Sony and Tencent have increased their stake in Elden Ring developer FromSoftware, now owning over 30% of the company between them.

Sony now owns 14.09 percent of the company while Tencent, via its Sixjoy subsidiary, now owns 16.25 percent. FromSoftware clearly aims to capitalize on this increased investment, with majority stakeholder Kadokawa issuing the following statement:

“FromSoftware decided to conduct the Third-Party Allotment to Sixjoy within the Tencent Group, which has strength in its capabilities to develop and deploy mobile games and other network technologies in the global market including China, and SIE within the Sony Group, which has strength in its capabilities to deploy IP in games, videos and various other media in the global market, concurrently and separately.”

However, Kadokawa, which still owns 69.66 percent of FromSoftware, also asserted the company will double down on creating its own IP.

“FromSoftware will aim to proactively invest in development of more powerful game IP for itself to strengthen FromSoftware’s development capabilities and will seek to establish a framework that allows the expansion of the scope of its own publishing in the significantly growing global market.”

Elden Ring is just the latest in FromSoftware’s long list of popular games. The likes of Bloodborne, Dark Souls, and Sekiro have catapulted the studio to become one of the most popular developers in the world, with Elden Ring becoming one of the 10 best-selling games in US history. Not a bad investment for Sony and Tencent.

Of course, Elden Ring is clearly a big part of FromSoftware’s plans going forward. One of the company’s best-selling games, it also managed to secure the biggest YouTube launch in history with a staggering 3 billion views in just 60 days. Back in March, publisher Bandai Namco and FromSoftware released a joint statement calling the game “a fantastic start for the new franchise.”

“Much effort was placed into creating Elden Ring so that we could exceed the expectations of our fans worldwide," said Bandai Namco boss Yasuo Miyakawa. "In like manner, we will continue our efforts in expanding the brand beyond the game itself, and into everyone's daily life.”

Clearly, there’s more Elden Ring to come in the long term, and that’s likely a big reason why both Sony and Tencent are keen to increase their stake in the company.

When that will appear remains to be seen. Want some help tackling Elden Ring? Check out our full walkthrough for help playing through the game, and look up our boss guides if you’re having trouble with these major boss fights.

Ryan Leston is an entertainment journalist and film critic for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter.

SNK producer and director of King of Fighters 16 Yasuyuki Oda has confirmed that a new SNK vs. Capcom game is drawing interest from "both parties."

Speaking to VGC, Oda began talking about a potential new game after referencing promotional posters for 2022's EVO fighting tournament that featured artwork from both SNK and Capcom games. While it may not be much of a surprise, this collaboration was a hit for fans, and it "reconfirmed" the interest in that partnership going to the next level once more.

【EVO2022　SNK x Capcom】
After more than a decade, SNK and Capcom are back for two collaborative posters from the legendary illustrators Eisuke Ogura and Shinkiro!

Come get yours at the SNK Booth!#KOF15 #KOFXV #Evo2022 pic.twitter.com/s1xTpz2Awg

— SNK GLOBAL (@SNKPofficial) August 5, 2022

"Definitely in the future, that’s something that I think everybody on all sides, in both parties, are interested in making a reality," Oda said when asked if he was interested in being part of the team to bring a new SNK vs. Capcom game to life. "Especially after we saw the reaction to the [Evo posters]… it helped us reconfirm that that is probably one of the most wanted things from the fighting game community across the entire world.”

Those hoping to play this new game anytime soon may want to keep their expectations in check, as Oda said these comments and the public's interest is only the "first step towards maybe something like that happening in the future."

"We haven’t really talked in detail with anybody at Capcom about it," Oda said. "It might have come up as a vague comment. However, we have a lot of experience [in crossovers] with things like Akuma and Geese in Tekken, Terry [Bogard] in Fighting EX Layer, Terry in Smash Bros., and Baiken in Samurai Showdown.

"But recently, we haven’t actually done anything with Capcom, even on character collaboration stuff. So that poster [at Evo], in our sense, was the first step towards maybe something like that happening in the future.”

Oda did offer up a small glimmer of hope, saying that, if he had his way, fans would not have to wait another 20 years to see a new SNK vs. Capcom game.

"20 years is definitely too long for me," Oda said. "We’ll try and get it done in 10!”

There hasn't been a proper SNK vs. Capcom game since 2003's SNK vs. Capcom: SVC Chaos, although there was a version of the digital collectible card game called SNK vs. Capcom: Card Fighters DS that was released on DC in 2006.

The series first began in 1999 with the original version of SNK vs. Capcom: Card Fighters Clash and Neo Geo Pocket Color's SNK vs. Capcom: The Match of the Millennium. Capcom vs. SNK: Millennium Fight 2000 was the first game in the series to be relased for arcade and it arrived a year after the originals.

