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Best Xbox Deals Today (August 2024)

Following an excellent summer showcase, Xbox has plenty more for fans to enjoy over these next few sunny months, especially when it comes to deals. At the moment, one of our favorite deals is on the 3 month Xbox Game Pass Ultimate membership, which is discounted at Amazon to $45. With a price hike now in the works for Game Pass users, there’s no better time to stack these codes so you can play all of their newly-announced games the day they’re available. It ultimately saves you $15 versus the new price for Game Pass Ultimate monthly, which is well worth taking advantage of.

That’s not all, as there are also offers on games, the Xbox Series X mini fridge, and even storage. Check out all of those excellent deals at the links below.

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Preorder the Sky Cipher Special Edition Xbox Controller

If you’re interested in preordering the brand new transparent special edition Xbox controller, Sky Cipher, we’ve got you covered there as well. This incredibly cool controller is set to release on August 13 and will set you back $69.99. What better way to relive the original Xbox days?

Best Xbox Game Pass Deals

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate has been discounted at Amazon, providing another opportunity for users to stack their membership at a discounted rate. Amazon has three-month memberships discounted to $45, which is well worth taking advantage of.

Considering the new price of Game Pass Ultimate is $19.99/month, you’re saving $15 with this 3-month deal. This is the best way to avoid the upcoming Xbox Game Pass price hike in September. By stacking these codes you can set yourself up for success to play all of their upcoming releases at a lower price.

Best Xbox Game Deals

Summertime is a great time to find games at a discount. At the moment, you can score some incredible deals on a wide variety of physical games, including 57% off Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, 50% off Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown, and 40% off Dead Space. Check out even more excellent game deals at the links below.

More Xbox Video Game Deals:

What’s Coming Soon to Xbox Game Pass

Xbox’s summer showcase was a home run, with one of the best presentations of upcoming games on the Xbox ecosystem in quite some time. This included titles like Black Ops 6, Doom: The Dark Ages, Perfect Dark, Fable, Gears of War: E-Day, and plenty more that will be coming to Game Pass in the future. As for the start of August, here’s what’s coming soon to Game Pass:

In even bigger news, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 is officially available to play on Game Pass right now for console, PC Game Pass, and Game Pass Ultimate users. It comes with the full package as well – campaign, multiplayer, and Zombies!

Select Xbox Controllers Down to $44

There are quite a few discounts on Xbox controllers right now at Amazon. While not as low as they were during the two-day Prime Day sale event, they’re still worth picking up at these prices. The Robot White, Carbon Black, Shock Blue, and Velocity Green controllers have all dropped down to $44, but you can see even more controller deals below.

More Xbox Controller Deals

Get Over 50% Off the Xbox Series X Mini Fridge

It looks like a fridge, and it kinda is a fridge (mini), and it’s also down to $39.94 at Walmart. Not only is it a fun addition to have in your home, but this is a discount you definitely don’t want to miss out on, either! What better time to pick it up?

Get 44% Off the HyperX CloudX Stinger Headset & More Deals

Does your family complain when you stay up playing loud shooters late into the night? They’ll stop complaining if you pick up an Xbox headset that lets no one but you hear the delightful explosions you cause on the screen. Right now, you can get 15% off the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless Gaming Headset and 44% off the HyperX CloudX Stinger headset at Amazon. To see even more gaming headsets on sale, visit our roundup of the best gaming headset deals.

Best Xbox Expansion Card SSD Deals

The WD_Black 1TB C50 Storage Expansion Card is currently marked down to $141.42, 12% off its MSRP. The WD Black C50 is a 1TB NVMe SSD encased in a custom Xbox-compatible shell, making installation remarkably straightforward compared to the more intricate process for PS5 SSD upgrades. Simply insert the Seagate expansion card into the dedicated port on the back of your Xbox and you’re good to go.

What is Xbox’s Recent Controversy?

The recent discomfored surrounding Xbox can be isolated to a recent round of brutal layoffs. Microsoft is closing a number of Bethesda studios, including Redfall maker Arkane Austin, Hi-Fi Rush and The Evil Within developer Tango Gameworks, and more in devastating cuts at Bethesda. Alpha Dog Games, maker of mobile game Mighty Doom, will also close. Roundhouse Studios will be absorbed by The Elder Scrolls Online developer ZeniMax Online Studios. Microsoft, currently valued at over $3 trillion, did not say how many staff will lose their jobs, but significant layoffs are inevitable.

Microsoft’s announcement of the cuts at Bethesda come over three months after the company announced plans to cut 1,900 staff from its video game workforce, and amid a boom time for Bethesda’s Fallout series following the breakout hit Prime Video TV show.

Is Call of Duty Black Ops 6 Coming to Xbox Game Pass?

