Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty Gets a March Release Date

Team Ninja has announced that upcoming Soulslike, Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty will be released on March 3, 2023.

The developer also revealed it will receive three DLC packs that add new demons, scenarios, stages, weapon times, and more to the action game set in a darker version of China's Three Kingdom period. These will be available in a Season Pass that comes in the Digital Deluxe version of Wo Long, which also includes a digital artbook and digital mini soundtrack.

A limited edition physical version will also be available at launch, containing the and a steelbook cover, though no Season Pass.

Lots of smaller DLC packs are also available for preordering or purchasing the game in different ways. Buying either version by March 16 grants the Baihu Armour, buying the Season Pass grants the Qinglong Armour, preordering digitally grants the Zhuque Armour, and buying the steelbook version grants the Crown of Zhurong and Crown of Gonggong. It's unclear if these items will be available through other methods.

Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty is promised to be just as challenging as other Souls game and, specifically, Team Ninja's two Nioh games. Producer Fumihiko Yasuda previously told IGN that "Wo Long is more massive in scale compared to our previous games set in Japan, which allowed us to show a more severe and dark world.

"The same can be said for the difficulty. There’s no doubt this will be an extremely challenging and demanding game, but we’ve come up with new ways to approach that difficulty."

In our preview of the game, IGN said: "While Wo Long is for sure a difficult masocore title, you'll find yourself enjoying plenty of exciting, high-speed, Chinese martial arts combat as you try again and again."

Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelancer. He'll talk about The Witcher all day.

PlayStation is Building a New Studio to Work with Naughty Dog on an Unannounced Game

Sony is building a new development studio to work with Naughty Dog on a major PlayStation game.

As spotted by VGC, a job listing shows the new team is being created in collaboration with PlayStation Studios Visual Arts, a developer that previously assisted with PlayStation's motion capture, cinematics, animation, and more across several franchises including Uncharted and The Last of Us. This new developer will then work with Naughty Dog to create a PlayStation game.

"This high visibility project is being developed in collaboration with Naughty Dog," the job listing reads. "Though currently unannounced, we have a clear vision and plan to release. Using our existing expertise and premier talent, we will guarantee a high visual quality bar for the game and a compelling experience for our players."

"Using our existing expertise and premier talent, we will guarantee a high visual quality bar for the game and a compelling experience for our players."

Though Sony doesn't say explicitly that the new game will be a AAA production, it does request that the candidate is "proficient in all aspects of AAA game production and management" and has published at least two AAA games previously.

Though nothing is confirmed, hints towards PSS Visual Arts becoming a developer of its own projects (instead of supporting others) have appeared throughout the last few years. One job listing from 2020 showed the company was hiring for a 3rd person action/adventure game with melee and ranged combat.

This description would appear to match an Uncharted game, tying in nicely with the Naughty Dog collaboration, and the studio's creative director Shaun Escayg said earlier this year that it's a world "we want to see more of".

Again, nothing is official, so we'll just need to wait for Sony to make an official announcement regarding the new studio and its game.

Uncharted has been dormant since 2017's The Lost Legacy, which was a DLC turned spin-off of the last mainline release, 2016's Uncharted 4: A Thief's End, which wrapped up the story of protagonist Nathan Drake.

Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelancer. He'll talk about The Witcher all day.

Microsoft Reportedly ‘Regretted Missing Out’ on Making Genshin Impact an Xbox Exclusive

Microsoft reportedly passed on the chance to make Genshin Impact an Xbox console exclusive, something the company regretted after the game blew up.

As reported by Reuters, sources familiar with the matter said Microsoft met with Chinese developer miHoYo early in Genshin Impact's development but failed to reach an exclusivity deal. Sony would later secure the deal for itself, making the game a PlayStation console exclusive.

"Picking up Genshin Impact made Sony a lot of money," one source said, adding that missing the opportunity is the driving force behind Microsoft's current pursuit of independent Chinese developers.

The company is reportedly building a team specifically to scout out Chinese games and developers with high potential in an attempt to emulate the same move made by Sony in 2017 with its China Hero Project, an initiative to help Chinese developers publish games on PlayStation.

While Microsoft has been doing so already in a smaller capacity for years, Genshin Impact reportedly added "a sense of urgency" according to Reuters' sources. It was one of 2020's biggest games, with its action RPG gameplay and anime-inspired open world setting drawing in millions of fans.

It's also seen a ton of updates since it first launched, adding new characters, quests, items, and more, and has even seen crossovers with other franchises including Horizon: Zero Dawn. As with every new version stream, three new codes for Genshin Impact's premium currency and other rewards were released too.

In our 9/10 review, IGN said: "An incredible open-world and addictive exploration make Genshin Impact anime-zing adventure."

Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelancer. He'll talk about The Witcher all day.

Microsoft Reportedly ‘Regretted Missing Out’ on Making Genshin Impact an Xbox Exclusive

Microsoft reportedly passed on the chance to make Genshin Impact an Xbox console exclusive, something the company regretted after the game blew up.

As reported by Reuters, sources familiar with the matter said Microsoft met with Chinese developer miHoYo early in Genshin Impact's development but failed to reach an exclusivity deal. Sony would later secure the deal for itself, making the game a PlayStation console exclusive.

"Picking up Genshin Impact made Sony a lot of money," one source said, adding that missing the opportunity is the driving force behind Microsoft's current pursuit of independent Chinese developers.

The company is reportedly building a team specifically to scout out Chinese games and developers with high potential in an attempt to emulate the same move made by Sony in 2017 with its China Hero Project, an initiative to help Chinese developers publish games on PlayStation.

While Microsoft has been doing so already in a smaller capacity for years, Genshin Impact reportedly added "a sense of urgency" according to Reuters' sources. It was one of 2020's biggest games, with its action RPG gameplay and anime-inspired open world setting drawing in millions of fans.

It's also seen a ton of updates since it first launched, adding new characters, quests, items, and more, and has even seen crossovers with other franchises including Horizon: Zero Dawn. As with every new version stream, three new codes for Genshin Impact's premium currency and other rewards were released too.

In our 9/10 review, IGN said: "An incredible open-world and addictive exploration make Genshin Impact anime-zing adventure."

Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelancer. He'll talk about The Witcher all day.

New Simpsons Clip Reveals Anime Lisa Simpson in Death Note Parody By Original Studio

The Simpsons' annual Treehouse of Horror compilation is right around the corner, and it features a Death Note parody from the studio that worked on the original anime.

A clip from the upcoming tribute has been making the rounds on Twitter, showing Lisa Simpson as the recipient of the mysterious but mighty "Death Tome." The segment is animated by DR Movie, a South Korean studio that helped out on Death Note, and features tons of Easter eggs, including anime versions of Disco Stu and twins Sherri and Terri.

Three images from The Simpsons parody of Death Note have also been released, spotlighting more Springfield favorites from the animated sitcom. One frame from the Treehouse of Horror special shows Disco Stu and a potential sighting of anime Ned Flanders in the background while another image offers a first look at Homer and Marge in the same art style.

Simpsons writer Carolyn Omine has promised to share more Easter Eggs from the Death Note segment on Twitter during the premiere of The Simpsons' Treehouse of Horror XXXIII Halloween special on October 30. The annual series will comprise three parts in total, with two other sections offering animated takes on The Babadook and Westworld.

The Treehouse of Horror specials have been airing since 1990, and there's been plenty of notable entries over the years but none have quite matched up to the wit and brilliance of Treehouse of Horror V, which kicked off with an inspired spoof of Stanley Kubrick's The Shining. That installment earned a coveted spot in IGN's Top 34 Best Simpsons Episodes.

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

New Simpsons Clip Reveals Anime Lisa Simpson in Death Note Parody By Original Studio

The Simpsons' annual Treehouse of Horror compilation is right around the corner, and it features a Death Note parody from the studio that worked on the original anime.

A clip from the upcoming tribute has been making the rounds on Twitter, showing Lisa Simpson as the recipient of the mysterious but mighty "Death Tome." The segment is animated by DR Movie, a South Korean studio that helped out on Death Note, and features tons of Easter eggs, including anime versions of Disco Stu and twins Sherri and Terri.

Three images from The Simpsons parody of Death Note have also been released, spotlighting more Springfield favorites from the animated sitcom. One frame from the Treehouse of Horror special shows Disco Stu and a potential sighting of anime Ned Flanders in the background while another image offers a first look at Homer and Marge in the same art style.

Simpsons writer Carolyn Omine has promised to share more Easter Eggs from the Death Note segment on Twitter during the premiere of The Simpsons' Treehouse of Horror XXXIII Halloween special on October 30. The annual series will comprise three parts in total, with two other sections offering animated takes on The Babadook and Westworld.

The Treehouse of Horror specials have been airing since 1990, and there's been plenty of notable entries over the years but none have quite matched up to the wit and brilliance of Treehouse of Horror V, which kicked off with an inspired spoof of Stanley Kubrick's The Shining. That installment earned a coveted spot in IGN's Top 34 Best Simpsons Episodes.

