Cue the bat drops and K struts: MLB The Show 22’s Future Stars are here. This month’s new featured program in Diamond Dynasty puts an emphasis on the Future Of The Franchise-a fan favorite series that was introduced in 2017 to highlight baseball’s top prospects and what their projected ratings could look like in three years. Ever since, it’s drawn attention to names such as Byron Buxton, Rafael Devers, Tyler O’Neill, Bo Bichette, Jazz Chisholm Jr., and Wander Franco, and remains an avenue for diehards and casuals to become more familiar with their teams and the next generation of baseball.

The Future Of The Franchise XP path features 30 new bosses (one from each team), a mixed bag of new bat skins, retro uniforms, and themed choice packs (Big Dog, Always Intense), and a long list of legends and flashbacks, including 1993 Postseason Joe Carter, 2002 Veteran Jeff Bagwell, and 2016 All-Star Kris Bryant. It also comes with a new Lou Gehrig Day Program, the Colorado Rockies Nike City Connect Program (think ’90s), and two new player card collections for binder enthusiasts with unique rewards such as 1980 Retro Finest George Brett and Takashi Okazaki Series Babe Ruth.

With Future Stars cards being mid-90 overalls that are all about pop, speed, and nasty break pitches, below is a quick cheat sheet on the best additions to grind for before the All-Star Program in July.

Austin Hendrick (RF) – Cincinnati Reds

Reds Future Of The Franchise Austin Hendrick

Austin Hendrick has huge Christian Yelich energy. The former Pittsburgh prep star turned heads with his elite bat speed before going to the Reds as the No. 12 overall pick in the 2021 Draft and driving in seven home runs and 29 RBI in 63 games in Single-A. He whiffed at a 37.6% rate last year, but posted exit velocities near 110 mph–dipping into a gross display of power and athleticism that The Show has turned into 110 pop against righties and above average fielding that goes diamond at P5.

Austin Martin (CF) – Minnesota Twins

Twins Future Of The Franchise Austin Martin

All hustle and flow, the Blue Jays’ fifth overall pick in the 2020 MLB Draft was traded to the Twins last summer and ended with 25 extra base hits and a .796 OPS in 93 games of Double-A ball. Martin had more physical power during his time at Vanderbilt–with a career line of 368/.474/.532–and his arm and reaction are average at best, but his line drive swing and insane contact makes him a versatile righty that can swipe bags, play five positions, and crush doubles on Legend and Hall Of Fame.

Bobby Miller (SP) – Los Angeles Dodgers

Dodgers Future Of The Franchise Bobby Miller

One word: Outlier I. The Dodgers No. 1 pitching prospect dominated his 2021 pro debut, with a 2.40 ERA and 70 strikeouts in 56 1/3 innings while holding hitters to a .192 average, and he’s bound to do the same in Ranked Seasons thanks to a higher 3/4 arm slot that throws 100 mph fastballs with 95 break. His stats fit the Future Stars pitcher build–no stamina with high H/9 and K/9–but he’s a 6’5 goon with a unique five-pitch mix that can break hands with inside sinkers, sliders, and splitters.

Bryson Stott (SS) – Philadelphia Phillies

Phillies Future Of The Franchise Bryson Stott

The Philadelphia Phillies phenom might not be the 300 pounds of beef that San Diego Studio wants him to be, but trust: his swing plays. Stott knocked in an RBI double during his MLB debut (April 8th) and recently returned to the majors with a walk-off, three-run shot against the Angels (June 5th)–just in time for a Future Stars card that has the contact, speed, and glove for every difficulty. He’s also a 6’3 shortstop with range and a highly accurate arm that can throw out 97s with ease.

George Valera (RF) – Cleveland Guardians

CLE Future Of The Franchise George Valera

Regarded as the best Cleveland prospect since Manny Ramirez, Valera made his full debut in 2021, racking up 19 home runs, 65 RBI, 11 steals, and .910 OPS in 86 games. He’s a power lefty who can hold his own against lefties and in the corners, and then there’s the hidden perks. Valera’s fielding can be improved to a diamond rating at parallel four and his 97 contact and 110 power versus right handers is attached to Ozzie Albies’ swing animation and its love for sending baseballs into orbit.

