A former DICE developer has recently taken to Twitter to share their insights on the development of Battlefield 2042. According to the ex-Senior Software Engineer, the game had gone through multiple iterations and was subject to a fixed deadline. Early leaks about the game that surfaced online revealed details such as huge destructibility, weather events, and more; however, these features did not make it to the final version. It was only after the game's launch that it was discovered that the details were from internal pitches of the game. Moreover, the game's direction had changed multiple times throughout its development. Documents from a year before the release showed the game with major weather events such as tsunamis and volcanoes erupting. EA CEO Andrew Wilson has recently shared that the Battlefield franchise will be returning in a new way. The leadership team now consists of former Call of Duty boss Byron Beede and Respawn Entertainment's Vince Zampella, Rebecka Coutaz heading up the Swedish studio DICE, Christian Grass leading the studio at Ripple Effect, and Alex Seropian co-creating Halo at Battlefield Mobile studio Industrial Toys. Lars Gustavsson, AKA Mr Battlefield, has also recently left DICE to form his own studio TTK Games. With all these developments, it remains to be seen what the future holds for the Battlefield franchise.

Battlefield 2042's Development Explored

Sons of the Forest has been out in Early Access for three months now and is still doing well. In the sixth update since the game's release in February, developer Endnight Games has added a 'hard survival difficulty mode', stone pick-ups, and the ability to craft stone buildings. The 24-hour peak of the game is 14,220 and has seen upticks in player counts every time a new update drops. This update also includes dozens of fixes, amendments, and changes. With vehicles, weapons, new areas, missions, collectables, and building blueprints added to the game, Sons of the Forest is sure to keep fans entertained and excited for what comes next. The game is full of challenges like cannibals, hunger, thirst, and tiredness mechanics, weather systems, dark and foreboding caves, and aggressive wildlife. As the game continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how it progresses.

Sons of the Forest: an Update Summary

Earlier today, Bryan Fury's intro, reveal, and gameplay trailer was leaked on Twitter by Bandai Namco Europe. The 2-minute trailer showcasing Bryan Fury in all his majesty quickly spread online, despite the original post being deleted. This slip-up drew the attention of Katsuhiro Harada, the producer of Tekken 8. In recent weeks, tidbits of information have been pulled from the project, from a leaked starting screen to information that Tekken 8 will feature cross-platform play and a rollback network. Reportedly, the game will be much easier for new players to get the hang of, with all-new practice mode features designed to show newcomers the ropes. Presently, Tekken 8 doesn't have a confirmed release date, but it's expected to drop between late 2023 and early 2024. With more content likely to creep out before then, fans are already speculating which classic Tekken fighter will join the roster next.

Bryan Fury Reveal in Tekken 8 Leaked

In what is being claimed as leaked key art for the upcoming Chapter 4, Season 3 update of Fortnite, an Optimus Prime skin and three other skins have been revealed. The image, which has reportedly leaked from the next season of Fortnite, shows a shrunken-down version of the popular transforming character, as well as a Meowscles sporting a mullet, a tech-punk girl, and some kind of explorer character. Also featured in the image is a swamp theme, a new flintlock-style pistol, and a character riding on what looks like a raptor. It is speculated that the Optimus Prime skin could feature a transformation emote that allows players to become a truck for a period of time. Season 3 is expected to expand on the earthquakes that have been ongoing for a while. Chapter 4, Season 3 of Fortnite is set to commence on the 9th or 10th of June, 2023. Moreover, for more Insider Gaming news, check out our coverage of the latest details revealed about Phantom Blade Zero.

Optimus Prime Skin & More Revealed for Fortnite

It’s one of the most talked-about topics in gaming, and it has mythical status akin to that of Half-Life 3 – the KOTOR remake. For years, there have been rumours and suggestions that the game will surface, but it's becoming less and less likely with time. However, a recent report from the Embracer Group suggests that the KOTOR remake is still in development, even if the company has nothing to say about it. The year-end report published by the Embracer Group detailed all games both released and in development “as of May 24, 2023”, including the KOTOR remake. It was stated that this in-development product will be released on PC and PlayStation 5 platforms and that its development is being led by an ‘Internal’ studio. In two months, it’s the twenty-year anniversary of Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic – could this be the best date possible for a reveal of the project that everybody wants to hear about? Outside of the KOTOR remake, the Embracer Group report offers up telling information about the performance of Embracer and all its associated subsidiaries, and talks about the state of the various gaming markets around the world. For more Insider Gaming news, check out our coverage of the claim that The Last of Us’ Multiplayer game is in trouble.

Is KOTOR Remake Still in Development?

Despite its terrible reception, Daedalic Entertainment isn't giving up on its Lord of the Rings game franchise. According to a recent report published by a German outlet – Games Wirtschaft – it seems that Daedalic, the developer of the ill-fated Gollum game, recently received a sizeable grant from the German government to 'work on games', and apparently, none of that money went towards the development of Gollum. Instead, it was revealed that the player will be transported ‘into a lush world full of mythical creatures and magic’ that hasn’t been seen before with a follow-up project in the works, codenamed ‘It’s Magic’, set to emerge in 2024. There isn’t much known about the title, but given the codename, it could have something to do with the Elves, some of the most magical beings in the Tolkien Universe. Despite Gollum's terrible reception, Daedalic Entertainment is still pushing forward with their plans to expand the Lord of the Rings universe, and the grant from the German Ministry of Economic Affairs is proof of that. The player will be able to explore ‘completely new regions’ and influence the events of the world with ‘his role and abilities’. It'll be interesting to see what Daedalic can come up with in the future, and if they can redeem themselves from the failure that was Gollum. Did you play Gollum? Do you think it’s really that bad a game? Let us know. For more Insider Gaming news, check out our coverage of the KOTOR remake that’s still in development, per the Embracer Group.

Daedalic Not Giving Up on LOTR Games

Phantom Blade Zero almost stole the show during the recent PlayStation event, with developer S-GAME dropping a lengthy trailer that stunned the audience. In the showcase, we saw intense, fast-paced combat, gargantuan enemies, and a gorgeous but foreboding environment that served as a promise of great things to come. In a Q&A about Phantom Blade Zero, S-GAME has cleared up several points of interest, confirming that the primary story path will take 30 to 40 hours to complete, with several side quests and a wealth of endgame content. This includes multiplayer dungeons and some roguelike missions. S-GAME also addressed some concerns that arose following the trailer release, stating that the combat sequences were captured in-engine, but there were more cinematic angles used than would be available in the full game. The game will feature a semi-open world environment that negates the need to travel vast distances while also providing the player with a non-linear approach to the game itself. Work on Phantom Blade Zero began in 2017, but the game entered a core development cycle with just three people working on it in 2022. It’s expected that the team has been expanded by now, but no release date has been announced. Phantom Blade Zero will be a multi-platform title, but no release window has been revealed. Are you excited for the upcoming release of Phantom Blade Zero or are you tired of Soulslike games?

Phantom Blade Zero: 30-40 Hours of Adventure

Renowned developer Naughty Dog, behind franchises such as Uncharted and The Last of Us, has recently released a statement on its multiplayer title in The Last of Us universe. The developer has said that it needs more time than originally forecasted for the project, but also teased an unannounced single-player-focused game. A report from Bloomberg earlier this year communicated troubles on the development of the title, and the development team was scaled back while the studio's leadership decides on a direction. This multiplayer project was originally in development as a mode for The Last of Us Part II, however, as the scope of both the single-player campaign and the multiplayer mode expanded, Naughty Dog made the call to prioritize the single-player campaign. In June 2022, Naughty Dog announced that the multiplayer component was now a standalone project and shared a piece of concept art, followed by another new piece of concept art earlier this year. Naughty Dog's most recent all-new game, 2020's The Last of Us Part II, received universal critical acclaim with a 93 on Metacritic. The studio has since released the Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection, which included remastered versions of Uncharted 4: A Thief's End and Uncharted: The Lost Legacy, and The Last of Us Part I, a remake of The Last of Us and The Last of Us: Left Behind. The biggest impact The Last of Us has had in 2023 came in the form of the first season of the HBO series starring Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey, which garnered widespread praise. There's no word on when we'll hear more from Naughty Dog on either this multiplayer game or the single-player project it mentioned in this statement, but fans are hopeful for more details soon.

Naughty Dog Teases New Projects

According to a new report from Jason Schreier's Bloomberg, Naughty Dog's The Last of Us Multiplayer game may have faced some setbacks and could be in trouble. The report claims that the project has not been canceled, but many of its developers have since moved on to other projects. Naughty Dog recently released a statement, which Schreier has claimed was in response to Bloomberg's request for comment on the story. The statement indicates that the game is being given more time to develop, but the lack of showing at the PlayStation Showcase, in addition to the new statement and Schreier's report, does suggest that the game is in trouble. It's uncertain if we'll hear any news about the game anytime soon, but many are wondering if The Last of Us Multiplayer is in serious trouble. For more gaming news, check out why I think PlayStation needs another Showcase this year.

Is The Last of Us Multiplayer in Trouble?

The expansive world of Valisthea in Final Fantasy XVI is filled with five main nations, dungeons, and open field areas.Players will traverse the world using fast travel, walking, and riding chocobos. While the focus of the game will be playing through Clive's story, Director Hiroshi Takai notes there will be parts in the story where Clive will use other types of traversal, though these won't be available elsewhere. There is still a chance that players can acquire secret mounts, like the Regalia Type-F from Final Fantasy XV, when the game launches on PlayStation 5 on June 22. For more information, be sure to check out Game Informer's exclusive FFXVI coverage hub.

Exploring Valisthea in Final Fantasy XVI

Daedalic Entertainment has issued an apology over the lackluster release of The Lord of The Rings Gollum. Following the game's lowest score on Metacritic for the PlayStation 5, currently at 36/100 with 32 critic reviews, the developers took to Twitter to apologize for the underwhelming experience. In their statement, they expressed their deep regret and acknowledged that the game did not meet their expectations or the expectations of their dedicated community. The development team also promised to work diligently to address the bugs and technical issues many players experienced and committed to providing patches to allow players to enjoy the game to its fullest potential. They thanked the players for their passion and dedication, as it had been the driving force behind their determination to make things right. For more Insider Gaming news, check out our coverage of the demise of Super People Related.

Daedalic Entertainment Apologizes for Gollum

Creating games has never been more accessible for developers, but that also means it’s never been more difficult to stand out from the crowd. Homo Ludens and CEO David Rabineau faced this challenge when designing the studio's first game Blooming Business: Casino. To make the game stand out, the team decided to use animals as the characters, rather than humans with animal heads. Rabineau explains, “We needed to find some solutions to kind of stand out in all the games that are out there. And I think that’s one of the reasons we looked at using that type of characters was that we’re talking about some stuff that can be a bit dark at times and throughout history, using animals to kind of diffuse a problematic topic was kind of used.” To further differentiate the game, the team opted for a softer approach to colors and general design, creating a “muted” style. This was done to create a welcoming environment, and the gameplay was designed to be accessible to all experience levels. In addition, the user interface and user experience were tweaked to provide adequate information without being too overwhelming. The goal of Blooming Business: Casino was to create a smooth and relaxing experience for all players. Rabineau is proud of where the game started and what it became by the time it was ready for launch, and plans to celebrate with a bottle of champagne. For more on Blooming Business: Casino, watch or listen to the entire interview with Rabineau in the latest episode of The Indie Initiative. The game is available now on Steam and is sure to be an enjoyable experience for all players.

