Rockstar Games co-founder and Grand Theft Autio writer Dan Houser has officially announced Absurd Ventures.
Rockstar Games co-founder Dan Houser has announced @AbsurdVentures
Per release, Absurd is “building narrative worlds, creating characters, and writing stories for a diverse variety of genres, without regard to medium, to be produced for live-action and animation; video games… pic.twitter.com/KTHP510SMq
As spotted by Geoff Keighley, Houser’s new studio is “building narrative worlds, creating characters, and writing stories for a diverse variety of genres, without regard to medium, to be produced for live-action and animation; video games and other interactive content; books, graphic novels, and scripted podcasts.” Based on the quote, Absurd Games will dabble in other forms of media beyond video games.
Since 2021, it had been strongly implied that Houser started a new studio after Absurd Ventures in Games had been registered in the United Kingdom, with the business listing mentioning that Dan Houser was a director at the studio. Though details on the company were sparse at the time. Dan Houser co-founded Rockstar Games in 1998 with his brother, Sam, and three others. However, in early 2020, Rockstar’s parent company Take-Two Interactive announced that Houser had resigned from the company.
Houser played a big role in Rockstar Games’ history beyond just co-founding. This includes serving as a writer on almost everything Grand Theft Auto game and as a writer for every installment released in the Red Dead Redemption franchise to date, including serving as the executive producer for Red Dead Redemption 1 & 2 and Red Dead Online.
Absurd Games has yet to announce its first project, but hopefully, the studio will share more information soon.
Taylor is a Reporter at IGN. You can follow her on Twitter @TayNixster.
The Steam Deck and ROG Ally are brilliant little devices – but you do end up paying a lot more for a high-capacity version, with a £220 difference between the cheapest and most expensive Steam Decks. If you opted for one of the smaller capacities to save space, then consider this deal for a Sabrent Rocket Q4 2230 NVMe drive that offers a massive 2TB of storage for £160 – down from a usual price of £205.
To get this deal, you’ll need to tick the box on the Amazon product page to get a 7% discount, then use the code SH4KDU9Z to unlock an extra discount.
Chris Meledandri, CEO of Illumination and producer of TheSuper Mario Bros. Movie, has denied recent rumours of an upcoming animated Legend of Zelda film.
In an interview with TheWrap (via GameSpot), Meledandri responded to rumours circling around last week that Universal is closing in on a deal to tackle Hyrule next in the Nintendo movie world. At the Annecy International Animation Festival, Meledandri told TheWrap “I don’t know where that came from” regarding the rumour.
Season 4 of Halo Infinitedelivers a host of new features and content, among them the fan-favorite Infection mode that’s been a part of the multiplayer suite since the days of Halo 2. We sat down with the development team to get the scoop on what’s coming and why fans should be excited to slip back into their (potentially contaminated) armor.
Patient Zero
Infection has been around almost as long as Halo, first appearing as a custom game in Halo 2 before joining official playlists in Halo 3. It’s been a staple of every mainline Halo game since, even getting a Flood (the parasitic enemies who threaten to wipe out all sentient life in the galaxy)-flavored version in Halo 4. But what exactly is Infection? 343 Industries Modes Product Owner Joe McDonagh lays it out as, “A classic Zombies-versus-survivors set up. Everyone starts on one side, as a survivor. Everyone but the single Alpha Infected, that is. If you get killed by the Alpha Infected, you switch sides and become an Infected. It boils down to this: can the survivors survive until the end of the round, as they get whittled down by the Infected? It leads to some awesome, last man standing ‘Get to the chopper’ style moments.”
The gameplay of Infection is designed for in-your-face, up-close-and-personal skirmishing, as the Alpha Infected is armed with energy swords that allow for one-hit kills, alongside Season 3’s Shroud Screen, which creates opportunities for traps and ambushes. Others who are Infected along the way get energy swords and the new Quantum Translocator equipment, letting them run in for a quick slay, then teleport away before enemies arrive. Survivors tote Bulldog Shotguns and Commando Rifles, but they’ll have to get uncomfortably close to the Infected to take them down. The net result is a lot of frantic running and yelling as survivors try to locate and kill the Infected while the other side isolates and hunts Survivors. It’s mayhem in all the best ways.
Honoring a Legacy
McDonagh and the team knew that it was important to do right by the community when creating the Halo Infinite iteration of Infection, given it is held in incredibly high regard both inside and outside the studio.