Have a tip for us? Want to discuss a possible story? Please send an email to newstips@ign.com.

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

SNK producer and director of King of Fighters 16 Yasuyuki Oda has confirmed that a new SNK vs. Capcom game is drawing interest from "both parties."

Speaking to VGC, Oda began talking about a potential new game after referencing promotional posters for 2022's EVO fighting tournament that featured artwork from both SNK and Capcom games. While it may not be much of a surprise, this collaboration was a hit for fans, and it "reconfirmed" the interest in that partnership going to the next level once more.

【EVO2022　SNK x Capcom】
After more than a decade, SNK and Capcom are back for two collaborative posters from the legendary illustrators Eisuke Ogura and Shinkiro!

Come get yours at the SNK Booth!#KOF15 #KOFXV #Evo2022 pic.twitter.com/s1xTpz2Awg

— SNK GLOBAL (@SNKPofficial) August 5, 2022

"Definitely in the future, that’s something that I think everybody on all sides, in both parties, are interested in making a reality," Oda said when asked if he was interested in being part of the team to bring a new SNK vs. Capcom game to life. "Especially after we saw the reaction to the [Evo posters]… it helped us reconfirm that that is probably one of the most wanted things from the fighting game community across the entire world.”

Those hoping to play this new game anytime soon may want to keep their expectations in check, as Oda said these comments and the public's interest is only the "first step towards maybe something like that happening in the future."

"We haven’t really talked in detail with anybody at Capcom about it," Oda said. "It might have come up as a vague comment. However, we have a lot of experience [in crossovers] with things like Akuma and Geese in Tekken, Terry [Bogard] in Fighting EX Layer, Terry in Smash Bros., and Baiken in Samurai Showdown.

"But recently, we haven’t actually done anything with Capcom, even on character collaboration stuff. So that poster [at Evo], in our sense, was the first step towards maybe something like that happening in the future.”

Oda did offer up a small glimmer of hope, saying that, if he had his way, fans would not have to wait another 20 years to see a new SNK vs. Capcom game.

"20 years is definitely too long for me," Oda said. "We’ll try and get it done in 10!”

There hasn't been a proper SNK vs. Capcom game since 2003's SNK vs. Capcom: SVC Chaos, although there was a version of the digital collectible card game called SNK vs. Capcom: Card Fighters DS that was released on DC in 2006.

The series first began in 1999 with the original version of SNK vs. Capcom: Card Fighters Clash and Neo Geo Pocket Color's SNK vs. Capcom: The Match of the Millennium. Capcom vs. SNK: Millennium Fight 2000 was the first game in the series to be relased for arcade and it arrived a year after the originals.

Have a tip for us? Want to discuss a possible story? Please send an email to newstips@ign.com.

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

Dark Horse Comics and author Roye Okupe are expanding their partnership in the years to come. Okupe and his imprint YouNeek Studios have signed on to publish more graphic novels through Dark Horse starting in 2024.

This expanded partnership not only encompasses new additions to the Afrocentric "YouNeek YouNiverse" line, but also the debut of a brand new shared universe. That begins in 2024's The Asiri Vol. 1, a book billed as equal parts X-Men and Attack on Titan.

Okupe will write The Asiri Vol. 1, with the creative team also including artist Samuel Iwunze, colorist Toyin "Morby" Ajetunmobi, cover artists Sunkanmi Akinboye & Etubi Onucheyo and letterer Spoof Animation.

"When I first came up with the concept for The Asiri, one of the phrases that kept coming to mind was... 'Africans in space? Heck yeah!' I've always been a huge fan of fantasy and sci-fi stories with expansive and immersive worlds that still manage to tell a very character-driven story,” said Okupe in Dark Horse's press release. “My goal with The Asiri is no different. This is a massive world with larger-than-life (sometimes quite literally) heroes, villains and people yet to decide. However, at the heart of this universe is a character-driven story centered around the conflict between a pacifist king and his warmongering general, who also happens to be his closest friend."

Dark Horse and YouNeek's collaboration began in 2021 with the release of Iyanu: Child of Wonder Vol. 1. That initial release led to a shared sci-fi universe that also includes series like Malika: Warrior Queen and E.X.O.: The Legend of Wale Williams.

Iyanu is also currently being adapted as an animated series at HBO Max and Cartoon Network, with the series being financed and produced by Lion Forge Animation.

