Halo's Franchise Director Has Seemingly Departed 343 Industries

There's been a lot of controversy surrounding Halo developer 343 Industries in recent months, and a number of high-profile creatives have departed the company in that span. Well, you can apparently add franchise director Frank O'Connor to that list, as his LinkedIn says that his tenure at Microsoft ended in April 2023. We've reached out to Microsoft for comment. If true, O'Connor follows former Halo director Joseph Staten and multiplayer creative director Tom French, who left the company in April and last December respectively. 343 founder and boss Bonnie Ross departed the studio last September to attend to "a family medical issue." This apparent brain drain followed a flurry of reports from earlier this year that claimed that at least 95 people were axed from 343 as part of a larger wave of layoffs at Microsoft. One of those reports also claimed that 343 was taken off "active development" of Halo games, which was denied by 343's studio head Pierre Hintze. Co-developer Certain Affinity is apparently working on a new battle royale-inspired mode under the codename "Tatanka," and we don't know much about it. Halo Infinite's Season 3 recently launched, with 343 promising more consistent updates to the game in the future.Continue Reading at GameSpot
http://dlvr.it/SmjM8g

Xbox Game Pass Is Losing One Of Its Best Games On May 1

Seasons change, taxes hurt, and Xbox Game Pass continues its cycle of life by rotating several games out of the subscription service. On May 1, you can say goodbye to several games, some of which are really, really good. As spotted by Wario64, Dragon Quest Builders 2, Destroy All Humans, Unsouled, Bugsnax, and one of the greatest synesthesia games of all time, Tetris Effect: Connected, will be exiting Game Pass to make way for new arrivals like Redfall. Game Pass members can still save 20% on these games when buying them outright, so for anyone who wants to keep these titles in their library, the price will be lower than usual. For anyone who hasn't experienced the sheer audio-visual delight of Tetris Effect, there's no better time than now to dive into a classic game that is enhanced by its eclectic score and captivating visuals. Directed by Tetsuya Mizuguchi, the Japanese designer and producer behind cult-classics Rez and its re-release Rez Infinite, the game earned high praise for its "mesmerizing aesthetics" in GameSpot's Tetris Effect: Connected review.Continue Reading at GameSpot
http://dlvr.it/Smj0qn

Nicolas Cage Reveals His 5 Favorite Nicolas Cage Movies

Nicolas Cage has won an Oscar and appeared in more than 100 films throughout this lengthy and prolific career. But what are Cage's favorite Nicolas Cage movies? We finally have the answer. Appearing on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Cage listed off his favorites, beginning with 2021's Pig, saying, "My favorite movie I've ever made." The drama stars Cage as man living alone in the wilderness to sets out on a journey to find his lost pig. It was directed by Michael Sarnoski in his directorial debut. Some of Cage's other favorite Cage movies, in no particular order, included the wild action-horror movie Mandy from producer Elijah Wood, 1999's Bringing Out the Dead from director Martin Scorsese, and 2009's crime drama Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans. Cage went on to mention another crime drama, 2013's Joe, which also starred Tye Sheridan; and finally Vampire's Kiss as a sixth favorite of his. Cage said this film helped him to explore some of his "abstract dreams" as an actor, and he said his work on this 1988 film helped prepare for the role of Dracula in the new film Renfield.Continue Reading at GameSpot
http://dlvr.it/SmhK63

Capcom Reveals Exoprimal Launch Details, Including Story Missions And Cosmetics

Capcom has revealed some new details about the different kinds of game modes, story content, and customization options that players can look forward to with the full release of Exoprimal. While the game's open beta only consisted of a select group of missions from Dino Survival Mode, the full game will feature missions without direct PvP combat in which players can complete PvE objectives to win. Additionally, there are 10-player co-op missions and weekly five-player missions with global leaderboards. Prized Test Subjects! The #Exoprimal development team has an exciting new update about content coming in the full game, including: 🦖Missions without direct PvP 🦖10-player co-op missions 🦖Exosuit variants & ability customization 🦖And more! Full info: https://t.co/JFG2ItwtXF pic.twitter.com/XdzpmwjvCH — Exoprimal (@exoprimal) April 14, 2023 The Dino Survival mode will also include story missions, cutscenes, and a map where players can learn more about the Leviathan, the evil AI, and multiple parallel worlds. As for the customization options, players can equip Modules to use various Exosuit abilities and cosmetic ones like Exosuit and weapon skins, decals, and emotes.Continue Reading at GameSpot
http://dlvr.it/Smh3PS

A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms: The Hedge Knight Will "Most Likely" Last 6 Episodes

HBO's recently greenlit Game of Thrones spin-off, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: The Hedge Knight, will adapt the first of author George R.R. Martin's Dunk and Egg novellas over the course of six episodes. At least, that's the plan. In a new blog post, Martin says HBO has given the greenlight for a full season of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, and that it will "most likely" consist of six episodes, though "that is not set in stone, and won't be until considerably later in the process." Martin does offer a few other details about the spin-off. For starters, the show's name is not final and is a working title. However, Martin confirms that though the novella series from which the show is based is often referred to as "The Adventures of Dunk & Egg" by fans, the name of the two main characters won't appear in the show's official title.Continue Reading at GameSpot
http://dlvr.it/SmfJWl

Mega Man Battle Network Legacy Collection Is Discounted On Launch Day

Mega Man Battle Network Legacy Collection launched today, April 14. If you're looking to pick it up on PC, you can save on your purchase at Green Man Gaming. The retailer is offering the complete edition (comes with Vol. 1 and 2) for $52.19. This edition normally goes for $60, and it's far more economical to buy both volumes together (each volume costs $40 individually). See at Green Man Gaming The Battle Network Legacy Collection includes all 10 games in the series that originally launched for the GameBoy Advance throughout the early 2000s. Unlike traditional Mega Man games, Mega Man Battle Network is a series of story-driven RPGs with random battles where players take on enemies using a customizable deck of cards.Continue Reading at GameSpot
http://dlvr.it/SmdyBQ

