Originally Posted by Destuctoid

Streaming service Netflix has entered into a collaboration with publisher Ubisoft to produce several media projects related to the latter's long-running adventure franchise, Assassin's Creed.

The first of these projects is expected to be a live-action series, set to premiere on the streaming service at some point in the future. While there are no plot details to speak of, Netflix promises Assassin's Creed will be an "epic, genre-bending adventure," and has begun its search for a showrunner and other production crew members ...

The live-action series is one of a number of projects that Netflix has on the books. The press release also hints at the possibilities of future "animated" and "anime" adventures set within the time-hopping franchise. Whether a live-action Assassin's Creed series receives the same level of global adoration as Netflix's The Witcher remains to be seen.

Originally Posted by Destructoid

Another big one happened recently. Bloomberg reports that 343 partner studio head Chris Lee is no longer working on Halo Infinite. Lee says "I have stepped back from Infinite and I am looking at future opportunities." According to Lee's public LinkedIn profile, he has been at 343 for 12 years and at Microsoft Game Studios for 5 years prior to his time working on Halo.

Although Lee will remain with Microsoft, it's unclear whether he's leaving 343 Industries. He's being shuffled around to some extent, but that could mean he's remaining with the studio but no longer influencing Halo Infinite. It could also mean that he's moving elsewhere within Microsoft's game division, as he's probably a prime candidate to help lead one of the many new development teams under Xbox's banner.

Originally Posted by Destuctoid

Activision shared the PC requirements for Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War today, and – no surprise here after the way Modern Warfare ballooned – the game needs 50GB for multiplayer alone "at launch."

If you're installing "all game modes," Cold War will need 175GB, and if you're going extreme with top-of-the-line Ultra RTX specs with a GeForce RTX 3080, you're looking at a 250GB storage requirement.

Originally Posted by Destuctoid

According to an official statement, Sega Sammy plans on transferring most of their physical business to GENDA, which will help that department remain solvent. Naturally, savvy businessmen have their sights on low-cost investments that could grow exponentially in a post-pandemic world: whenever that may be.

Again, what does this have to do with games?! Well, the pachislot industry is certainly gaming, or gaming-adjacent, but this deal impacts Sega as a whole. Although their physical entertainment industry is the only space impacted here, it could help ensure that Sega Sammy doesn't have to make any cuts for existing studios. The future is uncertain, but it seems like Sega Sammy had no real choice here other than to find a buyer.

The corporation even explains it in their own words, noting that the "utilization of facilities has declined remarkably, and a significant loss was recorded at 1Q of the fiscal year ending March 2021."

Originally Posted by Fignuts (Post 5388642)

I’m ready for Dizzy 2k20

Originally Posted by Destructoid

Xbox vice-president of gaming, Phil Spencer, has suggested that there is no truth to the recent reports that Xbox is in the market to purchase a Japanese development studio. In a recent interview with GameSpot, Spencer noted that while the company is looking to expand its relationships with a wider variety of game developers, an outright purchase is not on the cards.

"We're usually not out there... I say I don't think so, I mean, I'm not in every meeting that every team has. I'll say not from me," said Spencer. "Most of the opportunities that we've had to date have been for a long-lasting relationship. So I don't think we're out there with our business cards throwing them out on the corner trying to find people."

"I've talked about my affinity for Japanese studios and the thinking back in the day when we had more games in Japan created as part of our first-party. I'm excited when the deal closes to spend more time with Tango (Gameworks) and the work that they're doing. So it's an area I'm interested in, but no, I don't think. That's not accurate."

Originally Posted by Ars Technica

A potential hostage situation is reportedly taking place at the building in which game developer Ubisoft's Montreal office is housed.

A group of suspects are reportedly holding tens of people hostage at Ubisoft Montreal, according to local (French-language) media outlet LCN. The situation reportedly began around 1:30pm Eastern Time.

Montreal police confirmed that there is an "ongoing police operation" at the intersection where Ubisoft Montreal sits, adding, "We ask people to avoid the area. The SPVM is currently validating information and more details will follow."

Montreal mayor Valérie Plante confirmed that her office is coordinating with the police and monitoring the situation and echoed the police's request for everyone to avoid the area.

According to Radio-Canada (story in French), police were dispatched to the scene following a 911 call reporting a robbery in a nearby commercial building.

Live-streamed footage from an LCN helicopter showed a group of people together on the roof deck of the building behind a makeshift barricade seemingly constructed of folding tables leaning against the access door. Developer Eric Pope confirmed in a Tweet that the individuals on the roof were indeed Ubisoft employees, saying, "This is insane. This is my team on the roof."

Originally Posted by Emperor Smeat (Post 5391413)

Based on some recent updates, police started evacuating employees from the building and local media now saying it was a "swatting" prank by someone instead.

Originally Posted by Destructoid

THQ Nordic set tongues wagging this weekend, after an Easter egg in RPG SpellForce 3: Fallen God appeared to hint at an incoming Timesplitters 2 remake. The publisher has since peed on the parade, however, confirming that the reference was just a cheeky joke.

Players journeying through the continent of Urgath came across a particularly shady merchant who, among their wares, is willing to sell you the highly wish-listed remake of the classic 2002 shooter sequel. The same merchant also sells you "canceled" games such as Gothic and BioMutant - both of which have had lengthy development periods at THQ Nordic.

This didn't stop fans on the internet from proclaiming the appearance of the hypothetical remake as an official confirmation, which is apparently not the case at all. Speaking to Eurogamer, THQ Nordic has confirmed that the Timesplitters 2 reference is "just an innocent Easter egg" notably available from "a character known especially for not telling the truth."

Originally Posted by Big Vic (Post 5396259)

PS Plus membership half off:

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Originally Posted by Destructoid

There's a breadcrumb trail of evidence that Xbox has something up its sleeve for The Game Awards. First and foremost, Xbox has been promoting the show through its social channels. Xbox has also mentioned The Game Awards elsewhere, like in its most recent Game Pass post. Most interesting (via VGC), is that Jeff Grubb said on a new GamesBeat podcast that "Microsoft has something coming to The Game Awards, I know that much."

The smart money (or at least the wishful "This could be a really big announcement" money) is that Xbox will lift the veil on whatever its new studio, The Initiative, is working on. The rumor that has picked up the most momentum over the past few months is that it's some sort of full reboot of the Perfect Dark universe.