The undead walkers of The Walking Dead are invading the islands of Fortnite Creative, and they're bringing with them the first new Walking Dead item shop skin since 2021: Negan, who lands in the shop on April 4.

The Walking Dead Universe is the latest franchise to pitch its tent in Fortnite's metaverse by adding assets that can be used in Fortnite islands made using Unreal Editor for Fortnite, the big ones being the walker NPCs, and a prison island template based on that prison that TWD's protagonists had to live in early on in the series. And starting with the next patch, on April 8, Negan will be usable as a Creative NPC as well.

There are some goodies for all of Fortnite Creative as well, like Lucille--Negan's barbed wire-wrapped bat--and a Shiva Shotgun inspired by King Ezekiel's tiger BFF. To really give your island a despairing vibe, creators can make use of the Heavy Linework post-processing effect to make the whole place look like it popped out of the pages of the black-and-white Walking Dead comics themselves.

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Just a week after launch, Assassin's Creed Shadows appears to be the success story that Ubisoft is in need of right now. Just hours after it arrived, Ubisoft confirmed that 1 million people were playing the game, and after the crucial first weekend, that figure jumped to 2 million players. One of the big metrics that the game has been judged by is its concurrent players on Steam, and while it hasn't yet surpassed the numbers set by 2020's Assassin's Creed Valhalla, that might be an unfair comparison to make.

Speaking to IGN, a Ubisoft source revealed that Shadows was responsible for the second-highest day-one sales revenue in the Assassin's Creed franchise, while Valhalla held onto its top spot. According to the internal email shown to IGN, 27% of Shadows' total "activations" were on PC--covering various distribution channels on that platform--with Steam playing a major role as this was the first Assassin's Creed game in several years to launch day-one through that storefront.

On console, Shadows was Ubisoft's best ever day-one launch on the PlayStation Store. Ubisoft also noted that player engagement is at "record levels" and feedback across "moderated, verified platforms" remains very positive.

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Over five years ago, Paradox Interactive announced Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2, the long-awaited sequel to 2004's Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines. As the game faced multiple delays and switched developers, fans had to wait even longer. But now, the World of Darkness looks a little brighter and Bloodlines 2 may be arriving soon.

The Entertainment Software Rating Board has given Bloodlines 2 an M rating, which could mean that a release date announcement will come soon. The only details about the story from the ESRB's description are that players will be tasked with helping two vampires regain their memories and lost powers while facing an uprising among the undead.

Bloodlines 2's Mature rating appears to largely be due to the game's combat, which allows players to violently dispatch enemies using physical and vampiric powers. Beheadings, claw-slashing, and snapping necks are all options, and player-characters will be able to feed on human NPCs to sustain themselves. Somewhat humorously, the ESRB also shared a few samples of the game's sexually suggestive dialogue.

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A Nintendo Direct is reportedly set to air sometime this week, right before the scheduled Switch 2 Nintendo Direct on April 2.

According to insider NateTheHate2, the Direct will be on or around Thursday, but but he is not sure if it will be formatted like a traditional Nintendo Direct or something like an Indie World Showcase. Another Chinese leaker, who revealed the entirety of the June 2024 Nintendo Direct, said that there will be a show focusing on the original Nintendo Switch "in three days."

It's possible that Nintendo would want to showcase what's still coming to Switch this year before showing off the Switch 2. Not everyone will be early adopters of Switch 2, and analysts predict that it won't sell as well as its predecessor. Having two separate Directs lets Nintendo focus entirely on its upcoming system during its April 2 show.

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Perhaps the biggest addition to the cast of HBO's The Last of Us for its second season is Kaitlyn Dever in the role of Abby. One person who is particularly excited to see Dever play the role is Halley Gross, the co-writer of The Last of Us: Part II the game.

Speaking at the Season 2 premiere, Gross sang Dever's praises, saying she predicts her performance as Abby will raise the bar for women on TV.

"We're all curious to see how people are going to react to Abby. Kaitlyn Dever is a profoundly magnetic actress. She brings so much to Abby," Gross told Variety. "I think she's an incredible, complex depiction of female rage. But also just female passion. She is this dimensional female character that I think is going to broaden our idea of what women can do in TV."

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Pedro Pascal, who plays Joel in HBO's The Last of Us, has discussed the "sometimes sick pleasure" of working on the post-apocalyptic series and how "storytelling is cathartic" when the real world is undergoing change and upheaval as it is today.

"There's a very healthy and sometimes sick pleasure in that kind of catharsis and a safe space to see human relationships under crisis and in pain and intelligently draw a political allegory, societal allegory, and base it off of the world that we're living in," he said, as reported by Variety.

Also during the call with reporters, Pascal discussed why he's excited to see The Last of Us come back for its second season, after the first was such a hit.

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After being unavailable for a while, you can now snag the recently released Vault Boy plush duck by Tubbz at Amazon with Prime shipping. This nine-inch plush launched in February and sold out multiple times when it first became available to preorder in January. Amazon had originally priced the Vault Boy plush duck at $30, but it's currently listed for $25.

Tubbz Rubber Duck Plush - Fallout Vault Boy $25

Like several other Tubbz plushies, these duck-ified versions of famous movie and TV characters are made from high-quality plush fabric and are designed to be cuddled. They also have a weighted base so that they can be displayed upright and they're machine-washable as well. Unlike the rubber duckies, these aren't meant to accompany you in the bathtub, unless you'd like a soggy duckie that'll take forever to dry out.

This particular model is based on the design of Vault Boy, the mascot of the Fallout series. He typically stars in informative videos that guide players through the crumbling remains of a post-apocalyptic world, never losing the smile on his face.

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Tubbz has several other collectible duck plushies figures based on popular franchises available. You can grab huggable duckies of characters like Chucky from Child's Play, several Jurassic Park dinosaurs, and even Pennywise from Stephen King's It. This version of Pennywise is based off of the clown's appearance in the recent two-part film adaptation. He is both cute and creepy in duck form.

Lord of the Rings fans can get plush duck versions of Frodo and Gandalf the Grey with a glorious beard.

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Samsung 1TB Pro Plus microSD Card (180MB/s)

$80 (was $120)

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Samsung 1TB Evo Select microSD Card (160MB/s)

$70 (was $100)

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Samsung's 1TB Pro Plus microSD Card is on sale for a new all-time low price at Amazon as part of the retailer's Big Spring Sale. Normally $120, the 1TB Pro Plus is discounted to only $80. If you really like Sonic the Hedgehog, you can get the same 1TB card with Sonic's face emblazoned on it for $90 (was $126). Speedy and reliable--we're talking about the microSD card, not Sonic--the Pro Plus is one of the best options for expanding the storage space on your Steam Deck or handheld PC. But since Samsung only entered the 1TB microSD market last summer, we haven't seen as many steep discounts on these cards as we have on SanDisk's popular cards.

Alternatively, you can grab Samsung's 1TB Evo Select microSD for $70. This price matches the card's all-time low, whereas the previous low price for the Pro Plus was $90. The Evo Select is up to 20MB/s slower than the Pro Plus, but it's still a great card for Nintendo Switch and Steam Deck as well as handhelds running Windows or Android.

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8BitDo Retro Mechanical Keyboard - Xbox Edition

$102 (was $120)

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Retro R8 Mouse with Charging Dock - Xbox Edition

$60

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8BitDo's Xbox-inspired transparent green keyboard is on sale for the first time since its release earlier this year. The Retro 87 Mechanical Keyboard, which is officially licensed by Xbox, launched in January for $120, but Amazon's limited-time deal drops the price of this stylish and versatile wireless gaming keyboard to $102. You can You can pair the Retro 87 with the matching Retro R8 Wireless Gaming Mouse for $60.

• 8BitDo Xbox Edition TKL Mechanical Keyboard -- $102 ($120)
• 8BitDo NES-Inspired TKL Mechanical Keyboard -- $76 ($100)
• 8BitDo Famicom-Inspired TKL Mechanical Keyboard -- $80 ($100)

Amazon also has deals on several other retro hardware-inspired 8BitDo keyboards, including the Nintendo Entertainment System-themed N Edition for $76 (was $100).

8BitDo Retro 87 Wireless Mechanical Keyboard - Xbox Edition

$102 ($120) | PC, Mac, Android

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Persona 5 + Persona 5 Royal: Official Design Works

$62.20 (was $75)

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Persona 5 + Persona 5 Royal: Official Design Works is on sale for its lowest price yet. Published by Udon Entertainment last November with a retail price of $75, this 500-page doorstopper of a book is discounted to $62.20 at Amazon. It's marked as a limited-time deal, though it's unclear when the promotion expires.

If you're interested in picking up a book that takes an in-depth look at the art direction of one of the most stylish games in its genre, you probably shouldn't wait too long. Official Design Works books covering older entries in the Persona and Shin Megami Tensei series have been out of print for years.

Persona 5 + Persona 5 Royal: Official Design Works $62.20 (was $75)

This is essentially a two-in-one art book, as you're getting a look at both Persona 5 and its enhanced and expanded edition, Persona 5 Royal.

Because it covers two games, this newly translated work is bigger than the average video game art book. The 544-page hardcover is filled with artwork from the earliest stages of development to materials used to promote the finished games.

The concept art, sketches, character illustrations, and design drawings are accompanied by commentary from the development team throughout. It also includes an exclusive interview with Persona series artist Shigenori Soejima.

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If you haven't played it, Persona 5 tells the story of the Phantom Thieves, high school students who save people from the twisted desires of those around them by awakening the power of their true selves. It's wonderfully weird stuff, and worth checking out. It's available on all modern platforms, and since it has been out for a few years, you can get a pretty good deal on a game that'll keep you occupied for dozens of hours. If you really want to spoil yourself, you can also check out this collector's edition for Persona 5 Royal. The 1 More Edition is sold out for Nintendo Switch and Xbox, but Amazon still has a few PS5 copies.

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Stephen King's The Dark Tower - 8-Book Box Set

$68.90 (was $161)

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Amazon has a terrific deal on Stephen King's epic dark fantasy series The Dark Tower. For a limited time, you can get all eight novels in one box set for only $68.90, which is nearly $100 off its original retail price. The Dark Tower 8-Book Box Set often sells for around $100-$120, though the price has shot up to around $150 multiple times in recent months. The $69 deal is the best price we've seen in a long time and just a few bucks shy of the all-time low.

The Dark Tower is Stephen King's longest and most iconic series. It debuted in 1982 with The Gunslinger and finally wrapped in 2004. The series garnered critical praise and earned the author legions of new fans. The Dark Tower deftly blends fantasy, science fiction, and western genres to tell the story of the last gunslinger Roland Deschain's quest to find the eponymous Dark Tower.

Stephen King's The Dark Tower - 8-Book Box Set $68.90 (was $161)

All told, the eight book box set eclipses 4,700 pages across the seven mainline novels and Book 4.5, The Wind Through the Keyhole, which was published in 2012. This box set includes trade paperback editions of the complete series. On their own, the paperbacks carry list prices of $16-$20--though you can typically save a few bucks on each.

• The Dark Tower I: The Gunslinger
• The Dark Tower II: The Drawing of the Three
• The Dark Tower III: The Waste Lands
• The Dark Tower IV: Wizard and Glass
• The Dark Tower 4.5: The Wind Through the Keyhole
• The Dark Tower V: Wolves of the Calla
• The Dark Tower VI: Song of Susannah
• The Dark Tower VII: The Dark Tower

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Along with the books, you’ll get a collectible case to keep them safe on your bookshelf.

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The developer behind Astro Bot has a handbook for all new employees that contains the following phrase: "We aim for quality, not quantity." Team Asobi studio director Nicolas Doucet showed off this slogan at a Game Developers Conference session last week, where he argued, "It's okay to make a small game."

GameDeveloper reports that Doucet shared how this approach helped Team Asobi thrive with Astro Bot, one of GameSpot's 10 best games of 2024. Additionally, the 3D platformer has racked up nominations and awards at GDC and the DICE Awards. "The prospect of a game you can actually complete is a really, really positive argument [for small games]," Doucet said. "That meant being okay with the game being 12 hours, but if it had been eight hours--and the eight hours were fantastic--we would have settled for that to reach consistent quality."

Following a "less is more" approach helped Team Asobi keep Astro Bot from ballooning in all sorts of ways. For instance, Doucet reportedly told audience members that the game's narrative has fewer than 5,000 words and cinematics top out at roughly 12-and-a-half minutes. This means players are in control over 98% of the time in Astro Bot.

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Verdansk returns to Call of Duty: Warzone next month. Ahead of the release, Activision has shared a new video to reveal that Infinity Ward's original Verdansk map has been completely rebuilt from the ground up with new technology, but it still aims to be faithful to the original design.

Warzone launched with Verdansk five years ago, and now players will get to experience the map with improved visuals and lighting, as shown in the video below.

Activision reveals that the remake of Verdansk is a collaboration between Beenox, High Noon Studios, and Raven Software developers, with the intention to capture the original map with the new technology that's now available.

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Turn 10 has announced that the track Fujimi Kaido will be making a return in Forza Motorsport in May to celebrate the franchise's 20th anniversary.

The track is a fictional closed course circuit set in Japan, in the town of Fujimi, in the Nagano Prefecture. Fujimi Kaido debuted in the first Forza Motorsport in 2005, and appeared in Forza Motorsport 3 as well as 4. Turn 10 has been recreating the track in 2023's Forza Motorsport since the game's launch, and this updated version stretches 10.24 miles (16.5 km). It has 144 extreme turns and a 27,111 ft summit (826 meters).

Turn 10 also said that this it'll be adding more anniversary content in Forza Motorsport, including some highly requested and fan-favorite cars, as well as more unlockable driver suits and special events.

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A bunch of Paramount 4K Blu-rays were on sale earlier this month, including a handful of Mission: Impossible steelbooks. Unfortunately, these deals quickly sold out at both Amazon and Barnes & Noble. If you missed the price cuts, Amazon is bringing back most of the Mission: Impossible offers with its new Big Spring Sale, giving you a chance to save on Mission: Impossible 4K Blu-ray steelbooks through March 31. Three of the four restocked Mission: Impossible 4K steelbook edition Blu-rays are available for $15: Mission: Impossible 1, Mission: Impossible 3, and Mission: Impossible 5 - Rogue Nation. These typically cost $26, and their new price of $15 is the lowest we've ever seen. The Mission: Impossible 6: Fallout 4K Steelbook Edition Blu-ray is also in stock and available for $17.49 (was $31).

Mission: Impossible 1 and Mission: Impossible 3 Steelbooks

Along with gorgeous steelbooks to store and protect your Blu-rays, they include heaps of bonus features like commentary from Tom Cruise, various documentaries, a look at how the stunts were performed for the films, and more.

It's worth noting that the 4K Steelbook Editions for Mission: Impossible 2, Mission: Impossible 4 - Ghost Protocol, and Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One are all sold out at the time of writing, but it's still worth checking Amazon's listings in case they're also restocked.

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The Assassin's Creed Shadows development team at Ubisoft has released a heartfelt statement following the launch of the game. In a post on Reddit, the studio said many on the development team spent the launch weekend reading fan reactions, and the team is feeling the love.

"We just want to say thank you. The sheer amount of love and positivity we've received has been incredibly heartwarming," Ubisoft said. "Seeing your excitement, your thoughtful reactions, and your joy has meant the world to us. After years of hard work, there's nothing more rewarding than watching the community connect with what we've created."

Also in the post, Ubisoft said its staffers won't be able to reply directly to every message, but assured fans that "we're listening."

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Dune: Awakening, Funcom's upcoming survival MMO set in an alternate version of author Frank Herbert's legendary sci-fi universe, will buck the trend of many survival games by not launching in an early-access state when it arrives for PC on May 20. Nor will it have any kind of subscription fee, as some MMOs do.

Creative director Joel Bylos delivered the news in a recent video, diving into Funcom's post-launch plans for the sci-fi survival game.

"The key things that you need to know about Dune: Awakening's launch are that it will not launch in early access and it will not have a monthly subscription," Bylos said. "It will receive regular free updates, including new content, new features, and quality-of-life improvements."

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