Author: Game Infliction

Space Marine 2 Dev Cancels Open Beta, Hands Out Bolt Pistol Skin as an Apology

The Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 open beta is canceled so the development team can focus on getting the game ready for launch.

Developer Saber Interactive and publisher Focus Entertainment announced the change of plan in a post on the Space Marine 2 Steam page, and offered a limited Bolt Pistol skin to those who’d registered as an apology gift.

“We know this is disappointing news for some of you.

“Over the past few weeks, we have seen incredible excitement around the game, both online and at the shows during the North American tour,” Saber said. “Our teams at Focus and Saber have been truly blown away by your passion, and we’ve loved seeing the fan art, reactions and memes that you have shared so far.

“Space Marine 2 is almost ready. We are now entirely focused on optimization, polish and fixing remaining issues ahead of launch on September 9. This means we will not run a public online beta, as it would take the development teams away from preparing for the full launch, and our priority is to ensure the best possible experience at release.

“We know this is disappointing news for some of you. As a thank you to those interested in participating, players who registered via the online signup before June 28, 2024, midnight Paris Time, will receive the limited Bolt Pistol skin below.

“We appreciate your understanding and continued support as we work towards delivering the exceptional game you deserve.”

Space Marine 2 is a third-person action game based on Games Workshop’s grimdark tabletop wargame that sees the Ultramarines chapter of Space Marines go up against the Tyranids and the Chaos Marines.

You play Lieutenant Titus of the Ultramarines and battle to fend off a Tyranid invasion, with Thousand Sons Chaos Marines thrown in for good measure. There’s a story-focused campaign, a brand-new three-player co-op mode called Operations that lets you join forces with up to two friends, and a competitive multiplayer mode that pits Space Marines against Chaos Marines in 6v6 PvP.

For more on Space Marine 2, be sure to check out our Gamescom 2023 preview, where we got a closer look at how its Chainsword combat will blend with the over-the-shoulder shooter action.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 launches on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X and S on September 9, 2024.

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.

Modders uncover a last-minute Yennefer betrayal in The Witcher 3 cut content

Big large huge RPG The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt recently got a fresh set of official modding tools in the form of REDKit, a powerful bit of downloadable that helps you add whatever you fancy to the game, including entire custom questlines. Not two months on from REDKit’s release, ‘Tuber xLetalis and modder glassfish – a contributor to the cut-content-restoring Brothers in Arms mod – have put together a showcase containing around 20 minutes of cut content from the game’s ending. Cheers, cheery RPS fanzine PC Gamer!

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Sega’s Crazy Taxi Reboot Is Described As A ‘Massively Multiplayer Driving Game’

Hop in!

Sega’s upcoming reboot of the Crazy Taxi franchise might still be a ways off, but thanks to a recruitment video and a smattering of job listings, we now have a slightly firmer idea of what the game will have in store for us.

As spotted by VGC, SEGA is describing the reboot as a ‘massively multiplayer driving game’ in online job listings, with the recently posted recruitment video expanding on this by stating that development is currently focused on adapting the classic Crazy Taxi gameplay into an online world with multiple players.

Read the full article on nintendolife.com

George R. R. Martin Teases Elden Ring Movie or TV Series

Hot on the heels of the release of DLC Shadow of the Erdtree, George R. R. Martin has teased an Elden Ring movie or TV show.

In a post on his blog, the Game of Thrones author wrote about winning awards, and in doing so strongly suggested an adaptation of FromSoftware’s masterpiece is indeed in the works.

“Oh, and about those rumors you may have heard about a feature film or television series based on Elden Ring… I have nothing to say,” he said. “Not a word, nope, not a thing, I know nothing, you never heard a peep from me, mum mum mum. What rumor?”

I know nothing, you never heard a peep from me, mum mum mum.

As George R. R. Martin stated in the blog post, the famed fantasy author “did the worldbuilding” for Elden Ring, whereas FromSoftware chief Hidetaka Miyazaka and his team “did all the rest.” Now it does indeed seem like an Elden Ring movie or TV series is actually happening, George R. R. Martin will likely be involved in some capacity.

An Elden Ring movie has often come up as a possibility, with fans pondering how it might be adapted. Miyazaki himself revealed recently that he would be open to an adaptation of the studio’s 25 million-selling 2022 action role-playing game, but only if a “very strong partner” were to come into play.

“I don’t see any reason to deny another interpretation or adaptation of Elden Ring, a movie for example,” explained Miyazaki in an interview with The Guardian. “But I don’t think myself, or FromSoftware, have the knowledge or ability to produce something in a different medium.”

“So that’s where a very strong partner would come into play,” continued Miyazaki. “We’d have to build a lot of trust and agreement on whatever it is we’re trying to achieve, but there’s interest, for sure.”

Meanwhile, Shadow of the Erdtree has sold wonderfully well, shifting five million copies in just three days. IGN’s Shadow of the Erdtree review returned a 10/10. We said: “Like the base game did before it, Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree raises the bar for single-player DLC expansions. It takes everything that made the base game such a landmark RPG, condenses it into a relatively compact 20-25 hour campaign, and provides fantastic new challenges for heavily invested fans to chew on.”

Check out IGN’s comprehensive Shadow of the Erdtree guide hub and Elden Ring interactive map if you need any help,

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.

Elden Ring: Shadow Of The Erdtree has a hidden item that lets Torrent headbutt your enemies

Elden Ring, you sneaky sausage, clandestine chorizo and, possibly, underhand cumberland! In keeping with Shadow Of The Erdtree’s tradition of hiding entire new systems behind tucked-away items, a hidden NPC quest in the DLC gives you access to a special raisin that allows Torrent. your steed, to charge your foes with its big fat forehead. A delicious ‘fruit and nut’ bar, if you will.

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Daily Deals: Toshiba 75″ TV, HyperX CloudX, Street Fighter 6, and More

Sunday is here, and we’ve rounded up some of the best deals you can find this weekend. Whether you’re searching for a new gaming headset or a new game to pick up on sale, there are plenty of options this weekend. The best deals for Sunday, June 30, include the Toshiba C350 75″ TV, HyperX CloudX Headset, Street Fighter 6, Suzume, Danganronpa Decadence, and more.

Toshiba C350 75″ TV for $469.99

It’s not too often that you can score a 75″ TV for under $500, but Amazon has the Toshiba C350 available for only $469.99 this weekend. While this isn’t an OLED TV, the C350 is a 4K TV that makes for an excellent outdoor TV. Plus, with the newly announced Xbox app coming to Fire TVs, you can play Xbox games straight from this TV if you’re an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscriber.

HyperX CloudX Headset for $29.99

The CloudX is officially licensed for Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One, so you can play worry-free knowing you’re getting a reliable headset. HyperX prioritized sound with this headset, with enhanced bass reproduction and clear highs, lows, and mids for all-around immersion. It’s worth noting that the CloudX can be used on PC, but you’ll need a splitter to get both microphone input and audio output due to the design of this headset.

Street Fighter 6 for $29.99

Street Fighter 6 is one of the most popular fighting games out there, with the second year of DLC just starting. M. Bison is officially out now, with an exciting new look and plenty of surprises with his moveset. Now is a great time to pick up SF6 and grab the Year 2 DLC as we look toward Terry Bogard, Mai Shiranui, and Elena.

Danganronpa Decadence for $29.99

Danganronpa Decadence packs in the main three titles in the Danganronpa franchise: Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc Anniversary Edition, Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair Anniversary Edition, and Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony Anniversary Edition. Additionally, Danganronpa S: Ultimate Summer Camp, a fourth game, is included in the package and features board game-style gameplay. If you’ve never played any of the Danganronpa titles, this is a great chance to pick the entire series up for just $30.

Suzume Blu-ray for $22.17

Suzume is the latest film from Makoto Shinkai, Director of Your Name, Weathering with You, and The Garden of Words. The film follows Suzume as she encounters Souta, a man who travels throughout the world to close doors. With gorgeous visuals and an intriguing story, Suzume is an easy recommendation for any anime fan – especially at this price.

Samba de Amigo for $14.99

Released just last year, you can pick up the latest Samba de Amigo rhythm title for just $14.99 on Nintendo Switch. This matches the previous low of the title. It’s been quite a while since the last entry, and this one packs a punch with dozens of new songs. Multiple DLC packs based on SEGA properties have already released for the game, including Like a Dragon, Persona 5 Royal, and Sonic.

Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz HD for $9.99

If you picked up Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble earlier this week, you might be close to finished with the main levels if you’ve played quite a bit. For more Monkey Ball fun, this sweet discount on Banana Blitz HD is a great option! Over 100 levels are available to play through, with ten different multiplayer games you can start up with your friends. Join AiAi and the others and score at the top of the leaderboards!

Save 30% Off The Art of Spider-Man 2

This 256 page hardcover art book is perfect for any fan of Insomniac’s Spider-Man series. As a collaboration between Marvel Games and Dark Horse Books, The Art of Spider-Man 2 features never-before-seen concept art of the game, including looks at Miles and Peter, the villains, and some of the setpieces used in the game. If you’re interested in how the new suits were desgined, this is a great reference book with loads of commentary from designers and developers alike.

Pick Up the Dead Space Remake for $29.99

Dead Space launched last January, and this is a great time to pick up the game if you haven’t already. This remake features an impressive use of technology and a completely modernized combat system. Special attention has been put on the audio, with 3D Audio technology utilized for an immersive experience. You can expect loads of thrills and horror as you look to escape the stranded ship. The USG Ishimura has never looked better or been scarier.

Demon Slayer -Kimetsu No Yaiba- Sweep the Board! for $39.99

Sweep the Board! is the latest game from Demon Slayer – Kimetsu no Yaiba-, focusing on a fun, party-like title that is extremely similar to Mario Party. You play as Tanjiro, Nezuko, Zenitsu, Inosuke, and the rest of the Demon Slayer cast as they traverse through multiple party boards and complete minigames against each other.

ASUS ROG 65W Charger Dock for $29.99

Best Buy currently has the ROG 65W Charger Dock available for $29.99. This device is the perfect accessory if you’re looking to play with your handheld PC on the big screen. With its minimal size, you can easily pack it in a bag with no issues. This device works with both the ROG Ally and the Steam Deck, as it just requires a USB-C port to pass through both power and display.

Persona 3 Reload Collector’s Edition for $99.99

Persona 3 Reload launched earlier this year as an expanded and enhanced version of Persona 3 for modern platforms. The game features remade character assets and sprites, unique combat animations, updates to gameplay, and more. The Collector’s Edition features an art book, soundtrack, and an exclusive Aigis figure.

Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero Hands-Off Preview and New Details Revealed at gamescom latam

At gamescom latam 2024, we had the chance to check out some brand-new gameplay firsthand of Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero, and it included a look at such newly announced characters in action like Mr. Satan and Future Trunks as well as a glimpse of the story mode.

This preview followed a new Sword vs. Fist trailer that showcased just some of the 160 characters that will be part of this latest entry in the beloved Budokai Tenkaichi series, including Super Vegito, Jiren, Roasie, Ribrianne, Yajirobe, Spopovich, Dabura, Anilaza, Goku (Super) Ultra Instinct – Sign-, and Goku Black Super Saiyan Rose.

In our new look, which you can see below, we get to see more of the Battle Mode that lets you practice against CPU or jump online to take on others around the world. Gameplay also took center stage and we got to see some of the unique abilities each character has, including Majin Vegeta’s Final Explosion that deals a ton of damage but leaves the player with 1 HP for a chance to fight on.

While we didn’t get to learn a ton more about the story mode and its branching paths – you can alter parts of the canon Dragon Ball story with your decisions – we did get to see certain scenes like the battle against Raditz. For those unfamiliar, Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero will take players through both Dragon Ball Z and Dragon Ball Super and star eight characters, including Goku and Vegeta.

Bandai Namco revealed to us that Goku has the largest number of stages, beginning with his fight with Raditz and going all the way through the Tournament of Power Saga.

If that wasn’t enough, Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero will have a ton of support post-launch in the form of 3 DLC packs that will add more than 20 playable characters from the Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero movie and Dragon Ball Daima series.

For more, check out our hands-on preview of Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero from Summer Game Fest, where we said this game is exactly like controlling a battle from the anime.

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.

What’s on your bookshelf?: Dread Delusion and The Night is Darkening’s James Wragg

Hello reader who is also a reader, and welcome back to Booked For The Week – our regular Sunday chat with a selection of cool industry folks about books! Words are amazing, aren’t they? I once put in a cover letter to a creative writing university course that I’d “even invented several of my own words” before my mate talked me down from it. Spoilsport. This week, it’s the creative director of Dread Delusion, maker of The Night is Darkening, and Lovely Hellplace director, James Wragg! Cheers James! Mind if we have a nose at your bookshelf?

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