Epic Games has revealed more details about the Sonic Fortnite Chapter 7 Season 4 collab, including a Tails Sidekick. Players will be able to get Sonic’s flying fox companion when Fortnite Override launches on August 20.

Tails Sidekick Confirmed for Fortnite Chapter 7 Season 4

Epic Games has confirmed that Fortnite Chapter 7 Season 4 will feature a Sonic Tails Sidekick. The reveal was a bit of a surprise to fans, as a Sonic Fortnite collab had already been announced in a previous Fortnite Override trailer. However, it now appears that the SEGA crossover will be heavily featured throughout the upcoming season.

The new Sonic Fortnite Override teaser released today shows Peely traveling through the Green Hill Zone POI. Classic Sonic music then begins playing before we see Tails’ iconic twin tails spinning as the player flies across the map. It’s currently unclear whether this is a hint at a new Tails item or a Chapter 7 Season 4 traversal mechanic.

However, the official Sonic social media account confirmed that a Tails Sidekick will be featured in the upcoming Fortnite Override season. Here is what the account wrote after the teaser trailer went live: “That’s one trusty Fortnite sidekick… You wanna fly high, Tails?”

All Sonic Fortnite Chapter 7 Season 4 Features Revealed So Far

As of the time of writing, Sonic skins have not yet been confirmed for Fortnite Chapter 7 Season 4. The first Sonic Fortnite teaser appeared to reveal a Spindash or running item that lets players move like Sonic. Today’s trailer also seems to show a Tails hovering or flying ability.

That said, here is everything revealed for the Sonic Fortnite Chapter 7 Season 4 collab so far:

Sonic Spindash Ability

Tails Sidekick and Hovering Ability

Green Hill Zone POI

Dr. Eggman Clouds

Based on how Epic Games has been releasing its Fortnite Override teasers, we will likely get another Sonic trailer before Chapter 7 Season 4 launches on August 20. Perhaps the next reveal will finally confirm whether a Sonic skin is also being added to Fortnite.

The post Sonic Fortnite Collab Reveals Tails Sidekick for Chapter 7 Season 4 appeared first on VICE.

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The current Fortnite season ends soon, with Chapter 7 Season 3 concluding on August 19 in Pacific Time. Here is when Fortnite Chapter 7 Season 4 downtime starts and the final deadline to complete your Sprite collection before the current season ends.

When Does Fortnite Chapter 7 Season 3 End?

The current Fortnite season ends on August 19 at 11:00 PM PT / August 20 at 2:00 AM ET. According to dataminers, this is when Fortnite Chapter 7 Season 3 Runners will officially conclude and the Battle Royale will go offline for Chapter 7 Season 4 server maintenance.

This means you only have a few days left to finish your Sprite collection. Thankfully, Epic Games is launching the five-day Fortnite Sprite Spree event, which will make it easier to find rare variants before the season ends.

For those who don’t want to miss their last chance to collect all Chapter 7 Season 3 Sprites, we’ve created an easy-to-read table showing when the current Fortnite season ends in every region:

Fortnite Chapter 7 Season 4 Downtime Start Times

Region	Date	Time
Pacific Time (PT)	August 19	11:00 PM
Mountain Time (MT)	August 20	12:00 AM
Central Time (CT)	August 20	1:00 AM
Eastern Time (ET)	August 20	2:00 AM
Brazil (BRT)	August 20	3:00 AM
United Kingdom (BST)	August 20	7:00 AM
Europe (CEST)	August 20	8:00 AM
Turkey (TRT)	August 20	9:00 AM
United Arab Emirates (GST)	August 20	10:00 AM
China (CST)	August 20	2:00 PM
Japan (JST)	August 20	3:00 PM
South Korea (KST)	August 20	3:00 PM
Australia (AEST)	August 20	4:00 PM
New Zealand (NZST)	August 20	6:00 PM

When Does the New Fortnite Season Start?

The Fortnite Chapter 7 Season 4 release date is Thursday, August 20, 2026. However, at the time of writing, Epic Games has not confirmed exactly when the new season will start.

As mentioned above, Fortnite Override downtime is expected to begin at 2:00 AM ET, but we don’t know how long server maintenance will last. Chapter 7 Season 3 downtime lasted approximately five and a half hours.

Using the same timeframe gives us the following estimated Fortnite Chapter 7 Season 4 start times:

Estimated Fortnite Chapter 7 Season 4 Start Times

Region	Date	Estimated Time
Pacific Time (PT)	August 20	4:30 AM
Mountain Time (MT)	August 20	5:30 AM
Central Time (CT)	August 20	6:30 AM
Eastern Time (ET)	August 20	7:30 AM
Brazil (BRT)	August 20	8:30 AM
United Kingdom (BST)	August 20	12:30 PM
Europe (CEST)	August 20	1:30 PM
Turkey (TRT)	August 20	2:30 PM
United Arab Emirates (GST)	August 20	3:30 PM
China (CST)	August 20	7:30 PM
Japan (JST)	August 20	8:30 PM
South Korea (KST)	August 20	8:30 PM
Australia (AEST)	August 20	9:30 PM
New Zealand (NZST)	August 20	11:30 PM

However, these are only estimates based on the length of previous Fortnite Chapter updates. Server maintenance could be shorter or longer depending on how much time Epic Games needs to launch Chapter 7 Season 4. We will update this article once the official Fortnite Override start time is confirmed.

The post When Does the Current Fortnite Season End? Chapter 7 Season 4 Downtime Start Time appeared first on VICE.

The latest D&D Beyond Drop has arrived and it is jam-packed with adventure materials for DMs and players to prepare for JRPG-inspired encounters in the sewers.

D&D Beyond August Drops for DMs

Dungeons and Dragons DMs take inspiration from all kinds of places when developing plot and encounter ideas for their one-shots or campaigns. In addition to movies and TV, it’s also very common to borrow tropes and ideas from video games.

This month’s D&D Beyond Drop runs with that idea and provides a massive list of resources for Dungeons and Dragons fans that are all inspired by JRPG sewer levels. The sewers-themed drop includes multiple maps that can be used individually or pulled together to form a full sewer dungeon for players to scour.

Here is the full list of new resources available to D&D Beyond subscribers who check out the August Drop for DMs:

Monsters

• Sovereign Ooze Vassal (CR 4). These oozes were once discarded, magical experiments that have been animated and given life by a magical spark. Artist Credit: Alejandro Pacheco
• Sovereign Ooze Lord (CR 9). The result of two Sovereign Ooze Vassals merging, these oozes gain a more evolved intelligence and seek to further its agendas. Artist Credit: Alejandro Pacheco
• Sovereign Ooze Monarch (CR 17). The outcome of two Sovereign Ooze Lords merging; these oozes carry out the will of a greater power or try to consume all organic matter. Artist Credit: Alejandro Pacheco

Maps

• Sewer Dungeon Entrance. One of the many entrances to this sprawling sewer dungeon; can you find your way to the surface? It can be found under Dungeons > Sewers. Cartographer Credit: Gerralt Landman
• Sewer Dungeon Inner Chambers. There are many twists and turns within this sprawling sewer system – can you find all the secrets hidden within? It can be found under Dungeons > Sewers. Cartographer Credit: Gerralt Landman
• Sewer Dungeon Boss Chamber and Exit. The end is finally in sight! Weirdly, there’s a big open space in the middle before the exit, and piles of skulls that can be found around it… Is that a save point and a chance to regain all my HP?! It can be found under Dungeons > Sewers. Cartographer Credit: Gerralt Landman
• Sewer Dungeon Combined. This is a combined version of the previous three maps, placed together for your convenience. It can be found under Dungeons > Sewers. Cartographer Credit: Gerralt Landman
• Neighborhood along City Walls. This sprawling urban neighborhood is perfect for a city encounter. It can be found under Urban > Street. Cartographer Credit: Chippy

Stickers

• 13 Sewer Stickers. We have 13 sewer stickers as part of this Drop as well! These are focused on letting you customize and change things about the sewer maps we’ve provided so that you can tailor it to fit your needs! Artist Credit: Gerralt Landman

D&D Beyond August Drops For Players

This month’s drop isn’t only for DMs, though. In addition to the monsters, maps, and stickers, this drop also includes a decent list of resources for players, as well. Players with access to the August Drop can check out the following Magic Items, feat, and background:

Magic Items

• Alarm Pylon. A large post that allows you to set a specific trigger if someone casts a specific type of spell; if a creature takes damage; or if an object takes damage.
• Silencing Satchel. A satchel that inflicts a silencing hex on an enemy, sealing their mouth completely shut.
• Sync Ring. While wearing this ring, whenever you write something, a copy of the writing will also appear in a specified blank book.
• Unraveling Cloak. A cloak that allows you to unravel its fabric to be used as a thread that you can follow. Highly recommended for labyrinths.
• Wand of Misdirection. A wand that allows you to cast Mislead up to 4 times a day.

Feat

• Fey Tormentor. Develop your Fey pact by learning how to confound and curse your enemies!

Background

• And just to make sure that you’re feeling adequately inspired when exploring the sewers – we’ve also added 4 new vermin-inspired character sheet backdrops!

That’s everything included in this month’s Drop, but D&D fans should keep an eye out for more content when September arrives.

Be sure to check back soon for lots more Dungeons and Dragons news and updates.

Dungeons and Dragons is available now at local game shops and digitally through D&D Beyond, Roll20, and other online services.

The post Dungeons and Dragons Offers Players JRPG-Inspired Free Drop of Monsters, Sewer Maps, and Magic Items appeared first on VICE.

Beast of Reincarnation ended up being one of my favorite games this year. For me, it captured the world and atmosphere of NieR: Automata while delivering a compelling story that felt like Princess Mononoke meets Blade Runner. So, I was incredibly honored when I was given the opportunity to interview Beast of Reincarnation director Kota Furushima. During our discussion, the Game Freak developer opened up about Emma’s hair, her beloved sidekick Koo, and how the team balanced the game’s difficulty.

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Brent Koepp: Koo plays an important role in combat, but he is also central to the game’s emotional story. How did you make him feel like a genuine companion rather than simply another weapon or ability for the player?

Kota Furushima: Our primary focus was staying true to the core concept.

That concept was: “To experience the reliability, warmth, and even the loneliness of a partner while journeying through a harsh world together.”

We believe that every element of the game—from combat to the narrative—should embody this concept. Consequently, we designed the game to ensure Koo always feels like a “partner” in every situation.

In combat, we aimed to create moments where Koo saves the player from a tight spot while Emma desperately holds off enemies closing in on her in real time. We also implemented a slow-motion mechanic that allows players to formulate strategies calmly, even when facing a crisis.

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BK: Traversal plays a big role in Beast of Reincarnation. What were the biggest challenges of using Emma’s hair as a system for climbing and exploring the map?

Kota Furushima: Actually, the movement system using Emma’s hair was prototyped before the combat system, and we felt confident about it right from the start.

The game’s world features significant verticality, and Koo often spots items or enemies at high elevations before Emma does. So, how does Emma get there? We realized we needed an ability that would allow her to traverse cliffs or leap to high places, which led to the current design.

In short, this system was born out of the challenge of figuring out how to best utilize Koo within the game world.

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BK: Game Freak is traditionally known for games with more colorful and stylized graphics. What was the biggest challenge in creating a much more realistic world for Beast of Reincarnation?

Kota Furushima: From a technical standpoint, there were many things we had to learn from scratch, which simply required a great deal of time and effort. While the game is themed around plants, we constructed the environments using a wide variety of flora to authentically capture the dense, lush vegetation unique to Japan.

We faced challenges in determining the right mix of plant varieties—balancing visual authenticity (evoking the feel of the Japanese countryside or mountain forests) with technical optimization requirements.

We also faced challenges in building the teamwork necessary to co-develop the game while sharing know-how with our development partners. It required careful, deliberate communication to ensure that team members from diverse backgrounds shared a unified vision.

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BK: Beast of Reincarnation manages to be challenging while still being approachable for players who may struggle with intense action games. What was the most difficult part of finding that balance?

Kota Furushima: The hardest part was fine-tuning the balance to steer players toward the game’s core concept. Discussions about “difficulty” often tend to focus on the target audience, but at one point during development, we nearly lost sight of our concept while adjusting the difficulty level.

We had to step back and remind ourselves: “The difficulty needs to be set so that players make the most of Koo—meaning, it must guide them toward the core concept.”

If enemies are too weak, there’s no need to rely on Koo; if they’re too strong, Emma gets defeated instantly, preventing the player from experiencing mechanics like Koo healing her when her health drops. We focused heavily on finding that perfect balance.

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BK: Is there a feature or part of Beast of Reincarnation that the development team is especially proud of but that hasn’t received much attention from players?

Kota Furushima: The murals found throughout the game world. These murals actually depict stories that aren’t told in the main narrative. I encourage players to explore the world and unravel its mysteries and history.

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Beast of Reincarnation is now available on PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC. You can check out our review of the game here.

The post Beast of Reincarnation Interview: Game Freak Reveals How Koo Helped Balance the Game’s Difficulty appeared first on VICE.

Luna dropped the full list of titles coming to the game streaming service in the second half of August and one of the most popular modern Assassin’s Creed titles is going to be available to play at no additional cost for Amazon Prime subscribers.

Luna Adds Assassin’s Creed Valhalla and Mirage In August

Although services like Xbox Game Pass, Nintendo Switch Online, and PlayStation Plus are certainly far more popular with console gamers, many Amazon customers also have access to a large library of streaming titles that they might not even be aware is included in their Amazon Prime subscription.

Amazon Prime members gain access to a decent amount of titles through the Luna service. Luna has done a pretty good job of securing attractive titles over the last few months and late August appears to be another drop that could get some extra attention.

Although there’s a lot to check out, one of the biggest highlights is definitely the inclusion of Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. Although the Ubisoft title is six years old at this point, it’s still a fan-favorite and well worth checking out for any gamers who may have slept on it when it first released. Assassin’s Creed Mirage will also be arriving later this month.

Luna didn’t release a specific date yet, but did confirm that the title will be available to stream sometime in August for Amazon Prime members. Subscribers should keep an eye on the Luna Standard library for new additions in the coming weeks.

Here is the full list of new additions to Luna Standard this month:

• Now Available: Bluey: The Videogame – Playtime with the Heeler crew is now bigger and better, with new characters, minigames, unlockables, and collectibles to discover. Join Bluey, Bingo, Mum, Dad, plus her cousin Muffin and Uncle Stripe in interactive adventures set across iconic locations. Whether solo or in co-op, experience the joy of Bluey’s world with your family and friends.
• Now Available: Disney/Pixar Brave: The Video Game – Brave: The Video Game invites players to run, jump and battle their way through the rugged landscape of mythical and mysterious Scotland. By using their wits and bravery, gamers will also be able to wield a sword and bow and arrow to defeat fierce enemies, break a magical curse and save a kingdom.
• Now Available: Disney/Pixar: WALL-E – WALL-E follows the story of a small, sentient robot whose sole purpose is to clean up Earth’s voluminous garbage. Based on the 2008 computer animated film from Pixar Animation Studios, the video game version of WALL-E involves playing as the lonely robot as he navigates a trash-tainted world and begins an unlikely trek across the cosmos.
• Coming this month: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla – Become Eivor, a legendary Viking warrior, driven from Norway by endless wars and dwindling resources in ninth century AD. Players can relive the ruthless fighting style of Viking warriors and partake in political alliances to influence the world of Assassin’s Creed Valhalla.
• Coming this month: Assassin’s Creed Mirage – Follow Basim Ibn Is’haq, a young thief with a mysterious past who joins the Hidden Ones in Alamut on a quest for answers, in ninth-century Baghdad at the peak of its Golden Age.

Additionally, Prime subscribers can also access the following PC titles during August:

• Right and Down (August 6, GOG)
• Hiveswap Friendsim (August 6, GOG)
• Pyramids and Aliens: Escape Room (August 13, GOG)
• Airship: Kingdoms Adrift (August 13, Epic Games Store)
• Steelrising (August 13, Epic Games Store)
• Royal Romances: Forbidden Magic (August 20, 3P)
• Spray Paint Simulator (August 20, Amazon Games App)
• Havendock (August 27, Amazon Games App)
• Clash: Artifacts of Chaos (August 27, Epic Games Store

Be sure to check back soon for more news and updates on the Luna catalog and the Assassins’ Creed franchise.

Amazon Prime subscribers can check out the full Luna GameNight and Luna Standard library of games now.

The post Amazon Prime Subscribers Gain Access To Two Assassin’s Creed Games This Month appeared first on VICE.

A prominent insider claims that a major Kingdom Hearts announcement will be revealed at D23 tonight, August 14. According to the leak, there is a possibility that it could be related to Kingdom Hearts 4. However, the rumored Square Enix reveal may instead be for a new movie or TV series.

Kingdom Hearts Announcement Reportedly Coming at D23 on August 14

A Kingdom Hearts announcement will reportedly be made tonight, August 14, during D23. This latest update comes from Daniel Richtman, also known as DanielRPK, in a post on X. This is pretty significant, as DanielRPK is a prominent film industry leaker with a long track record of accurate insider scoops.

According to DanielRPK, the Square Enix announcement could range from a Kingdom Hearts 4 reveal to a potential spinoff movie or TV series. “There will be a Kingdom Hearts announcement today at D23. It could just be that Coco will have a world in the fourth game, or it could be an announcement for a TV show or movie.”

However, before Kingdom Hearts 4 fans get too excited, there are reasons to believe that the reveal may not be related to the video game. For starters, DanielRPK usually leaks information from the film industry and not gaming. This has led many to believe that the announcement could be related to a potential Kingdom Hearts animated movie or TV show instead. Finally, DanielRPK himself has cast doubt on the announcement being related to Kingdom Hearts 4.

The D23 Announcement Probably Won’t Be Kingdom Hearts 4

In a second post on X, DanielRPK updated fans and explained why the D23 reveal is likely not related to Kingdom Hearts 4. According to the prominent film insider, Disney’s panel tonight is focusing on “entertainment” and not gaming. As a result, the leaker said it would be “unusual” to see a Kingdom Hearts 4 reveal during the presentation.

“If it’s related to Kingdom Hearts 4, it would be very unusual for a video game to be presented during the Entertainment Panel at D23. Everything else announced today will be a show or a film. Also, they have a whole panel just for KH tomorrow. So we’ll see.”

That said, DanielRPK also didn’t rule it out completely. Basically, we will just have to wait and see. However, I think Kingdom Hearts fans should keep their expectations in check. For one, Square Enix itself has not confirmed that an announcement will be made tonight. Secondly, while DanielRPK is a legitimate film industry insider with a great track record, he isn’t specifically known for gaming leaks.

Kingdom Hearts D23 Panel Takes Place on August 15

Disney is also hosting its official DEEP DIVE into KINGDOM HEARTS panel at D23 on August 15. The presentation will feature Kingdom Hearts 4 co-director Tai Yasue and several cast members from the series.

The panel will be streamed on Disney’s YouTube channel at 4:30 PM PT and 7:30 PM ET. Therefore, if anything gaming-related does get revealed at D23, it seems more likely to happen during the dedicated Kingdom Hearts presentation on August 15 rather than tonight.

Still, if you are a fan of the series in general, tonight’s Disney Entertainment Showcase is worth keeping an eye on. Even if the announcement isn’t related to Kingdom Hearts 4, a movie or TV adaptation would still be a pretty massive reveal for the franchise.

The post Major Kingdom Hearts Announcement Reportedly Coming at D23 Tonight appeared first on VICE.