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Warner Bros. Discovery revealed last year that Guardians of the Galaxy and Peacemaker director James Gunn and Aquaman producer Peter Safran had been hired to lead as co-CEOs of DC Studios. Since that reveal, DC fans have speculated what Gunn and Safran's new DCU, as the duo is calling the new DC cinematic universe, will look like in the coming years. 

Gunn has teased on Twitter multiple times that he, Safran, and others were formulating their long-spanning plan for the DCU and now, today, the duo has pulled back the curtain on the first 10 projects. All 10 of these projects, which span across movies and TV, will be in Chapter 1: Gods and Monsters. 

Here are just a few of our plans. Up, up, and away! #DCStudios #DCU @DCComics pic.twitter.com/8XNDNLUEPq

— James Gunn (@JamesGunn) January 31, 2023

"DC Studios is unprecendeted," Safran told press during a private conference where he and Gunn revealed what's in store for Gods and Monsters, as reported by Variety. "It is a standalone production entity and studio. It is the first time ever that everything DC related – film, television, live-action, animation, gaming – is all centralized under one creative vision, that of James and myself." 

Before diving into the 10 individual projects that make up the DCU's first chapter, it's important to note that no directors are attached to any of the following projects, nor have any actors been cast (except Viola Davis, who is returning to play Amanda Waller like she did in both Suicide Squad movies and Peacemaker). Variety reports that Gunn and Safran also left the door open for Gal Gadot's Wonder Woman, Jason Momoa's Aquaman, Ezra Miller's Flash, and Zachary Levi's Shazam, without confirming exactly that they'd have roles in the new DCU. Unfortunately for Man of Steel fans, though, the duo confirmed that Henry Cavill would not be returning to the role of Superman. 

Gunn and Safran gathered up writers like Drew Goddard (The Martian), Jeremy Slater (Moon Knight), Christina Hobson (The Flash, Batgirl), Christal Henry (Watchmen), and comics writer Tom King (Batman) to help build the DCU's slate of movies and TV. 

"We sat down in a room for a few days and we started to bash out what the basic overall plan could be," Gunn said. "Not so much that it ties your wrists, but enough that we know what the basic story is, where we're going. And it's something that we'll continue to do." 

Safran and Gunn want to release roughly two films and two TV series into the DCU each year, according to Variety, but the duo says it will not sacrifice quality in writing or production to meet this timeline. 

"People have become beholden to [release] dates, to getting movies made no matter what," Gunn said, Variety reports. "I'm a writer at my heart, and we're not going to be making movies before the screenplay is finished." He added, "Writers have been completely left out of the loop in favor of actors and directors [in Hollywood], and making the writer more prominent and more important in this process is really important to us." 

The 10 Movies And TV Shows In Chapter 1 Of The DCU

Superman: Legacy

Movie

Superman: Legacy will hit theaters on July 11, 2025, and is "the start of the DCU," according to Safran, as reported by Variety. It is being written by Gunn, and while it is the formal start of the DCU, it will not be an origin story. Safran says it will focus on Superman balancing his Kryptonian heritage with his human upbringing, before harkening to a decades-old theme of the hero: "He is the embodiment of truth, justice, and the American way. He is kindness in a world that thinks kindness is old-fashioned." 

No director is attached, but Safran hopes Gunn will direct it. Meanwhile, the Superman movie produced by JJ Abrams and written by Te-Nehisi Coates is still in development, and will exist outside the DCU.

The Authority

Movie

Superman: Legacy will lead directly into The Authority, Variety reports, and is an ensemble movie about superheroes who "basically believe that you can't fix the world in an easy manner, and they take things into their own hands," according to Gunn. Originally Wildstorm comics characters, they were brought into DC with DC's New 52 comics line that launched in 2011. 

The Brave and the Bold

Movie

The Brave and the Bold will introduce the Bat family to the DCU, and will feature a Batman completely separate from Matt Reeves' "Elseworlds" Batman universe starring Robert Pattinson as Bruce Wayne. The first Batfamily character will be Damian Wayne as Robin, who Gunn describes as "our favorite Robin," "a little son of a b***h," an "assassin," and a "murderer," according to Variety. 

The Brave and the Bold will be based on Grant Morrison's run of Batman comics, and will be a father-son story about Bruce and Damian Wayne. 

Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow 

Movie

Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow will be based on King's run of comics of the same name that spanned across 2021 and 2022. It will feature Superman's cousin, Kara Zor-El. 

"We see the difference between Superman, who was sent to Earth and raised by loving parents from the time he's an infant, versus Supergirl, who was raised on a rock chip off of Krypton, and watched everyone around her die and be killed in terrible ways for the first 14 years of her life," Gunn said, according to Variety. 

Swamp Thing

Movie

The DCU's Swamp Thing will "investigate the dark origins of Swamp Thing," according to Safran, and it will do so through the lens of horror. The movie will also aim to provide the excitement fans experienced when Guardians of the Galaxy brought the cosmic side of the MCU to life to DC, a universe otherwise rooted in life here on Earth. 

Creature Commandos

Animated TV Show

Creature Commandos will be an animated TV show for HBO Max and is the first project greenlit by Gunn and Safran. Gunn has written every episode and the show is now in production. Featuring characters like Frankenstein's monster, a vampire, a gorgon, and a werewolf, the original Creature Commandos that launched in the 1980s banded together to fight Nazis in World War II, according to Variety. Gunn's Creature Commandos will feature Weasel from his 2021 movie The Suicide Squad alongside Rick Flag Sr., the father of the Rick Flag seen in the same movie. 

