big inclusion is the new supers. Destiny has always had amazing supers for your characters to do and Forsaken seems to be no exception. While they all seem to be a part of the same themes as before each one I have seen adds a new twist to give you a chance to differentiate the type of Hunter or Warlock you want to be. One of the clips shows a Warlock teleporting around before blasting void energy “like an anime character” as one Bungie team member said, or the new double-handed hammer for the Titan to lay the smackdown in a big way on multiple enemies. All the supers look to add something new and exciting to Destiny 2.

What is happening moving forward?

With the release of the 2.0 update, we have some news about the Annual Pass as well as what is happening month to month. Going on each month will be the normal Destiny Live team fair, with the assorted festivals that correspond with real-world holidays. The Iron Banner will also be returning albeit changed, hopefully for the better. The level cap will be turned off for Iron Banner going forward so it should function much more like the Banana that we know and loved from Destiny 1, and really, it’s about time, Iron banner as it stands offers no incentive to play it over the normal Crucible.

The Black Armory is home to “some of the most notorious weapons in the world of Destiny”

We also got a glimpse today of the 3 Annual Pass expansions coming in year two. The Black Armory, Joker’s Wild, and Penumbra will be arriving Winter 2018, Spring 2019 and Fall 2019 respectively and each will feature a unique story arc much like the expansions that came before them. The Black Armory is home to “some of the most notorious weapons in the world of Destiny” and given the similarity of its name to the Black Spindle, can we hope to see a proper return? here’s hoping. Joker’s Wild will be expanding on a new NPC coming to Forsaken called the Drifter. That’s pretty much all we know so far but apparently, he has a part to play in the upcoming expansion and that Joker’s Wild will be a story-driven adventure.

Finally, and perhaps most intriguingly, is the name Penumbra. The folks at Bungie have said specifically that we won’t be told anything else about this expansion until it’s released, making it similar to the Whisper of the Worm quest, a total unknown. This excites more than any of the others, as brand surprise is content is just the best.

More: Four things to do before the Forsaken release

When can I buy it?

Destiny 2: Forsaken is due for release on September 4th, 2018 and is available for pre-order on the PlayStation Store. At the moment it seems you can pre-order just the expansion or the expansion and the annual pass, though we don’t know what the annual pass will give us. Essentially, like the Taken King, you will be paying full price for a whole new game worth of content, we will have to wait and see if the cost is worth it.

Are you excited for Forsaken or are you done with Destiny 2? let us know in the comments.

Pre-Order now at the PlayStation Store

Updated August 2018: Updated the new information about the Annual Pass and what’s next for Destiny 2 as well as the free copy of Destiny 2.

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