Category: IGN

Helldivers 2 developer Arrowhead Games Studios has rolled out a new patch to address a range of matchmaking, performance, and stability issues affecting the popular co-operative shooter.

“Recruits, help is on the way!” wrote the developer in a Twitter/X post announcing the patch. “We have issued a patch to PC and PS5 players to address general stability (crashes) and stuttering, Defend Events, and matchmaking.”

Patch 01.000.006 brings a number of fixes for cutscene-related crashes, including one that was known to occur during extraction at the very end of a mission. Other crashes linked to text-to-speech functionality and menu elements have also been addressed.

Arrowhead has also worked to improve Helldivers 2’s ‘backend connectivity’, which will hopefully make for a more seamless matchmaking experience and reduce the risk of disconnecting during missions.

Helldivers 2 update 01.000.006 patch notes are below:

Overview

• For this patch, we have focused on the following areas:
• Improved general game stability
• Prepared build for upcoming server matchmaking improvements.
• Resolving connectivity and disconnect issues.

Fixes

• Fixed crash when application was closed shortly after start
• Game no longer crashes during extraction cutscene.
• User profile with too many friends no longer causes crash.
• Fixed crash when using text-to-speech during extraction cutscene
• Game no longer crashes when users disconnect during the joining cutscene.
• Operation Status in Mission Summary no longer causes crash.
• Fixed crashes caused by leftover visual effects from disconnected players.
• Game no longer crashes when using ADS.
• Repaired instability in game data packing that caused increased patch sizes.
• Improved backend connectivity, reduces likelihood of disconnecting in missions.
• Improved matchmaking experience and likelihood of success.

The February 8 launch of Helldivers 2 saw over 360,000 players concurrently attempt to login and join the effort to spread managed democracy by calling down all manner of overpowered weapons on the bug-like Termanid hordes and robotic Automaton armies. This wave of enthusiasm stressed the game’s online infrastructure, leaving many players frustrated with progression issues, and others struggling to login at all.

Arrowhead has since deployed a number of “rapid fixes” to remedy the most prevalent issues, though one such update had to be partially rolled back after players reported a degredation in performance on PC. The developers have since apologised to affected customers, and promised to hold an ‘increased reward event’ to compensate the community for any lost progression.

Technical issues aside, Helldivers 2 is a hit with players, with many lauding the game’s dynamic enemy encounters, and generally being goodwilled when it comes to the inevitable friendly fire events that come hand in hand with high explosive orbital bombardments. Some members of the community are even working to establish rules of etiquette that players can adhere to in order to ensure that everyone has an enjoyable time, and no-one finds themselves on the wrong end of a descending Hellpod.

Earlier today Helldivers 2 hit another engagement milestone, as over 200,000 players consecutively logged in to play on PC. Helldivers 2 is Sony’s biggest game ever on PC, beating the likes of God of War.

If you’re thinking about donning the Helldivers cape and joining the fight, then be sure to check out IGN’s Helldivers 2 review in progress, and to avail yourselves of our guides on how to defeat some of the apex lifeforms terrorising democracy.

Anthony is a freelance contributor covering science and video gaming news for IGN. He has over eight years experience of covering breaking developments in multiple scientific fields and absolutely no time for your shenanigans. Follow him on Twitter @BeardConGamer

Insomniac’s Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 has hit another sales milestone: it’s now up to 10 million copies sold as of February 4, 2024.

Sony said previously Spider-Man 2 was the fastest-selling PlayStation Studios game over a 24-hour period when the PlayStation 5 exclusive sold more than 2.5 million copies in a day. That sales milestone put Spider-Man 2 ahead of Sony Santa Monica’s God of War Ragnarok at the top of the PlayStation day-one launch sales chart.

Spider-Man 2 went on to sell five million after just 11 days on sale. And now, Sony has confirmed it’s sold 10 million after 107 days on sale. To put that into more context, Marvel’s Spider-Man, which launched on PlayStation 4 in 2018, sold nine million copies after 80 days on sale, and 13.2 million after 325 days on sale.

The release of data stolen from Insomniac late last year revealed internal concern at the growing cost of the developer’s games. According to Kotaku’s report on the breach, Spider-Man 2 development costs ran $30 million over the original $270 million budget, and ultimately needed to sell 7.2 million units to break even. The latest sales figures suggest Spider-Man 2 has now veered into profitable territory, although Sony has yet to confirm that itself.

While Spider-Man 2 appears to have been successful for Sony, the company signaled a sparse year for big first-party exclusives. Sony said it will not release any major existing PlayStation franchise games before April 2025, ruling out big new sequels in the likes of its God of War and Spider-Man series.

What’s next for Insomniac? Spider-Man 2 gets its long-awaited update in March, and is working on a Wolverine game for PS5.

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.

Team Cherry is years into development on Hollow Knight: Silksong, a sequel to its acclaimed 2D action-adventure game that IGN crowned the all-time best Metroidvania (that isn’t a Metroid or Castlevania game).

