Role-playing Showbiz and Celebrity Breaking News

Savina Petkova “Mistrivsel” is a Danish word that roughly translates as depression, and its use has proliferated in recent year, especially when talking about young people. Instead of asking why that is, Copenhagen-born director Camilla Magid decided to document how one institution is coming up with alternative remedies for that dark state of mind.

Katcy Stephan SPOILER ALERT: This review discusses minor plot details and gameplay elements from “Rise of the Ronin.” “Rise of the Ronin,” the latest release from “Nioh” developer Team Ninja, is one of the most highly-anticipated game releases of the year, promising a high-octane role-playing story combining eastern and western combat styles. From its announcement, “Rise of the Ronin” drew inevitable comparisons to Sucker Punch’s critically-acclaimed 2020 release “Ghost of Tsushima.” It’s understandable: although “Ronin” takes place about 600 years after “Ghost,” both follow samurai warriors in Japan as they swing their swords in an action-adventure open world.

tabletop role-playing games.You Meet In Malta starts September 25 and will run for five days, with punters able to experience live actual play shows, workshops, panels and more during the immersive first-of-its-kind event,“Summoning all adventurers! You Meet In Malta to embark on a legendary quest. Step into a realm of magic and mystery with a brand-new, immersive event, rich in fantasy, where you can unleash your imagination,” reads the event description.“The sun-drenched, mystical and historic landscape of Malta is the backdrop to a weekend of scenic tours, talks and panels, riddle-solving and post-quest partying, with epic live shows featuring Krystina Arielle, Erika Ishii, Aabria Iyengar and many, many more.”A post shared by @youmeetinYou Meet In Malta will also offer “full access to the immersive market”, a number of workshops including mini painting, roleplay masterclasses and a number of Q&As alongside “meet & greets, cinema screenings, night-life events and game breakout spaces”.“There will be more ‘Main Quest’ activities than you can hope to conquer during the festival so we will provide an event planning sheet for you and your party to help you prioritise & customise your You Meet In experience,” explained organisers.

Islands Of Insight launching next month, NME caught up with game director Elyot Grant to learn about the title’s unusual approach to its genre.Islands Of Insight will task players with completing puzzle-based quests and learning what happened to the game’s universe – which looks more like the setting of a role-playing adventure than a traditional puzzle game.“To us, puzzles can be beautiful, even awe-inspiring, and we feel that the otherworldly fantasy theme aligns with that much better than cartoonish graphics or simpler environments,” explained Elyot Grant, game director and CEO at developer Lunarch Studios.“We aspired to create something a lot more impactful, where the beauty of the environment would add a sense of richness and wonder to the gameplay,” they added. “We also saw a huge number of fantasy-themed games – action-adventures, RPGs – that featured puzzles, but typically as a side dish rather than the main course.

Critical Role video game, if he finds the right studio.When asked by Dicebreaker if he wants to make a Critical Role video game, Mercer responded by saying that he’d love to make one “should all the stars align”, but that it would need to be the “right idea, the right development studio, and the right budget.”Despite the sheer popularity of the series, Critical Role somehow hasn’t been optioned for a video game yet. The closest the popular Dungeons & Dragons actual-play podcast has come is a DLC pack in Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire which featured their Vox Machina characters and voiceovers.However, the second series of Critical Role’s animated series The Legend of Vox Machina was released earlier this year, with the company also announcing an animated adaptation of their second campaign, The Mighty Nein, so the company is clearly making moves in multimedia ventures.Mercer earlier this year featured in Baldur’s Gate 3, playing fan-favorite character Minsc.

Rudie Obias editor If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Variety may receive an affiliate commission. One of the most popular video games of 2023 is coming to Nintendo Switch. Although “Hogwarts Legacy” was released for PS5, Xbox Series X, PS4 and Xbox One back in February, the game is making its Nintendo debut on Nov.

Todd Spangler NY Digital Editor In the two years since Netflix launched its first games, the company has assembled a collection of 80-plus titles — but only a handful of those have been based on the streamer’s TV shows or movies, like a “Stranger Things” puzzle game and a “Queen’s Gambit” chess app. Now Netflix is bringing out four new exclusive games, each based on popular originals on the service, betting that the titles will play big among fans of those entertainment franchises.

Dungeons & Dragons is more popular than ever, as evidenced by the release of not just one, but two movies in recent years centered around the game.

