Black Adam Arrives In Multiversus Alongside Arcade Mode This Week

Black Adam is joining the likes of Batman, Rick and Morty, and Harley Quinn in Multiversus later this week, alongside a new arcade mode.

Multiversus announced the new additions on Twitter (below) with a brief teaser trailer, though didn't give much away as to how Black Adam will play or what the arcade mode will entail.

Despite releasing alongside the DC Extended Universe film, however, Black Adam doesn't appear to be based on Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson's version of the character.

A pixel art version of the character appears in the new teaser trailer, matching a previously shared look at the character that appears to be based on the Black Adam comics.

A specific release date wasn't shared either, though both Black Adam and the arcade mode will arrive in an update by October 30 at the latest, and likely by October 28.

Multiversus was released in July and has received pretty frequent updates ever since, with Player First Games adding the likes of Gremlins' Gizmo and Stripe, Rick and Morty, and more.

In our 8/10 review, IGN said: "MultiVersus may not be a must-play at social gatherings, but its refreshing team-based battles make it a great platform fighter online."

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

Hasbro’s Power Rangers x Cobra Kai Action Figures Are the Pop Culture Fusion the World Needs

The idea of a crossover between Power Rangers and Cobra Kai is as ridiculous as it is appealing. And while we'll probably never see Johnny Lawrence and his students take on Rita Repulsa in live-action, Hasbro is giving fans a taste of how that mash-up could look with a new series of Power Rangers: The Lightning Collection figures.

The Mighty Morphin x Cobra Kai series consists of three figures that give Miyagi-verse characters a Power Rangers-flavored makeover. Daniel LaRusso becomes the White Crane Ranger, while his daughter Samantha becomes the Pink Mantis. The third figure, the aptly named Skeleputty, combines Rita's minion with the Halloween skeleton costumes seen in one of The Karate Kid's most iconic fight scenes.

Get a closer look at all three figures in the slideshow gallery below:

As with the rest of the Power Rangers: The Lightning Collection line, these figures at designed at 1:12 scale and measure about 6 inches in height. Each figure includes various accessories like alternate heads, weapons and energy pieces.

The entire Mighty Morphin x Cobra Kai series is exclusive to Target and is priced at $29.99 each. Preorders will open up at 9am ET on October 25, with an estimated Spring 2023 release window.

Weirdly enough, this isn't even the first time Cobra Kai has crossed over with another iconic martial arts franchise in action figure form. Playmates Toys recently released a series of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles vs. Cobra Kai figures that pit Johnny Lawrence and the gang against the Heroes in a Half Shell. If you prefer your Cobra Kai figures a little more grounded in reality, Diamond Select Toys has a line of Cobra Kai figures directly inspired by the Netflix series.

Cobra Kai is still going strong, with the most recent season having hit Netflix in September 2022. You can check out IGN's full Season 5 review and our spoiler-filled breakdown of Season 5's ending.

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 Souls’ Original PC Version Goes Offline Permanently

FromSoftware has announced that the PC servers for Dark Souls: Prepare to Die Edition have been taken offline permanently, though the Remastered version will still be restored.

Also confirming that Dark Souls 2: Scholar of the First Sin's PC servers are back online after ten months, FromSoftware said in a tweet (below) that the infrastructure of the original Dark Souls is simply too old to be supported at this point.

"We have determined that we will not be able to support online services for the PC version of Dark Souls: Prepare to Die Edition that was released in 2012, due to an aging system," it said. "We apologize for the long wait and ask for your understanding in this matter."

The Prepare to Die Edition was the original PC release for the game, launching almost a year after the original console editions.

Dark Souls: Remastered will work again eventually, though it's still unclear when exactly FromSoftware will restore its servers after a serious exploit - which allowed other players to take over the user's PC - led to all three games being taken offline in January.

FromSoftware has released incremental updates ever since and restored the Dark Souls 3 servers in August. Now that the Dark Souls 2: Scholar of the First Sin's servers are back online, FromSoftware's attention should turn to restoring Dark Souls: Remastered, though it's unclear if it will focus on this or the base version of Dark Souls 2 first.

As the original exploit arose just a month before the developer released Elden Ring, fans looking forward to the game were worried it would affect its multiplayer components. Thankfully, however, Elden Ring was able to launch without major issues and became an incredible success.

