Spider-Man is swinging his way into Magic: The Gathering this September, and preorders are now open at Amazon for the upcoming expansion. This exciting crossover features a $70 bundle with booster packs and everything you need to start playing and a Scene Box for Spidey fans who are more interested in displaying the stunning box. You can also preorder the Play Booster Box and the very expensive Collector Boosters. Single Collector Boosters and the Collector Booster Box have already sold out at Amazon, but they will likely be restocked.

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Here’s a look at the Magic: The Gathering x Spider-Man preorders ahead of their September 26 release. We'll update this article with stock updates as more preorders go live. The Spider-Man MTG set arrives just a few months after the highly anticipated Final Fantasy crossover. Check out our Magic: The Gathering x Final Fantasy preorder guide to secure some cool bundles ahead of the set's June launch. Magic fans can also preorder the upcoming Tarkir: Dragonstorm set, which is slated to release in April.

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The original Twisted Metal helped set the tone for PS1 when it was released in 1995, but it's been absent from Sony's consoles since the Twisted Metal reboot in 2012. However, there was an unannounced Twisted Metal live-service game, which could have revived the series had it not been canceled. Now, one of the developers from that lost Twisted Metal game has shared some details about what could have been.

UI Programmer Hugo Silva posted a handful of screenshots from the Twisted Metal live-service game on his site. Unfortunately, the images are blurred with a note stating that they are under a non-disclosure agreement. Unsurprisingly, vehicular combat played a huge role in the game. But the screenshots also include images of third-person shooter gameplay. So clearly the action was meant to spill out of the vehicles as well, which would have been a departure for the franchise.

The Twisted Metal live-service game was in development at Firesprite, one of the many developers under Sony's PlayStation Studios banner. It appears that Twisted Metal was still very early in development before its cancelation, but the decision to walk away from it came before last year's disastrous Concord launch that forced Sony to rethink its commitment to live-service games.

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I don't know why, but I tend to gravitate toward sad stories in virtually all forms of media. My favorite shows are The Leftovers and Six Feet Under. My favorite book is Station Eleven. Some of my favorite songs are especially dour, like Circa Survive's Spirit of the Stairwell. My favorite games often exhibit this preference, too, with games like Rime, Spiritfarer, and Before Your Eyes representing some of my all-time favorites. It's been this way for me for as long as I can remember. I can't explain it, but I can certainly recognize it. For this reason, I'm very excited for Herdling.

The Swiss studio at Okomotive previously made indie darlings Far: Lone Sails and its sequel, Far: Changing Tides tell a connected story about characters navigating a mysterious world on a makeshift boat. This next game from the team shares some traits; Herdling seems like it'll also be presented without any spoken words, and some of the autumnal, earthy colors of Far carry over to Herdling, too. It also drops you into a world with little context, asking you to piece it together as the story unfolds. But the Far games, as best I understood them anyway, were merely dreary. Herdling seems like it will be heartbreaking, and I'm ready to hurt.

Herdling's central mechanic sees you guiding a group of mammoth-like animals to what is presumably their natural habitat. How they've become displaced and separated in lands that sometimes resemble something more like cities than the wilderness they seem to seek is a big burning question early on, but like thatgamecompany's Journey, it seems this answer will be slowly revealed over the course of the game, and probably not fully understood until its final moments.

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Kenji Ozawa, the co-director on Visions of Mana, has started a new studio called Studio Sasanqua after Ouka Studio was shut down by NetEase last year. He's also calling out how management's poor decisions lead to game creators being let go.

In an interview with Automaton, Ozawa said he wanted to start his own studio because he saw management at his previous companies not taking responsibilities for failed projects. While management makes the majority of high-level decisions like approving game pitches and finding investment opportunities, Ozawa noted that it's the developers themselves that get cut when management makes a mistake.

With Studio Sasanqua, Ozawa wanted to make sure that both developers and management are on the same page, as both departments are usually siloed from each other. He's also prioritizing a sense of security for developers and confirms that he's ready to accept full responsibility if a game fails due to management mistakes.

