Tuesday, December 31, 2019
Fortnite: The Workshop, Crackshot’s Cabin, and Mr. Polar’s Artisanal Ice Location
The Best Games of the Decade (2010 - 2019)
Spanning two console generations and thousands of game releases, the twenty-teens have been incredible for both game developers and their fans alike. While we thought about putting together a definitive ranking of the best games that came out between 2010 and the end of 2019, it quickly became apparent that there were way too many awesome games to crown just one as the decade’s best.
To that end, here are - with no particular ranking - our favorite games of the last ten years.
Click through the gallery above or scroll down for the full list.
2010
Amnesia: The Dark Descent
IGN UK Podcast: It's Football Day - Episode 4
As you might expect, we're all at home for Christmas right now, which means we're probably seasons and seasons into our Football Manager careers.
Unfortunately it also means we can't meet to talk about it this time around, so we've pre-recorded a very silly special where the three of us play a full Fantasy Draft league in the full-fat version of the game. Included is the entire recording, for better or worse. Enjoy!
To see why we care quite so much, check out our review of Football Manager 2020, which we call "a fine excuse to delve back into a perennially addictive series."
Monday, December 30, 2019
Celebrating the Best Decade in Pop Culture History
The 2010s will truly be a decade to remember. The Avengers made their big-screen debut. Batman and Superman fought each other over Gotham City. Wonder Woman lifted a tank. Comic-Con became a household name. The CW ushered in the age of the Arrowverse. Pokemon Go got the whole world on its feet. Star Wars said goodbye to the Skywalkers. And we all became obsessed with a little show called Game of Thrones.
Do you remember where you were when you found out that Spider-Man was coming to the MCU? Or what you were doing when Disney announced they were going to buy Lucasfilm and make more Star Wars movies? Did you weep playing Breath of the Wild on Switch for the first time? Did you cheer when Captain America wielded Mjolnir in Avengers: Endgame? Did you download the soundtrack to Guardians of the Galaxy after seeing the film? We did.
Death Stranding: How to Repair, Unlock, and Use Vehicles
Crystal Caves Show Sea Levels Were Raised 50 Feet During Warm Period in History
Global Warming seems like it's been a hot topic of discussion for the last couple of decades as we learn more about our environment and the impact we have on it as humans. Surprisingly, though, we're not even in the warmest period the Earth has seen, and now scientists may have a better understanding of what we're in for in the future.
According to a report by Science News, the Spanish Cuevas de Artà off the Balearic island of Mallorca has revealed mineral deposits that were the result of higher water levels from long ago. Scientists have dated these deposits to a time that could be over five million years old, a period known as the Pliocene Epoch.
Fortnite: Where to Find Snowflake Decorations
How to EV Train for the Best Pokemon in Sword and Shield
Fortnite: Where to Search Ice Boxes?
PS5 and Xbox Series X GPU and Memory Specs Leak, Report Says
New information on the alleged specs, including GPU (or ‘graphics card’) and memory, for the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X next-gen consoles has reportedly leaked, offering us possible, albeit unofficial, better look at these two new consoles.
According to a lengthy report from Digital Foundry, as published by Eurogamer, the PS5 will reportedly feature a 9.2 teraflop GPU. Compare that to the PS4, which featured a theoretical max of 1.84 teraflops. The PS5 will also reportedly feature GDDR6 memory, which is identical to AMD’s RX 5700 series Navi cards, if you want to compare it to the world of PC gaming.
The Witcher Showrunner Reveals Original Draft of Final Season 1 Scene
Netflix's The Witcher, which fast became one of the United States' most in-demand streaming series, has been the subject of friendly online debate over the past week as fans of the original short stories by Andrzej Sapkowski have been commenting on changes made to the show, while showrunner Lauren Schmidt Hissrich has been engaging with them and explaining her creative process (a lot of which as to do with needing to introduce Geralt, Yennefer, and Ciri at the same time – in the same season).
Sunday, December 29, 2019
Complete Pokemon List in Sword and Shield (Pokedex with Locations)
All The Platform Exclusives We Know of In 2020
We’re gearing up for what might be the biggest year in gaming - ever - if 2020 ends up being as stacked as it looks right now. Currently, the biggest releases are slated for the first portion of the year, but many of 2020’s end-of-year releases and surprises are yet to be revealed. And, with two new consoles on the horizon in Sony’s PS5 and Xbox’s Series X that are looking to push gaming even further, we can’t wait to see what comes next.
But, for now, here are all the biggest platform exclusives we know of releasing in 2020. Check out the gallery below, or scroll down further to read the entire list.
Hong Kong Protestors Face Off Against Mainland China Players in GTA Online
Pro-Hong Kong protestors and their opponents in mainland China are now taking to the digital streets of Grand Theft Auto 5, according to a report from CNN Business.
The online hostilities began as players living in the semi-autonomous state of Hong Kong began to dress their avatars up in the now recognizable garb of real-life pro-Hong Kong protestors. Namely, their avatars started wearing black clothing, gas masks, and yellow construction hard hats, a common choice of clothing seen during the mass protests in Hong Kong over the past six months.
Saturday, December 28, 2019
How to get Every Fossil Pokemon in Sword and Shield
Resident Evil 2: All Safe and Lock Combinations
How Speedrunners Completely Broke Zelda: Majora's Mask
When you play The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask, either casually or as a seasoned speedrunner, it's always a race against the clock. With only three in-game days, players need to spend their time wisely to complete its long list of quests, and even more so for speedrunners who need to get as much progress as possible out of each cycle to land a competitive time.
Earlier this year, that meant collecting the four boss remains and defeating Majora in a little less than an hour. But, as of this month, most of what previously wetn into a run became unnecessary thanks to the realization of a long sought after trick: the Moon Warp.
Moon Warp, as anyone who has played Majora’s Mask might suspect, allows players to warp directly to the moon and confront Majora without visiting any of the four dungeons. It’s an impressive trick that brought along an equally impressive new achievement: the first-ever sub-30 minute Majora's Mask speedrun, courtesy of longtime Majora's Mask speedrunner and world record holder Dennis “EnNopp112” Haugen. We spoke to EnNopp to learn a little more about this mind-blowing new trick and where he sees Majora's Mask speedrunning going from here.
Friday, December 27, 2019
Death Stranding: Every Connection Level Reward
Everything a Vault Hunter Should Know to Survive in Borderlands 3
Borderlands 3 makes a return to planet Pandora and introduces players to four new Vault Hunters: FL4K, Amara, Zane, and Moze. Taking place several years after Handsome Jack's death, The Crimson Raiders reach out and ask for help as they face off against a set of new enemies -- The Calypso Twins and the Children of the Vault.
Borderlands 3 is filled with tons of loot and plenty of opportunities to customize your character's loadout, skills, and gear. With our Borderlands 3 beginner's guide, you'll have everything you need to be the best Vault Hunter this side of Pandora has ever seen.
What Should I Do First in Borderlands 3?
Borderlands 3 is similar to the previous games but with some newness sprinkled in. This means whether you're familiar with the series or completely new to it, there's something for you to learn. On top of all the chaotic firefights, inventory management, and character-building, there are some additional things to keep in mind.
Defeat King Boo With our Luigi's Mansion 3 Walkthrough
Star Wars: The Mandalorian's Major Clone Wars Connection
Warning: this article contains major spoilers for The Mandalorian's season finale!
The Mandalorian episode 8 wraps up the first season with some big reveals, including the return of a weapon with a major legacy in the Star Wars universe. The Darksaber is back, but it has once again fallen into the wrong hands.
If you're confused as to why an Imperial warlord is wielding a black lightsaber, fear not. Here's everything you need to know about the Darksaber and how it ties the series back to the events of Star Wars: The Clone Wars.
