Category: IGN

Auto Added by WPeMatico

All Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Frox Locations

Frox are hulking, carnivorous monsters that make their home in The Depths of Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. With one giant eye and an even bigger, vacuous mouth, Frox of all types make for difficult adversaries.

Whether you’re looking to challenge yourself or to farm the Zonaite and monster parts they drop, you won’t want to waste your time wandering around the vast Depths to find a Frox. That’s why we’ve assembled all forty Frox locations in TotK with a handy map.

Hebra and Tabantha Frox Locations

There are a total of eight Frox that can be found in the northwestern region of The Depths, directly beneath the Hebra Mountains, Tabantha Frontier, and Tabantha Tundra:

  1. West of Sturnida Lavafalls and southeast of Nupisoyuat Lightroot
  2. South of Cuho Canyon Mine and slightly southeast of Kataki Lightroot
  3. Southwest of Koro-nui Lightroot
  4. Slightly southwest of Hebra Canyon Mine, northeast of Worihas Lightroot
  5. South of Aduon Lightroot, east of the Abandoned Hebra Mine
  6. Southwest of Muihcoro Lightroot
  7. West of the U-nazohso Lightroot and North Lomei Depths Labryinth
  8. Northeast of Yisuayam Lightroot and northwest of the Drena Canyon Mine

In the Hebra-Tabantha region of The Depths, the only Obsidian Frox is found at location “8” labeled in screenshot above, just a bit northwest of the Drena Canyon Mine. All other locations labeled are where Blue-White Frox can be discovered.

Eldin and Akkala Frox Locations

There are a total of six Frox that can be found in the northeastern region of The Depths, directly beneath the areas of the Great Hyrule Forest, Eldin, and Akkala:

  1. Northeast of the Nikakik Lightroot
  2. Slightly east of the Katenim Lightroot, and north of the Gleeok Den above the Korok Grove
  3. Northeast of the Kawamit Lightroot, south of the Abandoned Eldin Mine
  4. South of the Anonisik Lightroot
  5. East of the Akinatanis Lightroot and northeast of the Ulri Canyon Mine
  6. Directly south of the Kawikatisar Lightroot, north of Ploymous Canyon Mine

All of the Frox found in the Eldin-Akkala region of The Depths are Obsidian Frox, with the exception of the Frox at location “3” labeled on the screenshot above.

Hyrule Ridge and Hyrule Field Frox Locations

There are a total of eleven Frox you can find all-in-all throughout the The Depths beneath Hyrule Ridge and Hyrule Field, plus their surrounding areas:

  1. East of Rhoam Canyon Mine and Sikurukam Lightroot
  2. East of Napanos Lightroot and the Blupee Burrow
  3. North of the Kawakanis Lightroot
  4. Northwest of the Netamnet Lightroot
  5. North of the Gadohsi Lightroot
  6. Directly east of the Gustaf Canyon Mine and a bit southeast of the Gadohsi Lightroot
  7. South of the Nihcayam Lightroot and southeast of the Daphnes Canyon Mine
  8. South of the Grove of Time and Nuzimak Lightroot
  9. Northwest of the Stakijat Lightroot
  10. South of the Apapes Lightroot
  11. Northeast of the Korakut Lightroot and south of both Crenel Canyon Mine and Nojoj Lightroot

The Frox found at locations labeled “1 – 4” on the screenshot above are all Obsidian Frox varieties. The Frox found at locations “5, 10, 11” are all the tougher Blue-White Frox varieties, with the rest being regular Frox.

Gerudo Frox Locations

There’s a total of ten Frox to you can find in the southwestern region of The Depths directly beneath the Gerudo Desert and Gerudo Highlands areas:

  1. North of the Stamayam Lightroot
  2. North of the Gerudo Dark Skeleton and south of the Gonatoyrim Lightroot
  3. Southeast of the Rasinaduk Lightroot
  4. Southeast of the Umamuster Lightroot and north of the Birida Lookout Chasm
  5. Southwest of the Mihcihc Lightroot and east of the Abandoned Gerudo Mine
  6. Southeast of the Abandoned Kara Kara Mine and Tatayam Lightroot
  7. West of the Amakawis Lightroot
  8. North of Amakawis Lightroot
  9. Southwest of the Jadukakar Lightroot and west of the Nabooru Canyon Mine
  10. South of the Nabooru Canyon Mine and Northwest of the Kawatik Lightroot

The toughest Blue-White Frox variant can be found at the “1” and “4” locations labeled on the map screenshot above. If you are searching for an Obsidian Frox, look at the locations labeled “2”, “3”, “6” above. All other locations are home to regular Frox.

Faron and Necluda Frox Locations

In the southeast region of The Depths, you can find a total of five Frox in the area that is beneath the Faron and Necluda areas of Hyrule:

  1. Southeast of Falorra Canyon Mine
  2. North of Pappetto Grove and northeast of Nikohsi Lightroot
  3. Slightly southeast of the Kohsustu Lightroot
  4. West of the Tuft Canyon Mine
  5. Northeast of Migo-o Lightroot

The only Blue-White Frox in the southeast corner of The Depths is found at location “4” labeled on the map screenshot above, west of the Tuft Canyon Mine. The closest Lightroot to this monster is the Mimufis Lightroot to the east. Otherwise, you can find Obsidian Frox at locations “3” and 5″ on the screenshot above. All other locations are where regular Frox enemies can be found.

Those are all the Frox you can find in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. Having a tough time beating these brutish monsters? Check out our guides on Blue-White Frox or Obsidian Frox for some tips, strategies, and recommended gear.

Need help finding locations in Hyrule, like all the Shrines or Skyview Towers? Check out IGN’s complete TotK interactive map, complete with tracking tools to make hunting down every last Korok and other collectibles easier. Plus, don’t forget to take a look at the Tears of the Kingdom Walkthrough and the List of Side Quests and Adventures.

Shailyn Cotten is a Freelance Writer for IGN. When she’s not writing guides, you can find her gobbling up Legend of Zelda lore, writing cozy fantasy novels, or live-streaming on Twitch. You can find her on Twitter at @ShaiCotten.

