Over the past year or so, Maxis has slowly revealed more details on The Sims 5, which is currently called Project Rene. One of these details has been that it’ll have multiplayer, although the team hasn’t quite hinted at what this might look like until recently.
Yesterday, in an interview on Radio Times’ One More Life podcast, Vice President of Franchise Creative Lyndsay Pearson discussed the inspirations behind Project Rene’s in-progress multiplayer feature, citing two (very different) games in particular.
Pearson mentioned that The Sims developers “talk about Animal Crossing all the time, because it is such a good example of my little space, my little island, but I can invite you over.”
“And we’ve seen throughout the last few years of Animal Crossing, people inventing ways to play together that the game doesn’t specifically support, but they’ve made up scavenger hunts or whatever, which is amazing. Or people who hosted talk shows on Animal Crossing, I think, is incredible, right?”
Briefly shown off during the Behind the Sims livestream in October 2022, players will be able to decorate spaces collaboratively and then share them online. It’s still unclear if players will be able to place their Sims in someone else’s build like in Animal Crossing.
While Animal Crossing: New Horizons might seem like an obvious inspiration choice, Pearson also cited Among Us as another one of the games they’re looking at, pointing toward its collaborative mystery-solving as a “clever” way to incorporate multiplayer.
Pearson noted that the studio is still exploring different options and figuring out exactly how multiplayer will work, although she reaffirmed the studio’s previous announcement that Project Rene will not be an MMO.
“We definitely want to introduce multiplayer,” Pearson said. “And not multiplayer in the big, scary ‘jump in a world full of strangers’ kind of way. But literally, how do you and your friends want to do some play together?”
Maxis has largely kept the game under wraps since its announcement last October, although we did get a look at its detailed furniture customization and its cross-platform play during a short teaser. After some speculation, EA also confirmed that the game will be free to download and won’t replace The Sims 4.
Amelia Zollner is a freelance writer at IGN who loves all things indie and Nintendo. Outside of IGN, they’ve contributed to sites like Polygon and Rock Paper Shotgun. Find them on Twitter: @ameliazollner.
Redfall’s next game update is here, but if you were hoping that this new patch would roll out the option to play offline, you would be disappointed.
Redfall publisher Bethesda Softworks revealed all the changes in a new blog post. The biggest one is the addition of the Basilisk, a new sniper rifle that “charges the first bullet in a full magazine with UV power that can petrify Vampires,” but it does not work on enemies that are immune to petrification or were recently petrified, according to Bethesda.
The patch notes also mention that Arkane is continuing the development of the Hero Pass. However, no further details were shared, and players must wait until “later next year” for more information. The Hero Pass, available as part of the $100 Redfall’s Bite Back Edition or for $30 to purchase just the Bite Back content separately, includes access to “two future heroes with unique powers and gameplay.”
Another thing missing in the update notes is the option to play Redfall offline. Arkane was scrutinized before Redfall’s release when it was discovered it had an always-online requirement. In an interview last March, Redfall’s director Harvey Smith said they were working on reversing the requirement.
Nevertheless, Arkane has slowly been improving Redfall with last month’s update, adding the long-awaited 60FPS mode for the Xbox Series X/S versions.
Redfall was widely panned by both critics and players at release, with reports that the game had a troubled development cycle.
“Redfall is a bafflingly bad time across the board. Plagued with bland missions, boneheaded enemies, and repeated technical problems, Redfall simply wasn’t ready for daylight in this state,” my colleague Luke Reilly wrote in his review.
Yet Bethesda remains hopeful, with former Head of Global Publishing Pete Hines saying in an interview in September that Redfall will eventually be a good game, comparing its rough launch to that of Bethesda Game Studios’ 2018 title Fallout 76.
You can check out the full patch notes below.
Redfall’s Game Update 3 Patch Notes
Weapons
Introducing the Basilisk, a new Unrivaled Sniper Rifle with a unique weapon trait: This weapon charges the first bullet in a full magazine with UV power that can petrify Vampires. Does not affect enemies recently Petrified or immune to Petrification.
