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End of an Era: Microsoft to Shut Down Skype in May and Replace It With Free Version of Microsoft Teams

Microsoft has confirmed plans to shut down Skype in May and replace it with a free version of Microsoft Teams.

Confirmation comes at a time when the likes of WhatsApp, Zoom, FaceTime, and Messenger dominate communication via voice over IP (VoIP), consigning direct calls to cellphones from the likes of Skype to the history books.

As reported by The Verge, current Skype users will be able to log into the Microsoft Teams app and have all their content (message history, contacts etc) available without the need to create another account. Meanwhile, Microsoft will phase out domestic or international call support.

Skype users also have the option of exporting their Skype data, including photos and conversation history, and Microsoft has made a tool to help those who don’t want to move to Teams view their current Skype chat history.

You have 60 days to decide, as Skype goes offline from May 5. Either way, Microsoft will honor existing Skype credits, but will no longer offer new customers access to paid Skype features that let you make or receive international and domestic calls.

What’s truly lost with the Skype shutdown, then, is the ability to make calls to cellphones. Speaking to The Verge, Microsoft said that while telephony functionality was useful at the height of Skype’s popularity, it is now less so.

“Part of the reason is we look at the usage and the trends, and this functionality was great at the time when voice over IP (VoIP) wasn’t available and mobile data plans were very expensive,” said Amit Fulay, vice president of product at Microsoft. “If we look at the future, that’s not a thing we want to be in.”

Microsoft bought Skype for $8.5 billion back in 2011, saying at the time the deal was about “deepening the company’s longstanding focus on real-time video and voice communications, and providing new market opportunities serving Skype’s 160-plus million active users.”

At one point Skype became an important part of all Windows devices and was even touted as an Xbox console selling point. But, by Microsoft’s own admission, the Skype userbase has been flat in recent years. The focus now is on Microsoft Teams for consumers.

Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.

Severance Chikhai Bardo Explained: What Really Happened to Gemma?

Streaming Wars is a weekly opinion column by IGN’s Streaming Editor, Amelia Emberwing. Check out the last entry Severance May Have Just Laid the Groundwork For the Greatest Betrayal Yet

This column contains spoilers for Severance Season 2, Episode 7.

I try to avoid column entries focusing on the same show two weeks in a row, but Severance has been on one lately so we’re absolutely headed back to Lumon this week.

“Chikhai Bardo” takes us back in time (sometimes), weaving flashbacks with what appear to be current events as we learn about Gemma (Dichen Lachman) and Mark’s (Adam Scott) relationship alongside Gemma’s fight to free herself from Lumon. On our journey with the two, we learn about her miscarriage and their subsequent struggles to conceive even after consulting with a fertility clinic. But, while the glimpse into their past lives makes us feel closer to Gemma, it’s what’s happening in the (presumed) present that blows the lid off things.

While we knew Gemma was alive, we weren’t sure how or to what extent. Her presence at Lumon indicated that perhaps it was only her Innie’s brain that survived, but we never knew how she had an Innie persona to begin with. Additionally, the episode’s title gives us hints as to what might actually be going on while also potentially adding more questions, and we may be closer than ever to learning what the hell is going on with Miss Huang (Sarah Bock).

Buckle up, we have a lot to talk about.

What Does Chikhai Bardo Mean?

In the episode, Gemma and Mark briefly talk about a set of cards. It doesn’t go well.

“Chikhai Bardo… it looks like two guys fighting,” Mark quips.

“No, it’s the same guy fighting himself, defeating his own psyche. Ego death,” Gemma responds. She adds later that she "thinks she got onto the mailing list at the clinic.”

Mark makes fun of her for doing something he thinks is stupid, she responds in kind that he’s being an asshole, and their brief argument ends with him telling her that maybe they should just stop trying to conceive. It’s a rough moment in the couple’s life, but what’s most interesting here isn’t their fight, it’s what Chikhai Bardo actually means.

Tibetan Buddhism breaks down the cycle of existence into six states, called bardos. Each bardo represents a different stage of life, death and rebirth. Chikhai Bardo is the fourth stage — the bardo of dying. This begins when the body internally and externally senses signs that death is close and results in what is known as the “clear light of death.” The goal in the midst of the clear light of death is to maintain lucidity, but many black out during the process. Meditation and training help with the aforementioned lucidity, but ultimately it’s not something that everyone can achieve.

The above is, of course, a very brief look at this complex and layered aspect of Buddhism; I highly recommend you read up more on the subject if you’re curious, but that’s about as much as we can discuss here without getting too rabbit hole-y. It’s also important to note that the other bardos may very well have their part to play in this story as well, but more on that in a bit!

Was Gemma the First Severed Person?

The structure in “Chikhai Bardo” intentionally keeps the timeline of events muddy and difficult to follow as we experience disorientation alongside Mark, but Gemma is far from the first person severed. The severance procedure was introduced 12 years ago to the public — though recent events imply that it could have been started as early as 20 years ago in the series. Mark joined Lumon and elected to have the severance procedure done only two years prior in the show’s timeline, which means Gemma has been held hostage during that period.

However, it does seem likely that Gemma may be the first severed person of her kind. What I mean by that is the fact that she seems to have multiple severed personas. We have the most experience with Ms. Casey, who is relegated to the severed floor, but we see a new kind of severance with Gemma while she’s deeper in the Lumon facility. There, it’s not severed floors but severed rooms. We see a host of them as she walks down the hall to a room called Wellington, where she meets with her “dentist” (who is presumably playing with severance technology in one way or another), with others including Cairns, Dranesville, Siena, Loveland, and Tumwater. She then passes Rhodes immediately when she leaves with her handler (Sandra Bernhard), and eventually passes Cold Harbor — a room featuring the code name of Mark and MDR’s actual work. It’s later confirmed that Gemma has visited six rooms during the day that the episode takes place: Billings, Locknau, St. Pierre, Cairns, Zurich, and Wellington.

We see Gemma visit one final room before her daring attempt to escape: Allentown. It’s here where Robby Benson’s “Doctor” plays house with her, forcing her to write hundreds of thank you notes for fake Christmas gifts the “happy couple” recently received.

How many different ways has Gemma’s brain been severed? And what do her teeth have to do with it?

What’s most interesting on Gemma’s home floor is that it seems like different rooms may bring out different personalities even further beyond Ms. Casey and whichever personas she’s meant to be during Lumon’s experiment below the severed floor. In Wellington, she seems almost frightened, asking if she may please have a break. In Allentown, her frustration with “her partner” is evident alongside her pain. In an undisclosed room, she’s seemingly on a flight and experiencing extreme turbulence that seems likely to lead to a plane crash. Additionally, each room that we’ve followed her into includes Benson’s The Doctor, with no questions as to why she keeps meeting different versions of him. How many different ways has Gemma’s brain been severed? And what do her teeth have to do with it?

Was Gemma Ever Really in a Car Accident?

At the beginning of the episode, I didn’t think so. It was my assumption that they found Gemma through the fertility clinic and tricked her by dangling the potential of a child in front of her. However, knowing what we now do about Chikhai Bardo, I absolutely believe that Gemma was, indeed, in an accident. But I also believe that it was Lumon who caused it.

Earlier in the season, Mark also insists that he “saw the body!” when people are trying to convince him that Gemma is alive, making those cloning fan-theories seem more likely than ever. Especially given the fact that they had access to Gemma’s DNA thanks to the fertility clinic which, at this point, I feel pretty confident that they either own or partner with.

Why Is Lumon Holding Gemma Hostage?

Y’all… The possibilities feel endless at this point. What are those little freaks doing with her?

Right now, a prevailing fan-theory posits that Ms. Huang is somehow Mark and Gemma’s kid. Obviously, the math doesn’t math with there only being two years since Mark saw Gemma last, but given that we’re looking at clones, metaphysics and an all-powerful global cult, Lumon’s walking child labor violation sure does seem like she could somehow be their offspring. That would certainly answer the “to what end” aspect of the question, but not necessarily the why part of it.

But the why aspect is likely ultimately pretty mundane. As far as the outside world is concerned Gemma Scout died in a car accident two years ago, Lumon proffered a fake body, and if she (literally) resurfaced, people would start asking a lot of questions. Especially given the fact that keeping Gemma’s outie consciousness seems imperative to their research. She goes outside and you bet she’s going to tell the world what the Eagans and their cult empire are up to.

What at first seems to be a throwaway line ultimately ties everything together in a neat little bow. There are two separate scenes where Gemma notes that she has visited six rooms on her no-good-very-bad-day, and it sure does appear as if each room has a corresponding Bardo, and whatever the Eagans are up to is intrinsically tied to Buddhism and a bastardization of its tenets for their own means.

These are the six bardos:

Kyenay Bardo (Life)

Samten Bardo (Meditation)

Milam Bardo (Dream)

Chikhai Bardo (Death)

Chonyid Bardo (Dharmata)

Sidpa Bardo (Existence)

And these are the six rooms Gemma confirms she’s entered that day:

Billings

Locknau

St. Pierre

Cairns

Zurich

Wellington

Kyenay Bardo (life) explains why they need Gemma’s core personality to remain. Throughout the episode we see her doing yoga (Samten Bardo/meditation). Milam Bardo (dream) remains in question, but Chikhai Bardo (death) goes beyond her car accident and explains the near-death plane ride we saw her on, despite us not knowing the corresponding room. That leaves her dentist experience as well as Chonyid Bardo and Sidpa Bardo in question. Allentown — her thank you card nightmare with Dr. McCreepy — is not one of the six rooms corresponding to a Bardo, which feeds into the idea that it isn’t part of the experiment. The guy just wanted some extra time to be a predator.

