Category: IGN

In a blog post and podcast today, Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer made waves by confirming four Xbox exclusives will be going multi-platform. While he didn’t reveal what those games would be, he did confirm a couple of games that won’t be included in those four titles.

When asked directly by moderator and former IGN editor-in-chief Tina Amini if any of those four exclusives going multi-platform were Starfield or Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, Spencer replied, “They are not Starfield or Indiana Jones.”

Spencer, however, is still leaving Xbox’s multi-platform options open. In an interview with The Verge, he stopped short of ruling out Starfield and Indiana Jones ever coming to PS5.

“I don’t think we should as an industry ever rule out a game going to any other platform,” he said. “We’re focused on these four games and learning from the experience. We don’t have work going on, on other franchises. But for anybody to stand up and say something’s never going to happen, I think it feels like creating more certainty in a world of gaming where you really want to respond to what customers want and what our players and creators are looking for.”

Today’s update comes after weeks of reports and speculation swirling about Xbox’s future, particularly surrounding first-party exclusivity. Earlier this month, The Verge reported that Xbox was “weighing up which titles will remain exclusive and others that will appear on Switch or PS5 in the future.” Indiana Jones, per the report, was being considered as the kick-off to this new strategy, with the possibility of it debuting on PS5 shortly after its launch on Xbox and PC this December.

Around the same time, XboxERA reported that Microsoft was considering releasing Starfield on PS5 shortly after the release of the previously announced Shattered Space expansion later this year. Other reports, meanwhile, suggested the Hi-Fi Rush and Sea of Thieves would be headed to other platforms.

So what are the four games?

We don’t know what those four newly multi-platform games will be for sure at the moment. However, The Verge reports that they’ll be Hi-Fi Rush, Pentiment, Sea of Thieves, and Grounded.

Spencer himself dropped a few hints during the podcast, saying they looked at games that were over a year old. Two of them, he said, are “community-driven games,” “first iterations of a franchise that have reached their full potential, let’s say on Xbox and PC.”

The other two, he added, “are smaller games that were not really built to be platform exclusives and all the fanfare that goes around that, but games that our teams really wanted to go build.”

“We love supporting creative endeavors across our studios regardless of size,” he went on. “And as they realize their full potential on Xbox and PC, we see an opportunity to utilize the other platforms as a place to just drive more business value out of those games, allowing us to invest in future iterations of those, sequels to those, or just other games like that in our portfolio.”

With that, let the speculation commence.

For more, check out everything we learned about Xbox’s future today, including hints about the next-generation console.

Xbox revealed its “vision for the future” today in a podcast featuring executives Phil Spencer, Sarah Bond, and Matt Booty, who did their best to articulate the path forward for the platform amid reports of plans to embrace a third-party publishing strategy.

The business update confirmed that four games will be releasing on other platfoms, though Xbox did not provide additional details. It also revealed Xbox’s plans for Activision Blizzard games on Game Pass while teasing the “largest technical leap you will have ever seen in a hardware generation” for its next console.

Here’s everything that was announced.

Xbox reveals its plans for PS5 and more.

The biggest news was Xbox’s confirmation that four games will indeed be going multi-platform. Spencer declined to name the games, saying only, “The teams that are building those games have announced plans that are not too far away. As we know, games teams put a lot of energy into their announcements and partners. So I don’t wanna take anything away from those teams, so I won’t be talking about the titles specifically, but I think when they come out, it’ll make sense.”

Asked whether Indiana Jones and Starfield will be among the games going multi-platform, Spencer said “they are not.” As for the four games that will be going multi-platform, The Verge reports that they will be Hi-Fi Rush, Pentiment, Sea of Thieves, and Grounded.

The Xbox Wire post reads, “To ensure long-term success for both Xbox and the industry as a whole, we must continue to evolve. Today we announced that we will expand the communities we reach: we are currently in the process of bringing four Xbox games to other platforms. These are titles which have been available to Xbox players for at least a year, including hidden gems that deserve to be experienced more widely, and live service games whose communities will benefit from welcoming even more players. We will share more details on these titles soon.

Diablo 4 is coming to Game Pass

The update also confirmed that Diablo 4 will be coming to Game Pass on March 28, with this being “only the beginning” for Activision Blizzard games on the service. Fans have been waiting for Activision Blizzard to arrive on Game Pass since the deal closed last year, with Spencer chalking up the delay to “regulatory challenges.”

