Gaming News

Resident Evil 4 Remake: 8 Exciting New Details

Resident Evil 4 Remake is just a few weeks away but IGN got one more look at the highly-anticipated survival horror game ahead of the launch, with plenty of enticing new details to pore over. While we would have preferred to actually play the game, especially since it’s so close to release, instead we were shown just under 20 minutes of new Resident Evil 4 Remake footage. However, it gave us enough of a look to spot some of what we think will be the biggest changes coming to the horror classic. Parrying In an interview with IGN about how the development team figured out what new gameplay mechanics to add to Resident Evil 4 Remake, director Yasuhiro Ampo said, “when looking into making the remake, the team didn’t want to disturb the...

View full article »

Sons of the Forest Already Beaten in Less Than 9 Minutes

Fans may have been waiting more than three years for Sons of the Forest to be released but that hasn't stopped speedrunners from racing through the game in less than nine minutes. As reported by PC Gamer, Benjamin Romero on YouTube published a Sons of the Forest speedrun of just eight minutes and 45 seconds on February 28, five days after the game launched. Romero's run is in the any percentage, normal difficulty category, meaning it's essentially a pure sprint to the finish with no rules or regulations. Finishing in the smallest amount of time possible is the only goal, meaning players can take advantage of any glitches or exploits present. One exploit in particular is key to Romero's impressive time, as the beginning of the...

View full article »

Xbox Exclusive Hi-Fi Rush Hits 2 Million Players

The Xbox exclusive rythmic action hit Hi-Fi Rush has officially surpassed the two million player mark according to Bethesda and developer Tango Gameworks. As spotted by G.I.Biz, the engagement milestone came by way of a tweet from Bethesda encouraging fans to "keep on being rockstars", whle celebrating the fact that “two million players have moved to the beat of Hi-Fi Rush” since the game’s January 25 straight to Game Pass surprise launch. Hi-Fi Rush’s rhythm-based gameplay, vibrant aesthetic, and humorous character represented a surprising departure from developer Tango Gameworks’ history of creating horror-infused titles such as The Evil Within and Ghostwire Tokyo. Prior to launch, Hi-Fi Rush reportedly went viral amongst...

View full article »

Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty Review

At this point, it’s probably fair to say that Team Ninja has a pretty good handle on this whole soulslike genre thing. Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty may not reach the same heights as Nioh 2 did back in 2020, but it certainly scratches that same itch of lightning-fast combat, punishing-yet-rewarding difficulty, and deep build customization options that you can craft and tailor to your own playstyle. It’s great for the same reasons that the Nioh games are, and it accomplishes that feat even while completely changing up the fundamentals of its combat system to be closer to Sekiro than Dark Souls. But by that same token, it also falls victim to the same familiar issues nagging at those other Team Ninja soulslikes, including subpar storytelling...

View full article »

AFL 23 Release Date Confirmed, Arriving April

Cricket 22 and AO Tennis developer Big Ant has confirmed AFL 23 will be arriving on PlayStation and Xbox platforms, plus PC, on April 13, 2023. The studio also revealed a small selection of new screenshots from the game, which will feature all the clubs and teams from the AFL and AFLW, plus the AFL grounds featured in the 2023 season. The Melbourne, Australia-based developer, which has a long history of building cricket, rugby league, and tennis games, previously developed AFL Live for PS3, Xbox 360, and PC in 2011. Over the last decade, AFL for Wii (2011), AFL Live 2 (2013), AFL Evolution (2017), and AFL Evolution 2 (2020) were developed by Wicked Witch Software, which is also based in Melbourne. Luke is Games Editor at IGN's...

View full article »

Aussie Deals: Over Half-Off Sonic Frontiers, Up to 92% off AAA Games Bundles and More!

Let's zip you to the titular 92% off deal from the get go. If you don't own Portal and Portal 2, you'd be crazier than GLaDOS (or Cave Johnson) to pass on this budget priced bundling. The same goes for the Dishonored Complete Collection, the Hidden & Dangerous Bundle and the EA Family Bundle on Xbox. One should always buy all-time quality games in bulk, I say. This Day in Gaming - Ninja Gaiden (XB) US launch, 2004. Remaster - Mafia (PS2, XB) US launch, 2004. Remaster - Battlefield: Bad Company 2 (X360, PS3) US launch, 2010 Table of Contents Nintendo Switch PC Xbox PlayStation LEGO Notable Sales for Nintendo Switch Expiring Recent Deals Back to top Purchase Cheaply for PC Expiring Recent Deals Back to top Exciting...

View full article »

Marc Laidlaw on Publishing Half-Life 3 Plot as Fan-Fiction: 'I Was Deranged'

Half-Life 2: Episode 3 may not be an official endeavor, but that doesn't mean series writer Marc Laidlaw hasn't pondered a universe after Episode 2. However, he seems to regret publishing those thoughts as an unofficial short story. In an interview with Rock Paper Shotgun, Laidlaw explained why he regrets publishing the 2017 Half-Life fan-fiction on his website. The writer had plans for more adventures in the Half-Life universe but touched on the headaches, embarrassment, and fan confusion that followed his decisions. When noting why he did it, Laidlaw kept it blunt. "I was deranged," Laidlaw told Rock Paper Shotgun. "I was living on an island, totally cut off from my friends and creative community of the last couple decades, I was...

View full article »

Mortal Kombat Leaks, Mikami Leaves, and More in a Wild Xbox Week – Unlocked 584

Tons to talk about this week! We start by discussing our disappointment in the new gameplay showcase for Rocksteady's Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League. Then we analyze Tango Gameworks founder Shinji Mikami's departure from the studio and why we think The Evil Within 3 is still happening. Plus: Mortal Kombat 12 gets announced in an unexpected way, Call of Duty will get a full-game release this year after all, and more! Subscribe on any of your favorite podcast feeds, to our YouTube channel, or grab an MP3 of this week's episode. For more awesome content, check out our interview with Todd Howard, who answered all of our Starfield questions after the big reveal at the Xbox Showcase: For more next-gen coverage, make sure to check...

View full article »

Lil Gator Game Developer Interview: Make Your Own Fun With Adorable Sandbox Exploration

Lil Gator Game is a charming sandbox adventure from MegaWobble. It's available for $19.99 on Steam, but it's this month's IGN Plus game and Plus members can get a Steam key as an IGN Reward and jump in right now. Plus members - get your key for Lil Gator Game here on its IGN Rewards page. Not a Plus member? Learn more here. You can also follow the devs on Twitter. Lil Gator Game Developer Interview I sat down with Lil Gator Game devs Scott Slucher (Lead Developer) and Connor Quothe (Lead Writer) to talk about their inspiration, as well as what players can expect when they jump into this fun, lighthearted game. The titular Lil Gator has a recognizable hat, tunic, and left-handed sword swing that will immediately look familiar to any...

View full article »

Strayed Lights Preview: Pixar Would Be Pleased

Everyone's got demons. Sometimes, you get to fight your own demons in a video game, and the upcoming action-adventure game Strayed Lights is possibly the artsiest allegory I've seen for this exact trope since playing the Kingdom Hearts trilogy. For visuals junkies, it's not totally dissimilar from Ori and the Blind Forest in style either, and its gorgeous soundtrack by the famed Austin Wintory immediately stood out in the short time I got to try it out. I was able to explore several areas in its imaginative, physics-defying world -- but unlike Ori, Strayed Lights seems way more like a linear campaign than a side-scrolling Metroidvania. Regardless, its action combat system is tight enough to carry its abstract story, and it even...

View full article »

100% of Humble's Turkey-Syria Relief Bundle Goes to Charity

Humble Bundle introduced its latest content bundle, the Türkiye-Syria Earthquake Relief Bundle. All proceeds from the bundle, which includes 72 items including games and comics, go directly toward helping those in the affected areas. Humble Türkiye-Syria Earthquake Relief Bundle To get all the content included with the bundle requires a $30 donation, netting you to $1,101 worth of stuff. You get 10 volumes of Image Comics' Saga, Starfinder books, as well as several games by Turkish developers, in addition to a whole slew of other games. What's Included in the Humble Türkiye-Syria Earthquake Relief Bundle Here's a full list of everything included in the Humble Türkiye-Syria Earthquake Relief Bundle: Gotham Knights Ghostrunner...

View full article »

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor Director Wants to Make Cal's Saga a Trilogy

Star Wars: Jedi Survivor director Stig Asmussen wants to make Cal Kestis's story a trilogy, meaning a third and final game could be coming from Respawn Entertainment in the future. Speaking on IGN Unfiltered, Asmusssen suggested that a third Star Wars: Jedi game is likely if the upcoming Jedi: Survivor performs well. Sequel discussions were happening even before Jedi: Fallen Order was released in 2019. " We were already talking about the second game," said Asmussen. "I mean, frankly, we were talking beyond. And these are conversations that, when we're breaking this story with Lucasfilm, it's like: 'Well, where are we going with the second game?' "I always wanted to see this as a trilogy," he continued. "How can we take Cal and the...

View full article »

The Wolf Among Us 2 Pushed to Next Year in Effort to Avoid Crunch

Today, Telltale Games has announced that its long-awaited sequel to The Wolf Among Us is being pushed out of 2023 in an effort to avoid crunch and team burnout, as well as accommodate a move from Unreal Engine 4 to 5. Speaking to IGN, Telltale Games CEO Jamie Ottilie explained that the team made the choice for a number of reasons, but primarily to avoid burnout or shipping an unfinished game. "Making games is difficult and they need time to be right," he said. "And it doesn't do any of us any good to ship something that's not ready." Ottilie explains that like many other studios, the re-established Telltale Games had struggled with the challenges inherent to building a studio during the COVID-19 pandemic. After being resurrected by...

View full article »

Atlas Fallen Arrives This May

If you're looking forward to gliding through a sand-covered world with friends in Deck13's new game Atlas Fallen, you won't have to wait much longer, as Focus Entertainment has revealed the game will launch on May 16. Originally revealed during last year's Gamescom Opening Night Live event, Atlas Fallen has garnered a lot of attention and interest due to its unique movement mechanics that allow you to surf around on the sand of the game's compelling sand-based world. The game's attractive visuals certainly don't hurt, either, and help explain why it's a current gen-only release. Granted, it's not exactly the peaceful sand-skiing experience of something like Journey – you'll also be manipulating the sand to create weapons that help...

View full article »

In Like a Dragon: Ishin Kazuma Kiryu Returns to His Samurai Roots

Like a Dragon: Ishin! takes Kazuma Kiryu back to the late Edo period as the imperial loyalist Sakamoto Ryōma. But the Dragon of Dojima has always been a samurai at heart. The real-life yakuza make a show of their connection to the samurai’s feudal attitudes and bushido code as proof of their connection to Japan’s ancient warriors. But in truth, it’s Kiryu’s kindness and determination to protect the weak which set the Yakuza series apart since the very beginning. That makes him the true descendent of a long line of samurai kyōkyaku (which translates to ‘chivalrous commoner’) characters who fought oppression and injustice in Japanese cinema and drama for centuries. With series creator Toshihiro Nagoshi’s background, that’s no accident...

View full article »

Forspoken Developer Will Be Folded Back Into Square Enix

Forspoken developer Luminous Productions will be absorbed back into Square Enix to continue working on AAA games, the company announced. On Twitter, Luminous Productions revealed that the change will go into effect at the beginning of May. "Beginning on May 1, our talented team will join Square Enix to deliver new, innovative gaming experiences to players across the globe," Luminous' statement reads. "Betwen now and then we remain entirely focused on Forspoken. We are currently working on the previously announced patch to address overall game performance (we will deliver an update soon) and the DLC, In Tanta We Trust, is on track for release this summer. Thank you again for your patience and support!" Square Enix also released a...

View full article »

How Star Wars Jedi: Survivor Evolves the Metroidvania Roots of Jedi Fallen Order | IGN First

One of the big departures in Star Wars Jedi: Survivor compared to Fallen Order is that you’re going to have this home away from home in the Planet Koboh. Sure, you’d revisit Bogano and Dathomir a couple of times, but it was always in service of progressing the story and following the mainline plot. In Jedi Survivor, Koboh will almost take on a kind of Metroidvania-like identity with tons of optional areas to explore locked by progression, and each return trip to the planet opening up many new pathways and discoveries. This came out of one of the lessons Respawn learned from feedback of Fallen Order: That players really enjoyed the optional content, like the Crashed Venator and the legendary beasts like Oggdo Bogdo. “For Survivor, we...

View full article »

Hitman Developer IO Interactive Working on an Online Fantasy RPG

IO Interactive has announced that it's creating an online fantasy RPG. The Hitman developer is pivoting to a new genre with the new project being inspired by gamebooks like Fighting Fantasy that let readers choose their own path. "We are embarking on a new adventure. One that expands our creativity, our capabilities, and in some sense our identity. We are building a new world, a new IP: an online fantasy RPG," IO Interactive said in a statement. The developer continued: "A world and a game built from the core to entertain players and expand for many years to come. It feels familiar, yet at the same time IOI is going on a journey unlike any we have been on before." The company explained that the diversity of roles within the...

View full article »

Xbox Games With Gold for March 2023 Announced

Microsoft has revealed that Lamentum, Trüberbrook, and Sudden Strike 4: Complete Collection will make up the Xbox Games with Gold line-up for March 2023. All three titles will be available to pick up in March at no extra cost on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One for gamers who paid out for Microsoft’s Xbox Live Gold or Game Pass Ultimate subscription services. According to Xbox Wire, the World War II strategy game Sudden Strike 4: Complete Edition, and the Sci-Fi mystery adventure title Trüberbrook will be available to grab from March 1 to 31. Lamentum meanwhile will be downloadable to subscribers free of charge starting March 16 and will stick around until April 15. Developer BTF’s 2019 point and click Sci-Fi adventure Trüberbrook...

View full article »

The Last of Us’ TV Success Is Testament to Naughty Dog’s 15 Years of Growth

It’s like it's 2013 all over again – the world is captivated by The Last of Us. But what was once an obsession for just PlayStation owners is now a much broader phenomenon, with gamers and non-gamers alike enraptured by HBO’s critically-acclaimed television adaptation. At this point, with a Metacritic score of 84 and the season finale in sight, it’s safe to say that Naughty Dog’s game has translated beautifully to the screen. Just one year ago, though, the same couldn’t be said about another live-action project adapted from the studio’s work. 2022’s Uncharted movie, starring Tom Holland and Mark Wahlberg, was a critical dud. While our own review was more positive than the majority that contributed to its Metacritic score of just 45...

View full article »

Demeo Review

Pen-and-paper gaming works a little like Murphy’s law: as young hobbyists get old enough to fully grasp the intricate rules of Dungeons & Dragons or other, similarly complex tabletop RPGs like Cyberpunk 2020, it’s almost inevitable that age and wisdom give way to hectic work schedules and busy personal lives, making it grueling to stay consistent with any RPG. By stark contrast, Demeo takes many of the most enjoyable conventions of D&D – including its strategic turn-based combat, deep character classes, and an extensive bestiary of goblins and ghouls – and juices them into a digital formula that’s condensed to be immediately engaging. The result is an infinitely replayable, widely accessible, easy-to-learn (yet difficult to master)...

View full article »

Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree Expansion Is Officially In Development

FromSoftware has officially announced Shadow of the Erdtree, an upcoming DLC expansion for Elden Ring. The developer confirmed that the DLC is currently in development, but no release date has been announced for the time being. The news came in the form of a tweet from the official Elden Ring and FromSoftware Twitter pages, also featuring new key artwork for the expansion which you can see just below. This news comes just days after Elden Ring's one-year anniversary, in which it has sold over 20 million copies and received unprecedented game of the year awards, including at DICE, New York Game Awards, The Game Awards, and was IGN's best game of 2022 as well. Elden Ring has had just one other piece of DLC content to the game since...

View full article »

Scars Above Review

As I took my first steps on Scars Above’s mysterious planet, I felt my excitement and fear rising. Almost immediately, an encounter with its grotesque alien creatures turned out to be much more complicated than I anticipated. I even died a couple of times before making any significant progress at all, giving me the impression that I was at the beginning of a harsh and nervewracking journey that was going to ask the very best of me to survive on its default difficulty level. But my fear of the unknown proved to be unjustified in this case, and the initial thrill dissipated after an hour or so when I’d unlocked the first few of a vast arsenal of weapons. After that, most of my battles became trivial, and they remained that way until the...

View full article »

Aussie Deals: GT7 Downshifts to $79, Star Wars Jedi Deluxe for a Fiver, and More!

It's a great day for deals and shaking hands with the future. $79 will buy you a front-row seat to GT Sophy, the AI who has run your favourite track thousands of times. For what purpose? To trounce you convincingly and then make you ponder why nobody took Jim Cameron's blockbuster cautionary tales seriously. This Day in Gaming - Turok Dinosaur Hunter (N64) US launch, 1997. Remaster - Yoshi's Story (N64) US launch, 1998. NSO - Tekken 3 (PS) US launch, 1998. Descendant - Mortal Kombat 4 (PS) US launch, 1999. Descendant - Star Wars Republic Commando (XB) 2005. Remaster - Black (PS2, XB) US launch, 2006. Table of Contents Nintendo Switch PC Xbox PlayStation LEGO Notable Sales for Nintendo Switch Expiring Recent Deals Back to...

