Gaming News

The Best Horror Game of 2024

It’s not a stretch to say we’re currently experiencing the best run of horror video games since the PS2 era. The past few years have seen the genre revitalised, in part thanks to nostalgia for a time when survival horror was at its peak. The result has been cutting-edge remakes, retro throwbacks, and new experiences that find fresh ways to send shivers down our spines. Things in the horror space are so good that last year, for the first time, IGN introduced the Best Horror Game category for its annual awards. And it was pretty easy to bring it back for a second year, so good has the selection of spooks been in 2024. We were treated to the uneasy, claustrophobic terror of Still Wakes the Deep and its infected oil rig; the grisly...

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Alien: Rogue Incursion Review

Of all the series most ripe for a virtual reality adaptation, few have greater potential than Alien. I mean, who aside from Ellen Ripley herself wouldn’t want to experience the thrill of being hunted by the perfect organism without that whole “risk of being dismembered” thing? Alien: Rogue Incursion is an admirable first attempt at delivering just that, with a compelling story, memorable characters, terrifying Xenomorphs, and a perfectly crafted world that couldn’t be mistaken for anything but the iconic Alien universe. There’s plenty of room to improve in its already-in-the-works sequel, however, especially when it comes to the simplistic combat, not-so-clever Xenomorphic foes, and occasional jankiness that could use some smoothing...

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Fisch Brings Phase 2 of Its Winter Update, With New Fish, Items and More

There's nothing quite like waking up in the morning to discover that a new update has been dropped for your favorite Roblox experience. Anyone who has given Fisch a try knows exactly what they're in for. And if you're on the fence, the latest Phase 2 Winter Update brings plenty of new features to the game to make it better than ever before. Alongside several buffs and nerfs for some of our favorite fishing rods, we can also look forward to a new Winter-themed quest. This is a pretty hefty update, so get ready to see what's waiting for you below. Fisch Winter Update Phase 2 Patch Notes & Hotfixes Below, you'll find all of the patch notes for the Winter Update Phase 2, alongside some additional hotfixes pushed out by the development...

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November 2024 Sales Charts: Nintendo Switch Passes PS2 to Become the Second Best-Selling Gaming Hardware in U.S. History

The Nintendo Switch has officially passed the PlayStation 2 to become the second best-selling gaming hardware in the United States, now trailing only the Nintendo DS. This comes from Circana's November video game sales report, which states that lifetime unit sales of the Nintendo Switch are now at 46.6 million (we've asked for updated totals on the Nintendo DS). But Switch sales are still slowing down. Per analysis from Circana's Mat Piscatella, it was only the second best-selling console for November, following the PS5 in both unit and dollar sales, with Xbox Series consoles in third. Overall hardware spending was flat, with 15% year-over-year growth for PlayStation hardware off-setting a 29% drop in Xbox Series sales and 3% drop on...

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Helldivers 2’s Killzone Crossover Is Real — and It’s Out Now

Helldivers 2’s leaked Killzone crossover is real, and developer Arrowhead has released it. But be warned: these cosmetics are only available for five days. Hot on the heels of the Omens of Tyranny update, which added the Illuminate faction, Helldivers 2 has its first official crossover. Part one of the Helldivers 2 x Killzone crossover is out now, and includes a Killzone-themed armor set, assault rifle, banner, cape, and player title. Part two hits Helldivers 2’s store on December 23, Arrowhead said. In a blog post, Arrowhead announced that Helldivers 2 x Killzone 2 belongs to a new tier of special premium content “reserved for collaborations and other uniquely-themed work," so expect to hand over plenty of Super Credits if you want...

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Star Wars: Skeleton Crew Episode 4 Review

This review contains full spoilers for Star Wars: Skeleton Crew Season 1, Episode 4. Who said Skeleton Crew was just Star Wars Goonies? Because this episode offers up another beloved reference point, and – for once – it’s not even from the ‘80s. In this, Skeleton Crew’s best episode so far, the show actually goes for something more akin to Doctor Who, complete with a trip to a planet with one central thematic gimmick (two factions, the Troik and the Hattan, are locked in a self-perpetuating, generation-spanning conflict) and even a lesson that the characters can take home (that real strength is sometimes found in kindness and not in fighting). It helps that the episode centers on the best member of the Skeleton Crew (though that’s...

