**Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater – Excitement Grows for the Approaching Remake**

The gaming community is filled with enthusiasm as the launch date for “Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater” nears. Set to debut on August 28, this eagerly awaited remake of the legendary “Metal Gear Solid 3” promises to provide a renewed experience while keeping the spirit of the original game intact. Series enthusiasts are keen to reenter the realm of espionage and tactical gameplay that has characterized the franchise.

**A Fresh Chapter with Recognizable Origins**

“Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater” is a true remake, improving the graphics and gameplay mechanics while honoring the cherished storyline and voice acting. Taking place in 1964, the game functions as a prequel to the original “Metal Gear Solid,” centering on the character Naked Snake, a FOX agent. Players can anticipate enhanced gameplay features, such as crouch-walking and third-person shooting, adapted from later installments in the series.

**Unveiling Fox Hunt: A New Multiplayer Adventure**

While the main game is set for imminent release, fans will need to wait a little longer for the innovative online multiplayer mode, “Fox Hunt.” Planned for a Fall 2025 launch, “Fox Hunt” is more than a remaster of the previous “Metal Gear Online” mode; it represents a completely new experience. The mode was first hinted at in a brief two-minute trailer released in June, leaving fans eager for additional information.

According to the official site, “Fox Hunt” will integrate key elements from the base game, including “camouflage” and “survival.” It draws on the Sneaking rule from “Metal Gear Online,” featuring the iconic stealth gameplay components of the series. The mode is set to heighten the thrill of hide-and-seek with cutting-edge graphical upgrades.

**A Nostalgic Yet Contemporary Experience**

“Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater” seeks to achieve a harmony between nostalgia and modern gaming innovations. By enhancing the graphics and gameplay while keeping the original story, the remake is poised to engage both dedicated fans and newcomers to the series. As the release date approaches, excitement continues to escalate for what is sure to be an exhilarating addition to the “Metal Gear” heritage.

Save the date for August 28, when “Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater” launches on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. As players gear up for this grand adventure, the anticipation for “Fox Hunt” will certainly add another layer of thrill to the experience.

The Criterion Mobile Closet is set to make its global premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) 2025, representing a notable achievement as it ventures beyond the United States for the first time. Commemorating 50 years of TIFF, this distinctive event provides cinephiles, budding filmmakers, and film lovers an opportunity to freely delve into the vast Criterion Collection and produce their own Criterion Closet video, similar to those crafted by stars like Bowen Yang, Ryan Coogler, and Danny Boyle.

The Criterion Mobile Closet, featuring over 1,700 of the finest films worldwide, will be accessible to TIFF 2025 attendees from September 4th to 7th. Situated opposite TIFF Lightbox at 350 King Street W, Toronto, the Mobile Closet will operate on September 4th from 3-7 pm and on September 5th from 11 am-7 pm. This special opportunity is available to the public on a first-come, first-served basis, with no TIFF ticket required.

Guests can enjoy a three-minute experience inside the Closet, whether solo or in groups of up to five, to examine the collection or chat about their film choices. Each visitor will receive a Criterion tote bag and a printed pocket guide to the collection, encompassing all in-print editions from the Criterion Collection, Eclipse, and Janus Contemporaries lines. Personnel will be present to help find films, and attendees can capture their moments with personal devices or utilize the Mobile Closet’s wall mount for recording.

At the conclusion of each visit, guests will get a Polaroid photo as a memento, along with their tote bag and guide. While purchases are not mandatory, visitors can acquire up to three items at a 40% discount in honor of Criterion’s 40th anniversary. The Mobile Closet operates as a cashless entity, and Criterion merchandise will also be up for sale.

The Criterion Mobile Closet at TIFF 2025 is an essential stop for anyone passionate about film, providing a distinctive and interactive experience. Attendees are encouraged to showcase their experiences on social media using the hashtag #criterionmobilecloset. Keep an eye on CGMagazine for in-depth TIFF 2025 coverage.

