Helldivers 2 is giving away bonus XP this weekend to "alleviate the impact" of an on-going bug

1 month ago

Helldivers 2 is awarding all players a 50 per cent XP and requisition bonus to compensate players for "a problem" that's preventing players from receiving the correct rewards at the end of missions.

In a statement posted to X/Twitter, deputy game director Sagar explained that whilst the team was still "working on a fix for this", it wanted to "alleviate the impact" for players jumping into the action over the weekend.

That means that between now and the end of Sunday central European time (11pm UK time / 6pm EST / 3pm PST), players can expect an additional XP bonus on top of the base mission score.

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Vikki Blake

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The Community Spotlight 2024.02.17

1 month ago

Welcome to the latest edition of the Giant Bomb Community Spotlight! I, @zombiepie, am once again honored to be your host as we look back at the site-related news and best community creations from the previous week! For those of you that have enjoyed Giant Bomb's previous live events and panels, the staff's PAX East plans have been officially announced via the PAX schedule and it looks like a back-to-back PAX panel on Friday night, March 22nd, at PAX East! The staff will be hosting a live in-person VMDT and then follow it up with Dandoko Dare live!

The dates and times in case you wanted them.
The dates and times in case you wanted them.

Noted Detroit sports fan Jeff Grubb made a guest appearance on the Remap podcast to talk about the Lions' miracle season and the absolute heartbreak of how their season ended. For those of you that enjoy the NFL, this is obviously right up your alley.

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The Bride of the Barrier Master Heroine Steals the Manga’s Show

1 month ago

The Bride of the Barrier Master Heroine Steals the Manga’s Show

It isn’t uncommon for manga series to involve two related characters from a family with one supposed to be the best and the other essentially an unpowered spare, but then for things to flip and the underdog being the true force to be reckoned with in the story. Bride of the Barrier Master is exactly that, however in this manga the way the heroine and her situation is handled makes it a more engaging twist.

There are supernaturally gifted families in Japan who keep the country safe by maintaining barriers, and Hana and her twin sister Hazuki are part of the lesser Ichise family. Hazuki is an especially gifted and blessed Practitioner, so much so that she’s even summoned a human Shikigami to assist her in her work. However, Hana just… isn’t anything special. Her Shikigami is a butterfly, she’s ignored by other people, and it even seems like her family sort of actively hates her. 

As you might expect, given the nature of these sorts of series, that doesn’t last. On her fifteenth birthday, she suddenly comes into a power even stronger than Hazuki’s. She’s able to summon two human Shikigamis. 

Author
Jenni Lada

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ThatGameCompany's new Sky: The Children of the Light art book unlocks a special in-game cutscene

1 month ago

Journey developer ThatGameCompany has announced a "beautifully curated" book to celebrate the art of its 2019 "social adventure game", Sky: Children of the Light.

Set to launch on 22nd April, The Art of Sky will be an "extraordinary visual odyssey" and feature over 250 pages of ThatGameCompany's "trademark artistic excellence".

"The bewitching art book, now available for pre-order, compiles concept art illustrations spanning the game’s earliest days, heartfelt behind-the-scenes commentary, and never-before-seen imagery in a beautifully crafted, timeless first-edition hardcover volume perfect for devoted players and collectors alike," the description teases.

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Author
Vikki Blake

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"Palworld has lost X per cent of its player base discourse is lazy," says developer Pocketpair

1 month ago

Palworld developer Pocketpair insists it has no reason to be alarmed about the hit game's dwindling player count.

As Palworld's 24-hour concurrent Steam count peaks at around 535,000 players – a fair fall from the 2.1 million simultaneous players Pocketpair secured the weekend Palworld launched – community manager "Bucky" stated in a statement on Twitter that the "Palworld has lost X per cent of its player base discourse is lazy", insisting that it was "fine" for players to take a break and play other games in between content updates.

"This emerging 'Palworld has lost X per cent of its player base' discourse is lazy, but it's probably also a good time to step in and reassure those of you capable of reading past a headline that it is fine to take breaks from games," Bucky said.

