Should You Buy Helldivers 2 Right Now? Arrowhead CEO Says It’s Worth Waiting Until the Servers Problems Are Fixed

As Helldivers 2 continues its struggle to cope with the influx of players, the boss of its developer has cautioned against buying the game right now.

Yesterday, February 19, Helldivers 2 developer Arrowhead Game Studios said it would release updates on PlayStation 5 and PC this week that aim to tackle the “most serious problems” the game is currently facing, including login, matchmaking, and server load. The first of these fixes arrives today, February 20, but Arrowhead warned players “no single update will solve all the issues.”

Helldivers 2’s explosive launch has seen an astonishing peak concurrent player count of 411,359 on Steam. That’s high enough to pass the all-time Steam concurrent peaks of Rockstar’s Grand Theft Auto 5, Bethesda’s Starfield, and Bungie’s Destiny 2. But the influx of players has caused significant server issues, with a dreaded black screen affecting PC players specifically, and “servers at capacity” message plaguing the game across both PC and PS5.

There’s evidence to suggest players are losing patience with the game, too. On Steam, Helldivers 2 now has a ‘mixed’ user review rating after an initial positive reception. Pretty much all the negative reviews revolve around the server issues.

Now, Arrowhead CEO Johan Pilestedt has responded to one user on Twitter / X who said they wanted to buy Helldivers 2 but can’t afford it right now, to recommend they hold off until these server problems are sorted out.

“If you have no cash, get it later,” Pilestedt said. “While we made a really fun game it’s worth waiting until the servers can support the capacity.

“I mean, as a CEO I of course want the game to be as profitable as possible, but if you spent yr last $ and got stuck in server queues I’d be 💔”

Pilestedt’s comment appears to have gone down well with the Helldivers community, with redditor LittleBlueCubes saying “honesty is the best policy”.

This week, IGN reported on how the Helldivers 2 community had called for Arrowhead to add an away from keyboard (AFK) auto kick feature to the game after some players admitted leaving it on all day and theoretically at least blocking others from getting in. Pilestedt has suggested Arrowhead is working on a fix.

In our Helldivers 2 review, we said its “combat feels fantastic, its missions stay fresh and interesting, and its smart progression system doesn’t nickel and dime you.”

For more, check out how Helldivers 2 has sparked renewed interest in Starship Troopers, and if you’re playing, our comprehensive Helldivers 2 guide.

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.

This 4TB PS5 SSD with Heatsink Is Only $173.66

SSD prices are trending upwards for 2024, which makes this deal even more amazing. Right now Amazon (or more specifically, Amazon Japan) is offering this massive Verbatim 4TB PCIe Gen4 x4 M.2 solid state drive (SSD) for only $178.14. Even better though, it even includes a slim PS5-compatible heatsink. This would have been an outstanding deal even during Black Friday.

Verbatim 4TB SSD (PS5-Compatible) with Heatsink $173.66

The Verbatim Vi7000 meets all the requirements for your PS5 SSD upgrade. It supports transfer speeds of up to 7,400MB/s read and 6,500MB/s write which is well above the 5,500MB/s minimum threshold. It also includes a robust looking aluminum heatsink that fits right into the slim PS5 drive bay.

The PS5 is an outstanding gaming console, but the 1TB SSD is a real bottleneck. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, for example, can exceed 200GB alone. NBA 2K23 weighs in at 150GB and even older games like God of War: Ragnarok and Horizon Forbidden West require 90GB of space. Future games like Grand Theft Auto VI will undoubtedly demand even more space.

Nintendo Direct: Partner Showcase Announced for This Week With 25 Minutes of Games Coming to Switch

Nintendo has announced its first Nintendo Direct: Partner Showcase of 2024, and it is set to take place on February 21, 2024, at 6am PT/9am ET and feature “around 25 mins of info focused on #NintendoSwitch games coming in the first half of 2024 from our publishing and development partners.”

No further information was given on what this Nintendo Direct: Partner Showcase will contain, but we won’t have too wait too long to find out what secrets it may hold as Nintendo will drop the Direct on-demand via YouTube in just a couple of days.

