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Celeste Creators' Next Game Delayed: 'This Game Ain't Coming Out in 2024'

Developer Maddy Thorson acknowledged that it's time to "face the music" in a blog posted on Thursday, announcing that Earthblade — the next game from the team behind the acclaimed platformer Celeste — won't be making its 2024 release date.

In her detailed update, Thorson acknowledged some of the hurdles that the project has faced, at one point admitting that she apologized to the team as she dealt with challenges in her personal life. She also recevealed that her studio, Extremely OK Games, has hired veteran indie developer Kyle Pulver, who among other things is the "world champion of Towerfall."

"Kyle quickly approached us with big ideas, which can be scary for everyone involved. But it was clear that he's not here to derail the project. He's identifying our vision and the problems preventing the game from living up to it, and working with us to pinpoint solutions. Plus his fresh eyes have inspired all of us to see things anew," Thorson wrote.

First announced back in 2021, Earthblade is a "2D explor-action" game with a pixel art style and a soundtrack from Celeste composer Lena Raine. It was subsequently revealed in a trailer at the 2022 Game Awards, though not much else has been seen of it since. It was originally expected to be out in 2024 before the announced delay.

Thorson, who is a transgender woman, wrote that her transition "involves a lot of change, uncertainty and doubt, and it's easy to see how that has bled into Earthblade."

Despite the setbacks, we all still believe in this project, and more importantly in each other

"I was despairing about this and apologizing to the team recently, but [developer Pedro Medeiros] said something that helped me shift my thinking. He told me that this uncertainty was always going to be part of the process and that it wasn't solely coming from me — we've all had to fight through uncertainty together to make Earthblade. Even if we could go back and do everything 'perfectly' from the start the result would be a different game. Despite the setbacks, we all still believe in this project, and more importantly in each other," Thorson wrote.

Thorson did not reveal a new release date, but did say that she feels like she's at the "start of a new era." It is certainly slated to release on PC. For more, check out our Celeste retrospective published last year, which includes interviews with Thorson, Raine, and more.

Kat Bailey is IGN's News Director as well as co-host of Nintendo Voice Chat. Have a tip? Send her a DM at @the_katbot.

The Best Marvel Board Games

Marvel leapt from comics to film, becoming the highest grossing film franchise of all time. It should come as no surprise that it has similarly jumped to the tabletop, garnering a massive amount of attention and money. These stories and characters translate well to board gaming. They allow for bombastic expression and tense drama.

The diversity on offer is strong. There are smaller and more accessible games, larger and more heady ones, and plenty of titles with attractive miniatures and gorgeous illustrations. This list includes 8 of the top Marvel games on the market. There is something here for nearly anyone. |

TL;DR: The Best Marvel Board Games

Marvel United: Spider-Geddon | See it at AmazonMarvel: Crisis Protocol | See it at AmazonMarvel Champions | See it at AmazonMarvel: Remix | See it at AmazonMarvel Dice Throne | See it at AmazonMarvel Zombies - A Zombicide Game | See it at AmazonMarvel D.A.G.G.E.R. | See it at AmazonUnmatched: Marvel | See it at AmazonThe Best Marvel Board GamesMarvel United: Spider-Geddon

Marvel United: Spider-Geddon Quick Look

Age Range: 10+Number of Players: 1-4Play Time: 40 min

Marvel United is a rules-light and affordable adventure game that works superbly for nearly any age. Each player takes on the role of a unique superhero and work together to thwart a villain and their henchmen. Heroes are fueled by their deck of action cards, with players utilizing these cards to activate various locations around a city, beat down minions, and confront the main rival. While there are a series of Marvel United titles and many product options, the best starting point is the recently released Spider-Geddon set. This offers a large amount of content with an intriguing set of heroes and adversaries.

Marvel: Crisis Protocol

Marvel: Crisis Protocol Quick Look

Age Range: 14+Number of Players: 2Play Time: 60 min

Ever wonder what it would be like to play Warhammer 40,000 but with Marvel heroes instead of Space Marines? Marvel: Crisis Protocol is the answer. This is a heavily detailed miniatures game that requires players to assemble figures. You can dive deep into this hobby, painting each character with painstaking precision, as well as constructing buildings and elements of terrain to fight over. The ruleset is splendid as it focuses primarily on small teams of mixed heroes. Each character is distinct with their own suite of abilities and powers. It’s a dynamic and exhilarating game with a wonderful flow. For a more thorough look, you can read our review of Marvel: Crisis Protocol.

