Gaming News

Microsoft Reportedly Reaches Agreement With Crash Bandicoot Dev Toys for Bob for New Game

Microsoft has reportedly reached an agreement with former Crash Bandicoot developer Toys for Bob for the studio’s next game. In February, Toys for Bob announced plans to spin off from Microsoft-owned Activision to become an indie developer. Toys for Bob is the developer behind Skylanders, Spyro Reignited Trilogy, and Crash Bandicoot games, but in more recent years had become a Call of Duty support studio. At the time, Toys for Bob said it was exploring "a possible partnership between our new studio and Microsoft", adding both Microsoft and Activision were "extremely supportive" of its new direction. While Toys for Bob's first project as an indie studio is apparently "in the early days", fans wondered speculated it could be a revival...

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Final Fantasy 14 Director Yoshi-P Jokes 'I'll Give You One Week!' to Play Elden Ring DLC Before Dawntrail Release Date

Final Fantasy 14 director and producer Naoki ‘Yoshi-P’ Yoshida has revealed the Dawntrail expansion release date — and joked he’s giving Elden Ring fans one week to play the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC before jumping back into the fantasy MMO. Dawntrail launches July 2, with early access kicking off June 28 for those who pre-order. Shadow of the Erdtree launches a week earlier, on June 21. During a panel at PAX East, Yoshi-P joked that developer and publisher Square Enix had hoped to release the early access a week earlier, but… “Elden Ring DLC.” To laughs from the crowd, Yoshi-P joked further: "We figured everybody would be interested in playing the Elden Ring DLC." He then held up one finger, declaring: "I'll give you one week!"...

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Dragon’s Dogma 2 to Get ‘Start New Game’, Art of Metamorphosis Item Boost, Max 30fps Option, and More in Future Patch

Capcom has revealed planned updates for the recently released Dragon’s Dogma 2. The headline here is the addition of the option to start a new game when save data already exists. Inexplicably, Dragon’s Dogma 2 does not include this option, although modders have already brute forced it into the PC version. Elsewhere, Capcom said it will boost the number of Art of Metamorphosis items available at Pawn Guilds to 99. Art of Metamorphosis lets you edit your character, and is one of many day-one microtransactions Capcom is currently selling for real-world money. Meanwhile, Dragon’s Dogma 2 on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and S will get various graphics and performance options, including a toggle for motion blur and ray tracing...

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Wizards of the Coast 'Not to Blame' for Larian Leaving Baldur’s Gate 3 and D&D Behind, Swen Vincke Insists

Following Larian’s shock decision to move on from Baldur’s Gate 3 and Dungeons & Dragons, some fans have pointed the finger at Wizards of the Coast — but, according to Swen Vincke, the Hasbro-owned company is not to blame. Last week, Larian confirmed it had no plans to release DLC or expansions for smash hit Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game Baldur’s Gate 3, and indeed it had no plans to make another video game set in the D&D universe, ruling out a Baldur’s Gate 4 from the studio. Instead, it’s making a brand new game. Following the news, some fans expressed concern that Wizards of the Coast, which owns and operates Dungeons & Dragons, had caused Larian to walk away from the fantasy universe. Wizards of the Coast is owned by toy...

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Dragon’s Dogma 2 Mods Undercut Capcom’s Controversial Microtransactions, Dish Out Infinite Save Slots

Just days after Dragon’s Dogma 2 launched amid a controversy over its microtransactions, modders have worked their magic, making much of what publisher Capcom is selling day-one available for free. As IGN has reported, Dragon’s Dogma 2 is currently embroiled in a vociferous debate about its day-one microtransactions, which let players pay real-world money for useful items in the $70 single-player action role-playing game. Items that can be obtained in-game or as paid DLC items include a character editor called Art of Metamorphosis, warp location markers (Portcrystals), Wakestones, which restore the dead to life, and gaol keys, which, as you’d expect, let players escape from gaol. Players can also buy a lightweight Explorer’s Camping...

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Final Fantasy 9 Remake Rumors Fuelled by Final Fantasy 14 Director Yoshi-P

The director of Final Fantasy 14 has sparked renewed rumors of a Final Fantasy 9 remake. Speaking during PAX East, Final Fantasy 14 director Naoki 'Yoshi-P' Yoshida announced Final Fantasy 9-themed extras for the Collector’s Edition and Digital Collector’s Edition of Final Fantasy 14 expansion Dawntrail, including Final Fantasy 9’s Ark summon as a Final Fantasy 14 mount and a wind-up Princess Garnet minion (Garnet, aka Dagger, is one of the main characters of Final Fantasy 9). If you pre-order Dawntrail, you get a wind-up Zidane minion. Zidane is the protagonist of Final Fantasy 9. Final Fantasy 9-themed bonuses for Final Fantasy 14 wouldn’t be much to write home about on their own, but it’s what Yoshi-P said on-stage alongside their...

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Every Persona Game and Spin-Off in Order

Beginning its life as a Shin Megami Tensei spin-off, the Persona series has quickly launched into something entirely of its own and become one of the biggest names in modern RPGs. From multiple major sequels and remakes to anime adaptations and even stage plays, Persona is a multimedia sensation, and its popularity doesn’t seem to be slowing down anytime soon. With the latest entry in the franchise, Persona 3 Reload, now available to play on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and PC, new players are probably wondering where’s the best place to start. Below, we’ll give you a full rundown of every game and spin-off, including the best entry point for newcomers and both the chronological and release order of the series. Jump to: How to...

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Daily Deals: Persona 3 Reload, Meta Quest 2, MEGA Showcase Xbox 360

The weekend is officially here, and we've gathered up some excellent deals for you! Whether you're searching for a new VR headset or more storage for your console, we've got you covered with the best deals for Sunday, March 24. These deals include Persona 3 Reload, Meta Quest 2, PS5 Slim, and more. Persona 3 Reload for $39.99 Persona 3 Reload is already one of the biggest 2024 releases so far. The remake brings in new gameplay features, new voice actors, and an impressive slew of technology, including ray tracing. It's on sale right now at Amazon for $39.99, which marks a new all time low for the title. If you've never experienced the story of Persona 3, this is the definitive way to do so. Lowest Price Ever for Meta Quest 2 If...

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Dragon's Dogma 2 Interactive Map Is Live: Locations for Golden Trove Beetles, Campsites, Seeker's Tokens and More

The world of Dragon's Dogma 2 is sprawling and dense, with hundreds of materials, chests, secrets, and much, much more to find as you explore. The map isn't uncovered until you manually trek through wherever it is you want to go, too. Luckily, we have an interactive map for Dragon's Dogma 2 to show you locations for spots to rest, Seeker's Tokens, Ferrystones, Portcrystals, and more. The starting area is filled out robustly, but the Dragon's Dogma 2 interactive map is still a work in progress, so check back often for more updates! The map in Dragon's Dogma 2 is quite large, and our interactive map also includes maps for caves and interiors as well. Click on the arrow and door icon to see what map that cluster is for. We've also...

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Everything We Know About Fallout 5

With Amazon’s new Fallout TV show slated to hit Prime next month, longtime Fallout fans have already started wondering what the next official entry in the iconic post-apocalyptic video game series will look like. Although it’s still years away, Bethesda Game Studios has been very upfront about the fact that Fallout 5 is in the pipeline, going as far as to say it will be the studio’s next major project after the release of The Elder Scrolls 6. With that in mind, we decided to round up all the early details we’ve heard about the next major installment in the Fallout game series so you can get caught up on everything we know so far. Jump to: When is it coming out? Story details Platforms Development Fallout 5 Won’t Release For A Long...

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Dragon's Dogma 2 PC Performance Is a Mess, But It Didn't Have to Be

Its no secret that while Dragon's Dogma 2 is great, performance has been an issue from the jump – particularly on PC. There's a reason for it, Capcom has explained NPCs are individually simulated by your CPU, which makes this game incredibly dependent on your processor. Play the game for an hour or so and you'll realize how much the game benefits from this approach, but unless you have a top-end CPU paired with the best RAM you can muster, you're going to have a rough time with the frame rate, especially in cities. And then even if you do have the best gaming PC money could buy, you're still going to see frame rate drops. It's a shame, especially because the issues easily could have been avoided, and it's not entirely Capcom's fault...

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Hasbro Calls Larian an 'Incredible Partner' After Studio Confirms it Won't be Making Baldur's Gate 4

Larian Studios is officially finished with Baldur's Gate. Director Swen Vincke revealed the news at GDC, confirming that the studio has scrapped its DLC plans and won't be making Baldur's Gate 4. In a statement sent to IGN, a Hasbro spokesperson responded by calling Larian "an incredible partner," but offered little insight into what's coming next. "Larian has been an incredible partner, and together we are proud of the success of Baldur’s Gate 3. Watch this space for more on some awesome D&D games we are bringing to life through Hasbro’s studios and our network of licensing partners. We have an unbeatable library of toy and game brands and many fantastic partners around the world,” Hasbro's spokesperson said. Hasbro didn't respond...

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Baldur's Gate 3 Dev Larian Working on Additional Evil Endings, and 'They're Really Evil'

Larian Studios may not be working on full-fledged Baldur’s Gate 3 DLC, but there are at least more evil endings on the way – and founder Swen Vincke says “they’re really evil.” In an interview with IGN, Vincke teased additional campaign endings, saying that while players are “not going to see massive content changes,” the team is dedicated to delivering on the fan feedback they’ve received since launch. That includes some love for Baldur’s Gate 3’s more villainous players. “So they're working on the evil endings right now,” he said. “I've seen some of them. They're really evil. So the evil players will be satisfied with that.” Baldur's Gate 3 lets players be the kind of Dungeons & Dragons character they've always dreamed of – even...

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Rusty Rabbit Preview: SteamWorld Dig Meets Psycho-Pass and Peter Rabbit?

“Always wanted to play as a hard-boiled rabbit? Then we have the game for you.” This is the clear message that Rusty Rabbit delivers with its title screen, right from the get go. In his leather jacket, smoking a carrot, protagonist Stamp would have been right home in a Like a Dragon game. He does end up eating the carrot in the end, but who can blame him? He’s a rabbit after all. While Stamp’s characteristics can be grasped in an instant, as a game, Rusty Rabbit is a bit more difficult to explain. As Stamp, you explore a vast 2D environment with plenty of obstacles and enemies on the way. However, Rusty Rabbit relies too much on player choice to call it a Metroidvania. There are a wide array of abilities ranging from speed boosts to...

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Final Fantasy 16 1.30 Details Revealed Alongside Rising Tide Expansion Release Date

Square Enix has announced a release date of April 18, 2024, for its upcoming Final Fantasy 16 DLC, The Rising Tide. The company revealed the date along with a glistening new trailer today, showing off a much better look at how the story content will expand upon Clive and Co.’s journey. It seems to be shaping up to add even more cinematic encounters to a game that is known for larger-than-life battles, but the trailer’s real highlight has to be the battle between Ifrit and Leviathan. The Final Fantasy 16: The Rising Tide trailer features more details in its description, which you can read below. “An unmarked letter arrives at the hideaway containing a request most curious: the Dominant of Leviathan, long lost Eikon of Water, is in...

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Killer Klowns from Outer Space: The Game Developers Show Off the Klowns' Wacky Weapons

Asymmetrical multiplayer action game Killer Klowns from Outer Space: The Game is set to hit PC, PlayStation, and Xbox on June 4. As it's playable at PAX East this weekend, IllFonic was kind enough to send over a look at and brief description of some of the weapons and tricks for the Klowns. Note that the tricks unlock over time during a match. Klown Weapons Cotton Candy Raygun - The main weapon of the Klowns, which fires a steady ray of cotton candy energy. Used for turning humans into tasty cotton candy cocoons by keeping your aim trained on a nearby human. Can also coat escape objectives and the resurrection machine to block human progression. Mallet - a classic melee weapon with a hard hitting melee combo. Klowns can change the...

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Dragon’s Dogma 2 Mod Enables the Game's Own Hidden DLSS 3 Implementation for RTX 40 Series GPU Owners

A high-profile modder has released a free mod that lets Dragon’s Dogma 2 players access DLSS 3 Frame Generation, which users have reported adds another 20 to 30fps for RTX 40 series GPU owners. Dragon’s Dogma 2, out today, suffers from performance issues even on powerful PCs, particularly in relation to frame-rate. Developer and publisher Capcom has apologized to PC players on Steam for the performance issues, blaming them on heavy CPU usage when numerous characters appear at the same time. Now, on the day of Dragon’s Dogma 2’s launch, modder PureDark has released a mod that enables the game's own hidden DLSS 3 Frame Generation implementation for free. Released last year, DLSS 3 is the third generation of Nvidia's Deep Learning Super...

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IGN UK Podcast 741: Dragon's Dogma 2 Has the Sauce

Cardy, Dale, and Matt are back again to talk about video games. Who would've thought? This week the line-up includes both Dragon's Dogma 2 and Alone in the Dark, as well as a venture into the world of movies with a look at the first trailer for Alien: Romulus. There's also too much chat about what constitutes a sauce. What's your favourite sauce? Get in touch at ign_ukfeedback@ign.com. IGN UK Podcast 741: Dragon's Dogma 2 Has the Sauce IGN UK Podcast 740: Rise of Ricky Stanicky IGN UK Podcast 739: We Draft Our Favourite 2014 Games, Films, TV Shows, and Memes IGN UK Podcast 738: Shoguns, Unicorn Overlords and Kingmakers IGN UK Podcast 737: Buster Swordin' Makes Me Feel Good IGN UK Podcast 736: Who Remembers the 1990s? Continue...

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Capcom Addresses Dragon's Dogma 2 Steam Backlash: ‘We Sincerely Apologize for Any Inconvenience’

Capcom has responded to disgruntled Dragon’s Dogma 2 PC players, and addressed the backlash to the game’s controversial microtransactions and performance problems that have resulted in a 'mixed' user review rating on Valve's platform. As IGN has reported, Dragon’s Dogma 2 is currently embroiled in a vociferous debate about its day-one microtransactions, which let players pay real-world money for useful items in the $70 single-player action role-playing game. Dragon’s Dogma 2 has also run up against performance problems, even on powerful PCs, with frame-rate a particular issue. Now, in a message directly addressing Dragon’s Dogma 2 players on Steam, Capcom has responded to this backlash, saying: “We would like to update you on the...

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Dragon’s Dogma 2 Breaks Capcom Steam Records Amid Microtransactions Furore

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...

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PSA: Saving in Dragon’s Dogma 2 Doesn’t Work Like You Expect - Here’s What You Need to Know

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 Types Losing 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...

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Resident Evil Director, Hi-Fi Rush Producer Shinji Mikami has Seemingly Started Another New Studio

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...

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Far Cry At 20 – How Ubisoft’s Open World Shooter Evolved And Transformed An Entire Genre

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...

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Path of Exile 2’s Ranger Class Benefits Greatly from Recent Control Changes

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...

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Larian Started Work on Baldur's Gate 3 DLC, Then Canceled It: 'The Studio Was Elated'

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...

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New Stardew Valley 1.6 Easter Egg Lets Players Wield One of Terraria's Most Powerful Weapons

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 -...

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Larian Founder on Working With Google Stadia for Baldur's Gate 3: 'It Was a Really Stupid Deal'

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...

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The Elder Scrolls’ Creators Reveal How Accidental Plagiarism Was Part of Its Origin Story

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...

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Baldur's Gate 3's Collective Dialogue Has Triple the Word Count of the Lord of the Rings, Larian Reveals

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...

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Claim a Key for Super Space Club and Read Our Interview with the Developers

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 Club Super 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...

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