It looks like Creative Assembly is going back to creating games in the real-time strategy genre after the cancellation of its multiplayer shooter, Hyenas.

During a financial briefing, Sega president Haruki Satomi said, "To put it simply, Creative Assembly was good at offline games in the RTS genre, but they took on the challenge of developing Hyenas, an online game in the FPS genre."

During the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, Sega tried to accelerate growth by having studios focus on areas where they historically haven't experienced it. However, some studios were able to adapt, and others didn't, so now Sega is going back to having them focus on their core strengths.

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In World of Warcraft Classic, there are no surprises left. That makes sense; it is, after all, a nearly 20-year-old game.

Though the original version of WoW that launched in 2004 was in many ways overwritten with subsequent updates, mostly notably 2010's Cataclysm expansion, players never stopped playing the "vanilla" version of Blizzard's MMORPG thanks to unofficial private servers that were available prior to Blizzard's official re-release of the original WoW in 2019. In that time, everything there was to learn about the original era of WoW had been exhaustively detailed. Two decades worth of knowledge, in turn, drastically changed how players approached the release of Classic in 2019.

All the quests had been completed time and time again, all the items found. Battling the game's once-formidable raid bosses became as simple as watching a 30-second encounter guide on YouTube, and solving a confusing quest was as easy as downloading a comprehensive quest-mod or searching for an NPC's name on Wowhead. Players knew which talent specializations were best and what each class excelled at. The game was one giant math problem that millions of players already knew every answer to.

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Netflix has announced that Season 2 of Sandman is resuming production. The news coincides with the 35th anniversary of the DC comic series. As reported by Netflix, creator Neil Gaiman marked the occasion by penning a letter to fans, ensuring them that "good things are coming."

"We never know where our dreams will take us," Gaiman writes. "I look back and see one clear path stretching behind me. At times on this journey the way forward seemed impossible.. When I look at the path ahead, though, I don't see darkness. I see how the world of The Sandman continues to grow and evolve and take new forms."

35 years ago today, the first issue of The Sandman comic was released. This week, The Sandman officially restarts production.

In the words of @neilhimself, "Good things are coming." pic.twitter.com/oLCU7UpFuL

— The Sandman (@Netflix_Sandman) November 29, 2023

In his letter, Gaiman recounted the unconventional journey of The Sandman, emphasizing its departure from conventional superhero narratives. He acknowledged the pivotal role of hard work, overconfidence, and key collaborators in bringing the story of Morpheus and the Endless to life. Gaiman's letter also hinted at the expansive narrative trajectory the series will explore, from Destiny's garden to diverse locations like Hell, Ancient Greece, and revolutionary France.

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Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time's newest trailer showcases all new additions, multiplayer options, and quality-of-life changes to the Fantasy Life series.

After the original Fantasy Life on the 3DS, the franchise continued to release on mobile platforms, but as a live-service game called Fantasy Life Online. On February 6, 2023, Fantasy Life Online shut down its servers in North America. With The Girl Who Steals Time, it looks as though Level-5 will be ushering in a new console entry without the live-service problems the previous Fantasy Life Online had including all-new features to the series.

Today's newest trailer for Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time delves into a "makeover" of the franchise as the trailer highlights the differences and added features from the original game. The Artist and Farmer Lives have been added with now a total of 14 different jobs for players to choose from and switching jobs can be done at any time. Minigames are updated and made easier, full customization with the island alongside landscaping is now allowed, and the graphics are drastically improved from the 3DS title--for example, there is a larger field of vision so as to not miss treasures or monsters.

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After years of waiting, Dragon's Dogma 2 is almost here. Launching on March 22, 2024, the RPG is looking to deliver more of what fans loved about the first--including the return of the Pawn system and its engaging action-oriented combat. If you'll be playing on PC, consider preordering the game right now, as both standard and Deluxe editions are currently getting a nice discount.

Preorder Standard Edition Preorder Deluxe Edition

Over at Fanatical, you'll find Dragon's Dogma for $58.09 (down from $70), while the Deluxe edition is $66.39 (down from $80). Both editions include the Superior Weapons Quartet and Ring of Assurance preorder bonuses. At the moment, you'll also get to spin the Black Friday wheel for a chance to win additional items or coupons, as well as a voucher for 5% off your next purchase.

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The ever-growing Netflix mobile game catalog will receive a major addition next month, as the company has announced a deal with Rockstar Games to bring the Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy - Definitive Edition to the Netflix app on December 14.

The move will see all three PlayStation 2-era GTA titles ported to mobile devices exclusively to Netflix members. The games will be available to download through the Netflix app, which will then forward users to either the iOS App Store or the Google Play Store for download.

Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy - The Definitive Edition

The three games included in the packages are as follows:

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Shadow the Hedgehog looks ready to go fast on the film set for Sonic 3. A new image for the 2024 movie teases the antihero's dope shoes along with his closed fists.

The official Sonic the Hedgehog movie account on Twitter/X revealed the first image from Sonic 3, showcasing that production has begun on the film. The social media post also confirms Sonic 3 is still aiming to release on December 20, 2024.

Off and RUNNING. #SonicMovie3
Only in theatres December 20, 2024 pic.twitter.com/BUIlurNIC0

— Sonic the Hedgehog (@SonicMovie) November 29, 2023

As for Shadow, he was actually unveiled during a post-credits scene for Sonic the Hedgehog 2. The sequel shows him frozen at some sort of secret research facility. The character originally debuted in the video game series with 2001's Sonic Adventure 2.

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Microsoft is a big believer in AI--and of course they are, because the technology giant spent a reported $10 billion to partner with OpenAI on future projects--and AI will be baked into every product Microsoft makes. This includes Xbox. Tim Stuart, the CFO of Xbox, recently spoke about how he expects AI to impact the future of gaming at Xbox, and he sees a bright future. Like other Xbox executives before him, he did not discuss any potential downsides to AI like job losses or displacement.

"I've never been more excited for a technology shift in the gaming landscape," he said at the Wells Fargo TMT Summit. "The last one we did was when we went from discs on consoles to let's call it online games and games-as-a-service; things like Fortnite and Minecraft, which really changed the landscape of how people play. Mobile games being another one. I think AI is one of those inflection points for us."

For developers, Stuart said studios spend millions of dollars on localization, scripting, and other elements, and he believes, "AI can take care of all of that."

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PlayStation has revealed the next batch of free games for PS Plus subscribers. December's PlayStation Plus lineup includes Lego 2K Drive, Powerwash Simulator, and Sable. All three freebies will be available to claim starting December 5.

Released in May this year, Lego 2K Drive is a pretty fun mix of the popular building blocks and all-out racing. Forza Horizon mixed with a DIY approach to assembling a collection of vehicles, Lego 2K Drive is set in the world of Bricklandia and challenges you to race against several rivals in an effort to win the coveted Sky Trophy. You won't just be burning rubber on the tarmac in this game, as you can also show off your skills on off-road terrain and open waters with your custom creation.

PS Plus December 2023

Do you prefer something more meditative? Powerwash Simulator is just the game for you, as you'll be cleaning up your neighborhood with an exotic selection of high-pressure water hose nozzles and cleaning agents. Clean up well, get filthy rich, and spend your cash on equipment to make the job that much more efficient. Even better, Powerwash Simulator has several expansions that are sold separately, so if you've ever wanted to visit Bikini Bottom or Midgar, you can prepare for a hose-down in Spongebob Squarepants and Final Fantasy VII.

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Black Friday is supposed to be the best time to pick up electronics, but for some odd reason this new discount for a PS5-compatible NVMe SSD is better than anything offered last week. Head over to Amazon, and you'll find the 1TB Crucial P5 Plus Internal SSD with Heatsink for $50--its lowest price ever.

1TB Crucial P5 Plus Internal SSD with Heatsink $50 (was $80)

There were plenty of PS5 SSD deals popping up during Black Friday, but none were more affordable than this current deal for the 1TB Crucial P5 Plus. Along with its built-in heatsink, you're getting a device capable of speeds up to 6,600MB/s for performance that's indistinguishable from the PS5's native SSD.

See at Amazon

Installing the internal SSD is a bit more complicated than simply plugging it into a port on the back of the console, so be sure to check out our PS5 SSD installation guide if you need help.

If you need more space, you'll find the 2TB Crucial T500 Gen 4 Internal SSD with Heatsink for $125, offering more storage and speeds up to 7,400MB/s. Alternatively, you can buy the same 2TB SSD without a heatsink for $102 and pair it with a $9 heatsink. And if you're looking for other hardware, a bunch of other Crucial gadgets are on sale, including portable drives and RAM kits.

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Rosetta Stone Lifetime Subscription

$149 (was $400)

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Learning a new language is time-consuming and often expensive. There's no shortage of apps available to help with the process, though hefty monthly fees sometimes make it hard to justify the price, especially if you have limited time to use them. If you're interested in learning a new language at your own speed, look at this Rosetta Stone deal at Amazon.

Typically $400, you can get lifetime, unlimited access to Rosetta Stone for $149. Considering Rosetta Stone's subscriptions for a single language can cost as much as $16 per month, this is a pretty remarkable deal. Rosetta Stone is only available at this price--its lowest ever--until December 4.

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Microsoft wants to bring Xbox Game Pass to PlayStation and Nintendo. Xbox CFO Tim Stuart said during the Wells Fargo TMT Summit this week that the goal is to make first-party games and Game Pass available on "every screen that can play games," and this includes rival consoles.

"It's a bit of a change of strategy. Not announcing anything broadly here, but our mission is to bring our first-party experiences [and] our subscription services to every screen that can play games," Stuart said. "That means smart TVs, that means mobile devices, that means what we would have thought of as competitors in the past like PlayStation and Nintendo."

Stuart said Game Pass is a "high margin" business for Microsoft, along with first-party games and advertising. These are all areas that Microsoft plans to expand into significantly in the time ahead, Stuart said. The executive added that buying Activision Blizzard helps Microsoft get there faster than it might have been able to on its own.

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Most TVs have speakers that pale in comparison to soundbars and standalone speakers. And while many TVs are of the "smart" variety and support streaming apps, it's not uncommon to experience sluggish performance compared to dedicated streaming boxes. These are the big selling points of the Roku Streambar. It offers smooth 4K streaming thanks to powerful internal hardware, and it doubles as a soundbar with support for Dolby Audio. Right now, you can snag the Roku Streambar with a Wireless Subwoofer for only $150 (down from $250). The Streambar on its own normally costs $130, so this is a tremendous deal.

Roku Streambar & Wireless Bass $150 (was $250)

As you'd expect, the Roku Streambar is loaded with today's most popular apps. This includes Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, Apple TV, Prime Video, and dozens more. One great feature offered by Roku is the option to search for a specific program across all your apps at once--so you don’t have to dive into six different apps to find which one is streaming Fargo.

See at Amazon

The Roku Streambar supports 4K output, making it a good pairing for every TV. Coupled with the fact that this is a bonafide soundbar (complete with Dolby Audio and four internal speakers), and it's a extremely versatile device. It's especially appealing if you have limited space on your entertainment center.

Roku OS has some neat audio features, too, including the ability to automatically lower the volume when commercials start, increase the volume and clarity of voices, and different sound modes for day/night.

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Zack Snyder worked with DC for many years, making movies like Man of Steel, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, and Justice League, but that part of his life is now over, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Could he be drawn back at some point in the future?

He said if DC Studios co-head James Gunn made an offer, he might come back, but only for one specific project. He told the site that he might be coaxed to come back to make a Dark Knight Returns adaptation, but only if it's a "true representation of the graphic novel."

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Take-Two Interactive and 2K Games are being sued as part of a class action lawsuit relating to the publishers' use of digital currency. The lawsuit (via GameIndustry.biz), filed on November 17 in the Northern District of California, accuses both companies (Take-Two is the parent company of 2K Games) of theft and deceptive business practices. In particular, the suit emphasizes the fact that for big annual games, like NBA 2K, the currency purchased expires with the game's online servers and cannot be refunded or transferred to a newer title.

A parent representing their child filed the suit, whichseeks "equitable non-monetary and monetary relief" for themselves and for any consumers whose purchased virtual currency that expired from November 17, 2019 to the present. The lawsuit discusses that much of the video game industry's massive revenue intake is from the selling of virtual currency and that this currency is marketed to children via product tie-ins.

The suit claims that the practice of wiping out virtual currency is unusual in the business, as games like Call of Duty allow their players to transfer their currencies into future titles. It further claims that there is no technological limitation that prevents currency transfer and 2K Games offers no explanation for the policy. Furthermore, 2K does not warn players upon purchase that it can destroy the currency.

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More than a decade ago, Man of Steel director Zack Snyder pitched an R-rated Star Wars movie to Lucasfilm. The company did not bite, and now Snyder has spoken more about how it all went down. He's speaking about this just ahead of the release of his sci-fi Netflix movie Rebel Moon, which is what Snyder's Star Wars pitch morphed into.

Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, Snyder said when he pitched Lucasfilm in 2012, he thought Star Wars "was in a vulnerable state." Given that, Snyder said he thought he had a chance. But just six months later, Disney announced its intent to purchase Lucasfilm, and that ended that.

Snyder's wife and producing partner Deborah Snyder was excited that her husband's pitch got rejected, because she never thought Zack would be able to tell the story he wanted to tell. Snyder had already worked on a giant franchise--DC--and Deborah thought Lucasfilm might be even more protective and hinder her husband's vision.

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Pokemon Horizons, known in Japan as Pocket Monsters: Liko and Roy's Departure and Pocket Monsters: The Sparkling of Terapagos, debuted in Japan back in April. The two story arcs will be put together for Pokemon Horizons, which finally has an American release date. Netflix has announced that the 26th Pokemon series will be heading to the streaming giant in February 2024.

Horizons introduced two new Pokemon would-be trainers, Liko and Roy. The duo find themselves teaming up with the Rising Volt Tacklers, a group of adventurers that explore the ever-expanding Pokemon world. This series will include the Paldea region, which was introduced in 2022's Pokemon: Scarlet and Violet games.

Horizons was the first Pokemon series iteration without Ash Ketchum and there was a whirlwind of fan speculation if the long-running franchise could go without both of its mascots. This will be America's first look at the series in English, but the English dub will debut in the UK on BBC iPlayer and CBBC in December before then.

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Amazon is set to expand The Boys universe with a new series set in Mexico City, according to Variety. The spinoff, tentatively titled The Boys: Mexico, is in the hands of writer Gareth Dunnet-Alcocer (Blue Beetle, El Muerto), with Diego Luna (Andor) and Gael García Bernal (Cassandro) on board as executive producers and potential minor acting roles, though nothing has been confirmed as of now.

Similarly, details about The Boys: Mexico, including its premise, remain undisclosed, and there's an ongoing search for a co-showrunner to join Dunnet-Alcocer. The current focus of the team is on script development and budget planning for a Latin American shoot. Eric Kripke, the original series creator, is part of the creative forces behind The Boys: Mexico, which includes Kripke Enterprises, Point Grey Pictures, Original Film, Sony Pictures Television, and Amazon MGM Studios. Loreli Alba is expected to oversee for Point Grey.

Adapted from the Garth Ennis/Darick Robertson comic, The Boys offers an over-the-top satirical view of corrupt superheroes and the consequences of unchecked power. The Prime Video series has already spawned successful spinoffs, including the animated The Boys Presents: Diabolical and the YA (kinda) college spinoff Gen V. The upcoming Mexico-set series marks the fourth installment in The Boys franchise.

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CD Projekt Red has revealed that Cyberpunk 2077's Phantom Liberty has sold over 4.3 million copies since its release on September 26.

According to CD Projekt Red's chief financial officer, Piotr Nielubowicz, the Phantom Liberty expansion has a 20% attach rate. This means that one out of every five people who own the base Cyberpunk 2077 game also own the expansion. Right now, the studio is working on the Cyberpunk 2077 Ultimate Edition, which includes both the base game and expansion in one single package, and it's set to release on December 5.

The Phantom Liberty expansion sold 3 million copies in its first week and it certainly helped the studio overcome the game's original rough launch three years ago. The game is nominated for Best Narrative and Best Performance for Idris Elba as Solomon Reed at The Game Awards 2023. It's also nominated for best Community Support and Ongoing Game.

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Destiny 2's final season is now live, bringing the Lightfall saga to an end ahead of the release of the now-delayed The Final Shape expansion. Unlike most of the other seasons released over the years, Season of the Wish will be the longest one to date as it'll conclude in June 2024. Season of the Wish will focus on one of Destiny 2's strangest narrative threads, the powerful wish-granting dragons called Ahamkara that were long thought to be extinct before 2018's Forsaken expansion revealed that one was still alive and was hidden in the Dreaming City.

Season 23 will introduce a number of technical changes as well, along with more Exotic armor and Exotic weapon overhauls, and ability changes. As usual, you'll be able to progress through the season pass and earn some great rewards, like a new version of the Exotic rocket launcher Dragon's Breath.

Table of Contents [hide]

• Season of the Wish guides

Season of the Wish guides

What secrets will there be to uncover in Season 23? Last season saw a big focus on deckbuilding, and we're anticipating that Bungie has a few new ideas to experiment with this season. We'll be updating this section with a list of guides, so check back often as we explore the secrets of Season of the Wish.

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