Marvel’s Wolverine developer Insomniac Games won’t acknowledge whether or not the game will drop this year. Insomniac Games has become one of the most well-respected video game developers in the last decade. On top of steadily building themselves up as a reliable developer throughout the PS2 and PS3 era with games like Ratchet and Clank, Insomniac really made a name for itself in 2018 with Marvel’s Spider-Man. The developer brought a level of prestige to a character that had largely been relegated to tie-in games or titles released on short development cycles while Batman was allowed to boom in the Arkham series. Insomniac managed to essentially give Spider-Man the Arkham treatment and now, it’s doing the same for Wolverine.

After three successful cracks at Spider-Man across the PS4 and PS5, Insomniac Games’ next big project will be Marvel’s Wolverine. Insomniac Games earned Marvel’s trust with Spider-Man and was allowed the opportunity to make a Wolverine game, something that hasn’t happened since X-Men Origins: Wolverine in 2009. Many were immediately excited at the prospect of the game and Insomniac even confirmed that it was aiming for a mature tone with Marvel’s Wolverine, suggesting it would have an M-rating like the beloved aforementioned 2009 game. Fans want to see Wolverine slashing people up, cutting off limbs and spraying blood, and it seems like Insomniac will deliver on that. However, word around the game has been quiet since its 2021 reveal.

Marvel’s Wolverine Developer Won’t Share New Details

It’s not unusual for Insomniac to reveal a game and then go silent for a while, but it has been four years without a new trailer or screenshot. There was some leaked Marvel’s Wolverine gameplay that really put things into perspective for fans, but officially speaking, Insomniac Games has been hush hush. With that said, Insomniac Games is undergoing some big changes as its CEO Ted Price will retire in March. During an interview with Variety, Insomniac Games co-head Chad Dezern was asked about whether Marvel’s Wolverine will finally release in 2025, but he wouldn’t confirm or deny anything.

“We’ve announced ‘Wolverine,’ and we’d love to talk more about ‘Wolverine,’ but we have to be like Logan today, and remain very stoic until it’s time to pop the claws down the road. As much as we’re as much as we have pent up excitement, we got to hold on to it. So that’s, that’s about as much as we could say about our upcoming projects today.”

Marvel’s Wolverine underwent a surprising change late last year as its director abruptly left the project to go work on Xbox’s Perfect Dark reboot. It’s not common for a director of a game to leave in the middle of a project, maybe at the end, but rarely in the thick of things. Some have feared this could result in a change of direction for the project that could cause setbacks, but Insomniac and PlayStation remain tight-lipped. Leaks indicate that Marvel’s Wolverine is planned for a 2026 release date, so maybe PlayStation and Insomniac will start showing more of the game later this year, but it really remains to be seen.

Nevertheless, it seems like Insomniac Games announced Marvel’s Wolverine way too early. While sometimes big projects like this are announced to drive recruitment to the studio, it’s hard to imagine the studio was having troubles finding people to come work on Spider-Man. Even if the studio wanted to be vague, it could’ve said it was working on new Marvel projects and it wouldn’t have raised too many eyebrows. Ultimately, it seems like fans will have to keep waiting for Marvel’s Wolverine. Outside of the leaked gameplay, all we have is a pre-rendered trailer from September 2021 that only shows Wolverine’s back and his claws… and that may be all we get for quite some time.

The post Marvel’s Wolverine Developer Refuses to Address 2025 Release Rumors appeared first on ComicBook.com.

It’s no secret that Pokemon Scarlet and Violet had its fair share of issues, leaving many fans disappointed. In fact, the poor reception of the game may be part of why The Pokemon Company decided to keep its next main series game, Pokemon Legends: Z-A, in the oven a little bit longer. With a greater delay comes greater responsibility, and I’m hopeful we’ll see that delay pay off in the final product – a better game that actually functions from the start.

However, there are plenty of pitfalls Pokemon Legends: Z-A could fall into no matter how long they take making it. Here’s hoping the game doesn’t repeat these past Pokemon game mistakes.

Glitchy Gameplay and Frame Rate Nightmares – The Scarlet and Violet Mistake

This one is almost a given, but with the year gap between releases giving more time for the developers to work on Pokemon Legends: Z-A, it needs to run well. Pokemon Scarlet and Violet launched with massive glitches such as players falling through the ground and getting stuck. The frame rate also struggled, leading to stuttering and the overall impression that the game launched before it was ready. That means many fans, myself included, are hoping The Pokemon Company learns from its mistakes on this front.

While I mostly enjoyed Scarlet and Violet thanks to the more robust story and ability to work through different areas at your own pace, the glitches certainly took away from what could’ve been a truly great game. Pokemon Legends: Z-A needs to do a lot better to bring Pokemon fans something to make them love the games again.

Lazy Remake Syndrome – The BDSP Mistake

While Legends: Z-A isn’t exactly a remake, it is a return to a familiar region. Set in Pokemon X and Y’s Lumiose City, the game will likely have shades of the never-released Pokemon Z about it. It’s also the second Legends-style game, which means the developers could be hoping to set some patterns for what makes a Legends game different from the mainline Pokemon series, leading to ideas from Pokemon Legends: Arceus being borrowed.

As a result, it’s possible the game could suffer from what made so many people hate Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl. Namely, these remakes didn’t really improve upon the original games, and in many cases, took steps backward. Heading back to Lumiose City could mean a lack of interesting new story and lore, and returning to the Legends: Arceus format might mean leaning too much into similar gameplay to the detriment of the new entry. Here’s hoping Pokemon Legends: Z-A is able to avoid remake syndrome and pave its own path.

Missing Battles – The Legends: Arceus Mistake

Speaking of what makes a Legends-style game, one primary complaint about Legends: Arceus is that you don’t really get to participate in many Pokemon battles. Personally, I find that battling trainers can get a little repetitive after a while, but even I found it odd that you only really battle a handful of times. Sure, there’s the option to battle wild Pokemon, and you’ve got the Noble Pokemon boss battles, but trainer battles are few and far in between.

Given that Legends: Z-A will likely be set entirely in Lumiose City, it’s poised to make this mistake. After all, how many trainers can there be in one city? Hopefully, the developers will find a way to infuse trainer battles throughout the story of Lumiose City, giving trainers a chance to test their teams. We still haven’t seen much of anything in the way of actual gameplay, so it’s highly possible some kind of tournament or other setup will allow for more Pokemon battles… at least, we can hope.

Poor Story Pacing – The Sword and Shield Mistake

I’ll fully admit I’m just now going back to play Pokemon Sword, as I missed it the first time around. Yet even early on, the story problems in this game are pretty obvious. Aside from a few hints at something bigger, the story basically doesn’t exist for much of the early gameplay. One thing I liked about Scarlet and Violet was that it had more than just one “beat Team X” type of storyline. That’s missing in Pokemon Sword as the main conflict doesn’t emerge until later in the game. This leaves the beginning a bit dull and repetitive as you mostly just hear Hop talk about his dreams over and over. With this in mind, I really want to see future main series games like Pokemon Legends: Z-A stick the landing when it comes to having a more robust storyline like Pokemon Scarlet and Violet.

If The Pokemon Company and Game Freak can avoid these past Pokemon game mistakes, there’s a chance that the extra time working on Pokemon Legends: Z-A could deliver something truly exciting for Pokemon fans that will be worth the wait.

The post I Hope Pokemon Legends Z-A Doesn’t Repeat These Past Mistakes appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Looks like the Crash is out of the bag. Ahead of the Xbox Developer Direct 2025, which will feature games such as Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, DOOM: The Dark Ages, South of Midnight, and a top-secret title, players will also get a glimpse of the next batch of games heading to Xbox Game Pass in February. However, fans won’t have to wait much longer to discover the titles, as three titles have been leaked. The games that are rumored to be coming to the service include a timeless classic platformer, a free-to-play shooter, and a recent EA Sports title.

According to an Insider Gaming article from eXtas1s, who is a very reliable leaker, EA Sports’ Madden NFL 25, Toys For Bob’s Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time, and Blizzard Entertainment’s Heroes of The Storm will be revealed at the Xbox Developer Direct. The titles mentioned above could be the only ones announced at the event, but there could be more added to the subscription service. The lineup here is pretty stacked, given that these titles are pretty popular amongst fans.

Crash Bandicoot 4, Madden NFL 25, Heroes of The Storm Will Debut in February on Xbox Game Pass

RELATED: Crash Bandicoot Developer Teases New Game

Madden NFL 25 is an EA Sports title released last August for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. The latest football game in the Madden franchise received average reviews from fans and critics, with many citing the on-field gameplay as a highlight. The Madden series has been going strong for decades, and with the game coming to Xbox Game Pass just in time for the Super Bowl LIX, fans will be able to play their favorite football players once again.

Toys For Bob and Activision’s Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time will finally make its way to Xbox Game Pass in February. First released in 2020 for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and PC, the title will bring the lovable creature for free to Game Pass subscribers. The platformer series was exclusive to Sony’s PlayStation consoles but expanded to various consoles through multiple developers. With over 23 titles in the series, including spin-offs, Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time brought back the platformer after almost a decade of silence, which was met with positive reviews from critics and longtime players.

The next title comes from Blizzard Entertainment, which will bring back heroes to the forefront of the free-to-play realm. Move over Marvel Rivals, 2015’s Heroes of The Storm is coming back. Released almost a decade ago, the battle arena shooter features 90 characters from Blizzard’s notable franchises like Starcraft, Diablo, Overwatch, and Warcraft. The title received positive reviews from critics and fans with many citing it to be a solid MOBA, as well as bringing engaging gameplay and heroes to the genre.

While we can add a pinch more salt to these rumors, given the source, we won’t be sure until tomorrow’s Xbox Developer Direct. For now, we have to be patient, so give it time.

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A new leak tied to Nintendo’s The Legend of Zelda franchise has indicated that a remake or a remaster of a previous Zelda game could arrive in 2025. Over the past few years, numerous reports and rumors have indicated that Nintendo has developed ports of The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker and The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess for Nintendo Switch. Despite this, Nintendo has yet to reveal these Zelda games for Switch, which has led many to wonder if they actually exist. Now, based on a new leak that has come about, it seems that hope for these remasters is alive once again.

Spotted on the website of electronics retailer Newegg, it was said that a remake or remaster of a past Zelda game is set to release at some point this year. Mention of this was found in a description for a Nintendo eShop gift card, which happened to outline Nintendo games slated to arrive in 2025. In addition to Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition, and Pokemon Legends: Z-A, Newegg also happened to list “a Legend of Zelda Remake/Remaster”.

Not long after this discovery was made by Nintendo fans, those at Newegg altered the description to remove this Zelda game in question. Still, it being listed in the first place suggests that Newegg could have spilled the beans on an announcement that Nintendo has yet to make. Then again, it could have been completely accidental and was only done by someone trying to guess which Nintendo games will be released in 2025.

Related: Does the Zelda Timeline Actually Matter?

If a remake or remaster of a Zelda game from yesteryear is on the way, though, it would actually make a fair amount of sense given Nintendo’s upcoming slate. Currently, Nintendo has new first-party games lined up to release on the Switch through March of this year. Given that the Nintendo Switch 2 seems poised to launch in June at the earliest, this would mean that Nintendo would have a couple of months between March and June to continue supporting the current Switch. Bringing older Zelda games to Switch would be a great way to bridge the gap to the arrival of the Switch 2, especially if the rumored ports of Wind Waker and Twilight Princess are truly already finished and ready to release.

Assuming that this is indeed the plan that Nintendo is moving forward with, we should hear more about it in an official capacity shortly. Credible reports have claimed that a new Nintendo Direct should be happening at some point in February 2025 and will center around games releasing for Switch. If this February Direct does indeed happen in the coming weeks, that would almost certainly be where these much-rumored Zelda games would finally show up.

The post Legend of Zelda Leak Teases New Remake That Will Release Soon appeared first on ComicBook.com.

The Build 42 beta is reigniting the passion of many gamers to give Project Zomboid another spin. The beta already has tons of new features representing all the hard work the developers have put into the game. Sadly, the multiplayer will not be available with the beta, but solo survivors can get an early start into Build 42.

Players have their hands full of new features to tide them over until the developers add multiplayer and officially release Build 42. New features include a new crafting system, new animations, gunplay, tweaked zombie spawns, player voice lines, wild animals, and much more.

Here are the best ones you can check out so far:

New Animations & Corpse Disposal

Not every action in Project Zomboid has an animation, but this update will change that. Seated animations are now finally part of the vanilla game and no longer need a mod to integrate.

Moving corpses have been reworked to remain realistic, no longer requiring players to stuff a rotting corpse into their inventory. Corpses can now be dragged by the action button near a corpse. Moving corpses is now advisable as the stench they give off causes discomfort as seen in zombie TV shows.

Animal Husbandry

Managing animals can be hard work, but it appears that lots of players are reporting obtaining a crazy amount of farm animals. Once tweaked, the farm animals will become a vital part of a survivor’s diet. Players now have an additional food source to give more variety.

Farm animals currently include cows, pigs, sheep, and chickens. Sadly, animal husbandry in Project Zomboid is not as easy as it is in Minecraft. Players need a secure fenced area and regular feeding by using a feeding and water trough.

Gunplay Changes

The gunplay mechanic in Project Zomboid has received more depth in Build 42. The reticule indicates the chance of landing a shot. The larger the reticule, the more de-buffs a player is facing. De-buffs to shooting include low shooting level, fatigued or panicked survivor, or inadequate lighting.

It is best to avoid shooting in poor conditions, as most shots will not land. Leveling up shooting and using beta blockers are a great step to getting reliable with a gun. While not rivaling a shooter, the changes now reward patience.

A Polished Muldraugh

The towns in Project Zomboid are not known for their cosmetic flair. This update has given us a reworked Muldraugh that is visually appealing using increased heights, new lighting, and varied colors to give the old town a massive glowup.

Points of interest have received the most attention and can be appreciated in the Build 42 beta right now. Police stations, schools, and more have been reworked from the ground up. Spawning in Muldraugh is a totally different experience now and looks far more polished than before.

Survivor Vocals

Players in the Build 42 beta will have some company from their own survivor. Project Zomboid now offers several voices for players to pick to their liking. Noises will randomly play during character actions. These actions include swinging a weapon, being out of breath, or simply coughing from a cold.

Yelling for a zombie’s attention will no longer be conveyed through text bubbles, but include an actual voice line. While this might seem small on the outside, these little changes do lots of work in keeping players immersed in the game.

Tracking & Hunting

In theme with more food sources, players not keen on managing farm animals can set out into the risky wilderness in search of prey. Players can now expect to hunt rabbits, rats, and deer. Tracking animals will take time, as tracks can be difficult to discern at first.

Players will now need to keep an eye out for deer crossing the road while driving on the highway, as it appears deer and rabbits have a habit of crossing the road frequently in the Build 42 beta.

Dynamic Music

The soundtrack in Project Zomboid has been criminally underused in the past. In the beta, certain actions will trigger specific music to play. The adaptive music will play depending on factors such as player location, time, and local threat level.

The new music does a great job matching the original vibe of the first soundtrack that many love. The soundtrack has a mix of calm and intense music that will play depending on what the player is currently doing.

Crafting Overhaul

The Project Zomboid crafting system has been massively reworked and even includes some animations that are no longer instant. The full crafting system is not yet released, but fans have enough to play with right now to get a grasp of what to expect.

Many players have voiced that the crafting system appears to be too complex and needs to be tweaked for convenience. Current crafting is only limited to pottery, some blacksmithing tech trees, and some surface crafting.

The post 8 New Project Zomboid Features Available On the Build 42 Beta appeared first on ComicBook.com.

A prominent Resident Evil leaker has crushed the hopes of longtime fans when it comes to Resident Evil 9. In the lead-up to Capcom’s next entry in its beloved survival-horror series, there have been plenty of leaks and rumors that have teased the setting, themes, and characters that will be seen in the game. Some of these previous rumors have specifically asserted that longtime Resident Evil character Jill Valentine would be returning as one of the main protagonists of RE9. Unfortunately, based on new information that has now come about, it seems that this won’t actually be the case.

According to Resident Evil insider Dusk Golem, Jill Valentine isn’t set to have a “major role” in Resident Evil 9 at all. Dusk Golem said that he had seen this belief circling quite a bit in recent months, so they took it upon themselves to debunk the previous rumors. They then added that most of the rumors tied to RE9 that have been going around have been false and implored fans to wait for official information directly from Capcom.

“Jill doesn’t play any major role in Resident Evil 9 unfortunately,” Dusk Golem said. “[I’m] crushing the Jill hopium now before wrong expectations are set. Wait for actual RE9 news, nearly every RE9 rumor that’s been floated around has been bulls**t.”

In case you’re out of the loop about why this is so disappointing to fans, it’s due to the fact that Jill Valentine has been one of the most underused characters in the Resident Evil saga for the better part of the past 20 years. Outside of starring in the spin-off Resident Evil: Revelations and being a side character in Resident Evil 5, Jill hasn’t been the main protagonist of a Resident Evil game since Resident Evil 3: Nemesis and its 2022 remake. Instead, Capcom has chosen to focus heavily on the likes of Chris Redfield and Leon Kennedy in recent installments, in addition to introducing Ethan Winters as the main character of Resident Evil 7 and Resident Evil Village.

Related: Resident Evil 9 Confirmed to Be in Development

Assuming that this info from Dusk Golem is credible, it’s worth stressing that Jill Valentine could end up appearing in Resident Evil 9, just not in a primary role. Past rumors have said that Leon Kennedy will once again be the main character of RE9, but Capcom could always opt to go in a different direction and introduce a completely new character to the series.

For now, all that’s known with certainty about Resident Evil 9 is that the game is merely in the works at Capcom. Hopefully, we’ll learn more about RE9 in an official capacity at some point later in 2025.

The post Resident Evil Insider Crushes Fan Hopes for Resident Evil 9 appeared first on ComicBook.com.

This week, Mortal Kombat 1 added Conan the Barbarian, the penultimate fighter in the Khaos Reigns DLC. Following the addition of Conan, players can still expect to see T-1000 from Terminator 2: Judgement Day. However, it seems director and Mortal Kombat co-creator Ed Boon might be hinting at more things to come. In a thread on X/Twitter, Boon talked about the performance of Mortal Kombat 1, which has now sold more than 5 million copies, and is “still in the top 15 most played Playstation 5 games.” In one of the final posts of the thread, Boon noted that “with Conan getting into player’s hands, we are excited to keep trucking forward with future DLC.”

It should be noted that the post with that language contained a clip from a Fatality, in which T-1000 runs over Johnny Cage with a truck. That moment is a direct reference to Terminator 2, and the use of “trucking” is clearly a pun. However, fans have been trying to decipher Boon’s overall meaning. Boon’s post has gotten a lot of responses, with many asking if he’s strictly speaking about T-1000 when he says “future DLC,” or about additional characters. Previous rumors had indicated that additional DLC was planned for Mortal Kombat 1, but that NetherRealm had cancelled the DLC due to lower than expected sales for Khaos Reigns. Now it sounds like those rumors might not have been accurate.

While fans immediately pressed Boon for more details, the director did not elaborate on his previous comments, leaving fans to wonder if T-1000 will be the last fighter in Mortal Kombat 1, or if we can expect to see more. In the replies, players shared the fighters they would still like to see added to the game, including Jade and Sonya Blade. While past favorites from the Mortal Kombat series are a strong possibility, we could also end up seeing more guest fighters. There are plenty of strong candidates that would work in the world of Mortal Kombat, including characters from past games, and those that have never appeared before.

RELATED: Mortal Kombat 2 Movie Gets the Violent Rating Fans Were Hoping For

For the time being, fans should take this with a grain of salt. There’s simply no way of telling what Boon meant by his comment, and unless he decides to elaborate, all we can do is guess whether T-1000 will be the only “future DLC.” If this truly is the end, the villain should make for a great way to end things, and all of the teases we’ve gotten so far look really impressive. Fans can’t be blamed for wanting more content, but it is possible NetherRealm has shifted focus to the next game in the series.

Do you want to see more DLC for Mortal Kombat 1? What fighters would you like to see next? Share your thoughts with me directly on Twitter at @Marcdachamp, on Bluesky at @Marcdachamp, or on Instagram at @Dachampgaming!

