Could Kirby and Mallo be returning?
It’s already been quite an interesting week on the Nintendo front, and now to add to this, it’s been discovered some new trademarks were recently registered by the video game giant in Australia.
As highlighted by Vooks, trademarks have been registered for the 2015 Wii U title Kirby and the Rainbow Paintbrush (Kirby and the Rainbow Curse) and 2015 3DS release Fullblox (also known as Stretchmo).
Read the full article on nintendolife.com
Wizards of the Coast has released a new FAQ addressing the use of generative AI (GenAI)in Dungeons & Dragons and admitting it “made mistakes” in its lack of transparency regarding this use in its art.
The official D&D Beyond X/Twitter account made a post with a link to a new FAQ that aimed to “address how [Wizards of the Coast] assess and respond to generative AI concerns” regarding art commissions for both Dungeons & Dragons and Magic: The Gathering.
The Wizards team recognizes that transparency is critical in the face of evolving issues that affect the games we make, the people who create them and the community that plays them.
To meet that goal, we want to share with you our FAQ on Wizards and AI: https://t.co/F5tXlzk7Hf pic.twitter.com/4nXthONdgi
— D&D Beyond (@DnDBeyond) May 3, 2024
“Recently, we’ve had a few occasions where art used in marketing and game pieces has been publicly scrutinized, including for the possible inclusion of generative AI,” the opening paragraph of the FAQ reads. ” During this time, we’ve made mistakes while at the same time have also seen artists and their work misidentified as problematic in a variety of ways.”
The FAQ notes that Wizards of the Coast requires artists, writers, and other creative professionals who contribute to either or both games to “refrain” from using GenAI tools when crafting products. To combat those that may be using GenAI, Wizards of the Coast disclosed that it was “regularly evaluating resources” that could be used to detect when someone used generative AI.
The company also elaborated on why it may not respond to fans’ claims that GenAI may have been used in its artwork. One reason is that its internal investigation found the results inconclusive or that it made an internal decision not to work with an artist who used GenAI going forward but not publicly commenting to protect “the privacy of one or more individuals.”
This is not the first time Wizards of the Coast has been at the center of controversy for its use of Generative AI for artistic purposes. Last December, the company issued a statement reaffirming its anti-AI art stance after fans speculated that some of the art in the upcoming 2024 Player’s Handbook for Magic: The Gathering was because a dwarf was missing one of the arms, which is why the company used the technology in some capacity. A few weeks after the statement, the company disclosed that it used “AI components” in Magic The Gathering’s marketing artwork.
GenAI has become a hot topic in various industries in the last year. While some see the benefits of GenAI and artificial intelligence, others oppose the use of AI, especially in creative professions, as some may use it to displace people from jobs or potential work.
Taylor is a Reporter at IGN. You can follow her on Twitter @TayNixster.
Yesterday, Viz Media announced the English release of a Magic the Gathering manga series called “Destroy All Humans. They Can’t Be Regenerated.” The manga’s physical release, due later this fall, will also come with an exclusive Magic card.
Destroy All Humans. They Can’t Be Regenerated, written by Katsura Ise and drawn by Takuma Yakota, is an ongoing manga series that was first published in 2018, according to MyAnimeList. The series, which takes place in 1998, follows a junior high school student named Hajime Kanou who goofs off with his friends by playing Magic: The Gathering. This garners negative attention from the school’s top student and Hajime’s academic rival, Emi Sawatari, who scolds him for bringing Magic to school.
Announcement: Attention Magic: The Gathering fans! The original Japanese manga, “Destroy All Humans. They Can’t Be Regenerated. A Magic: The Gathering Manga,” with story by Katsura Ise, and art by Takuma Yakota, releases Fall 2024. Includes an exclusive card! pic.twitter.com/IVpEbr12ID
— VIZ (@VIZMedia) May 3, 2024
Their relationship takes a turn when Hajime discovers Emi is the best Magic player at their local card shop, thus propelling their budding relationship and potential romance over their shared love of the game. If you’re a fan of YuGiOh! — which coincidentally also takes place around the same year — Emi and Hajime’s relationship reads as the polar opposite of Yugi Muto and Seto Kaiba. That is unless you read their relationship as a slow-burn romance, too.
Viz’s English licensing of Destroy All Humans. They Can’t Be Regenerated comes off the heels of Magic: The Gathering taking a victory lap with the financial success of its Fallout crossover decks. During a Q1 2024 earnings call, Hasbro CEO Chris Cocks taunted the Fallout crossover as its “best-performing Commander set ever.” Seeing as how the Fallout Magic collab came after the craze of its Lord of the Rings collab, it’s safe to say Magic players are eating well.
Now, Magic fans can look forward to upcoming video game collaborations with Final Fantasy and Marvel, as well as Destroy All Humans. They Can’t Be Regenerated and its yet-to-be-revealed Magic card to sweeten the deal.