Peppa Pig: World Adventures Devs Explain Why They Left The Queen In The Game

Peppa Pig: World Adventures developer Pettons Studio has explained why it decided to keep the inclusion of the late Queen Elizabeth II in the game following her death last year. In Peppa Pig: World Adventures, players are able to travel to a variety of locations around the globe such as Paris, Australia, and London. The London chapter in particular finds Peppa Pig, her family, and friends visiting Buckingham Palace, where they meet the Queen. When the game launched last month, a clip of the scene went viral showing the Queen jumping in puddles with Peppa Pig, followed by a fade to black In Memorium screen acknowledging her death. The new Peppa Pig game is WILD pic.twitter.com/vLzcu4iRZs — rayyy lmao (@RayNarvaezJr) March 19, 2023 "Unfortunately, the Queen passed away during development, and at that moment we had already implemented the character of the Queen and built this whole trip in London," said lead producer David Moral in an interview with Eurogamer. "When the news came up, there was discussion on how we should address the issue, because obviously there were different options. We could have removed the trip, we could have removed London and the Queen from the game, which would have been an option."Continue Reading at GameSpot
http://dlvr.it/SmdJ1B

Ubisoft Explains Why Ubisoft+ Can Succeed Without Being Bundled With Game Pass

Ubisoft has shed more light on its game subscription program, Ubisoft +, including why the company believes the Xbox version can succeed on its own as opposed to being bundled with Game Pass. Ubisoft+ director Philippe Tremblay told GI.biz that the game subscription market isn't maxed out yet, and Ubisoft is trying to secure its own piece of the pie. "We haven't necessarily seen that this market has reached the maximum opportunity here," Tremblay said. "It's still fairly new across the board that we have subscription offers, even from Xbox or other partners out there." Another high-profile publisher, EA, worked out a deal with Microsoft to include EA Play within Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. Although Ubisoft+ is not bundled with Game Pass, Microsoft is presumably taking some kind of fee from Ubisoft as the platform-holder.Continue Reading at GameSpot
http://dlvr.it/Smd343

Endless Dungeon Preorders Discounted Following Delay

Combining the replayability of roguelites with the strategy of a tower defense game, Endless Dungeon is shaping up to be one of the most unique games of 2023. It was recently delayed to October, but if you preorder today, you can save a few bucks on your purchase. Preorder at Fanatical Head over to Fanatical, and you can pick up the Steam version of Endless Dungeon for just $26.39, down from its usual $30. Better yet, you’ll get to choose a free game for spending over $12 during Fanatical’s Easter Eggstravaganza (picking from a selection that includes Autonauts, Game Dev Studio, and Warhammer: End Times - Vermintide). You’ll also get a 5% off voucher for your next purchase. Preorders for Endless Dungeon come with the Pioneer Elite Skin Pack along with G2G Badges and Avatars.Continue Reading at GameSpot
http://dlvr.it/SmbNpZ

Wrestling Game Developers Speak Out After AEW President Says Project Is "Basically Finished"

AEW is well-known by wrestling fans as the number-two promotion in North America, but the company's upcoming video game, AEW Fight Forever, has been the source of considerable confusion in recent years. It flared up again recently when AEW's president and booker Tony Khan said that the video game was finished--a claim that was seemingly contradicted by its publisher. I mean if you want an unfinished game sure we could release now 😆 The game is doing really well and is getting there, but not 100% yet, so yea just another rumour on twitter I fear 😔 — Zyddie (@Zyddies) April 8, 2023 Khan offered the statement at a press conference that followed AEW's latest pay-per-view event, Revolution. However, when fans asked developers for comment, THQ Nordic community manager Per Hollenbo offered a different take, calling the game "unfinished" and "not 100% yet." In another tweet, he explained that Khan's definition of a "finished game" is different from that of a developer, and that Khan did not "lie in any shape or form." Dont think he lied in any shape or form, I think the way that they see a finished game is different from how a developer see a finished game. There is 1000´s of things you can only see in coding,ux design, level design and more so it can look finished but still lack small things — Zyddie (@Zyddies) April 8, 2023 In a statement to Kotaku, Hollenbo listed several milestones that AEW Fight Forever must meet before it hits store shelves, including passing QA tests and becoming "polished." The game was first announced in November 2020 and has been heavily promoted in the intervening years on AEW social media channels. The game does not currently have an announced release date.Continue Reading at GameSpot
http://dlvr.it/Smb6CQ

Leaked Pitch Video Shows What Windows Gaming Could Look Like On Steam Deck

Microsoft employees have shown off a concept for what an optimized Windows user interface could look like on Valve's Steam Deck handheld PC, and by extension, how Windows gaming would operate on that system. In a leaked video posted online by Twitter user h0x0d (via The Verge), the pitch details all of the problems that Steam Deck users have with trying to get Windows running on the handheld hardware, and it originates from a Microsoft Hackathon that was held in September 2022. This internal event, where employees pitch ideas to Microsoft higher-ups in order to get support for them, saw the team present a prototype operating system for the Steam Deck. Led by senior UX designer Dorothy Feng, the launcher allows for games to be opened up from multiple storefronts such as the PC version of Game Pass, Steam, Epic Games Store, and more. Other improvements include an optimized keyboard and a floating taskbar. https://t.co/OWiw0f2k2v pic.twitter.com/RdSGMmhgBd — WalkingCat (@_h0x0d_) April 13, 2023 pic.twitter.com/9C61zrSQ3v — WalkingCat (@_h0x0d_) April 13, 2023 It's worth noting that this is just a pitch for now, but at the end of the video, the video narrator calls for Microsoft to "get serious" about handheld gaming so that the company can improve its credibility within the PC gaming community. Currently, Valve does provide drivers to get Windows working on its Steam Deck, but the experience is far from optimal. Compared to the default SteamOS running on the system, Windows simply isn't optimized for the Steam Deck and suffers from numerous issues.Continue Reading at GameSpot
http://dlvr.it/SmZfRp

New Star Wars Funko and Loungefly Products Revealed Ahead Of Star Wars Day

Star Wars Day is just around the corner, but Funko is getting into the swing of things with a few new products. Last week saw the company reveal Star Wars Rivals, a tabletop card game that pits the light and dark sides of the Force against each other, and a couple other Star Wars-themed products will be available to preorder soon. If you're partial to Darth Vader merch, you may want to consider storing your school or office supplies in this new Loungefly backpack. Star Wars Rivals - $20 for the Premier Set, $5 for Booster Packs See at Walmart Developed by Funko Games, this new collectible card game will have a limited launch. A select few people got an early taste of the game at Star Wars Celebration, but it will be sold in limited quantities on May 4 at Walmart before a wider rollout begins in June. Each character in the game has unique abilities, location cards play a key role in gaining a tactical advantage, you'll be able to start your journey with the $20 Premier Set. If you're looking to expand your inventory of cards, you'll be able to do so with $5 booster packs. --- Continue Reading at GameSpot
http://dlvr.it/SmZTsR

