Nintendo Is Pulling Animal Crossing, Fire Emblem Mobile Games In Belgium Amid Loot Box Concerns

Nintendo is shutting down two of its mobile games in Belgium this summer, the company has announced. Both Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp and Fire Emblem Heroes will be taken offline on August 27, after which point players will no longer be able to download or play the titles in the country.

According to Nintendo, the decision to shut the games down is due to the Belgian government’s stance on loot boxes (via Games Industry). The Belgian Gaming Commission ruled last year that loot boxes constituted gambling and recommended criminal prosecution against game developers who utilized such mechanics in their titles.

Nintendo is only the latest gaming company to change or outright pull its games in Belgium following the BGC’s ruling. Valve, Blizzard, and Rocket League developer Psyonix have removed the ability to purchase loot boxes in their titles in the country, while Square Enix shut down three of its mobile games. Nintendo says it will not release any future titles that employ loot box-like mechanics in the country.

Like many other mobile games, both Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp and Fire Emblem Heroes feature a form of premium in-game currency. In the former, these come in the form of Leaf Tickets, which can be exchanged for Fortune Cookies that contain a random item. The latter, meanwhile, has Orbs, which can be exchanged to summon new heroes. Players in Belgium can continue to purchase and redeem these currencies until the cutoff date.

Loot boxes have come under scrutiny in a number of different countries of late, including the US. Senator Josh Hawley recently announced he was introducing a bill that would ban loot boxes in games targeted at minors. Meanwhile, New Zealand and France had also recently undertaken their own investigations and ruled that loot boxes are not gambling.

Falcon & Winter Soldier Show Adds Key Marvel Characters

Disney’s streaming platform, Disney+, is set to launch in the fall, and the studio’s biggest properties are all getting new TV shows. Among them, several Marvel shows are on the way, including a series focusing the Falcon and the Winter Soldier. Anthony Mackie and Sebastian Stan are set to play the characters once more, and some of the supporting cast has now been revealed.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Daniel Brühl and Emily Van Camp will reprise their roles from 2016’s Captain America: Civil War. Bruhl plays the villainous Baron Zemo, while Van Camp will appear as Sharon Carter. Van Camp also appeared in Captain America: The Winter Soldier.

In addition, Falcon & Winter Soldier will be directed by Kari Skogland, whose extensive TV credits include The Handmaid’s Tale, Fear the Walking Dead, The Punisher, and House of Cards. It will be written by Empire’s Malcolm Spellman and will run for six episodes.

Although it was first rumored back in December, Falcon & Winter Soldier wasn’t confirmed until last month. The logo was revealed during a presentation of the Disney+ app at the studio’s Investor Day webinar.

Other Marvel series in the works for Disney + include shows focusing on Loki, Vision and Scarlet Witch, and Hawkeye. No release dates have been announced so far, but we will almost certainly see some in 2020. Disney+ launches on November 12 with a subscription price of $6.99 a month, or $69.99 for a year.

In related news, Avengers: Endgame continues to do incredible business at the worldwide box office. It is now the second most successful movie ever released in the US, beating James Cameron’s Avatar, and second only to Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

How Ghost Recon Breakpoint Is Redefining Survival

We’re rolling right along with our Ghost Recon Breakpoint IGN First this month, and today we’re bringing you a look at its survival features. Now, there’s an important distinction to be made here: Breakpoint isn’t a “survival” game, it’s a game about survival. Watch the video above to hear Ubisoft breakdown what that actually means, and explain why you won’t need to drink or eat to stay alive.

You can also catch up with all of our previous Breakpoint IGN First features right here, including a first look at its online social hub and a look back at how the Ghost Recon series has evolved. You can also watch our hands-on Breakpoint preview below.

Continue reading…

These Game of Thrones Funkos Are All the Rage

If you buy something through this post, IGN may get a share of the sale. For more, read our Terms of Use.

Game of Thrones has come to an end, but you don’t have to forget about the characters you’ve come to love (at least until GRRM publishes the next book). One way to remember them is to preorder the collector’s edition Blu-ray box set while it’s on sale for 24% off. Another way is to grab some simply adorable Game of Thrones Funko figures and put them on display. They’re inexpensive and they look great–and there’s a ton of them. Here are some of our favorites.