Gunn said the voice actors that voice the characters in the animated show will also play the roles in live-action later in the DCU's life. 

Creature Commandos is expected to debut before Superman: Legacy. 

Waller

Live Action TV Show

Season 2 of Peacemaker has been put on hold as Gunn works on Superman: Legacy, Variety reports, and in its place will be Waller. This series will take place between the first and second seasons of Peacemaker and will see Viola Davis' Amanda Waller return. 

Waller is expected to debut before Superman: Legacy. 

Lanterns

Live Action TV Show

According to Variety, Lanterns will be "a huge HBO-quality event...very much in the vein of True Detective." It will focus on Hal Jordan and John Stewart as the titular Green Lanterns who will investigate a mystery that Safran says "plays a really big role leading us into the main story that we're telling across our film and television." He added that "[Lanterns] is a very important show for us." 

The long-in-the-works Green Lantern series developed by Greg Berlanti for HBO Max is no longer moving forward. Safran said Berlanti's series was more "space opera," whereas Lanterns is more of a "True Detective, terrestrial-based investigation story." 

Paradise Lost

Live Acton TV Show

Paradise Lost will be a Game of Thrones-esque story set on Themyscira, the island birthplace of Wonder Woman. Safran says "it's really about the political intrigue behind a society of all women," before Gunn added, "How did that come about? What's the origin of an island of all women? What are the beautiful truths and the ugly truths behind all of that? And what's the scheming like between the different power players in that society?" 

Booster Gold

Live Action TV Show

Variety writes that Booster Gold will allow the DCU to inject comedy into its story. Safran said Booster Gold is "a loser from the future who uses basic future technology to come back to today and pretend to be a superhero." Gunn added that "[Booster Gold] is imposter syndrome as a superhero." 

And that's the 10-project lineup for Chapter 1: Gods and Monsters of Gunn and Safran's new DCU. 

[Source: Variety]

What do you think of this lineup? Let us know in the comments below!

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If you subscribe to the digital edition of Game Informer, you can now learn all about Resident Evil 4. Following the cover reveal, our digital issue is now live to subscribers on web browsers, iPad/iPhone, and Android devices. Individual issues will be available for purchase this afternoon.

You can download the apps to view the issue by following this link. All of these digital options are included in a PowerUp Rewards Membership.

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If you subscribe to the digital edition of Game Informer, you can now learn all about Resident Evil 4. Following the cover reveal, our digital issue is now live to subscribers on web browsers, iPad/iPhone, and Android devices. Individual issues will be available for purchase this afternoon.

You can download the apps to view the issue by following this link. All of these digital options are included in a PowerUp Rewards Membership.

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We already knew that 2023 was poised to be a big year for the Street Fighter franchise, thanks in large part to the impending launch of Street Fighter 6 this summer. However, Capcom and Crunchyroll Games are piling on with a new free-to-play mobile RPG called Street Fighter: Duel. If character collection games like Summoners War, Star Wars: Galaxy of Heroes, and Marvel Strike Force appeal to you, Street Fighter: Duel sounds like it shares many elements with those popular mobile titles.

Street Fighter: Duel includes more than 40 Street Fighter characters for players to recruit with the objective of building a team from across the franchise. Each team consists of three fighters who can be leveled up and customized with new skins. These fighters, who include characters like Ryu, Akuma, Chun-Li, Cammy, and more, all feature signature abilities and can pull off various combos through real-time 2D RPG combat or auto-battle mode. In addition to taking on Shadaloo, players can also look forward to head-to-head combat against other players.

"Street Fighter has been an iconic game for generations, and we know anime fans love to go on exciting adventures with beloved characters," Crunchyroll Games general manager and Crunchyroll senior vice president of emerging business Terry Li said in a press release. "We're excited to collaborate with Capcom to bring Street Fighter: Duel and its incredible roster of iconic fighters to anime and gaming fans alike.

Pre-registration for both mobile platforms is available now through the official website. Those who pre-register will be gifted free in-game currency when the game arrives. Street Fighter: Duel is set to launch on iOS and Android in February.

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Sony has slashed its shipment forecasts for the upcoming PlayStation VR2 headset it is launching next month, according to a new report from Bloomberg. 

The publication reports that Sony has halved its forecast from 2 million units shipped this quarter to 1 million as a result of disappointing pre-order numbers ahead of the February 22 launch date. Bloomberg reports that Sony has told a supply partner to prepare for a reduction in display panel orders, and PlayStation is expecting to ship roughly 1.5 million units between this April and March 2024. That expectation could change if steam picks up around PSVR2, though. 

As for the disappointing pre-order numbers, it's not surprising – would-be PSVR2 adopters have been vocal about the price point of the headset. The standard retail package of PSVR2 will cost players $549.99, which is more expensive than the PlayStation 5 console required to play PSVR2. If you don't own a PS5 yet but want to jump into the PSVR2 ecosystem, you're essentially looking at spending over $1000. 

Plus, some players have been outspoken about their disappointment in the PSVR2 launch lineup as well, which includes many games already available on other VR platforms or games previously playable on PlayStation VR's first iteration. The launch window lineup includes more than 30 games, including a big first-party release in Horizon: Call of the Mountain, but it also recently saw Supermassive Games' The Dark Pictures: Switchback VR, one of the more anticipated PSVR2 titles, get delayed out of this window. 

PSVR2 launches on February 22. 

