Sony’s Screen Gems and PlayStation Studios are in the process of adapting Supermassive Games’ Until Dawn to the silver screen. The studios recently revealed part of the cast of the upcoming film, announcing four of its principal actors.

Who’s a part of the Until Dawn cast?

On Friday, Deadline reported that Ella Rubin, Odessa A’zion, Ji-young Yoo, and Michael Cimino have all been tapped to appear in Sony’s film adaptation of Until Dawn. However, the studios haven’t announced the actors’ roles.

Fans may recognize Rubin as the actress who played Izzy in Amazon Prime’s The Idea of You, starring Anne Hathaway. Prime watchers may also recognize A’zion as Corinne from the romantic comedy film Sitting in Bars with Cake. Yoo, meanwhile, was nominated for a Gotham TV Award for her portrayal of Mercy Cho in Amazon’s Expats. Finally, Cimino is best known as the title character in Hulu’s teen drama series Love, Victor.

“At PlayStation Productions, we are always looking to find creative and authentic ways to adapt our beloved games that our fans will enjoy,” PlayStation’s Asad Qizilbash said of the Until Dawn film. “Alongside Screen Gems, we’ve assembled a fantastic cast of new characters that builds upon our already stellar filmmaking team and their vision for the adaptation. We’re excited to reveal more about the movie soon.”

Sony’s film adaptation of Until Dawn is being directed by David F. Sandberg. His filmography includes horror movies like Lights Out and Annabelle: Creation and the DC Cinematic Universe’s Shazam! movies. Until Dawn’s screenplay is written by Gary Dauberman, who replaced Blair Butler.

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EA’s Ripple Effect Studios is working on a new Battlefield game, though we don’t have a release date or official title yet. However, the publisher announced that it hired two military veterans to improve the game’s authenticity.

What do we know about EA’s next Battlefield?

EA hasn’t revealed much about the next Battlefield game, though its development team is reportedly the series’ largest. The project draws talent from four studios: DICE, Criterion, Motive, and Ripple Effect. The latter recently hired two former military personnel through the Hire Our Heroes program. The development team will use their experience to make the next Battlefield game a more authentic experience.

Madison Daugherty’s military career began as an enlisted military police soldier before becoming a logistics officer and battalion operations officer. She was assigned to the Third Infantry Division, where she was the distribution platoon leader for 30 Blackhawk helicopters. “The best way to describe it is as the most expensive mobile gas station you’ve ever seen,” she explained on EA’s blog.

After a three-month fellowship with EA’s Battlefield team, she joined Ripple Effect as a Product Manager. “I have been able to give good feedback on what realistic military stuff looks like,” Daugherty said. “We’ve put together executive summaries on military realism.”

Meanwhile, Ripple Effect’s new Associate Game Manager, Aaron Johnson, is a former green beret and small unit tactics instructor. Johnson’s career saw him stationed everywhere, from Afghanistan to Japan and many other places. “I was there to manage the assault force and maneuver them on the ground at first,” he explained. “And so, when I was on the other side of that, I was the guy leading the charge somewhere.” Later, as an instructor, Johnson trained soldiers to move, shoot, and provide medical aid in combat.

However, after his long military career, Johnson is just as enthusiastic about game development. “I wanted to be part of the Battlefield team as much as I wanted to be a Green Beret,” he said. “When I got placed on that team, I cried tears of joy.”

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Capcom releases Monster Hunter Wilds next year, with fans catching glimpses of it at May’s State of Play and last week’s Summer Game Fest. Director Yuya Tokuda, joined by Producer Ryozo Tsujimoto and Executive Director Kaname Fujioka, talked more about it in a recent interview. Tokuda discussed Monster Hunter Wild’s gameplay, including the new Focus Mode and wounds mechanics.

What makes Monster Hunter Wilds gameplay different?

Wounds and Focus Mode are two new features introduced to Monster Hunter Wilds’ gameplay and the systems go hand in hand. As Tokuda explained to the PlayStation Blog, “Attacking the monster naturally causes damage or wounds to happen. As long as you’re attacking the wounds, you’ll be doing more damage to the monster.” Entering focus mode highlights wounds and unlocks abilities that do bonus damage to wounds.

