Mario Kart Tour was a different approach to the Mario Kart series. While Nintendo has only recently started to dabble in the mobile space with a few of their titles, Mario Kart Tour became very popular. Since its initial release, the game has generated around $290 million globally on mobile, which is a big win for any company. But despite how well Mario Kart Tour did for Nintendo, it looks like things might be coming to an end.
Nintendo announced to Mario Kart Tour players that the game will no longer receive any new content after October 4th, 2023. This news was delivered via an in-game message to players who booted up Mario Kart Tour, which broke the news to everyone. The message showed the dates of the final new Battle Tours in the game with the line “From 10/04/2023 (Wed) on, tours will consist of content from tours that have appeared before… Note: No new courses, drivers, karts, or gliders will be added following the Battle Tour starting 10/04/20223 (Wed).”
Although there won’t be any additional new content from Nintendo for Mario Kart World Tour, the game will remain playable according to a report on Eurogamer. So players won’t have to worry about the game shutting down completely.
Mario Kart Tour was released for iPhone and Android devices alongside other Nintendo mobile games. Those games, which include Super Mario Run, Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp, and Fire Emblem Heroes; continue to be very successful. Those games will continue receiving new content, while Mario Kart Tour is left alone.
In the past, Mario Kart Tour was the center of controversy over gacha-style mechanics introduced into the game, which had players buying loot box-like bundles. It received a lot of backlash from many players until the mechanic was removed in September 2022. For now, Nintendo has made no other statements about Mario Kart Tour or if any other Nintendo mobile games will also stop getting updates.
Are you a fan of Mario Kart Tour? Are you sad to see the game not getting new content moving forward? Did you play any other Nintendo mobile games? Let us know in the comments section below!
If there’s one thing that all gamers do at some point, it’s spend money on their favorite gaming products. Whether it’s new games to play, accessories for their hardware, or subscriptions; any gamer is going to need to spend some cash to engage with their favorite hobby. At the same time, most gamers aren’t afraid to showcase their love for gaming in a variety of ways, including wearing branded gear or using certain products that put their passion on display. Most recently, Microsoft announced another way for gaming fans to do so, while also getting rewarded in the process.
In a post on Microsoft’s Xbox News Blog, the company revealed the new Xbox Mastercard. The card is issued by Barclays and has no annual fee. The Xbox Mastercard will allow users to gain card points by using it with every day purchases, which can be redeemed for games and add-ons via the Xbox website. Those who are part of the Xbox Insiders Program will have the first chance to get the Xbox Mastercard starting on September 21st 2023, provided they live in the continental United States (including Alaska and Hawaii).
Points are earned on the card for every dollar that is spent when using the Xbox Mastercard. For specific purchases, card users can earn more points that are eligible for rewards. Products on the Microsoft store earn 5X points, streaming services like Netflix and dining services like DoorDash earn 3X points, and everyday purchases earn 1X points. The more that people use the card to buy things, the more points they can earn faster towards rewards they can redeem on Xbox’s website.
In addition to earning points, Xbox Mastercard holders can also gain access to other benefits. The blog post details all of the benefits, which include:
A bonus of 5,000 card points (a $50 value) after their first purchase.
Three months of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate for new Game Pass members after their first purchase. If they’re already a Game Pass member, they can easily gift it to a friend to play together.
Choice of one of five iconic designs for their card, with the option of personalizing it with their gamertag.
Flexibility of use with contactless payments and digital wallets.
Free online access to cardmembers’ FICO Credit Score, which allows users to keep an eye on their credit score and receive alerts when their score has changed.
$0 Fraud Liability protection, so cardmembers are not responsible for charges they didn’t authorize.
Those who are part of the Xbox Insider Program will still be able to apply for the Xbox Mastercard on September 21st, which will be opened up in waves. Getting the card also gives users three months of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. They also get a $50 bonus in points, but only after making the first purchase with the card. Unfortunately, those who are not part of the program can’t yet apply for the card, and no date was given on when the Xbox Mastercard will be open to everyone.
What do you think of the Xbox Mastercard? Will you be applying for it? Should more details about the card be given from Microsoft? Let us know your thoughts about everything in the comment section below!
Those who enjoy playing first-person shooters will have another game to look forward to with Ubisoft’s XDefiant. The game is an attempt to blend together multiple Ubisoft franchises into one arena-like shooter. This would include franchises like Ghost Recon, Splinter Cell, Watch Dogs, and a few others from Ubisoft’s ensemble of series. The game is being developed for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series consoles, and PC, however, it doesn’t have a set release date for any platform. But players interested in XDefiant may have to wait a bit longer than expected.
Unfortunately, XDefiant wasn’t able to pass an important first-party certification test. This was done back in mid-August, which was confirmed by Ubisoft Executive Game Director Mark Rubin. In a blog post that was shared on the Ubisoft website, Mark went into detail about why the game is experiencing a delay and what happened with the certification test. “At the end of July, we started this process, and we got our first results back by mid-August which was a Not Pass. We realized then that we had more work related to compliance than we had anticipated. If it HAD passed, then we would have been able to ship at the end of Aug. But it didn’t and so we have spent the last 3-4 weeks fixing those issues and getting ready to do another submission. We are currently in the CM prep part of that process and will hopefully be submitting to 1st parties in a little less than 2 weeks.”
XDefiant is being developed by Ubisoft San Francisco and will be a free-to-play arena shooter. Mark went on to explain exactly why there is no set release date for the game, citing that development for the game isn’t like other game releases. “If we were following the standard rules for game releases, we would have set a date far enough in advance with enough buffer to have a confident release date. However, like a lot of things with this game, we have not chosen the typical route.
Having millions of people play your game long before it’s ready is not normal. Not being afraid to show an unfinished game to millions of people with all its flaws is not normal. These were real tests and not just marketing events. So, when it comes to when we will release the real answer is “as soon as we can.” And we will continue to update you with more info when we have it.”
To their credit, Mark and Ubisoft are being very open and transparent about the progress of the game. While most games have to resubmit their application for certification on any platform, it’s not typical for fans to get insight into the process. Hopefully, soon a more concrete release date for XDefiant will be made for all platforms.
What do you think about XDefiant? Are you okay with the game being delayed and Ubisoft being transparent about it? Let us know your thoughts about everything in the comment section down below!
Batman’s faithful butler Alfred Pennyworth is getting his own story in the upcoming “all ages” graphic novel ‘Young Alfred: Pain In The Butler’ which is rated for teens. The story takes a look at Alfred’s childhood and training for becoming a gentlemen’s gentleman.
“Everyone has to start somewhere—even the MVP of DC Universe. No, I don’t mean Superman, Wonder Woman or Batman. They’re amazing, of course, but I’m talking about Alfred Pennyworth, butler extraordinaire, caring father figure and star of the new graphic novel Young Alfred: Pain in the Butler,” DC Comics said on their website.
They continued, “Young Alfred, an all-ages graphic novel by Michael Northrop (Dear Justice League) and Sam Lotfi, takes us across the years to tell two enchanting stories of past and present Pennyworth. Before Alfred raised young Bruce Wayne, he was a boy himself who made the long journey to Gotham City to study how to be the best butler he can be. This charming book is a reminder that heroes, even fictional ones, can still fail. They’re people just like us who repeatedly mess up, learn and grow in order to reach their full potential.”
The Wayne Manor butler first appeared as Alfred Beagle in the 1944 issue of Batman #16 created by Bob Kane and Don Cameron. He would be reformed as Alfred Pennyworth by Batman Bill Finger and Jerry Robinson.
You can take a look at the cover here:
DC Comics describes the synopsis as follows,
“When Alfred attends Gotham Servants School, he is a clumsy and nervous boy going to fulfill his father’s last wish-he will become…a butler. But when he suspects that his new school may be involved in a criminal plot, Alfred must look within himself to see if he has what it takes to be not only a butler, but a hero.”
The book will be released in digital and print editions.
Fans of embattled isekai hero Naofumi Iwatani got some important news. The release date for the third season of the anime has been revealed by an X post as October 6, 2023, in Japan. Kinema Citrus returns to animate the new upcoming episodes with Hitoshi Haga stepping into the director’s role. MADKID returns to perform the opening theme song titled “Sin.”
