With Xbox RPG Avowed Waiting in the Wings, Obsidian Has Updated Pillars of Eternity

Obsidian has surprised its fans by releasing an update for the near nine-year-old role-playing game Pillars of Eternity.

The update, spotted by GamesRadar, does not add new content to the game, but makes a number of important bug fixes.

Obsidian released the isometric RPG in March 2015 as a spiritual successor to the Baldur’s Gate and Icewind Dale series. The developer raised over $4 million on Kickstarter to build Pillars of Eternity two years before. IGN’s Pillars of Eternity review returned a 9/10. “Obsidian (and its Kickstarter backers) have done it: Pillars of Eternity is one of the best RPGs since Baldur's Gate,” we said.

Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire followed in 2018, but low sales appeared to have dampened prospects for a third game in the series. Why, then, would Obsidian return to Pillars of Eternity now, while it's busy with the upcoming Xbox RPG Avowed, The Outer Worlds 2, and the ongoing Grounded?

Perhaps Obsidian is seeing renewed interest in Pillars of Eternity following the release of Baldur's Gate 3, which appears to have sparked something of a revival of the cRPG genre as well as boosted Dungeons & Dragons.

It seems unlikely Pillars of Eternity 3 is in the works, of course. Last year, Obsidian's studio design director Josh Sawyer said he would make Pillars of Eternity 3 but only if the game had the kind of monster budget the phenomenally successful Dungeons & Dragons RPG Baldur’s Gate 3 enjoyed: "I think if it truly was an unlimited budget, I think I would try Pillars 3 because I know what the budget was for [Pillars of Eternity 2: Deadfire], which was not a whole lot and I have heard from multiple people what the budget was for Baldur’s Gate 3, and I’m not gonna talk about numbers, but if I got that budget, sure, I’ll make Pillars 3."

In a rather innocuous post on the Obsidian forum, the developer signalled the surprise update’s release on the game’s Steambeta branch.

“Greetings Watchers!” Obsidian said. “It has been a long time since we spoke, but I come bearing good news. We have just released a new patch for Pillars of Eternity on the beta branch for Steam. Please let us know if you run into any issues during your time with this updated version of the game.”

As you’d expect, the post was met with a mix of disbelief and excitement from Obsidian’s fans, some of which are daring to dream about a third game. Based on a subsequent post from an Obsidian developer, it seems staff are up for further fixes, too, and called for a wishlist of sorts from players.

And that’s that. Obsidian is updating Pillars of Eternity again, which is an odd thing to say in 2024. What’s next? Perhaps it’ll release a patch for Fallout: New Vegas. Everything’s owned by Microsoft, after all.

Here are the Pillars of Eternity update 3.4.1340 patch notes in full:
General:

• We have updated to Unity Version 2019.4.11.

Navigation:

• Fixed areas that could not be navigated in numerous scenes.
• The lake in Cayron's Scar should no longer be unintentionally traversable when submerged.

Visual and Audio:

• Fixed multiple cases where characters might T-Pose briefly at the beginning of a cutscene.
• Fixed an issue where paperdolls in character creation and inventory screens might appear blurry.
• Overwhelming Wave should more reliably play its visual effects.
• Fixed VFX issues with the Woodskin spell rotating or attaching incorrectly.
• Symbols western chamber of Lle a Rhemen should now properly light up when expected.
• Fixed redundant horn audio playing after the battle of Yenwood.
• Fixed an issue where attempting to open locked containers could play multiple voice lines at once.
• Fixed a handful of cases where dialogue audio wouldn’t play when certain nodes were re-triggered.

Quests and Dialogue:

• Ready the Cannons side quest should now properly update its objectives.
• Dialogue from Buried Secrets quest should no longer allow the player to demand their payment more than once.
• Fixed an issue where multiple barked lines in Gilded Vale could overlap excessively.
• Fixed an issue where Eder’s bark lines in the Temple of Eothas may end abruptly.
• Fixed a case where Calisca could trigger the wrong bark line near the camp inside Cilant Lîs.