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Joe and Anthony Russo's new Netflix movie, The Electric State, is getting a tie-in game. The game is called The Electric State: Kid Cosmo, and it's a prequel to the movie.

Described as a "bite-sized adventure puzzle game," Kid Cosmo focuses on the movie's characters Michelle and Chris. The game is described as being a "narrative-driven game" and taking place over the course of five years. You can see footage of the game at Variety.

Kid Cosmo launches on March 18 for iOS and Android--only Netflix subscribers can get it. As for the movie, the film debuts on Netflix on March 14.

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Games like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 don't get made anymore. And that's because games like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 can't be made anymore. French developer Sandfall Interactive's influences were obvious to me from the moment I began playing the game, and confirmed when director Guillaume Broche and producer François Meurisse effusively recounted the joys of playing Final Fantasy, Persona, Zelda, and many other Japanese titles.

In terms of gameplay, Expedition 33 looks to be moving in the right direction; drawing from its clear inspirations while also adding interesting twists and new takes. But many other games have done this--in this respect, Expedition 33 isn't notably unique or rare. What does, however, differentiate this game from its contemporaries is how it evokes the vibe of a transitional period of time when JRPGs and its flag bearers struggled to find their place on a new generation of consoles.

While Sandfall Interactive often looks to Final Fantasy as a point of comparison, for me, it is much closer to the games Hironobu Sakaguchi made in the nascent years of the Xbox 360, back when Microsoft was courting Japanese developers and gamers in hopes of expanding its presence in the region.

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Rockstar Games made a big announcement today--but it seemingly has nothing to do with GTA 6. The company announced that it has acquired the Sydney, Australia-based game developer Video Games Deluxe, a studio with ties to LA Noire. Going forward, the studio will be re-named Rockstar Australia.

Video Games Deluxe had a long history of working with Rockstar prior to this acquisition, as the studio teamed up to help co-develop LA Noire and GTA The Trilogy - The Definitive Edition. Video Games Deluxe founder Brendan McNamara previously established the Australian studio Team Bondi, which created LA Noire for Rockstar Games.

McNarmara said in a statement, "We are thrilled to be a part of Rockstar Games and to continue our efforts to make the best games possible."

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John Cena's heel turn at Elimination Chamber 2025 will go down in history as one of the most shocking TV moments of all time, and with a reference to a long-running GTA 6 meme on his social media, the WWE superstar is clearly aware of it. In case you missed it, Cena took part in the main event of Elimination Chamber on Saturday, and after emerging victorious, he ended the night by turning heel on Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes and aligning with The Rock. While wrestlers turning to the dark side is a common part of the wrestling business, Cena's transition is one that has been joked about in the same breath as a GTA 6 release date for over a decade now.

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The meme revolved around things that would happen before GTA 6 was released--something Take-Two boss Strauss Zelnick has commented on--with Cena's pivot toward evil being one of the things on that list. To know just how monumental this moment was, you have to remember that Cena has been a good guy--or babyface in wrestling parlance--for the better part of 20 years, as he transformed from his heelish persona as the Doctor of Thuganomics into a never-say-die main-eventer in the early 2000s. This is the Cena that most wrestling fans are familiar with, and outside of the ring, the Cenation leader has granted a record number of Make-a-Wish requests, often visiting sick kids in the hospital and being a source of inspiration for many with his wholesome persona.

The closest equivalent to this would be Hulk Hogan's heel turn at WCW: Bash at the Beach in 1996, as he transformed from the quintessential good guy into NWO leader Hollywood Hogan. What's also notable here is that Cena is currently in the middle of his retirement tour, and with a main event booked for Wrestlemania 41, he stands to make history if he wins and becomes a 17-time world champion. Cena leaning into the GTA 6 meme looks like a good bit of fun from the legendary performer, as he has done so in the past with references to his invisible man status thanks to his "you can't see me" catchphrase.

