Game Informer

<p><img src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2023/01/24/5204a08a/hbo_tlou.jpg" width="800" height="450" alt="HBO&#039;s The Last of Us season 1 episode 2 viewership new record" typeof="foaf:Image" class="image-style-body-default" /></p> <p>Last week, <a href="https://www.gameinformer.com/gamer-culture/2023/01/17/the-last-of-us-premiere-was-hbos-second-largest-debut-since-2010" target="_blank"><em>The Last of Us'</em> premiere&nbsp;scored HBO's second largest debut</a> for an original series since 2010. And now, Episode 2 of <em>The Last of Us</em>, "Infected," has broken another HBO record.</p> <p>"Infected" brought in 5.7 million viewers across HBO and HBO Max streams, marking a 22% increase over last week's 4.7-million premiere. That increase&nbsp;is the largest audience increase from a first episode to a second episode for an original drama series on HBO in the network's history, as first reported by <a href="https://variety.com/2023/tv/news/the-last-of-us-episode-2-ratings-viewers-1235499252/" target="_blank"><em>Variety</em></a>.

<p><img src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2023/01/24/99299ba3/fortnite_header.jpg" width="800" height="450" alt="" typeof="foaf:Image" class="image-style-body-default" /></p> <p>EA Motive's remake of <a href="https://www.gameinformer.com/product/dead-space-remake" target="_blank">Dead Space</a> is out later this week, but if you need your fix of Isaac Clarke now, you can purchase the Strange Transmissions Quest Pack in Fortnite today. </p> <p>Isaac Clarke joins Fortnite's Gaming Legends Series and he can join your locker roster via the new quest pack for $11.99. Strange Transmissions is available now in the Fortnite Item Shop and it allows you to collect the <strong>Issac Clarke Outfit</strong> and <strong>earn up to 1500 V-Bucks</strong>, which is essentially how much the pack costs (if you convert V-Bucks into real-world dollars).

<p><img src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2023/01/24/6352a1d3/steamworld_build_header.jpg" width="800" height="450" alt="Thunderful next game SteamWorld Build release date announcement trailer" typeof="foaf:Image" class="image-style-body-default" /></p> <p>Thunderful has announced its next SteamWorld game and it's a city-builder.&nbsp;</p> <p>Revealed yesterday during a Thunderful stream, SteamWorld Build is a new city-builder set in the SteamWorld universe due out sometime this year on consoles and PC. In it, your goal is to escape a dying planet and the only way to do this is by building a mining town to dig up "vital long-lost technology." You'll need to manage your city&nbsp;as the needs of it, and the citizens living there, grow, and you'll have to defend your creation from the deadly creatures that lurk below.&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Check out the SteamWorld Build announcement trailer below</strong>:&nbsp;</p> <iframe width="560" height="315" frameBorder="0" allow="autoplay" allowfullscreen="true" src="https://players.brightcove.net/694940074001/rydylbNsz_default/index.html?videoId=6319169103112"></iframe> <p>"There's an abandoned mine sitting under your town, and it's rumored to be filled with anicent tech that holds the key to escaping the impending doom," the game's Steam page reads. "Use the natural resources above ground and the abundant ores buried in the mine to expand your town.

<p><img src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2023/01/23/0f5e1003/nba_all_world_key_art.jpg" width="800" height="450" alt="" typeof="foaf:Image" class="image-style-body-default" /></p> <p>When Pokémon Go launched in 2016, it immediately became one of the biggest phenomenons in gaming history. Niantic, the studio behind the still-running Pokémon Go, has officially launched its latest project, NBA All-World. Much like Pokémon Go's core concept, NBA All-World lets you search your real-world location for some of the biggest names in the NBA in order to challenge them and recruit them to your team.&nbsp;</p> <iframe width="560" height="315" frameBorder="0" allow="autoplay" allowfullscreen="true" src="https://players.brightcove.net/694940074001/rydylbNsz_default/index.html?videoId=6319144141112"></iframe> <p>As players explore their surroundings with this free-to-play mobile title, they encounter various NBA players. In these moments, you can take them on in a variety of challenges with the goal of recruiting them to your team. Once these players are recruited to your team, you can level up their skills, deck them out in your favorite apparel and gear, and compete in hopes of becoming the ruler of your local courts. If you've already recruited a given player, you can earn Cred through the encounter. Players can acquire gear through in-game shops or search for real-world drops from iconic brands. As your team level rises, you can recruit stronger players.

