Category: IGN

It’s November 7, which means it’s once again Mass Effect Day for all who celebrate. That also means Dark Horse is back with another jaw-droppingly cool collectible, this time spotlighting the main hero of the original Mass Effect trilogy.

IGN can exclusively reveal a first look at the Mass Effect: Commander John Shepard 1:6 Scale Statue. Get a closer look at this piece in the slideshow gallery below:

This Commander John Shepard statue is a follow-up to last year’s Commander Jane Shepard statue, obviously spotlighting the character in his male incarnation this time. The statue depicts Shepard ready to leap into action while holding an M-8 Avenger assault rifle and Omni-Blade. It also includes interchangeable helmeted and unhelmeted heads.

The Mass Effect: Commander John Shepard 1:6 Scale Statue measures 14.5 inches tall and is made of polystone. The piece was sculpted by Substance Model Works, with prototyping and paint by Substance Model Works and J.W. Productions.

This statue will be sold exclusively through the Dark Horse Direct website. It’s priced at $199.99 and is limited to 1000 units worldwide. Orders placed between now and November 13 will receive a $20 discount.

You can also check out the Mass Effect collectibles available on the IGN Store. That includes past Dark Horse releases like the Tali’Zorah figure and the Liara figure.

Jesse is a mild-mannered staff writer for IGN. Allow him to lend a machete to your intellectual thicket by following @jschedeen on Twitter.

Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket players are swooning over opening what’s been dubbed a god pack, which includes super rare alternate art cards in all five slots.

Card collectors have taken to social media to post their god pack pulls, with some unable to believe their luck and thinking a bug is at play. Blankb01 on Reddit, for example, pulled alternate art versions of Moltres ex, Rapidash, Pinsir, Erika, and Charmander in a single pack.

Actual-Impact8802 pulled two alternate art Nidoqueens, a Nidoking, Gyarados, and Snorlax in theirs. Another user, bodeler, pulled a Moltres ex, Rapidash, Charizard ex, Moltres ex, and Alakazam, again all in the incredibly rare alternate art forms. “I pooped,” they said.

God Packs definitely exist in Pokemon TCG Pocket! Check mine out! pic.twitter.com/JH4l3OM9pa

— Sauce McGavin (@SauceMcGavin) October 30, 2024

These 60 alternate cards are the rarest pieces available in Pokémon TCG Pocket and add well over a year to the completion time of the first set, Genetic Apex. Pulling five in one go will certainly speed this process along, however.

This has led many to desperately attempt to figure out if there’s a hidden mechanic that can trigger god packs, though beyond the almost definitely not legitimate conspiracy theory about crinkled corners, it comes down to pure luck.

Developer Creatures Inc. has shared the actual odds behind these packs, however, which are officially just called Rare Packs. Players have a 0.05% of opening one, Pokémon TCG Pocket tells players, meaning a one in 2,000 chance.

Some friendly fellow players and some who are, dare we say, jealous, are urging those who shared their god pack pulls to also share their friend codes. Pokémon TCG Pocket features something called Wonder Pick, which lets players dip into others’ packs and pull one of those cards, and the list of available packs can be pulled from the friend list.

This means that, if someone is friends with a player who opens a god pack, that secondary player may also get a taste. While Wonder Picks are often reserved to middling packs, leaving plenty of common cards on the table for the random one in five chance, god packs obviously guarantee an incredibly rare card even at their weakest.

Pokémon TCG Pocket arrived in October as a streamlined, digital version of the beloved trading card game. It has players opening packs, collecting cards, building decks, and battling others; a simple formula that’s already proved popular given it made $12 million in four days.

Creatures Inc. is busy adding all sorts of events to the game, including a player versus player battle event released today, November 7. This isn’t quite a full competitive mode for Pokémon TCG Pocket but is certainly a step in that direction, and will certainly be the first proper competitive test of which decks are best, with both Mewtwo ex and Charizard ex having dominated so far.