Xbox also reaffirmed its commitment to the service, saying that “Game Pass will continue to only be available on Xbox platforms and will have all first-party games available on day one.”

Rumors have swirled concerning Xbox’s plans for more than a month now, with Hi-Fi Rush, Sea of Thieves, Pentiment, and Starfield all rumored to be heading to different platforms at various points. The reports ignited a debate around the value of exclusives within the gaming community as fans argued over the path forward for Xbox, which has lagged behind its competitors in terms of sales and releases this generation.

In a town hall meeting with Xbox employees, Spencer reaffirmed that Xbox would continue to make hardware going forward, seeking to alleviate concerns that Microsoft plans to get out of the console business altogether. Bond, meanwhile, reiterated Microsoft’s desire to “make every screen an Xbox.”

Stay tuned for more analysis of Xbox’s announcements at IGN, including a special episode of Podcast Unlocked and lots more.

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.

The 90s was really the birthplace of the modern board game hobby. Yes, timeless artifacts such as Go, Mahjong, and even Cosmic Encounter pre-exist the post-Cold War decade, yet the groundswell of fresh titles with radical ideas really built the foundation for modern design principles. Germany was popping off with hits left and right, while the collectible card game format changed everything. Beyond the greats, there are several nearly forgotten releases that deserve recognition.

TL;DR The Best ’90s Board Games

• Magic: The Gathering
• Twilight Imperium
• Catan
• Robo Rally
• Modern Art
• Paths of Glory
• For Sale
• Blood Bowl
• Tichu
• High Society
• El Grande
• Ra

Magic: the Gathering

Where else to start than with the game that started the collectable card craze and revolutionized games and game stores in the nineties? There was a time when almost every role-playing and board gaming club switched to playing Magic: the Gathering. And it’s easy to see why with the lure of finding powerful rare cards in hidden packs, planning a deck to construct around them and thrilling to the mix of random draw and strategic combinations during play. It’s a recipe that’s still almost as intoxicating today and the game remains in good health. With high prize money tournaments, online play, and regular expansions to collect there’s never been a better time to get involved.

Twilight Imperium

Many fans of Twilight Imperium would not even recognize its first edition. Fantasy Flight Games founder Christian Petersen brought his vision of a 4X board game to life way back in 1997. Flush with cardboard chits instead of plastic, the spirit of its later iterations was present in this inspired asymmetrical space conflict. Faction favorites such as the Jol-Nar and Emirates of Hacan were there right from the beginning, and the game was packed with an immense amount of setting. Its systems are slow and clunky by today’s standards, but this original release established a legacy that would prove the foundation for one of the strongest board game publishers of the early 2000s. The current fourth edition remains one of the most immersive and rich titles available.

Catan

Catan, known in the ’90s as Settlers of Catan, didn’t sweep the popularity stakes like Magic. Nor has it aged quite as well. But in many respects, it had as much — if not more — long-term influence on the gaming scene. Before Catan, almost all tabletop games were variations on war board games or dungeon crawling. But Catan’s mix of trading resources that players used to build a network of roads and settlements in an attempt to secure as much territory as possible showed us a whole new side to gaming. There was rich interaction without direct fighting or ganging up and rich strategy while still rolling a pair of dice and drawing random cards. It also introduced us to the novel paradigm of board games that existed in Germany, and gaming has never been the same since.

Robo Rally

Richard Garfield is known for more than just Magic: The Gathering. Robo Rally has players programming bots to dart around the factory in a ludicrous race. Each participant secretly chooses which cards they will play simultaneously. Then they are revealed and the robots start zipping around as chaos ensues. The goal is to pass through all of the checkpoints in order, which can prove more difficult than it initially appears. While many games would later nick Robo Rally’s programmed action approach, this was one of the first designs to lean into this creative and zany system. It still holds up and even just received a brand new reboot courtesy of Renegade Games.

Modern Art

Among the top designers who worked in German gaming, the most talented and prolific is Reiner Knizia. His oeuvre is so large that he’s worked on almost every genre but his particular love is for auction games, and his best auction game is Modern Art. Players take the role of dealers bidding to secure artworks based on five different methods of auction, from open bids to hidden values. But there’s a catch: your purchases will only be valuable if they’re popular: in other words, if other players are also collecting paintings by the same artist. This heady mixture of strategy and pointed satire on the art world is leant extra depth in the latest edition, which uses pieces by real-life artists.

