Saturday, November 30, 2019
How to Get the Most Out of Poke Jobs in Sword and Shield
How to Catch Ditto in Pokemon Sword and Shield
A Pic of the Supposed PS5 Devkit Pops Up on Twitter
After an illustrated image of the PlayStation 5 devkit appeared to be confirmed by a game developer last August, a new image -- this time of the real thing -- has appeared on Twitter. The image, first shared by Twitter user @Alcoholikaust and reported on by Eurogamer, shows two supposed PS5 devkits side by side, each featuring the same V-shaped design we saw in the earlier illustrated images.
Uno Removes Red and Blue Color Cards to Avoid Politics
While video games continue to grapple with whether or not they want to lean into politics, a decidedly less turbulent franchise is making the move to remove all politics from the kitchen table. Mattel Games has released “Uno Nonpartisan,” which removes all the blue and red colored cards from the game and replaces them with purple and orange cards.
Mattel explicitly states on Uno Nonpartisan’s product page that “without Red or Blue cards the focus can stay on the game,” referencing the politicized color spectrum of the Republican party and the Democratic party.
Friday, November 29, 2019
More Adorable Pokémon Sword and Shield Plushies Revealed
The next batch of Pokemon Sword and Shield plushies have been revealed and they’re adorable.
The Pokémon Company (via Nintendo Life) has revealed five new Sword and Shield plushies that will go on sale from December 14. The plushies include Gossifleur, Eldegoss, Wooloo, Corviknight, and Drednaw.
All five of these plush toys will be available to buy in the Japanese Pokémon Center. If you can’t make it there, don’t worry, as you’ll also be able to buy them from Amazon Japan.
Half-Life: Alyx Causes Valve Index to Sell Out in the US and Canada
The Valve Index VR headset is experiencing stock shortages in the US and Canada after the reveal of Half-Life: Alyx.
Valve revealed its new VR-only game Half-Life: Alyx on November 21. Now, just a week later, Valve’s own VR headset, the Index, is selling out in the US and Canada.
RoadtoVR reports that from November 27 most of the Index packages listed on the US and Canadian Steam store pages are displayed with “Back in Stock Soon” messages.
That’s three packages in total: the headset, controllers, and Half-Life: Alyx package; headset and Half-Life: Alyx package; and the controllers and Half-Life: Alyx package.
Veteran Assassin’s Creed Developers Join Google to Work on Stadia Games
Google has hired developers who worked on the Assassin’s Creed series for its first game studio, which will focus on producing Stadia titles.
VGC discovered that some of Google’s first hires for its Stadia game studio in Montreal are those who previously held senior positions on the Assassin’s Creed series at Ubisoft. We’ve confirmed these hires by checking their LinkedIn profiles.
First is Sébastien Puel, who is now the general director of Google’s studio after being the executive producer on Assassin’s Creed for just over 10 years.
Thursday, November 28, 2019
Borderlands 3 Tips and Tricks to be the Best Vault Hunter
Codemasters Acquires Project CARS Developer
Dirt, Grid, and F1 series developer and publisher Codemasters has announced the acquisition of Slightly Mad Studios, the developer and owner of the Project CARS franchise.
Established in 2009, Slightly Mad Studios developed Need for Speed Shift and Shift 2 Unleashed for EA (plus Test Drive: Ferrari Racing Legends for Rombax Games) before investing in developing Project CARS and its sequel, which were distributed in partnership with Bandai Namco.
“We are delighted to bring such an incredible racing game developer to the Codemasters family, and this unequivocally establishes us as a global powerhouse in the development of racing titles,” said Codemasters CEO Frank Sagnier alongside the announcement. “We share the same passion and vision and our new partnership will accelerate our growth. With more streaming services coming to market and the next generation of games consoles due in 2020, this is the perfect time for Codemasters to take its next step.”
Rick and Morty vs D&D Literally Stole Our Butts
Dungeons & Dragons' most bonkers adventure to date, Dungeons & Dragons vs Rick and Morty: Big Rick Energy, was released recently and it's just as wild as you might expect.
Eager to jump through a portal into the mind of mad scientist (and apparently long-time dungeon master) Rick Sanchez, we invited D&D Game Designer Kate Welch, Maude Garrett, and IGN's own Michael Swaim, Brandin Tyrrel, and Jon Ryan to take on the mantle of Rick, Beth, Morty, Jerry, and the long-time favorite and definitely-not-just-thrown-in-because-the-party-didn't-have-a-tank character Meatface. Kate leads us through a dungeon where we encounter bats, goblins, some very angry pickles, a blue-tined friend (LOOK AT ME), and lose our asses in the process!
Baby Yoda Is Being Modded Into Star Wars Battlefront 2
A fan is creating a mod that will bring everyone’s favourite new Star Wars character to Star Wars Battlefront 2.
We all want to be closer to Baby Yoda. It’s not enough simply to watch him on the screen with the arrival of each epsiode of The Mandalorian. We want that Baby Yoda merch, too. We need to wear him on our chest. But how about playing as Baby Yoda?
Reddit user Nanobuds1220 has revealed their work-in-progress mod that will bring Baby Yoda to Star Wars Battlefront II. It’s not finished yet - as you can see, his eyes are not nearly cute enough - but it is at least definitely on the way.
Final Fantasy 7 Remake Has a Slick Reversible Cover
Square Enix has revealed that Final Fantasy VII Remake will have a reversible cover. There are also new details and gameplay of Aerith and Tifa combat.
What’s better than one Final Fantasy VII Remake cover? Two, of course. Square Enix has announced on Twitter that all box copies of the game in North America and Europe will have a reversible cover.
As well as the white cover that recreates the classic cover of the original 1997 PS1 game, you’ll be able to flip over to a black cover that simply bears the game’s logo - this is the same as the Japanese physical version’s cover.
Wednesday, November 27, 2019
MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries Opening Cinematic Revealed
After a long (loooooong) wait – MechWarrior 4 came out in 2000! – the next mainline MechWarrior game is finally here in the form of MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries.
Welcome to the year 3015 and the Battletech universe. It is the Succession Wars, and you'll be in the middle of it. Check out the opening cinematic above.
MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries will be released on PC on December 10 through the Epic Games Store. If you enjoyed the trailer above and the screenshot gallery on this page, there's plenty more MechWarrior 5 for you here.
Ryan McCaffrey is IGN’s Executive Editor of Previews. Follow him on Twitter at @DMC_Ryan, catch him on Unlocked, and drop-ship him Taylor Ham sandwiches from New Jersey whenever possible. His favorite MechWarrior is MechWarrior 3, because it introduced mouse and keyboard controls in addition to joystick support.
Resident Evil Characters Come to Smash Bros. Ultimate as Spirits This Week
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is hosting a Resident Evil themed spirit event this weekend.
Resident Evil characters are coming to Super Smash Bros. Ultimate on November 29 as part of a new spirit event that will run for five days. That means you won’t be able to fight as them unfortunately.
The four characters from Capcom’s survival-horror series that will be available to grab as spirits are: Albert Wesker, Leon Kennedy, Chris Redfield, and Jill Valentine.
Conquer the looming fear! For 5 days starting 11/29, Chris, Leon, Wesker, and Jill will appear on the Spirit Board in Super #SmashBrosUltimate! Check it out! pic.twitter.com/fgHSZgyY8m
PS5: New Patent Reveals How Players Might Share Game Content
A new patent filed by Sony for a technology called “scene tagging” could suggest the creation and sharing of user-generated content will be a big part of the PlayStation 5.
As spotted by RespawnFirst, Sony Interactive Entertainment had a new patent approved by the United States Patent Office on November 21, 2019 for something called “scene tagging.”
The filing explains that “scene tagging is used to characterize user generated content associated with gameplay information associated with video games,” which means it probably relates to the upcoming PlayStation 5.
Tuesday, November 26, 2019
Xbox Scarlett Won't Focus on VR Because ‘Nobody's Asking for It’
Microsoft says that virtual reality isn’t a focus for Xbox Scarlett as there isn’t enough demand for it.
