Bungie Confirms It Has Marathon Story Plans for 'the Next Few Years' But Nothing Is Completely 'Locked in' Yet

It looks like Marathon won’t be left behind anytime soon, as Bungie has confirmed it has plans to evolve its story over at least "the next few years."

Creative director Julia Nardin teased the next steps for the former Halo developer's shiny new extraction shooter during an interview with GamesRadar. Although the multiplayer reboot is just shy of two months old, she said the team is confident enough to have at least a loose idea of what direction to take its narrative in the coming years.

"We know where we want to take the story over the next few years," Nardin said, "but I don't want to say it’s completely 'locked in' because it's important to us that our players be able to help shape it."

Bungie plopped players into the world of Tau Ceti IV when Marathon for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X | S March 5. Its intention to build it alongside its community for the months and, ideally, years ahead is a long-term strategy it experimented with during the development of its Destiny titles, though not everyone was in love with the idea of being dropped late into stories that were years in the making.

Updates have already started to carve out the future, but Nardin said those who have yet to go on their first run have nothing to fear. This time around, she said it's important for Bungie that players can "jump into Marathon at any time."

"They'll always be able to uncover the mysteries of Tau Ceti's past while experiencing its present," Nardin added. "We want every season to be a new entry point, and for new players to be able to understand what’s going on regardless of how long we've all been running."

Recent Marathon updates have seen Bungie continuing to listen to fan feedback by increasing the amount of armor and healing consumables Runners can carry and making it easier to participate in the Cryo Archive. With Season 2 expected to launch sometime in June, seems a flow of updates will continue to roll out after reports shared that the project allegedly had around a $200 million budget and is not in immediate threat of being shut down.

We gave Marathon a 9/10 review upon its launch in March. At the time, we called it "a ruthless and unforgiving extraction shooter that’s worth every ounce of hell it puts you through."

Michael Cripe is a freelance writer with IGN. He's best known for his work at sites like The Pitch, The Escapist, and OnlySP. Be sure to give him a follow on Bluesky (@mikecripe.bsky.social) and Twitter (@MikeCripe).

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Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls Confirms Savage Hulk and Shuri Black Panther as Playable Fighters as Fans Spot Hidden Carnage Tease

Developer Arc System Works has confirmed that Hulk and Black Panther have joined the roster of playable fighters in Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls.

The studio confirmed the news at Evo Japan 2026, revealing a first look at the two new legendary comic book characters set to throw down when its Marvel fighting game launches this August. Appearing as Savage Hulk and Shuri's Black Panther, the two will fight as part of the group known as the Fighting Avengers, but they won't be coming alone.

As described in a follow-up PlayStation.Blog post, the Marvel Tokon trailer also highlighted Wakanda as a new stage, as well as the inclusion of the mysterious character known as The Champion. Described as a "cosmic conqueror," The Champion looms over Earth on his quest to search for worthy opponents.

Marvel Tokon is primed to give players a healthy selection of heroes and villains later this summer, but it seems like Arc System Works isn't done announcing new playable fighters. The last moments of the new trailer feature what sounds like the familiar snarl of one of the many Symbiotes Spider-Man has encountered in the past. The audio itself gives fans little to cling to, but some fans are already starting to piece together additional clues that suggest the bloodthirsty Carnage will join the roster next.

As the Symbiote-like snarl plays, a few frames of footage distort the screen. Pausing at just the right moment reveals that Spider-Man's face has been scratched out and, perhaps more interestingly, there are a series of numbers tucked away in the bottom left corner. The easiest number to make out is "361," which, as some fans online have pointed out, is potentially a reference to the first full appearance of Carnage in The Amazing Spider-Man #361.

So, while some were quick to assume the always-popular Venom may show up for Marvel Tokon, the evidence suggests that, if any Symbiote will be playable, it will be Carnage. Although it's hard to deny that Arc System Works is teasing something at the end of the Fighting Avengers trailer, it's probably best not to get your hopes up for a playable Carnage until official confirmation arrives.

