Writer-director Hideo Kojima has shared more thoughts on AI, this time saying he believes the technology is here to stay and "we can't go back."

Speaking to Nikkei Xtrend, as translated by GamesRadar, Kojima said, "Now there are so many people who can't live without their smartphones. AI is like that."

He added: "I think there isn't any point in saying 'We shouldn't use AI' or 'AI is useless.' We can't go back. Smartphones were the same."

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Arcade1Up The Fast & The Furious Deluxe Arcade Cabinet

$500 (was $600)

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If you’re looking to start the New Year with a refreshed game room, take a peek at Amazon’s current offer for Arcade1Up’s The Fast & The Furious Deluxe Arcade. The retailer is slashing prices on a long list of arcade cabinets, but few are seeing the full $100 discount of The Fast & The Furious Deluxe--which is currently listed for its best price of the year. But since the arcade cabinet was sold out the other week, we can’t imagine this offer will stick around for long.

Arcade1Up The Fast & The Furious Deluxe Arcade Cabinet $500 (was $600)

Arcade1Up The Fast & The Furious Deluxe Arcade Cabinet features two arcade games: The Fast & The Furious and The Fast & The Furious: Drift. Four machines can be linked via your local network for competitive play, and there’s an online leaderboard for you to track your performance. The cabinet stands over 64 inches tall and weighs nearly 70lbs. It sports a 17-inch LCD display, integrated speakers, and colorful artwork from the game. The control panel features a steering wheel rather than a set of buttons. At the bottom of the cabinet are gas and brake pedals and a molded faux coin door.

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The Fast & The Furious Deluxe Cabinet is part of a larger Arcade1Up sales event, which is one of the best we’ve seen this year. Three Deluxe Cabinets are on sale, with the NBA Jam model also seeing a $100 price cut. For something smaller, the Ms. Pac-Man / Galaga Countercade is $130 (was $150), and it’s the ideal size for a countertop or table. The Mortal Kombat II Classic Special Edition is also getting its first price cut. These deals come after the company announced it was closing last week, only to be acquired by toy manufacturer Basic Fun--so it looks like the cabinet brand is, thankfully, sticking around for now. Check out more Arcade1Up deals below.

More Arcade1Up DealsDeluxe Cabinets

• Deluxe Cabinet: Fast & the Furious (2 Games, Wheel/Pedals)-- $500 ($600)
• Deluxe Cabinet: NBA Jam (3 Games)-- $400 ($500)
• Deluxe Cabinet: Pac-Man (14 Games)-- $450 ($500)

More Cabinets

• Classic SE Cabinet: Mortal Kombat II (13 Games) -- $284 ($334)
• Classic SE Cabinet: Ms. Pac-Man (13 Games) -- $284 ($334)
• Classic SE Cabinet: Pac-Man (13 Games) -- $284 ($334)
• Classic SE Cabinet Riser -- $39 ($60)
• Countercade: Ms. Pac-Man / Galaga (3 Games) -- $130 ($150)
• Countercade: Pac-Man (3 Games) -- $130 ($150)
• Full-Size Claw Machine (12 Capsules) -- $500 ($550)

Arcade1Up Cabinets and Countercades

Check out all deals and in-stock products.

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For more chaotic racing action, take a look at Fast & Furious: Arcade Edition. Launched in October, it’s now available for $20 (was $30). The deal applies to the Switch and PS5 versions, both of which let you cruise around in eight iconic cars from the movies--such as a Dodge Charger, Corvette Z06, and Shelby GT500 KR. Local multiplayer is also supported--so if you'd rather not buy two Arcade1Up cabinets and link them together, this is a much cheaper way to get your competitive fix.

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Game-Key Cards have been divisive since they were first introduced, but the good news is that the full R-Type Dimensions 3 game will be on the Switch 2 cartridge. The bad news? You're going to have to pay a little bit extra for that side-scrolling shoot-'em-up, as the price is going up to €70.

It's worth noting that those who already preordered the physical Special Edition will not see their price change.

Publisher Inin Games had previously explained that switching the entire run to standard cartridges would have resulted in manufacturing costs increasing by "at least" €15 per game copy, which is why it chose the Game-Key Card option. Inin Games pledged to look for a way to release the full game on a Switch cartridge, leading to today's news about the costs increasing, but not as much as it anticipated.

