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Quentin Tarantino delivered a candid, anecdote-filled eulogy at a Los Angeles memorial on 2 August for Michael Madsen, the gravel-voiced actor who powered several of his early films.

The director recalled a voicemail Madsen left after Tarantino fired volatile character actor Lawrence Tierney from Reservoir Dogs, praising the young filmmaker as a “captain” who stood up for his crew. Tarantino told attendees the message crystallised a friendship that endured through Kill Bill, The Hateful Eight and other collaborations spread across three decades.

Madsen died on 3 July at his Malibu home from cardiac arrest complicated by cardiomyopathy and chronic alcoholism, according to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s report released two weeks later. He was 67, leaving seven children and a filmography that tops 300 credits.

Guardian archivists note that his breakout as Mr Blonde in Reservoir Dogs set a template for menacing charisma he would revisit in roles from Kill Bill to...

Quentin Tarantino is remembering Michael Madsen, who died on July 3 in his Malibu home. He was 67.

According to TMZ, Tarantino held a closed memorial for Madsen on Friday at his Vista Theatre, during which he recalled a needed moment of support from his frequent collaborator while filming “Reservoir Dogs.”

“It was the last hour of the last day of the first week of shooting. So, I had never directed a movie before,” Tarantino said on stage. “And Lawrence Tierney was a fucking nightmare. He was completely insane. He was so crazy, and I’d never directed before, so I’m dealing with a crazy man Monday through Saturday.”

He continued, “All the other actors and the crew can’t stand him. And all of a sudden, he yells at me or something, does something disrespectful. The other times, he was being disrespectful, but he didn’t quite mean it. This time,...

With Arkane Studios working on it since 2023, fans have been waiting eagerly for Marvel’s Blade to drop anytime in the near future, with many even excited to see how it holds up to the standards set by Insomniac and their collection of Marvel superhero games.

In a recent report from France’s committee of finance that analyzed the operations and budgets of French video game companies, two projects caught the eye of industry followers: Star Wars Eclipse by Quantic Dream and Marvel’s Blade by Arkane Lyon. While the former boasts a reported budget of €100 million, Arkane’s vampire-slaying adventure Blade comes in just under it at €94 million.

Marvel’s Blade May Be Arkane’s Biggest Bet Yet, But It’s Playing in a Different League Marvel’s Blade by Arkane Lyon was announced at The Game Awards 2023 | Arkane Studios

With a reported budget of €94 million, Marvel’s Blade...

Marvel games have always had fans buzzing with anticipation and excitement, even when the results have been… less than heroic. However, despite every hit and miss, these games carry with them an undeniable thrill, as players get to step into the shoes of their favorite hero.

And now, 2027 looks like it’s shaping up to be a dream year for the fans. Both Marvel’s Wolverine and Marvel’s Blade are rumored to be on the same roadmap. When it comes to cool, edgy Marvel heroes, both are right at the top and known for slashing through enemies in their own brutal style.

Marvel’s Wolverine: Insomniac’s Next Big Swing in Superhero Games If 2027 had a tagline, it’d be: “Blood, blades, and badassery” | Image Credit: Insomniac

Marvel’s Wolverine is being handled by none other than Insomniac Games, the studio known for developing the critically acclaimed Spider-Man titles.

Fans are very excited for the arrival of Blade in Marvel Rivals, who is set to join the roster mid-Season 3. The iconic vampire hunter is finally making his return in the world of gaming as a playable character.

However, it’s not just the Marvel Rivals appearance that is making the rounds in the hearts of fans; the daywalker is also set to arrive in the gaming world in a big way with his own title.

Recently, Arkane Studios revealed in their financial statement that the Blade game (in collaboration with Marvel) has entered full production in late 2024. This has increased the anticipation surrounding his return, with fans eager to see what the studio will deliver.

From Movies to Marvel Rivals: Blade’s legacy and a New Chapter

Blade first made his presence known to the world with his cinematic debut in 1998, portrayed by Wesley Snipes. Ever since that movie,...

Michael Madsen has passed away at the age of 67. The long-time actor has appeared in over a hundred films like Reservoir Dogs, dozens of television shows, and some pretty notable video games over the years. Madsen is perhaps best known for his collaborations with filmmakers like Quentin Tarantino. Madsen's final film roles are currently in post-production, including the upcoming Power Rangers riff, Legend of the White Dragon.

THR confirmed Madsen's passing, noting that the cause of death was not immediately available. However, authorities believe Madsen's passing was due to natural causes. In a statement from his managers, Susan Ferris and Ron Smith, and publicist Liz Rodriguez, that was shared on Instagram by NBC LA, the trio reflected on Madsen's recent work.

View this post on InstagramA post shared by Nbcla (@nbcla) Remembering Michael Madsen For His Four-Decade Long Career Michael Madsen Was Best Known For His Tarantino Collaborations, But He...

Actor Michael Madsen, best known for his roles in Kill Bill and Reservoir Dogs, has died at 67 years old.