Marvel Tokon will let players take control of Savage Hulk, Shuri's Black Panther, and a roster of other classic comic book characters when its August 6, 2026, release date for PC and PlayStation 5 arrives. Demos for the superhero fighting game will be available starting May 22 at Combo Breaker 2026 and May 29 at Hong Kong Comic Con 2026.

For more, you can check out the X-Men reveals – including a closer look at characters like Wolverine and Storm – that players got earlier this year. You can also read up on the leak that may have revealed the final roster count before Arc System Works increases it with DLC in the future.

Michael Cripe is a freelance writer with IGN. He's best known for his work at sites like The Pitch, The Escapist, and OnlySP. Be sure to give him a follow on Bluesky (@mikecripe.bsky.social) and Twitter (@MikeCripe).

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'I Made a Mistake' — Seasoned Magic Artist Dan Frazier Admits He 'Painted Over' The One Ring Art After Fans Raise Plagiarism Concerns

Magic: The Gathering (MTG) artist Dan Frazier has admitted he "painted over" the work of Marta Nael when creating a new version of The One Ring card for Wizards of the Coast's upcoming The Hobbit set.

When Wizards of the Coast pulled back the curtain on its upcoming plans to continue its run of cards themed after characters, items, and locations from Middle-earth last week, fans were quick to raise concerns related to a reprint of The One Ring. Specifically, many feared that the updated Magic art, which featured similar ring positioning and even almost identical reflections, had been lifted without proper credit.

Reddit user Stiggy1605 shared side-by-side comparisons of the art featured on both cards shortly after the announcement. They noted that the one from The Hobbit set was illustrated by Frazier, a 30-year Magic veteran, while the piece from the 2023 The Lord of the Rings collection was drawn by Nael.

The new One Ring shown today is just the old art mirrored with the text blurred (check the inner reflections) - but with a different artist credited
by u/Stiggy1605 in magicTCG

Frazier confirmed fans' fears with a statement published to social media yesterday. It followed what Wizards of the Coast says were "similarities between The One Ring by Marta Nael and the newly released image of The One Ring by Dan Frazier." The company added that "those similarities are not coincidental, unfortunately."

"I made a mistake, and I feel awful," Frazier said. "I especially feel for Marta, whose work I adore. In trying to create an iconic version of The One Ring, while looking at references online, I ended up using Marta's ring as a reference and painted over it to try to depict the item fans hold dear to their hearts. In doing so, I didn't make it my own."

It was a shocking revelation for longtime Magic players and collectors who have followed Frazier's work in the tabletop world for decades. He concluded his statement by saying he would be reaching out to Nael to apologize "artist to artist."

Wizards of the Coast, in its own statement, praises the work Frazier has provided to the art and MTG community while saying it is "disappointed" that its review process "didn't catch the issue." The company added that it has also reached out to apologize to Nael.

Wizards of the Coast will compensate Nael for the use of her work and credit her on digital versions of the card. Nael has not made a public comment about Frazier's unauthorized use of her art.

"This is a good moment to recognize that we are all humans who make mistakes," Wizards of the Coast said. "We made mistakes in our process to not catch the error. We don't condone or accept either, but we still value Dan and his contributions and are grateful for his place in the game.

A message from Dan Frazier and Wizards of the Coast: pic.twitter.com/4VCM8avcay

— Magic: The Gathering (@wizards_magic) May 2, 2026

"Thank you to the eagle-eyed fans who noticed this, and for all of you for being strong advocates for amazing art and artists."

Magic players first learned about The Hobbit set late last year. It is expected to launch sometime this August, with Marvel Super Heroes and Star Trek cards also expected to launch in 2026. To learn more about the upcoming Secrets of Strixhaven set, you can read our interview with senior game designer Daniel Holt.

