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Evil Dead Game Gameplay Will Be Revealed This Week

Pre-E3 has begun with Summer Game Fest kicking off the festivities with tons of game reveals and celebration. For those that love a good zombie tale, Evil Dead: The Game is on the way. Based off of the movie, the Evil Dead game will have gameplay revealed later this week, and we’ve got our first look at Cheryl Williams before we get the full showcase. 

The Twitter account for the upcoming game teased an image of Cheryl in a very Friday the 13th / Dead by Daylight fashion. With the traditional red font and vacant stare, this teaser is just the tip of the iceberg before we see the full gameplay reveal on Thursday, June 10. 

This will be the first time we’ve seen gameplay for Evil Dead, but what we really want to see is good ‘ol Ash. While his sister is cool and all, the world is a little bit better with the weirdness that is her brother. That being said, it is nice to see Cheryl front and center seeing as she is a playable character. Hopefully, we’ll be seeing more fan-favorites from the iconic horror movie franchise later this week. 

Interested in learning more about the game ahead of the gameplay reveal? According to the game’s official synopsis: 

“Step into the shoes of Ash Williams or his friends from the iconic Evil Dead franchise and work together in a game loaded with over-the-top co-op and PVP multiplayer action! Play as a team of four survivors, exploring, looting, crafting, managing your fear, and finding key items to seal the breach between worlds in a game inspired by all three original Evil Dead films as well as the Starz original Ash vs Evil Dead television series.”

Are you ready to see more? The Evil Dead: The Game gameplay reveal debuts on June 10. 


Are you excited to see the Williams siblings once more in the upcoming Evil Dead game? Sound off with your thoughts in the comment section below! 

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Battlefield 6 Watch Along With Game Informer

The Battlefield series holds a special place in the hearts of first-person shooter fans, and for good reason. Whether it’s developer DICE pioneering jaw-dropping levels of destruction or expanding multiplayer lobbies into the hundreds, the seminal series remains FPS royalty. But while the last few years have presented turbulent waters, fans are hoping the storms will start to settle starting today. To kick off the E3 2021 fun, EA is looking to turn the tides by taking the digital stage to reveal the next step in the Battlefield series.

We, unfortunately, don’t know a ton about what we’re going to see today. With the first substantive look at the game, though, we’re hoping that means a look at next-gen gameplay, but only time will tell. While you can’t bet on what we’ll see today, you can count on Game Informer to be there to watch along with you. The Alexes (Van Aken and Stadnik) are taking over for E3 2021 and we’ll be right along with you to bring the hype, give you our spiciest takes possible, and react live to all the big news from the day. We’ll be going live at 8:45 A.M. CT for a little preshow action to discuss DICE’s iconic series and our hopes for what Battlefield 6 will bring. 

Our Battlefield stream is just the first of the E3 season. We’ll be going live on Twitch and watching all the biggest streams of the week, including the Summer Game Fest, Microsoft/Bethesda’s conference, and more. Be sure to check out our E3 2021 hub on the site to stay up-to-date with all the earth-shattering moments from the video game industry’s biggest week of the year!


Excited to finally see more from the next entry in the Battlefield series? Be sure to sound off in the comment section below to let us know (respectfully) what you want to see from the day’s stream!

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GI Show – E3 2021 Predictions

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It’s finally that special time of year again. E3 2021 is in the air and we can’t wait to see what some of the biggest names in the video game industry have in store for their legions of fans. But one does not celebrate such an occasion with a casual 15-minute chat.

We dedicated a whole special edition of The GI Show to give our clairvoyant predictions about what the likes of Microsoft, Nintendo, and more have to surprise us when E3 (and Geoff Keighley) open their digital doors to the masses. Will we see anything from huge tentpoles such as The Elder Scrolls VI or The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2? What will PlayStation’s presence entail? How are we going to contain ourselves when Halo Infinite comes on screen? Only time will tell.

The wait for E3 week (weekend? Month? How do we quantify this anymore?) can be excruciating, but we have just the remedy to tide you over. Join Alex Stadnik, Liana Ruppert, Marcus Stewart, and new-hire John Carson as they dish on what they think will go down during gaming’s biggest events!

Thanks for listening! Please make sure to leave feedback below and share the episode if you enjoyed it. You can watch the video above, subscribe and listen to the audio on iTunes or Google Playlisten on SoundCloudstream it on Spotify, or download the MP3 at the bottom of the page. Also, be sure to send your questions to podcast@gameinformer.com for a chance to have them answered on the show!

Our thanks to The Rapture Twins for The Game Informer Show’s intro song. You can hear more of their music on their website.


To jump to a particular point in the discussion, check out the time stamps below.

00:00:00 – Introduction
00:04:20 – Mother 3 on Switch
00:06:30 – The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2
00:11:05 – New PS5 Look
00:13:39 – The Last of Us Part II Multiplayer
00:16:18 – Xbox Sega Partnership
00:19:53 – Sunset Overdrive News
00:22:57 – Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II
00:24:41 – Playdead’s New Game
00:28:51 – NetherRealm Studios New Game
00:34:52 – The Elder Scrolls VI
00:40:15 – Resident Evil: Code Veronica Remake
00:46:15 – New Smash Bros. Ultimate Character
00:51:06 – Project Triangle Strategy
00:51:59 – Advance Wars
00:53:17 – Final Fantasy VII Remake 2
00:54:06 – New Fable Gameplay
00:55:22 – Kojima Takes The Xbox Stage
00:57:40 – Avowed Full Reveal
00:59:04 – Back 4 Blood Beta/Alpha Announcement
00:59:56 – Bioshock Reveal

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Return Of The Obra Dinn Creator Lucas Pope Reveals New Playdate Title

Panic’s Playdate handheld had a big coming out party today with a video update that showed off its first slate of games and revealed its price/pre-order date. One of the most exciting announcements was the news that Lucas Pope, acclaimed creator of Papers Please and Return of the Obra Dinn, is making a new game exclusively for the bite-sized handheld. 

During the video Pope showed off a brief snippet of a game called Mars After Midnight. He describes the game as “less death, more laughs” and something he wanted his kids to be able to enjoy. The gameplay scene is set at an anger management meeting for cyclops, with a sign advertising the session taped to a letter slot-style door.  

When something knocks on the slot, Pope turns the Playdate’s analog crank to flip the slot open, revealing a curious monster on the other side. A new monster appears each time he opens and closes the door, showing off their goofy designs. Meanwhile, Pope uses the d-pad to pan the camera in different directions. There’s a hint of 3D depth to panning, as the camera slightly rotates instead of simply moving up/down, left/right on a flat plane. You can check out the demonstration yourself in the video below, beginning at the 7:35 mark. 

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Pope says that Mars After Midnight is still early in development so he doesn’t have a release timeline to share at this time. “It’s not much, and I can’t say I know what I’m doing, but we’ll see how it goes,” he says in the video. The game certainly looks charming and the crank mechanic, simple as it might look on the surface, is a fun touch that sells the Playdate’s unique features. 

To find out why we’re excited to see what Lucas Pope cooks up next, check out our reviews for Return of the Obra Dinn and Papers, Please.


What do you think of Mars After Midnight? Are you interested in buying a Playdate? Let us know in the comments!

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Playdate Handheld Update Reveals Its Price, First Slate Of Games, Pre-Order Launch, And More

In May 2019, Panic, the publisher of Firewatch and Untitled Goose Game, revealed it was developing its own gaming handheld, the Playdate. This cute device made waves for its sunny yellow color, unique analog crank, and the simple yet charming graphics of its all-digital software. It’s been a while since we heard anything about it, but Panic ended that silence today by airing a video chock full of updates for the device where it showed off its first slate of games, a big accessory, as well as its price and pre-order window. 

Games make or break any platform, and Playdate’s initial library consists of 24 original games, a collection Panic dubs Season One. These games consist of titles designed with inventive mechanics that take advantage of the system’s unique features, such as its crank (which is a form of analog stick). Every game in Season One is free, and owners will receive 2 games per week over 12 weeks. You can check out some of the games in action in the presentation below (at the 3:35 mark), but Panic prefers to surprise owners by not sharing any details about the games, title included, until they hit the system. 

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Panic has a long list of indie developers currently tinkering away on Playdate games. Noteworthy creators include a new game by Return of the Obra Dinn creator Lucas Pope (which you can read about here) and Bennett Foddy of Getting Over It fame. Panic is also partnering with up-and-coming studios from marginalized communities under the mentorship of development studio, Sweet Baby, Inc. The company states that in the future, creators will be able to sell Playdate titles independently that can be sideloaded onto the handheld and will discuss other distribution methods at a later date. 

To further encourage game-making, Panic is releasing a free game creation tool called Pulp. This all-in-one tool allows designers to develop Playdate games using just a web browser, where they can tinker with graphics, write scripts, score music, and more. Once the game is done, it can be uploaded to Playdate. Pulp will be available later this year. 

Panic also revealed Playdate’s first accessory, the Playdate Stereo Dock (pictured above). It connects magnetically to Playdate and serves as both a battery charger and has a Bluetooth speaker for increased and improved game audio. The dock is meant to sit on your desk, and has a couple of nifty pen holders that you can use to house Panic’s official Playdate ballpoint pen (which comes bundled with the Dock). Panic has also partnered with online radio station Poolsuite FM to create an app of curated summer songs that players can listen to through the Stereo Dock. There’s no word on the price of the Stereo Dock or when it releases.  

However, we do know how much the Playdate itself will cost: $179. That price, of course, includes its first season of games. You can also order a protective case for your Playdate for $29 or buy both in a bundle for $199. 

When can you buy a Playdate? Panic didn’t reveal a release date but it will begin taking pre-orders in July. Exactly when next month is unknown, but Panic promises it won’t surprise customers and will announce the pre-order date a week before it goes live. Pre-orders will take place over at play.date

Panic assures fans the Playdate won’t sell out for good after pre-order day. The company will continue taking orders going forward and will gradually ship units as they receive them from the factory. Of course, those who place their orders earlier will get their handhelds sooner. Panic also wants to temper expectations by reminding customers that anything can go wrong and that Playdates may take a while to arrive due to global part shortages and COVID. With that in mind, Panic says you can cancel pre-orders anytime for any reason. Panic promises to share more update about the Playdate in the coming weeks.


What did you think of the presentation? Are you interested in picking up a Playdate down the road? Let us know in the comments!

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Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Teams Up With Disney Plus Once More

One of the perks of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, other than the rotation of free games and day one additions, is the inclusion of Xbox Live. That being said, Microsoft has added a few more perks since the membership’s birth, including offering up a trial for Disney Plus in the past. For those feeling some FOMO over all of the Marvel hype over the Disney subscription service, Team Green has just announced that it is bringing back the Disney Plus membership trial for those with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. 

The latest offer is back starting today, giving Xbox fans a chance to enjoy classic Disney experiences as well as new shows to binge-watch. Wandavision, The Mandalorian, Winter Soldier, there are so many. With Loki also dropping this week, the Disney Plus envy is real. For those with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, you don’t have to sit on the sidelines; you can watch along with the rest of the Marvel fans. 

How it works is that Ultimate members will be given a 30-day trial to Disney Plus via the Game Pass Perks system. As long as you don’t have an active Disney subscription, you qualify to cash in on this, regardless if you’ve taken advantage of it in the past or not. This is also available for Ultimate members on Xbox consoles and PC, so there’s no platform discrimination here despite the library discrepancies. 

If you sign up for the free trial, I recommend using either a debit gift card or PayPal. That, or set a reminder. The reason for that recommendation is that it will ask for your payment information, which is standard for any sort of subscription trial (gaming or not). By doing it with the gift card, you won’t have to worry about auto-renewal. If you do it by PayPal or set yourself a reminder, you can make sure to cancel before the end of the 30-day trial to avoid paying for a re-up. Pretty easy, but also easy to forget. Just a heads up! 

The latest offering for Disney Plus is available now. To learn more, check out the official Xbox blog post here


What are your thoughts on Disney Plus and its growing line-up of shows and movies? Are you excited for Loki on the horizon, or are you still playing catch up with the other Marvel shows out there? Shout out those thoughts loud and proud in the comment section below! 

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First Dungeons & Dragons Movie Set Photos Revealed

Even though the Dungeons & Dragons movie has been delayed for a new 2023 launch date, the latest film adaptation is well underway. With a few of the casting decisions confirmed so far, including Chris Pine, Hugh Grant, and Michelle Rodriguez, we’ve got a new look at the big screen take with new Dungeons & Dragons movie on-set photos. 

As spotted by Comicbook’s Christian Hoffer, images from the D&D flick have begun popping up online. While not fully decked out set photos, it is interesting to get just a small taste of what the upcoming movie experience will have to offer tabletop fans. Check out the photos below to see a small glimpse into the 2023 film: 

Much of the photos come by way of The Chronicle with the cast filming Dungeons & Dragons at Alnwick Castle in Northumberland. This is a popular filming site that Harry Potter fans may recognize, and it looks like the team is in full swing of getting their fantasy on. 

Taking point on the upcoming movie is both John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein as the film’s directors. We also know that Chris Pine, Regé-Jean Page, Hugh Grant, Justice Smith, and Michelle Rodriguez are all signed on as part of the cast, though specific storyline details are still being kept under wraps. 

There are also a few other Dungeons & Dragons projects in the works currently with numerous live-action TV takes. No word yet on if this delay will impact those as well, but the possibility is there given that the timing was specifically centered around the movie’s release. 

For this Dungeons & Dragons movie, however, the release date is set in stone. Taking place within the Forgotten Realms, the Dungeons & Dragons movie arrives on March 3, 2023. 


Are you excited for a Dungeons & Dragons movie with Chris Pine at the forefront? What are you hoping to see from the latest adaption? Sound off with your thoughts in the comments below! 

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Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart Review – Dazzling Dimensional Duality

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Publisher: PlayStation Studios
Developer: Insomniac Games
Release:

Rating: Everyone 10+
Reviewed on: PlayStation 5

Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart is a sequel that clings tightly to its storied heritage, never once betraying the foundation that was laid in 2002. From the second I took control of the fuzzy Lombax again, my muscle memory kicked in, and I was flipping through the air and smashing boxes like I had never stopped. Insomniac Games made a sequel for longtime fans that hits the right classic notes, feeling like a glorious reunion, even though these characters never left our side. The heavy doses of nostalgia are handled with care but are only half of what make this sequel a must-play for PlayStation 5’s early adopters.

Rift Apart is PlayStation 5’s showpiece. It checks all of the next-gen boxes, dazzling with its power, speed, sound, and control. When coupled with this series’ tried-and-true gameplay, the experience absolutely sizzles, creating a fun rollercoaster ride from start to finish.

One of the coolest technological feats in Rift Apart is how Ratchet travels between dimensions. As he battles his way across an alien world, a window into another reality may appear in front of him, and he can bravely leap through it. The transition between locations happens in a flash, and Ratchet is suddenly standing in an entirely different world or reality. These transitional moments are as magical and fun as they sound, often wowing you with just how different the next world is compared to the one you are currently standing in.

Insomniac sometimes uses these quick transitions for exciting gameplay sequences, like riding an out-of-control beast at breakneck speeds through a series of dimensional rifts. Portals are also placed in combat areas to allow for quicker environmental traversal, a touch that sounds small, but adds another layer of strategy to the mix.

Through a nicely penned story, we quickly learn Ratchet and Clank are bouncing between two specific dimensions, both holding the same planets and characters. The always amusing Doctor Nefarious thinks he has a better shot at conquering the alternate dimension. Since events have unfolded in different ways in each reality, the characters could be radically different. For instance, in the reality fans know, we have Skid McMarx, a burnout surfer who didn’t do much. In the other dimension, Skid is a skilled resistance fighter named Phantom. Ratchet also appears to have a double in the other existence, and her name is Rivet, a new character who breathes fresh life into this series.

Rivet energizes the story and is brought to life through a number of mysteries that give her a unique pulse. As her tale unfolds, Insomniac delivers satisfying answers as to who she is and what happened to her. She is playable for half of the adventure, but is sadly a carbon copy of Ratchet on the battlefield. She doesn’t have any distinguishing features that set her apart. The duo shares the same weapons, upgrades, armors, and experience points earned – a solution that reduces confusion and keeps the focus on making progress that, again, strips each character of individuality. Yes, this plays into the duality of dimensions concept, and keeps the gameplay flowing in a consistent way, but it also feels like a missed opportunity to change things up and truly create a new character.

While retaining the same colorful cartoon look we’ve come to expect from each installment in this series, the level of detail in Rift Apart is through the roof in jaw-dropping ways. Don’t be surprised if you stop dead in your tracks to inspect the detail on the most trivial of things. I marveled at the wool on a sheep, and audibly said “wow” when I saw the sheer scale of a Godzilla-sized robot that looms over one of the levels. I also realized that, given how densely populated areas are, it’s a little harder to locate stacks of breakable boxes, which I consider a positive, as I was paying more attention to the environment. There’s that much going on in each world. Insomniac’s artists did a bang-up job dreaming up colorful alien worlds for the player to traverse. Trust me when I say you should play it in Performance RT mode (which delivers 60 frames-per-second and raytracing).

The DualSense controller also mesmerizes at times, enhancing each weapon with tailored haptic feedback and clever adaptive trigger functionality. Each gun delivers a distinct and satisfying kick – whether it’s the rhythmic pulsing of the Ricochet Gun or being able to feel the Negaton Collider cook in your hands before it sends out a rattle with its energy blast. I also really like how each gun offers two firing modes: a light tap of the trigger performs the first, which is usually more precise and conservative, and a full pull basically unleashes hell.

This series has always been known for its inventive weapons and just how different they are from one another, and Rift Apart delivers a nice selection of firearms that gives the player everything they need – like a rocket launcher and sniper rifle. The most inventive weapon this time around is the Topiary Sprinkler, which turns enemies into beautiful shrubbery, freezing their movements for a few seconds. This weapon, like many in this grouping, has great combo potential, and help keep mobs at bay. The new dimensional dash is the handiest new addition to combat, allowing for laser beams and melee strikes to be evaded with ease. This move also aids traversal in fun ways.

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Most missions that Ratchet and Rivet undertake are good fun, and often deliver huge set-piece moments with story sequences sewn right into them, just like Insomniac’s Spider-Man games. You can freely move between planets and determine if you want to tackle a side mission or the next story beat. Some enemy types are repeated a little much (especially in the arena), but the action is nicely diversified, and the flow between locations is excellent. I wasn’t a big fan of the Clank or spider-bot minigames, but they offer a breather at the right times from the frenzied combat.

I had a smile on my face most of the way through Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart. It’s a great continuation of the series that is just a joy to play. It steals your eye with its stunning vistas, makes you care about the characters, and is loaded to the hilt with fan service (especially in the alternate dimension and a weapon you have to assemble). Insomniac clearly had a blast working on this game and leaves us with a tease for an even bigger adventure right before the credits roll.

Score: 9

Summary: Insomniac Games’ latest sequel roars with excitement and shows us what PlayStation 5 is capable of.

Concept: The spacefaring duo is back in a wild and beautiful PlayStation 5 exclusive that shows the capabilities of Sony’s new hardware

Graphics: Whether you are playing it in 4K or at 60 frames-per-second, Rift Apart is a visual dynamo that lights up the screen with cluttered sci-fi cityscapes, colorful aliens, and intricately detailed texturing

Sound: Pitch perfect in terms of both the thumping orchestrated score and voice work by the cast

Playability: The DualSense controller gets a good workout. The haptic feedback, adaptive triggers, and 3D audio continually enhance the already great combat

Entertainment: It’s as long as any other Ratchet game, but it feels like it flies by in a flash, and is a hard one to put down

Replay: Moderately High

Click to Purchase

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Capcom E3 2021 Showcase Will Feature Resident Evil Village, Monster Hunter, And More

The Capcom E3 2021 showcase lands on June 14, and the company has given fans a sneak peek at what they can expect to see during the live stream event. We’ve got more Resident Evil Village on the way as well are more on Monster Hunter. Check out our first look at what’s ahead in the new video from Capcom below! 

E3 2021 kicks off next week, but the fun has already started earlier this month with first looks, teasers, and Summer Game Fest with Geoff Keighley. Capcom’s stage time will kick off on June 14 at 2:30 p.m. Pacific and will feature The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles, Monster Hunter Stories 2, Monster Hunter Rise, and Resident Evil Village. Will there be more shown not teased in the update from Capcom? Possibly! But for now, here’s what we’ve got on the horizon: 

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Regarding E3 itself, the all-digital event begins on June 12 and will run until June 15. There will be an awards ceremony on the final day, a ceremony that will recap the biggest announcements from the week. For those interested in seeing what the lineup looks like, you can check out the full E3 2021 schedule right here. Some times are set for TBD because exact slots aren’t confirmed yet, but we update that article daily when new information is shared. 

Regarding the games listed as part of Capcom’s showcase, I’m really interested to see what the studio has in store for Resident Evil Village. Will this just a dedicated segment thanking players for enjoying their time as Ethan Winters, or will this be a showcase of more content like a possible expansion? We’ll be finding out soon enough! 


Tinfoil hats on, Game Informer readers! What do you think Capcom will have to show during its streaming event? What are you hoping to see? Sound off with your thoughts in the comment section below! 

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Cris Tales – New Gameplay Today (1440p)

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Crisbell is a special girl. The machinations of fate have granted her the power to manipulate time. She’s now able to peer into past and future versions of her world at will, which she’ll put to great use trying to protect everyone she loves from a potentially dark future. Joined by her talking frog pal Matias, her warrior companion Christian, and other colorful allies, Crisbell embarks on a journey to rescue her fairytale kingdoms from an impending threat. After all, time is of the essence. 

Cris Tales is an upcoming RPG from Colombian developers Dreams Uncorporated and SYCK and publisher Modus Games. The indie game takes inspiration from classic titles such as Chrono Trigger and Final Fantasy VI with its turn-based combat and world design but adds an interesting wrinkle with its time-manipulation mechanic. Players can send enemies into the past or future, which affects each foe in different ways that can be both beneficial and harmful. Join Alex Stadnik, Marcus Stewart, and Jason Guisao as they take a look at this promising and beautiful role-playing adventure. 

Cris Tales launches July 20 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, and PC. If this look at the game has piqued your interest, there’s a playable demo on consoles and PC that you can check out right now. 

If you enjoyed this look at Cris Tales, be sure to check out previous episodes of New Gameplay Today. We’ve recently taken looks at big titles such as Scarlet Nexus and Mass Effect Legendary Edition and promising indies such as Stonefly and Where the Heart Leads. Also, remember to subscribe to the official Game Informer YouTube channel for more episodes as well as other great video content. 

How do you think Cris Tales is shaping up? Let us know in the comments!

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Bandai Namco Shuts Down Scarlet Nexus Xbox Game Pass Rumors

What do we say to the god of rumors? “Not today.” At least that’s what Bandai Namco did when rumors began to swirl out of control that Scarlet Nexus would be an Xbox Game Pass addition at launch. Could the game come to Xbox Game Pass? Absolutely, but Bandai wanted to set the record straight that it wasn’t happening on day one. 

Microsoft has been surprising fans lately with what does and doesn’t make the cut for Xbox Game Pass. The most surprising move was when Team Green added MLB The Show 21 to the evolving subscription service, so seeing speculation around what’s next is easy to get swept up in. However, when rumors started gaining traction that Bandai’s newest RPG would be making a launch day debut, the company quickly offered some clarification. 

“We have no plans to bring Scarlet Nexus to Xbox Game Pass at this time and are excited about its launch on Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, and PC on June 25,” said a Bandia Namco representative in a statement to VGC

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It never hurts to clarify and be transparent, especially with E3 2021 hype in full bloom, making rumors even more rampant and easy to believe. For those excited about this science fiction RPG, Scarlet Nexus is created by many Tales of Vesperia team members, combining an anime art style with fast-paced combat for those that love a good challenge. 

To learn more about Scarlet Nexus, like actual confirmed news and hands-on impressions, you can check out our previous coverage with our game hub here


Thoughts on Scarlet Nexus before its arrival on June 25? How about any hot takes regarding the Xbox Game Pass membership? Shout them out loud and proud in the comment section below! 

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Superman, Rick & Morty, And Aliens Are Coming To Fortnite Chapter 2 Season 7 Invasion

While crossovers in games are nothing new, Fortnite is arguably the king of mashups in the gaming space. With so many hints in the battle royale adventure pointing towards some form of alien invasion, Epic Games has seen the Mass Effect hype and said, “we’ve got aliens too!” for Fortnite Chapter 2, Season 7. Just kidding, it’s not related to Mass Effect, but I had to do it for those angry at how much I talk about it. Hi! 

Fortnite Chapter 2 Season 7 sees an explosive attack on the world we’ve come to know and love, and following the invasion comes a border of aliens bent on destruction. Not one to take an attack lying down, the Imagined Order under the helm of Doctor Slone pushes back against this mystifying new enemy in between fishing, emotes, and landing that sweet headshot.

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As with any season, there is new gear to unlock. The Battle Pass also offers new Outfits that are unique to Fortnite and based on other entertainment properties. Since we’re talking crossovers, let’s break down what players will see when they dive all-in.

Rick & Morty are crashing the party with Rick Sanchez himself, the “Rickest Rick,” according to Epic Games. You can’t have aliens without Superman himself, either. The caped hero also joins the battle royale party alongside Doctor Slone, Joey, Guggimon, Kymera, Sunny, Zyg, and more. Don’t want to play somebody else? That’s cool too! You can also create your own alien with the Battle Pass, offering customizable options for gamers to play with. 

You can see more of what’s in this season’s Battle Pass in the video below: 

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To learn more about the new weapons, different characters, and what the narrative is for the latest season, feel free to mosey on over to the official Epic Games blog post right here to uncover it all. 


Are you excited for Fortnite Chapter 2, Season 7 and the arrival of aliens? With so many oddball crossovers, which game would you like to see make it into Fortnite’s world next? Shout those thoughts out loud and proud in the comment section below! 

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Why Fans Are Excited After Destiny 2: The Witch Queen Old Chicago Teaser

Earlier this month, Bungie teased a new piece of artwork for a future Destiny 2 expansion with The Witch Queen. Though a small image, it set the Guardian community alight with excitement over the implications that we’re heading to Old Chicago. So what is Old Chicago, and why are players hyped about its return? Let’s break it down

First things first, let’s look at the render itself. You can see a few small tweaks to the Hunter helmet in the below image, changes seen from the previous tease in earlier concept art. You can also see the luscious backdrop behind the focal character. While it could be argued that the backdrop looks like it could potentially be EDZ or Nessus, most players are pretty convinced that this means we’re going back to Old Chicago to the swamplands. The swamps of Old Chicago have been mentioned in the past through the series’ evolving lore, but it’s never been a physical place that Guardians could visit. But that could be changing. 

Each expansion takes players to new locations to uncover more about the universe of Light vs. Dark. With Beyond Light racing towards completion, Guardians are already looking at what’s next beyond Europa. In the image at the top of the article, you can see previous Old Chicago concept art that Bungie has revealed in the past. Note the similar environment? 

Why Old Chicago? 

Bungie has shared concept art pre-expansions in the past, concept art that never actually made it into the game. We saw it most recently with Beyond Light, and that’s not uncommon in games, but with Bungie having referenced it several times both in lore and in artwork, it looks like this could be the next step for our Guardians. With the creepy backdrop, this makes the recent grab of a former Resident Evil Village developer to work over at Bungie on Destiny 2 all the more exciting when looking at potential horror elements. More so when looking back at the horror elements previously experienced with the Shadowkeep expansion. 

With the previous descriptors of Old Chicago, courtesy of the studio itself, being a dark swampland, the above teaser image fits that mold perfectly. It also pairs nicely with the idea that The Witch Queen will offer a new zone, which is typical for DLC when big expansions come out. Paired with the various lore tabs (like Pyrrhic Ascent) for Old Chicago and the increase in frequency concerning those nods, I’m willing to bet that this area will play a significant role in the next step of the Destiny 2 storyline.

Given Bungie’s penchant for transforming older concept art into exciting new areas to explore, well…

What is Old Chicago? 

We’ve never actually been there, so we only have the lore drops to go from, but Bungie has described this swampland as an area largely littered with treasure and mystery. It’s here that Guardians that step into the swamplands are met with an enemy guarding the old secrets, secrets about an older civilization that predates the Collapse. Who are these creatures that hound Guardian footsteps? We don’t know, nor do we know what sort of danger they pose or even if they’ll make it into the game, to begin with, but it’s looking likely that we’re going to be finding out soon.  

With The Witch Queen having Guardians facing against Savathun once more (especially with the song now fully infiltrating the Last City), Old Chicago would be the perfect backdrop for this evolution. Savathun is dark, manipulative, scary. A creepy and mysterious swampland? The perfect setting for this confrontation. It’s also been rumored that another subclass will be introduced, not unlike Stasis for Beyond Light. Some have mentioned a sort of decay-like power, though Bungie has not confirmed anything at this time. 


What are you hoping to see from Destiny 2: The Witch Queen? Are you convinced that we’re finally heading to Old Chicago? Sound off with your thoughts in the comment section below! 

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Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart Has Sunset Overdrive Crossover, More PlayStation Mashups

There is already a lot of hype regarding the upcoming Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart game, but fans have truly begun to lose their minds when PlayStation confirmed that there are a few crossovers happening within this universe. Most notably? Sunset Overdrive, a game that was previously an Xbox exclusive, but now that Sony owns the studio behind it – Insomniac Games – anything goes

Insomniac Games first teased the Sunset Overdrive crossover on its social media with art depicting Fizzie, the drink from the game’s mascot, getting sucked through a portal into the Ratchet & Clank universe. Then, other PlayStation titles started doing the same: 

Horizon Zero Dawn, Uncharted, Sunset Overdrive? All of the above artwork can be seen, so what’s the deal? Thanks to the newly added RYNO 8 weapon, certain aspects of other games will be making their way into Rift Apart via the gun’s portal (not that Portal). Why fight fire with fire when you can fight with entirely different universes instead? 

With Sunset Overdrive being the first crossover shown, the rumors are alight once more that the first Sunset Overdrive is finally making its way over onto PlayStation platforms with the hope that a sequel will eventually follow. Paired with the earlier leak that seems to suggest some form of “revamped” Sunset Overdrive experience could be coming to PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5, Sony, at this time, has yet to confirm that anything is on the way. That being said, the Summer months are rife with new game announcements. While Sony won’t be a part of E3 this year, that doesn’t mean it’s got nothing to show during that allotted time period. 


What do you think about Sunset Overdrive and other PlayStation properties making their way into Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart? If you could have your dream crossover, what would it be? Sound off with your thoughts in the comments below! 

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Dragon Age 4 And The Future Of Thedas

Dragon Age 4 is poised to take fans of Thedas where they have never been within the video game franchise: Tevinter. While the associated novels and comics have taken us deep within the underbelly of power-driven mages and a society built on the backs of slaves, the games themselves have only skirted this expansive location through characters met throughout the franchise. We were introduced to Fenris in Dragon Age 2, an escaped slave that teased the horrors his kind-faced at the hands of blood magic-wielding magisters. We were later enthralled by Dorian Pavus in Inquisition, an Altus on his way to becoming a magister; a compassionate character bent on making his countrymen see where they have gone wrong while learning key lessons about his own problematic upbringing. He was also the victim of an attempted blood ritual, by his own father nonetheless, due to Tevinter’s scorned eye on homosexual relationships. In the same game, we also met Cremisius “Krem” Aclassi, a transgender soldier stuck in the middle of slavery and the elite, a class abandoned by common kindness, again chased out for being anything other than what Tevinter wants a citizen to be.

The games leading up to this point have painted horrific pictures of what Tevinter is like, as well as Antiva where we waded through the bloody narratives of life there through the assassin Zevran. So much of this corner of Thedas is both explored and ignored entirely, a paradox made even more evident with the most recent comic series with Blue Wraith that stars a returning Fenris taking back his homeland of Tevinter by killing slave owners and magisters alike. 

But more than learning about these different parts of Thedas, the true implications revealed in Inquisition regarding the origins of magic, the Blights, and the downfall of the ancient elves has completely turned the lore we thought we knew on its head. The third game threw curveball after curveball about the Forgotten Ones, the Dread Wolf, and the death of an elite society. We even learned about the creation of the Veil itself, an otherworldly place that is heavily set in the games when regarding the Fade and the territory of mages. 

What makes Dragon Age 4 so exciting is that it has the potential to tie up many of the loose ends that are stretched between the games and their printed companions, setting the stage for a mind-blowing conclusion to a build-up that first began with the humble beginnings of Dragon Age Origins.

BioWare also previously revealed concept art that very much alluded to the possibility of having a Mortalitasi companion, or at very least a Mortalitasi key character, bringing the Nevarran Death Magic front and center. This would be an opportunity beyond the anime-style movie that bore Cassandra Penteghast’s beginnings before we met her in Dragon Age II, and later as a companion in Dragon Age Inquisition. 

All of the fan theories, unanswered questions, and completely new areas of exploration have a chance to shine with Dragon Age 4, especially given the teaser trailer shown at The Game Awards 2020 where we saw the innards of Tevinter with sky-crested buildings teeming with magic. If done right, this could be the game meant to be a love letter to fans that have traversed Thedas through the years, as well as an incredible motivator for those interested in exploring the other mediums that celebrate the iconic BioWare franchise. 

Want just a little more Dragon Age? Duh, of course you do! Let’s chat about where the heck is Sandal, shall we? Join that conversation right here

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Google Stadia Expands To Android TV OS Devices Later This Month

If you’ve been interested in trying out Google Stadia and recently purchased or own an Android OS TV, June 23 is a date to circle on your calendar. That’s the day that the streaming app finally becomes available on a range of compatible TVs. 

In just a couple of weeks, you’ll be able to access the Stadia app on the following devices: 

  • Chromecast with Google TV
  • Hisense Android Smart TVs (U7G, U8G, U9G)
  • Nvidia Shield TV
  • Nvidia Shield TV Pro
  • Onn FHD Streaming Stick and UHD Streaming Device
  • Philips 8215, 8505, and OLED 935/805 Series Android TVs
  • Xiaomi MIBOX3 and MIBOX4

You can read more details about how to get Stadia set up on your TV by reading Google’s blog post. Google says the list of TVs will expand over time, so keep your eye out if your device isn’t among the displays listed. Of course, Stadia is also accessible on PC via browser as well as on mobile devices, including iOS. But if you prefer to game the old-fashioned way, it’s good to know you’ll be able to stream the games of your choice on more televisions. 

This is something of a bit of positive news for Stadia after going through a major restructuring this year in terms of direction and talent. The fledgling service hasn’t exactly taken off in the way Google had likely hoped, so much so that it ceased internal development of Stadia games back in early February. 

The shutdown of these projects led to massive layoffs and high-profile departures. One of them was Stadia executive and industry veteran, Jade Raymond, who has since formed her own independent studio that already has a new PlayStation exclusive game in the works. Despite these big setbacks, Stadia continues to chug along, and it’ll be interesting to see how Google continues to evolve the service as the year progresses. 

Are you still a Stadia user and how have you enjoyed the service so far? Let us know down in the comments!

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Chernobylite Story Trailer Offers Chilling Warning Ahead Of Its Full Release

Chernobylite, a survival horror RPG, has been in Steam Early Access since October 2019 but its full release is just around the corner. Developer The Farm 51, the creators of Get Even, share a haunting new trailer establishing the dark tone of the game’s narrative ahead of the game’s summer release. 

As Igor you’ll explore the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone in Pripyat, Ukraine searching for clues regarding the disappearance of his fiancee, Tatiana, 30 years prior. It’s a dangerously radiated area that Igor is, unfortunately, intimately familiar with; he’s a former employee of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, which famously melted down in 1986. The new story trailer, narrated by Tatiana, acts as a warning of sorts to players about the dangers that await and about the nature of time, which may not be as linear as we think. 

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Chernobylite blends freeform exploration and non-linear storytelling alone with first-person combat and survival elements such as crafting. If the Exclusion Zone proves too harsh to endure alone, you can also partner up with friends to brave the dangers together. Those who have been playing the game in Early Access can download a final big patch called The Final Stage, which serves as the last major update before the game launches in full. 

The Final Stage features an entirely rewritten narrative, English and Russian voice overs, localization for all major languages, a new original soundtrack, and a sample of a new level, titled Heist. 

Chernobylite launches for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC this July. Earlier this year we gave it an honorable mention nod in our top upcoming horror games of 2021. We look forward to seeing how the final product shapes up. 

Have you played Chernobylite in Early Access and if so what do you think? Let us know in the comments!

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The Biggest Differences Between Psychonauts 2 And 1

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16 years is a lot of time by any metric, but especially in the world of video games. The industry has dramatically changed since the original release of Psychonauts and our standards for platforming in games along with it. But fear not, for developer Double Fine has been hard at work trying to ensure Psychonauts 2 will be up to the challenge of competing with 2021’s contemporary platforming experiences. Here’s how Raz’s new adventure will take the best parts of the original experience and modernize them for a new era of games.

One of the ways Double Fine wants to make an impact with Psychonauts 2 is in the game’s combat. While there’s plenty to love about how the original title handled fights between Raz and The Censors, the development team wants to create a more fluid experience with psi-abilities at the focus.

“So we have a really dedicated combat team and a really dedicated player powers, like psychic powers, team, and they’re pretty autonomous, in a way,” Tim Schafer tells us. “They pretty much are playing and iterating and testing the game and making a lot of improvements. The goals that we set were, we want to have psychic powers be more useful in battle, [and] combat. In the first game, you mostly punched everything, I think.”

He adds, “But in this game, every psychic power has some fun way to use it in battle, and maybe some enemy who’s really susceptible to it. So there’s a lot more, like, adapting your fight style to the enemy that we wanted to do in the first game. In the first game, we put a bunch of psychic powers in, and some of the people just forgot about, because you didn’t have to use them. Even though they were cool and they solved a lot of problems for you, people would forget about them. So we try to make it so all the psychic powers are useful all the time and you pretty much have to switch them out as you approach a different level. You can see a lot of that.”

Combat isn’t the only aspect of the game that’s receiving a facelift, however. There are plenty of small design tweaks that will keep players in the action instead of scrolling through menus to select psi-abilities and items. With the game’s renewed onus on pushing players to prioritize powers, the quick select wheel will be readily available but will instead allow you to map four powers to the triggers and bumpers instead of the original three. Likewise, objects such as the cobweb duster won’t be included in the game, meaning players will be able to focus on the enemy Bad Ideas and fun platforming levels in front of them.

The upgrade system is also getting a round of positive tweaks with the inclusion of Intern Credits. Instead of automatically receiving boosts to your abilities like in Psychonauts 1, our physic hero will be able to pick and choose what powers get upgraded. If players prefer a power such as Psi-Blast over Mental Connection, they’ll have the autonomy to spend their credits to max out that ability’s power. But how does one gain these credits? Raz will rise through the ranks of the Intern program by assisting his peers, collecting Nuggets of Wisdom within brains, tracking down Psi challenge markers or cards, and more. 

16 years is a long time to wait for a game. And while Psychonauts 2 still has plenty to show, our patience will pay off when the game finally releases later this year.


Hey friends, Alex Stadnik from GI here. Thank you so much for watching this video. This will be our last exclusive video on Psychonauts 2, but don’t worry! There’s plenty on the site to get caught up on, including looks at the new level and powers of the game, Tim Shafer’s Rubik’s Cube collection, and more!

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Mass Effect Legendary Edition Update Addresses Trophy Issue, Pre-Rendered Cutscenes

A new Mass Effect Legendary Edition update is here and fixes some of the more unusual issues players were having. Issues like Trophy glitches, pre-rendered cutscene darkness, and more. 

While the Legendary Edition is far less buggy than the original trilogy (big ‘ol head Shepard from Mass Effect 2, anyone?), that doesn’t mean it was perfect. Some players reported issues with the Paramour or Kill Count tracker achievements/trophies, while others noted headset connectivity issues. BioWare announced its plans for a patch to fix many of the reported bugs, and now that update is ready for all to enjoy, including a few PC-specific tweaks that are needed in order to fully enjoy the Normandy (and Garrus) once more. 

Mass Effect Legendary Edition update – June 7, 2021

For the full patch notes, courtesy of BioWare, see below:

General

  • English spoken dialogue can now be selected separately from subtitle language
  • Resolved issues with unlocking some achievements/trophies, such as the Paramours or kill count trackers
  • Corrected pre-rendered cutscenes that were darker than intended after the previous update
  • Wireless headsets/devices no longer cause issues with the Xbox launcher
  • Improved PC performance across various hardware configurations, including on Virmire
  • Fixed an issue on PC where non-standard characters in the operating system’s username would prevent the game from launching
    • Removed the dependency on the AVX instruction set in the launcher
  • Other minor calibrations and fixes, including some instances of crashing

Mass Effect

  • Fixed an issue that prevented players from reaching the max level 
  • Fixed an issue where tier VII Spectre – Master Gear was inaccessible
  • Various collision improvements
  • Fixed an issue that would prevent the ability to interact with objects
  • Lowered audio volume on Mass Relay load screens
  • Improved eye animations for male characters in some scenes

Mass Effect 2

  • Toned down the intensity of fog on Illium
  • Fixed an issue where a character’s eyes at the end of the Overlord DLC were unintentionally red
  • Reduced the max credits that can be carried from Mass Effect to Mass Effect 2 down to 100k for a more balanced early-game progression
    • Credit carryover maximum now matches carryover from the original release
    • Posthumous banking fees are a lot! It’s a great way to dodge taxes.

Mass Effect 3

  • Resolved an issue where English dialogue no longer played during the Citadel DLC for German and Italian localizations
  • Fixed an issue where some key characters weren’t appearing as intended during the Citadel DLC

We enjoyed our time with the trilogy remaster with our own Kim Wallace scoring the Legendary Edition a 9 out of 10. You can check out her review right here to see our thoughts on the return to the trilogy. You can also mosey on over to our game hub here for more features surrounding some of our favorite aliens, interviews with the devs, recommended mods, and so much more. 

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Dying Light: Hellraid Gets New Story Content

Dying Light 2 Stay Human has been in the works for a long time. Choice-based gameplay footage dropped last month, satiating the fandoms’ years-long hunger for zombie-slaying parkour. For players that are still diving into the first game, there’s more content incoming. The Dying Light: Hellraid DLC is getting a new Story Mode as well as a bevy of additional features.

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In Dying Light: Hellraid, the world takes a dark fantasy spin where medieval blades are your go-to weapons. The new Story Mode, called The Prisoner, is a free update that can be experienced solo or cooperatively. Players will trek into the demon-infested Ba’al’s Temple to track down a powerful mage named Lucius and free him from the clutches of the evils lurking in the shadows. New locations can be explored and a new skeleton enemy type,  equipped with hulking shields, stands in the way of your journey to freedom. The gameplay trailer is reminiscent of Elder Scrolls, which might be an exciting new experience for any Western RPG fans that have been raring to play something new. 

Two new weapons will make an appearance in your inventory: the Corrupted Justice bow and the two-handed hammer, Bonecrucher. Dying Light: Hellraid’s Raid Mode will be making a return as well, but will only be available once the narrative prologue is complete. Additionally, some technical and quality-of-life updates will be implemented to make the experience more streamlined and visually enticing. These features include better in-game animations, minimap functionality, inventory management, and more which can be read about on the patch note Steam page. 

The latest Dying Light: Hellraid content is available today on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC. You can also get access to the franchise’s entire DLC package through the Dying Light: Platinum Edition. 


Are you looking to hop back into Hellraid and does this make you even more excited for what Techland is planning for the Dying Light sequel?

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Prince Of Persia: The Sands Of Time Remake Will Not Appear At Ubisoft Forward

Back in February, Ubisoft indefinitely delayed Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time Remake. Fans of the series were likely hopeful that this week’s Ubisoft Forward might shed light on the game’s status. Unfortunately, Ubisoft has confirmed that the remake will not be making an appearance.

Ubisoft confirmed the news via Twitter (as sighted by Fanbyte) stating that while the game is making “great progress” it’s not ready to pull the curtain back on it again just yet. 

On the (sort of) bright side, the statement confirms that the remake is projected to launch sometime next year. A bummer, but it’s good to know that we shouldn’t expect the game this year. Check out the full statement below.

Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time Remake was announced last September and is being developed by Ubisoft India. It serves as an enhanced upgrade of the 2003 classic and features modernized controls, re-recorded dialogue by the original voice cast, and improved visuals (although some fans have argued it could look better). 

The remake was originally scheduled to launch January 21. It was then delayed to March 18. Regardless of when it releases, it will cost $39.99 and be available on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC. There’s still no word if native PS5/Xbox Series X/S versions are in the works. 

Ubisoft Forward will air Saturday, June 12 – the first day of E3 2021 – at 12 p.m. Pacific. So far, Ubisoft has confirmed the show will include updates on games such as the upcoming Rainbow Six Extraction (formerly known as Quarantine), Far Cry 6, Riders Republic, and Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. A pre-show will air one hour earlier at 11 a.m. and will have announcements for Watch Dogs: Legion, For Honor, Trackmania, The Crew 2, and other titles. To keep up with the ever-changing E3 press conference times, we put a handy schedule together that you can view here.


Are you disappointed that Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time Remake is skipping E3 this year? What else do you hope to see at Ubisoft Forward? Share your thoughts in the comments

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Rainbow Six Quarantine Renamed Rainbow Six Extraction

There have been rumors that Ubisoft was planning a name change for Rainbow Six Quarantine following our real-life quarantine situation due to COVID-19. With Ubisoft Forward just a few days away, the studio has confirmed the new name with a brand new video. The new title? Rainbow Six Extraction. 

Ubisoft released a brand new teaser trailer debuting the new name, talking about the latest co-op shooter experience in the Tom Clancy universe. Small game teasers can be seen in the video below, as well as a message from the team. 

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Rainbow Six Extraction is a co-op experience that will have Operators try to survive an alien threat. This no-man-left-behind experience takes a much darker turn than that of Rainbow Six Siege and is all about communication with your team in order for the best chance at survival. 

We don’t know much about Rainbow Six Extraction, but we will have more information soon with Ubisoft Forward kicking off E3 2021. To learn more about the full E3 schedule coming up, you can check out our previous coverage here

Rainbow Six Extraction was pushed back in 2020 due to the pandemic and enforced work from home orders. The decision to delay was meant to give the team more time to make sure that the playable experience is what was promised to fans versus trying to rush it out and have the co-op title be plagued with frustrating bugs. We’ll be learning more about what Rainbow Six Extraction has to offer on June 12 at 12 p.m. specific. 


What are your thoughts on the name change? Are you excited to learn more about this co-op experience with Rainbow Six Extraction or are you all Tom Clancy’d out? Sound off with your thoughts in the comment section below! 

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New Gearbox Game To Be Revealed During Summer Game Fest

Summer Game Fest 2021 kicks off this week and it looks like 2K and Gearbox Studios have something new to show fans. The studio that gave us the hit Borderlands franchise has been hard at work on a new IP and it looks like we’ll be getting our first look on June 10. 

Geoff Keighley, the creator and host of Summer Game Fest, took to Twitter to tease the new reveal. “Prepare for the reveal of a new adventure from Gearbox and 2K during Summer Games Fest,” reads the below tweet. The big reveal is going down on June 10, though you can see the full schedule right here for everything going down over the next two weeks. 

Keighley was careful not to reveal too much, but there are already some leaks going around as datamined from the teaser website. We don’t want to support leaks this close to the showcase, so we are opting not to drop the leak in this article. If you’re absolutely dying to know, you can find it on Twitter. 

Summer Game Fest returns after a successful show last year. This also marks the first year that Keighley will not be a part of E3. In the past, he’s hosted the Coliseum event, but he mentioned last year that he would not be returning due to moral reasons. 

“Given what has been communicated about E3 so far, I just don’t feel comfortable participating this year,” Keighley previously The Hollywood Reporter. He added, “For the past 25 years, I have attended every Electronic Entertainment Expo. Covering, hosting, and sharing E3 has been a highlight of my year, not to mention a defining part of my career. I’ve debated what to say about E3 2020. While I want to support the developers who will showcase their work, I also need to be open and honest with you, the fans, about precisely what to expect from me.”

The reason for his decision to recede is due to a security leak that happened regarding attendee information. The leak in question doxxed many in the industry, including journalists, streamers, and other content creators. The data breach published thousands of home addressed, phone numbers, and other personal information. The ESA has yet to confront what happened, nor have they detailed how they are going to make sure it doesn’t happen in the future. Given that the social media account was recently under fire for some snarky responses, most of which are now deleted, it doesn’t look like the company will be addressing the massive security breach. Until that happens, Keighley is unlikely to return, as is the case with numerous industry veterans. 

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What Would A Dark And Violent Pokémon Game Look Like? Feast Your Eyes On Palworld

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The trailer for Palworld shows monster collecting and plenty of tender moments with them, and then things get super dark. Developer by Pocket Pair, Palworld is slated to release in 2022, and is an open-world survival game with multiplayer, crafting, farming, and most important of all Pal collecting. Pal are the creatures in this world. Comparisons to the Pokémon games are easy to make…until the guns come out.

The trailer shows a human character petting a dog-like Pal in front of a cozy fireplace setting, and a few sequences of her running through the wilderness with it. We also see Pal being used to water plants, blow fields, and light campfires. Tucked into these joyous shots are clips of the character running and gunning with an assault rifle. She’s apparently mowing down Pal poachers. In a faq on Palworld’s Steam page, Pocket Pair makes the combat sound optional: “Palworld is a game about living a slow life with mysterious creatures “Pal” or throwing yourself into life-and-death battles with poachers.”

If you look closely at some of the sequences in the trailer, you’ll see that even the Pal can get in on the war. A green critter that is sitting on the main character’s head is also wielding a firearm. In another shot, a sheep-like Pal is being used as a shield. As it gets hit with bullets, its eyes fill with tears. Seeing gunfights like this in a game at first appears to be calm and peaceful is shocking to say the least. It also looks like good fun.

Pocket Pair says that poachers aren’t the only threat to the world. You’ll also be dealing with food shortages and harsh weather. You may be forced to hunt down Pal to feed yourself, and perhaps the Pal you are with. You can also breed the Pal, including two different species to make a new, more powerful creature. We see this happen in a clip featuring a water beast that looks an awful lot like a Gyarados, and it incubates in a spotted egg that should look familiar to Pokémon fans.

Do yourself a favor and watch the trailer above. It’s one of those first looks that just keeps going and surprising in different ways. Again, the game looks promising, but we’ll have to wait to get our hands on it to see how it plays.

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Pokémon Card Logan Paul Wore To Mayweather Fight Is A “Million-Dollar Card, Baby”

Logan Paul, YouTube … something, went back into the ring with yet another fight for public adoration, though this time he went up against Floyd Mayweather. The fight itself drew the curiosity of many, but the true star of the spectacle was the Charizard Pokémon card Paul decided to don as part of his outfit. Pokémon cards always have the potential to be wildly valuable, but it looks like this highly publicized match took that monetization potential to ungodly levels. 

The Pokémon Charizard card the YouTuber entered the ring with was special in its own right, a first edition mint-condition 10-grade version of the evolved fire starter. Because of its condition and edition, this Charizard iteration was already pretty darn valuable, but that value was elevated even more due to the Mayweather match. 

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The match was arguably pretty lackluster (or maybe that’s just us), but Pokémon is nifty, so there is that. With only a handful of these cards available, it’s easy to see that the demand for this particular Charizard is high. Wearing it during a high-profile match like this made it even more so—all for the Pokémon. 

During the press conference promoting the fight, he bragged that this was a “million-dollar card, baby.” While true, it wasn’t enough to make the fight at all interesting. 

Paul hasn’t been shy about his pastime of cashing in on Pokémon’s value, making countless videos of his high-price tag purchases. He’s talked about how he’s invested in certain cards, estimated their worth as the years go by, elevating them to impressive levels. As far as investments go, Pokémon is an entertaining way to get rich. Still, this particular pastime requires quite a bit of cash to even get started unless you’ve been a dedicated collector since the start of the trading card game. 

We’ve reached out to an appraiser to see the true value of this card. 


So, Pokémon. Pretty neat stuff. 

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This Skyrim Mod Gives You Grandma Shirley As A Follower

Shirley Curry, also known as Grandma Shirley, is an 82-year old gamer that has become a beloved part of the gaming community ever since her YouTube channel made its big debut back in 2015 and since then she has been dubbed our beloved grandma in all things RPG. With countless hours of walkthroughs footage of her streaming, she’s an intricate in the Elder Scrolls franchise, unofficially. She means so much to the community that fans have been rallying for her to be in Elder Scrolls 6 as an official character! While we anxiously await Elder Scrolls 6 news, one Skyrim mod gives us some of that Shirley love a little early. 

The Grandma Shirley mod is simply called Shirley – A Skyrim Follower Mod and does exactly what the name implies. “Shirley Curry, the beloved Skyrim Grandma, finally comes to the game as a follower you can recruit,” reads the mod’s listing. “She’ll join you on your adventures, but don’t expect her to simply carry your burdens! She’s got more personality than all the vanilla followers combined, and we’re sure she’ll be a great companion and a friend. And a grandma!” 

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Everyone’s favorite grandma was ecstatic to hear about this project last year. She not only loved the idea, but she agreed to fully voice her character as well! This is the authentic Shirley experience, because we all need a little more wholesomeness in our lives. 

If you haven’t checked her out yet, her entire YouTube channel is nothing short of magical. With her calming voice and ease with which she challenges the landscapes of Tamriel, Grandma Shirley’s videos are almost hypnotic and a pure joy to watch from start to finish. She feels like family, and we’re all her grandchildren, and I am absolutely in love with everything she’s about. 

Interested in having Grandma Shirley in your Skyrim experience? You can download this mod right here. Want more mods? Check out a few of my other favorite Mod Corner picks below: 


Thoughts on the Grandma Shirley mod for Skyrim? Any bets on when we’ll get that highly coveted Elder Scrolls 6 news? Shout out those thoughts loud and proud in the comment section below!