Another Dungeons & Dragons Video Game in Production at Hasbro

Hasbro has announced that, following the success of Baldur’s Gate 3, yet another Dungeons & Dragons game is in production.

CEO Chris Cocks told Bloomberg that a fifth D&D game is in development but didn’t share what it’s about, its genre, or the studio making it. It does appear to be in active production, however, as Cocks noted in the same interview that its G.I. Joe game is currently in pre-production.

While D&D has long spawned video game adaptations, the mainstream success captured by Larian Studios’ Baldur’s Gate 3 has seemingly set Hasbro and direct owner Wizards of the Coast into overdrive.

Alongside this mysterious game mentioned by Cocks, Dungeons & Dragons: Dark Alliance developer Invoke Studios is also working on a triple-A game based on the beloved role-playing game universe, plus there’s a D&D survival RPG life simulator from the Disney Dreamlight Valley developer.

Virtual reality fans can also look forward to a D&D game too, as Resolution Games, the developer behind tabletop RPG simulator Demeo, is working on a game set in Faerûn too. This isn’t confirmed to be a recreation of the core D&D experience in a virtual setting but almost certainly is. And there’s a co-op D&D game codenamed Project Baxter in the works at Payday developer Starbreeze.

Baldur’s Gate 3 arrived in July 2023 and became the surprise hit of the year, with players obsessing over its seemingly infinite number of playstyles and story outcomes. It was incredibly successful commercially, pulling in $90 million for Hasbro, and is, remarkably, more popular this year than last.

In our 10/10 review, IGN said: “With crunchy, tactical RPG combat, a memorable story with complex characters, highly polished cinematic presentation, and a world that always rewards exploration and creativity, Baldur’s Gate 3 is the new high-water mark for CRPGs.”

Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelance reporter. He’ll talk about The Witcher all day.

This sidescroller combines cat photography with the joy (misery) of social media clout-farming

One of my proudest pictures of a 2018 trip to Croatia wasn’t of me and my pal. No, it wasn’t of the beautiful scenery or the glistening sea either. It was of many cats lying in the sun together outside a little church. I hadn’t seen that volume of cats in my life, nor that volume together in one spot, all hanging out. Now, you too can live this magic: there’s a demo of this upcoming sidescroller called Neko Odyssey on Steam, and it consists of you taking photos of cats for internet clout. It’s nice!

Read more

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 is out now and buggy as hell but the developers are already planning fixes

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Shadow Of Chornobyl is out today. As you may have read, it’s on the buggy side. Buggier than a bucketful of locusts. Buggier than Kafka’s Metamorphosis. In our S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Shadow Of Chornobyl review, wasteland wanderer James called it “easily the most borked FPS I’ve played in years”, detailing such issues as HUD elements disappearing, stuttery performance, flashing textures and character mouths not working properly.

Read more

Valve Reportedly Making Both a Steam Controller 2 and a New VR Controller

Valve is reportedly working on a sequel to its original Steam Controller, according to an insider report.

Per YouTuber Brad Lynch, a Steam Controller 2 codenamed “Ibex” is in the works, and en route to mass production.

We don’t have too many details on controller specifics, but Lynch did say in replies on X/Twitter that it will look like a standard gamepad. The biggest change is reportedly the shape and size of the trackpads “to get into that gamepad-y form.” It will also allegedly have symmetrical sticks.

Additionally, Lynch said Valve seems to be working on a new VR controller also for mass production, codenamed “Roy.” Roy is apparently referenced in Valve’s SteamVR code, and would supposedly be a wand-shaped companion to the rumored wireless “Deckard” headset that’s also reportedly in the works.

Roy would reportedly double as a Steam Controller gamepad when not being used with VR, including a D-pad, shoulder buttons, and a set of ABXY buttons for more traditional gameplay in addition to its motion and VR functionality.

While it’s unclear when either of these products will be in our hands, Lynch alluded in one post that it’s unlikely Deckard specifically is a holiday 2024 release. The headset has allegedly been in the works for some time and was first reported on in 2021. Though Valve already released one VR headset in 2019, the Index, it requires multiple base station sensors and connection to a PC. Deckard allegedly would be standalone, more akin to a Meta Quest headset, making it a more accessible (and theoretically more affordable) option.

As for the Steam Controller 2, while we’re still short on details, fans are hopeful its control scheme and customizability will be reminiscent of the Steam Deck handheld, which got a fancier OLED model just last year. IGN has reached out to Valve for comment.

Rebekah Valentine is a senior reporter for IGN. You can find her posting on BlueSky @duckvalentine.bsky.social. Got a story tip? Send it to rvalentine@ign.com.

Guide: 133 Games You Should Pick Up In Nintendo’s ‘Cyber Deals’ Switch eShop Sale (North America)

Every game we scored 9/10 or higher.

The Black Friday sales are well and truly upon us. The European eShop got treated to a wave of tasty discounts earlier this week and now it’s North America’s turn. The ‘Cyber Deals‘ eShop sale is now live, with a boatload of titles getting a price cut until 2nd December at 11:59pm PT.

This sale is rammed with so many quality discounts that it can be hard to find the cream of the crop. To help you nab a gem, we’ve rounded up every game in the Nintendo’s North American Cyber Deals eShop sale that we awarded 9/10 or higher — and be warned, it’s a long list.

Read the full article on nintendolife.com

In The Zone – How S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl’s Brilliantly Unforgiving Setting Presents Horror As Normality

In The Zone – How S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl’s Brilliantly Unforgiving Setting Presents Horror As Normality

As I cowered in the rafters of an abandoned farmhouse, my mind reckons with the type of game that S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl is going to be. My torch is switched off, both my pistol and my stomach are empty. Beneath me, a gunfight plays out in the darkness, and gruff, Ukrainian voices echo over the wind. I tuck into a tin of suspicious looking meat and wait it out. Some moments pass, and silence falls across the dark field. I deem it safe enough to apprehensively venture out and pick at the bodies for scraps, torch still off. In that moment, I am unceremoniously mauled to pieces by mutant dogs. 

Let me preface that I am not a particular fan of hard nor scary games, so meeting this fate less than 30 minutes into S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 really set a scorned tone that I believed would be unshakeable. And how wrong I was.

“So that is how it’s going to be,” I whisper out loud to myself. 

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 is a tough-as-boots, first-person survival affair that follows the premise of predecessors in the Stalker series. As new protagonist Skif, the game begins with you entering an alternate recreation of the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone, or “The Zone”, home to  a myriad of strange and horrifying phenomena. Skif, a Stalker that has ventured into The Zone in pursuit of artifacts, valuable items that can aid in survival or sold for a hefty price. Unfortunately, a lot of other unsavoury characters are also on the hunt for artifacts, so Skif’s journey quickly takes a turn inside The Zone.

Exploring The Zone

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 is an open world affair, in which you’re expected to fend for yourself in brutal and unpredictable situations, where basically any living thing you come across can and will hurt you. For those unfamiliar with the series, it is paramount to stay prepared – as with any survival game, you’ll need to constantly be on the hunt for weapon ammo, medical supplies and food. Not to mention, this entire habitat is one giant, quarantined hazard, brimming with monsters, environmental anomalies and of course, radiation. 

However, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 does not present its horrors like a horror game. Within the boundaries of The Zone, the creatures you’ll encounter, the hostile personalities, and the desperation you’ll often face are all an inalienable normality – this just how it is. Life in this area isn’t some nightmare that inhabitants have just woken up in, it is, for better or worse, a choice that many Stalkers make, and that is a particularly unique, complex and compelling setting to unravel.

Visually, The Zone feels like a true labour of love to developer GSC’s home, and it looks wonderful. Brash European architecture looms authoritatively over eerily beautiful fields and forests, decimated by tragedy but still holding firm. The surprisingly large map rivals adjacent open-world epics, and, in spite of the nuclear nightmares that lurk within, remains consistently inviting to explore.

However, I found the duality of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 really kicks in between its day and night cycles, with the latter creating the most permeating sense of dread I’ve experienced in game of this ilk for a long time. By daylight, The Zone is quite welcoming, threats are highly visible, and venturing out at dawn with a bag full of supplies is a relatively serene, even exciting experience.

But tension rises as soon as the sky starts to darken – everything I’m doing in that moment is uprooted as I consider what is coming, and how prepared I am for it. The game wastes no time introducing you to the unforgiving perils of the night during the prologue, and it is truly an exhilarating experience to face such consequences, especially earlier in the game when supplies and funds are scarce. Later on, darkness will become your ally if you’re equipped to handle it (and the powerful mutants hiding within it) but during those first few hours, it’s an experience like nothing else.

Friends and Foes

Throughout The Zone, you’ll encounter new characters with varying degrees of importance to your story, and in true roleplaying fashion, you can often decide that yourself. In one mission, I’m tasked with collecting a debt from someone, only to find him holed up in a house by bandits. Like me, they’re here to collect a debt. I try appealing to the common ground, but they’re not very nice about it, and so I dispose of them. In many moments like this, I’m given the option to proceed diplomatically, snarkily, or just open fire without cause and take the spoils by force. The latter can of course, come with consequences, but the freedom to decide upon your own levels of morality and violence make for an excellent roleplaying experience in this world.

One additional aspect that I didn’t expect was the dry humour that characters often exhibit in dialogues, which is heightened substantially by the vocal performances given in GSC’s native Ukrainian. Even in safe areas such as settlements or bars, character interactions often carry a perpetual air of tension or rigidity, as though conflict could kick off at any moment, that dissipates into banter as you, and they, conclude that there is no immediate threat. This harks back to my earlier point about how “normal” this landscape feels to the characters that inhabit it, and the horrors they’ll take in their stride, often humorously, on a daily basis.

Early on the game, for example I’m sent to retrieve an artifact from a perilous cave spewing toxic gas and mulch into the air. It also happens to be housing some sort of mutant monster that catches me by surprise and takes most of my supplies to deal with. When I return to the quest giver and ask “hey, what gives?”, he calmly takes a moment to light up a cigarette, enjoys a drag, and nonchalantly say “well, you wouldn’t have gone if I’d told you.” It’s interactions like this that make NPCs, even for a moment, an entirely believable part of this world, and I’d recommend playing through the game in Ukrainian for that extra level of immersion to S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2’s already impressive setting.

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2’s greatest strength lies in its ability to craft a haunting survival experience that doesn’t have to dip into the occult unnecessarily. While the phenomena lurking inside The Zone leans into the science fiction realm, the horrors and anomalies remain entirely believable within the bounds of the alternate Chornobyl that GSC World has built. 

It is however, a thoroughly unforgiving world that will challenge, thwart and reward you in equal measure, and, as I reckoned with what type of game S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 was going to be after being decimated by radioactive dogs, I could not have predicted that the conclusion would be “my type of game.” Who knows, it might be yours too.

Fortunately, you can find out – S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl launches today on Xbox Series X|S and PC, and you can play it day one with Xbox Game Pass. 

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl – Xbox Edition

GSC Game World

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl is the unforgiving FPS survival adventure in a dark science-fiction open world. Scavenge for gear and resources, hunt for wonders, make hard decisions to survive and pave the path through the Chornobyl Anomalous Zone.

The post In The Zone – How S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl’s Brilliantly Unforgiving Setting Presents Horror As Normality appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Gran Turismo 7 Update 1.54 brings five new cars, a Café Menu, World Circuit Events, and a GT Sophy AI update

Gran Turismo players! Update 1.54 brings an rush of exciting cars, events, and challenges, including an update to the Gran Turismo Sophy AI agent for the classic Trial Mountain Circuit and Tokyo Expressway – East Clockwise.  Be sure to not miss the Gran Turismo World Series Celebration Race where you can experience the same races featured in this year’s grand final!

