Gaming News

inZoi Publisher Dismisses Plummeting Steam Concurrents, Insists Sales Are a Better Indicator of Performance Because It's a Single-Player Game

inZoi publisher Krafton has addressed an ongoing debate about its plummeting Steam concurrent player count, insisting that as a single-player game sales are a better indicator of performance. The eye-catching The Sims competitor launched big on Steam with an all-time peak concurrent player count of 87,377. Krafton announced inZOI sold impressive 1 million copies in a week, the fastest sales milestone ever for a game published by the South Korean megacorp. It rose to number one on Steam’s Global Top Sellers List (by sales revenue) just 40 minutes after release, with CEO CH Kim said at the time that Krafton planned to “foster" the game as a "long-term franchise IP." However, inZoi's Steam concurrent player count has dwindled since...

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Deltarune Review

Note: this review contains some small spoilers for Deltarune's first two chapters. It was nearly seven years ago on Halloween when I woke up at the crack of dawn to download an ominous “Survey Program” from Undertale developer Toby Fox. It turned out that this program contained not just a simple survey, but the start of a grand adventure that I haven’t been able to stop thinking about since. Now, with the release of the third and fourth chapters, that adventure has truly started to take a more solid shape. Deltarune carries on the spirit of its predecessor by subverting expectations of the RPG genre in the wildest ways. It also shares the same sort of clever, heartfelt, and often absurdly hilarious writing, not to mention a truly...

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Maxroll's Wizard of Legend 2 Database and Guides

Wizard of Legend 2 is an indie Roguelike from Dead Mage, the studio behind Children of Morta, published by Humble Games. You play as a Wizard attempting the trials to become Wizard of Legend. Gather your Arcana, grab a relic, and wear your medallion of choice as you brave the challenges ahead. Getting Started in Wizard of Legend 2 To help you get started, take a look at Maxroll’s Wizard of Legend 2 beginner’s guide. The guide explains the different starting loadouts (don’t worry, you eventually unlock all the spells anyway) and you'll learn all about the game’s combat system; how to navigate the trials, use your Arcana to defeat foes and unleash powerful ultimate spells! As you make your way through the game, you'll meet a variety of...

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Splitgate 2 Director Refuses to Apologize for ‘Make FPS Great Again Hat’, Then Apologizes Anyway

Splitgate 2, 1047 Games’ “Halo with portals”, launched just last week, marked by a celebratory announcement of a battle royale mode at Summer Game Fest. But while this should have been a triumphant moment for the studio and the community, the launch has instead been marked by not one, not two, but three different controversies that have led to mixed Steam reviews, disappointed fans, and a game community divided between those who support the studio’s actions and those who have been put off from playing Splitgate 2 at all. First, at the game’s big battle royale reveal at Summer Game Fest, Proulx wore a hat that read, “Make FPS Great Again” onstage, which drew criticism for its reference to U.S. President Donald Trump’s signature “Make...

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This $11 Iniu 10,000mAh 45W Power Bank Will Charge the Nintendo Switch 2 at Its Fastest Rate

If you're looking for an affordable power bank that will fast charge your brand new Nintendo Switch 2, Steam Deck, or Apple iPhone 16, then check out today's deal. Amazon has the Iniu 10,000mAh Power Bank with up to 45W of Power Delivery over USB Type-C for only $11.25 after you redeem the 50% off coupon on the product page. Iniu power banks have solid reviews and are less expensive than equivalent Anker models. Iniu 10,000mAh 45W USB Power Bank for $11.25 This Iniu power bank holds a 10,000mAh, or 37Whr battery capacity. If you factor in 80% power efficiency, here are the approximate number of times you can fully recharge each gaming handheld: Nintendo Switch (16Whr) about 1.9 times Steam Deck (40Whr) about 0.74 times Apple iPhone...

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EVE Frontier Wants to Fully Hand the Galaxy Over to the Players

EVE Online has a decades-long reputation at this point for being a sprawling, ruthless, libertine space sandbox full of crime, war, betrayal, and player-built empires. And from its conception, EVE Frontier is really all of those things dialed up even further. Blending its space MMO heritage with elements of the survival crafting genre and employing the blockchain to – so the devs say – give even more control to players, it's certainly a thought-provoking prospect. Let me get this out of the way first: Frontier is, yes, a blockchain game. It also features a cryptocurrency token that can be bought with real money and spent on in-game purchases. (EVE Online has had the ability to buy its subscription token, PLEX, with real money and sell...

