TODAY: Pokémon Go Fest 2020 has 32 challenges and starts this weekend — Microsoft may be all about the games, but what consoles can you play them on? — You don't need a PSVR to make Dreams VR content

Top Story

Rockstar promising substantial GTA Online and Red Dead Online updates

Rockstar is adding even more stuff to GTA Online and Red Dead Online.

“...we know the community has been awaiting news of any updates for GTA Online and Red Dead Online and we are happy to share that both games will receive exciting new updates in the weeks ahead,” says Rockstar Newswire. All you cowboys out there can look forward to “a massive new update” on July 28th, while all you criminal urbanites will have a summer update.

Frontier spirit: The Red Dead Online update will include “a new Frontier Pursuit that will introduce players to the secrets of naturalism as part of an all-new Role, plus a new Outlaw Pass, tons of community-requested features and fixes, and much more to play and discover in the months to come.”

Crime spree: The GTA Online update will offer “a fun mix of diverse new content from the game’s massive array of experiences to enjoy.” That's, uh, pretty vague but at least Rockstar promises to crack down on harassment and cheating.

Time For A Quick Daily Quiz?

What was the Sonic 2 level that became Metropolis Zone Act 3 called?

• Genocide City Zone
• Wood Zone
• Rock World Zone
• Dust Hill Zone

The answer will be revealed at the bottom of today's issue. Join up with our community on Twitter and Facebook to discuss what the answer could be.

Daily Fact

Left 4 Dead cannibalised one enemy to feed four others their iconic threats

Turtle Rock Studios cut one enemy type from co-op classic Left 4 Dead: The Screamer, which seems to have been a pretty tough customer.

The Screamer's core characteristics live on in the other special zombies. Boomers can attract the horde with their bile attack, while the Witch became the enemy that needs to be avoided. The Hunter inherited the ear-piercing scream, while the Jockey got the maniacal cackle.

Join up with our community on Twitter and Facebook to discuss today's fact.

Pokemon News and Events

Pokémon Go Fest 2020 details unveiled

Pokémon Go Fest 2020 starts this weekend and lasts for most of August.

There are 32 global challenges that all Trainers will work together to complete, and an Ultra Unlock Event is unlocked for each 8 challenges beaten. You can also store up to 3,500 Pokémon by upgrading in increments of 50 slots.

Dragon Week – July 31st - August 7th

• Wild area: Alolan Exeggutor, Horsea, Dratini, Trapinch, Swablu, Bagon, Gible
• 7km Eggs: Horsea, Dratini, Trapinch, Swablu, Bagon, Gible, Deino
• 5 star Raid: Rayquaza
• Shiny: Deino, Zweilous, Hydreigon

Enigma Week – August 8th - 14th

• Wild area: Jigglypuff, Staryu, Clefairy, Lunatone, Solrock, Baltoy, Bronzor, Elgyem
• 7km Eggs: Cleffa, Igglybuff, Lunatone, Solrock, Elgyem
• 1-2 star Raid: Elgyem, various Unown
• 5 star Raid: Deoxys
• Shiny: Staryu, Starmie, Deoxys

Unova Week – August 15th - 21st

• Wild area: Sewaddle, Cottonee, Emolga, Bouffalant (New York City exclusive)
• 7km Eggs: Sewaddle, Cottonee, Emolga
• 1 star Raid: Roggenrola
• 5 star Raid: Genesect
• Shiny: Roggenrola, Boldore, Gigalith, Genesect

Xbox Series X News

Microsoft tries to clear up confusion about cross-gen first-party games

People have been left scratching their heads after Microsoft announced what appears to be exclusive titles for Xbox Series X after claiming that they have a cross-gen strategy for their first-party games.

Are these games exclusive to Microsoft's next-gen console? The short answer is yes, but according to Aaron Greenberg it is up to each studio to “decide what's best for their game/community when they launch.”

Series X first: “Future 1P titles are developed for Xbox Series X first,” clarified Greenberg, which seems to mean that games like Avowed and Everwild will not be playable on Xbox One.

