Game Informer

Platform: PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
Publisher: Devolver Digital
Developer: WolfEye Studios
Release: March 31, 2022
Rating: Mature

Platform: PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Stadia, PC
Publisher: Square Enix
Developer: Crystal Dynamics, Eidos Montreal
Release: September 4, 2020 (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC, Stadia), March 18, 2021 (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S)
Rating: Teen

Disney has released the first official trailer for its upcoming Disney Plus series, Ms. Marvel, and it features Kamala Khan attempting to navigate the blinding lights of the life of a superhero. 

Platform: Switch, PC
Publisher: Capcom
Developer: Capcom
Release: March 26, 2021 (Switch), January 12, 2022 (PC)

In a presentation this morning, Capcom revealed plenty of new details on the upcoming Monster Hunter Rise expansion Sunbreak, including the announcement of its release date.

Platform: PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, PC
Publisher: Square Enix
Developer: Platinum Games
Release: March 3, 2022
Rating: Teen

Babylon’s Fall, the latest from PlatinumGames and Square Enix, did not pan out well critically, with a 42% on Metacritic for PlayStation 5 versions and an even lower 37% on Metacritic for PC. 

Platform: PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PC
Publisher: Rockstar Games
Developer: Rockstar North
Release: September 17, 2013 (PlayStation 3, Xbox 360), November 18, 2014 (PlayStation 4, Xbox One), April 14, 2015 (PC), March 15, 2022 (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S)
Rating: Mature

Platform: Switch
Publisher: XSEED Games
Release: March 22, 2022

The Rune Factory series, a spin-off of Story of Seasons, combines action/RPG combat with its sibling’s farming and social elements. Now, almost a decade after Rune Factory 4’s debut on 3DS, a new Rune Factory game is just around the corner as a Switch exclusive on March 22. We chatted with director Shiro Maekawa to give you an idea of what you can expect, from the fun festivals to powering up Link Attacks with other town members.  

It’s been a long road to Rune Factory 5. Many fans were worried about the series’ future, especially with Neverland closing. Can you discuss the journey to get this long-awaited entry off the ground?

Platform: PlayStation 5, PC
Publisher: Square Enix
Developer: Square Enix
Release: October 11, 2022

Forspoken, the upcoming title from Luminous Productions and this month’s cover story, largely takes place in the magical world of Athia. Unfortunately, the realm has seen better days, as a creeping corruption has flooded the once-prosperous land. The Break, as the destructive fog is known in the game, has the power to corrupt anything it touches. Humans become hostile and mindless, animals morph into monsters, and even the land itself takes on a bizarre appearance.

Platform: PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
Publisher: Square Enix
Developer: Koei Tecmo
Release: March 18, 2022
Rating: Mature

There's plenty to be excited about if you're a Final Fantasy fan. The future looks bright with Final Fantasy XVI and VII Remake 2 on the horizon, but what can satiate gamers now? That's where Jack and company come in. Join Reiner and Stadnik as they give you their review impressions of Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin and let you know whether or not it's worth it to go on this chaotic adventure.

Platform: Xbox One, PC
Publisher: Xbox Game Studios
Developer: 343 Industries
Release: December 8, 2021
Rating: Teen

The second annual Video Game Accessibility Awards happened last night, on March 13, and it saw many studios take home awards for their accessibility efforts in gaming in 2021. 

Hosted by AbleGamers’ Steven Spohn and Sony Santa Monica studio writer Alanah Pearce, this awards show highlighted what studios were doing to make games more accessible to everyone through nine categories, as reported by IGN. Here’s a roundup of all the studios that won, and their winning title, in each category: 

If you can’t get enough of everyone’s favorite blue blur, or Tails and Knuckles, as they’re depicted in Paramount Pictures’ movies, then we have some good news for you: there’s a “pre-quill” comic book for Sonic the Hedgehog 2 coming out later this month. 

As reported by Sonic Stadium, this prequel comic will lead into Sonic the Hedgehog 2 before it hits theaters on April 8 and part of it will be helmed by the movie’s own Dr. Robotnik, Jim Carrey. That’s because the comic book isn’t one big story but rather, five stories about different characters from the movie spread across 40 pages. One of these five stories will be centered on Dr. Robotnik and according to Sonic Stadium, Carrey is “spearheading” it. 

However, it’s important to note that Carrey does not have a writer’s credit in the comic solicitation so it’s likely that he simply helped out with the narrative, or shared ideas with the comic’s writer, Keil Phegley. 

On March 13, 2012, 10 years ago to the date, thatgamecompany released Journey, quickly called one of the greatest games of all time. Its quiet, meditative approach to gameplay and emphasis on multiplayer that promotes connection rather than competition was, for the time, especially novel. The game accrued a massive fan base, countless awards, and recognition from not only the game industry but the art world at large. 

More personally, it completely changed composer Austin Wintory's life. Nowadays, he's one of the more recognizable names in video game soundtracks. Though it wasn't his first job, or even his first time working with Thatgamecompany (he composed the soundtrack to the studio's first commercial game, Flow), it was the project that put him on the map. Since then, he's composed for the Assassin's Creed series, The Order: 1886, dozens of films, and many, many more.

And according to Wintory himself, he owes it all to Journey. 

In celebration of the game's 10th anniversary, today, Wintory released a re-recorded, re-imagined version of Journey's soundtrack recorded with the London Symphony Orchestra, the London Voice choir, and cellist Tina Guo – who played on the original soundtrack. 

To learn about revisiting one of his most recognizable works a decade later, we spent time speaking with Wintory, getting an in-depth view into the creative process behind this project.

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity. 

Game Informer: How did you start brainstorming, like, "I want to re-record Journey's original soundtrack?"

Platform: PC
Publisher: Night Dive Studios
Developer: Night Dive Studios
Release: 2020

System Shock 3 has quite the troubled development history, chronicled in Part 3 of Game Informer’s Games Stuck In Development Hell feature, and it seems the game has been pushed even deeper into development hell. 

Platform: PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
Publisher: Warner Bros. Interactive
Developer: Avalanche
Release: 2022

Hogwarts Legacy, the mysterious and long-awaited RPG set in the Harry Potter universe, will finally get its first gameplay showing in a new State of Play airing this week. 

PlayStation tweeted the news this morning stating that the presentation airs Thursday, March 17 at 2 p.m. Pacific/5 p.m. Eastern. There’s no word on how long it will be, but the tweet refers to it as an “extended look,” so that hopefully means we’re in for a deep dive on everything Hogwarts Legacy entails.

Platform: Switch
Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Sora, Ltd
Release: December 7, 2018

Masahiro Sakurai, the famed director behind Nintendo’s mega-hit Super Smash Bros. franchise, is back from a long break after completing development on Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, it seems. And while he’s back to work, a new statement from the director teases that what he’s working on might not be a video game. 

Platform: PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC
Publisher: Sega
Developer: Sonic Team
Release: 2022

Sonic the Hedgehog 2 hits theaters in just a few weeks, on April 8, and today, Paramount Pictures has released the final trailer for the sequel. 

If you’ve been watching the trailers for Sonic the Hedgehog 2 as of late, then you know Paramount and Sega are unsurprisingly pushing the return of Robotnik and the introduction of Tails and Knuckles to the fray. Also, unsurprisingly, Robotnik, Tails, Knuckles, and of course, Sonic look great in this final trailer. 

Click here to watch embedded media

Platform: PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
Publisher: 2K Games
Developer: Gearbox Software
Release: March 25, 2022
Rating: Teen

Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands is right around the corner, hitting PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC on March 25, and we now know it will launch with full crossplay support across each of these platforms. 

Platform: PlayStation 4
Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment
Developer: Naughty Dog
Release: August 22, 2017
Rating: Teen

After tackling Metroid in season 1 and then Halo in season 2, Game Informer's Video Gameography podcast turns its gaze to one of Sony's biggest properties: Uncharted. Season 3 officially comes to a close with our discussion of Uncharted: The Lost Legacy. 

Platform: PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
Publisher: Warner Bros. Interactive
Developer: Warner Bros. Games Montreal
Release: October 25, 2022

This week's episode is hitting a little later than usual. The reason? Our local comic shops in Minnesota didn't get any Marvel comic books last week. We felt the show would be a little light without them, so we held off until we could get our hands on those books. The wait was worth it: The first issue of Strange is an absolute delight and a fantastic direction for the Sorcerer Supreme to go in.

Most of this episode is dedicated to new comic book releases that hit this week and last. We also dive into The Batman, which I give a score and review to, and also discuss Gotham Knights' new release date!

It’s Friday yet again, and you know what that means: It’s time for another edition of Weekend Warrior! This week has been an absolute whirlwind with the Sony State of Play on Wednesday, plenty of new game reviews hitting the site (check out Destiny 2: The Witch Queen, Gran Turismo 7, Triangle Strategy, and WWE 2K22), and the announcement and digital release of our newest issue of Game Informer featuring Square Enix and Luminous Productions’ gorgeous Action/RPG Forspoken. Our team is certainly ready to kick back and relax for the weekend.

Here’s what the GI crew are up to over the next couple of planetary spins:

Brian Shea – I’m traveling and visiting family this weekend, so I’m limited to Switch games, but I plan on continuing my quest to become the first-ever Pokémon Master of the Hisui region in Legends: Arceus. When I’m not doing that, I’m sure I’ll fire up Sonic Mania or play some retro games on the Nintendo Switch Online catalogs.

Platform: PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
Publisher: 2K Games
Developer: Visual Concepts
Release: March 11, 2022
Rating: Teen

WWE 2K22 launches today. For some fans, the best part of wrestling games is creating custom superstars or, better yet, real-life wrestlers not present in the game (or at least not yet in some cases). But no matter how visually accurate your Jon Moxley CAW is, he’s nothing without an entrance that at least comes close to emulating the real thing. Thankfully, WWE 2K22’s entrance creation features a number of animations from old stars and even those who have never stepped foot in WWE. The trick is knowing where to look. 

Do you smell that? That’s the smell of justice, courtesy of John Cena, err, Peacemaker. If you haven't had your fill of The Suicide Squad and James Gunn’s accompanying Peacemaker TV show on HBO Max and are looking for more from everyone’s favorite murderous justice-deliverer man, then Funko has you covered with five new Pop figures. 

Revealed today with new looks at each that you can see in the gallery below, these Funko Pop figures are perfect for any fan looking to add Vigilante, Judomaster, Eagly, and of course, Cena’s no-pants Peacemaker (and a version of Peacemaker holding Eagly), to their Pop collection. 

Click here to view embedded media

These figures are now available for preorder too for roughly $12.99 to $14.99 each, depending on which one you’re curious to pick up. These figures will be released on July 23. 

For more about Funko Pop figures, check out these Pokémon Pops recently revealed and then take a look at these Marvel’s What If? figures. After that, check out these Funko Pop figures from Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands. 

Platform: PlayStation 4, Switch, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PC
Publisher: Atlus
Developer: Arc System Works
Release: September 30, 2014 (PlayStation 3, Xbox 360), March 17, 2022 (PlayStation 4, Switch, PC)
Rating: Teen

Platform: PlayStation 5, PC
Publisher: Square Enix
Developer: Square Enix
Release: October 11, 2022

Forspoken is a story-heavy game with the narrative mainly tying into the central quest. But Forspoken is not a linear game, and with such a vast, open world, we wondered what happens if you step off the golden path. To satisfy our curiosity, we recently sat down with developer Luminous Productions and got our first look at the game’s various side activities and optional objectives you can find around the map. Besides seeing more of the magical parkour in action and noticing the plethora of crafting materials lying around the realm, the team walked us through crafting in Refuges, enhancing stats at Monuments, finding knowledge in the Guild towers, and venturing into the Depths of Corruption.

Platform: PlayStation 5, PC
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Developer: Motive Studios
Release: 2023

EA has released a new two-minute look at gameplay from its upcoming Dead Space Remake and it features a quick look at Isaac Clarke laying waste to a Necromorph. 

Revealed today during a special Dead Space Remake developer update stream focused on the title’s audio, this look at gameplay showcased a small snippet of protagonist Isaac walking around a very spooky section of the Ishimura before he’s attacked by a Necromorph. Fortunately, he has his newly-remade 211-V Plasma Cutter. 

Click here to watch embedded media

Reviewed on: PlayStation 5
Also on: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
Publisher: 2K Games
Developer: Visual Concepts
Release: March 11, 2022
Rating: Teen

WWE 2K22’s long road to release stands as a redemption story as dramatic as any of the TV storylines. The series took a few years off to regroup following the trainwreck that was 2019’s 2K20, and the time away allowed it to learn some useful new holds. Though it doesn’t catapult the franchise to bold new heights, a revamped gameplay engine and a renewed focus on approachability make it the most entertaining – and most of all, playable – WWE game in some time.

The new engine strips away some of the complicated mechanics that made the previous 2K games a chore to play. Instead, it adopts a more arcade-style approach. 2K22 is not the second coming of the beloved Smackdown series, but the simplified grappling feels more intuitive and allows for faster-paced matches. Grappling is condensed to light and heavy moves mapped to two buttons, which I found easier to remember and execute. Melee combos reward big hits by chaining simple inputs, giving button-mashers a viable form of offense. Speaking of which, I love that pins and submissions ditch the annoying “stop the needle” minigames and return to the more fun intensity of slamming buttons to break free.

Platform: PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
Publisher: Bandai Namco
Developer: From Software
Release: February 25, 2022

Elden Ring is a hard game. It’s a From Software Soulsborne game so that’s no surprise. Be it a mouse and keyboard or a controller, bosses like Godrick the Grafted will undoubtedly give you some trouble in Elden Ring. 

Now, imagine fighting Godrick with some bananas. Like real edible bananas that you can find at any grocery store. Sounds impossible, right? Well, somehow it’s not because SuperLouis_64 on Twitter recently posted a video showing him do just that, as reported by Eurogamer. 

Platform: PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
Publisher: Bandai Namco
Developer: From Software
Release: February 25, 2022

Another month, another roundup of U.S. NPD numbers and not surprisingly, Elden Ring was the best-selling game of February. 

Platform: PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
Publisher: Activision
Developer: Sledgehammer Games
Release: November 5, 2021
Rating: Mature

Platform: PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC
Publisher: Techland
Developer: Techland
Release: February 4, 2022 (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC), TBA (Switch)
Rating: Mature

Techland has released new patches for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S versions of Dying Light 2 Stay Human that bring fixes, improvements, tweaks, and more to the new-gen consoles. The PS5 patch also brings some fixes to the PlayStation 4 version of the game. 

Platform: PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
Publisher: Bandai Namco
Developer: From Software
Release: February 25, 2022

In this episode of The Game Informer Show, the crew discusses our Forspoken cover reveal, sharing exclusive details on Square Enix's upcoming action RPG. During The Playlist, we share stories from our time playing Elden Ring and Assassin's Creed Valhalla's latest DLC called Dawn of Ragnarok. This is a really fun episode with lots of jokes and great energy. You're in for a treat!

Platform: PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
Publisher: 2K Games
Developer: Visual Concepts
Release: March 11, 2022
Rating: Teen

WWE 2K22 launches tomorrow with a roster of over 80 superstars that you can view right here. However, those won’t be the only wrestlers in the game. 2K has rolled out the content roadmap for DLC character packs to give players a heads up on who to expect and when.

After a long winter, you're ready for something fun to brighten your days. Or perhaps you've got a big birthday or gift-giving occasion on the horizon? Whatever your reasons, we've got a curated selection of tech, toys, tabletop games, and more, all selected to showcase some of the recent release we're most excited to see hit store shelves. Read the full story...

Thirty years ago, a small team based in Kyoto, Japan, came together to create a new kind of action game. Drawing inspiration from prior projects, that team released Super Mario Bros. in 1985 – a title that would go on to help console gaming step back from the brink of ruin. Since then, Mario’s influence has spread far beyond the games in which he appears. He helped turn Nintendo into an industry leader, and became a cultural icon. Super Mario Bros. started a revolution, and in the process, became one of the most recognizable franchises in the world.

This article originally appeared in the November 2015 issue of Game Informer. We're re-sharing this story today as a part of Super Mario's 35th anniversary celebration.

Click here to view embedded media

Humble Origins

In the early 1980s, the video game industry’s push into the home-console market was at a pivotal stage. Turmoil permeated gaming as the North American industry crashed in 1983. Industry-wide sales dropped as low as $100 million in 1985 (down from over $3 billion just three years before), sending many developers and publishers to their demise. Despite this downturn in the industry, Nintendo was able to survive while many of its competitors faltered thanks to the success of its 1983 game console, the Famicom. With the console releasing in Japan at the start of the North American crash, Nintendo was able to navigate through the storm that took down so many of its competitors.

The Pokémon Company International has revealed the new Pokémon Go expansion collection coming to its trading card game. Fortunately, you don’t have to wait too long to get your hands on them because they hit retailers this July. 

This Pokémon Go expansion was announced with a tease back in February, but today, The Pokémon Company International has detailed everything fans and players can expect in the collection. Based on the popular mobile AR game, this expansion will hit participating retailers starting on July 1, with additional releases coming at a later date. 

Click here to view embedded media

“Today, The Pokémon Company International unveiled more details about the highly anticipated Pokémon Trading Card Game: Pokémon Go expansion, a special collaboration inspired by the popular mobile game Pokémon Go,” a press release reads. “Following the initial tease for this expansion, fans and players of the Pokémon TCG and Pokémon Go can look forward to this newly revealed product lineup. 

Cards from the Pokémon GO expansion can be found in the following products when the first wave launches around the world at participating retailers starting on July 1, 2022, with more releases coming at a later date.” 

As for what the Wave 1 collection entails, here’s what’s hitting shelves on July 1: 

Platform: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC
Publisher: Blizzard Entertainment
Developer: Blizzard Entertainment
Release: TBA

Lego Mario has been a hit for Nintendo it seems because both it and Lego are continuing to collaborate to create new experiences and Lego-vized versions of beloved characters in the Mushroom Kingdom. 

After revealing Lego Luigi last year, who is playable alongside Lego Mario and all of the Super Mario Lego sets revealed thus far, Nintendo has now revealed that everyone’s favorite Mushroom Kingdom princess is becoming a Lego this August. What’s more is that Peach is getting her very own course too: Adventures with Peach Starter Course. 

Fun-packed new #LEGOSuperMario Expansion Sets and characters are coming later this year, including the fabulous new LEGO Peach! #Mar10Day

Learn more: https://t.co/1wWDk8u6DE pic.twitter.com/aajMpVD0nJ

— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) March 10, 2022

As you can see in the tweet above, Lego Peach is looking great! She’ll be an excellent addition in existing sets, but she fits right in to the new Super Mario 64, Super Mario World, and Super Mario 3D World expansion sets joining the Mushroom Kingdom Lego universe. 

Platform: PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC
Publisher: Warner Bros. Interactive
Developer: TT Games
Release: April 5, 2022
Rating: Everyone 10+

Platform: PlayStation 4, Switch, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PC
Publisher: Atlus
Developer: Arc System Works
Release: September 30, 2014 (PlayStation 3, Xbox 360), March 17, 2022 (PlayStation 4, Switch, PC)
Rating: Teen

Sony Interactive Entertainment has announced that it is suspending all sales and shipments of both hardware and digital goods in Russia amidst its ongoing invasion of Ukraine. 

Joining the likes of Microsoft and Nintendo and dozens of other studios and publishers who have done the same, PlayStation is showing its support for Ukraine by effectively cutting Russia off from its services and titles. SIE called for peace in Ukraine in a statement to The Verge alongside this news. 

“Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) joins the global community in calling for peace in Ukraine,” a spokesperson said. “We have suspended all software and hardware shipments, the launch of Gran Turismo 7, and operations of the PlayStation Store in Russia.”

This spokesperson also said that Sony announced a $2 million donation to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the NGO Save the Children to support those affected by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. 

Reviewed on: Stadia
Also on: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC
Publisher: The Arcade Crew
Developer: 1P2P
Release: August 17, 2021 (Stadia), March 10, 2022 (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC)
Rating: Mature

Young Souls stars two orphans who are used to being overlooked, but you shouldn’t ignore their adventure. This RPG brawler sports more depth than your run-of-the-mill beat ‘em up thanks to slick combat, enjoyable customization, and sharp writing. Whether you’re cutting down monsters alone or alongside a buddy, brawler connoisseurs should take notice.