Microsoft has confirmed the arrival of Call of Duty Black Ops 6 day-one on Xbox Game Pass. Microsoft made the announcement alongside the release of a live-action reveal trailer called ‘The Truth Lies’. In it we see world leaders including Bill Clinton, Margaret Thatcher, George H. W. Bush, Colin Powell, and Saddam Hussein, delivering cryptic speeches. Black Ops 6 will be set during the events of the Gulf War during the early ’90s.

Is Call of Duty Black Ops 6 300GB?

Activision has also clarified that Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 won’t actually require a 300 GB download despite previous messaging. Players began to panic about the size of this year’s Call of Duty after noticing its Xbox store page.

At the time, the page listed that the game would require a 309.85 GB download for those hoping to hop into the post-Cold War first-person shooter when it launches this fall. That’ll put a pretty big dent in the hard drive of most PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X | S consoles, so players were, understandably, very concerned.

When Should I Buy an Xbox?

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

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

Xbox Series X or Xbox Series S?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Dragon Age: The Veilguard Release Date Not Before October 1 2024, Announcement Soon

Dragon Age: The Veilguard developer BioWare has confirmed plans to announce the game’s release date, unveil a new roadmap, as well as offer further looks at the single-player RPG this month (August).

In a blog post, the developer teased its plans as publisher EA narrowed Dragon Age: The Veilguard release window down to the third quarter of its 2025 financial year. That runs from October 1 to December 2024. BioWare had announced a fall 2024 release window for Dragon Age: The Veilguard. Now we know that the game will not be released in September.

Last month, BioWare said Dragon Age: The Veilguard is “Steam native,” which means the EA App is not required to play the game on Valve’s platform. Most EA-published video games do require the EA App, which replaced Origin in 2022, to play on Steam, much to the annoyance of many PC gamers. Dragon Age: The Veilguard is also verified on Steam Deck, BioWare added.

BioWare has already revealed who voices the companions in Dragon Age: The Veilguard, in addition to some returning actors from past games. As previously confirmed, all the companions are romance options for the player.

While we wait for the release date announcement, check out some of the Dragon Age: The Veilguard details we’ve learned so far about its difficulty options, combat, and character creator, as well as our first preview.

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.

Pandemic: Board Game and Expansions Buying Guide

I know what you’re thinking. We’re already surviving a global pandemic, so why would anyone consider playing a game with that name literally in the title? Because, my friends, the co-op board game version of fighting this big thing is all about coming together for the sake of the greater good. I mean, who doesn’t love a superhero tale, right?

While the game and its many iterations do not involve superheroes with capes, they involve superheroes of different kinds: scientists. Each player has their own special skills that help with the greater objective.

Pandemic is a popular board game, one often chosen on regular game nights – even during our modern time. The necessary teamwork involved helps strengthen friendships and see where communication and coordination might be improved. You see, it’s an all-or-nothing game. You either save the world and win, or you don’t, and everyone loses. I guess you’d better buck up on those soft communication skills or else, eh?

The Base Game

Pandemic

  • MSRP: $44.99 USD
  • 2-4 Players
  • 45 minutes
  • Ages 8+

There are several versions of the base game available to play. The original is a great place to get versed in the game mechanics and learn how each role works together. While you can play it with two players, I’ve found that this game is best experienced with more players than that (it supports up to four players), as you’ll have more options to get you through the waves of the pandemic. Playing it as a two-player board game, however, might make for one revealing date night adventure!

Pandemic Board Game Expansions

There are a few different expansions for Pandemic, but even more options exist beyond the expansions themselves. Some of the expansions below only require the base game, while others require additional expansions.

Pandemic: On the Brink Expansion

  • MSRP: $44.99 USD
  • 2-5 Players
  • 45 minutes
  • Ages 8+

Contents: 7 new roles, 8 new event cards, 3 new challenges, Bio-Terrorist element & corresponding location pad

The On the Brink expansion adds a space for another player to join the fun as well as other interesting twists. There are new roles to play that come with alternative ways to approach the now even stronger version of the virus.

Another added element when playing with a fifth player is that the fifth player will play as a Bio-terrorist. This is a secret role that adds chaos and helps spread the virus, so other players will have to beat the virus and the bio-terrorist to win.

Pandemic: In the Lab Expansion

  • MSRP: $44.99 USD
  • 1-6 Players
  • 45 minutes
  • Ages 8+

Contents: Lab board, 4 new role cards, 3 new event cards, lab abilities, CDC card

Note: To play the In the Lab expansion, you must have both the base game and the expansion On the Brink.

This expansion adds to both the base game and the previous expansions. It allows folks to play Pandemic in teams or as a solo board game.

The lab portion of the game extends to the capacity to study the virus outside of the field. You’ll have to sequence and categorize the disease to effectively create a cure.

