To say that the team behind Magic: The Gathering's upcoming Final Fantasy collaboration set is excited to launch would be an understatement.

"As we drove up to the convention center, there's this giant hotel-sized screen that says 'Magic: The Gathering – Final Fantasy on it," principal designer and set design lead Gavin Verhey said during a press preview event for the upcoming set. "We all just looked at each other and said, 'This is it, this is what we've been waiting for. It's finally happening.'"

Moments like this are what Verhey, executive producer Zakeel Gordon, principal game designer Dillon Deveney, and senior game designer Daniel Holt have dreamed of throughout the four-year history of the set's development. As the team reminisces about their time working on the expansion, both in Square Enix's offices in Japan and the Wizards of the Coast headquarters in Renton, Washington, our Zoom call lights up with smiles and laughter at the simple mention of cards like Summon: Bahamut, names like Yoshitaka Amano, and countless other references.

Continue Reading at GameSpot

Savage Raven NeoGrip for Nintendo Switch 2

$30

See at Amazon

StandGrip for Switch 2

$19 (was $27)

See StandGrip at Amazon See StandGrip Bundles at Amazon

Slim Carrying Case For Switch 2

$21 (was $30)

See at Amazon

Maxcarry Case

$30 (was $50)

See at Amazon

We're still a few weeks out from the Switch 2's launch on June 5, but we've already seen numerous third-party manufacturers release official accessories for the upcoming consoles--including Switch 2 editions of some of the best Switch grips, the Skull & Co. NeoGrip and StandGrip. Skull & Co. is one of the most popular Switch accessory manufacturers, and the new Switch 2 versions of the NeoGrip and StandGrip are sure to be popular--in fact, at least one bundle deal featuring the NeoGrip for Switch 2 and one of its new carrying cases has already sold out at Amazon. Luckily, you can still grab the Switch 2 NeoGrip for $30 and StandGrip for $19 (was $27), along with several other new Switch 2 accessories from Skull & Co. like carrying cases, screen protectors, and protective caps for the Switch 2's thumbsticks and buttons.

All Skull & Co. Nintendo Switch 2 Accessories and Bundles

• NeoGrip for Switch 2
  • NeoGrip For Switch 2 (Neon Red and Blue) -- $30
  • NeoGrip For Switch 2 (Black) -- $30
  • NeoGrip For Switch 2 and Carrying Bundle (Black) -- $50 (Sold Out)
  • NeoGrip For Switch 2 and Carrying Bundle (Neon Red and Blue) -- $50 (Sold Out)
• StandGrip for Switch 2
  • StandGrip For Switch 2 (three color options) -- $19 ($27)
  • StandGrip For Switch 2 + Front Cover Bundle -- $25 ($40)
  • StandGrip For Switch 2 + Carrying Case -- $33
• Carrying cases
  • Slim Carrying Case for Nintendo Switch 2 -- $21 ($30)
  • Maxcarry Case for Nintendo Switch 2 -- $30 ($50)
• Other Accessories
  • Thumb Grips Joystick Caps For Nintendo Switch 2 (Neon Red and Blue) -- $10
  • Thumb Grips Joystick Caps For Nintendo Switch 2 (Black) -- $10
  • D-Pad Button Cap Set for Nintendo Switch 2 Joy-Con 2 (Neon Red and Blue) -- $10
  • D-Pad Button Cap Set for Nintendo Switch 2 Joy-Con 2 (Super Nintendo Colors) -- $10
  • High Transparency Tempered Glass Screen Protector For Nintedo Switch 2 with install kit - HD Clarity (2-Pack) -- $20 ($30)
  • High Transparency Tempered Glass Screen Protector For Nintedo Switch 2 - HD Clarity (2-Pack) -- $13 ($21)
  • High Transparency Tempered Glass Screen Protector For Nintedo Switch 2 - Anti-Glare Matte Finish (2-Pack) -- $13

Savage Raven NeoGrip for Nintendo Switch 2 $30

The Savage Raven NeoGrip for Switch 2 is an ergonomic grip that includes three interchangeable grip sizes. It features a hard, durable construction to absorb the impact of falls. It's designed so you can use the Switch 2's kickstand and dock while it's attached to the console and won't block the game card slot, vents, or buttons, but can easily slide on and off if needed.

The NeoGrip for Switch 2 is available in Black or Neon Red and Blue. Amazon also lists a bundle featuring the Maxcarry case, though it's currently sold out.