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

Joker 2 Will Remain Outside James Gunn’s DC Cinematic Universe

While it will be some time before we see how James Gunn and Peter Safran will change the future of DC Studios, it has been said that Joker: Folie à Deux will remain outside of any larger connected universe that the two new co-CEOs will be leading.

As reported by Variety, Gunn and Safran will begin work as co-CEOs of DC Studios on November 1 and will be presented with not only a future that they will be in charge of crafting, but also a bevy of projects that have already been in the works prior to the megaton announcement of their new roles.

One of those projects is Joker: Folie à Deux, the sequel to 2019's Joker that will be released in theaters on October 4, 2024, and will star Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga. According to the report, this film will "exist outside of any cinematic universe that Gunn and Safran will be building out."

This shouldn't come as too much of a surprise, as Joker director Todd Phillips has previously stated that his film was not "really connected to that [DC Movie] Universe. And it was really intentionally not." He was speaking about the first film as a single movie before it was known a sequel was coming, but the decision to keep them separate appears to still stand.

It's also yet unclear if the sequel to Matt Reeves' The Batman and its wider universe that includes announced spin-offs like one starring The Penguin and one focused on Arkham Asylum will fall under Gunn and Safran or elsewhere. Speaking of the sequel, it is not likely to arrive until 2025 at the earliest as a script has yet to be turned in by the Reeves.

Besides these two projects, however, Gunn and Safran will be leading everything new coming from the studio. This also appears to include a "Chuck Roven-produced Superman sequel currently soliciting pitches from writers." This will undoubtedly be one of DC's closest-watched projects, especially after Henry Cavill confirmed he will be returning as Superman in the future.

As co-CEOs, Gunn will focus on the creative side of DC Studios and Safran will handle the business and production side. Gunn will continue to direct projects, exclusively for DC, and Safran will keep on producing. This move was just another step towards fulfilling Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav's idea of following a ten-year plan similar to what Disney and Marvel have done with Kevin Feige in the lead.

Have a tip for us? Want to discuss a possible story? Please send an email to newstips@ign.com.

Adam Bankhurst is a news writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @AdamBankhurst and on Twitch.

Joker 2 Will Remain Outside James Gunn’s DC Cinematic Universe

While it will be some time before we see how James Gunn and Peter Safran will change the future of DC Studios, it has been said that Joker: Folie à Deux will remain outside of any larger connected universe that the two new co-CEOs will be leading.

As reported by Variety, Gunn and Safran will begin work as co-CEOs of DC Studios on November 1 and will be presented with not only a future that they will be in charge of crafting, but also a bevy of projects that have already been in the works prior to the megaton announcement of their new roles.

One of those projects is Joker: Folie à Deux, the sequel to 2019's Joker that will be released in theaters on October 4, 2024, and will star Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga. According to the report, this film will "exist outside of any cinematic universe that Gunn and Safran will be building out."

This shouldn't come as too much of a surprise, as Joker director Todd Phillips has previously stated that his film was not "really connected to that [DC Movie] Universe. And it was really intentionally not." He was speaking about the first film as a single movie before it was known a sequel was coming, but the decision to keep them separate appears to still stand.

It's also yet unclear if the sequel to Matt Reeves' The Batman and its wider universe that includes announced spin-offs like one starring The Penguin and one focused on Arkham Asylum will fall under Gunn and Safran or elsewhere. Speaking of the sequel, it is not likely to arrive until 2025 at the earliest as a script has yet to be turned in by the Reeves.

Besides these two projects, however, Gunn and Safran will be leading everything new coming from the studio. This also appears to include a "Chuck Roven-produced Superman sequel currently soliciting pitches from writers." This will undoubtedly be one of DC's closest-watched projects, especially after Henry Cavill confirmed he will be returning as Superman in the future.

As co-CEOs, Gunn will focus on the creative side of DC Studios and Safran will handle the business and production side. Gunn will continue to direct projects, exclusively for DC, and Safran will keep on producing. This move was just another step towards fulfilling Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav's idea of following a ten-year plan similar to what Disney and Marvel have done with Kevin Feige in the lead.

Have a tip for us? Want to discuss a possible story? Please send an email to newstips@ign.com.

Adam Bankhurst is a news writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @AdamBankhurst and on Twitch.

Every US PS2 Game Manual Has Now Been Preserved in 4K (and It Cost $40,000)

A game preservationist called Kirkland has done a great service to the world of video games - he has created a complete set of U.S. PS2 game manuals online in 4K that can be viewed for free at any time. Oh, and it cost $40,000 to complete.

