Monthly Archives: November 2021

NEO: The World Ends With You Fails To Meet Sales Expectations

NEO: The World Ends With You failed to meet sales expectations, according to Square Enix's latest financial briefing, The sequel to the breakout 2007 Nintendo DS game, The World Ends with You, it contributed to Square Enix's overall lower game sales this year than in the same period last year.

"While NEO: The World Ends With You was well received by users, it has underperformed our initial expectations," Square Enix President Yosuke Matsuda said.

Despite releasing multiple new titles this year, including Outriders, Nier Replicant ver. 1.22474487139, NEO: The World Ends with You, and Life is Strange: True Colors, Square Enix Chief Accounting Officer Atsushi Matsuda said the overall net sales of Square Enix's HD games subsegment were weaker year-over-year. Last year, Square Enix launched major games like Final Fantasy 7 Remake and Marvel's Avengers.

On the bright side, recurring subscription revenue from Final Fantasy XIV remains strong as its player base grows. Its latest expansion, Endwalker, launches on December 7. Meanwhile, Square Enix plans to release Life is Strange: True Colors for Nintendo Switch digitally on December 7 and physically on February 22, 2022, as well as the Life is Strange Remastered Collection in February.

In IGN's NEO: The World Ends with You review, Rebekah Valentine wrote, "NEO: The World Ends With You is a sequel that leans heavily on recapturing what made the original so special... Its story satisfies me as someone who had been waiting 14 years for answers to The World Ends With You’s most tantalizing plot threads, but it pays for that resolution by sidelining its new central cast and forgoing a hard-hitting, emotional story of its own."

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

J.K. Simmons On J. Jonah Jameson’s Role In Spider-Man: No Way Home

J.K. Simmons' iconic portrayal of antagonistic newspaper editor J. Jonah Jameson remains a lasting legacy of Sam Raimi's Spider-Man movies. After appearing in Spider-Man: Far From Home, Simmons is once again set to reprise his role in the upcoming Spider-Man: No Way Home.

Speaking with the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Simmons made light of Jameson's receding hairline while talking about his appearance in the upcoming movie.

"You know what, I think it's a slightly different version. Certainly, from the creators of the current iteration of the story, it's a very different character," Simmons said. "To me, it's a slightly different character. It's the same blowhard; the same guy with less hair. Honestly, I kinda wish he had the same hair."

Talking about his approach to Jameson in the MCU, Simmons shed a tiny bit of light on how James will be used in No Way Home. "As is appropriate for that character, he's a little comic relief thing that gets sprinkled lightly into the movie."

It sounds like Spider-Man: No Way Home really is shaping up to be a celebration of all things Spider-Man, as it will bring back a myriad of iconic characters, including Green Goblin and Doc Ock. And what Spidey celebration is complete without Jameson chomping on a cigar and ranting about Spider-Man being Public Enemy Number 1?

Spider-Man: No Way Home release December 17. Go here for our full breakdown of the latest trailer.

J.K. Simmons On J. Jonah Jameson’s Role In Spider-Man: No Way Home

J.K. Simmons' iconic portrayal of antagonistic newspaper editor J. Jonah Jameson remains a lasting legacy of Sam Raimi's Spider-Man movies. After appearing in Spider-Man: Far From Home, Simmons is once again set to reprise his role in the upcoming Spider-Man: No Way Home.

Speaking with the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Simmons made light of Jameson's receding hairline while talking about his appearance in the upcoming movie.

"You know what, I think it's a slightly different version. Certainly, from the creators of the current iteration of the story, it's a very different character," Simmons said. "To me, it's a slightly different character. It's the same blowhard; the same guy with less hair. Honestly, I kinda wish he had the same hair."

Talking about his approach to Jameson in the MCU, Simmons shed a tiny bit of light on how James will be used in No Way Home. "As is appropriate for that character, he's a little comic relief thing that gets sprinkled lightly into the movie."