According to NBC 4 Los Angeles, he was pronounced dead on Thursday morning after being found unresponsive at his Malibu home. In an email, Madsen’s manager, Ron Smith, confirmed he died from cardiac arrest.

“In the last two years Michael Madsen has been doing some incredible work with independent film including upcoming feature films Resurrection Road, Concessions, and Cookbook for Southern Housewives, and was really looking forward to this next chapter in his life,” reads a statement from managers Susan Ferris and Ron Smith and publicist Liz Rodriguez.

“Michael was also preparing to release a new book called Tears for My Father: Outlaw Thoughts and Poems, currently being edited. Michael Madsen was one of Hollywood’s most iconic actors, who will be missed by many.”

Born September 25th, 1957, in Chicago, Illinois,...

Actor Michael Madsen, best known for frequently collaborating with Quentin Tarantino, has passed away. He was 67 years old.

Per NBC Los Angeles, Madsen was found unresponsive on Thursday morning at his Malibu home. Reportedly, a 911 call was placed that morning, and first responders declared the Reservoir Dogs star dead at the scene. The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department stated that foul play is not suspected, and a rep for the actor also told THR that they "understand Michael had a cardiac arrest."

"In the last two years Michael Madsen has been doing some incredible work with independent film including upcoming feature films Resurrection Road, Concessions, and Cookbook for Southern Housewives, and was really looking forward to this next chapter in his life," reads a statement about the actor's death penned by his managers Susan Ferris and Ron Smith, and his publicist, Liz Rodriguez. "Michael was also preparing to release a...

The Square Enix action-adventure video game, "Sleeping Dogs," is not your run-of-the-mill genre offering. The combat is not always weapon-dependent, as the game utilizes a combo-based melee system that allows you to kick, grapple, and evade hordes of enemies. This style of fighting makes sense, as you play as martial artist and undercover cop Wei Shen, whose moves are practiced and controlled to avoid drawing too much attention. When Wei does use a gun, it is in tandem with his martial arts moves, creating a fun, dynamic gun-fu style where the aim is to disarm. As you must have gathered by now, "Sleeping Dogs" promises a wickedly fun time (evoking aspects of the "Grand Theft Auto" series), where quick, on-your-feet thinking molds what kind of fighter Wei Shen will become.

However, what truly sets the game apart is its story. Things kick off after Wei is arrested in Hong Kong,...

Days Gone Remastered arrives on PlayStation 5 as a polished edition of Bend Studio’s open-world survival epic. Players slip into the boots of Deacon St. John, a drifter whose lone motorcycle trek through a decaying Pacific Northwest pits him against human raiders and ravenous “Freakers.” This version sharpens textures, boosts frame rates, and expands DualSense integration—haptic vibrations mirror engine rumbles and raindrops, while adaptive triggers tighten with each weapon cock.

Performance, Quality, and Enhanced modes grant players control over resolution and fluidity, and PS5 Pro elevates those options further. New Game+, Horde Assault, Speedrun, and Permadeath modes layer fresh demands onto familiar terrain, ensuring both veterans and newcomers find fresh reasons to return.

Faster load times collapse the distance between safe houses and sprawling horde ambushes. Exploration feels meaningful—abandoned camps and scattered notes paint a vivid picture of decay and human tenacity. Weapon handling feels tighter, even as...

The Xbox Spring Sale is an annual event that includes games at heavily discounted prices on Aaa titles and other games. The event is already underway, having started on April 17 and will go on till April 30. The Spring Sale is a huge deal among video game fans, offering massive discounts on games that have been waitlisted for months.

This year, Microsoft is giving users an opportunity to save up to 70% on a vast selection of titles on both PC and console games. With a promise of over 1000 games, bundles, and Dlc packs discounted across Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC platforms. It has also been revealed that this year’s sale has made a record with the most games on sale in Xbox history.

The sale features major Aaa titles like Red Dead Redemption 2, Baldur’s Gate 3, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 – Vault Edition, and Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora – Gold Edition.

Remember that steampunk time-bending RPG that had everyone buzzing at Xbox Games Showcase 2023? The one where you could literally change the past and watch the present transform before your eyes?

Yeah, that one. Clockwork Revolution dropped jaws with its Victorian aesthetic and mind-bending premise, then seemingly vanished into the mists of time itself. With Xbox Games Showcase 2025 now officially set for June 8, fans are wondering if inXile’s ambitious project will finally resurface.

The game’s unique blend of Dishonored-style first-person action in a world where time manipulation echoes The Dial of Destiny’s narrative hooks could make it the next must-play Xbox exclusive—if Microsoft decides to put it back in the spotlight.

Where in time is Clockwork Revolution?

Nearly two years have passed since inXile Entertainment unveiled their steampunk time-travel RPG, and the silence has been deafening. This first-person action RPG with its Victorian aesthetic and time-manipulation...

