World of Warcraft Classic's Season of Discovery servers may have exhausted all of vanilla WoW's original content, but that doesn't mean the season is over. Blizzard is instead progressing past vanilla WoW's normal endpoint and introducing new endgame content in the form of a new raid, as well as giving players the chance to wield one of WoW's most legendary weapons--the Ashbringer.

Phase 8 of WoW Classic Season of Discovery will begin on April 8, Blizzard has announced. That will be when players will be able to explore new quest content centered around the Scarlet Crusade stronghold of New Avalon. Then, on April 10, players can venture into the new Scarlet Enclave raid, where a splinter faction of the Scarlet Crusade is seeking help to overthrow an "insidious evil" that has taken control of the stronghold.

The Scarlet Enclave is where Paladin, Warrior, and, yes, even Hunter players can embark on a new legendary questline to reforge one of WoW's most iconic weapons, the holy two-handed sword Ashbringer. It will be the first time WoW Classic players will be able to get their hands on a non-corrupted version of the weapon, despite players back in the vanilla WoW days tirelessly trying to discover a way to no avail. However, players of the modern "retail" version of WoW were able to use Ashbringer as part of the game's 2016 Legion expansion.

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For the newest episode of GameSpot Insider, we dig into the tumultuous development of Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl. While the game is now considered a success, both critically and commercially (it just passed 6 million players), the game was canceled all the way back in 2012. It got off the ground again years later, but Ukraine-based developer GSC Game World had another challenge to contend with: developing the game in the midst of Russia's hostile invasion of the country.

GameSpot traveled to visit GSC Game World's new office in Prague, where we spoke to the developers directly about the rocky road to bring Stalker 2 to market. In the 40-minute documentary, the developers share harrowing stories about the game's development, including how a fire threw another wrench in the game's plans. As you'll learn in the documentary, around 200 GSC workers evacuated Ukraine due to the conflict, establishing a new office in Prague, but more than 200 stayed in Kyiv.

Check out the 40-minute documentary below.

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The Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl developers at GSC Game World have been through a lot, to put it mildly. Following the full-scale Russian invasion in 2022, roughly 200 developers opted to relocate to Prague in the Czech Republic, continuing to collaborate with their colleagues in Kyiv. This, in theory, should have led to a more peaceful development process for this group, but a large fire in the Prague office threw another unexpected wrench in its plans.

The fire, which broke out in late 2023 in the Prague office's server room, partially wiped out one of the floors. No one was hurt, but post-accident images of the damage show scorch marks and ash covering the ground. GSC Game World CEO Ievgen Grygorovych seems to view the situation as a sort of blessing in disguise, as he explained to us in the latest GameSpot Insider documentary.

"It actually made us stronger because we got to experience what can happen, how it may look--what we have to do to not let it happen again," he said.

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GSC Game World went through far more harrowing events than most game developers--or people--ever will, during the development of Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl. What began as a long-awaited revival of a classic FPS series soon took on new meaning as a show of defiance against a malicious invader in 2022. On February 24, Russia--under false pretenses--launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, threatening the lives of hundreds of game developers and their families. Around 200 employees evacuated, setting up a new office in Prague, but a remarkable number chose to stay in Kyiv: roughly 230.

Though the city hasn't been subjected to large-scale battles since the early days of the war, it has been the frequent target of deadly drone attacks, missiles, and airstrikes. Reasons for staying vary among the GSC Game World team, but their perseverance mirrors that of Ukraine itself--Russia's strategy to charge toward the capital was thwarted near the start of the invasion, and Ukraine continues to fight back more than three years later.

"I don't want to leave. I won't forgive myself," narrative designer Maksym Hnatkov told us as part of our GameSpot Insider documentary on Stalker 2's development. "I don't know--I was pissed. I was angry. At that point in time, leaving was not an option and staying wasn't that scary."

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Novocaine 4K Steelbook (Amazon Exclusive)

$45 | Release date TBD

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Novocaine 4K Blu-ray

$36

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Novocaine premiered in theaters on March 14, and it quickly garnered impressive reviews from both critics and audiences. If you're interested in bringing it to your home theater, preorders for the upcoming Novocaine Blu-ray release are now open. Multiple versions are available, including a $45 premium 4K Steelbook Edition sold exclusively at Amazon. Preorders for the $36 standard Blu-ray edition are also available at Amazon and Walmart. Neither version has confirmed release dates, but expect to hear more as its theatrical run comes to an end.

Novocaine 4K Steelbook (Amazon Exclusive) $45 | Release date TBD

This version of Novocaine gets you a stylish steelbook to protect and display your 4K Blu-ray. Along with the 4K format, it features both standard Blu-ray and digital formats. It's unclear exactly what bonus features are included, but right now it's advertising "over 35 minutes" of extra content.

