Marvel Rivals' Season 3.5 refresh is now live, and it's largely focused on punishing players who disconnect or go AFK from matches and compensating those who have to endure the aftermath.

Leavers have been an ongoing issue in Marvel Rivals' competitive mode, and now developer NetEase is upping the penalties for those who make it a habit in the game's Season 3.5 update. According to the Season 3.5 patch notes, those who continue to leave or go AFK will see more frequent temporary bans from competitive play, with repeat offenders being banned from competitive play for upwards of 20 hours. There are penalties for leavers in quick matches as well, though they are less steep. Repeat leavers there can be banned for up to eight hours from matchmaking.

As for the teammates of leavers or those with an AFK member, NetEase is looking to ease the sting of losing a teammate in the 6v6 hero shooter. If a disconnection or AFK players is detected within the first 70 seconds of a competitive match, the match will be deemed invalid, with penalties for the leaver or AFK player but no negative results or penalties for other players in the match.

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Animal Well is one of the best puzzle-focused Metroidvanias of recent memory, coming out of nowhere in 2024 and launching to rave reviews from critics and players, and even garnering a nomination for Best Debut Indie Game at the 2024 Video Game Awards. While the game saw a digital release on PC and consoles and two small-batch physical printings from both Limited Run Games (now sold out) and Lost in Cult, Animal Well is now finally getting an official physical release on Nintendo Switch and PS5 later this year. A firm launch date for this new physical version has not been announced, and there are no preorder bonuses. However, you can already preorder the PS5 and Switch versions for $35 at Amazon and Best Buy.

Animal Well Standard Edition $35 | Release Date TBA

This new physical edition features different cover art from the Limited Run and Lost in Cult versions. It comes with the base game plus the latest patches right on the cartridge or disc, and the Switch version also includes a Switch 2 update patch. Both the Switch and PS5 versions are DoesItPlay approved, meaning you can start playing directly from the cartridge or disc without the need for additional downloads or an internet connection.

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Our Animal Well review gave it an impressive 9/10, praising its unique items, suspenseful enemy encounters, and surreal visual design. "This is a game that's chock full of pleasant surprises, from the way its items forgo tradition in interesting ways to the visual design and sense of atmosphere generated by its bizarre, neon-soaked world," wrote critic Richard Wakeling. "Animal Well might look antiquated and familiar at first glance, but this well is cavernous and unpredictable." The upcoming new physical edition is the perfect excuse to try out the game if you have yet to play it.

As mentioned above, Limited Run Games and Lost in Cult also produced physical editions of Animal Well--though these are much smaller print runs than the new version available to preorder. Unfortunately, Limited Run's version has been sold out for a while, but you can still pick up Lost in Cult's Animal Well Exclusive Variant at the Lost in Cult website if you don't want to wait for the new standard edition. Lost in Cult's Animal Well releases features an exclusive cover design by Derek Yu (developer of Spelunky, UFO 50). A few other Animal Well items are available at Lost in Cult, such as a vinyl version of the game's soundtrack and the gorgeous hardcover Animal Well: Design Works book chronicling the game's development. You can even bundle all of Lost in Cult's Animal Well releases together to create your own ersatz collector's edition. Keep in mind these are offered in limited quantities, so grab them while you can.

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This week, Fortnite's Shock N' Awesome campaign kicked off after an epic showdown ended the previous season, with the Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers and a new Halo Spartan skin joining the battle royale against a horde of giant bugs. To celebrate the start of the bug-squashing season, Epic Games has kicked off a new Twitch Drop initiative for this weekend, where 90 minutes of viewing time can land you three new items for your locker.

In order to claim the items, simply log in to Twitch between now and August 10 at 8:59 PM PT / 11:59 PM ET and watch any streamer playing Fortnite for 30 minutes in order to claim the first of the three items. The other two items will unlock at the 60-minute and 90-minute marks, and each item will appear instantly in your in-game locker's inventory once you've hit the time milestones.

