Frost Giant Studios took the time to announce a PC via Steam Early Access release date of August 13, 2024, for its sci-fi fantasy RTS, Stormgate, during the June 2024 PC Gaming Show.
The date arrived alongside a new trailer, a one-minute video also reveals that the game’s third faction is the Celestial Armada. It’s described as a “race of highly technologically advanced interstellar travelers” that seeks to challenge the Infernal Host faction for control of Earth.
Frost Giant says its playtesters have called the Celestial Armada the “most original RTS faction they’ve ever played.” You can dive into the details of this powerful new race here.
Stormgate is free-to-play but offers a trio of Early Access bundle deals for those looking to sweeten their RTS experience. You can read more about them, as detailed by Frost Giant, below:
The Early Access Pack ($25 USD) includes the Amara Human Vanguard Hero, the first Chapter of the Vanguard campaign, and the Gold Vanguard Army Accent.
The Deluxe Early Access Pack ($40 USD) includes everything in the Early Access Pack plus the Maloc Infernal Host Hero, the Auralanna Celestial Armada Hero, and the Chicken Pet.
The Ultimate Early Access Pack ($60 USD) includes everything in the Deluxe Early Access Pack plus Chapters 2 and 3 of the Vanguard campaign (available sometime after August 13) and the Firestorm Fog of War Shader.
Each pack comes with its own variety of goodies, but the real benefit comes from the preview access. Every bundle grants owners two weeks of preview access, meaning you can play Stormgate as early as July 30, 2024. Progress made during these two weeks will not be reset upon the full Early Access launch.
“Launching Stormgate in Early Access represents a major milestone for our team and our community,” Frost Giant CEO and Production Director Tim Morten said. “We believe Early Access is a better way to make games, as it allows us to form a true partnership with our players. Their feedback and participation have already been invaluable in shaping the future of Stormgate, and we can’t wait to see what future contributions they’ll make as together we forge a bright future for the real-time strategy genre.”
Stormgate was revealed as Frost Giant’s debut video game in 2022. Its team is comprised of former Blizzard Entertainment developers with experience on titles like StarCraft 2 and WarCraft, and that background shows in their work. Late last year, we put Stormgate under the microscope to see what makes it tick and what sets it apart from other RTS titles.
Michael Cripe is a freelance contributor with IGN. He started writing in the industry in 2017 and is best known for his work at outlets such as The Pitch, The Escapist, OnlySP, and Gameranx.
Be sure to give him a follow on Twitter @MikeCripe.
The Artful Escape developers Beethoven & Dinosaur are following up their musical platformer with another soundtrack-driven narrative game. Mixtape draws on the classic tropes of coming-of-age teen flicks, adds striking stop motion-style visuals and completes the package with a soundtrack that would feel right at home in a John Hughes movie.
Publisher Ysbryd Games has revealed Love Eternal, a surreal 2D platformer in which you bend gravity to your will to overcome increasingly difficult challenges.
Developed by brlka, the game is currently scheduled to release on the Nintendo Switch in 2025, so we’ve got a bit of a wait on our hands for this one. It should be worth it though; judging from the trailer, it definitely seems to be channeling some of that precise, challenging platforming gameplay made popular in games like Celeste. It looks cool.
Attention, PlayStation players and Call of Duty fans — Black Ops is officially back! After four years, Treyarch and Raven are ushering in the next chapter in the vaunted Black Ops franchise with Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, releasing on Friday, October 25. We’ve got intel on some of the modes and features coming to the game and more on items such as pre-order benefits you can earn between now and launch.
This will be signature Black Ops across a cinematic single-player Campaign, Multiplayer, and the epic return of Round-Based Zombies. Get ready for a mind-bending narrative and to go beyond the rules of engagement in all three modes. In Black Ops 6, you’re never sure who to trust and what’s real – – but this blog is real, so let’s dive in!
The Black Ops 6 Campaign narrative
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It’s the early ‘90s – a period of transition and upheaval in global politics, characterized by the end of the Cold War and the rise of the United States as a single superpower. While the Gulf War commands the global spotlight, a shadowy clandestine force has infiltrated the highest levels of the CIA, branding anyone who resists as traitors. Exiled from their agency and country that once hailed them as heroes, Black Ops veteran Frank Woods and his team find themselves hunted by the military machine that created them. They are forced to go rogue, partnering with the criminal underworld to stay one step ahead of their own corrupted government. They’ll do whatever it takes to bring down the real traitors and clear their names — even if that means crossing the same lines as their enemies. There is no going back.
With the Campaign taking place in the years after the Cold War, longtime fans will recognize that this timeframe is directly connected to the 1980s flashbacks revealed during Black Ops 2 – the aftermath of which has left our heroes in dire circumstances.
In this new chapter, we see a different side of Frank Woods following his traumatic injury at the hands of Raul Menendez. His protege is Troy Marshall, who has been making a name for himself in the field. Marshall is a reluctant leader, driven by a strong moral compass.
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Marshall and Woods are working with another new face in Black Ops 6: CIA handler Jane Harrow. She is a born leader, fearless and brilliant, and helps manage their relationships within the agency.
When an operation goes wrong, Woods and Marshall are suspended and ultimately forced to go rogue, and they soon realize they must trust each other to really get to the bottom of what’s going on. They must build their own team of rogue agents, recruiting two intriguing new characters in Felix Neumann, a technical genius, and Sevati Dumas, a mysterious assassin.
With a mixture of new and old faces, a legendary wildcard also returns to the fight – Russell Adler. While his allegiances and motivations remain unclear, this former ally may have become a new and daunting enemy.
Leading the development of the Black Ops 6 Campaign is Raven Software, and with this Campaign, their goal is to deliver more: an increased variety of mission structures, additional focus on player choice, and more options to finish each mission, with dynamic moment-to-moment gameplay throughout.
Mission variety is a key component of what PlayStation players can expect. From a map standpoint, some locations are more ideal for stealth, and some are more appropriate for large-scale battles, and the Campaign has a balance of both. These range from storming a palace to pulling off a heist in an opulent, southern European casino. Within the Campaign missions gameplay can unfold in multiple ways, giving the player the freedom to navigate through them as they see fit. This includes combat as well as conversation, as operatives talk, barter, and manipulate their way into different outcomes.
There are many more Campaign details that fans can find across Call of Duty channels, including details on enemies, equipment, the return of the Safehouse, and more.
A taste of what’s to come with Multiplayer and the return of RBZ
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Treyarch is leaving no stone unturned in the development of both Multiplayer and Zombies. Many more details are coming later in the year on each of these modes but there are a few key things we can share now.
In Black Ops 6 Multiplayer, players will test their skills across 16 new maps at launch, including 12 core 6v6 maps and 4 Strike maps that can be played 2v2 or 6v6. Many of these maps feature innovations on the classic three-lane map design, with quick time to engagement, and coming in the small to medium-sized range for the right amount of complexity. This allows for meaningful player choice, keeping the action flowing and the pacing optimal. A key point for Treyarch is that maps intentionally support gameplay variety.
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But that’s not all. It’s time to rejoice, Zombies fans! Round-based Zombies is back in a massive way. Players will be able to take down hordes of the undead in two brand-new maps at launch in the return of this fan-favorite mode. Players will experience the continuation of the Dark Aether storyline that started in Black Ops Cold War, with each map containing a curated mix of elements both new and familiar to discover.
And of course, in Black Ops 6’s post-launch seasons, players can look forward to even more exciting maps and groundbreaking experiences dropping into both Multiplayer and Zombies.
Introducing Omnimovement
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Across the entire game, players will push beyond their limits with several new global innovations, including Omnimovement, the most fluid boots-on-the-ground Call of Duty movement to date. Movement has been a consistent area of focus and innovation across Call of Duty – and with Black Ops 6, Treyarch is redefining movement in a big way.
For the first time ever, players can sprint in any direction (forward, sidestepping, and backpedaling) and move like a true Black Ops action hero. This innovation immediately allows the player to move like never before and seamlessly chain combat maneuvers together, like sliding, diving, and a newly-enhanced supine prone, all with a full 360 degrees range of motion.
With Omnimovement – and core player movement in general – it’s not just about making the player move faster. This is Treyarch’s holistic approach to redefine what Black Ops movement really means. The upcoming Multiplayer Beta will be a perfect opportunity for PlayStation players to try it out for themselves.
There are many other exciting innovations and features coming to Black Ops 6, including the return of a more traditional Call of Duty Prestige system, but for now, let’s turn our attention to how you can get involved in the action.
Pre-orders now available at the PlayStation Store
Get yourself ready to dive into Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 by pre-ordering either of the digital editions on the PlayStation Store today: the Cross-Gen Bundle, which includes the PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4 versions of the game, or the Vault Edition, which includes the Cross-Gen Bundle plus additional premium content.
Pre-order either digital edition and get Early Access* to the Open Beta, dates to be announced soon. Plus, pre-order either digital edition and get the Woods Operator Pack** – immediately unlock the Classic Woods Operator Skin in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III and Call of Duty: Warzone. Plus, get access to unlock the Zombie Woods and Numbers Woods skins by completing in-game challenges.
Black Ops 6: Vault Edition
Players who pre-order the Vault Edition from the PlayStation Store can expect the following premium content, in addition to the game itself:
Hunters vs. Hunted Operator Pack, including Operator Skins for Adler, Park, Brutus, and Klaus
Mastercraft Collection, featuring 5 different Mastercraft weapons
Season 1 BlackCell, including content, tier skips, Call of Duty Points, and more***
GobbleGum Pack for Zombies, including 12 GobbleGums of high rarities
Be on the lookout for more information about Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 soon. And never forget, the truth lies …
*Actual launch date(s) and platform availability of MP Beta subject to change. Minimum Open Beta duration is 2 days. Limited time only. Internet connection required. PlayStation Plus subscription may be required for MP Beta.
**Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III or Call of Duty: Warzone on PS4 / PS5 required to redeem. Sold / downloaded separately. Must be redeemed by October 25, 2025.
***Battle Pass and BlackCell will be accessible in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 once the Season 1 Battle Pass is made available in game. Battle Pass / BlackCell redemption applies to one Season of Black Ops 6 Battle Pass only.
Black Ops 6 acts as a “fresh start for everyone,” developer Treyarch has confirmed.
2023’s Modern Warfare 3 carried forward content from Modern Warfare 2 into the game. However, in Black Ops 6, fully revealed during Microsoft’s Xbox Games Showcase and Call of Duty Direct, only Black Ops 6 content will be available to use across Multiplayer and Zombies.
In an interview with IGN, Miles Leslie, associate creative director at Treyarch, said Black Ops 6 is “a fresh start.” This means that when Black Ops 6 comes out in October, players will not be playing Multiplayer and Zombies modes in the many and varied skins they’ve already bought for Modern Warfare 3 and Modern Warfare 2. Yes, that means you don’t have to worry about killer clowns and Warhammer 40,000 soldiers ruining that early 90s look and feel.
It also means you won’t see operators from the Modern Warfare sub-brand, which is currently set years after the events of Black Ops 6, confusing matters.
“So, day one, you won’t be running around with any of those skins, so that it doesn’t break that immersion in that narrative we want,” Leslie explained. “Now, of course, we’re going to add those things into post-launch. We know players like those stuff, and then we’ll find really cool things that tie to Black Ops lore and also new exciting stuff as well.”
There is one exception to this rule: the Black Ops 6 Vault Edition Woods Operator Pack preorder benefit. It is currently available in Modern Warfare 3 and will carry forward into Black Ops 6, Activision said.
When Modern Warfare 3 launched last year, some players complained that it was cluttered with fully leveled weapons carried forward from Modern Warfare 2. On the other hand, some players said they appreciated the fact the money they’d spent on content for Modern Warfare 2 did not go to waste just a year later.
Activision further explained the decision in a blog post. Here’s the statement:
We want to make sure that everybody starts fresh, together, as we move into an all-new experience with the launch of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6.
Allowing everyone to experience the Black Ops universe the way it’s meant to be played, learning the era-specific weapons and gear, learning the gameplay innovations like Omnimovement, and keeping that signature Black Ops style is important.
Therefore, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 and Modern Warfare 3 content will not carry forward to the Black Ops 6 Premium experience.
Despite this fresh start for “premium” Call of Duty players, as Activision calls it, Black Ops 6 content will integrate into Warzone and sit alongside all the Modern Warfare 2 and 3 content already available in the battle royale. Warzone is a Call of Duty mash-up that seemingly has no restrictions when it comes to skins.
Black Ops 6 is set in the early 1990s, after the events of Black Ops Cold War and tied to the 1980s flashbacks in 2012’s Black Ops 2. Multiplayer launches with 16 new maps, including 12 core 6v6 maps, and four smaller Strike maps that can be played 2v2 or 6v6.
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.
Microsoft and Blizzard have slapped a release date on Diablo 4‘s forthcoming content-o-season Vessel Of Hatred. It’s out 8th October 2024, and sees you hooting and hollering down the road to the new region of Nahantu in search of Neyrelle, a character “who is both suffering the fate of her choice to imprison the Prime Evil Mephisto, and seeking a means to destroy him”. In the process, you may choose to become “the apex predator of the jungle as the all-new Spiritborn class”. You can also recruit mercenaries to help you, fight alongside other players in a new PvE co-op activity, “and more”.
Max Caulfield is back! The time-bending protagonist of the first Life is Strange is returning in a new entry in the series, Life is Strange: Double Exposure. It’s out this October.
The follow-up to 2020’s well-received Microsoft Flight Simulator is designed to take advantage of the latest technologies in simulation, cloud, machine learning, and graphics, Microsoft said. It’s all powered by an evolved Asobo Studio engine and built by French outfit Asobo Studio.
we’ll be flying high in the skies from the comfort of our desk chairs November 19 ✈️
As an Xbox Game Studios title, Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 launches day-one across Xbox Game Pass, PC Game Pass, Xbox Cloud Gaming, Windows 10/11, and Steam. For more, check out everything announced at the Xbox Games Showcase 2024.
Developing…
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.
Back in 2011, Sonic Generations felt like an attempt to win back long-time Sonic fans. Whether they grew up with 2D Sonic or the 3D adventures, both sides of the fanbase were becoming frustrated with the attempts at experimentation, and the supposed abandonment of what made Sonic great – fast, frantic, flowing action.