Marvel Champions

Marvel Champions Quick Look

Age Range: 14+Number of Players: 1-4Play Time: 45-90 min

This fully cooperative card game has players wielding unique decks for superheroes such as Captain Marvel, Spider-Man, and Black Panther. Each hero has a number of specific ability cards representing their various powers in combination with a central character card that can flip between their hero persona and their alter ego. Players manage their hands and decks in order to dish out damage against a central antagonist such as Rhino or Ultron. The villain, which is controlled entirely by a personal deck of cards, pursues their own agenda to threaten the innocent and achieve world domination. For those that are particularly smitten with this title, you can expand your collection with dozens of additional hero packs and larger expansion boxes.

Marvel: Remix

Marvel: Remix Quick Look

Age Range: 12+Number of Players: 2-6Play Time: 20 min

As the smallest game on this list, Marvel Remix is a tidy card game that can be tossed in a bag and taken nearly anywhere. This competitive design has players trying to assemble a hand of heroes, villains, locations, and items. Each card has various symbols that interact with other cards, as well as its own scoring condition. With deft play you can build a hand with several intersecting combinations that yield enormous point gains. Since you only make your way through a portion of the deck and there are a wide range of creative synergies, this little game beckons continual play and exploration.

Marvel Dice Throne

Marvel Dice Throne Quick Look

Age Range: 8+Number of Players: 2-6Play Time: 20-40 min

Dice Throne is the successful competitive dice battler that has been kicking since 2018. Just recently the series made the jump to Marvel, featuring heroes such as Black Widow, Captain America, and Thor. Each character has their own set of dice and abilities, and players take turns rolling their dice and assigning the results to their various unique powers. The goal is to deal enough damage to defeat your opponent in this quick and clever head-to-head bout. While play is streamlined and relatively uniform, the asymmetric playstyles for each hero encourage experimentation and add just enough texture to maintain long-term interest. There are some truly empowering moments when you manage to roll your special finishing maneuver and unleash maximum power.

Marvel Zombies - A Zombicide Game

Marvel Zombies - A Zombicide Game Quick Look

Age Range: 14+Number of Players: 1-6Play Time: 60 min

Zombicide is the popular miniature heavy cooperative survival game where players fight the dead while seeking to accomplish various scenario-specific objectives. Marvel Zombies shifts the series to the popular Marvel storyline where an infection has spread and the heroes have begun to turn into powerful undead legions that crave flesh. Beyond the naturally slick adaptation of the Marvel property to this series, this game flips the traditional Zombicide script by having players take on the role of superhero zombies hunting humans. It features an entirely new hunger mechanism while pushing gameplay into several distinct directions that changeup the formula. This may very well be the best Zombicide yet, as its crammed full of wonderful ideas and shining Marvel miniatures.

Marvel D.A.G.G.E.R.

Marvel D.A.G.G.E.R. Quick Look

Age Range: 12+Number of Players: 1-5Play Time: 180 min

D.A.G.G.E.R. stands for “Defense Alliance for Global and Galactic Response”, and this is the organization that players are affiliated with this in globe-spanning adventure game. The scope here is larger than any other title on this list, as players travel around the world to put out fires and confront enemies. Villains terrorize cities and launch evil machinations for greater purpose, and heroes such as Daredevil, the Hulk, and Elektra must do everything within their power to shut it down. This is a lengthy game, but it’s one with scope that provides for a more epic adventure with many ups and downs. It delivers a fully realized vision of characters responding to threats and traveling to various regions in order to thwart evil. There is a real sense of being overwhelmed and having to triage threats in order to stay ahead of the curve and prevail.

