Game Informer

<p><img src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2022/07/07/2174b2fd/yugioh_creator_dies_at_60.jpg" width="800" height="450" alt="Yugioh creator Kazuki Takahashi dies at 60" typeof="foaf:Image" class="image-style-body-default" /></p> <p>Japanese artist Kazuki Takahashi, the creator behind the mega-popular <em>Yu-Gi-Oh</em>! manga,&nbsp;has died at 60.&nbsp;</p> <p>This news comes from reports from Japanese public broadcaster <em><a href="https://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20220707/k10013706461000.html" target="_blank">NHK</a></em>, as reported by <em><a href="https://www.ign.com/articles/yu-gi-oh-creator-kazuki-takahashi-dies-aged-60?utm_source=twitter" target="_blank">IGN</a></em>. According to information coming from Japan, Takahashi was found floating in shallow waters on the coast of Nago City on the Island of Okinawa by the country’s Coast Guard yesterday, July&nbsp;6. He was wearing snorkeling gear when found by the Coast Guard. Both the Coast Guard and local police are investigating his death.&nbsp;</p> <p>Takahashi’s manga career began in 1982, but it didn’t truly take off until the release of <em>Yu-Gi-Oh!</em>&nbsp;in 1996. In between his start and <em>Yu-Gi-Oh!</em>, though, Takahashi published titles like <em>Fighting Hawk</em> and <em>Tennenshoku Danji Buray</em>, according to<em> <a href="https://kotaku.com/yu-gi-oh-creator-kazuki-takahashi-manga-konami-died-60-1849151231" target="_blank">Kotaku</a></em>. After <em>Yu-Gi-Oh!</em> hit shelves in 1996, the series only continued to grow in popularity, spawning a real-life card game in 1999 (that’s still extremely popular today) as well as multiple anime series.

<p><img src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2021/12/09/231d8794/matrix2.jpg" width="800" height="450" alt="" typeof="foaf:Image" class="image-style-body-default" /></p> <p>Following a scant seven months of availability, The Matrix Awakens: An Unreal Engine 5 Experience will be leaving digital console storefronts on July 9.&nbsp;</p> <p>According to the Matrix Awakens website, those who add the tech demo to their library on PlayStation 5 and/or Xbox Series X will still be able to launch and mess around with the experience after the delisting date. Here’s what the official site has to say on the matter:&nbsp;</p> Not explored&nbsp;The Matrix Awakens: An Unreal Engine 5 Experience&nbsp;yet? There’s still time! The UE5 tech demo will only be available in stores until July 9. Download it before that date and you’ll still be able to access the demo going forward—or re-download it if you’ve deleted it from your console. <p>The Matrix Awakens was first announced and <a href="https://www.gameinformer.com/the-game-awards-2021/2021/12/09/the-matrix-awakens-an-unreal-engine-5-experience-officially" target="_blank">made available on the same night</a> during the 2021&nbsp;Game Awards. The Unreal Engine 5-powered demonstration from Epic Games stars&nbsp;Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne Moss, who introduces the impressive graphics engine and how close to real-life&nbsp;its visuals can look. Awakens includes an on-rails car shootout throughout a city that often looks like it was ripped from the silver screen despite being rendered on the spot. The demo then lets you roam the massive pre-populated city and change things like time of day&nbsp;or traffic congestion to flex what UE5 is capable of.

Are you looking to add a splash of chaotic color to your Nintendo collection? A Splatoon 3-inspired special edition Switch OLED is dropping later this summer. Moreover, a Splatoon 3 Pro Controller and Switch Carrying Case drops in September. Splatoon artwork and paint splotches adorn both items, with the standard Switch Joy-Cons sporting white underbellies and gorgeous iridescent/gradient designs. You can check out the console and its accessories by clicking on the Twitter thread below. 

Something fresh is surfacing! The #NintendoSwitch – OLED Model #Splatoon3 Edition splashes down on 8/26! pic.twitter.com/dW4EoT7Rjs

— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) July 6, 2022

The prices for all the items are as follows: The Nintendo Switch – OLED Model Splatoon 3 Special Edition is $359.99, the Pro Controller is $74.99, and the Carrying Case is $24.99. The Switch OLED splashes onto the scene on August 26, while the Pro Controller and Carrying Case drop on the same day as Splatoon 3’s release, September 9. 