What’s particularly interesting when it comes to the “to what end” aspect of the why is what Lumon needs her for and how the bardos play into it all. They’ve made it abundantly clear that Mark’s participation in and completion of Cold Harbor is imperative, but is Gemma there for whatever Cold Harbor is or something else entirely? Is Mark somehow killing the last vestiges of the wife he knows? Are they trying to grow an army of child laborers so they don’t have to deal with the question of Outies vs. Innies ever again? Or is it an army of clones for the same purpose? AND WHAT DO THE GOATS HAVE TO DO WITH ALL OF THIS?!

All we know at this point is that the introduction of the bardos all but confirms the longstanding theory that the master plan here involves helping Kier Eagon continue eternal life, but I suspect we’re gonna get a good amount of explanation on the “how” real soon.

Who Is the Doctor?

The Doctor, as seen in different personas for each room we’ve met him in, including Gemma’s private chambers where she bludgeons him with a chair and makes her escape, is key to everything involving Gemma. He’s in love with her, but that seems to be more of a complication that came later rather than a reason for her current incarceration.

I have no evidence to support it yet, but there’s something about this guy that just screams Eagen descendent. Perhaps much of that is tied to the fact that Eagens seem to be the only people at Lumon allowed to show emotion, or maybe it’s just because (bless you, Robby Benson) he’s got hardcore cult leader face.

Ultimately, I have no idea if this guy is anything more than just a creepy mad scientist. But I mostly just hope Gemma hits him with a chair again.

Every PS5 DualSense Controller Color You Can Buy Right Now

PlayStation is no stranger to releasing unique colors for its accessories throughout its 30-year history. Since the PS5 launched in November 2020, PlayStation has expanded the DualSense controller line to include 12 additional standard colors, along with a swath of limited edition controllers featuring popular PlayStation characters and vibrant patterns. Whether you're looking to replace an existing controller, add to your collection, or just want to take a trip down memory lane, we've rounded up every PlayStation 5 DualSense controller for you below in order of release date.Every DualSense Controller Color

If you're in the market for a Dualsense alternative, our guide to the best PS5 controllers features a variety of different options we've reviewed.

All Dualsense Controller Colors by Release Date

White DualSense Controller

Release Date: November 12, 2020

Released alongside the PlayStation 5 in 2020, the white DualSense controller perfectly matches the PS5 console. You can check out our review of this controller when it was first released.

Midnight Black DualSense Controller

Release Date: June 11, 2021

For fans looking for that classic DualShock look, the Midnight Black DualSense is a great choice.

Cosmic Red DualSense Controller

Release Date: June 11, 2021

Is it red? Or more berry-colored? It's neither! Cosmic Red is the first "unique" color released for the DualSense, and it would establish the space-themed naming convention for the controllers to come.

Starlight Blue DualSense Controller

Release Date: January 14, 2022

The Starlight Blue controller kicked off 2022 as part of a new space-themed trio of DualSense controller colors, offering some striking new colors not seen in the PlayStation lineup before.

Galactic Purple DualSense Controller

Release Date: January 14, 2022

Galactic Purple is the second controller included in the "Galaxy Collection" and features a deep purple hue with color-matched buttons.

Nova Pink DualSense Controller

Release Date: January 14, 2022

Nova Pink is a striking color that lets you live out your neon-fueled dreams while you game.

Grey Camouflage DualSense Controller

Release Date: October 14, 2022

PlayStation loves its camo-themed controllers, and the DualSense finally received its first (and only) patterned controller option in 2022.

Cobalt Blue DualSense Controller

Release Date: November 3, 2023

Deviating from the matte-finish options that preceded it, the Cobalt Blue DualSense is the first of three controllers featured in the "Deep Earth Collection."

Volcanic Red DualSense Controller

Release Date: November 3, 2023

Inspired by the rich metals of the earth, the Volcanic Red DualSense features a deep, red hue and metallic finish.

Sterling Silver DualSense Controller

Release Date: January 26, 2024

The final controller in the Deep Earth Collection released in early 2024 and added a metallic silver option to round out the lineup.

Chroma Pearl DualSense Controller

Release Date: November 7, 2024

The Chroma Pearl DualSense is part of the Chroma Collection, the latest trio of controllers to release featuring iridescent colors that shine at every angle.

Chroma Indigo DualSense Controller

Release Date: November 7, 2024

The Chroma Indigo DualSense beautifully shifts between rich blues and deep purples.

Chroma Teal DualSense Controller

Release Date: January 23, 2025

Featuring vibrant shifting shades of green, the Chroma Teal DualSense is a unique controller that will certainly shine in your collection.

Every Dualsense Edge Color

White DualSense Edge

Release Date: January 26, 2023

At first glance, the DualSense Edge may look similar to the standard DualSense, but aside from some glossy highlights and black face buttons, it added a slew of customizable options to take your game to the next level.

Midnight Black DualSense Edge

Release Date: February 20, 2025

Released as part of the Midnight Black Collection, this all-black DualSense Edge is the only other color option available for this pro-style controller.

Special Edition DualSense Controllers

In addition to the standard DualSense controller colors, Sony has also released several limited edition controllers over the over the past few years. Arguably the most popular limited-time offering was to celebrate PlayStation's milestone anniversary where it launched an entire PlayStation 30th Anniversary collection in November 2024 that included a standard DualSense controller, PS5 Slim, PS5 Pro, PlayStation Portal, and DualSense Edge controller, each sporting the iconic grey color of the original PlayStation console.

While you may still be able to get your hands on some special edition controllers, it's often well above retail as Sony only manufactures a limited amount. In addition to the 30th Anniversary collection, Sony has also released limited edition DualSense controllers celebrating the release of God of War: Ragnarok, Marvel's Spider-Man 2, the ill-fated Concord, and Astro Bot throughout the years.

Matthew Adler is a Commerce, Features, Guides, News, Previews, and Reviews writer for IGN. You can follow him on the site formerly known as Twitter @MatthewAdler and watch him stream on Twitch.

Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy Responds to Retirement Reports, Confirms Star Wars Succession Plan

Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy has responded to reports that she is set to retire later in 2025.

Earlier this week, Puck News claimed the veteran film producer was looking to retire at the end of her contract this year. Additionally, Puck claimed Kennedy previously considered retiring in 2024, but decided to hold off on making a decision.

While Variety reported that a source close to Kennedy called Puck’s story “pure speculation," The Hollywood Reporter confirmed the report.

Now, Kennedy has responded herself. According to Deadline, Kennedy is working with Disney boss Bob Iger on a succession plan 13 years into the job, with Star Wars Rebels creator and current Lucasfilm chief creative officer Dave Filoni apparently in a “strong position” to take on the role. However, she insisted: “The truth is, and I want to just say loud and clear, I am not retiring.”

"I will never retire from movies," she continued. "I will die making movies. That is the first thing that’s important to say. I am not retiring."

While Kennedy confirmed that Lucasfilm has “every intention of making an announcement months or a year down the road” on an eventual succession, she is “continuing to stay at Lucasfilm.” That involves producing the upcoming Mandalorian movie and a Star Wars film from Deadpool & Wolverine director Shawn Levy.

It sounds like plans are very much in the works for Kennedy to step down from her current role as president of Lucasfilm, but that doesn’t mean she is leaving the company behind or retiring from the movie business.

“I’m not going to be here forever,” she said. “George [Lucas] asked me 13 years ago to step in, and now I’m looking at who’s going to replace me. And as I said, we have a bench of people internally to handle the business, the creative side. The job has grown also since I stepped in. There was no streaming, there weren’t a lot of the things that we’re involved in right now going on. So it has grown.”

Kennedy also denied she was being “pushed aside” or “in need of being replaced,” insisting that was “absolutely not the case” and “could not be further from the truth.” Her tenure includes overseeing a new sequel trilogy that comprises Star Wars Episodes 7-9, as well as the start of Star Wars’ streaming era that includes The Mandalorian, The Book of Boba Fett, Andor, Ahsoka, Skeleton Crew, and The Acolyte. While some films like Star Wars: The Force Awakens were blockbuster hits, other projects have proven divisive, and some, such as Solo: A Star Wars Story, lost money.

Deadline asked Kennedy point blank whether she will step down as Lucasfilm boss this year, and she replied to say she didn’t know “at this stage,” but confirmed it would be “100% my decision.” Kennedy wouldn't say whether Filoni was in-line for the top job.

Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney.

Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.

The AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT Finally Launches March 6

AMD has finally released more information about its upcoming graphics cards, the Radeon RX 9070 XT and Radeon RX 9070. Both the Radeon RX 9070 XT and the Radeon RX 9070 launch on March 6.

The Radeon RX 9070 XT was unveiled at CES 2025, the same time as the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090, though Team Red was a bit more cautious about revealing detailed information about its next-generation GPU. Now, though, AMD has released everything there is to know about these new GPUs.

Both of the new AMD graphics cards are built on the new RDNA 4 graphics architecture, which improves performance across the board, but the biggest uplift is in ML, or Machine Learning performance. This is largely thanks to new AI Accelerator units that are much more powerful than their counterparts in RDNA 3 GPUs like the previous-generation Radeon RX 7900 XT. These new AI cores are also the driving force behind FSR 4, which finally brings AI upscaling to Radeon graphics cards.