Jackson Jobe (SP) – Detroit Tigers

Tigers Future Of The Franchise Jackson Jobe

Jackson Jobe is all filth. The 19-year-old from Irving, Texas was selected third overall in the 2021 MLB Draft after having a High School Player Of The Year-type season that resulted in a 9-0 record, a 0.13 ERA, two no-hitters, and a state championship. The secret to his ownage? A surprising mix of pitches and speeds that are used to set up a low 80s slider from hell that eclipses 3,000 RPM (revolutions per minute). His 99 break stat needs more than 89 control, but that’s what parallels are for.

Korey Lee (C) – Houston Astros

Astros Future Of The Franchise Korey Lee

The California Golden Bear standout leveled up from High-A to Triple-A in 2021, finishing the year with 11 home runs, 18 doubles, and a .778 OPS. His swing is beloved by the community thanks to his Prospect Series card from The Show 21, but his power and infield versatility come with plus defense and a 6’2 frame that maxes out at 69 speed. He also has a cannon for an arm that does work at both catcher and third base, and it makes him a better pre-summer addition than Bart, Davis, or Perez.

Masyn Winn (SS) – St. Louis Cardinals

Cardinals Future Of The Franchise Masyn Winn

Masyn Winn is basically a fever dream for Cardinals fans. The ex two-way phenom shoved 98 mph before fully committing to shortstop last year and he has already started his 2022 minor league run with a bang, putting up .333/.394/.563 with three homers, seven triples, 17 doubles, and 16 steals in 45 games. He reps the Birds with diamond defense and ridiculous speed, but his bat plays above its stats and his glove maxes out at 98 fielding, 95 reaction, and both 99 arm strength and accuracy.

Matt Brash (SP) – Seattle Mariners

Mariners Future Of The Franchise Matt Brash

The Kingston, Ontario right-hander completed his first official season of pro ball in 2021, dominating the minor leagues with a 2.31 ERA and 142 strikeouts across 20 starts. He limited opposing hitters to a .180 batting average and a 13.1 strikeout rate in 97.1 innings of work, thanks to pitch break that can only be described as “wiffle ball movement”. His mix includes a brain melting slider, slurve, and change, and his 94 velo stat can be upgraded to add more heat to a four-seam with 95 break.

Michael Harris (CF) – Atlanta Braves

Braves Future Of The Franchise Michael Harris II

There’s no denying Michael Harris II. The byproduct of DeKalb County, Georgia wheeled 27 doubles and 27 steals in minor ball in 2021, before raking a .305 average with another 16 doubles in just 43 games and earning a call-up to the Braves in May. His “wide receiver” archetype mirrors another rival Future Star (Garrett Mitchell), but Harris stands out in the program as he’s a left-handed contact bat with sneaky speed, diamond fielding in the outfield, and glitchy power that screams “Prime Time”.

Michael Toglia (1B) – Colorado Rockies

Rockies Future Of The Franchise Michael Toglia

The Colorado Rockies’ first round pick in 2019 showed off his sweet swing in Double-A ball last year, hitting 22 home runs and 84 RBI–including a two-run, 444-foot moonshot in Coors Field during the Futures Game. He has Gold Glove potential at first, hence the diamond shield, but he builds on his RoboCop-like fielding and reaction with a switch bat and +110 power. He also makes POTM Rizzo look like gold Paul Molitor and that’s if he’s not already chasing down line outs in the corners.

