Gaming News

DICE Awards 2025 Nominations Revealed With Astro Bot, Helldivers 2, and Indiana Jones in the Lead

The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences (AIAS) has announced the nominees for the 28th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards and the list reveals Astro Bot, Helldivers 2, and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle are leading the charge with six nominations each. The 2025 D.I.C.E. Awards will take place on Thursday, February 13 at 11pm ET/8pm PT at the Aria Resort in Las Vegas and there will be 60 games from 2024 competing for awards in 23 categories. Astro Bot, Balatro, Black Myth: Wukong, Helldivers 2, and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle will all be up for the top honor of Game of the Year. While we already revealed which games earned the most nominations, we'd also like to share Balatro and Senua's Saga: Hellblade II came in second with five...

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Half-Life Fans Are Doing a GTA 6 and Losing Their Minds Over Hidden Half-Life 3 Clues They Desperately Want to Be Real

Half-Life fans have waited years for Valve to do… something Half-Life 3 related. That’s nothing new. But recent weeks have seen a step up in the hunt for clues, with some believing Valve has already started an elaborate alternate reality game (ARG) that will lead to the dramatic confirmation that Half-Life 3 is finally on the way. This next level obsession, which GTA 6 fans will find instantly familiar, was kickstarted by Mike Shapiro, the voice actor behind Half-Life's mysterious G-Man. Late last year, in full G-Man mode, Shapiro published a cryptic tweet teasing some sort of news for 2025 alongside the tags #Valve, #Halflife, #GMan, and #2025. It was Shapiro’s first non-reply tweet since he congratulated Valve on the success of VR...

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Hyper Light Breaker: Watch 2 New Boss Fight Gameplay Videos

Hyper Light Breaker, the upcoming roguelike prequel to Hyper Light Drifter, tasks you with trekking into the Overgrowth alone or with a friend in order to restore peace by defeating the Abyss King. Today we have two exclusive new gameplay videos to share with you. Both are boss fights. The first, which you can watch above, pits you against Dro, described by the developers at Heart Machine as "a furious wolven warrior." And the second, which you can watch below, showcases Exus, whom Heart Machine calls a "fierce gladiator." Hyper Light Breaker launches into Steam Early Access on Tuesday, January 14. Check out our first hands-on preview from 2023, and if you still want more, we previewed it again last year. Oh, and check back on...

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Civilization 7 Steam Deck Verified Ahead of February Release Date

Sid Meier's Civilization 7 developer Firaxis has confirmed the highly anticipated strategy game will be Steam Deck verified upon its February 6 release date. A simple post from the official Civilization 7 X/Twitter account made the announcement. "Civ 7 is officially Steam Deck verified," it said. "Make history on the go." The next entry in the beloved franchise promises a "revolutionary new chapter" as it "empowers you to build the greatest empire the world has ever known." Its release is finally just a few weeks away, with a lengthy eight years between it and Civilization 6. Firaxis announced "the next iteration of the legendary Civilization franchise" was in development as of February 2023 before fully unveiling it as...

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IGN UK Podcast 782: Squid Game and Jesse's Shocking KCD2 Playstyle

Dale, Mat, and Jesse storm into 2025 with their opinions on Squid Game season 2 and discuss Jesse's mad playstyle for Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 at length. "What do these have in common?" I hear you yell. Mass murder... lots of mass murder. We also have an increased amount of feedback this week, with some juicy questions about cardigans and goodie hunting. Remember to send us your thoughts about all the new games, TV shows, and films you're enjoying or looking forward to: ign_ukfeedback@ign.com. IGN UK Podcast 782: Squid Game and Jesse's Shocking KCD2 Playstyle IGN UK Podcast 781: The Big 2025 Movies and Games Preview IGN UK Podcast 780: The Alternative Game Awards 2024 IGN UK Podcast 779: The Alternative Movie and TV Awards...

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Deus Ex: Mankind Divided Writer Reveals Canceled Plans for Adam Jensen’s Story to Lead Into the Original Deus Ex

Eidos-Montréal’s much-loved Deux Ex prequel series famously ended on a cliffhanger with Mankind Divided, frustrating fans. Now, they know exactly what they missed out on. During an episode of the From Script to Life podcast, Human Revolution and Mankind Divided writer Mark Cecere discussed where protagonist Adam Jensen’s story would have gone in the third game, were it not canceled. The writers planned for Jensen to take out one member of the Illuminati rather than the Illuminati itself, which would have caused “Bob Page to become Bob Page.” Bob Page is the antagonist of the original Deus Ex game, Ion Storm’s hugely influential 2000 cyberpunk adventure. So, in this way, Jensen’s fate is to cause Deux Ex. “He can never catch up to...