At the most recent Pokémon Presents in July 2025, it was revealed that the distribution of Shiny Wo-Chien from Pokémon Scarlet and Violet would commence if it was defeated over a million times. Here’s how you can obtain one.

The Pokémon Company disclosed a series of Tera Raid battles that players needed to engage in to secure some rare Pokémon in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet during last month’s Pokémon Presents, and the results are out today. If participants managed to defeat a Shiny Wo-Chien (one of the Treasures of Ruin Legendary Pokémon from Scarlet and Violet) in raids over a million times, the shiny version of Wo-Chien would be rewarded to fans, and this time, they have achieved that.

Today, The Pokémon Company announced that fans have vanquished the first Treasure of Ruin 6,078,885 times, exceeding the million threshold. To commemorate this significant accomplishment for Pokémon Scarlet and Violet players worldwide, fans can now claim their own Shiny Wo-Chien. Previously, Game FREAK stated that Wo-Chien was counted among the ‘shiny locked’ Pokémon in Scarlet and Violet—indicating that the shiny variant had not yet been integrated into the game’s code for accessibility—thus making this distribution the first and sole legitimate opportunity to acquire the Legendary Pokémon variant.

Players can start by launching their Pokémon Scarlet and Violet game, then select Poké Portal from the X menu. Next, they should go to the “Mystery Gift” option and choose “Get via Internet” to connect to the online network. Following that, they will need to pick which gift they wish to receive, and voilà, they now have a Shiny Wo-Chien. It is advisable for players to save their game afterward to prevent any complications; only one distribution is allowed per save file. Notably, fans can still acquire the Shiny Wo-Chien even if they did not partake in the initial Tera Raid battles necessary to obtain it, ensuring that everyone is a winner!

With the Shiny Wo-Chien distribution currently active, players have until September 30 to claim the Legendary Treasure of Ruin, so there is still ample time. Until then, the next Pokémon featured in the Tera Raid schedule is a Shiny Chien-Pao, and similar to Wo-Chien, if it is defeated over a million times, fans can also obtain the shiny variant for their collection through a subsequent distribution.

Bandai Namco has announced an exciting array of playable games for PAX West 2025, ensuring a thrilling experience for attendees. This event, scheduled from August 29th to September 1st at the Seattle Convention Center, is an excellent chance for gamers to interact with both upcoming and existing titles.

At PAX West 2024, Bandai Namco’s booth captivated visitors, showcasing games such as “Unknown: 9 Awakening,” “LITTLE NIGHTMARES III,” and “Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero,” which consistently attracted crowds. For 2025, Bandai Namco is enhancing its presence with eight games on display, providing a varied selection of experiences for attendees.

The lineup features playable demos for “DIGIMON STORY TIME STRANGER,” “Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree,” “LITTLE NIGHTMARES III,” “MY HERO ACADEMIA: ALL’S JUSTICE,” and “PAC-MAN WORLD 2 Re-PAC,” in addition to DLC content for “SWORD ART ONLINE Fractured Daydream.” Furthermore, “THE BLOOD OF DAWNWALKER” and “CODE VEIN II” will include photo opportunities at booth #2339 and in the North lobby.

The full PAX West lineup from Bandai Namco, as outlined in their press announcement, comprises:

– **DIGIMON STORY TIME STRANGER**: An RPG where players venture through the Digital World and partake in boss fights.
– **Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree**: A 2D isometric roguelite with grand battles in an enchanting realm.
– **MY HERO ACADEMIA: All’s Justice**: A 3v3 combat game featuring characters from Class 1-A.
– **LITTLE NIGHTMARES III**: A demo showcasing a new segment in the eerie realm of Nowhere.
– **PAC-MAN WORLD 2 Re-PAC**: A revamped classic with updated graphics and enhanced levels.
– **SWORD ART ONLINE Fractured Daydream**: A demo of DLC 4 introducing new playable characters.
– **CODE VEIN II**: A post-apocalyptic RPG featuring a life-size replica photo opportunity.
– **THE BLOOD OF DAWNWALKER**: A dark fantasy RPG set in 14th-century Europe.

