Hades 2’s Unseen Update Patch 10 Will ‘Likely’ Be Its Last Before v1.0 Launch, ‘Whenever That Will Be’

Hades 2‘s next patch could be its last before the game emerges from its early access cocoon.

As spotted by RPS, the roguelike action RPG’s latest patch — the Unseen Update — introduces a “number of adjustments to some of the latest additions,” but developer Supergiant did tease that this will “likely be [its] final patch before the v1.0 launch”… “whenever that will be.”

The team said it will continue to monitor your feedback in the meantime.

The full patch notes are included below, although please note we’ve removed any notes including spoiler tags, so you’ll have to head on over to Steam to read those. Anything in bold has been inspired directly “by community feedback.”

Hades 2 Unseen Update Patch 10 patch notes:

General Gameplay

  • Reduced further cases of successive attacks causing you to become ‘stun-locked’
  • Whenever you take damage to Armor, it will reduce any temporary Armor you have from sources such as Security System (Hephaestus), prior to reducing the more-permanent kind

Nocturnal Arms & Abilities

  • Sister Blades: Omega Attack can no longer be interrupted by foes
  • Umbral Flames: reduced orbit speed of Omega Special projectiles, but increased their damage
  • Argent Skull: Omega Special wave projectiles no longer stagger foes
  • Black Coat: increased speed of Attack sequence and damage of first strike; slightly increased Omega Attack channel speed, and it can block more types of incoming area-effect damage; increased Special accuracy

Aspects of the Nocturnal Arms

  • Witch’s Staff (Melinoë): reduced bonus to Magick and Power
  • Witch’s Staff (Momus): slightly increased how long it takes your serpents to fire successive Omega Moves

Oath of the Unseen

  • Vow of Frenzy: now also makes foes enter the battle faster; reduced effect on Vow of Rivals moves
  • Vow of Scars: fixed several cases where this was not reducing Life recovery as expected

Boons & Blessings

  • Steady Growth (Demeter): now will only Rarify itself if you have no other eligible Boons
  • Hestia: Scorch Curse can no longer deal Critical damage or similar, nor is affected by Air Quality (Zeus)
  • Flame Strike (Hestia): slightly reduced Scorch damage
  • Flame Flourish (Hestia): slightly reduced Scorch damage
  • Success Rate (Hermes): no longer affects the passive effect of Raki
  • Incandescent Aura (Hera x Hestia): reworked — now deals damage to all Hitch-afflicted foes when you restore Magick
  • Natural Selection (Poseidon x Demeter): reworked — now distributes bonus Lv. to your primary Boons
  • Scalding Vapor (Poseidon x Hestia): no longer can activate the Froth Curse
  • Gigaros Dash (Hades): reduced damage; fixed Scorn amplifying damage other than Attack and Special
  • Unseen Ire (Hades): fixed an issue causing the effect duration to last longer than stated
  • Crimson Dress (Arachne): fixed an issue causing this to give a high damage bonus right away; increased bonus per Encounter

Daedalus Hammer Upgrades

  • Boosted Ignition (Skull): no longer offered while using
  • Looming Ignition (Skull): fixed an issue causing this to give its full damage bonus immediately rather than over the duration as described

Hexes & Path of Stars

  • 📢 Adjusted Path of Stars layouts to make room especially for Godsent upgrades
  • Adjusted when Godsent upgrades are offered during the story for the first time, now later than before
  • Twilight Curse: this and other Morph effects now block any on-death attacks when afflicted foes are slain, with the exception of Inferno-Bombs
  • Prize of Poseidon (Moon Water): cut from game; replaced with…
  • Pride of Poseidon (Moon Water): new! Godsent upgrade gradually restores Life and Magick over time
  • Zenith (Sky Fall): cut from game; replaced with Ambition, which deals bonus damage to Guardians
  • Lineage: new! Your Hex can be Godsent one more time when used in Guardian Encounters

Keepsakes

  • Discordant Bell: effect now persists for the night even after you switch Keepsakes

Resources & Reagents

  • Reduced chance of never finding the resource type aligned with your Animal Familiar in shorter regions

Shrine of Hermes

  • Fresh Sustenance MAX: reduced Life recovery

Art & Visual FX

  • Added alternate textures when using upgraded Tools of the Unseen
  • Updated visual FX when Crescent Pick Outcroppings are depleted
  • Added visual indicator in Boon Info for when Arcana are disabled due to Barren (Chaos)