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Author
Vikki Blake

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Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League's login and server issues are the team's "top priority"

1 month ago

Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League developer Rocksteady has confirmed that addressing its login and server issues remain the team's "top priority", but warned that it may "not be able to fix all those issues right away".

In a statement posted to the official website, Rocksteady said it could "hear and feel your frustration" about the ongoing issues, and agreed it was "unacceptable for the players" affected by the persistent problems, but said that because the issues didn't stem from one particular issue, it was "several smaller issues affecting players in different ways".

"For our upcoming patches we are looking to address login issues and server issues," the statement, signed "Axel and the Rocksteady Team" said. "And while we might not be able to fix all of those issues right away, I want to assure everyone: This is the top priority for us. We hear and feel your frustration and we can only agree, it’s unacceptable for the players who are affected by this.

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Author
Vikki Blake

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RTX HDR: Nvidia's AI video enhancement tool works for games too - and it beats AutoHDR

1 month ago

Nvidia recently released a driver enabling RTX Video HDR - a driver side tool that automatically converts SDR video into HDR, with the help of real-time machine learning on an RTX GPU. Enable it and YouTube videos in SDR present convincingly as HDR, breathing new life into them. However, modder 'emoose' discovered something more within the driver - the ability to apply this to virtually any game. In effect, Nvidia has been working on its own, ML-based version of Microsoft's AutoHDR. We've tried it and it's simply stupendous.

To get it working, you need to download the NV TrueHDR mod from Nexusmods. Then, open up the provided .exe file. This brings up a command prompt. From here, you either type in the filename of the game executable you want to target, or better yet, simply drag and drop that .exe into the command prompt window and hit ENTER. From there, you choose your quality level and you're good to go. Your chosen game now presents in HDR.

So, why even use this in the first place when Windows 11 ships with AutoHDR, which basically does the same job? Put simply, RTX HDR is the superior option in virtually every way. AutoHDR only works on selected, whitelisted DX11 and DX12 games, while RTX HDR supports everything natively from DX9 onwards - and there are a lot of fantastic DX9 games that can benefit. But with control panel tweaks and help from other compatibility tools, you can go further - right back to adding HDR support of sorts to 3DFX Glide titles. I even get HDR working in the PS3 emulator RPCS3, allowing me to play an emulated version of Killzone 2 in HDR to convincing effect.

Author
Alex Battaglia

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Report: Activision Blizzard is expected to cut 136 jobs from its Cork office

1 month ago

Microsoft is reportedly set to slash more than a hundred jobs at Activision Blizzard's Cork office.

As first reported in the Irish Examiner, minister for foreign affairs, or Tánaiste, Michéal Martin – who raised the issue in the Dáil, the Irish government – revealed that 136 of the approximately 200 jobs in Blackpool, Cork, were expected to be cut, calling the redundancies "very serious".

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Author
Vikki Blake

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Review: Silent Hill: The Short Message Is A True Silent Hill Game

1 month ago

Review: Silent Hill: The Short Message Is True to Silent Hill

On January 31, 2024, Konami released Silent Hill: The Short Message for the PlayStation 5 entirely for free. The first console entry in the Silent Hill series since Silent Hill Downpour, this bite-sized experience lends itself to the psychological horror elements of the series. However, due to the focus of its narrative and first-person controls, long-time fans of the series may find it lacking. That said, Silent Hill: The Short Message is perhaps the closest thing to a "true" Silent Hill game fans have been looking for since the days of Team Silent.

Image via Konami

Editor's Note: Silent Hill: The Short Message and this review of it contains mentions of suicide, self-harm, and abuse.

Author
Kazuma Hashimoto

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What are we all playing this weekend?

1 month ago

I have an extremely annoying neck and shoulder ache that I can't get rid of, but on the other hand I found the backing to the right earring in my all-day black studs. On a third hand, I found this after I bought a replacement pair. Less ideal. But at least video games have never let me down. That's an egregious lie, though. Games let me down all the time. Which ones are you pinning your hopes to this weekend? Here are ours.

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Author
Alice Bell

Star Trucker - who needs a mountain vista when you've got the whole of space?

