Wizards of the Coast has announced the next Secret Lair collaboration for Magic: The Gathering, and it features android superstar Hatsune Miku.
For the uninitiated, Hatsune Miku is a hugely popular digital character whose voice synthesizer can be heard in tens of thousands of songs, and whose holographic likeness sells out in-person concerts on a regular basis. Now she’s taking her act from the stage to the playmat, as she’ll soon have her own Magic cards.
The crossover will be rolled out throughout the rest of 2024, with four different Secret Lair drops themed around the seasons in which they become available. The first, Sakura Superstar (seen above), will include Miku, Lost but Singing, a legendary creature that lets you play two additional land cards per turn, and Miku, the Renowned which lets you recast instant and sorcery spells – both of which are reskins of favored commander cards. This set will include six cards total, and seems designed for those who want this digital diva to head up their commander deck.
“Secret Lair lets us take the things fans already love about Magic: The Gathering and combine them with pop culture moments and amazing new artists,” said Mark Heggen, Wizards of the Coast’s Vice President of Collectibles. “We’re thrilled to team up with the global phenomenon that is Hatsune Miku to put on this year-long celebration for fans around the world.”
Secret Lair x Hatsune Miku: Sakura Superstar will be available for preorder starting on May 13, and will cost $29.99 and $39.99 for the non-foil and foil editions, respectively.
Blu-ray players may seem like a thing of the past for some folks, but they still let you watch the best movies and TV shows in the comfort of your own home and at the highest possible quality this side of a movie theater. While you can easily stream content via streaming services on the latest smart TVs, Blu-Ray players offer a higher level of detail and a more immersive experience. If you’re a collector, it’s also great fun collecting and organizing Blu-Ray discs.
Choosing the best Blu-Ray player can be tricky if you don’t know what you’re looking for. If you’re on a budget, you may feel overwhelmed by the choices, or if you’re searching for the ultimate home entertainment devices, you’ll want the best out there.
Best Blu-Ray Players in 2024
1. Panasonic DP-UB9000
Top Blu-Ray Player
Pros:
Excellent image quality
HDR support
Cons:
Very expensive
If you’re ready to splurge on the best Blu-Ray player, you won’t be disappointed by the Panasonic DP-UB9000. This premium package all major HDR formats including HDR10, HDR10+, HLG, and Dolby Vision.
Thinking about upgrading your home entertainment system? You’ll want this in your collection. Not only does it boast excellent image quality, but it also produces some seriously good audio thanks to its DAC, 7.1 audio channel, and two-channel outputs.
Turn the Blu-Ray player around and you’re met with tons of input and output options. This is the best Blu-Ray player on the market if it’s in your budget.
2. Sony UBP-X700M
Best 4K Blu-Ray Player
Pros:
Decent picture
Dolby Vision support
Cons:
No HDR10+ support
Investing in a decent Blu-Ray player that doesn’t cost the Earth can be challenging. But the Sony UBP-X700M hits the sweet spot by offering a more affordable way into the world of Blu-Ray while maintaining decent specs and features. Despite its low price point, you still get 4K and premium audio quality.
You aren’t sacrificing an awful lot; yes, there’s no HDR10+ support, but there’s still HDR10 and the player can handle 24bit/192kHz files and multiple formats. Throw in some smart features and dual HDMI outputs, and you’ve got yourself a winner.
3. PlayStation 5
Best Game Console with Blu-Ray Player
Pros:
Doubles up as a game console
Atmos and DTS:X passthrough
Cons:
May be overkill for a Blu-Ray player
Gamers will love the PS5 and could definitely consider it one of the best Blu-Ray players since it doubles up as a game console. With 4K Blu-Ray support, you can play your favorite games and movies on the same device. And while it doesn’t support Dolby Vision over HDR like the Xbox Series X, it can pass Dolby Atmos via your TV and deliver outstanding picture quality.
