The diorama-like design of Yoshi's Crafted World falls somewhere between capturing how a child might imagine a world and being a joyful expression of imagination in its own right, with washi tape snails, cardboard cows, and fish made from paper planes set among carefully laid-out stages. Each set of two or three levels introduces a new theme and its own quirks to discover, from the various ways everyday objects are recycled into art to how those crafts might be concealing the collectible you're after. While the best ideas mostly stay in their own levels and don't really build upon themselves or each other, each area is a delight to explore on its own.Crafted World plays largely like other Yoshi games. You gobble up enemies to get eggs, throw the eggs at stuff, and maybe find some friends and secrets along the way, all with unlimited lives and very little to pressure you. The big change in Crafted World is the addition of a dimension--while you still mostly move left or right in 2D, some paths allow you to move forward or backward onto a separate left-right pathway, and you can throw eggs forward and backward, too. Aiming into the foreground or background shifts the depth of field so you can better see what's around you, with the added effect of making the levels seem even more like 3D, handmade dioramas.Because coins, collectibles, and other points of interest are scattered throughout the foreground and background as well as your immediate path, you're encouraged to engage with the environment in every direction throughout a level. Finding a secret can mean spotting a suspiciously empty space and hoping an invisible winged cloud is there like in previous games, but it also means keeping an eye on the horizon for collectibles poking out from behind background decorations or moving Yoshi forward a bit to get a better look through a cardboard building's window. It's hard not to wonder what might be behind a bush or off in the distance, and Yoshi's Crafted World fosters that inherent curiosity with small, endearing details.Each set of levels has its own theme, from the jungle to ninjas to a haunted house. The 16 different themes comprise a wide variety of cute and creative takes on the craft aesthetic; the jungle's frog platforms jump using folded-paper springs, the ninja Shy Guys throw origami shuriken, and the haunted house features a large cardboard puppet Shy Guy that wields a cardboard scythe and chases you through a graveyard. Inanimate crafts are frequently juxtaposed with a moving or puppeted version--childlike bird cutouts in the background with 3D bird enemies in your immediate vicinity, for example--which only enhances the feeling that the levels are imagination brought to life.Some levels have not-crafty additions to round out their themes, many of which provide interesting wrinkles to the standard Yoshi mechanics. One jungle level is an on-rails shooter that tasks you with throwing eggs at animal-shaped targets to score points; one of the ninja levels is set behind a moving shoji screen so that much of your platforming and collecting is done in silhouette, forcing you act quickly when the path to a collectible is revealed. Nearly every area has at least one non-standard level, and the variety helps break up the slower, more deliberate pace of the typical Yoshi levels.Some ideas, like the shoji screen, make sense as one-offs, but most of the areas exist disparately from one another, and the most interesting ideas are never developed beyond their original incarnations. The ninja area (a clear highlight) has rotating doors that turn 180 degrees when you shoot them, revealing platforms you might need to progress or moving Yoshi to the other side of a wall where treasure awaits. They aren't tricky puzzles, but the front-to-back movement of the doors plays off the 3D and visual depth effects especially well, and it's disappointing that they aren't used more and to greater effect as the levels progress.The levels are designed to be replayed, though. After completing certain levels, you'll unlock the "flip side" version, which gives you the simple task of finding three Poochy Pups (as opposed to dozens of collectible items). The flip side gives you a closer look at the construction, from the tape holding things together to a pair of scissors left among the crafts in the background. While totally optional, the flip side has a different layer of detail that is charming in its own way--especially when you realize that the hard-to-reach tower that housed a collectible you're proud of getting is actually a milk carton.The Yoshi games' usual relaxed approach suits this well. Breezy platforming allows you to put all your focus on taking in the scenery and keeping an eye out for hidden collectibles, and by extension, you can replay levels with a purpose--like seeking out an item you missed, which you know is somewhere in the middle--without