Month: March 2021

The United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has officially approved Microsoft’s purchase of Bethesda. It was one of the last remaining roadblocks to the acquisition finally closing, but Bethesda isn’t becoming part of Xbox just yet.

The SEC published a “notice of effectiveness” for the transaction on its website this week. If you’re not familiar with SEC filings, it doesn’t exactly mean much on the surface, but this notice is used when the SEC accepts a company’s registration. The “S-4” on the page means this is related to either a merger or an acquisition, and if you go to the related documents for this notice, it lists Microsoft’s registration amount as being $7.5 billion. This is the amount agreed upon during the deal last year.

The SEC’s approval actually comes as we were expecting to hear word from the European Commission, the other major regulatory body that could put a stop to this deal. It was scheduled to make a ruling by March 5, though it doesn’t appear to have made it public yet, assuming the ruling hasn’t been outright delayed. Assuming that is approved, it shouldn’t be too long before we see the companies working together officially.

That doesn’t mean PlayStation fans will be immediately left in the dust, however. The upcoming game Deathloop will actually launch as a PlayStation console exclusive, as the agreement was made prior to the Microsoft acquisition, and Microsoft is honoring that. Future games are more up in the air, though it would certainly make sense for big franchises like The Elder Scrolls and Doom to become Microsoft-exclusive in order to draw in more players.

It’s been nearly seven years since the release of P.T., and it’s still left a massive impression on fans and developers alike. Though the ill-fated demo for Silent Hills is now just a specter in the gaming world, that hasn’t stopped other developers from trying to rekindle the same sense of dread and horror with their attempts at paying homage to the minimalist horror game. The latest game paying tribute to P.T. is Evil Inside, an indie psychological horror game that tasks you with exploring a seemingly empty home to commune with the spirits that reside there.

With a trailer for the game being released, we put together a comparison video that shows off a side-by-side gameplay of P.T. and Evil Inside. In this video, we show off a number of the similarities between the two games–which there are many. In addition to similar-looking gameplay that focuses on walking down seemingly empty hallways and exploring rooms, we also get a look at the few jump scares that happen in both games. However, Evil Inside takes place in a much larger setting, and it’s fair to say that there’s much more to the game that we haven’t yet seen.

In addition to this comparison between horror games, we’ve also put together several other side-by-side looks at other games, including how the Mass Effect Legendary Edition remaster compares to its original counterparts. For more on what’s happening in the gaming world, be sure to keep up with GameSpot.

Sometimes it takes a long time for a movie to get made. James Cameron worked on Alita: Battle Angel for nearly 20 years. But Steven Spielberg has him beat by a country mile with his latest project. Spielberg is finally bringing Stephen King and Peter Straub’s The Talisman to life with some help from Stranger Things creators the Duffer Brothers, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The story behind The Talisman is pretty unusual. Often times, directors, actors, or producers will find a story that grabs them and ‘option’ it so that they can make a film or show out of it. Sometimes the project happens, and other times it peters out and the rights default back to the creator. Spielberg bought the rights to The Talisman right when the book came out in 1984–nearly 40 years ago. Not only that, he also bought the rights in perpetuity, meaning that if someone was going to make The Talisman, it would either be Spielberg himself or someone he hand picked.

Now, it’s finally happening. Spielberg is going to make a television show out of The Talisman for Netflix. In an especially small-world-snake-eating-its-tail moment, Spielberg has tapped the Duffer Brothers to executive produce the series. The Duffer Brothers are the minds behind one of Netflix’s most popular original series, Stranger Things, a story heavily inspired by Stephen King, from the red-outline text on the title card to the super-powered kid fighting otherworldly monsters.

Spielberg and the Duffer Brothers will produce the show in association with Spielberg’s own Amblin Entertainment and with Paramount Television Studios. Curtis Gwinn, who worked as both a writer and executive producer on Stranger Things, will be the showrunner for the project, which THR says is already in development.

