Eddy is Tekken 8’s first DLC character, Bandai Namco has announced.
The veteran Tekken character launches at some point this spring, as revealed in a new video showing off Tekken 8’s opening movie.
Eddy sports a new high-top dreads hairstyle and a new outfit for Tekken 8, although his capoeira fighting style is present and correct.
The video reveals four DLC characters are currently planned for season 1, the first of which is Eddy. Another follows in summer, another in the autumn, then the fourth in the winter.
As for the opening movie, it’s more of a character montage rather than a story set-up, with over-the-top expressions from the many characters packed into the clip.
Tekken 8, due out on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and S, and PC on January 26, sees the return of the famous fighting game franchise following Tekken 7’s release in 2015. Check out IGN’s Tekken 8 Final Preview to see how it’s shaping up.
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.
2024 is off to an exciting start, and there are some exciting deals that have gone live now that the holiday season has long passed. From video games to PC accessories, there is no shortage of deals you don’t want to miss out on. The best deals for Sunday, January 14, include an Anker 60,000mAh Power Bank, Xbox Elite Series 2 Core Wireless Controller, Street Fighter 6 Collector’s Edition, Elgato HD60 X, Persona 5 Tactica, and more!
Anker 60,000mAh 192Wh Power Bank for $114.99
This massive Anker power bank is a solid option if you need some extra juice on your next road trip or getaway. With a 60,000mAh capacity, you can charge an iPhone 14 Pro Max up to 7.4 times or a MacBook Air 2.9 times. This power bank is made for activities like camping, as it has a built-in light at the top that you can retract up and down. Additionally, you can recharge the device with onboard solar panels, so you can continue to power your devices regardless of how long your trip is.
Save $44 Off This Xbox Elite Series 2 Core Wireless Controller
This deal from Walmart on the Xbox Elite Series 2 Core controller is one you can’t miss. Widely regarded as one of the best controllers on the market, the Elite Series 2 has so many great features you can use to your advantage. This includes modifying the tension of the thumbsticks, creating custom button profiles, and so much more. The Core version of the Elite Series 2 controller allows for a cheaper price point with less premium outer materials and textures. Additionally, you won’t get the paddles or charging dock in the box, so you’ll need to buy those separately if you’d like them.
$120 Off This Centr Adjustable Dumbbell Pair
If you’re in the market for a solid pair of reliable dumbbells, this pair of Centr Adjustable Dumbbells is perfect for you. With this adjustable pair, you can switch between 5lbs and 50lbs on each dumbbell. This saves a ton of space in your home gym, as ten pairs of potential dumbbells are now just one. If you grab this deal, you’ll also get a three month Centr membership. This will give you plenty of assistance with nutrition, training, and more from the Centr team.
Spider-Man: Miles Morales Ultimate Edition on Sale for $40
Amazon has the Spider-Man: Miles Morales Ultimate Edition listed for $39.97. If you got a PlayStation 5 for the holidays, you should play the first two Spider-Man games before you jump into Spider-Man 2. This is an amazing deal since you’re essentially getting both Spider-Man: Miles Morales and Spider-Man Remastered for $20 each. Both rarely go on sale for that low, so this is your best option to pick up these games.
Marvel’s Midnight Suns for $19.99
You can grab one of the best tactical RPGs of 2022 on Amazon at a discount right now. Marvel’s Midnight Suns features a unique cast of Marvel characters with plenty of fan favorites, such as Iron Man, Wolverine, and more. We gave the game an 8/10 in our review, stating the game “makes excellent use of card game mechanics to keep battles fresh, evolving, and unpredictable over the course of an epic-length campaign.”
Elgato HD60 X for $158
A capture card is an essential piece of technology for anyone looking to produce video content of some sort. Whether it be for YouTube, Twitch, or even TikTok, this Elgato HD60 X will allow you to take your content to the next level. The HD60 X has support for the latest consoles, so you’ll be good to go with recording your PS5 or Xbox Series X. Additionally, you can record in either 1080p60 or 4K30, both of which at incredibly low latency.
