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Dragon’s Dogma 2 has enjoyed a huge day-one on PC, but it has also sparked a vociferous debate about microtransactions.The fantasy action adventure game has 21 separate microtransactions available day-one, ranging in price from $0.99 to $4.99. Offerings include an Explorer’s Camping Kit for $2.99, a $0.99 gaol key that lets you escape from gaol but breaks after a single use, a Portcrystal warp location marker that costs $2.99, and $0.99 Wakestones that restore the dead to life.These microtransactions have sparked a controversy not just for the sheer number available day-one, but because they make parts of the game deliberately designed to challenge players in certain ways either easier, less frustrating, or quicker. Players have...

The world of Dragon’s Dogma 2 can be a harsh place, filled with disgusting goblins, nefarious creatures of the night, and an autosave system that can leave you stuck in dangerous situations a little too often. Whether you’re taking your first steps beyond the Borderwatch Outpost, or preparing to face the harsh deserts of Battahl, you won’t want to completely rely on the autosave system to create the best checkpoints for you. Want to save yourself some trouble in the future? Read on to learn the quirks of Dragon’s Dogma 2’s save system and how best to use it.One Save Slot, Three Save TypesLosing any amount of progress can be a major headache, and so Dragon’s Dogma 2’s quirky save system is best understood early before any tears are...

Shinji Mikami has seemingly started his own studio called Kamuy Inc. Mikami left Tango Gameworks back in February 2023, a studio he founded in 2010.This info comes from the official website for Shadows of the Damned: Hella Remastered. Under the “Creators” tab, an image of Mikami is shown alongside a short biography. The last sentence of it reads, “After leaving Tango Gameworks, he established KAMUY Inc.”Mikami has not officially revealed what his next plans are following his departure from Tango Gameworks. However, he teased his return to game development back in October 2023, stating that his non-compete clause had ended.Mikami first gained prominence in the video game industry while at Capcom, where he was the director for the...

With Ubisoft’s long-running, open-world shooter celebrating its twentieth anniversary this year, it can perhaps be a little too easy to assume that Far Cry has always existed in the form that it does now – a massive, content-stuffed first-person shooter that is emblematic of the studio’s broader approach to open world game design. However, it […]Continue reading...

After dying several times to an introductory worm boss that Path of Exile 2 had me face, I started to wonder if I was missing something while playing as the Ranger class. The grind to this early-level boss hadn’t unlocked a ton of Skill Gems for me, and the few I had slotted weren’t combining together to make a power combo like I had become accustomed to during the Affliction League that’s currently ongoing in Path of Exile. Speaking with other, much better players than myself who I met at the event it turned out I wasn’t the only one that took a try or two on the boss. It was time to get back to the grind and come back at it with better gear.So far I had unlocked Lightning Arrow and Escape Shot thinking that the AoE ice projectile...

During a talk at GDC 2024, Baldur's Gate 3 director Swen Vincke announced that Larian Studios would not be making any DLC, expansions or sequels for the highly-regarded RPG, which took home another Game of the Year award at Wednesday's Game Developers Choice Awards. However, speaking with IGN, Vincke did say that Larian began work on DLC and even gave some thought to a potential Baldur's Gate 4 before pivoting away to other projects."Because of all the success the obvious thing would have been to do a DLC, so we started on one. We started even thinking about BG4," Vincke says. "But we hadn’t really had closure on BG3 yet and just to jump forward on something new felt wrong. We had also spent a whole bunch of time converting the...

Stardew Valley players have been going into overdrive since the release of version 1.6 on PC, scouring the game for hidden easter eggs introduced in the new update, and generally enjoying all of the new content that developer Eric Barone has crafted to augment his beloved creation.Many of the new additions are listed in the extensive patch notes, which can be browsed here. However, fans are already experimenting and testing the boundaries of the game in an attempt to discover any hidden easter eggs that Barone may have introduced in the 1.6 update.These detective efforts have already borne fruit, as just hours following the release of 1.6, fans were able to uncover the existence of a newly implemented - and pretty sinister -...

Baldur’s Gate 3 director Swen Vincke has had some time to reflect on Larian Studios’ Google Stadia deal, and he thinks it was “really stupid.”The studio’s founder opened up about the early days of Baldur’s Gate 3 during a Game Developers Conference (GDC) panel that IGN attended today. While explaining how Larian learned to adapt to issues on the fly, he spoke about how Stadia played a role in the Baldur’s Gate 3 reveal.For those who may have forgotten, Vincke and his team revealed the latest Baldur’s Gate at a Google Stadia conference in June 2019. It was a bombshell announcement during an event for a product that would ultimately fail, but it also came with other potential benefits. Stadia originally promised enticing features...