Hayden Hewitt’s Cara unfolds over a tight 96 minutes, first screening to a sold‑out house at London’s Pigeon Shine FrightFest on August 25, 2024, before arriving digitally on February 3, 2025. Set against the grime‑tinged cityscape of contemporary England, the film positions itself at the intersection of kitchen‑sink social drama and relentlessly physical horror.

At its center is Cara, portrayed by Elle O’Hara, a young flatmate earning a precarious living via webcam shows on the sleazy “RedRoomFans” platform. Haunted by childhood abuse and terrified of returning to Sunnyside Hospital, she crafts a brutal plan of revenge that propels the narrative from muted realism into shock‑driven sequences.

The tonal shift—from cramped living‑room conversations to extended practical‑effects violence—echoes both British social‑realist traditions and global genre currents, whether in the stark naturalism of Scandinavian crime cinema or the visceral spectacle of East Asian shock horror.

Within this modern setting,...

It's not every day that a new, game-changing stealth action concept comes along, but Sleight of Hand could be that game in 2025. Developed and published by RiffRaff Games, a new studio out of Wellington, New Zealand, Sleight of Hand is a third-person stealth game with a unique concept and some ambitious goals.

Sleight of Hand was revealed with a trailer during the Xbox Partner Preview back in March 2024, and is scheduled for release sometime in 2025. It'll be available on Xbox Series X/S and PC. Its developers are already comparing it to some of the greatest in the genre, and although it's still a ways away, Sleight of Hand is certainly one to watch.

What Sleight Of Hand Is All About "Metal Gear Solid Meets Dishonored" Sleight Of Hand is Metal Gear Solid meets Dishonored, but with a twist: your deck of cards is your set of powers.Wishlist on...

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle has been an instant success for developer MachineGames, as the Hollywood blockbuster film franchise has been faithfully adapted into an engaging stealth-action adventure. Critics and fans alike have praised it for its stunning visuals, open-ended gameplay, and adoration of the Indiana Jones character. Along with providing the uncommon concept of an original movie-to-game adaptation, The Great Circle may revive a hugely influential video game genre that deserves to come back in 2025 - the immersive simulator, also known as an imsim.

Popularized in the 90s and early 2000s, the imsim prioritizes player agency through gameplay and an array of simulated systems. Video game designer Warren Spector was one of the major figures in creating some of the finest imsims, such as System Shock (which was recently remade into its definitive version), Deus Ex, and Thief: Deadly Shadows. These games allow the player to approach combat,...

You can predict what a person’s reaction will be to Indiana Jones and the Great Circle by what they see as the most iconic image of Indiana Jones from the films. For some, it’s the rugged adventurer stepping into the light in the South American jungle after his whip disarms an attacker. For some, it’s the silhouetted figure at sunset overseeing a dig for the Ark of the Covenant. For others still, it’s the shot of River Phoenix receiving the iconic fedora and transitioning to Harrison Ford defiantly grinning at a common hood before taking a punch. For my part, it’s the moment in Temple of Doom where Indy goes into the Thuggee temple and a mine cart’s light illuminates his bloody, sweaty, and absolutely pissed face.

For that reason, Great Circle felt like something of a strange fit for Machinegames. There was never any doubt,...

Bethesda’s and Todd Howard’s lineup of popular franchises like Fallout, Starfield, and the elusive Elder Scrolls 6 need a lot of focus and resources. But the shadow cast by these titles could block other fan-favorite series’ like Dishonored from ever seeing the light of day.

Image Credit: Arkane Studios

Despite previous rumors of a Dishonored 3, the recent closure of Arkane Austin, the primary studio behind the original games, casts doubt on its release. As Bethesda and its parent company, Microsoft, redirect resources to their more “high-impact” titles, the future of Dishonored looks bleaker than ever.

Todd Howard And Bethesda May Have Forever Doomed Dishonored 3

Bethesda’s ownership by Microsoft hasn’t been without its controversies. Microsoft shut down several studios earlier this year. One of these included Arkane Austin, the developer behind Redfall, a title that was not received well for many reasons.

all this for no dishonored 3 ever https://t.

The News and Documentary Emmy Awards announced their winners on Wednesday, September 25 (news), and Thursday, September 26 (documentary), at the Palladium Times Square in New York City during ceremonies streamed live on the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences dedicated viewing platform powered at watch.theemmys.tv and via the Emmys apps for iOS, tvOS, Android, FireTV, and Roku. Scroll down for the complete list of winners.

“To say that this year has been a tumultuous one would be a sorry understatement. I don’t think I have ever seen a year so challenging and yet so very exciting: a year when the talents of our journalistic and documentary communities have contributed so much to the future of our culture, and to that of our nation,” said Terry O’Reilly, Chairman, NATAS.

“Those who shine a light on inconvenient truths, give voice to the voiceless, or simply report documented facts are...

