Author: Game Infliction

This Week’s Space Marine 2 Patch Is the ‘First Quick Fix’ — Bigger Patch Due Later in September

Space Marine 2 has its first patch following its record-breaking launch, but don’t expect big changes — those are coming in a larger update due later in September.

Publisher Focus Interactive announced that a small hotfix (hotfix 2.1) is out now for the Saber Interactive-developed Warhammer 40,000 action game across PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X and S (check out the patch notes below).

It focuses on crashes and bug fixes, with a PC-only optimization for behavior on high-end CPUs thrown in. The big, hotly anticipated patch that Focus has already confirmed adds the much-needed ultrawide support and private PvE lobbies is due out later this month.

We’ve got plenty more Space Marine 2 coverage, including details on its post-launch roadmap, the upcoming addition of class matching for co-op after players found themselves locked in a class standoff ahead of Operations mode missions, and a report on those creepy flying babies you keep seeing on the Battle Barge.

IGN’s Space Marine 2 review returned an 8/10. We said: “Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 may not break the third-person shooter mold, but it looks amazing, makes good use of its Warhammer lore, and has brutal combat that just feels great.”

Space Marine 2 hotfix 2.1 patch notes:

Crashes and bug fixes

  • Fixed some rare possible crashes when starting the game
  • Fixed a rare possible crash that occured during the first cutscene
  • Fixed several other rare crashes
  • Fixed several rare bugs that were causing soft locks in the story mode

PC Only

  • Optimized CPU behavior on high end CPUs

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.

Turn heroes into god-beast fodder in this city builder influenced by Black & White and Cult Of The Lamb

Gold Gold Adventure Gold is a game that relies on raw enthusiasm and moxie to power you through a blizzard of confusing references. It boldly describes itself as a “Cult-of-the-Lamb-lite, Rimworld-lite, Majesty-like mixed with Black & White with a pinch of Against the Storm”. Whoa there, pardner, save a few subgenres for the rest of us! I think that’s half the New & Trending keywords on Steam in one sentence. If you’re mystified, best watch the announcement trailer – it paints a clearer picture, though it does involve a startling amount of cartoon decapitation and dismemberment.

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This Year’s Pokémon TCG Trick or Trade Boosters Are The Best We’ve Ever Seen

The Pokémon TCG Halloween Trick or Trade BOOster Bundle is back, bringing a spooky twist to your collection on All Hallows Eve. With 35 mini boosters in each bundle, you’ll have plenty of chances to pull some of your favorite Pokémon, all with a cute Pikachu Halloween stamp.

It’s a brilliant product for collectors, kids, or anyone looking to hand out something cooler than sweets this year. Plus, the whole set of 30 cards can be completed with just one bundle, which is perfect for those who like a challenge but don’t want to break the bank.

If you’re after a fun, seasonal Pokémon product that’s easy to collect, the Trick or Trade BOOster Bundle 2024 is it. It’s only $15 for 35 mini boosters (see here), and this year’s is one of the best ever, with cards like Okidogi, Munkidori, and Gengar making appearances, it’s a great mix of reprints and new faces. Check out our full preview of the 2024 set right here.

Rather than a than a hardcore gaming set, consider the Trick or Trade boosters as more of fun collectible for all ages. The focus here is on the Halloween aesthetic, with reprints like Pikachu and Gengar looking extra spooky with their new stamps. However, you’d be surprised at how many of the cards still have solid abilities for casual play. Plus, you’ve got new cards from the Scarlet & Violet set, like Okidogi, Munkidori, and Fezandipiti, to add a fresh vibe.

Each set is packed with 35 mini boosters, containing 3 cards in every “mini-booster”. The entire set of 30 cards can be completed by grabbing just one bundle. Unlike regular packs, these cards aren’t about game-changing pulls or competitive play but more about celebrating Halloween with a collectible twist. The nine Cosmo holo cards add a bit of shine to the whole experience, making cards like Pikachu and Mimikyu even more special. We love the 2024 set, and highly recommend it for anyone Pokémon fans getting into the Halloween spirit.