However, Focus Mode does a lot more than that. “The real merit of Focus Mode,” said Tokuda, “is to help players in their positioning and their distancing from monsters, so that even players who are maybe not as experienced with action games, or games similar to Monster Hunter, have an easier time honing in their attacks.”

Earlier in the interview, Tokuda said a few words about the effects of the environments on Monster Hunter Wilds’ gameplay. “One of the big things about Wilds is that the environments themselves are so much more dynamic and adaptable,” he said. “Things are changing so often, and even the monsters that are available to hunt can change moment to moment.” Capcom wants players to be able to respond to these dynamic changes. This is why, unlike in previous games, Monster Hunter Wilds players can switch between weapons during gameplay.

Another change with Monster Hunter Wilds gameplay is making monsters easier to reach, something some players had trouble with in previous games. Capcom also hopes the new Seikret mounts will make navigation a bit easier.

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The next Dead by Daylight survivor arrives in July, though developer Behaviour Interactive hasn’t revealed their identity. However, a prominent leaker suggests the new character will be Tomb Raider’s Lara Croft.

What would the Dead by Daylight Tomb Raider crossover include?

The leaker, Gumpy, didn’t say much about Lara Croft as a Dead by Daylight survivor. However, we know from the Year 9 roadmap that there won’t be any new Killers or maps in July. The next killer arrives in August, and the next new map will be in December. Still, new content is always good, and Tomb Raider fans might appreciate Lara’s inclusion.

News of the Tomb Raider crossover comes from a prominent leaker called Gumpy. This leak was just a short comment under a recent developer livestream. However, Gumpy’s leaks are highly trusted in the Dead by Daylight community. Gumpy previously leaked advanced information about the Unknown and the Dungeons and Dragons and Castlevania Crossovers. Therefore, it seems likely that Lara Croft will be the next new Dead by Daylight survivor.

Of course, one question fans might have is which version of the character this will be. Crystal Dynamics unveiled its “unified” Lara Croft in February, combining elements from both the original and 2013 design. However, as fans pointed out, reboot Lara is probably the best fit for a Dead by Daylight survivor.

As one Reddit user pointed out, the 2013 game drew some inspiration from the 2006 horror film The Descent. A scene in the game where Lara Croft is swimming through a river of blood comes directly from that movie. While 2013’s Tomb Raider still isn’t exactly a horror game, it certainly has its moments and definitely puts Lara through the wringer.

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It’s been a busy week for BioWare, who revealed Dragon Age: The Veilguard’s gameplay showcase on Tuesday. While it saw a more positive reception than the divisive Xbox showcase trailer, it’s still left some concern about how important its RPG systems will be. However, according to Design Director Corinne Busche, they will be very important indeed.

What did Corinne Busche say about Dragon Age: The Veilguard gameplay?

“So,” Busche told RPG Site, “if I were to contrast Mass Effect versus Dragon Age, for instance . . . I really view Mass Effect as an ARPG. Big action, minor RPG. We’re almost the total inverse of that.”

The Mass Effect comparison didn’t come out of nowhere. The companion ability wheel shown in the Dragon Age: The Veilguard’s gameplay reveal resembles the one from BioWare’s sci-fi RPG shooters. One could also be forgiven for coming away from the showcasing thinking that active abilities and tactical depth had taken back seat to button mashing.

However, unlike Mass Effect, which only has a few abilities per class, Veilguard’s skill trees are “absolutely enormous,” according to Busche. She also explained the skill tree’s structure, comparing it to a spiderweb or the Sphere Grid from Final Fantasy X. The basic Mage, Warrior, and Rogue class skills are at the center of the grid. Abilities get more advanced as the player moves outward, with the Specialization trees arranged on the outer ring. Players should expect to reach a Specialization around mid-game.

The player’s companion’s abilities don’t seem as flexible, however. She explained how each party member has five core abilities, with their skill trees focusing on upgrades. “Neve and Bellara are both Mages,” Busche explained, “so they share two core Mage abilities between each other, right? However, the other three are class or character-unique.” The different upgrade branches will also change how characters behave in Dragon Age: The Veilguard’s gameplay.

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The Communications Workers of America announced it is filing a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board against an Activision contractor. The union alleges that the contractor, Lionbridge Technologies, laid off 160 workers in retaliation for an attempt to unionize.

Did an Activision contractor wrongfully lay off workers?

The company provided QA testing for the Microsoft subsidiary Activision when it laid off the Boise, Idaho team. Lionbridge justified this latest example of gaming layoffs by telling workers that the project was over. However, work was still underway at the offices in Mexico and Poland. According to the CWA, Lionbridge terminated workers “in retaliation for workers engaging in protected organizing activities and protected speech when raising issues regarding their working conditions.” Doing so violates federal law.

Workers targeted by this gaming layoff were also allegedly offered a severance package with unreasonably broad confidentiality terms. The Activision contractor also asked the laid-off employees to waive their rights under the National Labor Relations Act, something that the NLRB ruled was illegal. The CWA’s statement also notes that this is the second time Lionbridge has engaged in union-busting while working with Microsoft.

“In 2022,” the union wrote, “Microsoft adopted principles for engagement with worker organizations, which recognized workers’ legal rights to organize and expressed a belief in ‘the importance of listening to our employees’ concerns.’ This team of subcontracted workers and all U.S. workers enjoy those same rights and protections. CWA expects Microsoft to hold its contractors to the same standards the company has set for itself, as stated in its principles.”

(via GameSpot)

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FromSoftware announced that Elden Ring sales have passed a very impressive milestone two years after its release. The studio also thanked fans for helping the game reach such staggering heights.

What milestone did Elden Ring sales surpass?

Elden Ring’s sales recently exceeded 25 million, according to FromSoftware. “We have come a long way together,” the studio said on Twitter. “We are ever thankful for your passion and support.” It accompanies the announcement with an image of Melina the Tarnished sitting around a Site of Grace.

By comparison, Elden Ring’s 25 million sales are approximately the same as GTA 4, Cyberpunk 2077, and Monster Hunter: World. It also secures the game’s place in the top 50 best-selling games of all time. While it probably isn’t going to outsell Minecraft or GTA 5 any time soon, that’s still a hugely impressive milestone.

Granted, it’s not entirely surprising that FromSoftware’s dark fantasy action RPG saw such an impressive milestone. Elden Ring launched in February 2022, with its sales exceeding 13.4 Million by the end of March. It was the second best-selling game in the US that year, behind Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II, and slowly grew over the following years. Bandai Namco announced that Elden Ring sold 23 million copies in February 2024.

It seems fair to assume that the game’s upcoming Shadow of the Erdtree DLC played a significant role in its sales. Releasing on June 21, Elden Ring’s only expansion takes players to the mysterious Land of Shadow. It features an all-new world space with new enemies, dungeons, and more.

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Sony has officially revealed the PS Plus games for June 2024. Available to subscribers on June 18, the lineup includes 2006’s Daxter and 2021’s Monster Hunter Rise. The other 12 games are an eclectic mix of shooters, strategy games, and more genres. There are even three different LEGO titles.

What are the PS Plus games for June?

Sony’s PS Plus games announced for June include 14 titles, ten of which are available for both PS Plus Extra and Premium subscribers. The remaining four are only for Premium subscribers, with three being classics from the PS2 and PSP.

The following games are available for PS Plus Extra and Premium subscribers:

• Monster Hunter Rise (PS4, PS5)
• Football Manager 2024 (PS5)
• Crusader Kings III (PS5)
• Monster Energy Supercross (PS4, PS5)
• After Us (PS5)
• Anno 1800 (PS5)
• Police Simulator: Patrol Officers (PS4, PS5)
• Far Cry 4 (PS4)
• LEGO The Hobbit (PS4)
• LEGO The Incredibles (PS4)

The following games are available for PS Plus Premium subscribers:

• Kayak VR: Mirage (PS VR2)
• LEGO Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy (PS4, PS5)
• Ghosthunter (PS4, PS5)
• Daxter (PS4, PS5)

Monster Hunter Rise and Far Cry 4 are the biggest names on the list. Released in 2021, Rise is the latest mainline installment in Capcom’s Monster Hunter action RPG franchise. Meanwhile, Far Cry 4 is the 2014 installment of Ubisoft’s open-world first-person shooter series. Both games saw a generally positive critical reception.

Meanwhile, strategy fans might want to check out the PS5 version of Crusader Kings III and Anno 1800. The former puts players in charge of a family of medieval lords, navigating warfare and court intrigue to build their legacy. Meanwhile, Ubisoft’s Anno 1800 combines city-building and real-time strategy against the backdrop of the Industrial Revolution.

Among the classic games Sony is adding to PlayStation Premium, Daxter and LEGO Star Wars II are the major standouts. Released on PSP in 2006, Daxter takes place during the two-year time skip in the opening cutscene of 2003’s Jak II. LEGO Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy released the same year, adapting A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back, and Return of the Jedi.

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The new Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 update will add eight new suits for Peter and Miles when it launches on June 18. It includes four suits created by fashion designer Colm “KidSuper” Dillane with celebrity collaborators Vini Jr., Lando Norris, and Rina Sawayama.

What new suits are in the Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 update?

Insomniac Games showcased the new Spider-Man 2 suits in a blog post announcing the update. Miles Morales’ Metro Suit by KidSuper features a puffer jacket and a variety of color options. Players can choose between the default gold on white, red on black, teal on purple, and “classic Spidey.”

KidSuper collaborated with professional soccer player Vinícius “Vini Jr.” Júnior on Miles’ Ginga Suit. The suit’s default color scheme pays homage to the sport and Júnior’s homeland of Brazil. It also has alternate red-on-black, classic, and gold-on-white color schemes.

Looking at Peter’s new duds, British Formula 1 driver Lando Norris left his mark on Parker’s Fluro Suit. It features racing-inspired overalls and helmet and comes in green on black, white on black, pink on blue, and classic.

KidSuper also worked with Japanese-British singer and actress Rina Sawayama on Peter Parker’s Motorchic Suit. The new Spider-Man 2 suit gives Peter a leather jacket and overall motorbike-inspired look. Players can choose between the default red and black, red, black, and classic color schemes.

Meanwhile, the Spider-Man 2 update gives Peter Parker’s Last Stand suit inspired by the Earth-312500 version of Spider-Man. The default suit and leather jacket is red and black, though players can also choose full black, classic, and Arachno-Man yellow and green. Meanwhile, Miles Morales’ gold and black Uptown Pride suit is another fan favorite introduced in the Spider-Man 2 Update. It also comes in silver trim, black on red, and blue on pink versions.

Peter Parker’s Into The Spider-Verse suit copies his outfit from the 2018 animated movie. Players can also enable Film Style Animation mode to make it more authentic. Finally, Miles Morales’ Animated suit pays homage to the classic comics and cartoons.  

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Fans got to see 20 minutes of Dragon Age: The Veilguard gameplay on Tuesday. BioWare showcased the game’s new combat engine and enemy redesigns, caught fans up with returning characters, and introduced some new ones.

What was in the Dragon Age: The Veilguard gameplay showcase?

The scenes featured in the Dragon Age: The Veilguard gameplay reveal mostly took place early in the game. It shows customizable protagonist Rook and returning characters Varrick and Harding searching the Tevinter capital of Minrathous for the mage detective Neve. These events seem to take place shortly after the barfight from Veilguard’s Xbox showcase trailer. After battling demons and Venatori cultists in the city streets and finding Neve, they catch up with the antagonist and former Inquisition party member Solas.

The final scene shows Rook and Harding interrupting Solas’ ritual, only for two mysterious figures to emerge from the portal. BioWare teased the return of the ancient elven gods, who were banished long ago, in the series’ backstory. That could be who the figures in the trailer are, though that hasn’t been officially confirmed.

As leaked previously, BioWare has finished the series’ gradual transition from tactical RPG to action RPG. Players can order their companions to activate abilities using a Mass Effect-like ability wheel. Unfortunately, it was locked during the early-game section BioWare featured in the Dragon Age: The Veilguard gameplay reveal. However, it looks like players can only assign three abilities to each character.

Another combat change is the ability to switch between weapons in combat, which wasn’t possible in the last two games. The Dragon Age: The Veilguard gameplay shows Rook switching between his sword and dagger and his bow in combat.

The video also shows how BioWare redesigned many of the enemies that players will encounter. The Venatori have ditched the gladiator aesthetic from Dragon Age: Inquisition and the new designs play up the evil cult angle. The demonic enemies have also seen a complete redesign while still visually resembling their earlier incarnations.

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