Co-Op Climbing Game Peak Takes Steam by Storm, Reaches Summit of Top Sellers Chart

Peak, a co-op climbing game from the team behind Another Crab’s Treasure, is taking Steam by storm, selling 1 million copies in just six days.

According to Steam’s official top-selling games chart, which sorts games by revenue on Valve’s platform, Peak is ahead of the likes of Dune: Awakening, Stellar Blade, and Elden Ring Nightreign, albeit at a significantly lower price.

Peak hit an impressive… peak concurrent player figure of 102,799 yesterday, June 23, which was enough to make it one of the most-played games on Steam over the weekend.

“Why did this stupid jam game sell more copies than Another Crab’s Treasure?” posited a facetious post by developer Aggo Crab on Bluesky. “I’m gonna crash out.” A follow up tweet, however, thanked players with a heart emoji.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, then, Aggro Crab team spent the weekend working on a patch for the newly released game, including a better lobby, a reminder to sprint when almost out of stamina, as well as addressing a crash on AMD hardware.

“It was the stupid grass,” the team revealed after it rolled out the fix. “We got rid of it. Turns out touching grass is BAD.”

Peak is a co-op climbing game where “the slightest mistake can spell your doom.” Either solo or as a group of lost nature scouts, your only hope of rescue from a mysterious island is to scale the mountain at its center.

We had a good time with Aggro Crab’s prior game, Another Crab’s Treasure, awarding it 8/10 in our review, writing: “Another Crab’s Treasure throws out dark themes and gratuitous violence in favor of talking cartoon crabs, and I love it.”

Vikki Blake is a reporter for IGN, as well as a critic, columnist, and consultant with 15+ years experience working with some of the world’s biggest gaming sites and publications. She’s also a Guardian, Spartan, Silent Hillian, Legend, and perpetually High Chaos. Find her at BlueSky.

Nintendo’s Strict Policy On MiG Carts Is Creating A Problem For Secondhand Switch 2 Buyers

Bricking it.

As we reported last week, Nintendo has been banning Switch 2 consoles from using online services if it finds them to be using MiG carts, effectively ‘bricking’ the new consoles by denying them any online access whatsoever.

Nintendo has seemingly decided to come down tough on this issue for its new generation of system, with social media and internet forums slowly coming alive with users who’ve been faced with an “Error Code: 2124-4508” message. However, a potential knock-on effect is that the secondhand market for Switch 2 consoles may be becoming a bit of a dodgy death run for those seeking a cheaper option on Nintendo’s new hardware.

Read the full article on nintendolife.com

Don’t Expect Zelda, Animal Crossing or Other Nintendo Franchises to Pop Up in Mario Kart World, Producer Suggests — ‘It Would Have Seemed Incongruous’

Nintendo looks set to keep Mario Kart World’s focus firmly on the Mushroom Kingdom — so don’t expect the return of cameos from Zelda, Splatoon or Animal Crossing.

Whereas Mario Kart 8 welcomed Link, Zelda, Isabelle and the Inklings to its character roster, the even longer cast list found in Mario Kart World lacks any faces from outside the Mario universe. Even the ability to race as your Mii, a staple since Mario Kart Wii, is also gone.

Now, Nintendo has addressed its U-turn on characters from beyond the Mushroom Kingdom’s borders, and noted that it was a deliberate choice to keep Mario Kart World’s, er, world, from feeling “incongruous”.

“As developers, it would have seemed incongruous to us to add characters from other games to this universe,” Mario Kart World producer Kosuke Yabuki told Ouest-France. “And it didn’t seem necessary to us, given everything we could already do with Mario.”

When asked specifically whether Yabuki had considered adding characters from another of one of his Nintendo projects, Arms, the producer replied: “Absolutely not!”

“We inevitably wonder how the players will perceive this casting,” Yabuki concluded. “But there are so many characters and so many costumes that every player is sure to find what they are looking for.”

While the lack of characters from other Nintendo games might seem like a backstep for the franchise, it’s perhaps not a surprise to see Mario Kart World take this route considering its firm foundation as an open-world rendition of the Mushroom Kingdom.

From Peach’s Castle to Bowser’s Fortress, Mario Kart World’s open map is designed to make you feel like you’re on a roadtrip through Mario’s backyard. Explaining why Samus or Tom Nook was suddenly there in this scenario becomes more difficult.

Likewise with tracks focused on non-Mario areas. Mario Kart 8 offered areas themed around Hyrule, and courses that paid tribute to F-Zero and Excitebike. It’s hard to see how something similar could work in Mario Kart World.

And then there’s the wider focus for Nintendo — which through its Super Nintendo Land theme park and Super Mario Bros. Movie is creating a more discrete identity for its beloved and lucrative Mario characters to stand apart from other franchises.

Take, for instance, the example of the company’s movie efforts, with an animated Mario sequel in development that’s not expected to relate in any way to its live-action film plans to adapt The Legend of Zelda.

Nintendo fans hoping for a big Switch 2 crossover title still have the hope of a new Super Smash Bros. — though creator Masahiro Sakurai is currently busy building a new Kirby game instead.

Check out our Mario Kart World guide and learn how to unlock every hidden Mario Kart World character, plus how Kamek Unlocks work – you’ll need them to unlock NPC Drivers. We’ve also got a guide to all the Mario Kart World food scattered across the open world and where to find it, which will help you get all the Mario Kart World outfits and costumes permanently.

Tom Phillips is IGN’s News Editor. You can reach Tom at tom_phillips@ign.com or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social

Helldivers 2’s post-death and destruction Super Earth rebuild begins, financed by more death and destruction

Helldivers 2 players might have managed to stop the Illuminate from totally destroying their home planet towards the end of last month, but it still got pretty badly trashed. Enter the game’s latest mission – kick off the Super Earth rebuild by securing “reparations”.

How are those funds being secured, you ask? This is Helldivers 2, so it’s by killing a bunch more baddies.

Read more

Monster Hunter Wilds Title Update 2 Details, Including Release Date, Leaked by PlayStation

Whoops — Sony just leaked Monster Hunter Wilds‘ Title Update 2 via the official PlayStation website.

The changes have been rolled back now, naturally, but for a brief while the Monster Hunter Wilds page on the PlayStation Store revealed the update is set to release on June 30.

As well as a firm release date, Sony’s website also confirmed we’ll be getting more events, layered weapons, the Leviathan Arch-Tempered Uth Duna, and two “fan-favorite” monsters — one is definitely Lagiacrus, the underwater leviathan, with the other widely speculated to be Seregios, based on datamine sources.

Oh, and this cosmetic armor set has also been discovered, too:

Capcom had told us to expect the “latest news” on the company’s upcoming games, as well as interviews with the developers, at its showcase later this week, so that’s likely when this information will be officially unveiled. The Capcom Spotlight livestream is set for 3pm PT/ 11pm UK time on Thursday, June 25.

The latest in Capcom’s long-running monster-fighting series brought in some big numbers with its launch, selling 8 million copies in just three days. That’s enough to make it the fastest-selling Capcom game of all time, well above the 5 million copies 2018’s Monster Hunter World shipped in 2018 and the 4 million Monster Hunter Rise shipped in 2021.

We gave Monster Hunters Wilds an 8 in our review, writing: “Monster Hunter Wilds continues to smooth off the rougher corners of the series in smart ways, making for some extremely fun fights but also lacking any real challenge.”

To help get your Monster Hunter Wilds adventure started, take a look at what Monster Hunter Wilds doesn’t tell you, and a guide to all 14 weapon types in the game. We’ve also got a detailed MH Wilds walkthrough in progress, a MH Wilds multiplayer guide to explain how to play with friends, and if you’ve played one of the open betas, here’s how to transfer your MH Wilds Beta character over.

Vikki Blake is a reporter for IGN, as well as a critic, columnist, and consultant with 15+ years experience working with some of the world’s biggest gaming sites and publications. She’s also a Guardian, Spartan, Silent Hillian, Legend, and perpetually High Chaos. Find her at BlueSky.

Just from its brilliant demo, The Drifter is doing something special with the point ‘n click genre

The Drifter‘s titular speaks in the sort of rough Aussie accent that, alongside his first person, present tense commentary (“I grab the tarp”), lends this point ‘n click adventure the feeling of being a half-memory, relayed over dive bar drinks, possibly to a reluctant server. It’s dreamlike, isolated, at least until it erupts into pockets of panic.

A “fast-paced point ‘n click” is how the Steam page describes it. Sounds like a misnomer, but while there’s no time limits as far as I could tell, The Drifter’s scenario design and pacing is all about tension, danger, and desperate puzzles that feel grounded in the present moment. And, actually, I get the sense that the server’s pretty into the story by this point.

Read more

This week in PC games: System Shock 2 remastered, multiple Warhammer 40,000 dogs, and an unexpected continuation of toilet theming

“Experts urge UK households follow tips to beat heatwave, Dread Spider Tide” screech the inter-tabloids. Sparkling pig-grade hogwash, I say. I’ve recently discovered that the only things you need to defeat the sun are a cheap space heater set to fan mode and a PC overworked to boiling point, the combination of which creates some sort of mysteriously blissful temperature vacuum. Also, I refuse to open my curtains. For those also working on their attractive monitor-glow sallow tan, here are this week’s new PC game releases.

Read more

Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds Reveals Nickelodeon Collaboration That Adds SpongeBob SquarePants, Avatar, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Guest Characters

Earlier this month, Sega confirmed Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds guest characters such as Hatsune Miku, Ichiban Kasuga (Yakuza), Joker (Persona 5), and even Steve, Alex, and Creeper from Minecraft. But the guest characters do not stop there. Sega has now announced a Nickelodeon collaboration that brings SpongeBob SquarePants to the track — and teased Avatar and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles characters down the line.

Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds is a kart racer packed with Sega characters and as such celebrates the company’s history. In addition, big-name guest characters are helping to flesh out the roster of racers. As part of that, those who buy the Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds Digital Deluxe Edition get the Season Pass, which includes the Nickelodeon content as well as the recently announced Minecraft characters, vehicles, and tracks, characters from the Netflix series, Sonic Prime, and two more yet-to-be-announced collaborations.

The trailer below shows off SpongeBob SquarePants and Patrick Star racing the Patty Wagon, a vehicle shaped like a Krabby Patty from the SpongeBob SquarePants series, across the Bikini Bottom track (Bikini Bottom is the main setting in the SpongeBob SquarePants series).

Sega has said CrossWorlds will feature a huge roster of over playable characters, if you include DLC. Characters you’d expect to see, such as Sonic, Dr. Eggman, Knuckles, Shadow, and Tails are present and correct, but now you can add the likes of SpongeBob SquarePants into the mix.

CrossWorlds is of course going up against Switch 2 exclusive kart game Mario Kart World, which has so far resisted adding guest characters from outside the Nintendo pantheon. Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds is set for release on both the Switch and the Switch 2, so it looks like we’ll be set for some old-fashioned Mario vs. Sonic kart racing rivalry when Sega’s effort launches in September.

IGN recently went hands-on with Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds and came away impressed. “It’s a vibe,” we said, “and one that I’ve enjoyed and will look forward to drifting through.”

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.

Digital Foundry Is “Happy” With Switch 2 But Feels The Screen Is “Problematic”

Display has “blurring characteristics that are easily worse than the 2017 Switch’s display”.

The tech boffins over at Digital Foundry have delivered their final verdict on Switch 2, and it’s mostly positive—but the console’s LCD screen has been found wanting.

In his review, Digital Foundry boss and games media veteran Richard Leadbetter says that, overall, he’s “happy” with Nintendo’s new hybrid system:

Read the full article on nintendolife.com

The Best Deals Today: Street Fighter 6, Monster Hunter Wilds, and More

We’ve rounded up the best deals for Sunday, June 22, below, so don’t miss out on these limited-time offers.

Monster Hunter Wilds for $55.99

Monster Hunter Wilds released earlier this year and sold through 10 million copies in just a matter of weeks. Wilds brought many new features to the series for the first time, including dynamic weather, a connected hub, and more. A Capcom Spotlight livestream event is set for Thursday, June 26, so it’s likely that we will receive new information on the next major update coming to the game.

Donkey Kong Bananza Now Available to Pre-Order

This week’s Donkey Kong Bananza Direct was absolutely bananas, and if you weren’t interested in the game before, you probably are now. Bananza is set to be DK’s biggest adventure yet, and this time, he’s joined by a young Pauline. The two are tasked with heading to the very core of the planet, where wishes are supposedly granted. If you are looking for the next big game on Nintendo Switch 2, this right here is sure to be it. Donkey Kong Bananza is the best-selling game on Amazon at the moment, so be sure to lock in your copy to get it day one.

Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance for $24.99

Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance is back at its all-time low price this weekend! SMT V: Vengeance is an enhanced version of the former Nintendo Switch exclusive SMT V, launched in 2019. The biggest feature available in this upgraded re-release is the all-new Canon of Vengeance route, which is essentially 40 hours of new story content.

Street Fighter 6 for $20

Although it released in 2023, Street Fighter 6 is still one of the most fun fighting games available in the genre today. Year 2 DLC just wrapped up, bringing guest characters into Street Fighter for the first time in the form of Terry Bogard and Mai Shiranui. For $20, you can jump into the game just ahead of Year 3 DLC, and there has really never been a better time to do so.

Save Over 50% Off This LEGO Animal Crossing K.K.’s Concert in The Plaza Set

LEGO sets nowadays do not come cheap, especially for those with a larger number of pieces. A few years ago, Nintendo teamed up with LEGO for Super Mario, and that has grown to include both The Legend of Zelda and Animal Crossing. This weekend, you can save over $45 off the LEGO Animal Crossing K.K.’s Concert Set, which is perfect for fans of all ages.

Super Mario Party Jamboree for $44.99

With the recent reveal of Nintendo Switch 2 Edition games, it’s no question that you are going to want to save anywhere you can. The Nintendo Switch 2 Edition of Super Mario Party Jamboree is set to cost $79.99, but you can upgrade from a Nintendo Switch copy for $20. This weekend, save your cash and pick up a copy of Super Mario Party Jamboree from Woot for only $44.99.

Death Stranding 2: On The Beach Out Next Week

After almost six years, the sequel to Hideo Kojima’s Death Stranding is finally set to arrive this upcoming week. Following the events of the first game, Sam Porter Bridges is now tasked with venturing outside the United States, with both Mexico and Australia set as destinations. If you’re like me and incredibly excited for this game, you can even purchase the deluxe edition to play two days early on Tuesday, June 24.

The Messenger for $19.99

The Messenger released in 2018, and it’s still a beloved indie game from Sea of Stars developer Sabotage Studio. Physical copies were out of print for quite some time, but a somewhat recent reprint has put them back in stock. This weekend, you can score a PS5 copy of The Messenger for just $19.99! In our 8/10 review, we wrote, “When you’re fully geared up and The Messenger is hitting you with brand new stages and challenges that you haven’t seen before, The Messenger is an amazing, must-play experience. Taken as a whole, it’s brought down only by fetch quests that make The Messenger last several hours longer than it feels like it should.”

Crucial T500 1TB Gen4 NVMe M.2 Internal Gaming SSD for $75.19

Most of us can always use a new SSD, and this deal from Crucial is quite good. Normally priced at $144, you can score this Crucial T500 1TB Gen4 NVMe SSD for $75.19 this weekend at Amazon. You can use this SSD in a laptop, desktop, or even a PlayStation 5 to expand your storage for games, media, and more.

Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii for $37.99

The latest Like a Dragon game stars everyone’s favorite ex-yakuza, Goro Majima, on an adventure to sail the seas as a pirate. When Majima wakes up unable to remember anything about himself, he embarks on a quest to regain his memories, and of course, in true Like a Dragon fashion, things get crazy. This is the lowest we’ve seen this game so far, so be sure to pick up a copy while you can.

Pre-Order the Limited Edition Death Stranding 2 DualSense

Death Stranding 2: On The Beach is out this week, and a limited edition DualSense controller is set to launch alongside it. This controller features the Drawbridge logo, in addition to other logos and typography featured inside the game. If you’re needing a new controller or just wanting to pick up this one, you can head over to PlayStation Direct while supplies last.

Noah Hunter is a freelance writer and reviewer with a passion for games and technology. He co-founded Final Weapon, an outlet focused on nonsense-free Japanese gaming (in 2019) and has contributed to various publishers writing about the medium.