Michael Cripe is a freelance writer with IGN. He's best known for his work at sites like The Pitch, The Escapist, and OnlySP. Be sure to give him a follow on Bluesky (@mikecripe.bsky.social) and Twitter (@MikeCripe).

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Invincible VS Leaks Seem to Reveal First Look at DLC Characters and an Unexpected Spider-Man Reference Featuring J.K. Simmons

Some of the Invincible VS DLC roster appears to have leaked online, pointing to the potential inclusion of fan-favorite characters and even an unexpected Spider-Man reference.

As players flocked to try out the Invincible fighting game upon its launch on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X | S April 30, 2026, others were more excited to dig into its files to see what might be coming next. Post-launch leaks following a release like this feels like par for the course for games like this, but the supposed leaks tied to Invincible VS might have revealed what developer Quarter Up has planned when it comes to DLC in the months ahead.

A post from X/Twitter user @multiversusie contains what appears to be uncovered files related to characters who have yet to be added to the game. Two of the names in question are the previously confirmed Immortal and Universa, with the others including the Mauler Twins, Damien Darkblood, Oliver, Angstrom, Dinosaurus, and Volcanikka.

Each voice line seemingly reveals not only that Quarter Up appears to have plans to add the new characters, but how some of their interactions with the base roster will play out in Invincible VS, too. One of the more exciting inclusions is Agent Spider, whose related character interactions can be heard at about 1:30 in the above post.

Agent Spider is the Prime Video Invincible show's legally distinct version of Spider-Man. He first appeared in the animated series in Season 2 as a sort of stand-in for the beloved Marvel hero, who has crossed over with the comic book the series is based on in the past.

Mark Grayson's interactions with Agent Spider are cute on their own, but it's the character's conversations with Omni-Man that really drive the Spider-Man references home. Invincible VS brought back TV show actor J.K. Simmons, who also famously played J. Jonah Jameson in more than a few Spider-Man projects, to voice Mark's dad for the game. Just like the Daily Bugle editor-in-chief, it seems Omni-Man has some very specific feelings about spider-like superheroes.

Omni-Man can be heard saying "You're a criminal, a vigilante, a public menace – what are you doing in my universe?" Right down to the "public menace" reference, fans will recognize the line as exactly the kind of thing J. Jonah Jameson has said when talking about Spider-Man in the past. We may not know if the leak is accurate for months, but if it is, then Quarter Up certainly seems to be making the most of Simmons' return in Invincible VS.

Since the character interaction leaks emerged earlier this week, even more evidence of DLC characters in Invincible VS seems to have been uncovered. In addition to supposed character models shared by @astragalu3, @multiversusie has posted footage of what appears to be a near-finished, playable version of Angstrom.

Invincible VS launched last week for PC and consoles. In our 7/10 review, we said that its "hard hitting and fast paced 3v3 tag fighting is a gust of fresh air, especially for those who miss the two-way interactable combo system of Killer Instinct."

Michael Cripe is a freelance writer with IGN. He's best known for his work at sites like The Pitch, The Escapist, and OnlySP. Be sure to give him a follow on Bluesky (@mikecripe.bsky.social) and Twitter (@MikeCripe).

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The Best Deals Today: Yoshi and the Mysterious Book, The Dark Knight Trilogy 4K, JoJo Blu-rays, and More

A new weekend has arrived, and today, you can save big on Dragon Quest VII Reimagined, 86: Eighty-Six Blu-ray, Yoshi and the Mysterious Book, and more. Check out our top picks for Saturday, May 2, below.

The Dark Knight Trilogy - 4K Steelbook Collection for $106.16

If you're a fan of The Dark Knight trilogy, this is the ultimate way to take home the films for your collection. This set includes all three films in individual Steelbooks, plus a fourth Steelbook containing collectibles like lenticular cards, storyboards, a certificate of authenticity, and more. You can save 18% off and score this bundle for $106.16 right now at Amazon.

Dragon Quest VII Reimagined for $49.99

Dragon Quest VII Reimagined is one of the biggest RPG releases of the year so far, and this weekend you can score a copy on any platform for $49.99! This is a great entry point if you've never played a Dragon Quest adventure before, or if you're keen to explore more of the series after the HD-2D Erdrick Trilogy Remakes!

Yoshi and the Mysterious Book for $59.99

We're just a few weeks away from Yoshi and the Mysterious Book, and right now, you can save $10 off a physical copy at Walmart or Amazon. Nintendo recently announced that moving forward, physical games will be $10 more than digital games, so this deal sets you back to where physicals previously were.

Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade (Switch 2) for $29.99

Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade dropped on Switch 2 earlier this year, and today, you can score a copy for $29.99 from Walmart. This is the definitive version of the game, featuring Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade with all its enhancements from PS5 and Episode INTERmission, starring Yuffie Kisaragi. Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is set to launch on Switch 2 in early June, so now is the time to catch up.

Save Big on JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Stardust Crusaders Blu-rays

JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Stardust Crusaders, known as Part 3 of the long-running manga, is one of its most beloved, with iconic characters like Jotaro, Dio, and Joseph. Right now, you can score all 48 episodes of the beloved anime adaptation for $32 at Amazon, as both Blu-ray sets are discounted to $15.99 a piece.

Nintendo Switch 2 - Super Mario Galaxy 1+2 Bundle

The limited time Nintendo Switch 2 - Super Mario Galaxy 1+2 Bundle is live now, and you can save $20 off a copy of Super Mario Galaxy 1+2 for a limited time. If you've yet to pick up a Switch 2 console, now is a great time, especially with Yoshi and the Mysterious Book set to launch next month.

Splatoon Raiders Up for Pre-Order

Splatoon Raiders is officially due out this July, and pre-orders have now opened for the series' first single-player-focused game! In addition to physical Nintendo Switch 2 copies, three new Splatoon Raiders amiibo of Frye, Shiver, and Big Man are also set to release on July 23.

86: Eighty-Six Blu-ray for $25.99

86 is one of my favorite anime from the last 6 years, with a gripping story, banging soundtrack, and fantastic worldbuilding. Right now, you can take home all 23 episodes in this Blu-ray package from Viz Media for $25.99 at Amazon. If you've been on the hunt for a new series to start, I cannot recommend 86: Eighty-Six enough.

Noah Hunter is a freelance writer and reviewer with a passion for games and technology. He co-founded Final Weapon, an outlet focused on nonsense-free Japanese gaming (in 2019) and has contributed to various publishers writing about the medium.

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'We Don't Want to Kill Our Game' — Imagine Dragons Singer's Last Flag Is Ending Post-Launch Support Weeks After Launch

Night Street Games, the studio founded by Imagine Dragons frontman Dan Reynolds and his brother and band manager Mac Reynolds, has announced it is shifting its focus away from Last Flag less than one month after its launch.

The studio behind the struggling capture-the-flag multiplayer experience updated fans with a post shared on its Steam page. It confirms that, following a series of pre-planned content updates set to roll out in the coming months, post-launch support for Last Flag will come to an end following its April 14 launch for PC via the Epic Games Store and Steam.

"Making Last Flag has been a dream come true for our team," Night Street said in a statement. "Although our player count is not currently where we need it to be to support additional development beyond our upcoming planned patches, we are shifting our focus to make sure those updates give tons of value and control to our players so the game can continue to thrive and grow."

The developers make it clear that Last Flag will not be shutting down, at least not anytime soon, saying, "We don't want to kill our game – we want to give it to the community who helped us get here." So, following the upcoming updates, which include a new character, map, game mode, cosmetics, leaderboards, and rulesets, Night Street will shift its focus to things like replayability and community support.

It says its goal is to empower dedicated fans to stick with the game and keep it alive with things like persistent lobbies and unique rules inspired by games like "GoldenEye, Team Fortress 2, and Super Smash Bros." As outlined in an additional post shared by Mac Reynolds on the official Last Flag Discord, the change of course means a console port is "unlikely."