having to slog through a frustrating or tedious beginning. By the same token, finding collectibles is a matter of being curious rather than completing difficult maneuvers. It's certainly not a cakewalk to find everything, but if you know what you're looking for and you're patient, it's satisfying and never so challenging as to disrupt the atmosphere of the game.Breezy platforming allows you to put all your focus on taking in the scenery and keeping an eye out for hidden collectibles, and by extension, you can replay levels without having to slog through a frustrating or tedious beginning.There are a number of ways to make the game a bit easier or more laid-back. The returning Mellow Mode, which gives Yoshi longer air time and more damage resistance, and two-player co-op are basic options, but I found myself gravitating toward Yoshi's costumes, which you can unlock using the coins you collect normally. The crafted costumes--favorites include a trash bin and a dinosaur skeleton--function as armor, giving you a few extra hits before you start taking damage. In addition to being adorable and fitting the overall vibe nicely, they're a good middle ground for those who still want normal jump distances but the freedom to walk into a few Shy Guys on accident.Yoshi's Crafted World is at its best when it's relaxing and pleasant. The 2D-to-3D level design keeps you curious while the go-at-your-own-pace approach keeps the pressure off and leaves you to appreciate the small, imaginative details. Its most interesting ideas never evolve past their first introductions and are frequently confined to one or two levels, but individually, those levels both reward your curiosity and your willingness to slow down and look at what's around you--and it's those simple pleasures that provide the most joy.Info from Gamespot.com

Sony's first-ever State of Play livestream ran for about 20 minutes, and the Nintendo Direct-style presentation was capped off with a new trailer for Mortal Kombat 11. But more newsworthy was confirmation of three more playable characters, as Sony confirmed several new (well, returning) members of Mortal Kombat 11's roster: Jax, Liu Kang, and Kung Lao.Liu Kang and Kung Lao were seen in previous story reveals, but have been confirmed as playable characters in the base roster. Unfortunately, we didn't get much in terms of what they'll look like in combat though we did get a glimpse of Jackson "Jax" Briggs in action. In the new trailer, Jacqui Briggs is perplexed at the sight of seeing her dad...twice. Shortly afterward you can see a bit of Jax fighting himself in game.Young Jax vs. old Jax in Mortal Kombat 11.The video for NetherRealm Studio's upcoming fighting game revealed some new story elements, like young Johnny Cage of the past rustling the old Johnny Cage of the present. It leaned heavily into the time travel elements that had been teased in previous trailers and announcements and showed off more of its goofy moments. The trailer, titled Old Skool Vs. New Skool, is a perfect showcase of what series creator Ed Boon has been talking about in terms of characters fighting against or teaming up with their past selves in an all-out wacky plotline. It's also fitting that the trailer featured music from both rappers Ice Cube and Vince Staples. You can check it out in the video above.We've been covering the lead up to Mortal Kombat 11's April 23 release date; be sure to read up on why you should be excited for the single-player campaign and all brutalities and fatalities we could compile so far. Recently, NetherRealm also revealed Noob Saibot in the latest Kombat Kast livestream, and it's been announced that Shang Tsung will be the first DLC character. Info from Gamespot.com

Apple is expanding its presence in the games industry. At an event where it also announced Apple TV Plus, the company unveiled a new game subscription service called Apple Arcade, which sounds almost like Apple's take on Xbox Game Pass. It's one of a variety of subscription-based services Apple will offer consumers, with others including Apple News Plus and the aforementioned TV Plus. With free-to-play games largely dominating the mobile games space, with a few notable exceptions such as Minecraft, Arcade effectively serves as a way to highlight and distribute premium games in a new way.Below we've gathered everything we know about Apple Arcade, including its release date window, what games are confirmed for the service, and more. Be sure to check back often as we update this feature with even more new details regarding Apple Arcade.Table of Contents [hide]What Is Apple Arcade?When Does Apple Arcade's Release And How Much Will It Cost?Which Devices Does Apple Arcade Support?What Games Are On Apple Arcade?Does It Offer Offline Play?What Is Apple Arcade?Apple Arcade is the tech giant's gaming subscription service designed for mobile, desktop, and the living