After teasing earlier this year that it would properly reveal the long-awaited return to the college football video game series, EA Sports has finally released the first official gameplay trailer for College Football 25. The trailer shows off the visuals, first looks at returning modes like Road to Glory, and some new changes fans can anticipate.
You can watch the new trailer above. Additionally, in a press release, EA shared new details about what is coming to College Football 25, such as the previously confirmed return of the fan-favorite modes Road to Glory, Dyanasty, and Ultimate Team, along with a new mode called the Road to the College Football Playoff.
A separate blog post detailing College Football 25 published by EA revealed that Team Builder will be included in College Football 25. Allowing players to create their own college football program. This custom team will be playable in both Play Now and Dynasty Modes, according to EA, with more details on Team Builder coming this summer.
More interestingly, EA confirmed that College Football 25 will introduce CampusIQ, which bundles several features that aim to bring "to life the true depth of college football." Features like a Wear & Tear System and Pre-Snap recognition aim to challenge a player's strategy to ensure maximum success for their favorite FBS school.
Beyond the diversity in play styles across all 134 college football schools, another thing that makes college football unique is the iconic settings, stadiums, and traditions. EA notes that College Football 25 will capitalize on the spirit of college football by offering rivalry rituals and unique team run-outs. It will also feature broadcasting and commentary from notables analysts and commentators, such as Kirk Herbstreit and Rece Davis.
The full reveal and details on gameplay come less than a day after EA announced the cover athletes for both the Standard and Deluxe Editions of College Football 25. In addition, the publisher revealed that College Football 25 will be released on July 19 for PS5 and Xbox Series X/S, though fans who buy the Deluxe Edition or the MVP Bundle will gain access to the game three days early.
Taylor is a Reporter at IGN. You can follow her on Twitter @TayNixster.
Take-Two Interactive is doubling down Grand Theft Auto VI's release date, saying the long-awaited sequel will be out fall 2025 despite rumors of a possible delay into 2026. Take-Two announced GTA 6's updated release window in its latest earnings report, saying that its current outlook is based on the new date.
"We do feel highly confident that we'll deliver [Grand Theft Auto VI] in fall of 2025," Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick told IGN in an interview when asked if he was concerned that GTA 6 may get delayed.
Questions have swirled around GTA 6's release date ever since the initial reveal, with fans going feral over details like website updates. Internal conflicts over Rockstar's return to office policy has led to questions over whether GTA 6 will ultimately be delayed into 2026. However, as of right now, it looks like Take-Two Interactive and Rockstar are set on getting it out by its intended release date.
For now we know that Grand Theft Auto 6 will be released on PS5 and Xbox Series X/S. A PC version will not be available at release; hopefully, PC players won't have to wait too long to play it.
All 32 NFL teams revealed schedules for the 2024 season last night, and there were some great ones. There's the Chicago Bears' teen movie-themed reveal, the New England Patriots' Good Will Hunting inspiration, the Jacksonville Jaguars' homage to the intro for X-Men '97, and the Minnesota Vikings parodying a tech keynote, in addition to various other pop culture-inspired reveals.
But, arguably, the team with the best schedule reveal this year was the Los Angeles Chargers, which got creative by announcing their 2024 opponents through The Sims.
should we REALLY make our schedule release video in the sims?
The Chargers posted a nearly four-minute video last night on social media. It starts with a group of Sims wearing jerseys from every team the Chargers will face this season before an unseen figure is shown removing the ladder, an act that is familiar to plentyof diabolical Sims players.
From then on, the Chargers announce which teams they'll play for the 2024 regular season, presenting many jokes, memes, pop culture references, and afewjabs at several individuals and teams. Some are more upfront and in your face, while others linger in the background. While the Sims gimmick is reason enough to watch, there are so many references that it encourages multiple viewings.
Here are a few I personally found hilarious:
Chargers' Week 4 game versus the Chiefs shows a snippet of Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce recording an episode of his podcast before he skedaddles with his girlfriend Taylor Swift on her private jet.
In Week 8, the Chargers face the New Orleans Saints, showing a Falcons fan picking up a voodoo doll before seeing four prompts appear, mentioning moments in the Saints franchise history, most infamously Bountygate.
On Thanksgiving Day, the Chargers' Week 12 opponent is the Baltimore Ravens. The scene shows a young Jim and John Harbaugh, who are the head coaches of the Chargers and Ravens, respectively, playing in a shared room before it fast-forwards to older versions of both in a pillow fight.
In the second to the final week of the regular season, the Chargers will face the New England Patriots; it depicts a retirement home of many of the Patriot's best players from the team's historic sports dynasty, such as Rob Gronkowski and Julian Edelman, before a pop-up appears saying "Your dynasty has ended, but the town lives on. There's no reason to let this house stay empty. Would you like to restart?"
It also features a shot of Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker, who can be seen cooking and cleaning in a kitchen - no doubt a knock on Butker's controversial comments in a recent commencement address.
The Chargers never expliclty say which Sims game they're using, but internal discussions between me and my fellow Simmers and colleagues Reb Valentine and Alex Stedman deduce that the Chargers likely back to the Sims 2 for their reveal. A little vintage, but we're not complaining.
This isn't the first time an NFL team used a video game to reveal its schedule. In 2020, the Detroit Lions used Animal Crossing: New Horizons to unveil its schedule. But The Chargers usually get pretty creative, as the past twoyears, the organization used anime-themed reveals to announce its opponents for that respective season.
You can see some of our other favorite pop culture-inspired NFL reveals below.
A few days after the release date for this year's Madden leaked, EA Sports has officially confirmed through product listings that Madden NFL 25 will come out on August 16 for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S, or August 12 if you preorder the Deluxe Edition.
