Ever since Warzone launched in 2020 players have complained about the Gas Mask animation getting in the way of actually seeing what’s going on. Now, with the launch of Season 5, Activision has finally done something about it.
Warzone Season 5 launches today, July 24, and brings with it this much-needed improvement. Developer Raven Software’s patch notes detail the ‘Dynamic Gas Mask Overlay Quality of Life’ change:
“The gas mask overlay will now fade in and out depending if you’re in gas or not,” Raven explained. “This way, players can equip the gas mask at any time without having their vision impacted.”
The battle royale’s gas mask, which, as you’d expect, lets players breathe within the damaging gas as the circle of play shrinks, had an equip/unequip animation that would trigger whenever the wearer would move in/out of the gas. It had the habit of getting in the way of the action at the worst possible moment (during a firefight), forcing players to store it in their inventory and manually equip it when needed.
Now, this issue should be a thing of the past, leaving those with the gas mask free to equip safe in the knowledge that doing so won’t harm their chances of victory. Players have reacted positively to the change, which comes over four years after Warzone’s record-breaking launch.
It only took 4 years and 3 months but it has finally happened in Warzone hahahaha
Elsewhere, Season 5 makes big weapon balance changes and other user interface and user experience improvements. The update comes ahead of the launch of this year’s mainline Call of Duty game, Black Ops 6, and its integration into Warzone.
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.
The action adventure remaster from Suda51 (No More Heroes, killer7) and Shinji Mikami (Resident Evil, God Hand) launches then across PC via Steam, PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch.
Shadows of the Damned launched first in 2011 on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, developed by a Goichi “Suda51” Suda-led Grasshopper Manufacture. It stars demon hunter Garcia Hotspur, who, alongside sidekick Johnson the skull, battles through Hell to rescue his girlfriend from Fleming, the demon king of Hell.
Hella Remastered expands on the original with new costumes, a New Game+ Mode, and 60fps/4K support. A Grasshopper Direct showcase is set for July 31, and will feature producer Shinji Mikami and Suda51.
Shadows of the Damned: Hella Remastered new features:
New Costumes: In addition to Garcia’s iconic jacket, “Purple Reign”, there are now four new costumes to choose from:Placa Garcia, Ocho Corazones, Demonio Garcia and Kamikaze Garcia.
Now includes New Game+ Mode: A feature requested since the original release, the Hella Remastered edition includes a New Game+ mode! This mode carries your weapons and upgrades over from your last playthrough into a new game, jam-packing those replays with hella power.
60fps/4K Support: Hell has never looked so good. Shadows of the Damned: Hella Remastered lets you experience the game in silky-smooth 60 frames per second, as well as supporting resolutions up to 4K, allowing you to appreciate every bone fragment and blood splatter.
(Switch supports up to 30fps; 4K is supported on PS5 / Xbox Series X / Steam only.)
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.
Capcom’s turned back the clock with Kunitsu-Gami: Path Of The Goddess, bringing to us an action RPG tower defence hybrid that’s very 2000s and very welcome in this age of open world, live service-ness. And for some, it’ll deliver what’s needed: a fairly good time. A time marked by a loop that does hack ‘n slash, management, and a dash of base repairs to an average degree. For me, though, and possibly many others, I simply don’t think this mix ever truly captures what makes even the simplest of tower defence games so captivating.
Metroidvania fans seem to be living through a golden age. Hollow Knight and the Ori series, indie hits of the last decade, have established themselves as all-time classics, spurring on a horde of imitators, tributes, and new ideas. Even just 2024’s entries range from the imaginative, lo-fi hit Animal Well to the lavishly presented Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown. Bo: Path of the Teal Lotus may be yet another Metroidvania, but, remarkably, it’s yet another one worth your time.
The story opens with an atmospheric animated cutscene, in which a “Tentaihana” celestial blossom crashes down from the heavens into a lotus flower. This introduces Bo, a little fox-like creature draped in petals. Although the narrative doesn’t go very far, the tone of the world is developed effectively, with a cheery cast of characters ranging from a two-headed clairvoyant toucan to a fishcake–headed ramen chef. Dialogue never takes itself too seriously, whether it’s referencing classic memes, breaking the fourth wall, or going very tongue-in-cheek.
