WB Changes Batgirl’s Gotham Knights Biography Following Criticism
WB Montreal has responded to criticism that Batgirl's official biography for Gotham Knights is a harmful trope of disabled people, and has made adjustments to her description accordingly.
In a Discord Q&A, as reported by Eurogamer, Gotham Knights developers acknowledged the controversy around Barbara Gordon, whose biography was published to the game's website recently. The initial criticism of her backstory centered on her ending up in a wheelchair after an unspecified "face-off" but returning to "active duty" as Batgirl following training.
While it's unclear what her injury in Gotham Knights entails, in the comics, Barbara is shot in the spine, and many fans pointed out that overcoming a disability through sheer training and determination is an inaccurate and harmful trope throughout media.
During the Q&A, however, creative director Patrick Redding said that the Gotham Knights team "worked with the awesome folks at AbleGamers to learn about different types of spinal injuries and the potential for someone to regain mobility."
He then noted that her biography on the official website has since been adjusted to read, "With extensive training and rehabilitation, she recovered from her wounds, and returned to active duty as Batgirl." Additionally, he clarified that the specifics of her injury in Gotham Knights would differ from the comics, and that she had undergone multiple surgeries, physical therapy, and pain management. She also wears clothing with "back bracing integrated," and some of her rehabilitation process will be depicted in Gotham Knights itself.
Gotham Knights is headed to PS5, Xbox Series X and S, and PC on October 25, but will skip PS4 and Xbox One. It's set in a different universe from the Arkhan games, and includes a combat system specifically designed for co-op.
Rebekah Valentine is a news reporter for IGN. You can find her on Twitter @duckvalentine.
Mario Strikers: Battle League Gets a Free Demo
Much like Nintendo's other online-heavy games on Nintendo Switch, like Splatoon 2, Nintendo Switch Sports, and Arms, the upcoming Mario Strikers: Battle League is getting a free demo with limited time slots for players to try out the action online.
From June 3 to June 5, you'll be able to try out Quick Battle online multiplayer with friends or strangers across the globe. The times are as follows:
Friday, June 3
- 8:00-9:00pm PT/04:00 - 05:00 BST
Saturday, June 4
- 4:00-5:00am PT/12:00 - 13:00 BST
- 12:00-1:00pm PT/20:00 - 21:00 BST
- 8:00-9:00pm PT/4:00 - 5:00 BST
Sunday, June 5
- 4:00-5:00am PT/12:00 - 13:00 BST
- 12:00-1:00pm PT/20:00 - 21:00 BST
The demo is already available to download now for Nintendo Switch Online subscribers. While you can't play any online matches outside of the specified windows, you can play the offline training exercises starting today to learn the controls and techniques in the game.
Nintendo also revealed that Mario Strikers: Battle League will receive free post-launch updates that include new characters. This is similar to the approach seen in Mario Tennis Aces and Mario Golf Super Rush, where the roster was expanded for months after launch.
On release day, the Battle League roster will have ten playable characters: Mario, Luigi, Peach, Yoshi, Bowser, Donkey Kong, Wario, Waluigi, Rosalina, and Toad. This has led some longtime Strikers fans to note the absence of Daisy, who was a part of both previous Strikers games. Now there's hope that she could be added via post-launch support.
Mario Strikers: Battle League launches on Nintendo Switch on June 10. For more, you can check out our Mario Strikers preview.
Logan Plant is a freelance writer for IGN. You can find him on Twitter @LoganJPlant.
Mario Strikers: Battle League Gets a Free Demo
Much like Nintendo's other online-heavy games on Nintendo Switch, like Splatoon 2, Nintendo Switch Sports, and Arms, the upcoming Mario Strikers: Battle League is getting a free demo with limited time slots for players to try out the action online.
From June 3 to June 5, you'll be able to try out Quick Battle online multiplayer with friends or strangers across the globe. The times are as follows:
Friday, June 3
- 8:00-9:00pm PT/04:00 - 05:00 BST
Saturday, June 4
- 4:00-5:00am PT/12:00 - 13:00 BST
- 12:00-1:00pm PT/20:00 - 21:00 BST
- 8:00-9:00pm PT/4:00 - 5:00 BST
Sunday, June 5
- 4:00-5:00am PT/12:00 - 13:00 BST
- 12:00-1:00pm PT/20:00 - 21:00 BST
The demo is already available to download now for Nintendo Switch Online subscribers. While you can't play any online matches outside of the specified windows, you can play the offline training exercises starting today to learn the controls and techniques in the game.
Nintendo also revealed that Mario Strikers: Battle League will receive free post-launch updates that include new characters. This is similar to the approach seen in Mario Tennis Aces and Mario Golf Super Rush, where the roster was expanded for months after launch.