7 Cozy Queer Video Games To Play

While we love spending our time losing ourselves in epic games like The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom and Star Wars: Jedi Survivor, sometimes we just want to chill out and play something a little less intense and a little more cozy. Luckily there have been a spate of brilliant cozy games for us to enjoy. From grim reaper adventures surrounded by queer love to witchy life sims that allow you to date whoever you want, there is a game for everyone here. Heck, you can even run an 8-Bit coffee shop or explore an alien planet over a decade of your life. What a joy!

The below games are enjoyable for anyone who digs cozy vibes and indie games, and have been narrowed down even further based on having wholesome, LGBTQIA+ inclusivity to boot. We like to see representation growing in games and also rounded up our favorite LGBTQIA+ game characters. Check ’em out!

Spiritfarer

This melancholy yet beautiful game takes you on a journey through the beyond. As a ferrymaster to those who have recently passed away, you build homes for them on your boat and help them come to accept their new lot in life. Visually stunning, the textured aesthetic of the game feels almost like you’re playing through a beautifully animated film. Helping the spirits pass on brings you into contact with all kinds of wonderful people, some of whom may have an unexpected connection to your previous life. On top of that, you can garden, go on quests, find resources, and even cook delicious meals for your passengers. We gave Spiritfarer 9/10 for good reason – it’s one of the best indie games in years, so make sure to play it!

Wylde Flowers

If you’re looking for a cozy life-sim game to fill that Animal Crossing shaped-hole in your life then Wylde Flowers could be just the thing. While you’re a human this isn’t your average farming sim. You’re Tara, a young woman from the city who heads back to her hometown to help her ailing grandma. While granny has a cute farm, she also has a big secret: She’s a witch. Those two elements intertwine to make this a joyful twist on what we’ve come to expect from games like this. There’s plenty of farming, harvesting, and errands to keep you busy but as night falls you can head into the forest and find your coven. And like any good life-sim there are people of all genders to romance, including some very delightful monsters. What more could you want?

The Archipelago

One of the best spaces for cozy indie games is in the world of visual novels and The Archipelago is a perfect example of that. This is a gorgeously slow-paced 8-bit game that centers on the art of tea steeping. As you brew teas on the titular archipelago you learn more about those who come to visit you and, depending on the drinks that you brew, you’ll end up with different customers. There are mysteries to solve as well as deep interpersonal stories to piece together, and this is the kind of game you can luxuriate in when you need an escape from the everyday. There’s comfort to be found in the slice of life pace of running a small cafe, and the writing and visuals are so charming you’ll be hooked even if you’re usually more of an action gamer.

Coffee Talk

Doubling up on our drink-themed cozy games, Coffee Talk sees you behind the counter at a futuristic coffee shop where you have to learn your regular’s favorite drinks as you listen to their woes. There’s a quiet sadness to many of them, but if you make them beverages they love you can become a bright spark in their day. One of the best things about this 8-bit gem is the variety of customers you get to meet and the ways their lives unexpectedly intersect. Depending on how invested you become or how much time you want to spend in the world, this can be a quick breeze through or an atmospheric slowburn to become the best fantasy barista that you can be. And if you’re a fan of lofi-beats you’ll adore the gorgeous soundtrack by Andrew Jeremy.

Stardew Valley

An all-timer farm simulation game — and one of the most impressive feats of solo programming of all time — Stardew Valley is also easily the most addictive entry on our list. In 2018 we gave the game 9.5/10 after an impressive update and in 2023 it’s better than ever. In case you’ve yet to discover the joys of Stardew Valley, the game begins as so many Harvest Moons have before it: You arrive in a new town and must start a life there. From raising your farm to making friends, running errands to mining, there are plenty of delightfully repetitive tasks and quests to keep you busy. There are also many townsfolk to romance and monsters to kill — though sadly you can’t romance any of them… yet — as you while away hours playing this joyful game.

Night In The Woods

While some of the games here feature the option to pursue queer romance — or not — Night in the Woods is an unabashedly queer game and is all the better for it. After dropping out of college, Mae heads back to her hometown of Possum Springs While staying at the home of her parents, Mae gets embroiled in a shocking mystery connected to the history of the town and her missing friend. This is an atmospheric and moving narrative game that will lure you in with its charming animation before breaking your heart with complex queer representation, gorgeous storytelling, and relatable explorations of depression and struggles with mental health.

I Was a Teenage Exocolonist

This immersive narrative deckbuilding RPG sends you into the depths of space as you join a group of teenagers on an alien planet. Over 10 years you’ll learn skills and perform tasks that’ll shape the new world you’re on as well as the lives of those around you. With options for romance and even universe-changing decision making, this is an all-encompassing experience that’ll keep you playing again and again thanks to the time loop device that restarts the game once you hit 20 years old. Visually splendid, character driven, and surprisingly expansive this is a great sci-fi addition to your growing roster of cozy games to play this June and beyond.

Upcoming Indie Games in 2024

From Hades 2 to Neva, here are some of the most anticipated indie games to look forward to in 2024.

For more, see the biggest Video Game Release Dates, take a look back on everything announced at Nintendo Indie World Showcase in November 2023, and see all the Indie Game Winners from the 2023 Game Awards.

Rosie Knight is a contributing freelancer for IGN covering everything from anime to comic books to kaiju to kids movies to horror flicks. She has over half a decade of experience in entertainment journalism with bylines at Nerdist, Den of Geek, Polygon, and more.

PokéNational Geographic Gives a Taste of What Real-Life Pokemon Might Be Like

As a massive Pokémon fan, I’ve often daydreamed about what Pokémon would be like if they were real. Films like Detective Pikachu and games like Pokémon GO have offered different flavors of this daydream, but one of my recent favorite imaginings has to be the YouTube series PokéNational Geographic, created by Elious Entertainment.

PokéNational Geographic is a series of short YouTube videos, each featuring a different Pokémon and structured like a National Geographic documentary segment. There are episodes on Mimikyu, Baltoy, Magikarp, Phantump, Sobble, and Magnemite available at the time this is written, all under two minutes each, featuring a close-up look at a realistic-looking Pokémon and some Pokedex-driven facts about its habitat and behavior. There’s also a “full episode” published recently that combines several existing segments into one five-minute episode.