Gran Turismo players! This month’s Update 1.49* for Gran Turismo 7 will be available as of July 24 at 11:00pm PST / July 25 at 7:00am BST / 3:00pm JST.
Let’s dive into what’s new.
Updated physics simulation model
A major update has been introduced for the car physics simulation model. This update mainly affects the suspension physics model and tire physical calculation model resulting in much more natural weight shifting during cornering. Tire response has also been improved, along with more realistic tire heating and wear. Look forward to more dynamic car movement and a further polished driving feel.
French tire maker Michelin has been added.
6 new cars added this month
BMW M3 ‘97
*Can be purchased from Used Cars
From race car to luxury grand tourer, the 3.2L second generation M3.
The 2nd generation M3 was introduced in 1992, 2 years after the introduction of its base model, the 3rd generation ‘E36’ 3-Series. The original ‘E30’ M3 was a racing homologation model made by heavily modifying the standard 3-Series, in a stark contrast, the E36 M3 took the line in the direction of a grand tourer. It featured a more mature look, with understated aero parts. Performance, however, was still very much at the forefront of the design. The 3L inline-6 engine produced 282.1 BHP with 32.7 kgfm torque. With this engine at its heart, the car was able to accelerate from a standing start to 62 mph in just 6 seconds and could continue to accelerate up to 155 mph before hitting the speed limiter.
A minor model change in 1995 brought with it a 3.2L engine producing 316.6 BHP and 35.7 kgfm torque, and replaced the 5-speed manual transmission with a 6-speed unit, along with several changes to the chassis to sharpen the overall handling. 1997 saw the introduction of a 6-speed semi-automatic transmission.
Ferrari 430 Scuderia ‘07
*Can be purchased from Brand Central / Used Cars
A road-going racer that greatly improved upon the performance of the F430.
The 430 Scuderia was announced in September 2007 at the Frankfurt Motor Show, introduced as a high-performance version of Ferrari’s V8 series ‘F430’. It also served as the successor to 360 Challenge Stradale, a road-legal version of the 360 Challenge one-make race car that appeared in the 360 Modena era.
It is powered by the same 4.3L V8 DOHC engine as the standard F430, further tuned to produce an extra 19.7 BHP / 0.5 kgfm to produce a total 502 BHP / 47.9 kgfm. A streamlining of the interior fittings allowed for a roughly 100 kg weight reduction to 1,350 kg. These improvements resulted in a power-to-weight ratio of just 2.48 kg/BHP. The transmission is a 2-pedal manual ‘F1 Superfast 2’ which allows for gear changes as fast as 0.06 seconds. The running gear itself also has a direct impact on driving and lap times, and a number of F1 derived technologies have been implemented here as well, such as the F1-Trac combined traction and stability control system, and the electronically controlled ‘E-Diff’ differential.
Genesis X Gran Racer Vision Gran Turismo Concept
*Can be purchased from Brand Central
The racing version of the Gran Berlinetta adorned with aerodynamic parts.
The Genesis X Gran Racer Vision Gran Turismo Concept is the most emotional expression of Athletic Elegance in the Genesis portfolio. It is a racing derivative of the Genesis X Gran Berlinetta Vision Gran Turismo Concept, with increased downforce achieved by the impressive wings, active aerodynamic flaps, flat floor, front and rear diffusors, canards and gurneys. While the drag coefficient increases according to wing configurations, the increased downforce allows better lap times.
The X Gran Racer Concept is powered by a front mid-mounted race-spec Lambda II V6 engine, electrically assisted by Genesis E-SC technology. The hybrid race-spec drivetrain delivers a combined 1,540 HP (1,539.4 BHP) and 1,015 ft-lb (140.3 kgfm) of torque. The V6 screams at 10,000 rpm while delivering a maximum output of 870 HP (869.8 BHP) and 790 ft-lb (109.2 kgfm) while the front E motor generates an additional 670 HP (669.6 BHP) and 225 ft-lb (31 kgfm).
