Xbox Hardware Just Had Worst Sales Dropoff In Years

There will be no one to stop Disney from going after Disney+ subscribers who share passwords soon, and CEO Bob Iger seems quite pleased with the plan. On an earnings call this morning, Iger expressed feeling “quite bullish about it.”

Interestingly enough, part of Iger’s optimism stems from a streaming competitor in Netflix. “Obviously, we’re heartened by the results that Netflix has delivered in their password-sharing initiative and believe that will be one of the contributors to growth, as [CFO Hugh Johnston] noted going forward,” said Iger on the call, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Netflix reportedly saw a huge growth in subscribers following a new ban on password-sharing by subscribers. In 2022, it was believed that roughly 100 million Netflix subscribers shared their accounts with family and friends.

The Disney password-word sharing crackdown will start in June before going fully operational in September. In fact, the first steps already took place in March when Disney updated terms for Disney+ and Hulu subscribers that prohibits offering your account info to people outside your residence.

Before the full rollout of the crackdown, Disney+ gained almost 8 million subscribers in the US and Canada for the company’s quarter ending March 30. For more, find out what’s new to Disney+ this month.

Looking ahead, Iger also talked about the Marvel Cinematic Universe, saying the new status quo will roughly be two Disney+ shows yearly in the superhero franchise.

Metaphor: ReFantazio–the upcoming RPG from the developers of Persona 3, 4, and 5–has received a substantial news update prior to its release later this fall. The update delves into more of the game’s systems, including combat, archetypes, and bonds, as well as offers fans a closer look at some of the game’s art and locations.

According to Studio Zero, Metaphor: ReFantazio’s combat will be one of its more innovative features and “an evolution in command battle.” Rather than traditional turn-based battle, the game will implement a “Fast and Squad” system that allows players to switch between real-time action, or Fast mode, and traditional command based combat, referred to in the game as Squad mode. When in Fast mode, players can use the lock-on, dash, and evade functions while they are exploring, eliminating the need to enter traditional turn-based combat. Studio Zero recommends reserving this function when in an area filled with lower-level enemies you’ve previous encountered, though it can also be used to gain advantage on an enemy before entering Squad battle.

Squad battle will resemble the more strategic command battle system we’ve come to expect from Studio Zero, and allows four characters to engage in turn-based combat using their Archetypes and special skills. Based on the description, it seems like Archetypes will play out very similarly to summoning a character’s persona in the Persona series, and will allow players to perform powerful attacks that strike enemies’ weaknesses. Studio Zero stated the “difficulty level of battles in this game is intentionally made to be high,” meaning players should be prepared to enter a lot of strategic battles. Fortunately, the studio shared that the protagonist’s fairy companion, Gallica, will have an ability known as Fae Sight, which allows you to understand the strength of the monsters within a dungeon.

Understanding and using Archetypes will be vital to player’s success in battle, according to Studio Zero. Archetypes are awakened when party members “face their fears” and form bonds with “their supportive followers to awaken the power of heroic images.” The protagonist can transform into a number of Archetypes in battle, with different Archetypes possessing different benefits and personalities. Some of the confirmed Archetypes are the Seeker, the Mage, and the Thief.

To power up these Archetypes, players will need to form bonds with party members and various people throughout their journey. As the protagonist strengthens his bonds with others, he will both awaken and strengthen different Archetypes. Additionally, forming connections with others allows for what Studio Zero refers to as “followers’ stories” to play out. These stories will add context to the game and “greatly influence party development and the story experience.”

Metaphor Re:Fantazio will contain both main dungeons and side dungeons, all of which the game’s party will travel to via Gauntlet Runner. Studio Zero described a Gauntlet Runner as “a large armored vehicle designed to move safely through such a wilderness.” In addition to providing transportation, it will also act as the party’s mobile base–similar to a “camper van” according to the developers. While in the Gauntlet Runner, players will be able to cook, read, chat with teammates, and even take a nap.

The studio then shared a first look at two of the game’s primary locations: Castle Town Martira and the Royal Capital. Whereas the Capital is a massive city with bustling markets–and extreme wealth inequality–Martira is more pastoral, and will offer shops, a tavern, and an inn players can go to to take on bounties and meet up with informants for pertinent information. Both locations reside in the Kingdom of Euchronia.

Once in a location, players must “conquer the main quest within their designated period of stay in each region,” making it seem like the game will be more linear rather than open-world. Each main quest will have a designated deadline, making completing side quests and strengthening the party an “important option,” according to Studio Zero.

On the subject of deadlines, Studio Zero has also confirmed the game will use a date system and the entire game will be set over the course of six months. To become king within that time, players must “win the trust of the people of the country over powerful rivals” and increase their overall popularity with Euchronia’s citizenry.

Lastly, Studio Zero shared a bit more about the game’s Collector’s edition. In addition to the base game, this version of Metaphor: ReFantazio contains an art book, soundtrack, steel book, Kingdom of Euchronia cloth map, metallic pins, stickers, and several digital goodies, including costume packs based on the Persona games. Metaphor: ReFantazio’s Collector’s edition retails for $150.

Metaphor: ReFantazio will be available on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC on October 11, 2024. For more information about the upcoming RPG, check out our Metaphor: ReFantazio hub as well as some of the new images below.

Whether it was the mutant powers of X-Men ’97 or the star power of Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour, Disney+ added almost 8 million subscribers in the US and Canada for the company’s last quarter ending March 30. That helped offset smaller decreases internationally for the streaming service.

Disney also boasted that entertainment streaming–Disney+ and Hulu–was profitable during the company’s second-quarter results for fiscal 2024. This specific division saw a $47 million operating income after losing $587 million a year ago for this same quarter.

Domestically, Disney+ now has 54 million subscribers, compared to 46.1 million at the end of December. Worldwide, the streaming service sits at 153.6 million subscribers after previously being at 149.6 million. It’s a positive upswing for the House of Mickey Mouse after Disney+ lost 1.3 subscribers following a price hike last quarter.

The Disney+ gains also appear to be a positive result from the start of a password-sharing crackdown that the company will continue to ramp up this summer in North America. Looking ahead, Disney also unveiled in an earnings call that an “ESPN tile will be added to Disney+” by the end of 2024.

For more, see what’s new on Disney+ in May and check out GameSpot’s X-Men ’97 review.

Diablo Immortal will receive its second new class since launch on May 23, and it’s another brand-new addition to the franchise–the Tempest.

Described by Blizzard as warrior-priests hailing from the Cold Isles, a region to the north of Sanctuary’s western continent, Tempests are chosen among the pure of heart and trained in the art of “blade-dancing, wavewalking, and seafaring.” Using the power of the storm itself, Tempest’s dual wield swords and daggers that can move and morph like water to both maneuver around the battlefield and damage enemies.

Now Playing: Diablo Immortal – Official Tempest Character Class Gameplay Reveal Trailer