It sounds like Spider-Man: No Way Home really is shaping up to be a celebration of all things Spider-Man, as it will bring back a myriad of iconic characters, including Green Goblin and Doc Ock. And what Spidey celebration is complete without Jameson chomping on a cigar and ranting about Spider-Man being Public Enemy Number 1?

Spider-Man: No Way Home release December 17. Go here for our full breakdown of the latest trailer.

New The Batman Synopsis Reveals New Year Two Details

A new synopsis for The Batman has been released and leans into the Year Two aspect of the story, plus new details about characters like James Gordon.

Matt Reeves previously revealed that The Batman, starring Robert Pattinson as Bruce Wayne, will be a Year Two story. So while Pattinson’s Batman isn’t just starting out, he’s not quite the veteran yet, either.

This is seen in how James Gordon, played by Jeffrey Wright, is a lieutenant in The Batman rather than a Commissioner. This is is similar to Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy where Gordon (Gary Oldman) began as a lieutenant before moving up the ranks to the commissioner as the trilogy progressed.

Check the new synopsis below:

“Two years of stalking the streets as the Batman (Robert Pattinson), striking fear into the hearts of the criminals, has led Bruce Wayne deep into the shadows of Gotham City. With only a few trusted allies — Alfred Pennyworth (Andy Serkis), Lt. James Gordon (Jeffrey Wright) — amongst the city’s corrupt network of officials and high-profile figures, the lone vigilante has established himself as the sole embodiment of vengeance amongst his fellow citizens.”

The expanded synopsis also offers new details on the criminal underworld Batman needs to face, including the high-profile victims of a new serial killer.

“When a killer targets Gotham’s elite with a series of sadistic machinations, a trail of cryptic clues sends the World’s Greatest Detective on an investigation into the underworld, where he encounters such characters as Selina Kyle/aka Catwoman (Zoë Kravtiz), Oswald Cobblepot/aka the Penguin (Colin Farrell), Carmine Falcone (John Turturro), and Edward Nashton/aka The Riddler (Paul Dano). As the evidence begins to lead closer to home and the scale of the perpetrator’s plans becomes clear, Batman must forge new relationships, unmask the culprit, and brings justice to the abuse of power and corruption that has long plagued Gotham City.”

The hallmarks of a Batman story are all here. Corrupt city bureaucracy, numerous criminal organizations and villains jockeying for power, and Batman. But we haven’t seen a Riddler on-screen since Jim Carrey’s take of the character in Batman Forever.

WB released a new synopsis fairly recently that focused on Batman, describing him as no better than a “serial killer.” But dealing with another serial killer, Batman will probably look like a saint to the people of Gotham.

Check out our full coverage of The Batman here ahead of its 2022 release.

Matt T.M. Kim is IGN's News Editor. You can reach him @lawoftd.

New The Batman Synopsis Reveals New Year Two Details

A new synopsis for The Batman has been released and leans into the Year Two aspect of the story, plus new details about characters like James Gordon.

Matt Reeves previously revealed that The Batman, starring Robert Pattinson as Bruce Wayne, will be a Year Two story. So while Pattinson’s Batman isn’t just starting out, he’s not quite the veteran yet, either.

This is seen in how James Gordon, played by Jeffrey Wright, is a lieutenant in The Batman rather than a Commissioner. This is is similar to Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy where Gordon (Gary Oldman) began as a lieutenant before moving up the ranks to the commissioner as the trilogy progressed.

Check the new synopsis below:

“Two years of stalking the streets as the Batman (Robert Pattinson), striking fear into the hearts of the criminals, has led Bruce Wayne deep into the shadows of Gotham City. With only a few trusted allies — Alfred Pennyworth (Andy Serkis), Lt. James Gordon (Jeffrey Wright) — amongst the city’s corrupt network of officials and high-profile figures, the lone vigilante has established himself as the sole embodiment of vengeance amongst his fellow citizens.”

The expanded synopsis also offers new details on the criminal underworld Batman needs to face, including the high-profile victims of a new serial killer.