Miscellaneous

  • Melinoë now can greet Frinos while he is in the Training Grounds, as with the other Animal Familiars
  • Gameplay Timer now also pauses automatically when interacting with the Path of Stars
  • Heracles no longer sometimes ominously just stands around after his Encounters
  • Updated presentation for Icarus fly-by attacks
  • Improved feedback on Life and Magick gauges after swapping Keepsakes that modify your totals
  • Improved feedback spending resources in the Altar of Ashes, Silver Pool, and Music Maker screens
  • Improved contextual feedback on various Boons when affected by Vow of Scars
  • Damage from Specials and Omega Specials is now separated for some weapons on the Victory Screen
  • Reduced cluttered damage numbers using Argent Skull (Medea)
  • Added letterbox to the game intro in some aspect ratios
  • Updates and fixes to translations in some languages

Bug Fixes

  • Fixed an issue where Melinoë could suddenly take 500 damage using Eruption (Path of Stars) and Night Bloom (Selene) to raise a Tempus in the battle against Chronos…
  • Fixed a number of story events that were never playing
  • Fixed a number of contextual voice lines that were never playing
  • Fixed cases where you would sometimes Dash-Strike unexpectedly using the Moonstone Axe
  • Fixed some interactions between and Psychic Whirlwind (Daedalus)
  • Fixed Black Coat not interacting with some abilities that improved Channeling speed
  • Fixed visual issues where strikes with Hidden Aspects sometimes appeared to be interrupted by foes
  • Fixed Wounds from Ares sometimes causing on-hit slowdowns too frequently
  • Fixed Sea Star (Poseidon) sometimes doubling items created by Gold Gold Gold (Echo)
  • Fixed Personal Loan (Dionysus) giving you nothing back if it got Rarified
  • Fixed Heracles sometimes turning invisible while attacking
  • Fixed cases where Athena could unexpectedly appear more than once per night
  • Fixed cases where using Cast to interrupt Attacks or Specials would pause animations longer than expected
  • Fixed Past Deeds screen not showing more than 36 Boons if you had that many
  • Fixed Satyr Supplicant Life Bars persisting after they were slain
  • Fixed Ares Plasma UI indicator sometimes disappearing unexpectedly
  • Fixed several text errors
  • Other minor fixes

Hades 2 is the sequel to Supergiant’s hit game, mixing engaging storytelling and roguelite action elements for an engaging dungeon-crawling experience. We thought Hades 2 was ‘Amazing’ when it released in May 2024, slapping it with a 9 in our early access review, writing: “Even in its Early Access state, Hades 2 is just about everything one could ask for in a sequel to one of the best roguelites of all time. Featuring excellent refinements to its roguelite progression, a fantastic new main character in Melinoe, and two unique sets of levels that have you fighting foes on the surface and in the underworld.”

ICYMI, yes, Hades 2 is coming to Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 as a timed console exclusive.

Vikki Blake is a reporter for IGN, as well as a critic, columnist, and consultant with 15+ years experience working with some of the world’s biggest gaming sites and publications. She’s also a Guardian, Spartan, Silent Hillian, Legend, and perpetually High Chaos. Find her at BlueSky.

Roblox #BoycottTheHatch Controversy Explained

Roblox brought in 1,000 developers to participate in The Hatch, an event the Lego-like game platform says will go down as its biggest Easter Egg hunt ever. While the official experience is propped up as an important moment, thousands of players have already voiced their support for a boycott by using the #BoycottTheHatch across social media.

The Hatch went live earlier today, cracking open its doors for players across the platform to enjoy the work put in by an army of Roblox developers. It’s entirely free-to-play and will no doubt attract millions of players who have been looking forward to the company’s latest Easter Egg hunt experience for the last month. What should be an exciting moment for the community has turned into a controversial stain as players and developers alike band together to opt out of The Hatch in favor of a movement that aims to make the platform safer for all ages forever.

Communication from Roblox Corporation has done little to ward off concerns that the gaming giant is failing to protect users from inappropriate content. Though much of the firestorm that’s taken hold of the conversation has subsided, many fear issues surrounding The Hatch are only a symptom of larger issues yet. Community organization opposed to The Hatch could be the start of what players hope will be meaningful change, but they’ve got a long way to go.

What Is The Hatch?

