IGN

Destiny 2: Where Is Xur Today? Location and Exotic Items for May 7

1 year 11 months ago

The horse-admiring thrifty boi, Xûr, is now live in Destiny 2 for the weekend until next week's reset. If you're looking to get your some shiny new Exotic armor or weapons for your Guardian, look no further.

Each week, Xûr has a random assortment of Exotic armor, one for each Guardian class, as well as a random Exotic Weapon and an Exotic Engram available for purchase. In addition to his Exotic wares, he's got a random collection of Legendary weapons and armor to deck out your Guardians.

We've rounded up all the info on Xûr for the week including where to find Xûr, which Exotic weapons and armor are available, as well as which Legendary weapons you should pick up, either for PvE or PvP.

Where Is Xûr Today?

Xûr's location can be found at Winding Cove in the EDZ on May 7 through May 10. To reach him, travel to the landing point at Winding Cove. When you arrive, make for the rock cliffs at the far end of the cove and look for a cave winding up to a platform next to some Fallen. There you'll find the freakish salesman we all adore.

Author
Travis Northup

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Final Fantasy 16 Has a Finished Trailer But It's Been Delayed Due To 'Various Circumstances'

1 year 11 months ago

We may soon have another trailer for the upcoming Final Fantasy XVI, according to Naoki Yoshida, the game's producer. He made the comments during a livestream to promote a collaboration between NieR Reincarnation and Final Fantasy XIV.

"We have a finished trailer, but due to various circumstances its release has been a bit delayed," said Yoshida, responding to some gentle pressure from NieR series producer Yosuke Saito. "I reckon it'll be coming out very soon, though."

On the game itself, Yoshida said that it was "really taking shape" and praised the hard work of the development team. "Now we're playtesting, polishing, and debugging, and I want us to be able to take our time with it."

Yoshida previously revealed in an interview with Uniqlo that the game was in the final stages of development, saying in the livestream that he received a “cold email” from the US marketing team for letting the information slip.

Final Fantasy XVI is the first mainline entry in the series since 2016, and was revealed during September 2020’s PS5 showcase.

The game is set on the continent of Valisthea, home to six factions driven to the verge of war by a mysterious Blight, with powerful beings called Eikons summoned by their human Dominants. Compared to the MMORPG Final Fantasy XIV, Yoshida has previously said that the game “offers a different experience where it focuses on the individual player and immerses you in the story.”

Author
Kat Bailey

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Halo Infinite: 343 Addresses Season 2's 'Bumpy' Launch and Says Fixes Are on the Way

1 year 11 months ago

The Season 2 update to Halo Infinite hasn’t quite lived up to players’ expectations, but members of the Halo team are reassuring players that fixes are on their way. Halo developer 343i Senior Community Manager John Junyszek and Head of Creative Joseph Staten took to Twitter to address players’ concerns on Friday.

“Hey Spartans, this week has been bumpy,” Staten said via a Tweet. “That definitely wasn't our goal. We are indeed taking your feedback to heart, especially regarding map jumps and speedrunning. We're reviewing options and will have more news to come.”

A thread by Junyszek dives further into some of these issues. According to Junyszek, the Last Spartan Standing challenges in the Interference Event were fixed and should now be “tracking more accurately and helping you earn rewards.” Halo Infinite will also compensate players who log in during the event with 5 XP Boosts and 5 Challenge Swaps.

The team has also responded to fans’ concerned Tweets, clarifying that a “jamming” issue regarding semi-automatic weapons is an unintentional glitch and will be patched in the near future.

Author
Amelia Zollner

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Scarlet Witch Joins Fortnite As Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness Arrives in Theaters

1 year 11 months ago

In celebration of the theatrical release of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Fortnite has announced that Scarlet Witch is now available in the game's Item Shop.

Scarlet Witch, who is also known as Wanda Maximoff, joins Doctor Strange, who was introduced as part of Fortnite's Chapter 3: Season 2 Battle Pass. She also comes complete with a new Back Bling, Pickaxe, and Loading Screen.

More details of Scarlet Witch's arrival were revealed by The Fortnite Team, including that the Scarlet Witch Outfit comes packaged with Wanda's Clock Back Bling. Both the Outfit and the Back Bling light up with Chaos Magic when you inflict damage on your opponents. If you aren't a fan of the effect, you can always change it by switching to her alt style.

Her Chaos Hand Axe Pickaxe, which is described as a "tangible construct of magic energy," is available as a separate purchase alongside the Psychic Energy Manipulation Emote. As always, even though these are meant for Scarlet Witch, they can be used with any Outfit.

While the items can be purchased individually, fans that wish to own all of them can buy the Scarlet Witch Bundle to gain access to all the items and the Through the Mirror Dimension Loading Screen.

Author
Adam Bankhurst

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Hitman 3's Freelancer Mode Delayed to the Second Half of 2022, New Map Arriving in July

1 year 11 months ago

IO Interactive announced that Hitman 3's Freelancer mode has been delayed to the second half of 2022 and will no longer launch this spring. To help with the wait, IO is releasing the brand-new Ambrose Island map in July, which is earlier than it was originally planned.

The Freelancer mode introduces rogue-like elements into the game's various campaign missions and allows players to customize Agent 47's new Safehouse. IO explains that the team wanted more time to work on the mode, and shared that it has been conducting internal playtesting and received insight from members of the community who were trusted with playable builds.

"The feedback from the playtests was largely positive and the mode is in very good shape. As we’ve said, we’re taking some extra time to tighten the mode up and improve several elements that we think will greatly improve the gameplay experience," says IO Interactive. "Whilst we work on those improvements, we’re also preparing to dive deeper into the mode and share more of what you can expect."