Paths of Glory

This wargame arrived at the end of the decade with a splash. Boasting a harrowing playtime of up to eight hours, this beast attempts to simulate the entirety of the First World War. This is one of the early card driven games where players spend cards for flexible action points or to trigger specific narrative events. There is a fascinating element of deck manipulation as participants race to attain new cards, while also thinning their deck through playing events. This creates an interesting ecosystem of turnover that has subtle implications over the length of play. While some may criticize this design as being too complex, and there is a certain truth to the notion that Twilight Struggle later perfected this format, this is still quite the evocative experience that remains available through continual print runs over the years.

For Sale

You’ll rarely see so much game in such a small package as you will in For Sale. The game involves two decks of cards, one of real estate and the other of cheques, which are used in the two phases of play. In the first a selection of real estate cards is revealed each turn and the players bid on them using a limited supply of money. In the second, a selection of cheques is revealed and players secretly choose real estate from their hands to sell for those cheques, the most valuable getting the biggest payout. This simple game is a setup for endless agonising moments of not knowing whether you’re going to be outbid in an auction, or outclassed in the secret hunt for cheque payouts. It’s excitement all the way down to the wire, but is simple enough for kids to play and still rewards canny strategizing.

Blood Bowl

Adding this game here is a bit cheeky: you may have fond memories of the first edition of this crazy game of violent fantasy football, but the current edition is a complete redesign. The good news is that it’s even better: leaner, better looking and more strategic while still being just as crazy and just as violent. The Warhammer-esque underpinnings have been jettisoned in favor of a whole new game concept where your turn ends when you fail an action. That leaves every choice teetering on the precipice of risk and reward as you struggle to decide whether it’s worth prioritizing a dangerous action to advance your game plan. Plus, the old cardboard standees have been replaced with super-detailed plastic miniatures that look amazing on your tabletop.

Tichu

If Tichu didn’t require exactly four to play, it would have conquered the world. It’s not much to look at, essentially a rebranded deck of standard playing cards with four special extras, but there’s a reason for that. It’s actually a tweaked, commercialized version of a family of playing card games widely played in China. You play with a partner and the idea is to try and clear your hand by laying out a higher-value Poker style card combo than is currently on the table. But this basic formula is full of fascinating wrinkles because it’s rarely clear when it’s worth splitting a combo in your hand just to take what’s on the table, especially given the partner element. There’s also a pivotal bidding aspect because calling “Tichu” — betting you’ll be first to empty your hand — is where the bulk of points are won. Accessible, engaging and scarily addictive, Tichu deserves a much wider audience.

High Society

Given this is the second Reiner Knizia auction game on the list you may gather that the good doctor (he’s got a PhD in mathematics) is keen on the mechanic and good at delivering it. This is the lightest and fastest of the three (see one more below) but it still delivers thrills, spills and biting social commentary. Each round is a sequence of bids on some fancy item that indicates you’re part of monied culture. But while your cash reserves range from small to high value, you can’t get change: you’re forced to choose between creeping up your bid or risking being left with only high-value notes to fritter on paltry wins. The other twist is that some cards are negative; for these, bidding works in reverse, with the first player to pass “winning” and everyone else throwing away their cash. You’ve got to keep up with your social circle by spending vast sums on trifles without beggaring yourself, a point of view that’s as fun to play as it is alienating to observe in reality.

El Grande

Of all the games published in the ‘90s, El Grande is perhaps the most enduring and the one that still feels freshest and most relevant today. Which makes it surprising that it hasn’t seen a reprint and remains expensive on the second-hand market. The secret of its success is posing players with a series of circular, but interactive, conundrums to solve as they seek to maximise influence on a map of Spain. You can go early or gain more influence to spend, not both. You can take a powerful action, or you can put lots of influence on the board, not both. And of course you can’t possibly have the majority in all the regions of the board, you’ve got to pick and choose your battles. It’s so well done and pushes so many gaming buttons that it remains thrillingly playable 25 years after it was released.