Oswald Peraza (SS) – New York Yankees

Yanks’ Future Of The Franchise Oswald Peraza

Peraza is still going rounds with another Yankees shortstop prospect (Anthony Volpe) because of his physical tools and a full 2021 season in the minors that produced 18 home runs, 138 hits, 38 steals, and a .297/.356/.477 slash line. His 95 overall Future Stars card is a lot like Diet Gleyber Torres, but in a good way as his contact-to-power ratio and speed around the bases make him an extra base hit machine in every ballpark. His diamond fielding is an added bonus, especially at second base.

Shea Langeliers (C) – Oakland Athletics

A’s Future Of The Franchise Shea Langeliers

The future of Braves Country is now the Oakland A’s No. 1 prospect (and for a good reason). After a solid 2021 campaign, Langeliers has started his 2022 season clubbing 11 home runs, 30 RBI, and 47 hits in 47 games for the Las Vegas Aviators (AAA). He’s still a defensive tank–as his max 97/99/97/92 fielding line is no joke–but his Future Stars diamond shows his power bat some love with 90/102 and 85/97 hitting splits that can still work off of Roy Halladay, Greg Maddux, and The Big Unit.

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Seven months after the initial release of Battlefield 2042, the first content season for the multiplayer-only first-person shooter is finally hitting the game. Season 1: Zero Hour comes alongside a huge number of adjustments and fixes, as well as new content. It gives a sense of how developer DICE is working to change the tenor of the game in some significant ways, from how maps are laid out, to how specialists convey their personalities on post-game victory screens.

Season 1 launches for all players on June 9, but GameSpot got a chance to spend a couple of hours playing with some of its new content additions during a preview event this week. That session put us on Exposure, the new map coming to Battlefield 2042 that’ll be available to all players. Exposure feels like it sets a different tone from some of BF 2042’s other maps, with a host of differing locations and a focus on verticality that goes beyond what we’ve previously seen in the game.

Exposure is set in the Canadian Rocky Mountains, where a landslide has collapsed part of a military facility. Russia-backed forces are invading hoping to uncover whatever secrets are inside, and with portions of the base literally ripped apart by a falling mountain, they have plenty of means to enter.

Because Exposure centers on a cliffside, there are key locations and entry and exit points that are accessible by parachute or wingsuit, and zip lines have been set up all over the area. At the top of the map is a flat zone with structures and containers ringing the open mouth of the landslide, creating long sightlines and forcing infantry to circle around to get where they’re going on the other side. Leap off the cliff, however, and you can glide down to attack the interior of the base, which is set into the mountain like a supervillain’s lair. At the bottom of the landslide is wreckage and a few control points for use in Conquest mode.

We played both Breakthrough and Conquest on Exposure, with the former mode using a smaller portion of the map and confining its player count to 64. The smaller Breakthrough approach is reflective of one of BF 2042’s biggest changes going forward. DICE is “unshackling” its All-Out Warfare modes from its previous 128-player count, and will instead be focusing on somewhat smaller maps with more cover and density with seasonal releases going forward. You’ll still find 128-player modes on original launch maps, and Exposure offers 128-player Conquest, but starting in Season 2, new maps will stop supporting 128-player modes and top out at 64 players.

The adjustments DICE has made work well on Exposure, which takes advantage of both player counts, but generally feels like it uses denser cover and varying terrain to make for more interesting engagements. The map’s verticality really helps make Exposure feel large without it also leaving you constantly exposed and vulnerable.

That seems like a big part of DICE’s design approach for new maps, and it’s also bringing it to some old ones. DICE said it’s reworking some of Battlefield 2042’s launch maps, with the first being Kaleidoscope, the huge map set in South Korea that featured a lot of open ground, in addition to a skyscraper-littered cityscape. In August, DICE is releasing a revamped version that adds new areas, like a forward operating base, to certain portions, while also raising terrain and adding more objects to provide cover, like piles of sandbags and abandoned heavy machinery. The map will also feature more destructible elements to give players options for dealing with that cover and changing the map over time as players fight throughout it. In Season 2, the Egyptian map Renewal will receive an overhaul.