EA quietly confirmed the release date after the company pushed preorders for Madden NFL 25 on a few storefronts, such as the Steam and Epic Game Store pages, confirming the sports game will be released in mid-August.
EA has yet to unveil who the cover athlete(s) will be this year. However, the company typically shares cover athlete details in June, as it did last year when it confirmed roughly two months before Madden 24's release that Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen would grace the cover for that version.
A closer examination of the Steam page for Madden NFL 25 reveals a brief description that teases what's new in this year's release. "In EA SPORTS Madden NFL 25, discover the next level of FieldSENSE," the description reads. "This includes a re-engineered physics system, updated features across franchise and other modes as well as brand-new commentary and presentation."
The release date confirmation comes the same day EA Sports announced a July 19 release date and the cover athletes for College Football 25. Additional information, including a possible gameplay trailer, is expected for the highly anticipated collegiate sports game sometime tomorrow, May 16.
Madden's August release date is no surprise, as starting with Madden NFL 2000, EA has released the annual professional football sports simulation game in August. With Madden keeping its August release month, players will have roughly a month to play College Football 25. This cadence was previously in place when EA published annual releases for both sports games until 2013.
Despite no further details, based on previous history there is a good chance those who create a character in College Football 25 will likely be able to carry their player over into Madden NFL 25. This theory is further supported by the fact EA announced an MVPbundle that includes one copy each of the Deluxe Edition of College Football 25 and Madden NFL 25.
In our review of Madden NFL 24, IGN wrote: "New animations and improved AI make Madden NFL 24's on-field action the best it's ever been, but everything that happens off the field is a slog of dated modes and laggy menus that brings everything around it down."
Taylor is a Reporter at IGN. You can follow her on Twitter @TayNixster.
College football fans who miss College Football video games can finally cheer after EA officially revealed the cover athletes for College Football 25 and confirmed a release on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S on Friday, July 19, 2025, or July 16 for those who buy the Deluxe Edition.
Though EA has yet to provide a gameplay trailer for College Football 25, the publisher confirmed that a "full reveal" is coming tomorrow, May 17.
As previously confirmed by leaks, College Football 25's Standard Edition cover features Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers, Colorado wide receiver Travis Hunter, and Michigan running back Donovan Edwards. The Deluxe Edition cover features the same three athletes at the center and players from different schools in the background, such as Georgia quarterback Carson Beck, Ohio State running back Quinshon Judkins, and Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe.
"Donovan, Quinn and Travis are extraordinary talents who impressed and entertained millions of college football fans on the field last season and are poised to do so again this year," EA Sports SVP and Group GM Daryl Holt commented. "We’re proud to be able to incorporate thousands of current athletes in College Football 25, and featuring this trio of playmakers and their iconic college programs on the cover is a perfect fit as we usher in a new era for EA Sports and college football. I can't wait for the world to learn more about the game tomorrow."
Before today's official reveal, news on the next college football video game has been slim. The PlayStation Store leak that occured last week revealed not only the Deluxe Edition cover, but a screenshot of gameplay featuring players from the Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team exiting the tunnel and heading onto the field.
In February, EA dropped an official teaser trailer showing development concepts, such as players from the Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team tapping the "Play Like a Champion Today" sign before heading into the tunnel.
Following the teaser announcement in early February, EA Sports revealed to ESPN some new details for College Football 25. This includes confirmation that all 134 FBS football programs will be included, how much players who opt-in will be paid for using their likeness in the game, while those who do not opt-in will not be allowed to create themselves as a playable character, as well as reaffirming that Dynasty and Road to Glory game modes will return.
The long road to make the next College Football video game
Similar legal challenges surfaced for EA in its recent venture into college football video games. Initially canceled due to legal issues, the series encountered similar obstacles when The BrandR Group, a licensing agency for student-athletes, filed a lawsuit against EA, arguing that compensation for participating student-athletes was "significantly below market value." EA eventually settled the lawsuit.
College Football 25's Standard and Deluxe Editions are available to pre-order now, but EA said it is offering a third version called the EA Sports MVP Bundle, which includes one copy each of the Deluxe Editions of both College Football 25 and Madden NFL 25, both of which will move the release date up by three days for each game, allowing you to play sooner.
Taylor is a Reporter at IGN. You can follow her on Twitter @TayNixster.
We don't know much about Lyonne's role in Fantastic Four, as much of the plot remains under wraps. Lyonne has found fame over her long career with projects including Orange is the New Black, But I'm a Cheerleader and American Pie. She recently starred in the award-winning drama Poker Face, which is set to return for a second season.
Lyonne adds yet more star power to The Fantastic Four, which looks to be a centerpiece film for the MCU going forward. The first major image has already sparked some wild fan theories about where the movie will take the shared universe.
When it's eventually released, The Fantastic Four will kick off the MCU's Phase 6, which also includes Blade and multiple Avengers films. Right now, the MCU is in the midst of Phase 5, with Deadpool & Wolverine set to be the next major release. The Fantastic Four will be out July 25, 2025.
Blogroll Credit: Michael Tullberg / Stringer / Getty Images
Taylor is a Reporter at IGN. You can follow her on Twitter @TayNixster.
Warner Bros. Discovery has released a new trailer for Wicked, focusing on the unlikely bond between the two protagonists with drastically different personalities.
The new trailer, which you can check out above, shows the friendship of Cynthia Erivo's Elphaba and Ariana Grande's Glinda. The trailer shows how the two characters start out as trying to buttheads and compete with one another before eventually forming a friendship. As previously confirmed, the story will focus on Elphaba and Glinda and their origin stories as they become the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good, respectively.
