The Office spin-off finally gets plot details, confirming links to the original and a major location change

The first major details about The Office spin-off have been confirmed, and it seems like we’re heading to a new location. The original show, which made stars of Steve Carrell and John Krasinski, was set in a Scranton paper company as it followed its employees doing everything they could to avoid selling paper.

The new series, which has been given a season order by Peacock, shifts its focus to a Midwestern newspaper publisher, but there will still be some crossover with the original. 

Per the official synopsis, the company is the Dunder Mifflin documentary crew’s latest subject. They’ll follow the group of employees at a dying historic newspaper, which the publisher is trying to revive with volunteer reporters. 

Star Wars and Ex-Machina actor Domhnall Gleeson and The White Lotus season 2 breakout Sabrina Impacciatore lead the cast. While the rest of the comedic ensemble is yet to be announced, we now know that the original show creators Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant as well as the US remake’s helmer Greg Daniels are all involved. 

This time the series will also be helmed by Nathan for You co-creator Michael Koman. Production is due to begin in July, but at the moment it’s currently untitled and has no specific release date. 

"It’s been more than ten years since the final episode of The Office aired on NBC, and the acclaimed comedy series continues to gain popularity and build new generations of fans on Peacock," said NBCUniversal president Lisa Katz. "In partnership with Universal Television and led by the creative team of Greg Daniels and Michael Koman, this new series set in the universe of Dunder Mifflin introduces a new cast of characters in a fresh setting ripe for comedic storytelling: a daily newspaper." 

Let’s hope we see a newspaper encased in Jell-O this time around – or at the very least a 'world’s best editor' mug. 

Check out our guides to the best TV shows of all time and all the upcoming TV shows for what else to add to your watchlist.


https://www.gamesradar.com/entertainment/comedy-shows/the-office-spin-off-new-details-plot-location-change-star-wars-actor/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

Helldivers 2 director still talking to PlayStation and Valve about relisting the shooter "everywhere" after PSN mandate saw the game pulled in over 170 countries

Helldivers 2's game director and studio head is still working to get the shooter back on storefronts of countries it was delisted from last week.

In the wake of announcing that all Helldivers 2 players on PC would need to link to an active PSN account last week, Arrowhead's shooter was summarily delisted from 170 countries around the world that didn't have access to Sony's PSN. The stipulation might have been walked back, but Helldivers 2 still remains delisted in countries without PSN access.

Game director and Arrowhead CEO Johan Pilestedt is still working to get Helldivers 2 back on storefronts, though. In a message in the game's official Discord, Pilestedt reveals there isn't any news right now about the delistings being turned around, but he's "speaking to our partners at PlayStation and Valve and pushing for it to be undone." Pilestedt adds that he "won't rest in my desire to have it available everywhere." 

The fallout from the situation surrounding the mandatory PSN account is still an ongoing issue for Arrowhead. The studio's community manager was seemingly fired earlier this week for requesting players review-bomb Helldivers 2 in order to send a message about the mandatory PSN account linking. "I knew I was taking a risk with what I said," the developer wrote in a message to players.

Right now, there definitely isn't a schedule for getting Helldivers 2 back on the delisted storefronts around the world, given Pilestedt's statement, although it's a relief the director is actively working on it. Considering Valve broke its own Steam refunding rule to issue refunds for aggrieved players last week, maybe that's a positive sign for engagement with Arrowhead.

Elsewhere, Helldivers 2 devs are worried it's "tone deaf" to drop a new Warbond so soon after the whole PSN kerfuffle, so they're letting voters decide "in true democratic fashion."


https://www.gamesradar.com/games/third-person-shooter/helldivers-2-director-still-talking-to-playstation-and-valve-about-relisting-the-shooter-everywhere-after-psn-mandate-saw-the-game-pulled-in-over-170-countries/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes doesn't have a post-credits scene, but there's still a reason to stick around

Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes has finally arrived on the big screen, much to the excitement of fans who have been eagerly awaiting a new chapter in the beloved sci-fi franchise since the last installment, which was 2017's War for the Planet of the Apes.

This latest film, which aims to kickstart a new trilogy in the series, jumps ahead in time to roughly 300 years after the events of War, focusing on the journey of a new young ape named Noa (Owen Teague). On his adventure, Noa will come up against dangerous ape king Proximus Caesar (Kevin Durand) and also encounter mysterious human Mae (Freya Allan).

Since this is the next movie in a long-running franchise which aims to set things up for future sequels, you are likely wondering whether Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes has a post-credits scene. A trend largely introduced first by Marvel movies, we now see several Hollywood blockbusters with post-credits scenes - sometimes there are in fact more than one if they are feeling extra generous. Typically post-credits scenes go down two routes - either directly teasing what is to come next in a potential follow-up or delivering a fun gag for audiences who decide to stay in their seats as the credits roll.

And so, below we have got you covered with everything you need to know about the Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes post-credits, putting all the information in one place as a handy guide for any fan of the franchise. Keep on reading then if you want to know more but be warned, there are spoilers ahead for the post-credits.


Does Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes have a post-credits scene?




(Image credit: 20th Century Studios)


No, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes doesn't have a post-credits scene in the traditional sense of things however, if you do stay around until the end of the credits, you will be treated to a piece of audio.

As the credits come to an end the sound of apes begin to fade in, with this audio closing us out. Although it is just simply the noise of apes we don't think the filmmakers are just monkeying around here, and this is just a small tease that they hope to continue telling stories in this world. 

Director Wes Ball did reveal to us that they hope "to continue on with these characters and story" but a sequel hasn't been given the official green light yet. Keep those eyes peeled though!

---



Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes is out now in UK cinemas and will release in US theaters on May 10.

For more on the movie, check out our interviews with the cast alongside director Was Ball on whether we will see a movie about Caesar's son one day and how these films could build to link up with the 1968 original.


https://www.gamesradar.com/entertainment/sci-fi-movies/kingdom-planet-apes-post-credits-scene/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

New Video Game Releases in Week 19 of May 6, 2024

Here’s the list of new video game releases in week 19 of May 6, 2024. The most popular video games released this week include: Pac-Man Mega Tunnel Battle: Chomp Champs, V Rising, Indika & Crow Country. A handful of new games in this 2nd May 2024 week. Remember, often the new video game releases this ...


Read more


The post New Video Game Releases in Week 19 of May 6, 2024 appeared first on Video Games Blogger.


https://www.videogamesblogger.com/2024/05/06/new-video-game-releases-in-week-19-of-may-6-2024.htm?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

Deadpool 3 director suggests it won’t be a mindless cameo-fest: "We let the story dictate the characters"

Deadpool & Wolverine director Shawn Levy has suggested the upcoming R-Rated threequel won’t be packed with mindless fan service and cameos, even pointing to a returning X-Men actor as proof of concept.

"I'll say we didn't start off with a wishlist," Levy told Entertainment Weekly. "From the day we started devising this Deadpool and Wolverine story, we let the story dictate the characters, not the other way around."

Among them – in a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it comeback during the Deadpool 3 Super Bowl trailer – is Pyro, the fire-based mutant played in X2 and X-Men: The Last Stand by Aaron Stanford. 

"Aaron and his return as Pyro was an outgrowth of that, and that applies to pretty much all the characters you'll see in the movie."


(Image credit: Marvel Studios)


In line with that philosophy, Levy previously stated that homework is off the table for Deadpool & Wolverine – and you won’t need to watch a single MCU movie before watching Ryan Reynolds’ Wade Wilson and Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine join forces.

"I very much made this film with certainly a healthy respect and gratitude towards the rabid fan base that has peak fluency in the mythology and lore of these characters and this world," Levy said in an interview with AP News. "But I didn't want to presume that. This movie is built for entertainment, with no obligation to come prepared with prior research."

Deadpool & Wolverine, the latest entry in Marvel Phase 5, is set to release on July 25 in the UK and July 26 in the US.