“A lot of folks here at 343 cut their teeth on this mode when they were part of the community, before they got into the industry,” says McDonagh. “Some of them, like Zach (Boyce – designer) got into the industry becauseof Infection. So it’s their origin story as Halo fans. We might be working on the franchise, but we’re conscious of the fact that we’re lucky enough to be its guardians, not its owners. And Infection is where a lot of that began.
“But back to crushing your enemies. Infection gives something you don’t get elsewhere in Halo Infinite. It’s a social experience, like Fiesta. It offers a more forgiving and casual experience than the occasionally Darwinian battles of Arena. Also, because the sides are dynamic, you get to backstab your friends, which, in my experience, always deepens gaming bonds.”
A New Strain of Infection
In this iteration of Infection there’s a narrative reason why the Spartans are turning on each other. The Season 3 story left off with the Banished AI Iratus infiltrating the Spartan training simulation and exerting his will to take control. This will be reflected in the appearance of Infected players, as well as new VO reflecting the altered reality.
There are new gameplay touches as well, McDonagh tells us that weapons spawn on the bodies of dead Spartans around the map, so thematically players are looting the unfortunate souls who have fallen in battle in the hopes of staying alive a bit longer. These weapon spawns are randomized each match though, so Survivors can’t map out a route to the best gear, and Infected players can’t lie in wait in ambush. Scoring in the mode is also tied to how long you survive, so the longer you stave off the inevitable end the more points you’ll rack up.
Lastly, the maps all have unique touches and themes to fit the Infection narrative. Level Designer Cliff Schuldt shares some details: “We made special versions of 9 maps to support the theme and the gameplay for the mode, and make it feel like something unique to Infection: Aquarius, Bazaar, Behemoth, Chasm, Cliffhanger, Forest, Launch Site, Recharge and Streets have all been reworked to fit the theme. We created barricades to change the gameplay flow to familiar maps. We also added new sections, for example Behemoth has new tunnels underneath and you can access the back alleys in Streets.”
“We made special versions of 9 maps to support the theme and the gameplay for the mode, and make it feel like something unique to Infection.”
Tips for Surviving the Zombie Apocalypse (Or Not)
So what are you to do when the odds are stacked against you and zombified Spartans with energy swords lurk around every corner? UI Designer Branden League has some tips. “As a Spartan, stay close to your team. Staying alive is not just a priority, it’s a responsibility. A responsibility to your teammates. That being said, using a fallen buddy for more ammo doesn’t make you a lesser Spartan.” A slightly harsh opinion, but fair in the context of a zombie Armageddon, I suppose.
And what if you’re the one hunting? How do you get your fill of Spartan snacks? “As the Alpha Infected, go slow to take full advantage of your camouflage. Use the Shroud screen to protect your brother zombies by blocking off sight lines. Master the Quantum Translocator, because once you understand it, you can use it to sprint slingshot yourself into a room which, by anyone’s standard, is a pretty special way to make an entrance.”
Sprinting, slingshotting zombies, what’s not to love?
Building for the Future
With Infection growing from a player-made mod to a fully-fledged feature mode we can’t help but wonder, what might be next? Could another created mode make the leap to official status? Forge Lead Designer Michael Schorr thinks there are tons of opportunities, some of which are already on the way.
“Repul Soccer has always been a strong contender to follow in the footsteps of Grifball, another legacy mode (like Infection) that has community origins,” said Schorr. “Phase Shift, a Slayer mode where players can ‘phase’ between two slightly different versions of the same map, is quite good and has been a favorite for many 343 devs. Players will see Husky Raid, another community favorite, make its debut in a Halo Infinite playlist this summer. Further down the line we’ll be introducing the Forge AI Toolkit, which allows players to spawn and manage campaign AI in Forge. I think a lot of interesting experiences are going to spring out of that functionality – all with the potential to become a staple mode in Halo Infinite.”
A Vision of Things to Come
The biggest struggle Halo Infinite faced in its first year as a live service game was offering a consistent pipeline of new content for players. Lengthy seasons were the norm, but since the launch of the Winter Update last December the cadence of content has demonstrably improved, a trend which Head of Live Service Sean Baron believes will become the norm going forward.
“Season 4 is very exciting for me because it’ll mark the third straight on-time release for the Halo Infinite Live Service team,” says Baron. “You know the saying — ‘Once is chance. Twice is coincidence. Three times is a pattern.’ I think that’s where we are now — we’re seeing the outcome of the focus on consistency. And I couldn’t be more excited for the team getting there. We still have plenty of room to improve — we’ll always be working to find new ways of improving and ensuring the predictability of the service. But I’m very happy with the progress we’ve made there and looking forward to making it four in a row with Season 5 later this year.”