Our Top Trick or Trade Pulls, and How To Play Them

Darkrai 136/197 OBF

  • 130 HP (Dark)
  • [D] Dark Slumber 20: Your opponent’s Active Pokémon is now Asleep.
  • [D][D][C] Night Cyclone 120: Move all Energy from this Pokémon to your Benched Pokémon in any way you like.
  • Weaknesses: [G] x 2
  • Resistances: N/A
  • Retreat Cost: [C] [C]
  • How to Play: Start using Dark Slumber to disrupt your opponent’s Active Pokémon, especially if they rely on big attacks. Then, follow up with Night Cyclone for a solid hit while moving your Energy to a fresh attacker on your bench. This keeps your momentum going even if Darkrai is knocked out.

Fezandipiti 096/167 TWM

  • 120 HP (Psychic)
  • Ability: Adrena-Pheromone: If this Pokémon has any [D] Energy attached and is damaged by an attack, flip a coin. If heads, prevent that damage.
  • [P] Energy Feather 30x: This attack does 30 damage for each Energy attached to this Pokémon.
  • Weaknesses: [S] x 2
  • Resistances: N/A
  • Retreat Cost: [C]
  • How to Play: Load Fezandipiti with energy and let it rip. The more energy attached, the more devastating it becomes. Its ability makes it a frustrating opponent, as it can dodge attacks.

Flutter Mane 078/162 TEF

  • 90 HP (Psychic)
  • Ability: Midnight Fluttering: As long as this Pokémon is in the Active Spot, your opponent’s Active Pokémon has no Abilities, except for Midnight Fluttering.
  • [P][C] Hex Hurl: Put 2 damage counters on your opponent’s Pokémon in any way you like.
  • Weaknesses: [S] x 2
  • Resistances: N/A
  • Retreat Cost: [C]
  • How to Play: This card works best to cripple Ability-based decks. Use Flutter Mane early to control the board and stack damage across your opponent’s team with Hex Hurl.

Gengar 057/091 PAF

  • 130 HP (Dark)
  • Ability: Night Gate: Once during your turn, you may switch your Active Pokémon with 1 of your benched Pokémon.
  • [D][C] Nightmare 100: Your opponent’s Active Pokémon is now asleep.
  • Weaknesses: [F] x 2
  • Resistances: N/A
  • Retreat Cost: [C]
  • How to Play: Gengar’s Night Gate ability gives you flexibility in battle. Its high damage output and sleep effect make it a solid attacker that’s tough to counter.

Mimikyu 037/031 PAF

  • 70 HP (Psychic)
  • Ability: Safeguard: Prevent all damage done to this Pokémon by attacks from your opponent’s Pokémon ex and Pokémon V.
  • [P][C] Ghost Eye: Put 7 damage counters on your opponent’s active Pokémon.
  • Weaknesses: [S] x 2
  • Resistances: N/A
  • Retreat Cost: [C]
  • How to Play: Mimikyu’s great against ex-heavy decks. Its Safeguard ability keeps it safe while Ghost Eye quietly racks up damage.

Munkidori 095/167 TWM

  • 110 HP (Psychic)
  • Ability: Adrena-Brain: Once during your turn, if this Pokémon has any [D] Energy attached, you may move up to 3 damage counters from 1 of your Pokémon to 1 of your opponent’s Pokémon.
  • [P][C] Mind Bend 60: Your Opponent’s Active Pokémon is now confused.
  • Weaknesses: [D] x 2
  • Resistances: [F] – 30
  • Retreat Cost: [C]
  • How to Play: Munkidori excels in control decks. Use its ability to spread damage across your opponent’s Pokémon while keeping your side healthy. The Confusion effect from Mind Bend can throw off your opponent’s strategy.

Okidogi 111/167 TWM

  • 130 HP (Fighting)
  • Ability: Adrena-Power: If this Pokémon has any [D] Energy attached, it gets +100 HP, and the attacks it uses do 100 more damage to your opponent’s Active Pokémon (before applying Weakness and Resistance).
  • [F][F] Good Punch 70
  • Weaknesses: [P] x 2
  • Resistances: N/A
  • Retreat Cost: [C] [C]
  • How to Play: This card is a tank. Stack it with [D] energy to boost its HP and power its punches. Combine it with cards that can recycle [D] energy to keep Okidogi in fighting form.