1 month ago

Look, I certainly wouldn't call myself a trucking nerd - I'm not even sure I could tell the difference between a carburettor and a carbonara - but I do like to truck. American Truck Simulator has long been my equivalent of one of those mindfulness apps that whisper gently evocative nonsense at you in the dead of night; a world of seductively monotonous rhythms and repetitions set against a soothing soundtrack of engine drones and indicator clicks. And for the eyes, the majesty of nature: lakes, mountains, forests (or at least a decent enough facsimile thereof), sprawling from hard shoulder to sky. So imagine my delight when I stumbled across Star Trucker – all that calm and the most expansive natural vista of all: space!

Ordinarily, these X meets Y comparisons feel a little trite, but in Star Trucker's case – going on the evidence of its Steam Next Fest demo, at least - you're going to struggle to find a more apt description than 'American Truck Simulator in space'. This is big rig cargo hauling on an interstellar scale, a stately back-and-forth between pick-up and drop-off set against an ever-shifting canvas of shimmering nebulae and screen-filling worlds.

For all its fanciful sci-fi flavour, though, Star Trucker plays the whole thing surprisingly straight, grounding its slightly ridiculous high-concept premise in the minutia of the mundane. Which isn't to say it doesn't have bags of personality – this is the far-flung future by way of Route 66, with an ever-present country and western twang on your radio, an incessant southern drawl on your CB, and just enough quaint Americana to give the endless void a distantly familiar sense of place - but its eye is firmly on the road, not on the stars.

Author
Matt Wales

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Fighting Sharks And Hunting Trees In Skull And Bones | GI Live

1 month ago

Skull and Bones is finally out today. Let's play the opening hour and see if it is worth wait. Reportedly, the game began development as early as 2013 and spent a few years as an Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag spinoff before turning into Black Flag MMO, before finally emerging as a standalone game announcement in 2017. In the six years since its announcement we've seen teases of it here and there, had chances to play in various betas and alphas, and it even appeared on our cover in 2022. Skull and Bones has been a long time coming, but today everyone is finally able to play it. Our full review isn't ready quite yet, but you can  read Matt Miller's positive early impressions so far by heading here. You can also check out an hour of gameplay below.

To watch more of our livestreams, video podcasts, and series such as Super Replay, be sure to visit and subscribe to our second YouTube channel, Game Informer Shows. Head over to our flagship Game Informer YouTube channel for more previews, reviews, and discussions of new and upcoming games. 

Author
Kyle Hilliard

Yu-Gi-Oh Yugi and Kaiba SuperGroupies Outfits Announced

1 month ago

Yu-Gi-Oh Yugi and Kaiba SuperGroupies Outfits Announced

SuperGroupies announced a new clothing and accessory collection based on Yugi Muto and Seto Kaiba from the Yu-Gi-Oh anime series. The items in the new collection are available for pre-order from the SuperGroupies online store until March 4, 2024.

The new SuperGroupies collection includes two items for each character, with an outerwear jacket and a handbag for Yugi Muto. The jacket will be available in S, M, and L sizes. Meanwhile, Seto Kaiba gets a pin set and another handbag. The release date for the items is set to early June 2024.

Here is the price list for the new SuperGroupies Yu-Gi-Oh collection:

Author
Daniel Bueno

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Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot Goku’s Next Journey DLC Trailer Shows Gameplay

1 month ago

Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot Goku's Next Journey Gameplay Trailer

Bandai Namco released a new gameplay trailer for the upcoming Goku's Next Journey DLC for Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot. The add-on is set to launch sometime in February 2024, but the developer has yet to reveal an exact date for it.

The trailer features a sparring match between Goku, sporting a blue outfit rather than his signature orange, and his son Goten. The father and son banter back and forth as they fight, before showcasing a new Surge activation animation and the match eventually ending with a clash of kamehameha beams.

While the exact contents of the DLC pack have not been listed, if it follows the pattern of previous DLCs then Goku's Next Journey should consist of new super attacks and soul emblems on top of the additional story arc to play through.

You can watch the full gameplay trailer for Goku's Next Journey below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-RJSqP6fL4s

Author
Elliot Gostick

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Help Decide Name for Silent Hill: The Short Message Monster

1 month ago

silent hill the short message monster

Konami is holding an official poll on its Silent Hill Twitter (X) account to decide the name for the new monster in Silent Hill: The Short Message. You can choose between four names.

The four choices are Cherry Blossom Monster, Sakura Creature, Sakura Head, and Sakura Body. There is also a Tweet below the poll that shows a picture of the creature for those who may have forgotten it. Masahiro Ito, the designer of the monster and other creatures in the Silent Hill series, retweeted this poll and asked, “What would Anita, the protagonist, call it?”

Incidentally, the famous Pyramid Head has the official name of “Red Pyramid Thing,” which is what James calls him when he first sees him. So whatever the “official” name is for the sakura monster is what Anita would personally use. The monster from Silent Hill: The Short Message has sakura blossoms completely covering its head and crotch area. It has bare legs, and you can’t really see its hands due to the long sleeves of its white sweater.

Author
Stephanie Liu

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White Day 2 Episodes 1-3 Heading to PS5 and Xbox Series X

1 month ago

White Day 2 Episodes 1-3 Heading to PS5 and Xbox Series X

PQube announced that not only is White Day 2: The Flower that Tells Lies is heading to the PS5 and Xbox Series X in 2024, but it will do so in a Complete Edition that offers all three episodes at once. Back when it appeared on PCs, people needed to go through each installment one at a time.

White Day 2 essentially tells the story of three people, rather than just follow one person like White Day: A Labyrinth Named School did with Lee Hui-min. So in the first episode, people follow Jung Soo-jin and her crush as they’re trapped at Yeondu high school. The second covers Kang Seo-yeon trying to undo a ritual at the school. Finally, the third episode ties into the first game by having Yoo Ji-min trying to help Han Na-young. 

Here is the first trailer for the console release. It also confirms that there will be a physical PS5 version of the game available, in addition to the digital PS5 and Xbox Series X ones.

Author
Jenni Lada

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The Pokemon Company President Compares Pokemon and Shogi

1 month ago

The Pokemon Company President Compares Pokemon and Shogi

The Pokémon Company President Tsunekazu Ishihara and professional shogi player Sota Fujii sat down for a conversation in a recent article published in the Japanese newspaper Yomiuri Shimbun. The two discussed the similarities between Pokemon and shogi. [Thanks, Game Watch!]

During the interview, President Ishihara said that he has enjoyed playing shogi since childhood as it has been around longer than Pokemon. Meanwhile, Fujii said that he hadn't had much experience with Pokemon until recently but that he has played Pokemon GO.

Ishihara and Fujii commented that both Pokemon and shogi are similar, as both are "mind sports" that promote strategic thinking abilities in 1v1 player scenarios. In both games, players need to observe their opponent’s movements and plan their own moves ahead.

Ishihara jokingly added that, in the 5 and 6-year-old categories for both games, there are some naughty children competing, and the people responsible for both Pokemon and shogi tournaments want them to compete calmly and make it a rule to shake hands and promote sportsmanship behavior.

Author
Daniel Bueno

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Glover Heads to Another Console With Evercade Port

1 month ago

Glover Heads to Another Console With Evercade Port

Glover is coming back once again, and this time a new port of it will appear on the Evercade console and handheld. It will show up in the Piko Interactive Collection 4 on April 30, 2024 for $19.99/£17.99€19.99.

Glover started out as an N64 and PC game back in the day, before eventually heading to the PlayStation as well. It stars a wizard’s glove named Glover trying to retrieve lost crystals that were transformed into balls in a platformer adventure. In 2021, Piko Interactive shared an early rom of the N64 version. This was followed by its PC return in 2022. It is also eventually heading to the PS4, PS5, Switch, and Xbox Series X

First, here’s the trailer showing how the new port of Glover looks when running on an Evercade alongside the other Piko Interactive Collection 4 games.

Author
Jenni Lada

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Mario Vs. Donkey Kong Review, Xbox Games Coming To Switch? | All Things Nintendo

1 month ago

All Things Nintendo

This week on All Things Nintendo, Brian and Kyle start the show by covering news surrounding Splatoon 3, Princess Peach: Showtime!, Sonic Superstars, Xbox's "business update," and more. Then, Charles joins the show to share his review of Mario vs. Donkey Kong, while Kyle talks about his experience with the Tomb Raider I-III Remastered collection.