Save 75% Off the JLab Talk Pro USB Microphone
A great USB microphone can make a huge difference in your audio quality in voice calls, voice recordings, and so much more. The JLab Talk Pro features 192kHz/24BIT audio, which is assisted by three condensers and four directional pattern modes to pick up your voice regardless of where you’re located. The four included modes are Cardioid, Omni, Stereo, and Bidirectional. You can change the mode with the press of a button, making the JLab Talk Pro a fantastic choice if you’re looking for a new microphone.
Save $20 Off Super Mario Maker 2
Super Mario Maker 2 is one of the most creative titles available on the Nintendo Switch. Building off its predocessor, this game has so many different options to create Mario courses you could once only imagine. There’s even a Zelda powerup available, where you can transform Mario into an 8-bit Link and traverse the course with a sword.
Street Fighter 6 Collector’s Edition for $99.99
If you either haven’t picked up Street Fighter 6 yet or loved the game, Woot has the Collector’s Edition available for a significant discount. For $99.99, you’ll get two Pop Up Parade figures of Luke and Kimberly, the Mad Gear Box, an Artbook, a Sticker Set, Figure Diorama Boards, a copy of Street Fighter 6, and a code for the Year 1 Ultimate Pass. Both Xbox Series X and PlayStation 4 variants of the Collector’s Edition are available. This deal won’t last forever, so pick it up while you can!
Lowest Price Yet for Persona 5 Tactica
Amazon has Persona 5 Tactica listed for $34.99, which is an even better deal than Black Friday. This action-packed adventure takes the Phantom Thieves into a new adventure with tactical combat. If you enjoyed Persona 5 Royal or Persona 5 Strikers, P5 Tactica should be a game on your radar. Erina, a character new to the series, is a great addition to an already amazing cast of characters.
Yoshi’s Crafted World for $39.99
If you didn’t own a Nintendo Switch before 2020, you might not be aware that Yoshi got a game on the system in 2019! Yoshi’s Crafted World is a bright platformer where each stage has two different paths. Once you complete one run of the stage, the entire thing flips, and you’ll see the backside with all sorts of secrets and hidden items. There’s some suggestion that this title could be going out of print, so grab it while you can!
Apple AirPods Pro with USB Type-C for $189.99
Amazon has dropped the price of the 2nd gen Apple AirPods Pro truly wireless noise cancelling earbuds with the universal USB Type-C connector by $60, now only $189. With this current gen AirPods Pro, Apple has replaced the proprietary Lightning port with the more universal USB Type-C. For people who want to bring along a single charging cable for all of their mobile devices, this is a godsend.
19% Off the Returnal Original Soundtrack Vinyl
If you were a fan of Housemarque’s Returnal, check out this deal on the Returnal OST vinyl! A total of nine tracks are available on this single LP, with a gorgeous front cover that displays Selene Vassos. The vinyl itself is pressed on gold semi-translucent material, making this a record you should add to your collection.
Players were enamored by the BioShock series from the moment they escaped a crashed aircraft, entered a mysterious lighthouse, and embarked on their undersea voyage to the crumbling city of Rapture. Often referenced and paid tribute to, many consider Irrational Games’ immersive action-horror classic a masterpiece, and in the years following its debut, it blossomed into a long-running franchise.
But in classic BioShock fashion, its sequels were the furthest thing from traditional. As expected for a series that hinges on otherworldly scientific discoveries and reality-tearing experiments, BioShock’s story frequently switches between alternate universes, leaving its games out of chronological order.
So, for those looking for a linear way to play through BioShock’s full narrative, here’s a quick runthrough of the BioShock series in chronological order.
In total, there are four BioShock Games (three released on home console and PC and one released exclusively on PC via web browser) and three expansions.
This list won’t include remasters or ports, including the BioShock Collection, which bundled remasters of the full trilogy and its expansions. It also won’t contain challenge map packs, such as Clash in the Clouds or BioShock’s Challenge Rooms DLC, as these are purely gameplay-focused and thus considered non-canon.
Every BioShock Game in Chronological Order
These blurbs contain mild spoilers for each game, including characters, settings, and story beats.
1. BioShock Infinite: Industrial Revolution
Launching as a pre-order bonus for BioShock Infinite, BioShock Infinite: Industrial Revolution was a browser-based flash game that acted as a prequel to Infinite’s story. Casting players as a worker completing cog-based puzzles, Industrial Revolution allowed pre-ordering customers to unlock special items and upgrades that transferred to BioShock Infinite.
