The latest Steam Deck client update has added Valve’s local network game transfers feature – previously only available in beta form – to the Stable branch, marking a full launch for one of the most useful Steam Deck feature upgrades in months.
If you missed the local transfers beta release last month, know that the name is quite literal: it lets you transfer Steam game installs between your PC and your Steam Deck over a local network, rather than having to re-download them onto every device you own. It also works when transferring between a Steam Deck and another Steam Deck, or between two PCs. Valve have a little explainer here, but it’s simple enough that – for example – hitting the Install button for a game on your Steam Deck will automatically detect if your PC is on the same network, and start transferring as much as it can from the desktop instead of downloading the whole thing from scratch.
You can even opt into sending/receiving game data from PCs and Steam Decks owned by other people, so long as they’re also connected to the same local network. The biggest benefit seemingly comes to those with monthly data caps (morning, Yanks), as these transfers won’t usually involve any extra downloads. Even so, it’s a helpful addition for anyone on all-you-can-eat data as well, since local transfers are much faster than old fashioned installs.
It’s that time of year again when The Strong Museum announces its ‘World Video Game Hall of Fame’ finalists and for 2023 there’s been two Nintendo classics nominated.
As part of the Super Nintendo World experience, Nintendo has a special Power-Up Band that interacts with everything around the park. There’s already a variety of different colours available and soon there’ll be a “limited-edition” one joining the line-up at Universal Studios theme park in Japan. Yes, just like actual amiibo there’s now special edition ones.
Update: Live now on the My Nintendo Store in Australia.
Update :
This is your reminder that these N64 wireless controllers are now back in stock on the My Nintendo Store in Australia – get them while you can if you happen to be located in this region.
Blizzard is allowing Diablo fans to preload the open beta for Diablo IV, which is scheduled to run for three days this weekend. The preload is 84 GB, or 42 GB without the high-resolution texture pack.
To commemorate the open beta, Blizzard has revealed its World Bosses. The company explained in the PS Blog that World Bosses are filled with new, challenging monsters designed for multiple Diablo players to take on regardless of their class or playstyle. The first World Boss that Blizzard has introduced is named Ashava, a gruesome monster with razor-sharp claws elongating from her wrists.
Grab your allies and get ready. Ashava’s hungry. #DiabloIV‘s first World Boss spawns four times during Open Beta Early Access this weekend. pic.twitter.com/b1dQNUIpuu
To refresh your memory on who Ashava is, Diablo IV’s senior encounter designer Candace Thomas spoke about her at BlizzCon in 2019. She described Ashava as an ever-present threat in Sanctuary that can pop up anywhere in the world within a moment’s notice, saying she acts “as like a constant reminder that Lilith is watching and nowhere is safe from the gates of Hell.”
“But to us as developers, I think that she’s kind of like a monument to what Diablo IV is as a game,” Thomas added at the time. “She’s this enormous monster, but she takes more than just you to defeat. People have to come together across all the regions to take her down, because she’s just this giant killing machine.”
Ashava will spawn four times over the course of the weekend. Diablo IV’s open beta starts at 9 a.m. PT on Friday, March 17 and ends at 12 p.m. PT on Sunday, March 19.
The Resident Evil series has always embraced its sillier side (look no further for proof than the Chainsaw Controller), and some newly-revealed costumes for Resident Evil 4 remake’s Ashley fit right in.
Thanks to the Resident Evil website‘s preorder page (via Resident Evil Central), we finally know what the two hidden Ashley costumes are for the game’s Digital Deluxe version.
The “Casual” costume has the President’s daughter embracing her emo side, with pink highlights and a very punk outfit. The “Romantic” costume, on the other hand, matches Leon’s previously-revealed outfit. Take a look at the costumes for yourself below.
The full roster of Resident Evil 4 Remake Deluxe Edition extras have been revealed on the official RE website.
— Will | Resident Evil Central ?️ (@ResiEvilCentral) March 15, 2023
The costumes come as part of Resident Evil 4’s Digital Deluxe Edition, which also includes four skins for Leon, a pair of deluxe weapons, an option to swap the new soundtrack for Resident Evil 4’s original music, and some sunglasses for Leon.
We’re just over a week away from the launch of the highly-anticipated remake. If you just can’t wait to get your hands on it, Capcom recently released a Resident Evil 4 demo that lets players try out an early section of the game. The demo even contains a cheat code to unlock the Mad Chainsaw difficulty mode.
Logan Plant is a freelance writer for IGN covering video game and entertainment news. He has over six years of experience in the gaming industry with bylines at IGN, Nintendo Wire, Switch Player Magazine, and Lifewire. Find him on Twitter @LoganJPlant.
Award-winning music producer Bloodpop who’s worked with renowned artists such as Lady Gaga and Beyoncé, has announced Genpop Interactive with the help of former DeNA and Bandai Namco executive Aubrey Tennant. GenPop Interactive is a new studio that will be working on AAA games focusing on “music, fashion, and gaming culture.”
The studio has more than 25 developers who worked on titles such as Halo Infinite, Cyberpunk 2077, The Sims, and more. GenPop Interactive’s first game will be a third-person shooter featuring “novel movement and combat mechanics.”
The upcoming shooter will be marketed toward Gen-Z, and CEO and game director Bloodpop said the following about the upcoming game.
“Gen-Z is eager for new IP that speaks to them and has a long legacy that defines their generation. Major studios have become complacent, relying on giving the Weekend at Bernie’s treatment to their old IP with their publicly traded necromancy. We aren’t just on a mission to create the next great game, but nurture the next generation of popular culture,” Bloodpop said.
GenPop Interactive has raised $6.5 million in funding with the help of various companies and people, including Studio Trigger, the animation studio behind critically acclaimed animes such as Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, Kill la Kill, and more.
Aubrey Tennant, the co-founder and COO, said in a statement that they believe they’re in a unique position “to change the shooter genre with a layered social world that changes based on feedback from the community.”
As of now, it’s still unknown what GenPop Interactives game will be called or when it’ll be released.
Photo credit: Jesse Grant / Getty Images
Luis Joshua Gutierrez is a freelance writer who loves games. You can reach him at @ImLuisGutierrez on Twitter. Photo Credit: Getty Images
With the release of Season 02: Reloaded, Modern Warfare IInow has a wealth of Party Modes to jump into and play with friends.
We’ve put together some of our favorite tips to help give you an edge across Infected, Gun Game, Grind, Drop Zone, All or Nothing, and One in the Chamber.
From March 16 through March 20, 2023, Free Access players can battle across six Multiplayer maps and a variety of game modes alongside the first Co-Op Raid. Details here.
As the seasons begin to usher in change, so too does the latest mid-season drop for Modern Warfare IIand Warzone 2.0on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S. Today, Season 2: Reloaded is now available bringing with it a new 6v6 Multiplayer map (Himmelmatt Expo), a camo challenge event, and tons of additional content for both Modern Warfare II and Warzone 2.0. You can get a full breakdown here on the official Call of Duty Blog.
Also, tomorrow kicks off a limited time Free Trial for Modern Warfare II allowing players to jump in and experience one of our favorite multiplayer games on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S from March 16 through March 20, 2023. The Free Access period will feature a limited selection of Multiplayer and Special Ops encounters for non-game owners to experience with Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II. Expect a wide variety of available Game Modes, from squad-based modes like Team Deathmatch and Domination, to a selection of modes that released with Season 02 and Season 02: Reloaded. You can get a full breakdown on the Free Access period here.
Also included with today’s update are three additional Party Modes with Drop Zone, All or Nothing, and One in the Chamber to compliment the already available Infected, Gun Game, and Grind. And now with so many players able to jump in this weekend, we thought it’d be great to offer a bit of a refresher on what these modes are like coupled with some tips to help give you a bit of an edge in your online showdowns.
Note: If these modes are not part of the current rotation in the multiplayer lobby, you can always play them as a Private Match with friends (either by hosting or joining). When setting up your game, you can find these Party Modes listed under Alternate Modes. Pick one and from there you can adjust some of the general rules and map settings, as well as including Bots (and their difficulty level) in the matches if you and your friends don’t have enough warm bodies to fill out your desired game mode. Then all you have to do is ready up and prepare to party!
Infected
If you wanted to get an idea on how well you’d fare during a zombie apocalypse, this one’s for you. Infected pits one player as the “infected” against the larger group of players in an attempt to infect all players on the map before the timer expires. If you’re taken out by an infected, you join horde and go after the remaining defenders. Here’s a few key tips to keep in mind while playing:
If you’re on defense, find a good spot to defend from (high ground is ideal) and utilize lethal equipment like mines, claymores, and C4 at chokepoints and doorways.
Watch. Each. Others. Backs. Pick a spot to be responsible for and glue yourself to it and communicate with your team if you need assistance.
Speed kills if you’re one of the infected. Use that to your advantage by attacking as a unified group by sprinting in and overwhelming the defender’s location.
Gun Game
Get out of your comfort zone by rotating through a variety of different weapons after you secure an elimination. In any given match, you’ll be navigating through pistols, assault rifles, rocket launchers, and more – the first player to score a kill using each weapon is the winner. It can be great fun; especially how hectic it can be towards the end as you must end the match with a Throwing Knife to secure victory. Here’s a few tips that have helped us get on top:
Lean in. Make sure you lean into the strengths of each weapon as fast as possible so you can quickly rotate through your arsenal. (e.g., don’t treat a sniper rifle like a shotgun).
Dots! Keep an eye on that mini-map. When shots are fired, they will appear as red dots giving you some idea on where other players might be located. Go there!
Stay on the move! You need to get out there and find some targets to take out to keep rotating through your guns; this is not the mode to think about pitching a tent.
Grind
You get a dog tag, and you get a dog tag, and you get a dog tag! Dog tags for everyone! Like Kill Confirmed, this mode requires you to not only secure the dog tag after taking out a player for it to count, but you must take your collection and “cash it in” for a point for your team at a designated location. But be careful if you happen to get knocked out on your way to make bank – you’ll drop every dog tag you’re carrying! Here’s some tips to help you win:
Don’t get too greedy. If you’ve managed to secure a few kills, go cash them in and then get back there to collect some more.
Don’t leave your teammates hanging. Make it a habit of covering your squad mates and collecting their dog tags should they have been taken out by enemy fire.
Anticipate where the enemy team might be heading to cash in their dog tags and bottle up those chokepoints to steal their loot.
Drop Zone
It’s raining Killstreaks! The goal with Drop Zone is to hold and secure the designated area to earn your team points towards their victory total. Keep in mind that things can get hectic quickly because every 15 seconds that a Drop Zone is occupied, Care Packages drop nearby allowing you to secure a Killstreak that can give you a huge edge in taking down the other team. Here’s some tips to consider:
Perk up! Utilize equipment that works best in defending objectives, like claymores and proximity mines, smoke grenades to mask your team position, and Field Upgrades like Trophy System and Anti-Armor Rounds to counteract some enemy Killstreaks.
Secure position! When working as a team, if someone is already securing the Care Package, take up a defensive position and help fend off attackers; this rule also applies to watch your teammates back as they are deploying a Killstreak which leaves them vulnerable to attack.
Don’t forget to breathe! This mode can quickly get out of hand as repeated Killstreaks dunk on your team. Take breath and try to retain your focus back on the objective of securing these Care Packages with your teammates.
All or Nothing
It’s a sprint to 20 eliminations in this fast-moving game mode where each Operator must take out their opponent by only using Throwing Knives. Taking out other players can also earn you some additional Perks to give you a tactical advantage, like silent running. If you’re jumping into this mode, here’s some tips to help:
Turn up those headsets! You’ll hear footsteps from most of your opponents, giving you an extra split-second you may need to turn around for a chance to stab your would-be attacker.
Stay nimble! There’s no harm in looking silly while jumping around or sliding all over the place while trying to dodge a knife throw; make yourself as hard a target to hit as possible.
Check your corners! Swing your knife when entering doorways and coming around blind corners. You just might be able secure a surprise kill.
One in the Chamber
Don’t miss! In this mode you’ll drop into the match with a pistol with one bullet and three lives. It’s free for all as each player fights for themselves, and a single shot to any part of the body earns the elimination, granting the attacker one more bullet to keep going. Check out these tips to help:
I see more dots! When shots are fired (like in Gun Game), they will appear on the mini-map giving you an idea where other players might be hanging out. Find them!
Live unconventionally. Climb on rooftops, fire through car windows, get nestled behind a fruit stand. The element of surprise can be a key to success in mode given your limited ammunition and lives.
Don’t forget your knife! If you’re spent your round(s), lean into going after your attacker with a melee attack.
If you’re looking for the full rundown of Free Access content, be sure to check out the Call of Duty Blog here to know more about all of the maps and modes available during this period. We’ll have more Modern Warfare II and Warzone 2.0 details to share in the weeks and months ahead, so keep it tuned here to Xbox Wire.
The Call of Duty®: Modern Warfare® II – Vault Edition includes the Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S versions of the game.
Existing Modern Warfare® II Digital Cross-Gen Bundle owners can upgrade to the Vault Edition as part of a limited time offer.
