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We’re a little over a month away from the release of Persona 5 Strikers, the new crossover that combines the world of Persona with Dynasty Warriors-style action gameplay. Persona 5 Strikers releases on February 23 for PS4/PS5, Nintendo Switch, and PC. If you’re planning on picking it up for PC, you can save on your preorder right now. Fanatical is selling Steam keys for both the standard edition and Deluxe edition at discounted prices.
Persona 5 Strikers’ standard edition is $49.19 at Fanatical, while the Deluxe edition is $57.39. The Deluxe edition gets you a slew of bonuses, including a soundtrack, digital art book, two in-game content packs, and a behind-the-scenes video. You’ll also get to play Persona 5 Strikers four days early, starting on February 19 by purchasing the deluxe edition. If you preorder either edition through Fanatical, you’ll receive a code that can be redeemed on Steam.
Strikers has hack-and-slash combat, but you can still pause time to strategize and utilize skills. It sets up as more of a crossover than games like Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity and Fire Emblem Warriors. The story takes place after the events of Persona 5 and will have a strong emphasis on social simulation just like the mainline games.
For more on the game, check out our Persona 5 Strikers preorder guide. While there aren’t any current discounts on the PS4 or Switch versions of Strikers, you can secure some sweet preorder bonuses with physical copies while supplies last.
The latest update for the battle royale game Call of Duty: Warzone has arrived, delivering with it further weapon balance changes–including another update to the DMR 14–as well as a fix for a key issue pertaining to stims.
For the DMR 14, the patch increases the recoil slightly, while bullet penetration is decreased as well. The burst pistol, meanwhile, sees its max damage reduced by 11 percent.
As for the Stim changes, players can no longer exploit the game to get infinite Stim packs when dropping their weapons simultaneously with cooking a grenade.
The Walking Dead Season 10 didn’t exactly pan out how the makers originally intended. The pandemic shut down production before shooting was finished on the season, and it ended up airing in April last year without the final episode. That episode was finally screened in October, and the season will now complete its run with an additional six episodes from next month. A new teaser for these episodes has now been released.
Like previous Walking Dead promos, this teaser is very stylised and offers some clues about what to expect from the upcoming episodes. While we don’t see any footage, the teaser promises “six new stories, one shared fate,” and there’s a variety of voiceovers from characters such as Daryl, Judith, Carol, and Negan. Check it out below:
The Walking Dead returns to AMC on February 28. In September last year, showrunner Angela Kang explained that the six new episodes would focus on separate characters, allowing the production to continue under COVID-safe conditions.
“There’s sort of an anthological feel to them” she told Comic Book. “They’re really deep dives into our characters, which I hope people enjoy. We’ve been enjoying working on something that’s a little bit different from what we were doing in the main part of Season 10.
“We just get to feature different people and tell these little stories that all kind of add up to a picture of what our survivors are going through, and that will lead us into Season 11 eventually.”
In September, it was confirmed that The Walking Dead Season 11 will be the final one for the main show. It will consist of 24 episodes, which will begin airing in late 2021, and run through to late 2022. However, it’s hardly the end of the franchise–fans also have the Rick Grimes movies, a Daryl and Carol spin-off series, and an anthology show titled Tales of the Walking Dead to look forward to.
For starters, the new video shows off the online co-op mode with up to four players in the main 3D World game. As in the original release, each player can claim a different character with their own strength: Mario is an all-arounder, Luigi can high-jump, Peach floats, and Toad can dash. It also shows a new feature, a photo mode that lets you snap pictures, complete with filters and insertable stamps.
The overview trailer also drops new details about the Bowser’s Fury component. The open-world segment has you collecting Cat Shines scattered throughout the environment. You’ll have Bowser Jr. as an automated AI companion, but a second player can join in and take over as Bowser Jr. at any time. Bowser will wake up and cause havoc on the island, changing the landscape significantly. Ultimately your goal is to collect enough Cat Shines to earn the Giga Bell, a giant-sized Cat Mario power-up that makes him super-sized to take on the gigantic Bowser.
The trailer also briefly goes over the Amiibo support, which was announced with the Bowser’s Fury trailer. The game is coming alongside a new special-edition Mario Red & Blue Nintendo Switch, with a special paintjob and carrying case, for the standard $300 Switch price. Both the game and special Switch are coming on February 12. For more details, check out our Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury preorder guide.
On StarWars.com,ย Lucasfilm Games VP Douglas Reilly explains that the recent Lucasfilm Games rebrand, “Is really the culmination of years of preparing to come out and say, โWeโre here, weโve got a team of people, weโre going to make a lot of great games, and hereโs some new things you werenโt expecting from us to do that weโre now starting to do.โ
โAnd thatโs going to continue throughout the next year or so, where weโre going to continue to announce projects that are more representative of the legacy of the old Lucasfilm Games that weโre now trying to live up to.โ
Those games will include Star Wars projects from EA, who previously held that license exclusively. “While we may not have a lot of details to share at the moment,” says Reilly, “weโve got a number of projects underway with the talented teams at EA.โ
And it’s not just about a slate of games in development already โ it’s clear that Lucasfilm Games is now accepting pitches for games based on its licenses, too: “Weโre looking to work with best-in-class teams that can make great games across all of our IP,” Reilly continues.
“Weโve got a team of professionals here at Lucasfilm Games who can work with the developers, shape the stories, shape the creative, shape the games, to make them really resonate with fans and deliver across a breadth of platforms, genres, and experiences so that all of our fans can enjoy the IPs that they know and love.”
In the course of half a week, Star Wars games, and Lucasfilm games as a whole, feel like a far more open proposition, with the possibility of many different developers’ take on the source material. What comes of this new approach is yet to be seen, but Reilly makes clear that it may not be too long until we see more, saying, โThis is just the beginning of what I think is going to be a very exciting year for Lucasfilm Games.โ
Joe Skrebels is IGN’s Executive Editor of News. Follow him on Twitter. Have a tip for us? Want to discuss a possible story? Please send an email to [email protected].
The deadliest hunter in the galaxy is on his way to Fortnite, as this week’s 15.20 update added several Predator-themed challenges to the game.
Completing these new tasks will unlock Predator cosmetic items in Fortnite’s secret battle pass character tab, although the actual Predator skin won’t be seen for a few more weeks.
Now that the downtime for the v15.20 has ended, Fortnite also has new weapons for players to get their hands on. The Lever Action Shotgun can drop enemies quickly if they get too close to you, while the Exotic-class Hop Rock Dualies are a pair of dual pistols that come equipped with a low-gravity effect.
Also included in the update are a few minor tweaks, such as characters now being interactable in Team Rumble as they offer weapon upgrades and IO Agents dropping health items. Numerous minor bugs have also been fixed, which Epic detailed on its Trello board:
Fortnite v15.20 bug fixes
General
Flip Reset Lobby Track inadvertently removed from players’ Lockers.
Multipoint Edge Glider deforming midair.
Michonne Outfit visual issues with cape Back Blings.
Battle Royale
Hypernova Outfit appearing as a different Outfit in the Lobby and in-match.
Rebooted players may see an already completed Bounty.
Save the World
Quest progress not instantly updating in the HUD and Quest Log.
Broken Pickaxe animations.
Mobile
Voice chat issues on Android.
The player loses all movement after jumping through Zero Point.
The popular Floor is Lava mode will also return next week, along with a skin of popular Spanish Fortnite streamer TheGrefg. The content creator shattered Twitch’s all-time concurrent viewership record this week when he revealed his skin, although if youโd prefer to turn over a new leaf instead there’s also a new Bushranger skin to collect.
If you’d prefer a different intergalactic hunter skin in Fortnite, you can still grab the Mandalorian outfit, although there’s a lot of grinding to be done to get your hands on that shiny Beskar armor.
Interesting changes could be on the way to Fortnite in the future, as Epic Games has purchased the gaming software company RAD Game Tools. The company–whose software has been used in over 25,000 games–will have its technology will be integrated into Epic’s to help speed up loading times and downloading speeds in games.
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Pikmin 3 Deluxe, the updated edition of the fantastic Wii U game, released in October but was somewhat overshadowed by all of the big holiday releases and console launches. We didn’t see any deals on the real-time strategy game during Black Friday or over the holidays either. If you’ve been holding out and are looking for a Nintendo Switch game to tide you over until Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury releases next month, Pikmin 3 Deluxe is on sale for its lowest price yet. Right now, you can snag Pikmin 3 Deluxe for $45.39 at Walmart.