The Mandalorian Season 3 Just Casually Teased Emperor Palpatine's Resurrection

One of the biggest criticisms of the Star Wars sequel trilogy from die-hard fans was the lack of context and world-building--even now we have very little sense of how we got from the end of Return of the Jedi to the beginning of The Force Awakens. But that gap is very slowly being filled by novels and comics, and this week's episode of The Mandalorian helped with that effort by giving us our first real glimpse of what's been going on with the Empire as a whole in the years since the battle at Endor in Return of the Jedi. And it also helped by introducing a character who will end up helping to found the First Order--a character who we just learned is apparently also helping to bring Emperor Palpatine back from the dead. Warning: This article contains spoilers for Chapter 23 of The Mandalorian, titled "The Spies."Continue Reading at GameSpot
http://dlvr.it/SmYN73

Nvidia RTX 4070 Officially Announced, Retails For $599

PC gamers have been waiting a while now for Nvidia's more affordable 40-series GPUs to emerge, and the RTX 4070 is finally here. In a press release, Nvidia stated that the RTX 4070 is 1.7x faster than last generation's RTX 3070 Ti, and that the card is suitable for players who want 1440p gaming at a lower price point. As suggested by a recent report, the RTX 4070 will retail for $599, which is significantly less than other 40-series cards. It includes stable Nvidia features such as RTX ray tracing support, DLSS 3, and Nvidia Reflex. However, it only has 12GB of video memory, which some fans regard as a disappointment. Reviews of the card have dropped along with this announcement, and they seem mostly positive. However, as The Verge notes, the RTX 4070 is not suitable for 4K gaming except at lower settings, and should thus be considered a true 1440p card.Continue Reading at GameSpot
http://dlvr.it/SmY5N8

Trine 5: A Clockwork Conspiracy Reunites The Gang For A New Adventure

THQ Nordic and Frozenbyte have announced Trine 5: A Clockwork Conspiracy, the latest chapter in the long-running puzzle platformer series. Once again set in a magical world where you'll guide three distinct heroes through 20 levels filled with traps and deadly obstacles, the game doesn't have a release date yet but it will launch for PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and Switch. Trine 5 reunites Amadeus the Wizard, Zoya the Thief, and Pontius the Knight for their latest adventure, and like previous titles, you'll be able to play by yourself or with up to two friends in online and local co-op modes. Frozenbyte says that the game will include a skill quest system and new tactical multi-phase boss fights, while puzzles will feature plenty of replayability thanks to a mix of elements and dynamic physics.Continue Reading at GameSpot
http://dlvr.it/SmXdNg

Apex Heirloom Bug Puts Ash Players At A Disadvantage, Prompting "Pay-To-Lose" Complaints

Apex Legends players were thrilled that the "pay-to-win" Splash Zone Flatline skin was fixed via a patch released earlier this week, but the celebration was short-lived, as it soon became clear that another cosmetic item from the Sun Squad Collection Event had unintentionally nerfed Ash: her Heirloom Set. The artificial assassin's long-awaited Heirloom Weapon, the Strongest Link, was initially met with praise when it was released as part of the Sun Squad Collection Event. But it's now clear that something is amiss, as players have begun noticing Ash's movement is significantly louder with the nunchaku-like weapon equipped. Some players are referring to the pricey weapon as a "pay-to-lose" cosmetic. Apex Legends is no stranger to audio issues, especially when it comes to footsteps. But this bug marks the first time a Heirloom Weapon has ever caused significant audio issues. Players testing the bug have posted the results on Reddit, with one poster even uploading a video to demonstrate the issue.Continue Reading at GameSpot
http://dlvr.it/SmXS86

CoD: Modern Warfare 2 And Warzone 2 Season 3 Battle Pass Is Packed With Operator Skins

Season 3 of Modern Warfare 2 and Warzone 2 launches on April 12, and Call of Duty's new battle pass blog showcases the weapons and cosmetics players can expect. The Season 3 pass includes two new operators, two weapons, cosmetic weapon blueprints, and more. It's also packed with additional skins of fan-favorite operators. As with previous seasons of Modern Warfare 2, the battle pass is designed with a combat map-style layout, which is divided into different sectors, ranging from C0 to C20. There are over 100 rewards across the free and premium tiers of the pass. Players who purchase the battle pass will immediately unlock operator skins for both Valeria Garza and Alejandro Vargas, who were featured in the Modern Warfare 2 campaign.Continue Reading at GameSpot
http://dlvr.it/SmWD3F

The Super Mario Bros. Movie Has Broken All These Box Office Records

The Super Mario Bros. Movie from Minions studio Illumination and Nintendo is putting up huge numbers at the box office, but just how much of a success is the animated film? The Hollywood Reporter dug into this and rounded up all the records that the film has set. The movie opened with $377 million worldwide, which makes it the biggest worldwide opening of all time for an animated movie, surpassing the previous record-holder Frozen 2 ($358 million). The Super Mario Bros. Movie earned $146.4 million for the Friday-Sunday period in the US, which is second only to Incredibles 2, which made $183 million stateside for its opening weekend in 2018. At $171 million from international markets for its opening weekend, The Super Mario Bros. Movie is also the second-biggest international opening of all time for an animated movie. It trails only Frozen 2, which made $228.2 million from foreign markets for its debut.Continue Reading at GameSpot
http://dlvr.it/SmVtvG

Microsoft Keeps Pushing To Get Activision Deal Done With Another 10-Year Cloud Gaming Pact

