Two decades after it was first released, Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines is finally getting a sequel. Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2 is a choice-driven first-person action RPG built within the same world as the World of Darkness tabletop game series--sort of how Baldur's Gate 3 is a video game built within the framework of Dungeons & Dragons and Cyberpunk 2077 is based on Cyberpunk Red. Below, we go over everything we know about Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2.

Originally being developed by Hardsuit Labs, Bloodlines 2 was eventually handed off to The Chinese Room in 2021. In response to the lengthy development cycle--which would only be longer now that the game would be handed off to another studio--publisher Paradox Interactive announced refunds for all physical and digital editions of Bloodlines 2.

In a June 2023 blog post, Paradox wrote: "We are proactively refunding all preorders of physical products, including the Collector's Edition. The digital versions of the First Blood Edition, Unsanctioned Edition, and Blood Moon Edition remain, but can be refunded if you choose."

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Call of Duty's latest DLC operator is available now, and it's unlike anything that's come before it. The newest operator is called Bath Time, and it turns your soldier into a rubber ducky.

Available for 1,800 COD Points, or about $18, the bundle comes with the rubber ducky head for your soldier, as well as weapons called The Ducky and Rubber Rampage. You also get the "What the Duck" weapon sticker, the "Duck This" calling card, and the "Bath Time" emblem. There is also a weapon charm in the bundle called "Quack'n Up."

The Bath Time operator doesn't have its own unique finishing move, however, as it recycles the "Stick 'N Move" finisher that other operators already have.

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It's no secret that Palworld is heavily influenced by Pokemon, specifically regarding the creatures that reside in the game's world. So one modder decided to just go ahead and add Pikachu, Torchic, and Piplup to the survival game.

YouTuber ToastedShoes teased a Pokemon mod for Palworld on X (formerly known as Twitter) with a short trailer seen below. The main character becomes Ash instead of custom created, with Pikachu seen mining resources as one point. There is also Misty wielding a gun, with Ash rocking a bow and arrow.

Palworld already has a Pokemon mod
Full video on my YouTube tomorrow! pic.twitter.com/X1ohT6mJiT

— Toasted (@ToastedShoes) January 22, 2024

ToastedShoes is no stranger to modding big-name games. In fact, earlier this month the Australian added Disney characters to Mortal Kombat 1. Toy Story's Woody rips apart Monsters, Inc.'s Sulley at one point, and it's as disturbingly hilarious as it sounds.

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MrBeast, or James "Jimmy" Donaldson, is reportedly on the verge of finalizing a deal with Prime Video, estimated at around $100 million. Puck News has disclosed that the YouTube personality plans to launch a competition series on the streaming platform, although the specific focus of the show remains undisclosed.

This move aligns with the ongoing trend of digital influencers exploring opportunities beyond their online origins. In a departure from conventional release strategies, the initial episode of MrBeast's competition series is anticipated to debut on his YouTube channel before becoming available on Prime Video. This approach underscores the evolving dynamics between online platforms and streaming services, enabling content creators to leverage their existing fan base while also venturing into mainstream entertainment.

MrBeast is closing a deal to have a TV show greenlit for Prime Video.

The deal is worth nearly $100M & the first episode will air on his YouTube channel before going on Prime Video.

(Source: https://t.co/o9Z98D2aL7) pic.twitter.com/rnpagfux1P

— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) January 22, 2024

The reported agreement marks a significant step for MrBeast, recognized as the most-subscribed individual on YouTube with 233 million subscribers. MrBeast, known for philanthropic efforts and attention-grabbing stunts, has recently expanded his portfolio by making cameos in three animated films in 2023, including titles like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, Under the Boardwalk, and Migration.

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Rocksteady has revealed the first look at the Joker in Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League. Detailing the post-launch plans for the action shooter, developer Rocksteady showed off Mista J as a new playable character. He will be available to unlock in Season 1 of the game, which will take place in March.

If you've played the Batman Arkham series, then you might be wondering--spoilers for a 9 year old game forthcoming--how is the Joker alive. And, well , looking like a teenage version of the character. The answer is Elseworlds, which are stories that occur in alternate realities and deviate from the established continuity of DC's comics.

According to Rocksteady, this new Joker used to be part of the Suicide Squad in the Elseworld he comes from. "I think we've taken him back to the kind of more vaudeville roots of Joker," Rocksteady's advanced scriptwriter Kate Watson says in the trailer. "He's masking insecurities with traditional Joker behavior. But deep down, he's not sure who he is yet."

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Halo Season 2 will have a darker story with better dialogue. In an interview with SFX magazine, with an extract republished in GamesRadar, actor Pablo Schreiber said the upcoming season will have more intense action sequences. Moreover, Master Chief John-117's writing is seemingly getting stronger.

"I think [David Wiener, Halo's new showrunner] is just a more gifted writer, to be quite frank," Schreiber told SFX. "I think his dialogue is better. He puts words in the mouth that feel more appropriate for the character."

The actor emphasizes that Halo Season 2 is stronger than the first. The new art director, James Foster, plays a part in this, creating "a visual world that just makes a lot more sense," with a focus on a cinematic feeling. "It's just a better season, period," Schreiber added.

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Piranha Bytes, the studio behind franchises like Gothic, Risen, and Elex, has addressed rumors that the studio may be facing closure.

"Yes, it's true. We, Piranha Bytes, are in a difficult situation. There are a lot of news about us circulating right now and this is our answer: Don't write us off yet! We do everything to continue creating worlds in which you can lose yourself. This is what our hearts have always beaten for," Piranha Bytes said in a statement.

pic.twitter.com/E9FyQ42LAB

— Piranha Bytes (@Piranha_Bytes) January 22, 2024

The studio also explained it is still looking for a partner on its next project and will provide an update as soon as it can. Piranha Bytes was founded in 1997 and bought by Phenomedia in 1999. Phenomedia went bankrupt in 2002 and Piranha Bytes management bought out the studio. It was independent until 2019 when it was acquired by THQ and Embracer Group.

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The Office star Rain Wilson, who played Dwight on the workplace comedy series, has shared a nice story about a flight attendant who left him a handwritten note on a napkin telling him how much they loved the series and what it meant to them.

A flight attendant named Melanie from Alaska Airlines dropped the note onto Wilson's lap, apparently without him seeing it happen, and he shared the message on social media. In it, Melanie wrote, "The Office got me through some of the darkest days of my life. I can't thank you enough for that."

Wilson said he is "so humbled" to have starred on The Office, a show that "affected, touched, comforted, and inspired. And continues to do so!"

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It's official, RoboCop: Rogue City will allow you to clean the streets of Old Detroit--again--as it's receiving a New Game Plus mode. Developer Teyon detailed the fan-requested addition, as well as a new difficulty mode, and several other tweaks being introduced to the game this week.

On its Steam blog, Teyon added that players will be able to relive the full "invincible robotic law enforcement officer" experience once RoboCop: Rogue City has been updated. When the original game launched last year, one of the criticisms for an otherwise fun RoboCop game was that it was easy to miss out on optional one-time-only quests and Auto-9 upgrades, and the game was also stingy with how many points players could earn to help upgrade OCP's high-tech cop.

Teyon says that once the patch has been installed, a new save file will be created for players who have completed the game and New Game Plus mode will be unlocked. As an extra reward, a Golden Auto-9 skin will be unlocked as soon as you beat the game.

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I'll admit upfront: I missed Another Code (known in North America as Trace Memory) when it first came out on Nintendo DS. Despite voraciously consuming other DS adventure games like Phoenix Wright, Ghost Trick, 999, and original Another Code developer Cing's other title, Hotel Dusk, Another Code just slipped by me. And with the sequel, Another Code R, being a European Wii exclusive, catching up there wasn't easy to do. So when Nintendo announced remakes of the two Another Code games for Switch, I was eager to correct those wrongs and see what the now-sadly-defunct Cing had put together. To my surprise, Recollection is fundamentally different from the originals in a number of ways--all-new visuals and updated puzzles, for example--and these quality of life improvements helped me appreciate the original game's supernatural mysteries.

Another Code Recollection puts you in the role of Ashley, a young girl who tragically lost her mother at a very young age. Haunted by disturbing memories she can't fully recall, Ashley receives an invite to a secluded island to meet with her long-absent father, and a strange-looking portable device called the DAS. On the island, she finds a well-preserved old mansion and a very unusual friend who also shares her lack of memory… but no dad. In the second part of the game, an older Ashley is invited to Lake Juliet for a camping trip that immediately goes south when her bag is pilfered. In the quest to get back her stuff, Ashley discovers the truths and tragedies of a conspiracy in the background of this placid lake.

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Ashley is a sympathetic character whose teenage angst over her absent parents is understandable. A lot of fictional teens can come off as obnoxious and self-centered, but Ashley's complex feelings towards her absentee father are very relatable, as is her lingering trauma from the loss of her mother, and seeing her confront these issues over the course of the game and grow from them makes for great character development. The amount of characterization and background of the supporting cast varies by how big their role in the story is--D, your ethereal friend in part 1, gets significantly more background and development than most of part 2's cast--but nobody comes off as particularly badly handled.

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The new hit game Palworld is currently only available on PC and Xbox Series X|S, but will it come to PS5? Developer Pocketpair has said it's possible but didn't provide a timeframe on when that could happen.

