Retro-inspired game for Masters of the Universe

Mattel and Limited Run Games announced He-Man and the Masters of the Universe: Dragon Pearl of Destruction at Gamescom.

“Dragon Pearl of Destruction is one of the exciting ways we’re bringing Mattel’s brands to life through digital games,” said Erika Winterholler, Head of Business Development, Digital Games at Mattel. “It’s a love letter to those who grew up with He-Man, combining nostalgic visuals with fast-paced, modern gameplay. Our goal is to honor the franchise’s legacy while introducing it to a new generation of players. The team at Limited Run Games shares that passion, and we hope the game connects with both lifelong fans and newcomers alike.”

Inspired by the iconic ‘80s cartoon, He-Man and the Masters of the Universe: Dragon Pearl of Destruction allows players to take control of Eternia’s beloved heroes, including He-Man, Teela, Man-At-Arms, and more, to battle Skeletor and Evil-Lyn and save Eternia from plunging into darkness.

Fight through over 12 action-packed levels using character-specific moves, abilities, and power-ups to stop Skeletor’s ancient ritual that threatens to take over Eternia. Battle Cat, He-Man’s fearless feline companion, also joins the fray, battling on the side of justice with his claws unsheathed.

“Dragon Pearl of Destruction is the Masters of the Universe arcade game I yearned for as a child,” said Josh Fairhurst, CEO and Executive Producer at Limited Run Games. “I am excited and honored to be playing a small part in making it a reality.”

Growing up, I wanted an Intellivision to play the Masters of the Universe: The Power of He-Man video game. An arcade port of Golden Axe filled the void on the Sega Mega Drive, and now fans (myself included) can play a retro-inspired 2D brawler by Bitmap Bureau on PlayStation 5 (PS5), Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch and PC in 2026.

Are you looking forward to He-Man and the Masters of the Universe: Dragon Pearl of Destruction? Let me know in the comments below.

LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight

During Gamescom Opening Night Live, Warner Bros. Games, TT Games, DC, and the LEGO Group announced LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight, a brand-new action-adventure videogame inviting players to embark on an epic journey to become the hero of Gotham City, inspired by the 86-year history of Batman films, television shows, comics, and games, all combined with the TT Games’ legendary LEGO humour.

“We are thrilled to announce LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight, a fantastic new game designed to entertain and provide enjoyment for every type of player,” said JB Perrette, President and CEO, Streaming & Games, Warner Bros. Discovery. “Our remarkable team at TT Games is working hard to deliver a fresh take on the beloved Batman universe, offering new and improved features beyond previous LEGO games that will excite both longtime fans and gamers of all levels.”

Developed by TT Games, creators of the best-selling LEGO Games franchise, including the critically acclaimed LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga, and published by Warner Bros. Games, LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight will release in 2026 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2 system, and PC via Steam and Epic Games Store.

“All of us at TT Games are incredibly proud to reveal LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight, a brand-new game that’s a real celebration of everything Batman,” said Jonathan Smith, Strategic Director & Head of Development Team, TT Games. “We take players on Bruce Wayne’s epic journey to become the legendary hero of Gotham City, incorporating iconic moments from across Batman’s history with our special LEGO twist. Our all-new crime-fighting combat features are amazing fun and take LEGO gameplay to an entirely new level.”

The adventure begins with the origins of Batman as a young Bruce Wayne trains with The League of Shadows, and throughout the story-led campaign, players will build a family of allies with well-known characters including Jim Gordon, Robin, Nightwing, Batgirl, Catwoman, and Talia al Ghul to help confront an ever-growing threat from a Rogues Gallery of DC Super-Villains, facing the likes of The Joker, The Penguin, Poison Ivy, Ra's al Ghul, Bane, and more.