Crunchyroll has revealed that they will stream the show as part of their Fall line-up.
— TVアニメ『盾の勇者の成り上がり』@Season 4 制作決定！ (@shieldheroanime) September 13, 2023
The anime is based on a 2013 series of light novels written by Aneko Yusagi, illustrated by Seira Minami, and published by Media Factory which also publishes a manga version.
The Rising of the Shield Hero wiki describes the synopsis as follows,
“Stories of old tell of four otherworldly heroes—wielding the sword, spear, bow, and shield—who defended the land from wave after wave of calamity. With the fate of the world in balance, the kingdom of Melromarc summons these legendary figures; in modern-day Japan, the call is answered, and the unwitting heroes are transported to this fantasy universe.
Thrust into Melromarc and given the title of “Shield Hero,” otaku Naofumi Iwatani is labeled the weakest due to his lack of offensive capability and apparent inexperience. When the heroes part ways to start their journeys, he only has one willing companion: the beautiful princess Malty Melromarc. However, she soon betrays him, steals all his money, and accuses him of harming her.
For his alleged crimes, Naofumi is branded a criminal and made an outcast of society. With hatred filling his heart, he sets out alone, vowing vengeance against those who wronged him.”
The first season was produced by Kinema Citrus with DR Movie taking over the second season but production returned to Kinema Citrus for season three.
At last, Hasbro has decided to bring a classic vehicle out of the vault just in time for one of Star Wars’s anniversaries! Its … The MandalorianAT-ST Raider. Oh.
This 3.75″ scale vehicle stands roughly 12″ tall and features posable legs, a fully detailed cockpit, and a number of other upgrades the Kenner classic lacked. It also comes with a $79.99 price tag!
The re-release AT-ST Raider is scheduled to ship out in April 2024. When it originally hit the market not too long ago, I cannot remember it leaving a huge impression on the collectors’ space. That’s why it feels weird to focus on reissuing this instead of something like the 2008 Legacy Collection Millenium Falcon, without the porgs, of course.
Aside from the added accessories and cosmetic pieces, this is the same AT-ST that showed up in the Vintage Collection with the Return of the Jedi branding. However, The Mandalorian release is slightly less expensive, and you get a unique character, the Klatooinian Raider.
The vehicle itself is a great piece of plastic. The articulation allows for a pretty good range of display possibilities, but how many people were superfans of this one-episode vehicle?
I’d be way more interested in picking up the Return of the Jedi version of the Chicken Walker … ya know, because it’s the 40th anniversary of the last true Star Wars movie. Thankfully, Entertainment Earthis going to be restocking that classic vehicle soon, and it’s only $89.99.
Photo Credit: Hasbro
Photo Credit: Hasbro
Photo Credit: Hasbro
Photo Credit: Hasbro
Photo Credit: Hasbro
“Celebrate the legacy of Star Wars, the action-and-adventure-packed space saga from a galaxy far, far away, with premium 3.75-inch scale figures and vehicles from Star Wars The Vintage Collection. Figures feature premium detail and design across product and packaging inspired by the original line released in 2010, as well as the movie-real collector grade deco that fans have come to know and love.”
The AT-ST raider comes with the following features:
“With realistic detail including an opening cockpit, articulated legs, adjustable laser cannons and side-mounted weapons pods, and movable command viewpoint blast shields, the AT-ST Raider toy can be displayed in Star Wars action figure and vehicle collections.”
The $65 robot made up of five lions is expected to ship in May 2024. Similar to the original figure from a few years ago, the heroic mech comes with the Blazing Sword, shield, and a good bit of articulation.
Sadly, the only removable parts are the alternate hands. You cannot separate the figure into individual lion toys. You can, but then you’d have a broken, expensive collectible.
Photo Credit: Super7
Photo Credit: Super7
Photo Credit: Super7
Photo Credit: Super7
Photo Credit: Super7
“Voltron is a beacon of hope in a galaxy tormented by the Drule Empire, and the mighty robot never shines brighter than when revealing its mighty Blazing Sword! This highly articulated 7″ scale Voltron ULTIMATES! Lightning Glow Voltron is inspired by the moment that Voltron forms the Blazing Sword and is illuminated by a burst of lightning. Constructed from glow-in-the-dark material, featuring intricate sculpting, premium paint detail, and interchangeable “hand” Lion heads, as well as glow-in-the-dark shield and Blazing Sword accessories. Let this made-to-order, glow-in-the-dark Voltron ULTIMATES! Lightning Glow Voltron illuminates your collection day and night!”
