Gaming News

Activision Blizzard Settles Justice Department Lawsuit, Agrees Not to Limit eSport Player Salaries

Activision Blizzard settled a lawsuit with the U.S. Department of Justice over allegations that the publisher imposed a limit on esports players' salaries paid by the Overwatch and Call of Duty leagues. The department filed the complaint in the U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C. on Monday, saying that Activision Blizzard, which owns the Overwatch League and the Call of Duty League, and the independently owned teams agreed to impose the Competitive Balance Tax. As its name suggests, the tax was designed to limit competition between the teams by suppressing the wages of esports players and fined teams for paying players above a certain threshold set by Activision Blizzard, which the department said violated the Sherman Act. The...

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Arc System Works CEO Doesn't Want Guilty Gear and BlazBlue to Compete With Each Other

When it comes to fighting games, Arc System Works is at the top of the food chain. Between Guilty Gear Strive, BlazBlue, Dragon Ball FighterZ, DNF Duel, GranBlue Fantasy Versus, and others, ArcSys is the most active developer of quality fighting games in the business right now, and as such, there's no shortage of dream games that fans would love to see the developer tackle. At the Arc World Tour grand finals, I got a chance to sit down with Arc System Works CEO Minoru Kidooka to talk about some of those potential dream games, the future of BlazBlue, and his commitment to pursue new IP collaboration opportunities. IGN: I believe we spoke at EVO last year and you mentioned that you wanted to be more aggressive about pursuing...

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Crusader Kings 3's Next Expansion Arrives in May

Crusader Kings 3's next expansion, Tours and Tournaments, arrives on May 11, adding a ton of lavish events to the game. Leaving conquests for another day, Tours and Tournaments instead lets players change history by hosting grand activities like weddings and royal tours, and will be available for $29.99 / £24.99. "Pack the royal baggage, get the carriage sorted, and don’t forget to gather your entourage, because royalty travels in style," reads the expansion's description. "Visit your vassals, travel to a grand foreign wedding or take your turn at the jousting lists: all potential occasions for intrigue or advancement." Grand Tournaments can be used to improve your social standing and military prowess, Grand Tours let players...

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Redfall: Exclusive New Look at Layla's Backstory and Abilities | IGN First

Layla was there when Redfall was pulled into darkness by the vampire scourge now consuming the island. And, when it all went down, she wasn't alone. In the new character trailer above you can take a look at where Layla's fight with the vampires began – and see how her ex-boyfriend got pulled into the mess too. If you haven't seen, Layla's ultimate ability is summoning her vampire ex-boyfriend to help her destroy the enemies before her. As she says, their relationship is complicated. Here's Layla's kit: Power 1: Umbrella – Summon a psychic umbrella to block enemy and friendly projectiles. Power 2: Lift – Summon a psychic lift that launches you into the air. Ultimate Ability: Vampire Ex-Boyfriend – Call in a favor from your...

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Xbox Game Pass in April 2023: Ghostwire Toyko, Minecraft Legends, Loop Hero, and More

Xbox has officially confirmed the first wave of new Xbox Game Pass games for April 2023, and there's plenty to jump into this month. Finally breaking free from its PlayStation exclusivity, Ghostwire Tokyo is making its debut on Xbox Series X|S on April 12th. But that's not all - as Xbox Game Pass members will be able to dive into the game on the same day it launches. Game Pass also has a slew of other games set to come to the service in April, including the likes of Loop Hero on April 4, NHL 23 on April 13 and Minecraft Legends on April 18. You can see the full list of games coming to Game Pass just below, but remember, this is just the first wave for April, with another set of announcements expected in the latter half of the month...

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Ravenswatch Preview: Fairy Tale Heroes Are Reborn As Dark Fantasy Adventurers

Ravenswatch is a particularly unique take on the familiar conceit of an action roguelike RPG, which puts its cast of heroes at the forefront. Pulled from the pages of classic fairy tales, and given a dark fantasy twist, these heroes band together to vanquish an encroaching force of powerful nightmare creatures – or die trying. Coming from the developers of the action-RPG sleeper hit Curse of the Dead Gods, Passtech Games’ Ravenswatch left me intrigued after some extended hands-on time with the closed alpha, which put a hero-centric spin on the good ol’ fashioned dungeon crawler. Playing as one of six hero characters – pulling from stories such as Little Red Riding Hood, Beowulf, and The Snow Queen – you’ll freely explore an overworld...

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The Last of Us Part 1: Steam Deck Support Isn't a Priority for Naughty Dog Right Now

Getting The Last of Us Part 1 verified on Steam Deck isn't a priority for developer Naughty Dog right now as it instead focuses on addressing the several issues still present in the normal PC version. As reported by PC Gamer, Naughty Dog tweeted about fixes coming to the game and used the opportunity to let fans know that full Steam Deck support isn't coming anytime soon. "While we know many of you would like to play The Last of Us Part 1 on Steam Deck, we are prioritizing fixes and patches before submitting it for verification," it said. "We will keep you updated of its Steam Deck status as we continue to improve the PC version." The Last of Us Part 1, a remake of the 2013 PlayStation 3 classic, was released on PC on March 28 and...

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Cricket 24 Announced, Will Include ‘More Licenses Than Any Cricket Game Ever’

Big Ant Studios and Nacon have today confirmed Cricket 24 will launch in June on PC and consoles, just in time for the 2023 Ashes Series. The exception is the Switch version, which is due to arrive in November 2023. Cricket 24 is being pitched as having “more licenses that any cricket game ever.” Major cricket nations including Australia, England, West Indies, New Zealand, and Ireland will be included, with apparently more to be announced. Cricket 24 will also feature The Ashes, the BBL and WBBL, The Hundred, the Caribbean Premier League, and an unspecified number of “professional Indian T20 teams” that are also yet to be announced. There will be over 50 official stadiums. A new mode called Pro Team will allow players to build...

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Ravenbound Review

Simply looking out over its gorgeous vistas and up at its gnarly monster designs was enough to sell a curious dungeon diver like myself on Ravenbound. But as much as that first impression made me want to love this 3D roguelike, turbulence threw this bird far off course soon after taking flight. What starts as a promising action game eventually had me flying against a torrent of obscure and regressive systems, a flurry of frustratingly uncontrollable loot randomness, and a storm of very annoying bugs that quickly grounded any hopes I had for it. As The Raven, a weapon made by the old imprisoned gods of the world of Ávalt, you’ll possess a randomly generated character called a vessel on each new run. Every vessel has a different mix of...

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Meta Quest 2 Discounted Plus 3 Free Games, Up to 84% Off LEGO Titles, and More Aussie Deals!

Welcome back to your favourite pursuit — scoring awesome things for ludicrous prices. It's a particularly good day to save on LEGO (themed games and actual sets both). We also have perfect conditions for a bit of controller buyin'. I was tempted by some Xbox / PC compatible options. I may also have spotted a DualShock 4 variant worth picking up. Difficulty to say for sure. Because camouflaged and invisible. This Day in Gaming - Microsoft founded as a company, 1975. Latest baby - Final Fight CD (MCD) launch, 1993. Remaster - Super Monkey Ball Jr. (GBA) launch, 2003. Sequel Table of Contents Nintendo Switch PC Xbox PlayStation LEGO Notable Sales for Nintendo Switch Expiring recent deals Back to top Purchase Cheaply for PC...

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Join IGN's Pop-Up Party in Atlanta and Announcement of the “Best Sports Video Game Showdown” Winner

Join other sports gaming fans to celebrate the winner of IGN's Best Sports Video Games Showdown, and Be All You Can Be in Atlanta, GA April 15th! You will also have the chance to play the Best Sports Video Games of All-Time, compete against a special celebrity guest, and win fabulous prizes like T-shirts, IGN water bottles, Xbox Controllers, Consoles, Speakers, IGN Gift Cards and more! Attendees can also enter three different raffles for even bigger prizes: Grand Raffle Prize. Attendees who are at the event from start-to-finish will be eligible for the Grand Prize: a brand-new Xbox Series X and PS5! Make sure to register when you enter the premises. Scavenger Hunt Raffle. Attendees who complete the scavenger hunt will enter a raffle...

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Dark and Darker GoFundMe Saga Leads to Confusion, Scam Warnings From Devs

The legal battle between Dark and Darker developer Ironmace and game publisher Nexon continues to get messier, as confusion surrounding a GoFundMe campaign over the weekend has left fans scratching their heads. For context, Dark and Darker is an upcoming dungeon-crawling PvPvE game from developer Ironmace. Last month, the company was served a cease and desist letter and DMCA takedown, leading to content getting removed from the game's Steam page. The legal issues have put Dark and Darker's upcoming public playtest into question. Ironmace is in a legal battle with Nexon — the publishing company at which around half of Ironmace's 20-person team previously worked. Nexon is arguing that Ironmace is illegally using Nexon code in Dark and...

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Asus Is Making Its Own Handheld Gaming PC to Compete with Steam Deck

Asus is developing its very first gaming handheld PC, the ROG Ally, to compete with the Steam Deck. Although the company released the trailer for the PC gaming handheld on April Fools' Day over the weekend, the PC gaming handheld is the real deal — and you can register to pre-order it from Best Buy. According to Asus, the Ally runs on Windows 11 and carries a customized APU developed by Asus and AMD to make it the fastest APU to optimize gameplay performance on the go. It also has dual fans that keep the handheld cool while running a graphically demanding game as quietly as possible. Not an April Fools' Joke To further confirm that the Ally is a reality (or going to be), YouTuber Dave2D released a preview video where he took a deep...

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Multiversal RPG Dragonheir: Silent Gods Announces Collaboration with Wizards of the Coast Dungeons & Dragons Brand

Popular characters from the world of Dungeons & Dragons and Dungeon Master Matthew Mercer’s voice will be making their way onto the Multiversal Plane in Dragonheir: Silent Gods in the coming two years as the fantasy adventure title releases in the second half of 2023. International Publisher and developer Nuverse and SGRA Studio announced a collaboration with Wizards of the Coast, a division of Hasbro, Inc, that will bring Dungeons & Dragons characters into their upcoming multiversal RPG Dragonheir: Silent Gods later this year. This post-launch content will appear as seasonal updates that expand the multiverse with new locations to explore, enemies to slay, and other well-known characters from the Dungeons & Dragons lore. In order...

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Best Steam Deck Dock 2023

The Steam Deck is one of the most powerful portable gaming consoles out there. In short, it’s a killer handheld. While it’s powerful enough to play games like Red Dead Redemption 2 and Stray on-the-go in a compact and portable device, sometimes you want to play immersive games like Eldren Ring and God of War on a screen that’s bigger than seven-inches. And unlike the Nintendo Switch, another powerful gaming handheld, the Steam Deck doesn’t come with a docking station to play games on a big screen 4K TV or gaming monitor. However, there are loads of third-party docks that are specifically designed for the Steam Deck. Although Steam does have an official docking station for their handheld, it’s expensive and takes up to two weeks for...

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Gotta Catch This $35 Pokémon on Switch, 70% Off FIFA 23, Discounted Meta Quest 2 and More Aussie Deals

Alright, let's kick this week off with some banger deals. Gift-wise, handing somebody a thirty-five buck Pokémon Pearl beats the hell out of yet more chocolate. Same deal with a cut-price FIFA 23 on PC or an Elden Ring for $69. Break those Easter present stereotypes. Take on way less calories. Solid plan. This Day in Gaming - Pokémon Ruby / Sapphire (GBA) launch, 2003. Sequels - Metroid Prime (GC) launch, 2003. Remaster - AC: Altaïr's Chronicles (DS) launch, 2008. Table of Contents Nintendo Switch PC Xbox PlayStation Notable Sales for Nintendo Switch Back to top Purchase Cheaply for PC Back to top Exciting Offers for XO/XS Back to top Product Savings for PS4/PS5 Adam Mathew is our Aussie deals wrangler. He plays...

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April Fools' Day 2023: The Best Video Game Pranks on the Internet

April Fools' Day has once again arrived and has brought with it some hilarious video game pranks. While most can be found to be fake for a laugh, there are a few clever ones that catch us by surprise and become actual new games or updates to existing titles that are just as wild as the day they are released. It can be hard to keep track of all the best video game pranks on April Fools' Day, so we are here to gather all the best ones in this roundup! Let us know which prank is your favorite below! We'll also be updating this article throughout the day, so be sure to check back for the latest additions! The Super Mario Bros. Movie Voices + Nintendo Switch Online Announcement To kick off the April Fools' Day festivities, IGN presented...

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Resident Evil 4 Remake Has a Game-Breaking Bug and Capcom Is Working on a Fix

Capcom has alerted Resident Evil 4 Remake players that a rare game-breaking bug has been found at the beginning of Chapter 12 that could stop your progress if you attack with your knife right after obtaining a key item. Capcom shared the news on Twitter, saying that this issue affects players on all platforms and that it "intends to fix this issue in a future update and apologize for any inconvenience." Luckily, the fix will allow players who were impacted by this bug to continue their current save. As for the bug itself, Capcom has detailed what it is and how to avoid it in a non-spoilery way; "A cutscene will play at the beginning of Chapter 12, after which the player will receive a key item," Capcom wrote. "Please refrain from...

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Ark 2 Delayed Again, to 2024; But a Next-Gen Version of the First Game Is Out in August

Today, Studio WildCard announced that Ark 2, the sequel to 2017's Ark: Survival Evolved, is getting delayed a second time into 2024 - but in the meantime, a next-gen version of the original game is coming out in August to keep us busy. In a community blogpost offering a development roadmap, Studio WildCard explained that the reason for Ark 2's delay to next year was due to challenges working with Unreal Engine 5: "Our goal is to make ARK 2 the best game it can be and provide a truly exceptional and rewarding experience for players. Unreal Engine 5 is incredibly new technology to us (and all developers), and we aim to use this cutting-edge tech to its fullest potential while creating a game with never-before-achieved scope at Studio...

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The Murder of Sonic the Hedgehog: New Sonic Game Gets Surprise Release on Steam

Sega loves to surprise Sonic fans, so they surprised everyone by releasing The Murder of Sonic the Hedgehog, a new murder mystery title featuring the Blue Blur and his friends, for free on Steam. Sonic's social media team announced the shocking new game today with the launch trailer, showing the game in visual novel form. The team wrote that the game "has been a labor of love from the Sonic Social team and a host of amazingly talented people who are just as passionate about Sonic as we are." In The Murder of Sonic the Hedgehog, Amy Rose is throwing a murder mystery-themed birthday party for all of her friends aboard the Mirage Express. When Sonic suddenly dies, you play as a new character who just so happens to be a new crew...

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The Last of Us Part 1: Best Tips, Secrets, and Guides for Survival

For far too long, The Last of Us has been something you could only play on PlayStation consoles. Now that the first installment in the series has arrived on PC, non-PlayStation gamers finally have a chance to play the critically acclaimed Naughty Dog title. With the first season of The Last of Us show concluding, this is a great opportunity to dive into the story once again with even more depth. Unlike watching a TV series, however, playing The Last of Us, which has some puzzling portions, can be confusing, and even challenging at times. Whether it's trying to find the right puzzle solution to progress or just surviving a Clicker stealth area, you may need some guides as you progress through the story. Take a look at some of the best...

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Marvel's Avengers Is Getting Its Last Patch Ever Today

Just under three years after its release, support for Marvel's Avengers is winding down. Today, Crystal Dynamics released Patch 2.8 for Marvel's Avengers, which adds some final features and bug fixes to the game before it gets delisted later this year. Crystal Dynamics revealed the patch via a blog post, which thanks players for their support. The patch focuses on introducing some final features to the game and includes a host of new bug fixes. Patch 2.8 makes many of the game's cosmetics more accessible, fully removing the Shipments and Hero Challenge Cards systems from the game and instead putting their rewards in the Marketplace. The update also automatically converts players' Credits balances into in-game resources and turns...

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Resident Evil 4 Remake: How to Get the Most Money for Your Treasure and Gemstone Combinations

Looking back from the end of Resident Evil 4 there's one big tip that becomes apprent for players: Do not sell your gemstones! Resident Evil 4 Remake has a bit of a complex economy, with The Merchant as the central banker. The Merchant will give you seemingly high prices for the treasures and gemstones you come across, but when you combine these items, you can gain vastly increased pesetas in exchange. The key point here is that it's worth saving your gemstones until you have a treasure in which you can inlay them, and even then you should wait until you have the optimal gem color combinations. How to Get the Most Valuable Gem/Treasure Combos Here's how gemstone color combinations and gemstone inlaying in treasure works: Find a...

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NLRB to File Complaint Against Activision Blizzard in Illegal Surveillance Case

The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has concluded its investigation of a case the Communication Workers of America filed against Activision Blizzard, opting to file a complaint with charges alleging the company illegally surveilled employees and violated labor laws by threatening to shut down company communication channels. However, the NLRB also dismissed a charge that the company violated Section 7 laws by shutting down a chat channel during an all-hands meeting last summer. The three charges The charge of surveillance goes back to July 21, 2022 when employees staged a walkout in protest of the overturning of Roe v. Wade, demanding protections from a growing strain of anti-abortion laws in the US, as well as labor-neutrality...

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Final Fantasy 14's Hefty Patch 6.4 Detailed, Release Date Revealed

Final Fantasy 14 Online is nearly 10 years old, but it doesn't seem to be slowing down any time soon. During today's Live Letter 76 broadcast, director Yoshi-P and the team behind FFXIV revealed details about the massive Patch 6.4, which is called The Dark Throne and will be released at some point in late May. Patch 6.4 will continue the game's Main Scenario Quest, adding onto the story of the player's journey throughout Eorzea. It will also add the new Pandæmonium: Anabaseios raid, an icy dungeon called The Aetherfont, and the "challenging" Voidcast Dais trial. Other modes of the game will also change significantly — PvP Series 4 and Crystalline Conflict season 7 will kick off with the launch of this patch. Yoshi-P also teased...

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Destiny 2: Where Is Xur Today? Location and Exotic Items for March 31-April 3

The thickest of loot boys, Xûr, is now live in Destiny 2 for the weekend until next week's reset. If you're looking to get your some shiny new Exotic armor or weapons for your Guardian, look no further. Each week, Xûr has a random assortment of Exotic armor, one for each Guardian class, as well as a random Exotic Weapon and an Exotic Engram available for purchase. In addition to his Exotic wares, he's got a random collection of Legendary weapons and armor to deck out your Guardians. We've rounded up all the info on Xûr for the week including where to find Xûr, which Exotic weapons and armor are available, as well as which Legendary weapons you should pick up, either for PvE or PvP. Where Is Xûr Located Today? Xûr's location can be...

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Hyper Light Breaker Creator On Sequel’s Genre-Breaking Possibilities: Why Not Hyper Light Racer?

After getting a hands-off look at some early gameplay from upcoming Hyper Light Drifter sequel, Hyper Light Breaker, it’s clear that the follow-up is both thematically very Hyper Light while also functionally a significant departure from the first game. While Hyper Light Drifter was a single-player (at launch), top-down action-adventure, Hyper Light Breaker is a multiplayer-focused, 3D, roguelike action game. Why change genre so dramatically for a follow-up when fans were, presumably, expecting more of the same? Creator Alx Preston doesn’t have that deep a reason: Hyper Light Breaker is simply the game the team wanted to make, and that he specifically wanted to make “for quite a long time” after Drifter’s release. So he’s not too...

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Hyper Light Breaker Exclusive First Gameplay Preview: Familiar Colors, New Light

Watching developer Alx Preston walk me through some early Hyper Light Breaker gameplay at this year’s Game Developers Conference makes the already inscrutable world of Hyper Light feel even more esoteric. Hyper Light Breaker was already a game told in strong imagery rather than language, with a story to be slowly puzzled out over time and significant effort. But Breaker is a total gameplay departure from Drifter, so experiencing it through cryptic hints from Preston about what’s going on as he pummels his way through piles of enemies in rainbow-tinted biomes gives it even more of an aura of mystery. As with Drifter, Hyper Light Breaker’s world is awash in brilliant colors, littered with strange runes and ruins, and is completely...

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Vampire Survivors' Second Expansion Arrives in April

Poncle has announced a second expansion for Vampire Survivors called Tides of the Foscari, which will arrive on April 13. As revealed on Xbox Wire, the expansion takes players to western Europe in the Great Forest with the developers were influenced by local fairy tales and folklore. At the center lies the Foscari Academy, a school that trains the next generation of warriors, scholars, and leaders. It’s divided into three houses: the Azure Tower trains magical sorcerers and warlocks; the Crimson Anvil focuses on strength, engineering, and blacksmithing; and the Amber Sickle consists of professions such as accounting, agriculture, and archery. As for the new content, there are eight new characters, 13 new weapons, one new stage...

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IGN UK Podcast 690: Dunjackets & Dadragons

Join Emma, Mat, and Matt as they discuss the new Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves movie, followed by a special interview segment with directors John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein. The ‘Matt’ Trio also talk about this week’s TV highlights as both Succession and Yellowjackets are back on our screens, then move onto Counter-Strike 2 thoughts, and some doughnut-fueled feedback. Got a game for us to play, or just want to tell us the weirdest thing you've eaten for breakfast? Drop us an email: ign_ukfeedback@ign.com. IGN UK Podcast 690: Dunjackets & Dadragons IGN UK Podcast 689: The Big Resident Evil 4 Chat IGN UK Podcast 688: What is the Best Shape of Doughnut? IGN UK Podcast 687: The Build-a-Horror Movie-Workshop IGN UK...

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