IGN | Game Infliction

Daily Deals: Glorious GMMK 2, Apple Watch Series 9, Armored Core 6

The weekend is here, and there are loads of exciting deals you do not want to miss! This Saturday, new deals on some amazing video games, technology, and devices have appeared, and we’ve rounded up our picks. The best deals for Sunday, April 29, include the Glorious GMMK 2, Tekken 8, 2024 MacBook Air, Armored Core 6, Apple Watch Series 9, and more.

Glorious GMMK 2 Keyboard for $64.99

This keyboard from Glorious is one of the best deals you can find today. It’s a 96% full-sized keyboard that features a numpad and function buttons. Each of the switches is hot-swappable, which isn’t a feature you see too often on a keyboard at this price point. Additionally, the standard keycaps included with the GMMK 2 are double-shot and sit atop custom-made Fox linear switches.

Tekken 8 for $49.99

Tekken 8 is the latest major fighting game to be released for the current generation of consoles. Over 32 characters are already playable, far surpassing titles like Street Fighter 6 or Mortal Kombat 1. The online modes far surpass their predecessors, with good netcode and many different ways to play. In our 9/10 review, we stated Tekken 8 is ” an amazing new entry in the long-running series.”

Save 10% Off Apple 2024 MacBook Air

Amazon currently has the 2024 MacBook Air on sale for $989. This device utilizes the M3 chip, which is extremely powerful and features a 50% higher memory bandwidth compared to the M1. If you’ve been contemplating purchasing a 2024 MacBook, this deal makes today a great time to do so.

Armored Core 6 for $30

Amazon has the Xbox version of Armored Core 6 on sale for just $30. The latest title by FromSoftware is a return to the Armored Core series, with plenty of blitzing action to discover. We gave the game an 8/10 in our review, stating it “lands direct hits where it counts.” This price matches the previous low, so it’s a great time to pick up the title if you haven’t already.

Save 37% Off Quest 2 + Active Pack

The Meta Quest 2 is still one of the best VR headsets you can buy in 2024. At just $200, the device includes 1832×1920 per eye resolution, in addition to the solid hardware on board. This deal includes the Active Pack, which packs in a wipeable facial interface that is easy to clean after workouts. Additionally, adjustable wrist straps for the controllers are included, so you can keep each device secure to your hand.

The James Bond Collection Blu-ray Set for $51.19

This James Bond Blu-ray set is a deal you do not want to miss. Currently 55% off, The James Bond Collection features 24 total films, which prices out to just over $2 a film. This set includes Spectre, which was one of the more recent films released in 2015.

Save 25% Off Apple Watch Series 9

Amazon currently has the Apple Watch Series 9 41mm model on sale for $299. Normally priced at $399, this is an excellent deal on the latest Apple Watch model. Series 9 includes new features such as gestures, a display as bright as 2000 nits, and on-device processing for Siri.

Assassin’s Creed Mirage for $20

Woot currently has Assassin’s Creed Mirage available for only $19.99. Ubisoft looked to take the series back to its roots for this release with a classic setting and refreshed gameplay mechanics. You can expect an action title with plenty of stealth abilities to sneak around its map. If you’re an Assassin’s Creed fan who has felt burnt out with recent entries, Mirage is a refreshing change of pace. We gave the game an 8/10 in our review, stating the game is “a successful first step in returning to the stealthy style that launched this series.”

Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1 for $30

For just $30, you can own the first three Metal Gear Solid titles on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, or Nintendo Switch. This package also includes Metal Gear and Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake. Prior to the Master Collection, there was no method to play the Metal Gear Solid titles on most modern consoles, but you can now experience Hideo Kojima’s series from the very beginning anywhere.

Apple HomePod (2nd Generation) for $249.99

Best Buy currently has the Apple HomePod for $249.99. If you listen to music in your home using Apple Music, the HomePod is a great choice, as this is a device with high quality sound and audio tech. This is the lowest we’ve seen the 2nd Generation HomePod yet, so it might be worth your attention if you’ve been holding out on purchasing this device.