<p><img src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2023/01/23/5de8b7da/ar20hh.jpg" width="800" height="450" alt="Supermassive Games Switchback VR PSVR2 delayed march release date" typeof="foaf:Image" class="image-style-body-default" /></p> <p>The Dark Pictures: Switchback VR has been delayed.&nbsp;</p> <p>PlayStation revealed <a href="https://blog.playstation.com/2022/11/02/11-new-ps-vr2-games-announced-the-dark-pictures-switchback-vr-cities-vr-enhanced-edition-crossfire-sierra-squad-and-more/" target="_blank">11 new PlayStation VR2 games back in November</a>, including a new entry in Supermassive Games' The Dark Pictures anthology series&nbsp;called Switchback VR. Supermassive released Until Dawn: Rush of Blood, a PlayStation VR rail shooter, in 2016, and Switchback VR is&nbsp;its spiritual successor.&nbsp;When Switchback VR was revealed late last year, there wasn't an official release date attached to it – PlayStation just referred to it as a PSVR2 launch window title.&nbsp;</p> <p>Nonetheless, Supermassive Games will release Switchback VR later than expected, as it has been delayed to March 16. It's a short delay, given that PSVR2 launches on February 22, and any game in its launch window was likely due around then. As for why, Supermassive Games says it needs more time to polish the rail shooter.&nbsp;</p> <p>"Switchback VR is Supermassive Games' most ambitious VR project to date, taking players through 5 extensive worlds that branch through various terror filled rollercoaster routes based on the Dark Pictures franchise," a message from the Switchback VR team reads.

Life Is Strange 2 is coming to Switch in just a couple of weeks. 

The 2019 episodic adventure game will arrive in its entirety on February 2. The five-part saga sees brothers Sean and Daniel Diaz on the run from the law after the latter’s awakened supernatural power results in the loss of a loved one. 

This news also means the entire Life Is Strange franchise will be available on Switch. 2021’s True Colors arrived a few months after its launch, and Life Is Strange: Remastered Collection, which bundles the first title and the Before the Storm prequel, hit the hybrid console last September.

In our review, former editor Joe Juba scored Life Is Strange 2 an 8.5 out of 10, writing that "Life is Strange 2 has been quietly weaving a powerful and sincere narrative experience that admirably carries on the series’ legacy." What's your favorite Life Is Strange game? Let us know in the comments!

World War Z is no stranger to having lots and lots of zombies, but a new mode launching tomorrow somehow stuffs even more undead into the experience with Horde Mode XL. Horde Mode has existed in World War Z for some time, and tasks players with holding down a single location as waves of zombies invade. Horde Mode XL is functionally the same, but now boosts the number of on-screen enemies to 1,000, which is the most the game has ever managed to showcase at one time. You can check out a short gameplay clip of the new mode above, which skips the first few waves to jump right to the final XL horde.

Horde Mode XL is coming for free to World War Z tomorrow, January 24, only on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. You can read our review of World War Z right here.

Reviewed on: PlayStation 5
Platform: PlayStation 5, PC
Publisher: Square Enix
Developer: Square Enix
Release: January 24, 2023

Forspoken is a game about movement and running. Protagonist Frey begins the game running from the law and debt collectors. She's also in the middle of a plan to flee New York City with a gym bag full of cash. Amidst that chaos, she falls into the land of Athia and is eager to leave the new, mysterious world where she inexplicably has superhuman combat and running abilities. Getting from one place to another is Forspoken’s high point, and while no other element quite reaches the heights of how fun running and climbing are, Frey’s adventure isn’t without its highlights.

Despite rumors claiming otherwise, 343 Industries will continue to develop Halo games following Halo Infinite. 

Microsoft laid off 10,000 people last week amidst the company's ongoing $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard. The same day, Halo Infinite creative director Joseph Staten, who joined the studio in 2020 to help bring the game across the finish line, revealed that he was departing 343 Industries to rejoin Xbox Publishing. Some saw this as a final blow of sorts to Halo Infinite and 343 Industries, but there's no official indication that Halo Infinite's course is changing following these layoffs. 

