Hey folks! The PlayStation Podcast crew punches in a quick episode covering this week’s gaming news and upcoming releases. Plus discussions on Astro Bot, Monster Hunter Wilds, and Arranger: A Role-Puzzling Adventure.
Stuff We Talked About
Upcoming releases:
Astro Bot | PS5
Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions | PS5, PS4
PlayStation Monthly Games for September:
Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions
MLB The Show 24
Little Nightmares II
Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions Gameplay Blog
Astro Bot Character Design Blog
Hands-on reports:
Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater
NBA 2K25
Monster Hunter Wilds
Black Myth: Wukong
Arranger: A Role-Puzzling Adventure
The Cast
Download the image
Kristen Zitani – Senior Content Communications Specialist, SIE
Thanks to Dormilón for our rad theme song and show music.
[Editor’s note: PSN game release dates are subject to change without notice. Game details are gathered from press releases from their individual publishers and/or ESRB rating descriptions.]
Star Wars Outlaws is one of the biggest gaming releases of 2024, and IGN is your ultimate destination for the game. Whether you’re looking for guides to assist your journey through each of the massive planets or for a review to determine if you’re going to pick up the game, we’ve got you covered.
Detailed Map Genie Maps for Each Planet
The IGN team has Map Genie maps live for each planet in the game, ensuring you won’t miss a collectible or side quest in your playthrough! These maps will continue to be updated throughout the next week, but dozens of collectibles are already live across four planets!
Leading Game Help
IGN is your go-to for all the latest guides on Star Wars Outlaws, from a complete walkthrough to tips on Kessel Sabacc. Check out some of our available tips to help you get started below:
Be sure to stay tuned for more, as we’ll be updating and adding new guides well past launch day!
Star Wars Outlaws – The IGN Review
IGN Video Producer Tristan Ogilvie reviewed Star Wars Outlaws, giving the game a 7/10. In our review, he stated, “It’s ironic that Kay’s ship is called the Trailblazer, since there’s actually not a whole lot of ideas in Star Wars Outlaws that haven’t been done before in other action and open-world adventures. Instead, it’s quite like the Millenium Falcon: a bucket of bolts held together with repurposed parts and prone to breaking down, but at its best it’s more than capable of jolting your pleasure centres into Star Wars fan hyperspace.”
More Star Wars: Outlaws Content on IGN
Beyond game help, Map Genie, and our review, IGN has even more Star Wars Outlaws coverage available now and on the way! Our IGNFirst coverage dives deep into the game with exclusive commentary from the developers at Ubisoft Massive. Moving forward, we’ll also have plenty of breakdowns surrounding the game’s biggest features, analysis on the story, and all kinds of news surrounding the upcoming DLC.
Star Wars Collection at IGN Store
Last but not least, be sure to check out our Star Wars Collection at IGN Store. Whether you’re in the market for a new shirt, figure, or even hot sauce, there’s dozens of Star Wars-themed items available now.
Amazon Games said it “regrets confusion” over remarks by CEO Christoph Hartmann on voice acting and AI that drew sharp criticism online, seeking to clarify that it thinks generative AI needs to be used “responsibly” and calling actors “essential creative contributors.”
Amazon’s statement was in response to a lengthy comment from Hartmann, in which he mused on the difficulties games face with lengthy development cycles, and suggested that AI may “streamline processes” and help shorten the time it takes to make games. Asked for his thoughts on the SAG-AFTRA union strike seeking better AI protections, Hartmann responded in part:
“[W]hen we talk about AI, first of all, hopefully it will help us to have new gameplay ideas, which has nothing to do with taking work away from anyone. And especially for games, we don’t really have acting… The majority of the team sits in programming and that’s not going to go away because that’s all about innovation. If it takes something, it will be really the boring parts,” he said.
He then went on to opine that it may be helpful in localization, then added that he doesn’t believe any technology can “replace human creativity and the uniqueness… There’s always something special.”
While Hartmann sought to moderate his comments, they nevertheless provoked anger in some quarters. SAG-AFTRA Interactive Media Agreement negotiating committee chair Sarah Elmaleh was among those who took to X/Twitter to criticize Hartmann, saying, “What’s funny about this whole Amazon Games CEO quote is *I* thought it sounded like AI had written his statement. Turns out I’ve been unfair. To the AI.”
She subsequently provided a lengthy statement to IGN on behalf of SAG-AFTRA.