Combat and Mechanics:

• Earth Blights should no longer sometimes detach from their selection circles when dominated.
• Scroll of Ray of Fire should now appear correctly and more accurately match the behavior of the Ray of Fire spell.
• Fixed a case where manually resolving stronghold combat could sometimes yield no rewards.
• Fixed a case where prone characters might try to move while prone, resulting in sliding behavior.
• Concelhaut’s Draining Missiles should no longer occasionally show 0.0 damage in the combat log.
• Weapon Specialization: Peasant should now reliably add its damage to unarmed attacks.
• Fixed some cases where the Halt spell might confuse enemy AI, causing them to repeatedly interrupt and re-attempt their own actions.
• Removed errant untargetable Xaurip that could sometimes appear in Dyrford Crossing.
• Fixed a case where Sleafhota might teleport to an alternate location mid-dialogue before attacking the player.
• Attacking Osrya directly will now reliably engage with her revenant and skeleton minions.
• Fixed a case where all survival camping bonuses might appear after spending only a single skill rank on Survival.

User Interface and Interaction:

• Fixed a UI issue where chants could sometimes clip beyond their scrolling frame.
• Fixed a case where the damage type icon on the character sheet might not position correctly.
• Fixed some cases where assigning companions to multiple stronghold missions at once might cause UI issues.
• Quick loading with the crafting or enchanting UI open should no longer result in a permanent black screen.
• Fixed a typo in the description of Animal Companions.
• Fixed an issue where highlighting certain parts of a defeated enemy would not allow you to loot them.
• Doors in some scenes that were difficult to interact with have had their collision revised and should now be more reliable.
• Fixed a case where the final pressure plate in the Temple of Woedica would not appear.
• Examining the wall trophy inside of Elm’s Reach should now be possible.
• Skipping intros when first starting the client should now be more responsive.

Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.

Larian Kicks Off 2024 With a Beefy Baldur’s Gate 3 Hotfix That Makes Quest Items Easier to Access

Larian Studios has kicked off 2024 with a beefy Baldur’s Gate 3 hotfix that tackles multiple bugs and blockers, and makes accessing trinkets much easier.

“Have your party members been hoarding trinkets?” Larian wrote with typical flair in the Baldur’s Gate 3 patch notes published on Steam.

“Did you accidentally send Minthara’s lute to your camp supplies, thinking nobody could possibly need a lute in this day and age? In this hotfix, you will now be able to access certain quest-related items on the spot - even if they’re not held by your current party! How’s that for magic pockets?”

Elsewhere, the hotfix added categories to the Waypoints list, grouping Waypoints by location. Also of note is yet another fix for a kiss: “Fixed Gale's dialogue ending abruptly when asking him for a kiss,” Larian said. “Enjoy the moment.”

Meanwhile, Larian told Mac players of the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game that it’s “restructuring” to make sure future updates on Mac arrive alongside their PC versions. “It'll take a bit of time but once finished, there shouldn't be delays anymore,” Larian said. Until then, Larian expects a delay for updates of a maximum of two weeks. “We're sorry for the inconvenience and understand this is frustrating,” Larian said. “Thank you for your patience.”

Here are the Baldur’s Gate 3 Hotfix #16 patch notes in full:

HIGHLIGHTS

• The cross-save functionality will no longer sync modded saves, as they cannot be accessed by console players.
• Added categories to the Waypoints list, grouping Waypoints by location.
• You will now be able to access certain quest-related items on the spot, even if they are currently in the camp chest or in the inventory of a companion who is waiting at camp.
• Added a couple of Potions of Animal Speaking to the Epilogue.
• Karlach will now get her scene in Avernus regardless of whether she's an avatar or a companion.
• Wyll will now follow Karlach to Avernus correctly.
• Fixed the Hide Helmet option resetting for companions after saving and loading.
• Cazador now has 3 variations of his Legendary Action depending on how many Ritual charges he has. The more charges he has, the more dangerous his Vampiric Swarm is.
• Fixed several issues with low resolution textures appearing after extended playtimes.
• Fixed a visual bug where certain doors would reappear briefly when destroyed.
• Fixed Gale's dialogue ending abruptly when asking him for a kiss. Enjoy the moment.