Stand Out From the Crowd with Blooming Business

Insider Gaming has exclusively reported the battery life of Sony's upcoming Project Q handheld - 3 to 4 hours. This news has sparked some skepticism among consumers, as the device will only be used with Remote Play. However, the success of Project Q will depend on its price tag, which Sony has been known for setting at a high level. CEO Jim Ryan has stated that the release is slated for later this year, and more information will be shared soon. In the meantime, readers are invited to share their thoughts on Project Q's battery life and potential purchase in the comments below. For more gaming news, readers can check out the author's thoughts on why PlayStation needs another Showcase this year.

Project Q Battery Life Revealed

Sony's PlayStation Showcase brought disappointing news for fans of Naughty Dog's The Last of Us Multiplayer game. The developer took to Twitter to announce that they would need to give the game more time, saying, “We know many of you have been looking forward to hearing more about our The Last of Us Multiplayer game. We’re incredibly proud of the job our studio has done thus far, but as development has continued, we’ve realized what is best for the game is to give it more time.” This comes after director Neil Druckmann said that we'll “hear much more about” the game later this year. The Last of Us Multiplayer was originally planned to be a multiplayer gamemode for The Last of Us 2, but eventually became its own game. Fans had speculated that the game might appear at this year’s Summer Games Fest, but based on the statement, it looks like we may have to wait even longer. The lack of information about the game has caused many to speculate what the game may bring, but it looks like we'll have to wait to find out. Naughty Dog has also said that they are working on a brand new single-player experience, so hopefully we'll be hearing more about that soon as well.

Naughty Dog Delays Last of Us Multiplayer

Nintendo released its second post-release patch for Zelda last night. The patch notes cover a variety of fixes, including an audio bug, an issue in the main quest, “Camera Work in the Depths”, and others to improve the gameplay experience. Many duplication glitches, which allowed players to duplicate rare items, have been removed according to posters on the r/NintendoSwitch subreddit. For more information on Zelda, readers can explore Game Informer's Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom review, beginner tips guide, interview with producers and directors Eiji Aonuma and Hidemaro Fujibayashi, Amiibo guide, feature of stupid screenshots, and a tip of how to find interesting sidequests.

Zelda Receives 2nd Post-Release Patch

During our Final Fantasy XVI cover story trip, I was given an exclusive tour of FFXVI’s endgame and other supplementary content by creative director Hiroshi Takai and combat director Ryota Suzuki. It’s safe to say there’s plenty to play, especially if you enjoy chasing numbers in combat. FFXVI features an Arcade Mode, allowing players to run through stages they’ve already completed, with an on-screen score calculator and combat grader. But a New Game+ playthrough opens up two additional versions, and both are more difficult than the game’s base Story Mode and Action Mode difficulties. You can also upgrade weapons further beyond what you can in your initial playthrough, and upgrade accessories, which is only possible in the game in a Final Fantasy Mode playthrough in New Game+. You’ll also gain access to the Final Chronolith Trials, or if you’re not in Final Fantasy Mode, just Chronolith Trials. These trials are the most difficult challenge in FFXVI, and consist of multiple stages, each with four rounds of enemies and a time limit. You can also compete in a global leaderboard in Arcade Mode and the Chronolith Trials, but only in Final Fantasy Mode. It’s important to note that while players may encounter waves of enemies in Story Mode, in the harder modes of the game, multiple enemies all attacking Clive at the same time have been added, creating a sense of danger and the need to pay attention to be able to clear the content. If you’re after some combat training or a speedy, destructive action fix, there’s a special training mode, accessible through a statuesque Arete Stone within Clive’s main hub. For more, be sure to check out Game Informer’s exclusive FFXVI coverage hub by clicking the banner below.

Explore the Endgame of Final Fantasy XVI

Super People 2, the 'superpowered PUBG' developed by South Korean studio WONDER PEOPLE, is set to be shut down forever on August 21st, 2023. Despite its initial traction and popularity, the game has seen its player count dwindle faster than almost anything else in history. The 24-hour peak of players on Steam is now only 267, and its all-time high viewership record of 142,982 on Twitch has plummeted to just three viewers. As of now, new players can no longer join the game, but existing players can keep playing until it goes offline in August 2023. WONDER PEOPLE explained the situation in a statement posted on the game’s Steam page, citing the game's decreasing user count and the inability to provide a fair and enjoyable experience as the primary reasons for its closure. With the game's shut down now a mere eight months away, fans of the battle royale genre will have to look elsewhere for their fix. For more Insider Gaming news, check out our coverage of the potential for a second PlayStation Showcase.

Super People 2 Shutting Down in 2023

It's been a couple of years since Tencent announced their upcoming free-to-play survival RPG, Undawn. After several delays, the game is finally set to release on June 15th, and pre-registrations are now open. To hype up the launch, a new trailer was released on YouTube featuring Will Smith as 'Legendary Survivor' Trey Jones, who is here to help players survive in the post-apocalyptic world. Built by Tencent's Lightspeed Studios and Level Infinite, Undawn looks to be a classic survival RPG, with base construction, expansive open-world, vehicular combat, customisation elements, and PvPvE platform. At the time of writing, more than 2.3 million pre-registrations have been completed. Players who pre-register will receive exclusive rewards when the game drops on June 15th. It's free-to-play, so why not give it a try and see how it turns out?

Will Smith Joins Tencent's Undawn RPG

During my hands-on time with Final Fantasy XVI for our cover story, I play through the game’s opening hours, which feature moments from Clive’s childhood when he’s 15 years old and a flash forward to a 28-year-old Clive. Here, Clive meets Cidolfus Telamon, or Cid for short – because this is Final Fantasy, after all. Shortly after, Cid brings Clive to a place dubbed Cid’s hideaway. This hideaway is one of the main hubs in FFXVI and is located in Valisthea, the continent where the game takes place. It is built into a cavernous structure and features a pub where you can speak with locals about what’s going on in the world, side quests to pick up, a music player, a blacksmith where players can purchase new weapons and gear and upgrade what they have, a general goods stand for buying things like potions, Harpocatres to learn more about Valisthean history, and Otto’s Counter which is managed by Otto and his employees. At Otto’s Counter, players can receive Alliant Reports which keep track of Clive’s ongoing relationships, and interact with a special menu to read the reports scouts create to record people in trouble across the realm. Additionally, players can receive gifts from people they have helped in the form of crafting resources, Gil (Valisthea’s currency), and more at The Patron’s Whisper, and collect bounties and perform hunts throughout Valisthea at the Hunt Board. Lastly, Clive can read letters he receives in his chambers, which will sometimes lead to new side quests, other times are updates from characters he’s interacted with, and sometimes are warnings. He can also add some personality to his room via the Wall of Memories, which begins as empty shelves and spaces where trinkets from his journey will one day sit as a reminder of what he’s accomplished, where he’s been, and who he’s helped. Overall, Cid’s hideaway is an expansive hub with lots of features to uncover. Players can look forward to exploring it when Final Fantasy XVI hits PlayStation 5 on June 22. For more, be sure to check out Game Informer’s exclusive FFXVI coverage hub.

Exploring Cid's Hideaway in Final Fantasy XVI

When discussing Final Fantasy XVI’s combat or watching gameplay, it’s hard not to think about other action combat games, such as Capcom’s Devil May Cry series. And if its combat reminds you of DMC, it’s probably because the combat director of FFXVI is Ryota Suzuki, who helped design combat on Devil May Cry 4 and Devil May Cry 5. But he also worked on Marvel Vs. Capcom 2. While the DMC inspirations laced within FFXVI’s combat are hard to miss, Suzuki told me that Marvel Vs. Capcom 2 inspired some of FFXVI's systems as well. According to Suzuki, the Assist system from Marvel Vs. Capcom 2 was implemented into Final Fantasy XVI, but with the player able to still act while giving commands to their pet companion, Torgal. Special moves were also inspired by Marvel Vs. Capcom 2, as players can time certain commands to unlock even more special types of moves. This will be familiar to those who experienced combos in Marvel Vs. Capcom 2. To get more information on Final Fantasy XVI, be sure to check out Game Informer’s exclusive coverage hub by clicking the banner below.

Final Fantasy XVI Combat Inspiration

Helldivers 2 was revealed during the PlayStation Showcase, with developer Arrowhead Game Studios dropping a trailer that was equal parts hilarious and action-packed. In the two-minute-long trailer, we see the futuristic landscape of Super Earth being threatened by aliens – but fear not, because the Helldivers are here to take care of them. In the words of Arrowhead, Helldivers 2 will allow players to ‘step into the boots of an elite class of soldiers whose mission is to spread peace, liberty, and Managed Democracy using the biggest, baddest, and most explosive tools in the galaxy’. Eight years since the first Helldivers title was released, the sequel promises to give players a wild ride as they do battle with all manner of aggressive alien lifeforms. Players can look forward to adrenaline-fueled moments, intense action, and a bond that forms when you rely on your team to complete missions or comically fail due to the reckless handling of over-the-top firepower. Helldivers 2: Survival Not Guaranteed will be coming to PlayStation 5 and PC in 2023. It will be a busy time for gamers, as the Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection has also been released. Get ready for an unabridged and unadulterated action-packed adventure!

Helldivers 2: Survival Not Guaranteed

Atari and developer Sneakybox have announced Days of Doom, an apocalyptic turn-based tactical roguelite. The game looks to stand out from the crowd with its vibrant and colorful backdrops, while also challenging players with hordes of zombies, raiders, and mutant lizards. Players will have to use their distinct group of survivors and their unique abilities to navigate the wasteland to reach a sanctuary. There are eight survivor classes to choose from, each with their own unique abilities that can be used to shift the tide of battle. For example, the Pyro class allows you to burn enemies and leave them with residual damage each turn, while the Hydromancer and Thrasher can drench enemies with water before electrocuting them for a devastating synergy. With it being a roguelite game, players can expect each run to feel unique. To add to the challenge, there are over 50 randomly occurring events that present risk-reward scenarios for players during their runs, while more than 70 collectible items and runes can help you turn the odds in your favor. As you play several runs and make progress, you unlock permanent upgrades such as party size increases and resource accumulation speed. Days of Doom arrives on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC, and Atari VCS later this year. Check out the reveal trailer below for more details!