On Palworld's early access launch FAQ page, one of the questions listed is "Will Palworld be coming to PS5?" Pocketpair answered, "We don't have plans for this at the moment, but will consider it during development!"

The studio also answered a few other questions about features, such as supporting cross-play between platforms, saying that it is working on implementing it as soon as possible. Pocketpair is also currently testing player vs. player content internally and experimenting with different approaches before introducing it to Palworld.

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Woot, a discount site under the Amazon umbrella, is a great place to find popular gear for low prices. The site is currently offering a bunch of price cuts on gaming gear, featuring everything from collector's editions and headsets to controllers and charging stations. Purchases are fulfilled by Amazon, and most are backed by a 90-day limited warranty.

See all deals at Woot

The Hori Split Pad Compact is one of the best deals at Woot, as right now you can snag the popular handheld grips for just $35--the best price we've ever seen for this particular model. Typically listed for $60, the Split Pad Compact offers a slim profile, full-sized controls, and two back buttons for added functionality. This version features a Pac-Man-inspired design, with Pac-Man, Ghosts, and a whole bunch of pellets scattered across its faceplate.

If you're looking to upgrade your headset, take a closer look at the Turtle Beach Stealth Pro. This version is compatible with PS5, PC, Switch, and mobile, and is now on sale for $220 (down from $330). The Stealth Pro is Turtle Beach's best gaming headset thanks to stellar noise-canceling tech, booming audio, and great build quality that makes it comfortable for long gaming sessions.

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Interrogating James Gordon actor Jeffrey Wright won't help reveal any new tidbits about The Batman 2. That's because Wright admitted he hasn't even seen a script for the sequel from writer-director Matt Reeves yet.

Speaking with ET, Wright told the interviewer that "you've seen as much of a script as I have at this point" regarding The Batman 2, which will once again star Robert Pattinson in the titular role. Though the actor has no problems waiting to see what's next for his character.

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Amazon is currently discounting a variety of Resident Evil board games, giving you a chance to bring the terror to your tabletop without breaking the bank. The best deal is for Resident Evil 2: The Board Game--though Amazon has limited quantities, so you'll want to hurry if interested.

See deal at Amazon

Typically listed for $69, you can pick up Resident Evil 2: The Board Game for $56.30. That's one of the best prices we've seen in months, making it a great time to check out the cool board game. The action plays out as a cooperative survival adventure, with you and up to three other players trying to survive Raccoon City as Leon, Claire, Ada, and Robert. Along with all the cards and board tiles you need to play the game, it includes 24 plastic miniatures (such as G-Mutant and Birkin Stage 3).

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If you want to add even more horror to your tabletop collection, the original Resident Evil: Board Game is on sale for $75, down from $100. This version also includes a variety of miniatures but sees you playing as Jill Valentine, Chris Redfield, Rebecca Chambers, or Barry Burton as you search for survivors across 19 unique scenarios.

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Deadline is reporting that Gillian Anderson has joined the cast of Tron: Ares, the third film in the Tron sci-fi franchise from Disney. Tron was a cult classic for years and eventually got a sequel with Tron: Legacy back in 2010.

Anderson joins Oscar winner Jared Leto, Jodie Turner-Smith (Netflix's Sex Education), and Greta Lee (Past Lives). Nothing has been released about Anderson's character, much less the film's overall plot outside Leto's Ares, who is someone who can crossover from the world of Tron to our world.

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The first Tron film hit theaters in 1982 and featured Jeff Bridges as video game creator Kevin Flynn, who is transported to the world of video games. The film was one of the first movies to experiment with computer animation for its special effects. It's interesting that because of that, it was disqualified from the Academy Awards as the Academy deemed it "cheating."

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Palworld has numerous items that you can craft, but you do need the right materials. One of these is created using ores found in various biomes. Here's our guide on how to get Ingots in Palworld.

How to get Ingots in Palworld

You can get these all-important resources by converting Ore via the Primitive Furnace. The task itself sounds simple, at least on paper, but there are other facets worth considering.

Where to find Ore Deposits

Ore Deposits are found in numerous areas, though the nodes aren't as plentiful as Stone Deposits. Also when comparing the two, you'll notice that Stone Deposits have a grayish color, whereas Ore Deposits have a brownish-red hue.

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Super Metroid OST Recreated

$40 - $46

Preorder at Amazon Preorder at Best Buy

Tired of the same old "classics" coming into rotation on your playlist? Then it might be time to consider something truly in the form of a re-created video game soundtrack. Over at Best Buy and Amazon, preorders are live for a modern recreation of Super Metroid's beloved soundtrack, and for a bonus, you can proudly display the gorgeous cover art for this vinyl on your wall when you're not rocking out to Samus Aran's greatest hits. Super Metroid Recreated releases on February 16, so you won't have to wait long for your vinyl to arrive.