In anticipation of the sequel to Hollow Knight, we’ve put together this breakdown of everything you need to know about Hollow Knight: Silksong as of February 2024.

Jump to:

• Release Date
• Gameplay Details
• Story Details
• Development

Hollow Knight: Silksong Release Date

There is no official release date or window for Hollow Knight: Silksong. A 2024 release seems most likely given it was previously slated for the first half of 2023, though there’s been no official word from developer Team Cherry.

Last May, Team Cherry delayed Silksong beyond its initial First Half 2023 release window, saying: “We had planned to release in the 1st 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. Expect more details from us once we get closer to release.”

As of mid-February 2024, Team Cherry has not shared further details on the release date.

Hollow Knight: Silksong Platforms and Price

Hollow Knight: Silksong will be released on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and PC. It’ll be available day and date on Xbox Game Pass. The official PlayStation account tweeted Silksong is coming to PS4 as well, though the platform is absent from the game’s official website and press kit.

A price has not been announced for Silksong. The first Hollow Knight retailed for $15, though there’s no guarantee the sequel will cost the same.

If you were one of the 2,158 people who backed the original Hollow Knight on Kickstarter, you’ll receive a copy of Silksong for free, according to Team Cherry.

Hollow Knight: Silksong Gameplay

Team Cherry has purposely been quiet about Silksong’s gameplay details. “Discovery is a huge part of Hollow Knight so we don’t want to spoil all the new systems and surprises,” it said. However, from two trailers and a handful of blog posts, we’ve learned a bit about what you can expect gameplay-wise.

Hornet, equipped with her needle and thread of silk, is described as an “acrobatic” fighter; she moves quickly and gracefully, as evidenced by the most recent gameplay trailer from 2022.

The sequel will feature tons of new enemies (165 as of late 2019). These include “beasts and hunters, assassins and kings, [and] monsters and knights.” Outside of combat, Hornet has the ability to craft weapons, traps, and “mechanisms to confound your enemies and explore new heights.”

As detailed by Team Cherry, Hornet uses silk to Bind (i.e., heal), similar to how the Knight uses soul to Focus in Hollow Knight. New for the sequel is the speed in which Hornet can Bind — “it’s lightning-fast” — and her ability to heal in mid-air. At the start of the game, one Bind will restore three masks. Bind consumes all of Hornet’s silk, and if she’s hit mid-heal, “the healing effect will be wasted and the silk will be gone.”

Upon death, Hornet will leave a cocoon, akin to how the Knight left a Shade. Each cocoon will contain a full supply of silk, creating a tactical decision for the player on when to break it open.

As with Hollow Knight’s labyrinthine Hallownest, Silksong’s world, Pharloom, must be mapped as you progress through its twisting layout. Team Cherry says the process uses the “same tools and restrictions” as the original game, though this time around, Hornet will be aided by the warrior Shakra, a master cartographer who provides charts, compasses, and other tools for navigation.

Silksong will feature Silk Soul Mode, available after you complete the game for the first time. Silk Soul Mode, like Steel Soul Mode in Hollow Knight, “spins the game into a unique, challenging experience.” Further details have not yet been announced.

We got our hands on Silksong back in 2019 and said, “It’s unmistakably Hollow Knight, but with the speed cranked up to 11 thanks to the nimble nature of its new protagonist, Hornet.”

Hollow Knight: Silksong Story

Hollow Knight: Silksong features a new protagonist and game world. In the sequel, you’ll play as Hornet, who appears as a boss-turned-ally in the original game. Dubbed the princess-protector of Halllownest, Hornet is captured and brought to the unfamiliar, haunted land of Pharloom. She embarks on a journey to discover the truth behind her capture and ascend to the kingdom’s peak. Here’s the official story synopsis from Team Cherry:

As Hornet, princess-protector of Hallownest, adventure through a whole new kingdom ruled by silk and song. Captured and brought to this unfamiliar land, Hornet must battle foes and solve mysteries as she ascends on a deadly pilgrimage to the kingdom’s peak.

One new area, as detailed by Team Cherry, is Greymoor, wasted caverns that house “many mysteries, several new friends, and [a] duel with a lethal, lunging foe.” It’s described as “one of the biggest” areas in either Hollow Knight game. Other areas include lakes of fire, coral forests, mossy grottoes, gilded cities, and misted moors.

Hornet, unlike the Knight, is voiced. “Dialogue and narrative are there for those that seek it,” said Team Cherry. “For those that don’t, you’ll be able to ignore nearly all characters and get on with your exploring, hunting, and powering up.”

Team Cherry has also revealed some of the new characters Hornet will befriend or face off against in Silksong. You can see them alongside their character descriptions in the gallery above.

Hollow Knight: Silksong Development

Hollow Knight: Silksong is being developed by Team Cherry, the Australian studio that created the original game. The development team consists of three people: Ari Gibson, William Pellen, and Jack Vine.

