Gaming News

Upgrade Your Steam Deck or ASUS ROG Ally to a 1TB SSD for Only $69.99

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 $69.99 Compatible with Steam Deck or ROG Ally Both 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...

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Larian Studios Won't Make Baldur's Gate 3 DLC, Expansions, or Baldur's Gate 4

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...

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Astarion Was a Tiefling in an Early Version of Baldur's Gate 3, GDC Panel Reveals

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...

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Rocksteady Reveals How Joker Works in Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League

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...

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Even Will Smith Couldn’t Save Zombie Survival Game Undawn, Which ‘Flopped Spectacularly’

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...

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Killer Klowns from Outer Space: The Game Developers Share Gameplay Overview and Tips

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 Humans Escape! - 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...

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Activision Explains Why Call of Duty Warzone Mobile Has 120-Player Verdansk and PC and Console Do Not

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...

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PDP's Riffmaster Wireless Guitar Controller Will Cost $130, Out Next Month

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...

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Dragon’s Dogma 2 Players Are Planning an NPC Murder Spree to Boost the Game’s Frame-Rate

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...

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SMITE 2's First New God, Hecate, Revealed

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...

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High on Life: Squanch Games Brings the Hit Franchise to Comics

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...

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Helldivers 2 Dev ‘Deep Down in the Trenches’ Digging Into Current Crash Problem

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...

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ARK: The Animated Series' First Six Episodes Are Now Available on Paramount+

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...

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Game Developers Choice Awards 2024 Winners: The Full List (Updating Live!)

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...

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Guilty Gear Strive's Latest Character Is a Long-Missed Fan Favorite Named A.B.A.

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...

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The Sims Movie in the Pipe From Loki Director, Margot Robbie’s Company to Produce

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...

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Every Upcoming Nintendo Switch Game Releasing in 2024

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...

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Stardew Valley's 1.6 Update Introduces a Sinister Cut Scene That Punishes Players Who Cheat the Game

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...

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Diablo 4 Season 4 Delayed by a Month, Extending Season of the Construct to May

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...

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Street Fighter Pro, Fighting Game Community Icon Michael 'BrolyLegs' Begum Dies at 35

Street Fighter pro and legendary fighting game community (FGC) member Michael "BrolyLegs" Begum has died at the age of 35. Begum’s family shared news of his passing with a statement on X/Twitter. They ask fans to share memories and remember the impact he had on the FGC. Begum got his start as a competitive Super Smash Bros. Melee player, but is best known for his work as a Chun-Li player in Capcom’s Street Fighter series. “On behalf of the family of Michael Phillip Begum, ‘Brolylegs', we want to inform friends, and fans around the world that Mike has passed on," reads the family statement. "This sudden loss is devastating to us all. The family needs time to gain more information on his passing and time to grieve through this...

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Epic Will Launch a Fortnite Season Developed on UEFN by the End of 2025 - State of Unreal 2024

At the State of Unreal 2024 presentation, Epic Games announced a slew of new product information and details. Among them were the new tools coming to Unreal Editor for Fortnite (UEFN) and confirmation that next year, the studio will launch its first season of Fortnite that's developed entirely in UEFN. As part of its UEFN roadmap, Epic Games revealed that "by the end of 2025," it will ship the first season of its widely popular free-to-play Battle Royale, made entirely using the level editor it introduced nearly a year ago. Beyond that surprise, Epic went into more detail about the UEFN roadmap and the new creator tools it will add this year. This includes confirmation that the first-person camera settings will arrive in UEFN...

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Everything Announced at State of Unreal 2024: Amy Hennig Reveals Marvel 1043: Rise of Hydra, New Tools Coming to UEFN, and More

At GDC 2024, Epic held its State of Unreal event, unveiling the latest news and developments coming to Unreal Engine — specifically Unreal Engine 5 and Unreal Editor for Fortnite (UEFN). If you missed the event, here's a quick rundown of everything announced during the 2024 State of Unreal presentation. Amy Hennig Reveals Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra at State of Unreal In an unexpected yet pleasant surprise, Amy Henig and Skydance Media started the show by unveiling Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra, one of two projects Hennig has spearheaded since joining the studio. Alongside a proper reveal of the game, we also learned that it would use Epic's tech, most notably MetaHuman Animator, to provide more photorealistic facial animations. Last...

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Dragon's Dogma 2 Performance Review - PS5 vs Xbox Series X/S vs PC

Capcom really upped its game with their RE-Engine that debuted in 2017’s Resident Evil 7. It has since seen Capcom through 16 games and three console generations, but none were as demanding and out of that design scope as Dragon’s Dogma 2, which is probably why it’s the first to make the versatile engine visibly bulge at the seams. This is a game that relies on physically based materials, photogrammetry textures, and realistic human models and animation, alongside a fantastical and mythical world, but the bumpers come off in places where we see the open-ended, dynamic, and systemic game design with CPU-controlled enemies and teammates, vast, open plains to explore, and dense towns with constant data streaming. This flips the linear...

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Max Payne 1 and 2 Remake Has Same Development Budget as Alan Wake 2

Remedy Entertainment has discussed its hotly anticipated Max Payne 1 and 2 Remake, revealing it has a similar development budget to the recently released Alan Wake 2. Remedy is working with Grand Theft Auto and Red Dead Redemption company Rockstar under a new publishing agreement to remake the first two Max Payne games for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X and S. Remedy is handling development while Rockstar is fully financing the project. The Max Payne remakes are developed on Remedy's Northlight game engine, the same engine used to develop Control and Alan Wake 2. The original Max Payne games were also a result of a partnership between Remedy and Rockstar, with Remedy handling development and Rockstar Games publishing. Rockstar...

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Yoko Shimomura Reflects on Lifetime Achievement: 'I Knew I Loved Music, and I Loved Myself Because of That'

At least once a week, I look at what I've written down on my computer for a story, put my head in my hands, sigh deeply, and say something like, "Actually, this is the worst thing anyone has written in the history of writing and I should quit immediately." I haven't met anyone engaged in creative pursuits who hasn't felt this way at least once. And Yoko Shimomura is somehow no exception. Shimomura is the lauded composer of soundtracks for games and franchises such as Kingdom Hearts, Mario & Luigi, Xenoblade Chronicles, Streets of Rage, the Mana series, Super Mario RPG, Live A Live, Radiant Historia, Final Fantasy XV, Parasite Eve, Breath of Fire, the list goes on and on. But despite all this, despite years of accolades including a...

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At Least We Know What the Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater Remake Main Menu Looks Like

Konami has revealed the Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater remake main menu as part of a new video series fronted by Solid Snake voice actor David Hayter. The Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater remake, officially titled Metal Gear Solid Δ: Snake Eater (the Δ is pronounced 'delta'), is set to bring “unprecedented new graphics” to Hideo Kojima's 2004 sequel. The main menu screen, below, doesn’t reveal much, save a look at Snake Eater’s famous jungle environment. We also hear the classic Metal Gear Solid gun sound with a press of the start button. Konami has revealed little of the Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater remake save the announcement trailer and Unreal Engine 5-powered footage, and it has yet to announce a release date. However, in...

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Obsidian’s Spy RPG Alpha Protocol Revived 5 Years After Delisting

Obsidian’s secret agent RPG Alpha Protocol is back from the dead courtesy of GOG five years after it was delisted. Alpha Protocol, first released in 2010, was pulled from Steam in 2019 due to the expiry of music rights. At the time publisher Sega, which still owns the Alpha Protocol IP, failed to go into further detail, but the delisting was said to have to do with scenes such as a boss fight that includes Turn Up The Radio by Autograph. Now, five years later, GOG has worked to bring Alpha Protocol back with all its original music. It said Alpha Protocol is available DRM-free and includes a number of additional features, such as the freshly licensed soundtrack. Here’s the list: ● A licensed soundtrack ● Achievements support ●...

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How Long is Dragon's Dogma 2?

Dragon’s Dogma 2 is yet another huge open-world RPG greeting us at the beginning of 2024. But just how long is it? Here we’ll let you know exactly how many hours it took different members of the IGN team to finish the story – as well as others who are only part of the way through their journey – and what they prioritised doing with their time. Simon Cardy - Senior Editorial Producer It took me just under 24 hours to reach the final credits of Dragon’s Dogma 2’s story, including the game’s optional true ending. By the time I reached the end of my journey with my loyal pawn Ham at my side, I was a level 41 Mystic Spearhand with all my vocational skills unlocked. I started my adventure by taking my time, spending quite a few hours...

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Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero! Gets New Gameplay Showcase and Characters, But No Release Date

Bandai Namco has provided another look at Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero, the next installment in its Budokai Tenkaichi series. Although there's no release date, today's showcase provided an in-depth overview of the features and mechanics we can expect in Sparking! Zero. The gameplay showcase, which you can check out below, shows a fight between longtime rivals Goku and Vegeta. We spend a few minutes watching both characters duke it out, with both transforming into Super Saiyan God before an energy wave battle towards the end of the battle. As with previous installments in the Budokai Tenkaichi games, Sparking! Zero has a behind-the-back third-person camera system with the dynamic and action-packed gameplay that has become the...

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Dragon’s Dogma 2 Review

In a way, Dragon’s Dogma 2 reminds me of Sam Raimi’s Evil Dead 2, which was more of a remake of his first cult-classic comedy-horror movie than a sequel. The much bigger budget allowed Raimi to really dial in his true vision for Ash’s bad night with the bad book. Like Evil Dead 2, Dragon’s Dogma 2 doesn’t stray too far from the blueprint that turned it into a cult-classic action-RPG in its own right over the past decade, keeping its second-to-none action design and vague but robust and alluring world as its centerpieces. Like the 2012 original, it is unforgiving out of the gate thanks to brutal enemies and chaotic encounters that are not designed to gradually ease you in. It is also high levels of janky; all of its systems seem...

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