Microsoft has signed yet another 10-year cloud gaming deal in a move that appears to be part of the Xbox company's efforts to convince regulators that its proposed deal to buy Activision Blizzard should be allowed to go through. Microsoft and UK mobile network EE have announced a "10-year commitment" for cloud gaming to bring Activision Blizzard's PC games to EE customers. "We are committed to bring more games to more people, however they choose to play," Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer said on Twitter. EE executive Marc Allera, meanwhile, said EE is "delighted" to be working with Microsoft to help make EE the "no. 1 destination for gamers..." Microsoft and @EE are expanding our partnership with a 10-year commitment in cloud gaming to bring PC games built by Activision Blizzard, following the acquisition, and Xbox to @EE customers. We are committed to bring more games to more people, however they choose to play. — Phil Spencer (@XboxP3) April 11, 2023 Delighted to be working with @Microsoft to expand @EE’s gaming partnership to include a new 10-year cloud gaming commitment to bring PC games built by @xbox and Activision Blizzard – following the acquisition – to our customers. — Marc Allera (@MarcAllera) April 11, 2023 The announcement of Microsoft's 10-year deal with EE--which follows similar decade-long pacts with Boosteroid, Ubitus, and GeForce Now--is seemingly part of Microsoft's effort to appease regulators about one of their main concerns. The UK's Competition & Markets Authority has provisionally concluded that Microsoft's proposed deal to buy Activision Blizzard will not limit competition in the console space, but the CMA continues to have concerns about the cloud market. Microsoft announcing these deals with key UK players in the cloud space seems to be connected with all of this. Whether or not this is enough to get the deal done, however, remains to be seen. And even if the buyout clears regulatory hurdles in the UK (the deadline is April 26), Microsoft still needs to convince the United States government to clear the deal.Continue Reading at GameSpot
http://dlvr.it/SmVFw6

CoD: Warzone 2 DMZ Gets Major Overhaul In Season 3, Including Barter System, Workbenches, And New Vests

Season 3 of Call of Duty: Warzone 2 arrives on April 12, and a new blog post from Activision details several major improvements coming to DMZ mode, including new vests and backpack systems. Season 2 of DMZ drastically changed the mode, but Season 3 is set to bring some of the best improvements yet. One major change to DMZ is the overhaul of the mode's armor vests and backpack systems. For hauling gear around, Season 3's backpacks will come in two types: secure and scavenge. Activision describes secure backpacks as packs that allow players to secure "non-Contraband, non-on-soldier items" in your inventory that will convert to XP upon extraction, meaning the random lootable valuables and mission items. Additionally, items in a secure backpack are kept to that Active Duty Soldier if they are eliminated in an Extraction Zone. As the name suggests, scavenge backpacks simply offer additional item slots for players looking to do a ton of scavenging.Continue Reading at GameSpot
http://dlvr.it/SmV1G4

Kim Kardashian To Star In American Horror Story Season 12

The socialite and reality TV star has joined the FX anthology series for Season 12.
http://dlvr.it/SmSP49

WWE Apologizes For Using Auschwitz Footage To Promote Wrestlemania Match

The wrestling giant WWE has apologized for using footage of Auschwitz in a promotional video package at Wrestlemania. The inclusion of the footage drew wide condemnation from fans and the staff of the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum, who called the apparent mistake a form of exploitation. The fact that Auschwitz image was used to promote a WWE match is hard to call "an editing mistake". Exploiting the site that became a symbol of enormous human tragedy is shameless and insults the memory of all victims of Auschwitz.https://t.co/b4bbYgWPwj https://t.co/Xud4rbhEUS pic.twitter.com/tuJrzmK6mQ — Auschwitz Memorial (@AuschwitzMuseum) April 5, 2023 The footage was used in a clip that hyped the Rey Mysterio vs. Dominik Mysterio match at Wrestlemania, where a Dominik voiceover claimed that he served (in-storyline) "hard time" in jail. It has since been replaced with more generic prison imagery. In a statement to NBC News on Friday, April 7, WWE said the following: "We had no knowledge of what was depicted. As soon as we learned, it was removed immediately. We apologize for this error." The image of Auschwitz was noticed almost immediately by wrestling fans when it aired on Saturday, April 1 and quickly rose to the top of Reddit's SquaredCircle, a major community hub. Despite this, it took WWE nearly a full week to issue the apology. The most notorious death camps of the Nazi regime, Auschwitz's death toll is estimated at over a million people.
http://dlvr.it/SmS3pq

Super Mario Bros. Movie Is 6th Highest-Grossing Video Game Movie Ever After Just 5 Days

The Super Mario Bros. Movie from Minions studio Illumination and Nintendo is soaring at the box office. Through its first five days, the movie has earned more than $377 million worldwide. That's enough to make it the sixth highest-grossing video game movie of all time. Again, the movie needed only five days to reach that level and set that record. The movie is performing better in the US ($204.6 million) than internationally ($173 million), which is a good sign for the film and the movie studio behind it. Continue Reading at GameSpot
http://dlvr.it/SmRNSk

Lucasfilm Was Initially Hesitant To Let Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order Be A Jedi Game

Star Wars Jedi series director Stig Asmussen seemingly nearly walked away from the project after Lucasfilm initially pushed back against developer Respawn's idea to make a game featuring Jedi. In an interview with The Guardian, Asmussen said Lucasfilm was so very protective of Jedi in terms of Star Wars canon that they pushed for a change to call the characters in Respawn's game "Force users." "To Lucasfilm, the Jedi are like the holy grail. I mean, it's something that they're probably the most protective of, except for maybe Baby Yoda. So we had to kind of earn that. We had to go through a whole process of, why do you want it to be a Jedi? What do you want to do with the Jedi? They were really uncomfortable with Jedi, and they said, 'Let's reset this. Let's call this character a Force user,'" Asmussen said. Lucasfilm, Asmussen said, wanted to change Respawn's game to focus on a bounty hunter or a smuggler. At this point, Asmussen--who previously worked on the God of War series--said he considered dropping out.Continue Reading at GameSpot
http://dlvr.it/SmR7WH