room. It takes the form of a monthly subscription that provides unlimited access to a curated selection of paid games on the App Store. It's not totally unlike Xbox Game Pass, although Arcade games will offer full access to all updates and DLC. When Does Apple Arcade's Release And How Much Will It Cost?Apple has not yet revealed the pricing on the service, but it promises more details will come in the months ahead. Currently, we know that Apple Arcade will be available in 150 countries sometime this fall.Which Devices Does Apple Arcade Support?It will support games across iOS devices (both iPhones and iPads), MacOS, and Apple TV, and you'll be able to transfer your progress between different platforms. Essentially, you can move from playing something on your phone to your TV or laptop, for instance.What Games Are On Apple Arcade?Currently, development partners Sega, Konami, Disney, Sumo Digital, Cartoon Network, and more are all signed on to contribute games to the service. There's confirmed to be more than 100 exclusive games at launch with more promised to be added. Below you can find a list of all the games confirmed on the service so far, but if you want details about what each game is, be sure to check out our comprehensive games roundup feature (coming soon).ATONE: Heart of the Elder TreeBeyond a Steel SkyDoomsday VaultDown in BermudaEnter The ConstructFrogger in Toy TownHitchHikerHot LavaKings of the CastleLEGO BrawlsLega Arthouse, CardpocalypseLifelikeMonomalsMr. TurtleNo Way HomeOceanhorn 2: Knights of the Lost RealmOverlandProjection: First LightRepairSayonara Wild HeartsSneaky SasquatchSonic RacingSpidersaursThe Bradwell ConspiracyThe PathlessUFA on Tape: First ContactWhere Cards FallWinding WorldsYagaDoes It Offer Offline Play?Apple Arcade isn't a cloud-based streaming service, which means you can download and play games offline. This stands in direct contrast to Google's cloud-based Stadia game streaming platform, which the company said can't run offline. Info from Gamespot.com

In the face of strong opposition from the Epic Games Store, Steam has retained one of its biggest players, as Bethesda confirms its upcoming games will all launch on Valve's service. However, the publisher stopped short of confirming or denying if its games will also launch on the Epic Store."We're pleased to announce that Rage 2, Wolfenstein: Youngblood, Wolfenstein: Cyberpilot, and Doom Eternal will be released on Steam as well as Bethesda.net," the company said on Twitter. "We will also be bringing Fallout 76 to Steam later this year."The announcement comes in the wake of multiple publishers turning to the Epic Games Store to release its games, rather than the previously dominant Steam. The Division 2 skipped Steam for the Epic Store, for example, as did Metro: Exodus. Upcoming games making the same move include Control and the PC launches of Quantic Dream titles Heavy Rain, Beyond: Two Souls, and Detroit: Become Human.The Epic Store opened in December 2018 and has been aggressive in securing exclusives and giving away free PC games, the most recent of which is Oxenfree. Epic also takes a much smaller share of revenue from game sales when compared to Steam, making it an attractive proposition for developers and publishers. On the other hand, Steam has a larger install base and has been around for much longer, meaning it possesses features the Epic Store does not, including cloud saves, achievements, and more.Info from Gamespot.com

It's safe to say the DC movie universe has changed a lot since Zack Snyder's Man of Steel was released back in 2013. Snyder's Batman vs Superman: Dawn of Justice was a commercial success but not exactly a hit with critics, while Justice League failed on almost every level. Snyder left Justice League during post-production and the DC universe bounced back with the hugely successful Aquaman. But although Snyder is no longer involved with DC, he still has some opinions about the films he made.At a recent Q&A session with the director after a screening of his 2009 film Watchmen, Snyder was asked about the dark tone that his DC movies had, and how fans had an issue with that fact both Batman and Superman kill people in them. As the footage posted to reddit revealed, the director didn't have much sympathy for their point of view."Someone says to me: Batman killed a guy. I'm like, 'F***, really? Wake the f*ck up'," he said. "Once you've lost your virginity to this f***ing movie and then you come and say to me something about like 'my superhero wouldn't do that.' I'm like 'Are you serious?' I'm like down the fucking road on that.""It's a cool point of view to be like 'my heroes are still innocent. My heroes didn't f***ing lie to America. My heroes didn't embezzle money from their corporations. My heroes didn't commit any atrocities.' That's cool. But you're living in a f***ing dream world."Of course, there's still plenty