Basilisk can drop anywhere Unrivaled items are eligible, with a higher chance to drop from Bellwether-themed containers in the open world and vampire nests.
AI/NPC
Shrouds, Anglers, and Siphons are now gated from spawning in the open world until players reach a specific level, or complete certain missions.
Balanced enemy abilities and traits:
Siphon’s Blood Torrent ability takes longer to interrupt when breaking line of sight.
Increased Siphon’s resistances to fire.
Vampires deal more damage to Bribón and Devinder’s Quantum Kerfuffle decoy when attacking from close range.
Soulless enemies deal more damage when attacking players from close range.
Watchers react faster to players in line of sight, and spawn reinforcements in combat more often.
Human enemies are now able to climb awnings.
Improved quality of enemy pathing and human movement animations.
Gameplay
Jacob’s Camouflage Field skill will no longer cancel ADS for non-Jacob players.
Devinder’s Ultraviolent Light skill no longer shatters Special vampires, and instead inflicts a large amount of damage to them. Regular vampires will still shatter.
Layla’s Psychic Shockwave no longer triggers multiple times from vampire lunge attacks.
Deathmist Spewers now respond to the UV burst from Emergency Flash Bang Blood Remnants.
Co-op players no longer lose their crouching ability when exiting a nest.
Bound civilians no longer show as cultists when pinged.
Missions
Refined search areas for several missions.
Added more respawn points to minimize cases where players are blocked from respawning after death.
Fixed locations where Devinder’s Translocate device can be thrown out of world.
Improved NPC patrol paths
“Amelia’s Eulogy” triggers correctly after reloading the game.
Resolved issues with hostile and friendly states in “One of Us”.
Improved Totality’s responsiveness during the Black Sun boss fight.
Heroes
All damage-dealing Hero abilities will now shatter vulnerable Nest hearts.
Jacob’s Six String backpack cosmetic is now shown with other Backpack cosmetics.
Hero thumbs should no longer clip into assault rifles when equipped.
User Interface
Improved visibility of player locations on the Map.
Added input curve visuals for Input Response settings.
Voice chat now has a separate volume control option in the Audio Settings Menu.
Accessibility
Added Single Press options for the following toggle-Hold interactions: ADS, Continuous Fire and all Menus.
Screen narration no longer repeats the narration for the “Close” prompt when navigating the System Menu.
Fixed an issue where all platforms read as ‘Xbox’ by the screen narrator.
Pop-up countdown is narrated properly during first time use of the Accessibility Menu.
Speech-to-text messages now appear in front of the blur of dialog menus in the Main Menu.
Message-of-the-Day carousel no longer receives focus priority after exiting out of pop-up windows.
Increased player flashlight’s fade speed when reflecting off surfaces.
This coming January, Naughty Dog co-president and head of creative Neil Druckmann will be honored by the New York Video Game Critics Circle with the Andrew Yoon Legend Award at the 13th annual New York Game Awards.
The award is intended to recognize those “who have propelled the gaming world forward, celebrating their profound impact on an industry that continues to captivate and connect people worldwide.” Past winners have included Xbox head Phil Spencer, Double Fine founder Tim Schafer, Death Stranding creator Hideo Kojima, former Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aimé, and others.
Druckmann’s recognition comes after 20 years in the industry, all of which he has spent at Naughty Dog. He began as a programming intern in 2004 working on Jak 3, and went on to become known for his work on the Uncharted franchise and most recently creative leadership on The Last of Us, eventually becoming co-president of the studio.
“Neil Druckmann’s story is an inspirational one of self-determinism,” said NYVGCC president Harold Goldberg. “He worked his way from an internship all the way up to being a co-president at Naughty Dog. His skill for creating titles that consistently redefine cinematic gameplay and human-centric storytelling not only deserves celebrating, but his efforts to create characters that represent diverse backgrounds and perspectives have enriched content in AAA games. His brilliant work has been lauded with multiple New York Game Awards over the year, and we are honored to recognize him as this year’s Andrew Yoon Legend Award winner.”