All the Best PS4 Deals on Games, Consoles, and Accessories
Need a PS4? Have one and want to find game or accessory deals? You've come to the right place. We've gathered all the biggest discounts on all things PS4, including PS4 Pro, PS4 Slim, DualShock 4 controllers, PSVR, and games. You can even still pick up the Black Friday PS4 bundle that comes with The Last of Us Remastered, God of War, and Horizon Zero Dawn (albeit for more than the Black Friday price). Anyway, on with the show.
TLDR Best PS4 Deals
How Will Nintendo Deal With PS5 and Xbox Series X?
We are less than one year from the release of the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X (and probably a Series S too, but that's neither here nor there for the purposes of this discussion...), and with it comes the question: what will happen to Nintendo third-party support? How will Nintendo respond?
The House That Mario Built has seen a resurgence in external software support over the course of the Switch generation, but as the competition moves onto more powerful hardware, the performance gap between the Switch and the competition will only widen. That said, the Switch is a huge hit. So will third parties stick around? We assembled hosts from our three platform-specific podcasts: Brian Altano (NVC), Jonathon Dornbush (Beyond), and Ryan McCaffrey (Unlocked) to discuss the topic at hand. (Note that this was recorded the day of The Game Awards and thus we didn't know the official name of Project Scarlett yet, so please forgive that in the video.)
Thursday, December 26, 2019
Everything You Need to Know to Survive in Resident Evil 2 Remake
Resident Evil 2 Remake places you in Raccoon City, right in the middle of a zombie apocalypse. Playing as either Leon Kennedy or Claire Redfield, you'll need to search various locations in the city for weapons, ammo, codes, and other key items to make it out alive.
If surviving wasn't hard enough, a tyrant known as Mr. X stalks you and shows up in the most dire moments to try and kill you. If you've played the original Resident Evil 2, plenty will be familiar to you in the RE2 Remake, but if it's been a while or you're a complete newcomer to the game, our Resident Evil 2 beginner's guide and tips will help see you through.
Pokemon Sword and Shield Complete Walkthrough and Guide
How to Get the Double-Bladed Lightsaber in Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order
23 Biggest Plot Twists of 2019
Looking back at the year that was, some of the biggest plot twists in pop culture -- in everything from Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker to Avengers: Endgame to Game of Thrones -- are among the most divisive.
In the spirit of reflecting back on 2019, we asked the IGN staff to pull out not the biggest plot twists of the year in games, movies, TV shows and comics, but the ones that stood out to us as the best. Not every plot twist of the year is on this list, but these are ones that made the jaw drop of the person who nominated. We want to hear from you as well, so be sure to sound off in the comments about what your favorites were!
As the headline suggests, this article contains loads of spoilers! Specifically, you'll find spoilers for these properties (in alphabetical order):
Wednesday, December 25, 2019
Death Stranding: How to Kill (or Avoid) BTs
Jedi Fallen Order: Where to Unlock BD-1's Abilities
Tuesday, December 24, 2019
Jedi Fallen Order: Secret Upgrade and Collectible Locations
The State of Sony PlayStation's First-Party Studios
Updated as of December 19, 2019.
As we enter 2020, it’s time to take another look at the state of Sony’s first-party studios. Since we looked at the slate of PlayStation in-house developers, several games have been released and a new team has been added to the fold.
From recently released hits to the eventual debuts of The Last of Us Part 2 and Ghost of Tsushima, let’s take a look at what every studio in Sony’s stable is working on.
Though one quick note — we’re specifically discussing internal, first-party owned studios. So no third-party exclusive or second-party games will be included.
Bend Studio
Easily See What Game Services Are Down Over the Holidays
The holidays are upon us – and with it, so much deserved free time to catch up on video games. Every year in late December, the number of people using our strategy guides, tips, and wikis doubles as players try to complete long-lingering campaigns or need tips to play online.
Since an increase in service downtime often accompanies higher play activity, we’ve added a feature to our wikis and tips pages that’ll hopefully take away some of the guesswork whether “it’s you or them” when connections are dropped and logins fail.
The 13 Biggest Video Game Surprises of 2019
2019 was a big year for video game releases and announcements. With games like Resident Evil 2, Sekiro, and Borderlands 3 all out this year, there was a lot we knew we would *probably* enjoy. However, there were also a bunch of surprises that caught us off guard, so we decided to round up the biggest stories that we weren’t expecting. Here are thirteen of the biggest video game surprises of 2019.
Apex Legends
Apex Legends surprised everyone when it dropped into the battle royale scene on February 4, 2019. With no prior announcements or teasers and only a handful of leaks, Respawn released Apex to overwhelmingly positive reactions and amassed 25 million players by the end of its first week. Apex set itself apart from the other major battle royale games by focusing heavily on teamwork, with the only game mode grouping players into teams of three. Respawn also implemented an innovative “ping” system that revolutionized non-verbal team communication by allowing players to mark locations, enemies, weapons, equipment, and directions. This allowed for accurate callouts and more accessibility options that hadn’t existed in the battle royale genre before. Also, the ability to respawn a dead teammate was a dramatic change for the genre. Considering it still routinely has approximately eight to 10 million players a week, Apex Legends can be called a big success.
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker Makes KOTOR's Darth Revan Canon
SPOILERS AHEAD for Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker!
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker has officially made Darth Revan from BioWare's Knights of the Old Republic canon, as a legion of Sith Troopers were named after him.
As reported by ScreenRant, the official Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker Visual Dictionary reveals that each 5,000-strong legion of Emperor Palpatine's Sith Troopers, which are part of his Final Order, are named after an ancient Sith Lord.
One such legion, "The 3rd: Revan Legion" all but confirms that Darth Revan, who was part of one of the best twists in video game history, was once a Sith Lord in the official canon of Star Wars.
Hideo Kojima Hints at Next Project
After shipping Death Stranding in November, Director Hideo Kojima isn't taking much time off and is already hard at work on his next 'concept.' A recent Tweet by Kojima indicates he is already starting on his next project, but doesn't offer many clues about what it could be (via PCGames).
In the tweet seen below, Kojima said he was "working on the next concept while no one was in the office." Alongside his tweet, he also posted a picture of his desk, which shows a Macbook, a rubber duck, a cast of Norman Reedus' head, and some other oddities.
Pokemon Sword and Shield: Complete List of Hairstyles
Monday, December 23, 2019
Six Tips for New Rainbow Six Siege Players (From a New Player)
I recently wrote about how the last two months of my life have largely been spent playing Rainbow Six Siege – getting a grip on key tactics, learning hard lessons and steadily improving. I’m in no way an expert, but I definitely feel like I have a few tips that will greatly help other newcomers to the game, so if you're just getting started in Rainbow Six Siege - or are considering diving in - here are six tips that should help.
Take it slow and steady
Though Rainbow Six Siege moves at a wicked pace and time is always of the essence, running and gunning can get you into trouble. Death comes quickly in Siege, so it pays to think carefully about your every move, especially when on the attacking team and even more so if you haven’t identified all opposing operators during the prep phase.
Jedi Fallen Order: How to Unlock All Lightsaber Colors
Pokemon Sword and Shield: Complete Mystery Gift Code List
Stranger Things Pinball Revealed: First Images and Gameplay Details
Netflix's Stranger Things will be the next pinball machine from Stern Pinball Inc. The trailer video above and images and interview with Stern's Zachary Sharpe below reveal some cool, innovative details unique to this pinball machine. The Limited Edition and Premium versions of Stranger Things pinball will feature a unique projector system that animates ramps, targets, and a central screen on the playfield. These versions also feature a magnetic, hovering ball lock on the back panel of the machine that is inspired by Eleven's telekinesis powers. Of note is the playfield design by Brian Eddy, designer of widely-loved Medieval Madness and Attack From Mars pinball machines, who is returning to pinball design after a two decade break.