On release day, the Battle League roster will have ten playable characters: Mario, Luigi, Peach, Yoshi, Bowser, Donkey Kong, Wario, Waluigi, Rosalina, and Toad. This has led some longtime Strikers fans to note the absence of Daisy, who was a part of both previous Strikers games. Now there's hope that she could be added via post-launch support.
Mario Strikers: Battle League launches on Nintendo Switch on June 10. For more, you can check out our Mario Strikers preview.
Logan Plant is a freelance writer for IGN. You can find him on Twitter @LoganJPlant.
IGN UK Podcast #646: Gollum, Sméagol & Irene
No, sorry, we didn't talk about Star Wars because we did this in the past.
Instead! We talked about the Gollum video game, the TV show you've never heard of that you should probably give a try, the TV show you HAVE heard of and probably have given a try, and much more.
Oh, and Joe has an IMPORTANT new chocolate bar recommendation.
Want to get in touch to talk about digging graves? Or maybe Elden Ring? Feel free to send us an email at ign_ukfeedback@ign.com.
IGN UK Podcast #646: Gollum, Sméagol & Irene
No, sorry, we didn't talk about Star Wars because we did this in the past.
Instead! We talked about the Gollum video game, the TV show you've never heard of that you should probably give a try, the TV show you HAVE heard of and probably have given a try, and much more.
Oh, and Joe has an IMPORTANT new chocolate bar recommendation.
Want to get in touch to talk about digging graves? Or maybe Elden Ring? Feel free to send us an email at ign_ukfeedback@ign.com.
PlayStation Announces a Summer State of Play Broadcast… and It’s Very Soon
Sony has announced a summer State of Play broadcast – showing off upcoming PlayStation 5 and PlayStation VR2 games – and it's coming very soon, on Thursday, June 2.
The State of Play will air for just under half an hour, starting at 3pm Pacific / 6pm Eastern / 11pm UK (that's June 3 at 8am AEST).
The show promises reveals from Sony's third-party partners and "a sneak peek at several games in development for PlayStation VR2". It doesn't sound as though PlayStation first-party exclusives will be a huge part of this particular broadcast.
State of Play returns next week! Tune in live at 3pm PT on June 2 for reveals, announcements, and more: https://t.co/3lqi9GL9VZ pic.twitter.com/NLLTAgvgLY
— PlayStation (@PlayStation) May 27, 2022
It's worth noting that Sony has recently distinguished between its State of Play broadcasts – shorter broadcasts, with announcements often grouped along a theme – and its PlayStation Showcase event.
The digital Showcase replaced what used to Sony's in-person E3 conference, typically its biggest and most notable reveal of upcoming games and announcements. Last year, Sony waited until September for its full Showcase, which included the first gameplay of God of War: Ragnarok, teases for Insomniac's Spider-Man 2 and Wolverine games, a Knights of the Old Republic remake, and much more.
Joe Skrebels is IGN's Executive Editor of News. Follow him on Twitter. Have a tip for us? Want to discuss a possible story? Please send an email to newstips@ign.com.
PlayStation Announces a Summer State of Play Broadcast… and It’s Very Soon
Sony has announced a summer State of Play broadcast – showing off upcoming PlayStation 5 and PlayStation VR2 games – and it's coming very soon, on Thursday, June 2.
The State of Play will air for just under half an hour, starting at 3pm Pacific / 6pm Eastern / 11pm UK (that's June 3 at 8am AEST).
The show promises reveals from Sony's third-party partners and "a sneak peek at several games in development for PlayStation VR2". It doesn't sound as though PlayStation first-party exclusives will be a huge part of this particular broadcast.
State of Play returns next week! Tune in live at 3pm PT on June 2 for reveals, announcements, and more: https://t.co/3lqi9GL9VZ pic.twitter.com/NLLTAgvgLY
— PlayStation (@PlayStation) May 27, 2022
It's worth noting that Sony has recently distinguished between its State of Play broadcasts – shorter broadcasts, with announcements often grouped along a theme – and its PlayStation Showcase event.
The digital Showcase replaced what used to Sony's in-person E3 conference, typically its biggest and most notable reveal of upcoming games and announcements. Last year, Sony waited until September for its full Showcase, which included the first gameplay of God of War: Ragnarok, teases for Insomniac's Spider-Man 2 and Wolverine games, a Knights of the Old Republic remake, and much more.
Joe Skrebels is IGN's Executive Editor of News. Follow him on Twitter. Have a tip for us? Want to discuss a possible story? Please send an email to newstips@ign.com.
The Art of Horizon Forbidden West Revealed By Dark Horse Books
Dark Horse Books is adding another major franchise to its ever-growing library of video game art books. This time, Horizon Forbidden West is the subject of a lavish hardcover book that gives fans a much closer look behind the scenes.