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Black Myth: Wukong’s Physical Edition for PS5 Gets a First-Time Price Drop at Amazon

There's no better way to kick off the new year than with some nice video game deals. Thankfully Amazon and Walmart are already offering up some great discounts, including a first-time price drop on the physical edition of Black Myth: Wukong for PlayStation 5 (see here at Amazon, see here at Walmart). Normally this game runs for $64.99 but you can grab it today for $56.99 at both retailers. This physical edition is well worth picking up as well considering it comes with a digital deluxe upgrade with some extra items. Check out the deal and more information on the digital deluxe items included below. Black Myth: Wukong for PS5 Down to $56.99 Alongside a physical disc with the base game, this copy also comes with a digital deluxe...

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After a Long Exile by Marvel, 2025 Is the Year of the Fantastic Four

It’s been a long time coming, but the Fantastic Four are finally back in the spotlight. Between the team making their Marvel Cinematic Universe debut in The Fantastic Four: First Steps this July, the One World Under Doom event shaking up the mainline comic universe as Ryan North continues his acclaimed run on the property, and NetEase’s hero shooter Marvel Rivals making the F4 the focus of Eternal Night Falls (the first post-launch season), 2025 is shaping up to be the year that Marvel’s First Family reclaims their position as one of the Marvel universe’s core pillars. Yet the fact that they were ever not is a crime in itself. The 2010s saw the Fantastic Four lose a lot of their luster between their comic series being cancelled from...

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Elden Ring Nightreign Network Test Registration Times — How to Access the Beta

Registrations for Elden Ring Nightreign’s hotly anticipated network test go live today, January 10. Here’s everything you need to know to put your name down. The network test will be held on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and S only, whereas the full game will also launch on PC via Steam, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One. To register, head to the Bandai Namco website and enter your details. It's worth noting that registration closes January 20, and only offers a chance to join the Elden Ring Nightreign network test. The test is open to those who do not subscribe to PlayStation Plus or Xbox Game Pass Core. Elden Ring Nightreign network test registration times: 6am PT, January 10 9am ET, January 10 2pm GMT, January 10 3pm CET, January 10...

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Assassin's Creed Shadows First DLC Seemingly Leaks, Adds a New Map and Over 10 Hours of Content

Ubisoft has seemingly leaked the first expansion for Japan-set Assassin's Creed Shadows following its announcement of another delay. As reported by Insider Gaming, the game's Steam page was momentarily updated to include information on a 10-hour piece of downloadable content called Claws of Awaji, which will add a whole new map to the open-world game. "Pre-purchase now to get a bonus mission and the upcoming Claws of Awaji expansion," the Steam page read. "Travel to a new region, get over 10 hours of additional content, and unlock a new weapon type, new skills, gear, and abilities." Travel to a new region, get over 10 hours of additional content, and unlock a new weapon type, new skills, gear, and abilities. The phrasing is a...

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Marvel Rivals Season 1 Update Appears to Have Disabled Mods, Much to the Dismay of Fans of Custom Skins

The Marvel Rivals Season 1 update appears to have done more than add the Fantastic Four — players say it's also cracked down on mods. Ever since Marvel Rivals’ hugely successful December launch players have used mods to create custom skins despite concern over account bans. Popular mods include turning Iron Man into Vegeta from Dragon Ball and Mantis into a goth. There’s even a mod that turns Jeff the Land Shark into Pochita from Chainsaw Man. Using mods violates Marvel Rivals’ terms of use, and developer NetEase itself has warned players against modifying game files. Despite the risk of getting banned, Marvel Rivals mods remain hugely popular. Until now. Players are reporting the Season 1 update has added asset hash checking...

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Everything You Need To Know About Monster Hunter Wilds

Though we’ve had various Monster Hunter Rise spin-offs in recent years, it’s fair to say that there hasn’t been a full-fat, full-sugar successor to Capcom’s epic Monster Hunter: World since its release in 2018. All of that changes with Monster Hunter Wilds, however, as Capcom looks to deliver the sort of spectacle-stuffed and sophisticated follow-up […] Continue reading...