Hitman 3 also originally had an April patch in the works that included new content such as more Featured Contracts and Elusive Targets throughout May, but it is now being released on May 24.

The Ambrose Island map, which was codenamed "Rocky, will have an "intriguing narrative" as it is set before Hitman 3 and will explain a few narrative gaps within the World of Assassination trilogy's storyline.

Author
George Yang

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Blizzard Hires Its First VP of Culture to Make the Company 'More Diverse, Equitable, and Inclusive'

1 year 11 months ago

Blizzard Entertainment has hired Jessica Martinez as its first Vice President, Head of Culture as part of its "ongoing initiative to create a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace culture where people at every level can learn, grow, and bring their most creative selves to their work."

Blizzard shared the news in a blogpost, saying that Jessica and other members of the leadership team will be in charge of "implementing our culture strategy, ensuring alignment across all teams and functions, and revamping learning and talent development programs."

Image%20Credit%3A%20Blizzard%20Entertainment

“When you create a people-first environment where teams feel safe, valued, and work together toward a shared purpose, everyone thrives–the employees, the players, and the business," Martinez said. "Making the values of our connections show up in what we do is how we bring humanity back to business."

Jessica comes to Blizzard with more than 14 years of experience at The Walt Disney Company, where she was a leader in strategy, communications, operations, and employee experience. She served as Chief of Staff and was a key strategic advisor to both the Chief Security Office and the Chief Technology & Digital Officer for Disney Parks & Resorts.

Author
Adam Bankhurst

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Daily Deals: Nintendo Switch Sports Down to £32.99 Right Now

1 year 11 months ago

Nintendo Switch Sports has come down to just £33 at Amazon and Currys. This is a great discount, and even includes the leg strap used to play some of the mini-games.

You can also get some amazing deals on Logitech PC gear and accessories right now, with mouses, keyboards, storage and more all on sale this week. There's also stock available for the highly popular LEGO Horizon Forbidden West Tallneck set at the moment, which is up for £69.99 at GAME right now.

TL;DR - Our Favourite UK Deals Right Now

Nintendo Switch Sports for £32.99 (was £39.99)

LEGO Horizon Forbidden West Tallneck In Stock Right Now

Massive Sale on Logitech PC Gear at Amazon

My Favourite Deals: Even More Amazing Discounts to Check Out

Protect Your Data: 50% Off ExpressVPN Right Now

Author
Robert Anderson

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The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Leads 2022's World Video Game Hall of Fame Inductees

1 year 11 months ago

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time has officially been inducted into the World Video Game Hall of Fame alongside Ms. Pac-Man, Dance Dance Revolution, and Sid Meier's Civilization.

These games join 32 others that have been inducted since the World Video Game Hall of Fame began at New York's The Strong National Museum of Play in 2015.

So far, the list includes such games as Grand Theft Auto 3, the original Legend of Zelda, Sonic the Hedgehog, Super Mario Bros., Tetris, Halo: Combat Evolved, Minecraft, Final Fantasy VII, Pokemon Red & Green, and many more.

The four winners of 2022 beat out a tough group of nominees that also included Assassin’s Creed, Candy Crush Saga, Minesweeper, NBA Jam, PaRappa the Rapper, Resident Evil, Rogue, and Words with Friends.

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time and Ms. Pac-Man both made our list of the best 100 video games of all-time at spots #34 and #53, respectively. While Dance Dance Revolution and Sid Meier's Civilization didn't make our list (Civ IV did though at spot #35!), it's hard to overstate their importance in the history of this medium.

Author
Adam Bankhurst

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Here’s N64’s Goldeneye On Four Separate Screens

1 year 11 months ago

N64's GoldenEye 007 is one of the most celebrated multiplayer games of all time, and now the Centre for Computing History has found the ultimate way to stop screen cheating by giving each player their own separate screen.

The Centre for Computing History shared a video of this new way to play GoldenEye 007 on Twitter, and it shared how it undertook this endeavor for its upcoming 25 Years of GoldenEye Dev Talk Evening.

While the event is sold out, it will allow fans who have already secured a ticket a chance to try out this separate screen GoldenEye experience for themselves.

The event will also bring three of GoldenEye's developers - Martin Hollis, Dr. David Doak, and Brett Jones - in as guests, and will have development documents, concept art, and playable versions of GoldenEye Japan and possibly the canceled GoldenEye Remastered for Xbox 360.

Author
Adam Bankhurst

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IGN UK Podcast #643: Doctor Strange in the Desperate Search for Seal Meat

1 year 11 months ago

Cardy, Jesse, and Dale are here to deliver a podcast of madness to your ears as they talk about the new Doctor Strange film. They also report on their sneak peek of Avatar: The Way of Water, before diving into a bunch of games you may not have heard of but may well want to check out - Dread Hunger, Loot River, and Save Room.

Want to get in touch to talk about digging graves? Or maybe about chocolate? Feel free to send us an email at ign_ukfeedback@ign.com.

IGN UK Podcast #643: Doctor Strange in the Desperate Search for Seal Meat

Author
Simon Cardy

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LEGO Horizon Forbidden West Tallneck Finally Back In Stock in the UK

1 year 11 months ago

We're finally seeing the LEGO Horizon Forbidden West Tallneck set back in the stock in the UK. It had previously sold out at most retailers, but you can now buy it immediately from GAME, or on back-order from Smyths. The LEGO set includes 1,222 pieces and costs £69.99 if you purchase it now (or $79.99 in the US). We're expecting this to sell out again before the end of the day.

