Greetings, mercenaries! To kick off the summer season, we announced at Summer Game Fest that Crossfire: Sierra Squad will be arriving in August. Welp, August is just around the corner, so it’s time to let you know officially that the game will launch at PlayStation Store on August 29th! Add it to your wishlist today for a reminder come launch.
New immersive experience
Crossfire: Sierra Squad is a brand-new game built from the ground up for VR. We’ve been working hard to make the game an immersive and intuitive experience that gets you into the action immediately. We’ve fine-tuned the in-game mechanics to come up with a game experience that we believe you’ll want to play over and over, both solo and with friends, in a world you’ll want to spend a lot of time in. Our goal is to bring all fans of military FPS games together, regardless of experience level, into an exciting and shared VR adventure – solo or co-op with up to 4 players on a team.
One of the key ways we’ve been able to do this is by taking full advantage of the innovative features of PlayStation VR2. With Crossfire: Sierra Squad, we set out to push the boundaries of what is possible in the virtual reality space, and provide a completely immersive world for our players. We aim to usher in the next wave of VR gameplay by increasing the number of ways that players feel connected – literally – to the in-game world.
Clear and crisp sights and sounds
We know that one of the most important factors in VR immersion is the connection between how you move and what you see. In addition to the high-res graphics (4K HDR @ 90/120Hz) offered by the headset, we’ve fully employed PlayStation VR2’s advanced eye tracking and foveated rendering, combining to provide players the sharpest and smoothest visuals possible with no lag between actual and on-screen movement. Couple this with thoughtful sound design and PS VR2’s 3D audio capabilities, and we have a sensory experience that engulfs mercenaries in the world of Crossfire from the start.
Can you feel it?! Yes!
Crossfire: Sierra Squad capitalizes on PlayStation VR2’s revolutionary haptic feedback system, which offers nuanced and intuitive tactile elements. Our mercenaries will feel every shot fired, every recoil and every explosion through multiple haptic points integrated into PS VR2’s headset and controllers, adding an extra layer of realism that intensifies the experience. Our goal with this increased level of immersion is to bring the gameplay to a whole new level, where mercenaries truly feel like they are an integral part of Sierra Squad, rather than mere spectators.
Trigger finger feedback
PlayStation VR2’s controllers feature adaptive triggers that dynamically adjust resistance based on in-game actions. This allows players to feel varying levels of tension, simulating a genuine sense of touch. How do we harness and use this power for good? By giving each weapon in the game its own unique feel, we’re able to crank up the feeling of realism a notch. Picture this – you’re aiming down sights holding a sniper rifle, and before you squeeze off the epic shot, you partially pull the trigger to hold your breath and steady your weapon for a better chance of eliminating your target before completing the pull and sending your enemy into oblivion. That’s just one example, we can’t wait for you to try them all!
We excited for you to jump into our 13 main campaign missions (single-player), 50 squad campaign missions (single-player or 2-player co-op), and Horde Mode (up to 4-player co-op). Grab 39 types of weapons including pistols, rifles, and explosives that give you creative ways to dispatch 17 types of enemies. Engage enemies with seemingly superhuman strength, equipped with top-of-the-line weaponry, as well as drones, bosses, and heavily armed vehicles, all driven by soldiers hell-bent on your destruction. Bring your A-game because they’ll be bringing theirs. Mark your calendars, Crossfire: Sierra Squad launches August 29 on PlayStation VR2. See you then, mercenaries!
Under the new rights holders Studio 2.21, cult classic series Little Big Adventure was set to make a comeback after three decades off-grid, with original creator Didier Chanfray attached to the projects. The comeback plans included an all-new reboot, plus remasters for the two 1990s action-adventure games. But today, the studio announced that they were “unsuccessful in securing a publisher,” which has led to the reboot’s cancellation and layoffs at the developer.
“Despite our earnest efforts,” CEO Ben Limare wrote in a blog post, “we were unsuccessful in securing a publisher for the reboot of Twinsen’s Little Big Adventure.” According to Limare, the reasons for this are threefold: genre appeal, the series’ limited recognition, and the planned costs. “Despite a passionate, albeit small, community of fans, Twinsen’s Little Big Adventure isn’t globally recognized, which added to the hesitations of potential publishers,” wrote Limare.
“While indie game studios can often deliver remarkable games with lean teams (as we’ve seen with Death’s Door and Tunic), our vision for this project involved a team of 15 to 20 people, echoing the original game’s size,” he continued. “This considerable investment, juxtaposed with the risk inherent to the genre and IP, was a factor in the decision.”
To coincide with the launch of Dreams into PlayStation Plus, Media Molecule’s latest game, Tren, will be available to play inside of it. Sony describes Tren as “a nostalgic adventure that puts you in the driving seat of a remarkable toy train, and tells a personal tale about growing up – and the transformative power of play”.
Isometric action adventure Death’s Door and PGA Tour 2K23 round out August’s lineup. IGN’s Death’s Door review returned a 9/10. We said: “Death’s Door expertly blends classic dungeon puzzle solving with fast-paced combat encounters to create a memorable adventure across a moody world brimming with secret paths and hidden rewards.”
PGA Tour 2K23 fared less well in IGN’s 6/10 review: “There’s not much to be excited about in PGA Tour 2K23, with poorly presented golfing on second-tier courses. It’s fiercely accurate to the real sport but lacks personality and variety.”
This is your last call for July’s monthly games: you have until July 31 to claim Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War, Alan Wake Remastered, and Endling – Extinction is Forever to your game library.
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.
In writing about games like A Little To The Left or current RPS Game Club pick Unpacking, I often have to point out that I am a weird little gremlin who loves puzzles and putting things in the right place in games, but not actually in real life. In real life, I write to you today from a desk covered in a weird detritus of work and life that wouldn’t quite see me on an exploitative reality TV show with the word hoarder somewhere in the title, but, you know… maybe give it 15 years.
But I bloody love tidying things in games. Getting everything in the right place. And something that makes it extra enjoyable in Unpacking is the sound design. The house itself is quiet, but everything in the game makes a little noise when you put it away or hang it up or slide it in a shelf, and it’s all stuff you recognise from home. It makes the whole experience feel domestic and familiar.
2023 is finally the year where 2TB PS5 SSD upgrades are actually worth the price. Last year, prices for 1TB PS5 SSDs averaged around $150, whereas 2TB SSDs hovered closer to $300. This year, we’re seeing 1TB SSDs trickle below the $70 price point and 2TB SSDs can drop to $100 or lower (like the Silicon Power 2TB SSD w/Heatsink for $96). Note that you can’t use any old SSD and expect it to perform well on the PS5 console. You’ll want to pick up a PCIe Gen4 x4 M.2 solid-state drive with at least a 5,500MB/s read speed to match the PS5’s internal drive.
TL;DR – The Best PS5 SSD Deals Right Now
Note that Sony recommends a heatsink attached to your SSD and not all SSDs listed here have pre-installed heatsinks. For the ones that do, we’ll be sure to mention it. For the ones that don’t, all you have to do is purchase your own heatsink (we recommend this one for $10) and install it yourself. For our top recommended picks for 2023, check out our full breakdown for the Best PS5 SSDs.
Silicon Power 2TB PS5 SSD with Heatsink for $95.97
The Silicon Power XS70 SSD with a preinstalled robust aluminum heatsink costs just under $100. The aluminum heatsink is still slim enough to fit in the PS5 without obstruction. It boasts transfer speeds of up to 7300MB/s read and 6800MB/s write, comfortably faster than the 5500MB/s minimum recommended requirement. It actually performs a little better than the Crucial P5 Plus, the original WD Black SN850, and the Samsung 980 Pro, although that won’t make a difference in your PS5. Otherwise, the 1TB drive is also down to just $58 right now as well.
Adata Premium 2TB M.2 SSD for PS5 for $94.99
The Adata Premium SSD boasts transfer speeds of up to 6,100MB/s, which is more than fast enough to surpass the PS5’s recommended minimum speed threshold of 5,500MB/s. Yes, there are faster SSDs out there, but if your intention is to put this in your PS5, then that extra speed is worthless because you’re bottlenecked by the stock PS5 SSD. Better to save that money and put it to better use. It also includes a thin aluminum heatspreader… too thin to be appropriately called a heatsink, but still enough for the PS5 console.
