Assassin's Creed Shadows' release date is March 20, but it seems that some players have managed to obtain copies almost a month before release. Players are streaming and posting photos of the game's content without any restrictions, so you should be cognizant of that if you're trying to avoid spoilers.

It's not clear how these copies were obtained, but one X/Twitter user posted photos of its box, along with photos and videos of gameplay, claiming that they bought their copy on Facebook Marketplace. Though these posts were removed, they've been saved and widely reshared online. Per TheGamer, auction listings have appeared on sites like Mercari offering copies of the game for $100, which quickly sold. There have also been Twitch streams of Assassin's Creed Shadows, though these have apparently been removed as of this writing.

Assassin's Creed Shadows comes at a pivotal time for publisher Ubisoft, which has suffered significant setbacks in recent months, including a large drop in its stock price and rumors that it's looking for a buyer. Assassin's Creed Shadows itself has been delayed numerous times. The details of the game's DLC, Claws of Awaji, were leaked earlier this year on its Steam page, confirming 10 hours of additional gameplay. Note that this DLC is a preorder bonus, and will also be available as a separate purchase later in 2025.

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Katamari Damacy creator Keita Takahashi has announced that his new game, To a T, launches on May 28 for PC, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S. It's also going to be included on Xbox Game Pass on release day.

The trailer features a musical performance of Giraffe Song, which is sung by Rebecca Sugar, who's best known for being the creator of Steven Universe. To a T focuses on a teenager named Teen, who is stuck in a T-Pose and their dog needs to assist them with everyday activities such as getting dressed and washing their face.

The AbleGamers organization is collaborating with Takahashi and his studio, uvula, as To a T is an allegory about being disabled. AbleGamers provided feedback on the game's design as the studio was seeking input on sensitivity and accessibility.

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The future of XCOM remains unknown, but if the franchise does make a return, a veteran of the series would like to take a stab at it again. In a new interview, X-COM creator Julian Gollop revealed how he'd like to return to XCOM in some capacity if he was ever offered the chance to do so, and he was more than happy to still be affiliated with it after so many years.

"I am perfectly happy being known as the XCOM guy," Gollop said to Eurogamer. "I mean, it was a foundational game in my career, and probably also, in some ways, a foundational strategy game in strategy gaming at the time--even though not long after it came out, the real-time-strategy scene really took over."

Gollop jokingly mentioned that he was "still waiting" for a call from Firaxis boss Sid Meier to come work on a new X-COM game, and currently, he is working on a real-time action-strategy title called Chip 'n Clawz vs. the Brainiods. While you'll need to gather resources and raise an army, the game also lets you venture onto the frontlines to do battle alongside your troops, and it is scheduled to be out later this year.

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I thought I would miss the Wirebug from 2021's Monster Hunter Rise. Not just because of the verticality and fluidity it introduced to traversal, but also because of its vital role in combat--whether you were incorporating Silkbind attacks into combos or using the Wire-dash to avoid certain death by the skin of your teeth. The Wirebug was a fantastic addition, and yet its absence is something I never really felt in Monster Hunter Wilds. Such is the strength of its combat, the seamlessness of its open world, and the impact both of these facets have on a core gameplay loop that remains infinitely compelling. There are a few missteps along the way--of both an artistic and technical variety--but Wilds is another excellent entry in Capcom's beloved series.

For seasoned veterans, that core gameplay loop will be instantly recognizable. You hunt monsters, craft their parts to make better weapons and armor, and then use these upgrades to hunt even more challenging monsters. It's an evergreen formula, although an emphasis on narrative hasn't always been part of the equation. The lone exception is 2018's Monster Hunter World, and in many ways, Wilds feels like a continuation of that game's approach to storytelling. By integrating Guild and Village quests into one cohesive story with multiple characters and a fully voiced protagonist, Capcom clearly intends for the story to be more than the afterthought it has traditionally been.

The game's opening moments see the Hunter's Guild arrive in the Forbidden Lands: an uncharted region believed to be uninhabited for the past thousand-odd years. This misconception changed, however, when a young boy named Nata was discovered near the border. Pensive and frightened, Nata recounts how his village was attacked by a fearsome monster known as the White Wrath, forcing the Hunter's Guild to embark on an expedition to investigate this mysterious creature and potentially save Nata's Indigenous people from annihilation. As a hunter, it's your role to slay a bestiary of monsters and protect the balance of the ecosystem in this dangerous new frontier.

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Lego and video game collaborations have been a big trend for years now. Lego sets have featured the worlds of Super Mario, Animal Crossing, and Sonic the Hedgehog, among others, and soon the next Horizon set will be here.

After years of fan-builds, the official set releases in stores on March 1, but Stephane Varrault, design director at Guerrilla has now given fans a sneak peek as he demonstrated how they look and work.

"Working with Lego bricks and trying to replicate all the machines in this universe forces you to think about abstraction," he told PlayStation Blog. "Abstraction is good for a designer because you start to think about the essence of fun. It’s about going back to the essentials."

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The voice actor behind Spider-Man in Insomniac Games' Marvel's Spider-Man has revealed that Peter Parker will definitely play a role in Marvel's Spider-Man 3, despite the game not being announced yet.

In an interview with The Direct, voice actor Yuri Lowenthal said, "There are very few things that I can say about this game, but you have somehow landed on the one thing that I can answer, and that's that, yes, Peter is not gone. He will be a part of the next game and he won't be relegated to the couch, I promise."

In Marvel's Spider-Man 2, the player assumes the roles of Peter Parker and Miles Morales as dual protagonists. The game's ending has Peter taking a step back from his hero duties to have Miles be New York City's primary protector. However, a post-credit scene hints at the possibility of another new playable character in the next entry.