LEGO and PlayStation teamed up to launch the Horizon: Forbidden West set featuring the Tallneck, alongside an Aloy Minifigure and Watcher figure. The LEGO Tallneck is intended as a display model and was initially released on May 1, 2022.

LEGO Horizon Forbidden West Tallneck In Stock Right Now

Living up to its name, the set is over 34cm tall, 23cm wide, and 17 cm deep, and was created in collaboration with Guerrilla Games, the developer of Horizon: Forbidden West.

It's been an incredibly popular item, with multiple retailers in the UK and US already selling out the set (including Amazon UK, Best Buy, Walmart, and LEGO UK+US). But, it is still available to back-order from Amazon US for those on that side of the Atlantic.

Author
Robert Anderson

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Barton Lynch Pro Surfing 2022 Seeks to Resurrect a Long-Lost Sports Sub-Genre

1 year 11 months ago

Back in the early 2000s, surfing was one of several sports being well-served in the video game space. Treyarch’s Kelly Slater's Pro Surfer, published on Xbox, PS2, and GameCube under Activision’s long-defunct Activision O2 brand, is one high-profile example – but there were plenty of others. Krome produced Championship Surfer for PC, PlayStation, and Dreamcast in 2000, and also Sunny Garcia Surfing for PS2 in 2001. Angel Studios (which later became Rockstar San Diego) released Transworld Surf on Xbox, PS2, and GameCube between 2001 and 2003. The surf-obsessed may even remember Surfing H3O, although you might be better off forgetting that one.

And then, the tsunami of surfing games stopped. Waxheads were waiting for more, but the surfing sub-genre was sunk.

“Perhaps I need my head read,” jokes Bungarra Software CEO Andrew West when asked why he thinks it’s been effectively two decades since a sport-focused surfing game surfaced. Based in Fremantle, Western Australia, Bungarra is the developer of Barton Lynch Pro Surfing 2022 – an ambitious new surfing game bearing the name of 1988 ASP World Tour Champion and Australian Sporting Hall of Famer Barton Lynch, available now on Steam Early Access.

Author
Luke Reilly

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FTC Probing Sony's Bungie Acquisition As Gaming Merger Oversight Gets More Aggressive

1 year 11 months ago

The Federal Trade Commission is reportedly opening an inquiry into Sony's planned acquisition of Bungie, marking a notable ramp-up in federal oversight of gaming mergers during a period of major industry consolidation.

According to sources speaking with The Information, last week the FTC began seeking more information about the deal in an investigation that could potentially delay its closing by six months or even more. Though a closing date wasn't announced alongside the initial announcement, The Information reports it could be pushed into early 2023.

The FTC is reportedly focused on concerns that Sony might be motivated to prevent competing companies and services, such as Xbox, from accessing Bungie's games such as Destiny 2. That means examining how popular Destiny is, and whether a possible restriction would meaningfully harm Sony's competitors and create antitrust violations. While Sony has publicly committed to keeping Bungie games cross-platform, its ability to restrict both current titles and future releases in the future is a point of antitrust concern.

This investigation represents another sign of the FTC's recent, more aggressive approach toward potential antitrust issues in the gaming industry. While it is customary for the FTC to look into large deals, the spree of major gaming acquisition in recent years as well as the growing size of such deals appears to have prompted greater scrutiny, particularly under Biden-appointed FTC chair Lina Khan.

Author
Rebekah Valentine

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Ewan McGregor Hints At Obi-Wan Kenobi And Jedi: Fallen Order Connection

1 year 11 months ago

Yesterday, a new trailer for the upcoming Obi-Wan Kenobi dropped. In anticipation of its upcoming release, Ewan McGregor is in full press mode supporting the six-part series and stopped by virtually on the Jimmy Kimmel show.

Over the course of the interview, McGregor dove right into a number of topics ranging from action figures of himself to fans who know more about the series than he does. But it is one specific side comment that made us pause.

In the interview, he praises director Deborah Chow who “really knows [her stuff]” regarding the various media the Star Wars universe inhabits. McGregor says that “all of the storylines have to … match up” and you “can't have some fact in a video game that doesn't match up to the movie.”

It’s a known fact that Star Wars Jedi: Fall Order is situated around the same time as the events of the Obi-Wan Kenobi series. It isn’t that big of a hyperspace jump to think we could see a cameo from Cal Kestis or another Fallen Order character.

Author
Casey David Muir-Taylor

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HGXIV: Meet the Interior Decorators Leading Final Fantasy XIV’s Vibrant Housing Community

1 year 11 months ago

Buying a house in Final Fantasy XIV sometimes feels as insurmountable a task as buying a house in real life.

Housing has been a hot commodity in FFXIV for years, as owning a house gives players a space to decorate and make their own. But with demand far outpacing supply, housing is one of the luxury items in Final Fantasy XIV.

But if you're lucky to get a house, you'll be glad to check out HGXIV, a fan podcast, and community that shines a spotlight on designers and provides essential resources like design guides, housing directories, designer portfolios, and more.

There are two big hurdles to purchasing a house in FFXIV. The first is the high cost, as the most basic plot of land starts at 3 million gil (the in-game currency), and larger plots can cost up to 50 million gil. What makes buying a house even more difficult is that it has practically become a game of chance, as players need to comb through residential wards and wait for plots to go on sale, then hope they can snatch it before someone else. A certain level of commitment to FFXIV is needed to even consider owning a house.

Square Enix has constantly tried to introduce new ways to get houses to more players, but even its most recent attempt with a lottery system was met with a crippling glitch that messed up the way winners were drawn.

Despite all the roadblocks, however, a vibrant community has popped up around the housing market, filled with dozens of virtual interior designers.

Author
Matt Kim

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Xbox Cloud Gaming Brings Fortnite to PC and iOS Devices for Free

1 year 11 months ago

Epic Games and Microsoft are partnering to bring Fortnite to Xbox Cloud Gaming. The megahit battle royale is now available to play on PC and even iOS and iPad devices through streaming.

Anyone interested in playing Epic's battle royale just needs a Microsoft account and an iOS device or Windows PC with internet to begin playing immediately through a browser. There's no need to subscribe to Xbox Game Pass as Fortnite will remain free-to-play through Xbox Cloud Gaming.

Xbox Cloud Gaming lets users play games instantly without needing to install a game onto their device locally. The service is normally part of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, but Fortnite does not require a membership to play. Instead, players can log in with their Microsoft account through xbox.com/play on a web browser to begin playing Fortnite.

The browser-based version of Fortnite means players can circumvent Apple's decision to delist Fortnite from the iOS App Store. Nvidia did something similar for a limited time when it brought Fortnite to its streaming platform GeForce Now.

This new free-to-play offering is meant to bolster Xbox Cloud Gaming which Microsoft announced has been used by over 10 million players.

Author
Matt Kim

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District 9 Director Neill Blomkamp's New Game Is a Cyberpunk Battle Royale

1 year 11 months ago

The first game from District 9 director Neill Blomkamp is Off The Grid, a cyberpunk-style third-person Battle Royale, coming next year.

Gunzilla Games promises a next-generation Battle Royale with a strong focus on narrative progression, with Richard K. Morgan (lead writer of Crysis 2 and author of Altered Carbon) writing the script, and Blomkamp serving as chief visionary officer.

Off The Grid pits 150 players against each other, but PvE (player versus environment) story missions will also take place on the map in real time, with player actions affecting how the story (and therefore other people's gameplay), unfolds.

Crafting and customisation will also be a key component, with players encouraged to trade items with one another.

"With Off The Grid our ambition is not only to create the Battle Royale 2.0 by adding deep player progression, but to build an evolving world designed to take on a life of its own, changing in unexpected ways each time a player rejoins the game," said Blomkamp.

"With an innovative approach to the Battle Royale core session flow and a deep narrative experience, we add purpose to each element of the game, allowing players to revisit the OTG world repeatedly where there is always something new to find and explore, and for us to expand upon."

More information about Off The Grid's blend of Battle Royale and narrative will be shared in the coming months, Gunzilla Games said.

Author
Ryan Dinsdale

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Dread Hunger Became So Unexpectedly Massive on Steam That It Had to Refocus Development

1 year 11 months ago

There's a chance you haven't heard of Dread Hunger yet, even though it's one of the biggest games in the world right now.

A cocktail of Among Us-like social deduction amid the ticking-clock fear of a survival game, the game has quietly amassed a huge playerbase, to the point where it's been in and around Steam's top 10 most played games for well over a month. That success has been so huge, and so sudden, that developer Dread Hunger Team has had reprioritise development to meet the demand.

While it was available for months in Early Access, where Dread Hunger averaged a few hundred players at one time, the game shot to success around its official release in January, climbing to more than 100,000 players, one million copies sold, and rubbing shoulders with Grand Theft Auto V and Elden Ring on Steam's top ten list for concurrent players.

"The surge in popularity was totally unexpected but extremely exciting", said Romy Gellen, marketing and communications coordinator. "We were stoked that we were starting to see hype building and people catching onto our game as we approached full release."

Dread Hunger is about survival, asking eight players to sail their ship through the 19th Century Arctic, stopping and exploring on foot for fuel, food, and other resources. While this is difficult enough by itself, two of the players become corrupted by evil forces and begin to secretly sabotage the group.

Author
Ryan Dinsdale

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Trek to Yomi Review

1 year 11 months ago

If you’re a fan of classic samurai movies, there’s a lot to love about Trek to Yomi. It’s a katana-swiping side-scroller with a worthwhile story that does a magnificent job of distilling old school Japanese cinema into video game form. But while it never stopped blowing me away aesthetically, the things you’re actually doing in that beautiful world are less impressive, with overly simplistic combat and exploration that only begins to scratch its surface. Even so, Trek to Yomi’s stylish presentation makes up for many of its gameplay shortcomings, making this a memorable samurai tale I’m glad I played.

Trek to Yomi’s dedication to black and white samurai movies from the 20th century is apparent in literally every moment of it, from the look of its boot-up logos and main menu all the way to the closing credits. That includes everything from the artificial sparkle dotting the screen that makes it look like it’s playing from an old film reel, to the pacing and line delivery during cutscenes, to the references to historically accurate traditions and religious practices that play a central role in the story. It’s actually hard to overstate just how great it feels to move about in such a meticulously detailed adaptation of a film style I’ve always adored, and that movie magic is the best thing Trek to Yomi has to offer without a doubt.

Author
Tom Marks

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Climate Replay: Developers Begin to Sign Anti-NFT Pledge

1 year 11 months ago

Developers, including Totally Accurate Battle Simulator's Landfall have begun signing an environment-focused anti-NFT pledge.

The pledge was set up by Climate Replay - a gaming-centred group made up of various developers raising awareness of the climate emergency - and six studios have signed it so far.

Alongside Landfall, KO_OP has signed the pledge (most known for the Lara Croft GO: The Mirror of Spirits expansion) alongside other developers Bearwaves, Godolphin Games, Cloudy Games LLC, and Brainless Labs. 127 individuals have also signed the pledge alongside the studios, featuring a mix of developers and fans.

Cory Scheviak, game designer and founder of Climate Replay, said the pledge has been well-received so far, and that developers see it, "as a way forward for the gaming industry to have a framework for responsibly implementing this technology. All in all, the response I've seen has been wholly constructive and well-received, both from fans of NFTs and critics," he added.

NFTs aim to allow for ownership of digital items and some developers and publishers have already explored letting gamers own certain unlocks, such as Ghost Recon Breakpoint's limited edition Quartz gear.

Author
Ryan Dinsdale

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AEW Wrestling Game Gets an Official Title: AEW Fight Forever

1 year 11 months ago

The All Elite Wrestling game in development at Yuke's Media Creations is officially called AEW Fight Forever.

The game's official Twitter account revealed the title (below) alongside two development update videos giving fans a first look at Nyla Rose and Kris Statlander.

While the videos make clear that gameplay is still in development and therefore not final, it gives what appears to be a fairly complete look at how AEW Fight Forever will play.

The Nyla Rose clip gives a close up look at The Native Beast's in-game model before showing gameplay from the ring as she wrestles Kris Statlander (whose video shows the reverse but with a few more special moves shown off).

Details are still slim on AEW Fight Forever overall, with Yuke's going relatively quiet since announcing the game (and multiple sequels) in November 2020.

Author
Ryan Dinsdale

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The Day Before: Steam's Most Wishlisted Game Shifts to Unreal Engine 5, But Gets a Delay

1 year 11 months ago

The Day Before – the open world survival MMO currently sitting at the top of Steam's most wishlisted games chart – is switching to Unreal Engine 5, but will be delayed to March 1, 2023 as a result.

Revealed exclusively with IGN, developer Fntastic has released a statement explaining that the game will shift to the advanced new engine, but also has to be delayed from its originally scheduled June 21 release.

The statement reads: "Millions of people have added The Day Before to their wishlist, making The Day Before one of the most anticipated games in the world.

"Feeling and understanding the great responsibility that we face, with enormous gratitude in our hearts, were pleased to announce that The Day Before is switching to the new Unreal Engine 5 technology! The transition to a more advanced and adapted open worlds engine, will make the gameplay of The Day Before even more fantastic.

"In this regard, we inform you that the new release date of the game will be March 1st, 2023."

Author
Joe Skrebels

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Mafia 3's Hanger 13 Studio Head and Founder Haden Blackman Steps Down After 7 Years

1 year 11 months ago

Mafia 3 developer Hanger 13's studio head and founder Haden Blackman is stepping down from the company and 2K after seven years.

Blackman will be replaced by Nick Baynes, who has 30 years of industry leadership experience and joined Hanger 13 in 2018 to start Hanger 13 Brighton. He was responsible for launching Mafia: Definitive Edition and the Mafia Trilogy.

Blackman spent his early game development years at LucasArts and was a producer on Star Wars: Galaxies, the project lead on Star Wars: The Force Unleashed, and more. He also wrote several Star Wars comics, including Jango Fett: Open Seasons, Star Wars: Starfighter, and Darth Vader & The Ghost Prison.

While Blackman's next move was not revealed, 2K did say that he is leaving the company to "pursue his passion at a new endeavor."

2K shared the internal announcement of Blackman's departure with IGN, which shares 2K's gratefulness for "Haden's leadership in establishing Hangar 13, building and uniting teams in Novato, Brighton and Czech, and releasing multiple studio-defining Mafia games and collections."

"Hello team, It's with mixed emotions that I share with you several leadership updates from Hangar 13," 2K's internal announcement reads. "Haden Blackman is stepping down as Studio Head of Hangar 13, and is leaving the company to pursue his passion at a new endeavor.

Author
Adam Bankhurst

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Hopes for PlayStation's Next Big Showcase... Whenever It Is - Beyond 748

1 year 11 months ago

The summer gaming events season is starting to come into focus, but we still don't know what PlayStation is up to! That's why on this week's episode of IGN's PlayStation show, Podcast Beyond!, host Jonathon Dornbush is joined by Jada Griffin and Mark Medina to speculate about what our hopes are for PlayStation's next big showcase, whenever it is.

Knowing we haven't gotten a PlayStation showcase since last year, and only a few States of Play in 2022, the trio dives into what our hopes would be for a potential PlayStation summer showcase, including guesses we hope you'll hold us to when they turn out wrong about when a summer showcase might air, what games would be included, and more. We break down the likelihood of seeing a showcase in the coming months, what possibilities of God of War Ragnarok, PSVR 2, Marvel's Spider-Man 2 and other first-party games may be there, as well as our third-party picks ranging from Stray to Resident Evil Village DLC to much more.

Be sure to tell us your hopes for PlayStation's next showcase in the comments or write into beyond@ign.com, and we'll read some on the show!

Author
Jonathon Dornbush

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Activision On Call of Duty Vanguard's Underperforming Sales: It Was World War II

1 year 11 months ago

Call of Duty: Vanguard and Activision Blizzard just can’t catch a break. Despite being the best-selling game in 2021, Activision is still unhappy with how the game has performed. Who have they identified as the culprit? World War II.

The company recognizes that the franchise is still one of the most successful entertainment franchises, at least, but their 2021 premium didn’t meet their expectations. In their annual report to investors, Activision Blizzard wrote, “The game’s World War II setting didn’t resonate with some of our community.”