In a solo game (available with this expansion), you’ll have the help of the CDC. In a multiplayer game, you can either team up or split into rival teams competing to see who can find the cure and move fast enough to resolve it before the virus does its worst.

Pandemic: State of Emergency Expansion

  • MSRP: $43.95 USD
  • 2-4 Players
  • 45 minutes
  • Ages 8+

Contents: Five new roles, 2 new game boards, 4 new locations, 2 new challenges, one untreatable virus

Note: You need the base game to play State of the Emergency.

In the State of Emergency expansion (playable with the base game), you face even more obstacles to battle viruses… and not all of them can be cured. Two different campaign challenges are in this expansion: Hinterlands and Superbug.

You’ll race worldwide on two boards to move the emergencies out of orbit. Be careful, however – the virus in this version not only affects humans but also goes after animals, which can pass the virus on to humans. You’ll have to invoke quarantine and other methods to counter the state of emergency. (Note: If this description gives you deja vu vibes, it’s purely coincidental. Believe it or not, this expansion came out in 2015!)

Alternative Universes & Timeline Stand-Alone Counterparts

Some board games have spin-offs in universes that are different from the original base game. Other times, board game iterations remain relatively the same but with different characters pursuing similar objectives. The following titles are standalone board games with varying takes on the Pandemic universe game mechanics.

Pandemic: Reign of Cthulhu Board Game

  • MSRP: $49.99 USD
  • 2-4 Players
  • 45 minutes
  • Ages 14+

Contents: Game board, investigator meeples, Shoggoth meeples, cultist meeples, sanity die, and associated cards

Fans of the mythos of Cthulhu will likely love this game edition. It’s my brother’s and my favorite version of the series. My only complaint is that I wish it were digital so we could play it together across the country.

This version of the Pandemic board game brings gothiness and unspeakable horrors to four cities in the mythos. Instead of a virus, you’re fighting against cultists and supernatural powers called Shoggoths to avoid awakening the ancient ones. The art is fantastic. The meeple characters are shaped like monsters, investigators, and cultists. It’s a great stand-alone game that gives you a bit of the enjoyment of Pandemic but without the doctor part… unless you want to play as the doctor character, because it wouldn’t be Pandemic if that weren’t still an option, right?

Star Wars: The Clone Wars Board Game

  • MSRP: $59.99 USD
  • 1-5 Players
  • 60 minutes
  • Ages 14+

Contents: Intergalactic game board, Star Wars character meeples, connected game cards

This is a stand-alone board game with Pandemic-style mechanics, and its version of intergalactic dramas to defeat and reign victoriously cooperatively. In it, you and your partners choose Jedi with your own special powers to go up against the Separatists. The game features several of the franchise’s beloved (and hated) characters from the film, including Yoda, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Darth Maul, and Count Dooku. Star Wars: The Clone Wars is so good that it landed on our lists for the best Star Wars board games, as well as the best board games for teens.

World of Warcraft: Wrath of The Lich King Board Game

  • MSRP: $59.99 USD
  • 1-5 Players
  • 45-60 minutes
  • Ages 14+

Contents: World of Warcraft game board, hero meeples, Lich King meeple, abomination meeples, ghoul meeples, Icecrown Citadel, associated cards

Fans of the MMORPG World of Warcraft may be interested in this stand-alone version of the game. Like the Star Wars and Cthuhulu games, this one takes place in its own separate universe, utilizing Pandemic-style playing elements but with a different universe presentation.

In this version, you’ll be battling across the continent of Northrend on the ultimate quest of defeating the Lich King. Of course, you’ll need to complete an ever-piling amount of quests fighting creatures before reaching the Icecrown Citadel, where you’ll face the Lich King himself… if you survive long enough. Will you complete your quest successfully or will you run away with a ghoulish abomination in a disappointing loss that time forgot? Check out our World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King board game review for more info on this game.

More Pandemic Spin-Offs

There are also some period-based game versions to consider (some of which seem to be going out of print in recent years). Iberia, Rising Tide, and Fall of Rome are all stand-alone Pandemic-style games that incorporate similar mechanics to achieve their desired cooperative objectives. Check them out if you’re a fan of a specific historical era.

Shorter Versions of Pandemic

Pandemic: Hot Zone Europe

Looking for a quick-playing version of Pandemic? Two different editions take half the time in the Hot Zone series. Hot Zone North America brings the battle against the virus stateside in half the time that it takes to complete its original counterpart. Want to journey away from North America? Hot Zone Europe will give you that shorter tour in and beyond the Schengen.

Pandemic: Contagion Board Game

One other take on Pandemic that stands on its own is Contagion, which reverses the original board game’s roles. Contagion, while also a shorter-to-play game, is completely different from any of the others out there. You see, in this version, players play as the disease. Yep, you read that right. You and other players are working as the virus to wipe out the human race.

