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Cyberpunk 2077 Player Hits Level Cap Before the Opening Credits

One dedicated Cyberpunk 2077 player has hit the level cap before beginning The Heist mission, meaning before the opening credits have rolled.

Reddit user uO__Ou shared their self-inflicted challenge, noting that it “took so damn long” while confirming a playtime of 40 hours and 30 minutes. Game tracking website How Long to Beat pegs Cyberpunk 2077’s entire main story at around 25 hours and 30 minutes in total, meaning the player spent more time in the opening area than it would take to actually complete the game.

Cyberpunk 2077 opens with a handful of smaller missions before the crux of the story kicks off with The Heist. Per open-world game standards, it also limits players to the opening area of Watson during this time, meaning just a fraction of the game’s total activities (that award experience points) are available.

uO__Ou overcame this somewhat by using an exploit that allowed them to leave Watson. This doesn’t activate the dozens of side quests or other open-world activities available in Cyberpunk 2077’s Night City, but does offer better grinding locations.

“Go to Pacifica, Batty’s Hotel for, in my experience, the best farming spot,” uO__Ou said. “Repeat it over and over and over. Took me 40 hrs but, to be honest, if I did this more efficiently, it can take less than 35 hours. Just don’t forget to sleep every hour for an experience boost and to use different weapons for your sanity and for skill progression.”

Cyberpunk 2077 uses a similar progression system to the likes of The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim, where players can engage in different activities to level up specific skills which contribute to the overall level. Being stealthy and getting headshots, for example, upgrades the Headhunter skill, while crafting items upgrades the Engineer skill.

uO__Ou used these different skills to eventually reach the final Level 50, though it could have almost certainly been reached faster by actually progressing the main story. With developer CD Projekt Red now done with Cyberpunk 2077 and its expansion Phantom Liberty, and focusing on a sequel codenamed Orion (and upcoming The Witcher games codenamed Polaris and Sirius), however, fans are having to come up with quirky challenges like these to keep themselves entertained.

Practically nothing is known about Orion so far, as CD Projekt Red is still in the process of creating a North American studio in Boston to develop it. It has been called a sequel to Cyberpunk 2077 though, and may feature more involved life paths.

In our 9/10 review of Cyberpunk, IGN said: “Cyberpunk 2077 throws you into a beautiful, dense cityscape and offers a staggering amount of flexibility in how you choose to take it from there.”

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

The Witcher: Ciri’s Origin Story Getting a Comic Adaptation

Dark Horse is adapting another The Witcher short story from author Andrzej Sapkowski into a comic book, this time focusing on how fan-favorite character Ciri came to be.

A Question of Price is the fourth short story adapted in The Last Wish collection, Dark Horse announced. The collection includes stories pulled from the first canonical The Witcher book, with this story explaining how protagonist Geralt of Rivia saved Ciri’s father from the wrath of her grandmother.

“Geralt is invited to a banquet at the Kingdom of Cintra,” the synopsis reads. “The Princess has come of age and suitors prepare to present themselves for her hand in marriage. Wary of the Queen’s invitation, Geralt attends the dinner with caution. When a mysterious uninvited guest, bearing the armor of a knight enters the hall, a bold declaration and a shocking revelation ignites the party into chaos and uproar.”

This will sound familiar to fans of The Witcher live action adaptation, as A Question of Price was adapted in Season 1 Episode 4 of the Henry Cavill-starring Netflix series.

The hardcover comic version, arriving in the same style as previous The Last Wish entries A Grain of Truth, The Lesser Evil, and The Edge of the World (which arrives January 16), releases on July 29 priced $17.99. This leaves just three short stories left to adapt from The Last Wish: Sapkowski’s debut story The Witcher; the short story on which the collection was based, also called The Last Wish, and The Voice of Reason.

The latter of these was told as an overarching story to introduce each separate short story, however, so it’s unclear if Dark Horse will also adapt this one. There are plenty more short stories to adapt beyond The Last Wish though, namely from subsequent collection The Sword of Destiny.

