Game Informer

While CD Projekt RED itself has been sharing an abundant amount of content regarding Cyberpunk 2077 following several notable delays, the team has tried to keep cohesive story details broken up to give fans something to look forward to. That being said, the street date for Cyberpunk 2077 appears to be broken for at least one person, so be careful online with spoilers because they weren't shy about streaming it. 

The current release date is set for December 10, but Christmas came early as one PS4 player took to streaming the new game. The player chose the Nomad path, bypassing the intro character creation, and chose to share the prologue of the game itself and the beginnings of the story. 

We’re almost there boys. I actually had the game in my hands. from r/cyberpunkgame

There are a few more reported incidents of the street date being broken, but only one, seen above, showing off proof of the game in-hand. We're not going to link the stream but if you're worried about missing anything particularly cool, the stream was pretty uninteresting. The pair gaming seemed pretty out of it and spoke over most of the in-game sound.

Dragon Age's Mike Laidlaw joins Thomas Giroux, Jeff Skalski, and Frederic St. Laurent B. in helming a new independent studio called Yellow Brick Games. 

The creative minds behind Yellow Brick Games have an incredible history making amazing adventures for gamers to enjoy. From Ubisoft's Assassin's Creed and Watch Dogs to BioWare's Mass Effect and Dragon Age, the team behind Yellow Brick Games knows a thing or two about crafting an excellent experience. 

“We have learned a lot from working on world-class, multi-year projects with thousands of colleagues and we want to take a different approach,” said Skalski, the studio’s Executive Producer and Chief Operating Officer. “Leveraging a smaller talented team where people come first, we will create amazing worlds and experiences for all others to enjoy. The market is moving fast, and we have no desire to play catchup and chase it when we can influence where it goes. These goals drove us to found Yellow Brick Games.”

Mike Laidlaw will be assuming the role of Chief Creative Officer with Jeff Skalski as the studio's Executive Producer and Chief Operating Officer, Thomas Giroux as Chief Executive Producer, and Frederic St.Laurent B. as Game Director. 

Sony has just released the PS5 and many players might be curious about how to set up certain system tools or find the best settings for their new console. In this video, we detail the best PlayStation 5 features to learn first when you unbox Sony's next-gen console.

If you enjoyed this video, be sure to check out the 8 best Xbox Series X features, or watch Game Informer's PlayStation 5 review.

The Deadpool movie legacy continues as Marvel Studios and Ryan Reynolds taps the Molyneaux sisters from Bob's Burgers fame for Deadpool 3.

Ryan Reynolds is set to reprise his role as the sarcastic anti-hero with Wendy and Lizzie Molyneaux (who served as writers and executive producers for Bob's Burgers) onset to write the latest movie. As reported by Deadline, meetings with the team have been ongoing all month with Reynolds listening to pitches from writers of all visions. According to the site, Reynolds immediately fell in love with what the Molyneaux sisters brought to Deadpool's story, and the match made in Marvel heaven is officially a "go" to move onto the next step. 

Deadpool 3 is currently in early development but hiring the writing team, especially of this caliber, is the biggest first step when prepping for onsite production. What's also worth noting is that this marks the first movie that will have both Ryan Reynolds and his team working side-by-side with Marvel Studios, including the beloved Kevin Feige. 

Rick and Morty are no strangers to video games. They play the life simulator Roy in an episode of the show on Adult Swim, and they have even starred in their own VR experience (though I didn't love it). But the dimension-hopping duo's latest contribution to the gaming industry is a new ad for the PlayStation 5.

Rick and Morty bring their signature brand of humor to the spot, making it clear multiple times that they are only saying what they've been paid to say. Even so, it's still an entertaining little bit for fans of the show to enjoy. Plus, the irreverent tone is a fun change from other PS5 commercials we've seen so far. See the ad in the tweet below: 

Of course, the saddest part about seeing a commercial for PlayStation 5 is knowing that it will add more people to the growing throngs hoping to buy the system – which means that they could remain difficult to snag. With preorder scares combined with the PS5's online-only launch, obtaining Sony's next-gen console is not as simple as walking into a store or ordering it from any retailer.