Names like Skyrim and Morrowind are so ubiquitous that it’s easy to forget they were once ideas on a whiteboard. But in 1993, the world of Elder Scrolls was still very much a blank slate.“People would wander into the office and write a name on the map. 50 percent were original. Some they thought were original,” remembered Ted Peterson, who was one of the designers on The Elder Scrolls: Arena.Little did the Bethesda team know that they had accidentally cribbed the Morrowind name from Terry Brooks, then a popular fantasy author. Brooks had invented the name “Morrowindl” for the Shannara books. Years later, Morrowind would become a beloved RPG of its own.“We weren’t ripping anything off on purpose. Nowadays you’d run everything...

Larian Studios founder Swen Vincke dropped the bombshell today that the developer doesn't plan on releasing any Baldur's Gate 3 expansions or DLC, nor a Baldur's Gate 4, but he also made the point that there's already a lot of content in their Game of the Year-winning RPG.He revealed at a Game Developers Conference (GDC) panel today, when taking together all the various dialogue and narration options, Baldur's Gate 3 has triple the word count of J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings books. Total cutscene runtime, meanwhile, is twice as long as HBO's Game of Thrones series. We already knew Larian’s latest was one of the most ambitious titles to come out in the last decade, but his comments truly put everything into perspective.Both...

Looking to upgrade the internal storage of your ASUS ROG Ally or Steam Deck? Amazon currently has the Corsair MP600 Mini 1TB M.2 2230 NVMe PCIe x4 Gen4 Solid State Drive (SSD) for only $69.99. That's the best price we've seen for a 1TB 2230 SSD from a brand we've actually heard of. The installation isn't as simple as an SSD upgrade in your PS5 console - but just as worth it - so read on to see if you're willing to take on the (modest) challenge.Corsair MP600 Mini 1TB SSD for $69.99Compatible with Steam Deck or ROG AllyBoth the ASUS ROG Ally and the Steam Deck utilize a smaller SSD than the standard M.2 2280 SSD that you might find in a gaming PC or a PlayStation 5 console. This smaller format (M.2 2230) is generally pricier and...

If you want a groovy adventure in space, I've got good news for you. Right now you can embrace your inner 'space-faring getaway driver' by grabbing a key for Super Space Club, the movement-based top-down shooter we are giving out as part of IGN Plus.Already an IGN Plus member? Get your key for the game here, while supplies last.Not an IGN Plus member yet? With IGN Plus you get unlimited game maps and checklists, no ads on IGN and more. Learn more and try it today.IGN Plus Monthly Game: Super Space ClubSuper Space Club is a stylish arcade shooter based largely on controlling your momentum. With several different ship types (each with their own wrinkle on speed, momentum, and durability), weapon types that also impact your...

At a Game Developers Conference (GDC) panel today, Larian Studios founder Swen Vincke dropped something of a bombshell by revealing that the developer isn't planning to release any expansions or DLC for Baldur's Gate 3, nor a Baldur's Gate 4.Instead, Vincke said at the panel, Larian plans to move away from Dungeons & Dragons entirely and do something new, leaving the IP in Wizards of the Coast's hands.It's a big surprise, considering the massive success of Baldur's Gate 3, with many fans assuming that a DLC or expansion would be on the way. Larian has released several major free patches that have added, among other things, a playable epilogue party.Developing...Continue reading...

Larian Studios founder Swen Vincke has shared an early look at every Baldur’s Gate 3 fan’s favorite vampire Astarion, and it looks like a lot has changed since the early days of his creation.Vincke covered the character’s origin during a Game Developers Conference (GDC) panel today, revealing information about him that may be a bit shocking. Astarion might be Baldur’s Gate 3’s most recognizable face, but he didn’t start out as a High-Elf, nor did he have his iconic mop of curly white hair. Instead, he was a Tiefling with glowing yellow eyes and black hair.IGN attended the panel and was able to capture an image that you can see below.“Things have changed since then,” Vincke said during the panel.Despite Astarion being a...

Rocksteady has explained how Joker, the first DLC character for Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, will work when it's made available with the launch of Season 1 on March 28.This game’s version of The Joker is “young, energetic and eager to make a name for himself” Rocksteady said in detailing this “new take” on the iconic supervillain.The Joker comes with an entirely new Traversal kit, using his explosive umbrella to fly around the city. When in the air, the Joker can unfurl his umbrella to float gently to the ground (while raining explosives below), or ride on to swoop forwards at great speed.The Joker also comes with an entirely new Talent Tree, with three different playstyles of Jester, Firestarter, and Ringmaster...