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Sony Signals Single-Player Only The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered on PC Requires a PSN Account 3 Months Ahead of Launch

Sony has signalled that The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered on PC requires a PSN account three months before the game’s release on Steam. As spotted by VGC, the Steam page for Naughty Dog’s single-player adventure includes the now-standard Sony requirement for a PlayStation Network account. PC gamers had little hope that Sony would budge on the PSN requirement for its Steam releases, and so it has proved with The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered. As a result, PC gamers in over 100 countries won’t be able to buy the game on Steam because Sony does not operate PlayStation accounts in those markets. PSN is available in just 73 countries, leaving many out in the cold. The Baltics, including states that are part of the European Union (Estonia...

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AU Deals: Score a Price Sliced Stellar Blade, Silent Hill 2, Split Fiction, and Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza!

Thank your own personal deity—possibly Numen, not to be confused with Newman—it's Friday! Let's put this week out of its misery with some cheap games worth spending your next two days with. Personally, I'd gravitate to Ori: The Collection, Hollow Knight, Untitled Goose Game, and a sub-five-buck Brütal Legend. Why the latter? Because it is the greatest and best game in the world ...tribute. In retro news, the system-selling Rogue Squadron turns 26 today, and I absolutely smashed at launch. Being one of the first titles to utilise the Expansion Pak, which added a whopping 4MB of extra RAM (!!!), it delivered a star war far, far, and away better than the previous N64 title holder, Shadows of the Empire. It's also been 28 years since...

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Sleeping Dogs Movie Not Happening Anymore, Donnie Yen Confirms

Sometimes everyone already knows what happened to a project, we just need someone to confirm it. In 2017 it was announced that there would be a live-action adaptation of the open-world crime game, Sleeping Dogs, starring Donnie Yen, who was riding high on the success of movies like Ip Man and Rogue One. Director Timo Tjahjanto was also approached to direct, giving this project a real pedigree for anyone who loves hardcore Asian action films. Unfortunately, since about 2018 almost any mention of this movie disappeared. And now Polygon confirmed with Yen that this movie is no longer in the works. "I spent a lot of time and did a lot of work with these producers, and I even invested some of my own money into obtaining the drafts and...

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Evolving Monster Hunter: How Capcom’s Belief in the Series Made it a Worldwide Hit – IGN First

The Monster Hunter series first launched on PlayStation 2 in 2004 and has since won over many fans, evolving at a dizzying pace alongside new developments in hardware. While it may sound like a cliché to say that the whole world has been waiting for it, it's not an exaggeration to say that hunters from around the globe have eagerly awaited the next game in the series, Monster Hunter Wilds, releasing at last on February 28, 2025. The gameplay loop that hunters imagine when they hear about Monster Hunter has remained the same throughout the series even after 20 years. Hunt gigantic monsters, strip them of materials, create equipment, then head back into the next hunt. At the same time, though, it seems rare for the game design of a...

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Ubisoft Investors Grill CEO, CFO on Potential Tencent Sale, Delays, and Financial Woes

Ubisoft just delayed Assassin's Creed: Shadows by another month, amid a time of troubled financials, continued cost cuts, and ongoing rumors the company was preparing for a sale to gaming giant Tencent. In an emergency conference call today, investors grilled CEO Yves Guillemot and CFO Frederick Duguet for answers on all of the above - but their responses didn't provide much reassurance. Ubisoft's call today came alongside not just the delay announcement, but a seeming confirmation of sorts that Ubisoft is preparing to sell, or at least strongly considering it. Per the press release, the company has "appointed leading advisors to review and pursue various transformational strategic and capitalistic options to extract the best value...

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Marvel Rivals Season 1 Update Patch Notes Detail Tournament Changes and Bug Fixes

NetEase Games has posted Marvel Rivals Season 1 patch notes, revealing every change coming to PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X | S players when update version 20250110 drops later tonight. Included in the full rundown are mentions of more substantial additions we’ve known about, such as new heroes Mister Fantastic and the Invisible Woman, as well as smaller changes, like a streaming mode feature and more fleshed-out graphics and settings options on PC. We also now have a first look at fixes for some of the glitches and bugs that players have dealt with, including a new “get unstuck” feature that can be used when your character finds themselves unintentionally attached to the terrain. Also set to arrive in the upcoming Marvel...