The most recent Nintendo Direct took place in September 2023. One of the most significant announcements from the event was that Nintendo revealed a remake of Mario vs. Donkey Kong and a remaster of Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door. The last Direct also revealed release windows/dates for Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD and Princess Peach: Showtime!

Nintendo’s February 2024 Direct presentation comes after both Xbox and PlayStation held its own showcases recently. Both provided sneak peeks and updates to games slated to release on its platforms in the coming year.

Many Nintendo fans are surely waiting for any news on the yet-to-be-announced-and-named Nintendo Switch 2, but reports have recently said it has been delayed into the “early months of 2025.”

Nintendo has revealed, however, that the Switch has passed 139.36 million units sold and that its software sales continue to be led by Mario Kart 8 Deluxe’s astonishing 60.58 million units stold.

For more, check out the best Switch deals right now and our picks for the best Switch games of all-time.

Have a tip for us? Want to discuss a possible story? Please send an email to newstips@ign.com.

Adam Bankhurst is a news writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @AdamBankhurst and on Twitch.

Helldivers 2 Devs to Begin Rolling Out Updates to Fix the ‘Most Serious Issues’ on PS5 and PC Tomorrow

Helldivers 2 developer Arrowhead Game Studios has said it will be releasing updates on PS5 and PC this week that aim to tackle the “most serious problems” the game is currently facing, including login, matchmaking, and server load. The first of these fixes will arrive tomorrow, February 20, but Arrowhead wants us to remember that “no single update will solve all the issues.”

Arrowhead took to Discord to share the message, saying it has a plan to make “continuous improvements over the days and weeks to come” to ensure a smooth experience for all players.

“Hello there Helldivers,” Arrowhead wrote. “We have improvements rolling out this week focused on the most serious problems in the game: login, matchmaking, and server load. You will see one update for PC and PS5 tomorrow, though please keep in mind that no single update will solve all the issues. Rather, we will be making continuous improvements over the days and weeks to come.

“We’re all working hard to make sure that the game is a stable place to spread Managed Democracy to every planet in the galaxy. Thank you, as always.”

Helldivers 2 has been a massive success since its launch, and its Steam concurrent record of 409,367 was enough to pass the all-time Steam concurrents of games like Grant Theft Auto V, Starfield, Counter-Strike, and Destiny 2.

Unfortunately, this has led to all the issues mentioned above. To help with the server load, Arrowhead has limited concurrent players to around 450,000 to improve stability. Rest assured though, Helldivers, as Arrowhead is doing its part to fix all the problems out there so you all can get back to taking down more bugs and bots.

In our Helldivers 2 review, we said its “combat feels fantastic, its missions stay fresh and interesting, and its smart progression system doesn’t nickel and dime you.”

For more, check out how Helldivers 2 players who refuse to log out to ensure they keep their spot in the servers are “ruining it for others” and how Helldivers 2’s director called renewed interest in Starship Troopers after the game’s success “incredible.”

Have a tip for us? Want to discuss a possible story? Please send an email to newstips@ign.com.

Adam Bankhurst is a news writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @AdamBankhurst and on Twitch.

Exclusive: Ikumi Nakamura Opens Up About Kemuri, Avoiding Crunch, And Why Okami Still Inspires Her – Fan Fest 2024

In the fall of 2006, Capcom released Okami – a game that mixed Japanese folklore with the exploration of Zelda. It was praised for its lavish cel-shaded visuals, which at the time were among the best ever seen on the PlayStation 2; many even said it was better than The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, which released that same year. Among the team at Clover Studio, where Okami was developed, was a young Ikumi Nakamura, who was just getting started in the industry as a “newbie” artist.

Nakamura remembers that time as something like the Wild West. Many of the shaders commonly used today were not available, the visuals were comparatively low-res, and there were “lots of limitations.” Challenging as it could be, though, she also remembers it being “really fun” discovering different development techniques that could aid her as she went. It was an experience that would inform a career that has spanned 20 years and numerous classic games.

Today, Nakamura runs Unseen, a studio she formed in 2022 in the wake of her departure from Tango Gameworks, where she helped spearhead the development of Ghostwire Tokyo. Nakamura’s energetic performance at E3 2019 made her a fan-favorite, and in her subsequent appearances she’s made a point of playing up her role as studio mascot. But talking to her in a Google Meet call, she comes across as soft-spoken and deliberate. In real life, she’s a mother who splits time between her day job as a studio head and her passion for urban exploration, with her first book due to be released in March.

