Netflix is enlisting a screenwriter familiar with skyscraper action for its upcoming live-action Assassin’s Creed series. The streamer has tapped Jeb Stuart, the writer behind Die Hard, to pen the television adaptation of the Ubisoft franchise, per Variety.
Netflix announced it was developing a live-action Assassin’s Creed series last October as part of a partnership between the streamer and Ubisoft to develop content based on the game studio’s properties. The agreement will cover several more adaptations, including live-action, animated, and anime projects.
Assassin’s Creed was previously adapted into a film starring Michael Fassbender and Marion Cotillard. The 2016 release grossed $240.9 million worldwide against a reported $125 million budget, a modest box office performance that did not have the magnitude of a franchise starter. In our review, IGN gave the film a 6.5, saying that it “got the style of the series so right, yet its heart so wrong.”
During the Limited Run Games presentation today, WayForward arrived on the scene to announce a sequel to River City Girls, its 2019 brawler spin-off of the Kunio-kun games. It is dubbed, aptly, River City Girls 2.
We didn’t get too many details during the showcase about what River City Girls 2 would entail, but we do know that protagonists Kyoko and Misako will return alongside some new friends and will once again kick the crud out of bad guys on the streets.
Kunio and Riki (the kidnapped boyfriends of the first game, who are also unlockable to be played) also make a return. New to the sequel, River City Girls 2 will feature two-player co-op play online, unlike its predecessor.
River City Girls 2 is planned for release on PC and consoles next year, and will also be getting a physical edition on PS4, PS5, and Switch thanks to Limited Run Games. And Limited Run is also bringing out a physical release for the original River City Girls on PS5.
Furthermore, the 1994 Super Famicom classic Shin Nekketsu Koha: Kunio-tachi no Banka is being brought to the Nintendo Switch late this year as River City Girls Zero. It’ll include a new anime opening and manga cutscenes. Kunio-tachi no Banka was a game in the original Kunio-kun series in which Kyoko and Misako were playable for the very first time, alongside their main character boyfriends Kunio and Riki.
Recently, we had the joy of watching WayForward developers Adam Tierney and Bannon Rudis react to a 29-minute speedrun of River City Girls, including chatting about some of the game’s intricacies of development.
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Rebekah Valentine is a news reporter with IGN. You can find her on Twitter @duckvalentine.
Jordana Brewster doesn’t look back too fondly on 2009’s Fast & Furious because of how her character was used for the movie.
Brewster, who plays Mia Toretto in the series, recently spoke to Collider about her feelings on the Fast and Furious franchise and what her thoughts are on some of the movies, as reported by IndieWire. While she’s rewatched the first movie and the fifth, she’s only watched the fourth just once and she doesn’t seem to be a fan of it.
“I haven’t rewatched 4, but to me it’s very grey,” Brewster told Collider. “It’s set in LA, Paul’s [Paul Walker] in a suit, I’m in this red dress and I have bangs and I’m just very sad and pissed off at him. I just feel like I don’t remember that one super fondly.”
Brewster went on to explain that Fast Five sticks out to her in a good way amongst the first eight movies and that the new Fast 9, which hits theaters on June 25, is going to stick out as well because “it’s really, really good” and she gets “a little more action.”
“I love being part of the action,” she continued. “I just don’t like being a talking head, talking with the boys. It’s fun to get in there and get dirty.”
During her recent rewatch of the first Fast and Furious movie, Brewster said she was actually quite proud of her portrayal of Mia because of how she came off a bit tougher and very gronded. However, as the movies went on, she said she lost that toughtness and grounding in favor of a more “prissy” Mia in 2009’s Fast & Furious.
“And then I think I lost that as the franchise evolved, and I was kind of prissy in 4 and then back to really knowing what I want in 5 and I tried to retain that in 9 because it’s really important to me that Mia’s very centered and grounded, and I lost sight of that in 4,” Brewster said.
She told Collider that Fast Five was about building a family — the Fast and Furious family — and that she feels Fast 9 is “getting back to that.”
In a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly, the director discussed his enthusiasm for the Hideo Kojima-created franchise and highlighted his interest in finding a way to adapt “the active experience of playing a game” into “the passive experience of watching a film.”
“[I want to] create a new type of action on screen that also is based in the quietness of the stealth, knowing that every step you take as you go further into the belly of the beast [is] further away from safety,” Vogt-Roberts said.