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Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii to Get New Game Plus as Free DLC After Infinite Wealth Backlash

Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio will release the New Game Plus mode for Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii as free downloadable content after facing controversy over charging for it in previous game Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth. RGG announced the New Game Plus mode during a Like a Dragon Direct today, January 9, though didn't say when the "post release patch" would arrive exactly. Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii itself launches February 21. The studio faced backlash from fans in early 2024 when it revealed the New Game Plus mode for mainline entry Infinite Wealth would be locked behind the more expensive edition. Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii similarly has different editions but these just include digital extras such as new crew members and skins...

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Assassin's Creed Shadows Delayed Again, This Time by Another Month

Ubisoft has delayed Assassin's Creed Shadows yet again, this time by another month. Assassin's Creed Shadows was due out February 14, 2025, but will now launch on March 20 instead. This is the game's second delay, after an initial release date of November 12, 2024 was pushed back to this year. "As part of the renewed focus on gameplay quality and engaging Day-1 experiences, it has been decided to provide an additional month of development to Assassin’s Creed Shadows," Ubisoft said. "This additional time will allow the team to better incorporate the player feedback gathered over the past three months and help create the best conditions for launch by continuing to engage closely with the increasingly positive Assassin’s Creed...

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Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth on PC Supports 4K Resolution, 120FPS, Nvidia DLSS, and More

Square Enix has shared the list of features available in the PC version of Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, which includes up to 4K resolution and 120 frames per second alongside Nvidia DLSS support. A trailer for the PC version, below, arrived ahead of its January 23 release date and, while it stopped short of specifics, did confirm that Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth will feature improved lighting and enhanced visuals compared to the PlayStation 5 version. Not completely departing from its original platform, however, it does also include support for the DualSense wireless controller and all the additional features it brought. Mouse and keyboard support is available too. Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth will offer three graphics presets (low, medium, and...

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Microsoft’s First Xbox Developer Direct of 2025 Teases a First Look at 'Another Studio’s Brand New Game'

Microsoft has announced the return of its Developer Direct showcase, and confirmed what fans can expect to see. Developer Direct is set for Thursday, January 23 at 10am Pacific / 1pm Eastern / 6pm UK. In a blog post, Microsoft said fans “will get an inside look at a selection of highly anticipated games coming to Xbox Series X|S, PC, and Game Pass players this year.” That confirms a focus on 2025 games only. Expect developers to offer an in-depth look at their upcoming titles. Compulsion Games will show off South of Midnight, Sandfall Interactive will showcase Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, and id Software will reveal more on Doom: The Dark Ages. Microsoft also teased that it will “visit a surprise location to see another studio’s...

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Marvel Rivals Blade First Look Image and In-Game Lore Leak Suggests Season 2 Release

Marvel Rivals fans now have their first look at upcoming playable character Blade and even an idea of when he’ll be playable, via a fresh leak. First revealed by X/Twitter user Miller Ross, the Blade image is lifted from an in-game gallery card set to launch alongside Season 1. The image also features Ratatoskr, a giant Asgardian squirrel beast. Developer NetEase Games has yet to announce Blade as an upcoming playable character. According to the in-game lore, new villain Dracula “subdues” Blade and Ratatoskr, but the Fantastic Four, set to arrive with the launch of Season 1 this week, are ready to save the day. Based on this image and lore, fans are speculating that by the end of Season 1, the Fantastic Four will have defeated...

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Palworld Dev Pocketpair Just Launched a Game on Nintendo Switch Despite The Pokémon Company Lawsuit

Palworld developer Pocketpair just launched a game on Nintendo Switch despite The Pokémon Company and Nintendo itself suing it for patent infringement. As reported by Automaton, the real-time roguelike deck builder Overdungeon, which released five years before Palworld in 2019, was surprise-launched on Switch today, January 9, 2025. Overdungeon was previously only available on Steam. The release, especially as it's not come to PlayStation or Xbox, feels unusual given The Pokémon Company and Nintendo itself are suing Pocketpair over the wildly popular Palworld. This open-world, multiplayer survival game was dubbed "Pokémon with guns" by fans and gained a staggering 25 million players in one month. Many drew further comparisons...