View full article »

How Players Will Shape Video Games’ Next Big Thing

Despite economic concerns and considerable worry about the enormous scope of contemporary big-budget projects, game developers seem more hopeful and ambitious than ever. This is possible thanks to a healthier and more collaborative relationship with players along with some cautious optimism about artificial intelligence. This enthusiasm for working with the audience means much more than just reacting to feedback and suggestions on Discord. I spoke to multiple developers that have put not just early code, but game-making tools into the hands of passionate players at a very early stage and invited them to help shape the experience – sometimes hiring them to work on it full time as a result. This enthusiasm for working with the...

View full article »

Company of Heroes 3 Review - Multiplayer

This review exclusively covers the multiplayer mode of Company of Heroes 3. For thoughts on the campaigns, read our Company of Heroes 3 - Single-Player review. For a lot of long-time fans, Company of Heroes is a real-time strategy series that’s more about competitive play than single-player campaigns, and we've logged hundreds more hours playing against other people than against the AI in scripted scenarios. That'll certainly be true for Company of Heroes 3, because while the single-player campaigns are trapped in a quagmire of a strategic map and bogged down in their storytelling, in multiplayer we can focus on what really matters: moment-to-moment gameplay, balance, and faction mechanics. CoH3 nails all of that thanks to a wide...

View full article »

Resident Evil Village VR Review

Everybody knows Lady Dimitrescu is tall, but I was still shocked to see just how large she loomed over me from a first-person angle in VR. Resident Evil Village VR captured my undivided attention even beyond my fascination for the tall vampire lady, offering a fresh perspective on a nearly two-year-old game I have played a dozen times over. From the robust tutorial before you start playing to the many ways you can customize the controls for the most comfortable experience, Resident Evil Village’s VR mode is no afterthought, but rather a well-crafted and exciting way to experience an already excellent game. Nothing has been watered down in the transition to VR: you’ll endure Ethan’s rescue mission from start to finish. That said, this...

View full article »

Beyond Good and Evil 2: Studio Director Reportedly Out at Ubisoft

Beyond Good and Evil 2 is facing even more development trouble, as a new report says developer Ubisoft Montpellier is undergoing a major leadership shakeup. According to a report from Kotaku, Ubisoft Montpellier staff were informed last week that their managing director was no longer with the company. Guillaume Carmona had been absent from the role since the beginning of 2023, and no reason for his departure was given. Carmona had been with Ubisoft for nearly two decades. Sources also told Kotaku that Ubisoft Montpellier is facing a labor investigation from local government authorities due to a high number of developers experiencing burnout and going on sick leave. A Ubisoft spokesperson told Kotaku that "the Montpellier development...

View full article »

Elden Ring Creator Is Looking to Multiplayer Games Like Escape From Tarkov for Inspiration

While playing Elden Ring can, if you want, be a completely solitary experience, one of its best features is its multiplayer: PvP, PvE, and the esoteric messages players leave for one another that have become something of their own meme culture. Given the unique nature of all these multiplayer interactions, it's only natural that director Hidetaka Miyazaki has been doing a lot of thinking about multiplayer technology, and how it's used in games other than his own. Speaking to IGN following Elden Ring's five wins (including Game of the Year) at the 26th annual DICE Awards, Miyazaki brought up the subject of multiplayer when we asked him what new technologies, trends, or ideas in gaming he finds inspiring or exciting right now. "I'm...

View full article »

Chrono Trigger Creator Reveals Development Struggles: “We Had to Tear the Project Down"

Chrono Trigger is widely considered one of the best RPGs of all time, but according to Hironobu Sakaguchi, it almost became a mediocre game. At the Monaco Anime Game International Conferences 2023 (MAGIC 2023), Sakaguchi – best known as the father of the Final Fantasy series – looked back at Chrono Trigger, a game he worked on together with Yuji Horii (Dragon Quest) and Akira Toriyama (Dragon Ball). “I was already a big fan of Akira Toriyama’s manga before I entered the videogame industry, so working together with him was like a dream come true for me,” Sakaguchi recalled. “The same could be said for the entire staff, so his drawings became a huge motivation for us.” That doesn’t mean that Chrono Trigger’s development was an easy...

View full article »