Just like DLSS, FSR 4 – short for FidelityFX Super Resolution – uses a machine learning algorithm to accurately upscale lower resolution images to your native resolution. Though, keep in mind that accuracy is the name of the game here. Because while FSR 4 is going to be much faster than rendering a game at your native resolution, any machine learning solution will have a bigger performance impact than something like FSR 3.1. We don't know how much performance will be impacted, but don't expect it to be faster than the more traditional upscaling in FSR 3.

While both graphics cards pack 16GB of GDDR6 memory, the Radeon RX 9070 XT is significantly more powerful, packing in 14% more compute units than the regular RX 9070. Combined with a higher power budget, the 9070 XT is going to be a much better fit for 4K gaming, where the 9070 will fit comfortably at 1440p. We went ahead and listed the specs below:

.

Luckily, you won't have to wait long to get your hands on one of these graphics cards. Both the AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT and the Radeon RX 9070 launch on March 6, starting at $599 and $549, respectively. However, because AMD is not launching a reference design, like it did with its last generation of graphics cards, you can expect prices to fluctuate drastically at launch. However, give it a couple weeks and it should calm down a bit.

Jackie Thomas is the Hardware and Buying Guides Editor at IGN and the PC components queen. You can follow her @Jackiecobra

Shroud by Adrian Tchaikovsky - Book Review

Cosmic horror, along with sci-fi in general, is a difficult genre to get right. It thrives on the unknown, the creeping sensation that something is just out of sight, not entirely clear, itching at your reality. But, if you don't get the balance right, you'll end up with a galaxy wide narrative that's as deep as a puddle. Shroud understands this well, twisting its story in ways that leave you adrift in its dark world. It’s a book that revels in disorientation, pulling you deeper into its mysteries the more you struggle to grasp them. When it’s at its best, it makes you feel lost in all the right ways.

Shroud is an utterly gripping story of alien encounter and survival from Adrian Tchaikovsky, author of the Arthur C. Clarke Award-winning Children of Time, and paints a grim and grotesque vision of the future, where humanity’s expansion into the cosmos is as much a test of endurance (and capitalist hell) as it is a descent into existential dread.

The descriptions of Shroud itself—its tendrils curling through the void, the sensation of alien briar tightening around the atmosphere—are striking. The opening chapters, in particular, are a masterclass in setting the tone, so much so that I found myself rereading them just to soak in their gnarly brilliance again and again.

Shroud constantly shifts, leaving you unmoored in a way that mirrors the characters’ own descent into fear and uncertainty.

Tchaikovsky’s writing heavily leans into ambiguity, using a mix of perspectives and deliberately vague language to reinforce the unknowable nature of Shroud and its horrors. The book constantly shifts, leaving you unmoored in a way that mirrors the characters’ own descent into fear and uncertainty. Alien encounters are presented in strange, fragmented imagery filled with mind-bending metaphors and comparisons rather than overtly explicit detail, making them all the more unsettling.

The prose itself even feels unstable at times, as if the words are bending under the weight of something beyond comprehension. Tchaikovsky does his best at making the sci-fi elements accessible, but it’s still a style that won’t work for everyone—those looking for clear explanations or firm resolutions may find themselves frustrated at times—but it’s undeniably effective at immersing you in a world that feels utterly alien.

The characters, particularly Juna Ceelander and Mai Ste Etienne, are an interesting study in detachment. They begin as almost intentionally blank slates, their personalities stripped down to what’s necessary to survive in their assigned roles. There’s a sense that they’re meant to be shaped by their time on Shroud, and they do develop more emotion as they struggle against its horrors. Yet there's also moments they also regress, hollowed out by their experiences for the faceless corporate machine that sent them there in the first place.

But while Shroud excels at mood and mystery, it stumbles slightly when it tries to settle into a more structured narrative. The middle section loses some of that hypnotic unease, instead slipping into a “monster of the chapter” rhythm that, while functional, feels at odds with the book’s more unsettling moments.

It’s the storytelling equivalent of an explosion in Aquaman—it gets things moving, but not always in a way that feels as meaningful as the world Tchaikovsky has built. Thankfully, the book finds its footing again in the final stretch, closing things out with an inevitably bleak, bittersweet flourish.

What stood out to me most was how Shroud shares themes with something like The Expanse, with heeps of gritty realism and criticisms of modern capitalism, but Tchaikovsky has made his narrative that bit more intimate, spending most of its time in the minds of a few lost souls rather than sprawling across a grand political landscape. It’s a story of survival, in a bitter, mysterious sci-fi setting, that also manages to explore where we are now, where we could go, and whether there’s anything worth holding onto when we get there.

AMD has revealed the official details, release date and prices for Radeon RX 9070 & 9070XT

AMD has finally revealed official details, release date and prices for its new RDNA 4 GPUs, the AMD Radeon RX 9070 and RX 9070XT. So, did AMD bring the goods this time or did they disappoint us? Let’s find out. Let’s start with the specs. The AMD Radeon RX 9070 will have 56 compute units, … Continue reading AMD has revealed the official details, release date and prices for Radeon RX 9070 & 9070XT

The post AMD has revealed the official details, release date and prices for Radeon RX 9070 & 9070XT appeared first on DSOGaming.

'We Have Not Modified It' — The Witcher 4 Director Responds to Speculation CD Projekt Changed Ciri's Face

The director of The Witcher 4 has clarified that a new video features the same in-game model of Ciri after some had thought her face looked different.

Yesterday, CD Projekt released a behind the scenes look at The Witcher 4’s cinematic reveal trailer, and fans noticed two brief clips that show new looks at Ciri up close.

These clips, at the 2:11 and 5:47 marks, zoom in on Ciri’s face as the camera spins around her character model. The comments are packed with fans highlighting how Ciri looks slightly different in the face in these moments that she does in the cinematic reveal trailer itself. One commenter called Ciri at the 5:47 mark the “perfect representation of an [sic] slightly older Ciri. I'm well happy! She looks fantastic!”

This initial speculation tapped into a response from some corners of the internet that Ciri looked “ugly” in The Witcher 4, based on her appearance in the reveal trailer. The response to the two new clips was overwhelmingly positive from commenters, and some reports suggested CD Projekt might have changed Ciri’s face after this supposed “backlash.”

Not so, according to CD Projekt. Taking to social media, The Witcher 4 game director Sebastian Kalemba said the developer had not modified Ciri’s in-game model, and clarified that these new looks were a “snapshot” taken before the developers applied the cinematic touches we see in the reveal video.

“The behind-the-scenes video features the same in-game model of Ciri as seen in the original trailer,” Kalemba said.

“We have not modified it. What you’re seeing is raw footage — without facial animation, lighting, or virtual camera lenses. While it’s still in-engine, it represents a work-in-progress snapshot taken before we applied cinematic touches for the purpose of that video.

“This variation is a natural part of the game development process. At this point, any character's appearance may vary depending on the medium — whether it’s in a trailer, a 3D model, or in-game.”

Or, as commenter Fehndrix put it on the Witcher subreddit: “Redditor discovers the effect that lighting can have on an in-game face model, is confused.”

The Witcher 4 is the first in a new trilogy of Witcher games set after the events of The Witcher 3. But rather than star Geralt as protagonist, Ciri is the main character this time around.

Speaking exclusively to IGN ahead of the reveal, executive producer Małgorzata Mitręga said Ciri was “the very organic, logical choice.”

“It was always about her, starting from Saga when you read it in the books. She's an amazing, layered character. And of course, as a protagonist we said goodbye to Geralt previously. So this is a continuation. I guess for all of us it’s like she was meant to be. That was always her.”

Kalemba added that because Ciri is younger than Geralt, players will have more freedom to define her character in a way they couldn’t with Geralt. This also affords the developers more space to explore her character.

While both Mitręga and Kalemba acknowledged a potential backlash from some corners of the internet at Ciri’s role as protagonist in The Witcher 4, they insisted Ciri was always going to be the game’s main character.

“There was an intention behind this choice,” Kalemba said. “It was far from roulette. It wasn't random. I remember we had discussions nine years ago, we were talking about who's next? The very, very instant answer was Ciri. There are many reasons behind that. We've already mentioned a few. But she really deserves a stage and we want players to really experience her story because she has so much to tell, so much to prove. The amount of challenges that are in front of her give us so much amazing energy and fuel to create an epic saga that we had no choice but to go with it. We all felt that this is the way. I believe this is the super right choice.”

In January, speaking to IGN as part of a wider interview on Netflix’s upcoming animated film, The Witcher: Sirens of The Deep, Geralt voice actor Doug Cockle backed CD Projekt’s decision, even though it sees Geralt take a back seat.

“I'm really excited,” he said. “I think it's a really good move. I mean, I always thought that continuing the Saga, but shifting to Ciri would be a really, really interesting move for all kinds of reasons, but mostly because of things that happen in the books, which I don't want to give away because people, I want people to go read. So yeah, I think it's really exciting. I can't wait. I can't wait to see what they've done.”

We’ve got plenty more exclusive content on The Witcher 4, including a trailer breakdown and an interview with CD Projekt where the developer explains why The Witcher 4 will avoid a Cyberpunk 2077-style launch disaster.

Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.

How Monster Hunter Took Over the World

In the leadup to its global launch, Monster Hunter Wilds broke pre-order records on both Steam and PlayStation. It effortlessly followed in the footsteps of its extraordinarily popular predecessors, 2022’s Monster Hunter Rise and 2018’s Monster Hunter: World, achieving sales that truly cements Capcom’s unique and esoteric RPG series as one of the biggest video game franchises in the whole world.