In conjunction with revealing the release dates for Valkyrie Elysium, Square Enix also announced it’s bringing Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth to PlayStation consoles.

Lenneth is the 2006 enhanced PSP port of the first Valkyrie Profile, which first arrived in North America in 2000. Lenneth came to mobile devices in 2018 but it hasn’t been available on a home console since the original version arrived on PS1. 

Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth comes to PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4 on September 29, the same day that Valkyrie Elysium launches. It will be sold separately for a yet-to-be-announced price. You can also get it as part of the $74.99 Digital Deluxe Edition of Valkyrie Elysium. 

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is one of the most popular open-world fantasy RPGs ever made for several reasons, including its in-universe card game, Gwent. 

CD Projekt Red, the studio behind Wild Hunt and 2020’s Cyberpunk 2077, has already created a game based on Gwent, aptly called Gwent: The Witcher Card Game, but it seems the developer is not ready to leave that in-universe game behind just yet. That’s because the studio is launching Gwent: Rogue Mage, a new single-player roguelike deckbuilder, tomorrow. 

Valkyrie Elysium, the next entry in the previously dormant Valkyrie Profile series, has a new gameplay trailer and a pair of release dates.

The new video provides a lengthier look at the game’s action-oriented combat and story compared to its more enigmatic debut trailer back in March. 

Square Enix also announced special editions and pre-order bonuses containing extra goodies based on the platform. Pre-ordering Valkyrie Elysium on PlayStation gets you the Alscir: Sword of the God of Light in-game item and a special themed avatar. The $74.99 Digital Deluxe Edition includes 72-hour early access, the Svartaljr: Sword of the Goddess of the Underworld in-game weapon, and a digital copy of Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth, the 2006 PSP port of the first Valkyrie Profile game. 

Don't worry, fans. Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth will also be sold separately on PS5/PS4 on September 29, so you don’t need to buy the Digital Deluxe Edition to play it. Additionally, after buying Elysium on PS4, you’ll also get access to the PS5 version. 

Forspoken, Square Enix’s upcoming action RPG, will no longer launch in October and has been pushed to January 24.

In a post on the game’s Twitter page, developer Luminous Productions, a team made up of Final Fantasy XV developers, states that Forspoken is largely complete and is in the final polishing phase. It describes the delay as a “strategic decision” and that we’ll learn more about the game in the near future. 

It's a great day to be a God of War fan, and not just because PlayStation and Sony Santa Monica released a new cinematic trailer for God of War: Ragnarok that contains the release date. That's because, alongside that cinematic "Father and Son" trailer, the studio has released a new unboxing video for the game's Collector's and Jötnar editions. 

As you might expect, both editions of Ragnarok look fantastic. It doesn't hurt that both come in a fancy Knowledge Keeper's Shrine box that features beautiful artwork and plenty of fun goodies inside. Check them both out for yourself in the trailer below: 

As you can see in the trailer above, you can't go wrong with either edition. But, if you're like me and struggling to determine which one you want, hopefully this breakdown of what's in each will help: 

Collector's Edition

Here's everything that comes with the Collector's Edition: 

PlayStation and Sony Santa Monica Studio have released a brand new God of War: Ragnarok trailer, revealing that the highly-anticipated follow-up to 2018's God of War will be released this November. 

More specifically, Ragnarok will hit PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4 on November 9, meaning we're less than five months away from playing the game. The new trailer released today is short and sweet but still packs a godly punch. Clocking in at just 30 seconds, we see Kratos and Atreus fending off some standard mob enemies before coming face to face with a gigantic black wolf. 

Check out the cinematic "Father and Son" trailer for yourself below: 

Fans of Norse mythology might recognize this beast as Fenrir, the son of Loki. Fenrir plays a significant part in the Norse story of Ragnarok, but we won't spoil that here. Plus, Ragnarok's take on Fenrir could be completely different anyway. Only time will tell, but fortunately, we don't have to wait long because God of War: Ragnarok hits PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4 on November 9, 2022. 