Still, while objects like shipping crates and watch towers give some cover from infantry, there are still vehicles to contend with. Season 1 adds two more vehicles to the roster: a pair of two-seater helicopters that sport some interesting ways to use them in battle. Both helicopters, the RAH-68 Huron and YG-99 Hannibal, feature an assault mode–the standard approach of buzzing around, shooting everything with a machine gun–and a stealth mode, which allows you to shirk enemy radars and lock-ons and drop bombs on opposing forces from above.

The helicopters added a lot of fun havoc to Exposure during our session. Unlike other vehicles, they seem to be a little easier to bring down for infantry, so while they might mess you up as they nimbly circle around and go wild with machine-gun fire, they’re not as big a worry as a tank or an armored personnel carrier. Where they excel, however, is in their sneakiness, and there were a few moments during our play session when failing to be aware of the skies above us meant that a helicopter managed to drop a load of bombs on our position. Vehicles that are best used sneakily seem like good additions to the Battlefield 2042 roster, adding a different gameplay feel than the usual “bust in and create as much chaos as possible” approach with the existing slate of armor in the game.

To combat those new vehicular threats, DICE is adding a new specialist character in Season 1: anti-vehicle engineer Lis. The character is especially good at taking down airborn threats, it seems, with Lis sporting a tele-guided missile launcher–which means you control the missile and fly it into your target. Helicopters might sport radar-breaking stealth, but if you’re using Lis, you can use her launcher to bypass the need for any smart tracking and do the aiming yourself.

Lis also automatically detects vehicles on her radar, with damaged vehicles highlighted in her vision, giving you info on where to focus your armor-busting efforts. In practice, Lis’s abilities came in handy at control points where opponents were trying to turn the tide using vehicles, although her TV launcher isn’t as useful as you might think–it still takes a bunch of shots to destroy a tank, for instance. While they’re not especially effective against infantry, her missiles are good for cracking through walls and exposing enemy positions. However, it does seem like the trick will be finding effective uses for the character when there aren’t a ton of helicopters that need grounding.

Adding some new variety for the rest of Season 1 are two new weapons and a new gadget to help spice up some loadouts. DICE is adding a new designated marksman rifle called the BSV-M, which is like having a sniper rifle that can also handle close combat. The gun comes with an integrated suppressor, to keep the noise down and make you tougher for enemies to find as you fight, along with single-fire and fully automatic firing modes. That means the gun is pretty effective in all mid-range scenarios, and can easily go from picking off distant troops as they cross a field to handling whoever’s charging you in a tight hallway. It’s also a pretty fast-firing weapon, so you don’t necessarily feel completely outclassed by assault rifles at close range.

Even more fun than the BSV-M, though, is the new Ghostmaker Crossbow. The single-firing bow has a surprisingly long range, keeping it effective at a variety of distances, and it’s nearly silent. At closer ranges, it’ll generally earn you a one-hit kill–provided you actually hit what you’re shooting at. Miss, and you’ll suffer through a painfully long reload animation that leaves you extremely open to getting blasted by any faster-firing weapon. But if you land the hit, the crossbow is incredibly satisfying, and can even be effective at longer ranges, even though you’ll have to land two or three shots to win a fight. Generally, the crossbow was a favorite of mine throughout our play session. It’s a great weapon for stealth, and its one-hit-kill effectiveness means you have a good shot at winning fights even when you’re disadvantaged. It’s another addition that feels aimed to expand on the variety on offer in Battlefield 2042, especially when you add the option to change what bolts it fires, including an explosive shot that can be used against vehicles.

The final big kit addition is the smoke grenade launcher, which seems like it’ll see a lot of use in Battlefield matches going forward. The launcher fires a smoke grenade that breaks into three parts, laying down a wall of smoke that provides a lot of cover and absolutely ravages visibility for most specialists. It’s great for covering approaches, grabbing revives, and creating chaos at control points.