Resident Evil Village Ditches Denuvo DRM On Steam

Capcom has quietly cut out the anti-piracy tech Denuvo from Resident Evil Village on Steam. The DRM has been controversial for the survival-horror game, as people blamed its inclusion for causing performance issues. Dark Side of Gaming first spotted Resident Evil Village ditching Denuvo. SteamDB backed that up by noting the anti-tamper tech's removal. The move by Capcom comes almost two years after the game launched. Back in 2021, players highlighted that cracked versions of Resident Evil Village had better performance on PC than the Steam version with Denuvo. The thought was the DRM running in the background hurts the game's frame rate, something that didn't occur in the cracked versions. For example, the early encounter with Lady Dimitrescu's daughters reportedly knocked the frame rate down from the 100s all the way down to the 30s. Denuvo has been criticized for this very issue on a lot of other titles, too.Continue Reading at GameSpot
http://dlvr.it/SmPQrl

Obi-Wan Kenobi Season 2 Is "Not In Active Development" Currently

Obi-Wan Kenobi star Ewan McGregor is reportedly ready and eager for a second season as the Jedi master, but Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy has said that a follow-up to the Disney+ series "is not an active development" currently. Speaking to Variety during Star Wars Celebration, Kennedy said that while Obi-Wan Kenobi season two isn't in development, that idea isn't off the table entirely. "That is not an active development," Kennedy explained. "But I never say never, because there's always the possibility. That show was so well-received and [director] Deborah Chow did such a spectacular job. Ewan McGregor really wants to do another. Everybody’s all hands on deck with what we're doing right now, as you can see by what we showed everybody [at Celebration]. We'll turn our attention to that again maybe down the road." The future of Star Wars includes several series for Disney's streaming platform, as well as several live-action films that'll take place during different eras of the franchise. On the TV side alone, the Ahsoka solo series is reuniting plenty of characters from Star Wars Rebels and teasing the return of Grand Admiral Thrawn, the Heir to the Empire who represents a major threat to the New Republic.Continue Reading at GameSpot
http://dlvr.it/SmP51z

What's Going On With The Star Wars Movies From Rian Johnson, Taika Waititi? Lucasfilm President Responds

Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy has given an update on the new Star Wars films from Rian Johnson (Knives Out, Looper) and Taika Waititi (Thor: Ragnarok, Hunt for the Wilderpeople). In an interview with Variety, Kennedy suggested both movies likely won't be here anytime soon, which makes sense considering Kennedy just recently announced three different Star Wars movies that presumably are the priority for Lucasfilm right now. Johnson was announced as the director of a new Star Wars trilogy, but lately he's been focusing on his Knives Out movies--and that is understandable given Netflix is reportedly paying him $100 million for the two Knives Out sequels, 2022's Glass Onion and one more to come. Johnson's Star Wars movies might not be dead, but they likely are not coming soon.Continue Reading at GameSpot
http://dlvr.it/SmNQJM

Final Star Wars Jedi: Survivor Gameplay Trailer Teases An Epic Showdown With Droids And Bounty Hunters

With just a few weeks left until it launches on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S, one more trailer for Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is now available to watch and sets the stage for what fans can expect from the sequel. Like previous teasers, this trailer focuses on just how dark the galaxy has become in the five years since Cal Kestis rediscovered his Jedi heritage, and in the video below, you'll see him tangle with a number of enemies from both the prequel and original trilogy eras. One interesting antagonist that Respawn is teasing in its trailers is Rayvis, a Gen'dai who looks like a purple Hulk if he was wearing Iron Man armor. Eagle-eyed fans will spot the resemblance here to another Gen'dai enforcer, Durge, who showed up two decades ago in Star Wars: Clone Wars, the series of short episodes spearheaded by Genndy Tartakovsky of Dexter's Lab fame. While the latest trailer shows Rayvis executing some brutal physical attacks in the direction of Kestis, don't be too surprised if that fight takes a turn towards Resident Evil territory, as Gen'dai typically have a body composed of a mass of slimy tentacles that can quickly regenerate when they suffer any damage. Their armor keeps their biomass in check, and this warrior race usually adheres to a code of honor when it comes to taking on worthy opponents.Continue Reading at GameSpot
http://dlvr.it/SmN8fC

Disney Dreamlight Valley Eggstravaganza: New Items, Seasonal Challenges, And More

Despite being in early access, Disney Dreamlight Valley has had some fun holiday events filled with limited-time challenges and cosmetics, and that trend is continuing with the Eggstravaganza Event. With some fresh holiday-themed Dreamlight tasks to knock out, additional furniture to craft, and even some new cooking recipes, there's a lot to keep you busy during the event. Here's everything you need to know. Event dates The Eggstravaganza Event runs from Saturday, April 8 through Saturday, April 29. There are some new additions to the game during this time period that must be completed before the event ends or you'll lose out on the opportunity, so be sure to make the most of your time. New items There are some new event-exclusive items to get your hands on if you want to craft and cook all of the new recipes.Continue Reading at GameSpot
http://dlvr.it/SmLRzD

The Super Mario Bros. Movie Directors Break Down That Mind-Blowing Rainbow Road Chase

When most folks head to the theater to check out The Super Mario Bros. Movie, they'll probably be expecting a funny and charming and very nice-looking animated movie. But what they might not expect is a pretty great action movie. And while there are plenty of extremely sick action sequences in the film, the peak is undeniably the Mad Max-esque Mario Kart chase on the Rainbow Road. Warning: This article contains some spoilers for The Super Mario Bros. Movie. The Rainbow Road sequence comes about two thirds of the way into the film, after Mario and Peach have secured the help of the entire Kong family against Bowser. Everybody loads up in their kart of choice and hits the Rainbow Road--a shortcut to Bowser's Dark Land.Continue Reading at GameSpot
http://dlvr.it/SmL6cc

Halo Veteran Jospeh Staten Departs From Microsoft

Joseph Staten, the Halo veteran brought on board by Microsoft to creatively direct Halo Infinite, has left after nine years at the company. IGN first broke the news, with Staten confirming his departure on Twitter. Staten thanked his colleagues at Xbox and did not reveal where he's heading next. Hey folks, I am indeed leaving Microsoft. I'll have more info to share soon, but for now, I'd just like to thank all my @Xbox colleagues for all their understanding and support as I embark on a new adventure. https://t.co/oMR0LXOzZb — Joseph Staten (@joestaten) April 8, 2023 “We’re grateful for Joseph’s contributions to the Halo franchise and Xbox as a whole," Xbox said of Staten's exit to IGN. "We wish him all the best in his new adventure."Continue Reading at GameSpot
http://dlvr.it/SmKQzc

