Murphy's Multiverse

Tag: Gaming

  • Merle Dandridge to Reprises ‘The Last of Us’ Role in Upcoming HBO Series

    Merle Dandridge to Reprises ‘The Last of Us’ Role in Upcoming HBO Series

    HBO’s The Last of Us adaptation has found its Marlene in Merle Dandridge. A prominent character in the first installment of the game back in 2013, Marlene is the leader of the Fireflies, a revolutionary militia group developed after a fungus outbreak that swept the planet. Initially thought of to be one of the good guys, who would help both Joel (Pedro Pascal) and Ellie (Bella Ramsey) develop a cure for the disease, she turns into the final antagonist of the first game.

    After several casting choices that seem to deviate from the profiles that the characters in the game series brought us, bringing Dandrige on board feels interesting. It would seem that even with all the changes to the source material such an adaptation usually entails, Marlene is someone that the production team, which was also heavily involved in developing the game series, feels should be brought to life on the small screen with little to no differences to its video game counterpart.

     

     

    HBO’s The Last of Us doesn’t yet have a release date but with several key casting choices already made, we should maybe get updates on the production’s timeline in the coming weeks. It’ll be interesting to see how much the adaptation changes from the original games, as they might take some unique directions with the franchise. There is also the question of how much of the story will take place within the series’ run time, as they may split up the original game through multiple seasons. They could even explore the time between the 2014 game and its sequel to flesh out the characters. Hopefully, we’ll find out more in the coming weeks.

    Source: THR

  • RUMOR: Title for 2022’s New ‘Sonic the Hedgehog’ Game Leaks Online

    RUMOR: Title for 2022’s New ‘Sonic the Hedgehog’ Game Leaks Online

    A few hours ago, Team Sonic revealed the first new entry in the franchise since 2017’s Sonic Forces. The pandemic didn’t help matters, as it delayed the release and announcement by quite a bit but it luckily was able to kick off the 30th anniversary of Sonic the Hedgehog. They didn’t offer any details on what the title will be called or what type of game it might be. The teaser simply showed our favorite hedgehog running freely through the forest before leaving a weird symbol behind. Well, one gaming modder took their time to analyze the 4K version of the new game’s teaser that may have revealed the game’s title.

    Now, the fact that it might be called Sonic Rangers is even more interesting if you consider that some time ago there was a leak in January that mentioned a game with the same title. The franchise is not a stranger to 4chan leaks but so far only the gaming retailer leak for Sonic Colors Ultimate was confirmed. Of course, we still have to take this with a grain of salt as they could easily change the title at any point during development. There is also the question of this was just a test title that was added into the teaser’s assets. Sega did tease more reveals throughout the rest of the year. So, hopefully, we’ll get a better picture of what we can expect from the 2022 entry into the franchise and if we might be entering a completely new world of Sonic action.

     

    Source: Twitter, YouTube

  • Sony Currently Not Developing a ‘God of War’ Film or Series

    Sony Currently Not Developing a ‘God of War’ Film or Series

    Sony is currently on a new high developing film or TV series based on their most popular franchises. The new direction will be kicked off with the Tom Holland-led Uncharted film. We also already heard of a TV series based on Twisted Metal and the recent hit Ghost of Tsushima getting a film treatment. Of course, it led to speculation that some of their other classic IPs would also get some cinematic love moving forward, but it looks like one project remains a pure gaming property for now. In a New York Times article on the resurgence of gaming adaptations, Sony’s spokesman confirms that a God of War adaptation is currently not in development.

    So, the question is why aren’t they developing something surrounding one of their most popular franchises? There could be multiple reasons as the next entry is around the corner. Sony might not want to cause any confusion with the franchises’ move towards Nordic mythology while any adaptations return to their Greek roots. It would be a clever way to help newcomers to the franchise explore the character’s origins.

    As the article states, it doesn’t exclude that a project might be in the pipeline later down the line. There is a good chance we could potentially see them start development at a later time, as they will focus on current projects. Ghost of Tsushima, Uncharted, Twisted Metal, and what other projects are kind development might take up enough time. A project recreating the Greek pantheon might be quite costly and better off kept if other investments pay off.

