Author: Game Infliction

If you’re hoping to go into Mortal Kombat 1 fresh when it launches on September 14 you might want to tread carefully across the internet after physical copies appeared to make their way into the hands of eager players.

MP1st reported on one player who obtained the Nintendo Switch version of NetherRealm’s upcoming fighting game and uploaded images showing the launch roster of playable characters as well as the available Kameo (support) characters. IGN will not share the images here, or reveal the unannounced characters in the pictures.

It seems further leaks are coming, as the person in question even uploaded a video of the game running on Nintendo Switch to reddit.

Mortal Kombat is coming to PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and S, and the aforementioned Nintendo Switch. For more information on Mortal Kombat 1, check out our interviews with the developer at gamescom 2023, including one with Ed Boon, where he discussed how Homelander and Omni-Man’s gameplay mechanics differ, and our interview with NetherRealm Studios’ narrative director, who answered all our lore-related questions.

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.

It sounds like Diablo 4 is set for annual expansions, based on comments from its chief developer.

In an interview with Dexerto, Diablo 4 boss Rod Fergusson mentioned “quarterly seasons” and “annual expansions” as the focus for the action role-playing game’s live service.

“When you look at the launch of the game and this first season, we see that as building a foundation on which we can build for the future,” Fergusson said.

“So, as we look at our quarterly seasons, and we look at our annual expansions, those are the things that we’re really focused on for our live service.

“We’ve got plans, we have storylines that go well into the future. We’ve got plans. We’re always leapfrogging our seasons, and leapfrogging our expansions, so it’s something we are going to do for a long time. We’re excited.”

Annual expansions supported by quarterly seasons is the live service model employed by Destiny developer Bungie, which has maintained the popularity of Destiny 2 to a high enough level to support a live service for over six years now.

Diablo 4 enjoyed a huge launch in June, becoming Blizzard’s fastest-selling game of all time. Season 1 has had its problems, however, including a disastrous patch that forced a U-turn from Blizzard. Season 2, dubbed Season of Blood, launches October 17 and adds a Vampire Hunter companion called Erys.

Story wise, Blizzard has said Diablo 4 seasons are reserved for quests that take place alongside the main events of the game, leaving expansions to move the plot on from the end. Ever since launch, players have tried to work out where the Diablo 4 story will head next, based on a number of secret post-credits endings that tease the return of one of the series’ most famous villains and perhaps a new big bad.

Assuming Diablo 4 will see an expansion in 2024, perhaps Blizzard will unveil it at BlizzCon this November.

In IGN’s 9/10 review we described Diablo 4 as “a stunning sequel with near perfect endgame and progression design that makes it absolutely excruciating to put down”. Be sure to use our interactive map to keep track of your progress as you play.

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.

Nintendo has said it has no plans to release DLC for The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, and is moving on to a brand new game in the series.

In an interview with Famitsu, Eiji Aonuma, producer of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, ruled out additional content for the Nintendo Switch exclusive.

“There are no plans to release additional content this time, but that’s because I feel like we’ve done everything we can to create fun in that world,” Aonuma said.

It’s a surprising decision considering the enormous success Tears of the Kingdom has enjoyed critically and commercially. It sold 18.51 million units as of June 30, just a month-and-a-half after it came out. That’s more than half the total sales of its predecessor, Breath of the Wild, which has shifted 30.65 million.

It’s also surprising given Breath of the Wild did receive DLC in the form of an expansion pass that added the likes of Master Mode, Hero’s Path Mode, trials, and new items. IGN has contacted Nintendo for clarification.

Based on comments in the Famitsu interview, it sounds like Nintendo is now thinking about the next Zelda game instead of Tears of the Kingdom DLC. However, Aonuma did not rule out a return to the Hyrule of Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, potentially setting up a third game.

“In the first place, the reason I decided to make this a sequel to the previous work was because I thought there was value in experiencing a new game in that Hyrule place,” Aonuma said. “If that’s the case, if a new reason arises, we might return to the same world again. Whether it’s a sequel or a new work, I think it’s going to be a completely new game, so I hope you’re looking forward to it.”

Director Hidemaro Fujibayashi also chimed in with his own comment: “We are very grateful that so many customers have been playing Tears of the Kingdom for so long and deeply, so we will do our best to make the next game even more enjoyable.”

IGN’s The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom review awarded the game a 10/10 and declared it a masterpiece. “The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is an unfathomable follow-up, expanding a world that already felt full beyond expectation and raising the bar ever higher into the clouds,” we said.

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.

Experience points can make all the difference in an RPG like Starfield. But what’s the best way to level up quickly? We have a few suggestions as fans gear up for Starfield’s big release on Game Pass later this week.

IGN’s intrepid guides team have identified several quick tasks that will gain you a nice XP boost. Here’s a list for your reference.

• Sleep for at least 1 Hour (+10% XP Gain for 24 minutes)
• Drink Tranquilitea (+2% XP Gain for 15 minutes)
• Craft and Drink Alien Tea (+2% XP Gain for 15 minutes)
• Buy and eat Shepherd’s Pie at Kay’s Place in The New Atlantis Well (+2% XP Gain for 60 minutes)
• Buy and eat “The Strip” At the Whetstone restaurant in New Atlantis (+2% XP Gain for 30 minutes)

Starfield also rewards a strong XP bonus for having sex with your partner on a regular basis. Yep, you read that right. Starfield has an Emotional Security buff that will get you a sizable 15 percent XP gain over the course of 24 minutes.

In order to unlock the Emotional Security buff, you’ll need to get married to one of your companions and go to bed with them. In essence, you’re getting a big boost to the typical “Well Rested” buff, which normally affords a 10 percent XP gain, but that doesn’t make it any less useful.

As for the food buffs, you can stack the various gains, but keep in mind that they have to be from different categories. For example, you can’t stack two Tranquiliteas, but you can stack a beer and a tea buff. The sleep boost also stacks with the food boost, affording even more experience points.

The Gastronomy Skill is espectially useful if you’re looking to abuse food buffs. Among other things, it allows you to learn the recipe to make your own Shepherd’s Pie by finding a Skill Magazine in Kay’s Place Make sure to check out our full Starfield Walkthrough for more info.

Starfield launched via early access to fans late last week. In our big Starfield review, we praised its depth, but noted that disjointed space travel, nonexistent maps, and other issues dragged it down. Ultimately though, we found its gravitational pull difficult to resist.

For more, check out our list of best Starfield starting traits, our Starfield cheats guide, and how to lockpick troublesome doors. Starfield will be available worldwide via Game Pass starting September 6.

Additional reporting by Brendan Graeber and Miranda Sanchez.

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.

Replaced, an upcoming Xbox console exclusive that has found its way to several most anticipated list thanks to its lavish pixel art, has been delayed to 2024.

Developer Sad Cat Studios announced the delay alongside a production update, stressing that the team “do understand the game’s scope” and that development is progressing “at a steady pace.” However, the high quality of its visuals, which includes more than 500 “meticulously hand-painted animations made just for platforming,” has put the release behind schedule.

“After Replaced’s initial announcement in 2021 and its follow-up trailer in 2022 we had this incredible high bar of community’s expectations,” the team wrote in a statement posted on X. “And at this point we knew that we can’t afford to release a sub-par game…This is our first game, and we want to make every aspect of it the best it can be.”

Replaced won praise for its rad 2.5D art when it was first announced. It was part of a showcase that at the time left us feeling optimistic overall about Xbox’s future. A new Replaced trailer was shown again at The Game Awards 2022, where we called it one of the show’s 10 best reveals.

Sharing statement from @sadcatstudios #ICYMI pic.twitter.com/nyxuxJq3Yz

— REPLACED (@REPLACEDGame) September 5, 2023

Replaced is set in a dark, alternative 1980s America and features heavy cyberpunk themes. It was previously slated for 2022 only to be delayed by the war in Ukraine.

When Replaced does release, it will join what is expected to a strong year for Xbox exclusives, with potential releases including Avowed, Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, and Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II. It will be a Day 1 release on Xbox Game Pass.

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.