The Talisman is the story of a 12-year-old-boy named Jack Sawyer, who sets off on a road trip to find The Talisman, a mystical item that can save his dying mother’s life. The roadtrip will take him not just across America itself, but also to its alternate-dimension twin, The Territories, where everyone has a double and things are much more dangerous. It has all the hallmarks of a Stephen King story: a boy on the verge of becoming a teenager, dual realities, a gunslinger, a roadtrip, even werewolves. It’s all here. Stories about young kids in supernatural situations are exactly the sort of thing we often expect from Spielberg and the Duffer Brothers, too.

The Talisman has no current release date or time frame, as it is in very early development. The Duffer Brothers are working on Stranger Things Season 4, and Stephen King has a full dozen stories in some stage of production or pre-production, so the wait on this series might be a long one.

Image credit: Getty Images/Matt Winkelmeyer/Staff

Actor Albert Brooks is guesting on The Simpsons, helping a newly-famous Cletus navigate the world of stardom, and Fox has a first look at the episode for us ahead of its Sunday, March 7 air date.

Brooks is no stranger to appearances on The Simpsons. The actor is best known for movies like Drive and Broadcast News, but this will be his eighth appearance on the show, with this first cameo during the first season in 1990. He’s played car salesmen, a seductive bowling coach, and a self-help guru. Oh, and he also voices Springfield’s own supervillain, Hank Scorpio.

This week, he plays Slick Manager. That’s his name, apparently, not his job. He’s also a slick manager, though. In this episode, titled “Yokel Hero,” Cletus (Hank Azaria) has made it big singing, and betrays Homer to sign with Mr. Manager. Simpsons executive producer Al Jean told Variety that Brooks’ role in the show is one of his bigger ones, and that he’ll be a part of “almost all of the third act.”

“Yokel Hero” is The Simpsons‘ 698th episode. The 700th episode, “Manger Things,” airs March 21. Per Variety, the episode will feature a new couch gag and will reveal a never-before-seen room in the Simpsons’ home. Episode 700 is far from the last, as The Simpsons has been renewed for Seasons 33 and 34.

We know next to nothing about Elden Ring, but that won’t stop us from listing off some things we’d love to see in From Software’s next outing. Well, you might know something, but we are going to pretend like that recent leak never happened.

To make it crystal clear, we won’t be commenting on the leak or showing any Elden Ring gameplay footage, so if you’re worried about spoilers, you can rest easy. But what do you want to see in Eldern Ring? Let us know in the comments below.

World Diversity

At this point, From Software has shown it can execute spectacularly on different flavors of fantasy, whether it’s the medieval vibes of Demon’s and Dark Souls, the cosmic horror of Bloodborne, or the Sengoku samurai-era of Sekiro. Elden Ring is the studio’s first open-world game, and, naturally, I expect it to be much grander in scope.

The so-called Elden Ring that has been shattered is described as something that “commanded the stars,” and its destruction has burned the sky. It would be fascinating to see the impact this has had on numerous different societies and civilizations. In the game, that would mean being able to travel from one kingdom to the next, effectively letting From Software flex its creative muscles with a variety of different themes and aesthetics.

Using the studio’s existing games, imagine travelling from Lordran to Yarnham, then to Drangleic or Boletaria, and then to Ashina. Sure, it’s ambitious, but if anyone can pull it off, it’s From Software. Couple that with Game of Thrones writer George R.R Martin being involved in the creation of Elden Ring, and you’ve got an excellent opportunity to deliver a vast and diverse world rich in detail, intricate history, and fascinating lore.

A Dangerous Open World…

All that said, we’ve been having a lot of trouble wrapping my head around an open-world soulslike game. We’re confident it can work–we just don’t know how it will work. The labyrinthine, interconnected passageways have long been a staple of the series. Designing an open-world game is another beast entirely. Will the entire world be open to you from the get-go? If so, how will it be balanced? Will some sections of the map be too harsh for you early on, or will enemies scale with you as you level up? Will some areas be shut off entirely, or will they be gated by environmental hazards akin to Death Mountain in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild? Either way, the world needs to feel dangerous and alive, no matter where you are in it.

…With Caves And Dungeons To Explore

While we’re very excited to see what From Software does with an open-world, we hope it will still get slices of their brilliant, linear level design. We imagine this will come in the form of caves, dungeons, and castles the player is free to explore. We want to hop on my horse, ride until we see an abandoned castle, and explore a tightly crafted dungeon with valuable loot, tough enemies, and a terrifying boss.