Atari and Sneakybox Unveil Days of Doom

After playing several hours of Final Fantasy XVI in Square Enix’s Tokyo, Japan, offices for this month’s cover story, I had the opportunity to explore one of the game's various open field areas. The open field areas are massive, and although FFXVI isn't an open world game, players are free to explore the location, fight monsters, pick up side quests, find treasure, and more. I asked producer Naoki Yoshida why the team opted for open fields rather than a full open world game. Yoshida explained that the team wanted to focus on storytelling, as there were issues with the storytelling elements of 2016's Final Fantasy XV. He went on to say that creating an open world with the 23 wards of Tokyo would have restricted the story, and the team wanted to tell the story the way they wanted to. Ultimately, the team decided that a global scale type of setting would work better. Be sure to check out Game Informer’s exclusive FFXVI coverage hub to find out more!

Exploring Final Fantasy XVI's Open Fields

Last night, during the PlayStation Showcase, Square Enix unveiled Foamstars, an all-new 'party shooter' that is set to compete with the popular Splatoon series. The two-minute trailer showcased some of the most vibrant visuals of the event, depicting quirky characters attacking each other and the surrounding area with foam. Coming exclusively to PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5, Foamstars will be a 4v4 shooter that allows players to alter the map as they progress, with their foam literally changing the face of the environment. As explained by Kosuke Okatani, producer at Square Enix, the uses of foam are creative and versatile, with players able to build up foam fortresses, surf on suds to traverse the battlefield, and even use foam to defend from enemy attacks. Development of Foamstars is still in progress and no release date has been announced yet. For more gaming news, check out our coverage of the all-new Spider-Man 2 gameplay trailer!

Square Enix Reveals Foamstars Shooter

Konami has revealed the Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection, a remastered collection featuring MGS, MGS2, and MGS3, during the PlayStation Showcase. This collection will be released in the Fall of 2023 on the latest platforms, which are assumed to be Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and PC. Fans are already pleading for the collection to be released on the Nintendo Switch. This is not the first collection of Metal Gear Solid games to be released, with the MGS Legacy Collection released on PlayStation 3 in 2013 and the MGS HD Collection released in 2011. This all-new collection of the iconic PlayStation 2-era title, MGS3: Snake Eater, will allow fans to play the games as they were, as first released on the latest platforms. Konami also stated that this is 'Volume 1', meaning that there are more collections to come. Be sure to stay tuned to Insider Gaming for more news and updates on the Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection.

Konami Reveals Metal Gear Solid Master Collection

Haven Studios revealed the all-new game, Fairgame$, during the PlayStation Showcase. It is a multiplayer competitive heist game built with 'emergent sandbox gameplay' in mind. Players will be able to launch intense, ambitious heists with their friends while fighting to secure riches against other players in the same environment. The CGI reveal trailer for Fairgame$ reveals that there are groups of people not satisfied with the fact that the super-rich are super-rich. The goal is to take the financial elite for every penny they have. The trailer showcases factions and teams dressed in unique outfits, as well as a wide range of abilities. Players will be able to use smoke screens, grapple hooks, deployable shields, and all kinds of weapons to make as much money as possible and then make it out with the stash, avoiding other players or taking them on to steal what they’ve got. There are AI opponents to deal with, as well as security systems that change with each game. Fairgame$ is currently in development for PC and PlayStation 5, but there is no release date yet. Stay tuned for more news and updates on the game!

Haven Studios Reveals Fairgame$ Multiplayer Heist

Today during the PlayStation Showcase event, the trailer for Alan Wake 2 was revealed, answering the all-important release date question. Alan Wake 2 is set to be released on October 17, 2023. The trailer showed that Alan is trapped somewhere and must write in order to escape. We also saw that the game will feature multiple perspectives, including Alan and a young woman named Saga Anderson. This is the first time we've seen the game in action since it was originally announced at The Game Awards 2021 via a cinematic trailer. Fans have been eagerly awaiting this new glimpse of the game and the release date announcement has been met with excitement.

Alan Wake 2 Release Date Announced

Rumors have been confirmed - Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater is getting remade for PlayStation 5. Titled Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater, a cinematic teaser showcased a jungle filled with dangerous animals and a remade Naked Snake emerging from the depths of a bog. The title is a 1960s-era prequel to the Metal Gear series, telling the origin story of Big Boss and laying the groundwork for the entire Metal Gear fiction. Unfortunately, there's still no release window, but the first three Metal Gear Solid games are being bundled in a collection heading to PlayStation 5 this fall. What do you think of this first look at Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater? Share your thoughts with us in the comments!

MGS Delta: Snake Eater Revealed for PS5

During the 2023 PlayStation Showcase, fans were finally given a first look at the highly anticipated sequel to Dragon's Dogma. The game, which has been in development for some time, features a stunningly realistic art style with impressive creatures and magic effects. While no release date was revealed, the footage showed what appears to be gameplay, leaving fans excited for the future of the franchise.

Dragon's Dogma Sequel First Look Revealed

Ubisoft unveiled a new look at Assassin’s Creed Mirage at today's PlayStation Showcase. The trailer reveals protagonist Basim as he jumps, slides, and fights across the ancient streets of Baghdad. Basim was first introduced to Assassin’s Creed players in Valhalla, but this new game takes place much earlier in his life. The gameplay looks slick and modern yet reminiscent of the flow of gameplay from early games in the series, such as Altair and Ezio. The new combat system has impressive animations and combat moves. Players will have a number of choices in how to approach a given mission, with clear decisions outlined in pre-mission briefings. Assassin’s Creed Mirage is targeting release on October 12 for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, and PC.

Assassin's Creed Mirage Unveiled at PS Showcase

Sony has officially announced Project Q, their latest and new handheld gaming device that will use remote play over wifi. Codenamed the Q Lite (Jim Ryan refers to it as Project W), the device will require constant connectivity to the internet and sport adaptive streaming up to 1080p and 60FPS. The console will look a lot like a PlayStation 5 controller, but with a massive 8-inch LCD touchscreen in the center. It will also include adaptive triggers for haptic feedback, volume buttons, speakers, and an audio input jack. The Q Lite is currently in its QA phase and is scheduled to release after the Detachable Disc Drive PS5.  Fans can watch the official PlayStation Showcase on the company’s YouTube channel or check out the news that the PSVR 2 is selling extremely well. It looks like the PlayStation 5 will have plenty of accessories to choose from!

Sony's New Project Q Handheld Revealed

At today's PlayStation Showcase event, Sony unveiled its internal name for a handheld remote-play device: 'Project Q'. The device will have an 8-inch screen and the shape and features of the PS5's Dualsense controller. It will allow gamers to play games installed on the PS5 over wifi, except for VR games. Additionally, Sony also announced wireless earbuds compatible with PS5s, PCs, and smartphones via Bluetooth. Although no further information was given, Sony promises that more details about Project Q will come 'in the near future'.

PS5 Remote-Play Device 'Project Q' Revealed

Ubisoft revealed a new look at the upcoming Assassin's Creed Mirage during today's PlayStation Showcase. The trailer follows protagonist Basim as he navigates the ancient streets of Baghdad and fights enemies with a modernized combat system. Players will be able to choose from a variety of approaches for missions, with clear decisions outlined in pre-mission briefings. Assassin's Creed Mirage is set for release on October 12 for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, and PC.

Assassin's Creed Mirage: New Look Revealed

Sony and Insomniac unveiled a new look at Spider-Man 2 during today's PlayStation Showcase, revealing the highly anticipated sequel will be launching this fall. The extended gameplay sequence showed off the new symbiote abilities of Peter Parker and Miles Morales, as well as some slick wingsuit capabilities for Miles. The action starts in Queens with a black-suited Peter Parker battling the minions of the villainous Kraven the Hunter. Players will take control of both Spider-Men as they try to save Doctor Connors, aka the Lizard, from Kraven's team. Along the way, they'll take down drones, jet skis, and boats in a thrilling chase sequence down the East River. The extended demo also showed off the remarkable polish and taut action of Spider-Man 2, making it one of the most impressive titles of the PlayStation Showcase. Fans of Spider-Man can look forward to this epic sequel coming this fall.

Spider-Man 2: An Epic Sequel Coming Fall 2021

Today’s PlayStation Showcase saw Square Enix unveil a brand-new online shooter called Foamstars. This wacky new multiplayer shooter pits two teams of four against each other using weapons that shoot—you guessed it—foam! Battlefields are covered in soapy foam, which players can use to their advantage by creating slippery surfaces to slide at high speeds. Foam can also be used in other ways, such as to shield yourself and your teammates from attacks or to gain a strategic advantage. The trailer for Foamstars shows off a bunch of goofy weapons and the game looks to be a unique and quirky take on the online shooter genre. Square Enix promises to share more about Foamstars in the future, but it’s coming to both PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4.

Foamstars: A Wacky Online Shooter for PS5 & PS4

Beat Saber, the popular virtual reality game, is officially available on PlayStation VR2 today. The launch was announced during the PlayStation Showcase, which also revealed a Queen music pack that is exclusive to the PlayStation version. It is unknown if the Queen music pack will be released on other platforms, as it does not appear to be available on the Meta Quest store yet.

Beat Saber Launched on PSVR2 with Queen Pack

The long-rumored remake of Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater was confirmed at the 2023 PlayStation Showcase, and gamers were excited to learn that the first three Metal Gear Solid games will be ported to the PlayStation 5. This package, called the Metal Gear Solid Master Collection Volume 1, is set to be released in the autumn of 2023. With the possibility of a Volume 2, fans have their fingers crossed that Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots will be released from its PlayStation 3 prison, as it has only been available on that platform. With the promise of more Metal Gears on the way, gamers are eager to get their hands on the Master Collection Volume 1!

Metal Gear Solid Collection Coming to PS5

Bungie, the team behind iconic titles such as Halo and Destiny, is going back to their roots with the re-release of Marathon, their classic first-person shooter from 1994. The game will feature a vibrant and modern look, as well as a PvP extraction-style experience, where players control a runner in a bid for survival, riches, and renown. Marathon will be available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC, and will support cross-play and cross-progression, though no release window has been specified. Marathon was first released for the Apple Macintosh in 1994, and was followed by two sequels, with the third entry arriving in 1996. The game centers around a space-faring security cop trying to stop an alien invasion, and will bring a classic title to the modern age. Players will have the chance to write their names across the stars, as they compete for survival, riches, and renown in a world of evolving, persistent zones.

Marathon Returns as a PvP Shooter

The 2020 first-person action title Ghostrunner has garnered a strong community of fans thanks to its precise controls and high-octane action. Less than a year after its initial PC release, developer One More Level and publisher 505 Games announced a sequel, but there had been little news about the game since then. Today, the studio released a first gameplay look for the highly anticipated sequel, giving fans a glimpse of what is to come. The trailer shows the game's cyber-ninja protagonist, Jack, participating in the series' trademark fast-paced, always-forward combat and traversal. The sequel looks to elevate the formula in every category, including the addition of vehicular combat. Ghostrunner 2 is set to arrive later this year for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. Fans of the series can look forward to an even more thrilling and immersive experience when the game launches.

Ghostrunner 2: First Look at Gameplay

Nomanda Studio, the creator of 2018's beloved title Gris, has announced their newest game called Neva. The game will follow a young woman and her wolf companion as they traverse a dangerous world together. Players will get to watch the cub grow up into an adult and the bond that blossoms between the two. The duo must battle against dark forces as they attempt to save a dying world. Gameplay will include platforming, combat, and puzzle-solving with minimal UI and a stunning presentation. Neva is set to be released in 2024 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch, and PC.