If you'd like to follow Brian on social media, you can do so on his Instagram/Threads @BrianPShea or Twitter @BrianPShea. You can follow Kyle on Twitter: @KyleMHilliard and BlueSky: @KyleHilliard. You can follow Charles on Twitter (@chuckduck365).

The All Things Nintendo podcast is a weekly show where we celebrate, discuss, and break down all the latest games, news, and announcements from the industry's most recognizable name. Each week, Brian is joined by different guests to talk about what's happening in the world of Nintendo. Along the way, they'll share personal stories, uncover hidden gems in the eShop, and even look back on the classics we all grew up with. A new episode hits every Friday!

Author
Brian Shea

700 Ubisoft workers strike in France over failed salary negotiations

1 month ago

Over 700 unionised Ubisoft employees working across the company's French studios have taken part in an organised day of strike action after annual salary negotiations collapsed.

The strike, organised by French game workers union STJV (Syndicat des Travailleurs et Travailleuses du Jeu Vidéo), took place on 14th February across Ubisoft's Paris, Montpellier, Annecy, Lyon, and Bordeaux studios. The STJV had called for action at the start of this month, saying annual salary negotiations had reached an unsatisfactory conclusion.

"In recent weeks," the STJV wrote in a statement shared at the time, "Mandatory Annual Negotiations on salaries have taken place in several Ubisoft entities in France, and the STJV was obviously present. Despite concerted efforts by union organisations to find an acceptable compromise, negotiations hit a wall."

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Author
Matt Wales

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Review: One Punch Man World Offers a Surprising Amount of Depth

1 month ago

Review: One Punch Man World Is A Thrilling Fighting Game With A Surprising Amount of Depth

When One Punch Man: World was first announced, I was a bit apprehensive as I've always had a slight bias against mobile games with heavy action at the center of their gameplay. While I know projects such as Genshin Impact have long proven that intense combat can be incredible on mobile platforms, I've mainly found myself opting out for console versions of these titles. I was surprised when I discovered that One Punch Man: World is one of the best fighting games with adventure elements I've played in some time.

Full disclosure: I am a casual fighting game player at best. So, this review will be from the perspective of someone who is familiar with the genre, but isn't a master at it by any means. That said, I had a blast with my time playing One Punch Man: World. At its core, the game is anchored by a campaign that is currently divided into seven "arcs." Each one centers around a specific hero's story and is broken into "episodes" with heavy cutscenes.

Author
Brent Koepp

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Final Fantasy VII Rebirth Cover Story - Newfound Freedom

1 month ago

The launch of 1997’s Final Fantasy VII on Playstation signaled a seismic shift in the video game landscape. The transition from pixel art to fully animated computer graphics was a massive enough leap ahead, but the beauty of this classic title was much more than skin deep. Featuring a stellar cast of beloved characters, a rock-solid combat system, and a story with the potential to instill emotions ranging from awe and joy to grief and anger, the legacy of Final Fantasy VII is well-established in the RPG genre and the games industry as a whole. Read more...

Author
Brian Shea

Katsuhiro Harada Started Brainstorming Tekken 8 Character Azucena 7 Years Ago

1 month ago

Katsuhiro Harada Started Brainstorming Tekken 8 Character Azucena Seven Years Ago

Tekken 8 Producer Katsuhiro Harada revealed exactly when he started thinking about new character Azucena. When sharing a social media post from a fan, he noted that he’s been thinking about creating the newcomer for about seven years. 

This means that around 2017, Harada was probably thinking about the concept behind the character. He noted the idea for her first started coming to mind then. As a reminder, Tekken 7 debuted on consoles and PCs back in 2017. So this means he’d been thinking about her since around the last installment. 

Here’s the full post about the Tekken 8 character Azucena Harada made on social media.

https://twitter.com/Harada_TEKKEN/status/1758487406070931594

Author
Jenni Lada

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Palworld Devs to Add Player Lists, Anti-Cheat, to Combat Cheating

1 month ago

Palworld Anti-cheat

Pocketpair, developer of Survival-Crafting-Creature-RPG Palworld, announced plans to implement anti-cheat features to game, beginning with Player Lists set to arrive in a February 2024 update. These are intended to combat cheating on official servers, but will be optional additions for solo and community-run worlds.

