Horizon Forbidden West is arriving at PS4 also

The Super Animals are migrating! After a cozy incubation period in early access on PC, where it’s received overwhelmingly positive reviews, Super Animal Royale is headed to PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 later this year. Get ready to bite, claw, and shoot your way to the top of the food chain in the world’s most adorable fight to the death. Play Video Super Animal Royale is a 2D, top-down battle royale shooter, featuring 64-player brawls between critters wielding handguns, machine guns, hamster balls, and, um…bananas. There are more than 300 Super Animal breeds to create in the Research Lab and each can be personalized with more than 600 cosmetic items to collect. If you’ve ever dreamed of being a genetically fried Super Chicken wearing a banana suit and fighting with a fly swatter, you’re in luck. Once your animal is ready for battle, it’s time to leap off the back of a Giant Eagle and use your umbrella to parachute down to a massive island with over 10 unique biomes to explore including the slippery footholds of Thomas’s Tundra and the blistering heat of Super Saharaland. Between looting and shooting, you’ll explore the ruins of the abandoned Super Animal World theme park, where the genetically modified Super Animals once delighted park guests with songs, jokes, and fine cuisine, and where today they’ll delight you with the kind of frenetic carnage you’d expect from heavily armed wild beasts. Clues to how the park evolved from magical getaway to maniacal battlefield are scattered across the island for you to discover. But, an event the Super Animal World legal team cryptically refers to as “the incident” seems to have marked a turning point. Recently unearthed security footage, revealed for the first time in our trailer above, details the day a band of rebellious Super Animals took over the park, forever changing the island’s cheerful atmosphere, and with it Super Animal World’s business model. Not content to let a little labor dispute sink their bottom line, the Super Animal World corporation made the kind of lemons-to-lemonade pivot that will be taught in business schools for decades. As popular as their genetically modified attractions were as charming mascots, they’ve proved even more popular as fearsome fighters. Stay tuned for more Super Animal Royale news and join the fight for FUR-vival, when Super Animal Royale releases on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 later this year. 

Resident Evil Village is almost here and if you couldn't tell already from our glowing review, we loved our time with the latest horror adventure from Capcom. To celebrate the coming launch, we're going to be playing the first two hours of Resident Evil Village. So come hang out, join the fun, and don't judge us when you realize how big of weenies we really are here at Game Informer. The two-hour Resident Evil live stream event will be kicking off at 9 a.m. Central on the Game Informer YouTube and Twitch channels. We'll be diving in as Ethan Winters as he embarks on his journey to find his daughter Rose after she's taken by Chris Redfield following the murder of his wife Mia.  Of course, it wouldn't be a Resident Evil game if everything was as it seems, so come join us as we uncover the mysteries of the latest adventure while we try to battle our foes, our fears, and our thirst of Lady Dimitrescu.  In case you missed it, we gave Resident Evil Village a 9.25 out of 10. You can read our full review right here, with a small blurb below courtesy of our own Ben Reeves:  Resident Evil Village’s narrative is more compelling than I expected. Ethan is still a bit of a bland everyman, but his journey to rescue his daughter is full of wild characters and a handful of surprising moments. Village’s narrative was never the main thing driving me forward, but I’m glad to see that Capcom actually put some thought into this world, and a few of the late game twists have me genuinely excited to see where the series goes next. Resident Evil Village is an impressive package. I loved the recent remakes of Resident Evil 2 and 3, but I’m excited to see Capcom push the series forward again. Village expands on Resident Evil 7: Biohazard’s approach to first-person combat, offering a series of white-knuckle encounters that perfectly complement Capcom’s unnerving environmental design. Thankfully, Village’s amplified action doesn’t diminish its horror. If anything, Village maintains a sense of dread that few games can match. If you have the intestinal fortitude for intense terror, playing Resident Evil Village is a great way to check your pulse.  So join Alex Van Aken, Ben Reeves, and Liana Ruppert as we go all-in with Resident Evil Village. And you might want to turn that volume down in advance, we can't promise that we won't scream. 

The skills of a rebel outlaw aren’t mastered overnight. We have 14 handy tips to help players who have pre-ordered the game and unlocked early access to Hood: Outlaws & Legends starting May 7 on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5. Someone needs to choose where the wealth ends up, and why shouldn’t it be you? Verify your age to view this content. Verify your age to view this content. To set the mood, check out the new “We are Legends” trailer and prepare for your first heist. Play Video 1. Sneak, distract, assassinate Being stealthy has a lot of potential rewards. For one, if you approach a player or guard unseen from behind, you can silently assassinate them. If guards are patrolling in pairs, make sure to time a double takedown with a fellow outlaw. If you can’t see a way past them, throwing a stone is a handy way to distract guards. 2. Don’t alert the guards Being spotted by guards has several consequences. Firstly, you’ll be highlighted in red, revealing your position to the entire enemy team until you manage to regain stealth. Secondly, you’ll initiate lockdown, causing portcullises to close and limit your options, or even trap you. Remember that several characters can shake chasing guards using their thrown item, such as Marianne’s smoke bomb. 3. Have each others’ backs Your team is made up of four outlaws, and guards often use the buddy system, so in most situations it’s wise to stick together. Splitting into pairs can be an effective strategy to cover more ground, since you can still help out a spotted ally with a quick stealth takedown before things get out of hand. 4. Find effective character combos There are four Outlaws, each with several options for perks that can significantly change their playstyle. Consider how your abilities work together with those you’re playing with. For example, a Tooke player can look to stun the enemy, opening them up to an easy headshot from Robin. 5. Tag targets Teamwork is essential in Hood, so good use of tags makes all the difference. Once the enemy is spotted, tag them before engaging so you can converge on them with your team. Tagging can also help your outlaw allies know where guards are, as well as ammo boxes, climbable ropes, shortcuts, and more. They’ll thank you for it. 6. Study the map Every map is different, with its own shortcuts, chokepoints, sniper spots, etc. A good thief always scouts the target before going in, and when it becomes a fight to the death, there’s all the more reason to have the upper hand. 7. Master your Ultimate Ability Each character has a unique ultimate ability that is charged by taking down enemies and completing objectives. If used well, these abilities can be game-changers. Use Robin’s explosive arrow to instantly take down tanky players or even a cluster of enemies, or to control space and chokepoints at crucial moments. Tooke’s ability lets you heal those around you and grant them enhanced sight to spot enemies, even through walls. 8. Dodge and Parry Combat is all about timing and reading your opponent. Depending on the character you play, you’ll have either a dodge or a parry. Dodge lets you evade any melee attack, but leaves you open to ranged attacks. Parry can defend against both, and if timed perfectly, will even knock your opponent to the floor. 9. Pickpocket the Sheriff To steal the treasure from the state vault, players must pickpocket the Sheriff’s key. To find him, players need to scout his patrol route which is marked by a line on the map. He’s got a contingent of guards at all times but a daring player canl steal the key alone. Stealing the key reveals the location of the vault on the map to your team only, and gives you a faster respawn timer as a bonus. 10. Open the vault Only the person with the key in their possession can open the vault. Doing so takes a while, so make sure to defend the person doing it. Whichever team first picks the chest up first receives an experience bonus, and the enemy team might be lying in wait for an ambush if they’ve found the vault before you. 11. Use your unique throwable Every character has a unique item they can throw, such as a smoke bomb, flash bang, or gas grenade. These are found in gear boxes scattered throughout the maps. Perks further specialize these items, or lets you carry more of them. For example, Tooke gets a healing grenade, a very powerful ability when used at the right time. 12. Carry the chest Melee characters (John and Tooke) carry the chest faster than the ranged outlaws (Robin and Marianne). With the chest in your possession, it’s up to you to choose where to extract it. Make sure to pick a location that gives you an advantage, such as one close to your home spawn point.  13. Know how the winch works Whoever fully extracts the treasure wins the game. Two people can winch at a time, and you can expend stamina to winch faster for a short duration, but this leaves you unable to defend yourself if you must.  14. Defend your winchers Whoever is winching is vulnerable, so they must be protected. Consider the layout of the location and how to defend it; vantage points, lines of sight for sniping, directions from which the enemy team can approach unseen – all of these things have a big impact. Marianne’s smoke grenades are a great way to cover the point from any Robins fishing for a headshot, but it won’t help much against his explosive arrow. It’s important to know when to commit, and then defend the winchers at all costs. We hope these tips help you get started in your new career as an outlaw and potential legend.  Hood: Outlaws & Legends’ early access starts on May 7. Pre-order now until May 10 to access the game earlier, and get the Forest Lords Pack. Verify your age to view this content. Verify your age to view this content.