The Will Smith-fronted zombie survival video game Undawn bombed, according to a new report.Reuters said Undawn, which it described as a “key” in-house developed game from Tencent, “flopped spectacularly” despite being endorsed by Hollywood star Will Smith and with an alleged budget of close to 1 billion yuan (around $140 million). Sources told the publication Undawn had more than 300 developers.PC and mobile game Undawn launched in June to much fanfare that revolved around the digital recreation of Will Smith in-game. The Oscar-winning actor plays Trey Jones, who acts as a guide to help players navigate the world four years after a global disaster.But even Will Smith couldn’t save Undawn from failing to move the needle for...

Whether you're playing Killer Klowns from Outer Space: The Game at PAX East this weekend or looking forward to playing it when it's released for PlayStation, Xbox, and PC on June 4, the developers at IllFonic were kind enough to send along a gameplay overview along with some tips to help you emerge victorious, whether you're playing as the Killer Klowns or battling against them. Without further adieu, we'll let the IllFonic team take it from here...The HumansEscape! - Humans need to escape the invasion before the Klowns detonate the Klownpocalypse. You need to find one of the many escape routes and use required items to open them for escape. Do all of this while evading and defending yourself against the pack of 3 Killer Klowns...

It seems odd that Activision would release Call of Duty Warzone Mobile when it already has a hugely successful Call of Duty mobile game making millions of dollars for the company. But from a business perspective it makes sense. Call of Duty Mobile, the 2019 mobile first-person shooter spin-off that has seen 650 million downloads since launch, is developed by Tencent-owned TiMi Studio Group, and so not all the huge profits it generates benefit Activision’s bottom line. Call of Duty Warzone Mobile, on the other hand, is developed entirely in-house at Activision, and so the company gets a bigger slice of the revenue pie every time a player drops cash on a battle pass.Clearly, Activision is betting big on Call of Duty Warzone Mobile...

This week, Capcom told IGN that performance issues with the PC version of Dragon’s Dogma 2 may be linked to the heavy amount of CPU demanded from NPCs in the game. Now, in response, fans are plotting an NPC murder spree in a bid to boost the game’s frame-rate."In Dragon's Dogma 2, a large amount of CPU usage is allocated to each character and dynamically calculates the impact of their physical presence in various environments. In certain situations where numerous characters appear simultaneously, the CPU usage can be very high and may affect the frame rate," a Capcom representative told IGN. "We are aware that in such situations, settings that reduce GPU load may currently have a limited effect; however, we are looking into ways to...

PDP's latest product, the Riffmaster Wireless Guitar Controller, is set to hit the store shelves next month at a price tag of $130, reviving a market of plastic musical instruments that allow fans to live out their fantasies as rockstars."At last, the wait is over… it's time for gamers to rock on!" said PDP Senior Director of Product Marketing Michael Lai in a press release. "Rhythm-action gaming is experiencing more than a renaissance – it is being redefined! Every aspect of the RIFFMASTER design is informed by PDP's rich heritage in rhythm-based gaming, including a nod to the past with backwards compatibility. We cannot wait for fans to have their first jam session!"After teasing the product in December, PDP officially announced...

After a few months of teasing, Titan Forge has revealed everything players can expect from SMITE 2's first brand-new god, Hecate, including a look at her abilities and the ways in which Unreal Engine 5 has helped the team bring her to life. Check out her reveal trailer above.Hecate, the Greek Goddess of Sorcery, Witchcraft, and Magic, has ranked high on the list of fan-requested gods for some time now, so Titan Forge has opted to go all out with her as an exclusive SMITE 2 character. This has allowed her to be the first god to be built entirely within the UE5 editor as opposed to being imported from UE3 like the returning SMITE roster.Whereas UE3 required the developers to hand-key animations, the move to UE5 has allowed them to...

High on Life is one of the most memorably absurd first-person shooters to come along in years, and it's a game that's practically tailor-made to work in other media. Thankfully, that's just what's happening, as Squanch Games and Titan Comics join forces for a new High on Life comic book series.IGN can exclusively debut one of the new covers for High on Life #1. Check it out below:The High on Life comic is written by Alec Robbins, a veteran of the game who also created the web comic Mr. Boop. The series is drawn by Kit Wallis (Wonderland) and colored by JP Jordan (Plough Man).Here's Titan's official description for the new series:Though they restored peace to the cosmos by killing Garmantuous, there's no rest for the Bounty...

If you’re playing Helldivers 2 and finding the game crashes more than usual, you’re not alone. Developer Arrowhead has said a lot of players are currently being affected by a crash issue, which is linked to the release of a recent patch, and it’s on the case.The crash problem began with this week’s release of patch 1.000.103, which nerfed planet hazards and patrols spawning on players, among other things. A crash causes the game to freeze and forces a restart. Given Helldivers 2 missions can take around 40 minutes to extract with all obtained resources and objectives complete, getting a crash towards the end is extremely frustrating.In a post on the Helldivers Discord, Arrowhead community manager Twinbeard addressed the crash...