The post Mortal Kombat 1 Director Hints at “Future DLC” appeared first on ComicBook.com.

While Netflix’s Castlevania series is non-canon from the lore found in the original video game franchise, the show is filled with canon materials that have been reimagined to make the iconic figures featured in the series feel familiar to diehard fans. The love and passion that’s gone into adapting Castlevania‘s many unique characters can be especially felt with how Maria Renard is handled in Castlevania: Nocturne Season 2. This is particularly felt in Maria’s summoning abilities from the games, reimagined to give the character a magic ability that has absolutely nightmarish potential.

While Maria goes to take her revenge on her father in Nocturne Season 2, she summons a large, horrific dragon from an otherworldly realm. The moment, while initially being framed as something to help empower Maria and avenge her mother, is masterfully twisted to show just how much of herself she’s lost to grief and, in turn, how she’s lost control of her actions in her quest for revenge. Interestingly, this isn’t the first time in the franchise that Maria has managed to summon a dragon.

When Maria first appeared in Castlevania: Rondo of Blood, her summoning magic was introduced through an almost gag-like scene where she summons a dragon after throwing a tantrum directed at Richter Belmont, who, in the games, acted as her mentor figure. It’s important to note that in the game’s canon, Maria was only 12 years old, four years younger than she appears in Nocturne, where she’s introduced as being 16 years old. Aging her up for Nocturne was a smart decision, not only to give her the opportunity to actually participate in the war against the Vampire Messiah but to explore how deeply complex Maria’s mental and emotional state plays into the beasts that she’s capable of summoning.

[RELATED: Castlevania: Nocturne Season 2 Teases Launch with New Trailer: Watch]

Maria’s Character Arc Sets Her Up To Take the Spotlight Going Forward

While there’s been no confirmation of what the future of the Castlevania animated series looks like, it seems obvious based on Maria’s unresolved character arc in the second season. Given that there’s still unadapted source material featuring Maria, she would return and likely take center stage alongside Alucard in a potential sequel. The show has an impeccable ability to modify the existing Castlevania canon and turn these characters’ stories into a wholly original experience that still succeeds in feeling familiar to longtime fans. Many believe that Alucard staying behind with Juste and Maria in France could indicate that the series may potentially tackle the events of Symphony of the Night, or, at the very least, a creative spin on the lore from that game.

It would make sense for Maria, too, given that Richter has left to go on his own journey with Annette, and Maria’s festering hatred for vampires – even after reuniting with her mother after she was turned – begging to be explored. Seeing her truly embrace her canon future as a vampire huntress would be interesting and completely understandable for her character to take following Nocturne‘s finale.

The post Castlevania: Nocturne Brings Back Maria’s Best Ability in Season 2 appeared first on ComicBook.com.

The Terminator is set to make an appearance in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 and Call of Duty: Warzone when Season 2 kicks off next week. In recent years, Activision has made a much more concentrated effort to bring characters from various properties into Call of Duty. Most recently, this has included collaborations with WWE, Halloween, Squid Game, The Boys, Fallout, and The Walking Dead, just to name a few. Now, The Terminator is set to be the next big film franchise making its way into Call of Duty with a variety of cosmetics dropping in under a week.

Detailed on the Call of Duty blog today, Activision offered up its first official details of Season 2 for Black Ops 6 and Warzone. Season 2 will specifically be kicking off next week on January 28th and will usher in new content across Multiplayer and Zombies game modes. Additionally, a variety of new maps, weapons, and of course, a new Battle Pass will be dropping that players can experience.

You can get a broad look at Season 2 of Call of Duty: BO6 and Call of Duty: Warzone in the new trailer right here:

As for The Terminator content that is coming to Call of Duty, this crossover will extend to both cosmetics and events. As for the skins, a Terminator bundle will be appearing in the CoD store that will center around two Ultra Skins based on the original Terminator film. The first skin is based on Arnold Scwarzenegger’s likeness and sees him donning the attire that the Terminator wears in the movie. The second is then dubbed the “Titanium Core” skin and is the Terminator’s metallic look that appears after his exterior falls away. A release date and price for this bundle has yet to be shared, but Activision says it will arrive in the store shortly after Season 2 begins.

Related: Xbox Game Pass Report Reveals When Older Call of Duty Games Are Finally Being Added

Outside of these Terminator accessories, a new event simply called “The Terminator” will take place across Black Ops 6 and Warzone. The event will run from February 6th to the 20th and will rely on players collecting skulls across Multiplayer, Zombies, and Warzone matches. These skulls can then be swapped for 13 different rewards that should all be related to the Terminator series in one way or another.

All in all, Season 2 is shaping up to be the biggest content drop that CoD: Black Ops 6 has seen since its release this past year. Whether or not it will live up to expectations from players has yet to be seen, but it’s clear that those with a fondness for The Terminator franchise should have a lot to look forward to over the next month.

The post Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 and Warzone to Add The Terminator in Season 2 appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Marvel Rivals has become one of the most popular multiplayer games. It combines the hero shooter gameplay made popular by Overwatch and its sequel with the iconic cast from Marvel. With such a huge potential for characters across the various comics and series, developer NetEase has numerous options for what characters it can add, whether they be heroes or villains. Players and fans are always interested to see what is coming in future content, which has led to leakers becoming more prominent. While not always accurate, fans flock to these rumors, and it seems a new leak has hit the scene.

The most recent leak comes from XOXLEAK on Twitter, and it points to five characters being added. Each of these are heroes from a particular and iconic group: The X-Men.

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RELATED: Marvel Rivals Patch Notes Revealed for New Spring Festival Update

The leak points to Gambit, Rogue, Jubilee, Beast, and Nightcrawler as upcoming characters in Marvel Rivals. The leak further suggests what role some would play. If the leak is true, Gambit would be a Duelist, Rogue would be a Strategist, and Nightcrawler would be a Duelist. Beast and Jubilee are listed as unknown.

Fans understand the choice for Duelist regarding Gambit and Nightcrawler, but some question Rogue as a Strategist. Rogue’s power in the comics revolves around copying others, so this will likely play a role in her kit for Marvel Rivals. Loki has a similar ability, though only his Ultimate allows him to turn into a character, copying all of their abilities.

It’s hard to say how a character who solely copies abilities would work. It could be chosen at random from teammates and enemies, but this could lead to an underpowered character. Rogue’s abilities could be triggered to steal abilities, but then she becomes largely dependent on what characters have been selected.

Beast makes the most sense as a Vanguard, and the role is sorely lacking in characters. Beast could be similar to the Hulk with more mobility considering his powers in the comics. He could also utilize various technology to showcase his intelligence and expand his kit.

One could argue that Nightcrawler could fit into the Strategist role since he has been seen to be able to teleport others, and this could be an interesting new mechanic. He could play like a faster and weaker Dr. Strange. Coming up with a way Nightcrawler heals would be harder though.

Regardless, it is important to take these leaks with a grain of salt. The X-Men are obvious picks for Marvel Rivals, but with such a large cast just within this group, what X-Men are selected is hard to say. There are multiple X-Men already in Marvel Rivals, and their popularity almost guarantees more will be added.

Season 1 of Marvel Rivals is currently ongoing, and it has already added Mr. Fantastic and The Invisible Woman. The Human Torch and The Thing are also confirmed to be coming. Art for the current season shows other characters as well, so it is hard to say when and if these X-Men will join the roster.

The post Marvel Rivals Leak Says More X-Men Are Being Added appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Pokemon Go Tour: Unova – Global isn’t set to take place until March 1st and 2nd, but Niantic plans on building hype a little early this year. The developer has announced the Road to Unova event in Pokemon Go, which will begin on Monday, February 24th at 10 a.m. local time, running through the start of Pokemon Go Tour. During this event, players will start to see Pokemon from the Unova region in the wild, during Raids, and through Field Research tasks. The game will also be adding new avatar items, new stickers, and new opportunities to encounter Mythical Pokemon.

As with any event, Road to Unova will have some bonuses for all players to enjoy. The limit on Remote Raids will be increased to 20 that week, with no cap during Go Tour: Unova. Hatch distance will also be cut in half for all Eggs placed in Incubators during the event. There will be free Timed Research available, and players will be able to encounter Pokemon such as Terrakion, Cobalion, Virizion, Genesect, and the Therian formes for Tornadus, Thunderus, and Landorus.

During Pokemon Go Tour: Unova, Niantic will be introducing a new Tour Pass feature, which will be free to all players. This progression track will be available for a limited time, and will allow players to unlock bonuses as they complete specific tasks and collect Tour Points. The free Tour Pass will be unlocked at the start of the Road to Unova event, and will conclude at the end of Go Tour: Unova on March 2nd at 6 p.m. local time.

In addition to the free version of the Tour Pass, Pokemon Go players can look forward to the Tour Pass Deluxe, which will be a paid option. This version will offer faster rewards, and will grant an automatic encounter with the Mythical Pokemon Victini. Normally, Pokemon Go prevents players from obtaining multiples of Mythical Pokemon, but all players that purchase the Tour Pass Deluxe will be able to get Victini regardless of whether they’ve caught one in the past.

Speaking of Mythical Pokemon, Shiny Meloetta will make its debut in Pokemon Go during the Road to Unova. Starting on March 24th at 10 a.m. local time, players will be able to purchase a Masterwork Research ticket for $4.99. The ticket will only be sold through the end of Pokemon Go Tour: Unova. Unlike the Tour Pass Deluxe, the Masterwork Research never expires, so once players do purchase it, they’ll have as long as they need to complete it. That works out nicely, as Masterwork Research tends to take a long time to finish!

Two more paid research tickets will be sold during Road to Unova. The Road to Unova: Raids ticket will offer event-exclusive timed research centered around Raids, while the Road to Unova: Hatch ticket will center around hatching Eggs. Each of these tickets will be available for $4.99, and will include different rewards, including avatar items.

RELATED: Pokemon Go Players Want This Temporary Feature to Become Permanent

Pokemon Go will be making some changes during this event. Players can expect to see an overhaul to the Pokedex, which will apparently make it easier for players to navigate and find out Pokemon they’ve yet to obtain. Pokemon will also start to appear in more areas than before, and Niantic says that as a result “densely populated, rural, suburban, or densely expanding areas” might see increased numbers of Pokemon. It remains to be seen how all of this will play out, but hopefully the changes will lead to a better experience for players.

Do you plan on checking out the Road to Unova event? Will you be purchasing any of the paid tickets? Share your thoughts with me directly on Twitter at @Marcdachamp, on Bluesky at @Marcdachamp, or on Instagram at @Dachampgaming!

The post Pokemon Go Reveals Road to Unova Event appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Pokemon TCG Pocket has become one of the biggest hits for mobile gamers and Pokemon fans, even bringing players over to the physical Pokemon TCG. The developer has been generous with adding new content, including events, promo cards, cosmetics, and more. The second booster pack, Mythical Island, was a mini-booster and included a smaller number of cards compared to the first booster pack. As such, fans have been eager for the first full expansion, which is reported to be coming at the end of January. However, some recent leaks may have revealed what cards and generations of Pokemon will be used for the focus.

Speculation has run wild, suggesting multiple different generations. Of the most popular, generation two and five have been thrown out, but a recent leaker has revealed it may not be either of these. The response to this leak has been mixed, but it still remains to be seen if its true or not.

RELATED: Pokemon TCG Pocket Celebrates Major Achievement With Freebie for All Players

According to leaks, A2, the second booster pack, will revolve around generation 4, Pokemon Diamond and Pokemon Pearl. Sinnoh added numerous Pokemon, notably evolutions for previous Pokemon, such as Mamoswine, Weavile, Magmortar, Electiwire, and more. These Pokemon would be easy to turn into EX Pokemon and give boosts to Blaine and Lt. Surge decks.

While some are excited about a generation 4 booster pack, many expressed their disappointment. Generation 4 already received a lot of love from The Pokemon Company recently with the Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Pokemon Shining Pearl remakes as well as Pokemon Legends: Arceus.

It remains to be seen whether this leak is true, but players should view it with a grain of salt until it is officially confirmed. While some are debating whether A2 should focus on generation 4, others simply want more love shown to Metal-type and Dark-type decks. These are notably two Pokemon types that have no EX cards and need some more options.

Dragon would be another type to receive some new cards. Dialga, Palkia, and Giratina would obviously be EX cards, and Darkrai would be a great Dark-type EX card. The Garchomp line would be a perfect addition and could be used alongside Fighting-type decks for the Ground-type. Even Altaria would be welcome as another Dragon-type card.

Generation 4 has a lot of potential for new cards in Pokemon TCG Pocket, well except for Fire-types. It could even introduce variants of older Pokemon, such as Flareon and Jolteon to keep things even with the new Vaporeon in Mythical Island. It would also add new Eeveelutions in Leafeon and Glaceon, though many hope Umbreon and Espeon are added.

Only time will tell what the new A2 booster pack focuses on. It is suspected to arrive at the same time as trading, which is another highly-anticipated feature. Combining the two in a big update makes sense, and would bring in new players and bring players who have stopped playing back. In the meantime, players can run to McDonald’s to get free Pack Hourglasses ahead of the new drop.

The post Pokemon TCG Pocket Leak Reveals First Details on New Card Packs appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Rockstar Games has released an unexpected new update for Grand Theft Auto 5 and GTA Online across PS5 and Xbox Series X/S platforms. At this point in time, most GTA fans are looking forward to the launch of Grand Theft Auto 6, which should be arriving at some point before the end of 2025. In the interim, though, Rockstar hasn’t slowed down whatsoever with its support for GTA 5 and has now let loose a new patch to resolve a couple of issues that players have been running into.

Downloadable now, this new GTA 5 update is only available on current-generation consoles. The patch is a pretty small one all things considered and looks to implement a handful of fixes to different aspects of the game. One of these problems is associated with crashes that were occurring for players at odd instances while playing GTA Online. The other two resolutions are then tied only to the Xbox version of GTA 5 and are again meant to cut down on game crashes.

Related: What’s Next for GTA 6 Is Not What Grand Theft Auto Fans Want

Moving forward, more updates of this nature for GTA 5 will likely continue rolling out in the months ahead. As GTA 6 continues to get closer, though, there’s a good chance that these sorts of patches will be fewer and further between. Even if this does become the case, it’s unlikely that most Grand Theft Auto fans will take issue with Rockstar shifting its priority to GTA 6.

To get a look at the full patch notes for this new Grand Theft Auto 5 update, you can find them attached below.

Grand Theft Auto 5 PS5/Xbox Update Patch Notes

Game Stability and Performance 

• Fixed a set of issues which were resulting in crashes when playing GTA Online 
• Fixed an issue that resulted in a crash when playing ‘Gather Intel’ for The Cayo Perico Heist on Xbox Series X|S consoles 
• Fixed an issue that resulted in a crash when playing the mission ‘Pack Man’ in GTAV on Xbox Series X|S consoles 

The post GTA 5 Drops Unexpected New Update on PS5 and Xbox appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Konami’s remake of Silent Hill 2 just released last October, but it seems news on the next game in the series might be arriving sometime in the near future. As noticed by Gematsu, Silent Hill f has been rated in South Korea. This is already leading to speculation from fans that we could see an announcement soon, possibly during this week’s Xbox Developer Direct, or through an unannounced PlayStation State of Play. There’s no way of knowing for certain just yet, but hopefully Konami will have something exciting to reveal in the near future, including a potential release window.

Silent Hill f was announced back in 2022, and details about the game have been pretty slim ever since. The game seems to be a very unique take on the Silent Hill property, as it will be set in Japan in the 1960s. That setting is quite different from the rest of the series, but it does make sense from a certain perspective. During an interview with Famitsu last year, Silent Hill lead series producer Motoi Okamoto talked about his desire to build on the “range” of the franchise. Creating a game with a totally different time period and setting is one way to go about that, and it will be interesting to see the results.

While there was a lot of anticipation surrounding the Silent Hill 2 remake, there’s something much more exciting about a completely original game. Silent Hill f has the chance to really push the series forward, and show what Konami can do with the IP. On top of the unique setting, Konami has enlisted a well-regarded writer for the game, Ryukishi07. Ryukishi07 has been responsible for a number of horror visual novels over the years, including Higurashi When They Cry. Considering the material, many fans feel that he’ll be a good fit for this new series entry.

While we know the game’s setting, developer, and writer, there’s very little else that we do know about Silent Hill f. At this point, we don’t even know what platforms the game will be released on! It’s possible this could be some kind of timed exclusive like we saw with the Silent Hill 2 remake, or it could end up released on Xbox or even Nintendo Switch 2. Until Konami starts to give us more details, there’s simply no way of knowing. It’s possible the publisher has been quiet about Silent Hill f so it wouldn’t take focus away from last year’s remake, and if that is the case, maybe we’ll learn more over the coming months.

RELATED: Silent Hill Nintendo DS Pitch Got “Disheartening” Reception from Konami

South Korean Ratings board listings are not always indicative of impending news, so fans shouldn’t get their hopes up too high. We could still be waiting a while for news, but fans can hardly be blamed for getting excited. Silent Hill was basically dormant for several years, and the series is finally starting to get a significant push again. 2024 was a great year for Silent Hill, and it would be nice to see that continue in 2025. For now, fans will just have to wait patiently and see what Konami has to reveal when it’s ready.

Do you think we’ll learn more about Silent Hill f soon? How do you feel about everything revealed thus far? Share your thoughts with me directly on Twitter at @Marcdachamp, on Bluesky at @Marcdachamp, or on Instagram at @Dachampgaming!

The post Silent Hill f Rating Points to News Coming Soon appeared first on ComicBook.com.

After 30 years with the studio, Insomniac Games founder and CEO Ted Price has announced his retirement from the company. Established in 1994 as Xtreme Software, the eventually renamed Insomniac Games has gone on to create numerous iconic franchises like Spyro the Dragon, Ratchet & Clank, Resistance, and most recently, Marvel’s Spider-Man. Over that entire span, Price has been the boss at Insomniac, but in just a couple of short months, this will no longer be the case.

In a post shared on Sony’s website, Price announced his decision to leave Insomniac. Price’s retirement isn’t effective immediately, but will instead happen at the end of March 2025. Price stressed that this move isn’t one that will simply see him depart Insomniac for another company, but is one that will see him retire from the gaming industry as a whole.

“Insomniac has been my life, my home away from home, for three decades,” Price wrote. “I want to thank every Insomniac for having a positive and lasting impact on my life. Working side by side with Insomniacs for so many years has been a gift that I’ll cherish for the rest of my days. I also want to thank our fans who, for three decades, have shared their enthusiasm, their encouragement and their support – inspiring us to take every game farther than the last. We do what we do for you. And I can assure you that we won’t be slowing down.”

In Price’s place, Insomniac will be promoting Chad Dezern, Ryan Schneider, and Jen Huang to serve as co-studio heads. All three of these new leads at Insomniac have a long history with the company and reiterated that their overall goal will still be to make games that have a “lasting impact on people’s lives.”

Related: Days Gone Developer Responds After New PS5 Game Gets Canceled

“Our shared intention is to preserve what has made Insomniac special for 30-plus years while exploring how we can strategically evolve to succeed for decades to come,” the trio of studio heads said in a joint statement. “What does all this mean for our players and fans? We’re going to keep making the games you love, while taking care of the people who make them. This aligns with our studio vision of making a positive and lasting impact on people’s lives.”

As for what’s next with Insomniac Games, it’s known that the company’s main priority at the moment is Marvel’s Wolverine, which is set to come to PS5 at an unannounced point in the future. Other than this, future plans for the studio leaked in late 2023, but it’s not known if these plans are still in place.

The post Insomniac Games Founder Ted Price Is Retiring After 30 Years appeared first on ComicBook.com.

This morning, Sega announced the launch of Sega Account, a new online profile that fans can sign up for that promises benefits for the company’s various games. Basically, those that register for this free feature will be sent updates about games and promotions, and they’ll also be able to get free in-game content. By linking their Sega Account with their various gaming platforms, players will eventually be able to keep track of their records across Sega and Atlas games. This feature isn’t live just yet, so it will be interesting to see what kind of implementation there is.