Gaming has come a long way, and one of the coolest parts of many modern games is how skill trees let you shape and tweak your character just the way you like. Whether it’s through making your character stronger, giving them new powers and abilities, or just letting you customize your playstyle, a good skill tree can totally change how you experience a game.

Some games have really nailed this feature, making it a key part of why they’re so fun and addictive to level up and get skill points that can be invested in these trees. Here’s a look at five of the best skill trees in gaming that really stand out for either their design, their depth, or how they impact the game.

5. Skyrim The skill tree design and visuals are eye-catching. Image via Bethesda

Skyrim is often remembered not just for its engaging and...

Fans are speculating online that Arkane Studios’ upcoming Blade game, initially announced as an Xbox exclusive, might eventually make its way to the PlayStation 5. The discussion heated up after noticing Xbox’s recent shift in its strategy regarding exclusive titles, especially after Gamescom.

While it is still possible that the game could be an Xbox exclusive, the idea that it could also be released on PS5 has gained traction among gamers. This possibility raises questions about whether the game will be a simultaneous launch across both platforms or follow games like Indiana Jones and The Great Circle, which is now a timed exclusive.

Fans Speculate That Arkane’s Blade Game May Not Remain an Xbox Exclusive The game is likely to come out in 2026 or later. Image via Arkane Lyon

Arkane does have a history of releasing multi-platform titles, such as the Dishonored series, Prey, and most recently Deathloop, although...

Things aren’t looking too good for Firewalk Studios with its first game, Concord. This first-person hero shooter had been in development for eight years, and Sony was apparently so impressed by it that it decided to acquire the studio, even before the studio had shipped a single game.

Yet, despite the lengthy development and high hopes, the game’s launch has been nothing short of disastrous. It peaked at just 697 players on Steam, which is ten times less than Redfall’s initial numbers.

Can Concord and Firewalk Studios Survive?

The low player count is particularly troubling given the current state of the hero shooter and live-service market. Games like Overwatch 2 and Fortnite dominate the genre, leaving little room for new games that aren’t unique enough to stand out.

Hopefully they don’t shut down Firewalk and allow more time to invest.

— JonnyNumber1 (@JonnyNumber1) August 23, 2024

Moreover, the live-service model...

Dead Island 2 was the sequel to the acclaimed 2011 title. The game was divisive because players had incredibly varying reactions towards it. However, it wasn’t the only divisive game released recently.

Alone in the Dark was another title that was a hot topic of discussion for gamers, since the video game community is made of individuals who do not usually shy away from letting their impressions of a title known. These five titles had incredible variance in their reception among players and critics.

#5 Dead Island 2

The sequel to the zombie action RPG, Dead Island 2 was a title that was criticized and praised for several reasons. The positives about the game were the lack of bugs, great optimization, and an enjoyable gameplay loop. However, there were some issues with the game’s plot and writing which, one is bound to notice.

RELATEDDead Island 2 Review – Dead On Arrival? (PS5)

Despite its four-year-long...

Batman is easily one of the most iconic and popular superheroes ever, but many fans feel that almost a decade without a proper game based on the character is far too long, after Rocksteady’s acclaimed trilogy ended.

To truly capture the essence of the Dark Knight and make a new type of Batman game, maybe a new studio is best suited to give it a shot. It would take a developer with a unique vision and the ability to bring Gotham City to life in a way that’s both immersive and innovative, and here are five studios that could give the character the game he truly deserves.

Naughty Dog The studio’s talent for creating extremely compelling games could give us something different. Image via Naughty Dog

Naughty Dog has a reputation for delivering deeply emotional and narrative-driven experiences. Their ability to craft complex characters and extremely compelling...

For fans of Dishonored and Prey, it has been some time since there was a game following that award winning formula. However, that could be about to change with the latest news from the man who was the co-creator of these amazing titles.

Working with the independent development team Wolfeye Studios, of which he is President, Raphael Colantonio today announces that the studio has just wrapped on pre-production for an exciting new first-person RPG and it’s now full throttle on production for this title.

The Much Anticipated Follow Up To Dishonored and Prey

As per the press release from Wolfeye Studios, the first details of the new project in development have been revealed and the official announcement follows a tease which occurred at the 2024 Game Developers Conference. Sharing an image of a whiteboard in their Austin office, most notable with the words ‘First-Person‘ and ‘Retro Sci-Fi‘.

This tease in...

The News and Documentary Emmy Awards announced their nominations on Thursday, July 25. Winners will be presented live on September 25 (7:30pm Eastern) and September 26 (7:30pm Eastern) at the Palladium Times Square in New York City during ceremonies that will be streamed live on the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences dedicated viewing platform powered by Vimeo, available at watch.theemmys.tv and via the Emmys apps for iOS, tvOS, Android, FireTV, and Roku. Scroll down for the complete list of nominations.

NATAS president and CEO Adam Sharp said in a statement, “We are honored to highlight the accomplishments and hard work of these exceptional journalists and documentarians. NATAS is proud to celebrate their dedication and creativity under increasing and ever-changing pressures.”