“Games don’t really have acting” is a wild statement. I’ve devoted most of my life to games performance, just like whole generations of new performers inspired by great games performers before them. Swaths of fans seek out these performers to tell them how much they connect with these characters through their performances, and the humanity they bring to them.
I’m an actor and performance director, not a CEO. But it seems to me that several of the largest companies in the world sitting down to negotiate with us aren’t doing it for their health — it’s because they recognize the proven viability of a games business model that requires human performance, needs union performers. That player connection and emotional investment I mention is correlated with billions and billions of dollars. Not all kinds of games require performance, but giving up using actors completely might just represent a significant financial pivot or sunk loss cost for our bargaining partners. But again, I’m not a fancy business person.
When CEOs do speak effectively and accurately on behalf of their company, they do so by listening to their employees. Whether game design, localization, programming, acting, anything – these highly specialized and professionalized workers are the ones who understand whether and how AI might be assistive or detrimental in their work. And workers should have the right and the means to advocate for the proper use of this tool. That’s what SAG-AFTRA is doing, why I’m proud and grateful to be part of a union for this craft I love, and why I fully support the organizing efforts of developers who likewise deserve their say in how we implement this technology to best serve this industry, to best serve videogames, to best serve our audiences. To this and all CEOs, including our own bargaining group — we stand ready to negotiate.
Asked for clarification on what Hartmann meant by his comments, and for their response to the fact that games such as New World utilize voice actors, an Amazon spokesperson told IGN:
We regret the confusion stemming from these comments. Of course games developed and published by Amazon Games include actors, who we consider to be essential creative contributors, both now and in the future. Like most developers and publishers we do not keep actors on staff, and Christoph’s comments were specific to our internal development teams. As with any tool, we believe generative AI needs to be used responsibly and we’re carefully exploring how we can use it to help solve the technical challenges development teams face.
Generative AI has become a flash point among artists, actors, and other creators throughout the games industry, many of whom fear that they will see their roles reduced or replaced in an already volatile industry. In July, the SAG-AFTRA union went on strike in an affort to gain stronger AI protections for video game voice actors.
In a follow-up comment in response to Amazon’s statement, Elmaleh said, “If Amazon Games would like to explore how AI can be used responsibly to solve technical challenges in game development as it relates to acting, we welcome them to a direct dialogue at any time. We have the blueprint ready.”
In the meantime, Amazon Games is trying to expand its footprint outside of MMOs, among other things serving as the publisher for Tomb Raider and the recently-announced King of Meat. Earlier this week, Amazon Games and Bandai Namco announced that Blue Protocol would no longer be coming to the U.S. New World: Aeternum, an updated console release of the game released in 2021, is set to release on October 15.
Kat Bailey is IGN’s News Director as well as co-host of Nintendo Voice Chat. Have a tip? Send her a DM at @the_katbot.
Star Wars: Outlaws may focus on a new character – smuggler, thief, and all-around scoundrel Kay Vess – but it’s also a story set smack dab in the middle of the original Star Wars trilogy. The game takes place in between the events of The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. That leaves plenty of room for familiar heroes and villains to appear during the course of the game, and they definitely do.
How exactly does Outlaws fit into the bigger picture of the Original Trilogy? How does the game forge connections between Kay and iconic Star Wars heroes and villains? Here’s what you need to know.
Warning: this article contains full spoilers for Star Wars: Outlaws!
Lady Qi’ra and Crimson Dawn
In Outlaws, Kay slowly makes a name for herself and works her way up the chain of command in the game’s various criminal syndicates. It’s inevitable, then, that she’ll eventually encounter some familiar faces. The Star Wars franchise certainly has its share of memorable crime lords.
Kay eventually encounters Crimson Dawn’s leader, Lady Qi’ra, during her missions on the icy planet of Kijimi. Qi’ra was played by Emilia Clarke in 2018’s Solo: A Star Wars Story (though she’s voiced by Tamaryn Payne here), where we learned that she was Han’s old flame before being recruited into Dryden Vos’ organization. The movie ends with Vos being killed off and Qi’ra traveling to meet the real boss of Crimson Dawn, Darth Maul.
