Grasshopper Manufacture, the studio headed by No More Heroes creator Goichi Suda (Suda51), has announced that it has become a subsidiary of China’s gigantic publisher NetEase Games under a share transfer agreement active on May 31, 2021.

“Grasshopper Manufacture celebrated its 23rd anniversary in March this year,” said Suda in a comment alongside the announcement. “Our studio is made up of a diverse staff with a variety of backgrounds and personalities, all of whom love video games. As I thought about the strengths and peculiarities of our company, I could see a new future for our way of creative production.

“NetEase Games has released many fantastic games, and I have heard for a long time about their strong reputation. When NetEase Games presented the opportunity to work on unique consumer games together, I came to the conclusion that by working together, we can deliver even more powerful and creative titles to our audience.

“In addition, NetEase Games is a reliable partner that understands and supports our strengths. They will give us support on the management side and fund our game development, but the planning and production of our games will be left entirely up to us. This means we can guarantee a consistent ‘Grasshopper Manufacture style’ and quality of our games. In addition, we will receive valuable support from thousands of NetEase Games artists and technical staff in areas such as graphics support and QA. Our goal is to make the most of these resources and deliver three more quintessential Grasshopper Manufacture games in the next 10 years.

“Please look forward to the history this new Grasshopper Manufacture will create in the future.”

For fans concerned that joining the giant Chinese publisher NetEase will mean Grasshopper is relegated to making mobile games, the phrase “consumer games” in Suda’s comment is usually used in Japan to mean games for console and/or PC.

Suda also said that the studio is recruiting now for a wide range of positions. Anyone interested in applying should visit Grasshopper Manufacture's website for more details.

NetEase Games also delivered a statement to praise Suda and Grasshopper’s “strong style”, “clear design philosophy” and “unique taste from concept to fine details”.

The publisher, which currently has over 10,000 developers, also said that this acquisition should be seen as a message to top game developers in Japan and the rest of the world that the company is keen to keep investing in the quality and appeal of its games.

NetEase has been strongly rumoured to be in negotiations with Yakuza series creator Toshihiro Nagoshi, who recently fuelled speculation when he parted from his high-profile role at Sega. The idea of two such radically different developers as Suda and Nagoshi as loose colleagues under the NetEase umbrella is certainly interesting.

Grasshopper Manufacture's most recent game was No More Heroes III for Nintendo Switch. You can read IGN's full review here.

Daniel Robson is Chief Editor at IGN Japan. No guessing which game inspired his Twitter handle, @NoMoreDaniels

Sometimes, the situation simply calls for a portable monitor. You might be traveling for a few days with only an Ultrabook, but still need all the screen real estate you can get. Or your daily duties might require you to spread out, but you just don’t have enough desk space for a regular monitor. Whatever the reason, an extra 13-inch, 15-inch or 17-inch display can be a time (and life) saver.

A portable monitor may not offer as much screen space as its desktop counterparts. However, these compact displays definitely give you that additional room you need, whether you’re creating content, gaming, or simply multi-tasking at work, without taking up a whole lot of desk space. And, with a few excellent options now on hand, including ones with a built-in battery and a handful touting 4K resolution, it’s more compelling than ever to invest in one. Take a look at our picks of the best portable monitors below.

TL;DR – These are the best portable monitors

• Asus ROG Strix XG17AHPE
• Vissles-M
• Asus ZenScreen MB16ACV
• Lepow Lite H1
• Desklab 4K Touchscreen
• ViewSonic VG1655
• HP E14 G4
• Asus ProArt Display PA148CTV
• SideTrak Swivel

1. Asus ROG Strix XG16AHPE

Best portable gaming monitor

Finding a portable gaming monitor that’s just as good as the traditional full-sized options out there isn’t going to be easy. Luckily, the Asus ROG Strix XG16AHPE comes pretty close. On top of its IPS panel and 1080p resolution, it boasts a 144Hz refresh rate and Nvidia G-Sync compatibility for much smoother, tear-free gameplay. And, while Asus doesn’t specify its exact color support, it is plenty vibrant with cooler hues great for viewing.

There are other things to love here as well. It’s fully portable with a built-in battery for up to three hours of playtime, and it charges decently fast. This screen also sports a thin yet solid kickstand that’s easy to stow away for storage. Finally, there are two input ports – a USB-C and a micro HDMI – as well as a USB-C charging port on hand, making it a bit more versatile than other portable monitors out there.

