The Lord of the Rings rubber duck toy line grows again with the announcement of even more characters from Middle-earth who are getting rubberized.
Numskull Designs, which makes all types of licensed merchandise, has announced a new line of rubber duck toys who are designed after characters like Saruman, Sam, Arwen, and an ultra-creepy one modeled after Gollum. Take a look at them all in the video below.
These are actually just the latest Lord of the Rings rubber ducks from Numskull, as the company’s “Tubbz” line already includes ones based on Frodo, Legolas, Gandalf, Aragorn, Sauron, Lurtz, Gimli, and Galadriel. You can see the full range at Numskull’s website.
The Lord of the Rings movie franchise celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, and the movies are now back in cinemas in 4K IMAX (though whether or not you want to visit a theatre these days is a different question).
Cardy, Matt and Jesse are here to talk about their time playing Little Nightmares 2 and Valheim. But of course first there are bigger nightmares to discuss, such as the evil people putting baked beans onto Weetabix.
There’s a brand new Endless Search game to enjoy as well as a double helping of feedback from you lovely people.
Remember, if you want to get in touch with the podcast, please do: [email protected].
With the next generation of Xbox gaming consoles officially here, Microsoft’s ready to talk about what developers can expect from the technology that powers these devices when it hosts its AI and Gaming Research Summit. The February 23-24 event won’t be a showcase of games similar to Microsoft’s previous livestreams though, but will instead be focused on the future of how games are made and played.
Two big names will be speaking at the event: Xbox executive vice president of gaming Phil Spencer and corporate vice president of Xbox Software Engineering at Microsoft, Kareem Choudhry. According to the official page for the AI and Gaming Research Summit, the show will have four key themes that will discuss how artificial intelligence and machine learning is transforming the landscape of gaming:
AI Agents for gameplay and game testing
Responsible Gaming, including ethics, safety, and inclusivity
Computational creativity and content generation
Understanding Players, player engagement, and analytics
The show will likely be a valuable collaboration between academics and game developers looking to share ideas with each other, but E3 2021 it certainly isn’t. If you’re still interested in seeing just how much work goes on behind the scenes in creating interactive entertainment, you can register for a virtual seat through this link.
As for a more mainstream gaming convention, the Electronic Software Association has plans for a digital version of E3 and Blizzard is also going down that route later this month with its BlizzCon substitute, BlizzConOnline 2021.
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Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes, the spiritual successor to Suikoden, will be published by 505 Games, with the developers promising “even higher quality” as a result of the partnership.
The publisher revealed its partnership with Rabbit & Bear Studios in a YouTube video published earlier this week. Studio Lead Yoshitaka Murayama thanked fans for their support, adding “With this partnership, I believe that we can deliver Eiyuden Chronicle to our fans, following the original concept with even higher quality standards.” Murayama also said that Eiyuden Chronicle was the “first of hopefully many games” the team wish to bring to fans around the world.
As for what players can expect from the game, a press release notes that it will feature “a traditional 6-character battle system utilizing painstakingly created 2D sprites and gorgeous 3D backgrounds with a deep and intricate story written by master storyteller Murayama.” Eiyuden Chronicle is a JRPG with a 2.5D visual style, featuring over 100 heroes to recruit, as alluded to in the game’s title.
Rabbit & Bear has said that it chose 505 as a publisher due to its work on the PC releases of Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night (another hugely successful Kickstarter spiritual successor) and Death Stranding. The team at Rabbit & Bear is stocked full of veteran Japanese developers with credits on game series like Suikoden, Wild Arms, Tales of and Castlevania.
Eiyuden was originally planned for PC, but after meeting stretch goals in the Kickstarter campaign, consoles were “unlocked” and it’s thought that the game will land on PS5, Xbox Series X and Nintendo Switch (or a Switch successor) when it’s ready. As for a potential release window, fans will have to wait. Murayama noted that Rabbit & Bear will be publishing more information via the game’s official social channels.
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Jordan Oloman is a freelance writer for IGN, who loves the cute Rabbit & Bear logo. Follow him on Twitter.
Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War is already the 20th best-selling game (in dollar sales) since sales tracking for US games began.
In the NPD report for January sales in the US (and pointed out by NPD Group analyst Mat Piscatella), Black Ops Cold War was the country’s best-selling game for the third straight month, since its release in November. In just two months on sale, it became the best-selling game of 2020 according to NPD’s stats (although those figures didn’t account for digital sales of Animal Crossing: New Horizons, which may have beaten it to the title).
As a result of just those three months of huge sales, Black Ops Cold War is now 20th on the NPD’s list of best-selling games – although, given that they’re based on dollar sales, it may be that inflation could shift that list somewhat.