But that wasn’t always the case. Less than a decade ago, the idea of a Monster Hunter game attaining such remarkable popularity across the globe would have seemed alien. Rewind the clock even further, back to when Monster Hunter hit the scene in 2004, and it would have seemed even more farfetched: the original game was met with mixed reviews. It wasn’t until a year later when Monster Hunter made the jump to the PSP did the series really blow up… in Japan.

That’s right. For a long time, Monster Hunter was the poster child for the “game series bigger in Japan than the rest of the world” phenomenon. The reasons for this were simple, as this story will explain, but that didn’t stop Capcom from trying to figure out how to break Monster Hunter through to the international market. And, as Monster Hunters World, Rise, and now Wilds proves, it was well worth the effort.

This is how Monster Hunter went from a domestic hit to a global force.

Around the time of Street Fighter 5’s launch in 2016, Capcom underwent an internal reorganization in order to prepare for a new generation of games. These games would run on the company’s brand new RE Engine, a replacement for Capcom’s ageing MT Framework. But this change was about more than just tools. Alongside the engine upgrade came a new mandate to ensure Capcom’s games were being made not just for existing, territory-specific fans, but for a global audience.

“It was a few factors that came together,” says Hideaki Itsuno, a former game director at Capcom best known for his work on Devil May Cry. “The change of the engine and also all teams were given a very clear goal at that point to make games that reach the global market. [Games] that are fun for everyone.”

If you look at almost all of Capcom’s games released during the PS3 and Xbox 360 era, you get the feeling that the company was going all-in on trying to capture an imagined version of the “Western games market.” The action-heavy Resident Evil 4 was a big hit, true. But the more gun-focused spinoffs like Umbrella Corps, as well as the sci-fi shooter series Lost Planet, were all clearly chasing late-2000s Western gaming trends to no avail. After several years, Capcom realized it needed to create games that could appeal to everyone, not just fans of traditional Western genres.

All teams were given a very clear goal to make games that reach the global market.

“I think that we had that clear goal of just focusing and not holding anything back,” Itsuno says. “Towards making good games that would reach people from all over the world.”

Itsuno notes that the time leading up to 2017 was pivotal. “The changes in organization and the changes in the engine, all these elements came together around that time,” he says. When Resident Evil 7 launched that year, it kickstarted a Capcom renaissance.

No other series embodies this new company goal for global success better than Monster Hunter. While it had its diehard fans in the West, for decades Monster Hunter was much, much bigger in Japan than the rest of the world. The series was never conceived to be something that was only big in Japan, but there were real-world factors as to why this happened.

Firstly, Monster Hunter found tremendous success moving from PlayStation 2 to the PSP with Monster Hunter Freedom Unite. The handheld gaming market has always been much stronger in Japan than in the West, as seen with the success of not just the PSP but also Nintendo’s DS and, more recently, the Switch. The popularity of handhelds in Japan is rooted in a number of factors, but the thing that really worked for Monster Hunter, according to the series’ executive producer Ryozo Tsujimoto, was that Japanese gamers were able to reliably play with friends thanks to the nation’s heavily developed wireless internet network. It was years ahead of anything available in the United States at the time.

“20 years ago, Japan was in a very, very solid state in terms of the network environments available to people, and being able to connect and to play online together,” Tsujimoto says. “And of course, we’re not speaking for everyone there, because we realize that there are people who may not have had the chance to play with friends back then. But by moving over to handheld systems, we were able to grow that player base that was interacting and playing multiplayer together.”

Monster Hunter, which is built on a core pillar of cooperative play, recognized that this aspect would best be served when friends could quickly jump into hunts together. There was no better avenue for that at the time than handheld consoles. Thanks to Japan’s advanced internet, it meant Monster Hunter was being developed for a local market first, even if that wasn’t an intentional approach.

This created a loop of sorts. Monster Hunter games would become best-sellers primarily in Japan, and to keep pace with the audience, Capcom would release Japan-only content and host Japan-only special events, further reinforcing Monster Hunter as a “Japan-only” brand.

Monster Hunter did have fans in the West, and they were enviously looking from the outside in.

But the reality was that Monster Hunter did have fans in the West, and they were enviously looking from the outside in as Japanese players received exclusive tie-ins and quests. But as the Western world improved its internet infrastructure and online play became practically mandatory for most console gamers, Tsujimoto and the team saw an opportunity to launch their most advanced and most globally-accessible Monster Hunter game to date.

Released in 2018 on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC, Monster Hunter: World was a gigantic change for the franchise. Rather than being scoped for small, less-capable handheld consoles, it delivered large-scale, AAA console quality action with souped up graphics, bigger areas, and, of course, bigger monsters.

“Our approach to the globalization of the series and Monster Hunter in general really ties into not only the themes that we had going into designing the game, but also in the name of the game,” Tsujimoto reveals. “The fact that we called it Monster Hunter: World is really kind of a nod to the fact that we wanted to appeal to this worldwide audience that we wanted to really dig into and experience Monster Hunter for the first time.”

It was also vital that Monster Hunter: World not do anything that gave off the impression that Capcom was prioritizing one market over the other. Monster Hunter: World would be released simultaneously worldwide, and there wouldn’t be exclusive content locked to Japan, something Tsujimoto says “comes with realigning ourselves to hit those global standards that people come to expect of titles around the world.”

It wasn’t just a matter of making sure other regions got Monster Hunter: World at the same time as Japan (though it certainly helped). Tsujimoto and co. drilled deep to see what other ways Monster Hunter’s formula could be tweaked to broaden its appeal with players from all around the world.

“We did focus tests and user tests across the world, and some of the impact of those — the feedback and the opinions that we got during that really affected how we designed our game systems and really affected how much success we had as a global title for that game,” Tsujimoto says.

One important change that resulted from these playtests was simply showing damage numbers when players hit the monsters. Little tweaks here and there to an already successful formula drove Monster Hunter to the greatest heights it had ever reached. Previous Monster Hunter games had typically sold around 1.3 to 5 million copies, not including re-releases and special editions. Monster Hunter: World and its 2022 follow-up, Monster Hunter Rise, both recorded sales greater than 20 million copies.

This explosion of player growth didn’t happen by accident. Instead of changing the spirit of Monster Hunter to suit Western tastes, Tsujimoto and the team found ways to open up the series’ unique (and, admittedly, obtuse) nature to a wider audience without making sacrifices. This approach continues with the series’ latest game, Monster Hunter Wilds.

“At its heart, Monster Hunter really is an action game, and that sense of accomplishment you get from really mastering that action is an important aspect of Monster Hunter,” Tsujimoto explains. “But for newer players, it's really getting to that point. The steps involved in getting to that sense of accomplishment is really what we're trying to strategize for, in terms of designing for new players. So with World and Rise, for example, we were taking really great care to analyze where players got stuck, what was hard to understand, what they were having trouble with, getting player feedback, and also doing our own kind of research into that. And all of that kind of knowledge has impacted how we've implemented new systems into Wilds.”

Within 35 minutes of its release, Monster Hunter Wilds hit 738,000 concurrent players on Steam, a figure more than double Monster Hunter: World's all-time high. And so there’s every chance that Capcom's latest hunt may go on to quickly exceed even World and Rise’s lofty achievements. And thanks to a collection of glowing reviews and the promise of more content to come, it seems incredibly likely that Monster Hunter Wilds will continue the series’ mission to take over the world.

This article is an excerpt from an upcoming IGN story that explores how Capcom turned itself around after a chain of missteps and failures. Discover the whole story of Capcom’s fall and rise soon, only on IGN.

Matt Kim is IGN's Senior Features Editor.

Palworld Dev Pocketpair Gives Employees Monster Hunter Wilds Launch Day Off After Receiving ‘Mysterious’ Notes From Staff Who Said They’d Probably Be Too Unwell to Work

The developer of Palworld has given its staff the day off to play Monster Hunter Wilds.

As reported by Automaton, yesterday Japanese studio Pocketpair said on social media that it had received a number of “mysterious” notices from employees who claimed they will “probably be feeling unwell tomorrow” and unable to work.

And so, today, February 28, Monster Hunter Wilds’ official release date, is a sort of holiday for Pocketpair staff. It’s a clear nice gesture, but still Pocketpair felt the need to clarify that updates on its games would not be affected.

Monster Hunter Wilds has got off to an incredible start, with 1 million concurrent players on Steam alone. That’s enough to break into Steam’s top 10 most-played games of all-time list, ahead of best-sellers Baldur’s Gate 3, Hogwarts Legacy, and Elden Ring.

However, Monster Hunter Wilds has a ‘mixed’ user review rating on Steam, which has led to Capcom publishing official guidance for PC performance issues. Meanwhile, Capcom has announced early details for Monster Hunter Wilds Title Update 1, which is set to add an endgame social hub for players.

The impact of Monster Hunter Wilds’ launch is truly global, but it seems particularly pronounced in its home market of Japan. Automaton reported on one Japanese indie developer who took to social media to jokingly say it hadn’t sold a single game on Steam since Monster Hunter Wilds game out.

And Pocketpair has form when it comes to giving its staff days off to play games — it did the same thing back in 2022 when FromSoftware’s Elden Ring came out.