Unmatched: Marvel

Unmatched: Marvel Quick Look

Age Range: 14+Number of Players: 2Play Time: 20-40 min

The Unmatched series is a collection of games that pit fighters against each other in head to head bouts. Think Street Fighter on a tabletop, except it trades out Ryu and Ken for heroes of all different time periods and properties. There are sets that feature mythic and literary figures such as King Arthur or Alice from Alice in Wonderland, and there are also sets that highlight pop culture characters such as Grant from Jurassic Park or even Ghost Rider. Yes, there is an entire suite of Marvel characters spread across several products, allowing players to wield icons such as Moon Knight, Spider-Man, and Black Widow. The game itself is smooth and simple as each character is fueled by a deck of asymmetric cards that represent their unique attacks and powers. In just 20 minutes, two participants can square off and beat the heck out of each other utilizing a simple and rewarding ruleset. Over multiple plays you can come to understand the nuance of these characters, just as if you were learning a moveset while playing an electronic fighting game. This is a fantastic, inexpensive product line that is entertaining and lean.

Certain Affinity, Halo: Infinite Co-Developer, Says It's Struggling to Find New Work, Announces Layoffs

Halo and Call of Duty co-developer Certain Affinity has been hit with a wave of layoffs, CEO Max Hoberman announced.

The studio head wrote about the decision in a lengthy post on the developer’s website, saying that the layoffs affect 25 US-based staff members and “has the most impact on the teams running our business operations.” The Certain Affinity website says the company currently has more than 250 full-time employees, meaning today’s move affects somewhere around 10% of its staff.

The decision marks the first time Certain Affinity has laid off team members since it was established in 2006.

“There are multiple factors underlying this decision to do a layoff for the first time in our 17+ year history,” Hoberman wrote. “Most significant is an industry-wide slow down in the funding of new lead and co-development projects and the reluctance of third party investors to fund games or game companies. This has made it exceptionally difficult to sign new work or secure other forms of funding.”

Hoberman says Certain Affinity is supporting those affected with severance pay and benefits continuation. The company is also making their vested awards under its Stock Equity Plan portable “so they may benefit from the company’s success in the future.”

“We have built an amazing culture where we all come together to support one another in times of need,” he added. “We ask for your understanding and patience while we navigate this unprecedented event. Thank you.”

Most significant is an industry-wide slow down in the funding of new lead and co-development projects and the reluctance of third party investors to fund games or game companies

Certain Affinity has helped shape a number of notable titles through the last 17 years. This includes helping with the development for the Halo and Call of Duty franchises as well as other projects like Prey (2017), Gotham Knights, Doom (2016), Left 4 Dead, Hogwarts Legacy, and more. For example, the team’s work on the base version of Call of Duty: Black Ops saw them creating five multiplayer maps along with various multiplayer features. Certain Affinity also helped with Halo 4 and is responsible creating features and content for its Forge mode alongside various multiplayer game modes.

Certain Affinity is only the latest developer to be affected by the layoffs plaguing the industry. Other developers recently affected include Supermassive Games (Until Dawn) and Cloud Imperium Games (Star Citizen). Sega’s Creative Assembly (Total War) and Hardlight (Sonic Dream Team) studios were both subjected to layoffs in the last day, too, with company’s like Nintendo also announcing that they are undergoing restructuring in some departments.

For more on the job losses sweeping the industry, be sure to take a look took at the human impact of the last year of layoffs. You should also read up on what some developers think of the layoffs and why we’re seeing them happen now.

Michael Cripe is a freelance contributor with IGN. He started writing in the industry in 2017 and is best known for his work at outlets such as The Pitch, The Escapist, OnlySP, and Gameranx.

Be sure to give him a follow on Twitter @MikeCripe.

Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile Review

Successfully bringing well-known console video games to phones and tablets requires hitting a very specific balance. You want the mobile version to feel like the same game people already like, while acknowledging that using a touchscreen device usually means playing for a short period of time on something that's not designed for games. Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile is a pretty ideal demonstration of hitting that balance — it maintains all the most important elements of the PC and console Warzone 2.0 experience, while tightening everything about it to be quicker and more concentrated.