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There is one person who already seems keen on seeing more Avowed: the game's director, Carrie Patel. While Obsidian hasn't said anything about an expansion for the RPG--let alone a sequel just days after launch--Patel sounds enthusiastic about exploring the Pillars of Eternity offshoot further.

Speaking with Bloomberg, Patel didn't dismiss creating a wholly original experience next. But at the same time, she expressed a not-so-subtle hint that more time within the Avowed universe excited her. "Now that we've built this wonderful world, and also built this team strength and muscle memory around the content and gameplay in this world, I'd love to see us do more with it," said Patel.

Obsidian Entertainment is busy with another RPG installment planned for later this year. The Outer Worlds 2 got its first gameplay trailer at The Game Awards in December, and the sequel is releasing on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S. In addition, employees at the developer want to make a tactics game within the Pillars of Eternity series, though it's unclear if this will ever happen.

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Asus has announced a new mouse, and while it looks like a casual device that'll appeal to any cottagecore enthusiast with its soft pastel colors, it does have a neat trick up its proverbial sleeve in the form of an oil diffuser. That's right: this mouse has an "internal fragrance compartment" for aromatic oils, perfect for anyone who wants to keep their workstation smelling fresh and not like weeks of accumulated hand-sweat odor.

Asus Fragrance MouseGallery

Asus says that the removable vial can be washed and refilled with different scents, so you can customize it to your olfactory preferences. As for colors, it'll be available in Iridescent White and Rose Clay. Beyond its gimmick, this Asus mouse is one that's primarily focused on its looks.

The gentle colors are easy on the eyes, and internally, it has 10-million-click-lifespan switches, built-in dual-mode connectivity with 2.4GHz wireless and Bluetooth technology, and an ergonomic profile that favors right-handed users. It's not exactly built for stressful gaming sessions, but it'll more than suffice as a portable mouse that'll fit in nicely with a minimalist PC desktop setup.

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The Star Wars expanded universe has explored the various parts of a Galaxy Far, Far Away that the movies only hinted at, and the comics are packed with all-new storylines and eras of the Star Wars mythos--and soon, readers can return to the fan-favorite Old Republic era with the Star Wars Legends: The Old Republic Omnibus Edition that launches March 25 and is available to preorder for $150 at Amazon.

Star Wars Legends: The Old Republic Omnibus Edition Volume 1 $150 | Releases March 25

When we say massive, we mean this collection is big enough to be confused with the Death Star. The Old Republic Omnibus Edition is almost 1,400 pages in size, and collects the following issues:

• Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic #1-50
• Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic - War #1-5
• Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic Handbook
• Select material from Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic/Rebellion #0

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Despite sharing the same name and being set in the same era of the (now non-canon) Star Wars Legends Universe, The Knights of the Old Republic comic series feature a different series events than Bioware classic Knights of the Old Republic video game. The comics follow young Jedi Zayne Carrick, a fugitive who was framed for murder by his own Jedi masters. On the run, Carrick joins up with con artist Marn Hierogryph, outlaw scientist Camper, and bodyguard Jarael. Determined to clear his name, the ragtag group soon find themselves facing off against corrupted Jedi, deadly Mandalorians, and the Sith as they journey across the galaxy.

As mentioned above, the Star Wars Legends series is the name for the expanded universe material published before Disney bought the franchise and retconned all those old stories. Despite not being a part of the current Star Wars in-universe lore, fans still love many of these beloved stories, so it's nice when they're reprinted like this. If you're interested in exploring this version of the Star Wars universe tales, you can pick up Omnibus Editions of various other Star Wars Legends comics series at Amazon.

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The classic Transformer series was recently rebooted with an all-new comic run that reimagines the events of the classic 1980s Transformer TV show, making it the perfect entry point for new readers and a great way for existing fans to relive the battle between the Autobots and Decepticons. If you're curious about the new series, the first 12 issues are getting collected in a hardcover Transformers Deluxe Edition Book One that launches May 13. Preorders are discounted to $45 (normally $50) at Amazon.

Transformers Deluxe Edition Book One $45 (was $50) | Releases May 13

The Transformers Deluxe Edition Book One is a 260-page hardcover collection that compiles issues 1-12 of the new series written by storied comic book writer Daniel Warren Johnson with art by Jorge Corona and Mike Spicer. As mentioned above, the series reimagines the classic G1 continuity, and while there are many recognizable characters and plot points, it's also its own storyline with plenty of surprises for old-school fans. It's been well-received since it launched last year, winning a prestigious Eisner award for its art and writing. Also, this is the only comic series where you'll see Optimus Prime performs a perfect German suplex on Starscream.

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This new Transformers series is part Image Comics' new Energon Universe, a series of connected comic books from Skybound Comics that spans several other series, including Cobra Commander and Duke, which also serve as reimagined reboots of the GI Joe series and are getting their own Deluxe Edition collection with Codename: GI Joe Deluxe Edition Book One that launches on June 24. There's also award-winning Void Rivals, which kicked off the interconnected Energon Universe and crosses over with the new Transformers and GI Joe series. Written by Robert Kirkman and drawn by Lorenzo De Felici and Matheus Lopes, you can preorder the Void Rivals Deluxe Edition Book One for $50 ahead of its June 3 release.

Energon Universe Deluxe Edition Graphic Novel Preorders

• Codename: GI Joe Deluxe Edition Book One -- $50 | Releases June 24
• Transformers Deluxe Edition Book One -- $45 ($50) | Releases May 13
• Void Rivals Deluxe Edition Book One -- $50 | Releases June 3

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