Until 12 months ago, Delta Force felt like one of those partially forgotten PC FPS series, ranked alongside the likes of Soldier of Fortune, SWAT, and the truly brilliant No One Lives Forever. But now it's back - and back big. Combining online warfare with a campaign mode based on the ****** Hawk Down game from 2003, Delta Force seems like a seriously credible rival to the likes of Call of Duty, Rainbow Six Siege, Battlefield, and Escape From Tarkov. Between Gray Zone Warfare and Arena Breakout Infinite, a range of tactical, realistic shooters have arrived this year, but Delta Force seems like it has staying power. Based on its first public playtest, live now, it's certainly winning plaudits among players on Steam. Read the rest of the story... RELATED LINKS: Classic tactical FPS series suddenly delisted as sequel draws near Searching for war and friendship on Christmas Eve View the full article
Microsoft has settled the antitrust lawsuit filed on behalf of a group of gamers who objected to the company’s $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard. As reported by The Wrap, details of the settlement were undisclosed, but we do know the lawsuit was dismissed with prejudice, which means it cannot be filed again. Lawyers agreed that "each party shall bear their own costs and fees." The lawsuit was filed back in 2022 in California by a group of gamers from across multiple states who expressed concern about the potential negative impact of a Microsoft monopoly in the video game space sparked by absorbing the makers of Call of Duty, World of Warcraft, and Candy Crush, among many other games. It came soon after the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) began its work to block the deal from closing, work that ultimately *******. The lawsuit had claimed that if Microsoft were to acquire Activision Blizzard, it could lead to the company prioritizing Xbox versions of multiplatform games, prices going up, or the cancelation of certain games. There was specific concern about the potential impact on Game Pass subscribers should the buyout go through. Since Microsoft successfully acquired Activision Blizzard in 2023, Game Pass has changed significantly. It’s slowly added Activision Blizzard games to the subscription service (with ****** Ops 6 set to be the first mainline Call of Duty game to launch in Game Pass day-one later this month), but it’s also restructured Game Pass itself. Day-one releases are now not a part of Game Pass’ revised basic tier, and big-ticket games such as Diablo 4, Starfield, and Call of Duty are reserved for the more expensive Game Pass Ultimate or PC Game Pass subscriptions. Meanwhile, Microsoft has also raised the price of Game Pass, most recently in July when Xbox Game Pass Ultimate increased from $16.99 to $19.99 per month. The price increase was described as inevitable by analysts speaking with IGN, with some predicting that Game Pass will eventually see the introduction of ads. The changes are said to be part of a push by Xbox to recoup some of its $69 billion investment in Activision Blizzard. In response, the FTC called out Microsoft's Game Pass price rises and labeled the new Xbox Game Pass Standard tier a "degraded product." The FTC claimed Microsoft was "exercising market power post-merger" of Activision Blizzard with its controversial changes to Game Pass. Microsoft responded to the FTC's filing about Xbox Game Pass price increases, calling the FTC’s complaint a "misleading, extra-record account of the facts." It insisted the FTC was wrong to call Game Pass Standard a “degraded” version because it includes multiplayer. Microsoft has also cut an eye-watering 2,550 staff from its gaming business since acquiring Activision Blizzard, with multiple studios falling by the wayside. In February, the FTC claimed Microsoft contradicted its intentions during its acquisition of Activision Blizzard when it ***** off 1,900 employees from its games division in January. FTC lawyer Imad Abyad argued that Microsoft said it wanted Activision to "operate as a limited-integration studio." But because Activision staff were among those affected by the layoffs, Abyad claimed this contradicted Microsoft’s prior claim. Microsoft responded to insist Activision Blizzard had already planned mass layoffs regardless of whether the acquisition was completed. “As time passes, Microsoft continues to increase its market power, prices have increased, games continue to be canceled, development capacities continue to diminish, and Game Pass continues to trend towards a monopoly,” attorney Joseph Saveri said in a court filing. Wesley is the *** News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at [email protected] or confidentially at *****@*****.tld. View the full article
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Metaphor: ReFantazio arrived from the creators of Persona 3, 4, and 5 as a twisted take on a medieval fantasy, but it was originally planned as a more traditional role-playing game akin to Lord of the Rings. In an interview with Famitsu translated by Automaton, director Hashino Katsura said the development team went as far as creating concept art for the more traditional fantasy version of Metaphor but found it a bit boring. "In the early stages we were considering a high fantasy setting with elves, dwarves, and the like," Katsura said, adding that the team rewatched The Lord of the Rings trilogy for inspiration. "We had [Persona series’ artist Shigenori Soejima] come up with a bunch of sketches, but it kind of felt ordinary. It didn’t look like something that was unique to us." The team is known for blending ordinary worlds with bizarre and supernatural elements. Persona 5, for example, is about attending school and making friends and becoming a thief who steals the evil desires of ********** by infiltrating their minds and defeating horrific monsters. It kind of felt ordinary. It didn’t look like something that was unique to us. The more traditional high fantasy route therefore just didn't work. "As we discussed how to make the characters stand out and what to be more flexible about, things gradually started changing, shaping up to our liking," Katsura said. "However, I wouldn’t say that we strayed on to an unexpected path. Rather, I feel like we settled on the current style just by pursuing what we wanted to do." The traditional high fantasy approach "didn’t last long, and the staff couldn’t get into it either," Katsura added. "There are already so many great fantasy works out there. Rather than a traditional approach, we decided to focus on our unique take on fantasy, and were careful not to stray from that." Metaphor is still set within a fantasy world, putting players "in the ******* Kingdom of Euchronia, where the ************** of the king brings chaos and unrest to the land," per its story synopsis. Fans of Persona will immediately recognise its familiar slick style and gameplay, however, and see the team hasn't strayed too far from its roots despite the different setting. It arrived October 11 and sold a million copies in the same day, likely helped along by its glowing critical reception. "Refining the Atlus RPG formula of weaving tough turn-based combat into compelling social sim mechanics, Metaphor: ReFantazio doesn’t just send a powerful message across its political drama, it becomes a beautiful expression of the real impact storytelling can have on all of us," IGN said in our 9/10 Metaphor: ReFantazio review. Those still on the fence can download a free demo on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and S, and PC, which includes the first four dungeons; the ability to unlock seven of the more than 40 classes, called Archetypes; an introduction to six followers including party members that supports the player; and more. Publisher ***** has otherwise celebrated its launch by giving the chance to become a member of the royal family of the world's smallest (but unofficially recognized) country: Sealand. Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelance reporter. He'll talk about The Witcher all day. View the full article
Arrowhead Game Studios has released a new update for Helldivers 2 on October 15, marking the end of the studio's 60-day community commitment with another round of huge weapons buffs, adjustments, and gameplay changes. Helldivers 2's 1.001.104 patch is available to download and install now on PlayStation 5 and PC via Steam, and although today's update marks the end of Arrowhead's 60-day plan, the studio says it is still committed to keeping a line of communication between developers and fans open. View the full article
With the Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 alpha already available for players to try, gamers are understandably jumping at the chance to soar through the skies of the stunning-looking title. However, despite an initial install size of a mere 30GB, the game is proving to put an unexpectedly high strain on users' internet connections thanks to its constant downloading of new environment data. Even with the best gaming router around, the sheer amount of data you could be downloading via Microsoft Flight Simulator is enough to both put a strain on your home network and quickly max out your data allowance for those not on an unlimited data plan. Not to mention, you'll need a fast enough connection in the first place. 180Mbps is equivalent to 22.5MB/s, which is well inside most modern broadband connection speeds but could be a limiting factor for those with older and slower connections. Read the rest of the story... RELATED LINKS: How to etch glass on your PC case Flight Simulator 40th Anniversary update puts Flight Sim in your plane Halo DLC hits Microsoft Flight Simulator for free View the full article
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Secret Agent Wizard Boy and the International ****** Syndicate is the latest game from the Szymanski crew who you might know from the likes of DUSK, My Friendly Neighborhood and other games. It's basically a Harry Potter rip-off that's pretty comically good. Read the full article here: [Hidden Content] View the full article
Have you ever watched a fashion show? Today’s NYT Mini Crossword clue, “Wow, so fancy!” asks you to find the phrase people normally use to express their happiness upon looking at something fancy. If today’s NYT Mini Crossword clues have you stumped, you can use our hints and answers below to easily beat the puzzle and solve the word game. View the full article
Metaphor: ReFantazio is the latest JRPG from Studio Zero and Atlus, the latter of which is behind the beloved Persona franchise. Given that Persona was, in a way, an extension of an even earlier franchise for Atlus, Shin Megami Tensei, its no surprise that Metaphor: ReFantazio also has a familiar look and feel on the surface. That being said, this is not just a re-skin of the same old thing. Metaphor: ReFantazio is Atlus first step into true high fantasy, something a little less common for JRPGs, but a prime example of why it should be explored more. View the full article
***** Island 2 fans are about to return to ***** A as Dambuster Studios sheds more light on the upcoming New Game+ update that's more extensive than many initially assumed. Traditionally speaking, New Game+ modes give players a chance to start their selected game from the beginning but with all their previous upgrades available right from the start, allowing them to unlock even more powerful options. It's a great way of providing users with an incentive to keep playing, but it's especially fun when studios go one step further and make the New Game+ offering even more unique. View the full article
For a quick refresher, LG was working on this wild rollable smartphone concept, aptly dubbed the "LG Rollable." It even made it to the prototype stage, but the project was ultimately shelved when LG bid farewell to the smartphone market. Read Entire Article View the full article
Tiny Glade has been enchanting people for over three weeks, myself included, and players have shown no signs of slowing down with their phenomenal creations. In fact, this sweet city builder hit a huge milestone last week, which developer PounceLight was excited to immediately share... Read more.View the full article
2024 has been host to a number of incredible RPGs, including the likes of Granblue Fantasy: Relink, Dragon's Dogma 2, and Metaphor: ReFantazio. Naturally, some of these, namely Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, got more of a look-in than others, with certain incredible RPGs being swept aside, their trailers barely hitting 100,000 views. However, these RPGs are worth a shot as they bring so many amazing qualities to the table. View the full article
Eloquence is one of the five Royal Virtues in Metaphor: ReFantazio represents a character's ability to communicate effectively and persuade others. Increasing this virtue is crucial for unlocking dialogue options, deepening relationships with followers, and accessing certain quests. It's a lot like the charisma stat in most games, so it's a really important stat to keep boosting. If you have a higher stat, you'll find that NPCs are more likely to listen to you and have an easier time convincing them whenever you need to. View the full article
The individual behind the enormous Game Freak hack of which information is still spilling out from claims to have a playable build of the upcoming Pokemon Legends: Z-A. View the full article
Venom's in-world creator Knull is set to appear in The Last Dance, but according to the film's director, he won't be the main baddie. Read more View the full article
How do official Bethesda bug compilation videos coinciding with a game's launch sound? Or at least, a proper list of known bugs on day one, to preempt any compilations created by vengeful players? Skyrim Lead Designer and Starfield Systems Designer Bruce Nesmith has spoken a little about the “interesting problem” of how open developers should be about technical issues on day one, given the expectation some players have that every game should be "flawless". When asked by Videogamer if lists of known bugs (Nesmith throws out ‘700’ as an example for Skyrim) should be shared with fans on launch "to temper expectations," he responded: Read more View the full article
If I could extend my arm forty times its normal length, while also granting it the flexibility of a sock filled with ******, I’d probably just use it to take the bins out without leaving my chair. But what if someone were to use this power... for evil? That’s the gist of My Arms Are Longer Now, a cartoony "stealth-comedy" game about worming a single stretchy limb into people’s valuables, which has a Steam Next Fest demo out now. Read more View the full article
Sanctum of ******* is one of the endgame dungeons in Throne and Liberty that can drop quality Epic gear for your builds. Like many dungeons, you can only enter it under specific conditions, so here’s everything you need to know about the Sanctum of ******* dungeon in Throne and Liberty. How to enter Sanctum of ******* in Throne and Liberty You might have to wait a little. Screenshot by Dot Esports The Sanctum of ******* is on the east side of the Manawastes region, on the far east side of the Throne and Liberty‘s map. It’s a level 50 dungeon with two floors where you can farm gems and Epic gear like the Stormbringer Crossbows. The items can drop from almost any monster, making it a great place to spend your Abyssal Contract Tokens. View the full article
A new rumor suggests that Ubisoft is considering ending support for XDefiant after the game's fourth season, with in-house test sessions supposedly being held by the studio's research team to get new feedback on the shooter. XDefiant is currently in its second season, which launched on September 25 with a new faction, weapons, maps, modes, and much more. View the full article
The reveal comes from X user @ChrisMack32, who posted a video showing them unplugging a Super Nintendo controller – connected via USB – at one of the Nintendo Museum's booths. Removing the cable from the controller results in what sounds like the familiar noise that plays when a Windows device... Read Entire Article View the full article
Quite a unique one here. Tenebris Somnia was announced from Andrés Borghi, Saibot Studios and publishing help from New Blood Interactive. Read the full article here: [Hidden Content] View the full article
Bandai Namco Entertainment has claimed that Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero has surpassed a total of 3 million units sold worldwide in 24 hours after its launch. Developed by Spike Chunsoft, the 3D fighting game was released on October 11. The game is the first new entry in the Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi series in over 15 years. The game features over 182 characters, featuring heroes from across the Dragon Ball franchise. Read More... View the full article
Have you ever visited a casino and played Poker? Today’s NYT Mini Crossword clue, “Paid for a poker hand,” asks you to find the money you’d spend at the start of the rounds in the Casino to start the games of Poker. If today’s NYT Mini Crossword clues are hard to beat, you can use our hints and answers below to breeze through the word games. View the full article
A lot of the new DCU's projects haven't had many updates in a while, but DC Studios co-head James Gunn wants you to know that doesn't mean they've been cancelled. Read more View the full article
Neowiz has announced that ***** of P - the game that seemingly every other gaming publication gave a good review score to - is enhanced on the PS5 Pro. Not that you can see right now of course, with the console not being out yet. But once it is, you can expect to experience the (mostly) beloved souls-like with a wood-polish esque sheen. Read more View the full article
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Until 12 months ago, Delta Force felt like one of those partially forgotten PC FPS series, ranked alongside the likes of Soldier of Fortune, SWAT, and the truly brilliant No One Lives Forever. But now it's back - and back big. Combining online warfare with a campaign mode based on the ****** Hawk Down game from 2003, Delta Force seems like a seriously credible rival to the likes of Call of Duty, Rainbow Six Siege, Battlefield, and Escape From Tarkov. Between Gray Zone Warfare and Arena Breakout Infinite, a range of tactical, realistic shooters have arrived this year, but Delta Force seems like it has staying power. Based on its first public playtest, live now, it's certainly winning plaudits among players on Steam. Read the rest of the story... RELATED LINKS: Classic tactical FPS series suddenly delisted as sequel draws near Searching for war and friendship on Christmas Eve View the full article