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Need for Speed Turns 30: The Lasting Legacy of EA’s Fastest Franchise

It’s December 1994. The Santa Clause, Miracle on 34th Street, Pulp Fiction, and Forrest Gump are duking it out at the global box office. Boyz II Men’s On Bended Knee is about to (temporarily) cede the number one spot on the Billboard Hot 100 to Here Comes the Hotstepper by lyrical gangster Ini Kamoze. In video games, the original PlayStation has just launched in Japan. But forget the PlayStation for a moment, because December 1994 also marked the arrival of another interactive icon: The Need for Speed, on the ill-fated 3DO home game console. The 3DO, despite being lauded as Time Magazine’s 1993 Product of the Year, was ultimately a flop. There was no '3DO II'. The Need for Speed, however, was not a flop. There was a Need for Speed II...

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Indiana Jones and the Great Circle Update Dramatically Improves Lighting Effects on Xbox

Bethesda and MachineGames have just released a new update for Indiana Jones and the Great Circle that appears to have dramatically improved the lighting effects on Xbox consoles. In a blog post, MachineGames announced the release of Update 2 for Indiana Jones and the Great Circle that among other things includes general gameplay and bug fixes. However, an Xbox-specific fix seems to have added big improvements to how Global Illumination appears in game. Here are two images MachineGames released highligthing the before and after differences of the udpate. As you can see from the Before and After pictures, the update appears to have removed some of the washed out look of the pre-patch version. With the update and improvements to...

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These Last Minute Video Game Deals Will Ship to You By December 25: Super Mario, Sonic, Star Wars, and More

If you're shopping for last minute video games for the holidays, surprisingly you're not too late. There are plenty of deals on PS5, Xbox Series X, and Nintendo Switch video games that can still be delivered to you before December 25. Many (but not all) of these deals are actually as good as the ones we saw during Black Friday and Cyber Monday. They're mostly limited to retailers that have nearby retail locations like Best Buy and Target, but you should still be able to choose delivery and receive it with time to spare. Nintendo Switch Video Game Deals (Arrives by 12/25) PS5 and Xbox Video Game Deals (Arrives by 12/25) Super Mario RPG Super Mario RPG is a remake of the 1996 SNES classic. It was one of the best games to grace the...

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Pre-Order the Helldivers 2 Original Game Soundtrack Vinyl Now on IGN Store!

The battle for democracy in Helldivers 2 made it one of the biggest games of 2024. Many fans found the gameplay and multiplayer nature of the game fun, enthralled by the fast action and triumphant soundtrack. For the first time ever, you can take home the sound of freedom with the Helldivers 2 Original Soundtrack Vinyl, which is available to pre-order now at IGN Store. Pre-Order the Helldivers 2 Original Game Soundtrack Vinyl Now on IGN Store! This vinyl is the ultimate collector's item for any Helldivers fan. Composed by Wilbert Roget, II with additional music by Ross Tregenza, the Helldivers 2 soundtrack is the perfect soundtrack to listen to in the fight for freedom. A total of 11 tracks are included on this 1LP release, which...

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Masayuki Kato, Founder of Ys and Legend of Heroes-Maker Nihon Falcom, Dies at 78

Masayuki Kato, the founder and former president of Ys and Legend of Heroes developer Nihon Falcom, died on Sunday, December 15 at the age of 78, according to an announcement from the company today. Kato got his start as a computer technician working in the auto industry, but fell in love with personal computers and their capacity for games and entertainment. He founded Nihon Falcom in 1981 originally to publish games for Japanese personal computers in partnership with Apple, making Nihon one of the oldest video game companies still in existance today. He named his company after the Millenium Falcon from Star Wars, but with a "com" at the end for computers. Over time, Nihon Falcom under Kato's leadership became known as one of the...

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Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth Director Asks Fans Not to Make Inappropriate Mods Upon Its PC Release

Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth director Naoki Hamaguchi has asked fans to please not make inappropriate mods when the role-playing game comes to PC on January 23. Hamaguchi told the Epic Games Store that, while the team has no plans to add official mod support to Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth akin to, for example, Baldur's Gate 3 developer Larian Studios, it does support the creation of mods — so long as they're appropriate. "While the team has no plans for official in game mod support we respect the creativity of the modding community and welcome their creations," Hamaguchi said. "Though we ask modders not to create or install anything offensive or inappropriate." We ask modders not to create or install anything offensive or inappropriate...

