Let's remove the mystery from the headline. Three Mass Effect games are going for next to nothing right now on PC, and you need to jettison your modern perspective misgivings and take a chance on them. Forget the hot mess that was Mass Effect Andromeda. Mass Effect, Mass Effect 2—and, to a lesser extent, Mass Effect 3—were genre-defining RPGs. The remaster process has made 'em much easier on the optical implants. The writing, world-building, and companion NPC bonds you'll forge, meanwhile, all remain timeless.

In retro news, today's a day of sombre remembrance for two consoles. 27 years ago, we witnessed the discontinuance of Sega's Game Gear, a battery-guzzling beast that sold 10.62M units that I fondly remember for its Sonic games and extravagant TV Tuner attachment. It's also been 22 years since we bade farewell to the Nintendo 64, which delivered phenomenal four-player action, groundbreaking 3D AAAs, and a highscore of 32.93M units sold. I am not shedding a sentimental tear over it. That's just...Control Stick dust in my eye.

This Day in Gaming

Aussie birthdays for notable games.

- Dr. Mario (GB) 1991. Get

- Sega Game Gear discontinued 1997. Ebay

- Nintendo 64 discontinued 2002. Ebay

- Child of Light (PC,PS3,X360) 2014. Get

Table of Contents

• Nintendo Switch
• PC
• Xbox
• PlayStation

Nice Savings for Nintendo Switch

Expiring Recent Deals

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Purchase Cheaply for PC

Expiring Recent Deals

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Exciting Bargains for Xbox

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Pure Scores for PlayStation

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Blu-ray players may seem like a thing of the past for some folks, but they still let you watch the best movies and TV shows in the comfort of your own home and at the highest possible quality this side of a movie theater. While you can easily stream content via streaming services on the latest smart TVs, Blu-Ray players offer a higher level of detail and a more immersive experience. If you’re a collector, it’s also great fun collecting and organizing Blu-Ray discs.

TL;DR – These are the 5 Best Blu-Ray Players:

1. Panasonic DP-UB9000
2. Sony UBP-X700
3. PlayStation 5
4. Xbox Series X
5. Sony BDP-BX370

Choosing the best Blu-Ray player can be tricky if you don’t know what you’re looking for. If you’re on a budget, you may feel overwhelmed by the choices, or if you’re searching for the ultimate home entertainment devices, you’ll want the best out there.

Best Blu-Ray Players in 2024

1. Panasonic DP-UB9000

Top Blu-Ray Player

Pros:

• Excellent image quality
• HDR support

Cons:

• Very expensive

If you’re ready to splurge on the best Blu-Ray player, you won’t be disappointed by the Panasonic DP-UB9000. This premium package all major HDR formats including HDR10, HDR10+, HLG, and Dolby Vision.

Thinking about upgrading your home entertainment system? You’ll want this in your collection. Not only does it boast excellent image quality, but it also produces some seriously good audio thanks to its DAC, 7.1 audio channel, and two-channel outputs.

Turn the Blu-Ray player around and you’re met with tons of input and output options. This is the best Blu-Ray player on the market if it's in your budget.

2. Sony UBP-X700M

Best 4K Blu-Ray Player

Pros:

• Decent picture
• Dolby Vision support

Cons:

• No HDR10+ support

Investing in a decent Blu-Ray player that doesn’t cost the Earth can be challenging. But the Sony UBP-X700M hits the sweet spot by offering a more affordable way into the world of Blu-Ray while maintaining decent specs and features. Despite its low price point, you still get 4K and premium audio quality.

You aren’t sacrificing an awful lot; yes, there’s no HDR10+ support, but there’s still HDR10 and the player can handle 24bit/192kHz files and multiple formats. Throw in some smart features and dual HDMI outputs, and you’ve got yourself a winner.

3. PlayStation 5

Best Game Console with Blu-Ray Player

Pros:

• Doubles up as a game console
• Atmos and DTS:X passthrough

Cons:

• May be overkill for a Blu-Ray player

Gamers will love the PS5 and could definitely consider it one of the best Blu-Ray players since it doubles up as a game console. With 4K Blu-Ray support, you can play your favorite games and movies on the same device. And while it doesn’t support Dolby Vision over HDR like the Xbox Series X, it can pass Dolby Atmos via your TV and deliver outstanding picture quality.

The PlayStation 5 upscales HD Blu-Ray discs naturally and offers clean, sharp images when playing movies and TV shows. It’s fun for all the family too. Not only does the PlayStation 5 allow you to play games, but there are loads of apps you can install, including the likes of Netflix, YouTube, and other streaming services.

4. Xbox Series X

Best Alternative for Home Entertainment

Pros:

• Great for families
• HDR10

Cons:

• Not as good as the PS5

If you’ve decided you’re going to use your game console as a Blu-Ray player, the only real conundrum you’ll have is choosing between the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X. While the PlayStation 5 does tip the scales in favor of image quality, the Xbox Series X supports Dolby Vision HDR from streaming services.

Put this alongside Dolby Atmos audio, and you’ve got an entire home entertainment system for you and your family. Plus, if you invest a small amount each month on the Xbox Game Pass, there are plenty of games you can enjoy for free. You may have to suffer a small dip in 4K image quality and HD upscaling compared to the PlayStation 5, but unless you’re paying extra special attention and comparing them side by side, you won’t notice the differences too much.

5. Sony BDP-BX370

Best Budget Blu-Ray Player

Pros:

• Good value for money
• User-friendly

Cons:

• Limited to 1080p

Sometimes all you need is a Blu-Ray player that will play your discs, display decent image quality and audio, and have none of the frills more expensive models offer. That’s what the Sony BDP-BX370 does well. It’s limited to 1080p, but in full HD, this might be what you’re after. If you have older DVDs lying around, it also upscales DVDs to near-HD quality.

With support for screen mirroring from your phone, this Blu-Ray player offers more than you might expect. It’s incredibly easy to set up too thanks to the included HDMI cable and super quick start mode.

If you are looking for an affordable Blu-Ray player, Sony does not let the side down. It’s simple, effective, and will look great in any home.

How To Choose the Best Blu-Ray Player

Choosing the best Blu-Ray player can enhance your home entertainment experience by delivering stunning picture quality and immersive audio. When selecting a Blu-Ray player, it's essential to consider certain features and specifications to ensure that it meets your needs.

Let’s look at it this way; if you were stood in a shop deciding between two Blu-Ray players, the first thing you’re going to want to prioritize is picture quality. At the very least, you want HD playback, but if you want a future-proof device, opt for 4K UHD, as well as features like HDR support.

Next up is audio quality. If you’re adding to your home entertainment setup, support for audio formats like Dolby Atmos and DTS:X adds to the immersive experience. On a similar note, you’ll want to consider what connectivity options the Blu-Ray player offers, like HDMI, digital audio outputs, USB, and so on. If you have a projector at home, a smart TV, or something else, your new Blu-Ray player has to be compatible.

While streaming apps and smart features aren’t the be-all and end-all, these things are nice to have. If you are faced with two similar Blu-Ray players, having Netflix built-in or smart capabilities might tip the scales.

Upcoming Blu-Ray Players

There are no significant upcoming Blu-Ray players or planned releases, but it does look like there may be new ones at some point. Blu-Rays are having somewhat of a resurgence thanks to film studios and filmmakers investing resources into specific Blu-Ray releases. These are mostly targeted at collectors, or users who enjoy purchasing limited edition discs. This might, however, turn the tide on the Blu-Ray market.

Blu-Ray Player FAQ

Are Blu-Ray Players Still Worth Buying?

Blu-Ray players may have been invented back in 2005 (and released in 2006) to take over the DVD format, but these BDs are a great addition to movie night still today. While it’s easy to stream movies and such directly from services like Netflix, you don’t get the same level of image and audio quality as you do from a high-end Blu-Ray player. Some Blu-Ray players are also lightweight enough that they become more portable. For example, if you’ve booked a stay at an Airbnb with the family, some extra entertainment might prove useful.

Can You Play Blu-Ray Discs on a Normal DVD Player?

Blu-Ray discs only work on Blu-Ray players. You couldn’t put a Blu-Ray disc into a DVD player or CD player. The formats are different and therefore require specific drives to play them.

What Are the Advantages of a Blu-Ray Player?

Blu-Ray discs can hold large amounts of data. Not only are Blu-ray players great for the home, they are also great in workplaces. But, aside from being useful, Blu-ray players offer excellent sound and picture quality.

With many people opting to ditch Blu-Ray discs and move to online streaming services, Blu-Rays can often be picked up relatively cheaply. And if you invest in something like a PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X, you can enjoy games as well as movies and TV shows on the same device.

Kegan is an avid gamer who has been playing games since his Atari days. From a young age Kegan was tinkering with PCs and now has a passion for building custom gaming computers.

Bethesda fans won’t have to wait much longer before they finally get their hands on Starfield’s first expansion, Shattered Space, and there is even more content on the way, too.

Bethesda Game Studios director Todd Howard updated fans wih more information on post-launch content during an interview with Kinda Funny. When talking about how Starfield will be fleshed out throughout the year, he teased that Shattered Space is scheduled to launch this fall.

Details on Shattered Space remain a mystery, though some fans speculate that it will focus on House Va'ruun. In an interview with IGN last year, Howard promised plans to add “a lot of add-on content,” going on to suggest that the team was looking forward to fleshing out Starfield with future updates, too.

In the near term, Bethesda is continuing to deliver smaller updates that should address fan feedback and iron out a few wrinkles. Howard says the next update should be “announced in a few days” before it’s available on Steam Beta.

“It’s got some great stuff for ship building as well,” he added.

Howard also teases another “big update” that is “coming really soon for Starfield.” Details on what changes it will bring are uncertain, though the Bethesda boss does tease long-asked-for tweaks for the in-game maps.

"We redid the map stuff, so we have some city map stuff," he says.

More info on the Starfield Creation Kit "soon"

Elsewhere, Howard touched on the Starfield Creation Kit. Bethesda has offered similar creation tools in the past, allowing players to more freely mod their games and ensure long legs after launch. He didn’t go as far as to announce a release date but did reassure players that it is still on the way.

“We’ve delivered it to some people, some of our creators for Starfield,” Howard said. “You’re going to hear some information about that soon. We don’t have date to announce on when its full release is coming, but it’s really, really important to us. Our modders out there have been incredible.”

Bethesda brought Starfield to PC and Xbox Series X | S players last September. In our 7/10 review, we explained that we enjoyed the long-awaited space RPG but had a few gripes.

“Starfield has a lot of forces working against it,” we said at the time, “but eventually the allure of its expansive roleplaying quests and respectable combat make its gravitational pull difficult to resist.”

Bethesda has continued to churn out updates for Starfield since its launch. March brought a pair of worthwhile changes, including lots of quality-of-life improvements in Update 1.10.30 as well as the removal of the lockpicking penalty with Update 1.10.31. If the official updates aren’t enough to keep you satisfied until Shattered Space launches, you can check out one of Starfield’s DLC-sized mods.

Michael Cripe is a freelance contributor with IGN. He started writing in the industry in 2017 and is best known for his work at outlets such as The Pitch, The Escapist, OnlySP, and Gameranx.

Be sure to give him a follow on Twitter @MikeCripe.

In its quarterly earnings presentation, Remedy Entertainment shared an update on its remake of Max Payne 1 and 2, as well as the news that Tencent has nearly tripled its investment in the studio.

In a report for shareholders, Remedy announced that Max Payne 1 & 2 remake is expected to move into "full production" during Q2 of 2024 (April through June of 2024). Additionally, Codename Kestrel — Remedy's upcoming multiplayer action game formerly known as Vanguard — is still in the concept stage.

Elsewhere, the Control 2 team is finalizing its proof of concept and is expected to advance to the "production readiness stage" during Q2. Codename Condor, a multiplayer game set in the Control universe, is in "the final development stage before a game is launched," or full production.

With all these games in the cooker, Remedy has received a new infusion of cash from existing stakeholder Tencent. Previously, Tencent acquired a minority (3.8%) stake in Remedy that it later upped to 5%. Today, Remedy announced that Tencent increased its stake again to 14.8%, nearly triple what it was prior.

A busy year for Remedy

It was a busy period for Remedy. The company fully acquired rights to the Control franchise from 505 Games, and is currently discussing future partnerships and business and publishing models, including self-publishing. Alan Wake 2 sold 1.3 million units as of the start of February, and Remedy says today that the game has recouped "a significant part" of its expenses.

The company additionally announced today that its COO Christopher Schmitz is resigning, and that long-time Remedy veteran and Control game director Mikael Kasurinen is being appointed as a company-wide creative director. Remedy's revenue for the quarter was up 56.2% year-over-year to €10.8 million ($11.6 million).

Two planned expansions for Alan Wake 2 are currently in the works, one entitled Night Springs, and a second entitled The Lakehouse. Neither has a release date just yet.

Rebekah Valentine is a senior reporter for IGN. Got a story tip? Send it to rvalentine@ign.com.

Amazon is offering the lowest price we've ever seen on the officially licensed WD Black C50 1TB Expansion Card for Xbox Series consoles. Right now it's only $124.99, a 16% off price drop from its original $150 MSRP. It's currently $25 cheaper than the Seagate 1TB Expansion Card. The C50 is one of the best SSDs for the Xbox, which isn't surprising since your options are pretty limited.

WD Black C50 1TB Expansion Card for Xbox for $124.99

The WD Black C50 expansion card is essentially a 1TB NVME SSD encased in a specialized Xbox-compatible shell. Unlike the more complex PS5 SSD installation process, which involves opening up the PS5 to access the SSD slot, the Seagate expansion card simply plugs into its dedicated port on the back of the Xbox.

This expansion card offers the same speed as the internal SSD, ensuring that you won't sacrifice performance or encounter extended load times as you might with a regular USB drive. With a 1TB expansion card, you can double the storage on your Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S Carbon Black Edition console, and triple the storage on your OG (white) Xbox Series S console.

In contrast to the PS5, there are no alternative methods for adding high-speed storage to your Xbox console. Your options are limited to either the WD or Seagate expansion cards, underscoring the importance of seizing a good deal when one becomes available.

Looking for more Xbox accessories? Check out the best Xbox deals today.

Google Play recently decided to pay tribute to Sonic the Hedgehog on social media. Reasonable, given that the famous mascot is currently having a bit of a cultural moment. The only problem? Most of it was completely wrong.

Over the weekend, Google Play’s X/Twitter account took it upon itself to make an impromptu Sonic The Hedgehog appreciation thread where the chili dog-eating hero gets older the more you scroll through it. But the Google Play’s scrapbook-esque thread's dabbling in historical revisionism of the blue hedgehog would spark a wave of corrections, even prompting Sega's own social media account to ask what was on every Sonic fan’s mind: What are you doing?

Google Play’s Sonic-themed thread, which sporadically covers the blue blur’s evolution from 1991 to 2022, is now riddled with community notes criticizing the social media account for its litany of factual errors.

1991 Sonic. The cover? Rotund. Husky. Still fast as lightning. The actual game? 8-bit GLORY 🙌 pic.twitter.com/a2k2j9mvXH

— Google Play (@GooglePlay) April 27, 2024

For instance, Google’s first threaded post of Sonic and Tails in 1991 is actually of Sonic’s 2013 mobile game. The key signifier of this error on Google Plays part is the fact that Tails isn’t Sonic’s companion in the original game. The post also refers to the original Sonic the Hedgehog as "8-bit glory" despite first releasing on the 16-bit Sega Genesis. And that's just the beginning.

what are you doing

— Sonic the Hedgehog (@sonic_hedgehog) April 28, 2024

Other blatant errors in Google Play’s thread include a screenshot of Sonic from 2014’s Sonic Boom cartoon saying this was the “short king” in 1993; a 2022 screenshot of Paramount Picture’s live-action Sonic that was actually from the 2020 movie, and a 2006 Sonic image from the 2017 mobile game Sonic Forces Mobile —which is available on the Google Play store.

Fans went so far as to wonder if AI was used to create the strange thread, not the least because one of the images is poorly altered to remove background characters.

2022 Sonic. Just like us, he’s healed from 2020 but isn’t quite the same 😆 pic.twitter.com/f9XYSeLtxm

— Google Play (@GooglePlay) April 27, 2024

While the endgame of Google Play’s Sonic thread remains a mystery, what isn’t is the fact that Sonic fans are treating it like material for Twitter's version of a comedy club's open mic night with a sea of hilarious memes at Google Play’s expense. Here's one of our favorites.

We all know who's behind this https://t.co/CMgSvvd31X pic.twitter.com/1qpmQu6RRc

— Artvader || Commission Season (@Artvader_AF) April 29, 2024

All in all, it was a strange moment for Sega's biggest franchise, which is otherwise celebrating the release of the Knuckles TV series on Paramount+. We called it a "fun, chaotic bonus level that nails everything that made the Sonic movies great, earning a well-deserved fist bump," and is one more step along the path toward a potential Sonic Cinematic Universe.

In the meantime, the third Sonic the Hedgehog film, starring Keanu Reeves as Shadow the Hedgehog, hits theaters on December 20, 2024.

Isaiah Colbert is a freelance writer at IGN.

With the Fallout TV series topping 65 million viewers to become one of the most watched Prime Video shows ever, the pressure is on for more content set in the wasteland, and Bethesda is seemingly ready to oblige.

In a new interview with Kinda Funny Games, director Todd Howard appeared to tease two unannounced Fallout projects, saying, "We look at what we are doing with the [Fallout] franchise and then we say do we still feel good about — I can't reveal it now — but here is our runway for Fallout as a franchise."

He continued, "When is Season 2 happening. What are we doing on mobile. What are we doing in [Fallout 76]. What are we doing with this thing. What are we doing with this other thing. And when are these landing. And again if I could snap my fingers and have them all be out and ready I would. But the main thing is how do we deliver these at a high quality level. That is always most important."

Howard's oblique comments appear to suggest that at least two projects are in development, though it's unclear what they might be and when they'll be released.

One of the projects may be the Fallout 3 Remaster revealed in the documents accidentally published by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), which also leaked an Oblivion remaster and other projects. The remaster did not have a formal date, but appeared to be targeting financial year 2024, which ends in June.

Howard has also said that Fallout 5 will be arriving sometime after Elder Scrolls VI, and that he has a "one-pager" for the project. With Elder Scrolls VI seemingly still in pre-production, though, Fallout 5 may not appear until 2030 or later.

In the meantime, Bethesda recently released the long-awaited Fallout 4 next-gen update, which stirred controversy by breaking various key mods among other issues. Bethesda also confirmed that those who own Fallout 4 via the Playstation Plus Collection do not get the next-gen update for free.

One way or another, demand for Fallout is higher than ever thanks to the success of the show, and Bethesda is seemingly doing its best to keep up. Elsewhere, we talked to Howard in our own interview, where he clarified some of the big questions about Fallout's timeline among other issues. For more, check out our complete guide to Fallout's official timeline as well as everything we know about Fallout 5.

Kat Bailey is IGN's News Director as well as co-host of Nintendo Voice Chat. Have a tip? Send her a DM at @the_katbot.

Microsoft just held its latest ID@Xbox, a digital showcase showing many fantastic indie games headed to Xbox and PC. From existing games getting updates, such as Palworld and Vampire Survivors, to new details on existing indie games, like 33 Immortals and Lost Records: Bloom & Rage, today's showcase likely had a game for just about every type of player.

If you missed today's ID@Xbox showcase, don't worry. IGN has recapped everything announced, which you can read below.

Astor: Blade of the Monolith is out on May 30

Originally announced as Monolith: Requiem of the Ancients before the rebranding, Astor: Blade of the Monolith is a hack-and-slash ARPG. Players control the titular character, Astor, as he ventures off to unravel the mystery regarding the disappearance of the ancients.

33 Immortals' closed beta is set for late May

If you are looking for a co-op roguelike game with 32 of your friends, 33 Immortals' is the game for you. The top-down action game has beautiful hand-drawn visuals reminiscent of Spiritfarer combined with constant on-screen action from something like Vampire Survivors, 33 Immortals' closed beta is set for May 24.

Palworld is getting a massive update with new Pals this Summer

Palworld, the indie darling that has become a breakout hit for Xbox early into 2024, is getting a big update this summer that includes the introduction of four new Pals. More interestingly, the trailer showed a flamethrower weapon being wielded by a player; previously, players who wanted to use a flamethrower in Palworld needed a Foxsparks to replicate a flamethrower.

WWII-era game Commandos: Origins is getting a closed beta this Summer

Claymore Game Studios has provided a new look at the next entry in the Commandos franchise, subtitled Origins. Set in World War II, players control Jack O'Hara or one of his five companions in a series of missions that set in " historically authentic WWII environments."

A closed beta is set to be held sometime this Summer.

Centum is an 8-bit point-and-click adventure game coming this Summer

If you like 8-bit visuals and point-and-click adventure games, Centum might be worth adding to your watchlist. The gameplay from the reveal trailer reveals that the game will shift between medieval and modern settings. Centum is out this Summer.

Lost Records: Bloom & Rage gets a new trailer, but no release date

Announced at the 2023 Game Awards, Lost Records: Bloom & Rage is the next project from Don't Nod, the creator of Life is Strange. Unlike Don't Nod's previous story-driven choose-your-own-adventure games, which were set in a more modern period, Lost Records is set in 1995. The latest trailer oozes 90s nostalgia, with kids skateboarding and footage of the trailer being "recorded" from a 90s-era camcorder.

Keylocker is out this Summer on PC and Xbox

A turn-based cyberpunk action game, Keylocker, will be released on PC and Xbox sometime this Summer. Set in a world where music is outlawed, players control a singer. Developer Moonana explained on the game's Steam page that the Mario & Luigi RPG series and Chrono Trigger inspired Keylocker.

Stampede: Racing Royale is a battle royale racing game with 60 players on the course

While Mario Kart is still the franchise that dominates the kart racing subgenre, it is still limited to Nintendo hardware. Sumo Digital's Stampede: Racing Royale might give Xbox players something to fill the Mario Kart void.

A racing game that fuses kart racing and battle royale, Stampede: Racing Royale has 60 players burning rubber on the course. The gameplay and power-ups are similar to those in a Mario Kart game, combined with the goofiness found in MediaTonic's platform battle royale game Fall Guys.

Jackbox Games is finally making an adult-themed Party Pack coming this year

Adult Jackbox players wishing for an adult-themed Party Pack can stop praying as Jackbox Games announced today that it is finally making one.

Jackbox Naughty Pack is coming sometime this year. While there is no information on what games will be included in the party pack, the announcement reminds me of how Apples to Apples and Cards Against Humanity exist, with the Naughty Pack taking a darker and more provocative twist.

Times & Galaxy gets June release window

Copychaser Games' upcoming point-and-click game Times & Galaxy will be available on PC and Xbox sometime in June. Payers control a robot, the first robot reporter for the prestigious Times & Galaxy newspaper. The reporter is asked to find stories across the Galaxy as an intern, hoping to get a scoop.

Sulfur is a contemporary shooter with old-school vibes coming to Xbox

A contemporary first-person shooter with roguelike elements and an old-school design. One of the user-defined tags on the game's Steam page describes it as a "boomer shooter." Looking at the previous trailer and the one that appeared at ID@Xbox, gameplay might remind people of the older Doom and Wolfenstein games.

Fera: The Sundered Tribes is out later this year

Massive Damage Studios has shared a new trailer for Fera: The Sundered Tribes, an action RPG that fuses monster hunting with tribe management and building mechanics. The gameplay and screenshots resemble Monster Hunter: World.

Fera, The Sundered Tribes is launching later this year.

All You Need Is Help is a quirky puzzle game from the creators of PixelJunk Monsters

If you are looking for a silyl but cozy puzzle game, PixelJunk Monsters creator Q-Games' next project, All You Need Is Help, is hitting the sweet spot. The trailer indicates that this puzzle game is a multiplayer game in which players have time and need to place their puzzle pieces in the correct position.

All You Need Is Help is out sometime this Fall.

Tails of Iron 2: Whiskers of Winter gets new trailer, still no release date

Odd Bug Studio's upcoming soulslike action RPG Tails of Iron 2: Whiskers of Winter got a new trailer at ID@Xbox, flaunting more of its comic book 2D art style. Players will control Arlo, who is on a quest to defeat giant beasts and bandits that are scattered throughout the world.

Hangry briefly appears at ID@Xbox

Hangry, the "snack n' slash" RPG in which players hunt down and eat monsters, briefly appeared at ID@Xbox, where players got a brief new look at gameplay.

Promise Mascot Agency is the next game from the creators of Paradise Killer

Kaizen Game Works, the developers behind Paradise Killer, are back with a sophomore title called Promise Mascot Agency. As the name implies, players run a mascot agency, and gameplay includes card-based battles.

I promise Mascot Agency will be out sometime next year.

Five games published by Gamera Games are headed to Xbox Game Pass

Indie game publisher Gamera Games appeared at ID@Xbox today, revealing that five games—Depersonalization, Firework, Volcano Princess, Kelperth, and The Rewinder—are headed to Game Pass. All these games were released initially on PC before today's announcement.

Over 15 games from the Triple-I Initiative showcase will be playable on Xbox

Earlier this month, the Triple-I Initiative showcase highlighted many indie delights that are headed shortly. Games such as Palworld Arena and Cat Quest 3 appeared. Towards the end of the showcase, it was revealed that 17 games from that sizzle during ID@Xbox will be playable on Xbox.

Dungeons of Hinterberg gets a colorful new trailer focusing on gameplay

A fusion of social sim and action RPG genres with cel-shaded graphics, Dungeons of Hinterberg is set in the Austrian Alps where players control Luisa, a law trainee suffering burnout who opts to drop the corporate life and trade it in for the rugged life of living in the wild and conquer dungeons.

Vampire Survirors: Operation Guns DLC gets one more trailer before its May 9 release date

Vampire Survivors: Operation Guns, known affectionately as the Contra DLC, is headed to all platforms early next month. We got another look at the new DLC before it gets into players' hands. But the most interesting thing about the new trailer is that at the end, viewers get a "one more thing..." revealing that Brad Fang, a character who first appeared in Contra: Hard Corps, will be featured in the DLC.

Taylor is a Reporter at IGN. You can follow her on Twitter @TayNixster.

Jackbox players who are older and have been wishing for an adult-themed Party Pack: your prayers have finally been answered, as Jackbox Games announced at ID@Xbox today that its next party pack is aimed at the older demographic.

As the name implies, Jackbox Naughty Pack is the next entry in the party game franchise and is designed specifically for adults. Though there are no details, such as what mini-games would appear in the pack, we do know it is out this year.

Jackbox Games has released a new party pack nearly annually since the first installment was released in 2014. Each Party Pack entry consists of five mini-games designed to be played ideally with three or more friends while everyone uses a device with an internet browser, most commonly a phone, to play.

The Jackbox Party Pack series grew in popularity thanks to content creators hosting streams where they play one of the ten currently available Party Packs. The series spiked exponentially in 2020 during the pandemic as family members or friends hosted virtual game nights on video conferencing apps like Zoom while social distancing. Beyond content creation and social distancing, Jackbox is a great option for those looking to host a game night or have a fun activity to engage in during a dinner party.

Though Jackbox is designed for all ages, releasing a Party Pack is unsurprising, particularly as many adults will typically host a game night that requires participants to be 18 or older. Or the fact that some players typically use snark or vulgar language when playing mini-games such as Quiplash.

Taylor is a Reporter at IGN. You can follow her on Twitter @TayNixster.

One dedicated fan of The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim has added two haptic feedback suits that simulate real pain to their already $15,000 mass immersion setup.

As reported by GamesRadar, GingasVR on X/Twitter shared how they've made their Skyrim virtual reality experience even more immersive by adding touch and feeling to the world.

GingasVR, who already boasted an extensive VR setup that includes an HTC Vive headset, three Vive trackers, microphones, and face trackers, as well as tons of mods, has added an OWO haptic feedback suit, a haptic feedback vest, and smart plugs hooked up to fans.

The first suit contains electrodes that shock the player when they receive actual damage in the game, while the second is purely for vibrations to simulate feelings of water and other less intense feelings. The fans are hooked up to simulate temperature, so they'll turn on when visiting colder regions of Skyrim and off when it's warmer.

Wearing 2 haptic feedback suits in Skyrim while talking to an OpenAi NPC and simulating temperature with smart plugs 🫡 #vr #skyrim #tech #gaming pic.twitter.com/3vDB17FM4c

— GingasVR (@gingasvr) April 25, 2024

These are shown off in the video, with the pain simulators tested against the Whiterun populus, mages, and even a dragon. GingasVR also used an OpenAI mod to give characters unique and adaptive dialogue which, partnered with their microphone and a mod that projects speech in-game, allows for lifelike interactions with the residents of Skyrim.

With The Elder Scrolls 6 still five years away at least, fans have had to find their own ways, like this, to keep the ageing Skyrim entertaining. Another player recently accrued a 267,000 gold bounty murdering 5,000 NPCs in a quest to kill "everything that was killable", for example, while one fan recreated the game in Age of Empires 2.

Waves of sentimental fans recently booted up their old Xbox 360s and PlayStation 3s to "retire" their original characters too, showing how much Skyrim has remained in player consciousness over its 12 years of being available.

In our 9/10 review of the beloved role playing game, IGN said: "Skyrim is a rare kind of intensely personal, deeply rewarding experience, and one of the best role-playing games yet produced."

Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelance reporter. He'll talk about The Witcher all day.

Game of Thrones is reportedly the basis of a massively multiplayer online role-playing game set from The Finals publisher Nexon.

Sources told Redanian Intelligence that the game will at least partially be set in the North with locations such as Winterfell and The Wall both featured. It will reportedly take place around Seasons 4 and 5 of the hit HBO show, when Roose Bolton is Warden of the North and Jon Snow and Sam Tarley are still posted at The Wall.

Players will allegedly explore Westeros through a story campaign threaded throughout the MMO, coming across the aforementioned characters and others as they do, according to Redanian Intelligence. The HBO show cast apparently will not return for the game, and players will create a brand new character for themselves, with male and female options.

The game was described as a package similar to The Elder Scrolls Online, though no release window for the alleged MMO was shared. IGN has asked Nexon for comment.

Nexon, as well as publishing Embark Studios' hit shooter The Finals, has hundreds of millions of registered users across all its games, including Dungeon & Fighter, MapleStory, and KartRider.

Despite having a critically acclaimed TV show based on a critically acclaimed ongoing novel series, Game of Thrones hasn't had as much of a presence in the video game space. Beyond a handful of strategy games, an RPG based on the TV show was released in 2012 to poor reviews, while Telltale Games created an episodic, story heavy game in 2014 that failed to get a second season. Interestingly, a Game of Thrones MMORPG for mobile was announced by Netmarble in 2022 but hasn't been heard from since.

Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelance reporter. He'll talk about The Witcher all day.

Sonic Superstars is down to just £12.32 on PS5 right now at Amazon in the UK. It's also down to £12.35 on Xbox, a pretty hefty discount for a £54.99 game that only came out in October of last year. Still, Sonic fans, if you haven't yet got around to playing it, this is likely the cheapest it's going to get so check out the deal ASAP while it's still in stock. We'll leave a handy link just below!

In our review of Sonic Superstars, we said: "I started hedgehog over heels for Sonic Superstars, but the more time I put into it, the easier it was for me to see its Eggman-sized flaws. The decision to focus more on exploration was a great idea on paper and creates a unique dynamic to each level, but I wish it hadn’t sacrificed speed in exchange. The boss designs are creative and clever, but often wear out their welcome with long periods of being untargetable and occasionally frustrating one-hit KO mechanics."

"The soundtrack may not have anything as iconic as Hydro City or Spring Yard Zone, but it features some excellent additions to an already long list of Sonic bangers – if only the sound design was up to the same quality standard. And while the campaign is still enjoyable, Superstars’ multiplayer components are far worse options than anything in past Sonic games. Like digging Emeralds out of the rough, Sonic Superstars’ new ideas end up feeling like a mix of both interesting and ill-advised, making it an amusing Sonic game but not exactly a Super one."

Other big gaming deals right now include Stellar Blade for just £57.48 with code PAYAY20 (see here), with over £12 off the RRP for a limited time only. We'll leave a handy link to the Stellar Blade preorder discount just below, but as we mentioned, this deal will expire soon at 11:59 PM on April 30 -- so don't hang around on this one.

This is part of a new payday sale at eBay using code PAYAY20, which includes some pretty impressive discounts, and 20% off some of the best games going right now -- including Stellar Blade which will likely be on a lot of PlayStation gamers' radar for the end of this month.

Plus, there are also games like Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth on PS5 is down to just £47.16, alongside Steam Deck 512GB for £374.95. These payday discounts are well worth taking advantage of if you're making any purchases in the spring sales and beyond, so keep them in mind. For more amazing UK discounts, ensure you're following @IGNUKDeals on Twitter/X.

Robert Anderson is a deals expert and Commerce Editor for IGN. You can follow him @robertliam21 on Twitter.

Bethesda has issued a clarification amid confusion surrounding the much-anticipated free next-gen update for Fallout 4, confirming who does and who does not qualify for the upgrade.

Following last week’s launch of the update, PlayStation 5 owners were left confused over which subscription version of the game would qualify as getting the native next-gen patch for free when it, at least initially, wasn’t available for anyone. It turns out the free update is only for subscribers who have the game via the PlayStation Plus Extra catalog. That means everyone else has to pay for Fallout 4’s native PS5 version, if they didn't already own the game outright, including those who own Fallout 4 via the now defunct PS Plus Collection. Meanwhile, all Xbox Game Pass subscribers get Fallout 4 and the next-gen update for free.

PS Plus Collection was a promotion that gifted PS5 owners who subscribed to PS Plus a number of PS4 games to play on their new console, including Bloodborne, Persona 5, and the aforementioned Fallout 4. It was removed from PS Plus in May last year.

“We've seen some confusion regarding the free Fallout 4 next-gen update for PlayStation Plus Extra members,” Bethesda said in a statement. “The Fallout 4 next-gen update will be available to PlayStation Plus Extra members through the PlayStation Game Catalog. Your patience is appreciated while the teams work on this.”

As you’d expect, people who do own Fallout 4 via PS Plus Collection and had expected to get the next-gen update for free have expressed their disappointment, and pointed out Bethesda had said the next-gen update would be free for all owners of Fallout 4.

Bethesda has also faced tough questions around refunds for Fallout 4 after some who owned the game via PlayStation Plus Extra but bought the PS5 version during the period when a bug made the free next-gen update unavailable. IGN has asked Bethesda for comment.

The Fallout 4 next-gen update has suffered a troubled launch, and the update that launched alongside it for the PC version of the game has had technical problems of its own. Xbox players found their version lacked the promised Quality Mode. Bethesda tweeted to say the next-gen update on Xbox Series X targets 4k and 60 frames per second in all modes, with Performance Mode “more aggressive in lowering settings to maintain this target.”

The Fallout 4 next-gen update launched amid the breakout success of Prime Video’s Fallout TV show, but its release date scuppered the Fallout London mod, which relies upon third-party mods now broken following the PC patch.

Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.

Manor Lords’ huge Steam wishlists have translated into a bumper launch that saw over one million copies sold in just a day.

Manor Lords launched on April 26 in Early Access form and soon rose through the player concurrents ranks on Valve’s platform. It hit a peak Steam concurrent player count of 173,178 — according to publisher Hooded Horse, that’s the highest ever for a city builder, and even other similar genres, such as GSG/4x/colony sims. That means Manor Lords has enjoyed a bigger Steam launch than the likes of Civilization and Cities: Skylines.

Manor Lords is a medieval strategy game featuring in-depth city building, large-scale tactical battles, and complex economic and social simulations. It was developed by Slavic Magic, a one-person studio founded by Greg Styczeń. IGN’s Manor Lords Early Access review returned a 7/10. We said: “Manor Lords is a gorgeous medieval city-builder that kept me occupied for hours building my perfect, cozy hamlets, but it definitely feels very early in its Early Access development.”

In a tweet, Styczeń outlined the main points for the planned next patch:

• Fix all the weird homeless bugs.
• Tune the archer damage.
• Tune the trade oversupply mechanics (it's too harsh and punishes regional specialization).
• Slow down the rate of the AI claiming territories.
• Improve the sawpit efficiency / storage.

Manor Lords is the latest mid-priced game to see enormous success in early 2024 following the release of Pocket Pair's Palworld and Arrowhead's Helldivers 2. The trend comes at a time when some triple-A $70 games, such as Rocksteady's Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League and Ubisoft's Skull and Bones, have struggled.

Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.

Amazon Gaming Week sale is now live until May 5, making this an incredible opportunity to save, and will likely be the last chance to grab a big discount on Game Pass, SSDs, SD Cards, and power banks until the Prime Day sales later in the summer. Plenty of sales occur outside of events like Prime Day or Black Friday, so be sure to take advantage while the massive collection of discounts is available this week.

Buying new video games, hardware, and accessories for your preferred console doesn’t need to make a massive dent in your wallet. Deals happen all the time for items like these, so you can save money while investing in your favorite hobby. We also cover hot items coming back in stock, like the PlayStation Portal which is now available again at Best Buy for $199.99. For now, whether you play on PS5, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, or PC, you’ll find the very best deals listed below. And if you've taken advantage of lots of these deals, see our roundup on game storage ideas.

TL;DR - Our Favorite Video Game Deals

3-Months of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate for Just $36.99 (Stackable Codes)

There's a hot chance this sells out fast, so get those codes in ASAP. Woot is offering an excellent deal on three months of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. You can save $13 on a digital 3-month Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription, bringing its price down from $49.99 to $36.99. It's also still stackable for up to 36 months for new or existing members - huzzah! Microsoft has also recently announced the second wave of games coming to Game Pass in April 2024. Highlights include Orcs Must Die! 3, Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes, and the hotly anticipated Manor Lords.

Our Favorite Micro SD Cards for Switch and Steam Deck Are On Sale

The best Switch or Steam Deck SD card should be fast, reliable, and as future-proof as possible. That last one is important, as it's quite likely we'll be getting a Switch successor / the next Nintendo console within the next year or so (if rumors are to be believed). Therefore, you're going to want to opt for the latest in SD card tech, which is a micro SDXC UHS-I U3 A2 V30 memory card. That's a lot of random letters, so to save you a bit of time we've left our top suggestions and deals just below for your convenience. To see even more SD card deals, make sure to check out our roundup of the best SD card deals.

More SD Card Deals

Our Favorite Power Bank for Steam Deck is Discounted Right Now

Some excellent power banks are discounted at the moment for Amazon Gaming Week that are perfectly portable and packing plenty of power to keep you going. In particular, the fantastic Anker Prime Power Bank is down to just $89.98 right now. This is a huge discount for the 200W enabled 20,000mAh Portable Charger, and likely the best we are going to see until Prime Day later in the summer.

PlayStation Portal Is Finally Back In Stock at Best Buy

See our PlayStation Portal review here.

There are some amazing PS5 deals to check out right now, including a selection of PlayStation games that have dropped to just $20 at Walmart. Not only that, but the PlayStation Portal, a surprise hit, and Sony’s newest handheld gaming accessory, is back in stock at Best Buy for $199.99 (there's also an open-box version for just $159.99 while stock lasts).

Meta Quest 2 Active Bundle (128GB) is Down to $196.11

Amazon is offering a very nice discount at the moment on the 128GB Meta Quest 2 Active Bundle. This is one of the best Meta Quest deals available right now, and well worth considering for anyone interested in VR. Normally, this VR headset retails for $249.99, but you can grab it for $196.11 right now, which is a great price for such a high-quality headset and the active bundle alongside. We gave it a 9/10 in our review back when it was released, stating that it "improves an already amazing VR headset with better resolution, refresh rate, and a lower price tag."

Perfect PS5 4TB SSD with Heatsink for $239.49 at Amazon

Looking to completely maximize your PS5 storage capabilities? Then this is the deal for you. For a limited time only, this PS5 4TB SSD is available at Amazon for just $239.49 (see here). It has an MSRP of $699.99 which is rather dramatic, but in reality, this and many other 4TB SSDs have been sitting around $280-$300 recently. The 1TB version is also down to just $71.49 as well, the best price you can find on a PS5 SSD at the time of writing. Again, we're unlikely to see better deals than this until Prime Day in the summer. You can also check out the more PS5 SSD deals here.

WD Black C50 1TB Expansion Card for Xbox for $124.99

Amazon is offering the lowest price we've ever seen on the officially licensed WD Black C50 1TB Expansion Card for Xbox Series consoles. Right now it's only $124.99, a 16% off price drop from its original $150 MSRP. It's currently $25 cheaper than the Seagate 1TB Expansion Card. The C50 is one of the best SSDs for the Xbox, which isn't surprising since your options are pretty limited.

More Xbox Expandable Storage Deals

HyperX Gaming Headsets Are Discounted for Amazon Gaming Week

Looking for a brand new headset? Consider these HyperX sets that are currently discount in the Amazon Gaming Week sale. Whether you're on PS5, Xbox, or PC, the HyperX Cloud III could be the pick of the bunch, down to just $79.99 from a list price of $99.99.

More HyperX Deals

Steam Deck Internal SSD: Big Discounts for Amazon Gaming Week

If a micro SD card deal isn't floating your boat for Steam Deck, how about a new internal SSD instead? The WD_BLACK 2TB SN770M M.2 2230 NVMe SSD is down to just $175.99 right now, a considerable drop from its $239.99 list price, and well worth considering. If you don't need all that extra storage, there's a more affordable option for the 500GB version as well, down to $67.99.

Up to 40% Off PC Gaming Accessories From Corsair

Corsair also has a massive sale for Amazon Gaming Week, with several big discounts on PC gaming accessories like mice, headsets, keyboards and more. We've selected a few of our favorites in the sale, but there's so much on offer we can hardly cover it all -- so ensure you're checking out everything that's recieved a discount here as well.

More Corsair Deals

Amazon Gaming Week: CYBERPOWERPC Deals

CyberPowerPC gaming PCs are built from off-the-shelf parts, so they are easy to maintain and upgrade yourself. The individual components are comprised of whatever brands are currently available at the moment, so the PC you get may not have the exact same components as the PC someone else gets (if you want consistency, you would buy from a brand that supplies its own components like Alienware). In addition to the individual parts warranties, you get a 1 year CyberPowerPC warranty.

Amazon Gaming Week: GIGABYTE Motherboards

Amazon Gaming Week: Dell Gaming Laptops/Gear/Monitors

Amazon Gaming Week: ASUS Motherboards, Graphics Cards, and More

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Best PC Game Deals

If you're looking for the latest and greatest deals on PC games, don't worry, we've got you covered there as well. Here, you can find some excellent deals on new releases, like Dragon's Dogma 2, and highly-anticipated upcoming releases like Elden Ring's Shadow of the Erdtree expansion. You can check out more of our favorite PC game deals below.

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Score 2 Free Months of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate (New Members Only)

Walmart is now offering two months of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate for free for any current or new Walmart+ members. If you're not currently a member of Walmart+, the retailer offers a 30-day free trial (which will make you eligible for the Game Pass offer), alongside plans for $12.95 paid monthly, or $98 paid annually.

For those interested in the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate offer, it is worth qualifying that this code will only apply to those who currently don't have an active Game Pass Ultimate membership, and Walmart stresses that this is for new members only. If you're on Game Pass Core, it should be fine to apply to your account. Otherwise, if you're a current Game Pass Ultimate member, the code won't be applicable. If you do qualify, it's a pretty simple process if you're looking to bag the two-month free trial, here's how:

Steps:

1. Visit the Walmart+ Offer Page and select 'Get Offer' next to the 2 free months of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate listing
2. On the 'Offer Page' you will see a unique promo code, copy this code and keep a record of it
3. Hit the 'Redeem Offer' button on the page to go to the Xbox Site
4. Sign in to Your Account
5. Your promo code will autofill -- if it does not then paste/type
6. Redeem your offer and receive your 2 Free Months of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate
7. Disable auto-renewal afterward to avoid being charged at the end of the trial -- this can be located in 'Services & Subscriptions' in your Microsoft account. You should also do this for Walmart+ if you used a free trial to access the Game Pass offer

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Score a Spider-Man 2 PS5 Slim Bundle for $449 (20% Off MSRP)

This deal has been one of our favorites for quite a while (since last year's Black Friday, actually!) and it's been selling out at a variety of retailers. Thankfully, Best Buy still has some in stock, so if you've been hoping to grab one of these PS5 Slim bundles, now's your chance to do so. Who knows how long it'll stick around for, so act fast! Normally, it retails for $559.99, but it's been marked down to $449 for a while now which is an excellent deal.

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Get $20 Off a Super Mario Party + Red & Blue Joy-Con Bundle at Walmart

Who doesn't love a bundle? Right now, Walmart's offering a nice deal on a Super Mario Party and Red & Blue Joy-Con bundle. It's currently available for $79 (the price is shown after adding it to your cart), which is $20 off its MSRP of $99.99. Be ready for your next game night with a fantastic game and additional Joy-Con all ready to go.

Xbox Console & Bundle Deals

The Diablo IV Xbox Series X bundle is still holding on at Walmart, down $92 from its MSRP of $559.99 to $467.99. This has stood the test of time since last Black Friday as one of our favorite console bundles, and is well worth investing in before it's all gone for good.

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Alienware Aurora R15 RTX 4070 Gaming PC for $1399.99

Do you prefer to play on a dedicated tower? Navigating the options online can be a lengthy ordeal. Desk space (or lack of desk space), portability, and price point are often factors in the decision. Utility, function, and fun little extras like RGB capacities or sound-enhancing add-on devices to pair with your PC often make up the list of desired needs. However, there are some great PC deals that pop up every now and again that are worth jumping on before they disappear. One of our favorite deals at the moment is on this Alienware Aurora R15 RTX 4070 Gaming PC, which is down 39% to $1399.99. To see even more PC deals, check out our roundup of the best gaming PC deals.

Robert Anderson is a deals expert and Commerce Editor for IGN. You can follow him @robertliam21 on Twitter.

Tomb Raider 1-3 Remastered publisher Aspyr has said the removal of Lara Croft pinup posters in Tomb Raider 3 Remastered was an accident to be rectified in the next patch.

A post on Aspyr's support page thanked fans for bringing the issue to the attention of the development team after it was spotted following the release of Patch 2 earlier in April 2024.

"In the recently released Patch 2 we made several texture and graphical updates to the HD version," Aspyr wrote in the post. "As part of these updates, the posters in Sleeping With The Fishes (The Lost Artifact) were inadvertently removed in the HD version of the game. This has been resolved and these textures will be restored in Patch 3."

The removal caused confusion as the original graphics mode still displayed the posters, meaning they were only missing in the HD port. There was also no mention of their removal in the patch notes. But now Aspyr insists it was a mistake, and not the deliberate act of censorship some fans had raised concerns over.

It's unclear when the posters will make it back into Tomb Raider 3 Remastered as Patch 3 doesn't have a release date. Patch 1 arrived March 12, around one month after its February 13 launch, while Patch 2 arrived April 11. A continuation of this pattern would see Patch 3 arrive around the second week of May.

Tomb Raider 1-3 Remastered arrived as an upgraded version of the original trilogy: Tomb Raider and The Unfinished Business expansion, Tomb Rader 2 and The Gold Mask expansion, and Tomb Raider 3 and The Lost Artifact Expansion.

Tomb Raider custodian Crystal Dynamics included a sensitivity warning in the collection for what it called "deeply harmful" racial and ethnic prejudices, but explained it kept them in "in the hopes that we may acknowledge its harmful impact and learn from it."

Its release was followed by the official reveal of protagonist Lara Croft's redesign, which will presumably debut in Tomb Raider Next. This incoming mainline game is currently being developed in Unreal Engine 5, with Amazon Games supporting Crystal Dynamics.

It will be the first new entry since 2018's Shadow of the Tomb Raider, which wrapped up a trilogy of games during the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One generation. That series reset Lara Croft's origins in a grittier setting, but it's unclear how Tomb Raider Next will fit into the equation.

Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelance reporter. He'll talk about The Witcher all day.

There's a whole score of incredible Xbox deals to check out right now, including 3-months of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate for just $36.99, over 60% off the Xbox Series X Mini Fridge at Walmart, excellent controller discounts, and so much more. When it comes to picking up new games, hardware, or accessories for your Xbox, it feels good when you can find those items at a discounted price. Here, we'll keep you updated on all of the latest discounts for Xbox, from games to controllers and so much more. Let's dig into the best Xbox deals that are happening right now.

TL;DR - Our Favorite Xbox Deals

Navigate to:

• 3-Months of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Deal
• 2-Months Xbox Game Pass for Free
• Xbox Controller Deals
• Xbox Video Game Deals
• Xbox Console Bundle Deals
• Should I Buy an Xbox?

3-Months of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate for $36.99 (was $49.99)

There's a hot chance this sells out fast, so get those codes in ASAP. Woot is offering an excellent deal on three months of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. You can save $13 on a digital 3-month Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription, bringing its price down from $49.99 to $36.99. It's also still stackable for up to 36 months for new or existing members - huzzah! Microsoft has also recently announced the second wave of games coming to Game Pass in April 2024. Highlights include Orcs Must Die! 3, Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes, and the hotly anticipated Manor Lords.

WD Black C50 1TB Expansion Card for Xbox for $124.99

Amazon is offering the lowest price we've ever seen on the officially licensed WD Black C50 1TB Expansion Card for Xbox Series consoles. Right now it's only $124.99, a 16% off price drop from its original $150 MSRP. It's currently $25 cheaper than the Seagate 1TB Expansion Card. The C50 is one of the best SSDs for the Xbox, which isn't surprising since your options are pretty limited.

More Xbox Expandable Storage Deals

Score 2 Free Months of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate (New Members Only)

Walmart is now offering two months of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate for free for any current or new Walmart+ members. If you're not currently a member of Walmart+, the retailer offers a 30-day free trial (which will make you eligible for the Game Pass offer), alongside plans for $12.95 paid monthly, or $98 paid annually.

For those interested in the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate offer, it is worth qualifying that this code will only apply to those who currently don't have an active Game Pass Ultimate membership, and Walmart stresses that this is for new members only. If you're on Game Pass Core, it should be fine to apply to your account. Otherwise, if you're a current Game Pass Ultimate member, the code won't be applicable. If you do qualify, it's a pretty simple process if you're looking to bag the two-month free trial, here's how:

Steps:

1. Visit the Walmart+ Offer Page and select 'Get Offer' next to the 2 free months of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate listing
2. On the 'Offer Page' you will see a unique promo code, copy this code and keep a record of it
3. Hit the 'Redeem Offer' button on the page to go to the Xbox Site
4. Sign in to Your Account
5. Your promo code will autofill -- if it does not then paste/type
6. Redeem your offer and receive your 2 Free Months of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate
7. Disable auto-renewal afterward to avoid being charged at the end of the trial -- this can be located in 'Services & Subscriptions' in your Microsoft account. You should also do this for Walmart+ if you used a free trial to access the Game Pass offer

The Best Xbox Controller Deals: Select Controllers Down to $49

Ready to add another controller to your gaming setup? You're in luck! There are fantastic deals available on a range of colors, like the Astral Purple, Electric Volt, and the Special Edition Remix controllers. Check out some of our top picks for deals above and below!

More Controller Deals:

• Xbox Core Wireless Gaming Controller (Carbon Black) for $49.96 (17% Off)
• Xbox Wireless Controller (Shock Blue) for $52.00 (20% Off)
• Xbox Core Wireless Controller (Astral Purple) for $52.00 (20% Off)
• Xbox Wireless Controller (Remix Special Edition) for $67.99 (20% Off)
• Xbox Wireless Controller (Dream Vapor Special Edition) for $59.99 (14% Off)

The Best Xbox Game Deals: Over 50% Off Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order & More Game Deals

While Xbox's Spring Sale has ended, the deals for Xbox fans continue! Check out some of the best physical game discounts available, including markdowns on titles like Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol.1, and the newly released Alone in the Dark. For more fantastic game deals, click on the links below.

More Xbox Video Game Deals:

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Get Over 60% Off the Xbox Series X Mini Fridge at Walmart

It looks like a fridge, and it kinda is a fridge (mini), and it's also down to $29.98 at Walmart. Plus, c'mon, who doesn't want the Xbox Series S toaster for their kitchen as well? Not only is it a fun addition to have in your home, but this is a discount you definitely don't want to miss out on, either! It's currently marked down over 50% at Walmart to just $40, which is an excellent deal. What better time to pick it up?

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Xbox Console & Bundle Deals

The Diablo IV Xbox Series X bundle is still holding on at Walmart, down $92 from its MSRP of $559.99 to $467.99. This has stood the test of time since last Black Friday as one of our favorite console bundles, and is well worth investing in before it's all gone for good.

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Get 10% Off the Official Xbox Wireless Headset & More Headset Deals

More Xbox Headset Deals:

• Logitech G Astro A30 LIGHTSPEED Wireless Gaming Headset for $210.41

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Save On An Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Subscription

Since Xbox hiked the monthly price of Game Pass last year, we want to help to avoid this. To do so, we'd recommend stacking these 3-month subscriptions as much as possible (36 months is the max you can load onto your account).

Admittedly buying up 12 of these codes can put a strain on your wallet, totaling $539.88 with the Amazon link above. However, when you compare it to the new cost of Game Pass Ultimate for 36 months at $16.99 per month, amounting to $611.64, you'll realize you're saving $71.76 on your subscription for the next three years. Otherwise, secure your membership for at least a year to lock in at least some savings overall.

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When Should I Buy an Xbox?

In general, it is advisable to keep an eye out for sales and restocks throughout the year, as availability has improved since the initial launch of the console. Unlike the Nintendo Switch, there is no specific recommendation to wait for a sale regardless of the time of year. Instead, it's a good idea to monitor various retailers and online platforms for restock announcements and promotional offers.

However, certain events like Black Friday or other holiday seasons may bring about unique bundles, discounts, or promotional deals specifically for the Xbox Series X. These bundles may include additional games, accessories, or exclusive limited editions. While quantities for such promotions might be limited, they can provide an opportunity to get more value for your purchase. See our guide to Xbox Series X prices for more info.

Xbox Series X or Xbox Series S?

Choosing between the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S ultimately depends on your gaming preferences, budget, and specific requirements. Let's compare the two consoles to help you make an informed decision:

1. Performance: The Xbox Series X is the more powerful option, offering native 4K gaming, higher graphical fidelity, and faster loading times. It has more advanced hardware, including a larger storage capacity. On the other hand, the Xbox Series S targets a lower price point and offers a less powerful performance, targeting 1440p resolution gaming and upscaling to 4K.

2. Price: The Xbox Series S is more affordable compared to the Xbox Series X. If budget is a significant factor for you, the Xbox Series S provides a cost-effective option while still delivering a next-generation gaming experience. For example, the Series S can play Starfield at 1440p 30fps (vs 4K 30fps on Series X).

3. Storage: The Xbox Series X comes with a larger internal storage capacity, allowing you to store more games directly on the console. The Xbox Series S, however, has a smaller storage capacity, which means you may need to manage your game library more actively or rely on external storage solutions.

4. Disc Drive: The Xbox Series X includes a disc drive, enabling you to play physical game discs and enjoy a wider range of media options, including Blu-ray and DVD playback. The Xbox Series S, in contrast, is a digital-only console, meaning you can only play games downloaded from the digital store.

5. Graphics and Performance: While both consoles support ray tracing, the Xbox Series X provides a more immersive and visually impressive experience due to its superior hardware capabilities. If you prioritize cutting-edge graphics and want the best performance available, the Xbox Series X is the preferable choice.

Consider your gaming preferences, budget, and whether you prioritize top-of-the-line performance or cost-effectiveness. If you have a 4K TV, want the most powerful console, and are willing to invest more, the Xbox Series X is the recommended option. If you have a lower budget, a 1080p or 1440p TV, and don't mind sacrificing some performance, the Xbox Series S offers excellent value for money.

With how expensive gaming is getting in 2024, we're trying to save you as much money as possible on the games and other tech you actually want to buy. We've got great deal roundups available for all major platforms such as Switch and Xbox, and keep these updated daily with brand new offers. If you're trying to keep costs down while maintaining your favorite hobby, stay tuned for more incredible discounts.

Robert Anderson is a deals expert and Commerce Editor for IGN. You can follow him @robertliam21 on Twitter.

There isn’t another game series more loaded with pop culture references than Goat Simulator. Pilgor, the crazy, ragdoll-tossed, licking protagonist of the series has been getting up to endlessly stupid hijinks for 10 years, and what started as a daft premise built from a game jam idea has now spawned a decade of insanity, spoofing almost every major video game along the way such as Skyrim, Dead Island and even P.T.

But not every crazy Goat Simulator idea makes the cut, and concepts based on the Hitman series and L.A. Noire never made it past early development. We spoke to developers Coffee Stain North about how these ideas came about and why they never made it to the finish line.

“We started with very broad themes for all of the [game] jams.” explains lead producer, Sebastian Zethraeus. “[The themes were] Under the Sea, Mythology, and Dev's Choice, which is what turned into the Hitman one.”

Since Goat Simulators' inception in 2014, Coffee Stain Studios has regularly run game jams with their teams and these small, freeform creation events give developers the freedom to create any idea, despite how ludicrous, from scratch.

“We have one rule.” shares art director, William Birgersson. “It [needs] a goat. Everything else is open.”

To come up with DLC for Goat Simulator 3, Coffee Stain North let its staff run wild, which resulted in ideas not only inspired by other popular games like Hitman and L.A. Noire, but allowed the associated genres to dictate the gameplay.

“What can we do that breaks the mould?” says Birgersson. “What if we place Pilgor in a single-player, noir detective story? How do we implement the Goat Simulator jankiness and weirdness? How do we make it not too silly, but also very silly? It's a super weird balancing [act] you have to do. How can we make this special? That's where we found the key is changing the gameplay essentially.”

Most references from Goat Simulator 3 are visual jokes and tend not to stray too far from the run, jump, lick and headbutt gameplay. But for the DLC, Coffee Stain North was looking for an idea that not only referenced a popular series but also significantly altered the gameplay, and the game jams allowed them to go crazy with those concepts.

“It's super low effort [when you only make] something for a week.” says Zethraeus. “You can go all the way with a very, very implausible theme and if it's thrown away, that's not an issue. Before we showed [IGN] we didn't think [the ideas] would amount to anything, and that's okay because that's part of the creative process. Finding what sticks.”

One of those discard ideas was ‘Goat55’, which was based on IO’s much-loved assassin series Hitman. During its development Coffee Stain ran with the concept of implementing Hitman’s social stealth mechanics in the world of Pilgor, allowing players to kill, hide bodies, change outfits and infiltrate to reach their target. It was Hitman for all intents and purposes, but with a goat instead of a bald assassin. And in classic, whacky Goat Simulator fashion, there was also a reference to another great of the stealth genre, with a familiar-looking cardboard box triggering a giant Metal Gear Rex to rise from the sea.

“I had forgotten all about that!” exclaims Birgersson. “The social stealth part of Hitman was [what] enticed us, but Metal Gear Solid’s stealth would be awesome as well. An actual stealth experience with goats… That would be pretty great.”

Coffee Stain North tried out a handful of different gameplay ideas during the game jam and another popular stand-out was Detective Pilgor, a murder-mystery detective story that bared more than a striking resemblance to Rockstar Game’s 2011 hit, L.A. Noire.

“Writing a who-done-it mystery story was super, super fun. We [even] did an entire interrogation sequence where you could actually doubt.” shares Birgersson, referencing L.A. Noire’s lauded interrogation scenes, which infamously often resulted in the characters pulling insane-looking facial expressions. ”I don't think it made it in but the idea was to go for [those] facial expressions. Like their eyes sticking out, mouths opening up. Yeah, we could have had a lot of fun with that thing.”

“I want to make Detective Pilgor so bad,” Birgersson continues. “A story mode is something that we've always talked about [for Goat Simulator] and we would like to try it out. Having one be the main part of the game is super interesting I think.”

Surprisingly, Goat55 and Detective Pilgor look surprisingly complete, despite them being very much unfinished following the small amount of time they were in production. Additionally, there was also a rhythm game that made it a reasonable distance during the game jam, as well as a familiar-looking mythology idea.

After learning about all these amazing ideas it was time to address the elephant (or goat?) in the room: Why did they never get completed?

“We found something better.” admits Zethraeus. “We found something that was even more enticing I think. I loved the hitman idea. I want it to become a full game so much, but when you try to finalize a product and make it into a complete package somewhere along the line, we tend to go a bit big.”

“It's always that balancing between what's fun for the player and how much content the player wants (or needs) for this to be fun.” continues Birgersson. “It's going to be super interesting to see the audience's reaction to this and what they’re interested in.”

Coffee Stain North was quick to state that nothing is definitive though, and should there be enough player demand, perhaps one day it would revisit these ideas. One thing is for certain though, the Goat Simulator series has been built on the foundation of game jams and the opportunity for improvisation they provide.

“Essentially all the best ideas are stupid ideas that someone comes up with on the spot.” laughs Birgersson. “It's such a perfect game for ideas to come alive. I wouldn't dream about making a rhythm-based dance game with goats, but trying that was super fun.”

Since 2014 Coffee Stain has been putting Pilgor in increasingly crazy scenarios and that’s not slowing down anytime soon. And in such a po-faced industry, a decade of successful, silly goat games isn’t anything anyone expected, including the developers.

“Dedicating my life to goats wasn't something I was prepared for.” admits Birgersson. “My mother asks me weekly if it’s still relevant? And I'm like, ‘yeah’.”

“There's so much variety in it, so much creativity, and it's just a framework.” says Zethraeus. “You have the same base – everyone's love for goats and what the goats will do when released on society and you can go crazy with it. That's what's so beautiful about it. It's so creative we can do whatever we want.”

Dale Driver is IGN's Executive Producer of Video Programming and kindly requested Coffee Stain North seriously consider a Metal Gear Solid Goat Simulator parody. You're welcome. Follow him on Twitter.

Capcom has finally fully revealed Street Fighter 6’s long-awaited DLC character Akuma, confirming a release date and showing off gameplay.

The famously overpowered Street Fighter fan-favorite launches on May 22, Capcom said. Owners of the Deluxe and Ultimate Edition or the Year 1 Character Pass and Ultimate Pass for Street Fighter 6 get Akuma immediately when he releases. Year 1 Ultimate Pass owners also receive the new stage, Enma's Hollow.

The gameplay reveal, below, shows off Street Fighter 6’s version of Akuma, older than previous incarnations but complete with his famous moveset. Akuma has his air fireball, dive kick, and his teleport move. Capcom saved the best for last: Akuma’s iconic Raging Demon attack. It very much looks like poor Ryu dies one thousand deaths.

Dropping right alongside Akuma are three significant new updates: Outfit 3 becomes available for all Year 1 Characters, including Rashid, A.K.I., Ed, and Akuma. Year 1 Ultimate Pass owners will automatically receive these including their colors 1-10 on May 22. The highly anticipated battle balance updates are coming to the game, too. Capcom said it will share more on these in the coming weeks. And there's the newest stage in Street Fighter 6, Enma’s Hollow, "where Akuma resides to continue his hellbent training". Year 1 Ultimate Pass owners will automatically receive this stage on May 22.

Akuma is available across all three Street Fighter 6 game modes, including World Tour where you can learn more about his story, Battle Hub where you can apply his moves to your own avatar, as well as the classic Fighting Ground experience. His throwback Outfit 2 style, in the slideshow of images below, is inspired by his debut look in Super Street Fighter 2 Turbo.

Capcom provided detail on a sample of some of Akuma's moves:

• Gou Hadoken: Akuma’s infamous fireball is back and can be charged up to blast a “red fireball” that gives him more options on hit or block.
• Ashura Senku: Like his previous iterations, Akuma uses Ashura Senku to glide on the battlefield cloaked in shadows.
• Adamant Flame: One of Akuma’s new moves, where he performs a forward thrust engulfed in flames. This move is useful in combos and for exploiting vulnerable opponents due to its long reach.
• Messatsu Gohado: Akuma’s Level 1 Super Art where he fires a highly concentrated ball of Satsui no Hado.
• Empyrean’s End: Akuma’s Level 2 Super Art where he turns the Satsui no Hado into a powerful flame and ignites it within the opponent.
• Sip of Calamity: Akuma’s first Level 3 Super Art where he throws opponents on the ground face-first and follows up with a single devastating blow.
• Shun Goku Satsu or 'Raging Demon': This second Level 3 Super Art can only be performed when his Vitality is low enough for a Critical Art and can be used to end combos. This time, he allows you to see what happens during the one second worth of nightmares.

The Year 1 DLC characters for Street Fighter 6 are Rashid, Akuma, Ed, and A.K.I. Akuma rounds out the list nearly a year after Street Fighter 6 launched in June 2023. The fighting game has sold three million copies so far, and enjoyed critical acclaim. IGN’s Street Fighter 6 review returned a 9/10. We said: “Street Fighter 6 is the most feature-rich a Street Fighter has ever been at launch, but even beyond that, it's roster of 18 characters is excellent, the new mechanics revitalize the one-on-one fighting formula, and it absolutely nails all of the little things that make for a stellar fighting game.”

Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.

Bandai Namco has revealed its roadmap for Tekken 8 throughout the rest of 2024, including the game’s second DLC character, new story, and plenty more.

The second DLC character is Lidia Sobieski, who is teased at the end of the roadmap trailer, below. In the world of Tekken, Lidia is the Prime Minister of Poland who made her debut in Tekken 7 as DLC in the Season 4 Pass. For Tekken 8, Lidia launches this summer, with early access for Character Year 1 Pass owners.

Meanwhile, in the fall, a brand-new story involving Eddy Gordo launches as a free update. Other additions include a sweeping balance pass in the spring (the first battle balance adjustments for the season are coming soon, with patch notes for update 1.04 set to be released tomorrow, April 30, 2024), and a new stage, the Seaside Resort, and the photo mode in the summer. Additional modes, such as Ghost vs. Ghost or Online Practice are planned to be added at a later date, Bandai Namco said.

Tekken 8 launched in January on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X and S to critical and commercial acclaim, selling over two million copies in the first month of release. However, sentiment soured due to what was deemed aggressive, post-launch monetisation more akin to what you'd see with a free-to-play game than a $70 release, leading to a ‘mostly negative’ recent user review rating on Steam.

IGN’s Tekken 8 review returned a 9/10. We said: “Tekken 8 is an incredible evolution for the series, with tons of single player content, an excellent suite of training tools, a great online experience, and exciting new mechanics that make Tekken more dynamic than ever.”

Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.