Author: Game Infliction

(For Southeast Asia) Death Stranding 2: On the Beach launches June 26, Collector’s Edition revealed

Hideo Kojima took to the stage at SXSW today and – joined by some special guests – discussed new details about Kojima Productions’ Death Stranding 2: On the Beach. Those details included the reveal of the game’s release date: June 26, 2025. To mark the announcement – and pre-orders going live March 17* – attendees enjoyed a first look at a special Kojima-directed Pre-Order trailer, which you can watch in full below.


(For Southeast Asia) Death Stranding 2: On the Beach launches June 26, Collector’s Edition revealed

Death Stranding 2: On the Beach will launch in a range of different versions. This includes a Collector’s Edition, which will be available to pre-order in select retailers worldwide. Please check with your local retailers (https://www.playstation.com/local/retailers/) for pre-order details and availability.

Details on the different versions you can find below. 

Death Stranding 2: On the Beach – Collector’s Edition** | SGD 318.90 / MYR 969 / IDR 3,349,000 / THB 7,449 / PHP 11,490 / VND 5,799,000  

  • Full Game Digital Download
  • Collector’s Box
  • 48-hour Early Access to the game
  • 15” Magellan Man Statue
  • 3” Dollman figurine
  • Art cards
  • Letter from Hideo Kojima
  • In-game items
    • Machine Gun (MP Bullets) LV1 early unlock
    • Battle Skeleton: Gold (LV1, LV2, LV3)
    • Boost Skeleton: Gold (LV1, LV2, LV3)
    • Bokka Skeleton: Gold (LV1, LV2, LV3)
    • Quokka Patch
    • Chiral Feline Patch
    • Why Me? Patch

If you pre-order the Collectors Edition, you’ll also receive:

  • Quokka Hologram
  • Battle Skeleton: Silver (LV1, LV2, LV3)
  • Boost Skeleton: Silver (LV1, LV2, LV3)
  • Bokka Skeleton: Silver (LV1, LV2, LV3)

Death Stranding 2: On the Beach – Digital Deluxe Edition | SGD 109 / MYR 339 / IDR 1,179,000 / THB 2,590

  • Full Game Digital Download
  • 48-hour Early Access to the game
  • In-game items
    • Machine Gun (MP Bullets) LV1 early unlock
    • Battle Skeleton: Gold (LV1, LV2, LV3)
    • Boost Skeleton: Gold (LV1, LV2, LV3)
    • Bokka Skeleton: Gold (LV1, LV2, LV3)
    • Quokka Patch
    • Chiral Feline Patch
    • Why Me? Patch

If you pre-order the Digital Deluxe Edition, you’ll also receive:

  • Quokka Hologram
  • Battle Skeleton: Silver (LV1, LV2, LV3)
  • Boost Skeleton: Silver (LV1, LV2, LV3)
  • Bokka Skeleton: Silver (LV1, LV2, LV3)

Death Stranding 2: On the Beach – Physical and Digital Standard Edition | SGD 97.90 / MYR 299 / IDR 1,029,000 / THB 2,290 / PHP 3,490 / VND 1,799,000

  • Full Game Digital Download for Digital Edition

If you pre-order the Standard Edition, you’ll also receive:

  • Quokka Hologram
  • Battle Skeleton: Silver (LV1, LV2, LV3)
  • Boost Skeleton: Silver (LV1, LV2, LV3)
  • Bokka Skeleton: Silver (LV1, LV2, LV3)

Death Stranding 2: On the Beach “Stranding Harmony” Concert Series 

Also announced today was a special concert tour to celebrate the music of Death Stranding. This tour, featuring a full orchestra performing music from the series, will commence November 8, 2025, beginning with a performance at the Sydney Opera House in Australia, followed by dates around the world. You’ll find more information on the tour here. 

Death Stranding 2: On the Beach new screenshots 

To mark the SXSW 2025 Special Panel, Kojima Productions also released all-new screenshots for the game, which you can look through below.

*Death Stranding 2: On the Beach pre-orders go live March 17.

**Death Stranding 2: On the Beach Collector’s Edition includes a voucher code to redeem Death Stranding 2: On the Beach and digital bonuses. Account for PlayStation Network, and internet connection required for code redemption.

Death Stranding 2: On the Beach launches June 26, Collector’s Edition revealed

Hideo Kojima took to the stage at SXSW today and – joined by some special guests – discussed new details about Kojima Productions’ Death Stranding 2: On the Beach. Those details included the reveal of the game’s release date: June 26, 2025. To mark the announcement – and pre-orders going live March 17* – attendees enjoyed a first look at a special Kojima-directed Pre-Order trailer, which you can watch in full below.


Death Stranding 2: On the Beach launches June 26, Collector’s Edition revealed

Death Stranding 2: On the Beach will launch in a range of different versions. This includes a Collector’s Edition, which will be available to pre-order directly from PlayStation and select retailers worldwide. 

Details on the different versions you can find below. 

Death Stranding 2: On the Beach – Collector’s Edition** | 229.99 USD, 249.99 Euro, 31,980 JPY

  • Full Game Digital Download
  • 48-hour Early Access to the game
  • Collector’s Box
  • 15” Magellan Man Statue
  • 3” Dollman figurine
  • Art cards
  • Letter from Hideo Kojima
  • In-game items
    • Machine Gun (MP Bullets) LV1 early unlock
    • Battle Skeleton: Gold (LV1, LV2, LV3)
    • Boost Skeleton: Gold (LV1, LV2, LV3)
    • Bokka Skeleton: Gold (LV1, LV2, LV3)
    • Quokka Patch
    • Chiral Feline Patch
    • Why Me? Patch

If you pre-order the Collectors Edition, you’ll also receive:

  • Quokka Hologram
  • Battle Skeleton: Silver (LV1, LV2, LV3)
  • Boost Skeleton: Silver (LV1, LV2, LV3)
  • Bokka Skeleton: Silver (LV1, LV2, LV3)

Death Stranding 2: On the Beach – Digital Deluxe Edition | 79.99 USD, 89.99 Euro, 9,980 JPY

  • Full Game Digital Download
  • 48-hour Early Access to the game
  • In-game items
    • Machine Gun (MP Bullets) LV1 early unlock
    • Battle Skeleton: Gold (LV1, LV2, LV3)
    • Boost Skeleton: Gold (LV1, LV2, LV3)
    • Bokka Skeleton: Gold (LV1, LV2, LV3)
    • Quokka Patch
    • Chiral Feline Patch
    • Why Me? Patch

If you pre-order the Digital Deluxe Edition, you’ll also receive:

  • Quokka Hologram
  • Battle Skeleton: Silver (LV1, LV2, LV3)
  • Boost Skeleton: Silver (LV1, LV2, LV3)
  • Bokka Skeleton: Silver (LV1, LV2, LV3)

Death Stranding 2: On the Beach – Digital Standard Edition | 69.99 USD, 79.99 Euro, 8,980 JPY

  • Full Game Digital Download

If you pre-order the Standard Edition, you’ll also receive:

  • Quokka Hologram
  • Battle Skeleton: Silver (LV1, LV2, LV3)
  • Boost Skeleton: Silver (LV1, LV2, LV3)
  • Bokka Skeleton: Silver (LV1, LV2, LV3)

Death Stranding 2: On the Beach “Stranding Harmony” Concert Series 

Also announced today was a special concert tour to celebrate the music of Death Stranding. This tour, featuring a full orchestra performing music from the series, will commence November 8, 2025, beginning with a performance at the Sydney Opera House in Australia, followed by dates around the world. You’ll find more information on the tour here. 

Death Stranding 2: On the Beach new screenshots 

To mark the SXSW 2025 Special Panel, Kojima Productions also released all-new screenshots for the game, which you can look through below.

*Death Stranding 2: On the Beach pre-orders go live March 17 at 10am local time.
**Death Stranding 2: On the Beach Collector’s Edition includes a voucher code to redeem Death Stranding 2: On the Beach and digital bonuses. Account for PlayStation Network, and internet connection required for code redemption. 
**direct.playstation.com purchase information: starting March 17 at 10am ET in the U.S., and 10am local time in the U.K., France, Germany, Austria, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg, players will be able to pre-order the Death Stranding 2: On the Beach Collector’s Edition exclusively through direct.playstation.com in limited quantities. When ordering directly from PlayStation, enjoy free launch day delivery on pre-orders. Visit direct.playstation.com for more details.

Epic Death Stranding 2 Trailer Reveals Release Date, New Gameplay, and Some Serious Metal Gear Vibes

Hideo Kojima took to the stage at SXSW 2025 in Austin, TX this evening to reveal an epic new trailer for Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, as well as confirm a release date.

Death Stranding 2 launches on June 26, 2025 exclusively on PlayStation 5. However, those who buy the Digital Deluxe Edition or the Collector’s Edition get two days of early access from June 24.

The 10-minute long video, below, includes various cinematics, gameplay clips, and, perhaps most notably, a close look at a character who many are already saying looks a lot like Snake from Kojima’s world famous Metal Gear franchise.

The character, played by Italian actor Luca Marinelli, is seen putting on a bandana, as Snake does, and lead a team of creepy looking soldiers. This character, called Neil, looks like a soldier of some kind, and weilds an assault rifle.

The trailer continues the Metal Gear vibes with the Magellan Man, a huge tar-like creature fused with the DHV Magellan that looks a bit like Metal Gear Rex (a 15″ statue of the Magellan Man is included in the Collector’s Edition). The Magellan Man appears to be operated like a Pacific Rim-style mech, and faces off against enormous and very creepy tar monsters.

The standard edition of Death Stranding 2 costs $69.99, as expected. The Collector’s Edition, meanwhile, costs $229.99. The Digital Deluxe Edition costs $79.99. Pre-orders begin on March 17.

Developing…

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.

Daily Deals: Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury, AirPods 4, Mario Vs. Donkey Kong, and More

The weekend is officially here, and we’ve rounded up the best deals you can find! Discover the best deals for Sunday, March 9, below:

Apple AirPods 4 for $99.99

Amazon has the Apple AirPods 4 on sale for $99.99 today. These earbuds feature Spatial Audio, up to five hours of listening time per charge, and so much more. Apple AirPods 5 likely won’t be out for a good bit, so now is the perfect time to pick up a pair of new AirPods if your old ones are giving out.

Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury for $39.99

Super Mario 3D World is one of the Wii U’s most fun games, with the enhanced Nintendo Switch release also packing in Bowser’s Fury, an action-packed new take on 3D Mario. There are 82 different courses to master, which you can do with up to three friends together. At $39.99, this is a great deal on one of the best Mario games on Nintendo Switch.

Apple AirPods Pro for $169.99

Apple’s best earbuds are on sale today. Amazon is offering the second generation Apple AirPods Pro wireless noise-canceling earbuds for only $169.99 shipped, a savings of 32% and the best AirPods deal so far this year. That’s the same price currently as the Apple AirPods 4 with ANC, which is usually $70 cheaper. Between the two, the AirPods Pro is still the superior earbuds because it offers better sound quality and noise cancelation.

Super Mario Bros. Wonder for $41.88

Super Mario Bros. Wonder is the first original Mario game from Nintendo since Odyssey. This is a side-scrolling platformer that takes place in a brand new world (Flower Kingdom). You have acess to new power ups, new enemies, and new gameplay mechanics all wrapped up in a visually gorgeous game with tons of personality. Check out our IGN Super Mario Wonder review and you’ll see why it’s so great.

Magic: The Gathering x Final Fantasy Starter Kit

Magic: The Gathering is one of the biggest card games in the world, and it’s set to collaborate with the beloved Final Fantasy series this June. This collaboration has been incredibly popular online, which has led to almost every booster pack being sold out at the moment. Luckily, you can still pre-order the Starter Kit today. This is the perfect entry point for new players, as this set includes two ready-to-play 60-card decks and much more.

NieR Replicant – 10+1 Years 4xLP Vinyl for $74.40

This NieR Replicant box set includes 4 LPs with music from the game. Included are the Nier, Kainé, Emil, and Devola & Popola LPs, which were all released separately. The cover of the box set was illustrated by Shirow Miwa, who has contributed designs to titles like Fate/Grand Order. Additionally, an original paper stand is included in the box set.

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 game 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 game doesn’t go on sale too often, so pick up a physical copy at a discount this week!

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth for $37.99

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is $37.99 at Woot right now. The massive adventure across the planet to track Sephiroth was one of the biggest games of 2024, and it’s absolutely a must-play game. A 40+ hour main story awaits, with over 35 side quests available after you clear the story.

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor for $19.97

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is on sale this weekend for $19.97 at Walmart. As the second chapter of Cal’s story, Survivor opens up with massive new planets to explore, in addition to dozens of additions and tweaks to the combat system. If you’ve yet to play this second game from Respawn’s Star Wars Jedi series, there has never been a better time.

Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance for $24.99

Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance is back at its all-time low price this weekend! 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. At $24.99, this is a steal for what many considered one of the best RPGs of 2024.

Apple Watch Series 10 for $299

Amazon is offering an Apple Watch Series 10 42mm model for only $299 and the bigger 46mm model for $329. This is even lower than the best deal during Black Friday. If you own an iPhone, the Apple Watch is indisputably the best smartwatch for you. The Apple Watch Series 10 is the newest generation mainstream model. Improvements over the Apple Watch Series 9 include a bigger OLED Retina display, a new S10 processor (that isn’t faster but it’s thinner, which allows the watch itself to have a slimmer profile), and a slightly larger base model size (42mm vs. 41mm).

Mario vs. Donkey Kong for $29.99

Mario vs. Donkey Kong is a remake of the Game Boy Advance game bringing the classic up to date with new visuals for Nintendo Switch. This is the lowest we’ve seen this one yet, so don’t miss your chance to score and pick this game up at a discount.

What’s on your bookshelf?: Last Call, Tacoma, and Lost Records: Bloom & Rage’s Nina Freeman

Hello reader who is also a reader, and welcome back to Booked For The Week – our regular Sunday chat with a selection of cool industry folks about books! I’m starting to regret phrasing it like that, to be honest. The word “selection” evokes either bureaucracy or crap small versions of chocolate bars. I’m now imagining “guy who travels to Europe because he heard the chocolate is better but can only find stale Curly Wurlys“. That’d suck so bad.

This week, it’s Last Call, Tacoma, Lost Records: Bloom & Rage, and loads more‘s Nina Freeman! Cheers Nina! Mind if we have a nose at your bookshelf?

Read more

Poll: Box Art Brawl – Duel: Ninja Gaiden III: The Ancient Ship Of Doom (NES)

Hyaaah!

Hello chums, and welcome back to another edition of Box Art Brawl!

Last time, we looked at Pokémon Trading Card Game for the Game Boy Color, and the result was pretty definitive. The Western design won with 69% of the vote, with some of you noting that the Japanese variant didn’t even look like it belonged to the Pokémon franchise. User Kienda said “If someone showed me the Japanese case out of context, I wouldn’t even twig it was a Pokémon game”. Yep, fair comment!

Read the full article on nintendolife.com

Pokémon Almost Became A “Gritty” Baseball-Themed RPG In The West

“Could we make it that they’re all baseball players in a baseball league?”.

Gail Tilden, former Nintendo of America’s marketing boss, recently spoke to The Video Game History Foundation’s Frank Cifaldi at the Long Island Retro Gaming Expo, and one of the topics she touched upon was the small matter of launching Pokémon in the West.

As you’ll probably be aware, Pokémon—or Pocket Monsters, as it’s known in Japan—was already something of a phenomenon in its homeland before it reached North America and Europe, and it was Tilden’s job to repackage it for Western tastes.

Read the full article on nintendolife.com