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Dune: Awakening Interactive Map is Now Available

IGN's Dune: Awakening map is here! Our interactive map tracks essential locations across Arrakis, including Main Quests and Contracts, Enemy Camps and Enemy Outposts, and Trainer locations. Dune: Awakening Interactive Map You can track your exact progress toward completion using our checklists! You can also filter exactly what you're looking for using the left-hand sidebar. The available map filters for our Dune: Awakening interactive map include: Locations, such as Caves, Enemy Camps and Outposts, Shipwrecks, and Trading Posts. NPCs, including Trainers, House Representatives, and Vendors. Collectibles, such as Intel and Codex Entries. Quests, including Main Quests and Contracts. Other noteable map markers, like Chests. Dune...

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Grounded 2 Exists Because Obsidian Was ‘Running Out of Room’ in Grounded 1

In the upcoming Obsidian game Grounded 2, a game about a group of teenagers being shrunk down to bug size in a giant park, one of the premier features that’s new in the sequel is the ability to mount a bug like a horsey and ride it around. It’s a feature request the community has been making for a long time, and one that Obsidian has been very keen to honor. And it’s also one of the main reasons that Obsidian is making Grounded 2 in the first place. Put simply, Grounded 1 couldn’t handle mountable bugs…or really much in the way of new content at all by the time it was finished. Obsidian wanted to make its game about becoming very small…bigger. Much bigger. And a move to Unreal Engine 5 helped make it possible, he says. “There's a...

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Grounded 2 First Hands-on Preview: Bigger Than Before

In a delightful surprise for Grounded fans, Obsidian took to the stage at the Xbox Games Showcase last weekend to reveal an unexpected sequel simply dubbed Grounded 2. Obsidian has shared that Grounded 2 will take cues from its predecessor by similarly launching into early access and growing over time with the support and feedback of the community. That early access launch is soon, too; next month, to be exact. I got a chance to play a little bit of what players will be shrinking into next month at the Xbox Games Showcase in Los Angeles over the weekend. And my overall impression, which I say as a full-throated compliment, is that yup, that's a little bit bigger Grounded all right! It's admitedly hard for me to say much about the...

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Invincible VS Is a Brutal, Bloody 3v3 Tag Fighter

Some things just feel right. When I first laid eyes on Invincible VS, my thoughts were something along the lines of, “Yeah, that makes sense.” If you were going to choose a comic book to adopt into a fighting game, you could do a lot worse than Robert Kirkman’s magnum opus. It’s got everything you need for a tag fighter: bone-crushing hits, a big cast to draw from, a cool art style, plenty of unique superpowers that can easily be converted into special moves, the works. But Invincible VS has a secret weapon, too: its developer, Quarter Up. That name might not be familiar to you yet – they’re a new studio – but they’re anything but rookies. Several members of the 40+ person development team played a core role in the development of 2013’s...

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Ninja Gaiden 4 First Hands-On Impressions: It’s Faster and Bloodier Than Ever

Does Ninja Gaiden still work in 2025, in a world where soulslikes dominate the high-skill action game subgenre? I played Ninja Gaiden 4 for the first time last weekend, and my answer is unequivocally, yes, absolutely, 1000%, Ninja Gaiden not only still works in 2025, but it is a high-speed, stylish breath of fresh air. It was my favorite thing I played amongst all of the games I covered at this past weekend’s various showcases, and as someone who considers Ninja Gaiden Black the finest action game ever made, I left incredibly happy. A mere 25 minutes of hands-on time with Ninja Gaiden 4 isn’t remotely enough to make a judgment call on where PlatinumGames and Team Ninja’s sequel will fit into the hierarchy of the franchise, but it was...

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Dune: Awakening Won't Release on Console Until Some Point in 2026

Dune: Awakening won't release on console until some point in 2026, developer Funcom has said. The survival MMO launched as planned on PC on June 10, and it had been hoped the console version would release not far behind. But it sounds like fans will have a bit longer of a wait than expected. Funcom failed to expand on why the survival MMO had been delayed on console, only writing in a press release that while the game "will be coming" to PlayStation and Xbox, that release is expected "sometime in 2026." The team was able, however, to confirm that the Dune: Awakening Season Pass is now live, offering the Wildlife of Arrakis DLC which boasts four in-game statues celebrating some of the planet's most "tenacious" creatures: the...