CRASHES AND BLOCKERS

• Fixed a potential crash related to quickloading.
• Fixed a crash that would occur when unloading and then loading a region.
• Fixed a crash when changing VSync settings.
• Fixed a crash when destroying the spiderweb under the Spider Matriarch.
• Fixed the potential cause of not being able to save the game (Error 701, crashing the game).
• Fixed a crash that could happen when showing a pop-up message after lockpicking an item.
• Fixed an issue that was causing the grenade launchers during Gortash's fight to bypass Turn-Based Mode and deploy grenades in real-time, which could result in a crash. We call that cheating.
• Fixed a crash that would occur when removing condition-based auras from modded savegames.
• Fixed a possible crash when getting the available party gold during a trade.
• Fixed some issues that could prevent savegames made under rare conditions from loading up.

COMBAT AND BALANCE

• The Spectral Form passive is no longer hidden.
• Fixed Balthazar's Spectral Form not triggering when Balthazar succeeded in a Saving Throw but still got damaged.
• Fixed Auntie Ethel not using Weird Magic Surge when struck by Repelling Blast in Honour Mode.
• Fixed the scrying eyes' damage mitigation mechanic in Tactician Mode not working the first time they are damaged.
• In Tactician difficulty, Cazador now transforms into a unique mist form that threatens his foes with a necrotic aura.
• Ability Drain will not be able to reduce a target's ability below 1.
• Improved the way Legendary Resistance works, now only triggering when it is actually useful.

GAMEPLAY

• Fixed Astarion not being available through the companion menu at camp if you sent him directly to camp during the recruitment dialogue.
• In Honour Mode, the Eggbearer condition is now also applied when the mummy owlbear is dead but the daddy owlbear is alive.
• Fixed an issue in Honour Mode where the damage from Smite spells wouldn't trigger items that activate when damaged.
• You can no longer trade with Grukkoh the bugbear via the dialogue button before you've, uh, caught his attention.
• Using a weapon that uses your Spellcasting Ability Modifier instead of the normal Ability Modifier will now choose the Spellcasting Ability with the highest value.
• Fixed Group Hide not working properly when a party character is Downed.
• Myrmidons' weapons cannot be looted from their bodies after Long Rest anymore.
• Fixed the Elemental Weapon, Magic Weapon, Heat Metal, and Daylight conditions persisting on the weapon after a Long Rest.
• Fixed an issue that would affect some players controlling more than one avatar, which caused several naked characters to appear over them after the first Dream Visitor dream.
• Fixed an issue where reconnecting to a multiplayer session would assign a player an avatar in Withers' Wardrobe without taking said avatar out of the wardrobe. They don't open from the inside!
• Stealing a couple hundred items in one go no longer results in the game becoming unresponsive for quite some time afterwards while it deals with your kleptomaniac overindulgence. It may still freeze for a short period while processing the inventory transfer, though.
• NPCs on the floor below you, can no longer 'see' you looting corpses up there.
• When handing back stackable stolen items (such as healing potions), you will no longer lose all of them, but only the number you stole.

FLOW AND SCRIPTING

• Fixed an issue preventing some players from advancing into Act III, looping them back to Act II.
• Barcus Wroot should now show up correctly at Last Light Inn if you have saved him from his previous predicaments.
• Fixed avatar Karlach being able to initiate the first romance scene with Lae'zel after proving her worth to Lae'zel, which should not be possible for her due to her engine still not being upgraded.
• Tweaked the trigger conditions for Lae'zel's initial romance dialogue after proving your worth to her so that it only triggers if the player controlling her has a single avatar. This is to avoid accidentally triggering the dialogue with an unintended avatar in case you have multiple.
• Fixed some wrong character behaviours likely introduced in Patch 4.
• Fixed an issue preventing some dialogue options with Alfira and Nadira from showing up.
• Fixed Auntie Ethel prematurely teleporting to Act III if you pick up her corpse in Act I.
• Gale is now less likely to lie to you about wanting to return the Crown of Karsus when making his decision in the endgame.
• Raphael will no longer make a surprise appearance during the Epilogue if you made a deal with him and then decided to kill him.
• Wyll will now appear during the initial Epilogue scene if he's the Blade of Avernus and does not have a partner.
• Fixed a couple of issues with Mizora's dialogue getting stuck.
• Fixed a blocker in the House of Hope in which Raphael wouldn't appear if he was Silenced in Sharess' Caress.
• Fixed a blocker where you were able to banish Hope while she's chained, preventing you from saving her.
• The avatar dismissal dialogue will now be closed if the user rejoins the session while it is still active.
• Duke Ravengard will now correctly hold the bars of his cell door while imprisoned in the Iron Throne instead of staying idle, seemingly unbothered by everything going on.
• Characters that are attacked while disappearing out of sight will now resume their disappearing after combat ends. Back to the shadows with you.

PERFORMANCE AND OPTIMISATION

• Fixed an issue where switching between party members would cause performance to drop.
• Fixed a texture issue in Character Creation at Low and Medium settings.

UI

• The proficiency bonuses on Explorer difficulty are now correctly accounted for in Character Creation.
• Fixed an issue causing the Level Up screen to display the incorrect HP gain when increasing Constitution.
• Fixed some instances where incorrect items would be selected when dragging them in the Trade menu.
• Fixed an issue that prevented respeccing into a Draconic Bloodline Sorcerer if you chose a spell that was already available from the Draconic Bloodline.
• The values in the Skill tooltips on the Level Up screen will now update when you add Expertise.
• Fixed the 'Can't control' warning not disappearing under certain circumstances.
• Fixed an issue that briefly prevented you from interacting with an item in the inventory if it had been unequipped or equipped previously with the X button.
• When a tutorial pop-up refers to an option in the shortcuts radial menu on controller, the option will now be highlighted.
• Fixed '(Empty)' sometimes briefly appearing next to an item's name when highlighting it on Xbox.
• Added descriptions for the different difficulty levels in the Additional Combat Mechanics options on Custom Mode.
• Fixed a caching issue in the radial menus. This could, for instance, cause some Disguise Self options to not appear after cancelling and returning to the spell.
• The lovely dark veins you get on your face when you become part-illithid now show up correctly in the Magic Mirror.
• Fixed surface names sometimes appearing above characters on controller.
• Increased the opacity of certain text boxes in the Reactions UI on controller to improve visibility.
• Fixed a blocker where UI pop-ups wouldn't close if the window behind them was closed first. This could happen, for example, when a cinematic dialogue triggered and closed the map while you were still naming a custom marker.
• Fixed the loading screen not showing an image when joining a multiplayer session.
• Fixed the damage type in the Crushing Fist spell tooltip.
• The Legendary Resistance: Incapacitation tooltip now mentions that it can only be used 3 times.
• Made sure the grid shown in inventories is correctly drawn if the grid becomes smaller.
• Removed a low resolution version of one of the loading screen images.
• Fixed an issue that caused some Video Settings like VSync and Refresh Rate to reset back upon starting the game.
• Removed the option to confirm or reset options in the Alter Custom Mode menu for players who are not the host of a session.
• Total party gold is no longer seen in barter mode.
• Fixed an issue with the radial menus on controller causing the same items to get re-added to the same submenu and the Action radial menu to sometimes appear empty.

LEVEL DESIGN

• Removed some world labels that were showing up for a pair of dice in Withers' chapel in the Epilogue camp that made it look like they could be picked up. Also swapped out a cutting board.

ART

• Optimised the appearance of platforms with chains in Grymforge.
• Fixed some minor visual issues with weapons.
• Fixed impact VFX/SFX not working for some projectiles.

ANIMATION

• Fixed a zombie that would T-pose when dragged from your inventory.
• Fixed some destruction animations that weren't working properly.

SOUND

• Fixed the wrong ambience sounds playing in the Last Light region and Wyrm's Rock Fortress.

WRITING

• Wyll is now appropriately celebratory upon the Netherbrain's defeat.
• Added text to the tooltip for Cazador's Misty Escape ability on Tactician Mode.
• Fixed Gerringothe Thorm's Sublimation ability tooltip incorrectly stating that it should kill the target instantly.
• Wyll now has a line during the ending scene when realising the tadpoles are gone.
• Added an extra dialogue option when talking to Shadowheart in the Epilogue to fix a path that only gave you one choice.
• Fixed the Wrathful Spirits condition saying the affected entity is Immune to all damage instead of Vulnerable to all damage.

Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.

Where To Buy The PlayStation Portal in the UK (Updated)

While the winds of Christmas and New Year are behind us, there's another name on the lips of PlayStation fans in 2024: PlayStation Portal. While the initial reaction to the 'play PS5 on your sofa' device was mild, stock levels have proved extremely limited, and now everyone wants one. We gave the device an 8/10 in our review, stating that it's a great second screen for your PS5, but lack of Bluetooth and an internet browser limit its use outside the house.

For now, we're all on the hunt for one of these tidy devices, as the allure of fighting over the TV during the holidays quickly becomes a reality. You're in the right place, as we've got all the details on where and when you can buy the PS Portal for the foreseeable future in the UK. For stock news in the US, check out our other relevant PS Portal buyer's guide.

PlayStation Portal: When Will It Be Back in Stock?

PlayStation Portal is currently out of stock. There have been little to no new stock updates on the PS Portal in 2024, so we are still awaiting a massive new restock across all retailers again. We're anticipating there will be one soon, so for instant updates on PS Portal stock, ensure you are following @IGNUKDeals on Twitter/X, or join our dedicated IGN Deals Discord server here where a friendly IGN writer will be happy to answer any queries. Stay tuned for more updates across other retailers who may be restocking this year and beyond.

Where to Buy PS Portal in the UK

• See at Amazon
• See at Argos
• See at PS Direct
• See at Very
• See at Smyths
• See at GAME

What is the PS Portal? - Cost, Release Date, and More

PlayStation Portal launched on November 15 in the UK and costs £199.99 RRP. Unlike other handheld consoles like the Nintendo Switch, the PS Portal is a purely a second screen for your PS5. If the TV is being used, or you just want to play on the sofa or in bed, this is the perfect compansion piece for your shiny console -- especially those who have just invested in the PS5 over Black Friday deals.

PlayStation Black Friday Deals

Xbox and Nintendo fans, don't feel disheartened if they're getting a little bit of special treatment right now -- the deals are pretty amazing. For starters we've got the PS5 for £360, or the PS5 bundles including two free games for £400; unbelievable jeff.

There's also a PS5 2TB SSD for less than £100 to maximise that storage, and a DualSense controller for just £39.99. PS Plus is also up to 30% off right now for new and current members, but you can save even more with a ShopTo gift card deal. For example, new members can get 12-months of PS Plus for £83.99 (down from £99.99), but the ShopTo £84 gift card costs just £74.85 so you're securing a total saving of £25.14.

See More PS5 Deals

Robert Anderson is a deals expert and Commerce Editor for IGN. You can follow him @robertliam21 on Twitter.

AMD Announces 1440p-Ready 7600 XT Desktop GPU

At CES 2024, AMD had several announcements under its sleeve, including a new desktop GPU in its Radeon RX 7000 series.

AMD's Radeon RX 7600 XT will be available on January 24 at an affordable price of $329. The RX 7600 XT costs $60 more than its non-XT variant. Nevertheless, AMD promises that this GPU is "ready to take on 1440p gaming," which is an enticing tagline if you recall; the RX 7600 was designed for high refresh rate 1080p gaming with subpar 1440p offerings.

The RX 7600 XT features 16GB of memory, with power consumption increased to 190W (165W on the RX 7600). But it has the same compute unit (32), AI accelerators (64), memory speed (18Gbps), and stream processors (2,048) as the original RX 7600 graphics card.

Regarding where this GPU lines up on the totem pole, AMD internally tested the RX 7600 XT with a few different GPUs, including the original RX 7600. Yet the most interesting graph it shared, as you can see above, is that the GPU is also looking to compete with Nvidia's GeForce RTX 4060 desktop graphics card. Of course, those are AMD's internal testing results and should be taken with a grain of salt.

AMD's CES news comes right before Nvidia's keynote, where the company is rumored to announce the GeForce RTX 4000 Super series of desktop graphics cards.

Taylor is a Reporter at IGN. You can follow her on Twitter @TayNixster.

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown - Here's What Comes in Each Edition

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is set to release for PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC on January 18, 2024. A new side-scrolling entry in the long-running series, The Lost Crown is a stylish, fast-paced Metroidvania-style game. It’s available for preorder now in a couple of editions (see it on Amazon). Below, you’ll find details about what comes in each edition, what the game is, and more. Let’s get to it.

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown

Nintendo Switch

• Get it at Amazon - $49.99
• Get it at Best Buy - $49.99
• Get it at GameStop - $49.99
• Get it at Target - $49.99
• Get it at Walmart - $49.99
• See it at Nintendo eShop - (not yet available)

PS5

• Get it at Amazon - $49.99
• Get it at Best Buy - $49.99
• Get it at GameStop - $49.99
• Get it at Target - $49.99
• Get it at Walmart - $49.99
• Get it at PS Store (digital) - $49.99

PS4

• Get it at Amazon - $49.99
• Get it at Best Buy - $49.99
• Get it at GameStop - $49.99
• Get it at Target - $49.99
• Get it at Walmart - $49.99
• Get it at PS Store (digital) - $49.99

Xbox

• Get it at Amazon - $49.99
• Get it at Best Buy - $49.99
• Get it at GameStop - $49.99
• Get it at Target - $49.99
• Get it at Walmart - $49.99
• Get it at Xbox Store (digital) - $49.99

PC

• Get it at Epic Games Store - $49.99
• Get it at Ubisoft Store - $49.99

The standard edition comes with the game itself, plus the preorder bonus (details below).

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown Digital Deluxe Edition

• Get it for PS5 - $59.99
• Get it for Xbox - $59.99
• Get it for PC - EGS | Ubisoft - $59.99
• Get it for Switch - (not yet available)

The deluxe edition comes with the game itself, plus the following extras:

• 3 Day Early Access (with pre-order)
• Immortal character outfit
• Prosperity Bird amulet
• Deluxe Pack
• Digital adventure guide

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown Preorder Bonus

Preorder the game from any retailer, and you’ll get the Warrior Within outfit, as seen in the 2004 video game.

What is Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown?

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is the latest entry in a series that dates all the way back to 1989. This installment was made by Ubisoft Montpellier, which also made the delightful side-scrollers Rayman Origins and Rayman Legends. The Lost Crown is a Metroidvania-style game, so you’ll discover items and abilities that let you unlock new pathways through the environments of Mount Qaf.

It has you slicing through enemies, manipulating time, platforming to avoid pits and spikes, solving puzzles, completing quests, and seeking out treasure. Ubisoft also says the game will run at 60 frames per second on all platforms, which is pretty neat. Check out our Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown hands-on preview for more information.

Other Preorder Guides

Chris Reed is a commerce editor and deals expert for IGN. He also runs IGN's board game and LEGO coverage. You can follow him on Twitter @_chrislreed or on Mastodon @chrislreed.

Larian Boss Swen Vincke Reckons He’s Figured Out Act 1 of His Post-Baldur’s Gate 3 Game

Larian Studios' next game is sure to be one of the most anticipated ever following the breakout hit of Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game Baldur’s Gate 3. What that game is remains to be seen, but Larian boss Swen Vincke has indicated he’s already worked out its Act 1 narrative.

In a series of tweets, Vincke said that after four months of writing work, he’d “finally figured out what Act 1 on this thing I've been working on needs to be.” “Quote me when it's revealed to see how much of today's draft survives,” he added. “I suspect a lot.”

There’s not a lot to go on here, of course. And, indeed, it may not go anywhere. But given Vincke mentions Act 1, we can assume what’s next will probably be an RPG in the Larian style, which are games broken up into three distinct acts. I suppose it could always be a three-act dating sim. I mean, that’s basically what Baldur’s Gate 3 is, right?

Vincke went on to say he has yet to share Act 1 with anyone, so he may end up scrapping the lot if no-one likes it. “But I think I really like this one,” he said.

Then, a few inevitable qualifiers: “Also, it's not what you think and this is not a teaser for an announcement. Just am genuinely excited about where this is going and wanted to share some of my excitement. It'll be quite some time before we talk about this.”

