Vishal Kamal has been covering video games for 7 years, writing about everything from hardware deals and new releases to esports and the business
side of the industry. He runs TheBadGamer, focused on gaming news worth your time.
Final Fantasy 14 players in Japan can receive exclusive in-game rewards, including the Megashiba Mount, a giant dog, by participating in the Hometown tax initiative. This collaboration between Shibuya Ward and Square Enix offers six reward sets, ranging from costumes to Phials of Fantasia, in exchange for redirecting residence tax. While available for purchase worldwide through the game's store, the items hold special cultural significance for Japanese players.
A scrapped Star Wars TV series, conceived by George Lucas, would have explored Emperor Palpatine's ascent to power in a narrative likened to Adolf Hitler's rise. Actor Ian McDiarmid, who portrayed Palpatine, shared insights into the project, which was discussed with him directly by Lucas. The series, potentially part of the long-gestating "Star Wars Underworld" concept, never progressed due to ambitious scope and high costs.
Square Enix's latest update to Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles introduces New Game+, UI enhancements, and a Zodiac Compatibility feature, but fans remain disappointed by the ongoing absence of The War of Lions content. The update, released on June 17, aims to enrich gameplay with carry-over units and inventory. However, the lack of new difficulty levels and War of Lions additions leaves some players underwhelmed.
Vampire Survivors' crossover with Fortnite is under review following Epic's reveal of generative AI usage in game development, sparking mixed community reactions. The move comes as Epic highlights AI's role in speeding up content creation, despite recent layoffs. Fans praise Poncle's cautious stance.
Apple CEO Tim Cook has announced that price increases for some Apple products are inevitable due to skyrocketing memory and storage chip costs. This surge, driven by the AI industry's high demand, affects not just Apple but also impacts the gaming world, with console prices rising instead of dropping. Gamers can expect continued financial strain as the next console generation is also impacted.
Discover how the new Summon System in Granblue Fantasy: Relink - Endless Ragnarok revolutionizes gameplay with over 100 summons. Launching July 9, this expansion promises to elevate the Action RPG experience. With summons, chaos difficulty, and more, Endless Ragnarok is set to delight both veterans and new players.
The long-running reality TV show Survivor is branching out into animation with a big-screen comedy featuring contestants from the animal kingdom. Set on a mystical island, the film promises to retain the essence of Survivor with "big personalities, funny characters, surprising alliances, competition, chaos, and heart." Host Jeff Probst is on board as an executive producer, excited about the new "playground" of animal characters.
Marvel's Spider-Man 2 receives a free update on July 28th, introducing a new suit inspired by the Brand New Day storyline, an amalgam of suits from three Spider-Man film franchises. This revised suit, influenced by fan feedback sought by Tom Holland during the film's development, will be available for all players on PS5. The update marks a rare content addition to the game after years.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 1 and 2 are making a return to gaming via new ports developed by Iron Galaxy, set to launch on PlayStation platforms in July. These ports will include the full package: Campaign, Multiplayer, and Zombies. The exact PlayStation platforms are yet to be confirmed, with potential for PS4 and backwards compatibility on PS5.
Marvel's Spider-Man 2 incorporates another cinematic costume, bridging the gap between the movie and game universes. This addition enriches the game's vast costume collection, offering players more variety. The move highlights Insomniac Games' commitment to fan service.
