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EA Potentially Introducing Its Own Take On Nemesis System With Black Panther

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  • EA has confirmed that Black Panther will come with a groundbreaking new technology for storytelling.
  • This technology will be used across multiple EA games from other studios in the future.
  • Black Panther is being led by former Shadow of Mordor developers, so the team may be creating something similar to the Nemesis system.

As part of its push into the superhero genre, EA is currently working on two major projects. Both Iron Man and Black Panther aim to offer open-world experiences based on Unreal Engine 5, but the latter might have an ace up its sleeve.

According to the publisher, Black Panther is set to debut a new technology that will impact multiple future titles.

Why it matters: Skydance New Media is developing another exciting Black Panther game, but EA’s latest technology could help its work stand out.

Black Panther EA Game
The Superhero Games Genre Is Going Through A Resurgence

Speaking about the newly established Cliffhanger Games, EA’s Laura Miele described the team’s current project during the Investor Day presentation. She stated that the team is developing an all-new technology specifically for its debut project.

Black Panther will be a love letter, combining all new technology that will transfer across many games.

The main purpose of this technology is to deliver groundbreaking storytelling, and while Laura Miele did not go into too much detail, there is reason to believe that Cliffhanger Games is working on a mechanic similar to Shadow of Mordor’s Nemesis system.

For starters, the leadership behind this studio consists of many Shadow of Mordor developers. Kevin Stephens, the founder of this new team, also worked as the Director of Engineering at Monolith Productions before eventually becoming the Studio Head.

Because so much of the leadership has directly transferred to Black Panther, the developers could be working on a new take on the Nemesis system. The fact that EA has called the system groundbreaking for storytelling also suggests that this is the case.

Moreover, a mechanic similar to the Nemesis system could easily be used across multiple projects at EA, as the company wants.

Black Panther From EA Cliffhanger Games
Black Panther Is Still In Early Development

It’s important to note that the Nemesis system itself is patented and cannot be directly implemented in other games. This is exactly why, despite its incredible potential, the mechanic hasn’t returned in many years.

Latest Updates

Monolith Productions will also reintroduce the Nemesis system with Wonder Woman, so it will be interesting to see the mechanic’s evolution since 2017’s Shadow of War. Perhaps EA’s attempt at emulating this idea will lead to a more widespread implementation across the industry in the near future.

Next Battlefield Will Feature 64-Player Maps & Ultra-Realistic Destruction

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  • The upcoming Battlefield will finally take the series back to its roots. 
  • It will take inspiration directly from Battlefield 3 and 4, the best games in the franchise. 
  • Vince Zampella also confirmed that the game will feature 64-player maps and ultra-realistic destruction.

Battlefield is one of the franchises with a lot of potential. With the recent releases, it was concluded that EA just no longer understands the franchises’ essence which did make sense.

However, it seems like the giant is finally taking this franchise to its roots with the next Battlefield, which is something every fan should be delighted to hear. Also, the upcoming game in the series will feature 64-player maps along with ultra-realistic destruction. 

Why it matters: The destruction in Battlefield was really appreciated back then, but it lacked so much in the latest title, which the fandom criticized. The 128-player maps in the recent title were also criticized a lot. 

Battlefield
The Upcoming Battlefield Could Be The Best One In The Series

 In an interview with IGN, Vince Zampella revealed that the next Battlefield will finally go to the roots of the series. For him, the peak games in the series are the Battlefield 3 and 4. So, the upcoming one will be taking heavy inspiration from both. 

While he said that, he indirectly confirmed many things, such as the game would get 64-player maps as well as the ultra-realistic destruction. 

Yeah, the 128 player, did it make it more fun? Like…doing the number for the sake of the number doesn’t make any sense.  

-Vince Zampella

In Battlefield 2042, at first, there were 128-player maps. However, the game eventually went back to the 64-player maps approach. This is what the fandom prefers, and EA has learned it the hard way. 