Sunday, December 22, 2019
Being a New Rainbow Six Siege Player in 2019
My team has breached the consulate building and we’re cautiously bearing down on our objective from all sides. I hear bullets and explosives traded elsewhere on the floor as I approach a reinforced room with no clue what’s inside. Comms go dark for two of my squad, though it seems they downed three foes before they fell. I round a corner and find a single patch of unfortified wall - all that separates me from the goal.
I punch a hole in the plaster with my trusty breaching hammer, sidestepping back into cover in time to avoid desperate gunfire from within. I wait for the defender to reload before peeking into the room through my scope, scanning from right to left as I move. Spying the top of someone’s head across a counter I take a pot-shot, missing by a fraction. I retreat into cover again momentarily and, frustrated by my panic, toss a grenade in the threat’s direction.
Hideo Kojima's Top 10 Movies of 2019
With only a little more than a week left in the year (and the decade), it's natural for people to post their own personal Top 10 lists of movies and TV shows. That includes Hideo Kojima, who tweeted out his personal (semi) ranked favorite films of 2019.
Among Kojima's picks were IGN's Best Movie of 2019, Parasite, along with Joker, Netflix's Marriage Story and The Irishman, and Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse - which came out in 2018, but right at the end.
Technically, most of Kojima's favorites here came out in 2018, so it appears he's just counting them as 2019 films because he watched them this year.
How to Get 2,150 Apex Legends Coins for 99p
Saturday, December 21, 2019
Change Your Disney World: Star Wars Galaxy's Edge Lightsaber Color With This Easy Hack
If you've visited the new Star Wars theme park in Disney World or Disney Land, then you're likely familiar with the lightsaber experience which allows visitors to customize their own lightsaber. If you've been or are planning to go, a new hack has been discovered that will allow you to change the color of your Galaxy's Edge lightsaber without much technical experience.
Discovered by Riot Games' Gene Chorba and reported by Polygon, changing the color of your lightsaber is as simple as reprogramming the RFID code in your weapon.
The Witcher Reading Guide: How to Prepare for Netflix's Series
Now that Netflix’s The Witcher has arrived, this wild world of wonder and weirdness is being introduced to a whole new audience. 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.
And maybe, just maybe, fans of the show are interested in giving the books a try as well now. Well, let us help you with that!
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Glitch Lets Players Explore Battle Royale Map
A new Call of Duty: Modern Warfare glitch will allow players to explore what appears to be an upcoming battle royale map. While a battle royale mode hasn't been officially confirmed by Activision, the glitch seemingly allows players to explore the Ground War/Battle Royale playing area.
Discovered by Reddit user KingBreezoR and reported by Eurogamer, players can test out the glitch for themselves by playing a private match on the map Vacant. Once you've begun the game, simply use the free spectating feature and spawn camera to roam throughout the area. The Vacant map is set within Port of Verdansk, which is the large Ground War map. Here is where the glitch gets fun — you'll be able to travel outside of the Vacant boundaries and explore new, unreleased areas in Modern Warfare.
Deals: Elgato Game Capture Card and Stream Deck
If you have even the slightest interest in making YouTube videos or livestreaming your gaming, you probably need an Elgato. As the defacto toolkit for high-quality game video capture and streaming, the only thing that keeps people away is the hefty price tag. Thankfully, Amazon and Best Buy have some great last-minute deals on Elgato products, and with just enough time to grab one before Christmas. Check out these deals below.
Elgato Game Capture HD60 S for $119.99 (save $60) - See It
The Witcher: How Episode 5 Pays Tribute to 'Bathtub Geralt'
If you know The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, then you know. If you don't know the game, then you probably still know something about "that ripped dude in a bathtub, right?"
Now that Netflix's The Witcher is out in the world (check out all of our Witcher Season 1 reviews here), with Henry Cavill starring as Geralt of Rivia, many are wondering if it can be the "next Game of Thrones." The series has a lot of source material at its disposal. Fans will be looking for the show to not only service the Polish fantasy short-story series, by Andrzej Sapkowski -- particularly the sagas contained in "The Last Wish" -- but also the world, tone, and various aesthetics established in the video games by CD Projekt Red. And that includes not just things like characters' various looks, behaviors, and fighting styles, but also, you know, the famous scene that opens Witcher 3 -- Geralt's sultry steam bath.
Friday, December 20, 2019
Bloodshot: Valiant Comic-Movie to Be Turned Into a Video Game
Comic book publisher Valiant Entertainment will make games based on some of its comics, including Bloodshot and Ninjak.
As revealed by The Hollywood Reporter, Valiant will partner with game developer Blowfish Studios to create the adaptations. This isn’t Valiant’s first time making games out of its comics either, as the iconic Turok series was based on a series of its own.
According to THR’s report, CEO of DMG Entertainment (Valiant’s parent company) Dan Mintz said they are “thrilled to bring Valiant’s characters back into the video game industry and give fans the opportunity to play as their favorite superheroes.”
Unannounced Ubisoft Project Canceled
Ubisoft Montreal graphics programmer Louis de Carufel tweeted today that a project they’ve been working on for the past three years has been canceled. Luckily, this has not resulted in any layoffs at the company.
“I just learned that the project I’ve been working on for the past 3 years has been canceled,” de Carufel tweeted this morning. “This is tough news because I’ve been working with all these people for around 7 years, during which we have shipped both Watch Dogs and Watch Dogs 2.”
De Carufel’s game which was canceled was never named, and according to their Linkedin profile, they’ve been working on an “Unannounced Game” for current-gen consoles since 2016. De Carufel’s previous credits also include Splinter Cell: Conviction and Shaun White Skateboarding.
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker Ties into Fortnite in an Unexpected Way
Fortnite’s collaboration with Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker may have contained more connections relevant to the actual plot of the movie than previously realized.
Lucasfilm went on a series of media blitzes ahead of the release for Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. One of those media campaigns included a special mini-event in Fortnite where players could dress up like popular Star Wars characters and watch an exclusive clip from the film. But there were also other in-game, Star Wars-related events, including one directly referenced in the movie.
The Best Horror and Zombie Board Games
Halloween may be long past, but our love for zombie and horror board gaming is evergreen. There's something about zombies, ghosts, werewolves, and other nightmares that are a great fit for huddling around a table with your friends. The horror genre is filled to the brim with great games, and we've assembled some of the best. This list is pulled together from my own tabletop experience and advice from the always-helpful community at BoardGameGeek.
Each game represents different mechanics, but since jump scares are nearly impossible in a board game, atmosphere is king in the horror genre. So gather your friends, dim the lights, and get ready to experience terror like only a board game can deliver. These are the best horror-themed board games.
5 Unannounced Xbox Sequels We Want to Play on Series X
Xbox Series X is Microsoft’s next-generation console, and if the reveal trailer for Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 is any indication, it’s going to be one hell of a machine. So with that sequel looking so stellar running on the new hardware, we thought: “What other unannounced sequels do we want to play on Series X?” Here are five we’ve got our fingers crossed for:
1) Grand Theft Auto VI
It’s just a matter of when, not if, we get the next Grand Theft Auto sequel, considering that GTA V is one of the best AND most commercially successful video games of all time. GTA V pushed the Xbox 360 – yes, the 360, remember? – to its limits before adding a first-person mode and more features to its Xbox One version, so we can’t wait to see what sort of insane citywide detail the Xbox Series X will allow Rockstar to pull off.
CD Projekt Red Strikes New Witcher Deal
CD Projekt Red and The Witcher author Andrezej Sapkowski have announced a new deal following a yearlong dispute over compensation for CD Projekt Red’s video game adaptation of the Polish fantasy novels.
The two parties announced that on December 20, 2019, they’ve “entered into an agreement which solidifies and reinforces
relationship with Mr. Andrzej Sapkowski - author of The Witcher saga.”
Stardew Valley Coming To Teslas This Holiday
This holiday season will bring Stardew Valley to Tesla vehicles, as announced in a tweet from CEO Elon Musk.
The farming RPG, in which players can tend crops, raise livestock, pursue romantic partners, and more, will arrive in an upcoming software update for the electric vehicles.
"Tesla holiday software update has FSD sneak preview, Stardew Valley, Lost Backgammon & a few other things," Musk shared in a tweet.
The teased FSD sneak preview, which stands for full self-driving, might sound like the perfect companion for video games in a Tesla — but Stardew Valley and other games are only available to play when a Tesla is parked. Still, Stardew Valley might make for a good time-killing game for Tesla owners since it is the type of game that can be picked up and played for just a few minutes (or hours) of time.
All the Big Games Coming in 2020
With the launch of next-gen consoles, the return of Halo, CD Projekt Red’s next epic, the first chapter of the long-awaited FFVII Remake, The Last of Us Part II, and much more, 2020 is shaping up to be a standout year for games. As the new year fast approaches, we're highlighting the best of what's to come over the next 12 months.
Click through the gallery below or continue scrolling for our list of the 36 biggest games with confirmed 2020 release dates.
Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot
Release Date: January 17 | Platform(s): PS4, Xbox One, PC
As it stands, Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot is the first big, AAA release of 2020. As a fully fledged action-RPG, Kakarot adds character levels, NPCs, sidequests, and more, while largely maintaining the combat system from previous 3D Dragon Ball fighting games.
Thursday, December 19, 2019
Plan Ahead (or Change the Clock) With These Pokemon Sword and Shield Weather Dates
Our Xbox Game of the Decade Picks
On our final episode of the year and of the decade we look back on our favorite Xbox games of the decade, including both first-party exclusives and memorable third-party offerings. Plus: a recap of the rest of the non-Xbox Series X elements of last week's Game Awards and more!
Subscribe on any of your favorite podcast feeds, or grab an MP3 download of this week's episode. For more awesome content, check out the latest episode of IGN Unfiltered from our new barcade set, featuring an interview with Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order director Stig Asmussen. It's an open bar; come and join us!
We're taking some time off from Unlocked for the holidays, but we'll be back with new episodes in 2020 starting on Tuesday, January 7!
Use This Mystery Gift Codes List to Get Free Pokeballs in Sword and Shield
Resident Evil 3 Makes Some Big Changes to the Original
Resident Evil 3’s remake will have more changes to the original game compared to how Resident Evil 2’s remake was handled.
Capcom producers Peter Fabiano and Masao Kawada revealed new details about Resident Evil 3 in the latest issue of Japanese magazine Famitsu (via Siliconera). Producer Masachika Kawata also appeared in the latest episode of Capcom TV to talk about the remake (via ResetEra).
Wednesday, December 18, 2019
How to Increase Friendship in Pokemon Sword and Shield
Modern Warfare Is the Most-Played Call of Duty Launch This Gen
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare is the series' most-played game at launch (first 50 days) during the PlayStation 4-Xbox One generation, Activision announced on Wednesday.
When comparing 50-day launch windows, Modern Warfare has seen more hours played (500 million), hours per player, and average daily players than any other Call of Duty "in six years," according to Activision. In terms of these metrics, Modern Warfare has topped the launches of Black Ops 4, WW2, Infinite Warfare, Black Ops 3, Advanced Warfare, and the current-gen versions of Ghosts.
Activision also notes Modern Warfare has sold through more than $1 billion USD worth of copies since its release on October 25. It was the top-selling game in the U.S. for the months of October and November, according to NPD.
Mario Kart Tour Holiday Tour Event Guide
26 Big PS4 (and PS5) Games Coming in 2020
2019 is winding down and 2020 starts off with a Kamehameha blast and not let up for the weeks and months to come.
We're running down all the major announced games with release dates or projected 2020 release windows that we can't wait to play in 2020. Note: this doesn't cover every game coming out on PS4 (and PS5 next year), but more so the biggest ones we want to play. Of course, be sure to let us know what you're looking forward to most in 2020, and stay tuned to IGN's weekly PlayStation show, Podcast Beyond!, for a rundown of all the big releases and much more.
Now, let's get on with the list.
Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order Director Talks Dark Souls, Other Influences
With comparisons being drawn to Dark Souls, Super Metroid, and other iconic gaming franchises, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order Director Stig Asmussen said although the game had its fair share of influences, everything the team included had to be justified.
In this month's episode of IGN Unfiltered (see the full episode below), Ryan McCaffrey sat down with Respawn's Stig Asmussen to talk about the recently-released Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, his time at Sony Santa Monica, the history of blockbuster PlayStation exclusive God of War, and much more.
When asked if the team had any trouble pitching a game as difficult as Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, which some describe as "Star Wars Dark Souls," Asmussen said, "I mean, we're a lot of different games, I think, and... there are bits and pieces here that, maybe, were inspired by one game or another. I think the thing that we all got aligned on is... the experience isn't going to be what most people are going to expect from a Star Wars game."
Fortnite Winterfest Presents - How to Get Free Daily Gifts
The Fortnite Winterfest event has officially kicked off, and it's offering players 14 days worth of free gifts along with a handful of challenges. Figuring out how to unlock the Fortnite Winterfest presents is pretty simple, but we are going to go over it just in case.
All of the Fortnite Winterfest presents are free to everyone, and it won't cost players anything. To get the free daily gifts, you'll need to visit the Lodge — a new location that can be found on the home screen.
Fortnite v11.31 Adds New Battle Lab Mode
The Wolf Among Us 2 ‘Completely Restarted’ With a New Engine
While The Wolf Among Us 2 is back in development, the renewed version of the game doesn’t build on any of the previous work that Telltale did on it. The creative team working on the sequel now actually started from scratch.
This is what Jamie Ottilie, CEO of LCG Entertainment (who revived Telltale as a brand), told USgamer when discussing how The Wolf Among Us 2’s development got started.
Dino Crisis Trademark Filed by Capcom
Capcom has filed a new trademark for Dino Crisis with the Japan Patent Office. Many other games were also trademarked, including Mega Man, Darkstalkers, and Breath of Fire.
Japanese trademark watch website Chizai-Watch notes that Capcom filed these new trademarks on November 29, 2019 while they were published on December 17, 2019.
As Siliconera reports, this is the second new trademark for Dino Crisis filed by Capcom recently. The first was filed on February 5, 2018 and granted on December 28, 2018. The last Japanese trademark for Dino Crisis before that was granted on March 31, 2000.
Tuesday, December 17, 2019
New Plan 8 Screenshots and Details Revealed
Plan 8, a new massively multiplayer online shooter from Pearl Abyss (makers of Black Desert Online), was announced last month along with Crimson Desert (see the latest info and screenshots from last week if you missed them) and DokeV. Plan 8 is headed by lead producer Seungki Lee, former environment art director for Black Desert Online, and Minh Le, co-creator of Counter-Strike, who is serving as a technical advisor. Plan 8 runs on Pearl Abyss' new, in-house game engine.
Star Wars Battlefront 2 Review (2019)
Almost since the beginning, Star Wars has been a story of redemption from darkness. So, in an ironic sort of way, Battlefront 2 is a better Star Wars game because of its initial fall to the dark side and subsequent journey back to the light. After over two years of updates and changes, EA and DICE have redeemed this gorgeous shooter and turned it into one of the best multiplayer adaptations of the Star Wars universe to date.
Taking in all Battlefront 2 now has to offer at once is honestly a bit overwhelming. Setting aside the overly safe, short, and disappointing single-player story, there’s a wealth of wave-based co-operative maps and a litany of online competitive multiplayer modes. Most of them play wonderfully and they all ooze that classic Star Wars look and feel on an unrivaled scale. Whether you’re fighting on the ground with a blaster in your hands, cutting down troops with a lightsaber, or dogfighting in space, Battlefront 2 is an immensely entertaining ride through a galaxy far, far away.
