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10 Things From Software Should Improve On In Elden Ring
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.
iiRcade Review — An In-Home Arcade With An Ever-Growing Library
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.
10 Things From Software Could Improve On For Elden Ring
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.
Outriders Demo Guide: The Trickster Is The Best Class For Solo Play
The biggest decision you’ll have to make when first jumping into the Outriders demo is deciding which character class is right for you. Spoiler: They’re all pretty good. That said, some are better suited for supportive roles in Outriders’ cross-play multiplayer, so if you want to play on your own, we’d advise you steer clear of them. If you’re thinking of going it solo, we recommend picking Trickster.
Both of the close-range classes (the Devastator and the Trickster) seem geared for folks looking to tackle Outriders’ campaign solo. But the hit-and-run specialist Trickster manages to inch ahead of the tank-like Devastator as the Trickster’s first four abilities are better geared towards crowd control. Whereas the Devastator largely survives through outright endurance, the Trickster can control space and time to teleport around the battlefield and slow the actions of enemies, making it a whole lot easier to get out of a jam and quickly deal tons of damage.
Why You Should Pick Trickster Over Devastator
We can’t overstate how valuable the Trickster’s abilities are. Hunt the Prey allows you to easily teleport across the battlefield, which is a great way to first take out a sniper that’s entrenched behind a dozen enemies and a crucial get-out-of-jail-free card when you’re surrounded and about to die. It also only has an 11-second cooldown, allowing you to use it a whole lot more often than the Devastator’s Gravity Leap (which fulfills a similar role) and its 20-second cooldown. Neither Pyromancer nor Technomancer have anything like it in the demo.
And to an even greater extent, the Trickster’s Slow Trap (the second ability the class unlocks, just at level 3) is the best ability in the Outriders demo of all four classes. Being able to easily slow all enemies and bullets immediately around you to an almost standstill is a powerful shield and weapon.
Slow Trap can save you from dying because everyone around you is too slow to hit you and snipers can’t shoot you because when their bullets enter the bubble, they slow down enough that you can see them in the air and easily dodge them. And once you know you’re not in immediate danger, you can pull out a shotgun or use the Trickster’s powerful starting ability, Temporal Blade, and blast away all the enemies caught in the bubble, easily killing them and healing yourself. Slow Trap lasts a long time (10 seconds) and also charges relatively quickly (31-second cooldown), so you’ll be using it often and typically getting a lot of kills with it.
Why You Shouldn’t Pick Pyromancer Or Technomancer
It’s worth clarifying that all four of Outriders’ classes can fit a solo run. But the spellcaster Pyromancer and summoner Technomancer are respectively mid- and long-range classes that specialize in more supportive roles. While you technically can solo as either one, it will be a whole lot harder, sometimes even frustratingly so. This is especially true for the Technomancer, a sniper rifle specialist class that may seem like an appealing go-to for lone wolves wanting to solo the campaign by picking targets off from afar. And for the most part, it is. Most battlefields are set up that you can take a sniper perch and just shoot your foes from the safety of cover.
However, there are some enclosed areas in Outriders that feature large groups of melee-focused enemies that rush your position, so unless you’re quick enough on the draw, you’ll find yourself rapidly surrounded with abilities ill-suited for the situation. Even worse, certain captain and boss battles will be punishing difficulty spikes for the Technomancer, as they don’t go down in a single sniper bullet and force you into prolonged engagements. The Technomaner (and to a lesser extent, the Pyromancer) need a companion to help mitigate these obstacles, someone to take the brunt of the assault while they do their thing from a distance.
Another consideration for picking a class when playing solo is how the class heals. Devastator and Trickster just need to kill enemies or damage bosses within close range, which is straightforward and simple to do (at least in the demo; who knows how that breaks down in the full game). The Pyromancer has to kill enemies or damage bosses that it has marked with its abilities first. Thankfully, all of its abilities have a wickedly fast cooldown, so you’ll be able to use them frequently. But the Pyromancer can’t easily cast its abilities when surrounded, so the class struggles to heal during moments when it usually needs to heal. The Technomancer is a little better in that it heals just by damaging enemies, but you only heal by a substantial amount when you’re damaging enemies from afar. So you run into the same problem where getting backed into a corner and taking damage can be a death sentence.
All that said, if you’re playing Outriders with one or two others, then Pyromancer and Technomancer are powerful classes that can dish out a lot of damage and keep the team alive through even the most hectic of engagements. So don’t write either one off as useless. In the right hands, and with good teammates who know how to pull aggro, Pyromancer and Technomancer can be the MVP of their squad.
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Among Us Gets Quickchat Feature, Devs Promise “Big Update News” Soon
The social deception game Among Us received a new update that introduced a Quickchat feature, giving players a series of prompts to choose from for more efficient communication. Developer Innersloth also teased that news about the “big update” is coming “soon.”
