Author: Game Infliction

Pick Up a 512GB Nintendo Switch Memory Card for Only $24.99 Ahead of Prime Day

Looking to upgrade the storage capacity of your Nintendo Switch, Steam Deck, or ASUS ROG Ally? Well right now Walmart is offering a SanDisk Ultra 512GB Micro SDXC Card for only $24.99. Walmart+ members get free shipping, otherwise you need to get your order total to $35. Currently this is the least expensive 512GB Micro SDXC card we’ve seen from a legit brand. It’s part of Walmart’s larger sale that competes with Amazon Prime Day. SanDisk is owned by Western Digital and is the most popular memory card brand for the Nintendo Switch console.

Don’t have a Walmart+ membership? It’s currently 50% off.

512GB SanDisk Ultra Micro SDXC Card for $24.99

If you’ve started compiling a collection of digital games, you probably already know just how limited the Switch’s base storage capacity is. The Switch and Switch OLED have 32GB and 64GB of internal storage, respectively, some of it reserved for the OS. Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom uses up 16GB and Breath of the Wild about 13.5GB. If bought digitally, those two games alone would take up all of your internal storage on the OG Switch console. There’s only one expansion slot in the Switch console so you want to make sure you get the biggest card you can afford.

The SanDIsk Ultra Micro SDXC card is compatible with virtually any device that accepts the Micro SDXC card standard. That includes the Nintendo Switch, Steam Deck, and the ASUS ROG Ally. It has a U1 A1 speed rating with up to 120MBps read speeds. There are faster cards out there, but the Nintendo Switch can’t take advantage of such speeds. An SD card adapter is also included in the packaging.

Check out all of the best Nintendo Switch deals for sales on other games and accessories.

This Nintendo Switch Lite Console Includes Animal Crossing: New Horizons for Only $159

Ahead of Prime Day, Walmart is offering the Nintendo Switch Lite (Timmy’s and Tommy’s Aloha Edition) console for only $159. It normally retails for $199, which was already a great deal because it included the full Animal Crossing: New Horizons game. It’s part of Walmart’s larger sale that competes with Amazon Prime Day. We are pretty certain that Amazon will not match or beat this deal on Prime Day proper.

Nintendo Switch Lite with Animal Crossing for $159

The Switch Lite retails for $100 less than the original Switch and $150 less than the Switch OLED. It is compatible with most Nintendo Switch games and it runs off the same hardware, so performance is identical. The three main tradeoffs of the Switch Lite is that (1) the controllers are not detachable, (2) the console can’t be docked and played on a TV and (3) the display is smaller (5.5″ vs 6.2″ on Switch and 7″ on Switch OLED). If you were intending to use the Switch solely as a handheld console, you might be better off just getting the Switch Lite. Even though the controls aren’t detachable, the Switch Lite does support wireless Bluetooth, so you can always purchase another pair of Joy-Cons, a Switch Pro controller, or a compatible third party wireless Switch controller, and you can still play untethered.

If you enjoy life sim type games like Stardew Valley, Harvest Moon, or Minecraft, you’ll probably love Animal Crossing. It’s obvious that Nintendo put in a lot of love into this first party title and it’s certainly one of the best – and most relaxing – games for the Nintendo Switch. This is an excellent pick for gamers of all ages, even children. Check out our glowing IGN review for more details.

Other Nintendo Switch related sales and news that might interest you:

Apex Legends Season 22 Introduces Significant Battle Pass Changes, and Fans Aren’t Happy

EA and Respawn Entertainment are introducing a new Apex Legends battle pass structure, but players aren’t happy with the changes promised so far.

This new take on progression in the Titanfall spinoff was announced with an update post on the game’s website. The post outlines a litany of fundamental changes to how rewards are earned, with the team saying that its goal is to “improve your experience and progression goals.”

Where players will find the biggest changes are the length of the Battle Pass and how future passes will be purchased. Up to this point, Battle Passes have required players to complete 110 levels to acquire all rewards, including one Reactive Weapon and a Reactive Weapon Variant. But Season 22 will deliver two passes – one for the first half and one for the second – with 60 levels to complete each. Both halves include one Reactive Weapon each.

“The impact of this change is twofold,” the post says. “It allows us to align seasonal progression more closely with Ranked while also increasing the value for your time.”

EA and Respawn claim that the new structure will result in twice the seasonal rewards for Apex Legends players who use the free version of the battle pass. However, each half-season Premium pass will now cost $10, and the option to purchase passes with Apex Coins is being removed. Players have previously been able to earn 200 coins with the free version of the pass and 1300 coins through the Premium version of the pass, which costs 950 coins.

Each pass will offer the same number of coins for free and Premium players, which means double the amount of earnable Apex Coins per season, but those who have been saving up their coins will no longer be able to use them for future passes.

Other tweaks to the Premium Apex Legends formula increase the number of Apex and Legend-Themed packs while doubling the amount of crafting materials in the Premium pass. The Premium Bundle, which was previously purchasable for 2800 Apex Coins, is now called Premium+ and costs $19.99. It includes only 10 level skips while offering more Exotic Shards, two Premium+ Legendary Character Skin Variants and the ability to play all Legends for the duration of the battle pass.

All of the changes will go into effect with Season 22, which is expected to launch next month.

“The decision to move from AC to real world currency is not one that we made lightly, but it does allow us to decrease the price of Premium+ for our community,” Respawn’s post says. “The new Premium+ Battle Pass comes in at $19.99 USD* and offers additional value; a cost difference of ~29% when compared to the discontinued Premium Battle Pass Bundle at 2800 AC.”

Apex Legends fans react to the new Battle Pass

So far, Apex Legends players aren’t too happy with the changes.

“So basically pay 10 dollars twice a season instead of being able to continue buying battle passes every season with a one time purchase,” one Reddit user said. “In what world is this better for players?”

“The advantage of gathering enough coins to buy the next BP via gameplay was that I was basically stuck with playing your product for dozens of hours on end, so engagement was high,” another user added. “If you’re gonna make me pay every time and THEN grind my ass off then that’s it brother.”

Apex Legends was released in 2019 and has continued to evolve in the half-decade since its launch with more playable Legends, weapons, abilities, maps, and game modes. Though the ability to purchase battle passes with coins is on the way out, players can still use them on Legends, Apex Packs, and more in the in-game store.

EA adds that players will be able to unlock the first half of Season 22’s premium battle pass offerings by completing “a set of challenges” within the first two weeks of launch. It’s currently unclear what these challenges entail or if this method will be available in future seasons. For more, you can read our list of the 15 best free games to play on PlayStation 5.

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.

Nintendo Switch Drops the Hardest as All Consoles Decline by Double-Digits Compared to 2023

As rumors of a Switch successor and mid-generation hardware refreshes for the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S continue, spending for all three consoles have dropped by double-digits compared to 2023.

In Circana’s May 2024 U.S. video game market highlights, the analytics company reported that video game hardware spending is down 40% compared to 2023. Microsoft, Nintendo, and Sony have all shown “double-digit percentage declines,” with the Nintendo Switch seeing the “most significant drop.”

In a post on X/Twitter, Circana’s Executive Director & Video Game Industry Advisor Mat Piscatella wrote that the hardware spending decline between 2023 and 2024 can “partially” be attributed to the release of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, which was released exclusively on Nintendo Switch on May 12, 2023.

Circana’s report comes amid rumors that all three home console makers are gearing up to release new hardware, with Microsoft already annnouncing updated versions of the Xbox Series X and S. Numerous leaks have also suggested that Sony is planning to release a Pro variant of the PS5 at some point later this year. Nintendo, for its part, is expected to release a next-generation successor to the Nintendo Switch sometime in 2025.

Ghost of Tsushima tops the charts

As for the games themselves, Circana reports that the best-selling games in terms of dollar sales for May 2024 were Ghost of Tsushima, Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door Remake, and Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3 (2023 version), the last of which topped the charts for both PS5 and Xbox.

In the case of Ghost of Tsushima, its sales performance jumped to first place from its previous placement of 71 due to a PC port being released on May 16.

All three console holders are in the process of revealing their big exclusives for the holiday season, with Xbox boasting Indiana Jones and the Great Circle and the PS5 being headlined by Astro Bot. The Switch is also setting up for a strong finish to 2024 with releases like The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisom.

For more, check out all of the biggest game releases of 2024 as well as the best games so far.

Taylor is a Reporter at IGN. You can follow her on Twitter @TayNixster.

Save $30 Off This Nintendo Switch Joy-Cons and Super Mario Party Bundle Ahead of Prime Day

Official Nintendo Switch Joy Cons aren’t discounted very often, but Walmart is bucking that trend. Ahead of Prime Day, Walmart is offering the Nintendo Switch Joy-Cons Bundled with Super Mario Party for only $69. This bundle usually retails for $99, and the cost goes up even more if you were to purchase each item separately. Walmart+ members have early access to this deal until 5pm EST. However, everyone else will be able to purchase it at this price afterwards.

Don’t have a Walmart+ membership? It’s currently 50% off.

Nintendo Switch Joy-Cons + Super Mario Party for $69

Exclusive to Walmart+ members until 5pm ET, open to everyone after

This bundle includes a pair of Nintendo Joy-Con controllers and the Super Mario Party game. The Nintendo Joy-Con controllers are functionally identical to the ones that came with your Switch console. A nice bonus is that the Joy-Cons are decked out in a colorway that’s exclusive to this bundle; there isn’t any other easy way to secure a pair of Mario Red and Mario Blue controllers.

Anyone who owns a Nintendo Switch console should be familiar with the Joy-Con controllers. The Joy-Cons are unlike any other controller on the market. There are three ways to use them; connected to the Switch console, separated with each Joy-Con as its own controller, and combined into a gamepad with the Joy-Con grip that came with your console. They have a lot of fun features like a built-in accelerometer, gyro sensor, independent motion controls,. HD rumble, and NFC touchpoint for amiibo compatibility. Most 3rd party controllers don’t support amiibos at all.

The included Super Mario Party game is the definitive party choice for the Nintendo Switch, with up to 80 mini games that take full advantage of the quirky tech of the Switch controllers to keep things feeling fresh. The game supports up to four players, and in most cases a single Joy-Con controller is needed for each player. That means, alongside your original Joy-Con controllers, this bundle is all you need to max out the player count in Super Mario Party.

Other Nintendo Switch related sales and news that might interest you:

Capcom Has Good News About Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster’s Licensed Music

Though the upcoming Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster will change several things, including Frank West’s voice actor, fans of the sandbox zombie game franchise will be happy to know that the licensed music tracks from the 2006 original will return.

Speaking to our sister site VG247, a Capcom spokesperson confirmed that “licensed music is returning” for Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster. When Dead Rising was originally released in 2006, its soundtrack included several licensed tracks, such as Heaven’s Creepin’ In by Supernova Syndicate and Slave by The Evolutionaries. Yet the game’s most notable licensed music track was Lifeseeker’s Gone Guru, played every time the character encountered the Convicts while roaming in Leisure Park.

There had been speculation about whether Capcom would use licensed music from Dead Rising in Deluxe Remaster, especially with Lifeseeker’s Marc Lariviere posting on Facebook and Instagram that he was unsure whether or not Gone Guru would be included. Though Lariviere did reveal that the last time Capcom remastered the game, referring to the 2016 HD re-release, the studio “did not tell him” whether or not the song would be included.

In the meantime, fans continue to speculate about will be included in the Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster. Most notably, many were shocked to learn that T.J. Rotolo, who voiced protagonist Frank West, will not be reprising his role because Capcom did not ask him.

On the flipside, fans can expect thhe return of the photography mini-game (with some updates such as an Auto Focus feature) and the Mall’s directory and map layout. The most recent gameplay also showed the katana that you can find off the ledge of the Colombian Roastmasters in Paradise Plaza, implying that item locations will be the same as the original.

Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster is a remaster of the 2006 Xbox 360 game. Running on RE Engine, Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster will be able to run up to 4K resolution at 60 frames per second and includes a slew of quality-of-life improvements, such as the ability to move while aiming and better AI for the survivors you can rescue.

Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster will be released on September 19 for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.

Taylor is a Reporter at IGN. You can follow her on Twitter @TayNixster.

Disco Elysium-inspired RPG Hollow Home is a memory of Mariupol from before Russia’s invasion

The Ukrainian city of Mariupol came under heavy bombardment during the opening months of Russia’s invasion in 2022, a programme of artillery and air strikes that damaged or destroyed the majority of residential buildings and has killed or dispossessed thousands of people. It has now been occupied by Russia for almost two years, during which, as reported by the Associated Press, Russia has demolished, rebuilt and renamed much of the city, overwriting its Ukrainian heritage.

The Disco Elysium-inspired RPG Hollow Home is a memory of Mariupol from just before the war – not a 1:1 recreation, but a collection of details, colours, personalities and some familiar buildings, painstakingly amassed and offered up in the face of erasure. Speaking to me during a very brief demo at Digital Dragons in Poland this year, artist Anastasia Hlyniana called my attention to the plants jutting from old car tyres around the game’s isometric map, which she says are a common sight in Mariupol.

Read more

“A Mixed Result” – Digital Foundry Gives Its Tech Verdict For Beyond Good & Evil On Switch

Texture and reflection downgrades.

Beyond Good & Evil: 20th Anniversary Edition is out now on Switch and, by and large, it’s turned out to be a successful release for Ubisoft, boasting upgraded visuals from the original alongside some meaningful bonus material. We gave the game an 8/10 in our review, and you should definitely check out our full thoughts when you’re able.

Naturally, however, with multiplatform games such as this, the Switch version has unfortunately been subjected to a few downgrades when compared to PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. The most noticeable change comes with the textures: characters, objects, and environments are significantly less detailed than the game’s console counterparts, though the use of lighting is at least on par across all systems.

Read the full article on nintendolife.com

Epic Space Shooter Retaliate Launches on Xbox July 15th

Summary

  • Unique Ammo Mechanics: Absorb enemy fire to reload and retaliate.
  • Engaging storyline: Uncover the truth behind the lack of weapons in the galaxy.
  • Variety of modes: Enjoy different game modes offering varied challenges and replayability.

I’m Austin Sojka, the solo developer behind Romans I XVI Gaming, and I’m incredibly excited to announce that my passion project, Retaliate, will be launching on Xbox on July 15th, 2024.

Get ready to dive into a retro-inspired space shooter that brings a unique twist to the genre. In Retaliate, you start with no ammo. Instead, you must use your temporary shield to absorb enemy fire and convert it into your own ammunition. This mechanic adds a strategic layer to the classic shooter formula, making every encounter a thrilling challenge.

Retaliate invasion matrix

Your quest to uncover who has seized control of all the weapons in the galaxy and put an end to their reign of terror begins with Story Mode. The rich and immersive narrative provides a compelling backdrop to the intense space combat.

Retaliate trajectory

Your progress to put a stop to this foe is met with increasingly powerful enemies, armed with increasingly destructive weapons. But this is to your advantage! From homing missies, to bombs, to lasers and beyond. Every weapon of your enemy can become a weapon of your own.

Retaliate screenshot

Along the way, adjust your ship and shield to match your personal style. What is victory if you aren’t doing it in style? Customize your ship and your shield in the hangar. This allows for a personalized gaming experience that’s uniquely yours.

Retaliate screenshot

To keep the action fresh and exciting, Retaliate offers various game modes. In Endless Mode, you’ll test your endurance as you strive for the highest score against an infinite onslaught of enemies. Trials Mode presents the opportunity to hone your skill on the levels from Story Mode. And in Classic Mode, you can experience gameplay inspired by the original space shooter classics.

Retaliate phasers

Retaliate is available for pre-order on Xbox now! Don’t miss your chance to dive into this exciting space adventure on July 15th. Your support means the world to me, and I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to share this game with you.


Retaliate
Xbox Live

Retaliate

Romans I XVI Gaming

☆☆☆☆☆
★★★★★

$9.99
Pre-order

Retaliate is a retro inspired scrolling shooter with a twist, you start with no ammo!

Unlike those in the golden era of space shooters you are not so fortunate as to have infinite ammo. Instead use your shield to both destroy your enemies and absorb their weapons, then use your enemies’ weapons to retaliate!

• Story: Discover who has seized control of all the weapons in the galaxy and bring their reign of terror to an end!
• Arcade: Challenge yourself in your mastery of the mechanics of Retaliate. Go for a highscore in Endless mode, perfect the levels in Trials mode, or try the original that inspired it all in Classic mode.
• Hangar: What is victory if you’re not doing it in style? Customize your ship and your shield in the hangar.

The post Epic Space Shooter Retaliate Launches on Xbox July 15th appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Cygni: All Guns Blazing – redefining the shoot-’em-up

The journey of developing Cygni hasn’t been easy, especially as a start-up, with this being our debut game. Nevertheless, every step of this journey has been filled with passion.

Our inspiration was sparked by the enjoyment we found in playing shoot’em ups on arcade machines in our youth – a fun experience that brought joy to all, regardless of high scores. We aimed to recreate this exhilarating experience using next-gen technology, with the power of the PlayStation 5. This has allowed us to deliver a fresh take on the shoot-‘em-up, with an epic story, and innovative gameplay features for a new generation of gamers.


Cygni: All Guns Blazing – redefining the shoot-’em-up

Ava’s fight for survival

Cygni, a planet colonized by humans, thrives on ancient technology found in ruins left by an unknown civilization. These remnants serve as a vital power source and catalyst for technological progress. Our Konamiprotagonist Ava, a recent recruit in Cygni’s Air Force, pilots the Orca in a desperate struggle against a sudden, potent attack by bio-mechanical aliens— potentially Cygni’s original inhabitants. 

Beyond the bullets

Energy Management: Switching between shields (health) and weapons (more firepower and missiles) on the fly. 

Combat: Air-to-air and air-to-ground combat includes a real-time crowd system—not just a background prop; they are gameplay-related, where players can interact with allied forces on the ground. This mutual assistance is not only crucial for gameplay but also aids in obtaining pickups and increasing your score.

Ground Weapon.mp4

Weapon Enhancement: Upgrade and prepare weapons – even equipping your ship with two additional side-drones – before engaging in battle.

Designer Mode: Allows players to create, save, and manage projectile patterns on the go. This feature adds a layer of customization and strategy, enabling players to toggle between saved patterns on the go.

Three Difficulty Modes: Easy (being more accessible, by having 3 lives per level) Normal and Hard. 

Local Co-Op: Players can revive each other at the cost of sacrificing shield points, while enjoying double the firepower.

Arcade Mode: Tailored for high-score enthusiasts. Players start from Level 1 and continue to the game’s end without any interruptions or cutscenes, but with only one life. This mode caters to those who enjoy a relentless challenge, and the highest scores can be recorded on global online leaderboards.

Colossal Bosses: Cygni features large bosses each with their own unique combat mechanics, providing players with challenging and memorable battle experiences.

Innovation with indie passion

Using our past experiences in filmmaking and animation, we wanted to push the visual storytelling boundaries in Cygni without compromising gameplay. This includes short cutscenes in-between levels and creating full scale high-quality CG cinematics (Intro and Outro to the game), uncommon to most indie games, and the genre. Cygni takes full advantage of the PS5’s power and its SSD allowing for crisp visuals, fast loading times and a smooth experience running at 60FPS/4K.

We wanted to create a shoot’em up that’s not entirely a bullet hell experience – sometimes you WILL get hit, but that’s OK. The core gameplay mechanic of balancing your ship’s power between its weapons and shields means you can strategize your offensive vs defensive gameplay (firepower vs. shield). We have utilized the DualSense controller’s directional haptic feedback to help elevate and enhance this in a tactile, but logical way. 

Cygni: All Guns Blazing launches on PS5 next month on August 6.