Nomanda Studio Reveals Neva for 2024

It’s been officially announced during the PlayStation Showcase that Assassin’s Creed Mirage will launch on October 12, after having been leaked earlier today by Japanese retailers. This is the first game in a new wave of Assassin’s Creed games, with around 10 currently in development, including three titles codenamed Nebula, Raid, and Echoes that have yet to be officially announced. The game had originally been scheduled for an August release, but was internally delayed. Are you looking forward to playing Assassin’s Creed Mirage in October? You can watch the official PlayStation Showcase on the company’s YouTube channel here. For more gaming news, Insider Gaming recently reported on the success of the PSVR 2, despite earlier reports that it was not doing well.

Assassin's Creed Mirage Releases Oct 12

Dragon’s Dogma 2 has been revealed by Capcom during the PlayStation Showcase, with a cinematic trailer dropping and showcasing the future of the franchise that kicked off way back in 2012. The trailer featured enormous monsters, gorgeous environments, and of course – Dragons. It looked fantastic, fusing together mythical creatures with what appears to be cooperative gameplay – much like the first game. No release date was offered up for Dragon’s Dogma 2, but the trailer was enough to excite fans of the franchise. It's been a long time coming for Dragon’s Dogma, and the PlayStation Showcase finally gave fans what they've been waiting for - the announcement of Dragon’s Dogma 2. It's not yet known when the game will be released, but the trailer was enough to whet the appetite of gaming fans around the world. For more gaming news, make sure to check out the newest trailer for Alan Wake 2. 

Capcom Reveals Dragon's Dogma 2

PlayStation has announced during its PlayStation Showcase that Five Night’s at Freddy’s Help Wanted 2 is in development and set to release in late 2023. The game will be a collection of classic and original mini-games set in the Five Nights universe. Players will be able to come face-to-face with their favorite killer animatronics and must repair claustrophobic ventilation systems, troubleshoot broken animatronics, and spend evenings cowering in the nighttime security guard office. The game will include scenes from classic titles including; Five Nights at Freddy’s, Five Nights at Freddy’s 2, Five Nights at Freddy’s 3, Five Nights at Freddy’s 4, and Five Nights at Freddy’s: Sister Location. Players can experience the horror in flat (non-VR) mode or VR using Oculus Rift and HTC Vive. As a reward for their efforts, they can collect Faz-Tokens to unlock rare collectibles including toys, plushies, bobbleheads, and candy. Fans of the franchise can watch the official PlayStation Showcase on the company’s YouTube channel and get hyped for the release of Five Nights at Freddy’s Help Wanted 2 in late 2023.

Five Nights at Freddy's Help Wanted 2

Bungie created Marathon in 1994, but has now revealed an all-new tech-focused shooter coming to Xbox Series X|S, PC, and PlayStation. Called Marathon, this new PvP shooter is set in 2850 with players entering as clones in 'persistent, evolving worlds'. It looks to rival established extraction shooters like Call of Duty’s DMZ and Escape From Tarkov. Bungie's debut trailer revealed synths, robotic caterpillars, space, and some bizarre sound effects. It looks to be a unique shooter with plenty of sci-fi vibes. More information on Marathon is expected to follow!

Bungie Reveals Marathon Shooter Game

It's official - Spider-Man 2 is set to release on PlayStation 5 in Fall 2023! After months of teasers, voice actors, leaks, and insider sources, the ultimate factoid has finally been revealed. During the PlayStation Showcase, Insomniac offered up a fantastic preview of the upcoming game, and it looks like we're in for an exhilarating time. The dynamic duo of Peter Parker and Miles Morales will be featured in Spider-Man 2, as well as many other supporting characters. In the gameplay trailer, we got a glimpse of multi-perspective gameplay, Venom, and some fantastic suits. The trailer also showed that New York City is being besieged by a multitude of enemies and malicious operators, creating the perfect atmosphere for a superhero game. Get ready for the action - Spider-Man 2 will be released during the Fall of 2023. For more gaming news, check out our coverage of the release date for Assassin's Creed Mirage!

Spider-Man 2 Release Date Confirmed

To close out today's PlayStation Showcase, Sony and Insomniac revealed a new gameplay sequence from the upcoming Spider-Man 2. The long-awaited sequel is now targeting a release this fall, and the gameplay sequence showed off Spider-Man's new symbiote abilities, as well as Miles' wingsuit capabilities and web lines. An opening cinematic revealed some insight into the villainous Kraven the Hunter and his minions, who are hunting Doctor Connors in Harlem. After Peter and Miles link up, a thrilling chase sequence ensues down the East River, where they take down drones, jet skis, and boats as Kraven's team chases the Lizard. Throughout the sequence, Peter is acting in an aggressive and dangerous manner, leaving Miles worried. The game looks fantastic and is one to watch closely as it approaches its launch later this year.

Spider-Man 2: New Gameplay Revealed

Sony kicked off its 2023 PlayStation Showcase with a new game called Fairgames. The pre-rendered trailer began with complaints about needless wealth and transitioned to a team working together to pull of a heist in a skyscraper. The trailer ended with the tagline take it till you make it and a QR code link to taketheir.money. Little else was offered about the game from the footage shown, however, the showcase it was featured on suggests that it will be released on a PlayStation console. Developed by Haven, the game is sure to be a hit with PlayStation fans.

New PlayStation Game 'Fairgames' Announced

Today, during the PlayStation Showcase, the new entry in the Phantom Blade series, Phantom Blade 0, was announced with a cinematic and gameplay trailer. The trailer gave glimpses of the game's action RPG combat, which is fast, frenetic, and stylish. According to a YouTube description, the game is inspired by Chinese martial arts and steampunk and follows the protagonist, The Dark Raider, on their quest for revenge against 'The Order.' The voiceover asks twice what the character will do with their limited time of 66 days, to which they reply to get their heart back. Unfortunately, no release information was given. Phantom Blade 0 is being developed by Cruel Man Studio, based in Kowloon Bay, Hong Kong. The studio was founded in 2019 and has already worked with Tencent and Square Enix.

Phantom Blade 0 Announced with Cinematic Trailer

At the 2023 PlayStation Showcase, Sony announced the highly anticipated sequel to the well-regarded puzzle game The Talos Principle. The Talos Principle II promises an incredible new world full of dangers and mysteries, with impressive vistas and structures. The game is set to release later this year, and players are looking forward to discovering what lies ahead in the game's narrative. With its thought-provoking themes and engaging puzzles, The Talos Principle II is sure to be a hit when it arrives.

The Talos Principle II Revealed at PS Showcase

Helldivers II is set to be released this year for PlayStation 5 and PC, and the game has already generated excitement with a humorous trailer that showcased its sci-fi action and sense of humor. The game is a sequel to the 2015 original Helldivers, and the most notable difference is the switch to third-person shooting instead of the purely top-down perspective of the original. Players can team up with friends to take on extraterrestrial threats using a variety of high-tech weaponry. Our review of the original Helldivers can be found here for more information.

Helldivers II: Third-Person Sci-Fi Action

Today’s PlayStation Showcase brought the reveal of Sword of the Sea, a new game from Giant Squid, the development team behind Abzu and The Pathless. The most striking visuals of the new game come from a vast desert that brings to mind thatgamecompany’s Journey, as the game's founder Matt Nava was the art director at thatgamecompany. But while this new game is destined to draw strong comparisons to that classic title, there were some notable differences on display; the desert itself looks much more like a flowing sea and the character you control like a surfer moving through the water. In certain sequences, the desert seems to actually transform into water, suggesting a mysterious core element of the game. In the footage shown, we see a focus on flow movement for the protagonist as they ride across the sand and trick off of half-pipes. You take control of a character named the Wraith, who was brought back to life to restore life to a ruined world, while facing off against vast leviathans that attempt to block progress. Sword of the Sea is coming to PS5, but no release date has been announced yet. Explore the mystery of Sword of the Sea and discover what lies beneath!

Discover the Mystery of Sword of the Sea

Sony showcased the upcoming game, Towers of Aghasba, at their 2023 Showcase. Developed by Dreamlit, Towers of Aghasba is a game that invites players to explore and rebuild a strange alien world. Early footage from the game reveals a character using a paraglider to fly through the world, fighting creatures, and collecting resources. Additionally, players will be able to witness the majestic sight of flying whales in the sky. With its art style and mechanics resembling Breath of the Wild, Towers of Aghasba is set to release in 2024.

Explore Alien Worlds in Towers of Aghasba

Several Japanese retailers have listed that Assassin’s Creed Mirage will release on October 12. First spotted by Twitter user @Renka_schedule, three individual stores, Amazon, Yodobashi, and biccamera, have listed that the title will launch on October 12. As pointed out by Japanese video game news site Gematsu, it’s possible that the date could be a placeholder. However, the site points out that Japanese retailers generally don’t date a product unless it’s official. The leak comes ahead of today’s PlayStation Showcase and next week’s Ubisoft Forward event, where it’s expected gameplay of the long-anticipated title will be revealed. This recent leak comes following claims several days ago that Assassin’s Creed Mirage will indeed launch on October 12. Insider Gaming was able to corroborate several weeks ago that the game had been internally delayed from its intended August release date. Assassin’s Creed Mirage will be the first in a new wave of Assassin’s Creed games, with Insider Gaming understanding that around 10 games are currently in development. Three titles codenamed Nebula, Raid, and Echoes are yet to be officially announced. Sony’s next PlayStation Showcase is scheduled to be streamed later today at 1 PM PDT, where we could get a glimpse of Assassin’s Creed Mirage. It's no surprise that fans of the Assassin's Creed franchise are eagerly awaiting the release of the new game. With the official announcement of the game's October 12th release date, fans can now mark their calendars and start counting down the days until the game is in their hands. Are you looking forward to playing Assassin’s Creed Mirage in October? For more Insider Gaming news, check out our coverage of the reveal of Total War: Pharaoh.

Assassin's Creed Mirage Release Date Leaked

For years, we had heard that Final Fantasy XVI was inspired by HBO’s Game of Thrones. During a cover story trip to Tokyo, Japan, it was revealed that the game was inspired by the first four seasons of the show. Creative Business Unit III wanted to capture the current trend of fantasy that was being enjoyed by younger and older generations alike. The game's team was careful to make sure Final Fantasy XVI didn't feel like a carbon copy of the show, but instead a unique experience. The team also drew inspiration from Attack on Titan, Neon Genesis Evangelion, Godzilla, Ultraman, and more. Game of Thrones inspires the story, world feel, and visual style of Final Fantasy XVI. We don't have to wait too long to experience the game for ourselves, as it will be released on PlayStation 5 on June 22. With all of these inspirations, Final Fantasy XVI could be something special.

