Netflix has acquired the developer of a Stranger Things mobile game as it continues its venture into the gaming sphere. Finnish studio Next Games was purchased for around €65 million ($72 million) with the deal expected to close in the second quarter of 2022, as spotted by Crwe World.

Next Level currently has three games under its belt: Stranger Things: Puzzle Tales, The Walking Dead: Our World, and The Walking Dead: No Man's Land.

Netflix's vice president of games Michael Verdu, who the company hired last year to declare its intentions into game development, said Next Games will be a key component to those plans.

"Next Games has a seasoned management team, strong track record with mobile games based on entertainment franchises, and solid operational capabilities," Verdu said. "We are excited for Next Games to join Netflix as a core studio in a strategic region and key talent market, expanding our internal game studio capabilities.

"While we're just getting started in games, I am confident that together with Next Games we will be able to build a portfolio of world class games that will delight our members around the world."

This matches Netflix's statement in January that it aimed to be the "absolute best" gaming service in the industry by expanding its slate of titles in 2022. Netflix began rolling out its gaming service to subscribers in November and currently has twelve games available including Stranger Things 3: The Game and Card Blast.

Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelancer who occasionally remembers to tweet @thelastdinsdale.

Seeing the new Batman movie at an AMC theater this weekend? Expect higher prices than usual, says AMC Entertainment CEO Adam Aron, according to Deadline.

The higher costs are part of what Aron is calling an experiment with variable pricing.

“Currently, our prices for The Batman are slightly higher than the prices we are charging for other movies playing in the same theaters at the same time,” Aron said during a webcast following quarterly earnings.

“This is all quite novel in the United States, but actually AMC has been doing it for years in our European theaters. Indeed, in Europe we charge a premium for the best seats in the house — as do just about all sellers of tickets in other industries — take sports events, concerts, and live theater, for example," Aron said.

AMC did not release information on how much more expensive tickets to The Batman will cost, but a cursory glance at the AMC Metreon in San Francisco shows Dolby Digital showings for Uncharted at $17.49 and Batman at $19.49. Please note San Francisco prices are not indicative of the rest of the country.

The move to raise ticket prices comes after AMC previously raised weekend prices above midweek levels in some U.S. locations.

If you're still on the fence, you can read our review of The Batman, where editor Alex Stedman gives the movie a 10 out of 10 for its "violent, thrilling, darkly beautiful take on The Batman [that] more than justifies its place in the franchise’s canon." You can also read actor Paul Dano's reason for wearing plastic wrap as the Riddler or read the long road to perfecting a Batman video game.

Joseph Knoop is a writer/producer/henchman for IGN.

A new trailer has appeared for Cliff Beasts 6… but all is not as it seems.

The hilariously bad trailer, starring Pedro Pascal and Karen Gillan among others, claims to promote a new, upcoming film called ‘Cliff Beasts 6’… but that movie doesn’t exist. It turns out, it’s actually for Judd Apatow’s latest movie, The Bubble.

Here’s the wince-inducing trailer in all its glory:

Just when you thought it was safe to go back into the cliffs…

Check out the teaser for Cliff Beasts 6: Battle for Everest. Full trailer in 2 days! pic.twitter.com/xAdJt8e4kC

— Netflix (@netflix) March 2, 2022

If that trailer got you excited for the weird Jurassic Park knock-off, then you’re out of luck – it’s actually a film-within-a-film.

The Bubble is Judd Apatow’s upcoming comedy flick, which sees a group of actors and filmmakers attempting to finish making an action movie during the pandemic… while stuck in a hotel as part of a social bubble.

An interesting idea… but not quite as thrilling as Cliff Beasts 6.

God, I hope this is as good as it looks. This franchise really does need a return to form. pic.twitter.com/42po1cxel1

— JJ Abrams (@jjabrams) March 2, 2022

The new teaser does state that a full trailer is coming in 2 days on March 4, meaning that we might finally get our first look at The Bubble. That is unless Netflix goes all out with another trailer for the completely fictional dinosaur movie.

“Humankind is threatened once again by a dinosaur species: Cliff Beasts,” reads the weird teaser’s YouTube description. “The team must reunite, after 5 long years, to battle the Cliff Beasts – but this time on Mount Everest.”