"I think I need someone to pinch me because I feel like I am living in a dream or some sort of alternate universe," Okupe adds. "I thought I was on top of the world when we announced the publishing deal with Dark Horse last year. But now that it's official that we're going to be extending this deal…WOW!” said creator, Roye Okupe. “I feel so fortunate and I’m also humbled by the faith everyone at Dark Horse has put into this. It just goes to show you how committed Dark Horse as a company is to growing our industry and making big bets on and investing in diversity. Everyone at YouNeek Studios couldn't be more excited about this partnership and I can’t wait for fans new and old to see the amazing things we’re working on."

Dark Horse and YouNeek's expanded partnership officially kicks off with Iyanu: Child of Wonder Vol. 4, which releases on March 4, 2024. The Asiri Vol. 1 will follow in April 2024.

In other comic book news, Batman: Gotham Knights - Gilded City will serve as a prequel to the upcoming video game, and DC is reuniting many of the creators on the original Death of Superman crossover for a new special.

Jesse is a mild-mannered staff writer for IGN. Allow him to lend a machete to your intellectual thicket by following @jschedeen on Twitter.

Dark Horse Comics and author Roye Okupe are expanding their partnership in the years to come. Okupe and his imprint YouNeek Studios have signed on to publish more graphic novels through Dark Horse starting in 2024.

This expanded partnership not only encompasses new additions to the Afrocentric "YouNeek YouNiverse" line, but also the debut of a brand new shared universe. That begins in 2024's The Asiri Vol. 1, a book billed as equal parts X-Men and Attack on Titan.

Okupe will write The Asiri Vol. 1, with the creative team also including artist Samuel Iwunze, colorist Toyin "Morby" Ajetunmobi, cover artists Sunkanmi Akinboye & Etubi Onucheyo and letterer Spoof Animation.

"When I first came up with the concept for The Asiri, one of the phrases that kept coming to mind was... 'Africans in space? Heck yeah!' I've always been a huge fan of fantasy and sci-fi stories with expansive and immersive worlds that still manage to tell a very character-driven story,” said Okupe in Dark Horse's press release. “My goal with The Asiri is no different. This is a massive world with larger-than-life (sometimes quite literally) heroes, villains and people yet to decide. However, at the heart of this universe is a character-driven story centered around the conflict between a pacifist king and his warmongering general, who also happens to be his closest friend."

Dark Horse and YouNeek's collaboration began in 2021 with the release of Iyanu: Child of Wonder Vol. 1. That initial release led to a shared sci-fi universe that also includes series like Malika: Warrior Queen and E.X.O.: The Legend of Wale Williams.

Iyanu is also currently being adapted as an animated series at HBO Max and Cartoon Network, with the series being financed and produced by Lion Forge Animation.

"I think I need someone to pinch me because I feel like I am living in a dream or some sort of alternate universe," Okupe adds. "I thought I was on top of the world when we announced the publishing deal with Dark Horse last year. But now that it's official that we're going to be extending this deal…WOW!” said creator, Roye Okupe. “I feel so fortunate and I’m also humbled by the faith everyone at Dark Horse has put into this. It just goes to show you how committed Dark Horse as a company is to growing our industry and making big bets on and investing in diversity. Everyone at YouNeek Studios couldn't be more excited about this partnership and I can’t wait for fans new and old to see the amazing things we’re working on."

Dark Horse and YouNeek's expanded partnership officially kicks off with Iyanu: Child of Wonder Vol. 4, which releases on March 4, 2024. The Asiri Vol. 1 will follow in April 2024.

In other comic book news, Batman: Gotham Knights - Gilded City will serve as a prequel to the upcoming video game, and DC is reuniting many of the creators on the original Death of Superman crossover for a new special.

Jesse is a mild-mannered staff writer for IGN. Allow him to lend a machete to your intellectual thicket by following @jschedeen on Twitter.

An adaptation of Neil Gaiman's The Sandman was on the table for decades before finally becoming a reality at Netflix, and we're now learning that at one point, Michael Jackson was being considered for the lead role of Morpheus.

Speaking on the Happy Sad Confused podcast (via Variety), Gaiman said the late singer had been interested in playing Morpheus.

“By 1996, I was being taken to Warners, where the then-president of Warner Bros. sat me down and told me that Michael Jackson had phoned him the day before and asked him if he could star as Morpheus in The Sandman,” Gaiman said. “So there was a lot of interest in this, and they knew that it was one of the crown jewels, and what did I think? And I was like, ‘Ooh.'”

In the adaptation that finally reached the finish line this year, Tom Sturridge took on the lead role. But it's interesting to imagine what a Sandman with Jackson could have looked like. Jackson was most well-known for his music career that included hits like Thriller and Beat It, but he also appeared in a handful of movies, including The Wiz and Men in Black II.