Star Wars: Heritage Pack for $39.99

The Star Wars: Heritage Pack is the perfect way to experience Star Wars classics on your Nintendo Switch. This collection includes Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy, Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast, The Force Unleashed, Knights of the Old Republic, Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords, Republic Commando, and Star Wars: Episode I Racer. All games except KOTOR and KOTOR II are on the cartridge.

10th Generation iPad for $349

Amazon has the 10th Gen iPad for $349 right now, which is the lowest we’ve seen the device since it was launched. Powered by the A14 Bionic, this iPad packs a 10.9-inch display, 64GB of storage, Touch ID, and a long battery life. If you’re interested in purchasing an iPad but don’t want to jump to the iPad Air or iPad Pro, this is an excellent option.

Daily Deals: Tekken 8, Apple 2024 MacBook Air, Apple Watch Series 9

The weekend is here, and there are loads of exciting deals you do not want to miss! This Saturday, new deals on some amazing video games, technology, and devices have appeared, and we’ve rounded up our picks. The best deals for Saturday, April 27, include Tekken 8, 2024 MacBook Air, One Piece Odyssey, Apple Watch Series 9, and more.

Tekken 8 for $49.99

Save 10% Off Apple 2024 MacBook Air

One Piece Odyssey for $19.99

This deal on One Piece Odyssey is fresh, being the lowest we’ve seen this RPG yet. Offering turn-based combat, One Piece Odyssey looks to create a fun experience with an original story featuring the beloved Straw Hat Pirates. If you’ve already played Pirate Warriors 4 and are itching for a return to the world of One Piece, now is the time to do so with Odyssey priced at just $19.99!

Save 25% Off Apple Watch Series 9

Assassin’s Creed Mirage for $20

Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1 for $30

Apple HomePod (2nd Generation) for $249.99

The Original Fallout Games Deserve The Diablo 2: Resurrected Treatment

As great as it is to see the 3D Fallout games enjoying another moment in the sun following the popularity of Prime Video’s excellent TV adaptation, the games I most want to direct new fans toward are the classic original Fallout and Fallout 2. Aside from being where it all began, those are the stories that hold many of the answers people coming off of the show are looking for: the origins of Shady Sands, the Brotherhood of Steel, the Enclave, what happens when a vault’s water chip fails, and much more. Their stories, scenarios, and memorable moments have stuck with those of us who played them for decades, and bringing those same experiences to an entirely new audience that’s ravenous for Fallout content seems like a slam dunk.

However, in 2024 that recommendation comes with more caveats than it ought to: While both are readily available on Steam (and included in PC Game Pass) and run on modern PCs, when you fire it up you’re presented with an array of tiny buttons, no tutorial, and 2D sprite graphics designed for 800×600 CRT monitors that, despite being loaded with post-nuclear character, make you squint to see what’s going on. It’s enough of a barrier to re-entry to make even a (very) old fan like myself balk a bit at diving in for another playthrough – and a reminder that if there’s one series that has been criminally overlooked in the era of remasters, it’s old-school Fallout.

Bringing a game like Fallout up to date in a way that would please both diehard fans and newcomers would certainly take years of work, and I don’t mean to suggest it would be easy by any stretch of the imagination. The original is just 562MB installed off of Steam; Fallout 2 is just 2MB larger. (I remember having to keep the disc in the drive to play because my brother’s PC only had a 1GB hard drive in 1998.) You can technically crank the resolution up to full 4K, but who’re we kidding? Character sprites are just 60 pixels tall, so you’re getting a bare minimum of detail – packed with retro-futuristic flavor as it may be – any way you slice it. The grainy cinematics are barely better, and only the most important conversations are voice acted. Also, there’s no controller support, so there are legions of modern-day Fallout fans who play on consoles who have no access to these fantastic games at all.

There are legions of modern-day Fallout fans who have no access to these fantastic games at all.