The three items that can be unlocked through the Shock N' Awesome Twitch Drop campaign are as follows:

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The Grand Theft Auto series just hit a major milestone, as parent company Take-Two Interactive confirmed that it has sold almost 455 million units across the franchise. What makes this figure even more impressive is that GTA 5 alone counts for almost half of those sales, with 215 million units sold to date.

While GTA V isn't the best-selling game of all time in pure unit sales--it's actually third, behind Minecraft and Tetris--it's still a record that likely won't be broken for quite some time. Since it launched all the way back in 2013 for PS3 and Xbox 360, the game has regularly sold well, and it has been updated since then for newer console generations.

GTA 5 continues to be a best-seller.

GTA 5's GTA Online mode has been especially lucrative, with Take-Two adding that it reached $1 billion in retail sales faster than any entertainment release in history.

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Earlier this summer, a battle between gaming giants began when Sony filed a lawsuit against Tencent, alleging that the latter's upcoming game, Light of Motiram, is infringing on Sony's Horizon franchise. Now, Tencent appears to have revamped its presentation of Light of Motiram and downplayed its similarities to Sony's game.

Tencent has changed several elements on Light of Motiram's Steam page (via The Game Post), including a new description for the game that drops all references to the mechanimals creatures in the story, which looked and sounded a lot like the ones from Horizon. The new description doesn't have many specific details at all, and instead tells players, "Only by overcoming the challenges of survival can you carve out a place for yourself in this unforgiving land."

The screenshots for Light of Motiram have also been swapped out on Steam and replaced with new pics that still retain some common elements with Horizon. But the screenshots that had a color palette and backgrounds similar to Horizon have been removed.

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The fantasy shooters Heretic and Hexen have been remastered and re-released for modern platforms, allowing longtime fans and new players to experience these cult classics all over again. Originally developed by Raven Software and released in 1994 and 1995, the games stood out for combining fast-paced first-person shooter gameplay with dark-fantasy settings and RPG mechanics--a big departure from the sci-fi and military themes popular at the time.

The remastered collection, Heretic + Hexen, is now available on Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4 and 5, Nintendo Switch, and PC. This definitive edition includes new features such as two brand-new episodes, support for community-made mods, and both local and online multiplayer. Players can team up in co-op or compete in deathmatch modes, with up to 16 players supported in online play and split-screen options on all platforms.

While Heretic featured a long protagonist--the elven warrior Corvus--Hexen introduced a class-based system, giving players a choice between three characters: the strong and fast Fighter (Baratus), the spell-casting but fragile Mage (Daedolon), and the balanced Cleric (Parias). Each has unique weapons, abilities, and ways to use items, adding some level of replayability and variety of gameplay style. This feature, along with the game's fantasy setting, helped set Hexen apart in the early days of first-person shooters.

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Later this month, Metal Gear Solid Delta is taking MGS fans back to the jungles of 1960s Russia to relive the first story in the overarching Metal Gear Solid timeline. Konami won't be finished with MGS Delta when it launches, however, as today the company announced Fox Hunt--a "hide-and-seek based" multiplayer mode, will be added to the game this fall.

According to the official Metal Gear Solid Delta website, Fox Hunt is based on the Sneaking Mission game modes of past Metal Gear Online offerings, where one player is tasked with infiltrating an area while other players try to find and neutralize the sneaking player. The site that Fox Hunt will use "sneaking gameplay elements iconic to the Metal Gear series" in order to "amplif[y] the tension of hide-and-seek to a whole new level."

Metal Gear Solid Delta's Fox Hunt mode

Fox Hunt joins two other side activities from the main adventure, Snake Vs. Monkey and Snake Vs. Bomberman, which will appear on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, respectively. Snake Vs. Monkey recreates the Ape Escape-themed monkey-finding missions from the original Metal Gear Solid 3 releases, while Snake Vs. Bomberman pits Snake in an explosive new clash with the classic arcade character.

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Battlefield 6 has an open beta kicking off this weekend on console and PC, but Sony is looking to attract a few players to PS5 by offering an exclusive soldier skin for the game's full launch. Downloading and playing the Battlefield 6 open beta on PS5 will get you the "Advance Party" skin, which will be added to the game in October.

So far, developer Battlefield Studios is keeping the selection of skins for the game grounded in reality, compared to Call of Duty and its focus on pop-culture cosmetics. The Advance Party skin decks your soldier out in muted colors--save for some blue accents--making for an understated look that wouldn't appear out of place in a warzone.

PlayStation players get an exclusive "Advance Party" skin just by playing the Battlefield 6 Beta on PS5
by u/keshavb11 in Battlefield6

As a reminder, the first open beta runs August 9-10, and there'll be a second weekend of action scheduled for August 14-17. The beta will offer a pretty substantial number of maps and modes to play, and there are several other rewards that you can claim if you intend to purchase the full game:

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Things have been rough for Xbox Game Studios lately, with numerous layoffs and the cancellation of several games. One of the studios impacted was Forza Motorsport developer Turn 10, with reportedly 50% of its staff affected. This has led to fears about the future of the studio and Forza Motorsport, but Turn 10 says that it'll continue to support it.

"Dear Forza Community, we know many of you have questions about what’s next for the Forza franchise, and we appreciate the support of our incredible community," Turn10 wrote in its first post on X after almost a month of silence. "We wanted to assure players that Turn 10 and Playground Games will continue to support Forza Motorsport and Forza Horizon 5."

The studio says that it has several events planned for Forza Motorsport throughout August and September, starting with the return of Track Toys Tour as a permanent feature in the game. At the start of each month, an additional Tour will be added to the game until all of these have returned.

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BioShock fans may be understandably curious about the fate of the next game in the series following leaks that BioShock 4 failed an internal review and Cloud Chamber studio head Kelley Gilmore was reportedly ousted by 2K Games as a result. However, Strauss Zelnick--the CEO of 2K Games' parent company, Take-Two Interactive--has essentially promised fans that BioShock 4 is still on the way and it won't be canceled.

"It's going to come out," Zelnick told IGN. "That I can say hand on heart, without question ... We don't talk about how long our development cycles are. We have had some ups and downs along the way. That is accurate. And we have had changes in studio leadership. That said, we have very big shoes to fill on BioShock because of the legacy of Ken Levine, the legacy of what has gone before, which has been so successful. And we need to make sure that this experience is true to the BioShock DNA on the one hand, and a massive step forward on the other hand. That's always challenging. We think we're up to the challenge, but it has not been seamless."

The same report that noted BioShock 4's latest setback also indicated that a remake of the original BioShock was canceled earlier this year. 2K Games acknowledged the original report and called Cloud Chamber's BioShock 4 "good game," but reiterated its commitment "to delivering a great one."

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This year's Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios in California and Universal Orlando in Florida will feature haunted houses devoted to Fallout and Five Nights At Freddy's--and while both are inspired by video games, both houses will lean into their respective live-action adaptations.

The theme parks haven't shared any of the footage of this year's HHN houses yet, but the creative team on both coasts has offered a few teasers about what fans can expect to see.

While speaking with The Hollywood Reporter, Universal revealed that Amazon Prime's Fallout series provided the HHN team with 3D models of Walton Goggins' The Ghoul to ensure that masks used in the attraction are identical to his face on the show. Universal Orlando's Lora Sauls also said that a teaser has been filmed, with "one of their characters for us to tease their second season in the house."

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No backdoors, no kill switches, no spyware. That's Nvidia's pledge after an accusation from the Cyberspace Administration of China, which asked Nvidia last week to provide documents about security vulnerabilities in Nvidia's H20 data center GPUs, specifically citing "backdoor" security risks. Nvidia responded officially with a blog post the company's chief security officer, David Reber Jr.

"Embedding backdoors and kill switches into chips would be a gift to hackers and hostile actors," Reber wrote. "It would undermine global data infrastructure and fracture trust in U.S. technology. Established law wisely requires companies to fix vulnerabilities--not create them."

The Cyberspace Administration of China's concerns stem specifically from the Nvidia's H20 GPU, which is made for the Chinese market and designed to comply with US export guidelines. Ars Technica notes that U.S. lawmakers are considering a Chip Security Act that would "require exported chips to be built with 'location verification,'" and "calls for an assessment of mechanisms to stop unauthorized use." In other words, a kill switch.