In celebration of the 10th anniversary of The Last of Us, Naughty Dog has teamed up with Japanese illustrator Yoshitaka Amano to release a limited-edition series of prints of Joel and Ellie in Amano’s signature style.
Yoshitaka Amano x The Last of Us Prints
The print was created by Amano using pencil and watercolors, mediums in which he’s both well-versed and well-known. There are four different versions available for preorder on the site:
Deluxe Edition, measuring 28 x 39″ on archival paper with special paint layers.
Hand-signed Deluxe Edition, limited to 30 pieces, of which “25 will be sold directly to consumers” and the remaining 5 will be randomly sent out to people who ordered the Deluxe.
Premium Edition is similar to the Deluxe, but lacks the special paint layers.
Standard Edition on 20 x 28″, non-archival paper. Think of a high-quality poster. Cook and Becker calls it its “most budget-friendly option.”
Amano is perhaps best known in gaming for his illustrations on the Final Fantasy series over the decades. His style is instantly recognizable, and The Last of Us is arguably one of the biggest properties in the world of gaming today. Having Amano lend his style to The Last of Us shifts the usual, gritty versions of Joel and Ellie and gives them almost a story-book quality.
If you’re an Amano fan or a Last of Us fan, this is an extremely cool piece of art to appreciate. If I had to guess, given the fervor of Amano’s fanbase, these prints will probably sell out fast.
Boutique video game publisher Annapurna has announced its first acquisition, 24 Bit Games, for an undisclosed fee.
Based in Johannesburg, 24 Bit Games is described as South Africa’s “largest and most successful” game company, and has worked to support development on a number of Annapurna games, including the recently released and superb Cocoon.
The acquisition of 24 Bit Games expands Annapurna’s Interactive Division, the company said, and will help the studio grow its development team. “Annapurna has been working with 24 Bit for many years, and we value not only the caliber of their work, but their team as well,” said Deborah Mars, Co-Head, Annapurna Interactive. “They’ve always shared our commitment to quality, and by taking our partnership to the next level we feel like anything is possible.”
“We deeply respect Annapurna’s approach to curating a portfolio of great games, its value system around building and extending IP, as well as the company culture,” said Luke Lamothe, CEO of 24 Bit Games. “We have truly enjoyed working together over the years, and we believe we are joining Annapurna at an exciting moment of growth and expansion.“
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.
Former Mass Effect writer Mac Walters has founded a new studio to develop “AAA action adventure games with an emphasis on narrative and worldbuilding”.
The new studio, called Worlds Untold, is backed by Chinese game firm NetEase, and is based in Vancouver, Canada as a fully remote company.
“We’re creating incredible and meaningful stories that we believe are best told and experienced through play,” Walters commented. “We are starting by crafting worlds that we all dream of discovering and then will put the player in the leading role of the most unforgettable adventures. The team at NetEase Games shares our vision and passion to utilize leading edge technology to create the best possible new games. Their teams’ support and creative freedom affords us the opportunity to deliver on that vision.”
It sounds like the hope is Worlds Untold will build franchises that go beyond games. “Walters and his team built Worlds Untold to create IPs with depth and possibility that can’t be contained in a single game, or even a single medium,” NetEase said. “The team’s debut project is underway, a near future, action adventure game in a breathtaking world filled with mystery and exploration.”
Worlds Untold includes a number of industry veterans, such as audio director Sotaro Tojima, who has worked on Metal Gear Solid and Halo; head of production Elizabeth Lehtonen, who has worked on Dragon Age, The Sims, and Angry Birds; and head of art Ramil Sunga, who has more than two decades of creative experience in various concept art roles on Mass Effect Andromeda, Anthem, and the entire lineup Dragon Age games. Head of technology Ben Goldstein has nearly two decades in the games industry leading projects such as the next generation Xbox One version of Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag, the PlayStation 4 version of For Honor, and most recently worked at Tesla and Cruise building out their respective simulation platforms.