Silksong, announced in 2019, began development as DLC for the original game. “Almost from the very start, Hornet’s adventure was intended to take place in a new land, but as we dove in, it quickly became too large and too unique to stay a DLC, as initially planned,” Team Cherry wrote at the time of the announcement. “We do know that makes the wait a little longer, but we think the final, fresh world you’ll get to explore is worth it.”

Team Cherry is using Unity to create Silksong, as it did for the original. Composer Christopher Larkin is also back for the sequel; a two-song sample of the soundtrack is available on Larkin’s Bandcamp page.

How to Play Hollow Knight

The original game is available on PS4, Xbox One, Switch, and PC as Hollow Knight: Voidheart Edition, which bundles the base game with its four content packs: Hidden Dreams, The Grimm Troupe, Lifeblood, and Godmaster. It’s available with Xbox Game Pass and PlayStation Plus Extra. Otherwise, it retails for $15.

In his Hollow Knight review, IGN’s Tom Marks wrote, “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.”

Jordan covers games, shows, and movies as a freelance writer for IGN.

Amazon has discounted the Samsung EVO Select 512GB Micro SDXC Card down to $24.99, a 30% price drop from its original $35 MSRP. This is an excellent price for a 512GB Micro SDXC card from a well-known and respected brand. I’s fully compatible with the Nintendo Switch, Steam Deck, and ASUS ROG Ally portable handhelds. It also comes with a SD adapter for devices that only take full-sized SD cards. Check out all of the best Nintendo Switch deals for sales on other games and accessories.

512GB Samsung Micro SDXC Card for $24.99

If you’ve started compiling a collection of digital games, you probably already know just how limited the Switch’s base storage capacity. The Switch and Switch OLED consoles have 32GB and 64GB of internal storage, respectively, with some of it reserved for the OS. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom uses up 16GB and Breath of the Wild about 13.5GB. If bought digitally, those two games alone would take up all of your internal storage on the OG Switch console. There’s only one expansion slot in the Switch console so you want to make sure you get the biggest card you can afford.

The Samsung EVO Select Micro SDXC card is compatible with virtually any device that accepts the Micro SDXC card standard. That includes the Nintendo Switch, Steam Deck, ASUS ROG Ally, any recently released smartphone that supports expandable memory, GoPros, cameras and much more. Despite its low price, the Samsung EVO Select is faster than your average Micro SDXC card. It has a U3 A2 rating and boasts transfer speeds of up to 130MB/s.

Season 9 of Overwatch 2 is finally here. As you’d expect, Blizzard has provided a rundown of all the new additions coming to the team-based shooter.

In a new blog post covering the patch notes, Blizzard reveals not only that the new update introduces season 9 but also a slew of improvements to competitive play. Most notably, the developer reworked competitive updates — instead of requiring a player to win five matches or lose 15, they will receive updates after every match. A new skill tier, Champion, above Grandmaster, has also been introduced. Blizzard touted that “only an exceedingly small percentage of players will ever occupy this echelon of Competitive Play.”

Overwatch 2’s Season 9 update also introduces a new co-op event called Cosmic Criss. Players will team up with three others to repair their ship, fend off enemies, and try to escape the Ruins of Ecopoint Antarctica.

In our review of Overwatch 2, we said: “Overwatch 2’s switch to a 5v5 format breathes new life into what was once the sharpest shooter around. It just hasn’t quite recaptured all of that glory – yet.”

You can check out the full patch notes below.

Overwatch 2 Season 9 Patch Notes

NEW EVENT: COSMIC CRISIS

Face off against eldritch abominations in the twisted reality of Cosmic Crisis, a brand-new co-op mission. Work with three other players to repair your ship and escape the ruins of Ecopoint Antarctica while fighting off the monstrous Null Sector. But keep an eye out for your teammates… an ancient power lurks in the shadows, waiting for its chance to strike.

Skill Rank Reset

• Given the significant changes to our heroes and the addition of a new skill tier, this reset is designed to give all players a chance to climb higher than ever before.
• All roles in Role Queue and Open Queue in Competitive Play have been reset to Unranked.

Placement Matches

• Placements have been rebuilt from the ground up. Your predicted rank will be displayed after each placement match.
• You must complete 10 matches in a role to receive your Skill Rank for that role.
• Winning your placements will have a significant impact on your final rank.

Competitive Updates

• Competitive Updates have been reworked. Instead of requiring five wins or 15 losses to get a Competitive Update, updates now happen after every match.
• Going forward, the Competitive Updates page now hosts information about your ranks in Role Queue and Open Queue, as well as your progress toward Competitive Point rewards.

Skill Modifiers

• Modifiers now appear on the Competitive Progress page after each match.
• Skill modifiers provide information on how much a rank will gain or lose progress after a match, including win or loss streaks, rank instability, and match favorability.

New Skill Tier – Champion

• A new rank has been added above Grandmaster, called Champion, that is more exclusive than any other rank in Overwatch. Only an exceedingly small percentage of players will ever occupy this echelon of Competitive Play.

Versus Screen

• The range of ranks for players in a match of Competitive Play is now displayed on the same screen where both teams are shown with their name cards, player icons, and titles.

