Author: Game Infliction

Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night will receive its final update this month as developer ArtPlay finally adds all the additional features promised in its Kickstarter Campaign from 2015.

ArtPlay shared its final development roadmap for Bloodstained on its website which confirmed the update would arrive May 9, 2024 for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC, while the Nintendo Switch version would arrive May 16. “This will be the final update to the game,” Artplay said.

Bringing Bloodstained to version 1.5, the update is headlined by the additions of Chaos Mode and Versus Mode but also includes four cosmetic packs for protagonist Miriam, one of which is free while the other three can be purchased.

Chaos Mode is akin to rush mode in other games where players, either alone or with an online or local companion, fight through a series of randomized enemies which will grow stronger unless certain challenges are complete.

Versus Mode pits two players directly against each other as both work to defeat enemies, power up their tools, and acquire special attacks to use against their opponent. Each must survive as long as possible, with whoever dies last being crowned the winner.

ArtPlay said that, once this update has been released, its only remaining task is to ship physical PC versions of the game, nine years after backers paid for them. The developer assured that these players received their digital editions upon launch in 2019, of course, but were still awaiting their full Kickstarter backers’ reward.

Coming from former Castlevania producer Koji Igarashi and pitched as a spiritual successor, Bloodstained quickly smashed past its Kickstarter goal and received more than $5.5 million in total funding. This made it the most successful video game Kickstarter ever at the time.

ArtPlay confirmed a full sequel to Bloodstained was in early development as of June 2021, but little has been said about it in the near three years since.

Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelance reporter. He’ll talk about The Witcher all day.

Nintendo has issued a takedown request for more than 8,500 copies of code of Switch emulator Yuzu, which was shut down in March 2024 as its owners paid out $2.4 million in a lawsuit settlement.

As reported by PC Gamer, developer platform GitHub saw 8,535 repositories of Yuzu code removed after Nintendo issued the takedown request on April 29.

Users of the website had uploaded copies of the code after Yuzu was shut down, essentially allowing continued free access to Nintendo Switch games using software that “is primarily designed to and unlawfully circumvent a technological measure that effectively controls access to a work protected under the DMCA,” according to Nintendo.

“The reported repositories offer and provide access to the Yuzu emulator or code based on the Yuzu emulator,” the claim said. “Yuzu illegally circumvents Nintendo’s technological protection measures and runs illegal copies of Nintendo Switch games.”

This echoed wording Nintendo used when it sued Yuzu creator Tropic Haze, when it also said the $70 game The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Nintendo’s premiere video game release of 2023, had been pirated one million times before it was even released.

Nintendo has consistently taken legal action to protect its copyrighted content. Game file sharing website RomUniverse was ordered to pay $2.1 million in damages to Nintendo in 2021, while a similar case saw it receive more than $12 million in damages in 2018. It also blocked GameCube and Wii emulator Dolphin from releasing on PC game platform Steam.

Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelance reporter. He’ll talk about The Witcher all day.

Sony has sparked a backlash after announcing plans to force Helldivers 2 Steam players to connect to a PlayStation Network account.

In a statement attributed to Sony Interactive Entertainment, the PlayStation maker said that due to “technical issues” at the launch of Helldivers 2, it allowed the linking requirements for Steam accounts to a PlayStation Network account to be temporarily optional. Sony said this “grace period” will now expire.

Here’s what’s going to happen: on May 6, all new Helldivers 2 players on Steam will be required to connect their Steam account to a PlayStation Network account. Current players on Steam will start to see the mandatory login from May 30 and will be required to have linked a Steam and PlayStation Network account by June 4.

Why is Sony forcing this requirement upon Steam players? Safety and security, it said. “Account linking plays a critical role in protecting our players and upholding the values of safety and security provided on PlayStation and PlayStation Studios games,” Sony said in its statement. “This is our main way to protect players from griefing and abuse by enabling the banning of players that engage in that type of behavior. It also allows those players that have been banned the right to appeal.”

Perhaps bracing itself for a backlash it knew was to come, Sony said: “We understand that while this may be an inconvenience to some of you, this step will help us to continue to build a community that you are all proud to be a part of.

“Many thanks for your continued support of Helldivers 2!”

It’s fair to say that PC gamers who play Helldivers 2 on Steam and have nothing to do with Sony or PlayStation are upset by the decision. Many are saying they had no idea that playing Helldivers 2 on Steam without linking to a PlayStation account was part of a “grace period”. As has been pointed out, Helldivers 2 launched with this requirement, but it was removed after the game exploded with popularity and the servers collapsed. Still, that hasn’t prevented Steam players from hitting out at Sony for adding the requirement in now, three months after launch.

I assume you did not read this when you launched the game then pic.twitter.com/P2QRwBaYtp

— PhineasJack (@PhineasJack67) May 3, 2024

Some of the more upset Steam players are threatening to abandon the game or even request a refund over the issue, although it remains to be seen whether Sony’s move will meaningfully affect Helldivers 2’s Steam concurrent player numbers, which Valve makes public.

“I paid $40 for this game and got well over 100 hours of fun out of it, absolutely got my money’s worth,” redditor dudeitsivan said. “Some of the most fun I’ve had playing video games in as long as I remember. I’ll miss the game like crazy. But I will not be making a PS account.

“As much as I hate my own sentiment on this, I hope this kills player count. It’ll be the only thing that will make Sony reconsider.”

“It sucks,” added DarthArcanus. “Arrowhead devs seem awesome. The game is awesome. But I won’t support this. Period. I’ll move onto other games. May not scratch the itch Helldivers did, but there’s always something new.”

“Just adding to say I’ll do the same,” commented stupherz. “Was going to spend money to get the new Warbond too but guess not anymore. Was fun but I refuse to tolerate this out of principle.”

Arrowhead community managers are currently putting out fires across the Helldivers Discord, which is packed with comments about today’s announcement. Responding to one player who asked the very reasonable question how this makes Helldivers 2 safer, community manager Baskinator said: “Sony has a dedicated team, a ban appeal process, and tools to take action on player reports, and it’s all connected to having a PSN ID.”

Replying to another user who said they felt they had the rug pulled out from under them, Baskinator said: “Well, we always knew this day would get here, and it’s going about how I expected. 😅 I’m actually happy for us to be able to take action against player reports and make the game safer across the board, personally.”

Helldivers 2 is Sony’s biggest ever launch on PC, and Steam players make up a significant chunk of the overall player base. It’s one of the surprise smash hits of 2024, in part because of its launch on PS5 and PC at the same time, with cross-play in full effect. Arrowhead has won plaudits for its community management and the Helldivers 2 live service, with the early days server troubles now a distant memory. This announcement from Sony, however, looks set to test the loyalty of Helldivers 2’s most hardcore fans.

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.

Sony has sparked a backlash after announcing plans to force Helldivers 2 Steam players to connect to a PlayStation Network account.

In a statement attributed to Sony Interactive Entertainment, the PlayStation maker said that due to “technical issues” at the launch of Helldivers 2, it allowed the linking requirements for Steam accounts to a PlayStation Network account to be temporarily optional. Sony said this “grace period” will now expire.

Here’s what’s going to happen: on May 6, all new Helldivers 2 players on Steam will be required to connect their Steam account to a PlayStation Network account. Current players on Steam will start to see the mandatory login from May 30 and will be required to have linked a Steam and PlayStation Network account by June 4.

Why is Sony forcing this requirement upon Steam players? Safety and security, it said. “Account linking plays a critical role in protecting our players and upholding the values of safety and security provided on PlayStation and PlayStation Studios games,” Sony said in its statement. “This is our main way to protect players from griefing and abuse by enabling the banning of players that engage in that type of behavior. It also allows those players that have been banned the right to appeal.”

Perhaps bracing itself for a backlash it knew was to come, Sony said: “We understand that while this may be an inconvenience to some of you, this step will help us to continue to build a community that you are all proud to be a part of.

“Many thanks for your continued support of Helldivers 2!”

It’s fair to say that PC gamers who play Helldivers 2 on Steam and have nothing to do with Sony or PlayStation are upset by the decision. Many are saying they had no idea that playing Helldivers 2 on Steam without linking to a PlayStation account was part of a “grace period”. As has been pointed out, Helldivers 2 launched with this requirement, but it was removed after the game exploded with popularity and the servers collapsed. Still, that hasn’t prevented Steam players from hitting out at Sony for adding the requirement in now, three months after launch.

I assume you did not read this when you launched the game then pic.twitter.com/P2QRwBaYtp

— PhineasJack (@PhineasJack67) May 3, 2024

Some of the more upset Steam players are threatening to abandon the game or even request a refund over the issue, although it remains to be seen whether Sony’s move will meaningfully affect Helldivers 2’s Steam concurrent player numbers, which Valve makes public.

“I paid $40 for this game and got well over 100 hours of fun out of it, absolutely got my money’s worth,” redditor dudeitsivan said. “Some of the most fun I’ve had playing video games in as long as I remember. I’ll miss the game like crazy. But I will not be making a PS account.

“As much as I hate my own sentiment on this, I hope this kills player count. It’ll be the only thing that will make Sony reconsider.”

“It sucks,” added DarthArcanus. “Arrowhead devs seem awesome. The game is awesome. But I won’t support this. Period. I’ll move onto other games. May not scratch the itch Helldivers did, but there’s always something new.”

“Just adding to say I’ll do the same,” commented stupherz. “Was going to spend money to get the new Warbond too but guess not anymore. Was fun but I refuse to tolerate this out of principle.”

Arrowhead community managers are currently putting out fires across the Helldivers Discord, which is packed with comments about today’s announcement. Responding to one player who asked the very reasonable question how this makes Helldivers 2 safer, community manager Baskinator said: “Sony has a dedicated team, a ban appeal process, and tools to take action on player reports, and it’s all connected to having a PSN ID.”

Replying to another user who said they felt they had the rug pulled out from under them, Baskinator said: “Well, we always knew this day would get here, and it’s going about how I expected. 😅 I’m actually happy for us to be able to take action against player reports and make the game safer across the board, personally.”

Helldivers 2 is Sony’s biggest ever launch on PC, and Steam players make up a significant chunk of the overall player base. It’s one of the surprise smash hits of 2024, in part because of its launch on PS5 and PC at the same time, with cross-play in full effect. Arrowhead has won plaudits for its community management and the Helldivers 2 live service, with the early days server troubles now a distant memory. This announcement from Sony, however, looks set to test the loyalty of Helldivers 2’s most hardcore fans.

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.