to come from the DC movie universe. Next month sees the release of the more comedic Shazam. In his review, GameSpot's Michael Rougeau said that the film "is the first DC movie that seems genuinely confident in its world and tone, with no major missteps of which to speak. It's fun, heartfelt, funny, genuine, and surprising, while staying true to its origins and embracing what makes it great."Beyond that, the much anticipated Joker origin movie arrives in October, with Joaquin Phoenix starring as the Clown Prince of Crime. The female superhero team-up Birds of Prey is released in February 2020, and Wonder Woman 1984 follows in July next year. Beyond that there are also 2021 release dates for the standalone Batman movie and James Gunn's Suicide Squad reboot. Info from Gamespot.com

Microsoft has been courting indies for years through its ID@Xbox program, but now the company is giving independent games their very own showcase. The newly titled ID@Xbox Game Pass stream will premiere on March 26 and showcase a variety of indies coming to Xbox One. [Update: The presentation has concluded, and it announced three more indie games to hit Xbox Game Pass on their release days, along with the lineup of ID@Xbox games coming to PAX East. Read all about it with our roundup.)Though a full line-up hasn't been announced, Microsoft did mention a few by name including Afterparty, Void Bastards, and Supermarket Shriek. Plus, given the name, it seems likely this will emphasize the indies that are included as part of the company's Game Pass subscription service. That service offers all-you-can-eat from a curated selection of games for $10 per month.This show will follow a spate of publisher showcases, including the spring Nindies showcase that featured a collaboration with Microsoft to bring Cuphead to the Nintendo Switch. Similarly, Sony announced its own State of Play stream, airing March 25. Between the regular Nintendo Direct presentations, Microsoft's Inside Xbox and new ID@Xbox Game Pass streams, and Sony's new State of Play streams, all three major platform holders are now hosting their own streaming programs.Check below for a schedule of times, and come back here at show time to watch it all go down. Microsoft ID@Xbox Game Pass March 26 Livestream Start Time9 AM PT12 PM ET4 PM GMT3 AM AETInfo from Gamespot.com

The anime streaming service Crunchyroll has announced it will be raising its rate on new premium subscriptions starting on May 1. Those who are already premium subscribers are getting a temporary reprieve from the price hike, remaining at their current rate for a few more months.The prior Crunchyroll Premium subscription was set at $7 USD, and beginning on May 1 that will go up to $8. Premium members were notified of the rate change, along with word that their current rate will continue through August 1, 2019. New subscribers will begin at the new rate.This follows a series of rate changes for streaming services. Netflix recently raised its prices by $1-2 for all tiers, and then shortly after, Hulu dropped the price for its most popular plan, which is the one with ad support. Crunchyroll is a more specialty service than both of these, though, focusing squarely on anime series and movies.Each of the streaming services is preparing for more competition in the near future though. Disney is expected to launch its Disney+ streaming service this year, offering selections from its catalog of movies and shows along with new series set in the Marvel and Star Wars universes. Meanwhile Apple has recently announced its own premium subscription, Apple TV Plus, with its own slate of originals lined up. Pricing for those upcoming services has not been announced.Info from Gamespot.com

EA has announced a deal with Velan Studios, the new startup from Vicarious Visions founders Guha and Karthik Bala. The EA Partners label will publish Velan's first original franchise, which will appear on PC, consoles, and mobile devices.The announcement didn't detail Velan's first project but did drop one intriguing clue. It mentions a new kind of "team-based action," which suggests it will be a multiplayer title. Velan has announced plans to add 40 new jobs to prepare for creating the new IP, which is double its current team size. The studio has raised $7 million in capital since being founded in 2016. While at Vicarious Visions, the Bala brothers oversaw the development of series like Guitar Hero and Skylanders. Velan's talent pool includes veterans from games including Super Mario Maker, Uncharted, and Metroid Prime."We started Velan Studios to make community-centered play experiences that are daring and distinctive from what’s being played today," said Guha Bala in the announcement. "We can't wait to share the details of our first original game in the future."Info from Gamespot.com