Still, rumors on the back of a report claimed that 343 Industries would no longer be developing Halo games, as other developers would do that in the future, while the studio served more as an overseer to the franchise. However, 343 Industries studio head Pierre Hintze was quick to get ahead of this rumor and posted the following on Twitter over the weekend: 

WWE 2K23 has been unveiled, and for some strange reason, 2K decided the cover art will feature a blank picture instead of a wrestler. I kid, of course. This year’s cover superstar is the 16-time World Champion and master of implied invisibility, John Cena.

As for features, so far, the biggest new addition is WarGames match type (WWE's version). The dual-ring, double cage match can be played 3v3 or 4v4 single-player or online. 2K also teases a “unique new take” on the documentary style 2K Showcase mode, which of course, highlights Cena's career. MyGM returns in an expanded form, MyFaction is getting online multiplayer, and the story-driven MyRise, Universe, and Creation modes are back. For the Creation Suite, custom arenas are now playable online, and entrances have more customization options. Another railer, which will share more information and gameplay, will premiere during tonight's episode of Monday Night Raw.

As for the roster, here’s the short list of confirmed superstars thus far:

Since the release of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II, players have asked for a Hardcore Mode, which was notably absent from the game at launch and still today. Developer Infinity Ward has revealed that Hardcore will hit the game during its upcoming Season 2, which begins next month. 

This news comes just a few days after Infinity Ward revealed some details about this forthcoming season, including the return of Resurgence in Warzone 2.0, Ranked Play, new multiplayer modes, maps, and weapons, and more. Other changes include making the gulag in Warzone 2.0 a 1v1 fight now, instead of 2v2 like it's been since launch, and loot from fallen enemies in Warzone 2.0 will now float on the floor, rather than remain inside a backpack. Many of these changes are welcome, but it's clear the return of Hardcore is the most exciting update coming to Season 2. 

No HUD? No problem. Hardcore is back!

Follow Season 02’s Multiplayer updates in our studio blog later this week.

The team at Crystal Dynamics has announced the end of development for its live-service Marvel's Avengers game. The news comes two and a half years after the game's fall 2020 launch. In that time, the Marvel's Avengers development team released 12 playable heroes (including the PlayStation-exclusive Spider-Man), a full expansion set in Wakanda, multiple character-focused Operations, and several smaller pieces of content. 

The 2.7 update, which arrived November 30, 2022, adding Winter Soldier and the Cloning Lab Omega-Level Threat, was the final new content for Marvel's Avengers. Crystal Dynamics has planned one final title update, version 2.8, to arrive on March 31, 2023. This update will not add any new content (including no additional cosmetics). Instead, it will deliver final balance updates and turn off the cosmetics marketplace.

Once this update arrives, credits will not be purchasable, and all remaining credits in players' accounts will be converted to in-game resources like units, fragments, upgrade modules, polychoron, and DNA keys. As a result of the marketplace's closure, all the game's marketplace, challenge card, and shipment cosmetic content will be made free to all players. This means all outfits, takedowns, emotes, and nameplates from those sources will be free for all players starting on March 31.

This week on All Things Nintendo, we give our final verdicts on several recent Switch titles, but the focus is this week's major release, Fire Emblem Engage. Wes joins Brian to deliver an update on his play session now that he's rolled credits, and Brian gives his final verdict on Sports Story. They also chat about the new Persona ports, Lil Gator Game, and get caught up on the news of the week.

If you'd like to follow Brian on social media, you can do so on his Instagram: @BrianPShea. You can follow Wesley on Twitter: @LeBlancWes.

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!

In this week's episode of The Game Informer Show, host Alex Van Aken returns from a secret trip to Japan with Marcus Stewart. The pair chat with Kyle Hilliard about the first two episodes of HBO's The Last Of Us series and share their initial reactions to the show. Unfortunately, the video game industry was subject to massive layoffs this week, with reports of large companies like Microsoft, 343 Industries, and Bethesda reducing their workforce by over 10,000 employees. At the same time, on the media side, our talented peers at Giant Bomb, GameSpot, and Fandom were also affected. 

During The Playlist, the crew chats about recent games they've been playing, including Tchia, PlateUp!, Pentiment, and The Case Of The Golden Idol. 

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

We concluded 2022 by returning to our Super Replay roots by tackling an old-school survival horror game. That means replaying one of the greatest games of the PS1 era, Silent Hill! 