It may be a bit out there, but the Cliff Beasts 6 teaser has certainly got everyone talking. Even better, it’s given us a glimpse of The Bubble cast in action, as well as revealing what kind of movie they’ll be trying to make.

I mean… a dinosaur action movie? Made in a hotel? That can only end in disaster.

David Duchovny, Karen Gillan, and Pedro Pascal will star in The Bubble, alongside Leslie Mann, Keegan-Michael Key, Iris Apatow, Peter Serafinowicz, and Rob Delaney. The Bubble is directed by Judd Apatow based on a script he co-wrote with Pam Brady.

Ryan Leston is an entertainment journalist and film critic for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter.

Bandcamp, an online music store and community, announced that it has been acquired by Fortnite creator Epic Games. The music company also confirmed that initiatives such as Bandcamp Fridays, where the platform waives its revenue share so artists receive all sales for a 24 hour period, and its online publication, Bandcamp Daily, will continue to operate as they currently are.

Bandcamp says that joining Epic Games will allow it to expand internationally and push forward development across the platform, including working on mobile apps and merch tools, as well as search and discovery features. Additionally, Epic Games notes that Bandcamp will contribute to its vision of a "creator marketplace ecosystem" for content, technology, games, art, and music.

Bandcamp is joining Epic Games! Read more here: https://t.co/dvLEhURZYG pic.twitter.com/4t1MRvugmG

— bandcamp (@Bandcamp) March 2, 2022

“Bandcamp’s mission is to help spread the healing power of music by building a community where artists thrive through the direct support of their fans,” said Bandcamp CEO Ethan Diamond in a statement. “In Epic, we’ve found a partner who believes as deeply as we do that the future of music, and art itself, depends on the creation of equitable and inclusive communities like the one our fans and artists have helped to build."

Steve Allison, Vice President and General Store Manager at Epic Games chimed in as well, saying, "Bandcamp has built an incredible community and business where up and coming artists can succeed thanks to the direct support of their fans, with one of the best revenue models and terms in music. This aligns closely with Epic’s approach to supporting creators across all media and enabling them to connect directly with their fans.”

This isn't the first time Epic Games purchased a music-based company. Back in November, Epic Games acquired Harmonix, a studio best known for titles such as Rock Band and Dance Central. Epic sought interest in Harmonix because it could help develop "musical journeys and gameplay for Fortnite."

George Yang is a freelance writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @yinyangfooey

Apple's first event for 2022 has been announced and will be held on March 8th, the company announced today. As common with previous Apple hardware events, the company has included a tagline that reads "Peek Performance"

Peek performance. March 8th. See you there. #AppleEvent pic.twitter.com/cEKMq7BuBh

— Greg Joswiak (@gregjoz) March 2, 2022

Apple may use this event to unveil a 2022 model refresh of the iPhone SE. Bloomberg reports that the 2022 iPhone SE will keep a design similar to that of its predecessor, which launched nearly two years ago, along with an improved camera, a faster processor, and 5G support. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman also noted that the forthcoming event may reveal a model refresh for the iPad Air and Mac.

This marks the first Apple event for the year and the latest one the tech giant is holding following a hardware event last October, in which the company announced a third-generation of AirPods, unveiling new M1 systems on a chip, and most notably unveiling new 15 and 16-inch MacBook Pros.

Taylor is the Associate Tech Editor at IGN. You can follow her on Twitter @TayNixster.

Editor's Note: The war in Ukraine is an ongoing, painful and emotive topic. IGN urges community members to be respectful when engaging in conversation around this subject and does not endorse harassment of any kind.

EA is removing Russian teams from FIFA 22 and NHL 22, in response to the invasion of Ukraine.

In tweets posted simultaneously from the two games' accounts, EA Sports revealed that it would remove both national and club teams from both games.

The moves are designed to reflect the decisions of both football and hockey's real-life international federations, which have also dropped Russia from multiple competitions while the war is ongoing.

A statement from EA SPORTS FIFA: pic.twitter.com/v3pZvpblgS

— EA SPORTS FIFA (@EASPORTSFIFA) March 2, 2022

FIFA will remove the Russian national team and all Russian clubs from not just FIFA 22, but FIFA Online and FIFA Mobile. "We're also actively evaluating related changes to other areas of our games," the statement continues.

NHL will not just remove Russian teams, but Belarusian teams too, likely in connection with Belarus' tacit support for the Russian invasion. "We stand with the people of Ukraine and join the voices around the world calling for peace," ended that statement.

