Days After Shutting XDefiant and Laying Off Hundreds of Staff, Ubisoft Is Reportedly Considering How to Structure a Tencent Buyout Without the Guillemot Family Losing Control

Ubisoft’s share price skyrocketed today amid intensifying rumors that Chinese megacorp Tencent is engaged in buyout talks.

The company behind Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry, and Rainbow Six Siege has suffered a torrid year, with multiple studio closures, mass layoffs, and game shutdowns. The company’s next big game, Assassin’s Creed Shadows, was delayed into 2025, and Star Wars Outlaws failed to meet sales expectations.

According to Reuters, Ubisoft shareholders are “considering” how to structure a possible buyout of the French company without reducing the founding Guillemot family’s control. The Guillemot family is the largest shareholder in Ubisoft and is reportedly in talks with Tencent and “other investors” as it seeks funding a management buyout. Tencent is the second-largest shareholder in Ubisoft with 10% and, according to Reuters, has yet to decide whether to fund the buyout.

Reuters said Tencent’s indecision is “partly because it has asked for a greater say on future board decisions including cash flow distribution in return for financing the deal.” Apparently the Guillemot family has yet to agree to those terms, but Tencent is willing to wait for them to come around.

Tencent declined to comment when contacted by Reuters, with a Guillemot family rep failing to respond. But a Ubisoft spokesperson did comment, saying: “We remain committed to making decisions in the best interests of all of our stakeholders. In this context, as we have already indicated, the Company is also reviewing all its strategic options.”

Ubisoft’s shares fell to their lowest level in the last decade in September after it made a series of dramatic announcements around the performance of its games. As well as delaying Assassin’s Creed Shadows, Ubisoft announced a return to Steam after a period of PC launch exclusivity on the Epic Games Store, with Star Wars Outlaws recently releasing on Valve’s platform.

This latest news comes hot on the heels of Ubisoft’s announcement that it plans to shut down Call of Duty competitor XDefiant and its production studios in San Francisco and Osaka while ramping down its site in Sydney, with up to 277 employees losing their jobs. Roughly half of the XDefiant team will be assigned roles elsewhere.

Shares in Ubisoft are up 12.52% today, December 6, following the Tencent buyout reports.

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.

Today Would Have Been Satoru Iwata’s 65th Birthday

“Video games are meant to be just one thing: fun. Fun for everyone.”.

Today, 6th December 2024, marks the late Satoru Iwata’s 65th birthday.

The legendary President of Nintendo, who held the position from May 2002 until his passing in July 2015, touched the hearts of many while he was the head of the company, revered for his passion for video games, his ability to capture joy, and his humour.

Read the full article on nintendolife.com

Next Week on Xbox: New Games for December 9 to 13

Next Week on Xbox: New Games for December 9 to 13

Welcome to Next Week on Xbox! In this weekly feature we cover all the games coming soon to Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows, and Game Pass! Get more details on these upcoming games below and click their profiles for further info (release dates subject to change). Let’s jump in!


Indiana Jones and the Great Circle™ Standard Edition

Bethesda Softworks

$69.99

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle – December 9
Game Pass Ultimate / Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

Uncover one of history’s greatest mysteries in Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, a first-person, single-player adventure set between the events of “Raiders of the Lost Ark” and “The Last Crusade.” The year is 1937, sinister forces are scouring the globe for the secret to an ancient power connected to the Great Circle, and only one person can stop them – Indiana Jones.


Road Maintenance Simulator 2 + Winter Services

Aerosoft GmbH

Road Maintenance Simulator 2 + Winter Services – December 9
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

Take on a variety of authentic tasks that occur every day in a road maintenance depot – now including winter service! Choose from a wide selection of tools, attachments and vehicles to master the challenges ahead. Over 40 authentic jobs await you in Road Maintenance Simulator 2.


Legacy of Kain™ Soul Reaver 1&2 Remastered

Aspyr

$26.99

Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver 1 & 2 Remastered – December 10
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

Experience the epic conflict of Kain and Raziel in original form or with remastered graphics! Centuries after your former master, Kain, betrays and executes you, you rise again and embark on a relentless quest for revenge. Slay your former vampire brethren with your claws, bolts of telekinetic energy, and the elemental Wraith Blade.


Maximum Football (Game Preview)

Maximum Entertainment

Maximum Football – December 10
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

Lead your team to victory in Maximum Football, the fully customizable, free-to-play football simulation game. As head coach, make all the key decisions, from designing your team’s look, to recruiting your roster, and calling the plays on the field. With precise, realistic gameplay, you’ll feel the thrill of the gridiron like never before.


Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Rita’s Rewind

Digital Eclipse


$34.99

$29.74

Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Rita’s Rewind – December 10
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

In Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Rita’s Rewind, the team faces off against a robotic reincarnation of the Power Rangers’ long-time nemesis. Robo Rita has conjured a portal to send herself back in time so she can finally vanquish the Power Rangers by forming an alliance with her younger self. Working together, Robo Rita and Rita Repulsa rewind, rewrite, and remix the past to stop the very formation of the Power Rangers, altering the course of history.


Summer Tri-Peaks Solitaire

Ocean Media

Summer Tri-Peak Solitaire – December 10

Experience the classic card game with beautiful new animations and solve the puzzles by moving the cards into the right piles. Anyone who knows the game from their computer will love this app and even if you have never played Solitaire before, the game is very easy to learn.


Unwording

Nejcraft

Unwording – December 10

Embark on an uplifting journey through the mind of Tom in Unwording. Solve word puzzles, explore the neighborhood through multiple perspectives, and help Tom work towards experiencing a better day by overcoming his negative self-talk and thought patterns.


Chess Infinity

Ripstone Ltd

Chess Infinity – December 11

Whether new to chess, already a grand master, or somewhere in-between, Chess Infinity provides the ultimate chess experience! With seven beautifully crafted chess sets, 20 board locations set in stunning environments, real time weather and time of day, Chess Infinity provides options to suit any mood.


Frozen Gauntlet

Old School Vibes

Frozen Gauntlet – December 11

Frozen Gauntlet is a unique platformer game where you play as Zen, an adventurer with a magical gauntlet that can freeze creatures, helping him find his way back home.


Hidden Cats in Santa’s Realm

Silesia Games Sp. z o.o.

Hidden Cats in Santa’s Realm – December 11

It’s Christmas time, and following the annual tradition, it’s time for Santa’s Icy Realm to be in full steam! Join the festive fun and search for all the Hidden Cats – one by one among the elves to color the town, piece by piece! Play through different modes, find special cats, and unlock bonus levels!


Marshmallow Marvin

Jolly Lobster Interactive

Marshmallow Marvin – December 11
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

Embark on an epic adventure with Marshmallow Marvin as he navigates a treacherous dungeon filled with deadly turrets, menacing spikes, and cunning traps. Guide Marvin to safety through skillful maneuvering and quick thinking in this thrilling pixelated quest for freedom!


Nefiriya and the Sands of Eternity

Synnergy Circle Games

Nefiriya and the Sands of Eternity – December 11
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

Nefiriya has just awakened from her 3,000-year slumber. Help her find a way out of the pyramid and begin a new life in the contemporary world! But beware—her destiny is in your hands. Collect gemstones along the way so she can live a wealthy and luxurious life.  


Dreamless Girl

E-Home Entertainment Development Company Ltd


$7.99

$7.19

DreamlessGirl – December 12
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

Welcome to this game that combines visual novel and side-scrolling bullet hell shooter elements. During the day, you will experience the protagonist’s school life from her perspective. At night, you will become a secret operative, piloting the Dreambreaker through various dreamscapes.


Enotria: The Last Song

Jyamma Games Srl

Enotria: The Last Song – December 12
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

A thrilling soulsike set in a sun-lit land inspired by Italian folklore and filled with danger. The world has been gripped by the Canovaccio – a twisted eternal play that keeps everything in an unnatural stasis. You, Maskless One, are the only one without a given role and master of your destiny. Defeat the fearsome Authors that created it and free the world from stagnation.


Malu the Princess

Afil Games

Malu the Princess (Console and PC) – December 12
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

Embark on an exciting journey with Malu in Malu the Princess! After her crown is stolen, Malu sets off on a thrilling adventure to reclaim her royal treasure. Traverse through 40 challenging levels in this precision platformer, where sharp reflexes and skill are your best allies.


Pet Shop Simulator

PlayWay S.A.

Pet Shop Simulator – December 12

In Pet Shop Simulator your main task will be to not only finding wonderful new homes for the animals, but also ensuring that they have a wonderful and prosperous life. Supply your store with the right stock so that when you give a pet away it’s provided with the right accessories to make your customers’ dreams come true.


Smoots Summer Games II

JanduSoft


$12.49

$9.99

Smoots Summer Games II – December 12

Compete with up to four players in Smoots Summer Games II, the cartoon-styled arcade sequel. Enjoy classic and new events like the 100m dash, swimming, cycling, archery, and more. Master game modes include Practice, Championship, Special Challenge, and Battle Royale.


Tri Breaker: A Sacred Symbols Odyssey

Lillymo Games

Tri Breaker: A Sacred Symbols Odyssey – December 12
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

A decade has passed since the events of Twin Breaker: A Sacred Symbols Adventure. After successfully unraveling the mystery behind NASA’s disappearing generation ships, heroic pilots Colin and Chris have entered quiet lives of retirement. But the copious data they brought back from their remarkable journey has been fully studied, and shadowy government figures are keen on exploiting new discoveries to achieve potentially sinister ends.


Universe For Sale

Akupara Games

$14.99

Universe For Sale – December 12

A space station nestled in the clouds of Jupiter. A bizarre bazaar where a young, worried woman crafts an entire universe in the palm of her hand. A mysterious cultist who’s stripped the flesh from his bones to reach enlightenment. Here, there’s a universe for sale. You buying?


Apex Heroines

Happy Player

Apex Heroines – December 13
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

Signals of metahuman activity have been detected. Step into the shoes of a rookie member of the Metahuman Watch, joining forces with five teammates to venture into this enigmatic realm. Your mission? To fight fire with fire and unravel the dark secrets lurking behind the scenes.


Blind – The Unseen Truth

Happy Player

Blind – The Unseen Truth – December 13
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

A girl with face blindness accidentally stumbles into a mysterious ‘ritual’ and begins to see things that ordinary people cannot. Thus begins a fantastical urban adventure. Every choice in the story may influence the outcome. How you navigate between the ordinary and the abnormal and find a path in the narrow gap between reality and fantasy, is entirely up to your choices.


Don’t let him in

Dolores Entertainment

Don’t let Him In – December 13
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

Some roads are better left untraveled. In this psychological horror experience you’ll join three friends who are excited to see their favorite band, only to encounter a hitchhiker on a desolate highway. As the miles pass by, the hitchhiker’s unsettling presence becomes sinister, and their identity is shrouded in darkness.


Ninja 1987

Ratalaika Games S.L.

Ninja 1987 – December 13

An action platformer in the classic 8-bit style, paying homage to the great ninja games of the past. Take a nostalgic dive into the 80s with pixel art graphics and chiptune music that captures the vintage sound. Encounter challenging end-level bosses and in-game screens that unfold the story while remaining true to the totally arcade gameplay of the 80s.


Overtop

ChiliDog Interactive

$4.99

Overtop – December 13

A game about an owlet that fell out of its nest and now must, at all costs, return to its nest at the top of the mountain. It combines charming cartoon graphics with hardcore gameplay where you have only one goal — to climb to the top, overcoming cliffs and chasms.


Xbox Play Anywhere

Shy Cats Hidden Tracks – Vol. 1

Lucky Raccoon Games

Shy Cats Hidden Tracks – Vol. 1 – December 13
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery / Xbox Play Anywhere

A unique musical hidden object game where you explore Paris, Rio de Janeiro, and Tokyo to find choir-singing kittens and money bags to hire a cat band, impress local music critics, and mix your own song.


Unsolved Case: Above the Law CE Xbox

Legacy Games

Unsolved Case: Above the Law CE – December 13
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

Nothing brings people together as well as a common grief… or crime! A powerful villain has no fear of the law. After the high-profile murder of the mayor, it becomes clear that anyone could be a target. Do not let him escape justice!


Unsolved Case: Murderous Script CE Xbox

Legacy Games

Unsolved Case: Murderous Script CE – December 13
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

Danger lurks around every shadowy corner! The life of a detective is unpredictable and dangerous. You never know what awaits you, and what secrets you need to unravel. But you knew what you were getting into, there’s no turning back! You and your detective partner have a lot of work ahead! Cases full of family drama, betrayal, and double-crosses lay within these case files.


Unsolved Case: The Scarlet Hyacinth CE Xbox

Legacy Games

Unsolved Case: The Scarlet Hyacinth CE – December 13
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

Chase down the suspect behind a serial killing! A whole series of crimes happens right before your eyes: a murder in an alley, your boss getting shot, abductions in broad daylight, and so on… Can you deal with it all?


Xbox Play Anywhere

Zombie Rollerz: Pinball Heroes

Daedalic Entertainment

$14.99

Zombie Rollerz: Pinball Heroes – December 13
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Xbox Play Anywhere

Zombie Rollerz: Pinball Heroes is the ultimate mashup of classic pinball and zombie defense with rogue-like elements to ensure no two playthroughs are ever the same! Shoot, slam and smash your way through hordes of adorkable zombies in this fusion of pinball, point defense and zombie horde gameplay.


The post Next Week on Xbox: New Games for December 9 to 13 appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Gran Turismo World Series 2024 Finals live in Amsterdam starting Dec 8

It’s a special time of year in the GT calendar as we head to Amsterdam in the Netherlands for the World Finals of the Gran Turismo World Series 2024. After three rounds of spectacular racing in Montreal in July, Prague in August and Tokyo in September, the points at the top of the tables are tantalizingly close as the action returns to Theater Amsterdam, the scene of 2023’s World Series Showdown.


Gran Turismo World Series 2024 Finals live in Amsterdam starting Dec 8

As ever, the Toyota Gazoo Racing GT Cup final is the warm-up event for World Finals weekend and takes place at 16:00 CET on Friday, December 7. Always competitive, the TGR GT Cup will feature a mix of established World Series stars, aiming to make a winning start to their weekends, with some newcomers to the international scene keen to establish themselves. The 24 racers from around the world race in two heats before a Grand Final decides the 2024 champion.

Team Lexus heads the points table in the Manufacturers Cup. But its talisman, Igor Fraga (BRA), winner of Round 1 in Montreal, will not be at the World Finals due to Super GT racing commitments in Japan. Harald Walsen from Chile deputises, but second-placed Team Porsche hopes to make up the four-point deficit while warding off Team BMW, just a further point adrift.

With a single driver having represented each team in Rounds 1-3, all three will join forces in Amsterdam and share the racing and team strategy duties. The Manufacturers Cup action can be seen live at 19:00 CET on Friday.

On Sunday, December 8 at 16:00 CET the Nations Cup takes centre stage. Frenchman Kylian Drumont’s flawless win in Tokyo propelled him to the top of the standings. He leads by a single point from a three-way tie for second made up of three former champions: Spain’s Jose Serrano; Montreal winner Takuma Miyazono of Japan; and the winner of Round 2 in Prague, Italy’s Valerio Gallo.

All the action will play out in front of a live audience at Theater Amsterdam. If you can’t make it don’t miss out and watch the live streams:

Saturday, December 7

Toyota Gazoo Racing GT Cup – PST 07:00 | EST 10:00 | UTC 15:00 | local time CET 16:00 | JST 00:00 (Sun) 

Manufacturers Cup – PST 10:00 | EST 13:00 | UTC 18:00 | local time CEST 19:00 | JST 13:00 (Sun)

Sunday, December 8

Nations Cup – PST 07:00 | EST 10:00 | UTC 15:00 | local time CET 16:00 | JST 00:00 (Mon)

Head to the World Finals special page for more information and watch all the action at https://www.gran-turismo.com/world/live/.

Race like the best in Gran Turismo 7

There are plenty of ways to get involved in the World Series in Gran Turismo 7. By clicking on the Predict the Winners campaign banner on the GT7 World Map, players can receive one million credits for each of the TGR GT Cup, Nations Cup, and the Manufacturers Cup with votes cast right up to the start of the final race of each.* 

Simply watching the broadcast in-game also unlocks some special gifts in GT7 through the Viewers Gift campaign. 

Players can also take part in two special challenges in Gran Turismo 7 that reflect car and track combinations on show at the World Finals: Red Bull X2019 on Nürburgring 24h and Gr.3 on Spa-Francorchamps.

*Entry limit to one per account for PlayStationNetwork. Once an entry has been submitted it cannot be withdrawn or changes. See https://www.gran-turismo.com/us/gt7/events/gtws2024/campaign/ for more information.

IGN UK Podcast 777: Indiana Jones and the Great Game

Cardy, Matt, and Jesse have all been playing Indiana Jones and the Great Circle. Could it make a late game of the year surge? Listen to find out. Also out this week is Marvel Rivals, a new hero shooter that certainly doesn’t lack heroes. Is it good? Again, listen to find out. Then there’s Secret Level, the animated video game Prime series. Want to know if it’s worth watching? I’d listen to find out. And as for Clint Eastwood’s courtroom thriller Juror #2? Just listen, innit.

Remember to send us your thoughts about all the new games, TV shows, and films you’re enjoying or looking forward to: ign_ukfeedback@ign.com.

IGN UK Podcast 777: Indiana Jones and the Great Game

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 Patch 5 Release Date Confirmed, New Screenshot Shows a Blood Raven Holding (Stealing?) Something Players Haven’t Seen in the Game So Far

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 publisher Focus Entertainment has confirmed a December 10 release date for the hotly anticipated Patch 5 and Dark Angels Chapter Pack, and released a new screenshot showing something players haven’t seen in the game yet.

Focus has said Patch 5 makes the recently released Neo-Volkite Pistol (the one players were using to recreate Ghostbusters) available in PvP, adds a new PvE Operation called Obelisk, the new Tzaangor Enlightened Majoris enemy, and the aforementioned Dark Angels Chapter Pack, which includes a unique armor set and banner for the Bulwark Class.

In a tweet, Focus released four new screenshots (below) showing off the new content, but there’s one image in particular that’s set tongues wagging within the community.

This image, below, shows a Blood Raven (the chapter created for Relic Entertainment’s Dawn of War series) holding what looks like a chalice in one hand and a pistol in the other, while staring down at a potential enemy. Whatever it is, the object is not currently in the game, at least not in a form that can be held by the player.

What could this chalice represent? Current theories include a raid-style mechanic for the new Operation (perhaps it needs to be held by a player for a certain amount of time). This would make sense in the context of what we know about the Operation from Focus itself. As a reminder, here’s what the publisher has said:

Called Obelisk, you’ll be sent to Demerium and your mission is to rotate a replica of the obelisk to disrupt the flow of energy protecting the Aurora device. This operation takes place in parallel to the final events of the campaign.

To reach the console control of the obelisk, you’ll have to make it through a tomb plunged into darkness. To make your progression even tougher, the Chaos forces see a new addition to their roster: the Tzaangor Enlightened, a new Majoris enemy! They will now appear in every PvE Operation with Chaos.

Perhaps the chalice the Blood Raven is holding in the image is used to light the way to the console, but this is purely speculation on my part. Either way, it looks like we’re seeing the Space Marine from the perspective of a downed enemy, which suggests it’s been obtained during a firefight or perhaps even stolen from something.

December 10, by the way, is also the release date of Amazon’s Secret Level anthology series, which includes a Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 animation that acts as a sequel to the events of the game. Check out IGN’s Secret Level review for more.

In September, Saber Chief Creative Officer Tim Willits told IGN how the breakout success of Space Marine 2 had “changed everything” for the company. Eagle-eyed fans have spotted the Space Marine chapter now all-but confirmed to get a cosmetic pack after the Dark Angels, too.

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.

Sony Signed an Exclusivity Deal for GTA 3, Vice City, and San Andreas Because It Was ‘Worried’ About Xbox, Former Exec Reveals

Sony’s original PlayStation exclusivity deal for Grand Theft Auto 3 and the following two games in the series was in part a reaction to concern about Microsoft’s launch of the Xbox, a former executive has revealed.

Speaking to GamesIndustry.biz, former PlayStation Europe boss Chris Deering (who was recently criticized for saying laid off developers should “drive an Uber” or “go to the beach for a year”) admitted Sony was concerned about the November 2001 launch of the original Xbox, and sought exclusivity deals with third-party publishers to bolster the appeal of the PlayStation 2.

“We were worried when we saw Xbox coming,” Deering said. “We knew exclusivity was the name of the game in a lot of fields, like Sky TV with sports. Just as Christmas was approaching when Xbox would launch, a few of us went out to our favourite third-party publishers and developers, and we asked them, ‘How would you like a special deal if you keep your next-generation game on PlayStation exclusive for a two-year period?’ And one of the deals we made was with Take-Two for the next three Grand Theft Auto games. At the time, it wasn’t clear that Grand Theft Auto 3 was going to be as huge as it was, because it used to be a top-down game.

“It was very lucky for us. And actually lucky for them, because they got a discount on the royalty they paid. Those deals aren’t uncommon in industries with platforms. Including today with things like social media.”

As a result of this deal, Grand Theft Auto 3 released in October 2001 as a PS2 exclusive, a month before the original Xbox came out. The game released in May 2002 on PC, and then, two years after the PlayStation launch and after this exclusivity deal ended, in November 2003 for the Xbox.

As Deering mentioned, Sony’s Grand Theft Auto exclusivity deal was for three games, so included Vice City, which came out in October 2002 for the PS2 first, and San Andreas, which released in October 2004 for the PS2 first. Grand Theft Auto 3 and Vice City hit Xbox together as a pack late 2003, with San Andreas launching in June 2005.

The deal worked out perfectly for both Sony and Rockstar parent company Take-Two, as Deering suggests. Indeed, San Andreas ended up the best-selling PS2 game of all time, Vice City the third best, and Grand Theft Auto 3 the fifth best. Only Gran Turismo came close the the sales the Grand Theft Auto games posted on PS2.

The exclusivity deal also helped cement Grand Theft Auto as a PlayStation-first series, and while Grand Theft Auto 4 and Grand Theft Auto 5 launched on PlayStation and Xbox at the same time, Rockstar’s open-world crime epic is still strongly associated with Sony’s consoles, even now. In fact, a number of Grand Theft Auto games made IGN’s Top 100 Best PlayStation Games of All Time list.

But what about the upcoming Grand Theft Auto 6? It’s due out on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and S at the same time in the fall of 2025, but marketing deals with either Sony or Microsoft have yet to be announced, if they exist at all.

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.

Indiana Jones And The Great Circle review: a grand adventure that keeps faith with the movies

Every fascist in this game has a cold. The Hitlerites and blackshirts of Indiana Jones And The Great Circle sneeze and cough as they patrol the dig sites of Gizeh, or the marble corridors of the Vatican. Although this is the Machine Games’ clever way of letting you know where your enemies are at all times, it is also mildly funny, as if all the Nazis have been secretly kissing each other, spreading the same rhinovirus from Italy to Egypt to Nepal and beyond. More than that, it’s a stubborn reminder that, despite the many hours of perfectly motion-captured cinematics that accompany all this, you are still playing a video game. A snotty tissue that separates the Indy of taut two-hour cinema and the Indy of a sweeping first-person punch ’em up that will take days to complete. All this is to say, you will notice the difference. But that might not matter; they’re both still Indiana Jones.

Read more

Atari Hopes To Add Switch Touch Controls To RollerCoaster Tycoon Classic In The Future

Keep your arms inside the ride, for now.

Atari’s RollerCoaster Tycoon Classic came speeding onto Switch this week and, honestly, it’s an all-round good time. In our review, we praised the game’s endless creative freedom and its ability to bring hours of rollercoaster-building fun, but there was one small omission in the Switch port that left us scratching our heads: where the heck are the touch controls?

The new control scheme has had some good thought put into it, and we had no issues with the button inputs when playing on the big screen. But given that the 2016 original boasted touchscreen functionality on its smart device launch platforms and, you know, the Switch has a touchscreen, it does feel like a strange feature to not make the cut.

Read the full article on nintendolife.com

‘We Never Expected Things to Go This Big During Early Access’ — Path of Exile 2 Dev Braces Itself for Over 1 Million Concurrent Players

The developer of Path of Exile 2 has warned players to brace themselves for server queues this weekend, with over one million concurrent players expected to hit the Early Access launch.

In a video message, Grinding Gear Games co-founder Jonathan Rogers spoke about anticipation for the action role-playing sequel surpassing the studio’s expectations, and expressed concern that its backend services could buckle under the weight of the Early Access release.

Path of Exile 2’s global release times set the launch for 11am PT today, December 6, and it’s at this point that the floodgates will open. Path of Exile 2 is already the top-selling game on Steam by revenue, suggesting Rogers’ concern is well-placed. Whether the game is up to the task of coping with what’s coming, however, remains to be seen, with sales still increasing, Rogers said.

“We’ve just reached one million Early Access redemptions,” Rogers revealed in the video message. “The support you have all shown for Path of Exile 2 Early Access is far beyond anything we could have ever predicted. However we want to be upfront with you all and let you know there may very well be queues over the weekend.

“There are probably going to be some queues during the launch weekend. Before our announcement, when we were ordering capacity, we really didn’t expect to have more than a million people online at the same time.

“We’ve already ordered way more cloud capacity, and those servers will be coming online very soon, but I do have some concerns about issues with the backend. We quite frankly don’t know what our backend services are going to be able to handle as we go above a million users.

“We’ve added more database shards, scaling everything we have up as far as it will go. But we’re really not sure what kind of limits we might hit. We never expected things to go this big during EA [Early Access].

“So I just wanted to say thank you. Thank you guys so much for believing in this project. If we do run into server issues at launch, just know that we’re going to be working as hard as we can to solve them.”

Path of Exile 2 is GGG’s hotly anticipated free-to-play action role-playing sequel set years after the original game. Players return to the world of Wraeclast and seek to end a spreading corruption, with six character classes, each with two Ascendancy Classes, available to play at the launch of Early Access later this week. There’s co-op for up to six players, but you can play solo. Check out IGN’s Path of Exile 2 preview, where we gave the Mercenary class a whirl and got a first look at the endgame, for more.

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.