The next character being added to Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is Cloud’s archenemy, Sephiroth, who unlocks on December 22 (or earlier, if you can beat him in a special challenge). Fans have been wary about how much extra Final Fantasy music and content would be introduced, since Cloud, infamously, only had two character-specific music track when the game launched. Sephiroth, it turns out, is getting more support.
During today’s presentation, it was revealed that nine new Final Fantasy songs are being introduced in this update, bringing the total to 11. These are focused on music from Final Fantasy VII and its spin-off movie, Advent Children, and include some new arrangements of classic songs.
Sephiroth’s track list
Here’s the full list of tracks:
Opening – Bombing Mission (new arrangement)
Those Who Fight (Advent Children version)
Those Who Fight Further (Advent Children version)
Aerith’s Theme (new arrangement)
Main Theme of Final Fantasy VII (new arrangement)
Jenova
Cosmo Canyon (new arrangement)
One-Winged Angel
Advent: One-Winged Angel
These tracks have been added to the Midgar stage, too. Sakurai said that getting the rights to use the music from Final Fantasy has been challenging because of the need to get the rights from copyright holders in numerous different regions. However, it seems that an agreement was reached for these extra tracks.
You can unlock Sephiroth as a playable character right now through the Sephiroth Challenge, and doing so is not very difficult.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate director Masahiro Sakurai gave us a closer look at the game’s next DLC fighter, Sephiroth from Final Fantasy VII, during today’s video presentation. In addition to detailing the fighter’s moveset, Sakurai revealed when Sephiroth will join the roster, and it’s very soon.
Sephiroth will officially join the roster next week, on December 22. However, Nintendo is giving fans a chance to unlock the new fighter early through a special limited-time event. If you’ve purchased the Fighters Pass Vol. 2 or Sephiroth’s character pack, you can challenge the One-Winged Angel as a boss fight. If you manage to defeat Sephiroth, you’ll unlock him ahead of his official release date. The event runs from December 17-22.
Like other DLC fighters, Sephiroth arrives alongside a brand-new stage, Northern Cave, as well as a handful of unlockable Spirits and nine new songs. The full song list includes:
Opening – Bombing Mission
Those Who Fight (Advent Children version)
Those Who Fight Further (Advent Children version)
Aerith’s Theme
Main Theme of Final Fantasy VII
Jenova
Cosmo Canyon
One-Winged Angel
Advent: One-Winged Angel
As previously mentioned, you can get the One-Winged Angel either as part of the game’s $30 Fighters Pass Vol. 2 or by purchasing his fighter pack individually for $6.
Sephiroth is the third character to arrive as part of Smash Bros. Ultimate’s second wave of DLC, following Min Min from Arms and Steve from Minecraft. There are still three more DLC fighters in development for the game, although Nintendo hasn’t hinted at who those will be or when fans can expect them to arrive.
In other Smash Bros. news, Nintendo is offering another free item pack for the game. Switch Online subscribers can now claim the Spirit Board Challenge Pack 7, which includes a handful of items that will make it easier to battle some of the tougher opponents in the game’s Spirit Board mode. You’ll need to have an active paid subscription in order to claim the freebie.
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Super Smash Bros. Ultimate director Masahiro Sakurai shared more details on the game’s next DLC character, Final Fantasy VII’s Sephiroth, during today’s video presentation, but that wasn’t all he discussed. Sakurai also revealed a new assortment of Mii Fighter costumes that are coming soon to the game.
Five more costumes are being added to Smash Bros. Ultimate next week, all of which are based on Square Enix characters, including three from Final Fantasy VII: Barret (Gunner), Tifa (Brawler), and Aerith (Swordfighter). On top of that, there’s going to be a Chocobo Hat and a Gunner costume based on Geno from Super Mario RPG. Each costume will cost 75 cents.
Next round of Mii Fighter costumes
As for Sephiroth, the new fighter joins the roster next week, on December 22, but you’ll be able to unlock him a few days early if you can beat him during a limited-time event. He’ll arrive alongside a new stage, music tracks, and Spirits. You can get the One-Winged Angel as part of the game’s $30 Fighters Pass Vol. 2 or pick his character pack up individually for $6.
