Prince of Persia, Last of Us Season 2, And More Of The Week’s Hottest Takes
Screenshot: Ubisoft / Kotaku (Fair Use), HBO, The Pokémon Company / Kotaku, Image: Epic Games, Naughty Dog / Kotaku, Disney / Lucasfilm, 343 Industries / Paramount+
January can often be a slow month for games news, but 2024 is already proving to be an exception. From the surprisingly good new Prince of Persia game to new cast announcements for HBOâs The Last of Us, hereâs our thoughts on the weekâs biggest stories in and around video games.
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is the newest entry in Ubisoftâs action-adventure franchise, launching on just about every platform on January 18. (You get three-day early access if you preorder the $60 Deluxe Edition.) Iâve been having a great time with the 2.5D side-scrolling Metroidvania, which has been kicking my ass and leaving me puzzled the whole way through. And Iâve realized The Lost Crown does something that other Metroidvanias should totally stealâa screenshot feature that makes backtracking so much easier. – Levi Winslow Read More
Image: Epic Games
I ended 2023 playing Fortnite. And Iâve just kept going. We are nearly 10 days into 2024 and Iâve only played one game so far: Fortnite. I almost played some Destiny 2 at one point, but the servers were borked. I then almost played something on my phone, but it needed an update. I tried another game, but while I was ready to play, my brotherâs game needed a big update. So I crawled back to Fortnite. I was such a fool for even trying to play something else. – Zack Zwiezen Read More
If Abby isnât a muscle mommy in The Last of Us season two, we riot. Image: Naughty Dog / Kotaku
The first season of The Last of Us, the undeniable smash-hit HBO series based on the video game of the same name, is over. And though the discourse about the controversial ending rages on, people are looking ahead to season two, which will introduce one of the most infamous characters in the series: Abby Anderson and her incredibly toned arms. If you havenât experienced The Last of Us Part II yet, or are hankering to revisit the game, youâre in luckâSonyâs launching a spiffy new remaster on January 19, with a new roguelike mode and even the option to turn on a directorâs commentary while you play. – Alyssa Mercante Read More
Screenshot: HBO
Nick Offerman just won an Emmy for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series for his role as Bill in HBOâs The Last Of Us series, and heâs already thinking about reprising the character. While taking part in backstage interviews after his win, Offerman was asked whether he and Murray Bartlett, who played his on-screen lover, Frank, could return for the next season of The Last of Us in flashback form. According to Deadline, he wouldnât spoil anything, but he did share an interesting tidbit: He pitched a prequel series starring Bill and Frank to HBO. – Alyssa Mercante Read More
Image: Disney / Lucasfilm
As announced on January 9, another Star Wars film is on the way, one based on The Mandalorianâs dynamic duo: Din âthe Mandalorianâ Djarin (Pedro Pascal) and Grogu, who is not baby Yoda. Titled The Mandalorian And Grogu, it will be directed by Jon Favreau, who helped create the popular Disney+ series upon which itâs based. The project goes into production this year, and the story will likely take place after the events of the third season of the Disney+ show. – Levi Winslow Read More
Image: 343 Industries / Paramount+
Iâve been a fan of the Paramount+ Halo TV series based on the Bungie/343 Industries shooter franchise from the jump, so I was on-board for the second season long before the latest trailer dropped. Then, after I saw that trailer, I was even more hypedânot only are we definitely getting several episodes highlighting the fall of Reach, one of the most important events in Halo lore, but itâs also obvious that this season will ramp up the action with alien battles and gunfights galore. – Alyssa Mercante Read More
Screenshot: The Pokémon Company / Kotaku
After playing through PokĂ©mon Scarlet and Violetâs epilogue I can definitively say I was mostly let down by the Hidden Treasure of Area Zero DLC. Donât get me wrong, the âMochi Mayhemâ episode is an hour of silly fun alongside some of the best characters to grace the gamesâ Paldea region, but it is just thatâsilly, especially when compared to some of the gamesâ more memorable moments. – Kenneth Shepard Read More
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