Apart from the Exposure map, all the new elements are coming to Battlefield 2042 as part of its new battle pass, which includes a free and premium track. The free track includes 30 tiers and allows you to earn all the new content without paying any money–which means you can unlock the new weapons, gadget, specialist, and vehicles just by playing. The premium pass, which costs about $10, adds another 70 tiers of cosmetic items. You can advance up the battle pass with “battle pass points,” which you’ll get from earning experience points by playing the game and completing various weekly missions. Those missions stay active even if you miss a week or start the battle pass late, so you can still complete them later on. There are also bonus missions that’ll pop up throughout the season to let you earn more points, but those only stay active for a limited time. All that said, our session didn’t give any sense of how easy or difficult earning battle pass tiers might be. DICE says it plans for its seasons to last 12 weeks, which means Season 1 is likely to end on August 31.

The Exposure map, the new guns and vehicles, and the new specialist help freshen up Battlefield 2042 in some key ways, and DICE’s focus on somewhat smaller, tighter maps seems like a positive one for the game’s fundamentals. Generally, we played through some pretty fun matches while previewing Season 1, but there are a lot of changes coming down the pike for DICE’s multiplayer shooter. It’ll likely take some time to see how well the game’s new content, adjustments, and seasonal approach will serve Battlefield 2042 over the long term.

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The promotion is offered through GameSpot Deals, which grants you a $1 credit for every $25 spent–so be sure to check out the rest of the catalog and cash in on your rewards.

Sony’s revamped PS Plus service launches next week with multiple tiers. If you’re interested in learning more about the upgrades and pricing structure, check out our latest coverage that highlights some of the new content that’ll be available soon.

Editor’s Note: Article updated on June 7, 2022

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The summer of gaming news continues to get more and more crowded, as Capcom has announced its own streaming event, Capcom Showcase, on June 13.

The event will premiere at 3 PM PT / 6 PM ET on June 13 with approximately 35 minutes of news. According to the official announcement, it will “div[e] deeper into details and news on previously announced titles.” The event can be watched live on the official Capcom YouTube and Twitch channels. The event will also be broadcast through official co-streamers and creators, including here on GameSpot.

While no specific games have been confirmed for Capcom’s showcase, the company has announced multiple games that are currently in development. That list includes the following:

Capcom Fighting Collection (June 24, 2022)Capcom Arcade 2nd Stadium (2022)Resident Evil Re:Verse (2022)Resident Evil 4 Remake (March 24, 2023)Exoprimal (2023)Pragmata (2023)Street Fighter 6 (2023)Resident Evil Village VR (TBA)

The Capcom Showcase joins an ever-growing list of gaming industry events, including Summer Game Fest on June 9, the Xbox and Bethesda Summer Games Showcase on June 12, and many more.

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Kabam Games has announced that Wiccan, Hulkling, And Ms. Marvel will be joining Marvel Contest Of Champions. To celebrate Pride Month, Kabam has teamed up with comic book artist Derek Charm to illustrate custom wallpaper-inspired queer Marvel heroes such as America Chavez while hinting at a new playable champion Valkyrie.

In preparation for the upcoming Disney+ TV show, Ms. Marvel, players who log in to the game between June 8 and 20 will receive Ms. Marvel (Kamala Khan) for free. Players will also access to Hulkling (Theodore “Teddy” Altman) who is a Kree/Skrull hybrid with shapeshifting abilities and super-strength. After his introduction in the comics, Hulking eventually became the King of Space, emperor of the united Kree/Skrull alliance, and will be a playable champion on June 16.

Wiccan (William “Billy” Kaplan), who is the son of the Scarlet Witch and was created through Chaos Magic, and was later was dispelled will also be playable. He is part of the New Avengers and will be playable champion on June 30.

Both new and current players will have the opportunity to add either Hulkling or Wiccan to their roster for free from Jun 8 to July 6.

Marvel Contest Of Champions is a free-to-play mobile fighting game. With over 200 playable champions across multiple Marvel properties, such as the MCU and comics. You can download Marvel Contest Of Champions on the Apple App Store and Google Play.

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