Dark Horse has a line of its own The Witcher stories too, which has released roughly once a year since The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt was released in 2015. These are all set within the canon of CD Projekt Red’s The Witcher world, and some have even continued the story of Geralt, Yennefer, Ciri, and other beloved characters.

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

Baldur’s Gate 3 Dev Larian’s Huge 2023 Profits Revealed

While the mainstream success of Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game Baldur’s Gate 3 is undeniable, developer Larian has yet to announce a sales figure. But after financial records for last year were made public, we finally have an idea of just how big Baldur’s Gate 3 really was.

Confirmation comes from financial records posted by the Dublin, Ireland holding company for Larian, which is ostensibly based in Belgium, and controlled by majority shareholder, founder, and CEO Swen Vincke. (Ireland is one of the world’s most significant tax havens, with corporate tax revenues exploding in the country over the last decade.)

According to a paywalled report by the Irish Independent, Larian posted a €249 million (approx $260.9 million) pre-tax profit for 2023, which included the August release of Baldur’s Gate 3. Revenue for the year hit €427 million (approx $447.5 million).

Larian has never announced a sales figure for Baldur’s Gate 3, although publishing director Michael Douse indicated in February that the game had sold well over 10 million copies, and Hasbro, the parent company of Dungeons & Dragons owner Wizards of the Coast, said in March that Baldur’s Gate 3 had earned it $90 million due to its licensing deal with Larian. The Irish Independent reported that Baldur’s Gate 3 had sold around 15 million copies and paid out a €28 million dividend this year as a result.

Larian’s bumper 2023 financial results are in stark contrast to the company’s 2022, which saw a loss of €214,000 (approx $224,100) off the back of just €22.7 million (approx $23.7 million) in revenue. Baldur’s Gate 3’s wild success, then, was a game-changer for Larian, and that’s without taking into consideration the ongoing sales Baldur’s Gate 3 has pulled in so far in 2024. Indeed, Douse has said that Baldur’s Gate 3 has 20% more active daily users this year than last, with mods helping to fuel seemingly never-ending interest in the RPG.

Vincke told IGN in September that the success of Baldur’s Gate 3 meant Larian was now in a “luxurious position,” and could “pick our own destiny and our own path.” The developer shocked the video game world when it announced plans to make brand new games outside the Dungeons & Dragons universe, rather than follow Baldur’s Gate 3 with DLC or a sequel.

The Irish Independent confirmed that while Vincke owns virtually all the ordinary shares in Larian’s Dublin holding company, Chinese megacorp Tencent owns a “large chunk” of preference shares in the firm via its Tencent Cloud Europe division.

Baldur’s Gate 3 isn’t Larian’s only hit game, of course, but its success is a magnitude higher than that of its previous RPGs, including Divinity: Original Sin 1 and 2. Larian opened multiple development studios around the world to aid with the development of Baldur’s Gate 3 as part of its “following the sun” concept of 24-hour game development, with teams handing off work to the next time zone at the end of their work day to speed up development. In addition to Dublin, Larian has studios in Kuala Lumpur, Barcelona, Guildford, Quebec, Warsaw, and its original home of Ghent.

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.

These Are the Best PS5 Game Deals to Shop Right Now

Merry Christmas to us all, because Black Friday deals have started early, including tons of video games. When looking through all the early Black Friday video game deals, we spotted several PS5 games available at steep discounts on Amazon and beyond. A few highlights from PS5 game deals this Black Friday include Stellar Blade for $49.99, Sonic X Shadow Generations for $29.99, Elden Ring for just $19.99, the critically acclaimed Metaphor ReFantazio for $49.99, and Alan Wake 2 (Deluxe Edition).

Sony has also confirmed its Black Friday PS Plus offer: New members can save 30% on a 12-month subscription, and current PS Plus Essential members can save 25% on an upgrade to PlayStation Plus Extra, or 30% on Premium/Deluxe. If you’re not sure what the latest PS Plus game lineup is, see the November PS Plus games list, which includes the return of Rockstar’s GTA 5, Dying Light 2: Stay Human, and Like a Dragon: Ishin. Here are the biggest PS5 game deals right now.

