Fallout studio Bethesda Softworks has been through a lot in the last few decades, and former marketing boss Pete Hines was there to see it through almost all of its changes.
Hines touched on how Bethesda became a gaming giant during a recent interview with DBLTAP. In addition to providing his perspective on the company’s early days, he took the time to recount how some of its biggest victories and hardest falls helped shape it into what it is today.
When it was working, it was magical.
Hines started with Bethesda in October 1999, seeing it through everything from the launch of The Elder Scrolls 3: Morrowind in 2002, to Skyrim in 2011, to Fallout 76 in 2018. He also remained as a key figure at the gaming publisher throughout Microsoft's acquisition of Bethesda parent company ZeniMax Media, which was completed in 2021, before going on to announce his retirement in 2023.
Hines brought his time at Bethesda to an end after 24 years. However, it seems it was the quieter moments working with ZeniMax founder and CEO Robert Altman, who passed away in 2021, that he remembers most fondly.
“It was Robert Altman's company, and we were his employees, no question,” Hines said. “But he treated us more like family, and we found a culture that really fit us. When it was working, it was magical. We were a small, private company. It's way easier to stay out of scrutiny when you're not having to put your earnings reports out for the whole world.”
Bethesda, which now serves under the titan that is Microsoft, encompasses a variety of different game studios. This includes its development arm, Bethesda Game Studios, Doom developer id Software, Deathloop developer Arkane Studios, Wolfenstein studio MachineGames, and The Elder Scrolls Online studio ZeniMax Online.
There's just no question that the company is not the same.
Bethesda has gone through major shifts both before and after the Microsoft acquisition. For better or worse, Hines says there’s no denying the company he started at in 1999 has changed.
“There's just no question that the company is not the same,” he added. “It has been radically changed and altered from the company that we built. It is what it is. Things change. Things move on, but at its height, it was really a special thing to be a part of.”
Michael Cripe is a freelance writer with IGN. He's best known for his work at sites like The Pitch, The Escapist, and OnlySP. Be sure to give him a follow on Bluesky (@mikecripe.bsky.social) and Twitter (@MikeCripe).
Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 publisher Paradox is now offering PlayStation Store pre-order refunds as it makes “big changes” after a backlash to its decision to lock clans behind DLC.
The furore began with the confirmation that Bloodlines 2 would feature four clans: Brujah; Tremere; Banu Haqim; and Ventrue. While this selection provides four different starting options for how you build your protagonist, it’s a more limited offering compared to the cult classic original Bloodlines, which featured seven clans.
Developer The Chinese Room added a further two clans to Bloodlines 2 (Lasombra and Toreador), but these were only available as part of the Shadows and Silk add-on pack, which costs $21.99 as DLC, or included as part of the $89.99 Premium Edition. The standard edition costs $59.99.
This DLC is available from day one, which has created the impression that the “full” roster has been carved up, with only those paying extra getting the complete launch experience. As you’d expect, fans were quick to express their dissatisfaction.
At gamescom 2025, a representative for publisher Paradox told IGN the decision was a “business” informed choice, prompting further outcry. Then, last month, a post on Discord from Paradox suggested a significant change would be coming ahead of launch, and now the publisher has gone one step further by issuing PlayStation Store pre-order refunds.
“PS Store pre-orders will be refunded on Sept 8. You’ll be able to pre-order again before launch on Oct 21.
“Thanks for your patience; we’ll share more soon!”
Fans are now wondering whether Paradox will include Lasombra and Toreador by default and not as DLC at base game price. Certainly, the sentiment online is that’s the expectation.
“Honestly nothing short of fully including them at base game price will turn me around on this,” said one social media user in response to the announcement. “Otherwise I'm skipping.”
“The only way to salvage this and regain trust with the community is to sell the base game as-is with all clans available and rather sell DLC with new side stories and cosmetics on the side or just add the cosmetics/side stories as part of a higher tier eg deluxe edition/premium edition, as that won't mess with the main story/narrative etc,” said another.
Some expressed thanks for the reaction to the backlash. “I'm very excited and hopeful to see what you came up with for the two clans locked behind DLC issue,” said one fan. “I'd like to thank you for listening to community feedback and working to fix the issue. I'm sure refunding store pre-orders was not an easy decision.”
Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 has suffered a difficult development and a number of high-profile delays, but it is a crucial release for Paradox. The publisher will be keen to give it the best chance possible to succeed, and backtracking on its DLC plans may be the only viable option at this stage. While you wait to find out, check out IGN's Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 hands-on preview.
Be sure to stay up-to-date with all the latest from IGN by clicking here and setting IGN as a preferred source in Google.
Wesley is Director, News at IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.
Exit 8, a live-action horror movie adaptation of the anomaly-spotting indie game of the same name, opened at movie theaters in Japan on August 29. Despite enjoying a profitable opening weekend, the Japanese film has attracted some controversy in its home country over a scene that depicts a tsunami, as well as the production company’s delay in issuing an official warning about this potentially upsetting content.
Originally released on Steam in November 2023, The Exit 8 is a first-person puzzle game set in looping passageways of a Japanese subway station. Starting by the sign for Exit 0, players must reach the titular Exit 8 by looking out for anomalies - if they see something strange they must turn back. If everything seems normal, they must keep walking straight ahead. Make the correct choice, and the number on the exit sign goes up by one. Make the wrong choice, and you go all the way back to zero. With its creepy atmosphere and occasional jump-scares, the game quickly shot up in sales and gained widespread popularity with streamers. It has since been ported to multiple platforms and even has a VR version.
The movie Exit 8 uses the iconic elements of the game to present a psychological horror. Kazunari Ninomiya plays the main character, an asthmatic unnamed man stuck in the daily grind of commuting to work on the subway who is struggling to come to terms with becoming a father. Like in the game, Ninomiya’s character gets trapped in the looping subway passages and must successfully spot anomalies to reach Exit 8. The movie also touches on themes like bystander apathy, dissociation from reality, and how smartphones can make us lose track of our surroundings.
The film has an uneasy atmosphere and is almost exclusively set within the claustrophobic bounds of the subway station. The subway passages evoke the game, right down to the wandering salaryman NPC, posters, and the overly shiny white, tiled walls. Some of the anomalies are similar to those in the game, while others are unique to the movie (one of which will likely be appreciated by Parasite Eve fans).
On September 1, the movie’s official X account posted a content warning to potential viewers about “certain scenes that may evoke traumatic memories of natural disasters, like tsunamis." This post led to an outpouring of varied responses. Although some users thanked the production company for the heads-up, others criticized the timing of the warning, which came three days after the film hit theaters. “Shouldn't this have been issued on opening day?” and “I wouldn’t have gone to see it had I known,” are among the critical user comments reported on by Japanese news outlets like Yahoo! Japan/J-CAST.
Meanwhile, some commenters who hadn’t seen the film yet mused about whether the depiction could really be traumatic enough to warrant such a warning, considering the “mild” rising water that appears in the game, plus the film’s G rating (suitable for all) from Japanese film classification board Eirin.
The Exit 8 game does feature an anomaly where a red tide of blood follows the player (in a possible homage to The Shining). However, on X, movie viewers rushed to assure people that the film’s scene is very different and much more realistic. “I think people who are familiar with the The Exit 8 game are more likely to let their guard down,” said one user, adding that the movie’s scenes are "about 500 times more 'real-life tsunami' than the game's." Others urged those with experience of disasters like the devastating 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami (which killed almost 20,000 people) to refrain from seeing the film. With the movie getting a “suitable for all” rating, some users wondered if Eirin had done its job properly.