    Source: NY Times

  • Latest ‘Marvel’s Avengers’ Dev Stream Teases a Big Summer

    Latest ‘Marvel’s Avengers’ Dev Stream Teases a Big Summer

    Marvel’s Avengers released its second event with the Red Room Takeover. Of course, that also means we get our weekly developer stream that offers insight into what is happening with the game. They went through the usual bug discussions. Yet, there was also some curious teases about what we can expect this summer. Without further ado, let’s jump into the updates

    • They have discussed some ongoing bugs. Some Red Room Takeover players have an issue with loading the second wave, which is getting looked at. There is also a bug that you won’t receive the reward that is getting looked at.
    • Champion levels have a UI issue, where they say +3 rather than 3%. They work as intended but will offer clarification soon.
    • The largest hint involved future updates, especially regarding new enemy types. It got confirmed that we will get a large batch of new enemies this summer, which could hint at Black Panther’s release. A brief mention also mentioned multiple villain sectors getting included in the expansion. There was a brief tease that Wakanda will be the most comic-inspired of all their design.
    • If you haven’t unlocked the nameplate for the Hulu MODOK show, you can unlock it by finishing the boss battle with the iconic Marvel villain.

     

    Marvel's Avengers gets a Black Panther expansion later this year • Eurogamer.net

     

    • Patrol Mode will not include a mini-map, but you can expect a new update that helps guide you through the open world.
    • Omega-Level Threats may release in the next patch, but that is not definite. They are currently working on three with the Cloning Lab to follow the first one’s release. There is also a big maybe in regards to a MODOK multiplayer mission.
    • They are looking into implementing the possibility to play multiple heroes as a permanent addition due to its popularity after the Tachyon Anomaly event.
    • Crystal Dynamics is taking a closer look at the feedback on the skins, especially regarding hair.
    • Elevator conversations are being looked into due to newer generations’ faster loading time skipping the elevator sequences.
    • Gear 2.0 will see incremental changes that offer more flexibility on how to establish your build.

    It sounds like some larger updates are definitely in development. Crystal Dynamics has confirmed that the current event was intended as a minor update, as they are trying to focus their work on what is heading our way. Here’s hoping the upcoming E3 and Summer Game Fest events will offer more details on what the future holds for the game.

    Source: Twitch

  • ‘Sonic the Hedgehog 2’ Plot Leaks Online

    ‘Sonic the Hedgehog 2’ Plot Leaks Online

    Here’s an interesting way for a film’s first description to find its way online. The United States Copyright Office released an entry for the upcoming sequel of 2020’s Sonic the Hedgehog. The problem is that it includes the film’s first official description. There is a chance that it may change but only continue reading at your own risk if you want to avoid any spoilers regarding the film’s plot. There are some considerable reveals included in the plot. It was first found by Twitter user @Ninja_risu.

    After settling in Green Hills, Sonic is ready for more freedom, and Tom and Maddie agree to leave him home while they go on vacation. But, no sooner are they gone, when Dr. Robotnik comes back, this time with a new partner, Knuckles, in search for an emerald that has the power to both build and destroy civilizations. Sonic teams up with his own sidekick, Tails, and together they embark on a journey to find the emerald before it falls into the wrong hands.

    It looks like Sonic will be on his own, as James Marsden and Tika Sumpter only have brief appearances in the film. The plot also confirms the return of Jim Carrey, which was uncertain until now. Dr. Robotnik was a highlight of the first film and it is great to know the actor will return to the role. Knuckles’ involvement already hinted at the live-action appearance of Master Emerald, which may tie into Sonic’s origin story teased in the first entry. It’ll be curious to see if it also sets up the existence of the Chaos Emeralds in the real-world or they might travel through some alternative dimensions.

    Source: United States Copyright Office

  • Animated ‘Injustice’ Film In Development

    Animated ‘Injustice’ Film In Development

    Many fans always wondered what would happen if the DC Universe got turned upside down. What would happen if Superman embraced a darker side? The various Crisis events in the DC universe did tease this potential, but it wasn’t until NetherRealm Studio that went all-in with their Injustice franchise. The fighting games pitted villains and heroes alike to see who would be the last one standing. Its story was a standout when the first entry, Injustice: Gods Among Us, released in 2013. Now, WB Home Entertainment announced they are developing an animated film based on the Injustice franchise. We didn’t receive any details on the project, but we can expect an advanced sneak peek available in the upcoming release of the Batman: The Long Halloween Part II animated film.

    With the film getting announced out of nowhere, there’s little to no information on the project. Warner Bros has not announced any plot details or casting as of now. The film could be an animated retelling or be part of their new choose-your-own-adventure animated films. WB Animation released an animated retelling of Under The Red Hood that gave the viewer a choice on how the events unfolded

    The games did something similar. In the ending of Injustice 2, you were given a choice that resulted in one of two endings. One resulted in Superman getting banished to the Phantom Zone while the other saw him combine with Brainiac. As a consequence, he built an army to protect Earth and continue his rule overall. The games had an amazing roster to play with and we can expect a lot of familiar faces in the upcoming film. Here’s hoping the sneak peek offers more details on what to expect.

    Source: Comic Book

  • Latest ‘Marvel’s Avengers’ Dev Stream Offer Further Details on Champions System and Upcoming Event

    Latest ‘Marvel’s Avengers’ Dev Stream Offer Further Details on Champions System and Upcoming Event

    Crystal Dynamics has offered some details on the upcoming updates in the latest Marvel’s Avengers dev stream. A few days ago, we got our first details on the next part of the Red Room Takeover event alongside the new Champion system.

    • Next week’s patch 1.7 will feature various fixes, such as Hulk’s Tropical outfit, Hawkeye’s Counter-Earth mask, and Black Widow’s Outrider. Mega Hives are still being worked on.
    • Red Room Takeover is built on a storyline that was teased in the Rooskaya Protocols. The event will include five unique HARM Rooms that will challenge your actions. The layouts will be unique and mix up the gameplay in single-player missions. You can die instantly if you fall into the techno lava pits but the same goes for your enemies. It’ll kick off their focus on offering more challenging gameplay that will continue with the Omega-Level Threats. They also want to use these opportunities to offer new content and learn as they work on bigger drops.

    https://twitter.com/PlayAvenger/status/1393315660214771713

    • It’ll add new Mission Chains that reward gear, polychoron, animated nameplates, and XP bonuses to push the Champion system. Once you reach Level 50, all the XP you collect will be used for Champion XP, which will be gold on your nameplate. It’ll be made available as of Tuesday with the latest patch. In total, you can reach up to Level 372 as each level increases. The long-tail system provides players unique customization per character, which is why it is unique per character. Once you invest a Champion Skill Point you cannot retract it.
    • The addition of new consumables in the form of Hero’s Catalyst will add new options for players. The first will upgrade XP gain and will be made available for free with plans to make them earnable in-game.

    They teased that the Champions system might be the foundation for future additions. Gear 2.0 was teased throughout various dev streams to offer more customization. It’ll be interesting to see how the game continues to grow with further updates.

    Source: Twitch, Twitter

  • ‘Marvel’s Avengers’ Reveals First Red Room Takeover Details and New Champion System

    ‘Marvel’s Avengers’ Reveals First Red Room Takeover Details and New Champion System

    Marvel’s Avengers second event had a soft launch with the Rooskaya Protocols, which was a small tie-over event to farm some resources. With only one more week to go, Crystal Dynamics offered some more details on the second half that will see the true Red Room Takeover. It will kick off after Jimmy Woo notices that anomalies are in the HARM Rooms that seem to be linked to a virus. It turns out it’s the same hacked IP address as the Rooskaya Protocols, which were all manipulated by Yelena Belova. Players will get access to new mission chains and play through the single-player event, as multiple of the hacked rooms will be available to play. They will scale from one to 120 in power level.

     

     

    The interesting aspect is that these aren’t just battle simulations, but will also test traversal and evasion abilities. There will be various hazards including Techno Lava that can kill you instantly. Red Lightning can also cause a lot of damage if you get too close. They did confirm you can get some tips and tricks in next week’s weekly blog, but each HARM room will have a unique layout. The event will reward an exclusive animated nameplate, a lot of XP. That is actually important, as they are introducing the first post-Level 50 content, the Champion System.