To give fans a hint at the type of free content they’ll receive by registering a Sega Account, the company announced a promotion centered around Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii. All Sega Account users will receive the Kazuma Kiryu Special Outfit DLC if they link their Sega Account with a platform that the game will be released on (so PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC). The Special Outfit DLC will only be available through March 7th, 2025. Readers can register for a Sega Account at the official website right here.

So far, reception to the Sega Account announcement has been somewhat mixed. On one hand, fans are anticipating that this will simply take the place of Sega’s various email offerings; in the past, the company has encouraged fans to sign up for newsletters in exchange for free skins. We’ve seen that exact sort of thing for games like Sonic Superstars and Sonic x Shadow Generations. However, other fans have expressed concerns about being forced to create an account and login each time they boot up a Sega game. That certainly wouldn’t be unheard of, and has been a source of frustration with other publishers. Meanwhile, other fans think this might be a precursor to the streaming service Sega has been considering.

While there are various ways this could go badly, some fans have noted potential upsides. If Sega is encouraging players to register their Sega Account with various platforms, it’s possible we could see cross-saves implemented. That would be a welcome change, and it might even encourage multi-platform users to buy a game twice, or purchase a Sega title on Switch or PS5 that they first tried on Xbox Game Pass. There simply aren’t enough single-player games that offer cross-saves, despite the fact that a lot of people would be happy to see them offered more often.

RELATED: Sonic Rumble Is Giving Out a Sonic Movie Freebie, But There’s a Catch

Hopefully Sega Accounts prove to be additive to the overall gaming experience, rather than a source of frustration. There are a lot of different ways this could go; this could establish Sega’s future in a big way, or it could end up being a neglected feature that quietly dies out. It’s way too early to know for sure, but at the very least, fans will be getting free content for Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, and that alone might make a Sega Account worth signing up for.

Do you plan on registering for a Sega Account? Do you think Sega has big plans for this? Share your thoughts with me directly on Twitter at @Marcdachamp, on Bluesky at @Marcdachamp, or on Instagram at @Dachampgaming!

The post Sega Account System Launches With Free Content for Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii appeared first on ComicBook.com.

A new update for Marvel Rivals has today released and in the process has ushered in the new Spring Festival event. Currently in the midst of Season 1, new content for Marvel Rivals has continued to roll out at a steady cadence in recent weeks. Now, this ongoing support has culminated in the new Spring Festival event that can reward players a free skin for one popular character.

Available to download now across PS5, Xbox, and PC platforms, this new Marvel Rivals update is a pretty extensive one. The highlights of this patch are tied to the Spring Festival, which sees a new mode dubbed “Clash of Dancing Lions” coming to the game. In addition, a new event called “Fortune & Colors” is being added that will grant players a free skin for Star-Lord. While this Marvel Rivals update adds all of this new content today, the event won’t properly kick off until tomorrow, January 23rd.

Related: Marvel Rivals Comic Series Gets an Update (But Fans Will Have to Wait)

Other than this, developer NetEase Games has also made numerous smaller tweaks to Marvel Rivals. Some of these adjustments impact specific characters and their abilities including Wolverine, Storm, Mr. Fantastic, Invisible Woman, Hawkeye, and Namor, to name a few. Other than these character-specific adjustments, some other overhauls associated with various bugs have also now been pushed out.

To get a look at everything that has been done with this new Marvel Rivals patch, you can view the full patch notes below.

Marvel Rivals Spring Festival Update Patch Notes

New Mode: Clash of Dancing Lions

Get ready for epic showdowns as Iron Fist, Star-Lord, and Black Widow compete in Wakanda’s World Arena during the thrilling Clash of Dancing Lions.

Commemorative Gallery Card: Of Festivals and Friends

During the “Fortune & Colors” event, complete event missions and challenges to earn Danqing – a magical dye. Use Danqing to fill a vibrant illustration with color, and once it’s beautifully framed, you’ll receive an auspicious Gallery Card as a memento of this unforgettable event!

New Costumes: Clashing Lions Series

• Star-Lord – Lion’s Mane (Free to obtain during the Fortune & Colors event)
• Black Widow – Lion’s Heartbeat (Limited-time store release: 2025/01/23~2025/02/14 UTC+0)
• Iron Fist – Lion’s Gaze (Limited-time store release: 2025/01/23~2025/02/14 UTC+0)

System Adjustments

All Platforms

General

• Optimized the alternate name feature in Streaming Mode, allowing players to define their own alternate names instead of relying on system-generated ones.
• Added a season dropdown menu to the Leaderboard for easy access to different season rankings.
• Enhanced the Career system by introducing a feature to view historical season rank information.

Bug Fixes

All Platforms

General

• Resolved an issue where the game would freeze after battles under certain conditions.
• Fixed an inconsistency with avatars when switching heroes while defeated in the Doom Match.
• Addressed an issue where if Winter Soldier’s used his ultimate ability to defeat a shapeshifted Loki, it wouldn’t count towards the ultimate ability consecutive KO achievement.
• Corrected a delay in synchronizing certain data on the Friends Leaderboard.

Maps and Gameplay

• Implemented a series of fixes for various performance issues related to destructible environments.
• Resolved multiple instances where players could get stuck in unique terrain.
• Addressed several Reverse-Destruction performance issues after destruction repaired in Empire of Eternal Night maps.

Hero Bug Fixes

• Hawkeye’s Precision: Fixed an issue where Hawkeye’s passive ability Focus progress would sometimes display incorrectly. It’s now as accurate as he is.
• Wolverine’s Unyielding Berserk Claw Strike: Frame rate no longer affects the number of attacks in the enhanced Savage Claw after using Feral Leap.
• Invisible Woman’s Psionic Stranglehold: Mobility abilities for specific heroes are now fully operational within the range of Invisible Woman’s Psionic Vortex – no more containment issues!
• Mister Fantastic Double Trouble: Addressed a bug where having two Mister Fantastic (like Loki in transformation) sometimes allowed one to reuse the second part of Distended Grip.
• Namor and Invisible Woman: Fixed an issue preventing Namor and Invisible Woman from unleashing their ultimate abilities at certain door locations—now they can break through any barrier!
• Storm’s Doppelganger: Resolved a problem where under low frame rate conditions, activating Storm’s ultimate ability as Loki after transforming into her would be canceled.
• Wolverine’s Fury Corrected: Fixed an issue where Wolverine’s ultimate ability occasionally wouldn’t end properly after landing after being pulled back.
• Heroic Hint Harmony: Corrected abnormal ping prompts for some heroes.
• Magik’s Misstep: Addressed a bug where Magik could not use Stepping Discs after activating her ultimate ability in certain situations.
• Peni Parker’s Precision: Fixed an issue where Peni’s Bionic Spider-Nest would be unintentionally lifted along with the Klyntar device when raised—now, her tech remains grounded and ready for action!
• Loki’s Transformation Tweaked: Resolved a problem where Loki, after using his ultimate ability to shapeshift into the Punisher, if Warrior’s Gaze was triggered when the transform was about to end its effects lingered too long. The Warrior’s Gaze effect will now fade as soon as the ultimate concludes—no more lingering vision trickery!
• Web-Slinging Adjustments: Fixed an issue where, in certain situations in Convoy Mode, if Peni Parker fired a Cyber-Web below the vehicle, her web would move with the vehicle. Now, her webbing sticks like it should.
• Mister Fantastic’s Resilience Restored: Resolved a bug where if Mister Fantastic was knocked offline while in his inflated state and then rejoined, Mister Fantastic might be unable to use some abilities after reconnecting. He’s now back in action and ready to stretch into battle!
• Webbing Dynamics Corrected: Corrected an issue where Peni Parker’s web being pulled back could be blocked by enemy heroes, leading to positional anomalies. Now, her webbing will behave as intended.
• Camera Alignment Fixed: Fixed a camera misalignment issue that could occur while KO’d and revived by Adam Warlock while spectating Hela just as she rises up to launch her Ultimate Ability.

Console

• Fixed an issue where the crosshair movement would automatically stop at extremely low pushing angles on the Xbox controller.
• Resolved a problem where the camera would automatically move for Xbox controller users after being KO’d in certain situations.

The post Marvel Rivals Patch Notes Revealed for New Spring Festival Update appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Castlevania: Nocturne‘s second season is absolutely electrifying, greatly improving on an already excellent first season by delivering everything the Vampire Messiah storyline had to offer. In addition to its story, Castlevania: Nocturne is also filled with countless nods to the games for eagle-eyed fans. Some of the most interesting references found in Season 2 can be seen in Maria’s character arc.

Maria was significantly aged up for the release of Nocturne, with the showrunners making her 16 years old compared to her first-ever appearance in the franchise, Castlevania: Rondo of Blood, where she was only twelve. Instead, her appearance more closely resembles the reimagined design from the PSP compilation game, Castlevania: The Dracula X Chronicles. While this is ultimately a positive change to better fit in with Nocturne‘s narrative, giving her more flexibility to participate in the war against the Vampire Messiah and have a better understanding of her magical abilities, some diehard fans were disappointed to see her more classic design be seemingly forgotten.

[RELATED: Castlevania Nocturne Season 2 Explores What Alucard’s Been Up To (And It’s Not Pretty)]

Episode 2 rectifies this, showing a gut-wrenching scene in the Renards’ home where Maria lays out her childhood dresses – which, to the delight of many fans, included her Rondo of Night look. The dress reappeared in Episode 6, showing Maria looking almost exactly like her 90s counterpart in a flashback of her and Richter as children. Given the small references dropped in Castlevania: Nocturne‘s finale that Alucard will stay behind in France and continue to keep in touch with Juste Belmont and Maria, it could pave the way for the iconic dhampir to serve as Maria’s mentor – taking Richter’s place from the original games. While speculative, this narrative change could lead to a possible Symphony of the Night series starring Maria and Alucard.

Castlevania: Nocturne Turned Maria Into a Magical Powerhouse

Castlevania: Nocturne‘s take on Maria Renard may contrast significantly from her role in the games, but her role in the story proves her to be so much more than a traumatized teenage girl. Throughout Season 2 of Nocturne, Maria is forced to try and grieve the loss of her mother while battling a clear-cut case of survivor’s guilt. This manifests in the otherworldly beasts she’s able to summon to fight for her, turning into grotesque manifestations of her mental state for much of the show’s run.

When she finally has an opportunity to confront her father and reunite with her now-vampire mother, Maria is finally able to begin processing her trauma and rebuilding who she is. Of course, after everything she’s been through, there are still some hints dropped throughout Season 2’s climax that she has a long road to travel before she’s finally able to let go of everything she endured.

The post Castlevania: Nocturne Season 2 Fixes a Divisive Design Retcon from Season 1 appeared first on ComicBook.com.

For many fans, the Marvel Cinematic Universe has offered definitive takes on many different characters. These takes have had a very large influence on how the characters are often depicted in other media, including comic books, cartoons, and video games. However, that’s not always the case. When creating Marvel Rivals, developer NetEase wanted a take on Mantis that was different from the version depicted by Pom Klementieff in the Guardians of the Galaxy films. In an interview with ComicBook, Mantis actress Colleen O’Shaughnessey talked about how she was told to come up with her own voice for the character.

“I’m a huge Marvel fan and I of course have seen all the movies. And they’re like ‘it’s not the same Mantis that you know from the movies.’ And so that was a little strange for me, because that’s the picture I have in my head and that’s the character that I have in my head. It was challenging to make her different, to just do my own take on Mantis. Luckily, they liked what I did. But I love the Marvel Universe so it was so exciting to be part of that,” said O’Shaughnessey.

While O’Shaughnessey is new to voicing Mantis, she has voiced a number of other Marvel characters throughout various media. Most notably, the actress provided the voice of the Wasp in Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. In the years following that show’s conclusion, O’Shaughnessey would reprise the role of Janet Van Dyne across multiple video games, including Marvel Heroes and Disney Infinity. O’Shaughnessey says she isn’t much of a gamer herself (“Frogger, that’s more my speed”), but she’s still very happy about the positive reception Marvel Rivals has seen since launching late last year.

“The game is doing so well, it’s very exciting. And I get tweets or whatever, comments from people that are like ‘she’s a great character.’ I guess she’s sneaky or whatever. Somebody just sent me a thing the other [day], thanks to Mantis they got to some other level because of her,” O’Shaughnessey said with a laugh. “And I was like ‘great! Go you! You’re welcome!'”

RELATED: Spider-Man Actor Yuri Lowenthal Reveals His Favorite Version of the Marvel Hero 

Mantis is one of several characters that were available at launch for Marvel Rivals. A Strategist, Mantis is best used by players that prefer to serve as healers. While the developers were looking to go in a different direction from the character’s MCU voice, it’s worth noting that Mantis features plenty of callbacks to the Guardians of the Galaxy films. Her backstory in the game has her imprisoned by the Collector, and players can purchase skins based on her appearances in those movies. The approach to the character’s voice might be different, but for those that prefer the MCU take to the 616, there’s still a lot of connective tissue.

Do you enjoy playing as Mantis in Marvel Rivals? What do you think of O’Shaughnessey’s take on the character? Share your thoughts with me directly on Twitter at @Marcdachamp, on Bluesky at @Marcdachamp, or on Instagram at @Dachampgaming!

The post Marvel Rivals Mantis Actress Was Told Not to Use the MCU for Inspiration (Exclusive) appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Arc System Works has shared a new trailer and promo image for the upcoming Guilty Gear Strive: Dual Rulers anime. The show is a direct continuation of the game franchise of the same name, following the events of the Another Story arc from Guilty Gear -Strive-. The new trailer shows off more scenes, highlighting the return of Sol Badguy and the rest of the Guilty Gear cast. The recent entries of the games are notorious for their movie-length cutscenes with no gameplay in between. Players essentially get a movie with their fighting game, showing off the unique and vibrant world of Guilty Gear. Dual Rulers is animated by studio Sanzigen but is meant to evoke the cel-shaded CGI cutscenes that Arc System Work is well known for.

A new poster for Dual Rulers was also unveiled alongside the trailer, featuring the extended cast of characters from the games. While Sol Badguy is the game’s main protagonist and will be part of Dual Rulers, the anime will focus more on Sin Kiske. Nearly every other fan-favorite character will appear in the series, including Ky Kiske, Dizzy, Bridget, Jack-O, Baiken, Ramlethal, and Elphelt Valentine. The new character named Unika will also be a focal point and will be added to the Guilty Gear -Strive- video game around Spring 2025. Dual Rulers is scheduled to premier around the same time Unika is added to the game, April 5th.

[RELATED – Guilty Gear Strive Story Trailer Released]

What Will Guilty Gear Strive: Dual Rulers Be About?

Guilty Gear takes place in the far future where scientists have discovered a new power source that became known as magic. Gears are artificially created beings that attempted to overthrow humanity, leading to the Crusades. The games take place in a post-Crusade world, with Sol Badguy, a human-gear hybrid with a complicated past, becoming the “guilty gear” for hunting other gears like him. -Strive- ends Sol’s story, giving him his happily-ever-after, while the rest of the protagonists begin building a new world where humans and gears can co-exist.

Sin is the son of Ky Kiske, a rival turned ally of Sol. Sin is also a human-gear hybrid, becoming a protege of Sol in the most recent games. Ky causes an uproar when he decides to marry Sin’s mother, Dizzy, a gear. This leads to a Unika appearing, vowing to prevent human and gear co-habitation. Sin wants to face Unika and change her mind about gears.

H/T: Crunchyroll, natalie.mu

The post New Guilty Gear Anime Sets Release Date With New Trailer & Poster appeared first on ComicBook.com.

The good news for Marvel Rivals players is that the Marvel Rivals Infinity Comic series will continue after the conclusion of its first arc last January 20. The bad news is that fans will have to wait until Spring 2025 to read issue #7 of the series, which promises to keep exploring the lore of Marvel’s successful team-shooter game. While the waiting can be bothersome, the fact the series will move beyond its first planned arc underlines the game’s success. Furthermore, the announcement indicates Marvel is willing to use the Marvel Rivals as a narrative experience spread across different media platforms instead of just releasing the comic books as a one-off tie-in to celebrate the game’s release.

Writer Paul Allor expressed enthusiasm about continuing the series, highlighting the creative possibilities within the Marvel Rivals universe. “Working on the Marvel Rivals comic has been such a thrill, and seeing gamers latch on to our story has been truly heartwarming,” Allor shared. “Marvel and NetEase created a wonderful new world, filled with so much potential for fun, funny and action-packed storytelling.”

[RELATED: Marvel Rivals Hero Luna Snow Joins Doctor Doom’s Team in New Series]

The first story arc of Marvel Rivals Infinity Comic concluded by bringing stability back to Tokyo 2099’s timeline while protecting the Web of Life and Destiny. While specific details about the upcoming story arc remain under wraps, Allor teased that the new setting would be familiar to Marvel Comics fans. “I can’t tell you much about what happens next, but I can tell you that the setting will be very familiar to Marvel Comics fans, and will feature a mix of new characters, alongside a few returning favorites from our initial run,” the writer revealed.

Marvel Rivals Mixes Comic Books and Gaming Into an Absolute Success

The comic series expands upon the rich narrative foundation established by the Marvel Rivals video game, which launched on December 6, 2024, for PlayStation 5, Windows, and Xbox Series X/S. The game’s story centers on a “timestream entanglement” triggered by a confrontation between present-day Doctor Doom and his 2099 counterpart. This collision of realities creates four distinct Chronoverses: the Techno-Dystopia of 2099, the Present timeline, the unstable Mosaic Timeline, and the Collapsing Timeline, where even Gods can perish.

The game distinguishes itself with its roster of over 30 playable characters, divided into three specialized roles: Vanguards (tanky characters like Hulk and Thor), Duelists (damage dealers such as Spider-Man and Iron Man), and Strategists (support characters including Invisible Woman and Loki). A unique “Dynamic Hero Synergy” system allows players to execute special moves when using specific character combinations, such as the classic “Fastball Special” between Wolverine and Hulk.

Marvel Rivals has maintained player engagement through regular content updates and seasonal events since its December launch. The game kicked off with a shortened “Chronovium” event, followed by the current “Eternal Night Falls” season that introduced the Fantastic Four as playable heroes and added new maps including the Sanctum Sanctorum, Midtown, and Central Park. Players can unlock various cosmetic items through battle passes, including alternative costumes based on both comic book storylines and MCU appearances, giving fans multiple ways to personalize their favorite Marvel heroes.

The continuation of the Marvel Rivals Infinity Comic suggests a long-term commitment to expanding the game’s universe through various media. With both the comic series and the game sharing the same complex multiverse setting, fans can look forward to new stories that further explore the consequences of the timestream entanglement when the series returns in Spring 2025.

New Marvel Rivals Infinity Comic issues will be available exclusively through Marvel Unlimited, where readers can currently access all six issues of the first arc.

The post Marvel Rivals Comic Series Gets an Update (But Fans Will Have to Wait) appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Cell was Gohan’s biggest foe in Dragon Ball Z, and now the franchise has come full circle as Cell shared his reaction to seeing Gohan’s new Gohan Beast form for the first time in Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero. Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero brought Gohan back up to Goku and Vegeta’s level in a new fight against a new version of Cell. The feature film had pushed Gohan to a point where he had never been before, and brought out a new transformation that was entirely unique to him. Seemingly having the same godly power as Goku and Vegeta’s newest forms, Gohan Beast was a beast unto itself.

It was a big full circle moment for Gohan as like when he had initially defeated Cell during the Cell Saga in Dragon Ball Z, Gohan used his rage to bring about a powerful new transformation that completely overwhelmed Cell. But Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero has helped bring that even further as it reveals how Perfect Cell would react to seeing Gohan Beast in action. And Gohan’s response is just icing on the cake. Check it out below as spotted by @varebarra on X.

What Cell Thinks of Gohan Beast

As Cell sees Gohan Beast for the first time, he says “W-what is this otherworldly strength?! Were Saiyans always capable of such unbelievable power?” Then Gohan Beast appropriately rubs salt in the wound with the highly aggressive response of “Wow. I’d never imagined I’d get the pleasure of wiping the floor with you again.” It’s a good reflection of the kind of rage based mentality that Gohan is in when using this powerful new form, and it’s clear that Cell isn’t ready for this match up. Gohan was already much stronger than Cell when he was at Super Saiyan 2, and the gap now is much wider.