My absolute favorite of these so far has to be Mimikyu, but the Magikarp one is pretty good as well just for how thoroughly it roasts the useless fish Pokémon. The series seems pretty experimental so far in terms of format and length, but it has been updating somewhat regularly, so hopefully we get even more of these clips to enjoy in the future.

IGN reached out to Elious Entertainment for comment on how and why these were made, but didn’t receive a response.

I personally hope we get lots more of these clips. They remind me a bit of Pokémon Snap (and New Pokémon Snap) in their take on the Pokémon world as a wild one where Pokemon largely go about their business in nature without much concern for humans. I love the idea of someone producing a detailed nature documentary about their wild habits; it’s a look at these fantasy creatures that’s both familiar and alien at the same time.

For more Pokémon chatter, we recently reviewed the new Indigo Disk DLC for Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, which we said was “a blast to play alone and with friends, but it’s still held back by all the same technical issues that made Pokémon Scarlet and Violet a disaster.”

Rebekah Valentine is a senior reporter for IGN. Got a story tip? Send it to rvalentine@ign.com.

Tekken 8 Colorblind Filter Is Causing Vertigo and Migraines for Disabled Players

A recently revealed colorblind filter for Tekken 8 is negatively impacting disabled players with issues like nausea and migraines. While accessibility tools like colorblind options help to differentiate important on-screen information like opponents and their health bars, this setting is preventing some disabled individuals from viewing matches altogether.

X/Twitter user SJS | Gatterall shared a 38-second clip of a brief match with the filter activated, stating, “Why is no one talking about the colorblind accessibility of Tekken 8. Literally no game has done this.”

The video showcases a match with the background stylized after an uncolored comic panel. The fighter on the left is defined by vertical black lines that consistently move, and their opponent on the right is defined by horizontal black lines that follow the movement of the player. Currently, the video has over 9 million views.

Members of the disabled community took to the social media platform to voice their concerns. Game Accessibility Lead at EA, Morgan Baker, posted “Please stop tagging me in the Tekken 8 ‘colorblind’ stripe filters. It’s already induced an aura migraine for me, and I can’t afford to get another one right now, or worse. Appreciate y’all.”

Accessibility consultant and advocate Ian Hamilton echoed Baker’s statement, encouraging other X/Twitter users to stop sharing the video to prevent harming others. In a reply to his post, Hamilton discussed the overall problems of colorblind filters, stating “[I]f you have achromatopsia then you’re sensitive to brightness and contrast. Filters aren’t how to approach colourblindness in general, the other filters have issues too, e.g. the tritanopia one changed everything to green and purple with isn’t helpful for tritanopia.”

Other X/Twitter users expressed their concerns, as well. User One-Winged Bard stated “Terrible migraine since I saw that s**t… Can’t even sleep because of the pain….” Accessibility and DEI consultant, Tarja
Porkka-Kontturi posted “Striped filter gave me instant vertigo just from a 2-3 second clip that I accidentally saw. It’s hazardous.”

Game Director of the Tekken series, Katsuhiro Harada took to X/Twitter to defend the varying colorblind filters. In an extensive post, he noted his team has received “positive feedback” relating to the accessibility settings, arguing that “A few people, albeit very few, have either misunderstood the accessibility options we are trying, or have only seen the video without actually trying them out in the demo play.” He also noted that he and his team have “never claimed or publicized that these options cover all players’ color vision (although it has been talked about by a favorable community as a result).”

For more information on Tekken 8, check out the official story trailer, Yoshimitsu’s official reveal and gameplay trailer, as well as IGN’s final preview of the game ahead of its launch on January 26, 2024 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. A demo is currently available for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and Steam.

Grant Stoner is a disabled journalist covering accessibility and the disabled perspective in video games. When not writing, he is usually screaming about Pokémon or his cat, Goomba on Twitter.

What to Expect From PlayStation in 2024

Sony had a curious 2023. The PlayStation 5 had blockbuster console exclusives, such as the superb Spider-Man 2 and the flashy Final Fantasy 16. It also saw the release of the PlayStation VR 2, an impressive piece of virtual reality tech but one barely supported by a games library. Long-term PlayStation man and current CEO Jim Ryan also stepped down, with his full-time replacement yet to be named. So, what will 2024 have in store? There are plenty of exciting games to look forward to, as well as a good deal of mystery. Let’s take a look at what we know is coming next year, as well as theorize as best as we can about what surprises might be in store.

The Games We Know Are Coming

Ah, nothing like two dozen hours of emotional turmoil to wash those winter blues away. January may well signal the start of a new year, but Sony is doing its best to make us question exactly what year it is with yet another The Last of Us re-release. The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered is the PS5 version of the critically acclaimed sequel that comes with graphical improvements, previously cut “lost levels”, and a whole new roguelike mode titled No Return. It’s not necessarily a huge splash to kick the year off with, but there’s set to be enough new stuff in there for The Last of Us fans (like me) to enjoy when it arrives on January 19. (See all PS Plus games annoucned for January 2024).

From remaster to remake/reimagining(?) now with Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth. The second instalment of Square Enix’s return to Cloud’s adventure is scheduled to land on February 29. Taking us outside the walls of Midgar, Rebirth promises another helping of stellar RPG action that’s set to honour the original’s beloved cast of characters and unique locations, yet tease us with the different turns it may take on the journey.

Just before that, though, is console-exclusive Helldivers 2, which is coming on February 8. A third-person squad-based shooter, cooperation will be key as you look to blast away monstrous alien threats from every corner of the galaxy.

Pacific Drive is set to skid onto our screens on February 22. An atmospheric survival game with a twist, it’s a first-person driving game that takes you around an eerie Pacific Northwest as you aim to dodge the metal monsters that lurk in its woods and escape for good.

Rise of the Ronin swiftly follows a bumper February when it launches on March 22. Team Ninja brings its Ninja Gaiden and Nioh action heritage to this stylish sword-slashing RPG that takes place during one of the darkest parts of Japanese history.

Believe it or not, that’s actually all of the PlayStation console exclusives we have release dates locked in for. But that’s not to say there aren’t others coming in 2024. Among them is the eagerly anticipated Silent Hill 2 Remake being developed by Bloober Team. Hopefully, it won’t be too long until we see Pyramid Head and the gang again soon.