There are several more games in Amazon’s sales list to check out, but here is a short list of additional PS5 games to highlight:

Top PlayStation Black Friday Deals

If you’re ready to invest in the PSVR2, now is the time to get the PlayStation VR 2 Horizon bundle for just $349 on Amazon (usually $599.99). 42% off is not too shabby for the cutting-edge PSVR2, in which we scored a 9/10 in our review, and is a compelling alternative to other affordable VR options like the Meta Quest.

PlayStation fans can snag discounts on various PS5 Black Friday bundles, PS5 Slim (on sale now at 17% off), the PS Plus subscription, PSVR 2, DualSense controllers (in multiple colors), and more from PlayStation’s Black Friday Sale. At the time this article was written, PS5 game bundles are still discounted as low as $374.99 (usually priced at $449.99 or higher) including the Fortnite Cobalt Star Bundle and NBA 2K Bundles (both digital and disc editions). Our advice is: When you see a popular bundle on sale and price-matched across retailers, be sure to get it while you can before the deal is gone or the bundle is out of stock!

Note, many of these PS5 game deals are also available in the UK at an equivalent price.

When Is Black Friday 2024?

The official Black Friday date in 2024 is November 29, but the deals season is here now! Across the gaming category, also see Nintendo’s Black Friday sale, with discounts on Tears of the Kingdom, Joy-Con controllers, and more planned. Also see the Xbox Black Friday deals, with discounts live now.

Lindsey (she/her) is IGN’s Director of Audience Development and Commerce. She’s been at IGN since 2021 and has a background in SEO, especially in the gaming, entertainment, and tech media spaces. Find her on Twitter at @LindseySalzer.

Best Black Friday Deals to Shop at GameStop Right Now–What I’d Buy

In spite of it all, GameStop has persevered and still gets after it for the Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals period. The GameStop near my house closed down in 2021 and I’ve really missed it. There’s something to be said about getting to know your local GameStop staff and talking games with them for a while. I’ve also been seeing some locations are doing midnight launches again, and my friends, everyone should wait in line to buy a hot new game the second it goes live. You will be among your people, an unbroken queue of like-minded individuals looking to share in the communal experience of celebrating gaming. I feel like gaming culture was better when we all stood together and talked to one another about how stoked we were for Halo 3.

GameStop has some solid Black Friday video game deals, and if you don’t mind buying used, you can actually save a bunch more. But the biggest problem is not all the deals at GameStop are as good as they are at competitors. For example, the 50% off Final Fantasy XVI deal that’s been crushing all week isn’t at GameStop (it’s $5 more than Amazon’s Black Friday price). But lots of others, like Tomb Raider I-III Remaster and Sea of Stars, are the same price as they are at Best Buy’s Black Friday video game sales. Of course, we’ve been following all the deals and have a full look at all the best Black Friday deals of 2024, not JUST video game deals.

GameStop Best Black Friday Deals

X-Men ’97 Magneto Helmet Black Friday Deal

Definitely want to shine some light on this one because, not only is the price of the Magneto X-Men ’97 helmet discounted 55%, it’s also one of the most popular items I’ve featured on the IGNDeals X and IGNDeals Instagram accounts this year… and it wasn’t even close to this low of a price.

Seriously, if you want a cosplay-quality Magneto helmet you can wear comfortably, or you just want to get it for display (it has a stand), this is probably GameStop’s best Black Friday deal going right now.

$39.99 Black Friday Video Game Deals

Right now, the selection of $39.99 isn’t exactly great. I think Lies of P is probably the stand-out here. That being said, it’s still early and I would not be surprised at all if this deals page gets updated with a lot more games, but I would also not be surprised if it didn’t. I’m on an even-keel here, nothing can surprise me.

$29.99 Black Friday Video Game Deals

Now we’re getting somewhere. In spite of what the page might try to make you believe, some of these games are actually cheaper than $29.99, and the selection here is pretty great, too. Stand-out games on this landing page include Mortal Kombat 1, Sea of Stars, and the absolutely excellent Atari 50: The Anniversary Collection Extended Edition.

