Game Informer

The original Mass Effect trilogy has been out since the conclusion back in 2013 with the third game’s final DLC. With so many newcomers and returning fans having now had a chance to enjoy what the Mass Effect Legendary Edition has to offer, we figured now was the perfect time to drop some truth bombs regarding a galaxy that gifted us with purpose, family, and everybody’s favorite Turian. If you want even more about the universe BioWare created, you can also check out our expanded lore breakdown here. But first, let's get to some of those juicy facts. 

HBO is hard at work on its The Last of Us TV adaptation based on the first game by Naughty Dog. With more and more casting choices being revealed alongside Pedro Pascal (Joel) and Bella Ramsey (Ellie) for the upcoming series, one group of talented Hollywood VFX artists took to the world Naughty Dog gave us themselves to create their own The Last of Us fan film. And you know what? It's impressive! 

The film was created by Josh Toonen, a VFX artist who tells Game Informer that he's worked on experiences such as Star Wars IX: Rise of Skywalker and Godzilla vs. Kong and that those experiences heavily inspired his The Last of Us take. Called Stay, this is an original story set within The Last of Us' world, which you can see for yourself in the video below: 

With the Madden NFL 22 release date right around the corner for August 20, Electronic Arts wanted to show a little more about the upcoming sports entry with its latest EA Play Live Spotlight showcase. With EA doing its own thing instead of E3 2021, the company has been sprinkling out deeper dives throughout the entire month of July, with even more on the way. First, there was more about Battlefield 2042 and Apex Legends, and then there was the Independent Studios spotlight. Now, it's Madden's time to shine. 

With the frustration that surrounded the current entry in the Madden franchise palpable concerning a lack of new features, the studio wants fans to know that this feedback has been heavily weighted with the newest game. While modes like The Yard, Face of the Franchise, and Madden Ultimate Team return in Madden NFL 22, more features have been added to make the experience more immersive and realistic, especially with coach interactions and field strategy. With this week's Spotlight, the dev team talked a little more about some of the features fans can expect to see, including a closer look at Scouting. 

Cris Tales hits tomorrow across nearly every major platform, and the review embargo has officially lifted. Unfortunately, I'm not ready to deliver a verdict on the new role-playing title, so instead, I'm going to give you my early impressions from the opening hours of this pretty throwback RPG.

Pokémon Go Fest returned this past weekend for its 5th year, allowing trainers from all over the world to get out and try to catch ‘em all. Participants were able to join the fun from anywhere by purchasing a Go Fest ticket in the app to unlock special challenges and events throughout the weekend. Those who did buy a ticket helped put on a virtual Pokémon concert and were treated to rotating habitats allowing for even more types of monsters to catch than normal.

Obviously, this year’s Go Fest was very different from last year’s all-virtual event. Niantic decided on a hybrid event this time and threw celebrations in over 20 cities around the world while allowing those who couldn’t make it in person or chose to play at a safe distance to work together towards global challenges. Because of this flexible nature, trainers hit some very impressive numbers while celebrating Go Fest 2021:

Are you ready for some Overwatch fun in the sun? The Summer Games event returns tomorrow, July 20, with new skins and is expected to last until August 10, plenty of time to get in some raucous games of Lucioball. That’s right, the Lucioball game mode is returning. If you somehow haven’t had a chance to play it yet, now’s the time. It’s kind of like football (soccer) with its own special mechanics, basically lots of zooming around and blasting balls into goals. 

Weekly challenges are in play for players to complete and earn legendary skins. New skins are in the pool here and have been showcased on Blizzard’s social channels, if you want a quick look at some of the fashion options that are perfect for summer Overwatch.

Treat yo’self.