Incorporate Puzzle-Solving

Speaking of caves and dungeons, Hidetaka Miyazaki wears his influences on his sleeve, and he is known to be a big fan of the Zelda franchise. In his own words, that franchise was a “monumental” part of his younger life, and he has acknowledged that Zelda became a textbook for 3D action games. It would be great to see Miyazaki more directly pull from Nintendo’s franchise, specifically Breath of the Wild’s Shrines.

Outside of gimmick bosses, traditional puzzle-solving hasn’t been a big part of From Software’s games, and although it doesn’t need to be the main focus, we would love to see From Software invite the player to think in different ways in one of their games. Perhaps, in Elden Ring, the challenges don’t just have to be powerful enemies but could also include puzzles that can only be surmounted with analysis and logical thinking. The open-world will no doubt be filled with caves, dungeons, and other nooks and crannies to explore, and they’d be perfect for a little bit of puzzle gameplay.

Class-Based Design

We loved Sekiro. However, we think we speak for most folks when we say that we missed the class system found in Demon Souls, Dark Souls, and Bloodborne. If Elden Ring is From Software’s first open-world game, a class and leveling system would feel right at home. We want to be able to test out different builds, level up unique weapons, and create our perfect hero for whatever terrifying bosses we might face off against. Hopefully, From Software will also introduce some classes unique to the world Miyazaki and Martin have created. We always loved how Bloodborne’s classes were wholly unique to their setting, and hopefully, we get some outlandish builds we can play around with. Or just let us be a giant dad again.

Better Stealth

Let’s face it, the stealth in Dark Souls and Bloodborne has always been a bit awkward and a tad broken. They did a better job of balancing it over the years, but stealth never really felt like a viable option. This changed with 2019’s Sekiro: Shadow’s Die Twice. Surprisingly, the addition of stealth mechanics didn’t make it any easier either. You could even stealth attack some bosses, but if you didn’t have a good grasp on the combat itself, the boss would still make short work of you.

For Elden Ring, we hope that stealth becomes a more feasible option. Whether that means giving us a dedicated crouch button or an entire stealth attribute we can invest in is another story. The key here is to balance it. We wouldn’t want it to feel cheesy or significantly easier than other playstyles.

Better Magic System

There hasn’t been a Souls game with a great magic system since the original Demon’s Souls. The issue was that it was arguably too good. Not only could you pick off enemies from a distance, but MP restoration items were common. This allowed for a wide variety of magic builds that could easily break the balance in Demon Souls. In every subsequent Souls game, magic was either paired down or reworked entirely, but none have been as fun or interesting as that original Demon’s Souls system. Hopefully, the success of the remake means From Software will take another look at its magic system. Who knows though, maybe From Software is cooking up something else entirely for magic.

Towns and More NPCs

One of my favorite things about Dark Souls, Bloodborne, and Sekiro are the memorable NPCs. Like many of you, we cling to every word they say, listening for hints, secrets, and bits of lore. However, NPCs can be scarce. Some can even be missed outright if you aren’t paying attention. So we would be really curious to see what From Software would do with a town populated with NPCs. Demon’s Souls, Dark Souls, and Bloodborne all took place after a catastrophic event that left most of the population either dead or in hiding. Hopefully, Elden Ring will show us a world slightly more alive than before. Also, we’re thinking, you’re thinking it, we’re all thinking, but what role will Patches play in Elden Ring? Sound off in the comments with your theories!

Intricate Lore

For many, the story and lore of the Soulsborne games are the highlights. While some might consider the plots to be simple, there is an endless amount of backstory to dig into in any one of these games. Sekiro, on the other hand, is a bit of an exception. While there is still a ton of intriguing lore, it put a greater emphasis on its plot. This isn’t a bad thing by any means, but part of why Dark Souls, Bloodborne, and Demon’s Souls is memorable is how obtuse everything was. Not only did you have to work hard to beat the bosses, but you had to work hard to unpack the story. For Elden Ring, I hope From Software manages to find a rewarding balance between an exciting plot and an intricate and deep world.