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MindsEye Day One Update With 'Key Refinements' Won't Make Launch on Xbox

MindsEye, the new blockbuster action-adventure from Grand Theft Auto producer Leslie Benzies, debuts today on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X and S. But the game's important day one patch won't arrive on day one for Xbox. Writing on reddit last night, MindsEye developer Build A Rocket Boy said that due to "varied platform certification," Microsoft's console wouldn't feature the 16 GB patch at launch, despite the fact the studio says this update is "highly recommend[ed]... to ensure MindsEye plays as we intended." "It includes key final refinements," Build A Rocket Boy said, including "gameplay improvements, visual polish, stability fixes and performance tuning." When will it pop up for Xbox players? For now, the studio can't say...

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Why The Devs Behind SIFU Switched Roundhouse Kicks For Goal Kicks In REMATCH – And Why Football Fans Should Be Excited

Whether it’s the studio’s debut title, Absolver, or the more recent Sifu, Parisian outfit Sloclap is no stranger to crafting games with educated feet at their core. Certainly keen to keep on heading down this particular avenue, Sloclap brings us Rematch, a stylish football (or soccer – for those across the pond) centric offering that […] Continue reading...

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Lies of P DLC Overture Director Vows to 'Review Various Adjustments, Including Difficulty Reduction'

Lies of P developer Neowiz did indeed drop DLC Overture during Summer Game Fest, introducing new locations, new enemies and bosses, new characters, weapons, and the very controversial decision to add in two easier difficulty options. And now, those options are getting easier again as the team preps for "difficulty reduction." As a "Soulslike" game, Lies of P can be punishingly difficult, especially for inexperienced players perhaps attracted by Lies of P's dark story and setting. Director Jiwon Choi had previously said the team didn't think Soulslike games should have difficulty options and it shipped without any, but has since had a change of heart, saying: “We wanted to make sure a wider audience of players could play the game."...

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Yes, You Can Ride Sandworms In Dune: Awakening — Kinda

While sandworm-riding is usually the first thing we want to try, and then fail at, in Dune: Awakening, it turns out that if you're super patient and don't mind a little screen-tearing or clipping through assets, it can be done. No, it isn't an official feature that can be unlocked — although developer Funcom did apparently consider it for a while before discarding the idea — but it turns out that if you have lightning-quick reflexes and study the sandworms' behaviors and attack patterns like they're an Elden Ring boss, you can climb aboard. Redditor SgtDolphin has now shared not one but two videos of him riding the worm, using a combination of skills and equipment like the super-sprint Bindu Sprint ability, the Full Suspensor Belt...

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Activision Says It’s Working With Nintendo to Get Call of Duty on Switch, but Will Black Ops 7 Be on Switch 2?

In the wake of Call of Duty: Black Ops 7’s announcement (the one designed to feel like a surprise Beyonce album drop), both Activision and Nintendo are said to be working on getting the long-running first-person shooter franchise on Switch. But does that mean Black Ops 7 will be on Switch 2? Black Ops 7’s announcement trailer, below, does not include launch platform logos, but Activision has confirmed it's due out across Xbox Series X and S, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, and PC via “Xbox PC,” Battle.net, and Steam. No mention was made of Nintendo Switch 2. But there’s a reason Nintendo fans were expecting Switch 2 to be on the list of Black Ops 7’s launch platforms, specifically. And it all ties into promises made back in...

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Elden Ring Nightreign Patch 1.01.2 Makes a Number of Bug Fixes for Nightlords, Weapons, Guardian's Remembrance and More

Elden Ring Nightreign developer FromSoftware has released patch 1.01.2, which focuses on bug fixes for Nightlords, weapons, Guardian's Remembrance and more. Patch 1.01.2, available now across PC via Steam, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X and S, follows last week’s patch 1.01.1, the game’s first since launch, which made single-player mode a lot easier. Also last week, FromSoftware concluded a fresh round of server maintenance designed to improve matchmaking. FromSoftware has said that in addition to the DLC releasing later this year, new additions will be “gradually implemented,” including enhanced fights against existing Nightlords starting this month. And amid the ongoing debate about the game's difficulty...