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There's been a lot of speculation about the cost of Grand Theft Auto 6, with some companies hoping that it will debut at $100 to open the door for more games to drop at that price. The current ceiling for gaming prices appears to be $80, but Strauss Zelnick--the CEO of Rockstar Games' parent company, Take-Two Interactive--doesn't seem to be very enthusiastic about raising the price for GTA 6.

"I think our approach may be a little bit different," replied Zelnick when asked about pricing GTA 6 at $80 during Take-Two's August 7 investor call. "We believe that any consumer experience is the intersection of the thing itself and what you paid for the thing. So our goal is to vastly exceed expectations. We want to put out the best entertainment on Earth, and we want to deliver more value than what we charge for it. We think we've generally speaking, gotten that right."

"Variable pricing has been the nature of this industry forever," added Zelnick. "You know, most Frontline releases will go out at a higher price, sometimes with special editions, and then over time usually the price is discounted to optimize for the largest possible market. And I don't think that's going to change anytime soon ... The rubric that informs us is really that of delivering more value than what we charge."

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Few disaster movies are as iconic--or successful--as 1996's Twister. The blockbuster flick is often credited with kicking off a wave of popularity for the disaster movie genre that rolled far into the 2000s. The film's 2024 standalone sequel, Twisters, looks to be replicating that success, raking in nearly $400 million worldwide and earning praise from critics. Soon, fans will be able to add both movies to their Blu-ray collections with an upcoming double feature 4K Blu-ray release, releasing August 26, that includes 4K cuts of both films, a collectible steelbook case, and tons of bonus materials. Preorders for the Twisters Double Feature Limited Edition Steelbook 4K Blu-ray are available now for $45 at multiple online retailers.

Twisters Double Feature Limited Edition Steelbook 4K Blu-ray $45 | Releases August 26

The Twisters Double Feature Limited Edition Steelbook includes both Twister and Twisters on 4K Blu-ray and digital formats with support for Dolby Vision HDR, plus Dolby Atmos and Dolby TrueHD 7.1 spatial audio. There's also a long list of bonus features, which we've listed out below. The Blu-rays come in a collectible steelbook case featuring cover and interior artwork from both films. Note that preordering means you won't pay until the item ships, and if the price happens to drop between now and August 26, you're entitled to the lower price.

Preorder at Amazon Preorder at Walmart Preorder at Gruv Twisters Double Feature Limited Edition SteelbookTwisters Double Feature Steelbook Bonus Features

The Twisters Double Feature Limited Edition Steelbook 4K Blu-ray offers a wealth of bonus content for both films, including commentary tracks, deleted scenes, documentaries, and more. Bonus material is presented in 1080p rather than 4K. Here's a look at all the special features:

Twister (1996)

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Reanimal Standard Edition

$40 | Release Date TBA

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Reanimal Deluxe Edition

$60 | Release Date TBA

Preorder at Amazon

Reanimal Collector's Edition

$200 | Release Date TBA

Preorder at Amazon

Reanimal is an upcoming horror game for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch 2, and PC, created by Tarsier Studios, the folks responsible for the Little Nightmares series. It follows a brother and sister as they explore a mysterious island in search of their missing friends, discovering all sorts of mutated animals and other abominations along the way. Based on the brief glimpses we've seen of the game through trailers, there's a strong emphasis on its chilling atmosphere and surviving tense moments. Reanimal does not yet have a release date, though preorders are open at most retailers. Three versions of the game are up for grabs, including a $40 standard edition, $60 Deluxe Edition, and a massive $200 Collector's Edition that's packed with physical extras.

Reanimal Preorder Bonuses

Since Reanimal doesn't yet have a firm release date, details about preorder bonuses are scarce. The Collector's Edition does make a mention of some sort of "Preorder DLC," though it's unclear what exactly this will be. Once more details become available, we'll be sure to update this section with specifics.

Reanimal Standard Edition $40 | Release Date TBA

The standard edition gets you the Reanimal base game on your platform of choice. Physical preorders are available for PS5, Xbox Series X, and Switch 2 at Amazon, Best Buy, and GameStop. Digital preorders are also available.

Preorder at Amazon Preorder at Best Buy Preorder at GameStop Reanimal Deluxe Edition $60 | Release Date TBA

The $60 Reanimal Deluxe Edition features the base game, plus access to the Season Pass and post-launch DLC--though we don't know exactly what these in-game bonuses will include. Physical PS5, Switch 2, and Xbox Series X preorders are available at Amazon. You can also preorder this version digitally on consoles or Steam.

Preorder at Amazon Reanimal Collector's Edition $200 | Release Date TBA

Reanimal is also getting a big $200 Collector's Edition that comes with everything in the Deluxe Edition, plus a bundle of physical collectibles. Here's what's included: the DLC and Season Pass, this edition gets you the following:

• Base game on your platform of choice
• Season Pass
• First post-launch DLC
• Pig statue (9.8 x 5.1 x 4.7 inches)
• Bucket mini statue (4.8 inches)
• Keychain
• Map poster
• Artbook
• Stickers
• Exclusive box

This version is available for PS5, Xbox Series X, and Switch 2. Preorders are live at Amazon.

Preorder at Amazon Reanimal Collector's EditionReanimal Collectibles Preorders

The Reanimal preorders don't end with just the game. There's also a selection of figurines available to preorder at the official Reanimal online store based on The Boy and The Girl protagonists, and various characters they'll meet throughout the game. These collectibles come in premium display boxes. They are estimated to launch on March 31, 2026. Here's a list of all the Reanimal figurines available to preorder:

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Studio Ghibli Movies: Steelbook Editions (Blu-ray + DVD)

Get many of Hayao Miyazaki's best films for only $16.

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If you're a Studio Ghibli fan, now's an ideal time to start or expand your Blu-ray collection. The distinctive, matching Steelbook Editions of most of the movies in the Japanese animation studio's filmography are on sale for exceedingly low prices at Amazon. Nearly all of animated movies written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki are featured in the promotion, including nine Blu-ray Steelbook Editions for roughly $16 each.

Seven of the best deals are on Studio Ghibli movies directed and written by Miyazaki: Spirited Away, Ponyo, Kiki's Delivery Service, My Neighbor Totoro, Howl's Moving Castle, Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind, and Porco Rosso. More than a dozen Studio Ghibli Steelbook Editions are on sale for $19 or less, and all of them follow the same design aesthetics, which makes these vibrant collectible editions look great alongside each other on a display shelf. The list below is organized by price, from lowest to highest.

Studio Ghibli Movies: Steelbook Editions (Blu-ray + DVD)

• Spirited Away: Steelbook Edition -- $16.19 ($27)
• Ponyo: Steelbook Edition -- $16.19 ($27)
• The Tale of The Princess Kaguya: Steelbook Edition -- $16.19 ($27)
• Howl's Moving Castle: Steelbook Edition -- $16.29 ($27)
• Kiki's Delivery Service: Steelbook Edition -- $16.29 ($27)
• My Neighbor Totoro: Steelbook Edition -- $16.29 ($27)
• Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind: Steelbook Edition -- $16.29 ($27)
• Porco Rosso: Steelbook Edition -- $16.29 ($27)
• The Secret World of Arrietty: Steelbook Edition -- $16.29 ($27)
• From Up on Poppy Hill: Steelbook Edition -- $17.89 ($27)
• When Marnie Was There: Steelbook Edition -- $17.89 ($27)
• Princess Mononoke: Steelbook Edition -- $18.43 ($27)
• The Wind Rises: Steelbook Edition -- $18.89 ($27)
• Earwing and the Witch: Steelbook Edition -- $20 ($27)
• Grave of the Fireflies: Steelbook Edition -- $22 ($27)
• Only Yesterday: Steelbook Edition -- $22 ($27)
• The Boy and the Heron: Steelbook Edition (4K) -- $30 ($45)

Studio Ghibli Steelbook Editions of movies written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki

Along with the seven Miyazaki-directed films for $16.29 or less, you'll find two of the other films he directed, The Wind Rises and Princess Mononoke, for below $19 each. Two of the three Ghibli films he wrote but didn't direct, are also up for grabs for cheap, with The Secret World of Arrietty priced at $16.29 and From Up on Poppy Hill discounted to $17.89.