     

     

    Every hero’s level is capped at 50 at the moment. So, to expand your character’s capabilities, you’ll be able to gather so-called Champion XP. It’ll upgrade you to receive a unique Champion Skill Point that can be used on various skills. These are available in the menu and add permanent increases to your character’s perks. It’ll release next Tuesday before the Red Room Takeover event starts on May 20th. The hacked HARM Rooms will be playable until May 31st.

    Source: Play Avengers

  • ‘Nier Reincarnation’: New English Trailer Released Alongside Western Pre-Registration

    ‘Nier Reincarnation’: New English Trailer Released Alongside Western Pre-Registration

    Yoko Taro‘s remake of Nier Replicant has finally released, which offers those that missed out on the cult classics release a look at a world long before Nier Automata. He has also been busy working on the mobile addition titled Nier Reincarnation, which follows the story of a Girl in White, who is exploring the realm known only as Cage. Alongside the ghost Mama, she tries to unravel the mysteries of this place and uncovers hidden secrets of the franchise’s history.

    To kick off the game’s pre-order on iOS and Android, IGN revealed a new trailer showcasing the game with its English dubbing. While trying to pre-register the game via the iOs App store, it also includes the potential release date. It seems that the game might be available around November, which could change depending on how production is going.

     

     

    The mobile game includes many core members of the Nier development team, such as producer Yosuke Saito and composer Keiichi Okabe. As we can clearly hear from the latest trailer, Okabe‘s work remains as hypnotic as ever, as we enter a new era of the Nier franchise. It Is crazy to think how far the franchise has come considering it was a spin-off from Drakengard‘s joke ending. There was also the reveal that we can expect a Drakengard 3 event in the game, which will bring in its protagonist Zero. Reincarnation might be the game to tie together the loose threads weaved between the various franchises and unravel how it is all connected.

    Source: IGN, YouTube, Siliconera

  • Latest ‘Marvel’s Avengers’ Dev Stream Reveals First Fully Animated Hawkeye Nameplate

    Latest ‘Marvel’s Avengers’ Dev Stream Reveals First Fully Animated Hawkeye Nameplate

    Marvel’s Avengers has entered its second event with the Red Room Takeover. We are currently going through a pre-event with the Rooskya Protocols before the second part kicks off on May 20th. Of course, we also got a developer stream this week with some more details on what we can expect. Crystal Dynamics welcomed a new member of the developer stream and offered some details on short-term content.

    • They got joined by their Experience Director Tore Blystad who is responsible for various aspects of game development. He oversees scripts, animations, cinematics, mission types, etc.
    • Next week we will get a blog post with more detail on post-Level 50, the Roadmap will get an update, and, of course, the next part of the Red Room event. The next dev stream will feature a designer.
    • Red Room Takeover got briefly highlighted. We will get more details next week with a trailer also teased in the stream. Tore did reveal that these will be unique gauntlet missions. You can fall into lava or even shove your enemies into it.

     

    Which Marvel's Avengers Video Game Character Are You? - D23

     

    • Omega Level Threats are right around the according to CD. They revealed that it won’t be the Cloning Labs, as they have adjusted the release order. Still, it is great to see that we are finally getting one in the upcoming patches. He needs to confirm which number.
    • The developers have confirmed that their teams do not interfere with content progressions. So, those working on OLTs are not affected by event developments.
    • He teased that we will see a lot more Marvel integration in the future.
    • CD is looking
    • Patrol Mode, Cosmic Cube, and War of Wakanda will be larger updates in comparison to the current events.
    • We got our first look at a fully animated Hawkeye-inspired nameplate, which is ripped straight out of My Life as a Weapon.

     

    https://twitter.com/PlayAvenger/status/1390780405234737156?s=20

    There are some exciting things in the works, and I cannot wait to get my hands on an Omega-Level Threat. We’ve been anxiously awaiting the endgame content that got delayed due to the ongoing pandemic. It’ll be interesting to see what it adds to the game and how it may change the way we tackle these missions with our favorite Marvel heroes. Also, the mention of the implementation of more “Marvel DNA” in the future is an exciting prospect, which I hope they can talk about shortly.

    Source: Twitter, Play Avengers