Cloud for all: However, all new first-party games will also come to Xbox Game Pass, and subscribers will have day-one access to those games on whatever platforms they support, including xCloud – which can theoretically be available on any device.

VR Bits

Dreams VR update has gone live

The Dreams VR update has finally gone live, including the brand new Inside The Box mode that showcases what is possible in VR. All playable content can be converted to VR, though it might require some work by the creator.

Fortunately, creators don't even need a VR headset to create VR content – the tools are available to anyone who wants to use them. Inside the Box mode is also available without a headset and can be enjoyed with any available input. Read the patch notes to see what else is new.

Oculus update adds Travel Together

Oculus has pushed a new update for all their headsets that make it easier to play games with your friends. Instead of waiting for your friends to join a lobby, you can make a party and launch games together.

The Travel Together feature is available in a selection of titles including Echo VR, Eleven Table Tennis and Spaceteam VR with more to come, and grouping up is easier than ever since you can search for your friends on Facebook from the Oculus app. Find the full list of supported games on the Oculus blog.

Quest hand-tracking has real potential

Oculus has steadily been working on Oculus Quest hand-tracking and rolled it out via firmware updates, but it's still not very widely supported. Enter: Acetylan's Hands Physics Lab!

If you need proof that Oculus' hand-tracking is progressing, have a gander at this video. You can hold objects, draw with markers and even smash stuff – all in the most intuitive way imaginable. If you have a Quest, you can pick up the app on SideQuest, or wait until it appears on the Oculus store.

What Else Happened Today?

• Tannenberg goes over the top on consoles and rallies the troops for battle on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One
• Suikoden creators announce spiritual successor called Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes, which will be released for PS5, Xbox Series X, Switch and PC
• Fatshark remains committed to Vermintide 2 and are still working on the Chaos Wastes DLC
• Paramount Pictures promises Sonic the Hedgehog sequel next year, director Jeff Fowler will also helm the next movie
• No dual wielding in Cyberpunk 2077 says CD Projekt RED in response to questions about weapon artwork
• Ghost of Tsushima is fastest-selling new IP on PlayStation 4 shifting 2.4 million units in just three days

Message From Today's Sponsor

Single-handedly fight off a powerful organisation in Dex

Dex is a 2D cyberpunk ARPG with a sprinkling of Metroidvania for Nintendo Switch. Help the titular hero Dex escape the clutches of a mysterious organization that's hunting her for her hidden powers.

You can customize your character to be skilled in hacking, diplomacy, stealth and combat, allowing you to tailor your playstyle to your preferences. Gear is just as important, and you need to find equipment that aligns with your playstyle and even the odds before the Complex catches up to you.

• Full English voice-over
• Four distinct playstyles to
• Platforming and RPG elements
• A mature storyline with cyberpunk themes
• Your choices decide the outcome of the story

Your actions have repercussions, and the story branches based on your choices. Explore the dystopian open world of Harbor Prime, and forge alliances against The Complex. If you're looking for a science-fiction adventure with a mature story and lots of replayability, you should check out Dex on the Nintendo Switch, which is available on the Nintendo eShop from today for $19.99.

Quiz Answer - Did You Get It Right?

What was the Sonic 2 level that became Metropolis Zone Act 3 called?

Answer: Genocide City Zone!

Believe it or not, Sonic the Hedgehog 2 had a troubled development as the team struggled to follow up their hit.

The game was originally intended to have 18 zones, but loads of level ideas were scrapped. You might know about Hidden Palace Zone, which returned in the 2013 remaster – but you probably never heard about the infamous Genocide City Zone.

The Simon Wai prototype features a level called Genocide City, but the level is empty, and Sonic will immediately fall to his death if you try to go there. According to Yuji Naka, Genocide City (or Cyber City, its more family-friendly name) was going to be an evolution of Metropolis Zone. It was supposed to be a single act, and it ended up using the Metropolis Zone tileset to save some effort.

Today's issue of DailyBits was written by Gavin Herman, Erlend Grefsrud, Simon Priest, Christian Vaz and Jamie Davey.