New Grouping Requirements

• Bronze through Diamond Players may group with other players within 2 Skill Tiers of their own Skill Rank.
• Master players may group with other players within 1 Skill Tier of their own Skill Rank.
• Grandmaster players may group with other players within 3 Skill Divisions of their own Skill Rank.
• Champion players may group with only one other player within 3 Skill Divisions of their own Skill Rank.

Art & UI Updates

• Skill Tier and Skill Division art for rank icons have been redesigned for improved readability.
• The Competitive Skill Tier legend has been redesigned to include updated and new relevant information.

Competitive Points

• Each win now grants 10 Competitive Points.
• Each draw now grants 5 Competitive Points.
• Each loss still grants 0 Competitive Points.

Competitive Progression

• Competitive Challenges that award additional Competitive Points at the end of the season have been replaced with a new Competitive Progression system.
• Every match grants progress toward your Competitive Progression meter, and after earning 30 you will receive an additional 100 Competitive Points.
• Wins award 3 progress toward your Competitive Progression meter. Draws and Losses award 1 progress.

Competitive Rewards

• Jade Weapon Variants have been introduced.
• Each Jade Weapon Variant costs 3000 Competitive Points to purchase.
• All players will start this season with a balance of 0 Competitive Points.
• All existing Competitive Points have been converted into a new currency, Legacy Competitive Points.
• Each Golden Weapon Variant now costs 3000 Legacy Competitive Points to purchase.
• At the end of a Competitive Year, any remaining balance of Competitive Points converts to Legacy Competitive Points.

Matchmaking Rating

• At the start of this season only, the internal Matchmaking Ratings for all players have been adjusted to push players closer to the normalized average (approximately at Gold 3).
• Matchmaking Ratings have been decayed. The higher the rank, the more it has been decayed.
• Most players will start at a lower skill rank and division than their most recent rank.

Competitive Challenges

• Competitive challenges removed. Rewards and progress for Competitive Play are now displayed on the Competitive Progress page and titles are rewarded at the end of the season.

GENERAL UPDATESPLAYER PROGRESSION

• Added a new set of visual upgrades. Hero/Game Mode badge upgrades start at Level 500. Progression Level badge upgrades start at Level 2500.
• Wrecking Ball title rewards are renamed from “Champion” to “Champ” to align with Junker Queen’s usage of the title (and to avoid confusion with the new Champion rank).
• Adjusted amount needed to level up certain sub-badges for Mauga and Illari.

FRIEND ENDORSEMENTS

• The endorsement is only eligible if you’re in the match for a set duration.
• Endorsements are subject to the configured cooldown period of 12 hours.
• Endorsements are subject to cooldown even if you unfriend the recipient.

SETTINGS

• Added a feature for controller/keyboard users that remembers what you had focus when backing out of screens.

CROSSHAIR UPDATE

New Reticle Types have been added.

• Square
• Box
• Line
• Triwing
• Falloff

New Reticle Dots have been added.

• Ring
• Square
• Triangle
• Cross
• Heart

New Reticle color options have been added.

• Brown
• Dark Red
• Light Red
• Light Purple
• Gray
• Teal

HERO UPDATES

Most damage-dealing projectile sizes have been increased by a new global modifier added to their base size.

• +0.05 meters for hitscan projectiles with a high rate of fire or spread (e.g., Tracer’s Pulse Pistols or Reaper’s Hellfire Shotguns).
• +0.08 meters for hitscan projectiles that are more precise (e.g., Cassidy’s Peacekeeper or Soldier:76’s Heavy Pulse Rifle).
• +0.05 meters for travel time projectiles that are shotguns or have a very high rate of fire (e.g., Roadhog’s Scrap Gun or Ramattra’s Void Accelerator).
• +0.10 meters for travel time projectile with a speed greater than 50 meters per second (e.g., Zenyatta’s Destruction Orb).
• +0.15 meters for travel time projectile with a speed less than or equal to 50 meters per second (e.g., Pharah’s Rocket Launcher).
• Very large projectiles with a base size greater than 0.5 meters have been excluded from these increases (e.g., Orisa’s Energy Javelin or Reinhardt’s Fire Strike).

Hero combined HP (base health/armor/shields) increased by 15-25%.

• 150-175 HP heroes increased by 25 HP.
• 200-300 HP heroes increased by 50 HP.
• 300+ HP (Tanks) increased by 75-100 HP.
• Each hero’s precise health increases are listed in their patch notes below.

Ultimate Charge

• All Ultimate ability costs increased by 10%.

Regenerative Passive for All Heroes

• All heroes now regenerate 20 health per second after 5 seconds of not taking damage.

Support Role Passive

• Now reduces the delay before regeneration begins by half (2.5 seconds).

Damage Role Passive

• Reload speed bonus on elimination has been removed.
• New role passive: Dealing damage reduces enemy healing received by 20% for 2 seconds.

Quick Melee

• Damage increased from 30 to 40.

D.Va

• Pilot health increased from 150 to 175.
• Mech armor increased from 300 to 375.