“This is a Batman game that fans will instantly connect with,” said Fredrik Löving, Senior Vice President and Global Head of GAME, The LEGO Group. “Our partners at Warner Bros. Games, TT Games, and DC have created an experience that delivers the style, intensity, and authenticity of Gotham City’s greatest hero, infused with the family-friendly fun of the LEGO brand, making it an exciting experience for LEGO Batman fans old and new.”

While fans (myself included) wait for the release of LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight, LEGO is releasing the amazing Arkham Asylum building set on 9th September.

LEGO DC Batman Arkham Asylum is available from LEGO AU, CA, UK and US (affiliate links).

Are you looking forward to LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight? Let me know in the comments below.

The Witcher 4 demo at State of Unreal

CD Projekt Red showed a stunning tech demo at Unreal Fest Orlando 2025 of The Witcher 4 running on a base PlayStation 5 (PS5) with ray tracing enabled.



Read the official synopsis:

"This demo provides a glimpse at a number of 5.6’s powerful new open world features in action—all running on PlayStation 5 at 60 fps with raytracing—including the new, faster way to load open worlds via the Fast Geometry Streaming Plugin.

We get a peek at the power of 5.6 for handling busy scenes full of high-fidelity characters and visual effects like Chaos Cloth and an early look at Nanite Foliage, which provides a fast and memory-efficient way to achieve gorgeous foliage density and fidelity, slated for release in UE 5.7."

Remember that this isn’t gameplay of The Witcher 4 itself, but a deep dive into the technological groundwork.

Speaking on The Witcher 4 Unreal Engine 5 tech demo, Joint-CEO of CD Projekt Red, Michał Nowakowski, stated:

“We started our partnership with Epic Games to push open-world game technology forward. To show this early look at the work we’ve been doing using Unreal Engine running at 60 FPS on PlayStation 5, is a significant milestone — and a testament of the great cooperation between our teams. But we’re far from finished. I look forward to seeing more advancements and inspiring technology from this partnership as development of The Witcher 4 on Unreal Engine 5 continues.”

I vividly remember playing Unreal Tournament on my iMac DV SE in 2000. The Unreal Engine has evolved, and The Witcher 4 promises truly next-gen fidelity.

Tim Sweeney, Founder and CEO of Epic Games, said:

“CD Projekt Red is one of the industry’s best open-world game studios, and we’re grateful that they’re working with us to push Unreal Engine forward with The Witcher 4. They are the perfect partner to help us develop new world-building features that we can share with all Unreal Engine developers.”

Sony's $250 million investment in Epic Games is paying dividends, and I can't wait to play The Witcher 4 on PS5.

Have you watched The Witcher 4 tech demo? What did you think? Let me know in the comments below.

Destiny 2 goes full Star Wars in Renegades

As a lifelong Star Wars fan and lapsed Destiny 2 player, the Force flows through Destiny 2: The Edge of Fate in the Renegades teaser trailer.



"The reveal featured a brief cinematic teaser showcasing Renegades, a definitive Destiny expansion with a narrative integral to the Fate Saga, while also suffused with inspiration from and homage to Star Wars," Bungie explained.

The Renegades expansion will launch in December.

"Renegades will introduce new Destiny characters, innovative activities, and evolved mechanics designed to surprise and delight players."

If it looks like Star Wars and sounds like Star Wars, it is Star Wars! Lucasfilm Games is involved, after all.

"To really drive it home here, Renegades is a one-of-a-kind Destiny experience," says assistant game director Robbie Stevens. "Just like we on the Destiny team have taken inspiration from other genres like dark fantasy or cosmic horror, Renegades takes the space western vibe and aesthetic that is Star Wars and puts it through that Destiny lens."

What did you think of the teaser trailer? Are you still playing Destiny 2? If not, will Star Wars bring you back? Let me know in the comments below.

Grand Theft Auto VI delayed

On Tuesday, Rockstar Games released a new trailer for Grand Theft Auto VI.