She is coming off the reveal of Kemura, her stylish new action game blending “traditional Japanese folklore, modern culture, anime aesthetics and international flair.” It is in many ways a summation of her career to this point, which has taken her from Capcom to Platinum, then to finding fame introducing Ghostwire Tokyo at E3 2019, and finally on to running her own studio. Revealed at The Game Awards 2023, Kemuri reflects Nakamura’s childhood love of the supernatural with its array of spirits and fashionable Yokai Hunters.

It moves at the pace of Bayonetta, with Yokai Hunters able to run down surfaces in much of the same way as that game’s Umbra Witches, and it carries on Ghostwire Tokyo’s theme of “making the supernatural, natural.” In many ways it’s more ambitious than either of those games, though, mixing freeform exploration with multiplayer gameplay, though she’s hesitant to compare its scope to what she considers to be “true” open world games like Cyberpunk 2077.

So with Kemuri…in a way it’s like the combination of all these things and all these experiences…

Kemuri’s biggest influence is also one of Nakamura’s formative experiences in the games industry. Okami was where she got her start, and its visuals are a big part of the look and feel of Kemuri. In a 2020 interview with IGN Japan, Nakamura said that Okami 2 was the project that she wanted to “make reality the most.” Kemuri isn’t exactly a sequel, but Okami’s artistic flair remains alive and well within it. In one example, Nakamura describes a technique she derived from her time at Okami, and how she passes it on to her artists.

“[W]henever I’m actually working with a character artist to, let’s say develop the character’s face, for instance, I always tell artists to really put in quite a bit of attention to detail on just one single stroke, even on the face and stuff like that. Just to give a certain impression or certain detail. And this idea is definitely from my experience with Okami, for sure,” Nakamura says.

She ticks off the games she’s worked on and how they’ve influenced Kemuri over the years. “Okami, I was actually working on coming up with a visual design and stuff like that. With The Evil Within, I was working more towards a leadership or management role on top of doing art and design,” she says.

She remembers working on Bayonetta, and how director Hideki Kamiya was heavily involved in the world design and writing, but couldn’t draw so much as a basic sketch to help artists with his concepts (“He was an F Minus,” Nakamura remembers.) This led to a somewhat inefficient process in which artists had to create “countless” images before Kamiya would finally say, “This is it.” Nakamura was better than most at being able to hone in on his particular vision, leading him to give her more responsibilities as a lead artist. In her own projects, Nakamura tends to be similarly uncompromising in her vision.

In 2010, Nakamura helped found Tango Gameworks with Shinji Mikami, where she remained for nine years. Ghostwire Tokyo was her first chance at the director’s chair, and it was a game that was made out of “all of the stuff that she likes” – an urban setting, a mix of the natural and the supernatural, and action. She worked on it for four years before ultimately deciding to leave in the middle of development.

“Maybe my lack of experience was why I couldn’t quite finish it to the end,” Nakamura says. She admits that she’d been “stuck in a closed-minded world for quite a while, so I felt the need for a mental reset.”

Still, she says, it’s not so easy to leave behind what you love in your childhood.

“Ghostwire Tokyo is the first time I ever actually became a director, so I was in a place where I got to make what I like,” Nakamura says. “So with Kemuri…in a way it’s like the combination of all these things and all these experiences…Perhaps that’s what Kemuri is.”

An oasis in a troubled games industry

Not long after leaving Tango Gameworks, Nakamura visited Sony Santa Monica and met Cory Barlog. It was an experience she enjoyed so much that she considered working there, but “all such discussions vanished” when the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020. Still, the experience had a positive impact on her, and she began to wonder if she could recreate the “friendly vibe” of Sony Santa Monica in Tokyo.

The result was Unseen, which she describes as something like an “international school” – a vibrant and diverse collection of artistic talent from all over the world. Among them is Unseen Chief Technology Officer David Steinberg, who moved from France to Tokyo in 2010. The approach is not without its challenges – work is frequently slowed by the need for constant translation – but it gives Unseen an optimistic air that it likes to highlight as much as it can.

The studio’s workspace is housed in a disused warehouse, but manages to feel cozy thanks to touches like fake bonsai trees and a plush tent filled with comfortable chairs and pillows (Nakamura jokingly refers to the area as their “glamping” space). In many ways Unseen feels very like a space built by artists for artists, with a layout that was painstakingly modeled within Unreal Engine.

Nakamura resists comparisons to family, seeing it instead as a diverse team of professionals working toward a common goal. Still, its warm atmosphere stands out in a troubled games industry where funding is drying up and studios large and small are racked by layoffs. Nakamura has experienced her own share of upheaval, having been part of the transformation of Clover Studio into the independent company that would eventually become PlatinumGames.

“We recognize the difficulties faced by other studios in the industry, and our hearts go out to those who have encountered layoffs and funding challenges. In such a dynamic landscape, we’ve prioritized a people-first approach, ensuring the well-being of our talented team members while maintaining a creative and collaborative atmosphere,” Nakamura says.

“Our talented crew is our most valuable power-up, and we’re committed to ensuring their well-being on this epic quest. Unseen’s office and the artists’ home offices have been officially designated as the ‘Layoff-Proof Zones,’ Because who needs downsizing when you can have a fortress of creativity and job security?”

Of course, such a sentiment plays a little differently in Tokyo, where Unseen is based. As Nakamura herself acknowledges, layoffs are difficult if not impossible in Japan. Still, its commitment to a worker-positive environment makes it seem like an oasis of positivity in an otherwise struggling industry. Indeed, layoffs elsewhere have led many developers to apply at Unseen, though Nakamura says the studio is quite selective owing to its emphasis on studio culture.

Another way Unseen stands out is in being a woman-led studio in the still male-dominated games industry, where progress for women into leadership positions has remained painfully slow. “It’s definitely a minority in Japan for sure, for a woman to actually start the company and become a CEO and stuff like that,” Nakamura tells IGN.

… A studio that can ship a very high quality game without the crunch is our goal

She talks about how she “didn’t really think much at all about being a woman” while going about a career. But when she started Unseen and gave birth to her daughter, she found herself struggling to adapt.

“Many strange things happen to your body after you actually give birth. And just having all these changes in [me], and also running a new job, CEO… it was quite different for sure,” Nakamura says. “And then for a while, [I] couldn’t really adapt fast enough through these drastic changes in being a CEO and also being a mother and stuff like that. This is where it really made [me] realize, ’Oh, I am a woman.’ That’s about it for how I feel about women running a studio.”

In a video posted recently on Unseen channels, director Misuzu Watanabe and Nakamura talk frankly about the challenges of being a mother in the games industry, with Watanabe working remotely from home in Osaka during the day while looking after her child. According to Watanabe, “very few companies” told her it was okay to be a mother. Nakamura’s message to Watanabe?

“Don’t give up anything.”

Ahead on their way

Having finally revealed Kemuri at The Game Awards, Unseen is ready to begin an extended period of development. Nakamura isn’t revealing release timing or even which platforms it’s coming out on, but she’s conspicuous in her praise for Steam and PC gaming in general, saying that it’s “essential to recognize the dynamic pulse of PC gaming.”

“Particularly, the accessibility of high-performance PC setups has led to a noticeable shift, with a growing number of players embracing PC gaming. This trend empowers developers to create more sophisticated and intricate games, providing players with a broader spectrum of genres and experiences,” Nakamura says.”

She singles out Steam, which has become much more popular in Japan over the past several years. “As a digital distribution platform, Steam has undergone remarkable evolution, offering players easy access to a plethora of new titles and providing developers with a stage to showcase their unique creations. The growth of Steam injects innovative energy into the entire PC gaming industry, promising ongoing evolution and anticipation for what’s to come.”

Whichever platform it’s released on, it may be a while before fans get to play Kemuri. According to Nakamura, Kemuri is currently experiencing a “healthy delay” that she chalks up to Unseen’s “dedication to pushing artistic boundaries and meticulously considering how to translate their passion into an unparalleled user experience.”

Asked to elaborate, Nakamura points to some of the challenges inherent in communicating in English and Japanese. She’s also keen on crunch within her studio, which is an environment she knows all too well through her long career in the games industry. She specifically points to Hades developer Supergiant Games as an inspiration on that front.