This is, essentially, a sped-up version of the Warzone fans already know and enjoy. Mobile Royale, the main mode of six available at launch, looks and feels almost exactly like its PC and console counterpart but on a slightly smaller scale. Matches are only 10 minutes long, squads are locked at three players, and a lot of the loot you find is generally of a higher quality so you can get effective guns quickly. The map is also smaller, confining you to a specific zone of Verdansk – the original Warzone map that launched in 2020. The result is a mode that lets you whip through fun and intense battle royale matches at a brisk clip, getting all the same highs with a lot less downtime.

If you're familiar with Call of Duty’s take on the mode that PUBG spawned and Fortnite picked up and ran with, then you already know everything you need to about how Warzone Mobile works, apart from some slight, smart variations meant to speed things along. Still, the Warzone formula continues to be a fun one thanks to its specific elements. You'll drop into matches with 36, 60, or 120 players, and search for weapons to fight other people you run into, either alone or in squads of varying sizes. Scattered around the map are contracts, which you can pick up to earn money, and buy stations, where you can spend that money on upgrades such as killstreaks or the ability to respawn your defeated teammates, which keeps you busy by giving you specific goals and provides a clear way to upgrade your gear, even if you're not constantly facing off against other players. Dying (in the main modes) sends you to the Gulag, where you have a chance to face off against your fellow early casualties in single combat, with the winner returning to the match — still an excellent respawn mechanic that adds a lot of intense and exciting battles to matches. Everything functions just as you know it from the usual Warzone, making it possible for veterans to pop into a Warzone Mobile match and have fun immediately with very little learning curve.

A controller is recommended if you care about your kill:death ratio.

What does take some getting used to is the controls. While the touch controls work well enough, they always feel cumbersome, specifically in fast-paced competitive play. You can instantly tell when you're facing someone using a console controller via Bluetooth or a Backbone-style attachment because they're capable of jumping and sliding in ways that are difficult to manage with touch controls. It’s not impossible, but the difficulty of pulling them off, much less while under pressure, undercuts the overall Call of Duty feel. In short, a controller is recommended if you care about your kill:death ratio.

At the same time, it’s totally understandable if you tough out the touch controls because Warzone Mobile streamlines a lot of aspects to make them work better as something you take out of your pocket to play for a few minutes at a time, and they're all smart adjustments that boil the genre down to its best parts. The viable portion of the map starts out smaller and the constrictions that push you into tighter and tighter areas happen more often. While you'll find weapons, killstreaks, field upgrades like deployable cover or ammo boxes, and armor plates, there's no real inventory management to speak of; if you're carrying a gun or a killstreak, picking up another one just swaps them. Loot is kept simple but it's generally of a higher tier than what you'd find in a traditional Warzone match, especially early on, so your choices become about finding the sorts of weapons you prefer. Loadout drops are also plentiful, which often makes it easy to get geared up exactly the way you prefer. It all comes together to put Warzone Mobile's focus on getting you to the action-packed moments quickly, making just about every match harrowing and exciting, with less time spent on logistics or running around a huge map.

The speedier matches add a pressure-cooker aspect.

In addition to a solo and squad version of Mobile Royale, there's also a more traditional four-player squad mode with 20-minute matches if you want something a bit meatier but still quick, and Rebirth Resurgence, a Warzone mode which takes place on its Rebirth Island map and does away with the Gulag, instead respawning players periodically as long as their teammates stay alive. Warzone Mobile's tweaks to the formula work to make Rebirth Resurgence a fun and chaotic change of pace. The speedier matches add a pressure-cooker aspect, since any opponents you fail to kill can be quickly reinforced by the teammates you thought you did in, and staying alive yourself is crucial to keeping your team going. The mode takes the action of Mobile Royale and can stretch it out into heart-pounding hide-and-seek battles, and its specific idiosyncrasies can change your priorities slightly as you hunt down opponents.

You can also play some back-to-basics six-on-six Call of Duty multiplayer with the Mosh Pit and Shoot the Ship modes. Mosh Pit cycles through several objective game types on some well-known Call of Duty maps, while Shoot the Ship does the same thing, but on only two Modern Warfare maps: Shoot House and Shipment. While half the available modes are just variations on the Mobile Royale theme with differently sized squads, the variety is a nice way to shake things up and keep Warzone Mobile feeling compelling, even if you're not in the mood for battle royale. Thanks to the selection of modes, Warzone Mobile feels more like a scaled-down take on traditional Call of Duty than it does a compromised mobile version. Activision also has announced it'll be adding more multiplayer maps and game modes with Call of Duty's upcoming new season.