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Assassin's Creed Shadows will feature a progression loop that allows players to fine-tune the skills of protagonists Naoe and Yasuke, while also ensuring that no character is left behind thanks to shared progression systems. Ubisoft says its goal for the game was to stay as close as possible to the philosophies of mastery and martial arts, as players will be able to focus on investing points in the Mastery skill-trees and gaining ranks in Knowledge.

Mastery features a traditional gameplay system of earning experience points by leveling up your character through the normal course of play, eliminating targets, and defeating unique enemies like samurai Daisho who lurk inside fortified castles. By earning enough points, players can expand their skills by learning new combo attacks, increasing their proficiency with weapons, and by unlocking new abilities. Yasuke will gain new samurai abilities, while Naoe will gain new stealth-focused skills that will turn her into a lethal assassin.

A closer look at Naoe's Mastery tree in Assassin's Creed Shadows

What's important to note here is that Naoe and Yasuke share their progression, so if you focus on playing as one character specifically, the other won't be under-leveled when you decide to tag out. "With the unique Mastery trees, we want to give players the freedom to dedicate themselves into a specific weapon, playstyle, or archetype, and ensure they can deepen their mastery of it," associate game director Julien explained in a blog post. "The points you invest in a Mastery tree also unlock additional bonuses for that weapon or archetype, further reinforcing your progress."

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A new season is about to begin in Pokemon Go, and the mobile game is kicking it off in a big way with a variety of new and returning events throughout March.

The new Might and Mastery season will mark the arrival of the legendary Pokemon Kubfu, which will appear as part of the season-long Special Research story beginning March 5. On top of that, the game will host two Community Days this month, as well as a Dynamax Raikou Max Battle Weekend and a Mega Absol Raid Day.

That's just the tip of the Bergmite for March's activities, with the Bug Out, Festival of Colors, and more also on the horizon over the next few weeks. You can see all of the biggest events happening in Pokemon Go this month below.

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The Tempered Monsters in Monster Hunter Wilds are the toughest of the bunch. Survivors of many battles, they pose the biggest threat once you've reached the endgame portion of the campaign. They also offer you with the best rewards possible, so you should definitely track them down. Our guide discusses how to eliminate these targets so you can craft high-end gear known as Artian Weapons.

Table of Contents [hide]

• What are Artian Weapons and Tempered Monsters in Monster Hunter Wilds
  • How to track down Tempered Monsters
  What are Artian Weapons and Tempered Monsters in Monster Hunter Wilds

  Tempered Monsters and Artian Weapons become available once you've completed Chapter 4-3: Wyvern Sparks and Rose Thorns. Here's a quick summary:

  • Chapter 3-5: Monster Hunter is the conclusion of the story proper.
  • When you're done with the story, quests become more free-form. You simply need to take out targets and complete quests so you can continue to increase your Hunter Rank.
  • Upon reaching Hunter Rank 20, you're given the Wyvern Sparks and Rose Thorns mission, which takes you back to the Ruins of Wyveria.
  • This leads you to a battle against a Lala Barina that you're tracking, as well as a Guardian Fulgur Anjanath, the first Tempered Monster type that you encounter.
  Tempered Monsters are scarred veterans of countless battles.How to track down Tempered Monsters

  The Monster Hunter Wilds Tempered Monsters offer the most difficult bouts in the game. These creatures are battle-hardened, as you can see by the scars and old wounds on their bodies. They're tougher compared to normal variants, so don't underestimate them.

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Star Wars: Republic Commando is celebrating its 20-year anniversary today, March 1, 2025. Below, we look at how its focus on military fiction was a sign of things to come to the Star Wars galaxy .

When you boot up Star Wars: Republic Commando, the first thing you see is the LucasArts logo, fuzzy like a jammed radio signal. It flickers with the audio of muttered orders, of droid speak. This is an idea taken from the original Clone Wars cartoons (starting in 2003), which also opens with a distorted broadcast, in that case of blaster fire and blaring lightsabers. In tandem, these aesthetic flourishes represent a turn away from the science fantasy mythicism of Star Wars proper and a turn toward a grittier, though still exaggerated, military fiction.