Super Metroid OST Recreated $40 - $46

Orchestrated by Jammin' Sam Miller, this is a double-sided vinyl disc with 27 tracks to listen to. Inspired the beloved 1994 Super Nintendo hit, each track recreates the explorative feel and alien atmosphere of Super Metroid. It should be perfect for those evenings when you want to imagine yourself trekking through a planet while surrounded by hostile forces and wildlife. And having a gorgeous album to hang up and admire--thanks to the superb art by by French illustrator Pierre Thyss--only adds to the retro charm.

Preorder at Amazon Preorder at Best Buy

If you're looking for more of Miller's work, you can pick up recreated Donkey Kong Country soundtracks at Amazon. Another collection of high-definition tracks based on the original game soundtracks, these contain hours of incredible music to enjoy from the Nintendo franchise.

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The Lenovo Legion Go is one of the best Steam Deck alternatives, offering easy access to storefronts like Steam, PC Game Pass, and the Epic Games Store. Not to mention a slew of online multiplayer games that are incompatible with Steam Deck. The Legion Go also boasts robust specs that allow it to play most modern games at solid presets and an ergonomic design that makes it comfortable for extended play sessions. It's typically an expensive handheld (starting at $700), but a new bundle is allowing you to pick it up for just $650.

Lenovo Legion Go 8.8-Inch Handheld (512GB) $650 (was $730)

This bundle from Antonline includes the 512GB model plus three months of PC Game Pass. That makes it the best deal we've seen for the Legion Go. The handheld is equipped with an AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme processor, Radeon 700M Series GPU, and a huge 8.8-inch display that supports a 144Hz refresh rate. It's a well-rounded device--and if you're looking for a handheld with Windows that offers broader access to PC games than Steam Deck, it deserves a closer look.

Note that Best Buy is discounting the 512GB and 1TB models by $50 too, though they don't come bundled with the PC Game Pass membership like the deal at Antonline.

See bundle at Antonline Best Buy (512GB) Best Buy (1TB)

It's worth noting that Best Buy still has a fantastic deal on the ASUS ROG Ally, which is essentially an affordable, smaller alternative to the Lenovo Legion Go. Featuring a seven-inch screen, 1080p resolution, and Ryzen Z1 processor, it's a great option if you're working with a smaller budget, as right now the handheld is on sale for just $400 (down from $600).

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There aren't too many Souls-like games with an anime-influenced art direction, but AI Limit is on its way to pump up those numbers. A new trailer for the upcoming game has debuted, showing off a colorful and slick entry in the genre. It's full of intimidating boss battles, telegraphed attack patterns, and there's an arsenal of weapons to master against the various threats.

Set in a post-apocalyptic world where humanity is teetering on the brink of extinction thanks to an ecological disaster and war, things only got worse for the survivors when a mysterious substance called the Mud began to corrode the planet. As Arrisa, a new life form created by mysterious technology and referred to as Bladers, it'll be up to you to guide them through this wasteland, seek the truth about the destruction of civilization, and avoid getting skewered by the various beasts and bosses inhabiting the land.

Some of those boss fights look incredibly challenging, but at least you'll have access to a stylish array of abilities when you face off against them. There'll be a wide variety of weapons to mix and master, the Sync Rate gameplay mechanic allows you to unleash extra-powerful attacks, and you can enhance your attacks with dozens of spells.

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Initially known as Pokemon with guns, Palworld has set the gaming world on fire by selling millions of copies in a matter of days and fueling internet discourse with AI art accusations. It's even led to Arkane Lyon studio director Dinga Bakaba creating a fascinating thread on X (formerly known as Twitter) about the survival game, touching on its mechanics and lightning-rod aspects.

Bakaba, who was game director on Deathloop, notes upfront that Palworld isn't actually a Pokemon-like and feels more mechanically inspired by Rust and Ark: Survival Evolved. He adds, though, that the title does obviously have similarities to Pokemon, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Fortnite, and more.

Yeah, I'm surprised by how quickly this is escalating. I'll try to organize my own hot take-ish thoughts in a thread, separating concept, execution, and dev. First: it's not a Pokemon-like game. Digimon is. And even if it was, so what? (cries in FPS, BRs, Souls, hero shooters...) https://t.co/6jnWkfiANE

— Dinga Bakaba (@DBakaba) January 21, 2024

Meanwhile, Naughty Dog senior artist Del Walker posted on X that "my gut is telling me Palworld was made nefariously." Another game developer, Rami Ismail, took a more moderate viewpoint by stating: "I don't consider it a clone of Pokemon even remotely, but I super don't love how close some of the Pals are to Pokémon."

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