In addition to Ervio and Grande appearing, the latest trailer also shows glimpses of Bowen Yang, Michelle Yeoh, Jeff Goldblum, and Peter Dinklage, all of which were previously announced to be joining the cast.
Wicked is a film adaption of the stage musical of the same name, both of which are based on the 1995 novel by author Gregory Maguire. The film was announced in 2021, with Crazy Rich Asians director Jon M Chu hired to direct.
Wicked is still on track to release on November 27, 2024. It will be part one of a planned duology, with its sequel, Wicked: Part 2, slated to release on November 26, 2025.
Taylor is a Reporter at IGN. You can follow her on Twitter @TayNixster.
Nearly two years after officially announcing a new Daredevil TV show was in development, Disney has officially provided release infofor its upcoming Disney+ series Daredevil: Born Again. As part of Disney Upfront 2024, Marvel Studios shared that the new series will be out March 2025 while showing the first trailer behind closed doors.
The new trailer, which has not been released as of publication, shows Matt Murdock donning the iconic Daredevil suit while narrating that the "entire system is against you... it's often Davis vs. Goliath." It includes among other things glimpses of Kingpin, Foggy, and Karen, the latter two who were confirmed to be returning earlier this year. At the end of the trailer, following a brief action sequence, Murdock is asked "what kind of a lawyer are you."
"A really good one," he quips as he puts on a broken pair of his familiar glasses.
Marvel Studios originally announced in May 2022 that it was working on a new Daredevil series for its streaming service. Roughly two months later, at SDCC 2022, the company confirmed the series was titled Daredevil: Born Again.
This is the second series focusing on Daredevil, following the 2015 show that ran for three seasons on Netflix. Charlie Cox, who played Matt Murdock/Daredevil, will once again reprise his role as the titular character. Cox previously portrayed the Marvel superhero in his own Netflix series and has made appearances in The Defenders, Spider-Man: No Way Home, She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, and Echo, and is set to voice the character in the upcoming Disney+ series Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man.
Daredevil: Born Again has faced a number of obstacles in production, though. The series was once set to premiere in 2024, but the first season's production was suspended due to the Hollywood strikes last year. It faced further delays when it was reported last October that it was going through a "creative reboot," with a new showrunner hired weeks later.
Daredevil: Born Again's first season will include 18 episodes. Though the series has not even premiered, in March 2023, during an interview with Newsweek, actor Vincent D'Onofrio, who is reprising his role as Kingpin for the series, told the publication that a second season is already planned.
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.
Madden NFL 25 is apparently set to release on August 16, according to a new report.
Reliable video game leaker and data miner billbil-kun has published a new report detailing what fans can expect from this year's Madden. According to billbil-kun, Madden NFL 25 will be released on August 16, but those who own the Deluxe Edition or subscribe to EA Play will get access as early as August 12.
Although billbil-kun has not revealed any details as to who the cover athlete(s) for Madden 25 will be, the report does confirm that EA Orlando (formerly EA Tiburon) will once again develop the next Madden game. Madden NFL 25 will have two editions: Standard and Deluxe; the former will retail for $69.99, while the latter will cost $99.99.
A proper reveal for Madden NFL is supposedly happening on May 16 — the same day the publisher is set to reveal the official covers for College Football 25, its first entry in the college football video game series since 2013.
The report also claims that Madden NFL 25 will improve the FieldSense technology. This feature originally debuted in Madden NFL 23, with the physics engine being reworked for the newest entry to provide more "realistic animations with fluid gameplay."
The news comes the same day Prime Video announced new content for its streaming service, including a four-part docuseries focusing on the history of the Madden video game franchise.
In our review of Madden NFL 24, IGN wrote: "New animations and improved AI make Madden NFL 24’s on-field action the best it's ever been, but everything that happens off the field is a slog of dated modes and laggy menus that brings everything around it down."
Taylor is a Reporter at IGN. You can follow her on Twitter @TayNixster.
Dead by Daylight turns eight today, and to celebrate the milestone, Behaviour Interactive held its anniversary stream to share new details on updates headed to the asymmetrical horror game. This includes an official reveal of a new game mode, details on the previously teased D&D chapter, and updates on its upcoming spinoff projects.
But if you missed it, don't worry. We break down every announcement from the Dead by Daylight 8th Anniversary Stream below:
Dead by Daylight's 2V8 mode officially announced
Dead by Daylight fans, your wish has been granted: a 2V8 mode is coming. As the name implies, this game mode will have two killers facing off against eight survivors, and will include a larger map to accommodate the increase in players. However, this won't be a rehash of the previous game mode, as the developer confirmed that Perks will not be available in 2V8; instead, it will be replaced with a Class system.
Because the community has highly requested the 2V8 mode, Behaviour revealed that its initial launch would be a building block for tweaks and adjustments based on community feedback. Behaviour plans to share more details on 2V8 mode in July, with a late summer release window.
Dungeons & Dragons chapter coming to Dead by Daylight next month
This new chapter, which launches on June 3, will introduce Vecna as a new killer, who will have four spells available to his playstyle: Fly, Flight of the Damned, Mage Hand, and Dispelling Sphere. At the same time, the two survivors are male and female Bard characters: Baermar Uraz, a human male, and Aestri Yazar, a female elf. Regardless of which gender you choose, this new survivor has three unique perks: Mirror Illusion, Bardic Inspiration, and Still Sight. Alongside new playable characters, the next chapter will introduce a new map inspired by the D&D franchise. The Forgotten Ruins is a new dungeon-themed map that serves as a home to Vecna after he finds himself mysteriously transported into The Fog. Alongside an expansive main floor is an extensive underground component filled with horrific experiments and secrets to discover.
For those interested in trying the new chapter early, it is available on the Dead by Daylight Public Test server today.
Dead by Daylight spinoff The Casting of Frank Stone gets new trailer, but no release date
Last year, Behaviour announced it was expanding the Dead by Daylight franchise by announcing two new games set in the same universe. One of them was The Casting of Frank Stone, a new narrative-driven game from Until Dawn developer Supermassive Games.
An official reveal came last December during The Game Awards, and today's anniversary stream provided another look at the game. The new trailer reveals that the game is set in 1980 and focuses on a group of friends who are on a quest to make their own horror film.
Though we still do not have a firm release date, today's trailer doubles down the fact that The Casting of Frank Stone is still targeting to release sometime this year.
Dead by Daylight's upcoming PvE shooter, codenamed Project T, is launching an Insider Program
The second of two previously announced spinoffs, Behaviour shared new details about its unannounced PvE game, codenamed Project T. Developed by Midwinter Entertainment, Project T is an action-horror co-op shooter, set in a set in a region called The Backwater, up to four players can join together and fend off the monsters inhabiting the area.
Project T still doesn't have a release window. Still, Behaviour revealed that it is launching an Insider Program, allowing players interested in the spinoff to become active in its development cycle. The insider program will include incentives, such as access to closed playtests.
What the Fog is a new rougouelite Dead by Daylight spinoff for PC
While fans previously knew about the other two spinoff games, Behaviour added a third one to the mix: a 2-person co-op roguelite game called What the Fog. Developed in-house by Behaviour, What the Fog has players control Dead by Daylight survivors Claudette Morel, Dwight Fairfield, or Feng Min as they run, jump, and shoot their way through a swarm of monsters.
What the Fog is exlclusive to PC, with the first 2 million copies available, free of charge, if you sign into or create a Behaviour account. After the promotion, What the Fog, will cost $4.99.
Behaviour teases Castlevaniaas the next chapter for Dead by Daylight
As a final "and one more thing"-type announcement, Behaviour announced that the next chapter coming to Dead by Daylight is Konami's popular action-adventure series Castlevania. Not a ton of information was shared during the stream, but Behaviour promised that fans will get more details on August 6.
Taylor is a Reporter at IGN. You can follow her on Twitter @TayNixster.
Meta is making its Quest 2 and 3 virtual reality headsets more travel-friendly, as the tech giant announced a new Travel Mode for both devices.
In a blog post, Meta revealed that Travel Mode is available as an experimental feature on Quest 2 and 3 headsets. Users who want to try the feature need to go to their headset's settings, then the Experimental Features section, to enable the feature.
As you'd expect from an experimental feature, Meta confirms that Travel Mode is currently "optimized for use on planes," but it plans to add support for other modes of transportation like trains. Any app or video game that requires an internet connection, like Xbox Cloud Gaming or Rec Room, needs the user to connect to the plane's Wi-Fi. More interestingly, Meta notes that if you use your headset before enabling Travel Mode, the device may automatically detect you are on a plane. It is recommended that you allow Travel Mode before use.
As UploadVR pointed out previously, users who wished to use their Meta Quest VR headset on a flight had to turn off positional tracking.
While the concept might seem silly to some, using Travel Mode on a VR headset, particularly the Meta Quest, isn't that farfetched of a concept. The Meta Quest 2 and 3 specifically offer native apps for streaming and video services such as Netflix, Peacock, and YouTube, not to mention the ever-growing list of VR games that are released regularly on both devices and do not require a ton of movement such as Real VR Fishing and Moss: Book 2.
Travel Mode may sound familiar, as this feature was previously available in the Vision Pro, Apple's pricey spatial computer released earlier this year. In recent months, Meta has been rolling out new features previously found on Vision Pro onto its VR headset. Additionally, Vision Pro-esuqe features Meta has introduced to the Quest line, such as Laying Down Mode.
Taylor is a Reporter at IGN. You can follow her on Twitter @TayNixster.
Assassin's Creed fans who have been waiting for the day Ubisoft will set the game in Japan will not have to wait much longer. The publisher announced today that the first trailer for its next Assassin's Creed game will premiere this week.
Ubisoft announced on Twitter and in a press release that Assassin's Creed: Shadows, previously known as Codename Red, will unveil its first official trailer on Wednesday, May 15, 2024. Following the announcement, an X/Twitter user discovered listing data for Assassin's Creed: Shadows on the Ubisoft Store, claiming it would be released on PC, PS5, PS4, and Xbox Series X/S. However, industry insider @Shinobi602 has claimed that Shadows will not see a release on PS4. A seperate leak spotted by a fan revealed that Assassin's Creed: Shadows would release on November 15, 2024.
Ubisoft originally revealed back in 2022 during an Ubisoft Forward digital showcase that it was working on a new Assassin's Creed game set in Feudal Japan, but no further details were disclosed.
Before today's announcement, two leaks about the project were spotted last year. The first one was in July when a Ubisoft employee updated their LinkedIn page to reveal that Codename Red would be released sometime in 2024. A second leak was spotted in late October when a senior writer at Ubisoft accidentally uploaded a photo of the protagonist for Assassin's Creed: Shadows.
What little we do know about Assassin's Creed: Shadows from Ubisoft itself is that the company is committed to releasing both it and Star Wars Outlaws by March 2025, as the publisher disclosed in its earnings report last month. Additionally, Ubisoft previously pledged that future installments in the Assassin's Creed franchise, starting with Mirage, will not be 150-hour RPGs.