A statement from EA SPORTS NHL: pic.twitter.com/2uX4h55ok4

— EA SPORTS NHL (@EASPORTSNHL) March 2, 2022

It's another example of the vocal support for Ukraine in the games industry, which has seen studios pledge support for charitable causes, mass fundraising from influencers, and much more. Ukraine today asked developers to go further and temporarily stop supporting games in Russia altogether.

A number of humanitarian aid organizations are currently accepting donations and support for their efforts to help Ukrainians impacted by the war. They include:

• Save the Children: On the ground right now providing humanitarian aid to children.
• UNICEF: Providing emergency supplies and safe water to communities, as well as care for children on the ground and who have been separated from families.
• Project HOPE: Sending medical supplies and providing health care for refugees.

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.

Paul Dano went to extreme lengths to capture the "almost maniacal detail" of The Riddler in Matt Reeves' The Batman, giving consideration to everything from costuming to conduct.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the 37-year-old actor was committed to meticulously crafting his character for The Batman, tapping into both the physical and psychological workings of The Riddler. Dano was keen to align his thought process with the Prince of Puzzles and sometimes that also manifested in his vigilante aesthetic.

"The thoroughness of this person, the almost maniacal detail that he puts into plotting — I was like, 'OK, well, should I just shave all my body hair? So there's no evidence?'" Dano quizzed, considering how his Batman villain might have orchestrated the brutal murders terrorizing Gotham in the movie. "I'm going to wrap my head in Saran wrap."

So while Robert Pattinson was busy working on his Bat-voice, spending hours on set in the Bat-suit, Dano turned up on the first day of shooting with his head encased in plastic wrap. Reeves loved Dano's dedication to the character, however, he realized after three or four takes that it might not be something that the actor could endure throughout production.

"Paul takes off the mask, his head, his face is beet red," Reeves said, remarking on the level of intensity that Dano brought to his performance as The Riddler. "The heat can't escape. I was like, 'OK, all right, Paul, let's rethink this. You don't have to do this.' He goes, 'No, man, I told you that I wanted to do it. I'll do it.'"

Fortunately, the costume department made some modifications that made it easier to breathe inside Dano's Riddler get-up but that didn't stop the actor from obsessing over every last detail, including the glasses his character wears. He apparently tried on "hundreds of pairs" before settling on the clear plastic frames that he sports atop his mask.

Outside of his character's appearance, Dano also put the work in to capture the inner essence of The Riddler. In fact, Reeves estimates that it took in the region of 200 takes to shoot a scene in which The Riddler is talking to Batman via cellphone video, positioning Dano alone in a room with an iPhone to deliver variations of his character's madness.

"He goes, 'OK, let me try one where I'm off camera and I stick my head in,'" Reeves explained. "Let me try one where I'm already sitting there.' He's directing this one-person play on an iPhone. It was the giddiness that really got to me. Calling out the passing time, like he was a game show host. He was so inventive and creative. He's also very critical of himself."

The Batman is scheduled for theatrical release on March 4, 2022. The movie was originally intended to be released in the summer (as most Batman movies have traditionally been), but it was pushed back from its June 25, 2021 release date multiple times after the production was forced to shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

For more on the forthcoming DC reboot movie, take a look at everything we know about The Batman, from plot details and casting information to how you can watch the film.

Adele Ankers-Range is a freelance writer for IGN. Follow her on Twitter.

Elden Ring publisher Bandai Namco has informed its Japanese staff that they will all receive a pay increase from this April. The average monthly salary will be increased by 50,000 yen.

Announced to staff on February 28, the publisher said in a press release (translated by IGN Japan) "Bandai Namco Entertainment Inc. will increase the ratio of basic salary to annual income from April 2022, with the aim of improving working conditions by stabilizing employee income. We will introduce a new compensation system that raises the basic salary by an average of 50,000 yen per month for all employees. In addition, the starting salary will be raised from the previous 232,000 yen per month to 290,000 yen per month."

The press release outlines Bandai Namco's aim to "connect with fans" via its games. "In order to realize this vision, it is essential to promote the active participation of diverse human resources in multiple fields, which is why we have decided to make this revision."