[Source: Bloomberg]

Are you picking up PSVR2 next month? Let us know why or why not in the comments below!

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The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) announced in March that E3 would be returning as an in-person show in Los Angeles following the cancellation of the 2022 edition. Then, in September, the ESA revealed that E3 2023 will take place from Tuesday, June 13, through Friday, June 16. 

Now, IGN reports it has learned that PlayStation, Xbox, and Sony will be skipping E3 2023, a major blow to what was supposed to be E3's big comeback. The publication also reports that these companies won't have a presence on the Los Angeles Convention Center showfloor, either, which is where game companies typically have large (and flashy) booths where people can preview games and learn more about what's in store. 

Despite this, Xbox is still set to have its own summer showcase in Los Angeles, like it has in previous years. And Xbox usually times this to coincide with games press and fans being in Los Angeles for E3. IGN reports that Xbox's overall plans for its summer gaming showcase are unconfirmed as a result of having to tighten the comany's financials after recent Microsoft-wide layoffs that hit Halo Infinite developer 343 Industries hard. 

PlayStation hasn't been a part of E3 since it first dropped from the show in 2019, reportedly over disagreements with the ESA. Nintendo is usually a big supporter of E3, typically livestreaming a Nintendo Direct alongside a large presence on the actual show floor.

Video Games Chronicle reports that Nintendo is skipping its first in-person E3 show in four years because the company feels it doesn't have enough major releases to showcase to justify its typical E3 presence. VGC also notes that its own sources have claimed discussions in regards to E3 and Xbox are still ongoing, and that it might have a "business and media presence similar to last year's Gamescom, if not a traditional booth." 

ReedPop, the Star Wars Celebration organizer that's organizing E3 2023, provided IGN with the following statement: 

E3 is such a significant event for the game industry and being entrusted with an important cultural touchstone is not a responsibility ReedPop takes lightly. Since ReedPop took on the contract to run E3 six months ago, we've worked diligently with ESA members based on their feedback to create a new type of E3 that supports their goals and needs. This process has taken time due to the tremendous amount of stakeholders offering input, though we appreciate that we could have been more transparent to questions for which we were still finalizing the answers.  We continue to work tirelessly to create a show that brings together the global gaming industry. We believe we've created a new format for the event that serves the needs of both the industry and its fans, and are committed to building and growing it in the coming years. As we spent much of 2022 refining how E3 2023 would take shape, reflecting on the feedback we solicited, we did not send a single contract to an exhibitor until the start of this month. We have received a tremendous amount of interest and verbal commitments from many of the biggest companies in the industry, and when we are ready to announce the exhibitors we are confident it will be a lineup that will make the trip to Los Angeles well worth it for the industry and consumers alike.

[Source: IGN, Video Games Chronicle]

Do you think E3 2023 will still be a great show? Let us know in the comments below!

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The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) announced in March that E3 would be returning as an in-person show in Los Angeles following the cancellation of the 2022 edition. Then, in September, the ESA revealed that E3 2023 will take place from Tuesday, June 13, through Friday, June 16. 

Now, IGN reports it has learned that PlayStation, Xbox, and Sony will be skipping E3 2023, a major blow to what was supposed to be E3's big comeback. The publication also reports that these companies won't have a presence on the Los Angeles Convention Center showfloor, either, which is where game companies typically have large (and flashy) booths where people can preview games and learn more about what's in store. 

Despite this, Xbox is still set to have its own summer showcase in Los Angeles, like it has in previous years. And Xbox usually times this to coincide with games press and fans being in Los Angeles for E3. IGN reports that Xbox's overall plans for its summer gaming showcase are unconfirmed as a result of having to tighten the comany's financials after recent Microsoft-wide layoffs that hit Halo Infinite developer 343 Industries hard. 

PlayStation hasn't been a part of E3 since it first dropped from the show in 2019, reportedly over disagreements with the ESA. Nintendo is usually a big supporter of E3, typically livestreaming a Nintendo Direct alongside a large presence on the actual show floor.

Video Games Chronicle reports that Nintendo is skipping its first in-person E3 show in four years because the company feels it doesn't have enough major releases to showcase to justify its typical E3 presence. VGC also notes that its own sources have claimed discussions in regards to E3 and Xbox are still ongoing, and that it might have a "business and media presence similar to last year's Gamescom, if not a traditional booth." 

ReedPop, the Star Wars Celebration organizer that's organizing E3 2023, provided IGN with the following statement: 

E3 is such a significant event for the game industry and being entrusted with an important cultural touchstone is not a responsibility ReedPop takes lightly. Since ReedPop took on the contract to run E3 six months ago, we've worked diligently with ESA members based on their feedback to create a new type of E3 that supports their goals and needs. This process has taken time due to the tremendous amount of stakeholders offering input, though we appreciate that we could have been more transparent to questions for which we were still finalizing the answers.  We continue to work tirelessly to create a show that brings together the global gaming industry. We believe we've created a new format for the event that serves the needs of both the industry and its fans, and are committed to building and growing it in the coming years. As we spent much of 2022 refining how E3 2023 would take shape, reflecting on the feedback we solicited, we did not send a single contract to an exhibitor until the start of this month. We have received a tremendous amount of interest and verbal commitments from many of the biggest companies in the industry, and when we are ready to announce the exhibitors we are confident it will be a lineup that will make the trip to Los Angeles well worth it for the industry and consumers alike.