Dragon Rider

From Software seems to have a bit of an antagonistic relationship with dragons and, by extension, the players of its games end up having that too. The mythical beasts are a mainstay in most of its games, and, for the most part, players are either jabbing swords into their hides or running frantically away from them as they spew fire in our direction, usually on some sort of bridge. Unless it’s that no-good betrayer Seath the Scaleless, then they’re running frantically away from ice crystals.

We think it’s time to re-write the relationship a bit and let players befriend a dragon. People have been making a big deal about Elden Ring having horse-mounted traversal, but why not go one step further, From Software?

Let. Us. Ride. A. Dragon.

It doesn’t have to be all the time, and it doesn’t have to be directly controlled. Maybe there’s a kingdom of dragons on the outskirts of the world and, if you wanted to travel across the landmass quickly, they’d let you take a dragon. As opposed to directly controlling the beast, it could be kind of like World of Warcraft’s fast travel, where you get to just watch the dragon fly over the entire world, and it just drops you where you want. Then, like World of Warcraft, they could update the game so that you can play Peggle while on the dragon. On second thought, maybe no Peggle, especially if it’s Peggle Blast.

It’s no secret that arcade cabinets take up considerable space, and many of us don’t have the room required to create our own home arcades. That’s where the iiRcade, a new multicade positioning itself as a jack of all trades, comes in. Rather than focusing on a single arcade classic or publisher, iiRcade has a steadily expanding library of titles that you can purchase and download to the cabinet. It’s an intriguing premise to say the least. With a premium feel and great look, the iiRcade has a ton of potential. Its long-term success will largely depend on its library of games, and while the preloaded games are underwhelming, the storefront is steadily growing to include a wide variety of arcade and console games. If you’re having trouble deciding on an arcade cabinet for your game room, the iiRcade could very well be the right choice for you.

Background and price

Last year, the iiRcade was successfully backed on Kickstarter to the tune of roughly $660,000, with multiple editions promised and more than 200 licensed games on the horizon. I received the 64GB countertop machine and matching stand for this review, but there are 128GB versions with artwork from Dragon’s Lair, Double Dragon, or RetroMania Wrestling available as well.

If you’re used to the prices of Arcade1Up cabinets, iiRcade will perhaps cause a bit of sticker shock. The 64GB countertop machine costs $599, and adding the stand tacks on an additional $149. The 128GB editions range from $799 to $819; they come with matching stands and are fitted with official Sanwa joysticks. To be fair, all of these prices were halved for backers as an “early bird” special, but there’s no denying that the iiRcade is an investment. At this time, you can only purchase the iiRcade through the official website and b8ta, though it will eventually be available at Amazon and a few other retailers like Touch of Modern.

Premium build quality

I’ve tested numerous Arcade1Up cabinets as well as AtGames’ Legends Ultimate, and it was immediately clear that the iiRcade is a step above most mainstream home arcade cabinets in terms of feel. It took me less than two hours to assemble the countertop and stand. Due to my personal setup, I only used the countertop without the stand for about an hour before connecting it to the base and moving it to its long-term spot. But the process for attaching it to the base is pretty painless, so it wouldn’t be hard to switch back and forth between the two setups, provided that you don’t mind removing the back cover to access the hand-screws.

The base 64GB model uses a mix of orange and blue pattern designs to offset the black finish and give it a slick look. Based on the pictures, the Dragon’s Lair and Black Edition (Double Dragon) cabinets have more eye-catching designs, but the base model still has a great look that is understated enough to fit in just about anywhere in your home. If you choose the Black Edition, you can also purchase your own skins from third-party retailers and give it a custom look.

The control panel has two 8-way Sanwa-style joysticks–one with a red knob and the other with a black knob. The sticks are a tad short, but I think this helps movement retain a tight and responsive feel. Each joystick is paired with six buttons, with ABC on the top row and XYZ below it. The buttons have a satisfying click that feels closer to my childhood trips to local arcades than the other home cabinets I own. There’s a row of seven buttons running along the top of the panel as well for basic functions like volume control, pausing, powering the unit on, joining the game (P1 and P2), and a coin button that you press to load credits.