Then there’s Stellar Blade, which was meant to have been released in 2023. Seemingly taking cues from the likes of Nier Automata and Bayonetta, this Korean open-world action RPG is set to offer ferociously fast combat in a sci-fi setting.

Concord is a PS5 console exclusive from Sony’s newly acquired Firewalk Studios. Very little is known about this multiplayer shooter apart from a colourful teaser shown off in the summer, but with Bungie pedigree at the studio, it’s one to definitely keep on your radar

Ubisoft’s Foamstars is exclusive to both PS4 and PS5 and looks set to give Sony their very own rival to Splatoon. The team-based bubble-shooter looks set to be a good time, with enough interesting tweaks to make it stand out from its squid-like cousin.

If the colourful chaos of Foamstars looks like too much fun to you, then why not check out the excruciating-looking Baby Steps (I mean this in the best way possible.) From the creative minds behind indie darlings Ape Out and Getting Over It, the physics-based gameplay looks hilariously frustrating as we help one man in a romper suit across a terrain desperate to trip him up at every step.

Of course, there will also be a steady stream of non-exclusive games scheduled to head the PS5’s way in 2024 as well. These include Dragon’s Dogma 2, Star Wars Outlaws, Black Myth Wukong, Tekken 8, Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2, and Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine II to name but a few. We certainly won’t be running out of things to play next year.

Hopes and Dreams

After Insomniac brightened our October with the wonderful Spider-Man 2, many of us were hoping that 2024 would give us our first proper look at the studio’s upcoming Wolverine game. Sadly, Logan’s PS5 adventure has already been partially spoiled by an extensive hacking scheme, which also revealed Insomniac’s major Marvel plans for the next decade. It suggests that Wolverine may be further away than we originally thought, but – if plans haven’t been totally destroyed by the theft of so much data – there’s a chance we may see the developer’s next game in its Spider-Verse, reportedly featuring Venom as the protagonist, sometime next year.

But what about the games we aren’t so sure about? Ones that haven’t leaked, or those that don’t have a release date currently penciled in? How about the ones yet to even be revealed by the studios making them. Let’s have some fun, take a look into the crystal ball, and speculate like wild.

We know Death Stranding 2, or just DS2 as it is currently named, is on the way. Will it come out in 2024? Who knows. What we do know is that Hideo Kojima’s attention will be split between the post-apocalyptic sequel and his freshly revealed OD. But seeing as DS2 got a much more developed trailer a year prior to the Xbox exclusive, we can infer that it could be out ahead of it.

However long until DS2, it certainly won’t be as long a wait as fans of the 1994 shooter Marathon have endured. Bungie’s first team-up with Sony since their $3.7 billion acquisition is to revive Marathon’s long-dormant sci-fi gunplay in the form of the currently fashionable PvP extraction shooter. Apart from knowing it’s set in the year 2850 and a glimpse at a beautifully designed trailer hinting at strong art direction, we really don’t know much else. It would be a huge surprise to see it in 2024, but we can dream.

Haven Studios, recently founded by Jade Raymond, announced their first game Fairgame$ in the summer of 2023. A co-operative heist shooter, it’s a PS5 console exclusive that we’d be surprised to see released next year.

Then there’s the Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic remake, which has suffered a tumultuous couple of years by all accounts. We’d be shocked beyond belief if this emerged next year, if indeed at all if rumours are to be believed, but we can always close our eyes, use the Force, and will it onto our screens. Who knows, it might work.

But what are all of the Sony first-party studios up to? I hear you ask. Well, there’s a long list of mystery projects to dig through in that regard. We don’t necessarily expect any of these developers to release new games in 2024, but we can expect some reveals dotted throughout the year. Let’s take a quick look:

We know that Naughty Dog has now canceled their multiplayer The Last of Us game, meaning something else must be in the pipeline. Will we see a new single-player entry into either TLOU or Uncharted series? Or maybe something completely new?

Sony Santa Monica treated fans to the free God of War Ragnarok Valhalla DLC at the very end of 2023, but what else does it have cooking up?

It’s been over three years since Ghost of Tsushima took us to feudal Japan. Will Sucker Punch return for a sequel or perhaps treat us to something new again?

What have Returnal developer, Housemarque, got up their arcade shooter sleeves next?

What next for Days Gone developer Sony Bend?

Will Bluepoint Games reveal another fantastic remake or surprise us with an original project?

What wonderfully creative place will the recently re-organised Media Molecule take us to?

Will Astro Bot finally be released from his shiny white-walled PS5 prison and be allowed to play with the rest of us? Give that little guy another platformer, please, Team Asobi.

On one hand, it’s frustrating to not know exactly what we’ll be playing for most of 2024, but on the other hand, it’s exciting, and I, for one, can’t wait to find out what adventures these PlayStation Studios and more, have waiting for us next.

Hardware and Tech

With the launch of the PS VR2, a new slimmed-down PS5 model, the PlayStation Portal, the DualSense Edge controller, and the PlayStation Access controller, it was certainly a busy tech-filled 12 months for Sony. That means we wouldn’t be surprised if 2024 was a quieter year when it comes to new hardware. But, that won’t stop us from speculating.

The PlayStation 4 Slim and Pro were released three years after the launch of the original PS4. We’ve just hit that point in the PS5’s lifetime, and have received the equivalent of the former of those redesigned consoles. That means it wouldn’t be out of the realm of possibility to see a PS5 “Pro” pop up sometime next year.

Although we might not have seen the current model pushed to its limits just yet, we all know we watched that GTA 6 trailer and thought to ourselves “Rockstar is going to make my PS5 sound like a jet engine, isn’t it”. (In case you missed it, see 99 Details From the GTA 6 Trailer). With Rockstar’s latest slated for a 2025 release, perhaps a souped-up PlayStation 5 hitting store shelves towards the end of 2024 would make for logical timing.

Apart from that, it’s all pure guesswork. What new tech innovation or fresh piece of hardware would you like to see from Sony? I think a controller with a battery charge that lasts more than an hour or two would be fantastic.

