Game News
Stellar Blade Developer Expects The Game To Be Even Bigger On PC, Aiming For 2025 Launch
Stellar Blade developer Shift Up has revealed more details on the game's upcoming PC release, and it has high expectations for the platform. In the studio's Q3 2024 earnings report, Shift Up confirmed that Stellar Blade is "being considered within 2025" for a PC release--something it has spoken about in the past.
"Considering recent trends such as Steam's expanding market share in the AAA game sector and the global success of Black Myth: Wukong, we expect the performance on PC to exceed that on consoles," Shift Up said in its report. To put that into context, Black Myth: Wukong had a strong launch in August with 10 million copies sold in its first three days on PC and PS5, and within two weeks, that figure climbed to 18 million.
Black Myth: Wukong was developed by Chinese studio Game Science and one of the company's biggest external investors believes that it will sell 30 million copies over its lifetime, a figure that can potentially be reached with its upcoming expansion. In comparison, Stellar Blade reached 1 million sales on PS5 by the end of June.
Continue Reading at GameSpotNext Halo On PS5? It's Too Soon To Say, Phil Spencer Says
Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer has commented on bringing more Xbox games to PlayStation and Nintendo Switch, saying he's not ruling anything out, and that includes the next Halo release.
Talking to Bloomberg, Spencer said, "I do not see sort of red lines in our portfolio that say, 'Thou must not,'" he said. For the next Halo game specifically, Bloomberg reported that Spencer said it was too early to make a decision about that.
In September, Microsoft announced that it was working on multiple new Halo games that are being made in Unreal Engine 5. None of the games have been officially announced, however. That being said, elements from the Project Foundry demo are likely to show up in future Halo titles, Microsoft has said.
Continue Reading at GameSpotNext Halo On PS5? It's Too Soon To Say, Phil Spencer Says
Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer has commented on bringing more Xbox games to PlayStation and Nintendo Switch, saying he's not ruling anything out, and that includes the next Halo release.
Talking to Bloomberg, Spencer said, "I do not see sort of red lines in our portfolio that say, 'Thou must not,'" he said. For the next Halo game specifically, Bloomberg reported that Spencer said it was too early to make a decision about that.
In September, Microsoft announced that it was working on multiple new Halo games that are being made in Unreal Engine 5. None of the games have been officially announced, however. That being said, elements from the Project Foundry demo are likely to show up in future Halo titles, Microsoft has said.
Continue Reading at GameSpotPokemon Gets Denied Entry To Toy Hall Of Fame
Nearly three decades ago, Pokemon debuted in Japan and spawned a best-selling video game franchise that continues to this day. The Pokemania phenomenon has since grown to include multiple anime series, films, trading-card games, toys, and more. Pokemon was also one of the 12 finalists to make it into this year's inductees for the Toy Hall of Fame. However, Pikachu and his pals are going to have to wait until at least 2025 after being denied this year.
The National Toy Hall of Fame has released its new inductions for 2024, and Pokemon didn't make the cut. But at least Pokemon is in good company. The Choose Your Own Adventure books, remote-controlled vehicles, Hess Toy Trucks, trampoline, Apples to Apples, and Sequence were also denied the honor.
Hasbro was the big winner, as two of its 1980s franchises, Transformers and My Little Pony, earned their induction into this year's class at the Toy Hall of Fame. The Transformers toys debuted in 1984, and the franchise has largely endured for four decades. My Little Pony was originally launched as My Pretty Pony in 1981 before it became a hit toy line of its own. MLP went dormant for a few years before a 2003 revival proved to successful. The card game Phase 10 was the final 2024 inductee for the Toy Hall of Fame.
Continue Reading at GameSpotArc Raiders Gameplay Footage Sends Players Into A Deadly Wasteland
Earlier this year, Embark Studios--which was co-founded by Battlefield veteran Patrick Soderlund--reversed course on Arc Raiders. What was originally envisioned as a free-to-play shooter was shifted over to a premium release. Now, the latest gameplay video for Arc Raiders demonstrates why Embark Studios felt confident about making that move as it shows off an impressive--and dangerous--post-apocalyptic world.
The game takes place in a future where humanity has retreated beneath the surface of the Earth to escape the lethal Arc machines, which are programed to slaughter any humans they find. Players assume the role of one of the Raiders, who risk their lives by returning to the surface to find badly needed supplies while evading both the machines as well as rival Raiders who aren't looking to share any of the spoils.
Getting in and out of the locations isn't easy, even though having a team to watch your back helps increase the odds of survival. The smaller Arc machines are always on patrol, and the larger machines aren't as easy to dispatch as their counterparts. Enemy Raiders can also ambush a team before they reach their extraction point. But that's only going to draw the attention of the Arc machines, which will target both sides of the conflict. As far as the machines are concerned, the only good human is a dead one.
Continue Reading at GameSpotArc Raiders Gameplay Footage Sends Players Into A Deadly Wasteland
Earlier this year, Embark Studios--which was co-founded by Battlefield veteran Patrick Soderlund--reversed course on Arc Raiders. What was originally envisioned as a free-to-play shooter was shifted over to a premium release. Now, the latest gameplay video for Arc Raiders demonstrates why Embark Studios felt confident about making that move as it shows off an impressive--and dangerous--post-apocalyptic world.
The game takes place in a future where humanity has retreated beneath the surface of the Earth to escape the lethal Arc machines, which are programed to slaughter any humans they find. Players assume the role of one of the Raiders, who risk their lives by returning to the surface to find badly needed supplies while evading both the machines as well as rival Raiders who aren't looking to share any of the spoils.
Getting in and out of the locations isn't easy, even though having a team to watch your back helps increase the odds of survival. The smaller Arc machines are always on patrol, and the larger machines aren't as easy to dispatch as their counterparts. Enemy Raiders can also ambush a team before they reach their extraction point. But that's only going to draw the attention of the Arc machines, which will target both sides of the conflict. As far as the machines are concerned, the only good human is a dead one.
Continue Reading at GameSpotSuper Mario Game & Watch Restocked And Discounted To Only $38
One of Nintendo's best retro-inspired devices is back in stock and discounted to its best price yet at Amazon-owned retailer Woot. The Super Mario Bros. Game & Watch is up for grabs for $38 while supplies last--and Woot has already sold out once, so it'll sell out again (probably soon). This cute retro handheld has been discontinued since 2021 and is normally only available via resellers, but it looks like Amazon has unearthed a box of them.
See at Woot
Woot's $38 price is the best we've seen for the Mario Bros. Game & Watch. Note: The device in the picture below is identical to what you'll get from Woot, but the box below is for the European release. At least according to the listing, Woot's deal is for the North American edition, which has the ESRB logo on it instead of PEGI.
Continue Reading at GameSpotExclusive: Lara Croft's Original Comic Adventures Return In Tomb Raider Colossal Collection
At the height of its popularity, Tomb Raider was everywhere, from video games to big-budget movies. Tomb Raider comic books were also produced, and if you've been looking to get your hands on the first run of issues printed by Top Cow, then prepare yourself for some good news. Dark Horse has announced Tomb Raider: Colossal Collection Volume 1, a gigantic reprint of Lara Croft's first adventures that began in 1999. Priced at $99, this massive 888-page hardcover is now available to preorder ahead of its June 24, 2025 release.
Preorder at AmazonTomb Raider: Colossal Collection Volume One
Top Cow's Tomb Raider comics have long been out of print, and the older "Archive" editions fetch an astronomical sum on the reseller market, often going for hundreds of dollars each. This hardcover looks to be a nearly comprehensive collection, as it contains issues #1-24 and #26-34 from the first run.
Continue Reading at GameSpotBeats Solo3 Headphones Are Only $69 At Walmart For Black Friday
The popular Beats Solo3 Wireless Headphones are on sale for a huge discount for Black Friday. Walmart has dropped the price of the Bluetooth headphones to just $69 (was $199), making this a remarkably good time to add the Solo3 to your collection. Unsurprisingly, this is the best price we've seen all year, and it’s not going to stick around long. Over half of the inventory has already vanished for the black model since the deal went live--and we can’t imagine it’ll remain in stock for the duration of Walmart's Early Black Friday Sale, which ends November 17.
Beats Solo3 Wireless Headphones $69 (was $199)Featuring up to 40 hours of battery life, small earcups for an on-ear fit, and a premium build designed for all-day comfort, the Solo3 Headphones offer really solid value at this new low price. They also work with Siri, allowing you to dish out voice commands, and are equipped with Apple's W1 chip. The W1 chip allows the Solo3 headphones to pair and switch between Apple devices almost instantly.
If you travel frequently, you’ll also like the included case, giving you an easy way to protect them before tossing the headphones into your bag.
Buy Solo3 (Black) Buy Solo3 (Rose Gold)Other notable features include a foldable design for added portability, fast-charging that gets you three hours of playback on five minutes of charging, and multiple on-ear controls so you can easily navigate your music library or take phone calls. Beats are known for being stylish yet overpriced--you are paying a premium for the brand--but with Walmart’s current discount, you’d be hard-pressed to find another set of headphones in this price range that is as enticing.
Aside from the standard black model, the deal also applies to the rose gold version. The red version was also eligible for the savings, though it has already sold out.
Continue Reading at GameSpotEA CEO Reportedly In The Mix To Be The Next Disney Boss
Disney is currently looking to find some new blood to succeed longtime CEO Bob Iger, and out of the possible candidates, EA's Andrew Wilson is reportedly being considered for the role.
According to the Wall Street Journal, Disney is looking at bringing in external candidates, and Wilson's name has appeared alongside other notable business persons like Disney Entertainment co-chairman Dana Walden, Disney parks chairman Josh D'Amaro, ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro, and Disney Entertainment co-chairman Alan Bergman.
EA has also had a long relationship with Disney, as the Star Wars games developed by the company have sold over 52 million copies combined and have generated more than $3 billion in revenue. Currently, EA is also working on new Star Wars and Marvel titles, like a Star Wars Jedi threequel, Iron Man, and Black Panther games.
Continue Reading at GameSpotMicrosoft Flight Simulator 2024 Launch Times Revealed
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 is set for release on November 19, but when exactly does the game launch that day? Microsoft has now published the official launch times for the game.
The game launches at 8 AM PT on November 19, which works out to 11 AM EST, 4 PM GMT, and 5 PM CET. People in Tokyo can start playing at 1 AM JST on November 20, while players in Australia can take to the skies beginning at 3 AM AEST that day. Microsoft Flight Simulator is set to launch at the same time globally across Xbox and PC, for both Steam and the Microsoft Store.
Here are the Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 launch times:
Continue Reading at GameSpotCoD: Black Ops 6 And Warzone Season 1 Battle Pass Trailer Shows Redesigned Layout And Changes
Season 1 arrives in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 and Warzone on November 14, and in addition to new maps and modes, the season also brings a new battle pass packed full of cosmetics. The layout of Call of Duty's battle pass is completely overhauled for Black Ops 6, and Activision has revealed a new trailer to show off the new battle pass design.
Black Ops 6 says goodbye to the combat map-style battle pass that was introduced with Modern Warfare 2, returning to a more simplified and linear look. Season 1's pass includes over 100 items to unlock across 14 different pages.
As seen in the trailer above, the page designs are similar to Fortnite's style of battle pass. Each page features several items that can be unlocked in any order, giving players more choice and flexibility. Unlocking all the items on a page will then grant a high-tier item called the HVT reward.
Continue Reading at GameSpotSega Executive Wants To Make The Company Into The Next Disney
Between the upcoming sequel, Sonic the Hedgehog 3, as well as the recently announced Shinobi movie, and Prime Video's Like a Dragon series, Sega has done very well for itself in Hollywood in the last few years. However, the company has even greater ambitions of becoming a media giant in the tradition of Disney, and a former Disney executive is trying to make that goal a reality.
After spending 17 years at Disney, Justin Scarpone was hired to as Sega's head of global transmedia earlier this year. While speaking with GamesIndustry.biz, Scarpone noted that most video game companies haven't followed Disney and Marvel's examples of utilizing their properties across all media. But he plans to change that at Sega.
"Gaming is [today] the irreplaceable form of entertainment for the entire world, far greater than any other form of entertainment, [and] it's high time that there is a replication of the studio system from Hollywood for the gaming industry," said Scarpone. "Game companies don't have that content flywheel history that Walt Disney basically invented, of taking that IP and having a five-year, ten-year roadmap of content, like [Marvel executive] Kevin Feige does for the films. And connecting that into all the other businesses and evolving story over these different experiences, you know, content product and services."
Continue Reading at GameSpotReaching Prestige With Pacifism? One Black Ops 6 Player Makes It A Reality
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 is a FPS, so shooting people seems like an obvious part of the game. However, there's one player out there who's gotten creative enough with pacifism in multiplayer that they've actually reached prestige without killing an enemy.
On Reddit, Pilgore1 posted an image showcasing that they hit Prestige 1 in Black Ops 6 with zero eliminations after over 19 hours of playtime. Not only that, but Pilgore1 also has a career winning record of 73-38. So it's not like they are some weak link on teams in Black Ops 6 multiplayer, either.
Pilgore1 revealed how they help their teammates in Black Ops 6 in the comments section on the Reddit post. "Hiding while tagging people with Spycam and calling in the 3 UAV streaks," Pilgore1 wrote. "You'd be surprised how much having one person on the team not dying helps you win TDM."
Continue Reading at GameSpotMagic: The Gathering Foundations Releases This Week, Here's The Best Deals At Amazon
Magic: The Gathering's newest set, Foundations, is slated to arrive on November 15. This massive new collection of cards will feature characters and worlds from the entire Magic: The Gathering multiverse. Wizards of the Coast says that Foundations is a “Standard-legal set and will remain in Standard until at least 2029," meaning anyone who picks up cards from this set can expect to use them in official tournaments and events for several years. If you're interested in checking out the new set, you can snag discounted preorders on Foundations bundles and booster boxes ahead of their release.
See all Magic: The Gathering Foundations dealsThe biggest discount is for the Foundations: Collector Booster Box. It’s still quite expensive at $279 (normally $300), but inside you’ll find 12 Foundations Collector Boosters--each of which contains 15 cards. Each pack is guaranteed to have at least three Borderless or Extended-Art cards, making this the best way to load up on rarer cards from the new set. The Foundations Bundle is also seeing a slight discount, with preorders listed for $45 (down from $50). It gets you nine Play Boosters, a foil alt-art card, 40 Land cards, 1 spindown life counter, a storage box, and two reference cards.
Magic: The Gathering Foundations Collector Booster BoxGalleryThere are several more Foundations releases up for preorder at Amazon, including the Foundations Beginner Box. While it's only available at full price, it is a good place for newcomers to start as it comes with everything you need to start playing--including two 20-card instant-play decks, eight themed Jumpstart Packets (20 cards each), plus an assortment of rules and gameplay accessories for just $31. You can check out all the Magic: The Gathering - Foundations preorders below.
Continue Reading at GameSpotUbisoft Is Facing Lawsuit After The Crew Was Removed From Platforms
Ubisoft is facing a proposed class action lawsuit over its decision to shut down The Crew earlier this year, a decade after its initial release. Two players submitted the filing before the California Court, claiming that Ubisoft "duped consumers" into purchasing The Crew without the knowledge that its servers could be shut down, making the online game unplayable.
When the shutdown was announced in December last year, Ubisoft offered refunds to players, but only those who "recently" purchased the game. Given the age of the game, a lot of players were unable to receive theirs.
"Imagine you buy a pinball machine, and years later, you enter your den to go play it, only to discover that all the paddles are missing, the pinball and bumpers are gone, and the monitor that proudly displayed your unassailable high score is removed," the plaintiffs' lawyers wrote in the lawsuit that was uploaded by Polygon. "Turns out the pinball manufacturer decided to come into your home, gut the insides of the pinball machine, and remove your ability to play the game that you bought and thought you owned."
Continue Reading at GameSpotFortnite OG Returns In December, And It's Here To Stay
The rumors were true: Fortnite OG is coming back. Epic Games has officially confirmed that OG Fortnite is returning on December 6. It's also coming back permanently, Epic said.
The developer said, "OG is coming BACK and is here to stay." Players can expect the original map, original loot, and the original seasons.
THIS. IS. NOT. A. DRILL.
OG is coming BACK and is here to stay. Relive Battle Royale from the start and explore the OG map, collect OG loot, and relive OG seasons. Drop back in on December 6. pic.twitter.com/Zpg1CrItS5
Fortnite OG came back in December 2023 and helped boost Fortnite's player numbers to massive levels, so it's little surprise to see Epic is doing it again and making it permanent this time.
Continue Reading at GameSpotCall Of Duty: Black Ops 6 - Analyst Says Game Pass Didn't Hurt Numbers
The release of a new Call of Duty game is almost always one of the best-selling titles in any given year. But since Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 debuted on Game Pass on day one of its release, there was some question as to whether this would diminish the title's impact and sales across Xbox Series X|S and other platforms. It's too early to render a final judgment about that, but so far, one analyst says that Black Ops 6 wasn't hurt at all by being on Game Pass.
"Call of Duty engagement following the release of Black Ops 6 can only be defined by the term 'bonkers,'" Circana analyst Mat Piscatella wrote on Bluesky. "We've yet to see anything like it in our engagement tracking data... There's been an ongoing debate about Game Pass and its impact on sales and it's never been settled because... it depends. Sometimes it helps sales (especially through virality), sometimes it hurts. After two weeks, my take on this one is that it may not have helped, but it also sure didn't hurt."
According to Activision, Black Ops 6 had the highest opening weekend numbers for any game in the franchise among total players, total hours played, and total matches. Treyarch associate creative director Miles Leslie credited Game Pass for the resurgence in interest in the long-running franchise among lapsed players.
Continue Reading at GameSpotConcord Episode Of Amazon's Secret Level "Turned Out Really Well," Creator Says
Prime Video's upcoming video game anthology TV series Secret Level features an episode dedicated to Sony's ill-fated multiplayer shooter, Concord. Series creator Tim Miller reflected on the game's struggles in an interview, saying he can't wrap his head around why the game didn't succeed. He also discussed how the Concord episode of Secret Level "turned out really well."
"There was no nicer, more invested group of developers than the team on Concord," he told Rolling Stone. "I honestly don't understand why it didn't work. I know that they were trying to do the best they could, and they were a talented group of artists, so I feel terrible for that."
Secret Level's Concord episode could be the last time Concord appears anywhere in an official capacity, and if that's the case, Miller said he's happy with the episode his team made.
Continue Reading at GameSpotFirst Trailer For It's In The Game Shares The History Of Madden NFL
Before 1988, John Madden was already a NFL legend as a head coach and a TV broadcaster. But following the release of John Madden Football, Madden became a video game icon as well. The Madden franchise has endured for almost four decades, including the most recent game, Madden NFL 25. Later this month, Prime Video is exploring the history of the blockbuster series with a new documentary, It's In the Game: Madden NFL. Now, the first trailer has arrived and revisited an era before the Madden games became events unto themselves.
During the first game's development, Madden was adamant that the title that shared his name be a true representation of football. That meant 11 players for each team on the field, which was difficult to pull off at the time. Over the decades that followed, each video game generation has allowed Madden NFL to come closer and closer to a realistic portrayal of football.
Madden NFL has become so ubiquitous that it's got its own mythology in the form of "the Madden curse." Several athletes, including Madden NFL 25's Christian McCaffrey, have gone on to be injured after appearing on the cover for Madden NFL. This is more likely due to the punishing physical nature of football itself, rather than any curse. But it still comes up to this day.
Continue Reading at GameSpot