Ra

Now, we come to another Reiner Knizia classic involving auctions. In Ra, you’re bidding on the history of ancient Egypt. Not in terms of artefacts but the far more abstract concepts of events, monuments, pharaohs and the like. Each type of tile has its own convoluted scoring mechanic, so you want to collect — or avoid — certain combinations. On your turn, you either add a tile to the stack available or start an auction, but currency in Ra is very limited and the winning amount becomes part of the next lot for auction. This makes every tile draw and every bid an excruciating elevator of excitement as you try and force players to bid on tiles they’d prefer to avoid while not getting caught in that trap yourself. This is back in print with a deluxe new edition that is gorgeous to behold.

Disco Elysium developer ZA/UM has reportedly cancelled a standalone expansion for the game, leaving several staff members at risk of losing their jobs.

Sources close to the matter told Video Games by GLHF that around 24 employees, or roughly one quarter of all staff, are at risk of redundancy. Staff who worked on a game codenamed Project X7, which was allegedly the Disco Elysium expansion, are the most at risk of being laid off, according to GLHF, such as 2D, 3D, and technical artists alongside production, IT, and animation employees.

GLHF also obtained a message allegedly sent to staff from CEO Ilmar Kompus. “Despite concerted efforts over the past eight months by our management team and the X7 disciplines, following consultation with our management team, I have taken the difficult decision to cancel X7,” the letter said. “This decision, unlike the pause on Project P1, will unfortunately most likely lead to redundancies within our studio.”

GLHF said Project P1 is a new sci-fi game currently on pause at the studio. A Disco Elysium sequel, Project Y12, was allegedly cancelled in 2022, leaving just two projects in active development at the studio. One is believed to be related to Disco Elysium, according to GLHF.

“With the cancellation of X7 we are proposing to reshape our team to support our two remaining games,” Kompus added. “This adjustment will almost certainly lead to redundancies, mostly affecting the X7 team but also our non-development teams and non-X7 projects.

“We are approaching this sensitive issue with the utmost care and respect,” he continued. “During this transition period, let’s maintain professionalism and support each other, upholding our studio values.”

Disco Elysium is a story-driven isometric role playing game which released in 2019 to incredibly positive reviews, followed up with a “Final Cut” version which earned a 10/10 from IGN. “The Final Cut elevates Disco Elysium from an already phenomenal RPG to a true must-play masterpiece,” we said.

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

We already knew EA planned to revive the college football video game series. And today, the company has unveiled the first official teaser trailer, with confirmation that a full reveal will arrive in a few months.

EA released a teaser trailer acknowledging the anticipation of fans who have been waiting over 10 years for a new simulation college football game. While no proper gameplay was revealed, EA did say the upcoming sports game will be called College Football 25, with confirmation that a full reveal will arrive in May ahead of its summer 2024 release window.

There have been talks of EA reviving the college football video game series since 2021. After the Supreme Court ruled that same year that college athletes could profit from their name, image, and likeness (NIL), EA announced it would add real-world college football players into the game. EA also confirmed in the years leading up to the release that fan-favorite modes Road to Glory and Dynasty will return to the next college football video game.

The road to the next College Football game was bumpy for EA. After it announced its plans to feature NCAA players, a lawsuit was filed last June by the BrandR Group, an agency specializing in licensing deals for student-athletes. On3 reported last year that if a player opted-in to have their likeness used in College Football 25, the payout would have been $500 per player, which the agency argued in the lawsuit was far below market value. In December, EA announced it had settled the lawsuit and planned to release the next college football video game this summer.

College Football 25 will be the first college football video game released since 2013, when EA canceled the series after it failed to resecure the NCAA license. A class-action lawsuit brought forth by former college athletes sued EA for the unauthorized use of their likeness. The lawsuit was settled in 2016 for $60 million.

Taylor is a Reporter at IGN. You can follow her on Twitter @TayNixster.

Online shopping has become the preferred method for many looking to purchase new consoles as inventory is generally more available, and you don’t have to leave the comfort of your home. Some retailers even offer the option to purchase online and pick up your items in store, allowing you to secure your purchase and pick it up when you’re ready. If you’re looking for the best places to purchase Xbox consoles online, we’ve got you covered with a full breakdown below, including pricing on current Xbox consoles, the best time to buy an Xbox Series X or Series S, information on Xbox Game Pass, as well as where to trade in your exisiting Xbox consoles and games.