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Skibidi Toilet Is Seemingly Coming to Fortnite

The popular internet series, Skibidi Toilet, could be coming to Fortnite soon as a skin. Earlier today rumors began to appear that cosmetics for the Skibidi Toilet meme began to appear online. Leaker SpushFNBR reported on X that a skin for "Plugerman" with a Lego-style Skidbidi backpack, a separate Skibidi Toilet backpack, and a Plungerman Plunger pickaxe will all drop on Fortnite. Now, Epic Games has seemingly confirmed the leak in a series of emojis including a toilet, plunger, and camcorder with the date "12.18.2024" Skibidi Toilet is from an animated web series created by Alexey Gerasimov for YouTube. Utilizing Valve's Source Filmmaker, Skibidi Toilet tells the story of a war starring toilets with heads coming out of them. The...

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How Marvel Rivals Fuses A Legendary Comic IP With Solid Hero Shooter Mechanics

With more than 10 million (count em’) players on the clock in just three days since launch, Marvel Rivals from developer NetEase Games has struck on some sort of magical formula to entice the masses. Yet, the reality is that Marvel Rivals just incorporates a lot of robust shooter mechanics extremely well alongside a stylish […] Continue reading...

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Dungeons & Dragons: Dark Alliance Going Offline After 3 Years

While Baldur's Gate 3 arrived in 2023 as seemingly the perfect Dungeons & Dragons adaptation from tabletop to video game, its predecessor Dungeons & Dragons: Dark Alliance is being shut down and removed from storefronts just three years after it launched. The game's Steam page was updated to announce servers will be taken offline and the game removed from sale on February 24, 2025. "We will be shutting down the Dark Alliance servers on February 24, 2025 and it will no longer be available to purchase starting that day," reads the note from developer Invoke Studios. "The base game and all DLC are still available to play in offline single-player by anyone who currently owns it." Dark Alliance launched on June 22, 2021 as a promised...

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CD Projekt Announces Concert Tour for The Witcher 3 10-Year Anniversary

CD Projekt has announced a concert tour to celebrate the 10th anniversary of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. The concert tour features “an innovative blend of cutting-edge visuals and gameplay” that plays alongside the original soundtrack performed by a live orchestra. It kicks off with anniversary concerts in Poland and Boston, Massachusetts in May 2025, before a tour of Europe in the fourth quarter of 2025 and then the U.S. in the first quarter of 2026. CD Projekt’s new U.S. hub is in Boston, which explains why the initial anniversary concert takes place there. Tickets go on sale soon, CD Projekt said. The full scale of the concert series — as well as ticket information — will be unveiled over time, with more information to be revealed...

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Tekken Chief Katsuhiro Harada Couldn't Get Pac-Man in Tekken Before, but Maybe Now It’s Possible With Shadow Labyrinth Coming Out

Tekken chief Katsuhiro Harada is now also the executive producer of Shadow Labyrinth, the surprise Pac-Man spin-off first revealed in one of the episodes of Amazon’s anthology animated series Secret Level before a reveal trailer for the video game itself at The Game Awards 2024. All of which begs the question: could The Swordsman, the main character from Shadow Labyrinth, appear in Tekken as a guest character? In many ways it would make sense, given both Tekken and Pac-Man are owned by Bandai Namco, and The Swordsman is an actual humanoid fighter who wields a sword. But what does Harada himself think? IGN put that question to the man himself in a recent interview, and his response suggested such a crossover is certainly possible...

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The Best Nintendo Game of 2024

2024 will likely be remembered as a transitional year for Nintendo. Last year saw heavy hitters like The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom and Super Mario Bros. Wonder while next year is all about the Nintendo Switch 2, leaving this year in kind of an awkward middle ground. Even so, Switch owners still had a ton of great games to play during the aging console’s eighth year on the market as Nintendo somehow managed to publish a game every single month, while third-party and indie developers continued to support Switch with awesome series revivals and clever new ideas. While many fans were begging to turn the page to the next generation, Nintendo proved Switch still had enough in the tank for one more year with a surprise Zelda game...

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Ex-Starfield Dev Surprised by How Much Loading the Game Launched With

One of the big criticisms Starfield players have with the game is the over-abundance of loading screens. When Bethesda’s sci-fi epic launched last year, fans were surprised by just how often you’d trigger loading, from on-foot traversal to simply heading into city buildings. Players said Starfield’s loading broke immersion and added frustrating pauses to gameplay, and modders have worked to remove as much of it as possible over the past year. The city of Neon was a particular focus of loading complaints. This cyberpunk-style urban area would often trigger a loading screen just for opening doors, some near to each other, which made questing annoying. But did it have to be this way? In an interview with VideoGamer.com, developer Nate...

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Killzone Looks Set to Return as a Helldivers 2 Crossover

While Sony’s dormant first-person shooter franchise Killzone seems dead in the water in terms of brand new games, it looks set to live on via a crossover with Helldivers 2. The gritty first-person shooter franchise saw five games released from 2004 to 2013 for a range of PlayStation consoles as Sony took on Xbox's Halo, culminating in PlayStation 4 launch title Killzone Shadow Fall. But fans haven’t heard a peep out of Killzone ever since (save a T-shirt in The Last of Us Part 2: Remastered), with the last decade and seemingly beyond devoted to developer Guerrilla Games' smash hit Horizon franchise. Based on recent comments from one developer, however, we perhaps now know why. Warning! Helldivers 2 spoilers ahead! Helldivers 2...

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Windblown Brings Dead Cells Speed Into A Co-Op World

Dead Cells is arguably one of the greatest roguelikes ever made, with the only real downside being the lack of any co-op mode. Thankfully developer Motion Twin’s next game Windblown, rectifies that oversight. While it’s not quite as slick as Dead Cells (at least not yet, it is currently in an Early Access state) it […] Continue reading...

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Activision Admits Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Anti-Cheat ‘Did Not Hit the Mark’ at the Launch of Season 1

Activision has outlined the steps it’s taken to combat cheating in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 after Ranked Mode came under fire by fans. Ranked, Black Ops 6’s most competitive Multiplayer mode, began November 21 but reaction so far has been largely negative. This is because of the apparent prevalence of cheaters who are ruining the integrity of the mode. And yes, as has become Call of Duty tradition, console players are turning off crossplay in a bid to avoid PC cheaters. In a new blog post, Activision’s Team Ricochet, the division responsible for its Call of Duty anti-cheat tech, admitted not enough had been done to prevent cheating with the launch of Season 1. “After a series of updates our systems are in a better place today...

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Borderlands 4 Narrative Director Remains 'Firm' in His Criticism of Borderlands 3’s 'Overabundance of Toilet Humor'

Borderlands 4’s narrative director has hinted at a cut-back on the toilet humor the series is famous for. Gearbox’s Sam Winkler tweeted to say he remains “firm” in his criticism of Borderlands 3’s “overabundance of toilet humor.” Then, responding to a user who joked that they wouldn’t be able to use “the poop poop farty 4,000 while doing a mission to clean up porta-potties with my companion skibidi toilet!?!?!?” Winkler said: “I’m not gonna say there’s no toilets but if the word skibidi ships in the game under my watch I’m gonna cry real tears.” The Borderlands series, which began with the first game’s release in 2009, is known as much for its humor as it is its loot-driven gameplay. The tone of the jokes have remained relatively...

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Marvel Rivals’ Most OP Characters

If you’ve spent any time with NetEase’s new hero shooter Marvel Rivals, then you already know that the game features many powerful heroes and villains. Yet with a base roster of 33 characters, some were inevitably going to rise to the top of the heap once players got their hands on them. Memes and humorous videos about the game have already taken social media by storm, with many focusing on which characters are causing tons of frustration and annoyance for the game’s ten million plus playerbase. After playing a few hundred matches of my own, I’ve found certain ones are far more dreaded than others. So today, we’re going to rank the top Marvel Rivals characters by how much they’re driving fans crazy. Obviously this list could change in...

