What to Expect From Star Wars Celebration 2023

Fans of a galaxy far, far away are gearing up for one of the most exciting weekends of the year as Star Wars Celebration 2023 is almost upon us.

Taking place in London’s ExCeL from April 7 to 10, Lucasfilm will be making its biggest announcements of the year for all manner of Star Wars films, TV shows, games, books, comics, and more.

Thanks to the galaxy growing constantly, and now more than ever, there are already a ton of Star Wars projects we’re expecting to see over the weekend. Though nothing is confirmed yet, here’s everything we’re expecting to see at Star Wars Celebration 2023.

The 2025 Film

Let’s cut to the chase: it’s surely time for Disney and Lucasfilm to unveil the next Star Wars film. It’s already been more than three years since The Rise of Skywalker, and though the franchise is now spread across just about every media form possible, Star Wars is a film franchise at its core. We already know the next movie is premiering on December 19, 2025, but we don’t know which of the several unnamed projects it will be.

Taika Waititi’s film is one of the frontrunners, though even its development has been shaky at best. Confirmed to be in development almost three years ago, it’s set to cover characters far, far away from everyone we know already. Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy said in May last year that she expected the film to premiere by the end of 2023 (and this is practically impossible now), but just a month later Waititi himself said he’s no idea if it will even be made.

That being said, Disney has been cleaning up its vague list of upcoming Star Wars projects, as reports emerged last month that both Kevin Feige’s and Patty Jenkins’ films had been scrapped. Waititi’s wasn’t mentioned here though, meaning it’s presumably still moving forward.

Other changes have been happening behind the scenes too, as Lost co-creator Damon Lindelof and co-writer Justin Britt-Gibson have reportedly left an untitled project directed by Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy. Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight will reportedly write the script instead, with sources saying a full reveal will happen at Celebration.

Whether that happens or not remains to be seen, especially since these changes are happening so last minute, but we’re hoping to see Disney and Lucasfilm make one concrete announcement about the 2025 Star Wars film, even if it’s just a title.

Ahsoka Disney+ Series Trailer and Premiere Date

As a star of The Clone Wars, and having since appeared in several other series including Rebels and The Mandalorian, Ahsoka is finally getting a Star Wars show all about her.

First announced in December 2020, Ahsoka has been teased, and teased, and teased, so should finally be due a concrete premiere date and trailer at Star Wars Celebration.

It’s already confirmed for 2023, and with a glaring gap in the adult Star Wars TV schedule after The Mandalorian Season 3 wraps later in April, Ahsoka is a perfect candidate to take on the mantle.

Skeleton Crew Tease

Star Wars: Skeleton Crew is also scheduled for a 2023 premiere despite only being announced at last year’s Celebration. We know that it stars Jude Law and was created by Spider-Man: No Way Home’s Jon Watts and Christopher Ford, and revolves around a group of children trying to find their way home during roughly the same time period as The Mandalorian.

But outside of that, Disney has said almost nothing. We’ve learned through various sources that it’s wrapped filming, and has an episode directed by Everything Everywhere’s Daniels Duo, but that’s really it.

We’re definitely expecting Skeleton Crew to make an appearance at Star Wars Celebration, though it might just be an explanation of the show and maybe a teaser trailer rather than a full blown premiere date like Ahsoka.

TV Show Maybes

While the Skeleton Crew seems to have been fast-tracked by Disney, the same can’t be said for some other floating Star Wars shows. Both the Lando Calrissian series and first live action High Republic show The Acolyte have been quiet for a while.

Lando was first announced over two years ago in 2020 but we haven’t heard anything since. Given that Disney has announced some Star Wars cancellations and this wasn’t on the list, however, we have hope that we’ll find out more soon.

The Acolyte was revealed a little later in January 2021 with a lot of excitement behind it as the first live action show set during the High Republic era. This is a relatively new saga of books, comics, and more that tells brand new stories from around 200 years before the Skywalker Saga, at the height of the Jedi and the Republic’s power.

Production began in November, so we’re again hoping for an update, or at least a release window for The Acolyte, and Celebration would of course be the perfect time to re-introduce all of these shows to the world.

As 2023 is expected to include Ahsoka and Skeleton Crew, a release window of 2024 will perhaps be announced for these ones.

We’ll also likely see some last minute trailers for Young Jedi Adventures and Visions Volume 2, which are both right around the corner. Visions in particular still has plenty room for some reveals, as we don’t know too much about the upcoming shorts outside of episode titles and the studios and directors making them.

Jedi: Survivor Final Trailer

This one may not be as exciting as a drop of completely fresh information, but with Star Wars Jedi: Survivor launching in just a few weeks, it’s likely we’ll see a final look at the game during Celebration.

Respawn Entertainment recently dropped a story trailer showing off Merrin and Greez in the sequel for the first time, but we’re still due the big, flashy, and dramatic trailer that’ll hold TV spots and such.

As for anything beyond this, don’t get your hopes up. The original Jedi: Fallen Order didn’t really receive any DLC, meaning Survivor will likely be the same, especially as we know director Stig Asmussen wants to make Cal Kestis’s story a trilogy.

Hunters Release Window

Hunters, which is Star Wars’ take on Overwatch (or at least the squad based PvP shooter genre), was quietly delayed into 2023 in July last year and has since remained off the radar.