But Baron and team know that it’s not just about the volume of content, quality plays a key role as well. He sees that as one of the key pillars to continuing to push the game forward. “When I think generally about the trajectory of Halo Infinite, it all comes back to our Player Experience Goals of Consistency, Satisfaction, and Quality. We’ll maintain that focus on Consistency. Like I said, I think there is clear evidence of improvement there. Same with Satisfaction—we’ll continue layering on the features and experiences players want.
With Infection growing from a player-made mod to a fully-fledged feature mode we can’t help but wonder, what might be next? Could another created mode make the leap to official status?
“Where we need to start showing more noteworthy improvements is with Quality. Both technical and experiential Quality. My hope is that over the next few releases and updates we’ll start seeing Quality make the same types of jumps that we’ve seen with Consistency and Satisfaction.”
Season 4 delivers not just the launch of Infection but includes the introduction of a new Career Rank system, new maps, new equipment and more. All that, coupled with the additions to the game over the past six months and the exciting future content, improvements and experiences in the pipeline all go to show that now is the perfect time to jump back into Halo Infiniteif you’ve been away. And if you get to stab your friends with an energy sword and turn them into a zombie well, that’s just a bonus.
Find out more about Infection and Halo Infinite Season 4 on Halo Waypoint.
Season 3 Available Now!
Halo Infinite’s largest multiplayer update yet is available now! Season 3: Echoes Within offers players a new 100-tier Battle Pass, new maps, a new mode and, for the first time, a new weapon and equipment item.
Free-to-Play Multiplayer:
Halo’s celebrated multiplayer returns, reimagined and free-to-play! Seasonal updates evolve the experience over time with unique events, new modes and maps, and community-focused content.
Forge Beta:
Halo’s legendary content creation tool is back and more powerful than ever with advanced features like a new visual scripting engine, object scaling, lighting and audio tools as well as marked improvements in fidelity and object budget limits. Whether it’s remaking iconic experiences from previous Halo entries or creating something entirely unique, the possibilities for thrilling custom maps and game modes are infinite.
Cross-Generation and Cross-Platform Gaming:
Halo Infinite provides an amazing experience across the Xbox One and newer family of consoles as well as PC with stunning 4k graphics and world-class cross-platform play. And, on Xbox Series X as well as supported PCs, enjoy enhanced features like up to 120FPS and greatly reduced load times creating seamless gameplay that usher in the next generation of gaming.*
*Up to 120FPS and 4K Ultra HD available on Xbox Series X consoles and compatible PCs only across supported maps and modes; compatible TV or monitor required.
With the Xbox Series X/S hitting its third anniversary later this year, Microsoft has officially moved on from the Xbox One and will not be making new first-party games for the eighth-gen console moving forward.
In an interview with Axios, Xbox Game Studios head Matt Booty said the company has “moved on to Gen 9,” noting that none of Xbox’s 23 game studios, including Turn 10 Studios or Double Fine Productions, are working on games that are compatible with the Xbox One. However, support for games like Minecraft is ongoing, according to Booty.
Despite no new first-party games being in the works for the Xbox One, Booty reiterated a previous pledge Xbox made last year, where the Xbox One can still access these new first-party games like Starfield on the console via Xbox Cloud Gaming. “That’s how we’re going to maintain support,” Booty said. While not native versions, if you still have an Xbox One lying around and looking to repurpose it in some capacity, this is a solid alternative.
The news comes less than a week after Xbox held its Games Showcase, where the company shared new information, including updates from several of its first-party developers along with a few third-party reveals. If you missed the showcase, check out our roundup, where we recapped all the big news coming from the digital event.
Taylor is a Reporter at IGN. You can follow her on Twitter @TayNixster.
Arriving June 20 for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5, The Elder Scrolls Online: Necrom introduces a brand-new way to play with the introduction of the Arcanist class. Boasting three unique skill lines and an all-new combat mechanic called the Crux system, Arcanists wield the eldritch powers of Apocrypha to obliterate their foes and protect their allies.
Get the inside scoop on each of the Arcanist’s three new skill lines from Brian Wheeler, Lead Combat Designer for ZeniMax Online Studios, and discover the arcane powers you can wield when exploring the Telvanni Peninsula and worlds beyond.
