IGN

The snowball of games delayed out of 2021 and 2022 has settled in 2023, coalescing into the most exciting games lineup of the decade so far. This year, arguably, marks the proper start of the PS5 and Xbox Series X generation with Unreal Engine 5 support building and an increasing number of developers dropping support for last-gen hardware.

Each of the three console manufacturers has at least one blockbuster release scheduled this year — Starfield for Xbox, Spider-Man 2 for PlayStation, and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom for Nintendo — complemented by a generation-best third-party lineup that includes Hogwarts Legacy, Resident Evil 4, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, Street Fighter 6, Diablo 4, Final Fantasy 16, Assassin’s Creed Mirage, Mortal Kombat 1, and Baldur's Gate 3.

As of mid-December, 83 games have received a review score of 8 or higher from IGN this year, including five 10s. Click through the gallery below or continue scrolling for our list of the best-reviewed games of 2023 so far.

This list only includes standalone software; despite qualifying scores, expansions/DLC (e.g., Dead Cells: Return to Castlevania) and hardware (e.g., PSVR2) are not included. This list will be updated weekly as new releases receive qualifying review scores.

It's no surprise that all anyone can talk about today is the first trailer for Grand Theft Auto 6, which Rockstar released early yesterday after a leaker posted it to Twitter/X. Already, devs are praising it, fans are dissecting it, and skeptics are critiquing it. But my favorite discourse so far has to be the effusive praise for the unquestionable star of the trailer: Lucia.

me after watching the GTA 6 trailer #GTAVI #grandtheftauto #GTA6 #Lucia pic.twitter.com/qECgMtVfzd

— Shelby 🐰 (@Shellbunny_) December 4, 2023

Lucia already carrying GTA 6#GTA6

pic.twitter.com/RnjtqL5mBo

— Soft (@Soft20971248581) December 5, 2023

Despite legal hurdles, EA Sports College Football is still on track for a Summer 2024 release after EA Sports settled a lawsuit filed earlier this year regarding the use of players' likenesses.

The BrandR Group and OneTeam Partners have reached a settlement agreement in a lawsuit regarding EA Sports.

From EA spokesperson: “We’re pleased to move on from these claims and look forward to delivering EA SPORTS College Football in Summer 2024.”https://t.co/6hHq5KvCP5 pic.twitter.com/OD6wbRHKUJ

— Pete Nakos (@PeteNakos_) November 30, 2023

Spotted by sports business outlet On3, the outlet reports that EA Sports reached a settlement agreement last Thursday with OneTeamPartners and The BrandR Group, two agencies specializing in licensing deals for student-athletes. In a joint statement, both agencies noted that both had reached an "amicable settlement of their past dispute related to college group licensing."

When I heard The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered would include a repeatable roguelike mode, the first reaction I had was “...huh?” But after playing the No Return mode for a few hours last week, my tone has shifted to an enthusiastic “huh!” What could have been a throwaway novelty in this already excellent game’s journey to PlayStation 5 actually has surprising depth, with unique characters and costumes to unlock, interesting build paths to explore, and a whole bunch of ridiculous modifiers to shake up its familiar fights. No Return isn’t going to put the best standalone games of the genre out of business or anything, but so far it also feels like more than just a remixed trip down a murderous memory lane.

The premise of No Return is simple: you pick a character with a unique starting loadout and work your way through a branching tree of randomized fights, earning resources to buy items, upgrade your skills, and improve your weapons along the way. If you can complete five encounters you’ll get the chance to take on a boss, but dying once ends the whole run like a proper roguelike. This setup gives The Last of Us Part 2’s tense and nuanced stealth combat an excellent platform on which to shine, toying with it in creative new ways.

If you missed out on the Black Friday and Cyber Monday sale events, don't worry, Lenovo is here with a nice little deal for Xbox owners to enjoy ahead of the holidays. By using the promo code MXBOXWH at checkout, you can save $25 on a Robot White Xbox Controller at Lenovo. This drops its price down to $35, which is well worth the pick-up if you've been hoping to grab another controller for yourself or gift one for someone else this holiday season. This deal is even $5 less than the standard discount we saw across most major retailers during the recent sales. You can check out this deal in full at the link below, just ensure you're using the promo code MXBOXWH at checkout to grab that sweet discount.

Best Xbox Controller Deal: $35 at Lenovo (Save $25)

If you're curious about more deals going on in the world of Xbox, there are plenty still available post-Cyber Monday. In our roundup of the best Xbox deals today, we've listed discounts on everything from games to SSDs. For example, Assassin's Creed Mirage is down to $34.99 right now, and Dead Space (2023) has dropped to a staggering $7.99 for Game Pass Ultimate members.

There’s something about watching a mobile mosh pit worth of undead targets lurch toward you as if they’re actually there that really gets the blood flowing. That’s why zombie games work so well in VR: at first there’s the overconfident thought that this is no big deal. They’re slow, and you have guns! But as you start to whittle away at the crowd the picture becomes much less rosy: they’re a lot closer, and you have a lot less ammo now. Panic sets in and mistakes happen as you fumble to reload your weapons with ghouls looming in your face. Arizona Sunshine 2 does a great job of putting you in that position and making you struggle to survive. And while it doesn’t do a whole lot other than that, which becomes a tad repetitive, it does make a respectable run at turning the first game’s nameless, one-liner machine of a protagonist into a character with depth – with a little help from his Buddy.

It’s not often you hear developers admit the technology upon which their games are built isn’t up to the job, but that’s exactly what Jeremy Stieglitz, co-founder of Ark maker Studio Wildcard did during a recent livestream.

Speaking during Studio Wildcard's Extra Life Charity Stream on Twitch, Stieglitz addressed the elephant in the room: the awful performance of the recently released Ark: Survival Ascended.

“The servers are ass. They run like ass. And their stability is ass. We need to improve it. It’s going to be improved,” he said.

Twitch chat reacted with a mix of shock and admiration. “Wow truth,” one viewer said. “Facts,” said another. “Finally someone that gets it,” said a Twitch user. “The guy knows it lol,” said another. "Did somebody really say that lmao," said a bemused viewer. "Damn legend," said an impressed ZestyWumpaFruit.

Grand Theft Auto is huge, that's no surprise, but Rockstar Games' GTA 6 trailer has surpassed 69.2 million views within 15 hours, meaning it's already been watched more than the reveal trailers for Cyberpunk 2077, Red Dead Redemption 2, and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom combined.

The highly anticipated debut trailer, which was due to premiere today, December 5, but was posted on December 4 following a leak, is currently racking up tens of thousands of views per minute. In fact, we've had to edit the introduction of this article three times already as the million mark keeps ticking over.

And while 69.2 million is a lot of views under any metric, it's even more impressive, and almost unbelievable, when compared to some of the biggest video game releases of the last five years. Cyberpunk 2077, for example, the futuristic open world role-playing game from beloved developer CD Projekt Red, has 28.6 million views on its initial teaser trailer.

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Baldur’s Gate 3, Final Fantasy 16, Resident Evil 4 Remake, and so many more – 2023 has been a defining year for video games.

We want to know how you think these games stack up in the pantheon of the greatest games of all time. Across the year, our audience declared what they think are the most iconic games of the year as part of the IGN Icon Awards. This December, we’re tallying our followers’ votes through IGN’s Instagram to see which game from 2023 you think is worthy of the coveted title.

This is where great starts happen—in partnership with the USAF, we’ve selected 32 of the highest-rated games of 2023 and have placed them into a March Madness-style tournament bracket. The games were randomly sorted into four groups, and then ranked from one to eight to get their placement. Beginning December 5, you’ll vote on the winner of each match-up.

You can start voting on all of the first round’s 16 matchups via our social channels (Instagram Stories) on December 5! Polls close 24 hours after posting, and voting for the second round (featuring the 16 games with the top vote counts), will begin on December 7. The full schedule is as follows;

• Tuesday, December 5 - Round of 32 Voting Begins
• Thursday, December 7 - Round of 16 Voting Begins
• Tuesday, December 12 - Round of 8 Voting Begins
• Thursday, December 14 - Round of 4 Voting Begins
• Monday, December 18 - Round of 2 Voting Begins
• Tuesday, December 19 - Winner Declared!

Following the leak of the Grand Theft Auto 6 trailer, Rockstar developers took to social media to express their bitter disappointment.

Less than 24 hours before its anticipated debut, the GTA 6 trailer leaked on X/Twitter and immediately spread like wildfire across social media. The leaked trailer contained a giant crypto watermark, making for a poor viewing experience for fans.

While the X/Twitter leak account was suspended, the post had thousands of likes before the trailer was pulled, which means plenty of fans saw it before Rockstar intended.

Rockstar soon followed-up by releasing the real trailer to its channels with a self-deprecating comment: "Our trailer has leaked so please watch the real thing on YouTube."

Multiple Rockstar developers took to social media to express their disappointment at what had happened. “This f**king sucks,” one GTA developer said in a now deleted post on X/Twitter. “I was hoping to watch this for the first time tomorrow along with my fellow teammates and coworkers. I feel we deserved that moment.”

“Well, that f**king sucks,” said another Rockstar developer in an also deleted post. Rockstar graphics programmer Angel Ortiz also commented on social media: “I'm actually not going to watch this until I'm in the office with the people I made this with and who worked so f**king hard to make it happen.”

Then: “Okay, we watched it together. Let's f**king go.”

PlayStation 5 consoles were one of the most sought-after, and most popular deals of Black Friday and Cyber Monday 2023. While those sales are now over, thankfully the discounts haven't stopped. You can still pick up a great deal on the PS5 or PS5 Slim just in time before Christmas -- the top bundles cost $499, and feature Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 or Spider-Man 2 at no additional charge; offering potential buyers savings of $70 compared to purchasing the items separately. For more PS5 deal updates, ensure you're following @IGNDeals on Twitter/X.