Let us know in the comments what you think, as well as what games you’re most excited about playing on PlayStation in 2024.

Simon Cardy wishes you all a happy new year. Follow him on Twitter at @CardySimon.

TOTK’s Master Sword and Hylian Shield: How to Get the Tears of the Kingdom’s Best Weapons

There are plenty of unique weapons in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, and even more so when you consider all of the combinations of fused weaponry you can make. But, there’s one weapon combo to rule them all — the iconic Master Sword and Hylian Shield, a staple for The Legend of Zelda series. And, just like in the previous games, obtaining the Master Sword in TotK requires a bit of legwork before Link can wield it in all its glory.

Note: There are some major story spoilers included in this article. Proceed at your own risk!

How to Get the Hylian Shield in Tears of the Kingdom

The Hylian Shield is the best defensive shield you can obtain in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. Thankfully, this one is a bit easier to obtain than the Master Sword. You’ll find the Hylian Shield located north of Hyrule Castle, inside the Hyrule Field docks.

Just west of Hyrule Castle, you’ll find a small wooden dock where you can set sail using a nearby boat, or by building your own creation. Sail towards the north side of Hyrule Castle until you reach a cave. Once inside the cave, head up the staircase near the back wall. But, beware, you’ll need to defeat a cluster of Gloom Hands before you can obtain the Hylian Shield.

After defeating the Gloom Hands, you’ll need to light the large brazier in the center of the room. You can toss in a Fire Fruit or Torch, or simply carry the flame from one of the smaller braziers to light the large brazier in the center. Once lit, a chest will appear containing the Hylian Shield.

How to Get the Master Sword in Tears of the Kingdom

In The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, the Master Sword is located atop the Light Dragon, a new entity that soars through the skies of Hyrule. The Light Dragon follows a static path around Hyrule (see the map below), and can be spotted by looking up towards the sky at any point during your journey.

Link can reach the Light Dragon’s location by utilizing one of the many Skyview Towers scattered across Hyrule to reach the sky. Then, simply fall down and land on the Light Dragon and make your way towards its head to reach the Master Sword’s location.

But, before you go expecting to get the Master Sword so easily, there is a prerequisite that you’ll need to consider. In order to retrieve the Master Sword this time around, you’ll need to have two full stamina wheels. This requires finding at least 20 Light of Blessings from any of the Shrines scattered across Hyrule — which are traded in to a Goddess Statue to expand your Stamina wheel. Once you have the necessary amount of stamina, apporach the Master Sword and press and hold the A button to retrieve it from the Light Dragon’s head.

While Link can theoretically retrieve the Master Sword at any point (assuming you have the required stamina), there are other ways to retrieve the Master Sword in Tears of the Kingdom. The most straightforward option is to complete the main quests up until Guidance from Ages Past and Find the Fifth Sage, which will naturally lead you to recover the Master Sword in the main quests Trail of the Master Sword and Recovering the Hero’s Sword.

If you’re feeling eager enough, you can instead get the Master Sword early in TotK without doing the aforementioned main quests by simply collecting all The Dragon’s Tears.

For even more help in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, check out our guide for tracking down the best TotK armor sets, guidance for finding all TotK Shrine locations and solutions, and even how to get to the final boss in TotK early (if you’re feeling up to the challenge, of course).

Matthew Adler is a Commerce, Features, Guides, News, Previews, and Reviews writer for IGN. You can follow him on the site formerly known as Twitter @MatthewAdler and watch him stream on Twitch.

Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Koltin Locations

You might remember Kilton, the bizarre monster-loving NPC from your adventures in Breath of the Wild. Well, in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, it’s time to meet Koltin, the baby brother of the family. Unlike his sibling, Koltin has a fervent obsession with all things involving the Satori… so obsessed that Koltin’s only mission in life is to become a Satori himself.

To transform into one of the otherworldly, blue-glowing Satori (such as Blupees or the mysterious Lord of the Mountain), Koltin has a plan. He’s on the hunt to consume as many Bubbul Gems dropped by Bubbulfrogs, until he’s eaten enough turn into a Satori. Don’t worry, there’s something in it for you. If you feed into Koltin’s unhinged pursuit by gifting him Bubbul Gems, he’ll trade you some monstrous goodies.

But first, you’ll need to find him. Unlike his brother, Koltin doesn’t like to set up shop outside major towns. Here are all seven spots in Tears of the Kingdom where you can find Koltin’s Shop to trade in your Bubbul Gems, plus how to unlock Koltin’s Shop in the first place.

How to Unlock Koltin’s Shop

Before Koltin and his monstruous shop will start to pop up all around Hyrule, you’ll need to make some introductions. The first place you will find Koltin is on the north shore of Pico Pond, right beside the Woodland Stable. Look for the stable a bit south from Great Hyrule Forest.

You’ll first spot Kilton, our monster-obssessed friend from Breath of the Wild, standing outside the Pico Pond Cave. Talk to Kilton to meet his younger brother, Koltin, and learn all about his pursuit of Bubbulfrogs and their mysterious Bubbul Gems.

If you don’t have a Bubbul Gem to give Koltin already, you can find one right there inside the Pico Pond Cave! Explore the cave to discover the Bubbulfrog hidden within. When slain, a Bubbulfrog will erupt and vanish, leaving nothing but a Blupee and a Bubbul Gem behind.

After Koltin has gobbled down his first Bubbul Gem, he’ll ask you to bring him any more that you find in your travels in exchange for a “gifty”. This starts “The Search for Koltin” Side Adventure, the next step towards unlocking up Koltin’s Shop for good.

Akkala Koltin Location

Once you’ve found Koltin at the Woodland Stable and completed The Hunt for Bubbul Gems, search out Koltin at his first shop location in Akkala. If you visit Tarrey Town, you’ll encounter Kilton looking out over Lake Akkala at his brother’s shop on the north ridge.

You can travel to the Ulri Mountain Skyview Tower in Akkala (just north of Tarrey Town) and head east to speak with Koltin at his shop.

Just chat up Koltin to confirm your arrangement of trading Bubbul Gems for treasures, and after this, Koltin will begin to appear all around Hyrule.