Scoop up your enemies as Sprinkles Mei [Legendary] in Overwatch Summer Games, live tomorrow! pic.twitter.com/X1inJP6oOE

Today, Ubisoft unveiled the latest chapter in the Tom Clancy franchise: Tom Clancy’s XDefiant. A free-to-play first-person shooter, XDefiant is a Ubisoft original with no narrative ties to other IPs like The Division, Rainbow Six, or Ghost Recon (however, there are some direct influences that I’ll bring up later). In fact, XDefiant doesn’t have a story mode; it’s a 6v6 free-to-play multiplayer-only title. In the announcement trailer that dropped today, developers showed off a bevy of gameplay, talked about the cool features coming to the game, and enthusiastically stated that Tom Clancy’s XDefiant is “fast-paced firefights meets punk rock mosh pits.”

With the Nintendo Switch OLED announced with direct ethernet access in the dock, an improved screen, and other small upgrades, many in the hybrid platform community love the next step for the handheld. That being said, there have been several rumors and reports that have followed up the reveal, including that there is a new model (the long-rumored Switch Pro) still in the works and that the profit margin for the OLED is higher than the standard Switch. Both have been firmly shut down by Nintendo itself. 

The time has finally come for Respawn to start dropping teasers focused on the next character in Apex Legends. Season 10 is just around the corner, and like the other seasons that came before it, we’re likely going to get a new addition to the growing roster of playable combatants as well as possible map changes (or, hopefully, an entirely new one!). In a new Stories from the Outlands trailer, the next legend, Seer, was announced. 

The short trailer delved into Seer’s backstory – his tumultuous, unique birth and eventual rise to power. Seer is born in a dimly lit high rise apartment in an appropriate cinematic fashion as an asteroid crashes into his home planet’s moon. His mother bears the moth's mysterious mark, which renders Seer a cursed child when he enters the world. His eyes are glossed over; ghostly white. As the narrator puts it, “Refuse the child’s gaze or be undone. Once glance will reduce a mountain to dust.” You can watch the origin story above.

Not long after Nintendo revealed its Switch OLED handheld, Valve came out and said, "hold my beverage of choice," and revealed its Steam Deck machine. A larger and clunkier version of the Switch, at least in appearance, the Valve machine's library opens up far beyond Nintendo's library, giving players a chance to check out games like Baldur's Gate 3 and other library picks from anywhere they choose with the handheld. That being said, not every game is playable on the newly revealed platform, so here is the list of games you can't play on Steam Deck. 

Games You Can't Play On Steam Deck

Before we dive into the "why" you can't play these games on the Steam Deck, let's first look at the games themselves: 

• Apex Legends
• Black Desert Online
• DayZ
• Dead by Daylight
• Destiny 2
• Fall Guys
• Hunt: Showdown
• Paladins
• PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG)
• Rainbow Six Siege
• Smite

As a dedicated Destiny 2 player myself, that Bungie inclusion hurts a little bit because I smacked down a pre-order as soon as the broken Steam Store finally opened up the floodgates. While disappointing, there is actually an understandable reason why certain games couldn't make that final stretch. 

Grand Theft Auto has always had a robust modding community, but many of the GTA modders in the scene are finding themselves in Take-Two's crosshairs. While takedown notices have been a thing in the past from Take-Two, especially earlier this year when looking at Vice City, it appears that the company is ramping up the aggression towards Grand Theft Auto mod creators and has been for the past several weeks. 

The latest wave of takedowns has been targeting some of the bigger mod projects out there, including the total conversion mod called GTA: Liberty City. For those that may not know, this mod recreated Grand Theft Auto 3 using Vice City's engine (not unlike Skywind over in camp Bethesda). As spotted by PC Gamer, GTA: Liberty City is no longer listed as available. The same can be said of GTA: underground, the Liberty City Stories ports, and more. 

Amazon Games’ upcoming MMORPG New World goes into a closed beta state this week. In fact, it goes live tomorrow! If you already prepurchased the game, you are guaranteed a spot in this beta phase, which showcases a number of features that we had a chance to try out in a lengthy preview demo session. Over the course of a few hours, we played the Outpost PVP mode and had a chance to dive into an end-game dungeon called an expedition.

Outpost is essentially a game of Domination with some quirks. With three capture locations and two teams, one team seeks to secure the most points and accrue points until victory is achieved. Of course, it’s not quite that simple and there are some other elements in play as well during this PVP endeavor. Wildlife and resource nodes are dotted across the map, and these can be used to bolster your cap points with additional defenses. Therefore, you can’t just sit around and defend your holdings if you want to have the best shot at winning, you have to actively get out there and grab some tools to help that victory happen. There’s also a boss that spawns occasionally that incites the action to pool in one location for a big bonus - kind of like killing Roshan in Dota 2 or Baron in League of Legends.

Another EA Play showcase is coming up this week following several EA Spotlight events to give a closer look at what the publisher has going on under its proverbial umbrella. Electronic Arts has already confirmed that there will be no Mass Effect, Dragon Age, or Star Wars news, and now the studio behind Skate is also confirming the same. While a bummer, that doesn't mean there isn't anything to show for those that like to kickflip and ollie with the best of them. 

The game's official Twitter account confirmed the EA Play no-show with an opener that is so on brand, it hurts. The letter to fans starts out by saying, "holy @%$*!... it's been a year!?!?" This was referencing when it was confirmed that a new Skate was on the way, meaning a whole year since we've heard anything at all regarding the upcoming game. The message continued, saying: "What have we been up to? Well, we formed a studio back in January, got a bunch of super talented people to join the family, and we've been working hard on the new game. Now, we know many of you were hoping to see more from us this week, but we're not ready for prime time just yet, and we won't be a part of the EA Play Live show on Thursday. It's still early, and we are committed to doing this right, which means it's going to take some time."

Back in 2005, the original Psychonauts stood as one of the better platformers on the market. Its bizarre yet humorous world is populated with interesting characters and an engaging story, wrapped within a fun use of platforming and creative psychic powers. But platforming mechanics have come a long way since then and fans have been clamoring to know more about what happens to Raz and company since the Rhombus of Ruin VR title.

That all changes this August, as developer Double Fine is set to return to the world of Psychonauts and bring its iconic platformer to the contemporary age of video games. In Psychonauts 2, fans will be introduced to new powers, brains to explore, and a deeper dive into Raz's history as he sets out to save the organization he's dreamed of being a part of.

If that sounds up your alley, then you've come to the right place. Join Blake Hester and Alex Stadnik as they walk you through the latest levels they got to go hands-on with and explain what works and what doesn't in Double Fine's return to the series that started it all. On top of the brand new looks at some previously unseen playspaces, we'll also be highlighting our experience with the new abilities and combat encounters as well!

Psychonauts 2 moves at a mile a minute. At every turn, the game throws something new and unexpected your way, to warp your perception of both the game's universe and your understanding of its mechanics; it constantly moves between different ideas, level designs, and gimmicks. And while we only played for few hours during a recent hands-on preview event, we're hopeful the rest of the package maintains this pace – even if the game doesn't always feel as tight as we want it to.

Saying we "only" had a few hours does a disservice to the plethora of stuff we saw in Psychonauts 2. After playing through four different levels of the game, we were able to see a variety of the story, characters, and different gameplay concepts.

Firstly, we checked out the game's opening. Psychonauts 2 picks up right after the events of the first Psychonauts, released in 2005, as well as the events of the VR exclusive Psychonauts in the Rhombus of Ruin, released in 2017. After saving Truman Zannato, the head of the Psychonauts, from the evil Dr. Lobatto, Razputin "Raz" Aquatto has the chance to live out his dream: joining the ranks of this psychic organization tasked with maintaining world peace. His first mission: infiltrating Lobatto's mind and figure out who the villain might've been working with.

If you’ve been indulging in our week-long celebration of all things Legend of Zelda, then there's a good chance that the series is a cherished part of your life as it has been with so many others. Some of those fans have gone on to become creators themselves, crafting their own worlds and stories that pay homage to Link’s adventures while adding unique twists. 

That’s why, to close out Zelda Week, we want to put a spotlight on upcoming games worth keeping an eye on that take a few pages out of the Zelda playbook.  Some of these games copy the series' formula to the letter. Others spin it out into wildly different directions. Need something to hold you over until the sequel to Breath of the Wild or the next 2D game? We think these titles will scratch that itch and then some.

Most of us have our favorite bars. The place that our mind travels to for a quick pit stop, a lengthy hangout with friends, or simply a good excuse to people watch. A good bar, a "feels like home" bar, is not about the drinks, ironically enough. Sure, a good cocktail lends itself into the equation of what makes a "good bar," but the real meat of the matter is the feeling a place evokes. The ambiance that can be witnessed, the familiarity that sinks into your skin, the energy of the passersby. That "go-to" bar is more about the experience than the drink in hand. With games becoming more and more immersive every year, it got me thinking: how do bars in video games compare? And the ones that I found myself drawn to, what made them so special? So memorable? 

The best bars in gaming are always going to be subjective, but diving more into the more emotional and humanistic complexities of some of our favorite places brings us to this moment in time. That's right, we're ranking some of our favorite bars in video games! 

When we speak of games, genres and playstyles become an easy shorthand to relay information; if you enjoy this game, you'll probably like this other game that is like it. That can be a powerful way to communicate recommendations, but it can also be a dangerous crutch when encountering something new. That's the case with Oath: Chronicles of Empire and Exile. As a board game that defies easy classification or comparison, it may be hard to decide if it's a good fit for your gaming group. But for those hungry for novelty, innovation, and strategic gameplay that reveals new layers after each playthrough, Oath is a standout success.

Leder Games has developed a reputation for asymmetric gameplay designs, and that dynamic is clear as you pull back the lid on Oath to start your first game. In this one- to six-player game, players adopt the roles of competing individuals attempting to control a vast fantasy empire. One player takes on the part of the Chancellor, the beset ruler of the land, desperately trying to cling to power against a tide of military and political challenges to his rule. Those challenges primarily come from the other players around the table, who begin the game as Exiles, each of whom may or may not become a Citizen along the way. While each player may pursue different ends and victory conditions, you’re ultimately seeking to grab control so that you may lead the empire in subsequent eras.

It’s hard to deny Halo’s influence on the greater gaming landscape. For decades, Halo has been one of Microsoft’s biggest gaming brands, and it helped establish the original Xbox as a gaming console of note. However, in all that time, we’ve never gotten a really good look at the series iconic hero.

Most gamers know very well what Master Chief’s armor looks like, but what about his face? The original developer, Bungie, often said that this was intentional, that it helped fans better identify with Chief. In a 2007 interview with IGN, lead writer Frank O'Connor said, “Revealing his face is not as important as revealing the outcome of the events of the universe around him.”

However, none of that has stopped Halo’s developers from teasing fans with near glimpses. At the end of the original Halo: Combat Evolved, Chief removed his helmet, and it looked like we were about to get a good look at what is under that shell until the camera panned away. Those who beat Halo 4 on Legendary difficulty even got a tight close-up of Chief’s eyes, so we know what those look like.

This secrecy seems a bit strange, however, because we basically know what Chief looks like. The 2003 sci-fi novel from William C. Dietz called Halo: The Flood told us that Chief was about seven feet tall, had short brown hair, and his skin was unnaturally pale (because he never takes off that dang helmet).

We’re in the middle of what’s considered a slower time of the year for game releases, but there are still some gems to be uncovered in the coming weeks, like OMNO. OMNO is an adventure game made by solo German developer Jonas Manke also know by his studio name, StudioInkyfox. He’s been working on this, his first game, by himself for the better part of five years, and even had a successful round of Kickstarter funding back in late 2018. Now, set to release this month, OMNO is nearing the long-awaited finish line.

OMNO is a 3D platformer with “puzzles, hidden secrets, and obstacles to overcome,” according to its website. Its globe-headed main character uses a magical staff with tons of functional applications allowing the player to fly or glide through the air and dash to cover large. You can even stylishly surf on the artifact to traverse OMNO’s more open areas. The newest trailer shows off many of these actions and locations you can look forward to exploring, both safely on the ground and high up in the clouds.

Click image thumbnails to view larger version

In October 2020, Rainbow Six Extraction (originally called Rainbow Six Quarantine) was pushed back due to COVID-19. Now the upcoming co-op experience is getting a new release window alongside the new name by being hit one with more pushback. Ubisoft has confirmed that Rainbow Six Extraction is delayed until 2022. 

The Ubisoft Extraction team took to the studio's blog to update fans on the game's current status. The studio wants to make sure that the unique features in the game are all working the way Ubisoft intends, with the goal of delivering a near-perfect online experience for those eager to drop into Extraction. For the full statement: "Our ambition with Rainbow Six Extraction is to deliver a full-fledged AAA experience that changes the way you play and think about cooperative games. With unique features like Missing In Action or The Sprawl, every mission is set to be a tense and challenging experience in which you’ll lead the elite operators of Rainbow Six in a fight against a lethal and evolving alien threat."

This happened to many of us growing up: a parental figure who knows nothing about video games saw us controlling that little, green elf-man on the television and asked us what we were playing. You probably tried to explain that this is not simply Mario or "Poké-man." This is an epic narrative with endearing personalities and spellbinding music; this is The Legend of Zelda. And, yes, they’re right to immediately assume that you were playing as the titular character because why wouldn’t you be? 

Since the first mainline chapter in Nintendo’s acclaimed series was released back in 1986, Link has consistently emerged as the playable protagonist of The Legend of Zelda series. But what about the heroine that the entire franchise is named after? Zelda’s time to shine is long overdue, and as the literal reincarnation of an omniscient goddess, gaming’s favorite princess has always been more than a damsel in distress. 

Despite what many skateboarding games would have you believe, the real-life sport isn’t all about collecting floating letters, racking up points with an invisible combo system, or leaping over rings of fire and other absurd stunts. It’s just about going with the flow and enjoying the ride. The Ramp, a new skateboarding title coming this August, offers a no frills take on the genre that focuses on the inherent purity and fun that comes from simply skateboarding. 

The Ramp is described as a “digital skateboarding toy” by creator and sole developer Paul "Hyperparadise" Schnepf. Hop on your board and pull off tricks while relaxing to a laid-back soundtrack and an overall chill atmosphere. There’s nothing to unlock, you aren’t being scored, and, believe it or not, you don’t kill anything (except maybe any stress you’re carrying). Just mellow out and enjoy the calming art direction and smooth animations. Hyperparadise describes The Ramp's gameplay as easy to grasp but difficult to master, and the game features four levels: a half-pipe, an empty pool, a skate bowl, and, per the title, a towering ramp. 

More faces are joining HBO's The Last of Us TV series, this time with the inclusion of a brand new character that we can only assume is meant to help bridge the gap between the adaptation and the first game of the Naughty Dog franchise. Joining Pedro Pascal (The Mandalorian) and Bella Ramsey (Game of Thrones) are Jeffrey Pierce (Castle Rock and the Last of Us video games), Murray Bartlett (Nashville), and Con O'Neill (Lord of the Rings: The Return Of The King).

The confirmation of the latest casting news comes via Deadline for the HBO TV take that is set to take place within the timeline of the first game. Kantemir Balagov is scheduled to direct the pilot episode for the co-production between PlayStation Productions, Sony Pictures Television, Word Games, The Mighty Mint, and Naughty Dog itself. The Last of Us TV series also has two new directors with Jasmila Žbanić (Aida) and Ali Abbasi (Border), which were both revealed back in May. The pair joins Chernobyl creator Craig Mazin as the team works alongside Naughty Dog for creative direction. 

Zelda fans rejoice! Skyward Sword HD is finally on the Nintendo Switch and we have good news for people who can't get enough from Link and company. Whether this is your first time taking to the skies on a Loftwing or are returning for another playthrough, the new quality of life improvements, updated controls, and a shiny new coat of HD graphics make this the best version of Skyward Sword, according to our official GI review.

In celebration of Skyward Sword HD's release, we're jumping back into the game to continue to show off all the new improvements fans can expect if they choose to buy it today. Now I know what you're thinking. Alex, the last time you streamed, we only got to see 40 minutes of the game. Fear, not my friends, for today Liana Ruppert and I are giving you a proper stream and will be showing off an even meatier look at the new Switch title live at 10 a.m. CT!

The next Path of Exile expansion, Expedition, is hitting next Friday on July 23 alongside Path of Exile: Royale. That’s right, the mode that was once an April Fool’s joke made reality is getting a lot more attention and real resources. While the new goodies drop on July 23 for PC, console players on Xbox and PlayStation will have to wait until July 28 for the drop. Oh, and if you’re a long-time Path of Exile player, there’s something else that will really excite you about this update - an overhaul to the flask system.

First, Expedition tasks players with negotiating with the mysterious Kalguur. Players discover numerous hidden artifacts that they must return to their Kalguur owners for big rewards. Through clever use of explosives, players carve out a strategic path to unearth these lost treasures. Of course, you’re going to have to fight plenty of nasty foes along the way. You can trade these resources with new vendors that let you haggle for bargains and deals.

On this week's episode of The Game Informer Show, we talk all the big releases of the week, including The Legend Of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD and ... well that's about it actually. But, it's still a full show! This week, we dedicated the entire episode towards celebrating one of our favorite gaming franchises. In addition to talking about the recent Skyward Sword review, we reminisce about our favorite Zelda moments, pitch our ideas for our dream Zelda title, and then answer a whole round of Zelda-themed community questions. Did I say Zelda yet? It's a great time, so please join us even if you don't know The Legend of Zelda inside and out.

So please join Alex Stadnik (@Studnik76), Liana Ruppert (@DirtyEffinHippy), Brian Shea (@BrianPShea), and Ben Reeves (@Benjaminreeves) for a new wild and ever-entertaining episode!

You want to be the best and most effective gamer in your household, workplace, or wherever you usually find yourself playing to dominate the scoreboard. But the sad fact is that most gaming headsets simply aren’t designed for hardcore gamers who need every single bell and whistle to sustain those super long playtimes without losing any edge.

Going with the time-tested Astro A40 has always been a fabulous option, but if you think you know everything you need to know about it given its original 2014 release, think again. This 2021 edition of the classic Astro A40 headset delivers one of the highest-quality gaming audio experiences that you can buy in 2021. And it’s only in the ballpark of $149.99, making it super competitive against other similarly marked headphones.

The A40 TR features lightweight yet rugged construction, and the premium materials that it uses are unmatched in competing headsets. You will definitely want a pressure-free fit that won’t overheat your head after long periods of usage, and the A40 is all about it. The ear cushions feature cloth for maximum comfort, backed with synthetic leather for the best acoustic performance, and it even comes with a swappable boom microphone.

Zelda Week 2021 rolls on and we're here to stream one of the best games in the series: The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Feel free to jump in the chat and debate us on that. However, we're not just streaming the base game, we're going to tackle the Trial of the Sword.

In case you missed it when it was released in 2017, the Master Trials DLC was the first batch of DLC for Breath of the Wild. That update included a new area called the Trial of the Sword, which was a series of 45 rooms, each filled with various enemies out for Link's blood. Link starts this trial naked and itemless, so you must build your arsenal as you go. Thankfully, you retain any hearts and stamina bars you’ve earned during the base game, so it's still best to play this area late in the game. As you kill enemies and go from room to room, you keep any equipment and food you scavenge. The Trial of the Sword is known for offering a solid challenge, and dying means you have to restart the run from the very beginning, so we'll see if Alex has the fortitude to make it through the whole trail during our stream.

The Master Trials had a few other notable goodies including new costumes and a new difficulty setting for hardcore players, so maybe we'll get to show some of that stuff off during the stream if we have time.

Valve has been quiet on their hardware front for a while. That is until they announced the first big competitor to Nintendo’s Switch. This December, Valve will be releasing their very own handheld PC they’re calling the Steam Deck.

In a press release sent to Game Informer, Valve describes some of the hardware included in their mobile gaming device, saying: “Steam Deck is a powerful all-in-one portable PC. With a custom processor developed in cooperation with AMD, Steam Deck is comparable to a gaming laptop with the ability to run the latest AAA games. Your Steam library will be on Deck to play games wherever and whenever you want. Steam Deck is also an open PC, adding the ability to install any software or connect with any hardware.” 

This new processor co-developed by AMD and is optimized for handheld using AMD’s Zen 2 and RDNA 2 architecture, and sports 16GB of LPDDR5 RAM. The Steam Deck will be available with 64GB, 256GB, or 512gb of onboard storage, which can be added onto with micro-SD cards.

Click image thumbnails to view larger version

There is no shortage of games that will provide your Zelda fix, many of which take ideas from all over the series. Do you want something that plays more like the original The Legend of Zelda, or maybe a contemporary entry like Breath of the Wild? Some borrow ideas whole cloth, while others cherry-pick concepts and build around those. With Skyward Sword HD releasing on Switch this week, Game Informer is celebrating all things The Legend of Zelda, even those not bearing the name but are heavily inspired by it. We’ve put together a list of games you can play right now that, one way or another, give off a good Hyrule feel. Here are seven Zelda-likes of the past and present you might want to check out.

God of War (2018’s) star, Christopher Judge, is back for more video game shenanigans, except this time he won’t be bellowing “BOY!” from the top of his lungs over and over again. This time Kratos’ phenomenal voice actor will be bringing his talents to Marvel’s Avengers as the King of Wakanda in the game’s upcoming summer DLC package. However, in a short interview with Entertainment Weekly, Judge talked about how his version of Black Panther will be respectfully different from the late Chadwick Boseman’s everlasting portrayal.

Lo-fi isn't really new, but it has seen a surge in popularity over the past year. This genre of music is one designed to make you relax and chill out, which is great because life is hard and things are chaotic. Like, all of the time. Certain Lo-fi tracks are even designed to help you focus. Whether during work or getting some studying time in, this particular musical style is a godsend. Since we're Game Informer and we like to inform you about games, we decided to inform you about some game Lo-fi tracks this time to offer up a little peace to share with our community. 

So, without further ado, here are the 5 best video game Lo-fi channels to listen to for ultimate relaxation that I use on the regular. 

Niantic's annual Pokémon Go Fest kicks off on Saturday and runs through the weekend, giving trainers two full days of questing and catching. Similar to last year's Pokémon Go Fest, this one is worldwide – meaning you can be a part of it from anywhere. The fun begins at 10 a.m. in whatever timezone you are in and runs until 6 p.m. each evening.

You'll need to purchase a ticket to enter the event, take on its new quests, and catch the rare Pokémon that are around for just two days. Tickets are usually $14.99 but have been slashed down to $4.99 this year. You can get your ticket from Pokémon Go's shop.

Niantic says trainers will be able to catch over 75 species of Pokémon. Most will be found in the wild and will appear within their appropriate habitats that cycle every hour. The habitats featured this year are jungle, desert, mountain, ocean beach, and cave. In the jungle, you'll find Pokémon like Scyther and Froakie, whereas the cave will hold Deino and Roggenrola. Shiny Pokémon will also be in great abundance, and a special research task concludes with an encounter against a mythical Pokémon, which will likely be making its debut in Go. Some of the shiny Pokémon you should be on the lookout for are Unown F, Sawk, Audino, and Tympole.

Following numerous Nintendo Switch 2 and Nintendo Switch Pro rumors, the Big N finally revealed the next step for its hybrid console with the OLED model. Announced earlier this month, the specs weren't exactly what Nintendo fans were expecting, but there are still upgrades to be found. Oddly enough, the Switch OLED model also gives the platform direct ethernet connectivity, which is a first for the platform. Interested? Pre-orders for the Nintendo Switch OLED system are set to go live today. 

Nintendo tweeted out the confirmation that pre-orders will be going live on July 15, 2021, at the retailers that fans can find the new units at. Pre-orders aren't live yet, but they are going to be available at 12 p.m. PT / 3 p.m. ET. You can chose the white set or the neon blue/red set that Switch players are already familiar with. Retailers that will be offering the new systems include stores like Best Buy, Target, GameStop, Walmart, Nintendo, Amazon, and more. Basically, all major retailers, which hopefully makes the purchasing process smooth for gamers looking to score the OLED. 

Capcom has confirmed that RE: Verse, the Resident Evil PvP game that was revealed alongside Resident Evil Village, has been delayed until 2022. The company has also confirmed that new launch details will be revealed at a "later time," though a timeframe has not been offered quite yet. 

Taking to the official Resident Evil Twitter account, Capcom delivered the news of the delay with a brief message to fans: "The previously announced July 2021 launch of Resident Evil RE: Verse is being moved to 2022 so that the team can continue working to deliver a smooth gameplay experience. We will share updated launch details at a later time. Thank you for your patience and understanding."

The previously announced July 2021 launch of Resident Evil Re:Verse is being moved to 2022 so that the team can continue working to deliver a smooth gameplay experience. We will share updated launch details at a later time. Thank you for your patience and understanding. pic.twitter.com/o8hP363fjR

Now that the beta periods are all a wrap, Pokémon Unite finally has a release date alongside new details about how to obtain Zeraora and a new trailer. The MOBA take on the Pokémon universe is a different sort of pivot, and now players interested can mark their calendars to check it out, because Pokémon Unite arrives on July 21 on Nintendo Switch

Following adventures like Pokémon Cafe' Mix and Pokémon Smile, Pokémon Unite continues to steer the "catch 'em all" franchise into unique directions, this time bringing some of the most iconic characters in Pokémon into a world not unlike other big MOBAs out there like League of Legends and DOTA 2. The latest trailer offers a closer look at what the game will have to offer, as well as when the cut-off is for snagging Unite license for Zeraora. Zeraora can close the distance between opponents at a drop of a hat to deal massive amounts of damage simultaneously. To get Zeraora, simply log into the Nintendo Switch version of Pokémon Unite before August 31. You'll want to grab it because its Unite move is Plasma Gale, which is basically a ginormous blast of lightning that can create a field of plasma that provides an impressive amount of AoE. 

Shin Megami Tensei V is among the most anticipated role-playing games scheduled for the remainder of 2021, and if the recent screenshots we shared last month didn't sate your hunger for new information, Atlus has another feast for your eyes. While we already know the basics of the story of Shin Megami Tensei V, Atlus just released a new trailer showcasing gameplay footage and the story itself.

In Shin Megami Tensei V, a third-year student of a high school in Tokyo is trapped in a tunnel collapse and pulled into a mysterious desert where he is attacked by demons. As he tries to escape, he is saved by a man named Aogami, who fuses with the protagonist to become a being known as a Nahobino. Together, the two have the power to fight against and sometimes even alongside demons. As the story progresses, the protagonist will be tasked with making difficult choices that can lead to different endings to the story.