In a surprise drop, the first six episodes of the long-awaited ARK: The Animated Series are now available to stream on Paramount+.ARK: The Animated Series is based on ARK: Survival Evolved and you can check out the new trailer right here. It was also confirmed that part two of this first season will debut at a "later date" with seven episodes.Before we get to what the show is actually about, we have to talk about the absolutely stacked cast that is led by Michelle Yeoh, Russell Crowe, Gerard Butler, David Tennant, Jeffrey Wright, Elliot Page, Madeleine Madden, and Vin Diesel. Now, back to the story."An animated adaptation of the hit video game featuring Yeoh, Butler, Crowe and Diesel, ARK: THE ANIMATED SERIES is a sweeping saga...

The Game Developers Choice Awards have arrived and look to honor the best of the best in the world of video games from 2023. This year's show has 12 categories and the winners are chosen by industry professionals from around the world.The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom and Baldur's Gate 3 are leading the way going into tonight with seven nominations each, and both are part of a surprising yet wonderful list of nominees for the best game of 2023 that also includes Cocoon, Dave the Diver, Dredge, and Marvel's Spider-Man 2.As we've seen in awards shows in the past, any game can emerge victorious, and we'll be covering the show live and updating the list below, so be sure to stay tuned to see the winners of the Game Developers...

Guilty Gear Strive's newest DLC character for Season 3 has been revealed as A.B.A., a long-missed fan favorite that first appeared in 2012's Guilty Gear XX Accent Core R and will arrive once more on March 26, 2024.A.B.A.'s return was announced during the Arc Live AWT Preview Show, and she will be released alongside a free update that introduces a new battle stage called 'Fallen Prayer, Engulfed Lives,' balance changes, and a new special move for Millia Rage called Artemis.If you'd like to play as A.B.A., she will cost $6.99 individually or as part of Season Pass 3 for $24.99.A.B.A. is known for being jealous and belligerent from time to time, but she is also considerate and sympathetic towards others. That jealousy does have...

EA’s long-running life simulation series The Sims is being adapted into a movie, according to The Hollywood Reporter.The project will be directed by Kate Herron, who previously directed season one of Loki for Disney+ and four episodes of Sex Eduction season one for Netflix. Herron will reportedly also co-write the screenplay.Margot Robbie’s production company LuckyChap (which Robbie runs alongside Tom Ackerly, Josey McNamara, and Sophia Kerr) is on deck to produce, in conjunction with Roy Lee and Miri Yoon of Vertigo Entertainment, as well as Electronic Arts itself.No other details on the upcoming film are available at this stage, so it’s unknown how many Sims will drown following the removal of the ladder after they jump in the...

The Nintendo Switch has entered what is likely its final year in the console market, and it appears to be going out in a blaze of glory with some exciting games to make way for its successor, the Nintendo Switch 2. Whether they’re exclusively developed for the Switch or ported over from other platforms, we’ve rounded up the upcoming Switch games that will make the hybrid console’s final year one of the most memorable.The next release we've got coming down the pipeline is Princess Peach: Showtime, the Mushroom Kingdom monarch’s first solo game since Super Princess Peach was released on the Nintendo DS nearly 20 years ago. Then there’s the long-awaited remake of Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD, World of Goo 2...

This article contains spoilers for the late game of Stardew Valley.A sinister new cut scene introduced in Stardew Valley's massive 1.6 update scolds those who glitch their way to an endgame region of the map.Perfection is, as they say, in the eye of the beholder. In the case of Stardew Valley, however, only one beholder really matters, and that is the game’s developer, Eric Barone, who has set very stringent criteria as to what constitutes a perfect game. Progress towards a "perfect" playthrough can be tracked via the perfection meter found in the Walnut Room on Ginger Island.To fill it up, you’ll have to spend countless hours slaying monsters, finding collectibles, growing crops, and generally being an outstanding...

Blizzard Entertainment has announced that Diablo 4 Season 4 will arrive later than expected, setting a release date of May 14, 2024.The company revealed the schedule change during the latest entry in its Campfire Chat series. It’s a delay that puts the next wave of dungeon-crawling content out one month later than the previously announced April 16 date. That means Season 3, Season of the Construct, will be around for an extra month, too.Diablo Community Lead Adam Fletcher explained the reasoning behind the move, saying that Blizzard won’t be launching its upcoming Public Test Realm (PTR) for Season 4 until April 2. With PTR set to conclude one week later on April 9, the team wanted to ensure it had enough time to consider and...