Some of the best manga series ever printed will make you ponder long and hard about a wide range of topics, and Planetes is a heck of a great--and thought-provoking--read. A must-have for fans of the sci-fi genre, the manga will soon be reissued by Dark Horse in Deluxe Edition hardcover format. Planetes Deluxe Edition Book 1 releases July 29, and Book 2 of the critically acclaimed manga is slated to follow on December 2.

Preorder at Amazon

Paperback omnibus editions of Planetes were published back in 2015-16, and while you can still get Volume 1 for $25, Volume 2 hasn't been available to purchase at Amazon for a while.

Continue Reading at GameSpot

Blizzard's Overwatch 2 team has unionized. The wall-to-wall union--referred to as the Overwatch Gamemakers Guild--includes nearly 200 developers, ranging from artists and QA testers to writers and engineers. It is the second union to form at the company since last July, when the team behind Blizzard's hit MMO World of Warcraft successfully formed a union of its own. The Communications Workers of America (CWA) announced the union in a press release shared with Kotaku earlier today, writing that "an overwhelming majority of workers" supported the initiative.

"Game developers behind Activision Blizzard’s hit franchise Overwatch have joined the Communications Workers of America (CWA), becoming the latest group of video game workers at Microsoft-owned studios to form a wall-to-wall union," the CWA wrote. "A neutral arbitrator confirmed today that an overwhelming majority of workers have either signed a union authorization card or indicated that they wanted union representation via an online portal."

With the Overwatch 2 team's unionization, the number of unionized game developers working at Microsoft now exceeds 2,000 employees. However, the Overwatch Gamemakers Guild now has to bargain for its first contract--a process that Microsoft has been accused of dragging out.

Continue Reading at GameSpot

Borderlands 4 launches in September, and the head of its developer claims he doesn't know what the price will be. Gearbox boss Randy Pitchford was asked at PAX East today if he could reveal the game's price point, and he said it could be more or less than what people expect.

"I'll tell you the truth, I don't know," he said. "That is the truth."

"It's an interesting time. On one level, we've got a competitive marketplace where people who make [pricing] choices want to sell as many units as possible and they want to be careful about people that are price-sensitive," he added. "So there are some folks who don't want to see prices go up, even the ones deciding what the prices are. There are other folks accepting the reality that game budgets are increasing and there are tariffs for the retail packaging. It's getting gnarly out there."

Continue Reading at GameSpot

Mario Kart World does not include AI-generated images, according to a new statement from Nintendo.

Some fans speculated the Switch 2 launch title might include AI images based on footage shown during a recent Nintendo Treehouse livestream, where certain odd billboards set off a few AI alarm bells. In a statement to Eurogamer, Nintendo looked to put the speculation to rest.

"AI-generated images were not used in the development of Mario Kart World," a Nintendo spokesperson said.

Continue Reading at GameSpot

Microsoft's next big game, Doom: The Dark Ages, launches May 15 for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. If you're eager to play the game as soon as possible, developer Bethesda has now published the exact global launch times and confirmed preloading details.

Preloading

Preloading for Doom: The Dark Ages begins May 11 at midnight UTC. The game requires at least 100GB of storage, so it's beefy and you may need to clear up some space before installing.

Unlock Times

Doom: The Dark Ages officially launches on May 15, but people who pay more for the $100 Premium Edition can start playing on May 13. The Dark Ages is included with Game Pass Ultimate, and subscribers can spend $35 on a Premium upgrade pack to play two days early and get other perks.

Continue Reading at GameSpot

Update: As of 11:15 AM PT / 2:15 PM ET, this issue appears to be resolved--and just in time for Mace Windu to hit the shop tonight.

Original story: The Fortnite item shop has ballooned in recent years. In 2018 or so, you might find a new character skin, or "outfit," in there a few times per week. These days, it's a megastore full of licensed music, muscle cars, virtual Lego playsets, Marvel heroes, and even the protagonist of a 1970s Mexican superhero sitcom, for reasons that still elude me to this day. But today the shop looks very different: It's almost entirely empty.