The PlayStation 5 upscales HD Blu-Ray discs naturally and offers clean, sharp images when playing movies and TV shows. It’s fun for all the family too. Not only does the PlayStation 5 allow you to play games, but there are loads of apps you can install, including the likes of Netflix, YouTube, and other streaming services.
4. Xbox Series X
Best Alternative for Home Entertainment
Pros:
Great for families
HDR10
Cons:
Not as good as the PS5
If you’ve decided you’re going to use your game console as a Blu-Ray player, the only real conundrum you’ll have is choosing between the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X. While the PlayStation 5 does tip the scales in favor of image quality, the Xbox Series X supports Dolby Vision HDR from streaming services.
Put this alongside Dolby Atmos audio, and you’ve got an entire home entertainment system for you and your family. Plus, if you invest a small amount each month on the Xbox Game Pass, there are plenty of games you can enjoy for free. You may have to suffer a small dip in 4K image quality and HD upscaling compared to the PlayStation 5, but unless you’re paying extra special attention and comparing them side by side, you won’t notice the differences too much.
5. Sony BDP-BX370
Best Budget Blu-Ray Player
Pros:
Good value for money
User-friendly
Cons:
Limited to 1080p
Sometimes all you need is a Blu-Ray player that will play your discs, display decent image quality and audio, and have none of the frills more expensive models offer. That’s what the Sony BDP-BX370 does well. It’s limited to 1080p, but in full HD, this might be what you’re after. If you have older DVDs lying around, it also upscales DVDs to near-HD quality.
With support for screen mirroring from your phone, this Blu-Ray player offers more than you might expect. It’s incredibly easy to set up too thanks to the included HDMI cable and super quick start mode.
If you are looking for an affordable Blu-Ray player, Sony does not let the side down. It’s simple, effective, and will look great in any home.
How To Choose the Best Blu-Ray Player
Choosing the best Blu-Ray player can enhance your home entertainment experience by delivering stunning picture quality and immersive audio. When selecting a Blu-Ray player, it’s essential to consider certain features and specifications to ensure that it meets your needs.
Let’s look at it this way; if you were stood in a shop deciding between two Blu-Ray players, the first thing you’re going to want to prioritize is picture quality. At the very least, you want HD playback, but if you want a future-proof device, opt for 4K UHD, as well as features like HDR support.
Next up is audio quality. If you’re adding to your home entertainment setup, support for audio formats like Dolby Atmos and DTS:X adds to the immersive experience. On a similar note, you’ll want to consider what connectivity options the Blu-Ray player offers, like HDMI, digital audio outputs, USB, and so on. If you have a projector at home, a smart TV, or something else, your new Blu-Ray player has to be compatible.
While streaming apps and smart features aren’t the be-all and end-all, these things are nice to have. If you are faced with two similar Blu-Ray players, having Netflix built-in or smart capabilities might tip the scales.
Upcoming Blu-Ray Players
There are no significant upcoming Blu-Ray players or planned releases, but it does look like there may be new ones at some point. Blu-Rays are having somewhat of a resurgence thanks to film studios and filmmakers investing resources into specific Blu-Ray releases. These are mostly targeted at collectors, or users who enjoy purchasing limited edition discs. This might, however, turn the tide on the Blu-Ray market.
Blu-Ray Player FAQ
Are Blu-Ray Players Still Worth Buying?
Blu-Ray players may have been invented back in 2005 (and released in 2006) to take over the DVD format, but these BDs are a great addition to movie night still today. While it’s easy to stream movies and such directly from services like Netflix, you don’t get the same level of image and audio quality as you do from a high-end Blu-Ray player. Some Blu-Ray players are also lightweight enough that they become more portable. For example, if you’ve booked a stay at an Airbnb with the family, some extra entertainment might prove useful.
Can You Play Blu-Ray Discs on a Normal DVD Player?