Continue reading…

Red Dead Redemption 2 Online Adds More PS4 Timed-Exclusive Content

Red Dead Redemption 2‘s multiplayer mode, Red Dead Online, received a huge update last week, finally bringing it out of its beta phase. Rockstar has now rolled out another update for the online mode, introducing yet more Free Roam missions and other content–including a new batch of timed-exclusive goodies for PS4.

With this week’s RDO update, PS4 players have early access to a brand-new weapon, the “devastating” Ancient Tomahawk. You can pick one up for free from your local Fence, regardless of your rank. Going along with it is a new Showdown mode called Make It Count, a battle royale-style free-for-all that has players vying to be the last one standing on a shrinking battlefield using nothing but the Ancient Tomahawk.

Additionally, PS4 players can pick up the Perlino Andalusian Horse, which has higher stamina than a standard steed. There’s also a new assortment of clothing and emotes, as well as a second brand-new Showdown mode, Last Stand. This mode has players fighting to survive in frantic two-minute rounds. You can read more details on the PlayStation Blog.

No Caption ProvidedGallery image 1Gallery image 2

On top of the new content, Rockstar is extending a special offer for PS4 players. Those without a PS Plus subscription, which you typically need in order to play online games on the console, will be able to jump into Red Dead Online for free until May 27. You’ll still need to own a copy of Red Dead Redemption 2 to get access to Red Dead Online, but you’ll be able to try its online mode out for a limited time at no cost. You’ll also be able to get a discount on a PS Plus subscription if you decide to sign up after the trial period.

Like Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 and a handful of other games, Red Dead Online offers some timed-exclusive content for PS4. Those playing on Sony’s console get early access to select weapons, modes, and other things 30 days before they go live on Xbox One. Past timed-exclusive content included the Red Chestnut Arabian Horse and the Open Target Races mode.

Rockstar has more updates in store for Red Dead Online over the next few weeks. On May 28, the developer is introducing another new Showdown mode, Head for the Hills, as well as a Wild Animal Kills Free Roam challenge. You can read more about what’s on the way to Red Dead Online soon on Rockstar’s website.

Black Mirror Season 5: “Rachel, Jack And Ashley, Too” Trailer Features Miley Cyrus Robo-Doll

The sci-fi anthology satire Black Mirror is set to return to Netflix on June 5, and following last week’s first trailer, we now know more about the three new episodes. While the first promo didn’t always make it clear what the individual stories would be, the streaming giant has now released separate details and trailers for each episode.

The episode featuring pop star Miley Cyrus is titled “Rachel, Jack and Ashley, Too.” Cyrus plays–you guess it–a pop star, but one whose public persona and private life seem very different. In addition, she’s loaned her name and voice to a series of sinister robo-dolls, which a lonely teenager called Rachel (Madison Davenport) has recently acquired. Check the trailer out below.

The other episodes in the new season of Black Mirror are titled “Smithereens” and “Striking Vipers.” The former stars Andrew Scott (Sherlock) and Topher Grace (Blackkklansman) and looks at the dangers of app addiction, while “Striking Vipers” features Marvel stars Anthony Mackie and Pom Klementieff, alongside Aquaman’s Yahya Abdul-Mateen II. According to the official synopsis, this episode focuses on two estranged college friends who “reunite in later life, triggering a series of events that could alter their lives forever.”

Black Mirror Season 5 will be the first release from the show since the interactive special Bandersnatch, which hit the service in December 2018. Prior to that, Season 4 was released in December 2017. For more on Black Mirror, check out our look at the most WTF moments in Season 4 and all the Season 4 Easter Eggs.

This Week’s New Movie Releases In Stores And Digitally

If you’re looking for something new to watch at home but don’t want to wait until it releases on one of the various streaming services like Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, or Netflix, then you’re probably aware that each week, various digital storefronts release new movies. Additionally, on Tuesdays, physical copies of movies come out at various retailers as well.

This is a pretty light week for releases on both the digital and physical fronts. If you don’t subscribe to Netflix–which feels like a weird statement–and you want to check out one of the service’s more popular series, Season 2 of 13 Reasons Why is available for purchase today. The show follows teenagers at a high school and how they deal with the suicide of one of their peers. There aren’t a lot of other notable releases, aside from Tyler Perry’s latest Madea movie.

If you want to head to an actual store–or just jump on Amazon–you can pick up The Upside or the latest How To Train Your Dragon movie. However, one of the most fun releases this week is Isn’t It Romantic. Rebel Wilson stars as a woman stuck in a rut who somehow gets transported into a typical romantic comedy, but only she realizes this. Her cynicism drives the comedy in the film, and it’s the perfect date movie, with a little something for everyone. It may drag at times, and it flat out becomes a rom-com towards the end, but this is still a solid watch.

Below, you’ll find the full list for this week’s releases, both digitally and physically. There are also links to connect you to purchase them if you like.

Digital

Physical

Some links to supporting retailers are automatically made into affiliate links, and GameSpot may receive a small share of those sales.

Get A Free Game With Purchase Of Nintendo 2DS Bundle

We’re well into the era of the Nintendo Switch, but there’s still a nostalgic charm to Nintendo’s handheld consoles of the past. Released in 2013, the Nintendo 2DS isn’t that old, but even at the time it was released, it felt like a step back from the 3D technology introduced with its predecessor, the 3DS. The 2DS was marketed as a more affordable option ($40 cheaper than the 3DS at launch), and some find the tablet shape more comfortable than the 3DS’ clamshell design.

If you’ve been wanting to pick up a Nintendo 2DS, GameStop currently has a great deal on the handheld console. When you purchase a 2DS bundle with New Super Mario Bros. 2, you’ll also receive your choice of a free game. The free games available include:

Each of the above games sells for $20 at GameStop (and New Super Mario Bros. 2 sells for $30 on its own), so getting a brand-new (not refurbished) 2DS with two games for $80 is a pretty solid deal. This offer expires Sunday, May 26, so act fast if you want to claim it. You’ll have to add both the console bundle and your selected game to your cart, where you’ll see the discount applied.

As a reminder, the 2DS can play both DS and 3DS games; it’ll just show the 2D visuals. The handheld is a perfect way to revisit some of the best games of the 3DS era, and it also makes a great gift for young ones who are just getting into gaming.

GET A FREE GAME WITH NINTENDO 2DS BUNDLE ($80) »

Black Mirror Season 5: “Smithereens” Trailer Confronts App Addiction

Last week it was announced that the sci-fi anthology satire Black Mirror will be returning to Netflix on June 5. Season 5 will consist of three new episodes and while the first trailer was very impressive, it wasn’t always clear what the individual stories would be. Now Netflix has released separate trailers and details for each episode.

The first trailer is the episode that opened that initial promo. It’s titled “Smithereens,” and the official synopsis states that it focuses on a “cab driver with an agenda who becomes the centre of attention on a day that rapidly spirals out of control.” This episode stars Andrew Scott (Sherlock, Spectre), Topher Grace (Blackkklansman), and Damson Idris (The Twilight Zone) and seems to center on the dangers of app addiction. Check it out below:

The other episodes in the new season of Black Mirror are titled “Rachel, Jack and Ashley, Too,” and “Striking Vipers.” The former stars Miley Cyrus as a pop star whose “charmed existence isn’t quite as rosy it appears,” with Madison Davenport (Sharp Objects) as a teenage fan. “Striking Vipers,” meanwhile, features Marvel stars Anthony Mackie and Pom Klementieff, alongside Aquaman’s Yahya Abdul-Mateen II. This episode centers on “two estranged college friends who reunite in later life, triggering a series of events that could alter their lives forever.”

Black Mirror Season 5 will be the first release from the show since the interactive special Bandersnatch, which hit the service in December 2018. Prior to that, Season 4 was released in December 2017. For more on Black Mirror, check out our look at the most WTF moments in Season 4 and all the Season 4 Easter Eggs.

Dauntless Becomes First Game To Launch With PS4 Cross-Play

Dauntless has fulfilled its “One Dauntless” promise as it launches today with full cross-play and cross-progression on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC on the Epic Games Store and is the first game to launch with this functionality for PS4.

Phoenix Labs’ free-to-play co-op action-RPG Dauntless’ promise of a “One Dauntless” for all players around the world to play together, no matter where they play, was a “truly audacious goal,” but one that was very important for the team in its mission.

“When we first started talking about ‘One Dauntless,’ we knew it was a truly audacious goal,” Jesse Houston, CEO and co-founder of Phoenix Labs said. “No one has ever launched on console with full cross-play support from the start, but we believed in our vision and, thankfully, our friends at Epic Games, Sony, and Microsoft did too. Keeping the community connected is one of our top priorities, and with all the new players coming in at launch, there’s never been a better time to be a Slayer in Dauntless.”

Continue reading…