Game Informer

Hades is the game that everyone is talking about, and for good reason. This dungeon crawler adventure has a stunning art style, fluid combat, and characters that you can't help but to drool over. The fact that you can romance some of those thirsty-inducing characters doesn't help that drool factor, but it makes us pretty happy nonetheless. For those looking to bag a god, here's what you need to know about all of the romance options in Hades and how to get those brownie (ambrosia?) points.

Spoilers ahead

Who can you romance in Hades

While this game doesn't do romance quite in the same way as full-fledged RPGs out there, it's still an awesomely immersive feature that makes this adventure even more magical. So which gods are up for some of that sweet, sweet lovin'? Let's start with my personal favorite: Meg. 

Megaera is a Fury and your very first boss fight boss fight. With her stone-cold exterior influenced by her past and her badass combat skills, she's a downright treasure. Her interactions with Dusa are also adorable and as conversation progresses, you'll see a very different side to this particular character.

The cooling fan has been a focal point when talking about Sony's next gen console with the PlayStation 5, and not just because its size is what makes this platform so bulky. But this piece of hardware isn't just a simple addition, it will be supported by software to continue evolving it in a way that benefits PS5 players. 

In a recent interview, Sony's Yasuhiro Ootori opened up about how the fan will utilize game updates to pull data from in order to improve performance over time. Ootori is the mechanical design chief that has led the charge in ensuring that next gen technology is something truly special. He was also the person in the now-viral video of the PS5 system being torn apart and seeing how massive it is in comparison to him as a person. 

In the interview, Ootori revealed that the PS5 fan is controlled by the new system's APU, its Accelerated Processing Unit, and its combined AMD CPU/GPU chip for additional power. The performance seen at launch isn't the end-all-be-all status, it will continuously evolve by collecting data from games that will aim to optimize the fan itself and its interaction with the PS5 as a whole. 

In the latter half of this gen, Microsoft has expanded its horizons immensely in preparation for the new generation ahead. With more studio acquisitions and lowering the boundaries between platforms, Xbox boss Phil Spencer has been leading a productive charge that aims to make up for the lackluster Xbox One's launch. Regarding Microsoft's relationship with Nintendo, Spencer reiterates that this relationship is "very good," but that doesn't mean expect a total Nintendo/Xbox hybrid. 

In a recent interview, the Xbox boss opened up about their previous talk about adding Xbox titles to the Nintendo library. While this is still something Microsoft is interested in, it's by far not a focus. While more games could be making their way over onto the Switch library, it won't be to a massive number that some may have been hoping for. 

"We have a very good relationship," said Spencer. "I think we see our work very synergistically, in terms of trying to grow the market. And it just makes it easy. Every conversation we have with them has really been easy."

He added that Xbox game launches on the Nintendo Swtich doesn't "feel sustainable" and that while some games could be making their way over, Microsoft still wants a "full Xbox ecosystem somewhere" with their investment in Xbox Live, Xbox Game Pass, and xCloud. 

Where Cards Fall, the narrative puzzler from developer The Game Band, most recently known for its viral hit Blaseball, is coming to Nintendo Switch and PC in early 2021, publisher Snowman and The Game Band tell Game Informer in an exclusive interview. The game was originally released exclusively on Apple Arcade back in September 2019.

Upon release, Where Cards Fall was met with warm reception from critics, and also won Best Mobile Game from the 2019 Unity Awards and an Apple Design Award in 2020. In it, players assume the role of a nameless protagonist, navigating them through the highs and lows of growing up, graduating high school, and attending college. The hook of Where Cards Fall is its central puzzle mechanic, which requires the player to construct houses of cards throughout each level in order to navigate its terrain and overcome obstacles. 

Neither Snowman nor The Game Band will divulge specifics around their deal with Apple for Where Cards Fall – nor will they talk how many times the game was downloaded on the service – so we weren't able to learn specifically how their exclusivity deal was structured. In March 2019, however, the game was re-announced as "exclusively" for Apple Arcade (in 2017 it was announced for PC and iOS), but both Snowman and The Game Band agree that a safer way to look at the deal is that it was actually a timed exclusive.

2K is once again in the hot seat after adding unskippable ads in NBA 2K21, a game that retails at full price for $60. The newest addition has been added one month post-lauch during the pre-game loading screen, and many feel this is an inappropriate move given that it is a full price title. 

As reported by Stevivor, the unskippable ads are available across all platforms, which is usually a mechanic added in free-to-play titles as a form of monetization. Given that the monetization from this game comes from its $60 price tag, there is a lot of confusion regarding this addition and why it was added now. 

In the video above, Stevivor shows off an Oculus Quest 2 advertisement while the match is loading, which means players also can't update, or make changes to, their team team until the ad is done. 

So why are gamers upset? Other than the obvious reason of another cash grab for a $60 game, this isn't the first time 2K has done this and later retracted it due to player backlash. In NBA 2K20, ads were included in the game and the negative feedback was immediate and intense. 

Xbox Game Pass is getting a whole bunch of new additions this month, but Microsoft is sneaking in one more title to that list before October is through. Rainbow Six Siege is officially the latest title to join the Xbox Game Pass lineup, and it's dropping later this month. 

Rainbow Six Siege first launched back in 2015 and since then, has seen numerous updates, new operators, and a ton of content to keep players entertained. This tactical shooter also has a flourishing esports team as well, which makes the Xbox Game Pass addition even better; more ways for curious new players to see if this is the right game for them. 

The latest game to join the lineup arrives on October 22. As noted in our previous coverage, here are a few of the other titles making their way over onto the subscription service: 

So many games task us with being the hero rushing into the lair of the supervillain attempting to destroy the planet, but very few let us control the maniacal villain on the path for world domination and destruction. Evil Genius 2: World Domination effectively flips the script, putting you in the shoes of the eponymous evil geniuses as you build a secret lair, train up your minions, and develop a Doomsday Device, all while fending off infiltration attempts from secret agents trying to thwart your plans. When I saw the game at E3 2019, I was taken by its fun premise, and seeing it in action earlier this month gave me more confidence in its ability to deliver.

Ghost of Tsushima: Legends is out now for PlayStation players to enjoy and if you haven't checked it out yet, you can learn all about it with our interview with the game's creative director right here. With raids and various co-op missions, there is a lot to enjoy, but there is one aspect of the newly added New Games+ that is very important: yes, you can pet the dog. Even better? You can turn bad dogs into the goodest of good boys by giving them all of the love! 

When speaking with Tsushima's creative director Nate Fox, we took a break from talking heavy raid mechanics and becoming a demi-god to discuss the most important topic of the all: puppers. When talking about the various new charms players can utilize to customize their experience with New Game+, Fox tells us "I think a really good example of this new addition is that there is the charm of canine recruitment that allows you to sneak up on an enemy Mongol dog and if you pet it enough, he'll suddenly start fighting on your side." 

Any attempt to articulate the challenges of 2020 to another person feels a lot like shouting at the seatmate next to you on the plane that is threatening to crash. Suffice to say, we’re all facing the same dilemma. If there’s anything that we share, it’s that recent months have brought a fair share of frustration and difficulty. As such, any game that offers a sense of calm, focus, and peace is worth its weight in gold. If you share my desire for entertainment of that variety, then whether you’ve played it yet or not, Lonely Mountains: Downhill is like hitting the motherlode, especially as the game prepares to roll out its biggest expansion to date.

If you’re new to the game, Lonely Mountains: Downhill is a mountain biking game in which you navigate winding paths down idyllic mountainous terrain. As the soft sounds of birdcall and gentle wind fill your ears, the gameplay rides a delicate line between beautiful and gradual exploration of a gorgeous nature setting, and breakneck jumps and drops through highly vertical geometry. In my original review from 2019, I recalled the way Lonely Mountains: Downhill brought to mind the old classic Marble Madness and its isometric descents, but mixed with the careful practice-makes-perfect vibe of games in the Trials series. Even at release, it was a lovely and engaging game.

The Oregon Trail was a favorite in computer labs across the country in the '80s, but its story begins even further back. If you have fond memories of crossing rivers, going hunting, and dying of dysentery, then you will want to check out a new documentary about the origins of the classic piece of educational software.

Created by MinnMax, the documentary is called Trailheads: The Oregon Trail's Origins (YouTube). It features interviews and anecdotes about the program's creation, as well as interesting context about the state of computers, technology, and education in the '70s.

At the beginning of the video, MinnMax founder (and former Game Informer video producer) Ben Hanson explains that the company is using the documentary's launch as an opportunity to hold a charity drive benefiting New Vision Foundation. To donate, click here.

The Oregon Trail was the flagship title for MECC (Minnesota Educational Computing Corporation). For a broader look at The Oregon Trail and other games you may remember playing (like Lemonade Stand and Number Munchers), read our piece about the rise and fall of MECC featuring interviews with various employees from different eras of the company's history.

When Microsoft purchased ZeniMax for a cool $7.5 billion, speculation was rampant about what that means for the future of franchises under that publisher's umbrella. Most notably, titles under Bethesda's direction such as Elder Scrolls 6 and Fallout 5. While we ourselves did a deep dive into the likelihood of those series going Xbox-only from a marketing and business perspective, we still don't have a definitive answer either way. That being said, Xbox boss Phil Spencer did reiterate that no matter what their decision, it's in their rights to do whatever they decide. 

In a recent interview with Kotaku, Spencer said that yes, it is possible for the team to recoup on that $7.5 billion investment and reiterated that this acquisition was "not done to take games away from another player base like that." That response falls in line with the Xbox brand's total mission overhaul from the failed launch of the Xbox One, moving the Team Green brand back into the focus of gamers and less as an "all-in-one" entertainment system. 

With a focus on gamers and working with other companies like Nintendo and Valve, Microsoft has shattered many platform barriers in the last 18 months. With EA Play's integration and many first-party games making their way onto Steam, the barrier between PC and Xbox is slimmer than ever before. Pair that with the ongoing conversations happening with Nintendo and Spencer's repeated proclaimation about joining forces with all gaming companies to making video games approachable for all, and his response about the acquisition makes sense. 

Microsoft has confirmed the list of games that are coming to the Xbox Series X/S on launch day. Looking over the titles, there’s a lot to be excited about in terms of what can be played on day one. On the other hand, it’s a pretty disastrous way to sell a piece of $499 hardware. It’s complicated. Thanks to one of the squishiest transitions between console generations we’ve ever seen, both Sony and Microsoft have made strong cases for buying into the next batch of hardware, but also for sitting it out – at least for a while.

With Halloween nearly upon us, we at Game Informer are getting in the holiday spirit by highlighting some of the spookier games we've had the displeasure of playing!

That trend continues on this episode of Replay as we delve into the disturbing depths of Frictional Games' original Amnesia: The Dark Descent! Join Andrew Reiner, Dan Tack, Jeff Cork, and me as we brave its twisted horrors and try to keep each other sane.

We had to prerecord this week, but we'll be back for another fun episode next Friday! If you can't get enough of our shows, remember to subscribe on YouTube, Twitch, Twitter, and Facebook to get notified when we go live each week!

Players of Ghost of Tsushima: Legends are just getting their feet wet today with the launch of the new multiplayer mode. And as soon as the tutorial gets going, a narrator by the name of Gyozen begins to set the stage duing a snazzy opening cinematic and subsequent tutorial. If that voice sounds especially familiar, it’s likely you’re also a big animation fan, as the voice actor in question, Greg Baldwin, is also the voice behind Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra’s Iroh character, as well as Aku from Samurai Jack.