Thanks to the Dragon Ball Super manga having additional materials to serve as an epilogue to the events of Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero, fans have gotten to get more details about Gohan Beast itself. Gohan explained that the form is him bringing his rage to right before he loses control. In his unleashing of his power, Goku and Vegeta recognize the form to be on par with Goku’s Ultra Instinct and even Broly’s Berserk power when they all sparred for a bit at peak level.

RELATED: 10 Best Dragon Ball Super Gallery Covers Toriyama Would Have Loved

Is Dragon Ball Super Coming Back?

It has yet to be revealed if Dragon Ball Super‘s anime is ever going to be making a proper comeback, but those behind the scenes have teased that a new Dragon Ball Super movie could be in the works. But there is still something new on the way for Dragon Ball Super fans in the immediate future, however, as the manga is planning to come back from its own hiatus soon. The manga had gone on hiatus since the passing of original creator Akira Toriyama last year, but is coming back next month with a new entry.

Dragon Ball Super’s manga is set to return next month with a new one-shot story on February 20th in Japan. This will be a brand new story not seen before, and is teased to be focused on Trunks and Goten as they are once again going about on their super hero adventures as seen through the manga. The Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero arc included more scenes of Trunks and Goten as heroes not seen in the original movie, and this new story could be an expansion of this idea with a new adventure.

The post Dragon Ball Comes Full Circle With Cell’s Hilarious Reaction to Gohan Beast’s Power appeared first on ComicBook.com.

One of the best games in PlayStation’s acclaimed God of War series is now free to download and play for those who meet certain requirements. Since its debut back in 2005, God of War has gone on to become arguably the biggest series that belongs to PlayStation. From the original God of War entries on PS2, to God of War: Chains of Olympus on PSP, to the conclusion of the Greek arc in God of War 3 on PS3, and the rebooted God of War on PS4, virtually every entry in the saga has been a hit in one way or another. Now, for those looking to play the latest God of War game at no cost, a new promotion has gone live to make it easier than ever.

As of today, 2022’s God of War Ragnarok has joined the PlayStation Plus Game Catalog. This means that those with an active subscription to PS Plus Extra or PS Plus Premium will be able to download and play Ragnarok for nothing rather than having to fork over its typical entry fee of $69.99. While PS Plus costs money which means that this deal isn’t outright “free” in the traditional sense, the PlayStation subscription service is already something that many users belong to already. Additionally, the Game Catalog houses hundreds of other PlayStation games, which means that you can check out way more than just Ragnarok.

Related: New God of War Game Canceled by PlayStation

What’s great about this offer with God of War Ragnarok is that it extends to those across both PS5 and PS4 platforms. Additionally, Ragnarok is one of the highest-rated games in the God of War series and boasts an astounding 94/100 aggregate review score on Metacritic. As such, this puts it on par with the original God of War and the 2018 reboot in terms of critical acclaim.

And if that wasn’t good enough on its own, God of War Ragnarok also received free DLC in 2023 that can be accessed as well through PS Plus. This add-on, titled God of War Ragnarok: Valhalla, serves as an epilogue to the events of the main game and also sets up the next installment in the God of War franchise.

If you’d like to learn more about the base game of God of War Ragnarok and what it entails, you can find its launch trailer and official synopsis here:

God of War Ragnarok

About: “From Santa Monica Studio comes the sequel to the critically acclaimed God of War (2018). Join Kratos and Atreus on a mythic journey for answers before Ragnarök arrives. Together, father and son must put everything on the line as they journey to each of the Nine Realms.

Throughout stunning mythological landscapes, they’ll face fearsome enemies – from Norse gods to wild beasts – as they prepare for the showdown of their lives. Armed with his trusty weapons of war – including the Leviathan Axe and the Blades of Chaos – Kratos’ deadly skills will be tested like never before as he fights to protect his family. A host of new abilities for him and Atreus also await, leaving room for fluid, expressive and customizable combat in this epic and unflinching tale.”

The post One of the Best God of War Games Now Playable for Free appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Monster Hunter has had a killer past several years, from cinching the top two spots among Capcom’s best-selling games of all time (World, Rise) to stirring up the hype for its latest upcoming title, Monster Hunter Wilds. The action role-playing game franchise is now among Capcom’s most consistent heavy-hitters, and as the fans help fuel its success, Capcom has partnered with Webtoon to have the fans bring its universe to life. The webcomic platform thus kicked off the WEBTOON | CAPCOM Monster Hunter Wilds Webcomic Contest, with 12 lucky winners given a shot at a free digital copy of the upcoming game.

The contest was announced on January 17th, and is set to run with submissions taken until February 19th at 11:59 PM ET, and the event is for users 18 years or older in the United States only. Creative users are welcome to take their best shot by submitting a webcomic with a minimum of four panels, to a maximum of five full chapters/episodes. The platform provides its instructions and submissions portal, along with a set of prompts for players to use, with these available prizes:

• Grand Prize Winners (3): Monster Hunter Wilds merchandise kit, Yian Kut Ku Plush, and a digital code for Monster Hunter: Wilds, launching on February 28th.
• Runner Up Winners (9): Yian Kut Ku Plush and a digital code for Monster Hunter: Wilds, launching on February 28th.

12 winners will be selected on the basis of creativity, quality, and originality, with AI art being strictly prohibited.

[RELATED: Webtoon’s Newest Investment Will Bring Japanese Webcomics to the World]

Webtoon x Monster Hunter Wilds Wants Your Best Webcomic Submissions

To give contestants a clearer indicator of what to expect, Webtoon has published in its instructions a set of prompts based on different perspectives within the Monster Hunter universe. There’s the Hunter’s First Hunt prompt, to which any former newbie can relate, where any possibility can arise, from the thrill of the pursuit to a Hunter first realizing the weapon they chose is wildly unwieldy, to any other misadventures. This option is by far the most flexible thanks to the option for the creators being given a near-infinite pool of user-created characters as a basis.

For those seeking something more structured, the Day in the Life of a Monster prompt allows creators to tell their Monster Hunter Wilds webtoon from the point of view of its many strange and exciting creatures. More self-explanatory, this option can free up creators to create their ultimate Rathalos fan-fiction. Finally, the Your team: Palico, Gemma, and Alma prompt allows you to focus specifically on the franchise’s iconic cat creatures along with Gemma and Alma. For those unfamiliar, Gemma and Alma represent two integral resources for Monster Hunter Wilds players, the former being your weapon and armor smith, and the latter handling monster hunt requests, general quests, and more.

Monster Hunter Wilds Wants Your Gemma Fan Fiction (But Keep It Reasonable)

As reported by GamesRadar+ at Summer Game Fest 2024, the fan response to glimpses of the game’s characters, particularly Gemma, has proven how powerful thirst is as a viral marketing tactic, even if unintentional. That being said, per the Webtoon x Capcom contest guidelines, fans will need to be respectful of the platform’s aim to engage with general audiences. But with the opportunity to create up to five full episodes of Webtoon content using these Monster Hunter Wilds characters, one will be free to tell a mind-boggling array of stories to hype themselves and others up for February.

Monster Hunter Wilds is set for release on February 28th, 2025, for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S, with the Webtoon x Monster Hunter Wilds contest running until February 19th, 2025, at 11:59 PM ET.

H/T: Press Release, Webtoon, GamesRadar+

The post Monster Hunter Wilds Fans Could Get a Free Copy With Webtoon’s New Collab appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Overwatch 2 had its Season 14 debut over a month ago which introduced players to the new Tank hero, Hazard, and the experimental return of the 6v6 mode. With Season 15 of the PvP shooter starting on February 18, Blizzard has released their latest patch notes for the mid-season, which has gone on longer than the traditional three-month cycle. Overwatch 2‘s mid-season patch notes bring modes such as Min 1, Max 3, and the Overwatch: Classic Moth Meta, which will mark its second run. Season 14 features back-to-back holiday events with The Year of the Snake event, which includes Lunar New Year-themed cosmetics, and a Valentine’s Day event.

When it comes to hero updates, this patch will feature performance upgrades for Tank’s Ramattra, Winston, and Hazard, as well as Echo and Illari. This update only applies to the standard game modes, so don’t expect these to roll out with the 6v6 Experiment or the Overwatch Classic modes. The update does bring a new mythic weapon for Ashe and brings new heroes and maps to the Moth Meta mode.

Take a look at the mid-season updates and bug fixes coming from the latest Overwatch 2 patch:

RELATED: Overwatch 2 Season 14 Update Confirms When the 6v6 Mode Returns

YEAR OF THE SNAKE SEASONAL EVENT

• Celebrate the Lunar New Year – Year of the Snake – in Overwatch 2 with the return of Mischief & Magic, a festive game mode that blends strategy, stealth, and skill along with Bounty Hunter and Capture the Flag. Complete event challenges to unlock exclusive rewards, including Lunar New Year-themed cosmetics that capture the joy and vibrancy of the season. Don’t miss your chance to outwit, outplay, and outlast your opponents!

VALENTINE’S DAY 2025

• Take aim and fall in love again with the return of the Love of Geometry game mode. This team Deathmatch brawl pits teams of four Cupid Hanzos against each other. Be sure to watch out as hiding around corners is not safe as everyone can use the original Scatter Arrow ability for Hanzo. This is an event that you’ll fall in love with again as it runs from February 4 to February 18.

6V6 EXPERIMENTAL – MINIMUM 1, MAXIMUM 3

• Step back into Overwatch’s origins even more with a fresh twist on the beloved six-player team format. The 6v6 Min 1, Max 3 Mode is a unique experiment that blends nostalgia with modern gameplay dynamics, offering a structured composition alongside the flexibility to switch roles mid-match. And your participation in this experiment will help shape the future of Overwatch 2’s gameplay—so don’t miss this chance to leave your mark.
  • Heroes are selected first come, first serve.
  • Each team must have at least one hero from all three roles, but cannot have more than three heroes from any given role.
  • Players can switch between roles while in the spawn room.
  • Hero balance for this experiment uses the same hero balance from the 6v6 2-2-2 Role Queue experiment.
  • This game mode is available to play in Unranked from January 21 to February 3.

OVERWATCH CLASSIC – MOTH META

• Overwatch Classic – Moth Meta brings you back to one of the most iconic and chaotic chapters in Overwatch history. Mercy’s legendary “Moth” gameplay takes the spotlight as her lightning-fast Resurrects redefine team fights, while heroes like DPS Doomfist and Symmetra with her Shield Generator make a triumphant return to the battlefield. Step onto beloved maps Oasis, Eichenwalde, and Junkertown, where every skirmish is packed with nostalgic strategies and unpredictable mayhem.
  • Heroes added include Ana, Sombra, Orisa, and Doomfist.
  • Maps added include Eichenwalde, Oasis, Horizon Lunar Colony, and Junkertown.
  • Hero balance is adjusted to the September 2017 Hero Balance.

NEW MYTHIC WEAPON – ASHE’S LEAD ROSE

• Our latest Mythic Weapon is Ashe’s Lead Rose. Growing up in the Lead Rose Manor, Ashe was expected to be the perfect daughter. But while her parents had hoped for a flawless rose, they never expected Ashe’s thorns. Like Ashe, this weapon is both beautiful and lethal. The more Ashe embraces her rebellious nature by earning eliminations, the more she blooms into the person she was meant to be! At level one, players will unlock her base Mythic weapon. Level two unlocks reactivity and the Mythic HUD. The beloved flourish is on Level Three which allows Ashe to tauntingly toss a rose at her opponents. And Level Four is the elimination effects, exploding enemies in a burst of rose petals.

COMPETITIVE UPDATES

COMPETITIVE DRIVES

• A new Drives signature is available to earn from February 11 to February 16
• Players can now earn up to 6,000 Competitive Points by completing Competitive Drive Stages, enough to unlock 2 Jade or Golden Weapon Variants.

COMPETITIVE REWARDS

• As the 2024 Competitive Year concludes, Season 14 is the last chance to redeem Competitive Points for Jade Weapon Variants. After Season 14 is complete, any accumulated Competitive Points will be converted to Legacy Competitive Points which can be redeemed for Golden Weapon Variants. Jade Weapon Variants will not be available to collect starting in Season 15.

HERO UPDATES

TANK

Ramattra

• Developer Comment: Ramattra has been underperforming relative to other brawl tanks. Adding a small increase to his armor will provide a necessary boost without altering his core gameplay.
  • Base Armor increased from 75 to 100

Winston

• Developer Comment: Winston’s dive potential has been impacted by the increased health pools of enemies. By boosting the damage of the Tesla Cannon’s secondary fire and providing more ammo, this will allow Winston to follow up and finish off enemies without needing to reload as often.
  • Tesla Cannon
    • Ammo increased from 100 to 120
    • Secondary fire max charge damage increased from 50 to 60
  • Primal Rage
    • Ultimate ability cost increased by 12%

Hazard

• Developer Comment: We’re finding our newest tank’s mobility to be a little too hazardous. By decreasing Violent Leap’s cooldown, Hazard will have to be more selective with how he dives into the opponent backlines
  • Violent Leap
    • Violent Leap cooldown increased from 5 to 6 seconds.

DAMAGE

Echo

• Developer Comment: Echo has been slightly underperforming recently, so we are increasing the base damage of the Focusing Beam. This change will make it easier to push enemies into the critical health threshold.
  • Focusing Beam
    • Damage-per-second on targets above 50% HP increased from 50 to 75.

Tracer

• Developer Comment: Tracer has remained less threatening since the damage reduction to her Pulse Pistols. Reducing their spread will make her damage more consistent at slightly longer ranges.
  • Pulse Pistols
    • Spread decreased by 15%

SUPPORT

Ana

• Developer Comment: Recent changes to her rifle have made Ana a highly impactful support. Reducing the damage of her Biotic Grenade will adjust some of her breakpoints and slightly affect her self-sustainability.
  • Biotic Grenade
    • Explosion damage and healing decreased from 90 to 75.

Illari

• Developer Comment: lllari can struggle to heal allies without her Healing Pylon. Increasing the maximum resource of her secondary fire will allow her to support her team more effectively during those moments.
  • Solar Rifle
    • Secondary Fire Maximum resource increased from 3 to 3.5 seconds.

Juno

• Developer Comment: Juno’s ultimate remains too powerful when used effectively by her allies. Reducing both the duration and damage amplification will reduce the potency of the ultimate.
  • Orbital Ray
    • Duration reduced from 10 to 8 seconds
    • Damage amplification reduced from 35% to 30%

BUG FIXES

GENERAL

• Fixed an issue where competitive titles will sometimes unequip after a logout.

MAPS

Circuit Royal

• Fixed an issue which now prevents turrets from being placed inside the sportscars.

HEROES

Bastion

• Fixed in previous release, fixed an issue causing Bastion’s Ultimate to not have impact sounds or VFX.

Hazard

• Fixed an issue where Hazard’s Jagged Wall projectiles would pass through certain player made objects such as Cryo-Freeze, Ice Wall, Petal Platform.

Sombra

• Fixed an issue where Sombra’s EMP can sometimes fail to hit opponents if they had previously interacted with Jagged Wall.

Zenyatta

• Fixed an issue causing Zenyatta to T-Pose with the “Retro Hero” emote.

The post Overwatch 2 Season 14 Reveals Mid-Season Patch Notes appeared first on ComicBook.com.

During the Game Boy Advance era, a number of classic games were released, many of which would later be made available on future platforms. Not every game has been so lucky, however, forcing curious gamers to spend a lot of money if they want to play an under-the-radar favorite. Ninja Five-O is one such example, and the game’s value on the secondary market is pretty absurd, with loose copies commanding hundreds of dollars, and sealed or graded options commanding more than $1,000. Thankfully, a much cheaper option is on the way, as Ninja Five-O is coming to modern platforms.

Nearly a year after the game was announced for modern platforms, Konami has finally set a release date for Ninja Five-O on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, and PC. The game will receive a digital release on February 25th. Pre-orders are available right now, and the game will cost $24.99. Not only will players get a faithful recreation of the original GBA game, they can also look forward to some new improvements, including a time trial mode, saving and loading at any time, and a rewind feature.

While some gamers will always prefer having an original copy of a game, it’s nice that a lot more people will have a chance to experience what Ninja Five-O has to offer, without breaking the bank. The GBA version was released back in 2003, and was very well-received by reviewers at the time. It will be interesting to see what modern audiences think of Ninja Five-O after two decades, but we won’t have to wait much longer to find out.

For those unfamiliar with the game, Ninja Five-O puts players in the role of Joe Osugi, who happens to be both a ninja and a detective (the game’s European name was “Ninja Cop”). Joe works in Zipangu city, and is tasked with stopping terrorists that are being influenced by the mystical “Mad Masks.” On his quest, Joe will be forced to take down the Mad Masks and protect innocent people that they’ve taken hostage. In total, the game features five missions, which are divided into three levels and a battle with a Mad Mask boss.

RELATED: Nintendo Switch 2 Officially Revealed

With Ninja Five-O set to release next month, it will be interesting to see if more GBA games get a similar treatment. The system remains a fan favorite after all these years, and that’s in large part due to its library. While Nintendo has made a lot of its own GBA games available on Switch, the vast majority of third-party games have never gotten a second release. Titles like Sonic Advance, Gunstar Super Heroes, and Astro Boy: Omega Factor would seem like strong candidates, but we’ll have to wait and see what other games make the jump in the future.

Are you planning to check out Ninja Five-O next month? Did you ever play the game on the GBA? Share your thoughts with me directly on Twitter at @Marcdachamp, on Bluesky at @Marcdachamp, or on Instagram at @Dachampgaming!

The post Extremely Rare GBA Game Makes a Comeback Next Month appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Following reports last month, Paramount has now made it official: Sonic the Hedgehog 4 is in development. The movie will be released in theaters on March 19th, 2027. At this time, no additional details have been revealed. It feels like a safe bet that director Jeff Fowler will return, alongside Pat Casey and Josh Miller, who have been involved with writing all three movies in the series. However, nothing has been confirmed at this time. With just over two years to go until the film’s release, it’s a safe bet that we’ll learn a lot more in the coming months!

A fourth movie in the Sonic series was all but inevitable. The three films have generated more than a billion dollars at the global box office, and producer Toby Ascher has openly discussed future movies. There are still a lot of different Sonic characters to bring to the big screen, and a lot of potential stories that can be adapted from the Sega games. In fact, the post-credit scenes for Sonic the Hedgehog 3 made it pretty clear where things could go from here.

The most likely scenario is that Sonic the Hedgehog 4 will feature a storyline loosely adapting the events of Sonic CD. The Sega CD game is often considered one of the best to ever feature Sonic, and the game marked the debut of two very popular characters: Amy Rose and Metal Sonic. The first post-credit scene for Sonic the Hedgehog 3 saw Sonic speeding into a dark forest, where he was attacked by a large group of Metal Sonic robots. While the blue blur easily dispatched one of them, he quickly found himself surrounded. It’s at that point Sonic was given a helping hand by a mysterious hedgehog with a giant hammer, who was revealed to be Amy. Sonic CD‘s storyline featured a narrative centered on time travel, so it’s a safe bet that the movie version of Sonic may have found himself in the far future somehow.

RELATED: Sonic the Hedgehog 3 Actor Came Up With One of the Movie’s Best Lines

Presumably, the next entry in the Sonic movie series will see most (if not all) of the existing cast return. Ben Schwartz, Colleen O’Shaughnessey, and Idris Elba have all made it clear that they are interested in continuing along with the movies. Even Jim Carrey, who seemed to be planning a retirement after Sonic the Hedgehog 2, has remained open to returning for more films. One of the big questions is whether Keanu Reeves might also return as Shadow. While the character seemingly died in Sonic the Hedgehog 3, the final post-credit hinted that the character remains alive and well. There have been rumors that Paramount could be planning a spin-off featuring Shadow, which could take the form of a streaming series like Knuckles, or a solo film. For now, fans will have to wait and see!

Are you happy that we’re getting a fourth Sonic movie? What do you want to see from the next Sonic film? Share your thoughts with me directly on Twitter at @Marcdachamp, on Bluesky at @Marcdachamp, or on Instagram at @Dachampgaming!

