Daedalic Entertainment, the studio behind the long-delayed and poorly-reviewed The Lord of the Rings: Gollum that came out yesterday, appears to be working on another Lord of the Rings game — one that potentially features the franchise’s iconic wizards.
According to the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action of Germany website, as translated by IGN, Daedalic is working on another 3D action adventure game set within the Lord of the Rings universe that will “transport the player into a lush world full of mythical creatures and magic.” The project is codenamed “It’s Magic.”
German-speaking magazine Games Wirtschaft pointed out that Daedalic Entertainment received roughly €2 million in funding from the German government after beginning Gollum, meaning this funding most likely went to It’s Magic. The funding is for a project taking place between June 1 2022 and August 2024.
“It tells a story from the perspective of a character which hasn’t been told before,” the game’s description reads. “The player discovers completely new regions and influences the world bound by their role and abilities. [The player] tries, in his way, to influence the goings-on and change the fate of the world.”
This description of the game, along with its codename, might hint that the game focuses on one of the wizards from Lord of the Rings. It’s currently set for release in the second half of 2024.
Assuming this project, Daedalic Entertainment will have a lot of work to do to regain trust after the launch of Lord of the Rings: Gollum, which has been roundly panned by critics. We gave Gollum a 4 in our review, criticizing its plot and technical issues and saying “it’s not fun to play, and not something to recommend to any but the most curious and dedicated Lord of the Rings fan.”
Amelia Zollner is a freelance writer at IGN who loves all things indie and Nintendo. Outside of IGN, they’ve contributed to sites like Polygon and Rock Paper Shotgun. Find them on Twitter: @ameliazollner.
Since The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild’s release in 2017, players have been in love with the Zora Prince Sidon, either shipping him with Link or simply claiming him for themselves. Unfortunately, though, Sidon has seemingly moved on from both possibilities in Tears of the Kingdom, and players aren’t happy.
Warning: This section contains story spoilers for The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom!
In Tears of the Kingdom, players who enter Zora’s Domain and interact with almost any character learn that Sidon is happily engaged to Yona, a fellow Zora who supports Sidon throughout the main Zora quest. The discovery is seemingly tearing apart Sidon’s fans, who are very, very jealous of Yona.
Some dedicated fans have even theorized that Nintendo gave Sidon a fiancee solely for the purpose of breaking up people’s shipping of Sidon with Link. Still, though, Link and Sidon’s friendship is heavily emphasized (the two are now depicted together in a statue in the center of Zora’s Domain), leading to discussions of Yona’s chemistry with Sidon.
well yona, maybe sidon’s in love with link maybe you shouldn’t be his fiance then idk just putting it out there pic.twitter.com/24xIG5Usyj
In a Reddit poll asking users if Sidon was better with Yona or with Link (yes, Link won), one user even noted that they felt that Yona and Sidon have zero chemistry, and that they felt Yona was “written specifically to fuck with fans.”
Some players have resorted to denial over the news, making TikToks that imagine a world where Yona steps aside to let Link and Sidon get together.
And in a few cases, some people have taken out their anger over the pairing through in-game violence — Polygon’s social team even aimed at her with a fused arrow.
Yona might be ruining everyone’s chances with Sidon, but we still gave Tears of the Kingdom a 10 in our review, saying it is “expanding and evolving a world that already felt full beyond expectation and raising the bar ever higher into the clouds.”
And for help with everything Tears of the Kingdom, take a look at our Tears of the Kingdom Walkthrough and Guide about making your way through Hyrule. In fact, you can start here:
Amelia Zollner is a freelance writer at IGN who loves all things indie and Nintendo. Outside of IGN, they’ve contributed to sites like Polygon and Rock Paper Shotgun. Find them on Twitter: @ameliazollner
Soapbox features enable our individual writers and contributors to voice their opinions on hot topics and random stuff they’ve been chewing over.Today, Jimspreads some love for the modern-day Zelda dungeon.
Be aware that he discusses Tears of the Kingdom below (not in detail, but he references a specific dungeon), so bookmark this and come back at a later date if you’re still on a media blackout…
Welcome to Next Week on Xbox! In this weekly feature we cover all the games coming soon to Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows, and Game Pass! Get more details on these upcoming games below and click their profiles for further info (release dates subject to change). Let’s jump in!
Company of Heroes 3 is the ultimate WW2 console experience, delivering an acclaimed blend of action, tactics and strategy. Purpose built for Xbox, Company of Heroes 3 delivers a custom UI, full controller support, and features that allow you to play at your own pace.
Connect and sever railways across different landscapes and help everyone reach their homes. Solve over 200 clever puzzles ranging from gentle slopes to twisted passageways. Place, remove and reroute connections so that carriages safely connect to the locomotive. But be careful and don’t make them run into each other!
Shame Legacy is a first-person survival-horror game set in a forsaken cultist village. Try to survive by using stealth and escape. By solving puzzles, you unravel the mystery that’s h(a)unting you.
You’re Rocky, a 20-year-old young man with a certain charm that doesn’t go unnoticed. After a night out at the Zooty Slammer, you wake up in a strange hospital, kidnapped and drugged. Whatever they did to you last night, they did it. And now it’s too late for apologies, you need to get to the bottom of this… Rocky style.
Create an aquarium in which each fish will want to live. Thanks to the variety of objects in the game, you can implement even the craziest ideas! A green, blooming oasis or raw, antique busts? The choice is yours.
FRITZ has been redefining the chess world for over 30 years. Whether in New York against Garry Kasparov or in Germany in the 4:2 victory against former World Champion Vladimir Kramnik, millions of chess fans followed its duels and enjoyed its world-class games. Now with AI-supported help functions, you can play brilliant winning games against FRITZ on Xbox.
A side-scrolling 2D shoot’em up with multi-directional scrolling and parallax presented in hand-drawn HD graphics. Take control of one of three ships, each with a unique playstyle, and blast through enemy swarms across 10 cosmic stages of arcade-inspired action!
Discover a dark family secret and rid a young girl of her nightmares in this splendidly British point & click comedy adventure. Playing as sharp-witted Lucy, explore both dreams and reality to meet all the colorful characters who’ll help you solve puzzles, gather clues and find a murderer.
There’s no way out for Alex Young who wakes up to find herself locked in a strange mansion filled with puzzles, traps, and cameras following her every move. Whether she and her companions live or die, and find the truth behind their abduction, is up to you in this first-person mystery thriller.
The living has razed your home: The Necropolis. Become a necromancer king and raise undead warriors from the remains of your enemies. With each victory, your army will grow stronger and your city will become more powerful, allowing you to take on even tougher challenges. Take back your land, free the undead souls and secure a future for the undead. Undead Horde 2 is a necromantic action game with elements from RPG, strategy and hack’n’slash.
Play as a tiny sugar glider in your very own nature documentary! Glide among the trees, fight dangerous predators, and explore beautiful environments as you embark on a high-flying journey to save your family.
Homebody is a nostalgic survival horror puzzle game where you catch up with old friends and try not to get murdered. Evade the killer, solve the house’s devious puzzles, and reconnect with your friends. Escaping the house may seem impossible at first, but with each attempt to put the pieces together, the bloodstained picture becomes more and more clear.
Weep for the dead! In this short psychological horror story, play as a professional mourner travelling between funerals. Ride a nightmarish bus whose destination depends on how you choose to face your traumas.
An interactive game experience designed to ease your mind and have fun popping innocent balloons. You jump into the role of a little paper plane destined to rescue the world from little, evil balloon demons by dashing through them. A game for relaxing and blowing off some steam after an exhausting day of hassle.
Slayers X: Terminal Aftermath: Vengance of the Slayer
Get ready to feel the speed in Speed Truck Racing. Enjoy the fastest, most spectacular races while avoiding multiple collisions against 20 rivals. There are several modes available, including championship, arcade, and four-player multiplayer. There is also an online leader board where you can compare your best times with those of your friends and players from around the world.
An intense, fast-paced, and super-sweet tank shooter game. Defend your sweet home world from evil grey tanks, trying to sap all the color from it. Defeat enemy tanks while dodging their attacks. Level by level they will get faster, smarter, and deadlier. Unlock more heroes with their own sweet perks and upgrade your tank. Stock up on lives, bombs, and shields and become the strongest hero.
Brutal upgradable cars, big guns, and daredevil speed will steer you through places that are chock-a-block with zombies. The dangerous post-apocalyptic world is crawling with them and only the bravest and most experienced drivers will be left standing!
Diablo IV is the next-gen action RPG experience with endless evil to slaughter, countless abilities to master, nightmarish dungeons, and legendary loot. Embark on the campaign solo or with friends, meeting memorable characters through beautifully dark settings and a gripping story, or go rogue through an expansive End Game and shared world where players will meet in towns to trade, team up to battle World Bosses, or descend into PVP zones to test their skills against other players – no lobbies necessary – with cross-play and cross-progression on all available platforms.
When Blackwing the devil left the world of fire and brimstone behind for the sunny human world, his evil shadow side also accidentally escaped with him. Now Blackwing must team up with a local office lady, Kureha Kurono, and her friends to defeat the evil shadow in this visual novel with over 50 original songs, dozens of high-quality art pieces, and more.
Build your social circle by maintaining and caring for the relationships that matter the most to you and run away from the ones that don’t. You can adopt many radish-pets and spend your life with them, start a family and breed little turnips or live fast and die young. There are thousands of ways to live, and none is correct! Just live as you wish! (And assume the consequences of your decisions when you rot).
Here comes Capcom’s newest challenger! Powered by Capcom’s proprietary RE ENGINE, Street Fighter 6 represents the next evolution of the Street Fighter series spanning across three distinct game modes featuring World Tour, Fighting Ground, and Battle Hub. Play as legendary masters and fan favorites like Ryu, Chun-Li, Luke, Jamie, Kimberly, and more! Your path to becoming a World Warrior starts here.
More than 200 larger-than-life versions of fan-favorite former pros like Vladimir Guerrero, Johnny Damon, Ozzie Smith, and Jason Giambi are ready to step onto the field and join the roster of beloved Super Mega League All-Stars. Hit, pitch, throw, and slide into home plate with the series’ signature combination of arcade-inspired style and immersive gameplay depth. EA Play members can start playing May 30 with an EA Play First Trial.
Get ready to squad up in an all-new season of Battlefield 2042, coming June 7. Prepare to show no mercy as Season 5: New Dawn* puts your squad front and center. Experience the Battlefield 4-inspired Reclaimed map. Lead the charge to victory with all-new weapons, gadgets, and tools. Enjoy a plethora of improvements to Battlefield 2042, including the returning Squad Management system, a rework of vehicle loadouts, new weapon stations like thermal tech and heavy anti-air, rehauled Vault weapons, and a reworked version of the Hourglass map. Keep reading for all the intel you’ll need to charge into battle this season!
Welcome to Czechia
This landlocked European country is the setting for the Season 5 Reclaimed map. In 2048, war descends on an abandoned industrial facility slowly being retaken by nature. Let’s take a quick look at the areas of particular interest to anyone deployed here:
● Looking for some serious vehicle combat? Head immediately to the Crash Site. Just look for the derailed train in this once-secret train route. The Landing Zone is hidden away in the forest providing a circular area ideal for close-quarters combat, with new sightlines opening up when trees are destroyed.
● The towering indoor space of the Abandoned Turbine sets up incredible crossfire opportunities due to its verticality and cover. While the Military Warehouse’s floors are more likely to attract snipers and a range of gunplay experiences because of the narrow layout.
● Hidden inside the nearby mountains lies The Bunker, forgotten and made up of a central room where short-range, close-quarters combat will always be pretty intense. The Silos, on the other hand, are an expansive outdoor area perfect for vehicle combat – including truly epic tank battles. Easy to spot due to its four towers rising up from the ground, The Silos also provides plenty of elevated areas for infantry to more safely take a shot at vehicles dominating the ground.
Your Season 5 arsenal
You’re going to need the right weapons to handle everything this new season can throw at you, luckily, we’ve got just what you need:
● XCE Bar –This high-precision bolt action rifle has expanded attachment capability to accompany its stopping power, letting you quickly swap through attachment options to engage foes at various distances.
● GEW-46 – An old favorite from Battlefield 4 returns, offering high stability with short burst fire in medium-range engagements.
● BFP.50 – A powerful hand cannon, giving you another sidearm that deals heavy damage at close range.
Looking for something to give your enemies serious second thoughts about advancing on your position? We’ve got you covered there too:
● Spring grenade – A smaller grenade that bounces into the air before detonation.
● Anti-tank Grenade – A bundle of grenades that will detonate on impact against vehicles.
● Mini Grenade – Micro grenades that can be thrown faster and further than regular grenades.
Squad Management system
In the heat of battle, everything can come down to how well your squad performs. The Squad Management system allows you to manage and tailor your squad to suit the way you want to play with a range of new features. Through a new interface, you can join specific squads and create new ones while passing on squad leadership quickly and easily.
Quality of life updates
There have been a number of tweaks to Battlefield 2042 this season, including a rework of vehicle loadouts to enhance their role in combat, new weapon stations like thermal tech and heavy anti-air, rehauled Vault weapons (allowing you to use attachments and skins earned in Battlefield 2042), and (coming later in the season) a reworked version of the Hourglass map, with improved cover and sightlines.
Season 5 Battle Pass
Of course, no season is complete without its Battle Pass. Play through 100 tiers in the Season 5 Battle Pass to unlock free** and premium*** content including new weapons like the GEW-46, XCE Bar, and BFP.50, gadgets, cosmetics, XP boosters, and the new premium Seasonal Booster. All gameplay-affecting items in Battlefield 2042 are free and earnable for all players.
A new dawn is almost upon us, so be sure to gear up and charge into Battlefield 2042 – Season 5: New Dawn starting June 7!
*Requires Battlefield 2042 (sold separately) and all game updates. No weapon, military vehicle or gear manufacturer is affiliated with or has sponsored or endorsed this game.
**Free Battle Pass content requires gameplay to unlock.
***Premium Battle Pass content requires Season 5 Battle Pass (sold separately) and gameplay to unlock.
Minecraft’s next big update is called Trails & Tales. We already knew about most of the new features coming with the 1.20 update, but now we’ve also learned the release date: June 7th. The additions to the perennial voxel favourite include a pretty cherry blossom biome, an archaeology feature, adorable rideable camels, and the fan-voted sniffer mob. Developer Mojang announced the date in their Minecraft Monthly video series.
A physical release for Alan Wake 2 might be possible after all as THQ Nordic has teased it’s interested in publishing a hard copy of what was a digital only sequel.
THQ Nordic published the first Alan Wake game on PC and released a physical disc. “I mean… we did the disc version of Alan Wake for PC back in the day ICYMI,” THQ Nordic said on Twitter. “And just because one person (or company) does not love physical, there is plenty who still do. Give it some thought. We’d love to go at it again! Full circle and all.”
@alanwake@remedygames I mean… we did the disc version of Alan Wake for PC back in the day ICYMI 😉 And just because ONE person (or company) does not love physical, there is plenty who still do. Give it some thought. We’d love to go at it again! Full circle and all.
— THQ Nordic in the Dark (@THQNordic) May 25, 2023
While this is far from a confirmation, THQ Nordic’s proposal gives a glimmer of hope for those wanting to get a physical copy of Alan Wake 2.
Earlier this week, Remedy Entertainment revealed the sequel would be a digital-only release across all platforms in order to maintain costs. As a result, the game remains $60 on console and $50 on PC instead of $70 like many other publishers are charging at the moment.
George Yang is a freelance writer for IGN. He’s been writing about the industry since 2019 and has worked with other publications such as Insider, Kotaku, NPR, and Variety.
When not writing about video games, George is playing video games. What a surprise! You can follow him on Twitter @Yinyangfooey
On any given day, you can find me either thinking about, praying for, or playing cute pixelated games with some old-school charm. Luckily, we have a pretty promising one of those on the horizon with Cross Blitz, a deckbuilding RPG that follows some furry animal pirates across the high seas, digitally represented on a grid-based map this time around. Cross Blitz was announced two years ago, but the indie team at Tako Boy have secured a publisher and are now ready to launch into early access later this year.
The PlayStation Store has revealed the Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1 to include the original Metal Gear 1 and 2 alongside the Solid Trilogy as previously announced.
As reported by Eurogamer, the previously teased additional games coming to the Master Collection Vol. 1 look to be the two classic titles released for the MSX2.
The PlayStation Store listing has let the cat out of the bag, however, saying the “Volume 1 line-up features the original titles and beginning of the Metal Gear Series” including Metal Gear and Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake.
This essentially makes the package a modern console version of the Metal Gear HD Collection released for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, though Konami will likely soon confirm the full extent of its contents ahead of its launch this fall.
Update : After dropping part one last week, PlatinumGames has today released the second section of its stretch goal DLC for The Wonderful 101: Remastered titled, ‘The Wonderful One: After School Hero’.
The latest expansion carries the same side-scrolling gameplay as its predecessor (which still directly contrasts what we would expect to see from The Wonderful 101), continuing Luka’s story as he strives to become a fully-fledged superhero. Just like part one, this expansion is also completely free.