So you think you like Super Mario Bros. 3, eh? Do you like it for $156,000, because this collector sure does. A super-rare Super Mario Bros. 3 variant copy of the Nintendo game just broke the world record for the most expensive title, selling for just over the aforementioned amount. 

The sale by Heritage Auction house marks the second time this year that this world record has been beaten regarding a bidding-style sell. Earlier this year, another copy of the first Super Mario Bros. game auctioned off for $114,000, but the third game's variant was seen as more valuable by the community. 

“We couldn't be more pleased about breaking the world record for the second time in the same year,” says Valarie McLeckie, Heritage Auctions’ Director of Video Games. “That said, it's no surprise that another Mario game, which so many of us grew up with, would set the new bar.”

Katamari Damacy Reroll is out today on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, giving those console owners a chance to play a remaster that came out on the Switch and PC a couple years ago. It gives the existing game a coat of HD polish, and, well, that’s about it. And because I’m a tremendous sucker for Katamari Damacy, I immediately downloaded it this morning. Yes, I am part of the problem.

I’ve played the first few levels on my PlayStation 5 via backward compatibility, and it’s exactly what I thought it was going to be: Katamari Damacy. The cutscenes are sharp-looking and it now fills a 16:9 screen, but other than that it’s the same game I fell in love with 16 years ago. Would it have killed Bandai Namco to do more than the absolute minimum effort here? Probably not. Do I wish this were part of a bigger collection of Katamari games? Absolutely! Ultimately, that disappointment melted away the moment I jumped into the first level and started rolling a bunch of stuff into a ball. Like I said, it’s Katamari Damacy.

The Stasis ability is a new class that Destiny 2: Beyond Light offers Guardians and it is a beast. How it functions in PvE vs. PvP has been a major topic of discussion since the new expansion's launch, with some feeling like it shakes things up in the best way and others feeling like the pacing shifts the experience for the worst and is overall imbalanced. Bungie has been listening to all of that feedback and because of that, the Warlock Stasis abilities are getting nerfed. 

"We have seen a lot of feedback on Stasis since Beyond Light launched last week," reads the latest Bungie blog about the new class. "We’ve heard it’s a ton of fun to use, but certain aspects of this new subclass can be frustrating to go up against (looking at you, Shadebinder Warlocks). We have a few minor tweaks planned to go out in Hotfix 3.0.0.3 this week. Our goal here is to do some early tuning to rein Shadebinders back in while still maintaining their overall efficacy and power fantasy. "

The first change with Stasis is that the Breakout Damage is being reduced from 110hp to 90hp. Warlock's melee damage is also getting a reduction by 20% speed and 16m (from 28m) range. 

Recent changes to Stasis impact PvP features like Crucible as well, seeing freeze duration lowered and basically all Warlock attacks being reduced. For the full list of changes: 

Stasis Changes:  

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt got a lot of things right: It had visceral action sequences, evocative characters, dynamic environments, and Gwent – an unexpectedly gripping tabletop game that served as the perfect pastime for anyone who grew tired of incinerating alghouls or chasing after Ciri. I fondly remember committing entire gameplay sessions to building unstoppable decks and entering high-stakes tournaments. Long before the many tweaks that Gwent underwent for its standalone release, the popular card game was refreshingly easy to pick up, even for an amateur tabletop player like me.

Sometimes, I need a break from the overwhelming immensity of contemporary open worlds. Gwent was that perfect reprieve, and by taking inspiration from Gwent, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla’s Orlog has become my latest minigame obsession.