Blu-Ray discs only work on Blu-Ray players. You couldn’t put a Blu-Ray disc into a DVD player or CD player. The formats are different and therefore require specific drives to play them.
What Are the Advantages of a Blu-Ray Player?
Blu-Ray discs can hold large amounts of data. Not only are Blu-ray players great for the home, they are also great in workplaces. But, aside from being useful, Blu-ray players offer excellent sound and picture quality.
With many people opting to ditch Blu-Ray discs and move to online streaming services, Blu-Rays can often be picked up relatively cheaply. And if you invest in something like a PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X, you can enjoy games as well as movies and TV shows on the same device.
Kegan is an avid gamer who has been playing games since his Atari days. From a young age Kegan was tinkering with PCs and now has a passion for building custom gaming computers.
In its quarterly earnings presentation, Remedy Entertainment shared an update on its remake of Max Payne 1 and 2, as well as the news that Tencent has nearly tripled its investment in the studio.
In a report for shareholders, Remedy announced that Max Payne 1 & 2 remake is expected to move into “full production” during Q2 of 2024 (April through June of 2024). Additionally, Codename Kestrel — Remedy’s upcoming multiplayer action game formerly known as Vanguard — is still in the concept stage.
Elsewhere, the Control 2 team is finalizing its proof of concept and is expected to advance to the “production readiness stage” during Q2. Codename Condor, a multiplayer game set in the Control universe, is in “the final development stage before a game is launched,” or full production.
With all these games in the cooker, Remedy has received a new infusion of cash from existing stakeholder Tencent. Previously, Tencent acquired a minority (3.8%) stake in Remedy that it later upped to 5%. Today, Remedy announced that Tencent increased its stake again to 14.8%, nearly triple what it was prior.
A busy year for Remedy
It was a busy period for Remedy. The company fully acquired rights to the Control franchise from 505 Games, and is currently discussing future partnerships and business and publishing models, including self-publishing. Alan Wake 2 sold 1.3 million units as of the start of February, and Remedy says today that the game has recouped “a significant part” of its expenses.
The company additionally announced today that its COO Christopher Schmitz is resigning, and that long-time Remedy veteran and Control game director Mikael Kasurinen is being appointed as a company-wide creative director. Remedy’s revenue for the quarter was up 56.2% year-over-year to €10.8 million ($11.6 million).
Two planned expansions for Alan Wake 2 are currently in the works, one entitled Night Springs, and a second entitled The Lakehouse. Neither has a release date just yet.
Rebekah Valentine is a senior reporter for IGN. Got a story tip? Send it to rvalentine@ign.com.
JAKKs Pacific, a California-based toy company, recalled 17,500 units of its Mario Kart 24V Ride-On Racer Cars on April 25 because of a crash hazard related to its battery-powered acceleration pedal. According to the United States Consumer Product and Safety Commission, if debris gets clogged in the $400 Mario Kart’s acceleration pedal, it can cause the pedal to stick even if the rider’s foot isn’t pressing down on it.
“The firm has received 65 reports of incidents of debris-clogged pedals sticking, of which 15 of the vehicles crashed into permanent structures with one minor injury, a chafed hand,” the United States Consumer Product and Safety Commission wrote in its recall report.
For anyone who already purchased the Mario Kart from online and brick-and-mortar stores like Amazon, Walmart, or Target, between October 2022 to January 2024, the United States Consumer Product and Safety Commission recommends that users immediately stop using it and contact Jakks Pacific to receive a free repair kit, which includes a free replacement pedal and installation instructions.
If there’s an upside to this whole debacle, it’s that gamers will have a genuine experience modding their karts just like they were in Mario Kart 8.
Isaiah Colbert is a freelance writer for IGN. You can follow them on Twitter @ShinEyeZehUhh.
Nintendo’s Switch successor console, referred to by many as the “Switch 2,” will feature magnetic Joy-Con controllers, backward compatibility, and a host of other new features, according to the latest batch of rumors.