The iiRcade is fitted with a gorgeous 19-inch high-definition display. While it’s the standout feature, it’s also the only aspect of the build that was flawed out of the box. The display is covered by a sheet of plexiglass that adds definition to the picture, but it was shipped with only one side protected by a thin film. Multiple, long horizontal scratches were present from the get-go. Another GameSpot editor also experienced this issue, so it’s possible you’d have the same problem. I’ve had similar problems with Arcade1Up cabinets, too. Thankfully, the scratches are only visible when the machine is off; I cannot see them while playing games. You can also request a replacement piece that will be covered on both sides, albeit without a black border painted on it.

It’s worth noting here that the iiRcade, when connected to its stand, is slightly taller than Arcade1Up cabinets with risers. It’s a great height for a standing cabinet, but you would need a fairly tall barstool (not one of the Arcade1Up stools) if you wanted to play while sitting down. Of course, the countertop unit can be placed on any surface if you prefer sitting while playing arcade games.

Performance

The iiRcade runs on a custom version of Android. It powers on quickly and has a responsive menu system. With a 1.8GHz Hexa-Core processor, an 800MHz Max Quad-Core GPU, and 4GB of Dual-Channel RAM, the iiRcade has enough juice under the hood to run classic arcade games as well as modern titles that use more refined 3D graphics and vivid colors. Games look sharp thanks to the high-definition display, and it cannot be overstated how impressive the speakers are.

The iiRcade is fitted with a pair of 50W stereo speakers. You will likely never need to have them running close to even 50 percent. In fact, the system even warns you that doing so is dangerous. As a test, I cranked the volume all the way up and walked outside. I could still hear game music clearly more than 100 feet away–it was still quite loud. You can connect headphones to the control panel or via Bluetooth for private listening, which I’ve done multiple times to save my wife and daughter from hearing my games from the other room.

Presentation-wise, the iiRcade is subdued. The menu is rather plain, with a navigation bar at the top separating games by genre. There is no menu music, only annoying ticking and whooshing sounds that register while navigating. After a few days of testing, I wound up turning the sound off until I booted a game.

Game library

A centerpiece arcade cabinet has to have an impressive game library to succeed, and the iiRcade is showing promise here with partnerships from major publishers such as Sega and Data East. There are currently hundreds of games available on the iiRcade storefront, with more set to arrive in the coming weeks and months.

The library is extremely varied, featuring a mix of arcade classics, obscure console games, mobile ports, a collection of ColecoVision games, and even some modern indies. If you browse through the game list on iiRcade’s website, it’s easy to come to the conclusion that a lot of these games are relatively unknown compared to the usual fare we see on home arcade cabinets. Even the Sega titles are quite eclectic, including the likes of Congo Bongo, Bonanza Bros., and five other games that appeared on Sega Genesis–though you’re getting the arcade versions here.

There are some big names on the iiRcade as well, including the first three Double Dragon titles (two available now), Ys Chronicles I & II, Wonder Boy: The Dragon’s Trap, and Strikers 1945. The most notable modern game that has been announced for the cabinet is Dead Cells, a wonderful indie roguelike that will launch on the storefront this year. Select modern games also support online multiplayer, which is a nice addition if you have friends who also own an iiRcade.

Because the library has such a huge mix of games–some of which were never intended to be arcade titles–it’s likely you’ll find one that doesn’t quite gel with the setup. For example, I found Dead Effect 2 to be virtually unplayable due to the dual-stick control scheme and need to use nearly all of the buttons.

All of the games on the storefront are reasonably priced, ranging from $3 to around $15 for newer indies such as Teslagrad and Wonder Boy. The process for adding games to your cabinet isn’t ideal at the moment, though. There’s an app for Android, but iOS users have to visit the rudimentary browser storefront to make purchases. Unfortunately, the cabinet doesn’t have the storefront, and that’s my biggest complaint when it comes to searching the library for new games. It would be far more convenient to browse the library directly on the device.