Zelda: Breath Of The Wild Adds Online Co-Op With New Mod

You can now play The Legend of Zelda: Breath of The Wild online with your friends thanks to modders hired by content creator PointCrow. This mod has been nearly two years in the making. Back in November of 2021, PointCrow posted on Twitter that they wanted someone to create this mod and offered a "$10,000 bounty" to whoever created one. I'M PUTTING A $10,000 BOUNTY ON THE CREATION OF A BREATH OF THE WILD MULTIPLAYER MOD terms & conditions read here: https://t.co/oOfIbZQQTa #breathofthewild #botw #zelda pic.twitter.com/e287bFE740 — eric pointcrow (@PointCrow) November 10, 2021 On April 4, 2023, the mod was officially released. The mod allows you to play through the entire game with your friends. But you can also play PVP to see who's the better player. To download the mod, you'll need to join PointCrows Discord server and click on -Mod-Downloads, leading you to a Google Doc explaining how to install it. As always, you should be mindful of what you download online.Continue Reading at GameSpot
http://dlvr.it/SmKBB9

Halo: The Master Chief Collection Is Now Playable On Steam Deck

343 Industries has revealed that Halo: The Master Chief Collection is now playable on Steam Deck. In addition to the campaign, this includes support for modes that require Easy Anti-Cheat, such as multiplayer and custom games. The announcement was made on the official Halo Twitter account. In the video, you see Halo MCC start-up on a Steam Deck surrounded by a bunch of Halo memorabilia. Attention everyone! 📣 MCC is now playable on @OnDeck! 📣 pic.twitter.com/SOSTQjscir — Halo (@Halo) April 7, 2023 343 Industries has asked that if you run into any problems while playing on Steam Deck, capture it via screenshot or record and submit a Flag Report ticket. 343 won't be able to "provide troubleshooting for Steam Deck-related issues submitted in a Bug Report ticket."Continue Reading at GameSpot
http://dlvr.it/SmHVTx

Rey Will Be Rebuilding The Jedi Order Based On "What She Promised Luke" In New Star Wars Film

Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy has shared some additional details about the upcoming Star Wars film featuring Rey. During Star Wars Celebration, three new Star Wars films were announced from directors James Mangold, Dave Filoni, and Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy. No plot details were revealed, but Obaid-Chinoy confirmed that her film will be set 15 years after The Rise of Skywalker in the era of the New Jedi Order and see the return of Daisy Ridley as Jedi Master Rey. In an interview with IGN, Kennedy discussed the announcements and shared some additional details on what fans can expect from Rey's film, saying, "...We're kind of post-war, post-First Order and the Jedi are in disarray and there's a lot of discussion around who are the Jedi, what are they doing, what's the state of the galaxy?Continue Reading at GameSpot
http://dlvr.it/SmHBNr

Three New Star Wars Movies Announced, Including Daisy Ridley Returning As Jedi Master Rey

Star Wars Celebration 2023 started off with colossal news during the Lucasfilm Studio Showcase, announcing new projects and revealing additional cast members joining already in production. Andor Season 2 and the first Ahsoka trailer were shown, but then came the movie news: Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy announced that three new live-action Star Wars films are on the way. Joining Kennedy on stage were the directors of these films: James Mangold (Logan, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny), Dave Filoni (The Mandalorian, Ahsoka), and Academy Award- and Emmy Award-winning director Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy (Ms. Marvel, Saving Face). Each feature takes place in a different era in the Star Wars universe. Mangold will be going way in the past to the dawn of the Jedi, with Filoni being able to wrap up the stories he and his team have been telling in the Disney+ TV series The Mandalorian, Ahsoka, and Book of Boba Fett. However, it was Obaid-Chinoy's feature that received the biggest reaction of the presentation as it was announced that her movie will focus on a Jedi Master Rey and continuation after the events of Rise of Skywalker and the founding of the New Jedi Order. Daisy Ridley joined the directors on stage as the fans welcomed her back to the Star Wars universe.Continue Reading at GameSpot
http://dlvr.it/SmGc3d

CoD: Modern Warfare 2 - Season 3 Roadmap Details Night Map, Gunfight, And New Raid

Activision has revealed the full roadmap for Season 3 of Modern Warfare 2, which launches on April 12. The new multiplayer content includes a brand-new battle pass, Gunfight, and the return of the Intervention sniper. Here is everything you need to know about Modern Warfare 2's Season 3 update. New weapons and operator Season 3 will introduce four weapons to the game. The battle pass includes the iconic Intervention sniper rifle, which is rebranded as the FJX Imperium sniper, and the Cronen Squall battle rifle. Later in the season, Modern Warfare 2 will add two new sidearms. Activision's blog doesn't name them, but they are described as both being fully-automatic with drastically different roles. These will be available to unlock either through in-game challenges or the purchase of shop bundles.Continue Reading at GameSpot
http://dlvr.it/SmGN6D

Super Mario Bros Movie T-Shirt Line Celebrates Mario's Roots As A Plumber

Apparel based on video games can be hit or miss, but with Uniqlo’s new collection of Super Mario Bros. Movie gear, there’s not a dud to be found. Best of all, its T-Shirt collection is available in both adult and kids sizes--so your whole family can wear matching gear when you roll up to see the movie. The Super Mario Bros. Plumbing T-Shirt is probably one of the coolest options, as it celebrates Mario's roots as a plumber. Who doesn't want a shirt featuring Mario skipping to the bathroom to unclog a toilet? You’ll also find a light and bright Mushroom Kingdom design, or a simple black shirt with The Super Mario Bros. Movie logo on the front.Gallery Many of the same designs are also available for kids, although you’ll also find an adorable Toad T-Shirt that features the iconic sidekick with his trusty frying pan. But if you’re feeling a bit evil, there’s also a black and yellow Bowser T-Shirt up for grabs.Continue Reading at GameSpot
http://dlvr.it/SmDy6Z