Taylor is a Reporter at IGN. You can follow her on Twitter @TayNixster.
Apple and OpenAI are reportedly close to striking a deal allowing the AI startup company to use features in the next major iPhone update.
As Bloomerg reported, the deal would allow Apple to use ChatGPT features in iOS 18, the iPhone's next major software update. Gurman also reports that Apple has held "ongoing " discussions with Google to license the company's chatbot Gemini.
This report comes with roughly a month until Apple holds its Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), the annual conference held at Apple Park. At this conference, the company usually reveals and showcases the major software updates coming to iPhones, iPads, and Macs. Of course, the event has also announced some new hardware in recent years.
Despite Apple not specifying what fans can expect at the WWDC keynote on June 10, the company will likely use this event to reveal how it intends to leverage generative AI (GenAI) into its products. In February, Apple CEO Tim Cook confirmed that the company intends to release GenAI features to consumers "later this year."
Cook would later reiterate AI implementation in an earnings call earlier this month, claiming that the company believes "in the transformative power and promise of AI" and that its advantages will "differentiate [Apple] in this new era."
Despite Apple's tight lip on how it will implement AI, reports claim that the company has been spending millions of dollars to train its AI models. Additionally, Bloomberg reported in March that Apple might open its ecosystem, allowing AI developers to potentially "build a generative AI system deep into the iPhone."
Taylor is a Reporter at IGN. You can follow her on Twitter @TayNixster.
A new retro game emulator has hit Apple's App Store: Gamma, a free app that can emulate PlayStation 1 games on iPhones and iPads.
Released over this past weekend, Gamma quickly became one of the top 10 apps in the Entertainment category. The app only supports emulating PS1 games, though users must find the ROM files independently. Fortunately, Gamma will automatically pull the artwork for any games you add to the app. Though the app does not require the BIOS files to run ROMs, you may need to add the BIO folder, depending on which files you use.
Gamma supports touchscreen controls, with a customizable on-screen controller skin allowing for some personal flair. Its app store listing notes that it supports Bluetooth controllers and keyboards. However, independent testing of multiple controllers and keyboards showed that Gamma on my iPhone would crash every time I paired a controller and launched a game in the app.
One caveat is that, as The Verge pointed out, Gamma's App Store page discloses that it collects data identifiers that may be used to track you. The app did not personally ask me to trigger my location, but it did ask me to track my activity on other companies' apps and websites.
Gamma is the latest retro game emulator to be added to the App Store and the third following Riley Testut's widely popular Nintendo emulators Delta and Bimmy. Shortly after release, the developer quickly removed the latter "out of fear" of legal action. Both these apps' native release on the App Store was made possible thanks to Apple's recently loosened policies, which allow retro game emulators on its digital storefront.
Taylor is a Reporter at IGN. You can follow her on Twitter @TayNixster.
Though Ubisoft is not the first company to shut down servers for an online-only game, the recent closure of The Crew’s online servers has inspired one individual to push for legal and government intervention to address the ever-growing industry trend. It's a trend that has sparked even debate in the industry after Microsoft announced the closure of Arkane Studios, the developer behind Redfall. This decision has led to the cancellation of future updates and planned DLC for this online-only game.
Although Redfall's servers are still operational, its long-term support remains uncertain, as it remains to be seen how long Microsoft will keep the servers up and whether or not it will provide an offline mode once it finally sunsets its support for Redfall.
Aside from the obvious fact that it means that players who spent money on this game feel cheated, there are plenty of stakes for the hundreds of people who poured their creative energy into bringing it to market in the first place. Shutting down and delisting a game becomes more than a surface-level decision; it’s stripping away the creative work of the thousands, possibly millions, of people who played or developed it.
Enter Stop Killing Games.
An initiative created by YouTuber Ross Scott, Stop Killing Games aims to hold publishers accountable by ending the common practice of making games designed to be “completely unplayable” after support ends, particularly MMOs and other online-only games. The initiative itself is a new branch in an even bigger fight to preserve video games for future generations.
Scott’s strategy is simple: file public complaints. Lots of them. After Ubisoft shut down the servers for The Crew, Scott encouraged those upset and angry to file a complaint with France's Directorate General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Prevention (DGCCRF) since Ubisoft is headquartered in France.
"Due to the game's size and France's strong consumer protection laws, this represents one of the best opportunities to hold a publisher accountable for this action,” Scott wrote on the official website for Stop Killing Games. “If we are successful in bringing charges against Ubisoft, this can have a ripple effect on the videogames industry to prevent publishers from destroying more games.”
If you REALLY think about... if The Crew franchise continues to have vehicle transfer it's THE biggest cop out to shut the games down
"oh well we're shutting this one down but your cars did and will import to the next games so who cares right?" pic.twitter.com/ckojJW8kGt
The Crew is shutting down next year and since it's online-only, it will be dead for good. Looks like I was off by 2 years. It's still one of the largest open world driving games made. What a great business model throwing all that effort into the trash.https://t.co/FzPrN9mM2t
In a statement sent to IGN, a Ubisoft spokesperson told IGN it had “no further comment” regarding The Crew's shutdown. The spokesperson reiterated that although the news could disappoint players, “it was necessary” for Ubisoft, citing server infrastructure and “licensing constraints.”
The painful limits of online games
Scott’s efforts are an attempt to address a trend that has been going on for years now, but in recent years has only become more acute
Newzoo Senior Market Analyst Michael Wagner says that in the past, it was common for games to lose online support after a certain period, usually when the “player bases move on to other titles.” Still, extra features would keep the game playable, like a single-player campaign, local multiplayer, and the option to set up private servers. However, in recent years, the idea of online games being completely unplayable has become “a fairly new phenomenon,” Wagner explains.
According to Wagner, publishers shut down games because of dwindling player bases and the need for more profitability of upkeep when newer entries are released in existing franchises, with examples including Battlefield and Call of Duty. Wagner explains how older games could threaten the newer games’ ability to turn a profit. “Players may continue with older iterations but may not spend within the game the new game. Removing functionality, in theory, means increased revenues for the new title.”
Liam Deane, principal analyst at Omdia, shares similar sentiments, noting “almost all online-only games have a finite lifespan.” While there are a few rare exceptions, most notably Blizzard Entertainment’s World of Warcraft, Deane reiterates Wagner’s comments on player bases dwindling after a few years as a main reason for publishers shutting down servers.
“Almost all online-only games have a finite lifespan.”
“Until the mid-2000s or so online games typically allowed players to host private servers,” Deane explained. “But these days, the publisher usually shoulders the cost of maintaining the game servers. At some point, this is a cost which they are going to want to stop paying once a game’s player base drops below a certain level.”
With an increase in live service games and in-game purchases becoming a big source of revenue, the worrying trend of online-only games will continue for the foreseeable future. Deane explains that “across the entire industry,” 54% of revenue comes from microtransactions or in-game purchases, according to his research. The proportion is “obviously even higher” for live service games, where it’s common to have a surplus of microtransactions or in-game items purchasable for players.
When the player base dries up, so does the revenue, and with it, the chances of a game’s survival.
Nevertheless, the games industry is industry placing more and more emphasis on multiplayer games, particularly live service titles, such as Fortnite, Palworld, and Helldivers 2. These projects not only rely on a player base consistently coming back to play the game, but also on players being online to access this content. When they shut down, they take their communities with them. Friday the 13th, which will have its servers permanently turned off on December 31, 2024, is just one game suffering this fate.
Scott explains that while licensing agreements can prevent companies from selling additional companies of a game once the license expires, it does “not prevent existing buyers from continuing to use the game they have already paid for.”
Yet, the ownership of some games remains a gray area, especially in the United States, where legal precedent has significantly stripped consumers of their rights. The most significant legal case impacting this is ProCD, Inc. v. Zeidenbger, which reworked U.S. Contract Law, allowing the courts to defer to End User License Agreements. Essentially, the case meant that these agreements allow publishers to be absolved of any accountability and obligation owed to consumers who purchased a product and assert authority over when their online-only games become unplayable once support ends.
"If you bought a game, if you made a game, if you love a game, technology shouldn't get in the way.
The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) has led the fight for ownership rights in the since 1990, with the agency mainly focusing on advocating for creators, technologists, and technology users' digital rights. As Cory Doctorow, EFF Special Advisor, emphasizes, "If you bought a game, if you made a game, if you love a game, technology shouldn't get in the way of that game's ongoing existence. Instead, technology should preserve that game for players who love it today, for the people who are proud of making it, for players who come later, and for games makers of the future."
However, the challenge is wider than the United States. In countries like Canada and the UK, there is little precedent preventing companies from revoking a purchase post-sale. In contrast, the EU and Australia need help getting a governmental examination of the issue. One common global challenge is lobbying groups' influence, particularly in the gaming industry, which may work to maintain the status quo of an uneven balance of power between game companies and consumers.
A domino effect
Nevertheless, despite the varying degrees of laws influencing consumer rights worldwide, Scott explains that this proposed domino effect of filing complaints to the DGCCRF would still have a worldwide impact. For example, in 2014, when the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission sued Valve for not providing customers an option to refund games on Steam, the company had no choice but to modify its policy to allow refunds on Steam in Australia and other countries like the United States.
Ultimately, Scott and Doctorow encourage individuals to advocate for the change they want. They encourage fans to file complaints and force governments to examine the company's behavior and practices. In the meantime, Scott's initiative is gaining momentum in raising awareness and urging players to defend their rights and challenge this frustrating trend dictated by publishers.
“I think by taking the customer's money, that creates an obligation for publishers to give customers a reasonable expectation to run the game in some fashion,” Scott says, “even after support ends.”
Taylor is a Reporter at IGN. You can follow her on Twitter @TayNixster.
The cast of the Max original series Peacemaker grows by one, as actor Frank Grillo is joining the show's second season.
Announced by Peacemaker creator and DC Studios co-chairman and co-CEO James Gunn on the social media network Threads, Gunn revealed that Grillo will reprise his role as Rick Flag Sr. in the show's second season.
"Pleased to announce the great @frankgrillo1 will be reprising the role of Rick Flag, Sr – the role he'll first play in animated form in 'Creature Commandos' – throughout Season 2 of 'Peacemaker," Gunn wrote. "Christopher Smith and Rick Sr have a little unfinished business to take care of…"
Gunn previously said that some DCU actors would play their characters in both animated and live-action, and today's news is an example of that. WB Discovery announced last year that Grillo, David Harbour, and Sean Gunn were cast in the upcoming animated series Creature Commandos.
Spoiler Warning: The paragraph below features spoilers for The Suicide Squad and Peacemaker Season 1.
Grillo's casting for Peacemaker Season 2 is an interesting one, as those who have seen the 2021 film The Suicide Squad know that towards the end of the film, Peacemaker killed Rick Flag Jr. Though Peacemaker was under orders from Amanda Waller to kill Flag, seemingly showing no remorse, it is quite clear the decision had affected Peacemaker, as one episode in his spinoff show revealed him struggling with the murder.