Prominently featured atop the Roblox home page, The Hatch is an Easter Egg hunt-themed umbrella event that runs from July 2–12 and incorporates a variety of Roblox experiences. Joining the event teleports players to an island realm, which itself serves as an in-between area to hang out in before traveling to a more fleshed-out hub world. In this vacation paradise, users can take in the sights across different colorful biomes while completing quests, challenging others for higher leaderboard spots, and purchasing cosmetic items. It all revolves around one goal: collect as many eggs as possible.

Each painted collectible isn’t found in The Hatch itself, though. Instead, players use the official Roblox hub world to transport themselves to other user-created Roblox experiences via portals placed around the map. Each portal features around 40 games that range from Squid Game obstacle courses to anime-inspired fighting simulators. These are where the eggs can be found, and while they’re often not particularly well hidden, The Hatch and Easter Egg hunts in general have proven to be enticing events that get Roblox players engaged with experiences they know and some they don’t.

Hundreds of Roblox games are included in The Hatch, cementing the event as a crucial limited-time mode with official backing from Roblox Corporation. The Hatch’s page had more than 46 million visits at the time of this piece’s publication. It also describes an experience that is “suitable for everyone.”

Roblox Players Take Action Against a Controversial Creator

Roblox pulled back the curtain on The Hatch June 12, marking a return to beloved Easter Egg hunting festivities with more to do and more polish than ever. It was an exciting moment marred by controversy when players caught wind that infamous (and verified) Roblox developer TheOfficiaITeddy had been invited to include his creations.

Roblox is a free-to-play platform that is no doubt used by countless children every day, yet, nearly 20 years into its lifespan, Roblox Corporation still finds itself facing accusations that it’s cultivated a dangerous environment for younger players. TheOfficiaITeddy is one developer at the center of the conversation surrounding these topics thanks to his involvement in what many call “condo” games. These social experiences allow players to mingle with one another, but it’s the allegations that Teddy’s condo experiences have featured romantic, dating, and even sex-themed content that have the community ready to take action.

This person has gained HUNDREDS of MILLIONS of visits on games that can only be described as s*x games.

“This person has gained HUNDREDS of MILLIONS of visits on games that can only be described as s*x games,” one popular post from X/Twitter user @RoCatchers said. “These games feature inappropriate animations disguised as innocent stuff, and people within the games use it for lewd acts. These games also feature private ‘motel rooms’ that you can lock allowing people to be 1 on 1. These games are often a target for predators.”

The creator, whose seemingly harmless light-blue teddy bear avatar has filled social media feeds, is responsible for publishing popular titles like Boys and Girls Club Hangout Roleplay and CNP and Slender Hangout, both of which have since been removed from Roblox’s list of publicly available experiences. Suggestive content is believed to be the cause behind previous bans and content takedowns from Roblox Corporation, but despite numerous reports of action taken against TheOfficiaITeddy in the past, players found that the creator has managed to find his way back to the Roblox spotlight on more than one occasion.

While most Roblox developers invited to participate in The Hatch include names behind popular obstacle courses and action-focused experiences, TheOfficiaITeddy stood out to many as a concerning outlier who has been repeatedly accused of harming the safety of users on the platform. Roblox’s confirmation that Teddy was, along with many others, invited to be officially involved in The Hatch only added fuel to the fire, with his official backing now sitting at the forefront of the issues the #BoycottTheHatch movement seeks to resolve.

What Is #BoycottTheHatch?

The #BoycottTheHatch movement’s sails first caught wind with posts from X users like @RoCatchers and @greenlegocats in mid-June. The goal was clear: spread awareness. Posts covering the topic quickly gained thousands of likes on X alone as users called not only for Teddy’s invitation to be rescinded but for the controversial creator to be banned altogether.

What was a simmer quickly evolved into a full-on boil as Roblox developers involved in The Hatch began to pull out from the event. Popular creations like DOORS, Pressure, Piggy, untitled tag game, LOCOfficial, and many more stepped away not only due to the issues surrounding TheOfficiaITeddy but because of issues regarding how The Hatch has been handled thus far. These include general quality concerns as well as other points of contention such as fears some The Hatch promotional images were generated by artificial intelligence and a concern regarding how developers were selected for participation.

A few days removed from the boycott’s emergence (and weeks before The Hatch would kick off), Roblox addressed the Teddy situation.