As players completed challenges, they learned more about the conflicts running through Infinite’s world, including the battle between the Vox Populi and the Founders. They could even choose which of the two groups to support, unlocking different rewards as a result.
Note: The game was shut down a decade ago and is no longer available to play online.
2. BioShock Infinite
The third mainline BioShock game, BioShock Infinite follows a Pinkerton detective named Booker Dewitt. Drowning in debt, Dewitt is tasked with a simple mission to wipe away what he owes: venture to the city of Columbia and locate a mysterious girl named Elizabeth.
However, when Dewitt arrives in Columbia, things are far from simple. Columbia is a city floating above the clouds and its citizens have branded Booker a “False Shepherd”, rallying together to execute him. Things get even stranger when Booker finally locates and rescues Elizabeth, who reveals she can open tears in reality, allowing her to reach into other universes.
Teaming with Elizabeth to escape Columbia, players are taken on an adventure through the flying metropolis, facing off against the locals, their towering mechanical security bots, and Elizabeth’s relentless bodyguard, Songbird. Along the way, they can open rifts to other dimensions using Elizabeth’s unique powers, utilizing her gifts to scrounge up resources or venture into new realities altogether.
Set in the same universe as BioShock and BioShock 2, BioShock Infinite: Burial at Sea – Part 1 is the first of two expansions for BioShock Infinite. The DLC follows an alternate-universe Booker Dewitt who acts as a private detective in the city of Rapture. Set before Rapture’s downfall, the game begins with Dewitt meeting Elizabeth, who tasks him with assisting her in rescuing a missing girl named Sally.
Burial at Sea’s first part allows players to explore a fully operational Rapture set before the events of the first game. Alongside getting to see the city as it once was, the DLC includes several returning faces from previous Rapture adventures, including Sander Cohen and Yi Suchong.
Taking place directly after the events of Burial at Sea – Part 1, Burial at Sea – Part 2 switches control from Booker to Elizabeth. Waking up after the dramatic conclusion of the previous expansion, Elizabeth meets Atlas, who strikes a deal with her: He’ll let her and Sally live if she can help him escape Fontaine’s Department Store and return to Rapture.
Taking on a new stealth-focused playstyle to fit Elizabeth’s skill set, players explore Fontaine’s Department Store, attempting to figure out how to return to Rapture and save Sally. Burial at Sea – Part 2 was Irrational Games’ and BioShock creator Ken Levine’s final take on the BioShock universe. It attempts to wrap up some of the franchise’s biggest mysteries while directly setting up the events of the original game.
The franchise’s debut entry, BioShock follows Jack, the sole survivor of a devastating plane crash. Escaping the wreckage of the accident, he finds refuge in a mysterious lighthouse, where he discovers a submarine that transports him to the underwater city of Rapture. Although the city looks like a technological marvel from afar, Jack quickly realizes it’s hardly the oceanic utopia it appears to be.
Envisioned as a neon-lit metropolis where society’s greatest minds are allowed ethical and creative freedom with no governmental intervention, Rapture is a fallen wasteland by the time Jack arrives. The blood-drenched streets are patrolled by monstrous citizens slaughtering each other in search of a genetic-splicing drug known as Adam, while the city’s shadowy founder, Andrew Ryan, controls the ruins with an iron fist.
Teaming with a fellow survivor named Atlas, players are tasked with venturing through the city, attempting to escape Rapture and return to the surface. Along the way, they gain access to plasmids, powerful injections that unlock elemental powers. In the years following its release, BioShock has become a classic, with many regarding it as one of the best games of all time.
A sequel to BioShock, BioShock 2 was developed by 2K Marin rather than Irrational. Strapping players into the hulking suit of a Big Daddy, BioShock 2 has players return to the submerged dystopia of Rapture eight years after the events of BioShock.
Taking control of a Big Daddy codenamed Subject Delta, the story follows the towering protagonist searching through the ruins of Rapture for a Little Sister he used to protect. Along the way, he’s pursued by Sofia Lamb, a scientist who’s filled the power vacuum left by the deaths of Frank Fontaine and Andrew Ryan.