[H/T: Variety]

The post Sonic the Hedgehog 4 Release Date Set by Paramount appeared first on ComicBook.com.

It’s time to crush some skulls Cimmerian style. Today, Netherrealm Studios released the newest DLC fighter for Mortal Kombat 1, Conan the Barbarian. Based on the warrior comic book/movie character of the same name, Conan joins the roster as a playable fighter. Alongside him, a few balancing fixes have been added to several fighters and Kameos, as well as ray tracing for many consoles.

RELATED: Mortal Kombat 1 Leak Reveals Previous Kombat Pack 3 Plans

His signature sword in hand, Conan the Barbarian is the newest addition to Mortal Kombat 1’s ever-growing character roster. He is part of the game’s second Fighter Pass, which launched with the release of Mortal Kombat 1: Khaos Reigns. Four (now five) of the six have been released, those being Noob Saibot, Cyrax, Sektor, and Scream’s Ghostface. The last fighter of the pack (and possibly the whole game) is Terminator 2’s T-1000, voiced by original actor Robert Patrick. Funnily enough, the Conan the Barbarian featured in the game is based off of Terminator lead Arnold Schwarzenegger, whose turn as Conan in the 80’s films served as the basis for his look. Unfortunately, Arnold is not reprising his role, as actor Chris Cox, who previously voiced MK11‘s Terminator, will fill his bloodied boots.

As mentioned before, Fighter Pass holders can play as the barbaric destroyer today with the new January Update. Of course, if you don’t have the pass, it’ll cost you an arm and a leg (which is around $7.99) and will go live next week. As for what players can expect outside of the new fighter for the main game, both the PC and PlayStation 5 Pro versions will get ray-tracing options. On top of some visual and localization fixes, new moves for Kitana and balancing for characters like Reiko and Ghostface have been added to make them much more playable so you can earn those Flawless Victories in style.

Here are the January 2025 patch notes for Mortal Kombat 1:

PC Steam & Epic Games Store

• Added Ray Tracing option via Settings > Graphics section for supported hardware to enable ray traced reflections on certain stages and characters.
• Added Display Language option via Settings > Video & Audio > Video section.
• Added Audio Language option via Settings > Video & Audio > Audio section.
• Added Reset Shaders Cache option via Settings > Graphics > Actions.
• Moved the Settings > Graphics AA Mode option to be nested in the Upscaling section to better indicate interaction with Upscaling Method option.
• Resolved an issue on boot with Windows Accounts containing certain text characters.
• Resolved various performance related issues during Fatality sequences.
• Resolved certain visual issues during various cinematic sequences.
• Resolved various UI elements being cutoff in certain cases.
• Resolved visual issues when playing at certain frame rates.
• Resolved error prompt when making a store purchase.
• Resolved issues with Voice Chat in some scenarios.
• Resolved an issue with input UI during Tutorials.
• Resolved issues with Steam overlay.
• Resolved various stability issues.
• Further optimized PSO Shader Cache generation flow.
• Improvements to Screen Reader in certain languages.
• Various localization updates and fixes.

Nintendo Switch

• Entering and exiting the pause menu during online practice no longer causes latency increases.
• Friends only tab in Kombat League should now populate correctly.

General Fixes & Adjustments

• Move list corrections & Localization fixes.
• AI adjustments & improvements.
• Improvements to Screen Reader functionality.
• Added Conan Fighter to Roster.
• Added Age of Conan skins for Ashrah, Baraka, & Geras.
• Fixed several visual issues during brutalities.

PlayStation 5 Pro

• Added Ray Tracing support for reflections.

Character Specific Adjustments

Main Fighters

Havik

• While Blood Bath tether is active it will continuously drain Havik’s health and grant him meter.
• Blood Bath now only possible when below 30% health.

Kitana

• Added new move (Air) Enhanced Fan Toss.
• Added new move (Air) Reverse Fan Toss.
• Added new move (Air) Enhanced Reverse Fan Toss.
• Added new move Wind Bomb Squall.

Raiden

• Added new move Electric Overcharge.
• Added new move Electric Discharge.

Reiko

• Added new move (Air) Reap The Whirlwind.
• Added new move (Air) Enhanced Reap The Whirlwind.
• Assassin Throwing Stars and Enhanced Assassin Throwing Stars are now destroyed by opponent’s projectiles.
• Pain Knee from Enhanced Charging Pain now has a different reaction.

Scorpion

• Fixed rare issue that could cause Sweeping Scorpion Tail (B+3) to sometimes do 3 hits when blocked or hit armor.

Shang Tsung

• When morphed into Ghostface and swapped to an Alternate Killer, Shang Tsung will no longer morph back until returned to Original Killer.
• Fixed specific sequence using Kameo Kopy to turn into Khameleon causing Kameo Kopy move to become disabled for an extended period.
• Fixed visual issue with Kameo Kopy interrupted at specific timing when opponent is using Ferra.
• Fixed rare issue that could occur during endurance fights that could cause lingering visuals when Shang Tsung is defeated.

Ermac

• Fixed some of Witch Slam, Enhanced Witch Slam, Behind You, and Too Late damage not correctly applying some damage buffs.

Cyrax

• Fixed an opponent caught in capture foam being able to sometimes go through Kameo Frost Ice Wall.

Sektor

• Fixed lingering sound effects on Bionic Blast (Hold 2) when losing a match.

Ghostface

• Fixed rare issues where Alternate Killer could be prevented from swapping back to Billy when hit by certain attacks on the same frame as Killer timer ran out.
• Fixed issues with stun attacks causing combo to reset if used at specific timing after Knife Toss Fakeout.
• Fixed temporary restriction preventing player from performing Knife Toss Fakeout
• Fixed missing sound effects on some attacks.
• Fixed missing sound effects when Alternate Killers are hit by some attacks.

Kameo Fighters

Darrius (Kameo)

• Fixed Darrius rapidly moving outside of the arena when performing Ground Invitational in certain corner circumstances.

Sektor (Kameo)

• Fixed issue that was causing Straight Missile Fatal Blow to not become invulnerable after hitting opponent.
• Straight Missile (Fatal Blow) now has 4 more startup frames when not in a combo & no longer has armor.

Scorpion (Kameo)

• Flame Aura has a different reaction against Kameos, deals extra damage, and adds a victim flame visual effects.
• Flame Aura can now hit airborne Kameos.
• Flame Aura drains 50% Kameo meter from the opponent if it hits an opponent’s Kameo.

Sub-Zero (Kameo)

• Fixed Deep Freeze facing wrong direction if performed at specific timing against a teleporting opponent.

Shujinko (Kameo)

• Shujinko can now perform Borrow: Psychotic Dive to Prone Stab against Ghostface.
• Fixed Mimic: Enhanced Backstage Pass when performed against Ghostface sometimes missing if the opponent is in the corner.

Motaro (Kameo)

• Fixed issue that was causing Charge! Fatal Blow to not become invulnerable after hitting opponent.
• Fixed Uppercut (Down + Back Punch) & Fatal Blow attacks doing incorrect damage against Motaro.

Tremor (Kameo)

• Attacks that cause push forward block reaction will now cause Crystal Armor hit reaction to push forward.

Ferra (Kameo)

• Fixed Uppercut (Down + Back Punch) & Fatal Blow attacks doing incorrect damage against Ferra.

The post Mortal Kombat 1 Releases Patch Notes for Conan the Barbarian Update appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance II is one of the hottest and most anticipated releases of 2025. The epic follow-up to Kingdom Come: Deliverance follows Henry’s journey where it left off, bringing an expanded world and new features. While the sequel is already looking to give fans a continued adventure in Bohemia, the expansion for Kingdom Come: Deliverance II is another way to continue Henry’s story further. There are multiple updates planned for Kingdom Come: Deliverance II, all of which are targeting a 2025 release. If developer Warhorse Studios is successful with this timeframe, 2025 will be excellent for Kingdom Come: Deliverance II well beyond its launch.

There are four updates listed in Kingdom Come: Deliverance II’s future roadmap. While Warhorse Studios has provided release windows, these dates may change over time. Here is what players can expect in Kingdom Come: Deliverance II’s post-launch content:

• Spring 2025 (Free Updates)
  • Barber Feature
  • Hardcore Mode
  • Horse Racing
• Summer 2025
  • Brushes With Death DLC
• Autumn 2025
  • Legacy of the Forge DLC
• Winter 2025
  • Mysteria Ecclesiae

The first free updates add smaller content to Kingdom Come: Deliverance II. These include the Barber feature, allowing fans to customize Henry’s look. Another is the return of Hardcore mode, which will fully challenge players as they travel through Bohemia. Lastly, Horse Racing is planned to arrive in Spring. The activity will be perfect for players to enjoy when not fighting for their lives.

RELATED: Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 Responds to LGBTQ Scene Controversy

The first major DLC content is titled Brushes With Death and is expected in the Summer of 2025. Not much is known about this DLC, but it features Henry looking on, perhaps a bit concerned, as an eccentric artist paints a skull. Warhorse Studio has teased it with “Help a mysterious artist with an enigmatic past.”

Following that, players can jump into the Legacy of the Forge DLC in the Autumn of 2025. The developer says this add-on will allow players to “restore Kuttenberg’s forge and become a master blacksmith.” Fans are beyond excited about this feature, especially considering it was cut from the original Kingdom Come: Deliverance.

The third DLC in Kingdom Come: Deliverance II’s expansion pass is the Mysteria Ecclesiae. This DLC is set to release in the Winter of 2025, and players will “explore Sedletz Monastery to stop the spread of a deadly illness.” It sounds ominous, and considering how brutally realistic Kingdom Come: Deliverance II is, a deadly illness does not bode well for Henry or Bohemia.

While Warhorse Studios has released the content roadmap with clear goals of when players can expect Kingdom Come: Deliverance II DLC, it is important to note these dates could shift. Anything can occur during development, meaning players should look at these dates as fluid and changeable.

Still, Warhorse Studios is quite confident in Kingdom Come: Deliverance II. The studio moved up the release date for the highly awaited sequel and confirmed release codes were sent out well in advance of the official release date. It has also shown off numerous features of the game, including an expansive wardrobe for Henry.

The post Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 Roadmap Lays Out DLC Schedule appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Within recent months, Nintendo updated the official timeline for the Legend of Zelda franchise, offering fans some additional clarity about Echoes of Wisdom. While the game featured a Hyrule heavily inspired by A Link to the Past, the game’s graphic style evoked the 2019 remake of Link’s Awakening. We finally have a specific answer from Nintendo, as the company revealed that Echoes of Wisdom takes place in the same timeline branch as those two games, only much further into the future. On one hand, it’s nice to have some clarity, but it also begs the question: does the Zelda timeline actually matter?

The Zelda timeline has been a topic of debate going back to A Link to the Past. That game essentially acted as a reboot of the series, with a new take on Link, and no prior knowledge needed from the first two games. Despite feeling disconnected, Nintendo long insisted that the SNES game was a prequel to the two NES Zelda games. Things got even more complicated with Ocarina of Time, which also seemed to reboot the series entirely from scratch. For a while, it seemed like Zelda was Nintendo’s equivalent to Final Fantasy; some games got direct sequels, and others simply maintained familiar elements between them. No one really complained too much, because the games were some of the best in the industry.

All of this changed with the release of The Legend of Zelda: Hyrule Historia in 2011. In that book, Nintendo offered a significant amount of background information about the series and finally laid out its official Zelda canon. The timeline quickly captured the attention of fans, as it established a definitive starting point (Skyward Sword), and three separate branches that all spun out from the time travel elements in Ocarina of Time. In the years since that book was published, Nintendo has added new games to the timeline, but has waffled a bit with Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, which exist outside the rest of the timeline. It remains to be seen whether we’ll see future Zelda games cut off from the timeline in a similar manner, or if the Breath of the Wild continuity was simply a one-off thing.

What’s interesting about the Zelda timeline is that the fans seem to put a lot more stock into it than Nintendo does. The company has often said that it focuses on gameplay first, and story second. Somehow though, when the company does find ways to link the games together, it comes across natural and it feels like there’s a real payoff for having invested in the series. The world map in Echoes of Wisdom is one such example, but there are other ways Nintendo has brought together disparate games. For example, The Wind Waker and Twilight Princess can be enjoyed without any knowledge of past games, but they also act as direct sequels to Ocarina of Time, but in different timeline branches. Having previous knowledge of the series greatly rewarded players in both of those cases.

While these ties between games are fun to look for, it feels like Nintendo’s own approach to the Zelda timeline is ultimately the best one. Timeline placement can often become an obsession for Zelda fans, and it often takes over a lot of the franchise discussion online. However, finding out that Echoes of Wisdom and A Link to the Past have some connectivity between them should be icing on the cake, rather than the full dessert. When I played Echoes of Wisdom, the map similarity wasn’t something I immediately put together. I was too invested in new additions like the Echoes system to worry about which games this one might (or might not) be connected to. Some fans might get frustrated that Nintendo has to answer timeline questions after the fact rather than in the game, but I’d rather see the gameplay mechanics remain the team’s primary focus.

RELATED: Nintendo Music Celebrates What Most Streaming Services Devalue

None of this is to say that fans shouldn’t care at all about the timeline. At the end of the day, Zelda fans should get whatever enjoyment they can out of the series, and if it feels more fulfilling when Nintendo keeps the games connected, that’s perfectly okay. However, fans shouldn’t let that take away from all the other elements that the developers have built up. Generally speaking, Nintendo has maintained a high level of quality across each Zelda entry. As long as that continues, the timeline should continue to remain an afterthought, both for Nintendo and for the fanbase.

Do you put a lot of stock into the Zelda timeline? Should Nintendo put more effort in connecting the various Zelda games? Share your thoughts with me directly on Twitter at @Marcdachamp, on Bluesky at @Marcdachamp, or on Instagram at @Dachampgaming!

The post Does the Zelda Timeline Actually Matter? appeared first on ComicBook.com.

A substantial new update for Fallout 76 has today been released for PlayStation, Xbox, and PC platforms. Earlier this morning, Bethesda took Fallout 76 offline so that it could implement its latest patch to the multiplayer-centric Fallout title. At the time, it wasn’t known exactly what the update would do to the game, but we now finally have those answers thanks to the official patch notes going live.

Downloadable now, update version 1.7.17.9 for Fallout 76 is the first one of 2025 and is one of the most extensive we’ve seen in months. The patch is roughly 15GB or more across all platforms and brings huge tweaks to C.A.M.P. while also fixing various bugs tied to certain quests and weapons. All in all, there isn’t much new content in this Fallout 76 update, but it should greatly improve the game as a whole.

To see everything that has been done with this new Fallout 76 update, you can view the patch notes below.

Fallout 76 Update 1.7.17.9 Patch Notes

Armor

• T-65 Tricentennial Paint now correctly states it works with the T-65 armor set.

Best Builds

• Fixed an issue where Liking or Unliking a Best Build would cause inconsistent text for the button.

C.A.M.P. and Workshops

• Improved Pet spawns so they would no longer get stuck at the border of camps.
• The vertical spacing between C.A.M.P. slots in the menu have been decreased appropriately.
• Fixed an issue preventing the Plastiform Blue Star from being built in camp.
• Fixed the Build menu icon for the Winter Retreat.
• Fixed the Build Menu icon for the Mounted Jackalope Head.
• Adjusted collision on the Winter Retreat.
• Fixed the build limit for Billboards.
• Fixed an abrupt transition when moving out of snow aurora weather.
• All instances of the Gleaming Depths Shelter are now consistently named.
• Counterfeit Bottle Cap Machine will now correctly generate Lead and Aluminum.
• Counterfeit Bottle Cap Machine no longer shares a build limit with campfires.
• Fixed an issue where some players could no longer build the Moe the Mole Safety Cutout despite knowing the plan.

ㄴ Dev Note: If you have not learned the recipe for the Mole Safety Cutout, it can be earned as a reward from Dangerous Pastimes.

Creatures

• Scorchbeast and Scorchbeast Queen no longer continuously fire their sonic blast attack.

Events

• During Seismic Activity, if the corpse of the Ultracite Titan remains from a previous run, it will now despawn before the next run.
• Plastiform rewards now correctly display “Activate” instead of “Use”.
• Fixed an issue causing Super Mutants to drop more caps than expected.

Gleaming Depths

• Mothman is no longer whispering in the Gleaming Depths.
• The electricity hazard on top of the EN06 Guardian’s platform will now become active sooner.
• Vulcan Research Lab health and progress bars are now localized.
• The electric field in the ENO6 Guardian fight has been expanded to cover the intended range on the guardian’s platform.
• Fixed an issue where the Epsilon Squad Trophy wasn’t being granted to players who completed the fight under the required time limit.

We are still investigating reports of performance issues within The Gleaming Depths raid. Thank you all so much for all your reports so far!

Items

• Added Mutation Suppression to the effect descriptions for Rad-X and Rad-X Diluted.

Quests

• The Ol’ Weston Shuffle: Fixed an issue that would prevent Johnny from shooting at the end of the quest.
• Hunter for Hire: Fixed an issue where Roper and Jacky were unresponsive to quest actions.
• Novice of Mysteries: Fixed a rare case where the quest could get stuck.

Weapons

• Fixed Cauterizer displaying static VFX when on a weapon rack.
• Adjusted the smoke effects of the Gauss Minigun.
• Revolutionary Sword now uses the correct melee weapon icon in the weapon wheel.
• Fixed an issue where colored baseball bats would not display their correct textures.
• The Description of the Lickety-Split weapon now correctly states that “Railway Spikes Shatter & Ricochet for up to 30 Damage”.

Miscellaneous Fixes

• “Mute Pings” and “Unmute Pings” are now localized.
• Fixed an issue where some players were unable to earn the Player Title “Vault” and “Dweller” despite completing vault 76.
• Supplies will correctly display in the Pip-Boy Currencies tab.
• Owned Nuclear Winter Player Icons will now appear again in the Atomic Shop.
• Fixed an issue which could cause V.A.T.S. firing to be misaligned on some ultrawide screens.
• Screen narration accessibility setting will now display correctly in all languages.
• The Motorized Butter Churn will now be found in the “Resources” tab of the workshop menu.
• Season Booster widget will now correctly display boosters carried over from the previous season.
• In the social menu there should no longer be a blue “shadow” being cast on the text of player names who are online.
• Fixed inconsistent capitalization in some legendary effect descriptions.
• Fixed a typo in the Golden Enclave Officer Outfit.
• Player Titles will no longer obscure the player’s face from a distance.
• Removed extra word “Outfit” from the name of Grim Reaper Outfit and Headwear.
• Nuka-World On Tour’s “Bottle Blaster” game now correctly calculates the Nuka-cade points earned.
• Fixed an issue that caused the Splash informational screen to not display correctly when launching the game on Xbox.
• Fixed an issue causing Mutated Party Packs to not drop after completing the mutated version of Safe and Sound.

Mods

• Updated the description for the One-Star “Bolstering” mod to correctly state that it ““Grants up to +35 Energy Resistance and Damage Resistance, the Lower Your Health. Currently +0” (Currently + will display the current value applicable for that player).
• Improved descriptions on the barrel mods for the Karma Syringer.
• Fixed an issue with duplicate text in many legendary effect descriptions.
• Electrician’s Four-Star mod now correctly persists after the player dies.

Perks

• Legendary Charisma now counts towards the Perk Sharing requirement.
• When attempting to share a Perk Card you do not meet Charisma requirements for, the required Charisma is now shown.

UI

• Four-Star Legendary flyouts will now display the correct mod and appear and disappear appropriately.
• Some Lunchbox effects now provide more informative descriptions in the Pip-Boy.
• Improved maximum quantity behavior on purchase window.
• Fixed an issue which could cause some UI overlap when viewing Item Statistics or Camp slots.
• Pip-Boy no longer shows 3D renderings of items after a list becomes empty.
• Updated UI of Ammo Per Shot to show currently instanced weapon rather than default weapon value.
• Fixed an issue which would cause the first letter to not display in the disclaimers for AP and Carry Weight Boosters.