“They actually completed a very hype-worthy game…without the crunch,” Nakamura says. “I really like the idea, but at the same time in my experience for working for many different studios before Unseen, I have no experience of really shipping a title without crunch. So I don’t really have a precise vision of or image of how we can actually do that…but a studio that can actually ship a very high quality game without the crunch is our goal.”

One way or another, Nakamura and her team are just beginning their journey, and it’s far too early to say how it will end. But in an increasingly grim industry, Unseen is at least one studio where optimism still reigns.

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.

Invincible Mobile Game Available Now From Ubisoft

Invincible has received a surprise mobile game from Ubisoft — out today, February 19.

Invincible: Guarding the Globe is available for both iOS and Android devices and via the Amazon store. It’s a free-to-play idle role-playing game where players build a squad of superheroes to take on the invading Flaxans, Reanimen, and Magmanites.

“Choose from attackers, defenders, and support heroes to create the perfect team to tackle the mission at hand,” Ubisoft said. “Invincible: Guarding the Globe also lets players run multiple battles simultaneously in the background, allowing them to rack up rewards even when they’re not actively playing.

“Set in the same world as the Skybound Comics and Amazon Prime’s Invincible, Invincible: Guarding the Globe features notable characters including Invincible, Atom Eve, Omni-Man, Titan, and more. In this all-new narrative, players will become an agent of the Global Defense Agency, deploying heroes to defend the world against villainy, clones, and… burger meat theft?”

Different chapters will pull players through a narrative with new objectives added each week. Various pieces of gear, items, and artifacts can be unlocked and equipped to characters to customise the experience.

Invincible is the hit superhero comic and show available from The Walking Dead creator Robert Kirkman. Season 1 and the first part of Season 2 are currently available, with the latter’s second part arriving March 14.

In our 8/10 review of the debut, IGN said: “Invincible Season 1 on Amazon Prime Video is great, thanks to its unique action and strong character-centric gravitas.”

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

Best Xbox Deals Today (February 2024): Save On Console Bundles, Controllers, and More

When it comes to picking up new games, hardware, or accessories for your Xbox, it feels good when you can find those items at a discounted price. Here, we’ll keep you updated on all of the latest deals for Xbox, from games to controllers and so much more. Below, you can find a wide range of items on sale, including some console bundles that are still available and controllers.

TL;DR – Our Favorite Xbox Deals

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Enjoy Discounts On Select Xbox Controllers

In need of another Xbox controller? Well, you’re in luck, as there are quite a few discounted right now. In my opinion, you can never have too many controllers. You never know when someone will pop on by and want to play Overcooked or It Takes Two, or any local multiplayer game.

More Xbox Controller Deals:

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Xbox Console & Bundle Deals

There are a few console bundles on sale at the moment alongside a great deal on the 1TB Series S and Series X. One of our favorite deals leftover from the Black Friday/Cyber Monday season is on the Diablo IV Xbox Series X bundle, which you can get for $464.54 at Walmart. You can also get the Series S Starter Bundle for just $269.99 at Target. Outside of bundles, the 1TB Series S has a deal at Dell right now, down 14% to $299.99, and the Xbox Series X is $50 off at Best Buy in their Presidents’ Day sale.

Assassin’s Creed Mirage Standard Edition is Down to $29.99 and More Xbox Game Deals

There are several Xbox games on sale right now that are worth adding to your collection. One of our favorite deals at the moment is on Assassin’s Creed Mirage Standard Edition, which is down to $29.99 from its MSRP of $49.99. That saves you $20! To see even more Xbox game deals, check out the links below.

More Xbox Video Game Deals:

Amazon:

Best Buy:

Digital Game Deals

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Xbox: Budget to Best

Buying new items for your Xbox doesn’t have to make a massive dent in your wallet, either. Here, we’ll feature a variety of excellent games, accessories, and hardware that are available at more affordable prices regularly or are the just option available when gaming on Xbox.

More Xbox Budget to Best Picks

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Get 10% Off the Official Xbox Wireless Headset & More Headset Deals

Does your family complain when you stay up playing loud shooters late into the night? They’ll stop complaining if you pick up an Xbox headset that lets no one but you hear the delightful explosions you cause on the screen. Right now, you can get 10% off the Official Xbox Wireless Headset, bringing the price down to $89.99 from $99.99. You can also save 20% on the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless Gaming Headset by using the promo code ‘GET20’ at checkout.