TL;DR - Where to Buy a PS5

• PS5 Slim Spider-Man 2 Bundle for $499 (Save $70)
• PS5 Slim Modern Warfare 3 Bundle for $499 (Save $70)
• PS5 Digital Slim for $449
• PS5 Disc Spider-Man 2 Bundle for $499

Where to Buy a PlayStation 5 Slim

PS5 'slim model' is the brand new PlayStation 5 console that will become the widely available version of the console from now onwards. It's 25% smaller vs the original console, and features a larger SSD at 1TB, alongside a custom disc drive slot that can be removed or added to whenever you like (for future reference, if you buy the digital edition, the attachable disc drive is also now available for $79.99).

A wave of PS4 and PS5 users have found their PlayStation Network accounts permanently suspended for no obvious reason.

As reported by The Verge, social media bubbled with complaints on December 4 as users reported they could no longer access their PlayStation Network accounts, and IGN similarly received several reports from players claiming the same.

"This account is permanently suspended from PlayStation Network due to violations of the PlayStation Network Terms of Service and User Agreement," read the message delivered to X/Twitter user Michael Dhaliwal, below, who also claimed they can't appeal the decision. Customer service also allegedly told Dhaliwal to just create a new account before disconnecting them, without offering any assistance or explanation otherwise.

The 2023 Dead Space remake is widely regarded as one of the top games of the year, and it's now available for just $7.99 for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members (and £7.99 for those in the UK as well). That's a colossal discount for, in my opinion, one of the best games ever made. So, just to recap and ensure you're following; this is the full Dead Space Digital Deluxe Edition, not just an upgrade, but the full game + digital extras as well, for $7.99. That's 90% off the MSRP and $72 in overall savings. Wow.

You likely already know that Dead Space is available on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate via EA Play, but in all honestly, it's hard to deny how good of a deal this is. This is especially true as it's a game to add to your digital library without the presumed worry of losing access if you ever need to drop your Game Pass subscription even down a single tier.

Update: It is also now clear that this is likely a genuine excellent deal; as other EA games like Battlefield 2042, Need for Speed, Wild Hearts, and more have also received similar massive discounts for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members. We'll maintain the rest of the original article below as well.

Following the release of Grand Theft Auto 6’s debut trailer, the remarkable happened: Grand Theft Auto 7 started trending on social media.

Given GTA 6 is set for launch in 2025, you’d think that game would be all fans can think about. But it seems there’s a portion of the community already setting its sights on the inevitable seventh mainline GTA game.

Naughty Dog and PlayStation have released a first look trailer for The Last of Us Part 2: Remastered's No Return roguelike mode, which arrives alongside the PlayStation 5 re-release on January 19, 2024.

The trailer, below, offers a look at the roguelike gameplay players can experience in the mode, which essentially revolves around the player getting as far as they can in a level while acquiring upgrades, eventually dying, and then restarting the run with those upgrades from the beginning. The gameplay loop continues as such, with players getting stronger and further the more runs they do.

The mode is naturally single-player only, and just to be clear, non-canon to The Last of Us main story. Players can therefore enjoy some creative liberty in the mode by, as the trailer shows, playing as the likes of Ellie, Dina, and other main characters with some wild and wacky costumes.

Various maps were also shown off in the trailer, including Hardware Store, Forest, State Street, Hospital, Hospital Basement, Gas Station, and more. No Return seemingly includes different game modes within itself too, with various maps featuring subtitles like Hunted, Assault, Holdout, and Capture.

Randomised mods will also affect different levels, though from the trailer it's unclear exactly how these will work. One mod seemingly applies the listening mode permanently, for example.

Grand Theft Auto 6 saw the release of its debut trailer last night — earlier than publisher and developer Rockstar had planned — and with it confirmation of a 2025 release date. But it’s the platforms Rockstar has listed for GTA 6 at launch, notably only PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and S, that has sent shockwaves throughout the PC gaming community.

A cursory glance online at PC gaming communities, subreddits, and social spaces shows a mix of downbeat acceptance and shock that Rockstar plans to skip PC for GTA 6’s launch in this day and age.

The option is either waiting to play GTA 6 from 2026, or perhaps beyond, or buckle up and go for the famous Rockstar game double-dip.

That’s exactly what some fans have said they’re going to do now their worst fears have been realised. Over on the PC gaming subreddit, post after post bemoans Rockstar’s decision. “I'm not double-dipping. 2027 it is,” joked SilverDragon7. “I heard they also confirmed it for the PS6, PS7, and PS8,” added OctopusRoyalty.

There are plenty of serious comments from PC gamers angered by Rockstar’s decision. “Come on man! Even FromSoft releases it on PC. Hate Rockstar for this man, come on,” said Quirky-Football9043.

“Does this surprise me? No, considering their history. Do I think this is a brain-dead decision in 2023? Hell yes,” said FearlessButterfly3. “We got stiffed on Red Dead Remaster and now this. Thanks for nothing Rockstar,” said FrootLoop23.

Ubisoft’s Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora offers us all the chance to visit the lush, forested homeworld of the Na’vi. And, at the very top of a floating mountain, you’ll be able to live out your own version of an iconic Avatar scene: taming and flying a Banshee (or ‘Ikran’ in the native Na’vi language.)