[Source: IGN, Video Games Chronicle]

Do you think E3 2023 will still be a great show? Let us know in the comments below!

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Reviewed on: PlayStation 5
Platform: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC
Publisher: THQ Nordic
Developer: Purple Lamp
Release: January 31, 2023
Rating: Everyone 10+

SpongeBob SquarePants: The Cosmic Shake feels like a game of yesteryear, in both good and bad ways. It’s a nostalgic romp through themed levels that feel more inspired than just another platforming tour through Bikini Bottom. It does a great job highlighting why people that grew up with SpongeBob SquarePants loved the show, and why people still love it today. At its best, the gameplay is decently fun, but at its worst, it’s mindlessly dull. This, coupled with a few bugs, like one that caused music to disappear completely, or the three hard crashes I experienced, keep this sponge’s latest adventure from going beyond anything more than average.

Mermaid fortune teller Kassandra is in Bikini Bottom, and she gives SpongeBob and Patrick a vial of magical bubble soap that cracks open the underwater multiverse, bringing chaos to Bikini Bottom. It’s up to SpongeBob to rescue his friends by visiting various worlds in an effort to restore the city to its former glory. These themed locations take SpongeBob on pirate adventures, to the wild west, medieval times, and more. These levels were among the highlights of my roughly 10 hours with The Cosmic Shake. Purple Lamp does a great job recreating the world of SpongeBob in these themed biomes, and it was neat seeing how different classic characters got on in them. 

INSERT NGT

Mr. Krabs is a money-hungry corsair in the pirate-themed world, while Mrs. Puff runs the seahorse riding school in the wild west level. That the show’s actors voice these characters adds a premium touch to every interaction. And perhaps ironically, the best writing in the game is the original work by Purple Lamp, with multiple instances that made me laugh out loud (Patrick’s trademark dead-pan naivete being the standout). When Purple Lamp forced specific references to the SpongeBob SquarePants show, though, I grew either bored or outright annoyed at the writing. Hearing SpongeBob sing the Krusty Krab Pizza song, an unironic banger, the first few times was cute, but hearing him sing it randomly while I platform around a Hollywood-esque movie set for the tenth time is anything but. 

 

The platforming in The Cosmic Shake starts and ends rudimentary, but I don’t mind it – aimed at children, this level of difficulty feels appropriate. I jump, glide, body slam, and karate kick my way through simple platforming sequences, defeating enemies with an equally rudimentary combat system. I do this using a standard jellyfish-catching net swing, SpongeBob’s body slam, or a karate kick. Combat is unremarkable throughout the game. Unless forced into it, I only defeat who I need to and move on. 

When I’m not fighting against jelly creatures from the multiverse, I’m collecting jelly scattered around each level and within tiki crates, which I use to purchase one of a couple of dozen costumes, or I’m tracking down gold coins, golden spatulas, or some other item. Getting through each level’s main objectives is a breeze – go here, do this, and fight a boss at the end. But side objectives from various Bikini Bottom residents give reason to jump back into each level to collect more, and it’s here I found the most challenge. I do wish more of this challenge was present in the main objectives, though. 

Purple Lamp showcases a clear adoration for SpongeBob SquarePants, with jokes, deep cuts, and characters that brought me back to my childhood. And when they weren’t forced or overused, they worked well in the narrative. I especially loved hearing that one fish scream about his love of chocolate, and hearing “My leg!” brought me great joy. When The Cosmic Shake is at its best, it sounds, looks, and plays like the kind of game I would have begged my parents to buy me growing up. But when it falters, it’s boring. It’s a game I recommend to fans of SpongeBob SquarePants with ease; for those looking for a great platformer, though, better options lie elsewhere in the sea.

Score: 7

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Netflix's live action One Piece series will set sail this year. 

The subscription streaming service revealed this news today with a new image and a poster for the upcoming pirate series based on the long-running (and extremely popular) manga and anime series, One Piece. The release year image features Monkey D. Luffy, played by Iñaki Godoy, raising his fist up in the air. You can see Netflix's One Piece logo in the image below as well: 

Adventure is on the horizon! One Piece sets sail in 2023 https://t.co/5YhPXFt8GS pic.twitter.com/GQH2MSAvCF

— Netflix (@netflix) January 30, 2023

Alongside the image above, Netflix has also released a new poster for the series, which features, from left to right, Taz Skylar's Sanji, Emily Rudd's Nami, Godoy's Luffy, Jacob Gibson's Usopp, and Mackenyu's Roronoa Zoro, standing on a beach in front of the crew's ship, the Going Merry. Check it out below: 

While these two images (and the casting) look great, we still haven't seen Netflix's One Piece show in motion so here's hoping we get a trailer sooner than later. One Piece begins sometime this year. 

While waiting for more, read Game Informer's review of One Piece Odyssey, the recently released One Piece JRPG. 

Are you excited for this show? Let us know in the comments below!

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The actor for the video game version of Tess in The Last of Us, Annie Wersching, has died. She was 45. 

Wersching was diagnosed with cancer in the summer of 2020 and she died following a two-year battle against it yesterday, January 29. She is survived by her husband Stephen and her three children, Freddie, Ozzie, and Archie. A GoFundMe has been created to help raise money for Wersching's family. 

In the video game industry, Wersching is perhaps best known for her role as Tess in Naughty Dog's 2013 hit, The Last of Us, but she was also known for her roles in 24 and Bosch, as reported by Variety. Many shared their love of Wersching yesterday following the news of her death, including The Last of Us co-creator and director Neil Druckmann. 

"I miss my silly friend who helped bring Tess to life. Annie, you left us way too soon. You will forever be part of the TLoU & Naughty Dog family." 

I miss my silly friend who helped bring Tess to life. Annie, you left us way too soon. You will forever be part of the TLoU & Naughty Dog family! 💔

TLoU fans… let’s show what we’re made of. Please consider donating to her kids’ gofundme: https://t.co/3QTnZtBY4B pic.twitter.com/baNHc1wdCT

— Neil Druckmann (@Neil_Druckmann) January 29, 2023

Wersching was born in St. Louis, Missouri, and Variety reports that her first screen credit happened at 24 years old in a 2002 episode of Star Trek: Enterprise. From there, Wersching appeared in shows like Frasier, Supernatural, and Charmed, before she received recurring roles in General Hospital and 24. She played Tess in The Last of Us in 2013 and was hopefully able to watch Anna Torv's depiction of her character in HBO's The Last of Us over the past two few weeks. 

[Source: Variety]

The staff at Game Informer extends their condolences to Wersching's family. 

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Sony has released a new PlayStation add called "Live From PS5" that showcases a few of the console's biggest titles, both past and upcoming, in a fictional news segment, and among the clips are two shots that we don't recognize. And they remind us a lot of Uncharted. 

This fictional news segment highlights the efforts of Spider-Man, Kratos, Ratchet and Clank, the Eikons of the upcoming game, Final Fantasy XVI, and more from other games like Gran Turismo 7 and Returnal. However, amidst the clips, there are two shots that show what appears to be a young woman in a mysterious cave holding a torch as she approaches an ancient relic, as first reported by Video Games Chronicle. 

See if you can spot the clips yourself in the Live From PS5 ad below: 

Did you catch them? In the first clip, this unknown character approaches an ancient relic sitting on a pedestal while holding a torch. She's carrying a large backpack with a rope dangling down from it. We see this character blowing dust and dirt off the ancient relic in the second blink-and-you'll-miss-it shot. Now, an announced PS5 game didn't jump to mind when I saw this, but these two shots combined remind me most of Naughty Dog's Uncharted series. 

 

Before I speculate, I want to note that in a very recent interview with Buzzfeed, Naughty Dog president Neil Druckmann, who worked on the Uncharted series, said "we're done" and "we're moving on" in regards to the franchise. However, while Naughty Dog might be moving on from Uncharted, it's still a PlayStation IP, which means another studio could continue the franchise. This wouldn't be shocking given where Uncharted 4: A Thief's End leaves us by the time credits roll. 

Spoilers For Uncharted 4: A Thief's End

In the epilogue of Uncharted 4, we meet Cassie Drake, the daughter of Nathan and Elena. In this epilogue, her curiosity gets the best of her and Nathan and Elena tell her of their travels and relic-chasing past. While not confirmed, many fans have speculated that Cassie will follow in her parents' footsteps and become an explorer herself. And if that we're to happen, it would look a lot like the two shots shown in this new Live From PS5 ad. Perhaps that mysterious character in the shots is Cassie Drake. Perhaps it's not. 

Regardless, we don't really know what game those shots are supposed to represent so whether it's a new Uncharted or something else, it seems PlayStation is teasing an unannounced game. 

[Source: Video Games Chronicle]

What do you think those two shots are supposed to be? Let us know in the comments below!

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Nintendo and Illumination have released a new teaser that reveals Mario's famous cat suit as well as more of Seth Rogen's Donkey Kong. 

Released during one of yesterday's big NFL games, this teaser is short and sweet, but it features 10 or so seconds of new footage from The Super Mario Bros. Movie, which hits theaters on April 7. In it, we see Donkey Kong begin to pummel Mario, which is a clip we've seen before, before Mario hits a yellow "?" block. This gives him the cat suit powerup and while it's useful in the game, that doesn't appear to be the case here as Rogen's Donkey Kong begins to make fun of the suit and Mario's reliance on it. 

Check it out for yourself in The Super Mario Bros. Movie clip below: 

As you can see, this is the most Donkey Kong dialogue we have heard in a teaser for The Super Mario Bros. Movie yet, and it reveals that Rogen's character is basically just him, complete with his signature laugh, too. This clip is yet another that looks great and we can't wait for this movie to hit theaters in a few months on April 7. 

For more, check out this trailer from last year that showcases Anya Taylor-Joy's Princess Peach. 

What do you think of this new clip? Let us know in the comments below!

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Nintendo and Illumination have released a new teaser that reveals Mario's famous cat suit as well as more of Seth Rogen's Donkey Kong. 

Released during one of yesterday's big NFL games, this teaser is short and sweet, but it features 10 or so seconds of new footage from The Super Mario Bros. Movie, which hits theaters on April 7. In it, we see Donkey Kong begin to pummel Mario, which is a clip we've seen before, before Mario hits a yellow "?" block. This gives him the cat suit powerup and while it's useful in the game, that doesn't appear to be the case here as Rogen's Donkey Kong begins to make fun of the suit and Mario's reliance on it. 

Check it out for yourself in The Super Mario Bros. Movie clip below: 

As you can see, this is the most Donkey Kong dialogue we have heard in a teaser for The Super Mario Bros. Movie yet, and it reveals that Rogen's character is basically just him, complete with his signature laugh, too. This clip is yet another that looks great and we can't wait for this movie to hit theaters in a few months on April 7. 

For more, check out this trailer from last year that showcases Anya Taylor-Joy's Princess Peach. 

