S.O.P.H.I.A.
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Posts posted by S.O.P.H.I.A.
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A new update for Elden Ring has been released, bringing multiple balance adjustments and boosting Spirit Ashes.
Update 1.13 is now available for all platforms. However, localisation staff removed from the credits are still yet to be added in.
As previously reported by Eurogamer, some Latin American translation staff were removed from the credits with the release of the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC, differing from the base game.
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After years of anticipation mixed with a few unexpected delays, Team Folon's Fallout: London mod finally released last week.
The fan-made game-sized mod for Fallout 4 faced a number of challenges on launch, however. As our Ian discovered when he gave it a whirl last week, he couldn't explore very much of it because it kept hard crashing back to his desktop (he did get mauled to death by a fox, though, so still rates the whole experience very highly).
You can see Ian playing through some Fallout: London via the video below.
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Twitch staff are concerned a third round of layoffs could hit the streaming platform, following 500 job cuts earlier this year and 400 in 2023.
That's according to a new report from The Wall Street Journal, which states Amazon paid almost $1bn for Twitch but it's now making less money and engagement has slowed.
The company is set to have an annual operational review this autumn and staff are concerned more job losses could follow. Amazon chief executive Andy Jassy has led a profitability review at Twitch and shown little tolerance for unprofitable business, the Journal reports.
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Square Enix has today released a demo for its forthcoming Action-RPG Visions of Mana.
Included in the demo are story, battle, and exploration elements, plus players who complete it will receive three weapons for main character Val in the full game.
The demo was surprise-released, with a new trailer below showing off some new gameplay.
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Harry Potter fans will soon get to live out their dreams of being professional Quidditch players with the upcoming Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions for PlayStation, Xbox, PC, and Nintendo Switch. While the digital version of the game drops on September 3 for PC and consoles, Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions is also getting a $40 physical edition release on PS5 and Xbox Series X on November 8. A physical Nintendo Switch version is also expected to launch this holiday, but no specific release date is announced.
Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions Preorder Bonus
All Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions preorders include the Firebolt Supreme Broomstick skin. The bonus is included with the digital standard edition and the physical and digital Deluxe Edition.
If you don't want to wait for the physical edition and only want the base game, the Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions digital standard edition is also available for $30.
Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions lets players create their own professional Quidditch player and join one of the many in-universe teams and play in positions like seeker, beater, chaser, or keeper. The game features a solo career mode, exhibition matches, and online multiplayer matches for teams of up to three players. Think Madden or EA Sports FS but for Quidditch.
As with all Harry Potter-related media, Quidditch Champions has received criticism due to its connections with the franchise's creator, JK Rowling, whose transphobic statements and political activism have actively harmed the global trans community. While Rowling did not directly contribute to Quidditch Champions, she benefits monetarily from sales for the game. In 2022, US Quidditch and Major League Quidditch--real leagues that used the fictional sport as inspiration--rebranded to Quadball in response to Rowling's transphobic statements. For more on this topic, we recommend reading GameSpot's detailed explainer on Rowling's history of making transphobic remarks as well as our roundup of charities that assist the trans community.
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If Roll20 and Discord are your tools of choice while playing online, your virtual tabletop just got streamlined thanks to Discord's new Roll20 integration.
Setting this up isn't all that difficult. As the official Roll20 YouTube channel explains (via IGN), users need only join a voice lobby and click on the "Choose an Activity" button. From there, they can select Roll20 and invite their friends via the "Invite Activity" button. Users will then need to log into Roll20. If users already have an account, they can jump into any pre-existing campaigns they've already started.
After that, they'll be able to select various tabletop games, including Dungeons & Dragons, Cyberpunk RED, Alien: The Roleplaying Game, Marvel Multiverse Role-Playing Game, Call of Cthulhu, Pathfinder Second Edition, 13th Age, Dune: Adventures in the Imperium, and Warhammer Fantasy Role-Play.
As pointed out in a Roll20 blog post, users will have access to "Adventure Modules pre-configured for the virtual tabletop with everything you need to start playing." They can also purchase add-ons for various tabletop games. It's also worth noting that for this to work, everyone must be in Discord. The Roll20 voice/video features will still work, no subscription is required, and this feature doesn't work on mobile.
Dungeons & Dragons has been extremely popular lately. Some of that can be attributed to Larian Studios Baldur's Gate 3. The game has impacted the franchise so much that it even inspired new rules. Now is a great time to get into Dungeons & Dragons because Wizards of the Coast is preparing to release a new edition of the game, which hasn't happened in ten years.
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A new Super Mario Lego set is on the way, this time inspired by one of the heroic plumber's best games, Super Mario World on SNES. The set features Mario riding his trusty companion Yoshi in a recreation of the duo's 2D pixel art sprites from the game. Announced at Comic-Con 2024, the Lego Super Mario World: Mario And Yoshi set launches October 1, and preorders are available now.
Lego's Super Mario line debuted in 2020 with a variety of kits, including interactive playsets and detailed models based on other iconic characters like Bowser and the Pirhana Plant. Some of these releases are hard to track down, but if you act fast, you can grab the popular Lego NES model at Target and the Lego Mario Question Block display at Stockx. Both kits are sold out everywhere else, so pick them up while you can.
The Lego Super Mario World: Mario And Yoshi isn't the only new official Nintendo Lego kit launching this year. The Bowser Express Train, King Boo's Haunted Mansion, and Battle With Roy At Peach's Castle sets are all up for preorder at Lego's online store ahead of their August 1 release. Meanwhile, Zelda fans can also preorder the first-ever Legend of Zelda Lego kit, the 2-in-1 Great Deku Tree scene, for $300 at the Lego store.
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Tony Pankhurst, the UK actor who served as the face for The Curator in Supermassive Games’ The Dark Pictures Anthology, has passed away. He was 67.
Supermassive announced Pankhurst's passing on Twitter. A tribute page from Pankhurst’s family (spotted by GameSpot) reveals that he died on May 9 and his funeral was held on June 7. The family is currently accepting donations to Hospice in the Weald, who cared for Pankhurst during his final weeks.
We are all saddened to hear of Tony Pankhurst's passing. He was the face of The Curator, and we loved working with him.
— Supermassive Games (@SuperMGames) July 29, 2024
pic.twitter.com/ZZQbeViE8SPankhurst’s career in the entertainment industry spans over 40 years across films, TV, and radio. In video games, he provided the likeness for the mysterious Curator in The Dark Pictures Anthology games Man of Madan, Little Hope, House of Ashes, and The Devil in Me, although actor Pip Torrens provided the voice and motion capture for the character. Pankhurst did portray a live-action version of The Curator in a trailer for 2021's House of Ashes, which you can watch below.
Game Informer extends its condolences to Pankhurst’s family and loved ones.
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Like any good AAA RPG, Dragon Age: The Veilguard is a sizeable game, and according to developer BioWare, the game's scope--including its huge cast of characters and hundreds of thousands of lines of dialogue--is part of why it took so long to create. That massive scope includes more than 700 different characters and 140,000 lines of dialogue.
"We wanted to make sure we got this one right," creative director John Epler said in a recent interview with GamesRadar, in which he also revealed the enormous amount of dialogue.
Performance director Ashley Barlow added that--in addition to other projects BioWare was working on during the decade between Dragon Age: Inquisition and The Veilguard--part of the reason the game took so long to make was simply due to the sheer number of characters and voice lines.
"We started casting five years ago," Barlow said. "The team, the talent, has been on for five years. It takes a long time to record [dialogue for] 700 characters, you know--80,000 lines or 140,000 lines with all the Rooks. It just takes time to make [it] good."
The game features seven romanceable companion characters, and the player-character--who BioWare has nicknamed Rook--has four voices for players to choose from (two feminine voices and two masculine voices). That brings the total number of voice actors for main characters alone to 11. Add in Varric (who will accompany the player in certain parts of the game) and the game's main antagonist, Solas, and you're looking at 13 voice actors who absolutely must get their lines right.
Given the fact that the total number of characters is 700 (with all of them voiced by actual humans), it's no surprise that the game took significant time to make, especially considering the varying dialogue branches that have become commonplace in most RPGs. They even got Alex Jordan, who provided all of the kissing noises for Baldur's Gate 3, to pitch in for The Veilguard's spicier scenes.
"I sit on a throne of moans," Jordan joked on Twitter.
But all the time in the recording booth was worth it, according to Epler, who says the newest entry in the Dragon Age franchise is "the best version" of the game that it "could possibly be."
BioWare still hasn't announced an official release date, but the game is currently slated for release sometime in late 2024. For more information on the upcoming fantasy RPG, check out everything we know about Dragon Age: The Veilguard.
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Microsoft's vision for the future of Xbox goes beyond its own hardware--as the company looks to extend into streaming and mobile--but that doesn't mean Microsoft is abandoning Xbox hardware--far from it. The company has said, time and again, that it aims to offer a range of ways for people to become Xbox customers, and that includes via Xbox consoles.
But what's coming next after the Xbox Series X|S? The future is still fuzzy, but Microsoft has dropped clues and made statements about what's next. In this post, we're rounding up everything we know so far about the next Xbox console.
Keep checking back for more, as we will update this post with new details as they become available.
Next Xbox release date, price speculation
The next Xbox has not yet been announced, so it's too soon to say what it could cost or when it may release. A major leak from the Microsoft vs. FTC court case revealed some of Microsoft's plans for the next Xbox, including a heavy focus on "cloud hybrid" technology, machine learning, and AI. The leak also pointed to a potential 2028 start-date for this next console generation. Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer responded to the leak and said at least some of the information was out of date.
"We've seen the conversation around old emails and documents. It is hard to see our team's work shared in this way because so much has changed and there's so much to be excited about right now, and in the future. We will share the real plans when we are ready," he wrote.
When this next Xbox is announced, what could it be called? We don't know yet, but Microsoft had talked about how its console platform is known as just "Xbox," and that things like Series X|S denote the specific models underneath that umbrella. Whether or not Microsoft sticks with this for its next console remains to be seen, however.
Next Xbox potential specs
In February this year, Xbox president Sarah Bond confirmed Microsoft was making new Xbox hardware and went on to make a bold statement about what it could deliver. Bond said this next Xbox, whatever it turns out to be, will offer the "largest technical leap you will have ever seen in a hardware generation." That's a bold claim, for sure. Bond didn't offer anything else, like how Microsoft might achieve this, nor did she provide any timetable for the console's release.
Also this year, Bond said the next Xbox will focus on "power and performance" to create the "biggest leap ever," but again, Bond didn't go any further than those lofty claims.
Next Xbox backwards compatibility
Bond has also discussed how Xbox is ensuring backward compatibility will be a part of its next-gen hardware.
"It's also about the ability to be able to play all of the games. I mean, we have people who've been playing on Xbox for decades and invested thousands and thousands of dollars and hours with us. And [we want to enable them] to take all those games with them into the hardware of the future."
Bond went on to explain that when she became president of Xbox in 2023, one of the first things she did was create a team dedicated to backward compatibility. She then went on to say that the Xbox team is committed to the idea of being able to play their games wherever they are.
"So our long-term commitment to cross-play is part of that and our commitment to cross-progression and cloud saves. So you can pick up on one device and you can play on another is a part of that."
Next Xbox news
Those same leaked documents revealed a trove of insights into what Microsoft may be cooking up for the future, but again, some or all of this information could be out of date. The documents showed that Microsoft was considering switching to an ARM64 CPU, like the Nintendo Switch uses. The leak also revealed that Microsoft is targeting DirectX ray tracing for its next-gen consoles, as well as machine-learning-powered graphical enhancement.
Microsoft seems to be putting a lot of focus on AI and machine learning for its next generation, touting its use for "optimization and acceleration of game performance, operations, and development for players and creators." Microsoft said AI and machine learning could help with things like matchmaking and player-discovery, while AI could also be used for game-testing and to optimize monetization strategies.
Also listed in the leak as a "key innovation" coming with the next generation of consoles from Xbox is an "immersive game and app platform" that will allow anyone to develop their own games--possibly similar to Roblox's development platform. This seems to play into what Xbox executive Sarah Bond said recently about the potential for AI to further enable players also becoming game developers within the Xbox ecosystem.
Microsoft said in the leaked documents that its aim was to develop a "next-generation hybrid game platform" that taps into the "combined power" of local hardware and the cloud. The end result? Microsoft believes this could result in "deeper immersion and entirely new classes of game experiences."
Beyond Xbox
While Microsoft is working on new hardware, it's just one piece of the puzzle for Microsoft as it looks to the future and seeks out ways to find more Xbox customers. Recently, Xbox cloud gaming came to Amazon's Fire Stick devices, and Microsoft launched an ad campaign telling people they don't need to buy an Xbox. Indeed, Microsoft has been saying for years that it kinda doesn't care if you buy an Xbox. Thanks to cloud streaming, the phone in your pocket or the TV in your living room is an Xbox device.
Xbox CFO Tim Stuart said during the Wells Fargo TMT Summit that the goal is to make first-party games and Game Pass available on "every screen that can play games," and this includes rival consoles.
"It's a bit of a change of strategy. Not announcing anything broadly here, but our mission is to bring our first-party experiences [and] our subscription services to every screen that can play games," Stuart said. "That means smart TVs, that means mobile devices, that means what we would have thought of as competitors in the past like PlayStation and Nintendo."
In addition to streaming, Microsoft has discussed plans to launch its own mobile game store. Recently, a landing page on Xbox.com for the mobile store appeared, telling people it is "coming soon." This mobile store for Xbox games could launch in 2024, and given that Microsoft owns juggernauts like Candy Crush and Call of Duty, this could end up being a big deal, though time will tell if that comes to fruition.
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By now you've probably heard that Robert Downey Jr. is returning to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, not as Iron Man, but as masked villain Doctor Doom. This is not the first time he's been tapped for the role, as he was considered to play the menacing physician before Iron Man even entered pre-production.
This information was first revealed a little over a year ago, when Marvel Studios released promotional material celebrating the first Iron Man movie's 15th anniversary. In a conversation between director Jon Favreau and producer Kevin Feige, Favreau recalled, "You had all met with him already for like Doctor Doom or something, on another project... so everybody sort of knew who he was." Feige apparently confirmed with a simple "right." Model and actor Julian McMahon played Doctor Doom in the original two Fantastic Four films, both released before Iron Man.
Robert Downey Jr. won a Best Supporting Actor Oscar, as well as a Golden Globe and a BAFTA, for his portrayal of Lewis Strauss in Oppenheimer. At San Diego Comic Con, Marvel announced the titles of the next two Avengers movies: Doomsday and Secret Wars. The Russo brothers, who directed two Captain America films, Avengers: Infinity War, and Avengers: Endgame, are also returning to direct the next two Avengers films.
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We are delighted to invite Xbox Insiders on Xbox Series X|S consoles to join the Hell Let Loose Update Preview. Team17 is working on new and exciting features for this epic World War II, first person shooter and would love for you to try them out and get your feedback! To participate in the Hell Let Loose Update Preview, you will need to either own Hell Let Loose OR have access to the title via an active Game Pass subscription.
What’s New:
Join the preview today and Xbox Insiders will be able to use the console server browser! This will allow you to select and join any server you want from the Enlist menu. This means that you have more control over what maps you play and who you play with.
About the Game:
Join the chaos of war and be a part of the most iconic battles of the Eastern and Western Fronts, including Carentan, Omaha Beach, Stalingrad, Kursk and more. Hell Let Loose drops you into the action, where you will have to fight across fields, bridges, forests, towns and more war-torn environments! Lumbering tanks will be dominating the battlefield and crucial supply chains fueling the frontlines, you are essential to the colossal, combined arms warfare.
If you want to learn more, please visit the Hell Let Loose Website!
How to Participate:
- Sign-in on your Xbox Series X|S console and launch the Xbox Insider Hub app (or install the Xbox Insider Hub from the Store first if necessary)
- Navigate to Previews > Hell Let Loose
- Select Join
- Wait for the registration to complete and be directed to the Store and install Hell Let Loose
NOTE: To participate in the Hell Let Loose Update Preview, you will need to either own Hell Let Loose OR have access to the title via an active Game Pass subscription.
NOTE: This playtest is only available on Xbox Series X|S consoles.
NOTE: If you already have Hell Let Loose installed, please restart your console after the registration has completed to ensure you get prompted to update to the Hell Let Loose Update Preview version.
NOTE: If you wish to revert to the publicly available version of Hell Let Loose, you will need to leave the Hell Let Loose Update Preview via the Xbox Insider Hub. This will prompt an update reversion to occur.
How to Provide Feedback:
If you experience any issues while playing Hell Let Loose, don’t forget to use “Report a problem” so we can investigate:
- Hold down the home button on your Xbox controller.
- Select Report a problem.
- Select the Games category and Hell Let Loose subcategory.
- Fill out the form with the appropriate details to help our investigation.
Other resources:
For more information: follow us on X/Twitter at @XboxInsider and this blog for announcements and more. And feel free to interact with the community on the Xbox Insider SubReddit.
The post Join the Hell Let Loose Update Preview Today! appeared first on Xbox Wire.
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PlayStation and Team Asobi are gearing up for Astro Bot's release on September 6, which will give the quirky robot more planets to explore, more enemies to overcome, and a whole new set of skills to master. Considering Astro's Playroom served as a brilliant (and free!) demonstration of the DualSense Controller's unique features, it feels rather fitting that PlayStation has unveiled the Astro Bot Limited Edition DualSense Controller. Taking design cues from Astro Bot, the striking gamepad will go up for preorder on August 9 ahead of its September 6 release.
While it may boast a striking new design, this is your standard DualSense. That means you won't get back buttons or customizable components as you would on the DualSense Edge, but it has all of the hallmarks that make the DualSense such a cool controller: haptic feedback, adaptive triggers, and a built-in microphone.
Preorders for the controller don't open until August 9, but preorders for the Astro Bot game are now available. You'll get some cool swag for reserving a copy ahead of time, including a bunch of in-game goodies and an adorable physical poster for your game room.
The Astro Bot Limited Edition DualSense follows hot on the heels of the Concord Limited Edition DualSense. Based on the shooter of the same name, it gets you a black gamepad accented with red and blue stripes throughout the entire front faceplate. Like the upcoming Astro Bot controller, this one will only be available for a limited time.
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PlayStation's Back to School Sale is now live, and if you're looking for a marvelous discount on Marvel's Spider-Man 2, you're in luck. You can pick the game up for just $50 at multiple major retailers. This $20 discount matches the best price yet for Insomniac's excellent PS5-exclusive sequel. And it's just one of many PlayStation games on sale as part of the annual Back to School promotion.
Get Marvel's Spider-Man 2 for $50 (
$70)Set shortly after the events of Marvel's Spider-Man and Spider-Man: Miles Morales, the Spidey sequel features both of New York's resident webheads facing their toughest challenge to date. Between Kraven the Hunter turning the Big Apple into his personal hunting ground, the Lizard going on a rampage, the arrival of Venom, and the havoc of their personal lives, the two web-slingers have their work cut out for them in a sequel that serves as a fun showcase for PS5 owners.
"Marvel's Spider-Man 2 may largely give us more of what we've played in Insomniac's previous Spider-Man games, but that winning formula is still so damn fun that it really doesn't matter," Jordan Ramee wrote in GameSpot's Marvel's Spider-Man 2 review. "The story's exploration of loneliness is fantastic, creating gripping new narratives for the two heroes, Peter and Miles, as well as the two main villains, Kraven and Venom. Spider-Man 2 unites all four characters in a riveting narrative throughline you'll want to see all the way through and has the gameplay hooks to keep you engaged the whole ride."
If you haven't played Insomniac's first two Spidey games, you can grab Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales Ultimate Edition for $40 (was $70). This PS5-exclusive release comes with a remastered version of Marvel's Spider-Man and Miles Morales, which bridges the gap between the first game and last year's sequel.
Some of the other big PlayStation deals on right now include a PS5 Slim console--with a disc drive--for $449 instead of the usual $500 price. If you're planning to go all in on game downloads and you can live without physical media, a PS5 Slim Digital Edition console is even cheaper at $399 and a disc drive can always be added on in the future in case you change your mind.
For those of you looking to try out some virtual reality, the impressive PlayStation VR 2 headset is also on sale for $200 off right now, starting at $349 for the full hardware package. This is the best price yet for the PSVR 2, and it comes at a great time. Sony has revealed that the PSVR 2 Steam app will launch on August 6. You can also save $200 on the Horizon Call of the Mountain PSVR 2 bundle, which includes the headset, controllers, and a great Horizon spin-off game, all for just $400.
PlayStation Back to School Deals
Shop all PlayStation Back to School deals at: Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart, Target, and GameStop. Check out the highlights at Amazon and Best Buy below, but keep in mind some deals are already selling out.
PlayStation Back to School Deals at Best Buy
PS5 Game Deals
- Marvel's Spider-Man 2 -- $50 (
$70) - Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales Ultimate Edition -- $40 (
$70) - Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales -- $20 (
$50) - Demon's Souls -- $30 (
$70) - Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart -- $30 (
$60) - The Last of Us Part I -- $40 (
$70) - The Last of Us Part II: Remastered -- $40 (
$50) - Gran Turismo 7 -- $40 (
$70) - Returnal -- $30 (
$70) - The Nioh Collection -- $20 (
$70) - Sackboy: A Big Adventure -- $20 (
$60) - Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection -- $20 (
$50) - Death Stranding: Director's Cut -- $20 (
$50) - Marvel's Spider-Man GOTY Edition (PS4) -- $30 (
$40) - Gran Turismo 7 (PS4) -- $30 (
$40) - God of War: Ragnarok (PS4) -- $30 (
$40)
PlayStation Hardware Deals
- PS5 Slim -- $450 (
$500) - PS5 Slim with EA Sports College Football 25 -- $520 (
$570) - PS5 Slim Digital Edition -- $400 (
$450) - PlayStation VR 2 -- $350 (
$550) - PlayStation VR 2 and Horizon Call of the Mountain bundle -- $400 (
$600)
PlayStation Back to School Deals at Amazon
PS5 Game Deals
Note: Amazon is already sold out of several PS5 games in PlayStation's Back to School Sale
- Marvel's Spider-Man 2 -- $50 (
$70) - Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales Ultimate Edition -- $40 (
$70) - Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales -- $20 (
$50) | Sold out - Demon's Souls -- $30 (
$70) | Sold out - Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart -- $30 (
$60) - God of War Ragnarok -- $40 (
$70) - The Last of Us Part I -- $40 (
$70) | Sold out - The Last of Us Part II: Remastered -- $40 (
$50) - Gran Turismo 7 -- $40 (
$70) - Returnal -- $30 (
$70) | Sold out - Horizon Forbidden West -- $30 (
$50) - The Nioh Collection -- $20 (
$70) | Sold out - Sackboy: A Big Adventure -- $20 (
$60) | Sold out - Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection -- $20 (
$60) | Sold out - Death Stranding: Director's Cut -- $20 (
$60) | Sold out - Marvel's Spider-Man GOTY Edition (PS4) -- $30 (
$40) - God of War: Ragnarok (PS4) -- $30 (
$40) - Gran Turismo 7 (PS4) -- $30 (
$40)
PlayStation Hardware Deals
- PS5 Slim -- $449 (
$500) - PS5 Slim Digital Edition -- $399 (
$450) - PlayStation VR 2 -- $349 (
$550) | Sold out - PlayStation VR 2 and Horizon Call of the Mountain bundle -- $399 (
$600)
- Marvel's Spider-Man 2 -- $50 (
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Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill is the first player to be welcomed into Club 99 by Madden NFL 25. The honor means Hill has a 99 overall rating in the upcoming football game.
On X/Twitter, the official Madden NFL account shared a video of Hill receiving his Club 99 gifts and honor. Also known as "Cheetah," the wide receiver was surprised with a suitcase bearing gifts as well as a video message from former New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning. "This is absolutely the greatest, or the second-greatest day of my life--well, actually the third greatest," Hill said.
Best WR in the game @cheetah is surprised with his #99Club Gear!
— Madden NFL 25 (@EAMaddenNFL) July 29, 2024
Welcome back to the club
#Madden25 pic.twitter.com/qB9uwpD2CeIt also means Hill is the top wide receiver for Madden NFL 25, after being listed as the second-best option at the launch of Madden NFL 24. However, he was bumped to a 99 overall in last year's game as the season progressed and became the first Dolphins player ever to achieve that rating.
In college, Hill pled guilty to domestic violence against his pregnant girlfriend. Last year, there was a different assault charge that was eventually settled, with the NFL ultimately taking no action.
Last week, Madden NFL 25 showed off a redesigned tackling system as part of a deep dive gameplay trailer. The Hit Stick is also getting updated with this year's game, which will be the 20th anniversary of the feature's inclusion in the football franchise.
EA will undoubtedly unveil more of the Club 99 members (Patrick Mahomes is a given, for instance) for Madden NFL 25 as we get closer and closer to the game's release date on August 16. For more, check out 25 things coming to Madden NFL 25.
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Abubakara Salim is on a roll. Following his BAFTA-nominated performance of Bayek in Assassin's Creed Origins, he has starred in two critically acclaimed HBO series--House of the Dragon and Raised by Wolves--voiced characters in World of Warcraft, Diablo 4, and Stray Gods, and has even shipped his own game at his own studio, Tales of Kenzera: Zau.
Recently, Salim joined GameSpot for an episode of Star Players, during which he shared his history with video games and which ones hold a special place in his heart. Turns out, one game in particular has massively shaped not only his work, but his life as a whole: Kingdom Hearts.
According to Salim, Kingdom Hearts' "earnestness" and focus on sincere friendship has been a powerful force in his life. He told host Lucy James that the game has influenced not only his work, but "everything [he does.]"
"Honestly this had such an impact on me," Salim said. "It's so influential. It's so emotional... Darkness comes and takes them away and he just wants his friends back. It was really really magical and it will always stay with me. I think it will always influence any the work I do--everything I do. There's just an earnestness to it. An honestly to it. An authenticity."
He also opened up about his love of World of Warcraft, creating his own game studio, how he finds time to game as a new parent, and how his favorite game of all time, Golden Sun, desperately needs the remake treatment--and for the record, we agree.
Salim is the latest star to join GameSpot for its newest show, Star Players. The biweekly program offers a "deep dive into the personal gaming journey of celebrities, musicians, television and movie stars," and has featured Jackass' Steve-O, Lord of the Rings' Dominic Monaghan, Archer's Aisha Tyler, and RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars winner Monét X Change.
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Grasshopper Manufacture is set to run its second annual showcase later this week on 31st July.
Just like last year's presentation, Grasshopper Direct 2024 will hopefully give us a glimpse of what's next from renowned game maker Suda51, whose prior work includes Killer7, the No More Heroes series, Lollipop Chainsaw, and Shadows of the Damned.
As yet there's been no hints at what's to come, but the team says it's currently "working our asses off" to ensure this year's direct goes off without a hitch. Last year's direct aired a good hour or so after the planned window, which is probably why Grasshopper hasn't yet shared a time for the presentation.
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PlayStation has today unveiled a new DualSense controller, inspired by upcoming PS5 release Astro Bot.
The controller itself boasts all the features you would expect from a DualSense, such as adaptive triggers and haptic feedback. These will all come into play when Astro Bot releases later this year (although, with more textures to feel through the controller than with Astro's Playroom). So far, so normal.
Things get a little more exciting when you get to the cosmetic side of things, however. The upcoming controller has Astro's blue accents on the handles and buttons, some sci-fi style grooves and - the most eye-catching feature in every sense - Astro's "trademark playful pair of eyes" on the DualSense's touchpad.
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Warner Bros. Games has released a new gameplay trailer for Quidditch Champions, providing the best look yet at how the game actually looks in action. The gameplay footage shows off the game's stylized graphics, gameplay, and character-creator tool.
Players don't need to make their own character, though, as iconic Harry Potter characters like Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Draco Malfoy are on the roster of playable characters. The game also lets players choose from a selection of different brooms. Take a look at the full trailer below, which also highlights some of the different Quidditch venues.
Quidditch Champions has a solo campaign mode and online multiplayer for when you're ready to put your skills to the test against the wider community.
The $30 game launches digitally on September 3 for console and PC, and for the first month, PlayStation Plus subscribers can get it at no extra cost. A physical edition for Xbox and PlayStation launches on November 8, with a version of the game for Switch following later in the year.
Quidditch Champions is developed by Unbroken Studios, which was a co-developer on Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League.
It's the second Harry Potter game in as many years, following 2023's massively successful Hogwarts Legacy. It was 2023's best-selling game overall in the US, even out-selling Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III.
Although controversial author J.K. Rowling is not personally involved with Qudditch Champions, she stands to profit from its success. For more, read our in-depth article on how Rowling's comments have impacted the trans community. In this article, you will also find links to trans creators you can support, as well as charities you can donate to.
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The price of the PlayStation VR 2 headset has arguably been one of its biggest barriers to entry, but right now, you can save a staggering $200 on this impressive virtual reality system. As part of the PlayStation Back to School Sale, the starting price of the PlayStation VR 2 headset has been reduced to $350, while the bundle deal that throws in Horizon Call of the Mountain is available for $400. These deals are already starting to sell out at some retailers, so grab one before they're gone if interested.
PlayStation VR 2 — $350 (
$550)PlayStation VR 2 Horizon Call of the Mountain Bundle — $400 (
$600)While it lacks the wireless design of the Meta Quest 3 VR headset, the PlayStation VR 2 is easily one of the most powerful and comfortable VR devices on the market. Like the PS5 console, it has an elegant design coupled with a plug-and-play design that allows a user to start playing games on it right out of the box. The Sense controllers are also great and have inherited a number of haptic feedback features from the PlayStation DualSense controllers to add extra layers of immersion to your games.
Speaking of games, the PSVR 2 library has increased nicely since the headset arrived early last year. There aren't too many exclusives available, but third-party games like Synapse, Pistol Whip, and Arizona Sunshine 2 run very nicely on the headset.
"The technology powering it is modern, making it a worthy companion to the PlayStation 5, and its Sense controllers are designed specifically for gaming in VR spaces," Tamoor Hussain wrote in GameSpot's PSVR 2 review. "The PSVR 2 is undoubtedly a major step forward for PlayStation's virtual reality ambitions and one of the best headsets on the market, but in the ever-shifting landscape of virtual reality, its price and current value proposition leave it in an awkward position once again."
You will need a PS5 to pair the PSVR 2 headset with, as it's not a standalone device. Fortunately, PS5 consoles are on sale right now and you can pick up either a regular PS5 with a disc drive for $449 or a PS5 Digital Edition for $399. Alternatively, PSVR 2 PC compatibility will be introduced in August, although you will need a special adapter to use it on your PC. You can check out more PlayStation Back to School sale deals below.
PlayStation VR 2 PlayStation Back to School Deals
Shop all PlayStation Back to School deals at: Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart, Target, and GameStop.
PS5 Deals Best Buy
PS5 Game Deals
- Marvel's Spider-Man 2 -- $50 ($
70) - Marvel's Spider-Man (Game of the Year Edition) -- $30 ($4
0) - Demon's Souls -- $30 ($
70) - Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart -- $30 ($6
0) - The Last of Us Part I -- $40 (
$70) - The Last of Us Part II: Remastered -- $40 ($5
0) - Gran Turismo 7 -- $40 ($
70) - Returnal -- $30 (
$70) - The Nioh Collection -- $20 (
$70) - Sackboy: A Big Adventure -- $20 ($6
0) - Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection -- $20 ($5
0) - Death Stranding: Director's Cut -- $20 ($5
0)
PlayStation Hardware Deals
- PS5 Slim -- $450 ($
500) - PS5 Slim with EA Sports College Football 25 -- $520 ($
570) - PS5 Slim Digital Edition -- $400 ($45
0) - PlayStation VR 2 -- $350 ($55
0) - PlayStation VR 2 and Horizon Call of the Mountain bundle -- $400 ($60
0)
PS5 deals at Amazon
PS5 Game Deals
Note: Amazon is already sold out of several PS5 games in PlayStation's Back to School Sale
- Marvel's Spider-Man 2 -- $50 ($
70) - Marvel's Spider-Man (Game of the Year Edition) -- $35 ($
70) - Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales (Ultimate Edition) -- $40 ($
70) - Demon's Souls -- $30 (
$70) | Sold out - Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart -- $30 ($6
0) - God of War Ragnarok -- $40 ($
70) - The Last of Us Part I -- $40 (
$70) | Sold out - The Last of Us Part II: Remastered -- $45 ($6
0) - Gran Turismo 7 -- $40 ($
70) - Returnal -- $30 (
$70) | Sold out - Horizon Forbidden West -- $30 (
$50) - The Nioh Collection -- $20 (
$70) | Sold out - Sackboy: A Big Adventure -- $20 ($6
0) | Sold out - Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection -- $20 ($6
0) | Sold out - Death Stranding: Director's Cut -- $20 ($6
0) | Sold out
PS4 Game Deals
- God of War Ragnarok -- $30 ($6
0) - Gran Turismo 7 -- $30 ($6
0)
PlayStation Hardware Deals
- PS5 Slim -- $449 (
$500) - PS5 Digital Edition -- $399 (
$450) - PlayStation VR 2 -- $349 (
$550) | Sold out - PlayStation VR 2 and Horizon Call of the Mountain bundle -- $399 (
$600)
- Marvel's Spider-Man 2 -- $50 ($
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Last month, we learned Sega and Amazon had partnered to create a live-action series based on the Like a Dragon (formerly Yakuza) series. Over the weekend, during the San Diego Comic-Con, the studio unveiled the first teaser trailer.
Like A Dragon: Yakuza centers on Kazuma Kiryu (played by Takeuchi Ryoma) and follows his life during two time periods: 1995 and 2005. Set in the series’ fictional Tokyo district of Kamurochō, the trailer’s synopsis states the show “depicts the lives of fierce yet passionate gangsters and people” and will explore stories the games haven’t been able to.
The six-episode series will be released on Prime Video in two parts, with the first three episodes premiering on October 24 and the last three arriving on November 1. It will be subbed and dubbed in 30 languages. Like a Dragon: Yakuza is directed by Take Masaharu (100 Yen Love).
You can read our review of the latest game in the series, Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, here.
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The final countdown has begun for the Xbox 360 store, which officially shutters today after opening shop almost 19 years ago. That means you won't be able to buy Xbox 360 games or DLC on the marketplace in a matter of hours. However, they will still be available to play and redownload for people who already purchased that content.
Larry Hryb, also known as Major Nelson, marked the occasion on X, saying it was his "pleasure sharing all the thousands of marketplace sales and updates I've given over the years." Just over a year ago, Hryb left Xbox after spending 22 years with Microsoft, with his last position being senior director of corporate communications.
Almost 19 years on, all good things must come to an end. We are in the final 24 hours (or so) of the Xbox 360 Marketplace.
— Larry Hryb, Gamer Emeritus
It was my pleasure sharing all the thousands of marketplace sales and updates I’ve given over the years.
Thank for having fun, playing fair and filing…
(@majornelson) July 28, 2024In August 2023, Microsoft announced that the Xbox 360 store would be closing today, July 29--giving people almost a year heads-up. Additionally, the Microsoft Movies and TV app will no longer function on Xbox 360 systems, meaning you can't view your content on those consoles.
However, Microsoft does say that any backward-compatible Xbox 360 (and original Xbox) games will still be available for purchase on Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and Xbox.com. Online multiplayer support, meanwhile, depends on publishers and developers for Xbox 360 games and won't be affected by the store's shuttering.
As for Xbox, the latest big update for consoles and cloud arrived last month, bringing new background customization, subscription management on consoles, and mouse-and-keyboard functionality for cloud gaming.
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<p><img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/07/29/b5bfc263/astro_bot_dual_sense_header.jpg" width="800" height="450" alt="Astro Bot PS5 PlayStation 5 Dual Sense Controller August Preorder September Release Date" typeof="foaf:Image" class="image-style-body-default" /></p> <p>PlayStation has unveiled a limited edition Astro Bot DualSense controller for the PlayStation 5, and it launches September 6, the same day developer Team Asobi's <a href="https://www.gameinformer.com/product/astro-bot">Astro Bot</a> launches. Preorders begin on Friday, August 9, at 7 a.m PT/10 a.m. ET in the U.S. and the controller will cost $79.99. </p> <p>"The controller's design features Astro's signature blue accents on the handles and buttons, carved in, sci-fi lines as well as the trademark playful pair of eyes on the touch pad," a PlayStation Blog <a href="https://blog.playstation.com/2024/07/29/first-look-astro-bot-limited-edition-dualsense-wireless-controller/">post</a> reads. </p> <img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/07/29/706d4f17/astro_bot_dual_sense_controller.jpg" alt="Astro Bot PS5 PlayStation 5 Dual Sense Controller August Preorder September Release Date" typeof="foaf:Image" class="image-style-body-default" /> <p>As you can see, this limited edition controller looks a lot like the titular Astro Bot, and will pair nicely with the game when it launches September 6. </p> <p>While waiting for the game and this controller's launch, <a href="https://www.gameinformer.com/state-of-play/2024/05/30/a-new-astro-bot-game-is-coming-to-ps5-in-september">check out the Astro Bot reveal trailer</a>, and then read <a href="https://www.gameinformer.com/preview/2024/06/13/bigger-and-bot-ter"><em>Game Informer's </em>hands-on Astro Bot preview</a> to find out why we're so excited for the platformer. </p> <p><em>Are you going to preorder this controller? Let us know in the comments below!</em></p>
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Summer Games Fest gave us the cinematic reveal of Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions, an upcoming game based on the popular wizarding sport. A new trailer provides the first look at gameplay, including glimpses of a couple of modes and character customization.
Quidditch Champions features a single-player career mode that allows players to climb the ranks of the sport. Each victory takes them to larger, grander venues, from Hogwarts to the Quidditch World Cup Stadium. An online competitive mode pits teams of real-life players against each other. Playable characters include Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Draco Malfoy, but you can also create and customize your own athletes using an extensive character creator.
Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions launches digitally on September 3 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC. A Switch version is planned to launch sometime this holiday.
Quidditch Champions will be available in two versions. The Digital Standard Edition ($29.99) simply includes the base game. Digital and Physical Deluxe Editions ($39.99) include the game, House Packs for Slytherin, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Gryffindor, and 2,000 in-game gold (earned in-game, as Quidditch Champions does not have microtransactions). The house pack includes a broom skin, travel school uniform, and crest emblem representing each house. The Physical Deluxe Edition goes on sale on November 8.
Additionally, the Standard Edition will launch as a PlayStation Plus title on day one and will be available to subscribers until September 30.
Olympics ditched Mario & Sonic series to explore NFTs and esports
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Posted
The International Olympics Committee walked away from its partnership with Nintendo and Sega for the long-running Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games series in order to explore deals with new partners, NFTs and esports, Eurogamer understands.
As the real-life Olympics gets underway in Paris, there's been discussion online of there being no new Mario & Sonic tie-in for this summer's Games, for the first time in almost two decades.
Speaking with Eurogamer, a veteran behind the series has now said the decision to end the popular Mario & Sonic franchise rested with the IOC, which chose not to renew its licensing deal with Nintendo and Sega, and allowed it to lapse in 2020.
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