This isn’t the first time Vincke has teased Larian’s next game. In November 2023, Vincke spoke in vague terms about the studio’s next project. “I wish I could tell you about our next big game but this is really encouraging us to ensure it pushes many boundaries,” Vincke teased in response to Baldur’s Gate 3’s many The Game Awards nominations. “I’m very excited about it.”

In July 2023, ahead of Baldur’s Gate 3’s explosive launch, Vincke told IGN a sequel to Larian’s own Divinity: Original Sin series is on the cards too, although fans shouldn’t hold their breath.

“It's our own universe we built, so we're definitely gonna get back there at some point,” Vincke said. “We will get back there at some point. We'll first finish [Baldur's Gate 3], and then take a break, because we will need to refresh ourselves creatively also. You’re seeing 400 developers putting their heart and souls into this. You’re getting the best of them and their craft into this game. And so I can tell you, it's quite a thing.”

If Divinity isn’t next, perhaps a brand new game set in a completely different universe? Larian has created fantasy RPGs for some time now. Could it branch out into science fiction? Or a modern day setting? Or maybe even try a new genre?

Meanwhile, Larian has yet to announce any Baldur's Gate 3 expansions or DLCs. Given how well the game has done, you'd expect something expanding upon its world and characters would do well indeed.

For now, Baldur’s Gate 3 remains one of the hottest games in the world, and is still among the most-played games on Steam. In IGN’s review of Baldur's Gate 3, which returned a 10/10, we said: "With crunchy, tactical RPG combat, a memorable story with complex characters, highly polished cinematic presentation, and a world that always rewards exploration and creativity, Baldur's Gate 3 is the new high-water mark for CRPGs."

For more, check out IGN’s comprehensive Baldur’s Gate 3 walkthrough.

Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.

Xbox Exclusive Hi-Fi Rush Rumored for Nintendo Switch

Xbox hit Hi-Fi Rush is heavily rumored to be set for rival console the Nintendo Switch in 2024, sparking a vociferous debate about Microsoft’s exclusives strategy.

Insider “Nate the Hate”, who has a good track record when it comes to video game announcements, teased that a critically acclaimed Xbox exclusive is set to launch on a competing console platform.

Resetera user lolilolailo, who also has a good track record for video game announcements, then appeared to confirm Tango Gameworks’ Hi-Fi Rush is coming to Switch.

Windows Central then reported that Microsoft “has been exploring bringing some of its back catalog to other platforms, although some of the details remain vague and unconfirmed.” IGN has asked Microsoft for comment.

The reports have sparked a debate online about Microsoft’s Xbox exclusive strategy, with some fans bemoaning the idea of an Xbox exclusive launching on a rival console such as the Nintendo Switch or the PlayStation 5. Others have expressed excitement that a game such as Hi-Fi Rush could get a second wind and millions more players, potentially helping to build the case for a sequel.

The rumours come just two months after Xbox CFO Tim Stuart said Microsoft wants to bring first-party games to "every screen that can play games," including rival consoles.

"It's a bit of a change of strategy,” Stuart said at the Wells Fargo TMT Summit in November. “Not announcing anything broadly here, but our mission is to bring our first-party experiences [and] our subscription services to every screen that can play games. That means smart TVs, that means mobile devices, that means what we would have thought of as competitors in the past like PlayStation and Nintendo."

Stuart’s comments were reported as confirmation of Microsoft’s intention to bring Game Pass to rival consoles, but Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer subsequently denied such a plan.

Still, that leaves the door open for Microsoft to launch more of its first-party games on rival consoles. Hi-Fi Rush launched on January 25, 2023. Could it set a precedent for Xbox games to expand to other platforms a year after release?

It’s worth noting Microsoft does already publish its games on non-Xbox platforms. Minecraft is of course available on pretty much every platform going. Bethesda games The Elder Scrolls Online and Fallout 76 are both published and updated on PlayStation. Double Fine’s Psychonauts 2 came out in August 2021 for PlayStation 4, Windows, Xbox One and Xbox Series X and S.

It’s also worth noting that Microsoft has a long list of exclusive games due out this year and beyond, including the likes of Obsidian’s Avowed, Ninja Theory’s Hellblade 2, and Playground’s Fable. There’s no suggestion that these exclusives will launch on PlayStation as well as Xbox.

Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.