As you might expect, this isn't intentional, and Epic has said it's working on a fix, but it's rather jarring to see the shop so devoid of in-game purchases, given how many tabs of colorful digital toys it's usually lined with these days.

Continue Reading at GameSpot

HBO's The Last of Us quickly became a pop culture phenomenon, introducing the fungi-controlled world of a bleak future to the masses, many of whom never played the game. The series filled the void left by Game of Thrones and became event television. After two years, the series returned with shocking moments and rating highs, but another trend returned that has become all too common in fandom.

This story contains spoilers for The Last of Us Season 2.

Over on sister site Metacritic, Season 2 has earned a "must watch" badge and universal acclaim with a current score of 81, with reviews from over 42 established critics. On the flipside, the user score sank the show to a "generally unfavorable" status, with 542 user ratings, and 61% of them voting a 0 or 1.

Continue Reading at GameSpot

With Fortnite and other Epic mobile titles finally returning to iOS soon after five years, Epic Games is marking the occasion by introducing a major bonus for those who spend money on its games: 20% back in rewards cash on all purchases in Fortnite, Rocket League, and Fall Guys made using Epic's own payment system in the Epic Games Store, a massive boost from the 5% it normally offers. Even better is that this change is permanent, and is already live.

But that's not all--that 20% cash back will apply to all purchases made through EGS until the end of August. If that percentage seems extraordinarily high, that's because it is. Under these terms, buying a new $70 game will net $14 in credit that you can use on anything in the Epic Games Store aside from subscriptions.

The new option that will be presented to Fortnite players when they purchase V-Bucks on iPhone.

Epic's motivation for this move is to encourage players to spend money with them directly rather than going through, say, Apple's App Store, which takes its own healthy percentage from every purchase made. For Fortnite specifically, Apple would take 30% off every purchase of V-Bucks--offering 20% back in rewards, by contrast, gives Epic the full purchase amount aside from normal transaction fees, and since the rewards cash can only be spent on the Epic Games Store it hypothetically keeps players invested in the company's ecosystem.

Continue Reading at GameSpot

The heroes of Overwatch 2 are embracing their inner world warrior, as Blizzard has announced a crossover with Capcom's Street Fighter 6 is coming soon.

Announced at EVO Japan, an animated trailer shows Juno, dressed as Chun Li, battling in the streets against Widowmaker, aka Cammy. It's not long before Hanzo, sporting Ryo's iconic look, enters the fray with a Hadoken, transforming a 1v1 fight into an all out brawl.

The crossover will begin on May 20 with a total of eight character skins, significantly more than recent collabs like Gundam Wing or Avatar: The Last Airbender. Below is the full list of Overwatch characters who will be getting the Street Fighter treatment.

Continue Reading at GameSpot

Return to Silent Hill is officially heading to theaters. While the first two Silent Hill movies were released by Sony and Open Road Films, respectively, the third film was produced without the backing of a major studio. Now, Cineverse--the distributer behind last year's horror hit Terrifier 3--has signed on to give Return to Silent Hill the big-screen treatment.

Cineverse confirmed the news (via Variety) while also promising that Return to Silent Hill will be "a faithful adaptation of the video game Silent Hill 2," the 2001 survival-horror title which was successfully remade last year.

It was previously known that the film would adapt Silent Hill 2, but the early description for Return to Silent Hill lines up very closely with the game's plot as a man named James Sunderland (Jeremy Irvine) is lured into the cursed town after receiving a letter from his dead wife, Mary (Hannah Emily Anderson). What James finds are more questions than answers, as well as an exploration of his own personal Hell.

Continue Reading at GameSpot

One of the Switch 2's new features is GameChat, a feature so important that Nintendo created a dedicated button, the C button, for it. There are quite a few things to know about GameChat for Switch 2, so we're rounding up everything we've learned so far ahead of the Switch 2 launch on June 5.