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.
Developer Maple Leaf and Leap Studio and publisher 663 Games have announced Realm of Ink, and upcoming roguelite with a beautiful Chinese ink painting art style that’s in development for PC and consoles and due out in Q1 2024.
The rich story and world are set up as such by the developer: “The story unfolds in a virtual realm called “Ink Realm,” where inhabitants unknowingly exist as mere fabrications within a fictional world. Controlled by the mysterious Book Spirit, they obediently follow predetermined fates, oblivious to their cyclical lives.” You’ll begin by playing as the swordsman Danzhu before unlocking additional characters, defeating four bosses along the way, learning about your fictional fate as you find the long-lost Ink Gems with the help of the ancient Scriptbound Fox.
There are four uniquely themed areas, and you’ll unlock new combat moves and styles as you progress. You’ll also have Ink Pets at your side along the way, described by the development team as such: “Mysterious in origin and adorable in appearance, the Ink Pets will be your companions. As the Ink Gems level up, your Ink Pets will also undergo a transformation, becoming more powerful to fight alongside you!”
To learn more about Realm of Ink and to track its progress as it heads towards its release date, wishlist it on Steam.
Ryan McCaffrey is IGN’s executive editor of previews and host of both IGN’s weekly Xbox show, Podcast Unlocked, as well as our monthly(-ish) interview show, IGN Unfiltered. He’s a North Jersey guy, so it’s “Taylor ham,” not “pork roll.” Debate it with him on Twitter at @DMC_Ryan.
The first official Black Friday 2023 deals have already begun, and PlayStation fans can seize some incredible savings during this holiday sales season. It’s also worth noting that we’ve already started to see some of the best deals sell out. There’s no telling how long the rest of the deals will last as they have gone live incredibly early compared to previous years.
For instance, PS5 slim model stock started out being unreliable, but the Spider-Man 2 and Call of Duty bundles are now in stock at all the major retailers. These cost $499.99, so you’re getting a free game, but are also very popular so we recommend securing one ASAP if you’re interested. Plus, we’re going to be getting additional PlayStation deals this week as Sony has confirmed their official Black Friday sale will commence on November 17. This will feature deals on consoles, accessories, and there’s also going to be up to 30% off PS Plus memberships for new and current users.
TL;DR – Best PS5 Black Friday Deals
If you don’t feel like scrolling but you want to know the best PS5 deals so far, look no further. The above list is an updated rundown of the best and most popular deals available now.
Best PS5 Black Friday Deals: PS5 Slim Bundles + Free Game
Sony has whipped up a slim version of the PS5 console, but it’s been selling out almost as fast as the listings go up at online retailers (see here at Amazon where stock has just gone live today). If you’re looking to scoop up a PlayStation 5 Slim, you’ve come to the right place. Stock levels have been a little uneasy with these so far, so stay tuned if you aren’t successful on the Spider-Man 2 bundle this time.
Not bad if you’re in the market for a PS5 anyway. We advise you to stay connected with our social media channels @IGNDeals to stay updated on even more potential PS5 disc or digital deals — there could be another big deal or bundle to check out soon.
DualSense Controllers Are Down to $49.99 (Save Up to $25)
Opting for controllers like the Volcanic Red, Cobalt Blue, Galactic Purple or Gray Camo is your best bet as these are some of the most popular, tend to sell out during sale events, and cost the most at $74.99 MSRP — so buying at the $49 Black Friday offer will maximize your savings.
The DualSense color variants we listed above have also been incredibly popular since the deal went live, so they are at risk of selling out before we even get to the core Black Friday event in a few weeks; consider making your purchase soon to avoid disappointment. The standard discounted price for the PlayStation gamepad has consistently been in the range of $50, making this a compelling option for holiday shopping or as a thoughtful gift for the PlayStation enthusiast in your life.