$19.99 Black Friday Video Game Deals

This is the sweet spot in my opinion. The price is excellent and the selection of $20 games on sale for Black Friday is also pretty admirable. The stand-outs here are probably Hogwart’s Legacy, Outer Wilds: Archaeologist Edition, Lords of the Fallen and Tomb Raider I-III Remastered. But that’s just my opinion – I leave it to you to find the games you want to buy. I can only lead you to them, I cannot make up your mind for you.

Buy 1, Get 1 50% Off on Plushies

I’m just going to go ahead and say you should buy the Sonic the Hedgehog Ice Cream plushie. The real one has dead eyes made of bubblegum, exactly what you want to enjoy with a frozen treat. There are also a lot of non-Sonic ice cream plushies, too, like Kuromi, Gengar, Squishmallows and more.

Nintendo Switch Black Friday Deals at GameStop

GameStop has both the Nintendo Switch Black Friday Mario Kart bundles, and Pro members save $25, which is a nice little extra bonus savings. Other than that, these have been available since… August, I think? If you know someone who doesn’t have a Switch and you’re shopping at GameStop anyway, go wild.

Should I Wait to Buy Games at GameStop’s Black Friday Sale?

If you’re looking to buy any of the games currently listed on sale, I say go for it. If anything, it’ll just add more games as the shopping event heats up. Definitely get on that Sonic plush, though. Who knows how long it will last? It will definitely be worth waiting for the best time to buy a PS5, though, because it’s not currently listed, but Sony has announced its Black Friday deals. Also, you can find GameStop listed in our best gift cards guide as you shop for your loved ones this holiday season.

Seth G. Macy is IGN’s Senior Social Commerce Producer, but you may know him as the guy from NVC. Starting as a freelancer for video game websites that no longer exist, Seth’s experience in the game industry reaches back almost 15 years. Now he’s a video host who also heads up IGN’s social media commerce efforts.

Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble is $24.99 for Black Friday

If you like Monkey, Balls, and things that are Super, I have some questions for you… but I also have good news! Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble is heavily discounted for Black Friday. Pick up a copy and compete in 16-player matches online and 4-player local multiplayer, or work together cooperatively.

Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble (Switch Digital) for $24.99

Check out the best console deal ever on Switch and Switch OLED, as well as our complete hub for the best Nintendo Black Friday deals.

We also have tons more Daily Deals, from PS4 and PS5 games to Switch bundles, PS5 bundles and Apple iPads. For more great fun, for kids and adults, the Calvin and Hobbes Complete Hardcover box set is also down to just $83.33.

The Switch isn’t the only handheld game in town, so if you prefer PC gaming, check out the great Black Friday deals on PC handhelds, and be sure to visit our hefty hubs for every major outlet’s Black Friday offerings.

In brightest day, in blackest night, no deal escapes our sight! There are tons of Black Friday Amazon deals already available, not to mention the best Walmart deals, Target sales, and Best Buy deals, too. And if you are brave enough to open the firehose, check out our Black Friday megahub.

Amazon Black Friday Video Game Deals

When Is Black Friday 2024?

We’re in the home stretch: Black Friday falls on November 29 this year. All month long, retailers have been rolling out sales, ramping up to massive discounts on Black Friday and through the weekend into Cyber Monday. There are already some fantastic deals available on PS5 consoles (including PSVR2) and controllers, video games for all platforms, AirPods Pro, and tons more.

Brian Barnett writes reviews, guides, features, & more for IGN, GameSpot, & Kotaku. You can get more than your fair share of him on Bluesky & Backloggd, & enjoy his absurd video game talk show, The Platformers, on Spotify & Apple Podcasts.

Daily Deals: Alan Wake II, Nintendo Switch OLED, Astro Bot, and More

The weekend is officially here, and we’ve rounded up the best deals you can find! Discover the best deals for Sunday, November 24, below:

Final Fantasy I-VI Pixel Remaster Collection

Woot has the Final Fantasy I-VI Pixel Remaster Collection on sale for $44.99, making each game only $7.50! The first six Final Fantasy titles paved the way for the series as we see it today. Many fans still regard both Final Fantasy IV and Final Fantasy VI as some of the best that Final Fantasy has to offer, with gripping narratives and engaging gameplay. This package includes all six Final Fantasy Pixel Remasters, which feature updated graphics, soundtracks, font, and more.

