Search the Community

Marvel's Blade is coming to games from Dishonored and Deathloop team Arkane Lyon by John Callaham Tonight at the 2023 Game Awards, we got the first reveal of the next game from Bethesa Softworks' Arkane Lyon, the acclaimed team behind the Dishonored games and Deathloop. In a bit of a surprise, the team is taking on a licensed IP for its next project; a game based on Marvel's vampire hunter Blade. The game itself will be a single player narrative driven title with third person action-adventure gameplay. The press release for the game has some more info on the title: “As a kid of mixed origins, I felt a special connection to Blade – a hero with a dual heritage himself,” said Dinga Bakaba, Game Director, Arkane Lyon. “The opportunity to put our spin on this character is a dream of mine and a challenge that our team embraces with a passion. We couldn’t be happier to put players in Blade’s boots, as he becomes the champion of my hometown of Paris, one stake at a time.” Marvel’s Blade game will take players to a quarantined section of Paris in the middle of a supernatural emergency. Vampires have emerged, terrorizing the city of lights and forcing Parisians to shelter inside their homes at night to wait for sunrise. “From his trench coat to his iconic sunglasses, Blade is a slick, stylish, and driven character,” said Sebastien Mitton, Co-Creative and Art Director, Arkane Lyon. “This project is the perfect opportunity to push Arkane’s art style into an even more modern and bold territory. The essence of our work lives at the junction of impactful ideas and innovative know-how.” The press release states that "Arkane Lyon have just begun development on the game" so it may be a while before this title is released. Since it is a Bethesda Softworks title, and Bethesda is owned by Microsoft, we can safely assume its coming to the PC and Xbox Series X|S consoles.

Looks interesting.

TikTok and Disney partner up to celebrate 100 years of The Walt Disney Company by Anushe Fawaz The Walt Disney Company is preparing for its 100th anniversary on October 16, 2023. To provide Disney fans with something special, the company has collaborated with TikTok to deliver content curated to their tastes. Today, TikTok has announced that to celebrate the anniversary, Disney will get a “first-of-its-kind” designated space within the app where fans can watch and create videos with Disney music, play daily Disney Trivia, and collect and trade "Character Cards" of favorites to win unique profile frames for their accounts. Nicole Iacopetti, Global Head of Content of TikTok, shared her views about the development with Disney stating: “We're thrilled to partner with Disney to celebrate the company's undeniable impact on entertainment and on families around the world, starting by giving TikTok's passionate community of Disney fans unique access to content and experiences they can't find anywhere else. We look forward to continuing to partner alongside Disney to give our community new and exciting opportunities to enjoy their favorite content." There are over 48 Disney handles participating in this activation that will last for 4 weeks. It will be accessible in 24 regions globally and will encompass the breadth of content from The Walt Disney Company. This includes content from Pixar, Star Wars, Disney, National Geographic, Marvel, ESPN, and more. Tiktokers will also be getting a dedicated Disney100 playlist that will feature popular hits from classic Disney movies like Lion King, Cinderella, Toy Story, and High School Musical. The collaboration adds Disney to the list of Pulse Premiere publishers allowing it to place its ads next to premium sports and entertainment content from Disney on TikTok’s For You feed. The Pulse Premier came about in May 2023, when TikTok began offering top publishers a guarantee that their ads would run right after “suitable TikToks.” The premium ad slot enables brands such as NBCU, BuzzFeed, DotDash, and many more to position and place their ads alongside trusted publishers only. Pulse Premiere expands on what TikTok Pulse offers. TikTok Pulse was announced last year to connect brands with relevant communities to increase engagement.

Pre-orders begin for Spider-Man 2 Limited Edition PS5 bundle and DualSense controller by Omer Dursun Sony has opened pre-orders for a special Marvel's Spider-Man 2 Edition PlayStation 5 bundle, custom PlayStation 5 console covers and a matching DualSense wireless controller. The products went on sale today in the United States, United Kingdom and other regions where the PlayStation Direct online store is available. Sony said limited quantities will also be available at select retailers worldwide, including Amazon, Walmart and Best Buy. The Spider-Man 2 PS5 bundle includes a custom console with Spider-Man artwork, a matching DualSense controller, and a voucher for the standard digital edition of the game. It is priced at $599.99 in the US and £569.99 in the UK. Pre-order PlayStation 5 Console – Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 Limited Edition Bundle from Amazon at $599.99 Console covers and the DualSense controller are also available separately for $64.99 / £54.99 and $79.99 / £69.99, respectively. All items will ship on September 1, ahead of Spider-Man 2's October 7, 2023 release date. In the US, the bundle and accessories can be pre-ordered from PlayStation Direct, Walmart, Best Buy and Amazon. Pre-order PlayStation DualSense Wireless Controller - Marvel's Spider-Man 2 Limited Edition from Amazon at $79.99 In case you missed it, Insomniac Games initially announced Marvel's Spider-Man 2 in May, revealing Kraven the Hunter as the antagonist. The game's main storyline allows players to assume the roles of web-slingers Peter Parker and Miles Morales at various points throughout the campaign. In the open-world setting, players can switch between the two heroes as they navigate and explore the bustling boroughs of Manhattan, Queens, and Brooklyn. Last week, a new story trailer showed off Venom in action. The sequel aims to expand on 2018's Marvel's Spider-Man with new abilities, a two-hero cooperative mode, and an open-world Manhattan twice the size. As an Amazon Associate when you purchase through links on our site, we earn from qualifying purchases. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

EA announces plans to develop and publish Marvel's Black Panther game by John Callaham Electronic Arts has announced the second of three planned video games it will develop and publish based on characters from Marvel Comics. This one will be a single-player third-person action-adventure game based on Black Panther, the leader of the fictional African country of Wakanda who also wears a powered suit. That's pretty much all we know about the game itself. However, EA's press release does say it's being developed by Cliffhanger Games. The Seattle-based studio was first revealed in May 2021 by EA but it now has an official name, and its first announced project. The studio's leader, Kevin Stephens, is quoted as saying: We’re dedicated to delivering fans a definitive and authentic Black Panther experience, giving them more agency and control over their narrative than they have ever experienced in a story-driven video game. Wakanda is a rich SuperHero sandbox, and our mission is to develop an epic world for players who love Black Panther and want to explore the world of Wakanda as much as we do. The game is still early in development and does not have a release date. EA has already announced plans to make another single-player third-person action-adventure game based on another Marvel Comics character, Iron Man. It's being developed at its Motive studio. EA is contracted with Marvel to make at least one more game based on its universe. Other upcoming AAA games based on Marvel characters include Spider-Man 2, which is being developed by Insomniac Games as a PlayStation 5 exclusive for a release on October 20. Insomniac is also working on a second PS5 Marvel game, this time based on Wolverine. Skydance New Media is also developing a third-person game that will feature a version of Black Panther teaming up with Captain America in a game that will be set in World War II.

Marvel's Spider-Man 2 launches exclusive to PS5 on October 20 by Omer Dursun Insomniac Games officially announced the release date for Marvel's Spider-Man 2 at the Summer Game Fest 2023 showcase today. As expected, the sequel will swing onto the scene as a PlayStation 5 (PS5) exclusive on October 20. Pre-orders for the game will start on June 16. As showcased in the recent PlayStation event, the game's captivating main storyline allows players to assume the roles of iconic web-slingers Peter Parker and Miles Morales at various points throughout the campaign. In the open-world setting, players can switch between the two heroes as they navigate and explore the bustling boroughs of Manhattan, Queens, and Brooklyn. Alongside the release date announcement, Insomniac Games and Sony unveiled new suits and editions for Marvel's Spider-Man 2. These additions provide players with customization options and enhanced content. The Standard edition of Marvel's Spider-Man 2 is priced at $69.99. The Digital Deluxe edition, priced at $79.99, offers additional content such as all the pre-order incentives, 10 unique suits (5 for Peter, 5 for Miles), extra Photo Mode frames and stickers, and 2 additional skill points. For Spider-Man fans seeking collectibles, the Collector's Edition is available while supplies last at $229.99. This edition includes a voucher for the Digital Deluxe Edition, a Steelbook case, and a 19-inch Venom statue.

As promised, Marvel's Avengers premium cosmetics go free with final update by Pulasthi Ariyasinghe Crystal Dynamics is finishing up support for its 2020-released, 16-million players strong, live service game Marvel's Avengers. As the studio announced in January, the final content update has unlocked almost every premium cosmetic item for everyone, removing the in-game store altogether. Update 2.8 makes free "nearly all MCU- and non-MCU-inspired Outfits, Emotes, Takedowns, and Nameplates," says the developer. However, any items that were unlocked via campaign missions or already part of the free cosmetic vendor will still remain locked until players gain them via natural progression. The Hero Challenge Cards and Shipments system have been removed from the game too, with their items also being given to all players for free. At the same time, any premium currency Credits players have remaining in their accounts have been converted to in-game resources. As a final bonus for fans, Crystal Dynamics is throwing in a new skin for Iron Man. As the video above shows, it makes him look a lot like Warmachine. This skin is only available to those who have gained at least one Avengers achievement before April 1. Marvel's Avengers Update 2.8 is now live across PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 5 platforms, as well as Xbox Game Pass and PlayStation Plus Extra subscriptions. Find the patch notes here and a handy FAQ on the game's end of support stage here. Keep in mind that the game will be taken off stores on September 30, 2023, but Crystal Dynamics says multiplayer servers will remain online even after that date for those still looking for superhero action.

Marvel subpoenas Google and Reddit to identify Ant-Man leaker by Usama Jawad Original image courtesy of Disney It's no secret that Marvel likes to play its cards close to the chest when it comes to its upcoming content, be it movies, TV shows, or comics. In the past, it has had problems with trusting actors like Tom Holland (Spider-Man in the MCEU) and Mark Ruffalo (Hulk in the MCEU) with scripts and major plot points. However, things get even messier when third-parties and malicious actors leak stuff that Marvel likes to keep a secret. In January 2023, a month before Marvel's Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania was set to release, a 63-page Google Doc comprising of the entire movie's dialog leaked online. It was then published on Reddit under the r/MarvelStudiosSpoilers subreddit. The document contained what appeared to be subtitles for the movie. Although the speakers for each dialog weren't identified, it was not too difficult to connect the dots of the plot after reading the document. According to the person who posted the file on Reddit, the original subtitles were not in English but were translated to this language with assistance from three other translators. By the time Disney's Digital Media Antipiracy team was made aware of this document, the creators of the document had already removed it. However, Marvel has decided to take action against the perpetrators of the leak. It has recently submitted a Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) request to identify those responsible for the leak. Both Reddit and Google have been subpoenaed in the filing. Marvel is asking for information that could help in identifying the leaker (or leakers) "including without limitation, the name(s), username(s), address(es), telephone number(s), email address(es); any IP address(es) used by such user(s); and any account number(s) associated with such user(s)." It's unclear if Google or Reddit have obliged to the request but it's obvious that strict legal action is awaiting those who leaked the subtitles for the movie. Source: 9to5Google

Marvel's Avengers will be removed from sale this year as development halts by Pulasthi Ariyasinghe Marvel's Avengers is in the endgame now. Developer Crystal Dynamics has announced that it will cease developing the live-service superhero game on March 31, 2023. The game itself will then be taken off stores on September 30, 2023. Under the then-publisher Square Enix, the action brawler was released in September 2020 on PC and last-gen consoles, followed by a current-gen release in March 2021. Crystal Dynamics and its projects transferred over to Embracer Group as part of Square Enix's sale of its western studios last year. "Update 2.7, which added the Winter Soldier Hero and Cloning Lab Omega-Level Threat, is the last new content to be added to the game," said the developer today. "No new cosmetics are coming to the Marketplace, and all final balance updates will occur in Update 2.8 in March." Thankfully for fans, the game will remain playable in both single-player and multiplayer even after its removal from stores in September, though it's unclear for how long. Purchased Credits will also be converted to in-game resources with the March update. As a part of this shutdown procedure, Crystal Dynamics will be making all available paid cosmetic content completely free as a show of appreciation for fans. This includes every "outfit, Takedown, Emote, and Nameplate from the Marketplace, Challenge Cards, and Shipments" being given to owners of the game as well as Game Pass and PlayStation Plus Extra subscribers. "Gifting the full library of Marketplace cosmetic content is a way to thank our community by letting everyone experience the breadth and depth of content in Marvel’s Avengers," added the studio. A handy FAQ detailing Avengers' disassembly process can be found on the announcement blog post here, which also confirms Spider-Man will remain a PlayStation exclusive hero even after these changes. Crystal Dynamics is currently developing a new Tomb Raider with support from Amazon Games while it is also working on the Perfect Dark reboot with Microsoft's The Initiative studio.

EA and Marvel announce partnership to develop at least three new games by Pulasthi Ariyasinghe Last month, EA announced it has inked a deal with Marvel to develop a brand-new Iron Man game, which would tell a standalone tale set apart from the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Today, more information about this partnership was revealed, with both EA and Marvel announcing at least three games will be developed as a part of it. "We have been long-time fans of Marvel and their impressive leadership, so this is a remarkable moment for our developers as well as our players and fans," said EA Chief Operations Officer Laura Miele. "We look forward to welcoming Marvel into the EA family of creators and know this collaboration will produce exceptional experiences for our players." The upcoming games will be "new action adventure games that will be available for consoles and PC," and just like Iron Man, each one will introduce a brand-new, standalone storyline taking place in the Marvel universe. Iron Man, the first of these projects, is being developed by Motive Studios, right as it is putting the final touches on its Dead Space remake. Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy game producer Olivier Proulx is leading the development team of this "single player, third person, action-adventure" game. Rumors say that the second game in this EA and Marvel partnership is set to be a Black Panther adventure.

Ryan Renolds announced yesterday that Hugh Jackman is coming back to reprise his role as Wolverine in Deadpool III. Then discussed the following

EA and Marvel announce an Iron Man game with an original story by Pulasthi Ariyasinghe Without waiting for a big showcase event, EA has officially announced it is working with Marvel Games to publish a superhero video game based on Iron Man. This will be a single-player, third-person, action-adventure experience. As the game is still in early development, EA only showed off a piece of key art today, seen above, revealing the suit design. A name is not officially attached to this project yet either. The game will be developed by Motive Studio, which has previously developed Star Wars: Squadrons, and is currently working on the Dead Space remake that's coming next year. Olivier Proulx is leading the development team, who has previously worked on the acclaimed Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy game with Eidos-Montréal. "We are thrilled to collaborate with the talented team at Motive Studio to bring their original vision of one of Marvel’s most important, powerful and beloved characters," said Marvel Games vice president and creative director, Bill Rosemann. "Their experience delivering both established entertainment worlds and thrilling gameplay — combined with their authentic passion for the armored icon — will fuel our quest to deliver a love letter to a legendary hero in the form of the ultimate Iron Man video game." Much like other recent games based on Marvel superheroes produced by major publishers, players will be jumping into an original story featuring billionaire genius Tony Stark in this iteration of Iron Man. Motive's Iron Man is in pre-production stage right now, with more information coming as the project evolves. This won't be the only collaboration EA will have with Marvel Games, with it announcing this as being the "first of several new games" that's incoming from its studios, possibly all superhero related.

Ragnarok was one of my favorite Marvel movies so super looking forward to this.

You could win a Doctor Strange Xbox by retweeting a post and keeping your fingers crossed by Paul Hill Xbox has announced that it’s giving away a Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness Xbox Series S console to one lucky winner. To enter the draw for the limited edition console and four Doctor Strange Xbox controllers, you just need to follow Xbox on Twitter and retweet the post below. What kind of sorcery is this? Follow & RT with #DoctorStrangeXboxSweepstakes for a chance to win an Xbox Series S themed from @DrStrange in the Multiverse of Madness and four controllers themed after the movie's characters. Ages 18+. Ends 5/18/22. Rules: https://t.co/m3Qsjc4z3R pic.twitter.com/xPANZoa3ka — Xbox (@Xbox) April 29, 2022 According to the rules of the draw, you must retweet the promotional post along with the hashtag #DoctorStrangeXboxSweepstakes so it’s probably best to do a quote retweet which is available in the retweet menu. To enter, you must also be 18 or over and be in a supported country or region. The draw will come to a close at 8 p.m. PT on Friday, May 20, according to the official rules, though, the tweet says May 18. Microsoft said the winner will be contacted by one of its agents via direct message on Twitter within 14 days of the close of the event. If the winner can’t be reached, they forfeit the prize and an alternate winner will be selected. You won't want to miss your chance at claiming the limited edition Xbox though as you’d be saving about $240 for the Xbox Series S console and $236 on the four controllers. So far, over 23,000 people have entered the competition so the likelihood of you winning is slim, however, the barrier to entry in this competition is so low and the time it takes to meet the criteria is so short that it’s definitely worth doing!

Disney+ will launch a cheaper, ad-supported, tier from late 2022 by Paul Hill Disney has announced that it will be rolling out an ad-supported subscription tier for its Disney+ streaming service from late 2022 in the United States and in international markets from 2023. With so many streaming platforms, Disney will be hoping to win over more customers by offering its service at a low, but still undisclosed, price. For those who want to continue watching the service without ads, that option will still be available but the ad-supported tier will be more affordable. The company said that it viewed the planned tier as a building block for achieving its long-term target of getting 230-260 million Disney+ subscribers by the 2024 fiscal year. Commenting on its plans, Kareem Daniel, Chairman, Disney Media and Entertainment Distribution, said: “Expanding access to Disney+ to a broader audience at a lower price point is a win for everyone - consumers, advertisers, and our storytellers. More consumers will be able to access our amazing content. Advertisers will be able to reach a wider audience, and our storytellers will be able to share their incredible work with more fans and families.” As mentioned earlier, Disney has not yet revealed pricing detail about the ad-supported Disney+, though, it has said that the tier will be cheaper so it’s still likely to carry a price tag rather than be free like Spotify. It said it will release pricing details as well as the exact launch date later in the year.

Marvel's Avengers removes paid experience and resource boosts after backlash by Asher Madan A few months ago, publisher Square Enix and developer Crystal Dynamics added paid boosts to Marvel's Avengers. The game is a third-person action experience where you can play as any of the Avengers and take on challenging missions. It received mediocre reviews at launch due to its constrained, brawler-like nature and currently sits at a 66% on Metacritic for the Xbox One version. Hero's Catalysts and Fragment Extractors have been a part of Marvel's Avengers since day one, but they could only be earned by playing the game. When they were added to the microtransactions store, there was a lot of backlash from the community. Before launch, Crystal Dynamics said that the store would only feature cosmetic items. We have decided that by the end of today we will remove Hero’s Catalysts and Fragment Extractors for purchase. pic.twitter.com/8am9nSstP2 — Marvel's Avengers (@PlayAvengers) November 2, 2021 Today, the official Marvel's Avengers Twitter account posted that these two boosts would be removed from the store on November 2, 2021. Since Hero's Catalysts provide experience boosts and Fragment Extractors increase the number of Fragments — a valuable in-game resource — a player can earn, they're definitely advantage-giving microtransactions. In the letter, Crystal Dynamics acknowledged that the addition of paid boosts harmed its relationship with the community. Hopefully, their removal and continued support for Marvel's Avengers will change how people feel about the game. Do you still play Marvel's Avengers? What do you think of this decision? Let us know in the comments below.

Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy Xbox Series X review: A fantastic but restricted adventure by Asher Madan This is a spoiler-free review of Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy On the surface, Guardians of the Galaxy appears to be a standard third-person action game that places you in the shoes of Peter Quill, also known as Star-Lord, as you race to save the galaxy from certain doom. However, it's much more than that due to the various mechanics introduced throughout this adventure. You'll gain new abilities, solve puzzles, resolve disputes, and, of course, shoot through legions of enemies. While the combat and puzzles are great, Guardians of the Galaxy truly shines when it focuses on the dynamics between Peter, Gamora, Drax, Rocket, and Groot. The game touches on a lot of poignant topics like the cost of war and discrimination, but at its core, it's all about overcoming loss. Through this, the title manages to become more than the sum of its parts. Read on for my impressions of this fantastic game from developer Eidos-Montréal and publisher Square Enix. Many of you may be hesitant to pick up Guardians of the Galaxy because it's from the same publisher as Marvel's Avengers. Luckily, the focus on playing as one character, in a solely single-player game, is a refreshing change from what we got a year ago. There are no microtransactions or paid boosts. If you purchase the $69.99 Digital Deluxe Edition of Guardians of the Galaxy, you get a few high-quality outfits from the comics and films that don't impact gameplay whatsoever, like making you more resistant to damage. Better yet, the best outfits are earned through exploration and progression through the story. It's worth keeping in mind that Guardians of the Galaxy takes place in a universe that's separate from the films. Each character has their own unique story that's revealed through this 25-hour-long experience. Characters and story The Guardians of the Galaxy are a team of misfits who have banded together in the wake of a massive galactic war. They take odd jobs in order to make enough units to survive in this post-war landscape. Think of them as "heroes" for hire. They're from different planets and come from dramatically different backgrounds. However, many of them have shared, conflicting pasts and it's a miracle that Peter, Gamora, Drax, Rocket, and Groot manage to work together so well. If you're familiar with the comics or movies, you'll know that Guardians of the Galaxy takes a more lighthearted approach to universe-threatening events than, let's say, the Avengers game. This hilarious tone permeates the entire game and is enhanced by cameos from popular characters in the company's catalog, like Mantis. If you're familiar with the latest Avengers films, you'll immediately recognize the scale of destruction possible if the main antagonist isn't stopped. If I told you what the tale revolved around, it'd ruin the surprise. Luckily, you'll know exactly what I'm alluding to once you pass the first mission. What I can say is that it's personal and definitely one every player can relate to. Decision-making Guardians of the Galaxy allows you to make a number of decisions that can take you down different branches. For example, there are dialogue and story choices like saving an animal instead of hiding a bunch of illegal equipment. Others seem like basic options to side with one character over the other, and don't have much of an impact on how the game plays out. Choosing different prompts grants you varying allies and enemies. For example, if you successfully recount an incident where Star-Lord was inebriated and sang with a random alien, he'll help you down the line. Similarly, if you side with a character named Nikki Gold, she'll give you a device that lets you open any door on a ship called Hala's Hope. This can make traversing some environments a lot easier when you reach that part of the story. This also enhances replayability because the journey varies depending on your choices. Prepare to manage interpersonal crises between all of the Guardians of the Galaxy members because there will be a lot. If you take the time to talk to everyone while they're on the Milano — your ship that's controllable during certain levels — you'll be able to learn more about them and hopefully, ease their anger or frustration towards you or other members of the team. Guardians of the Galaxy only allows you to control Peter and his actions. The success of every battle and dialogue choice rests on your shoulders. In my opinion, this focus is better than being able to control every character because this adds a more strategic element to gameplay. You have to learn how to command your team properly. Additionally, imagine trying to solve puzzles by having to choose what each character did all the time. Better yet, having to switch to Groot during combat just to heal or resurrect an ally. That would detract from the focused gameplay that revolves around leading a team. Combat mechanics Star-Lord is great at shooting anything that moves with his blasters, but that's not enough. In order to effectively take down enemies, you have to constantly direct your teammates. If you push down on the Left Bumper on an Xbox controller, time slows down and you can choose a particular ability to use against any combatant. Rapidly lowering the health of an enemy also allows you to initiate takedowns by pressing the B and Y buttons together. Gamora does amazing single-target damage with her blade and all of her other skills are tailored towards that. Drax, oddly enough, doesn't do as much damage as Gamora, but he strikes a good balance between taking down single targets and damaging a number of enemies if he's pouncing on the ground. Rocket is by far my favorite because he has some unbelievable gadgets at his disposal. He's the only one who can throw lethal grenades, and also possesses a barrage of endless missiles. His missiles — they're unlocked as you make more progress in the campaign — can take out half a dozen opponents at a time. Lastly, Groot is good at ensnaring enemies so the rest of the team can do increased damage. Eventually, he gains the ability to heal and resurrect. This comes in handy when you're facing the final bosses of Guardians of the Galaxy. Keep in mind that standard attacks don't have a cooldown, but all special abilities do. You'll have to wait a few seconds to use them again. This includes Star-Lord's deployable overshield and Groot's healing. Sometimes, if you keep on encountering enemies at every turn, Guardians of the Galaxy can get a little frustrating. You just want to move on to the next area. However, it's not too repetitive. Luckily, the moment you start to feel some annoyance, the story leaps forward. The pacing is almost perfect in my opinion. What does get repetitive is the combat dialogue though. Your teammates say the same phrases again and again if you take a long time to clear an area. Guardians of the Galaxy features forgiving combat at lower difficulties, but it gets very difficult as you crank it up. Luckily, the Huddle Up ability gives you a second chance by pausing the action. If your team's not doing so well, you can always trigger this, give them a pep talk by selecting one of two dialogue options that can either heal you or the entire team, and reset cooldowns. I'd use Huddle Up when you're truly desperate because there's no reason to waste it. However, when you use Huddle Up, it plays an amazing song so there may be an added incentive to trigger it when you're in the mood to hear the game's stellar '80s music selection during combat. Guardians of the Galaxy often manages to surprise you because, just when you think you have the hang of combat, it'll throw a boss at you that's as tall as a skyscraper. Boss battles aren't the quick time event-laden fights you'd expect. You have to target certain body parts, dodge attacks, and use your teammates' abilities to succeed. For example, let's say you're fighting a famous monster from the Marvel universe that has tentacles. You'll have to tell Groot to ensnare its tentacles, that'll give you the opportunity to do a lot of damage, and eventually, Gamora will be able to slice them off. Upgrades As you progress through the game, you gain new blaster powers. These happen automatically and you don't have to do anything to unlock them. As mentioned earlier, you have to direct your teammates, but you also have to solve puzzles. For example, you may have to melt a frozen structure to create a passageway or freeze a pipe leaking poisonous fumes in a ship. Some enemies also have shields that can be disabled by hitting them with the appropriate elemental bullets. Your teammates also have certain strengths that come in handy, but you have to tell Gamora, Rocket, Drax, and Groot what to do. Gamora can slice a number of structures and boost you to higher ground, Rocket can hack almost anything, Drax can lift heavy objects, and Groot can create bridges. You'll need to utilize your powers and that of your team's to traverse every level. Apart from that, Guardians of the Galaxy features Perks that allow you to increase your health, the rate of fire, or even scan enemies during combat to uncover their weaknesses. I managed to unlock all but one Perk during my first playthrough, but I imagine it'll be possible when I start New Game Plus. You can easily find crafting materials scattered in every level and they can be used at Rocket's Workbenches to make you a more capable fighter. Lastly, there are special abilities that can be unlocked through leveling up. After every enemy encounter, you gain experience and points. These points can be used to acquire new powers for yourself or your teammates. For example, Gamora gains devastating sword skills while Groot gets area-of-effect damage. Given the fact that you can't skip enemy encounters for the most part, you shouldn't have a problem unlocking everything during your first playthrough. Environments and exploration This game features some basic exploration — you can find additional outfits, artifacts, lore, and upgrade materials if you venture off the beaten path — but it's still very constrained. You're essentially going from one area to the next, either fighting enemies or solving puzzles, until the end of the level. The structure is a lot like Devil May Cry 5. Guardians of the Galaxy guides you through each area and contains over a dozen chapters. The environments are varied and you'll get to see everything from barren wastelands to frozen mountains. The enemy variety also changes a lot based on where you're at. For example, you start by fighting basic blob-like creatures and eventually take down yeti-looking fiends. While the environments in Guardians of the Galaxy aren't recycled, there are many combat scenarios that are, especially towards the end of the game when you're tracking down a mysterious figure from the Marvel universe. Here you basically have to keep on fighting through fog, again and again, in the same exact area, until you're given the option not to. This felt a little odd to me because it's unnecessary because the game is quite lengthy as is. There's no need to pad it further. My only major complaint with Guardians of the Galaxy has to be its extremely linear nature when it comes to exploration and traversal. I've played countless games over the years, but this has to be one of the most rigid experiences ever. Luckily, there's one area in Guardians of the Galaxy that allows you to explore at length, and it's populated with a ton of mini-games. I won't spoil it for you, but you can go to a bar, get a drink, play the lottery, gossip, and do so much more. This was a welcome reprieve because I was really hoping Guardians of the Galaxy would allow for more freedom like the Mass Effect series. Dialogue and music Guardians of the Galaxy features some of the best voice acting I've ever heard in a video game. Every character is phenomenal and gives a perfect performance in my opinion. I'm usually one to nitpick when it comes to voice acting, but I honestly couldn't find any fault in this game. Drax is by far the funniest with his deadpan humor. If you view the Xbox Series X gameplay posted above, you'll notice that everyone from Gamora to Mantis sounds natural and the conversations feel effortless. It's clear that a lot of care went into making sure the dialogue delivery was second to none because, given the film-like nature of this game, it's imperative to get that right. Guardians of the Galaxy also features a killer soundtrack filled with hits from the 1980s. You won't be hearing a lot of the music that's in the game on YouTube because it's copyrighted. There are tons of amazing tracks that blend perfectly with gameplay. When you're on your ship, you can also select which tune to play. I've listed some of my favorite tracks below. Never Gonna Give You Up performed by Rick Astley The Final Countdown performed by Europe Wake Me Up Before you Go Go performed by WHAM! Holding Out for a Hero performed by Bonnie Tyler We Built this City performed by Starship Hit Me With Your Best Shot performed by Pat Benetar Don't Worry, Be Happy performed by Bobby McFerrin Since You Been Gone performed by Rainbow There are over thirty fist-pumping classics in there that have universal appeal. You won't be disappointed. The rest of the soundtrack is also great and includes a bold musical score from composer Richard Jacques as well as ten original songs from Eidos-Montréal Senior Audio Director Steve Szczepkowski. Guardians of the Galaxy features a fictional band called Star-Lord — that's where Peter gets his nickname — and Szczepkowski wrote their music. While the tracks may not be as bombastic as Hit Me With Your Best Shot or Wake Me Up Before you Go Go, they fit well with the 1980s' theme. Performance and visuals Guardians of the Galaxy looks utterly incredible on Xbox Series X. Textures are unbelievable, but the standout feature has to be the characters' eyes. They're uncannily expressive and may just be the best eyeballs ever created in a video game. Guardians of the Galaxy is easily one of the best-looking games available right now on any platform, and there's a ray-tracing mode in the works for current-generation consoles. The build I played lacked a major patch, but even without it, it's a polished title. I just encountered some camera glitches a few times when I was trapped in a corner fighting hordes of enemies. Other than that, there aren't any pressing issues on Microsoft's console. I didn't encounter any noticeable frame rate drops during my playthrough either. From my analysis, Quality mode boosts the resolution to 4K, but locks the frame rate at 30 frames per second (FPS). The performance option lowers the resolution to 1440p, but the game gains the advantage of 60 FPS rendering. 60 FPS greatly improves the feel of combat because input lag is reduced. I played the title on Quality mode because to me, Guardians of the Galaxy is more like an interactive film in an action game's wrapper. I wanted to experience it as the highest resolution possible on a 4K display. I'm glad I went with that because it was a glorious experience. Conclusion Guardians of the Galaxy isn't perfect, but Eidos-Montréal has done an excellent job with staying true to the source material and capturing the essence of every character. The game is about family, relationships, and overcoming loss, together. It has some incredibly dark moments that are masked well through the title's hilarious tone. The combat, music, and voice acting are phenomenal, I just wish I had more freedom to explore the wondrous planets you land on. Had Guardians of the Galaxy adopted a semi-open world approach like the recent Tomb Raider games, it would've been a breakthrough experience. I'm hoping there's a sequel that gives us just that while maintaining the tone of the original. You can purchase Guardians of the Galaxy from the Microsoft Store or the platform of your choice for $59.99. The game releases on October 26, 2021 for Nintendo Switch (Cloud), PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S. Square Enix provided a review code for Guardians of the Galaxy. The game was tested on an Xbox Series X console.

Marvel's Avengers 2021 roadmap revealed, confirms Spider-Man by Asher Madan Today, publisher Square Enix revealed the Fall and Winter 2021 Roadmap for Marvel's Avengers. The team claims that it has learned a lot over the past year and that it's working hard to address players' concerns. While the focus right now is getting the Klaw Raid polished to wrap up Black Panther's War for Wakanda story, there are major changes and reworks in development. According to the post on the Marvel's Avengers website, Gear, Resources, and Cosmetics will be altered to improve quality-of-life in the game. You can read about what the developer plans to do below. With the upcoming power-level increase we want to make sure players can keep their hard-earned gear as they progress. The new system will allow players to upgrade Epic, Legendary, and Exotic gear from Power Level 100 all the way to the new power level cap ... We’re currently working towards a more streamlined and focused approach to resources. In this new system, each resource will have a single specific purpose to help improve clarity ... We’re adding ways to earn cosmetics through gameplay, including items that were previously only available in the Marketplace. In a few months, players on PlayStation 4 (PS4) and PlayStation 5 (PS5) will be able to experience Spider-Man. There's a new Hero Event in the works that should be quite popular on both systems. Keep in mind that since Sony owns the rights to Spider-Man, it's only going to be available on PS4 and PS5. It's not coming to any other platform like Xbox, Stadia, or PC that we know of. You can purchase Marvel's Avengers through the Microsoft Store or the platform of your choice for $39.99. Do you still play Marvel's Avengers? What changes do you wish to see in the future? Let us know in the comments below.

Marvel's Midnight Suns gets visceral footage, reveals major villains by Asher Madan At gamescom 2021, 2K Games revealed Marvel's Midnight Suns. Marvel's Midnight Suns is a tactical action game where you create your own Marvel superhero and battle alongside famous characters like Iron Man and Wolverine. Today, we got an extended look at the gameplay. Before Marvel's Midnight Suns gameplay as shown, many — including us — were expecting it to be identical to XCOM 2. Luckily, that's not the case. The gameplay is much more visceral and close-up. You can also explore various environments and collect items that can be used to make you stronger. Keep in mind that this is alpha footage recorded on PC. The animations and visuals aren't as polished as they will be when the game finally launches. It's expected to launch in March 2022, and is being developed for almost every modern platform including PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and, of course, PC. Are you excited for Marvel's Midnight Suns? What part of the presentation appealed to you the most? For us, it was the exploration elements. Let us know in the comments below!

Marvel's Midnight Suns announced, a superhero tactical RPG from Firaxis by Pulasthi Ariyasinghe Confirming multiple rumors, Firaxis Games announced Marvel's Midnight Suns today during the gamescom: Opening Night Live event. Published by 2K, this is a superhero title coming from the developer known for its strategy series like Civilization and XCOM. See the world premier announcement trailer above, though no gameplay is being shown just yet. This is described as a tactical RPG, but it's unclear if it will be a turn-based experience like the studio's previous games. Firaxis said players will be playing as a brand-new superhero, the Hunter, that was created in collaboration with Marvel. The hero will be fully customizable and will lead the hero forces against Lilith, the mother of demons. Iron Man, Wolverine, Blade, Ghost Rider (Robbie Reyes), Dr. Strange, Magik, Captain America, Nico Minoru, and Captain Marvel have been confirmed for the title. It won't be just about going on missions with well-known heroes though, as Firaxis said social elements will be present where players will be living with them and make choices, possibly changing how the story plays out. As evident by the in-engine cinematic trailer, a whole host of popular Marvel characters will be present in the game. Not much more information was shared regarding the story. The trailer blurb says the following to describe the title's setting: When Hell awakens, only they can stop it. Rise up and join a darker order of heroes to defeat Lilith before the Darkhold is complete in this tactical RPG set in the darker side of the Marvel Universe. Fans won't have to wait long to see what the game looks like though, as Firaxis plans to show off the first gameplay footage on September 1. The studio is currently offering an exclusive Nightstalker skin for Blade when signing up to its newsletter here. Marvel's Midnight Suns launches in March 2022. Launch platforms have not been announced just yet either, but it should be hitting PC as well as current and last-gen consoles.