Guerrilla Games and PlayStation have been steady at work, making Horizon Forbidden West an even better game than it was at launch with updates that add transmog, fix visual shimmering, improve graphics, and more. Months later, the team is still adding new things to the game, which is exactly what today’s Patch 1.17 does for the open-world RPG. 

More specifically, Patch 1.17 brings three new things to the game: variable refresh rate (VRR) support, high refresh rate (HFR) support, and a new “Balanced” graphics mode that introduces a 40Hz refresh rate for displays that support it. 

Nearly 30 years after its initial release, Live a Live is finally coming west. This 1994 Super Famicom RPG is from creator Takashi Tokita, one of the key developers behind Chrono Trigger and Final Fantasy IV. While it would be fascinating to play through Tokita's original vision of Live a Live, we're getting an enhanced remake using the same HD-2D graphical style from the Octopath Traveler games.

I recently spent roughly five hours in this ambitiously designed title, and can confidently say I enjoyed almost every second of its unique approach to storytelling and how it's brought to life through beautiful retro visuals. Square Enix is releasing Live a Live on Switch on July 22. Here are a handful reasons why you should put it on your radar:

Capcom recently announced a 10-game Mega Man Battle Network Legacy Collection, bundling together the six Game Boy Advance Battle Network titles and the various versions that were originally released. I’m excited by the news because I was worried these excellent spin-offs would never receive a revival like the platforming Mega Man series did a few years back. Many Battle Network games are currently only available on the Game Boy Advance or the now-dying Wii U virtual console, while others remain locked away on the Nintendo DS. However, a large chunk of the series will now be available to anyone who owns a PlayStation 4, Switch, or a PC running Steam. It’s great to see these classic games on modern platforms, and I hope other companies take note of the preservation strategy Capcom has taken in recent years.

Skull and Bones, Ubisoft's long-delayed pirate multiplayer game, rises from the depths of the sea on Thursday during a livestream presentation. Announced by Ubisoft today, this show kicks off at 11 a.m. PT and will hopefully provide a substantial look at the open-world multiplayer ship battles and progress made since the delay. Skull and Bones showed promise when it was first announced during an E3 press conference in 2017. Slated to release in the following year, it was indefinitely delayed, even thought to be canceled given the lack of updates from Ubisoft. With fresh wind behind its sails, we will now see what it looks like on current-gen platforms. Come Thursday, you can view the Ubisoft Forward livestream right here.

Platform: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC
Publisher: HandyGames
Developer: Herobeat Studios
Release: July 19, 2022
Rating: Teen

During an Indie World Showcase last December, Nintendo highlighted Endling: Extinction is Forever, and I was immediately intrigued by the premise. It's attempting to tackle the issue of deforestation and climate change sorrowfully. 

Stop me if you've heard this one before, fighting game fans. You invite a friend over to play your fighting game of choice. This buddy is either rusty or has never played it, but that's okay; they just want to have a good time throwing hands. To accommodate them, you purposely assume a weaker form, unleashing only 5 percent of your true power to avoid obliterating them while they haplessly button-mash in a futile attempt to stay competitive. 

Laughs can be had but holding back so much isn't necessarily fun because you want to go full force. If you're in that friend's shoes, you wish you could play more competently much quicker to avoid feeling inferior and babysat. As a fighting game fan, I've been on both sides of this situation, and neither is ideal. That's why Street Fighter 6's Modern control scheme is an excellent solution to this age-old problem. 

For the unfamiliar, Street Fighter's upcoming entry introduces an optional button layout dubbed "Modern." While I'm not a fan of the name ("Simplified" or "Streamlined" would better communicate its purpose), I adore the concept. This option eases execution by mapping special attacks to a single button combined with a directional input. The in-game description states that the Modern scheme is "designed for players who want to fight without memorizing and practicing special move combinations first." It's a fantastic remedy for easing newcomers into the typically intimidating genre.  

My first definitive verification of Haunted Chocolatier came straight from the source as I sat down with developer Eric Barone, AKA ConcernedApe, to look over Stardew Valley’s remarkable success. He touched briefly on his upcoming projects (yes, plural projects) and was happy to report that the game likely to come out first – Haunted Chocolatier – is a solo endeavor. Despite the lack of specifics, I was thrilled to hear the indie creator’s next project was in the works.