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

For much of 2024, a strange trend has dominated Amazon’s listings: Nintendo first-party games have been conspicuously absent from the retailer, both physically and digitally, for preorders and after release. Rather than being sold and shipped by Amazon, major Switch titles have been limited to third-party sellers only. This extended absence has also included Nintendo’s digital offerings — no Nintendo Switch Online memberships, gift cards, or digital game codes have appeared on Amazon’s storefront since early this year.

But, that seemingly ends with The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom. This latest Zelda title has become the first Nintendo first-party game of 2024 to be sold and shipped directly by Amazon, marking a significant change in Amazon’s recent Nintendo offerings. Although it comes over a month after The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom’s release, the listing signals positive signs after months of silence from both Amazon and Nintendo regarding these absences.

As reported by GameRant, and discussed on the Nintendo Switch subreddit, some Nintendo preorders like Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD and Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door earlier in the year were also inexplicably canceled, leaving fans wondering about the retailer’s allegedly strained relationship with Nintendo.

This freeze has been specific to Amazon, as Nintendo games like Mario & Luigi: Brothership and digital items remain available at other major retailers such as Best Buy, GameStop, and Target. Up until now, Amazon has been a veritable ghost town for Nintendo products, lacking even the digital storefront presence that many gamers expect.

There’s also still no indication from either Nintendo or Amazon as to why this freeze-out occurred, and at the time of this article’s publication it hadn’t been fully reversed. Currently, only Echoes of Wisdom is available directly from Amazon, with no sign of digital items like Switch Online or gift cards returning for now.

For Switch fans eager to buy Nintendo titles from Amazon’s official stock, the reappearance of first-party games hints at a potential shift just as the holiday shopping season ramps up — especially with a Nintendo Switch successor announcement on the horizon.

With Black Friday around the corner, there’s also hope that this change could signal a return to Amazon deals on popular Switch games by month’s end. By no means, however, is Amazon currently the cheapest place to pick up Echoes of Wisdom right now going into the sale season. Woot, an Amazon-owned retailer (but treated as a separate business unit), has had the game consistently on sale for over a month. It’s currently listed for just $49.99 ($10 off the MSRP).

Call of Duty Zombies YouTuber MrRoflWaffles had a disastrous end to a high round Black Ops 6 run, leaving the game at round 147 and after 12 hours of play rather than saving and quitting.

Black Ops 6’s round-based Zombies mode sees players face off against endless waves of the baddies in a bid to reach ever higher levels of difficulty. Saving in Black Ops 6’s Zombies mode is only available to solo players, and you can only save one solo match at a time, which means if you leave the match without saving, there is no save to return to.

MrRoflWaffles, who has 2.11 million subscribers on YouTube, set out to break his personal best of round 141 and to hit round 200 before the disastrous mistake put an end to the attempt.

do NOT do this on round 147 in black ops 6 zombies 😭😭😭 pic.twitter.com/QftwaSjISE

— Milo (@MrRoflWaffles) November 7, 2024

The disaster began when a confident MrRoflWaffles signaled his intention to save and quit then load back into the match. “This is how this works chat,” he declared. “You quit the game, you reload in, and you try not to get bugs.”

MrRoflWaffles, perhaps moving too fast through Black Ops 6’s pause menu for his own good, accidentally selected ‘leave match’ rather than ‘save and quit.’ Despite the ‘leave game?’ warning pop up, MrRoflWaffles proceeded, putting an end to the run forever.

All the while, MrRoflWaffles’ chat couldn’t believe what they’d witnessed, with various messages of disbelief littering the screen.

Realization then kicked in, and, as you’d expect, MrRoflWaffles couldn’t believe what he’d done. “I left?!” he said. “What?! What?! What?! Are you kidding me?! You’re kidding me! You’re joking chat. Noooooooo!”

“12 hours of my life,” MrRoflWaffles eventually sighed after a period of silence. “The bugs won. I’d rather have fought the bugs! I can’t believe I just did that. I’m in pain.”