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Epoch Games Super Mario Stadium Baseball

$51.49 (was $60)

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Epoch Games Super Mario Soccer Striker

$55

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Mario is no rookie when it comes to baseball, having taken to the field with Mario Superstar Baseball on GameCube and again with Mario Super Sluggers for the Wii. He’s now returning to the sport with Epoch Games Super Mario Stadium Baseball, a tabletop game that has him and his friends swinging for the fences. It’s a cute-looking game--and right now you’ll find it for just $51.49 (was $60). This is a limited-time deal, and we're not sure how long it'll be around, so it's worth taking advantage of the discount while you can.

Epoch Games Super Mario Stadium Baseball $51.49 (was $60)

The action takes place on a tiny, tabletop version of a baseball field. There are four Super Mario collectible figures with the set (Mario, Yoshi, Luigi, Boo), though you’ll find less detailed character players for 10 other familiar faces scattered throughout the playing surface. Designed for two players, one pitches while the other bats. The pitcher can vary the ball's speed, trying to trick the batter into making a bad swing. The batter, meanwhile, is trying to knock the ball out of the park and score as many runs as they can.

See at Amazon Epoch Games Super Mario Soccer Striker $55

Prefer kicking a ball over hitting it with a bat? Epoch Games also recently released Super Mario Soccer Striker. This plays a bit like rod hockey or foosball, with players manipulating sticks to move their characters across the board as they attempt to kick a ball into the opponent’s goal. It comes with everything you need to play, as well as four Collectible Figures for Mario, Luigi, Toad, and Yoshi.

We’ve seen some resellers offering it for extremely high prices--so give it a look now that the official listing from Amazon is available and in stock.

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Epoch Games makes a bunch of tabletop Mario games, plenty of which have nothing to do with sports. Super Mario Blow Up Shaky Tower, for example, sees you balancing characters on an unstable tower--making it a mustachioed alternative to Jenga. There’s also a Super Mario Maze Game Deluxe that’ll put your reflexes to the test, as well as a small Mario Kart Racing Deluxe Set that sees cars flying around the track. Be sure to check out the full catalog, but here are a few of our favorites.

Epoch Super Mario Tabletop Games

• Lucky Coin Game -- $31 ($34)
• Maze Game Deluxe -- $30
• Mario Kart Racing Deluxe -- $40
• Shaky Tower Balancing Game -- $10 ($20)
• Soccer Striker -- $50
• Stadium Baseball -- $51.49 ($60)

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Grand Theft Auto 6 is coming next year, and one of the many unanswered questions about the game is what it will cost. People have made all sorts of predictions so far, and that's continuing now, with analysts Serkan Toto, Piers Harding-Rolls, and Rhys Elliott sharing their thoughts.

Toto and Harding-Rolls told GI.biz that they believe the game's standard edition will cost between $70 and $80, but the game's deluxe editions could come in at $100 or more.

Some have theorized that GTA 6 could be $100 for its standard edition, and Video Game Insights analyst Vic Bassey said, "If there was any game likely to cross the $100 threshold," it would be GTA 6.

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Gaming on the go has been popular among players for decades, and now Sony and Honda are teaming up to bring the power of PlayStation 5 to the road. The two companies formed a joint venture, Sony Honda Mobility, in 2022 to produce electric vehicles. Their first car, the Afeela 1, will be released next year and it will include the capability of playing PlayStation 4 or PlayStation 5 games.

However, this a limitation to what players can do with their Afeela In-Vehicle Infotainment systems. Sony and Honda aren't including in-car consoles, and they are relying on PlayStation Remote Play for this to work. That means Afeela 1 owners will also need to have either a PS5 or a PS4 at their homes in order to connect with the systems to play games. Sony notes that this use of Remote Play is separate from streaming PS Plus games from the cloud.

The Afeela In-Vehicle Infotainment system.

This setup includes integrated display and premium audio systems for passengers. It's unclear if the cars come with a PlayStation controller or if players have to bring their own from home.

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It's almost the end of 2025, and in the spirit of Spotify Wrapped, several big companies have invited subscribers to review their last year of activity. Sony got the ball rolling with the PlayStation Wrap-Up, Steam offers a similar annual roundup, and the Nintendo Switch Year in Review recap has been announced for early next year--but where is Xbox in the middle of all this?

While it doesn't offer an Xbox wrap-up every year, it still feels odd for Microsoft's gaming brand to skip 2025. The year has seen several high-profile releases from the company and the launch of an Xbox-branded handheld gaming PC alongside Asus, but according to Windows Central, Microsoft is allocating its marketing budget toward celebrating several major anniversaries in 2026.

The Xbox brand celebrates its 25th anniversary next year, Blizzard has its 35th anniversary to look forward to, and Bethesda is turning 40. Those are several significant milestones in proximity to each other, and it's a safe bet that Microsoft wants to accommodate them, possibly explaining the lack of an Xbox Wrapped this year. On top of that, we'll see the return of BlizzCon in September, and Blizzard has teased its "biggest year yet" for 2026.

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Overwatch developer Blizzard has teased that 2026 will be the year when the studio's "boldest ideas come to life."

"We're eager to take creative steps that will allow the game to lean further into storytelling and character development, and we can't wait to share these new experiences with our community," Blizzard said in a blog post. "There's a real sense of momentum and optimism within the development team, and we believe 2026 will be a year where our boldest ideas come to life."

Blizzard did not share any further details, but 2026 marks the 10th anniversary of Overwatch, and the studio presumably has some anniversary plans in store for the milestone.

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Generative AI has been at the forefront of the conversation for the past few years, with companies becoming divisive on how to implement it, if at all. Larian CEO Swen Vincke recently kicked a hornet's nest after saying the studios' developers use generative AI tools for things like exploring new game ideas, developing concept art, creating placeholder text, and for PowerPoint presentations. After a quick retraction and explanation, along with sharing that the studio was in fact growing its pool of artists rather than shrinking. Vincke has admitted that Larian uses AI for tasks nobody wants to do, but does AI--even at the concept art stage--help actual concept artists?

According to a handful of video game concept artists, it can actually make things harder. Talking to Edmond Tran from This Week In Video Games, artists said that it complicates their workflow and doesn't help them creatively.

"I'm seeing more and more clients generate something approximating their desired outcome and essentially asking me to make 'something like this,'" said Paul Scott Canavan, an artist who has worked as an art director and concept artist for projects like Destiny 2, Heroes of the Storm, Guild Wars 2, and Netflix's The Witcher. "It sucks. This practice absolutely invalidates the entire creative process, in my opinion, and makes my job harder and more frustrating. The job of an illustrator or concept artist is to draw from their years of experience to interpret a brief in a creative way."

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The College Football bowl season is underway, and the first-ever Xbox Bowl took place on December 18--and what a sight it was.

Arkansas State defeated Missouri State 34-28 to claim the title. Arkansas State was up 31-7 going into the fourth, but Missouri State battled back, scoring 21 points in the fourth to make it close.

Naturally, the Xbox Bowl was full of Xbox-branded partnerships, including Master Chief doing the coin toss to start the game. Corey Rucker Jr. of Arkansas State won Offensive MVP of the Xbox Bowl, earning himself an "Achievement Unlocked" trophy, while Kyle Taylor of Arkansas State won Defensive MVP of the Xbox Bowl, taking home a similarly styled trophy.

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Joseph Cross, the art director on Bungie's upcoming extraction shooter Marathon, is leaving just months before the game's release. Cross's exit comes just after the game was finally announced for a March 2026 release, following an indefinite delay prompted by underwhelming player feedback on the shooter's alpha tests.

Cross's departure from Bungie was tipped by an update to his LinkedIn page and social accounts, and he confirmed to Kotaku that it was his choice to leave. "I’m super proud of the project and what the team accomplished over the last six years," he said, reflecting on his exit.

After years of work on Destiny as lead concept artist, Cross returned to Bungie in 2020 to help shape the visual style for Marathon. The extraction shooter is looking to be one of Bungie's most visually unique titles, with a bold aesthetic named by Cross as "graphic realism."

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James Ohlen, the Bioware veteran who led development on upcoming sci-fi RPG Exodus, has stepped down from his position as the head of Archetype Entertainment. Ohlen's exit comes just after the studio debuted a flashy new trailer at The Game Awards, as he says he feels his work on the game is done.

Ohlen has headed up the Wizards of the Coast-owned studio since its founding in 2019, working on the studio's debut title Exodus. "At this stage, James felt his work on the game was complete and that the polishing and tuning were in great hands with the team," Hasbro said in a statement given to Bloomberg.

Exodus is still fairly far from release, which is currently scheduled for early 2027. This is an unusually long window if the game is already up to the polishing and tuning stage. Just last week, Exodus received an epic new trailer at The Game Awards, focused on the journey of protagonist Jun Aslan.

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Riot Games has announced that League of Legends will be getting a major overhaul after 2026, possibly one of the biggest in the game's 16-year history. Riot has said the refresh will include a brand-new "around-game" client, entirely new visuals for Summoner's Rift, and a better experience for players new to the game--plus more updates yet to be announced.

Bloomberg initially reported on Riot's plans for a 2027 LoL refresh earlier this week, saying the update was internally known as "League Next." Shortly after that report was released, Riot Games confirmed the plans via a video posted to League of Legends' social media. League boss Andrei Van Roon added that the video was intended to be released in January, but had been pushed forward in response to the report.

A look at some of our plans for League after 2026. pic.twitter.com/vqsnBksg1Y

— League of Legends (@LeagueOfLegends) December 18, 2025

While Riot says work on the update is well underway, none of it is ready to reveal to the public just yet, though it has outlined some of the major changes on the way. First and foremost is a brand-new "around-game" client, which will be bundled in with the game as a single application. Summoner's Rift is also due for an overhaul, with the studio promising "entirely new visuals" for the classic map, as well as some new gameplay. Other gameplay updates will include changes to runes and the pre-game experience, as well as a full overhaul to the learning experience for players new to League of Legends.

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Lego Star Wars: R2-D2 - 25th Anniversary Edition (1,050 Pieces)

$80 (was $100)

See at Amazon See at Target Sold out at Target Sold out at Walmart Full price at Best Buy Backordered at Lego

One of the best-selling Lego Star Wars sets is proving to be difficult to find in stock this holiday season. The 1,050-piece R2-D2 figure is now sold out at Target and Walmart and is on backorder on the Lego Store. If you're interested in picking up the cool buildable droid figure, Amazon brought back its deal on this exceedingly popular set on December 18. Normally $100, the Star Wars R2-D2 Lego set is on sale for $80 at Amazon. This deal was previously available at Walmart and Target, but unless your local store has units available, both retailers are sold out.

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8BitDo Ultimate 3-Mode Wireless Controller: Rare 40th Anniversary Edition

$72 (was $90) | For Xbox, PC, Apple, Android

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Xbox and PC gamers can save big on 8BitDo's first wireless controller for Xbox Series X|S. The 8BitDo Ultimate 3-Mode Rare 40th Anniversary Edition is on sale for $72 (was $90) at Amazon. Officially licensed by Microsoft, this special version of the Ultimate 3-Mode also comes with a matching charging dock, a metal D-pad, Hall Effect sticks, and remappable back buttons. Released in August in celebration of Rare Limited, the controller has a striking blue-and-gold color scheme with symbols and artwork nodding to the Microsoft-owned studio's storied history. Though best known today as the studio behind Sea of Thieves, Rare has a back catalog of classics like Donkey Kong Country, GoldenEye 007, Banjo-Kazooie, Conker, and Perfect Dark.

The only other time the controller has been discounted was during Black Friday, and that deal sold out before the sale expired. 8BitDo's Ultimate 3-Mode Rare 40th Anniversary Edition Controller is a great alternative to Microsoft's Xbox Elite Series 2 Controller, which is on sale for $135 (was $200). The controller works wirelessly on Xbox consoles, PC, Apple devices, Android, and Steam Deck.

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Diablo IV: The Lost Horadrim (Novel)

$30 | Releases April 21, 2026

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The world of Diablo IV will expand when the upcoming Lord of Hatred expansion launches on April 28. However, a week before the new content drops, fans will get a glimpse into the expansion's story with the prequel novel Diablo IV: The Lost Horadrim. This official novel launches on April and will provide context for the Lord of Hatred's main questline and introduce the Skovos Isles region where the expansion takes place. If that sparks your interest, you can preorder the paperback edition of Diablo IV: The Lost Horadrim for $30 at Amazon. The book will also be available as an eBook and Audible audiobook, priced at $15 and $17.52, respectively.

Diablo IV: The Lost Horadrim (Novel) $30 | Releases April 21, 2026

Diablo IV: The Lost Horadrim is set in the wake of the cataclysmic reaping by the Angel of Death, Malthael, which leaves humanity and the world of Sanctuary devastated. In an effort to fight against the rising tides of Hell's forces, the Horadric Order sends Lorath, Donan, and Tyrael to the Skovos Isles to uncover the fate of a long-lost expedition. The book's events will tie into the upcoming Diablo IV expansion, Lord of Hatred. It is written by Matthew J. Kirby, who previously wrote the Diablo character tomes for Lorath and Prava.

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Diablo has a long history in print, and if you're looking to grab a few books--possibly as a devilish stocking-stuffer--there's plenty to choose from. The Diablo art books and character tomes are fun dives into the game's bleak world, combining high-quality prints with rich illustrations to create eye-catching works of art. The character tomes are designed to be in-universe books written from the perspectives of several key Diablo characters, like Cain and Prava, and they use special paper to give each book a worn, weathered look. The first four of these books are also available as part of the Horadric Vault series for $98.39, but it's actually cheaper to purchase each one and the recently released Book of Prava individually.

You can also dive into various novels set within the timeline of the first Diablo game. The Sin War is a three-book series covering the conflict that would forever change the destiny of humanity, while Storm of Light is set during Diablo 3 and follows Tyrael as he enacts his boldest plan yet: rebuilding the Horadric Order and preparing them to steal the black Soulstone from the heart of Heaven. Diablo graphic novels are also available for purchase, with two of them chronicling the adventures of two legendary characters from the game series: the legendary Necromancer Rathma and the progenitor of the Barbarians, Bul-Kathos.

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Nintendo has been known to vigorously defend its interests and intellectual properties in court, and one of its longest-running legal battles may be nearing its conclusion. In 2010, the Japanese video game publisher filed a suit in Germany against BigBen Interactive--the previous incarnation of Nacon--over its third-party Wii Remote controllers. Now, the latest ruling has unequivocally gone in Nintendo's favor.

As reported by Games Fray, the Mannheim Regional Court has reaffirmed the ruling that Nintendo is owed damages of over €4 million plus interest. Because Nacon fought the ruling, that interest has increased the total fee to just under €7 million.

Nintendo's contention was that Nacon's Wii Remote infringed on its patents for the sensor technology and camera needed to track player movements, as well as an acceleration sensor, and "the ergonomic features characteristic of Nintendo's Wii Remote." The initial verdict came down in 2011, but Nacon has consistently appealed the judgment and come up empty each time.

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World Tech Toys Licensed Air Hockey Tables

$50

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If you're sick of having to go all the way to Dave & Buster's to play some air hockey with your little ones, you'll want to check out these officially licensed, portable air hockey tables from World Tech Toys. Each one is just $50, and features characters from popular franchises like Spider-Man, Transformers, Toy Story, and more.

World Tech Toys Licensed Air Hockey Tables $50

World Tech Toys' new air hockey tables feature a built-in fan that mimics an authentic air hockey experience, while remaining portable enough to bring with you on the go. The tables are constructed from durable wood, too, which should withstand the usual wear and tear that children's toys endure. There are multiple variations of air hockey tables, each featuring a beloved character (or characters) from big-name franchises like Marvel, Disney, and more. Check out each World Tech Toys Air Hockey Table theme you can get below:

• Marvel Avengers Air Hockey Table -- $50
• Marvel Spider-Man Air Hockey Table -- $50
• Marvel Spidey and His Amazing Friends Air Hockey Table -- $50
• Mickey Mouse Air Hockey Table -- $50
• Minnie Mouse Air Hockey Table -- $50
• Toy Story Air Hockey Table -- $50
• Transformers Air Hockey Table -- $50

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These air hockey tables could make great last-minute gifts for kids--just make sure to confirm Amazon's delivery date is before Christmas, if you need it to arrtive by December 25. If you're looking for some other gift ideas, check out World Tech Toys' lineup, which includes RC cars and helicopters, toy work benches, mini pinball and foosball tables, plus much more. And yes, those come in plenty of fun themes as well, including Frozen, Star Wars, and Subway.

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Backbone Pro Mobile Controller

$135 (was $170)

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Backbone Pro Mobile Controller: Xbox Edition

$145 (was $180)

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Backbone Pro Mobile Controller (Pink): Target Exclusive

$140 (was $170)

See at Target

Just a month after its launch, the Backbone Pro Xbox Edition is on sale for a substantial discount at Amazon, Best Buy, and Backbone's online storefront. Normally $180, the officially licensed transparent green mobile controller is up for grabs for $145. Alternatively, you can get the standard edition black Backbone Pro for $135 (was $170) or the Target-exclusive pink edition for $140 (was $170).

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Prime Video's Tomb Raider TV series continues to add to its cast, with a new report saying Jason Isaacs will star in the show. Deadline reported that the Emmy-nominated actor will appear in the show, but his role is unknown at this point, as is the larger story for the series.

Isaacs is a veteran actor perhaps best known for his role as Lucius Malfoy in the Harry Potter movie series. He's also had roles in the movies The Patriot, Black Hawk Down, Peter Pan, and Fury. On TV, Isaacs recently had a starring role in the The White Lotus Season 3, a role that earned him his first Emmy nomination.

The Tomb Raider TV show stars Game of Thrones alum Sophie Turner as Lara Croft, with Avatar's Sigourney Weaver signed on to play a character named Wallace. British actor Martin Bobb-Semple will appear in the show, too, in an unspecified series regular role.

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