The stats make clear just how huge Black Ops Cold War has been, likely bolstered by the continuing popularity of Call of Duty: Warzone, and its intrinsic tie to the new game. In our Black Ops Cold War reviews, we awarded the game’s Campaign and Zombies modes a 7/10 each, with multiplayer garnering a 6/10.
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].
HBO programming boss Casey Bloys has provided an update on the Game of Thrones spin-off House of Dragons, while he also spoke about the network’s grander plan regarding its approach to spin-offs.
During a Television Critics Association appearance, Bloys started off by confirming House of the Dragon–which recently added four more cast members–will start filming in April overseas. There is still no release date for the show, however.
Bloys shared his high-level thoughts on why HBO is pursuing so many different spin-off ideas, and he also confirmed the report about the animated show. However, he acknowledged it’s only in the “really, really embryonic” stage, according to Collider.
“We are talking about other areas that make sense as well. George R.R. Martin’s world is so big and what’s interesting about it, not only is it big but he’s got a lot of road maps in terms of history. So one of the great things about House of the Dragon is that’s an established history that leads you to Game of Thrones the show, and there is a lot of little branches. There is a lot of opportunities and stories to tell.”
He went on to say that he doesn’t have any hard and fast rules about how many Game of Thrones shows must be in production by a certain time or what type of shows they should be.
“I’ve never wanted to do this with a mandate that you must have three series by this time or you must exploit adult animation or you must do that,” he said. “It’s really coming from, would that be interesting, is that good, do we have a writer we believe in. That’s kind of the approach we are taking. I think you have to because if you don’t do that, it would lead to putting shows on for the sake of it.”
While its last season was divisive, Game of Thrones Season 8 proved to be massively successful in terms of viewership, so it’s not hard to see why the network is trying so hard to get additional shows off the ground.
A new Nintendo Switch model has arrived. Nintendo Switch Mario Red & Blue Edition is currently available at Best Buy, Gamestop, and Target. It has already gone live and sold out the Nintendo Store (and once overnight at GameStop), so I wouldn’t count on it sticking around very long. We’ll do our best to keep this article updated as it rolls out elsewhere today, but if you see it in stock and you want it, I wouldn’t wait. Good luck, Mario fans.
Where to Buy Nintendo Switch – Mario Red & Blue Edition
Regarding the Amazon listing, beware. Unscrupulous resellers are trying to get you to pay well over MSRP at the moment. Once Amazon itself gets its stock ready to go, it will sell for the standard $299.99 until it runs out.
While it’s functionally the same as other Switches, the Nintendo Switch – Mario Red & Blue Edition is styled to match the clothes worn by everyone’s favorite mustachioed plumber. Like standard Switch models, it costs $299.99, and it even comes with a carrying case, something you won’t find in other models.
This new edition of the hardware features an all-red Switch, including red Joy-Cons, red casing around the screen, and a red stand. To complete the new design, the Joy-Con grip and the Joy-Con wrist straps are a bold blue color. The colors definitely call to mind Mario; it looks great.
This edition also comes with a screen protector, as well as a special carrying case that matches the colors of the Switch and features Mario iconography. It still costs the normal MSRP for a Switch, so these additions are effectively thrown in for free.
It’s worth noting that, despite launching on the same day, the Nintendo Switch Mario Red & Blue Edition does not include a copy of Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury. You’ll have to buy that separately if you want it.
Nintendo has released several special-edition Switch consoles in the past, including an Animal Crossing special edition and, more recently, a Fortnite Wildcat bundle. These tend to sell out fairly quickly and not come back into stock, though the Animal Crossing one has come back into stock a couple of times.
That said, if you’re interested in picking up the Nintendo Switch Mario Red & Blue edition, you should grab it as soon as possible. There’s no telling whether it when it will sell out or if it will come back into stock at all. And if you’re interested in discounts, check out our full rundown of all the best Nintendo Switch deals, covering games, accessories, and more.
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Chris Reed is a commerce editor and deals expert at IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @_chrislreed.
A new 10-minute gameplay demonstration has been released for Nier: Replicant ver.1.22474487139.., showing off some very impressive upgrades to both the visuals and the combat. It gives us our clearest view yet of how the game will improve on the original 2010 game and even how it integrates elements from the sequel, which Square Enix didn’t release for another seven years.
The video focuses on the protagonist and Kaine as they enter the Barren Temple, an area previously hidden by a sandstorm. It features large environmental puzzles as well as classic Nier combat, combining hack-and-slack action with third-person shooting and dodging projectiles.
If you played the original Nier, you know the combat wasn’t exactly tight or particularly fluid. That changed with Platinum Games’ input for Nier: Automata, and those same improvements are evident in the retooled Nier: Replicant. There is a sense of weight as you break an enemy’s guard and send them flying backward, and you can also deflect their attacks and deliver devastating counter-blows. The Ikaruga-inspired enemy projectiles are still here, as well, mixing in a healthy dose of arcade action into your existential adventure.