To be fair, it is not as if these impulses were not in Star Wars to begin with. Though A New Hope draws on the science fiction golden age idealism of Flash Gordan serials, it is a worn down future. Our heroes are would-be guerrilla militants, piloting buckets of bolts. Their fascist enemies reserve any futurist slickness. The fight of rebels is scrappy, hidden in trees and sequestered in backwater planets.

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The annual Toy Fair expo has kicked off, and as you'd expect, Lego has a big presence at the convention. One of the new licensed sets revealed this weekend is the Avengers Endgame: Final Battle diorama, a new kit that captures one of the biggest moments from the final film in the Infinity Saga, where Earth's mightiest heroes and their allies band together in a last-ditch effort to stop Thanos from claiming the Infinity Gauntlet.

This set lets you build a mini replica of the devastated Avengers headquarters where the exciting clash takes place. You'll also get mini figures of the heroes Captain America, Iron Man, Ant-Man, Wanda Maximoff, Doctor Strange, Iron Spider, Black Panther, and Falcon, plus a Thanos figure to complete the scene.

Lego Avengers Endgame Final Battle 3 Set

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Warhammer 40,000: Space Marines 2 was a hit out of the gate last fall, but that doesn't mean its most devoted players love everything about it. Many fans are especially vocal against the idea of Space Marines 2 turning into a live-service game, especially after Focus Entertainment and developer Saber Interactive introduced community events seemingly as the only way to get desirable items that are only available for a limited time. This time, the pushback has been so intense that Focus has apologized to fans and assured them that a live-service transformation isn't in the cards for Space Marines 2.

In this week's community update, Focus Entertainment shared the following statement: "We have noted that the Community Events have received cold feedback since we introduced them as an additional way to unlock cosmetic items. We saw that many of you mentioned FOMO generated by the events. Rest assured, we are not looking to transform Space Marine 2 into a full live-service game. The items available through events WILL be available later, for everyone. We want Community Events to be a way to unlock the items in advance, for the most dedicated players, and not to be a source of frustration and stress for everyone.

"However, that means we must provide a smooth experience in unlocking said items, which has not been the case so far. We deeply apologize for the trouble, and are currently working on a simplified process to unlock the items, to make the experience less constraining."

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Fortnite fans can save on PowerA's new pro-style controller for Xbox and PC at Amazon. The limited-time deal on the Fortnite Special Edition Wireless Controller drops the price from $100 to $83.84. The controller released in October and is officially licensed by Xbox and Epic Games. It features a chaotic graffiti design and combines premium features such as Hall Effect sticks and four remappable back buttons with the traditional Xbox form factor.

PowerA Fortnite Special Edition Wireless Controller for Xbox and PC $83.84 (was $100)

In addition to anti-drift sticks and built-in back buttons, the controller has trigger locks with three stopping points and three custom profiles to save your preferred control schemes.

Inside the box, you'll find a voucher to claim the Tooth Pickaxe in-game item.

Here's a quick rundown of the controller's key features:

• Drift-resistant Hall Effect sticks
• Wear-resistant Hall Effect triggers
• Four remappable back buttons
• Trigger locks with three stopping points
• Three custom profiles that can be cycled through on the fly
• USB 2.4GHz wireless for Xbox and PC
• Profile and Share buttons
• Up to 30 hours of battery life
• 10-foot USB-C charging cable (also for wired play)
• Dial to adjust volume on wired headset
• Dual rumble motors
• Tooth Pickaxe in-game item

See at Amazon More Officially Licensed Fortnite Controllers

A handful of Fortnite-themed officially licensed controllers have released over the past year for Xbox, PlayStation, and PC. PowerA is the manufacturer behind several of the others, including the OPS V1 Wireless Controller for PC, which is on sale for $45 (was $55). Meanwhile, Peely fans can save over 20% on PowerA's very yellow Bluetooth controller with remappable back buttons for Nintendo Switch.

