Gaming News

‘Half-Sequels’ Like Uncharted Lost Legacy Are The Future

Standalone Expansions, half-sequels, glorified DLC… whatever you want to call it, I’m a fan of these kinds of not-quite-full game, not-quite-DLC experiences. And with AAA game development now expected to take longer than ever, these half-sequels might be a way to address a potential new release shortage. So far nobody has done them better than PlayStation. Looking back, it shouldn’t be surprising that these standalone expansions rank as some of my favorite games in the past decade. Uncharted Lost Legacy is one of my two favorite Uncharted games in the series, alongside Uncharted 2, and Miles Morales’ big advantage over Spider-Man was telling a story I had rarely heard before. Consider this: I’ve watched three different Peter Parker...

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Hitman: Blood Money Reprisal Brings the Stealth Game to More Mobile Platforms

IO Interactive and Feral Interactive have announced Hitman: Blood Money Reprisal for Nintendo Switch, iOS, and Android. It’s a new version of 2006’s Hitman: Blood Money and it’ll arrive this fall for mobile devices, with the Switch version coming in winter. This version of Blood Money has new features such as an Instinct Mode, minimap, and gameplay improvements from later games in the franchise. Instinct Mode was introduced in 2012’s Hitman: Absolution and let Agent 47 predict enemy and civilian movements, while the new minimap will stay on players’ screens during gameplay. Blood Money Reprisal has 12 missions with a variety of different settings. Agent 47 will travel to places such as Paris and New Orleans as he executes his...

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Gearbox Hero Shooter Gigantic Coming Back Online For One Weekend Only

Hero shooter Gigantic may have shut down five years ago but Gearbox Software is bringing it back for one weekend only in a limited time throwback event. A Reddit post from TemptedTemplar shared an email asking players to the event, while the game's subreddit is also full of others who received the invite. "You're invited to play Gigantic (again) during our limited time throwback event," read the email, sent to Reddit user HeirOfRhoads. The event will take place from October 5 at 12noon Pacific / 3pm Eastern / 8pm UK to October 6 at 9pm Pacific / 12midnight Eastern, so October 7 at 5am UK. It's unclear if players other than those who received the email will be able to play. Players will even get to enjoy "never before seen features"...

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Horizon: Forbidden West Complete Edition Is the First Two-Disc PS5 Game

The PlayStation 5 has its first two-disc video game three years after the console launched: Horizon: Forbidden West Complete Edition. The Complete Edition includes the Horizon: Forbidden West base game and Horizon: Forbidden West: Burning Shores DLC, and costs $69.99 / €59.99 / ¥7,980 on PS5. Here’s the complete list of contents for Horizon: Forbidden West: Complete Edition on PS5: Horizon: Forbidden West for PS5 Burning Shores DLC for PS5 Digital soundtrack Digital art book Horizon Zero Dawn Vol. 1: The Sunhawk digital comic book In-game items: Extras in Photo Mode (special pose and face paint) In-game items unlocked via story progression: Carja Behemoth Elite outfit ·Carja Behemoth Short Bow Nora Thunder Elite outfit Nora...

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The Alters Might Be the Most Insane Sci-Fi Game I’ve Ever Seen, and I’m Sold

The video game industry’s love affair with science fiction is as old as the medium itself, so it’s no minor statement when I say that 11 Bit Studios’ The Alters is perhaps the weirdest sci-fi game I’ve ever seen. This bizarre survival game is packed with weighty building mechanics and social links, and every time I thought the 40-minute demo couldn’t get any wilder, it defied my expectations by throwing yet another curveball. Whether it’s the planet’s rising sun that threatens to burn you into oblivion or the giant wheel-shaped base that serves as your home, the Rapidium miracle element that’s Earth’s only chance at survival or the alternate reality clones of the protagonist that serve as your companions, The Alters is perhaps the most...

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Minecraft x The Noble Collection: New Life-Size Collectibles to Debut at New York Comic-Con

The Noble Collection releases collectibles and jewelry based on some of the biggest franchises in the world, including The Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, Star Trek and DC. Now they're adding a massive gaming franchise to that lineup - Minecraft. IGN can exclusively reveal a new collection dubbed Minecraft x The Noble Collection. This new line features a variety of life-size prop replicas and other collectibles inspired by the game and its distinctively blocky aesthetic. Head to the slideshow gallery below for a closer look at all of the debut pieces in this collection: The Minecraft x The Noble Collection line consists of six items so far, five life-size prop replicas and one chess set featuring characters and creatures from the...

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How Long is Assassin's Creed Mirage?

It’s well documented that Assassin’s Creed Mirage is a considerably smaller adventure compared to the previous 3 entries in the series, 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, and what they prioritised doing with their time. How long is Assassin's Creed Mirage? Our fastest player finished it in 10 hours. Our “slowest” player played for almost 17 hours before credits rolled. Everyone plays games differently, so read on for more details about how everyone played, how long it took to reach the credits, and how much extra time players spent exploring the world. Once you've finished the game yourself, be sure to submit your times on How Long To...

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Assassin's Creed Mirage Review

During the same year the first iPhone was released and Prince played Purple Rain at a halftime show where it literally rained, another bit of culture was changed forever: the first Assassin’s Creed was released to mixed reviews. Not everyone loved Ubisoft’s approach to stealth and action, but it was widely agreed that this game was on to something. In the 15-plus years since, its many sequels traded stealth for something far bigger and flashier, but lost sight of the very spirit of how it began. Assassin’s Creed Mirage takes a lot of important, imperfect steps to get back to its roots, and though that means as it does no particular thing that hasn’t been done before, the focus and commitment to briskly paced missions and stealth-heavy...

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Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3 Multiplayer Beta Global Release Time Confirmed

Activision has confirmed the global release times for the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 beta on PC and console. Modern Warfare 3’s release date is set for November 10, 2023 on PC via Battle.net and Steam, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X and S. But Activision has a beta planned for the multiplayer portion of the game that will let fans get their hands on Sledgehammer's shooter from October 6. We now have exact timings for the staggered release of this beta, which includes early access for those who pre-order on PlayStation before being available to all. Here’s the list of Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3 release times worldwide: Early Access PlayStation (pre-order): Oct 6 at 6pm BST / 10am PT / 1pm ET until...

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Forza Motorsport Review

Sitting on the grid in my 2017 Holden V8 Supercar, surrounded by Lamborghinis, Ferraris, and Audi R8s, I have to concede I’m feeling a little underqualified. Forza Motorsport’s online multiplayer spec racing should technically place all these cars on a level field, but I can’t help but feel like I’ve brought a cricket bat to a swordfight here. Several mediocre laps later and neither myself or my Vegemite-eating VF Commodore have troubled the timesheets much, finishing mid-pack one spot below where I started – but I’m sweating, and I’m smiling. The 2023 version of Forza Motorsport is brimming with new features across the board, from its muscular new multiplayer to its much-improved handling. All except for its upgrades, that is. They’ve...

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Save Big on Sweet Cans, Historical Lows on Tiny Tina's and Dying Light 2, plus More!

Welcome to Wednesday, or what's also known as Ahsokaday at my house. (Obviously, it won't be called that next week, as we've reached series finale.) Star Warsing aside, I've found you some pretty insane deals on a SteelSeries headset, a Dragon Ball Ultimate Ed., and I'm loving these historical lows for Tiny Tina's NLE and Dying Light 2 on Xbox and PS5. Get 'em before they're gone. This Day in Gaming Aussie birthdays for notable games and hardware - Star Fox 64 (N64) 1997. - Onimusha 2 (PS2) 2002. - Silent Hill 2 (XB) 2002. - The Godfather: The Game (X360,PSP) 2006. Table of Contents Nintendo Switch PC Xbox PlayStation Nice Savings for Nintendo Switch Expiring Deals From Yesterday Hardware Watch How much to make the...

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Assassin's Creed Mirage Global Launch Times Confirmed

Assassin's Creed Mirage, the 13th major installment in Ubisoft's franchise, is nearly upon us. Mirage will debut on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X and Series S, and PC on Oct. 5, a full week earlier than originally planned. But these days, it can be tough to figure out what that means exactly in terms of when you'll be able to start playing. Luckily, Ubisoft has detailed the global release times for both PC and console, which vary by an hour or so in most regions. For the most part, you'll be able to start playing in the wee hours of Friday, Oct. 5, with a few regions getting a jumpstart on PC late on Thursday. Mirage is already available for pre-loading. You can see the various release times in their graphic...