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SAG-AFTRA Reaches 'Tentative Agreement' With Video Game Companies Over AI Protections for Performers

The Screen Actors Guild - American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) has reached a "tentative agreement" on the interactive media contract, potentially bringing to an end almost a year of industrial action across the video game industry. The SAG-AFTRA video game strike was instigated back in July 2024 after the union and the major game companies — Activision, Blindlight, Disney Character Voices, Electronic Arts, Epic Games, Formosa Interactive, Insomniac Games, Take 2 Productions, and WB Games — that sit on the board failed to agree on AI provisions. Over 98% of members subsequently voted to strike. While at first it was difficult to tell exactly how the strike would affect our games, there were visible impacts...

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Hitman Boss Says He 'Doesn't Believe' People Are Being Paid to Post Negative Comments About MindsEye

The co-CEO of the developer of upcoming game MindsEye claimed two weeks ago that there is a “concerted effort” to “trash the game and the studio,” and suggested people were being paid to say negative things about the game online. But when asked, the CEO of Hitman developer IO Interactive, which is publishing the game, said that he doesn't believe that's happening. This saga began as part of the lead-up to the release of MindsEye on June 10, which has garnered no small amount of negative feedback from those who have been following it pre-release. During a Q&A over the game's official Discord two weeks ago, developer Build a Rocket Boy co-CEO Mark Gerhard was asked: “Do you think that all the people who reacted negatively were financed...

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Why the Developers Behind God Save Birmingham Are Perfectly Happy With Comparisons to 'Scam' Game The Day Before

Medieval zombie survival game God Save Birmingham exploded onto the scene in April with an 8-minute “gameplay” trailer that sparked as much skepticism as it did excitement. Among jokes about its Birmingham setting, some said it looked too good to be true, with animations that suggested what we were seeing in the trailer wasn’t so much gameplay, more pre-rendered footage designed to hoodwink the gaming public. Perhaps most damning of all, some compared God Save Birmingham to the infamous The Day Before, calling it a “fake game” and even a “scam.” For the uninitiated, The Day Before was one of the most controversial and catastrophic game launches in recent memory, as what was touted as the "next generation of post-apocalyptic MMO...

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AU Deals: Sweet Deals on Mario Kart World, Bravely Defaults, Red Deads, Dragon's Dogma 2, and More!

We've only got a short week to refresh your library with some absolute corkers dropping to their lowest prices in yonks. Whether you’re keen to revisit a cult classic, try out a sleeper hit, or finally see what the fuss is about with that one GOTY contender everyone keeps yabbering about, there’s something in this haul for you. Let's get scrolling and saving... This Day in Gaming 🎂 In retro news, I'm lighting a 16-candle cake for Prototype, a super-anti-hero sandboxer. I can vividly recall the first time I slipped into the leather hoodie of Alex Mercer, an amnesiac with a bad attitude and worse mutations. Also, it's tough to forget a protagonist who had a penchant for karate-kicking helicopter gunships. Radical Entertainment's take...

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Dune: Awakening Review in Progress

If there’s one thing beyond doubt after more than 35 hours with Dune: Awakening, it’s that Funcom has done its homework in crafting the most authentic take on the Dune-iverse imaginable. As a longtime fan of Frank Herbert’s iconic sci-fi setting, that’s an incredible thing to experience more often than not, and my time on Arrakis has been filled with moments of genuine shock. It’s very clever how the harsh environments and empty space are repeatedly used as progression checks, turning what seem like they should be weaknesses into strengths. Other times, that stubborn adherence to established lore results in annoying or just plain boring irritations, like how you’re all but forced to adopt a nomadic lifestyle in a genre where putting...

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Ninja Gaiden Ragebound: The 7 Coolest Things

I often get excited when I get to preview an upcoming game. Who wouldn’t? Getting to check out a game pre-release, and then getting to share that experience is one of the joys of this job. But when a code for a new build of Ninja Gaiden Ragebound materialized in my inbox, I’m pretty sure I started drooling. It’s a Pavlovian response, really; see, us Ninja Gaiden sickos have been pining for the good old days for a while now, but this year has been like stumbling into an oasis in the desert, only the oasis has air conditioning, a made-to-order menu from your favorite local joint, and an open bar. Ninja Gaiden fans have been wandering these sands for a long time. But this year, it feels like we’re coming home. I hadn’t played the demo we...

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Dungeons & Dragons Neverwinter Nights 2: Enhanced Edition Is Launching On Consoles For The First Time

Dungeons & Dragons Neverwinter Nights 2: Enhanced Edition launches on July 15 on both PC and consoles, marking the very first time Neverwinter Nights 2 is available on the latter. The Aspyr-developed Enhanced Edition comes with all the DLC packs, as well as console controls and Steam Workshop, while "preserving everything you love about the acclaimed original adventure." It also features visual enhancements and full crossplay for up to four players on PC via Steam and GOG, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X and S. You can also buy it as part of a bundle — which also launches on July 15 — that includes Neverwinter Nights: Enhanced Edition and Dungeons & Dragons Neverwinter Nights 2: Enhanced Edition. Neverwinter Nights...

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6 Standout Games from indie.io’s Lineup in Steam’s Next Fest

Over the last few years, Steam’s Next Fest has become a valuable showcase of upcoming games, particularly from indie developers. It includes free demos from participating games, livestreams, and interviews with developers that can help shed a light on games made by passionate people. Next Fest has regularly featured games from indie.io, a publishing platform that works with developers of all shapes and sizes. The latest Next Fest just landed today, will last until June 16, and has 25 different titles from indie.io — the most games the platform has ever had in one Next Fest. You can see the full lineup on this page, and there’s a little something for every type of gamer, including old-school co-op RPGs, rhythm-driven brawlers...

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Jurassic World Evolution 3 Lets You Channel Your Inner John Hammond

I never stopped thinking about wanting to repeat all of John Hammond's mistakes since the first time I saw him make them in 1993's Jurassic Park. And I've had many opportunities to do so in various park-builder games in the decades since, ranging all the way from pretty disappointing to pretty great. The latest, Jurassic World Evolution 3, is looking to deliver more features than we've ever seen in a dinosaur park management game before. And at least for my part, you had me at [insert signature T-Rex roar in your mind's eye here]. The thing that's always bugged me about the previous Jurassic World Evolution games is that they seemed a bit stripped-down compared to what Frontier has shown us is possible with their sister franchises...

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10 Things You Should Know About MindsEye, the New Game from Ex-GTA Lead Leslie Benzies

I've been curious about MindsEye ever since it was announced, but as the first game from former longtime Grand Theft Auto lead Leslie Benzies has neared release, I've become increasingly confused. Benzies’ studio Build A Rocket Boy's debut game is a linear-action adventure, with GTA-style mechanics used to tell a more direct, cinematic story. But it's also set in an expansive city that is, in theory, fully explorable. On top of that, it's also a digital platform that lets players create and publish their own game content, using bespoke tools that were used in-part to build the game itself. It's a lot of different layers? But how do they all come together? Can you actually explore MindsEye's world freely? And what the hell happened to...

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Konami's Hosting a Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater and Silent Hill f Livestream Later This Week — Here's What To Expect

Konami's hosting a live showcase, Konami Press Start Live, on June 12. The livestream event will feature game updates and appearances from Konami developers and producers, and take an extended look at Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater, Silent Hill f, and more. Live at 6am PT (9pm ET, 9pm CEST), the show will run for approximately 37 minutes. It's an opportunity to hear directly from the "creative minds behind some of Konami's most iconic franchises," gain insights into the development process, catch exclusive content, and stay up to date. I, for one, am very much hoping Konami's reference to "and more" will include No Code's Silent Hill Townfall. It's been years since we've had a meaningful update, and I'm desperate to know more...

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Tony Hawk Pro Skater 3 + 4 Director on Including a Ninja Turtle and a Surreal Pinball Park | IGN Live 2025

After the success of the Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2 remake, more classic games in the beloved franchise are set to get revamped with the impending release of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4. At IGN Live, the game’s director, Kurt Tillmanns, was on hand to talk about what this collection has to offer in terms of mixing new and old elements - including one bright green new inclusion in the form of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle's resident party dude, Michaelangelo. Said Tillmans, about including such an offbeat and notable new skater on the roster, “It was awesome working with Nickelodeon on getting Mikey in here. We were super passionate. Everyone who gets an opportunity to be part of a Tony Hawk game is just incredibly gracious and...

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