E3 And Games Industry Group ESA Loses Its CEO

The management of the Entertainment Software Associate has gotten a sudden shake-up. Michael Gallagher, who has served as president and CEO, is stepping down after 11 years. The reasons behind the shuffling are unclear, CNET notes.

Stanley Pierre-Louis, the former senior VP and general counsel, will step in as interim CEO in Gallagher’s stead. The group didn’t give a reason behind the change. In a statement, Gallagher praised the organization’s “unbroken string of victories in the states, on Capitol Hill, and before the U.S. Supreme Court.”

“Mike has been an exceptional leader and important voice for the video game industry for more than a decade,” said ESA chairman Robert Altman, in a statement. “Under Mike’s leadership, ESA has developed a strong reputation with policy makers for vigorously defending the industry during watershed moments, including the industry’s victory on First Amendment principles before the U.S. Supreme Court. Mike was also instrumental in revitalizing E3 into the most prominent and important industry show produced today. We want to thank Mike for his many contributions and wish him well as he pursues new opportunities.”

GameSpot has contacted the ESA for comment and will update as more information becomes available.

The ESA has represented the industry’s interests in many high-profile proceedings. Gallagher himself was one of the industry representatives who met with President Trump during a summit on video game violence, following a tragic shooting in Parkland, FL. Under Gallagher’s leadership the company has chimed in on politics that tangentially relate to video games, from criticizing comments that developers found insulting to applauding STEM programs. It also organizes the annual E3 gaming convention, which recently opened its doors to the public.

Most recently, the ESA stepped forward to publicly disagree with a meta-analysis study that concluded video games resulted in increased aggression and fights among school age children between 9 and 19. The study itself cited increased visits to the principal’s office for fights at school among gamers, while the ESA’s rebuttal cited a reduction in violent crime over the same period.

WB Games to Distribute Cyberpunk 2077 in North America

CD Projekt Red has announced that Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment will “be responsible for the distribution and promotion of Cyberpunk 2077 in North America, and will bring the game to PC, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.”

“We’ve worked with Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment on The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings and The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt and both releases turned out to be really successful, so we’re entering this new stage of our cooperation with great confidence,” CD Projekt Red’s Member of the Board and SVP of Business Development, Michał Nowakowski, said on its website.

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Nintendo Switch Adding Three More NES Games Next Week

One of the benefits you receive for subscribing to the Nintendo Switch Online service is access to a library of classic NES games, all of which support online play. 20 titles are currently available on the service, with Nintendo promising to add more to the library regularly, and it turns out we won’t have to wait too long for the first new batch of titles to arrive.

Nintendo confirmed on Twitter that three more vintage games are coming to Nintendo Switch Online’s NES library next week, on October 10: Solomon’s Key, Super Dodge Ball, and NES Open Tournament Golf. All three titles will be available in each region.

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Solomon’s Key is a puzzle game in which players control a wizard who can conjure up and remove blocks, and they must use that ability to collect the key in each room while avoiding enemies. Super Dodge Ball, as its name suggests, is an NES take on the sport, while NES Open is a spiritual precursor to the Mario Golf series.

If you’re a subscriber to the Nintendo Switch Online service, you’ll be able to download the NES – Nintendo Switch Online app for free from the Eshop or Nintendo’s website. More titles will be added to the library each month. In November, Nintendo will introduce Metroid, Mighty Bomb Jack, and TwinBee; in December, Wario’s Woods, Ninja Gaiden, and Adventures of Lolo will be added.

As previously mentioned, all NES games on the service support some form of online play, though in traditionally single-player titles like The Legend of Zelda, it’s limited to screen sharing and “passing” control of the game back and forth. However, it might not be readily apparent how to set that up, so we’ve outlined how to play Switch’s NES games online.

Lilo & Stitch Getting A Live-Action Remake

Disney is working on live-action remakes of a lot of its classic and princess-related library, with movies like Beauty and the Beast and Cinderella having released alongside The Jungle Book and the upcoming The Lion King. A new report suggests it’s reaching into some more recent and non-traditional films as well, with a remake of Lilo & Stitch on the docket.

