This week brought a little bit of everything for nerds to enjoy, from movie news, gaming trailers, toy and book goodness! Here’s everything you may have missed.
After revitalizing the beat ‘em up genre with acclaimed titles, beat ‘em up experts Dotemu and Guard Crush Games teamed up with the incredible animators and artists from Supamonks to master a rogue ’em up subgenre in Absolum. The vision for Absolum is twofold: thrilling arcade beat ‘em up action akin to Dotemu and Guard Crush Games’ previous collaboration is at the heart of Absolum, with intricate, refined combat offering a rewarding level of depth; equally important is Absolum’s innovation of brawler design conventions, resulting in maximized approachability and replayability. Unlock items, quests and permanent warrior upgrades while mixing character skill combinations, exploring Absolum’s depth of combat in runs steeped in variety, excitement and challenge.
With branching pathways to explore, quests to discover, intriguing characters to encounter, and a deep variety of challenging bosses in store, Absolum’s gripping fantasy tale unravels a challenging adventure and channels the spirit of classic brawlers like Golden Axe and Dungeons & Dragons: Chronicles of Mystara. The entirety of Absolum’s journey is playable solo or in two-player local and online co-op.
Fight as one of four different rebels, each with their own unique skill set, personality and motivations, navigating through the original fantasy world of Talamh, a mysterious land filled with wonder and twisted cosmic horrors. Absolum’s announcement trailer introduced two of its distinctly formidable playable warriors: Galandra, an agile, sword-clad fighter suited for close-quarters combat; and Karl, a tanklike dwarf commanding devastating punches as well as a rifle to foil foes from a distance.
Absolum hits PlayStation 4|5, PCs, and Nintendo Switch sometime in 2025.
During this year’s New York Toy Fair, McFarlane Toys announced a new partnership with WB to release new figures based on the classic Mortal Kombat game.
The upcoming series will feature highly detailed 7-inch action figures, each crafted with meticulous attention to detail, designed to capture the Klassic designs of the original Mortal Kombat characters. These figures are fully articulated and will include additional accessories, sold in both solo and multipacks.
Early renderings were first revealed during the IGN Fan Fest live stream on February 28th, teasing the release of fan favorite characters such as Sub-Zero, Scorpion, Liu Kang, Kitana and Mileena, with many more to come. The highly anticipated collection is set to launch in Summer 2025 and will be available online and through select retailers.
From Todd McFarlane, Founder and CEO of McFarlane Toys, “As longtime partners with the talented team behind the Mortal Kombat games, we’re thrilled to once again bring fans a new wave of exciting figures inspired by this legendary video game franchise. What’s especially exciting this time around is the opportunity to revisit some of the all-time classic characters – something Mortal Kombat fans have been asking us to do for years. We’re finally diving even deeper into the rich history of this brand, and we can’t wait to deliver what fans have been craving.”
Also during Toy Fair, McFarlane announced a new partnership with Paramount to bring the Ninja Turtles to their Page Puncher line of figures.
McFarlane Toys, an industry leader in the collectibles category, proudly announces the landmark signing of a new licensing agreement with Paramount Consumer Products. This collaboration marks an exciting new chapter, as McFarlane Toys expands their comic collectibles with the iconic Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles brand.
The upcoming series will feature highly detailed 5-inch collectible figures, each crafted with meticulous attention to detail, designed to capture the unique essence and personality of the TMNT characters. These figures are fully articulated and come with an added bonus for collectors and fans alike – a re-printed classic comic book of an iconic Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles story from IDW Publishing.
The anticipated collection is set to launch in Fall 2025 and will be available online and through select retailers.
From Todd McFarlane, Founder and CEO of McFarlane Toys, “As a lifelong comic fanatic and professional, this partnership is something that is near and dear to my heart. I was there many decades ago when the very first issue of the TMNT comic came out for sale and have watched from a distance as this franchise has blown up into a full-scale phenomenon worldwide. To be able to join forces with the good folks at Paramount Consumer Products and bring some of the exciting figures from those original comics will set comic fandom on their heels. This is going to be fun for all of us!”
On top of the reveal trailer this week, Activision also dropped a detailed look at their recreation of the Waterpark level to show off the work they’ve done, while dropping some tips. Also check out the Digital Deluxe Edition Trailer if you missed it.
Are you ready for a brand-new adventure across the multi-verse? Rick and Morty: The Anime will be available to own on Blu-ray and DVD from Warner Bros. Discovery Home Entertainment on April 29, 2025.
The Rick and Morty universe is expanded with the all-new Japanese adult anime sci-fi television series from visionary director Takashi Sano. The 10-episode series follows Rick, Morty and the rest of the Smith family in a new intergalactic adventure. Pre-order your copy today.
ABOUT RICK AND MORTY: THE ANIME:
From the world of “Rick and Morty,” Rick relaxes in a pseudo-world between multiverses, Summer helps Space Beth fight the evil Galactic Federation, and Morty falls in love with a mysterious girl who happens to be an atemporal being.
Ambessa: Chosen of the Wolf, from C.L. Clark and Orbit launched this week in the US and UK.
Medarda over all.
Ambessa Medarda: Warrior, general, mother. She is a woman to be feared, and the Medardas are unrivaled in their pursuit of glory. She has led conquests and armies. She has slain legendary beasts. She has made grave sacrifices in her ascent up the ranks. And for this she was rewarded: She entered the realm of death and was granted a vision of herself upon the throne of the vast Noxian empire.
But before she can lead her empire, she must become head of her own clan. Yet the title is contested by her cousin and former confidante, Ta’Fik. He knows the bloody sins of Ambessa’s past. And he knows he cannot allow her to rise.
They will fight a war for the very soul of the Medardas.
But the war won’t be fought on battlefields alone. Ambessa’s daughter, Mel, can deftly break through the walls around anyone’s heart, and she’ll put her talents to use for her mother. Yet despite Mel’s strength, Ambessa sees only a child who lacks her killer instincts. Mel knows she can be the leader Ambessa wants her to be, if only she gives her time.
With her family betraying her, enemies closing in on all sides, and unseen forces moving in the shadows, every day proves more dangerous than the last. But Ambessa will not bow. She will burn the world down to claim her place in it.
Three Clint Eastwood films are coming to 4K Ultra HD for the first time on April 29th: Dirty Harry, The Outlaw Josie Wales, and Pale Rider.
2021 marked the 50th year of Clint Eastwood’s partnership with Warner Bros., which began in 1971 with the release of Dirty Harry. Over the course of his remarkable career, Eastwood, a 4-time Academy Award winner, has received a number of lifetime and career achievement honors, including the Motion Picture Academy’s Irving Thalberg Memorial Award and the Hollywood Foreign Press Association’s Cecil B. DeMille Award. He has also garnered tributes from the Directors Guild of America, the Producers Guild of America, the Screen Actors Guild, the American Film Institute, the Film Society of Lincoln Center, the French Film Society, the National Board of Review, and the Henry Mancini Institute. He is also the recipient of a Kennedy Center Honor, the California Governor’s Award for the Arts, and France’s Commandeur de la Legion d’honneur.
A collaboration years in the making, MAGIC brings its signature style and gameplay to the world of Spider-Man, releasing globally Sept. 26. Hasbro revealed the stunning packaging art and product lineup that will let tabletop fans live out your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man’s most epic battles through MAGIC’s engaging gameplay.
Ubisoft revealed 20 minutes of new gameplay footage from Shadows, showing off the infiltration of Nijo Palace.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows launches on March 20th.