“When a killer targets Gotham’s elite with a series of sadistic machinations, a trail of cryptic clues sends the World’s Greatest Detective on an investigation into the underworld, where he encounters such characters as Selina Kyle/aka Catwoman (Zoë Kravtiz), Oswald Cobblepot/aka the Penguin (Colin Farrell), Carmine Falcone (John Turturro), and Edward Nashton/aka The Riddler (Paul Dano). As the evidence begins to lead closer to home and the scale of the perpetrator’s plans becomes clear, Batman must forge new relationships, unmask the culprit, and brings justice to the abuse of power and corruption that has long plagued Gotham City.”

The hallmarks of a Batman story are all here. Corrupt city bureaucracy, numerous criminal organizations and villains jockeying for power, and Batman. But we haven’t seen a Riddler on-screen since Jim Carrey’s take of the character in Batman Forever.

WB released a new synopsis fairly recently that focused on Batman, describing him as no better than a “serial killer.” But dealing with another serial killer, Batman will probably look like a saint to the people of Gotham.

Check out our full coverage of The Batman here ahead of its 2022 release.

Matt T.M. Kim is IGN's News Editor. You can reach him @lawoftd.

Life is Strange: True Colors for Nintendo Switch Gets December Release Date

We already knew that Square Enix was planning to release Life is Strange: True Colors on Nintendo Switch. Today, we finally know that the Switch version will be released on December 7.

As noted in a new tweet, the Switch port will arrive digitally via the Nintendo eShop on December 7. Those looking to pick up a physical cartridge will have to wait until February 25, 2022.

Life is Strange: True Colors was originally released on September 10 on all major platforms, but ahead of its release, developer Deck Nine games confirmed that the Switch version would not release alongside the other versions.

We reviewed Life is Strange: True Colors last September on IGN, which we gave a 9, noting that the latest entry was also the best in the series. The game also recieved a prequel DLC set one year before the events of the base game called Wavelengths, which released on September 30.

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

Life is Strange: True Colors for Nintendo Switch Gets December Release Date

We already knew that Square Enix was planning to release Life is Strange: True Colors on Nintendo Switch. Today, we finally know that the Switch version will be released on December 7.

As noted in a new tweet, the Switch port will arrive digitally via the Nintendo eShop on December 7. Those looking to pick up a physical cartridge will have to wait until February 25, 2022.

Life is Strange: True Colors was originally released on September 10 on all major platforms, but ahead of its release, developer Deck Nine games confirmed that the Switch version would not release alongside the other versions.

We reviewed Life is Strange: True Colors last September on IGN, which we gave a 9, noting that the latest entry was also the best in the series. The game also recieved a prequel DLC set one year before the events of the base game called Wavelengths, which released on September 30.

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

WandaVision’s Agatha All Along Has a Grammy Nomination

Agatha All Along, the catchy song that reveals Agatha Harkness in the seventh episode of Marvel's WandaVision, has received a Grammy nomination.

The song, which was sung by Agatha actress Kathryn Hahn and back-up singers Kristen Anderson-Lopez, Eric Bradley, Greg Whipple, Jasper Randall, and Gerald White, has picked up a Grammy nomination for Best Song Written for Visual Media.

The catchy theme tune for the character was created by the married musical songwriting duo Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez. The pair have written songs for a number of notable franchises in the past including entries for Frozen, Coco, and Winnie the Pooh.

While Agatha's catchy hit is up against a range of tough competition in its group, the couple each have a good track record when it comes to awards ceremonies. Kristen Anderson-Lopez already has a Grammy, Oscar, and Emmy award to her name while her spouse is currently the only double EGOT winner alive today having previously won two Emmys, two Grammys, two Oscars, and two Tony Awards.

In addition to Agatha All Along, other songs nominated for Best Song Written for Visual Media include 'All Eye's on Me' from Bo Burnham's pandemic-influenced comedy special Inside, 'All I Know So Far' from the documentary P!NK: All I Know So Far, 'Speak Now' from One Night In Miami, 'Here I Am' from Respect and 'Fight For You' from Judas and the Black Messiah.

Following the popularity and success of Hahn's portrayal of Agatha in WandaVision, Disney recently officially confirmed that the character would be receiving her own spin-off show, Agatha: House of Harkness, for Disney+. Jac Schaeffer, who worked as the head writer on WandaVision, is set to fill that role again for the new show while Hahn will also return.

Jared Moore is a freelance writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter.

WandaVision’s Agatha All Along Has a Grammy Nomination

Agatha All Along, the catchy song that reveals Agatha Harkness in the seventh episode of Marvel's WandaVision, has received a Grammy nomination.

The song, which was sung by Agatha actress Kathryn Hahn and back-up singers Kristen Anderson-Lopez, Eric Bradley, Greg Whipple, Jasper Randall, and Gerald White, has picked up a Grammy nomination for Best Song Written for Visual Media.

The catchy theme tune for the character was created by the married musical songwriting duo Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez. The pair have written songs for a number of notable franchises in the past including entries for Frozen, Coco, and Winnie the Pooh.

While Agatha's catchy hit is up against a range of tough competition in its group, the couple each have a good track record when it comes to awards ceremonies. Kristen Anderson-Lopez already has a Grammy, Oscar, and Emmy award to her name while her spouse is currently the only double EGOT winner alive today having previously won two Emmys, two Grammys, two Oscars, and two Tony Awards.

In addition to Agatha All Along, other songs nominated for Best Song Written for Visual Media include 'All Eye's on Me' from Bo Burnham's pandemic-influenced comedy special Inside, 'All I Know So Far' from the documentary P!NK: All I Know So Far, 'Speak Now' from One Night In Miami, 'Here I Am' from Respect and 'Fight For You' from Judas and the Black Messiah.

Following the popularity and success of Hahn's portrayal of Agatha in WandaVision, Disney recently officially confirmed that the character would be receiving her own spin-off show, Agatha: House of Harkness, for Disney+. Jac Schaeffer, who worked as the head writer on WandaVision, is set to fill that role again for the new show while Hahn will also return.

Jared Moore is a freelance writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter.

IGN’s Friendsgiving 2021 Charity Stream: How to Watch and What to Expect

The holiday season is upon us, and we thought it would be a great time to gather some of our best friends for a Friendsgiving celebration that will not only let us all play games together, but also do it for a fantastic cause.

Join IGN's Stella Chung and Akeem Lawanson, and a few special guests as they play the cooperative multiplayer action-puzzle game Pico Park together for two chaotically wonderful hours and raise money for No Kid Hungry - an organization that fights hunger and feeds kids all year long.

IGN is carrying the stream and, as usual, this watch guide will provide you with everything you need to know to watch the show, including when it starts, how you can donate to help No Kid Hungry, and more!

IGN’s Friendsgiving 2021 Charity Stream Start Time

IGN’s Friendsgiving 2021 Charity Stream will take place on Tuesday, November 30 at 3pm PT/6pm ET/11pm GMT. If you are watching from Australia, that translates to Wednesday, December 1 at 9am AEST. The stream will last for two hours.

How to Watch IGN’s Friendsgiving 2021 Charity Stream

If you’re interested in watching IGN’s Friendsgiving 2021 Charity Stream, we’ll be hosting it here and across our many channels on platforms like YouTube, Twitch, Twitter, Facebook, and more. Here’s the full list of places you can watch the show with us:

What to Expect at IGN’s Friendsgiving 2021 Charity Stream

While we are excited to play Pico Park with some of our best friends around the internet, we couldn't be happier to be raising money for No Kid Hungry as part of their One Too Many Holiday Campaign. Every dollar that you donate can help connect kids to up to 10 meals!

If that wasn't awesome enough, No Kid Hungry's leading partner, Citi, will be matching donations made on November 30, the day of our stream, up to $200,000. You can contribute to our fundraising for No Kid Hungry at donate.IGN.com.

To help us in our mission to give back, we've invited YouTuber AyChristene, Twitch streamer LuxieGames, Kinda Funny Games' Blessing Adeyoye Jr., and IGN alum and Twitch's lead community producer Zachary Ryan to play two hours of Pico Park with IGN's Stella Chung and Akeem Lawanson.

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