Zavala’s Legacy Continues with Keith David as New Voice Actor
Lance Reddick, the voice actor for Commander Zavala in Destiny, passed away earlier this year. Zavala is a major character in the Destiny universe and his voice has been a staple of the game since its inception. Bungie has announced that Keith David, a veteran actor with a long history in video games, will be the new voice actor for Zavala in the upcoming expansion, The Final Shape. Bungie is confident that David will be able to capture the essence of Zavala and continue his legacy.
EA to Shut Down Online Services for Crysis 3, Dante’s Inferno, Dead Space 2, and Restaurant Dash: Gordon Ramsey
EA will be shutting down online services for several games later this year, including Crysis 3, Dante’s Inferno, and Dead Space 2. This means that the multiplayer modes for these games will no longer be playable. Crysis 3 will be the first to be affected, with its servers shutting down on September 7th. The remastered version of the game, which does not include multiplayer, will not be affected. Dante’s Inferno and Dead Space 2 will follow on December 8th. This will also affect the online co-op mode for Dante’s Inferno and the Outbreak mode for Dead Space 2.
This is not the first time that EA has shut down online services for older games. In recent years, the company has also discontinued online support for games such as Battlefield 3, Medal of Honor: Warfighter, and Need for Speed: The Run.
The reason for these shutdowns is likely due to the cost of maintaining online servers for older games. As games get older, the number of players who are still playing them decreases, which makes it less financially viable for publishers to keep the servers running.
Studio Ghibli Unveils First Images from Hayao Miyazaki’s Final Film ‘The Boy and the Heron’ Ahead of North American Release
Studio Ghibli surprised fans by sharing the first images from Hayao Miyazaki’s final film, “The Boy and the Heron” (also known as “How Do You Live?”), ahead of its North American release. These detailed, lush, and vibrant images depict a grand and mystical world, reminiscent of Miyazaki’s previous works like “Castle in the Sky” and “Spirited Away.” The film, based on a 1937 novel, marks Miyazaki’s return from retirement, as he felt compelled to create one more feature-length film. While a North American release date has yet to be announced, the movie is expected to hit theaters in the region by the end of the year.
Early Launch for ‘Assassin’s Creed Mirage’ as Game Goes Gold
Ubisoft has revealed that “Assassin’s Creed Mirage” will now launch a week ahead of schedule on October 5, as the game has already gone gold, indicating its completion. The announcement on Twitter stated that players can anticipate exploring 9th Century Baghdad with Basim, embracing a return to the series’ original gameplay and duration. Unlike “Assassin’s Creed Valhalla,” Mirage’s combat is a final resort, and its map size is smaller, akin to “Assassin’s Creed Unity’s” Paris, with an estimated completion time of 20 to 23 hours.
Diablo 3’s Season 29 Introduces Solo Self Found Mode
Blizzard unveils the upcoming Season 29 for Diablo 3, marking the final content update for the long-standing action RPG. A major highlight is the inclusion of the highly requested Solo Self Found mode, where players experience a true solo adventure with no trading, party bonuses, or external assistance, accompanied by a dedicated leaderboard and a Hardcore variant. Season 29 also brings Visions of Enmity through Diabolical Fissures, new monster affixes, a raised Paragon ceiling to 800 Paragon Points, class balance adjustments, and quality-of-life improvements. These changes arrive in Diablo 3 Patch 2.7.6 Public Test Realm from August 15 to 29. While fans celebrate the support for Diablo 3, hopes rise among Diablo 4 enthusiasts for similar features and a PTR system as the Diablo 3 development team shifts focus to Diablo 4 following Season 29.
Overwatch 2 Receives Worst User Reviews on Steam
Overwatch 2 has garnered significant negative attention on Steam, becoming the lowest-rated game on the platform, with an approval rating of just 10% from over 92,000 user reviews. The critiques primarily revolve around its monetization model, as the game transitioned from a premium title to a free-to-play sequel, rendering the original Overwatch unplayable. The cancellation of the anticipated PvE Hero mode also fueled disappointment. Chinese players, who account for a significant portion of reviews, express further frustration due to Blizzard’s distribution agreement fallout with NetEase, which led to account access issues. While the launch on Steam provides an international platform for venting, slow logins and poor connections persist, resulting in surprising positive reviews for a different game to express discontent. This situation underscores Overwatch’s enduring popularity in China and the release of pent-up frustration.
Marvel’s Jason Aaron Returns to DC Roots for Batman: Off-World Adventure
Renowned comic book writer Jason Aaron, celebrated for his Marvel work, including runs on titles like X-Men, Thor, and The Avengers, is revisiting his beginnings at DC’s Vertigo imprint with a new venture, “Batman: Off-World.” Teaming up with artist Doug Mankhe, Aaron is taking Batman on an unprecedented interstellar journey, where the Caped Crusader faces an extraterrestrial foe in a daring solo mission into the cosmos. Aaron’s deep connection with DC comics and his excitement to contribute to the main DC Universe mark a significant return to the publisher after his earlier projects like The Other Side and Scalped. The release of “Batman: Off-World” on November 21 has both fans and the author eagerly anticipating this new chapter in the DC universe.
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