Sephiroth is the third new fighter from Smash Bros. Ultimate’s second wave of DLC, following Min Min from Arms and Steve from Minecraft. Three more DLC fighters are still on the way, although Nintendo hasn’t yet shared any details about who those will be or when they’ll release.
In other Smash Bros. news, Nintendo is giving away another free item pack for the game. For a limited time, Switch Online subscribers can grab the Spirit Board Challenge Pack 7. This pack comes with an assortment of items aimed at making it easier to challenge tough Spirits in the game’s Spirit Board mode. Like other Smash Ultimate freebies, however, you can only claim the item pack if you have a paid Switch Online subscription.
When a number of new Marvel series were announced as part of the future slate of Disney+ programming, there were quite a few surprises for comic fans. One of the biggest was Ironheart. The series, described as the story of “the creator of the most advanced suit of armor since Iron Man,” will star Dominique Thorne as Riri Williams.
You might have heard about Riri when she first made waves in the Marvel universe in 2016 in the pages of The Invincible Iron Man. She counted Tony Stark as a mentor, teamed up with Spider-Man Miles Morales and Ms. Marvel, and even faced Thanos. Let’s meet the genius teen to get an idea of what Disney+ might have in store for us.
Discovered as a prodigy at a very young age, Riri Williams was determined to be an astronaut until her life was forever changed by an act of violence. When Tony Stark could no longer be Iron Man, Riri stepped into his armored shoes with an advanced, high-tech suit she built herself.
Ironheart might be just a teenager, but the gifted inventor is following in Tony Stark’s footsteps—and blazing her own trail.
Riri Williams was a brilliant 15-year-old student studying at M.I.T. when she dared herself to build a set of high-tech armor just like Iron Man. Working in her dorm room with parts she borrowed from labs around campus, she soon succeeded. On her first attempt at superheroics, however, the patchwork suit fell apart around her. Undaunted, Riri continued her work on the reverse-engineered Mark-41 armor, and finally caught the notice of Tony Stark himself.
Realizing she needed an Artificial Intelligence to make the most of the armor, she brazenly asked Stark for one. He was intrigued, but AI was exceedingly expensive. Soon, the events of Civil War II took his attention away, and Iron Man was incapacitated when the conflict boiled over. Still, Stark, recognizing that Riri was a kindred spirit and the future of superheroes, had planned ahead. He had created an advanced AI construct of himself to help her while he recovered in a coma. Riri finally had the AI she needed and her suit was complete.
The genius teen was inspired to become an armored hero when her stepfather and her best friend were both murdered in a drive-by shooting. Determined to find a superhero name more fitting than Iron Girl or Iron Maiden, Riri decided on Ironheart to honor her fallen loved ones.
Riri operates as Ironheart with the love and support of her mother in Chicago, who will never stop worrying about the young superhero.
Ironheart’s Powers and Abilities
Riri Williams is an engineering prodigy with a super-genius-level intellect. Her armor is on par with Stark’s own advanced suit, and she had his digitized consciousness as an AI to teach and mentor her in how to best use it.
Thrusters in her hands and feet give Ironheart the power of flight. Explosive repulsor grenades, laser beams, precision missiles, and much more are stored in her arsenal, designed and built by Riri herself. After her suit was destroyed by Thanos, Riri designed Ironheart 3.0 with a magenta and black design distinct from Iron Man’s classic red and gold. She is constantly tinkering with the engineering and adding new technology, like an experimental stealth mode and solar power cells.
The Champions, a young team that included Miles Morales and Kamala Khan, took an early interest in Ironheart. Not one to make many friends, Riri was nervous about joining their ranks at first, but she fit in quickly. Her adventures as part of the team took her around the world, to space, and even to another dimension. Her inventions and quick thinking made her an invaluable member of the team.
She struck out on her own for a short time and returned to M.I.T., where she constructed a new AI with a design based on the friend she lost. But a new law prohibiting teenagers from being superheroes led her back to the Champions as they navigated the new normal together.