Vogt-Roberts also commented on his years-long attachment to the project, reaffirming his passion for the property.
“Metal Gear is something I’ve been trying to Sisyphus push up the hill for seven-plus years,” Vogt-Roberts said. “That game and Kojima-san’s world mean the world to me, and that’s something that I’m very proud of what we’re doing. I think it’s very Kojima, punk rock, twisty.”
The director went on to recall a moment from 1998’s Metal Gear Solid following a boss fight against Sniper Wolf. Vogt-Roberts explained how that aftermath is emblematic of the unique tone of Metal Gear Solid.
“Up until that point, killing a boss [in a video game] was always viewed as a victory. That was, ‘Hell yeah! I’m passed it!'” Vogt-Roberts said. “Instead you’re met with this moment of somberness and regret.”
The conversation also touched on how Oscar Isaac wound up being cast as Solid Snake. The actor fan cast himself during an interview in 2019, a statement that eventually culminated in Vogt-Roberts and Isaac’s agents meeting. Vogt-Roberts had wanted Isaac for the role since the project’s conception.
E3 2021 is upon us, and aside from gaming keynotes and live streams from game developers such as Ubisoft, Square Enix, and Xbox, gaming peripheral company Razer hosted its own keynote event and unveiled new products. Here are all the new products Razer announced during its E3 keynote.
Razer’s Predator 27 gaming monitor is a new, 27-inch gaming monitor that delivers a 165Hz refresh rate. But the standout feature of the Razer Predator 27 is its THX-certified, a first for gaming monitors. This certification means the monitor will provide ultra-high-quality visuals and reproduces 95% of the DCI-P3 color space.
The Razer Predator 27 will support the Chroma RGB lighting, a 90-degree tilt, wide port options, and will be compatible with Vesa Mounts if you plan not to use the stand that comes with the monitor. The monitor itself is available for pre-order and will cost $799.
Razer Blade 14
Alongside the first THX-certified gaming monitor, Razer also announced the triumphant return of the Razer Blade 14. It includes an AMD Ryzen 5900HX laptop processor; an 8-core X86 CPU, which includes Zen 3 processing architecture, found in the Ryzen 5000 desktop processors.
It features a 14-inch display which you can choose between a 1080p display with a refresh rate of 144Hz or a 1440p display at 165Hz. Both displays include AMD’s FreeSync Premium technology and are G-Sync compatible. It includes 1TB of SSD storage and 16GB of RAM.
The gaming laptop features Nvidia RTX 30-series graphics with three GPU options: RTX 3060, RTX 3070, and RTX 3080. The ports include two USB Type-A and 2 USB Type-C ports and one HDMI 2.1 port that supports up to 4K resolution at 120Hz.
The Razer Blade 14 starts at $1,799, but depending on your configuration, it could cost you up to $2,799 to max out the laptop. The Razer Blade 14 won’t be replacing the Blade 15, but rather live alongside it as an AMD CPU only model.
Razer USB-C 130W GaN Charger
Lastly, Razer announced the USB-C 130W GaN charger, a compact charger that doubles as a device you can use to charge both your laptop or other specific tech products. Razer claims it is 56% smaller than MSI’s AC Power Adapter and 48% smaller than Ankers Atom PD4, with the product small enough to supposedly fit in your pocket.
It features two USB-C ports with 100W of power and two USB-A ports with 18W of power, meaning you can charge up to four devices at once with the proper cables that support the charging brick. At 130W of power, Razer says the charger delivers fast charging when four devices are plugged into the brick.
The USB-C 130W GaN Charger is available for preorder at $180.
We’ve rounded up every event announced so far for the all-digital E3 2021, and you can watch it all with us on IGN, as part of our Summer of Gaming.
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Taylor is the Associate Tech Editor at IGN. You can follow her on Twitter @TayNixster.
E3 2021 is winding down and we’ve wrapped up the greatest deals on the hottest titles from it! While you’re here, we’d also like to remind you to get yourself sorted for a Amazon Prime trial account. Prime Day will pounce on us on June 21-22. You’re gonna want to be able to move fast on those member deals!
As expected, there have been a ton of new games showcased at E3 2021. However, with so many streams and presentations giving us new glimpses at what’s coming next, you’re likely to lose track of them all. Below we’ve compiled a list of the biggest games at the show. Be sure to check back often, as we update this feature with even more games.
