Latest news with #IGN
Geek Tyrant
an hour ago
- Entertainment
- Geek Tyrant
James Gunn Says Two Heroes from Superman's Metahuman Mural Will Play a Big Role in the DCU — GeekTyrant
When Superman dropped earlier this month, James Gunn sparked interest when he revealed there was a mural to look out for in the Hall of Justice. It is a massive metahuman mural, a vibrant showcase of DC Comics history packed with obscure heroes, Golden Age legends, and characters we never expected to see referenced on the big screen. In a recent chat with IGN, Gunn revealed that at least two of the characters depicted on that wall will have a significant role in the DCU moving forward: 'Listen, fans have done a pretty good job, I think they've found all of the different characters,' said Gunn. 'But yeah, I will just say that in one of our scripts we're working on two of those characters are kind of important.' That's it. That's all he would say, but for DC fans, that's enough to send the speculation machine into overdrive. The breakdown of the mural confirmed appearances from over two dozen characters spanning centuries of DC lore. Here are some highlights: Madame Xanadu – A founding member of the Demon Knights and former protégé of Merlin. Silent Knight – A medieval superhero from 6th-century England. Exoristos – An exiled Amazon from Themyscira, predating Wonder Woman herself. Black Pirate – A swashbuckling 16th-century vigilante who met his end in Opal City. Miss Liberty – A heroine from the American Revolution. Whip Whirlwind / Max Mercury – A speedster who can't fully access the Speed Force, often bouncing through time. Max has mentored legends like Jay Garrick, Wally West, and Impulse. Super-Chief – A Pre-Columbian Iroquois warrior with meteorite-granted powers. El Diablo – A cursed cowboy who's crossed paths with Jonah Hex and Jason Blood. Iron Munro – A post-Crisis on Infinite Earths Superman stand-in for WWII-era stories. Sandman (Wesley Dodds) – The gas-mask-wearing vigilante with a sleeping gas gun. Amazing Man (Will Everett) – A '60s Olympian turned meta-human. Zatara – Legendary magician and father of Zatanna. Liberty Belle – A WWII-era heroine with speed and strength who later married Johnny Quick. Bulletman & Bulletgirl – Gravity-defying crimefighters from the Golden Age. TNT & Dan the Dyna-mite – A positively charged teacher and his negatively charged sidekick with explosive synergy. Phantom Lady – WWII heroine with invisibility and illusion powers. Atomic Knight – A 1960s hero operating in the 'post-apocalyptic future of 1992.' Freedom Beast – African successor to B'wana Beast with animal-merging powers. Wildcat (Ted Grant) – Heavyweight boxer turned costumed crimefighter. Vibe – '80s breakdancing hero with sonic powers. Gunfire – A '90s hero who turns any object into an energy weapon. Maxwell Lord – Already seen in Superman, holding the Firestorm Matrix in the mural. That's a deep cut DC history lineup right there. Gunn confirmed that these two mystery characters are tied to the same upcoming project, but he didn't say if that project is a movie, a live-action series, or an animated show. Naturally, fans are already piecing together the clues: Exoristos feels like a strong candidate for Paradise Lost, the Amazon-centric prequel series set in Themyscira. As an ancient Amazon warrior, she fits perfectly into that mythological setting. Max Mercury is another standout. Not only does he appear twice on the mural (as both Max Mercury and his alias Whip Whirlwind), but his time-jumping speedster lore could easily tie into The Flash or a Speed Force-focused project. Then there's Maxwell Lord, already played by Sean Gunn in Superman. He's holding the Firestorm Matrix in the mural, which could mean a Justice League International–style project—or even something Firestorm-related. But Gunn isn't giving anything away. He left fans with one final tease: 'In one of our scripts we're working on two of those characters are kind of important.' That's it. Two characters. One script. Endless speculation. What do you think? Which two heroes do you believe will show up first—and in what project? Drop your theories below!