PAX West 2025 is set to be an exhilarating event for gamers, with Bandai Namco’s booth at #2339 providing a variety of captivating experiences. For additional details, visit Bandai Namco’s official website and stay tuned to CGMagazine’s coverage of PAX West 2025.

On a serene evening, nearly a full classroom of children rise simultaneously, exit their homes, and dash into the darkness, never to be seen again. What follows? That’s the unsettling enigma at the heart of *Weapons*, the much-anticipated horror film from *Barbarian* writer-director Zach Cregger. The narrative weaves through various townsfolk as they strive to uncover what occurred and why. It’s a thrilling experience, blending frights with an unexpected dose of humor and a hectic third act, as noted in my review.

*Weapons* also features an unexpected primary influence: *Magnolia*, Paul Thomas Anderson’s expansive 1999 character study that trails multiple individuals throughout a day in the San Fernando Valley. The film significantly shaped *Weapons*’ structure, style, and even one of its central characters. That character is Paul, a police officer portrayed by Alden Ehrenreich, tasked with locating the vanished children and navigating a complex relationship with the kids’ teacher, Justine (Julia Garner).

I had a conversation with both Cregger and Ehrenreich to explore *Magnolia*’s impact as well as their experiences while creating the film.

**Minor spoilers for Magnolia and Weapons ahead.**

**To start, congratulations on the film — it terrified me. Weapons was highly awaited even prior to filming; there was intense competition among studios. Alden, my question for you is: what was your initial reaction to the script when you read it for the first time?**

**Alden Ehrenreich:** I was informed about it and given a copy. I hadn’t even watched *Barbarian*. I read through it, and by the time I hit the middle of the 10th page, I thought, “This might be one of the best scripts I’ve ever encountered.” I believe this stems from Zach writing the film from a deeply personal perspective, even though the events depicted are not his own experiences. They derive from a profound emotional source, which is palpable. It resonates differently. There’s an indescribable magic that you sense, yet can’t quite articulate, but you feel it when you read it.

**Regarding the development of Paul in Weapons, was it solely based on the script, or did you have the freedom to explore different facets of his character?**

**Alden Ehrenreich:** In this situation, it was my ideal scenario where I didn’t have any notes or queries regarding the writing at all. I experienced that wonderful feeling as an actor, where I aimed to honor how exquisitely the writing was crafted. When that’s the case, my role is just to delve deeper, flesh it out, and bring him to life as a real person.

**Since your role is very physically demanding — particularly in the third act — could you share what the training was like for Weapons?**

**Alden Ehrenreich:** I collaborated with a police officer to ensure that everything I did aligned with academy training. Beyond that, it was just standard stunt training.

**Zach, you’ve previously mentioned that Weapons was partially inspired by Magnolia. Can you elaborate on how that film influenced your work on this one? Were there other films that played a role as well?**

**Zach Cregger:** First and foremost, John C. Reilly’s mustache is featured in this film — and it’s worn by Alden. That’s the initial point. We actually crafted Paul’s appearance — his hair, mustache, and everything — based on Reilly’s look in *Magnolia*.

The reason *Magnolia* serves as the primary reference is that it’s a grand, expansive, multi-character narrative. It’s profoundly serious, but also hilarious. It has a distinct visual style, yet incorporates a variety of tones, if that makes sense.

Furthermore, it embraces being an epic, and I simply like the notion of creating a horror film that feels like an unapologetic epic in the same vein as *Magnolia*. Additionally, *Magnolia* features a bizarre, incredible miracle at its core, exemplified by the raining frogs [in the film’s climax]. I thought, “That’s fascinating.” To me, the children fleeing at the film’s outset serves as my miracle at the beginning, and everyone must confront that. There are numerous elements.

There’s the scene where they search for John C. Reilly’s gun in the rain, and I was utterly captivated by that movie’s visuals. [Robert Elswit] is the cinematographer of that film, and his work is exceptional. [Cinematographer Larkin Seiple and I] frequently discussed that film’s visuals during our production.

**Ninja Gaiden 4: A Legendary Comeback to Action Gaming**

In the realm of action titles, few brands echo as powerfully as Ninja Gaiden. Since it debuted in 2004, the franchise has enthralled gamers with its thrilling gameplay and the relentless saga of Ryu Hayabusa, the pseudo-demon slayer. Fast forward to 2023, and the gaming landscape has transformed immensely. Souls-like experiences have become ubiquitous, yet the arrival of Ninja Gaiden’s fourth chapter demonstrates that the franchise still occupies a distinctive spot in the hearts of gamers.

Ninja Gaiden 4 signifies a notable partnership between two of the most influential developers in the genre, PlatinumGames and Team Ninja. This collaboration has rejuvenated the series, providing a fresh yet familiar encounter for both seasoned players and newcomers. The game embodies the vision of the original director, Tomonobu Itagaki, emphasizing visual excellence, interaction, and robust gameplay.

The title introduces a new hero, Yakumo, a young member of the Raven Clan and a rival ninja to the Hayabusa Clan. Set in a cyberpunk-themed Tokyo, the game presents a breathtaking and expansive environment. Yakumo’s agility and fighting style differ from Ryu’s, yet they integrate smoothly into the Ninja Gaiden universe. His twin-bladed katanas and the distinct Bloodraven Form enhance the combat, enabling powerful strikes and gratifying combos.

Ninja Gaiden 4 also brings back Ryu Hayabusa in Challenge Mode, allowing players to engage with his legendary play style in a fresh manner. Ryu’s Gleam Form provides an alternative combat experience, highlighting speed and accuracy. The game preserves classic features like the Izuna Drop and Guillotine Throw while introducing new techniques that enrich the gameplay experience.

The game is packed with concealed challenges, such as the Purgatory Gates, which test players’ abilities and reward those who dare to conquer them. The addition of side quests and a comprehensive Challenge Mode boosts replayability, guaranteeing that players have ample opportunities to explore and refine their skills.

Ninja Gaiden 4 transcends being merely a sequel; it’s a progression of the franchise. The collaboration between PlatinumGames and Team Ninja has yielded a title that pays homage to its origins while expanding the horizons of action gaming. With its launch, Ninja Gaiden 4 is set to become an essential play, reinforcing its status as a legendary comeback for the iconic series.

Following a flood of leaks and rumors circulating online, Fortnite has finally unveiled the Chapter 6 Season 4 trailer, showcasing Power Rangers and a Megazord on Battle Island.

Fortnite enthusiasts now have confirmation of the official name for Chapter 6 Season 4, which aligns with the extensive leaks regarding Power Rangers and Halo Spartans that surfaced leading up to the announcement. The latest trailer validates the rumors, confirming that Power Rangers and Megazords are set to arrive on Battle Island, and it can be viewed below.

Earlier leaks concerning the Fortnite Chapter 6 Season 4 Battle Pass hinted at two significant collaborations that would be introduced ahead of today’s trailer reveal. The official season title, “Shock and Awesome,” has now been validated, featuring a map-wide bug invasion alongside the two collaborations. Reports have also suggested that the second collaboration includes female Halo Spartans. This marks the debut of Halo in Fortnite since Master Chief was introduced in 2020, and they will be joining Power Rangers in the upcoming season. An additional social media update from the official account has also verified Halo’s presence in the Battle Pass.

With Epic Games seemingly affirming each leak that was released prior to their official announcements, it’s likely that the remainder of the leaked content will also appear in the Battle Pass. The datamined tier 100 reward for the battle pass is allegedly Tommy Oliver in either the White Ranger or Green Ranger outfit, as reports have varied on the tier 100 offering, and a Megazord skin is also rumored to be available through the premium battle pass.

Players can combat the swarm of bugs in Chapter 6 Season 4 as the Power Rangers, with the Mighty Morphin Bundle arriving soon in the item shop (pricing to be disclosed upon release). The bundle features outfits for the Red Ranger, Black Ranger, Pink Ranger, Yellow Ranger, and Blue Ranger, along with accessories, all included in one package.