It did have to deal with a few hacking issues though, after an infamous Dark Souls hacker appeared in Elden Ring and forced illegal items into players' inventories, causing them to be banned. Even weirder, the game's secret underwear was also being used by trolls to get other players banned.

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

DualSense Edge: Preorder Info, Price, Release Date, and More

We now have an official release date for the new DualSense Edge, an elite wireless controller for PlayStation 5. It will release on January 26, and that means preorders are also set to go live very soon for the new gamepad (October 25 to be exact).

But, where can I preorder the DualSense Edge controller? That and more will be answered in our handy FAQ preorder guide just below. For more news on the DualSense Edge, makes sure you're following @IGNDeals and @IGNUKDeals on Twitter.

Where Can I Preorder the DualSense Edge Controller?

Preorders for the DualSense Edge Controller will be exclusively available from PlayStation Direct in the US, UK, France, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg. Moreover, it will only begin to be offered at other participating retailers starting February 23, 2023, as well. The likes of Amazon, Best Buy, Target, Walmart, and more won't be seeing the controller listed for several more months. So if you want to buy one, it'll likely have to be directly from Sony for the time being.

When Can I Preorder the DualSense Edge Controller?

DualSense Edge controller preorders will be live from October 25, exclusively at PS Direct until it releases in January. The official release date is January 26, 2023, and the controller will continue to be exclusive to PS Direct until late February (US, UK, France, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg).

What is the DualSense Edge Controller?

Initially revealed at Gamescom's Opening Night Live, DualSense Edge is a high-end controller that appears to be Sony's answer to Xbox's Elite controller range. A PS Blog entry has detailed the highly customisable controller, which allows you to set bespoke control mappings and even deactivate specific buttons.

Visually, the controller is very much alligned with the normal DualSense, but with a few extra elements to bring it up to premium standards. As with the Xbox controller, you can expect swappable thumb stick caps and adjustable dead zones.

What Does the DualSense Edge Controller Include?

  • DualSense Edge wireless controller
  • USB braided cable
  • 2 Standard caps
  • 2 High dome caps
  • 2 Low dome caps
  • 2 Half dome back buttons
  • 2 Lever back buttons
  • Connector housing
  • Carrying case

How Much Does the DualSense Edge Controller Cost?

The price for the DualSense Edge controller is as follows in the US, UK, and Europe: $199.99 / £209.99 / €239.99. Just for comparison, the new Xbox Elite Series 2 Core costs $129.99 / £114.99, while the complete Elite Series 2 package with all the bells and whistles costs $179.99 / £159.99.

DualSense Edge vs. Xbox Elite Series 2

To better understand the DualSense Edge, let’s take a look at the specs (so far), dig into its standout features, and see how it compares to the Xbox Elite Series 2, in addition to the base DualSense and Xbox wireless controllers. We'll provide a brief overview here, but check out our full feature on comparing the two controllers right here on IGN as well.

Adjustable Trigger Hair Locks

The DualSense Edge includes adjustable trigger hair locks on the back of the device, similar to the Elite line. This means you can adjust the travel distance of the controller’s triggers, which is useful when playing competitive shooters or when you want to minimize the dead zone while playing racing games.

Button Mapping

Button remapping is also available on both controllers. The Xbox Elite Series 2 offers three different ways for you to remap buttons, including one that requires going to the Accessories app on your Xbox. The DualSense Edge, as noted in the PlayStation Blog, features an “on-controller user interface” with a dedicated Fn button that will allow you to adjust your controller’s settings and other things like game volume.

Replacable Stick Modules

One thing that certainly provides a competitive edge for the DualSense Edge is the ability to replace the stick modules, something the Xbox Elite controller does not offer. Although the stick modules will be sold separately, the fact that you can change the thumbsticks entirely is a big deal, as there have been reports since the PS5’s launch of controller drift. The option to replace the thumbsticks will help increase the longevity of the DualSense Edge.

Both controllers come with removable thumbsticks, though. The Xbox Elite Series 2 offers a set of six adjustable-tension thumbsticks: two standard, two classic, one tall, and one wide dome. The DualSense Edge will offer three types of stick caps: standard, high dome, and low dome. For more premium controllers, check out our review of the Xbox Elite Series 2 Controller.