So, who’s to blame? MrRoflWaffles for accidentally pressing the wrong button, or developer Treyarch for putting the ‘leave match’ and ‘save and quit’ buttons right next to each other in the Zombies pause menu? For his part, MrRoflWaffles said it was entirely his mistake, but called on Treyarch to make the leave match button a ‘hold for three seconds’ selection.

“I really want to blame Treyarch for putting the leave button next to the save button,” MrRoflWaffles said. “I want to blame them, but honestly this is my fault. I pressed the button.”

Life simulation game inZoi is delayed to March 28, 2025, its producer and director has announced.

The Sims competitor from PUBG company Krafton was set to launch in early access form on PC later in 2024, but that became increasingly unlikely with no release date announced and the year end fast approaching — despite the developer insisting it was still on track only last month.

Inzoi is “a life simulation game where players become gods within the game, allowing them to change everything as they wish and experience endless new stories in various forms of life.” This was enough to capture the attention of disgruntled The Sims fans, with many claiming they’ll switch to Inzoi for good once it’s fully released. The recently released character creator demo saw life sim fans recreate real people and pop culture characters — check out some of the best attempts in the slideshow of images below.

In a letter to the game’s community, producer and director Hyungjun “Kjun” Kim apologized to fans for the delay, citing “a commitment to delivering the experience fans expect and deserve for a strong foundation of inZOI, following overwhelming positive feedback from the community over the past few months.”

The letter in full is below:

Hi everyone,

This is Kjun, Producer & Director of inZOI.

First, I want to express my sincerest gratitude to inZOI fans around the world. Your immense love and interest mean everything to us. I was especially touched by the wonderful reception we received at gamescom, and it was incredible to see everyone creating such unique Zois during our ‘inZOI: Character Studio’ demo period.

Initially, we were uncertain about introducing ‘Canvas’ to the world, not knowing how many people would actually participate. However, the turnout was amazing, with an enormous number of uploads. Seeing so much engagement brought us immense happiness, and it was inspiring to see how deeply people connected with inZOI. Your feedback and insights made us realize the responsibility we have to provide players with the most complete experience possible.

This message is about that realization. After reviewing your feedback from inZOI: Character Studio and analyzing a wealth of data from our various play tests, we have decided to release inZOI in Early Access on March 28, 2025. We apologize that we couldn’t bring you the game sooner, but this decision reflects our commitment to giving inZOI the best possible start.

It’s said that among primates, raising a human child to adulthood takes the longest time because humans must be prepared to endure and adapt to their ever-changing surroundings. The extra love and care required to nurture a child to adulthood is how I see our journey with inZOI — a game that we will be nurturing together from its Early Access birth. This change in our release date reflects our commitment to building a stronger foundation for inZOI, so we can embark on this journey in the best way possible.

Until the release date, we’ll continue working to improve any areas that need attention, striving to create a game that truly captures the essence of life simulation. Our goal is to deliver an experience fans can enjoy for a long time to come. We’ll keep you updated on our development progress, and we hope you’ll join us on this journey toward inZOI’s Early Access and beyond.

With love,

Kjun

In IGN’s preview if Inzoi, we said: “The game’s world is extremely beautiful but somewhat empty in motion, permeated by a lack of grounding lore.”

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.

Some people might still line up in front of stores for the day of a new console’s release, but online shopping has definitely become the preferred method for making big gaming purchases. Online retailers generally have more inventory, and you don’t have to leave the comfort of your home. Some stores even offer the option to secure your purchase and then pick it up when you’re ready.

If you’re looking for the best places to buy a new Xbox online, we’ve got you covered. Read on for a full breakdown of pricing on current Xbox consoles, the best time to buy an Xbox Series X or Series S, information on Xbox Game Pass, as well as where to trade in your existing Xbox consoles and games.

Where to Buy Xbox Consoles Online

If you’re looking to buy a new Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, or Xbox One, here’s where you can purchase Xbox consoles online in 2024. If you’re looking for savings, it might be worth waiting for Black Friday Xbox sales, but you can also check out the latest Xbox deals for discounts sooner rather than later.

Xbox Series X

Microsoft’s flagship console, the Xbox Series X, retails for an MSRP of $499.99 and features 1TB of storage and true 4K gaming.

Xbox Series S

The Xbox Series S is the less-powerful, all-digital variant of Microsoft’s current console lineup that starts at an MSRP of $299.99. The base model features 512GB of storage and 1440p resolution gaming in a 60% smaller package. You can also get the Carbon Black Series S console, which starts at an MSRP of $349.99 and comes with 1TB of storage space.

Xbox One

The Xbox One is Microsoft’s previous generation console that released in 2013. While it’s not currently being manufactured, you can still find refurbished models online at some retailers. There are three standard models available: the original Xbox One, a slimmer redesign called Xbox One S, and the more powerful Xbox One X. It’s worth noting that Xbox Series X|S are backwards compatible with Xbox One games, so your money may be better spent on the current generation consoles.

How Much Does a New Xbox Cost?

Xbox has a variety of different consoles at different price points to satisfy the needs of any gamer. The flagship console, Xbox Series X, retails for $499.99 but can also be financed via Xbox All Access at select retailers for $36.99/mo for 24 months which also includes 2 years of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. It’s worth noting that you’ll need to qualify for a line of credit with Citizen’s Pay Line if you opt for Xbox All Access.

Xbox Series S, the smaller, all-digital console, retails for $299.99 for the 512GB model or $349.99 for the 1TB model. Additionally, both can be financed via Xbox All Access starting at $26.99/mo for 24 months.

While Xbox One consoles aren’t currently in production any longer after being quietly discontinued in 2020 to focus on production of Xbox Series X|S, you can find them pre-owned or refurbished at resellers such as GameStop and Amazon, as well as through third-party marketplaces such as eBay, Craigslist, and more.

Additionally, you can often find bundles throughout the year that include either an Xbox Series X or Xbox Series S, sometimes with a unique color or design, as well as an included game, trial of Xbox Game Pass, or in-game content.

Xbox Game Pass Plans and Pricing

Take-Two has sold indie publisher Private Division to an unknown buyer in the wake of shuttering Roll7 and Intercept Games, saying that it wants to focus on its core and mobile businesses going forward. While virtually all of Private Division’s live and unreleased games will go to the new buyer, Take-Two says it will continue to support No Rest for the Wicked, the recently-released action RPG from Moon Studios that’s currently in early access.

Take-Two announced the move during Wednesday’s earnings results, saying in a statement, “We are grateful for the contributions that the Private Division team has made to our company and are confident that they will continue to achieve success in their new home.”

The Private Division sale follows Take-Two’s decision to wind down indie studios Roll7 and Intercept Games, both of which operated under the label’s umbrella. An IGN report at the time revealed Take-Two’s plans to offload the label and that it had found interest from a private equity firm, with discussions faciliated by individuals with connnections to Moon Studios leadership. It’s unclear whether that firm ultimately followed through on its interest.

As the current Pokemon TCG Pocket meta continues to shake out, players are quickly figuring out which decks, cards, and strategies are powerful, which are safe, and which are…wildly inconsistent. And there’s one card that everyone seems to agree they hate, whether they’re using it or facing an opponent with it: Misty.

Misty is a Supporter card, essentially a type of card that can be played once per turn to give yourself an advantageous effect. Misty is explicitly designed for use in decks featuring water-type Pokemon, and comes with the following effect: “Choose one of your water-type Pokemon, and flip a coin until you get tails. For each hads, take a water-type Energy from your Energy Zone and attach it to that Pokemon.”

Pokemon need energy to use attacks on opponents, but typically you can only attach one energy to one Pokemon per turn. So the idea behind Misty is to quickly power up a single water-type Pokemon so it can use an Energy-intensive attack right away, rather than having to wait two, three, four, or more turns to blast away.

Unfortunately, Misty’s efficacy depends entirely on coin flips, meaning she can either be completely useless (if you flip tails right away) or so overpowered as to be ridiculous (if you flip more heads than you need). So of course, people who are using Misty in their decks are complaining about constantly flipping tails right away, and people who are facing Misty are posting…well, this:

Konami has revealed the voice actress behind Metal Gear Solid character Eva after keeping it a secret for 20 years, and it is, in fact, Ariel from The Little Mermaid.

Part 3 of the Metal Gear Solid Legacy Series documentary, below, features series star David Hayter speaking with Jodi Benson, the voice of the aforementioned Ariel, Barbie from Toy Story, Thumbelina from Thumbelina, and, as it turns out, Eva from Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater.

Eva, a spy who fought alongside protagonist Naked Snake in the third game and also appeared in Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, was originally listed in the credits with voice actress Suzetta Miñet.

Fans quickly deduced this wasn’t a real name though, and even though those in entertainment often use pseudonyms, Miñet appeared not to be a real person at all. This set Metal Gear Solid fans on the hunt for the true voice actress, with many suspecting Benson, given the similar sound to Ariel, but the mystery has now, finally, been solved.

Benson explained why there was so much secrecy around her work on the military stealth action game. “The various projects that I am affiliated with in my career are sort of family-based, children-based,” she said. “It was actually Kris Zimmerman Salter, our director, she kind of sat down with me and she was like, ‘Maybe we need to change your name.'”

Fans can enjoy hearing Benson’s voice again in the upcoming Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater (officially Metal Gear Solid Δ: Snake Eater), though whether or not she’ll be credited herself or as Miñet remains to be seen.

The Pokémon TCG: Scarlet & Violet—Surging Sparks set is now available for preorder at Amazon, bringing an electrifying twist to the TCG landscape ahead of its November 8 release. This expansion merges the highlights of two upcoming Japanese sets, Supercharged Breaker and Paradise Dragona.

At the center of Surging Sparks is a Terastallized Pikachu ex—a classic Electric-type Pokémon now supercharged to boost any deck. Pikachu is joined by Alolan Exeggutor ex, making a grand return with its Stellar Tera Pokémon ex status. With a mix of high-voltage power and formidable dragons, this set promises to be one of the most dynamic additions to the Scarlet & Violet series.

Pokémon TCG: Surging Sparks Preorders

Surging Sparks Elite Trainer Box

Packed with nine Surging Sparks booster packs, this box is a perfect starting point. The exclusive full-art foil Pikachu ex promo card is a must-have for any Pikachu fan, while the 65-card sleeves featuring Pikachu and other iconic Electric-type Pokémon keep your cards safe and stylish. Complete with energy cards, dice, and markers, this Elite Trainer Box has everything you need to electrify your gameplay.

Surging Sparks Booster Bundle

Surging Sparks Booster Bundle gives trainers a taste of the new set without committing to a full booster box. Containing six booster packs, this bundle is perfect for checking out new cards at a more accessible price point. It’s a great way to experience the mix of Electric and Dragon-themed cards that make Surging Sparks a standout expansion.

Surging Sparks Booster Box

Surging Sparks Booster Box holds 36 booster packs, offering a chance to pull some of the set’s most powerful and sought-after cards. Whether you’re chasing down the Stellar Tera Pikachu ex or looking for a new Dragon-type Pokémon, this Booster Box is where it’s at!

Surging Sparks Sleeved Booster

Surging Sparks Sleeved Booster provides one booster pack encased in a protective sleeve. Although we’d recommend a booster box for trainers looking to complete a master set or increase their chances of finding the best chase cards, Sleeved Boosters have an extra layer of protection that’s a massive win for collectors with grading in mind.

Surging Sparks Triple Blister Pack

Surging Sparks Triple Blister Pack combines value and variety with the bonus of an exclusive promo card and a collectible coin. Like the sleeved boosters, these boosters are well protected, and make sure those pulls are in the best shape possible!

We’re looking for the best Pokédeals daily, so don’t forget to stop by our Pokémon TCG and Pokémon Merch pages for the best deals! We’ve also recently previewed the upcoming Stellar Crown sets, and the pull rates are fantastic.

Christian Wait is a UK-based freelancer for IGN, you can follow him @ChrisReggieWait on Twitter/X.