Editor's note: In June 2021, developer Square Enix released an upgraded version of Final Fantasy VII Remake for PlayStation 5, which included improved visuals and technical performance, as well as some new features, including a photo mode. Our impressions on how the improvements impact Final Fantasy VII Remake on PS5 are written by Phil Hornshaw. The original review of Final Fantasy VII Remake was first published in April 2020 and is written by Tamoor Hussain.

In the opening of Final Fantasy VII, Cloud Strife, a mercenary and former member of an elite private military group called SOLDIER, takes on a job with an eco-terrorist cell named Avalanche. Their mission is to blow up a reactor that siphons Mako, the lifeblood of the planet, and uses it to power the sprawling industrial metropolis Midgar. The group infiltrates, braves resistance from Shinra Electric Company's forces, and sets off an explosion that renders the reactor inoperable.

In the 1997 original, what followed was a hop, skip, and jump through a few sections of the city back to Sector 7, and the safety of Avalanche's hideout. In Final Fantasy VII Remake, having carried out the mission, you're asked to walk the streets in the aftermath and witness the harrowing consequences of your actions. The sector lies in ruin, fires rage, buildings are crumbling, and the heartbreaking human cost is laid bare.

All humans must keep indoors. All humans will self isolate. By order of the daleks.#COVID19 pic.twitter.com/tFKyQ0sDnj

— Sandford Police (@Sandford_Police) April 3, 2020

A first-person Resident Evil 8 will release sometime in 2021 for current and next gen consoles and will feature more “serious departures” from the mainline series, according to a new report from Video Game Chronicle.

VGC reports that they have verified the information provided by known Resident Evil leaker “Dusk Golem” on Twitter. That said, take the following information with a massive grain of salt, as previous reports from Dusk Golem on a “soft reboot” for Silent Hill were later squashed by Konami, so the track record thus far isn’t entirely perfect.

Golem stated on Twitter that Resident Evil 8 was previously a third Resident Evil Revelations game (which transitioned to a mainline title after positive feedback), and that it will feature new mechanics and themes like insanity, hallucinations, occultism, and not being able to trust others. Golem’s internal sources appear to be playtesters or Capcom ambassador program members - basically, fans who act as playtesters and possibly influencers.

Golem also stated that a gameplay sequence of Resident Evil 8 had been leaked to him, featuring a “sequence where you're in a village with multiple routes trying to make your way to a castle, being attacked by beast-men, zombies in armor with swords, and a witch that laughs a lot.”

According to VGC, it will again feature Resident Evil 7 protagonist Ethan Winters.

Capcom has not commented on the supposed leak yet, so again, take these statements for what they are: Rumors.

If true, this would make Resident Evil 8 the third RE game to release in three consecutive years.

Happy birthday to one of my absolute favorites! Love you 3000, @RobertDowneyJr pic.twitter.com/xkJmOivAdw

— Chris Evans (@ChrisEvans) April 4, 2020

Sending you all the virtual hugs for your birthday, @RobertDowneyJr I love you to life, 3000. It’s an honor knowing such a generous and complex man. pic.twitter.com/oufQoVy35V

— Mark Ruffalo (@MarkRuffalo) April 4, 2020

Happy Birthday, @RobertDowneyJr !!! pic.twitter.com/a6k0GQRb9W

— Taika Waititi (@TaikaWaititi) April 4, 2020

Thanks to everyone who put a smile on my face today. There's a lot of you out there... pic.twitter.com/IhmLnzbI3t

— Robert Downey Jr (@RobertDowneyJr) April 4, 2020

The Tiger King and I — a Tiger King after show hosted by Joel McHale and featuring brand new interviews with John Reinke, Joshua Dial, John Finlay, Saff, Erik Cowie, Rick Kirkman, and Jeff and Lauren Lowe — will premiere April 12 pic.twitter.com/8fbbNdaiDA

— Netflix (@netflix) April 9, 2020

So our friend @christie_dish listened to the podcast, @HoldingKourt and after last weeks episode decided to send us this!!!

BREAKING NEWS FOLKS There will be 1 more episode of #TigerKing on@Netflix pic.twitter.com/YeRSIlDKTJ — Justin Turner (@redturn2) April 4, 2020

GameStop has closed all of its stores in Massachusetts, including any curbside service, according to The Boston Globe. The closure also comes after a report that GameStop leadership instructed employees to wrap their hands in plastic or wear gloves while handing off orders to customers.

The state of Massachusetts ordered all nonessential businesses to close on March 24. GameStop pushed back against the closure order by saying it provided an essential service, a statement that appeared to apply to GameStop stores across the U.S.

After keeping stores operational despite the state government’s order, the inspectional services department for the City of Boston ordered GameStop’s Dorchester location to close. The Boston Globe reports that no fine was issued to GameStop, but a nuisance order was issued, and the inspector followed up by visiting the store location on Wednesday to ensure the store had actually closed.

GameStop confirmed to Boston Globe it had closed all Massachusetts stores on Thursday.

It's unclear If GameStop has fully shut down stores in other states, except for California, where GameStop eventually relented and followed the governor's shutdown order. IGN has reached out to GameStop for comment, but did not immediately receive a response.

[widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=gamestop-in-the-news-timeline&captions=true"]

Facing increasing pressure and criticism last month, GameStop finally relented and closed the physical storefronts of all U.S. locations on March 23, announcing the decision in a press release. Despite the announcement, many stores continued to offer curbside pickup for customer orders. According to Boston Globe, this included employees being instructed to either wear gloves or wrap their hands in plastic shopping bags while handing orders to customers through the crack in a door.

According to Boston Globe, In a company email, GameStop employees were specifically instructed to “lightly (you want to be able to get it off easily) tape a Game Stop plastic bag over your hand and arm. Do not open the door all the way — keep the glass between you and the guest’s face — just reach out your arm.”

GameStop has closed all of its stores in Massachusetts, including any curbside service, according to The Boston Globe. The closure also comes after a report that GameStop leadership instructed employees to wrap their hands in plastic or wear gloves while handing off orders to customers.

The state of Massachusetts ordered all nonessential businesses to close on March 24. GameStop pushed back against the closure order by saying it provided an essential service, a statement that appeared to apply to GameStop stores across the U.S.

After keeping stores operational despite the state government’s order, the inspectional services department for the City of Boston ordered GameStop’s Dorchester location to close. The Boston Globe reports that no fine was issued to GameStop, but a nuisance order was issued, and the inspector followed up by visiting the store location on Wednesday to ensure the store had actually closed.

GameStop confirmed to Boston Globe it had closed all Massachusetts stores on Thursday.

It's unclear If GameStop has fully shut down stores in other states, except for California, where GameStop eventually relented and followed the governor's shutdown order. IGN has reached out to GameStop for comment, but did not immediately receive a response.

[widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=gamestop-in-the-news-timeline&captions=true"]

Facing increasing pressure and criticism last month, GameStop finally relented and closed the physical storefronts of all U.S. locations on March 23, announcing the decision in a press release. Despite the announcement, many stores continued to offer curbside pickup for customer orders. According to Boston Globe, this included employees being instructed to either wear gloves or wrap their hands in plastic shopping bags while handing orders to customers through the crack in a door.

According to Boston Globe, In a company email, GameStop employees were specifically instructed to “lightly (you want to be able to get it off easily) tape a Game Stop plastic bag over your hand and arm. Do not open the door all the way — keep the glass between you and the guest’s face — just reach out your arm.”