Update 1.54* for Gran Turismo 7 will be available as of Wednesday, November 20 at 10:00pm PT / +1 Day, 6:00am GMT / +1 Day, 3:00pm JST.


Gran Turismo 7 Update 1.54 brings five new cars, a Café Menu, World Circuit Events, and a GT Sophy AI update

Five new cars added this month

Ford Escort RS Cosworth ’92

(Can be purchased from Used Cars)

A WRC homologation special with a unique double-decker wing design.

Ford bagan their 1990s World Rally Championship (WRC) campaign powered by the Sierra RS Cosworth 4×4. Then in 1992 came the Escort RS Cosworth, a homologation special developed for even higher performance. The original Escort was a masterpiece, widely being used in rally races in the late 60s going into the 70s. Years later, Ford Europe took the compact body of the 5th generation Escort, installed the highly tuned four-wheel drive powertrain from the Sierra, and adorned the rear of the vehicle with a large dual-level wing to complete the fearsome makeover. At the heart of the beast lies a longitudinally mounted 2L turbocharged twin-cam engine built by Cosworth, as per the car’s name. The bore-stroke ratio has been overhauled, resulting in a total 1,993 cc displacement, and producing 223.9 BHP/30.4 kgfm on the stock tune. 

On the four-wheel drive system, the central differential uses a combination of viscous coupling and planetary gears for maximum reliability. The Escort RS Cosworth began production in 1992, and gained homologation status the next year when it would start full-scale competition in the WRC’s Group A category. The “Cossie”, as fans called it, took a 1-2 finish in the round 3 Portugal Rally and went on to achieve two consecutive victories in rounds 5 (Tour de Corse) and round 6 (Acropolis) before repeating the achievement in rounds 11 and 12 (San Remo and Spain) reinstating Ford’s reputation as a strong contender on the rally circuit.

Mercedes-Benz W 196 R ’55

(Can be purchased from Legend Cars)

A legendary F1 car that made motorsports history.

The W 196 was produced by Mercedes-Benz after their return to motorsports in 1951, developed under the 2.5L engine regulations that Formula 1 had introduced in 1954. It was developed in tandem with a model for sports car racing that shared the same basic components. The W 196 entered the F1 competition, while the W 196 S competed in sportscar races with both cars finding success in their own fields. The chassis was based on a tubular steel space frame, and first appeared in its debut race at the 1954 French Grand Prix with a streamlined body covering the front and rear wheels with an aerodynamic shell. 

However, after the subsequent British Grand Prix it became apparent that this body style obstructed the driver’s view and required too much maintenance, so for the German Grand Prix onwards, the car primarily ran with the open-wheel style body, saving the streamline design for high-speed circuits only. These were not the only two body types though, the chassis was configured with thre different wheelbase lengths, two types of brakes, and two engine positions for a total of seven variations. The engine used was an inline-8 design constructed similarly to two four-cylinder banks joined longitudinally. At its peak, it produced 285 BHP from the 2,496 cc displacement and propelled the car to a top speed of 180.2 mph. The W 196 went on to dominate the 1954 and 1955 F1 World Championships, winning two consecutive drivers champion titles for Juan Manuel Fangio.

Porsche 911 Turbo S (992) ’20

(Can be purchased from Brand Central)

The top performance model of the eighth generation 911.

The icon of the Porsche line-up for over 60 years, the 911 entered its eighth generation in 2018 under the ‘992’ codename. On its exterior, the 992 is a refinement of the motifs introduced by its predecessor the 991. The body size has increased slightly, but extensive efforts were made to keep weight down by increased usage of aluminum. Another notable change is the narrow body base model from previous generations was scrapped. A point of note on the car’s construction is the new MMB modular development platform. This flexible platform comprises a front axle, floor and rear axles with the ability to adapt to a rear-engine or midship design by adjusting the position of the rear axle. On the powertrain, a move was made towards downsizing, with the base model featuring a 3L turbocharged flat-6 engine. 

The power output is tuned according to the model, with Carrera models producing 379.7 BHP while Carrera S models produce 443.8 BHP. The standard transmission is an eight-speed PDK unit, with a seven-speed manual available on the Carrera 4 and Carrera 4S models. In April 2020, the Turbo S model was added to the 992 family as the top-level performance model. Featuring a slightly shorter stroke than previous Turbo S models, this 3,745 cc flat-6 twin-turbo powers its four wheels with a colossal 641 BHP/800 Nm (81.6 kgfm).

Porsche Mission X ’23

Can be purchased from Brand Central

A hypercar concept to celebrate the 75th anniversary of Porsche.

June 1948, the first ever car to bear the Porsche name, the 356 ‘No. 1’ Roadster is approved, setting in motion the rise of one of the greatest sports car brands in history. 75 years later on the same date in 2023, the company unveiled a new concept, an interpretation of a possible future of sports car technology that takes inspiration from Porsche’s numerous classic car legends. This concept is known as the Mission X. 

The two-seater fully electric concept of a hypercar is actually relatively compact, at only 4,500 mm long and 2,000 mm wide. Measuring just under 1,200 mm tall, the low-slung design features an almost sculptural form with bold lines, which goes to show that a hypercar doesn’t necessarily need to look hyper-aggressive. Within each area of the exterior lives the motifs of historic racing cars. The headlights are a reinterpretation of the quad lights that adorned cars like the 906 and 908, while the doors use the same upward opening motion as the legendary 917 endurance car. Moving to the rear, an illuminated clear ‘Porsche’ logo sits in the centre of the light units which extend out from the side of the body. Looking carefully, the Porsche emblems on the bonnet and steering wheel feature an updated, more modern interpretation of the classic logo. The interior expresses a strong affinity with motorsports. The steering wheel uses an open yoke style design, fitted with paddle shifters and several mode switches. The passenger seat can be fitted with a stopwatch module created by Porsche Design, featuring both analog and digital timers. Additionally, the driver can press the record button on the multi-purpose controller at any time to begin recording video footage from the numerous cameras installed across the car. 

The Mission X has the potential to be crowned the fastest road-legal car on the Nürburgring Nordschleife, a theory that can be put to the test in Gran Turismo 7. It has a power-to-weight ratio of over one PS per kilogram and canis able to create considerably more downforce than even the current 911 GT3 RS. The concept also features radical charging capabilities. With a 900 V system architecture, charging speeds are greatly improved, allowing it to hypothetically charge around twice as fast as Porsche’s current front-runner EV, the Taycan Turbo S.

Suzuki Jimny Sierra JC ’18

Can be purchased from Brand Central

A chunkier Jimny with an eye on global success.

While the Suzuki Jimny’s diminutive stature allows it to fit into Japan’s kei car regulations, under its skin is a tenaciously rugged off-road vehicle with a true ladder-frame construction. The Jimny Sierra is a model for the global market that takes that off-road ability and frees it from the constraints of kei regulations. Introduced in 2018, the JB74 chassis is the third generation since the model’s initial debut in 1994. 

Compared to the previous JB43 chassis, the new model is 50 mm shorter and 45 mm wider. This is accentuated further on the body design which takes on a bolder, more square aesthetic. The car is fitted with the 1,460 cc inline-4 DOHC K15B engine, producing 100.6 BHP/13.3 kgfm. At a glance, these figures may not seem like much, but the sustained low-end torque makes it absolutely perfect for off-road crawling. The four-wheel drive system is a part-time setup with a mechanical transfer case. Employing rigid axles on both the front and rear, the excellent suspension makes the car feel just at home when crawling over rocks or trudging through mud as it does coasting along paved roads.

Café / Extra Menus

The following Menu has been added to the Extra Menus section:

  • Extra Menu No. 42: Ferrari Speciale (Collector Level 48 and above)

GT Auto

New Rotiform wheel brand added.

World Circuits (event)

The following new events have been added to World Circuits:

  • Jimny Cup – Grand Valley South
  • Porsche Cup – WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca
  • Race of Turbo Sportscars – Mount Panorama Circuit

Scapes

Colorado has been added as a featured Curation in Scapes

Gran Turismo World Series Celebration Race

(Players must be at Collector Level 6 or above)

The Gran Turismo World Series 2024 World Finals ‒ Amsterdam takes place on December 7-8 and will be contested by the top drivers from around the world to determine this year’s champions. To celebrate the event, we’re releasing a special Gran Turismo World Series Celebration Race on November 21, where players can experience the same races featured in this year’s Grand Final at the World Finals. 

Two events will be available: the Manufacturers Cup, a competition where automobile manufacturers face off against each other, and the Nations Cup, where drivers represent their home countries or territories. Players earn up to 500,000 Cr. for each event, with a total of 1,000,000 Cr. available overall. Access the event from the event panel at the top right of the World Map screen during the event period.

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.

Trial Mountain Circuit

Tokyo Expressway – East Clockwise

*Internet connection and Gran Turismo 7 game required for update.

PlayStation Officially Announces Black Friday PS5 Deals for 2024

Sony has officially announced its lineup of PlayStation Black Friday deals, featuring discounts on PS5 hardware, PlayStation VR2, games, and accessories—including the Fortnite Cobalt Star Bundle—at participating retailers and PS Direct.

While the deals officially begin on November 22, here’s everything confirmed so far, along with details on a potential PS5 console bundle discount, new offers on games like Star Wars Outlaws (down to $49.99), and more.

PS5 Black Friday Deals – Starting Nov. 24

Starting November 22, and ending on December 2 (Cyber Monday) retailers like Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart will offer discounts on PS5 hardware, PlayStation VR2, games, and accessories, including the Fortnite Cobalt Star Bundle, which will launch alongside the new Black Friday promotions.

A recently deleted PS5 ad hinted that the console bundle might be priced as low as $379.99, but this has not been officially confirmed by Sony following the ad’s removal from YouTube. There is also currently no word on whether the PS5 Pro will also see a discount or a bundle deal.

DualSense controllers will be discounted by up to 25%, which could bring their price down to at least $56.25 following the recent price increase ($74.99). Pricing may vary by retailer, so stay tuned for more details when the deals go live on Friday.

Moreover, PlayStation VR 2 will be up to 40% off, a collosal discount, potentially bringing it down to ~$330-$360 depending on whether it’s the Horizon Call of the Mountain bundle or just the standard VR headset.

Every PS5 Black Friday Deal Confirmed So Far

PlayStation Plus Black Friday Deal

PlayStation Plus memberships are getting a big Black Friday discount. New members can save 30% on a 12-month subscription, while current PlayStation Plus Essential members can upgrade and save 25% on PlayStation Plus Extra or 30% on Premium/Deluxe.

Sony has also recently confirmed its PlayStation Plus Game Catalog lineup for November 2024, and it includes the return of Rockstar’s GTA 5 in what’s an impressive month for subscribers. Heavy hitters Dying Light 2: Stay Human and Like a Dragon: Ishin also joined the subscription service from November 19 onwards.

Premium/Deluxe members also gain access to the Sony Pictures Catalog, featuring up to 100 movies available to stream on demand. During the Black Friday promotion, additional discounts on recent movie releases will also be available to all PS5 and PS4 players.

PS5 Black Friday Deals Already Live

Most PS5 deals will go live from November 22, but there are already a some sneaky select deals that you might want to consider before the official deals kick in. For starters, Star Wars Outlaws is already on sale for Black Friday, $20 off its original list price, and down to just $49.99 for at least the next few weeks.

The deal also features Amazon’s exclusive limited edition content pack, which includes Rogue Infiltrator cosmetics for Kay and Nix. It’s likely the best deal we’re getting on the game before Christmas, so snap it up if you’ve been waiting for a sale, or want to gift it to someone over the holidays.

More Early Black Friday PS5 Deals

When Is Black Friday 2024?

We hope you’ve prepared your wallets, because it’s Black Friday season. During the biggest sales event of the year, keep an eye out for price drops on the games you’ve been waiting to add to your library. The same can be said for TVs, gaming PCs, Apple products, and more. Whatever you’re in the market for, right now is probably one of the best times to make your biggest purchases.

The actual date of Black Friday in 2024 falls on November 29 this year, but the deals season begins a lot sooner than that. In other Black Friday news, Nintendo has also recently announced its sale plans for Black Friday, with discounts on Tears of the Kingdom, Joy-Con controllers, and more confirmed to be on sale in the coming days. Xbox has also confirmed its deal lineup, with plenty of offers already live.

Robert Anderson is a deals expert and Commerce Editor for IGN. You can follow him @robertliam21 on Twitter.

Come steal the bodies of your robot foes in RAM: Random Access Mayhem, out now in early access

Did last week’s paranormal body-swapper Slitterhead leave you cold? Do you consider its brain-jacking of rando cityfolk for monster-hunting purposes a sad waste of potential? Perhaps you’ll prefer RAM: Random Access Mayhem, in which you’re a fugitive AI hopping between warlike robot bodies in top-down view.

Yes, the subtitle involves both a colon and a dad joke, but the demo is entertaining – Nuclear Dawn meets Ctrl Alt Ego, in short. The one major criticism I have after 20 minutes or so is that the flat pixelart perspective makes walls and walkable surfaces look interchangeable, and this feels more like a question of acclimatisation than a real complaint.

Read more

Star Wars Outlaws Has Dropped to Just $50 for Black Friday

If you chose patience with Star Wars Outlaws, then here is your reward. The new Star Wars game has been discounted in the Black Friday sales, now down to $49.99 on PS5 and Xbox. That’s $20 off the original list price and potentially a much better offering for anyone unsure of the game when it launched back in late August.

The deal also features Amazon’s exclusive limited edition content pack, which includes Rogue Infiltrator cosmetics for Kay and Nix. It’s likely the best deal we’re getting on the game before Christmas, so snap it up if you’ve been waiting for a sale, or want to gift it to someone over the holidays.

This could be a good time to jump on the game since it’s not been long since Ubisoft and Massive Entertainment deployed a massive update bringing a host of performance and gameplay enhancements, a range of visual improvements, and bug fixes to the open-world sci-fi game on console and PC.

The publisher laid out everything new in the patch notes on its website, with Ubisoft emphasizing that these updates were shaped by player feedback, reaffirming its commitment to closely listening as post-launch support for Star Wars Outlaws continues.

What We Said In Our Review

IGN reviewer Tristan Ogilvie said is his review: “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.

“A clever syndicate system brings real weight to almost every task you choose to undertake, some of which have creative quest designs that can often conjure up some genuinely stunning blindsides. Having a pal like Nix at your side the entire time not only adds an extra dimension to Kay’s fairly generic smuggler character, but also gives her an enhanced set of useful abilities. But even he can’t quite make its stealth and combat feel any less rigid and repetitive, and the odds of avoiding the many glaring technical issues present at launch are 3,720 to one. But you probably didn’t want me to tell you the odds.”

When Is Black Friday 2024?

The actual date of Black Friday in 2024 falls on November 29 this year, but the deals have already kicked off. Leading up to the big event, retailers have begun to open deals online. Each day leading up to the event will slowly roll out more deals, which ultimately leads to massive discounts on Black Friday. Retailers will not reveal their biggest Black Friday deals until the big day, but most general deals will be available well in advance, such as this new discount on Star Wars Outlaws.

Robert Anderson is a deals expert and Commerce Editor for IGN. You can follow him @robertliam21 on Twitter.