Games

Right after the news came out about the Demon’s Souls remake developer, a planned post for Marathon appeared on all of PlayStation’s social media accounts.

The studio behind the critically acclaimed Demon’s Souls Remake for PlayStation 5, Bluepoint Games, is closing its doors in March. Sony announced the decision after a recent business review. Around 70 employees will be affected, though the company expressed gratitude for their dedication and skill.

After more than five years, things feel quite different now. We’ve moved past simply pointing out that this console generation is still young or wishing for more exclusive games, particularly from PlayStation, like we did in the past. While last year had a couple of standout hits, 2024 was noticeably lacking in first-party releases, relying mostly on games from other developers. It’s a year many will remember for Sony’s attempt at ongoing, service-based games failing to gain traction.

Good news for comic fans! At the ComicsPRO conference, DC Comics revealed plans for its upcoming “Next Level” initiative, including exciting updates about the “Absolute Universe.” This summer will see the release of new “Absolute” editions like Absolute Green Arrow and Absolute Catwoman, and DC also announced a big crossover event bringing together heroes from across the entire Absolute line. While details are still scarce, DC promises the crossover will happen within just a few months.

A standout episode of Wonder Man, titled “Found Footage,” really sets the show apart from typical Marvel stories. It centers around Simon and Trevor Slattery, who are excited about potentially landing roles in the in-universe Wonder Man movie. Their celebration is interrupted when they’re confronted by drug dealers to whom Trevor owes money. Simon uses his powers to protect Trevor, and they soon discover a young boy named Jayden filmed the entire encounter. This leads to a chaotic chase across California, reminiscent of a classic Quentin Tarantino film.

The Toy Story movies are Pixar’s most enduring series, beginning in 1995. Over the past 31 years, three sequels followed, with a fourth released in theaters on June 19th. As time passes, the actors who voice the characters age, so some recasting has been necessary. After Jim Varney, the original voice of Slinky Dog, passed away in 2000, Blake Clark took over the role in Toy Story 3. Similarly, after Don Rickles’ death in 2017, Toy Story 4 used old recordings to bring Mr. Potato Head to life. Now, even more Toy Story characters are being recast.

Okay, so I was thrilled to see that Richard Linklater’s School of Rock landed on Tubi on February 1st! This 2003 comedy, starring Jack Black, is a classic for a reason. He plays Dewey Finn, a down-on-his-luck guitarist who hilariously cons his way into a substitute teaching gig at a fancy private school. But instead of teaching them academics, he discovers his students have musical talent and secretly trains them to be a rock band, all with the goal of winning a local competition. It’s just a really fun movie, and the supporting cast – including Joan Cusack, Mike White, and Sarah Silverman – is fantastic.

Capcom has confirmed that real details about the upcoming Resident Evil Requiem are circulating online. They’ve asked fans to please avoid sharing these leaks while they work to remove them. Capcom also reassured fans that the game will be released soon, so they won’t have to worry about spoilers for much longer.

As a PC gaming fan, I love a good bundle, and Fanatical really gets that! Their new Mystery Star Bundle is awesome – you can snag a Steam key for as little as $1. It’s super low-risk, but you could end up with a seriously amazing prize. They’re even giving away a Meta Quest 3 or a 1TB OLED Steam Deck! It’s a great deal with a chance to win big.

I remember a time when video games hadn’t yet reached their full potential as truly moving works of art. Then I played one of Nintendo’s most overlooked gems, and it completely changed how I saw gaming. It raised the bar incredibly high and made me constantly search for similar experiences. While it’s received some criticism and is often considered the least impressive game in its series, I firmly believe Xenoblade Chronicles 2 is a masterpiece. It’s a remarkable achievement from a top-tier studio, and something everyone should try at least once. What makes it special isn’t the type of game it is, but how it delivers its ideas, gameplay, and emotional impact.