Pandemic Legacy Games

Pandemic Legacy: Season 1

On the opposite side of the time-to-play spectrum, if you are seeking a very repeatable, lengthy, and committed gaming experience, consider one of the legacy versions of the game. Legacy games feature campaigns done across multiple play sessions. They require a lot of time commitment and are something to jump into with mindfulness. Legacy games pack in a lot more content than standard games, and are generally more expensive.

Pandemic has multiple legacy versions available to play. The legacy titles are Season 1, Season 2, and Season 0. Legacy games take place over the course of one year. Your actions each month of the campaigns will continue to affect you throughout the course of the very lengthy gameplay. If your gaming crowd holds grudges, well, this one will be a rough year to maneuver!

How to Play the Pandemic Board Game Online

Board Game Arena

A number of iterations of Pandemic are available in digital form. The site Board Game Arena is a browser-based platform where folks can play the game. It’s how several of my friends in my digital board game group and I have enjoyed this version.

To play the base game over there (available for 1-4 players who can play in real-time or turn-based games where players can take turns over several days), someone in your board game group will have to have a premium subscription. A premium subscription to Board Game Arena costs $3 a month, billed at $36.00 once a year. Playing multiple games, even outside of Pandemic, can be well worth the investment. My board game community currently has several ongoing turn-based premium version games going on with regularity.

Tabletopia

Another place you can play Pandemic digitally is via the website Tabletopia. Tabletopia offers three digital versions of the game: Pandemic Hot Zone North America, Pandemic Hot Zone Europe, and Pandemic Legacy Season 0. All of the versions on Tabletopia are available to play free online. The gameplay is a bit different than on Board Game Arena, as their version is a physics-simulated version that is essentially one step in between playing the game physically and playing it on BGA.

Video Game Iterations

Steam used to have a PC version of Pandemic on its store but removed it in January 2022. Other versions of the game on Xbox and the Nintendo Switch were removed at the end of July 2022. It was reported that the development team (Asmodee Digital) might work on a newer game version at some point, they haven’t announced any solid plans yet. Asmodee did not respond to my request for an updated comment.

Bottom Line

I know that in our post-pandemic era, it probably sounds strange to play a game about fighting a pandemic – or, goodness, even being a virus on the opposite end – but my experiences with the Pandemic board game have all been enjoyable. It’s a fun game that shows where your tabletop group’s communication skills work together… and where they could improve. My personal crew has both won and lost plenty of battles playing the game, but our sessions have always been full of laughs, regardless of the outcome. In any case, rally your gaming group and pick the Pandemic base game, spinoff, and/or expansion, and have fun.

Jennifer Stavros is a contributing freelancer for IGN, covering everything from comics, games, technology, and nerd culture. Follow her on Twitter or watch her on Twitch under the handle @scandalous.

Last Chance to Save 25% Off the Stonemaier Expeditions Board Game

Today, Amazon is offering the Stonemaier Expeditions board game for only $63.50, a 25% discount from its original $85 MSRP and the lowest price we’ve ever seen for this 2023 release. This is a limited “Lightning Deal” that will expire when a certain number have been sold.

Stonemaier Expeditions Board Game for $63.50

Stonemaier is no stranger to the board gaming world. They’ve produced some excellent games like Wingspan (and its spinoff Wyrmspan), Scythe, and Viticulture. Expeditions was released in 2023 and it is the sequel to Stonemaier’s popular Scythe game. It takes place in the same mecha-industrial setting as Scythe, but with complete different game mechanics and goals. This time around, there’s more of an emphasis on exploration over warfare with a more horror feel. Scythe is a very complex board with many moving pieces, and Expeditions is no different. Check out our Expeditions review for more details.

Looking for options? Check out the 17 best board games to play in 2024.

Games Industry Criticizes Bungie Management, CEO Pete Parsons in Wake of Layoffs: ‘Inexcusable’

Today, Destiny developer Bungie announced another massive round of layoffs following several months of internal turmoil and the launch of Destiny 2: The Final Shape. In a post on Bungie’s blog, CEO Pete Parsons announced that 220 roles, or 17% of Bungie’s workforce, were eliminated due to “financial challenges.”

Now, in the wake of these layoffs, quite a few employees who were laid off (along with other members of the games industry) have taken to social media to share their concerns and criticisms about Bungie’s management, with many even demanding that Parsons step down.

While fears of layoffs were reportedly prevalent within the studio, many employees expressed that their own layoffs were unexpected due to recent actions taken by leaders at Bungie. One music designer shared that they were reassured that they were needed, only to be laid off today. “There’s nothing I could’ve done to not be laid off,” they wrote.

Another employee shared that she was laid off just a month after being promoted.