This year's Netflix adaptation of The Sandman comic book has been a long time coming, but Gaiman himself hasn't always been on board. The Sandman creator admitted he sabotaged a planned movie adaptation years ago, but he now calls the finished product "a gift for that 29-year-old Neil, who went into the Warner Brothers offices and said, ‘Please don't make Sandman.’"

Despite earning an amazing score in our review, and being one of Netflix's most-watched shows since launch, the streamer has still not renewed The Sandman for Season 2.

For more, check out how Netflix's Sandman adaption changed Calliope's story in a big way. Or, read about the surprise episode of The Sandman released on Netflix.

Logan Plant is a freelance writer for IGN covering video game and entertainment news. He has over six years of experience with bylines at IGN, Nintendo Wire, Switch Player Magazine, Lifewire, and more. Find him on Twitter @LoganJPlant, where he's probably pleading for an F-Zero revival.

An adaptation of Neil Gaiman's The Sandman was on the table for decades before finally becoming a reality at Netflix, and we're now learning that at one point, Michael Jackson was being considered for the lead role of Morpheus.

Speaking on the Happy Sad Confused podcast (via Variety), Gaiman said the late singer had been interested in playing Morpheus.

“By 1996, I was being taken to Warners, where the then-president of Warner Bros. sat me down and told me that Michael Jackson had phoned him the day before and asked him if he could star as Morpheus in The Sandman,” Gaiman said. “So there was a lot of interest in this, and they knew that it was one of the crown jewels, and what did I think? And I was like, ‘Ooh.'”

In the adaptation that finally reached the finish line this year, Tom Sturridge took on the lead role. But it's interesting to imagine what a Sandman with Jackson could have looked like. Jackson was most well-known for his music career that included hits like Thriller and Beat It, but he also appeared in a handful of movies, including The Wiz and Men in Black II.

This year's Netflix adaptation of The Sandman comic book has been a long time coming, but Gaiman himself hasn't always been on board. The Sandman creator admitted he sabotaged a planned movie adaptation years ago, but he now calls the finished product "a gift for that 29-year-old Neil, who went into the Warner Brothers offices and said, ‘Please don't make Sandman.’"

Despite earning an amazing score in our review, and being one of Netflix's most-watched shows since launch, the streamer has still not renewed The Sandman for Season 2.

For more, check out how Netflix's Sandman adaption changed Calliope's story in a big way. Or, read about the surprise episode of The Sandman released on Netflix.

Logan Plant is a freelance writer for IGN covering video game and entertainment news. He has over six years of experience with bylines at IGN, Nintendo Wire, Switch Player Magazine, Lifewire, and more. Find him on Twitter @LoganJPlant, where he's probably pleading for an F-Zero revival.

Marvel Studios has yet to reveal who will star in the upcoming Wonder Man series, but fans can expect at least one MCU veteran to return. Ben Kingsley will reprise the role of struggling actor/faux-Mandarin Trevor Slattery.

Variety broke the news of Kingsley's return. While it's unknown exactly how Slattery fits into the series, Variety's sources indicate Kingsley "will play a major role" in the Disney+ project. Given that Wonder Man himself is depicted as an actor and stuntman in the comics, it's possible Slattery will be portrayed as a mentor or colleague to Simon Williams.

Wonder Man will mark Kingsley's fourth stint as Slattery. He debuted in the role in 2013's Iron Man 3. Kingsley was marketed as the film's main villain, with viewers led to believe he was playing The Mandarin. However, in one of the more memorable examples of the MCU subverting the comic book source material, Kingsley's character turned out to be a low-level actor hired to play a fictional terrorist leader, thereby disguising the work of "real" Mandarin Aldrich Killian (played by Guy Pearce).

Slattery returned in the 2014 short film "All Hail the King," which revealed both he and Killian were impersonating the actual Mandarin, an underworld figure who was so angered by their disrespect that he arranged to have Slattery kidnapped from prison. That twist eventually paid off in 2021's Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, where Slattery returned as a captive court jester to Tony Leung's Xu Wenwu, before ultimately winning his freedom. Presumably, Wonder Man will chronicle the next step in Trevor Slattery's strange journey through the MCU.

Shang-Chi's Deston Daniel Cretton will executive produce the Wonder Man series, with Andrew Guest overseeing the series as head writer. No other cast or crew have been revealed so far.

Cretton looks to have a very busy Marvel schedule over the next several years. He recently signed on to direct Avengers: The Kang Dynasty, which debuts on May 2, 2025 and will serve as the penultimate chapter in the MCU's Phase 6. Cretton also revealed he's begun early work on a Shang-Chi sequel, though it's unclear whether that film will drop before or after The Kang Dynasty.

Jesse is a mild-mannered staff writer for IGN. Allow him to lend a machete to your intellectual thicket by following @jschedeen on Twitter.

Marvel Studios has yet to reveal who will star in the upcoming Wonder Man series, but fans can expect at least one MCU veteran to return. Ben Kingsley will reprise the role of struggling actor/faux-Mandarin Trevor Slattery.

Variety broke the news of Kingsley's return. While it's unknown exactly how Slattery fits into the series, Variety's sources indicate Kingsley "will play a major role" in the Disney+ project. Given that Wonder Man himself is depicted as an actor and stuntman in the comics, it's possible Slattery will be portrayed as a mentor or colleague to Simon Williams.

Wonder Man will mark Kingsley's fourth stint as Slattery. He debuted in the role in 2013's Iron Man 3. Kingsley was marketed as the film's main villain, with viewers led to believe he was playing The Mandarin. However, in one of the more memorable examples of the MCU subverting the comic book source material, Kingsley's character turned out to be a low-level actor hired to play a fictional terrorist leader, thereby disguising the work of "real" Mandarin Aldrich Killian (played by Guy Pearce).

Slattery returned in the 2014 short film "All Hail the King," which revealed both he and Killian were impersonating the actual Mandarin, an underworld figure who was so angered by their disrespect that he arranged to have Slattery kidnapped from prison. That twist eventually paid off in 2021's Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, where Slattery returned as a captive court jester to Tony Leung's Xu Wenwu, before ultimately winning his freedom. Presumably, Wonder Man will chronicle the next step in Trevor Slattery's strange journey through the MCU.

Shang-Chi's Deston Daniel Cretton will executive produce the Wonder Man series, with Andrew Guest overseeing the series as head writer. No other cast or crew have been revealed so far.

Cretton looks to have a very busy Marvel schedule over the next several years. He recently signed on to direct Avengers: The Kang Dynasty, which debuts on May 2, 2025 and will serve as the penultimate chapter in the MCU's Phase 6. Cretton also revealed he's begun early work on a Shang-Chi sequel, though it's unclear whether that film will drop before or after The Kang Dynasty.

Jesse is a mild-mannered staff writer for IGN. Allow him to lend a machete to your intellectual thicket by following @jschedeen on Twitter.

Microsoft has revealed September 2022’s Xbox Games With Gold, including Gods Will Fall and the gaming classic, Portal 2.

As revealed over at Xbox Wire, next month’s offerings include some stone-cold classics with the likes of Portal 2 leading the lineup. Gods Will Fall is also included alongside Double Kick Heroes and the theme park designer, Thrillville.

The four Games With Gold titles will be available in September for anyone with Xbox Live Gold or Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.

Starting on September 1, Gods Will Fall and Thrillville to kick things off.

Gods Will Fall is available for Xbox Series X|S – a dark fantasy action game allowing you to lead a band of Celtic warriors against the gods themselves, taking on monsters and deities alike in each of the gods’ realms.

Thrillville is only available until September 15 but allows you to build your very own theme parks. Design roller coasters and go-karts, mini golf courses – the whole nine yards. Check on your guests and make sure you keep them happy to keep your theme park profitable. It’s an original Xbox title available via backward compatibility. A must for retro gamers.

Double Kick Heroes and Portal 2 will arrive midway through the month on September 16.

Rock adventure Double Kick Heroes combines shoot ‘em ups with rhythm games for a whole new experience on Xbox Series X|S. There are 30 levels of madness and metal… so get out your axe and prepare to shred.

Portal 2 needs no introduction – it’s the classic sci-fi puzzler that pits its silent protagonist against the maniacal computer system, GLaDOS. An all-time classic with hours of gameplay and an excellent co-op mode, you’ll want to pick up this one for sure.

IGN’s Portal 2 review gave it 9.5/10 saying: “The original Portal benefitted from its brevity. It had a concise story paired with inventive first-person puzzle mechanics that challenged you to be creative while pulling the trigger. Portal 2 makes the original look like the prototype it was. It's filled with a larger cast of characters vividly brought to life through brilliant writing and some of the best voice acting in video games. Its puzzles are challenging without being unreasonable, and, once you're finished with the single-player mode, one of the best cooperative experiences on the market awaits.”

As previously announced, Xbox Games With Gold will no longer include Xbox 360 games from October 2022, so be sure to grab Portal 2. It’s an excellent game to see off the Xbox 360’s Games With Gold offerings.

Be sure to check out what’s headed to Xbox Game Pass in August.

Ryan Leston is an entertainment journalist and film critic for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter.