The collective desperation for Hollow Knight: Silksong has evolved. Rather than people getting all up a height about the prospect of getting any news about it, they’ve now been left up a height due to confusion around some news they have gotten about the game. Cue Team Cherry having to step in to offer a bit of clarification about Silksong’s Xbox Showcase cameo yesterday.
In case you were washing your hair, Silksong popped up during the bit that saw Microsoft introduce its handheld, the ROG Xbox Ally. There was the usual hardware spinning around and looking cool, plus Xbox’s Sarah Bond saying when Silksong popped up on the handheld’s screen that the game’ll be “available at launch and in Game Pass when the Ally releases later this year”.
Some players took issue with the quality of the graphics, coloring, animations, and lighting, while others were frustrated that there were no further details like a release date or a confirmed Nintendo Switch 2 version.
“Man, the graphics looks like stock Unreal lol,” said one player. “Honestly, almost looks fanmade (don’t hit me),” to which another replied: “Highly underwhelming trailer, lol.”
As this remake was one of the worst-kept secrets in gaming, some fans speculated that the teaser was put together simply to acknowledge that yes, it was in development.
“This is a ‘damn, here you go’ ass trailer,” responded this fan, while another said: “Feels like they threw this thing together after the VAs said they weren’t returning. I could imagine they walked over to marketing and asked them to throw together a 30-second clip the same day.”
Following the reveal, P-Studio director Kazuhisa Wada popped up on social media to reassure fans that Atlus is “actively preparing for the future development of the Persona series as a studio.”
“We are very pleased to announce the release of Persona 4 Revival. We look forward to sharing even more information in due time,” Wada wrote. “Persona 4 has spawned numerous spin-off works, including TV anime, Persona 4 Arena, Persona 4 Arena Ultimax, and Persona 4: Dancing All Night, and is a special title that has been a part of Atlus for many years and holds a personal place in my heart.
“We are currently working on this project with all our passion and love. We are confident that this will be a fresh and surprising product for both newcomers and long-time fans and we look forward to sharing it with you all.”
Wada added: “Additionally, we are actively preparing for the future development of the Persona series as a studio. We are working hard to meet the expectations of fans around the world, and our work is progressing well.” Wada then thanked fans for their support and teased that they should “stay tuned” for more updates.
We gave the original Persona 4 a 9/10 back in the day, saying: “A significant improvement over the previous Persona games in many ways, Persona 4 provides a deeper dungeon crawling/social link experience that makes it engaging to play.” An enhanced version, Persona 4 Golden, has since become the best way to enjoy the game on modern consoles, but fans have long lamented that it’s not available on Nintendo Switch, despite years of begging.
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.
Mewgenics, the long-in-development endless cat breeding game from devs Edmund McMillen and Tyler Glaiel, has just had its release pencilled in for February 10th, 2026, by a fresh trailer. Yes, it’s still looking very weird and nigh impossible to explain to a mate in less than two minutes.
Following on from the trailer it got in April, this latest one roped in the most fitting collab Binding of Isaac developer McMillen and co could have landed, in the form of sinewy surrealism expert and YouTuber MeatCanyon. We’ve also gotten a nice overview of where the devs are at in assembling their weird feline with two heads.
Xbox has officially entered the handheld space with the announcement of two new devices: the ROG Xbox Ally and the ROG Xbox Ally X.
Launching toward the end of 2025, the new portable systems are the result of a collaboration between Xbox and Asus. They aim to take advantage of Xbox Anywhere, a service that lets you play across console, PC, and supported handhelds.
The appearance of Bernband during last night’s PC Gaming Show had a few of us at RPS clicking our fingers and pointing at our monitors yelling: “Bernband! Bernband!” This remake of the best sci-fi walking sim of 2014 has been in the works for a while. Creator Tom van den Boogaart has dipped in and out of working on the alien wanderer, often switching focus to other projects such as Grunn. But now it looks like we are once again getting a trickle of sweet extraterrestrial wanderlust. Here’s a trailer.
Rebel Wolves — the studio led by former The Witcher 3 game director and co-director for Cyberpunk 2077, Konrad Tomaszkiewicz — has confirmed its upcoming dark fantasy action-RPG, The Blood of Dawnwalker, will release in 2026.
At yesterday’s Xbox Games Showcase, Rebel Wolves showed off some pre-beta gameplay footage, following Coen, “a young man turned into a Dawnwalker, human by day and vampire by night,” as he comes to grips with his newly acquired abilities.
That’s not all, though. On June 21, we’ll find out even more as Rebel Wolves invites us to join it on the longest day of the year, “where the veil between day and night blurs, bringing unexpected outcomes.” The 45-minute-long event will reveal around 15 minutes of new gameplay content, accompanied by an extended developer commentary.
Interestingly, we’ll also learn more about “several key gameplay features,” including the directional combat system that blends swordfighting, spells, and vampiric powers, as well as how players navigate Vale Sangora’s locations and “further explore the game world and highlight the gameplay differences between day and night, which will have a significant impact on the story and its course.”
“It’s been a pleasure to finally show you more of the game, and I want to thank our community for the incredible support,” Tomaszkiewicz said. “Back in January, when we first revealed the game, we promised to shed more light on the gameplay this summer — and that moment has finally arrived.
“We’d like to invite you to join us on June 21 for our Gameplay Reveal Event. You’ll learn more about the abilities Coen gains as he becomes the Dawnwalker — a mysterious being balancing the line between the world of day and the realm of night.”
In The Blood of Dawnwalker, you play as Coen, a young man who is a being no longer fully human, yet not entirely a vampire. With just 30 days and nights to save Coen’s family or exact bloody revenge on his sire, regardless of the consequences or the cost of Coen’s thirst for blood. But the most important question for players remains: is it worth sacrificing your humanity for the ones you love?
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.
SHINOBI: Art of Vengeance arrives on PlayStation®4 and PlayStation®5 on August 29, 2025. This brand-new title continues the legacy of the Shinobi series, which first came to arcades in 1987.
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Lizardcube, the studio behind the critically acclaimed Streets of Rage IV (2020), return to breathe life into Joe Musashi’s latest quest for vengeance with their iconic art style.
Recently, we had the chance to sit down and play two stages ahead of the game’s launch, and found ourselves immediately captivated by the art style, fluid controls, and fast-paced combat system. In our latest blog, we break down what makes the game so enjoyable and how it captures the essence of being a ninja.
Journey through a stylistic dystopian world
A paramilitary faction known as ENE Corp seizes territories across the world, decimating their defenses in little time. Only one threat to their dominion remains: the Oboro Clan, led by the legendary Joe Musashi.
Ruse, the mastermind behind ENE Corp, takes matters into his own hands and launches a devastating attack on Oboro Village. Joe Musashi, upon finding his village burned to the ground and his clan turned to stone, sets off on a quest for vengeance, ready to face an unparalleled evil.
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Joe Musashi
The protagonist. Head of the Oboro Clan, a tribe of ninjas that has protected peace from within the shadows for generations. Though he’s a man of few words, his clan puts their utmost trust in him.
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Lord Ruse
The mastermind behind paramilitary organization ENE Corp. He commands his troops with callous tact and an iron fist. Fearing the might of the Oboro Clan, he sets in motion a plan to eliminate them once and for all.
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Your journey will see you traverse through a variety of stages, from neon-lit cityscapes and military strongholds to the top of a speeding freight train and more. The game’s hand-drawn aesthetic pulls you into a world that feels as if it were lifted straight from a comic book. They’re so gorgeous that you’ll want to stop and admire the visuals.
In your quest for vengeance, you’ll need to harness new skills, uncover hidden paths, and use your wit and skill to overcome the obstacles in your way.
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Stage Overview 1: Oboro Village
On a training excursion to Oboro Village, Musashi and his students encounter rival ninjas and discover that the village is under attack. You’ll need to master jumping, dodging, Ninpo, and other fundamental fighting moves as you rush towards the goal.
It’s really easy to get lost in learning the basics, but make sure you step back and soak in the beauty of the world. You can see how much attention and care went into every little detail, like the mist surrounding the plains and bamboo trees or the sunlight streaming through the treetops.
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Once you pass the halfway point, you’ll come across the smoldering ashes of the village and a ninja estate rigged with traps. Some sections may seem unpassable at first glance, but if you look carefully and get creative with your ninja skills, you’ll find ways to get around!
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Stage Overview 2: Lantern Festival
Upon learning that ENE Corp may be operating in the shadows of a lakeside festival, Joe Musashi wastes no time in giving chase.
To kick this stage off, you’ll have to traverse a path of wooden planks and wrecked ships to get across the lake. Linger too long and they’ll sink, sending you to a watery grave. This is a challenging stage that requires you to stay on the move, leaping from platform to platform as you vanquish foes along the way.
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Once you arrive at the village, you’ll be greeted by the sight of fireworks and lanterns shaped like dragons, tigers, and other creatures. However, there’s no time to admire the view. The stage will keep on scrolling along, so you’ll need to take to the skies and stay one step ahead. Take advantage of your surroundings and use double jump and aerial dash to help you maneuver across the area.
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Master the way of the shinobi with Ninpo and powerful Ninjutsu
It’s impossible to talk about SHINOBI: Art of Vengeance without mentioning its fast-paced, hard-hitting combat system. In addition to katana- and shuriken-based techniques, you also have an array of Ninjutsu and Ninpo at your disposal. Beautifully rendered in smooth, fluid animation, every attack is intuitive and easy to execute.
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Of course, there’s more to the game than simply mashing buttons. You’ll need to adapt to various situations using the skills in your toolkit. Getting accustomed to combos will help you clear stages quicker, so once you get the hang of it, try developing your own combos and polishing up your playstyle. Aside from basic commands, you can also perform the following maneuvers:
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Ningi
Ningi are helpful abilities that can be performed by entering special commands and have no limitations. You can obtain new Ningi by progressing through the story or visiting the shop.
The Cannon Punch, which can be unlocked in the demo, deals heavy damage to armor, making it possible to hurt enemies who are impervious to regular attacks. Once you’ve broken their guard, you can follow up with a combo to deal even more damage. When you get your hands on the full version of the game, try it out in battle! The Cannon Punch can also destroy Yokai Barriers, opening up new paths for you to explore!
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Shinobi Execution
Enemies have an Execution Gauge which is the white bar beneath their health bar. Inflicting damage on them will fill it up. Once it’s maxed out, you’ll see an icon appear above them, marking them for Execution. Perform a Shinobi Execution to finish them off instantly.
Defeating an enemy with this move nets you additional loot, and if your attack kills multiple enemies, you’ll earn even more bonus rewards. Mastering Shinobi Executions takes practice, but once you understand their damage output and how to pull them off effectively, there’s honestly no better feeling than getting to wipe out all your enemies on-screen with it.
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Ninpo
Ninpo are special attacks that can be executed once your green gauge is maxed out. You can fill up the gauge by attacking enemies. In the demo, Fire Ninpo lets you breathe fire, dealing damage to enemies in front of you, while Water Ninpo puts you in a defensive stance where you’ll perform a powerful counter on any enemy attacking you.
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Water Ninpo is only usable under specific conditions, but if performed successfully, it’ll boost your Execution Gauge and deal heavy damage to armored foes. Mastering it will turn it into a powerful tool in your arsenal!
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Ninjutsu
Defeating enemies and collecting the red Rage Orbs that they drop will charge up your Rage Gauge (the bar surrounding Joe’s portrait). Once it’s fully charged, you’ll be able to cast Ninjutsu, powerful full-screen attacks.
Karyu, for example, engulfs the entire screen in flames, dealing tremendous damage to all enemies. When used against large swarms of enemies, you’ll achieve an astonishingly high hit count. However, unlike other moves, Ninjutsu have a drawback in that they need time to charge up, so play conservatively and unleash them when the time is right.
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Collect Oboro Relics to attain upgrades and new gear
Each stage features a shop run by a yokai where you can upgrade your health and stats or purchase new Ningi and Ninpo. To help the store thrive, however, you’ll need to find Oboro Relics—five of which are hidden in each stage. By giving these items to the shopkeeper, they’ll be able to expand their wares, allowing you to purchase new Ningi, Ninpo, and other items.
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Items in the store can be purchased with the gold you obtain from defeating enemies. Powerful Ningi and Ninpo can be expensive, so to build up your funds more efficiently, try using Shinobi Executions to quickly decimate your foes. If you’re stuck on a stage or a boss is giving you trouble, you can always backtrack and defeat more enemies for gold. That will allow you to learn new Ningi and boost your stats, better preparing you for the trials ahead.
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Pre-orders for the Digital Deluxe Edition available now
Pick up the Digital Deluxe Edition to get the base game, a Starter Pack filled with in-game items, the SEGA Villains Stage (releasing early 2026) which features bosses based on iconic SEGA villains, the Digital Artbook, and a soundtrack! Plus, if you pre-order the game, you’ll be allowed to play the game 3 days early!
Digital Deluxe Edition
<Contents>
■Base Game
■Starter Pack (Ghost Outfit, Medic Lite Amulet, and In-Game Currency)
■SEGA Villains Stage (Coming Early 2026)
■Digital Artbook and Soundtrack
■Product Information
SHINOBI: Art of Vengeance
Publisher:SEGA
Platform:PlayStation 5 / PlayStation 4
Genre:Action Platformer
Release Date:August 29, 2025 (Fri)
Players:1
*The PlayStation 4 version is only available digitally.
During a special IGN Live edition of Up at Noon today, McFarlane Toys’ Brian Walters (Director, Brand Creative) stopped by to chat with Max Scoville and Brian Altano about what the company has in the pipeline, including their new Elite Edition series that’s kicking off with Doom Slayer from Doom: The Dark Ages, followed by Lilith from Diablo IV.
Walters said the idea behind the Elite Edition was “to create highly decorated, super detailed, iconic version of characters from games.” One way these figures stand out is by their inclusion of soft goods, such as the fur cloak on Doom Slayer, and Walters noted they were “Introducing new materials we haven’t used.”
Walters pointed out the many accessories Doom Slayer came with, including the Pulveriser, flail, combat shotgun, and shield saw, saying he felt it was ”a really great first item for [Elite Edition].” Though pre-orders for Doom Slayer were currently sold out, Walters said the figure would be available at retailers like Walmart and Gamestop upon release. And yes, it was implied some monsters are in the works for the Doom Slayer to battle.
Lilith in the meantime just went up for pre-order today, tied to IGN Live. Her accessories include multiple palace fates for a variety of expressions, and Williams said the idea was they were “holding nothing back with this figure,” including articulated wings and “a soft PVC tail so you can pose it however you want.”
Williams said the challenge with a figure like Lilith was “the balance of executing the design but still making a functional toy. You have to make tough decisions.” He added that probably the hardest thing was pulling off “the engineering without compromising the look of the character.”
As for what else McFarlane Toys had in the pipeline, there’s the Power Armor from Fallout, which is based on the game, not the series. The previous figures they made for the TV version were from the Movie Maniacs line, so the Power Armor will be the first articulated Fallout figure. Williams teased there was “more to come here. We’ve got some good surprises coming.”
Last but not least, Williams showed off two of the figures from the upcoming Mortal Kombat Classics line – including a boxed Sub-Zero, featuring very fun retro arcade packaging that includes joystick controls on the box art and the original character select image of Sub-Zero, along with his bio, on the back.
After providing a go-to place for very big and very buggy Fallout 4 mod Fallout: London last year, GOG have just announced that they’re expanding their efforts to be a go-to place of you want to easily play high-profile or must-have mods for certain games.
The old and also new game merchants have revealed a new initiative aimed at offering “seamless mod integration”, as well as announcing that they’ll be hosting Skyblivion – the modding project remaking Oblivion in Skyrim‘s engine that currently targeting a release this year – when it arrives.
Having already out pre-orders of many packs and bundles already, the Magic: The Gathering – Final Fantasy cards officially will be released June 13 and Principal Designer Gavin Verhey and Executive Producer Zakeel Gordon were on hand at IGN Live today to discuss the much-anticipated collaboration.
Verhey and Gordon said that there have been other IP crossovers with Magic before, Final Fantasy was particularly exciting because, as Verhey put it, “It’s Final Fantasy! That really helps! We’ve been working on this set for about five years.”
The duo noted everyone at Wizards of the Coast were big fans of Final Fantasy, noting most had been playing the games longer than they’d played Magic and means so much to them.
Verhery said their approach was to incorporate something from all 15 games – which upped to 16 as they were working on the cards – which began with making spreadsheets of all the characters, items and story modes. They then split up the possible inclusions into three tiers – what Verhey described as the “gotta have: primary elements and most popular characters, followed by the second tier, which is where “cool side characters” came into play, while the third tier were the deep cuts, “like Guy speaking beaver. We wanted to get it all in there. Every game is represented from most iconic characters to deep cuts you can’t believe they put on a Magic card.”
There are four Commander decks, based on Final Fantasy X, XIV, VI and VII and Verhery promised “Everything besides the lands is themed to the game” and that playing the FF7 deck “ is like seeing the whole game play out before you eyes.” Added Gordon, “We chose those decks to represent different eras. We tried to really get the breadth of the entire franchise in our product.”
Gordon said inevitably they still couldn’t include every single character or game aspect they would have liked, given they didn’t have unlimited cards, noting, “The big challenge is we were going for the entire mainline series. We limited it to core games which left out a few great characters, but by design.”
Gordon explained that the Through the Ages cards, which include classic Final Fantasy artwork was an idea that came up halfway through the development process, simply because they were looking at the art – from the likes of Yoshitaka Amano and Tetsuya Nomura – so much already and, as Gordon put it “The art was so amazing they wanted to put it on cards.”
A couple of lucky fans at IGN Live were given decks of cards before release and when showing them off, their decks included the likes of Final Fantasy VII’s Sephiroth and Final Fantasy IV’s Rosa. Verhey said he felt that was an appeal of the Magic: The Gathering – Final Fantasy cards – taking two characters “you’d never see in [the same] game but here they are together.”