Hindustan Times
4 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
PlayStation Plus monthly games for August: Full lineup, 15th anniversary perks
With an aim to celebrate its 15th anniversary, Sony has launched the PlayStation Plus monthly games lineup for August 2025, as per IGN. Since launching in June 2010, PS Plus has evolved into a key offering for PlayStation users, regularly dishing out top-tier titles. Sony reveals August 2025 PS Plus lineup (Bloomberg) July gave subscribers access to heavyweights like Diablo IV and The King of Fighters XV, alongside Jusant. August keeps the momentum going with a new trio of games and a set of exclusive 15th anniversary avatars. The lineup continues to reflect Sony's push to reward long-time fans. What's in store for PS Plus members for free? Keeping the anniversary spirit alive, Sony has come up with surprises for PS Plus members. 'We're excited to reveal a few more surprises!' shared Adam Michel, PlayStation's director of game services. 'Starting August 5, PlayStation Plus members can claim a special set of 15th Anniversary Avatars, featuring fan-favorite titles like Cyberpunk 2077, Hogwarts Legacy, Diablo IV, God of War Ragnarök, and Twisted Metal, all available at no additional cost,' he added. Also read: Sony sues Tencent for allegedly copying PlayStation's Horizon games, creating a 'clone' of its own: Report PlayStation Plus monthly games for August 2025 August 2025 PlayStation Plus monthly game lineup offers something for nearly every kind of gamer. It is a diverse mix spanning gritty storytelling, intense survival, and anime-fueled action. Starting August 5, subscribers across all PS Plus tiers - Essential, Extra, and Premium - can play Lies of P (PS4/PS5), Day Z (PS4), and My Hero One's Justice 2 (PS4), free of cost. Reportedly, of the three, Lies of P is likely the headliner, an eerie, Pinocchio-inspired soulslike from Round 8 Studio that's drawn critical acclaim. While its recent Overture DLC won't be included in the subscription, the base game alone offers hours of challenging, atmospheric gameplay. Meanwhile, Day Z drops players into a lawless, zombie-infested world, and My Hero brings manga fans fast-paced, 3D arena battles. As per Gematsu, these titles will be up for grabs from August 5 to September 1. So, do not miss your chance to add them to your library. FAQs: 1. Can I keep PS Plus monthly games forever? You can play PS Plus monthly games as long as you are subscribed. Once your membership ends, so does access. 2. Does PS Plus give you permanent games? PS Plus games are not permanent. They stay accessible only while you are on a subscription. 3. Can you share PS Plus monthly games? On the PS App, go to the PlayStation Plus section and tap 'Monthly Games' to view and add titles to your library.
NZ Herald
6 hours ago
- Entertainment
- NZ Herald
Wētā Workshop's first video game Tales of the Shire launches amid mixed reviews
Tales of the Shire was conceived in late 2020, Wilks says. Pandemic lockdowns led to a boom in so-called 'cosy' games, many based around building a simple farm, that provided relaxation and respite from real life. 'At the time, it was described as a game the world needs right now, which is probably still true,' Wilks says. 'It's very much aimed at the cosy audience.' A number of reviewers were given an early look. One of the largest, IGN, with 19.2 million followers on YouTube, was brutal (see clip below), with the website calling it 'a promising idea that turned out dreadfully boring and extremely buggy'. 'Which Tolkien nerd among us hasn't daydreamed about living a relaxing life as a halfling?' IGN reviewer Travis Northup wrote. 'But instead of the warmth and comfort of the Shire, I spent 25 hours feeling like I was marching through the Dead Marshes in this cosy misadventure. 'It's regrettably dull from start to finish, and runs so badly I wasn't even allowed to be bored out of my mind in peace. 'The bare bones life sim mechanics offer some of the most shallow versions of classic activities like fishing and farming that we've seen done much better in dozens of other games, and building social links with the inhabitants of Bywater is monotonous, repetitive, and never worth the effort.' A still from Wētā Workshop's Tales of the Shire: A The Lord of the Rings Game, which has been released today. Wētā Workshop game studio director Tony Lawrence says there have been good reviews, too. Indie Informer called Tales' world 'a joy to exist in'. Aggregator Metacritic (the Rotten Tomatoes of gaming) gives Tales 60 out of 100 overall, based on the reviews of 15 critics (user reviews will follow after today's release). 'We've opened it up to the community for the past three days,' says Lawrence. 'Some people have had early access to the game and their response has been very positive. 'It's got what they want, which is a relaxing game set in the Lord of the Rings lore, where they can sit and be their best hobbit and explore and decorate to their hearts' content.' Tales of the Shire: A The Lord of the Rings Game is described as "a relaxing game set in the Lord of the Rings lore". But even some of the good reviews noted bugs. 'We have a first-day patch arriving tomorrow that will address many of the issues that have been brought up,' Lawrence told the Herald the day before the game's official release. 