If you only follow the Star Wars movies, you might not know how Qi’ra’s story has unfolded since then. She eventually takes control of Crimson Dawn herself after Maul is killed shortly before the events of A New Hope (as seen in the animated series Star Wars Rebels). Qi’ra has gone on to play a pivotal role in Marvel’s Star Wars comics; she’s at the center of 2021’s War of the Bounty Hunters crossover, where she steals the carbonite-frozen Han from Boba Fett and auctions him off to the highest bidder. In Outlaws, ND-5 even references that ill-fated auction in a conversation with Kay.
Qi’ra wants to free the galaxy from the tyranny of the Sith, which is what she’s referencing when she talks to Kay about true freedom.
As War of the Bounty Hunters and subsequent storylines establish, Qi’ra’s ultimate goal with Crimson Dawn is to use it to destabilize the Empire. A loyal pupil of Maul, Qi’ra understands better than most how Emperor Palpatine has been pulling the strings of the galaxy for decades. Qi’ra wants to free the galaxy from the tyranny of the Sith, which is what she’s referencing when she talks to Kay about true freedom. So although Qi’ra comes across as an antagonistic figure in this game, manipulating Kay and using her to help weaken the upstart Clan Ashiga, ultimately her goals are pretty noble.
What happens to Qi’ra after the events of Star Wars: Outlaws? As explored in comics like Star Wars: Crimson Reign and Star Wars: Hidden Empire, Qi’ra eventually makes her move against Palpatine. While unsuccessful in destroying the Sith herself, Qi’ra’s actions help give the Rebel Alliance a much-needed boost and lay the groundwork for Palpatine’s eventual defeat at the Battle of Endor. With Crimson Dawn in ruins, Qi’ra goes into hiding. Her post-Return of the Jedi story has yet to be told.
The Wrath of Darth Vader
Is it a proper Star Wars game without an appearance from the Dark Lord of the Sith? Darth Vader himself plays a small but key role in Outlaws as players learn the truth behind Sliro and Zerek Besh. It turns out that the galaxy’s newest and hottest criminal syndicate is actually just a front for the Imperial Security Bureau. Sliro himself is a soldier for the Empire, albeit one who has used his position to amass great wealth and power.
The ISB has played a major role in many Star Wars projects in the Disney era, most notably Star Wars: Jedi Survivor and the Andor series. This organization represents the other form of Imperial power during the Galactic Civil War. Star Destroyers and Death Stars are great, but when it comes to rooting out terrorists and Rebel sympathizers, sometimes a subtler hand is needed.
The goal of Zerek Besh is to build a vast intelligence network that can pierce the criminal underworld and reveal the identity of many hidden Rebel agents.
As Outlaws reveals, that’s exactly what Palpatine has tasked Sliro with accomplishing. The goal of Zerek Besh is to build a vast intelligence network that can pierce the criminal underworld and reveal the identity of many hidden Rebel agents. But although Sliro has managed to quickly build a powerful syndicate, he hasn’t actually produced the results Palpatine desires. That’s where Vader comes in. He’s a terrifying enforcer meant to remind Sliro that failure for someone in his position means death.
Vader ultimately seals Sliro’s doom by agreeing to hand control of Zerek Besh over to Jaylen Vrax (revealed to be Sliro’s estranged half-brother). Thanks to Kay, though, Jaylen is stopped before he can give over the valuable intel to the Empire, and Zerek Besh is effectively destroyed along with Jaylen himself.
In her own way, Kay herself winds up contributing to the downfall of the Empire in the build-up to Return of the Jedi. Zerek Besh’s destruction robs the ISB of a valuable resource and weakens what had been one of Palpatine’s most potent weapons against the Rebellion. The failure of Zerek Besh likely made Palpatine pivot all the more towards battlestations and weapons of mass destruction as a means of maintaining order. And we all know how that works out for him in the end…
Gambling With Lando Calrissian
While most of the core heroes of the Star Wars Original Trilogy remain MIA in Outlaws, busy with rebuilding the struggling Rebel Alliance, Kay does meet one key figure during her travels. It’s only fitting that she rubs elbows with fellow scoundrel and gambler Lando Calrissian (voiced by Lindsay Owen Pierre).
Lando appears to be up to his old tricks in the game, as he approaches Kay with a mission to recover a valuable artifact he gambled away in a high-stakes game of Sabacc. That’s a callback to the time Lando infamously lost the Millennium Falcon to Han Solo in Solo: A Star Wars Story.