Fortnite Chapter 6 Season 4: Shock ’N Awesome is set to launch on Thursday, Aug. 7.

Each month, Xbox Game Pass refreshes its catalog to offer gamers fresh gameplay experiences, and this month, *Assassin’s Creed Mirage* takes center stage.

It’s that time of the month once again. The moment when Xbox Game Pass introduces nine new games to the platform while removing a few others to make space is upon us, and [Xbox has laid out the welcome mat](https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2025/08/05/xbox-game-pass-august-2025-wave-1/) for Ubisoft’s top titles in August 2025. Recently, fans have come to anticipate Game Pass updates in pairs each month, as new releases have been launching on the service roughly twice a month since the start of the year.

Last month, Xbox Game Pass [granted fans early access](https://www.cgmagonline.com/news/xbox-game-pass-additions-for-july-2025/) to Obsidian’s follow-up to a backyard survival game, *Grounded 2*, alongside *Wuchang: Fallen Feathers*. Just last month, Xbox made room by pulling *Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess* from its list, and in August 2025, it will remove the beloved title, *Persona 3 Reload*, from the service.

Ubisoft’s *Assassin’s Creed Mirage* leads the nine new games being added to Xbox Game Pass. [CGMagazine’s review](https://www.cgmagonline.com/review/game/assassins-creed-mirage-ps5-review/) describes *Assassin’s Creed Mirage* as “a wonderful return to form for the franchise,” noting that the developers’ approach to combining gameplay with “more contemporary sensibilities” has put the series back on a favorable path. Gamers will be able to enjoy Mirage at no additional charge with a Game Pass membership this month. Below is the list of additions to Game Pass, along with their release dates on the platform.

## Xbox Game Pass August 2025 Wave 1 Additions

– Available Today – *Rain World*
– Available Today – *Descenders Next*
– August 6 – *Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector* (Xbox Series X|S)
– August 6 – *Lonely Mountains: Snow Riders* (Xbox Series X|S)
– August 6 – *MechWarrior 5: Clans* (Xbox Series X|S)
– August 6 – *Orcs Must Die! Deathtrap* (Xbox Series X|S)
– August 7 – *Assassin’s Creed Mirage* (Cloud, Console, and PC)
– August 12 – *Aliens: Fireteam Elite* (Cloud, Console, and PC)
– August 14 – *9 Kings* (Game Preview) (PC)

Three titles will be leaving Xbox Game Pass on August 15 to accommodate the new additions. Fans are advised to take note, as once these games are removed, there will be no indication of when they might return, so players should wrap up *Persona 3 Reload* if they are nearing completion. The following games will be removed on August 15:

– *Anthem* (Console and PC) EA Play
– *Farming Simulator 22* (Cloud, Console, and PC)
– *Persona 3 Reload* (Cloud, Console, and PC)

Gamers have just 10 days left before *Anthem, Farming Simulator 22,* and *Persona 3 Reload* are taken off the platform, so unless they wish to pay extra to keep playing these games, they should complete their sessions by the 15th.

Last month, a playful remark from Matt Ryan, the actor portraying Edward Kenway in “Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag,” ignited excitement and speculation among fans regarding a possible remake of the cherished game. While attending an autograph session, Ryan suggested that fans may need to replay the game, which many took as a hint towards an impending remake. This comment, along with Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot’s earlier statements about future remakes, intensified the speculation.

Nonetheless, a recent video has emerged featuring Ryan at another signing event, where his demeanor was significantly more circumspect. When queried about the remake, he replied in a vague manner, indicating he was unaware of being recorded during his earlier comment and noted that Ubisoft had warned him of legal action for the slip. This situation underscores Ubisoft’s attempts to manage leaks and uphold confidentiality regarding their initiatives.

In spite of the absence of confirmation, fans continue to hold out hope for a “Black Flag” remake, eagerly anticipating any official updates from Ubisoft.

Photography and videography are thrilling domains to delve into. Although grasping the fundamentals of image and video capture with your smartphone is straightforward, transitioning to a mirrorless camera unveils a vast expanse of creative possibilities. To fully leverage the capabilities of these cameras, however, a reliable assortment of lenses that can manifest your ideas is essential.

Spending thousands on lenses can be easy—particularly if you eye professional-grade equipment—but this may overwhelm emerging creators. Fortunately, numerous budget-friendly alternatives exist, with new ones debuting each month.

With so many options from countless brands, we aimed to highlight some of the finest economical lenses you can purchase—especially if you are at the beginning of your journey. We’ve included a mix of focal lengths and apertures to cater to various shooting requirements and creative aspirations. This guide will be refreshed as more lenses become available, ensuring you have a dependable resource to enhance your mirrorless experience.

## Brightin Star 35mm F0.95

**Brand:** Brightin Star
**Price:** $200
**Amazon Link:** [Link](https://amzn.to/4m0sxmU)
**Author:** Brendan Frye

The variety of outstanding budget lenses continues to expand, and choices like the Brightin Star 35mm f/0.95 emerge as some of the premier prime lenses for novice creators in search of excellent low-light performance and creative depth of field. With a price ranging from $179 to $200, this all-metal manual lens provides a rare combination of an ultra-fast f/0.95 aperture and commendable sharpness. Unlike many inexpensive, large-aperture lenses—which often exhibit glow and softness at wide apertures—the Brightin Star produces impressively sharp images even at f/0.95, accompanied by smooth, creamy bokeh that enhances both portraits and product photography. Though it lacks autofocus, it includes a well-constructed focus ring and can yield truly remarkable results.

In our testing, we utilized the lens with an E-mount Sony A7C, and it showed impressive performance. Its compact design and elegant construction make it a fantastic fit for small mirrorless camera bodies—remaining portable without sacrificing that robust, premium sensation. Manual focusing is accurate and fluid, aided by the focus assist tools in modern cameras. It serves as an excellent means for new content creators to refine their skills without relying on autofocus.

While its “night god” aperture excels in low-light and creative scenarios, beginners should be mindful of a few minor limitations: noticeable chromatic aberration, some barrel distortion, and significant flare when directed toward intense light sources. These challenges were manageable in most situations and only appeared in a handful of frames during testing—despite shooting hundreds. For those in search of an exceptional prime lens that delivers captivating results, the Brightin Star 35mm f/0.95 is hard to surpass. It provides cinematic imagery and creative versatility at a price seldom seen for f/0.95 glass.

## Laowa 15mm f/5 Cookie FF Lens

**Brand:** Laowa
**Price:** $399.99
**Amazon Link:** [LINK](https://amzn.to/3IZXYix)
**Author:** Matt Keith

The Laowa 15mm f/5 Cookie FF is a highly compact wide-angle lens with remarkable close-focusing capabilities. Unique for its category, it boasts an impressive 110-degree field of view despite its notably small 53 mm barrel width (Sony E mount). It may be the tiniest wide-angle lens I’ve encountered—extremely lightweight at just 138 g and small enough to fit in your pocket.

This full-frame 15mm lens facilitates auto aperture with Sony E and Nikon Z, and manual aperture with Canon RF, L mount, and Leica M. Its minimum focusing distance of just 12 cm is impressive for such an ultra-wide, manual-focus lens, unlocking creative shooting opportunities that are often challenging to achieve at this focal length.

While the f/5 aperture might appear high for low-light conditions, Laowa has crafted a 10-blade diaphragm that creates a remarkable starburst effect in nighttime scenes. Thanks to its electrical connections, the 15mm f/5 Cookie also captures detailed lens data and transmits it to the camera body.

A uniquely compact, ultra-wide lens that fits in your pocket is a valuable piece of equipment to consider, and Laowa has accomplished this in the 15mm f/5 Cookie. Priced competitively, the 15mm Cookie is an exceptional and practical lens.

## TTArtisan AF 35mm F1.8 II

**Brand:** TTArtisan
**Price:** $125.00
**Amazon Link:** [LINK](https://amzn.to/40K6Kaw)
**Author:** Matt Keith

The TT