Ironheart’s Signature Villains
Riri is relatively new to the crime-fighting scene, but she jumped in rocket-powered feet first. She first faced off against ninjas led by an Inhuman with the ability to control technology. Later, as part of the Champions, she encountered formidable foes in Thanos and Man-Thing.
When Ironheart returned to Chicago in her solo adventures, mystical villain Midnight’s Fire took an interest in her. He offered her a place in the Ten Rings, a global mercenary organization. Riri refused. She tracked Midnight’s Fire with the help of the Unstoppable Wasp, Doctor Strange, and Shuri and Okoye of Wakanda and finally found him—along with her biological father.
Ironheart in TV and Games
TV: Disney+ won’t be the first time we see Ironheart on the small screen. She headlined Marvel Rising: Heart of Iron, a 2019 animated movie that told her origin story in the Marvel Rising universe. She was voiced by Sofia Wylie. She returned for another animated adventure a few months later, Battle of the Bands. In 2020, Ironheart, again voiced by Wylie, appeared in Marvel’s Spider-Man: Maximum Venom on Disney XD.
Games: Riri has also been in mobile games like Avengers Academy, Marvel Future Fight, Marvel Puzzle Quest, and Marvel Strike Force. She was also playable in Lego Marvel Superheroes 2 with the Champions character pack DLC.
Riri Williams in the MCU
Riri seems poised to take Iron Man’s place in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, although she seemingly won’t have the help of Tony Stark as a mentor after the events of Avengers: Endgame. Whether she’s part of the multiverse, a fractured timeline, or a new hero inspired by Tony’s sacrifice, she’ll fit right into the younger roster gearing up in Phase 4.
With no other details other than “coming soon,” Riri’s appearance in the MCU is a mystery for now, but her addition will be a welcome one. Could we even see the Champions team up in the MCU? The future of Marvel on Disney+ is bright.
Kelly Knox is a freelance entertainment writer who also contributes to StarWars.com, DCComics.com, Nerdist, and more. Follow her on Twitter at @kelly_knox to talk Star Wars, Dungeons & Dragons, and comics.
Megill shared the news on Twitter, announcing that she will be the project’s lead writer. Megiil’s due to make a move to the studio’s stomping grounds in Leamington Spa, England, where she said she will “live in an English country cottage and write fairy tales.”
Megill briefly touched on her relationship with the Fable series in a Twitter thread announcing her new position. “Fable holds a special place in my heart,” Megill wrote. “It came out the year I started in [game development], and it’s the first game I played with a developer’s eye.”
Though she doesn’t comment on Fable’s state, Megill does express an initial skepticism about joining the project due to the game’s potential of being “just a bunch of medieval fart jokes.” Fables games are widely known for their goofy, irreverent humor and tone, something that might’ve been a change of pace for her. However, she clarified that the team’s story and vision “reassured and excited” her, calling it a perfect fit in relation to the rest of her writing background.
Fable, which has been long-rumored, was revealed during an Xbox Games Showcase over the summer. The reveal didn’t showcase any gameplay; it was merely a cinematic confirming that Fable is in development by Forza Horizon creator Playground Games, though no release date was attached. While a date may not be solidified, Fable is slated to launch on Xbox Series X|S.
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For decades, LEGO has inspired creativity and brought fun to children (and adults) of all ages. Moreover, with the many licensed sets available, LEGO fans can immerse themselves in different worlds like never before.
Whether you (or someone you love) is hungry for pure creativity, or would prefer building sets based on franchises like Star Wars, Marvel, Harry Potter’s Wizarding World, Minecraft, or Mario, there is always something for you to do.
We’ve searched far and wide for the most interesting, coolest, and most impressive LEGO sets to create a list of perfect gifts just for you. Whether you want to join The Mandalorian in his search to find a home for The Child, you want to create hanging wall art of different Iron Man armor variants, or revisit the Mushroom Kingdom with Mario-themed sets, there is something for you here.
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Best LEGO Nintendo Gifts
Play around in the worlds of Nintendo, even away from your games.
Brian Barnett writes wiki guides, deals posts, features, and much more for IGN. You can get your fix of Brian’s antics on Twitter and Instagram (@Ribnax).
This year’s all-remote Game Awards got a lot of attention. Receiving over 83 million livestreams last week, the annual award show increased 2019’s 5.2 million livestreams by over 83%. Globally, 8.3 million viewers tuned in at peak time, an increase from 2019’s 7.5 million viewers.
This year #TheGameAwards viewership grew over 83% to more than 83 million livestreams. This is beyond our wildest expectations; I was just happy we could even produce the show this year. Thank you for watching and being a part of this global community. pic.twitter.com/gAKIb68jHp
According to Stream Hatchet, live hours watched increased more than 129% across Twitch, YouTube, and Facebook Gaming. Over 2.63 million concurrent viewers tuned in at peak time on Twitch, doubling 2019’s numbers. The number of YouTube viewers also reportedly doubled, but numbers were not disclosed.
Audience participation in both voting and tweeting increased during 2020’s Game Awards. Vote count more than doubled from 2019 on The Game Awards’ website and Bilibili in China. People on social media also discussed The Game Awards at a greater volume than in 2019. On Twitter, there was a 31% increase in conversation volume year over year and a growth of 65% unique authors.
“In this most challenging of years, the video game industry has continued to deliver for its fans,” said Geoff Keighley, producer of The Game Awards. “We are deeply humbled to see that excitement translate into these record-setting results, with significant upticks in total viewership, watch time and social engagement around the world.”
Nintendo is giving away another free item pack for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. For a limited time, Switch Online subscribers can grab the free Spirit Board Challenge Pack 7, which includes an assortment of helpful items for the game’s Spirit Board mode.
This particular pack contains items that will make it a little easier to battle tough Spirit Board foes. You’ll receive the following:
3,000 Spirit Points
5 Rematch
5 Damage 50%
5 Weaken Minions
5 Health Drain
To claim the free item pack, select the Nintendo Switch Online icon from the system’s dashboard and highlight Exclusive Offers on the left sidebar. You’ll see the item pack listed among the other freebies. Alternatively, you can go into the Switch Online tab in the eShop and find the item pack listed there.
Like previous Smash Bros. Ultimate freebies, this Spirit Board Challenge Pack is only available for paid Switch Online subscribers. You will not be able to claim the item pack during a free trial for the service. Individual subscriptions cost $4 for one month, $8 for three months, and $20 for one year, while an annual family plan costs $35.
Nintendo revealed Smash Bros. Ultimate’s next DLC character, Sephiroth from Final Fantasy VII, during this year’s Game Awards. The One-Winged Angel is slated to join the roster sometime this month. Game director Masahiro Sakurai will give us another look at Sephiroth in a Smash Bros. video presentation today that airs at 2 PM PT / 5 PM ET.
Sephiroth marks the third DLC character to arrive as part of the Fighters Pass Vol. 2, joining Min Min from Arms and Steve from Minecraft. Three more add-on fighters are still on the way, although Nintendo hasn’t revealed their identities yet. The Fighters Pass Vol. 2 costs $30.
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If you’ve missed out on the various memory card and storage deals on Black Friday, you’re in luck. There are some memory card deals today that are even better than what we saw on Black Friday. Score a massive 512GB card for only $59.99, or a 128GB for $15.99 (perfect as a holiday gift stocking stuffer). There are some other great deals today like $300 off a brand new ASUS Zenbook Flip with all the newest technologies for the road warrior or 40% off a King of Tokyo board game.
SanDisk Ultra 512GB Micro SDXC Card for $59.99
Nintendo Switch Compatible
For one day only, score this 512GB SanDisk Ultra MicroSDXC Card for less than what it was on Black Friday. This is the perfect card for Switch gamers. It’s reliable and certainly fast enough; any faster and it wouldn’t make any discernible difference in your Switch’s performance. Most gamers will probably be able to fit their entire library on this one card.
______________________________ Eric Song is IGN’s deal curator and spends roughly 1/4 of his income on stuff he posts. Check out his latest Daily Deals Article and subscribe to his IGN Deals Newsletter.