Click image thumbnails to view larger version

Murder House, developed by Puppet Combo, is a survival horror game set in the 1980s. In this live episode of Replay, join Andrew Reiner, Ben Reeves, Dan Tack, and Alex Van Aken as they try to escape a renowned serial killer called The Easter Ripper.

Watch live and chat with us starting at 2:00 P.M. Central!

If you enjoyed this frightening Replay then be sure to check out our recent episodes featuring Dead Space 2 or Amnesia: The Dark Descent.

On this week's episode of Shout! Esports, host Jess Brohard takes you through some of the biggest news you need to know, including 100 Thieves return to the Call of Duty League, how companies such as Blizzard and Twitch are handling their big conventions, and more!

If you enjoyed this week's show, be sure to check out episode one where Jess walks you through her career and tells you what you should focus on if you're looking to become a Twitch streamer, shout caster, or professional content creator!

"It's time to raise the stakes higher than ever before," boasts Rockstar Games about its "biggest update yet" for Grand Theft Auto Online. A new video details what's coming to the online component of GTA V, including the game's first solo heist and a tropical new location to explore. 

GTA Online players will be going to a remote island compound with the Cayo Perico Heist. It's one of the most highly secured private islands in existence, so infiltrating it won't be a walk in the park. From heavily armored guards to high-stakes security systems, getting in, and getting out, with those stolen goods is going to require some heavy strategizing. 

According to Rockstar Games, "The Cayo Perico Heist is the biggest GTA Online adventure ever, introducing an all-new exotic Heist location, with a brand-new approach to Heist design that features the ability to play everything solo or with up to three other players. Plus you can acquire new vehicles and tactical weapons, experience new social spaces to dance and party in with your friends, and new world-class guest DJs, and listen to new radio stations with over 100 new songs. Oh, and a very large, very versatile, and very heavily armed submarine HQ with plenty of other surprises."

First things first: we all know I'm massively obsessed with Dragon Age and Mass Effect. Even my author profile says as much, but I've never done much to hide the fact. Secondly, these backgrounds have apparently been around for awhile now, but I'm always late to the party and just discovered them, but they are...for lack of a better word: dope. 

BioWare offers quite a few animated backgrounds for Zoom calls for Dragon Age, Mass Effect, Anthem, and Star Wars: The Old Republic. Since many of us are still impacted by COVID-19 and the threat of new restrictions looms ahead, Zoom has become an intricate part of our day-to-day, so why not have fun with it? 

These backgrounds are totally free to use, so no worries there, and are really easy to utilize! Download Zoom (a video conferencing software, also free), go into your settings gear wheel in the top right corner, and select the option that says "background & filters." You'll see a few presets in there, but let's be real...why be on a generic beach when you could be on the Normandy instead? Am I right or am I right?

I'm right. 

YOU CAN HAVE ANIMATED MASS EFFECT BACKGROUNDS TOO!?! Why am I so behind on everything?? 😖 pic.twitter.com/2TbDKGDfn9

In this Game Informer podcast extra, we interview several members of the Insomniac team who helped develop Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales. We speak with creative director Brian Horton, game director Cameron Christian, and art director Jason Hickey about how they worked to include the suit from Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse and why their combat looks so cinematic. About halfway through the interview we issue a spoiler warning so we can talk about the story and why Insomniac changed a few popular comic characters. 

If you like this podcast extra and would like to see more of them in the future, drop us a line at Podcast@gameinformer.com. Enjoy the interview.

On the return of Game Informer's Rapid-Fire, digital editor Brian Shea sits down with Ubisoft game director Scott Phillips to discuss the ins-and-outs of his upcoming open-world adventure in Immortals Fenyx Rising!

We discuss all the gods you'll see in the game, whether other Ubisoft characters make an appearance, and see how Scott's return to Rapid Fire compares to his first interview!

If you're excited for Immortals Fenyx Rising, you don't have long to wait, as Ubisoft's next venture into ancient Greece comes to PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PC, and Stadia on December 3!

You can also get more information on the game by clicking on the coverage hub below as we'll be posting more new and exciting looks at Immortals over the next few weeks!

The Xbox Game Pass is a huge game-changer for Microsoft's ecosystem, so much so that the entire vision of the latest generation of Xbox seems to have made a dramatic shift. While Sony has PlayStation Now, its own subscription service, it doesn't offer what the Xbox Game Pass does but it looks like that could be changing according to a recent interview with CEO Jim Ryan. 

Sony Interactive Entertainment CEO Jim Ryan recently opened up to TASS about PlayStation's plans for the future and when the question came up about what the company is doing to compete with the Xbox Game Pass, he mentioned "there is actually news to come" on that very topic. That being said, he did pull attention back to the fact that Sony already does have a membership service with PlayStation Now, a solid subscription feature in itself.

The main different between the PlayStation Now service and the Xbox Game Pass services is that PS Now is rooted in the past, whereas the Xbox Game Pass library is a blend of previous games and new titles on the horizon, especially with no-cost day-on launch title releases. 

If you go back to play the games from your childhood, the graphics may not always look exactly the way you remember them – but you've never seen the classics of video game history quite like this. In the music video above (which we are premiering here on Game Informer), you can see an impressive range of games represented in stunning and stylish paper animation. If you have fond memories of games like Metroid, Punch-Out, and Shovel Knight – or if you just generally like melancholy music – then you should check it out. 

The song is simply called "Video Games," and it is by Minneapolis-based musician Jeremy Messersmith, with visuals by animator Eric Power. The track is the newest installment in Messersmith's Mixtape for the Milky Way project (Spotify), which he describes as "a celebration of sonic minimalism and introspective non-fiction songwriting."

This isn't the first time Messersmith and Power have teamed up; you may remember another paper-animated video for Messersmith's song "Tatooine" making the rounds online several years ago:

Time traveling is one of those aspects in Animal Crossing that players love or loathe, there doesn't seem to be any in between. For those that fancy themselves the New Horizons version of the Doctor (Who), the new Animal Crossing: New Horizons update makes drastic changes to how this workaround functions in-game. 

The new winter update is here and brings with it two events with Turkey Day (on Thanksgiving at 6 AM PT until November 26th) and Toy Day (December 24, with items arriving on December 1st), as well as random dream destinations with the "Surprise me" option with Luna. 

In addition to the usual bug fixes and winter update features that was shown earlier this month, Nintendo has at long last addressed the time-traveling functionality within the game, a trick that players use by changing the time settings on their systems to manipulate time on their islands. 

Now, players will not be able to travel forwards in time for special events, only backward. Players will be able to go backward in time for turnip sales and previous events, but no more sneak peeking future events as of now. 

In 2017, the Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild turned the long-running Zelda franchise on its head in many ways. With serene moments of exploration outnumbering the thunderous battle scenes set to triumphant musical scores, Breath of the Wild gave players a new, perhaps more reflective perspective on the franchise. The Hyrule Warriors spin-off franchise exists in a completely different space; adrenaline-pumping music beats you over the head as you mow through hundreds of enemies within minutes in continual, fast-paced battles.

Set in a post-apocalyptic world, Breath of the Wild begins as Link wakes up after a century-long slumber. We know that he, Zelda, and the Champions lost Hyrule in a major battle many years ago, but until today, that battle has remained largely mysterious. Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity explores the climactic clash between the forces of good and evil 100 years prior to the moment Link awakens in Breath of the Wild.

Now that Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity is out, we asked Zelda series producer Eiji Aonuma, Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity director Ryouta Matsushita, and producer Yosuke Hayashi about the spin-off's relationship with Breath of the Wild.

Cyberpunk 2077 is the gift that keeps on giving with Keanu Reeves, a massive open-world playground, and more weapons than you could possibly keep track of. With the final hands-on preview for the upcoming CD Projekt RED game, we dive deep into what Keanu brings to the table, how does the music stack up to some of the greats, and Silverhand's ability to make people pregnant just by walking past (kidding on that last part).

