Avowed is the latest Xbox Game Studios creation to head to PlayStation, developer Obsidian announced today.
This news came as part of an interview on the New Game+ Showcase, where Obsidian developers shared that the February 17 launch on PS5 would coincide with the game’s promised anniversary update on all platforms.
The anniversary update contains a number of long-requested features, including a New Game Plus mode, a Photo Mode, the ability to play three new races (Aumaua, Orlan, and Dwarves), a new weapon type, the ability to change appearance in the overworld, and a number of other asked-for upgrades.
Pre-orders for the PS5 version will go live today, and the update will be available for free for those who already own it on other platforms.
Avowed came out almost a year ago (hence the anniversary update), and we gave it a 7/10 at the time. While we said it has “awesome worldbuilding and stellar character writing”, it also “plays it quite safe with a by-the-numbers fantasy adventure.”
Avowed’s move to PlayStation is part of a larger trend of Xbox releasing its first-party games on its competitor platform, including recently Forza Horizon 5, Doom: The Dark Ages, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, and even Halo.. It’s a strategy that seems to be working for them okay in some respects – in one quarter of last year, six of the ten best-selling games on PlayStation were Xbox-published. And its leadership has publicly embraced the idea that consumers find platform exclusivity to be “antiquated.”
Will this strategy serve them well as hardware prices skyrocket and players gravitate more toward forever games? We took a stab at guessing how Xbox’s 2026 will go, and you can read those predictions here.
Rebekah Valentine is a senior reporter for IGN. Got a story tip? Send it to rvalentine@ign.com.
Hey, fellow Undertale and Deltarune fan. Did you know there was a Deltarune ARG going on? Did you know it’s technically been going on for three years now? Yeah, neither did I!
I first learned about the Deltarune ARG (Alternate Reality Game) earlier this week, when a video about it surfaced in my YouTube recommendations. I started out just mildly curious, but I quickly fell down a rabbit hole that had me digging through massive spreadsheets, scouring Reddit threads, and pouring over weird corners of the official Deltarune website. And now, I’m going to infect you with it too.
In order to fully unpack the entire ARG in a way that covers every little bit of what’s happened and what it could mean, I would have to spoil all four chapters of Deltarune, probably some bits of Undertale, and dive into a deep, deep, deep pit of Deltarune fan theories. So I’m going to try to keep the explanation as high level as is possible while still making sense. But as a warning ahead of time: this will contain spoilers for Chapters 1 and 2 of Deltarune, especially the “Weird Route”, and some very light allusions to characters and events in Chapters 3 and 4. Read on at your own risk:
The Deltarune ARG actually began in September 2022, during an event called the Spamton Sweepstakes celebrating Undertale’s seventh anniversary, which raised money for the charity Child’s Play. Most of the event was fun, silly, and non-ARG-related, themed around the eccentric Chapter 2 character Spamton and including a lot of fun new merchandise courtesy of Fangamer.
However, at the time, the ever-vigilant Deltarune community stumbled upon some unusual hidden content within the pages on the Deltarune website dedicated to the sweepstakes. At the time, most of it consisted of fun Easter Eggs, and I don’t want to get into it all, but it was the first major sign that something was up. It wasn’t until May of 2025 (two and a half years later) that things really kicked off. Fans suddenly noticed that there were even more secrets on the Deltarune website dedicated to the sweepstakes. There were a number of new hidden pages, all of which made reference to the game’s deeply eerie and hidden “Weird Route”, but the one that matters most to the ARG was deltarune.com/chapter4/thankyou. At the time, the website consisted of two very small blanks where users could input text, and a blank button that allowed them to submit it. There were no clues as to what needed to go into the blanks, save for a single question:
“How long did it take her to smile?”
Deltarune fans very quickly guessed that the “her” being referenced was Noelle, a beloved character and the childhood best friend of Deltarune protagonist Kris. She’s also the focal point of the aforementioned Weird Route, in which the player (a separate character from Kris) manipulates Noelle into doing something terrible in the interest of becoming stronger. Fans also figured out that the first blank was looking for an email address, with the second blank being for the actual “answer” to the question. Unfortunately, the form was only open for a day, before being replaced with text that just said “Thank You.” Those who had submitted their email in the form began receiving effectively a confirmation email that just contained “You answered [THEIR ANSWER].” No further explanation. Nothing. For three years.
