The Pokemon Trading Card Game has been around since the '90s, ballooning in size and scope over time as new generations of Pokemon have been introduced. It's heavily supported, with new card packs and expansions releasing regularly, so it's never a bad time to dive into the massively popular game. To help you dive into less murky waters, The Pokemon Company is releasing a new physical board game that aims to teach beginners the ins and outs of the TCG in an accessible format. Pokemon Battle Academy releases June 21 at Target and will be available at other major retailers July 31.Pokemon Battle Academy comes with three, full 60-card decks led by a popular Pokemon from Generation 1: Pikachu, Mewtwo, and Charizard. The game board is covered with helpful details letting you know where to place your cards and what you can do each turn.You'll also get tutorial guides and all of the accessories you need to complete a game as well as QR code cards to unlock the decks in Pokemon Trading Card Game Online--a free-to-play digital version of the TCG available on iOS, Android, and your browser.Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

The Nintendo Switch always has some good deals on hand, with new ones refreshing every week. To kick off June, the Switch has a sale on almost every Resident Evil game on the console--the Revelations games are not included. Each game is discounted by at least 50%, and you have until June 17 at 12 AM PT / 3 AM ET to take advantage of the lower prices.The classic-style Resident Evil 0 and Resident Evil Remake have both dropped their prices to $12.89, while the over-the-shoulder, more action-oriented Resident Evil 4, Resident Evil 5, and Resident Evil 6 are down to $15. Almost every game in the Resident Evil franchise is quite good, and while Resident Evil 6 doesn't match up to the series standards, its Switch port is still pretty impressive.Each one of these Resident Evil games scored at least an 8/10 in GameSpot's reviews, except for Resident Evil 6. Resident Evil 4 was even named GameSpot's Game of the Year for 2005. If you're looking for some excellent games to keep you busy, it's hard to go wrong with most entries in the Resident Evil series.Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

As is the case with many big budget games nowadays, Assassin's Creed Valhalla will get a hardcover art book published by Dark Horse. Ubisoft has revealed The Art of Assassin's Creed Valhalla will be available this holiday alongside the game. There's even a limited-edition deluxe version of the book, which will be of particular interest to collectors. Both editions are available to pre-order now, and Amazon is selling them for steeply discounted prices.The Art of Assassin's Creed Valhalla | $29.47 ($40)Releases this holidayThe standard edition is on sale for $29.47 and comes in at 192 pages. According to the listing on Amazon, the art book will give fans a sense of how Ubisoft's art directors created the look of Valhalla, which will take players to the ninth century Viking invasion of England and dive into Norse mythology. The high-quality images will be complemented by commentary from the development team. See at Amazon Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

As a result of the ongoing coronavirus epidemic, there is now a worldwide Nintendo Switch shortage. Nintendo's newest console has become hard to come by. Retailers are struggling to keep up with increased demand for the console as millions of people around the world continue to stay at home, looking for something to do. The release of Animal Crossing: New Horizons has likely given a huge boost to console sales as well. The Switch Lite is seeing stock issues as well, particularly for its newly released Coral shade, but thankfully, the handheld-only console is a little easier to find than its larger counterpart.If you're just looking for any kind of Nintendo Switch, there are a few differences between the Switch and Switch Lite you should know about. The Switch Lite is a handheld-only console--it's smaller, doesn't have motion-sensing Joy-Cons you can detach, and can't be hooked up to a TV. The tradeoff is that you get a proper D-pad (instead of the Joy-Cons' separated directional buttons) and a significantly lower price tag: $200, as opposed to the Switch's $300 price. Apart from some very rare exceptions, both consoles can play all the same games (if you're looking for some recommendations, check out our list of the best Switch games).That said, third-party sellers on stores like Amazon and Walmart have taken advantage of the shortage of Nintendo Switch consoles and have started marking up the prices significantly or offering it behind bundles. Here, we're keeping track of where you can buy a Switch Lite at all major retailers for its MSRP of $200. Some of the out-of-stock listings may be available for a higher price, or offer a used console.Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

With Half-Life: Alyx's release behind us, we're now looking toward future VR releases, such as the upcoming PlayStation VR-exclusive Iron Man VR, which releases July 3. Marvel's Iron Man VR puts you into Tony Stark's suit and has you controlling it with the PSVR headset and Move controllers. It's seen some delays over the past year, but now, we finally have a new release date. Iron Man VR is set for a July 3 release date, and if you're looking to invest into PSVR before then, you'll be happy to know the headset is in stock at some retailers--though, it's unlikely you'll find a deal any time soon.As for other VR headsets, they're a bit hard to find right now. Most headsets are sold out or available for backorder. You can find some headsets at a mark-up on Amazon, but we'd advise against purchasing any headset above its regular price.Best VR headsets in stock right nowPlayStation VR Iron Man VR bundle Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

Chris Evans, who played Steve Rogers (aka Captain America) in the Marvel Cinematic Universe for nearly a decade, recently passed on his shield at the end of Avengers: Endgame. Now, over a year later, Chris Evans has reflected on wrapping up his iconic role--and it doesn't sound like he's keen to return to it anytime soon.On the May 29 episode of The Graham Norton Show--as reported by Digital Spy--Evans said that because he "went out on such a high note" with the character, he's unlikely to play him again. "It was a great run and we went out on such a high note that it would be risky to revisit it in my opinion," he told the talk show host. "It was such a good experience and I think it's better left that way."The writers of Endgame, Christopher Markus & Stephen McFeely, have previously said that Steve Rogers returning as Captain America in a future film would effectively damage their work.Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

Disney's theme parks in the United States remain closed, after first shutting the doors in March due to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic. In fact, the only park the company has reopened thus far is Shanghai Disneyland in China. While plans for reopening them have not been announced, Disneyland and Disney California Adventure are at least one step closer to welcoming guests again.According to the OC Register, the state of California has decided theme parks will be able to open once again during Stage 3 of the government's four-stage process to reopening the economy. Of course, that's dependent on the state's COVID-19 infection rate remaining stable.As for when that will happen, California governor Gavin Newsom hinted earlier in May that could happen sooner than you expect. "Phase 3 is not a year away. It’s not six months away. It’s not even three months away. It may not even be more than a month away," he previously said during a press briefing. "We just want to make sure we have a protocol in place to secure customer safety, employee safety and allow the businesses to thrive in a way that is sustainable."Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

If you're an anime fan, then chances are you're no stranger to My Hero Academia. And if you're caught up, there's no doubt you're eagerly awaiting more episodes of the popular series. As of now, you're in luck, as the show is confirmed to be returning for Season 5. A recent post on the show's Twitter account has confirmed the news, following a post-credits teaser at the end of the Season 4 finale.【ヒロアカ5期が来る！】『僕のヒーローアカデミア』TVアニメ第5期 制作決定！新ビジュアルも解禁!!→https://t.co/38fnMWroQq#ヒロアカ #heroaca_a pic.twitter.com/cwPOjrLQaB — 僕のヒーローアカデミア "ヒロアカ"アニメ公式 (@heroaca_anime) April 4, 2020Translating to English, the tweet reads, "The fifth season of Hiroaka comes! My Hero Academia TV anime 5th production decision! New visuals are also lifted!"In "His Start," pro-hero Endeavor was able to narrowly defeat a genetically enhanced "nomu" monster while his fans and peers looked on helplessly from the sidelines, making for a dramatic and emotional finale. But the story didn't stop there. After the credits, fans were treated to a teaser featuring protagonist Midoriya Izuku, AKA Deku, experiencing a nightmare back in his dorm room. In his dream, he encountered a long-line of people that eagle-eyed fans and manga-readers will recognize as the past users of One For All, Deku's hand-me-down Quirk.Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

Bohemia Interactive, famous for being behind DayZ, has not in fact been bought out by Tencent. It was reported earlier in the week that Tencent had invested a whopping $260 million in the studio, but this has since been refuted by the Chinese company.The Information published an article earlier this week which stated that Tencent had acquired "between 70% and 80%" in Bohemia Interactive as part of the tech giant's expansion into the European market. However, this figure, as well as Tencent's involvement with the Czech company at all, has since been refuted in a press release by Tencent.The last big investment made by Tencent in the region was in Sumo Group, a large British developer with a hand in titles like Forza Horizon 4, Team Sonic Racing, and more. Acquiring Bohemia Interactive would have added the Czech company to a growing portfolio of gaming investments where Tencent has controlling interests; the company would join the likes of Riot Games, Path of Exile's Grinding Gear Games, and Supercell.Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

Respawn has continued to make bold storytelling decisions when it comes to Apex Legends and that trend has continued in Season 5: Fortune's Favor as the battle royale game moves towards a true episodic experience. Apparently Season 5 is already hinting at upcoming content with the map changes made to Kings Canyon, like the addition of mysterious hatches that seemingly lead to bunker-looking areas that can't yet be accessed."The hatches are a fun way to sprinkle changes throughout the map," Apex Legends design director Jason McCord said, according to VG247. "We don't have to make massive changes everywhere, we can sprinkle these things around. We're doing something kind of new, where we have some stuff that is there, but is not unlocked yet. And we're going to unlock it at a certain time, that lines up with some other stuff that we have coming."Some of this content could have already been teased in Season 5. McCord said he thinks there are still Easter eggs and secrets tied to the new content in Season 5 that fans haven't yet discovered, which may or may not be hinting towards Season 5's "pleasant surprise" for Titanfall fans.Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

Battlefield V's last big content update--the Summer Update--is coming soon, and now developer DICE has shared more details about it. First and foremost, DICE said it will not publish promotional materials or trailers for the new update like it's done in the past so as to not distract from the more important issues in the world today following the murder of George Floyd. "We're otherwise encouraging that we all take notice of what's happening in the United States, as well as other places around the world, and ask how we can all do more, as we must do more," DICE said in a blog post. "Racism should not exist in our society. We stand with all of our African-American / Black colleagues and partners, families and friends, and everyone around the world who is ready to see it end."DICE is owned by Electronic Arts, which has pledged more than $1 million to organizations including the Equal Justice Initiative and the NAACP Legal Defense & Educational Fund, along with others to be announced. EA will also double-match employee donations.Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

Infinity Ward is increasing their efforts to ban racist names from Call of Duty: Modern Warfare and Warzone, the developer announced in a recent tweet. The post says that they already ban users with racist or hate-orientated names from the game but additional counter-measures are being put in place to make sure names don't slip through the cracks."There is no place for racist content in our game. This is an effort we began with launch and we need to do a better job. We're issuing thousands of daily bans of racist and hate-orientated names. But we know we have to do more - and we are," Infinity Ward said in the statement.The tweet goes on to say that they will be adding additional resources to monitor and ID racist content and additional in-game reporting systems to increase the number of bans per hour. They will also be adding filters and greater restrictions on name changes in addition to increasing permanent bans to root out repeat offenders.Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

Star Wars actor John Boyega recently appeared at a rally in London's Hyde Park where he gave a tearful, impassioned speech about fighting racism and banding together to make the world a better place."Black lives have always mattered. We have always been important. We have always meant something. We have always succeeded, regardless, and now is the time. I ain't waiting," Boyega said. "Look, I don't know if I'm going to have a career after this. This, today, is about innocent people. We don't know what George Floyd could have achieved, we don't know what Sandra Bland could have achieved, but today we're going to make sure that won't be an alien thought to our young ones."You can, and should, watch the speech in its entirety below.Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

Wasteland 3's third dev diary is here, and it's focused in on the consequences of player choice. The video below delves into how player choices will impact the world of Wasteland 3, and what kind of role-playing is possible.InXile Entertainment studio head Brian Fargo says that reactivity is "the hallmark of a great roleplaying game," and that a lot of work has been put into making sure that the reactions of the word are "telegraphed"--so you know that events that play out are a direct result of your actions, minor and major.An example is shown of a scene where you can steal a gun from a poor couple--the gun is going unused, as it has sentimental value to them, but it could be very useful to the player. As Fargo points out, "most players won't do it"--but the option is there, if you don't mind being evil in-game.Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick is one of the highest-paid executives not only in video games, but across the entire entertainment media industry. He made more than $30 million in 2019. One of the company's shareholders, The CtW Investment Group, is now calling on other stakeholders to vote against a measure that gives the company freedom to pay Kotick high rates.In a filing with the United States government, The CtW Investment Groups' director Dieter Waizenegger called on other stakeholders to vote against the "Say-On-Pay" proposal during Activision Blizzard's upcoming annual meeting scheduled for June 11, 2020."Despite repeated low approval votes from shareholders, Activision Blizzard maintains multiple, overlapping opportunities for its CEO to earn outsize equity awards, even when performance-related vesting thresholds have not been met," the note says. "Despite failing to disclose pertinent information on performance targets for its Short Term Incentive Plan, Activision Blizzard's proxy statement reveals significant human capital management challenges."Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com