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Boomerang X Developer Dang! Is Shutting Down: 'We Are Out of Money'

Boomerang X developer Dang! has announced that the studio is closing its doors due to being unable to secure funding for its next game. “Dang is closing up shop. Unfortunately, we were not able to find funding for our next game and we are out of money,” the studio said in a statement written on the desktop Notepad app. “We’re not writing off the possibility of working on some small stuff together in the future but for now we’re all going our separate ways. Thanks to all the love you’ve shown to us over the years and thanks for playing Boomerang X.” While the studio joked that it was rather unserious about its closure announcement by not making a professional-looking one with a logo, it assured that the news wasn’t a joke. The studio...

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Histera, a Multiplayer FPS Where the Maps Change in Real-Time, Announced for PC

Developer StickyLock has announced its new free-to-play multiplayer first-person shooter, Histera. Its unique hook is that its maps will change unpredictably mid-match, forcing players who want to succeed to stay light on their toes. It's due out on PC (via Steam) in 2024, but a free playable demo will be available on Steam as part of Steam Next Fest, from October 9-16. The name of the unpredictable space-time oddity causing these map changes to Histera's sci-fi world is called the Glitch, and "before they know it, players will be rushing through humid prehistoric jungles, jumping over modern ruins in a war-torn city or hiding in the shadows of futuristic skyscrapers," StickyLock told IGN. "The dynamics of the match can change at any...

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Station to Station Review

When I first pulled into Station to Station’s voxel-powered railways, I was expecting more of a straight-forward train sim, something akin to the A-Train franchise with a bit of city building. The reality, however, is much different – Station to Station is more like a puzzle game built around some of the tropes of simulation-style games, with stuff like resource and money management unlocking the next possibility in the gameplay loop. It's disarmingly simple to explain: some of the buildings on your map are industries that produce resources. Connect those to the other buildings that need those resources. Connect them all to the cities. Profit. When everything is connected according to its needs and its ability to produce, you win...

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Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Multiplayer Trailer Leans on Nostalgia and Eminem to Get Fans Pumped

Activision has released a first proper look at Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3’s multiplayer, leaning heavily on nostalgia for classic maps and mechanics. Veteran fans of the series will immediately note Activision’s use of Eminem’s Till I Collapse for the trailer, below. Till I Collapse was used for the Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 launch trailer 14 years ago. 2023’s Modern Warfare 3 includes all 16 launch maps from the original Modern Warfare 2 and will see 12 new 6v6 maps come out post-launch. The video showcases a number of these classic maps, such as the eternally popular Rust. Check out multiplayer screenshots in the slideshow below: We also get a look at slide cancelling, which makes a return for this game. Slide...

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Final Fantasy 14's Story Can Now Be Played Entirely Solo

Square Enix has finally made it possible to play all of Final Fantasy 14 completely solo despite it being a massively multiplayer online game. As reported by VG247, Final Fantasy 14's patch 6.5 has brought the game's Duty Support system — which lets players bring NPCs into dungeons instead of other players — up to date to include every part of the game. Stormblood dungeons The Drowned City of Skalla, The Burn, and The Ghimlyt Dark were the last to be made available with Duty Support, but the brand new dungeon Lunar Subterrane also works with the system immediately. Players can therefore now play the entirety of Final Fantasy 14's main story missions, including the base game and all expansions, without having to team up with other...

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Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3: How to Access the Open Beta Early

2023's Call of Duty will be in the form of Modern Warfare III, acting as a direct sequel to last year's Modern Warfare II. With a brand new campaign, multiplayer experience, and more. Activision is hosting an Open Beta across PlayStation, Xbox, and PC (PlayStation owners get first access), starting this Friday, October 6. The beta will feature 5 of the 16 remastered launch maps from the 2009 Modern Warfare 2, with the full game including the entire collection upon release, on November 10. Preorder Modern Warfare 3 for Early Access to the Open Beta PlayStation users will get early access to the Open Beta on October 6-7 if they preorder the game through any retailer. The associated retailer will then email you a code for you to redeem...