It’s hard to say whether the iiRcade’s current library makes the price of admission worth it. Before buying, you should absolutely look at the full list of announced games and browse the storefront. If you’re hoping to pick up the iiRcade and be satisfied with what’s available out of the box, you will undoubtedly be disappointed.

iiRcade preloaded games list:

• Dragon’s Lair
• Double Dragon
• Beach Buggy Racing
• Bomb Squad
• Diver Boy
• Maniac Square
• Gunbird
• Twin Brats
• Dragon Master
• Fancy World: Earth of Crisis
• Snowboard Championship

The 11 titles that come preloaded cover nice mix of genres, including shoot-’em-ups, puzzlers, fighting games, beat-’em-ups, and the quirky interactive film Dragon’s Lair. But it’s not a library that most people would be content with after spending more than $600 on an arcade cabinet. I played all of the games for at least a couple of hours each. Of the bunch, Gunbird was my favorite, but I also had fun revisiting Double Dragon and zipping around in Beach Buggy Racing–an Android port of a Mario Kart ripoff–with my daughter.

While your mileage with the library will vary, it’s clear that a lot of love and care was given to these games. I have tested more than 20 games on iiRcade, and all of them ran without a hitch. The emulation is top-notch. It’s readily apparent that you’re playing a polished version of these games on iiRcade, even if the games themselves can sometimes feel a tad awkward with cabinet control schemes. A recently added photo mode lets you share screenshots directly to your email, and you can also connect the iiRcade to your TV via HDMI to display the action on a larger screen. This is a neat feature if you plan on hosting little tournaments at your house with friends, but you should keep the HDMI cable (not included) plugged in at all times; otherwise, you’ll have to take off the back panel to access it each time.

iiRcade key specs

1.8GHz Hexa-Core CPU

4GB Dual-Channel RAM

100-watt speakers

19-inch high-definition display

64GB of storage

61 inches tall (when connected to stand)

The bottom line

The iiRcade is a well-made cabinet with great-feeling joysticks and buttons. The expanding library of games includes some surefire hits as well as plenty of hidden gems. As a centerpiece cabinet capable of housing hundreds of titles, the iiRcade has a ton of potential. Whether or not it’s right for you depends on if you’re interested enough in the game library. If you didn’t back the cabinet on Kickstarter, the price is fairly high, and you’ll continue to drop more cash on new games–though they are marked at reasonable prices. The iiRcade’s versatility as a countertop cabinet that can be turned into a nearly full-size standing cabinet allows it to be moved around with ease. Overall, the iiRcade is a great option for those who don’t want to be locked into a small library of games. If your gaming tastes change, you can add a new game to your library to liven things up–that’s the main draw of the iiRcade. As a multicade, the iiRcade has the potential to be the only cabinet you’ll need.

The Good:

• Great build quality with premium joysticks and buttons
• Huge library of games to purchase on the store, and more are being added regularly
• Emulation is top-notch and games look great on the high-definition display
• Works wonderfully as either a countertop cabinet or full standing model

The Bad:

• Preloaded games are underwhelming
• You can’t purchase new games directly from the cabinet
• Bland menu undercuts the slick design of the cabinet
• Pricey

---

About the author: Steven Petite has spent 50-plus hours testing the iiRcade over the past few months. iiRcade provided the cabinet and stand for review.

We still know very little about Elden Ring, From Software’s upcoming open-world game. But we have a lot of Demon’s Souls, Dark Souls, Bloodborne, and Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice fans among us, so there are plenty of things we hope to see in Elden Ring.

In the video above, we detail 10 mechanics, features, and characters we hope to see in Elden Ring. We have no context for these dreams of ours beyond that Elden Ring is going to be an open-world game where different kingdoms are each ruled by a powerful entity, and that it features lore created in collaboration with Game Of Thrones author George R.R. Martin.

Elden Ring has most recently made the news after a gameplay trailer for the game leaked online. Don’t worry, we won’t be showing off the leaks in the video nor using it as the basis for any of our hopes and dreams. Frankly, leaks suck, and the trailer in question appears to be of an old build, so it’s entirely possible that referencing it would be misleading.

Elden Ring doesn’t yet have a release date, so we’re unsure if we’ll even get to see the game by the end of 2021.