Celeste Classic Demakes The Original Game For Playdate

One of the most beloved indie games of recent memory, Celeste, is making a leap to a new platform. Billed as an "unofficial" port from developer Remi Parmentier for the Pico-8 virtual console, Celeste Classic on Playdate features a simpler visual design in comparison to the more colorful source material. This is technically a free game, but if you want to support Parmentier's efforts, you can pay what you feel is fair for the game. The most obvious change is the monochromatic color palette, but Pico-8 says that a lot of visual elements have an outline to make them more readable. In terms of resolution, this version of Celeste is actually an upgrade as it has been increased from the original game's 128x128 resolution to 256x240. Four pixel lines are cropped at the top and bottom of the screen, and for purists, the game can be played at its original resolution by disabling the Fullscreen option. Another change in Celeste Classic is a new and optional assist mode. When activated, it will allow you to skip a level, change the game speed to 0.5×, get infinite dashes, and enable invincibility. The catch here is that if you do use the assist mode during a run, a mention is added on each level in the lower right corner, as well as in the pause screen and the final score screen. Prepare for scorn from the more "hardcore" side of the Celeste community if you choose to go public with your runs.Continue Reading at GameSpot
http://dlvr.it/SmDhgG

The 7 Best And Funniest Parts Of The Super Mario Bros Movie

After three long decades, a new Super Mario Bros movie has arrived--and it's pretty great! The animated film was made with all sorts of love for the Mario IP, but much more importantly: It's crafted with skill and genuine cleverness. It's a good movie, full stop. But it's also a good Mario movie. If you want a spoiler-free discussion to help you decide if you want to make a trip to the theater this week, you can and should check out GameSpot's Super Mario Bros. Movie review. Otherwise, below I'll break down some of the very best moments, characters and action sequences that make The Super Mario Bros Movie such a winner. As such: there are major spoilers ahead for The Super Mario Bros Movie. You have been warned. That Super Mario Bros. plumbing commercial The Super Mario Bros Movie starts with a cold open that shows Bowser's ongoing conquest of the universe that the Mushroom Kingdom is in--we saw a condensed version of this scene in the first trailer for the movie. It sets the epic stakes of the story and is full of faux-gritty seriousness. And then it cuts to a local plumbing commercial, starring Brooklyn's own Mario and Luigi, complete with a ditty inspired by the Super Mario Bros Super Show theme song.Continue Reading at GameSpot
http://dlvr.it/SmDHrR

Attack On Titan's Levi And Mikasa Are Coming To Fortnite

Levi Ackerman and Mikasa Ackerman from Attack on Titan will come to Fortnite on April 11. This news comes by way of a short video posted on the official Fortnite Twitter account with text that reads, "Dedicate your hearts." The video shows Levi and Mikasa in action, with footage of the duo zipping around the Fortnite map. It doesn't give the most detailed look at the characters, but the video provided enough of a tease to garner excitement from the community. Dedicate your hearts. 4.11.2023 pic.twitter.com/zmaF0rnn7g — Fortnite (@FortniteGame) April 6, 2023 At this time, Epic Games has yet to reveal how these two character skins will be unlocked, though it's likely they'll come to the Item Shop. If so, it's unknown how much they'll cost, but there will likely be a couple of bundles available on release day. These skins will likely come with additional cosmetics such as Back Blings, Emotes, and Harvesting Tools.Continue Reading at GameSpot
http://dlvr.it/SmD82W

Diablo 4 - Rogue Talents Guide

The Rogue in Diablo 4 waylays hostiles by using lightning-fast attacks and nimble movement. Apart from the skills that you can use, there are also talents that provide some boons that synergize with your playstyle. Here's our Diablo 4 Rogue talents overview guide to help you with the perks that you can unlock and select. Diablo 4 Rogue talents The Diablo 4 Rogue talents, similar to other classes, use a tier grouping system. You can unlock certain options upon spending some talent points, and a few can also be upgraded further. We've enumerated them below, noting the possible upgrades and connected nodes. Likewise, you'll want to look at each passive's effect. There are those that provide buffs to actions in general, while others are tailored for specific builds. A few are even related to the Imbuement system, where you can infuse abilities with poison, shadow, or cold damage.Continue Reading at GameSpot
http://dlvr.it/SmC3DR

Diablo 4 - Rogue Skills Guide

The Rogue is one of the classes that you can choose in Diablo 4. This character is akin to the Assassin, Amazon, and Demon Hunter rolled into one agile combatant. Here's our Diablo 4 Rogue skills overview guide to help you with various abilities that you can unlock. Diablo 4 Rogue skills The Diablo 4 Rogue skills can be subdivided into several categories: * Cutthroat - Offensive melee abilities. * Marksman - Offensive ranged abilities. * Traps - Placing down obstacles or crowd-control features. * Grenades - Thrown explosives. Additionally, the Diablo 4 Rogue uses energy as a resource, which regenerates over time. Moreover, there's the Imbuement mechanic, where some attacks are infused with shadow, poison, or cold effects to make them deadlier.Continue Reading at GameSpot
http://dlvr.it/SmBpGg

Get This Razer Wireless Gaming Headset For Only $35 Before It's Gone

Razer’s Nari Essential wireless gaming headset with THX spacial Audio support is currently on sale for just $35 at Best Buy ($100 retail price). This is a great opportunity to pick up comfortable wireless headset with solid audio performance for a budget-friendly price. It's uncommon to even find a good wired headset at this price, so it's no surprise that this is one of the best deals we've seen on a wireless gaming headset this year.Razer Nari Essential The Razer Nari Essential works on PC, PS5, and PS4, and offers a great listening experience for players on those platforms. The headset is durable and bulky, with big bass performance that feels appropriate given its beefy frame. It’ll sound good on any platform you play, but PC users get access to the full suite of features with the Razer Synapse desktop app, including virtual 7.1 THX Spatial Audio and adjustable EQ settings, and pre-made EQ profiles. The headset will also work with PS5’s built-in virtual surround sound. See at Best Buy The Razer Nari Essential may not be the latest and greatest in terms of gaming headsets, but this $35 price point makes it one of the best headset options if you’re on a budget. Though it doesn't actually sell for its $100 MSRP these days, it's as good or better than other wireless headsets that would cost you upwards of $100 today.Continue Reading at GameSpot
http://dlvr.it/SmBNMj