Warcraft III: Reforged Release Date Announced
We finally have a release date for Warcraft III: Reforged. The remake of Blizzard’s fan-favorite real-time strategy game is releasing on January 28, 2020. The game unlocks at 3 p.m. PST that day.
Warcraft III: Reforged will include the base game, plus The Frozen Throne expansion, which comes out to seven single-player campaigns totaling more than 60 missions, updated graphics and audio, and new matchmaking features courtesy of Blizzard’s Battle.net service.
Warcraft III: Reforged will cost players $29.99 for the standard edition, and $39.99 for the Spoils of War edition. The latter comes with different skins for the characters Arthas, Cenarius, Jaina, and Thrall. Spoils of War edition buyers will also get some cosmetic goods for other Blizzard games, such as the Meat Wagon mount for World of Warcraft, a Third War cosmetic for cards in Hearthstone, the Mal’gganis pet in Diablo 3, and other items for Overwatch, Heroes of the Storm, and Starcraft 2.
Nintendo PlayStation Prototype to Be Auctioned in 2020
The prototype Nintendo PlayStation will be going up for auction in February, according to new reports. The proposed partnership device from Nintendo and Sony that never went into production over a corporate fallout is the stuff of video game legends, and it will be changing hands for the first time in over a decade.
Kotaku reports that Terry Diebold, who purchased the Nintendo PlayStation in 2009 from an auction lot of abandoned property from a former Sony executive, will auction the console in February 2020 through Heritage Auctions.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Season One Gets New Cranked Mode
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare’s season one is only a couple of weeks old, and we’re already getting a refresh that includes a new mode, new maps, and other new features. Watch the trailer at the top of the page to see it all in action.
Arguably the biggest addition to Modern Warfare’s multiplayer is a new mode called Cranked. Much like the Jason Statham movie, players are forced to race against the clock to get a certain number of kills or basically explode.
The season one refresh is also adding two multiplayer maps, both of which are remakes of classic maps from the original Modern Warfare. Shipment sets combatants in a dockyard full giant shipping containers, creating a mazelike playing field, and Vacant, a small map that combines an indoor office environment with an open outdoors area surrounding a warehouse. Shipment will double as a 6v6 multiplayer map and a Gunfight map.
PlayStation Now Gets Horizon Zero Dawn, Uncharted: Lost Legacy in January
PlayStation announced Horizon Zero Dawn, Uncharted: The Lost Legacy, and Overcooked 2 will join the PlayStation Now library on January 2.
The titles are playable on PS4 and PC, making this the first time that PC players can access Horizon Zero Dawn and Uncharted: The Lost Legacy. The titles can be streamed on PS4 and PC, and downloaded only on PlayStation 4 consoles until April 7, 2020.
PS Now got a big price cut back in October, along with the addition of major PS4 exclusives like God of War. In November, Sony added Persona 5, Middle-Earth: Shadow of War, and Hollow Knight to the library.
Respawn Job Listings Point to Possible Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order Sequel
A new job listing from EA may hint to a sequel to Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order.
As reported by PCGamesN, there's a new listing for a Senior Software Engineer position on the Star Wars team. The post says Respawn is looking for someone passionate about the Star Wars universe, who is "invigorated by the idea of coding third person action/adventure games."
We have no confirmation that this posting is for a Jedi: Fallen Order sequel, but the description suggests that Respawn is continuing to work on a third-person Star Wars project. EA also has openings on the Star Wars team for a Senior Character Artist and a Level Designer. If there is a Jedi: Fallen Order sequel, find out where we think the Jedi: Fallen Order story could go.
Borderlands 3's Stadia Launch Is an Old Version
Borderlands 3 is now available to buy through Google’s Stadia streaming platform, but apparently not the most up to date version of it.
Publisher 2K revealed Tuesday that Borderlands 3’s Stadia launch would only include updates and patches for the game released on or before October 24. That excludes content drops like the recent Moxxi’s Heist of the Handsome Jackpot and the Takedown at the Maliwan Blacksite, both of which 2K says it expects to arrive on Stadia sometime in early 2020.
That also means the Stadia version is missing some key quality of life improvements that have been made, including bosses now having dedicated loot pools, an expansion to player storage space in their bank, and the Mayhem 4 difficulty level.
New Final Fantasy 7 Remake Screenshots Show Aerith's Battle Abilities and Midgar locations
Even though the upcoming Final Fantasy 7 Remake is only one episode in a multi-part game, Square Enix said that there would be more than enough new content in the Remake to fill out a full game. Now, we have screenshots for some of the expanded areas of Midgar, plus a look at brand new characters debuting in Final Fantasy 7 Remake.
The new screenshots give us a better look at recognizable faces like Sephiroth and Aerith, along with new looks at old characters like the president of Shinra and his right-hand man Heidegger.
We also get a look at a brand-new character named Roche, a 3-C SOLDIER “turned rebel” known as “Speed Demon.” Roche apparently “loves bikes, speed and anyone who can give him a challenge. His comrades, however, find him annoying - he constantly squeals his rear tire and makes them choke on fumes of burnt rubber.”
15 Big Nintendo Switch Games Coming in 2020
2020 is already looking like a packed year, and Nintendo's line-up is no exception. Here are the biggest games slated to come out in 2020 for the Switch (as well as a few we think could come in 2020 that don't have any official release window yet.)
Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE Encore
Release Date: January 17 | Platform: Switch
This wild combination of Shin Megami Tensei and Fire Emblem originally came to Wii U back in 2016, but a suped-up edition will be making its way to Switch in early 2020. This new version will be mostly the same, but include a few new songs, characters, and story beats.
Atari Revival Offers Same Revenue Split as Epic Game Store
Atari is still working on its new console the Atari VCS. What’s clear by now is that this new console is not a retro console like the SNES Mini, but a new fully-fledged system with a dedicated Atari app store. And developers who agree to make exclusive games for the store will receive the same revenue cut as on the Epic Games Store.
In a new blog post, Atari has outlined its plans for how developers can begin making games for the upcoming Atari VCS. According to the company, there will be a digital app store for the console. Developers can submit their games or apps directly through the store for certification.
Fortnite Winterfest Cinematics and Details Leaked
We’ve still got plenty of time left for Fortnite’s Star Wars event, but it looks like the winter event waits for no one. Fortnite’s Winterfest Challenge reportedly starts today, according to Forbes, and it looks like there’s plenty of info to digest.
That said, it appears that HypeX, the same data miner who found some images of the new Winterfest Challenge lobby menu, also determined that Epic has removed the text that reads “Get ready for seasonal fun, challenges and free presents. Starts December 17."
Ninja is Teaming Up with Star Wars' Mark Hamill to Stream Fortnite
Ninja will be streaming with Star Wars' Mark Hamill, aka Luke Skywalker, this week to show off the new Rise of Skywalker update for Fortnite.
The stream will take place on December 19, 2019, presumably hosted on Ninja’s Mixer channel, but the time and place has yet to be announced.
The announcement for the stream was made via a tweet from Mark Hamill’s Twitter account.
Christmas wish in 3, 2, 1… Wait until you see what @Ninja and I have planned with @FortniteGame and @Xbox on Thursday. It’s going to be….Amazing! (and I’ll try not to make a fool of myself) #XboxPartner pic.twitter.com/A9SddlqV4S
How Stig Built God of War and Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order
Welcome to the newly relaunched IGN Unfiltered, my monthly interview series where I sit down with the best, brightest, and most fascinating minds in the video game industry. I'm back with a brand-new bar/arcade set – complete with a working beer tap! My guest this month is veteran game developer Stig Asmussen, who discusses his career in gaming, from being an art director and eventual game director on God of War to leading a team at Respawn Entertainment on the smash hit Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order.
Check out the episode in the video above, but if you'd prefer to listen to the full, unedited episode, here's an audio-only podcast download link. One way or the other we hope you'll check out the interview!
The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners – 5 Minutes of Gameplay
I played The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners a couple months ago and came away wildly impressed. It's a VR game with true depth: an open-world adventure set in New Orleands with a hub space (the bus you see at the beginning of the gameplay clip above, where you can load up on weapons, take missions, and craft things at your workbench) and RPG elements; you'll meet groups of survivors whom you can choose to side with, reject, or side with but then betray. Plus it's got a backpack inventory system that allows you to maintain weapon variety throughout the gameplay by giving you the ability to carry multiple weapons (melee or ranged) at a time. Enjoy the five-plus-minute gameplay footage above.
Sony Announces New PS4 Controller Attachment That Adds 2 Buttons
Sony has announced a new official peripheral for PlayStation 4: the DualShock 4 Back Button Attachment.
The device adds two new buttons to the controller by clipping onto the rear of the DualShock 4, plugging into the jack traditionally used for headphones.
These buttons can be assigned to replicate the function of any other button on the controller. So, for example, if you’d rather tap the harder-to-reach Triangle with your grip fingers rather than your thumb, then you can assign triangle to one of the back buttons.
This means the Back Button Attachment works akin to the paddles on the back of the Xbox One Elite Controller, or the variety of third-party ‘pro’ controllers from companies such as Scuf.
Xbox Series X Will Have Backwards Compatibility at Launch
Microsoft has confirmed the next-gen Xbox Series X will support backwards compatibility with all Xbox One titles from the day it launches.
Head of Xbox Phil Spencer told GameSpot the Xbox Series X will be able to play all of the games currently available on the Xbox One from day one. That includes Xbox One games, but also the Xbox 360 and original Xbox titles that have been made backwards compatible over time with the Xbox One.
"We wanted to make sure we had that, day one, we could deliver on the compatibility promise, and so I've been playing quite a few
How Godfall’s Combat Makes the Most of the PS5 Controller
The CEO of Counterplay Games has explained how the studio’s upcoming fantasy “looter-slasher” Godfall makes use of the PlayStation 5’s tech and controller.
Godfall was announced for PS5 and PC at this year’s The Game Awards. It’s an action-RPG that focuses on what developer Counterplay Games calls the “looter-slasher” experience; that's essentially all about smashing up enemies so you can loot better augments and armour pieces for your hulking, flamboyant fantasy knight whose mission is to stop the apocalypse.
After its announcement, Godfall’s creative director Keith Lee spoke to PlayStation Lifestyle to further discuss its design. As part of this, Lee outlined how Godfall makes use of the next-gen hardware available with the PS5.
It's Football Day: Episode 3
The Firm™ is back and we have another 2 seasons worth of updates for your ears. After Dale's amazing back-to-back promotions, can he maintain the same pace with Coventry City? Joe saw unprecedented success in his first season at Real Betis, but has he peaked too soon? And Cardy regales us with a story of highs, lows and betrayal with his Rochdale run.
Oh, and we've got another 3 copies of Football Manager 2020 to give away - make sure to listen through to the end for that. If you want to get in touch the address is: ign_ukfeedback@ign.com.
Monday, December 16, 2019
Xbox Series X Name Explained By Microsoft
Microsoft has revealed that the name for its next-generation game console is simpler than originally believed. It turns out the name of Microsoft's next-gen line will just be “Xbox” and the Series X name is for a specific model of consoles.
The news comes from Business Insider who confirmed with a Microsoft representative that the Xbox Series X name revealed at The Game Awards applies only to that specific version of the console.
“The name we’re carrying forward to the next generation is simply Xbox,” the Microsoft representative said. “And at The Game Awards you saw that name come to life through the Xbox Series X.”
Wattam Review
Somewhere between a lucid dream, a children’s show, and an acid trip, you’ll find Wattam. The latest game from Katamari Damacy creator Keita Takahashi is an absurd and colorful adventure full of anthropomorphised objects, laugh-out-loud goals, and a dreamlike sense of floaty imprecision. It’s not the meatiest of games (despite literally letting you play as meat), but it’s a ridiculous joy all the same while it lasts.
Wattam doesn’t really fit into any specific genre box, but you could most closely liken it to a third-person puzzle game. Bear with me here: you control a mustachioed green cube called the Mayor who wears a bowler hat with a confetti bomb inexplicably tucked underneath it. He starts out alone in the dark, but simple quest prompts guide you (and potentially a friend in local co-op) along to complete tasks that slowly repopulate the world around you.
There Were Other Names Considered for God of War
The iconic God of War franchise, and the main character Kratos, originally had very different names according to ex-Sony Santa Monica exec Stig Asmussen.
In this month's episode of IGN Unfiltered (the full episode airs tomorrow), Ryan McCaffrey sat down with Respawn's Stig Asmussen to talk about his time at Sony Santa Monica, the history of blockbuster PlayStation exclusive God of War, the recently-released Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, and much more.
"In terms of the name Kratos, there's an interesting story," Asmussen said, "David Jaffe, who was the director on God of War, put it out to the team, 'Hey, anybody got any cool ideas for what the name of this character could be?' and everybody would just send emails... and then those emails would be forwarded over to marketing, and they kind of picked who they thought the top choices would be."
Fortnite: How to Get a Lightsaber
Journey to the Savage Planet Is an Experiment in Weird Game Science
I made a promise to myself: that I would try never to hurt a Pufferbird, the orb-ish, squeaking fowl that cover the Savage Planet. Their huge eyes and meek personalities were just too lovely for me to countenance the idea of harming them. On top of that, creative director, Alex Hutchinson (Far Cry, Assassin’s Creed) had told me that almost every puzzle in his game could be solved without violence. So, I decided, I will skirt round their flocks, trying to explore this planet - their planet - as delicately and respectfully as I could.
20 minutes later, I punted a Pufferbird into a bit of newly discovered fauna that acts like a meat grinder, just to see what would happen.
No More Heroes 3 Trailer Accused of Plagiarism
The No More Heroes 3 trailer that debuted at The Game Awards has been accused of plagiarism. However, a deeper look into the situation has revealed that the people who made the trailer may not necessarily have known they were plagiarizing anyone.
Utrecht-based animation house Studio Plumeau posted a tweet on December 13, 2019 that said an FX animation it had created was used without permission in the No More Heroes 3 trailer shown during The Game Awards.
“Biggest surprise @thegameawards last night was seeing our fx animation pop up in the #NoMoreHeroes3 trailer. Who do I bill for this?” read the tweet before it was taken down (via NintendoEverything). Studio Plumeau tagged the game’s developer Grasshopper Manufacture, its publisher Marvelous Games, and Nintendo America in the tweet.
Red Dead Redemption 2's PC Exclusive Content Comes to Consoles
Red Dead Redemption 2 content that was initially exclusively to the PC version is coming to consoles.
Rockstar has released the previously PC-exclusive Story Mode updates on PlayStation 4 alongside the Moonshiners update for Red Dead Online. The Xbox One version of the game will get these updates on January 21, 2020.
The updates include new bounty hunter missions and gang hideouts, so you can track down Herman Zizendorf, Camille de Millemont, and Bart Cavanaugh, or take on the Del lobos gang.
Sunday, December 15, 2019
Jedi Fallen Order: Bogano Collectible Locations
Fortnite: TIE Fighter Crash Site Locations
Boneworks Review
What happens when you throw headcrabs, crowbars, and advanced physics puzzles into a dystopian cityscape? If the first thing that comes to mind is Half-Life 2, you’re only half right. Boneworks, by developer Stress Level Zero, is a clear homage to that and several other Valve classics. And while its mechanical ideas and atmosphere aren’t the most original, Boneworks’ best physics-driven moments manage to make VR feel more tangible than any other action-adventure game to date.
Physics-based arena games like Blade & Sorcery and Gorn have been a favorite of VR enthusiasts for years now, but Boneworks is the first VR game to take the idea of giving you a variety of objects, each with their own distinctively modeled weight and heft, and then use those as the components for solving single-player puzzles and combat. I was pleased to discover that there’s quite a thick campaign to progress through here, sprawling across nearly 13 different levels. There’s also a pretty cool original retrowave soundtrack by Michael Wyckoff, and it adds flavor to the overall ‘Half-Life meets Tron’ style that Boneworks is shooting for.
'Seven or Eight' Dungeons and Dragons Video Games in the Works
Dungeons & Dragons has had a big resurgence over the past few years, with more people playing than ever including celebrities like Vin Diesel and Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson. The next logical step is to bring D&D back to its video game glory of yesteryear.
In an interview with Gamesindustry.biz, Wizards of the Coast President Chris Cocks revealed that "seven or eight" games ranging in size are planned for the popular role-playing franchise over the next few years.
How to Get 2,150 Apex Legends Coins for 99p
Saturday, December 14, 2019
How to Get all the Eeveelutions in Pokemon Sword and Shield
Pokemon Company Given Legal Permission to Pursue Sword and Shield Leakers
The Pokemon Company has been diligently searching for the individuals behind the Pokemon Sword and Shield leaks prior to its official release. Now, they've been given permission to pursue the individuals in question to the full extent of the law.
According to a report from Forbes, via Nintendo Everything, the Pokemon Company has begun a lawsuit against the individuals and is planning on issuing subpoenas against Discord and 4chan that would force them to come forward with information regarding the users behind the leaks.
Every New Pokemon in Sword and Shield
Fortnite Star Wars Event Debuts New Clip, New Dialogue From Key Character
As advertised, the Star Wars event in Fortnite revealed a brand new clip from Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker over at the Risky Reels location.
Players were raised into the air on a platform, and shortly after the Millenium Falcon could be seen flying around the map, while pursued by TIE fighters as Imperial star destroyers filled the sky. The Millennium Falcon landed shortly after, at which point Geoff Keighley introduced an in-game representation of The Rise of Skywalker director J.J. Abrams.
The clip itself shows Rey, Finn, Poe, along with BB-8 and C-3PO boarding an Imperial vessel of some sort in space, blasting their way through two unwitting stormtroopers. The crew makes their way through the vessel before being halted by two different stormtroopers, at which point Rey performs a classic Jedi mind trick on the pair.
Resident Evil 2 Demo Now Features Resident Evil 3 Tease
With the official announcement of Resident Evil 3's remake arriving in early 2020, developer Capcom has updated the demo for Resident Evil 2 to include a small audible teaser for the upcoming game.
Last year's '1-Shot Demo' was released prior to Resident Evil 2 and gave players an opportunity to play through the opening sequence. The caveat, however, was that the demo only lasted for 30 minutes. After the in-game timer ran out, players were unable to play through the demo again. Now, the time limit has been lifted, allowing players to play through it multiple times, and also includes a reference to the upcoming Resident Evil 3 remake. Originally spotted by a user named Lady Bow on Resetera, players can now hear RE3's infamous Nemesis enemy scream, "STAAARS" outside the Raccoon City Police Department's front gates.
Friday, December 13, 2019
How Big Is the Xbox Series X (Our Best Guess)
Microsoft's next-generation game console, the officially named Xbox Series X, finally emerged from behind its neon-green curtain of secrecy at The Game Awards. It's real. It exists. It has a name! Next question: How big is this thing, really?
Microsoft is keeping quiet on its actual size, numeric dimensions, and exact measurements – instead, there has been a description of approximately one Xbox controller wide, and three Xbox controllers tall (standing upright). So based on that and the measurements of the optical drive on the front of the console, we thought we'd try and figure it out... and make one ourselves. Check it out in the video above.
13 Xbox Series X Color Schemes We Want To See
We just got our first look at Microsoft’s next generation of Xbox, the Xbox Series X! This large block shaped console was revealed to be tall enough to tower over the competition. It’s still a year away, and though we’re waiting to hear the details on all its specs, here’s a whole gallery of possible color schemes we’d like to see!
For search engine optimization purposes, here is a series of phrases: Xbox Series X, Xbox Series X colors, Xbox Series X Launch Colors, Can I Put Stickers On My Xbox Series X, Will People Make Fun of Me If I Buy A Purple Xbox Series X, Should I Paint My Xbox Series X With Cheap Paints I Bought At Dollar General, Do My Parents Love Me, and How Do I Get Free V-Bucks On My iPhone. Thank you!
The Wolf Among Us 2: Telltale Games' Revival Explained
Update 12/13: The Wolf Among Us 2 has been announced at The Game Awards for the second time. The sequel to the Fables-based adventure game was originally announced in 2017, but the unfortunate closure of Telltale Games meant that the game never came to be. The story doesn't end there, though; Telltale Games has been revived, and The Wolf Among Us 2 is back in development, with some of the original developers and voice cast returning, too.
But what happened to Telltale Games, and why is the studio back? Is it even the same studio? Our full explainer below will tell you everything you need to know.
Telltale Games is alive (in some form) again following a buyout by a Malibu, California-based company called LCG Entertainment. But news of Telltale’s revival isn’t as clear-cut as headlines would suggest, especially considering Telltale’s complicated history leading to its closure in 2018.
P.T. Camera Hack Shows You Play As Norman Reedus
A prominent member of the P.T community has unveiled that the player character in the cult horror game is actually Norman Reedus.
Renowned Soulsborne and P.T. hacker Lance McDonald tweeted a short video showing the result of his latest camera hack in Hideo Kojima’s short horror game P.T., which clearly shows the playable character in P.T.. Turns out you were Norman Reedus the whole time.
The video shows the reflection of the playable character in a mirror inside the game environment. You can quite clearly see that it’s the Walking Dead actor and star of Kojima’s latest game Death Stranding.
Nine to Five Is a New Tactical FPS From Ex-Remedy and Wargaming Devs
Game-development veterans from studios like Wargaming (makers of World of Warships and more) and Remedy (whose most recent game, Control, just won IGN's 2019 Game of the Year award) have formed a new studio called Redhill Games. At The Game Awards, Red Hill announced its debut title Nine to Five, a new team-based tactical FPS.
“A lot of modern shooters are often too chaotic and random to really let you enjoy them," said Redhill CEO Matia Myllyrinne. "With Nine to Five, we’re challenging players with creative new mechanics to bring back that classic feeling of playing with friends, finding your role, and working together to outplay the competition."
Thursday, December 12, 2019
Every New Game Announcement at The Game Awards 2019
The Game Awards 2019 celebrated the last year in gaming with plenty of major awards handed out, while also giving us a glimpse at the future of games to come.
The awards show included more than a dozen new looks, game reveals, and more. So, without further belaboring the point, let’s dive into everything showcased during The Game Awards.
Xbox Series X and Hellblade 2
OK, yes, it’s not a game announcement, but after a Phil Spencer tease earlier this week, Microsoft unveiled the official name of Project Scarlett — Xbox Series X.
Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3 Announces X-Men Rise of the Phoenix DLC
Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order revealed a new DLC at The Game Awards Thursday night called X-Men: Rise of the Phoenix.
The DLC includes the characters: Iceman, Cable, Gambit, and Phoenix and will arrive on December 23, 2019.
A new mode has also been revealed, The Danger Room Showdown, which is a versus mode where players can compete against one another.
X-Men: Rise of the Phoenix is the second DLC for Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order, with the first DLC being Curse of the Vampire. A third DLC will release in Spring of 2020 called Shadow of Doom, featuring Fantastic Four.
For more on The Game Awards, watch our live coverage right here on IGN.
The Game Awards 2019: All the Winners
From Control to Death Standing to Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, here are all the winners of each every category of The Game Awards 2019.
