Minecraft’s Creepy New Biome And Mob Update Is Now Live On Switch, Here Are The Full Patch Notes

“Meet the creaking”.

Earlier this year at Minecraft Live 2024, Mojang announced a creepy new biome and mob update for the game.

‘The Garden Awakens update’ has now officially launched – allowing players to explore this eerie new biome, meet the creaking, and uncover the “secrets” of its heart. You’ll also get access to new blocks, hanging moss, and much more.

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Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Hinokami Chronicles 2 Announced

Platforms and release date TBC.

If you played the Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Hinokami Chronicles video game and were wondering when Tanjiro and his demon-slaying buddies would be returning, we’ve got an update.

Aniplex has announced the second chapter of this game – officially titled Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Hinokami Chronicles 2. It will be playable at Japan’s Jump Fest this year (taking place between 21st and 22nd December 2024). The second chapter will cover the Entertainment District Arc and follow through to the Hashira Training Arc.

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Ballionaire, the physics roguelike in which you build pachinko boards, drops on December 10th

There’s no perfect time to release a video game, but if I were deciding when to release one, do you know when I’d do it? Alongside the largest blockbusters of the year, at a time when everyone is broke from buying presents, and on the same day as a huge awards show is distracting the industry’s media.

Ballionaire apparently shares my thinking. The pachinko-inspired roguelike is launching on December 10th.

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Fortnite Ballistic Is a First-Person 5v5 Competitive Mode Launching In Early Access Next Week

Fortnite Ballistic is a brand-new first-person, round-based 5v5 competitive game mode that is set to launch in Early Access on December 11, 2024.

According to The Fortnite Team, Fortnite Ballistic is all about “strategy, tactical teamwork, and individual prowess.” Players will be split into two teams – Attackers or Defenders – and the goal is to either plant a reality-tearing Rift Point Device or stop the other team from doing so.

Much like other games of this style, there will be no respawns during a round and victory is achieved when the Rift Point Device explodes (45 seconds after planting!) or either team is wiped out. Players will swap teams every six rounds and the game will end when a team wins seven rounds total.

All players will start a match with a Ranger Pistol and 800 Credits, and more credits can be earned by killing other players or planting the Rift Point Device. Credits can then be spent at the beginning of each round on weapons and items to help players and teams achieve victory.

If players survive a round, they will get to keep their gear and shields. Items they use will not carry over, but they can drop weapons, smoke grenades, and flashbangs for their team or even pick them off of eliminated players.

Speaking of items, players will be able to choose one of five Flex Gadgets that they alone will be able to purchase and use during a match. Each player can hold up to two of their Flex Gadgets in their inventory, and they can not be dropped or picked up by other players.

The Flex Gadgets are as follows, via The Fortnite Team;

  • Select the Proximity Mine to place a damaging mine down on the floor, wall, or ceiling to surprise an unsuspecting enemy. They can be picked back up and placed again and will explode if shot. Great for booby-trapping sites when defending!
  • The Bubble Shield allows for throwing down a temporary protective bubble that’s impervious to bullets and projectiles such as grenades. It’s great for providing a shield for your team as you storm onto a site.
    The Recon Grenade gadget marks any enemies detected nearby where it’s thrown, even through walls. Throw a Recon gadget onto a site before entering to get a read on who might be waiting to get the drop on you.
    Old faithful! A thrown Frag Grenade will bounce and explode, dealing damage to nearby enemies. Careful — you’ll take damage from your own grenades (though your allies will not). Great for flushing players out from behind cover.
    The Impulse Grenade gadget is a disruptive tool that launches enemies and allies away. It has many creative uses, such as launching teammates onto a site from afar.

When Fortnite Ballistic launches, it will do so with only one map – Skyline 10. There will also be a starting set of weapons and items, and adjustments will be made post-launch alongside new maps, weapons, and features.

What will be there at launch, however, will be Unranked and Ranked modes. In Unranked, spots will be filled if players drop from a game and players can remain on the same server after a match if they’d like. In Ranked, there is no backfilling and a rank penalty will be filed to anyone who leaves and they won’t be able to join another match for “a period of time.”

Unlike Ranked Battle Royale and Reload, matchmaking in Ranked Ballistic is based on the average rank of a party. Furthermore, the amount of rank each player earns in a match will be based on rounds won, rounds lost, eliminations, and assists, in that order.

Fortnite Ballistic arrives just after the launch of Fortnite OG and an epic event featuring Juice WRLD, Eminem, Ice Spice, and Snoop Dogg.

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

Adam Bankhurst is a writer for IGN. You can follow him on X/Twitter @AdamBankhurst and on TikTok.

Daily Deals: Stellar Blade, Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown, Persona 3 Reload, and More

The weekend is officially here, and we’ve rounded up the best deals you can find! Discover the best deals for Saturday, December 7, below:

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown for $14.97

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is one of the most underrated games of 2024. Ubisoft’s return to the franchise brought new and challenging elements while still retaining what made this series so beloved. In our 8/10 review, we wrote, “Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown captures not only what made games such as The Sands of Time so good, but it irons out a lot of the little issues that plagued the 3D games in this series by opting for a 2D perspective – and owning it.”

Stellar Blade for $49.99

You can grab Stellar Blade for just $50 this weekend. This action game from Shift Up has been one of the most popular games of the year. Just a few weeks ago, new Nier: Automata DLC was released, which included new outfits inspired by A2, 2B, and Emil. In our 7/10 review, we stated “Stellar Blade stands out as a gorgeous and well-crafted action game with very impressive strengths and very clear weaknesses.”

Metaphor: ReFantazio for $49.99

Metaphor: ReFantazio is the latest game from Persona 3, 4, and 5 Director Katsura Hashino and the team at Atlus’ Studio Zero. For the first time since launch, you can score the game at a discount, saving $20 post Black Friday. In our 9/10 review, we stated, “Refining the Atlus RPG formula of weaving tough turn-based combat into compelling social sim mechanics, Metaphor: ReFantazio doesn’t just send a powerful message across its political drama, it becomes a beautiful expression of the real impact storytelling can have on all of us.”

Final Fantasy I-VI Pixel Remaster Collection

Woot has the Final Fantasy I-VI Pixel Remaster Collection on sale for $44.99, making each game only $7.50! The first six Final Fantasy titles paved the way for the series as we see it today. Many fans still regard both Final Fantasy IV and Final Fantasy VI as some of the best that Final Fantasy has to offer, with gripping narratives and engaging gameplay. This package includes all six Final Fantasy Pixel Remasters, which feature updated graphics, soundtracks, font, and more.

Astro Bot for $49.99

Astro Bot is on sale for the first time since launch, and there has never been a better time to pick up one of the PlayStation 5’s best games. Building off Astro’s Playroom, Astro Bot features many new abilities and bosses to fight, with over 300 bots to rescue across the galaxy. You’ll find planets modeled after beloved PlayStation games like Ape Escape and Uncharted, and even surprise third-party bots like Leon S. Kennedy from Resident Evil 2.

Final Fantasy XVI for $24.99

One of the biggest 2023 games has hit a new all-time low price! Final Fantasy XVI follows Clive Rosfield on his journey to avenge his brother. For the first time in the Final Fantasy series, you can become a summon, known as Eikons in this world. With spectacular boss battles and an engaging story, Final Fantasy XVI is an excellent time, especially for $24.99.

Persona 3 Reload for $24.97

Persona 3 Reload is one of the best RPGs of the year. This remake recreates one of the most praised Atlus titles ever, with loads of new quality-of-life and gameplay features. An all-new voice cast debuted with this release, and each cutscene was remade with new assets for higher quality. If you’ve never jumped into the world of Persona before, this is a great place to start, especially at this price.

Infinity Nikki Codes (December 2024)

If you’re looking for Infinity Nikki codes, IGN has you covered! In this article, you’ll find a list of active and working Infinity Nikki codes that you can redeem for free rewards and bonuses in December 2024, including Diamonds and Energy Crystals.

Active Infinity Nikki Codes (December 2024)

Below, you’ll find all the active and working Infinity Nikki codes in December 2024, the free rewards you get for redeeming them, and their expiry date (if known):

  • インフィニティニキ – 15x Shiny Bubbles, 15k Bling (NEW!)
  • 無限暖暖公測開啟 – 50x Shiny Bubbles, 15K Bling
  • 無限暖暖公測FB社團限定 – 10x Shining Particles, 15K Bling
  • インフィニキDISCORD – 50x Threads of Purity, 15K Bling
  • INGIFT1205 – 50x Threads of Purity, 15K Bling
  • NIKKIRELEASE – 50x Threads of Purity, 15K Bling
  • NIKKIBEWITHYOU – 126x Diamonds
  • dreamweavernikki – 520x Diamonds. Expires December 14
  • infinitynikki1205 – 20x Limited-time Revelation Crystal. Expires December 18, 2024
  • BDAYSURPRISE – 126x Diamonds. Expires December 31, 2024
  • GIFTFROMMOMO – 80x Diamonds. Expires December 31, 2024
  • GIFTTONIKKI – 90x Diamonds. Expires December 31, 2024
  • nikkihappybirthday2024 – 500x Diamonds, 2x Energy Crystals, 12,600x Bling. Expires December 31, 2024
  • NIKKITHEBEST – 126x Diamonds. Expires December 31, 2024
  • QUACKQUACK – 126x Diamonds. Expires December 31, 2024

Expired Infinity Nikki Codes

The Infinity Nikki codes listed below have expired and are no longer working as of December 2024:

  • GROUPSTYLIST
  • REDDITSTYLIST
  • DISCORDSTYLIST
  • NIKKI20241022

How to Redeem Infinity Nikki Codes

To redeem Infinity Nikki codes, follow the steps below:

  1. Unlock your Pear-Pal during the Chapter 1: Wishes Without Wings – Land of Wishes main quest. It’s about 20 minutes into your Infinity Nikki adventure.
  2. Open the Pear-Pal menu by pressing ESC on PC (or the Menu button when using an Xbox controller on PC), the Menu button on PlayStation, or by tapping the Pear-Pal icon in the top-left corner on mobile.
  3. Click on the gear icon to open the Settings menu.
  4. Scroll over to the Other tab.
  5. You’ll see a “Redeem Code” option here. Click on “Apply” and a Redeem Rewards pop-up menu will appear.
  6. Input your code into the “Enter the redeem code” field and tap “Apply.”
  7. If successful, a pop-up will appear showing your free rewards.

Why Isn’t My Infinity Nikki Code Working?

If the Infinity Nikki code that you’re trying to redeem isn’t working, it’s likely due to one of the following reasons:

  • There’s a typo in the code.
  • The Infinity Nikki code is expired.

When inputting a code into Infinity Nikki, make sure there are no typos (Os instead of zeroes, capital Is instead of lowercase Ls, etc.) and that there are no accidental spaces before or after the code. If your Infinity Nikki code still doesn’t work, it’s probably expired and can no longer be redeemed.

How to Get More Infinity Nikki Codes

The best way to get more Infinity Nikki codes is to join the official Infinity Nikki Discord server. Once you’re in, head to the #self-assign-roles channel and opt-in for the Redeem Code role. You’ll receive a notification when a new code is released so you can receive your free rewards ASAP!

Alternatively, bookmark this Infinity Nikki Codes article, as we update it each time a new code comes out. The Discord server has missed a couple of codes posted to other channels, so we’d recommend checking our article every so often.

What is Infinity Nikki?

Developed by Infold Games, Infinity Nikki is a cozy, open-world RPG. You play as Nikki, as she’s whisked away to the world of Miraland, a place where people make Wishes with the help of Stylists. You’ll find and create a plethora of outfits and accessories, take on quests, and gather many types of collectibles with the help of Momo, Nikki’s adorable feline companion.

Meg Koepp is a Guides Editor on the IGN Guides team, with a focus on trends. When she’s not working, you can find her playing an RPG or making miniatures.

Rate Your Favourite Switch Games Of The Year 2024

Bring out your GOTYs!

It’s that time of year for reflection, to sit down and take stock of all the wonderful games that released in 2024. A time to stare into the middle distance with a despairing expression wondering how you managed to not play so many great new games this year because the Vampire Survivors DLC continued to suck your free time up like…, well, like a vampire. Yes, it’s GOTY time.

As the industry continues to navigate tumultuous waters, with layoffs continuing across the board in game development, publishing, and media, players themselves have once again had an excellent year in terms of great new games to play. Whether large or small, there have been more fantastic things to play than hours in the day for all but the most myopic of gamers.

Read the full article on nintendolife.com