Marvel Rivals Dev Says Hero Shooters Need a Really Strong Hook to Convince Fans to Ditch the Game They’re Already Playing

The director of Marvel Rivals has discussed the difficulty of successfully entering the packed hero shooter market, pointing to failures like Concord as evidence of the increasing need to have a strong hook that helps convince players to ditch the game they’re already invested in for something new.

Sony’s Concord is one of the biggest video game disasters in PlayStation history, lasting just a couple of weeks before it was brought offline amid eye-wateringly low player numbers. Sony later decided to kill the game entirely, and shut its developer.

Concord was the latest in a string of recent hero shooter flops, which includes Rocksteady’s Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League. Post-launch content for that game comes to an end early 2025, just a year after launch, having left a $200 million hole in publisher Warner Bros.’ finances.

NetEase’s Marvel Rivals, however, appears to have avoided a similar fate. It is a free-to-play live service hero shooter in the Overwatch style and benefits from the power of the Marvel brand, but it clearly clicked with the audience, hitting an impressive 10 million players in just three days.

Speaking to VideoGamer.com, Marvel Rivals game director Thaddeus Sasser said Concord “didn’t bring any unique value proposition,” which contributed to its failure. But speaking more generally about the hero shooter market, Sasser said live service games need a hook to convince players of already successful hero shooters to jump ship having already invested their time and money in those games.

“There’s a switching cost,” Sasser said. “I’ve already invested in Overwatch, I’ve got 15 skins for Pharah, I’m not going anywhere.”

Ultimately, Sasser said, the market is incredibly difficult to predict, and game developers never know how popular their game will be until it’s actually out.

“As a game developer you’re always worried until the audience has responded,” Sasser continued. “The truth is that I don’t think anybody can accurately predict this or the game industry would be radically different today. There’s a lot of games that come out that people are like, ‘It’s going to do well,’ then it flops or people come out and go, ‘It’s going to flop,’ and it succeeds amazingly. So, I think it’s really hard to tell ahead of time and you’re always worried about that.”

As for Marvel Rivals, Sasser suggested its superhero factor is the reason fans are willing to leave their favorite games behind to give it a shot.

“I don’t know about you, but when I heard the concept of the game I was like, ‘Oh my God I want to go be Storm in a game, I want to go be Doctor Strange in a game. I want to be those heroes in the game, that sounds awesome.’ And of course my mind immediately leapt to all the cool possibilities you could have with that. That’s what I think will pull people in as well too. If we’ve done our jobs well, they’ll love what they play and they’ll want to play some more.”

For NetEase, it will be hoping not only to keep Marvel Rivals’ player count as high as possible for as long as possible (something that’s proved particularly tricky for live service games of late), but to make enough money from players to meet the company’s internal revenue projections. To that end, Marvel Rivals sells a battle pass and premium skins, but are they convincing players to open their wallets? Early signs suggest they are — Marvel Rivals is the second top-selling game on Steam by revenue, behind only Grinding Gear Games’ action RPG Path of Exile 2.

Keep an eye on the latest Marvel Rivals codes for free skins, and vote on the strongest Marvel Rivals characters in our community tier list.

Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.

PlayStation Reveals Free Expansion Coming to Astro Bot This Week

Sony has revealed that PlayStation 5 exclusive Astro Bot is getting a free expansion tomorrow, December 12, which adds a whole new level called Winter Wonder to the beloved platformer.

A PlayStation Blog post revealed the expansion arrives at 6pm Pacific / 9pm Eastern, meaning 2am on December 13 in the UK. It’s available at no extra cost to anyone who owns Astro Bot but requires completion of the base game to play.

“Since releasing Astro Bot earlier this year on PlayStation 5, we have been submerged by lovely comments from you and the PlayStation community, and we are delighted with the critical response to the game all over the world,” said Nicolas Doucet, studio director of developer Team Asobi.

“From the bottom of our hearts, thank you so much for showing your appreciation. It truly means a lot to us. As our way of saying thank you, it is my pleasure to announce that a whole new piece of free additional content is coming to Astro Bot. Indeed, the little robotic elves of Team Asobi have been very busy preparing a whole new level called Winter Wonder.”

