Crystal Dynamics’Marvel’s Avengershad a rough launch, and to this day issues are still cropping up. For example, the live-service title recently announced paid XP boosters, going back on previous assurances that microtransactions would only apply to cosmetics. It hasn’t been all bad though, with content expansions like War for Wakanda andMarvel’s Avengersreleasing on Xbox Game Passgiving it a boost in fans' eyes. The latter could also set up a great pattern for Eidos Montreal’sGuardians of the Galaxyto follow....

Harry Potter’s setting wouldn’t be complete without all the magical creatures that populate it. Harry, Ron, and Hermione’s adventures are often defined in large part by encounters with dragons, Acromantulas, Dementors, and many othermonstrous denizens of the Wizarding World. It’s natural, then, that magical creatures will play a major role inHogwarts Legacy,an officialHarry Pottervideo game in development at Avalanche Software. Trailers indicate that this Hogwarts adventure features no small number of magical creatures that players will interact with....

For whatever reason, the Master of Masters made Luxu his right-hand man. From all of his apprentices, the Master gave Luxu the most extensive role in his grand plan, bestowing upon him and telling him to use the Gazing Eye Keyblade to record multiple lifetimes of events into theBook of Prophecies. On top of this, Luxu was the only apprentice made aware of the Master’s plot. He was seemingly filled in on everything while the others were kept in the dark, and this plan of the Master’s is about to upend the Dandelions' lives....

Marvel’s Spider-Manfrom Insomniac Games will surely be heralded long after its time for what it has introduced and improved upon for the pantheon of superhero-related games. WhileActivision’sSpider-Man 2movie tie-inis still discussed today for its novel approach to web-swinging in an open-world environment, and it is a consensus thatMarvel’s Spider-Manhas improved uponSpider-Man 2in many ways.Marvel’s Spider-Man’s seamless ground-to-air combat is fleshed out with gadgets, abilities, and environmental interactions, and recently, a unique environmental interaction has been discovered by players....

A recent job listing posted byNetherRealm Studios hintsat the potential for next generation iterations of its popularMortal KombatandInjusticeseries. This doesn’t come as a shock to most as it was presumed that these titles would be continuing on with the start of the new generation, but serves as a sort of confirmation of that assumption. The information comes from a job listing for a Software Engineer and reveals some other interesting information about the future of those franchises....

After Microsoft made thesurprise Xbox Series X revealthis past December at The Game Awards, fans continue to wait for Sony’s move in showing off its next generation offering, the PlayStation 5. To this point, Sony has remained very selective in what it has revealed with rumors and potential leaks attempting to fill in the rest of the information. However, the decision to wait on the console’s reveal seemed to be less of a choice and more of a necessity due to a number of manufacturing and business reasons....

Recently, Codemasters was in the process of being acquired by either Take-Two Interactive and Electronic Arts, with the latter ending up getting the developer.Take-Two planned to acquire Codemastersbut the company was outbid by EA’s offer of $1.2 billion. In its recent earnings call,Take-Two InteractiveCEO Strauss Zelnick commented on the situation, saying that losing Codemasters to EA was “disappointing” yet commending EA for the success. However, he also said this was an example of Take-Two’s “disciplined approach in making more sound business decisions....

God of War’s entire experience is a continuous shot from a third-person-perspective, and tells an engaging narrative about a father and son attempting to understand one another. The gameis full of grand spectacles and cinematic effects, and it is entertaining to watch other players and streamers react toGod of War’s sensational mechanics. Mimicking the ability that Thor has in Norse mythology to recall the hammer Mjolnir back to him, Kratos is able to do the same with theLeviathan Axe inGod of War....

The western genre is one of the oldest and most beloved staples of Hollywood cinema. Its tropes are so well-worn that filmmakers have gotten creative in defining unique subgenres withinthe familiar western framework. Neo-westerns likeNo Country for Old Menhave transferred the genre’s conventions into a modern setting; meat pie westerns likeThe Propositionhave applied the western myths to the Australian Outback; and acid westerns likeEl Topobrought the psychedelic counterculture of the 1960s into the western canon....

The end ofWorld of Warcraft’sBattle for Azerothstoryline and the beginning ofShadowlandshas the potential to mark a new era for the MMO. TheBfAnarrative pitted the Alliance and the Horde against each other in a way that we haven’t seen for many years andthe conclusion to its War Campaignsuggests the cycle of violence between factions needs to come to an end. These big narrative moments featured inWorld of Warcraft:Battle for Azerothcinematics, quest text, and other in-game moments led many players to speculate that the original faction lines between Horde and Alliance may come crashing down as the two groups come together to face an external threat inthe MMO’s next expansion:Shadowlands....

Last week, Microsoft revealed theXbox Series X retail box, and now the Xbox Series S retail box has been unveiled as well. TheXbox Series Sretail box seems to be much smaller than the Xbox Series X box, which makes sense, as the console itself is a fraction of the size. In fact, Microsoft has called the Xbox Series S the smallest Xbox ever. The Xbox Series S box art prominently displays the large, circular vent on the front of the machine, alongside a white Xbox controller....

Battlefieldfans have been anxiously awaiting the start ofBattlefield 2042’s beta tests leading up to launch. Even the slight delay thatBattlefield 2042received didn’t impair fans' anticipation of what looks to be the biggest, most bombasticBattlefieldyet. That official open beta arrived Wednesday and will last through Saturday, October 9. However, alongside excitement at the beta’s start, there’s also been disappointment. Despite assurances from EA DICE regardingBattlefield 2042’s anti-cheat system, hacking is already apparent within the beta....

The stream ofCall of Duty: Modern WarfareSeason 5 news continues to flow. An LMG originally teased in the Season 5 Roadmap has appeared in leaked footage, giving fans an early look at the upcoming weapon. Fans are expecting the weapon to debut inModern Warfareduring a mid-season update. Now that Season 5 is officially in rotation, players are peering down the line at future features. There is not much known about the upcoming LMG with some players doubting its category completely and betting on a new AR....