The post Fallout 76 Receives First Update of 2025 With Extensive Patch Notes appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Mario is Nintendo’s mascot and one of the most iconic characters in all of gaming. He’s done it all, from his debut as a platforming master to playing sports, racing, fighting, and partying. Without a doubt, one of Mario’s greatest accomplishments is the ability to bring people together. Local multiplayer games are some of the best that Mario stars in, especially Mario Kart. The series is fun for all ages and has had some stellar entries, but has yet to hit its peak. As a result, the best Mario game is right there for Nintendo to make, and yet, the studio hasn’t done it and may never do it.

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is one of the best games in the series, and easily one of the most enjoyable multiplayer games. But how could Nintendo top it? The studio has deviated from the classic Mario Kart formula with Mario Kart: Double Dash, and even added in characters from other series like The Legend of Zelda, Animal Crossing, and Splatoon. Heck, there is so much content in the game with over 40 characters, 96 courses, and a boatload of vehicles and vehicle parts. How does Nintendo make a better Mario Kart?

RELATED: Super Mario Kart: The Beloved Nintendo Franchise Drifted On to SNES 32 Years Ago

The answer is simple: Mario Kart Maker. Imagine the ability and freedom to create courses using environments from the Mushroom Kingdom and beyond. With numerous Mario games, the possibilities are endless and Nintendo fans have shown their creativity in the past. Launching Mario Kart Maker on the Nintendo Switch 2 would solidify Nintendo as a champion of multiplayer games forever.

But Nintendo hasn’t made this leap yet, and the question is why? ModNation Racers on the PlayStation 3 proved it was possible to create a kart racer with player-led customization. ModNation Racers was praised for its ability to let players create their dream tracks but was held back by longer-than-average loading times and AI difficulty. But its multiplayer aspect with other players was where the game shined, especially when combined with its track creation feature.

ModNation Racers sadly never broke out to compete with the likes of Mario Kart Wii and Mario Kart 7, both of which released around the same time, and its servers went offline in 2018. Fans pushed back against the announcement of the servers being taken down, delaying the inevitable a few short months. But in the end, Sony took ModNation Racers down, and aside from a lackluster PS Vita sequel, the series remains in the dark.

With Nintendo’s pedigree, Mario Kart Maker could utilize the formula of ModNation Racers and knock it out of the track. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is easily one of the best kart racers of all time, and Nintendo could easily use that game’s structure to give players content creation abilities. The concept has been proven to work in ModNation Racers, and Nintendo’s own Super Mario Maker and Super Mario Maker 2 show the studio has the right ideas when giving players these creation tools.

RELATED: LEGO Reveals Mario Kart Sets

Even Super Smash Bros. Ultimate received the stage builder, allowing players to create custom stages to battle on with their favorite Nintendo characters. The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening remake also featured the ability to create dungeons, showing another step in Nintendo giving players more creation freedom. Aside from Super Mario Maker 2, Nintendo’s foray into giving players more control of creating their own content has been done with baby steps, but they’ve increasingly shown a willingness to do so.

This is why the time is right for Mario Kart Maker. Taking advantage of the Nintendo Switch 2’s increased hardware and implementing better online features would Mario Kart Maker the ultimate launch title for the Switch’s sequel.

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and the rest of the series have so many tracks and characters, Nintendo could give players one of the most content-packed games in the series. Allowing players to use a track editor to further increase the content, by sharing custom tracks with others and playing them online, would bring new life to the series. Mario Kart Maker practically prints money and would help push the launch of a new console.

That said, implementing a track editor into Mario Kart would be an impressive undertaking. Comparing the 2D tilesets of Super Mario Maker 2 with the 3D tracks and environments of a single Mario Kart course, the level of detail is completely different. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe features 96 courses, each with a unique identity and assets. Even trying to recreate a fraction of these and let players design their courses would be incredibly difficult.

ModNation Racers handled this by releasing various track themes, and then supplying props and decorations based on selected themes. Players could then draw their track’s path and implement AI pathing. Once the track had been constructed, or during this phase, players could place props, alter heights, include ramps, and more. These tracks could then be uploaded and downloaded, allowing players across the world to enjoy them.

A similar system could work for Mario Kart Maker. Nintendo could include a handful of themes at launch, likely covering the most standard themes such as grassland, desert, arctic, jungle, metropolitan, and space, as this would give players access to designs many of the official tracks use. Within these themes, there could be subcategories, such as metropolitan, which could have different settings to create tracks like Toad Harbor, Neo Bowser City, or any of the Mario Kart Tour tracks that were later added to Mario Kart 8 Deluxe.

By including a handful of themes at launch, Nintendo would give players a base variety to use when designing tracks. These could be expanded through DLC, adding new themes and props. Nintendo showed DLC works with Mario Kart 8 Deluxe’s Booster Course Pass, and something similar would work in Mario Mart Maker. Nintendo could even incentivize DLC by adding tracks and then allowing players to take the themes of those tracks to make their own content.

Nintendo could incorporate a single-player mode similar to that of Super Mario Maker 2 with tracks the studio created along with a charming story. This would introduce players to the game and its mechanics, while still allowing Nintendo to showcase its own creativity and track design. Pairing a strong single-player with robust creation features would make Mario Kart Maker stand out against any other kart racer.

But will Nintendo do it and finally create Mario Kart Maker? No one knows, but the likely answer is probably not. Nintendo has been reluctant to give players too much freedom within its games, to the point where fans have believed that Nintendo wants to control how they have fun. Unleashing Mario Kart Maker would give fans unprecedented control of kart racing in the Mario universe and would be harder to regulate.

Nintendo is quick to take down content they don’t agree with, including fan-made games and even levels in Super Mario Maker 2 that infringe on Nintendo’s guidelines. There is no doubt players would make inappropriate tracks in Mario Kart Maker, which could be one reason Nintendo has been hesitant to create such a game.

The Mario Kart series has had its spin-offs, including the mobile title Mario Kart Tour and the VR game Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit. Even arcade versions of Mario Kart have appeared, showing Nintendo isn’t afraid to experiment with the series. Other spin-offs and titles have been canceled though, including the likes of VB Mario Kart, Mario Kart XXL, and Mario Motors.

Mario Kart 8 and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe sit among the best-selling video games of all time, despite only being available on the Wii U and Nintendo Switch, proving how much fans love the racing franchise. There is no doubt releasing Mario Kart Maker would smash these records. If Nintendo goes through with Mario Kart Maker and includes both single-player and multiplayer, it has the potential to be the best game ever made featuring Mario.

Mario Kart Maker would be a dream come true for fans and Nintendo would be smart to consider creating it. But it does leave another question: If Nintendo makes Mario Kart Maker, where does it go from there? It’s not impossible to have both Mario Kart Maker and Mario Kart 9, similar to how Nintendo has Super Mario Maker 2 and Super Mario Bros. Wonder, but the fanbase may be divided forever between fan-made content and Nintendo-made content.

Ultimately, there is no telling what the Nintendo Switch 2 holds for the future. Porting Mario Kart 8 Deluxe to the Nintendo Switch certainly brought joy to many players and showed how wonderful the game is, but it may have stopped any chance of a new entry on the Nintendo Switch. With luck, the newly revealed Mario Kart 9 won’t prevent a Mario Kart Maker from also being possible on Switch 2.

The post Nintendo Could Make the Best Mario Kart Game if It Learns From PlayStation appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Horizon: Zero Dawn launched what would become a flagship series for PlayStation. The unique post-apocalyptic world full of tribal people and robotic creatures quickly captured fans and they delighted in its open world. Since then, the series has expanded with Horizon: Forbidden West, Horizon: Call of the Mountain, Lego Horizon Adventures, and an upcoming film based on the series. Developer Guerrilla has been eager to share new projects, including an online live service game. However, news has broken amidst other cancellations that the upcoming Horizon multiplayer game has been canceled. This news has caused some panic among fans as yet another PlayStation title has been canned.

The Horizon game that has now been canceled is the under-development Horizon MMO. This title was being developed by NCsoft and would have been an online MMO set within the Horizon: Zero Dawn universe. The title was reportedly going to be a mobile title, available on mobile gaming devices and PlayStation 5, but it is no longer planned for release.

RELATED: Next Horizon Game May Release in 2025 (And It’s Not Horizon 3)

Not much was known about the upcoming Horizon MMO, but fans were less excited about the project considering it was planned for mobile. Still, fans had made assumptions about its nature based on NCsoft’s previous titles, such as Cities of Heroes. It seems the project was canceled due to financial reasons with recent firings at the company and the servers being shut down to back this up.

While many believe the canceled title was Guerilla Games’ upcoming live service Horizon game, this is not true. The Horizon MMO was going to be a different entry with different gameplay. Guerilla Games’ forthcoming live service game is still being developed, meaning fans can rest easy as they await the studio’s next game.

Reports indicate the Horizon live-service game will be a multiplayer title with gameplay similar to Monster Hunter. If this is the case, players will likely work together to take down large machines to gather parts, which can then be used to create new weapons and armor.

This seems likely, as this feature is already a part of the original games. The worlds of Horizon Zero Dawn and Horizon Forbidden West are perfect for this kind of gameplay, especially with multiplayer. The timing seems to be good too, as the live-service Horizon game will be following in the footsteps of Monster Hunter Wilds. If spaced out enough, it can fill a void left after players complete Capcom’s monster-hunting title.

Between the upcoming Horizon live-service game and the Horizon film, fans are in luck. The franchise is still going strong despite the cancellation of the Horizon MMO. Aloy has become a major icon for PlayStation along with her games and fans are trying to determine who will play the character in the upcoming movie.

The post Horizon MMO Reportedly Cancelled by PlayStation appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Pokemon TCG Pocket has quickly become one of the most popular mobile games while netting huge profits. Since release, developers DeNa and Creatures Inc. have been knocking support for the game out of the park via free rewards and numerous events. While fans are still hopeful for quality-of-life features, they’ve been enjoying the post-launch support. Not to let up on the gas, new rewards have been revealed for Pokemon TCG Pocket, though they can only be claimed in an interesting way. Players will have to make a special trip if they want to get these rewards, but they can also get a tasty snack along with them.

McDonald’s is offering a limited-time collaboration with Pokemon TCG Pocket. The event is running alongside the physical Pokemon TCG event, which gives players physical cards when ordering from the restaurant. Not to be outdone, Pokemon TCG Pocket fans can also head to McDonald’s to get free rewards.

RELATED: Pokemon TCG Cards are Now Back at McDonald’s

McDonald’s is offering a promotion where players can get 24 Pack Hourglasses and 12 Wonder Hourglasses for Pokemon TCG Pocket. To claim this reward, players must order a McDonald’s Happy Meal through the McDonald’s app. Fans must first opt-in for emails in the McDonald’s app, or they will not receive the codes.

Only one code can be used per Pokemon TCG Pocket account, meaning ordering multiple Happy Meals will not let you use multiple codes on a single account. They can be redeemed on multiple Pokemon TCG Pocket accounts, however, so feel free to share the codes. Unfortunately, these codes will not allow players to quickly amass Pack and Wonder Hourglasses for themselves.

Pack Hourglasses are used to open Pokemon TCG Pocket packs. Players can get a free pack opening each day, but Pack Hourglasses can be used to speed up this process and open more packs. Wonder Hourglasses are used to do in-game Wonder Picks. Wonder Picks in Pokemon TCG Pocket are used to select one card from among five, increasing the odds of getting a particular card versus opening packs.

McDonald’s is celebrating the Pokemon collaboration with a special Pokemon-themed game on the official McDonald’s Happy Meal website. Physical Pokemon TCG players can enjoy the fifteen cards available in Happy Meals while Pokemon TCG Pocket fans can enjoy the digital rewards.

An unspoken perk of the collaboration is the adorable Pokemon-themed items. The Happy Meal box features Pokemon designs, including Charizard, Salamence, Rayquaza, and Dragonite. Additional food items inside also feature Pokemon-themed designs on the packaging. Collectors will love the attention to detail with this McDonald’s and Pokemon collaboration.

There is no specified end date on the Pokemon and McDonald’s collaboration, only a disclaimer noting the rewards are limited-time while supplies last. This event follows the conclusion of the Sonic and McDonald’s collaboration, which has led to speculation that another collaboration will follow ending this one. When the Pokemon collab and rewards ends remains to be seen, so fans should head to their nearest McDonald’s while it is active.

The post Pokemon TCG Pocket Players Get Free Rewards from McDonald’s appeared first on ComicBook.com.

In Sonic the Hedgehog 3, found family is a major theme. It runs through nearly every arc in the film, connecting the characters in often surprising ways. One of the most important scenes in the movie features an interaction between Tails and Agent Stone, played by Colleen O’Shaughnessey and Lee Majdoub, respectively. In an interview with ComicBook to coincide with the movie’s home release, Majdoub talked about that scene, and how it factors into the film’s overall narrative. While it’s an important scene, it starts off humorously, with Stone awkwardly telling Tails how adorable he is. Interestingly enough, Majdoub is the one that came up with that line, and its execution in the film.

“There was something that I suggested to [director Jeff Fowler]. It was kind of like, hey what do you think if we actually open that scene up with a very serious delivery of something like ‘hey, you’re adorable.’ The pitch was also like, the fans know it, we all know it. Nobody says it. I think Stone would be a great character to say that. And just like deadpan, super serious,” said Majdoub. “Jeff loved it, and we went with it, and I give myself a little bit of a pat on the back for that one. The way that scene opens up with that, fans have loved it. Sitting in theaters, hearing them laugh, hearing them woop in that moment. I didn’t know it was going to be important, but I definitely like that those two characters had a moment to click.”

As the two characters chat briefly, the movie establishes the key differences between how Sonic views Tails, and how Ivo Robotnik (Jim Carrey) treats Stone. The scene between Tails and Stone precedes Ivo reuniting with his long lost grandfather Gerald (also played by Jim Carrey). Once the two Robotniks meet, Stone finds himself largely replaced by Gerald, and that plot point carries on through the end of the film. While talking to ComicBook, Majdoub addressed the toxicity of the relationship between the two villains, and how his own view on Robotnik’s treatment of Stone greatly differs from the way Stone sees it.

“Lee Majdoub thinks it’s a toxic relationship for sure. Stone… I don’t know if Stone necessarily sees it as that toxic. I think there’s definite times where he wishes he was seen a little bit more. But I have my own ideas as to why he is so loyal to Robotnik. I think he sees something in Robotnik, or saw something in Robotnik that nobody else saw. I think even though it is abusive, he does get neglected, in my mind sometimes I ask myself ‘does he feel more seen by Robotnik than he has been by the world?'”

RELATED: Sonic Rumble Is Giving Out a Sonic Movie Freebie, But There’s a Catch

With a fourth Sonic the Hedgehog movie seemingly in development, it will be interesting to see how Stone’s character evolves from here. Robotnik seems a lot more appreciative of Stone by the end, which is a stark contrast to what we’ve seen since the first movie. However, the doctor’s fate is left unclear by the time the credits roll. Carrey has left the door open for returning in future Sonic movies, so it’s possible we could see him back, and that the interactions between Robotnik and Stone could be quite different from here on!

SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 3 arrives to buy or rent on Digital January 21, 2025 and will debut on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, and DVD on April 15.

Have you checked out Sonic the Hedgehog 3 yet? Are you surprised that Majdoub came up with that line? Share your thoughts with me directly on Twitter at @Marcdachamp, on Bluesky at @Marcdachamp, or on Instagram at @Dachampgaming!

The post Sonic the Hedgehog 3 Actor Came Up With One of the Movie’s Best Lines (Exclusive) appeared first on ComicBook.com.

After nearly two years of waiting, Rainbow Six Siege players get what they requested. The tactical team-based shooter has received the next batch of patch notes, including some nerfs and buffs for certain guns and operators. Rainbow Six Siege hasn’t had an update since November 2024, which focused on the Y9S3 Mid-Season Roadmap. As fans have requested, the Sledge operator and the G36C weapon will be getting a buff, making it easier for players to run around faster and reduce vertical and lateral recoil. Many have complained that the Sledge was hard to control due to its lack of speed since 2023.

Other features included in the Y9S4.2 patch notes cover operator balancing such as reduced recovery time for Oryx and new and removed tools for Kapkan, as well as buffed damage for the TCSG12 and Slug Shotgun reductions. Bug fixes within the patch go over fixes for level design, operators, and gameplay.

RELATED: Rainbow Six Siege Releases Master Chief Skin

Here is what you can expect from the Y8S4.2 patch notes for Rainbow Six Seige.

Y9S4.2 PATCH SIZE

Find the download sizes for each platform below.

• Ubisoft Connect: 1.58 GB
• Steam: 1.3 GB
• Xbox One: 1.73 GB
• Xbox Series X: 1.87 GB
• PlayStation®4: 2.27 GB
• PlayStation®5: 1.53 GB

OPERATOR BALANCING

ORYX

• Reduced recovery time when dashing to 0.2 seconds (from 0.5).
• Reduced recovery time when dashing against a wall to 0.3 seconds (from 0.5).
• Reduced recovery time when dashing against an enemy to 0.1 seconds (from 0.5).

KAPKAN

• Removed Nitro Cell.
• Added Barbed Wire.

LESION

• Mines’ refill time increased to 30 seconds (from 25).
• Reduced max. mines to 8 (from 9).

BUCK

• Removed Hard Breach Charge.
• Added Claymore.

RAM

• Removed ITA12S.

SLEDGE

• Reduced Health to 2 (from 3) and increased Speed to 2 (from 1).

WEAPON BALANCING

TCSG12

• Damage: 75hp (from 63).

G36C

• Reduced vertical recoil.
• Reduced lateral recoil.

WEAPON CALIBERS

• Slug’s destruction reduced.

WEAPON CLASSES

• Slug Shotguns’ damage drop off start at 15 meters (from 25).
• Slug Shotguns’ damage drop off end at 25 meters (from 35).
• Slug Shotguns’ damage drop off minimum to 60% (from 70).

BUG FIXES

GAMEPLAY

• FIXED – Match doesn’t end when reaching majority of votes to cancel the round.
• FIXED – Observation Tools have no signal when deployed on the edge of any surface if the player is moving sideways.

LEVEL DESIGN

• FIXED – Red walls denoting defender area restrictions can be vaulted through during the end of the Preparation Phase.
• FIXED – Operators are able to move on top of a shed after standing on a bench and forcing collision with a garden gnome in the EXT APC Area on the House map.
• FIXED – Hatch isn’t completely destroyed by explosions in 1F Lounge on the Kanal map.
• FIXED – Players can move on top of a vending machine using Azami’s Kiba Barrier in 2F Break room on the Border map.

OPERATORS

• FIXED – Blackbeard’s Breach ability can be used while in guard break in a specific timing.
• FIXED – Rappel hook remains in player’s hand after using Ash’s Breaching Round while rappelling.
• FIXED – Blackbeard’s primary weapons statistics compare to the H.U.L.L Deployable Shield instead of each other.
• FIXED – Blackbeard’s MK17 CQB’s iron sight clips through the player camera while aiming down sight.
• FIXED – “Additional Magazines” and “Magazine Size” are listed as “0” in the Blackbeard’s Loadout menu.
• FIXED – Bullet damage disappears from Blackbeard’s H.U.L.L. Deployable Shield when Blackbeard aims down sights.
• FIXED – Blackbeard’s H.U.L.L. Deployable Shield breaks guard when Blackbeard dashes and is hit with a melee attack at the same time.
• FIXED – Blackbeard’s H.U.L.L. Deployable Shield and equipped weapon isn’t highlighted when Blackbeard spawns on the map when viewed in caster mode.
• FIXED – “Enter” prompt allows Osa to breach undamaged barricades while rappelling with the Talon-8 Clear Shield equipped.

USER EXPERIENCE

• FIXED – Tachanka’s Elite Slava Korolyu skin isn’t available in the Weapon Skins menu for the Bearing 9 Machine Pistol.
• FIXED – Breach Charge information hasn’t been updated to reflect current season changes in the Battle Pass menu.

AUDIO

• FIXED – Blackbeard’s sprint SFX is out of sync with the animation.

The post Rainbow Six Siege Update Finally Buffs Sledge & More in New Patch Notes appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Marvel Rivals has burst onto the gaming scene and exploded in popularity with its iconic cast of heroes and villains from Marvel as well as its engaging hero shooter gameplay. The core gameplay loop is reminiscent of Overwatch and Overwatch 2, and fans are always eager to see what comes next in the game. Developer NetEase has been quick to provide updates to the game, including characters, skins, and more. The latest update revealed by Marvel Rivals showcases a new game mode coming to the cross-platform game, and NetEase has shown off the gameplay players can expect in the upcoming game mode.

This game mode comes just in time to celebrate the Spring Festival giving players a way to celebrate the Chinese event. In addition to the new game mode, NetEase is adding a bunch of other goodies as well. With its limited time, players will want to check out the Clash of Dancing Lions game mode on January 23 when it drops.

RELATED: Marvel Rivals Hero Luna Snow Joins Doctor Doom’s Team in New Series

The Spring Festival Clash of Dancing Lions game mode in Marvel Rivals features gameplay similar to Rocket League and Overwatch’s LucioBall. Teams consist of three players, and it looks like players can choose between Iron Fist, Starlord, and Black Widow.

Players must work together to take a Spring Festival-themed ball to the opposing side of the court and score. Each player can use their character’s abilities to try and score a goal while protecting their own. Teamwork will be crucial in the Clash of Dancing Lions game mode.

Using Iron Fist, Star-Lord, and Black Widow’s abilities will allow players to steal the ball from opposing players and take it down the field. Star-Lord’s flight will come in handy, but players will need to watch out for Iron Fist’s flying kicks. Black Widow can quickly sprint down the field and score a goal against unsuspecting teams.

In addition to the game mode, NetEase is adding various unique rewards. The standout reward is the free Star-Lord costume seen in the trailer, which is likely earned by playing the game mode similar to the Jeff the Shark costume. A nameplate and much more are also planned as part of these unique rewards.

A gallery card customization event is also coming with the update, titled Fortune & Colors. What is included in this is yet unclear, but it will likely share the same theme as the Spring Festival and Clash of the Dancing Lions. Whatever it is, more content is always a plus for Marvel Rivals fans.

The event is scheduled to begin on January 23, at 1 AM PST. No word has been given for how long the event will run, but this will likely be revealed when the Clash of Dancing Lions event goes live. Lucioball may be gone until the summer, but fans can check out Marvel Rivals’ new game mode in the meantime!

The post Marvel Rivals Trailer Reveals New Game Mode Releasing This Week appeared first on ComicBook.com.

While Castlevania: Nocturne takes place three hundred years after the events that saw Trevor Belmont and Sypha fighting against the forces of darkness, the sequel series did have one major element bridging the two series together. Alucard, the son of Dracula, was able to make a comeback to aid Richter Belmont and his allies thanks to his own immortality. With the second season recently hitting Netflix, fans, and the creators themselves, are wondering if Nocturne will receive a season three. Should the supernatural series continue, a beloved storyline might be hitting the small screen from the video games.

In an interview with outlet Collider, Castlevania: Nocturne directors Adam and Sam Deats discussed the second season and what they hope to do in the Belmont universe’s future. To start, Adam Deats hinted at the supernatural locale’s bigger universe at large, “You know, the Castlevania universe is a big place. Lots of places to go with it. There are definitely things that Sam and I would like to do, for sure. I think that we would like to do a Season 3, but there are a lot of things that could be done and places we could go. So who can say? I don’t know. The Netflix gods and the audience need to define that for us and help us figure out where we’re going next.”

[RELATED: Castlevania: How Nocturne Sets Up Season 3]

Symphony of The Nocturne

Samuel Deats took the chance to confirm that the pair would love to tackle Symphony of The Night in the animated series, and even went so far as to state that they laid the foundation for it, “Certainly, we have tried to set the stage for and have always wanted to do a Symphony of the Night adaptation. But, as Adam said, there is a broad universe in Castlevania. This isn’t our first rodeo when it comes to the question mark in between seasons. When the second season of the original series came out, there was a couple-month lull where we were just waiting to find out if we were going to keep going with the series. Same thing happened after Season 4. There was interest in continuing Castlevania, but there was a question mark about it then, as well. I think there’s still a lot of confidence in the franchise as a whole, so we’ll see how things play out over the coming weeks. Regardless, I think there’s still a lot of love and a lot of places to go with the series that I think fans would love to see.”

What is Symphony Of The Night?

For those who might need an introduction, or refresher, to Castlevania: Symphony of The Night, the video game is often considered to be one of, if not the, best entries in the franchise. Placing players into the shoes of Alucard, the original PlayStation game saw Richter Belmont controlled by an evil priest. The villainous Shaft was attempting to destroy the Belmont Clan while also looking for a way to once again bring Dracula back from the dead.

Many of Castlevania: Nocturne’s characters do have a role to play in Symphony Of The Night, so it’s easy to understand how this storyline could be the focal point for a potential third season. Unfortunately, Netflix has yet to confirm what the future of the supernatural animated series is following its second two arrival.

Want to see if Symphony of The Night makes its way to Netflix’s series? Follow along with Team Anime on ComicBook.com for all the latest updates on Castlevania: Nocturne and feel free to hit me up directly @EVComedy to talk all things comics and anime.

Via Collider

The post Castlevania: Nocturne Creators Hint At Anticipated Future Video Game Storyline In Season 3 appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Xbox has been plentiful and creative with the controllers it releases starting back during the original Xbox era and now up to the Xbox Series X, giving fans options beyond standard colors. But controllers, especially limited-design ones, only come around so often, so fans typically love seeing what the company comes up with. The first limited-edition controller of the year has officially been announced, however, a new, red take on Xbox’s translucent line of Cipher controllers now up for preorders ahead of its release.

Fans will recognize the design of this special edition Xbox controller, but it is sporting a new look. Its predecessors, the Sky Cipher and Ghost Cipher Xbox controllers, made quite a splash on release, and this controller is expected to do the same.

RELATED: Wolverine Gets His Own “Cheeky” Xbox Controller Following Deadpool Design

The upcoming Pulse Cipher Special Edition Controller sports a similar design to the Sky and Ghost Cipher but has a bold transparent red color. With the transparent casing, fans can look inside the controller and spot its silver midframe and the mysteries within. Microsoft states this about the controller, “This vibrant design and colorway make a bold statement where modern gaming meets enduring nostalgia.”

The Pulse Cipher Special Edition Xbox Controller is available for pre-order at $74.99. It will be available on February 2nd, and retailers are planning to carry stock in addition to pre-orders. For those who don’t want to leave the comfort of their gaming room, the Pulse Cipher can be ordered online at the Microsoft Store.

The studio further details the ” including red, diamond-shaped rubberized grips, dark red accents across the bumpers, buttons, and two-toned thumbsticks, a metallic hybrid D-pad, and matching metallic triggers.” The controller certainly looks great and will be a great way to complete the Xbox Cipher Controller set.

Like other wireless Xbox controllers, the Pulse Cipher Controller can connect to Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One consoles, PC, iOS, or Android. It features a 3.5mm audio jack and up to 40 hours of battery life off a single charge. A dedicated share button is included so players can easily share screenshots and recordings with their friends.

For those who enjoy collecting each variant of the Xbox controller, this is a must-have. No word has been mentioned regarding the Pulse Cipher and limited availability or limited stock, but one can never be too careful. By pre-ordering this upcoming controller, Xbox fans can ensure they receive the special edition controller.

Both the Sky Cipher and Ghost Special Edition Controllers are still available for Xbox and other devices, so it can be safe to assume the Pulse Cipher Special Edition Controller will likewise be available after release. Be sure to check out local retailers or online stores and grab yours to stand out while you play your favorite Xbox games.

The post Xbox’s New Special Edition Controller Revealed as Pre-Orders Begin appeared first on ComicBook.com.

The original Pokemon Labyrinth board game is loads of fun, not to mention super cheap at only $19.84 (34% off) here on Amazon at the time of writing. However, you won’t be able to catch a damn thing if you play it in a dark room. That’s where the new glow-in-the-dark edition comes in. You can order a copy here on Amazon now for $19.94 (34% off) as part of a Lightning Deal that will expire when 100% claimed. It launched this past October 15th, and the current price is the lowest offered to date. Details about the game can be found below.

The original Labyrinth board game from Ravensburger launched in 1986, and it involves players attempting to collect their treasure from an ever-shifting maze before the other players. On their turn, players can shift the maze to either create a path for them, or to block routes of other players. Because the maze is always changing, the game has a high replayability factor. Over the years, a number of themed versions of the game have been released, but the Pokemon version of Labyrinth, you’ll play as Pikachu, Bulbasaur, Squirtle, or Charmander in an attempt to capture Starter Pokemon like Snorlax, Gengar, Eevee while blocking your opponents. The one that catches the most Pokemon wins, and this time they can’t hide in the dark!

You can check out additional versions of Labyrinth here on Amazon. The lineup includes versions inspired by Harry Potter, Disney, Super Mario Bros, and more. 

The official description of Pokemon Labyrinth reads: “Some of the most famous Pokemon have been hiding in this crazy maze. With the popular Pokemon such as Pikachu, Bulbasaur, Charmander, and Squirtle, players have to move the paths so skillfully in this simple strategy game that they can collect other Pokemon. At the end of the day, if you catch the most Pokemon in this board game, you win! Be the first to find all your characters by shifting the walls of the labyrinth to create a clear path. Players take turn to search the Labyrinth for their characters by carefully moving through the constantly changing maze. The character cards are divided between the players, without revealing them to the other players. The maze cards are randomly placed on the playing board and the first player uses the extra card to start moving the first wall. It is up to you to strategically move the walls so you can collect your Pokemon whilst blocking the path for the other players. This game is full of magical and addictive family fun.”

The post Pokemon Labyrinth GITD Board Game Lightning Deal Is On appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Electronic Arts and DICE have released the first new update for Battlefield 2042 in 2025. For the most part, support for BF2042 in recent months has been winding down as DICE has started to turn its attention toward the next Battlefield game, which reportedly could be titled Battlefield 6. And while Battlefield 6 could arrive as soon as this year, DICE is still making sure that support for Battlefield 2042 hasn’t completely fallen by the wayside just yet.

Related: Battlefield Boss Talks Possibility of New Game Releasing on Nintendo Switch 2

As of this moment, update version 8.4.0 for Battlefield 2042 is available to download across PlayStation, Xbox, and PC platforms. This patch most notably brings the M3A3 Bradley and the BMP-2 vehicles into BF2042, both of which stem from previous Battlefield games. In addition, a new Frontlines Unlocked game mode has also been added and will be followed by an Unlocked version of Conquest going live next week. Lastly, and expectedly, this update is also filled with numerous bug fixes and other tweaks associated with various weapons, vehicles, and gameplay mechanics in BF2042.

To get a full look at everything that has been altered in this new Battlefield 2042 update, you can find the lengthy patch notes attached below.

Battlefield 2042 Update 8.4.0 Patch Notes

Changelog

Battlefield 2042 IFV’s – M3A3 Bradley & BMP-2

Developer comment: The changes to the Bradley and BMP-2 will affect the new additions to the Battlefield 2042 roster, and do not include the versions usable in Portal.

• Added a new slot for both vehicles to open up the possibility to mix and match different loadouts.
• Added visual effects for systemic damage on the IFVs.
• Improved visibility of driver first-person views when second seat gunner rotates.
• Both vehicles are now using a 4 seat configuration down from 6, in order to better fit in the category they are set in.
• IFVs armor-piercing shell now penetrates the dozer shield.
• The primary cannon of the IFV’s velocity increased by 10%.
• Increased damage of armor-piercing shell vs Soldier body.
• Various abilities have been moved between slots to allow for specific vehicle builds.
• Added active protection system for both IFVs.
• Added thermal weapons for passengers of the IFVs.
• Updated the mesh along with various other changes to the art for the Bradley and BMP to better fit in with the Battlefield 2042 world.
• Added coax weapon and mesh for the Bradley. 
• Additional abilities and weapons:
  • Shared loadout
    • Primary: 25mm cannon
    • Secondary weapons:
      • New to Bradley: Coax machine gun, Guided missile, APFSDS-T Sabot Shells
      • TOW
    • Gunner:
      • New: HMG with Thermal scope.
      • HMG
    • Equipment slot 1:
      • Thermal Smoke Package
      • Active Armor
      • Improved warhead
    • Equipment slot 2:
      • New: Repair System 
      • New Active Protection System
    • Equipment slot 3:
      • New: Stealth Package
      • Quick reload – see balance changes below
      • Maintenance – see balance changes below
      • Proximity scan – tweaked version of previously electronic warfare package.
• Ability changes:
  • Improved warhead
    • Now deals 25% more damage on impact and blast damage.
      Developer comment: Previously was only on impact. This is to double down on the glass cannon build when configured with this ability.
    • Vehicle armor is now compromised when using this ability and will take more damage than usual. 
      Developer comment: This also supplements the glass cannon build.
    • All weapons on the vehicle now benefit from this ability, not just primary weapons.
  • Stealth Package
    • New: Now hides the vehicle from most spotting attempts. 
    • New: Hides the vehicle from thermal optics.
    • Lock on weapons take longer to lock on to the vehicle – same functionality players know from Thermal Camo in Portal.
  • Maintenance
    • Shortens the time it takes for the natural health regen to kick in, it repairs the vehicle at a higher rate and it also applies on each systemic damage of vehicle so broken system will be back online quicker.
  • Quick Reload Package
    • It now applies on all vehicle weapons (previously only applied on primary weapons), weapons such as the COAX that do not use a reload or replenish will instead have a longer up time before reaching overheat threshold.
  • Active Armor
    • It applies on both vehicle armor and each system, requiring all vehicle systems to take additional damage before breaking.
  • Guided Missile
    • Added the possibility to fire and lock on after in order to open up opportunities for new gameplay moments. 
      Developer comments: We will monitor this change and evaluate its impact going forward.
• Increased impact damage of primary cannon from 32 to 48
• Improved mobility on both IFV’s, it should now be easier to move from stand still position and turning at various speeds.
• Added new minimap and in world icon for the IFVs.
• Guided missiles fired by the IFV will  no longer lock on air vehicles, unless a teammate designates the air vehicle.
• Updated the distance and angle locking criteria for the guided missiles on IFVs.
• Proximity scan now has a 20m radius and functions for both infantry and explosives.
• Updated FoV for IFVs’ passengers.
• Improved zoom view on the IFV to be compatible with other Battlefield 2042 vehicles.
• IFVs now use the same material and damage model as other vehicles of the same type.
• The M3A3 Bradley now has zoom on the port weapons.
• Updated camera position and aim constraints on all seats for both new IFVs.
• Fixed an issue that shots with steep angles wouldn’t deal consistent damage.
• Added new UI elements for the guided missile of the IFVs to support their behavior and readability.
• Added new impact hit audio elements depending on which ability is equipped for the IFVs to help readability.
  • For example, when using Improved Warhead, your vehicle has less armor than usual, therefore damage sounds will be more noticeable.
• Missile arm activates when using both tow or guided missiles.
• Improved flying characteristics of tow and guided missiles on IFVs.
• Added new icons for passive abilities.
• Added landing boosters for the IFVs when called in via the call-ins menu.
• Added BMP-2 and Bradley to the end of round screen.
• Updated position of camera when applying cosmetics on Bradley and BMP-2
• Added a vignette for the port weapons for a better presentation of the seat that is occupied.
• New mesh for the Active Protection System to fit the new colors of the vehicle.
• Removed smoke from the IFV and replaced it with thermal smoke ability.
• Disabled neutral steering for IFVs, stopping them from moving forward when steering.
• IFVs primary ammo increased from 6 to 8.
• Primary cannon and Armor Piercing shells no longer use the same ammo pool like the Portal variant. Instead, they work as primary and secondary weapons, separately.
• Increased base impact damage of primary cannon from 32 to 48.
• Health regen on IFVs have been updated to be identical with other vehicles of the same class on 2042 AOW.

Vehicles

• Added insertion cinematic for the Pondhawk.
• Fixed an issue where the 9k22 Tunguska laser designation UI would overlap.
• Fixed an issue where certain vehicle hints would remain on screen when they should not.
• Improvement to suspension and other driving simulations to help lessen the frequency of getting stuck to other objects in the world.
• Fixed an issue where vehicle hints would show up as unassigned under certain circumstances.
• Updated various elements of first person view screen effects that are applied on vehicles, reducing vibrancy and causing a more grounded feel when in first person. 
• Half track wheel on Portal is now included as systemic damage.

Helicopters

• Fixed an issue where AI soldiers did not use Repair System abilities when deploying on the UH-60 Helicopter.
• Stealth Helicopters suppressed gunner weapon no longer spots the vehicle.

Characters & Gadgets

• Fixed an issue where custom colors selections (enemy, team, quad, and self-color options) did not apply on icons and gadget lights.
• Added persistence logic to the M67 Grenade (BF3)
• Fixed an issue where the Spawn Beacon color would not update after changing squad correctly.
• Updated tutorial video for Angel loadout crate.
• Fixed an issue with SRAW not getting resupplied when revived by Irish.

Progression

• Vehicle Disabled XP now tells you which part of the vehicle was disabled.

The post Battlefield 2042 Gets First New Update of 2025 With Big Changes appeared first on ComicBook.com.

After shutting down in the U.S. over the weekend, Marvel Snap came back online last night, and players can enjoy the game without having to use a VPN workaround. That’s certainly welcome news, but developer Second Dinner wants to ensure that this situation doesn’t happen again. In a pair of posts on Bluesky, Second Dinner chief development officer and co-founder Ben Brode addressed the game’s return, and shared plans to seek out a new publisher. The announcement was light on details, and Brode did not reveal how long it might take for the change to happen.

“WHEW. MARVEL SNAP is back online in the U.S. But to make sure this NEVER happens again, we’re working to bring more services in-house and partner with a new publisher. This is the start of a new era for MARVEL SNAP,” Brode wrote on Bluesky. “We know this probably leaves you with more questions than answers. We appreciate your patience, but in the meantime, enjoy playing MARVEL SNAP.”

Marvel Snap‘s current publisher is NuVerse, a subsidiary of ByteDance. The shutdown of Marvel Snap was a direct result of the shutdown of all ByteDance apps this past weekend. While the shutdown of TikTok was long anticipated, the developers at Second Dinner were taken by complete surprise when Marvel Snap went down. Thankfully, the game was brought back quickly, but the situation has been a source of frustration for everyone involved. While many fans have been understanding about the shutdown, others have asked for some kind of compensation for the trouble.

While Marvel Snap is back to being playable, it’s not available to download again on all platforms. As of this writing, the game cannot be found on the App Store. In a reply to one Marvel Snap player, Brode said that “we don’t believe that will come up until a bit later, not exactly sure on the timing right now,” before adding that the team is “working on it.” Thankfully, the game remains available on Steam, for those interested.

RELATED: Marvel Snap Is the Year’s Best Ongoing Game of 2024

It’s actually pretty impressive that Second Dinner was able to get Marvel Snap back up so quickly, but it’s easy to see why the team wouldn’t want to deal with a situation like this again. Live service games like Marvel Snap can only continue to thrive as long as they keep players invested, and willing to sign in each day. When a game goes down for a day or two, that’s a lot of potential revenue lost, at a time when live service games as a whole are struggling. That’s not to mention the potential players that can’t currently download the game on Apple products. Hopefully Second Dinner can find a new publisher for Marvel Snap quickly, and leave this whole situation in the past.

Are you happy Marvel Snap is looking for a new publisher? Did you try playing the game during the time it was down? Share your thoughts with me directly on Twitter at @Marcdachamp, on Bluesky at @Marcdachamp, or on Instagram at @Dachampgaming!

The post Marvel Snap Developer Seeking New Publisher Following Recent Shutdown appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Gohan has been through a lot in Dragon Ball’s history, going from a toddler in Dragon Ball Z to one of the strongest Z-Fighters in Dragon Ball Super. In the latest film of the shonen franchise, Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero, Goku’s son achieved his highest power level to date thanks to achieving the transformation, Gohan Beast. As fans wait to see this form’s return in both the anime and the manga, there is another avenue that fans can experience this powerful new technique. Thanks to Gohan Beast’s video game return, anime fans can now witness the Z-Fighter confirming who is truly the strongest warrior in Universe Seven.

Much like how Gohan achieved Super Saiyan 2 during the Cell Games, the arrival of Cell Max allowed the Z-Fighter to hit his strongest form to date. Even with Piccolo achieving his own ultimate form in Orange Piccolo, the Namekian wasn’t enough to defeat the resurrected villain on his own. Witnessing Piccolo near death, Gohan was able to achieve a new level of power thanks to once again tapping into his own anger. For those wondering whether this iteration of Gohan is more powerful than his father’s Ultra Instinct, the manga did pit the two against one another but a definitive answer regarding who would take the top spot remains a mystery.

[RELATED: Dragon Ball Super Announces Return Date]

The Strongest Z-Fighter Revealed

Thanks to Dragon Ball Sparking Zero, the fighting game that has been tearing up the fighting game community, Gohan Beast has returned. A new DLC pack sees Gohan’s newest form take center stage along with the likes of Orange Piccolo, Cell Max, and the Gamma twins from the recent movie. During one interaction with the Legendary Super Saiyan Broly, Gohan confirms that the former villain turned ally might be the strongest being in the world.

While Broly was defeated by Gogeta in his premiere film, it’s hard to deny that he is the strongest Z-Fighter in the roster if you don’t count fusions. The manga laid out that Frieza’s new transformation is more than enough to take out Goku and Vegeta in their Ultra Instinct and Ultra Ego forms, but how the villain would stand up to the Legendary Super Saiyan is anyone’s guess. When last we saw Broly, he wasn’t trying to become more powerful but instead, was trying to manage his mental state while accessing his wild strength.

Where is Gohan?

One of the biggest questions in Dragon Ball Daima, the latest anime series on the small screen, is where on Earth Gohan is. Goku’s son hasn’t been featured at all as of yet, with his friends and family transformed into children thanks to the wish of the Demon Lord Gomah. With Daima only having six episodes left in its first season, viewers are still wondering if Gohan will make a surprise appearance as the Z-Fighters attempt to turn back to normal and survive the Demon Realm. Since the series takes place before the events of Dragon Ball Super, Gohan Beast most likely won’t make an appearance but Daima has revealed quite a few bombshells in its episodes so far.

Want to see if Gohan will make an appearance in the shonen franchise’s latest anime? Follow along with Team Anime on ComicBook.com for the latest updates on all things Dragon Ball and hit me up directly @EVComedy to talk all things comics and anime.

The post Dragon Ball: Gohan Beast Reveals The Anime’s Strongest Character appeared first on ComicBook.com.

After a pretty weak start to 2025, Microsoft has revealed its Xbox Game Pass plans for the rest of January. The company pulled back the curtain this morning on 14 games that will be made available to users based on their specific subscription tiers. The first of those games is Lonely Mountains: Snow Riders, which is available today as a day one release. We actually learned about that one from the publisher earlier this month, but now we have more specific information, including tiers and platforms. The full list of games announced today can be found below:

• January 21st- Lonely Mountains: Snow Riders (Xbox Series X|S, PC, Cloud) through Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass
• January 22nd- Flock (Console) through Game Pass Standard
• January 22nd- Gigantic: Rampage Edition (Console, PC, Cloud) through all tiers
• January 22nd- Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess (Console) through Game Pass Standard
• January 22nd- Magical Delicacy (Console), through Game Pass Standard
• January 22nd- Tchia (Xbox Series X|S) through Game Pass Standard
• January 22nd- The Case of the Golden Idol (Console) through Game Pass Standard
• January 22nd- Starbound (Console, Cloud) through Game Pass Standard and Game Pass Ultimate
• January 28th- Eternal Strands (Console, PC, Cloud) through Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass
• January 28th- Orcs Must Die! Deathtrap (Xbox Series X|S, PC, Cloud) through Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass
• January 29th- Shady Part of Me (Console, PC, Cloud) through all tiers
• January 30th- Sniper Elite: Resistance (Console, PC, Cloud) through Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass
• January 31st- Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector (Xbox Series X|S, PC, Cloud) through Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass
• February 4th- Far Cry New Dawn (Console, PC, Cloud) through all tiers

While the list is pretty substantial, it should be noted that many of the new additions this week have been previously available through other tiers. Flock, Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess, Magical Delicacy, Tchia, and The Case of the Golden Idol are all currently available to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers. Those games are now just being made available to those who subscribe to the lower priced tier. Similarly, Starbound is currently available through PC Game Pass, but can now be enjoyed by console players.

RELATED: Rumor: Xbox Developer Direct Will Reveal New Entry in “Legendary” Japanese Series

These additions make the monthly list less exciting for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers, but this batch is a lot more balanced than the first half of January. Not only are console players with Ultimate getting Starbound, Gigantic: Rampage Edition, and Shady Part of Me, they’re also getting five day one releases over the next two weeks. That’s pretty substantial, and it definitely makes up for the slower start to 2025. With all of these new additions to the service, hopefully subscribers can find plenty to enjoy this month!

Do you have any interest in these new Xbox Game Pass additions? Which of these games do you plan on playing? Share your thoughts with me directly on Twitter at @Marcdachamp, on Bluesky at @Marcdachamp, or on Instagram at @Dachampgaming!

The post Xbox Game Pass Adding 14 More Games Soon appeared first on ComicBook.com.

The recent Sonic the Hedgehog Happy Meal promotion officially came to an end today, but McDonald’s now has free items based on a totally different video game property. Participating U.S. locations now have Pokemon items available, with each Happy Meal containing a pack with four cards. In total, 15 cards are being offered, and they feature fan favorite characters such as Pikachu, Eevee, Jigglypuff, and even Charizard! The promotion is largely centered on Dragon-types though, with Drampa, Rayquaza, Dragapult, and more being featured. These Pokemon are also being given the spotlight in the marketing for the promotion.

Dragon-types have infested every aspect of the Happy Meal, from Dragapult appearing on the apple slice bag, to Miraidon showing up on the milk jug. The company has also released a trailer for the promotion, which features Dragonite flying through a city to arrive at a McDonald’s location.

In celebration of the promotion, the official Happy Meal website has uploaded a small Pokemon game that can be played for free inside the browser. The game has players slide a Poke Ball around a maze in an attempt to find Pokemon. Some are out in plain sight, but others are hidden. The Poke Ball slides around the mazes in a manner similar to the mazes in the Ice Path in Pokemon Gold and Silver, which means the Poke Ball slides around the maze from end to end and can’t stop in the middle of a path. It’s a neat little distraction, and visitors can also find coloring sheets based on the franchise.

A McDonald’s Pokemon TCG promotion in 2021 proved to be very messy, with resellers buying up all of the cards before fans and kids could get their hands on them. During that promotion, McDonald’s and The Pokemon Company took active measures to stop that from happening, by preventing employees from selling the toys outside of a Happy Meal, and increasing the supply to meet the high demand. Pokemon Happy Meal promotions have basically become an annual thing since, and the last few promotions seem to have gone a lot smoother.

RELATED: Pokemon TCG Pocket Celebrates Major Achievement With Freebie for All Players

The Pokemon Trading Card game saw a lot of renewed interest a few years ago, when unboxing streams became a big thing on platforms like Twitch. The release of Pokemon TCG Pocket last year also seems to have increased interest in the physical cards. Last week, The Pokemon Company released a new set called Scarlet & Violet – Prismatic Evolutions, and fans are already having a really hard time obtaining the cards. Demand has been a lot higher than anticipated, and resellers seem to be out in full force. Hopefully, there won’t be any issues with this year’s McDonald’s promotion, and anyone that wants these cards can get them with little difficulty.

Do you plan on getting a Happy Meal this month? Which of these cards are you hoping to obtain? Share your thoughts with me directly on Twitter at @Marcdachamp, on Bluesky at @Marcdachamp, or on Instagram at @Dachampgaming!

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Over the last few years, Nintendo Switch Online has grown into a must-have subscription for those that own the console. In addition to making it so that subscribers can play games online, it also features exclusive profile icons, old video games playable through various apps, and even a music streaming service. Nintendo has once again provided subscribers with a new freebie, this time for Nintendo Music. The company has added the soundtrack for Super Mario Kart to the app, offering users a chance to listen to iconic songs from the original Super Nintendo game. In total, 37 music tracks can be found.

Super Mario Kart was the very first entry in the Mario Kart franchise, and was originally released in 1992. These days, the game feels somewhat archaic, with just 8 playable characters to choose from, and a far smaller number of tracks to race on compared to later games. However, Super Mario Kart still has a lot of charm, and that extends to the soundtrack as well. Mario Circuit remains one of the most memorable music tracks in the game, but it’s also hard to deny the upbeat allure of Koopa Beach.

Since launching last year, the Nintendo Music app has been slowly adding new soundtracks spanning the company’s various gaming platforms. Thus far, the selection based on the Super Nintendo era has been pretty limited, with Super Mario Kart being just the fifth game from that particular console. Nintendo has been updating the app pretty regularly though; last week saw music added from The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker. While Super Nintendo representation is pretty sparse at the moment, we can probably expect to see a lot more games added in the near future.

Interestingly enough, Nintendo Music additions have been timed to coincide with some of the company’s other announcements. Over the last few months, we’ve seen the soundtracks for the Donkey Kong Country trilogy made available, seemingly in an attempt to build hype for Donkey Country Returns HD, which was released last week on Nintendo Switch. Similarly, we’re getting the soundtrack to Super Mario Kart just a few days after Nintendo revealed the next game in the series alongside the Nintendo Switch 2 console.

RELATED: Nintendo Music Celebrates What Most Streaming Services Devalue

When Nintendo Switch Online first launched, there was a lot of griping from fans about having to pay for a subscription service. However, Nintendo has slowly made that service a better bargain, with the rollout of more playable games, more unique profile icons, and music that can be enjoyed ad-free on mobile devices. There are still a lot of ways Nintendo Switch Online can (and should) be improved, but the service’s regular updates and freebies continue to make it well worth the cost.

Do you plan on checking out the soundtrack to Super Mario Kart? Have you been enjoying the steady stream of updates to Nintendo Music? Share your thoughts with me directly on Twitter at @Marcdachamp, on Bluesky at @Marcdachamp, or on Instagram at @Dachampgaming!

The post Nintendo Switch Online Subscribers Get New Mario Kart Surprise appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Disney Lorcana is coming off of a stellar year, but Ravensburger is already hitting the ground running in 2025. The company behind the hit Disney trading card game had a few surprises up its sleeve at London Toy Fair, revealing a first look and a host of details on its next set Archazia’s Island, including an all new original character. That wasn’t all though, as we also got a look and first details on the Reign of Jafar set. There was one more big reveal though, as we got our first look at the set that comes after Jafar, and it will be titled Fabled. You can check out all of the images below.

First let’s talk about Archazia’s Island, which is set to release in March of this year. As you can see in the set’s packaging below, it will feature the debut of Lorcana’s first all-original character Archazia, who the set is now named after. As previously revealed, the set will feature characters from Bolt, Lady and the Tramp, Alice in Wonderland, and Encanto, which are also featured on the set’s Illumineer’s Trove.

Then there’s the new starter sets, which feature two stalwart Disney franchises in Aladdin and Beauty and the Beast. The Amethyst and Steel set features Jafar and Iago on the cover, while the Ruby and Sapphire set features Belle and The Beast. The new set will hit local game stores, Disney Stores, and Disney Parks on March 7th, and then will hit mass market retailers on March 21st.

Now let’s move to the set that will come after Archazia’s Island, which is Reign of Jafar. The new set received a release date of June 6th, and pre-release events will be held on May 30th. We also got the official description for the set, which sees Jafar taking over Archazia’s Island and setting things in his image. You can find the official description below.

[RELATED: Disney Lorcana: Azurite Sea Starter Sets Review, Illumineer’s Trove Best Additions, Stitch Set, and More]

“His Crown, His Realm. Jafar has taken over Archazia’s Island, corrupting the beautiful haven into his menacing fortress. His reign may just be the greatest threat that Lorcana has faced!”

The final big reveal was for the third set of 2025, which is titled Fabled. Not much is known about Fabled just yet, but we did get our first look at the artwork for the set, which you can see above, and we do know it is expected to hit in quarter 3 of 2025.

Mickey and Minnie are featured on the artwork this time around, so it seems a few more classic characters might be in the mix for the overall set, but we’ll have to wait and see.

What was your favorite reveal, and which set are you looking forward to most? You can talk all things Disney Lorcana and tabletop with me on Bluesky @knightofoa!

The post Disney Lorcana Reveals Original Character and Fabled Set First Details appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Marvel Snap is back online after it was abruptly banned and shut down in the United States. Marvel Snap is one of the biggest free-to-play video games out there and has been incredibly popular on mobile for a few years now. The game allows players to utilize their favorite Marvel characters in the form of collectible digital cards and battle others in quick, fast-paced matches. This is not to be confused with the other absurdly successful Marvel free-to-play game that is having a big moment right now, Marvel Rivals. That’s more of a competitor to Overwatch and other hero shooters, but there has been some crossover between the two titles as Marvel Snap players can earn rewards for Marvel Rivals.

With it being as big as it is, there was a lot of frustration and disruption on Saturday night. On January 18th, 2025, Marvel Snap players were all booted from the game and unable to get back in. A message on the start screen notified players that a U.S. law had been enacted that prevented Marvel Snap from being available in the United States. Marvel Snap had been abruptly banned without warning and left many confused, disappointed, and frustrated. Given the game has a big market for microtransactions, many were angry that they weren’t notified they were spending money on a game that would cease to exist.

The reason for the Marvel Rivals ban was because the game is published by Nuverse, a subsidiary of ByteDance, the company behind social media app TikTok. Essentially, Marvel Rivals got dragged into the TikTok ban that was created by the United States government. Ben Brode, one of the developers of Marvel Rivals, took to Bluesky after the ban to tell fans that even they were unaware that this might happen.

“Unfortunately, Marvel Snap is temporarily unavailable in U.S. app stores and is unavailable to play in the U.S.,” said Brode after the ban. “This was a surprise to Second Dinner and our publisher Nuverse. We’re actively working on getting the game up as soon as possible and will update you once we have more to share.”

Nevertheless, Marvel Snap has made its triumphant return. On Sunday, January 19th, TikTok returned after President-elect Donald Trump made promises to ByteDance to work on finding a new solution to keeping the app available in the United States. However, Marvel Snap fans were saddened that the mobile game was not immediately brought back online.

It seems like the team behind the game was waiting for Trump to officially be back in office for the game to be brought back. Trump has officially signed an executive order preventing any enforcement of the ban on TikTok (and seemingly Marvel Snap) for 75 days. It has been questioned if the President actually has the power to not enforce a federal law, which means Marvel Snap and TikTok could go back down if the order is not legitimate or legal. Either way, it seems like things will be working as per usual for the time being. Hopefully, another Marvel Snap shutdown does not happen in the future, but if it does, check back with ComicBook.com for all the details.

The post Marvel Snap Is Back Online Following Brief Ban appeared first on ComicBook.com.

The first Super Smash Bros. Nintendo Switch 2 rumor is here, from an all too familiar source. Eight games have been officially announced for the Nintendo Switch 2 so far, and only one of them has been from Nintendo. That one Nintendo game is the new Mario Kart, which we don’t even have a title for. Suffice to say, Nintendo is keeping its cards close to the chest at the moment. There is no Nintendo Switch 2 release date, Nintendo Switch 2 price, any hardly any announced Nintendo Switch 2 games. The expectation is Nintendo will reveal all on April 2, 2025 with the first ever Nintendo Switch 2 Direct. Until then, prepare for lots of rumors, including Super Smash Bros. rumors.

It’s been a while since there was a Super Smash Bros. rumor. Before Super Smash Bros. Ultimate was revealed though, Nintendo fans were flooded with rumors about the next game. And when it was revealed and released, there were still constant rumors about characters and DLC characters alike. It was non-stop. A lot of the rumors ended up not being true, obviously, but some of the most random and dubious rumors did end up being true.

Many forget, but Super Smash Bros. Ultimate having every previous character from every previous game leaked on 4chan before it was revealed. So did the addition of Ridley. Both of these things were leaked by an anonymous 4chan leaker a day before their reveal. It was the most infamous Super Smash Bros. Ultimate leak, so perhaps it is fitting the first Super Smash Bros. Nintendo Switch 2 rumor is from 4chan where it is being claimed by an anonymous leaker a new Super Smash Bros. game for the new Nintendo console is releasing summer 2026.

RELATED: New Pokemon Gen 10 Nintendo Switch 2 Leak Is Great News for All Nintendo Fans

The rumor further claims that the entire roster of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is back, despite creator Masahiro Sakurai wanting to make cuts. This was supposedly blocked by Nintendo.

In addition to this, it will feature a few new characters: Waluigi, Toon Zelda, Noah and Mio from the Xenoblade Chronicles series, Armorouge and Ceruledge from Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, and Sol Badguy from Guilty Gear. It’s added that Paper Mario is being planned as the first DLC character for day one buyers like Piranha Plant was for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.

As you would expect, it is alleged some characters have had major overhauls, including Link, who now has powers from Tears of the Kingdom. Meanwhile, Samus is said to have the dash from Metroid Dead and Cloud some new special movies based on the Remake games.

Other redesigns and changes include: Tears of the Kingdom Ganondorf, Ryu and Ken redone to look like their Street Fighter 6 versions, Bayonetta redone with her design in Bayonetta 3, Kazuma redone with his Tekken 8 design, and Donkey Kong redone with his movie design, which is also his design in the new Mario Kart.

While there are more characters, there are said to be fewer stages or, more specifically, 50 to 55 stages. This was said to be done to shift resources and focus to other things, like bringing back Trophies. Speaking of Trophies, the rumor alleges they have detailed descriptions and are dished out for completing missions, playing Arcade mode, and other random tasks.

Lastly, the rumor mentions Adventure mode, which is said to be like Super Smash Bros. Ultimate’s world map and Spirit fights, but with Subspace Emissary story and cutscenes. To this end, there is supposedly over an hour of cutscenes like Super Smash Bros. Brawl.

This is where the rumor ends. Of course, take everything here with a grain of salt. Normally 4chan rumors aren’t worth paying much attention to, but considering the series’ history with 4chan leaks, this one has the attention of some Super Smash Bros. fans.

The post Super Smash Bros. Nintendo Switch 2 Rumor Reveals New Characters and 2026 Release Date appeared first on ComicBook.com.

The TikTok ban has been delayed by President Trump, but there are still some concerns that a resolution could fall through. TikTok is one of the biggest social media platforms in the entire world and is used by 170 million Americans. It has dominated the social media landscape for the better part of a decade thanks to how it completely changed how people consumed certain content. Although there are live streams and other forms of content on TikTok, its best known for its addictive algorithm that feeds users short-form videos. Its success has influenced Instagram, Snapchat, and YouTube to incorporate similar content feeds into its own apps as well.

However, in 2020, Donald Trump moved to ban TikTok citing “national security concerns”. Many thought he may be bluffing or assumed the Biden administration would drop the whole act, but that didn’t happen. Instead, the Biden administration saw it through to the finish line. TikTok was offered an ultimatum, sell to a United States entity or be banned from the country on January 19th. TikTok chose to take the ban and shut down the app on the 18th, but less than 24 hours later, TikTok was back up on the 19th. The Chinese-owned social media app noted that Trump had made promises to find a resolution and gave TikTok assurances that it wouldn’t be punished if it went back online.

Now that Donald Trump is officially inaugurated, he has signed an executive order to delay enforcement of the TikTok ban by 75 days. He noted they believe they can maybe make a deal, but suggested imposing tariffs on China if it doesn’t get approved. With that said, there is already major contention over if Trump can even do this. It’s unclear if the President can essentially halt enforcement of a federal law, meaning this executive order may not hold any water in the long term. TikTok could still get unbanned, but if Trump’s order does not supersede the law, it may be shut down again until an American buyer is found.

Similarly, TikTok owner ByteDance recently shut down popular mobile game Marvel Snap. It was a casualty of the TikTok ban and has remained shut down since Saturday, despite TikTok coming back online. It’s expected that Marvel Snap will come back online very soon following the executive order being issued. Nevertheless, if Marvel Snap is subjected to the same scrutiny as TikTok, it may also get shut down again if the executive order does not hold water.

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