Then he surprised everyone. Barone publicly shared early Haunted Chocolatier gameplay footage, and it looked incredible. The art style immediately evoked Barone’s first title, though the developer made it clear fans shouldn’t expect the same experience.

“In Stardew Valley,” Barone writes in his news blog, “the focus was more humble: living off the land, growing food, and connecting to the people and nature around you. However, with my next game, I wanted to explore more fantastical possibilities… experiences that take you beyond the ordinary. That’s where magical haunted ghost chocolate comes in.”

Platform: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PC
Publisher: THQ Nordic
Developer: Black Forest Games
Release: August 30, 2022
Rating: Teen

Black Forest Games' remake of Destroy All Humans 2: Reprobed is getting couch co-op. That's right, the world will now suffer from the might and insensitive jokes of two Cryptos invading at once. The latest trailer for Reprobed shows off the co-op carnage, and also provides a great look at the rearranged maps, which feature more buildings, plant life, and things to blow to kingdom come.

When discussing the founding of Starward Industries, game director Marek Markuszewski brings up all the points you might expect from a new team. The company wanted to gather a group of experienced but still-passionate developers, all focused on the idea of creating something ambitious despite the studio’s smaller size. The surprise, however, comes from the studio’s approach to narrative. According to Markuszewski, Starward looked for stories that weren’t already “exploited” by media when figuring out its first project. It wanted to tell a story that hadn’t been told.

Admittedly, where Starward landed was a story told before – almost 60 years ago, in the novel The Invincible, written by Stanisław Lem. In it, the crew of the Invincible spacecraft investigates the planet Regis III for its missing sister ship. There they discover self-replicating machines that, over time, become more hostile. It ponders questions about what it means to be alive, the ever-increasing role of technology in everyday life, and has more than its fair share of retro-futurism, proper nouns, and heady jargon.

For Starward, comprised of developers previously from CD Projekt Red, Techland, and more, it was the right fit for its narrative ambitions – something dense and literary. And for what it’s worth, video game adaptations of novels are relatively rare.

In this vlog, we visit the Requiem Café in Anaheim, CA, to tour their Persona 25th Anniversary celebration, a collaboration with Atlus West featuring coffee and tea drinks inspired by the Persona series – we tried the beverages named after Joker and Philemon! This coffee shop takeover contains a real-life recreation of The Velvet Room, the famous space between consciousness and unconsciousness in the Persona video games. We also visit the gift shop to scope out exclusive Persona 25th-anniversary merch!

If you enjoy this vlog, let us know! It's the first one we've done in a long time, and we'd like to do more in the future. Thanks for watching, and be sure to subscribe to the Game Informer YouTube channel.

Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes is the latest entry in Nintendo and Koei Tecmo’s Warriors series, which spans The Legend of Zelda and Fire Emblem. Like Hyrule Warriors, which received a Breath of the Wild-specific sequel in Age of Calamity, this new Warriors game is set in the Fire Emblem: Three Houses universe. Three Hopes integrates the world, characters, and lore of the 2019 hit, and you can dive deeper into what I mean by that in my review. 

I interviewed Nintendo Co. Ltd. supervisor Genki Yokata, Intelligent Systems character designer and supervisor Toshiyuki Kusakihara, Team Ninja head and producer Yosuke Hayashi, and Koei Tecmo Games director Hayato Iwata to learn more about Three Hopes. We dove deep into the making of this new Musou, how the teams integrated Three Houses into it, and what it was like expanding this highly beloved take on Fire Emblem’s world. 

Game Informer: We’ve had a more general Hyrule Warriors and then a very specific Breath of the Wild take on the formula. There’s also been the more general Fire Emblem Warriors, and now a very specific Three Hopes take on the formula. How does the team decide, ‘Okay, we want to make a Warriors game on this specific entry i.e., Three Houses?”  

We've seen sequels rise above and plummet below their precursors. Months ago, I said Overwatch 2 was a redemption arc. And now that the Beta is out on my preferred platform (Xbox), I've gotten the chance to sleep-dart and pulse-bomb my way through multiple game types, arenas, and heroes without the difficulties of mouse and keyboard controls. In other words, I'm confident that Overwatch 2 might not look like a completely different experience from its forebear, but it definitely plays like one.  

You wouldn’t guess it from his child-like appearance, but gaming’s much-loved spherical hero turned 30 this year. Kicking off his first adventure in 1992, Kirby has grown into a juggernaut in the game industry, starring in dozens of titles and making appearances in countless others. The long-running franchise is among video games’ best-selling. One of its most successful titles, Kirby and the Forgotten Land, released in March 2022. It’s not only breaking series records but also sucked in a whole new generation of fans. To celebrate the formidable gumball’s third decade in the industry, we’re looking back at the franchise, from how it started to where it’s floating now.

Kirby Creator Connections

“Even when our customers played the games we developed, I think they played them thinking, ‘This game was developed by Nintendo.’ And, well, that wasn’t good.”

This is how Masayoshi Tanimura, current chairman of the board of Kirby-developer HAL Laboratory, explains the company’s unique logo – a dog nestled around three eggs in a nest – on the company’s website. The problem of mistaken developer identity has followed the studio throughout the years. Asking who developed the powerful puffball’s latest title inevitably leads to a few still guessing Nintendo, while others might suppose his origins lie with the Super Smash Bros. series. While these are off the mark, there is good reason players make the associations, as HAL Laboratory – and Kirby – are intimately linked to both.

This week on All Things Nintendo, Brian is joined by John Carson as they run down all the big news to come out of the Nintendo Direct Mini that Nintendo put out with its third-party partners this week. But first, Brian gets John's impressions of Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak, the new expansion from the Switch and PC-exclusive Monster Hunter title, and Brian talks about his hours of hands-on time with Sonic Frontiers.

If you'd like to follow the people from this episode on Twitter, hit the following links: Brian Shea (@brianpshea), John Carson (@John_Carson)

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, and Google Podcasts.

Starting a cult isn’t easy work, but somebody’s got to do it in Massive Monster’s Cult of the Lamb, which hits consoles and PC next month. Fortunately, the team behind the devilishly cute game has released a new trailer with tips and tricks to start, and maintain, the best cult.

The first step is simple: grow your flock. All you need to do is fight through hordes of demon monsters to save innocent woodland creatures that will make for perfect initiates. Of course, you rename each addition and select other facets of their new life to dictate what kind of cult member (and worker) they’ll be for you.

Check it out in action: 

As you can see in the trailer above, growing your flock is just the first step. You also need to satisfy the faithful. To do this, you must tend to your congregation by leading and feeding them and ultimately keeping them happy. You can give them gifts, invite them to feasts, and much more. The final step is to cleanse the non-believers, naturally. 

Unhappy cult members might lose faith in you, but this is fixable. You can opt to re-educate them in the ways of your cult, which will hopefully stop them from persuading other members to rise against you, or, if you just can’t see a solution, you can always sacrifice them to the gods. 

We’ll be playing matches in Overwatch 2’s second beta today on Twitch at 2 p.m. Central. Join editors Marcus Stewart and Andrew Reiner as they try the upcoming sequel on for size and weigh in on the game’s big changes. We’ll also be playing duos in Fortnite because, well, why not?

Overwatch 2 arrives as a free-to-play multiplayer game on October 4, and Blizzard continues working out the kinks in this new beta. We’ll try out the new hero, Junker Queen, tour the new maps, and see how we adapt to the new 5v5 format. 

We’ll play an hour of Overwatch 2 before switching over to Fortnite. Reiner, a seasoned veteran, will carry me, someone who rarely touches the game but bought a Spider-Man skin just because, to a victory royale. Maybe. You’ll have to tune in and see what happens!

Watch on Twitch!

If you enjoy our livestreams but haven’t subscribed to our Twitch channel, know that doing so not only gives you notifications and access to special emotes. You’ll also be granted entry to the official Game Informer Discord channel, where our welcoming community members, moderators, and staff gather to talk games, entertainment, food, and organize hangouts!

Microsoft, the company that brought us furry Sonic controllers and a Far Cry 6 console that resembled a bomb, has unveiled its latest kooky Xbox Series X sweepstakes, and it may be the coolest/dumbest one yet.