BioShock 2 was largely a continuation of the gameplay and themes of the first game, albeit with a hefty arsenal of brutal Big Daddy weaponry and a new mechanic where players defend Little Sisters while they scavenge Adam.
An expansion for BioShock 2 that occurs alongside the events of the main campaign, Minerva’s Den follows a second Big Daddy codenamed Subject Sigma. Tasked with tracking down and accessing The Thinker – Rapture’s computer mainframe – Sigma works alongside the creator of the system, Charles Milton Porter, to retrieve it.
Minerva’s Den offered a short campaign that fills in some crucial Rapture lore and offers new gear, including the Ion Laser and Gravity Well Plasmid. Minerva’s Den currently marks the end of the BioShock timeline.
Plans are already well underway for a major BioShock return. After years of leaks and rumors, 2K officially announced the series was getting another entry back in 2019, which we are tentatively labeling Bioshock 4. Following the closure of Irrational Games, developer Cloud Chamber will be the brains behind the next BioShock, although there’s little indication of how far along the reboot currently is.
Although we know it’s in the works, we’ve still yet to see the sequel in action or hear more about the Cloud Chamber’s direction for the series. That’s not to say we have no information on the sequel though. For one, we know Ghost of Tsushima writer Liz Albl has taken up the role of narrative lead. The game will seemingly also follow BioShock Infinite’s lead by opting for a fresh setting, with job listings referencing the team building a “new and fantastical world.”
A sequel isn’t the only long-awaited BioShock product currently in production. Back in 2022, Netflix revealed it had greenlit a movie adaptation of the original BioShock. Netflix later confirmed the film will be directed by I Am Legend and Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes director Francis Lawrence, while the script is being handled by Michael Green, one of the writers behind Blade Runner 2049 and Logan.
BioShock creator Ken Levine’s next project, Judas, is also deep in development. From the early glimpse we saw at The Game Awards in 2022, it seems akin to BioShock, from the dual-wielding combat to the high-concept sci-fi setting. If all goes to plan, it seems BioShock fans will be feasting on a banquet of twisted sci-fi goodness over the next few years.
Callum Williams is a freelance media writer with years of experience as a game critic, news reporter, guides writer and features writer.
2024 is off to an exciting start, and there are some exciting deals that have gone live now that the holiday season has long passed. From video games to PC accessories, there is no shortage of deals you don’t want to miss out on. The best deals for Saturday, January 13, include a 1TB Gen 4 NVME SSD, Anker 60,000mAh Power Bank, Street Fighter 6 Collector’s Edition, Elgato HD60 X, Persona 5 Tactica, and more!
Anker 60,000mAh 192Wh Power Bank for $114.99
This massive Anker power bank is a solid option if you need some extra juice on your next road trip or getaway. With a 60,000mAh capacity, you can charge an iPhone 14 Pro Max up to 7.4 times or a MacBook Air 2.9 times. This power bank is made for activities like camping, as it has a built-in light at the top that you can retract up and down. Additionally, you can recharge the device with onboard solar panels, so you can continue to power your devices regardless of how long your trip is.
Elgato HD60 X for $158
A capture card is an essential piece of technology for anyone looking to produce video content of some sort. Whether it be for YouTube, Twitch, or even TikTok, this Elgato HD60 X will allow you to take your content to the next level. The HD60 X has support for the latest consoles, so you’ll be good to go with recording your PS5 or Xbox Series X. Additionally, you can record in either 1080p60 or 4K30, both of which at incredibly low latency.
Save 75% Off the JLab Talk Pro USB Microphone
A great USB microphone can make a huge difference in your audio quality in voice calls, voice recordings, and so much more. The JLab Talk Pro features 192kHz/24BIT audio, which is assisted by three condensers and four directional pattern modes to pick up your voice regardless of where you’re located. The four included modes are Cardioid, Omni, Stereo, and Bidirectional. You can change the mode with the press of a button, making the JLab Talk Pro a fantastic choice if you’re looking for a new microphone.
1TB Gen 4 NVME SSD for $79.99
Best Buy has the WD – Black SN850X 1TB SSD for just $79.99 right now. That’s $50 worth of savings off a very solid SSD. The SN850X is a Gen 4 SSD, meaning it can run the latest games at extremely high speeds. This SSD is capable of running on a PlayStation 5, but you will need to purchase a heatsink separately. While this isn’t near the deals we saw for Black Friday and the Holiday Season, it’s the cheapest quality SSD at the moment if you’re in need of one.