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Cronos: The New Dawn is an upcoming third-person survival horror game from Bloober Team, the dev responsible for terrifying hits like the Silent Hill 2 Remake, Observer, and Blair Witch. Cronos is shaping up to be another nightmare-inducing adventure with a sci-fi twist that looks unlike anything the studio has made. Cronos takes place in a futuristic rendition of Eastern Europe where an event known as The Change has radically altered the landscape, which is now stalked by horrific, mutating creatures. Players take the role of the Traveler, who searches the twisted environment for rifts that connect back to 1980s Poland so they can rescue key people from the past on behalf of a mysterious group known as The Collective. Preorders are open ahead of its September 5 release, with two editions up for grabs--including a $60 standard edition and a $70 Deluxe Edition--both of which include their own exclusive extras. On top of that, preorders come with a selection of additional in-game content, as well as up to 48-hour early access to the game depending on which version you buy.

Cronos: The New Dawn Preorder BonusesCronos: The New Dawn standard edition physical preorder bonuses

Cronos: The New Dawn has several preorder perks available. All preorders include the following bonuses:

• 4x Pistol Ammo
• Small Health Pack
• 1000x Energy
• Unique Armor Skin

These preorder bonuses are included with the standard and Deluxe Editions on all platforms.

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Everybody's Golf Hot Shots (PC)

$33.59 (was $40)

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After a bit of a hiatus, Hot Shots Golf is making a triumphant return with Everybody's Golf Hot Shots. Releasing on September 5 for PS5, Switch, and PC, it's looking like a fresh take on the classic golf video game series, featuring simple controls, a variety of solo and multiplayer gameplay modes, and a long list of character customization options. While preorders are available on all platforms, PC players should consider preordering at Fanatical, where it's on sale for $33.59 (was $40). This is the best price we've seen for the upcoming game, and the discount is only available before launch. Preordering the game unlocks the playable Pac-Man character early. You'll also get an additional 5% off voucher for your next Fanatical purchase.

Preorder at Fanatical

As if that weren't enough, Everybody's Golf Hot Shots preorders are also eligible for Fanatical's Summer Bonus Drop deal, which gets you a random bonus prize when you spend $15 or more during Fanatical's Summer Sale event. The possible prizes include free game keys and bonus coupon codes. Grabbing the game at Fanatical gets you an official key redeemable via Steam.

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Writer-director Hideo Kojima has revealed the two deceased Hollywood legends that he would have enjoyed working with for one of his games. Speaking to IndieWire, Kojima singled out Steve McQueen (Bullitt, The Great Escape) and David Lynch (Twin Peaks).

Kojima said McQueen was his "childhood hero," and he's not giving up on the possibility of him showing up in a future project, even though the actor died 45 years ago. "If it were possible, even with CG, I would love for him to be in one of my games someday," he said.

Kojima went on to say that he had "always hoped" to cast Lynch in a video game of his. The visionary filmmaker and actor passed away earlier. Kojima was a big fan of his, saying he was "devastated" like so many others when Lynch died in January this year.

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Battlefield 6's open beta is available now in early access and while a lot of the sentiment thus far has been positive, the game is experiencing some issues that Battlefield Studios is aware of.

The studio has now published a list of known issues for Battlefield 6, but before getting into the specifics, the developer said fans should understand that a beta, by definition, is an unfinished product and was always expected to have issues.

As for the specific issues that Battlefield Studios is aware of, the developer said it knows players may be unable to ping enemies when using stationary weapons. Additionally, the animations for when characters attach to a zipline are bugged. Beyond that, the aim assist feature when players are close to smoke is a work in progress, the studio said. Another known issue is that players can sink into the ground after reviving a teammate.

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