To keep up with GameSpot’s ongoing coverage of E3 2021, check out our Play For All event hub, where we’ll be posting all the latest stories the moment they get announced. You can also read our E3 2021 schedule rundown, so you don’t miss out on all the upcoming press conferences. You can also check out our roundup of E3 2021’s best trailers so far.
Far Cry 6
Far Cry 6 is the latest in Ubisoft’s tenured open-world shooter franchise. Set in the fictional country of Yara, you’re put in the role of a guerilla fighter working to overthrow its tyrannical dictator, portrayed by none other than renowned actor Giancarlo Esposito. As you’d expect, Far Cry 6 is looking to expand your repertoire of destructive weapons you can use to wreak havoc while also properly bringing the series into the next generation with a stunning, lush tropical world to explore.
Platforms: PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC | Release Date: October 7
Back 4 Blood
Back 4 Blood is the spiritual successor of the fan-favorite Left 4 Dead series. Developed by Turtle Rock Studios–the developer responsible for creating Left 4 Dead–this new game will feature the classic cooperative zombie shooting that fans had come to adore about Valve’s long-dormant series. A new card-based system will adjust the classic Left 4 Dead-style gameplay loop, introducing modifiers to your character’s traits.
Platforms: PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC | Release Date: October 12
Elden Ring
Elden Ring is the latest game from Dark Souls developer From Software. While we know very little about the game’s dark fantasy story–written in collaboration between director Hidetaka Miyazaki and Game of Thrones writer George R.R. Martin–the E3 2021 gameplay trailer, at least, offers a closer look at how the game will look and play. Suffice to say: it looks brutal.
Platforms: PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC | Release Date: January 21, 2022
Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Extraction
Rainbow Six Extraction, formerly known as Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Quarantine, is an upcoming squad-based tactical shooter where you’ll team up with a group of players to clear out alien-infested facilities of their numerous extraterrestrial dangers. It’s inspired by the limited-time Outbreak event from Rainbow Six Siege Operation Chimera. For more details on how it plays, be sure to read our Rainbox Six Extraction preview.
Platforms: PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC | Release Date: September 16
Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope
Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle was a pleasant surprise when it was first released to widespread acclaim in 2017, so naturally, it makes sense that Nintendo and Ubisoft would want to make a sequel. Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope continues in the unexpected charm of its predecessor, expanding the tactical turn-based combat with new weapons and abilities. This time around, the Mario and Rabbid crew are on a space-faring journey to defeat a malevolent force and save magical creatures known as Sparks–entities formed by Lumas and Rabbids fusing.
Platforms: Switch | Release Date: TBA 2022
Avatar: Frontiers Of Pandora
Ubisoft is making a first-person action-adventure game set in James Cameron’s Avatar universe called Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora. It’ll be a standalone experience developed by Massive Entertainment (Tom Clancy’s The Division) in collaboration with Lightstorm Entertainment and Disney. You play as a Na’vi who must embark on a quest to the Western Frontier, an unexplored part of Pandora.
Platforms: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, Stadia, Luna | Release Date: TBA 2022
Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy
The latest in Square Enix’s collaboration with Marvel is none other than a Guardians of the Galaxy game developed by Eidos Montreal (Deux Ex). The upcoming single-player action-adventure has you playing exclusively as Star-Lord, fighting cosmic threats alongside the other Guardians of the Galaxy, making combat and narrative decisions for the team. But what you choose to do affects your relationships with the rest of the squad, inevitably impacting how the journey unfolds. For more details about the game, be sure to read our Guardians of the Galaxy preview.
Platforms: PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC | Release Date: October 26
Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin
Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin is an upcoming Final Fantasy series spin-off developed by Team Ninja (Nioh, Ninja Gaiden) in collaboration with Square Enix. It’s a Soulsborne-esque action-RPG where you play as Jack, a vengeful knight on a mission to destroy an evil force known simply as Chaos.
Platforms: PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC | Release Date: TBA 2022
Babylon’s Fall
Babylon’s Fall is the latest game by famed studio Platinum Games. The upcoming cooperative fantasy-themed action RPG has you play alongside friends as knights with unique magical abilities. Another surprising detail about the game is that you can only play it online, making this Platinum’s first attempt at a live service-based game.