Pikachu 018/091 PAF

  • 70 HP (Electric)
  • [C] Growl: During your opponent’s next turn, the Defending Pokémon’s attacks do 20 less damage (before applying Weakness and Resistance).
  • [E][C] Pika Bolt 30
  • Weaknesses: [F] x 2
  • Resistances: N/A
  • Retreat Cost: [C]
  • How to Play: Pikachu’s all about early-game setup. Use Growl to buy time while you charge up Pika Bolt or set up your bench.

Sinistcha 022/167 TWM

  • 70 HP (Grass)
  • [G] Put 4 damage counters on your opponent’s Pokémon in any way you like.
  • [G] Spill The Tea 70x: Discard up to 3 [G] energy cards from your Pokémon. This attack does 70 damage for each card you discarded in this way.
  • Weaknesses: [F] x 2
  • Resistances: N/A
  • Retreat Cost: [C]
  • How to Play: Sinistcha is great for spreading damage and unloading a massive hit. Use its first attack to soften your opponent’s bench, then spill the tea for huge damage.

Teal Mask Ogerpon 024/167 TWM

  • 110 HP (Grass)
  • Mountain Stroll: Search your deck for up to 2 Basic Energy cards, reveal them, and put them into your hand. Then, shuffle your deck.
  • [G][C] Ogre Comeback 20+: This attack does 20 more damage for each of your opponent’s Benched Pokémon.
  • Weaknesses: [F] x 2
  • Resistances: N/A
  • Retreat Cost: [C]
  • How to Play: Teal Mask Ogerpon shines in battles where your opponent builds a wide bench. Use Mountain Stroll early to stack energy in your hand, then unleash Ogre Comeback when your opponent has a full bench for severe damage. It’s best used in the middle of a match when your opponent will likely have more Pokémon on the bench.

Looking for more Pokémon cards? We’re busy updating our Pokédex of Pokémon TCG daily deals to grab trainers bargains on boosters, elite trainer boxes and more, so make sure to swing by our Best Pokémon TCG deals or the full release schedule for Pokemon TCG in 2024. We’ve also recently previewed the upcoming Stellar Crown sets, and the pull rates are fantastic.

Christian Wait is a UK-based freelancer for IGN, you can follow him @ChrisReggieWait on Twitter/X.

Soapbox: Sony’s Insane PS5 Pro Price Highlights The Delicate Balance Nintendo Must Strike With ‘Switch 2’

$699 is the new $599.

Recently, we asked you if $499 would be too much to pay for a ‘Switch 2’. 20% of respondees said ‘nope’, nearly 30% thought it would be too much, and the majority (rather sensibly) said that it would depend on how big of an upgrade Nintendo’s next generation of hardware represented.

Yesterday Sony pulled back the curtain on the long-rumoured PS5 Pro, an iterative update to its existing console which offers a spec-bump that, as Mark Cerny said in his presentation, looks to close the gap between performance and fidelity modes. Showcasing a modest but noticeable boost (at least when zooming in on the pixels as the presentation did) to several games in Sony’s back catalogue — including Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 (2023), Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart (2021), and The Last of Us II Remastered (2024) — the price was then revealed: $699 / £699 / €799.

Read the full article on nintendolife.com

One Big Game: 24-Hour Football Match Returns in Aid of SpecialEffect

One Big Game: 24-Hour Football Match Returns in Aid of SpecialEffect

  • One Big Game: 24-Hour Football Match Returns in Aid of SpecialEffect

Rare One Big Game Hero

Soccer-based shenanigans return to St. George’s Park as the UK games industry once again comes together to raise crucial funds for charity! Taking place across September 25 and 26 2024 – a mere two weeks away – 24 hours of high-quality game dev football will be livestreamed on Twitch for everyone’s viewing pleasure, all in the name of raising money for SpecialEffect.