'We spent a lot of time getting to a point where we're very comfortable. But over the next couple of months, as you do when a game is released into the wild, we'll keep on improving based on feedback.' Game over for nine staff Wilks confirms industry chatter that nine staff were laid off from Wētā Workshop's game studio last October, leaving around 30 working on Tales of the Shire. 'Look, when you're making games, you do have ups and downs in terms of the head count. We were at the end of our production period and we didn't require as many people.' Lawrence expects staff numbers to increase again as Wētā Workshop ramps up development on its next game, which is said to be more front-foot like Diabolo (an action role-playing game). Wētā isn't sharing details at this point. 'Crunch culture' allegations A July 27 article by US tech publication The Verge carried allegations of 'crunch culture' at Wētā Workshop. 'There is nothing indicating Wētā Workshop acted illegally, but staff who spoke to The Verge said there were definitely crunch periods during the development of Tales of the Shire. One staff member said they could not remember a time when they were not working beyond 50 hours a week,' it said. The video game industry – particularly in the US – is notorious for pushing staff to work long hours. Wētā Workshop game studio director Tony Lawrence acknowledges there have been good and bad reviews for the new game. 'Among video game developers, it's called 'crunch': a sudden spike in work hours, as many as 20 a day, that can last for days or weeks on end,' the New York Times said in a general report on the sector. 'During this time, they sleep at work, limit bathroom breaks and cut out anything that pulls their attention away from their screens, including family and even food. Crunch makes the industry roll – but it's taking a serious toll on its workers.' At one of the industry's largest game developers, 'crunch' could involve staff working 12 to 14-hour shifts per day, the Times reported, implying a five-day week of up to 70 hours. Wētā Workshop co-chief executive and chief operating officer Dave Wilks says Tales of the Shire is 'about living the simple life of a hobbit'. Complaining about 50 hours per week might make some in the US game sector – and its tech and business sector in general – snort in derision, but Wētā Workshop tamps down even that figure. 'There was no 'crunch' during the development of Tales of the Shire,' Wētā Workshop chief marketing officer Jessica Wallace told The Verge. 'We extended deadlines to prioritise the wellbeing of our team, and all staff worked under New Zealand employment agreements, which ensure fair and adequate compensation for all hours worked.' The newly paywalled US publication said there was a culture shift after studio director Amie Wolken quit Wētā in November 2023 to take a position as CEO at Dinosaur Polo Club, a New Zealand indie studio (Wolken told the Herald she had no comment) and Lawrence was hired in her place six months later. 'I've never seen crunch in my time here,' Lawrence told the Herald. 'Every now and again, certainly as with any job and certainly when you're close to a deadline, hours might increase somewhat. But I wouldn't say it's outlandish. 'What I would say – and I've been working in games for nearly 20 years now – is that crunch is usually mandated, as in someone like me will say, 'We're working 10 to 12 hours, five to seven days a week'. It's never happened here, ever, and it's not going to.' Wētā Workshop, best known for its costumes and props, is owned and independently run by Sir Richard Taylor and Tania Rodger while WētāFX is majority-owned by Sir Peter Jackson and Dame Francis Walsh. The pair sold Wētā Digital's technology to US gaming and film software firm Unity in 2021 for $2.2 billion, only to rehire 265 engineers to WētāFX after Unity hit problems in late 2023. Wētā Workshop had a previous foray into gaming through an alliance with US firm Magic Leap, the maker of a steampunk-looking pair of virtual reality goggles that, in the mid-2010s, were seen by some as the next big thing in gaming as the start-up's value ballooned to US$4.5 billion. Magic Leap, now backed by Saudi money, is still chasing breakthrough success for its headgear. But it is no longer in the entertainment market, which it exited in 2020 as it laid off 1000 staff worldwide, including 15 at Wētā Workshop Interactive, its joint venture with Wētā Workshop. The culled staff formed a start-up, which was in turn bought by Pokemon Go maker Niantic. Tales of the Shire is being published (marketed and distributed) by US firm Private Division, which is connected to Middle-earth Enterprises, the company that owns the intellectual property rights for J.R.R. Tolkien's works. Wētā Workshop won't say how much the Tales of the Shire cost to develop, or the clip of the ticket that Private Division will take on sales. The single-player only Tales of the Shire: A The Lord of The Rings Game is available from 4am today for PC (via Steam), Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. Pricing varies by platform. The Switch version is $89.99. Chris Keall is an Auckland-based member of the Herald's business team. He joined the Herald in 2018 and is the technology editor and a senior business writer.