Astro Bot for $49.99

Astro Bot is on sale for the first time since launch, and there has never been a better time to pick up one of the PlayStation 5’s best games. Building off Astro’s Playroom, Astro Bot features many new abilities and bosses to fight, with over 300 bots to rescue across the galaxy. You’ll find planets modeled after beloved PlayStation games like Ape Escape and Uncharted, and even surprise third-party bots like Leon S. Kennedy from Resident Evil 2.

Silent Hill 2 for $49.99

Bloober Team’s remake of Silent Hill 2 is on sale ahead of Black Friday for $49.99. Recreating one of Konami’s most beloved titles was never going to be easy, but the Silent Hill 2 remake delivers an immersive horror experience that preserves almost everything that made the original so great. In our 8/10 review, we said the game “smoothly polishes down the rough edges of the original game’s combat while taking a piece of heavy grit sandpaper to scuff up every rust and mold-covered surface of its nightmarish environments, successfully making them appear far more abrasive and menacing to explore.”

Nintendo Switch Console Deals

This Black Friday, you can score a standard Nintendo Switch with both Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and one year of Nintendo Switch Online for $224.99. Additionally, the same bundle but with a Nintendo Switch OLED is available for $274.99. In terms of value, this is by far the best Nintendo Switch deal we’ve seen this year. Not only are you saving $75 off the standard console price, but you get Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and an NSO membership at no extra charge.

Final Fantasy XVI for $24.99

One of the biggest 2023 games has hit a new all-time low price just ahead of Black Friday! Final Fantasy XVI follows Clive Rosfield on his journey to avenge his brother. For the first time in the Final Fantasy series, you can become a summon, known as Eikons in this world. With spectacular boss battles and an engaging story, Final Fantasy XVI is an excellent time, especially for $24.99.

PlayStation Console Deals Are Now Live

There are many PlayStation 5 console bundles on sale today, with the start of early Black Friday deals, making this the best time of 2024 to pick up a new console. You can purchase a PlayStation 5 Digital Edition for $374.99, saving $25 and scoring a free game at no extra cost. Or, you can opt for the PlayStation 5 Disc Console, which is priced at $424.99. Sony also has the PlayStation VR 2 on sale today, with the Horizon Call of the Mountain Bundle priced at $349.99 at Best Buy.

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth for $39.99

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth was one of 2024’s biggest games, continuing the story from 2020’s Final Fantasy VII Remake. Cloud, Tifa, Aerith, Barret, and Red XIII begin their journey outside Midgar, meeting characters like Yuffie, Vincent, and Cid alongside the way. This experience offers well over 100 hours of content, with 36 sidequests and a main story over 40 hours long. Plus, there are dozens of minigames to discover.

Stellar Blade for $49.99

This Black Friday, Stellar Blade is on sale for the first time since launch. This action game from Shift Up has been one of the most popular games of the year. Just last week, new Nier: Automata DLC was released, which included new outfits inspired by A2, 2B, and Emil. In our 7/10 review, we stated “Stellar Blade stands out as a gorgeous and well-crafted action game with very impressive strengths and very clear weaknesses.”

Metaphor: ReFantazio for $49.99

Metaphor: ReFantazio is the latest game from Persona 3, 4, and 5 Director Katsura Hashino and the team at Atlus’ Studio Zero. For the first time since launch, you can score the game at a discount, saving $20 this Black Friday. In our 9/10 review, we stated, “Refining the Atlus RPG formula of weaving tough turn-based combat into compelling social sim mechanics, Metaphor: ReFantazio doesn’t just send a powerful message across its political drama, it becomes a beautiful expression of the real impact storytelling can have on all of us.”