Notably, when all this happened, Chapters 3 and 4 weren’t out yet. Those released earlier this year, and with them, more Weird Route content and a couple of horrifying, hidden scenes focused on Noelle in particular. Then two weeks ago, those who had received the confirmation email the first time received a new email that just said, “Second chance,” and found that the form had been reopened. The community efforts were more coordinated this time, with people experimenting with different combinations of time amounts in days, seconds, years, as well as other textual responses they felt made sense. A number of community members tried to document submissions to avoid duplications, though given the short notice and short time period the form was open, this was once again difficult to do.
The form closed again, and once again, participants received emails. But this time, they were different. Individuals were getting one of a collection of different responses that seemed to be based on what they submitted. For instance, those who said “1 Day” received back “Then, ‘The next day you’ll see her smile.'” People who inputted very small numbers, such as 4 seconds, got back, “So, ‘she never stopped smiling'”. There are a bunch of other creepy answers, like “Do you think that means she still can?” and “Then, ‘It was the first time she ever smiled in her life.'”
Many emails ended with another sentence: “Move forward with this answer,” seemingly indicating the submission was on the right track.
That was two weeks ago, and the form has been closed ever since. There’s no indication of whether anyone got the right answer, what the next step is, or if the form will ever open up again. In preparation for a third attempt, a number of content creators have been rallying fans into communities to track what answers garnered what responses, and piece those responses together to try and figure out a “correct” answer if the form reopens. There are multiple massive spreadsheets out there cataloging confirmed responses, as well as others assigning different answers to each participant ahead of time, so no one wastes an answer on a duplicate.
But what does it all mean? We’re…not exactly sure. The general consensus is that all this has something to do with where Chapter 4’s “Weird Route” leaves Noelle, and speculation about what’s to come in Chapter 5 at the “festival” event we know is going to take place during it. But even though that’s the most likely context, it’s a pretty unusual one: the Weird Route is extremely hard to figure out without assistance from the internet, and its dark consequences make it unlikely that the vast majority of players would ever see it or understand what any of this is about. If this ARG is going to reveal some deep lore, or even impact the game somehow, it’s likely that very few people will understand or even care about the result.
That may be by design, though. Critically, the second time the form opened, only people who participated and received feedback from it the first time were able to use it again. If you’re just learning about this (as I am), you may be entirely too late to participate at all. It’s also possible there’s no progress on whatever this is for months, even years. It was already three years between the first two events in this ARG. How long will we need to wait for the third?
I’m really just scratching the surface here, and probably sound like I’m completely crazy. If you’ve played Deltarune and didn’t know about any of this, you probably had a pleasant time with a cool, well-written RPG with funny, lovable characters, and left it at that. That’s an extremely normal way to enjoy this game, and probably will be most people’s experience! But since Deltarune’s Chapter 1 release, there’s been a whole ecosystem of secrets, fan theories, and conspiracies surrounding the question of what this game actually is, how it relates to Undertale, and what the implications of its hidden, darker narrative might be for the game’s lighter side. It’s complex, weird, and fun as hell to dig into, and we probably won’t know the full scope of it for years to come.
Which is all to say, good luck to the secret hunters, and I’m genuinely sorry I can’t help. I’ve inadvertently gotten invested in this mystery even though I will not personally touch the Weird Route with a ten-foot holiday pencil. Deltarune chapters 1-4 are out now and combined make a very good place to jump in if you’ve been holding off thus far. Chapter 5 is expected to come out this year, likely in the second half.
Rebekah Valentine is a senior reporter for IGN. Got a story tip? Send it to rvalentine@ign.com.
Nihon Falcom has reiterated its support for the Nintendo Switch 2 today, and it plans to self-publish more major titles on the newest Nintendo console in the coming years.
That’s according to a report from GameBiz (translated by Automaton Media), where the creator of the Ys and Trails series has also teased that its currently working on a brand new Nintendo Switch 2 port of one of their existing titles. What that is, we don’t know yet, but we’ll likely find out at some point this year.
Embark Studios has outlined its plan to deal with Arc Raiders cheaters after they became a hot topic in the community earlier this week.
Cheaters are a concern for nearly all multiplayer games, but they’ve become an especially controversial subject amongst players recently. Reports of cheaters seem to be increasing in recent weeks, as players share clips and stories of others shooting them through walls and from unreachable areas. The conversation then reached a boiling point when popular streamers like Ninja, Nadeshot, and Shroud began publicly voicing their concerns.
“This might be my last day playing for a very long time… Embark has zero control over their game right now”
Embark confirmed it is taking action against the cheating problem in a message posted in its official Discord server. The note comes with an acknowledgement of the discussion surrounding cheaters in the community, promising that the studio is “taking this issue very seriously” as it awaits further feedback.
“Over the next few weeks, we are implementing significant changes to our rulesets and deploying new detection mechanisms to identify and remove cheaters,” Embark said. “This includes updating our Anti-Cheat systems for improved detection and bans, as well as applying client-side fixes specifically addressing the ‘out of map’ glitch.”
It’s unclear if Embark’s efforts will be enough to deter the most problematic Arc Raiders offenders, but it’s at least a sign the studio will take action through January. The message also comes with a promise specifically for streamers, saying the team is “introducing tools for streamers to help mitigate stream sniping.”
“Thank you for your valuable feedback and for helping us make ARC Raiders a fair and fun experience for everyone,” the message concludes.
Michael Cripe is a freelance writer with IGN. He’s best known for his work at sites like The Pitch, The Escapist, and OnlySP. Be sure to give him a follow on Bluesky (@mikecripe.bsky.social) and Twitter (@MikeCripe).
2013’s Batman: Arkham Origins may not be the most critically beloved entry in the series, but many fans would argue it’s the game with the best Batman costume design. Now Hot Toys is finally giving that costume its due with a truly stunning 1/6 scale figure.
Check out the slideshow gallery below for an early look at Hot Toys’ Batman: Arkham Origins figure:
This figure stands an impressive 12.7 inches tall and features a detailed recreation of the character model from the game. The head boasts individually rotating eyeballs and interchangeable faceplates that allow for different expressions.
The figure also includes various other accessories you’d expect, including Batman’s various gadgets and weapons, electric gauntlets, and interchangeable hands.
This is hardly Hot Toys’ first time exploring the Arkham universe. In the past, they’ve released figures based on Batman’s Arkham City and Arkham Knight designs, along with several of the alternate suits from those games and villains like Joker and Harley Quinn. As for Arkham Origins specifically, Hot Toys previously tackled Deathstroke (who makes a cameo appearance in the photos above) and Batman’s armored XE Suit.
The Batman: Arkham Origins figure is priced at $300 and is available to preorder on Sideshow Collectibles. The figure is expected to release between January and June of 2027.
Nintendo Switch 2 sales over the holidays reportedly fell short of those recorded by the console’s predecessor back in 2017, during its first end-of-year season.
As revealed by The Game Business, Switch 2 sales in the US and within key markets in Europe fell behind the equivalent pace of Switch 1 — something an unnamed senior Nintendo source blamed on a “complicated” economic climate today, and the “absence of a major Western game” during the year-end period.
That particular analysis will likely raise eyebrows among Nintendo fans, as the company launched the long-awaited Metroid Prime 4: Beyond during the period — albeit to a more muted critical response than the franchise’s beloved original trilogy. Nintendo has so far made no announcement on how that game has fared.
The Game Business reports that US Switch 2 sales over the holiday period were down around 35% versus the Switch 1’s sales performance back in 2017. In the UK, a similar comparison saw Switch 2 lagging Switch 1 by 16%. Even in Nintendo’s homeland of Japan, Switch 2 holiday sales couldn’t match Switch 1, and were down by 5.5% over the year’s final nine weeks.
In France, 2025’s final tally of Switch 2 sales was down by “over 30%” versus the amount Switch 1 notched up back in 2017, meanwhile.
While these numbers may take some of the shine off of a successful first year for Switch 2 overall, it’s not all doom and gloom. Switch 2’s lifetime sales in Japan are still above what Switch 1 managed in its first year, with less time on sale. And in the UK, Switch 1 continued to sell well enough that it made up Switch 2’s holiday sales deficit.
Looking ahead, Nintendo has a smattering of first-party games already planned for 2026, including Mario Tennis Fever, Yoshi and the Mysterious Book and Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave, as well as Switch 2 upgrades for Super Mario Wonder and Animal Crossing: New Horizons. There’s also the FromSoftware exclusive The Duskbloods to look forward to, and the promising-looking Pokémon Pokopia life sim.
But as the Switch 2 prepares to celebrate its first anniversary in June, all eyes will be on Nintendo to roll out a truly new blockbuster entry in one of its biggest franchises. Back in 2017, Switch 1’s first year was marked by the launch of both Super Mario Odyssey and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Nintendo has not released a major new 3D Mario platformer since, while it will soon be three years since the arrival of 2023’s The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.
Switch 1’s other top-selling titles include Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and Animal Crossing: New Horizons — and for now, there’s no suggestion a big new entry in either franchise is forthcoming. Smash Bros. series boss Masahiro Sakurai has only just finished work on Kirby Air Riders, while Nintendo is opting to update New Horizons for Switch 2 this year, as previously mentioned.
Could we see a new 3D Mario in 2026? Nine years on from Super Mario Odyssey, now feels like the right time. And then there’s Pokémon, which celebrates its 30th anniversary next month. Could we get a glimpse soon of the series’ long-awaited 10th generation? The arrival of these titles would certainly help Switch 2 keep its momentum, following last year’s explosive launch.
Tom Phillips is IGN’s News Editor. You can reach Tom at tom_phillips@ign.com or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social
Famitsu has published the latest boxed charts data from Japan, and it’s once again another success story for the Switch 2 and Mario Kart World. Both headline the hardware and software charts respectively, with Mario Kart World shifting another 94,645 units to total 2,668,381 lifetime sales.
Meanwhile, Pokémon Legends: Z-A – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition has managed to surpass the 1 million milestone, totalling 1,004,154. The OG Switch version is still dominating, however, shifting a total of 1,529,823 units. This balance will begin to lean more toward Switch 2 in the coming years as more and more people upgrade, but the remarkably high install base for Switch means that Pokémon games its successor will, for the time being, struggle to keep up.
CES 2026 doesn’t technically end until tomorrow, but then if it were a football match, it’d be the kind where the home side gets battered 4-0 and the cameras keep cutting to a stream of season ticket holders slumping towards the doors with 20 minutes left. An all-timer in the history of Consumer Electronics Show, it has not been.
These next few months of winter are a great time to settle in with big games until spring arrives. Recently, Amazon’s been offering some great discounts on a variety of options to help you stock up your library this January for a little less than usual. Among some of the games on sale right now is Assassin’s Creed Shadows for PS5 (see it here at Amazon), which has dropped back to its lowest price so far of $34.99 at the retailer.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows (PS5) for $34.99
This makes for a huge 50% discount from its usual list price of $69.99, which is an excellent offer to make a move on. This limited edition Amazon Exclusive copy also comes with the Sekiryu Character Pack, which gets you a gear and weapon set for Naoe, the Sekiryu Beast, and a Dragon Tooth trinket alongside the base game.
We think it’s a game well worth picking up, too. Our review gave it an 8/10 score, with writer Jarrett Green saying it, “takes a flashing blade to the series’ established norms, trimming them to a more precise form in lieu of chopping them down outright.”
The review continues on to say that, “Combat is aggressive and requires more intentional parrying and skill management than in the past, and exploring the gorgeous provinces of Sengoku-period Japan is encouraged thanks to the revamped map that deemphasizes collecting icons and checking off lists.” Not to mention, “Naoe and Yasuke are well-realized and memorable protagonists, even though most of the story they drive follows pretty predictable paths.”
Minecraft‘s getting marginally cuter with its next update, as it continues to pretend it isn’t designed for the express purpose of teaching innocent children that in order to survive, you’ve sometimes got to beat some pigs and trees to death with your bare hands. Baby farm animal mobs, long just mini-mes of their adult versions with slightly different head/body size ratios are getting their own unique appearances.