More Xbox Headset Deals:

How to Avoid Xbox Game Pass Price Hike ($44.99 for 3-Months of Ultimate)

By securing 3-months of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate for $44.99, you can actually avoid the Game Pass price hike. We recommend securing your current subscription for as long as possible. You can stack up to a maximum of 36 months of Game Pass, meaning you have the option to accumulate 3-month subscriptions up to 12 times.

Admittedly, this approach might put a strain on your wallet, totaling $539.88 if you purchase the 3-month package from the link above. However, when you compare it to the new cost of Game Pass Ultimate for 36 months at $16.99 per month, amounting to $611.64, you’ll realize you’re saving $71.76 on your subscription for the next three years. Otherwise, secure your membership for at least a year to lock in at least some savings overall.

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When Should I Buy an Xbox?

In general, it is advisable to keep an eye out for sales and restocks throughout the year, as availability has improved since the initial launch of the console. Unlike the Nintendo Switch, there is no specific recommendation to wait for a sale regardless of the time of year. Instead, it’s a good idea to monitor various retailers and online platforms for restock announcements and promotional offers.

However, certain events like Black Friday or other holiday seasons may bring about unique bundles, discounts, or promotional deals specifically for the Xbox Series X. These bundles may include additional games, accessories, or exclusive limited editions. While quantities for such promotions might be limited, they can provide an opportunity to get more value for your purchase. See our guide to Xbox Series X prices for more info.

Xbox Series X or Xbox Series S?

Choosing between the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S ultimately depends on your gaming preferences, budget, and specific requirements. Let’s compare the two consoles to help you make an informed decision:

1. Performance: The Xbox Series X is the more powerful option, offering native 4K gaming, higher graphical fidelity, and faster loading times. It has more advanced hardware, including a larger storage capacity. On the other hand, the Xbox Series S targets a lower price point and offers a less powerful performance, targeting 1440p resolution gaming and upscaling to 4K.

2. Price: The Xbox Series S is more affordable compared to the Xbox Series X. If budget is a significant factor for you, the Xbox Series S provides a cost-effective option while still delivering a next-generation gaming experience. For example, the Series S can play Starfield at 1440p 30fps (vs 4K 30fps on Series X).

3. Storage: The Xbox Series X comes with a larger internal storage capacity, allowing you to store more games directly on the console. The Xbox Series S, however, has a smaller storage capacity, which means you may need to manage your game library more actively or rely on external storage solutions.

4. Disc Drive: The Xbox Series X includes a disc drive, enabling you to play physical game discs and enjoy a wider range of media options, including Blu-ray and DVD playback. The Xbox Series S, in contrast, is a digital-only console, meaning you can only play games downloaded from the digital store.

5. Graphics and Performance: While both consoles support ray tracing, the Xbox Series X provides a more immersive and visually impressive experience due to its superior hardware capabilities. If you prioritize cutting-edge graphics and want the best performance available, the Xbox Series X is the preferable choice.

Consider your gaming preferences, budget, and whether you prioritize top-of-the-line performance or cost-effectiveness. If you have a 4K TV, want the most powerful console, and are willing to invest more, the Xbox Series X is the recommended option. If you have a lower budget, a 1080p or 1440p TV, and don’t mind sacrificing some performance, the Xbox Series S offers excellent value for money.

With how expensive gaming is getting in 2024, we’re trying to save you as much money as possible on the games and other tech you actually want to buy. We’ve got great deal roundups available for all major platforms such as Switch and Xbox, and keep these updated daily with brand new offers. If you’re trying to keep costs down while maintaining your favorite hobby, stay tuned for more incredible discounts.

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

Dragon’s Dogma 2 Demo Looks Like It’s on the Way

Changes to the Steam listing for Dragon’s Dogma 2 suggest it will get a demo.

Redditor CannedBeansofDeath spotted changes made to the game’s listing on Steam via SteamDB that reference ‘free on demand. .This is believed to be a demo for the $69.99 action role-playing game, due out March 22.