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Outstanding Live News Program

The CBS Evening News with Norah O’Donnell

CBS

ABC News Live Prime with...

The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences is out with the nominations for its 45th News & Documentary Emmy Awards, which will be handed out in the fall. See the full list below.

The 65 categories cover programming content that premiered during calendar 2023.

The winners will pick up their hardware other two nights at the Palladium Times Square in New York City: September 25 (news) and September 26 (documentary). Both will be presented live on NATAS’ dedicated viewing platform and streaming at watch.theemmys.tv and Emmy apps starting at 7:30 p.m. Et/4: 30 p.m. Pt.

“We are honored to highlight the accomplishments and hard work of these exceptional journalists and documentarians,” NATAS President and CEO Adam Sharp said in a statement. “NATAS is proud to celebrate their dedication and creativity under increasing and ever-changing pressures.”

Here are the nominees for the 45th News & Documentary Emmy Awards:

Outstanding Live News Program

The...

When a game claims record-high player numbers on Xbox Game Pass, gamers usually expect titles like Fallout or The Elder Scrolls to be the ones breaking records. So, imagine the surprise when Arkane Studios’ Redfall was touted as achieving this milestone on Xbox Game Pass.

A Lead Server Engineer at Arkane Studios made bold assertions regarding their game over a post. This was shared on a social media platform causing disbelief across the gaming community.

Could Redfall be the dark horse of Bethesda’s lineup?

“Technically” Speaking Gamers question “dubious” Redfall claims. | Image credits: Bethesda Softworks

The Lead Server Engineer detailed significant advancements in Redfall’s server architecture. The post outlined the use of Microsoft Azure for scalable hosting, service containerization to streamline server release management, and decentralized game-instance hosting to ensure responsive gameplay across global regions.

Suggested“No respect at all. Execs living in a bubble”: Redfall’s...

Xbox will seemingly be making a huge comeback at Gamescom 2024. This is the largest gaming event fans have ever seen and is actually a trade fair for video games, where developers exhibit upcoming games, game-related news, updates, and hardware.

The hype was already there, but after some promising words from Microsoft’s long-hailed console company, the hype has reached a whole new level.

Xbox Will Attend Gamescom 2024 with the “Biggest Booth Yet”

This year’s Xbox booth at the highly anticipated event is going to be the biggest so far for the company.

Unlike PlayStation and Nintendo, Microsoft’s console company will be present at Gamescom 2024. Not only that, the official X handle of the console company has claimed that this year it will be their “biggest booth ever” at the event, which will be held from August 21–25.

The Xbox team is heading Back to @gamescom

Visit us at our...

When people first heard of Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, fans of the intrepid explorer were sold right from the word go. Not only is it a big deal for fans of the movies, but even gamers who enjoy the likes of Uncharted and Tomb Raider would be awaiting the release of this title.

Developed by MachineGames, now owned by Microsoft, the game is going to be an Xbox exclusive and likely look to rival the Uncharted fan base on PlayStation. The title got a shiny cinematic trailer a few days ago at the platform’s Showcase, but the radio silence since is worrying fans.

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle Absent from the Upcoming Gamescom Panel People are searching for any information on Indiana Jones and the Great Circle.

The more a game is shown off at exhibitions and panels, the more likely it is that fans will...

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle are on the cards right now. As per the January 2024 Xbox Developer Direct, the game will be released somewhere later in 2024. Despite the fact that there is no confirmed release date yet from Bethesda, there have been regular sneak peeks for the company.

Bethesda has recently shared gameplay footage for the upcoming title. The Great Circle is a stealth game-play-based title. And seeing the gameplay footage, three of the most popular titles in this genre are popping into our minds.

Bethesda Shared New Gameplay Footage of Indiana Jones and the Great Circle

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle gets a new gameplay video.

When talking about stealth, we can never go past three of the best names in this genre: Dishonored, Wolfenstein, and Metal Gear Solid. Seeing the recent gameplay footage, Great Circle looks as if these three popular titles have a baby together.

In the last few weeks, we’ve witnessed Microsoft taking drastic measures and shutting down Hi-Rush studio Tango Gameworks, Redfall creator Arakne, and the two other studios. The tech giant believes that Xbox as a brand needs “small games” to garner its old prestige and get ahead of the competition. With the shutting down of such major studios, we thought we’d see further layoffs and reorganization of studios under Microsoft.

However, in a shocking move, Xbox and Activision have announced a new studio called Elsewhere Entertainment. While the brand-new studio features industry vets who’ve worked on successful games such as The Witcher and The Last of Us, many people in the community can’t believe Microsoft is closing well-established studios to open new ones.

Activision’s New Studio For Developed Narrative-Based Aaa Games Activision’s brand new studio Elsewhere Entertainment. | Activision

Activision has announced a new internal studio,...