Don’t Scream has landed.In the game the player’s goal is do precisely what its title states, because if you do scream when scared, the game ends.Inspired by ’90s found footage film horrors including The Blair Witch Project, Don’t Scream challenges the player to explore the fictional Pineview Forest for 18 minutes. However, time only passes when the player moves and through “dozens of dynamic scares” (no two playthroughs will be the same).Check out the trailer for the upcoming game below.What sets Don’t Scream apart from other found-footage horror games is that the player’s microphone must be calibrated to register any sounds that the player makes in real life.“A mere squeak or quiet gasp should be flagged as a scream,” said developer Joure & Joe, but the team of two developers clarified that speaking softly should not trigger the game to end, making it possible for streamers to play with their audience.Developed in Unreal Engine 5, Don’t Scream is expected to enter early access on Steam on October 27.

Rudie Obias editor If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Variety may receive an affiliate commission. Looking for the most popular games in 2023? According to Futbin.com, an online resource for FIFA Ultimate Team gamers, the most popular video game of the year is “Hogwarts Legacy” — based on Google Search volume from the past 12 months in nearly 90 countries around the world, including the United States, United Kingdom, France, Brazil and much more. Released back in February, “Hogwarts Legacy” — which sold more than 12 million copies within its first two weeks — launched for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X/S and Xbox One.

The Assassin’s Creed franchise has regained its status as one of the hottest video games around amid the release of its newest title, Assassin’s Creed: Mirage.

Netflix is facing the legal wrath of a new lawsuit.

Todd Spangler NY Digital Editor Netflix has been sued for breach of contract by a company that was creating a game based on the forthcoming “Rebel Moon” sci-fi films by Zack Snyder. In a lawsuit, Evil Genius Games said it had begun working with Netflix in early 2023 to develop a tabletop role-playing game based on “Rebel Moon” with a delivery date to coincide with the first film’s streaming release on Dec. 22, 2023.

Sooo… It sounds like Amber Heard ain’t too thrilled about Elon Musk sharing her “private” roleplaying pic.

Elon Musk likes a little cosplay.

If you want to play with Barbies in the Gosling house, you gotta know some ground rules.

The controversial CEO of Twitter is back — and he’s found another outlandish hill to die on!

“Final Fantasy 7: Rebirth” is officially due to drop in 2024. The highly anticipated addition to the role-playing franchise will arrive for the PS5, notably on “two discs.” (What that detail means is still unclear, but a logical assumption would be that the game is just that big.)The major announcement was the last of many revelations at the Summer Game Fest 2023 big games showcase on Thursday, held at the YouTube Theater in Los Angeles to highlight upcoming releases gamers can look forward to in the near future.

Blizzard Entertainment has released the horror trailer Saviors Wanted, shot by Oscar-winning director Chloe Zhao, and co-directed by Kiku Ohe ahead of the June 6 global launch of Diablo IV, the fourth installment of the famed role-playing gothic video game.

McKinley Franklin editor It’s time to return to the horrific world of Diablo. Blizzard Entertainment has released a new live-action trailer for Diablo IV ahead of its June 6 debut, directed by “Nomadland” Oscar winner Chloé Zhao. The trailer, titled “Saviors Wanted” and co-directed by Kiku Ohe, gives audiences a first glimpse of what’s to come in the fourth installment of the role-playing game series. Zhao’s trailer captures the ominous, cinematic essence of Diablo IV, plagued by conflict, fear and outright destruction. “Saviors Wanted” shows off the dark world of Sanctuary, a land plagued by atrocious monsters and battles fought by the High Heavens and Burning Hells. “With a gripping story that interweaves emotion and humanity into the game’s characters, the promotional film takes viewers on a journey of destruction at the hands of Lilith, the Blessed Mother determined to rule over Sanctuary once more.” 

Todd Spangler NY Digital Editor Amazon Games is taking another shot at Middle-earth. The ecommerce giant announced a deal with Middle-earth Enterprises for Amazon Games to develop and publish a new massively multiplayer online (MMO) game based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s fantasy epic “The Lord of the Rings.” The upcoming game, as yet untitled, will be “an open-world MMO adventure in a persistent world set in Middle-earth, featuring the beloved stories of ‘The Hobbit’ and ‘The Lord of the Rings’ literary trilogy,” according to Amazon. The game is in early stages of production, with development led by Amazon Games Orange County, the studio behind Amazon Games’ open-world MMO game “New World.” Amazon Games will publish the game globally for PC and consoles, but it did not announce an expected launch date.

Little Play Town Heywood is a safe haven where children of all ages and capabilities take on the roles of inspirational key workers, drive around a mini race track or become a superstar on stage. With more than 10 themed areas to pique every child’s curiosity, this impressive role-play facility spans over a huge two storeys.

Rebecca Rubin Film and Media Reporter “Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves” rolled the dice at the weekend box office, taking out “John Wick: Chapter 4” with its $38.5 million debut. But Paramount and eOne’s adaptation of the popular role-playing game needs to hold up against “Super Mario Bros.” to be successful in its theatrical campaign. So far, “Dungeons & Dragons” has generated $71 million globally — including $33 million at the international box office. Those numbers aren’t bad, but the film cost a hefty $150 million to produce and tens of millions more to market, so it’s not yet a clear theatrical winner. The fantasy action-comedy needs to stick around in North American and overseas theaters through the spring to justify its price tag and potentially ignite a new franchise.

conjured up $38.5 million at the box office this weekend — a respectable figure given the movie was based on a tabletop role-playing game from the ’70s. And whether you’re an old-school D&D player (like this writer) or a newer fan (thanks to “Stranger Things”), “Honor Among Thieves” includes plenty of fan service.In the tabletop game (and licensed video game adaptions), players take on different classes or jobs, the archetypes being fighter, cleric, thief and wizard.

Rebecca Rubin Film and Media Reporter “Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves,” an adaptation of the popular role-playing game, ignited at the international box office with $33 million from 60 markets. Paramount and eOne’s film also opened in North America with $38.5 million, bringing its global tally to $71 million. It’s a good start, especially considering Hollywood’s track record in adapting games for the big screen. But “Dungeons and Dragons” needs to keep playing in theaters to justify its $150 million price tag before marketing. Overseas audiences will be key to the success of “D&D.” The film, directed Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley and starring Chris Pine and Regé-Jean Page, enjoyed the biggest start in China with $5 million, followed by the U.K. with $4.3 million, Mexico with $2.4 million, Australia with $2.4 million, and Germany with $2 million.

Rebecca Rubin Film and Media Reporter “Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves” emerged victorious at the box office, rolling $38.5 million from 3,855 North American theaters in its opening weekend. Buoyed by positive reviews and enthusiastic word-of-mouth, Paramount and eOne’s adaptation of the popular role-playing game landed on the higher end of expectations of $30 million to $40 million. And the ticket sales for the $150 million-budgeted film are expected to remain strong in the coming weeks. Inaugural audiences may be hardcore D&D players, but analysts believe it’ll appeal to broader audiences, who may not know as much about the game, as it continues its run on the big screen. “The opening weekend performance of ‘Dungeons & Dragons’ is just the first step in the journey for this well-reviewed film,” says Paul Dergarabedian, a senior Comscore analyst.

opens nationwide. And with it, countless viewers who have never played the tabletop role-playing game, first published back in 1974, will be introduced to a fantastical world full of magical creatures, dangerous dungeons and daring wizards.Chris Pine stars as a bard and former spy who gets together with some other thieves (among them: Michelle Rodriguez, Justice Smith and Sophia Lillis) to exact some delicious revenge on a former partner (Hugh Grant).

Saturday AM: Though Friday was $15.3M, Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves is still looking at a $40M opening.

Prior to Friday’s official theatrical release of “Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves”, the new fantasy flick had already garnered $5.6 million in previews at the domestic box office.

Jazz Tangcay Artisans Editor SPOILER ALERT: This story contains spoilers for “Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves,” currently playing in theaters. “Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves” rolls into theaters this weekend with Chris Pine, Michelle Rodriguez, Regé-Jean Page, Justice Smith and Sophia Lillis starring in the big-screen adaptation of the role-playing game. With obstacles to overcome, challenges to navigate, and monstrous forces to tackle, the gang embarks on a fantasy-filled adventure with twists, turns, surprises and plenty of easter eggs. Writers and directors Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley (“Game Night”) make sure to sprinkle in plenty of treats for longtime fans, with some in plain sight and others in the background.