For more, check out the rest of the upcoming Marvel movies heading your way. If you’re still playing catch-up, you’ll need the complete guide on how to watch the Marvel movies in order.


https://www.gamesradar.com/entertainment/superhero-movies/deadpool-3-not-cameo-fest-shawn-levypyro/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

Resident Evil creator Shinji Mikami calls Microsoft's decision to shut down the studio he helped found "sad"

Shinji Mikami has reacted to news of Microsoft closing Tango Gameworks, calling the decision "sad."

Yesterday brought news that Microsoft was reportedly closing Tango Gameworks and Arkane Austin, the studios most recently behind Hi-Fi Rush and Redfall, respectively. Many developers at the two studios weighed in with shock at the news, with Hi-Fi Rush creative director John Johanas adding that "unfortunately I don't quite have the words."

Now, Shinji Mikami, who founded Tango Gameworks after his departure from Capcom in 2010, has weighed in on the matter in the tweet just below, calling it "sad." Mikami departed Tango Gameworks over a year ago at this point in February 2023, so it's entirely possible that the studio founder heard of the closure at the same time as the general public.


Tango closed. Sad.May 7, 2024See more


The oft-told story about Mikami and Tango Gameworks is that the veteran developer established the studio as a place for young up-and-coming developers to thrive. Hi-Fi Rush is evident of that approach, as younger developers like Johanas took the reigns on the project in a leading role, while Mikami had a relatively hands-off approach in a producing role.

Microsoft's closure of Tango Gameworks effectively means the space for younger developers that Mikami strove to carve out has been wiped out, right as the studio was establishing its own identity after Mikami's departure. The closure also comes just a few months after Hi-Fi Rush was ported to the PS5, and just over a year after an Xbox executive said it was a success in "all key measurements."

Elsewhere, Arkane Lyon's studio head commented on Arkane Austin's closure by Microsoft, calling the move a "fucking gut stab." Dinga Bakaba, who is currently leading development on Marvel's Blade, also called on executives to take care of employees when the "times are tough," not just when workers have put out a smash-hit game.

After posting daily updates for 7 years, Prey fan account that was counting the days until a sequel reacts to studio closure: "It's over."


https://www.gamesradar.com/games/action/resident-evil-creator-shinji-mikami-calls-microsofts-decision-to-shut-down-the-studio-he-helped-found-sad/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

Barbie Company Mattel's Matchbox Movie Reportedly Brings On Extraction Director

Following the huge success of Barbie, Mattel Films is making a movie based on its line of Matchbox toy cars, and now a director has come aboard.

Sam Hargrave, who directed Netflix's Extraction movies starring Chris Hemsworth, has inked a deal to make the Matchbox movie, according to Deadline. Skydance and Mattel Films are producing the movie together.

There are no plot details available as of yet for the Matchbox movie. But Hargrave's hiring might suggest the film could go big on stunts and action set pieces, given Hargrave is a former stuntman himself who applied his skills to the Extraction series.Continue Reading at GameSpot


https://www.gamespot.com/articles/barbie-company-mattels-matchbox-movie-reportedly-brings-on-extraction-director/1100-6523247/?ftag=CAD-01-10abi2f&utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

Humble Bundle's Spring Sale Is Stacked With Great Game Deals

Humble Bundle's Spring Sale 2024 is underway, offering big price cuts on hundreds of PC games, including titles from big publishers and small indies. Many of the games in the sale are even Steam Deck compatible. See all deals at Humble



The sale is kicking off at the perfect time for anyone who recently got into the Fallout TV series on Amazon Prime and wants to experience the post-apocalyptic games the show is based on. Every mainline Fallout game is discounted in the sale, including the two original isometric 90s RPGs available in the Fallout Classic Collection for $5 (was $20). If you want to play modern, first-person titles in the franchise, Fallout 3: Game of the Year edition is just $5 (was $20), Fallout New Vegas: Ultimate Edition is $6.49 (was $20), and Fallout 4: Game of the Year Edition is $15 (was $60). You can also get Fallout 76, which offers an online multiplayer spin on the series' open-world RPG formula, for just $8 (was $40). Many of Bethesda's other open-world RPGs like Skyrim and Starfield are also part of the sale.Continue Reading at GameSpot


https://www.gamespot.com/articles/humble-bundles-spring-sale-is-stacked-with-great-game-deals/1100-6523215/?ftag=CAD-01-10abi2f&utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

Nintendo says it will announce its next-gen Switch successor "within this fiscal year"

Nintendo has confirmed that the Switch 2 is in production in the most casual way imaginable. The publisher has taken to Twitter to say that it will "make an announcement about the successor to Nintendo Switch within this fiscal year." 

In his statement, Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa says, "it will have been over nine years since we announced the existence of Nintendo Switch back in March 2015." Nintendo's fiscal year is set to conclude on March 31, 2025, so there's still plenty of time to get caught up on the best Switch games before the next-gen console is revealed. 

That doesn't mean that we'll be waiting for another 10 months for any Nintendo news though. Furukawa also confirmed that the company "will be holding a Nintendo Direct this June" – likely falling within the broader Summer Game Fest 2024 schedule – "regarding the Nintendo Switch software lineup for the latter half of 2024, but please be aware that there will be no mention of the Nintendo Switch successor during that presentation."

While it's certainly a shame that the Nintendo Direct June 2024 showcase won't host the reveal of the Switch successor, I can't deny that I'm happy the publisher is ready to announce some new titles, as the list of upcoming Switch games is looking a little dry… call me an optimist, but hopefully this is where we'll see some of Metroid Prime 4.


This is Furukawa, President of Nintendo. We will make an announcement about the successor to Nintendo Switch within this fiscal year. It will have been over nine years since we announced the existence of Nintendo Switch back in March 2015. We will be holding a Nintendo Direct…May 7, 2024See more


All this news arrives alongside Nintendo's latest financial results for the year ending March 2024. The manufacturer announced that it has shifted an additional 15.7 million Switch consoles, bringing the total sold to an incredible 141.32 million to date. It's an impressive accomplishment and puts the Switch on track to be the best-selling console of all time – Nintendo estimates that it will sell through another 13.5m units before the end of this financial year. 

Either way, confirmation that a Switch successor is in the works is undoubtedly good news, as rumors have been swirling for months now. There's been reports suggesting that the Switch 2 was targeting an early 2025 release date before another rumor suggested that the console had been delayed to 2025 to hinder scalping, meanwhile a GDC survey seemed to confirm that developers are already turning their attention to the unannounced Switch successor. 

It's likely that rumors will continue to circulate as we await our first official look at the Switch successor, but at least we know that an announcement is on the near horizon – and that there will still be a few new Switch exclusives to add to the new games of 2024 calendar. 

---



Meanwhile, this uber-rare prototype Super Famicom that Nintendo built years before the SNES is set to fetch thousands at auction.


https://www.gamesradar.com/platforms/nintendo/nintendo-switch-successor-announced-nintendo-direct-june-2024-confirmed/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

Manor Lords Dev Can't Just Go On Hiring Spree To Increase Updates

Don't count on the development team behind Manor Lords ballooning into a big operation, no matter how much fans ask for more content. For starters, one person was in charge of the medieval strategy game--Greg Styczeń. On top of that, publisher Hooded Horse CEO Tim Bender noted "that's just fundamentally not the way things work."

Bender opened up to PC Gamer about how fans are already asking for "faster updates" for Manor Lords, which put up huge numbers on Steam when it launched late last month. That led to someone chiming in that the developer should just add more workers. But that won't happen, according to Bender.

"The best growth is very slow," Bender said. "It's keeping the core vision intact. It's the importance of Greg and his work process. And so, as a result, people are going to be clamoring [for updates], and I think that's just virtually guaranteed. There's no pace of updates that would not result in people clamoring for more, and would not result in a bunch of people saying the ideal solution is to just hire 50 people."Continue Reading at GameSpot


https://www.gamespot.com/articles/manor-lords-dev-cant-just-go-on-hiring-spree-to-increase-updates/1100-6523209/?ftag=CAD-01-10abi2f&utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

Call Of Duty Adds New DLC That Supports Military Veterans

May is Military Appreciation Month, and Activision is marking the occasion with new DLC for Call of Duty games that supports the company's veteran-themed charity, the Call of Duty Endowment. Additionally, Activision has announced it received the biggest-ever private donation to the endowment to the tune of $2.5 million.

Kenneth C. Griffin, the founder and CEO of the hedge fund Citadel and founder of Griffin Catalyst, has donated $2.5 million to the charity. This amount will help support the placement of more than 4,000 veterans in new jobs, Activision said.

The new DLC out now is the Call of Duty Endowment Knight Recon Tracer Pack for Modern Warfare III, Warzone, and Warzone Mobile, along with the Regulator pack for Call of Duty: Mobile.Continue Reading at GameSpot


https://www.gamespot.com/articles/call-of-duty-adds-new-dlc-that-supports-military-veterans/1100-6523205/?ftag=CAD-01-10abi2f&utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

Helldivers 2 players triumph as Sony walks back PSN account linking decision and studio CEO says he's "impressed by the willpower of the community"

Sony has reversed a decision that would have required Helldivers 2 players to link their Steam accounts to PlayStation Network accounts.

In an announcement this morning, the official PlayStation account posted a tweet reading "Helldivers fans - we've heard your feedback on the Helldivers 2 account liking update." That update, which was due to roll out today and would have required all players to link their accounts by May 30, "will not be moving forward."

Sony goes on to say that "we're still learning what is best for PC players and your feedback has been invaluable." That 'feedback' likely refers to the tanking of support for the game on Steam, as well as a massive backlash on social media. More than 200,000 negative reviews were posted on Helldivers 2's Steam page after Sony announced the change, which would have limited access to Helldivers 2 for players in many countries around the world where PSN isn't supported. Elsewhere, community members discussed solutions such as boycotts and class-action lawsuits, while Steam began overruling its strict two-hour refund policy for affected players.


Firstly, I am impressed by the willpower of the @helldivers2 community and your ability to collaborate. Secondly I want to thank our partners and friends at @PlayStation for quickly and effectively making the decision to leave PSN linking optional. We together want to set a new…
https://t.co/2rayksgH1vMay 6, 2024See more


In response to the change, Arrowhead Studios CEO Johan Pilstedt tweeted "I am impressed by the willpower of the Helldivers 2 community and your ability to collaborate." He also thanked PlayStation for changing its decision, saying that the two companies "want to set a new standard for what a live game is, and how developers and the community can support each other to create the best game experiences."

It'll be interesting to see the climb back for Helldivers 2. Lauded as one of the breakout hits for the year, much of that reputation seemed to crumble over the past couple of days. Currently, the game's reviews sit at 'Mixed' on Steam, after 278,000 players made their displeasure known. Community sentiment does appear to have reversed pretty quickly now that Sony has backtracked, but for some, it will likely be too little, too late.

Helldivers 2 devs remind players "it's Sony's decision, not ours" amid PSN backlash: "We always knew this day would get here, and it's going about how I expected."


https://www.gamesradar.com/games/third-person-shooter/helldivers-2-players-triumph-as-sony-walks-back-psn-account-linking-decision-and-studio-ceo-says-hes-impressed-by-the-willpower-of-the-community/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

‘Contexto’ 596 Answer Today May 6th 2024 – Hints and Solution (5/6/24)

Here is the Contexto answer today for the 596 puzzle, released on May 6th, 2024 and some hints to help you solve it.


There are many games that have been inspired by the viral word game Wordle with some of the more well-known games being Quordle, Globle, Heardle and Nerdle.


All of these games have their own unique twists to the original, where players will need to guess four words at a time, guess the country, guess the song or guess the mathematical equation of the day.


Another game that has caught our eye is Contexto. The aim of the game is to find the secret word of the day an artificial intelligence algorithm will tell you how close or similar the word you guessed is to the answer to help you solve it.


The secret number is number 1 and the words that are determined to be similar to the secret word will have a lower number. There are unlimited words you can guess, so you could be at it for a long time!


There is a new secret word every day and we will be here to give you hints and the answer to help you keep your winning streak!
Contexto – How To Play


Hints for the Contexto 596 Hints Today – May 6th, 2024




As the word can be quite difficult to solve, we have some hints for Contexto 596 to help you to solve it, which are the following:


Hint 1: Here are some of the words that are similar to the secret word, according to Contexto:



* The twentieth word in the list today is ‘LINE‘.




Contexto 596 Closest Word 20 – 6th May 2024



* The fifteenth word in the list today is ‘CLIENT‘.




Contexto 596 Closest Word 15 – 6th May 2024



* The tenth word in the list today is ‘BROADBAND‘.




Contexto 596 Closest Word 10 – 6th May 2024



* The seventh word in the list today is ‘COMMUNICATION‘.




Contexto 596 Closest Word 7 – 6th May 2024



* The fourth word in the list today is ‘NETWORK’.




Contexto 596 Closest Word 4 – 6th May 2024



* The second word in the list today (the closest word to the answer) is ‘CONNECT‘.




Contexto 596 Closest Word 2 – 6th May 2024


Hint 2: It starts with the letter C.

Hint 3: There are ten letters in the word today.

Hint 4: It is a noun.

Hint 5: A relationship in which a person or thing is linked or associated with something else.


QUIZ: How many questions can you solve from the quiz below?
.wq-quiz-wrapper[data-id="88049"] {
--wq-question-width: 100%;
--wq-question-color: #009cff;
--wq-question-height: auto;
--wq-bar-color: #00c479;
--wq-font-color: #444;
--wq-background-color: #ecf0f1;
}





0%











You're sitting in a cabin in the dark and cold and you are hungry. You have only one match. What do you light first?












Match


A fire


A stove


None






Correct!
Wrong!















What 10 letter word starts with gas?












Automobile


Retirement


Television


Aberration






Correct!
Wrong!















I am an odd number. Take away one letter from me and I become even. What number am I?












seven


nine


five


eleven






Correct!
Wrong!















There are two ducks in front of a duck, two ducks behind a duck and a duck in the middle. How many ducks are there?












4


6


3


5






Correct!
Wrong!















What on earth could dance, and live and die, without legs, or lungs, or being alive?












Wind


Sand


Fire


Water






Correct!
Wrong!















If you divide 30 by a half and add 10, what's the answer?












60


15


25


70






Correct!
Wrong!















What occurs once in a minute, twice in a moment, but never in a thousand years?












Fame


The letter 'M'


Success


Having a baby






Correct!
Wrong!















When you dig a hole 4 feet deep, 5 feet wide and 6 feet long, how much dirt is in it?












300 pounds


200 pounds


None


100 pounds






Correct!
Wrong!















A farmer had ten sheep. All but seven of them died, so how many sheep were left?












3


10


7


None






Correct!
Wrong!















Jill and Mary enjoy playing hockey, Kim and Jill enjoy playing football, Kim and Mary enjoy swimming. Who enjoys both swimming and hockey?












Kim


Jill


Mary


No One






Correct!
Wrong!















What common English verb becomes its own past tense by rearranging its letters?












Cry


Sleep


Sit


Eat






Correct!
Wrong!















What is half of 2 + 2?












1


2


3


4






Correct!
Wrong!















What disappears as soon as you say its name?












Distraction


Silence


Echo


Frustration






Correct!
Wrong!















What letter comes next in this sequence? O, T, T, F, F, S, S, ?












S


O


F


E






Correct!
Wrong!















How many animals of each species did Moses take with him into the Ark?












2


1


3


None






Correct!
Wrong!