Geek Culture
16 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Geek Culture
'Mortal Kombat: Legacy Kollection' Release Date Leaked On Xbox App
The release date for Digital Eclipse's Mortal Kombat: Legacy Kollection has apparently been leaked early on the Xbox app, temporarily hinting at a release date of 29 September 2025 before being edited. As spotted by IGN, the Xbox app's store page for the upcoming game showed the leaked date for a brief time on 27 July, before promptly being edited to show its current placeholder date of 31 December 2025. The leak was subsequently shared on various Reddit threads, where some posters suggested that the game's official release date reveal would arrive during the next Evo weekend on 1 August in Las Vegas, as the event will mark a major celebration of fighting games. Announced during PlayStation's June 2025 State of Play showcase, Mortal Kombat: Legacy Kollection will mark the definitive historical archive of the franchise's origins, featuring 20 different versions of the games across arcade, console, and handheld platforms, all faithfully restored for the modern generation by acclaimed retro restoration developer Digital Eclipse. Apart from featuring a curated selection of iconic arcade franchise classics from retro consoles like the Super NES, Sega Genesis, Game Boy and Game Gear, the collection will also offer a look at Mortal Kombat's history with behind-the-scenes materials and interviews, with a description by the studio on the title's website reading as follows: Digital Eclipse's interactive documentary format explores how Mortal Kombat changed the way society perceived video games. By using digitized humans as player sprites in an over-the-top, martial-arts fighter, the game thrilled players, shocked critics, and laid the foundation for a franchise that has thrived for more than 30 years. Hear firsthand from the original dev team of Ed Boon, John Tobias, John Vogel, and Dan Forden, along with other exclusive interviews, rare concept art, vintage marketing materials, and archival video footage. Mortal Kombat: Legacy Kollection is currently slated for a general release window of 2025, but whether or not the game will confirm its leaked 29 September release still remains to be seen. Kevin is a reformed PC Master Race gamer with a penchant for franchise 'duds' like Darksiders III and Dead Space 3 . He has made it his life-long mission to play every single major game release – lest his wallet dies trying. Digital Eclipse Leaks Mortal Kombat Mortal Kombat Legacy Kollection
Express Tribune
16 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Tales of the Shire receives mixed reviews as critics cite weak story
Tales of the Shire, the latest cosy life simulation set in J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth, has received a wide range of responses from critics across gaming publications. While the cooking and fishing mechanics have been highlighted positively, the broader gameplay experience has drawn criticism for its lack of depth and engagement. Jessica Filby of Dexerto described the game as 'a confusing cozy game,' pointing to its strong cooking and fishing systems but found much of the remaining content uninspired. 'Despite fantastic fishing and cooking mechanics,' she noted, 'Tales of the Shire often struggled to hold my attention.' Travis Northup from IGN delivered a more critical perspective, describing the title as 'one of the most disappointing cozy games' in recent memory. He argued that most mechanics are 'shallow' and felt the core gameplay loop offered 'tedious repetition with very little payoff.' While he acknowledged some 'humorous writing' and a comparatively more robust cooking system, Northup concluded that these were outweighed by technical issues and underdeveloped features. Kate Harrold, writing for Radio Times Gaming, offered a more tempered assessment. While she found many of the game's elements 'half-baked,' she praised the effort to include companion planting in gardening and utensil-specific meal preparation in cooking. However, Harrold maintained that the game 'lacks wow factor' and questioned its ability to stand out in an already competitive genre. Emma-Jane Betts of GamesRadar+ credited Tales of the Shire for its faithful use of Tolkien lore and innovative community-focused progression. Yet, she also found its gameplay loop stagnant, noting that 'Bywater feels stagnant after a good few hours,' and the game lacks long-term engagement despite its initial charm. Overall, while critics appreciated the atmosphere and some mechanics, the consensus suggests that Tales of the Shire delivers a limited and uneven experience.