What do you think of this new clip? Let us know in the comments below!

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Last fall, it was announced that the 1997 classic N64 first-person shooter, GoldenEye 007, would arrive on both Xbox and Switch in 2023. Today is that long-awaited day, as one of the most beloved and influential games from its era is available now on both platforms. While these versions are both largely faithful recreations of the seminal console FPS, key differences exist in ways that don't immediately surface one as the clearly superior version. I played a decent chunk of both versions to see which one I prefer to play in 2023.

When GoldenEye 007 launched in the late 1990s, I played it obsessively both solo and with friends for months upon months. During that time, I accomplished all the missions on 00 Agent difficulty, unlocked all the cheats, and played through hundreds (if not thousands) of multiplayer matches with friends. As with all my favorite games, I eventually fell off and moved on to newer releases, but my fondness and nostalgia for GoldenEye 007 have always remained.

Years later, when I was in college, I distinctly remember going to a friend's room and firing up the N64 for matches of my favorite games like Super Smash Bros., Star Fox 64, and, of course, GoldenEye 007. GoldenEye stuck out to me as the game that aged the poorest of that lot, thanks mainly to how much the shooter genre had progressed with newer franchises like Halo, Call of Duty, and the then-recently released Black. At that moment, I wrote GoldenEye 007 off as a massively influential game that will never feel as good as it once did due to the enormous advancements within its genre since its release. That's the mindset with which I entered my play sessions with these new releases of GoldenEye 007.

When these ports of GoldenEye 007 were announced, we learned that the Nintendo Switch Online version would be more of a straight port from the Nintendo 64 original. In contrast, the Xbox version received a little bit of modernization in the form of native 4K 16:9 resolution, a consistent refresh rate, achievement support, and, most importantly, dual analog stick controls. Meanwhile, the Switch version doesn't bring any inherent improvements to the FPS title, but through the Nintendo Switch Online feature set, you can play online multiplayer and utilize save states (if you so choose) to help with those pesky failable missions.

As advertised, the Xbox version does bring several advancements to make GoldenEye 007 play better than ever before. The game runs smoothly for the most part and looks terrific at full widescreen resolution (though I did notice a few frame rate drops from time to time). The most significant selling point for me is how well the Xbox version plays, thanks to the modern control scheme that utilizes both analog sticks, much like nearly every modern shooter.

It's impossible to overstate just how far being able to aim and turn with the right stick while moving with the left stick goes into making this 25-year-old title feel much less aged. I'm honestly shocked at how good GoldenEye feels on Xbox. Using the modernized control scheme, I was able to blast through the first few levels on 00 Agent, even unlocking my first cheat (interestingly enough, the Xbox version retains the name "DK Mode," despite the not-so-subtle reference to the Nintendo-owned Donkey Kong). The Xbox version is the version I will fire up when I'm looking to dig into the single-player of GoldenEye 007.

Jumping over the Switch version, I immediately felt the strain of using the classic single-stick controls and full-screen controls (thankfully, there is a widescreen option in the in-game menu on Bond's watch). To get full impressions, I started by using a standard Switch Pro Controller, which does not translate well for any Nintendo 64 game. GoldenEye 007 is no different. Playing this game on a standard Switch controller feels downright awful, thanks to the default button mapping – aiming and moving with the left stick feels counterintuitive, and the triggers/shoulder buttons feel backward from how they should. Thankfully, a Reddit user named Cuesport77 has given instructions to custom-remap the buttons to achieve a more modern control scheme on Switch.

Short of doing that remap, your best bet for playing the Nintendo Switch Online version of GoldenEye 007 (or, really, any N64 game in the catalog) is to acquire one of the hard-to-get Nintendo 64 controllers for the Switch. I was lucky enough to grab one in a rare back-in-stock window last year, and after spending some time using it in GoldenEye 007, I'm even gladder I did. Yes, the game still feels extremely aged, but it's the definitive way to experience this version if you don't want to remap all the controls. Even playing on the N64 Switch controller, I still had awkward moments of imprecision, like the video below.

Of course, the biggest selling point for the Switch version is that you can enjoy the game's legendary splitscreen multiplayer through Nintendo Switch Online's online functionality. This feature isn't specific to GoldenEye 007, but it is perhaps the best use case. After playing a few missions on the Switch, I jumped into an online multiplayer match. Multiplayer is still as hectic and fun as it was in 1997, and the Nintendo Switch Online's multiplayer capabilities handle the remote action nicely. While playing 1v1 online, I didn't experience any noticeable latency, allowing the mode that truly made GoldenEye 007 such a legendary late-'90s title to shine to the fullest extent. I'm beyond excited to have an easy way to play GoldenEye 007 online.

Ultimately, deciding which version you spend your time with should come down to what is more important to you. If you're like me, the dual-analog-stick controls alone make the Xbox version the superior release, but it's impossible to overlook the online multiplayer capabilities of the Nintendo Switch Online – especially if your friends you used to play with now live on opposite ends of the country. Thankfully, both versions are included in each platform's respective subscription service at no additional charge, so depending on your situation, you may not need to worry about choosing.

GoldenEye 007 is available today on both Xbox (available through Rare Replay and Xbox Game Pass) and Switch (available through Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack).

For more from Brian on GoldenEye 007, listen to this week's episode of All Things Nintendo, where he does a deep dive into the history and legacy of GoldenEye 007.