See Other Retailers Here
$100 Off the Sony PSVR2 Horizon Call of the Mountain Bundle
There’s nothing quite like playing a game in virtual reality. The immersiveness is jaw-dropping. And right now for Black Friday, Dell is running a deal that saves you $100 off the PSVR2 Horizon bundle. So you get a futuristic headset, controllers, and a great game, all for $499.99.
PS5 Early Black Friday Game Deals
GameStop is currently running a sale that saves you 50% off select games. It includes games for all consoles, but some of the standout PS5 ones include Street Fighter VI, Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII Reunion, Octopath Traveller II, and more.
PS5 Console Covers: Early Deals at PS Direct and Dbrand
If you’re not interested in picking up the new PS5 slim model and instead just want to invest in a tasty set of PS5 console cover faceplates, then we’ve already got some great deals for you to consider. PS Direct has discounted its range of official covers, down to $44.99, while dbrand has dropped its rival Darkplates 2.0 to $59.05. For those wondering, dbrand is also working on PS5 slim varients of the Darkplates, and you can sign up for update emails here.
PlayStation Plus Memberships: What to Expect on Black Friday
Sony has confirmed that PS Plus will be on sale over Black Friday for new and current members. New members joining PS Plus can get up to 30% off 12-months of PS Plus Essential, Extra, or Premium. Those current members can get 25% off updates to Extra, or 30% off upgrades to Premium. These discounts will go live from November 17 and will last until after Cyber Monday on November 27.
PS5 Black Friday: More Game Deals to Expect
While we already have deals at GameStop and the Buy 2 Get 1 Free sale at Amazon, we’re expecting a little more over the next few weeks from PlayStation. Sony has never been shy from putting its games on sale for Black Friday. Unlike Nintendo, you can quite often find a pretty substantial deal on many of their games during the busiest shopping period of the year. If I were to make an educated guess, I’d speculate that we’re likely to witness a return of a few $29 PlayStation 5 games during Black Friday 2023, alongside smaller discounts for newer titles like Spider-Man 2.
Titles like God of War: Ragnarok, Horizon Forbidden West, The Last of Us: Part 1, Ghost of Tsushima, and more were all up for grabs at incredible prices over the October Prime Day deals, and we’re expecting at least the same or even better deals in the coming weeks.
PS5 Black Friday: More Accessory Deals to Expect
With DualSense Contrtollers confirmed to be at least part of the early Black Friday deals (down to $49.99 at the moment at most retailers), let’s look at what else we can expect over the holiday shopping season.
Another essential PlayStation accessory, especially if you’re a fan of downloading digital games from the PlayStation Store, is M.2 Gaming SSDs. Many of us have likely already upgraded our storage in recent months, especially with how many great deals there have been on PS5 compatiable SSDs. But, if you haven’t got around to it yet and are waiting on a new deal, then we’re almost guaranteed to see even more deals. Expect to see 2TB SSDs drop to around $80-90, and 1TB from at least $50 or less.
Where to Find PS5 Deals on Black Friday
We’ll be providing a plethora of links to all the finest PlayStation deals for Black Friday here on IGN, but you can also follow us @IGNDeals on Twitter/X for more immediate updates.
Otherwise, throughout the holiday shopping season, if you’re on the lookout for PlayStation games, you can expect to uncover enticing deals at retailers like Amazon, Best Buy, and similar stores. The same holds true for PlayStation accessories, including headsets and controllers, which are likely to see widespread discounts at these familiar retail destinations.
Best PlayStation and PS5 Holiday Gift Ideas for 2023
As we near the end of the year — and more importantly, the holiday season — there’s no better time to start looking at gifts for the PlayStation fan in your life (especially with all Black Friday deals to consider). Whether it’s brand-new games, apparel, or collectibles and toys, we’ve scoured the internet for what is sure to be the most popular gifts this season, so check out the many great PlayStation gift recommendations below to make your shopping this year a breeze.
PS5 Black Friday Shopping Tips
Many of these tips are applicable no matter what you’re shopping for on Black Friday.
Plan Your Spending – It’s important to acknowledge that many of us have substantial video game backlogs. Just because you spot a game you desire on sale, doesn’t mean you should rush to buy it. Set a budget and stick to it. Only invest in games you genuinely intend to play in the near future.
Create a Wishlist – A practical approach to keep your Black Friday spending in check is by crafting a wishlist of games or items you’re interested in purchasing, and then adhere to it. Resist the temptation of deals that don’t align with the items you would have bought otherwise.
Compare Prices – It’s not uncommon to be enticed by what seems like an excellent Black Friday deal (for instance, The Last of Us Part 1 for $39.99). However, it’s wise to double-check by looking at other popular retailers to see if they offer a matching or even better sale price before hitting the buy button.
Act Swiftly on Exceptional Deals – When you stumble upon a truly remarkable deal on a PlayStation game or accessory, don’t hesitate. Retailers have limited stock, and the best deals are likely to sell out before Black Friday concludes. Seize the fantastic deals promptly.
But, Don’t Worry if You Miss Out – If you attempt to purchase an outstanding deal and discover that it’s sold out, don’t be disheartened. Often, the very same Black Friday deal may resurface on Cyber Monday. And even if it doesn’t, the next Prime Day will arrive sooner than you think.
Robert Anderson is a deals expert and Commerce Editor for IGN. You can follow him @robertliam21 on Twitter.
Embracer Group has said it has laid off 904 staff, or 5% of its workforce, since its financial struggles began following the collapse of a $2 billion deal, reportedly with Saudi government funded company Savvy Games Group.
The Swedish firm has come under fire for the sweeping cuts it has made so far in 2023, including the closure of long-running Saints Row maker Volition. During a financial presentation, Embracer said its internal headcount was reduced by 713 people (511 developers and 202 non-developers), and its external developer headcount was reduced by 191. In total, 15 mostly unannounced projects were “written down” across Amplifier, Freemode, Gearbox, Plaion, Saber, and THQ Nordic, Embracer said.
In a presentation to deliver Embracer’s Q2 financial report, CEO Lars Wingefors thanks all the staff he had let go. “Before we get into the business details of our second quarter, I want to start this conference by saying a personal thank you to the 900 people who left Embracer during the second quarter,” he said.
“As you will hear today, we are determined to transform Embracer into a leaner, stronger company. That said, it’s painful to me that you need to leave the group, and we have been, and are doing, everything we can to preserve jobs without changing what we need to achieve.
“Our people are what make up the very fabric of Embracer. For me personally, it’s crucial that the programme is carried out with compassion, respect and integrity.”
It’s not going to stop there either. Embracer said ongoing restructuring, closures, or buy-outs are in process and “will lead to further headcount reductions”. That means more layoffs are coming.
Borderlands developer Gearbox is reportedly up for sale, although IGN sources have said Embracer is struggling to find a buyer at its asking price. Embracer bought Gearbox in February 2021 as part of an acquisition spree that included snapping up Tomb Raider developer Crystal Dynamics, among many other studios.
“Process involving possible consolidation of companies and businesses is ongoing, implementation expected to accelerate in [the fourth quarter of this financial year],” Embracer said. “Our restructuring program is making good progress, with opex savings ahead of plan and capex savings expected to contribute notably in the second half of the year,” Wingefors added. “We continue to take important steps for the future and I am confident that we will emerge as a stronger company.”
We continue to take important steps for the future and I am confident that we will emerge as a stronger company.
Wingefors’ comments will do little to reduce the stress and anxiety Embracer’s hundreds of staff currently face going into the holiday season. Earlier this month, VGC reported TimeSplitters developer Free Radical Design is at threat of being closed just two years after it was re-established. Publisher Plaion has yet to comment despite requests from IGN.
Amid the chaos, some Embracer games have done well. Gunfire Games’ looter-shooter soulslike Remnant 2 has now sold more than two million units and generated more than SEK 700 million (approx $66.2 million) in net sales. Dambuster Studios’ Dead Island 2 was also a sales success.
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.
Earlier this evening, wrestling promotion All Elite Wrestling (AEW) teamed up with Sega to promote upcoming game Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name, in the wildest possible way. They got together some of the nerdiest wrestlers possible and put on a Like a Dragon-themed street fight complete with heat actions, improvised weapons, and cosplay. And it absolutely ruled.
The match has been promoted for over a week now as a four-on-four street fight with the team of Powerhouse Hobbs, Konosuke Takeshita, Brian Cage, and Kyle Fletcher facing off against known Like a Dragon fan Kenny Omega, Chris Jericho, Kota Ibushi, and Paul Wight. From the get-go, everyone involved seemed fully committed to the bit. Omega’s team recorded a promo airing earlier in the night with all four men in suits that heavily evoked an iconic scene from Yakuza 4. And when the groups entered, almost everyone was in some flavor of costume. Takeshita was in full Goro Majima cosplay, Brian Cage showed up as Axel Stone from Streets of Rage, Jericho kept the suit on from earlier, and Omega had some wicked Like a Dragon-themed pants.
The Golden Dragons of Dojima are ready for battle in the LIKE A DRAGON GAIDEN STREET FIGHT!
The fight itself was a pretty classic street fight, but instead of a ring littered just with tables, chairs, chains, barbed wire, and other classic street fight props, it was also full of objects you might find in Like a Dragon’s Kamurocho or Sotenbori. There were street signs advertising ramen, beer bottles, milk crates, and even a bike. A moving image of Sotenbori was projected up on the massive screen behind the ring with pedestrians walking up and down the road to complete the vibe.
I turned on AEW tonight hoping to see Kenny Omega hit a guy with a giant traffic cone, and while I didn’t get precisely that, I was far from disappointed. Multiple people were smacked with milk crates or smashed with beer bottles. Hobbs took Wight outside and slammed him into the hood of a car. Omega got chucked into a ramen sign.
One major highlight of the match involved Jericho and Takeshita heading up into the stands, through the lobby, and into a VIP lounge covered in fancy black executive couches that looked like they’d come right out of Millenium Tower. They slammed each other around a bit before heading back into the lobby, where Takeshita jumped behind the snack counter, climbed on top of the vending machines, and tried to dive back onto Jericho only for Jericho to blast him with a fire extinguisher.
Even a bike got used. At one point, Ibushi mounted the bike, rode it down the ramp to the ring with a metal pipe in his hand, bapping people as he went, and rode around the arena until Brian Cage shoved him off the bike. Later in the match, Takeshita grabbed the bike and slammed it into Omega – Majima vs. Kiryu, but not how you’d expect it.
The whole thing was an absolute delight, from the entrances to the ending – victory belonging to Omega, Ibushi, Jericho, and Wight, of course. Following the match, Ibushi announced he’s officially joining AEW, and Omega seemed to tease a future cameo appearance in the Like a Dragon games. He’s already achieved that feat once, but I’m now sitting here hoping we can summon Omega wholesale, Poundmate-style, in Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth:
It’s been my dream to mix the worlds of gaming and wrestling. I hope you all enjoyed the Like a Dragon Street Fight. Hopefully, I’ll see you in a Like a Dragon game soon! @SEGApic.twitter.com/0zEDuWzrj7
Tonight’s Like a Dragon Street Fight was obviously sponsored all to heck to sell more copies of Like a Dragon, but frankly if you’re going to market a video game, this is a pretty fun way to do it. Omega’s love of the Like a Dragon franchise and video games more generally has already spawned dozens of cool costumes and crossover moments, including my favorite, his iconic Halloween entrance as Sans from Undertale. Given how many wrestlers are absolute huge nerds like the rest of us, I hope this is the start of a long, beautiful future of cool gaming-wrestling crossovers. I just need Kenny Omega to Heat Action someone with a giant traffic cone, and I’ll finally be fulfilled.
Rebekah Valentine is a senior reporter for IGN. Got a story tip? Send it to rvalentine@ign.com.