Includes:
– Cross Gen Bundle of Call of Duty®: Modern Warfare® II
— Includes Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S versions of the game
– Red Team 141 Operator Pack:
— 4 Operators: Ghost, Soap, Farah and Price
– FJX Cinder – First-Ever Weapon Vault*
– Battle Pass (1 Season) + 50 Tier Skips**
– 10 hours of 2XP and 10 hours of weapons 2XP
Welcome to the new era of Call of Duty®.
Call of Duty®: Modern Warfare® II drops players into an unprecedented global conflict that features the return of the iconic Operators of Task Force 141.
Infinity Ward brings fans state-of-the-art gameplay, with all-new gun handling, advanced AI system, a new Gunsmith and a suite of other gameplay and graphical innovations that elevate the franchise to new heights.
Modern Warfare® II launches with a globe-trotting single-player campaign, immersive Multiplayer combat and an evolved Special Ops game mode featuring tactical co-op gameplay.
You also get access to Call of Duty®: Warzone™ 2.0, the all-new Battle Royale experience.
*Weapon Vault design limited to Weapon Vault contents at launch.
**Battle Pass redemption applies to one Season of Modern Warfare® II Battle Pass only.
For more information, please visit www.callofduty.com.
– Cross Gen Bundle of Call of Duty®: Modern Warfare® II
— Includes Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S versions of the game
Welcome to the new era of Call of Duty®.
Call of Duty®: Modern Warfare® II drops players into an unprecedented global conflict that features the return of the iconic Operators of Task Force 141.
Infinity Ward brings fans state-of-the-art gameplay, with all-new gun handling, advanced AI system, a new Gunsmith and a suite of other gameplay and graphical innovations that elevate the franchise to new heights.
Modern Warfare® II launches with a globe-trotting single-player campaign, immersive Multiplayer combat and an evolved Special Ops game mode featuring tactical co-op gameplay.
You also get access to Call of Duty®: Warzone™ 2.0, the all-new Battle Royale experience.
For more information, please visit www.callofduty.com.
Welcome to Warzone™ 2.0, the massive free-to-play combat arena which now features the brand-new map, Al Mazrah.
Turn the Heat Up
Join forces with your friends and jump into a sprawling battleground in the metropolitan area and rural outskirts within the Republic of Adal.
Loot For Rewards
Discover supply boxes and complete contracts to build your arsenal and gain a tactical advantage.
Battle Across Epic Modes
Drop into the all-new sandbox objective-based mode to choose your own experience within the warzone and collecting gear to keep in your Call of Duty®: Warzone™ 2.0 inventory.
Purchase the Call of Duty®: Modern Warfare® II Vault Edition and get the Red Team 141 Operator Pack, FJX Cinder Weapon Vault*, 10 hours of 2XP, 10 hours of Weapons 2XP, Battle Pass and 50 Tier Skips** – also usable in Warzone™ 2.0.
An Xbox Live Gold subscription is not required to play the Warzone™ 2.0 game mode. All other online modes still require Xbox Live Gold.
*Weapon Vault design limited to Weapon Vault contents at launch.
**Battle Pass redemption applies to one season of Modern Warfare® II Battle Pass only.
For more information, please visit www.callofduty.com.
For those who have been waiting to pick up a PlayStation 5, we have good news: every version of the console is now available on Amazon. This includes the disc edition, the digital edition, and both the God of War Ragnarok and Horizon Forbidden West bundles (which also come in disc and digital editions). Below, you can see a breakdown of each available console on Amazon’s website.
PlayStation 5 Consoles Available on Amazon
It was only very recently that it became possible for people to buy a PlayStation 5 (and Xbox Series X, for that matter) without the panic of stock immediately running out. Sony Interactive Entertainment president Jim Ryan said at the start of this year that “everyone who wants a PS5 should have a much easier time finding one at retailer globally,” now. This was revealed at Sony’s CES tech conference, where the company also boasted how they’ve now surpassed more than 30 million units sold.
If you’re curious to see what other PlayStation items are worth picking up alongside the console, make sure to visit our gift guide for the best PlayStation and PS5 gifts to pick up this year. Alongside games, this guide also includes the PlayStation Pulse 3D wireless headset and the PS5’s DualSense controller.
And, once you have your new PlayStation, you can check out what games are available in PlayStation Plus’s Game Catalog, along with what games are yet to come to the service starting on March 21. Dell is also offering a deal at the moment where you can get the God of War Ragnarok PS5 (disc edition) bundle with an additional DualSense controller in Cosmic Red for only $589.99! With just the one controller, this bundle usually runs for $559, making it a worthwhile pickup.
Hannah Hoolihan is a freelance writer who works with the Guides and Commerce teams here at IGN.
Discover the world of Atlas Fallen and the factions that inhabit it
Uncover new information about The Sun God, Thelos, and the caste system they imposed on humanity
Find out more about what kind of hero you will play as and about the odds you’ll be facing
Hello everyone, I’m Sabine Neuser, Narrative Designer at Deck13. Our game Atlas Fallen releases May 16, it’s a superpowered third-person action-RPG where you’ll play as a hero who rises against a tyrannical god! I’m here to introduce you to the oppressed society that awaits you to reclaim its freedom.
A Fallen World
You’ll find yourself in a timeless land named Atlas. The face of Atlas changed after a cataclysm that took place a long time ago, allowing a corrupted god to enforce a new order. This devastated, “fallen” world is now covered in sand and hosts the many ruins of time immemorial. The population was drastically diminished but a few settlements still exist.
It’s not an empty world but a desolate one, in which people desperately long for change… while others try to prevent it. With its vast landscape of dunes and scarce population, there’s a desert feel to Atlas, but your story will take you to many places where you will encounter various people and learn about their life and challenges.
Caste System
The Sun God, Thelos, reigns over the world of Atlas, having put a caste system in place for humanity. Under their order, priests worship them and act out their will. The priests can be seen as the highest caste of the system, and they assign workers their tasks and ensure that they’re performed.
The order maintained by this system goes as far as denying the lowest class of workers their names, reducing them strictly to their function and referring to them simply as “the Unnamed”. Most of the population of Atlas belongs to this group. They pray to Thelos and obey them. Their workforce is essential for upholding the divine order, so they really are tools for the power in place.
The Unnamed have one main task: to mine sand imbued with Essence and transport it to the capital. The caravans used for transportation are under the surveillance of guards, accompanied by a few priests. Atlas’ society is a system that upholds itself, oppression is ordinary and power is closely guarded.
Against The Order
Of course, there is also opposition. By their place in society, the Unnamed have a very clear calling: to work following the will of Thelos, which they may be rewarded for in the afterlife. But it is not easy to stick to a role with no other meaning than being a pawn in the reign of a tyrannic god and never recognized as anything more than the work you do. While some of them adapt, others don’t.
The Unnamed are a homogeneous mass in the eyes of the rest of society, but they are very human and the mood within their group varies greatly. Some seem to have found the meaning of their life in service, some yearn for changes, some even try to organize themselves and resist, where they can. But their lives are disposable in the eyes of the system.
Outside of the caste system, a strong faction is in hiding: the Knights of Bastengar. Very little is known about them, their roots are far too ancient. Some even believe them dead, but they only use this to their advantage, waiting for their chance to challenge the status quo.
From Unnamed To Hero
Our hero’s journey takes him from being an Unnamed to becoming a hero with extraordinary powers that haven’t been seen on Atlas for decades. You will be interacting with many characters, talking and doing quests to gain rewards, or trading with different vendors. You will meet people from every rank in society, who will all show an interest in the powers of the hero’s artifact, for one purpose or another. Depending on how they stand towards the hero, they will act accordingly: some will stay truthful and offer their support on friendly terms, some will prove manipulative, and others will act downright hostile.
Over the course of the story, as your powers grow, you will gain access to new territories, and meet the inhabitants of the settlements scattered in the desert, as well as those who live in the capital. You will meet peasants, military, knights, priests and many more, whether they be a brief encounter or play a recurring role, trying to influence our hero’s quest one way or the other.
Rise from the dust and liberate mankind from the oppression of corrupted gods.
Glide the sands of a timeless land, filled with ancient dangers, mysteries and fragments of the past. Hunt legendary monsters, using powerful, shape-shifting weapons and devastating sand-powered abilities in spectacular, super-powered combat.
Target and gather the essence of your enemies to shape your own custom playstyle, forging a new era for humanity in a fully cooperative or solo story campaign.
Rise from the dust. Unleash the storm.
• Master the sands to explore a unique fantasy world teeming with secrets, locales and dangers
• Hunt legendary creatures alone or with a friend in heroic, super-powered combat
• Unleash your power to create deadly shape-shifting weapons
• Rise as the ultimate champion with unique custom skills and abilities