Final Fantasy XVI: Game of Thrones Inspiration

Despite rumours that the PSVR 2 was selling poorly, Sony's latest report suggests that the headset is actually outselling its predecessor. Analyst predictions, which originated from the research firm IDC (reported via Bloomberg) said the low unit sales were due to rising costs of living, rising interest rates, and rising layoffs. However, Sony's report states that the PSVR 2 sold just shy of 600,000 units in the headset's first six weeks - 8 percent more than the original PSVR in the same time period. The reported figures are only from the official Sony website, as the PSVR 2 is only available at retailers from the beginning of April. Jim Ryan has previously said that it's too early to judge the popularity of the headset, but Sony's next PlayStation Showcase, which is scheduled to be streamed later today at 1 PM PDT, could give us a better glimpse of more PSVR 2 titles. What do you think of the PSVR 2 outselling the PSVR? For more Insider Gaming news, check out our coverage of the reveal of Total War: Pharaoh Related.

PSVR 2 Outsells PSVR with 600K Units

When Marvel's Spider-Man 2 was announced in September 2021, it sparked excitement amongst players for the sequel to one of the greatest superhero games of all time. The trailer showcased Peter Parker and Miles Morales working side by side to take down goons in the streets of New York, leading many to speculate that the game would offer cooperative play. However, yesterday Insomniac Games took to Twitter to confirm that the game would in fact be an epic single-player adventure. This news follows after Venom voice actor Tony Todd had previously announced that the game was expected to launch in September of this year, with commercials starting to appear in August. While this tweet has since been deleted, it is likely that more information will be revealed during the upcoming PlayStation Showcase. Marvel's Spider-Man 2 is set to arrive on the PlayStation 5 later this year.

Marvel's Spider-Man 2: Single-Player Only

It was recently revealed in an Embracer Group investor call that Metro Exodus, the semi-open-world post-apocalyptic title released in 2019, has sold through 8.5 million units and seen more than 10 million players since its launch. This is a record-high for the franchise, and has left fans wondering what comes next. Metro was almost ill-fated as a franchise when publisher THQ went bankrupt in 2012, but was luckily scooped up by Deep Silver. Between January and March of 2023, it was revealed that Metro Exodus shipped 500,000 units, most of which came as a result of discounts and promotional offers. In February 2023, it was reported that 4A Games' next Metro title was fully playable at that point, and is expected to come to PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S – potentially in 2024. It is rumored to be a fully open-world adventure, and potentially boast online features for the first time in the franchise. Metro Exodus' sequel could be revealed any day now, and given what we know (and suspect), it could be set to rival the likes of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. and Fallout for that post-apocalyptic crown. Metro 2033, the first game in the series, was based on a book of the same name that was published online by Dmitry Glukhovsky in 2002. The series peaked with Exodus, and with its success, 4A Games, the series’ developer, is likely to deliver a bigger and better game to the fans. At the end of Metro Exodus, the protagonist – Artyom – manages to find a healthy, radiation-free home with his friends and comrades in the post-apocalyptic Russian wasteland, which could serve as the foundation for the next game. For more insider gaming news, check out our coverage of the reveal of Total War: Pharaoh related.

What's Next for Metro Franchise?

NetEase Games has announced the founding of a new game studio based in Canada. The studio is headed up by Sean Crooks, a former Ubisoft producer with credits ranging from Just Dance and Driver to the Watch Dogs franchise. Other members of the team include developers who have worked on series like Splinter Cell, Army of Two, Far Cry, and Child of Light. The studio, called Bad Brain Game Studios, will have offices in Toronto, Ontario, and Montreal, Quebec, and will operate using a hybrid work model. The team hopes its first project will kickstart a new franchise. The title is an open-world, story-driven action/adventure title that draws inspiration from '80s action and horror films. Bad Brain is using Unreal Engine 5 to develop its debut title, which will launch across multiple platforms. NetEase, which is based in China, views this as an investment in the Canadian game-development industry. "We're thrilled to welcome Bad Brain Game Studios into our family and enriching our presence in Canada," NetEase Games president of global investments and partnerships Simon Zhu said in a press release. "With this new studio, NetEase Games continues its commitment to nurturing top-tier talent in Canada and creating games that players love. Canada has a thriving gaming industry, and we're excited to continue to be a part of it. We believe that our talented teams in Toronto, Montreal, and beyond will create some of the most innovative and exciting games the industry has seen." "I'm honored to be leading this talented team of developers in Canada," Crooks said in the same press release. "We're all passionate about creating memorable and meaningful experiences. NetEase Games has given us a warm welcome, with an abundance of support and creative freedom to allow us to do what we do best. Our first game is a passion project that gives us the opportunity to truly free our brains." To learn more about Bad Brain Game Studios, you can visit their official website.

NetEase Found New Game Studio in Canada

A full gameplay walkthrough of The Lord of the Rings: Gollum has leaked online courtesy of YouTuber 7anouneh. You can watch the full walkthrough below. The Lord of the Rings: Gollum is an upcoming action-adventure video game, developed by Daedalic Entertainment and co-published by Daedalic Entertainment and Nacon. Originally announced back in 2019, Gollum has been delayed multiple times, from 2021 onwards. The game is set to be released on May 25, 2023 for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S. The game will follow the story of Gollum, as the developers are dedicated to uncovering the untold story of Gollum in a way that honors the vision of J.R.R. Tolkien. Players will be able to explore the world, interact with characters, and make decisions that will shape the story. What do you think of The Lord of the Rings: Gollum gameplay? For more Insider Gaming news, check out our coverage of the report that the open-world Star Wars game may release at the beginning of 2024.

The Lord of the Rings: Gollum Gameplay Leaked

Mortal Kombat 1's cinematic debut trailer sparked the anticipation of fans across the globe, and now NetherRealm Studios has confirmed that Summer Game Fest will be the stage for the game's first ever gameplay premiere. Presented by head Ed Boon, the live summer showcase of new video game trailers and world premieres will be livestreamed on June 8, beginning at 12 p.m. PT/3 p.m. ET. Mortal Kombat 1 is the first installment of the new timeline following the events of Mortal Kombat 11. So far, the only known feature of the game is Kameo Fighters, a roster of partner fighters that aid players during matches. Fans will have the opportunity to see this mechanic in action at SGF and learn more about the game's features ahead of its September 19 launch. Summer Game Fest is just one of many video game showcases happening in June. To stay up to date with all the livestreams taking place throughout the month, be sure to visit our June Summer Game Fest streaming schedule.

Mortal Kombat 1 Gameplay Debuts at SGF

Today, Creative Assembly unveiled Total War: Pharaoh, the newest installation in the series which is now more than two decades old. Players are set to return to the fray, this time doing battle in Ancient Egypt and shaping the fate of three different cultures. The game will take place in the ‘Egyptian New Kingdom’, based around the time of the historic Bronze Age collapse. There will be eight Egyptian factions in the game, built around three cultures: Egyptian, Canaanite, and Hittite. Players are free to undertake Total War: Pharaoh as they see fit, with multiple possibilities when it comes to a base approach. Total War: Pharaoh will require tactical input on a variety of stages, including a dynamic weather system and ‘Campaign Customisation’, which will allow players to completely optimise and tweak their campaign before getting stuck in. Pre-ordered versions will give players entry to an Early Access weekend ahead of the October launch of Total War: Pharaoh, and it’s said that the base game will cost $59.99. Get ready to experience Ancient Egypt in a whole new way with Total War: Pharaoh!

Ancient Egypt War in Total War: Pharaoh

Since the reveal of Final Fantasy XVI, players have been asking whether the game will eventually come to PC. During a visit to Square Enix’s Tokyo office, producer Naoki Yoshida clarified that while a PC version of the game is likely on the way, it will be much longer than the six-month PlayStation 5 exclusivity window before players hear any news about it. For now, those who want to play FFXVI will need a PlayStation 5. To learn more about the game, check out Game Informer’s exclusive FFXVI coverage hub by clicking the banner below.

No PC Version of FFXVI Coming Soon

One of the more interesting facets of interviewing various members of Creative Business Unit III, the studio behind the development of Final Fantasy XVI, was hearing about the differences between developing an MMO in Final Fantasy XIV and a new single-player Final Fantasy. With the former, CBUIII gets to create settings and characters they can easily return to in future patch quests, expansions, and more. But with the latter, Clive Rosfield's story wraps up in Final Fantasy XVI and currently, CBUIII has no plans for FFXVI DLC, according to director Hiroshi Takai. He and producer Naoki Yoshida say the team’s priority is getting the game into players’ hands to see what they think.    While Yoshida and Takai both acknowledge the team's desire to return to Valisthea, they stress that the decision to do so rests on the demand from players. They are open to the possibility of DLC or an expansion, but at this point it is too early to tell. Additionally, Takai says there are currently no plans for non-game tie-ins a la FFXV's Kingsglaive to supplement the world of FFXVI. To stay up-to-date with more information, be sure to check out Game Informer's exclusive FFXVI coverage hub and follow the studio's social media for updates.

FFXVI: No Plans for DLC or Tie-Ins

Since the PlayStation 3 generation, updates released on a game’s launch day, colloquially known as Day One patches or updates, have been the norm. However, Day One patches draw criticism from players excited to jump into the action, only to be left waiting for hours, if not days, depending on download speeds. During my Final Fantasy XVI cover story trip, I asked the team about its March accomplishment of going gold and what the team was working on now. To my surprise, developer Creative Business Unit III isn’t working on a day one patch. Final Fantasy XVI Director Hiroshi Takai gave several reasons as to why. The first is that the team is confident in its final build of Final Fantasy XVI. The second is that he and producer Naoki Yoshida (and the rest of the CBUIII team) believe the game should be ready to go at launch, recognizing that not everyone has access to the internet needed to download a day one patch in light of Final Fantasy XVI’s global simultaneous release. As of right now, no big patch for Final Fantasy XVI is expected on June 22 when the game hits PlayStation 5. However, Takai notes that CBUIII is testing the game daily and searching for bugs, and things could change as a result. Final Fantasy XVI should work entirely as expected out of the box. For more information, be sure to check out Game Informer’s exclusive FFXVI coverage hub.

Final Fantasy XVI Goes Gold Without Day One Patch

A new report from Kotaku has stated that Ubisoft’s open-world Star Wars game, codenamed Project Helix, could release in early 2024. The report says that the game is currently scheduled to release this fiscal year (April 2023 – March 2024) and is the “another big game” Ubisoft mentioned in its latest earnings call. According to the report though, Kotaku’s sources believe the current fiscal year target is probably too ambitious, and the title will likely slip into next year (April 2024 through March 2025). Insider Gaming reached out to its sources who were able to independently verify that the title is indeed named Project Helix, but was unable to verify the game’s expected release date. Speaking with sources, it’s understood that the publisher is aiming to be a lot more conservative with its announcements moving forward to improve its public perception. Constant delays to the likes of Skull & Bones have meant that the publisher wants to now announce its titles when their projected release dates can be met confidently. It is believed that Ubisoft Massive has been hard at work on Avatar lately and when push comes to shove with hitting a release deadline, Project Helix’s progress could be put on pause. If true, it means we could expect to see some form of announcement at this year’s Ubisoft Forward event. With all the speculation surrounding the game, many fans are wondering when Ubisoft's Open-World Star Wars game will actually release. Although there is no confirmation as of yet, it is likely that the game will be released in the next two years. For more Insider Gaming news, check out our coverage of the potential release date for Alan Wake 2.