Developer Zynga said it was delayed to “meet the high expectations we are setting for fans globally and ourselves as developers,” but promised it was “working tirelessly to achieve our vision”. It was originally due to launch in 2021 though, and is even available to some players through a soft launch, so an official release date shouldn’t be too far away.

Though fans may not be eyeing this one as much as some other Star Wars projects in development, a release window or date being announced at Celebration, and maybe even a beta, would be sure to get some players excited.

Eclipse or Knights of the Old Republic Remake Updates

Now onto the games that Star Wars fans are super excited for. We don’t want to get our hopes too high (and know that Disney will likely want to save some big gaming announcements for E3 season), but still think at least one major video game update will come out of Celebration.

Eclipse, the High Republic game coming from Heavy Rain developer Quantic Dream, and the Knights of the Old Republic (KOTOR) Remake, which will bring the fan-favourite from 2003 to the modern (and Canon) era, have both been quiet for a while after their official reveals.

The former was revealed in late 2021 and, outside of a couple of smaller comments from its development team, hasn’t had an official update since.

The KOTOR Remake, on the other hand, has been a little messier, with development reportedly switching studios following a disappointing presentation to Lucasfilm and Sony.

An update on either of these games would therefore be very welcome to fans. This likely wouldn’t be a release window announcement, perhaps not even a year, but a development update or short teaser would likely go a long way.

Hopefully a Few More Surprises

Despite having so many films, TV shows, books, games, and more already at our fingertips, Star Wars fans will always want more. Celebration is the place to give us that, and some surprise reveals are guaranteed to get the crowd in London going.

IGN will have you covered on every one of these announcements, with tons of breaking news, analysis, commentary, and more throughout the entirety of Star Wars Celebration 2023 weekend.

Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelancer and acting UK news editor. He’ll talk about The Witcher all day.

Dredge’s rescue dog is actually the spooky fishing sim’s most supreme being, devs reveal

Spooky fishing game Dredge is overflowing with underwater eldritch horrors, ghoulish critters, and mutant fishies – like, the Blinky-the-fish kind. Based on that description, you’d expect some three-headed sea beast, incomprehensibly twisted and glowing with an otherworldly light, to be the game’s most supreme being. Nope. That title goes to the dog you rescue in one of the game’s side missions, the developers have revealed.

Read more

25 Best PS4 Games to Play Right Now

Now in its tenth year on the market, PS4 — the second-best-selling home console of all time — has amassed an all-time great catalog of games. With a PS5 price bump outside of the U.S. and many publishers still releasing games on its last-gen console, it’s still a great time to play on PS4, and so we’ve created this list to highlight the best games the console has to offer.

The games below weren’t chosen lightly; this list was compiled by the entire IGN content team and — after plenty of internal debate — represents what we believe to be the best that the PS4 has to offer. Without further ado, these are our picks for the 25 best PS4 games.

More on the Best of PlayStation:

25. Nier: Automata

Nier: Automata delivers a ridiculously entertaining journey full of awesome ideas that is equal parts strange and beautiful. There are few games like Automata, which bounces between game genres and styles with aplomb. Taking place in a futuristic dystopia, this “action-RPG” offers a roller coaster of different gameplay opportunities, wrapped up in a fascinating story that has many multiple endings that encourage poking into every corner of this engrossing world. There are few games that attempt what Nier: Automata does, and it’s absolutely worth checking out this Yoko Taro-directed adventure.

Nier: Automata has been adapted into an anime titled Nier: Automata Ver1.1a, which came out in Japan on January 8, 2023. Three episodes of the series have been aired so far, but it went into hiatus with the fourth episode due to COVID-19.

24. Monster Hunter World

The long-running Monster Hunter series broke through with the 2018 hit Monster Hunter World, which not only impressed us with its rewarding gameplay but also with how accessible the game proved to be. For a series that can take some learning to get the hang of, Monster Hunter World produced a fully realized, expansive world.

Monster Hunter World made our list of the 10 best co-op games. Series fans will be happy to hear Monster Hunter Rise is now available on PS4 as well. Also, Monster Hunter World: Iceborne has sold over 10 million copies as of January 19.

23. Apex Legends

Amid the rise of the battle royale genre, Apex Legends manages to stand out, even as a later addition to the fray. Set in the universe of Respawn’s Titanfall series, Apex utilizes similar gameplay mechanics which give it a unique edge over other battle royale games. In addition to its faster pace, Apex incorporates the use of specific “Legends” who all have different skills and abilities that create the need for teams to work together and synergize between the different characters. Similar to how Overwatch operates, the roster of different heroes allows players to constantly change their playstyles in order to secure the win. With constant updates and new limited-time game modes being switched in and out, Apex Legends is a high-octane game that constantly leaves you wanting to go for “just one more match.”

The Sun Squad Collection Event, which brings a new battle royale mode called Heatwave, is running in Apex Legends until April 11.

22. Yakuza 0

Yakuza 0 is the high bar for SEGA’s long-running open-world series, packed with an extraordinary amount of things to do and centered around a genuinely compelling crime story.

Since it’s a prequel, it’s also unburdened by the series’ increasingly intricate backstory and thus supremely approachable for newcomers. While its melee combat may lag slightly behind modern genre standards, Yakuza 0 still hits far more than it misses and is a big, bold and bruising tour through the Japanese underworld.

Like a Dragon: Ishin! is available now, and Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name will be released later in 2023.

21. Tetris Effect

How do you make Tetris, one of the best-selling and arguably perfect games, even better? You add in dazzling light shows, music that reacts to your moves, and one of the most blissfully zen gaming experiences of the generation. Tetris Effect, even without its PSVR component, is a transcendent experience, making a stalwart of the video gaming medium fresh.

Its Journey mode includes a couple dozen stages of memorable music, which melds to the blocks you move and place, with backgrounds that, quite literally, take you on a journey from the ocean depths to jungle and desert terrain to the reaches of space. There’s something almost spiritual to the experience, which doesn’t do anything to majorly twist the Tetris formula, but enhances it in a memorably powerful way.

Tetris Effect: Connected, the multiplayer-enhanced version of Tetris Effect, received four new modes as part of its Winter update, including the single-player version of Classic Score Attack, Zone Marathon, Purify Mode, and Master Mode.

20. Dreams

Dreams is unlike anything else: an ambitious project that has been expertly brought to life by Media Molecule, and an audacious experiment in game design that gives you endless ways to enjoy your time with it. An incredible creative suite made up of tools that allow for and encourage ultimate expression, all inside of your PS4. The vast range of experiences on offer via Dream Surfing means that no two sessions playing it are ever the same, offering fresh ways to have fun every time you start it up and see what community creations have popped up while you’ve been away. Whether you just want to create, purely play, or get involved in a bit of everything, Dreams offers it all to you.

19. Final Fantasy 7 Remake

After a long wait, the 2020 remake of Final Fantasy 7 revitalizes one of the most beloved JRPGs of all time in a (mostly) successful and engaging way. This new version of Midgard probably isn’t just how your brain remembers it looking – it’s much better, with a stunning, detailed, and immersive exploration of the steampunk city.

Since part one of ‘Remake’ (subsequent releases will cover the rest of the original story) takes place entirely within Midgard, Square Enix is able to really spend time with the city’s ensemble cast, giving them more nuance and screentime to round out the adventure. And that’s on top of its stellar combat system, a marriage of real-time and more tactical, turn-based systems to create something that’s wholly unique and a joy to master. Part 2 can’t come soon enough.

FF7R Part 2, officially titled Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, is due out “next winter.” Before that, Square Enix will release Final Fantasy 16 on June 22 as a PS5 exclusive.

18. Overwatch

Overwatch is a brilliant multiplayer shooter brimming with Blizzard’s charm and detail, and it’s one that Blizzard has impressively continued to support with new heroes and updates since its launch in 2016. Overwatch earned Game of the Year from IGN in its launch year, sweeping the IGN offices with multiplayer matches after work and at lunches (and sometimes during the workday) that have continued in the months and years since.

Blizzard’s rock-solid gameplay allows players in whatever role they play on a team to matter. And Blizzard’s impressive attention to detail has created a rich world of lore that permeates the experience, allowing those who just want a fun multiplayer experience to enjoy the action but offering those who want something more a wealth of character and location information to delve into.

Overwatch has now been replaced by Overwatch 2. Our review said the sequel “breathes new life into what was once the sharpest shooter around.” Overwatch 2 collaborated with One-Punch Man to bring Legendary skins inspired by Saitama, Genos, Mumen Rider, and Terrible Tornado — available until April 6.

17. Ratchet & Clank

The iconic PlayStation franchise Ratchet and Clank only got better on PS4 with a beautiful, funny update of the duo’s first adventure. More a remix of the original PS2 game than a straight remaster, there is a gorgeous level of detail to the lombax and robot’s adventure, which also makes some noted story improvements.

The titular duo’s initial meeting and budding friendship feels more fully formed and smartly written, while the series’ signature humor is in full force throughout. Veldin, Rilgar, and other worlds are beautiful, Pixar-like environments with plenty to explore, and modernizations made to the gameplay make the adventure as fresh as ever. And of course, Insomniac’s signature knack for wacky weapons is on full display in HD, from Mr. Zurkon to the Groovitron. Insomniac has obviously put its recent focus on VR and Spider-Man, but this latest iteration proves Ratchet and Clank has plenty of life left in it.

16. What Remains of Edith Finch

One of the most heart-wrenching and visually dynamic adventure games of the generation, What Remains of Edith Finch is a must-play. While a game about recounting the death of each of Edith’s family members by exploring their bedrooms (turned memorial shrines) may sound like a bummer, the creative ways each memory gets explored keeps you entertained while the mystery of how this person died creates eerie suspense that will entice you to keep going. Each remembrance transports you to their stories and subsequent deaths, with moments ranging from playing on swingsets to, quite literally, bouncing between comic book panels. Striking, stylish, and hauntingly beautiful, What Remains of Edith Finch is one of the best experiences to be had on PS4.

Giant Sparrow’s next game will “focus on interactions between humans and urban wildlife.” It’s currently in early development.

15. Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End

Uncharted 4 is Uncharted all grown up; an examination of what happens when Nathan Drake’s Indiana-Jones-style antics come face to face with his adult responsibilities. It manages to reckon with this and then some, juggling delicate relationship dynamics with ridiculously fun action sequences and breathtaking vistas ripe for exploring and pillaging. Though it gets a little bogged down by an overly long final act, Uncharted 4 is still one of the best action-adventure games of all time, and one of the best PlayStation 4 games ever.

On February 1, Sony announced it will be removing the PlayStation Plus Collection, a perk for PS5 owners since the console’s launch, from the subscription service on May 9. Uncharted 4 is among the PS4 games that will be removed as a result.

14. Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain

Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain is without question the most ambitious entry in the Metal Gear series. So ambitious, in fact, that it’s something of an unfinished masterpiece. While a lot of hardcore fans of the series were disappointed by the game’s scattered story, it’s hard to deny that the moment-to-moment gameplay is absolutely phenomenal. On top of rock-solid movement and a huge, sometimes literal, sandbox to explore, The Phantom Pain gives players a huge arsenal of weapons, vehicles, gadgets, and AI companions to approach missions creatively. As always, stealthy tactical gameplay is rewarded heavily, but if a mission goes sideways (or if you’re feeling squirrelly) the game doesn’t punish you too hard for getting get loud and messy. Even if you’ve never played another Metal Gear game, this is a hell of an experience. If the plot leaves you with a big question mark over your head, don’t feel left out. That’s part of the fun.

MGS 5 earned a spot on our list of the 10 best open-world games.

13. Resident Evil 2

Resident Evil fans were begging for a remake of the much-beloved Resident Evil 2 for over two decades. After the original RE1 received its stellar GameCube REmake all the way back in 2002, fans waited, and waited… and waited. When it eventually came, it was everything they dreamed of and more. The Resident Evil 7‘s RE Engine was reworked into a third-person tour de force, showcasing intensely realistic gore with blood dripping from mangled zombies. Mr. X returned as a force to be reckoned with, its shooting mechanics were pitch-perfect, and terror was palpable throughout.

Next up for the franchise is Resident Evil 4 Remake on March 24, 2023. For more on the franchise, see where RE 2 landed on our list of the best Resident Evil games. Resident Evil 4 Remake is available now.

12. Ghost of Tsushima

Sucker Punch’s latest adventure is dense with moving stories and striking visuals that make exploring its expansive take on 13th-century japan a joy. Its cast – across the English and Japanese languages – does an excellent job bringing Ghost’s complex tale of honor and loss to life, both in its 30+ hour main campaign and all the side quests that eloquently mirror thematic aspects of your main journey.

While the stealth may be simple (and enemy AI less than stellar), combat is spectacular – a simple but nuanced exploration of Japanese swordplay that is still fun right up to your very last duel. Add all of this on top of one of the best (and most addictive) photo modes we’ve seen, and Ghost of Tsushima more than makes up for its late addition to the PS4’s library by being one of its best games.

Sucker Punch’s next project is another open-world game with stealth and action elements — perhaps Ghost of Tsushima 2? What has been confirmed is a Ghost of Tsushima movie. Directed by Chad Stahleski (John Wick), the movie will be a retelling of the game’s story.

11. Red Dead Redemption 2

Both a stunning technical achievement and a gold standard for video game storytelling in an open-world setting, Red Dead Redemption 2 is one of the greatest games Rockstar Games has ever made, and one of the greatest games ever, period. Red Dead Redemption 2’s world is a sprawling and stunning recreation of the wild west, packed so full of detail and activity it’s almost daunting; getting from A to B is virtually impossible without going off the beaten path to some other distraction. Said distractions are incredibly accomplished, too – side quests, mini-games, hunting, and gathering are all deeply considered parts of Red Dead 2 in their own right.

But of course, it’s Red Dead 2’s characters that stick in the memory most: Arthur Morgan, John Marsten, Sadie, Dutch, et. al. are vibrant, multi-faceted characters, their complex dynamics always shifting and changing, even if their trajectories are set in stone. Red Dead Redemption 2 is nothing short of a masterpiece.

In just four years, Red Dead 2 has earned a spot on the list of best-selling video games of all time.

10. Uncharted: The Lost Legacy

While Nathan Drake established himself as a compelling lead over the course of the four core Uncharted games, 2017’s Uncharted: The Lost Legacy proved that the same was true for Drake’s supporting cast.

Lost Legacy moved the spotlight to the unexpected duo of treasure hunter Chloe Frazer and mercenary Nadine Ross, and discovered there is a verve and chemistry in the cast even without Nate. Not only does Lost Legacy open the door for any number of spinoffs that focus on other characters in the Uncharted universe, it features some of the best gameplay sequences the series has to offer.

9. Control

An exceptional third-person shooter with a trippy supernatural twist, Control is not only our Game of the Year for 2019 but stands out as one of the most unique adventures of the generation. The seasoned team at Remedy Entertainment brought their years of experience to bear on one of the coolest ability/weapon sets in recent memory, which made for some of the most satisfying and frenetic telekinetic combat ever put to pixels. On top of its excellent super-powered gunplay, Control features some truly inspired environmental design, its Oldest House a shape-shifting labyrinth-like something from a fever dream shared by Stanley Kubrick and David Lynch. Throughout its monster-filled halls, you’ll undertake memorable side quests, hunt for upgrades to your abilities and gear, and hunt down a litany of collectibles that all help flesh out the eerie bureaucracy that’s at the center of Control’s impossibly unique experience.

Remedy is officially working on Control 2 for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. The studio is also developing a Control multiplayer game, the long-awaited Alan Wake 2, a free-to-play co-op shooter codenamed Vanguard, and remakes of Max Payne 1 and 2.

8. Marvel’s Spider-Man

Marvel’s Spider-Man is a masterclass in comic book joy, an expertly built world that perfectly encapsulates the child-like wonder of looking up at the looming, inspiring skylines of New York City and the superhero-like triumph of effortlessly scaling the tallest buildings in the Big Apple. It’s a game about Spider-Man made by people who deeply, truly, genuinely adore Spider-Man, from his costumes to his friends, foes, and family.

The simple act of soaring and flipping through the city is so satisfying and addictive that you’ll likely want to explore every corner of it and nab every collectible before even finishing the story. Once you do decide to settle down and move the narrative forward, you’ll find a heartwarming story of love and loss, awkward adolescence, and tons and tons of ass kicking. Along the way, you’ll unlock iconic Spider-Man suits, take down nefarious villains in gigantic, explosive setpieces, and bask in the realization that the modern comic book movie renaissance that we’re all so gleefully enjoying has finally, finally made its way back to video games.

A sequel, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, is coming to PS5 in Fall 2023. Insomniac and Marvel are also collaborating on a Wolverine game.

7. Horizon Zero Dawn

Horizon: Zero Dawn is one of the most beautiful open-world games ever crafted. Grass sways in the wind beneath blooming sunrises while towering cities formed from the ashes of a once prosperous society loom in the distance. And, most importantly, giant, awe-inspiring mechanical dinosaurs outfitted with a terrifying array of pseudo-natural weaponry roam the land, roaring, gnashing, and trampling their prey. When iconic PlayStation developer Guerrilla Games revealed they were pivoting away from the Killzone franchise to make an open world robot dinosaur hunting game starring a warrior redhead outfitted like a space cake dealer at Burning Man, the world was cautiously optimistic.

The end result, thankfully, was a vast, wondrous, and unique open-world action game with just the right amount of RPG elements that come together to create a brilliant first entry into what we hope will become a pillar franchise for PlayStation Studios. Taking down a gigantic boss with an active strategy of well-placed melee strikes and projectiles is one of the most thrilling experiences on PlayStation 4, and looting the shrapnel of a downed robot for much-needed upgrade parts afterwards is equally satisfying. Horizon takes some of the best elements of existing open world games and weaves them together to make something wholly original, wonderfully refreshing and wildly fun.

Sony is reportedly working on a Zero Dawn PS5 remaster, as well as a Horizon multiplayer game. If you liked Zero Dawn, be sure to check out the excellent sequel, Horizon Forbidden West.

6. Grand Theft Auto 5 / GTA Online

Rockstar’s latest and greatest open-world felony simulator made its debut at the tail end of the last console generation, handily breaking records as the fastest-selling entertainment product in history, so it’s no surprise that it got ported to current-gen. What is surprising, perhaps, is just how much of an upgrade it got in the process. Uprezzed textures, totally overhauled lighting effects and a fully-functional first-person option were just some of the litany of updates and tweaks to the series’ biggest and best game yet.

Whether you’re after a sprawling single-player campaign that provides a ruthless skewering of 21st century American life, or a multiplayer component with years of big free updates and an extremely active community, or just a sandbox where you can do crimes either alone or with friends, Grand Theft Auto V and GTA Online really does offer something for everyone. Seriously, is there any other game where you can play the stock market, jump in a Mad Max death card and then trip on peyote so hard you turn into a bird?

Rockstar has officially confirmed GTA 6 is in development. It will reportedly feature a return to Vice City and star the series’ first female playable character in a Bonnie & Clyde-inspired adventure — details that were seemingly corroborated by a massive GTA 6 leak.

5. Persona 5 Royal

A massive, gorgeous JRPG, Persona 5 set a high bar for the genre, and 2020’s Persona 5 Royal re-release pushes that bar even higher. An engrossing adventure brimming with style and flair, Persona 5 sees you navigating school life by day and descending into the corrupted minds of Tokyo’s more villainous citizens by night in order to coerce them away from their corrupt endeavors.

The students who make up Persona 5’s ensemble cast leave an indelible mark as they are introduced and further become embroiled in the exploits of the Phantom Thieves. Persona 5 does a great job of balancing the two facets of its gameplay, letting players really dive into the social connections in the real world and allowing those to influence the dungeon exploration and turn-based action of its massive and varied mind palaces. Coupled with a continually engaging combat system, a soundtrack full of earworms, its twisty, wild story, and plenty of additional content on top of the base game, Persona 5 Royal delivers one of the deepest JRPGs of the generation, if not of all time.

On February 9, Sega reported that Persona 5 Royal Remastered (PS5) sold over 1.3 million copies worldwide as of the end of December 2022. Black Wings is developing a new Persona 5 spin-off mobile game, The Phantom X, which will follow a new group of Phantom Thieves. Playtests are already underway in China.

4. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

CD Projekt Red’s sprawling fantasy epic has become one of the most noteworthy games of all time, one that set a new standard for open-world RPGs. With a grim-yet-gorgeous world that stretches across the better part of an entire continent, every corner, cave, swamp or city street of The Witcher 3 has something to discover.

It’s 60+ hour main story is a great adventure, full of mystery and intrigue that draws from the deep lore of author Andrzej Sapkowski’s books, but its Geralt’s expertly-crafted side stories, monster hunts and off-beat adventures that really make The Witcher 3 and its two huge expansions truly exceptional. It’s a game where you can easily get lost for hundreds of hours and still not see everything it has to offer – but every one of those hours will be absolutely worth it.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt recently got the 4.02 patch, improving Performance Mode and adding refraction to ray-traced water reflections, among other quality-of-life changes especially for the PS5 version.

3. Bloodborne

Bloodborne is a brutally difficult, immensely terrifying action horror game that will immediately kick your ass. You’ll spawn, die, and repeat until you throw your controller, swear at your television, and vow to walk away forever. Once outside the dim confines of Bloodborne’s dense, evil, snarling network of contorted beasts, wretched howls, and stark-raving murderous lunatics, you’ll enjoy a quiet, cheerful walk amidst the sunshine in the real world, free from Bloodborne’s punishing ways.

But a voice in your head will begin to ring and linger, calling you back, urging you to return, push forward, and conquer. And when you do, you’ll find yourself improved and fueled, patient and energized, ready to tackle it’s gristled, hairy bosses, rotting cathedrals, and wet, corrupt catacombs. Then you’ll die again, but this time you’ll be stronger, wiser, and older and prepared for the foulest of beasts to leap from the shadows and tear you apart all over again. Bloodborne is a horrible, vile world where every reward brings risks and fear is palpable. And while its challenges feel insurmountable and out of reach, your skill and determination will eventually prevail and you’ll press forward through the night. Death is frequent. Frustration is certain. But ultimately, victory is possible, and when achieved, becomes one of the greatest feelings in the world.

FromSoftware’s latest is Elden Ring, one of the best-reviewed games in modern history. Both IGN and The Game Awards named it 2022’s Game of the Year.

2. The Last of Us Part 2

The follow-up to 2013’s The Last of Us is the pinnacle of Naughty Dog’s storytelling ambitions during the life of the PS3 and PS4. Part 2’s ambitious, uncompromising story delivers at nearly every unexpected turn, with character arcs that are poignant, risky, and devastating. Naughty Dog asks you, the player, to do your best to reckon with morally ambiguity in ways that have evoked some of the strongest across the board reactions that we’ve seen from any game, ever.

It’s also perhaps Naughty Dog’s most mechanically complex game to date, and its stealth and action systems delivers moment after moment that feel like they should be scripted but are instead entirely dynamic. It may be one of the more divisive games of the generation, but it’s also one of the best; an absolute haymaker of a game we still can’t stop thinking about.

The Last of Us Part 1, a PS5 remake of the series’ first game, is now available. Our review called it “the best way to play – or replay – Naughty Dog’s esteemed survival classic.” Elsewhere in Naughty Dog’s post-apocalyptic universe is HBO’s Last of Us TV series Our review of The Last of Us: Season 1 called it “a stunning adaptation that should thrill newcomers and enrich those already familiar with Joel and Ellie’s journey alike.”

1. God of War

2018’s God of War shows an obvious level of care that went into crafting its world, characters, and gameplay, evolving a longstanding PlayStation franchise into a testament to the power of storytelling in games and making it our choice for the best PlayStation 4 game, period. Every aspect of God of War feels intentional, interconnecting with every other major aspect of the game, making exploring every inch of its world a rewarding opportunity. Everything from the main story to side missions and seemingly innocuous collectibles factor into your understanding of this new Aesir-inspired world and its major players.

It somehow never makes any of that feel like a dry history lesson, though, and God of War is constantly making smart, economical use of storytelling. It’s also just such a fun experience, with the new Leviathan axe being one of the most satisfying game weapons we’ve used since we originally picked up the Blades of Chaos back in 2005. Bundled with smart progression, fascinating environments, and an impactful story that offers an insightful exploration of one of gaming’s most notorious antiheroes, God of War is undoubtedly one of the best experiences of the generation as a whole, and a shining example of what the PlayStation 4 has to offer.

The highly anticipated sequel, God of War Ragnarok, is now available. It took home six of IGN’s end-of-year awards, including Best Action-Aventure Game and Best Game Story.

Best PS4 Games FAQ

Are There Upcoming PS4 Games?

The first half of April 2023 will bring Meet Your Maker on April 4, and Sherlock Holmes: The Awakened, which combines Lovecraftian horror and Victorian-era crime-solving, on April 11. Mega Man Battle Network Legacy Collection comes out on April 14.

What Is the Most Popular PS4 Game?

Although it can be difficult to accurately measure popularity, it stands to reason that the most popular PS4 game is going to be a PlayStation exclusive game. The top titles in this category are The Last of Us, God of War, and Horizon Zero Dawn — which have all recently made their way to PC.

What are the Best PS4 Exclusives?

Although many of the best PS4 exclusives are now available on PC, titles like God of War, The Last of Us, Horizon Zero Dawn, and Marvel’s Spider-Man rank as some of the top exclusives on the last-gen console.

What are the Best Games on PS Plus?

If you happen to have PlayStation Plus Extra or PlayStation Premium then you have access to some of the best games on the console. A few of the best PS Plus games include Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, Bloodborne, Ghost of Tsushima, God of War, Horizon Zero Dawn, Marvel’s Spider-Man, and Red Dead Redemption 2.

Those are our picks for the top PlayStation 4 games of all time. Let us know in the comments what’s on your list that didn’t make ours!

With contributions from Cristina Alexander

Reservations For Pokémon Center Pop-Up In London Now Available

For the European International Championships.

The Pokémon Center Pop-Up returns to the ExCel London next weekend — the 14th to 16th April — and you can now officially reserve your slot. The store is open over the same few days as the Pokémon European International Championships take place.

The Pop-Up is the third time a temporary Pokémon Center has opened its door in London. Previously, the store opened in 2019 ahead of Pokémon Sword & Shield‘s launch and during 2022’s World Championships.

Read the full article on nintendolife.com

No Man’s Sky: Interceptor Offers the Largest New Update in Recent Memory

It’s been lovely to watch our Xbox and Game Pass players enjoying what Fractal (our first No Man’s Sky update of 2023) had to offer and it’s been thrilling to watch you all cruising around in your shiny new Utopia Speeders and filling up your Wonders Catalogues with your latest discoveries.

Barely 6 weeks later and we are delighted to launch another major update for No Man’s Sky, and it’s one of our largest in recent memory. We’re calling Interceptor, with a brand new class of incredibly varied Starship, a bunch of new gameplay features, new world variants and a ton of new content!

No Man's Sky Interceptor Screenshot

The ever-present tyrants of universe enforcement, the Sentinels, have become prey to a corruption that is spreading through their factions. Only the bravest Travellers will dare venture to forsaken Sentinel worlds to investigate.

Those that do, however, will find abandoned encampments to explore, intriguing crystals to harvest and, for the most persistent, the blueprints for a hitherto undiscovered Sentinel Interceptor starship which come in a huge variety of models.

No Man's Sky Interceptor Screenshot

Obtaining the Interceptor for your own fleet will not be easy. The mission to recover the secret Sentinel equipment and turn this stolen technology back against the horde is fraught with danger, not least because the Sentinels have been developing advanced defence and attack technologies which they are not shy of deploying against any puny threats to their dominance.

The rewards are substantial though. Aside from the Interceptor itself, there is the prospect of securing a brand new weapon – the “Hijacked Laser” – and a unique backpack – the “Aeron Turbojet”.

As you may expect, we anticipate a fair amount of heavy combat as Travellers go toe-to-toe with their long-time adversaries at closer quarters than ever before. That’s why Interceptor comes with a large number of quality of life combat improvements, not least the opportunity to see what happens when a Sentinel freighter explodes under your attack!

No Man's Sky Interceptor Screenshot

As is now customary, a No Man’s Sky update comes with a huge range of other additions and improvements to almost every other area of the game. Xbox and Game Pass players can discover what’s new by downloading Interceptor today. We are really excited to bring Interceptor to our Xbox and Game Pass players, but there’s plenty more to come from our tiny team in 2023.

Our journey continues.

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No Man’s Sky

Hello Games


546


$59.99

$29.99
Xbox One X Enhanced
PC Game Pass
Xbox Game Pass

No Man’s Sky comes complete with all 21 major updates up to and including Waypoint, our 4.0 update.

Inspired by the adventure and imagination that we love from classic science-fiction, No Man’s Sky presents you with a galaxy to explore, filled with unique planets and lifeforms, and constant danger and action.

In No Man’s Sky, every star is the light of a distant sun, each orbited by planets filled with life, and you can go to any of them you choose. Fly smoothly from deep space to planetary surfaces, with no loading screens, and no limits. In this infinite procedurally generated universe, you’ll discover places and creatures that no other players have seen before – and perhaps never will again.

Embark on an epic voyage
At the centre of the galaxy lies a irresistible pulse which draws you on a journey towards it to learn the true nature of the cosmos. But, facing hostile creatures and fierce pirates, you’ll know that death comes at a cost, and survival will be down to the choices you make over how you upgrade your ship, your weapon and suit.

Find your own destiny
Your voyage through No Man’s Sky is up to you. Will you be a fighter, preying on the weak and taking their riches, or taking out pirates for their bounties? Power is yours if you upgrade your ship for speed and weaponry.
Or a trader? Find rich resources on forgotten worlds and exploit them for the highest prices. Invest in more cargo space and you’ll reap huge rewards.
Or perhaps an explorer? Go beyond the known frontier and discover places and things that no one has ever seen before. Upgrade your engines to jump ever farther, and strengthen your suit for survival in toxic environments that would kill the unwary.

Share your journey
The galaxy is a living, breathing place. Trade convoys travel between stars, factions vie for territory, pirates hunt the unwary, and the police are ever watching. Every other player lives in the same galaxy, and you can choose to share your discoveries with them on a map that spans known space. Perhaps you will see the results of their actions as well as your own…

Related:
Minecraft Marketplace’s Spring Sale is Back!
Overwatch 2: Introducing the Origins of Lifeweaver, a New Support Hero
Prepare to Meet Your Maker on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S Today

No Man’s Sky Interceptor Update Adds a New Universal Threat

Hello Games is releasing the Interceptor update for No Man’s Sky today, which adds a new universal threat in the form of corrupted worlds.

That’s not all, of course, as the update also adds a new Starship, improvements to the PlayStation VR2 mode, new enemy types, new technology, and a range of other performance and visual improvements.

“Many worlds have succumbed to corruption, with strange crystals sprouting from the earth, and sentinel guardians twisted into bizarre new forms,” reads the update synopsis. “Explore these purple-hazed worlds to find new buildings, crashed interceptors, secret equipment and more.”

These corrupted worlds can be explored using a new ship class, which is promised to be the “most varied Starship to date”.

Players will also have to deal with new enemy types include huge spider-like enemies and their crab-like children, plus corrupted drones to match the new planets. These are some of the most dangerous enemy types in No Man’s Sky and come armed with stealth tech, flamethrowers, and explosive weaponry.

There will also be new technology for players to discover and create and sentinel capital ships that grant new rewards. Custom wonders have also been added to the Wonders Catalogue from the previous update, letting players curate their own collection of discoveries.

The changes to the PSVR 2 version include improved visuals, wrist interface controls, and more, while Hello Games has promised “a renewed focus on Xbox consoles” to improve performance and visuals across the board.

The developer has released several updates for No Man’s Sky already, making Interceptor the 25th major free expansion since the game launched. One recent update, Waypoint, was said to be the game’s “biggest generational jump so far”, Leviathan added time loops and space whales, and the Outlaws update let players live out their own Han Solo-esque adventure.

Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelancer and acting UK news editor. He’ll talk about The Witcher all day.

The RPS Game Club pick for April is Betrayal At Club Low

A new month means it’s time for the RPS Game Club to pick its next game, and I thought, you know what, let’s do Betrayal At Club Low, the surreal nightclub RPG from Cosmo D Studios. Not only did we give it a Bestest Best when it came out in September last year, but just last month it was freshly annointed as the IGF Grand Prize winner, making it an excellent time to revisit this latest slice of Off-Peak City madness.

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Indiescovery Episode 7: the best indies we played at PAX East 2023

It’s episode seven of Indiescovery and this week, wow, the gang is tired. With a busy four days in Boston for PAX East, mine and Liam’s brains were basically mush last week, so Rebecca – an absolute angel – graciously said she could host a special PAX East episode where she chats with Liam and me about the indies we saw on the show floor and try desperately to string together a coherent sentence. She also made bulletpoints of our entire chat so writing up the shownotes would be easier; we do not deserve her.

Saying that, our exhaustion doesn’t stop us from kicking up a riot over the BAFTA Game Awards at the start of the episode. We then delve into our PAX East indie round up and, as always, we end with our current hyperfixations.

You can listen and subscribe via your podcast provider of choice! Find us on RSS feed, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Pocket Casts, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Deezer, and now YouTube.

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Random: Ex-Rare Dev Explains The Origin Of Donkey Kong Country’s Name

Take me home, country roads.

When you think of the titles of some of Nintendo’s most iconic platform games, many of them just make sense as they are: Super Mario World, Kirby’s Dream Land, and Donkey Kong Country. It all fits as a naming convention, right? Well, according to ex-Rare dev Kev Bayliss, the inclusion of the word ‘Country’ in Donkey Kong Country for the SNES actually has a more significant meaning behind it.

In a reply to a question on Twitter as to how the addition of the word ‘Country’ came to be, Bayliss confirmed that the game had been known as ‘The Country Project’ during development, owing to the fact that Rare was effectively situated in the middle of the countryside. Bayliss states that Nintendo had simply decided to keep ‘Country’ in the name, and so Donkey Kong Country was born.

Read the full article on nintendolife.com

Cute tidying puzzle game A Little To The Left is getting a free Easter event

A Little to the Left is dropping its second free Special Event, running from April 7th to April 10th (that’s this weekend coming!). This Easter-themed Something Eggstra event will introduce four new egg-themed messes for players to unscramble. Not sticky egg messes in real life, but cute egg puzzles in a warm, charming video game. Something Eggstra follows on from December’s Christmas freebies.

For the first two decades of my life, I was torn in a war between two foes: spring cleaning season and video games. My mother always dragged me away from my controller and forced me to tidy up my room. But this year, I decided to spend the day with A Little to the Left; I prefer to enjoy neatness and order by solving puzzles in games, leaving my actual wardrobe in chaos. Of course, if you have to stick to the traditions of spring cleaning season in the physical world, you’ll still get a chance to access limited-time event puzzles you may have missed. According to Max Inferno, the game’s developer, a puzzle archive mode is currently “in incubation”, set to release later this year.

The new patch includes various bug fixes and will be available as a free update on PC, Mac, and Nintendo Switch. You can find the Easter puzzles in the game’s Daily Tidy Delivery mode, from 00:00 in your local timezone on Friday, April 7th. There will be a brand new puzzle everyday of the event, playable until 23:59 on April 10th. If you haven’t got the game, it’s also a good chance to start your healing, tidying experience, accompanied by a cute naughty kitten. A Little To The Left costs £13 on Steam.

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