We got our first look at Assassin’s Creed Shadows yesterday, and it’s safe to say that the hype is building. While it’s always wise to temper expectations, the cinematic trailer gave us a look at not only the two characters but also their relationship and motives in the game.

Even though it’s a cinematic rendition, we got a glimpse at both characters in combat scenarios as well. Naoe and Yasuke are both adept fighters, but one prefers stealth while the other charges forward with his strength. For stealth, the game has borrowed some mechanics from a fan-favorite franchise.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows Allows Players to Work with the Light Assassin’s Creed Shadows lives up to its name through its mechanics.

One of the Creed’s sayings goes, “We work in the dark to serve the light.” The very same quote was delivered by both Naoe...

Love it or hate it, Fallout 4 is one of the biggest entries in the series. The latest game in the franchise not only showed how expansive the world of Fallout could become but also helped to showcase a new system that made playing the game that much more fun.

When developers take the initiative to develop unique gameplay mechanics, it creates ripples that affect everyone within the space. So, let’s take a look at five unique systems introduced by games that elevated the titles to the next level.

5. Fallout 4 – Legendary Spawns Running into a Legendary Deathclaw randomly in Fallout 4 would keep anyone on their toes.

Walking and fighting your way through the wasteland can be fun for a while, but it can also get boring soon. While exploring new locations is always fun, the element of surprise is greatly reduced when you know what to expect. That’s where...

Microsoft and Xbox Gaming CEO Phil Spencer found an ally in Mike Ybarra, as the former Activision Blizzard President released a lengthy post on X to defend him regarding the ongoing controversy at Xbox. However, the reactions to the post suggest that fans are far from satisfied with the pointless advice that Mike Ybarra is peddling.

Previously, Tango Gameworks of Hi-Fi Rush fame and Arkane Austin of Dishonored fame were two of the many game development studios that were shut down. Microsoft Gaming previously acquired these studios for ‘bolstering their game development process’.

With many people left jobless by these ruthless cuts, fans demand reasoning from Phil Spencer, and by the looks of it, neither the Xbox CEO nor Sarah Bond, President of Xbox, have anything to say of value.

Mike Ybarra’s Ill-Fated Attempt at Defending Phil Spencer Mike Ybarra tried to defend Phil Spencer, but in vain.

Mike Ybarra,...

Xbox caught a storm of flak from the games industry over a very recent wave of studio closures, as it shuttered four Bethesda studios, with Tango Gameworks and Arkane Austin being particularly harsh blows.

While Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer has yet to make a public statement about the closures, a 2023 quote from the executive makes them all the more hypocritical, leading to him receiving a fair amount of ridicule on social media.

Phil Spencer Says He Wants Quality Games, But Does He?

Xbox’s mission is to produce quality games, yet it still shut down Tango, which made its best game in recent years.

Speaking with The Guardian, Spencer emphasized the importance of producing high-quality first-party games:

Quality games is critically important to our strategy. So it’s not that Starfield getting at 11 out of 10 isn’t our goal – although, that’s a silly way of putting it. I...

In the wake of Microsoft’s decision to close Arkane Austin, the co-director of Redfall, Harvey Smith, has written about the studio’s achievements.

Yesterday (7th May), Microsoft announced that it’s to close several studios under its control, including Tango Gameworks, makers of The Evil Within and the joyous Hi-Fi Rush, and Arkane Austin, a developer whose work includes Dishonored, Prey and last year’s Redfall.

Evidently still processing the decision, Harvey Smith, the co-director of Redfall, has taken to Twitter to write a lengthy post on the studio’s history and achievements. It places a movingly human angle on a cold business decision – and emphasises just how sudden the announcement was.

“Yesterday, as we packed up and reassured one another,” Smith wrote, “I spent time with people who were part of crafting Redfall, Dishonored 1, and Prey, yes, but prior to that Deus Ex, Ultima, and countless other...

Xbox’s strategy for the ongoing generation seems pretty clear: take two steps forward, jump ten steps back. From the lack of exclusive titles, bringing the few that remain onto its direct competitor, presenting plans of going completely digital, to causing a lot of confusion among its supporters, most have no idea what’s in store for the company’s future.

However, it seems as though Xbox hasn’t had enough of dragging itself through the mud, as right after dissolving 4 of its most prominent studios, including Arkane and Tango Gameworks, the company proceeds to announce a fire-red variant of its controller. Talk about being tone-deaf.

The Poor Studios at Xbox Are the Real Targets of “Feel the Burn” Xbox’s latest announcement is either a PR move or just bad timing.

Not even a day has passed since Microsoft decided to torch 4 of its biggest studios, and it is...

The gaming industry is going through a very tough time. News of layoffs and studio closures are getting far too common, with reports of Take-Two shutting down Rollerdrome developer Roll7 going public just a few days ago, and Deliver Us Mars developer KeokeN also laying off its entire team.

Now, it’s been devastatingly discovered that Xbox has shuttered four studios under the Bethesda umbrella, with one of them having delivered arguably the best Xbox game in recent years.