Ubisoft's Open-World Star Wars Game Release Date

In 2020, Square Enix and PlayStation surprised gamers with the announcement of Final Fantasy XVI, an exclusive to the PlayStation 5 console. Producer Naoki Yoshida has since opened up about how the game's exclusivity to PS5 came to be. During a cover story trip to Square Enix's Tokyo, Japan offices, Yoshida revealed that the studio initially looked at all options when starting development on the game. After approaching multiple platforms and companies about releasing the game, Square Enix decided that PlayStation's offer was best. Yoshida also noted that limiting development to one system makes it easier for the team to optimize and maximize performance, as they get a lot of help from the first party. Furthermore, the team is able to create the game that they want to create, as it allows them to make the most of the system. For more, be sure to check out Game Informer's exclusive Final Fantasy XVI coverage hub.

Final Fantasy XVI: PS5 Exclusivity Explained

Game Informer's digital edition has just released its cover reveal for Final Fantasy XVI, giving subscribers access to the issue on web browsers, iPad/iPhone, and Android devices. Those without a subscription can purchase the individual issue soon. To get the digital issue, simply follow the link and download the app. PowerUp Rewards Memberships also include access to the digital edition.

Final Fantasy XVI: Subscribers Get Digital Access

All Elite Wrestling fans have been eagerly waiting for the release of AEW's first video game AEW: Fight Forever since its announcement in 2020. The wait is finally coming to an end as AEW star and executive VP Kenny Omega announced that the game is launching on June 29th. Developed by the former long-time maker of WWE games Yuke’s and published by THQ Nordic, the game is an homage to the ‘90s-era AKI-engine arcade-style games like WCW/nWo Revenge and WWF No Mercy. Fight Forever includes over 10 gameplay modes, such as a Career Mode, online play, and a full customization suite that lets players create wrestlers, teams, move sets, entrances, and arenas. Match-types include Singles, Tag-Team, 3-Way, 4-Way, Ladder Match, Casino Battle Royale, Falls Count Anywhere, Unsanctioned Lights Out, Exploding Barbed Wire Death Match and many more. The game will feature a roster of wrestlers such as Abadon, Adam Cole, Adam Page, Bryan Danielson, Chris Jericho, CM Punk, Cody Rhodes, Darby Allin, Dr. Britt Baker D.M.D., Hikaru Shida, Jade Cargill, Jon Moxley, Jungle Boy, Kenny Omega, Kris Statlander, Matt Hardy, Matt Jackson, Miro, MJF, Nick Jackson, Nyla Rose, Orange Cassidy, Owen Hart, Paul Wight, Pentagon, Sting, Thunder Rosa and Yuka Sakazaki. AEW: Fight Forever will be available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, and PC.

AEW: Fight Forever Launching Next Month

Insider Gaming sources have revealed that the Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater remake will not be a PlayStation exclusive, despite the rumors online. The remake is slated to be released for the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Steam. It’s currently unclear if the PlayStation version has some form of exclusive rights with its marketing or potential DLC. Rumors of a Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater Remake have been circulating for years, but a report from VGC in October 2021 cemented its likelihood. According to VGC, the remake is being developed by Virtuos. Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater was first released in November 2004 and sold 2.38 million units in Asia and America by December 2004. By 2021, the game sold more than four million units sold worldwide. The announcement of the Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater Remake will be made at the PlayStation Showcase which will start at 1PM PDT on May 24. Are you excited about the Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater Remake? Other rumors have suggested that a Castlevania title is also in the works – But as of yet, Insider Gaming was unable to verify if the title will show up during Summer Games Fest. For more Insider Gaming news, check out our coverage of the potential release date for Alan Wake 2.

Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater Remake Coming Soon

Recently, a popular French YouTuber 'j0nathan' uploaded a long-form video breaking down what was described as a 'ton' of Assassin’s Creed Mirage leaks. In the twenty-minute-long video, he discussed the game's setting, mechanics, innovative features, duration, story, and release date. While this information has not been confirmed or corroborated yet, much of it does track with expectations or reveals thus far. The game is reportedly set in the city of Baghdad, with the story revolving around Basim performing a heist that goes wrong and forcing him to migrate to Baghdad. There are reportedly all-new movement mechanics and animations, parkour is ‘like Origins but better’, and there’s a tie-in with the Isu that connects some story elements together. Additionally, the game will reportedly have a ‘four-tier’ reputation system, Factions, and no modern-day references or scenes. Finally, the video states that the release date will be October 12th. Are these Assassin’s Creed Mirage leaks accurate? For more information, check out our coverage of the potential release date for Alan Wake 2.

Assassin's Creed Mirage Leaks: Is It True?

Skull and Bones may just be the most ill-fated project in the history of gaming. It has been subjected to countless delays, any gameplay released has been underwhelming, and reportedly, there’s a noose hanging around the project that has been put there courtesy of the Singaporean government. Recently, a short series of images were leaked on Reddit, with the poster claiming that they reveal ‘the current state’ of Skull and Bones, Ubisoft’s teetering, live-service pirate epic. It has been five months since fresh gameplay was broadcasted by Ubisoft, and once again, it seems like the game could be delayed – or a cancellation agreement could be agreed. At this point, it seems bizarre to believe that Skull and Bones will ever be released, and if it is, there are almost no expectations that it’ll launch in any kind of a decent state. It has been in development for several years, and in that time, almost nobody – critics, fans, or otherwise – has had anything hopeful to say about the game. Reportedly, the Skull and Bones project is only being kept alive because of an old deal between Ubisoft Singapore and the Singaporean government. In the latest images to allegedly leak from inside the project, Skull and Bones kind of looks exactly like it did in the most recent gameplay updates, posted back in January 2023. It doesn’t seem as though huge leaps are being made, which was to be expected. Ubisoft recently decided to triple down on its resources for the Assassin’s Creed franchise, hiring hundreds of developers to come into the fold and put a huge focus on what can be considered its flagship franchise. As far as we know, there’s nothing new being introduced to push Skull and Bones past the finish line. People were tired of Skull and Bone years ago – now they’re just completely exhausted with it. Even if it does launch, the reception will almost certainly be completely underwhelming. With no news of updates or improvements, the future of Skull and Bones looks grim, and it appears that the project is slowly dying. With no new resources being injected into the project, the prospects of the game ever being released are becoming increasingly slim.

Skull and Bones Project Lacks Support

Jim Ryan, CEO of Sony Interactive Entertainment, has assured PlayStation players that the upcoming Spider-Man 2 will be a PS5 exclusive. Speaking to Japanese outlet Famitsu in a new interview, Ryan said that Insomniac Games has made “no compromises” and is focused on maximizing the functions of the PS5. The game was revealed in September 2021 and includes Venom as a villain. Tony Todd, the voice actor of Venom, has said the game is likely to release in September 2021. Sony has purchased a lot of media-related advertising for September for Spider-Man 2 (and a “secret” game in October). The next PlayStation Showcase is scheduled to take place on May 24, 2023 and is expected to reveal more about the game. Fans can look forward to an immersive experience with beautiful visuals and an exciting story. Stay tuned for more news about Spider-Man 2!

Insomniac Games Focused on Maxing PS5 for Spider-Man 2

In an episode of the Monsters, Madness, and Magic podcast, Alan Wake's voice actor – Matthew Porretta – appears to have leaked the release date for Alan Wake 2. In one line, Porretta said, 'I've been working on it – that's supposed to come out in October, we're in the middle of working on it now. In fact, I was just in Finland last week – that’s where the company is – Remedy.' Bizarrely, just moments later, Porretta refuses to give up any further details on the project, stating that he's under strict NDA and – in keeping with that – he doesn't drop a single word about Alan Wake 2. So, Alan Wake 2 – which is expected to be as chilling and mysterious as the first game in the series – could be released during October, the spookiest month of the year. In the episode of the Monsters, Madness, and Magic podcast, Matthew Porretta explained: Alan Wake 2 is going to be really, really good, and it's hard – it's scary. Despite seemingly leaking the release date for Alan Wake 2, Porretta had nothing more to say, even though the show's host – Justin Young – tried his best to prod the actor into giving something up. It almost seemed as though the host himself didn't realise what Porretta had said just minutes beforehand, though. It has been thirteen years since the first Alan Wake title was released, and this continuation – crafted by Remedy Entertainment – is reportedly a faithful expansion of the story of the titular character. There are high expectations for the survival horror game, which could be released in October 2023. It'll be dropping on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and PC platforms. Fans of the series are no doubt eagerly awaiting the release of the game, and the Monsters, Madness, and Magic podcast episode raises the possibility that the long-awaited sequel may be released in October. For more updates on the game, stay tuned to Insider Gaming.

Is Alan Wake 2 Releasing in October?

It was around a month ago that Warner Bros announced Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions, sparking the interest of many fans of the Wizarding World. Now, just weeks later, a streamer has allegedly broken an NDA, broadcasting playtest gameplay for the Quidditch Champions and uploading it online. The exclusive playtest went live today, May 20th, and it took only a few hours for the gameplay to leak online. In the stream, we can see gameplay featuring a Quidditch match and a clip showing character customization, which includes picking a role, a base character, a broom, broom trails, celebrations, and more. Quidditch Champions is being developed by Unbroken Studios and published by Warner Bros., but it seems to take elements from Hogwarts Legacy, such as some of the UI designs. The leaked content adds up to just a minute or two, but it looks good! It looks basic – but good. Since the streamer stopped broadcasting the gameplay, all traces of the content have been removed. It isn't yet known when Quidditch Champions will be released, but fans are already excited to explore this wizarding world. For more Insider Gaming news, check out our coverage of the all-new Escape From Tarkov event that’s live now.

Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions Leaked

Serial dataminer and leaker @billbil_kun has revealed that the first WRC developed by Codemasters and published by EA will release in July. Billbil_kun, who previously revealed 26 achievements coming to WRC revealed that the game will launch on July 28, 2023. Insider Gaming sources spoke of WRC 23’s development in September 2023, where we reported that the game will allow players to develop their own rally car. Early footage of WRC 23 that was provided to Insider Gaming under the condition that the footage was not shared publically or privately, and that the sources remained anonymous, shows that the game had 16 individual car classes. Players will be able to customize everything from their drive chain to the engine, differential, gearbox, clutch, radiator, suspension, brakes, exhaust, and more. It has been reported that WRC has been built on the foundations of the canceled DiRT title that was meant to release sometime in 2023, with the idea being to save time and money based on both games’ similarities. A new license between EA and WRC was signed in 2020 and will span from 2023 to 2027. The deal includes the rights for the studio to publish new titles, in addition to running its esports events. An official announcement for WRC 23 is likely to be made soon. Are you looking forward to playing WRC 23 in July? For more Insider Gaming news, check out our coverage of the release date for AEW Fight Forever.