April's Xbox Live Games with Gold have been revealed, and there are some great games going free for Xbox One and Xbox 360 owners in the next few weeks. Star Wars: Battlefront II (2005) is perhaps the most exciting game of the month, but there's plenty more besides that.Xbox One owners can look forward to playing the 2016 action-RPG The Technomancer, which is free throughout April. Then, from April 16 through May 15, Outcast: Second Contact will also be free on Xbox One.On Xbox 360, the free games will be Star Wars: Battlefront II--the 2005 game that first launched on the original Xbox--and Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter 2. The former is free from April 1 - 15, while the latter is available for no added cost from April 16 - 30. Both titles are backwards compatible, meaning you can play them on your Xbox One.Remember you still have time to grab March's Xbox Games with Gold, which include another Star Wars title as well as Plants vs Zombies: Garden Warfare 2 and Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance.Free Xbox Games With Gold For April 2019Xbox OneThe Technomancer -- April 1 - 30)Outcast: Second Contact -- April 16 - May 15)Xbox 360 (also available on Xbox One)Star Wars: Battlefront II (2005) -- April 1 - 15Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter 2 -- April 16 - 30Info from Gamespot.com

SNK's once-prolific output in the '90s has slowed in recent years, but thanks to Neo Geo ports arriving weekly on Switch and other platforms, some of the company's most popular arcade series are once again vying for players' attention. Samurai Shodown is one of those. The weapons-based 2D fighting series thrived for close to 15 years, but it has largely remained dormant since 2008's Samurai Shodown Sen. While it's great to revisit the series' past on modern consoles, it's also exciting to know that a brand-new Samurai Shodown fighting game is on the way--and it feels even better to report that my time with the game has only increased my anticipation for its upcoming June release.In order to get an inside look at the new systems and to discuss the game's overall direction, I recently played a few rounds during a meeting with three Samurai Shodown developers: producer Yasuyuki Oda, game director Nobuyuki Kuroki, and game designer Josh Weatherford. Oda and Kuroki have experience working at SNK during its heyday in the '90s, and though they both worked on 2016's King of Fighters XIV, each had spent years away from the publisher working with other companies. While Kuroki helped ship a number of Sonic the Hedgehog games, Oda worked on Street Fighter IV at Dimps, the studio that co-developed the title with Capcom--which may help explain the similar inky rendering effect seen in the new Samurai Shodown. The team at SNK, we're told, is roughly a 50-50 split of veteran SNK developers and fresh talent from across the industry.Weatherford, Oda, and Kuroki are all very good players, as you'd expect, and in their capable hands the new Samurai Shodown looked very impressive. Familiar faces like Nakoruru and Galford clashed with great speed and ferocity, with spurts of blood and blots of ink accenting the action. As with the ink, characters were vaguely reminiscent of Street Fighter IV's expressive and slightly exaggerated designs, yet it all feels distinctly Samurai Shodown, where beauty and brutality clash with ease. It's a testament to the strong character designs that have evolved with the series over the years, and proof that lessons were learned after King of Fighter XIV's poorly received graphics had to be overhauled post launch."I've led the charge on the art style," said Kuroki, "and I was really worried prior to the announcement and reveal of the game what the reaction would be to the visuals. I went really hard on the Japanese style with everything, from the UI, to the colors, and the textures. It's not what the Western image of 'Japanese' would be, it's a very original style, no corners cut or anything, and I wasn't sure if that would be popular in the West. Still, so far, everyone has been positive, so I'm happy to see that."We now know that the roster will feature a total of sixteen characters, including 13 returning faces and three new fighters. The new characters remain a mystery, but we can now confirm that the 13 veterans are: Charlotte, Earthquake, Galford, Genjuro, Hanzo, Haohmaru, Jubei, Kyoshiro, Nakoruru, Shiki, Tam Tam, Ukyo, and Yoshitora. For Oda, seeing these familiar characters shine in a new light is a relief. "If you think about how the old 2D art was made," he posited, "it was very stylized, to the point where if you viewed the same character from the front, their hair would be so ridiculous and it would make no sense. I've loved the reaction so far, with everyone saying it looks like the old games, but in 3D; not like a reimagining."If you've played Samurai Shodown in the past with any amount of regularity, you should have no problems picking up where you left