Read the official synopsis:

"Jason and Lucia have always known the deck is stacked against them. But when an easy score goes wrong, they find themselves on the darkest side of the sunniest place in America, in the middle of a criminal conspiracy stretching across the state of Leonida — forced to rely on each other more than ever if they want to make it out alive."

GTA VI heads to the state of Leonida, home to the neon-soaked streets of Vice City and beyond in the biggest, most immersive evolution of the Grand Theft Auto (GTA) series yet. With a reported budget of over a billion dollars and featuring a female protagonist (Lucia), GTA VI was due to be released on PlayStation 5 (PS5) and Xbox Series S|X in 2025. However, the game has been delayed until 26th May 2026.

“With every game we have released, the goal has always been to try and exceed your expectations, and ‘Grand Theft Auto VI’ is no exception,” the company said. “We hope you understand that we need this extra time to deliver at the level of quality you expect and deserve.”

According to Michael Pachter, the managing director of equity research at Wedbush Securities, Rockstar Games could consider selling GTA VI for $100.

“We think the company has plans to sell the game at a previously unheard of price point, and suspect that management can offer consumers an incentive to pay $100 or more per unit by rewarding them with a large amount of in-game currency to be spent in GTA Online,” he wrote.

“There is precedent for integrating an online game experience with a premium game, as Activision did so with both Call of Duty Warzone and Call of Duty Mobile content prior to the release of its annual Call of Duty premium installment,” Pachter continued.

“In Activision’s case, the integration led to a 40% increase in sales of Call of Duty premium; in Take-Two’s case, we think a successful integration of GTA Online and GTA VI can lead to a $100 price point for the premium game.”

Are you looking forward to Grand Theft Auto VI? What did you think of the trailer? Are you disappointed by the delay? Let me know in the comments below.

The Last of Us cast at SXSW

South by Southwest (SXSW) hosted a panel at the Austin Convention Center on Saturday featuring the cast and creators of HBO’s Emmy-winning series The Last of Us.

Cast members Pedro Pascal, Bella Ramsey, Kaitlyn Dever, Gabriel Luna, Isabela Merced and Young Mazino attended the panel, alongside showrunners and directors Neil Druckmann and Craig Mazin.



An official trailer for season two was dropped during the panel.



Read the official synopsis:

“After five years of peace following the events of the first season, Joel and Ellie’s collective past catches up to them, drawing them into conflict with each other and a world even more dangerous and unpredictable than the one they left behind.”

Bella Ramsey, Pedro Pascal and Gabriel Luna are back, and we also see Kaitlyn Dever as Abby, Isabela Merced as Dina, Young Mazino as Jesse, Ariela Barer as Mel, Tati Gabrielle as Nora, Spencer Lord as Owen, Danny Ramirez as Manny, and Jeffrey Wright as Isaac. Catherine O’Hara also guest stars.

The Last of Us returns this April on HBO and Sky Atlantic.

Are you looking forward to the second season of The Last of Us? Let me know in the comments below.

Exodus is a spiritual sequel to Mass Effect

Had it not been for PlayStation's State of Play and Earl Barker, a friend and fellow video gamer, I wouldn't have known about Exodus (other than hearing a brief mention of it during an episode of Podcast Unlocked and then forgetting all about it)!

The upcoming sci-fi action-adventure role-playing game (RPG) starring Matthew McConaughey (Interstellar) is developed by Archetype Entertainment, a division of Wizards of the Coast (a subsidiary of Hasbro renowned for properties like Dungeons & Dragons and Magic: The Gathering). BioWare and Bungie veterans are spearheading the space odyssey, which has piqued my interest. The dream team have worked on Halo and Mass Effect.



Read the official synopsis:

"Having fled a dying Earth, humanity has found a new home in a hostile galaxy.

Here, we are the underdogs, fighting our final battle for survival.

You are the Traveler, humanity’s last hope."

It's impossible to ignore the original Mass Effect trilogy overtones, and I'm here for it.

