The FIFA/EAFC game franchise has been going strong for more than 30 years, and in that time it’s featured some of the most iconic players in history on the cover. But only one can be crowned the true GOAT, and now is your chance to tell us who that should be.
We’ve created a tournament presented by McDonald’s and their limited-time Hot Honey sauce. Just as these cover athletes elevated the FIFA/EAFC franchise, the Hot Honey sauce elevates your faves to a new level. The tournament will have 32 cover athletes organized into a bracket that you’ll vote on, and they cover just about the entire run of the series, from Erik Thorstvedt (FIFA Soccer 95) to Jude Bellingham and Jamal Musiala (EA FC 26).
Players will face off in 1v1 matchups, with the one who gets the most votes moving on to the next round. All the matchups in each round will be done at the same time, and voting will be conducted through polls on the bottom of the page you’re currently on as well as IGN’s Instagram stories. If you come back to this page on the dates listed below, the polls will be updated to the latest round and you can vote again.
News that Konami is following up the Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1 with a Master Collection Vol. 2 was very welcome, but hardly the most surprising reveal of the year. Still, seeing MGS4 available for a system other than a PlayStation 3 feels weird, at least for gamers of a certain vintage.
It’s not quite a Sonic-on-Nintendo-level event; it’s more like when Wipeout came to N64. A brilliant game, a very pleasant surprise, but…is this legal!?
Why the Blizzard Showcase Was the Just the Beginning of a Massive 2026
Joe Skrebels, Xbox Wire Editor-in-Chief
For the last few weeks, Blizzard has been going big. Blizzard Showcase brought together the four key titles – Overwatch, Diablo, World of Warcraft, and Hearthstone – and gave the space to bring their updates, announcements (and some surprises!) in their own ways. It’s all a part of the road to BlizzCon 2026: the year of Blizzard’s 35th anniversary, not to mention the 30th anniversary of Diablo, and the 10th anniversary of Overwatch. This is the perfect space in time to look back at the universes that have brought us together and look forward to the future.
For Blizzard President, Johanna Faries – speaking on the Official Xbox Podcast – the Showcase has been a combination of careful planning and happy serendipity:
“We’ve been really thoughtful about [giving] our players what they’re hoping for, and hopefully delight them and surprise them in some big ways. I think those have landed. And we’ll just continue to sort of prime what we hope to be a very, very big year as we continue on here in 2026.
“Our franchise teams, and our game teams within those franchises, think a lot about, ‘What do we want to do next year? What do we want to do five years from now?’ Maybe, ‘What do we want to do 10 years from now?’ And we’ve organized our thinking and our strategic planning to make sure that comes together in a really thoughtful way. It’s very intentional how we’ve slate planned into the future.
“At the same time, the inorganic part was we sat back well over a year ago, and I said, ‘Look, there’s something bigger going on here, and I think we can marry this. I think we can make this a party on behalf of all of Blizzard Entertainment.’ And hopefully if you’re a fan of Blizzard, you’re gonna feel something bigger than just, ‘Oh, I got what I needed from Overwatch’ or, ‘I got what I needed from Diablo.’”
That idea – that this is a celebration of momentum across Blizzard, not just a series of game announcements – comes with a key extra detail: this is going to be a massive year. Showcase represents what Blizzard has to show us now, but its 2026 is far from over – not least with a return to the legendary BlizzCon later this year.
“Right now, we have a huge swath of announcements that our games have just brought forward. And why I say that is I think we’re pretty excited to say: There’s still BlizzCon coming in this calendar year, right? Imagine what else we’re stacking up.
“We’ve got to execute on that. We’ve got to make sure we’re delivering in a big way. But I think the teams are cooking. They’re very excited to bring some major announcements, maybe some surprises.”
We certainly haven’t seen everything Blizzard, and its games, will have to offer this year – but the wider point of this moment is to set the table for the future of the company. Blizzard is celebrating 35 years of existence by preparing for the next 35 years.
“I think there’s just an energy around this moment and how this is sort of a launching pad for a big future. It’s very fulfilling to be able to come into work and feel busy in that way, pressure in that way, stakes in that way. I think we’re all really proud of being able to try and pull it off. But again, it’s many years in the making.”
As Faries makes clear, that long-term thinking is being applied per-franchise, and per-game – making sure that it’s not just Blizzard’s future being considered, but how each individual title can thrive:
“What do we want the next 35 years to look like? What’s the vision? What’s the direction? We’ve set a lot in motion with respect to that, making sure we’re clear on it, making sure we’re coordinated on it, making sure that every year from this moment forward, there’s sort of a reliability that players can depend on us to launch in big ways, launch in surprising ways. Maybe take some zags!
“Not everything’s going to hit. That’s gaming. But in many ways, let’s understand where we are going – not only as a company, but by franchise, by game, right? I think at minimum, if you were to ask any of our major teams right now, ‘Hey, what’s your plan for the next three-, four-plus years?’, they have a very clear answer.
“I think this is just very much the beginning – I know you often kind of hear that – but I think ’26, in many ways, really represents a long road ahead of us in terms of things to be excited about.”
You can hear much more from Johanna Faries about Blizzard Showcase, BlizzCon, and Blizzard’s games on the Official Xbox Podcast right now
Brutal boss battler Nioh 3‘s first major post-release patch has arrived today, February 13th. Among its array of tweaks is a “partial” fix for a pretty serious issue – it sometimes being impossible for your character to down any healing elixirs in battle.
Nintendo’s upcoming Virtual Boy accessory can be used to play Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Super Mario Odyssey, Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, it’s been reported.
VGC has tested the new Virtual Boy headset (and its cheaper cardboard alternative) with the four games, which previously received VR modes to become compatible with Nintendo Labo VR following its launch back in 2019.
As VGC reports, the new Virtual Boy accessory works in an identical manner to Nintendo Labo VR, essentially acting as a shell with a pair of lenses for your Switch screen. (And yes, you can remove those red Virtual Boy lenses.)
Viewing the four classic Switch games in their VR modes, players are treated to a VR effect, and can look around naturally by moving their head — which is tracked by the console’s motion sensors.
Does Nintendo intend for you to use your new Virtual Boy accessory this way? It’s debatable. On the one hand, using the actual Virtual Boy accessory for this is a little difficult, since it is designed to sit on a flat surface, removing your ability to look around easily. On the other, VGC notes that Breath of the Wild’s Switch 2 upgrade retains its VR mode option, so perhaps this was the plan all along.
Nintendo will officially launch its Virtual Boy Nintendo Classics collection next week on February 17, which you’ll need a Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscription on either Switch or Switch 2 to access. You’ll also need a Virtual Boy ($99.99) or cardboard Virtual Boy ($24.99) accessory, sold via the My Nintendo Store.
As of next week, the Virtual Boy library will arrive with the following games:
Galactic Pinball
Teleroboxer
RED ALARM
Virtual Boy Wario Land
3-D Tetris
Golf
The Mansion of Innsmouth
Over time, Nintendo will then slowly launch more, including two games that previously never saw the light of day.
Mario Clash
Mario’s Tennis
Jack Bros.
Space Invaders Virtual Collection
Virtual Bowling
Vertical Force
V-Tetris
Zero Racers (previously unreleased)
D-Hopper (previously unreleased)
“Would I recommend the average Nintendo fan drops $100 or even $25 to play these games? No, probably not,” IGN wrote after going face-on with the Virtual Boy accessories recently. “There are only seven of them to play at launch, and they are more enjoyable from a historical perspective than an entertainment one. You could buy seven superior indie games for 100 bucks that come in more than just one color. But if you love exploring wacky bygones from past eras and want a really cool accessory to display in your game room, you’ll probably really like the new Virtual Boy like I did.”
Tom Phillips is IGN’s News Editor. You can reach Tom at tom_phillips@ign.com or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social
Edwin, come look at this! Seriously, come look at this! It’s that thing from your site bio. They’re doing a new one. Edw-0h wait, he’s on holiday today. Ah well, I guess I’ll have to aim my distictly non-Soul Reaver enthusiast eyes at Legacy of Kain: Ascendance. Ooh, Edwin, this nice marketing person claims it’ll appeal to veteran Kainers like you, despite being a bit of a new direction for the series.
Nvidia’s relationship with PC gaming doesn’t always feel like a loving one. Sometimes they’re gifting us a useful new version of DLSS, sometimes they’re helping drive RAM prices up to £300 a stick. Even so, it’s hard not to look at G-Sync Pulsar – a new bit of monitor cleverness that seeks to remove unwanted motion blur from its LCD panels – and see some goodness still inside that big, green eye. After trying it out at a demo event this week, I’m hopeful that Pulsar can clean up how games look in motion as well as anything since the original G-Sync.
I’m especially pleased to see MGS4 finally freed from its PS3 shackles. As the concluding chapter in the chronology (Snake’s chapter, specifically – yes, I see you waving there, Raiden), Guns of the Patriots is an indulgent mess of a game; one that attempts to tie up an overwhelming amount of loose threads. It’s gotten a pretty bad rap as a result, largely thanks to its lengthy cutscenes and numerous scripted gameplay segments.
Welcome to Next Week on Xbox! In this weekly feature we cover all the games coming soon to Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Xbox on PC, and Game Pass! Get more details on these upcoming games below and click their profiles for further info (release dates subject to change). Let’s jump in!
Star Trek: Voyager – Across the Unknown Deluxe Edition
Star Trek: Voyager – Across the Unknown is a story-driven survival strategy game in which the fate of the iconic starship is in your hands. Take the helm, manage the ship and resources, and make difficult decisions. Will you be able to bring home the ship and its crew?
You play as Styx, a cunning goblin with a caustic sense of humour who has mastered the art of infiltration. Your goal? To get your hands on Quartz, the most precious – and dangerous – resource in a world on the brink of a war between elves, humans, and orcs. Styx: Blades of Greed takes the proven formula of the first two games and perfects it by putting freedom and creativity at the heart of the experience. Explore vast vertical environments and master new tools and skills. Whether you’re discovering Styx for the first time or you’ve been a fan from the beginning, greed has never been so much fun!
Aerial_Knight’s Dropshot is a fast, stylish action shooter that throws you straight out of a plane and into the chaos. Take out enemies, dodge wild traps, and make it to the ground first. Filled with finger blasting, Dragons, Powerups, and a bunch of stuff trying to take you down midair. Don’t let anything get in your way of becoming a legend! Just try to look cool and land in one piece!
Welcome to Hex Park—a colorful playground of brainteasers where every move matters. Rotate and align arrow tiles to guide directions, pop obstacles, and clear the board in as few moves as possible. It’s easy to pick up, delightfully tricky to master, and impossible to put down.
HeadHunters is a chaotic platform fighter for up to 4 players, online or on the couch. Blast, bash, and body-swap your way through explosive arenas in fast-paced, no-rules mayhem. It’s all about dodging, blasting, and making your mates scream “no way!”. Heads will definitely roll!
In a place in Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA, a strange accident occurred on October 27, 1986. Everything was recorded on a VHS tape. Enter the eerie world of Backrooms Level X, a first-person horror game that immerses you in an endless labyrinth of desolate and surreal spaces. After a freak accident, you find yourself trapped in the Backrooms, a place where logic and reality vanish. Explore endless corridors of yellow carpet, empty rooms and areas of flickering light as you try to find a way out. But beware: you are not alone. Mysterious entities lurk in the shadows, and every sound may be the last you hear.
Death Match Love Comedy!
KEMCO in Japan & Asia, PQube in North America & Europe
Heartfelt confessions – explosive consequences! From the creators of Raging Loop comes a wild ride of a visual novel, full of slapstick comedy, occult experiences, and romance! First year Kei Yagi is about to receive a love confession from not one, but two classmates, when he suddenly explodes! Although this initial incident was an illusion, he discovers that due to a mysterious curse put upon him, the next time he receives a confession of love he will truly explode and die!
Harvest Cafe gives players the opportunity to manage and farm their own farms. Players grow their farms by growing vegetables, fruits and other crops. They feed and care for animals to produce food such as milk, eggs and meat. They can also use the materials they gather from the environment to create new farmland and improve their farm. Players sell the produce grown on their farms in their own restaurant in the village center. In the restaurant, players cook delicious food and serve it to customers. Players can diversify their menu by trying different recipes and prepare special dishes to increase customer satisfaction.
The most dangerous criminals are convicted and sent to Kletka. Your sentence is to descend into the depths of the Gigastructure while maintaining a living and hungry elevator. Never forget to feed it if you don’t want to end up being eaten alive. Kletka is omnivorous, be ready to feed it both fuel and flesh. The Gigastructure is an endlessly expanding building. Traps and anomalies fill the corridors. Any stop you make could be your last.
Taking Satisfactory, Forager and the gratifying gameplay loop of clicker/idle games as references, Outpath would be just that. Exploit your environment, craft, build and automate your base in this 3D first-person platformer! Gather. Craft. Build. Explore. Relax. No time limits, no pressure, play at your own pace and style.
In a dystopian future where corporations rule, a brutal reality show is the hottest entertainment property in town! You play as Scarlett Martillo, a contestant out for revenge. To win, you must navigate dangerous urban arenas packed with lethal traps and face off against hordes of heavily-armed psychopaths.
Become an Envoy of Death, able to unleash the incredible powers that will make you the most dangerous soul in Limbo. Upgrade your character’s abilities to become the ultimate Soulslinger and take on thrilling challenges in a bloody war against the criminal cartel of the afterlife!
Start a scary adventure and be the first to solve all the mysteries of this horror game! You’ll have to immerse yourself in a thrilling and exciting adventure together with the main characters! Children have been missing for a long time in Lakewitch, and you are destined to solve this creepy mystery. Who is the kidnapper, and why is he doing it? Where are the children disappearing to, and how to save them? You can solve all the puzzles and find out the answers…if you don’t get scared!
Liquor Store Simulator is a simulation game about developing your own store. You start your business in a small shop that you bought on credit. Buy goods, manage your store, hire staff. Who knows, maybe you will be able to make a real alcohol empire out of a small store. At first, it won’t be easy—you’ll have to work at the checkout yourself, accept deliveries, keep records, and maintain order in the sales area. But hard work and smart decisions will help you turn a modest retail outlet into a thriving store with a wide selection and satisfied customers.
Last night’s Sony State of Play broadcast ended with an announcement and shadow drop for God of War Sons of Sparta, a side-scrolling spin-off listed as having 1-2 player support via the PlayStation Store. The only problem? Fans can’t find its two-player option.
Early reports from those who’ve paid the game’s $29.99 asking price and revisited Kratos’ origins say that his sibling Deimos only appears at certain points, there’s no two-player option in the game’s menus, and plugging in a second PS5 controller doesn’t provide extra options.
It’s an odd situation that’s led some to suspect the PlayStation Store listing is simply incorrect — as it appears to be the only firm evidence a two-player mode exists — and seek help from others online also searching for its multiplayer.
Writing on reddit and social media, fans say the store’s listing didn’t initially seem odd — since the game’s title is “Sons of Sparta” plural, in-game footage shows the two brothers killing bosses together, and its cover artwork focuses on them fighting side-by-side.
The game’s store description could also be ready ambiguously, referencing the exploits of both brothers:
“Experience an untold chapter in Kratos’ journey set during the harsh years of Spartan training alongside his brother Deimos,” Sons of Sparta’s official blurb reads. “Through endless trials, their minds, bodies, and hearts have been molded to become Spartan soldiers for whom duty and honor mean everything. After a fellow cadet goes missing, Kratos and Deimos vow to find him and embark on an adventure that will put their training and Spartan spirit to the test.”
“Just got it installed and running,” wrote God of War fan Mephistocheles on reddit, in a lengthy thread with much discussion on the game’s lack of co-op play. “So far it’s not allowing drop in play on 2nd controller and there were no two-player options on start menu. Will update if I find it does allow co-op, but it doesn’t look like it.”
“I’m so sad,” wrote bob_th4_build3r. “I bought it instantly because i thought it would be co-op… maybe they will add it in the future?”
Other comments say they are now escalating the matter to PlayStation’s customer support, while several fans say they have tried to request refunds. IGN has contacted PlayStation and Sons of Sparta developer Mega Cat Studios for clarification on the game’s two-player capabilities, or lack thereof.