The action-comedy film follows Nate (Jack Quaid) as he attempts to rescue his kidnapped girlfriend (Amber Midthunder). He's a fairly normal guy, but there's one thing working in his favor: he doesn't feel pain. What follows is a wild action-comedy that managed to top the box office during its first week in theaters

Note that Amazon won't charge you until your order has shipped, and preordering makes you eligible for any price cuts between now and launch. And since this is an Amazon exclusive, there's a possibility it'll sell out.

Preorder at Amazon Novocaine 4K Blu-ray $36

This more affordable version of Novocaine gets you 4K Blu-ray, standard Blu-ray, and digital formats. Bonus features for this version have not yet been announced, though they'll likely offer many of the same ones found on the 4K steelbook. Expect to see the usual assortment of behind-the-scenes content, deleted scenes, cast interviews, and more.

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Looking for additional Blu-rays to add to your collection? Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is available for preorder, and this includes a few cool steelbooks (one of which is an Amazon exclusive like Novocaine). The Blu-ray releases on April 15, though Blu-rays are already available for the first two films.

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The Xbox Adaptive Joystick has officially launched, giving users a new accessibility option for playing games. Bearing a striking resemblance to the Nintendo Wii's nunchuck controller, the Xbox Adaptive Joystick is priced at $30, and can be purchased from the Microsoft Store. It's compatible with PC and Xbox consoles.

Xbox Adaptive Joystick controller $30

Microsoft says that this wired controller was designed in collaboration with the Gaming and Disability community so that users with limited mobility have access to a device that can meet their needs. The company added that its versatility allows for it to be seamlessly incorporated into existing gaming setups, and it can also be connected to the Xbox Adaptive Controller. All of the buttons can be remapped by using the Xbox Accessories app.

See at the Microsoft Store

For even more fine-tuning, Microsoft is offering several thumbstick topper designs through its Xbox Design lab, and these can all be 3D-printed through the store.

If you're looking to get the Xbox Adaptive Controller, these are currently available through Best Buy and Target. Priced at $100, the controller is equipped with large programmable buttons and the ability to connect to external switches, buttons, mounts, and joysticks. The plug-and-play design makes it a customizable hub for other pieces of gaming hardware and it's compatible with PC, Xbox Series X|S, and Xbox One.

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The Witcher: Classic Collection (Paperback)

$30

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Over 30 years after its initial debut, the original comic book series based on The Witcher is finally available in English. Dark Horse has compiled all six issues in one paperback volume dubbed The Witcher: Classic Collection. It's available in paperback for $30 and Kindle ebook for $18.

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A massive new update has arrived to Palworld. Update v0.5.0 adds the long-awaited cross-play functionality, photo mode, new storage options, blueprint upgrading, and additional features. Smaller bug fixes are also included in the update.

Palworld's cross-play is available across all platforms: Xbox Series X|S, PS5, PC, and Mac. Additionally, the update adds dedicated servers for Mac. Developer Pocketpair confirmed that dedicated servers are still currently unavailable on the PS5 version of the game, but says it's working on adding support for them.

Players can now transfer Pals between worlds. The update's addition of the Global Palbox lets players store Pal data and transfer Pals between worlds. Pal storage has also increased with the new Dimensional Pal Storage, which offers a new storage system with 10x the capacity of the regular Palbox.

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One of the largest labor unions in North America is creating a new United Videogame Workers union, which aims to allow anyone in the business to join. Communications Workers of America has teamed up with the American Federation of Musicians to launch this new gaming-specific organization to coincide with the start of the Game Developers Conference.

According to the group's FAQ, this new gaming union will offer basically anyone in the industry--in the United States and Canada--the opportunity to sign up and then eventually pay dues. This is also open to the thousands of people who have lost their jobs over the past couple of years. The United Videogame Workers mission statement mentions taking "back our lives, our labor, and our passion from those who treat us like replaceable cogs; to empower our fellow workers; to link up arms with the laid off, with the freelancer, with the disillusioned contractor, with the disenfranchised and the marginalized, with the workers laboring invisibly to keep this industry afloat." The new organization also advocates for creating studio-specific unions, too, like ZeniMax Workers United.

"The creation of this union was not done in isolation; it's a cumulative effort by the thousands of video game workers who have been fighting for years to redefine what it means to stand together and reclaim power in one of the largest and highest-grossing industries on the globe," said CWA's senior director of organizing Tom Smith in a press release.

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Ubisoft's next big release is Assassin's Creed Shadows, which debuts on March 20. According to analyst Joost Van Dreunen, the game's release is a "bit of an existential moment" for Ubisoft.

Van Dreunen told Reuters this against the backdrop of Ubisoft's recent financial struggles, as the company's stock price reached a 10-year low in 2024 following disappointing sales of Star Wars Outlaws. The analyst believes if Shadows can do "really well" in terms of sales, that could "go a long way toward repairing [Ubisoft's] financial position."

Ubisoft is said to be negotiating with potential business partners to help the company turn things around, including Tencent. It recently came to light that Ubisoft might be looking at selling off individual game franchises, with Microsoft and EA said to be in the mix. Ubisoft has not commented on any of this.