Self Destruct

• Explosion maximum damage increased from 900 to 1000.
• Inner explosion radius (range for maximum damage before falloff begins) increased from 4 to 6 meters.

Doomfist

• Health increased from 300 to 375.

Rocket Punch

• Max impact damage increased from 50 to 75.
• Max wall slam damage increased from 30 to 40.

Junker Queen

• Health increased from 300 to 375.

Rampage

• Wound damage over time increased from 60 to 90.

Mauga

• Health increased from 300 to 400.

Orisa

• Armor increased from 275 to 350.

Ramattra

• Health increased from 200 to 275.

Reinhardt

• Health increased from 200 to 250.
• Armor increased from 250 to 275.

Rocket Hammer

• Damage increased from 85 to 100.

Charge

• Wall impact damage increased from 225 to 275.

Roadhog

• Health increased from 550 to 650.

Sigma

• Shields increased from 200 to 275.

Winston

• Health increased from 200 to 225.
• Armor increased from 200 to 250.

Tesla Cannon

• Damage increased from 60 to 75 damage per second.

Primal Rage

• Punch damage increased from 40 to 50.

Wrecking Ball

• Armor increased from 100 to 175.

Zarya

• Health increased from 100 to 175.

Particle Cannon

• Primary fire beam width increased from 0.15 to 0.2 meters.

DAMAGE

Ashe

• Health increased from 200 to 250.

B.O.B.

• B.O.B.’s weapon damage increased from 14 to 17.

Bastion

• Health increased from 200 to 250.

Cassidy

• Health increased from 225 to 275.

Deadeye

• Initial damage rate increased from 130 to 150.
• Damage rate increased from 260 to 300.

Echo

• Health increased from 200 to 250.

Focusing Beam

• Width increased from 0.2 to 0.25 meters.

Duplicate

• Maximum combined health value increased from 300 to 350.

Genji

• Health increased from 200 to 250.

Dragonblade

Swing recovery decreased from 0.9 to 0.7 seconds.

Hanzo

• Health increased from 200 to 250.

Storm Arrows

• Damage increased from 65 to 75.
• Cooldown reduced from 10 to 8 seconds.

Junkrat

• Health increased from 200 to 250.

Frag Launcher

• Base projectile size reduced from 0.25 to 0.2 meters.

Mei

• Health increased from 250 to 300.

Pharah

• Health increased from 200 to 250.

Rocket Launcher

• Recovery reduced from 0.85 to 0.80 seconds.
• Projectile speed increased from 35 to 40 meters per second.
• Explosion self-damage reduced from 50% to 25%.

Jet Dash

• New Secondary Fire Ability.
• Provides a quick horizontal boost in the direction Pharah is moving.
• 8-second cooldown.
• Added a setting to activate Jet Dash on Double Jump instead.

Jump Jet

• Now restores 50% of Hover Jets fuel and can briefly overfill the maximum fuel amount.
• Vertical boost height reduced by 20%.
• Cooldown increased from 10 to 14 seconds.

Concussive Blast

• Cooldown decreased from 9 to 7 seconds.
• Explosion now deals 30 damage to enemy targets.
• Explosion radius reduced from 8 to 6 meters.
• Knockback reduced by 10%.

Barrage

• Now instantly refills Hover Jets fuel.

Hover Jets

• Speed boost increased from 20% to 40%.
• Now requires landing to recharge fuel.
• Can now be activated without fuel to slow your descent.

Developer Comments: Pharah has a significant update that empowers more individual plays and shifting her movement capabilities from high up in the air to more horizontal movement that can cover distance quickly.

Reaper

• Health increased from 250 to 300.

Sojourn

• Health increased from 200 to 250.

Railgun

• Secondary Fire base projectile size reduced from 0.1 to 0.07 meters.

Soldier: 76

• Health increased from 200 to 250.

Sombra

• Health increased from 200 to 250.

Symmetra

• Shields increased from 100 to 150.

Photon Projector

• Primary fire beam width increased from 0.2 to 0.25 meters.

Torbjörn

• Health increased from 200 to 250.

Tracer

• Health increased from 150 to 175.

Widowmaker

• Health increased from 175 to 200.

SUPPORT

Ana

• Health increased from 200 to 250.

Baptiste

• Health increased from 200 to 250.

Brigitte

• Health increased from 150 to 200.

Rocket Flail

• Damage increased from 35 to 45.

Illari

• Health increased from 200 to 250.

Kiriko

• Health increased from 200 to 250.

Kunai

• Base projectile size reduced from 0.18 to 0.15 meters.

Lifeweaver

• Health increased from 175 to 225.

Lúcio

• Health increased from 200 to 250.

Soundwave

• Damage increased from 25 to 35.
• Knockback increased 12%.
• Movement lockout duration increased from 0.3 to 0.45 seconds.

Mercy

• Health increased from 200 to 250.

Guardian Angel

• Active duration on jump/crouch cancel reduced from 1.5 to 1 second.