Warzone Mobile feels more like a scaled-down take on traditional CoD than it does a compromised mobile version.

Even so, you’re best off playing both this and the console/PC version because Warzone Mobile includes cross-progression. It's a phenomenal addition that instantly makes this more enjoyable if you're already a Warzone fan. Not everything transfers, but a lot of the most meaningful stuff is available in both games: your battle pass progress, your purchased character skins, and most crucially, your unlocked weapons and saved loadouts. If you've got guns you love and loadouts you're practiced with, signing into your Activision account means they're already waiting for you in Warzone Mobile, and rewards you earn or changes you make in Warzone Mobile transfer back, too. The integration means you can pick up Warzone Mobile and immediately get an experience you're already happy with, even if playing on mobile has its differences from playing on PC or console. Wherever it can, Warzone Mobile makes it as easy as possible to play and enjoy it.

What We Said About Call of Duty: Mobile

Call of Duty: Mobile represents the best the juggernaut franchise has ever been on a handheld platform. The leveling path is rewarding, even without spending money, and there are lots of modes to jump around between, including an impressive battle royale mode. Unfortunately, it is still a shooter controlled by a touch-screen with no bluetooth controller support – even though I was impressed, the accuracy and usability will still never be as good as its console and PC counterparts. – Kyle Hilliard, October 8, 2019

Score: 7.7 (Note: IGN now scores on a 1-10 scale.)

Read the full Call of Duty: Mobile review

That paper-thin barrier of entry into Warzone Mobile, especially for established CoD players, is the best thing about it. Warzone Mobile feels like a new slate of options for playing Warzone, accommodating you when you're not at home, or when you've got friends who favor phones over consoles, without losing much of what makes it such a popular game.

You don't need to be a Warzone die-hard to enjoy Warzone Mobile.

On the other side of that coin, you don't need to be a Warzone die-hard with countless hours already banked to enjoy Warzone Mobile. The phone version also brings over all the meta-game logistical elements, like custom loadouts and the Gunsmith, which is a menu that lets you customize your weapons. You can do just about everything in Warzone Mobile that you can in Warzone, making the smaller game just as viable as your mainstay battle royale. It's not doing anything new, but the "if it ain't broke" mentality at work in Warzone Mobile gets along just fine. This is a mobile game that, in a lot of ways, is on par with a more traditional multiplayer experience, simply because it uses all the smart design elements of Warzone.

One final caveat is that, as is to be expected for a game made for a variety of mobile devices, your visual quality is going to depend heavily on your device. On my older Google Pixel 6a, textures don't always stream in correctly and will often pop in as you're playing, and everything can sometimes just be a bit muddy. I also experienced some issues with frame rate and lag at times, although so early after launch, it's possible those problems can be chalked up to early growing pains and a large influx of players thanks to Warzone Mobile's novelty. In all cases, these annoyances are fairly minor, but with this portable version trying to give the sense you're playing something close to traditional Warzone, they also remind you that this is still a mobile game with the attendant drawbacks.

Microtransaction Reaction

Warzone Mobile is a free-to-play game, with its approach to monetization mirroring what you see in Warzone on PC/console — in fact, it uses a nearly identical store, with a lot of the same items available at the same prices. As noted, most of the items you can buy in Warzone become available in Warzone Mobile, and vice versa. You can buy additional characters and weapon skins, as well as "blueprints" that let you add guns with specific attachments already equipped to your loadouts. As with traditional Warzone, there aren't any real pay-to-win aspects here, other than the ability to unlock a decked-out gun ahead of when you might otherwise earn it or its attachments through playing. Those weapons provide more of a playstyle difference than a clear advantage, though. Pricing is the same as you'd expect in the main Warzone store (and the prices on crossover items are identical in both games), with items ranging from about $5 to about $24, which is pretty much in keeping with the digital offerings of other battle royale games, like Fortnite. The ability to use skins and blueprints in Warzone, Warzone Mobile, and Modern Warfare 3 might be considered an added value, though.