Platforms: PS5, PS4, PC | Release Date: TBA
Halo Infinite
Halo Infinite is quite possibly the biggest first-party exclusive on Microsoft’s docket of upcoming games, and for a good reason. As the latest in the tenured first-person shooter franchise, expectations for Halo Infinite are undoubtedly high. The upcoming game is set after Halo 5: Guardians and will see the return of Master Chief as the main protagonist. This time around, the USNC needs saving from the Banished, the antagonists of Halo Wars 2.
Alongside a story campaign, Halo Infinite will also have a standalone free-to-play multiplayer mode–a first for the franchise. You can learn more about Infinite’s multiplayer, including details about its upcoming beta and microtransaction policies, in our detailed explainer.
Platforms: Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC | Release Date: Holiday 2021
Redfall
Redfall is the latest game from Arkane Studios Austin–the branch of Arkane that brought you Prey. It’s an Xbox-exclusive open-world co-op shooter that casts players as a ragtag team of heroes fighting against a legion of vampires. The reveal trailer was reminiscent of Left 4 Dead, showcasing the different characters bantering with one another as they worked to drive off the vampiric threat.
Platforms: Xbox Series X|S, PC | Release Date: TBA 2022
The Outer Worlds 2
We know next to nothing about The Outer Worlds 2 aside from the fact that it’s a sequel to its critically acclaimed predecessor. Developer Obsidian is back on the helm on this one, meaning we can expect more goofy, self-aware comedy and tactical action-RPG gameplay.
Platforms: Xbox Series X|S, PC | Release Date: TBA
Battlefield 2042
EA may not be participating at E3 2021, but it did take the opportunity to unveil Battlefield 2042 shortly before the event, as well as showcase gameplay footage at Xbox & Bethesda’s big press conference. The footage gave us a closer look at the upcoming large-scale futuristic military shooter, showcasing the game’s 128-player battles and the various maps where you’ll wage virtual war. For more details about the game, be sure to read our Battlefield 2042 preview.
Platforms: PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC | Release Date: October 22
Dying Light 2 Stay Human
For nearly two years, Dying Light 2 was absent from industry events with zero updates on its development–aside from the fact that it was still happening. But all that changed this year as we began to receive more information from developer Techland. With a new name, Dying Light 2 Stay Human is very much still a thing. Set in an isolated urban landscape during the zombie apocalypse, you play Aiden Caldwell, a freelance runner who handles various odd jobs and tasks for the city’s citizens. Like the original, you’ll parkour across rooftops and fight off zombie hordes, all in an effort to merely survive. This time around, a new faction system can change the way the story progresses based on who you choose to help, which should make your high-flying, zombie-killing antics exciting and unique to your experiences.
Platforms: PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC | Release Date: December 7
Life is Strange: True Colors
Life is Strange: True Colors is the latest entry in the supernatural coming-of-age drama game series jointly made by Dontnod Entertainment and Deck Nine. This one, in particular, is being handled by Deck Nine, and it casts you in the role of Alex, an empath trying to solve the mystery behind her older brother’s murder.
Platforms: PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC, Stadia | Release Date: September 10
Monster Hunter Stories 2: Rings of Ruin
Monster Hunter Stories 2: Rings of Ruin came as somewhat of a surprise for longtime fans of Capcom’s long-running Monster Hunter series. The first game was a spin-off released on 3DS in 2016, so it’s not what you’d expect to return, especially given the more considerable successes of the mainline games in the franchise recently. Still, Capcom is taking another chance on Monster Hunter Stories with a standalone sequel that puts you in the role of Red, a monster rider who must help a Wyverian girl protect a dangerous Rathalos egg.
Platforms: Switch | Release Date: July 9
Contraband
Just Cause developer Avalanche Studios is working on a new co-op open-world action game called Contraband. Briefly teased in a trailer played to the tune of Steely Dan’s “Do it Again” during Microsoft’s press conference, the game will be set in the 1970s in the fictional country of Bayan.
Platforms: Xbox Series X|S, PC | Release Date: TBA
A Plague Tale: Requiem
A Plague Tale: Innocence is getting a sequel in the form of A Plague Tale: Requiem. It once again follows Amicia and her brother Hugo as they embark on another perilous journey across a brutal world infested by rats infected by a mysterious plague.