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This week on All Things Nintendo, we celebrate the launch of GoldenEye 007 on Nintendo Switch Online's Expansion Pack. To do that, Brian is joined by The New York Post's Scott Fontana. The two spend the episode looking back at the development and legacy of one of the most beloved games of the N64.

If you'd like to follow Brian on social media, you can do so on his Instagram: @BrianPShea. You can follow Scott on Twitter: Scott Fontana (@Scott_Fontana)

The All Things Nintendo podcast is a weekly show where we can celebrate, discuss, and break down all the latest games, news, and announcements from the industry's most recognizable name. Each week, Brian is joined by different guests to talk about what's happening in the world of Nintendo. Along the way, they'll share personal stories, uncover hidden gems in the eShop, and even look back on the classics we all grew up with. A new episode hits every Friday!

Be sure to subscribe to All Things Nintendo on your favorite podcast platform. The show is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and YouTube.

00:00:00 – Introduction
00:01:06 – GoldenEye 007 Now on Switch
00:07:49 – GoldenEye 007 Retrospective
01:05:18 – Definitive Ranking: GoldenEye Weapons
01:13:10 – eShop Gem of the Week: Horizon Chase Turbo

If you'd like to get in touch with the All Things Nintendo podcast, you can email AllThingsNintendo@GameInformer.com, messaging Brian on Instagram (@BrianPShea), or by joining the official Game Informer Discord server. You can do that by linking your Discord account to your Twitch account and subscribing to the Game Informer Twitch channel. From there, find the All Things Nintendo channel under "Community Spaces."

For Game Informer's other podcast, be sure to check out The Game Informer Show with host Alex Van Aken, which covers the weekly happenings of the video game industry!

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HBO's The Last of Us is getting a second season.

Nearly three weeks after the premiere of the first episode, HBO has revealed that The Last of Us will return for a Season 2. Season 1, so far, has been largely viewed as a success by critics and viewers alike. News of a second season isn't surprising because The Last of Us' premiere was the second largest debut for an HBO original series since 2010, and its second episode had the largest audience increase from a first episode to a second episode for an HBO Original drama series in the history of the network. 

Check out the Season 2 announcement for HBO's The Last of Us below: 

The journey continues. #TheLastOfUs will return for another season on @HBOMax. pic.twitter.com/FQNG6vhk1d

— The Last of Us (@TheLastofUsHBO) January 27, 2023

As for what to expect in Season 2, that remains unknown, but considering Season 1 is covering all of The Last of Us Part I, it's likely that the second season will cover at least part of The Last of Us Part II, if not all of it. A release date for Season 2 has not yet been revealed. 

Episode 3 of HBO's The Last of Us airs this Sunday and is set to feature Bill, played by Nick Offerman. 

While waiting for this week's episode, read our interview with game co-creator Neil Druckmann and Joel actor Pedro Pascal about how The Last of Us was changed for TV, and then read about how there are no plans for The Last of Us show to go beyond the games. 

What do you think Season 2 of The Last of Us will cover? Let us know in the comments below!

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HBO's The Last of Us is getting a second season.

Nearly three weeks after the premiere of the first episode, HBO has revealed that The Last of Us will return for a Season 2. Season 1, so far, has been largely viewed as a success by critics and viewers alike. News of a second season isn't surprising because The Last of Us' premiere was the second largest debut for an HBO original series since 2010, and its second episode had the largest audience increase from a first episode to a second episode for an HBO Original drama series in the history of the network. 

Check out the Season 2 announcement for HBO's The Last of Us below: 

The journey continues. #TheLastOfUs will return for another season on @HBOMax. pic.twitter.com/FQNG6vhk1d

— The Last of Us (@TheLastofUsHBO) January 27, 2023

Episode 3 of HBO's The Last of Us airs this Sunday and is set to feature Bill, played by Nick Offerman. 

While waiting for this week's episode, read our interview with game co-creator Neil Druckmann and Joel actor Pedro Pascal about how The Last of Us was changed for TV, and then read about how there are no plans for The Last of Us show to go beyond the games. 

What do you think Season 2 of The Last of Us will cover? Let us know in the comments below!

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In this week's episode of The Game Informer Show, we break down our Forspoken review and chat about why the open-world game is weird enough to develop a devoted fanbase despite conflicting reviews. Additionally, returning guest Kahlief Adams joins us to promote Spawn On Me's upcoming game awards show, The Spawnies, and also chat with Marcus and Kyle about the newly-released Dead Space remake. 

Lastly, Alex and Kyle share very early impressions from Hi-Fi Rush, the stylish action game from the creators of The Evil Within that shadow-dropped yesterday.

Follow us on social media: Alex Van Aken (@itsVanAken), Marcus Stewart (@MarcusStewart7), Kyle Hilliard (@KyleMHilliard), Kahlief Adams (@KahliefAdams)

The Game Informer Show is a weekly gaming podcast covering the latest video game news, industry topics, exclusive reveals, and reviews. Join host Alex Van Aken every Thursday for a chat about your favorite games – past and present – with Game Informer staff, developers, and special guests from around the industry. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app.

Matt Storm, the freelance audio editor for The Game Informer Show, edited this episode. Matt is an experienced podcast host and producer who's been speaking into a microphone for over a decade. You should listen to Matt's shows like the "Fun" And Games Podcast and Reignite, a BioWare podcast. 