The average boost for Japanese employees at Bandai Namco will be 50,000 yen, but the press release notes that those on the new graduate starting salary will see a 58,000 yen per month increase as their pay goes up to 290,000 yen. This salary includes a 10,000 yen allowance awarded for the "Entertainment Input Opportunity Provision System", a scheme recently introduced as part of Bandai Namco's "Activity Based Working" system. Alongside this input opportunity scheme, the system is designed to allow staff the ability to choose when and where they work depending on their project goals.

The announcement follows a strong release for Elden Ring, which launched to fantastic reviews and keeps getting bigger on Steam. The publisher has had to apologise for performance issues, but that doesn't appear to have severely dented the reputation of what many are calling one of the best games of all time.

Matt Purslow is IGN's UK News and Entertainment Writer.

Elden Ring is already being played by a Twitch chat, as players continue to seek the wackiest ways to play developer FromSoftware's latest.

Twitch streamer Bruce Greene put his chat to work when he stepped away from his computer in a stream to support charities helping Ukrainian civilians and refugees.

The Twitch chat took control of his Elden Ring gameplay as Greene slept (in a tent with a bonfire) by spamming chat-based commands to move forward, back, roll, use items, and so on, in a trend that gained prominence in 2014 with Twitch Plays Pokémon.

I've figured out a way to play Elden Ring FOREVER

- I play during the day

- Twitch Chat plays while I sleep and work out

- I'm sleeping in a tent with a bonfire

50% of proceeds go to Ukraine (UNICEF and Red Cross) pic.twitter.com/1xXyaebEmo

— Bruce Greene (@brucegreene) February 28, 2022

The results were naturally chaotic, and resulted in death after death, but the chat was eventually able to move around with a bit of consistency. However, don't expect the triumphs of a Twitch plays Pokémon with this – with a bigger world, more commands, and more difficulty, just getting to new areas was the real victory here.

It's not the only weird way players are opting to experience Elden Ring, as one player defeated a boss using the Nintendo Switch Ring Fit Controller.

Elden Ring continues to take the gaming sphere by storm after becoming one of the best reviewed games in modern history, and has even extended outside of games (in an equally odd way) with Trolli making an Elden Ring candy.

In our 10/10 review, IGN said: "Elden Ring is a massive iteration on what FromSoftware began with the Souls series, bringing its relentlessly challenging combat to an incredible open world that gives us the freedom to choose our own path."

To make those choices with the best available information, check out our guide that features everything you could ever hope to know about Elden Ring, including collectible locations, boss strategies, and more.

Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelancer who occasionally remembers to tweet @thelastdinsdale.

Legendary filmmaker Steven Spielberg seemingly had a big hand in the upcoming Halo TV series.

During an interview with Total Film, producer Darryl Frank revealed exactly how far-reaching Spielberg’s influence was on the upcoming Halo series.

"We treated it as though it was a legacy project of Steven’s,” he explained. “He godfathered it in terms of reading every script, helping choose showrunners, writers, director, cast, production design, and visual effects; every aspect of it, he looked at.”

Spielberg’s interest in Halo goes back a long way. After all, he was expected to produce the now-defunct Halo movie. Now, Spielberg’s Amblin Television production company is helping bring the TV series to our screens.

However, it seems he’s had a much greater hand in the show than we thought. It’s unclear whether Spielberg affected many changes to the script, direction, or production design, but the fact that he’s involved at all is likely a good sign.

Known for his love of sci-fi (and a string of successful sci-fi blockbusters) Spielberg feels like a perfect creative influence for the project.

Based on the hit videogame series, Halo is a long-awaited adaptation. Although plot details are firmly under wraps, it’s expected to be deeply entrenched in the war between humanity and the Covenant, with the eponymous Halo ringworlds playing an important role.

However, showrunner Steven Kane insists that you don’t have to be a gamer to appreciate the show.

“If you’re absolutely new to the game or don’t know anything about it, it’s still a great story,” he said. “It’s a great war story and a love story. It’s a story of intrigue and a story of characters who are just reaching for something, and they’re all yearning for something that’s just beyond their grasp.”

Pablo Schreiber will star as Master Chief with voice actress Jen Taylor returning to the role of Cortana. They’re joined by Bokeem Woodbine as Soren-006, Bentley Kalu as Vannak-134, Natasha Culzac as Rix-028, and Danny Sapani as Captain Jacob Keyes.

Ryan Leston is an entertainment journalist and film critic for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter.