PlayStation game The Last of Us 2 will see a release on PC according to a reliable leaker.
Dealabs’ reliable leaker Billbil-kun, who has a long list of accurate PlayStation reveals under their belt, reported the PC version of Naughty Dog’s The Last of Us 2 is essentially wrapped up, but is potentially being held back to coincide with the 2025 release of Season 2 of HBO’s The Last of Us show.
Sony is yet to comment.
The Last of Us 2 first launched on PlayStation 4 in June 2020 before releasing on PlayStation 5 in remastered form in January 2024. A PC version of The Last of Us 2 would come as no surprise, given Sony has already released the first game on PC.
The company’s strategy is to release its big single-player games on PlayStation consoles first, before coming to PC later. The Last of Us launched on PC in March 2023. Perhaps The Last of Us 2 will launch on PC in March 2025.
Before then, Sony Santa Monica’s God of War: Ragnarok launches on PC on September 19, 2024. Live service PlayStation games, however, launch on PlayStation 5 and PC at the same time. Arrowhead’s Helldivers 2 did exactly that earlier this year and went on to become the fastest-selling PlayStation game of all time with an incredible 12 million copies sold in just 12 weeks. The upcoming Concord, another live service shooter, is also set to launch on PS5 and PC on the same day later this year.
It’s worth noting that all PlayStation games on PC, even single-player only games, now require a PlayStation Network account to work, much to the annoyance of some Steam users. God of War: Ragnarok launches on PC with the new PlayStation overlay featuring shared trophies and more that was introduced with the PC version of Ghost of Tsushima.
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.
Mortal Kombat 1 now has Homelander as a DLC character, and players are already finding cool Easter eggs with the supervillain.
Homelander, from the phenomenally popular Prime Video show The Boys, launches in NetherRealm’s gory fighting game with a number of references, but one Brutality in particular was found to include unique dialogue that hat tips an infamous scene.
Warning! Spoilers for The Boys Season 2 follow:
In The Boys Season 2 premiere The Big Ride, Homelander is introduced to Blindspot, a candidate for replacing the now-deceased Translucent’s spot in The Seven. Blindspot is blind but possesses superhuman hearing and agility. Homelander, clearly unimpressed, bashes Blindspot’s ears in, declaring him “just another useless f***ing blind guy.”
All Mortal Kombat 1 characters have Brutalities — unique moves that end a match in a particularly brutal fashion. They’re triggered by doing an extra input command on top of a specific combo ender or move that wins the final round. Most of the characters in the game have six brutalities, but ever since Mortal Kombat 1 launched in September last year, players have discovered secret Brutalities, too.
Homelander’s Brutality is similar to the ear bash he performs on Blindspot in the show, leaving his opponent screaming in agony on the floor. But, if Homelander performs this Brutality on Kenshi, he says the line from the show: “just another useless f***ing blind guy.” Kenshi, Mortal Kombat fans will know, is a blind swordsman who uses telekinetic abilities to defeat his opponents — and perfect fodder for Homelander’s quip.
It’s a cool nod to The Boys, but not everything about Mortal Kombat 1’s Homelander is a perfect recreation of the on-screen character. For example, Warner Bros. has remained coy about the voice actor behind Mortal Kombat 1’s Homelander. Antony Starr, who plays Homelander in The Boys, does not voice the character, much to the disappointment of fans. Omni-Man voice actor J. K. Simmons reprised his role for Mortal Kombat 1, as did Peacemaker actor John Cena. It is unclear why Starr did not do the same here.
The Mortal Kombat 1 Kombat Pack includes the Jean-Claude Van Damme character skin for Johnny Cage (available now), and one-week early access to six playable DLC characters: Omni-Man (available now), Quan Chi (available now), Peacemaker (available now), Ermac (available now), Homelander (available now), and the upcoming Takeda Takahashi, as well as five DLC Kameo fighters. The Boys Season 4, meanwhile, kicks off June 13.
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.
Destiny 2 developer Bungie has issued an apology to disgruntled fans who struggled to play The Final Shape expansion at launch.
The Final Shape launched on June 4 and Destiny 2 soon ran into significant server issues that prevented players from making progress through the hotly anticipated campaign. Many reported being booted from campaign levels, missing out on crucial cutscenes and losing progress. Bungie tweeted progress updates as it worked to ease the problems, but for many players the night was a write-off.
On Steam, the user review rating for The Final Shape is, predictably, ‘mostly negative’. “Best 40 bucks I ever spent and best two hours of my life… My favorite part was when Cayde said ‘Destiny 2 servers are not available. Dismiss this message to try again,’ ” reads one review. “Today is a good day to collect all the error codes if you still haven’t got them all,” reads another.
Now, Bungie has tweeted to address the various problems. “Hey everyone, if connection issues have blocked you from playing or enjoying The Final Shape today, we want to apologize,” the Sony-owned studio said. “We’re hard at work trying to resolve each of these issues as quickly as possible, and many of the connection issues from this morning have already been fixed.”
“If connection issues have blocked you from playing or enjoying The Final Shape today, we want to apologize.
Bungie has rolled out a number of restarts in a bid to tackle errors causing players to get kicked out of activities, which it said “remains our highest priority issue to resolve.” Those who missed a cutscene can replay the mission by accessing the Replayable Missions node in the middle of the Pale Heart map, Bungie advised. There are cutscenes at the end of Mission 1, 4, 5, 6, and 7.
“We built The Final Shape to be an exciting, cathartic, story-driven adventure for everyone to enjoy,” Bungie continued. “We’re truly sorry if connection issues and instability is getting in the way of that experience, and we promise to keep working until these issues are resolved.”
We built The Final Shape to be an exciting, cathartic, story-driven adventure for everyone to enjoy. We’re truly sorry if connection issues and instability is getting in the way of that experience, and we promise to keep working until these issues are resolved.
It’s a tough start for The Final Shape, which does appear to have reignited interest in the long-running shooter. Destiny 2 Steam concurrent players peaked at an impressive 315,285, a figure high enough to make the top five most-played games on Valve’s platform. Microsoft and Sony do not provide player numbers for Xbox and PlayStation.
The Final Shape concludes Destiny’s overarching story by placing the player inside the Traveler in a face-off against the mysterious The Witness. It’s the culmination of 10 years of often bewildering Destiny storytelling, and has left fans wondering what’s next. Some are speculating Bungie has Destiny 3 up its sleeve.
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 best Xbox Series X/S headsets provide a high level of immersion so you can enjoy your favorite games as they were intended. We understand that not all headsets suit everyone, so that’s why we’ve provided a wide range of gaming headsets to match your gaming style and unique requirements.
TL;DR – These are our picks for the Best Xbox Series X/S Headsets:
The Xbox Wireless Headset is the official platform gaming headset, and it partners perfectly with the Xbox Series X/S, even matching the console’s design. For under $100, you get simplicity in pairing thanks to its use of the Xbox Wireless standard. An easy connection over Bluetooth or a USB-C dongle is also available for a host of other devices, and as a wireless option, it offers a 15-hour battery life to last through your longest gaming marathons.
This headset doesn’t lack performance or features, offering 40mm drivers to pump out sound—with an especially booming bass—on par with other mid-range headsets and rocking support of Windows Sonic, Dolby Atmos, and DTS Headphone: X. The integration of the Xbox Accessories App allows you to adjust the EQ presets, making the audio customized to your ears. And though the Xbox Wireless Headset totes a mainly plastic build, it’s durable with intuitive dials for volume and game/chat mix on the earcups, as well as easy-to-find buttons for device pairing and mic mute.
2. Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Gen 3
Best Wireless Xbox Headset
Slightly heavier than the Gen 2 version of the same headset, the Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Gen 3 oozes style, and offers plenty of functions that make the extra weight worthwhile. You can easily access all of the headset’s controls on the left earcup, with some offering multiple functions. Once you get used to the placement and what each button does, it becomes a breeze to navigate through the settings.
With its 50mm Nanoclear drivers and a frequency response of 20Hz – 20KHz, you can expect clear, crisp audio with plenty of punchy bass. If you’re familiar with Turtle Beach headsets, you’ll be familiar with the SuperHuman Hearing feature which boosts certain game sounds, making it an ideal pick for FPS games.
For those who like to customize their audio, the Swarm II app offers enough settings including microphone sensitivity, audio presents, and so on. The added bonus being the two 10-band equalizers, allowing you to adjust game audio and microphone sound separately. And at under $100, this headset is a steal if you value good audio, ease of use, and durability.
3. Corsair HS35
Best Budget Xbox Headset
Pros:
Excellent build quality
Crisp, clear microphone
Cons:
Audio can get muddy
You don’t need to spend a fortune to get a quality headset for your Xbox, and the Corsair HS35 is proof. For under $50, you get a great-looking, light headset with a build quality that punches high above its weight. Its plush, memory phone earcups house impressive 50mm drivers and several easy-to-reach controls. You are limited to only a wired connection using a 3.5mm jack, but that makes it a simple plug-and-play option.
This budget gaming headset offers a decent sound performance akin to most headsets in this price bracket. Some may find the bass a bit heavy and muddy, drowning out higher frequencies. But when you turn down the volume a bit, the audio shortcomings are less distracting. However, the microphone, which is Discord-certified, is surprisingly crisp, ensuring clear communication between you and your teammates.
4. HyperX CloudX Stinger Core
Best Budget Wireless Xbox Headset
Pros:
Xbox Wireless protocol support for simple pairing to Xbox
Clear microphone
Cons:
No Bluetooth support
Wireless Xbox Series X headsets usually come at a heavy premium, costing a couple hundred bucks just to have freedom from wires. Luckily, HyperX has made a name for itself over the last few years, creating some of the best budget headsets around. The HyperX CloudX Stinger Core takes the success that’s made the Cloud Stinger one of the best gaming headsets on the market, strips back all the unnecessary features in order to deliver an affordable wireless gaming headset for the masses.
Sure, it doesn’t support virtual surround sound or a Bluetooth connection, but does that matter when you can usually find this wireless gaming headset for under a hundred bucks? We’ve used dozens of HyperX gaming headsets over the years and can tell you the HyperX CloudX Stinger Core is perfect if you want a no-frills gaming headset that just works.
Though the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1 may be one of the cheapest headset on our list, it’s packing everything you need for an immersive, enjoyable gaming experience. With the same drivers as the Arctis Nova 7, this headset’s sound quality is surprisingly great. There’s even support for Microsoft’s Spatial Audio to make the most of sound cues in games, while EQ settings can be adjusted using the SteelSeries GG app on PC.
SteelSeries didn’t forget comfort in the design of the Arctis Nova 1, so you’ll find the headset has a lightweight, height-adjustable build and plush, breathable earcups. Dropping wireless connectivity also helps keep the weight and price lower. That means the only way to connect to your devices is via the 3.5mm jack, making for a simple plug-and-play connection to your Xbox.
With most headsets, you start to feel fatigued after a few hours of wear, but thanks to SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7X’s design, you should last almost as long as its impressive 38-hour battery life. Similar to its predecessor, the Arctis 7X, this headset offers an adjustable ski-band headband and soft, breathable fabric memory foam earcups for cool, comfortable gameplay.
The Arctis Nova 7X packs more than just all-day comfort, as your favorite games sound great thanks to the Sonar software, which allows you to tune EQ settings and take advantage of spatial audio. Communication between teammates is also sharp and precise when using the retractable, noise-cancelling microphone. Also on offer is multi-device connectivity via a 2.4GHz dongle, while Bluetooth is available for pairing a plethora of other devices, and you can even use both simultaneously.
Bluetooth connectivity makes it easy to pair a whole host of devices with a headset, and the Razer Kaira Pro offers solid Bluetooth 5.0 support. Therefore, in addition to its use of Xbox Wireless for a seamless connection to your Xbox Series X/S, you can easily connect to your smartphone, tablet, or gaming laptop over Bluetooth. And you can do both simultaneously, so while listening to the action of your favorite shooter through Xbox, you can also jam out to music over your phone connected with Bluetooth.
The Razer Kaira Pro comes loaded with other fun features, like RGB lighting on the earcup to amp up your playing experience, and the headset still manages to last up to 15 hours with RGB turned on. The earcups also offer controls for everything from adjusting the headset’s sound settings to switching between devices, which may be overwhelming to figure out at first. You even get two mics, a removable wired mic and one built-in.
Noise distractions are unavoidable, especially if you live with roommates or in a bustling metropolis, so grabbing a headset with powerful noise cancellation like the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless is vital. On offer is a hybrid noise-canceling system with four mics that adjust based on what you’re listening to and what it picks up in your environment. Improved earcups also help with sound isolation, and a simple button press activates a transparency mode to reveal what’s happening around you.
With SteelSeries latest, we see the biggest design shift since the start of the Arctis lineup with now telescoping arms on its adjustable headband to better accommodates larger head sizes. The earcups are also slimmer and sleeker, giving off less of a gaming headset vibe and more of wireless headphones look. And one of our favorite features remains intact with a few upgrades, the hot-swappable rechargeable battery system.
SteelSeries recently announced a new white edition of the Arctis Nova Pro Wireless, adding a bit more comfort and slightly better ANC while keeping everything else we love about the headset the same.
9. Audeze Maxwell
Best Audiophile Xbox Headset
Pros:
Next-level sound quality
80-hour battery life
Cons:
Heavy and bulky
Audiophiles will rejoice when they hear the soundstage of the high-fidelity Audeze Maxwell. Everything from the in-game sound to music mix comes across clearly, while the sound cues remain easily discernable. Unlike the Audeze Penrose X that previously held this spot, the Xbox version of this headset offers Dolby Atmos support for immersive spatial audio delivered through the 90mm planar magnetic drivers with Fluxor magnet arrays and Fazor Waveguides.
As for connectivity, the Maxwell has you covered with a USB-C wired option or wireless dongle to enjoy high-res sound up to 24-bit/96kHz. While Bluetooth 5.3 lets you connect to multiple devices, even supporting the LDAC codec and the low latency LC3plus and LC3 codecs. Beyond audio greatness, this headset offers a suspension headband and contoured earpads for all-day comfort, and we mean all day for several days, with its wild 80-hour battery life.
10. Bang-Olufsen Beoplay Portal
Best Premium Xbox Headset
Pros:
Superior audio quality
Active noise cancellation
Cons:
Shorter battery life
B&O’s Beoplay Portal offers a high-end gaming headset that looks good, sounds good, and feels good. Once you move past the cost, you can enjoy the comfortable, lightweight design that steps away from the look of traditional gaming headsets. With superb audio quality, they’re perfect for everything from listening to your favorite album or basking in the roar of Dolby Atmos enabled game audio pipped from the Xbox Series X/S.
In a world full of distractions, it’s sometimes hard to stay focused on your game, so active noise cancellation should come in handy. Another convenient feature is Xbox Wireless for seamless pairing with your console, while Bluetooth or a 3.5mm audio jack are available for all your other devices. Unfortunately, you can’t use Xbox Wireless and Bluetooth simultaneously like other headsets on this list, and you’ll also find the 12-hour battery could be better.
11. Logitech G Astro A50 X
Best Premium Xbox Headset
Pros:
Insanely immersive sound
HDMI 2.1 passthrough
Cons:
Seriously expensive
If you have the budget to splash out on the Logitech G Astro A50 X headset, you will not be disappointed. This bad boy works across Xbox, PS5, and PC, so you can connect to all platforms seamlessly, and at once! Simply tap between them using the on-ear controls. But, aside from its features, this Xbox Series X headset is going to win users over with its large 40mm drivers, offering clear audio and a wide soundstage.
While the audio is of course the highlight here, you’ll want others to hear you sound as good as you can hear them. Thanks to the broadcast-quality mic, your voice will come across clear and crisp, thanks to Logitech’s 48kHz full-bandwidth Lightspeed mic uplink. Enjoy up to 24 hours of gaming, then simply click the headset back into its docking station to charge.
Where to Get the Best Xbox Headset in the UK
How to Pick the Best Xbox Series X/S Headset
Choosing the best headset for your Xbox Series X/S can enhance your gaming experience tenfold, offering you immersive sound quality, clear communication, and comfortable wear during those epic gaming sessions.
But, before you decide what you want in a gaming headset, you’ll need to determine your budget as this can vastly change the landscape of what’s on offer. Next up, comfort is paramount when it comes to gaming headsets, especially if you’re planning on indulging in marathon gaming sessions. Look for headsets with plush ear cushions, an adjustable headband, and lightweight design to ensure maximum comfort, even during those long hours of gaming.
To create an immersive experience, your chosen headset should offer great sound quality. A headset with clear, crisp audio and robust bass will allow you to fully immerse yourself in the gaming world, picking up subtle sound cues like footsteps or distant gunfire with ease. Some headsets even offer advanced features like spatial audio and surround sound, which can provide a more immersive and realistic gaming experience.
Depending on whether you have multiple devices of consoles, you might want to consider connectivity options. For example, a headset with Bluetooth will be more versatile.
If you spend a lot of time gaming with your friends, you shouldn’t forget about microphone quality. A headset with a high-quality microphone and noise-canceling technology will allow you to communicate clearly with your teammates and coordinate strategies effectively during multiplayer games.
For those with a larger budget, you can weigh up the need for additional features or accessories that come with the headset, such as customizable EQ settings, programmable buttons, and software support.
FAQs
Do You Need Specific Headphones for the Xbox Series X?
The Xbox Series X and Series S are compatible with a range of different headsets. Wireless and wired headsets will both work, as well as those connected via Bluetooth.
Does the Xbox Series X Have a Headphone Jack?
No, the Xbox Series X doesn’t have a headphone jack, but you can plug a headset with a 3.5mm jack into an Xbox controller, like the Xbox Wireless Controller, that is paired to the console.
Can I Use AirPods on an Xbox?
You can’t connect your AirPods directly to your Xbox console, but there are workarounds. For example, you can connect your AirPods to your TV via Bluetooth, or using the Xbox app on your phone.
Michelle Rae Uy is a freelance tech and travel writer, part-time production editor, and a full-time traveler from Los Angeles, California. She currently splits her time between Los Angeles, London and the rest of the world. Follow her on Instagram @straywithRae.
Danielle Abraham is a freelance writer and unpaid music historian.
Image Credit: Annalee Tsujino is a multi disciplinary designer and illustrator. Check them out on Instagram @antsu_illustrations.
Since the launch of Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes in late April, some versions of the game have been plagued by quite a few bugs, including one that prevented a key character from being recruited on Switch. Now, after development team Rabbit & Bear prioritized fixing the game’s bugs in April, the game’s biggest patch yet is now out.
Today, in a post on Twitter/X, the team behind Eiyuden Chronicle announced the game’s latest patch, which resolves quite a few major problems that sparked player complaints, including issues with story progression and a bug where time spent with support characters wasn’t properly counted. The patch is now available on all platforms.
Patch Announcement（June 4, 2024）
A new patch has been distributed.
Platforms: Steam, EPIC, GOG, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC Game Pass
Issues resolved: 1) Stability improvements 2) Issue where time spent with Support characters were not counted even if they were… pic.twitter.com/cD2W8uahVl
— 【公式】Eiyuden Chronicle (百英雄伝） (@eiyuden) June 4, 2024
The patch also fixes a few things like stability, localization, and graphics. Rabbit & Bear also promised that the next patch, due out later in June, will address issues specific to the Switch, adding another patch to the game’s roadmap that currently includes several story expansions due out later this year.
The full list of improvements and issues resolved can be found below:
Stability improvements
Issue where time spent with Support characters were not counted even if they were in the party.
Issue where some magic skills did not have an attribute affinity correction.
Story progression issues
Graphic issues
UI control issues
Dungeon gimmick issues
Localization issues
Adjustment to character voice volume
End credit revision
Additional improvements and bug fixes
Led by Suikoden series creator Yoshitaka Murayama before his death, Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes has been deemed a spiritual successor to Suikoden, the beloved 1990s RPG series. We gave Hundred Heroes a 7 in our review, saying it “mostly succeeds in weaving the stories of multiple countries and characters together into a sprawling epic” despite a slow start.
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’re currently developing a game called Garage Sale. Find them on Twitter: @ameliazollner.
Pokémon fans in the Philippines gathered to attend a convention known as Pokéverse last week, but what they found was an experience that’s already being compared to catastrophes like the Willy Wonka Experience and Fyre Festival.
The Pokéverse website called the event the “premier Pokémon-themed expo in the Philippines made by fans for fans.” Included in its attractions were promises of officially licensed collectibles, quests, cosplay contests, Pokémon tournaments, and even live music. It even told fans to expect meetups with iconic stars from Pokémon history, including original Ash Ketchum voice actress Veronica Taylor and the singer of the Pokémon anime theme song, Jason Paige.
When attendees finally arrived at the SM Megamall, Megatrade Hall in Mandaluyong on Friday, May 31, they were apparently met with late start times, large open areas that offered few Pokémon-themed activities, mis-communicated events, and an individual who is being called “The Ravioli Man.”
While Taylor and Paige were indeed on-site for fans to interact with, many have taken to social media to air their grievances with Pokéverse and those who organized it.
Eventually RAVIOLI MAN was escorted out but only after he took a sponge and started rubbing it on one of the sponsors booths.
Though later in the EXPO, security still let him back in.
I thought ticket rates were going into Crowd control and security?
The second day of the event apparently revealed more inconsistencies and oddities, with one notable example being an open space filled with inflatable activities that had no clear tie to Pokémon. Rita says the diversions sounded “like jets,” adding that a nearby resting area was swarmed with a “relentless” camera crew that filmed every second of the event they could.
FOR SOME REASON THE CAMERA CREW WOULD NOT LEAVE THE REST AREA ALONE.
THERE WERE CHILDREN LYING DOWN ALONE ON BEANBAGS AND COSPLAYERS MAKING ADJUSTMENTS TO THEIR OUTFITS IN THIS AREA.
THIS PLACE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A NO PHOTOGRAPHY ZONE BUT CAMERAMEN IN THIS EVENT WERE RELENTLESS
In addition to claims of poor security, lackluster activities, and more, Pokéverse came under fire due to its ticket prices. The Pokéverse website had listed a standard 1-Day Pass for ₱1,000 (around $17 USD), while a 3-Day Pass cost ₱3,000 (around $50) and a VIP 3-Day Pass asked for ₱19,500 (around $330). While some believed the higher costs were to support more expensive attractions, such as appearances from Taylor and Paige, the Ash Ketchum actor says she wasn’t compensated for her time at Pokéverse.
Pokéverse eventually responded to one of Rita’s posts with an explanation and promise to offer better events in the future. It also acknowledged that it would remove a video of contestants singing on camera but made no mention of whether it would remove footage that was captured without consent.
“It’s our first event with very little time to prepare but we do agree that a lot of things need to be improved for another season,” Pokeverse said, “but we appreciate your participation and will continue take your feedback to do better next time.”
I looked up in Sheer. Horror.
Immunocompromised, terminally ill children were escorted onto the stage wearing medical face masks. One of them COULDN’T STAND (they had to get them a chair).
WHAT ON EARTH WAS POKEVERSE THINKING EXPOSING THESE KIDS TO AN ENTIRE CROWD OF PEOPLE??!? pic.twitter.com/vFcldLdcUE
While many came away from the convention with concerns, there are many videos online from those who enjoyed meeting up with Taylor, Paige, and other Pokémon fans at the event. IGN has reached out to Pokémon, Pokéverse, and Taylor for comment.
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.
Blasting monsters in the chops with a Bruce Lee backfist—few things feel more badass than that. So, when FromSoftware said my “hands on” could be literally just that—using my mitts to kung fu the dung out of every shadow under the Erdtree—I was in. The mere idea of testing out Martial Arts in Elden Ring summoned a smirk to my face; three-hours of punch-a-riffic playtime later, it was a toothless ear-to-ear grin.
Ever since the Monk class in Diablo III—or the time I found the Hands of God in Demon’s Souls—I’ve been a big fan of the biff. Particularly in PvP. There’s something hugely satisfying about facing an armed foe thirsty for blood, but you serve them a tall glass of “wa-taaa” instead.
It’s also worth noting that I also decided to make my own Way of the Fist through Shadow of the Erdtree harder still by ignoring the helpful new damage buff system. The only ‘leg up’ I want to use is a heavy sidekick to Spartan Boot baddies off a cliff.
The only ‘leg up’ I want to use is a heavy sidekick to Spartan Boot baddies off a cliff.
For those of you who are curious, however, Shadow of the Erdtree has Scadurtree Fragments that can be redeemed at a Site of Grace to decrease the amount of damage enemies deal to you in this DLC. Alternatively, there are Revered Spirit Ash blessings, which will instead increase the amount of damage dealt by your spirit summons.
To hear more about how my particular brand of self-imposed masochism went, click here to continue. For now, though, I should provide some price options for Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree for you “mind’s already made up” types.
Best Prices for Shadow of the Erdtree
Shadow of the Erdtree Hands On
We are so back. These are the four words that invade my brain as I step into my 3-hour Shadow of the Erdtree demo. The fact that those four words will soon change to four others—oh God, please help—is something we’ll get to later. For now, though, let me make the opening majesty of this DLC live for you a little.
And I say a little, because I only really want to describe the barest tip of a massive iceberg that’s roughly the size of Limgrave. If you’re a fellow quadruple-digit-hours veteran, you already know that half the joy of Elden Ring is in its discovery, surprise, and deaths due to overconfidence. Shadow is still rooted in these things, so I’ll try to stick to the main trunk of my experiences. You know—not branch off. Treemendous puns aside, I truly believe many other undiscovered fruits and thorns await you in your own playthrough.
I’m taking the same approach to giving you a plotline beyond a basic overview. Though, to be fair, practically anything I mention here wouldn’t spoil much for 95% of you. Elden Ring is famously obtuse and evasive with its storytelling—none but a few lore-hoarding YouTubers ever really know (or can make educated guesses at) what the crap is going on. But this is just how we like it.
Pain By Numbers
What I’ll do first is hand you some numbers. You see, this demo had to take place on FromSoftware’s home turf, so my 1,200 hour character, Fierce Brosnan, could not be brought to bear.
The obvious downside to that: I was a fish out of water with unfamiliar traits, no Mithril-level long johns nor any of my Excalibur class weaponry. Clearly, the idea was to push me into trying out some of the 100 new weapons that will be in SotE. To save time, I’m outfitted with a handful of them. The ones I mention here will have to be acquired from a spot somewhere in the guts of this DLC.
There’s also an upside to being issued a pre-made Tarnished: The typically aloof FromSoftware was forced to show me its hand a little here. There’s been much evasion as to what level one ought to be at in order to enter these deadly DLC straits. In order to keep media and content creators reasonably effective within our three hour window, my demoers had to pick a number.
How tall do you need to be for this ride? The level numbers “120 to 200” are thrown about in my pre-demo pep talk, but in the end I’m offered a choice of three level 150 avatars. I ignore the Warrior and Sorcerer options to go with their Knight / Dex build (HP: 1939, FP: 110, Stam: 133, Poi: 42). Attributes (Vig: 51, Min: 18, End: 25, Str: 22, Dex: 80, Int: 11, Fai: 12, Arc: 10).
Waiting in the equipment is my new Martial Arts, called the Keen Dryleaf Arts.
All in all, my Knight seems like a pretty usable build, which my demoer insists will be “good enough” to be effective. That being said, you newcomers ought to be aware that From’s DLC tends to be significantly more difficult than the base games, so I’d grind higher than 150.
It’s also worth noting that I’m decked from head to toe in Oathseeker plate armour. Secondary equipment-wise, I have access to Finger Creeper Ashes +16 (think: a shetland-pony-sized Addams Family hand), Gravebird Ashes +10, and a Black Knight Commander Andreas +10 summon.
I also have two swords and a shield that I’ll detail later on, because the challenge here is to rely almost entirely upon my fists and feet of fury. Additionally, waiting in the equipment is my new Martial Arts, called the Keen Dryleaf Arts +25 (Attk: 178+, 231) and it’s running an Ash of War named Whirlwind.
Leaving the Lands Between
Before I bid adieu to The Lands Between by touching that protruding hand at the Cocoon of the Empyrean Site of Grace, I have a quick chinwag with a knight named Leda (who I believe was the voiceover character in the Story trailer). She says she’s been guided along an honourable path by kindly Miquella to the Land of Shadow, a place where some of her friends already are. Should I find them, they will help me; she also won’t be far behind either, so perhaps we’ll meet again.
No other dialogue is forthcoming, so I walk forward and shake hands with my fate, literally. When I do, the world goes black…
Allow me to explain what happens next, like an old school Text Adventure. I spawn at the Land of Shadow starting point, at what I presume to be the south western bottom of this new map. It’s dark as hell, and I’m instantly surrounded by tall shrubbery. Beyond that hedge, it seems I’m also hemmed in by large cliffs to my north and south, and there’s a huge impassable sea at my back to the west. Eastward is the only way up, so I crest a small hill through a cave to be met with an absolute moneyshot of a vista.
I’m gawking directly east over a vast open meadow that spills away for ages until it eventually hits a large cliffside that’s garnished with a patchy pine tree forest. Beyond those nodding trees, the world tapers off into a thick mist that spans an indeterminate distance between what I can see and this distant, dominating Erdtree. It seems to be a younger or sickly sprout whose roots are half bonded to the top of some indiscernible structure.
Though I’m on the clock, I can’t help but stand here for a few minutes, watching as the wind tussles the prairie, flicks leaves past, and eventually pushes in a light drizzle of rain across this living lake of grassland. The whole scene reeks of opportunity, danger, and time wasting secondary-path locales.
The whole scene reeks of opportunity, danger, and time wasting secondary-path locales.
In the middle-distance to the south-east (and the edge of my demo playspace) are scant signs of ruined civilization—a highway gatehouse perhaps. On the horizon to my extreme north east, the imposing mountain fortress of Castle Ensis rises up out of the gloom, too.
In the yawning distance between me and that goal is a light sprinkling of ruined architecture, randomly jutting out of this vast field. Curiously, one of the most distant of these structures appears to be both on fire and…moving. More on that horror in a minute.
Venturing into Shadow
In my immediate vicinity, there are dozens of ghostly gold gravestones. Creepily, they sort of wink out of existence as I pass through them. Unwilling to add myself to their number, or become exposed to attack in that open field to God knows what, I turn to put the cliffside to my left, and I hug it in a north-to-north-easterly heading.
Pretty soon, I begin to sashay through a handful of small stonework archways. Some have avian-esque gargoyles atop them. A quick R3 click reveals what I already know, and as if by invitation, these non-concrete condors start to swoop in.
When Big Bird lands, I feed him a full six piece and soda with a four hit punch combo that instantly feels gratifying, damaging, and (unlike regular unarmed in Elden Ring) viable. You see, one can already play the base game with no weapons, technically, but that’s like saying you can steer a car with your feet. You could do it, but it’s not to be done—unarmed base damage was abysmal, and the scaling virtually non-existent.
I ground them with the sort of Tatsumaki Senpukyaku that’d get a thumbs up from Ken.
Martial Arts in Shadow of the Erdtree is a different beast altogether. Damage is comparable to a perfectly good sword, repeated strikes propel me forward a nice distance, and my kicks and punches pierce through ranks to hit enemies crowding behind their mates. More importantly, it’s just…fun and flashy to do.
Better yet, when these buzzards try to thwart my range by hovering in the air, I tap L2 for a Whirlwind kick. I ground them with the sort of Tatsumaki Senpukyaku that’d get a thumbs up from Ken Masters. It’s at this point that I fall head over heels with my own heels. Literally kicking arse with Martial Arts is all I wanna do for three hours now.
A Grave Situation
With a new sense of cockiness, I continue north. The mini-archways with easy-to-spot raptors give way to an actual cemetery featuring gnarled trees that perfectly camouflage my feathered friends. In my haste to escape their swoops, I accidentally dive-roll down into The Western Nameless Mausoleum via a short staircase. At the base of it [minor spoiler here] is a boss mist barrier to a Blackgaol Knight whose opening gambit is a crossbow that pings 9 bolts in about 3 seconds. That’s all I’ll say about him.
Returning back up to the same surface entrance a short while later, I consider poking around the cemetery until I spot half a dozen of these weird pool noodle things poking out of the ground. Glowing in an eerie bioluminescent blue, they’re about seven foot tall, and they are peaceful…until I charge up a flying kick into one. Instantly, all twelve become a pissed off hive mind. I have to book it when they all sprout angry pink heads and then try to whack-a-mole me into my own grave.
I bail eastward into the open field again, whereupon I hit the Three-Path Crossroads and some choices open up. To the south, there’s that dilapidated gatehouse, adjoined by yet another cemetery. A quick poke down there reveals some lethargic shadow folk whose hobbies include silent prayer to the Erdtree or casting swift moving, near-endlessly-homing skull magic at me. Further south than that unwelcoming committee is a Map Fragment you’ll really want to get.
They are peaceful…until I charge up a flying kick into one.
Alternatively, going east from the Three-Path crossroads yields a bit more grassland, weird stone spiral columns, more mini mausoleums, and roving packs of candelabra + sword wielding tree goons. Pruning my way through them reveals the first of the 100 new weapons in this DLC. It’s something my demoers have already added to my build, wicked dual scimitars that are held “ninja reverse-style.” The one I own is a Keen Backhand Blade +25 (220+, 367).
Any progression eastward is thwarted by a large canyon that scars this land from north to south—a non-water-based moat that may only be crossed via a highway-sized bridge to my north. Curiously, when I squint across this abyss, I get a free ticket to an endlessly repeating show.
It’s tough to discern who’s who from the bleachers, but it seems a fellow knight is trading culture with a trio of 8-foot-tall trolls. At least one of these beasts desperately wants this human to join his club. Literally. Big wooden one.
Distracted by a dozen other things to do and see, I forget to make my way down to reach them, and am left wondering if they’re one of Leda’s pals. Feels likely.
Shadow of the Erdcolossus
Shrugging, I turn northwest to an even more awe-inspiring sight. One of those fire giant things from the trailers dominates the prairie between myself and the castle’s bridge. Burnie Boy is basically a wicker Shadow of the Colossus understudy with a lit brazier for a head and chest. Technically, he does have an actual face. Three of them, in fact. Mask-like objects adorn his abdomen and each upper thigh. Freaky stuff.
While watching in intimidated silence, I note that this lumbering monstrosity is tracing a slow circular patrol across this meadow. However, on the edge of his commute stands hope in the form of a reasonably-sized chunk of stonework. The message that pops into my head: “Visions of Cover Cheese, Try Peck and Roll.”
Fireman Spam has become my new nemesis, and I can’t wait to make him snuff it.
I sprint to the perceived safety of that little brick oasis while giving my target a wide berth, only to be horrified as I’m spotted from an incredible distance away. Hobo Stove On Legs then kicks the ground in front of him to send an arcing wave of car-sized lava boulders at me. It’s an overkill amount of projectiles. By some small miracle, I thread through with a dive-roll before reaching cover.
What happens next, during my brilliant plan to nip at his cankles while he wallhumps the stone column between us? Chaos. Whenever I round my cover to strike, he raises that hoof and delivers a stomp with AoE flames. Upon learning that this attack can flare “through” my cover, I horse up and gallop the hell out of Dodge to the north.
The fact that I’m nearly unhorsed by a farewell lava ball assault as I’m tearing away at top speed, tells me a mounted assault on that dude might be suicide, too. Needless to say, Fireman Spam has become my new nemesis, and I can’t wait to make him snuff it. Preferably with kung fu.
Bridge to Terrorbiffya
The elevating field northward becomes progressively rockier and foggier—akin to a Scottish Highland. When I crest this hill, I’m at yet another crossroads. Further northwards dips down into a huge open valley pocked with more ghostly gravestones, I can’t see where it ends because the land gets eaten by a Stephen King level of horror-hiding mist.
I’m not permitted to venture down there. And, frankly, I don’t even want to go.
Directly to my west stands a Moria-esque archway carved into the cliffside, beyond it lies the Belurat Castle Settlement (whose labyrinthine streets snake higher up to the House of the Dancing Lion). Dismounting, I run due east to the aforementioned overpass. The game christens it the Ellac Greatbridge. But I just think it’s ok.
That’s mostly because it’s littered with debris, rows of chevaux de frise, and a guard of half a dozen zombie vikings. Worse, a giant ballista that fires accurate, arcing explosive rounds every 8 seconds has a long and commanding overwatch on me. See what I mean? Averagebridge, at best.
Sadly, my heroic plan to serpentine charge through said artillery, kill the shooter, and then use his weapon against the bridge mobs fails (you can’t use it). So, I lure these norsemen, one by one, into the nearby soldier encampment beyond. Just as I force-feed a knuckle sandwich into the last of them and the intensity of this tent city lessens, the true owners of these bivouacs pounce.
Chief among these unhappy campers is a knight chieftain, wielding a shield the size of a large metal door and what looks to be an engine block on a stick. Adopting a When In Rome approach, I strap my left arm with a Messmer Soldier Shield +25 (196+, 43) to better absorb his hits and answer with either a heavy sidekick or a jumping superman punch to his grille.
Uppercut, elbow, roundhouse, sidekick, backfist, back-kick—I ding that tinman until he’s crushed for recycling.
When he’s stunned, I clobber him with my full R1 six-hit combo. I’m talking uppercut, elbow, roundhouse, sidekick, backfist, back-kick—I ding that tinman until he’s crushed for recycling.
A little further to the east, beyond a much-needed Site of Grace, I encounter a mid-boss who receives a different style of pasting. Being a 15-foot heavy-hitter with a penchant for slow stomps and vertical sword strikes, I opt to deliver faster hits in a longer combo, a technique facilitated by “two-handing” my Martial Arts with Triangle + R1.
I’m even more delighted with the new strikes in this 11-hitter. We’re talking double-tapper roundhouse kicks and a finisher that’s this powerful two-handed clapfist to the ears of your opponent. Or, in this case, either side of old mate’s shinbone.
Despite being level 150 still, I’m reasonably effective in this fight, though I do fall victim to the second irritation of my demo experience (the first being a brief moment of mass object pop as riding across the grasslands). While cheesing this mid-boss around the corner of a large cathedral, I fall victim to him vertically chopping me through the building by a wide margin with a sword that could be God’s own letter-opener. It’s a legacy issue in Soulsbornes that should have been made extinct by now, but I adjust for it and make him pay with his life.
The Dismount
A short distance beyond this menace, the staircase and ladder-filled cathedral district thickens in complexity. In short, Shadow of the Erdtree finally starts to do what I love best about this series—that spaghetti-wind level design that offers up boltholds, ambush points, and loot-hiding cul de sacs. In the case of the latter, a nearby one hides a meme-tastic sword, the Keen Milady +25 (263+, 320).
After a few satisfying test swings, I tip a phantom fedora to it, and stubbornly stick with my fists for the remaining 2 hours of demo time. In fact, I basically decide then and there to do my full launch day run like this, purely because I’m so utterly enamoured with haymaking horrors, unleashing running flying kicks into faces, or simply Crit Attacking fools with brutal kidney-strikes.
And it’s at this point, I’ve just realised that I’ve gushed for far too long about a very, very small, fraction of my time with Shadow of the Erdtree. I’m going to hit pause on my tale for today. Hopefully, an opportunity will arise for me to regale you with the remaining 2/3rds of the demo, where I effectively turn back, cross over Ellac Okaybridge, and head westward to a major objective.
For it’s on that heading that lies the castle domain of Shadow of the Erdtree’s first full-cutscene boss. I can say that he will be a major migraine for all but the best of you, but one you’d be absolutely nuts to miss out on. Alternatively, here’s the account of one of my US contemporaries who scooped up an axe and made a beeline to that other castle.
Because after the full three hours my instincts were telling me nothing but good things about the remainder of this DLC. There is little doubt in my mind. The pieces seem very much in place for Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree to become one of the most essential bits of extra content I’ve played since the venerable Bloodborne: The Old Hunters.
And as you veteran Tarnished should already know, my Soulsborne compliments don’t get much higher than that.
Adam Mathew is our Aussie deals wrangler. He plays practically everything, often on YouTube.
Amazon is offering the Jackery Explorer 100 31,000mAh Power Bank for only $99.99 after a $50 instant discount. This is the largest capacity power bank we’ve seen that’s TSA carry-on eligible. It also uses superior LiFePO4 battery cells, can charge up to 3 devices simultaneously, and boasts up to 100W charging output via USB Type-C.
Jackery Explorer 100 31,000mAh Power Bank for $99.99
At first glance the Jackery Explorer 100 looks like one of those large power stations you might use as a backup battery for your home. But actually, this thing is pretty small, small enough to fit on the palm of your hand. It measures only 5″x3.4″x3.4″ and weighs about 2 pounds. This is a 99Whr power bank, which means it just barely squeezes its way under TSA’s sub-100Whr requirement. With a 31,000mAh total capacity, this is definitely the largest TSA carry-on eligible power bank we’ve posted on IGN.
Unlike most smaller power banks which use lithium-ion cells, the Jackery Explorer 100 uses LiFePO4 cells. They’re usually more expensive and also a bit heavier, but in exchange you get inherently safer battery chemistry and a much longer lifespan, both in terms of number of cycles and calendar aging.
The Jackery Explorer 100 has three outputs: two USB Type-C with PPS and Power Delivery up to 100W total, and a USB Type-A with 28W of charging for a total of 128W. The Steam Deck supports up to 45W max charging, the ASUS ROG Ally up to 65W, and the Nintendo Switch up to 18W. That means ou can charge a Steam Deck, ASUS ROG Ally, or Nintendo Switch at its maximum charging speed. In fact, you could almost charge all three at their maximum charging rate simultaneously.
Jackery is a well known brand that’s based out of Fremont, California. They’re very reliable and are often a great alternative to the juggernaut Chinese companies like Ecoflow and Bluetti. This power bank is UL 94V-0 certified and includes a 2 year warranty.
As Bungie launches Destiny 2 expansion The Final Shape, fans think one developer has teased Destiny 3 with a series of cryptic tweets.
The Final Shape concludes Destiny’s overarching story by placing the player inside the Traveler in a face-off against the mysterious The Witness. It’s the culmination of 10 years of often bewildering Destiny storytelling, and will hopefully provide answers for the game’s player base.
But in previous videos, Bungie developers have teased that The Final Shape is not the end of Destiny 2 or even the series, with the developer – now owned by Sony – also working on multiplayer game Marathon. In a series of tweets marking the release of The Final Shape, Bungie executive creative director, Luke Smith, discussed the road to The Final Shape’s release and the effort its developers put in to make it happen. But it’s the mention of the word Hope three times, each capitalized, that has set the cat among the pigeons within the Destiny community.
Here’s the tweet in question:
Our Hope is always the same with Destiny games, expansions, seasons, DLCs, exotic missions, secret missions, in-game events, merchandise, et cetera – we genuinely Hope you enjoy the time you spend with it. Anything we’ve made or will make, that’s the Hope.
That tweet was enough to set off a number of Destiny content creators on the future of the series, and there’s rampant speculation across social media and forums.
Or, this could be nothing, and Smith may in fact be referencing Paul McCartney’s infamous Destiny song Hope for the Future, which, if you’re so inclined, can be watched below:
For anybody who doesn’t know in 2014 to coincide with the release of Destiny 1 Paul McCartney released “Hope For The Future” McCartney provided multiple bases for the iconic Destiny themes.
For now, the focus is on The Final Shape and its three planned episodes. Echoes kicks off next week on June 11, Revenant is set for October 2024, and Heresy rounds The Final Shape off in February 2025, although of course the plan may change.
Beyond that? Bungie is yet to say. Destiny 3 could be an opportunity for Bungie to reset the series with a potentially next-gen entry-point that would bring in a wave of new players. But, after 10 years of Destiny, the studio may decide to leave Destiny behind for new franchises, as it did when it left Halo behind all those years ago.
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.
A new Warzone cutscene shows Black Ops protagonist Frank Woods dishing out orders from a wheelchair, appearing to confirm a Black Ops 2 ending as canon and offering our first look at the character in the upcoming Black Ops 6.
The intro, added to the battle royale ahead of Microsoft’s big reveal of the upcoming Black Ops 6, sees fan-favorite character Woods talk about the discovery of a “mole”, presumed to be Russell Adler from Black Ops Cold War.
But it is Woods’ appearance in a wheelchair that has caught the attention of the Call of Duty community, and sparked excited discussion about the storyline running through the Black Ops series.
First, some background: in 2012’s Black Ops 2, Woods is tricked into killing his best friend and fellow soldier Alex Mason during a mission set during the 1980s. Woods is then shot in both legs, consigning him to a wheelchair. The game later shifts to the year 2025 and we see an older Woods in a wheelchair.
This new intro suggests Woods will appear in the Black Ops 6 campaign, rumored to be set during the ’90s Gulf War. The cutscene also acts as our first look at Woods in Black Ops 6. Perhaps Woods serves the function of being an ‘intel guy’ in the campaign, dishing out information to the player ahead of, and maybe even during, missions over comms.
Frank Woods in a wheelchair in #BlackOps6 in the 90s means Black Ops 2 is canon.
This means: – Jason Hudson is no longer alive. – Alex Mason may no longer be alive. pic.twitter.com/ZVN1EAfCxC
There are some unanswered questions, however. Black Ops 2 has two different endings, one in which Alex Mason survives, the other in which he is dead. Perhaps Black Ops 6 will resolve this by making one of the two endings canon.
As for the Woods intro, Warzone players are currently trying to work out what causes it to appear. It seems random, but there may be some mechanic underpinning its appearance. Meanwhile, there are a number of Black Ops 6-related challenges in Warzone right now, encouraging players to jump in to connect the dots between releases.
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.