If a doctor gives you three pills and tells you to take one every half hour, how long will it take to finish all the pills?












30 minutes


90 minutes


120 minutes


60 minutes






Correct!
Wrong!















In the kitchen cupboard, there are three jars containing different items. Sugar is to the right of rice and the flour is to the right of the sugar. Which one is in the middle?












Rice


Flour


Sugar






Correct!
Wrong!















What goes up and down, but never moves?












Air


Road


Water


Gas






Correct!
Wrong!















I am related to the water, but I am not wet. I am related to a shadow, but I am multicoloured. I create an illusion, but show what is real. What am I?












Clock


Gold


Diamond


Mirror






Correct!
Wrong!















If you pass the 2nd person in a race, what position are you in?












2nd


1st


3rd






Correct!
Wrong!










Riddles & Logic Quiz





Less Than Average

Better luck next time!








Average

Not bad!








Above Average

You know your riddles!








Genius!

Wow! Impressive!









What is the Contexto 596 Word Today? (Answer For May 6th, 2024)




If you want to know the answer to Contexto 596, it is…


CONNECTION!
Contexto Answer 596 – 6th May 2024


Let us know in the comments section below how many guesses it took for you to solve the Contexto word today and if there are any other games you want us to start covering!


The post ‘Contexto’ 596 Answer Today May 6th 2024 – Hints and Solution (5/6/24) appeared first on Fortnite Insider.


https://fortniteinsider.com/contexto-596-answer-today-may-6th-2024-hints-and-solution-5-6-24/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

A month after Nintendo killed 3DS and Wii U servers, eight final players beat a 14-year-old record held by Halo 2 superfans

Nintendo 3DS and Wii U servers were shut down almost a month ago, but eight dedicated players who refuse to turn off their systems are, miraculously, still online and holding on to both consoles, beating a record long held by the final Halo 2 superfans. 

Nintendo officially killed 3DS and Wii U servers on April 8, 2024, meaning many beloved multiplayer games - such as Animal Crossing: New Leaf, Kid Icarus Uprising, and many more - lost all online functionality forever. (Kinda.)

According to YouTuber GaffsNotLaffs, who has been tracking the server's final days and the resolute soldiers still connected, eight final players are still online across Pokemon XY, Mario Kart 7, Mario Maker, Xenoblade Chronicles X, and the original Splatoon, where one particular inkling is trapped in map purgatory for the next decade. 


WE DID IT! EVERYONE ON THIS LIST HAS STAYED ONLINE ON NINTENDO NETWORK FOR LONGER AFTER ITS SHUT DOWN THAN @APACHE_N4SIR DID AFTER THE ORIGINAL XBOX LIVE SHUT DOWN ON HALO 2! pic.twitter.com/5BF8sRp74fMay 4, 2024See more


That means those eight players have held onto the disconnected Nintendo Network for longer than the final Halo 2 spartans did after the original Xbox Live was shut down. The Noble 14 similarly refused to turn off their OG Xboxes in a bid to desperately cling to their dying beloved, circa 2010, with the last superfan holding on for just over 25 days. Congratulations to the last people on Earth to be playing the 3DS and Wii U online, who just beat a new record, 14 years in the making.

The 3DS and Wii U went out with a bang, at least, with the community gathering to celebrate both console's final days in style. A Super Mario Maker community raced to finish every single level in the game, including one that was thought to have been humanly impossible. The SpotPass Archival Project also rushed to preserve over 23,000 data dumps. 

The Nintendo 3DS and Wii U’s real legacy is how they brought players together.


https://www.gamesradar.com/games/halo/a-month-after-nintendo-killed-3ds-and-wii-u-servers-eight-final-players-beat-a-14-year-old-record-held-by-halo-2-superfans/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

Helldivers 2 Steam rating nosedives as one dev says refunds and the 145,000 negative reviews "gives us more pull in discussions with Sony"

Over 145,000 negative user reviews have hit Helldivers 2's Steam page these last few days, tarnishing its once spotless score. 

Helldivers 2 has had a bumpy week after publisher PlayStation Studios announced that all PC players would need to link to an active PlayStation Network account to continue playing. Nothing gets players riled up like making a second account, but divers were especially irked because the mandate came months after launch.

That annoyance was compounded by the usual concerns around information security and having yet another company harvesting data. Countless games also require you to link to a third-party account, but many players were blindsided that it came after purchasing the game. There's also the bigger issue: the PSN isn't available in every region that Steam is, and as a consequence, Helldivers 2 has been pulled from Steam in over 170 countries.

Just yesterday, community manager Spitz took to Discord to explain that the development studio also reacted to the news negatively since the mandate was "Sony's decision, not ours" and "our team is on the side of players in this fight." Spitz also explained that "players making their displeasure known through reviews, refunds, etc. gives us more pull in the discussions with Sony."

Helldivers 2 players certainly took that last line seriously as the co-op shooter's once shining Steam rating has fallen to "Mixed" based on almost 470,000 user reviews. The 190,000 user reviews from the last 30 days average an even more worrying "Overwhelmingly Negative" rating, with over 144,000 negative reviews (and counting) posted in the last two days alone. 

Several players have also reportedly been receiving refunds from Steam. Valve's usual policy only refunds players who haven't exceed two hours of playtime in-game, but the company is seemingly ignoring that rule and refunding players with over 200 hours on record since this is a somewhat unique case. 

Helldivers 2 boss responded to the backlash by saying “I guess it’s warranted.”


https://www.gamesradar.com/games/third-person-shooter/helldivers-2-steam-rating-nosedives-as-one-dev-says-refunds-and-the-145000-negative-reviews-gives-us-more-pull-in-discussions-with-sony/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

Avowed and Cyberpunk 2077 leads weigh in on Baldur's Gate 3 setting a new standard for RPGs: "Baldur's Gate is a D&D game, we're not going to start rolling now"

Veteran RPG developers have weighed in on how Baldur's Gate 3 has (or hasn't) affected how they approach their own games.

In PC Gamer's RPG roundtable, senior developers from across the industry were asked about whether the record-breaking Baldur's Gate 3 set a new standard for the genre. Larian Studios boss and the game's creative director Swen Vincke had a very easy response - "I can't answer that" - but the rest of the panel was somewhat split.

Carrie Patel, the game director behind Avowed and a senior narrative designer behind many of Obsidian's RPGs, said the game "reinforced" a philosophy that her studio has long had, "which is that creating a collaborative relationship with your players" is "always worthwhile."

Patel explains that that relationship comes by giving players "options that pay off and trusting in their creativity to find those options and engage with them." Patel continues that developers will "never lose if you find ways to reward your players, find things for them to discover, and trust them to do so" - something that connects Baldur's Gate 3 with Obsidian's gems, from Pillars of Eternity to The Outer Worlds.

Adrienne Bazir, the solo developer behind last year's excellent time-looping indie In Stars and Time, had a similar response but also pointed to drunk amnesiac detective sim Disco Elysium as another example of a game that doesn't give you choices rooted in a moral binary - the choices move past simple good/heroic versus bad/villainous ones. 

Something that Disco Elysium and Baldur's Gate 3 both did, according to Bazir, is give players "choices that were straight up weird… what if I was just a bear right now?" Bazir explains that moving past that binary allows players to "kind of play with the medium a little" and hopes devs big and small will adopt a similar thinking.  

Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty's acting lead quest designer Sarah Gruemmer had a more muted response because "Baldur's Gate is a D&D game, right? So we're not going to start rolling in the games that we make." Cyberpunk 2 isn't going to start deciding headshots based on a dice roll, "but there are still a lot of nice things you can take inspiration from and integrate into your own stuff," Gruemmer says. 

Across the board, it seems like Baldur's Gate 3 has emboldened RPG developers to keep doing what they’ve been doing for decades, just with a  little more funk this time around. 

