Over the past few days, rumors have circulated around the gaming industry that Marvel's Avengers sold well below Square Enix's expectations, which led to a disappointing financial quarter for the publisher. Now, an official transcript of a Square Enix investor briefing confirms that the game underperformed, which resulted in the publisher's HD Games division posting an overall loss."The HD Games sub-segment posted an operating loss as initial sales of Marvel’s Avengers were lower than we had expected and unable to completely offset the amortization of the game’s development costs," a portion of the briefing reads. "In the second half of the fiscal year, we hope to make up for slow initial sales by offering ample additional content to grow our sales."In a Q&A, one investor estimated the operating loss of the HD Games division in Q2 of this year as around 7 billion yen, which is roughly $67 million. The company attributed the game's slow sales in part to marketing delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. When asked about the volatility of the HD Games division, Square Enix replied that it considers the totality of its Digital Entertainment segment rather than the HD Games division in isolation by using stable income from MMOs and mobile games to offset potential losses of big-budget games like Avengers.Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

Persona 4 Golden is one of the most beloved RPGs of its era, but many fans of the series didn't get to play it back when it was a PlayStation Vita-exclusive. Today, the Steam version of Persona 4 Golden is only $12.79 at Fanatical. However, this is a one-day-only flash deal, and less than 24 hours remain to claim it.For comparison, Persona 4 Golden is usually priced at $20 on Steam, but it's currently discounted to $16 in Steam's Black Friday sale. Purchasing the game at Fanatical will get you a Steam key delivered via email, similar to other key sellers like Humble and Green Man Gaming, so it's worth saving yourself a few extra bucks and snagging Persona 4 Golden there today. Persona 4 Golden $12.79 (was $20) | Steam See at Fanatical Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild remains one of the best Nintendo Switch games, even though it launched the same day as the console. If you're a big Breath of the Wild fan who can't wait for its upcoming sequel, Amazon has a great Black Friday deal on the wonderful official art book. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild - Creating a Champion is on sale for nearly 50% off, and this also happens to be the deluxe Hero's edition. Breath of the Wild Creating a Champion Hero Edition $52.48 (was $100) The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild's Creating a Champion Hero edition art book comes in a royal blue slipcase. It also includes some goodies: a cloth-printed map of Hyrule, an art print featuring Link, Zelda, and the other Champions, and a glass replica of the Spirit Orb. See at Amazon The 424-page hardcover book includes a bounty of illustrations as well as commentary from developers about the game. In addition to close to 300 pages of concept art from Breath of the Wild, you'll find a treasure trove of sketches from Nintendo illustrator Takumi Wada. There's even a deep dive into the world of Hyrule as depicted in Breath of the Wild and interviews with numerous members of the development team, including producer Eiji Aonuma.Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

While we've seen quite a few doorbuster Nintendo Switch game deals for Black Friday, discounts on 2020 exclusives have been less common. Over the past day or so, however, retailers have started to offer modest deals on recent releases such as Super Mario 3D All-Stars and Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity (this deal has sadly ended, though). And now you can also save on Paper Mario: The Origami King at Amazon. Normally $60, the charming role-playing game is down to $50 for a limited time.As with most Amazon discounts, there's no telling how long this deal will be available. If you're looking to pick up The Origami King for yourself or someone on your holiday shopping list, you should grab it as soon as possible. This deal ties the lowest price we've seen for Paper Mario: The Origami King since it launched over the summer, and it's been a while since we've spotted it on sale. Paper Mario: The Origami King $50 (was $60) See at Amazon Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

For the second time ever, US Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is streaming Among Us right now. Following her record-breaking stream, AOC is taking part in another stream, this time one organized by Jagmeet Singh, leader of the Canadian New Democratic Party. The stream is live right now on Twitch, and you can watch it for yourself below. It's already cracked the 100k viewer mark.The stream is ongoing, and it features well-known video game streamers such as HasanAbi, Northernlion, and XQC, who, notably, was recently banned temporarily from Twitch. That was due to a cheating incident in a recent Fall Guys tournament.Today's stream began at 4 PM PT (7 PM ET). We don't know how long it will run for, but her first stream lasted for several hours as she worked to encourage people to get out and vote. While that game was broadcast on multiple Twitch channels, AOC's channel alone saw peak concurrent viewers top a whopping 430,000.Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