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Catly Creator Says Game Has No Generative AI, No Blockchain, and No NFTs

The developer of recently-announced virtual pet simulator game Catly has responded to allegations that the game's trailer and marketing was produced using generative AI, saying that no such technology was used in its announcement at The Game Awards, nor in the game itself. In a statement shared with IGN, a PR representative authorized to speak on behalf of developer SuperAuthenti said that generative AI was not used to produce the trailer, nor the game. Furthermore, the representative said the developer was "very surprised by such speculations," adding that "We do not think there are any existing AI tools that can produce a video like that. Industry experts have echoed this opinion." The PR representative also showed IGN a version of...

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Tekken 8's Final Fantasy 16 Collaboration Has Roots That Go Back Decades

It’s fitting that in the year of the 30th anniversary of the original PlayStation, two of the console’s biggest franchises — Tekken and Final Fantasy — are collaborating once more. The two names are nearly synonymous with the PlayStation brand, and more than that share a development history not many know about. “I guess we can talk about [it] now since so much time has passed. Back around Tekken 3, a lot of our staff left the team and actually went to Square,” Tekken executive producer Katsuhiro Harada reveals in a sit down interview with IGN. Given Tekken 3 was in development during 1995 and released a year later, there were likely several ex-Tekken staff lending their 3D development skills to what would likely have been the only...

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IGN UK Podcast 778: The Game Awards Reveals and Ferry Fights

Cardy, Wes, and Dale are here to talk through all of the biggest reveals and announcements from The 2024 Game Awards. We've got Elden Ring Nightreign, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, Okami 2, and much more. Plus, plenty of time to talk about spilled cereal and teenage brawls on ferries. 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 778: The Game Awards Reveals and Ferry Fights IGN UK Podcast Special Episode: We Visited CD Projekt Red to Talk About The Witcher 4 IGN UK Podcast 777: Indiana Jones and the Great Game IGN UK Podcast 776: Breaking Down the Top 20 PlayStation Games IGN UK Podcast 775: Pouring Pea Gravy Over...

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The Best PC Game of 2024

The PC is arguably the definitive gaming platform, deeper and broader than any of the bespoke boxes you stick under your TV. It has become a catch-all for multiplatform games, an inevitable second home for first-party console exclusives, and a bastion for smaller games that may not be able to develop ports. It’s also a destination of its own for unique, mouse-and-keyboard-driven genres that just aren’t quite as comfy to play while sitting on a couch, while also being the place for portable-friendly games thanks to the likes of the Steam Deck. Unsurprisingly, it meant we had a lot of games to pick from when it came to crowning our 2024 PC favourites. While plenty of incredible games came to both the PC and other platforms this year...

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Elden Ring Has Now Outsold the Entire Dark Souls Franchise

FromSoftware titan Elden Ring has now outsold the entire Dark Souls franchise thanks to a sales boost seemingly spurred by expansion Shadow of the Erdtree, though still ahead of spin-off Elden Ring Nightreign launching next year. Elden Ring publisher Bandai Namco announced the open world role-playing game has now sold 28.6 million units, up 3.6 million from the 25 million revealed in June. And as pointed out by @ZhugeEX on X/Twitter, this means its outsold the Dark Souls series' 27 million. FromSoftware launched Elden Ring in February 2022, meaning its reached the impressive 28.6 million sales figure in two years and ten months. Dark Souls, meanwhile, arrived in 2011 with follow-ups Dark Souls 2 and Dark Souls 3 arriving in 2014 and...

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AU Deals: 80% Off VR Must-owns, Slashed Switch Mario Titles, FC 25 Goes Under $50, and More!

Welcome back to another week of equal parts gaming and saving. I'm tracking a very lucrative VR Humble bundle that has some Bethesda greats worth losing hundreds of hours within. There's also a mighty fine price on a Switch OLED + Mario Wonder. Lastly, I've spotted It Takes Two, A Way Out, and Okami HD all going for rather incredible discounts on a variety of storefronts. Classics all. Please acquire. In retro news, I'm using some Yoshi eggs to make a 31st birthday cake for Super Mario All-Stars. Back in the day, if you owned this cartridge and a SNES, you were livin' large and envied by all. Remakes of Super Mario Bros., Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels, Super Mario Bros. 2, and Super Mario Bros. 3 awaited within, and they all had...

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