Here are the other six spots in Tears of the Kingdom where you can find Koltin:

Eldin Mountains Koltin Location

In the Eldin Mountains, Koltin has decided to set up shop in a little spot called the Isle of Rabac. It’s a bit off the beaten path, but you’ll find its not too far north from the new makeshift road constructed by the Gorons, heading northwest out of Goron City.

Tabantha Tundra Koltin Location

Koltin has decided to set up directly across from the Snowfield Stable, found in the South Tabantha Snowfield. His shop nearly overlooks the Forgotten Temple lying at the bottom of the Tanagar Canyon to the southeast.

Hyrule Field Koltin Location

Is that… a hot air balloon south of Lookout Landing? Nope, it’s Koltin and his bizarre shop. You can find his spot in Hyrule Field just south of Lookout Landing, the fort set up near Hyrule Castle where you first meet up with Purah and Robbie.

Gerudo Highlands Koltin Location

If you look northeast at night from Kara Kara Bazar, you might spot a strange shape on the horizon. This is where Koltin likes to set up in the Gerudo Highlands. His shop is perched atop the southmost ridge, where the Gerudo Canyon meets the Gerudo Desert.

Faron Koltin Location

Perhaps one of Koltin’s more remote spots, his shop can be found at night in Faron at the top of one of the Farosh Hills. The easiest way to make this trek is via the Popla Foothills Skyview Tower directly north of it. Just step inside the Skyview Tower and launch yourself skyward so you can make your graceful descent down to Koltin.

Necluda Koltin Location

If you’re making your way east towards Hateno Village at night, you might catch a glimpse of Koltin’s colorful shop atop the Cliffs of Quince. You might have a difficult time reaching him though. Not only is his shop on the cliffs quite the climb, but some Monster Forces have invaded Fort Hateno. Hope you’re prepared for battle.

If you’re curious about what you can trade your Bubbul Gems in for once you find Koltin, take a look at our Bubbul Gems Rewards and Tips guide!

Need help finding other locations in Hyrule, like all the Shrines or Skyview Towers? Check out our dedicated guides! Plus, don’t forget to take a look at our Tears of the Kingdom Walkthrough or check out our List of Side Quests and Adventures for quest guides such as The Search for Koltin!

Shailyn Cotten is a Freelance Writer for IGN. When she’s not writing guides, you can find her gobbling up Legend of Zelda lore, writing cozy fantasy novels, or live-streaming on Twitch. You can find her on Twitter at @ShaiCotten.

Steam Reveals Its Best-Selling and Most Played Games of 2023

Steam has revealed its “Best of 2023” list that reveals the best-selling games on the platform alongside which titles were played the most on PC, Steam Deck, VR, Controller, and more.

While Steam doesn’t rank the games that were in each category, its “Best of 2023” list does group them into Platinum, Gold, Silver, and Bronze tiers. The top 12 games in each category are placed in Platinum, the next 12 are in gold, the next 26 games are in Silver, and the last 50 are in Bronze. As for how the lists are compiled, Steam has only looked at data from January 1, 2023, through December 15, 2023.

The first category is the Top Sellers by gross revenue, and the Platinum tier includes Apex Legends, Baldur’s Gate 3, Starfield, Hogwarts Legacy, Lost Ark, Cyberpunk 2077, Dota 2, PUBG: Battlegrounds, Destiny 2, Counter-Strike 2, Sons of the Forest, and Call of Duty HQ (MW III, MW II, and Warzone).

New Releases in 2023 by gross revenue is next and the Platinum tier incudes Street Fighter 6, Starfield, Cities: Skylines II, Remnant II, Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon, Payday 3, Resident Evil 4 Remake, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, FC 24, Hogwarts Legacy, Sons of the Forest, and Baldur’s Gate 3.

Most Played followed and is measured by peak concurrent players. The Platinum Tier consists of games that had over 300,000 peak players and includes Goose Goose Duck, Sons of the Forest, Hogwarts Legacy, PUBG: Battlegrounds, Counter-Strike 2, Baldur’s Gate 3, Destiny 2, Apex Legends, Dota 2, Starfield, and Lost Ark.

The top Early Access graduates by gross revenue include Sun Haven, Ready or Not, Baldur’s Gate 3, Wartales, Marvel Snap, Everspace 2, My Time at Sandrock, Farlight 84, Against the Storm, Dave the Diver, Demonologist, and Disney Dreamlight Valley.

The top Steam Deck games by daily active players include Elden Ring, Dave the Diver, Hogwarts Legacy, The Witcher III: Wild Hunt, Baldur’s Gate 3, Resident Evil 4 Remake, Grand Theft Auto V, Half-Life, Starfield, Vampire Survivors, Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon, and Cyberpunk 2077.

The most played games by daily active controller players include Call of Duty HQ, Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon, Rocket League, FIFA 23. Hofwarts Legacy, Elden Ring, FC 24, Street Fighter 6, Resident Evil 4 Remake, Starfield, NBA 2K23, and Apex Legends.

Lastly, the top VR-exclusive experiences measure by gross revenue include Boneworks, Blade & Sorcery, Bonelab, Beat Saber, Five Nights at Freddy’s: Help Wanted 2, Gorilla Tag, Half-Life: Alyx, VTOL VR, Pavlov, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim VR, Into the Radius, and Ghosts of Tabor.

For more, be sure to check out which of these games became winners in IGN’s Best of 2023 awards, including Baldur’s Gate 3 as best PC game.

Have a tip for us? Want to discuss a possible story? Please send an email to newstips@ign.com.

Adam Bankhurst is a news writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @AdamBankhurst and on Twitch.

What to Expect From DC in 2024: Movie, TV, Games and Comics Release Dates

From a Joker movie sequel to a new Batman animated series, a number of DC movies, TV shows, games, and comic books are coming out in 2024. As the DC fandom has become accustomed to, there are often many different DC projects in various stages of development at any given time, so in order to give you the clearest look possible at what to expect from DC in 2024, we’re going to list off every confirmed project with a release date (or at least a verifiable source saying it will be coming out in 2024).

For a quick look at what to expect, here’s a list of everything DC releasing in 2024. Keep reading for a full description of each 2024 movie, television show, video game, and event comic coming in 2024.