E3 2021 has confirmed even more companies that will be attending this year's digital showcase, including names like Square Enix, Sega, and more. The virtual event is set to take place next month, offering new looks, fresh reveals, and a celebration of the gaming community.  Even though E3 2021 will be digital this year due to lingering COVID-19 concerns, that doesn't mean that there won't be a few surprises to be had. ESA has confirmed even more companies that are joining the E3 lineup this year, including the following companies:  Square Enix Bandai Namco Entertainment Gearbox Entertainment Verizon, Freedom Games Devious Eye Entertainment Turtle Beach Verizon Binge XSEED Games Already confirmed companies include Nintendo, Xbox, Take-Two Entertainment, Ubisoft, Capcom, and Warner Bros. Games. Sony and Electronic Arts are once more sitting E3 out, opting in to their own showcases instead. Konami has also confirmed it won't be in attendance despite having several "notable" projects in the works.  "E3 2021 is set to continue its legacy as the premier video game industry event as we add new publishers, sponsors, and partners," said Stanley Pierre-Louis, President, and CEO of the ESA. "We can't wait to wait to share more details about this virtual event for audiences around the globe." E3 2021 is set to take place from June 12 to June 15. To learn more, you can check out the official ESA website right here.  Thoughts on how E3 2021 is shaping up so far? Do you foresee a long-term impact on the future of the showcase due to the effects of COVID-19? Sound off with your thoughts in the comment section below! 

The Epic Games vs. Apple lawsuit is impacting the gaming industry dramatically as the topic of what constitutes as a monopoly comes center stage. Earlier this morning, we shared how Sony is being sued over PlayStation Store exclusivity, and now Valve is being sued for the same regarding Steam. The Epic Games vs. Apple lawsuit's epicenter is antitrust violations. Antitrust laws are in place to protect consumers from companies owning a monopoly over their given market, as well as protection against predatory financial practices. The court proceedings have the interest of the entire gaming community, and now Valve is the latest to get swept into the bigger conversation about its placement in the gaming "hierarchy."  As reported by Ars Technica, “Valve abuses its market power to ensure game publishers have no choice but to sell most of their games through the Steam Store, where they are subject to Valve’s 30 percent toll,” said indie game developer and Humble Bundle creator Wolfire Games, in the lawsuit against Valve.  The suit cites that Valve controls 75 percent of the PC gaming market, a point that Epic Games itself has driven home with its reduced sales cut on its own storefront to try to get Valve to do the same. Xbox has also recently cut its percentage to match that of Epic Games, putting more pressure on Valve to be more developer-friendly in terms of the cut taken from sales through its storefront.  Valve has been in a negative spotlight many times throughout the years, especially regarding the space it has nestled for itself. Steam storefront exclusivity, its 30% cut, and competition control through price points have all been points of contention and reasons behind its continued top spot placement regarding the PC market. With Humble Bundle also being a storefront with charity as its core focus, the lawsuit puts its hardships on the line, including how publishers have been scared to be included in bundle events because of Valve retaliation.  What happens next remains to be seen, but it's clear that the Epic Games vs. Apple lawsuit will continue having a massive impact on the industry as we know it.  What are your thoughts on the latest lawsuit regarding gaming monopolies? Do you forsee any other implications from the ongoing Epic Games vs. Apple lawsuit? Weigh in with your hot takes in the comment section below.