CRKD released a Fortnite Festival Edition wireless controller with a five-fret attachment in December. The unique pro-style gamepad costs $60 and is part of the manufacturer's Neo S series. The Neo S is one of the best compact controllers you can buy for Switch and PC.

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Indiana Jones and the Great Circle's Collector's Edition is on sale for nearly $30 off at Amazon. The deal specifically applies to the PC (Steam) version of the Collector's Edition and eligibility for the discount varies by region. If you're eligible for the deal, you'll see a clickable coupon code box on the store page that slashes 15% from the price at checkout. The discount is part of a wider "Midwest Video Game Accessories" promotion, so it's likely you need to live in the Midwest to get Indiana Jones and the Great Circle's Collector's Edition for $161.50 (was $190).

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle Collector's Edition $161.50 (was $190) for Steam

Here's what you get with Indiana Jones and the Great Circle's Collector's Edition:

• 11-inch The Great Circle Globe with magnetic airplane and secret compartment
• Jumbo Steelbook Display Case
• New Adventure Journal
• Allmaker Relic Replica with Digital Premium Edition code
• Digital Premium Edition content:
  • The Order of Giants Story DLC
  • Temple of Doom Outfit
  • Digital Art Book
  • Early access starting December 6
  • Preorder Bonus: The Last Crusade Pack

Since the Premium Edition retails for $100, the physical collectibles normally cost an additional $90. With Amazon's deal--if you're eligible--you're only paying $61.50 for the collectibles. The promotion only applies to the PC edition of the game, which includes a Steam key.

The Xbox Series X|S Collector's Edition, which also includes PC access via the Windows Store, is only available to purchase at high prices from resellers on Amazon. Over at Walmart, however, you can you can get the Xbox version for $200.43. This price is a bit odd considering your order is shipped and sold by Walmart, not a reseller.

See at Amazon (PC) See at Walmart (Xbox)

Steelbooks are pretty common these days, but Jumbo steelbook cases, well, leave it to Indy to unearth a rare find like this. And it's (the color) gold!

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PSVR 2 - Standard Edition

$400

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PSVR 2 Horizon Call of the Mountain Bundle

$400

See at Amazon See at Target See at PlayStation Direct

PSVR 2 PC Adapter

$60

See at Amazon See at PlayStation Direct

Sony announced an official price drop for the PSV2, bringing the VR headset's base price to $400 starting in March. The change applies to both the PSV2 base model (was $550) and the Horizon Call of the Mountain bundle (was $600) available at major retailers. While the price drop goes into effect soon, the rollout will vary between stores. Some retailers, like Amazon and Target, are already listing certain models for the new price online, while others are still selling the PSVR 2 at its launch price. Be sure to check the links below so that you'll catch when the new $400 PSVR 2 price is live.

PSVR 2 - Standard Edition $400

The PSVR 2 includes the PSVR 2 headset, PS VR2 Sense controllers, and a pair of stereo headphones--everything you need to connect and play on PS5. So far, we've seen the price drop already kick in online at Target. Other retailers should be updating their prices soon.

See at Target See at PlayStation Direct PSVR 2 Horizon Call of the Mountain Bundle $400

This bundle includes everything in the base PSVR 2 package, plus a download code for the game Horizon Call of the Mountain, which is playable on PS5 with the headset. Since it costs the same as the base package, it's worth picking up if you can find it. It's available at the new $400 price online at Amazon and Target, and we expect more stores will drop their prices soon, too.

See at Amazon See at Target See at PlayStation Direct PSVR 2 PC Adapter $60

While the PSVR 2 PC Adapter cable is not part of the price drop, it's still worth picking up if you plan to use the headset on PC. The only other thing you'll need is the PSVR PC app, which is available as a free download from Steam.

See at Amazon See at PlayStation Direct

Now that the PSVR 2 is more affordable, that frees you up to grab a few VR-compatible PS5 games to use the headset with. There are dozens of PSVR 2 games available, including VR-exclusive titles like Beat Saber, Alien: Rogue Incursion, and Metro Awakening VR, and PS5 games with dedicated VR modes like Gran Turismo 7, Tetris Effect: Connected, Resident Evil 4, Resident Evil 8, and No Man's Sky.

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I like robots--especially comically large ones armed with various weapons. When I received an invitation to visit Amazing Seasun Games' Irvine, California office to try out their latest title, Mecha Break, all I really knew going into it was that I'd be playing a game featuring really big robots armed with various weapons. I'm not quite sure what I was expecting (other than access to the aforementioned giant robots), but I certainly wasn't expecting to fall in love.

Most of Amazing Seasun Games' previous titles were unknown to me, and all I'd seen of Mecha Break were some impressive trailers. When I finally sat down to take the free-to-play mech-based third-person hero shooter for a test-fly, I was admittedly a bit apprehensive. The live-service hero shooter market is oversaturated enough as it is, and it's a tough genre to stand out in. Is Mecha Break up to the task? So far, the answer appears to be "yes."

Mecha Break is mech-nerd heaven.

The game features a cast of 13 different mechs--referred to in-game as Strikers--each with their own set of unique weapons and abilities. When selecting a Striker, players can look at a graph showing that particular mech's strengths and weaknesses. Some Strikers are great for lone-wolf playstyles, some are better at supporting or defending one's team, and some are a combination of both. Each Striker feels surprisingly well-balanced--while I quickly fell in love with a specific Striker that fit my preferred playstyle (more on that in a bit), I never felt that one Striker was too overpowered or underpowered.

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It's been almost five years since Islanders gave cozy-game lovers a casually engaging city-building experience. Now, Coatsink has announced that a sequel, Islanders: New Shores, is coming to consoles and PC this summer. In the first-look video below, New Shores retains the appealing aspects of the first Islanders while teasing some of the new features that will be integrated into the gameplay.

As in the first game, New Shores allows players to develop cities and structures on a series of breathtakingly gorgeous islands and transform them as they see fit. Each level begins with a number of buildings at players' disposal, but they also have consider where the structures should be placed in order to get the maximum amount of points during the stage. Earning those points allows additional buildings to be unlocked, which opens the door to even more options.

One of the new features introduced in New Shores is called boons. It's a one-time power-up that's unlocked on each stage as players collect points. Boons can allow players to perform some of the more difficult tasks in a single action, including the creation of duplicate buildings and the destruction of others to make way for something new. However, boons should be used sparingly, since some of the trickier levels may need them more than the earlier levels do.

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Dice Throne is a tabletop game that utilizes both dice and cards to pit heroes against each other in fast-paced turn-based combat, with additional options to face off in teams or have everyone band together in a cooperative adventure. It's a remarkably quick (and fun!) game to set up and play, making it an ideal choice for folks who don't have hours to devote each week to D&D, Pathfinder, or any system that similarly lends itself to a long-form adventure.

The Dice Throne team is set to soon release its long-awaited X-Men expansion, injecting more Marvel heroes to fight alongside Dice Throne's largely original cast of characters. This is the second expansion to add licensed characters to the game--Dice Throne added a bunch of non-mutant Marvel characters like Thor and Black Panther to its roster in a previous add-on. Speaking to Dice Throne co-creator and lead game designer Nate Chatellier and CEO Casey Sershon, I asked how this "Magic: The Gathering meets Yahtzee" game approached adding licensed characters to a game and whether more IPs are being considered.

Pyromancer was one of Dice Throne's first characters.

"When we started Dice Throne, I created this five-year plan," Chatellier told me. "I love long-term planning, and the plan back then was season one, season two, a solo and co-op mode--which ended up being Dice Throne Adventures--and then a Marvel edition. I thought it was a five-year plan, it took six years to do it, but we checked all the boxes, which I'm still very proud of. When we hit that Marvel edition, that was the end of the road map. It was like, 'Okay, where do we go from here and how do we feel about working with IP?'"

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