50% Off SteelSeries Arctis Pro Wireless

The SteelSeries Arctis Pro Wireless Headset is perfect for any PC or PlayStation gamer. This model includes a wireless base station, which allows you to connect two devices at once and simultaneously switch between them. Additionally, the Arctis Pro Wireless supports hot-swappable batteries, so you can swap and continue playing with no downtime needed for charging.

Elden Ring for $19.99

Elden Ring is on sale for an all-time low price today at Amazon, with PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and Xbox copies available for $19.99. Additionally, Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree Edition is $30 off. This package includes the base game and the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion. In our 10/10 review, we said “Elden Ring is a massive iteration on what FromSoftware began with the Souls series, bringing its relentlessly challenging combat to an incredible open world that gives us the freedom to choose our own path.”

Ghost Cipher Special Edition Xbox Controller for $49.99

Best Buy has the Ghost Cipher Special Edition Xbox Controller for just $49.99 today. This is one of the best Xbox controllers you can buy, as it offers a unique design and maximum comfort. Not only can you use this controller with Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S, but you can also pair it with a PC or mobile device. With its transparent design, this is sure to be a talking point for any Xbox fan.

Tekken 8 for $29.99

Tekken 8 is available for just $29.99 this weekend. This entry brings over 34 playable characters, new stages, and many customization options. In our 9/10 review, we stated Tekken 8 is “an amazing new entry in the long-running series.”

iPad (10th Generation) for $249.99

The Apple iPad can be an incredibly useful device if you’re needing something bigger than a phone. Powered by the A14 Bionic, you can sketch, create presentations, and watch content all day long, with up to 10 hours of battery life supported. The 10th Generation iPad includes support for Touch ID, Apple Pencil, Magic Keyboard Folio, and more.

Alan Wake II Deluxe Edition for $49.99

Alan Wake II never received a physical release at launch last year, but Remedy has fixed that as of last month with the Alan Wake II Deluxe Edition. This release bundles in Alan Wake II and its two expansions, Night Springs and The Lake House. If you’re a fan of survival horror, this is one of the best games available on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Will Be Just $30 at Walmart Tomorrow

It’s official, Nintendo is having a great Black Friday this year. Tears of the Kingdom is the only Nintendo Switch game released by Nintendo to retail for $69.99, and soon at $30, this will be the lowest we’ve seen the game yet. If you’re a Walmart+ member, there’s a 5-hour early access that starts 12 PM ET on Monday, November 25.

If it doesn’t sell out within that time, it’ll be live at 5 PM ET for everyone else. As a backup, Target has the game down to $39.99 right now as well, which, while it isn’t as good, is still a tremendous offer.

You can see the Tears of the Kingdom listing at Walmart below, and even add to your cart ready to buy tomorrow. We’ll endeavor to update you when the deal is live, and if retailers like Best Buy and Target price match the offer as well.

Should You Sign Up for Walmart+ Before Nov. 25?

While one of the standout deals in Walmart’s first wave of Black Friday offers is a 50% discount on a 12-month Walmart+ membership, it’s still probably not worth signing up just to snag a single deal. You’d likely be better off purchasing the game at Target for $40.

Instead, consider whether early access to Walmart’s upcoming deals or the other benefits of a 12-month membership makes sense for you. Take some time to weigh the value of the subscription against your shopping habits to decide if it’s the right choice.

Can’t Wait? Tears of the Kingdom is $39.99 at Target Today

Like we said, if you can’t wait, or as a backup, Tears of the Kingdom is $39.99 at Target for Black Friday from today onwards. It’s is one of the best games on Nintendo Switch, and the sequel to Breath of the Wild brings new areas to explore in the clouds and depths below the surface, offering what feels like a brand-new take on Hyrule.

It begins one year after Breath of the Wild. One day, while exploring under Hyrule Castle, Princess Zelda and Link discover a mummy that comes alive, shattering the Master Sword and wounding Link. When he awakens, Link finds himself on the Great Sky Island, one of the many floating islands in the sky. Here, the many mysteries of the ancient Zonai tribe are revealed.