Sympathetic Recovery passive

• Health recovered increased from 25% to 40% of healing dealt.

Moira

• Health increased from 200 to 250.

Biotic Grasp

• Secondary fire damage increased from 50 to 65 damage per second.
• Secondary fire target acquisition radius increased from 0.6 to 0.7 meters.

Zenyatta

• Health increased from 75 to 100.
• Shields increased from 150 to 175.

JUNKERTOWN UPDATE

• New nighttime lighting theme.
• New building near the first point to provide more cover & block long sightlines.
• Added a water tower near the first point to block sightlines from upper choke positions.
• Added more vehicles near the cliff to provide additional cover & block long sightlines.
• Reduced the cliffside path to tighten the space and reduce the overall footprint of the area.
• Removed a small health pack on the second area balcony that was easy for defenders to overuse.
• Added vertical beam at second choke point to promote movement out of the upper floor & make the choke easier to defend.
• Widened and added cover in a hallway in the third area to make close quarter fights easier to maneuver.

BUG FIXES GENERAL

• Fixed an issue with some shadows that could appear jagged when on any setting below Ultra.
• Fixed a bug that prevented your skin from changing when using the Change Skin option in Hero Select if you had a Loadout selected.
• Fixed a bug with Golden Weapons being marked as unspecified and not being purchasable.
• Fixed a bug with some callouts for pushing the payload playing at incorrect moments.
• Fixed an issue with Wall Climb failing in some situations.
• Additional bug fixes for general stability and performance.

MAPS

Antarctic Peninsula

• Fixed lighting in some areas of the map.

King’s Row

• Fixed areas of the map that were missing collision.

Midtown

• Fixed some locations that could cause some heroes to become stuck

Shambali Monastery

• Fixed a location of the map that displayed incorrect textures.

HEROES

Doomfist

• Fixed a bug with Meteor Strike that could result in Doomfist getting inside the environment.
• Fixed a bug that sometimes prevented Seismic Slam’s damage from going through turrets.
• Fixed a bug that could prevent Doomfist from acquiring Overhealth in some cases.
• Fixed a bug where Rocket Punch left a small window of time open to use abilities.

Echo

• Fixed an interaction when Duplicating Bastion that prevented the Duplicated Configuration: Artillery’s shots from landing if Duplicate ended before they landed.

Lifeweaver

• Fixed a bug that prevented Tree of Life from healing Reaper when in Wraith form.

Lúcio

• Amp it Up now goes on cooldown if interrupted by stun during its cast time or when dying while it’s active.

Mauga

• Fixed a bug with the burning applied by Mauga not being removed when picking up a health pack.

Orisa

• Terra Surge now correctly pulls in and damages enemies that are on uneven slopes/collision, as long as Orisa has a direct line of sight, they will get pulled/damaged.

Roadhog

• Fixed a bug with Roadhog’s model becoming distorted with some skins during the Heroic Highlight intro.
• Fixed a bug with Pig Pen displaying a Junkrat icon when pinged.

Sombra

• Fixed an interaction that prevented Hack from being interrupted by Rocket Punch or Shield Bash.
• Fixed a bug where Sombra would enter Stealth while escorting the robot in some situations.

Torbjörn

• Fixed a bug with disabling the Interact Cancel Deploy Turret setting causing you to only destroy a deployed turret and not toss out a new one when the ability is used.

Winston

• Fixed a bug with Primal Rage that interrupted the ability to attack if the Ultimate was initiated while Jumping and using Melee at the same time.

Zenyatta

• Golden weapon tint should now properly be reflected on all skins.

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

The 27th D.I.C.E. Awards are nearly here and are set to celebrate the best of the best in the world of video games. The show kicks off later this week in Las Vegas and will once again be hosted by IGN’s Stella Chung and Kinda Funny CEO and IGN’s Greg Miller.

IGN is also the official media partner of the show and this guide will let you know everything you need to know about this year’s D.I.C.E. Awards, including how you can watch it with us, what you can expect, and more.

DICE Awards 2024 Start Time

The D.I.C.E. Awards 2024 will take place on Thursday, February 15, 2024, at 8pm PT/11pm ET. If you live in the GMT or AEST timzones, that translates to Friday, February 16, at 4am GMT/2pm AEST.

Where to Watch the DICE Awards 2024

If you’re interested in watching the D.I.C.E. Awards, we’ll be hosting it, as the official media sponsor, here and across our many channels on platforms, including YouTube, Twitch, Twitter, Facebook, and more. Here’s the full list of places you can watch the show with us:

• IGN.com (homepage)
• IGN’s Twitch Channel
• IGN’s Youtube Channel
• IGN’s iOS App
• IGN’s Android App

What to Expect From the DICE Awards 2024

The 27th D.I.C.E. Awards is once again being put on by the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences (AIAS) and will take place at the Aria Resort in Las Vegas. IGN’s Stella Chung and Kinda Funny CEO and IGN alum Greg Miller will be the hosts and will help celebrate the best games of 2024.

Unlike other awards shows, the D.I.C.E. Awards are voted on strictly by a panel of game developers, so in a sense it is an awards show that honors the games by those who make them. This year, there were 56 games nominated and Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 led the way with nine nominations. Alan Wake 2 followed right behind with eight noms, Baldur’s Gate 3 earned seven, and Cocoon nabbed six.

As for Game of the Year, the games set to compete for the top honor are Alan Wake 2, Baldur’s Gate 3, Cocoon, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kindgom. You can check out the full list of nominees below.

There usually aren’t many annoucements at the D.I.C.E. Awards as it puts a heavy focus on the incredible creators behind our favorite experiences from the past year. However, never say never!

Lastly, the D.I.C.E. Awards will be honoring legendary Nintendo composer and sound director Koji Kondo by inducting him into the D.I.C.E. Hall of Fame. While you may not know his name, Kondo is responsible for some of the most iconic songs in entertainment from games like the original Super Mario Bros., the original The Legend of Zelda, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, Super Mario Sunshine, Super Mario Galaxy, Super Mario Bros. Wonder, The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, and much, much more.

The DICE Awards 2024 Nominees

Outstanding Achievement in Animation

• Final Fantasy XVI
• Hi-Fi RUSH
• Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
• Mortal Kombat 1
• Super Mario Bros. Wonder

Outstanding Achievement in Art Direction

• Alan Wake 2
• Hogwarts Legacy
• Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
• Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
• Starfield

Outstanding Achievement in Character

• Alan Wake 2 – Saga Anderson
• Baldur’s Gate 3 – Astarion
• Baldur’s Gate 3 – Karlach
• Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 – Miles Morales
• Thirsty Suitors – Jala

Outstanding Achievement in Original Music Composition

• Alan Wake 2
• Diablo IV
• Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
• Planet of Lana
• Star Wars Jedi: Survivor

Outstanding Achievement in Audio Design

• Alan Wake 2
• COCOON
• Hi-Fi RUSH
• Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
• Star Wars Jedi: Survivor

Outstanding Achievement in Story

• Alan Wake 2
• Baldur’s Gate 3
• DAVE THE DIVER
• Thirsty Suitors
• Venba

Outstanding Technical Achievement

• Alan Wake 2
• Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
• Hogwarts Legacy
• THE FINALS
• The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

Action Game of the Year

• ARMORED CORE VI FIRES OF RUBICON
• Dead Space
• Hi-Fi RUSH
• Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
• Remnant II

Adventure Game of the Year

• Alan Wake 2
• COCOON
• DAVE THE DIVER
• Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
• The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

Family Game of the Year

• Disney Illusion Island
• Fae Farm
• Hello Kitty Island Adventure
• Midnight Girl
• Super Mario Bros. Wonder

Fighting Game of the Year

• Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising
• Mortal Kombat 1
• Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2
• Pocket Bravery
• Street Fighter 6

Racing Game of the Year

• F-ZERO 99
• Forza Motorsport
• Hot Wheels Unleashed 2 – Turbocharged
• LEGO 2K Drive

Role-Playing Game of the Year

• Baldur’s Gate 3
• Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty
• Diablo IV
• Final Fantasy XVI
• Starfield

Sports Game of the Year

• EA SPORTS FC 24
• MLB The Show™ 23
• WWE 2K23

Strategy/Simulation Game of the Year

• Against the Storm
• Cobalt Core
• Dune: Spice Wars
• The Last Spell
• Wartales

Immersive Reality Technical Achievement

• Asgard’s Wrath 2
• Assassin’s Creed Nexus VR
• Horizon: Call of the Mountain
• Vertigo 2
• We Are One

Immersive Reality Game of the Year

• Asgard’s Wrath 2
• Assassin’s Creed Nexus VR
• Horizon: Call of the Mountain
• Vampire: The Masquerade – Justice
• Vertigo 2

Outstanding Achievement for an Independent Game

• COCOON
• DREDGE
• El Paso, Elsewhere
• Thirsty Suitors
• Venba

Mobile Game of the Year

• Gubbins
• Hello Kitty Island Adventure
• Honkai: Star Rail
• Terra Nil
• WHAT THE CAR?

Online Game of the Year

• Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III
• Diablo IV
• Omega Strikers
• Street Fighter 6
• THE FINALS

Outstanding Achievement in Game Design

• Baldur’s Gate 3
• COCOON
• DAVE THE DIVER
• Super Mario Bros. Wonder
• The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

Outstanding Achievement in Game Direction

• Baldur’s Gate 3
• COCOON
• Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
• Super Mario Bros. Wonder
• The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

Game of the Year

• Alan Wake 2
• Baldur’s Gate 3
• COCOON
• Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
• The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

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

This popular Black Friday deal is back. For a limited time, Dell is offering the Xbox Series S 512GB Gaming Console for the same price we saw during the 2023 holiday season. Right now you can get it for only $229.99 shipped, a 24% price drop from its original $300 MSRP. Check out the best Xbox deals for more discounts on games, controllers, and accessories.

Best Xbox Series S Deal: $229.99

At the current price point, the Xbox Series S costs 54% less than an Xbox Series X. The Xbox Series S does not have quite the processing power as the Series X; in order to maintain a consistent 60-120fps in most games, the default resolution has been bumped down from 4K to 1440p or 1080p, unlike the Xbox Series X, which can play games at a full 4K. The Xbox Series S comes with 512GB of storage, half of the Xbox Series X. The Xbox Series S also does not have a physical disc drive. However, the Xbox Series S can play all of the same games as the Xbox Series X. It’s also backwards compatible with Xbox One games, and there’s no doubt that the Xbox Series S is more than capable of handling any previous gen games. If you don’t have a 4K TV, or you’re satisfied with the fact that you’ll be able to play any new Xbox game, or you feel that the extra $280 you saved could be better spent elsewhere, then the Xbox Series S might be a smarter purchase.

Amazon has discounted the Samsung EVO Select 512GB Micro SDXC Card down to $24.99, a 30% price drop from its original $35 MSRP. This is an excellent price for a 512GB Micro SDXC card from a well-known and respected brand. I’s fully compatible with the Nintendo Switch, Steam Deck, and ASUS ROG Ally portable handhelds. It also comes with a SD adapter for devices that only take full-sized SD cards. Check out all of the best Nintendo Switch deals for sales on other games and accessories.

512GB Samsung Micro SDXC Card for $24.99

If you’ve started compiling a collection of digital games, you probably already know just how limited the Switch’s base storage capacity. The Switch and Switch OLED consoles have 32GB and 64GB of internal storage, respectively, with some of it reserved for the OS. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom uses up 16GB and Breath of the Wild about 13.5GB. If bought digitally, those two games alone would take up all of your internal storage on the OG Switch console. There’s only one expansion slot in the Switch console so you want to make sure you get the biggest card you can afford.

The Samsung EVO Select Micro SDXC card is compatible with virtually any device that accepts the Micro SDXC card standard. That includes the Nintendo Switch, Steam Deck, ASUS ROG Ally, any recently released smartphone that supports expandable memory, GoPros, cameras and much more. Despite its low price, the Samsung EVO Select is faster than your average Micro SDXC card. It has a U3 A2 rating and boasts transfer speeds of up to 130MB/s.

Larian Studios has revealed a few features coming in Baldur’s Gate 3 Patch 6 alongside its colossal file size.

The developer made a series of posts on X/Twitter to tease the update, which is due sometime this week, and revealed its 21GB download. Those on PC and Steam Deck will need around 150GB of free space to download Patch 6, though Larian said those short on space can uninstall the full game and redownload the patched version. Mac players will receive the Patch at a later date, which is yet to be announced.

Though Patch 6 will no doubt feature a lot more given its size, Larian teased a handful of changes the update will make to the beloved Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game. The first is a time-saving change, as players will be able to dismiss a recruited companion while recruiting another in camp, instead of having to do these both separately.

We’re also here to help you practice some self-love this month, by making sure you’re the star of the show ⭐️

With Patch 6, automatically triggered dialogue will now try to prioritise your avatar as the main speaker, so your party members should stop stealing the limelight! pic.twitter.com/dy1Ai5TJ1i

— Baldur’s Gate 3 (@baldursgate3) February 13, 2024

Two skills, Shield Bash and Rebuke the Mighty, have both been fixed too, so Patch 6 will have players’ passive abilities working properly again. Larian has also addressed an issue where party members would begin talking to non-player characters instead of the player during automatically triggered dialogue.

The developer announced other changes when it revealed Patch 6 earlier in February, including “improved smooches”, new camp animations, more Legendary Actions, and more. Patch 6 will also come packed with myriad bug fixes.

Baldur’s Gate 3 launched in 2023 and became a smash hit, earning a 10/10 in IGN’s review. “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,” we said.

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

The Mario Party-style Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – Sweep the Board! game coming to Nintendo Switch has received an overview trailer ahead of its April 26 release date.

The trailer, below, shows how the dramatic and action-packed Demon Slayer anime has been transferred into party game ridiculousness, showing the likes of Tanjiro and Nezuko rolling dice and taking part in myriad minigames.

Up to four players can choose from 12 characters and move around boards inspired by the likes of Tsuzumi Mansion, Mount Natagumo, and the Mugen Train. Players move around by rolling dice just like in traditional board games, with the separate squares triggering minigames, offering the ability to buy helpful items, giving upgrades, and more.

The minigames also pull scenes from the anime, like one revolving around smacking Tanjiro with a stick when he stops breathing properly, another with Inosuke smashing bits out of his sword, and more.

The Demon Slayer anime continues to prove popular and will likely continue to do so due to its fourth season imminently premiering in April 2024. Though its first two seasons were incredibly well-received, IGN wasn’t a fan of the latest.

In our 5/10 review, we said: “Demon Slayer Season 3 continues to show ufotable’s skill at crafting visually stunning action, but the season is bogged down by repetitive and overly long fight scenes and a dull story.”

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