Random: Japan Is Getting Another Mother-Themed G-Shock Watch

Game celebrates 30th anniversary this year.

The cult hit EarthBound (Mother 2) is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, so naturally, that means that Japan is getting another collaboration between Mother and watch manufacturer Casio.

Due for launch on 14 March, 2024 via a lottery purchase system, the ‘Mother Red’s GW-6900‘ follows a previous collaboration back in 2021. This time, however, the watch is red… Like, really red. You’ve got the Mother logo at the top of the display, while the word ‘Potential’ is nestled in at the bottom.

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Sega Says Its Crazy Taxi Reboot Is a Triple-A Game

Sega has called its Crazy Taxi reboot a triple-A game.

In December, during The Game Awards 2023, Sega announced new games in the Jet Set Radio, Shinobi, Golden Axe, Streets of Rage, and Crazy Taxi franchises were in development alongside the teaser trailer, below. The video shows brief gameplay clips of each of the games set to return.

We haven’t heard much about the initiative since, but in an article published by the Japan Times, one Sega executive referenced the Crazy Taxi reboot specifically and called it a triple-A game.

Takaya Segawa, who runs Sega’s support studio in Sapporo, said: “We’re responsible for titles such as Phantasy Star Online 2: New Genesis and Hatsune Miku: Colorful Stage! in cooperation with the bases in Tokyo and overseas. We are also participating in the development of triple-A titles, including Crazy Taxi.

“At present, we don’t have any titles developed independently by the studio, but we intend to do so in the future.”

Crazy Taxi is a driving game series that first appeared in arcades in 1999 before ports on consoles such as the Dreamcast saw it enjoy popularity in the home. You play a taxi driver who speeds through the city to deliver passengers to their destinations, performing stunts to earn points along the way.

The Crazy Taxi reboot is one of the first games coming out as part of Sega’s bid to revive its legacy franchises, although the company has yet to announce a release window or in which form the games will launch. But with Segawa calling Crazy Taxi a triple-A game, perhaps fans can expect something more significant than a modest return for one of its most-beloved arcade games.

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.

The Maw – 19th-24th February 2024

Another week of PC game releases is upon us and oh heck, slow down. There are an alarming number of games out this week that I want to play, from large-scale 3D productions to itty-bitty time-killers, each sinisterly appropriate to my Steam stats and wider research interests. Are videogame publishers and The Maw in cahoots to overwhelm me with impulse-buys and sabotage my attempts to Report the News? It’s possible. It’s possible. The Maw can be pretty cunning for an indiscriminate force of cosmic famine. The creature has been known to forge alliances with misguided mortals, seeking to flank and overwhelm harried news writers. How else to explain Phil Spencer’s T-shirts?

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Bandle Tale: A League Of Legends Story review: a charming crafting RPG plagued by busywork

Riot Forge’s last stab at publishing smaller spin-offs from indie teams has resulted in Bandle Tale: A League Of Legends Story, which at first glance has all the things I love in self-proclaimed cosy games: gorgeous pixel art, laidback objectives and characters cute enough to trigger primal cheek-squishing instincts. But despite looking like an SNES classic and playing like a mix between Animal Crossing and Stardew Valley, Bandle Tale unfortunately ties itself in knots with overly grindy crafting that had me rubbing my temples in an effort not to combust.

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Grab Intel’s Core i5 12600K for just £167 all-in at Amazon UK

The Intel Core i5 12600K remains a powerful CPU for gaming and content creation even in 2024, and offers better value than successors that use the same socket, like the 13600K and 14600K, due to similar performance at a lower price.

Today you can find the 12600K for £167 at Amazon UK as a US import, versus £221 for the same CPU via Amazon UK itself. That £167 price includes an import fee deposit and shipping too!

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Helldivers 2 Devs Temporarily Cap Concurrent Players to Around 450,000 to Help With Server Stability

Helldivers 2 developer Arrowhead Game Studios has temporarily capped concurrent players to 450,000 to help with server stability as it works to “get the ceiling raised” and fix other issues related to its immensely successful launch.

Arrowhead took to Helldivers 2’s Discord to share the news, saying it is “working around the clock” to solve the problems players are running into.

“Hello divers! Earlier tonight we had server related issues with a concurrent player spike,” Arrowhead wrote. “This lead to some mission payouts failing, some players being kicked to their ships, or being logged out.

“Our team is working around the clock to solve these issues. While we’ve been able to mitigte some of the causes, we are still struggling to keep up with the scaling that is needed to accommodate all our Helldivers.

“Therefore, we’ve had to cap our concurrent players to around 450,000 to further improve server stability. We will continue to work with our partners to get the ceiling raised.

“If you have progression-related issues, please restart the game in order for things to sync back up. Thank you for your continued patience!”

As we reported yesterday, the team is doing all it can to help players dive back in “for Freedom” in Helldivers 2. The problem is there are so many who want to take on the evil bug and bot forces. While we wrote that Helldivers 2’s Steam concurrent player record had passed that of Starfield, PUBG: Test Server, Counter-Strike, and Destiny, it has since reached 405,514 and knocked down Monster Hunter: World, Kathy Rain, Hitman 2, and Grand Theft Auto V. Yes, Helldivers 2 has taken down GTA.

While we don’t know the numbers on PlayStation 5, it has become the top game in the U.S. ahead of the likes of juggernauts Fortnite and Call of Duty.

In our Helldivers 2 review, we said its “combat feels fantastic, its missions stay fresh and interesting, and its smart progression system doesn’t nickel and dime you.”

As you wait for the server stability issues to be resolved, we encourage you to check out our extensive and ever-growing Helldivers 2 wiki, how the devs will alleviate rewards issues with weekend bonuses, and our look at why Helldivers 2 is just so awesome.

Have a tip for us? Want to discuss a possible story? Please send an email to newstips@ign.com.

Adam Bankhurst is a news writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @AdamBankhurst and on Twitch.

Daily Deals: Resident Evil 4, Super Mario Odyssey, Xenoblade Chronicles 3

The weekend is coming to a close, and so many great deals will leave with it! The biggest deals we found this weekend involved all kinds of sales and discounts for Nintendo Switch titles. Below, we’ve compiled the best deals available for Sunday, February 18. Take advantage of these offers before it’s too late!

Resident Evil 4 for $29.99

2023’s Resident Evil 4 is one of the best remakes out there on current generation consoles. Following Leon S. Kennedy, you travel to a remote village in Europe with a mission to locate the President’s missing daughter. This Resident Evil title is the perfect blend of action and horror. Right now, Amazon has the title half off for all consoles, which matches the all-time low.

Super Mario Odyssey for $39.99

Super Mario Odyssey is still one of the best games available on Nintendo Switch. From the stunning Kingdoms to the numerous new gameplay elements, this is a title any Switch owner should have in their collection. Odyssey is best known for its Capture mechanic, which allows Mario to use Cappy and take over different enemies and objects in the environment. This title doesn’t go on sale too often, so pick up a physical copy at a discount this weekend!

Xenoblade Chronicles 3 for $39.99

If you haven’t played Xenoblade Chronicles 3, you’re missing out. Following Noah and Mio, you’ll travel through Aionios – a world frozen in time. The third mainline entry in the Xenoblade series added the ability to switch between characters while in combat, which opened all kinds of doors for gameplay styles. At $39.99, this is a steal with hundreds of hours worth of content awaiting you.

Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1 for $34.99

Great news for stealth action fans: Woot has Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1 for $34.99, which is the lowest price we’ve seen yet. This is a great package with the first three Metal Gear Solid games, in addition to Metal Gear and Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake. If you’ve yet to play through the Metal Gear series, the Master Collection is how to do so on modern platforms.

Save $20 Off Kirby and the Forgotten Land

Kirby and the Forgotten Land is still one of the most overlooked Nintendo Switch titles. Forgotten Land marks the first full 3D game in the entire series, with a massive amount of new gameplay mechanics and offerings compared to its 2D counterparts. If you’ve yet to play Kirby and the Forgotten Land, pick the title up for a discount this weekend!

Save on Fire Emblem Engage

If you’ve yet to check out the latest Fire Emblem title, Best Buy has an ongoing sale that will save you up to $30 on Fire Emblem Engage. Featuring characters from the entire series, Engage was released last year as the seventeenth mainline title in the Fire Emblem series. With a solid discount like this, now is a great time to check out the game.

Assassin’s Creed Mirage for $29.99

Amazon currently has Assassin’s Creed Mirage available for just $29.99. Ubisoft looked to take the series back to its roots for this release with a classic setting and refreshed gameplay mechanics. You can expect an action title with plenty of stealth abilities to sneak around its map. If you’re an Assassin’s Creed fan who has felt burnt out with recent entries, Mirage is a refreshing change of pace. We gave the game an 8/10 in our review, stating the game is “a successful first step in returning to the stealthy style that launched this series.”

Splatoon 3 for $39.99

One of the most popular multiplayer titles you can find on Switch, Splatoon 3 is packed with all sorts of exciting modes you can spend dozens of hours in. The title improves a vast amount of features from Splatoon 2, while also bringing in some fresh new ideas too. You can find new classes, new weapons, and new maps immediately when hopping in. With the Side Order expansion set to release next month, now is the perfect time to hop in and get familiar with the world of Splatoon.

$20 Off The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is an essential Nintendo Switch game. Featuring a revolutionary open world, hundreds of hours await for you to explore each area across the map. By regaining control of the four legendary Divine Beasts, you might be able to stop Calamity Ganon and save both the Kingdom of Hyrule and Princess Zelda. If you’re a new Nintendo Switch owner, pick this up while you can for a discount.

Save $30 Off the JBL Clip 3

The JBL Clip 3 is currently on sale for $39.99, which is a discount of $30. JBL Bluetooth speakers are known for their excellent sound quality, and this is no exception. With the portability of the Clip 3, you can attach it to a backpack, cooler, or bag with ease. Bring this with you on your next vacation or day trip for up to ten hours of listening without a charge.

Link’s Awakening for $39.99

Any Nintendo Switch owner should check out The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening. This remake of the classic Game Boy title features a beautiful overworld filled with puzzles and dungeons to explore. To find the Wind Fish, you’ll need all the help you can get. At $40, this is a fantastic price we don’t see too often for one of Nintendo’s biggest IP. My Best Buy Plus members can even save an additional $10!

Kirby’s Return to Dream Land Deluxe for $39.99

Kirby’s Return to Dream Land Deluxe is the latest Kirby game to hit the Switch, bringing updated graphics and new features to the Wii game. Widely considered as a great entry in the series, you’re getting a great deal with almost $19 of savings on a Nintendo title just about one year old. You can play with up to four friends and tackle each mission together. The fun doesn’t stop after the campaign, though! After you clear the main story, you can play as many subgames as you’d like in the Merry Magoland amusement park.

Save $20 Off Fate/Samurai Remnant

Fate/Samurai Remnant is a release that went under the radar for many last year. The title is a collaboration between Type-Moon, Omega Force, and Koei Tecmo. If you’re a fan of Fate, you’ll notice plenty of familiar characters throughout the game, including Musashi, Gilgamesh, and plenty more! This is a fantastic action RPG experience that’s especially worth picking up at $40.

Feature: “It Just Felt Right” – How Story Of Seasons & Piczle Cross Is The Perfect Union

“I am an unapologetic fan of the Story of Seasons series”.

What’s more relaxing than a farming sim? Many of us love to wind down with a few hours of tending crops, looking after cows, and taking in the seasons in a good ol’ Story of Seasons game. And for almost 30 years, this hugely popular series has been sowing the seeds and setting the standard for the genre.

So what if it were to do something entirely different? The farmhands have swapped their hoes for pens and taken up a spot of picross. Piczle Cross: Story of Seasons marks the first time Marvelous’ farming franchise has stepped out of the mulch and into a different genre. Can you get more relaxing than a farming-based puzzle game?

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