We will be updating this article throughout the night, so keep coming back to see all the winners!
Game of the Year
- Control (Remedy/505 Games)
- Death Stranding (Kojima Productions/SIE)
- Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (Bandai-Namco/Sora/Nintendo)
- Resident Evil 2 (Capcom/Capcom)
- Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice (From Software/Activision)
- The Outer Worlds (Obsidian/Private Division)
Best Game Direction
Strange Looking Baby Yoda Now in The Sims 4
The Baby Yoda craze is showing no signs of stopping heading into the new year, as "The Child" is now a decorative item available for purchase in The Sims 4.
The Baby Yoda item is officially dubbed "The Child Statue" and will cost 504 simoleons. Discovered by Polygon, as far as anyone can tell, the Baby Yoda statue doesn't do anything aside from just sitting idle
The official item description confirms that it is, in fact, the Baby Yoda that appears in The Mandalorian, reading, "The statue is a lovable replica inspired by Disney+ live-action series The Mandalorian."
Fortnite Gets Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker Skins, Cosmetics
Fortnite is going full Star Wars this weekend. Epic announced that players can not only see an exclusive clip from Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker in-game, but there will be Star Wars skins available on the store. Plus, anyone who attends the in-game screening this weekend will receive an exclusive Glider.
Epic Games already announced that this Saturday, December 14 at 11 am PT/2 pm ET, players can log into Fortnite and head to Risky Reels to see never-before-seen Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker footage.
Furthermore, anybody who attends the “screening” will receive a free TIE Whisper Glider. The Whisper is a modified TIE fighter that Rey can be seen jumping over in the first trailer for The Rise of Skywalker.
Fortnite Adds Split-Screen Play on Xbox One and PlayStation 4
Half-Life: Alyx On PlayStation VR? Valve Has 'Not Ruled Anything Out'
Valve was recently asked if Half-Life: Alyx could ever come to PlayStation VR and its response wasn’t an outright no.
PushSquare reached out to Valve designer Greg Coomer to ask if Half-Life: Alyx could come to PlayStation VR one day. Coomer got back to say that the “initial” release would be “available for SteamVR only.” That much we already know.
However, Coomer then that he has to give that answer "because we’re very focused on the initial release" right now. He then finished up by saying that Valve has "not ruled anything out" when it comes to bringing Half-Life: Alyx to other platforms.
Half-Life: Alyx Won't Have Any Multiplayer Modes
Valve has shared some of its plans for Half-Life: Alyx, including confirmation that it won’t have any multiplayer modes, how the studio has designed for accessibility, and why you’ll be bad at the game at first.
Talking to The Verge, Valve programmer Robin Walker chatted about the upcoming VR shooter and revealed a few intriguing bits of information. Walker confirmed that Valve is “not planning on supporting any multiplayer modes at this point.” That makes Half-Life: Alyx the first game in the series to not have an accompanying multiplayer offering, as the first two Half-Life games have online death match modes.
Wednesday, December 11, 2019
Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Remastered Edition Delayed to Summer 2020
Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Remastered Edition has been delayed to Summer 2020, according to the official Final Fantasy Twitter account.
The announcement said the game was delayed to "allow the development team some extra time to make final adjustments to the game to make this the best experience possible."
The Crystal Chronicles remaster was originally revealed in September 2018 and was scheduled to release in 2019. Then, earlier this year, Square Enix announced that the game would launch on January 23, 2020.
How Was PlayStation's Final 2019 State of Play?
On this week's episode of IGN's weekly PlayStation show, Podcast Beyond, host Jonathon Dornbush is joined by Brian Altano, Max Scoville, and Ryan McCaffrey to discuss the final PlayStation State of Play of 2019.
The crew tackles the big announcements like Resident Evil 3, Predator: Hunting Grounds' release date, Ghost of Tsushima's teaser for a Game Awards trailer, and more. Plus the cast also discusses MLB: The Show's multiplatform future, Max's hands-on time with Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot, and much more.
Marvel's Avengers: How a Prequel Comic Sets Up the Video Game
While the release of the Square Enix video game Marvel's Avengers is still months away, fans are being given an early glimpse into this world thanks to a new series of comics. The first of these, Marvel's Avengers: Iron Man #1, directly sets the stage for the game's story mode.
Read on to find out how the comic sets up the game, but beware of spoilers for Marvel's Avengers: Iron Man #1.
Doom Eternal: Here's What Comes in Each Edition
Doom Eternal is set to launch for PS4, Xbox One, and PC on March 20, and at some unannounced later date for Nintendo Switch. A sequel to Doom (2016), Doom Eternal will equip the Doom Slayer with new demon-killing weapons and abilities, including a meat hook that lets you fling yourself through the environment. You'll also get access to a shoulder-mounted cannon, flame thrower, and retractible blade. If you're ready to preorder Doom Eternal, you might want to know what's in it for you. We have all the info you need below.
Preorder Doom Eternal Standard Edition
How to Increase Pokemon Friendship in Sword and Shield
Battle Royale Comes to Forza Horizon 4 in ‘The Eliminator’
Playground Games has brought battle royale inspired racing to Forza Horizon 4 with ‘The Eliminator’, a new mode available for free on December 12 as part of the Series 17 update. The mode will be available to all players on Xbox One, Windows 10 PC, and Xbox Game Pass.
The Eliminator pits up to 72 players against one another on Forza Horizon 4’s main map. All participants begin The Eliminator in a classic 1965 Mini Cooper – a level 1 car within The Eliminator’s ranking system – but can upgrade to faster cars via random air drops around the map (marked by coloured smoke) or by beating opponents in head-to-head races.
Head-to-head races are initiated by a horn blast when close enough to a rival. When a challenge is triggered a finish line will be randomly dropped some distance away; first there gets to remain in the contest and the loser is knocked out. Head-to-head winners can either upgrade to a random new higher-level car, or steal the loser’s car (doing the latter only seemed useful when claiming the scalp of an opponent in a vehicle two-or-more levels above).
All 2020 Video Game Release Dates We Know of
2020 is shaping up to be one of the biggest years in video game history, with heavy hitters on the way like Cyberpunk 2077, Final Fantasy VII Remake, The Last of Us Part II, Marvel’s Avengers, and more. As the final year in the current generation of consoles comes to a close, it’s worth noting we haven’t seen such a stacked lineup since 2013 - the previous generation’s final year.
Click through the gallery below to explore every game confirmed for release in 2020 that we know of, or scroll down to see the entire list.
Resident Evil 2 Gets an RE3 Tease in New Update With a Letter From Jill Valentine
Resident Evil 2 remake will be getting an update that further ties the game to the recently announced Resident Evil 3 remake. And it’ll be in the form of a letter from none other than Jill Valentine.
A week ago, internet sleuths discovered a mysterious new Steam Achievement for Resident Evil 2 remake. Now, after Capcom officially announced Resident Evil 3 remake, that achievement has been revealed and it’s tied directly to the newly announced Capcom remake.
Titled “Chasing Jill,” the Steam Achievement says that players will need to “Read a letter left behind by Jill” to earn the achievement. Resident Evil 2 hasn’t been updated yet, so this letter isn’t in the game at the moment.
The Game Awards Partners With Devs to Release Demos on Steam This Weekend
The Game Awards is partnering with game developers to present The Game Festival, a 48-hour event that will allow gamers around the world to try out more than a dozen first-look game demos on Steam like System Shock, SkateBird, Carrion, and Spiritfarer.
The Game Festival is a "first-of-its-kind digital consumer event" that is launching its digital pilot program in 2019 and will run from Thursday, December 12 at 10am PT/1pm ET/6pm GMT to Saturday, December 14 at 10am PT/1pm ET/6pm GMT. Following the end of The Game Festivals, the demos will be removed from Steam.
The list of announced free game demos is as follows;
- System Shock (Nightdive Studios)