The first season of Peacemaker premiered in 2022 and quickly became a breakout hit on Max. A day before the first season finale premiered, it was revealed the show would return for a second season, with Gunn set to write and direct every episode. Though no release window has been provided for Peacemaker season 2, Gunn has previously said that work on the next season will commence after Superman Legacy is complete.
In our review of the first season of Peacemaker, IGN wrote: "HBO Max's Peacemaker is the stunning crystallization of James Gunn's examination of flawed heroes and the power of friendship."
Taylor is a Reporter at IGN. You can follow her on Twitter @TayNixster.
Although EA is set to reveal College Football 25 in full sometime this month, the PlayStation Store has leaked the game's cover early.
Spotted by The Athletic, Sony's digital gaming storefront accidentally shared the cover for EA's highly anticipated sports game. While the Deluxe Edition listing has been removed, the listing for College Football 25 has been updated to include a banner of the same image depicted on the game's Deluxe Edition.
As you can see below, the cover is for College Football 25's Deluxe Edition. The image depicts several college football players set to return for another season, with Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers, Michigan running back Donovan Edwards, and Colorado wide receiver Travis Hunter front and center.
While the cover might feel a bit crowded to some, it highlights why a new college football game is even possible, as this will be the first time college football players will be able to license their name, image, and likeness in the game.
In 2021, EA originally announced its plans to make a new college football game, but it would be using generic players to avoid legal issues. However, the publisher reversed course after the United States Supreme Court ruled that student-athletes could use NIL to make a profit in their collegiate career. It was previously reported that players who were interested in being in College Football 25 had to opt in, with some of the compensation for opting in including $600 and a copy of the game.
EA officially announced earlier this year it would make a proper reveal for College Football 25 in May. Though College Football 25 has yet to receive a proper reveal beyond the twoteasers, EA previously shared details of the upcoming sports game with ESPN. This includes confirmation that Dynasty Mode and Road to Glory will return. There will also be confirmation that 134 FBS schools have agreed to participate, though real-life coaches, such as Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin, will not be featured, at least not released.
College Football 25 will also incorporate new features introduced to college football, such as the College Football Playoff system, NIL, and the transfer portal. However, EA has yet to share details on implementing those.
Taylor is a Reporter at IGN. You can follow her on Twitter @TayNixster.
After Microsoft unexpectedly announced it closed Hi-Fi Rush developer Tango Gameworks, some wondered whether the previously announced physical version of the game would ever see the light of day. But don't worry — despite Tango Gameworks' closure, Limited Run Games is still planning to release a physical edition of the studio's final project.
Limited Run Games' official X/Twitter account replied to one comment that suggested that the company would not move forward with a physical release of Hi-Fi Rush due to Tango Gamesworks' closure. Limited Run responded that this was not the case and that a physical release "is a go," but no further information, such as a release date, was disclosed.
Did we forget it, though? Unless we say otherwise, Hi-Fi Rush is a go!
— Limited Run Games (@LimitedRunGames) May 9, 2024
Bethesda Softworks confirmed last March that it was teaming up with Limited Run Games to release a physical version of the game. The news was part of a bigger announcement: Xbox announced that four of its once-console exclusives, including Hi-Fi Rush, would be released on other platforms, with Hi-Fi Rush getting ported to PlayStation 5.
Limited Run's confirmation comes as Microsoft has been under scrutiny for closing four Bethesda Studios, including Tango Gameworks and Redfall developer Arkane Austin. Following the news, reports have emerged with new details, such as Tango Gameworks pitching a sequel to Hi-Fi Rush before its closure, as well as information that in a town hall meeting held this week, Xbox executive Matt Booty reportedly told staff that smaller games like Hi-Fi Rush are important, despite it closing the studio just a day prior.
Aside from Tango's closure, Hi-Fi Rush's physical edition is important for another reason: the ongoing discussion of the gaming industry's push further into digital. Despite Xbox boss Phil Spencer claiming that he is still "supportive" of physical media, leaked documents noted that an updated Xbox Series X console did not show a disc drive visible on the device.
Another factor to consider is that Hi-Fi Rush uses copyrighted music. With Tango Gameworks closed, it's unclear what could happen to Hi-Fi Rush's digital version on a service like Xbox Game Pass once the music licenses expire.
Taylor is a Reporter at IGN. You can follow her on Twitter @TayNixster.
<b>Hi-Fi Rush</b><br></br>
Another of 2023’s unique, visual feasts was Hi-Fi Rush. In a year full of horror hits, Evil Within studio Tango Gameworks swerved with its colorful, rhythm action game. The vivid, Saturday morning cartoon art style belies a truly unique combat system where every move has to be timed to the beat of the music. Add in a great cast of characters and this surprise hit is a crown jewel in the Xbox Game Studios lineup this year.
If you were hoping that Asus would show off the success to the ROG Ally, you are going to have to wait a little while longer. Still, we got some initial info including what to expect from its battery life and more.
The ROG Ally X, which was formally announced on Thursday, will be an update to the original featuring a black color variant and improved battery life. First reported by The Verge moments before Asus held its next ROG Ally announcement stream (which ended up being an anti-climatic announcement for a bigger announcement coming on June 2), the new device's battery life will be a 30-40% increase over its predecessor. Asus also revealed the will be slightly heavier than the original due to increased battery performance.
In addition to the enhanced battery life, the ROG Ally X will be more repair-friendly, including interchangeable redesigned joystick modules. The M.2 2280 SSD slot has increased, making it easier for people to find third-party SSDs to buy and install should they wish to increase its SSD storage capacity. An SD card reader will still be present for those who need to be bolder to pry open their handheld.
But that is about as far as the new changes go. The device will still use the same AMD Z1 Extreme CPU offered in the original, in addition to the same 7-inch LCD display that supports up to 1080p resolution and a refresh rate that caps at 120Hz.
