Following The Witcher 4‘s big reveal at 2024’s Geoff Awards, it predictably took modders about five minutes to revamp The Witcher 3‘s Ciri into her older monster slaying variant. Now, one of them’s had a crack at going a step further by designing a short questline offering a taste of Geralt’s non-quite-daughter slaying monsters in Kovir and Poviss, with help from CD Projekt’s RedKIT tools.
Sony has highlighted the performance of PlayStation 5 exclusive Ghost of Yotei, insisting it outsold predecessor Ghost of Tsushima during the same period, and made a “significant” contribution to its financial results.
Sucker Punch’s Ghost of Yotei went on sale October 2, 2025, and sold 3.3 million units as of November 2 (at the 32 day mark). Reporting its financials for the quarter ending December 31, 2025, Sony failed to provide an updated sales figure, but did highlight the game in its webcast, reviewed and transcribed by IGN.
“In the studio business, Ghost of Yotei, a tentpole title we released in October, exceeded the sales of the previous title in the same period of time and significantly contributed to the financial results of the quarter,” Lin Tao, Sony’s chief financial officer, said.
“Our established live service titles like Helldivers 2 and MLB The Show also contributed stable recurring revenue.”
The statement here is a little vague (we assume “same period of time” reflects each game’s first quarter on sale, which would be the first three months of availability), but Sony sounds happy with Ghost of Yotei either way. How exactly does it compare to Ghost of Tsushima? Ghost of Tsushima, which was initially released for PlayStation 4 on July 17, 2020, sold 2.4 million copies in its first three days, then hit 5 million after 118 days (just shy of four months). Latest sales figures provided by Sony show Ghost of Tsushima on 13 million copies sold, including sales of the PC and PS5 Director’s Cut, as of August 11, 2024.
We should consider that Ghost of Tsushima came out on the PS4, which in the summer of 2020 had a much bigger install base than the PS5 does today, and released into the stay-at-home gaming boom fueled by lockdowns. Ghost of Yotei also sold for $70, which means its dollar sales are greater compared to the cheaper Ghost of Tsushima, whose standard edition launched at $60.
Meanwhile, multiplayer add-on Ghost of Yotei: Legends comes out at some point this year, which will undoubtedly give Ghost of Yotei a shot in the arm. And we all know that Ghost of Yotei, like Ghost of Tsushima before it, will eventually launch on PC in Director’s Cut form. Perhaps there will even be a PS6 version, whenever that console rolls around.
While we wait to find out, check out IGN’s Ghost of Yotei review. We’ve also got a cool story about Atsu’s sword-drawing technique, which Japanese martial arts experts have said is kind of doable in real life.
Ready to master Ghost of Yotei? Check out our comprehensive guides, which cover everything from things to do first, best skills to unlock, advanced combat tips, getting the best early-game armor set, and uncovering every Altar of Reflection location. Our Walkthrough also provides essential tips and strategies for defeating every boss, and our secrets and easter eggs guide ensures you never miss another hidden reference again.
Wesley is Director, News at IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.
Despite AMD’s assurances to the contrary, Valve have announced that they’ve pushed back release plans for the new Steam Machine, Steam Controller, and Steam Frame VR headset. Alas, my curse of publishing news posts roughly 0.0045 seconds before a major situation change continues to ruin my life – sometimes I wish I’d never beaten the warlocks in that Titanfall 2 pub match.
A reminder that the recent delay isn’t a “major” one.
In case you missed the update last October, Yacht Club’s new game Mina the Hollower has been delayed, although it’s not a “major” one.
In saying this, there have been some posts circulating online about the current date listed on the Switch eShop. If you haven’t already noticed in recent months, the title has currently got an “estimated release date” on the storefront of “2030”.
Read the full article on nintendolife.com
Following its release on Switch and Switch 2 last December.
There was some shock earlier this week when Nintendo’s financials seemingly confirmed that neither the Switch or Switch 2 version of Metroid Prime 4: Beyond had cracked one million sales. So, how about the combined figures?
Well, Game File journalist Stephen Totilo has now reached out to Nintendo and got an official confirmation from a representative that the “combined sales” of the two titles have surpassed the one million mark. Here’s the message relayed on social media:
Read the full article on nintendolife.com
The Heavy, Max and the rest of the gang are back.
Ahead of the Nintendo Partner Direct Showcase today, developer Skunkape Games (the team founded by former Telltale employees who revived the Sam & Max series) has announced the return of Poker Night at the Inventory.
This poker title featuring an all-star cast of video game characters was originally developed by Telltale Games and released on Steam in 2010. The new version has been “lovingly remastered” and will be reopening its doors for Switch and multiple other platforms on 5th March 2026.
Read the full article on nintendolife.com
Overwatch 2 is officially ditching the “2” from its name. It’s all just Overwatch now as the game enters a “new, story-driven era” with a year-long narrative, 10 new heroes, and a major overhaul.
Announced today at the Overwatch Spotlight, Blizzard revealed its first year-long storyline, entitled “The Reign of Talon”. As it sounds, the plot is going to focus on the antagonistic faction Talon as it takes over around the world, while Overwatch continues to fight back. In-game events, hero trailers, animated comics, short stories, and map updates will tell a story across six seasons rolled out throughout the entire year, beginning with the launch of five new heroes on February 10 as Season 1 begins. On the Talon side, new heroes will include Domina (tank), Emre (damage), and Mizuki (support), and on Overwatch we’ll get Anran (damage) and Jetpack Cat (support). More heroes will join in the future, with a new hero added in each of Season 2-6 to come. A new story arc is planned to begin with another Season 1 in 2027.
Other updates include a new Meta Event called Conquest, where players choose to align with either Overwatch or Talon over five weeks to compete for rewards including lootboxes, skins, and titles. We’ll also be seeing a major UI and UX overhaul with a new hero lobby and a promise of faster navigation. And we’re also getting a Hello Kitty-themed in-game event from February 10-23.
Amid all of this, Blizzard is officially dropping the “2” from Overwatch 2, and referring to it going forward just as Overwatch. As a press release explains: “Overwatch is more than just a digit: it’s a living universe that keeps growing, keeps surprising, and keeps bringing players together from around the world. This year marks a huge turning point in how the development team envisions the future of Overwatch, so we are officially dropping ‘2’ and moving forward as ‘Overwatch’.”
The newly-dubbed “Overwatch” will also be getting an upgraded Nintendo Switch 2 edition in the spring (both the original Overwatch and Overwatch 2 are currently available on Nintendo Switch, and thus Switch 2, but do not have dedicated Switch 2 upgraded versions).
It’s no surprise that Blizzard might want to wipe the slate clean from the struggle that has been Overwatch 2. The sequel/revamp of 2016’s popular hero shooter Overwatch stumbled out of the gate, and while it saw a massive surge of players at the start, those numbers dropped in the following year. As time went on, user reviews complained about a number of issues such as monetization and controversies around the cancellation of the game’s long-awaited PvE Hero mode. The game has seen modes, features, and plans come and go over the years, and this isn’t even the first major overhaul Blizzard has announced. The fact remains that Overwatch 2 has never quite lived up to the hype levels of its predecessor, Overwatch, and this could be an attempt on Blizzard’s part to regain some of that glory – especially by focusing so much on story.
Rebekah Valentine is a senior reporter for IGN. Got a story tip? Send it to rvalentine@ign.com.
Five new heroes are coming next week.
Big changes are coming to Overwatch 2 very soon, with a brand new season dropping on 10th February. But the biggest change comes in the form of a new name.
Announced today during the Overwatch 2026 spotlight, the game’s director Aaron Keller announced that Overwatch 2 is ditching the number, meaning it’ll simply be known as Overwatch now.
Read the full article on nintendolife.com
Today, Blizzard’s Overwatch Spotlight announced the start of an exciting new story‑driven era for Overwatch, highlighted by a year-long narrative arc called The Reign of Talon, all‑new UI/UX design, and much more. Be sure to check out the full video for all of the details. As an extra treat, we’re joined by Lead Narrative Designer Miranda Moyer to dive deeper into what this new story‑driven chapter means for Overwatch.
For the first time in Overwatch’s history, we’re telling a complete story.
I don’t say that lightly. Over the past decade, Overwatch’s narrative has been about possibility – introductions, hints, and setups. We’ve met heroes, discovered conflicts, and learned just enough to know there was something bigger happening beyond the edges of the screen. But this year, we’re doing something we’ve never done before: telling a story with a clear beginning, middle… and yes, an end.
That means things move. When something happens in the world of Overwatch now, it doesn’t sit untouched. Objectives are set, and met. You’ll see outcomes unfold across seasons. We’re finally seeing payoff for parts of the Overwatch world that you’ve maybe wondered about for years. This evolving story will be brought to life through a variety of mediums – including Hero Trailers, motion comics, and more – so you can experience each chapter in unique ways. All these pieces will be available on our dedicated narrative viewer, organized in chapters that guide you through the year’s epic narrative.
At the center of this year’s Overwatch narrative is a global conflict that’s impossible to ignore. Vendetta has seized control of Talon, overthrowing Doomfist and rejecting the clandestine nature in which he operated. Where Talon once skulked in the shadows, Vendetta believes in acting loudly, decisively, and without restraint. Her goal is explicit: she wants the world, and she believes Overwatch is the only force standing in her way. Because of that, we’re not winding up to conflict: we’re starting with it. Talon strikes early, attempting to remove Overwatch from the equation.
What’s fresh about the way we’re telling this story is how deeply our heroes are embedded in it. Every new character plays a direct role in the narrative. Those new faces are also a great vehicle to continue the stories of established ones. We’re touching so many parts of the world of Overwatch, and the more stories we develop, the more opportunities we’ll have to progress the journeys of heroes both new and longstanding.
One of the biggest highlights for Overwatch this year is the introduction of 10 new heroes. In Season 1, which begins February 10, you’ll meet five of them at once: each with their own narrative thread which helps set the tone for what’s to come.
This year’s narrative is about convergence—threads coming together, tensions peaking, and long-running questions colliding in ways that matter. Both established and new heroes will see movement in their stories, evolving amid this conflict. For Overwatch, this is the most ambitious narrative we’ve taken on. Each piece builds on the last, pushing characters and conflicts forward.
Join us on this new journey, and jump into Season 1 on February 10 and see it unfold for yourself.
Blizzard Entertainment
Overwatch® – Season 20: Vendetta
Give the Gift of Vengeance
Embrace the season in a flurry of festivity with a new DPS Hero, Winter Wonderland modes, holiday event, merry Mythics, and more!
Season 20 carves a cold path with Vendetta, the ruthless new melee DPS villain fueled by ambition and revenge. But it’s not all frosty edges—celebrate the holidays in the return of Winter Wonderland! Make some merry Mischief & Magic on a whimsical new wintery map, with a midway mode twist where the props fight back in Mischief & Magic Wonderland. Earn Winter Tokens through the Winter Wonderland event to unlock festive holiday skins for Tracer, Junkrat, and Torbjörn, then step into Stadium for a fresh map with new Heroes, updates, and prizes. Top it all off with Mythic Divine Desperado Cassidy and Orisa’s Mythic Capsule Cannon packing a cascade of cheer, plus more frosty skins as you jingle all the way through Battle Pass tiers. ‘Tis the season to deck your enemies’ halls, claim your vengeance, and unwrap your rewards!
The post Overwatch: The New Year-Long Narrative, Explained appeared first on Xbox Wire.
Ashes Of Creation developers laid off during the reported closure of Intrepid Studios will not receive their final paychecks and other compensation they’re due, according to one of the departing team members.