Herald of the Tome
“The Herald of the Tome skill line is designed mostly around dealing damage to your enemies,” explains Wheeler. “There’s a wide variety of abilities here too, with some dishing out area-based effects while others focus on specific targets. There’s versatility in how you want to inflict pain on your enemies.”
When in design, the team knew the Arcanist had to stand out, so they focused on themes of cosmic horror and Hermaeus Mora’s Black Books, opening an eldritch portal to a wide selection of powers.
“Some abilities have a very crisp and precise look, while others are more chaotic and visceral,” says Wheeler. “In our testing, we saw players load up their entire action bar with Arcanist abilities, so we wanted to ensure that this skill line had a wide breadth of supporting visuals.”
If any one ability captures the feel of the Herald of the Tome skill line, it is Fatecarver, which makes powerful use of the class’s new combat mechanic.
“We wanted players to channel pure arcane energy into a beam they could aim anywhere without requiring a target while also interacting with our new Crux system,” explains Wheeler.
“The more Crux you have, the harder the beam hits when you cast it.”
Curative Runeforms
“Curative Runeforms adds healing and support to the Arcanist suite of abilities,” says Wheeler.
“Like the Herald of the Tome line, you can find some good synergies here blending single-target and area-based healing along with some new toys like Apocryphal Gate, granting mobility via a pair of portals.”
Being able to quickly identify what heals and what hurts is vitally important in the heat of battle, so the team made sure that despite having shared origins in Apocrypha, the damaging and healing skill lines appeared distinct.
“This skill line has less ‘brutal chaotic’ looks to it, and we leaned into some of the watery or inky feel of Apocrypha,” says Wheeler. “For example, Arcanist Domain has a watery edge around its ability while also showing a cool animation as you fling out runes.”
Soldier of Apocrypha
“The Soldier of Apocrypha skill line is focused mostly on taking damage and surviving,” explains Wheeler. “But there’s also some utility and support abilities to help control your foes. This includes several shield abilities that we refer to as ‘living buffs.’ These buffs aren’t just stat bonuses, as they also react to enemy actions by damaging them back or healing you!
Because of this focus, in addition to crown control, you can enjoy a lot of quick firing and self-focused abilities when welding the Soldier of Apocrypha skill line.
“A tank’s primary job is to protect their allies while absorbing any enemy damage onto themselves, so we gave the Arcanist a taunt. This is the first time a class in ESO has been given this functionality without relying on other skill lines.” The ability to taunt your foes is vitally important, but so is surviving the inevitable onslaught that comes as a result.
“Runespite Ward is one of the Arcanist’s standout abilities, as it provides great boosts to defense. One of the morphs for this ability, Impervious Runeward, provides even more armor during its first second, giving you the opportunity to time it to get maximum damage mitigation and retaliation!”
Unknowable powers await
This is, of course, just a brief introduction to some of the eldritch powers that are available to you with the all-new Arcanist class. In addition to the three unique skill lines above, the Crux system allows you to further empower your abilities and customize the way you play.
Want to learn more? You’ll need to uncover the class’s weird and wondrous new abilities for yourself when The Elder Scrolls Online: Necrom arrives June 20 on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5—good luck, and we’ll see you in Tamriel!
Summer Game Fest, Not-E3, Keigh3… whatever you want to call this festival of hype, its annual takeover of the game industry’s collective headspace meant there was only ever going to be one topic for the Electronic Wireless Show podcast this week. Alice even made up for her recording absence by pre-emptively tying Nate to a chair and forcibly making him watch trailers, like that bit in A Clockwork Orange but with “WORLD EXCLUSIVE” flashing up every thirty seconds. Still, we keep it light by focusing on the games we actually like the look of, from The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria to Starfield, Nova Roma to Dungeons of Hinterberg.
Fans are convinced Nicolas Cage will appear in Death Stranding 2 after series director Hideo Kojima posted a picture of him standing with the actor in his Tokyo studio.
Cage recently made his first foray into video game acting by way of a cameo in the survival-horror game Dead by Daylight, in which he plays a somewhat exaggerated version of himself.
During a surprise appearance at Geoff Keighley’s Summer Game Fest live show, the actor explained the cameo gave him the chance to “meet a whole new audience,” while Keighley jokingly suggested that “maybe he’ll be in a Hideo Kojima game” next.