off with the returning fighters. The rage gauge system is back, where each fighter has a meter that fills as they take damage, activating powerful buffs and attacks when it maxes out--including the disarming weapon-flipping technique. And once per match, you can activate a rage explosion with a simple button combo that destroys your rage gauge but gives you the chance to use a Lightning Blade attack, a move powerful enough to dramatically turn the tide of a contested battle.Having left the series after Samurai Shodown V in 2003, it felt great to take control of these characters again. The speed, the hard-hitting fights, and the attitude is there. The visuals truly pop, giving me a newfound appreciation for a series that had until last year felt all but forgotten. I've only played a handful of fights so it's too early to say whether or not Samurai Shodown will have what it takes to excite casual and competitive fighting game players alike, but it will be tested soon enough."People always ask why we brought the series back," said Weatherford, "and as Kuroki always says, it's not just that the community's request via polls was very high, but it's also, even among other fighting games, it has a very different style and a different pace. We felt, with the current trend towards esports, that it could stand out on its own very easily."The team at SNK won't have to wait long to see how its revival shakes out with fans and pros alike. The new Samurai Shodown is currently scheduled to release on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One in June (Switch and PC at a later date), and shortly after, it will share the spotlight as one of the nine main games at EVO 2019 in August. That will be a big test, for sure, but having had a taste of what's possible during my demo, I already know it will be one of my most anticipated tournaments when the annual fighting game event kicks off in a few months' time.Info from Gamespot.com

Xbox's indies-focused event and announced three more ID@Xbox games that will come to Game Pass on release day, as well as the lineup of indies that will be available to play at PAX East.Killer Queen Black, Outer Wilds, and Blazing Chrome will all hit Xbox's all-you-can-eat subscription service on release day. Killer Queen Black is a new arcade multiplayer entry for up to eight players. Outer Wilds from Annapurina Interactive and Mobius is an open-world exploration game that repeats a limited-time challenge as you learn new secrets about the world to help with subsequent playthroughs. Blazing Chrome is an arcade run-and-gun action game. Killer Queen and Outer Wilds are both targeting 2019 launches, while a date wasn't given for Blazing Chrome.Microsoft also announced the slate of ID@Xbox games playable at PAX East, which begins March 28 in Boston, MA. You can stop by the Xbox booth to try Void Bastards, Operencia: The Stolen Sun, Supermarket Shriek, The Good Life, and Afterparty. Like the other games announced today, each of these will launch on Game Pass on their respective release days. You'll also be able to collect pins that represent the various indie games.Xbox Game Pass offers an all-you-can-play model with more than 100 Xbox One and backwards-compatible Xbox 360 games as long as you pay the $10 per month subscription fee. The Xbox Game Pass lineup already includes a selection of indie games with more being added regularly. This month's additions include What Remains of Edith Finch and Operencia among others, and Minecraft will be coming next month.Info from Gamespot.com

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is huge, consisting of a tremendous number of characters who have been slowly introduced throughout the years. And because of this, in the wake of the Thanos Snap in Avengers: Infinity War, fans didn't know if many of these characters were dusted off-screen because they didn't appear in the movie. Many have wondered if Asgardian Valkyrie--who first appeared in Thor: Ragnarok--had survived Thanos' plan and would appear in Avengers: Endgame. The same question has lingered about Black Panther's Shuri.To mark the movie's release being a month away, Marvel has released a ton of new Endgame posters. Beyond looking cool and highlighting many of the MCU's many characters, the posters also deliver us some information: namely, that Valkyrie is alive, but Shuri is not. Nearly three dozen posters were released, and the look of each one told us something: the black and white posters indicate who is dead, while the ones in color were for the living. Valkyrie's poster, which you can see below, is in full, glorious color, while Shuri's is, sadly, in black and white.Aside from the color palette, every poster is the same. It features a close-up of a character, the April 26 release date of the movie, and the phrase, "Avenge the fallen" printed at the top of it.The last time fans saw Valkyrie was in Thor: Ragnarok. After defeating Hela with Thor and company, she boarded the ship with the rest of the surviving Asgardians to find a new home. However, in Infinity War, the movie opened up with Thanos and the Black Order boarding that same ship in space and the Mad Titan had already killed half the people on board. Valkyrie was aboard that ship, but there was no indication to whether she lived or died.Now, it's apparent she will return for Avengers: Endgame to avenge the fallen, and maybe we'll get to see her team up again with Bruce Banner/Hulk and Thor.Shuri, on the other hand, was listed as "missing" during a trailer for Endgame. It was unclear at the time if she had fallen victim to the Snap or was simply unaccounted for after Infinity War, but it appears now that she, too, was killed by Thanos. As such, we've updated our roundup of who died in Infinity War.Endgame comes to theaters on April 26, and make sure to check out some of our theories about the movie, find out more about Kate Bishop, and everything we know happening after Phase 4 of the MCU. Info from Gamespot.com

If you haven't peeked at the Xbox Store this week, you absolutely should. Not only are some of the best games from last week's sale still available, but more great deals were also added today. Before we get into those, be sure to check out the Critically Acclaimed Sale, which has discounts on some of the best games available on Xbox One, including Red Dead Redemption 2, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Celeste, Dead Cells, and more. Only one day is left for these incredible deals, so grab whatever you want ASAP.In case you haven't heard, this week marks the 25th anniversary of The Elder Scrolls--the first game in the series, The Elder Scrolls: Arena, released back in 1994. To celebrate, Bethesda is offering huge deals on many Elder Scrolls titles this week, including The Elder Scrolls Online ($10), The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, Special Edition ($24), and The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion ($7.50). The Elder Scrolls Online deal is available through April 8; the other deals will only be around through April 1. As a heads-up, you can also download The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind for free on PC all this week, with that offer ending Sunday, March 31.An iconic DC superhero is getting some love in the Xbox store this week: Batman's Arkham series and Lego games are marked down up to 60% right now. Grab Batman: Arkham Knight for $10, Batman: Return to Arkham for $10, and the Batman: Arkham Knight season pass for (you guessed it) $10. If you're a fan of the Lego games, you can also get Lego Batman 3: Beyond Gotham for $10 and its Deluxe edition for $17.50. Plus, the Lego DC Super-Villains season pass is only $9. The Lego games make for some entertaining couch co-op if you enjoy playing locally with a friend or partner.Another notable deal: Battlefield V is 50% off for a limited time to celebrate the release of its free battle royale mode, Firestorm. You can grab the base game for just $30 for the next two days. Its Deluxe edition is also marked down to $40. Other great deals this week include Titanfall 2 ($5) and Injustice 2 ($28), both of which will be available through April 1.Shop this week's Xbox game deals »And see more of our picks from the sale below!Xbox OneBattlefield V -- $30 / £30 (limited-time deal)Battlefield V - Deluxe Edition -- $40 / £40 (limited time deal)Batman: Arkham Knight -- $10 / £14Batman: Arkham Knight - Premium Edition -- $16 / £20Batman: Arkham Knight - Season Pass -- $10 / £8Batman: Return to Arkham -- $10 / £20The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim - Special Edition -- $24 / £18The Elder Scrolls Online -- $10 / £7.50 (available through April 8)The Elder Scrolls Online - Summerset Collector's Edition Upgrade -- $21 / £14The Elder Scrolls Online - Summerset Upgrade -- $14 / £10.49Injustice 2 -- $28 / £27Injustice 2 - Legendary Edition -- $36 / £45Lego Batman 3: Beyond Gotham -- $10 / £20Lego Batman 3: Beyond Gotham - Deluxe Edition -- $17.50 / £23.75Lego Batman 3: Beyond Gotham - Season Pass -- $9 / £7.19Lego DC Super-Villains - Season Pass -- $9 / £7.19The Mummy Demastered -- $15 / £12Titanfall 2 -- $5 / £5Xbox 360The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion -- $7.50 / £6The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion DLC - Knights of the Nine -- $3 / £3The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion DLC - Shivering Isles -- $6 / £4.05Critically Acclaimed Sale (ending within 24 hours) »Battle Chasers: Nightwar -- $7.50 / £6Bulletstorm: Full Clip Edition -- $13.20 / £9.90Dead Cells -- $17.49 / £14Celeste -- $10 / £8Dirt 4 -- $12 / £11Fi 2018 -- $18 / £16.50Inside -- $8 / £6.39Inside & Limbo Bundle -- $12 / £9.59Little Nightmares - Complete Edition -- $9 / £7.20Outlast 2 -- $7.49 / £6The