Razer Kraken Tournament Edition $55 (was $100) See at Amazon SteelSeries Arctis 5 $70 (was $100) See at Best Buy HyperX Cloud Alpha Pro $70 (was $100) See at Best Buy Astro A40 TR Wired Headset $120 (was $150) See at Amazon Logitech G935 Wireless Headset $120 (was $170) See at Amazon Turtle Beach Recon 200 $30 (was $60) See at Amazon If you're looking for a gaming headset for your new PS5 or Xbox Series X, it's an excellent time to buy one. Black Friday 2020 has brought some stellar deals on a bunch of solid gaming headsets. We've rounded up a handful of the best Black Friday gaming headset deals below, some of which have universal compatibility across all platforms, including Xbox Series X and PS5.A gaming headset is one of the first accessories you should grab when you get a new console. Headsets are vital for multiplayer games, but they're also great for single-player games, since they typically pinpoint sounds and create a more immersive experience. See our guide to the best PS5 gaming headsets for 2020 for more options if you're shopping for that platform.Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

The Mandalorian often sends its characters, Din Djarin and The Child, down side quest after side quest without revealing much about the core story--namely, the mysteries surrounding the character that has come to be known among fans as "Baby Yoda." That changed this week when Mando encountered a character who Star Wars fans know well--the Jedi (depending who you ask) Ahsoka Tano (played for the first time in live action by Rosario Dawson, as the rumors claimed)--and she finally dropped some major revelations about Baby Yoda.Chief among them: Baby Yoda's name, which Ahsoka revealed is "Grogu." Let that sink in before you keep reading. "Grogu." Say it out loud a few times. Really chew on it. There you go. Yeah. OK.In addition to The Child's name, Ahsoka revealed that Grogu was in training at the Jedi Temple on Coruscant before the fall of the Jedi Order. He was taken from the Temple, and his memory becomes dark after that, according to Ahsoka. But at the very least, this explains why Grogu is proficient with The Force, though the Jedi pointed out that he's been suppressing his abilities to keep a low profile.Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

Control Ultimate Edition $20 (was $40) See at GOG Batman games On sale for 75% off See at GOG Othercide $23.44 (was $35) See at GOG Disco Elysium $28 (was $40) See at GOG Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice $6 (was $30) See at GOG There are a ton of physical game deals floating around this Black Friday, but that doesn't mean PC gamers can't get in on the holiday savings. Not only are we seeing major Black Friday sales from Steam, Fanatical, and Green Man Gaming; there's also a massive PC games sale going on right now at CD Projekt Red's PC games storefront GOG. The store is offering steep discounts on over 2,000 games from now until December 1 at 6 AM PT / 9 AM ET.GOG's sale features a wide variety of games, and the best part is that all of them are DRM-free. You can find great deals on AAA hits like Control: Ultimate edition as well as classic gems like Tales of Monkey Island. GOG has also added a bunch of Batman games to its catalog, including the entire lineup of Arkham games for $5 each.Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

Final Fantasy XIV keeps on rolling with patch 5.4 launching on December 8 this year. The update for Square Enix's MMORPG comes with a ton of new content and gameplay changes, and a heavy-hitting trailer teases where its several story branches are going (you can watch below). The new content reveal came via the normally scheduled Live Letter From The Producer stream, which was presented in Japanese by director/producer Naoki Yoshida and community manager Toshio Murouchi.Keep in mind that spoilers for FFXIV: Shadowbringers and the recent 5.3 storyline are part of the reveal trailer and new main story details.The trailer opens with voice lines from the new main villain Fandaniel and a shot of what looks like an upcoming boss-type Primal. It's followed by a shot of all the members of the main cast--the Scions of the Seventh Dawn--brought together with Lyse back in the mix, stating that most of the Garlean Empire's capital has been destroyed. Shots from new cutscenes in the Sorrow of Werlyt sidequest are shown alongside Emerald Weapon--the new Trial boss fight within the questline--and lines from Nero talking to Cid about his expertise with technology exceeding that of the ancient Allagans.Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

Seiren X USB microphone $70 (was $100) See at Amazon Seiren Emote USB microphone $100 (was $180) See at Amazon JLab Audio Talk USB microphone $70 (was $100) See at Best Buy Shure MV5 USB microphone $79 (was $99) See at Amazon Maono USB microphone kit $49.71 (was $62) See at Amazon Elgato Wave 3 USB microphone $159 (was $160) See at Amazon A microphone can be used for many things, and this year, they have been used by many people as businesses have shifted to working from home regularly for most of 2020. Thankfully, if you need a microphone yourself, Black Friday 2020 has a number of great deals that are definitely worth your attention. Razer has discounted its quality Seiren X and Seiren Emote microphones and Shure has a number of different Black Friday deals. The Elgato Wave 3, while not discounted, is also back in stock.The vast majority of these microphones work by connecting them to your PC via USB. These include models like the JLab Audio Talk USB microphone for $70 and the Maono USB microphone kit for $50. However, some of these microphones can even be connected to your iPhone or Android, such as the Shure MV5 microphone for $79 and the Shure MV88 microphone for $219. Whatever you need a microphone for, there's sure to be a great Black Friday deal on the right one.Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