First off, check out the stunning cover to The Art of Horizon Forbidden West below:
Like all of Dark Horse's past art books, The Art of Horizon Forbidden West features a healthy mix of concept art and interviews with the development team at Guerrilla Games. In total, the book clocks in at 200 pages.
The Art of Horizon Forbidden West is priced at $49.99. The book is scheduled to debut online and in bookstores on Tuesday, October 18 and in comic shops on Wednesday, October 19. Based on Dark Horse's past releases, there may also be a deluxe edition version of the hardcover, but the publisher has yet to announce one.
Previous Dark Horse art books include The Art of Halo Infinite, The Art of Deathloop and The Art of He-Man and the Masters of the Universe.
Horizon Forbidden West debuted on the Playstation 4 and 5 in February 2022. IGN's Simon Cardy gave the long-awaited sequel a 9, writing, "A triumphant combination of enthralling combat, top-tier creature and character design, and a captivating open world, Horizon Forbidden West is an absolute blast and fantastic showcase for the power of the PS5. Although the return of a couple of familiar series trappings and a noticeable lack of freeform climbing never threatens to derail the enjoyment, it does leave it falling frustratingly short of something revolutionary."
Jesse is a mild-mannered staff writer for IGN. Allow him to lend a machete to your intellectual thicket by following @jschedeen on Twitter.
The Art of Horizon Forbidden West Revealed By Dark Horse Books
Dark Horse Books is adding another major franchise to its ever-growing library of video game art books. This time, Horizon Forbidden West is the subject of a lavish hardcover book that gives fans a much closer look behind the scenes.
First off, check out the stunning cover to The Art of Horizon Forbidden West below:
Like all of Dark Horse's past art books, The Art of Horizon Forbidden West features a healthy mix of concept art and interviews with the development team at Guerrilla Games. In total, the book clocks in at 200 pages.
The Art of Horizon Forbidden West is priced at $49.99. The book is scheduled to debut online and in bookstores on Tuesday, October 18 and in comic shops on Wednesday, October 19. Based on Dark Horse's past releases, there may also be a deluxe edition version of the hardcover, but the publisher has yet to announce one.
Previous Dark Horse art books include The Art of Halo Infinite, The Art of Deathloop and The Art of He-Man and the Masters of the Universe.
Horizon Forbidden West debuted on the Playstation 4 and 5 in February 2022. IGN's Simon Cardy gave the long-awaited sequel a 9, writing, "A triumphant combination of enthralling combat, top-tier creature and character design, and a captivating open world, Horizon Forbidden West is an absolute blast and fantastic showcase for the power of the PS5. Although the return of a couple of familiar series trappings and a noticeable lack of freeform climbing never threatens to derail the enjoyment, it does leave it falling frustratingly short of something revolutionary."
Jesse is a mild-mannered staff writer for IGN. Allow him to lend a machete to your intellectual thicket by following @jschedeen on Twitter.
Cyberpunk 2077 Expansion: Leak Points to Inaccessible Areas Being Opened
Warning: If you want to know knothing about potential details for Cyberpunk 2077's first expansion, turn back now.
It looks as though Cyberpunk 2077 is about to get a whole lot bigger after the game's 2023 expansion.
According to VGC details of the still-untitled expansion have been leaked online, pointing to inaccessible areas from the main game being opened up for the first time.
The Combat Zone, an area of the Pacifica region which was mentioned in the main game but remains locked, is said to be opened up in the new expansion. The zone was previously featured in the Cyberpunk 2077 art book. Additionally, the Sports Dome will finally be opened – another large, inaccessible area from the main game. It’s said that this area will house one of the new main missions from the expansion.
The leaked files have already circulated on social media, and also reveal some details about the new content of the expansion. The DLC will reportedly follow Songbird – a character previously datamined from the main game.
Although the leak appears to be incomplete, it’s said that the expansion will include several new side missions, as well as seven main missions. According to users who have seen the leaked files, the expansion will also include fixer quests, world stories, and new world encounters.
It’s also noted that there seems to be very little in the way of new dialogue from Johnny Silverhand, prompting speculation that there may have been an issue regarding Keanu Reeves’ availability when producing this expansion. Instead, there are several instances of other characters ‘silencing’ Johnny.
That said, the new expansion does include some changes to the game’s ending, with both V and Johnny Silverhand now referencing the events of the expansion if they're completed. The expansion is currently targeting a 2023 release date, with a large proportion of CD Projekt Red's developers working on it.
Meanwhile, a Cyberpunk 2077 artist has revealed why they used that infamous shade of yellow, while our team has dug up the best mods to make the game look incredible.
Want to find out more about Cyberpunk 2077? Check out our tips and tricks or some essential help, or our full walkthrough of the main jobs if you’re still getting stuck.
Ryan Leston is an entertainment journalist and film critic for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter.