Video game industry veteran Cliff "CliffyB" Bleszinski has admitted he had an intense rivalry with id Software co-founder and Doom co-creator John Romero in the 1990s when he was working at Epic Games.

Speaking to IGN, Bleszinski said that, as the co-designer of Unreal, he was "gunning to try and defeat" id Software's Quake and its lead designer and director Romero.

"I saw Romero as my enemy," he said. "He was dating Stevie Case at the time, who's in Playboy and whatnot, and I was like, 'I'm going to take that guy down'. It goes back to, again, the whole, I had nothing and I wanted it, you had everything and you flaunted it. So we were gunning to try and defeat [Quake]."

He continued: "Ramiro was one of the first rockstar game designers and I looked at his playbook and I tried to emulate it as much as possible. He had his signature long hair, he has his painted nails, 'It's rock and roll, mate,' and then I was doing the whole blonde hair, the red hair, changing my looks up a lot because [of] being a pop culture nut."

Bleszinski said Epic utilized the concept of "counter programming" at the time, where they'd consider what id Software was doing, then do the opposite to one-up them and appeal to a different audience.

"Yes, we were making a multiplayer first person shooter, but we wanted to have bright colours, not make it kind of dark and dreary," he said. "Same thing with the first Unreal. Unreal had the bright coloured lighting, it had sky castles, it had all these beautiful environments, whereas Quake was deep, dark, Trent Resner fuelled, Cthulhu dungeons."

Though he's now good friends with Romero, Bleszinski admitted he went too far with some elements of the rivalry. Romero founded Ion Storm after leaving id Software in 1996, but the studio didn't have much success and shut down in 2005.

"It really is a classic Hollywood kind of story, rooting for Romero to fall," Bleszinski said. "I wound up recruiting a whole bunch of really, really talented people at Epic Games [when Ion Storm shut down], but it's one of those things that, in hindsight, it was really dickish to have the schadenfreude of seeing somebody else's studio fail.

"Then, again, the matrix God was sending me another signal, like, 'well now your studio's going to fail. You're going to see how it f**king feels'," he added.

Bleszinski co-founded Boss Key Productions in 2014 and the studio began work on Lawbreakers, a PC arena shooter intended to rival Overwatch. Though he again deployed his "counter programming" strategy in an attempt to take down Blizzard's game, Lawbreakers did not take off and Boss Key Productions shut down in 2018.

Romero, on the other hand, is currently creating a new first person shooter in (ironically) Unreal Engine 5, and is also developing Sigil 2 (which will run on Doom 2’s engine) at his studio Romero Games.

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

So it's not a blow your socks off get ready for Halo Infinite and Forza Horizon 5 month(s) like last year, but there's still another extremely strong month ahead for Xbox Game Pass members. Xbox has confirmed its first round of games for Game Pass in November, and there's certainly a few that'll prick your ears up. Just remember, these are only the first wave of games announced this month, we'll likely get a few more announcements in and around November 15.

For starters, Return to Monkey Island will be hitting Game Pass on November 8 for console, PC, and cloud, and we're also getting the popular Vampire Survivors for console players on November 10 (it's already available for those on PC Game Pass). Other games also confirmed for November include Football Manager 2023, Somerville, Ghost Song, The Walking Dead: A New Frontier, The Walking Dead: Michonne, The Legend of Tianding, and the new Obsidian Xbox exclusive, Pentiment.

Return to Monkey Island is Available on Xbox Game Pass from November 8

Continue the legendary story of The Secret of Monkey Island and Monkey Island 2 adventure games with Return to Monkey Island. The newly launched game will arrive for Xbox consoles, PC, and cloud on Xbox Game Pass from November 8, following its previous release on PC and Switch. Read our 9/10 review here.

Everything Coming to Xbox Game Pass in November (So Far)

• The Legend Of Tianding (Console, PC, Cloud) – November 1
• The Walking Dead: A New Frontier (PC) – November 1
• The Walking Dead: Michonne (PC) – November 1
• Ghost Song (Console, PC, Cloud) – November 3
• Football Manager 2023 (Console, PC, Cloud) – November 8
• Return to Monkey Island (Console, PC, Cloud) – November 8
• Vampire Survivors (Console) – November 10
• Pentiment (Console, PC, Cloud) – November 15
• Somerville (Console, PC) – November 15
• Gungrave G.O.R.E (Console, PC, Cloud) – November 22

Everything Leaving Xbox Game Pass in November

Leaving November 8

• Football Manager 2022 (PC)
• Football Manager 2022 Xbox Edition (Cloud, Console, and PC)

Leaving November 15

• Art of Rally (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Fae Tactics (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Next Space Rebel (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• One Step from Eden (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Supraland (Cloud, Console, and PC)

Get 3-Months of Xbox Game Pass for $39 (was $44.99)

Robert Anderson is a deals expert and Commerce Editor for IGN. You can follow him @robertliam21 on Twitter.

So it's not a blow your socks off get ready for Halo Infinite and Forza Horizon 5 month(s) like last year, but there's still another extremely strong month ahead for Xbox Game Pass members. Xbox has confirmed its first round of games for Game Pass in November, and there's certainly a few that'll prick your ears up. Just remember, these are only the first wave of games announced this month, we'll likely get a few more announcements in and around November 15.

For starters, Return to Monkey Island will be hitting Game Pass on November 8 for console, PC, and cloud, and we're also getting the popular Vampire Survivors for console players on November 10 (it's already available for those on PC Game Pass). Other games also confirmed for November include Football Manager 2023, Somerville, Ghost Song, The Walking Dead: A New Frontier, The Walking Dead: Michonne, The Legend of Tianding, and the new Obsidian Xbox exclusive, Pentiment.

Return to Monkey Island is Available on Xbox Game Pass from November 8

Continue the legendary story of The Secret of Monkey Island and Monkey Island 2 adventure games with Return to Monkey Island. The newly launched game will arrive for Xbox consoles, PC, and cloud on Xbox Game Pass from November 8, following its previous release on PC and Switch. Read our 9/10 review here.

Everything Coming to Xbox Game Pass in November (So Far)

• The Legend Of Tianding (Console, PC, Cloud) – November 1
• The Walking Dead: A New Frontier (PC) – November 1
• The Walking Dead: Michonne (PC) – November 1
• Ghost Song (Console, PC, Cloud) – November 3
• Football Manager 2023 (Console, PC, Cloud) – November 8
• Return to Monkey Island (Console, PC, Cloud) – November 8
• Vampire Survivors (Console) – November 10
• Pentiment (Console, PC, Cloud) – November 15
• Somerville (Console, PC) – November 15
• Gungrave G.O.R.E (Console, PC, Cloud) – November 22

Everything Leaving Xbox Game Pass in November

Leaving November 8

• Football Manager 2022 (PC)
• Football Manager 2022 Xbox Edition (Cloud, Console, and PC)

Leaving November 15

• Art of Rally (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Fae Tactics (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Next Space Rebel (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• One Step from Eden (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Supraland (Cloud, Console, and PC)

Get 3-Months of Xbox Game Pass for $39 (was $44.99)

Robert Anderson is a deals expert and Commerce Editor for IGN. You can follow him @robertliam21 on Twitter.

An official listing for HBO's The Last of Us has reportedly revealed that the series will premiere in the US on January 15, 2023.

According to multiple reports, the release date for HBO's adaptation of The Last of Us has leaked by way of the HBO Max app and website. Eurogamer has confirmed that the January premiere date is currently listed in the description of the show's Season 1 Sneak Peek, visible to HBO account holders in the US, though there hasn't been an official announcement yet.

"A preview of the post-apocalyptic drama series based on the critically acclaimed video game. Premieres Jan. 15," the overview states, per a screenshot of the listing.

Elsewhere, in the UK, broadcaster Sky has reportedly released promotional materials for the series featuring a premiere date of January 16, 2023. This date would stack up, as time zone differences typically mean that HBO shows are released on a Sunday in the US while UK viewers can watch the same episode in the early hours of Monday morning.

The Last of Us is expected to tell the story of the original game, following Joel and Ellie as they trek across post-apocalyptic America and depend on each other for survival. However, some stories in the 10-episode first season will "deviate greatly" from what came before because the show's creators wanted the HBO series to "enhance" the game.

The first full trailer for HBO's The Last of Us showed scenes that fans of the PlayStation-exclusive title will be familiar with, including the iconic opening scene from the game. The footage also showed more of the overgrown United States landscape, characters old and new, and the first glimpse of the infected enemy, the Clickers.

If you want to catch up on the story before the TV adaptation, there's never been a better time than now, thanks to the recent remake of the game for PS5.

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

An official listing for HBO's The Last of Us has reportedly revealed that the series will premiere in the US on January 15, 2023.

According to multiple reports, the release date for HBO's adaptation of The Last of Us has leaked by way of the HBO Max app and website. Eurogamer has confirmed that the January premiere date is currently listed in the description of the show's Season 1 Sneak Peek, visible to HBO account holders in the US, though there hasn't been an official announcement yet.

"A preview of the post-apocalyptic drama series based on the critically acclaimed video game. Premieres Jan. 15," the overview states, per a screenshot of the listing.

Elsewhere, in the UK, broadcaster Sky has reportedly released promotional materials for the series featuring a premiere date of January 16, 2023. This date would stack up, as time zone differences typically mean that HBO shows are released on a Sunday in the US while UK viewers can watch the same episode in the early hours of Monday morning.

The Last of Us is expected to tell the story of the original game, following Joel and Ellie as they trek across post-apocalyptic America and depend on each other for survival. However, some stories in the 10-episode first season will "deviate greatly" from what came before because the show's creators wanted the HBO series to "enhance" the game.

The first full trailer for HBO's The Last of Us showed scenes that fans of the PlayStation-exclusive title will be familiar with, including the iconic opening scene from the game. The footage also showed more of the overgrown United States landscape, characters old and new, and the first glimpse of the infected enemy, the Clickers.

If you want to catch up on the story before the TV adaptation, there's never been a better time than now, thanks to the recent remake of the game for PS5.

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

Xbox boss Phil Spencer has said Microsoft loses between $100 and $200 on every Xbox Series X and S sold.

As reported by CNBC (and spotted by Eurogamer), Spencer said at WSJ Live that Microsoft subsidises the cost of its Xbox consoles with the expectation that people will spend money on its profitable add-on products later.

Losing $100 to $200 per console is a fairly significant amount given the Xbox Series X retails for $499 and the Xbox Series S retails for $299, but consumers then purchasing additional controllers, headsets, games, and subscription services like Xbox Live and Game Pass is seemingly enough to justify the hit on day one.

Spencer has admitted that Xbox can't maintain these console prices forever though, and its main competitor in Sony has already raised the price of the PlayStation 5 in Europe, the UK, the Middle East, Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Canada.

"I do think at some point we'll have to raise the prices on certain things, but going into this holiday we thought it was important to maintain the prices," Spencer said in October.

That's not to say there are currently plans or timings in place to increase the prices, however, at least for consoles, as Spencer said in September that Microsoft currently has no plans to increase the price of the Xbox Series X or S.

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

Xbox boss Phil Spencer has said Microsoft loses between $100 and $200 on every Xbox Series X and S sold.

Speaking to CNBC (and spotted by Eurogamer), Spencer explained that Microsoft subsidises the cost of its Xbox consoles with the expectation that people will spend money on its profitable add-on products later.

Losing $100 to $200 per console is a fairly significant amount given the Xbox Series X retails for $499 and the Xbox Series S retails for $299, but consumers then purchasing additional controllers, headsets, games, and subscription services like Xbox Live and Game Pass is seemingly enough to justify the hit on day one.

Spencer has admitted that Xbox can't maintain these console prices forever though, and its main competitor in Sony has already raised the price of the PlayStation 5 in Europe, the UK, the Middle East, Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Canada.

"I do think at some point we'll have to raise the prices on certain things, but going into this holiday we thought it was important to maintain the prices," Spencer said in October.

That's not to say there are currently plans or timings in place to increase the prices, however, at least for consoles, as Spencer said in September that Microsoft currently has no plans to increase the price of the Xbox Series X or S.

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

PlayStation and Santa Monica Studio’s critically acclaimed God of War (2018) has now sold more than 23 million copies to date, according to the latest Sony earnings report.

The new sales figure is up from the 19.5 million copies sold as of October 2021, with the increase likely owed in part to the PC version of God of War being released earlier this year, that saw Sony's biggest launch on the platform to date.

God of War: Ragnarok's imminent release may be another reason for the boost in sales, and Sony is expecting the sequel to perform just as well as its predecessor.

"The previous God of War game released in 2018 was one of the biggest titles ever released exclusively for PlayStation, selling 23 million units cumulative to date," read the earnings report. "We expect similar performance from this new title as well."

The sequel will see the continuation of Kratos and his son Atreus's emotionally charged journey of self discovery as they venture through the lore steeped realms of Norse mythology while battling gods and monsters alike.

For a full breakdown of why we loved God of War, be sure to check out IGN’s review of the game, in which we said the Norse adventure was a masterpiece. In preparation of Ragnarok's launch on November 9, you can also watch IGN's spoiler-free Q&A to get fully up to date with the highly anticipated sequel.

Anthony Wood is a freelance science writer for IGN

PlayStation and Santa Monica Studio’s critically acclaimed God of War (2018) has now sold more than 23 million copies to date, according to the latest Sony earnings report.

The new sales figure is up from the 19.5 million copies sold as of October 2021, with the increase likely owed in part to the PC version of God of War being released earlier this year, that saw Sony's biggest launch on the platform to date.

God of War: Ragnarok's imminent release may be another reason for the boost in sales, and Sony is expecting the sequel to perform just as well as its predecessor.

"The previous God of War game released in 2018 was one of the biggest titles ever released exclusively for PlayStation, selling 23 million units cumulative to date," read the earnings report. "We expect similar performance from this new title as well."

The sequel will see the continuation of Kratos and his son Atreus's emotionally charged journey of self discovery as they venture through the lore steeped realms of Norse mythology while battling gods and monsters alike.

For a full breakdown of why we loved God of War, be sure to check out IGN’s review of the game, in which we said the Norse adventure was a masterpiece. In preparation of Ragnarok's launch on November 9, you can also watch IGN's spoiler-free Q&A to get fully up to date with the highly anticipated sequel.

Anthony Wood is a freelance science writer for IGN

James Gunn has long been one of the most famous names in superhero filmmaking, his influence felt across both the Marvel and DC cinematic universes. But for Henry Cavill at least, who is currently enjoying a bit of a moment in the DCEU himself, Gunn apparently remains a bit of an unknown quantity.

On hand to promote Enola Holmes 2, which releases on Netflix this week, Cavill reacted to the news that Gunn would be taking over DC Studios alongside Peter Safran.

"I have not met James yet," Cavill admitted in an interview with IGN. "I'm looking very forward to meeting him. He's clearly a very, very talented man, and I cannot wait to sit down and have long, long conversations with him. I'm very excited about him being there and very excited about any future opportunities we can work together."

Gunn's ascension parallels Cavill's own return to the DCEU. In interviews following the release of Black Adam, in which Dwayne Johnson talked at length about the possibility of a Black Adam vs. Superman bout, Cavill spoke of playing a "joyful Superman."

What Cavill means by a "joyful Superman"

Asked to elaborate, Cavill talked about how Superman "means so much for so many people," which can in turn relate to one's own experience.

"What really gets me about Superman is that he represents the best of the human soul, the greatest of the human soul. It's not just his powers. It's his heart. It's his heart that makes him so special. And even when he's going through stuff, he's still giving to others. He's still protecting others. He's the one who will always reach out and always give. And in that is so much wonder and power. And it's such, as I say, a joyful thing that it's not a mournful weight," Cavill says.

"It is something that is a gift. To be giving is a gift because it makes people feel a certain way, and it also makes them want to be giving in return to other people. There's just something so magnificent about that. And, of course, then, that's a very broad-stroke piece. But once you get into the nitty-gritty details of that, and once you start applying that storytelling and to all the wonderful, exciting villains that he may come across, then you have a world adventure and a world where an audience leaves the cinema feeling fantastic."

Cavill is currently at the center of several Superman rumors, including reports that Warner Bros. Discovery is working on a Man of Steel 2. They coincide with word that Cavill will not be reprising his role as Geralt in Netflix's Witcher series.

One way or another, Cavill is commanding more of the spotlight than ever, meaning that when he does have his inevitable conversation with Gunn, it will be very interesting indeed. For now, his focus is on Enola Holmes 2, which releases November 4.

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