Despite only launching on current-gen systems and PC, Nier: Replicant looks remarkably better than the original version, and it also sounds incredible because of Keiichi Okabe’s score. We’re sure it’s going to make us cry, as will Yoko Taro’s story of sacrifice and family during a humanity-eviscerating plague.
Nier: Replicant releases for PS4, Xbox One, and PC on April 23. It’s being developed primarily by Toylogic, and a mobile-only game called Nier: Reincarnation is also launching later this month in Japan. An English-language release date hasn’t been announced yet.
Update 02/12/2021: Chivalry 2 will be released on June 8 for PC (via Epic Games Store), PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S. All versions will feature cross-play.
Pre-ordering on PC will get you guaranteed access to a Cross-Play Closed Beta event, open from March 26-29. That beta will, of course, run for all consoles, but PC is seemingly the only platform with guaranteed beta access for pre-orders. Pre-orders on all formats will net you a Royal Zweihander sword.
Chivalry 2 has been delayed and will now be released in 2021 on PC (Epic Games Store), Xbox One, Xbox Series X, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 5.
Announced by Torn Banner Studios, this delay is “necessary to allow Chivalry 2 to be the greatest game it can be, and one that realizes our vision of a “true sequel” to the original Chivalry: Medieval Warfare.”
The developer cites COVID-19 as a big factor for the updated timeline, but the extra time will allow them to “incorporate several quality of life improvements and also include what was originally post-launch content, in the release.”
While this will mean that more maps and game features will be playable at launch, horses will still be arriving after launch as they “need a bit more time in the training stables.”
Chivalry 2 recently completed its sixth round of its Alpha stage, and Torn Banner Studios reassures fans that this delay will not impact the previously-planned Summer beta. There is no specific date given yet, but more information will be coming soon.
Chivalry 2 was announced during E3 2019 and looks to bring players into their favorite medieval movie battle scenes. It features first-person melee battles of up to 64 players and will allow players to relive moments that invoke battles like Game of Thrones’ Battle of the Bastards.
The NPD Group released its latest monthly report, this one covering the January 2021 period, and the Nintendo Switch and Call of Duty had a big month to help lift up the overall US gaming industry substantially.
Total spending on games, hardware, and accessories reached $4.7 billion, up 42% year-over-year, and representing the biggest revenue in any January since NPD began.
For hardware, the Nintendo Switch was once again the top-selling platform based on units sold, reaching the highest of any console–Nintendo or otherwise–since the Nintendo Wii in January 2010. The PS5, however, drove the most spending in terms of dollars due to its more expensive price point. It reached the highest dollar since for a January month since the Wii in January 2009.
Total spending on hardware rose 144% year-over-year to $319 million, the highest for a January month since January 2011 ($323 million).
In terms of games, Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War was the top-seller in January; it’s been the best-selling game each month since it was released in November. It’s also now the 20th best-selling game in US history for dollar sales, after just three months.
Assassin’s Creed Valhalla was No. 2 in January, and it’s now the second fastest-selling game in the series in the US, only behind Assassin’s Creed III, when looking at its first three months.
You can see the full list of the top 20 best-sellers for January below.
Moving to another unit, accessories sales rose 73% to a January record of $222 million. The PS5’s white DualSense controller was the best-selling accessory in January.
Top 20 Best-Selling Games In The US For January 2021
Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War
Assassin’s Creed Valhalla
Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales
Madden NFL 21
Animal Crossing: New Horizons*
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe*
Ring Fit Adventure
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate*
NBA 2K21*
Super Mario 3D All-Stars*
FIFA 21
Immortals: Fenyx Rising
Mortal Kombat 11
Just Dance 2021
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild*
Minecraft: PS4 Edition
Cyberpunk 2077*
Super Mario Party*
UFC 4
*Digital sales not included
Nintendo Best-Sellers For January 2021
Animal Crossing: New Horizons*
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe*
Ring Fit Adventure
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate*
Super Mario 3D All Stars*
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild*
Just Dance 2021
Super Mario Party*
New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe*
Super Mario Odyssey
*Digital sales not included
PlayStation Best-Sellers For January 2021
Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War
Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales
Assassin’s Creed Valhalla
Madden NFL 21
Minecraft: PS4 Edition
Demon’s Souls
Ghost of Tsushima
FIFA 21
NBA 2K21*
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare
*Digital sales not included
Xbox Best-Sellers For January 2021
Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War
Assassin’s Creed Valhalla
Madden NFL 21
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare
Forza Horizon 4
NBA 2K21*
Cyberpunk 2077
FIFA 21
Minecraft: Xbox One Edition
UFC 4
*Digital sales not included
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