Vice president of gaming at Microsoft, Phil Spencer, has said in a new interview with Stevivor at XO19 that virtual reality isn’t a big part of next-gen console Xbox Scarlett.
“We’re responding to what our customers are asking for and… nobody’s asking for VR,” Spencer said. “The vast majority of our customers know if they want a VR experience, there’s places to go get those. We see the volumes of those on PC and other places.”
Update: Assassins Creed: Rebel Collection Gets Switch Release Date
Update: Ubisoft has announced that Assassin's Creed: Rebel Collection will arrive on Switch on December 6.
Original story: During Wednesday's Nintendo Direct presentation, Nintendo announced the the Assassin's Creed: Rebel Collection will be coming to Nintendo Switch.
The collection combines both Assassin's Creed: Black Flag and Assassin's Creed: Rogue. Both games will include all past DLC, plus new features like touch controls and motion aiming. Nintendo showed off Black Flag's sailing combat during this detail, so expect to most likely use the feature there.
Nintendo did not specify a release date for the Rebel Collection.
Nintendo also announced a Doom 64 re-release on the Switch for November and a handful of SNES games coming to Nintendo Switch Online on September 5.
Google Stadia's Rough Launch Doesn't Mean It'll Be a Bad Platform
Google Stadia has had a rough launch. The new game-streaming service has been live for about a week now, and the best thing we can say is that it works – but just barely. The service is barebones right now, missing not only the features expected to be added next year, but many of the ones Google promised for launch day. There have been issues in fulfillment as well, with many early adopters waiting days to receive access codes, despite pre-ordering months ago.
But a bad launch doesn’t mean Stadia is doomed to fail. There’s plenty of precedents, from game companies to Google itself, of new platforms having trouble out the gate, only to mature into stable, thriving ecosystems. We’re comparing different launches with very different problems, of course, but it’s still worth looking at how companies reacted, whether they listened to their fans, adapted to changing landscapes, or simply had some stars align. Let’s take a look.
Possible Fable 4 Concept Art Appears Online
Concept art for what could be a new Fable game has been found online before quickly being taken down.
Twitter user Klobrille (via ResetEra) recently discovered the work of Brazilian concept artist Rodrigo Idalino on ArtStation. Among his works was what appears to be concept art for the new Fable game that’s reportedly in development at Playground Games.
Turn Into a Cyberpunk 2077 Character With New Official Instagram Filters
CD Projekt Red has released some Instagram filters that make you look like a character from Cyberpunk 2077.
If waiting for the Cyberpunk 2077 release date is too much then rejoice in the fact that you can now turn yourself into one of the game’s body-modded characters. Well, almost.
CD Projekt Red has now released four Instagram filters that give you a cybernetic makeover so you can share your hot look from the future with your friends. Want some robot eyes or a metal plate in your face but don’t want to commit to the look forever? Look no further.
Monday, November 25, 2019
New Tony Hawk Pro Skater Game Reportedly In the Works
Fans nostalgic for the bygone days of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater are clamoring over new rumors that the series could be making a comeback in some form or another. Multiple sources are reporting on some kind of return for the Pro Skater series, though it’s unclear at this point exactly what that will look like.
There are two different Pro Skater rumors making their rounds on the internet right now. The first is reports from well-known video game leakers about the existence of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater remasters. The second is a quote about a supposed new Pro Skater game in the works.
Over the weekend, video game leaker Sabi reported that there are prototypes of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 & 2 remasters currently making the rounds around Activision.
The Pokemon Company is Searching for Sword and Shield Leakers
Lawyers representing The Pokemon Company are searching for internet users that leaked Pokemon Sword and Shield details.
In a new lawsuit originally reported on by Forbes, the company notes it is specifically looking for 4Chan and Discord users that leaked unrevealed Pokemon from the Sword and Shield strategy guide weeks before the game and the guide released.
Lawyers from Perkins Coie, a law firm headquartered in Seattle, said the leakers, "disrupted
ability to market Pokemon Sword and Pokemon Shield and the Strategy Guide," arguing that the leaks reduced fan interest and engagement generated by keeping key elements of the games secret.
Xbox One Deal: Get an All Digital Xbox One S and Three Games for $149
If you love Black Friday sales, deals, and huge savings, I have great news for you! Right now you can save $100 and get an Xbox One S 1TB All-Digital Edition bundle with three games at Walmart, all for just $149.
Black Friday Deal: Xbox One S All-Digital 1TB with 3 Games for $149
If you are ready to embrace the all-digital future, you can save $100 on an Xbox One S All Digital Edition at Walmart. Note that this Xbox One does not have a disc drive, so physical versions of Xbox One or Xbox 360 games won't work. While it normally retails for $249, you can grab one right now for $149 and get Minecraft, Sea of Thieves, and a Fortnite pack which includes 2000 V-Bucks, outfits, and more. Order now and get free two-day delivery.
Xbox One Deal: Get an Xbox One S and NBA 2K20 for $199
If you love Black Friday deals, big savings, and video games, I have some great news for you. Right now you can get an Xbox One S 1TB bundle with NBA 2K20 for just $199, which knocks $100 off the regular price.
Black Friday 1TB Xbox One S with NBA 2K20 for $199
While it normally costs $299, right now at Walmart you can get a 1TB Xbox One S bundle with NBA 2K20 for just $199, meaning you can save $100 and get free two-day delivery.
Black Friday 2019
Black Friday is nearly upon us, and you can find all the best deals, both live and upcoming, with our Black Friday deal guides.
Stadia Games Not Streaming at 4K Is Down to Developers, Says Google
Google has responded to controversy that sparked after it was found that some Stadia games don’t stream at true 4K resolution.
Since Google Stadia came out last week it’s been discovered that the new gaming platform doesn’t stream the 4K versions of Destiny 2 and Red Dead Redemption 2 that are available on other platforms.
Instead, Stadia renders Destiny 2 at 1080p and RDR2 at 1440p and then upscales them to 4K on Chromecast Ultra. This caused some people to complain, as Google vice president Phil Harrison previously said that all Stadia games will support 4K at launch - that isn’t true as two launch games are being upscaled to 4K.
Magic: The Gathering Reveals New Secret Lair Sets With Wild Art
Next month Wizards of the Coast will bring something totally new to Magic: The Gathering. Starting December 2, a new “sub-brand” called Secret Lair will group existing cards into small collectible sets with strange themes and wild new art styles.
This initiative will kick off with the Secret Lair Drop Series: a collection of seven unique set drops that Wizards calls “a love letter for its fans.” IGN is excited to give you the first look at one of those drops – an adorable cat-themed set aptly named “OMG KITTIES!”
Flip through the slideshow below to see all the cards in this drop, and read on for more details about Secret Lair, the next drops, and more:
Final Fantasy 7 Remake: Part 2 Already Being Worked On
Final Fantasy 7 Remake director Tetsuya Nomura has said that Square Enix has "already begun working on" the next part of the episodic remake of his RPG classic.
In a Square Enix blog to accompany a batch of new screenshots of the game, Nomura sought to quell fears that splitting the original game into distinct chunks would make it a much smaller experience:
"Opportunities for discussing our true intentions are few, but with regard to the size of the game that many are asking about – there’s no reason at all to worry. Even in this Midgar portion alone, the density and volume are so great that I had to give directions to lighten them.
Final Fantasy 7 Remake: New Screenshots Released
Square Enix has released new screenshots of Final Fantasy VII Remake, showing off everything from the Chocobo & Moogle summon, to weapon upgrades, to where you can switch to the game's Classic Mode.
Check out all the new images below, and marvel at the fact that Moogles now look quite like koalas:
The screenshots come alongside a blog post from Square Enix that, among other things, confirms the second part of the episodic remake is now being worked on
The screenshots show off a number of different parts of the game. Characters shown off include Avalanche's Biggs, Jessie and Wedge and The Turks' Reno and Rude. Cloud's Triple Slash and Blade Burst abilities are also included.