As announced in a recent blog post, 13 new games are coming to PlayStation VR2, and they’re all expected to release “within one month of the February 22 launch.” They are as follows:

• Before Your Eyes
• Kayak VR: Mirage
• Pavlov VR
• Puzzling Places
• Song in the Smoke: Rekindled
• Synth Riders: Remastered Edition
• Thumper
• NFL Pro Era
• What the Bat?
• Rez Infinite
• Tetris Effect
• Creed Rise to Glory: Championship Edition
• The Last Clockwinder

The blog post also mentions that Gran Turismo 7 will receive a free VR2 update on launch day. A statement from the president of Polyphony Games details that “While 2-player splitscreen races are not supported in VR, all other races, including online races, will be available.” In case you missed it, Resident Evil Village will also get a VR update on launch day.

Platform: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Developer: EA Tiburon
Release: March 24, 2023
Rating: Everyone

EA Sports has been producing officially licensed PGA Tour video games since 1990, with stars like Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy lending their names to the product over the years. However, the company has not released a PGA Tour video game since 2015, meaning other franchises have had time to slide into the space once occupied by EA Sports’ mainstay series.

A Ubisoft game known as Project Q leaked early last year before the Assassin's Creed maker revealed its existence, calling it a team-based battle arena combat game. 

Insider Gaming reported yesterday that Ubisoft had canceled Project Q and now, Ubisoft has confirmed that this is, in fact, true to Video Games Chronicle. 

"We can confirm we will no longer support the development of Project Q in order to focus on priority projects, to which our teams are being reallocated," Ubisoft told VGC. 

This cancelation comes after Ubisoft delayed Skull and Bones last week alongside news that it had canceled three unannounced games. It's currently unclear if Project Q was one of those three games canceled (while Project Q was technically announced, it was revealed as an in-the-works project rather than a game with a final title so perhaps Ubisoft considered it unannounced). 

For more, read about what Project Q was going to be here. 

Microsoft has laid off 10,000 employees. 

This news comes from a Bloomberg report detailing that Microsoft's layoff come as the company attempts to reduce costs amid a larger economic slowdown. These layoffs come amidst Microsoft's ongoing fight against the FTC to acquire Call of Duty makers Activision Blizzard for a staggering $69 billion. Bloomberg reports that some people at Bethesda Game Studios, which is hard at work on getting Starfield ready for its release sometime in the first half of this year, were laid off, but that Halo Infinite developer 343 Industries was hit hardest in the company's portfolio of game studios. 

According to Bloomberg, Microsoft has plans to hire in "strategic, competitive areas" like AI but that other tech-focused departments like HoloLens and some engineering divisions were hit by these layoffs. 

Reviewed on: Switch
Platform: Switch, PC
Publisher: Playtonic Friends
Developer: MegaWobble
Release: December 14, 2022

Everyone has something they loved spending time with in the past – a restaurant, a daily-play video game, a group of friends – only to one day unknowingly enjoy doing so for the final time. It's a poignant and often heartbreaking truth of how places evolve, tastes change, and priorities divert as we all grow older. For the eponymous hero in Lil Gator Game, that activity is live-action role-playing with his big sis. With his sister home from college, Gator assembles a master plan to pry her away from her coursework for one more game. The resulting adventure is a short, cute, Zelda-inspired romp that conjures our own bittersweet nostalgia for the activities, places, and people we once spent our days with but no longer do for one reason or another.

Developer Avalanche and publisher Warner Bros. Interactive have released a new cinematic trailer for Hogwarts Legacy, giving viewers a bird's eye view, literally, of the titular school and the surrounding castle grounds. 

With Hogwarts Legacy due out on current-get consoles and PC in just a few weeks, on February 10, it's no surprise we're getting a trailer like this today. It's a great look at what to expect in the game, including beasts and creatures, characters like Professor Weasley and Nearly Headless Nick, and more. There's even some Avada Kadavra-casting foes to be seen, as well as dragons and spiders to fights. And all of it is shown through the view of an owl delivering a Hogwarts acceptance letter to a soon-to-be wizard. 

Check out the 4K version of this Hogwarts Legacy cinematic trailer below: 

Heads up, Stadia owners: Google’s cloud gaming program is shutting down today, January 18. The service began issuing refunds for all hardware last November, but if you haven’t received one yet, information on how to obtain one should have been emailed to the Google account used to make the purchase. However, past Stadia Pro subscriptions will not receive refunds.