The studio revealed Among Us’ new feature on Twitter with a photo showcasing how it works. When opening the in-game chat menu, players will be greeted by a few different prompts related to various actions like accusing and responding. Innersloth said this feature is an “easier, faster, and safer option to play if you’re using text chat.” It’ll also be a boon for those who want to communicate but prefer to not use their voice or the in-game text chat system.
hey Crewmates, small feature✨
we’ve just added Quickchat (v 2021.2.21) – this is an easier, faster and safer option to play if you’re using text chat! more info in game.
i know u’re waiting for the big update news too. the ball is rolling, promise i’ll get u more info soon! 🙏 pic.twitter.com/16ZDIwmWGt— Among Us (@AmongUsGame) March 5, 2021
There are a few different ways to communicate in Among Us, including chatting through an external program like Discord. The new Quickchat feature will supplement these methods. It’ll give players even more options to communicate and strategize with each other in-game.
Alongside releasing this update, Innersloth reiterated that “the ball is rolling” on the “big update,” which may feature the Airship map. The studio said more information is coming “soon.” Innersloth also noted that “other edits to the [game’s] system” are happening.
Innersloth discussed why updates for Among Us are taking longer than expected in January 2021, saying the game’s sudden popularity focused the studio to “streamline things.”
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Bungie Says It’s Expanding Destiny 2 Into Other Media
There’s more Destiny 2 on the horizon, it seems. Bungie is making moves with its huge MMO game, and while we know Bungie intends to continue to support and expand Destiny 2 for at least another two years, the company also says it’s looking for ways to expand Destiny 2 into other media.
Bungie put out a press release discussing its plans for 2021, which include expanding its headquarters, pursuing new intellectual property, and more Destiny. The release states that Bungie is nearly doubling the size of its headquarters in Bellevue, Washington, and means to use the space to develop new games, as well as to continue to support Destiny 2.
“In addition to building state-of-the-art facilities to support the growth and development of their talented employees, one of the primary drivers of Bungie’s expansion is to increase the commitment to the long-term development of Destiny 2, tell new stories in the Destiny Universe, and create entirely new worlds in to-be-announced IPs,” the release reads.
The bit about telling “new stories in the Destiny Universe” gets a little more expansion a little later in the release. Bungie says it’s planning to expand Destiny into “additional media,” although it doesn’t offer many more details about what that means. Apparently, though, Destiny 2’s two big bosses, Luke Smith and Mark Noseworthy, have been working to prepare Destiny for this expansion.
“To expand the Destiny IP and bring new stories and experiences to their highly engaged community, Bungie appointed Mark Noseworthy (Vice President, Destiny Universe) and Luke Smith (Executive Creative Director, Destiny Universe) to oversee and prepare for the expansion of the Destiny Universe into additional media. Justin Truman (General Manager, Destiny 2) takes over the successful development leadership of Destiny 2.”
What’s unclear is whether that means leadership of the entire Destiny 2 game is passing to Truman, or if he’s just in charge of the expansion of Destiny 2 into additional media–we’ve reached out to Bungie for clarification.
Generally, though, it sounds like Bungie has a lot of additional plans for Destiny 2. When it was under the Activision umbrella, the developer previously licensed the Destiny IP for merchandise, but we haven’t seen any additional storytelling outside the game and Bungie’s own releases, like its Grimoire Anthology lore books. Bungie has also announced its definitive plans for Destiny 2’s trajectory over the next two years, with two more expansions–The Witch Queen and Lightfall–releasing in 2021 and 2022. This might be some indication that there’s more planned for Destiny 2 beyond 2022, but we’ll have to wait and see what that is.
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Pokemon Go Is Getting A Pokemon TCG Collaboration
Pokemon Go‘s Professor Willow is getting his own Pokemon card. As part of a special collaboration between the mobile and collectible card games, The Pokemon Company will release a Professor Willow Pokemon TCG card later this summer.
As Pokemon Go developer Niantic explains on the game’s official blog, the Professor Willow card will “be obtainable in regions around the world where the Pokemon TCG is sold.” The card’s artwork and contents, as well as details on how to get it, will be revealed in late May.
Much like the original Pokemon Red and Green versions, the Pokemon TCG is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. As part of the anniversary festivities, Pokemon TCG cards were featured in McDonald’s Happy Meals, and the latest expansion–Shining Fates–launched back in February. To celebrate the launch, Sword and Shield players can get code for a free Shiny Toxtricity from participating GameStop and EB Games stores until March 18.
Pokemon Go, meanwhile, is turning five this summer. Niantic recently kicked off a new season of content for the game, which will encompass a variety of events throughout March, including the debut of Therian forms. A Searching for Legends event is set to begin on March 9 and will give players their first chance to catch Shiny Nosepass.
In the meantime, March’s Community Day takes place this Saturday, March 6. The featured Pokemon for this month’s event is Fletchling, which will be able to learn the Fire-type attack Incinerate if players can evolve it into its final form, Talonflame, during the event or up to two hours afterward.
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