Hot on the heels of the premier of Thor: Love and Thunder on July 8, the company is giving away a custom Series X modeled after Thor’s trusty hammer, Mjölnir. That means the console looks like a big, cracked slab of dwarven-crafted uru that still channels electricity and may or may not be liftable depending on if you’re worthy. It's hard to tell if that handle is real or simply edited into the photo for full effect, but you should probably assume the worst (best?) when considering making space for this thing. 

The contest begins today and concludes on July 21. To enter, you just need to follow the Xbox Twitter account and retweet #ThorLoveandThunderXboxSweepstakes. You can read the full contest rules here.

<p><img src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2022/07/01/3192bca3/infamous.jpg" width="800" height="450" alt="Infamous Remake Sly Cooper 5 Sequel Sucker Punch Productions" typeof="foaf:Image" class="image-style-body-default" /></p> <p>Sucker Punch Productions, the studio behind 2020’s hit new IP Ghost of Tsushima, has revealed it is not working on anything related to its previous Infamous and Sly Cooper franchises. The studio also says that no other developer is working on projects related to the franchises. </p> <p>This news comes from a new <a href="https://www.suckerpunch.com/upcoming-infamous-2-ugc-maintenance-and-legacy-franchises/" target="_blank">blog post</a> highlighting Sucker Punch’s 25th anniversary. Since opening its doors more than 20 years ago, the studio has worked on Rocket: Robot on Wheels, the popular Sly Cooper platformer series, the superpowered Infamous series, and of course, Ghost of Tsushima. In this blog post, though, the studio clarifies some things amidst rumors of a Sly Cooper 5 and an Infamous remake. </p> <img src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2022/07/01/333eae63/sly_cooper.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" alt="" class="image-style-body-default" /> Sly Cooper <p>“As our games continue to grow in scale and complexity, they require the full attention of our studio,” the blog post reads. “With our focus on our current project, we have no plans to revisit Infamous or Sly Cooper right now, and no other studio is currently working on projects related to those franchises either.

In this week's episode of The Game Informer Show, the crew discusses our Sonic Frontiers cover story and divulges new details about the game's open zones, combat, and a few returning characters, including Big The Cat. During The Playlist, we chat about our time playing Cuphead: The Delicious Last Course, Overwatch 2's new tank Junker Queen, and several promising games from Steam Next Fest.

Follow us on Twitter: Alex Stadnik (@Studnik76), Alex Van Aken (@itsVanAken), Jill Grodt (@Finruin), Brian Shea (@BrianPShea)

Sea of Stars, the promising-looking retro RPG from the team behind The Messenger, is the latest title to get pushed out of 2022. 

Developer Sabotage posted a message on Twitter stating it simply wants to polish up the adventure as much as possible without crunching its staff.

Every so often, a game development studio comes up with an idea so good other developers insert it into their games. In Pow Wow Entertainment's newly announced racer, Stuntfest: World Tour, I'm hoping the unique ejector-seat functionality is so jaw-droppingly incredible that it becomes the next craze. In the game's first trailer, we see drivers rocketing out of their cars to bounce off pads or ignite a jetpack's thrusters.

Stuntfest: World Tour is in development for PC with publishing duties handled by THQ Nordic sometime in 2022. We don't have many details yet, but a press release states that the player can assume the identity of a "punker granny" or a "famous streamer" with the hope of winning elimination-style stunt shows featuring 18 drivers. The competitions range from destruction derbies to glider racers. When the player hits the ejector button and their driver launches hundreds of meters into the air, they can be freely controlled and gadgets can be used to gain an edge. When descending, the next car you see can be yours to drive. Progress in the world tour rewards you with vehicle upgrades.

Stuntfest: World Tour has a hell of a hook, but it's difficult to figure out how these races will unfold. I can't wait to get my hands on this game to see if this unique gimmick (and the high levels of destruction) add up to something special.

As previously promised, Halo Infinite’s long-awaited campaign co-op takes its first steps towards launch, thanks to a network beta flight scheduled for July.  

Much like the multiplayer beta that proceeded Infinite’s launch last fall, this co-op beta, which runs July 11 to July 22, allows registered players to tackle the entire campaign alongside a buddy to ensure everything works as planned for the full rollout. Because this is a new campaign build that players must download, 343 states that no previous story progress carries over, so players will be starting from scratch. Progress made during the beta will also not transfer back to the retail version. 