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Before the Marvel Cinematic Universe changed the face of the movie industry with its series of interconnected films, a video game version of this concept was once pitched to Disney, according to Bungie co-founder Alexander Seropian.

On an episode of The Fourth Curtain podcast, Seropian and his guest Alex Irvine revealed (via IGN) how they'd come up with a plan to create a connected universe for future Marvel games, but Disney higher-ups decided to pass on the idea. Seropian--who was VP of game development for Disney's game division until 2012--and Irvine--who has writing credits on several Marvel games--added that funding for the idea never materialized, killing the idea early on in its development.

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Roger Craig Smith has voiced loads of iconic video game characters, including Sonic the Hedgehog, Arkham Origins' Batman, and Apex Legends fan-favorite Mirage. He's perhaps best known for his performance as the ledge-climbing, leap-of-faith-taking Ezio Auditore da Firenze in Assassin's Creed II (and several other games in the franchise), but fans of Assassin's Creed will likely be surprised to learn that Smith is absolutely terrified of ledges.

In a recent interview with Forbes, Smith--who is a big fan of gaming--was asked if there's a specific gaming memory in his life that "stands out." For Assassin's Creed fans, his answer was a bit unexpected.

"Climbing to the top of a tower in Assassin's Creed II and synchronising so the map unlocks for you; that iconic and sweeping entrance [to the game] always gets me," Smith said. "I have a fear of ledges, and this game would give me the heebie jeebies moving around up there. I'd get butterflies in my stomach, but it's such a beautiful moment. Getting to be a part of it and seeing what everyone had worked so hard to create was just such a 'Wow,' moment for me."

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You sometimes don't realize how much of game design is centered around expectations until they get messed with. For those of a certain age, there's nothing more expected than the basics of how a 2D platformer and its level design work. Level Devil knows this, and it's happy to give you and your expectations a giant middle finger with each and every level.

That might sound like a recipe for frustration, but instead my time with the game has been nothing if not consistently hilarious and delightful. Despite being someone who often finds the potential for lost progress in souls-likes to be off-putting, failing a level in Level Devil and incurring a similar level of setback elicits a hearty chuckle from me rather than an exasperated sigh.

Level Devil is a game that is deliberately trying to mess with you, and it's going to succeed more often than not. The creativity of the ways in which it does so makes for a consistent joy throughout--it's nothing if not spiteful.

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Another month and GSC Game World has delivered another massive update to Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl. Patch 1.3 for the open-world survival shooter introduces more than 1,200 changes, touching on almost every aspect of the game--including smoother monster movements, additional death screens, and fixing NPCs blocking player movement.

On the Stalker subreddit, Stalker 2 players seemed especially excited to discover that the Saiga D-12 shotgun's drum magazine can now be discovered outside the endgame. Another point of emphasis for GSC Game World was addressing main storyline bugs, which hopefully will stop people from getting stuck in the game.

How Long Is Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl?See More

Stalker 2's massive 1.2 patch focused on game-breaking bugs last month, too. So in back-to-back months, the studio has introduced 2,900 changes for the survival shooter. That's not all, either. In December, Stalker 2's first major patch featured over 1,800 bug fixes.

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Earlier this month, Saudi Arabian-owned mobile developer Scopely confirmed that it's buying the gaming division of Niantic, the developer behind Pokemon Go and other hit mobile games. It was a $3.5 billion deal, and one of the largest gaming buyouts in history. But for any fans who are worried about Scopely imposing certain unwanted changes on Pokemon Go, the game's senior director, Michael Steranka, wants to assure them that won't be the case.

While speaking with Polygon, Steranka indicated that he's spent months talking with Scopely's team, and he related that they don't want to rock the boat of Pokemon Go's success. For example, he indicated that Steranka won't shift the game from a free-to-play model, or force intrusive ads into the experience.

"[Intrusive ads are] not happening in Pokemon Go--not now, not ever," said Steranka. "Again, Scopely really recognizes how unique this game is, and they've told us themselves that they would be foolish to try to change the recipe of what's made this such a huge hit and a success. So yeah, absolutely not. We will not be building into our games any type of obtrusive ads or anything like that. I just really want to reiterate Scopely as a company, the way that they operate is they give all of their teams the agency to make the decisions that’s right for their games. And that is not something that we feel would ever be right for Pokemon Go."

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The life-sim game InZoi is coming this month, and the game's developer has finally confirmed additional key details, including the price of the game at launch.

Game director Hyungjun "Kjun" Kim said during the InZoi global showcase that the game will debut on Steam in early access for $40, according to PC Gamer. He said the game still has "a lot to improve on," which is part of the reason why it's launching in early access.

Kjun also confirmed that InZoi will receive four free updates throughout 2025, while smaller updates will add things like new outfits and furniture--the plan is for these smaller updates to come at a pace of every three months. However, the final plan is not finalized and things could change, he said.

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