Join Alex Stadnik and Liana Ruppert as we take you through Night City once more while telling our tales of playing as Johnny Silverhand himself and our thoughts on if the December release date will actually stick this time. 

If you're excited to dive into the world of neon and crime, you don't have to wait long because Cyberpunk 2077 releases on December 10 for Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PC, and Google Stadia. You can also learn more about the game's musical experience with our in-depth interview with the composers behind some pretty epic tracks right here. 

Paul W.S. Anderson's upcoming Monster Hunter movie, based on Capcom's popular video game franchise of the same name, will now be released on December 25, 2020, Sony Pictures announced today. This is the fourth announced release date for the movie. 

Originally slated for a September 4, 2020, release in North America, the movie was pushed back to April 23, 2021 back in July. On October 5, however, Sony announced it was moving Monster Hunter up to December 30, 2020. As of today, the movie's release date has been moved once again; now it is December 25, 2020. The movie's December 4 release date in territories such as China and Europe remains unchanged, as revealed in the movie's latest Chinese trailer, released yesterday. No specific reason was given for the movie's new North American release date. Check out the movie's latest trailer below (via IGN). 

In this week's episode of The Game Informer Show, we discuss a handful of the games we've been playing recently, including Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War, Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity, Demon's Souls, and Destiny 2: Beyond Light. Then, we take a deep dive into the game gracing the cover of our magazine this month: Immortals Fenyx Rising. It's a full show, but we make time for another fantastic round of community emails in there somewhere. So please join Brian Shea, Dan Tack, Matt Miller, Liana Ruppert, Alex Van Aken, and myself for another wild and ever-entertaining episode!

Several days ago, the Souls community started diving deep into Bluepoint's PlayStation 5 Demon's Souls remake to find out what lay beyond a new hidden door. Nestled in 1-3, an illusory wall gave way to a door. A locked door. Today, Twitch streamer Distortion2 is believed to be the first to have unlocked the door and discovered what's beyond. It's a totally cool set of armor, the Penetrator's Armor set. The Penetrator is a boss in Demon's Souls and he has very stylish armor, so picking this up is for the most extreme Demon's Souls fashion experts, especially since it takes quite a bit of work to do it.

We solved the mystery of the hidden door! Thanks for making such a great secret to get all the community involved @bluepointgames Was awesome looking for the coins in SOTC Remake and again in Demon's Souls Remake :D pic.twitter.com/gNpozqEztJ

Destiny 2: Beyond Light has officially kicked off and with it comes a new raid that launches on Friday, November 21. If you're like me, you're itching to see what new sort of hell Bungie has lying in wait, and while we still have a little longer to go, we do have new details about what this new experience will entail for those looking to be among the first to beat it. 

The new raid is called Deep Stone Crypt and will be available at 10 AM PST this Saturday. With new rewards and a challenging new experience, the competition definitely heats up with the return of the Raid Race to be the first team to complete the run.

The race to be the first to beat the new raid kicks off this weekend, with some sweet rewards to the team that wins clean. "Once the raid has been conquered, we will announce that the activity has been completed from @Bungie on Twitter. After this, our teams will start diving into the data to verify that the first completion was clean. Our hope is to be able to announce the winners shortly after World first, but we want to ensure our validation efforts are sound. Ultimately, our goal is to have a post congratulating the winning team on Monday, November 23."

Last month, Resident Evil fans got their first look at the cast for the Resident Evil movie reboot on the way, showing off a star-filled roster for Chris Redfield, Jill Valentine, and more. Towards the tail-end of the month, a leak showed off a few set images from the film, and now we've got even more photos from the upcoming Resident Evil movie reboot to feast those eyes on. 

Our latest look at the upcoming movie shows off a decrepit S.T.A.R.S helicopter and what looks to be Spencer Mansion. That latest onset snaps come by way of the @ROEnetwork account, with four new photos to share: 

Our First Look at what appears to be the Spencer Mansion + NEW photos of S.T.A.R.S. helicopter from the upcoming #ResidentEvil Movie Reboot! 😲🎬🧟‍♂️#ResidentEvilMovie #ResidentEvilReboot pic.twitter.com/ULNsAbk1fQ

From Gary Whitta's Animal Crossing: New Horizons show to President-Elect Joe Biden's campaign hustle, the latest Animal Crossing game has had an immense impact in many ways this past year. As content creators and affiliated groups alike continue to use assets from the simulation game, Nintendo has tightened up its user guidelines to make content surrounding the game more wholesome and "without politics."

Nintendo updated its content guidelines for businesses and organizations this week with an added message of appreciation for all of the love felt. "We deeply appreciate that so many people around the world are having fun with Animal Crossing: New Horizons," opens the latest message from the company. But, the pleasantries stop there. 

The guideline adjustments are meant to preserve the integrity of the community with the growing popularity of using this game for less than recreational purposes. "While our services and products are generally for personal use only, we understand there may be situations in which businesses and organizations would like to use or reference the game in relation to their business. As such, we would like to share a few guidelines with those businesses, organizations, and anyone representing them, to preserve the experience for the millions of people enjoying the game recreationally."

Businesses can use New Horizons in the below ways: 

We recently interviewed the team behind the incredible music of Cyberpunk 2077, but there's one aspect of the new sounds that has a lot of content creators worried. Twitch has been on a very controversial spiel with DMCA takedowns, purging years' worth of content for in-game sounds that honestly should be protected. For those curious about how streaming a game with so many tracks involved, here is how CD Projekt RED is handling the DMCA landscape. 

As noted in our previous coverage way down at the bottom, CD Projekt RED has added a "streamer mode" that will disable the tracks that could qualify to be taken down by DMCA restrictions. This won't remove every track and there won't be any missing holes of sound either. While the affected tracks will be removed, each spot will be filled with a different (original) track that meets DMCA standards. With over 150 tracks available, there is more than enough to filter through in order to keep the immersion going without missing a beat. 

We've got some new Cyberpunk 2077 gameplay to share, diving deeper into the world of Night City with more combat, more NPCs, and a hint at a much bigger story for our not-so-heroic protagonist. CD Projekt RED also detailed a partnership with Google to get a free Premiere Kit for Stadia. 

The latest gameplay shows off more of the world, even more interactions with our beloved Jackie, and a few more adversaries around the way: 

Fast-paced action aside, CD Projekt RED also revealed a new incentive to try out Google Stadia for yourself. For a new promotion, Google is offering a free Stadia Premier kit for anyone that pre-orders Cyberpunk 2077 for that platform. This applies to pre-orders and anyone that buys it post-launch until December 17. As for how many Premiere Kits will be available, Google didn't say, only mentioning that this will be active "while supplies lasts." 

For those that are intrigued by the incentive, you can redeem this promotion by creating a Stadia account (you don't need the paid version here). Once that account is created, you can then pre-order the game through the official Cyberpunk 2077 website to buy the title with that particular platform.

Since its launch in August, additional information on all-new content for Marvel's Avengers has been scarce. Amidst promises of new characters and additional storylines, fans have largely been left in the dark about when Hawkeye, Black Panther, or any of the teased/announced post-launch characters would be arriving in the game. We now finally know that Kate Bishop will kick off the first season of post-launch content next month.

As one of the subsequent characters to take up the Hawkeye name after Clint Barton, Kate Bishop (voiced by Ashly Burch in Marvel's Avengers) is a masterful archer and swordswoman who, in the comics, is a member of the Young Avengers team. In Marvel's Avengers, she joins the team in an effort to travel through time and stop AIM from the next step in its plans following the main campaign story. The action-packed trailer shows off Kate's acrobatic abilities, new enemies, and some returning threats in Operation: Taking AIM.

A good soundtrack can make or break a gaming experience. Pairing the right sounds to the perfect scene is imperative, and setting the stage for what the player feels is an incredibly powerful — and sometimes daunting — task. With Cyberpunk 2077 just around the corner boasting some killer tunes, we sat down with the OST team to learn more about the inspiration behind the sounds of Night City. 

Speaking with Marcin Przybyłowicz (The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt), P.T. Adamczyk (Gwent: The Witcher Card Game), and Paul Leonard-Morgan (Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II), we learned a ton about the tracklist for the highly anticipated action-RPG. While “cyberpunk” tropes may instantly bring to mind such scores as Blade Runner or Deus Ex, this talented team of composers drew inspiration from all sorts of sources, including draws from jazz, through downtempo, hip-hop, metal, industrial, to various incarnations of 90’s techno (rave, trance, etc.); putting an unexpected modernized spin to everything while still keeping a cinematic vibe that pushes and informs the narrative and action.

Ready to learn more about the sounds of Night City? Let's dive right in! 

Among Us may have come out in 2018, but it didn't get its chance to shine until October of this year following the rapid success of Fall Guys (another jelly bean adventure) and the power of Twitch streamers. With a new lease on life, Among Us has a chance to spread its sus little wings and fly off into even more success, and that starts with a new map on the way.

Developer InnerSloth recently shared a first look at the new map over on the game's Twitter page, saying "don't show the imposters!" with the below sneak peek: 

Hungry for more? Keep an eye out for @thegameawards on Dec 10 👀 It's getting reaaaaal suspicious over there.

— Among Us (@AmongUsGame) November 18, 2020

A full reveal will be dropping during this year's Game Awards hosted by Geoff Keighley. This new map will mark the game's fourth, adding a different layout for those suspicious little astronaut jelly beans to take on tasks and try not to die. This also gives imposters new hunting grounds to dominate. 

While the above screenshot doesn't reveal a whole lot, it does look like a cockpit for a different space ship. Some in the comments thought it might be a boat, which we'll see for ourselves next month with the Game Awards. 

Did you miss the last episode of our PlayStation 5 Demon's Souls playthrough? It's right here. In our last exciting chapter, we took on the Flamelurker, chipping off chunks of the mighty enraged creature with a flimsy mace. We also ventured up the mighty spires of Latria, its revamped and revisioned notions of gothic horror shining brightly under the moonlight. If that's not enough, we also took on a Dragon God, a Storm King, and even an Old Hero.  Old Hero found out that the Thief's Ring made us really quiet. We also took out some invaders and did battle with another player in the Old Monk fight to finish off Latria. Sure, we got destroyed a few times on Maneater, but that's authentic souls for ya. Live and uncut! 

But now the journey is reaching its conclusion. In what may be our final episode of this epic Demon's Souls playthrough, we'll be traveling into the Valley of Defilement to take on a pile of garbage, try not to shed a tear during the game's soul-tugging sad encounter, and heading up the castle walls to do battle with the appropriately named Penetrator. After that, only a single foe stands between us and making a big decision for the world. Will we be triumphant? Will we flail about struggling with the final boss? You can find out today at 2 PM CT, as we head back to Boletaria for a big adventure. Join us! 

Yesterday, IO Interactive, the studio behind the iconic Hitman franchise, teased that the team is ready to reveal its latest project. Now, we've got our first look with a new teaser trailer of what IO has been working on, and it turns out it is a 007 James Bond origins story: Project 007. 

In collaboration with MGM, EON Productions, and Delphi, IO Interactive is crafting the first ever origin story for the beloved man on a mission. Powered by IO's Glacier technology, Project 007 is poised to be the potential next big hit for the Hitman studio. 

