Author: Game Infliction

In recent years, video game companies like Nintendo and PlayStation have set expectations for any pre-recorded shows by announcing beforehand what kind of stream viewers should expect — whether focused on indie games, third-party titles, or about a specific game. This has been a welcome change as it sets appropriate expectations for an upcoming Nintendo Direct or State of Play showcase. After all, nobody will expect to see a new Zelda trailer during a Splatoon 3 Direct.

Sony did this too for its most recent State of Play earlier this week, announcing that the show will primarily focus on PSVR 2, Rocksteady’s Suicide Squad, and some indie and third-party games. But if the recent State of Play showcases have demonstrated anything, it’s that there’s a difference between setting the right expectations, and making it so that viewers should have no expectations at all.

Let’s start with PlayStation VR 2, which was just released to critical acclaim. Having spent a few hours with it myself, I can tell you that the tech underlying Sony’s newest VR headset is definitely something to write home about. Still, much has been made about the launch lineup of games which consists of one new first-party release (Horizon: Call of the Mountain) and several releases that are readily available on rival headsets.

When PlayStation announced that the State of Play would showcase five new PlayStation VR 2 games, the expectation would be that at least one of them would be a showstopper, meant to highlight a high-end product that was just released. Instead, the lineup consisted of titles that could have easily slotted into the rest of PlayStation VR 2’s launch offerings.

When I spoke with my colleague Brian Altano to discuss the State of Play, he aptly said, “The State of Plays, in general, have largely settled into a groove with their format, but it isn’t a great groove. They’re largely missing the fun surprise element that Nintendo Directs have.”

If the new PlayStation VR 2 reveals were a letdown for you as it was for me, it has to do with what I think is a disconnect between what PlayStation considers a surprise versus what the audience expects is an appropriate surprise.

For example, Nintendo ended its last Direct with Metroid Prime Remaster as a shadow drop, which falls in line with a showcase meant to highlight some first-party offerings. Xbox’s developer showcase featured the surprise release of Hi-Fi Rush for a similar, first-party-oriented stream that also continued to push for the ongoing benefits of Xbox Game Pass (which Hi-Fi Rush released on).

Sony set the audience up for a showcase headlined by five new PlayStation VR 2 games, and it seemed the biggest surprise was a new VR title from Enhance, the developers of one of my favorite games of all time, Tetris Effect. A tantalizing VR game for sure, but not one I would consider as something that could move a $550 VR headset on its own. And with a May release date, it’s not something current PlayStation VR 2 owners can enjoy immediately either.

The second headliner in the State of Play is Rocksteady’s Suicide Squad Kill the Justice League, a game that has few surprises left ahead of its May release date. The extended gameplay reveal did not share information that wasn’t previously known, and the elements that were confirmed — that it will be a live-service game with battle passes and gear levels — has been more of a concern for players than points of excitement. The reveal wasn’t even Warner Bros.’ biggest of the day after the company’s CEO David Zaslav let slip that Mortal Kombat 12 would be released later this year.

The reason for PlayStation State of Plays being what they are is both completely understandable, and self-defeating. As owners of the most popular gaming platform and with an enviable stable of first-party studios, Sony must work double to ensure fans come into the State of Plays with the right expectations, lest they leave completely disappointed that there’s no surprise God of War or The Last of Us or Ghost of Tsushima announcement. But by being so cautious about inflated expectations, Sony has created a series of showcases bereft of any surprises, making me wonder if the State of Plays are even necessary at this point when I get far more information from a PlayStation Blog.

One suggestion would be to make these shows more focused on a single topic. If PlayStation wants to do a VR State of Play, it should go all-in. Likewise, if PlayStation wants to update fans on third-party games, it should dedicate an entire show to those as well. Even if the entire State of Play was dedicated to one game, like Suicide Squad Kill the Justice League, a State of Play could offer a meaningful update on the anticipated title. By focusing on a single lane, Sony can manage expectations while still deliver meaningful updates on either its games or hardware. Hell, even a new PlayStation Productions show.