Doucet didn’t share much on what fans can expect of the new level, though a single screenshot shows a festive world with a large Christmas tree at its centre.

“Since we want it to remain a little surprise, we will not say too much, but you should expect a fun-filled level with shiny presents, a good dose of jingle bells, and brand-new special bots to add to your crew,” Doucet said.

“This winter update was made with every user in mind, meaning it is a celebration enjoyable for children and adults alike. So, no hair-pulling challenge this time,” he added, likely referencing the previous series of speedrun challenges released as downloadable content.

Astro Bot sold 1.5 million units in its first two months on sale and earned a 9/10 in IGN’s review. “A fantastically inventive platformer in its own right, Astro Bot is particularly special for anyone with a place in their heart for PlayStation,” we said.

Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelance reporter. He’ll talk about The Witcher all day.

Donkey Kong Country Returns HD Showcases ‘A Barrelful Of Details’ In New Trailer

It’s almost a month away!

Nintendo isn’t holding back on Donkey Kong Country Returns HD details this week, with a second trailer drop arriving… today!

The ‘barrelful of details’ trailer (below) is essentially just an overview trailer, just like every other Nintendo first-party game gets. This runs down all of the things you need to know about the HD rerelease of Retro Studio’s Wii platformer.

Read the full article on nintendolife.com

Synduality Echo of Ada: solo PvE mode revealed, Open Network Test launches Dec 12 

Hi everyone, this is Yosuke Futami, producer for Synduality Echo of Ada. We can’t wait for all the Drifters to begin exploring Amasia in their Cradlecoffin mech with their trusty Magus partner by their side when the Open Network Test starts tomorrow!

If you’re new to Synduality, the game takes place in the year 2222. Toxic rain wiped out most of humanity and gave birth to horrible, deformed monsters called Enders. The remnants of humanity are forced to live underground, scavenging the surface for resources in the safety of a Cradlecoffin – a bipedal mech around 20 feet tall. Of course, the mechs are incredibly difficult for humans alone to pilot, so each Drifter is paired with an AI companion called a Magus. In the game, the Magus will be both a physical companion and a digital projection to help you out during combat. Explore the ruins of Amasia for important resources to help upgrade your base facilities, buy or craft stronger Cradlecoffin parts, and help humanity survive.

Just like in the anime, your Magus partner will be your most important companion and the only one you can truly trust in the world of Amasia. Your AI companion will learn and grow with you, helping you identify important parts on the map if you’re hunting resources, or with ideal ambush points if you’re hunting other Drifters. Part of the fun with Synduality is not knowing what kind of Drifters will be exploring the surface at the same time as you – maybe you’ll get lucky, and everyone decides to cooperate to harvest valuable resources and bring down difficult enemies together. Or perhaps one of the top bounties will show up looking to clean up other Cradlecoffins and take their hard-earned resources for themselves. During the Closed Network Test earlier this year, we saw a few Drifters safely make it to the extraction elevator only to have one turn on the group and take his former companions’ loot for his own. I’d like to reiterate my point that your Magus is the only person you can truly trust in Synduality Echo of Ada. 

Speaking of the previous Closed Network Test, our development team has been hard at work making improvements to the game. As an extraction shooter, there are some important core gameplay mechanics newcomers might not be aware of, so we’ve included a robust tutorial for players when they first start the game. And because Synduality Echo of Ada is an online game, reducing player lag during raids was our chief concern. We’ve been working hard on weapon balancing and PvE balancing as well, so please join us in the Open Network Test to be able to provide your own feedback! We had a lot of interesting user feedback from our previous Closed Network Test and survey responses from participants that were incredibly helpful to us as developers making sure that Synduality Echo of Ada launches in its best form. 

One other thing that was revealed today is the game’s solo missions. We included a PvE element for players to be able to learn more about the backstory of Synduality – why the underground city of Amasia collapsed, and the Drifter and Magus that were involved. The single player missions won’t put any player equipment at risk, but likewise you won’t be able to keep any weapons you find. Players will also encounter special enemies and have to manage their resources more in these missions. Find logs and records that together will tell the story of Amasia through cut scenes, audio logs, and more in the full game at launch.