The discount will show up when you add Pikmin 3 to you cart. It comes with free two-day delivery, so you’ll likely get your copy in time to play over the weekend.
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Along with quality-of-life improvements, Pikmin 3 Deluxe features new story missions starring Olimar and Louie and the ability to play through the campaign in local co-op with two players. Pikmin 3 was one of the quirkier Wii U exclusives, and if you missed out the first time around, it’s a great experience for fans of strategy and puzzle games.
The enhanced port earned an 8/10 in GameSpot’s Pikmin 3 Deluxe review. “Although Pikmin 3 Deluxe may not offer much in the way of substantial new content, the game still holds up wonderfully thanks to its unique gameplay and carefully constructed levels, and the tweaks and additions that have been implemented here help smooth over the whole package for newer players,” editor Kevin Knezevic wrote. “Even three installments in, there is no other series quite like Pikmin, which helps Pikmin 3 still feel fresh seven years after its original release.”
Little Nightmares II just isn’t suited to action sequences. We recently got one more chance to go hands-on with Little Nightmares II ahead of its release, playing through the first two levels of the game. The first level was the Forest that we got to play during our first hands-on with Little Nightmares II, but the second, the School, was brand-new. And it was here that Little Nightmares II started focusing more on platforming and combat sequences, which weren’t as satisfying as the more puzzle- and stealth-focused levels we’ve played before.
In the School, protagonist Mono is quickly separated from deuteragonist Six, the original Little Nightmares‘ protagonist, as the two find themselves lost in a building that’s inhabited by the Bullies, trouble-making porcelain children, and stalked by a monstrously grotesque teacher. While the Bullies are pranksters that prefer to set deadly traps and only roughhouse Mono if they get too close, the Teacher is far more proactive, responding to every little sound and stretching her neck out like a gross snake to twist her head into biting range.
With all the Bullies running around, the school is more heavily inhabited than the Forest and Hospital levels we’ve played before. There are more combat sequences where you have to lift a hammer or pipe to smash the Bullies in your way or platforming sections where you must carefully run, jump, and climb around and through obstacles, while the Teacher’s head is twisting about the room, looking for you.
These sequences can be frustrating because Little Nightmares II is a very cinematic horror experience–the camera turns in specific ways to frame each individual shot, and Mono doesn’t move all that quickly or gracefully. During the moments when you’re trying to solve a puzzle, sneak past a monster, or are just moving on to the next location, these cinematic shots are to the game’s benefit, letting you soak in the world. But when Mono is tasked with quickly dispatching enemies or carefully making a difficult jump, sometimes the angle of the camera can make it harder than it has to be. And so you can end up dying. A lot. My memory of the School is divided into distinct chunks, each separated by a platforming or combat gauntlet where I died several times in the exact same place and just had to step away from the game for a few minutes.
Now, the School wasn’t all bad. In between all the dying over and over again were a few puzzle and stealth moments, and I loved those. Two stick out: having to find the necessary pieces to recreate a chess game in order to open a secret room, and carefully moving a platform in place with a squeaky lever by timing your actions to the piano being played by the Teacher while she’s trying to unwind after a long day of harvesting human brains. Little Nightmares II is at its best when you’re freaking out and trying to figure out how to move on, which doesn’t happen if you die at the same place repeatedly until it feels like you lucked into the right timing to continue.
Admittedly, this is one level. I’ve now played through three levels in Little Nightmares II. I really enjoyed the Forest and Hospital–both levels did have action-oriented moments of platforming or combat, but they handled them in ways that weren’t as frustrating as the School. For example, in the Forest, Six helped you figure out where to run and jump to avoid the Hunter as he chased you, and in the Hospital, you froze the Patients in place by shining a flashlight in their general direction, something much easier to do than perfectly timing a sluggish hammer swing. In both instances, failing to make it through felt like my own mistake, not the game’s controls and camera angles getting in my way. And, when I did fail, I regularly accomplished the task on my next try, which I liked because it maintained the momentum of the game’s horror. So from what I’ve played, I’ve technically enjoyed more than I’ve disliked.