Well it seems that there may have been more to that offhand comment than everyone first thought, because Hideo Kojima just posted a picture of himself posing with the Hollywood legend alongside the Ludens statue in his Japan-based studio.
Naturally, Kojima fans are now convinced the actor is set to join the cast of the Death Stranding sequel, a notion which would be more absurd if it weren’t for the director’s penchant for recruiting celebrities to cameo in his games.
Nic Cage in the follow-up to one of my favourite games ever?! Life gets more unpredictable by the day https://t.co/7oYPyBWP9d
Many predicted Cage may make a cameo appearance as one of the lonely survivors, also known as preppers, who have chosen to live alone in the post apocalyptic digital world following the cataclysm known as the Death Stranding.
For his 2019 game, Kojima assembled an eclectic cast of celebrities to voice these quest givers, including comedian Conan O’Brien, horror artist Junji Ito, movie director Edgar Wright, and, of course, Kojima’s old buddy Geoff Keighley.
Oh my god. He will be in DS2 and we must bring him the Last copies of movies to get 5 Stars.
— kolberjimbo death stranding (@totallykojima) June 15, 2023
Others got a little more specific with their predictions, with some suggesting the actor could portray a version of himself in Death Stranding 2. From there, the suggestions got less…predictable.
— BodyBag – can’t talk rn listening to Sleep Token (@BodyBag_92) June 15, 2023
Imagine Death Stranding 2 having a mission in which you have to help Nic’s character steal sports cars from before the Death Stranding happen, which survived in perfect condition in a Homo Demens facility. You drive a Shelby GT500, break it, make it electric and Nic goes apeshit
Some even suggested the cult actor could take on the role of a villain alongside Troy Baker’s character in the upcoming sequel, which was revealed during The Game Awards 2022 live show, and accompanied by a cryptic trailer that seemed to confirm the return of Norman Reedus as series protagonist Sam Porter Bridges.
Regardless, the idea of a Nicolas Cage-infused Hideo Kojima title seems to be a hit among fans, many of whom pledged to pick up the Death Stranding sequel on launch day, assuming the actor actually features in the game.
If Nicholas Cage is in DS2, it’s a Day One for me.
Of course, it’s also perfectly possible Kojima simply invited Cage to tour his offices in the hope of recruiting him as a guest for a potential second season of his Spotify podcast Brain Structure, or that, god forbid, he simply wanted to meet a fellow creative. The one thing that we can take away from Cage’s surprise visit is that his interest in the video game world didn’t suddenly end with his appearance in Dead by Daylight.
Anthony is a freelance contributor covering science and video gaming news for IGN. He has over eight years experience of covering breaking developments in multiple scientific fields and absolutely no time for your shenanigans. Follow him on Twitter @BeardConGamer
I’ve said it once, and I’ll say it several times again. I’m exceedingly pumped for Prince Of Persia: The Lost Crown – and so is Prince Of Persia creator, Jordan Mechner. When I visited Ubisoft Montpellier at the end of May, one of things game director Mounir Radi told me about during my visit was how relieved he felt after showing Mechner a very early prototype. And in speaking to Mechner earlier this week about how he feels about The Lost Crown now, he tells me that “what I’ve seen so far of their modern 2D Metroidvania take on [Prince Of Persia] has got me excited and very eager to play.”
A logo for Star Ocean: The Second Story R has leaked via Square Enix’s support website.
Spotted by RPG Site, the banner with the logo was found on Square Enix’s official support site, but it has since been taken down. The link that leads to the logo now shows a box with the words “no image”.
Star Ocean: The Second Story is the second game in developer Tri-Ace’s Star Ocean series, which is published by Square Enix. The game was released for the original PlayStation in 1998. An enhanced version of the game, Star Ocean: Second Evolution, was released in 2008 for PlayStation Portable.
In 2008, Square Enix remastered the first game in the series for PlayStation Portable, called Star Ocean: First Departure. In 2019, the game was re-released for PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch as Star Ocean: First Departure R.
The latest game in the series is Star Ocean: The Divine Force, which is the sixth mainline title. In IGN’s Star Ocean: The Divine Force review, we said: “Star Ocean: The Divine Force isn’t the best in the series, but a revamped battle system and a charming cast of characters at least make it feel like a return to form.”
George Yang is a freelance writer for IGN. He’s been writing about the industry since 2019 and has worked with other publications such as Insider, Kotaku, NPR, and Variety.
When not writing about video games, George is playing video games. What a surprise! You can follow him on Twitter @Yinyangfooey