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

Maisie Williams ‘Finally Proud’ of Her Role in Game of Thrones as Arya Stark

Maisie Williams is “finally proud” of her role as Arya Stark in HBO’s Game of Thrones, even if the series didn’t end on the same strong note it began.

During a Twitch Stream with her brother, James Williams, Variety spotted Maisie’s sentiment on the series finale, which she acknowledged “definitely fell off at the end.” After her recent rewatch, the actor and her brother discussed their feelings on the HBO series, and it sounds like her opinions on the show have evolved since its controversial ending.

“It was very good, and for a long time, I felt like I had to avoid it because it was too triggering,” Williams said. “But now, I feel like I’ve made peace with it all again.” she continued.

“It feels good to be proud of it; it was ten years of my life,” she continued after discussing the more emotional moments from season one. The youngest Stark sibling seems to reflect on it fondly now, while her real-life brother insists it’s still “great TV.”

In an April interview with GQ, Masie explained growing up with the show and her complicated relationship with playing Arya. It didn't always make for an easy childhood in the spotlight, but she hinted to warming to the idea of returning as Arya. When asked about reprising the role, she said, “it has to be the right time and the right people,” and “it has to be at the right time for me.”

Game of Thrones is still going in the form of spin-offs, with the House of the Dragon prequel wrapping up its first season now on HBO.

Andrea Shearon is a freelance news writer at IGN covering games and entertainment. Find her on Twitter (@Maajora) chatting about FFXIV and other RPGs

Maisie Williams ‘Finally Proud’ of Her Role in Game of Thrones as Arya Stark

Maisie Williams is “finally proud” of her role as Arya Stark in HBO’s Game of Thrones, even if the series didn’t end on the same strong note it began.

During a Twitch Stream with her brother, James Williams, Variety spotted Maisie’s sentiment on the series finale, which she acknowledged “definitely fell off at the end.” After her recent rewatch, the actor and her brother discussed their feelings on the HBO series, and it sounds like her opinions on the show have evolved since its controversial ending.

“It was very good, and for a long time, I felt like I had to avoid it because it was too triggering,” Williams said. “But now, I feel like I’ve made peace with it all again.” she continued.

“It feels good to be proud of it; it was ten years of my life,” she continued after discussing the more emotional moments from season one. The youngest Stark sibling seems to reflect on it fondly now, while her real-life brother insists it’s still “great TV.”

In an April interview with GQ, Masie explained growing up with the show and her complicated relationship with playing Arya. It didn't always make for an easy childhood in the spotlight, but she hinted to warming to the idea of returning as Arya. When asked about reprising the role, she said, “it has to be the right time and the right people,” and “it has to be at the right time for me.”

Game of Thrones is still going in the form of spin-offs, with the House of the Dragon prequel wrapping up its first season now on HBO.

Andrea Shearon is a freelance news writer at IGN covering games and entertainment. Find her on Twitter (@Maajora) chatting about FFXIV and other RPGs

Apple TV Plus is Getting a Price Increase

Apple is raising the cost of its subscription services across the board, and the change includes increases to Apple TV+, Apple Music, and its Apple One bundle.

Apple says it's raising its prices to account for the music industry’s “increase in licensing costs” and explains its Apple TV+ hike is in order after a “very low price” launch. The publisher has grown its TV and movie offerings since its 2019 debut at $4.99, remaining one of the cheapest streaming services until now.

Apple’s sweeping price bumps take effect today and include:

  • Apple TV+ - $6.99 a month, previously $4.99
  • Apple Music - $10.99 a month, previously $9.99
  • Apple One - $16.95 a month, previously $14.95

While those increases cover individuals, the rates for family packages also jump. Apple One — a subscription bundling Music, Apple TV+, Arcade, and iCloud+ — now costs $22.95. The Premier package, which adds extra storage, News+, and Fitness+, raises to $32.95 for families.

In the complete statement from the company, an Apple spokesperson explained the rise in subscription fees:

The subscription prices for Apple Music, Apple TV+, and Apple One will increase beginning today. The change to Apple Music is due to an increase in licensing costs, and in turn, artists and songwriters will earn more for the streaming of their music. We also continue to add innovative features that make Apple Music the world’s best listening experience. We introduced Apple TV+ at a very low price because we started with just a few shows and movies. Three years later, Apple TV+ is home to an extensive selection of award-winning and broadly acclaimed series, feature films, documentaries, and kids and family entertainment from the world’s most creative storytellers.

The price bump is a first for the publisher’s Apple TV+ service, but it’s not the only streaming platform to raise its subscription fees this year. Netflix kicked off 2022 with a price hike and later announced a limited, ad-supported plan will be released on November 3. Disney+ and Hulu also just raised their fees, and Disney+ launches its ad-based tier on December 8.

Across the world, consumers continue to grapple with raising subscription prices during a period of inflation and rising operational costs. For options like Apple TV+, its library remains among one of the smaller options when compared to other streaming giants like Hulu and Netflix, but the service has come a long way.

The original 2019 IGN review called the $4.99 Apple TV+ pricetag too high for its “lackluster library of movies and TV shows.” However, after revisiting the service in 2022, we praised Apple’s improvements, noting “you just can’t beat the quality-to-price ratio” found in the current library.

Andrea Shearon is a freelance news writer at IGN covering games and entertainment. Find her on Twitter (@Maajora) chatting about FFXIV and other RPGs

Apple TV Plus is Getting a Price Increase

Apple is raising the cost of its subscription services across the board, and the change includes increases to Apple TV+, Apple Music, and its Apple One bundle.

Apple says it's raising its prices to account for the music industry’s “increase in licensing costs” and explains its Apple TV+ hike is in order after a “very low price” launch. The publisher has grown its TV and movie offerings since its 2019 debut at $4.99, remaining one of the cheapest streaming services until now.

Apple’s sweeping price bumps take effect today and include:

  • Apple TV+ - $6.99 a month, previously $4.99
  • Apple Music - $10.99 a month, previously $9.99
  • Apple One - $16.95 a month, previously $14.95

While those increases cover individuals, the rates for family packages also jump. Apple One — a subscription bundling Music, Apple TV+, Arcade, and iCloud+ — now costs $22.95. The Premier package, which adds extra storage, News+, and Fitness+, raises to $32.95 for families.

In the complete statement from the company, an Apple spokesperson explained the rise in subscription fees:

The subscription prices for Apple Music, Apple TV+, and Apple One will increase beginning today. The change to Apple Music is due to an increase in licensing costs, and in turn, artists and songwriters will earn more for the streaming of their music. We also continue to add innovative features that make Apple Music the world’s best listening experience. We introduced Apple TV+ at a very low price because we started with just a few shows and movies. Three years later, Apple TV+ is home to an extensive selection of award-winning and broadly acclaimed series, feature films, documentaries, and kids and family entertainment from the world’s most creative storytellers.

The price bump is a first for the publisher’s Apple TV+ service, but it’s not the only streaming platform to raise its subscription fees this year. Netflix kicked off 2022 with a price hike and later announced a limited, ad-supported plan will be released on November 3. Disney+ and Hulu also just raised their fees, and Disney+ launches its ad-based tier on December 8.

Across the world, consumers continue to grapple with raising subscription prices during a period of inflation and rising operational costs. For options like Apple TV+, its library remains among one of the smaller options when compared to other streaming giants like Hulu and Netflix, but the service has come a long way.

The original 2019 IGN review called the $4.99 Apple TV+ pricetag too high for its “lackluster library of movies and TV shows.” However, after revisiting the service in 2022, we praised Apple’s improvements, noting “you just can’t beat the quality-to-price ratio” found in the current library.

Andrea Shearon is a freelance news writer at IGN covering games and entertainment. Find her on Twitter (@Maajora) chatting about FFXIV and other RPGs

Original Bayonetta Actress Releases New Statement to ‘Defend Myself and My Reputation’

Former Bayonetta voice actor Hellena Taylor has taken to Twitter to defend herself against claims that she is a ‘liar and golddigger’ in relation to an ongoing controversy surrounding Bayonetta 3 regarding payment for reprising her role as the titular character.

Last weekend, Taylor took to Twitter to vent frustration at allegedly being offered just $4,000 dollars to voice Bayonetta in the upcoming game. Following this, articles from Bloomberg’s Jason Schrier and VGC’s Andy Robinson - which cited multiple sources and documentation - that contradicted Taylor’s account she was offered only $4,000 to reprise her role as Bayonetta.

Today, the voice actor released a new statement via Twitter in which she sought to defend herself and her reputation in the industry.

The reports suggested that PlatinumGames had attempted to hire Taylor for up to five, four-hour sessions, paying between $3,000 - $4,000 a sitting. The total fee would have amounted to roughly $15,000, which was significantly more than Taylor had been paid for previous titles, according to VGC.

Taylor had reportedly turned this offer down and sought a six-figure sum and residual payments in exchange for her involvement with the project.

In a series of tweets, Taylor stated that the initial offer from PlatinumGames - which she rejected - would have amounted to $10,000 in total, and that following her correspondence with Hideki Kamiya she was offered an additional $5,000.

Taylor says she declined the $15,000, and 11 months later also turned down an offer of $4,000 to voice “some lines” as a flat fee.

According to Taylor, there were no extensive talks, and claims that she was offered $4,000 for 5 recording sessions are, in her own words, “total fabrications”. Furthermore, she denies that she negotiated for a six-figure payment.

“There were not “extensive negotiations,” Taylor tweeted. “I’ve also been informed of ridiculous fictions, such as I asked for 250,000 dollars. I am a team player. I was just asking for a fair, living wage in line with the value that I bring to this game.”

The veteran voice actor also said that she was paid a “shockingly low” £3,000 pounds sterling for the original Bayonetta game, and only a “little more” for Bayonetta 2.

Taylor ended the Twitter thread by telling supporters that any money she took from fan signings was donated to charity.

On Oct.15, Taylor posted a series of videos to Twitter in which she accused PlatinumGames - the developers of the Bayonetta franchise - of paying her what she described as an insultingly low rate to voice the game.

In the videos, Taylor explained that she rejected an initial ‘insulting offer’ from PlatinumGames to reprise her role in Bayonetta 3 - a franchise that she claims is worth $450 million. She then wrote to the series’ director Hideki Kamiya to - in Taylor’s own words - “ask him for what I’m worth.”

According to Taylor, Kamiya responded, explaining that he appreciated her work on the series. He then reportedly offered her a flat rate of US$4,000 to voice the game, which she turned down, prompting PlatinumGames to approach Mass Effect’s Jennifer Hale for the role.

The videos posted by Taylor have since been collectively viewed over 10 million times, and have triggered a debate around the payment of voice actors in the gaming industry amid the ongoing controversy.

They have also cast a shadow over the imminent release of Bayonetta 3 which is set to be one of Nintendo's biggest releases this holiday season.

Anthony Wood is a freelance science writer for IGN

Succession Season 4 Will Premiere in Spring 2023

HBO has set a release window for the next season of Succession.

Before the House of the Dragon finale, HBO Max revealed that Succession will return for its fourth season next Spring.

Along with the announcement, a short teaser trailer was released, which you can watch below.

Succession follows the fictional Roy family, who run a media empire not unlike the Murdoch family and Fox. Season 3's finale even incorporated real-world events, taking inspiration from the Disney buyout of Fox and AT&T’s buyout of Time Warner.

Brian Cox's Logan Roy agreed to sell Waystar Royco to fictional tech giant Gojo, setting the stage for a very dramatic fourth season. The teaser trailer doesn't share a ton of plot details, but you can surely expect a mountain of family and corporate drama next Spring.

Season 4 could mark the beginning of the end for Succession. When the renewal was announced last year, Succession executive producer Georgia Pritchett said there's an end in sight for Succession, and that the show may conclude after its fourth or fifth season.

Season 3 of Succession was a big hit, earning a nomination from IGN for the best television series of 2021. in our review, we called the third season amazing, saying, "Succession Season 3 returns with just as much petty hilarity, punishing woes, and blazing performances as previous seasons with a civil war storyline to keep you hooked on the exploits of these awful rich people."

Logan Plant is a freelance writer for IGN covering video game and entertainment news. He has over six years of experience in the gaming industry with bylines at IGN, Nintendo Wire, Switch Player Magazine, and Lifewire. Find him on Twitter @LoganJPlant.