But just as important as the flight is the journey to the mountain’s summit; a climb full of incredible views, plants with strange abilities, and puzzles to solve. That climb is the centrepiece of Take Flight, one of Frontiers of Pandora’s milestone quests. It’s the work of dozens of developers, and we’ve spoken to several of them to find out how they made it.

Our latest episode of Concept to Controller puts the spotlight on six roles from across Ubisoft’s Sweden-based Massive Entertainment; creative direction, game direction, narrative, sound, technical art, and cinematics. Across the duration of the episode you can see how the Take Flight mission was planned, conceptualised, built, and polished. It’s a snapshot of the entire development process, featuring behind-the-scenes footage and in-depth interviews with Massive staff. You can watch it in the video panel at the top of this article.

“We're looking to create a level that makes the player feel powerful, something that is joyful and happy, something where you feel rewarded from just moving through this space,” says game director Ditte Deenfeldt of Massive’s aims for the Take Flight quest.

The best PS5 SSDs are all but necessary these days. With a measly sub-1TB drive, the PS5 can only house a few storage-hungry games out of the box. If you’ve got a growing library, grabbing one of the best SSDs will save you the hassle of fiddly file management.

TL;DR - These are the Best PS5 SSDs

• Corsair MP600 Pro LPX
• Crucial P5 Plus
• Kingston Fury Renegade
• Seagate FireCuda 530
• WD_Black SN850P
• WD_Black P50
• PNY XLR8 Gaming Kit

Yet size isn’t everything. When expanding your PS5’s storage, you’ll want to grab an SSD that fits the console’s internal M.2 port, rather than a USB drive that can be plugged in externally. PS5 games can’t be played from an external drive, and while installing an internal SSD will require taking off the console’s cover plate and fiddling with a couple of screws, you don’t need to be a hardware aficionado by any means, and either way we have a handy little guide to help you out.

The Game Awards 2023 is nearly here and it promises a night filled with blockbuster reveals, musical performances, and recognition for the greatest games to be released this past year. From The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom to Baldur's Gate 3 to Alan Wake 2 to Super Mario Bros. Wonder and so many more, this was truly a year to remember and this night will be one to celebrate.

The Game Awards 2023 will take place on December 7 and this article will be your guide to let you know how and when you can watch the show alongside what you can expect from one of the biggest nights of the year in the gaming world.

Additionally, we want to let you know to stay tuned to our stream after The Game Awards and catch our Top Moments brought to you by the U.S. Air Force, where IGN's panel of industry experts break down all the biggest moments, announcements, and winners from the show! We'll also have extended reveals of some of The Game Awards' biggest games!

How to Watch The Game Awards 2023 Livestream

The Game Awards 2023 will kick off on December 7 with a 30-minute pre-show at 4:30pm PT/7:30pm ET. The main show will begin at 5pm PT/8pm ET and is expected to run for roughly three hours according to The Game Awards website.

If you live in the GMT or AEST timezones, this translates to 12:30am GMT/10:30am AEST on December 8 for the pre-show and 1am GMT/11am AEST on December 8 as well.

We here at IGN will be hosting a pre-show for The Game Awards that takes place at 4pm PT/7pm ET before the official festivities begin, and, as we previously mentioned, we'll be back after the show to break down all the biggest news and reveals from the night!

Veteran UK developer Codemasters has suffered a round of layoffs following the launch of racing games F1 23 and EA Sports WRC.

Codemasters owner EA confirmed the redundancies in a statement issued to IGN, although failed to disclose the number of staff affected.

“Our business is constantly changing as we strive to deliver amazing games and services that keep our players engaged, connected, and inspired,” an EA spokesperson said. “At times, this requires the company to make small-scale organizational changes that align our teams and resources to meet evolving business needs and priorities. We continue to work closely with those affected by these changes, providing appropriate support throughout this process.”

EA bought Codemasters, best known for the racing franchises Grid, F1, and Dirt, in 2021 for $1.2 billion. At the time, EA boss Andrew Wilson said he wanted to let the company retain its identity without too much outside interference. Codemasters CEO Frank Sagnier and CFO Rashid Varachia left soon after, and Codemasters, including Project Cars developer Slightly Mad Studios, was made a part of EA Sports.

Then, in May last year, EA merged the development team at Codemasters Cheshire with Guildford-based Criterion Games to create one large development studio to work on Need for Speed Unbound, which struggled to find an audience. Codemasters Birmingham continued to work on the Formula 1 franchise.

Arashi: Castles of Sin - Final Cut from Skydance Interactive transports you into a truly first-person world to haunt the shadows as a VR shinobi assassin. As Kenshiro, the last surviving member of House Arashi, you’ll combine your wit, stealth, and deadly arsenal along with the muscle and ferocity of your wolf-dog companion, Haru, to collect the buckets of blood your enemies owe.