Table of Contents [hide]

• What is GameChat?

What is GameChat?

GameChat is a new feature for the Switch 2 that allows groups of up to 12 people to chat while playing games. Nintendo is often criticized for being late to the game when it comes to online functionality, and many have pointed out that GameChat offers what Discord has for years. But GameChat is a built-in service for Switch 2 that Nintendo has been working on since 2020, and the company believes it is a "defining" feature of the Switch 2.

Nintendo's developers said the company wanted to replicate the experience of a "student lounge," that is, a place where people gather and mingle.

Continue Reading at GameSpot

Acclaimed indie survival horror game Bendy and the Ink Machine is heading to PS5 and Xbox Series X|S on June 27. The game originally launched for PC in 2017, followed by ports to PS4, Xbox One, and Switch in 2018--and now the horrifying journey is making a generational leap to the PS5 and Xbox Series X|S along with some gameplay and performance enhancements. While the new version of the game will be available digitally on both consoles, the PS5 is also getting a physical version that's available to preorder for $30 at Amazon.

Bendy and the Ink Machine (PS5) $30 | Releases June 27

This new version of Bendy and the Ink Machine features improved graphics and other technical enhancements, meaning the first-person survival horror game should look and play better than it did on older consoles. As a bonus, the game is bundled with a digital soundtrack. Physical PS5 copies can be found at Amazon, Walmart, Best Buy, Target, and GameStop, while digital copies are available on the Xbox Store and PS Store.

Preorder at Amazon Preorder at Walmart Preorder at Best Buy

Bendy and the Ink Machine has built up an impressive merch lineup over the years, including everything from graphic novels and plushies to action figures and coloring books. If you’re interested in diving deeper into its mysterious world, be sure to check out Dreams Come to Life. This graphic novel follows a delivery boy who becomes an apprentice to Mr. Joey Drew. But it’s not quite a dream job for the boy, as he quickly discovers things aren’t quite what they seem at the illustrious studio. Currently on sale for $12.85 (was $15), it should be a great choice for long-time fans. We've rounded up even more Bendy and the Ink Machine merch below.

Bendy and the Ink Machine Merch

• Bendy and the Ink Machine - 2.5-Inch Action Figures 3-Pack -- $17
• Bendy and the Ink Machine - Piper with Wrench 5-inch Figure -- $15
• Bendy and the Ink Machine - Twisted Alice with Tommy Gun 5-inch Figure -- $15
• Bendy Real World 5-inch Figure -- $14.86
• Bendy and the Ink Machine - Bendy 16-inch Collector's Plush -- $30
• Bendy Plushies 3-Pack -- $21
• Bendy and the Ink Machine Coloring Book -- $7
• Bendy - Dreams Come to Life (Graphic Novel) -- $12.85 ($15)
• Bendy - Crack-Up Comics Collection: And AFK Book -- $8.35 ($13)
• Bendy - The Lost Ones: An AFK Novel -- $7.49 ($13)
• Bendy - Fade to Black: An AFK Novel -- $10.65 ($13)

More Gaming, Tech, and Entertainment Deals & Preorders

• Amazon Restocks Lego Transformers Optimus Prime, Offers Big Discount
• PSA: Lego Bowser's Muscle Car Is Retiring - Save Big On 3 Mario Sets Before They're Gone
• Tomtoc Releases Nintendo Switch 2 Version Of Its Popular Form-Fitting Travel Case
• + Show More More Gaming, Tech, and Entertainment Deals & Preorders Links (5)
• Lego Star Wars Day Sale Is Live - Get Two Free Sets With Jango Fett's UCS Starship
• All The Nintendo Switch 2 Games You Can Preorder Now
• Studio Ghibli Movies With Collectible Steelbooks Are Available For Cheap
• 8BitDo Halts US Shipments Due To Tariffs, But You Can Get Great Controller Deals (For Now)
• You Won't Find Switch 2 Consoles On Amazon, But You Can Get Games & Gear

This summer just got a bit bloodier, as Tripwire Interactive has revealed that Killing Floor 3 will come out July 24. This new release date comes roughly two months after the co-op FPS was delayed from its original March launch.