What We Said in Our Review

In our 10/10 review, we said Tears of the Kingdom “is an unfathomable follow-up to one of the greatest games ever made, somehow improving upon it in nearly every way – be that with simple quality-of-life improvements, a genuinely exciting story, or wildly creative new building mechanics that make you rethink what is possible.

It both revamps old ground and introduces vast new areas so immense it somehow makes me wonder if Breath of the Wild was actually all that big, with an almost alarming number of tasks to complete, mysteries to discover, and delightful distractions to keep you from ever reaching that place you naively thought you were headed. Nintendo has followed up a triumph with a triumph, expanding and evolving a world that already felt full beyond expectation and raising the bar ever higher into the clouds.”

More Black Friday Game Deals We’ve Found So Far

The actual date of Black Friday in 2024 falls on November 29, but the holiday deals season starts a lot earlier than that. Plenty of retailers have already been dropping deals online.

More and more deals will roll out leading up to the event, which culminates in massive discounts on Black Friday. Retailers will not reveal their biggest Black Friday deals until the big day, but most general deals will be available well in advance, such as the impressive Sonic deal.

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

This article includes contributions from Noah Hunter.

Star Wars Outlaws is Now Just $40 for Black Friday

Ubisoft has recently released the huge Title Update 1.4.0 for Star Wars Outlaws, which most notably, cuts stealth requirements from almost the entire game. If that sounds appealing, I’ve got some good news, it’s also on sale for Black Friday. Now down to $39.99 at Amazon (the previous best deal was $49.99 last week), that’s $30 off the game, only released back in August this year.

A blog post detailed the patch notes and confirmed the removal of forced stealth—meaning players will no longer have to return to a checkpoint when triggering “do not raise the alarm” or “do not get caught” objectives—alongside improvements to enemy AI and detection, facial expressions and animations, and more.

“This Title Update brings changes to combat and stealth allowing for greater player choice, the ability to now keep pick-up weapons in more situations, visual options to allow for a sharper image and much more to improve your journey across the galaxy,” Ubisoft said.

Star Wars Outlaws creative director Drew Rechner promised to make big changes to “elevate the game experience to better meet” player expectations. Sentiments such as these are often seen in the wake of disastrous game launches but Star Wars Outlaws debuted to positive reviews.

Poor sales shook a struggling Ubisoft, however, and it is now working to improve the game ahead of what it hopes will be a sales bump, hopefully thanks to the $40 Black Friday deal, alongside its Steam launch and the holiday period.

What We Said In Our Review

IGN reviewer Tristan Ogilvie said is his review: “It’s ironic that Kay’s ship is called the Trailblazer, since there’s actually not a whole lot of ideas in Star Wars Outlaws that haven’t been done before in other action and open-world adventures.”

“Instead, it’s quite like the Millenium Falcon: a bucket of bolts held together with repurposed parts and prone to breaking down, but at its best it’s more than capable of jolting your pleasure centres into Star Wars fan hyperspace.”

“A clever syndicate system brings real weight to almost every task you choose to undertake, some of which have creative quest designs that can often conjure up some genuinely stunning blindsides. Having a pal like Nix at your side the entire time not only adds an extra dimension to Kay’s fairly generic smuggler character, but also gives her an enhanced set of useful abilities.”

More Black Friday Deals

The actual date of Black Friday in 2024 falls on November 29, but the holiday deals season starts a lot earlier than that. Plenty of retailers have already been dropping deals online. More and more deals will roll out leading up to the event, which culminates in massive discounts on Black Friday. Retailers will not reveal their biggest Black Friday deals until the big day, but most general deals will be available well in advance, such as the impressive Sonic deal.

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

Xbox Black Friday Sale is Now Live–These Are The Best Deals

The Xbox Black Friday sale is officially live, offering plenty of exciting deals to check out. Highlights include big discounts on Xbox controllers with prices as low as $39.99, Xbox Expansion Cards for just $99.99, and markdowns on top games like Metaphor: ReFantazio and Elden Ring.

With the sale now underway, the march toward Black Friday continues, and deals for Xbox, PlayStation, and Nintendo are already rolling in. Let’s dive into the best Xbox Black Friday deals available right now.