TeamGroup 1TB SSD with Heatink for $54.99
The TeamGroup T-Force CARDEA A440 1TB SSD boasts lightning-fast reading and writing speeds up to 7,000/5,500 MB/s. This SSD supports PCIe Gen4 x4 and the latest NVMe standard, ensuring seamless compatibility. The CARDEA A440 tackles high temperatures with its two heat sinks, a slim Graphene heat sink (3.7mm) for the PS5 SSD slot and an Aluminum heat sink (12.9mm) for installation without the slot’s lid. Enjoy 1TB of space, backed by a 5-year or TBW limited warranty, and access the true power of your PS5 gaming with unparalleled speed, performance, and reliability.
Crucial P5 Plus 2TB SSD with Heatsink for $107.99
Amazon just dropped the price of the Crucial P5 Plus 2TB SSD to $107.99. Crucial’s newest M.2 SSD meets all the requirements for your PS5 SSD upgrade. It supports transfer speeds of up to 6,660MB/s which is well above the 5,500MB/s minimum threshold. Yes there are faster SSDs out there, but if your intention is to put this in your PS5, then that extra speed is worthless because you’re bottlenecked by the original PS5 SSD. If you’re worried about opening up your PS5 case, don’t worry it’s very easy. Crucial has an official YouTube PS5 SSD install guide to see you through the process.
WD Black SN850X 2TB PS5 SSD with Heatsink $119.99
The WD Black SN850 is the most popular SSD upgrade option for the PS5 console. That’s not a surprise, considering WD is the only company that sells an officially licensed PS5 SSD. The SN850X is WD’s fastest M.2 SSD current available. It’s a generation update from the original SN850 with faster speeds. It easily fulfills all of Sony’s requirements, like a minimum read speed of 5,500MB/s, a PCI-Express Gen4x4 interface, and a slim yet effective heatsink that fits within the confines of the PS5 bay.
Corsair MP600 PRO LPX 2TB SSD with Heatsink for Only $119.99
Corsair is a very well known brand for DIY PC builders. Corsair makes some of the best gaming products on the market, and that includes solid-state memory like RAM and SSDs. The MP600 Pro is Corsair’s fastest M.2 SSD and the “LPX” model is “optimized for PS5” because it includes a rugged preinstalled heatsink that is slim enough to fit in the PS5 bay without any issues. We like this RAM so much, we rated it the best PS5 SSD for 2023.
Samsung 980 Pro 2TB PS5 SSD for $119.99
Looking for a fast and inexpensive M.2 SSD from a brand that you recognize? Here’s your answer. Amazon is offering the Samsung 980 PRO 2TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe Gen 4 solid state drive for only $119.99. In terms of performance, it’s no longer the fastest SSD on the market (the 990 Pro is), but it’s still a very fast drive. It certainly more than meets the minimum 5600MB/s speed requirement to be used as a PS5 storage upgrade, with speeds of up to 7,100MB/s.
Nextorage 2TB PS5 SSD with Heatsink for $139.99
There’s an interesting story behind this drive. Nextorage was actually originally created by Sony as an SSD division catered to the PS5 console. For whatever reason, Sony decided to ditch that idea and sold this business to another stakeholder in the company, Phison (they make memory controllers found in SSDs from Seagate, Corsair, and Sabrent, and more). Phison eventually accomplished the goal of releasing an SSD catered specifically for the PS5 console in the form of this product right here.
What if the SSD Doesn’t Include a Heatsink?
Sony recommends you install an SSD that has an attached heatsink. If the SSD you purchase doesn’t include one, it’s simple enough to buy one for about $10 on Amazon and add it yourself. Most of these heatsinks are just attached using an adhesive like thermal tape.
Budget to Best: PS5 SSDs
There may be other SSD deals out there, but these are the PS5 SSDs we’ve tried ourselves and highly recommend. They also double up as outstanding boot drives for your gaming PC, in case you don’t need additional storage for your PS5 console.
How To Install a New PS5 SSD
It’s extremely easy! Removing the case cover is completely toolless. In fact, the only screw you have to remove is the one that keeps the cover for the SSD bay in place. You don’t even put it back when you’re done. Sony has a quick and easy YouTube video guide.
Following the fast and psychedelic fingertip shooting of Into The Pit, developer Nullpointer Games are now slowing things down with their next project. The team shook together turn-based tactics, tower-defence elements, and a graphic novel style, and the resulting cocktail is Void Warden. See how it sort of works in the teaser below.
Update : The Fortnite x Futurama crossover has landed today! Following the earlier reveal, outfits for Bender, Fry, and Leela have appeared in-game and you can get them from the Item Shop.
Not only that, Bender’s Shiny Metal Raygun has been added, along with other accessories and alt costumes. Let’s have a look at everything you can get from the Item Shop, courtesy of the official Fortnite website:
Can you believe half of 2023 is over already? Time flies when you’re having this much fun gaming. While 2023 has already been one wild year for PlayStation gamers, the killer lineup for the rest of 2023 is every bit as exciting.
In the words of the wise Samuel Drake: “I always felt that we were destined for something great.” So without further ado, let’s look at some of the most anticipated releases hitting PlayStation in 2023.
Immortals of Aveum
Don’t be a spongy back-row spell-slinger–it’s time to become a frontline battlemage and kick some serious butt in this dynamic fantasy-themed first-person shooter by new developer Ascendant Studios. Take control of Jak, a gifted youth lifted out of the slums to become a Magnus Battlemage warring against the overwhelming armies of the tyrannical Rasharn. Skillfully utilize an arsenal of stunning magic spells–both offensive and utilitarian–to battle foes and explore the various levels. Equipping Magic Rings, Sigils, Totems, and Bracers to augment and transform Jak’s skills to build him into your ideal magical mercenary. Fantastical worldbuilding, dazzling visuals, and loads of secrets to uncover make for a refreshing take on the FPS genre.
Release Date: August 22 | Publisher: Electronic Arts | PS5
Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon
Time to get down and dirty with From Software’s intense mech combat simulator. Fight for the future of the partially-ruined planet Rubicon with your own customized Armored Core mech, equipping parts to customize attack and mobility to your preferred playstyle. You’ll play through various missions, facing both Armored Core pilots from rival factions and megalithic mecha monstrosities. Complete missions and objectives. Use the new Assault Boost maneuver to get up close and personal with enemies to stagger them in intense, and strategic fights. With multiple endings and endless customization, Armored Core VI will send you on the mission of a lifetime.
Senior year of high school conjures up many images and memories: prom, class rings, old friends, impending extinction… okay,maybe that last one only matters in the hyper-specific case of Goodbye Volcano High. This emotionally charged, narrative-driven indie gem takes us back to the age when dinosaurs ruled Earth. Contrary to what you may have heard, young dinos were filled with just as much teen angst, insecurity, and weird feelings as modern-day humans. Join the band VVorm Drama and their companions as they navigate the ups and downs of an eventful senior year through a branching narrative–and rhythm mini-games–that promises to end with an Earth-shattering bang.
Release Date: August 29 | Publisher: KO_OP | PS5, PS4
Sea of Stars
To those wishing upon heavenly bodies for a majestic classic-style, turn-based RPG: your wish has been granted. Sea of Stars sails to us from Sabotage Studios, the talented team behind indie megahit The Messenger, and even takes place in the same shared universe. Follow the two Children of the Solstice in their quest to master Eclipse Magic and defeat the wicked alchemist Fleshmancer. Enjoy sumptuous sprite-based visuals filled with colorful detail and lively animation–a perfect complement to the tactical turn-based battles with timed hits, multi-character combo attacks, and a unique locks mechanic to interrupt attacks.
It’s been a long time coming, but Larian Studios’s Baldur’s Gate 3 is almost here. The forces of darkness are rising once again, and the fate of the Forgotten Realms is in your hands. But first, you need to find a way to get this disgusting Mind Flayer parasite out of your body, and you’re going to need some help with that. Find traveling companions–CPU-controlled Origin Characters, handmade companions, or online friends–to aid you with your adventure. With a massive world to explore, classic Dungeons & Dragons mechanics, multiple difficulty settings (including an absolutely brutal Tactician setting), extensive character customization, and a truly thrilling narrative that gets downright wild, Baldur’s Gate 3 is a take-no-prisoners fantasy RPG experience.
Release Date: September 6 | Publisher: Larian Studios | PS5
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The Crew Motorfest
Who among us does not like to make vehicles go vroom? And what could possibly be better than lots of shiny, speedy cars wheeling freely through the breathtaking tropical vistas of Hawaii? The Crew Motorfest takes players to the sun-kissed island of O’ahu in a freeform open-world driving experience unlike anything else. The new Playlists feature presents you with carefully crafted sets of missions to immerse you in specialized facets of car culture. Cruise the island solo, or cooperate to compete in challenges with other players online in ongoing live events. Collect a mega-garage of old and new cars to ogle and drive as you please. In this paradise, the car world is truly your oyster.
Release Date: September 14 | Publisher: Ubisoft | PS5, PS4
Mortal Kombat 1
Sometimes you need a good old-fashioned timeline refresh to keep things in order. At least, that’s what the recently anointed Fire God Liu Kang decided. The latest in NetherRealm Studios’ storied fighting game saga brings both beloved and brand-new characters back to the tournament stage with a new timeline and plenty of new tricks. Along with the long-awaited return and revamp of the Air Kombat combo system, players will be able to utilize the new Kameo feature to call in fighters from different MK timelines to aid them in battle briefly. And, of course, you’ve got buttery-smooth online versus play and plenty of the elaborate fatalities that define the MK franchise.
Release Date: September 19 | Publisher: WB Games | PS5
Eternights
Who says love can’t bloom on the battlefield? Studio Sai’s Eternights offers a unique fusion of romance simulation and adrenaline-pumping action. Faced with an encroaching disaster of apocalyptic proportions, some teenagers in Seoul are still trying to live as normally as possible inside an underground bunker, which means youthful hormones are in full swing. Use in-game apps to meet, talk to, and bond with potential partners, each with their own unique personalities, and remember that the dialogue choices you make have far-reaching repercussions. Use the power of the connections you’ve made to augment your combat abilities and conquer the mutated monsters lurking within the dangerous Wall.
Release Date: September 21 | Publisher: Studio Sai | PS5, PS4
Assassin’s Creed Mirage
The latest in the storied Assassin’s Creed saga puts us in the robes of Basim, a young thief eking out a living on the streets of 9th-century Baghdad. But Basim has potential, and he soon comes under the tutelage of master assassin Roshan and becomes a Hidden One, learning the art of careful killing. Revamped character animations and the widest range of movement yet seen in an Assassin’s Creed game make sprinting across rooftops and prowling the city streets feel more fluid and engaging than ever before. Utilize your arsenal of tools, your feathered companion Enkidu, and the new Assassination Focus skill to tactfully take down multiple targets in a row while remaining undetected.
Release Date: October 12 | Publisher: Ubisoft | PS5, PS4
Alan Wake 2
It’s been 13 years since famed horror author Alan Wake vanished while investigating in the town of Bright Falls, Washington. Now, accomplished FBI agent Saga Anderson arrives in the quaint northwestern hamlet to investigate a potential string of serial murders. But when she finds Alan Wake’s lost novel drafts, the world starts to get very weird around her. Are the words changing reality? And where is Alan Wake? Immerse yourself in Remedy Entertainment’s captivating survival horror adventure, where fiction and reality twist in the scenic Pacific Northwest. You’ll need to take control of both Saga and Alan to unravel the mystery behind the game’s winding narrative.
Release Date: October 17 | Publisher: Epic Games | PS5
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
Two Spider-Men star in this stunning web-slinging epic exclusively on the PlayStation 5. Taking control of beloved heroes Peter Parker and Miles Morales, you’ll web-sling, cling, and use the new Web Wings to traverse the dizzying heights of the Big Apple, now including the Brooklyn and Queens areas. Here you’ll encounter some of the comics’ most fearsome villains, like Kraven the Hunter and the iconic arch-rival Venom. Use unique character skills, like Black Suit Peter Parker’s long-reaching tendrils and Miles Morales’ bioelectricity, in intense enemy showdowns that are more bombastic than ever before. Don’t ignore your Spider-Senses: be sure to mark October 20th down as a date not to be missed.
Release Date: October 20 | Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment | PS5
Like A Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name
Kiryu Kazuma may have attempted to leave the limelight in Yakuza 6, but it seems like no matter what happens, the life of a yakuza always follows him. As an undercover agent, Kiryu–excuse me, Joryu– keeps tabs on the seedy underbelly of Osaka’s Sotenbori and Yokohama’s Isezaki Ijincho districts… along with the mysterious Castle. The action-driven brawls of Kiryu’s original outings return, allowing you to swap between two equally punishing fighting styles, Yakuza and Agent. When you’re done with your missions, you’ll enjoy a variety of fan-favorite minigames like a fighting arena, Pocket Racing, and the always-captivating Hostess Club management sim. Discover the new scheme consuming Japan’s underworld… when you’re not managing the best club in town.
Release Date: November 9 | Publisher: Sega | PS5, PS4
Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora
Step again into Pandora’s lush, wondrous world in this follow-up to the theatrical megahit Avatar: The Way of Water. As a Na’vi kidnapped as a youth and raised by the RDA, you’ve managed to escape their clutches and return home — but 15 years away from your homeland has made your own birthplace seem strange and hostile. You’ll need to re-learn the ways of the Na’vi as you aid them in their struggle against the RDA’s encroachment. As you explore the never-before-seen Western Frontier of Pandora, you’ll use various Na’vi and human-made tools to navigate and fight against both Pandora’s natural dangers and the destructive forces of the RDA.
Release Date: December 7 | Publisher: Ubisoft | PS5
When it comes to game night, it’s always a great idea to have a variety of board games around for people to choose from. Unfortunately, building that collection of games can oftentimes cost you more than you’d expect. Have no fear, though, as we’re here to help you out with a variety of deals on board games that are worth picking up. This doesn’t just cater to events like Amazon Prime Day or Black Friday, either. We try to find deals on the best board games all throughout the year, so you can buy your favorites without breaking the bank.
TL;DR – The Best Board Game Deals
Below, you can find a selection of the best board game deals at the moment. Amazon Prime Day may be done and over with for the year, but there are still plenty of sales worth taking advantage of.
The Best Board Game Deals
Board Games: Budget to Best
For when board games aren’t on sale, it’s nice to know you still have options that don’t cost you tons of money. Here, we’ll point you in the direction of more affordable options that are still worth the investment for your next game night.
When Is the Best Time to Find Board Game Deals?
Board games go on sale at sites like Amazon, Target, Walmart, and even GameStop fairly regularly — you can generally find special discounts every month or two. In addition, they absolutely get big discounts during major sale events like Amazon’s Prime Day and Black Friday, the former of which kicks off very soon on July 11 and 12.
While Prime Day is primarily an Amazon shopping holiday, other retailers always put on competing sales events at the same time. Those are great times to look for board game deals.
As for Black Friday, it’s not just a one-day event: you can often find deals on board games the whole week of Black Friday, as well as on Cyber Monday and throughout that whole following week. Keep in mind that stock runs out (particularly at Amazon), so if you see a good price on a board game you want during one of these major sale events, grab it before it’s gone.
How to Know if it’s Really a Good Board Game Deal
At online board game retailers like Amazon and Walmart, prices are always in flux, to say the least. Many of the board games in the board game section will be discounted to some degree from their MSRP. But there are a few ways to know when a board game is on sale for a notable discount.
For one, you can check Amazon’s daily deals page, where you’ll occasionally find an actual sale on various board games. Sometimes these are from one company, sometimes they’re on the whole category of board games. Target also periodically runs sales on board games, so check their deal page, too.
If you’re looking at a board game and are wondering if the sale price is good, copy the URL and paste it into the search field at camelcamelcamel. That’s an Amazon price tracker that shows you price history. Better yet, it works for any item, not just board games.
Finally, you can follow IGN Deals on Twitter, where we’ll always tweet any notable board game deals we come across.
How Do You Know if a Board Game Is Any Good?
IGN reviews board games fairly regularly, so you can always search to see if we’ve reviewed a game you’re considering picking up. Other websites do, too. We also have a whole lot of board game roundups, ranging from the best classic board games and the best cooperative board games to the best horror board games.
Outside of IGN, the best board game resource around (for my money) is Board Game Geek. It maintains a database of every board and card game you’d want to know about, with all kinds of news, stats, and user reviews all gathered together in one place.
Now that Diablo 4‘s new season has arrived, I thought I’d give the game another shot. So, in an evening spare of stuff to do, I booted the game up and created a druid called ANIMALS. After a few hours of pressing 1,3,2,4, in either the same pattern or different patterns, I’ve come to realise the game doesn’t make me feel anything. I bash some skeletons, I equip a staff, I exit to Windows, I couldn’t care less. Maybe, though, it’s not such a bad thing?
I know I said I’d like Diablo 4 to channel Vampire Survivors and give me an auto-attack switch, so I could just steer my character through encounters without having to think at all. I still stand by my stubbornness! But having obliterated more packs of rabid wolves and legions of demons, I’ve come to develop what I think is ARPG muscle memory.