DC Movies in 2024

Joker: Folie à Deux

The Oscar-winning, billion-dollar-grossing solo Joker origin movie is getting a sequel titled Joker: Folie à Deux, which is French for “shared madness.” That’s right, in Joker 2 Arthur Fleck will be sharing his madness (and the spotlight) with none other than Harley Quinn, played by Lady Gaga. Talk about a Bad Romance! The first film left off with Fleck incarcerated in Arkham Asylum, and that’s traditionally where Dr. Harleen Quinzel first meets the Clown Prince of Crime, so that’s where we expect their Love Game to kick off.

Director Todd Phillips is returning to direct Joker: Folie à Deux and actor Zazie Beetz will be reprising her role as Joker’s unrequited love interest, Sophie Drummond. New actors will be joining the Joker 2 musical production, including Brendan Gleeson, Jacob Lofland, Catherine Keener, and Harry Lawtey, although the characters they’re playing are still unknown.

Joker: Folie à Deux Release Date: October 4, 2024

Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths – Part 1

The most iconic event series in DC Comics history is finally getting the animated movie treatment in Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths – Part 1. You heard that correctly: this is only the first installment in a Crisis trilogy, with the second and third animated features to follow later in 2024.

As we can see from the first trailer for the Crisis animated movie, it appears to be a faithful adaptation of the Marv Wolfman and George Pérez comic classic, featuring The Flash and Supergirl in starring roles alongside Batman, Superman, and the rest of the Justice League as the Monitor assembles a group of heroes from across the DC multiverse to battle the universe-destroying Anti-Monitor.

Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths – Part 1 (Animated Movie) Release Date: Jan 23, 2024

Watchmen

DC really is leaving no classic comic book stone unturned, as they revealed that in 2024 we can expect an R-Rated animated adaptation of what is arguably the greatest comic ever written, Watchmen. Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons’ groundbreaking superhero thriller has already been adapted into a live-action film by Zack Snyder (which actually had the Tales of the Black Freighter sequence animated), and now we’re getting a fresh take on Rorschach’s mission to find the Comedian’s killer in a dark world populated by the likes of Owl Man, Silk Spectre, and the all-powerful Doctor Manhattan.

That just leaves us with one question: squid or no squid? We’ll have to watch the Watchmen to find out.

Watchmen (Animated Movie) Release Date: 2024

Aztec Batman: Clash of Empires / Batman Azteca: Choque De Imperios

Batman Azteca: Choque De Imperios translates to “Aztec Batman: Clash of Empires,” and it’s the title of the new DC animated feature that embraces Mexican history and reimagines Batman’s story in the time of the Aztec Empire. The film follows young Yohualli Coatl as he flees the Spanish Conquistadors that murdered his father and takes refuge in the temple of the bat god where he trains and plots his revenge.

Batman Azteca: Choque De Imperios (Animated Movie) Release Date: 2024

DC TV in 2024

Superman & Lois (Season 4)

The Superman & Lois television series will have its fourth and final season in 2024. Season 4 will have 10 episodes and feature Superman and Lois finally going up against the Man of Steel’s arch nemesis, Lex Luthor, now that he’s out of prison. If they’re gonna go out, may as go out swinging against the best Superman villain there is.

Superman & Lois (Season 4) Release Date: 2024

Batman: Caped Crusader

Batman: Caped Crusader is a new animated series produced by Matt Reeves, J. J. Abrams and Bruce Timm and with The Winter Soldier co-creator Ed Brubaker as head writer. That’s a murderer’s row of talent that knows a thing or two about superheroes and genre storytelling, so it’s exciting to see what they’ve got in store for this show, which will be streaming on Prime Video. The producers described the show as, “thrilling, cinematic, and evocative of Batman’s noir roots while diving deeper into the psychology of these iconic characters,” and Timm said the show will be a spiritual successor to Batman: The Animated series. We’re no World’s Greatest Detective, but all clues are pointing to this being one heck of a Batman show.

Batman: Caped Crusader (Animated Series) Release Date: 2024

The Penguin

Matt Reeves’ Batman saga is expanding beyond the movies to the small screen, starting with The Penguin, an eight-episode season starring Colin Ferrell’s Oswald “Oz” Cobblepot. The series picks up right where The Batman left off, with Gotham City flooded and in disarray after the Riddler’s attack. The WGA and DGA strikes caused a delay and pushed the Penguin release date back from spring to fall 2024.

The Penguin Release Date: Late 2024

Creature Commandos

Creature Commandos is exactly what it sounds like. A group of various DC creatures and freaks are brought together by none other than Amanda Waller to complete dangerous black-ops missions. It’s like the Suicide Squad, but with monsters. Bride of Frankenstein will be the leader of the team that also includes her hubby Frankenstein, Rick Flag’s father, and Weasel, who you’ll remember was shown to have miraculously survived in the post-credits scene of The Suicide Squad movie.

This Creature Commandos animated series from James Gunn is part of the new DC Universe, making it the very first entry in the DCU’s Chapter One: Gods and Monsters. Given the voice cast is full of familiar actor faces–David Harbour as Frankenstein, Indira Varma as Bride of Frankenstein, Frank Grillo as Rick Flag Sr., and Sean Gunn once again as Weasel–we wouldn’t be surprised if they reprise their roles in live-action one day, so if you watch this animated series now then it may pay off in live-action later.

Creature Commandos (Animated Series): 2024

Kite Man: Hell Yeah! (Season 1)

The high-flying breakout comedic character Kite Man from the Harley Quinn animated series is getting his own spin-off series, appropriately titled Kite Man: Hell Yeah! The 10-episode first season will star Kite Man and his girlfriend Golden Glider in the same excessively violent and raunchy style of the Harley Quinn show. The story is focused around Kite Man doing crimes for hire in service of various DC baddies so he can afford to buy Gotham City’s seedy supervillain bar, Noonan’s. (Noonan’s was the original title of the spin-off before it was changed to Kite Man: Hell Yeah!)

Kite Man: Hell Yeah! (Season 1) Release Date: 2024

Suicide Squad ISEKAI

Suicide Squad ISEKAI is a wild and crazy DC anime series that takes Task Force X to another world in traditional “isekai” fashion, and then we watch as the likes of Harley Quinn, King Shark, and Peacemaker try to survive by smashing, shooting, and biting everything they can in their new fantasy setting. Attack on Titan’s Wit Studio is producing the series, so it shouldn’t be any surprise it’s full of blood and violence and enjoys a TV-MA rating.

Suicide Squad ISEKAI (Animated Series) Release Date: 2024

DC Video Games in 2024

Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League

Task Force X is pulling double duty in 2024, as the year also sees the release of the highly-anticipated video game Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League. Now, killing the Justice League is a tall order, but they’ve been mind-controlled by Brainiac and someone’s gotta do it. Enter: Harley Quinn, Captain Boomerang, King Shark, and Deadshot in a third-person multiplayer action-adventure shoot-’em-up set in Superman’s stomping ground of Metropolis. The game comes from developer Rocksteady and takes place in the same universe as their Batman Arkham games. It’s also notable for being Kevin Conroy’s final performance as Batman before his passing in 2022.

Now, we gotta keep it real, it’s no secret that Kill the Justice League has seen some fan backlash leading up to its release. The main criticisms are directed towards some lackluster gameplay elements, its live service aspects, and the requirement for a constant internet connection, not to mention how Captain Boomerang fights with a gun instead of, you know, boomerangs. Will the game succeed despite these initial misgivings? We’ll soon find out when it drops in the second month of the new year.

Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League Release Date: February 2, 2024

DC Comics in 2024

Titans: Beast World

Titans: Beast World is the big crossover event series that will set the stage for DC Comics in 2024. It’s a six-issue story starring Beast Boy and the Titans as they try to save the world after the villainous Necrostar transforms millions of people, and some iconic DC heroes and villains, into beasts. The first two issues, from writer Tom Taylor and artist Ivan Reis, were released in 2023 and the remaining four will come out in 2024.

Dawn of DC in 2024

After Titans: Beast World kicks off 2024 with a roar, the fallout of that story will be felt throughout the DC Universe and continue the Dawn of DC publishing initiative. In the wake of this event a “trinity of evil” will rise up and cause some major conflicts going forward. We’re talking Amanda Waller in March’s new Suicide Squad: Dream Team series, Brainiac and the Brainiac Queen in “House of Brainiac” told across both Superman and Action Comics, and The Joker and Zur En Arrh in the Batman ongoing series. Looks like between hairballs and hair-raising villains, DC’s heroes will have their work cut out for them in 2024.

One Fan’s Quest to Make the Perfect Light Gun for 2023 Continues

Since 2019, the Sinden Light Gun has been the first and only contemporary light gun that will work on modern TVs and displays. Yet despite the technical achievements made, its creator, Andy Sinden, is aiming higher to make this a product not just an easy way to play your favorite light gun games on an high-definition TV, but to fully revive a niche and otherwise forgotten sub-genre of games.

“My development priorities for the Sinden Light Gun is all about adding support to more hardware, emulators, and games. So finding ways to work directly on old consoles such as NES, PS2, and Dreamcast and supporting more systems good for emulation systems like Steam Deck and MiSTer FPGA,” Sinden explains. “Working with emulator developers to add light gun support to new emulators, working with developers and publishers to put more and more games on Steam that can work with light guns such as the recent House Of The Dead: Remake.”

Sinden’s ultimate goal is to have these devices work natively on old and new consoles, including the Xbox Series X/S and PS5.

“Initially, for the project, I was hoping one of the big console companies like Microsoft, Sony, or Nintendo would reach out for a partnership, but that hasn’t happened yet, although I always remain hopeful,” Sinden explains. “Modern console gamers deserve to be able to all their favorite light gun games.”

Originally released back in 2020, the Sinden Lightgun continues to be a work-in-progress. We checked in with Sinden about his plans for the future.

The Magic Behind the Sinden Light Gun

The Sinden Light Gun is touted as the first true light gun to work on modern TVs, but it also works on CRT TVs, too. It contains a built-in 480p webcam and is functional thanks to its own software. The software allows the peripheral to add a thin border to your display, allowing the light gun to use the border to visually calculate where you are aiming.

Outside of the 480p webcam, the Sinden Light Gun also includes a lengthy five-meter cable, two remappable buttons on each side, and a D-Pad on the left side of the light gun. There’s a pump on every Sinden light Gun that can be used to reload the gun, along with an option to buy a light gun with or without recoil. The latter costs a little more but the recoil system can be toggled to be activated when you want, such as pulling the trigger or feeling the jolt through the light gun every time you pump it.

Modern console gamers deserve to be able to all their favorite light gun games

While this seems like a fix-all problem for those looking to dust off their Dreamcast, the biggest caveat aside from a hefty $105 starting price tag, is the Sinden Light is compatible primarily with PC, Linux, and Raspberry Pi. You can’t plug the USB-A port into your older consoles and expect it to work instantly.

The Light Gun does add support for the PS1 and PS2, but you need to install the latest stable software release and follow a detailed list of instructions before you can get it to be fully functional. While beta software releases allow the light gun to work on other devices, such as the Steam Deck.

Sinden told IGN that support for older consoles is “very much on the roadmap.” Next year, Sinden plans to add full support for the PS1, PS2, and even the original Xbox using a plug-and-play adapter, noting that these consoles were easiest to convert the peripheral’s compatibility.

In 2025, the goal is to have the light gun working natively on Dreamcast, NES, and Saturn.

The Ultimate Goal

Ultimately, Siden’s goal is to “fully bring back the light gun genre,” as the sub-genre of shooting games has remained dormant for far too long.

Nowadays, light gun games are obsolete, especially on consoles, since these accessories are not compatible with modern HD TVs. While we have had some hybrid alternatives such as the Wii, the PS3’s GunCon, and Move controllers, and more recently, the Nintendo Switch Joy-Cons. Though the latter requires less precision than the offerings from the seventh generation, the heavy reliance on gyroscopic sensors to aim at your targets is not as precise.

“The major goal of the Sinden Light Gun project is to fully bring back the light gun genre to modern gaming by showing that good light guns without any extra hardware complications are possible on modern televisions,” Sinden says.

Sinden isn’t there yet, but his hope for a revival remains.

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