To help get your Monster Hunter Wilds adventure started, take a look at what Monster Hunter Wilds doesn’t tell you, and a guide to all 14 weapon types in the game. We’ve also got a detailed Monster Hunter Wilds walkthrough in progress, a Monster Hunter Wilds multiplayer guide to explain how to play with friends, and if you’ve played one of the open betas, here’s how to transfer your Monster Hunter Wilds Beta character over.

IGN’s Monster Hunter Wilds review returned an 8/10. We said: “Monster Hunter Wilds continues to smooth off the rougher corners of the series in smart ways, making for some extremely fun fights but also lacking any real challenge.”

Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.

Monster Hunter Wilds Title Update 1 Gets Early April Release Date, Adds an Endgame Hub for Players to Gather

Capcom has announced early details of Monster Hunter Wilds’ first major patch, which is due early April.

Amid the huge launch of Monster Hunter Wilds itself, Capcom detailed Title Update 1 in a post on Steam. The company said the patch’s early April release date, set to arrive a little over a month after the game itself, "will give hunters enough time to prepare for the new content, and challenges, that await them.”

To that end, Title Update 1 adds a new level of challenge: “Prepare your gear, and resolve, hunters!” Capcom said. “TU1 will bring with it a monster of formidable strength at a level above Tempered!” Meanwhile, a new challenging monster will be added with Title Update 1.

Interestingly, Title Update 1 also adds an endgame place to gather. “A new place to meet, communicate, have meals together and more with other hunters will be added to Monster Hunter Wilds in TU1!” Capcom said.

“This area will be available to hunters who have completed the main story, so get hunting and be ready!”

Early reaction to the news that Title Update 1 will add a place for endgame players to gather has been mixed, with some welcoming the addition, others wondering why it’s not in the game at launch. It sounds very much like a Gathering Hub from previous Monster Hunter games, but as some have pointed out, it’s interesting that Capcom has chosen not to call it that here. While other players can turn up in your camp, Monster Hunter Wilds lacks a true social hub, so hopefully whatever this is will fill the void.

Capcom released a few images showcasing this new place to gather:

Meanwhile, Capcom issued a Monster Hunter Wilds troubleshooting guide amid ‘mixed’ Steam user reviews.

To help get your Monster Hunter Wilds adventure started, take a look at what Monster Hunter Wilds doesn’t tell you, and a guide to all 14 weapon types in the game. We’ve also got a detailed Monster Hunter Wilds walkthrough in progress, a Monster Hunter Wilds multiplayer guide to explain how to play with friends, and if you’ve played one of the open betas, here’s how to transfer your Monster Hunter Wilds Beta character over.

IGN’s Monster Hunter Wilds review returned an 8/10. We said: “Monster Hunter Wilds continues to smooth off the rougher corners of the series in smart ways, making for some extremely fun fights but also lacking any real challenge.”

Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.

Amid 'Mixed' Steam User Review Rating, Capcom Issues Monster Hunter Wilds PC Troubleshooting Guide

Capcom has issued official advice for PC via Steam players of Monster Hunter Wilds after the game launched to a ‘mixed’ user review rating due to performance issues.

The Japanese games company said Steam users should try updating their graphics driver, turning off compatibility mode, and then readjust their settings if they’re experiencing any initial issues.

“Thank you all for your patience and support!” Capcom said in a tweet.

One of the ‘Not Recommended’ Steam reviews flagged as ‘most helpful’ says Monster Hunter Wilds “has the worst optimisation I've ever seen.”

“I understand that new games are becoming more demanding and people are expected to upgrade, but this is absurd,” they said. “I'm aware this isn't the first instance of new games having poor performance on launch, because the same thing happened with World, but it feels inexcusable at this point.

“I am by no means saying the game is bad, but in its current state, you should probably consider waiting for a more stable release.”

Another negative review also focused on the game’s optimization, saying: “Absolutely atrocious performance for how the game looks. Runs even worse than the beta.”

In a bid to help Steam users improve matters, Capcom published a ‘Troubleshooting & Known Issues’ guide with potential solutions. Capcom asked PC players to follow the steps below “to rule out problems with your PC, Steam, or the game’s files.”

Monster Hunter Wilds troubleshooting and known issues guide

Troubleshooting

When the game does not run properly, please try the steps below.

  1. Make sure you meet the minimum system requirements for the game.
  2. Update your Video/Graphics Drivers.
  3. Check for Windows Updates and ensure all of the latest programs are installed to your OS.
  4. If you still experience issues, try performing a clean installation of the video driver set.
  5. Update DirectX to the latest version.
    For details on how to update DirectX, please visit the Microsoft support page or Microsoft Download Center.
  6. Add the game’s folder and files to your anti-virus program’s exception / exclusion list.
    Default Paths:
    C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\SteamApps\common\MonsterHunterWilds
    C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\SteamApps\common\MonsterHunterWilds\MonsterHunterWilds.exe
  7. Add folder and files for Steam.exe to your anti-virus program’s exception / exclusion list.
    *Default Paths:
    C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam
    C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\Steam.exe
  8. Give administrator privileges to Steam.
    To run Steam.exe in administrator mode, right-click on the .exe file and select “Run as administrator.”
  9. If you still experience issues, try logging into your PC in administrator mode and then run the game’s execution file (MonsterHunterWilds.exe).
  10. Verify the game’s files on Steam.
    To verify your game’s files, follow these steps:
    (1) Restart your computer and launch Steam.
    (2) From the “Library” section, right-click on the game, and select “Properties” from the menu.
    (3) Select the “Installed Files” tab and click the “Verify integrity of game files” button.
    (4) Steam will verify the game’s files – this process may take several minutes.
    Important: One or more files may fail to verify. The files that fail to verify are local configuration files that should not be replaced as part of this process. You can safely ignore this message. If problematic files were detected during this process, Steam will automatically download and / or replace those files.
  11. Disable Compatibility Mode for “MonsterHunterWilds.exe” if enabled.
    (1) Right click on “MonsterHunterWilds.exe” located in the following folder:
      C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\SteamApps\common\MonsterHunterWilds
       *The above is the default location.
    (2) Go to Properties
    (3) Open Compatibility tab
    (4) Untick “Run this program in compatibility mode for:”
    If the above does not resolve the issue, please disable the Compatibility Mode for “Steam.exe” located in the folder below.
    C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam
  12. If you still experience issues, please also try the troubleshooting steps on the Official Monster Hunter Wilds Troubleshooting & Issue Reporting Thread posted on the Steam community page as they contain more detailed and additional steps that may help resolve your issue.

Despite these performance problems, Monster Hunter Wilds is off to an incredible start, with nearly 1 million concurrent players on Steam alone. That’s enough to crack Steam’s top 10 most-played games of all-time list, and it’s only going to get bigger as we head into the weekend.

To help get your Monster Hunter Wilds adventure started, take a look at what Monster Hunter Wilds doesn’t tell you, and a guide to all 14 weapon types in the game. We’ve also got a detailed Monster Hunter Wilds walkthrough in progress, a Monster Hunter Wilds multiplayer guide to explain how to play with friends, and if you’ve played one of the open betas, here’s how to transfer your Monster Hunter Wilds Beta character over.

IGN’s Monster Hunter Wilds review returned an 8/10. We said: “Monster Hunter Wilds continues to smooth off the rougher corners of the series in smart ways, making for some extremely fun fights but also lacking any real challenge.”

Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.

Poké Stop: Pokémon Go Players Launch Campaign After Sale Report Stokes Monetization Fear

Niantic’s augmented reality video game phenomenon, Pokémon Go, may soon find itself under new ownership — and some fans are already working to keep it from reaching this next stage in its evolution.

Long-time players of The Pokémon Company’s trend-setting mobile experience were sent into a frenzy last week when a Bloomberg report suggested that Niantic was in talks to sell its video game efforts to Saudi-owned company Scopely for around $3.5 billion. It’s a deal that could involve the trade of titles such as Monster Hunter Now, Pikmin Bloom, and, yes, Pokémon Go, with an announcement reportedly expected to arrive soon. There’s been no word on how significantly a leadership change could impact in-game mechanics and microtransactions... yet.

With Scopely in the picture, this is what we’re looking at. There goes my desire to play pogo. 😬🤬 pic.twitter.com/UKYLFV7VKX

— AmyWiedy (@Amy_Wiedy) February 20, 2025

Scopely oversees a fleet of notable mobile experiences that range from board game offshoots like Scrabble Go and Monopoly Go! to games like Stumble Guys and Marvel Strike Force. The one element scaring Pokémon Go players more than anything else is the microtransaction practices these titles are notorious for. With the real-life-adventure spinoff continuing to play a crucial part in players’ lives nine years after its release, thousands of fans are concerned that things could take a turn for the worse.

“They will still probably release Mewtwo X and Y, except you have to pay $100 just for a chance to get them,” one Reddit user theorized. “If everyone here knew what they did to Marvel Strike Force, we'd all panic. They will absolutely drive this game into the ground.”

Looking for an Everstone

Fear of Scopely ownership stems more from the aggression behind these monetization tactics rather than the tactics themselves, and it’s this same fear that drove Reddit user and long-time Pokémon Go fan Tetrylene to take action. As rumors of Niantic’s interest in a sale gained momentum, he published a post in hopes of organizing a campaign for other Pokémon Go-ers to respectfully let The Pokémon Company know that, regardless of ownership, there are certain changes they won’t stand for.

“But here’s the thing: we must try and exert some leverage,” Tetrylene’s post says. “By reaching out to (The Pokémon Company) we can express our concerns and emphasize the importance of maintaining some semblance of [the] game’s current ethos. They’ve invested heavily in the Pokémon brand and are likely to be receptive to feedback that could impact its reputation.”

