expansion
Latest
Apple's App Store is coming to 20 more countries
Apple is planning the largest expansion of its App Store since 2012 by adding 20 new countries, according to an article on its developer portal. The company asked developers to log into their accounts to accept the latest license terms so their apps will be available in those regions. Apple didn't say when the rollout would begin, but it asked devs to update their info by no later than April 10th.
'The Outer Worlds' DLC is coming next year
Did you enjoy Obsidian's RPG The Outer Worlds, but just wished there was a bit more to explore? We have good news. In a forum post celebrating the three awards it was nominated for at The Game Awards, the team revealed it will be expanding the story next year with DLC. Details on what that includes will be revealed "at a later date," but maybe just don't uninstall that one from your system yet.
'WoW' Shadowlands expansion will revamp the leveling system
While World of Warcraft Classic has been great for a lot of players, the modern version of the MMO is still going strong. At Blizzcon 2019, the team announced it's eighth expansion, Shadowlands, which will follow Battle for Azeroth. After characters die, and before they are revived, the world they see is the Shadowlands, and in this pack "Azeroth's heroes will confront the wonders and horrors of the afterlife."
Comcast expands its low-cost internet to another three million households
Since 2011, Comcast's Internet Essentials program has connected more than eight million low-income individuals from two million households to the internet. Today, the company announced that it's bringing low-cost internet to an additional three million low-income households. In addition to high-speed internet at $9.95 per month, plus tax, users will be eligible for free digital literacy training and the option to purchase a computer for less than $150.
New York City is the first new 'Hitman 2' location
Hitman 2 has had the same locations since launch -- you could take on new targets, of course, but the missions always had to take place in the same environments. You'll have some variety very shortly, though. IO is giving Expansion Pass holders "The Bank," a new sandbox location set in New York City. The core mission has you taking out the cutthroat banker Athena Savalas, and will unsurprisingly involve slipping through tight security. You'll also have access to the more flexible Contracts Mode from the outset.
John Romero's unofficial 'Doom' expansion is available now
If you'd like your Doom sequels more traditional than Doom Eternal, your fix is at hand. Series co-creator John Romero has released his unofficial (and significantly delayed) fifth episode for the original game, Sigil. The pack includes nine single-player and nine deathmatch maps that carry the spirit of the original game while taking advantage of Romero's 25 years of experience since the core Doom (which is required here) first reached gamers.
Apple's latest expansion puts it closer to its biggest rivals
Apple is on track to become the largest private employer in Austin, Texas, after announcing plans to invest $1 billion in a new campus less than a mile away from its existing facilities there. The 133-acre site will initially be home to 5,000 new employees, with the potential to grow to 15,000. The company has also announced plans to establish new sites in Seattle, San Diego and Culver City and expand in cities across the United States including Pittsburgh, New York and Boulder, Colorado over the next three years, with the potential for additional expansion elsewhere in the US over time.
'Monster Hunter World: Icebourne' expansion arrives fall 2019
There's about to be a whole lot more to explore in Monster Hunter: World. Capcom announced today that a new expansion called Monster Hunter World: Iceborne will be making its way to consoles in fall 2019. The massive update will include new locales, monsters and gear, as well as a continuation of the base game's narrative. The Iceborne expansion is coming to PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, with a PC version coming at a later date.
John Romero gifts 'Doom' 18 new levels for its 25th birthday
Ready to feel ancient? The original Doom is 25 years old -- and co-creator John Romero wants to make sure you know it. He's preparing an add-on for the 1993 game, Sigil, that serves as a "spiritual successor" to the classic shooter's fourth episode ("Thy Flesh Consumed") with nine single-player story levels as well as nine multiplayer deathmatch levels. The expansion will be free if you're just looking for some nostalgia-fueled demon slaying, but you can also spend a lot of money on it if you're determined to flaunt your fandom.
Waze's carpooling service is now available all over the US
Waze has gradually been expanding its Carpool app to states around the US, and now it's rolling out everywhere. From today, drivers and ride-seekers in all 50 states can use the app to save time and money getting around, while helping reduce congestion on the roads.
The first 'Shadow of the Tomb Raider' DLC arrives November 13th
Basically every big-name video game has extra downloadable content at this point, and Shadow of the Tomb Raider is no exception. For those who picked up the game's season pass, Square Enix just announced when the first of seven expansion quests will arrive. The Forge is set to launch on November 13th for Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and PC. As previously announced, it'll be the first bit of co-op gameplay for Shadow, and it should be different than the co-op "endurance mode" that was featured in one of the expansions released for 2015's Rise of the Tomb Raider.
'GTA: Online' goes clubbin' next week with 'After Hours'
A little bit of Liberty City is coming to GTA: Online very, very soon. "Gay" Tony Prince, first seen in Grand Theft Auto IV's "The Ballad of Gay Tony" expansion from 2009, is opening up a nightclub in Los Santos and needs your help. "A perfect cover for all illicit activities, Nightclubs can be customized, staffed and promoted, offering players a brand new business opportunity," Rockstar teased last month. Judging by the trailer, the main mission in "After Hours" is securing a DJ for Prince's latest venture. "Run your nightclub business from setup, design, staffing and promotion; the more popular the nightclub, the faster your secure safe will fill up," Rockstar promised.
Hearthstone’s ‘Boomsday’ expansion brings mad science to the card game
The second expansion of the year for Blizzard's digital card game Hearthstone, called The Boomsday Project, is coming on August 7th. Expect explosions and lab experiments gone awry as the title's next 135-card set brings the usual goodies: New keywords, an empowered card type and a couple twists on familiar elements.
Amazon resumes HQ expansion after Seattle tax compromise
Amazon has graciously resumed construction work in Seattle after the City Council "compromised" on a controversial tax that will see the tech giant -- that turned over $51 billion in sales during the last quarter alone -- on the hook for $11 million annually. A sum that will be used to tackle the city's homelessness issue.
Second 'Destiny 2' expansion, 'Warmind,' lands May 8th
Bungie promised two Destiny 2 expansions in the MMO-like shooter's first year, and we now know when that second add-on will arrive. Warmind is slated to arrive on May 8th, with more details arriving in a Twitch stream on April 24th. There's virtually nothing else to share about the DLC, but the title speaks volumes: it's clearly going to focus on the interplanetary AI systems (such as Rasputin and Charlemagne) humanity counted on for defense in its glory days.
First 'Hearthstone' expansion of 2018 delves into ‘The Witchwood’
Weeks after laying out this year's plan for Hearthstone, Blizzard has announced the first expansion of 2018: The Witchwood. Once it lands, the Year of the Raven will begin -- and all of 2016's cards will be retired from the main Standard format. The haunted forest-themed set will introduce 135 cards and several card types that introduce new styles of play. And like the last two content additions, players will get solo content for free. The announcement didn't give a release date, but if the last two years are any indication, The Witchwood will likely drop next month.
Apple reluctantly agrees to help India solve its phone spam problem
Apple and India's telecoms regulator have been at loggerheads for more than a year over privacy concerns, but now it seems a tentative compromise has been reached, with the tech company agreeing to help the Indian government develop an anti-spam app for its iOS platform.
'WoW' add-on 'Battle for Azeroth' brings the series back to basics
Harkening back to the original Alliance vs Horde conflict that started it all, World of Warcraft's upcoming seventh expansion, "Battle for Azeroth," is set to bring new zones, races, armor and a massive 20-player cooperative battlefront to the venerable MMO title. While Blizzard has not given a date to experience all the new stuff, including a higher level cap and new dungeons and raids, you can opt in to the beta test on your profile page.
The first 'Destiny 2' expansion arrives December 5th
You won't have to twiddle your thumbs too long before Destiny 2's first expansion arrives. Bungie has announced that Curse of Osiris will be available on December 5th, and has unveiled a trailer to show what it's all about. (Heads-up: the video includes a big spoiler for the game's original campaign.) As hinted earlier, you're traveling to Mercury to reunite with Osiris, a banished member of the Vanguard, to prevent the Vex from opening a time gate that will let them amass an army that could reshape the universe.
Transforming vehicles and aerial dogfights are coming to 'GTA Online'
GTA Online manages to do more than hang on to its playerbase, despite its source game Grand Theft Auto V coming out four years ago. The continual flow of bonus content every other month net studio Rockstar Games over $400 million in Q2 2017. GTA Online has more in store for the next DLC set to release later this month includes races with transforming vehicles, a marked-for-death mode and aerial dogfights.