Cyberpunk 2077’s lead also revealed how its most unique quest was made with smoke and mirror’s.


https://www.gamesradar.com/games/rpg/avowed-and-cyberpunk-2077-leads-weigh-in-on-baldurs-gate-3-setting-a-new-standard-for-rpgs-baldurs-gate-is-a-dandd-game-were-not-going-to-start-rolling-now/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

Helldivers 2 has been pulled from Steam in 170 countries without PSN access, while Valve ignores its own policy to issue refunds for players with over 100 hours

The Helldivers 2 debacle has reached new hellish lows as the year's best-selling game is now unavailable on Steam in over 170 countries. 

Earlier this week, publisher Sony announced that all Helldivers 2 PC players would soon need to link to an active PlayStation Network account or lose access to the game a mandate that was once a simple option at launch and has since led to thousands of negative user reviews hitting the once widely popular shooter. 

A Helldivers 2 community manager just yesterday assured that people in countries without PSN coverage could continue playing the game and wouldn't be blocked. But now, Helldivers 2 has been pulled from more than 170 territories lacking PSN coverage, according to listings from Steam Database. While some global players won't be able to join the fight and buy the game, it's unclear if existing Helldivers 2 owners will be able to continue playing if they live in unsupported regions.  


Helldivers 2 on Steam is now unable to purchase in numerous countries after it was announced that a PSN login will soon be required.Steam has also been approving refund requests for players even if they've played over 2 hours
https://t.co/8O7etaebpH pic.twitter.com/0P5hcOyiaLMay 5, 2024See more


Either way, that's a massive blow to Helldivers 2 - a game that became one of Sony's all-time best-sellers thanks to the PC version - and it raises questions about why the game was available in those territories to begin with, especially if the PSN mandate was always planned, as Sony said in its announcement note.

Ignoring its own policies, Steam stewards Valve have also reportedly been issuing refunds to several long-time Helldivers that have logged into Super Earth space for more than 100 hours. Steam policy normally doesn't allow for refunds if a player exceeds two hours in-game, but since the PSN requirement came months after launch, Valve (rightly) seems to be making an exception. 

A Helldivers 2 developer recently reiterated that the PSN change came from Sony, not the talented team at Arrowhead Studios, so issuing refunds is probably the most effective route to getting a message across, as opposed to shouting toxicity at devs. Sony also announced the mandate on a Friday, and thus, has yet to officially respond to the backlash that has escalated pretty wildly in just a few days.

Still playing? Check out everything in the upcoming Polar Patriots Warbond. 


https://www.gamesradar.com/games/third-person-shooter/helldivers-2-has-been-pulled-from-steam-in-170-countries-without-psn-access-while-valve-ignores-its-own-policy-to-issue-refunds-for-players-with-over-100-hours/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

Darth Maul Limited-Edition Lightsaber Available Now For Star Wars Day

Star Wars: Episode 1 - The Phantom Menace turns 25 later this month, so it only makes sense that Disney would celebrate this year's edition of Star Wars Day with a line of nostalgic merch. Earlier this week, new Phantom Menace Lego sets launched, and now the Disney Store has a bunch of new collectibles, led by Darth Maul's iconic double-sided lightsaber hilt, sold for an eye-watering $400.

Update: The limited-edition Darth Maul lightsaber is sold out, but you can save over $100 on Hasbro's Black Series Darth Vader lightsaber at Amazon. See Darth Maul Lightsaber on Disney Store

Darth Maul's Legacy Lightsaber Set is limited to 7,000 units and comes with a certificate of authenticity. At the time of writing, Disney had a queue for its online shop and was limiting customers to 10 minutes of shopping before requiring them to jump back in line. Here's the official description of the Darth Maul Legacy Lightsaber Set:Continue Reading at GameSpot


https://www.gamespot.com/articles/darth-maul-limited-edition-lightsaber-available-now-for-star-wars-day/1100-6523176/?ftag=CAD-01-10abi2f&utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

Manor Lords player complains about undead animals taking up space, dev pops up to say "I fixed it already – will be added to the next patch"

Manor Lords has a quirky bug that makes dead animal corpses stay in your village and contribute to your in-menu numbers, but the game's lead developer says the bug has already been squashed and awaiting deployment.

"My ox died in a fire/lightning strike," one Manor Lords player mourns on the hit city-builder's subreddit. "The body stays there and it adds to my max number of animals," the player continues, posting a picture of the poor animal's carcass left alone in the middle of a road. 

Just a few hours later, the game's solo developer Greg Styczen popped into the thread with superhuman speed to announce that he "fixed it already." The stubborn, undead animals will soon be banished when the bug fix gets "added to the next patch."

Styczen, who worked on the game mostly on his lonesome and used some outsourced development, has grand plans to add to his medieval strategy gem. Future patches will tackle storage issues and the way AI runs rampant over every territory it can grab. Elsewhere, the Manor Lords developer is also planning to buff archer damage after a last-minute change made them "ineffective."

Manor Lords had a record-breaking early access launch, selling over one million copies and beating the concurrent player peaks for other heavyweights in the genre, such as Civilization 6 and Cities: Skylines. That means Manor Lords has a very future ahead - more additions, fixes, and overhauls are a sure thing. 

Find out how to get regional wealth in Manor Lords and how to form Manor Lords militia. 


https://www.gamesradar.com/games/city-builder/manor-lords-player-complains-about-undead-animals-taking-up-space-dev-pops-up-to-say-i-fixed-it-already-will-be-added-to-the-next-patch/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

Cyberpunk 2077 lead reveals the smoke and mirrors behind one of the RPG's most unique quests: "Our cinematic team wanted to kill me"

Arguably Cyberpunk 2077's most famous date scene - the underwater scuba dive with tech wizard Judy Alvarez - was made with smoke and mirrors, according to one lead developer. 

In PC Gamer's lengthy roundtable chat with RPG developers, at around the 35:00 minute mark, CDPR's acting lead quest designer Sarah Gruemmer talked about a limitation that soon turned into a creative solution. "We have the quest where we go diving with Judy in Cyberpunk," Grummer says, which then turned tricky when the team didn't "have diving [animations] for NPCs in our game."

CD Projekt Red developers still "really wanted to make this quest where you have this moment with her underwater," so they opted to use their "scene system to do the entire thing and we just worked around it." That process involved putting "everything on animation and then just had to chuck everything in shorter sections, so she waits there in an idle animation and you can do 'gameplay things' around her."

The trick is that Judy is still "close enough that you can actually talk and then, you know, move to the next section. Everything is, again, just an underwater animation. Our cinematic team wanted to kill me," Gruemmer jokes. 

Cyberpunk 2077 developers have been sharing plenty about their redeemed open-world romp recently, with another environment artist explaining that creating Night City posed a "significant challenge" when it came to "adjusting to the scale and characteristics of American settings," especially since CDPR is primarily a Poland-based studio. 

The Witcher 4 is being “intensively worked on,” but Cyberpunk 2 is keeping most of its senior developers to “preserve” the RPG’s DNA. 


https://www.gamesradar.com/games/rpg/cyberpunk-2077-lead-reveals-the-smoke-and-mirrors-behind-one-of-the-rpgs-most-unique-quests-our-cinematic-team-wanted-to-kill-me/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

Helldivers 2 Players Express Frustration On Steam As It Will Soon Require A PSN Account

Developer Arrowhead Game Studios and Sony Interactive Entertainment have announced that Helldivers 2 on Steam will soon require a PlayStation Network account to play. All new players from May 30 will have to link their Steam account to a PSN account, and all current players will have to do so by June 4. 



Up until this point, a PSN account was not required to play Helldivers 2 on PC via Steam, and with the sudden switch-up, players have taken to the game's Steam reviews to express their frustration. Admittedly, the game's rating is still "Very Positive," with roughly 80% of user reviews falling into this category, but that 80% is lower than it has been in the weeks prior. And now, if you look at the game's recent reviews, you'll find plenty of negative ratings over the required PSN account change. 