Tripwire creative director Bryan Wynia explained that the team has used the extra time to address player issues from the beta. Areas that the studio have focused on include the UI, animations, and design. For example, Tripwire previously showed off a redesigned HUD on the game's forums that offers a "sleeker, reorganized design and a revamped color scheme." In addition, retuned hit reactions from enemies were showcased on X last month.

"Since delaying the launch of Killing Floor 3, we've dedicated the additional development time to responding to the community's feedback, ensuring the next chapter in the much-loved cult action/horror franchise lives up to our shared vision," Wynia said in a press release.

Continue Reading at GameSpot

Bam Margera has officially confirmed that he'll be in Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3+4. When the remakes were first announced, Margera's name was noticeably absent from the roster. In a video posted on Activision's social media channels, Margera teased that he'll be present in the game as a secret skater.

Why Margera wasn't included at first hasn't been revealed yet, but co-host Roger Bagley of the skating podcast The Nine Club (via VGC) did claim that Tony Hawk lobbied for Margera to be added to the game. Bagley added that there was no updated character model for Margera, so he was flown up to developer Iron Galaxy Studios to have his body and face scanned, footage of which you can see in the video below.

Since Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3+4 was first announced, more details on the game have slowly been revealed. The rest of the roster has been confirmed, and if you don't feel like playing as a digital recreation of legends like Rodney Mullen or Eric Koston, you can step into the armored boots of the Doom Slayer if you preorder the game. The full soundtrack has also been revealed, and there's a healthy selection of old favorites from the original games and new tracks that Hawk himself picked.

Continue Reading at GameSpot

The wild action game Deliver At All Costs launches for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC on May 22. The destructive driving game casts players as Winston Green, a delivery driver tasked with dropping off a long list of weird packages by navigating open, destructible environments on foot and in vehicles. It’s a bit like a combination of Crazy Taxi and early, top-down GTA games--and if that wacky premise intrigues you, you'll be glad to know that preorders for the PC version are discounted to just $21 (was $30) at Fanatical. The Deliver At All Costs Deluxe Edition is also discounted to just $24.49 (was $35), which includes the base game and a digital soundtrack.

Preorder Deliver At All Costs at Fanatical

Regardless of which version you grab, both are delivered as an official Steam key. You’ll also get a 5% off coupon for your next purchase at Fanatical. If you own a Steam Deck, you’ll be glad to know Deliver At All Costs is listed as “Playable” on the handheld--so while it might not be perfectly optimized, you can still play it on the go.

While this discount is pretty enticing, it’s not the only way to get the game for cheap, as Deliver At All Costs will be available for free on the Epic Game Store at launch. The promotion will only be available for one week after release, though you can sign up for notifications to ensure you don’t miss out on the special offer.

Continue Reading at GameSpot

Sandfall Interactive and Kepler Interactive have released Patch 1.2.3 for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, and it nerfs Maelle, a party member who can deal absolutely massive amounts of damage with the right character build.

Expedition 33 is a turn-based RPG, and each party member acquired over the course of the game has a set of abilities that offer up a distinct playstyle. Maelle's abilities center around switching between Offensive, Defensive, and Virtuose stances to maximize defense or damage. But a powerful late-game ability called Stendahl was a little too powerful, and with the right Pictos equipped, players can deal several million in damage using this ability.

On May 8, the developers admitted that they made Stendahl a little too powerful and would nerf it in the next patch. Now that the patch notes are here, Stendahl damage has been reduced by a whopping 40%. While that's a pretty massive nerf, Maelle's Medalum weapon now doubles all damage in Virtuose stance. This patch also brings improved widescreen support with it, and gets rid of a lot of areas where players could get stuck while exploring the world map.

Continue Reading at GameSpot

Nintendo updated its user agreement and privacy policy ahead of the Switch 2 launch next month, and while the company briefly listed a few of the changes in the email it sent out, one of the big changes might have escaped your notice. A new clause related specifically to "unauthorized use" and other keywords like "bypass" and "modify" in the US version of the email gives Nintendo the right to make your console "unusable" if it discovers that you've broken any of these rules.

As spotted by Game File's Stephen Totilo, the wording for the Licence for Digital Products section has been amended. "You acknowledge that if you fail to comply with the foregoing restrictions Nintendo may render the Nintendo Account Services and/or the applicable Nintendo device permanently unusable in whole or in part," the text reads. Here it is, in full:

Without limitation, you agree that you may not (a) publish, copy, modify, reverse engineer, lease, rent, decompile, disassemble, distribute, offer for sale, or create derivative works of any portion of the Nintendo Account Services; (b) bypass, modify, decrypt, defeat, tamper with, or otherwise circumvent any of the functions or protections of the Nintendo Account Services, including through the use of any hardware or software that would cause the Nintendo Account Services to operate other than in accordance with its documentation and intended use; (c) obtain, install or use any unauthorized copies of Nintendo Account Services; or (d) exploit the Nintendo Account Services in any manner other than to use them in accordance with the applicable documentation and intended use, in each case, without Nintendo’s written consent or express authorization, or unless otherwise expressly permitted by applicable law. You acknowledge that if you fail to comply with the foregoing restrictions Nintendo may render the Nintendo Account Services and/or the applicable Nintendo device permanently unusable in whole or in part.

In comparison (via Eurogamer), the clause is different for people with a UK Nintendo account, as it specifically states that "unauthorised use of a Digital Product may result in the Digital Product becoming unusable."

Continue Reading at GameSpot

Last year, the Alien franchise returned to video games with Alien: Rogue Incursion, a VR-only title that was available on PS5, Meta Quest 3, and PC. Now, Rogue Incursion is set to get a new, non-VR enhanced edition that's just a few months away.

Survios--the developer and publisher behind the game--has announced that Alien: Rogue Incursion - Part One: Evolved Edition will hit PC and PS5 on September 30. The new version will include "even deadlier xenomorphs and enhanced visuals."

A xenomorph appears in Alien: Rogue Incursion - Part One: Evolved Edition.

The game features a story that is set between Alien and Aliens, which puts players in control of former Colonial Marine Zula Hendricks. After surviving a previous encounter with the xenomorphs, Zula is dedicated to eradicating them and preventing the weaponization of the xenomorphs. The game follows Zula on a human colony, LV-354, after it has been overrun by the xenomorphs and facehuggers.

Continue Reading at GameSpot

Nintendo recently updated its privacy policy to confirm that the company may "collect, monitor, and record" audio and video of users' chat sessions for the Switch 2's new GameChat feature. Despite this being a common practice, it spooked some fans, and now Nintendo has offered a clarification.

A spokesperson for Nintendo told GameSpot that Nintendo may review recordings of audio and video chats from GameChat, but only in a situation where a conversation has been reported.

"If someone experiences communication in GameChat for Nintendo Switch 2 not in line with the Community Guidelines, they can report it using the built-in reporting feature," Nintendo said.

Continue Reading at GameSpot

Earlier this week, Bungie announced that the next stage in Destiny, The Year of Prophecy, will begin on July 15 with the launch of its first expansion, The Edge of Fate. Among the announcements, the company has now teased additional changes to the Vault and Power level system, as well as confirming how it's approaching incorporating Star Wars content into the canon.

Assistant game director Robbie Stevens confirmed on Bungie's blog that the events during the Renegades DLC will be canon within Destiny, going deeper than just aesthetics and ornaments when the expansion drops in December.

"Rest assured, Guardians, everything in Renegades is in-canon for the Destiny universe," he said. "But we're leaning into the aesthetic, tone and vibe of Star Wars to tell a Destiny story with Destiny characters."

Continue Reading at GameSpot