Category: IGN

Starfield preload kicked off this week, which means players have already downloaded Bethesda’s hotly-anticipated sci-fi role-playing game. It also means the burgeoning Starfield community is bracing itself for leaks.

At the time of publication, Starfield leaks are limited, but some story spoilers are floating about online, as well as a datamined list of space magic powers (we see the main character using a magic power in Bethesda’s Starfield Direct video, below), and the Starfield main menu screen. Titles for the 79-track OST, if you consider track titles as a spoiler, are also online. Perhaps more spoilerific is the list of Starfield achievements, which are now online.

Bizarrely, the official Twitter account for fellow space game Everspace 2 issued its own Starfield spoiler warning to players, shining a light on a “bad actor” who is accused of mentioning Everspace to spoil a Starfield plot point.

Hey all. There’s a bad actor mentioning EVERSPACE who is using multiple accounts to spoil a Starfield plot point.

For folks wanting to avoid that we recommend muting the phrase “you battle Aliens who are”.

— EVERSPACE 2 (@everspace_game) August 17, 2023

Starfield’s highly anticipated launch is just around the corner, and reviews will be flying in hot on August 31. You can play Starfield early if you choose your preorder wisely. In case you didn’t catch the announcement during the Xbox Summer Showcase, those who opt for the Premium Edition of Starfield can play from September 1, with the official release date set for September 6.

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.

The Frog Detective series is coming to consoles as a single game called Frog Detective: The Entire Mystery, developer Worm Club has announced.

Frog Detective: The Entire Mystery contains all three Frog Detective games, and is due out later in 2023 on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X and S, including Game Pass. The Entire Mystery also includes an exclusive new scooter minigame.

This new release marks the first time Frog Detective will be localised into multiple languages. The game will be available in English, French, German, Italian, Spanish and Brazilian Portuguese.

Frog Detective is a first-person mystery series that enjoys a cult following of over half a million players. “I have spent countless hours learning many languages just to translate every word meticulously myself,” said Grace Bruxner from Worm Club. “Unfortunately I am not very good at learning languages so we had to hire help, but I feel like it’s only polite that everyone buys the console versions so that my time was not wasted. Now I know how to count to three in Portuguese. Actually, I don’t. Thank you for playing, everybody.”

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.

Starfield’s highly anticipated launch is just around the corner, poised for release in the upcoming weeks, and reviews will be flying in hot on August 31. Fans can’t wait to get their hands on the game, and the good news is: you can play Starfield early if you choose your preorder wisely. In case you didn’t catch the announcement during the Xbox Summer Showcase, those who opt for the Premium Edition of Starfield will enjoy the privilege of playing the game ahead of the official release by a remarkable five to six days.

How to Play Starfield Five Days Early

Preorders are now available for Starfield, and for those eager to dive into the game ahead of time by five to six days, the Starfield Premium Edition is the ideal choice. This edition not only grants you early access but also comes bundled with the Shattered Space Story Expansion (upon release).

Additionally, it features the Constellation Skin Pack, which includes the Equinox Laser Rifle, Spacesuit, Helmet, and Boost Pack, alongside access to the Starfield Digital Artbook & Original Soundtrack, immersing you even further into the captivating world of Starfield.

This edition is also down to just $89.99 at Newegg right now with code SAVEXDPP – for more deal updates closer to release, ensure you’re following @IGNDeals on Twitter and join our IGN Deals Discord server here as well.

Xbox Series X|S

• Get it at Newegg – $89.99 with promo code SAVEXDPP
• Get it at Xbox Store – $99.99 / £99.99

PC

• Get it at Newegg (Steam code) – $89.99 with promo code SAVEXDPP
• Get it at GMG – $99.99 / £99.99
• Get it at Steam – $99.99 / £99.99

When Does Starfield Early Access Start?

Starfield early access starts at 5 PM PT, 7 PM CT, and 8 PM ET on August 31 for those in the US. For the UK, it’s 1 AM BST on September 1, and for players in Europe, Starfield early access begins at 2 AM CEST on September 1 as well.

Here’s the exact early access Starfield release date and time in other timezones:

• West US: August 31, 5 PM (PT)
• East US: August 31, 8 PM (ET)
• Central US: August 31, 7 PM (CT)
• UK: September 1, 1 AM (BST)
• Europe: September 1, 2 AM (CEST)
• Japan: September 1, 9 AM (JST)
• Australia: September 1, 10 AM (AEST)

How to Play Starfield Early for Just $35

If you’re not looking to spend upwards of $100 on playing Starfield early, then we’ve got some further good news to share. Those on Xbox Game Pass will also be able to play the game Day One on September 6, but if you opt to purchase the Premium Edition Upgrade, this will also grant you five to six days early access as well, unlocking the game for you on August 31/September 1 depending on your region.

To ensure you’re getting the most out of this, we’d suggest going for the Digital version so you can start playing on August 31 (in the US), but if you want the physical goodies like the Starfield Steelbook, then we’ve left links to those preorders as well.

Digital Version

• Get it at Xbox Store (digital) – $34.99

Game Pass members also get an additional discount on this purchase.

Physical Version

• Get it at Amazon – $34.99
• Get it at Best Buy – $34.99
• Get it at GameStop – $34.99
• Get it at Walmart – $34.99

The physical version comes with the following physical and digital items:

• Includes a Steelbook display case and a Constellation patch
• Shattered Space Story Expansion (upon release)
• 5 days early access
• Constellation Skin Pack: Equinox Laser Rifle, Spacesuit, Helmet and Boost Pack
• Access to Starfield Digital Artbook & Original Soundtrack

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

Activision has fully taken the wraps off Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III, which it is billing as a “direct sequel” to 2022’s Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II.

In addition to loads of new information about the campaign, the return of Zombies, and classic maps, Activision also released a dozen new screenshots from across Modern Warfare III. You can check them out below.

Activision’s release includes the first details on Zombies, which was previously confirmed for Modern Warfare III in a trailer tease. The new mode is described as an “all-new open world” in which players can team up to fight the Zombie hordes in the “largest Call of Duty zombies maps ever.”

The new mode superficially resembles an updated version of Outbreak, a popular Zombies mode from Call of Duty Black Ops: Cold War, but Activision doesn’t mention Oubreak anywhere in its release. Instead, Zombies will feature an “open world PvE extraction survival experience” with “new mechanics.” Players will also battle “some of the biggest enemies in Call of Duty history.”

A dark new chapter begins in Modern Warfare III 🔥

💪 Blockbuster campaign featuring new Open Combat Missions
🗺️ Iconic Multiplayer maps
🧟‍♂️ The largest Call of Duty Zombies map ever

Plus so much more. Ready up for #MW3 soldier 👉 https://t.co/adSSuIQq4J pic.twitter.com/DljdYvMBAn

— Call of Duty (@CallofDuty) August 17, 2023

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 campaign will focus on player choice

Elsewhere, Activision also talked about Modern Warfare III’s campaign, which will pick up directly after the events of Modern Warfare II and feature Vladimir Makarov as the villain. According to Activision, the new campaign will introduce “Open Combat Missions” that are designed to “empower player decisions like never before.” They will feature “numerous additional paths and choices to complete objectives,” whether stealthy or more run and gun.

But while the campaign will feature more player choice, Open Combat Missions aren’t replacing the cinematic missions. Instead, they are designed to complement the more traditional structure in an attempt to improve the overall variety of the campaign.

Activision has been steadily revealing more Modern Warfare III info over the past two weeks, including the return of Call of Duty’s classic minimap, slide canceling, and more. Much of this info leaked in the lead-up to Modern Warfare III’s reveal, to the point that Activision finally threw its hands up and decided to play along.

That includes the revelation that Modern Warfare III will include all 16 launch maps from the original Modern Warfare 2, all of which have been modernized with “new modes and gameplay features.” In addition, Modern Warfare III will feature over 12 new core 6v6 maps as part of its post-launch roadmap. Modes include Hardpoint and Kill Confirmed as well as the new 3v3v3 Cutthroat Mode.

Activision will be hosting an open beta for free across PlayStation, Xbox, and PC, with dates still to be announced. Those who pre-order will gain access to the campaign up to a week before release.

Modern Warfare III will be available globally on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC on November 10.

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.

Today we (and reviewers everywhere) take our first steps and/or giant leaps into Starfield, one of the biggest and most anticipated games in a year full of huge, highly anticipated games. If all goes according to plan I’ll have a review to post for you on August 31 at 9am Pacific time – which, if you’re counting down, is the day before it launches for those willing to shell out for for a fancy edition preorder, and a week before it launches on Game Pass on September 6.

This is, by all accounts, a massive game (including the great big 100GB+ download size that you can preload on Xbox starting today), but with nearly two weeks to spend roaming this unexplored region of space I’m feeling pretty confident about being able to see the credits roll on the story and do a fair amount of exploring and get up to the usual Bethesda RPG shenanigans before deciding on the score. I intend to spend a fair amount of time on both the PC and Xbox Series X versions to see how they compare.

In the meantime, make sure to check out everything we know about Starfield – and wish me luck out there.

Dan Stapleton is IGN’s Director of Reviews and a big fan of spaceships and Fallout games. He’s on Twitter @danstapleton and Bluesky @danstapleton.bsky.social.

Red Dead Redemption is out today on PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch, and unsurprisingly it is a nice graphical upgrade to Rockstar Games’ 2010 action game.

As noted in a press release, Red Dead Redemption’s Switch and PlayStation ports get a bump in resolution. You can get up to 1080p resolution on the Switch and the base PS4, but if you are playing Red Dead Redemption on a PS4 Pro, or PlayStation 5 via backwards compatibility, you can run the game in 4K resolution. Meanwhile, Red Dead Redemption runs at a framerate of 30 FPS across PS4, PS5 and Nintendo Switch.

Eurogamer’s Digital Foundry notes that Red Dead Redemption’s Switch port runs at 1080p natively when you dock the console, but an extended in-depth analysis from the team is still in the works. The outlet did go in-depth on the PS4 port, noting that on Sony’s last-gen console, Red Dead Redemption looks smoother and cleaner compared to the Xbox One X and Series X counterparts, with the video and images the outlet provides showing the comparisons are clear as day.

One interesting tidbit Digital Foundry points out is the shadow quality, noting the Xbox versions have messier shadows than the PS4 version. However, the PS4 version still has some rough spots as it claims the original shadow filtering provides a “harsh look” in several scenes in the game. Not to mention the PS4 port is still locked at 30 frames per second, with the only way to achieve 60fps in the game being on a PC through emulation, as the first Red Dead Redemption is still not on PC.

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

Remedy has announced a 10-day delay for the hotly anticipated Alan Wake 2. It was due out October 17, but will now launch October 27.

In a statement, Remedy said October was packed with game launches and wanted to give players more space to play everything.

“October is an amazing month for game launches and we hope this date shift gives more space for everyone to enjoy their favorite games,” Remedy said.

Alan Wake 2 was set to launch the same week as Insomniac’s sure-to-be massive PlayStation exclusive Spider-Man 2. Back in 2010, launch sales of the first Alan Wake suffered due to launching in the same week as Rockstar’s behemoth Red Dead Redemption.

October 2023 also sees the launch of Microsoft’s Forza Motorsport, Ubisoft’s Assassin’s Creed Mirage, Nintendo’s Super Mario Bros. Wonder, and, reportedly, Sega’s Sonic Stadium.

The team from Remedy joined us on IGN’s Summer of Gaming to discuss how Alan Wake 2 takes inspiration from True Detective, Hereditary, and David Lynch in the survival horror sequel. This time around, Alan Wake 2 has two playable characters: Alan Wake and FBI agent named Saga Anderson.

In May, Remedy sparked a backlash when it revealed Alan Wake 2 is a digital-only release across all platforms. Remedy explained at the time: “There are many reasons for this. For one, a large number of players have shifted to digital only. You can buy a Sony PlayStation 5 without a disc drive and Microsoft’s Xbox Series S is a digital-only console. It is not uncommon to release modern games as digital-only.

“Secondly, not releasing a disc helps keep the price of the game at $59.99 / €59.99 and the PC version at $49.99 / €49.99.

“Finally, we did not want to ship a disc product and have it require a download for the game — we do not think this would make for a great experience either.”

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.

Startup game development house Eon Rush Studios has announced its first game, which shares the name of the studio: Eon Rush. It’s a co-op action RPG in which players “will battle across different eras of science-fiction and fantasy.” It’s in development for PC (via Steam).

Players must fight to destroy the Chronophage, a monster that consumes time itself and devours entire realms. An early-build demo will be available to play at Gamescom. Check out the announcement trailer above and the first screenshots in the gallery below.

The Eon Rush developers, whose CVs include the Far Cry, Watch Dogs, and Pokemon franchises, claim that “Eon Rush combines the best of endgame PvE and PvP thrills, skipping the filler and getting straight into the fun. Players dive into a variety of trials, including taking down colossal monsters, competing in challenging gauntlets, and engaging in heart-pounding battles across space and time.”

We’ll have more on Eon Rush as development progresses.

Ryan McCaffrey is IGN’s executive editor of previews and host of both IGN’s weekly Xbox show, Podcast Unlocked, as well as our monthly(-ish) interview show, IGN Unfiltered. He’s a North Jersey guy, so it’s “Taylor ham,” not “pork roll.” Debate it with him on Twitter at @DMC_Ryan.

The creator of an eye-catching Grand Theft Auto 5 mod that promised a living, AI-powered story mode has admitted defeat after Take-Two hauled the mod offline.

Only this week IGN reported on the Sentient Streets mod, which lets players interact with over 30 AI-powered NPCs, each with a unique voice from AI text-to-speech and voice cloning website ElevenLabs. The mod is designed for players to have open-ended, voiced conversations with cult members, police officers, and civilians.

But its creator, Bloc, announced Take-Two had issued a copyright claim on their YouTube video showing off the mod and had the mod removed from NexusMods. Even Bloc’s account on Netlify, which was used to host the installation guide for the mod, was suspended. Bloc manually removed the mod from GTA5-Mods.com to avoid legal issues.

In a statement, a clearly exacerbated Bloc said they have neither the resources or wherewithal to fight back against Take-Two.

“I can, of course, raise an objection through YouTube’s objection system, but this escalates things to legal authorities,” Bloc said. “I am a single modder who does this in my free time for fun, so I don’t have the resources to legally defend myself in this situation. Frankly, I also don’t want to spend time on this.”

Bloc accused Take-Two of removing the video from YouTube without prior communication or explanation. Before the takedown, it had over 100,000 views. Before the mod itself was pulled from NexusMods, it had thousands of downloads, Bloc said.

“I must say, as a person who grew up with the Grand Theft Auto series and enjoyed all the games throughout the years, this hostile attitude towards me and the mod is very disheartening,” Bloc added. “If the real reason of this takedown is really me using GTA 5 in the video, then one might ask, if using GTA 5 in the video is a copyright strike reason, how is it possible that there are millions of YouTube videos on here at this very moment that showcases or simply does let’s play videos for over a decade without any problems?

“Unfortunately, this seems to look like an excuse to attack and take a stance against the mod. Which is somewhat puzzling to me, considering that the mod itself is both FREE and open-source.

“The mod does not utilize any voices from Grand Theft Auto nor does it distribute anything it shouldn’t. I haven’t even included my Patreon link in any of the mod descriptions or videos to avoid any potential controversy. I am not a lawyer, but as far as I am aware, mod is not violating any Grand Theft Auto or YouTube policy.”

Bloc’s project had raised a number of ethical issues around the use of AI for mods. Bloc used the standard voice library available on ElevenLabs, which was recently used to generate controversial AI voices used in NSFW Skyrim Mods. The recent rise of AI has been a concern for both writers and actors, causing one voice actor to tell IGN AI is the “invisible enemy we’re fighting right now”.

“Whether you like it or not, or dislike the idea of having AI in video games, is one thing,” Bloc said in their statement. “However, while the mod itself does not appear to be violating anything, removing the video and issuing a copyright strike without any communication is another matter.”

Rockstar recently announced it is now officially working with the modding team behind the wildly popular Grand Theft Auto 5 roleplay servers FiveM and RedM. But the developer and parent company Take-Two have had an antagonistic relationship with the modding community over the years. In 2015, Rockstar banned the team behind the FiveM mod, calling the project “an unauthorised alternate multiplayer service that contains code designed to facilitate piracy”. The founder of the mod later alleged Rockstar parent company Take-Two sent private investigators to their home to intimidate them into shutting down the project.

The takedown of this AI-powered GTA 5 mod comes ahead of the unveiling of Grand Theft Auto 6, which may come out as early as 2024.

In a follow-up statement, Bloc said they’d spoken with YouTube support about the takedown: “if you have a channel that contains any footage from GTA, RDR2, Manhunt etc, you are in the hands of Take-Two IP sharks, and they can basically take down anything they want even the entire channel, regardless of how fun or how ‘unique’ your videos are,” Bloc claimed. “Basically, Take-Two decides which video is ‘Ok’ and which video isn’t, YouTube doesn’t care.”

IGN has asked Rockstar for comment. For now, it seems, Bloc’s Sentient Streets mod is dead in the water.

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.