Zampella also explained that he now wants to have nice, dense, and well-designed play spaces. So, the fans who were concerned about the franchise’s future shouldn’t be anymore, as it is heading in the right direction. 

At first, Battlefield 2042 lacked a lot in destruction, and even after adding some, it wasn’t like before. However, with the next Battlefield going back to its roots, ultra-realistic destruction is almost confirmed. 

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We also previously spotted a job listing hinting that the game is targetting ultra-realistic destruction, so that isn’t a dream anymore. Due to that, the franchise head thinks that the next title in the franchise can even outsell Call of Duty.  

Rockstar Needs To Take A Break From The Series After GTA 6

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  • From new entries to numerous re-releases, GTA always gets special treatment from Rockstar.
  • GTA and RDR aren’t the only Rockstar games; gems like L.A. Noire and Bully hold massive potential.
  • Rockstar should put GTA aside for a while now and either bring back these titles or work on a new IP.

If you are a gamer and you haven’t heard of Grand Theft Auto, I’d genuinely doubt your status; that’s how renowned this name is. Forget gamers; even those who have never played games know what GTA is. Considering this immense popularity, it’s no wonder GTA is Rockstar’s favorite child.

It’s definitely merited, as GTA is undoubtedly an extremely exhilarating experience, letting you exploit the massive, realistic sandbox in whatever law-breaking, havoc-wreaking way you can imagine.

I’m certainly not here to undermine GTA in any way, just to highlight that this isn’t the only Rockstar franchise.

Why it matters: First, the numerous GTA 5 re-releases, and now GTA 6. It’s been a long time since Rockstar worked on something else, and it should now.

It’s Been Nothing But GTA With Rockstar Lately

You bring in a GTA, the odds of the Earth stopping spinning are greater than people not wanting it. Of course, Rockstar knows this full well and has doubled down on making effective use of this “fact.” 

How many times has GTA 5 been re-released? More times than I remember, that’s for sure. You can gauge its popularity by the fact that despite Rockstar feeding people nothing but re-releases, they still consume them like there’s no tomorrow.

Damn R* games, whyyy
byu/ussopsenpai inmemes

And now GTA 6 is around the corner (how far that corner lies, I cannot tell you). People are so busy hyping it that they’ve forgotten how this is the only new game Rockstar has created in over 6 years since RDR 2. I know GTA is great, but letting Rockstar get away with nothing but re-releases and abandoning all other IPs has to stop now.

Rockstar Is Sitting On Gold

Rockstar's most creative gem (Image by IMDB)
Rockstar’s most creative gem (Image by IMDB)

At this point, Rockstar needs a reminder that GTA and Red Dead Redemption aren’t the only franchises it has. The company has access to some pretty solid franchises that were cruelly abandoned.

First, look no further than Bully, the grim and thought-provoking concept of bullying portrayed in the most violent yet extremely entertaining way. Rockstar is all about morally questionable solutions to a problem, and Bully is no exception. This will surely draw a lot of heat towards me, but I’ll say it anyway. I enjoyed Bully more than GTA 5.

Next up is when Rockstar decided to take GTA and flip it 180 degrees. Instead of being a cool outlaw, you’re a law-enforcing citizen this time around, solving meticulous crimes in what’s probably one of the best detective-style games around. That is none other than L.A. Noire, the golden standard for facial expressions.

L.A. Noire was ahead of its time (Image by IMDB)
L.A. Noire was ahead of its time (Image by IMDB)

These are the big guns. Of course, others like Midnight Club and Manhunt are also rotting in Rockstar’s basement, but I believe getting a new entry to them will be nothing short of a miracle. L.A. Noire and Bully, however, are a lot more possible and worth the trouble even.

There’s Always The Option Of Something New

While I believe a new L.A. Noire or Bully is Rockstar’s best option, the gaming giant always has the option of going the “new IP” route. Rockstar is well known for its deeply interactive and reality-approaching worlds with extreme attention to detail, this will always be appealing.