SIE says due to "technical issues at the launch of Helldivers 2, we allowed the linking requirements for Steam accounts to a PlayStation Network account to be temporarily optional. That grace period will now expire." That expiration begins on May 6 for new players and June 4 for current players. 



While frustration is understood, it's important to note a PlayStation console is not required to create a PSN account – creating one is free and can be done online, no PlayStation 5 required. SIE encourages players to do so ahead of the June 4 change. 



"We understand that while this may be an inconvenience to some of you, this step will help us continue to build a community that you are all proud to be a part of," the announcement reads. 



For more, read about the Democratic Detonation premium Warbond that drops into Helldivers 2 this week, and then read about how the latest Helldivers 2 update increased the level cap, added blizzards and sandstorms, and more. Check out Game Informer's Helldivers 2 review to find out why we think it's a must-play game. 



What do you think about these changes? Let us know in the comments below!


https://www.gameinformer.com/news/2024/05/03/helldivers-2-players-express-frustration-on-steam-as-it-will-soon-require-a-psn?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

Escape From Tarkov Rival Receives First Hotfix Updates Following Early Access Launch

Gray Zone Warfare, a new extraction shooter in the same vein of Escape From Tarkov, has received its first updates following its recent Steam Early Access launch, with two hotfixes looking to address some of the biggest issues players have encountered so far.

Hotfix 1 released the same day as the game's release, and fixed various problems causing server crashes, anti-cheat issues that were preventing players from joining servers, and a bug that caused players to spawn without head, clothes, or the ability to secure containers.

Hotfix 2 released May 2, addressing GPU-related game crashes and adding the ability to wipe characters, after which players are able to go through character creation and choose a faction once again. The wipes are irreversible, developer Madfinger Games warns.Continue Reading at GameSpot


https://www.gamespot.com/articles/escape-from-tarkov-rival-receives-first-hotfix-updates-following-early-access-launch/1100-6523142/?ftag=CAD-01-10abi2f&utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

No Rest For The Wicked Is Brutal And Ambitious, But A Little Confused

With Ori and the Blind Forest and its sequel, developer Moon Studios deconstructed the fundamentals of metroidvania design and honed in on its most alluring aspects. Combined with some of the tightest platforming in the business and an entrancing visual design, the studio's debut IP was a standout hit, leading to heightened anticipation for its next project. Yet, No Rest for the Wicked could not be more different from the enchanting veneer of Ori and the Blind Forest, trading in precise platforming for punishing combat, bright colors for a dark and foreboding medieval world, and tight gameplay for systems that struggle to reign everything in.

No Rest for the Wicked puts you in control of a member of the Cerim, a group of warriors charged with protecting the realm from a plague that turns folks into horrific, almost eldritch creatures. While sailing towards the island of Sacra, your ship is attacked by rebels from the land known as the Risen, leaving you stranded on the gloomy shores and at the doorstep of Sacra's main town, Sanctuary. Many of No Rest for the Wicked's main narrative pieces are moved into view within the first hour of play, setting up a tense scenario where humanity is fighting against a returning plague while an overzealous religious cult is using the ensuing chaos to carve a place for themselves in the future of the kingdom.

It's nothing particularly unique, and you can certainly tell who is presumably going to eventually end up being an antagonist (and who will end up becoming an ally) pretty quickly. But it is easy to forget this when conversing with the many characters you'll come across, especially in Sanctuary. There's a lot of personality in every conversation you have, punctuated by the eye-catching character designs that exaggerate facial and physical features in ways that give No Rest for the Wicked a rather unique look.Continue Reading at GameSpot


https://www.gamespot.com/articles/no-rest-for-the-wicked-is-brutal-and-ambitious-but-a-little-confused/1100-6523135/?ftag=CAD-01-10abi2f&utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

Fallout's Jonathan Nolan Is Up For Writing More Batman Movies

Last month, Jonathan Nolan and his wife and producing partner, Lisa Joy, successfully launched Fallout on Prime Video. Prior to that, the duo co-created Westworld for HBO, and Nolan co-wrote The Dark Knight trilogy with his older brother, Christopher Nolan. It's been 12 years since the Nolan brothers closed out their take on Batman in The Dark Knight Rises, but the younger Nolan is still willing to revisit the iconic hero.

"Wouldn’t that be a dream?" Nolan replied during an interview with the YouTube channel Showsha when asked about a potential Batman return. "That period was 10 years of my life [from] when I got the call to work on Batman Begins, and it was epic. Working with Christian [Bale], Heath [Ledger], Morgan Freeman, Michael Caine, and to honor an American icon. If I had the chance to go back and work on that again? Absolutely."

Batman's cinematic adventures are currently being overseen by writer and director Matt Reeves, who is preparing The Batman – Part II for release on October 2, 2026 and The Penguin spin-off series on Max later this year. Nolan appeared to acknowledge Reeves' work on the franchise while noting that he already has enough work with Fallout alone.Continue Reading at GameSpot


https://www.gamespot.com/articles/fallouts-jonathan-nolan-is-up-for-writing-more-batman-movies/1100-6523134/?ftag=CAD-01-10abi2f&utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

Elden Ring Shadow Of The Erdtree Is "First And Last DLC," No Other Content Planned

Elden Ring - Shadow of the Erdtree--the expansion to FromSoftware's 2022 action-RPG--is coming next month, and it will add a new layer to the story of one of gaming's most-recent smash hits--and GameSpot's 2022 Game Of The Year. Unfortunately for Elden Ring fans, this extra chapter will be the only DLC expansion, as game director Hidetaka Miyazaki confirmed that no other new content will be coming to the game after it.

Per GamesRadar, Miyazaki made the statement while speaking with Chinese outlet Campfire Camp, where he calls Shadow of the Erdtree the "the first and last DLC" and the "only DLC" in multiple instances. However, in the same interview, Miyazaki does not rule out another game set in the Elden Ring world, though he does not confirm one either.

Previously, Bandai Namco has stated that Elden Ring would be made "in a variety of other areas" beside gaming, but no other projects outside of the Shadow Of The Erdtree DLC have been announced. From Software, meanwhile, has since revived a dormant franchise with last year's Armored Core VI: Fires Of Rubicon. No other projects from the studio are known at this time.Continue Reading at GameSpot


https://www.gamespot.com/articles/elden-ring-shadow-of-the-erdtree-is-first-and-last-dlc-no-other-content-planned/1100-6523137/?ftag=CAD-01-10abi2f&utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

Chris Hemsworth really wanted Tom Hardy's role in Mad Max: Fury Road, but he couldn't get an audition

Chris Hemsworth’s road to Mad Mad: Fury Road prequel Furiosa has been a long one. The Marvel star plays Dementus in the new movie alongside Anya Taylor-Joy’s Furiosa, but he originally had his eye on another role: Max Rockatansky himself.

However, in a new interview with Entertainment Weekly, Hemsworth says it came up just as he was finishing work on Australian soap opera Home and Away and he couldn’t get his foot in the door. "[I] couldn't even get a call or a meeting or anything," he told the publication, adding that it was pre-Marvel in 2010 so he felt he "just hadn't done enough to warrant that" meeting.

The role went to Tom Hardy in Fury Road, and Hemsworth moved on to play a certain god of thunder in the Thor and Avengers movies. After he saw Fury Road, he was determined to work with director George Miller though and called his agent. "I was completely absorbed and taken for the adventure and the ride. I said, 'I've got to work with this guy, he's a genius.' And then, the rest is history." 

Furiosa follows a younger version of Charlize Theron’s character in Fury Road as she’s taken from the Green Place of Many Mothers to a biker horde run by Hemsworth’s warlord. As they travel through the Wasteland, Furiosa finds herself at the center of a fight between two tyrants as they encounter Immortan Joe.

As for what Max has been up to during this time, he, alongside the Interceptor, makes a very quick cameo in Furiosa. Miller also told EW that he’s actually crafted a whole story about what he’s up to at this time, which he’d like to adapt. "The writers know what happened to Mad Max in that year before, and we have a whole story of that, which I would like to do sometime if I get the chance," he explained.

Furiosa is released in theaters on May 24. For more on Furiosa, check out our exclusive images from the film and Hemsworth explaining how he got into character. Check out our guide to the best action movies of all time for what else to watch.


https://www.gamesradar.com/chris-hemsworth-mad-max-furiosa-fury-road-role-tom-hardy/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

Batman: Arkham Shadow Announced For Meta Quest 3 This Year

The Batman: Arkham series redefined the superhero genre and changed the course of action games in the decade following Arkham Asylum's release. While four mainline entries – Asylum, City, Origins, and Knight – delivered similar gameplay, a smaller spin-off game, 2016's Batman: Arkham VR, let players step into the shoes of the Caped Crusader using their PlayStation VR, Oculus Rift, or HTC Vive headset. Batman: Arkham VR felt more like a tech demo than a fully fleshed-out game, but its relatively high sales showed that the appetite was there. Today, Oculus Studios announced another VR title set in the Batman: Arkham universe titled Batman: Arkham Shadow.



Though Rocksteady Studios, the developer of Asylum, City, and Knight, was behind Batman: Arkham VR, the developer that most recently released Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League does not appear to be involved with Batman: Arkham Shadow. Instead, Camouflaj, the studio behind République and Iron Man VR, is in charge of Batman: Arkham Shadow. 



Details are scarce, but Camouflaj founder and studio head Ryan Payton penned a letter on behalf of the team, which is posted on the studio's website. "From the start, Batman: Arkham Shadow is being crafted to be the ultimate VR game and take full advantage of the Meta Quest 3," the letter said. "Leaning into our eight years of dedicated VR game development history has enabled us to not only create a distinctly Arkham-feeling game but done in a way that leverages the immersive magic only VR can provide."



"Batman: Arkham Shadow is the largest Camouflaj development project to date and marks our second release as a first party member of Oculus Studios, following 2022's critically-acclaimed release of Marvel's Iron Man VR for Quest 2," the letter later said.



When combined with the key art, the teaser trailer seems to hint at The Ratcatcher being the main villain in this title. Check out the very brief teaser video below.





We can expect a full reveal at Summer Game Fest 2024's livestream, set for June 7 at 2 p.m. PT. Batman: Arkham Shadow is coming exclusively to Meta Quest 3 later this year.


https://www.gameinformer.com/2024/05/01/batman-arkham-shadow-announced-for-meta-quest-3-this-year?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

Funko Fusion Crams Over 20 Universal Franchises Into One Adventure

Funko Pops have become one of the top collectibles in the world while featuring characters from top movies, TV shows, and video games. 10:10 Games, in partnership with Funko, is bringing them to life with the power of over 20 franchises from the NBCUniversal portfolio in Funko Fusion, which launches September 13.

Funko Fusion is a co-op action-adventure game where players will control Funko Pop versions of characters from included franchises, while fighting enemies in scenes taken from the movies and TV shows as well. It will offer both single-player and online co-op multiplayer at launch, so players can choose to fight alone or with friends.How is the Nope monster more terrifying in Lego form?

The debut trailer for Funko Fusion highlights some of the characters and IP that will combine into one big adventure. Starbuck, He-Man, and Shaun Of The Dead are a few examples of those seen in the trailer, along with scenes from Back To The Future, The Thing, and Jurassic Park.Continue Reading at GameSpot


https://www.gamespot.com/articles/funko-fusion-crams-over-20-universal-franchises-into-one-adventure/1100-6523077/?ftag=CAD-01-10abi2f&utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

Helldivers 2 Update Nerfs Some Of Its Best Weapons, But There's A Silver Lining

Helldivers 2's latest balance patch is here, and it's knocked some of Super Earth's favorite weapons down a peg.

Players are lamenting nerfs to popular weapons like the LAS-99 Quasar Cannon, which was only recently introduced and proved to be a bot-destroying powerhouse. Its recharge time has been increased. Meanwhile, the CB-9 Exploding Crossbow now creates smaller explosions and can hold fewer magazines, though it now deals more stagger to enemies.

One of the game's most popular weapons introduced in the Cutting Edge Warbond, the Sickle, has seen the number of magazines it can hold cut in half, from six down to three. Add on the fact that one of the best support Stratagems to help cut hordes of weaker enemies, the AX/AR-23 Guard Dog, has seen its damage reduced by 30%, and the bugs and bots have plenty to celebrate.Continue Reading at GameSpot


https://www.gamespot.com/articles/helldivers-2-update-nerfs-some-of-its-best-weapons-but-theres-a-silver-lining/1100-6523081/?ftag=CAD-01-10abi2f&utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

The Roku Home Screen Is Getting Video Ads

Roku CEO Anthony Wood has revealed the company's plans to introduce video ads to the Roku home screen. This move, discussed during Roku's Q1 2024 earnings call last week, aligns with the broader trend in the streaming industry where ads are becoming more prevalent, raising concerns for some viewers.

During the call, Wood highlighted the intention to display ads to viewers (via Ars Technica) "before they select an app," aiming to ensure ad exposure during TV-viewing sessions. He mentioned the additional ad content that could be coming soon includes the introduction of video ads, similar to the autoplay ads that came to Fire TVs in 2023, which faced criticism for their intrusiveness.

Wood also mentioned ongoing tests for various video ad units, expressing a commitment to maximizing ad opportunities within the Roku OS ecosystem. None of this is exactly expected to thrill viewers, but as Roku devices have the ability to reach 120 million people per day (per The Streamable), Wood explains the expectation that this option is likely to be "very popular with advertisers."Continue Reading at GameSpot


https://www.gamespot.com/articles/the-roku-home-screen-is-getting-video-ads/1100-6523080/?ftag=CAD-01-10abi2f&utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

How Diablo 4's Loot Reborn Update Will Make Its Items, And Players, More Powerful Than Ever

With three seasons under Diablo 4's belt since its launch, it's safe to say a lot has changed for Blizzard's ARPG. But it will be the game's upcoming Season 4 update on May 14, dubbed Loot Reborn, that marks the biggest shift for Diablo 4 yet, completely reworking items--how they drop, their stats, and how they are upgraded.

Across both the game's Eternal and Seasonal realms, items will be fewer in number, with fewer affixes. Many of the game's more confusing, niche, or circumstantial affixes will be removed, resulting in items that will generally be better and more suited towards a player's class and build. Meanwhile, Blizzard is introducing two new ways to improve items, Tempering and Masterworking, which will give players more control over their item progression than ever before. There's even a new, 200-floor endgame dungeon players can fight their way through, all in the name of upgrading their items even further.

We recently chatted with Diablo 4 lead live game designer Colin Finer and lead live class designer Adam Jackson for more insight on these sweeping changes. They shared details on how Blizzard is looking to not only get players back to the fun of killing demons faster but also how the game's itemization changes will result in a more balanced, "better feeling" game.Continue Reading at GameSpot


https://www.gamespot.com/articles/how-diablo-4-loot-reborn-update-will-make-its-items-and-players-more-powerful-than-ever/1100-6523061/?ftag=CAD-01-10abi2f&utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

New Video Game Releases in Week 18 of April 29, 2024

Here’s the list of new video game releases in week 18 of April 29, 2024. The most popular video games released this week include: Endless Ocean: Luminous, Braid: Anniversary Edition, MotoGP 24 & Front Mission 2: Remake. A few new games in this April-May 2024 cross-over week. Remember, often the new video game releases this ...


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The post New Video Game Releases in Week 18 of April 29, 2024 appeared first on Video Games Blogger.