Red Dead 2 Fans Are Making Their Own Undead Nightmare 2
Modders are working together to bring zombies to Red Dead Redemption 2’s single-player mode.
Now that Red Dead Redemption 2 is on PC, modders have started work on bringing features to the game that fans want - including a sequel to the first game’s Undead Nightmare expansion.
YouTuber jedijosh920 recently uploaded footage of a mod that adds zombies to the Red Dead Redemption 2 single-player campaign. The zombies are shown chasing the player and attacking other characters.
Take-Two Explains Why It Hasn't Made a GTA Movie Yet, and Probably Won't
Take-Two has revealed why there hasn’t been a Grand Theft Auto movie or TV series yet, and why there probably won’t ever be.
In a recent interview with TheWrap, Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick discussed why the game publisher hasn’t put GTA onto the big screen.
“Part of it is, if we were to do something like that, we’d want to have complete creative control to make sure we expressed
in the way we wanted - and that would mean we’d need to finance that motion picture,” Zelnick said.
He then clarified that funding a movie or any other form of on-screen adaptation isn’t the issue, it’s that “we don’t have the corporate expertise to do it, because only a handful of people inside Take-Two have ever worked in that business.”
Cyberpunk 2077 Will Probably Come to PS5 and Scarlett, But Not at Launch
CD Projekt Red plans on bringing Cyberpunk 2077 to PlayStation 5 and Xbox Scarlett, but doesn’t expect it to be ready for the launch of those next-gen consoles. The company also discussed the game’s multiplayer version and its possible monetization.
Speaking at CD Projekt Red’s earnings conference for Q3 2019, senior vice president for business development Michał Nowakowski answered a question from the audience about Cyberpunk 2077 coming to next-gen consoles.
“One may probably safely assume that at some point we may do something with next-gen, however we cannot really be very specific what that may be, when exactly that may be,” Nowakowski said.
Sunday, November 24, 2019
Pokemon Sword and Shield: How to Evolve Eevee into All Evolutions
This Early Black Friday Deal on MacBook Air Is Only Good for Today
The Apple MacBook Air is currently at the cheapest price its ever been on Amazon, but it’s only available for the rest of today. Hop on this Apple deal before it’s gone for good at midnight Pacific Time.
For the insanely low (for Apple) price of $679, you can get yourself this 13-inch MacBook Air, which comes with 8GB RAM and 128GB of internal SSD storage. It also features a 1.8GHz dual-core Intel processor, the Intel HD Graphics 6000 card, two USB 3 ports, a Thunderbolt 2 port, and an Sdxc port. If you or a family member wants an Apple laptop but doesn't need a MacBook Pro's graphical strength for video editing and gaming, the MacBook Air is absolutely the way to go.
How to Unlock New Items and Equipment in Death Stranding
Saturday, November 23, 2019
Save on the Pokemon Sword and Shield Official Guide Books and Pokedex
Pokemon Sword and Shield have been out for over a week now. Have you, as the kids say, caught them all? No worries, because we’ve found a great deal on the Pokemon Sword and Shield guide, along with a bunch of other Pokemon stuff you’ll definitely want to grab before the holiday rush. If you don't feel like grabbing the official guide, there's always IGN's Pokemon Sword and Shield wiki to answer your burning questions.
Pokemon Sword and Shield: The Official Galar Region Strategy Guide - Collector’s Edition - Buy Here
Friday, November 22, 2019
PS4 Deal: Get Call of Duty: Modern Warfare for $38
If you love Black Friday sales, I have got a great deal for you. Starting tomorrow, November 23 at 9 pm PT/12 am ET, you can take advantage of the savings to get a PS4 copy of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare for just $38 from Walmart.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare PS4 for $38
If you don't yet have a copy of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare for PS4, you can get one for $38 from Walmart starting tomorrow. Taking advantage of this deal will save you $22 and net you a code for double XP, along with free two-day delivery.
Black Friday 2019
PS4 Deal: Get a 1TB PS4 Slim with Three Games for $199
If you love Black Friday deals, you are in luck! Starting tomorrow, November 23 at 9 pm PT/12 am ET, you can save a bunch of cash and get a great deal on a PS4 Slim 1TB bundle, which comes with three of the greatest games of this generation (and the last).
1TB PS4 Slim with 3 Games for $199
Starting Nov. 23 at 9 pm PT / 12 am ET, you can get a PS4 Slim with God of War, Horizon Zero Dawn: Complete Edition, and The Last of Us: Remastered for just $199, saving you a hundred bucks off the regular price.
Black Friday 2019
Black Friday is nearly upon us, and you can find all the best deals, both live and upcoming, with our Black Friday deal guides.
Tesla Cybertruck: Gamers Poke Fun at Elon Musk's Low Poly Truck
Last night, Elon Musk unveiled the next entry in the Tesla series: the “Cybertruck”. Unlike anything else we’ve seen from Musk's line of vehicles before, the Tesla truck resembles something you’d see in an old video game set in the future or sci-fi flick from the late ’90s to the early 2000s.
Of course, gamers all over the internet couldn’t help themselves from sharing images, making memes, and drawing comparisons to look-alikes we've seen in games, TV shows, and movies. Here’s a compilation of the funniest internet reactions to the Tesla Cybertruck, including a very interesting one based on CD Projekt Red’s upcoming game, Cyberpunk 2077.
Half-Life: Alyx: Every Voice Actor Confirmed and Rumored
Valve officially revealed Half-Life: Alyx, a new, full-length, VR prequel in the Half-Life series. It’s been 12 since the last Half-Life game, so there have been some changes to the voice cast since last we saw Alyx Vance.
As the name implies, Half-Life: Alyx stars Alyx Vance in a new game set between the events of Half-Life 1 and 2. Alyx Vance was originally voiced by Merle Dandridge in Half-Life 2 but will be played by Ozioma Akagha in Half-Life: Alyx.
Dandridge tweeted her congratulations to Valve following the announcement of the new game and expressed gratitude that fans can see Alyx again.
Darksiders Genesis: The Final Preview
After playing through the first two chapters of Darksiders Genesis, my biggest takeaway is how decidedly unlike Diablo it actually is, despite how Diablo-y it looks. There’s no gear, there are no level-ups, no skill trees, there’s a much more elaborate melee combat system with strong and weak attacks, and really, rather than reminding me of Diablo, it reminded me of the very first Darksiders game, just with a different perspective and a second playable character.
Of course, part of that likely has to do with the fact that in Darksiders Genesis, you can either choose to play as the protagonist of Darksiders 1, War, or his brother, the gun-wielding Strife, who finally makes his playable debut in a Darksiders game. There’s a great split in the abilities and playstyles of the two characters, with War playing almost exactly like his Darksiders 1 counterpart, right down to having mostly the same moves and tools at his disposal. War can deal big melee damage by juggling opponents with air combos, utilize a crowd-clearing AoE special move, and unlike Strife, he can block enemy attacks as well.
5G Will Bring Google Stadia Virtually Anywhere, Exec Says
While Google Stadia aims to create a compelling package of high-end streaming tech at launch for home users, the impending advent of 5G technology will allow the Stadia to be used almost anywhere, according to Google VP Phil Harrison.
In this month's episode of IGN Unfiltered, Ryan McCaffrey sat down with Google VP Phil Harrison to talk about the Stadia, as well as Harrison's time at Sony, Microsoft, Google, and much more.
"Initially,
going to be
in the home, or wherever you have access to wi-fi or stronger internet signal that would come over from an ISP
, but 5G is not that far away," Harrison said, "5G will be a future unlock, but right now we are a wi-fi and more traditional ISP-driven experience."
The Witcher Reading Guide: How to Prepare for Netflix's Series
With production on Netflix’s The Witcher now wrapped, it’s only a matter of time before this wild world of wonder and weirdness hits the small screen. However, executive producer and showrunner Lauren S. Hissrich’s adaptation of this beloved fantasy world isn’t tied to the massively successful Witcher game franchise developed by CD Projekt Red and which established its significance in the zeitgeist. Instead, the Netflix show is based on the books by author Andrzej Sapkowski.
Sapkowski has published eight Witcher books since he started writing the series back in the mid-’80s when the illustrious Polish author first submitted Wiedzmín — “The Witcher” — to fantasy magazine Fantastyka.
Netflix's The Witcher Reveals All 8 Episode Titles
Netflix has revealed the episode- sorry, chapter titles for all 8 episodes of the first season of The Witcher.
Revealed in a thread on Twitter, the titles were accompanied by lines of text that make up a poem, seemingly covering some of the events and characters coming in those same episodes. here's the full list, and the lines they were accompanied by:
- The End's Beginning - "A monster slain, a butcher named."
- Four Marks - "We look at a sorceress's earlier days."
- Betrayer Moon - "A picky eater, a family shamed."
You Can Buy the Last of Us Part 2’s New Concept Art
New concept art for The Last of Us Part 2 has arrived in the form of fine art prints you can buy and hang on your wall.
Dutch art studio Cook and Becker has teamed up with Naughty Dog to sell quality art prints for The Last of Us Part 2. There are four prints in total, with each of them featuring an official piece of concept art made for the game by Naughty Dog artist John Sweeney.
Ellie features prominently in all four pieces, which depict the breadth of her journey and capture the dark tone of the game by setting her against striking weather and gloomy countryside. Joel turns up in one of them and the most adorable of the four shows Ellie sat with her pet dog.
Resident Evil 3 Remake Rumoured for 2020
Capcom is reportedly working on a Resident Evil 3 remake that’s targeted to come out in 2020.
YouTuber Spawn Wave and Eurogamer report that they’ve heard from sources that a remake of Resident Evil 3: Nemesis is in the works.
This is made more likely by the fact that Capcom said it will “explore” more remakes after this year’s Resident Evil 2 - especially as the game was so successful, selling over 3 million copies across PC, PS4, and Xbox One in its first week.
Call of Duty: Mobile Getting Zombies and Controller Support Overnight
Call of Duty: Mobile is getting Zombies mode and controller support as part of a major update that will roll out overnight.
The official Call of Duty: Mobile account on Reddit has shared the precise dates and times that the shooter’s next update will arrive globally. It’s a big one, too, as it includes one of the most popular game modes in the series' history.
Yes, it will add Zombies mode, as well as new multiplayer maps and controller support across both iOS and Android versions.
Thursday, November 21, 2019
Sniper Ghost Warrior Contracts Review
Unlike a traditional stealth game focused on keeping yourself out of view or secretly taking out unsuspecting foes at close range, in sniping games like Sniper Ghost Warrior Contracts you’re better off keeping your distance. It’s all about reveling in the careful, precise sniping that requires methodical movements and attention to detail. Contracts, in particular, is slow at times and the obligatory escapes can be a bit boring, but the long stretches of downtime are often punctuated by exhilarating explosions of gore that make it worthwhile.
A mostly inconsequential story about oil companies, international espionage, and vague politics loosely connects 25 contract objectives across five enormous sandbox-style maps. A forgettable prologue explains why it’s morally okay to assassinate each target for money. It was nice getting some context for why I’m being asked to murder dozens of people, but at the end of the day the game is called Sniper and it gives me a long gun with slow-mo powers so I don’t need much other motivation beyond that. From there it’s just a matter of completing your objectives and cashing the check. Sometimes you’re also hacking computer terminals, planting bombs, or stealing intel – all basic stuff.
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order Ending Explained
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order is a 15-20 hour Star Wars adventure that not only our reviewer but just about all of us here at IGN liked very, very much. But with no way to rewatch cutscenes, it can be tough to look back at the game’s story to try and process it all. Never fear though, because here’s Star Wars: Jedi Fallen Order, summed up in just about 1,000 words. (Spoilers ahead).
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order Ending Explained
Before we get to Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order’s ending, we have to first contextualize it really quickly by talking about the beginning. Jedi: Fallen Order is about the journey of Cal Kestus, a Jedi padawan who survived the events of Revenge of the Sith and went into hiding.
How to Evolve Applin in Pokemon Sword and Shield
Applin is a rare Pokemon in Pokemon Sword and Shield, and its evolution depends entirely on your version of Gen 8. Learn what you'll need to get Flapple in Pokemon Sword or Appletun in Pokemon Shield written below or watch the video above.
For even more guides, be sure to visit IGN's Pokemon Sword and Shield guide.
How to Find and Catch Applin
If you're still on the hunt for Applin, you can find it in a few places. Applin does not appear in the overworld, but you can find it on Route 5 in surprise encounters by running through the tall grass.
Yu Suzuki Thanks His Fans and Hopes They Want Shenmue 4
Yu Suzuki, creator of the Shenmue series, hopes that he can make Shenmue 4 now that the third game in the series is out.
At the end of Shenmue III, after the credits have rolled, a thank you letter written by Suzuki and addressed to his fans appears on the screen. Metro published the letter in full, but the relevant bit at the end reads: “I sincerely hope that, together, we can continue to spin the tale of Ryo and his adventures in Shenmue 4.”
The wording of Suzuki’s letter alludes to the fact that Shenmue III was only possible due to a successful Kickstarter. Without that initial funding the game would probably not have been realised so it’s understandable that Suzuki is appealing to fans to help him with Shenmue 4.
Tuesday, November 19, 2019
Toyota Returns to the Forza Franchise Next Month
Playground Games has announced that Toyota will be returning to the Forza Horizon series next month. The much-loved 1998 Toyota Supra RZ will be available in Forza Horizon 4 as a part of the Series 17 update on December 12.
The news came via a fun reveal at the end of the team’s latest update livestream and was repeated via the official Forza Motorsport Twitter account.
Blair Witch Announced for PlayStation 4
Bloober Team and Lionsgate Games have announced that Blair Witch will be released on PlayStation 4 on December 3, 2019 via the PlayStation store for $29.90 USD.
The PlayStation 4 version arrives with "gameplay and technical enhancements" from the Xbox One and PC versions that arrived earlier this year.
In addition, and perhaps most importantly, players will now be able to customize Bullet the dog to make him "their personal 'good boy' with the 'Good Boy Pack'" which includes new dog skins, new in-game cellphone games, wallpapers, and new animations for Bullet that will make him "even more realistic."
The "Good Boy Pack" will also be available on PC and Xbox One.
Neverwinter: Infernal Descent Takes You to Hell in New Trailer
The popular free-to-play MMORPG Neverwinter has a new module on the way. It's called Infernal Descent, and as the name implies, it's taking you to Hell. The first layer of the Nine Hells, to be more specific.
The new campaign is designed for level-80 characters, say publisher Perfect World Entertainment and developer Cryptic Studios. They also say to expect a new endgame dungeon and adventure zones set on Vallenhas Estate.
Neverwinter: Infernal Descent will be released on January 21, 2020 for PC. A console version will be on the way at a later date.
Ryan McCaffrey is IGN’s Executive Editor of Previews. Follow him on Twitter at @DMC_Ryan, catch him on Unlocked, and drop-ship him Taylor Ham sandwiches from New Jersey whenever possible.
Detroit: Become Human Enhanced PC Version Gets Release Date, Trailer
We quite liked Detroit: Become Human, when it released for PS4 last Spring. The latest cinematic adventure from Quantic Dream (Heavy Rain, Beyond: Two Souls) chronicled the stories of several androids living in future Detroit and their quest for freedom, and now it's on the way to PC on December 12 via the Epic Games Store.
It will retail for $39.99, and a free playable demo will be available on the day of release so you can try it out. The PC version supports upgraded visuals running at up to 4K and 60fps.
Watch our review of the PS4 version above, and for more on the future of developer Quantic Dream, take a look at our latest updates.
Xbox Scarlett Aims To Support Microsoft's Play Anywhere Scheme
Xbox Head Phil Spencer has said that Microsoft aims to support its Play Anywhere scheme in the next generation, allowing cross-play, cross-buy, cross-saves, and achievements across Xbox One, Xbox Scarlett, and Windows PC platforms.
Talking to Stevivor at X019, Spencer said “Our goal for our first-party games is that your entitlements will be cross-generation and your Achievements will move effectively with your save game because that’s where they stand.”
Microsoft aims to make the transition between Xbox One and Xbox Scarlett to be smoother than that seen between the Xbox 360 and Xbox One.
Monday, November 18, 2019
How to Get the Scomp Link in Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order
Death Stranding: Find Preppers and Avoid BTs With Our Interactive Map
Why People Are Talking About Half-Life VR
Rumors of a new Half-Life game set to be revealed at this year’s Game Awards have started spreading online. The reason this particular Half-Life rumor has gained traction over the countless other Half-Life rumors over the years is that it comes from two well-known Valve leakers, and follows a pattern of recent rumors and reports about this unique next step for the Half-Life series.
The new rumor centers around an alleged Half-Life: Alyx VR and it first comes from the same leaker who revealed DOTA Underlords ahead of its launch. Possible word of an imminent Half-Life VR reveal has stirred the masses thanks in part to Valve’s history of teasing major VR flagship games.
This morning’s rumors are based on a supposed interview between Geoff Keighley and a development team at Valve for what could be a Game Awards reveal segment. In the now-deleted and alleged transcript, “Geoff” asks the dev team some questions about the decision to put a Half-Life game on VR before seemingly confirming Half-Life: Alyx for March 2020.
Football Manager 2020 Review
Picture what it must be like to be Sports Interactive studio director Miles Jacobson and his team. Every day of the year your social media feed is inundated with feedback from fans whose suggestions range from genuinely useful insights to grounds for police action. Broadly similar to being an actual football manager, in that regard. Amid all that noise, following up a widely celebrated iteration of Football Manager must feel like navigating a jungle without a map. Or with 100,000 conflicting maps. And yet Football Manager 2020 emerges from the undergrowth like a latter-day Jamie Vardy: not much to look at, but metronomically consistent, and good for another season of entertainment despite its advancing years.
Sonic 3 Prototype With Lost Content Discovered
A prototype version of Sonic 3, containing features that would never make it into the final build, has been discovered.
Video game preservation communities Hidden Place and The Cutting Room Floor have been able to unearth a prototype of Sonic 3 that contains a variety of elements that were reported in a 1993 magazine preview, but never seen in the retail release. These include the Flying Battery zone and bosses (which were moved across to Sonic & Knuckles), and Lava Reef. Also found in the ROM are three unfinished bonus stages, and object, badniks, and boss data for cut zones.
New Patent Reveals PlayStation 5 Controller Design
A new patent filed by Sony Interactive Entertainment shows what appears to be the PlayStation 5’s controller.
As first spotted by VGC, the patent was published on the Japanese Patent Office website today, noting that the patent has been issued. The illustrations in the patent show a controller that is largely identical to the DualShock 4 used for the PS4, albeit with a few significant alterations.
The body of the controller appears to be slightly larger/chunkier than that of the DualShock 4, with grips more akin to the shape of the Xbox’s controller, rather than the almost tube-like shape of the ones on the DS4. The light bar has been removed, and a USB-C port added. The triggers also appear a little bigger than those on the DS4.
How to Get 2,150 Apex Legends Coins for 99p
If you buy something through this post, IGN may get a share of the sale. For more, read our Terms of Use.
With Season 3 of Apex Legends now live it's only natural demand for new skins and unlockables to increase. It's possible to earn new cosmetics simply by playing, but purchasing Apex Legends coins is a fast-track way to getting extras (although you're not guaranteed to get what you want).
Apex Legends coins are only used to unlock cosmetics, characters and weapons - they do not provide any actual advantage in the game, so it's not 'pay-to-play' via the currency,
Street Fighter 5: Champion Edition Announced
Capcom has announced that Street Fighter 5: Champion Edition will be released in February 2020, and will bring with it the return of Gill.
Champion Edition will include 40 characters, 34 stages, and over 200 costumes, made up of everything released for Street Fighter so far, excluding Fighting Chance and brand collaboration costumes, and Capcom Pro Tour DLC. It will also include any DLC released between now and the February 14 release date.
Joining the roster for Champion Edition is Gill, master of pyrokinesis and cryokinesis. All of his heavy attacks and all but one of his special moves are elementally aligned, so expect punches that flame and freeze in equal measure. Gill actually launches in December for current players, for $5.99 or 100,000 Fight Money, but will be part of the package for Champion Edition.
Get Unstuck: IGN's Death Stranding Strategy Guide
IGN's Death Stranding Guide includes a fully complete walkthrough with step-by-step instructions for each main mission (Sam's Orders) with maps of the best path to take, as well as side quests, boss fights, and puzzles. But it has so much more! Death Stranding is a game that leaves many questions unanswered and this guide is here to answer them. Below you'll find all sorts of helpful links, including explanations to your most pressing questions, unlockable guides, interactive maps, and more.
Death Stranding "Sam's Orders" Complete Walkthrough
Sunday, November 17, 2019
See The Mandalorian/Death Stranding Mash-Up We Never Knew We Needed
Warning: The following contains spoilers for The Mandalorian. If you haven't watched the first episode, beware...
We're always up for an awesome piece of fan art, especially when it comes from designer Bosslogic - the amazing creator of the Black Adam movie concept art that The Rock revealed this past week.
Bosslogic's latest piece is a badass blend of Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Death Stranding. It takes the bounty hunting central character of Disney+'s new series and puts him in the place of Norman Reedus' Sam from the game.
Fallen Order: The Tomb of Miktrull Puzzle Solution
Saturday, November 16, 2019
COD: Modern Warfare Leak Finds Tons of Battle Royale Details
A ton of details for what appears to be a new battle royale mode in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare have leaked, thanks to a data miner from the COD subreddit, and if you were a fan of Black Ops 4's Blackout mode, you have a lot to look forward to.
Originally posted by Reddit user Senescallo (and reported by Eurogamer), the leak/data mine details a slew of new features, including a massive new map and an increased player count.
Pokemon Sword and Shield Controversy Explained
As the first mainline Pokemon video game released on a Nintendo home console, Pokemon Sword and Shield mark a new era for the franchise. But as it approached launch, the latest pair of Pokemon games became mired in controversies.
For the better part of the year, the Pokemon community has been engaged in a heated debate over the perceived quality of Sword and Shield. Concerns arose initially with an announcement that Sword and Shield's Pokedex would be limited, with no way to transfer many old Pokemon to Sword and Shield. Concerns about character model animations and graphics followed, and the controversy heated up when leaked versions of Sword and Shield were datamined just ahead of launch.
Friday, November 15, 2019
Fallen Order: How to Get the ScompLink
How to Catch and Evolve Milcery into Alcremie
Bleeding Edge Hands-On - The Ugly Joy Of The MOBA Tangle
There’s absolutely no need to reiterate the enduring popularity of the MOBA in a world where League of Legends consistently draws in the biggest crowds and the most dedicated player base. But Bleeding Edge is a good reminder of how mechanics that were once deemed complex and inaccessible are now a mainstay in the inventory of core gaming components.
To be clear: Bleeding Edge is not a MOBA. But during a quick hands-on at X019 in London I found that, thanks to its close-quarters nature, it feels notably closer to the likes of LoL and Smite rather than hero shooters such as Overwatch. Each tussle and tangle has the feeling of deliberate, skillful chaos that’s unique to MOBAs, with your disengage and escape skills being as vital as your damage abilities.
Halo: MCC Hands-On - Reach On PC Is Almost Perfect
It’s hard to think of a console FPS that is more deserving of a PC release than Halo. Bungie’s beloved series of super-solder simulators practically defined a generation of shooters, and at the time it was a crime that most of them were not playable with a mouse and keyboard. Microsoft’s upcoming re-release of the Master Chief Collection rectifies that. But while this version ensures the world of Halo looks and sounds better than it ever has, it feels that it has arrived a decade too late to show the games off at their best.
At X019 in London I was able to go hands-on with the first mission of Halo: Reach on PC. As Bungie’s last Halo game, it is naturally the prettiest of that era of the series. Particle effects erupt and shower from plasma weapons, and environmental lighting reflects beautifully across the surfaces of the Covenant enemies’ carapace armour. It’s the ideal game in the collection to show off MCC on PC’s 4K60 capabilities. While the upgrade doesn't quite make Reach look as if it were released yesterday - the lighting notably anchors the game in the era of the Xbox 360 - it’s still pleasantly handsome.
Terminator: Resistance Review
The Terminator franchise has long since established that things are not always as they seem on the surface, with robots that pose as naked Austrian bodybuilders, liquid metal machines that disguise themselves as friendly policemen, and movie sequels that pretend to be even the slightest bit necessary. Terminator: Resistance stays true to that idea; it certainly has the convincing appearance of a modern day first-person shooter campaign, but beneath the shiny veneer its mechanics and AI are seemingly ripped straight from another period in time, as though it’s a game that’s been sent forward from 2003 to hide in the plain sight of the present on a mission to terminate hours of your life.
Death Stranding's 40-Hour-Long Story, Explained
Death Stranding's story, confusing as it may seem, is ultimately about reconnecting the world after a great catastrophe pulls it apart. That’s Death Stranding's plot in a nutshell, but if you want something a little deeper than that to truly find out what’s going on in Hideo Kojima’s latest, well pull up a chair, because here’s Death Stranding’s 40 hour story (including the big ending) summed up in a nice digestible plot summary in 3,000 or so words. If you need help understanding some of the terms used, we have a neat Death Stranding glossary you can use as a reference.
Thursday, November 14, 2019
Pokemon Sword and Shield Walkthrough and Guide
IGN's Pokemon Sword and Shield walkthrough and complete strategy guide includes tips and tricks for every gym and route, a list of Pokemon (Pokedex), how-to guides for your biggest questions, info on hidden items, and a cure for Sobble's everlasting sadness. Maybe not that last part, but our walkthrough will guide you from the minute you pick your starter to the moment you are crowned the new champion.
Before You Buy
Picking your version of Pokemon is a sacred tradition. Make sure you know which one you truly want!
Wednesday, November 13, 2019
Here's Why People Are Speculating About a New BioShock
2K Games is starting up a new video game development team in Novato, California that has fans wondering if a new BioShock game is on the horizon. At least that’s the theory based on a new 2K job listing and recent remarks by the company’s CEO.
A new 2K Games job listing was put up recently in hopes of attracting talent to join a new game dev team in Novato. The job listing says the new team is a “small, scrappy group with a ton of ambition and the resources to see it realized.”
Specifically, the job listing is looking for an End Game Design Lead for a game where “the story itself will come to a conclusion. The world, by contrast, is something we are designing to be alive and engaging past the main narrative arc. To leverage this, we want to build a post-narrative set of systems, quests and player progression that gives our fanatic fangirls and fanboys more content to experience on an ongoing, live-service basis.”
Epic Sues Another Fortnite Chapter 2 Leaker
Epic has taken legal action against a second QA tester who leaked secrets about Fortnite Chapter 2 online.
Lucas Johnston, a tester at Montreal-based Keywords Studios, has had a claim filed against him in Quebec Superior Court by Epic Games, according to a report by The Canadian Press (via Eurogamer). The claim states that "he was responsible for the publication of 'highly confidential information'".
The documents detail that Johnston allegedly took a screenshot of the content planned for Chapter 2. He apparently admitted to emailing the screenshot to himself, although “he didn't know how it ended up online".
Destiny 2 on Stadia: Google Sent Devs to Work at Bungie for 6 Months
We’ve been exploring behind-the-scenes of Google Stadia all month as part of our November IGN First, from how Doom convinced them it could work, to how the controller was designed, to how Stadia is fighting latency. But today, we’re stepping out of Google’s California offices and following them north to Bungie in Bellevue, Washington.
Dreams Release Date Seemingly Leaked By UK Retailer
A UK retailer posted a release date for upcoming Media Molecule game, Dreams, in a tweet that has since been deleted.
According to the now removed tweet, posted by Shopto, Dreams will release on February 14, 2020. Shopto quickly deleted the tweet, but before it disappeared it was picked up by Twitter account @the_marmolade and subsequently signal boosted by notable games account @Nibellion.
Without official word from Sony it’s impossible to say if this is indeed the release date for Dreams, or if Shopto simply made a mistake with its tweet. Retailers often have knowledge of upcoming release dates, but equally often use placeholder dates in their systems for games without official dates. This could be a result of either situation.
How Long is Pokemon Sword and Shield?
Pokemon Sword and Shield are the first mainline Pokemon games to ever appear on a home console, but just how long is this adventure? Ahead of launch Pokemon Sword and Shield developers said the game would have a “comparable amount of content” to previous games but now we can give you the full details from our time in the Galar region. Here are the story completion times of three separate playthroughs.
Janet Garcia, Guides Editor
I took my rightful place as champion of the Galar region after 46 hours of playtime. Most of my time was focused on getting all my gym badges and just progressing the story. But I definitely spent some of that time exploring the Wild Area, experimenting with Curry recipes, checking the Pokemon job boards, and shopping.
Spider-Man Developer's New Project Gets Launch Trailer
Insomniac, if you didn't know, doesn't just make Spider-Man and Ratchet & Clank games for PlayStation. They've also got an intriguing new first-person VR game for Oculus Rift (and the Rift S) called Stormland.
Take a look at the trailer above, and for more about Insomniac, take a look at our most recent IGN Unfiltered interview with studio head Ted Price below, in which Price discusses how – or even if – the massive success of Marvel's Spider-Man changed the studio (Ted's portion starts at the 18:48 mark, and note that this interview was filmed in February 2019, prior to Sony's acquisition of Insomniac):
Stormland will be released tomorrow, November 14.
Ryan McCaffrey is IGN’s Executive Editor of Previews. Follow him on Twitter at @DMC_Ryan, catch him on Unlocked, and drop-ship him Taylor Ham sandwiches from New Jersey whenever possible.
Pokemon Sword and Shield Online and Local Gameplay Explained
Pokemon Sword and Shield’s online and local functionality have been discussed at length, but we’re finally getting an idea of how things work in practice. Here are five things you can do locally and online in Pokemon Sword and Shield.
It’s worth noting that while, in theory, online works exactly the same as local play we haven’t been able to test it ourselves yet. We’ll update this article when Pokemon Sword and Shield is released and the servers are live.
Trade, Seamlessly, in the Background
You can easily Link Trade or Surprise Trade with other players locally or over the internet. A Link Trade is a direct trade where you know exactly which Pokemon you’re getting in exchange. Just open the Y-Comm (by pressing Y), select Link Trade, and then “Start Trading.”
Pokemon Sword and Shield Review
Very few things in life can make me as happy as a great Pokemon RPG, and Sword and Shield repeatedly left me in a state of pure, child-like joy. The elated surprise of not knowing what’s coming is something this series does extremely well if you can manage to play it relatively unspoiled (fear not, this review won’t deprive you of that), and I’m glad that sense of wonder is still alive and kicking in Sword and Shield. With every new game in this 23-year-old series, changes big and small are always made, but I’ve never been willing to declare the latest entry the new gold standard for Pokemon because they’ve consistently been a balance of better and worse. But the first mainline game on the Switch has changed that: though there is still no “perfect Pokemon game,” the 40-plus hours I’ve spent with Sword and Shield have left me comfortable with calling them the best Pokemon games I have ever played – and I’ve played ‘em all.
Tuesday, November 12, 2019
Death Stranding Map: Memory Sticks, Prepper Locations, and More
Monday, November 11, 2019
Does Death Stranding Actually Introduce a New Genre?
One of the biggest questions leading into Death Stranding’s launch was — does Hideo Kojima’s first post-Konami game actually introduce a new genre, as Kojima claimed it would before launch? Now that we’ve had plenty of hands-on time with Death Stranding, we’ve been able to determine firsthand whether the ‘Strand Genre’ really is its own thing. And the answer is: not quite, but the way it evolves certain gameplay ideas are absolutely worth being explored in other games, which is something Kojima called for as well.
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order Won't Have Early Access on EA Access
EA’s big release of the year, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, is out later this week and to prevent spoilers from leaking early, the publisher announced that there will not be a timed early access trial for Jedi: Fallen Order. Instead, EA Access members will get two exclusive cosmetics.
Even though Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order is out on November 15, EA is opting not to give EA Access members early access “in part to reduce the risk of spoilers.” Instead, members will get a cosmetic skin for their ship and droid, as well as a 10% discount off the game.
Star Wars #JediFallenOrder launches this week! #EAAccess members get 10% off the game.
Every Celebrity Cameo in Death Stranding
While it's no secret that Death Stranding features a star-studded cast of main characters, there are plenty of NPCs you'll meet across the world that feature the voice and/or likeness of other celebrities.
Not every famous person can play a Sam Bridges or Die-Hardman. Whether friends of Kojima's, or just talented creators that he admires, here is every celebrity cameo we've found in Death Stranding... so far.
Have you found a celebrity cameo that we missed? Add it to our Death Stranding wiki, or check out some essential tips for surviving Kojima's post-apocalyptic wasteland!
Google Stadia Launch Games Announced
Google announced the Google Stadia launch games lineup for when the cloud-based streaming platform launches on November 19.
The launch games lineup features 12 games in total, including the entire modern Tomb Raider trilogy, Assassin's Creed Odyssey, Destiny 2: The Collection, and more. Google also said that more titles will join Stadia's library before the end of the year. Check out the full lineup in the gallery below.
- Assassin's Creed Odyssey
- Destiny 2
- Gylt
- Just Dance 2020
- Kine
- Mortal Kombat 11
The Best Fantasy-Themed Board Games
Fantasy settings are a wonderful fit for board games. There's something about orcs, elves, and magic spells that translates perfectly to cards and cardboard. And of course it doesn't hurt that the Venn diagram of people drawn to wizards and people drawn to board games is basically a circle. As you might expect, board game designers have caught on, and there are so many good fantasy-themed board games out there as a result. There are plenty of sword and sorcery adventures. But in the world of board games, fantasy can mean anything from imaginative intrigue to alchemical academia.
So, grab a sword and a spell book and head into the unknown as we explore what "fantasy" meant to a slew of different designers — and the best board games that came out of it.
Fans Are Divided Over Fortnite's Skill-Based Matchmaking
Toward the end of Fortnite Season 10, Epic introduced a new skill-based matchmaking system that aimed to connect players of equal skill. The goal of the new matchmaking update is to help newer and casual players find less competitive matches so that they have an opportunity to work on their skills, rather than just trying to survive against top-tier competition.
With the launch of Fortnite Chapter 2, Epic's skill-based matchmaking system is now in full swing, and it seems to be dividing the community instead of bringing it together. Popular Fortnite YouTuber Ali-A recently took to Twitter to share his thoughts on the new matchmaking system, saying, "Skill Based Matchmaking is the worst addition ever to Fortnite and it's killing the game." His full comments can be seen in the Tweets below.
The Nintendo Switch Won't Be Getting a Price Cut Anytime Soon
With Black Friday just around the corner, there are tons of Nintendo fans scouring the internet for some of the best Nintendo deals out there. Unfortunately, a Nintendo Switch won't be among the gaming items getting a price cut over the Thanksgiving holiday – nor anytime in the near future – according to Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa.
Death Stranding: Where to Find Every Cameo Character
Out Friday: Pokemon Sword and Shield - $10 Reward Credit with Prime
The long wait is nearly over: Pokemon Sword and Pokemon Shield are out this Friday, November 15, 2019. Set in a new region called Galar (which resembles Great Britain), these games come with a whole new batch of Pokemon to catch and train. If you're ready to lock in your preorder, or you want the gorgeous limited-edition Zacian and Zamazenta Switch Lite you've come to the right place. Here's everything you need to know to make your preorder (and potentially save some cash).
Overwatch's Jeff Kaplan Thinks Blitzchung's Suspension Should Be Eliminated
Overwatch game director Jeff Kaplan has expressed concerns about the punishment imposed on Hearthstone player Chung ‘blitzchung’ Ng Wai.
Talking to the Washington Post, Blizzard’s vice president and Overwatch game director said, “I was relieved when they reduced his suspension. And I think the suspension should be reduced more or eliminated. But that’s just me.”
“I’m obviously a huge supporter of free speech,” he added. “It’s something that’s very important to me. It got to me personally. I think the punishment was too harsh and I was greatly relieved when they gave his money back. I think that was extremely important.”
Rainbow Six Siege's Kali and Wamai Are Year 4's Stand-Out Operators
Rainbow Six Siege’s next season, Operation Shifting Tides, introduces two new operators that seem perfectly on track to be the most popular additions of the year. One brings an entirely new weapon to the table - the beloved bolt-action sniper rifle - while the other can deploy sci-fi-like traps that catch grenades. Both are exciting new prospects.
To learn more, we visited Ubisoft’s Rainbow Six Siege design studio in Montreal to talk to game designer Emilien Lomet about the ideas behind the new operators, and how they fit into a Rainbow Six team.
First up is Kali, an attacking operator armed with the devastating CSRX 300 sniper rifle. Fitted with a chunky 12x zoom scope, it’s the most powerful gun ever added to the game, capable of blowing a hole through two soft walls with a single shot. Offsetting this power is a painfully slow reload between rounds, thanks to its bolt-action system.
Sunday, November 10, 2019
This Pokemon Sword and Shield Launch Event Could Land You a Gigantamax Pokemon
Use This New Borderlands 3 SHiFT Code Today for Another Golden Key
Saturday, November 9, 2019
Borderlands 3 Shift Codes: Redeem A New Golden Key Before It's Gone
Death Stranding: How to Repair, Unlock, and Use Vehicles
Save Up to $130 on These Arcade Cabinets: Marvel, Mortal Kombat, and More
If we could all run our own arcades, I’m pretty sure the world would be a better place. Thankfully, Walmart has a great deal on Arcade1UP’s line of 4-foot tall arcade cabinets, meaning you can bring the nostalgia straight into your living room. Walmart’s deals currently beat Target’s already-lowered prices, so if you’ve been sitting on the fence about grabbing one (or three) of these, now is the absolute best time to do so. Keep in mind that each of these cabinets comes with 2-4 games, so check each listing and see how much game you're getting.
Marvel Super Heroes 3-In-1 Cabinet From Arcade1UP for $50 Off
The Best Games of 2019 (Didn't Do Anything New)
Ray tracing, haptic feedback, social strands, surprise mechanics, 8k resolution, “play as anyone”, adaptive triggers, games-as-service, advanced processing units... it never ends with the buzzwords, jfc.
Now, I know we’re supposed to be excited about all this new technology and all these new way to play games, and I’m as likely as the next guy to pre-order a PS5 and/or Xbox... Two? Good-looking games are better than the alternative, no one is arguing that.
Yeah, no thanks
AND YET! Is any of this crap going to make games more fun? Did playing Borderlands 2 in VR make it more enjoyable, or did it make you motion-sick? The Fornite Black Hole event was novel, sure, but Is Season 2 of Fortnite doing anything that “Season 1” wasn’t already doing? Did turning Fallout into a weird MMO social experiment make it more fun than a regular-ass Fallout game would have been?
Friday, November 8, 2019
Fire Emblem: Three Houses DLC Finally Lets You Play With Dogs
The third wave of DLC for Fire Emblem: Three Houses is now available, bringing new quests, fresh attire, a sauna and - critically - the ability to interact with animals.
Among the shakeups is the fact Anna is available for recruitment to those who complete a special quest. Meanwhile, the new sauna activity can be found at the Monastery, giving you the option to "add steam" and balance a heat bar.
Nintendo announced the news on Twitter, writing, "Conquer new quests, dress up with new outfits, sweat it out in the new sauna activity, and interact with animals in the Fire Emblem: Three Houses Expansion Pass Wave 3 DLC, available now." Critically, it's currently unknown whether "interacting" with animals involves petting.
Need for Speed Heat Review
Still burned by 2017’s Need for Speed Payback, I wasn’t sure Need for Speed Heat was going to be the salve the series needed – but this open-world street racer has some surprising pep to it. Heat is a marked return to form, owing its success to ingredients plucked from a few of the franchise’s most fondly-remembered games. It took more attempts than would’ve been ideal, but developer Ghost has finally built a racer that feels fittingly faithful to the roots of Need for Speed. Heat is hardly revolutionary, but it is fast, fun, and streets ahead of 2017’s properly disappointing Need for Speed Payback.
Heat combines elements of fan-favourites like Underground and the original Most Wanted with some welcome tweaks inspired by its contemporaries. The result is deep vehicle customisation and hectic cop chases, but in a world featuring fewer hazards that’ll bring cars to a dead stop. Like in Forza Horizon, even stone walls crumble and trees splinter if you careen off course. Fewer encounters with momentum-killers helped to keep my pace high and my pulse higher. It’s a back-to-basics approach with some modern modifications, and it works. Best of all, it’s completely purged of the free-to-play style lottery-based performance upgrade system, the ill-conceived obstacles preventing access to body mods, and most of the other horrible dreck that plagued Payback. It’s all been ripped out and sent to the scrapyard.
Thursday, November 7, 2019
BioWare Celebrates N7 Day With New Mass Effect Armor...in Anthem
If you’re a Mass Effect fan, then November 7 (or N7 Day) is a good time to celebrate BioWare’s expansive space opera RPG. This year, BioWare is offering a neat Mass Effect tie-in with its current project, Anthem, in the form of themed armors and emotes.
BioWare usually does something fun for fans on N7 Day, and this year they’re releasing a set of armor designs and emotes that pay homage to their popular franchise. BioWare has released four Mass Effect-themed armors that change their designs to look like characters from the Mass Effect series.
There are four armors, each referencing a different Mass Effect character. These designs will make your Anthem freelancer look like Garrus, Tali, Wrex, and Liara.
Why Sony Leadership Changes Will Help PlayStation Transition to PS5
PlayStation is going through a reorganization ahead of the launch of the PlayStation 5. Sony Interactive Entertainment Shawn Layden left PlayStation last month, and today Guerrilla Games’ Hermen Hulst succeeded Shuhei Yoshida as head of Worldwide Studios. But PlayStation CEO Jim Ryan says the reorganization is necessary to help transition the company for the PlayStation 5.
What to Expect From Death Stranding's First 10 Hours
It is no secret at this point that Death Stranding is a divisive game. Some have found central its cross-country walking and inventory-management mechanics frustrating, some have found them mediative and rewarding. What people seem to agree on, however, is that it takes things slowly in its first 10 hours, to the point that what Death Stranding actually is is still something of a mystery until it settles into more of a rhythm in its third act. If you're confused as to what to expect during these ten hours, we've rounded up our unique experiences with them below to alleviate - or exacerbate! - any concerns.
Having previously never played more than a few hours of a Hideo Kojima game, I really had no idea what to expect of my first 10 hours in Death Stranding. They were a mixture of plenty of cutscenes and much slower-paced gameplay than I was expecting. But I reveled in that slowness, and I think it’s worth setting those expectations for what you might jump into. Because Sam Bridges has relatively few options in his arsenal at the start of Death Stranding, making a package delivery comes down to his ability to walk over rough terrain. The challenge is the journey, but so is the reward — after my first run or two, I loved taking a slow approach to plotting a best path from Point A to B, and then dealing with whatever curveballs the terrain, or BTs, threw my way. It’s slow, meditative, and not something that’s going to thrill you quite from the jump. Sidequest deliveries start to open up pretty early, but I’d advise against jumping on them at first — though I’ve spent most of my subsequent 40 hours with the game on those side deliveries, doing them at the start can be a bit too punishing. Death Stranding offers a slow trickle of new tools and mechanics that make those deliveries easier and, for me, more fun. - Jonathon Dornbush
Will Metal Gear Solid Fans Like Death Stranding?
As Hideo Kojima’s first game since his much-publicized departure from Konami, expectations have been high for Death Stranding, especially among Metal Gear Solid fans. While Death Stranding is a brand new game set in a brand new universe that’s attempting to launch a brand new genre, it’s not entirely fair to compare it to the franchise Kojima left behind, but the question remains: will Metal Gear Solid fans enjoy Death Stranding?
Well, that depends on which Metal Gear Solid game it’s being compared to. The core Metal Gear experience is tactical espionage action and/or operations, but each entry in the series has its own unique mechanics, systems, style, and quirks. Death Stranding is definitely more reminiscent of some Metal Gear games more than others. So, without spoiling anything from Kojima’s latest, we decided to break down which bits and pieces of the Metal Gear series we were reminded of while playing.
Death Stranding: Here's How Long It Takes To Beat The Story
Death Stranding is a journey, but how long does it last? And is the real Death Stranding the friends we make along the way? If you want a detailed accounting of one man's trek across post-apocalypse America, check out our full Death Stranding review. But if you simply want to know how long Death Stranding's story will keep you going, here are the story completion times of four separate playthroughs.
Tristan Ogilvie, Reviewer
By the time the final end credits had finished rolling on my Death Stranding playthrough, I had been playing for just over 42 hours. After that, I returned to the post-credits section to take on a number of optional orders I’d missed the first time out of curiosity, which I invested a further 10 hours into to bring my total time up to 52 hours. I get the sense that if you really wanted to unlock all of the tool upgrades and sunglasses for Sam and so on, there are probably dozens more hours of deliveries to go on top of that, but I have no real interest in any of that now that the pull of the story is no longer there to keep me on the hook.
Death Stranding Guide and Walkthrough
IGN's Death Stranding guide and walkthrough is complete with guides to complete all of Sam's orders, boss guides, prepper locations, rewards and unlockables, how-to guides, tips and tricks, secrets, easter eggs and references, and much more.
Though it can be offline, Death Stranding's central focus is around the "Strand System" that connects players together to allow for interactions with shared equipment and structures. For how to play online, click here.
Here you'll find the following sections:
- Death Stranding Walkthrough featuring all of the Orders for Sam, including boss guides, suggested routes, and tips for dangerous missions
WarCraft-Like RTS A Year of Rain Enters Early Access
A Year of Rain, a new RTS that calls back memories of old-school RTS games like WarCraft 3, is now available on PC in early access.
A fantasy RTS with base building, cinematic cut-scenes, and a “strong focus” on hero units, A Year of Rain seems to be building on the elements that PC gamers of a certain age will fondly remember from WarCraft 3 and its expansion, The Frozen Throne. While other games such as StarCraft II and the Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War series have used these elements, this style of RTS seems to have been largely dormant for several years. As such, A Year of Rain feels a bit like a dose of nostalgia.
Alongside these old-school elements and the multi-faction campaign are more modern-day ideas such as a fully cooperative story and 2v2 multiplayer modes, including the upcoming asymmetric “Against All Odds” mode which pits two heroes against two entire armies.
Wednesday, November 6, 2019
Overwatch: The Story So Far
Since it launched back in 2016, Overwatch has been incrementally expanding its universe, adding new characters and locations over the years, expanding the lore with each update. Blizzard refers to these past events as the Overwatch Archives.
Periodically, Blizzard drops new cinematics and comics, focusing on one (or a few) characters, adding context to who they are and what they’re fighting for in Blizzard’s unique world of heroes and villains. That said, while Overwatch 2 will feature story missions to tie things together, Blizzard has never outright given players a proper timeline of events. Sure, they might have released a short “previously on” trailer when OW2 was announced at BlizzCon 2019, but that glossed over a lot. To give you the fullest picture possible, here’s a look at the story of Overwatch (so far) prior to the events of the upcoming Overwatch 2.