As reported by Kotaku, Kirkland has preserved over 1,900 PS2 game manuals, variants, art books, mini-guides, and comics by uploading them to Archive.org in 4K, and in doing so has forever opened a door to a time before the digital renaissance.

These game manuals used to be part of the joy of purchasing a new game, and you'd read them to learn how to play the game, see special art and other surprises, and more. These manuals are mostly a thing of the past now and either live online or have disappeared altogether, but Kirkland has helped ensure they won't ever be forgotten.

The entire package comes in at around 17GB (230GB before compression!) and are organized alphabetically so you can jump to your favorite game with ease. For example, you can jump right into the game manual of Final Fantasy X and learn about the controls, each of the characters, the battle system, abilities, Aeons, and more. Also included are ads for merchandise, the Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within DVD, and even an ad for Final Fantasy X-2.

As for why Kirkland chose to undergo this project that took him nearly 22 years to complete, he said it's all about preserving that piece of history and that he wanted "our kids to be able to enjoy what we did."

“The goal is to raise some awareness for game preservation efforts,” Kirkland said. “So many games growing up shaped how we looked at and experienced the world. Of course as we ‘grow up,’ we move to other things but there are a lot of us who have nostalgia for these things and want our kids to be able to enjoy what we did. The whole ‘read the books your father read’ deal. And there have been great efforts to preserve games: VGHF, the Strong Museum, and grassroots efforts like MAME, redump.org, No-Intro, and Cowering’s Good Tools before that. Which I always thought, ‘This is great! We’re going to have everything preserved. But without the manuals, we’re not going to know how to play them.’”

Kirkland had to take out the staples of each manual and scan each page through the Epson DS-870 sheetfed scanner. He then used a variety of apps to clean them up before uploading them in 2K and 4K resolution.

This wasn't Kirkland's first preservation rodeo, as he had previously completed a full set of U.S. SNES manuals in 2K and is currently working on SNES manuals in 4K alongside those for Atari 2600 and Game Boy.

Have a tip for us? Want to discuss a possible story? Please send an email to newstips@ign.com.

Adam Bankhurst is a news writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @AdamBankhurst and on Twitch.

Every US PS2 Game Manual Has Now Been Preserved in 4K (and It Cost $40,000)

A game preservationist called Kirkland has done a great service to the world of video games - he has created a complete set of U.S. PS2 game manuals online in 4K that can be viewed for free at any time. Oh, and it cost $40,000 to complete.

As reported by Kotaku, Kirkland has preserved over 1,900 PS2 game manuals, variants, art books, mini-guides, and comics by uploading them to Archive.org in 4K, and in doing so has forever opened a door to a time before the digital renaissance.

These game manuals used to be part of the joy of purchasing a new game, and you'd read them to learn how to play the game, see special art and other surprises, and more. These manuals are mostly a thing of the past now and either live online or have disappeared altogether, but Kirkland has helped ensure they won't ever be forgotten.

The entire package comes in at around 17GB (230GB before compression!) and are organized alphabetically so you can jump to your favorite game with ease. For example, you can jump right into the game manual of Final Fantasy X and learn about the controls, each of the characters, the battle system, abilities, Aeons, and more. Also included are ads for merchandise, the Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within DVD, and even an ad for Final Fantasy X-2.

As for why Kirkland chose to undergo this project that took him nearly 22 years to complete, he said it's all about preserving that piece of history and that he wanted "our kids to be able to enjoy what we did."

“The goal is to raise some awareness for game preservation efforts,” Kirkland said. “So many games growing up shaped how we looked at and experienced the world. Of course as we ‘grow up,’ we move to other things but there are a lot of us who have nostalgia for these things and want our kids to be able to enjoy what we did. The whole ‘read the books your father read’ deal. And there have been great efforts to preserve games: VGHF, the Strong Museum, and grassroots efforts like MAME, redump.org, No-Intro, and Cowering’s Good Tools before that. Which I always thought, ‘This is great! We’re going to have everything preserved. But without the manuals, we’re not going to know how to play them.’”

Kirkland had to take out the staples of each manual and scan each page through the Epson DS-870 sheetfed scanner. He then used a variety of apps to clean them up before uploading them in 2K and 4K resolution.

This wasn't Kirkland's first preservation rodeo, as he had previously completed a full set of U.S. SNES manuals in 2K and is currently working on SNES manuals in 4K alongside those for Atari 2600 and Game Boy.

Have a tip for us? Want to discuss a possible story? Please send an email to newstips@ign.com.

Adam Bankhurst is a news writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @AdamBankhurst and on Twitch.