Marvel's Avengers hits Xbox Series X|S and PS5 on March 18, also gains Hawkeye by Pulasthi Ariyasinghe The Square Enix-published Avengers game that released in September last year is receiving the promised next-gen console version on March 18. The cooperative action title has been playable on the new console generation via backward compatibility, but this official launch will utilize the new hardware specifically to offer an enhanced experience. The Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 will run the game at up to 4K resolution while the Xbox Series S will target 1440p. Frame rate targets were not revealed today but they are expected to be higher than on the previous generation consoles. Faster load times, increased draw distances, higher resolution textures, along with improved heroics and destruction effects will also be present in this version. The next-gen version will be available as a free upgrade to all owners of Marvel's Avengers on Xbox One and PlayStation 4. All progress will carry over and cross-gen play is enabled so no friends will be left behind when upgrading either. On the same day that the new version drops, developer Crystal Dynamics will also release the next playable superhero to the game, Clint Barton's Hawkeye, for free through an update. Continuing the Future Imperfect storyline, the new bow and katana-wielding hero's mission can be played both solo and with up to three other players, where they will find themselves time traveling to a possible future Earth to take down Maestro.

Marvel's Avengers Xbox Series X|S and PS5 versions pushed back to 2021 by Pulasthi Ariyasinghe The Square Enix-published super-hero action game Marvel's Avengers flew its way to current-gen consoles and PC last month. The game was also heading to the next-generation Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5 console platforms this holiday, but that plan has now been pushed back. In a state of the game blog post, Crystal Dynamics head of studio Scot Amos revealed that the next-gen version of the title has been pushed back to 2021, adding that this is to "to ensure that we give our team the time to deliver a next-gen experience showcasing all that this game is meant to be. " Keep in mind that even though specific enhancements won't be there yet, the current-gen version will be playable on next-gen consoles at launch with more stable frame rates and faster loading times. As previously announced, the publisher will be offering free next-gen upgrades to those who pick up the title on current consoles. Crystal Dynamics also apologized for the turbulent launch of Marvel's Avengers, where a large number of players were met with bugs and crashes. "This does not align with Crystal Dynamics’ value of craftsmanship, and for that we sincerely apologize," it added. For those that stuck with it, the studio will be giving away a "thank-you bundle" of in-game items from October 22 to November 5, which includes 1500 Credits, 7000 Units, 250 Upgrade Modules, 20 DNA Keys, and a Nameplate. The delays don't stop there though, as the developer is also pushing back the first post-launch Avenger Kate Bishop out of the previously announced October window. Once again, this was attributed to wanting a quality-focused release. A new launch window was not announced today, but her and Clint Barton, plus their campaigns, should land before the end of the year. As for other 2021 additions aside from the free upgrade, the studio is planning to introduce a new hero, region, a narrative arc, and more. PlayStation 4 and 5 version owners are also slated to receive Spider-Man as an exclusive character next year.

Fortnite Nexus War pits Marvel heroes against Galactus by Asher Madan While the court battle against Apple and Google has just begun, Epic Games is still focused on providing users who still have access to Fortnite with new content. A few hours ago, the studio announced Fortnite Nexus War. Fortnite Nexus War pits Marvel heroes like Iron Man and Thor against the infamous villain Galactus. According to Marvel Universe lore, Galactus is an unstoppable cosmic entity who originally consumed planets to sustain his life force. He is regarded as the oldest living being in the Marvel Universe and has the ability to shatter entire planets with his energy beam. It'll be quite a challenge to stop him in Fortnite. A Fortnite Nexus War Battle Pass is also available through the in-game store that unlocks a number of items like She-Hulk, Iron Man, Wolverine, and Groot. Your goal is to restore the Marvel heroes' memories in order to stop Galactus. You'll also learn how The Avengers ended up on the Fortnite island in the process.

Marvel's Avengers gets action-packed launch trailer by Asher Madan Marvel's Avengers is an upcoming third-person brawler from publisher Square Enix. The game combines an original story with single-player and co-op gameplay. The title takes place after a horrific event leaves San Francisco in ruins. The Avengers have been disbanded for 5 years, but when an even bigger evil threatens the planet, it's up to you to assemble the crew and save the world once more. Marvel's Avengers is scheduled to launch on September 4, 2020, on Xbox One, PC, PlayStation 4, Google Stadia. There are Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 versions also in development, that may launch with those consoles. Today, Square Enix released the launch trailer for Marvel's Avengers. The video touches upon the story, but its main focus is the action. You can play as a number of heroes, and all of them have devastating and unique moves. For example, Thor is able to summon lighting, while The Hulk employs sheer brute force. You can purchase Marvel's Avengers, starting at $60, through the Microsoft Store, PlayStation Store, and Steam. If you purchase the game on current-generation consoles, you'll get a free upgrade for Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 with possibly a higher resolution and faster frame rate.