Project 007 is in active development with both IO's Swedish and Denmark teams as both continue adding the desired talent to make sure that this vision sees a reality fitting for such an iconic franchise. 

"It's true that once in awhile, the stars do align in our industry," CEO of IO Interactive Hakan Abrak tells press. "Creating an original Bond game is a monumental undertaking and I truly believe that IO Interactive working closely with our creative partners at EON and MGM can deliver something extremely special for our players and communities."

Epic Games acquired the Houseparty app in 2019 and now the company has finally revealed how that will positively impact Fortnite. For those interested, you can now voice chat in Fortnite thanks to this app, adding yet another layer of social connectedness to the battle royale game. 

The update for video chat compatibility is live beginning today, allowing players to enjoy in-game events and Victory Royale hopefuls a chance to be even more social while playing this online experience. With in-game concerts, end-of-season special events, and so many more components beyond simple running and gunning, this additional component brings the community together in yet another way. 

According to Epic Games, Housparty video chat will be available for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, and PC players that have an iOS or Android mobile device with the app installed. Once the app is active and the Epic Games account is linked within it, the video chatting party can commence. 

Here's how to get started: 

We're are cruising fast into the holiday spirit and Motive is getting into that festive spirit with some new freebie content on the way for Star Wars: Squadrons. The team previously said that no new content would be coming post-launch, but we're thinking they should have specified no paid-content because this is the latest in DLC that will be totally free. 

The first update on the way brings a fan-favorite new map into the game. This update arrives on November 25 and will include Fostar Haven. This new area will be available in both the Dogfight mode for Squadrons and in Fleet Battles. According to Motive, this new area is going to be something longtime fans will love: 

 This update will also offer a few new ship components as well, including Prototype Piercing Torpedoes, Anti-Material Rocket Turrets, Rockets, and a Boost Extension Kit. 

The second content drop arrives sometime in December and will focus on community-requested features and two new starfighters: 

Industry veteran Patrick Söderlund and his team at Embark have a team-based shooter in the works. The former DICE CEO and Chief Design Officer at EA left the publisher in 2018 to form Embark with Nexon as its publisher.  

Söderlund’s post on Embark’s blog explains that the recent job openings for the studio are for a PvP team-based shooter in development. In addition to sharing a piece of character concept art (above) Söderlund, who says he thought he was “done” with making competitive shooters, says the pitch for this project was “too irresistible to ignore”. He adds that the game heavily emphasizes teamwork and  “puts dynamism, physicality, and destruction front and center”. It’ll likely be a while before we see much of substance from this project given that Embark is currently staffing up for it, but it’s cool to get a glimpse of what’s going on over there.

I recently started watching Cobra Kai on Netflix. When I say "watching," I mean "binging." It only took me a couple of days to get to through the first season (which is excellent), and I'll probably watch most of season two tonight. If you haven't watched it, or the Karate Kid films that are essential prequels, you're missing out on a fun, heartfelt drama that does a fantastic job of making you care about each character. It's also about karate and an old rivalry being reborn.

As you would expect, Cobra Kai's video game adaptation from developer Flux focuses mostly on the karate, but it's also surprisingly authentic, both in bringing in the actors from the show and nailing its humor. The big difference between the two is the tone. The game shuns realism to deliver fireball attacks, comical takedowns, and the belief that everyone in the world is born to solve their differences by punching each other in the face. The show does embrace that last point to a degree, but everyone fights everyone in the game.

Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time may be a tough game to beat, but at least it had catchy tunes to help soften the blow of your 87th death. Those who’d rather enjoy the game’s music without the stress of white-knuckle platforming, however, should check out the game's official soundtrack, which is now live.  

The soundtrack is composed by award-winning composer Walter Mair, whose credits include providing music for the series such as Grand Theft Auto (IV, San Andreas), Killzone: Shadow Fall, and the Total War series. The composer spoke about Crash 4's musical influences and how it combines different sound profiles to give the game a unique audio flair: