Game Informer

Warner Bros. Discovery revealed last year that Guardians of the Galaxy and Peacemaker director James Gunn and Aquaman producer Peter Safran had been hired to lead as co-CEOs of DC Studios. Since that reveal, DC fans have speculated what Gunn and Safran's new DCU, as the duo is calling the new DC cinematic universe, will look like in the coming years. 

Gunn has teased on Twitter multiple times that he, Safran, and others were formulating their long-spanning plan for the DCU and now, today, the duo has pulled back the curtain on the first 10 projects. All 10 of these projects, which span across movies and TV, will be in Chapter 1: Gods and Monsters. 

Here are just a few of our plans. Up, up, and away! #DCStudios #DCU @DCComics pic.twitter.com/8XNDNLUEPq

Crimesight, a social deduction game released last year, got a surprising update on its steam page last night. Despite being out for less than ten months, Konami is ending support for it — and making the game unplayable.

“Thank you for playing CRIMESIGHT,” the news post reads. “This service has continued to operate with the support of many users since its launch in April 2022, but due to various circumstances, we have decided to terminate the service on Monday, May 01, 2023 at 00:00 PDT.”

Support for an online game is bound to end at some point, but seeing the service cut off so quickly has many fans caught off guard. This is also the end of more than just the online modes. At the end of the post, Konami writes, “Also, the game itself won’t be able to play.” As a result, recent Steam reviews have a score of “Mostly Negative,” as players warn future buyers from purchasing a product that will soon be unplayable.

【Important】 Service Termination Announcement
CRIMESIGHT will end its service on May 01, 2023.
For more details, please visit the official website.https://t.co/v71WmsKCzE

If you subscribe to the digital edition of Game Informer, you can now learn all about Resident Evil 4. Following the cover reveal, our digital issue is now live to subscribers on web browsers, iPad/iPhone, and Android devices. Individual issues will be available for purchase this afternoon.

You can download the apps to view the issue by following this link. All of these digital options are included in a PowerUp Rewards Membership.

We already knew that 2023 was poised to be a big year for the Street Fighter franchise, thanks in large part to the impending launch of Street Fighter 6 this summer. However, Capcom and Crunchyroll Games are piling on with a new free-to-play mobile RPG called Street Fighter: Duel. If character collection games like Summoners War, Star Wars: Galaxy of Heroes, and Marvel Strike Force appeal to you, Street Fighter: Duel sounds like it shares many elements with those popular mobile titles.

Street Fighter: Duel includes more than 40 Street Fighter characters for players to recruit with the objective of building a team from across the franchise. Each team consists of three fighters who can be leveled up and customized with new skins. These fighters, who include characters like Ryu, Akuma, Chun-Li, Cammy, and more, all feature signature abilities and can pull off various combos through real-time 2D RPG combat or auto-battle mode. In addition to taking on Shadaloo, players can also look forward to head-to-head combat against other players.

"Street Fighter has been an iconic game for generations, and we know anime fans love to go on exciting adventures with beloved characters," Crunchyroll Games general manager and Crunchyroll senior vice president of emerging business Terry Li said in a press release. "We're excited to collaborate with Capcom to bring Street Fighter: Duel and its incredible roster of iconic fighters to anime and gaming fans alike.

During the 2022 Game Awards, the team behind Dead Cells put out an animated teaser trailer announcing that the game’s next DLC expansion would be Castlevania-themed. It came as a total surprise; Castlevania hasn’t had a new release in years, and most of Dead Cells’ other collaborations never amounted to much more than referential skins and a few weapons. To take such a big leap – and to do it with the series that inspired the game in the first place – is a huge step for the indie roguelike.

While Dead Cells was developed by Motion twin, the Castlevania DLC is being developed by Evil Empire, an indie studio made of ex-Motion Twin employees that have handled most of the game’s post-launch content. Game Informer got the chance to speak with Evil Empire’s co-founder Benjamin Laulan and brand manager Bérenger Dupré to talk about the DLC, what we can expect from it, and what it was like working with such a beloved franchise.

Game Informer: Just as a brief overview, what can we expect from this Castlevania DLC?

Halo Infinite developer 343 Industries is reportedly switching from its own internal Slipspace Engine to Unreal Engine for some games in the future. 

This news comes from a Bloomberg report stating that the switch from Slipspace to Unreal will begin with a new game under the codename Tatanka, according to the publication's sources who are familiar with 343's plans. According to Bloomberg, 343 is developing Tatanka with Certain Affinity, who has helped develop various Halo games for more than 15 years. The project reportedly started off as a battle royale but has potentially evolved in different directions. 

Update, 12:14 p.m., 1/31/2023

Following a recent Bloomberg report that stated Sony had told supply partners to prepare for a reduction in display panel orders, alongside word that the company had halved its shipment forecast as a result of disappointing pre-order numbers, Sony has refuted the claim in a new statement to GamesIndustry.biz. 

The publication reports that "PlayStation says it has not cut production numbers for its upcoming VR headset," touching on Bloomberg's report. Playstation told GamesIndustry.biz that it is "seeing enthusiasm from PlayStation fans for the upcoming launch, which includes more than 30 titles such as Gran Turismo 7, Horizon Call of the Mountain, and Resident Evil Village." 

The original story continues below...

Original story, 9:06 a.m., 1/31/2023

Sony has slashed its shipment forecasts for the upcoming PlayStation VR2 headset it is launching next month, according to a new report from Bloomberg. 

In 2005, Resident Evil 4 changed the face of survival horror. The game’s phenomenal blend of action and horror combined with its revolutionary over-the-shoulder gameplay cemented it as a bonafide classic, a magic Capcom hopes to recapture with a modernized remake. That reinvention graces Game Informer’s cover this month. 

We visited Capcom’s headquarters in Osaka, Japan, to play Chapters One and Five of Resident Evil and speak to its principal designers, including directors Yasuhiro Ampo and Kazunori Kadoi, who previously led the Resident Evil 2 remake. You’ll read 12 pages sharing new details on the opening section, breakdowns of Ashley’s gameplay and other new tweaks, plus impressions of the church, cemetery, and house battle segments.

Click image to enlarge

Issue 353 is also our 2022 Game of the Year issue! This massive spread reflects on the last year in games, featuring Top 10 lists from both the staff and our readers, our individual category awards, editor picks highlighting exceptional titles that didn’t crack the top 10, as well as the staff’s personal top 10 lists. On top of that, we have a great feature detailing the localization process of MMORPGs and previews for anticipated titles such as Death Stranding 2, Armored Core VI, and Hades II. 

I'm two floors below ground, surrounded by screaming drunks and breathing in enough secondhand smoke to take at least a decade off my life. I'm here with Keiichiro Toyama, most well-known for creating the Silent Hill series, but also the creator of the Siren and Gravity Rush series, and most recently, the founder of Bokeh Game Studio, making the upcoming Slitterhead. 

A cramped, old, smoky bar in a shopping mall deep beneath a Yokohama train station might not immediately appear conducive to game development, but things are starting to click in my head. Mixed with pounds of nicotine, the air in the bar is communal and light. It's also distinct compared to the more modern, formulaic streets immediately above our heads. In an hour or two, we'll walk a few blocks over and hit the nightlife and drinking alleys. Tucked within the immensely larger Tokyo surrounding them, these areas have their own distinct senses of space, much like the worlds of Toyama's games. He's been living in Yokohama for decades, he tells me. Something like Gravity Rush – with its unforgettable, topsy-turvy, boozy, and somewhat seedy world – makes a lot more sense to me now. 

Marvel Snap has taken the world by storm, but one glaring omission fans have asked for is the ability to battle friends instead of only random strangers. As previously promised, the wait is over because Marvel Snap’s new Battle Mode allows players to take on their buddies, and it goes live today.

Battle Mode allows players to share battle codes with each other for private one-on-one bouts. This match-up consists of multiple back-to-back games with players using the same decks throughout. Players start with 10 health each and whoever wins a game deals 1 point of damage. However, this damage can be doubled by snapping. A player loses when their health hits zero, and there’s no round limit. Developer Second Dinner states that Battle Mode will receive updates expanding its features over the coming months. 

For more on Marvel Snap, check out its spot on our Top 10 Games of 2022 to find out what makes it so special. Be sure to also read editor Charles Harte's opinion on why he wishes more mobile games were like Marvel Snap. 

Avatar Generations, a new mobile turn-based squad RPG that's free to play on Apple and Android devices, is out today, and you can prepare for the game's release with a new launch trailer. 

Developed by Navigator Games and published by Crystal Dynamics Eidos Entertainment in association with Paramount Consumer Products, Avatar Generations is an RPG that lets players team up with iconic characters from Avatar: The Last Airbender to explore a dynamic map of the Four Nations. It features retold stories from the series and new ones adding to the overall world of Avatar. 

Check it out in the Avatar Generations launch trailer below: 

The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) announced in March that E3 would be returning as an in-person show in Los Angeles following the cancellation of the 2022 edition. Then, in September, the ESA revealed that E3 2023 will take place from Tuesday, June 13, through Friday, June 16. 

Now, IGN reports it has learned that PlayStation, Xbox, and Sony will be skipping E3 2023, a major blow to what was supposed to be E3's big comeback. The publication also reports that these companies won't have a presence on the Los Angeles Convention Center showfloor, either, which is where game companies typically have large (and flashy) booths where people can preview games and learn more about what's in store. 

The official Fortnite Twitter account revealed yesterday that another Dragon Ball Super collaboration was coming to the battle royale and now, it's live.

It brings two new quests (with rewards) and a skin for both Piccolo and Gohan. You can purchase both in the Item Shop and each come with accessories. The Dragon Ball Super outfits and accessories from the first collaboration will arrive in the Item Shop again at a later unspecified date. 

The Son Gohan outfit comes with Gohan's Cape Back Bling (can only be used with this outfit), but you can also purchase Gohan's Beast Axe Pickaxe and the Capsule No. 576 Glider seperately. The Piccolo outfit comes with Piccolo's Cape and Turban Back Bling (can only be used with this outfit) and Piccolo's Demon Symbol Back Bling, but you can also purchase Piccolo's Handheld House Pickaxe and the Red Ribbon Army Aircraft Glider. The Piccolo outfit features the built-in Charging Up Emote to change into the Power Awakening version of Piccolo (this version can also be selected in the locker). 

Platform: PlayStation 4, Switch
Publisher: Square Enix
Developer: Square Enix
Release: February 16, 2023
Rating: Teen

As part of our monthly cover story, we interviewed Dambuster Studios' senior render programmer Aaron Ridge and technical art director Dan Evans-Lawes about designing Dead Island 2's procedural FLESH system that allows players to tear zombies from limb from limb. The pair happily simplify the tool's purpose as transforming zombie character models into "meat pinatas," with layers of exterior skin protecting internal organs. 

Disgaea 7: Vows of the Virtuless is coming this fall, and this time it's injecting the series’ absurdity with a dose of classical Japanese history. 

This latest installment in the wacky strategy series unfolds in the feudal Japan-style demonic realm of Hinomoto. Made up of multiple netherworlds, the underworld residents followed the bushido code of honor until a tyrannical regime took over to promote a code of destruction. A pair of unlikely allies must team up to stop this threat: a lazy samurai named Futo and a hyperactive otaku girl named Pirilika. 

Disgaea 7 boasts over 40 character classes, including four new ones: Maiko, Bandit, Zombie Maiden, and Big Eye. It also retains the 3D sprites introduced in Disgaea 6. New mechanics include Jumbofication, which turns characters into super-sized versions of themselves to inflict massive attack damage. Item Reincarnation lets you transform equipment and items into new forms, such as turning a weapon into a healing item. Auto-battles have been improved with deeper character customization. Now, your forces can stand a better chance against other players' troops in the new online ranked battles. 

Unlike Disgaea 6, a Switch exclusive at launch, Disgaea 7: Vows of the Virtuless will be available on multiple platforms on day one. You can get the game on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Switch, and PC.

After weeks of speculation and leaks last year, a Dragon Ball Super collaboration officially went live in Epic Games' battle royale, Fortnite, in August. It brought Goku, Vegeta, Bulma, and Beerus to the game alongside a Kamehameha mystic item for use in-game and the Nimbus Cloud. Now, Dragon Ball Super is coming back, starting tomorrow. 

The official Fortnite Twitter account posted an image of a Red Ribbon ship hovering over a portion of Fortnite's battle royale island with "Fortnite x Dragon Ball Super" on it this morning, alongside tomorrow's date. This means we'll be seeing some (hopefully new) Dragon Ball Super content drop into Fortnite tomorrow. 

1.31.2023 pic.twitter.com/DwUJieQ9ln

In today's New Gameplay Today, your hosts Wesley LeBlanc and Alex Van Aken discuss SpongeBob SquarePants: The Cosmic Shake, the upcoming spiritual successor to SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle For Bikini Bottom, out tomorrow. The two discuss Wesley's thoughts on the game (you can read his full review here), what they like about it, what they don't, and how it's different from SpongeBob's past adventures. 

You can listen to the two discuss all that and more in the SpongeBob SquarePants: The Cosmic Shake New Gameplay Today below: 

Reviewed on: PlayStation 5
Platform: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC
Publisher: THQ Nordic
Developer: Purple Lamp
Release: January 31, 2023
Rating: Everyone 10+

SpongeBob SquarePants: The Cosmic Shake feels like a game of yesteryear, in both good and bad ways. It’s a nostalgic romp through themed levels that feel more inspired than just another platforming tour through Bikini Bottom. It does a great job highlighting why people that grew up with SpongeBob SquarePants loved the show, and why people still love it today. At its best, the gameplay is decently fun, but at its worst, it’s mindlessly dull. This, coupled with a few bugs, like one that caused music to disappear completely, or the three hard crashes I experienced, keep this sponge’s latest adventure from going beyond anything more than average.

Netflix's live action One Piece series will set sail this year. 

The subscription streaming service revealed this news today with a new image and a poster for the upcoming pirate series based on the long-running (and extremely popular) manga and anime series, One Piece. The release year image features Monkey D. Luffy, played by Iñaki Godoy, raising his fist up in the air. You can see Netflix's One Piece logo in the image below as well: 

Adventure is on the horizon! One Piece sets sail in 2023 https://t.co/5YhPXFt8GS pic.twitter.com/GQH2MSAvCF

— Netflix (@netflix) January 30, 2023

Alongside the image above, Netflix has also released a new poster for the series, which features, from left to right, Taz Skylar's Sanji, Emily Rudd's Nami, Godoy's Luffy, Jacob Gibson's Usopp, and Mackenyu's Roronoa Zoro, standing on a beach in front of the crew's ship, the Going Merry. Check it out below: 

While these two images (and the casting) look great, we still haven't seen Netflix's One Piece show in motion so here's hoping we get a trailer sooner than later. One Piece begins sometime this year. 

The actor for the video game version of Tess in The Last of Us, Annie Wersching, has died. She was 45. 

Wersching was diagnosed with cancer in the summer of 2020 and she died following a two-year battle against it yesterday, January 29. She is survived by her husband Stephen and her three children, Freddie, Ozzie, and Archie. A GoFundMe has been created to help raise money for Wersching's family. 

In the video game industry, Wersching is perhaps best known for her role as Tess in Naughty Dog's 2013 hit, The Last of Us, but she was also known for her roles in 24 and Bosch, as reported by Variety. Many shared their love of Wersching yesterday following the news of her death, including The Last of Us co-creator and director Neil Druckmann. 

Sony has released a new PlayStation add called "Live From PS5" that showcases a few of the console's biggest titles, both past and upcoming, in a fictional news segment, and among the clips are two shots that we don't recognize. And they remind us a lot of Uncharted. 

Nintendo and Illumination have released a new teaser that reveals Mario's famous cat suit as well as more of Seth Rogen's Donkey Kong. 

Released during one of yesterday's big NFL games, this teaser is short and sweet, but it features 10 or so seconds of new footage from The Super Mario Bros. Movie, which hits theaters on April 7. In it, we see Donkey Kong begin to pummel Mario, which is a clip we've seen before, before Mario hits a yellow "?" block. This gives him the cat suit powerup and while it's useful in the game, that doesn't appear to be the case here as Rogen's Donkey Kong begins to make fun of the suit and Mario's reliance on it. 

Check it out for yourself in The Super Mario Bros. Movie clip below: 

As you can see, this is the most Donkey Kong dialogue we have heard in a teaser for The Super Mario Bros. Movie yet, and it reveals that Rogen's character is basically just him, complete with his signature laugh, too. This clip is yet another that looks great and we can't wait for this movie to hit theaters in a few months on April 7. 

For more, check out this trailer from last year that showcases Anya Taylor-Joy's Princess Peach. 

What do you think of this new clip? Let us know in the comments below!

Last fall, it was announced that the 1997 classic N64 first-person shooter, GoldenEye 007, would arrive on both Xbox and Switch in 2023. Today is that long-awaited day, as one of the most beloved and influential games from its era is available now on both platforms. While these versions are both largely faithful recreations of the seminal console FPS, key differences exist in ways that don't immediately surface one as the clearly superior version. I played a decent chunk of both versions to see which one I prefer to play in 2023.

When GoldenEye 007 launched in the late 1990s, I played it obsessively both solo and with friends for months upon months. During that time, I accomplished all the missions on 00 Agent difficulty, unlocked all the cheats, and played through hundreds (if not thousands) of multiplayer matches with friends. As with all my favorite games, I eventually fell off and moved on to newer releases, but my fondness and nostalgia for GoldenEye 007 have always remained.

This week on All Things Nintendo, we celebrate the launch of GoldenEye 007 on Nintendo Switch Online's Expansion Pack. To do that, Brian is joined by The New York Post's Scott Fontana. The two spend the episode looking back at the development and legacy of one of the most beloved games of the N64.

If you'd like to follow Brian on social media, you can do so on his Instagram: @BrianPShea. You can follow Scott on Twitter: Scott Fontana (@Scott_Fontana)

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

Be sure to subscribe to All Things Nintendo on your favorite podcast platform. The show is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and YouTube.

HBO's The Last of Us is getting a second season.

Nearly three weeks after the premiere of the first episode, HBO has revealed that The Last of Us will return for a Season 2. Season 1, so far, has been largely viewed as a success by critics and viewers alike. News of a second season isn't surprising because The Last of Us' premiere was the second largest debut for an HBO original series since 2010, and its second episode had the largest audience increase from a first episode to a second episode for an HBO Original drama series in the history of the network. 

Check out the Season 2 announcement for HBO's The Last of Us below: 

The journey continues. #TheLastOfUs will return for another season on @HBOMax. pic.twitter.com/FQNG6vhk1d

In this week's episode of The Game Informer Show, we break down our Forspoken review and chat about why the open-world game is weird enough to develop a devoted fanbase despite conflicting reviews. Additionally, returning guest Kahlief Adams joins us to promote Spawn On Me's upcoming game awards show, The Spawnies, and also chat with Marcus and Kyle about the newly-released Dead Space remake. 

Lastly, Alex and Kyle share very early impressions from Hi-Fi Rush, the stylish action game from the creators of The Evil Within that shadow-dropped yesterday.

Follow us on social media: Alex Van Aken (@itsVanAken), Marcus Stewart (@MarcusStewart7), Kyle Hilliard (@KyleMHilliard), Kahlief Adams (@KahliefAdams)

Reviewed on: PlayStation 5
Platform: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Developer: Motive Studio
Release: January 27, 2023
Rating: Mature

Like a necromorph reanimating the dead, Motive Studios has revived Dead Space and made it stronger and more terrifying than before. This renovation of the 2008 horror classic restores it beyond its original glory. The dismemberment-focused gunplay feels great, it looks even better, and while other noteworthy changes may not feel as substantial as some other remakes, they’re welcomed expansions to the existing template. The result is a remake that faithfully recaptures the magic of its predecessor while amplifying the elements that made it beloved in the first place. 

Like a Dragon: Ishin, the upcoming remake of the 2014 Yakuza spin-off set in 1860s Japan, is getting a dose of the Elite thanks to the inclusion of All Elite Wrestling’s Kenny Omega. Sega has announced that “The Cleaner” will assist players as one of the game’s many Trooper cards.

The centerpiece mechanic of Ishin, these cards grant special attacks and bonuses thanks to the help of several fan-favorite characters, including the likes of Ichiban Kasuga. Omega’s card, aptly named Essence of the One-Winged Angel after his Final Fantasy-inspired finishing move, can slice foes with a powerful, wide-reaching attack using his angel wing. 

To learn more about the announcement, I sat down with Omega to chat about his Trooper card’s origins, his long-standing love of the series formerly known as Yakuza, and whether or not he knows how to wield a katana.

GI: I know you're a big Like A Dragon fan, and I also know you spent a ton of time wrestling in Japan. Did you ever play the original version of Ishin? And if so, either between that or the remake, what excites you most about it?

Reviewed on: Switch
Platform: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC
Publisher: Deck13
Developer: Matthias Linda
Release: December 8, 2022

Chained Echoes deceives at first glance, making you question if you missed it back when its seeming contemporaries, like Final Fantasy VI and Chrono Trigger, were making a big splash. Of course, the reality is this lavish and imaginative RPG is brand new, crafted mostly by a single developer as both an homage to and celebration of those old games, even while injecting a healthy dose of new concepts. The resulting adventure may look like something from 30 years ago, but it plays with a sophistication that deserves attention from any genre fan.

The developer delights in playing with your preconceived ideas. Sometimes, it’s fulfilling those expectations at precisely the pace and moment you are most ready for them, in both story and gameplay, and at other times it’s about subverting them. Ready for a new twist on combat? Here’s a new additional system in which you control mechs in a fascinating alternate combat style, recalling classics like Xenogears. Think you understand the arc of the fated hero storyline? Maybe things are more complicated than you first guessed.

Today’s Xbox Developer Direct ended with a walkthrough of gameplay from Arkane’s Redfall. In addition to detailing how players will liberate the town of Redfall from its vampiric captors, the team also shared a release date: May 2.

The bulk of the presentation showed off how players, either alone or working with up to three other friends, will cleanse Redfall of vampires neighborhood by neighborhood. In addition to gathering intel about the island and completing side quests, such as rescuing human hostages, you’ll capture safehouses. These become additional human HQs, and gaining more brings you closer to battling the area’s ruling vampire underboss. These elite enemies boast unique attacks and require your full might, along with your team’s efforts, to kill for good.

We also got a look at vampire nests. A giant heart fuels these otherworldly dens, and infiltrating one means cutting the heart from the body. Swarms of vampires will try to stop you, of course, but succeeding causes the collapse of a nest, meaning you’ll have to get out fast. Additionally, Arkane showed off the Shroud enemy type, a vampire that can blanket areas in pitch darkness, fire projectiles, as well as phase through floors to evade danger. We also saw a little more of the heroes’ specialized abilities and upgrades, such as granting Layla’s umbrella with a perk that allows it to absorb and fire incoming bullets. 

Redfall will be available on Xbox Series X/S and PC and will be available on Game Pass at launch.

<p><img src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2023/01/25/d0b5119c/forza1.jpg" width="800" height="450" alt="Forza Motorsport" typeof="foaf:Image" class="image-style-body-default" /></p> <p>Last summer, Turn 10 Studios and Xbox <a href="https://www.gameinformer.com/xbox-games-showcase/2022/06/12/forza-motorsport-revealed-releasing-spring-2023">announced a new entry</a> in the esteemed Forza Motorsport series, built from the ground up for Xbox Series X/S. The studio made lofty promises regarding the kind of experience it would be able to deliver with the new hardware, and during today's Xbox Developer Direct, we received more information on the next entry of the sim-racing franchise, simply called Forza Motorsport.</p> <p>Turn 10 Studios calls this entry "a generational leap ahead for the Forza Motorsport series." For the first time in series history, Forza Motorsport has fully dynamic time of day and weather, which impact how cars handle; track temperatures and surface conditions combine with the texture of the driving surface to ensure that each lap is distinct. </p> <img src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2023/01/25/141cd73e/kyalami.jpg" alt="Forza Motorsport" title="Forza Motorsport" typeof="foaf:Image" class="image-style-body-default" /> <p>These races take place over 20 environments with multiple track layouts available at launch. Fans can expect their favorites from past Forza Motorsport titles, as well as five all-new locations. One of those locations is Kyalami, the first South African location in Forza Motorsport history. By utilizing photogrammetry and laser-scanned images, Turn 10 is able to depict 10 times the level of detail than past games.

During Xbox and Bethesda's Developer_Direct live stream, Tango Gameworks surprise announced its next title, Hi-Fi Rush. And if you know anything about the studio's previous games, it's a shocking departure in style, tone, and gameplay. 

Hi-Fi Rush is a rhythm action where combat, traversal, and even cutscenes all play to the beat of the game's soundtrack. Aesthetically, Hi-Fi Rush sits somewhere between Insomniac Games' Sunset Overdrive and a Saturday morning cartoon – which is to say, bright, over-the-top, and colorful. A far cry from Tango's other outings, such as The Evil Within series and last year's Ghostwire: Tokyo, which both emphasize horror and the supernatural. 

Check out the trailer below:

Hi-Fi Rush is available later today on PC and Xbox consoles via Game Pass. It's directed by John Johanas, who previously directed The Evil Within 2. It features licensed music from Nine Inch Nails, The Black Keys, The Prodigy, and more.

During today's Xbox Developer Direct, we learned a ton of new information about Minecraft Legends, Mojang's latest Minecraft spin-off. In addition to new details on PvP, we learned the game is coming to Xbox and PC on April 18, just a few months from now. Like most first-party Xbox titles, it will be available on Game Pass day one. We also got a new gameplay trailer, which you can watch below.

If you're unfamiliar, Minecraft Legends is an action strategy game where players explore a procedurally generated world to find resources, build bases, and save the overworld. In the campaign, which can be played solo or co-op, players work together to stop Piglins from invading their world from the Nether. While traditional Minecraft gameplay has the player placing each individual block, this game allows you to build on a larger scale, placing walls, traps, and turrets. 

In the PvP mode, two teams of up to four players will face off in a battle to destroy the other team's base. Like the campaign, the world is procedurally generated, so every match is different. Throughout the showcase, developers at Mojang and Blackbird Interactive detailed their favorite strategies, like layering walls with traps in between or exploring the world to find rare mobs. Multiplayer also features cross-platform play and online matchmaking.

ZeniMax Online Studios has revealed the next chapter of The Elder Scrolls Online, and it’s called Necrom. 

Revealed during today’s Xbox Developer Direct, a new games showcase event from the company, The Elder Scrolls Online: Necrom brings players to eastern Morrowind, a location studio head Matt Firor says hasn't been in an Elder Scrolls game since 1994. 

Players will encounter Hermaeus Mora, the Daedric Prince last seen in the Dragonborn DLC for The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim in Necrom. Firor also revealed that Necrom will add the Arcanist class to the MMO, which allows players to channel different types of magic, like destructive, restorative, and defensive magic.

If you pre-purchase the Necrom chapter now, you'll receive the new Sadrith Mora Spore Steed mount and the Sadrith Mora Spore Pony pet today for use in-game, as well as a new costume, pet, crown crate, and more at launch. This pony pet is only available until April 18 so act fast if you want to add it to your collection. 

"Defend the secrets of Hermaeus Mora and fight to preserve reality itself with The Elder Scrolls Online: Necrom, part of the Shadow Over Morrowind saga," a description of the chapter reads. "Master the new Arcanist class, explore Morrowind's Telvanni Peninsula, and walk between worlds as you experience a new adventure that takes you from Tamriel into the mind-bending realm of Apocrypha itself." 

As part of this month's cover story, we ask Dead Island 2's creative director and lead narrative designer 86 rapid-fire questions about the sequel's protracted development, Goat Simulator 3 riffing on Dead Island's iconic trailer, why Dambuster Studios considers Los Angeles an island, and whether the first game's door-breaking mini-game will return. 

Subscribe to Game Informer's YouTube channel if you enjoy this video. To learn more about Dead Island 2, click the banner below and catch up on our month of exclusive coverage.

<p><img src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2023/01/25/8730f978/goldeneye_header.jpg" width="800" height="450" alt="James Bond GoldenEye 007 Switch Xbox release date" typeof="foaf:Image" class="image-style-body-default" /></p> <p>Nintendo <a href="https://www.gameinformer.com/nintendo-direct/2022/09/13/goldeneye-007-pokemon-stadium-and-other-nintendo-64-games-announced-for" target="_blank">revealed back in September</a> that the classic N64 game, GoldenEye 007, was coming to Switch, complete with online play. Microsoft announced that same day that <a href="https://www.gameinformer.com/2022/09/13/goldeneye-007-coming-to-xbox-with-dual-analog-stick-support" target="_blank">GoldenEye 007 was coming to Xbox as well</a>, although this version of the famed game would not feature online multiplayer like its Switch counterpart.&nbsp;</p> <p>Neither announcement included a release date, but today, developer <a href="https://twitter.com/RareLtd/status/1618251876327215104?s=20&amp;t=huMDW9GXfdP1BU5GwquNYA" target="_blank">Rare revealed that GoldenEye 007 launches this week</a>, on Friday, January 27.

<p><img src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2023/01/25/1c5e59c3/xbox_header.jpg" width="800" height="450" alt="Microsoft revenue Q2 2023 Xbox Series X/S consoles financials game pass" typeof="foaf:Image" class="image-style-body-default" /></p> <p>Xbox gaming revenue is mostly down across all fronts, but its Game Pass subscriber base still saw growth.&nbsp;</p> <p>Microsoft released its <a href="https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/investor/earnings/fy-2023-q2/press-release-webcast" target="_blank">second quarter financial results for the 2023 fiscal year</a> yesterday, and it revealed that Xbox gaming revenue declined 13% overall. Xbox content and services, such as first-party software and monetization in third-party games, declined 12%, but Microsoft notes that this decline is up against a "strong prior year comparable." Given that Xbox's 2022 was lackluster compared to the prior year, this isn't surprising.</p> <p>However, the financial results <a href="https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/Investor/earnings/FY-2023-Q2/document/viewdocument/SlidesFY23Q2.pptx" target="_blank">state</a> that this 12% decline is "partially offset by growth in Xbox Game Pass subscriptions." Xbox hardware revenue has also declined&nbsp;13%. During an earnings call, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella revealed that Xbox's monthly active users surpassed 120 million during this quarter in question, as reported by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ign.com/articles/xbox-gaming-and-hardware-revenue-down-slightly-amid-lack-of-big-releases" target="_blank"><em>IGN</em></a>.

<p><img src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2023/01/25/80cb8318/roiland_header.jpg" width="800" height="450" alt="Justin Roiland Rick and Morty High On Life Squanch Games Adult Swim" typeof="foaf:Image" class="image-style-body-default" /></p> <p>Justin Roiland has resigned from Squanch Games following domestic abuse charges.&nbsp;</p> <p>The High On Life Twitter account released a statement yesterday, revealing that the studio received Roiland's resignation on January 16. Squanch says it will "keep developing games we know our fans will love while continuing to support and improve High On Life."</p> <blockquote class="tw-align-center twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="zxx"><a href="https://t.co/xj1QgPskas">pic.twitter.com/xj1QgPskas</a></p> — High On Life (@highonlifegame) <a href="https://twitter.com/highonlifegame/status/1618049906576601089?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 25, 2023</a></blockquote> <p>This statement came just a couple of hours after the official&nbsp;<em>Rick and Morty</em>&nbsp;Twitter account posted a statement revealing that Adult Swim has ended its association with Roiland.

<p><img src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2023/01/23/2c701c70/pokehero.jpg" width="800" height="450" alt="" typeof="foaf:Image" class="image-style-body-default" /></p> <p class="text-align-center"><em>Below is an excerpt from our <a href="https://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2017/12/31/the-history-of-pokemon.aspx">History Of Pokémon</a> feature</em></p> <p>Pokémon is owned by a number of companies, leading to a complicated relationship for the valuable brand and its parents. When asked if he could explain the relationship between Game Freak, Nintendo, and The Pokémon Company, while visiting Game Freak in 2017, co-founder Junichi Masuda turned to a white board behind him to draw out his explanation.</p> <img src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2023/01/23/bc149c84/masuda-explaining-who-owns-pokemon.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" alt="" class="image-style-body-default" /> <p>After drawing circles for Game Freak, Nintendo, and former producer Creatures, Masuda explained. “Game Freak? We develop all the main Pokémon games. Originally, Creatures, they were the producers of the game. Nintendo was the seller of the games – the distributor. So that was the original structure of Pokémon games. In terms of who owns the rights to the games, it’s these three companies.”</p> <p>These days, Creatures mostly handles the Pokémon card game, and The Pokémon Company was formed in 1998 – shortly before the release of Pokémon Gold and Silver – to manage the brand and all of its assorted merchandising. In terms of genuine ownership, Masuda says it’s one-third each for Game Freak, Creatures, and Nintendo.