Hi-Fi Rush Developer Tango Gameworks Closed By Xbox

Tango’s delightful rhythm brawler will never be continued, and that’s a certifiable disappointment.

IGN first reported on the news, as they received a copy of an official email that announced Xbox will be closing down Arkane Austin, Tango Gameworks, Alpha Dog, and Roundhouse Games. The platform holder acquired these studios as part of the $7.5B Zenimax acquisition in 2021.

SUGGESTEDHi-Fi Rush Review...

Popular Voice Actor Rhiannon Moushall, who has voiced for Rise of the Ronin, called out former Blizzard Entertainment Team Lead for World of Warcraft, Mark Kern, for posting an offensive post on X. Kern posted a collage featuring female characters from several games, with a message stating that beautiful women are marginalized and unrepresented.

Moushall quote-posted, pointing out that the post sounded gross and weird. Moushall also pointed out that the collage contained a picture of an underage character. The collage itself wasn’t originally made by Kern either, as the same collage was earlier featured in a Reddit post around three years ago.

Former World of Warcraft Team Lead Mark Kern Under Fire for Offensive Post

Former World of Warcraft Lead Mark Kern’s post on X was found highly offensive by those who follow him.

Mark Kern, who’s known for his work with World of Warcraft at Blizzard Entertainment,...

Weeks after its release, live-service videogame Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League has “fallen short” of Warner Bros’ expectations, one executive has said.

After years in development and multiple delays, Rocksteady’s much-anticipated Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League finally emerged on the 2nd February. A multiplayer action game with a cracking pedigree behind it – Rocksteady being the studio behind the Batman: Arkham series – it cast players as DC Comics’ famous anti-heroes, with Captain Boomerang, Deadshot, King Shark and Harley Quinn available to choose from, while dozens of other familiar faces pop up as NPCs.

Reviews have been middling, however, and the game’s slow sales have been confirmed by Warner Bros Discovery’s chief financial officer, Gunnar Wiedenfels. Talking on an earnings call with shareholders (via IGN), Wiedenfalls admitted that Suicide Squad had “fallen short of our expectations,” and added that it was going to be a “tough year...

Bethesda Softworks and Marvel Games have announced that they’re teaming up with Arkane Lyon – the company behind Deathloop and the Dishonored series – to create a “mature, single-player, third-person” video game based on the Marvel Comics hero Blade! The game is, fittingly, called Marvel’s Blade – and an announcement video can be seen in the embed above, setting up the idea and giving a glimpse at what the Blade character might be like in the game.

Bethesda notes that Arkane Lyon has just started development on the game, which will feature an original story with the studio’s signature immersive gameplay and world-class narrative. Marvel’s Blade game will take players to a quarantined section of Paris in the middle of a supernatural emergency. Vampires have emerged, terrorizing the city of lights and forcing Parisians to shelter inside their homes at night to wait for sunrise.

Bill Rosemann, VP and Creative Director of Marvel Games,...

Among the myriad reasons we could call the Criterion Channel the single greatest streaming service is its leveling of cinematic snobbery. Where a new World Cinema Project restoration plays, so too does Tales from the Crypt: Demon Knight. I think about this looking at November’s lineup and being happiest about two new additions: a nine-film Robert Bresson retro including L’argent and The Devil, Probably; and a one-film Hype Williams retro including Belly and only Belly, but bringing as a bonus the direct-to-video Belly 2: Millionaire Boyz Club. Until recently such curation seemed impossible.

November will also feature a 20-film noir series boasting the obvious and the not. Maybe the single tightest collection is “Women of the West,” with Johnny Guitar and The Beguiled and Rancho Notorious and The Furies only half of it. Lynch/Oz, Irradiated, and My Two Voices make streaming premieres; Drylongso gets a Criterion Edition; and joining...

Marvel's Spider-Man 2 addresses the disappointing gameplay of Mary Jane segments in the original game by giving her more agency and the ability to attack enemies, increasing participation and variety. The game takes inspiration from successful stealth games when redesigning Mary Jane's segments, incorporating interactivity and strategies to avoid detection. Mary Jane's gameplay doesn't overstay its welcome and is balanced with the narratives of Peter and Miles, providing engaging encounters without overshadowing the main protagonists. Her role in the game also expands her character beyond being just a love interest.

Playing as Mary Jane Watson made for some of the most disappointing segments of the original Marvel's Spider-Man, but the sequel Marvel's Spider-Man 2 makes some big changes to address the common complaints. Following more than one perspective in a video game can often be valuable and interesting, even if its taking time away from something as fundamentally enjoyable as playing as Spider-Man himself.