In a Halo Waypoint blog post, 343 lead software engineer Isaac Bender and lead world designer John Mulkey discussed the co-op mode’s features. A fireteam of four players can create separate campaign saves for co-op, and progress – such as completed missions, acquired collectibles, equipment, upgrades, and achievements – count toward both players’ individual saves. That means you don’t need to be the Fireteam leader to retain your team’s accomplishments. For upgrade cores, if one player collects one, then the entire team gets it. However, players spend cores individually. 

You'll soon have the chance to play EA's highly anticipated Skate sequel, but not in the way you would expect. Developer Full Circle and publisher Electronic Arts are looking for players who want to playtest the game and provide feedback on its development. You can sign up for this "insider" program here. As EA notes, you cannot share your videos or screenshots from your play sessions.

If you are curious what Skate currently looks like or what you can expect from the gameplay, EA has released a trailer with the appropriate title "Still working on it." The first few clips focus on bails, which must have been captured early in development given how rough the animations are. As the trailer moves on, the animations smooth out and the series' skating realism returns and is on display in a handful of awesome sequences. Full Circle also looks to be upping the scale of the challenges through some wild clips featuring impossible grind opportunities and huge ramps. Most of these clips are lack any kind of texturing or lighting and truly give us a look at how games are made.

Regardless of where it is at in development, this trailer gives a fun look at a series that never should have left us. Skate is alsmost back and it looks like it's going to be a blast.

Reviewed on: PC
Platform: Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC
Publisher: Studio MDHR
Developer: Studio MDHR
Release: June 30, 2022
Rating: Everyone 10+

Cuphead’s long-awaited and aptly named The Delicious Last Course serves up a wonderful final dish that acts more like a satisfying dessert than a full second helping. Though not long, it offers an enjoyable batch of devilish boss battles and a welcomed addition in the now playable Ms. Chalice.

Ms. Chalice sports a unique moveset such as a double-jump, a dodge roll that can safely bypass hazards, and even one extra health point. She’s a blast to use, and I loved taking advantage of her added maneuverability. Does she make Cuphead an easier experience? Somewhat, but she doesn’t turn the game into a cakewalk. Rather, she gives players more options to work with, which in a way makes her a more advanced character because of how I had to alter my playstyle to account for her new tricks. 

Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin is getting an expansion called Trials of the Dragon King. The DLC includes new gear, jobs, and enemies to fight. Check out the short trailer below; it's as deliciously chaotic as you'd expect. 

There was once a group of warriors who attempted to defeat the darkness.

This is the story of what came next.

Stranger of Paradise @FinalFantasy Origin's first expansion Trials of the Dragon King launches July 20th. pic.twitter.com/YvGEwGh1ux

— STRANGER OF PARADISE FINAL FANTASY ORIGIN (@fforigin) June 30, 2022

In Stranger of Paradise fashion, it's hard to parse through what's happening in the footage, but we see Jack and co. cleaving their way through armored adversaries ranging from shield-holding knights to winged beasts with dazzling blades of their own. In one scene, a kingly figure sits upon a throne – is it safe to assume this is the Dragon King? – and says, "You will die here, and I will live forever." We're sure Jack will make him eat his words. 

The June 2022 PlayStation Plus lineup of free games has arrived and it’s quite a good one, featuring Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time, The Dark Pictures Anthology: Man of Medan, and Arcadegeddon. 

All three of these games will be available to download for free for all three tiers of subscribers to the newly revamped PlayStation Plus – Premium, Extra, and Essential. You can add each to your library starting July 5 and they’ll be available until Aug. 1. That means you have until July 4 (next Monday) to download last month’s free games: God of War (2018), Naruto to Boruto: Shinobi Striker, and Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl. You can read more about the June 2022 PlayStation Plus lineup here. 

Enough about June, though – it’s old news! Onto July 2022! Here’s what PlayStation has to say about each of this month’s free games: 

<p><img src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2022/06/21/248f44bf/fptp_06212022.jpg" width="800" height="450" alt="" typeof="foaf:Image" class="image-style-body-default" /></p> <p>On this episode of <em>From Panel to Podcast</em> we dive into last week's books, giving you a rundown of the best stories that you should add to your pull list. We also highlight the comics that are releasing this week and provide insight into why you may want to pick them up.</p> <p>If you would like to follow us on Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/Andrew_Reiner" target="_blank">Andrew Reiner (@Andrew_Reiner)</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/bnow23" target="_blank">Philip Hoff (@bnow23)</a>.</p> <p><em>From Panel to Podcast</em> is a weekly show created by two lifelong comic book readers who offer suggestions on which comic books you should be reading each week. Each episode also dives into the latest developments for comics in video games, movies, and television shows. We'll even discuss comic book collectibles and anything we think you should know about that pertains to this entertainment medium.</p> <p>Be sure to subscribe to <a href="https://www.gameinformer.com/frompaneltopodcast" target="_blank">From Panel to Podcast</a> on your favorite podcast platform. The show is available on <a href="https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcHJlc3MubWUvZnJvbXBhbmVsdG9wb2RjYXN0" target="_blank">Google Podcasts</a>, <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/3e6qa6FYR5M9fwJGkvt2cx" target="_blank">Spotify</a>, and <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/from-panel-to-podcast/id1606980457" target="_blank">Apple Podcasts</a>.</p>

<p><img src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2022/06/29/47a115b0/ngt_template_new.jpg" width="800" height="450" alt="" typeof="foaf:Image" class="image-style-body-default" /></p> <p>Round two of the <a href="https://www.gameinformer.com/product/overwatch-2" target="_blank">Overwatch 2</a> beta is finally here, but what can fans look forward to with this latest tech test? Join us on this fresh episode of <a href="https://www.gameinformer.com/ngt" target="_blank">New Gameplay Today</a> as we check out the title's latest tank and show off the new map players can get their hands on later this year.</p> It is important to keep in mind what is going on within Activision Blizzard at this time regarding ongoing allegations about the work culture. The ongoing lawsuit from the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH) against the company is over-reported toxic workplace culture. The bulk of the suit focuses on "violations of the state's civil rights and equal pay laws," specifically regarding the treatment of women and other marginalized groups. To learn more about the proceedings thus far, including details listed in the lawsuit against Activision Blizzard, please check out our previous&nbsp;<a href="https://www.gameinformer.com/2021/07/22/lawsuit-document-against-activision-blizzard-details-a-long-history-of-harassment-and" target="_blank">coverage here</a>. <iframe width="560" height="315" frameBorder="0" allow="autoplay" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6m66OLX8B1Y" width=""></iframe> <p>The Junker Queen is here, and she means business. The leader of the Junkers is more of an offensive tank than some of her other colleagues&nbsp;within the category.

We recently sat down with Takayuki Nakayama and Shuhei Matsumoto, Director and Producer of Street Fighter 6, respectively, for an interview about Capcom's upcoming fighting game. We learn about how they're pulling inspiration from the worlds of Final Fight and Third Strike, why Modern Control Type "is not an 'Easy Mode'" and should be used in tournament play, and finally, how the team is learning from Street Fighter 5's mistakes to ensure a vibrant future for the series.

 

Monster Rancher was revived late last year with the release of the Monster Ranger 1&2 DX collection, and Bandai Namco isn't going to stop there. In fact, the series is going bigger. Much bigger!

The first trailer for Ultra Kaiju Monster Rancher asks a crucial question, "How would you like to raise your very own Ultra Kaiju?" To which I responded, "Yes, please. I'd very much like that. Give it to me now." Foregoing the dull, average-sized creatures you used to raise in Monster Rancher, Ultra Kaiju Monster Rancher lets you take care of some colossal sweet boys. You'll raise the likes of Zettan, Gomora, and Alien Baltan – all licensed Kaiju from the Ultraman franchise. Many other existing Kaiju appear in the game, and you'll take them to help townsfolk in ways only a giant monster could. You can also participate in massive monster battles or watch the colossal beings waddle like big clumsy babies. As a fun bonus, the Kaiju can be bred, making wild combinations of their attributes appear in their children. It all seems like a lot of goofy fun.

If you subscribe to the digital edition of Game Informer, you can now learn all about Sonic Frontiers. 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 later today. You can download the apps to view the issue by following this link. All of these digital options are included in a standard subscription.

Not a digital subscriber yet? Convert your existing print subscription or start a new subscription here.