I was very late to the Mass Effect party! After winning an Xbox 360 S from LOVEFiLM (Prime Video), I bought Mass Effect 3 in 2012. This was tantamount to watching Star Wars: Return of the Jedi, first!

So, finally, I began FemShep's hero's journey from the beginning in the lead-up to the release of Mass Effect: Andromeda in 2017. It would cement Mass Effect's status as one of the greatest space operas in any medium. Combining the Battlestar Galactica reboot with Star Trek and Star Wars to peerless effect.

I laughed, I cried and didn't want to say goodbye to Shepard's found family as the end credits rolled! Character-driven storytelling was front and centre throughout a hundred hours or more. And, for the first time, there was a disabled character I could empathise with in a video game...

During the pandemic, I played Mass Effect Legendary Edition on Game Pass. I will replay it ahead of Exodus as and when it's released sometime in the future for PlayStation 5 (PS5) and Xbox Series X|S.

Are you looking forward to Exodus? Let me know in the comments below.

Star Wars brings the Force to Destiny 2

It what could be considered as a match made in geek heaven, Destiny 2 and Star Wars is a thing. However, in an era of Fortnite, does it matter?

Longtime readers may recall that I was a huge fan of the original Destiny in 2014 and embraced the notion of a decade-spanning story from Bungie (the studio that created Halo). A so-so story was overshadowed by fun Fireteam adventures with friends on PlayStation Network (PSN) and Peter Dinklage's infamous Ghost. Dinklage was ultimately replaced by Nolan North best known for playing Nathan Drake in the Uncharted series.

The release of Destiny 2 marred the experience to the point that I stopped playing within weeks of its release in 2017. It was more of a slog than a compelling sci-fi space opera and friends left in droves.

When Bungie broke free of Activision and Destiny 2 became free-to-play, I briefly revisited the looter shooter on Game Pass during the pandemic, but it failed to fully reignite my enthusiasm.

Created by Bungie in collaboration with Lucasfilm Games, this new crossover event is bringing Imperial-themed cosmetics for players to use, letting them dress their Hunters, Titans, and Warlocks as Death Troopers, Stormtroopers, and the Emperor's Royal Guards, respectively.

Alongside the new cosmetics for Guardians, there's also a new ship and Ghost gear. If you've ever wanted your Ghost to look like the unfinished second Death Star from Star Wars: Return of the Jedi, or have your ship look like a TIE Fighter, now is your chance.

It will be included with Destiny 2: Heresy, which launches on 4th February. Heresy is the final epilogue of the long-running Light and Darkness saga that began in 2014.

Are you still playing Destiny 2? If not, will Star Wars bring you back? Let me know in the comments below.

The Last of Us at CES

A new teaser trailer for season two of The Last of Us dropped during Sony's presentation at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas.



Read the official synopsis:

“After five years of peace following the events of the first season, Joel and Ellie’s collective past catches up to them, drawing them into conflict with each other and a world even more dangerous and unpredictable than the one they left behind.”

Bella Ramsey, Pedro Pascal and Gabriel Luna are back, and we also see Kaitlyn Dever as Abby, Isabela Merced as Dina, Young Mazino as Jesse, Ariela Barer as Mel, Tati Gabrielle as Nora, Spencer Lord as Owen, Danny Ramirez as Manny, and Jeffrey Wright as Isaac. Catherine O’Hara also guest stars.

In related news, Sony showcased its Future Immersive Entertainment Concept. According to Sony, it combines Crystal LED panels, audio, haptics, scent, and atmospherics with a PlayStation game like The Last of Us to create an interactive experience. For now, this is only a proof of concept.

The Last of Us returns this April on HBO and Sky Atlantic.

Are you looking forward to the second season of The Last of Us? Let me know in the comments below.

PlayStation turns 30!

This blog began 20 years ago and I've reviewed PlayStation hardware across generations. So it's only right I share my memories on the 30th anniversary of Sony's game-changing console.

I wouldn't own Sony's upstart console with a bundled copy of Tomb Raider from EB Games until 1996. However, I first played a friend's Japanese import PlayStation and then a university housemate's for a daily dose of Destruction Derby, Ridge Racer and WipEout (when I should have been writing my third-year dissertation).

In the mid-to-late nineties, saying you owned a PlayStation during work water cooler conversations was fashionably cool. The console was featured on newsstands everywhere, from Edge to FHM, nudging Nintendo and Sega off the top spots forever.

Without the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES), there would be no PlayStation.

Sony's 32-bit console began life as an aborted SNES CD-ROM add-on in 1988. However, Nintendo shunned Sony at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) and partnered with Philips in 1991. The rest is gaming history.

Sony brings back the original PlayStation boot screen to celebrate this milestone with the PlayStation 5 (PS5) anniversary update! No matter which generation of PlayStation you grew up on, that old-school PS1 boot screen hits differently! I will turn my PS5 on and off throughout the holidays to remember what it felt like to play Tomb Raider for the first time!

What are your PlayStation memories? Let me know in the comments below.

The Last of Us Day

It's The Last of Us Day and HBO has released the first official teaser trailer for The Last of Us season two. This is expected to adapt The Last of Us Part II video game from 2020.



Read the official synopsis:

“After five years of peace following the events of the first season, Joel and Ellie’s collective past catches up to them, drawing them into conflict with each other and a world even more dangerous and unpredictable than the one they left behind.”

Bella Ramsey, Pedro Pascal and Gabriel Luna are back and we also see Kaitlyn Dever as Abby, Isabela Merced as Dina, Young Mazino as Jesse, Ariela Barer as Mel, Tati Gabrielle as Nora, Spencer Lord as Owen, Danny Ramirez as Manny, and Jeffrey Wright as Isaac. Catherine O’Hara also guest stars.

Season one of The Last of Us is an intense, character-driven story, and there’s a haunting beauty to its rustic depiction of America in the wake of an incurable pandemic. Heightened by a real-life pandemic we’re emerging from. Our shared trauma is explored in HBO’s live-action adaptation of Naughty Dog's award-winning PlayStation 3 (PS3) video game from 2013.

The Last of Us returns in 2025 on HBO and Sky Atlantic.

Are you looking forward to the second season of The Last of Us? What did you think of the first teaser trailer? How are you celebrating The Last of Us Day? Let me know in the comments below.

Star Wars Outlaws this August

Ubisoft has released an official story trailer for Star Wars Outlaws.



The upcoming single-player open-world Star Wars video game from Massive Entertainment, set between Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back and Star Wars: Return of the Jedi, will be released on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5 and PC on 30th August.

As much as I'm excited about Star Wars Outlaws, Ubisoft's strategy of paywalling content behind season passes means I won't be playing on day one. As with the excellent Assassin's Creed Odyssey, I'll wait for a post-launch sale.

Pre-order Star Wars Outlaws from Amazon (affiliate link).

Are you looking forward to Star Wars Outlaws? What are your thoughts on the story trailer? Let me know in the comments below.

Star Wars: Dark Forces Remaster

Christmas 1995, my first Mac, a Performa 5200, introduced me to the rich video game tapestries weaved by LucasArts at the peak of its powers. Star Wars: Rebel Assault II: The Hidden Empire and Star Wars: Dark Forces were the first CD-ROM-based games I owned for Apple's personal computer platform.

Star Wars: Dark Forces, the first Star Wars first-person shooter (FPS) video game, follows the adventures of Kyle Katarn as he steals the Death Star plans decades before Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.

Nightdive Studios and Lucasfilm Games are bringing Dark Forces to a new generation of gamers.



“Kyle Katarn really can do just about everything,” Nightdive Studios’ Max Waine tells StarWars.com, “and while he's doing everything, he manages to generally stay very cool and calm. Stealing the plans for the Death Star? Yep. Defeating Boba Fett? Yep. Punching out kell dragons? Yep. He can do that. And that's just in Dark Forces.”