The latest Assassin’s Creed game, Mirage, will satisfy those who like annualized content from a 15-year-old franchise. More specifically, the game, which has been billed as “a love letter to the first titles in this series,” is for fans who disliked the series’s RPG-ish evolution in Assassin’s Creed Origins. The gameplay essentially resets to how it was in Syndicate, and Mirage, which is set against the backdrop of 9th-century Baghdad, is a throwback to the original Assassin’s Creed, which took us to various regions of the Holy Land during the Third Crusade. The game even leans into the original’s bluish filter as a nostalgic visual option.

Mirage begins and ends in search of a proper story. It’s a prequel to Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, and those who played that game already know more about protagonist Basim Ibn Ishaq than Mirage tells you. But even if you haven’t,...

What is the point of a video game expansion? Too often, the point is to make some extra money without having to make an entirely new game. That’s not necessarily a sin, but the worst video game Dlc expansions too often showcase the worst of gaming. Yet, the best video game Dlc expansions show all the things that concept should be.

The best Dlc expansions do more than give us an excuse to dive back into the games we already own. They revive, reinvigorate, and, in some cases, even redeem their base experiences. We all benefit from learning from our best and worst moments. Well, that’s also what the greatest expansions do. They benefit from the knowledge of seeing what came before and realizing how much more there still is to do.

Before we talk about the greatest video game Dlc expansions, though, please note that this list...

For nearly 30 years, Bethesda has been pushing the limits of the RPG genre. Though Bethesda has developed and produced a number of great games across numerous genres, their name will always be synonymous with titles like The Elder Scrolls and Fallout. Now that the studio has unleashed its latest RPG epic, Starfield, on the world, we thought this would be the perfect time to take a look back at the company’s history of blockbuster RPG experiences and try to determine which is the very best.

Before we dive into that, though, here are a few rules and pieces of selection criteria I used to assemble this list:

– This list largely focuses on RPGs developed by Bethesda (Bethesda Softworks/Bethesda Game Studios) rather than RPGs published by Bethesda. While that represents the bulk of the studio’s RPG output, titles like Pirates of the Caribbean and pseudo-RPGs like Dishonored, Prey,...

Sci-fi video games like Dishonored, Control, and Stray have the potential to make visually stunning and gripping movie adaptations if handled correctly. The success of HBO's The Last Of Us has proven that video game adaptations can please fans when given attention to detail. Games like Fallout: New Vegas, Alien: Isolation, and Mass Effect offer strong stories and beloved characters that would attract audiences, making them ideal choices for film adaptations.

Upon playing them, it becomes clear that certain sci-fi video games would make amazing movies. Video game adaptations have proven to be troublesome for the film and TV industry. The TV adaptation of Halo is a great example of the problem. While it was received well enough to be greenlit for a second season, the Halo adaptation garnered backlash from video game fans for its changes and unfavorable expansion of the world.

Despite the struggles of recent video game...

For their last two major releases, German-based development studio Mimimi Games have refined their approach to top-down stealth tactics, where you command small squads of colorful characters through heavily guarded outposts. Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun unfolded in feudal Japan, and Desperados III was a western. Mimimi’s latest, Shadow Gambit: The Cursed Crew, transplants the studio’s winning formula to a ghostly version of the Golden Age of Piracy, where undead called the Cursed roam the high seas.

As Afia Manicato, an ambitious pirate who sheathes her sword through the hole in her chest, you board a now-captainless pirate ship called the Red Marley and reassemble its infamous undead crew, following clues to the former captain’s mysterious treasure while running afoul of religious zealots called the Inquisition of the Burning Maiden. The resulting tone is even more fantastical and cartoonish than that of Mimimi’s previous games,...

The PS5’s life cycle so far has been unique, to say the least. The console launched to much acclaim back in November 2020, and yet it still feels like we’re still in a transitional phase into the new console generation. Due to manufacturing simply not being able to keep pace with the console’s stupid-high demand, many of the premier games on the system have been released as cross-gen titles to compensate for the PS5’s initially low install base.

Despite these hurdles, the PS5 has quietly amassed a superb library of games in its first three years that offer a little something for everyone. From the sweeping, cinematic epics put forth by PlayStation’s first-party studios, to some wildly creative indie gems that captured the imaginations of the gaming community from out of nowhere, the PS5 catalog is shaping up quite nicely as it enters the next phase of its tenure.

July seems like the month of Microsoft. The company recently won a huge legal battle over the FTC and signed a binding agreement to keep Call of Duty on PlayStation for the next 10 years, which essentially removes one of the biggest hurdles that has prevented Xbox from acquiring Activision Blizzard. But Phil Spencer giveth, Phil Spencer taketh away, as Microsoft is officially ending the Xbox Live Gold and Xbox Games With Gold programs. However, the replacement is arguably superior.

This week, Xbox announced the latest addition to its Xbox Game Pass subscription lineup: Xbox Game Pass Core. This new tier of the service takes a page out of the PlayStation Plus playbook by merging the Xbox multiplayer service with its Netflix-like Game Pass. For $9.99 a month (or $60 a year) gamers can play online multiplayer titles on Xbox, receive special membership deals and discounts, and access a monthly library of complimentary games.