THR reports that Dan Lin and Jonathan Eirich, the duo behind the Aladdin remake, are also producing the Lilo & Stitch remake as a CGI/live-action hybrid. The studio has tapped Mike Van Waes (The Conjuring) to write the script. The report notes that this film could be aimed at Disney’s streaming service rather than a theatrical release.

Lilo & Stitch tells a story of a young misfit Hawaiian girl being raised by her elder sister, who comes upon a wild alien named Stitch that was engineered as a living weapon. The two quickly form a bond as outcasts–and as they’re pursued by social workers and aliens alike, they learn to look out for each other. Presumably, Stitch and the other aliens would be rendered in CG alongside real-world actors.

Lilo & Stitch has developed a cult following over the years, particularly for its realistic portrayal of a non-traditional family and brash, distinctly un-princess-like female heroine. It was also much more notably an action sci-fi movie than many Disney films, given its real-world setting and influences. It spawned several sequels and TV series.

Loot Crates, Exclusive Funko, and More Collectibles Coming to Walmart

Walmart planted its flag in the retail collectibles space, announcing it’s teaming up with Loot Crate, McFarlane Toys, Funko, and CultureFly for a brand new in-store “collectibles destination.”

Walmart will be the exclusive “brick and mortar retail home of Loot Crate,” with 6 different crates available beginning October 15, when the new section launches. Funko, already seen in Walmart as part of the toy department, is moving to the new department as well.

Exclusives will play a big part in the new department. An exclusive Funko chrome Thanos “in six different colors, one for each of the Infinity Stones,” will be available at Walmart later this month. Additionally, McFarlane Toys exclusive Madden NFL 19 Tom Brady, Dak Prescott, and Jason Witten figures will be exclusive to Walmart, as well as an Upside-Down Will figure from Stranger Things.

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Destiny 2 Ascendant Challenge Location: How And Where To Do Week 5 Bounty

Destiny 2‘s weekly reset has arrived, marking some notable changes. For those who have reached Forsaken’s endgame area, the Dreaming City, the rotation of Petra’s weekly missions has reset to where it was at the start of a three-week cycle. But another aspect of the Dreaming City, the Ascendant Challenge, has rotated again to a new iteration of the event. Here’s where to find it and what to do.

Like in past weeks, the Ascendant Challenge involves using a specific item (a Tincture of Queensfoil) to receive the Ascendance buff. This allows you to see a Taken portal that sends you to the Ascendant Plane to do a mission of sorts. But the portal’s location and your objective has been different each week, and that’s true for Week 5. Before starting, though, be sure to grab the corresponding bounty from Petra, as that’s the key to earning a piece of Powerful gear.

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This week’s portal is found inside a Lost Sector (Bay of Drowned Wishes) located right near Dreaming City’s landing zone in Divalian Mists. You’ll move to the midway point of the Lost Sector, killing things until a little before you reach a door that’s locked. (You can skip the enemies, but killing them will likely be easier.) If you’ve used your Tincture of Queensfoil, you’ll see the portal and can jump through to reach the Ascendant Plane location, Agonarch Abyss.

Unfortunately, there’s a good deal of platforming involved here. You’ll make your way down to a temple where a large tree is. Blight balls spawn in that slow your movement, and you’ll have to deal with a pair of wizards who spawn in additional Thrall enemies. Take out the wizards and you’re all done.

The chest that you can then open is, as always, nothing special. But finishing the Ascendant Challenge completes the bounty from Petra, which nets you a piece of Powerful gear.

When you speak to Petra, you’ll notice she acknowledges that things have returned to the way they were three weeks ago. She’s again offering the first of the three story missions where you rescue her associates. Meanwhile, Bungie has announced there are changes coming for Exotics, Masterwork Cores, and Iron Banner.

Last Chance To Vote On The PC Game You Want For Free

The DRM-free PC game retailer GOG has been around for a full decade now. To celebrate the company’s tenth anniversary, it’s giving away a PC game for free. But what game that is depends on the will of the fans. Between now and October 4, you can vote for the free game to be Shadow Warrior 2, Superhot, or Firewatch. You can cast your vote here, and download the winning game when it’s announced on October 4.