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Marvel Rivals Season 1 Global Release Times Confirmed, Maintenance Planned Ahead of Launch

Marvel Rivals developer NetEase Games has confirmed the global release times for the Season 1 update, which sees the arrival of the Fantastic Four. While Marvel Rivals is available across PC, PlayStation, and Xbox, NetEase has targeted a simultaneous launch for Season 1, dubbed Eternal Night Falls, on January 10. Season 1 begins with the addition of Invisible Woman and Mister Fantastic, with Human Torch and The Thing arriving in the second half of the season. There are three new maps, special events, and a new Doom Match game mode. The new Battle Pass includes "over double the content" of the Season 0 pass, NetEase said, with the Luxury Pass featuring 10 new costumes for the heroes. The three new maps include Sanctum Sanctorum and...

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AU Deals: A Meta Quest 3S 256 Drop, The Most Monster Savings on Hunter Wilds, Civ VII, and More!

We're not even 10 days into 2025, and the gaming deals are heating up already. At the tip of that spear are the cheapest preorder prices for the next big upcomings on my radar—Monster Hunter Wilds, Sniper Elite Resistance, and Kingdom Come Deliverance II. Without saying too much too soon, I've played parts of at least two of those three titles, and I think they're coming along quite well. And now I'll shut right up. In retro news, I’m celebrating the 22nd birthday of Street Fighter Alpha 3 on GBA, a pretty incredible port of the PS One version. Though the BGMs and voice SFX weren’t always authentic, and the fighters had fewer animation frames, Crawfish Interactive otherwise shoryukened this shoehorned-down port out of the park. I got...

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Roblox Squid Game Season 2 Codes (January 2025)

If you're looking for Squid Game Season 2 codes in Roblox, IGN's got you covered! In this article, you'll find a list of active and working Squid Game Season 2 codes in January 2025 that you can redeem for free rewards in Trendsetter Games' hit Experience, including Revives and Super Pushes to help you win. The Squid Game Season 2 codes below have been tested as working at the time of submission. However, codes with unknown expiry dates may stop working at any time. Spotted a new code or one has expired? Let us know in the comments! Active Squid Game 2 Codes (January 2025) Here are all the active Squid Game Season 2 codes in January 2025 and the free rewards you get for redeeming them: Season2Released: 3x Revives (NEW!) sisi...

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Marvel Rivals Dev Confirms Nerfs and Buffs Coming With Season 1 Balance Changes

Marvel Rivals Season 1 balance changes are nearly here, and NetEase Games has revealed details that promise tweaks for popular heroes like Captain America, Cloak & Dagger, and Jeff the Land Shark. The team detailed its reasoning for the buffs and nerfs that will soon be delivered with version 20250110 in a post on its website. Despite having launched only last month, NetEase says it’s happy with the “vibrant diversity of lineups” it has seen this far but still sees some room for improvement. “Hence, in the first half of Season 1, we are set to make balance adjustments to certain heroes, enabling a broader roster to partake in more intricate gameplay, ensuring a richer, more engaging, and diverse gaming experience for all,” the team...

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Marvel Rivals Hero Stats Reveal Pick and Win Rates in Quickplay and Competitive Modes

NetEase Games has unveiled a Hero Hot List for Marvel Rivals, revealing pick and win rates for everyone from Jeff the Land Shark and Mantis to Storm and Spider-Man. It’s a straightforward list of every playable character in the massively popular hero shooter that gives players more insight into which Marvel icons are being picked over the others. You probably won’t be too surprised to see Jeff leading the pack as the number-one pick across PC and console quickplay games. He’s sitting at 21.18% pick rate, with Venom in second at 19.09% and Cloak & Dagger in third at 18.81%. At the opposite end of the list, we find Storm, with only 1.66% of players choosing to smite opponents with her weather abilities in quickplay. Pick rates for...

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Squid Game X Codes (January 2025)

If you're looking for Squid Game X codes in Roblox, IGN's got you covered! In this article, you'll find a list of active and working Squid Game X codes in January 2025 that you can redeem for free rewards, including money to spend on outfits in the in-game store. The Squid Game X codes below have been tested as working at the time of submission. However, codes with unknown expiry dates may stop working at any time. Spotted a new code or one has expired? Let us know in the comments! Active Squid Game X Codes (January 2025) Here are all the active Squid Game X codes in January 2025 and the free rewards you get for redeeming them: PENTA: $35 (NEW!) 150KLIKES: $55 (NEW!) UPDATE11RELEASE: $75 (NEW!) MINGLE: $45 (NEW!) $100K$: $50...

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