The story is slightly more complicated, because Baldwin himself, along with the particular inflections he uses in those roles (some of which have carried over for Gyozen) are his efforts to imitate the great Mako Iwamatsu, who died in 2006, and who originally played both Aku and Iroh. Mako had a long and storied career, and it was only in his later life that he took on the familiar roles in Samurai Jack and Avatar: The Last Airbender. After his death, Greg Baldwin took over those roles, and studied the late actor’s techniques and inflections carefully to appropriately honor his work.

The new role of Gyozen in Ghost of Tsushima: Legends bears the unmistakable tenor and quality of that voice, and certainly made me smile as I began my dive back into the gorgeous world of Ghost of Tsushima.  

With Halloween just around the corner, there are tons of horror games to enjoy! That being said, mods are a neat way to return to an older favorite and experience something brand new! Since Mod Corner is all about recommending some of our favorite fan-made projects, we wanted to share yet another way to ring in the holiday of fright with this awesome Fallout: New Vegas horror mod. 

The Hell on Earth Fallout: New Vegas mod makes core changes to make this experience more inline with a horror survival title. It's also customizable, so it suits any type of playstyle. That customization is also helpful in case this mod happens to conflict with another installed change, making it easy to swap out and make sure everything is working as it should. 

This fan-made experience adds a brand-new area by making nightmare versions of the explorable towns. The creator also says they were heavily inspired by Silent Hill, the iconic franchise from Konami, when creating this particular adventure. 

Insomniac's follow-up to its 2018 open-world superhero adventure is just around the corner. In this adventure Peter Parker takes backstage, giving Miles a chance to shine as the lead. In the 2018 release, Insomniac put a focus on narrative and told an incredibly human story about loss and standing up for what’s right. Miles' game doesn’t look any different. Here is everything you need to know about Miles Morales’ story before playing the new game. Spoiler warning for Insomniac's 2018 game.

The Setup

If you haven’t played Marvel’s Spider-Man (2018), you should probably play through that game before jumping into Miles Morales. For one, it’s a great game. Moreover, it introduces players to Miles, an Afro-Latino teenager who befriends Peter Parker and eventually gets bitten by a genetically modified spider, which grants Miles superhuman powers. The events of the 2018 game don’t focus heavily on Miles, but they do show us how he gained his powers and covers several important personal moments – such as the death of Miles' father – which are bound to have lasting ramifications.

Nendoroid figures are adorable chibi versions of some of our favorite characters in gaming and the latest in the growing line of this particular type of collectible gives Bayonetta a cute makeover. They also don't have the soul-less eyes that Funko Pops have. We're not judging, but come on? Some of those are downright creepy. 

Revealed over at Good Smile Company, the new Bayonetta Nendoroid figure comes with three face plates with various expressions, posable extremities, and her iconic handguns. According to the collectibles store, "From the popular game Bayonetta comes a Nendoroid of Bayonetta! She comes with three face plates—a standard expression, a combat expression and a winking expression. Since the body of the Nendoroid is bent at the waist, you can recreate all kinds of unique poses and movements from the game even in Nendoroid form! Plenty of optional parts are also included so you can enjoy changing up her pose time and time again."

Click image thumbnails to view larger version

Assassin's Creed Valhalla hits most platforms on November 10, so if you were thinking that the game is probably finished by now, you would be correct! Today, Ubisoft confirmed via Twitter that the main work on the game has concluded, and it has been sent off to be turned into the disc that you will find in the box.

Of course, the team at Ubisoft Montreal will continue working on patches and updates for the title, as well as any post-launch content that may be planned. But even so, going gold is a still a major milestone for any game. 

You can see how it all came together on November 10, when the Valhalla releases on Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Stadia, and PC. The PlayStation 5 version launches just a couple days later on November 12 to coincide with the release of Sony's next-gen hardware.

To get even more info on Assassin's Creed Valhalla before it hits, read our impressions from six hours of playtime, and get insight from the team in this breakdown of the game's major features.

A few changes are coming to the PlayStation Store here soon and among the shifts happening, Sony will no longer be offering PS3, PS Vita, and PSP games both online and on the mobile app. 

We, among many others, received an email detailing the new PlayStation Store changes that are going to be kicking off here pretty soon. Beginning on October 21 through 26 for the online store and on October 28 for mobile, PlayStation fans will not be able to purchase the following: 

• PlayStation 3 games and any add-ons
• PSP games and any add-ons
• PlayStation Vita games and add-ons
• Apps
• Themes
• Avatars

The wish list feature is also being taken away and any remaining items in that wish list will thus be removed. "The content listed above will no longer be available to buy on PS Store when accessed via a desktop or mobile device," reads the email. "However, you will still be able to buy PS3, PSP or PS Vita content by accessing PS Store directly from your PS3, PSP or PS Vita. PlayStation 4 apps, themes and avatars can also be downloaded via PS Store on your PS4 console."

You can also see the email below: 

The PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X versions of Marvel's Avengers have been pushed from launch-window releases to next year. The news comes from a lengthy blog post by Scot Amos, Crystal Dynamics' head of studio. The delay comes from the team needing more time to deliver on the next-gen experience. If you already have the game and play it on the new machines, you will still experience faster load times and better framerates.

The release of new characters has also been met with delays. Kate Bishop, who serves as the game's first DLC character, was supposed to release this month, but is now floating without a date, although Amos says her launch is just pushed "back a bit." Bishop will bring new story content that will show where the game goes next. Crystal wouldn't reveal if Clint Barton (Hawkeye) is also delayed, but did make it sound like he's arriving at some point in 2020, as the next bit of news is that 2021 will bring the biggest Avengers Initiative project yet which introduces another hero, region, and more story content.

Hope your MyTeam is ready, because 2K Games has announced that season 2 is here, bringing with it a variety of new content. Grinders will be able to acquire a new level 40 grand prize: Pink Diamond Blake Griffin.

How will you get there? First up is the new Triple Threat Challenges for single player.  This 3v3 mode will allow you to take on some of the best combinations of basketball greats, with new win conditions and challenge rules that will require you to change your team composition. 

Alongside the Triple Threat Challenges is a Signature Challenge from Vince Carter. Carter chose to re-create his January 8, 2006 game against the Toronto Raptors where he sunk a game-winning three and 42 points total. Successfully re-live his great game and you’ll walk away with 15 tokens and a Hall of Fame badge. Vince Carter’s debut in the game means you’ll need to get him to play in the game, and you can acquire his card with the code “VINCE-CARTER-GAME-WINNER”.

Last but not least are new agenda groups, with plenty of fresh benchmarks to make, and the return of MyTeam Limited with the top prize of Los Angeles Laker rings and other unique rewards.

2K is offering over 40 new reward cards this season, so ballers can start working toward them starting today.

In celebration of his 30th anniversary working in the game industry, the documentary team Archipel has posted an in-depth interview with Shinji Mikami, most well-known for directing the first Resident Evil and Resident Evil 4. In the nearly 40-minute video, Mikami touches on being turned down from Capcom when he applied, only to be hired there a week later, behind-the-scenes info about the making of the Resident Evil series, and what makes for a good survival horror game. Check out the documentary below. 

One of the most interesting tidbits is Mikami's anecdotes about the first Resident Evil game's camera. Originally, Mikami said, he envisioned the game being in first-person, adding he thought that camera perspective was the "scary one." However, at the time, Capcom was still inexperienced with 3D technology, and because of this the team wasn't able to get the game's graphics to match what Mikami had in mind. "The project was at risk if we pursued that direction," he said. 

However, when Mikami saw the first Alone in the Dark game, he says he thought that making Resident Evil with pre-rendered backgrounds could work, though it meant the game would have to be in third-person with a fixed camera. It's a move he still doesn't like.

Sucker Punch releases its first major, and free, update for Ghost of Tsushima today with Legends and we sat down with the team to talk about it all. Earlier, we revealed more about the raids and how they demand teamwork and tempt trolls, but there is so much more to this content drop than what meets the eye. 

Sitting down with Creative Director Nate Fox and Darren Bridges, we dive deep into Ghost of Tsushima Legends to reveal how much freedom this update truly gives players. From unique co-op experiences, to way more ways to show that creative flair through New Games+ and more Photo Mode options; there is a lot to love — and unpack — with the new content. 

Tell us a little more about Legends and what players have to look forward to! What was some of the inspiration behind the different classes? 

Ghost of Tsushima was an incredibly harrowing samurai tale that PlayStation 4 players fell in love with. Now, a new experience arrives with Legends, bringing with it exciting new content and ways to become one with the ways of the ghost. Legends is the first major content drop for the Sucker Punch tale and it comes bringing with it New Game+ and several memorable co-op experiences. One of the newest features on the way is that of raids and this addition is unforgiving, detailed, and offers the perfect chance to troll your fellow player. 

We sat down with Ghost of Tsushima's creative director Nate Fox alongside senior staff designer Darren Bridges to talk a little more about the Legends update, but it is when the topic of raids comes up that we realize how much fun this addition can potentially be. 

Like many other co-op games that offer a raid feature, there will be challenges galore. Complex puzzles, specific mechanics, and a persistent demand for teamwork will all be readily available. Like many raids, teamwork is key. This isn't a run and slash co-op mission, this is a lengthy experience that requires communication, dedication, and expert use of skill. 

The embargo is up, and NHl 21 is officially available. We've spent a considerable amount of time with the game, testing the upgraded Be A Pro mode, new dekes, and HUT Rush. However, we're not quite ready to deliver a review due to needing more time with the online components. With the player pool so low due to the game not being officially out, it was not easy to always find opponents to test out these features, especially those in World of CHEL. Discovering strengths and weaknesses of the online gameplay takes more than few matches, so we'd like some more time on the ice before making our final decision. 

After we put the online modes through their paces, we hope to have a full review up later today. In the meantime, here's some overall impressions based on our time to help you in deciding if NHL 21 is right for you.

NHL 21 doesn't move the needle much in terms of what it provided last year. There are minor tweaks and some additions to modes (with varying degrees of success), but it won't feel like a fundamentally different experience like when we experienced the new skating two years back. Across all modes, I had some frustration with the A.I., whether it was their hesitation with getting the puck out of the defensive zone, or defensemen acting like they're forwards in EASHL. That being said, the A.I. does seem better at poke checking, taking players off the puck, and recognizing when to come over and help with board battles.

Bungie today shared new details about what players can expect to experience with Destiny 2 on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S. And, equally important, we learned about when major features are coming online for next-gen console players. While Destiny 2 will be available on next-gen platforms beginning on November 10, several of the new enhancements on those systems will not release until December 8.

At console launch, players can expect to see both faster load times and cross-generation play within console families (PS5 with PS4, and Xbox Series X/S with Xbox One). The better load times will be a particularly enticing feature for many console players, as it means not only shorter waits to fly into places like the Tower, but also faster loading of inventory information, such as when you hover over a particular equipment slot in your character sheet – a problem that has plagued current-gen console players for a long time.

Meanwhile, several other features are going to take a bit more time before they go online, and won’t arrive until December 8, including 4K resolution (on PS5 and Xbox Series X, but not on Xbox Series S), 60fps framerate, and a newly announced field of view slider, a feature that aims to be similar to the same option already on PC.

Upgrading to the next-gen version of Destiny 2 is free on PlayStation 5, and on Xbox Series X/S through Xbox Smart Delivery.

From the game's first boss fight to catching up with Peter and Miles, we've already seen a lot from Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales. But the fun doesn't stop there! 

One of the main ways Insomniac is differentiating the two web-slinging heroes is through their abilities in combat. While Miles will still have access to a plethora of spider gadgets, he'll also be able to camouflage himself to surprise his foes when players want to go in a bit quieter.

Join us for this exclusive look at how Miles fares in combat using both stealth and his new electric powers!

If you enjoyed this short video, be sure to check out our story covering who Miles is and our new episode of The GI Show where we go in-depth on our time seeing the game.

PlayStation revealed the PS5 UI earlier today and to say it was a much-needed refresh would be a massive understatement. But the new UI is more than just a pretty face, it has some helpful features that improve upon the PS4's experience is several major ways. While there are a plethora of reasons why this was a good move, here are five cool features about the PS5 UI that we think players will enjoy. 

We've got some new Cyberpunk 2077 gameplay to feast our eyes on and this time, the Night City Wire showcase was all about those sick rides. From super-futuristic high-speed cars to a tricked out 1977 Porsche—even giant drivable piles of garbage—Cyberpunk 2077 is really leaning into that "gotta go fast" lifestyle. 

Episode four of Night City Wire is now a wrap and it showed off the different classes of vehicles that players can use to take over the criminal underground. CD Projekt RED has mentioned in the past, quite a few times, that driving in Cyberpunk 2077 will feel "different" from what driving game fans might expect. The on-the-road experience is also very customizable from the different speeds to various features seen in each ride. 

Star Wars: Squadrons emerged as an exciting new chapter in the extensive Star Wars mythos. Players partake in epic space dogfights as Rebel or Imperial pilots. Recently, a new Star Wars: Squadrons short story was uploaded to the game's official website. Penned by Star Wars: The Old Republic writer Joanna Berry, the short story explores a single moment in the life of Shen, an Imperial Pilot in Titan Squadron. 

I don't want to spoil any interesting details, but the story, titled "Count to Three," explores battlefield chaos, friendly fire, and forgiveness – pretty heavy for Star Wars prose, but engrossing nonetheless. 

In this week's episode of The Game Informer Show, we discuss a handful of the games we've been playing recently, including: Phasmophobia, Torchlight III, Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory, and Assassin's Creed Valhalla. Then we take a deep dive into Game Informer's newest cover story on Insomniac's upcoming Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales. Finally, we close the show with another fantastic round of community emails. So please join Andrew Reiner, Matt Miller, Kim Wallace, Dan Tack, Blake Hester, Alex Stadnik, and myself for another wild and ever-entertaining episode!

While the PlayStation 5 itself is still set with a firm launch date of November 12, it looks like PS5 accessories are arriving sooner than expected! 

"Valued customers" are receiving emails from Sony saying that PS5 accessories are shipping early, now arriving just before Halloween on October 30. In the below email, Sony mentions "If you'd like to keep your pre-order reservation, no additional action is required at this time. We will send you a reminder email in a few days to confirm your payment and shipping details so that we may charge your card prior to shipping the item to you." 

via Twitter user @djmikeradio

The email also advises fans to double-check their card and shipping information, just in case there are any last minute corrections needing to be made. After all, you don't want to pre-order a system and accessories only to have them arrive somewhere else by mistake! 

Cyberpunk 2077 will release on the Google Stadia the same day it releases for all other platforms, developer CD Projekt Red announced today. The game is currently slated for a global launch day on November 19 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC, and now Stadia.

Cyberpunk 2077 is coming to @GoogleStadia on November 19th!

This means you will be able to explore Night City across your favorite devices instantly right when the game becomes available. Pre-order now at: https://t.co/UOqkinGRHB pic.twitter.com/ZwNav1d5fJ

With the reveal of the PS5 UI, Sony also tag-teamed with Burger King to show off the retail box for the next generation of PlayStation. We had our first look at the retail look for the Xbox Series X earlier this year, now it's PlayStation 5's turn in the spotlight. 

Sony revealed that they were partnering with Burger King earlier this month with a small teaser that sounded like the start-up sound of the new system. Now a full video is available from the king of burgers, surprising fans with systems and giving us our first look at the box where the next gen begins. 

As for the partnership, Sony fans can go to their nearest Burger King to enter for a chance to win a PS5. Much like how Taco Bell is working with Microsoft for the Xbox Series X, we're never going to turn down a chance to eat food in exchange for the potential for a next gen platform. 

PlayStation 5 arrives on November 12. Are you excited? Sound off in the comment section below to tell us what you're looking forward to the most when PS5 and Xbox Series X arrives next month! 

A Golden Axed prototype is set to release this month as part of a Sega anniversary celebration, but the development path for this game was reportedly a nightmare and one programmer did not pull any punches when talking about his experience. 

Developer Tim Dawson took to Twitter in a massive thread to berate Sega for launching the game to begin with while sharing the reasons why the news drudged up memories of a difficult journey towards completion. 

Dawson starts off his thread by saying that the news of its launch was a complete surprise to him and, from what he says, almost everyone that worked on this prototype. Crunch is not a gaming industry-specific toxicity, but it has been a topic of discussion much more in recent years, and a much needed conversation as more and more details come to light. With more people in and outside of the industry being made aware of the darker side of game development, many studios are making changes to how they approach work/life balance. That being said, there's still so much we don't know, and that's exactly what Dawson details. 

Like many instances of any sort of "crunch", the problem often can be traced back to management. It's a complex issue, so sometimes it is not as simple as that, but mismanagement was one of the points of contention that Dawson cites when reflecting back on his past experience with Sega. 

The saga of the original Phantom Breaker's release is a strange one. Developer Mages partnered with now-defunct publisher 7sixty to bring the 1v1 2D fighting game to North America, and despite substantial progress and an announced release date in 2012, the game was cancelled never made it to our shores (though a related game, Phantom Breaker: Battlegrounds, did release here).  

Now, years later, new publisher Rocket Panda is finally giving players the chance to see what Phantom Breaker was all about – but in its best possible form. Phantom Breaker: Omnia is an updated, expanded, and enhanced edition of the 2D fighting game. It contains the full story from the two previous iterations of the game (Phantom Breaker and Phantom Breaker: Extra), all previous characters and guest characters, as well as two exclusive new characters for Omnia. The combat also features tweaks to the gameplay and balancing.  

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Despite initial skeptical thoughts when the mobile Call of Duty experience was announced, the portable shooter has done quite well in terms of player count and constant updates. For those enjoying this pocket-sized competitive experience, Call of Duty: Mobile has just added the Blackout Alcatraz map in addition to a few other new gameplay features to take on. 

To celebrate the game's anniversary, the team behind Call of Duty: Mobile has added Alcatraz, The Club, a new Battle Pass, and more. We've got our first look at the new season, which is available now, in the video clip below: 

🎉 Happy #CODMAnniversary Season 🎆
It's the end of the world!

🎫 New Battle Pass
🗺 Alcatraz
👾The Club
🤖 Reaper - Premium
🌌 Zero - Nebula
💥 Fennec
& more!

🆕 New season, new weapons, modes and characters available NOW in #CODMobile pic.twitter.com/PsTmlT2hdZ

Announced earlier this month, Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate will offer a compact experience of everything the latest fighting game has to offer in one simple package. With the confirmation that Rain, Rambo, and Mileena are making their way onto the roster, NetherRealm has dropped a new gameplay trailer for Ultimate showing off how truly powerful Rain really is. 

Rain is the son of the god Argus, Edenia's divine Protector, which makes him incredibly powerful in his own right; especially concerning magical prowess. Rain can control both lightning and water as he bends those elements to his whim to not only survive, but to conquer as well. 

The new gameplay shows off that powerful arsenal of skills in addition to his deadly katar that slashes foes within an inch of their life. With his arrival set for just next month, the latest look at Mortal Kombat 11: Ultimate is perfect for those Rain stans.