Where to Buy Xbox Consoles Online

If you’re looking to buy a new Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, or Xbox One, here’s where you can purchase them online in 2024. You can also check out the latest Xbox deals for potential discounts.

Xbox Series X

Microsoft’s flagship console, Xbox Series X, retails for an MSRP of $499.99 and features 1TB of storage and true 4K gaming.

Xbox Series S

Xbox Series S is the less-powerful, all-digital variant of Microsoft’s current console lineup that starts at an MSRP of $299.99. The base model features 512GB of storage and 1440p resolution gaming in a 60% smaller package. You can also get the Carbon Black Series S console, which starts at an MSRP of $349.99 and comes with 1TB of storage space.

Xbox One

Xbox One is Microsoft’s previous generation console that released in 2013. While it’s not currently being manufactured, you can still find refurbished models online at some retailers. There are three standard models available: the original Xbox One, a slimmer redesign called Xbox One S, and the more powerful Xbox One X. It’s worth noting that Xbox Series X|S are backwards compatible with Xbox One games, so your money may be better spent on the current generaton consoles.

Latest Xbox Deals

How Much Does a New Xbox Cost?

Xbox has a variety of different consoles at different price points to satisfy the needs of any gamer. The flagship console, Xbox Series X, retails for $499.99 but can also be financed via Xbox All Access at select retailers for $36.99/mo for 24 months which also includes 2 years of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. It’s worth noting that you’ll need to qualify for a line of credit with Citizen’s Pay Line if you opt for Xbox All Access.

Xbox Series S, the smaller, all-digital console, retails for $299.99 for the 512GB model or $349.99 for the 1TB model. Additionally, both can be financed via Xbox All Access starting at $26.99/mo for 24 months.

While Xbox One consoles aren’t currently in production any longer after being quietly discontinued in 2020 to focus on production of Xbox Series X|S, you can find them pre-owned or refurbished at resellers such as GameStop and Amazon, as well as through third-party marketplaces such as eBay, Craigslist, and more.

Additionally, you can often find bundles throughout the year that include either an Xbox Series X or Xbox Series S, sometimes with a unique color or design, as well as an included game, trial of Xbox Game Pass, or in-game content.

Xbox Game Pass Pricing

Xbox Game Pass pricing was recently updated in September 2023 with the discontinuation of Xbox Live Gold, and now features a streamlined tier list depending on whether you play exclusively on Xbox consoles, PC, or both.

Xbox Game Pass Core

Xbox Game Pass Core is $9.99/month and includes online multiplayer for Xbox consoles, a catalog of 25 games to play, and exclusive member discounts and deals. This plan effectively replaced what was previously known as Xbox Live Gold. To see what games are available through this plan, make sure to check out our IGN Playlist of Xbox Game Pass Core games.

Xbox Game Pass Console

Xbox Game Pass Console is $10.99/month and includes access to the entire Xbox Game Pass catalog for Xbox Consoles, including day one Xbox first-party titles. It also includes exclusive member discounts and deals. However, this plan does not include online multiplayer for Xbox, but is a great option if you prefer single player games and want to enjoy the hundreds of games available on Xbox Game Pass.

Xbox Game Pass PC

Xbox Game Pass PC is $9.99/month and includes access to hundred of games to play on PC including day one Xbox first-party titles, an EA Play membership, and exclusive member discounts and deals. This is a great option if you only play on PC and want access to the Xbox Game Pass catalog of supported games. To see what games are available through this plan at the moment, check out our IGN Playlist of Xbox Game Pass PC games.

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate is $16.99/month and combines both Xbox Game Pass Console and Xbox Game Pass PC to provide access to the entire Xbox Game Pass catalog of games on whichever platform you choose, as well as online gaming for Xbox. You’ll be able to play Xbox first-party titles day one, as well as stream hundreds of games over the cloud to compatible devices. Additionally, you’ll be able to play EA titles with an included EA Play membership, and access member-exclusive deals, discounts, and perks. To see the games available to you on this membership, check out our IGN Playlist of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate games.

Best Time to Buy an Xbox

Generally, the best time to buy an Xbox console is during major yearly shopping events such as Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and the various Amazon Prime Day sales. Often times, you can scoop up the console at a discount, or purchase limited-time bundles that include additional games, Xbox Game Pass trials, accessories, or in-game content.

How to Trade in Your Old Xbox

If you’re looking to trade in your old Xbox consoles, you can do so at select retailers in-store and online. Often, the most widely available retailers are GameStop and Best Buy. However, you can also trade your used devices online at retailers such as Amazon and Microsoft.

Some retailers will offer you cash for your used goods, while others may provide you with a gift card that can be used in-store and online. This is a great way to offload your old gaming gear and get some money that you can put towards a newer console and games.

While trading devices in at retailers will often net you the lowest amount for your used consoles, there are also online marketplaces such as eBay, Craigslist, and OfferUp that may fetch higher prices, but you’ll often be responsible for packing and shipping costs, or be required to meet someone in person for the transaction, the latter of which poses its own risks.

Where to Trade in Xbox Games

Similar to Xbox console trade ins, you can also trade your existing games in at specific retailers. The most widely available retailer accepting used video games is GameStop, but they are notorious for giving you pennies on the dollar for your pre-owned titles. However, if you’re looking for an easy way to offload some of your library for cash or in-store credit, this is a convenient option. You can always look up the expected trade-in value on GameStop’s website before heading into a store, so you know exactly how much you’ll receive. Additionally, you can trade in your used games online through Amazon in exchange for an Amazon gift card.

Matthew Adler is a Commerce, Features, Guides, News, Previews, and Reviews writer for IGN. You can follow him on the site formerly known as Twitter @MatthewAdler and watch him stream on Twitch.

We’ve had a lot of fun with promo codes over the last few months. And now Currys are getting back in on the action PlayStation with their promo code PS15. This promo code means that you can get some free money on the PlayStation store by grabbing a gift card at a discounted price.

If you’ve been sitting on your hands waiting for some new games, now is your chance to make move.

The best deal from this offer is definitely on the £90 PlayStation Gift Card, now down to just £76.50 with code PS15 (see here). That’s a saving of £13.50 in total, quick maths, and perfectly sets you up for some cheap as chips gaming over the next few years.

So as you’ve saved on your credit for your PlayStation account, and deals you decide to jump on are immediately enhanced. Here’s a few of our favourites in the sale for you to sink your teeth into as well.

If you want some other great deals at the moment, then you might as well stay on Currys’ website. You can pre-order yourself a physical copy of Final Fantasy VII Rebirth for PS5 for just £55.99 by using another handy code – ‘rebirth20.’

If you happen to be short of the console in the first place, then the new PS5 Slim has recently had £60 knocked off its price in the UK, representing the first significant savings on the model since its release. And if you want some extra storage for all the new games you’ll be buying with your cheap gift cards, then grab yourself a fanxiang S770 1TB M.2 PS5 SSD (With Heatsink) for a very tidy £61 when you use code take20. Codes all over the place!

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

It has been five long years since Team Cherry announced Hollow Knight: Silksong on February 14, 2019, with a launch then planned for PC, Mac, Linux, and Nintendo Switch. And still, it remains one of the most-anticipated video games around.

Not only is Hollow Knight: Silksong the third most-wishlisted game on Steam, behind only Hades 2 and Manor Lords, but it is one of the most-wanted Game Pass games following Microsoft’s deal with Team Cherry to bring it to its subscription service day-one. It’s also coming to the PlayStation Store, with a PlayStation 5 launch planned.

In June 2022, Microsoft included Hollow Knight: Silksong in its Xbox-Bethesda Showcase, and announced that everything shown would be playable in the next 12 months. Xbox then seemingly confirmed that the long-awaited follow-up would indeed be out within a year.

Then, in May last year, Team Cherry announced that Hollow Knight: Silksong had been delayed past the first half of 2023 and that more details would come as the game neared its release date. At the time, Team Cherry’s marketing and publishing lead Matthew Griffin said: “We had planned to release in the first half of 2023, but development is still continuing. We’re excited by how the game is shaping up, and it’s gotten quite big, so we want to take the time to make the game as good as we can.”

As you’d expect, Hollow Knight fans are desperate for news from Team Cherry. While the five-year anniversary of Silksong’s announcement has come and gone without fanfare, the developer has indicated it’s still hard at work on the game.

As Nintendo Life notes, Hollow Knight: Silksong joins Metroid Prime 4 in the ‘five years since announcement club’, although in Metroid Prime 4’s case it was five years since Nintendo announced it had restarted development on the Switch exclusive.

As the sequel to 2017’s critically acclaimed Hollow Knight, fans have been looking forward patiently for Silksong. In IGN’s Hollow Knight review, we said: “The world of Hallownest is compelling and rich, full of story that’s left for you to discover on your own, and built with branching paths that offer an absurd amount of choice in how you go about discovering it. With such a high density of secrets to find and fun, challenging enemies to face, it’s worth spending every moment you can in Hollow Knight.”

Perhaps Hollow Knight: Silksong will pop up at the next Nintendo Direct?

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.

Hot on the heels of a backlash against Diablo 4 portal reskins that cost the same as Palworld comes a new microtransaction horror: a horse bundle that costs more than Diablo 4 itself.

This week, Blizzard released the new Vitreous Scourge mount, which can only be bought as part of a $64.99 bundle that throws in 7,000 Platinum. For context, Diablo 4 itself currently costs $41.99, and there is no way to buy the Vitreous Scourge mount outside this bundle.

Here’s what you get from the Vitreous Scourge pack, per Blizzard:

Charge in atop crystal and bone

Manifest crystalline might and traverse Sanctuary with the Vitreous Scourge. The Vitreous Scourge pack includes Crystal and Bone bundle containing the Crystal-clad mount, Crystal and Bone Cage mount armor, two mount trophies, and 7,000 Platinum.

Crystal and Bone: A great many maladies plague the unfortunate inhabitants of Sanctuary. One is a spreading corruption that crystalizes both flesh and bone.

7,000 Platinum can be exchanged to customize your in-game experience with purchasable cosmetic items from the Shop, used to unlock access to the premium Battle Pass, and Battle Pass Tier Skips.

Are you playing Helldivers 2 and wondering if the developers will ever add a player versus player mode? Don’t hold your breath — the boss of developer Arrowhead Game Studios has said it’s never going to happen.

Responding to a user on Twitter/X, Arrowhead CEO Johan Pilestedt said the developer will “never” add PvP to Helldivers 2 in order to reduce “toxic elements” from the community.

“Hey; We’ll ‘never’ add a PvP-mode,” Pilestedt said. “This is to reduce toxic elements from the community.

“We want an environment that’s supportive, fun and where we all are fighting on the same side!”

Helldivers 2 is a co-op third-person shooter in which players squad up to take on alien bugs and automatons across big maps packed with over-the-top action, explosions, and a generous number of epic moments.

While there is no PvP mode, players are as much a danger to each other as they are to the enemy. Helldivers 2 is a game with friendly fire, which means a stray bullet from a squadmate can be disastrous. Turrets, too, can kill your friends, or even you, if you happen to get in their way. And devastating orbital strikes can be a menace to your friends as well as enemy outposts.

One of the cool things about Helldivers 2 is that players have established an ‘unspoken’ co-op etiquette, which is useful for a game in which voice comms are rarely used when playing with randoms. From what I can tell, griefing is an unusual occurrence in Helldivers 2, but it does happen. I’ve seen some players report they’ve encountered players who’ve engaged in a spot of teamkilling. Some are even orbital-striking the entire group as soon as they spawn onto the map, only to do it again seemingly just for a laugh. And teamkilling during an extraction, or kicking a teammate during extraction after a 40-minute mission does sometimes occur.

Pilestedt also responded to a user who accused Arrowhead of being “scared” to add PvP to Helldivers 2, denying that was the case. “Not scared,” Pilestedt said. “Just we don’t want the toxicity that naturally comes with it. There are plenty, actually most, games that provide PvP.

“We make games for people that just want to have a challenging time with friends but in a PvE setting.”

Pilestedt then pointed players who want a PvP experience to extraction shooter Escape from Tarkov: “If you want PvP I recommend @tarkov,” Pilestedt said.

According to Pilestedt, Helldivers 2 has already sold one million copies across PlayStation 5 and PC, smashing all expectations in the process. And despite various matchmaking issues, Helldivers 2 shows no sign of slowing down. Check out IGN’s Helldivers 2 tips and tricks for getting started if you’re jumping in.

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.