The game's titular Dark Troopers have appeared in live-action in The Mandalorian on Disney+.

Star Wars: Dark Forces Remaster is available now for Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4 (PS4), PlayStation 5 (PS5) and PC.

Are you playing Star Wars: Dark Forces Remaster? Let me know in the comments below.

Star Wars Battlefront Classic Collection

On Wednesday, Aspyr and Lucasfilm Games announced the Star Wars Battlefront Classic Collection during a Nintendo Direct.



Featuring restored online play for up to 64 players, the classic bundle includes Star Wars Battlefront and Star Wars Battlefront II, originally developed by LucasArts, and will be available for Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4 (PS4), PlayStation 5 (PS5) and PC on 14th March.

Electronic Arts (EA) revived the Star Wars Battlefront franchise in 2015. However, it was marred by microtransaction controversy. Thanks to Aspyr, who recently released the excellent Tomb Raider I-III Remastered, gamers (myself included) can play these classic Star Wars video games unadulterated.

Will you be playing the Star Wars Battlefront Classic Collection? Let me know in the comments below.

LEGO Fortnite is live!

LEGO Fortnite has gone live! Drop into a world of unlimited imagination – and llamas – with the ultimate survival crafting game! What will you build?

Niels B. Christiansen, CEO of the LEGO Group, said: “Our partnership with Epic Games is focused on developing digital play experiences that are designed to be fun and safe, and have the potential to bridge the worlds of physical and digital play to inspire kids. Together with Epic Games, we are building digital worlds designed with kids in mind from the outset - we hope other creators and brands are inspired to do the same.”

This is the first play experience to come from the long-term partnership between Epic Games and the LEGO Group to develop fun and safe digital spaces for children and families.

Tim Sweeney, CEO & Founder, Epic Games said: “LEGO Fortnite offers players a new way to express themselves through worldbuilding and is an important step forward in the evolution of the Fortnite ecosystem. We look forward to continuing to partner with The LEGO Group to build immersive digital play spaces that are fun for kids and all types of players.”

The LEGO Fortnite journey is just beginning, with new world building, gameplay features, and more LEGO Style Outfits arriving in updates starting in early 2024.

Fortnite is available to play for free on PlayStation 4 (PS4), PlayStation 5 (PS5), Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, PC on Epic Games Store and cloud-based gaming streaming services.

Discover more and link your accounts on LEGO AU, CA, UK and US (affiliate links).

Will you be playing LEGO Fortnite? Let me know in the comments below.

Grand Theft Auto VI's first trailer

A teaser trailer for the sixth instalment in the Grand Theft Auto (GTA) video game franchise has been released early by Rockstar Games.



Rockstar Games on Monday confirmed an unauthorised third party had accessed and downloaded details of the highly-anticipated GTA sequel.

A statement from the company said: “We recently suffered a network intrusion in which an unauthorised third party illegally accessed and downloaded confidential information from our systems, including early development footage for the next Grand Theft Auto.

“At this time, we do not anticipate any disruption to our live game services nor any long-term effect on the development of our ongoing projects.

“We are extremely disappointed to have any details of our next game shared with you all in this way. Our work on the next Grand Theft Auto game will continue as planned and we remain as committed as ever to delivering an experience to you, our players, that truly exceeds your expectations.

“We will update everyone again soon and, of course, will properly introduce you to this next game when it is ready. We want to thank everyone for their ongoing support through this situation.”

GTA VI heads to the state of Leonida, home to the neon-soaked streets of Vice City and beyond in the biggest, most immersive evolution of the Grand Theft Auto series yet.

With a reported budget of over a billion dollars and featuring a female protagonist (Lucia), GTA VI will be released on PlayStation 5 (PS5) and Xbox Series S|X in 2025.

GTA III, Vice City and San Andreas will be available to Netflix subscribers (myself included) on mobile devices on 14th December.

Are you looking forward to GTA VI? What did you think of the first trailer? Let me know in the comments below.

Star Wars Outlaws at Xbox Showcase

On Sunday, Ubisoft exclusively announced Star Wars Outlaws during the Xbox Showcase.



“It’s a dream come true to be able to collaborate with the team at Lucasfilm Games to create Star Wars Outlaws, the first open-world Star Wars game," Julian Gerighty, creative director at Massive Entertainment, tells StarWars.com. "Our team at Massive Entertainment has a great deal of experience in open-world games backed by strong technology, and it’s the perfect time to tell an original scoundrel story that will resonate with fans. With the Galactic Empire on the heels of the Rebel Alliance, and the criminal underworld thriving, an outlaw like Kay Vess has a whole galaxy of opportunity in front of her."

Official gameplay walkthrough footage was shown during Ubisoft Forward.



The upcoming open-world Star Wars video game, set between Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back and Star Wars: Return of the Jedi, will be released on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5 and PC in 2024.

Are you looking forward to Star Wars Outlaws? What are your thoughts on the gameplay footage? Let me know in the comments below.

The Last of Us avoids Super Bowl

HBO has announced The Last of Us episode 5 will be aired this Friday to avoid clashing with the Super Bowl on Sunday.

UK-based fans (myself included) won't have to wait. It will be available on demand from Saturday morning ahead of Monday's premiere on Sky Atlantic.

The live-action adaptation of the award-winning PlayStation video game is taking the world by storm. The show, which co-stars Pedro Pascal (The Mandalorian) and Bella Ramsay (Game of Thrones) in the lead roles, has been renewed for a second season.

"I’m humbled, honoured, and frankly overwhelmed that so many people have tuned in and connected with our retelling of Joel and Ellie’s journey," executive producer Neil Druckmann said in an official statement.

"Now we have the absolute pleasure of being able to do it again with season two!"

Executive producer Craig Mazin added: "I’m so grateful to Neil Druckmann and HBO for our partnership, and I’m even more grateful to the millions of people who have joined us on this journey.

"The audience has given us the chance to continue, and as a fan of the characters and world Neil and Naughty Dog created, I couldn’t be more ready to dive back in."

Are you watching The Last of Us? Let me know in the comments below.

The Last of Us' Pedro Pascal in HBO Mario Kart

Pedro Pascal (The Mandalorian) is currently starring in HBO's lauded live-action adaptation of The Last of Us on HBO Max and Sky Atlantic. At the weekend, he appeared as Mario in a satirical Mario Kart skit for Saturday Night Live (SNL).



Read the official synopsis:

"In a video game turned series, a trailer follows a group of people as they try to help a princess get to Rainbow Road."

Chris Pratt (Guardians of the Galaxy) is playing Mario in The Super Mario Bros. Movie. Perhaps Pascal should replace him in the upcoming animated feature film?

What did you think? Let me know in the comments below.

The Last of Us infects TV this January

The Last of Us, written by Neil Druckmann, was released by Naughty Dog a decade ago on the PlayStation 3 (PS3). It's that rare breed of video game I've owned across console generations, most recently on PlayStation 5 (PS5).

So, it's not entirely surprising I'm looking forward to HBO's live-action adaptation, co-written by Druckmann and Craig Mazin (Chernobyl) and filmed during a real-life global pandemic, starring Pedro Pascal (The Mandalorian) and Bella Ramsey (Game of Thrones).

Read the official synopsis:

"THE LAST OF US takes place 20 years after modern civilization has been destroyed. Joel, a hardened survivor, is hired to smuggle Ellie, a 14-year-old girl, out of an oppressive quarantine zone. What starts as a small job soon becomes a brutal and heartbreaking journey as they both must traverse the U.S. and depend on each other for survival."

The Last of Us premieres on 15th January on HBO and HBO Max in the US and 16th January on Sky Atlantic and NOW in the UK.

Are you excited about The Last of Us on HBO? Let me know in the comments below.