Split Fiction Players Earn Trip to See Hazelight’s Next Game After Beating Hidden ‘Laser Hell’ Level

Split Fiction players have stumbled upon a secret level that fans have dubbed “Laser Hell,” and it’s so difficult that Hazelight is rewarding the first pair who managed to beat it.

Co-op fans found yet another reason to celebrate the studio’s latest cooperative story after content creators E1uM4y and Sharkov shared their successful run on Chinese social media platform Bilibili. Their three-minute video showcases not only what a successful run looks like but also the hellish tasks that await inside it. Split Ficition’s Laser Hell level is a gauntlet of demanding platforming challenges that see players dodging up and around a series of laser rooms, but it is doable — and there’s a special video for those who see it through to the end.

As demonstrated in E1uM4y and Sharkov’s video, reaching the end of Split Fiction’s hardest level rewards Mio and Zoe with a clip recorded by Hazelight’s own Josef Fares. After opening the video with applause, he says he’s “super amazed” by anyone who was able to beat the level while joking that his praise isn’t for “you guys who are looking (at) this on YouTube.”

“Wow. Amazing. You have to understand, this challenge, there are barely people on our team that can make it,” Fares says in the video. “It took us a lot of time to finish it. I’m telling you; this is a crazy, crazy achievement you have done.”

It’s a feat worth celebrating indeed, but wait, there’s more! Fares promises that the first pair of players who manage to beat Split Fiction’s Laser Hell level and confirm their success will be flown out to Hazelight in Sweden for an early look at the studio’s next game along with a few “other surprises.” It’s a promise that the director personally followed up on and confirmed in a post on X/Twitter.

If you and a friend (for some reason) feel like taking a shot at Laser Hell yourselves, YouTuber ItzBytez uploaded a solid look at the whole level from front to back, including the puzzle that needs to be solved to even access it. All you need to do is input a binary code listed under a Skotos label at the location shown, have your partner stand beside you, and you’ll be taken down to a room where you’ll surely spend countless attempts trying to see Fares’ video in person.

As for what exactly Hazelight will be showing E1uM4y and Sharkov, those details remain a mystery. Fares recently shared that the studio has been working on its next project for around a month but declined to spill much in terms of its story, name, or release plans. We do know, at least, that the Hazelight team is “very excited” about it.

Split Fiction launched earlier this month for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X and S and quickly became yet another co-op success for the studio. After securing 1 million sales in just 48 hours, Mio and Zoe’s story pulled a total of 2 million in just one week. We’ve yet to hear any more information about sales stats, but it sounds like Hazelight is very happy with how Split Fiction has performed so far.

Michael Cripe is a freelance contributor 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).

Cyberpunk 2077: Gangs of Night City Board Game Gets a Big Discount on Amazon

Cyberpunk 2077 was a massively popular video game. And considering all the board game adaptations of video games that now exist, it was no surprise when Cyberpunk eventually made its tabletop debut. It’s a fun game. It’s also on sale right now for nearly 30% off at Amazon, dropping the price to $78 instead of its usual $110. If you’ve been thinking about adding Cyberpunk 2077: Gangs of Night City to your shelf, now is a good time to do that.

Save 29% Off Cyberpunk 2077: Gangs of Night City

While the original video game Cyberpunk 2077 put you in the shoes of a single character on the streets of Night City, this excellent board game adaptation zooms out and puts you in charge of a whole gang, fighting with rivals for turf, money, and power. It’s a wise choice: rather than trying the awkward task of fitting a digital, real-time experience into the tabletop world, upping the scale lets Gangs of Night City play to the strengths of a board game, with well considered tactical and strategic options at your disposal. Yet the game still manages to re-create the rich setting of the video game on your table, both mechanically and aesthetically.

Your tools in your bid to corner the dystopia underworld are three different unit types and a fun action selection system. Once used, your each action type needs to be refreshed before you can take it again, presenting players with difficult desicions around order and timing. Many actions involve units on the board: Solos are combat figures that secure territory, Techies can supplement your combat forces while also completing missions there to gain points, while Netrunners compete in a taut risk versus reward minigame for bonuses.

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The beauty of this system is the way these subsystems dovetail neatly to give you a wide strategic space to explore. Each unit type spearheads an overall approach you can specialize in, or you can mix and match to try and gain an edge. The game is interactive and dynamic and you’ll need to read the situation and tailor your tactics accordingly in the tussle for area control. To top it off, there are fine production values to enjoy, with detailed miniatures and a suitably neon-spangled board depicting Night City. And if you get the bug for the game there’s a range of expansion content to add in.

For more, check out our Cyberpunk 2077: Gangs of Night City board game review. And if that’s not enough to quench your board gaming thirst, check out the Elden Ring board game review next.

Matt Thrower is a contributing freelance writer for IGN, specializing in tabletop games. You can reach him on BlueSky at @mattthr.bsky.social.

Lunar Remastered Collection Talks New Voice Acting And Classic Mode

“Throughout development we frequently consulted GAME ARTS”.

With just a month to go before the Lunar Remastered Collection launches, GungHo Online Entertainment America has shared some insight into the upcoming rereleases.

Speaking to PlayStation.Blog, GungHo Producer Matthias Pergams says that the team initially struggled to decide what version to base the remasters on — as the games were release for both SEGA-CD and later for the PlayStation (Lunar: Silver Star Story also came to PSP and mobile).

Read the full article on nintendolife.com

Shield-slinging open worlder The Knightling goes all Jak & Captain America in August

Remember how it felt in Bloodborne when you discovered a shield and learned that it existed purely to shame and humiliate returning Dark Souls players who are over-reliant on blocking? Do you remember reading those awful, judging, fourth-wall-besmirching words, “Shields are nice, but not if they engender passivity”? Well, The Knightling is the opposite of that feeling. It’s a bouncy, breezy open world platformer in which you are a novice chevalier equipped with a circular, gear-toothed shield he uses for absolutely everything.

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Diamond Select Toys Celebrates Jeff the Land Shark in Adorable New Statue

Thanks in no small part to his role in Marvel Rivals, it’s safe to say Jeff the Land Shark is one of Marvel’s most popular new characters to come along in recent years. If you’re the type of collector with a Jeff-shaped hole in your Marvel figure lineup, Diamond Select Toys has you covered with the Marvel Animated-Style Jeff the Land Shark Resin Statue.

Check out the slideshow gallery below for an exclusive look at this adorable new collectible:

First revealed at New York Toy Fair earlier this month, this Jeff statue is the latest addition to DST’s long-running Marvel Animated line of statues. But whereas most of these pieces have been based on the artwork of Skottie Young, Jeff is instead inspired by the work of the Japanese artistic duo Gurihiru (specifically, the cover to It’s Jeff #1).

This Jeff statue is cast in resin and measures about 3 inches tall. It was sculpted by Casen Barnard. The statue is priced at $59.99 and is limited to 3000 pieces worldwide. The statue is slated for release during the Holiday 2025 period. Preorders will open on the Diamond Select Toys website and other retailers on Friday, March 21.

For more Diamond Select collectibles, have a look at their epic Spider-Man 2 diorama and their stylish Phoenix Legendary Scale Bust.

Also, be sure to check out the many Marvel collectibles available on the IGN Store.

Jesse is a mild-mannered staff writer for IGN. Allow him to lend a machete to your intellectual thicket by following @jschedeen on BlueSky.

Square Enix sue mech game developer for allegedly recycling parts from Front Mission

It’s been a billion years since I played a proper new Front Mission game, and I’m depressed to learn that Square Enix cancelled one in 2022. Titled Front Mission 2089: Borderscape and developed by BlackJack Studio, it was announced for release on iOS and Android but, who knows, might have clanked and rumbled onto PC, the place all good mobile games go when they die. Alas, Square Enix shut the project down a few months after reveal. Now, they’re suing BlackJack for releasing a new game that allegedly makes use of leftover parts from the Front Mission contract.

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PSA: Be Careful, These Light-Up Joy-Con Look As Dodgy As They Come

AI spy with my little eye.

We Switch fans are no strangers to AI-generated software — heck, we hardly bat an eyelid at it when opening the eShop any more — but seeing it used to promote hardware still catches us a little off guard. Sure, the product likely exists, but can we assume that it actually has any of its promised features if even the images have been tampered with?

That’s how we arrived at UGR Tech’s ‘Wireless Controllers for Nintendo Switch with RGB Lights‘ (as spotted by Yanko Design). At an initial glance, these controllers look pretty darn funky, boasting all the features of Nintendo’s first-party offering (rumble, gyro etc.) but with the added bonus of some jazzy RGB strips and rapid press ‘Turbo’ buttons.

Read the full article on nintendolife.com

Reveals and updates on indie games coming to PlayStation

A new year is filled with new possibilities for games, and the indie scene is a great place for innovation to thrive. Today, we showcased five indie titles coming to PlayStation, revealing release dates, updates, and a surprise or two.

Forever Skies | Coming to PS5 April 14


Reveals and updates on indie games coming to PlayStation

Far From Home showcased some new co-op gameplay for Forever Skies, along with the official release date. Survive the skies with your friends and brave new worlds filled with threats that desire to halt  your progress. Players who pre-order now will be gifted with the Supporter Pack DLC and 72-hour early access.

The studio digs further into the game’s co-op in a new PS Blog post.

The Knightling | Coming to PS5 August 28


Reveals and updates on indie games coming to PlayStation

For those looking for a classic adventure of a hero’s journey, The Knightling is here to scratch that itch. We were introduced to the mysterious land of Cornered Bosk in the new trailer to celebrate its summer release date. A sprawling forest with a giant whirlpool in the middle that is swallowing everything. Can you become the knight you’re meant to be in this tale from Twirlbound? 

See the type of enemies you will encounter and the abilities of legendary shield Magnustego.

Possessor(s) | Coming to PS5 later this year 

Enter the dystopian ruins of Sanzu City in Possessor(s) as you fight to survive as a human who is possessed by a demon. The pair attempts to form a symbiotic relationship to survive this hellscape, finding themselves in battle with other demonic hybrids. This fast-paced action side-scroller from Heart Machine blends high stakes and art. 

Check out the studio’s deep dive into combat.

Ruffy and the Riverside | Coming to PS5 June 26


Reveals and updates on indie games coming to PlayStation

Learn the origins of the magical Swap ability and see how swapping textures in Ruffy and the Riverside changes how you approach platforming and combat in this completely hand-drawn world. Zockrates Laboratories adventurous bear will hit the ground swapping this June. 

Learn how to use the Swap ability to fight enemies and explore the world.

Skate Story | Coming to PS5  


Reveals and updates on indie games coming to PlayStation

This labor of love by sole developer Sam Eng, Skate Story is coming to PlayStation. To mark the announcement, they’ve shared a new gameplay trailer, which shows the demon made of glass you’ll play as shred through obstacles in the Underworld on their quest to consume the moon. Be prepared to meet a cast of zany characters and sell your soul for the best board. 

Get to know your board and how to combat bosses.

We hope you enjoyed this preview of upcoming indie titles coming to PlayStation and look forward to more updates, news, and surprises in the future.