By having a little of everything, and under-delivering on some of the headline items, State of Plays won’t be able to capture the same “must-watch” designation as shows put on by the other console-makers. But we know that this format works, and if PlayStation can zero in on what’s important to players, it can compete alongside Nintendo and Microsoft.

Matt T.M. Kim is IGN’s Senior Features Editor. You can reach him @lawoftd.

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.

Atomic Heart’s launch week has been surrounded by controversy, as developer Mundfish is facing backlash for its Russian ties in relation to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, and a racist cartoon present within the game.

Earlier this week, PC Gamer published a story about online criticism surrounding the presence of a racist caricature within Atomic Heart. The caricature in question was found in the game’s Resident Evil-style save rooms, where players can take a breather from the action and watch old episodes of Nu, Pogodi!, or, Well, Just You Wait!, a Soviet-era cartoon that started in 1969.

The show can be summarized as a Soviet version of Tom and Jerry, starring a wolf who tries time and time again to get his hands on a hare. The issue is present in episode 12, titled Museum, which first aired in 1978. A statue is shown in the episode that’s a racist depiction of an African tribesman. Folks on Resetera criticized Atomic Heart for including the cartoon at all, let alone without any warning or context.

Atomic Heart devs:

“The Mundfish team thanks the PC Gamer contributor for bringing this lack of sensitivity to our attention. We apologize if using the vintage cartoon or music has caused hurt or insult. We will edit the parts in question.”

The clip: https://t.co/58SUMRXA7F

— Kat Bailey (@The_Katbot) February 24, 2023

Mundfish responded to the PC Gamer report in a statement, saying, “The Mundfish team thanks the PCGamer contributor for bringing this lack of sensitivity to our attention. We apologize if using the vintage cartoon or music has caused hurt or insult. We will edit the parts in question.”

Ukraine government seeks to remove Atomic Heart

That’s not the only issue Mundfish and Atomic Heart are facing this week. While Mundfish’s official website now says the studio is headquartered in Cyprus, the developer’s Russian roots and potential ties to the Russian government has Ukraine’s Ministry of Digital Transformation seeking to remove Atomic Heart from digital storefronts in the country.

The ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine has seen many games and entertainment companies pull support in Russia, with many across the games industry calling for support for Ukraine. We’ve previously seen the Ukrainian government call on “all game development companies and esports platforms” to temporarily stop business in Russia.

Now, Atomic Heart has taken center stage regarding the games industry’s role in the war. As reported by PCGamesN, the Ukraine government will write an official letter to Valve, Microsoft, and Sony requesting that Atomic Heart be removed from digital stores in Ukraine, with an additional request that these companies consider “limiting distribution” in other countries.

The Ministry of Digital Transformation said its stance comes from the “toxicity” of Atomic Heart, and allegations that the Russian government could see financial gain from the game’s release.

“We also urge limiting the distribution of this game in other countries due to its toxicity, potential data collection of users, and the potential use of money raised from game purchases to conduct a war against Ukraine,” said Alex Bornyakov, Ukraine’s Deputy Minister of Digital Transformation.

This statement originally appeared on Ukrainian tech site Dev.au, with PCGamesN obtaining the English version directly from the Ukrainian government.

“According to media reports, the game’s development was funded by Russian enterprises,” the Ukraine government’s statement continued. “Therefore, we call for all users worldwide to avoid this game. We also want to emphasize that the game developers have not publicly condemned the Putin regime and the bloody war that Russia has unleashed against Ukraine.”

Both Mundfish and Xbox had “no comment” when contacted about the Ukraine situation. Valve and PlayStation did not respond to IGN’s request. IGN will update this article accordingly if we hear back.

Atomic Heart composer Mick Gordon recently revealed that he donated his fee to the Red Cross’ Ukraine Crisis Appeal. Gordon said he was contacted by Mundfish studio in 2020, nearly two full years before the Russian invasion in February 2022.

Logan Plant is a freelance writer for IGN covering video game and entertainment news. He has over six years of experience in the gaming industry with bylines at IGN, Nintendo Wire, Switch Player Magazine, and Lifewire. Find him on Twitter @LoganJPlant.

The Valiant Hearts series is a novel take on the familiar setting of World War I. Instead of focusing on armed skirmishes and large-scale battles, it hones in on the lives of those on the frontlines, the lingering trauma that war casts upon them, and the unexpected bonds found in dark times. Despite the smaller-scale storytelling, its more emotional take on living through war is a welcome change of pace.

Released in January as a Netflix Games exclusive, Valiant Hearts: Coming Home is the long overdue sequel to Ubisoft’s war-time narrative-adventure game from 2014. Along with the return of protagonists Anna and Freddie, the sequel also includes a new character whose story focuses on the African American service members in the famed 369th regiment, the Harlem Hellfighters.

We interviewed Ubisoft manager of inclusive games & content Maya Loreal, and product director Guillaume Cerda, about the making of Valiant Hearts: Coming Home and the potential video games have with bringing stories and underrepresented figures into the spotlight.

“It’s in our game’s DNA to tell the story of these ordinary people becoming unsung heroes,” said Cerda about Valiant Hearts; Coming Home. “And what better example than the Harlem Hellfighters, especially with the feats and efforts they are recognized with, even after a century following the end of World War I. Their stories fit in well with Valiant Hearts. We’re always saying that it’s not a war game, but it’s a game about war, being caught up in the turmoil of it.”

Revisiting The Past

Coming Home picks up after the original game’s events in 1917, with the United States entering the war and further expanding the scale of the conflict. As returning characters Freddie and Anna continue to survive with their fellow French soldiers, Freddie’s brother James enlists in the US army to join the war effort, going against his brother’s wishes. Along with facing the brutality of one of history’s most chaotic wars, James and other Black soldiers in his unit also contend with daily encounters of bigotry from their fellow service members at home and abroad.

The loot lizard, Xûr, is now live in Destiny 2 for the weekend until next week’s reset. If you’re looking to get your some shiny new Exotic armor or weapons for your Guardian, look no further.

Each week, Xûr has a random assortment of Exotic armor, one for each Guardian class, as well as a random Exotic Weapon and an Exotic Engram available for purchase. In addition to his Exotic wares, he’s got a random collection of Legendary weapons and armor to deck out your Guardians.

We’ve rounded up all the info on Xûr for the week including where to find Xûr, which Exotic weapons and armor are available, as well as which Legendary weapons you should pick up, either for PvE or PvP.

Where Is Xûr Today?

Xûr’s location today can be found at Watcher’s Grave on Nessus on February 24 through February 28. To reach him, travel to the landing point at Watcher’s Grave. When you arrive, make for the red moss-covered tree straight ahead. Climb up the roots and you’ll find Xûr waiting at the top to sell you exotic items and legendary weapons.

After reports that all three major platform holders were skipping E3, Nintendo has confirmed to IGN that it will indeed be missing the event slated for June.

“We approach our involvement in any event on a case-by-case basis and are always considering various ways to engage with our fans,” Nintendo told IGN in a statement. “Since this year’s E3 show didn’t fit into our plans, we have made the decision to not participate. However, we have been and continue to be a strong supporter of the ESA and E3.”

IGN previously broke the news that Xbox, Sony, and Nintendo would not be formally taking part in E3 2023, with Nintendo pulling out due to a lack of major releases to promote. Xbox will be hosting its own event in Los Angeles, but it will not be at the Los Angeles Convention Center.

With E3 roughly three months away, uncertainty continues to hover around the event as publishers weigh their options. Ubisoft recently announced that it would attend E3 if the event went forward, but otherwise IGN understands that little has changed from a month ago, with few publishers being willing to full commit to attending.

E3 2023 is currently slated for June 13 to June 16 in the Los Angeles Convention Center. It is unclear whether Nintendo will hold a Nintendo Direct to match, as it has in previous years.

Kat Bailey is a Senior News Editor at IGN as well as co-host of Nintendo Voice Chat. Have a tip? Send her a DM at @the_katbot.