Meanwhile, employees at Bungie who were unaffected by the layoffs have also made posts in support of their now former coworkers. Bungie’s global community lead, known as dmg04 online, called the layoffs “inexcusable.” “Accountability falling upon the workers who have pushed the needle to deliver for our community time and time again,” he wrote.

A few people also noted that Bungie’s player support team was heavily impacted. One employee noted that her “whole team is gone,” while a former community manager (whose position was eliminated during Bungie’s last round of layoffs) noted that player support employees dealt with harsh conditions and “worked harder than anyone else, through weekends – holidays – and the pay was atrocious, only to [get] tossed out so LY could get their personal buyouts.”

Throughout the games industry, others have criticized Bungie’s management, with many in the Destiny 2 community attributing the layoffs to poor decisions made by leadership. Destiny 2 lore YouTuber My name is Byf said Bungie has been “reckless with the studio, its employees, and its franchises. The problem is clear. Bad leadership. It needs to change.”

Others, including more former employees of Bungie, demanded that Parsons take a pay cut or step down.

Calls for Parsons to step down were only amplified by a few fans’ discoveries of what appears to be his account on a car bidding site called Bring A Trailer. One player compiled a spreadsheet showing his car purchases, showing that he has apparently spent about $500,000 on vintage cars since Bungie’s last round of layoffs in October.

The announcement of layoffs, along with calls for Parsons to resign, come just under two months after Bungie released Destiny 2: The Final Shape, which brings the game’s story to a close and was well-received by players despite facing several launch issues. Shortly after the release of The Final Shape, Bungie also announced Codename Frontiers, a mysterious new update slated for release in 2025. Bungie also has a revival of Marathon in the works, which will be the series’ first installment since 1996.

However, despite its multiple upcoming projects and well-received recent titles, Bungie has been in turmoil for months. In October, Bungie was hit with a smaller, albeit significant, round of layoffs that was reportedly due to Destiny 2 underperforming. This round of layoffs led to delays for The Final Shape as well as Marathon, which had not been given an official release window but was reportedly delayed internally from 2024 to 2025.

Following October’s layoffs, a Bungie developer described the studio’s morale as “soul-crushing,” with other developers describing mounting fears of more cost-cutting measures as well as a total Sony takeover. Months later in March, Bungie replaced its Marathon director amid internal pressure to ship the game.

Following the replacement of Marathon’s director, one source with knowledge of Bungie’s budgeting told IGN that “something will need to happen to curb costs unless The Final Shape does so well to cover the gap and people can move to Marathon,” referring to fears of another round of layoffs following The Final Shape’s release — the layoffs that happened today.

Amelia Zollner is a freelance writer at IGN who loves all things indie and Nintendo. Outside of IGN, they’ve contributed to sites like Polygon and Rock Paper Shotgun, and they recently released a game called Garage Sale. Find them on Twitter: @ameliazollner.

Suda51 and Shinji Mikami Are Interested in Making a Killer7 Complete Edition and Sequel

No More Heroes developer Soichi Suda a.k.a. Suda51 and Resident Evil creator Shinji Mikami are interested in returning to the Killer7 series.

The two renowned game makers discussed their potential futures during an installment in one of Grasshopper Manufacture’s Grasshopper Direct presentations. Toward the end of the 40-minute video, which primarily offers a behind-the-scenes look at Shadows of the Damned: Hella Remastered, Mikami and Suda were asked to comment on what they’re working on next. It was the Resident Evil veteran who brought up his desire to see more from Killer7.

“I’ve realized that I want to stay as hands-on as possible when it comes to game creation, and I’d love to see Suda make a sequel to Killer7,” Mikami said.

Suda, surprised, replies, “Seriously?!”

Killer7 launched in 2005 and follows Harman Smith and his seven killer personalities. Fans have grown to appreciate the game in the last 19 years, with many falling in love with its unique gameplay, visuals, and style. We gave it an 8.1/10 in our original review, and at the time, we said, “Players who can look beyond the control mechanics will find a truly bold and intriguing adventure game lurking within Killer7’s beautiful cel-shaded visuals.” Suda directed Killer7 with oversight from Mikami and isn’t opposed to revisiting its world.

“I’d rather make a complete edition first.

“Someday we just may see a Killer7 sequel or a ‘complete edition,’ ” Suda adds. However, it sounds like he’d prefer to start with the latter.

“I’d rather make a complete edition first. First a complete edition and then Killer11,” he says with a smile. Suda continues: “I don’t know – ‘Killer7-something,’ probably. Maybe ‘Killer7: Beyond.’”

Mikami feels a Killer7 complete edition might be “doable,” but Grasshopper would need to first decide whether to pursue it or some sort of sequel first. For now, no sequel has been announced. For more, you can learn about the Killer7 PC port that arrived in 2018.

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.

LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga Highlights PS Plus Monthly Games for August 2024

Sony has announced the PlayStation Plus games for August 2024: LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga (PS4 and PS5); Five Nights at Freddy’s: Security Breach (PS4 and PS5); and Ender Lilies: Quietus of the Knights (PS4).

In a new PlayStation Blog post, Sony Interactive Entertainment’s Director of Content Acquisition & Operations Adam Michel revealed that all three games will be available to active PlayStation Plus subscribers starting Tuesday, August 6, and have until Monday, September 2, to redeem these digital copies. PS Plus subscribers who have yet to claim the free games for July 2024 (Borderlands 3, NHL 24, and Among Us) have until August 6 to redeem those games as part of their PS Plus subscription.

LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga is a compilation of video games representing all nine installments in the Skywalker Saga sub-trilogies, starting with A New Hope and concluding with The Rise of Skywalker. It also includes additional characters and DLC characters based on other Star Wars shows and projects, including The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett.

In our review of LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga, which we awarded an 8 out of 10, my colleague Tristan Ogilvie wrote: “LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga provides some rollicking reimaginings of Star Wars’ most iconic moments and seats them inside a series of interplanetary playgrounds that are dense with discovery and entertaining diversions.”

Five Nights at Freddy’s Security Breach is a horror game released in 2021 and is the eleventh installment in the widely popular Five Nights at Freddy’s franchise.

Security Breach is set in a mall. Players control a boy named Gregory, who finds himself trapped in Freddy Fazbear’s Mega Pizzaplex. He must survive the night by evading hostile animatronic mascots and other enemies.

Ender Lilies: Quietus of the Knights is an indie ARPG. It was originally released in January 2021 as a Steam Early Access title before a full release in June. Players control Lily, a young priestess who is looking to unravel the mystery regarding a destroyed kingdom of Land’s End.

Its release became quite a hit for Indie games, with Gematsu reporting in March 2022 that the game had sold over 600,000 digital copies across the globe. In February 2024, during a Nintendo Direct showcase, a sequel, Ender Magnolia: Bloom in the Mist, was announced and released on March 24, 2024, for Nintendo Switch, PC, PS4, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.

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

Destiny Developer Bungie Cuts 220 Staff: ‘Some of the Most Difficult Changes We’ve Ever Had to Make as a Studio’

Destiny developer Bungie has today announced significant cuts at the studio that have seen 220 people, or 17% of the studio’s workforce, let go.

The cuts affect every level of the company, including most of the Sony-owned studio’s executive and senior leader roles, Bungie boss Pete Parsons said in a post on Bungie.net. “Today is a difficult and painful day,” Parsons added.

Departing staff will be offered “a generous exit package” that includes severance, bonus, and health coverage, Bungie promised.

Parsons blamed the cuts on the rising costs of development, “industry shifts,” and “enduring economic conditions.” Because of this, Parsons insistsed, Bungie has had to make “substantial changes” to its cost structure and focus development efforts entirely on live service looter shooter Destiny and the upcoming Marathon.

I realize all of this is hard news, especially following the success we have seen with The Final Shape.

The cuts come after what was seen as the successful launch of Destiny 2 expansion The Final Shape. Parsons acknowledged this in his post, but said they were necessary “to refocus our studio and our business with more realistic goals and viable financials.” Parsons also said the cuts were made “after exhausting all other mitigation options,” although he failed to say what they were.

The 220 layoffs come alongside the integration of an additional 155 roles, or 12% of Bungie’s workforce, into parent company Sony Interactive Entertainment over the next few quarters. Parsons said this move saves “a great deal of talent that would otherwise have been affected by the reduction in force.”

That suggests that if Sony hadn’t taken on these 155 roles, 375 staff would have lost their jobs today, and that the actual reduction in Bungie’s workforce over time will be substantially more than 17%, at around 34%.

Meanwhile, Bungie is working with PlayStation Studios to spin out one of its incubation projects, an action game set in a brand-new sci-fi universe, to form a new studio within PlayStation Studios “to continue its promising development. ”

“This will be a time of tremendous change for our studio,” Parsons said.

Parsons went on to explain how Bungie got to this point, confirming that the studio had been “running in the red” after its financial safety margins were exceeded following delays to both The Final Shape and Marathon and a rapid expansion that “stretched our talent too thin.”

Over 850 staff remain at Bungie building Destiny and Marathon, Parsons said.

Here’s the statement in full:

This morning, I’m sharing with all of you some of the most difficult changes we’ve ever had to make as a studio. Due to rising costs of development and industry shifts as well as enduring economic conditions, it has become clear that we need to make substantial changes to our cost structure and focus development efforts entirely on Destiny and Marathon. 

That means beginning today, 220 of our roles will be eliminated, representing roughly 17% of our studio’s workforce.  

These actions will affect every level of the company, including most of our executive and senior leader roles.   

Today is a difficult and painful day, especially for our departing colleagues, all of which have made important and valuable contributions to Bungie. Our goal is to support them with the utmost care and respect. For everyone affected by this job reduction, we will be offering a generous exit package, including severance, bonus and health coverage.

I realize all of this is hard news, especially following the success we have seen with The Final Shape. But as we’ve navigated the broader economic realities over the last year, and after exhausting all other mitigation options, this has become a necessary decision to refocus our studio and our business with more realistic goals and viable financials.

We are committing to two other major changes today that we believe will support our focus, leverage Sony’s strengths, and create new opportunities for Bungie talent.

First, we are deepening our integration with Sony Interactive Entertainment, working to integrate 155 of our roles, roughly 12%, into SIE over the next few quarters. SIE has worked tirelessly with us to identify roles for as many of our people as possible, enabling us together to save a great deal of talent that would otherwise have been affected by the reduction in force.   

Second, we are working with PlayStation Studios leadership to spin out one of our incubation projects – an action game set in a brand-new science-fantasy universe – to form a new studio within PlayStation Studios to continue its promising development.  

This will be a time of tremendous change for our studio.

Let’s unpack how we ended up in this position; it’s important to understand how we got here. 

For over five years, it has been our goal to ship games in three enduring, global franchises. To realize that ambition, we set up several incubation projects, each seeded with senior development leaders from our existing teams. We eventually realized that this model stretched our talent too thin, too quickly.  It also forced our studio support structures to scale to a larger level than we could realistically support, given our two primary products in development – Destiny and Marathon. 

Additionally, in 2023, our rapid expansion ran headlong into a broad economic slowdown, a sharp downturn in the games industry, our quality miss with Destiny 2: Lightfall, and the need to give both The Final Shape and Marathon the time needed to ensure both projects deliver at the quality our players expect and deserve. We were overly ambitious, our financial safety margins were subsequently exceeded, and we began running in the red.

After this new trajectory became clear, we knew we had to change our course and speed, and we did everything we could to avoid today’s outcome. Even with exhaustive efforts undertaken across our leadership and product teams to resolve our financial challenges, these steps were simply not enough.  

As a result, today we must say goodbye to incredible talent, colleagues, and friends.

This will be a challenging time at Bungie, and we’ll need to help our team navigate these changes in the weeks and months ahead. This will be a hard week, and we know that our team will need time to process, to ask questions, and to absorb this news. Today, and over the next several weeks, we will host team meetings and town halls, team breakout sessions, and private, individual sessions to ensure we are keeping our communication open and transparent. 

Bungie will continue to make great games. We still have over 850 team members building Destiny and Marathon, and we will continue to build amazing experiences that exceed our players’ expectations.   

There will be a time to talk about our goals and projects, but today is not that day. Today, our focus is on supporting our people.

In March, multiple sources told IGN that Bungie was in the midst of shifting around its creative leadership on Marathon, including removing long-time Bungie designer Christopher Barrett from the game director role. IGN learned he was being replaced by former Valorant game director Joe Ziegler, who left Riot Games for Bungie in 2022.

At the time, IGN was told that Bungie was pouring resources into getting Marathon out the door. The game’s direction had shifted somewhat under Ziegler’s new leadership, one source said, including moving away from custom player characters in favor of a selectable cast of heroes.

There were also internal fears and rumors that layoffs would immediately follow the release of The Final Shape, with one source saying “nothing adds up” and “something will need to happen to curb costs unless The Final Shape does so well to cover the gap and people can move to Marathon.”

Unfortunately, those fears have now been realized.

Bungie has found itself rocked by a number of major shake-ups in recent years that have tanked morale at the studio and left its future uncertain. Sony officially acquired the studio mid-2022, with the promise it would largely retain a semblance of freedom as an independent subsidiary. Sources told IGN that’s largely remained true, but Bungie has struggled to meet key financial targets, with Destiny 2 significantly underperforming last year.

In October, Bungie laid off roughly 100 of its then-1,200 employees amid greater cost-cutting measures that saw Marathon delayed to 2025 and employee benefits slashed, further damaging the mood internally.

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.

Microsoft Reveals Transparent Controller That Rekindles Memories of the OG Xbox Era

Microsoft has revealed a new transparent Xbox controller that rekindles memories of the OG Xbox era: the Sky Cipher Special Edition. It’s available to preorder now at the Microsoft Store for $69.99, with a release date of August 13.

In a post on Xbox Wire, Daniel Ruiz, Sr. Marketing Manager, Xbox Accessories, said the Sky Cipher features a transparent blue design “complemented by metallic features and silver interior parts that shine through from inside, exuding an aura of sophistication and futuristic appeal.”

Leaning into the nostalgia for console generations gone by, Microsoft’s video promoting the new transparent controller begins with the OG Xbox bootup animation. Perhaps Microsoft plans to release a transparent console next?

Here’s the official blurb:

Elevate your experience and style with the Sky Cipher controller. Stay elegantly on target with Sky Blue metallic triggers and a matching D-pad surrounded by a dark blue accent. Refine your game with two-tone thumbsticks featuring Sky Blue bases and dark blue tops. Hold on to the action with rubberized, Sky Blue grips on the back case. Looking closely at the hand grips, you can see the rumble pack vibrate and react to your gameplay.

Otherwise, the Sky Cipher Special Edition is the same Xbox Series X and S wireless controller Microsoft has sold for years, and includes USB-C connectivity, a 3.5mm audio jack, and up to 40 hours of battery life.

Alongside the reveal of this controller is the announcement that the Sky Cipher introduces a new packaging design for Xbox controllers “that embodies our commitment to reducing product carbon footprint.”

Single-use plastics have been removed from the packaging and the traditional paper manual has been replaced with a QR code for a digital quick start guide. Additionally, the packaging is now 22% smaller and 21% lighter, further reducing its environmental footprint (previously 177mm x 175.4mm x 72mm and 152.3g). Sky Cipher is the first Xbox controller to ship in this new packaging.

Microsoft has a long history of releasing custom and specially designed controllers, although in recent years it has faced critisizm for locking some of the more eye-catching peripheraps behind social media competitions. For example, recent Deadpool and Wolverine Xbox controllers released to coincide with the launch of MCY movie Deadpool & Wolverine are only available to competition winners.

The Xbox Wireless Controller – Sky Cipher Special Edition, however, is available to pre-order today in select Xbox markets worldwide for $69.99.

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.

Braid, Anniversary Edition ‘Sold Like Dogs**t,’ Developer Jonathan Blow Says

Braid developer Jonathan Blow has said the recently released anniversary edition of the indie puzzle platformer has sold “horribly,” and indicated he is now struggling to employ staff full-time.

Blow, who also created The Witness, catapulted into the upper echelons of indie video game development after Braid enjoyed enormous success on Xbox Live Arcade in 2008. It’s since become known as one of the greatest indie games of all time, with a number of perfect review scores under its belt.

16 years later, in May 2024, Blow released a remaster with fully repainted artwork, new puzzles, and in-depth commentary, across PC via Steam, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 and 5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S, Android, and iOS, with the mobile version released by Netflix to those with an active subscription. The Anniversary Edition was announced during Sony’s State of Play event in August 2020.

As surfaced by a user on ResetEra, a YouTube channel called “Blow Fan” published a compilation of commentary from Blow on Braid, Anniversary Edition’s sales performance, made during a number of livestreams in the months since launch. The picture Blow paints here is clear: Braid, Anniversary Edition has flopped.

It has sold like dogs**t compared to what we need to make for the company to survive.

In one stream dated June 17, Blow said Braid, Anniversary Edition had sold “horribly.” “It has sold like dogs**t compared to what we need to make for the company to survive,” he continued. “So the future is uncertain, let’s put it that way.”

Then, on July 21, Blow was asked again about sales. “No, they’ve been terrible,” he replied. “Utterly terrible.”

In another stream dated July 22, said releasing Braid, Anniversary Edition on so many platforms “made a difference, but the problem is most of those platforms are f***ing dead now.”

“Steam is easily still our biggest platform,” he continued. “There would have been something to be said for just not porting to half those platforms.

“It’s a really interesting thing that we did. We did commentary in a way that nobody’s ever done it, at a much more thorough level than anybody’s ever done it. And at some point, you just have to know that what you did was a good thing, even if the world doesn’t really acknowledge it. And this is one of those cases, I think.”

Then, in a stream on July 27, Blow once again addressed the Braid, Anniversary Edition sales, but this time cast doubt on his company’s ability to employ staff. Responding to a question on how many people at his company were working on the compiler for programming language Jai full-time, Blow said: “None, because we can’t afford to pay anyone because the sales are bad.”

“The whole game industry is having a hard time,” he said.

Blow’s comments have sparked something of an inquest online about why Braid, Anniversary Edition has struggled. In one stream, Blow discounted the impact that bringing the game to conventions and putting it in front of people might have had on the success of the game, saying cons don’t do much to help promote video games. He also said promoting the game on podcasts and YouTube interviews wouldn’t have helped, either. There are others who suggest there was little demand for a Braid remaster in the first place, with the original perfectly playable still all these years later.

Blow’s studio is Thekla, Inc., which also developed and published 2016 first-person puzzle game The Witness. It is said to be working on a number of unannounced projects, including a VR game.

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.