Dragon’s Dogma 2 developer Capcom has form when it comes to demos, of course. It released one for its hugely popular Resident Evil 4 remake in the run up to its March 2023 launch. Thoughts now turn to the form the Dragon’s Dogma 2 demo might take, given its massive map. And it’s worth noting Capcom likes to hide secrets within its demos. Resident Evil 4 remake’s included a cheat code to unlock ‘Mad Chainsaw’ difficulty mode, so fans will no-doubt dig into the Dragon’s Dogma 2 demo for similar secrets.

Not only is Dragon’s Dogma 2 one of the more promising games of 2024 but it’s also Capcom’s first $70 game. It seems likely it won’t be its last, either, after Capcom said it’s now considering a video game price review amid rising development costs.

It has been a long month of coverage for Dragon’s Dogma 2 at IGN. We kicked it all off with 18 minutes of gameplay, continued with extended looks at character creation and everything that’s new with Pawns, had some insightful interviews with game director Hideaki Itsuno, art director Daigo Ikeno, and the rest of the team at Capcom Japan, and revealed brand new footage and information for both the Trickster Vocation and the mysterious Sphinx.

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.

Open-World Terminator Survival Game Finally Set for Reveal

Publisher Nacon is finally ready to show more of its open-world Terminator survival game during a showcase set for later in February.

Nacon Connect, set for February 29, features 30 minutes of new videos showing off the likes of GreedFall 2: The Dying World, Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown, Ravenswatch, Crown Wars: The Black Prince, and the new Terminator game.

Nacon announced the as-yet untitled Terminator game back in 2022. It’s in the works at Nacon Studio Milan, and takes place in an open world set between the events of Judgment Day (the Skynet nuclear strike that causes the apocalypse) and the formation of John Connor’s resistance. You play as a group of nuclear apocalypse survivors fighting to stay alive.

As Nacon said at the time, the Terminator game features an original story that draws upon the events portrayed in the movies. The cinematic teaser trailer revealed a T-800 hunting someone in a warehouse, the iconic original Terminator theme tune blaring in the background.

Meanwhile, GreedFall 2: The Dying World is the follow-up to Spiders’ Dragon Age-style role-playing game GreedFall 2. This one’s due out for PC and consoles at some point this year. Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown is the next game in the racing franchise developed by Kylotonn and also set for release in 2024.

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.

Helldivers 2 Players Who Refuse to Log Out to Ensure They Keep Their Spot in the Servers ‘Ruining It for Others’

Helldivers 2 saw a huge weekend during which it broke its own concurrent players record multiple times and even passed GTA 5’s Steam peak, but it was also a frustrating weekend for many who struggled to log in and play with the servers at capacity.

Now, the Helldivers 2 community is calling for developer Arrowhead to add an away from keyboard (AFK) auto kick feature to the game after players admitted leaving it on all day and theoretically at least blocking others from getting in.

Helldivers 2 players on the game’s Discord are saying they are not logging out on purpose so they can ensure they can play when they want to. One user said they left themselves logged in to Helldivers 2 before they went to work to make sure they could play when they got home. Another said they hadn’t logged off for three days.

It’s fair to say that some Helldivers 2 players who have struggled to play the game have reacted angrily to these reports, which suggest there are a significant number of people simply idle but taking up server space. “This needs to be implemented asap because so many players are not logging out on purpose,” one X/Twitter user said. “They’re ruining it for others and they’re making this issue worse. They don’t want to log out because they don’t want their server spot taken and then forced to wait in queue again.”

Anoteher X/Twitter user brought this problem to the attention of Arrowhead boss Johan Pilestedt, who replied to suggest the development team is working on a fix. “Agreed, I have already mentioned this to the team,” Pilestedt said.

Meanwhile, Pilestedt revealed that anything beyond the “hard cap” of 500,000 concurrent players “brings the system down”. Arrowhead is working to address Helldivers 2’s significant server issues as word of mouth sparks even more to the cause.

In our Helldivers 2 review, we said its “combat feels fantastic, its missions stay fresh and interesting, and its smart progression system doesn’t nickel and dime you.”

As you wait for the server stability issues to be resolved, we encourage you to check out our extensive and ever-growing Helldivers 2 wiki.

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.