Platforms: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch (Cloud Version), PC | Release Date: TBA
Diablo 2: Resurrected
The upcoming Diablo 2: Resurrected is a remake of Blizzard’s critically-acclaimed, fan-favorite isometric action-RPG from 2000. It remastered both the original game and its expansion, Lords of Destruction. The game is being co-developed by Blizzard Entertainment and Vicarious Visions.
Platforms: PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Switch, PC | Release Date: September 23
Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands
Gearbox and 2K announced a new Borderlands series spin-off called Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands. It’ll be a more fantastical take on the series’ looter shooter formula and a standalone adventure set apart from the larger Borderlands series.
Platforms: PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC | Release Date: TBA 2022
The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles
For Phoenix Wright fans, The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles has been a long time coming. This upcoming collection compiles two major games from the series that were only available in Japan on 3DS, releasing them to the West for the first time. Both games follow defense attorney Ryunosuke Naruhodo–the ancestor of Phoenix Wright–as we see him grow his career in criminal justice against the backdrop of Victorian-era Britain and Japan.
Platforms: PS4, Switch, PC | Release Date: July 27
Death Stranding: Director’s Cut
Death Stranding is the upcoming PS5 version of Hideo Kojima’s open-world adventure about a post-apocalyptic delivery person played by Norman Reedus. Not much is known about what this new version of the game will entail, but we have to imagine it’ll have the standard next-gen upgrade fixings, such as improved frame rate, enhanced visuals, extra content, and more. Be sure to check out Death Stranding: Director’s Cut’s debut trailer, which is themed after Metal Gear Solid.
Platforms: PS5 | Release Date: TBA
Tales of Arise
Tales of Arise is the latest installment in the historic Tales action-RPG franchise. Unlike previous entries in the series, Tales of Arise stands out with more action-focused combat, resembling games like Devil May Cry and Monster Hunter. The game follows Alphen, an iron-masked knight whose home planet of Dahna has been enslaved by the planet of Rena. As Alphen fights to liberate his people, he encounters Shionne, a warrior of Rena, on the run from her countrymen. The two must form an unlikely alliance to survive a world-ending conflict brewing across both their worlds.
Platforms: PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC | Release Date: September 10
Starfield
Following Redfall, Starfield will likely be the second major first-party console exclusive for Xbox Series X|S–this upcoming RPG is aiming for a November 11, 2022 release date. During the Xbox & Bethesda E3 2021 conference, we finally got our first look at Starfield in a cinematic trailer. Following the conference, Bethesda Game Studios executive producer Todd Howard said Starfield will be “very big” and a “more hardcore RPG” than past Bethesda games.
Platforms: Xbox Series X|S, PC | Release Date: November 11, 2022
Forza Horizon 5
Playground Games may not have had anything to show in regards to Fable, but the studio did officially reveal Forza Horizon 5. The racing series is heading to Mexico in this next installment, and rolling onto Xbox Game Pass day one. Creative director Mike Brown said that Forza Horizon 5 is the biggest game in the series’ history, featuring an advanced dynamic weather system, multiple biomes, and a new challenge-based Horizon Arcade.
Platforms: Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC | Release Date: November 9
Riders Republic
At Ubisoft Forward, Ubisoft Annecy revealed that Riders Republic is scheduled to launch later this year. A brand-new trailer for the upcoming sports game detailed some of the activities that you and your friends can complete in the game, including 6v6 trick battles and 50-player mass races. Riders Republic will support both cross-play and cross-progression at launch, allowing you to play with your friends regardless of the system and take your progress with you across hardware.
Platforms: PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC, Stadia | Release Date: September 2
Psychonauts 2
After being delayed several times, Psychonauts 2 is finally coming out in August. The upcoming platformer from developer Double Fine Productions continues the adventures of young psychic Raz, who’s working now as a full-on Psychonaut agent after the events of series spin-off and VR-exclusive title, Psychonauts in the Rhombus of Ruin.
Platforms: PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC | Release Date: August 25
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chernobyl
Stalker 2: Heart of Chernobyl is the long-awaited, much-requested sequel to the cult-favorite Stalker franchise. From its debut trailer, the game very much channels the bleak, post-apocalyptic atmosphere of its predecessors, emphasizing slow adventuring through radiated wastelands and the occasional firefight against bandits and horrifying mutants.