Shadow Warrior 2 is a first-person action game that has you shooting and slicing your way through a number of different types of enemies. But unlike many games of that type, it has a comedic tone that relies heavily on puerile humor. If you like jokes about genitals, this may be the one to get your vote. Check out GameSpot’s Shadow Warrior 2 review for more information. It normally retails for $40.

Superhot is a first-person shooter about clearing levels of all enemies–but it has an intriguing twist. The in-game time only moves forward when you move your character. That means if you stand still, enemies will pause and bullets will stop in midair, waiting for your next move. Because you can take your time and consider your every action, it ends up feeling less like a traditional shooter and more like a puzzle game. It normally sells for $25, so read our Superhot review if you’re unsure if it deserves your vote.

Finally, Firewatch is a game that’s much more concerned with telling a story than with delivering thrilling action. You play as a fire lookout in a remote park in Wyoming. Your only companion is your supervisor, who lives in a distant outpost but is reachable by radio during most hours, day or night. It kicks into gear when you begin to notice hints that mysterious happenings have been occurring in the wilderness. Read our Firewatch review for more information about this title that normally sells for $20.

You can vote for your pick and read all about GOG’s 10-year history here. While you’re there, you can check out the games that are currently on sale.

The Best VPN Deals in October: Get a VPN from £2.44 per Month

If you buy something through this post, IGN may get a share of the sale. For more, read our Terms of Use.

IGN have reached out to partners to offer readers the best deals on VPN subscriptions for October. VPNs are useful in many situations. For example, you can use a VPN to get access to American Netflix in the UK.

Read next: You Need a VPN, and Here’s Why

CyberGhost VPN £2.44 p/m

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Pokemon: Free Legendaries For October 2018 Announced, Here’s How To Get Them

October is here, which means The Pokemon Company is giving away a new pair of Legendary Pokemon for Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon. We’re in the penultimate month of the Year of Legendary Pokemon promotion, and this time around, you’ll be able to get your hands on the cover mascots from Pokemon Black and White: Reshiram and Zekrom.

Once again, if you live in the US, you’ll need to travel to a specific retailer to pick up a download code for the Legendaries. This time, the code is being distributed in the electronics section of Target stores from October 19-28. Those who live in Europe and Australia, meanwhile, will be able to get the Pokemon without leaving the comfort of their home; the Legendaries are being given out over the Nintendo Network in those regions from October 5-21.

As usual, the Legendaries can be redeemed in any seventh generation Pokemon game on 3DS, but which one you receive depends on the version you’re playing. Those with Sun or Ultra Sun will get Zekrom, while players who have Moon or Ultra Moon will get Reshiram. The Pokemon will also come with different levels and movesets depending on your game. You can see all of the details below.

Pokemon Ultra Sun

  • Zekrom — Level 100 (w/Gold Bottle Cap)
    • Fusion Bolt
    • Bolt Strike
    • Outrage
    • Stone Edge

Pokemon Sun

  • Zekrom — Level 60
    • Slash
    • Zen Headbutt
    • Fusion Bolt
    • Dragon Claw

Pokemon Ultra Moon

  • Reshiram — Level 100 (w/Gold Bottle Cap)
    • Fusion Flare
    • Blue Flare
    • Draco Meteor
    • Earth Power

Pokemon Moon

  • Reshiram — Level 60
    • Slash
    • Extrasensory
    • Fusion Flare
    • Dragon Pulse

You can redeem your download code for the Legendaries using the Mystery Gift feature from the games’ main menu. After selecting it, choose the option to receive your gift with a code/password, then input your download code when prompted. If you live in Europe or Australia, you’ll need to select the option to receive your gift via the internet. Once that’s done, the Pokemon will be downloaded into your game. You’ll then need to pick it up from the deliveryman waiting inside any Pokemon Center.

Reshiram and Zekrom aren’t the only free Pokemon you can get this month; The Pokemon Company is also giving away the Mythical Pokemon Zeraora at GameStop from October 19 – November 19. On top of that, you can still pick up a code for a Shiny Poipole until October 7. You can check out all of the other free Pokemon available now for Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon in our roundup.