Rockstar games should release new IP instead of GTA-6, Bully 2, Max Payne 4, Red Dead Redemption 3 or LA Noire 2
byu/Mwrp86 inunpopularopinion

What happened to the Agent game? It was scrapped back then, but I’d pay top dollar for a stealth action game from Rockstar if it’s nearly as immersive as its two sandbox giants. A game like Agent in current times can do wonders, considering how the genre genuinely needs a hit.

The leaked concept art (from 2017) for Rockstar’s most mysterious scrapped PS exclusive game: “AGENT”
by inrockstar

Rockstar can always go completely opposite from the realistic GTA and RDR to something fantastical or supernatural. Even a mythological setting would be exceptional. The prospects alone are pretty exciting, but will Rockstar do it? All I can do is hope.

In Pursuit Of Profits, We Lost Something Important

You can argue that Rockstar pursues GTA and RDR because they sell. I wholeheartedly agree; they do make a ton of profit, but is that all that matters for Rockstar? GTA 5 has made the company billions of dollars, would it hurt it to try something for other than profit reasons?

Latest Updates

With how much Rockstar has earned, I’d like to think it’d have no financial problems even if a new game fails, which, believe me, is extremely unlikely. Thus, I think GTA 6 will be an excellent point for a break. Put GTA on hold, bring back forgotten IPs, or even experiment with a new one.

The PS5 Needed A Stronger Lineup Before Stronger Hardware

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  • The PS5 Pro is here with a better GPU, improved upscaling, and a hefty price tag.
  • The price aside, the need for better games supersedes the demand for stronger hardware.
  • PS5 has a severe shortage of first-party titles and impactful games, which Sony should’ve focused on first.

Let me ask you a question. What is the most important thing for a console? Having super powerful hardware? User-friendly interface and accessibility features? Multi-entertainment capabilities? All of these are certainly important, but if I had to choose one, it has to be the kind of games it offers.

You’re getting the console primarily for gaming purposes. What good would everything else be if there was nothing to make use of it? And by nothing, I mean exclusives and first-party titles.

Sony used to be the king of these, but the current PS5 era has been pretty barren. Yet instead of addressing this, Sony says, “have this shiny PS5 Pro.”

Why it matters: Sony has presented the PS5 Pro, whose very need is pretty questionable, as better games for the base console should’ve been the first priority.

PS5 Pro Is Here, For Better Or Worse

After countless rumors, we have the official info regarding the PS5 Pro now, and this has been a pretty difficult-to-swallow situation.

Featuring improved Ray Tracing, PSSR upscaling technology, and a bulkier GPU, the console’s primary aim is to improve upon the Performance mode, offering 60 FPS without visual compromise. Things were looking pretty great, that is until the very last slide.

PS5 Pro: Lackluster Reveal, Outrageous Pricing and Weak "Pro" Feeling
byu/SinisterSh0t inLinusTechTips

The PS5 Pro will set you back a whopping $700, and that too without the disc drive or vertical stand. A $700 console with no disc drive, the same base PS5 CPU, and a huge yearly fee to play online—I don’t even know where to begin with how absurd and insane Sony is with this.

Should Hardware Really Have Been Sony’s Priority?

Mid-generation refreshes are usually a comfort upgrade, not an unjustifiable expense. But putting the price aside, was a hardware upgrade the most critical need? Do you know what else has better hardware? Xbox consoles.

People would’ve shifted to Xbox long ago if hardware was the issue. Yet they stick to PlayStation. Why? Because of the games.

Besides, I never quite understood the industry’s obsession with photorealistic visuals. Games on PS5 already look pretty impressive to me. And even if they weren’t, I’m a strictly gameplay-over-visuals kind of person. Still, what use is a “visual upgrade” if you have nothing to play?

I never found the visuals particularly lacking (Image by PlayStation)
I never found the visuals particularly lacking (Image by PlayStation)

Just because the PS5 Pro runs the limited library with a little more visual fidelity doesn’t make it a justifiable upgrade. Plus, when the console is still stuck with majorly last-gen titles, Sony should’ve prioritized strengthening its library first instead of demanding such a ridiculous amount for a mid-gen refresh.

PS5 Pro: A New, Expensive Way to Play PS4 Games
byu/ZiggyPalffyLA inGames

Where Are All The First Party Games, Sony?

Imagine owning the PS5 for four years now, and instead of providing better and more versatile titles to play, Sony says, “Pay $700 to see the games you’ve already played in more detail.” Not only did you not get a decent library in all this time, but now a better console already exists, making you feel like your machine is obsolete. 

PS5 will go down as the first console in history to not have a single game.
byu/_yearoldonreddit invideogamedunkey

 

Take a look at the PS4. By the time PS4 Pro arrived, the console already had an unbeatable lineup. In fact, the PS5 can’t even come close to the PS4 era. Now, Sony’s blockbuster AAAs have so absurd budgets and development cycles that it takes years just to deliver one title.

This sort of lineup needs to return (Image by Tech4Gamers)
This sort of lineup needs to return (Image by Tech4Gamers)

How long ago was Marvel’s Wolverine announced? 3+ years now. At this rate, I’ll say that the leaked Insomniac lineup will probably be complete by the time PS8 arrives. Which is anything but good news. The PS5’s lifetime is more than halfway through; when will its library become justifiable enough?

The PS5 Needs Some Hits Now

Anyway, what’s done is done. Now, Sony seriously needs to strengthen its game lineup. And by strengthening, I mean titles like Astro Bot, not Concord. Imagine all the time and money Sony wasted on Concord being used on something good. Nevertheless, Astro Bot is here and sets an example of what Sony ought to do now.

Latest Updates

Now this is a job well done, Sony (Image by PlayStation)
Now this is a job well done, Sony (Image by PlayStation)

It can continue its blockbuster AAAs with lengthy development cycles as long as it maintains a steady supply of short and sweet games in between. Not only can those test the water for possible future titles, but sustain the huge gaps and keep people entertained. The PS5’s later half has now begun, and a radical change is necessary.

PS5 Pro Performance Is Comparable With ‘A Little Slower’ RX 7800 XT

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  • PS5 Pro performance is allegedly comparable to a PC with a downclocked AMD’s RX 7800 XT.
  • It also uses a slightly overclocked processor from the PS5, with performance even lower than Ryzen 5 3600.
  • After the $700, it is quite hard to recommend PS5 Pro, especially compared to a PC. 

After the PlayStation 5 Pro was announced, fans have been wondering about its performance gains. Due to the unexpectedly high MSRP, it’s being compared to PCs, but where does it stack up compared to a desktop GPU? 

According to experts, the PS5 Pro’s performance is allegedly comparable to a ‘little slower’ RX 7800 XT and to GeForce RTX 4070 minus the ray tracing performance. 

Why it matters: Due to the inflated price tag, for the first time a debate has stirred up whether a similar-priced PC would be a better value than the PS5 Pro.  

Expected PS5 Pro performance compared to desktop GPUs

In terms of the basic upgrades, the PS5 Pro features 67% more computing units than the PS5. For context, the PS5 has 36, so increasing by 67% comes up to a total of 60. This is exactly the same number as the AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT.

However, that doesn’t make the PS5 Pro as strong as AMD’s offering. Other things must be taken into account. For example, the console’s bandwidth is 8% less than the RX 7800 XT, which is very important for loading highly detailed environments.

PS5 Pro is reportedly a substantial GPU upgrade over the base PS5

So, from all the mentioned details, it can be reportedly concluded that the PS5 Pro’s GPU performance is close to a lesser-powered RX 7800 XT. However, the CPU hasn’t had an upgrade for the Pro console.

It’s pretty much the same as the one found in the base PS5. It’s still based on Zen2 architecture but can boost slightly higher speeds. However, it won’t reportedly affect the performance too much as you’ll be gaming mostly at a higher resolution.

At 1440p or above, most of the power is being thrown at the GPU, and it hardly utilizes the CPU. Also, the PS5 Pro has PSSR upscaling, which is great for boosting frame rates while retaining most of the image quality. 