Having seen the Exit 8 movie, I can confirm that the tsunami scene is more realistic and prolonged than the game’s. The torrent of water that floods the subway corridors is not blood-red but brown with mud, and quickly submerges a young boy. There are first-person shots from the viewpoint of the main character, conveying his panic as he struggles to get to the surface of the strong waters. There is also an intense scene in which the main character tries to save the boy by getting him on top of the ceiling’s exit sign, followed by a prolonged shot of the boy curled up fetus-like and surrounded by debris.
The Exit 8 movie has been heavily advertised in its home country, and had the highest-grossing opening weekend for a live action-movie in Japan so far this year (source: Anime News Network). The main actor Kazunari Ninomiya has a strong fan following dating back to when he was a member of the hit boyband Arashi. These factors mean that a larger audience, including those unfamiliar with The Exit 8’s source material, are likely to check out the movie, and has amplified the criticism surrounding the tsunami scene.
Exit 8 is currently showing at movie theaters in Japan. It has already been screened at some international film festivals including Cannes, with further, staggered releases planned in various countries. Neon acquired North American rights to Exit 8 in August, and plans a theatrical release in early 2026.
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Verity Townsend is a Japan-based freelance writer who previously served as editor, contributor and translator for the game news site Automaton West. She has also written about Japanese culture and movies for various publications.
League of Legends strategy game Teamfight Tactics is getting a temporary single-player PvE mode called Ao Shin’s Ascent later in September, Riot Games has announced.
Teamfight Tactics is the 2019 spinoff of Riot’s enormously popular MOBA League of Legends based on Dota Auto Chess. Eight players build teams and fight to be the last person standing, with their units automatically battling after being placed strategically on the game board between rounds. Riot describes TFT as “the world’s largest PC strategy game.”
TFT is traditionally a PvP game, but Ao Shin’s Ascent, due out September 24, is its first-ever progression-focused PvE mode. Players take on escalating PvE battles and bosses, with roguelite progression that grants permanent power in the mode’s Journey Track.
⛰️Get ready to climb! ⛰️ Ao Shin’s Ascent is a timerless PvE mode with permanent power progression & the all-new Guide mechanic.
Climb the mountain, save corrupted Little Legends, and push to the summit!
Here’s the official info, from developer Riot Games:
SUMMIT THE MOUNTAIN: Climb the mountain while strengthening your board, arming yourself with powerful Augments, and preparing for an ultra-powerful Boss.
CRAFT YOUR PATH AND CHALLENGE: Select your difficulty, your Guide, the Boss you’ll fight, and more to make every run feel and play differently!
KEY MECHANIC; GUIDES: The odds aren’t stacked in your favor at the start — recruiting a selection of unlockable Guides can help turn the tides by giving you access to novel strategies and power! Take Zoe for random loot, or grab a bundle-exclusive Guide like Battle Queen Gwen to access powerful Items from various TFT sets!
PROGRESS TO THE SUMMIT WIN OR LOSE: Make progress on your climb win or lose, via the Journey Track. The more runs you take on, the stronger you get!
UNLOCK GUIDES AND POWER WITH THE FREE JOURNEY TRACK: Unlock Guides, and power through the Journey Track. Clear the summit with at least 12 Guides to claim a free Ao Shin’s Ascent Portal reward.
PURCHASE BUNDLES: The Ao Shin’s Ascent Guide Pack (575 RP) comes with an emote and both Bundle-exclusive Guides: Truth Dragon Yasuo and Battle Queen Gwen. And the Ao Shin’s Ascent Mega Bundle (2780 RP) comes with that Emote, both Guides, Legendary Little Legend: Awakened Ao Shin, the Little Legend Sol Harbinger Ao Shin, and the second K.O. Coliseum Pass Plus!
Christina Jiang, Events Product Lead for Teamfight Tactics, said: “Ao Shin’s Ascent represents everything we love about TFT — experimentation, strategy, and a dash of chaos — while introducing a roguelite twist that challenges players to adapt and persevere. This progression-based mode is our most ambitious PvE experiment yet, building on the strong global player engagement we’ve seen with Set 15, K.O. Coliseum. It marks a major step toward giving TFT players more ways to play, more ways to test themselves, and more reasons to return for the next climb.”
And here’s a comment from Michael “Skip” Scipione, Senior Game Designer for Teamfight Tactics: “With Ao Shin’s Ascent, we wanted to push TFT forward with bold new mechanics that expand on its core gameplay. Bosses evolve with shifting modifiers, and the new progression system means each run builds toward the next, letting players experiment with different approaches against an ever-changing challenge. It’s a way to expand TFT’s core mechanics while giving players new stories to create with every climb.”
Teamfight Tactics: Ao Shin’s Ascent launches on September 24 at 10am Pacific Time, shortly after the release of patch 15.5. The mode will be available until the end of patch 15.6 on October 8.
Wesley is Director, News at IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.
Director Tetsuya Nomura has heard the cries for updates on Final Fantasy 7 Remake Part 3 and Kingdom Hearts 4, and he’s happy to report that development is “progressing really smoothly.”
It’s a largely inconsequential but still welcome update for two of Square Enix’s most anticipated games that arrived during the recent Final Fantasy 7: Ever Crisis second anniversary broadcast. As reported on and translated by Gematsu, Nomura took the opportunity to address waves of comments from fans hoping to see the team make an announcement.
“Apparently, [co-director Motomu] Toriyama mentioned in an interview that something might be released around the second anniversary [of Final Fantasy VII: Ever Crisis],” Nomura said when addressing comments specifically related to the Final Fantasy 7 Remake series. “So that’s probably where those expectations are coming from. Right, so things are progressing really smoothly. I can’t really say more — if I suddenly went, ‘Well, actually...,’ everyone would be really surprised! [Laughs.]”
Nomura goes as far as to say that the “release timing has already been decided” but stops short of clarifying when exactly Square Enix will share more. For now, he asks fans to be patient, adding that work on Final Fantasy 7 Remake Part 3 is “moving forward according to that schedule.”
Development for Kingdom Hearts 4, meanwhile, is progressing in a similarly positive direction, though Nomura says even less about when any further updates may arrive on this front.
“And this has also come up in the comments here and there,” Nomura added, “but Kingdom Hearts IV is likewise steadily moving forward according to schedule, so please look forward to it.”
Kingdom Hearts 4 was announced in 2022, and updates have been distressingly few and far between since. It wasn’t until May 2025, not even four months ago, that Square Enix was willing to share a substantial update, and even then, all fans had to hold onto was a handful of new screenshots and a short message from the team.
“We’ve seen how excited you are, and we are truly grateful from the bottom of our hearts," Square Enix said at the time. “We are equally excited and can’t wait to share more about Kingdom Hearts IV when the time is right. Until then, we appreciate your patience.”
Michael Cripe is a freelance writer with IGN. He's best known for his work at sites like The Pitch, The Escapist, and OnlySP. Be sure to give him a follow on Bluesky (@mikecripe.bsky.social) and Twitter (@MikeCripe).
In April 2024, we informed you about a cool fan remake of Rayman 3 in Unreal Engine 5. And today, I’m happy to report that a playable free demo of it has been released, allowing everyone to get their hands on it. Going into more details, Rayman 3 Havoc Reignited is a non-commercial fan reimagining … Continue reading Rayman 3 Unreal Engine 5 Fan Remake Demo Released→
Modder ‘Naughtilus’ has shared a cool new mod that brings to Fallout: New Vegas the floating dialogue subtitles of Baldur’s Gate 3. This is a subtle but great QoL improvement that a lot of FNV fans may find interesting. This mod adds a new subtitle system to the game. It shows floating text above characters … Continue reading Fallout: New Vegas Gets a Baldur’s Gate 3-Like Dynamic Ambient Dialogue→
LEGO has been hard at work producing sets targeted specifically at adults all year long. Some of the biggest new sets released this September were 18+ builds and there are already even more on the way for later in 2025. But of the new sets that just came out, perhaps the most interesting to me are the latest builds in the LEGO Wicked line. Similar to last year, LEGO released a bunch of new themed sets ahead of the upcoming film, Wicked: For Good. Though there was one major difference this year—two of the sets were targeted specifically at adults.