Codemasters & EA's WRC 23 to Launch in July

Hold on to your hats (or hoods) – Insider Gaming has obtained concrete, tangible confirmation that Basim Ibn Ishaq, the protagonist of the highly anticipated Assassin's Creed Mirage, can run. In a two-second clip, we see Basim running through a sandy environment, dashing heroically past some sauntering civilians, robes whipping around him with reckless abandon. This is reportedly a return to form for the franchise, with no fantastical RPG elements or mythical creatures to do battle with. It will feature Basim exploring his 'coming-of-age' tale in the heart of Baghdad in the 9th Century, and will have a much shorter play time of twenty hours. The clip shared shows a nice colour palette, good cloth physics on Basim's robes, and sand kicked up when he runs. It's a thing of absolute beauty, and a great indication of the potential of the game. For more Insider Gaming news, check out our coverage of the Quidditch Champions leak.

Assassin's Creed Mirage Leak Confirms Basim Can Run

Escape From Tarkov players were recently surprised to find all but one map, Customs, locked behind an in-game paywall. Players must now contribute to a community event in order to unlock the other maps. Players must reach a certain kill target before the next map has its entry requirement removed. Maps such as Reserve, Factory, Interchange, Shoreline, Lighthouse, Woods, Streets of Tarkov, and Labs all have different entry requirements, with prices for them at the Flea Market skyrocketing. It is assumed that this event does not impact new players below level five in-game. Players are speculating that this could be Battelstate Games gearing up for the next wipe, which is expected to occur in mere weeks. As a result, Tarkov is expected to be a dangerous place over the weekend. For more gaming news, check out our coverage of the release date for AEW Fight Forever.

Tarkov Players Uncover New Community Event

In an interview with Famitsu (translated via ResetEra), Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) CEO Jim Ryan expressed that the primary goal of PlayStation 5 (PS5) exclusive games is to build the game for the PlayStation experience. He added that overall reactions from fans have been “favorable” when games arrive a couple of years after initial release. Ryan said, “We also fully understand the importance of PS5 exclusive titles... We are increasing the number of PS5-exclusive titles and staggering the release of the PC version.” Sony has been more open to porting its PlayStation exclusives to PC in recent years, with the release of Horizon Zero Dawn in 2020 and God of War in 2022. This news may disappoint some PC gamers who have been hoping to play PlayStation exclusives without having to buy a PlayStation console, however, it’s clear that Sony is still committed to its console business. This commitment has been seen in the great results that the company's console business has continued to produce. Despite the news, many PC gamers are still hopeful that the next installment in the BioShock series will be released on PC. What do you think of Jim Ryan's comments? Do you think Sony should release PS5 exclusives on PC on day one?

Sony Commits to PS5 Exclusivity on PC

Fightful Select has reported that the long-awaited AEW Fight Forever game will finally launch on June 27 for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC. Developed by Yuke’s, the game is not expected to become an annual or regular franchise, but will receive full support and updates in multiple facets from updated and additional wrestlers to even added features when applicable. The game’s creation suite is expected to be limited at launch, even with the inclusion of Create An Arena, and it’s also not expected to include any sort of community creations or sharing features. An official announcement on the game is expected within the next week. Are you excited to finally know that AEW Fight Forever release date is June 27? For more Insider Gaming, check out what you can expect in Kombat Pack 1 from Mortal Kombat 1.

AEW Fight Forever Release Date Confirmed

In December 2022, the teaser for the Phantom Liberty expansion for the ever-improving Cyberpunk 2077 was revealed, showcasing Idris Elba in a starring role. Now, a claim made on the Polish show, ‘Rock i Borys Podcast’, suggests that the expansion will be released in June 2023. CD Projekt's update stated that Phantom Liberty was in ‘the final stages of development’ and it seemed to highlight that it’d be released in ‘2023’. On the podcast, it was claimed that Phantom Liberty could be released as early as June 8th, and Boris explained that he’s been invited to attend the Summer Games Fest by CDPR themselves. Phantom Liberty is said to be the first and only expansion for Cyberpunk 2077, and with high expectations for the expansion, let’s wait to see if Phantom Liberty gets a confirmed release date during the Summer Games Fest. For more gaming news, check out our coverage of the claim that BioShock 4 is currently locked in ‘development Hell’.

Cyberpunk 2077 Expansion Release Date?

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom has been out for about a week, and yesterday marked the launch of its first post-release patch. Version 1.1.1 of the game fixes one very specific problem, as well as ambiguously addressing issues to improve the gameplay experience. The patch notes released by Nintendo indicate that the update fixes an issue where the player was unable to clear the main quest “The Closed Door,” even if they fulfilled the conditions to advance the quest. In addition to this, the patch also addresses several other issues to improve the overall experience. Despite both Tears of the Kingdom and Breath of the Wild being incredibly solid games out of the gate, even Zelda is not immune to patches. Nintendo tends to keep the changes vague, so the trajectory of Tears of the Kingdom's patch notes will likely receive the same ambiguous details. For more on Zelda, gamers can read Game Informer's review, beginner tips guide, interview with producer and director Eiji Aonuma and Hidemaro Fujibayashi, Amiibo guide, this feature of stupid screenshots, and a tip of how to find interesting sidequests.

Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Gets First Update

Nintendo Switch Online is getting a Mario-infused shot in the arm with the addition of the Super Mario Advance series. On May 26, Super Mario Advance, Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2, and Yoshi’s Island: Super Mario Advance 3 will be released on the service. These enhanced portable remakes of Super Mario Bros. 2, Super Mario World, and Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island feature several tweaks, such as Luigi's Super Mario Bros. 2 jump in Advance 2. With the addition of these titles, the GBA library of Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack will now include all four Super Mario Advance games. As a reminder, the GBA library is part of the Expansion Pack tier, the upgraded version of Nintendo Switch Online. To stay up to date with all the games available on Nintendo Switch Online, visit our complete library database.

Super Mario Advance Series Hits Switch Online

Bossa Studios, the London-based developer behind the inane game Surgeon Simulator and the simulators I Am Bread and I Am Fish, have announced their latest title, Lost Skies. It is a totally different departure from their established standard, offering an open-world, cooperative survival game set in a unique and innovative environment. Players can wishlist the game on Steam right now and explore an 'ancient world of danger and beauty' with up to six players. Lost Skies allows for unparalleled freedom, allowing players to construct their own 'skyships' and explore islands that float high up in the sky. The game features combat mechanics, traversal features such as zip lines and gliders, an enhanced physics engine, and traditional survival elements such as crafting and hunting. It also boasts a charming aesthetic with a colorful and animated style. There is currently no known release window for the game, but with more information being released, players can get excited for the unique experience that Lost Skies offers.

Explore Ancient Worlds in Bossa Studios' Lost Skies

On Twitter, a leaker posted what seems to be an expansive exposé on the state of BioShock 4, claiming that the game has been firmly rooted in ‘development hell’. It was alleged that the project has been rebooted four times, the studio boasts inexperienced employees, and poor management has led to the project crumbling at its very foundations. It has been more than ten years since the last BioShock game – Infinite – was released. In the Twitter thread posted by user Oops Leaks, it was explained that the BioShock 4 project – otherwise referred to as BioShock Isolation – was rebooted in the summer of 2022 for the fourth time. There has reportedly been a high level of turnover internally that has led to inexperienced developers working on the project, and allegedly, they’re sorely mismanaged. The leaker further suggested that the narrative team has been unable to write a script worthy of a renowned franchise, which became a key factor of the reboot. Take-Two’s recent earnings call suggested that BioShock 4 is still on track to release the fiscal year 2025. That means it could drop anywhere from April 2025 to March 2026. Fans of the BioShock franchise can look forward to the upcoming FPS, Judas, headed up by Ken Levine, who worked previously on BioShock and BioShock Infinite. That’ll be released at some point on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. Despite the reports of the game's struggles, BioShock 4 could still see the light of day, and hopefully, it will be the return to form the series needs.

BioShock 4 in Development Hell: Leak

CI Games has released an all-new gameplay trailer for Lords of the Fallen, the reboot of the 2014 title, and the Lords of the Fallen release date has been revealed to be October 13th, 2023. The trailer looks positively phenomenal and CI Games has poured ingenuity, passion, and a whole lot of darkness into the game. Players can look forward to gargantuan bosses, a veil that separates realms, puzzling elements, a gorgeous world to explore, hardcore battles to overcome, and a far-reaching story. Along with the trailer, CI Games also dropped the various editions of Lords of the Fallen that are up for pre-order, including the standard edition, deluxe edition, and collector’s edition. The collector’s edition includes an exclusive steelbook, double-sided poster and art cards, and a 10-inch statue of The Dark Crusader, complete with a metal display case. Lords of the Fallen looks to be one of the better games of 2023 and players won’t have to wait long to play it. For more Insider Gaming news, check out our coverage of the Mortal Kombat 1 reveal.

Lords of the Fallen Trailer Reveals Release Date

In 2020, Take-Two Interactive became the first company to raise its standard game prices from the traditional $60 to $70. While there was some pushback from players at the time, many are willing to pay the higher prices. Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick said during an earnings call that there hasn’t been as much of an issue as initially expected. He stated that consumers are either choosing to purchase blockbuster titles or search for value and that they have a robust frontline release schedule. With the gaming industry continuing to rise, many gamers are becoming more hesitant to purchase games at the higher prices, which has caused some pressure in the market. What do you think of the game pricing standard gradually continuing its rise to $70? For more information on the gaming industry, check out the first details of Nvidia’s next graphics cards.

Take-Two Interactive Raises Game Prices

The Epic Games Store has launched its own rewards program for users called the Epic Rewards Program. This program allows users to earn 5 percent back in Rewards on eligible purchases. Epic has not specified what type of transactions qualify for the kickback; however, users don't have to sign up for the program and can join for free. This move comes months after Sony rolled out a rewards program for its storefront called PlayStation Stars, making Epic Games Store the latest of the major gaming storefronts to offer its own variation of a rewards program. Does this program entice you into engaging with the Epic Games Store more often? Let us know in the comments!

Epic Games Store Launches Rewards Program

My Hero Ultra Rumble, the upcoming battle royale based on the popular manga and anime, My Hero Academia, is holding an open beta that begins later this month. The beta begins May 25 at 7 p.m. PT and concludes June 1 at 11 p.m. PT on PlayStation 4. Players can preload the beta by going to the download page. The game features 24 player matches divided into eight teams of three, with players selecting their favorite heroes and villains from the franchise and taking advantage of their various unique abilities. Players can also upgrade their abilities with pick-ups on the map and support their teammates as needed. The upcoming beta is only for PlayStation 4 (playable on PlayStation 5), but the game is planned for release on Xbox, Switch, and PC, as well. Bandai Namco has not announced a release date for the game yet, but it is expected to be free-to-play when it officially launches. Fans of the My Hero Academia franchise will be able to join the battle and test out the game before its official launch. Don't miss out on the chance to be part of the action!

My Hero Ultra Rumble Open Beta Starts May 25th

The Case of the Golden Idol, one of the best hidden gems of 2022, is now available for Switch owners. On May 25th, the dark mystery game and its recently released expansion, The Spider of Lanka, will be available to purchase separately or together as a bundle. The award-winning game takes place in the 18th century and tasks players with solving a mystery spanning decades over 11 interconnected deaths. Each scenario is presented as a static scene where players must carefully observe the environment to find clues to solve the case. The Spider of Lanka serves as a prequel, adding three additional cases. The Switch version of the game has a redesigned UI to better accommodate a controller-based experience. If you haven't heard of it before, the trailer below should give you an idea of what to expect. It's great to see The Case of the Golden Idol come to more platforms, and Switch seems like an especially good fit. Will you be giving the game a shot on Switch? Let us know in the comments!

The Case of the Golden Idol Comes to Switch

In a pre-briefing call with Take-Two, CEO Strauss Zelnick has suggested that mid-gen console refreshes are likely in the future. Sony is currently developing a PlayStation 5 Pro with a suspected release date of Holiday 2024, however it is still unclear if Xbox is working on a mid-generation console refresh. Zelnick believes these refreshes will not have a large impact on their business, as it did not in the previous generation. During yesterday’s earnings call, Take-Two announced lofty goals for the year ahead, leading fans to speculate that the huge increase in earnings is likely because of a GTA 6 release. Could the mid-gen refreshes be related to the release date of GTA 6? Let us know what you think in the comments below. For more Insider Gaming news, check out our coverage of the PlayStation Showcase coming at the end of May.

Mid-Gen Console Refreshes on the Way?

Mortal Kombat 1 has finally been revealed, with a 'rebirth' of the series and the Mortal Kombat timeline having been reformed by the God of Fire, Liu Kang. The reveal trailer was dropped, and it looks as though we’re going back in time to an era earlier than any we’ve seen yet in franchise history. There are several characters shown in the half-action-packed trailer, including Liu Kang, Raiden, Kitana, Mileena, Scorpion, Sub-Zero, and Shang-Tsung. Shang-Tsung is a pre-order bonus character. A unique fighting system called Kameo will be featured, with 'partner characters' making an appearance mid-fight to offer assistance. Ed Boon, the co-founder of Mortal Kombat, explained that Kameo content will be revealed soon. Mortal Kombat 1 will be released on September 19th, 2023. For more Insider Gaming news, check out our coverage of the newly-announced 4060 series of GPUs.

Mortal Kombat 1 Reveal Trailer Drops

Lords of the Fallen, the reimagining/reboot of its 2014 predecessor, is coming on Friday, October 13th. A new trailer set to Iron Maiden packs in a ton of metal-infused action that shows off the game's Unreal Engine 5-rendered graphics. The game's open world is five times larger than the original's and supports online co-op. The combat has been retuned to be faster and more fluid, and developer Hexworks promises the game to be an overall expansive action RPG experience. The game will be available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.

Lords of the Fallen Reboot Arrives Oct 13th

Nvidia has continued its efforts to provide PC gamers with more graphics cards, announcing the GeForce RTX 4060 family of GPUs. Starting at just $299, the Nvidia RTX 4060 will launch in July, alongside the more powerful RTX 4060 Ti 8GB and RTX 4060 Ti 16GB models that will be available on May 24 and July respectively. According to Nvidia, the RTX 4060 family delivers great performance at 1080p, with the RTX 4060 Ti 8GB being 2.6x faster than the RTX 2060 Super and 1.7x faster than the RTX 3060 Ti. Not only that, but the RTX 4060 cards also offer AV1 encoding for streaming, allowing for higher-quality video at lower bitrates. With the availability of three new cards, Nvidia is hoping to give PC gamers an option no matter what they want to play or produce. What are your thoughts on the Nvidia RTX 4060 graphics cards? Stay tuned for Insider Gaming’s full impressions of the RTX 4060 Ti 8GB in the coming days.

Nvidia Announces RTX 4060 GPUs for PC Gamers

After co-creator Ed Boon teased Mortal Kombat 12 news last week, fans can now expect a formal reveal tomorrow, May 18th. A new tweet from the official Mortal Kombat Twitter account reads, 'Tomorrow is a new dawn' and contains a teaser styled after the previous video, featuring a clock hand that skips past 12 and strikes 1, followed by the text “It Is Time” with a start time of 6 a.m. PT/9 a.m. ET. The clock landing on '1' has led fans to speculate that the next game may be a reboot of sorts. We learned a new Mortal Kombat was coming this year when Warner Bros. CEO told investors that Mortal Kombat 12 was launching this year. Whether this new game is actually called MK 12 or something else entirely is unclear, but fans are looking forward to waking up bright and early tomorrow morning to see what’s next for their favorite spine-ripping kombatants.

Mortal Kombat 12 Reveal Tomorrow

Nintendo has announced that The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom has sold an incredible 10 million copies in just three days, making it the fastest-selling game in the history of the Zelda series. This milestone surpasses the previous record held by Hogwarts Legacy, which sold 12 million copies in its first two weeks. The game’s success follows comments from series producer Eiji Aonuma, who suggested that Zelda herself might get her own adventure in a future game. Fans of the series are already enjoying Link’s latest adventure, and many believe that 10 million copies is just the beginning. For more Insider Gaming news, check out our coverage of Forza Horizon 5 and its 30 million player milestone.

Zelda: Tears of The Kingdom Shatters Records

Rumors have been circulating for weeks about the next PlayStation Showcase, and now fans finally have an answer. Sony has announced that the next PlayStation Showcase will take place on Wednesday, May 24 at 4pm ET/1pm PT. It will be a longer-form show, featuring upcoming games for the PlayStation 5 from both PlayStation Studios and third-party partners. Some of the games that will be featured include Final Fantasy XVI, Atlas Fallen, and Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth. The event will be broadcasted on both YouTube and Twitch, but viewers should be aware that content is likely to include copyrighted music. With the PlayStation Showcase less than a week away, gamers are already getting excited for what's in store. To get a better idea of what to expect, check out our coverage of the sales numbers of the popular Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.

PlayStation Showcase: Get Ready for May 24

It’s that time of the month again. Sony has announced that 16 more games are leaving PlayStation Plus in June. According to PlayStation Game Size on Twitter, the games will leave the service on June 20. As usual, once the games listed below are gone, they’re gone. Unlike Sony’s monthly free PS Plus games, you can’t add them to your library, and simply redownload them later. The 16 games leaving PlayStation Plus in June include Agents of Mayhem, Ash of Gods: Redemption, Black Mirror, Defense Grid 2, Descenders, Fire Pro Wrestling World, Gods Will Fall, Joe Dever’s Lone Wolf, John Wick Hex, KeyWe, No Straight Roads, Party Hard, Red Faction, Red Faction II, Redeemer: Enhanced Edition, and Wytchwood. While the games leaving may disappoint many, Sony has added a variety of new titles to the platform this month, including Humanity, Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, Watch Dogs: Legion, and more. It remains to be seen what Sony will add for players in June. For those who are sad to see these 16 games leave, PlayStation Showcase will feature more upcoming Insider Gaming news. 

16 Games Leaving PlayStation Plus in June

The return of EA Sports College Football has been highly anticipated, and now, it appears that it could actually feature real players. According to ESPN, EA Sports has reached a contract with OneTeam Partners to “facilitate collegiate athletes’ names and likenesses” in the upcoming games. The specifics of the deal are still being worked out, including how much an athlete will receive for licensing themselves to the games. If a player does not want to be a part of the game, EA Sports will create a generic player in his place. The company has stated that its goal is to make payments as “inclusive and equitable as possible”. The first officially-licensed college football game since 2013 is currently slated to launch in the summer of 2024. Are you excited to play as real players in EA Sports College Football? Let us know in the comments!

EA Sports College Football to Feature Players?

During Take-Two's annual investor call and financial update, comments were made that suggested GTA 6 could be released as soon as 2024. It was reported that there are certain things happening in that period that would change the face of the company for the better and one of those things is supposedly the launch of GTA 6. The statement handed down during the annual earnings call indicated that there has been something major in the pipeline that has been worked on for several years, there are some 'groundbreaking titles' on the horizon, and there are beliefs that these titles will enable Take-Two to achieve 'over $8 billion' in net bookings. This could now be our expected release window for Grand Theft Auto 6. It is also worth noting that the statement indicated that there are 'groundbreaking titles', plural, which means that there is more than just another Grand Theft Auto game up Take-Two's sleeve. With this news, gamers are now eagerly awaiting more information on GTA 6 as well as the other titles that Take-Two is preparing to launch in the near future. Take-Two has had a record-breaking year in terms of financial performance and they are now aiming for even loftier goals for the year ahead in terms of their upcoming releases. It will be interesting to see what kind of games Take-Two has in store for fans and how the launch of GTA 6 could potentially change the face of the company for the better.

GTA 6 Could Launch in 2024: Take-Two

It has now been revealed that pro COD players from the CDL are designing custom Operator skins and cosmetics that’ll be used in Modern Warfare III, 2023’s Call of Duty game. But, according to reports, they’re not happy about it... they’re being hampered by ‘dog shit guidelines’ that restrict them in more ways than they’d care to admit. It was recently revealed by Dexerto that these very teams are hard at work designing exclusive Operator skins and weapon cosmetics for Modern Warfare III. It was just days ago that we broke the news regarding MWIII’s impending arrival, and this is yet another arrow in the quiver to act as confirmation of the game’s existence. However, things aren’t always what they seem, and apparently, the players and creators that are being tasked with building out these cosmetics are being locked in a creative box. They’re set to be customisable to some extent – but we don’t know how just yet – but that’s not the point. In a Tweet responding to Dexerto’s post, OpTic Aaron stated that they’re being hampered by ‘dog shit guidelines’ that restrict them in more ways than they’d care to admit: “Can’t edit straps, can’t edit goggles, can’t edit pants, no texture, no patterns” go fuck urself— OpTic Aaron (@AARONCREATE) May 18, 2023 Further down the chain, Aaron stated that working with the Halo and Rocket League teams to create skins and cosmetics ‘is a dream compared to working on CDL cosmetics’. This sentiment was echoed by 100 Thieves’ Raw, who said it ‘Felt like (he) was using a coloring book designing that ish’. Apparently, designing the weapon blueprints coming to the game involved editing a ‘JPEG Microsoft paint file’, but we’re unsure how accurate that statement is. It has been a long-standing tradition for Call of Duty to feature exclusive skins and cosmetics from the Call of Duty League, and with Modern Warfare III on the horizon, this trend is continuing. However, it appears that the pro players tasked with designing these cosmetics are not happy with the restrictive guidelines they are being provided. Reports from OpTic Aaron and 100 Thieves’ Raw suggest they are being limited in how they can create the skins and blueprints, and are being restricted to using a basic JPEG Microsoft Paint file. It remains to be seen what the end result of these designs will be, but with the game's release rumored to be in November 2023, we won't have to wait too long to find out.

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