NeoGrip for Switch 2

• NeoGrip For Switch 2 (Neon Red and Blue) -- $30
• NeoGrip For Switch 2 (Black) -- $30
• NeoGrip For Switch 2 and Carrying Bundle (Black) -- $50 (Sold Out)
• NeoGrip For Switch 2 and Carrying Bundle (Neon Red and Blue) -- $50 (Sold Out)

See at Amazon StandGrip for Switch 2 $19 (was $27)

The StandGrip for Nintendo Switch 2 is a wrap-around case with soft, protective material with a textured finish to keep the Switch 2 safe and make it more comfortable to hold. As the name implies, the bottom of the case features a flat 75-degree angle so you can stand it up in tabletop mode without needing the kickstand. The top of the case has dedicated cutouts for the charging and USB ports, exhaust vents, and game card slot.

The StandGrip for Swittch 2 is available in three color options: Jet Black, Smokey Black, and Galactic Purple. You can pick it up on its own, or in a bundle with either a front cover or a carrying case.

StandGrip for Switch 2

• StandGrip For Switch 2 (three color options) -- $19 ($27)
• StandGrip For Switch 2 + Front Cover Bundle -- $25 ($40)
• StandGrip For Switch 2 + Carrying Case -- $33

See StandGrip at Amazon See StandGrip Bundles at Amazon Slim Carrying Case For Switch 2 $21 (was $30)

Skull & Co.'s Slim carrying case for the Switch 2 is exactly what it sounds like: a durable zippered clamshell designed for keeping the Switch 2 safe while on the go but small enough to fit in backpacks and other bags or be carried by hand. The hard inner case is surrounded by a denim covering, and it features an adjustable hand strap. It's large enough to fit the undocked Switch 2 with the Joy-Con 2s attached, but not much else.

See at Amazon Maxcarry Case $30 (was $50)

Skull & Co.'s Switch 2 Maxcarry Case is a larger alternative to the Slim Carrying Case. It features similar durable construction but offers more internal storage space for accessories or for fitting the Switch 2 with either the NeoGrip or StandGrip attachments.

See at Amazon

If you're looking for more Switch 2 accessories, other third-party brands like JSAUX, Tomtoc, Satisfye, and Dbrand all have their own grips, carrying cases, and screen protectors available. We've rounded up some of our favorite Switch 2 grips in the list below.

Beyond grips, GameStop has its own line of budget-friendly Switch 2 accessories available. Of course, there's also Nintendo's official Switch 2 accessories as well, which you'll find listed in our Switch 2 preorder guide. If you're set for accessories, be sure to also check out our list of all the Switch 2 games available to preorder now.

Continue Reading at GameSpot

Sid Meier's Civilization VII - Switch 2 Edition

$70 | Releases June 5

Preorder at Amazon

Sid Meier's Civilization VII is one of the Switch 2's launch games, arriving on June 5 alongside Nintendo's new console. While the game was revealed for the Switch 2 back when the console was revealed in April, it's now confirmed that Civilization VII is getting a $70 physical Switch 2 edition--though it should be noted that this is simply a code in a box. Nevertheless, if you're intent on displaying the game's box in your physical collection, you can preorder Sid Meier's Civilization VII - Switch 2 Edition now at Amazon.

Sid Meier's Civilization VII - Switch 2 Edition $70 | Releases June 5

This is the only physical version of Sid Meier's Civilization VII available for Switch 2. As mentioned above, this includes a download code for the game--specifically the Switch edition of the game and the Switch 2 Edition upgrade. There is no cartridge or Game-Key Card included in the box.

The Civilization VII Nintendo Switch 2 Edition supports larger in-game map sizes than the Switch version and adds mouse controls for the Joy-Con 2 and GameChat support. It also features enhanced visuals with up to 4K resolution at 30fps or 1080p at 60fps when docked.

Preorder at Amazon

Note that anyone who already owns the physical or digital versions of Civilization on the original Switch can also upgrade to the Switch 2 Edition for $10 via the Switch 2 eShop. In fact, if you want to save about 10 bucks dollars, you can grab a boxed copy of Civilization VII on Switch for just $51 (was $60) at Amazon or Walmart, then upgrade to the Switch 2 Edition on June 5.

Alternatively, there's also the Civilization VII Deluxe Edition for Switch that's available for $70 (was $90) that adds extra content like the Tecumseh and Shawnee Pack, the Crossroads of the World Collection, and the Deluxe Content Pack. This version can also be upgraded to the Switch 2 Edition, and all Deluxe Edition DLC will carry over.

Continue Reading at GameSpot

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