"Thank you for the awesome matches, the feedback, and the many words of support," the Discord message continued. "Being able to build Last Flag for you has been a dream come true. Our game belongs to you now, and we hope to continue capturing flags with you for years to come. In the meantime, we’ll see you on the battlefield–and we hope you’ll tune in for what comes next from Night Street Games."

Night Street's second message noted that those who have "been following the Steam charts" know that Last Flag has been "unable to find the audience it needs to give all of you the experience you deserve." While Last Flag's total player count is unclear, SteamDB marks its all-time concurrent player peak as hitting 558 players shortly after launch. At the time of this story's publication, fewer than 40 users are playing through Steam.

Those who have stopped by to check out Last Flag have at least helped it achieve a "Mostly Positive" Steam rating. Although there are no plans for Night Street to continue creating new content, the $14.99 video game is currently in the midst of a free-to-play weekend, which runs through May 4 at 10 a.m. PT / 1 p.m. ET.

We interviewed the Night Street team ahead of Last Flag's reveal at Summer Game Fest 2025. During the conversation, we learned not only about where the Reynolds brothers got their idea for a capture-the-flag video game, but also why they decided to dive deeper into game development.

Michael Cripe is a freelance writer with IGN. He's best known for his work at sites like The Pitch, The Escapist, and OnlySP. Be sure to give him a follow on Bluesky (@mikecripe.bsky.social) and Twitter (@MikeCripe).

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Tech Experts Say The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered Still Suffers From Issues That Plagued It at Launch

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered, without a patch on PC since July 2025, still suffers from issues that plagued it at launch, including worsening performance the more you play.

In May last year, the tech experts at Digital Foundry said The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered suffered from significant performance problems, including hitches while roaming the open world, frame-rate problems, and even performance degrading slowly with more playing time, potentially due to a memory leak.

Now, a year after the game’s release, Digital Foundry has revisited Oblivion Remastered to check in on how it performs, and found many of the same issues.

“As you may have noticed, the game hasn't been patched on PC since its 1.2 update arrived in July 2025 - a very short post-launch support window, given that the game was only released in late April the same year,” Digital Foundry said. “Unfortunately, that abandonment means that the game remains in a state that could be described as anywhere from ‘annoying’ to ‘practically unplayable,’ depending on your appetite for persistent hitches and stutters, crashing and other profound technical woes.

“It's hard to look beyond the initial design phase when it comes to apportioning blame, which sandwiched the original game's architecture within an Unreal Engine 5 front-end. Both of these elements are notoriously CPU and GPU heavy, so the combination presents with extremely poor frame-time stability that gets worse the longer you play. Still, the lack of updates suggest that Bethesda didn't feel like meaningful improvements were possible, and not even making the attempt feels even worse.”

It’s yet another damning assessment of Oblivion Remastered, which has a ‘mostly positive’ Steam user review rating for all reviews, but a ‘mixed’ user review rating for recent reviews. “Abandonware,” declared one negative review left in April. “There are still glaring bugs and performance issues. They updated twice after release and now we are getting close to one year without anything.”

“Whatever update they did last ruined the performance for me,” said another disgruntled player. “The game even lags on the main menu, when previously I was able to play the game at an acceptable level. Unfortunately I can't get a refund with over 100 hours played. Game's abandoned.”

Oblivion Remastered, overall, seems like a big success for Bethesda, which contracted Virtuos to help remake its much-loved role-playing game using Unreal Engine 5. It’s seen over 9 million players, and Bethesda development chief Todd Howard told IGN in December that the studio was “really, really pleased with how well it did.” So it seems somewhat odd that the game hasn’t seen an update since July 2025.

Digital Foundry suggests the release of the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 version of Oblivion Remastered may be the time for an update for all versions. It's due out at some point in 2026.

Wesley is Director, News at IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.

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