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Manor Lords - Guides Hub

Manor Lords is a medieval city-building and management sim, with a bit of strategy and combat mixed in. As a baron surrounded by a handful of villagers, you find yourself at the crossroads of destiny. Will you lead a prosperous town and expand your domain, or will you be lost in the annals of history? We hope it's the former, so here's our Manor Lords guides hub to help you with your goals.

Manor Lords guides hub



Starter guides



Game setup and difficulty - Find out which settings are great for those who are just starting out.

Beginner's guide - We've got several tips for the long road ahead.Continue Reading at GameSpot


https://www.gamespot.com/articles/manor-lords-guides-hub/1100-6523009/?ftag=CAD-01-10abi2f&utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

Hollow Knight: Silksong May Never Come Out, But At Least This Hornet Figure Is Available Again

Sometimes, it feels like Team Cherry's Hollow Knight: Silksong, the follow-up to the beloved 2017 Souls-like metroidvania Hollow Knight, is never actually coming out. While the game still hasn't materialized, you might stave off your desire for Hollow Knight with a Nendoroid vinyl action figure of Silksong protagonist Hornet. It's currently available on Amazon for right at its $47 price--which is actually a pretty good deal, thanks to the fact that the Hornet figure is constantly selling out and thus often costs much more. See at Amazon

The Hornet vinyl figure is available through Amazon Prime right now, offered by a third-party seller, for $47. It's worth noting that there are only a handful left from this seller and others, so it's likely that this batch won't be available for very long--and that lack of supply might hike the price until more figures become available.Gallery

The figure itself is 7.5 inches tall and weighs about 10 ounces. It also features a number of poses, with the ability to move around Hornet's cloak and its needle weapon, and includes a miniature Cogfly that goes with it.Continue Reading at GameSpot


https://www.gamespot.com/articles/hollow-knight-silksong-may-never-come-out-but-at-least-this-hornet-figure-is-available-again/1100-6523052/?ftag=CAD-01-10abi2f&utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

Hideo Kojima has one big regret with Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker, and it's all about a song he couldn't secure the rights to

Hideo Kojima has one big regret surrounding Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker, and it's all to do with one song. Be warned: story spoilers for Peace Walker follow!

Near the conclusion of the PSP game, The Boss takes control of the Peace Walker AI weapon, and has it effectively commit suicide by drowning itself. The machine, or rather, The Boss, sings the track 'Sing' by Joe Raposo, which was originally written for Sesame Street, but then shot to greater fame when it was covered by The Carpenters. 

It's this moment that Kojima has a lot of regrets about. In the tweet below, the director reveals that another song was originally planned to close out The Boss' section in Peace Walker in the ending segment, but Kojima and Konami couldn't secure the rights to the song itself, even though they went and apparently visited the family that the track belongs to.


If I have one regret about PW, it’s the part when the AI weapon modeled after The Boss's personality sings a song while committing suicide by drowning. At first, I had planned to use a certain famous song that perfectly fit the "peace" and "70's" theme of the game. We kept…
https://t.co/Z1BMJUZj6qApril 29, 2024See more


Instead, Kojima had to use Sing instead, which wasn't his first choice, but is still nonetheless a "great song" according to the director. Kojima doesn't reveal which track was the first choice for The Boss' final scene, but it fit "perfectly" with Peace Walker's themes of "peace" and the 1970s at large. 

Elsewhere, Kojima expands on how Peace Walker came about, since the game celebrated its fourteenth anniversary yesterday. Apparently the game was originally called Metal Gear Solid 5: Peace Walker, until Konami's marketing department "heavily opposed" the idea. We'd have to wait four more years to get the next numbered entry in the Metal Gear Solid series.


14 years since the release of “PW.”I was still in my mid-40s. At the time, many game companies were beginning to shift to developing apps for the phones. After finishing up MGS4, I felt the need for a proprietary game engine. The vertical leap of the game had to be done after the… pic.twitter.com/vZ3fyCfmkdApril 29, 2024See more


"The target age group was lowered to elementary, junior high, and high school students because it was for the PSP. The aim was to discover the younger generation and acquire fans of two generations: the kids and their parents," Kojima adds. 

Read up on our new games 2024 guide for a look over all the games we've got to look forward to, including Kojima's very own Death Stranding 2.


https://www.gamesradar.com/games/third-person-shooter/hideo-kojima-has-one-big-regret-with-metal-gear-solid-peace-walker-and-its-all-about-a-song-he-couldnt-secure-the-rights-to/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

Oppenheimer star Emily Blunt on what her new action movie with Barbie star Ryan Gosling has in common with Barbenheimer

Last year, the world was swept up in the neon pink fever dream that was Barbenheimer – AKA, the unlikely double bill spurred by Barbie and Oppenheimer sharing a release date. 

This year, Oppenheimer star Emily Blunt and Barbie star Ryan Gosling have joined forces for new action-comedy The Fall Guy – coincidentally filmed before Barbenheimer became a phenomenon – and, when we meet the duo in London to talk about the new film, Blunt shares what she thinks The Fall Guy and Barbenheimer have in common. 

"What both of those films did was just to offer people an escape into a new world that seemed really unique," she tells us. "And that was sort of indicative of what we both then realized audiences were looking for, which was that escapism, and that confrontation, or escapism, or romanticism, or humour, or something as challenging as Oppenheimer: people wanted that and ran to that. And so it was one of the most moving summers for me in a big way, not only just so proud to be a part of a film that was doing that, but then [it] kind of persuades you to put your feet to the fire more, and that this is the way to go with making films, is just to keep striving for something unique.

"And everyone on Fall Guy, that's what we tried to do every day, was just try to make something to make people as happy as possible and as entertained as possible," she continues. "And I think that world that we created of things that were off the cuff, chaotic, spontaneous, is maybe what people will like about Fall Guy, I hope."

The Fall Guy sees Gosling play Colt Seavers, a stunt performer who retires from the business after a catastrophic injury. He's then called back to work on a new movie directed by his ex, Jody Moreno (Blunt), because the movie's star (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) has mysteriously vanished – and, without him, the movie can't be completed. 

David Leitch directs, with the rest of the cast including Hannah Waddingham, Winston Duke, and Stephanie Hsu. 

The Fall Guy will be released in cinemas across UK and Ireland from May 2, and in US theaters from May 3. 

For more, check out our guide to this year's most exciting upcoming movie release dates to fill out your watchlist. 


https://www.gamesradar.com/barbenheimer-fall-guy-exclusive/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

Deadpool & Wolverine Director Says Sequel Doesn't Need Any Prior MCU Knowledge

Following the launch of original Marvel series on Disney+ in 2021, there have been more than a few fans complaining about the number of MCU shows to stay on top of, in addition to multiple movies per year. However, there's only one Marvel Studios movie in 2024: Deadpool & Wolverine. And according to director Shawn Levy, you won't need to watch any previous MCU show or movie to enjoy the sequel.

"I was a good student in school," related Levy during an interview with the Associated Press. "I'll do my homework as an adult. But I am definitely not looking to do homework when I go to the movies. I very much made this film with certainly a healthy respect and gratitude towards the rabid fan base that has peak fluency in the mythology and lore of these characters and this world. But I didn't want to presume that. This movie is built for entertainment, with no obligation to come prepared with prior research."

Ironically, the Time Variance Authority from Loki will be used in this film to explain how Ryan Reynolds' Deadpool gets a new mission in the MCU multiverse, as well as the introduction of a previously unseen incarnation of Hugh Jackman's Wolverine. Presumably Levy means that Deadpool & Wolverine will adequately explain the TVA without the need to touch on anything that happened in Loki.Continue Reading at GameSpot


https://www.gamespot.com/articles/deadpool-wolverine-director-says-sequel-doesnt-need-any-prior-mcu-knowledge/1100-6523007/?ftag=CAD-01-10abi2f&utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger