The Sims 4‘s upcoming Growing Together expansion pack and its supporting free base game update. This was obviously a real treat for me as RPS’ resident Sims fanatic, but I’ll admit I went in with my expectations parked in neutral. After all, the theme of this new-content duo is young families, and that just isn’t part of the game I engage with too much these days.
While we only know that the new expansion is officially being developed, FromSoftware has a history of releasing substantial expansions that are rich with both new areas and bosses as well as new story content. They are often essentially mini sequels to the base game that usually finish the game’s story and hide the true ending.
With this in mind, we ranked all the past FromSoftware DLC for Dark Souls and Bloodborne and revisited the expansions from a studio that has arguably done DLC better than anyone else. Check below for our ranked list of FromSoftware DLC.
Spoilers for Dark Souls and Bloodborne DLC below.
7-6.) Dark Souls 2: Crown of the Old Iron King and Dark Souls 2: Crown of the Sunken King
As a Dark Souls 2 apologist, my main criticism with the Dark Souls sequel comes down to balance issues. While Dark Souls 2 would end up pioneering some of the open-world elements of the game that we’ll see later on in Elden Ring (Dark Souls 2 co-director Yui Tanimura will go on to co-direct Elden Ring alongside Hidetaka Miyazaki), Dark Souls 2 also felt bewilderingly difficult in a way that was neither fun nor particularly rewarding.
The DLC for Dark Souls 2 suffers from the same problem, and in fact adds some of the most frustrating areas in the entire Dark Souls series, that are as tedious as they are narratively fascinating. Whether it’s Shulva, an underground city built to worship a poisonous dragon, but also features incredibly annoying platforming and hidden switches. To Brume Tower, a beautiful fortress guarded by several gameplay-modifying enemies called Ashen Idols.
While I personally preferred the darker aesthetics of Sunken King, which takes place in a series of Mesoamerican-inspired pyramids in a sprawling underground kingdom, both DLC seem to take the most joy in seeing just how aggravating a Souls area can be.
Along with the Crown of the Ivory King, Crown of the Sunken King and Crown of the Old Iron King make up the Lost Crown Trilogy for Dark Souls 2, and the first two DLC are placed at the bottom of the rankings for the same reason as why Dark Souls 2 is often remembered less fondly than the other two games in the trilogy.
5.) Dark Souls 3: Ashes of Ariandel
The first of two Dark Souls 3 DLC, Ashes of Ariandel revisits the concept of painted worlds first introduced in Dark Souls 1.
While The Ringed City sets the stage for the final act of the Dark Souls trilogy, the initial DLC takes place in a relatively small and sparse world. The Snowfield area is simply a large open field populated by tough warrior enemies, and while it’s gorgeous, feels largely optional, Though does feature a great twist on a fan-favorite boss fight from Dark Souls 1.
The real heart of the DLC doesn’t appear until you meet Sir Vilhelm and Sister Friede at the Cathedral. FromSoftware seems to make up for the DLC’s lack of enemy variety by putting an exciting, three-phase boss battle within the chapel walls. The only other area is a PvP arena behind a very cool boss fight, set in an area that almost feels like an homage to the final fight in Metal Gear Solid 3.
One note, when players finally face Sir Vilhelm, he delivers a blistering meta critique at the player accusing the player of needing to “unearth every secret” even if it ends up destroying the world. The idea that the inhabitants of the Dark Souls world knows that progressing through the game means only certain doom for both the world and its residents appears to be the main theme of both Dark Souls 3 DLC, and a wonderful bit of meta storytelling.
4.) Dark Souls 2: Crown of the Ivory King
The final DLC in the Dark Souls 2 DLC trilogy stands apart from the previous two in terms of both what it adds to the Dark Souls story and having an amazing final boss fight.
Whereas the Sunken King and Old Iron King DLC employed new mechanics to primarily up the difficulty, the Ivory King DLC feels like a fully-fleshed location thanks to the frozen kingdom of Eleum Loyce.
From the moment you step foot into Eleum Loyce, every challenge keeping you from progressing is tied to the tragic story of Alsanna and the Burnt Ivory King. Its main gameplay twist, which involves rescuing several imprisoned knights of Eleum Loyce, builds towards one of the most unique boss fights in the series which takes the concept of fighting multiple bosses at once and flips it on its head so that the player employs a small army to take on the main enemy.
While they rank bottom of our list, the Lost Crown Trilogy was still an ambitious series of DLC that added a proper narrative thread that bridges the events between Dark Souls 1 and 2. Manus, the main boss of the first Dark Souls DLC, casts a large shadow over the events of Dark Souls 2 and its expansions. While the disjointed nature of Dark Souls 2 ultimately backfires, the idea that the Dark Souls universe is comprised of countless kingdoms and cultures, across so many different eras and time is probably Dark Souls 2’s greatest contribution to the series as a whole.
3.) Dark Souls 3: The Ringed City
Dark Souls 3 is on a mission to put an end to the events that started in the first game. The second DLC, The Ringed City is meant to serve as the penultimate chapter of the Dark Souls trilogy, with the player venturing into the Ringed City, the kingdom of the Pygmy Lords first revealed in Dark Souls 1.
The Ringed City ranks up there with some of the best cities introduced in the Souls series. The walls of the kingdom can be seen caving in on themselves as if being sucked into a vortex, possibly a reference to Junji Ito’s tragic town in Uzumaki.
The enemies that roam the city are both dynamic to fight against and striking in their design, such as the angels of death literally guarding the skies and raining down hellfire, or the Judicators who summon the spirits of armies to defend the city. Then, when the player finally travels deeper into its walls and past time and space itself, they’ll face off against one of the best sword-to-sword enemies in the game that is both a remix of one of Dark Souls’ best DLC bosses, Artorias of the Abyss.
The real gems hidden in The Ringed City DLC are how it converges the longstanding storylines of the Dark Souls series. There’re factions that cling to the cult of Gwyn, Lord of Cinder, and like in the Ashes of Ariandel, The Ringed City is home to one of the game’s great NPCs who will put the player on trial for all their ambitions. As a bookend to the series, The Ringed City is a triumph and as narratively straightforward as you can get in the Dark Souls series.
2.) Dark Souls: Artorias of the Abyss
The first DLC released in the Souls series, Artorias of the Abyss would introduce the template for all Souls DLC. When FromSoftware integrated the DLC content directly into the base game, adding a hidden portal that players need to find in order to even access the DLC, it opened up a world of possibilities for the Souls franchise. Suddenly each new Dark Souls game was hiding a pathway to some potential new area and questlines that would be introduced later via an expansion DLC.
Everything else, like a difficult doorkeeper boss, dedicated PvP area, would go on to become FromSoftware staples. And of course one of the best (and most tragic) boss fights in the entire series is tucked away in the expansion. Crucially, the new area of Oolacile also introduced Manus, Father of the Abyss, whose influence would extend through the series all the way to Dark Souls 3.
With Artorias of the Abyss, FromSoftware showed that it wasn’t just releasing DLC to extend the shelf life of its games. The DLC expansions in Dark Souls are transformative, finishing crucial storylines while also flexing the studio’s world-building muscles. The boss fights are also almost always some of the best in the series or at the very least the most difficult.
1.) Bloodborne: The Old Hunters
In the Cathedral Ward, past the gravestones, an eldritch abomination will transport you to The Hunter’s Nightmare, an epitome of FromSoftware’s ambitious achievement that is Bloodborne.
The Old Hunters DLC is a perfect, three-part play that takes the Hunter through a true, Lovecraftian nightmare that becomes more sinister the deeper players go. The Hunter’s Nightmare begins as if it were just another new Ward to explore. But once players get past Ludwig, they’ll find Bloodborne’s darkest secrets hidden away in the Old Hunters DLC.
The Astral Tower, a research facility used for human experimentation, is one of the most disturbing sources of lore FromSoftware has ever created, culminating in a boss fight against the truly unforgettable Lady Maria. A duel-style boss that FromSoftware truly loves to add to its DLC expansions.
Once Hunters get past her, FromSoftware puts to rest any question that it’s a Lovecraftian horror game by directly adapting Lovecraft’s ‘The Shadow over Innsmouth.’ The fishing village from Lovecraft’s famous novella is recreated here. Wading through the oppressive fog and rain, the mazelike village, with the terrifying moon hanging low, too low, overhead, the Fishing Hamlet is a little nightmare made real.
The Old Hunters DLC takes Bloodborne and distills it into its most perfect form. Even if only The Old Hunters DLC was released, Bloodborne would still be considered a masterpiece, but because — like all FromSoftware DLC — it builds on top of such a solid foundation, it completes a game that was already firing on all cylinders and shows that when FromSoftware releases and expansion, it’s not optional content but essential.
We’ll have to wait and see what FromSoftware does with the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC, but with such a rich pedigree of expansions already under its belt, the bar is certainly high for the first Elden Ring expansion.
Matt T.M. Kim is IGN’s Senior Features Editor. You can reach him @lawoftd.
For the month before the 3DS and Wii U eShops close for new purchases on 27th March, each day we’re going to highlight a specific eShop game for one of those consoles and give a short pitch as to why we think it deserves your love and attention — before it’s too late. The chance to add these to your library will be gone for good soon and, for one reason or another, these eShop-exclusives are close to our hearts.
You’ve got the Xbox Series X/S, and now you’re ready to grab the best accessories to make playing even more enjoyable. Sure, many Xbox One products are compatible with the latest console, but there’s something to be said for the newer peripherals that let you take full advantage of everything the Series X/S has to offer.
There are a number of excellent gaming headsets and quite a few controllers. While an immersive experience in flying, fighting, or racing games, can be found in specialty controllers, like flight sticks, racing wheels, and fight sticks. That makes choosing reliable Xbox Series X/S accessories a tad tricky, which is why we are here to help. From controllers and headsets to storage and charging stations, we’ve compiled a list of the best options while keeping in mind quality, budget, and functionality.
TL;DR – These are our picks for the Best Xbox Series X/S Accessories:
It’s hard to beat the Xbox Wireless Headset, a gaming headset that is literally made for Xbox, even matching the design while costing under $100. Thanks to Xbox Wireless connectivity, pairing to your console is simple and leaves more USB ports free for other accessories, and Bluetooth or a USB-C dongle lets you listen on a host of other devices. However, since you’ll always be listening wirelessly, we would’ve loved a slightly longer battery life, though 15 hours should last through most marathon gaming sessions.
In terms of performance, the Xbox Wireless Headset keeps up with the best of them, even supporting Windows Sonic, Dolby Atmos, and DTS Headphone:X, making it easier to hear and place sound cues in games. The Xbox Accessories App also allows you to adjust the EQ presets, making the audio customized to your ears. And the headset itself offers nifty rotating dials on the ultra-soft earcups to control volume and game/chat balance, making it intuitive and easy to use, a boon during tense game moments.
The Xbox Core controller is as close to perfection as you get, offering superb value in a comfortable and familiar ergonomic form factor. This version keeps the same highly responsive, satisfying to-press buttons, triggers, and bumpers but sees a few minor improvements, like a share button, textured grip, and an easier-to-use, more tactile D-pad. Many of those buttons are also remappable, and you can even make the controller uniquely yours by visiting the Xbox Design Lab to give it personalized coats of paint.
Support of the Xbox Wireless protocol means you won’t have to jump through hoops when using the Core controller with your Xbox, while multi-device connectivity with both Bluetooth and a lag-free wired USB-C are ready for when you want to switch to a PC. The only real place we can fault this gamepad is its seemingly archaic use of AA batteries, but you can always use that USB-C to skip the battery hassle altogether.
Logitech G923 TrueForce
Best Racing Wheel for Xbox Series X/S
Sure, your average gamepad can handle racing and driving games, but for a richer and more immersive experience, you want a steering wheel and a full set of metal pedals. The Logitech G923 gives you both for under $400 and is the best option available for Xbox. Its gear-driven force feedback wheel is realistic enough, though it’s not the most nuanced and can be noisy.
Adding to the realism of the Logitech G923 is a programmable dual-clutch system, a premium brushed metal build and automotive-style leather stitching on the wheel. A “TrueForce” feature is even available for compatible games that helps to simulate things like engine revs, terrain changes, and weather conditions. The wheel also rocks all the Xbox console controls for easy navigation and handy extras like a 24-point selection dial and LED rev indicator lights.
MAYFLASH F500 Elite
Best Fight Stick for Xbox Series X/S
Xbox’s selection of fight sticks is somewhat limited, but fortunately, the tournament-grade MAYFLASH F500 Elite works seamlessly with the Xbox Series X/S. Just plug your Xbox controller into the fight stick via USB, and you’ll get to enjoy the authentic arcade-style feel and high-end Sanwa components in all your favorite fighting games. Those components include nine wildly responsive buttons and a perfectly precise joystick for pulling off combos and smashing opponents.
The MAYFLASH F500 Elite may have rather subdued looks, but it’s super comfortable to use and feels secure thanks to two metal panels that help increase its almost seven-pound weight. Another handy design feature is the easy-to-open compartment for storing cables, and it’s even ready for modding out. Plus, you aren’t limited to using your Xbox, as you’re good to game on your PS5, PC, Mac, and Switch, making the $150 cost very digestible.
Turtle Beach VelocityOne Flightstick
Best Flight Stick for Xbox Series X/S
When you’re ready to take it to the skies, grab the Turtle Beach VelocityOne Flightstick. It offers an ergonomic, ambidextrous grip and eight axes with contactless hall effect sensors to deliver excellent precision and an immersive, realistic flying experience. More than just a stick but not a full-on HOTAS, Turtle Beach includes a multifunction throttle and flap levers to control the engine power and activate secondary controls.
Once you get the hang of the stick and throttle, there are 27 programmable buttons and switches to figure out, including an 8-way digital POV hat and rapid-fire trigger to easily takeout enemies in games like Star Wars Squadrons. You’ll also find an integrated OLED Flight Management Display, allowing you to tune performance and swap profiles to fit your game’s needs. All this functionality comes in a surprisingly sturdy, streamlined design that won’t be a massive eyesore in your living room and is available at a relatively affordable midrange price.
Razer Universal Quick Charging Stand
Best Controller Charger for Xbox Series X/S
As we mentioned, the Xbox Core controller is a bit behind the times with its use of two AA batteries giving you 40 hours of playtime, rather than a rechargeable one. The Razer Universal Quick Charging Stand skirts around this issue by first providing a rechargeable battery, so you don’t have to buy one separately, and then including a stand to make juicing up a breeze.
This stand comes in multiple color options to match the controller, while a magnetic contact system ensures it won’t dismount or disconnect at every knock or bump. There’s even overcharge protection in place to prevent overheating and short-circuiting. Given the name, Razer’s Universal Quick Charging Stand can also get that rechargeable battery back to full in less than 3 hours. And though you don’t get as much playtime out of each charge as the AA batteries, you won’t need to scavenge for them around your home every couple of weeks.
Seagate Storage Expansion Card
Best Storage Expansion Drive for Xbox Series X/S
The Xbox Series X comes with a 1TB internal SSD drive, and the Xbox Series S offers a 512GB drive, which is hardly enough in the gaming world, especially for those with an Xbox Game Pass subscription. Unlike the PS5, you don’t get a second internal SSD slot to add in some speedy storage. Instead, Microsoft lets these consoles expand storage with memory card-style SSDs that easily slot into the back of the Xbox without needing a USB port.
Our favorite one of these cards is the Seagate Storage Expansion Card, increasing memory up to 2TB. It’s designed specifically for the consoles, offering seamless integration into the Xbox Velocity Architecture. You’ll find this plug-and-play option delivers fast, lag-free read and write capabilities, letting you focus on your game rather than being distracted (or frustrated) by sluggish transfer speeds. However, since it is an SSD, it ain’t cheap, with the 2TB capacity setting you back over $350.
Michelle Rae Uy is a freelance tech and travel writer, part-time production editor, and a full-time traveler from Los Angeles, California. She currently splits her time between Los Angeles, London and the rest of the world. Follow her on Instagram @straywithRae.
Image Credit: Annalee Tsujino is a multi disciplinary designer and illustrator. Check them out on Instagram @antsu_illustrations.
Matt P has played some of Final Fantasy 16 and is loving it so far, and Jesse and Dale are equally in love with Sons of the Forest. We also chat about the first episode of Mandalorian season 3 and spend the last section of the podcast diving into a spoiler-filled chat about Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania.
Got a game for us to play, or just want to tell us the weirdest thing you’ve eaten for breakfast? Drop us an email: ign_ukfeedback@ign.com.
The Last Worker, a first-person narrative adventure from developer Wolf & Wood and writer/director Jörg Tittel, has been on our radar for a while now and it’s finally got a release date — 30th March.
With a star-studded voice cast including (hello to) Jason Isaacs and the brilliant Zelda Williams — a certified ‘top pal of Nintendo’ if ever there was one — it’s shaping up to be a slyly hilarious take on an automated, dystopian future that many people may find alarmingly familiar already.
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!
Great New Games Spotlight has officially kicked off and we’re excited to bring you a ton of games every week for the next six weeks — more than 100+ new games will launch on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One between February 28 and April 10 – and if you spend $50 on eligible games and movies, you can receive 2,500 Microsoft Rewards points! Get more details here.
Take a bite into Romancelvania, a darkly comic genre mashup, combining side-scrolling action and tongue-in-cheek romance into one completely absurd and unforgettable adventure. Play as a lovelorn, brooding Drac who, after a century of moping around post-heartbreak, is thrown into a monster reality-dating show, hosted by the Grim Reaper.
In this isometric action game where enemies are coming at you in droves, try to defend yourself and survive against the growing and strengthening threat by making the right strategy and moves.
Descend into tunnels beneath the surface of Mars in a mad dash to destroy the reactor and furthest depths of the enemy’s base. Dodge debris, clear out obstacles, and blast enemies, all while conserving ammunition as you descend at high speed into enemy territory.
Guide a father as he searches the countryside and a mysterious cult-like town in hopes of bringing his daughter home. Accompanied by his brother, Logan, you’ll need to search for notes, drawings, keys, and other clues along the way.
Originally released in Japan in 2008 as the fourth game in the Fatal Frame series, Mask of the Lunar Eclipse returns for current-gen platforms with upgraded graphics along with new modes and costumes. After returning to Rogetsu Isle following a supernatural event when they were younger, a group of teenagers will learn to rely on the Camera Obscura, a camera with the power to capture and seal away unthinkable horrors, as they attempt to discover the truth of their haunting past.
KartRider: Drift is coming to Xbox with free-to-play online cross-platform kart racing and deep customization. Race in a variety of modes on different tracks with players across the globe in this latest entry to the KartRider series.
Mud, sweat, fun and adrenaline: find the rider in you and jump into the action with Monster Energy Supercross 6. Live all the emotions of the Monster Energy Supercross 2022 Championship with the official bikes, riders, and tracks. Take advantage of the wide range of settings to customize every detail of your game experience, freely choosing the amount of realism and riding ease.
A fast-paced football game where you don’t get to catch your breath. With simple controls that let anyone pick up and play, online and local multiplayer, and more, every match is sure to grab your attention from kick-off until the final whistle.
Play as an alien hive-mind who murders bosses, steals their abilities, and wears their skulls. Zapling Bygone is a twisted metroidvania where you murder your foes and steal their abilities by wearing their skulls. Make every inch of the alien planet your playground as you learn its secrets and use them to your advantage.
Play as Pseudo, a master of martial arts who lives as a recluse in the strange land of Zenozoik. When you cross paths with the Boy, a small creature whose mysterious powers have attracted the attention of Gemini, the Mistress of the Artifacts, you decide to protect him, unaware that much greater forces are involved.
Nightmares have shattered the Moral Compass, making The Mind unable to function properly. Dusty and his ever-optimistic sidekick, Piper, must travel to Creed Valley, where The Mind’s ideals are formed to restore peace. A journey filled with musical showdowns and mind-bending puzzles await in this action-adventure game set in the human mind.
Papetura is a labor of love and a love letter to both the craft of paper modeling and to old-school adventure games. Let the game transport you into a world of imagination and immerse yourself fully in paper fantasy as the soft and fragile music of Floex sets the mood for your journey.
A 2.5D adventure platformer that immerses the player in a deep, emotional plot, and lets them explore new planets and interact with alien civilizations. A story about self-exploration, transformation, and understanding of the world around us.
The classic transport simulation genre has a new gold standard with Transport Fever 2. Discover a whole new world by navigating transport routes through land, water, and air. Provide the world with the transport infrastructure it needs and make a fortune with custom-made transport services. Carry people on their way to work or play and be the reason cities grow and thrive.
A retro-looking cyberpunk game where you pilot a huge and agile exoskeleton to crush hordes of crazed security drones and abominations while working to uncover a global conspiracy.
Simplified arcade volleyball where you hit the ball and pass it to your opponent’s field. However, in Volley Pals, you can also do many other interesting things including but not limited to: invading your opponent’s area, using your opponent’s service before they do, increasing the height of the net, playing rock/paper/scissors, and various other things.
Get in the driver’s seat and put the pedal to the metal! Smash your way through hordes of zombies and countless obstacles in a rip-roaring racing arcade. Experience the zombie apocalypse like you’ve never seen it before.
An adventure for roguelike and RPG fans. Fight with bloodthirsty monsters, explore the dark corners of the labyrinths, and improve your skills and character development with challenging quests, various equipment, numerous types of enemies, and random generation of levels that will make your every attempt unique.
Take part in an exciting, head-to-head fight to the finish in Flashout 3, featuring ultra-fast ships, loops, jumps, and razor-sharp turns! Test your skills on the most impressive sci-fi racing tracks and try not to fall behind by unleashing rockets, guns, bombs, and mines to help you level your competition.
Nintendo has taken the Wii U versions of Mario Kart 8, and Splatoon offline as it attempts to fix a security issue “related to online play”.
As spotted by VGC, the following maintenance post related to the Wii U games’ online functionality appeared on the Nintendo website at 4:30 GMT (8:30 PT) on Friday, March 3.
“This network service is currently unavailable due to urgent maintenance required to fix a vulnerability related to online play,” it said. “We do not yet have information on when network services can be restored. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.”
The security vulnerability is almost certainly ENLBufferPwn, which could allow an attacker to take over your console just by connecting to them online.
This exploit affected many of Nintendo’s games on the Switch, along with Mario Kart 7 on the 3DS.https://t.co/GWR6alQVy4
At the time of writing both games are still offline, and no timetable has been given for when the issue will be resolved.
Nintendo did not identify the cause of the security concern. However, established dataminer OatmealDome suggested in a tweet that the games could have been taken offline out of fear of a network vulnerability called ENLBufferPwn.
According to the twitter thread, the insidious vulnerability allows attackers to take over another player’s console simply by connecting to them online via multiplayer matchmaking.
OatmealDome notes that multiple Wii U, Switch. and 3DS games have been patched to protect users from attack, but that “Splatoon 1 and Mario Kart 8 did not receive any”.
Anthony is a freelance contributor covering science and video gaming news for IGN. He has over eight years experience of covering breaking developments in multiple scientific fields and absolutely no time for your shenanigans. Follow him on Twitter @BeardConGamer
The Sims 4‘s upcoming Growing Together expansion pack and its supporting free base game update. This was obviously a real treat for me as RPS’ resident Sims fanatic, but I’ll admit I went in with my expectations parked in neutral. After all, the theme of this new-content duo is young families, and that just isn’t part of the game I engage with too much these days.
Steam Deck OS 
Gears Of War days. And I think we’ve arranged, as is custom, to play Gears 6 whenever it arrives. Such is the bizarre way of things.