Missing: J.J. Macfield and the Island of Memories -- $19.49 / £15.59Moonlighter -- $12 / £10Pillars of Eternity - Complete Edition -- $15 / £12Red Dead Redemption 2 -- $40.19 / £42Red Dead Redemption 2 - Special Edition -- $52 / £52.49Red Dead Redemption 2 - Ultimate Edition -- $60 / £63The Sexy Brutale -- $8 / £6.39SoulCalibur VI -- $30 / £25SoulCalibur VI - Deluxe Edition -- $45 / £37.50Stardew Valley -- $12 / /9.59Super Mega Baseball 2 -- $12 / £9.59Tekken 7 -- $25 / £20Tekken 7 - Rematch Edition -- $40 / £32.50Tekken 7 - Ultimate Edition -- $50 / £40Thimbleweed Park -- $8 / £6.69Thronebreaker: The Witcher Tales -- $22.49 / £17.69Warhammer: Vermintide 2 -- $15 / £12The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt -- $12 / £7.50The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt - Complete Edition -- $15 / £10.50Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap -- $10 / £8Yoku's Island Express -- $8 / £6.40Info from Gamespot.com

Rockstar has rolled out another new batch of content for Red Dead Redemption 2's multiplayer mode, Red Dead Online. Ahead of the major update that's coming later this spring, the developer has added an assortment of new clothing options to the game, along with a new competitive mode: Target Races.Rockstar describes Target Races as "a fast-paced mix of marksmanship, strategy, and horse-riding skills." Players begin each race equipped with a bow and arrow, with the object being to shoot targets as you dash through the track. Along the way, you'll also be able to pick up guns with limited ammo and other power-ups, which you can use to shoot the targets or other players.In addition to standard Target Races, PS4 players now have early access to Open Target Races. This variation has you racing about an open environment shooting targets. These can be picked off in any order, and once you've hit all of them, you'll race against the other players in a mad dash to the finish. Thanks to Rockstar's timed exclusivity agreement with Sony, Open Target Races are only available on PS4 right now, but they'll come to the Xbox One version next month.On top of the new modes, Rockstar is giving players 20% more XP in all activities this week, while all horse care items are 25% off. The developer has also added a new selection of clothes to purchase. The full list includes:Morning Tail CoatStrickland BootsBowyer Boots (Female only)Furred GlovesRockstar has more new content in the pipeline for Red Dead Online this year, including two more Showdown modes called Up in Smoke and Plunder. On top of that, the developer will add a hostility system to help combat griefing this spring, as well as new Land of Opportunities missions, more Free Roam missions, dynamic events such as ambushes and rescues, and moreInfo from Gamespot.com

Despite the gaming industry's growth, we've seen numerous companies lay off employees of late, including significant ones at Activision Blizzard. Electronic Arts is the next company to confirm layoffs of its own, announcing today that about 350 people are losing their jobs.EA CEO Andrew Wilson delivered the news via the company's official website. "Today we took some important steps as a company to address our challenges and prepare for the opportunities ahead," Wilson said. Of the company's roughly 9,000 employees, 350 people across the company's marketing, publishing, and operations teams will lose their jobs. This also includes operations in Japan and Russia, where the company is "ramping down our current presence [to] focus on different ways to serve our players in those markets."You can read his full statement below:"Today we took some important steps as a company to address our challenges and prepare for the opportunities ahead. As we look across a changing world around us, it’s clear that we must change with it. We’re making deliberate moves to better deliver on our commitments, refine our organization and meet the needs of our players. As part of this, we have made changes to our marketing and publishing organization, our operations teams, and we are ramping down our current presence in Japan and Russia as we focus on different ways to serve our players in those markets. In addition to organizational changes, we are deeply focused on increasing quality in our games and services. Great games will continue to be at the core of everything we do, and we are thinking differently about how to amaze and inspire our players."This is a difficult day. The changes we’re making today will impact about 350 roles in our 9,000-person company. These are important but very hard decisions, and we do not take them lightly. We are friends and colleagues at EA, we appreciate and value everyone’s contributions, and we are doing everything we can to ensure we are looking after our people to help them through this period to find their next opportunity. This is our top priority."Info from Gamespot.com