One Big Game has come a long way since its inception in 2020: what started off as a FIFA-based rivalry between Xbox Game Studios Rare and Playground Games evolved into a real-life football face-off between the teams in 2021, and has now transformed into a multi-studio, 24-hour effort played and broadcast live from the English FA’s national football centre. This will be the second time the One Big Game squad have attempted to pull off an event on this scale, with 2023’s event raising an astonishing £30,596 overall.

Building on the brilliant efforts of last year’s One Big Game, teams from games companies such as Activision, Jagex, Ninja Theory, Ubisoft and more will come together to decide once and for all (or for at least a year) who is better: Team Red or Team Blue. All teams taking part will be assigned to represent one of those colours and will play in a full 90-minute match, where the final score will contribute to the overall Team Red and Team Blue tallies.

Rare One Big Game Team Line-ups Image

The sporting showdown will kick off at 7pm BST on September 25, with coverage beginning on the Xbox On Twitch channel from 6:30pm BST – and then at approximately 7:15pm BST on September 26, the final score will be settled alongside the final whistle, when one brave band of players will emerge victorious. You can expect to see some familiar faces on the broadcast and commentary team too, with the Xbox On crew (and some special guests!) taking the reins on hosting the event.

We’re once again thrilled to have the support of so many studios across the UK, all of whom are remarkably enthusiastic about donating their legs, lactic acid and, in some cases, dignity to raise money for SpecialEffect. We’re so proud to be bringing so many people together both on and off the pitch, and this event promises to be an incredibly special show of skill, spirit and generosity amongst the games industry community.

As Xbox Game Studios, we couldn’t be prouder to support SpecialEffect’s mission to level the playing field for all gamers with disabilities. For many people, games are a vital form of recreation and games like Sea of Thieves and Forza Horizon 5 have a particular role to play in connecting gamers with additional needs. SpecialEffect uses innovative technology to make gaming accessible to all, and your donations will allow this charity to continue supporting disabled gamers well into the future.

So please, if you can, tune in from Wednesday, September 25 for competition, camaraderie and absolutely corking goals from the participating players. Rivalries will be born, heroes will be made and friendships will be forged on the immaculate astroturf of the Sir Alf Ramsey Pitch at St. George’s Park. And, most importantly, vital funds will be raised for charity. If you’d like to get the ball rolling with donations, please head over to the One Big Game ’24 Tiltify donation page to pledge your support.

See you on the 25th – and don’t forget your stretches!

The post One Big Game: 24-Hour Football Match Returns in Aid of SpecialEffect appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Most of Those Creepy Flying Things in Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 Aren’t Lobotomized Babies — the Truth Is Much Weirder

Space Marine 2 has broken free from the shackles of its Warhammer 40,000 setting and made inroads into the gaming mainstream, and that means there are plenty of players new to its grim dark far future.

For them Space Marine 2 is a somewhat bewildering experience, as it leans on much of the lore that Warhammer 40,000 owner Games Workshop has built over decades, with hundreds of novels, rule books, and magazine articles fleshing out the background fans know intimately.

Warhammer 40,000 fans have enjoyed seeing newcomers react in shock at just how grim and dark Space Marine 2 is. And it’s not just the extreme gore, mass death, and terrifying alien enemies that appear in the game either. Perhaps the most disturbing element of Space Marine 2 that newcomers are seeing for the first time are lobotomized babies.

A tweet from Forbes writer Paul Tassi, below, sums up the reaction to Space Marine 2’s winged babies, who seemingly fly about the Battle Barge, the spaceship on which the Space Marines live and plan their missions, performing monotonous busywork.

On the face of it, the apparent “good guys” of Space Marine 2’s story have lobotomized babies cleaning up their mess. Sound messed up? Welcome to Warhammer 40,000’s Imperium of Man, a fascist regime always on the brink of extinction and an extreme vision of the far future in which pretty much anything goes.

Warhammer 40,000 is intended to be grim and dark, and so stuff like this is par for the course (lobotomized babies aren’t close to being the most disturbing thing in the setting, if you fancy some light reading, check out what the Drukhari get up to in their spare time). Space Marine 2’s far future is a truly miserable place to be, a place in which countless humans die every day from all manner of horrors, be those alien, demon, or humans themselves. Humanity, bogged down by excruciating bureaucracy and religious fanaticism, has collapsed. There is no respite, no joy, only inevitable death.

With that in mind, Warhammer 40,000 fans are used to things like a “lobotomized church menial cyborg flying baby,” as X/Twitter user ChronoTheHarlequin pointed out. The thing is, with this one in particular, it gets even weirder.

As the unofficial Warhammer podcast Adeptus Ridiculous clarified, most of these things aren’t actually lobotomized babies. Most are built from the ground(?) up as flesh automatons with computers for brains (A.I is banned in the 40th millennium because of… reasons). Why do they look like babies? Apart from Warhammer 40,000 being all heavy metal and gothic, according to the lore, it’s for “ceremonial purposes.”

I’m loving Space Marine 2 and its attention to detail. The developers at Saber clearly love Warhammer 40,000 and made the effort to capture its oppressive, soul destroying atmosphere. I’ve particularly enjoyed the flavor dialogue you hear from the humans who are charged with keeping the Battle Barge afloat. Some bemoan a lack of sleep because of how hard they’re forced to work. Others express concern at the prospect of making even a single mistake. Given the truly miserable galaxy in which they live, these chaps are the lucky ones. And don’t get me started on the servitors.

We’ve got plenty more Space Marine 2 coverage, including details of its first patch, its post-launch roadmap, and the upcoming addition of class matching for co-op, after players found themselves locked in a class standoff ahead of Operations mode missions.

Image credit: Games Workshop.

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.

Here are some PC bits you could buy for less than the PS5 Pro

Today’s big news from the other side is that a tuned-up PS5 Pro is on the way, and a base spec, Blu-ray-driveless model will set you back £700. Or $700, in Ameridollars.

That’s a lot of cheddar for a living room games box, and while us Windows lot can’t quite claim pointing and laughing privileges – speccing a 4K-capable, DIY build desktop for seven hundred quid is certainly beyond me – the fact is that if you can get some pretty nifty PC kit for less. While still, let’s not forget, being able to play most of the PS5’s best games. It would not surprise me if someone from Sony’s PC division is already trying to entice Astro Bot underneath a cardboard box held up by a stick.

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New Elden Shadow Of The Erdtree patch aims to fix the final boss’s eyeball searing strobe light migraine festival

Sometimes, FromSoft craft the most masterfully tense boss duels you’ve ever seen, and sometimes, they aim laser pointers at both your eyes, cut off your feet, and expect you to dodge invisible leopards spitting lighting from the cockpit of a fighter jet made of other, more invisible leopards – as was the case with Shadow Of The Erdtree’s final boss’s final phase. If you had absolutely no trouble with this boss, I’m happy for you, as long as you go sit in the corner and keep it to yourself. For everyone else, you’ll be happy to learn the RPG‘s latest patch has “Improved the visibility of some attack effects” for the boss, alongside some other tweaks.

Patch 1.14, the full notes of which you can find hereabouts, comes bearing the following tweaks for Erdtree’s final boss:

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Random: Even The Manhole Covers Look Cool At The Nintendo Museum

Pokéman(hole cover).

It’s easy to dazzle us Nintendo fans with a giant Wiimote, a Toad barbershop quartet and a wall of pristine NES games, but to make a manhole cover exciting? That feels like a bit of a stretc- oh my GOD is that Pikachu?!

Nintendo has revealed a special manhole cover which will be housed in Kyoto’s Nintendo Museum and it’s quite the looker (thanks, GoNintendo). Nope, we never thought we’d be saying that about a manhole cover either, but here we are.

Read the full article on nintendolife.com

Life Is Strange: Double Exposure Brings Back Max Caulfield By Taking on a Whole New Gaming Genre

Life Is Strange Double Exposure Hero Image

Life Is Strange: Double Exposure Brings Back Max Caulfield By Taking on a Whole New Gaming Genre

Max Caulfield became something of an unexpected video game icon in the course of the first Life Is Strange. In a medium often associated with over-muscled, under-dressed lead characters, stepping into the shoes of an ordinary person, with relatable hopes and fears (and, yes, just a dash of superpowers) felt quietly revolutionary.

Discovering the mysteries of Arcadia Bay was the headline of that game, but helping Max discover who she was through the course of our adventure became the thing I remember most about the first installment in what’s become a major gaming series.

So, as I picked up the controller to play a slice of her unlikely return, I expected all of this to feel familiar – a character, her powers, and a vibe that still live in my mind, years later. I’m thrilled to say I was wrong.

We knew that the Max Caulfield of Life Is Strange: Double Exposure would be older, with a life history for us to catch up on, but that translates into a game that feels equally evolved. Double Exposure is set years after the original, and places Max (and us) in the midst of a supernatural murder mystery. Her best friend, Safi, is killed, awakening a whole new power in Max – the ability to shift between two timelines, allowing her to see a world in which Safi never died alongside her own.

In my demo of the game, set a few hours into the game, I see quite how much those new powers change the fabric of Life Is Strange as a whole. Where Max’s original power to rewind time effectively played with the idea of a Choose Your Own Adventure – the virtual equivalent of putting your finger in the page before you turn to a new one  – timeline shifting goes some way towards changing the genre entirely. Double Explosure is more of a puzzle game than this series has ever allowed for before.

My demo sees me aiming to help Moses, a (seemingly innocent) friend suspected of Safi’s murder – inadvertently incriminating evidence is locked in a Caledon University science lab, and Max needs to find and remove it before a suspicious detective can stumble across it himself. Max can only shift timelines through what amount to rips in space-time, offering me a way into the lab that’s otherwise inaccessible.

Initially, it’s pure Life Is Strange – I enter the lab and ask other-Moses where he might safely keep a secret, building a picture of the situation entirely through dialogue. But soon, this becomes another kind of game entirely. I’m tasked with figuring out not only how to make my way around, but piecing together the mystery across both timelines – clues from one affecting how I proceed through another. There are elements of stealth, as I avoid the detective in the “dark” timeline, and even an entirely new power, allowing me to switch objects between timelines and change the rooms around me. This is not the Life Is Strange you remember, and it’s all the more enticing for that.

It’s a whole new take on puzzle solving for Life Is Strange – there are still the pivotal dialogue choices, deeply personal histories to uncover, and carefully chosen diegetic indie music, but with a new focus on classic game design weaving it all together. Like Max, Life Is Strange is learning how to become something new.

Life Is Strange: Double Exposure launches for Xbox Series X|S and Windows PC on October 29 this year – and those who pre-order the Ultimate Edition can play both Chapters 1 and 2 from October 15.


Life is Strange: Double Exposure
Xbox Play Anywhere

Life is Strange: Double Exposure

Square Enix

☆☆☆☆☆
★★★★★

$49.99
Pre-order

Max Caulfield, photographer-in-residence at the prestigious Caledon University, discovers her closest new friend, Safi, dead in the snow.

Murdered.

To save her, Max tries to Rewind time – a power she’s not used in years… instead, Max opens the way to a parallel timeline where Safi is still alive, and still in danger!

Max realizes the killer will soon strike again – in both versions of reality.

With her new power to Shift between two timelines – can Max solve and prevent the same murder?

ORDINARY GIRL, EXTRAORDINARY POWER
Max is thrust into a thrilling supernatural murder mystery – more dangerous than ever before!

TRAVERSE TWO TIMELINES
Forge allies and pursue suspects across two versions of reality, shaping both timelines through unforgettable choices.

RACE AGAINST TIME
A relentless detective has Max in his sights, and Safi’s killer grows closer with every clue uncovered. Can Max survive long enough – to do the impossible?

DECIDE THE FATE OF CALEDON
Explore two versions of a vivid winter campus, each packed with clues, secrets, and tough decisions.

EXCLUSIVE SOUNDTRACK
A rich original score, new songs, and thrilling licensed tracks!

The post Life Is Strange: Double Exposure Brings Back Max Caulfield By Taking on a Whole New Gaming Genre appeared first on Xbox Wire.