But this last preview has made me a bit worried. When the combat sequences and platforming are kept to a minimum, Little Nightmares II really shines. There’s a real air of mystery to the world–like why are there just empty outfits all around the city where the School is located, almost like every adult just disappeared where they were standing? That mystery contributes to the mounting sense of dread, which is only helped along by the odd camera angles that shape everything in the most unsettling way possible. But those same angles aren’t ideal for a game geared more towards action. Hopefully, Little Nightmares II is mostly filled with levels like the Forest and Hospital, because I can’t see the game being all that fun if it ultimately focuses more on platforming and combat over puzzle-solving and stealth. Unless, of course, the structure and framing of the game changes in later levels.
We’ll just have to wait and see, though it won’t be long. Little Nightmares II launches for Xbox One, PS4, and PC on February 11. Xbox Series X|S and PS5 versions of Little Nightmares II are also in the works, scheduled to release sometime later this year.
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Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury has gotten a new overview trailer, which reveals a number of new details, including a Snapshot photo mode, and details on how Fury Bowser is a timed event in the new spin-off adventure.
You can check out the trailer below, or read on for all the new details.
Super Mario 3D World now includes a version of Super Mario Odyssey’s Snapshot Mode, which allows you to freeze time, adjust the image, and change filters.
Collectible stamps – previously used for the Wii U Miiverse – are now usable in Snapshot mode, and can be applied to walls in your shots.
Bowser’s Fury: New Details
Bowser’s Fury, a full spin-off adventure, takes place in a kingdom of cats, Lake Lapcat, featuring cat-themed enemies, architecture and more.
You’re tasked with collecting Cat Shines spread across the kingdom.
Bowser Jr. will appear for solo players, aiding the player, but can be controlled by a co-op partner. It’s not clear if online co-op is supported.
After ‘a certain amount of time’ playing in Lake Lapcat, the gigantic Fury Bowser will appear, dropping from the sky and changing the weather.
Fury Bowser’s appearance sees spikes falling from the sky and changing the terrain.
Fury Bowser will attack players using powers that can destroy cover.
After an unspecified amount of time, Fury Bowser will retreat, returning Lake Lapcat to normal for a time.
In Super Mario 3D World, When used, the Cat Mario amiibo will summon an invincible White Cat Mario power-up.
In Super Mario 3D World, the Cat Peach amiibo summons a random power-up.
In Bowser’s Fury, we know both the Bowser and Bowser Jr. amiibo will cause power-ups. It’s not clear yet what they’ll specifically do, but we’ve seen Mario transform into an invulnerable statue version of Cat Mario, also earning coins.
We awarded the Wii U version ofย Super Mario 3D World a 9.6/10 in our review, saying it’s “marvelous, and its constant variety and fantastic light-hearted co-op play proves that Nintendo still knows exactly how to tweak the Mario formula in fun ways.”
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Joe Skrebels is IGN’s Executive Editor of News. Follow him on Twitter. Have a tip for us? Want to discuss a possible story? Please send an email to [email protected].
Lucasfilm Games is now in business with Bethesda for its new Indiana Jones game and Ubisoft for its own Star Wars project, but where does this leave EA, the publisher of Battlefront, Jedi: Fallen Order, and other Star Wars games? Lucasfilm Games boss Douglas Reilly said in an interview on the Star Wars website that Lucasfilm is staying in business with EA, and the publisher is working on “a number of projects” right now.
“We’re really proud of the games we have created with EA,” Reilly said. “We will continue working with them and our relationship has never been stronger. While we may not have a lot of details to share at the moment, we’ve got a number of projects underway with the talented teams at EA.”
EA also shared a message on Twitter reaffirming the company’s love of Star Wars and intention to continue making more games (and pointing out how cute BD-1 is). However, no specific plans are shared, nor is there any indication of whether future games will be of the console/PC or mobile variety.
โ We love Star Wars. โ We look forward to continuing our partnership with Lucasfilm Games. โ Weโre making more Star Wars games. โ BD-1 is still the cutest.
Outside of Bethesda, Ubisoft, and EA, Reilly told fans to expect additional announcements from Lucasfilm Games that you might not expect.
“This is really the culmination of years of preparing to come out and say, ‘We’re here, we’ve got a team of people, we’re going to make a lot of great games, and here’s some new things you weren’t expecting from us to do that we’re now starting to do,'” Reilly said. “And that’s going to continue throughout the next year or so, where we’re going to continue to announce projects that are more representative of the legacy of the old Lucasfilm Games that we’re now trying to live up to.”