That post, now more than one week old, generated 1.4K upvotes with hundreds of comments from like-minded fans. Tetrylene tells us his initiative began with a desire to bring the community’s concerns front and center. There’s no telling if the message will actually reach The Pokémon Company in a meaningful way, but he says the discussion his post has brought to the table was well worth the effort.

This is all very defensive, but part of me hopes that there's a chance that the new owners want to capitalise on the incredible potential of the game rather than bleed it dry.

“In the same vein that loot boxes have all but been turned into a toxic monetisation option for the industry, I hope that our pushback sends a signal that there is absolutely a limit to how much a player base will put up with,” Tetrylene explained. “This is all very defensive, but part of me hopes that there's a chance that the new owners want to capitalise on the incredible potential of the game rather than bleed it dry. The door is wide open to both possibilities; I hope we can try and guide them towards the former rather than the latter.”

Like any one of the other millions of Pokémon fans, Tetrylene holds a few Pokémon close to his heart — his favorite is a tie between Groudon and Metagross. When he says “Gen 3 for life,” he means it. He tells us Pokémon Go has been his go-to hobby for two-and-a-half years, adding that the mobile game has also served as an excuse to meet up with friends at least once a week.

It’s blossomed into an activity that sees Tetrylene co-leading an active group of nearly 70 players. It’s led to trips to new cities — and new friends. While much of the world moved on from Pokémon Go when the honeymoon phase eventually wore off, a dedicated group of trainers continues to routinely connect with others, show off their Pokémon collection, and battle.

Type Advantage

No two players enjoy Pokémon Go in the same way, though. For every casual Pokémon Go fan there is one who has spent thousands of dollars on it.

Reddit user and a self-proclaimed Pokémon Go big-spender known as a “whale,” NextLevelEvolution, penned an open letter to Scopely amid rumors of Niantic’s potential sale. It stops short of being a call-to-action but does come with the warning that a more aggressive monetization strategy would likely “break trust with the user base” and “alter the game enough that it would no longer be considered a true Pokémon-franchise experience” by fans.

I hope the spirit of this game is not lost to make another quick buck.

“For me, Pokémon is extremely nostalgic. And I believe Pokémon Go is in a pretty good place right now and on a generally upward trajectory for the first time in several years,” NextLevelEvolution told IGN. “At their best, Pokémon games are about adventure and discovery. When Pokémon Go first came out, the idea that I could be a Pokémon trainer in the real world was enough to get me and millions of others hooked. I hope the spirit of this game is not lost to make another quick buck.”

They say they’re aware of other whales who have spent “many thousands of dollars” per year, and “none of them are excited about the possibility of Scopely purchasing Pokémon Go.” For now, NextLevelEvolution isn’t optimistic that a community-driven movement to bar aggressive monetization tactics will gain enough momentum to make a difference, but they’re at least willing to vote with their wallet if worse comes to worst.

“I’m not particularly hopeful that this will have any effect,” they explained. “But I can tell you that if I have to pay to get rid of ads in the game, then they will lose me as a customer entirely and many other whales I know as well.”

Stay Aware of Your Surroundings

There’s debate surrounding the current state of Pokémon Go and if existence under the Scopely banner would actually result in a worse experience. Regardless of how the game has been or will be monetized, Niantic has spent nine years molding it into something that is both beloved and messy. Tetrylene has a laundry list of tweaks he’d like to see implemented that includes the ability to skip certain animations, an NPC to trade with, new points of interest, fleshed-out in-game communication options, and more thoughtful placement for raids.

The general consensus is that Pokémon Go needs some upkeep, but its most devoted fans still see the experience as a once-in-a-lifetime hobby that is as exciting as it is fragile. For them, it’s hard to look at how Scopely has monetized other titles and not see it as a threat to a fun pastime and the tool millions use to stay connected.

I’ve got mixed feelings with the news that pokémon go is being sold to scopely for $3.5 billion

it could revive the game, or we could see ourselves watching 10 second ads after spinning a pokéstop

I shit on niantic as much as the next guy but lowkey kinda worried pic.twitter.com/MOgMx3tdpk

— PoGOCentral (@pogo_central) February 19, 2025

Tetrylene hopes the momentum continues but has at least been “pleasantly surprised” by how the community has responded to their call to action. He says pulling players together in this way has resulted in some already reaching out to The Pokémon Company to make a difference. Without confirmation that Niantic is actually looking to sell, Pokémon Go remains as something Tetrylene calls “the ultimate social hobby.” What it might look like in the coming years remains a mystery.

“There will never be another game like Pokémon Go,” the community organizer told us in one final message to The Pokémon Company. “There is no other game that can truly claim to be social in the way that this one is. There may never be another game — of any genre — that fosters a global community on this scale, even after nearly a decade. There still is no other mobile game that lets you stumble through an unfamiliar place and quickly find new friends for life.”

He continued: “The prospect of losing all of this to a cold investment firm that doesn't care for any of that truly saddens me. Does the journey really end here? It doesn’t have to. Pokémon GO still has so much left to give. Let it soar.”

IGN has contacted The Pokémon Company and Niantic for comment.

Michael Cripe is a freelance contributor 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).

UPDATE: Monster Hunter Wilds Shoots Over 1 Million Steam Concurrents, Overtakes Cyberpunk 2077 to Become 7th Most-Played Game Ever

UPDATE: Monster Hunter Wilds, as expected, has now broken through the 1 million concurrent players mark on Steam, overtaking Cyberpunk 2077 to become the seventh most-played game ever on Valve's platform. It is the first Capcom game to hit 1 million concurrents on Steam.

Next in its sights is Valve's MOBA, Dota 2, which has an all-time peak concurrent count of 1,295,114. It seems likely Monster Hunter Wilds will overtake it this weekend.

Monster Hunter Wilds is currently the second most-played game on Steam behind only Valve's own Counter-Strike 2, with an incredible 1,076,024 concurrents.

ORIGINAL STORY: Monster Hunter Wilds has enjoyed a huge launch, with nearly 1 million concurrent players on Steam.

Capcom’s action adventure game launched on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X and S, and quickly became the eighth most-played game on Steam of all-time with an incredible 987,482 concurrent users.

To put it into context, that’s ahead of the all-time peaks of best-sellers Elden Ring, Hogwarts Legacy, and Baldur’s Gate 3. It’s already outstripped its predecessor on Steam, where 2018's Monster Hunter World enjoyed a peak concurrent figure of 334,684.

And it’s worth noting that Monster Hunter Wilds’ actual peak concurrent figure will be much higher, given neither Sony nor Microsoft report player numbers.

The question now is how high can that Steam concurrent figure go as Monster Hunter Wilds heads into its first weekend on sale and beyond. It seems likely it will crack the 1 million concurrents mark later today, overtaking Cyberpunk 2077 in the process. Could 2 million be possible?

While Capcom is yet to announce a sales figure for Monster Hunter Wilds, all signs point to a hugely successful release. (Monster Hunter World topped 25 million sales in six years to cement its position as Capcom's best-selling title ever.) However, the game has a ‘mixed’ user review rating on Steam, with some reporting performance problems.

IGN’s Monster Hunter Wilds review returned an 8/10. We said: “Monster Hunter Wilds continues to smooth off the rougher corners of the series in smart ways, making for some extremely fun fights but also lacking any real challenge.”

To help get your Monster Hunter Wilds adventure started, take a look at what Monster Hunter Wilds doesn’t tell you, and a guide to all 14 weapon types in the game. We’ve also got a detailed Monster Hunter Wilds walkthrough in progress, a Monster Hunter Wilds multiplayer guide to explain how to play with friends, and if you’ve played one of the open betas, here’s how to transfer your Monster Hunter Wilds Beta character over.

Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.

First gameplay trailer for Prologue: Go Wayback!

PLAYERUNKNOWN Productions has released the first gameplay trailer for Prologue: Go Wayback!. Prologue: Go Wayback! is a single-player open-world survival game coming to Steam Early Access in Summer 2025. Composed entirely of in-game footage, the trailer offers an extended look at Prologue’s core gameplay. Players will be able to explore a vast, ever-changing wilderness. The … Continue reading First gameplay trailer for Prologue: Go Wayback!

The post First gameplay trailer for Prologue: Go Wayback! appeared first on DSOGaming.

The Corsair TC100 Relaxed Is Our Favorite Budget Gaming Chair, and It's on Sale Today

Amazon just discounted our favorite budget gaming chair. Right now, you can pick up a Corsair TC100 Relaxed gaming chair in Black Leatherette upholstery for only $199.99 shipped after you clip a $20 off coupon on the product page. Even at its retail price of $250, we thought that this chair offered a lot of value for its price.

Corsair TC100 Relaxed Gaming Chair for $199.99

The TC100 Relaxed is Corsair's least expensive gaming chair. The "Relaxed" series offers a broader seat width and minimal bolstering on the sides to fit a wider range of body sizes. This gaming chair can hold up to 264lbs, accommodate heights up to 6' 2" tall, and features a height adjustment range of 45-65cm (21.7–25.5"). It is available in either fabric or leatherette, (although the leatherette model is a bit more affordable at the moment). Although the chair doesn't have any internal lumbar adjustments, it does include a headrest and lumbar pillow in the package. This chair is reclinable up to 160 degrees and has 2D armrests. It's also backed by a two-year warranty.

Another Gaming Chair Alternative

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For 2025, AndaSeat has just released a new line of gaming chair that's sure to be a hit with the budget-minded audience. The Andaseat Novis gaming chair – which retails for just $199 – is now shipping. Even better, you can use our 10% off IGN code "AndaIGN" to drop the price further to $179.10. The Novis looks like it has most of the comfort, features, and styling of other high-end gaming chair minus some of the more common gimmicks (like "4D" armrests) in exchange for a more affordable price. AndaSeat isn't as big of a name in the congested gaming chair market as some other brands like Secretlab, DXRacer, or Razer, but it does make some high-quality gaming chairs.

Eric Song is the IGN commerce manager in charge of finding the best gaming and tech deals every day. When Eric isn't hunting for deals for other people at work, he's hunting for deals for himself during his free time.

There's a New Game of Thrones Illustrated Edition Coming in November, but Still No Winds of Winter

George R.R. Martin shared a book update from his blog earlier this week, but it wasn't about The Winds of Winter. He instead revealed the cover for the next illustrated edition from the Song of Ice and Fire: A Feast for Crows. This is the fourth book in the series to get a special illustrated edition, and it will feature artwork from Jeffrey R. McDonald.

A Feast for Crows: The Illustrated edition is set to release on November 4, 2025. You can preorder the new special edition book from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Target, and pretty much any of the best places to buy books online.

A Feast for Crows: The Illustrated Edition Preorder

This update is great news for anyone who has already been collecting the illustrated editions. A Storm of Swords received this treatment all the way back in November 2020, so it will have been five years since the last illustrated edition came out.

In addition to the illustrations, the new edition of A Feast of Crows will feature a forward from Joe Abercrombie. Martin's blog stated that they will be sharing some of the interior illustrations later this spring ahead of the book's release. If you're a fan of the Game of Thrones books and are looking to start collecting, the first three illustrated entries in A Song of Ice and Fire are already available.

More Game of Thrones Books:

What About The Winds of Winter?

For fans still waiting on a release date for The Winds of Winter, unfortunately they may still be waiting quite a while. The last update we got from Martin about the next book in the series was in an interview back in December 2024 where he acknowledged that he may never finish The Winds of Winter in his lifetime. This comes after his update back in November 2023 when he confirmed he's already written 1,100 pages of the book.

While this lack of an update is disappointing for those who have already waited almost 14 years for the next Game of Thrones book, there is still some hope that the series will get completed by somebody. With the fourth illustrated edition now on its way, it is definitely looking like the first five special editions will be completed before Winds is finished, however.

Looking for more special edition books? Theres a new illustrated interactive Harry Potter book available for preorder and the new Hunger Games illustrated edition was just announced as well.

AU Deals: Round Out Your Week With the Hottest AAA Mega Savings and Absolute Freebies Available!

Thank your own personal deity—possibly Mr G.—it's Friday! Whether you're in the mood for turn-based tactics, open-world adventures, or all-out brawls, my deals list has something for everyone. From legendary RPGs to quirky indies, the discounts are deep, and your choices are as overwhelming as they are underpriced...

This Day in Gaming 🎂

In retro news, I'm celebrating the 22nd birthday of Resident Evil Zero, arguably the most why-haven't-they-remade-this entries in the franchise. “S.T.A.R.S.-ing” Bravo Team member Rebecca Chambers and convict Billy Coen, an unlikely duo riding the rails to one of Umbrella's worst B&Bs, Zero was all about unique protagonist abilities and a hot-swap mechanic. I have fond memories of belting out the Leech Hunter mini-game in the original, not to mention the Wesker Mode injected into the 2016 HD Remaster. I'd kill to see this on the RE Engine.

Aussie bdays for notable games

- Pac-Man World (PS) 2000. Redux

- Top Gear Rally 2 (N64) 2000. eBay

- Resident Evil Zero (GC) 2003. Redux

- Impossible Creatures (PC) 2003. Get

- Racing Evoluzione (XB) 2003. eBay

- Hearts of Iron (PC) 2003. Sequel

- Praetorians (PC) 2003. eBay

- Real Racing 3 (iOS) 2013. Get

- Night in the Woods (PC,PS4) 2017. Get

Contents

Nice Savings for Nintendo Switch

Starting the deals strong on the Nintendo Switch, Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle is a ridiculous mashup that almost didn’t happen (Miyamoto himself had to approve Ubisoft’s out-there-as-hell idea of strapping Mario with blasters). Also, The Outer Worlds delivers witty space-faring adventure from the folks who gave us Fallout: New Vegas, complete with a satirical take on corporate-controlled planets that I simply adored.

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Or gift a Nintendo eShop Card.

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Purchase Cheap for PC

Meanwhile on PC, it’s freebie paradise (if you make a Prime Gaming account). The cult classic Deus Ex: Human Revolution is yours for nothing, featuring cyberpunk conspiracies and one of gaming’s best “punch through walls” mechanics. Meanwhile, Mages of Mystralia—also free!—boasts a magic system so flexible, even its developers had to ban certain spell combos for being too OP.

Expiring Recent Deals

Or just get a Steam Wallet Card

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Exciting Bargains for Xbox

You Xbox Series X faithful can dive into the timeless masterpiece The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt and experience the game that made Henry Cavill geek out enough to land a Netflix role. If you prefer (admittedly imperfect) over-the-top chaos, Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League lets you unleash mayhem in Metropolis with a surprising Batman: Arkham universe connection.

Xbox One

Expiring Recent Deals

Or just invest in an Xbox Card.

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Pure Scores for PlayStation

Finally, for PlayStation 5, God of War Ragnarök packs an emotional punch—Christopher Judge’s powerful performance as Kratos even won him the longest Game Awards speech in history. And if swinging through New York is more your speed, Spidey: Miles Morales offers wintertime web-slinging and a jazz-infused soundtrack that’s as stylish as its hero.

PS4

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PS+ Monthly Freebies
Yours to keep from Mar 4 with this subscription

  • Dragon Age: Veilguard (PS5)
  • Sonic Colours: Ultimate (PS4)
  • TMNT: Cowabunga Col. (PS5/PS4)

Or purchase a PS Store Card.

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Legit LEGO Deals

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Adam Mathew is our Aussie deals wrangler. He plays practically everything, often on YouTube.

Gene Hackman: The Late Actor's 20 Best Movies, from The French Connection to Superman

The death of screen legend Gene Hackman, whose remains were discovered along with those of his wife and their dog at their New Mexico home, has stunned the film industry and the iconic actor’s fans around the world. He was 95.

Hackman retired from acting over 20 years ago – his final film credit being 2004’s Welcome to Mooseport – and spent his remaining years co-authoring novels and living reclusively in Santa Fe.

A former US Marine who stood 6’2”, the burly Hackman excelled at playing complicated men, often authority figures, of dubious morality. His performances were always richly textured and emotionally authentic, whether it was in quiet, intimate moments or blistering blowouts opposite some of cinema’s biggest stars.

Over his five decade-long career, Gene Hackman always told the truth on screen. Here are his 20 most memorable films in order of release:

Bonnie & Clyde (1967)

Director: Arthur Penn

This true crime classic was Gene Hackman’s breakthrough role as a film actor and earned him his first Academy Award nomination for his role as Clyde Barrow’s (Warren Beatty) older brother, Buck. While much of the film’s legacy is about its romanticization of criminals and its groundbreaking depiction of brutal violence – that gory as hell ending! – Hackman lends the film much needed humor and humanity in his portrayal of Buck, who is as gregarious and jokey as he is tough and ruthless when needed.

I Never Sang for My Father (1970)

Director: Gilbert Cates

Based on the play of the same name, this drama follows the complicated relationship between college professor Gene Garrison (Gene Hackman) and his aging father Tom (Melvyn Douglas) whose hold over his son’s life comes to a head when Gene plans to move to California. Gene craves his father’s love and approval but grapples with the conclusion that he may never get it. I Never Sang for My Father landed Hackman his second Oscar nomination and reteamed him with actress Estelle Parsons, who played his sister here and his wife in Bonnie & Clyde.

The French Connection (1971)

Director: William Friedkin

It's been over fifty years since this seminal police procedural was released but its influence on cop movies and shows remains strong. This fact-based tale follows NYPD narcs "Popeye" Doyle (Hackman, in his first Oscar-winning role) and Buddy Russo (Roy Scheider) as they methodically hunt down a French crimelord (Fernando Rey) and his stateside Mafia accomplices (including movie mobster-for-life Tony Lo Bianco). This Best Picture winner boasts compelling characters, an engrossing story, and still-exciting action sequences (including that legendary car chase). This film remains a tribute to the hard-living street cops and their often lonely war against crime.

The Poseidon Adventure (1972)

Director: Ronald Neame

The granddaddy of modern disaster epics, this classic created the formula that would be used by subsequent disaster flicks: an all-star cast, high concept reason for the disaster, and a societal cross-section of characters’ desperate race to survive. The titular luxury ocean liner is on its final voyage when a tsunami overturns it on New Year’s Day. Revered Frank Scott (Gene Hackman), an unorthodox minister, becomes the de facto leader of the survivors. His final scene screaming to God is among the most memorable and human moments in the film. Hackman’s co-stars here included Ernest Borgnine, Shelley Winters (who scored an Oscar nom), Leslie Nielsen, and Roddy McDowall.

Prime Cut (1972)

Director: Michael Ritchie

The indomitable Lee Marvin plays Nick, an enforcer for the Irish mob in Chicago who arrives in the boonies of Kansas to investigate the disappearance of one of his associates. This gangster had been sent to Kansas City to deal with a mobbed-up farmer named Mary Ann (Gene Hackman). Mary Ann runs a slaughterhouse and, well, that missing associate ended up being ground into sausage! Mary Ann and his equally nasty brother also run a sex slave/prostitution ring out of this slaughterhouse, pimping out drugged-up runaways like Sissy Spacek (in her film debut). Naturally, Nick ends up in a violent conflict with Mary Ann and his rednecks, and tries to save Spacek's character along the way.

Scarecrow (1973)

Director: Jerry Schatzberg

This road dramedy brought together Al Pacino and Gene Hackman just as their stars began to shine brightest. It follows two ne’er-do-wells – ex-con Max (Hackman) and the simple “Lion” (Pacino) – who meet in California and eventually decide to open a car wash business together when they reach Pittsburgh. Along the way, both men undergo profound changes, with the gruff Max finding his kinder, gentler side even as Lion’s fate grows more tragic.

The Conversation (1974)

Director: Francis Ford Coppola

This haunting thriller features what is arguably Gene Hackman's finest screen performance. He brilliantly underplays his role as withdrawn, paranoid surveillance expert Harry Caul who is hired to tape a conversation between a seemingly benign couple (Cindy Williams and Frederic Forrest) that soon sounds like a murder plot. Fearing that his enigmatic corporate benefactor, "The Director" (Robert Duvall), will kill this young couple, Caul becomes conflicted and refuses to hand over his tapes to the Director. The truth, however, is not quite what it seems.

Young Frankenstein (1974)

Director: Mel Brooks

Gene Hackman is only in one scene but it’s a classic. He plays Harold, a blind old man who does his best to show hospitality to Peter Boyle’s creature only for it to all go hilariously awry. In a comedy full of iconic lines and gags brought to life by stellar performers like Gene Wilder, Teri Garr, Cloris Leachman, Marty Feldman, and Madeline Kahn, Hackman made a meal – a nice bowl of soup! – out of every brief moment he got on screen here.

Night Moves (1975)

Director: Arthur Penn

Hackman plays Harry Moseby, a private eye who accepts the task of locating an aging Hollywood starlet's (Janet Ward) spoiled daughter (Melanie Griffith) who has run away. Harry takes this seemingly easy gig to escape marital strife (wife Susan Clark is two-timing him). Harry's investigation leads him to the Florida Keys and to the realization that there's far more going on here than some little rich girl who flew the coop. Harry soon finds himself ensnared in a web of murder and corruption. One of the most unappreciated films of the 1970s, Night Moves helped re-define the detective genre of the era along with Chinatown and The Long Goodbye.

Superman (1978)

Director: Richard Donner

Along with Marlon Brando, Gene Hackman was the other "big name" in Warner Brothers' first big-screen take on the Man of Steel (Christopher Reeve). As Superman's diabolical yet droll nemesis, evil genius Lex Luthor, Hackman sneered, smirked and schemed his way through what would eventually be three Superman films. Purists may still be peeved that Hackman's Luthor wasn't quite like his comic book counterpart but for a generation of filmgoers Hackman IS Lex Luthor.

Hoosiers (1986)

Director: David Anspaugh

This fact-based drama about a small-town Indiana basketball team in the 1950s stars Gene Hackman as Norman Dale, who gets another shot when he's hired to coach a high school team. In the face of resistance from both his team and the town, Dale inspires his players and leads them to the state championship. While most of the press around the film was framed as a comeback for Dennis Hopper – who snagged an Oscar nom for his supporting role as the recovering alcoholic assistant coach – Hackman’s sincerity and commanding performance is key to making this feel-good but familiar story work so well.

No Way Out (1987)

Director: Roger Donaldson

Kevin Costner, Gene Hackman, and Sean Young star in this loose remake of the Film Noir classic, The Big Clock. Costner, a Navy hero assigned to the Pentagon, is having a fling with an amorous D.C. socialite (Young). When she's killed by her other lover, who happens to be the Secretary of Defense (Hackman), Costner realizes he'll become the prime suspect in her murder if their affair is uncovered. Hackman and his insanely devoted aide (Will Patton) concoct an alibi that blames Young's murder on a near mythic Soviet mole allegedly operating within the Pentagon. What they set in motion, however, proves that this Soviet mole indeed exists and is much closer to them than they realize.

Mississippi Burning (1988)

Director: Alan Parker

This still-controversial Oscar-nominated film stars Gene Hackman as Anderson, a no-nonsense Southern career FBI agent, and Willem Dafoe as his by-the-book partner Ward. They're investigating the disappearance (and murder) of three Civil Rights activists in a brutally racist Mississippi town. It leads them to the KKK and to the town sheriff's wife (Frances McDormand) who knows more than she can reveal. Critics slammed Mississippi Burning for altering history and for making white FBI agents the heroes of the Civil Rights story, while admirers of the film credit the performances – Hackman earned a Best Actor nom – and its visceral depiction of the Deep South.

Unforgiven (1992)

Director: Clint Eastwood

This Best Picture-winning Western ponders the consequences of violence and serves as a somber reflection on its director-star’s bloodsoaked cinematic legacy. William Munny (Eastwood) was a murderous outlaw until his late wife cured him "of drink and wickedness." Now an unsuccessful farmer caring for two children, Will reluctantly agrees to pick up his guns again to collect a bounty on a pair of cowpokes who disfigured a prostitute in the town of Big Whiskey. In the end, Will returns to his ultra-violent ways after the nasty sheriff of Big Whiskey, Little Bill Daggett (Gene Hackman), kills Will’s old saddlepal Ned (Morgan Freeman). William Munny proceeds to show Big Whiskey why he was such a feared man when he finally confronts Little Bill and his goons. Unforgiven won Hackman – who initially turned down the film because of its violence – his second and final Oscar.

The Firm (1993)

Director: Sydney Pollack

Tom Cruise stars in this hit adaptation of the John Grishman bestseller as Mitch McDeere, a Harvard Law hotshot recruited into a Memphis firm he discovers is mobbed up. Gene Hackman plays Avery Tolar, Mitch’s mentor whose personal corruption epitomizes the moral rot eating away at the Firm. Hackman could find humanity even in the murkiest of characters. Case in point: his final scene with Abby, Mitch’s wife, where gets a chance to maybe do at least one good thing.

Crimson Tide (1995)

Director: Tony Scott

Essentially Mutiny on the Bounty set aboard a nuclear sub, Denzel Washington plays Lt. Commander Hunter, the stalwart first officer of the USS Alabama, which the stern Captain Ramsey (Gene Hackman) commands. Their relationship deteriorates to the point where Hunter is forced to try and take over the vessel from Ramsey after it appears that Russian rebels are preparing to nuke the U.S. (Look for young Viggo Mortensen and James Gandolfini in supporting roles.) Quentin Tarantino did a rewrite of the script, which explains why there’s a Silver Surfer speech in an otherwise straightforward Cold War thriller.

Get Shorty (1995)

Director: Barry Sonnenfeld

Based on Elmore Leonard’s novel, John Travolta stars as Chili Palmer, a mobster and film buff who comes to L.A. to collect a debt from schlock movie director Harry Zimm (Gene Hackman) only to end up becoming a natural born Hollywood producer. Hackman usually played the toughest guy in the room so part of the humor and charm here is seeing his character be roughed up and vulnerable. The hit comedy – which also starred Rene Russo, Danny DeVito, Delroy Lindo, Denis Farina, and James Gandolfini – later spawned a sequel and TV series.

The Birdcage (1996)

Director: Mike Nichols

A retelling of the French comedy La Cage aux Folles, Robin Williams and Nathan Lane star here as Armand and Albert Goldman, a gay couple who feign being heterosexual when meeting their son’s conservative future in-laws, Senator Keeley (Hackman) and Louise (Diane Wiest). The moralizing Keeley is perplexed when he learns the truth that these two men are gay and married – although he hopes it doesn’t affect their votes. In the end, the Goldmans are able to save Keeley from the hounding media by dressing him in drag and escorting him through their club, the titular Birdcage. If you ever wanted to see Robin Williams and Gene Hackman dance to “We Are Family” then The Birdcage has got you covered.

Enemy of the State (1998)

Director: Tony Scott

Gene Hackman reunited with Crimson Tide’s Tony Scott for this thriller, with Hackman essentially reprising his paranoid surveillance expert role from Coppola's The Conversation. Will Smith stars as labor attorney Robert Clayton Dean who teams with "Brill" (Hackman) after being framed by a crooked government agent (Jon Voight) and his goons (including Barry Pepper, Scott Caan, and Jack Black). Dean and Brill must outwit the shady Feds as they piece together the truth.

The Royal Tenenbaums (2001)

Director: Wes Anderson

A family of geniuses, the Tenenbaums, reunite to deal with the return of their patriarch, the obnoxious (disbarred) attorney Royal Tenenbaum (Gene Hackman). Having long been shunned by his family for his callous and patronizing manner, Royal returns home with tragic news: he's been diagnosed with stomach cancer and has only six weeks to live. With his time running out, Royal tries atoning for his past failings as a husband and father and hopes to forge new friendships with his family. But will the other Tenenbaums bury the hatchet? And is there more to Royal's return than just illness? The cast includes Gwyneth Paltrow, Ben Stiller, Anjelica Huston, Danny Glover, Luke and Owen Wilson, and Bill Murray.

Share your thoughts on the life and films of Gene Hackman in the comments.

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