I can’t really fault Super7 for returning to the well, especially for such an iconic character. However, as someone who has owned a couple of these alternate versions of previous figures, it’s getting kinda old. See our Radioactive Rage Toxie review to see what I mean.
Lightning Glow Voltron comes with the following:
4x hands
2x Open Lion hands
2x Closed Lion hands
1x Blazing Sword
1x Shield
What do you think of all of the variants Super7 has put out in the Ultimates line? Should the company re-release the originals instead of trying various gimmicks? Let us know in the comments section below.
One of the most influential first-person shooter games of all time is the original DOOM from 1993. The game was not only a critical and commercial success, but it inspired many developers at a variety of studios to develop their own video games. Because of how popular DOOM was, there were a ton of games that copied many of its mechanics and overall design. These came to be known as doom clones, for very obvious reasons. Gastro Force is a doom clone that has many similarities to the classic DOOM games, for better or worse.
Gastro Force on PlayStation 5 (also for Xbox, Switch, and PC) is a run-and-gun shooter that puts you into the suit of a space marine that is trying to survive an onslaught of aliens taking over a starship. It’s a simple concept for a story, much like the game that inspired it, which keeps the focus on the action. Even in a recycled fashion, the foundational aspects of DOOM can still work out very well when executed right and given a twist. For some, it won’t be enough for the game to differentiate itself from other doom clones, but for others, it’s just enough to get by. Just don’t go in expecting deep lore to latch onto.
Gameplay is exactly what you might expect if you’ve played any of the original DOOM games. Straight-forward shooting in first-person, with various alien enemies lurking around every corner. You’ll be finding new weapons to use, hitting switches to open new areas, and discovering secret locations by interacting with your surroundings. It’s about as basic for an FPS game as you can get, without doing anything inherently wrong. It definitely appeals to the nostalgia of those who have had plenty of experience playing games that were similar.
But unfortunately, Gastro Force has all of the quirks and stumbles that came with all of those games from back in the day. Moving around and aiming your weapons is very stiff, which can be troublesome for those looking to be precise when aiming their weapons at a target. Luckily, Gastro Force has the same kind of auto-aiming that every other doom clone had, allowing you to hit enemies without needing to be super accurate. You can just aim in the general direction of an enemy and nail all of your shots without an issue. It might take away the skill needed to be competent with first-person shooters, but it gets the job done.
The biggest stumble that Gastro Force suffers from is how quickly it becomes overly repetitive. There are three main areas with multiple stages in them that you’ll have to traverse and complete. They each fall into the same rhythm throughout. Each area gets tougher with variations on enemies you face beforehand, but the general objective remains the same in each area. All you have to do is reach the final platform at the end of the stage in order to move on. There are some boss battles with stronger enemies toward the later sections of an area, but they don’t mix up the gameplay all that much.
A lot of the difficulty in most sections of Gastro Force will come from having a lack of ammo or health pickups around. You’ll need to find where everything is located if you want to be resourced enough in some encounters, especially with how hard enemies will damage you. Although enemy behavior isn’t complex or difficult to deal with at heart, their damage output can feel often inconsistent. Some attacks will hurt you mildly while others much more severe, but all of it will add up quickly if you’re not paying attention.
The stages also don’t have checkpoints to restart from upon death. If you end up getting killed right before the end of a stage, then you’re out of luck. You’ll have to redo the entire stage from the beginning, which can get frustrating. Some stages are complex with the number of switches you need to hit in order to progress, along with backtracking you need to do in order to open up places to move forward. It’s not difficult overall, but definitely tedious. Some people will look at that as old-school game design, which is true, but it’s still archaic compared to what is possible now.
Gastro Force will stand out to those who love the classic DOOM games or anything that was similar. It follows the same beats and has the same problems of those games, which may not be for everyone. There’s very little here to make it stand out as something unique or more interesting than any of the games that inspired it, which is a shame. For those that crave an old-school FPS to tinker with, what you get here will be fun to tinker with. But for others who don’t, you’re better off spending more time with something else instead.
Have you played Gastro Force before? What do you think of old-school FPS games? Which are your favorite DOOM clones? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section down below!
It’s always a bit jarring to realize how long it’s been since your childhood favorites first came into existence. That’s certainly the case with Mighty Max, a franchise that’s been dormant for many years.
But now, it’s making a comeback! Mighty Max was a popular cartoon series and toy line that capitalized on the trend for miniaturized toys back in the early 1990s. The Mighty Max mini dioramas were right at home alongside other tiny toys like Polly Pocket, Micro Machines, and Monster in My Pocket.
PeariA has created four new dioramas to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Mighty Max, each with a similar gimmick to the original toys produced by Bluebird Toys and distributed by Mattel. Technically, there are only two dioramas, but each has a variant.
Luckily, the differences between them are significant enough to make each one truly unique. For example, the Snow Version of Hunting Rudolph has glow-in-the-dark paint, while the alternate hat diorama is molded in clear plastic.
The regular dioramas cost $19.99 each, while the variants are priced at $24.99. They’re expected to be available during the final quarter of 2023. They can be pre-ordered from the Big Bad Toy Store.
Photo Credit: Pearia
Photo Credit: Pearia
Photo Credit: Pearia
Photo Credit: Pearia
Photo Credit: Pearia
Photo Credit: Pearia
Photo Credit: Pearia
Photo Credit: Pearia
Photo Credit: Pearia
Photo Credit: Pearia
Photo Credit: Pearia
“Celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Mighty Max cartoon series with this new playset from Singular Point! Bouncing between various countries and timelines, this Mighty Max diorama features Max battling against one of his iconic foes.”
For more on Mighty Max‘s history, check out the Secret Galaxy review below.
It has been a heck of a year for everything retro. More and more IPs from decades ago are returning in surprising ways. See our story on the new Toxic Crusaders game to see what we’re talking about.
Did you collect the Mighty Max playsets in the ’90s? Let us know in the comments section below.
The Maximum Carnage comic book arc may not have been as big an event as the Death of Superman or Knightfall, but it did spawn a great beat-em-up game on the SNES and Genesis that featured a soundtrack from Green Jellÿ.
To celebrate the 30th anniversary of the 14-part mega comic crossover event, Premium Collectibles Studio has created an equally huge bust of Cletus Kasady’s symbiote. Rather than being a simple recreation of the blood-red killer, PCS turned Carnage’s head into an entire scene featuring multiple heroes and villains from the Maximum Carnage story.
The $1,500 price tag is a bit steep; however, those who pre-order early can get it at $1,350.
Photo Credit: Premium Collectibles Studio
Photo Credit: Premium Collectibles Studio
Photo Credit: Premium Collectibles Studio
Photo Credit: Premium Collectibles Studio
“This fully sculpted diorama highlights the bloodthirsty spawn of Venom, Carnage, hosted by the violent criminal Cletus Kasady. The monstrous Carnage dominates this highly creative collectible, entangling an unlikely assortment of small-scale heroes and villains in his amorphous form. Characters such as Spider-Man, Cloak, Venom, Black Cat, Shriek, Demogoblin and the six-armed Spider-Man doppelgänger clash above the symbiote-covered city below. Each expertly sculpted character is dynamically posed and fully painted, coming together to create a cohesive scene that holds true to the thrilling tone of the Maximum Carnage storyline. The base, composed of a city scene overtaken by the symbiote supervillain’s liquid form, supports a massive, highly detailed life-sized Carnage bust featuring two smaller Carnage bodies seamlessly forming out of either side of this elaborate collectible.”
The Maximum Carnage statue comes with the following:
Unique Multi-Character Diorama
Swap-Out Tongue
Integrated Environment Base
1 in 300 Chance of Winning a 1oz Platinum PCS Coin
Coin Includes PCS Ruby Ticket Worth $300 in PCS Loyalty Points
Metal Certificate of Authenticity
Custom PCS Statue Cleaning Kit
Did you read the story or play the games? Let us know below.