2. Vissles-M2

Best budget portable monitor

You’ll benefit from Vissles-M2’s massive 15.8-inch screen, 1080p resolution, narrow bezels, HDR capability, two input ports (USB-C and mini HDMI), and FreeSync support. Plus, it retains its settings between uses. But, really the best thing about this non-touch offering from Vissles is its price. For a budget portable monitor, it’s a compelling buy that also boasts built-in speakers, a stand that moonlights as a cover, and features a decent screen brightness of 220 cd/m2.

Of course, being affordable, some sacrifices were made. Don’t expect those 1W speakers to be powerful enough, for example. And, you might wish they built a more stable stand – although magnetic, it tends to slip off after a couple of hours. And, its noticeably matte screen might not be to everyone’s liking. Still, it’s certainly a much better qualiity display than other affordable monitors we’ve tested from lesser-known brands.

3. Asus ZenScreen MB16ACV

Best 15-inch portable monitor

The thin and lightweight Asus ZenScreen MB16ACV has a few things going for it besides being robust and sharp. It has a kickstand that is pretty cool: thin, stable, and beautifully snaps back in place for easy transport. It has clicky buttons that are incredible to use, beautifully thin bezels, flicker-free technology, and an antibacterial surface that’s helpful when reducing the spread of harmful bacteria. Its 178-degree viewing angles, anti-glare surface, and blue light filter make your viewing experience much more pleasant. Finally, thanks to the Asus Display Widget software, it also senses its position and automatically adjusts its orientation from landscape to portrait and vice versa.

That’s all without costing you a whole lot more than its cheaper rivals, making it the best 15-inch option out there. We only wish that it was brighter and more vibrant than it is, had a refresh rate faster than 60Hz, and had speakers built-in. However, there’s already more than enough here to love.

4. Lepow Lite H1

Best 14-inch portable monitor

If a 15.6-inch portable monitor is still too big for you, then a 14-inch one might just be the ideal alternative. The Lepow Lite H1 is a bite-sized 1080p monitor that’s incredibly thin and compact. It’s also surprisingly feature-packed with a pair of 2W speakers, an HDR mode that’s actually well-implemented, and USB-C ports for something so small. And, unlike displays from lesser-known brands, it’s able to keep its settings even when unplugged from its source. Rounding those features out are a stable stand that acts as a cover, and a screen protector.

Sadly, those speakers just aren’t powerful enough – you’ll want to connect to a set of external speakers – and the bezels are thicker than we would like. But, if you’re looking for a 14-inch option, whether for gaming or work, you’d be wise to pick this one.

5. Desklab 4K Touchscreen

Best portable 4K monitor

UHD portable monitors are a bit of a rare breed at the moment, let alone affordable, which makes Desklab’s 4K Touchscreen extra special. To be clear, there’s room for improvement here – it doesn’t remember its settings, the display could be a little more vibrant, and its stand a bit more stable.

However, there’s also more to love. Beyond its 4K resolution, it boasts touchscreen functionality that’s surprisingly responsive and HDR support, adding more to its value. Because it is 4K and has thin bezels, there’s a whole lot of screen space here – ideal for the ultimate multi-tasking. More to its credit, it has an on-screen menu that gives quick access to the different image profiles and a set of controls that are incredibly easy to use.

6. ViewSonic VG1655

Best 1080p portable monitor

The ViewSonic has surprised us with the VG1655, an impressive contender that has plenty of things going for it and not many disadvantages – though considering its price, it shouldn’t. This portable monitor’s list of pros seems endless. It all starts with its form factor, which is both premium and robust, while also incredibly lightweight. It has an OSM joystick that’s a pleasure to use, a cover that doubles as a mat to keep it scratch-free from hard surfaces and sharp debris, and a speaker that’s decently loud. For its touchscreen functionality, there’s a pen included in the box, and for minimalism’s sake, it has a USB-C power that boasts two-way 60W power delivery. And, its kickstand is among the best we’ve seen.

Just bear in mind though that this is best for Windows users, especially if you’re looking to utilize that touchscreen capability to its full potential – you’d have to download a finicky app in order to use it on macOS. Other than that, its somewhat dull image quality, and the fact that it could be slimmer, there’s not much you won’t love about this monitor.

7. HP E14 G4

Brightest portable monitor

We cannot decide what we love most about the HP E14 G4. Is it the premium, sophisticated design? Its astoundingly thin and compact frame? Its simple yet very effective stand? Its 5ms GtG response time? Or is it its unrivaled brightness? There’s a lot to love here, and together, they make this small yet mighty portable monitor more than worth its steep price. For now, we’ll go with its 400 nits of brightness, which – if you’ve tested your share of portable monitors – is something to behold. While most of the competition couldn’t even muster 250 nits, this one goes beyond what most laptop displays are capable of, which makes it a personal favorite of ours.

Of course, there are honorable mentions as well, starting with its 65W USB-C port with passthrough charging, gorgeous colors, and nice controls. Though you’ve been warned; it’ll set you back as much as many full-sized desktop monitors out there.

8. Asus ROG Strix XG16AHPE

Best portable monitors for creators

Photographers, videographers and graphic designers need monitors with high color accuracy, and that needs apply to their portable monitors as well. That’s why Asus’ ProArt Display PA148CTV is your best bet if you plan on using one for your creative workflow while on the go. This premium display boasts 100% sRGB and 100% Rec. 709 color gamut to deliver true to life color reproduction that’s ideal for your editing and color grading needs. But, it doesn’t stop there.

The Asus ProArt Palette, accessible via the nifty Asus Dial, is on hand to let you customize numerous display settings like color hue, temperature and gamma adjustments. Finally, thanks to its Control Panel feature and 10-point touchscreen capability, you can even use it as the main controls for your editing software, which will make your creative workflow less tedious and a lot more seamless. Input ports include two USB-Cs and one micro HDMI – just take care to use a 10W USB-C port if you’re skipping the power adapter.

9. SideTrak Swivel

Best mountable portable monitor

What’s better than a portable monitor you can take with you anywhere? A mountable one. The thing about working on the go is that you won’t always have enough space to work with, especially when you’re on a plane or a train. The beauty of a mountable one is that you don’t need to have that desk space – because it’s already suspended from the back of your laptop display.

The SideTrak Swivel has gone through many iterations, but the newest model has a simple sleek design with decently thin bezels. It’s incredibly versatile as well, thanks to its 360-degree swiveling hinge. You can use it as a side monitor or flip it back to present whatever you’re looking at. Its mount also moonlight as a kickstand so you can set the monitor up on its own in either landscape or portrait orientation. There are a few opportunities for improvement here – a thinner form factor and a more stable hinge would be appreciated. Plus, the screen, although beautifully bright at 300 nits, could be bigger. Still, it’s already a fantastic option the way it is now.

Choosing the best portable monitor

Despite their generally simpler setup and small size, choosing the best portable monitor for you is more complicated than going for the cheapest or the best-looking one. Just like their full-sized desktop counterparts, there are several important factors to consider here, especially when you have specific needs.

Display resolution is one obvious consideration here. Many portable monitors are currently at 1080p resolution, which is the current standard for most monitors and laptops anyway. And, it will more than meet your needs. However, if you want to future-proof your setup or simply want to maximize that 15-inch or 14-inch screen real estate, there are some 4K options as well. Just bear in mind that a 3840 x 2160 resolution on a smaller screen will have tiny icons and text, so you might need to adjust your display magnification levels.

Speaking of size, 15.6 inches seems to be the more common screen size for portable monitors, although as you can see on this list, there are 14-inch and 17.3-inch contenders as well. These 15.6-inch options seem to hit the sweet spot, not too small yet light and portable enough for daily commuting and long-distance travel.

Some, not all, monitors have touchscreen capability, and it might be a nice addition to have. However, bear in mind that touchscreen monitors tend to cost more, so if you don’t think you’ll utilize that feature to its full advantage, you might want to skip it. It’ll save you some money.

One great thing about portable monitors is that you can use them anytime, anywhere, alongside your laptop, which is why a lot of them use the capability and speed of USB-C ports for input and power. However, many also come with HDMI or microHDMI ports, slightly expanding your port selection. Some, the more powerful ones, require a higher 10W USB-C port so you might have to plug them into a 10W wall charger. A handful still will come with a built-in battery so you can charge at home and use battery power when you’re at a cafe or working on a train. Just remember that the battery life on these tends to last for only a couple of hours.

Finally, consider things like brightness, color reproduction, contrast, refresh rate, and response time. These are just as important on a portable monitor as they are on a regular-sized monitor for your viewing experience.

Michelle Rae Uy is a freelance tech and travel writer, part-time production editor, and a full-time traveler from Los Angeles, California. She currently splits her time between Los Angeles, London and the rest of the world. Follow her on Instagram @straywithRae.

Thank your own personal God—possibly The King of All Cosmos—it's Friday! Even though lockdowns are lifting all over the shop, I've got the gaming bargains that will keep you away from the outside. (Trust me, in 10 minutes you'll remember how overrated fresh air and other people are.) Get scrolling for great deals on horror franchises, like Resi and Outlast. Stay safe, save often and catch you Monday!

Notable Sales for Nintendo Switch

Purchase Cheaply for PC

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Product Savings for PS4/PS5

Adam's an Aussie deals guy who doesn't currently understand the need for an Uncharted movie. Will watch it all the same.

Amazon has announced that it will be taking measures to ban players who recently exploited a glitch in New World's 1.0.3 update, which brought server transfers to the game.

As reported by PCGamer, the "gold dupe" glitch allowed players to duplicate gold and items. How it works is that if players sent gold to another player and logged off and then logged back in again, the gold they traded beforehand would still be in their inventory. Of course, word of this glitch spread quickly.

Amazon addressed the glitch in a statement and said that "players found deliberately using this condition to gain advantage will be banned for exploiting. We will also remove items or gold received where appropriate."

Additionally, to curb this glitch further, players who exploited it may be temporarily unable to log in with their character. This should resolve itself within two hours, but if it lasts longer, Amazon says players should contact customer service.

This is a bit different from how EA handled its recent glitch with FIFA 22 Ultimate Team competitive mode. Like Amazon, EA issued temporary bans but didn't do anything to take away the rewards from those who already exploited the glitch.

New World players exploiting a way to earn more gold may have something to do with the currency crisis currently plaguing the MMO. Unlike other MMORPGs, New World is undergoing a currency deflation where gold is being hoarded for being more valuable than crafting items. This has led New World players to adopt a barter system rather than spend their precious coins.

As New World's living MMO world continues to evolve in fascinating ways check out our correspondence from our virtual New World war reporter, or our New World review in progress.

George Yang is a freelance writer for IGN. Follow him on Twitter at @yinyangfooey.

The Marvel Creative Committee has a deservedly rough reputation within the MCU fandom. As far back as 2015, the team of executives was drawing ire for its conservative outlook on the MCU, creating friction with Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige and the rest of the creative team.

With the recent release of The Story of Marvel Studios: The Making of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, a massive tome chronicling the creation of the MCU, we now have even more insight into Feige's clashes with the committee. We already knew that they clashed with director Edgar Wright among other, but the ending of Captain America: Civil War was reportedly where matters truly came to a head.

As spotted by Slash Film, he book describes heated disagreements between directors Anthony and Joe Russo and the Marvel Creative Committee over whether Iron Man and Captain America should actually battle in the film's climax. According to writer Stephen McFeely, the committee wanted the Avengers to put aside their differences and battle five super soldiers in a submarine base.

"Civil War started a civil war in Marvel," co-director Joe Russo said. "But when we drew the line in the sand, it became a moment where that company was either going to slowly bend back toward where it had come from, or it was gonna slowly start to bend toward new territory."

It was enough that Feige, who nominally served as a mediator between the two groups, was compelled to side with the filmmakers. The dispute was taken to Disney executive Alan Horn, who wound up backing Marvel Studios. A subsequent restructuring would see Feige reporting directly to Horn.

The decision ended years of disagreements with the Marvel Creative Committee, which consisted of toy executive Alan Fine, Marvel Comics writer Brian Michael Bendis, Marvel publisher Dan Buckley, and former Marvel Comics editor-in-chief Joe Quesada. They were backed by billionaire Isaac Permutter, who clashed with Feige over issues of diversity, and was reportedly behind the decision to market Avengers merchandise exclusively to boys.

"Kevin is one of the most talented film executives in the business, but my sense was that the strained relationship with New York was threatening his continued success,” former Disney CEO Bob Iger wrote in his book, The Ride of a Lifetime. "I knew I had to intervene, and so in May 2015, I made the decision to split Marvel’s movie-making unit off from the rest of Marvel and bring it under Alan Horn and the Walt Disney Studios. Kevin would now report directly to Alan, and would benefit from his experience, and the tensions that had built up between him and the New York office would be alleviated."

Of course, we all know what happened after that: Iron Man did in fact fight Captain America; the Marvel Creative Committee was disbanded in 2015, and the MCU is more popular than ever. Russo's main takeaway was that the MCU had to be "disruptive" if it wanted to continue thriving.

"The big thing I used to say all the time was, 'People tell you how much they love chocolate ice cream. You give it to them six days a week, they're gonna throw it in your face on day six. And the problem is, if you have three chocolate ice creams in the can at 200 million dollars a pop, you're screwed. So you better start figuring out ahead of time how to be disruptive," he said.

We'll see if the MCU can keep up its creative momentum with Marvel's Eternals, which goes into wide release in the United States on November 5.

Kat Bailey is a Senior News Editor at IGN