Platforms: Xbox Series X|S, PC | Release Date: April 22, 2022
Rocksmith+
Rocksmith+ is the newest installment in Ubisoft’s line of guitar tutorial software. Unlike previous entries, it aims to follow more of a subscription-based model. It’s also the first in the series to be completely peripheral-free, requiring nothing but your phone for the software to work. Ubisoft is currently allowing folks to sign up for a closed beta.
Platforms: PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC, Mobile | Release Date: TBA
Amazon is offering a free official Nintendo Switch (SanDisk) 128Gb Micro SDXC Memory Card when you pick up a 12 month Nintendo Switch Online Family Membership. Nintendo Switch Online is required for online play in games like Super Mario Kart or Splatoon, downloading custom maps in Super Mario Maker 2, playing free retro SNES games, saving your game data to the cloud, and much more. The “Family” membership allows for up to 8 different account holders, not necessarily in the same household. The 128GB memory card will increase your storage capacity by quadruple the stock amount.
B2G1 Free on Video Games, Board Games, Toys, and Books at Amazon
It’s back! Amazon is offering its B2G1 Free deal that they usually offer right before Amazon Prime Day. The sale encompasses video games, books, movies, and toys & board games. We’ve listed out the best new video games that haven’t seen many discounts so far, but there are dozens more games available.
The Intel EVO platform, which boasts Intel’s 11th generation Tiger Lake processor and Xe onboard graphics, is the dream combination of ample power, huge energy savings, and ultra-portability for students, road warriors, or professionals who are always on the move. Amazon has a wide selection of Intel EVO laptops that range from this luxurious 2.6-pound 16″ LG Gram laptop to this very affordable 3.6-pound 15″ Acer Aspire 5 laptop. Check them out today.
The sheer amount of value you get with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate is impressive. This membership gives you both Xbox Live Gold, Xbox Game Pass, and Xbox Game Pass for PC. Xbox Live Gold is required for online gaming. Xbox Game Pass gives you access to a huge library of games that is free as long as you maintain your membership. The list includes AAA games that you can play as early as launch day. These include MLB The Show 21, FIFA 21, The Medium, and every Bethesda game ever. If you’ve also got a great gaming PC, Xbox Game Pass for PC offers stellar games like Crusader Kings 3, Forza Horizon 4, Nier Automata, and more. Additional perks include exclusive discounts at the Microsoft Store and, for a limited time, a free 1 month Disney+ trial membership.
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Eric Song is IGN’s deal curator and spends roughly 1/4 of his income on stuff he posts. Check out the IGN Deals articles and subscribe to the IGN Deals Twitter page.
Microsoft and Bethesda’s joint E3 press conference featured some highly-anticipated reveals (Starfield) and some big surprises (Redfall), but there were also some notable absences. One of which was Rare’s Everwild, which according to a new report is undergoing a complete reboot.
VGC says that the reason for Rare’s Everwild absence from this E3 was because the game is being “completely rebooted” and is now targeting a 2024 release. Citing sources, development on Everwild has been “restarted from scratch,” following a change in leadership.
The changes began when creative director Simon Woodroffe left Rare in 2020. Rare then tapped Gregg Mayles — a veteran designer at Rare who has worked on games like Donkey Kong Country, Banjo-Kazooie, Viva Pinata, and Sea of Thieves — to oversee Everwild.
This appointment was confirmed by Rare executive producer Louise O’Connor who says,” Gregg Mayles joined us late last year as Creative Director, and the team has never been stronger. Since showing the world our Enternals trailer, we have been making progress on all aspects of Everwild.”
Everwild apparently was being prototyped as early as 2014, meaning a 2024 launch would mark a decade in development for the game.
The issue reportedly stems from a struggle to define a clear direction for Everwild beyond its art style and soundtrack. Last VGC heard, Everwild was a third-person adventure game with “god game elements,” but this is now subject to change given the overhaul.
Microsoft has announced a second, extended games showcase for June 17, at 10 am PT/1 pm ET/ 6 pm BST which will feature conversations with Double Fine, Obsidian, Ninja Theory, Rare and more.
It’s unclear if Everwild will be discussed here, or if Rare will focus on its recently announced Sea of Thieves: A Pirate’s Life expansion featuring Jack Sparrow.