There's a silver lining for those of you with Stadia controllers and nothing to use them for. You can download an update that will allow your controller to use Bluetooth. However, be warned: this permanently disables wi-fi capabilities, so if you download the update now, you won't be able to play Stadia games before the shutdown. For more details, you can visit the Stadia Help Center.

Stadians, you can now update your Stadia Controller’s firmware to enable Bluetooth Low Energy connections.

Find the update tool here: https://t.co/o0iU2x0NsV pic.twitter.com/SxzUYJyRrh

Platform: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
Publisher: Koei Tecmo
Developer: Team Ninja
Release: March 3, 2023

The Last of Us, the highly anticipated TV adaptation of Naughty Dog's hit game of the same name, finally premiered Sunday and it's looking like a massive hit for HBO. 

That's because The Last of Us' premiere was the second largest debut for an HBO series since 2010, beaten only by last year's House of the Dragon, the first TV spinoff from HBO's Game of Thrones series. The Last of Us drew in 4.7 million views, according to a Deadline report, coming in second to House of the Dragon's 2022 premiere which pulled in 9.986 million watchers. The Last of Us is matched by HBO's Boardwalk Empire, which premiered in 2010 to 4.81 million viewers. 

Deadline writes that HBO says Sunday night viewing usually represents 20 to 40% of a given show's gross audience per episode (HBO shows typically release episodes on Sunday nights). 

"We are thrilled to see fans of the series and game alike experience this iconic story in a new way, and we extend our gratitude to them for helping to make it a success," CEO and chairman of HBO and HBO Max Content Casey Bloys said, according to Deadline. "Congratulations to [showrunners Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann, who is also a co-creator of The Last of Us], and the brilliant cast and crew who worked tirelessly to bring this show to life. We look forward to fans around the world enjoying the rest of the season." 

A new image from Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League has leaked and it seems to confirm that it will be a live service game, or at least feature games-as-a-service elements.

This image, which you can view in the tweet below, comes from the 4chan forum, as reported by Video Games Chronicle, which has also verified with sources that the image is real. The image appears to be Suicide Squad's start menu and features standard things like game mode selection, chapter select, difficulty, and matchmaking. It also features some menus to page through at the top, including a "Battle Pass" one. Under those top-bar menus are what appear to be various currencies, too. 

First look at the Suicide Squad game menu. Mentions Battle Pass, Loadout, Missions based structure. #Batman #SuicideSquad pic.twitter.com/t3vmHmjQ8k

Reviewed on: PlayStation 5
Platform: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
Publisher: Bandai Namco
Developer: Ilca
Release: January 13, 2023
Rating: Teen

"You know how fuzzy memories can be." It's a convenient and hand-wavy line delivered by the new character Lim, warning the Straw Hat Pirates of the impending adventures into some of One Piece's most popular story arcs. Likewise, One Piece Odyssey can be a fuzzy experience. It oscillates between being thrilling and tedious. The promise of discovering "what if…?" scenarios is enticing for longtime fans, but it rarely follows through in a meaningful way. And as a potential introductory point for new fans, One Piece Odyssey falters as most of the context and characters in the core story flashbacks are stripped away. While I'm conflicted about my time with One Piece Odyssey, it's a testament to the series' RPG outing that I'm fond of the overall adventure despite some glaring holes throughout.

This week on All Things Nintendo, Brian invites Kyle Hilliard on to preview the 2023 release schedule as it exists in January. The two cover everything from Kirby's Dream Land Deluxe to The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom and all the releases in between. In addition to that, this show signals the return of the news, Definitive Ranking, and eShop Gem of the Week segments.

If you'd like to follow Brian on social media, you can do so on his Instagram: @BrianPShea. You can follow Kyle on Twitter: @KyleMHilliard

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!

Reviewed on: PC
Platform: PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Switch, PC
Publisher: The Arcade Crew
Developer: JoyMasher
Release: January 12, 2023
Rating: Teen

Retro platformers are not hard to come by. I count myself among the group of video game players who welcome efforts from small development teams that play to our nostalgia for an era where playing video games meant tuning to channel 3. Some are fantastic, some are too hard to be enjoyable, but most land somewhere in the middle. Vengeful Guardian: Moonrider won’t go down in history as one of the greats that both embraces the past and modernizes the action, but I would place it closer to the fantastic side of the scale, even if it doesn’t quite make it all the way.