Final Cut reworks 2021's original Arashi: Castles of Sin with improved visuals, revamped controls, updated boss and enemy AI, and a host of other refinements that make this classic VR stealth-action experience more intense than ever. Making Arashi: Castles of Sin - Final Cut an accessible entry point for newly-fledged shinobi. Fans of the original Arashi will also want to take advantage of Final Cut's improved graphical fidelity and re-tuned gameplay mechanics.

Whether you're a novice warrior or a veteran stepping onto the battlefield again, your skills are needed to stop a group of powerful bandits. The Six Oni of Iga have seized six castles across Japan, and are terrorizing the surrounding lands. Using a combination of stealth and your samurai skills, you need to infiltrate each castle and dispatch its bandit leader. But as you might expect, none of the Oni are shy about filling their territory with enemies who won’t go down without a fight.

If you like survival games, and touching stories, I have something for you. To celebrate Undying leaving Early Access and entering 1.0, you can grab a key for this third-person survival horror game on Steam starting on December 7th, 2023 as part of IGN Plus.

IGN Plus Monthly Game: Undying

Undying is a zombie survival horror game which follows the tale of Anling and her son, Cody, as they struggle to survive in a zombie-infested area after Anling has been bitten. Manage your sleep, stress, and health to stave off turning and take every opportunity to teach Cody how to survive.

From fighting off zombies to salvaging survival resources and repairing items, he'll need to know as much as he can to survive and carry more of the burden as Anling fades away. Will you try to shoulder the burden yourself, or give him opportunities in which he can succeed or fail? Will you be able to comfort him in the face of the horrors of the zombie apocalypse? Which explanations will you choose to help him understand betrayal by other survivors? Your choices will shape the person he becomes, and your likelihood of survival.

Outcast: A New Beginning returns players to the beloved adventure franchise on March 15, 2024, publisher THQ Nordic and developer Appeal Studio have announced.

After being announced at THQ Nordic's Digital Showcase in August 2022, Outcast: A New Beginning is finally just a few months away. Acting as a sequel to 1999's Outcast, players will be reunited with marine Cutter Slade in a brand new adventure.

"Get ready to immerse yourself in the captivating alien realm of Adelpha, uncover its mysteries, and enjoy the galaxy's wittiest dad jokes, skilfully delivered by our hero, Cutter Slade," reads the official synopsis. "Outcast offers a slightly self-ironic yet wholesome take on sci-fi themes and tropes, injecting a sense of fun into a planetary-wide uprising against ruthless robotic invaders.

"Weapon upgrades, aliens and monsters (who can also be predators) - you will find all of this in Appeal Studio's and THQ Nordic's upcoming open-world action-adventure Outcast: A New Beginning. Play as Cutter Slade, ex-Navy SEAL, and gain the trust of the local Talans. Engage in guerilla warfare such as destroying enemy ammo convoys to weaken bases and freely choosing where to launch the next attack, shaping the success of the Talan uprising."

Outcast: A New Beginning will be available for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and S (at $69.99 / $59.99) and on PC (at $59.99 / £49.99).

Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelance reporter. He'll talk about The Witcher all day.

While the Black Friday sales may have come and gone, there are still some sneaky discounts hanging around or even cropping back up. Most recently we even saw an Xbox Series X console drop to just $349 at retailers like Amazon and Walmart -- don't get too excited it sold out fast. But while these new Nintendo deals aren't as dramatic, it's still worth bringing attention to it. Nintendo Switch Online memberships and eShop gift cards are currently 10% off at Amazon, and the best deal in this sale is currently on the Family 12-month pass + Expansion Pack, which is now down to just $71.89. Just so you're aware; you need to add the relevant pass or gift card to your cart to see the aforementioned 10% discount.

10% Off Nintendo Switch Online Memberships

You will need a Nintendo Switch Online membership if you plan on accessing the online portions of your favorite games. That includes being able to play online against other opponents in Super Smash Bros Ultimate or Splatoon 3, downloading other people's creations in Minecraft or Mario Maker 2, or visiting someone else's island in Animal Crossing: New Horizons.

Back in October we got to reveal cards from Magic: The Gathering's then upcoming Doctor Who Commander decks. Those decks are now out, but there's more Doctor Who still to come to MTG thanks to a brand new Secret Lair - and today we've got a first look at three of the five cards from it.

Flip through the slideshow below to see the new cards, and read on to hear more about them from Wizards of the Coast's Gavin Verhey.

All mechanically unique cards, the three we are revealing above depict David Tennant returning as the Fourteenth Doctor, Neil Patrick Harris' villanous Toymaker, and Yasmin Finney's new companion Rose Noble. All of these cards, as well as two more to be revealed next week, are part of a drop called Secret Lair x Doctor Who: Regeneration that will go on sale on the Secret Lair website on December 11.

I sent a couple questions to Principal Designer Gavin Verhey about both the drop and the Fourteenth Doctor's design specifically, and here's what he had to say:

IGN: Why make a Secret Lair for these cards later rather than put them in the Commander decks earlier this year?

Gavin Verhey, Principal Designer, Magic: The Gathering: Hi there! My name is Gavin Verhey, Principal Designer on Magic, lead designer of Doctor Who Commander – and of this Secret Lair drop as well! I have some answers for you.

Starbreeze, the developer of the Payday series of games, has announced an officially licensed Dungeons & Dragons game due out at some point in 2026.

The untitled game, codenamed Project Baxter, will be developed and published by Starbreeze, the company said.

Details are scarce, but Starbreeze said Project Baxter is set in the world of Dungeons & Dragons and “will carry the signature Starbreeze game cornerstones of co-operative multiplayer, lifetime commitment through a Games as a Service-model, community engagement and a larger than life experience”.

Project Baxter will launch on all major platforms in 2026 and include cross-play, Starbreeze added. The game will be produced in Unreal Engine 5.

Starbreeze published two images for Project Baxter, below:

Will the Grand Theft Auto 6 trailer break records for viewing numbers? It seems entirely possible, given the incredible interest even now, 24 hours before it’s due to go live.

Rockstar Games uploaded a video premiere for “Trailer 1” to YouTube that includes a countdown to launch at 6am Pacific / 9am Eastern / 2pm UK on December 5.

But eagle-eyed viewers also noticed the GTA 6 Trailer 1 runtime was revealed via a method of exposing a glitch on YouTube’s end. On mobile, while unsubbed from the Rockstar Games channel, view the video preview through the YouTube app’s search. Notice the little tag that reads “upcoming” on the bottom right, and the runtime should pop up over it.

There may be spoilers ahead!

Just in case you don’t want the runtime spoiled, we’ve added a spoiler tag above.

The runtime of the GTA 6 Trailer 1 is one minute and 31 seconds. That should afford plenty of time for a decent look at the game. Perhaps we’ll even get a release date and launch platforms.

Remarkably, tens of thousands of people are already queuing up to watch Trailer 1. At the time of this article’s publication, nearly 24 hours before go time, 43,172 people were waiting to see what may well end up as the biggest video game trailer of all time.

There really is no original discussion left to be had about 2002’s Grand Theft Auto: Vice City. Every spoonful of praise it’s deserved to have heaped upon it over the years has been dolloped. Every pixel has been pored over. Every Easter egg analysed. Every angle exhausted.

GTA: Vice City’s status is cemented: it’s legendary. A key pioneer of open world action, with a style like no other, and a soundtrack that’s beyond reproach. Released a mere 12 months after the astonishing GTA III, as far as sequels go they don’t get much more spectacular.

Of course, none of this is news to the 17-odd million people who bought it, or indeed the unknown millions more who’ve played it. To be honest, writing about GTA: Vice City is a little like trying to find a new way to describe how good the 1990s Chicago Bulls were at basketball.

We get it.

Still, for some of you, 2002 really is a literal lifetime ago. Perhaps beyond it. For some of you, maybe GTA: Vice City is little more than a distant artefact, with little to no personal resonance. A retro-themed retro relic itself, coated in two decades of digital dust.

Sony has signalled its intention to pull some PlayStation content even from those who bought it, sparking concern from customers.

In a brief notice on the PlayStation website, Sony said it planned to remove hundreds of Discovery films from users’ video libraries, preventing them from watching the content they’d paid money for. Sony explained the decision as being due to “content licensing arrangements with content providers”.

Here’s the statement in full:

As of 31 December 2023, due to our content licensing arrangements with content providers, you will no longer be able to watch any of your previously purchased Discovery content and the content will be removed from your video library.

We sincerely thank you for your continued support.

Thank you,

PlayStation Store

There follows a long list of affected video content, which includes over 1,000 seasons of shows, including Through the Wormhole with Morgan Freeman, Tanked, MythBusters, and An Idiot Abroad.

The decision has sparked a backlash online, and fuelled concern around ownership of digital media. Video game preservation is a hot topic within the industry, but the issue of content removal from digital platforms is top of mind of movie and TV makers, too. Last month, Oscar-winning filmmaker Guillermo del Toro backed Oppenheimer director Christopher Nolan in championing physical media amid controversial moves by streamers that have seen some films pulled from availability.

As we near the end of the year -- and more importantly, the holiday season -- there's no better time to start looking at gifts for the PlayStation fan in your life. Whether it's brand-new games, apparel, or collectibles and toys, we've scoured the internet for what is sure to be the most popular gifts this season, so check out the many great PlayStation gift recommendations below to make your shopping this year a breeze. We've also collected all the best PS5 Black Friday deals for 2023 as well if you're interested.

TL;DR - Best PlayStation Gift Ideas

The Ultimate Holiday Gifts for Gamers (AD)

Every kind of gift. For every kind of gamer.

Swing In With The Best Spidey Themed Gifts

PlayStation has finally dropped its latest big exclusive title for PS5 owners: Marvel's Spider-Man 2. For those who love swinging through New York City again, we've collected some Spidey-related gifts below that are must-have purchases along with the new game.

This selection also includes the infamous dbrand Spidey PS5 plates dupe, which starts at $64.98 but can rise to $91.88 depending on your add-ons. Seemingly as Sony has sold out of the official Spider-Man 2 faceplates, this is a great alternative.

See More Spider-Man Themed Gifts

If you've started compiling a collection of digital games, you probably already know just how limited the Switch's base storage capacity is. The Switch and Switch OLED have 32GB and 64GB of internal storage, respectively. Some of that is reserved for the OS. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom takes up over 18GB of storage all by itself. Other must-have titles like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Pokemon Sword or Shield tap out at 13.5GB each.

TL;DR - Best Switch SD Card Deals

There's only one expansion slot in the Switch console so you want to make sure you get the biggest card you can afford. Below, we've found some of the best SD card deals right now so you can maximize your Switch's storage space without breaking the bank.

TeamGroup A2 Pro Plus SD Card for $22.99

For now, our favorite deal is definitely on the TeamGroup 512GB Micro SDXC card. You can pick up the TeamGroup card for just $22.99 at Amazon right now, which is a great price. Otherwise, the 1TB is also at a great price for $53.99 right now as well.

SAMSUNG EVO Select 512GB Micro SDXC Card for $24.99

Everybody has that one friend in their life who is a complete tabletop RPG nerd. The world of D&D can often feel completely impenetrable with all its lore and lingo. If you want to get one of these friends a gift, it can be a bit of a daunting task wading through all this.

Which is why we've compiled this super helpful gift guide. All of our top picks for D&D gifts are in here, so you don't need to feel confused about whether or not the D&D fan in your life would like any of this. We promise you they will. We also get it, you're busy. There is a wealth of D&D gifts listed just down below, but if you just want the super duper short version, then take a look at this list here.

TL;DR - Must-Have D&D Gifts of 2023

The Best D&D Gifts Under $50

The world of D&D has blown up in popularity recently. Popular as it may be, it remains a particularly expensive hobby. What with base games and expansion packs and lore books and all that jazz. So, if you're working on a budget, these are our favorite D&D items going for less than $50 right now.

See More D&D Gifts Under $50

Consider These Magical Cookbooks to Cater for Your Adventures

Did you just pick up a brand new PlayStation 5 console for Black Friday? Or are you a long-time console owner who has finally used up all 1TB of the PS5's base storage? Cyber Monday is unquestionably the best time of year to score a fast and reliable PS5 compatible gaming SSD at the lowest price possible, but the sale is soon coming to an end. Don't hesitate to pick up a 2TB SSD for only only $100!

Looking for more Cyber Monday deals like this? Check out the best Cyber Monday deals of 2023.

Cyber Monday Deal: Nextorage 1TB PS5 SSD with Heatsink for $99.99

Xbox's Cyber Monday deals are still available, and while we originally thought Xbox controllers would only be getting a small $10 discount at most retailers, the deal is actually a lot better than that and well worth considering if you've been after an additional gamepad. The cheapest controller you can get right now is for $39.99 at Best Buy (see here), and its the Stellar Shift Special Edition with an MSRP of $69.99. This deal is also still live for Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales in the UK, with Xbox Controllers down to £38.99.

This will likely sell out as it's such a good deal, so let's get into what else is available in the deal as well. By the looks of things, most other controllers have dropped to at least $44.99, which is a decent $20 off the standard Xbox controller and a reasonable deal for Cyber Monday. Plus, this includes some of the newer color variations as well like the Astral Purple design. We'll leave all the links you need just below.

I'm not sure I've seen a more original premise for a city builder than "grow a frontier boomtown populated entirely by retrofuturistic steam-powered robots" in a long time. That makes SteamWorld Build a refreshing drink of water in a trackless desert compared to the many, many trend-chasing builders we've seen over the last few years – and while you build a town above, it sets itself apart further by having you simultaneously excavate a mine below in search of both mineral resources and pieces of ancient technology that can be used to escape your dying planet. It's a short, sweet city builder that doesn't do too much new beyond that setup, but uses the parts it has to make a fun whole I know I'll revisit in the future.

As has been the case for a decade, the SteamWorld games have a really well-established palette of character designs, colors, and even sounds to draw from. The result is a game world stylistically on par with much larger, more established franchises — like the Warcraft universe — that adapts really well to different genres without losing its visual distinction, personality, and setting. That’s still true in SteamWorld Build, where the goofily stylized robots that chug along to the same twangy country-western guitar tracks with the same silly voices are as charming as ever. It's a planet of steam-powered robots that all have accents like a Scandinavian person pretending to be from the old west, and by God does it still work here.

Nintendo Cyber Monday deals are now in full swing, and even after the big day, there's never been a better opportunity to score some of the best discounts of the year. Cyber Monday is a great time to buy a Nintendo Switch for yourself or as a gift. Even in its seventh year on the market, the Switch has continued to see impressive first-party support with titles like Super Mario Bros. Wonder and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. With three models to choose from, you can streamline your experience depending on how you play. We've detailed all the Nintendo Switch Cyber Monday deals you can still grab below.

Where to Buy a Nintendo Switch OLED This Cyber Monday

Nintendo Switch OLED is the premium model of the Nintendo Switch family. This console offers a larger OLED display that makes your favorite games come alive in portable mode with colors that pop. The Cyber Monday bundle includes a copy of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, a Nintendo Switch OLED with themed Joy-Con, and a three-month code for Nintendo Switch Online.

Where to Buy a Nintendo Switch This Cyber Monday

If you want to purchase the standard Nintendo Switch model, check out the links below for deals at Amazon, Best Buy, GameStop, and Walmart. This special edition includes a Mario Kart 8 Deluxe copy and a three-month voucher for Nintendo Switch Online.

Unlike Black Friday, which in recent years has stretched to absurd lengths that essentially encompass all of November, Cyber Monday is what it says. It's a one-day sale, and any discounts still live tomorrow are like a fun little bonus. Now that evening is upon us, the window for savings is closing fast. So if there are any deals you've been putting off buying, now is the time to jump on them. In other words, this is your last chance to save.

But first, some hot tips on what's popular and a good deal: The Spider-Man 2 PS5 slim bundles are by far the most popular Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals in gaming offer this shopping season.

We've also been got Final Fantasy 16 for $35, DualSense Controllers for $49, and a whole slew of other PS5 games on sale. Check out everything just below or follow @IGNDeals for even more updates on the best deals today.

TL;DR - Best PS5 Black Friday Deals

Xbox games are the best, but in 2023 they are a bit expensive -- even with the brilliance of Xbox Game Pass in your arsenal. As games continue to push the boundaries of what is possible on a console, we've been starting to see a lot of $70 launch games. But, with the introduction of Xbox Cyber Monday deals into the mix at the end of the year, there are still plenty of chances to save big on the very best games going.

We've had our eye on the best Cyber Monday deals all November, but now we're past the point of no return, it's time to officially declare which are the best Xbox video game deals this holiday season. Whether you're after a Game of the Year contender like Resident Evil 4, or you're looking for one of the best fighting games of all time like Street Fighter 6 -- we've got you covered. But, watch out, as the countdown to the end of the Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales is now on, and these deals will be gone before you know it.

Diablo 4 Cyber Monday Deals

One of the best games of the year, Diablo 4, is down to just $50 this Cyber Monday. It's not a huge discount, but it's still a significant one. If you haven't had the chance to pay the incredible ARPG just yet, well this is the perfect opportunity. We gave the game a 9/10 in our review - stating: "Diablo 4 is a stunning sequel with near-perfect endgame and progression design that makes it absolutely excruciating to put down."

Black Friday is in the rearview mirror, but the deals are rolling on with Cyber Monday today. We're working hard over here. We've brought you a ton of Cyber Monday offers, and one of the best deals from Xbox at the moment is still going strong. For between $490-$500, you can get yourself an Xbox Series X, Diablo 4, and another game of your choice. This bundle typically goes for around $560, so if you want a bargain then now is the time to move.

Cyber Monday Best Xbox Series X Bundle Deal

If you're yet to play Diablo IV, then now is your chance. It's time to suit up for the battle between heaven and hell as Sanctuary has been consumed by hatred. Diablo IV offers the most expansive array of demons, abilities, loot, and locations of any entry in the series to date.

And once you're done with Diablo IV, you can just dive straight into the bonus game that you picked out for yourself in the bundle. You've got plenty to choose from, some of the highlights include Modern Warfare III, Elden Ring, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, Starfield, AC Mirage, EA Sports FC 24, and many many more.

If you're looking to shop around for your Xbox deals this Cyber Monday, then you definitely have some options. Dell are currently selling the Series X for $449.99. At face value, that's only a $50 saving on the RRP of the console, BUT, you get an extra treat thrown in. They're offering a bonus $75 promotional e-gift card. Once you place your order for the Xbox, you'll get an email containing the gift card within 20 days of the console being shipped. Use it promptly though, because it is only valid for 90 days.

I know many of you are enjoying incredible leftovers, just like me, but don't get so caught up that you forget it's also supreme discount season. Very busy, many things to buy.

Xbox is a great place to play, and as part of Cyber Monday sales, you can grab tons of great things for your Xbox (whether you already have one, or you are just getting an Xbox now). From stylish controllers to additional storage options, we've got a list of the best Xbox accessories you'll need to make the most of your play.

Xbox Expansion Card Cyber Monday Deal for $124.99

The WD Black C50 expansion card is a 1TB NVME SSD in a specialized Xbox-compatible form factor. Unlike the PS5 SSD installation process, which involves opening up the PS5 to access the SSD slot, the Seagate expansion card simply plugs into its dedicated port on the back of the Xbox. Easy peasy.

This expansion card also offers the same speed as the internal SSD, meaning you'll still get the same fast load speeds, access to Quick Resume, and all of that. With a 1TB expansion card, you can double the storage on your Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S Carbon Black Edition console, and triple the storage on your OG (white) Xbox Series S console.

That easy installation and seamless functioning comes with a cost, though. In contrast to the PS5, there are no other high speed storage options for your Xbox console (although you can use a standard USB external drive, you'll lose Quick Resume and high load speeds). Your options are limited to either the WD or Seagate expansion cards, so if that interests you, now is the time to strike.