This time around in the Open Network Test (starting tomorrow!) there are more garage options, Magus options and costumes, and weapons and equipment to experiment with. So, whether you’ve been to the wastelands before or if this is your first sortie to Amasia, we hope you join us. Good luck out there, Drifter!

Prepare for the Open Network Test early and download the game now on PS5.

Video Games Are the Future for Dead Franchises Like Indiana Jones

When Steven Spielberg and George Lucas first brought Indiana Jones to the screen with Raiders of The Lost Ark in 1981, they would scarcely have believed the cultural impact their character and franchise would have over the next 40-plus years. Since Harrison Ford initially hung up his fedora following 1989’s The Last Crusade, we’ve had a string of imitators that have met varying degrees of success. Fascinatingly, Jones’ influence can most keenly be felt not in movies but in video games, with the most obvious examples being the Tomb Raider and Uncharted games. Of course, both of these franchises have also been translated into Hollywood blockbusters, and both experienced middling success – perhaps a sign that Indy’s signature style of adventure has a more promising future in the realm of video games than it does on the silver screen.

But it isn’t just Lara Croft and Nathan Drake who have struggled at the cinema. The Last Crusade was not the ride off into the sunset for Dr. Jones that its story promised, and close to 20 years later Harrison Ford made a much-anticipated return with The Kingdom of The Crystal Skull. A 1950s-set Cold War adventure that switched the Nazis out for the Soviet Union, it attempted to explore the interesting ground of an older Indy who was still graverobbing and globetrotting in his 60s. But it wasn’t enough: questionable CGI and an overreliance on old man jokes aside, the choice to eschew the mystical and mythological storylines of the first three films for a sci-fi approach felt out of place for both the character and franchise. As a result, The Crystal Skull was so poorly received by fans that it seemingly buried the Indiana Jones franchise.

15 years and a Disney buyout of Lucasfilm later, Indy was exhumed for another crack at the whip. Despite featuring a typically committed performance from Harrison Ford, The Dial of Destiny stretched audience disbelief with an Indy pushing 80 forced to fight his way through scrapes and a lacklustre storyline involving Archimedes’ dial. Just as Disney had done with Star Wars, it attempted to recapture nostalgia for the original films with the return of the Nazis, but this entry felt more tired than Dr. Jones did, not to mention wasting the likes of Antonio Banderas, Mads Mikkelsen and Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s talents. But it wasn’t just long-time fans who were let down – this lackluster effort failed to capture the imagination of a new generation. Box office performance showed audiences didn’t connect with the film, and it ultimately made just half of Kingdom of The Crystal Skull’s total. The franchise, it seemed, was beyond repair.

One year later, with the bad taste of Dial of Destiny barely washed out, MachineGames’ Indiana Jones and the Great Circle has proven that there is still life in Henry Jones Jr. yet. IGN’s own glowing 9/10 review is just one of many claiming that the former Wolfenstein developer has not only made a fantastic game that rethinks the rules and structure of the action-adventure genre, but that The Great Circle is also the most enjoyable the franchise has been since Spielberg and Lucas’ heyday. It has breathed new life into what was fast threatening to become a franchise as cobwebbed as the tombs Indy encounters.

The Great Circle is able to return the series to its 1930s roots, free from the constraints of an aging lead actor.

While The Great Circle’s achievements in video game design are a significant part of its success, its real triumph is in the way it works in conversation with both Indiana Jones as an idea and a franchise. It uses the natural strength of video games to extract the very best from the series. For instance, The Great Circle is able to return the series to its 1930s roots thanks to being free from the constraints of an aging lead actor. We play as Indy in his prime, with the story not having to justify why a senior citizen is still leading a double life as a professor of archaeology and ass-kicking archaeologist. This feels like a true representation of the character fans fell in love with, aided in part by Troy Baker’s pitch-perfect take on the character and Gordy Haab’s score, which effortlessly captures the escapism of John Williams’ classic themes.

Set within the small timeline gap between Raiders of The Lost Ark and The Last Crusade, the game sees Indy crossing paths with an excellent foil, Nazi archaeologist Emmerich Voss, as well as Japanese and Italian forces in 1937. The setting feels like a natural continuation for both the character and story, fleshing out his story and veering away from the sci-fi trappings the latter two films fell into. This all creates a feeling of nostalgia for fans, especially when it comes to Indy interacting with Marcus Brody, originally played by the late Denholm Elliott but brought to life here just as you remember him. It’s through this authentic return to Indy’s past, rather than the legacy approach of the recent films enforced by the realities of aging stars, where The Great Circle succeeds.

But, more important than that, this return to Indy’s prime taps into so much of what made the early films feel so fresh. While the fanbase of the original films felt obliged to see the past two films, the younger generations haven’t had an opportunity to experience the franchise at its best. Now, for the first time in decades, Indiana Jones feels relevant: he’s a classic hero for a modern-day video game.

The deeper you explore Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, the more obvious it becomes that the video game medium is perfect for continuing the franchise. I’m actually surprised it hasn’t been tapped into with greater success previously, despite a myriad of attempts including beloved Lucasarts adventure games and the delightful Lego adaptation. But MachineGames’ vision is unlike that used for any prior Indy game, and it feels perfectly suited to offering a whole new interactive future for Dr. Jones.

The Great Circle’s emphasis on stealth and actual archeology leans into the more curious spirit of the original trilogy.

The level design evokes the exploration and adventure of the original films, offering an immersive and engaging experience that shows why this character and world were so appealing in the first place. It is the perfect modern vehicle for Indy’s archaeology and tomb-solving adventures, taking us from Marshall College to the Himalayas via Egypt, The Vatican and Shanghai. Unique environments and challenges in each location not only keep players constantly engaged, but also replicate the shifting opportunities offered to Indy in each act of the original films.

Also evoking the movies is the game’s approach to violence. While notably light on action compared to the combat-heavy approaches of Uncharted and Tomb Raider, The Great Circle’s emphasis on stealth and actual archeology leans into the more curious spirit of the original trilogy. That’s emphasised by the first-person perspective, which offers a distinctive lens on Indy’s amazing discoveries. Through this approach, Machine Games ensures The Great Circle feels an authentic continuation of the films that came before it, as well as making the franchise stand apart from its video game peers.

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle feels like the continuation for the franchise fans have been asking for since 1989. It tells an organic story that deftly slots in between the original films, making the most of its pre-war setting and adding extra elements that feel natural and work within this timeframe. The globe-trotting locations suit the franchise’s history and the aesthetic and design of each adds something different for fans to explore. The fact that it’s a video game may have previously seemed an odd method to provide an authentic next chapter, but in 2024 it feels like the right – and perhaps only – way forward.

And so The Great Circle raises a broader question: are video games the way forward for franchises that have struggled to survive in cinemas? Last year’s RoboCop: Rogue City breathed new life into the dormant series, and felt right at home thanks to the ultra-violent nature of a first-person shooter. With that in mind, it’s easy to imagine a number of resting franchises that could find exciting new life in video games. Die Hard, Terminator, Escape From New York – there are so many former movie titans that have potential.

But for now, we have Indiana Jones back where he should be. While the past two films have their fans and moments to savour, they fall considerably short of the standards set by Spielberg and Lucas. The Great Circle shows that there is still a future for the franchise that can be fun and remind fans of the franchise’s heyday while also offering something fresh. It’s not just about revisiting Indiana Jones in its prime, it’s about living his experience. That’s the element that helps keep it forward-facing. MachineGames has certainly chosen wisely, and it’d be hard to bet against further gaming outings for Dr Jones if they’re anything like this one.

Chris Connor is a coffee and whisky driven culture wordsmith, with work published at NME, Radio Times, Yahoo, and others.

Cyberpunk 2077 Players Discover Secret Quest Based on Hit Indie Game Added With Patch 2.2

We’ve already reported on the cool things Cyberpunk 2077 players are doing with Patch 2.2’s new and improved photo mode, but it turns out the update also added a secret quest to the game.

The quest in question is actually a crossover with LocalThunk’s smash hit poker-inspired roguelike deckbuilder Balatro, which itself received Cyberpunk 2077 card packs back in October.

Warning! Cyberpunk 2077 spoilers ahead!

The Balatro quest sees ‘Jim B’ message V to ask them to track down rogue Jokers scattered around Night City. Jim B helps V out on this treasure hunt by providing images that point players in the right direction, complete with card-based puns. You’ll know you’re in the right spot by the joker image sprayed on a surface. It’s basically a fun collectathon / exploration side quest themed after Balatro.

As for quest rewards (spoiler warnings end here!), the hunt ends with the Joker of Night City package, which includes a new joker shirt and a Balatro trophy displayed in your apartment.

CD Projekt Global PR Director Radek Grabowski tweeted to add some context, saying the quest came about after he asked the quest design team about the possibility of putting Balatro cards in Cyberpunk 2077. Quest designer Maria Mazu then created the Balatro quest for Patch 2.2.

This is one of a number of secrets game director Paweł Sasko teased were added by Patch 2.2, and that’s on top of secrets from the base game that still remain undiscovered even now, four years after Cyberpunk 2077’s launch. Players are documenting unlisted Patch 2.2 updates, which so far include a street race and more color variants on weapons.

Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.

Symphonia might scratch your Silksong itch, even though it’s not a metroidvania

In “non-violent and poetic” 2D platformer Symphonia, you’re an extremely fancy violinist exploring a realm of musical machines, where gas lanterns kindle fitfully as you approach, crotchets adorn vast cogwheels, and reams of what I really hope isn’t actual catgut feed through titanic pegboxes overhead. Sampling the demo, I was immediately enflamed by the orchestral score and placed in a mood of white-gloved sophistication only slightly spoiled by the familiarity of the underlying platform moveset, and by my repeatedly falling into pits.

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Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 Players Discover Unannounced Research Centre, Which Houses All Sorts of Unreleased Secrets

As Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 players dig into the recently released game-changing Patch 5 update, they’ve uncovered something developer Saber Interactive appears to have accidentally added early.

Redditor MrBossman4411 noticed a Thousand Sons icon in the Heraldry Editor, which points to a so far unannounced Research Centre. The Thousand Sons are one of the enemy factions in Space Marine 2, a Space Marine Traitor Legion so far unplayable in the game itself.

This was further explored in a video by Warhammer 40,000 YouTuber Chapter Master Valrak, and is verified as being live in-game at the time of this article’s publication by IGN.

The Research Centre appears to be a Battle Barge expansion in which you unlock and potentially display various trophies via the completion of certain challenges. There’s a new, so far unnamed currency to spend on these unlocks, which are sorted into four categories: Space Marines, Imperial Guard, Tyranids, and the Thousand Sons Chaos Marines.

Unlocks include Ultramarines Chapter Master Marneus Calgar, the Imperial Guard carrier-gunship the Valkyrie, and even a Tyranid Hive Ship. It’s not clear how this new currency will be obtained, or exactly what form this ‘research data’ will take.

Perhaps within this new area of the Battle Barge, players will be able to inspect models of each unlock in greater detail, perhaps even with some lore attached.

Space Marine 2 publisher Focus Entertainment has promised a Battle Barge expansion of some kind for Season 3, which kicks off in 2025.

The Battle Barge is the player hub and contains space for customization, a sparring arena, and player gathering for co-op PvE missions. IGN has asked Focus for comment on this latest development.

In September, Saber Chief Creative Officer Tim Willits told IGN how the breakout success of Space Marine 2 had “changed everything” for the company. Eagle-eyed fans have spotted the Space Marine chapter now all-but confirmed to get a cosmetic pack after the Dark Angels, too.

Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.

The RPS Advent Calendar 2024, December 11th

When I were a lad, you’d open an advent calendar and get a piece of chocolate shaped like a bell with an aftertaste so rancid you’d wish you’d eaten the little cardboard window instead. And you’d bloody well make do, too. Not these days. Now, you get a squadron of tiny automata with drills for noses that burrow through your battle lines and utterly wreck your vulnerable missile launchers. Country’s gone to the tiny robot dogs, I tell you!

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