A full remaster wouldn’t even be as simple as porting over models and textures from Fallout 4, since any art director worth their salt will tell you things need to be designed differently when they’re intended to be viewed from an isometric perspective. (It’d be interesting to see those old games brought in line with the art style of Bethesda’s Fallout games, though personally I’d love an update that honors the more cartoonishly broad-shouldered, bulkily armored character design.) Beyond graphics, there are a number of features that would be expected in a modern game, such as character customization beyond picking between dark-haired white male and dark-haired white female for your Vault Dweller, that would need to be added. The UI could certainly use some updating as well, and the first Fallout is from a time when in-game tutorials weren’t a thing, so popping up with some instructions on how to use its systems would be a positive step. I’m sure some people would love an option to prevent companions from being permanently killed when a stray SMG burst shreds them into a fine mist, but for me that’s part of the charm.

I’m sure a modern remaster would have to do away with a few things that haven’t aged super well – I would not expect the Childkiller trait to carry over, for instance. Back when Fallout 3 was announced I asked Todd Howard how that game would handle kids; visibly wincing, he replied that you can’t do child murder at that level of fidelity. Much as I enjoyed how the original gave you such broad freedom that you could make a decision – or mistake – so monstrous the entire wasteland would hate you forever, I’m inclined to agree.

The popularity of Baldur’s Gate 3 makes me confident modern gamers wouldn’t have a problem with Fallout’s combat.

That said, the underlying gameplay holds up very well, and the popularity of Baldur’s Gate 3 and XCOM-style turn-based tactical games makes me confident that modern gamers wouldn’t have a problem getting the hang of how Fallout’s combat works – it’s far, far less complex than managing a wizard’s spells. Sure, you have to go into your inventory to load a pistol with your choice of ammo types and open a menu to target an enemy’s groin, for instance, and if your luck stat is low you’ll be prone to weapon misfires and hitting the wrong target. But it’s plenty rewarding even so, and there’s no shame in save scumming (quicksave/quickload would be another great addition).

So there’s a long to-do list, but it can be done. We’ve seen proof with 2021’s Diablo 2: Resurrected, where Vicarious Visions (now known as Blizzard Albany and, coincidentally, under the same corporate ownership as Bethesda) painstakingly remastered a beloved game from 2000 with vastly improved 3D graphics and a handful of important quality of life enhancements. In theory, Fallout could get the same treatment: According to Tim Cain, producer on the original Fallout, the original source code still exists for both games and should be in the possession of Bethesda, so they could be updated rather than remade.

It’s going to be a long, long time before Bethesda revisits the post-apocalypse.

And they really should be, because the reality is that it’s going to be a long, long time before Bethesda’s already announced development schedule allows it to revisit the post-apocalypse for another full-scale RPG. Heck, even in the best-case scenario where another Xbox studio like Obsidian or InExile were to kick off a new Fallout tomorrow while Bethesda goes back to Tamriel for The Elder Scrolls VI, we’d still be very, very lucky to see it before the 30th anniversary of the original Fallout, which came out in 1997. To put that in perspective: there will likely be a longer gap between 2018’s Fallout 76 and a hypothetical Fallout 5 than there was between Fallout 2 (1998) and Fallout 3 (2008) – a 10-year stretch during which the series was largely considered dead. Remastering the originals would fill that gap nicely in as little as a couple of years, if Diablo 2 Resurrected’s three-year development is any indication, and give Fallout fans a Stimpack injection of the good stuff to tide us over.

Dan Stapleton is IGN’s Director of Reviews and one of our many old-school Fallout fans. Follow him on Bluesky.

5 Biggest Changes in Fallout 4’s Next-Gen Update

The next-gen update for Fallout 4 is finally live, bringing Bethesda’s 2015 RPG up to par for modern consoles and PCs. But what exactly does next-gen update mean, especially in 2024?

We’ve broken down the biggest changes that are now available in Fallout 4 thanks to Bethesda’s update, which not only includes graphical and technical changes, but even additional content as well. Remember to check out our list of “Things to Do First” in Fallout 4 for anyone jumping into the game the first time with the next-gen patch.

Powered for Current-Gen Consoles

The PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X are miles more powerful than the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One consoles on which Fallout 4 originally released. The new update will bring the nearly nine-year old game up to modern-day standards thanks to the next-gen update. Fallout 4 now supports 4K resolution on consoles, regardless of whether you choose between either the new Quality or Performance mode.

The main difference is Quality mode targets 30 FPS at 4K resolution on ultra settings without dynamic resolution scaling. Performance mode, meanwhile, targets 60 FPS at standard 4K resolution with dynamic resolution scaling. Furthermore, depending on your display, Fallout 4 on Quality mode will target 40 FPS when connected to a 120Hz display, or 1440p resolution at 60 FPS on ultra settings when connected to a 1440p display.

Remember, for console players, there’re also Console Commands and Cheats that you can enable even when playing on a PS5 or Xbox Series X.

One note of warning! It appears that the next-gen update is not available for players who own Fallout 4 through a PS Plus subscription currently. However, Bethesda has stated the next-gen update will be available for the PS Plus version and that the studio is working on a fix.

Squishing Bugs (for now).

Speaking of bugs, Bethesda has been working away on squashing game bugs even after nearly a decade since launch. The patch notes for Fallout 4’s next-gen update include a long list of bug fixes, ranging from technical issues, save data issues, locked missions, broken assets, and more.

However, it appears the introduction of the next-gen update introduced some other issues as well, which we’ll continue to monitor as more and more time is spent with the new update.

Changes For PC Owners

Thanks to mods and typically better performance, PC Fallout 4 players have been playing the game at a higher standard than console players from even before the patch. But with the next-gen update, there are still some new benefits to PC players.

With the update, there’s now official support for both wide and ultrawide screens. Furthermore, the Fallout 4 Creation Kit has received a set of fixes and updates for easier navigation and to fix bugs and crashes.

Greater Availability on More Platforms

Fallout 4 is now also officially available on the Epic Game Store, as well as getting an official “Deck Verified” badge for Steam Deck. Frankly, there weren’t too many issues running Fallout 4 on Steam Deck before, at least from my experience, but the verification should mean the process of getting Fallout 4 running on Valve’s handheld is smoother than before.

Additional Mission Content and Gear

It isn’t just a technical update that’s in Fallout 4’s next-gen patch. Bethesda’s patch notes begin with a long list of new gear and questlines available in The Commonwealth. There’s a brand new Enclave storyline called Echoes of the Past that has ties to a storyline from Fallout 3, and there are new weapons, Power Armor, and outfits for players to find along the way.

Two more new questlines, When Pigs Fly and All Hallow’s Eve, will further unlock more content from the Makeshift Weapon Pack that includes a Nail Gun and Baseball Launcher, to spooky Halloween props for your settlement.

You can find IGN’s full walkthrough and quest guide here to help you on your way with these new storylines.

These are the biggest changes in Fallout 4 thanks to the update. For both returning and new players, this is a great chance to jump back into Fallout 4, especially after the success of the Fallout TV show.

Matt T.M. Kim is IGN’s Senior Features Editor. You can reach him @lawoftd.

Play Together Offers Lots of Ways to Play for All Ages

The free-to-play mobile game Play Together gives players of all ages around the world the chance to play however they want, wherever they want. It’s an online social hub game where there are tons of minigames, customization options and chances to connect with other players. And with an event going on now that introduces popular Sanrio characters like Hello Kitty, now’s the time to jump in.

Play Together is all about giving you the freedom to play how you want. You get dropped off on Kaia Island, and from there it’s up to you. If you want to wind down after a long day, there are relaxing options like fishing and insect catching. If you’re looking to meet some new friends, you can invite people over for a Home Party. If you’re the competitive type, there are more than 30 minigames with rewards depending on how you finish. No matter which of these activities you choose, you’ll accomplish goals and gain rewards that you can use to upgrade your character.

There are minigames of all different types, too. Game Party pits 30 players against each other in waves of games, with players eliminated each round until there’s only one champion left standing. Zombie Virus turns some players into zombies, while the others have to hide to avoid getting infected. Tower of Infinity sends you through a gauntlet of obstacle courses and challenges you to complete them all back-to-back. And that’s just scratching the surface of all the games that are available.

That “play how you want” mantra also extends to character customization. When you first start the game, you’ll have the chance to pick your body type, hair, skin color and facial features. Once the game gets going, you’ll get tons of additional options. Clothes, shoes, hats, accessories — from butterfly wings to shirts with flaming skulls, there’s a wide variety of things available.

Every player also gets their own house right from the beginning of the game. No waiting until you hit a certain level here. As you play, you can improve your house, making it bigger and decorating it with all kinds of furniture — beds, chairs, tables and appliances of all shapes and sizes. There’s even specialized furniture for your pets.

That’s right, there’s pets too. And you get your first one as part of one of the first objectives in the game. You’ll get your hands on an egg, then need to treat the egg well, fulfilling the wishes of the cute animal within. Once you’ve done that and raised the egg to the level needed, it hatches into a companion that will accompany you as you walk around. So even when you’re playing solo, you’ll always have an adorable friend with you.

Speaking of adorable friends, the game recently added more with its collaboration with Sanrio. To celebrate Hello Kitty’s 50th anniversary, one of the game’s hotels has been transformed into a home for her and her friends. Daily missions can be given by Hello Kitty, Cinnamoroll, My Melody, Pom Pom Purin and Kuromi. They’ll give you special kitty coins, which can be traded for unique character items.

The area outside of the hotel also has a new Sanrio character photo zone, where players can take as many photos as they want. And next to the photo zone is a Sanrio calendar that provides a free gift every day. There are also new costumes and cars themed after Hello Kitty and Cinnamoroll.

Play Together has a little something for everyone, no matter your age or experience. There’s all kinds of fun to be had, and you can download the app for free on iOS or Android.

The Best PS5 2TB SSD Deals (April 2024)

2023 and 2024 have shown that 2TB PS5 SSD upgrades are actually worth the price. In 2022, prices for 1TB PS5 SSDs averaged around $150, whereas 2TB SSDs hovered closer to $300. Now, we’re seeing 1TB SSDs trickle below the $70 price point and 2TB SSDs can drop to around $100 or sometimes even lower if there’s a good sale. It’s worth noting, though, that you can’t use any old SSD and expect it to perform well on the PS5 console. You’ll want to pick up a PCIe Gen4 x4 M.2 solid-state drive with at least a 5,500MB/s read speed to match the PS5’s internal drive.

TL;DR – The Best 2TB PS5 SSD Deals Right Now

Note that Sony recommends a heatsink attached to your SSD and not all SSDs listed here have pre-installed heatsinks. For the ones that do, we’ll be sure to mention it. For the ones that don’t, all you have to do is purchase your own heatsink (like this one for $9) and install it yourself. For our top recommended picks for 2024, check out our full breakdown for the Best PS5 SSDs.

Adata Legend Max 2TB PS5 SSD with Heatsink for $129.99

This is one of the faster SSDs on the market with read speeds of up to 7400MB/s and write speeds of up to 6800MB/s. Alongside 2TB of storage, it also has a very slim preinstalled heatsink that can slot perfectly into your PS5. Right now, you can score it for an excellent price of $129.99.

XPG 2TB GAMMIX S70 Blade PCIe Gen4 M.2 2280 SSD for $129.99

This is another 2TB SSD deal that’s well worth taking advantage of. This option from XPG has dropped 38% in price, from $209.99 to $129.99, but you’ll have to grab a heatsink to go with it as well (which you can do here for $9). This SSD has read and write speeds of 7400/6800MB/s as well.

Silicon Power 2TB XS70 SSD with Built-in PS5 Heatsink for $139.99

This SSD offers 2TB of storage, excellent read and write speeds (read speeds of up to 7,300MB/s and write speeds up to 6,800MB/s), and a built-in heatsink all at a fantastic price. It’s currently available for $139.99 on Amazon, 22% off its MSRP of $179.99, so well worth picking up for your PS5.

WD_BLACK PS5 4TB SSD for $316.41 at Amazon

Looking to completely maximize your PS5 storage capabilities? Then this is the deal for you. For a limited time only, this PS5 4TB SSD is available at Amazon for just $316.41 (see here). It has an MSRP of $699.99 which is rather dramatic, but in reality, this and many other 4TB SSDs have been sitting around $280-$300 recently. You’ll also have to grab a heatsink to go with it (which you can do here for $9).

2024 Crucial T705 2TB SSD for $279.99

This is the newest model from Crucial and it already has an excellent discount on Amazon. For a limited time, you can get 30% off this SSD, bringing it down to $279.99 from $399.99. It’s well worth the investment as well, as it offers crazy good sequential read/write speeds up to 14,500/12,700MB/s. If you feel the need for speed, this SSD will certainly get you there.

Crucial T500 2TB SSD with Heatsink for $144.99

Amazon is offering a nice deal at the moment on the Crucial T500 2TB SSD, which is discounted down to $144.99. This SSD has a heatsink all ready to go, so you can install it right away in your PS5, and even offers excellent read/write speeds of 7,400/7,000MB/s.

Samsung 980 Pro 2TB M.2 SSD for $167.70

Samsung SSDs need no introduction. They’ve made some of the most popular and reliable PS5 SSDs on the market. The 980 Pro has been out for a long time, way back in January of 2020. A testament to its reliability is the fact that Samsung didn’t feel any need to release any newer flagship model until 2022. In terms of performance, it’s no longer the fastest SSD on the market (the 990 Pro is), but it’s still a very fast drive. It certainly more than meets the minimum 5600MB/s speed requirement to be used as a PS5 storage upgrade, with speeds of up to 7,100MB/s.

Samsung 990 Pro 2TB PCIe Gen4 x4 M.2 SSD for $189.99

The Samsung 990 Pro is an excellent SSD for your PS5. From a purely performance perspective, it’s overkill; the stock SSD in your PS5 will be the limiting factor. You’ll want to pick up a PCIe Gen4 x4 M.2 solid state drive with a rated 5,500MB/s read speed to match the PS5’s internal drive and the 990 Pro is much faster. This one does not come with a heatsink, though, so you’ll need to invest in one.

What if the SSD Doesn’t Include a Heatsink?

Sony recommends you install an SSD that has an attached heatsink. If the SSD you purchase doesn’t include one, it’s simple enough to buy one for $9 on Amazon and add it yourself. Most of these heatsinks are just attached using an adhesive like thermal tape.

Budget to Best: PS5 SSDs

There may be other SSD deals out there, but these are the PS5 SSDs we’ve tried ourselves and highly recommend. They also double up as outstanding boot drives for your gaming PC, in case you don’t need additional storage for your PS5 console.

How To Install a New PS5 SSD

It’s extremely easy! Removing the case cover is completely toolless. In fact, the only screw you have to remove is the one that keeps the cover for the SSD bay in place. You don’t even put it back when you’re done. Sony has a quick and easy YouTube video guide.

Hannah Hoolihan is a freelance writer who works with the Guides and Commerce teams here at IGN.

Shinji Mikami Wanted to Leave Tango Gameworks Years Before He Did

Famed game developer Shinji Mikami, known for directing the original Resident Evil and The Evil Within, has revealed why he left his former studio Tango Gameworks despite founding it himself.

In an interview with Byking, translated by Automaton, Mikami said he actually wanted to leave Tango eight years before he did, meaning just five years after the Evil Within, Ghostwire: Tokyo, and Hi-Fi Rush developer was founded. Mikami didn’t leave until 2023 due to the responsibility he felt towards ongoing projects at Tango, he said.

His reasons for wanting to leave weren’t animus, as Mikami said he wanted to create an environment where young talent could prosper through development which included shorter project cycles, for example. Mikami also had a desire to make unique, smaller scale games himself, so wanted to connect these two ideas.

His connection to the survival horror genre, through the likes of Resident Evil and its spiritual successor The Evil Within, were another factor in his leaving, however, as Mikami said he wanted to step away from this association.

As for why he couldn’t do this at Tango, Mikami said he became closer to “a rank-and-file employee” than someone with influence after ZeniMax Media acquired Tango just seven months after it was founded.

“I had only been CEO for six months,” Mikami said. “I think a lot of people were under the impression that I was the representative, but I was very close to a rank-and-file employee. I had ‘producer’ attached to my name, but I wasn’t an executive or anything of the sort.”

Mikami started a new studio seemingly around March 2024, though has yet to reveal much about the team there or what projects they are working on.

Image Credit: Christian Petersen/Getty Images

Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelance reporter. He’ll talk about The Witcher all day.

Square Enix Apologises for Foamstars Matchmaking Errors But Doesn’t Mention Fix in Incoming Patch

Foamstars developer Square Enix has apologised for the game’s ongoing matchmaking issues but didn’t mention a fix in its incoming v3.20 patch notes.

A blog post from Foamstars producer Kosuke Okatani outlined the incoming patch but began with an apology to fans for matchmaking issues which have persisted since its launch on February 6, 2024.

First, let me thank you for playing the game,” Okatani began. “On behalf of the Foamstars team, I’d like to apologize for the matchmaking errors many of you may have experienced during your gameplay. We are working to address this and other high priority issues.”

Okatani didn’t say what the other high priority issues are, nor did he say when Square Enix would address them or the matchmaking problems.

In the meantime, v3.20 will be available May 2 and is headlined by the addition of a penalty system for those who intentionally disconnect during a battle or via the Character Select screen, or for being idle for a long time. Players who are penalised for doing the mentioned actions will be unable to join a match for a set amount of time, judged on a case by case basis.

Square Enix will also introduce a fix for spawn camping on Radiant Rhythms Gardens, issues around Chloe Noir, and a PlayStation 4 crash issue.

In our 6/10 review, IGN said: “Foamstars’ combat mechanics are unexpectedly engaging, but confounding time-gated modes and aggressive monetization make them harder to enjoy.”

Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelance reporter. He’ll talk about The Witcher all day.

Fallout 4 Next-Gen Update Riddled With Issues

Bethesda’s highly anticipated next gen update for Fallout 4 is riddled with issues across PlayStation, Xbox, and PC.

The next gen version was finally released on April 25, 2024 (around 18 months after it was announced) but the several gigabyte update hasn’t been met with much fanfare.

The Steam version of Fallout 4 appears most wrought with technical issues, though PlayStation 5 players have struggled to obtain the update at all due to an availability error and confusing messaging from Bethesda. Xbox players, on the other hand, don’t have access to the game’s Quality Mode, meaning they can’t experience one of the main appeals of the next gen update: 4K resolution on ultra settings.

This specific issue was confirmed on X/Twitter by tech expert Digital Foundry’s Thomas Morgan. “I can confirm that only the 60 frames per second Performance Mode works right now. The update has a bug.”

PC players, meanwhile, have taken to Steam to flag myriad issues with the update. “Many of the bugs that existed and were promised to be fixed are actually still in the game after the patch,” said Piglet in one review. “Finally updated the game and didn’t fix a single issue,” wrote birthdayjesus. “But now the mods I used to fix it don’t work.“

The initial reaction to the patch notes wasn’t positive either. “Damn, the bugfix list is short,” wrote DreamweaverWR on Reddit, a comment which has 921 upvotes. “I had very low expectations but this is much less than I expected. They didn’t fix almost any of the bugs that annoyed me the most (VATS crash and perception bug in Survival, for example).”

FluffyBunBunKittens chimed in too. “It is kind of amazing,” they said. “Now I’m just waiting with interest what new bugs we get with this update.”

One of these new bugs seemingly makes the game unplayable for some on Steam Deck. A Reddit post from prunebackwards said Fallout 4 can no longer be launched on the handheld PC, a sentiment corroborated by many in the comments and elsewhere. Some players who can launch the game are finding myriad issues upon doing so too, like having no graphics settings, no launcher, defaulting to low settings, having a poor frame rate, and more.

Fallout 4’s Next-Gen Update will be available for PS+ Extra members. We do not have any information regarding PS5 Catalogue or PS+ Essentials.

— Bethesda Support (@BethesdaSupport) April 25, 2024

PlayStation users haven’t been free from the issues either, though perhaps the biggest came in even trying to access the game. Fallout 4 was available for free through PlayStation Plus to all PS5 owners from November 2020 to May 2023, but this version of the game, nor the PlayStation Plus Essentials Catalogue version, wouldn’t allow players to upgrade to the next gen update for free.

A full $19.99 purchase was required instead, though Bethesda soon confirmed this was an unintentional bug. “We’ve seen some confusion regarding the free Fallout 4 next gen update for PlayStation Plus Extra members,” wrote a Bethesda community manager on the company’s official Discord, who clarified it should be free as expected.

Bethesda wasn’t able to offer any clarification regarding the free PS5 version nor the PS Plus Essentials version, however, saying on X/Twitter that “we do not have any information” regarding either. PS5 users were naturally left frustrated with the initial bug and unclear communication.

Those who have been able to get into the game haven’t had the best experience either, and have taken to social media to share their impressions. “The Fallout 4 PS5 upgrade looks amazing,” wrote CSSJAZZ on Reddit, sarcastically, as they posted the comment alongside a video of one area with missing textures.

Reddit user pasta_classic posted an image of the character creator screen, where the default man was missing a face completely. “Loving the update,” wrote SnoopyTheDog_, who posted a video of their character locked in place while being killed by roaches.

“Gotta love that Bethesda polish,” said UnwillingArsonist, whose post showed that makeshift weapons in the update are also missing textures, appearing as floating red exclamation marks in the world.

The issues come as somewhat of a sour note in what’s otherwise been a Fallout resurgence, spurred on by the critically acclaimed Amazon TV series. A huge upswing in the popularity of Fallout 4, multiplayer entry Fallout 76, and other games in the franchise even caused popular modding website NexusMods to struggle, and Fallout 76, once universally panned, saw one million players log in a single day following the show’s release.

Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelance reporter. He’ll talk about The Witcher all day.

Stellar Blade Gets a Huge Discount on Launch Day in the UK

Stellar Blade is now available on PS5, and there’s a limited time left for you to secure what will likely be the best discount we see during its launch window. The PS5 exclusive is currently discounted using code PAYAY20 (see here), with over £14 off the RRP bringing the game down to just £55.96 for a limited time only. We’ll leave a handy link to the Stellar Blade preorder discount just below, but as we mentioned, this deal will expire soon at 11:59 PM on April 30 — so don’t hang around on this one.

This is part of a new payday sale at eBay using code PAYAY20, which includes some pretty impressive discounts, and 20% off some of the best games going right now — including Stellar Blade which will likely be on a lot of PlayStation gamers radar for the end of this month.

Plus, there are also games like Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth on PS5 is down to just £47.16, alongside Steam Deck 512GB for £374.95. These payday discounts are well worth taking advantage of if you’re making any purchases in the spring sales and beyond, so keep them in mind. For more amazing UK discounts, ensure you’re following @IGNUKDeals on Twitter/X.

In our review of the Stellar Blade, we said: “Stellar Blade stands out as a gorgeous and well-crafted action game with very impressive strengths and very clear weaknesses. Both its story and characters lack substance, and some of its RPG elements are poorly implemented, like dull sidequests that very often require you to retrace your steps through previous levels with very little done to make the return trip feel unique or rewarding.

“But its action picks up most of that slack thanks to the rock-solid fundamentals of its Sekiro-inspired combat system, a deep well of hideous monstrosities to sharpen your sword against, and plenty of hidden goodies that do a great job of incentivizing exploration throughout.”

Robert Anderson is a deals expert and Commerce Editor for IGN. You can follow him @robertliam21 on Twitter.