Diablo 4 Early Access Beta Suffering From Long Queue Times And Server Issues

The start of Diablo IV's early access beta period has not gone quite as planned, with queue times of nearly two hours for many players on top of authentication server issues resulting in slow or failed login attempts. Login queues are nothing new for Blizzard games, but fans were perhaps not expecting ones quite so long, and for a preorder-only beta no less. In a list of known issues, Blizzard confirms that players may encounter queues during the early access beta, and that the queue countdown may finish and go beyond the duration of the timer. Blizzard is urging players to stay in queue if this happens, and notes that it will have "more accurate timers in place" for next weekend's open beta. [#Diablo4] We're currently investigating an issue affecting our authentication servers, which may result in failed or slow login attempts. — Blizzard CS - The Americas (@BlizzardCS) March 17, 2023 Blizzard customer service additionally confirmed that an issue is affecting the developer's authentication servers, which is resulting in failed or slow login attempts for some players who do manage to make it through the queues. The official Diablo IV Twitter account states that the beta may include bugs and issues, but that the team will "evaluate all feedback we've received and will make changes as needed."Continue Reading at GameSpot
http://dlvr.it/SmBDLl

Zachary Levi On How Life-Saving Therapy Helped Him Land Shazam Role

Actor Zachary Levi stars in the DC superhero series Shazam, and in a new interview, he discussed how he landed the role after initially intending to take a break from acting to focus on therapy. Appearing on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Levi said he was "in kind of a dark place" in his life when DC was casting Shazam. He previously discussed his use of sex, drugs, and alcohol to distract and numb himself from the pain of his personal life. Levi underwent "super intensive, life-saving therapy" where he said he learned how to love himself for what he said was the first time in his life. He had a breakthrough. He was getting to a better place in his life, but he still told his agents he wanted a break from acting during therapy to grow and heal further. But he auditioned for Shazam anyway, and he ended up landing the role.Continue Reading at GameSpot
http://dlvr.it/Sm93GK

Persona 5: The Phantom X Mobile Game Announced For iOS And Android

Atlus is expanding its Persona 5 universe once again, this time with a mobile game for iOS and Android that is being developed by Chinese studio Perfect World Games under supervision from Sega and Atlus. Titled Persona: Phantom of the Night, the game features artistic contributions from Persona series designer Shigenori Soejima, as well as plenty of the trademark action from the fifth entry in the action-RPG series. You can see more for yourself in the trailers below (via Gematsu) ahead of the game's first public test on March 29. Continue Reading at GameSpot
http://dlvr.it/Sm8mkg

Razer Atlas Is A Classy Tempered Glass Mouse Pad

Razer has already revealed a few interesting products this year, and its latest follows that trend. The Razer Atlas is a premium mouse pad. Unlike other surfaces for your mouse, the Razer Atlas isn't a piece of neoprene with fancy graphics, as this product is a $100 slab of smooth tempered glass. It's available to order now directly from Razer. Razer says that the Atlas has been optimized for optical sensors and "specially treated" for quieter swipes, creating a smooth surface. This in turn makes your mouse feel like there is zero resistance, and you won't have to worry about the pad falling off your desk--or moving at all--as it has an anti-slip rubber base.Gallery See at Razer The glass surface coating helps the mouse pad combat wear and tear from your repeated movements. It also has the perk of being easily cleaned, so any unforeseen spillages won't cause the discoloration or warping that can sometimes plague traditional mouse pads.Continue Reading at GameSpot
http://dlvr.it/Sm8CXP

The Last Of Us Season Finale Star Reveals A Wonderful Easter Egg No Could See

The Season 1 finale of HBO's The Last of Us contained multiple Easter eggs, one of which was never actually shown on screen but the person behind it has now revealed the details. This story contains spoilers for The Last of Us. Actress Ashley Johnson, who played Ellie in the video games, starred on the Season 1 finale as Ellie's mother, Anna. She appeared in a flashback sequence showing Ellie's traumatic birth and Anna's death, and now Johnson has revealed that the scene was hiding something. In The Last of Us game, Ellie discovers a note from her mother in which she tells young Ellie that life is worth living and that she should find her purpose and fight for it. Johnson said she wrote out that note by hand and kept it in her pocket as she filmed her scenes as Anna.Continue Reading at GameSpot
http://dlvr.it/Sm80Dp

Scream 6 4K Blu-Ray Preorders Are Steeply Discounted

Scream 6 premiered in theaters last week, but the 4K Blu-ray edition is already available for preorder from a few online retailers, and at a pretty nice discount, too. Scream fans can secure a steelbook edition of the 4K Blu-ray for $35 at Walmart. Preorders for the same edition are available at Amazon as well, but the price is $49 at the moment. Amazon was offering the deal as well. Since it disappeared already, we recommend preordering at Walmart ASAP if interested. Preorder at Amazon Preorder at Walmart Continue Reading at GameSpot
http://dlvr.it/Sm6RDD

Bayonetta Origins Developers Want You To Remember What It Feels Like To Be A Kid--And To Prepare For More Bayonetta

Throughout the entirety of the mainline Bayonetta series, time has been a constant theme. From exploring flashbacks and introducing the series' iconic Witch Time mechanic in the original Bayonetta to jumping between timelines and magically restoring worn relics in Bayonetta 3, the games have always had a reverence for the passage of time and how it shapes our world. In a way then, it feels only natural that studio Platinum Games longed to take fans back to where it all began. And, after years of Bayonetta creator Hideki Kamiya fantasizing about what that experience might look like, it's finally here. Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon follows the titular witch long before she was a pistol-slinging sex symbol--back when she was simply known as Cereza. Though she might have grown to become a cool, calculated, and extremely campy woman, this wasn't always the case. In fact the Cereza we see in Bayonetta Origins is anything but confident and has quite a tough time becoming the witch she longs to be. However, we all know humble beginnings make for larger-than-life stories, and that is precisely the case with both Bayonetta and the creation of her origin story. In an exclusive interview with GameSpot, five core members of the Bayonetta Origins development team--supervising direcor Hideki Kamiya, director Abebe Tinari, producer Koji Tanaka, art director Tomoko Nishii, and producer Makoto Okazaki--discussed why they decided to create Bayonetta Origins, as well as why the game is so visually distinct from titles in the mainline trilogy. The team also shared the process behind creating Bayonetta Origins (including how much of a pain the controls were to get right), their artistic inspirations, and what fans can expect next from the studio.Continue Reading at GameSpot
http://dlvr.it/Sm65XD