TL;DR – Best Xbox Black Friday Deals

Xbox Black Friday Video Game Deals

The best Xbox video game deals for Black Friday are here, and they’re packed with incredible savings on both fan favorites and new releases. You can snag Elden Ring for just $19.99, a must-have for any RPG fan, or pick up fresh titles like Metaphor ReFantazio, a standout Game of the Year contender, for $49.99.

If you’re into premium editions, don’t miss the Alan Wake 2 Deluxe Edition—a recent physical release that’s perfect for collectors. We’ve rounded up some of the top picks to save you time, but if you’re feeling adventurous, dive into the vast selection of deals at Amazon today and discover the many discounts waiting to be uncovered.

More Xbox Video Game Deals

Xbox Black Friday Controller Deals

If you’re in need of a new controller or looking to grab an extra for multiplayer sessions, Black Friday has you covered with Xbox Wireless Controllers now available for just $39.99. This is one of the lowest prices we’ve seen all year, making it the perfect time to upgrade your setup or stock up on spares.

Whether you prefer classic colors or some of the more vibrant options, this deal is hard to beat. With availability at major retailers like Best Buy, now’s the time to snag one before they sell out. There’s also the Xbox Sky Cipher controller, down to just $49.99 at Amazon today as well.

Xbox Expansion Card SSD Deals

Is Call of Duty eating up your internal SSD space? Black Friday has you covered with excellent deals on storage solutions. Our top pick is the Xbox 1TB Expansion Card, now at its lowest price ever—just $99.99 at Amazon. Typically, these expansion cards hover around $125 during sales, with occasional steep discounts at Woot that sell out quickly.

This Black Friday, the WD BLACK C50 1TB Storage Expansion Card is $50 off its list price, making it the best Xbox storage deal you’ll likely find. Amazon hasn’t matched the price yet, but it’s worth keeping an eye on them in case Best Buy sells out before you grab one.

“No Xbox Required” Streaming Bundle Deals

Amazon is currently offering a ‘No Console Required’ Xbox Bundle as part of its Black Friday sale. For just $79.99, you’ll snag a 4K Max Fire TV Stick, an Xbox Wireless Controller in any color of your choosing (we’ve gone for the new Sky Cipher variant) and 1 month of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.

Separately, the items in the 4K Max bundle would set you back about $142, so you’re saving $62. That’s a phenomenal deal to access Xbox’s Game Pass library without even needing a console.

If you don’t need the controller or Game Pass, a Fire TV Stick 4K is also now at its lowest-ever price of $21.99. If you’re eyeing an upgrade, the Fire TV Stick 4K Max is also at a record-low $32.99. Both are stellar deals, but act quickly—these prices won’t last forever.

Xbox Series X|S Black Friday Deals

If you’ve been thinking about upgrading to an Xbox console, now might be the perfect time. The 1TB Xbox Series X is currently $50 off, bringing it down to $448—a rare discount on Microsoft’s flagship console. This price is set to last until at least November 23, giving you a bit of time to decide, but don’t wait too long as stock might dwindle closer to Black Friday.

For those seeking a more budget-friendly option, the Xbox Series S will be available for just $248 at Walmart starting November 25. The Series S is a fantastic entry point to the Xbox ecosystem, offering next-gen performance in a compact and affordable package. With both consoles on sale, there’s never been a better opportunity to dive into Xbox gaming.

When Is Black Friday 2024?

We hope you’ve prepared your wallets, because it’s Black Friday season. During the biggest sales event of the year, keep an eye out for price drops on the games you’ve been waiting to add to your library. The same can be said for TVs, gaming PCs, Apple products, and more. Whatever you’re in the market for, right now is probably one of the best times to make your biggest purchases.

The actual date of Black Friday in 2024 falls on November 29 this year, but the deals season began a lot sooner than that. In other Black Friday news, Nintendo has also recently announced its sale plans for Black Friday, with discounts on Tears of the Kingdom, Joy-Con controllers, and more confirmed to be on sale in the coming days. Xbox has also confirmed its deal lineup, with plenty of offers already live.

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