In the statement, Pocketpair reported that it confirmed some connection issues with official servers, which it attributed to the influence of cheaters. The company also affirmed its zero-tolerance policy towards such activities, and it said it is working on dealing with it as a priority.

As part of these countermeasures, the company noted it plans to add player lists and anti-cheat software to Palworld. The player lists feature, which is intended to help identify and ban cheaters, is set to arrive sometime during February 2024, but there is currently no date for the addition of the anti-cheat software.

You can find the full statement from Pocketpair in the tweet below:

https://twitter.com/Palworld_EN/status/1758485035517374815

Author
Elliot Gostick

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Elden Ring publishers Bandai Namco cancel at least five games, target future “emphasis on quality”

1 month ago

Coming off of 2022’s biggest game in Elden Ring has been a tricky time for Bandai Namco, it seems. The publishers have announced that they have cancelled “at least” five games in the works to help overcome a significant drop in income over the last year, adopting a new approach to development that will focus on quality.

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Author
Matt Jarvis

Pikachu Tail Pillow Marks Pokemon Center Online Japan 8th Anniversary

1 month ago

Pikachu Tail Pillow giveaway lottery in Japan

Pokemon Center Online Japan is celebrating its eighth anniversary by holding numerous promotions. One of them is a sweepstake that rewards a Pikachu tail pillow. The large pillow will have an overall length of 110cm (~43.3 inches).

People who want to get this pillow will have to undergo numerous steps to enter the sweepstake. First, they must register an account on the Japanese Pokemon Center Online website and opt to receive mail magazines. They can then receive an email that will contain a link to enter the sweepstake.

Users who have applied must also provide a valid and contactable Japanese address for the store to send the item physically. They must not delete the account until the store starts determining the winners on March 1, 2024, and informs the winners a few days later.

Author
Kite Stenbuck

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Report: Respawn Developing A First-Person Mandalorian Game

1 month ago

Respawn Entertainment Mandalorian

We know that Respawn Entertainment, the team behind Titanfall, Apex Legends, and the Star Wars: Jedi series, has a couple of unannounced Star Wars games in the works. It’s unclear what form those projects are taking, but according to one report, one of them may star a Mandalorian.

Insider Gaming reports that its sources have disclosed that Respawn is developing a first-person title in which players assume the mantle of a Mandalorian. For clarification, players do not play as the Mandalorian, as in Din Djarin from the hit Disney Plus series, but rather as a different bounty hunter. The game is reportedly set during the height of the Galactic Empire and will see players capturing or killing bounty targets.

Additionally, Insider Gaming’s sources claim the game is not an open-world title. Instead, it will feature more linear levels set across multiple planets. Gameplay is said to emphasize “mobility” and “style” while also being “very fast-paced.” Players will have access to Mandalorian gadgets such as a jetpack (used to execute a variety of aerial maneuvers), grapple hook, wrist rocket, and a visor for scanning and tagging enemies. The project is allegedly a year or two away from release. 

Author
Marcus Stewart

Skull and Bones Review In Progress – Better Than You Think

1 month ago

As an outgrowth of the naval combat experiences in the Assassin's Creed series, I've been curious about Skull and Bones since its announcement as a standalone title in 2017. Since then, the game has seen numerous delays and fundamental reworks on the development side. Our cover story on the game captured one moment in the evolving project’s life in the summer of 2022, and it has continued to change in the months that followed. In recent weeks, some sentiments on the internet and in gaming communities have concluded that, by this point, the game that is releasing must be a mess.

I’m happy to report that’s not the case; Skull and Bones is a lot of fun.

Review access only opened up a few days ago, and the game on offer is exceptionally dense and large, so we’re still working on pulling together a complete review. But in the meantime, as the game comes into full release for all players today, I wanted to share that you should consider setting aside your preconceptions about Skull and Bones, and evaluating it in its finished form.

Author
Matt Miller