Your regular host, Alex Van Aken, is out on a mysterious project this week so guest host Kyle Hilliard is back to throw out the format and talk entirely too much about anime. The discussion is timely, though, as the big release of the week is One Piece Odyssey, Bandai Namco's impressive RPG based on the popular anime. John Carson, who is reviewing the game for Game Informer, returns to talk about his experience and share his favorite games of 2022. We are also joined by former Game Informer editor and former host of this very podcast, Benjamin Reeves! Reeves makes his triumphant return to The Game Informer Show to also share his favorite games of 2022 and, alongside Wesley LeBlanc, reveal just how little they know about One Piece with our Devil Fruit quiz.

Follow us on social media: Follow us on social media: Kyle Hilliard (@KyleMHilliard) Wesley LeBlanc (@LeBlancWes), Benjamin Reeves (@BenjaminReeves), and John Carson (@John_Carson).

Developer Scavengers Studio revealed last month that it was releasing Season: A Letter To The Future on January 31, and now, just a few weeks ahead of that, the studio has released a gorgeous new story trailer. 

This new trailer provides yet another beautiful glimpse into the painterly world of Season while providing new details about what our protagonist is doing: archiving the end of the Earth and the final people still living on it. She strives to capture their final moments in her journal and with her camera, aiming to learn why they're still around and ultimately, what kept them going. It sounds like quite the emotional journey. 

Check out the new Season: A Letter To The Future story trailer for yourself below: 

As you can see, Season is shaping up to possibly be something special. Fortunately, we don't have to wait too much longer to find out because it hits PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, and PC on January 31. 

Developer Motive Studio and publisher EA have released a new story trailer for its upcoming remake of Dead Space, and the game continues to look terrifying and beautiful. 

Due out on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC later this month on January 27, this might be one of our last looks at the remake before it's in the hands of players. Fortunately, this new trailer is nearly two minutes of cinematics and gameplay from the remake focused on the story of Dead Space. As expected, this remake isn't changing much at all, utilizing the same story from the original 2008 release with updated visuals and audio (plus some new voice lines for protagonist Isaac Clarke). 

Check out the new Dead Space Remake "Humanity Ends Here" trailer for yourself below: 

As you can see, Dead Space Remake continues to look great and we can't wait to play it in just a few weeks. 

Get your decks ready because it might finally be time to face off against your friends in Marvel Snap later this month. 

Marvel Snap has been a resounding success since its release, allowing players to compete against other real-world players with a variety of cards, random locations, and more. Despite the positive reception, one thing players have been asking for has been missing: the ability to play against your friends. Developer Second Dinner announced in November that it was working on an update to allow friends to battle each other and now, it has announced that this update is expected at the end of the month. 

More specifically, the update is expected in a January 31 update, but Second Dinner says if it runs "into any last minutes issues, we may choose to delay for a little longer to make sure things work correctly," as reported by Eurogamer. 

This news was revealed alongside word that the developer is introducing Series Drops into the game. 

"It's been a couple of months since we introduced Series 4 and Series 5 cards, and we're excited about our first-ever Series Drop," its blog post reads. "With every Series Drop, some Series 5 cards will move to Series 4, and some Series 4 cards will move to Series 3."

Here are the cards dropping from Series 5 to Series 4: 

In Vengeful Guardian: Moonrider you might just be the bad guy. You have Metroid-inspired traversal abilities, a Mega Man X sword, and a platter of six levels and bosses to pursue in any order you choose. But are you doing the right thing? The important thing is it feels good to play and is incredibly reminiscent of the 16-bit era of video games in the best way.

For more previews of some of the biggest games of 2022 and beyond, be sure to head over to our YouTube page for NGTs about Fire Emblem Engage, Clive 'N' Wrench, Inkulinati, Outer Terror, and more. 

Microsoft has announced an Xbox and Bethesda Developer Direct, a new games showcase "providing fans an inside look at some of the games coming to Xbox, PC, and Game Pass over the next few months." 

It will air on January 25 and feature Xbox studios like Arkane Austin, Mojang Studios, Turn 10 Studios, and ZeniMax Online Studios. This Developer Direct will "focus on big features, extended gameplay showcases, and the latest info for Xbox games launching in the next few months," including The Elder Scrolls Online, Forza Motorsport, Minecraft Legends, and Redfall. 

You might notice a big galaxy-sized absence in this lineup: Starfield. Fret not, Xbox says a standalone Starfield show is in the works "to dedicate the proper amount of time for a deep dive" into the game. 

As for what to expect for each game, Xbox has detailed that too. For The Elder Scrolls Online, ZeniMax Online Studios will unveil 2023's major chapter update, "including the latest regions of Tamriel to become playable in ESO, as well as a major new feature coming in the game's biggest update this year." A full "ESO Chapter Reveal Event" will follow this Developer Direct. On the Forza Motorsport side of things, Turn 10 Studios will be sharing more gameplay and new details about the game. 

Ubisoft has canceled three unannounced games, the company has revealed in its latest financial update. It has also delayed Skull and Bones, which has already been delayed several times in the past. 

The company cites "major challenges as the industry continues to shift towards mega-brands and long-lasting titles that can reach players across the globe, across platforms and business models." It says that over the last four years, its strategy has been about building "long-lasting live games and adapting our strongest franchises" like Assassin's Creed, Far Cry, and Tom Clancy games like Ghost Recon, Rainbow Six, and The Division "to converging trends to make them truly global brands." 

Final Fantasy XVI is due out June 22 exclusively on PlayStation 5, but some fans believe a PC version of the game could release as soon as six months after its console debut. However, FF16 producer Naoki Yoshida isn't sure why. 

During a recent Final Fantasy XIV stream, Yoshida, who is a director on that game, was asked about rumors surrounding a PC version of FF16, and he responded, "I don't know where the notion of a PC version releasing six months after the game is out came from as none of us have ever said that," according to a translator, as reported by Eurogamer. He followed it up with two instances urging fans to buy the PS5 version. 

According to a translation by Siliconera, Yoshida also said, "There's been talk that the PC version will come out, but no one on the team has said anything about the PC version. I wonder why people assume the PC version will arrive six months after [the PS5 version], so just go ahead and buy a PS5." 

These days, box offices are dominated by comic-book and superhero movies from Marvel and DC. Unfortunately, while superhero movies have improved dramatically over the last decade, superheroes haven’t been as powerful in the realm of video games. In fact, nearly 40 years after the first superhero video game, many developers still struggle to create worthwhile experiences using some of the biggest names in entertainment today.

While not all superhero games are monumental duds like Superman on Nintendo 64, many tend to deliver middling, forgettable experiences. However, a select few that defy the stereotype to become superb titles we still look back on fondly as not only great superhero games, but terrific video games in their own rights.

While the superhero films of today are often critically acclaimed and feature a wide array of faces, our list of the best superhero games is substantially less diverse, with half of the list focused on two franchises. This speaks to the drastically different levels of quality these games have featured over the years.

Check out our list of the 10 best superhero games of all time and be sure to let us know your favorites in the comments below.

Weapon durability and its application in games have long been hot topics amongst players. Some love it, some are fine with it, and others hate it. And those feelings vary depending on who you are talking to about this topic. I think of games like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild when someone brings up weapon durability, as it was a hotly debated aspect of its release (I didn't mind it at all, personally). 

Love it or hate it, weapon durability is a feature that will likely never go away in games, and that's okay because when it's done right, it can be a helpful way to push players toward something new. In 2011's Dead Island, weapon durability was a big part of the experience, and that feature will return in Dead Island 2 when it hits PlayStation and Xbox consoles, and PC, on April 28. As for why, it's because developer Dambuster Studios finds it to be a useful instrument in guiding players.

In this exclusive Game Informer interview, we learn how Dead Island 2's audio team uses horror sound design to transform everyday groceries like watermelon, pasta, and grapefruit into the sounds of zombie's blood and guts. Filmed at Dambuster Studios in Nottingham, England, this feature is part of our ongoing cover story content.

To learn more about Dead Island 2, visit our hub.

This week on All Things Nintendo, Brian invites Wesley LeBlanc on to chat about the first major release of 2023, Fire Emblem Engage. The two break down their time spent with the final game to this point, previewing the various aspects of this highly anticipated turn-based strategy title. Then, in the second segment, Brian and Wesley chat about Sports Story, the successor to Golf Story, which surprise-launched in late December.

If you'd like to follow Brian on social media, you can do so on his Instagram: @BrianPShea. You can follow Wesley on Twitter: @LeBlancWes.

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!

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