Category: Video Games

Amid mass layoffs, studio closures, and high-profile triple-A flops, the video game industry is currently suffering one of the worst periods in its history. Revenue wise, it’s also struggling. According to U.S. sales data tracking firm Circana, 2024 game spending is set to end up down 2% — and that’s the most optimistic outlook.

Explaining Microsoft’s shock mass layoff that affected nearly 2,000 staff at its gaming business, Xbox boss Phil Spencer said the industry had failed to grow the gaming audience in recent years, especially on console. But there is one bright spark looming over the horizon: Grand Theft Auto 6.

In an interview with GI.biz, Circana analyst Mat Piscatella said Rockstar’s surefire hit will spark “renewed interest” in video games, before going one step further: “There’s probably never been a more important thing to ever release in the industry, so no pressure.”

Clearly there’s a huge amount riding on GTA 6, and not just for developer Rockstar and its owner, Take-Two. This is a game some analysts predict will end up as the best-selling of all-time, the kind of game to break entertainment records. In 2013, it took GTA 5 just three days to surpass $1 billion in sales, becoming the fastest to that figure in entertainment history. GTA 6 could hit $1 billion in 24 hours.

All that money flooding into video game retail will obviously boost the bottom line of any company that stands to benefit from the sale of video games and accessories, from Amazon to GameStop, and of course Microsoft and Sony, which sells games via its digital stores. When GTA 6 eventually comes out at some point in 2025, there will be a lot of companies fighting for their cut.

But there’s more. GTA 6 is the kind of game that will sell consoles. Sony is expected to release a PS5 Pro later this year, and it will no doubt benefit from interest in GTA 6. Similarly, GTA 6 will sell Xbox Series X and S and whatever hardware refresh Microsoft plans. Let’s remember, GTA 6 is not coming out on PC at launch. To play the game, you have to own a PlayStation or an Xbox.

Beyond the point of sale, GTA 6’s GTA Online equivalent will surely come packed with microtransactions as the current GTA Online does. Microsoft and Sony will get their cut of any money spent there, too.

Is GTA 6 the most important release in games history, as has been suggested? Mass layoffs continue to decimate the video game industry, so it very well may be. But let’s remember the people who are working to make GTA 6 a reality, and the issues they’re facing as the industry holds its breath for their game to come out. Last month, developers at Rockstar Games hit out at the company’s decision to force staff to return to the office five days a week to close out work on GTA 6, with some expressing concern about crunch.

For years, Rockstar had a notorious reputation within the video game industry for brutal crunch in the making of Grand Theft Auto and Red Dead games. However, following the release of Red Dead Redemption 2 in 2018 and the shocking stories about the human cost of its development, media reports suggested changes were made to the company’s culture to avoid the same thing happening during the development of GTA 6.

Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.

Insight Editions has granted IGN an exclusive new look at the Morrowind chapter for The Elder Scrolls Online: The Official Survival Guide to Tamriel. Featuring vibrant, visceral artwork and advice on how to not get legally assassinated, this in-universe survival guide seems like it could be a must-own for any Elder Scrolls fans. Ja’dasha, the in-universe Khajiit author of the book, is your ever-constant guide throughout each of the nine provinces found in Tamriel: High Rock, Skyrim, Hammerfell, Cyrodiil, Valenwood, Summerset Isles, Morrowind, Black Marsh, and Elsweyr.

The Elder Scrolls Online: The Official Guide to Tamriel will be released on March 26, 2024, and can be preordered from Amazon for $39.99 and £24.09 in the UK.

Saber Interactive has split from Embracer, with at least 38 ongoing game development projects among the divested assets and over 3,000 staff moving across. However, a number of key studios remain at Embracer, including Tripwire, Aspyr, and Beamdog.

The deal is initially valued at $247 million, with the buyer named as Beacon Interactive, a company set up and controlled by Saber Interactive co-founder Matthew Karch. As a result, Embracer has ceased all operations in Russia. It appears jobs were secured as part of the deal.

There are a number of interesting points in the deal. For example, Beacon Interactive has the option right to acquire Metro developer 4A Games and Pinball developer Zen Studios for a fixed price within a certain time period. According to Bloomberg reporter Jason Schreier, Beacon Interactive has indeed decided to buy both studios. Long-term license and publishing rights to all current and future PC and console games in the Metro franchise are held within the Embracer operative group Plaion, Embracer said.

The studios and their owned or licensed IP now a part of Beacon Interactive are:

• All Saber branded studios
• Nimble Giant (Star Trek: Infinite)
• DIGIC (3D animation studio)
• Saber Interactive Inc. (Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic remake)
• Fractured Byte (support studio)
• Sandbox Strategies (PR agency)
• Mad Head Games (Scars Above)
• Slipgate (Kingpin Reloaded, Graven)
• New World Interactive (Insurgency, Day of Infamy, Insurgency: Sandstorm)
• 3D Realms (Ion Fury)

Embracer will retain the following studios and companies:

• 34 Big Things (Redout)
• Shiver (support)
• 4A Games (Metro)
• Snapshot (Phoenix Point, Chaos Reborn)
• Aspyr (Tomb Raider I–III Remastered Starring Lara Croft, Star Wars: Battlefront Classic Collection)
• Tripwire (Killing Floor)
• Beamdog (Mythforce)
• Tuxedo Labs (Teardown)
• Demiurge (Sega Heroes)
• Zen Studios (Pinball FX and Zen Pinball)

While Saber Interactive has split from Embracer, Embracer itself retains 14 Saber games already in the works, including two joint projects with Beacon Interactive. They are:

• The next AAA game from Metro developer 4A Games
• An unannounced concept phase AAA game
• A previously announced AAA game based on a major license (this is either Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 or the Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic remake, both currently in development at Saber Interactive)
• A new AAA multiplayer shooter based on a controlled IP
• A new AA game based on an Asmodee IP
• A new AA game from 34 Big Things based on an owned IP
• Killing Floor 3
• Teardown (ongoing development)
• The full upcoming pipeline and back catalog from Zen Studios, Aspyr and Tripwire

Lars Wingefors, co-founder and group CEO of Embracer, called the deal a “win-win solution” for Embracer and the parts of Saber that now leave the embattled company. Wingefors said it was “safeguarding many developer jobs” under the new ownership. Crucially, Wingefors called the Saber deal the “first transaction”, with a deal for Borderlands maker Gearbox to leave Embracer waiting in the wings.

“This divestment leaves both parties in much better positions to grow our respective businesses,” Karch said. “I will continue to remain a large, long-term shareholder of Embracer and we will remain partners on several ongoing and future projects. This transaction also safeguards the livelihoods of hundreds of professionals, many of whom I have worked with for over two decades.”

Last month, Embracer warned of further layoffs despite letting go 1,387 staff since its high-profile restructuring began in June. Embracer’s total headcount had reduced by 904 during the second quarter of its financial year, then by another 483 in the third quarter. That amounted to 8% of the group’s global workforce. The company also canceled 29 unannounced games during the two quarters.

At the time, Wingefors said Embracer was in the process of selling off parts of its business, Borderlands developer Gearbox up for sale. Embracer bought Gearbox in February 2021 as part of an acquisition spree that included snapping up Tomb Raider developer Crystal Dynamics, among many other studios.

Embracer Group’s financial struggles began following the collapse of a $2 billion deal, reportedly with Saudi government funded company Savvy Games Group. The Swedish firm has since come under fire for the sweeping cuts it has already made, including the closure of long-running Saints Row maker Volition.

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.

Palworld has been a standout entry in the gaming world for 2024, rocking the Steam charts and creating a little bit of controversy with its supposedly recognizable designs from another pocket monster-themed franchise. Drama aside, it’s a big game and continues to track well on the PC charts, despite it still being in early access, boasting an impressive 15 million copies sold.

There’s still more to check out besides the resource gathering and survival dynamics as well, with co-op opportunities, and even large servers accommodating up to 32 people. Should you desire to create a community-driven world-space similar in vein to Minecraft; setting up a server for Palworld has never been more straightforward. Allow us to guide you through the process.

TL;DR: Hostinger is the best gaming server provider for Palworld right now (see here), with their plans starting from $14.99 per month. Use discount code IGN10 to get 10% off as well.

Best Hosting Provider in 2024

Before we kick things off, it’s worth noting that only the Steam version of Palworld can have dedicated servers. So, if you’ve been playing via Game Pass or on Xbox, you unfortunately aren’t able to create your own server at this time. If you are playing on Steam, read on!

For starters, you’ll need a decent hosting provider that can offer game servers, and one of our most recommended options at the moment is Hostinger. Known for its cost-effective and user-friendly virtual private servers tailored for gamers, their 16GB plans start at just $14.99/month (£10.99 for those in the UK). For Palworld, we’re recommending you opt for a VPS equipped with the following specifications:

• Operating System: Linux or Windows
• Processor: Quad-core minimum
• RAM: 16GB (8GB minimum required, but for 32 players, 16GB is necessary)
• Storage: Minimum 50GB

What Are the Benefits of a Dedicated Palworld Server?

Have you been considering cracking open your own Palworld server? There are plenty of reasons to try it out, for one it’s your own dedicated space with no queue times for entry, and an entirely curated multiplayer experience. Plus, if you’re setting it up with a group of friends, the cost of hosting can be split evenly and can even end up being incredibly cost effective for what you’re creating. If Palworld is your friend group’s jam, then it’s a good time to be had by all — a dedicated server could just be the icing on the cake for your experience going forward.

Setting Up a Palworld Server in 2024

Upon acquiring your plan, there are two primary methods for server setup. One requires some networking knowledge, while the other offers a more user-friendly approach through its Game Panel interface. Regardless of the method chosen, the initial VPS setup involves assigning a username, location, and password, followed by ensuring the server is operational via your server dashboard.

For those utilizing the Game Panel:

• Navigate to VPS Overview > Panel Access
• Click on your Login URL
• Enter the username and password chosen during VPS setup
• Click “Create Instance”
• Select “Palworld” from the drop-down menu
• Upon completion, you’ll receive a notification.

For the technically inclined, here’s the process using Linux commands:

– Connect to your VPS using a client such as PuTTY, your computer’s Terminal app, or Hostinger’s browser terminal

– Create a secondary user, grant superuser privileges, and switch to that account

– Adjust the server firewall settings to permit Palworld communication using the following commands:

• sudo ufw allow 8211/tcp
• sudo ufw allow 8211/udp
• Install the necessary software for Steam-server communication by executing the commands:
• sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade
• sudo apt install -y lib32gcc-s1
• sudo apt install software-properties-common
• sudo add-apt-repository multiverse
• sudo dpkg –add-architecture i386
• sudo apt update
• sudo apt install steamcmd -y
• sudo apt install screen

– Subsequently, install the Palworld server files using the commands:

• steamcmd +login anonymous +app_update 2394010 validate +quit
• cd ~/Steam/steamapps/common/PalServer

– Initiate the Palworld server with the command:

• ./PalServer.sh

– Regardless of the chosen method, your private Palworld server is now accessible.

– Launch Palworld and opt for “Join Multiplayer Game.”

• Enter your VPS’s IP address alongside the default port: 185.185.185.185:8211

Otherwise, for more great offers on gaming and tech right now, consider following @IGNDeals on Twitter/X or Instagram, or checking out our best VPN roundup, and the best gaming PC for 2024.

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