Latest Updates

The CPU performance is reportedly even lower than that of a Ryzen 5 3600 or Ryzen 7 Pro 4750G. Overall, analysts conclude that while PS5 Pro might not be a better value than a PC anymore, it could be a better buy for someone who purely wants to game. 

Dragon Age: The Veilguard Pre-Orders Are Allegedly Really Poor

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  • The pre-order retail sales of Dragon Age: The Veilguard are apparently really poor.
  • The rumor suggests that the RPG might end up with a botched launch if the numbers do not improve. 
  • It is set to release on October 31, 2024, for PC, Xbox Series X|S, and PlayStation 5.

Unsurprisingly, many players are curious about the new Dragon Age sequel set to release after a whole decade. However, the recent player sentiment is reportedly on a steep decline. It appears that even the pre-launch retail sales of Dragon Age: The Veilguard are turning out to be extremely poor.

All these pointers lead to a dark picture that suggests we might see another major botched launch this year—if the numbers don’t improve as the launch draws near.

Why it matters: Poor pre-order retail sales suggest that Dragon Age: The Veilguard is not going to see a spectacular release. The RPG could completely flop in active players and sales figures in the worst-case scenario.

The popular YouTuber Doctor Disaster has clarified in a new video that Dragon Age: The Veilguard is currently dealing with “piss poor pre-sales data.” The info was allegedly revealed by his source, who deals with video game retail sales.

“These ratios are correlating with piss poor pre-sales data.”

-Doctor Disaster

Dragon Age: The Veilguard has also sold poorly on Steam, not even making it into the top 100 sellers list like some smaller upcoming indie releases. These reports only suggest that the RPG might flop in active player count and post-launch sales.

Dragon Age: The Veilguard will have to sell in the millions and appeal to a massive audience to have a successful launch.
Dragon Age: The Veilguard will have to sell in the millions to have a successful launch.

All in all, it is worth noting that the rumor—despite being backed by two different sources—has not been officially confirmed by BioWare. So, it is best to take the report with a pinch of salt.

Latest Updates

Dragon Age: The Veilguard will be released on October 31, 2024, for PC, Xbox Series X|S, and PlayStation 5. The general player consensus is currently mixed on the RPG. Some are looking forward to a modern incarnation of the franchise, while others are wary because it looks less dark and quite soft than past releases.

Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered Spotted In ESRB Rating; Coming To PS5 & PC

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  • Horizon Zero Dawn’s remastered version for PS5 and PC has just been spotted in the ESRB rating. 
  • The game didn’t really need a remaster, given that it already looks so good and can hold against many next-gen games. 
  • However, Sony did the same with TLOU2, so it isn’t surprising to see it doing so again. 

Horizon is one of the most gorgeous-looking series in the gaming industry right now. There have been just two games in the series: Horizon Zero Dawn and Forbidden West. Both of these can hold well against some of the next-gen games.

There were already hints regarding a remaster for the first title in the series but now it has almost been confirmed that it is in development for PC and PS5. 

Why it matters: Sony is likely to get criticised for this, as fans are tired of remasters that already look so good. 

Horizon Zero Dawn Remaster
Horizon Zero Dawn Remaster For PC and PS5 Seems Imminent

The remaster of this game was spotted on the ESRB rating (spotted by TwistedVoxel). According to the rating, Horizon Zero Dawn, released for PlayStation in 2017, is getting a remaster. The game was also released on PC in 2020, so there wasn’t really a need for a remaster. 

However, given that it is a remaster for PlayStation 5, Sony could be preparing an enhanced version for the Pro version as well. So, we could very well see some major graphical enhancements, better performance, and potentially some new features. 

Horizon Forbidden West Featured
The Horizon Series Has Sold Over 32 Million Copies

However, we don’t think a remaster version of this game was necessary, given that it already looks so good and sold over 3 million copies on PC alone. Sony did the similar with The Last of Us Part 2 for PS5. The game really didn’t need a remaster, yet it launched one. 