Isaiah Colbert is a freelance writer for IGN. You can follow them on Twitter @ShinEyeZehUhh.
Arrowhead CEO Johaan Pilstedt has released a statement apologizing to disgruntled Helldivers 2 fans in the wake of Sony forcing Steam players to link their accounts to a PlayStation Network Account in order to continue playing the wildly popular third-person shooter.
Earlier today, Sony released a statement announcing that new Helldivers 2 PC players will be asked to link their Steam accounts to a PlayStation Network account on May 6 in order to continue playing the game. This, in turn, sparked outrage from players on social media, with fans threatening to quit the game cold turkey over the new mandate, demand refunds, and flood Helldivers 2 with negative review scores.
Helldivers 2 received over 14,000 negative reviews today due to an update that will require PSN accounts next week.
In case you missed it, SteamDB now has daily reviews on the charts page. pic.twitter.com/qRzeZjcLWy
— SteamDB (@SteamDB) May 3, 2024
According to Helldivers 2’s Steam customer review tab, the game has received thousands of 0negative reviews in response to Sony’s announcement, dropping its “mostly positive” review score to “mixed.” Helldivers 2’s subsequent review bombing led Pilstedt to apologize on his personal X/Twitter account.
“Ouch, right in the review score. Well, I guess it’s warranted,” Pilestedt wrote. “Sorry everyone for how this all transpired. I hope we will make it up and regain the trust by providing a continued great game experience. I just want to make great games!”
Ouch, right in the review score 😢🤕
Well, I guess it’s warranted. Sorry everyone for how this all transpired. I hope we will make it up and regain the trust by providing a continued great game experience.
I just want to make great games! pic.twitter.com/EPO7apDUlc
— Pilestedt (@Pilestedt) May 3, 2024
Pilestedt’s apology follows a previous tweet in which the Helldivers 2 boss directed disgruntled players to PlayStation Support if they had any questions about account linking rather than reaching out to Arrowhead.
In its statement, Sony rationalized its new Helldivers 2 account linking requirement as a safety and security concern, saying, “Account linking plays a critical role in protecting our players and upholding the values of safety and security provided on PlayStation and PlayStation Studios games.”
According to Sony, “technical issues” were to blame for Helldivers 2’s account linking being temporarily optional on launch. Come June 4, all current Helldivers 2 players must link their accounts in order to continue playing the game.
Isaiah Colbert is a freelance writer for IGN. You can follow them on Twitter @ShinEyeZehUhh.
Almost a decade after it set crowdfunding records on Kickstarter, and five years after its release, Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night’s developers have announced the final free update for the Castlevania: Symphony of the Night successor.
Seal: What the Fun is out now in Early Access on PC via Steam, welcoming players from around the world to compete and have fun in its chaotic, unpredictable, and hijinks-packed party royale world. This will be one party for the ages, and we’re here to help break down everything you need to know about the brand-new game you won’t be able to put down.
Seal: What the Fun is all about getting straight to the mayhem and not overstaying its welcome. Each match starts with about 20 players and lasts only 10 minutes with three rounds of rotating party games. These games range from shooting sports to racing, climbing, surviving, and puzzle matching and the game supports solo and teamplay so you can get the exact party vibe that you want.
Some of that fun includes a life-size Air Hockey match that features a massive puck and players score by pushing it into their opponent’s goal, a race with obstacles that will undoubtedly create hilarious moments, a game where you use ball guns to shoot your opponents off a circular platform, and so much more.
The fun of these rounds will be figuring out the perfect strategy to survive to the end as you never know what chaotic energy each player will bring to the battle. Will you simply choose to be the fastest player on the board and find the quickest route to victory? Or will you play the villain and laugh your way to a win while knocking others to their doom? The choice is yours!
All these games will take place in creative and inviting stages that are just as fun to look at as they are to play in. From a Playroom that shrinks you down to toy-size and has you competing surrounded by colorful cubes, cars, planes, and more, to a stage based on the iconic Waterbomb Festival that’s filled with water attractions, water guns, and a concert stage, there’s a lot to look forward to.
Speaking of looking forward to things, Seal: What the Fun is also putting a huge focus on player customization and the chance to unlock charming and stylish costumes, items, emotes, and more to really make your character yours.
As of its launch, Seal: What the Fun lets players choose between six characters – Rascal Rabbit, Giant the Bear, Blanco the Dancing Cactus, Joe the Little Boxer, Pop the Magic-Trained Sheep, and Snowball the Tall and Quirky Carrot-Nosed Snowman. These characters also have nearly endless customization that each match is filled with unique and awesome contestants who really represent the players behind them.
In the middle of matches, you’ll get even more opportunities to let your personality shine with adorable and hilarious emoticons, emo-effects, and more.
Seal: What the Fun is available now in Early Access on Steam via PC for $14.99, a 25% discount from the standard price of $19.99!
Right now developer PlayWith is hosting an exclusive Early Access Event titled ‘WIN 100 CONSOLES!’ to give you the chance to take home a real Xbox Series X, PlayStation 5, Steam Deck, or Nintendo Switch. All you have to do to enter for a chance to win is get the game on Steam, complete the five weekly challenges, and submit a screenshot of your accomplishments through the event page!
Whether you choose to jump into the magic of Seal: What the Fun now or later, everyone is encouraged to join the game’s official Discord to stay up-to-date on all the updates and news that are released during the Early Access period. Discord will also be the place to talk directly with the devs and leave your feedback so the game can truly become the best party game it can be.
Seal: What the Fun wants to be a game built with the help of players and will continue to evolve and improve throughout Early Access and beyond. From new playable characters, costumes, and maps to smooth performance and new languages and localized content to cater to users’ different interests, there is so much to be excited about this party that is just beginning.
The original SteamWorld Heist was an absolute treat, slamming the charming robotic world of the SteamWorld series together with a 2D take on the turn-based strategy of your XCOMs and Valkyria Chronicles and such. With SteamWorld Heist 2 recently revealed for an August release on PC, developers Thunderful have teased some more details on the sequel’s shiny new job system.
Workin’ the Z-axis.
Revised and updated with Penny’s Big Breakaway and Cavern of Dreams. Enjoy!
Ah, the 3D platformer. Ever since Super Mario 64 landed and showed everyone just how good three-dimensional platforming could be, there have been developers hoping to capture just a smidgen of that game’s magic. It was a tough act to follow, even for the plumber himself, but his bespoke Switch outing finds him at the very top of his game.
Read the full article on nintendolife.com
Things are about to get seriously chaotic in the newest season of Apex Legends. Starting May 7 Upheaval lives up to its name with plenty of new content and changes that’ll keep even the most seasoned Legends on their toes. Ready to find out what’s coming soon to the Apex Games? Just keep reading.
“Life’s just a game and lucky you, you’re playing it with me.”
Things are really heating up this season, and new Legend Alter is striking the match. There’s very little known about this new Void tech user except that calamity seems to follow in her wake. Is she the cause or simply in the wrong place at the wrong time? No one can say. But she does seem to take real joy in watching catastrophes unfold, and reveling in what chaos brings out in those around her. While her morality may be in question, her abilities definitely aren’t:
Gift from the Rift – Can remotely interact with a deathbox to claim one item. Cannot be armor.
Void Passage – Creates a portal passageway through a surface.
Void Nexus – Create a regroup point that all allies can remotely interact with to open a phase tunnel back to that location.
What brings the mysterious Alter to the Apex Games? No one can really say. But one thing’s for sure, when she’s around life is never boring.
Duos is out as Solos Takeover makes its much-anticipated return at the beginning of the season. This fan-favorite is back with enough new mechanics to keep things very interesting. It’s every Legend for themselves, which means no one will be watching your back – so you’ll need to rely on your Battle Sense to detect nearby enemies. Pre-kitted weapons and attachments will help you stay one step ahead of the competition, while Second Chance auto-heal will keep you in fighting shape long enough to come out on top. Drop into Solos Takeover starting May 7.
A lunar nightmare becomes reality as Olympus appears to crash into Cleo’s Stasis Array Node, reshaping the battlefield with new POIs and a streamlined map (including new rotations and revamped zip rails ripe for spreading havoc). Debris from the crash as well as meteor strikes and what some are calling unknown biological material have led to a lockdown and quarantine in what was the Promenade. Welcome instead to the Quarantine Zone.
If you’re looking for intense close-quarters action and fast-paced looting, this is where you’ll find it.
Breaker Wharf has shifted to where the Backup Atmostation was originally, and that’s not the only change you’ll have to look forward to. Raining debris has changed up the topography as well as playstyle options – upping the pandemonium potential. Space Port’s move should provide some choice loot opportunities, while Cliff Side offers up an interesting layout primed for intense tug-of-war battles between the high and low grounds. The new Lunar buildings of Solar Pods should keep things moving as well as offer up new combat experiences.
Need a moment to catch your breath? Underpass should give your team the breathing space you need to get back in the game. And Experimental Labs is a great spot for anyone looking for a little high-risk, high-reward action. Finally, new rotations round out the fun offering you a variety of opportunities to make life a little more difficult for opposing squads.
There’s even more on the way during Apex Legends: Upheaval, including the opportunity to slice in style with customizable Apex Artifacts, leaving your unique signature of destruction. Then corrupt your style with the Upheaval Battle Pass, unlocking 100+ rewards including Exotic Shards.
It’s a new world, Legend – get ready to disturb the peace.
Play Apex Legends for free* now on PS5 and PS4.
*Applicable platform account and platform subscription (sold separately) may be required. A persistent internet connection and EA account required. Age restrictions apply. Includes in-game purchases.
Apex Legends latest Season Upheaval will be dropping May 6th and there are some huge map, gameplay and weapon changes, and a new Legend. Alter is the 26th Legend to be added to the roster and she’ll be joining the Skirmisher Class. But that’s not all! The best news? Solos is back! Here’s all the new content coming to Apex Legends Season 21.
Alter’s Abilities
Void Passage (Tactical): Alter creates a breaching portal that can be placed on ceilings, doorways, and walls.
Gift from the Rift (Passive): See death boxes through walls and take one item from it
Void Nexus (Ultimate): Alter will deploy a Nexus to use as a translocator. Alter and her teammates can activate the Nexus to phase back to that location at any time, even if you’ve been knocked.
After Alter, or anyone, uses her tactical there will be a brief moment after exiting the portal that will keep you in a phased state to allow for you to look around and give enemies time to react. Also, be aware that once you place a Nexus and activate your recall, you’ll drop a Nexus Relay that can be used by teammates and enemies.
If you’ve already used your Nexus portal charge, you can piggyback off a teammate who activates it through their Nexus Relay drop. Similarly, be aware that Alter’s tactical portal can also be used by anyone, not just teammates.
Solo Takeover
The Solos gamemode is back for a limited time, replacing Duos. This will be a six week takeover. You’ll drop into Solos with pre-kitted weapons and attachments. Luckily, if you lose a fight, you have a chance to redeem yourself with the new Second Chance mechanic where you use a respawn token to return to the fight.
Each player has one Respawn Token that can be used to come back before Round 4. Unused Respawn Tokens will be converted into Evo Levels in Round 4.
Since you don’t have teammates to help you out, there’s a new Battle Sense mechanic you can use to detect nearby enemies. A pop up will show on your HUD with an audio cue showing enemies are nearby within 50 meters.
Kind of like how Control works, you’ll have an auto-heal that’ll kick in after a bit of time but will also be rewarded with health regen when you kill another player. The total Player count is only 50 in Solos. Apex Rumble will also be coming back later this season with some extra tweaks.
Broken Moon Map Changes
Olympus has crashed into Cleo, where Broken Moon’s map lives, and now Broken Moon has been completely reshaped. The changes to Broken Moon get rid of the chaotic Promenade POI and create new rotation points and better flow to the map so players aren’t clustered.
There have been biome changes and alien eggs have been found scattered around the map. Ferrofluid is found all across the Moon now to try and repair some of the damage. New Ziprails inside of POIs like Quarantine Zone to allow for new types of fights.
Smaller camps are dispersed throughout the map which means more loot. The map now feels like more of an alien town and there’s a new colorful skybox.
Apex Artifacts
Apex Artifacts are a new universal Mythic Melee Cosmetic that can be equipped by any Legend in any mode. The first Artifact was the Cobalt Artifact. This artifact, and future ones, can be customized in various ways with Exotic Shards. You can make up to over 200 different variations. Exotic Shards can be earned in the premium battlepass or purchased in the shop.
Gameplay Balance Changes
The Wingman is now out of the Care Package rotation with hip fire nerf and the Skullpiercer is now out of the loot rotation. The Boosted Loader hop-up is now ground loot and the Wingman cannot use magazines anymore so it’ll stay at a constant max of 6 bullets. The new Care Package weapon this season is the Devotion that’s been beefed up.
The Longbow is getting a buff to match the recoil control of Purple Barrel on its base weapon and ADS time is faster now and matches the Sentinel’s.
1x Digital Threat is now out of the loot pool since it was only used for Shotguns and Pistols. And last but not least, in Season 21 there will no longer be a delay in picking up your teammate’s banner then looting their death box.
In terms of Legend balancing, Crypto is getting a slight buff with better in-game leveling upgrades to improve drone handling, drone recon, and faster cool-down times on getting his drone back.
NewCastle’s Tactical, his Mobile Shield, now deploys faster and his Ultimate, Castle Wall, will destroy any projectiles thrown at it while it’s energized (so on its initial deployment and the minutes after).
Another major Legend change is Ash with her tactical, Arc Snare, which will be deployed in her offhand. So now you can continue shooting with your weapon while throwing out her snare.
Apex Legends Season 21 “Upheaval” will launch May 7th for all platforms.
Stella is a Video Producer, Host, and Editor at IGN. Her gameplay focus is on competitive FPS games and she’s previously reviewed Apex Legends, Hyper Scape, Halo Infinite Multiplayer, and Battlefield 2042. She regularly hosts and shoutcasts competitive Apex Legends and Halo Infinite tournaments when she isn’t streaming on her Twitch channel after work outs. You can follow her on Twitter @ParallaxStella.