The thing that's important to know about Warzone Mobile's store, however, is that it can be confusing. While the two games' stores are almost one and the same, and Warzone Mobile's also runs on CoD Points, the Call of Duty ecosystem's premium currency, points you buy or unlock in Warzone Mobile do not cross over to the other games — so if you buy them on your phone, they stay on your phone, and vice versa. The upside is that you can buy cosmetic skins or blueprints that do work in other games from the Warzone Mobile shop, although there don't seem to be many offered at the moment. This can create its own brand of confusion, though. Some items are unique to Warzone Mobile, while others cross over between Warzone Mobile and Warzone proper, and some are specific to the console/PC games. These are all denoted by icons that appear on the items when you browse them in the shop, but it's still a lot to keep track of and can get confusing. It seems fully possible to think you're buying a skin that'll cross between the games, only to realize you purchased it for the version you're not even playing, so it's important to keep your head on a swivel when buying things.

The 8BitDo Pro 2 Controller Is $30 Cheaper Than the Nintendo Switch Pro and Nearly As Good

Starting today, Amazon is offering the excellent 8BitDo Pro 2 Wireless Controller for only $39.99. This is the lowest price we've seen for the Pro 2 controller. It's compatible with the Nintendo Switch Steam Deck, PC, iOS and Android smartphones, and pretty much any gaming console that supports Bluetooth. Moreover, the 8BitDo Pro 2 is often considered one of the best 3rd party wireless controllers for the Nintendo Switch.

8BitDo Pro 2 Controller (Switch Compatible) for $39.99

The 8BitDo Pro 2 controller is compatible with both the Nintendo Switch console as well as any Windows, Mac, Android, Steam, or even Raspberry Pi device. It uses wireless Bluetooth so it works with the Switch out of the box with no dongle required. At $30 cheaper than the price of a Switch Pro controller, it has a lot going for it. The SN30 Pro 2 supports button remapping, adjustable analog sticks, hair triggers, and macros. It also supports rumble and motion controls on the Switch. It is powered by a 1,000mAh rechargeable battery, but you have the option to use two AA batteries in a pinch instead.

In terms of fit and feel, the 8BitDo Pro 2 is excellent. It's lighter than the Switch Pro controller but it still feels very solid and comfortable in your hands. The D-pad and analog joysticks react precisely, and the buttons have nice clicky tactile feedback. The retro style looks great.

The 8BitDo Pro 2 also brings a couple of new features that weren't present in the previous generation Pro+ model. That includes the ability to save multiple profiles, a handy little switch that lets you instantly change from Switch to PC pairing, and two additional rear paddle buttons that are also programmable.

Compared to the official Switch Pro controller, it is missing a few features like HD rumble (although it does have standard rumble), amiibo sensing, and the ability to wake the Switch from sleep. In exchange, you get the ability to reprogram buttons and you get a much better D-pad, which is a godsend for precision type games like 2D platformers. The biggest advantage, though, is the price. For Nintendo Switch owners, if you don't want to pony up $70 for the official Pro controller, this is the next best thing.

Check out more of the best Nintendo Switch deals today.

Primary Portal Games

World of Warcraft

Sturmgrenadier is more organised, more active, and more structured than most guilds you would come across in WoW. We believe this gives us a distinct advantage in being the best guild we can be for our members, because everyone knows where they stand, and are treated equally. Players with negative attitudes will not be tolerated. That means that there is no epeen measuring, no belittling of other players, and no trolling.

 

EVE

EVE Online is Sturmgrenadier’s longest-played game, with over 16 years of continuous influence throughout New Eden. Traditional hallmarks of our gaming syndicate; organization and leadership, have propelled our in-game history to include participation in many of the defining moments of EvE gameplay.

New World

New World is an upcoming massively multiplayer online role-playing video game by Amazon Game Studios set to release in May 2020. Set in the mid-1600s, players colonize a fictional land modeled after British America in the Atlantic Ocean. Players scavenge resources, craft items, and fight other players.

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