Back in November, we reported that GameIndustry.biz, in collaboration with PAX and EGX, concluded people weren’t playing Vanguard because they were too busy playing other games. In fact, World War II even got a mention with 24% of those polled saying they also weren’t interested in games set during that time.

The company also says there was a lack of "innovation" in the 2021 mainline Call of Duty game, though what exactly that means is unclear.

Author
Casey David Muir-Taylor

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Flick of Faith Board Game Review

1 year 11 months ago

Dexterity games have a place in the wider canon of tabletop games because, well hey, they’re played on a tabletop. But in other respects, they’re odd fish. While most board games want to flex a combination of chance and strategic skill (see our list of the best strategy board games), most dexterity games are entirely about physical skill, literally a totally different ball game.

Combining that physical skill with a modicum of strategy is thus a bit of a golden goose when it comes to dexterity games but success stories are few and far between. The most successful is actually a classic older game called Crockinole but that demands an expensive wooden board. Flick of Faith, by contrast, is trying to do the same thing for $35 (see it on Amazon).

What’s in the Box?

Before you get into the box, it’s worth taking note of its size and shape. Unlike almost every other game on the market, Flick of Faith comes in a long, narrow box that isn’t going to fit on a standard shelving unit or stack with other games.

Levering the lid off makes it plain why: inside there’s a big, rolled-up vinyl mat to use as a play surface, depicting four islands surrounded by clouds. You might presume this kind of mat isn’t smooth and shiny enough to slide the included wooden disks across, but it facilitates the flicking just fine.

Author
Chris Reed

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Half-Life 2: Ravenholm: An Hour of the Canceled Valve Game Revealed

1 year 11 months ago

Arkane Studios might have canceled Ravenholm, the working title for its Half-Life 2 spinoff, over ten years ago, but that won’t stop video game historians from digging up footage of the game. Today, the video game documentary channel Noclip shared a video with nearly an hour of unfiltered footage from the abandoned zombie shooter project.

The footage is contextualized by Danny O’Dwyer, who explains the development process as well as the game’s environment and characters in between sections of narration-free gameplay. As O’Dwyer begins playing, Lieutenant Shepard (the player character) gains consciousness in an abandoned hospital and is guided by Father Grigori, who’s known for his role in Half-Life 2. It doesn’t take long for the action to kick in, as the hospital is soon invaded by zombies.

O’Dwyer notes that the game, while still playable, is visibly unfinished. It’s apparent that the game has some rough edges — as many commenters noted, some of the zombies are comically wearing shirts that say “I’m a placeholder.”

The game was canceled for unknown reasons after development taking place between 2006 and 2007. Previously, footage of the game was revealed for the first time by Noclip back in 2020 in a documentary on Arkane.

Author
Amelia Zollner

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New York City Files Complaint Against Activision Blizzard for Wrongdoing Tied to Microsoft Acquisition

1 year 11 months ago

Update 11:53am PT: Activision Blizzard has issued a statement in response to the New York lawsuit, which it has shared with IGN:

“We disagree with the allegations made in this complaint and look forward to presenting our arguments to the Court.”

Original story: Multiple New York City funds have banded together to file a complaint against Activision Blizzard, alleging that CEO Bobby Kotick and the board may have breached their fiduciary duty in their dealings with Microsoft to be acquired, and harmed the company's value.

As reported by Axios, the suit was filed on May 2 by the New York City Employees', Board of Education, and Teachers' retirement systems, as well as pension funds for the city fire department, and police — all of which hold stock in Activision Blizzard. The plaintiffs are claiming their right to inspect various Activision Blizzard records to determine if any wrongdoing was done through the acquisition process, citing a number of concerns to back their demand.

Author
Rebekah Valentine

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The 10 Best Tactics RPGs

1 year 11 months ago

Tactics RPGs are the meat and potatoes in the diet of video games. Not always flashy and exciting at first glance to those who may not know the genre, but they're often one of the most satisfying meals to sink your teeth into. From controlling Viking armies to repelling alien invasions and even fighting in a faux World War II, there is a wide world of experiences to be had in this genre, and we’ve selected the 10 best. Here is our list of the Top 10 Tactics RPGs of all time.

10. Othercide

Stunningly stylish, moody, and challenging with a dark and complex story that only comes into focus little by little, Othercide's noir Lovecraftian world and battles are inimitable. Roguelike elements and a bittersweet sacrifice mechanic lead to developing strong bonds with your "daughters", even knowing that many of them may not make it. And in some cases, you may need to decide who lives and who dies.

Enemy behavior is deterministic, but the diversity of foes and the situations you face them in makes each map a satisfying tangle to unfurl. The terrifying bosses show this off best of all. Othercide is the type of tactical RPG that cleanly weaves strong mechanical and aesthetic ideas into something hauntingly beautiful. It's an outstanding beacon for what this genre has become in the last several years.

Author
Adam Bankhurst

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Halo Infinite Sees the Ultimate Microsoft Crossover - Clippy

1 year 11 months ago

While Halo Infinite's Season 2 adds new maps, modes, a Battle Pass, and more, perhaps the least expected addition is the inclusion of Clippy, the 25-year-old Microsoft Office assistant.

As spotted by PC Gamer, the return of Clippy was shared by Xbox senior product manager James Shields on Twitter (below), who posted screenshots of some new cosmetics available in the update.

A legendary charm called Clippy - essentially a keyring that players can attach to their guns - can be unlocked later in the season that's, well, Clippy, looking as smug as ever despite being retired 21 years ago.

As well as having the office assistant bob along the side of your gun as you take down other players in Halo Infinite's new modes, you can also represent Clippy through a new epic nameplate, which will also arrive later in the season. No word yet on whether Clippy will also becomes one of Halo's unlockable AI helpers...

It's unclear how and when the Clippy cosmetics can be unlocked but they're definitely not part of the new Battle Pass that itself comes with 100 tiers of basic and premium rewards.

Author
Ryan Dinsdale

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In the Game for Ukraine: A Livestream Fundraiser With IGN and SIDE - How to Watch and What to Expect

1 year 11 months ago

IGN and SIDE Global have partnered up to host In The Game for Ukraine, a livestream that aims to raise money to provide humanitarian relief for people affected by the war in Ukraine. To help us accomplish that goal, SIDE is inviting voice actors from some of the biggest games, including Uncharted 4 and The Witcher, to perform live readings of their biggest scenes.

IGN is carrying the stream and, as usual, this watch guide will provide you with everything you need to know to watch the stream, including when it starts, a list of places you can watch it with us, and how you can donate.

What Cause Are We Raising Funds For and How Can I Donate?

In the Game for Ukraine will be raising money that will provide humanitarian relief for people affected by the war in Ukraine via the British Red Cross. All proceeds will go directly to British Red Cross' Operation Ukraine campaign.

These donations will provide food, water, first aid, medicine, warm clothes, and shelter for some of the 2.5 million people that have already left Ukraine and those that are still there. To understand better where your money is going, British Red Cross has provided the following info;

Author
Adam Bankhurst

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Overwatch 2: Blizzard Discusses What It Will (and Won't) Change in the Beta

1 year 11 months ago

Blizzard has shared early impressions of the Overwatch 2 beta and outlined what changes are coming as a result of player feedback.

The biggest change is coming to support heroes, with Blizzard accepting feedback that there's much more interesting new content for tank and damage players to explore.

"We believe the most effective way to tackle this issue is to add exciting new support heroes to the game," Blizzard said in a blog post.

The development team is also working on updating current support heroes though, similar to how Doomfist and Orisa received reworks, which could be added to this beta but will more likely be inclusions in later testing periods.

Blizzard also confirmed that more brand new heroes will be joining Sojourn ahead of the official PvP launch, alongside more maps and features. The beta's UI, including menus, player profiles, and so on will also receive "a significant amount of overall polish and refinement" ahead of the full release.

The refreshed scoreboard – which removed both the Fire and Medal systems from Overwatch 1, and presents stats more traditionally – will be staying put, but Blizzard has further tweaks planned. A "damage mitigated" section will be added to track things like the amount of damage blocked or reduced by abilities including Ana's Nano Boost and Baptiste's Immortality Field.

Author
Ryan Dinsdale

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16 Things You (Probably) Didn't Know About Evil Dead

1 year 11 months ago

The Evil Dead franchise is the most splattery saga in horror history, and has unleashed countless quotable quips and hundreds of gallons of bloods on fervent fans over the past 40 years. Starring Bruce Campbell as perennial punching bag Ash Williams -- a department store clerk with a habit of getting caught up in apocalyptic battles with dastardly demons -- Evil Dead began as an inventive shoestring-budget independent film and steadily ascended into to wild-ass world of sequels, reboots, TV shows, comics, and video games.

With Evil Dead: The Game on its way, an over-the-top survival horror adventure, with Bruce Campbell voicing Ash, we thought we'd flip through a few flesh-bound, blood-inked pages of the Necronomicon and find some fun facts about the franchise that you might not know. Here are some goopy, gory tidbits about Sam Raimi's long-running blood carnival, which all started in a desolate cabin in the woods.

The First Film Was Shot in a Single Cabin…and Everyone Slept There

1981's The Evil Dead was a passion project of childhood friends Sam Raimi and Bruce Campbell, who grew up making Super 8 movies in Michigan. This first Evil Dead film, inspired by H.P. Lovecraft, about a world of demons accidentally being opened, was filmed in true renegade-style, with a crew of 13 people in the remote thicket of Tennessee.

Though the sequel would have the budget to build a cabin exterior and a set for the interior, the first film had to use the real deal, with the entire crew also using the cabin to sleep, only adding to the hardship of the very rough shoot.

Author
Matt Fowler

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Bungie Speaks Out in Support of Roe vs. Wade as Supreme Court Seeks to Overturn It

1 year 11 months ago

Destiny 2 creator Bungie has publicly spoken out against the proposed overturning of Roe vs. Wade, the historic Supreme Court judgement used to secure rights to abortion across the U.S.

On the Bungie blog, the developer was outspoken in its defence of the 1973 judgement. You can read the full statement below:

Author
Joe Skrebels

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Elden Ring Finally Drops in Price for a Limited Time

1 year 11 months ago

It's not the biggest discount in the world, but if you were waiting for Elden Ring to go on sale before buying it, now is your chance. Elden Ring has finally dropped in price and can now be purchased for $49.94 from Amazon, Walmart, or GameStop.

That's over $10 off the original list price, and a great deal for those who haven't picked up the Game of the Year contender just yet. Unfortunately Xbox fans, this is restricted to just a PlayStation sale, but I'm sure a discount will be around for you soon enough.

Elden Ring is Now $50 at Amazon (Save $10)

Elden Ring continues to prove itself as somewhat of a cultural phenomenon since its launch. Modders are already adding in Star Wars mods, while others have found new ways to beat the game. One player got the Fisher-Price toy controller working, while another has made a VR version of Elden Ring. We awarded Elden Ring a 10/10 Masterpiece in our review, with the game certainly living up to the hype attributed to it.

Author
Robert Anderson

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Halo Infinite Multiplayer Now Supports 120Hz on Series S

1 year 11 months ago

Halo Infinite multiplayer now supports a 120Hz refresh rate on Xbox Series S – bringing back a feature lost after the game's multiplayer beta.

Players with a 120Hz monitor will be able to enjoy 120fps gameplay, even on the less powerful Xbox Series console. The feature arrived in the Halo Infinite Season 2: Lone Wolves update, bringing 120Hz back to the Series S after it featured in the multiplayer beta but didn't make it to the full release.

As pointed out in the full patch notes, players can upgrade the frame rate by accessing the Video tab in the game's Settings menu. Series X users can now also lower their frame rate to 30Hz to prioritise graphics, though this probably isn't advisable for multiplayer modes.

The Season 2 update also brought three new modes, including Last Spartan Standing, plus a fresh Battle Pass and other new events, attempting to address the lack of content that has the community "simply out of patience", developer 343 Industries said.

Author
Ryan Dinsdale

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Hitman 3 Game Director Joins Crytek to Direct Crysis 4

1 year 11 months ago

Hitman 3 director Mattias Engström has left IO Interactive to direct Crysis 4 at Crytek Studios.

The official Crysis Twitter account shared the news (below), saying Engström was joining the team this week to lead the new Crysis game.

While he was only a game director at IO Interactive for three years, Engström spent much longer at the studio, having worked their since 2014.

He previously spent almost ten years at Massive Entertainment, from 2004 to 2014, while the studio was developing games such as Assassin's Creed: Revelations and Far Cry 3.

Very little is known about the new Crysis game. Crytek teased it with a brief trailer in January following a leak online, with CEO Avni Yerli saying Crysis 4 is "in the early stages of development so it will be a while yet."

He added: "We wanted to bring you the news at this time as we are so hyped for the future, and to let you know that we will be listening to our community."

Author
Ryan Dinsdale

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Hands-On with Warcraft: Arclight Rumble

2 years ago

You will probably be able to tell if Blizzard's new mobile game Warcraft: Arclight Rumble, a "tower offense" game, as they call it, is for you within ten seconds of looking at it.

Warcraft: Arclight Rumble doesn't seem to be trying to hide the fact that it's Blizzard's foray into the kingdom of mobile strategy games that generally have an icon of some sort of wacky pack warrior yelling at you from the app store. It's stylized and whimsical even beyond the likes of Hearthstone, with familiar faces like Tyrande Whisperwind and the trusty orc grunt rendered in simple, garishly colorful, Saturday morning cartoon caricatures.

But credit where credit is due: some interesting things are going on here. The basic premise is that you have a gold bar at the bottom of your screen that fills up over time, similar to mana in Hearthstone. You then spend the bars to summon units from a pool of six "minis" that you collect and select to assemble a team ahead of time.

From tanky gnoll warriors to madcap gnomish inventors, these can all level up by gaining experience in PvE matches. Unique leader characters like Thrall or Tirion Fordring anchor your squad and change up your playstyle.

FLIP THE TABLE

Each board is different, but you'll typically be trying to capture towers and summoning stones which let you spawn minis closer to your enemy's side while doing battle with their own minions and eventually taking out their leader.

Author
Matt Kim

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12 Xbox Showcase Predictions – Unlocked 542

2 years ago

With Microsoft announcing the date for its upcoming Xbox-Bethesda Showcase, we waste no time in making our first round of predictions for the event. From Hellblade 2 to Starfield to Forza Motorsport to Gears 6 and more, we discuss what we think might happen at the biggest Xbox event of the year. Plus: we attempt to unravel the head-scratching mystery that is Embracer Group buying a few Square Enix studios and franchises, including Tomb Raider, Deus Ex, and Thief.

Subscribe on any of your favorite podcast feeds, to our YouTube channel, or grab an MP3 download of this week's episode. For more awesome content, check out our latest IGN Unfiltered interview, where Joseph Staten – one of Halo's original creators and now the head of creative on Halo Infinite – discusses his fascinating career:

Oh, and you can be featured on Unlocked by tweeting us a video Loot Box question! Tweet your question and tag Ryan at @DMC_Ryan!

For more next-gen coverage, make sure to check out our Xbox Series X review, our Xbox Series S review, and our PS5 review.

Author
Ryan McCaffrey

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Warcraft Arclight Rumble Is Blizzard's Long-Rumored Mobile Game

2 years ago

Get ready to Rumble in Blizzard’s long-rumored Warcraft mobile game.

Warcraft Arclight Rumble was revealed today for iOS and Android. The game invites players to build up an army of their favorite heroes and villains from the World of Warcraft universe and duke it out in a series of tactical-based battles.

The game takes place in Azeroth where Warcraft Arclight Rumble is sweeping through taverns and inns thanks to some clever gnomish engineering. Players will collect miniatures of famous World of Warcraft characters and build forces to overcome frantic challenges.

In the Gameplay Explainer and Developer Walkthrough video, Blizzard developers call it a “mobile, strategy, fast-paced hero [and villain] collector” with a “vast PvE campaign.” They also say they were inspired by tower defense games, but Arclight Rumble is more of a “tower offense game.”

Players will choose a Leader like Archmage Jaina Proudmoore and fill in the rest of their team with troops and powerful spells. Arclight Rumble offers more than 70 single-player missions to adventure through. If journeying alongside a friend is your preference, you can play co-op or even go head to head in competitive player-versus-player mode. Players will even be able to join guilds.

Author
Matt Kim

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