During the latest Final Fantasy XIV producer livestream, which outlined the wave of content coming for the 5.4 update, it was revealed that a major event is planned for February next year: the FFXIV Announcement Showcase. While it was not explicitly stated what would be at the event, it's likely to include the first reveal of FFXIV's next expansion.The FFXIV Announcement Showcase will be a live broadcast taking place on February 5, 2021 starting at 5:30 PM PT / 8:30 PM ET (February 6, 1:30 AM GST), and it will include live Japanese-to-English interpretation and English audio. This will be part of a larger 14-hour livestream, which will be in Japanese only.Not much else was said about the event itself, although you can expect it to be the opportunity for Square Enix to show off the upcoming expansion for FFXIV. The MMORPG has been on a schedule that delivers one expansion every two years and five major content updates in between that link story events across the expansions. The latest one, Shadowbringers, launched in July 2019 and was met with wide critical acclaim--and the reveal for it took place on November 2018. The previous two expansions, Stormblood and Heavensward, launched in 2017 and 2015, respectively.Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

Originally an Epic Games Store timed exclusive, Mechwarrior 5: Mercenaries would have been available on other PC digital distribution platforms from December 10, but developer Piranha Games has decided to delay the game's launch to 2021.The date coincides with possibly the biggest game of 2020, Cyberpunk 2077, and the studio has admitted that it doesn't want its own release eclipsed by developer CD Projekt Red's long-in-development game."Any developer wants their titles to get as much attention as possible, and obviously sharing a release date with Cyberpunk was less than optimal," the studio said in a statement. "Day one sales and marketing are so important to a successful product launch, and we believe that rescheduling our release date will allow MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries to have the opportunity and attention it deserve."Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War is the latest installment of Activision's flagship FPS franchise. It features a brand-new campaign, suite of multiplayer modes, and the iconic Zombies co-op mode. The Xbox Series X/Xbox One Cross-Gen Bundle of Black Ops Cold War is on sale for $60 this Black Friday at Newegg. This is the first deal we've seen since the game launched earlier this month.Newegg's deal knocks $10 off the price of the Cross-Gen Bundle. This deal is only available for the digital version of the bundle, which means Xbox Series X and Series S users can take advantage of it. It's worth noting that $70 is the standard price for the Xbox Series X version of Black Ops Cold War, so it's definitely worth snagging this deal if you have a Series X or are planning to get one soon. To get the discount, you have to enter promo code EMCGGFN37 at checkout. COD: Black Ops Cold War Cross-Gen Bundle $60 with promo code EMCGGFN37 See at Newegg Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

Unto the End, a cinematic 2D platformer about a father's desperate journey home, is coming to Xbox Game Pass on PC and Xbox One. Published by Big Sugar and developed by 2 Ton Studios, Unto the End is set to hit PC, Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and Stadia on December 9, with the Nintendo Switch version launching a little later on December 17.According to the game's press release and Steam page, Unto the End's one-of-a-kind combat is focused on skill and mastery, as you embark on a challenging adventure through dark caves and sparse open fields. Its sword fights are designed to be demanding but fair, where improvisation and observation are key to your survival. Each encounter has been carefully crafted and will see you square off against intelligent opponents that have their own motivations and place in the world."Unto The End has been the focus of our day to day for the past few years and it's been fantastic to have such a great response to the game already," said Stephen Danton, one half of the husband and wife development team. "But now we're looking forward to Unto launching and everyone having a chance to experience the world and adventure we've created."Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

One of the most sought-after items this festive season could be a next-gen console, as stock of the PlayStation 5 and the Xbox Series X has been extremely limited.From online retailers the consoles have sold out almost instantly, but physical stock available at GameStop stores did arrive in time for Black Friday. The only way to guarantee a purchase of one of the new consoles was to wait in line early, and for some dedicated gamers that meant securing their spot several hours -- and in some cases days -- before their local shop was ready to open up.People have literally camped outside some GameStop shops:Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com