But after winning the item back and helping a band of Rebels fight off an Imperial attack, Kay learns the truth behind her mission. Lando was using the artifact as a covert way of retrieving intelligence from a Rebel spy planted in the criminal underworld. His days of idly gambling away his most valuable possessions are behind him.
This questline gives greater insight into Lando’s role in the Rebellion before becoming “General Calrissian” in Return of the Jedi. At this point in the timeline, Lando and Chewbacca have tried and failed to liberate Han from Jabba the Hutt’s palace, and Lando hasn’t yet taken up a cover identity as one of Jabba’s palace guards. He’s simply biding his time, fighting alongside the Rebels and proving he has the heart of a hero.
Lando also shows us what Kay could become if she, like him, commits herself fully to a cause bigger than herself. As mentioned earlier, Kay winds up dealing a significant blow to the Empire without necessarily even meaning to. What could she accomplish if she put her mind to it? For now, though, Kay is concerned with protecting her own crew and making a few credits wherever she can. Maybe she’ll think bigger in the sequel.
We know this won’t be the only encounter between Kay and Lando. The first DLC story campaign for Outlaws, “Wild Card,” will reunite the two as Kay enters a Sabacc tournament while working for the Empire.
Meeting the Future Resistance
Outlaws may be set during the Original Trilogy, but there is one familiar character from the Sequel Trilogy who appears during the course of the game. During a mission on the planet Akiva, Kay encounters a teenage mechanic named Temmin Wexley (voiced by Sam Scherzer). Fans may know him better as hotshot Resistance pilot Snap Wexley (played by Greg Grunberg in the movies).
The game builds on the origin story for Temmin that was established in the Star Wars Aftermath novels. At this point in his life, Temmin is on his own, with his father having been captured by the Empire and his mother serving in the Rebellion. He’s a humble mechanic who builds droids to keep himself company. Eventually, though, Temmin will follow in his mother’s footsteps and join the Rebels, training under no less an authority on piloting starships than Wedge Antilles. The rest is history.
The Hondo Ohnaka Easter Egg
Outlaws features an Easter egg that seems to be directly setting up future DLC missions. During one of Kay’s encounters with Tatooine’s Sheriff Quint, Quint references the infamous pirate Hondo Ohnaka. Hondo is basically ubiquitous in animated series like The Clone Wars and Rebels, and it seems he’s going to make his video game debut soon.
This Easter egg seems to be setting up the game’s second DLC campaign, dubbed “A Pirate’s Fortune.” There, Kay will team up with Hondo to seek out a legendary treasure. But can she actually trust this notoriously self-serving criminal? Probably not.
Which iconic Star Wars character should Kay Vess meet next? Cast your vote in our poll above and let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
I took a longer lunch break today, and must now Pay The Reaper by staying after work. Fortunately, I’ve spent my penance playing the demo for Witching Stone, which applies the magic of shape-matching to the magic of, well, magic. Out on 16th September, it’s a pixelart charmer that “combines elements of puzzle games, roguelites and deckbuilders”, much as you’d combine a red circle and two golden triangles to spark a lightning bolt.
A new trailer for The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom is here and we are excited! So excited, in fact, that we have watched it another 20 times to narrow down our top reveals — the things that really got us beaming cheek to cheek.
These aren’t blink-and-you’ll-miss-’em details like those we spotted after going frame-by-frame through the reveal trailer (and last month’s ‘Traversing Hyrlue‘ follow-up), but they are some big ol’ game-changers worthy of highlighting.
The two Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Multiplayer Beta weekends will be your first chance to try new Multiplayer features like Omnimovement.
Level-up and earn exclusive Multiplayer Beta Rewards that include Weapon Charms, Operator Skins, and a Weapon Blueprint.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 will launch October 25, 2024, for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows PC, and will be available on day one with Game Pass.
Welcome, recruit! Starting today, those who have pre-ordered any version of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, or those with an active subscription to select Game Pass plans, can start playing the Multiplayer Beta during this limited Early Access period. This will be your first time to check out the Multiplayer offerings of the action-packed spy thriller series that Black Ops has become synonymous with.
Over the course of the next two weekends, with more maps and modes rolling out over this limited play period, your goal during this time will not only be to engage with your opponents across various maps, but to level-up and earn unique in-game rewards that will only be available to those who participate in the Multiplayer Beta period. Also, this time is key for the development team to assess data helping to ensure that Black Ops 6 Multiplayer is going to be as great an experience as possible at launch on October 25, 2024.
This will also be the first time for you to try out the new Omnimovement system and other Black Ops 6 combat innovations that will make this year’s Call of Duty experience one of the most innovative (and fun) experiences you can play this year.
During both Beta weekends, the official Call of Duty Blog will be a great place for you to check out as well during this time, as it will be chock full of gameplay tips, map guides, and much more.
Start Playing – Weekend One: August 30 to September 4
Like we mentioned earlier, if you pre-ordered any version of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, or if you have an active subscription to select Game Pass plans, you can jump in and start playing the Beta during Early Access which kicks off on August 30 and runs through to September 4. You can download the Beta from the Microsoft Store, Battle.net, or Steam. Digital pre-orders don’t need a Beta code to participate during Early Access – you’re automatically registered and ready to play.
Six Multiplayer Maps will be available for you to play during this first weekend: Derelict, SCUD, Skyline, Rewind, Pit, and Gala. These various maps will take you to locations such as a deserted desert outpost, a shopping plaza, an underground mining tunnel, and even a fundraising event. You’ll also be able to sample a variety of game modes that include Team Deathmatch, Domination, Hardpoint, Kill Order, and Face Off.
Personally, I’m most excited to try out Kill Order, the newest game mode to be introduced in Call of Duty Multiplayer. Here you’ll be tasked with eliminating the enemy’s High Value Target (HVT) while keeping your HVT alive (taking it out can earn your team bonus points). It sounds like a great mix of chaos and teamwork, and I can’t wait to try it myself.
During the first weekend of the Closed Beta, you can max out at Player Level 20. While progressing down this path, you can unlock additional Loadout gear, the ability to create Custom Loadouts, as well as earn in-game rewards playing in the Beta and in Black Ops 6 at launch. You’ll also get a chance to play as a range of Operators during the Multiplayer Beta, including Adler, Park, Brutus, and Klaus who will only be available in the Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Vault Edition. Plus, flex the Mastercraft Weapon Collection, only available in the Vault Edition.
For even more information on the first weekend of the Call of Duty Multiplayer Beta, check out the official Call of Duty Blog which has a detailed breakdown of every map, Loadout, Beta Reward, and Multiplayer mode for you to experience during the first Beta Weekend event. Check it out here.
Prepare for Weekend Two: September 4 to 9
For the second Beta Weekend, all players can jump in and start playing regardless of if they have pre-ordered Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 – Game Pass Core not required. It kicks off September 6 and runs through to September 9 and will include all the other maps and modes from the previous weekend.
Speaking of, if you played the previous weekend during the Early Access period, you’ll find that your current Player Level will carry over into this weekend along with the ability to get up to Level 30 now, which in turn also includes several new in-game rewards. The second Beta Weekend will also include two new maps – Babylon and Stakeout – in addition to the Gunfight and Face Off Kill Order game modes.
Diving into a new Call of Duty Beta Multiplayer experience is always a fun time because it lets you scratch that multiplayer itch before launch. And with Omnimovement gearing up to be a game changer, I can’t wait to try this out first-hand and see what makes this such an exciting prospect for engaging opponents online. Also, gunning for all those sweet Multiplayer Beta rewards is a great incentive (I see you “Bug Smasher” Weapon Blueprint).
For even more details on the Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Multiplayer Beta, check out the Call of Duty Blog for a game-winning overview and tips to levelling up to ensure you unlock all those great Beta Rewards. Also, be sure to check out Xbox Wire’s coverage of Call of Duty NEXT to get even more information about what’s in store for the next Call of Duty entry.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6will launch October 25, 2024, for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows PC, and will be available on day one with Game Pass.
Pre-order any digital edition or subscribe to select Game Pass plans* and get Early Access to the Open Beta**.
– Early Access is August 30th – September 4th
– Open Beta access is available for all players from September 6th – September 9th
Get your first taste of the next-level action coming to Call of Duty®: Black Ops 6 with the Black Ops 6 Multiplayer Beta.
– Feel Omnimovement for yourself and experience the most fluid Call of Duty® movement to date that allows players to sprint, slide, and dive in any direction.
– Explore several of the brand-new core 6v6 maps and Strike maps coming at launch, and start defining your perfect strategy for each across multiple game modes.
– Try out new weapons and gadgets, in addition to a refreshed Gunsmith and attachment system, to start planning your ideal loadout.
– Gear up, hit the lobby with your team, and experience many other game-changing innovations coming to Black Ops 6 so that you’re ready to go as soon as the game officially launches on October 25th.
Earn in-game rewards for playing the Beta, which will be immediately available in the Beta once unlocked, and playable in Black Ops 6 once the full game launches.
Pre-order the Black Ops 6 Vault Edition and use the Hunters vs. Hunted Operator Pack in the Beta, including Operator Skins for Adler, Park, Brutus and Klaus, as well as the Mastercraft Collection, including five Mastercraft Weapons.
*Requires active subscription to Game Pass Ultimate or Game Pass Console.
**Actual launch date(s) and platform availability of MP Beta subject to change. See www.callofduty.com/beta for more details. Minimum Open Beta duration is 2 days. Limited time only. Internet connection required.
Activision may modify or discontinue online service in the future, which may impact the continued availability of online gameplay. Online services may be discontinued due to factors including number of players.
Additional storage space may be required for mandatory game updates.
For more information, please visit www.callofduty.com.
– Early access to the Open Beta*
— Early Access is August 30 – September 4
— Open Beta access is available for all players from September 6 – September 9
– Items for immediate use in Call of Duty®: Modern Warfare® III, Call of Duty®: Warzone and Call of Duty®: Warzone Mobile**:
— Woods Operator Pack – unlock the Classic Woods Operator Skin. Plus, get access to unlock the Zombie Woods and Numbers Woods Skins
— Reflect 115 Camo Pack – unlock the Reflect 115 Weapon Camo. Plus, get access to 9 acquisitions for Modern Warfare® Zombies
The Vault Edition includes:
– Cross Gen Bundle of Call of Duty®: Black Ops 6
— Includes Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S versions of the game
– Hunters vs. Hunted Operator Pack
— 4 Operator Skins: Adler, Park, Brutus and Klaus
– Mastercraft Collection
— 5 Mastercraft Weapons
– BlackCell (1 Season)***
— Includes: Battle Pass, 20 Tier Skips, 1,100 CP and more
– GobbleGum Pack for Zombies
— 12 GobbleGums of high rarities
Forced to go rogue. Hunted from within. This is Call of Duty®: Black Ops 6.
Developed by Treyarch and Raven, Black Ops 6 is a spy action thriller set in the early 90s, a period of transition and upheaval in global politics, characterized by the end of the Cold War and the rise of the United States as a single superpower. With a mind-bending narrative, and unbound by the rules of engagement, this is signature Black Ops.
The Black Ops 6 Campaign provides dynamic moment-to-moment gameplay that includes a variety of play spaces with blockbuster set pieces and action-packed moments, high-stakes heists, and cloak-and-dagger spy activity.
In a best-in-class Multiplayer experience, players will test their skills across 16 new maps at launch, including 12 core 6v6 maps and 4 Strike maps that can be played 2v2 or 6v6.
Black Ops 6 also marks the epic return of Round-Based Zombies, the fan-favorite mode where players will take down hordes of the undead in two brand-new maps at launch. Post-launch, players can look forward to even more exciting maps and groundbreaking experiences dropping into both Multiplayer and Zombies.
*Actual launch date(s) and platform availability of MP Beta subject to change. See www.callofduty.com/beta for more details. Minimum Open Beta duration is 2 days. Limited time only. Internet connection required.
**Call of Duty®: Modern Warfare® III or Call of Duty®: Warzone on Xbox One / Xbox Series X|S required to redeem. Sold / downloaded separately. Must be redeemed by October 25th, 2025.
***Battle Pass, BlackCell an Tier Skips will be accessible in Call of Duty®: Black Ops 6 once the Season 1 Battle Pass is made available in game. Battle Pass / BlackCell redemption applies to one Season of Black Ops 6 Battle Pass only.
Activision may modify or discontinue online service in the future, which may impact the continued availability of online gameplay. Online services may be discontinued due to factors including number of players.
Additional storage space may be required for mandatory game updates.
For more information, please visit www.callofduty.com.
Pre-order any digital edition or subscribe to select Game Pass plans* and receive:
– Early access to the Open Beta**
— Early Access is August 30 – September 4
— Open Beta access is available for all players from September 6 – September 9
– Items for immediate use in Call of Duty®: Modern Warfare® III, Call of Duty®: Warzone and Call of Duty®: Warzone Mobile***:
— Woods Operator Pack – unlock the Classic Woods Operator Skin. Plus, get access to unlock the Zombie Woods and Numbers Woods Skins.
— Reflect 115 Camo Pack – unlock the Reflect 115 Weapon Camo. Plus, get access to 9 acquisitions for Modern Warfare® Zombies.
Includes:
– Cross Gen Bundle of Call of Duty®: Black Ops 6
— Includes Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S versions of the game
Forced to go rogue. Hunted from within. This is Call of Duty®: Black Ops 6.
Developed by Treyarch and Raven, Black Ops 6 is a spy action thriller set in the early 90s, a period of transition and upheaval in global politics, characterized by the end of the Cold War and the rise of the United States as a single superpower. With a mind-bending narrative, and unbound by the rules of engagement, this is signature Black Ops.
The Black Ops 6 Campaign provides dynamic moment-to-moment gameplay that includes a variety of play spaces with blockbuster set pieces and action-packed moments, high-stakes heists, and cloak-and-dagger spy activity.
In a best-in-class Multiplayer experience, players will test their skills across 16 new maps at launch, including 12 core 6v6 maps and 4 Strike maps that can be played 2v2 or 6v6.
Black Ops 6 also marks the epic return of Round-Based Zombies, the fan-favorite mode where players will take down hordes of the undead in two brand-new maps at launch. Post-launch, players can look forward to even more exciting maps and groundbreaking experiences dropping into both Multiplayer and Zombies.
*Requires active subscription to Game Pass Ultimate or Game Pass Console. Subscribers must login to Call of Duty®: Modern Warfare® III or Call of Duty®: Warzone on Xbox One / Xbox Series X|S by October 25th, 2024 to redeem the Woods Operator Pack and Reflect 115 Camo Pack.
**Actual launch date(s) and platform availability of MP Beta subject to change. See www.callofduty.com/beta for more details. Minimum Open Beta duration is 2 days. Limited time only. Internet connection required.
***Call of Duty®: Modern Warfare® III or Call of Duty®: Warzone on Xbox One / Xbox Series X|S required to redeem. Sold / downloaded separately. Must be redeemed by October 25, 2025.
Activision may modify or discontinue online service in the future, which may impact the continued availability of online gameplay. Online services may be discontinued due to factors including number of players.
Additional storage space may be required for mandatory game updates.
For more information, please visit www.callofduty.com.
Upgrade to the Vault Edition and receive the following bonus content*:
– Hunters vs. Hunted Operator Pack
— 4 Operator Skins: Adler, Park, Brutus and Klaus
– Mastercraft Collection
— 5 Mastercraft Weapons
– BlackCell (1 Season)**
— Includes: Battle Pass, 20 Tier Skips, 1,100 CP and more
– GobbleGum Pack for Zombies
— 12 GobbleGums of high rarities
*Requires existing ownership of the digital version of the Call of Duty®: Black Ops 6 – Cross-Gen Bundle on Xbox One / Xbox Series X|S (sold separately), or active subscription to select Game Pass plans (Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Console).
**Battle Pass, BlackCell and Tier Skips will be accessible in Call of Duty®: Black Ops 6 once the Season 1 Battle Pass is made available in game. Battle Pass / BlackCell redemption applies to one Season of Black Ops 6 Battle Pass only.
For more information, please visit www.callofduty.com.
Hi there, PlayStation community! We’re Monster Couch, and we make digital board game adaptations. Our digital version of Wingspan—one of the most acclaimed tabletop games of recent years—will be available on PS5 and PS4 on October 11.
We’re excited to tell you about it – let’s start with the basics.
Wingspan, at its heart, is a strategy card game in which every card is a bird you place into one of the three habitats of your portfolio – wetlands, grasslands and forest. Sounds easy, right? It is! But the devil’s in the details, as each habitat has its specific purpose, and every card you place has its own cost and unique abilities you can make use of. By thinking strategically and smartly combining the birds’ abilities, you’ll create satisfying combinations, chains, and engines that will net you victory points, and by scoring more than your opponents, you’ll win the game.
At the same time, the game offers a cozy, relaxing escape. You’ll be placing your birds on idyllic preserve backdrops, listening to their chirps and the game’s serene soundtrack. It’s a change of pace compared to the breakneck tempo of some of the other games on the market. That’s because we wanted Wingspan to be something you can play to unwind, and the visuals and music were created with this in mind.
Let’s talk about game modes for a second. Whether you’re a solo player and want to test your skills against AI opponents or the Automa (which is a specifically designed artificial opponent governed by a deck of cards, which works a bit differently to AI players), or play multiplayer with your friends or family locally, you can do that in Wingspan. You can also hop online to join match-made games with birders from all over the world. There are even weekly challenges for those who really want to show off their competitive spirit. There’s something here for every type of player!
What sets Wingspan apart from similar titles is that it’s not just a bunch of mechanics with a slapped-on theme. It’s a charming little preserve full of beautiful birds you create each game you play, in which the birds’ abilities correspond to their real-life counterparts. For example, your hawks will hunt, your pelicans will fish, and your geese will form a flock. You’ll be able to get to know interesting tidbits about your preserve’s inhabitants from the cards, too.
What’s cool is that when Wingspan launches on October 11, it’s not just the base game that will be available. We’re bringing the entire flock of expansions and decorative content to the PlayStation consoles! These include two big expansions released up to this point – European and Oceania – with all kinds of new birds from the respective continents and new gameplay elements. In addition to that, two decorative packs are coming, with new backgrounds and avatars you can use to customize your in-game profile.
Last, but not least – Wingspan will also launch physically simultaneously, thanks to the fantastic team over at Merge Games. The Special Edition box will include the following:
The base game
European and Oceania expansions
Seasonal Decorative Pack
If you’re one of the gamers who would like to show off your shelf collection, the Special Edition is for you.
Hopefully, the above gives you an idea of Wingspan. In this post, we reflected on the game’s core gameplay aspects and relaxing nature (pun intended). We can’t wait to see you in the game on October 11.
Warner Bros. Games has announced the closure of mobile game Harry Potter: Magic Awakened just over a year after its global launch.
Harry Potter: Magic Awakened, a collectible card role-playing game developed by Zen Studio, launched in the west in June 2023 courtesy of Warner Bros. Games’ Portkey Games publishing label. In the game you play as a new student at Hogwarts and collect cards you deploy as spells in duels.
Harry Potter: Magic Awakened was removed from the iOS App Store and Google Play Store on August 26, with servers running until October 29, 2024. It is now no no longer possible to make in-game purchases.
“We have shared the magical journey of Harry Potter: Magic Awakened with millions of fans around the globe,” Warner Bros. said in a statement published to its support website.
“The time has come for Harry Potter: Magic Awakened to officially close its servers in the Americas, Europe and Oceania territories on October 29, 2024. The game will continue to be available for players in Asia, including Chinese Mainland, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan, as well as other select Asia and MENA territories.
“We’d like to thank those in the Americas, Europe and Oceania for playing, and are incredibly proud and honored that so many fans all around the world have enjoyed Harry Potter: Magic Awakened with such enthusiasm and passion.”
The time has come for Harry Potter: Magic Awakened to officially close its servers.
Already players have expressed their disappointment in the news, asked for refunds, and called on Warner Bros. to allow NetEase to publish the game in the west or enable the transfer of servers. Warner Bros. ruled out server transfers and refunds in an FAQ, and declined to comment when contacted by IGN on the possibility of NetEase taking on the game in the west.
It’s worth noting that the closure of Harry Potter: Magic Awakened comes ahead of the launch of Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions, a new game based on the fictional sport. That’s out on September 3 across PC and console.
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.
Ubisoft has released a hotfix for the PC version of open world space game Star Wars Outlaws, which brings it to version 1.1.1. and aims to improve performance.
The game’s offiical X/Twitter account posted to say version 1.1.1. would arrive for PC players only and look to address “known issues” including VRAM improvements and overall stability improvements.
“Thank you for continuing to share your feedback to us – we hear you and we’re working hard to make sure the Outer Rim is the best it can be for you to explore,” Ubisoft said.
Falling more in line with the Star Wars Jedi series compared to the likes of Star Wars Battlefront or Star Wars Squadrons, Star Wars Outlaws is a solely single-player experience that puts players in the shoes of wannabe scoundrel Kay Vess as she looks to make her mark on the galaxy far, far away.
In our 7/10 review of the game, IGN said: “Star Wars Outlaws is a fun intergalactic heist adventure with great exploration, but it’s hindered by simple stealth, repetitive combat, and a few too many bugs at launch.”
Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelance reporter. He’ll talk about The Witcher all day.
and Call of Duty®: Warzone