Latest Updates

So, fans are likely to criticise this decision to develop unwanted remasters instead of new IPs. It seems like Sony is indeed planning a State of Play, which is expected this week. The gaming giant is likely to announce this remaster during the event. 

Ubisoft Denies XDefiant Is Dying Rumors; Releases Updated Year-One Roadmap

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  • In a new blog post, Ubisoft has recently denied rumors that XDefiant is dying.
  • The studio has released an updated year-one roadmap for the game, lining out its future for the fans.
  • The FPS is set to receive a slew of improvements to its net code, matchmaking, and anti-cheat.

After a much-anticipated release, Ubisoft’s XDefiant has proven to be a hit or miss for most players. While some dubbed it the awaited Call of Duty killer, others were just looking for a fun, free-to-play FPS to immerse themselves in. However, a bunch of critical issues have caused a noticeable decline in active player count and hype, leading to many pessimistic rumors.

A report by Insider Gaming last month suggested that XDefiant is on “borrowed time” and headed towards complete failure as player numbers decline rapidly. It further clarified that XDefiant would end up on Ubisoft’s list of massive failures unless the upcoming seasons turned things around. However, the studio has now come forward to deny these rumors.

Why it matters: The denial of the popular rumor suggests that Ubisoft has not given up on XDefiant. The game is headed towards receiving a lot of improvements and new content in forthcoming seasons. 

XDefiant
XDefiant is a fun FPS marred by a plethora of critical issues.

In a new blog post outlining XDefiant’s future, Ubisoft has claimed that the game is far from dying. It acknowledges that many things need to be addressed, but the FPS is doing quite well. The developers want to do much better to satisfy the broader community.

“No, the game is absolutely not dying. 

-Ubisoft

Ubisoft has also shared an updated year-one roadmap for the game, which will include seasons 2 to 4. These seasons will introduce new factions, weapons, maps, devices, game modes, and gameplay improvements.

Ubisoft has recently updated its year-one roadmap for XDefiant
Ubisoft has updated its year-one roadmap for XDefiant.

Most of all, the studio is also working hard to resolve the netcode, matchmaking, and anti-cheat problems that have caused XDefiant’s popularity to decline in the last few months.

Latest Updates

One of XDefiant’s biggest concerns is hit registration, which makes the combat feel quite janky during intense gameplay. Ubisoft also aims to fix this dilemma in one of its upcoming updates.

PC Game Sales Declined While Console Sales Bloomed Last Year

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  • According to a report, PC and mobile game sales declined in 2023.
  • Consoles saw an upward trend in spending last year, as players spent significantly more.
  • The console spending is expected to grow even more next year with the release of GTA 6.

PC and consoles each have their own set of audiences. Some prefer consoles for ease of access, while others prefer PCs for versatility. However, it seems the console audience was more into games last year, as PC game sales declined while console sales increased in 2023. 

Why it matters: Console users generally buy more games than PC users for several reasons. Therefore, last year marked a spike in console spending but saw a downward trend in PC and mobile spending.

PC and mobile game sales declined, while console sales increased last year

The Wall Street Journal recently released a video discussing why Xbox lost the console wars. They revealed a graph that shows consumer spending on PCs and consoles throughout the years. 

Interestingly, while PC gaming held its own most of the time, it saw a decline last year. On the other hand, console gaming has increased quite a lot. This comes despite console sales decreasing in the last few months, including the PlayStation 5. 

A solid reason for low PC sales is the amount of time gamers spend on different games. On PCs, many players prefer to play multiplayer and competitive titles, including CS2, Valorant, and others, which aren’t available on consoles. 

Another reason could also be the simplicity of the consoles. You just buy the console, set it up, and either download the games from the store or buy them physically. On PC, multiple stores and logins make the overall process difficult. 

Then there are also the prices. Consoles typically cost between $400 and $500 for a decent experience. On the other hand, you have to spend a lot more on a PC and buy other accessories. 

Latest Updates

The increase in console spending does make a lot of sense. Also, as GTA 6 draws nearer, we can expect that to increase even more. With Sony set to release the PS5 Pro, which is reportedly the ideal console for GTA 6, we could be looking at a substantial increase in console spending in the upcoming years.

Movie Tie-In Games, What Caused Their Decline?

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  • Movie tie-in games thrived in the 2000s but declined due to rushed development and declining quality.
  • Some games, like X-Men Origins: Wolverine and Spider-Man, surpassed their movie counterparts, becoming beloved classics.
  • The trend is reviving in a new manner with titles like Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora.

The concept of movie tie-in games has existed for as long as gaming has, despite the notion being used enough as it was up until a couple of decades ago. The main goal for tie-in games was to promote blockbuster movies and explore stories beyond what could be told in cinema.

Movie tie-in games peaked in the 2000s when we received several amazing titles, such as X-Men Origins: Wolverine and Spider-Man games. Despite their success, the notion fell off in the coming decade and seemed forgotten in the 2020s.

There are multiple reasons why the trend of movie tie-in games has disappeared. These tie-in games were mainly direct adaptations of the movies, making them redundant, and rushed releases resulted in underwhelming title releases, i.e., Aliens Vs. Predators: Requiem.

Why it matters: Movie tie-in games were perfect for exploring characters’ stories beyond cinema and in different entertainment mediums. It’s important to highlight what caused these issues and what the industry can do today to avoid repeating the same mistakes.

Downfall Of Video Games Based On Movies

GoldenEye 007
Golden Eye 007 Is One Of The Best Movie Tie-In Video Games

One of the reasons movie tie-in games were successful in the ’80s or ’90s was that both the video games and the movie tie-in concept were new. Moreover, video games back then were comparatively simplistic, based on a 2D space.

In the 2000s, however, video games had substantially evolved, with their budgets and overall scale increasing. It was difficult for developers to catch on to releasing these titles alongside the movies, which resulted in rushed releases.

It made sense because a film’s development took way less time than a video game, and it wasn’t the 80s and 90s anymore when developers would reskin a Metroidvania game and call it a day.

Moreover, most of the games followed the direct plot of their movie counterparts, making their success dependent on the movie’s quality and success. 

Consumers also expected better experiences for these games, which the developers failed to deliver. Publishers, on the other hand, started milking the IPs, which eventually caused the studios to withdraw their game licenses to avoid harming the IP.

These Tie-In Games Were Better Than Their Movie Counterparts

X-Men Origins: Wolverine
X-Men Origins: Wolverine Features Some Of The Boss Fights

Despite so many subpar movie tie-in video game releases in the 2000s, some amazing titles were also released in the era. I’d even argue that some games were better than their film counterparts.

Among these titles, I loved the Spider-Man games based on Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man movies. This was when superhero movies began to take off, and the Spider-Man games followed the same path to promoting superheroes in the video game realm.

Among other comic book movies, X-Men Origins: Wolverine is one of the best superhero games I’ve played. The game explores beyond the plot of its movie counterpart and is the most authentic Wolverine-style bloody video game experience.

Countless other examples of good licensed games aren’t necessarily film adaptations. These timeless classics include games like early Harry Potter titles, Golden Eye 007, and Simpson: Hit and Run, the kid-friendly version of GTA, are all timeless classics.

More Movie Tie-In Games Are Always Welcome

Avatar Frontiers of Pandora
Avatar Frontiers of Pandora Is Canon To James Cameron’s Avatar Movies

Many miss movie tie-in games but the concept didn’t completely vanish. Games like Shadow of Mordor prove this trend can still work today. However, creating IPs like the Arkham series and Marvel’s Spider-Man games leaves little room for movie tie-in games.

This is a great thing since we won’t get the direct adaptation of the film because that aspect is outdated. Instead, I’d prefer exploring more stories within the overarching storylines of the movies, something that Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora did.

Latest Updates

With the film industry’s shift towards shared universes, movie tie-in games are slowly becoming a trend again. James Gunn’s new DCU will have tie-in video games to the universe.

On the other hand, Control and Alan Wake can also get TV show adaptations. We’re at the dawn of another age of movie tie-in games, and this time, with the advancement of technology and studios taking a more creative and safer approach, they can be better than ever.

Corsair Custom Lab Introduces Artist Series With Stunning Custom Designs

[Press Release] Corsair Custom Lab has announced a new collaboration with three famous artists for a very limited drop.

Currently comprising the K65 Plus Wireless Keyboard, the M75 Wireless RGB Mouse, and the MM300 mouse pad, Custom Lab offers a personalized experience catered to your preferences.

As part of this goal, the latest collaboration borrows the artistic expertise of these illustrators to offer a bold range of custom accessories dubbed the Artist series.

First up on the list is Nacho Customz. Starting with hand-painted mouse designs, Nacho Customz quickly grew popular in the industry for a distinct graffiti style which was both bold and playful.

The same style is now heading to Custom Labs, bringing a touch of urban subculture to the PC gaming market.

Corsair Custom Lab Nacho Customz Art
Urban Graffiti Combines Bright And Dark Colors For A Distinct Look

On the other hand, Elina Clevergull’s bewitching Spellbound collection offers a peek into fantasy and supernatural elements. With Halloween coming up next month, Elina Clevergull’s custom art will ensure your PC setups are already prepared for all the spooky festivities of October.

Elina Clevergull Corsair Custom Lab Art
Channel Your Inner Horrors Ahead of Halloween With The Spellbound Collection

Yunzhen Ho wraps up the new offerings with a combination of nostalgia and wonder in the Spring Whisker collection. All three artists created truly unique designs as they worked with Corsair on bringing millions of PC setups to life.

Yunzhen Ho Corsair Custom Lab Art
Take A Trip Down Memory Lane With The Spring Whiskers Collection

According to Corsair, the Artist series is now up for sale and is backed by a 2-year warranty like other products from the company. For more information and details, head to the official website through this link.

Core Ultra 7 258V Achieves 32% Better Average Performance Than Z1 Extreme

In the console factor, AMD was in the lead due to their Ryzen Z1 Extreme APU, which provided incredible performance to consoles like ASUS ROG Ally. But now, the launch of Intel’s newest Core Ultra 200V series CPU has caused it to change.

According to benchmarks by GawroskiT on Twitter, the Intel Core Ultra 7 258V of the Lunar Lake family has surpassed the ASUS ROG Ally in performance.

Why it matters: While the Core Ultra 7 258V has surpassed the performance of Asus Rog Ally, the comparison might seem unfair given the massive difference in RAM.

Z1 Extreme AOTS
Benchmarks

It’s only been a few weeks since the features of the Lunar Lake family Intel Core Ultra 200V were revealed. The DRAM memory is integrated into the processor, improving the E-cores’ efficiency and performance.

If we compare it to its predecessor, over 50% of consumption has been reduced, making it faster than its predecessor and Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite with Arm architecture.

The GPU is more impressive, with up to 68% higher performance than the CPU. The Ryzen Z1 Extreme APU has been tested against the Core Ultra 7 258V CPU. As stated in X, it can be 1.5 to 2 times faster than AMD’s CPU, and “Normal Batch” makes this evident.

AMD settles for 48.8 FPS in this case, whereas Intel’s CPU manages 80.5 FPS. However, this is not all. There are some things in which AMD has a high hand. Just like we can see AMD has a slight advantage in average FPS, achieving 43.3 FPS vs Intel’s 41.6 FPS.

On the other hand, Intel uses a laptop processor with 32 GB of RAM, while AMD has an APU with 12 GB of RAM. This makes the competition a bit unfair. The fair match will be for the AMD’s upcoming Z2 extreme and Z2 APUs coming next year. 

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In this Ashes Of Singularity (AOTS) test, Intel Core Ultra 7 258V achieves 32% better average performance. However, we can not judge solely from this we must see other benchmarks in video games to see the real difference.

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