The announcement is impeccable timing for Asus, as Saturday marks the first anniversary when the company revealed it was entering the handheld gaming PC market. Before today's live stream, Asus subtly hinted that a new ROG Ally device was in the works, as a post on X/Twitter revealed that a black variant of the device was tucked away on a bookshelf.
Asus released the ROG Ally last June to compete with devices such as Valve's Steam Deck. The ROG Ally's first iteration included Windows 11 as its operating system and used a Zen 4 AMD CPU with two processor configurations: AMD Z1 and Z1 Extreme. Like other handheld gaming PCs, the ROG Ally showcased versatility as not just being a portable gaming PC but a fully functional PC that could be used as a desktop when connecting it to a docking station and pairing it with a mouse and keyboard.
However, Asus is one of many games that are prepared to stay in this emerging market for the foreseeable futures. Its competitors Valve, Lenovo, and MSI have already released updated models of their original portable gaming PCs. Or have announced plans to release a new version of their device.
In our review of the Asus ROG Ally Z1 Extreme model, my colleague Robert Anderson wrote: "ROG Ally has the potential to be a serious contender against the Steam Deck. While it's not perfect, there's a lot to love about this powerful new handheld."
Taylor is a Reporter at IGN. You can follow her on Twitter @TayNixster.
Update, 1:50 p.m. PT, May 9: After a day of backlash, Apple has responded to the criticism over its Crush! ad, telling Ad Age in a statement that it "missed the mark."
“Creativity is in our DNA at Apple, and it’s incredibly important to us to design products that empower creatives all over the world,” Tor Myhren, Apple’s vice president of marketing, told Ad Age in the statement. “Our goal is to always celebrate the myriad of ways users express themselves and bring their ideas to life through iPad. We missed the mark with this video, and we’re sorry.”
Previous story as follows:
Apple debuted an ad for its new iPad Pro this week, seemingly meant to show the versatility and power of the product. It's getting backlash, however, from many in the creative community, who see it as an unfortunate metaphor for the crushing of human creativity.
After announcing new products at its Let Loose event earlier this week, Apple aired the ad in question for its new flagship tablet, the seventh-generation iPad Pro. The "Crush!" ad depicts a room with a hydraulic press that slowly descends and crushes various artistic and creative equipment, including an arcade cabinet, a guitar, several DSLR cameras, and a bunch of painting tools, to name a few. After the machine flattened all that equipment, it disappeared and instead revealed the new iPad Pro tablet.
Meet the new iPad Pro: the thinnest product we’ve ever created, the most advanced display we’ve ever produced, with the incredible power of the M4 chip. Just imagine all the things it’ll be used to create. pic.twitter.com/6PeGXNoKgG
The ad's seemingly meant to highlight the product's versatility across art, gaming, music, and more. Plus, using a hydraulic press leans into the oddly satisfying video compilations that have made the rounds on TikTok and YouTube, which show hydraulic presses crushing everything from flowers to mugs to containers of marmalade.
Many creative professionals, however, have interpreted it as a metaphor for using technology across various forms of creative-centric industries to replace jobs and displace human creators. Actor Hugh Grant called the ad the "destruction of the human experience" in a post on X/Twitter.
The destruction of the human experience. Courtesy of Silicon Valley. https://t.co/273XB3CfnF
Actress and filmmaker Justine Bateman, meanwhile, wrote on X/Twitter that Apple's new ad "crushes the arts," arguing that it hurts creators instead of supporting them. Luke Cage creator Cheo Hodari Coker noted said the ad was "a problem": "Not in hip-hop 'bad meaning good' problem. But a problem problem."
Others have reflected that this contradicts Apple's previous stances and/or symbolic advertisement. Programmer Paul Graham replied to Cook's post, arguing that late Apple co-founder and former CEO Steve Jobs would have never shipped an ad like the Crush! one, claiming that "would have pained [Jobs] too much to watch." Others called it "antithetical" to Ridley Scott's famous "1984" Apple MacIntosh Super Bowl ad, which showed its protagonist attempting to free her people from a Orwellian dystopia.
The ad comes at a time of tension between creative professionals and the tech industry, specifically regarding the use of artificial intelligence. Last year, Hollywood writers and actors went on strike, with protections against AI technology being one of their major priorities.
Behaviour Interactive is teasing its next chapter for the Dead by Daylight universe, implying a Dungeons & Dragons crossover is coming to its widely popular asymmetrical horror game.
The Dead by Daylight X/Twitter account posted a brief teaser trailer that suggests its next licensed chapter is based on the popular tabletop game series Dungeons & Dragons. While not much was shared, Behaviour Interactive plans to hold an 8th anniversary stream for the Dead by Daylight series next week; hopefully to confirm a release date and which D&D characters will become the killers and survivors.
A D&D-themed chapter in Dead by Daylight would be interesting, as Behaviour Interactive has yet to implement dark fantasy into its horror game. However, Behaviour has previously added sci-fi and supernatural themes, introducing licensed chapters for Alien and Ringu.
Dead by Daylight first released in 2016 on PC before making its way onto consoles, most recently the PS5 in late 2020. Since launch, Behaviour Interactive has released a slew of original and licensed chapters from various horror franchises across gaming and entertainment, such as Silent Hill, Resident Evil, Stranger Things, and Scream. Each chapter introduces a map based on that respective franchise, in addition to familiar characters serving as new playable killers or survivors. Dead by Daylight's popularity has surged since its release, with Behaviour Interactive reporting in 2023 that the game has amassed over 60 million players.
Connexion