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Activision Promises to Continue to Support Call of Duty DMZ ‘Beta’ Despite COD Next No-Show

Activision has told fans of Call of Duty’s DMZ that it intends to continue supporting the extraction mode despite it skipping the upcoming COD Next reveal event. COD Next, set for this Thursday, October 5, will fully reveal Modern Warfare 3 and what’s next for Warzone 2.0, including its new map. But DMZ mode is not part of the show. “Although DMZ won’t be showcased at COD Next this week, we’re excited to share that we will continue to support the DMZ Beta,” Activision said in an announcement shared this week. “Players will have continuing infiltration opportunities for Al Mazrah, Ashika Island, Vondel — as well as Building 21 and Koschei Complex. “Thank you for your continued support and dedication to the Beta! We will share further...

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Epic Games Adding Age Ratings for All Fortnite Experiences

To ensure player safety in its popular battle royale game, Epic Games announced it is rolling out age ratings for all Fortnite experiences, starting November 14. Epic Games notes the new system includes "all first and third-party playable content" in Fortnite. Specifically, these age ratings will be used to examine and issue a rating to all content built in Fortnite's Creative mode. The new system is part of a new partnership Epic Games formed with the International Age Rating Coalition (IARC), an initiative that works with rating boards, including the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB). Epic Games said that when a creator is ready to publish their island into Fortnite, they have to fill out an IARC content rating...

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Xbox Game Pass October 2023 Lineup Announced

Microsoft has announced the first wave of games coming to Xbox Game Pass in October 2023. As already announced, co-op focused adventure Gotham Knights is available in Game Pass today, October 3, for Xbox Series X and S, PC, and the cloud. IGN’s Gotham Knights review returned a 5/10. “Gotham Knights is a co-op-centric caped adventure that made my interest Wayne thanks to poor combat, a transparently predictable mystery, and grueling progression,” we said. Also available today is The Lamplighters League on Xbox Series X and S, PC, and the cloud. This is a day-one Game Pass release from Shadowrun developer Harebrained Schemes and published by Paradox Interactive. IGN gave it 7/10: “The Lamplighters League starts slow, but its mix of...

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Naughty Dog’s Troubled The Last of Us Multiplayer Spin-Off Reportedly ‘On Ice’ Amid Layoffs

Naughty Dog has reportedly suffered a round of layoffs, with the troubled The Last of Us multiplayer spin-off said to be “on ice”. The Sony-owned studio, which is home to some 400 staff, is laying off at least 25 developers, Kotaku said. Most of the people affected are quality assurance (QA) contractors who are seeing their contracts cut short. According to Kotaku, full-time staff are not affected. Naughty Dog will reportedly not offer severance to laid off staff, who Kotaku said are expected to work until the end of October. According to the site, Naughty Dog staff “are being pressured to keep the news quiet”. IGN has asked Sony for comment. The Last of Us multiplayer spin-off is, according to Kotaku, “basically on ice”, although...

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Cyberpunk 2077 Players Are Getting a Kick Out of Update 2.0's Haunted Police Car

Phantom Liberty and Update 2.0 might have made a lot of improvements to Cyberpunk 2077 but one new bug has introduced a haunted police car to Night City. Several players have shared screenshots and gameplay of the car on Reddit, with Crowzer commenting (below) that it's no wonder Night City is so full of crimes if this is what the police come equipped with. The vehicle is a standard issue Night City Police Department car but, even though it still drives around as normal with two police officers inside, it's completely wrecked. It looks like a car that's been blown up already, completely burnt out with no wheels, windows, or doors. Who need 'em? "I've seen that quite a couple of times since I started a new 2.0 game," said...

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Baldur’s Gate 3 Hotfix 8 Shaves His Majesty After Cat Backlash

Baldur’s Gate 3 developer Larian Studios has shaved His Majesty after fans of the cat complained about a recent change that added fur. His Majesty is a cat found in the Last Light Inn that looked like a hairless Sphynx. However, this appearance was a bug that gave His Majesty the same model as Steelclaw, a different cat meant to be a Sphynx. And so, Larian fixed the bug with Baldur’s Gate 3’s recently released Patch 3. “Updated the visuals of His Majesty, who previously looked like Steelclaw,” the patch notes read. “His Majesty’s appearance now befits his name and nature.” That, you would have thought, would be that, but it turned out His Majesty had fans who bemoaned this new look, and called on Larian to revert the fix. Now...

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Cuts on Quality Q4 Releases, Boredom Slaying School Holiday Bargains, and More!

Wherever you are in Australia right now, chances are it's gonna be a hot one. Your very best bet: retreat to the dank coolness of your Game Cave with something new to play. Alternatively, go for a swim and invest your money in the preordering of a AAA for some future day. Instant or slightly delayed gaming gratification—we deal in both approaches here. This Day in Gaming Aussie birthdays for notable games and hardware - Sonic CD (PC) 1996. - Phoenix Wright: Trials and Tribulations (DS) 2008. - MGS: Legacy Collection (PS3) 2013. - Super Smash Bros.(3DS) 2014. - Dragon’s Dogma (PS4,XO) 2017. Table of Contents Nintendo Switch PC Xbox PlayStation Nice Savings for Nintendo Switch Expiring Deals From Yesterday Hardware...

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Overwatch 2 Teases a Diablo 4 Crossover for Season 7 and a Badass Moira Skin

Now that spooky season has officially started, we're beginning to see a lot of Halloween-themed events in games. To that end, Overwatch 2 has just announced that its Season 7: Rise of Darkness will start on Oct. 10, and it features, among other things, a badass Lilith skin. The announcement came from X/Twitter, where the official Overwatch account posted a video showing off the Blizzard World map, updated to fit its annual Halloween PvE event, Junkenstein's Revenge. Right before the trailer ends, we're given a glimpse of a new Moira skin that's themed around Diablo IV's main antagonist, Lilith. The brief trailer doesn't reveal too much else, but leaks on Reddit have already seemingly revealed Halloween appropriate skins for...

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How a Guild of ‘Old Timers’ Is Embracing Online Gaming All the Way to Retirement

In 1997, when Ultima Online first released, Tess (known online as “TessPhyreForge”) didn’t own a computer. She didn’t know anything about computers. But she was dating a guy at the time who was really, really into Ultima Online. “He made me a character and sat me down and said, ‘This is what you do.’ Then after two hours I was hooked, and I've been playing ever since.” After her then-boyfriend got her hooked on Ultima Online, Tess eventually purchased her own computer. And then another computer so her son could play with her. “When he turned 14, the area we lived at, we had a couple pool halls and stuff like that where the kids would go hang out,” Tess says. “But it was so bad an atmosphere for teenagers and drugs and stuff that I...

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Trek to Yomi and More Leaving Xbox Game Pass in October 2023

Microsoft has revealed six additional games leaving Xbox and PC Game Pass in October 2023 including fan favourite Trek to Yomi. Revealed on the Xbox Store, Trek to Yomi's removal will be joined by The Legend of Tianding, Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion, and Eville on Xbox Game Pass, in addition to Shenzhen I/O and Overwhelm on PC Game Pass. Microsoft didn't share an exact date for the games' removal but did say it would be "in the next two weeks", with Game Pass departures usually taking place mid-month. It's worth noting that, for those looking to play these games after their removal, they'll be available to purchase outright for 20% off while still available as part of Game Pass. Trek to Yomi is reminiscent of classic samurai...

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High On Life: High on Knife DLC Review

After nine months filled with dark and serious stories in games ranging from Diablo IV to Lies of P, I was more than a little eager to dive back into the stark contrast of stupidity and smut that is High on Life with the release of its first DLC: High on Knife. But while it certainly delivers the usual silly gags, amusingly gross and annoying characters, and some good laughs, that ride comes to an abrupt stop after only two hours, ending before I’d even fully settled back into a goofy world I’d desperately like to spend some more time in. Beyond that, the focus on Knifey, one of the more one-dimensional friends in your arsenal, doesn’t make for a particularly good story (even if he’s usually a reliable source of chuckles), and a lack of...

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Ubisoft Asks Fans Not to Spoil Assassin's Creed Mirage as Release Date Approaches

Assassin's Creed Mirage is just a few days away from launch on October 5 so developer Ubisoft has asked fans to please not spoil it for others. In a post on Twitter (below), Ubisoft made clear it still wanted people talking about the game, of course, but said players shouldn't share spoiler-filled comments or posts online without marking them as such first. "No spoilers," Ubisoft said in the post. "With the launch of Assassin's Creed Mirage upon us, we would kindly ask you to consider your fellow Assassins and refrain from posting or sharing unmarked spoilers that would impact their experience. Thank you. The wait it almost over." Unwanted spoilers are practically commonplace in the video game industry, with leaks of trailers...

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