Lamborghini Gallardo LP 560-4 ‘08
*Can be purchased from Brand Central / Used Cars
No longer the baby Lambo; the Gallardo outgrew its nickname with top-tier performance.
Debuting in 2003, the baby Lambo ‘Gallardo’ underwent many improvements over the course of a five-year span, including several high-performance evolutions. Then, at the 2008 Geneva Motor Show, a model debuted that would outshine all of its predecessors. On the surface, the new Gallardo, or ‘LP 560-4,’ looked as if it had simply taken stylistic cues from the limited-edition Lamborghini Reventón. But in truth, it had undergone some major modifications. The most prominent of such modifications was the enlargement of its V10 engine displacement, from 4,961 cc to 5,204 cc. With additional intake and exhaust upgrades, and increased compression, the engine produced 552.3 BHP and 55.1 kgfm of torque, which was a 39.4 BHP and 3.1 kgfm improvement from the original Gallardo model.
The drivetrain employed the same full-time 4WD transmission and viscous coupling as its forebearers. As for the car’s name, the ‘560’ was taken from its maximum engine output, and the ‘4’ stood for its 4WD system. The car also inherited a 6MT, or ‘6-speed, 2-pedal manual transmission,’ the E-gear in particular being greatly upgraded, its shifting speed shortened by 40% in the sporty ‘CORSA’ mode. Many thorough weight-reduction efforts were also made, resulting in the vehicle weighing in 20 kg lighter than previous models, at 1,410 kg.
RUF RGT 4.2 ‘16
*Can be purchased from Brand Central
The ultimate naturally aspirated flat 6. A meticulously crafted machine made by RUF.
RUF is a company that continues to create unique sports cars based on Porsches, infused with their own philosophy and craftsmanship. One of their continuing model lines include the “RGT”, based on various 911 GT3 models. At the very core of the RGT is a concept to polish the performance of the GT3 model even further, while miraculously bestowing it the comfort of a road car. And at the 2015 Geneva show, RUF added a new model to this family tree: The RGT 4.2, based on the type 991, 911 GT3.
As the name implies it is powered by a 4.2L flat 6, increasing the displacement from the stock 3.8L of the type 991, 911 GT3 by 400 cc. But the increased displacement is not the only point of note. The RGT 4.2 engine is not just a tuned 911 GT3 engine, but uses the “Mezger engine” with the GT1 crankshaft as a base; an engine that has seen many successes in racing since the air cooled days of the flat 6. The car produces 123.3 BHP per litre, for a maximum power output of 517.7 BHP. On the exterior it is equipped with aggressive riveted overfenders, and the interior sports the integrated roll cage that the RGT series is known for. Combining competition blood with the grace of a road car, this is another fine example of a RUF, the ultimate car for a gentleman driver who enjoys both the track and daily use.
Subaru Impreza Rally Car ‘98
*Can be purchased from Legend Cars
Subaru’s triple race winning Impreza World Rally car from the 1998 season.
Subaru’s Impreza had been competing in the World Rally Championship since 1993 and had claimed the Manufacturers championship title in 1995 and 1996 under Group A regulations. Then in 1997, under ‘World Rally Car’ regulations, they were able to win the Manufacturer’s championship title again, making for a stunning 3- consecutive season run. The 1997 ‘World Rally Car’ specification Impreza, dubbed the WRC97, used the 2-door coupe model as a base, tuning the existing engine to produce 295.9 BHP and 48 kgfm torque.
The suspension geometry was also reconstructed and body widened as far as regulations would allow to 1,770 mm in order to provide maximum handling ability. The WRC98, introduced in 1998, implemented further modifications upon the previous model, adding a computer controlled active differentials in the front, rear and centre couplings. In the 1998 season, Subaru unfortunately missed out on the championship title and a chance to extend their winning streak. However, the car was more than able to prove its worth as a World Rally car as Colin McRae took it to victory in Round 4 Portugal, Round 6 Tour de Corse, and Round 8 Acropolis.
New GT Circuit
The return of Eiger Nordwand
Return to the Kleine Scheidegg, in this revival of a classic GT Original Circuit, situated just below the north face of Eiger, one of the most famous locations in the Swiss Alps. Running past the Jungfrau Railway station at 2,016m above sea level, this technical layout features a series of tight hairpin corners twisting left and right. With very little room to maneuver, and constant elevation changes, running a clean lap will require the utmost concentration and driving technique. A pit area in the tunnel at the end of the course means this track is also set up for full-scale races.
GT Mode Updates
Café / Extra Menus
The following Menu has been added:
Extra Menu No. 40: McLaren (Collector Level 50 and above)
GT Auto
New Pokal wheel brand added.
World Circuits (Event)
The following new events have been added to ‘World Circuits’:
European Sunday Cup 500 – Eiger Nordwand
Jimny Cup – Eiger Nordwand
World Rally Challenge Gr.B – Autodromo Nationale Monza
World Touring Car 600 – Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta
Gran Turismo Sophy
The next-generation racing AI agent, ‘Gran Turismo Sophy’ is now available on the following courses. Look for the Sophy icon in the ‘Quick Race’ menu on each track to test your skills against Sophy.
Nurburgring 24h
Autodrome Lago Maggiore – Full Course
Scapes
The Eiger has been added as a featured Curation in Scapes.
We hope you enjoy the updates and best of luck on the track.
*Internet connection and Gran Turismo 7 game required for update.
RuneScape is undoubtedly one of the biggest and most popular MMORPGs ever released, even setting a Guinness World record in the process. Now, after 23 years, this sprawling fantasy universe is finally making the jump to comics, and IGN can exclusively reveal the full details about RuneScape: Untold Tales of the God Wars.
First, check out the slideshow gallery below for a look at the various covers for RuneScape: Untold Tales of the God Wars, and then read on for more details about the new series:
RuneScape: Untold Tales of the God Wars is a four-issue series produced in collaboration with Jagex. The series is written by Ryan O’Sullivan (Void Trip) and illustrated by Sid Kotian (Gambit) and Daniel Bayliss (RuneScape FCBD Edition). Cover artists include Kotian, Alan Quah, Ivan Shavrin, Alex Moore and RuneScape’s lead concept artist Dave Barker.
As the title suggests, Untold Tales of the God Wars delves deeper into the God Wars dungeon questline from the game, which deals with an epic battle between four factions for control of the mythical Godsword, a blade capable of slaying a god. The series focuses on Maro, a character caught in the middle of this violent conflict, and who yearns to break free from his master’s control.
RuneScape: Untold Tales of the God Wars #1 will be released on October 9, 2024. Each physical copy of the series will come included with a DLC code for 200 Runecoins to use in the game. You can find preorder links for all the variant covers below:
Davide Soliani, who spearheaded the successful Mario + Rabbids series of games, has left Ubisoft after 25 years.
In a social media post, the former Ubisoft Milan creative director said he had left the company “to embark on a new adventure,” but failed to say what’s next.
Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle is an enormously successful Nintendo Switch exclusive that fused Nintendo’s Mario and Ubisoft’s Rabbids franchises in turn-based tactics gameplay. The 2017 game would eventually be played by over 10 million people, Ubisoft said.
Hi all folks. After 25 years, 11 of which beautifully spent working with Nintendo on Mario+Rabbids along the company of our incredible community of players, I have decided to leave Ubisoft to embark on a new adventure. I can’t say more now. Thanks a lot for everything, truly 🙏❤️ pic.twitter.com/nafgBC2bu8
Soliani was thrust into the spotlight after he wept during the Mario + Rabbids reveal at Ubisoft’s E3 2017 showcase. His reaction, which you can see in the video below, has gone down as one of the all-time great E3 moments, a rare look of genuine pride and relief captured in the audience of a show normally given over to strictly controlled marketing beats.
Kingdom Battle’s successor, fellow Switch exclusive Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope, performed less well upon its 2022 launch. Ubisoft boss Yves Guillemot later revealed his regret at launching the game on the Switch instead of holding it back for the console’s successor, saying Sparks of Hope would have likely performed better if it had not released on the same platform as the first game, given they offer similar gameplay experiences.
“We had already released a Mario Rabbids game [on Switch], so by doing another we had two similar experiences on one machine,” Guillemot told GI.biz.
“On Nintendo, games like this never die. There are 25 Mario games on Switch. Nintendo [has advised] that it’s better to do one iteration on each machine,” Guillemot continued. “We were a bit too early, we should have waited for [the next console].
“Because you could play a great game. And we think it will last for 10 years, because we will update it for the new machine that will come in the future.”
Ubisoft Milan, which is currently supporting the development of other Ubisoft games, such as Massive Entertainment’s Star Wars: Outlaws, waved goodbye to Soliani in a series of tweets.
And we hope that he will like what we will work on in the future, as we will definitely keep in mind his best teaching: surprise players with unexpected experiences!
“Don’t cry, Ubisoft man!” We joked with Davide a lot about that meme.
Davide and the teams at Ubisoft Milan still share the same quest — to make gamers have fun, scream with delight, and dream – but we will now be on a different path.
Before the tears at E3 2017, the announcement of Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle, and the crazy idea… pic.twitter.com/uNji1B6nOX
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.
All 36 employees of Humble Games publishing have reportedly been laid off. According to business developer Nicola Kwan, staff were informed at 9am this morning, and told that “the company is shutting down.” Humble dispute this in a statement made to Game Developer, claiming that the publishing label is “undergoing restructuring,” as opposed to a full shutdown.
Humble’s statement – which you can read in full here – attributes the events to “challenging economic times for indie game publishing,” saying that “Humble Games has made the difficult but necessary decision to restructure our operations.”
The entire staff of Humble Games, the publisher behind such games as Unpacking, Slay the Spire, and Bo: Path of the Teal Lotus, has been the subject of a mass layoff, according to LinkedIn posts from affected staff members. The news came to light after staff posted announcing that their time with the studio has come to an end (thanks, Eurogamer).
Nicola Kwan, a business development manager at the studio, wrote, “At 9AM this morning, all 36 employees of Humble Games were told that we were being let go and that the company is shutting down.”
The First Descendant developer Nexon has released update 1.0.4 across PC via Steam, PlayStation 4 and 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X and S alongside the patch notes, below.
The patch tweaks the popular ‘Valby run’ farming method. Set in The Fortress Outpost on hard mode, the Valby run involves destroying generators and damaging the boss enough to trigger its ball immune phase, then using the character Valby’s ability to deal continuous damage while moving around the outer ring of the arena in an endless loop. With the Valby run farming method, players were able to gain hundreds of thousands of in-game gold and loads of XP in just a few minutes.
The First Descendant update 1.0.4 patch notes in full:
Content Improvements
Module storage limit has been increased from 1,000 to 1,500.
Cooldown for “Vulgus Strategic Outpost” has been reduced from five minutes to one minute.
Spawning time between monster respawn has been increased, and the reward amount has been adjusted at the “Vulgus Strategic Outpost.”
Void Fragments will now drop when defeating monsters in Special Operation. There will be the most void fragment drops at the Special Operation “Neutralize Void Experiment.”
Using “Mark for Arrest” item obtained from Special Operation will grant 10 times the usual amount of gold. When “Mark for Arrest” is used from ‘consumable’ tab, it will convert to 100,000 gold, and “High-Value Mark for Arrest” will convert to 1,000,000 gold.
“With this adjustment, the reward amount at Fortress outpost has been reduced,” The First Descendant director Joo Min-seok explained.
“However, to ensure that ‘Valby run’ remains a popular hunting ground like Ambush Point and Refined Run, we have set the reward efficiency significantly higher than originally intended. We hope to provide numerous farming spots in The First Descendant, each with unique characteristics and usefulness to different Descendants. Instead of reverting Valby run to its original design intent, we have adjusted it to offer similar efficiency to other high-reward hunting grounds.
“Additionally, we have shortened the cooldowns for all outposts so that players can play them more frequently without deliberately failing and no longer need to search for outposts with shorter cooldowns by moving around the map. We have also added gold rewards to Special Operations and adjusted four types of Void Fragments to be randomly dropped, allowing players to choose and utilize various hunting grounds.
“Through issues like the Fortress Outskirts and Valby run, we are learning what kind of playstyle our players enjoy. The experience of sweeping through and farming monsters is of significant value in our game.
“Your feedback and interest are what drive the continuous improvement of The First Descendant. We will always listen to your feedback and improve the game.”
The experience of sweeping through and farming monsters is of significant value in our game.
Joo Min-seok also offered a week five preview for The First Descendant, which goes live next week and adds a new Descendant called Luna. The details are below:
The First Descendant week five update patch notes preview:
Sea of Emerald, “Ultimate Valby”
Finally, the Magisters have completed the ultimate project for Valby. This ultimate equipment, called “Sea of Emerald,” has fulfilled Valby’s long-held desire. It is a nano suit that replicates Valby’s former body color and texture. Although covered in a thin layer, Valby feels like regaining a long-forgotten part of herself.
Ultimate Valby’s Modification Modules
Spiral Tidal Wave: Replaces the Bubble Bullet, which was difficult to aim, with a projectile that flies straight. Spiral Tidal Wave attracts the impurities of Gluttony, making it an excellent choice for intercepting Gluttony.
Hydro Pressure Bomb: Instead of “Plop Plop,” it leaps forward and deals damage to enemies around the landing area. The more enemies in the laundry state, the more powerful the damage, making Hydro Pressure Bomb a strong finishing blow. Instead of diving into the water, leap joyfully forward!
A New Descendant, “Luna”
The Mad Artist Luna has returned to Albion after a long wandering performance. Luna’s synthesizer gun becomes more powerful when fired in rhythm, enhancing allies’ abilities based on the performance. When Luna dances to upbeat music, allies’ skill power increases, and when dancing to relaxing music, allies’ mentality recovers and resource consumption decreases. Invite everyone to Luna’s concert. Unfortunately for Virgus, it will be their last stage, but Luna’s performance is just beginning!
Luna’s Modification Modules
Nimble Footsteps: Enhances Luna’s mobility and amplifies the effect range of her performance, allowing for more effective ally support.
Noise Surge: Transforms Luna from a supporter to a combat dealer. Dashes towards enemies in rhythm, dealing damage to nearby enemies. When the inspiration gauge is full, summons a stage to recover mental strength and shields. Provide enemies with a terrifying musical experience with Noise Surge!
Gluttony
The mutated Devourer-type Gluttony is a giant that indulges in Void Energy. It is equipped with systems to mine Void Energy and a cooling system to cool the heat generated during this process. To counter Gluttony, you need measures to withstand its cooling performance and the judgment to exploit its greedy temperament. Intercept Gluttony and collect new ultimate weapons and external components.
New Ultimate Weapon “Peace Mediator”
When meditation is necessary to bring peace to Ingris, the new ultimate weapon Peace Mediator is the perfect solution. This powerful hand cannon is effective even with single shots but can unleash a burst of bullets to deliver powerful firepower under the right conditions.
New Ultimate Module “Arche Concretion”
Provides Arche Concretion effect, which increases defense and mentality when using skills but decreases movement speed and attack power. It is particularly useful for Luna and Ajax and can be a good choice for players who want stable skill use. Your choices are free; combine various Modules to create your unique build.
Balance Adjustments
In the week five update, we have decided to make balance adjustments for some Descendants and Ultimate weapons.
First, we are adjusting Valby, Blair, and Freyna, who use AOE as their main skills. We hope to see these Descendants more effectively dominate the battlefield, creating large AOE zones and leisurely watching enemies fall from the rear. Look forward to improved performance for these wide-range covering Descendants.
Additionally, there will be improvements to Ultimate weapons that enhance critical hit chance and damage. Enduring Legacy (machine gun), Secret Garden (tactical rifle), and Nazeistra’s Devotion (hand cannon) will be improved to boast more powerful firepower with critical settings.
Moreover, Greg’s Reversed Fate (tactical rifle) will be adjusted to activate its unique effect in more chances. We are also improving the functionality of single-shot weapons, allowing players to choose between single-shot and rapid-fire modes. Please look forward to it.
Lastly,
There will also be more improvements for convenience to be included in the week 5 update. Plus, new cosmetics that many players have been waiting for will be out, so please wait just one more week!
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.