The two sets, a pair of Glinda & Elphaba Bookends and an Emerald City Wall Art Set, are currently the only new builds from the franchise that are on backorder at the LEGO store. While you can still find these sets at other retailers with faster shipping, the fact that LEGO is having trouble keeping up with demand is a testament to the popularity of these builds with an adult audience.
New LEGO Wicked Sets for Adults
It's not hard to see why these sets are so popular. Wicked is a beloved franchise with a lot of adults who were first introduced to it as a Broadway musical. The new movies have only further emphasized that popularity and these sets are a new way for fans to enjoy something they already love. These two sets also represent a way for adults to play with LEGO bricks while still creating something functional they can use in their home. The bookends fall into the same category as the LEGO Book Nook sets released earlier this year and the Emerald City set joins the already popular line of LEGO Art sets that has been gaining traction in the AFOL (adult fans of LEGO) community.
These 18+ builds is a departure from what was produced from this LEGO and Wicked collaboration back in 2024. All five of the sets released alongside the first Wicked movie last year were playsets targeted more at kids than adults. The closest thing to an adult build from that previous release is the Elphaba & Glinda Figures set which is meant as a 10+ build. The move to more adult-targeted sets is hopefully an adjustment from LEGO to better reach a larger demographic that has a deeper love for the musical beyond just the new movies.
Like most LEGO sets for adults, both of the new 18+ Wicked builds are also the most expensive in the entire line. The bookends retail for $129.99 and the wall art set will set you back $159.99. Though as someone who had the chance to build the Glinda & Elphaba Bookends myself, I think that price is warranted when you compare it to similar sets based on outside IP. It took me all afternoon and part of the evening to put the whole thing together and it was a really fun build all the way through. There are little details and surprises throughout that any Wicked fan will enjoy. And the end result is a pair of bookends that actually function quite well. You can check out each step of my own build in the slideshow below.
Former Bethesda Softworks marketing boss Pete Hines has opened up about the Fallout 76 bag controversy of 2018, saying it led to "probably the dumbest thing" he ever did at the company.
Hines, who served as senior vice president of global marketing and communications at Bethesda before announcing plans to retire in 2023, touched on the infamous Fallout 76 Power Armor Edition during an interview with DBLTAP. The first true multiplayer Fallout experience came with too many issues to count at launch, but it’s the goodies promised with its collector’s edition that live with the former Bethesda executive to this day.
The company unveiled the pricey Power Armor Edition with the promise it would include a T-51B Power Armor Helmet, an exclusive steel case, collectible figures, and, of course, a canvas West Tek Duffel Bag. Players who picked up their copies upon the launch of Fallout 76 in late 2018, however, were surprised when the package included a cheap, nylon bag instead.
Hines doesn’t remember this element of the launch of Fallout 76 fondly, recalling how his involvement in the contents of the Power Armor Edition led to one of his biggest mistakes at Bethesda.
“My first reaction was, ‘When the f**k did we add a canvas bag to this collector's edition?’ Because the version I approved did not have one,” he said. “They were trying to add more value to the Collectors Edition. We were always fighting with the finance people about margins, right? I would throw shit fits around. ‘We cannot charge $300 for this, it's f***ing insulting.’ But in this case, their hearts were in the right place.”
It's probably the dumbest thing I ever did at Bethesda.
Hines continued, explaining that the decision to include a nylon bag came as a result of a canvas shortage.
“There was literally a canvas shortage, and some folks decided we're going to do this instead. My biggest failing there was not pushing immediately for making and sending one to everybody that wants one. Because I was still annoyed that the damn thing was in there in the first place, and nobody had told me and that this canvas shortage happened. It's probably the dumbest thing I ever did at Bethesda.”
Fallout 76 had a notoriously rough start but is generally regarded to be in much better shape these days. Bethesda has delivered an ocean of updates and post-launch content in the years since, with the CAMP Revamp update arriving just a few days ago. We gave the multiplayer Fallout game a 7/10 in our updated review last year.
Michael Cripe is a freelance writer with IGN. He's best known for his work at sites like The Pitch, The Escapist, and OnlySP. Be sure to give him a follow on Bluesky (@mikecripe.bsky.social) and Twitter (@MikeCripe).
Fede Alvarez will not direct the sequel to his hit 2024 film Alien: Romulus. The search is on for a new filmmaker to helm the sequel.
According to TooFab, Alvarez will remain onboard the project as a producer, He also co-wrote the screenplay with Rodo Sayagues. TooFab chatted with Alvarez on Thursday at Universal Studios Halloween Horror Nights.
"We just finished the script, actually, for a sequel for Romulus. But I'm gonna pass the torch on this one as director," Alvarez said. "I'm going to produce it, with Ridley Scott, we're gonna produce it together and we're right now trying to find a new filmmaker to come in."
"I think that's usually what has happened, except for Ridley, filmmakers come, you make one and you pass the baton to the next one," the filmmaker added.
"But we wrote the story because we really love what we started with Romulus and we want to continue the story. We love the story and now we just want to find a director that really wants to go for the jugular."
Cailee Spaeny and David Jonsson are expected to reprise their respective roles from Alien: Romulus for the sequel, which will be released by 20th Century Studios.
“Helped along by a talented ensemble of young actors and reference-quality production design, Alien: Romulus’s back-to-basics approach to blockbuster horror boils everything fans love about the tonally-fluid franchise into one film, and it’s one that you’re going to need to start making time for the next time you plan on marathoning Alien and Aliens.”
Although fans will have to wait awhile to see a Romulus sequel, there’s still plenty of the Alien franchise to enjoy these days.
Full spoilers follow for Peacemaker Season 2, Episode 3 - “Another Rick Up My Sleeve.”
In this week’s Peacemaker, James Gunn pulls the rug out from under some of us at least by resurrecting a long-thought-dead character: Rick Flag Jr., Joel Kinnaman’s Special Forces badass who was killed all the way back in Gunn’s The Suicide Squad movie in 2021. Killed, of course, by John Cena’s Chris/Peacemaker himself… But you know, alternate dimensions do have a way of resurrecting folks! Or never killing folks in the first place, or… whatever.
We also learn in the episode’s opening flashback that Rick Jr. and Emilia Harcourt (Jennifer Holland) had a past relationship, and that they were actually in bed together the morning Rick was leaving for his ill-fated mission in Corto Maltese. (Gunn, who scripted this entire season, even drops a reference to Cara Delevingne’s June, AKA the Enchantress, from the first Suicide Squad movie.)
Of course, it actually makes perfect sense to bring Kinnaman back, since a big part of this season is centered on his dad, Rick Sr. (Frank Grillo), and his mission to make Chris pay for his son’s death. But this turn of events also means that not only do we suddenly have two Rick Flag Jr.s back in the picture, but we also get a Joel Kinnaman doing physical comedy as alt-Rick, driven into a Mr. Bean-like fit of bumbling by Chris visiting alt-Harcourt for lunch at A.R.G.U.S.. I had no idea the Killing/RoboCop/For All Mankind star could be so funny crashing into trash cans.
Chris is digging himself deeper and deeper into a hole with a series of lies as he embeds himself in the alternate universe.
As for Chris himself, even as he’s digging deeper and deeper into a hole with a series of lies as he embeds himself in the alternate universe, assuming dead-alt-Chris’ life and relationships, he also gets to live the hero life of his dearly departed self. From adoring fans to the perks of the job (the Peace-Cycle!), things really come together for him with the one-two punch of reuniting with alt-Emilia and then foiling a would-be terrorist attack by the Sons of Liberty. Chris goes part John McClane/part John Wick/part Terminator on the terrorists, systematically and mercilessly taking them out – and saving the day. “That guy’s Peacemaker, right?” a local cop says. “But he ain’t wearing his suit.” Nope, he’s not. And he doesn’t need it.
After the relatively uneventful episode last week (not including Eagly’s cheer-worthy attack on Tim Meadows’ A.R.G.U.S. goons), “Another Rick Up My Sleeve” really livens the season up. Peacemaker’s all-out-assault on the Sons of Liberty is exciting, bloody, and funny – extra points go to the dude who gets an axe in his head and lives (ish). And Chris’ amazement at actually saving the day is just terrific. This is indeed the best dimension ever…
We’ll see how long that lasts.
Thoughts From the Quantum Unfolding Chamber:
It seems only Adebayo (Danielle Brooks) – and we, the audience – can see what mainline universe Harcourt can’t: She and Chris are a thing.
Economos (Steve Agee) is in a bit of trouble, having to go along with Sasha Bordeaux (Sol Rodríguez) and her A.R.G.U.S. agents to kill Eagly and capture Chris. Screw those guys!
But oh, that also means that Gunn fave Michael Rooker has entered the picture as the “world’s foremost eagle hunter” Red St. Wild. We’ll see what he gets up to next week.
And hey, at least Vigilante/Adrian (Freddie Stroma) laundered Economos’ pants for him!
The kid who loves Peacemaker so much that he’s an uncontrollable mess? Yikes.
“If I’m doing that — which the rumors are that I am, once I get a script, I’ll know it’s real — but I love him and we have a common friend in Lena Dunham, believe it or not, (laughs) who just adores him,” Ruffalo said.
“I can’t wait to work with (Bernthal), he’s so funny and he’s such a great actor. He plays that character like nobody else. I’m really excited to meet him, I’ve never met him!”
Dan Brown's new book is coming out next week, and it's great news for fans of his Robert Langdon series. It's been eight years since the last installment in the series (Origin), which is the longest break between books Brown has had since he first published Angels and Demons back in the early 2000s. The new novel, titled Secret of Secrets, is set to release on September 9. You can currently preorder the upcoming book for a discount at Amazon or Barnes & Noble.
For those who haven't read the books, you'll likely recognize the name Robert Langdon from Tom Hanks' portrayal of the character in the hit film adaptation of The Da Vinci Code. Hanks also played the character in two more follow-up films based on the novels, Angels & Demons and Inferno. The most recent interpretation of the character was by Ashley Zukerman, who played the titular Symbology professor in 2021's The Lost Symbol TV series (before it was cancelled at Peacock).
Despite a lack of news about Dan Brown's previous Robert Langdon novel receiving any sort of adaptation, Netflix announced in May that The Secret of Secrets will be getting a new TV series. The new take on the iconic series will be led by showrunner Carlton Cuse, who is known for his work on popular shows like Lost, Bates Motel, and The Strain. An actor has yet to be chosen for the role of Robert Langdon and a release date has yet to be announced.
Robert Langdon Series Reading Order
The Secret of Secrets will be the sixth book in the series after Origin which was released back in 2017. The best order to read them in is by publish date:
Angels & Demons (2000)
The Da Vinci Code (2003)
The Lost Symbol (2009)
Inferno (2013)
Origin (2017)
The Secret of Secrets (2025)
Kindle Edition and Audiobook Release Dates
Alongside the hardcover edition of the book, the Kindle and Audiobook versions of the book will be released on September 9. For those with Kindle Unlimited, it unfortunately looks like the new book will not be included for free with your subscription. In fact, none of the books in Dan Brown's Robert Langdon series are included in Kindle Unlimited. You can preorder The Secret of Secrets ebook for $15.99 right now.
For those with an Audible subscription, you will be able to use your monthly credit to purchase the audiobook or you can choose to buy outright for $25.99 ahead of release. It's narrated by Paul Mitchell, who has been the voice of all of the previous books in the series.
Connexion