Street Fighter 6 Collector’s Edition for $99.99
If you either haven’t picked up Street Fighter 6 yet or loved the game, Woot has the Collector’s Edition available for a significant discount. For $99.99, you’ll get two Pop Up Parade figures of Luke and Kimberly, the Mad Gear Box, an Artbook, a Sticker Set, Figure Diorama Boards, a copy of Street Fighter 6, and a code for the Year 1 Ultimate Pass. Both Xbox Series X and PlayStation 4 variants of the Collector’s Edition are available. This deal won’t last forever, so pick it up while you can!
Lowest Price Yet for Persona 5 Tactica
Amazon has Persona 5 Tactica listed for $34.99, which is an even better deal than Black Friday. This action-packed adventure takes the Phantom Thieves into a new adventure with tactical combat. If you enjoyed Persona 5 Royal or Persona 5 Strikers, P5 Tactica should be a game on your radar. Erina, a character new to the series, is a great addition to an already amazing cast of characters.
Apple AirPods Pro with USB Type-C for $189.99
Amazon has dropped the price of the 2nd gen Apple AirPods Pro truly wireless noise cancelling earbuds with the universal USB Type-C connector by $60, now only $189. With this current gen AirPods Pro, Apple has replaced the proprietary Lightning port with the more universal USB Type-C. For people who want to bring along a single charging cable for all of their mobile devices, this is a godsend.
19% Off the Returnal Original Soundtrack Vinyl
If you were a fan of Housemarque’s Returnal, check out this deal on the Returnal OST vinyl! A total of nine tracks are available on this single LP, with a gorgeous front cover that displays Selene Vassos. The vinyl itself is pressed on gold semi-translucent material, making this a record you should add to your collection.
For the first time since January 2023, Xbox is bringing back its Developer_Direct show that promises to give fans a glimpse at such upcoming titles as MachineGames’ Indiana Jones, Obsidian’s Avowed, Oxide Games’ Ara: History Untold, and Ninja Theory’s Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II.
The Developer_Direct will kick off on January 18 and this watch guide will provide you with everything you need to know to watch the show, including start times, a list of places you can watch it with us, and what you can expect from the event.
Xbox Developer_Direct January 2024 Start Time
January 2024’s Xbox Developer_Direct will take place on Thursday, January 18 at 12pm PT/3pm ET/8pm GMT.
As if that wasn’t enough, ZeniMax Online Studios will be hosting The Elder Scrolls Online 2024 Global Reveal at 1pm PT/4pm ET/9pm GMT to “preview 2024’s biggest update” for the MMO.
After the show, be sure to stay tuned to IGN’s channels as a special episode of Podcast Unlocked will take place that will serve as a post-show to the Developer_Direct. We will break down all the big announcements and share our thoughts on what was shown!
Where to Watch the Xbox Developer_Direct January 2024
If you’re interested in watching the Xbox Developer_Direct, we’ll be hosting it 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:
What to Expect From the Xbox Developer_Direct 2024
As previously mentioned, this upcoming Developer Direct will feature an in-depth look at upcoming Xbox games, including MachineGames’ Indiana Jones, Obsidian’s Avowed, Oxide Games’ Ara: History Untold, and Ninja Theory’s Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II. The show will be presented by the developers themselves, and it looks to give fans a glimpse into the creation of these exciting titles.
Xbox actually provided a pretty detailed description of what fans can expect from the show, and we’re including it below:
Indiana Jones game: MachineGames, the award-winning studio behind the recent Wolfenstein series, will reveal their upcoming Indiana Jones game, an action-adventure that puts players in the leather jacket of the legendary archaeologist. Developer_Direct will showcase more than 10 minutes of game and developer insights, including details about the game’s setting and story, how fans will actually play as Indy, additional details from his next globe-trotting adventure, and the premiere of the first gameplay trailer.
Avowed: The team at Obsidian will share the first deep dive into the gameplay experience fans can expect in Avowed, their upcoming fantasy action RPG, set in the fantastical, vibrant Living Lands. Learn more about how Obsidian’s expertise in building worlds with deep themes, dynamic gameplay, and thoughtful reactivity come to life in Avowed where players will have agency to make choices to shape every step of their adventure.
Ara: History Untold: Hear from the leads at Oxide Games – a studio founded by veterans of the strategy genre and the creators behind classic strategy titles including Civilization V – as they unveil exclusive new gameplay and share more details about the inspiration, key features, and road ahead for their upcoming historical grand strategy game.
Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II: Ninja Theory take us behind the scenes at their studio in Cambridge to give us some insight on how they are crafting Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II. The team will speak to the ambition and meticulous care involved in creating Senua’s journey of survival.
While these four games are being highlighted prior to the show, there’s always a chance Xbox has a surprise or two in store for us. In January 2023’s Developer_Direct, Tango Gameworks’ Hi-Fi Rush was announced and released that day with no prior warning.
What most surely won’t be there, however, is updates on games from Activision Blizzard as Xbox said “you can look forward to news from those teams later this year.”
As for The Elder Scrolls Online 2024 Global Reveal, this standalone presentation will “unveil the game’s next major Chapter, including the new zone, storyline, and other major features coming in the game’s biggest update this year.”
Faheem Rashad Najm, better-known as singer-songrwriter T-Pain, is living the dream: he gets to work on Grand Theft Auto VI alongside Rockstar Games. However, it seems like T-Pain’s new job is having unintended consequences.
In a livestream clip circulated on social media, T-Pain confirmed that he’s contributing to Rockstar’s anticipated sequel, which was finally revealed in 2023. In the course of bringing T-Pain aboard, though, it seems that Rockstar requested that he stop role-playing on NoPixel — a popular GTA 5 role-play server that runs on third-party servers.
At least one fan noticed that T-Pain was no longer on the server and asked what happened.
“I used to be on NoPixel, then I started working on GTA VI, and they told me I couldn’t do RP anymore because it kind of goes against… they had this whole speech, like, ‘What if somebody took your album and re-recorded it, and more people were listening to that,’ and I’m like, ‘Okay, I kind of get that, but I was having a good time. Alright that’s fine,'” T-Pain said.
“Then I started working on the game with them and then they teamed up with the people that make the RP sh*t, and I’m like, ‘Wait a minute, what? What the f**ck?…Y’all tell me I can’t do this sh*t and then you team up with the people that enable the RP?” T-Pain said, laughing.
T-Pain didn’t elaborate on how exactly he’s contributing to GTA VI. IGN has reached out to Rockstar Games for comment.
…They had this whole speech, like, ‘What if somebody took your album and re-recorded it, and more people were listening to that’
T-Pain had been role-playing on NoPixel since at least 2021, when fans noticed that he had been whitelisted. According the server’s wiki, the idea behind NoPixel is to “talk, act, and proceed as the character you are playing.” The idea is to “create an immersive experience where players and viewers alike can experience stories and situations, in what is essentially another world.” GTA RP has been described as “essentially a gigantic long-running improv show,” making it a popular way to play among certain fans.
Elsewhere, not much is known about GTA VI right now, but it seems as if RP might have a significant (ahem) role to play in the upcoming sequel. For now, though, Rockstar Games is choosing to focus on the single-player story, which it showcased in its first trailer.
We’re sure to learn plenty more ahead of GTA VI’s 2025 release date. But in the meantime, plenty of fans are still playing on GTA V’s role-playing servers, just not T-Pain. For more, check out GTFM, our show in which we share theories about GTA VI and talk to former Rockstar developers about what to expect, as well as our ranking of every GTA to date.
Photo by Prince Williams/WireImage
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.
Activision and Raven Software are altering their plans to include the new Covert Exfil feature in Call of Duty: Warzone Season 1 Reloaded.
Raven made the announcement on X (formerly Twitter), promising to rework the Warzone gameplay tweak after announcing it only a few days ago. The team says the decision arrived after seeing fan feedback about Covert Exfil’s inclusion.
However, Raven still feels strongly about the potential the addition could add and isn’t ready to give up on it yet.
“We believe that Covert Exfil and the gameplay loop it provides, paired with the Weapons Case, will make for an exciting addition to #Warzone,” the post explains. “That said, we’ll instead launch both of these features in an upcoming dedicated mode.”
Information on how Covert Exfil will be reintroduced is being kept under wraps for now. Raven adds, “We’re looking forward to the new challenges that these features will provide and to your continued feedback once the mode is available.”
Covert Exfil was revealed as a feature that essentially allows players to leave a Warzone game early by purchasing one of only a few available exfil opportunities available to players each match. In other words, if you pool your money quickly enough and make it to a Buy Station, you can have a successful game without being the last team standing.
With the added possibility of exfiling with a Weapons Case full of goodies, many players worried that Warzone was becoming less of a Battle Royale and more like Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2’s DMZ mode. Players are relieved to see Covert Exfil plans reversed, but they might be even happier to see that Raven is listening to its fans.
“This reactivity is amazing!” Warzone Loadout said on X. “Good compromise to first test it in a dedicated mode.”
“This is why I love Raven Software,” CPreds said. “Community feedback is welcomed and listened to. Keep up the great work!”
Warzone is meant to be an ever-evolving mode, so time will tell if and when Covert Exfil will make a comeback. Until then, Modern Warfare 3 and Warzone Season 1 Reloaded is set to launch on January 17.
Michael Cripe is a freelance contributor with IGN. He started writing in the industry in 2017 and is best known for his work at outlets such as The Pitch, The Escapist, OnlySP, and Gameranx.
Be sure to give him a follow on Twitter @MikeCripe.
Rocksteady Studios is teasing major post-launch support for Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League while explaining how its RPG gameplay works in greater detail.
Information on the game’s core elements comes from Game Director Axel Rydby, who clarified the project’s features and offerings in a post in its Discord server. When one fan asked about build possibilities for Task Force X team members like Harley Quinn, Captain Boomerang, Deadshot, and King Shark, Rocksteady teased “hundreds” of possible build combinations.
“Well, first of all, when we designed the game, player choice and player freedom was one of our core design philosophies,” Rydby said. “We really want you to feel like you can make each character your own, and build it to suit your playstyle. But if you take the leap and really play into the gear, you can find truly crazy powerful combinations.”
Rydby continued, explaining that, while players will start with enough possible combinations to kill a superhero, post-launch content will help shake things up even more.
“At launch, we’re looking at hundreds of possible combinations and permutations for builds across our four characters, and this is something we’re adding A LOT to in post launch. We’re not supposed to talk about that today though, but I’m really excited for you all to see the cool stuff we’ve got cooking.”
Rocksteady names a few “core parts” of builds that will allow players to customize their playstyle, including things like gear and eight loadout slots. Things like Afflictions, meanwhile, can then be applied to melee weapons and grenades, creating effects, such as Deep Freeze and Diablo Blaze, based on other DC characters.
Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League players can also toy with Talent Trees and traversal mechanics, which allow players to make the most of their villain’s abilities. Rocksteady seems confident that fans will have plenty of options when it comes to how they choose to build each character. Rydby’s entire explanation can be seen below:
Though it seems Rocksteady isn’t interested in referring to Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League as a live-service game, the team has at least confirmed that players can expect post-launch offerings to include seasonal updates, new playable characters, new story content, cosmetic items, and more. The Batman: Arkham Asylum studio’s latest won’t arrive for a few more weeks, though a few select players did get their hands on it late last year. Rocksteady recently lifted an NDA tied to that experience, allowing players to openly share their thoughts.
Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League launches for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X | S on February 2. We published our Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League preview earlier this week but did not enjoy our time with what it offered. At the time, we said, “Not only is Rocksteady one of my favorite developers, but this genre is one I’ve spent far too much time in across Destiny, Anthem, and yes… even Marvel’s Avengers. But while there is a story here that makes me wonder where the heck all this is going, I left the preview event less optimistic than when I came in.”
Michael Cripe is a freelance contributor with IGN. He started writing in the industry in 2017 and is best known for his work at outlets such as The Pitch, The Escapist, OnlySP, and Gameranx.
Be sure to give him a follow on Twitter @MikeCripe.
Capcom has quickly rolled back a Resident Evil Revelations update which added digital rights management (DRM) after it was review bombed on Steam.
As reported by Eurogamer, the addition of DRM — which essentially looks to stop piracy but allegedly causes performance issues and mod malfunctions too — arrived on January 10 and slammed by Steam users who brought Revelations’ rating down to “mostly negative”.
It didn’t take long for Capcom to hear the outcry and revert Revelations to its former state, though it did say DRM would return once the associated issues were resolved
“Due to an issue observed with the latest update released, we have reverted the corresponding update,” Capcom said in a Steam update. “We apologise for the inconvenience caused, and once the issue is resolved, we will re-release the update. Thank you very much for your patience and cooperation.”
Fans complained the DRM update had stopped mods working for the 2012 single player game. “Added DRM to an 11 year old game,” nyenye said on Steam. “F**k you Capcom. This is the second downgrade in recent years.” GigaDesu said simply: “Capcom killed modding.”
Revelations was originally a Nintendo 3DS game that soon saw itself ported to just about every other platform. It starred Resident Evil mainstays Chris Redfield and Jill Valentine investigate a deadly threat aboard a stranded cruise liner.
In our 8/10 review of the original, IGN said: “Resident Evil Revelations is a great handheld game, one that not only pushes the boundaries and standards of the Nintendo 3DS but one that recaptures a long-forgotten spirit of a classic franchise.”
Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelance reporter. He’ll talk about The Witcher all day.
The third-person multiplayer online battle arena Smite is getting a shiny new standalone sequel: Smite 2 has been officially announced at the 2024 Smite World Championship. The sequel will retain the same core gameplay Smite players are familiar with, but the game itself is being rebuilt from the ground up for the next generation. Check out the announcement trailer above and our first-look preview video below.
In case you’re unfamiliar, Smite is a MOBA like League of Legends or Dota 2 – two teams of five players battle for control of a three-lane map, each team growing stronger throughout the match until one is able to destroy their enemy’s base. Unlike other MOBAs, though, Smite is played from a third-person perspective, so you’re right in the heat of battle clashing with powerful gods, instead of strategizing from a top-down overview. It’s also designed to be console-friendly, and easily played using a controller.
The original game was released in 2014 and runs on Unreal Engine 3, so Smite 2 – built using Unreal Engine 5 – represents a significant leap in technology. Travis Brown, General Manager at Titan Forge Games, describes Smite 2 as a “chance to go back, take all the learnings from 10 years of making Smite into one of the most successful multiplayer games of all time, and do it all strictly better.”
Alongside visual upgrades and new animations and effects for Smite’s pantheon of playable Gods, Smite 2 will also include several gameplay improvements: new abilities for certain characters, a brand new backend and matchmaking system, new map features, and new UI.
5 new Gods are also planned for Smite 2, starting with Hecate, the Greek goddess of sorcery, who will be available to play as part of the Smite 2 alpha playtest, planned for Spring 2024.
The original Smite will still continue to run as a standalone game.
Since they’re rebuilding Smite 2 from scratch, the development team at Titan Forge Games are also taking the opportunity to make some more fundamental adjustments to the game, in an effort to introduce more strategic depth.
In Smite 1, Gods use either Physical or Magical Power, and can’t use items that don’t belong to their power type. Smite 2 will eliminate these restrictions, allowing all Gods to build all items, and scaling individual abilities based on new Strength and Intelligence stats. Relics are being removed entirely, and the item store will be restructured to make it easier for players to dynamically adapt their builds during a match.
Creating a brand new version of the game after 10 years of continual updates is a huge undertaking – there are 130 Gods in Smite 1, and they won’t all be available to play in Smite 2 right away, though the developers plan to eventually bring every God over to the sequel.
Not all Smite content is going to make it over to Smite 2, however. In-game Skins released before Year 11 won’t carry over, as the team state it simply isn’t feasible to recreate the vast amount of content released over the past 10 years, although there is a Legacy system planned to reflect the investment veteran Smite players have made.
Fortunately, for those who’d prefer to stick with the original, Smite 2 won’t be replacing Smite 1. The original will still continue to run as a standalone game, and will receive regular updates for the foreseeable future.
Smite 2 will be released on PC, Steam Deck, Xbox Series X and S, and PlayStation 5 with full crossplay, and signups for the alpha playtest are live now.