These alleged details about the yet-to-be-revealed device first showed up from Spanish outlet Vandal and were later cooperated by third-party Switch accessory manufacturer Mobapad. They say that the console will swap away from the railed lock method used by the current Switch and its Joy-Cons in favor of larger, electromagnetic suction controllers. If the rumors are accurate, players can also expect metal SL and SR buttons as well as one additional new button on the side of each controller. Mobapad adds that the new controllers will still feature HD rumble.
Nintendo hasn’t officially pulled back the curtain on the Switch 2, much less confirmed what kind of controllers it will support. If the rumors are to be believed, it sounds like players will at least be able to continue using their old Joy-Cons and Pro-Controllers as well as their original physical and digital Switch games. It would no doubt be nice to head into another Nintendo generation with some degree of backward compatibility, though its unclear how or if the old Joy-Cons would be able to pair with the magnetic new console.
Mobapad claims that the Switch 2 will continue to support USB-C, with its dock said to feature minor changes to its appearance while delivering 4K resolution. The site also references the new dock’s adjustable “damping bracket on the back,” though it is possible they are talking about the Switch 2’s kickstand. The device’s screen is said to be an eight-inch display that supports 1080p resolution.
Nintendo’s Switch successor hasn’t been revealed, but numerous reports have stated that the console is just on the horizon.VGC reported last year that Nintendo was targeting a 2024 launch for its new gaming tech. However, aNikkei report from February said that Nintendo was planning to launch in March 2025 instead in order to combat potential scalpers.
Again, it’s unclear if today’s rumors are accurate, so it’s best to take everything with a grain of salt until Nintendo gives us something official to chew on. For more on the Switch 2, be sure to check out everything else we know about Nintendo’s hardware before we (hopefully) learn more about it soon. You can also check out what we’re hoping to see from the device when it’s eventually revealed.
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.
Microsoft just held its latest ID@Xbox, a digital showcase showing many fantastic indie games headed to Xbox and PC. From existing games getting updates, such as Palworld and Vampire Survivors, to new details on existing indie games, like 33 Immortals and Lost Records: Bloom & Rage, today’s showcase likely had a game for just about every type of player.
If you missed today’s ID@Xbox showcase, don’t worry. IGN has recapped everything announced, which you can read below.
Astor: Blade of the Monolith is out on May 30
Originally announced as Monolith: Requiem of the Ancients before the rebranding, Astor: Blade of the Monolith is a hack-and-slash ARPG. Players control the titular character, Astor, as he ventures off to unravel the mystery regarding the disappearance of the ancients.
33 Immortals’ closed beta is set for late May
If you are looking for a co-op roguelike game with 32 of your friends, 33 Immortals’ is the game for you. The top-down action game has beautiful hand-drawn visuals reminiscent of Spiritfarer combined with constant on-screen action from something like Vampire Survivors, 33 Immortals’ closed beta is set for May 24.
Palworld is getting a massive update with new Pals this Summer
Palworld, the indie darling that has become a breakout hit for Xbox early into 2024, is getting a big update this summer that includes the introduction of four new Pals. More interestingly, the trailer showed a flamethrower weapon being wielded by a player; previously, players who wanted to use a flamethrower in Palworld needed a Foxsparks to replicate a flamethrower.
WWII-era game Commandos: Origins is getting a closed beta this Summer
Claymore Game Studios has provided a new look at the next entry in the Commandos franchise, subtitled Origins. Set in World War II, players control Jack O’Hara or one of his five companions in a series of missions that set in ” historically authentic WWII environments.”
A closed beta is set to be held sometime this Summer.
Centum is an 8-bit point-and-click adventure game coming this Summer
If you like 8-bit visuals and point-and-click adventure games, Centum might be worth adding to your watchlist. The gameplay from the reveal trailer reveals that the game will shift between medieval and modern settings. Centum is out this Summer.
Lost Records: Bloom & Rage gets a new trailer, but no release date
Announced at the 2023 Game Awards, Lost Records: Bloom & Rage is the next project from Don’t Nod, the creator of Life is Strange. Unlike Don’t Nod’s previous story-driven choose-your-own-adventure games, which were set in a more modern period, Lost Records is set in 1995. The latest trailer oozes 90s nostalgia, with kids skateboarding and footage of the trailer being “recorded” from a 90s-era camcorder.
Keylocker is out this Summer on PC and Xbox
A turn-based cyberpunk action game, Keylocker, will be released on PC and Xbox sometime this Summer. Set in a world where music is outlawed, players control a singer. Developer Moonana explained on the game’s Steam page that the Mario & Luigi RPG series and Chrono Trigger inspired Keylocker.
Stampede: Racing Royale is a battle royale racing game with 60 players on the course
While Mario Kart is still the franchise that dominates the kart racing subgenre, it is still limited to Nintendo hardware. Sumo Digital’s Stampede: Racing Royale might give Xbox players something to fill the Mario Kart void.
A racing game that fuses kart racing and battle royale, Stampede: Racing Royale has 60 players burning rubber on the course. The gameplay and power-ups are similar to those in a Mario Kart game, combined with the goofiness found in MediaTonic’s platform battle royale game Fall Guys.
Jackbox Games is finally making an adult-themed Party Pack coming this year
Adult Jackbox players wishing for an adult-themed Party Pack can stop praying as Jackbox Games announced today that it is finally making one.
Jackbox Naughty Pack is coming sometime this year. While there is no information on what games will be included in the party pack, the announcement reminds me of how Apples to Apples and Cards Against Humanity exist, with the Naughty Pack taking a darker and more provocative twist.
Times & Galaxy gets June release window
Copychaser Games’ upcoming point-and-click game Times & Galaxy will be available on PC and Xbox sometime in June. Payers control a robot, the first robot reporter for the prestigious Times & Galaxy newspaper. The reporter is asked to find stories across the Galaxy as an intern, hoping to get a scoop.
Sulfur is a contemporary shooter with old-school vibes coming to Xbox
A contemporary first-person shooter with roguelike elements and an old-school design. One of the user-defined tags on the game’s Steam page describes it as a “boomer shooter.” Looking at the previous trailer and the one that appeared at ID@Xbox, gameplay might remind people of the older Doom and Wolfenstein games.
Fera: The Sundered Tribes is out later this year
Massive Damage Studios has shared a new trailer for Fera: The Sundered Tribes, an action RPG that fuses monster hunting with tribe management and building mechanics. The gameplay and screenshots resemble Monster Hunter: World.
Fera, The Sundered Tribes is launching later this year.
All You Need Is Help is a quirky puzzle game from the creators of PixelJunk Monsters
If you are looking for a silyl but cozy puzzle game, PixelJunk Monsters creator Q-Games’ next project, All You Need Is Help, is hitting the sweet spot. The trailer indicates that this puzzle game is a multiplayer game in which players have time and need to place their puzzle pieces in the correct position.
All You Need Is Help is out sometime this Fall.
Tails of Iron 2: Whiskers of Winter gets new trailer, still no release date
Odd Bug Studio’s upcoming soulslike action RPG Tails of Iron 2: Whiskers of Winter got a new trailer at ID@Xbox, flaunting more of its comic book 2D art style. Players will control Arlo, who is on a quest to defeat giant beasts and bandits that are scattered throughout the world.
Hangry briefly appears at ID@Xbox
Hangry, the “snack n’ slash” RPG in which players hunt down and eat monsters, briefly appeared at ID@Xbox, where players got a brief new look at gameplay.
Promise Mascot Agency is the next game from the creators of Paradise Killer
Kaizen Game Works, the developers behind Paradise Killer, are back with a sophomore title called Promise Mascot Agency. As the name implies, players run a mascot agency, and gameplay includes card-based battles.
I promise Mascot Agency will be out sometime next year.
Five games published by Gamera Games are headed to Xbox Game Pass
Indie game publisher Gamera Games appeared at ID@Xbox today, revealing that five games—Depersonalization, Firework, Volcano Princess, Kelperth, and The Rewinder—are headed to Game Pass. All these games were released initially on PC before today’s announcement.
Over 15 games from the Triple-I Initiative showcase will be playable on Xbox
Earlier this month, the Triple-I Initiative showcase highlighted many indie delights that are headed shortly. Games such as Palworld Arena and Cat Quest 3 appeared. Towards the end of the showcase, it was revealed that 17 games from that sizzle during ID@Xbox will be playable on Xbox.
Dungeons of Hinterberg gets a colorful new trailer focusing on gameplay
A fusion of social sim and action RPG genres with cel-shaded graphics, Dungeons of Hinterberg is set in the Austrian Alps where players control Luisa, a law trainee suffering burnout who opts to drop the corporate life and trade it in for the rugged life of living in the wild and conquer dungeons.
Vampire Survirors: Operation Guns DLC gets one more trailer before its May 9 release date
Vampire Survivors: Operation Guns, known affectionately as the Contra DLC, is headed to all platforms early next month. We got another look at the new DLC before it gets into players’ hands. But the most interesting thing about the new trailer is that at the end, viewers get a “one more thing…” revealing that Brad Fang, a character who first appeared in Contra: Hard Corps, will be featured in the DLC.
Taylor is a Reporter at IGN. You can follow her on Twitter @TayNixster.
Today, Amazon is offering the powerful and high capacity Anker Prime 20,000mAh USB Power Bank for only $89.98, a hefty 31% price drop from its original $130 MSRP. This is the successor to the Anker 737 that we deemed the best Steam Deck and ASUS ROG Ally charger. It boasts an absolutely massive 200W of USB power delivery to charge all of your mobile devices simultaneously.
Anker Prime 20,000mAh Power Bank for $90
with 200W of USB Type-C Power Delivery
The Anker Prime can be used like any other power bank; it does a fine job of charging any of your standard mobile electronics. However, its main purpose is to charge more power hungry devices like laptops, portable gaming systems, and high end phones. It has two USB Type-C ports and one USB Type-A port. Each USB Type C port supports up to 100W of Power Delivery. In fact, both ports can charge 100W at the same time. If you want to charge using all three ports simultaneously, then the power distribution will be 100W (Type C), 60W (Type-C) and 40W (Type-A). The 20,000mAh is under the TSA’s 27,000mAh limit so it can be brought onto airplanes; it can charge a Nintendo Switch OLED about 4 times, iPhone 15 Pro Max about 4 times, Steam Deck about 3 times, and an ASUS ROG Ally about 7 times.
What makes the Prime unique compared to most other power banks is the LCD digital readout which displays a lot of useful real-time information like remaining battery capacity, power input, and power output from each port. The power bank measures 5″x2″x2″ and weighs in at 1.2 pounds.
The Anker Prime is an excellent Steam Deck / ASUS ROG Ally charger
The Anker Prime is an outstanding charger for the Steam Deck and ASUS ROG Ally portable gaming handhelds. The Steam Deck accepts up to 38W of USB Power Delivery and the ASUS ROG Ally accepts up to 65W. That means the Prime can charge three Steam Decks or two ASUS ROG Allys simultaneously at their maximum charging rate. Both the ROG Ally and Steam Deck suffer from a short battery life when gaming on the go. For instance, when playing most games at 60 FPS, you’re likely looking at four hours of battery life for the Steam Deck and far less with the ASUS ROG Ally, which is equipped with a measly 2600mAh battery. During our Steam Deck review, we even found games like God of War or Spider-Man would tap out in under 2-hours as well. At the end of the day, you’ll never get the full potential out of your Steam Deck or ROG Ally if you’re not equipped with a decent portable charger.
Game of Thrones is reportedly the basis of a massively multiplayer online role-playing game set from The Finals publisher Nexon.
Sources told Redanian Intelligence that the game will at least partially be set in the North with locations such as Winterfell and The Wall both featured. It will reportedly take place around Seasons 4 and 5 of the hit HBO show, when Roose Bolton is Warden of the North and Jon Snow and Sam Tarley are still posted at The Wall.
Players will allegedly explore Westeros through a story campaign threaded throughout the MMO, coming across the aforementioned characters and others as they do, according to Redanian Intelligence. The HBO show cast apparently will not return for the game, and players will create a brand new character for themselves, with male and female options.
The game was described as a package similar to The Elder Scrolls Online, though no release window for the alleged MMO was shared. IGN has asked Nexon for comment.
Nexon, as well as publishing Embark Studios’ hit shooter The Finals, has hundreds of millions of registered users across all its games, including Dungeon & Fighter, MapleStory, and KartRider.
Despite having a critically acclaimed TV show based on a critically acclaimed ongoing novel series, Game of Thrones hasn’t had as much of a presence in the video game space. Beyond a handful of strategy games, an RPG based on the TV show was released in 2012 to poor reviews, while Telltale Games created an episodic, story heavy game in 2014 that failed to get a second season. Interestingly, a Game of Thrones MMORPG for mobile was announced by Netmarble in 2022 but hasn’t been heard from since.
Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelance reporter. He’ll talk about The Witcher all day.
Escape From Tarkov developer Battlestate Games has been called “shameless” and “tone deaf” over its response to controversy caused by a $250 expansion, with fans and even its esports associate calling out the studio.
The community behind Escape From Tarkov — a hardcore and realistic online first-person shooter currently in beta — erupted on April 26 after Battlestate announced the $250 Unheard Edition upgrade, which added an exclusive player-versus-everyone mode amid other extras, and notably wasn’t deemed downloadable content by the developer. This meant those who’d bought the $150 Edge of Darkness edition of Escape From Tarkov, which came with a Season Pass and thus “free access to all subsequent DLCs”, wouldn’t obtain this new content without spending another $250.
Nik Buyanov, Battlestate COO and studio head, posted on Reddit to announce owners of the Edge of Darkness edition would get access to the mode upon Escape From Tarkov’s full launch but couldn’t yet because of server capacity issues.
Players would “have the opportunity to test this mode by purchasing the Unheard edition of the game”, Buyanov said, announcing a 50% discount for owners of the Edge of Darkness edition. These players would therefore be paying $275 in total to access this part of the Escape From Tarkov beta.
Another Reddit post came from Buyanov after this one didn’t go well. “I would like to say that I am very sorry that fans and the game community in general are experiencing these feelings,” he said, the wording of which further upset many Escape From Tarkov players.
“Fake apology,” said redamid. “‘I’m sorry you feel this way’ does not equal ‘I’m sorry I betrayed you’.” ZeroPointZero_ chimed in too: “‘I’m sorry you feel this way’ is really not how an apology should sound,” they said. “I don’t really expect much better than this, however, considering all that has happened. The corrective actions are now on the right track, but hardly enough. Introducing pay-to-win features that are infinitely more potent than the ones in Edge of Darkness is just tone deaf.”
I would like to say that I am very sorry that fans and the game community in general are experiencing these feelings.
Buyanov said the reaction, “which he did not foresee”, will affect future decisions and announced a handful of other changes to these editions. PvE will be made available to those who own the Edge of Darkness edition but only “in waves” because of the server capacity issues, though it’s unclear how far apart these waves will come.
He also promised to balance the items and perks in this addition but provide more to those who already bought it for $250, and said Battlestate will continue to work on other patches and content for Escape From Tarkov, among other things. “Thank you for your time, love and hate, and thank you for your increased attention to the current situation,” Buyanov said.
These changes aren’t enough for many, however. “Saying you’re ‘sorry about the feeling we are experiencing’ is such as BS statement,” said broken-cactus. “Clearly you’re not sorry for what you did. While this is a good step, honestly you guys have shown your true colors with this whole fiasco. I’m just very disappointed, and I hope you guys will take some time to build back the trust you lost with this community.”
A comment from paulfunyan suggested Battlestate had made false promises in the past, and said the company is asking for too much money for a game currently in beta. “You’ve had the privilege of us testing your game for the past seven years, and this is the product you’re delivering. If you expect anyone to pay more money to test this then you’re bats**t insane,” they said. “Shameless.”
Clearly you’re not sorry for what you did. While this is a good step, honestly you guys have shown your true colors with this whole fiasco.
Escape From Tarkov’s Reddit is currently full of fans sharing similar thoughts, though Battlestate’s recent actions appear to be a step too far for many. A post from WebFirm4870 with a screenshot of them uninstalling the game has 3,500 upvotes. Mleeimlele’s post telling other players not to fall for the apology has 6,700 upvotes. A screenshot of the Wikipedia page for a “non-apology apology” has 5,100 upvotes.
But the backlash took a step further when Evasion GG, the first Escape From Tarkov esports team and a host of more than 200 tournaments for the game, posted on X/Twitter to claim Battlestate is a bad company to work with as a result of “control issues, blatant nepotism” and more.
“We have produced over 200 Tarkov shows but if you’ve wondered why we haven’t been as active as we once were it’s because we will not be railroaded into doing events that we don’t believe in,” Evasion said.
“What happened to the Tarkov community over the past week is what’s been happening to us for the last two years dealing with Battlestate. Promises not kept, gaslighting, event cancelations, control issues, blatant nepotism, [and] all while wasting our time, money, and efforts. This year we found out how terribly they have been treating the smaller event orgs as well. Now this treatment has spread to the player base.
“We’ve held back sharing this information but seeing how the community was treated as a whole recently was too much. We will not create Tarkov events until we see things truly change.”
IGN has asked Battlestate for comment regarding these allegations and the community backlash.
Escape From Tarkov was released in closed alpha in August 2016 before its closed beta was released in July 2017. It has stayed in this form ever since despite regular updates and paid add-ons, with no word on a proper launch date as of yet.
Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelance reporter. He’ll talk about The Witcher all day.
Manor Lords’ huge Steam wishlists have translated into a bumper launch that saw over one million copies sold in just a day.
Manor Lords launched on April 26 in Early Access form and soon rose through the player concurrents ranks on Valve’s platform. It hit a peak Steam concurrent player count of 173,178 — according to publisher Hooded Horse, that’s the highest ever for a city builder, and even other similar genres, such as GSG/4x/colony sims. That means Manor Lords has enjoyed a bigger Steam launch than the likes of Civilization and Cities: Skylines.
Manor Lords is a medieval strategy game featuring in-depth city building, large-scale tactical battles, and complex economic and social simulations. It was developed by Slavic Magic, a one-person studio founded by Greg Styczeń. IGN’s Manor Lords Early Access review returned a 7/10. We said: “Manor Lords is a gorgeous medieval city-builder that kept me occupied for hours building my perfect, cozy hamlets, but it definitely feels very early in its Early Access development.”
In a tweet, Styczeń outlined the main points for the planned next patch:
Fix all the weird homeless bugs.
Tune the archer damage.
Tune the trade oversupply mechanics (it’s too harsh and punishes regional specialization).
Slow down the rate of the AI claiming territories.
Improve the sawpit efficiency / storage.
Manor Lords is the latest mid-priced game to see enormous success in early 2024 following the release of Pocket Pair’s Palworld and Arrowhead’s Helldivers 2. The trend comes at a time when some triple-A $70 games, such as Rocksteady’s Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League and Ubisoft’s Skull and Bones, have struggled.
Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.