Jump to the timestamps to get to a particular point of discussion:

00:00:00 - Introduction

00:03:16 - Spawn On Me Promo

00:09:59 - Dead Space Review Discussion

00:29:55 - Forspoken Review

00:41:54 - Hi-Fi Rush

00:51:33 - House Keeping and Listener Questions

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Reviewed on: PlayStation 5
Platform: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Developer: Motive Studio
Release: January 27, 2023
Rating: Mature

Like a necromorph reanimating the dead, Motive Studios has revived Dead Space and made it stronger and more terrifying than before. This renovation of the 2008 horror classic restores it beyond its original glory. The dismemberment-focused gunplay feels great, it looks even better, and while other noteworthy changes may not feel as substantial as some other remakes, they’re welcomed expansions to the existing template. The result is a remake that faithfully recaptures the magic of its predecessor while amplifying the elements that made it beloved in the first place. 

Dead Space's story centers on engineer Isaac Clarke joining a small team to answer a distress call from the USG Ishimura, a massive mining ship designed to “crack” planets and siphon their precious minerals. An outbreak of vicious aliens called necromorphs has ravaged the Ishimura thanks to their ability to transform corpses into members of its ranks. In addition to stopping this extraterrestrial menace and untangling a conspiracy centering on a theistic cult, Clarke must also uncover the fate of his girlfriend, Nicole, a doctor stationed on the ship.

The story from the original is largely intact, but with some key elements either remixed or expanded with greater context based on lore established later in the series. Outside of tightening continuity and adding welcomed background on side characters, these differences don’t dramatically alter the story’s flow or events. The exception is a surprising change to a memorable moment later in the game – a rework that makes more sense in context to the point that I now prefer it over its original incarnation. 

Another prominent narrative difference is that Isaac now talks, voiced by the same performer who brought him to life in the Dead Space sequels. As in those games, the plot benefits from Isaac feeling more like a real person instead of a silent errand boy. Plot twists and revelations hit harder now that he can believably react to them. Motive also did a good job weaving his new dialogue into the existing script, which remains unchanged in most instances. A few performances, though, namely Hammond’s, fall flat in a way that feels preserved from the late 2000s. 

The improved presentation turns Dead Space, already a looker in its day, into a gory feast for the eyes. The Ishimura and its mutated inhabitants look great, and traversing the blood-stained corridors is even more harrowing thanks to the show-stealing lighting. Whether you’re blanketed in pitch darkness with only your weapon’s flashlight for illumination or basking in the eerily warm glow of planet Aegis VII orbiting outside a window, the lighting serves as the presentational glue that makes this graphical facelift work. The sound design also deserves a shout-out, offering a fair share of devious audio tricks and new hair-raising necromorph groans and screams. 

Combat feels familiar, though the reworked controls are more in line with modern third-person games. For example, Issac can run by clicking the analog stick rather than a shoulder button. The trusty plasma cutter and other weapons pack a satisfying punch, especially if you’re using the PlayStation 5’s DualSense features. Dismembering limbs is more satisfying and strategic thanks to the new necromorph damage system, in which layers of skin, muscle, and bone fall apart. This system better showcases the damage and exposes weak points. For example, I loved engulfing enemies using the flamethrower, then pinpointing charred, exposed bones to slice apart with my cutter.  

The wide array of enemy types from the original return in full force, and they're still fun and often challenging to take apart. Using the time-slowing stasis to stop an attack before it connects or using kinesis to pick up and impale necromorphs with stray objects, including their own amputated sharpened limbs, feels as awesome now as it did 14 years ago. It helps that rooms pack more props and environmental weapons to fling around, such as gasoline and stasis tanks.

Unless you finished the original game recently or replayed it enough to intimately know its map, the level design changes probably won’t leap out as suddenly as a necromorph ambush. The Ishimura's many rooms and layout remain generally the same, but have been expanded. Most notably, you can access certain areas without riding the tram car. This change helps make the ship feel more organically connected. The tram still exists for those who want to quickly travel between sections necromorph-free. I was lukewarm on some of the zero gravity sections in the original, where you use the suits rockets to propel yourself through weightless, sometimes oxygen-free zones. I can still do without them here, but at least now, those sections adopt the improved control scheme of the sequels to make them feel less like disorienting headaches. 

You can now freely revisit areas anytime, but do so at your own peril because necromorphs can still reappear in previously cleared zones. These attacks can be the most startling. Sometimes, I revisited an area, and nothing happened. Other times, I was assaulted in surprisingly new, thoughtfully constructed ways. I love how this system perpetuates Dead Space’s tense and unpredictable design outside the main path, making me second-guess my surroundings no matter how many times I step into them. 

 

The prize for revisiting areas is often money, weapon upgrade nodes, and precious ammo, all of which can be locked behind tiers of security doors. You’ll also be making these trips to complete the newly added sidequests. There aren’t many of these extra missions, but they generally serve to supplement the lore. One quest delves into the creation of the regenerating Hunter necromorph, for example. Though you’ll largely only find yourself running around the ship’s districts in search of specific audio logs or keys, sidequests add a small but tasty sidedish that extends your unfortunate visit.   

Rather than reinvent the wheel, Motive made Dead Space look nicer, play better, and preserved the core of the experience. Its new flourishes add to that enjoyment instead of subtracting. This remake respects and polishes up my memories of Isaac’s first encounter with the necromorphs without making me miss the original version. It also acts as the perfect entry point for newcomers since it feels on par with today’s titles. I hope this exceptional revision signals to EA that Dead Space has plenty of gas in the tank and becomes a harbinger for more horrifying stories in this universe. 

Score: 9

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