“The safety and well-being of the Roblox community is our top priority,” Roblox said. “On top of our community standards, we have additional guidelines to qualify to participate in platform events. TheOfficiaITeddy should not have been invited; we have rescinded their invitation to The Hatch and have taken appropriate action in accordance with our policies. Our team is thoroughly re-examining the invitation list against our community standards and are re-evaluating these processes to ensure an additional level of vetting for our invitees going forward.”

Piggy developer MiniToon was one of the first to respond to Roblox Corporation’s message, explaining that while the sentiment was appreciated, it remained worried that the moderation team would not thoroughly address the situation. It added in a post: “I don’t want to have to make these tweets, but it feels like we are just being seen and not heard, witnessed and not understood.”

As the #BoycottTheHatch hashtag continued to fill feeds in the weeks that followed, Roblox finally returned with a lengthy statement June 30, two days before The Hatch would begin. The company explained that, during its absence, it conducted an investigation into Teddy that involved an attempt to alter experiences that complied with its Community Standards. Although these standards were eventually met, Roblox said it was able to confirm “a separate outstanding policy violation that cannot be rectified.” Teddy and all of his creations have since been removed from the platform.

“At Roblox, safety is foundational to everything we do — that’s why we take reports of harmful content or behavior seriously, and we investigate them thoroughly,” Roblox said. “It can take time to investigate properly, and we’re always working to make this process more efficient while maintaining our high standards for fairness.”

There’s been no word regarding how the #BoycottTheHatch movement may pivott to address other common complains, but Teddy’s removal stands as a major moment for the movement. For now, the event is scheduled to run for another nine days.

Roblox The Hatch launched July 2 and, at the time of this piece’s publication, sports more than 40K likes and more than 97K dislikes. As players continue to shape their experiences in the coming days, you can read up on Grow a Garden, which has catapulted itself past multiple concurrent player records in its journey to become one of the most popular games of all time.

Michael Cripe is a freelance contributor with IGN. He’s best known for his work at sites like The Pitch, The Escapist, and OnlySP. Be sure to give him a follow on Bluesky (@mikecripe.bsky.social) and Twitter (@MikeCripe).

New Battlefield Leak Reveals (Extremely Brief) Look at the Start of a Battle Royale Match, as EA Issues Takedowns

Despite the non-disclosure agreements, Battlefield leaks are still coming fast and freely via its closed playtest. The most recent leak has revealed a peek at the upcoming shooter’s free-to-play battle royale mode.

Battlefield dataminer Temporyal (via Insider Gaming), took to social media to share more unannounced details, including evidence that the map is set in California, insertion is via a CH-47 Chinook, and the “destructive ring [is] made of a compound called NXC.” We’re not yet clear on the lore behind why it’s there yet, though.

The info comes attached to a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it seven-second introductory cutscene that seems to show a squadron of helicopters heading towards a battle zone in a way that’ll look familiar to anyone who’s spent time with Call of Duty battle royale Warzone.

The Battlefield playtest has proven to be leaky indeed, and developer DICE has “loads of feedback from the very active testers selected.” Unlike Battlefield 2042’s lukewarm reception, fans seem pretty pleased with what they’ve seen so far, and for some time EA wasn’t even trying to take them down. That’s changed somewhat since, however, although there’s still plenty of information around if you’re quick enough to catch it before the takedown notices go out.

So far, we’ve seen evidence of a new drag mechanic and the ability to cling on to vehicles, as well as improved in-game movement, 3D maps, and improved destruction.

EA has been playing its cards pretty close to its chest about the new Battlefield, and we still don’t know when, exactly, it will launch. But EA’s last financial report suggested it’ll come out by the end of March 2026.

Vikki Blake is a reporter for IGN, as well as a critic, columnist, and consultant with 15+ years experience working with some of the world’s biggest gaming sites and publications. She’s also a Guardian, Spartan, Silent Hillian, Legend, and perpetually High Chaos. Find her at BlueSky.

MindsEye Dev’s UK Workforce of Around 300 Receive At-Risk Emails as Former GTA Lead Leslie Benzies Finally Addresses Staff

Build A Rocket Boy, the Edinburgh, Scotland-based developer of MindsEye, has issued at-risk emails to its around 300-strong UK workforce following the disastrous launch of the game.

Sources familiar with the goings on inside the embattled studio told IGN at-risk emails were also sent to staff at PlayFusion, which BARB acquired late 2024. PlayFusion, whose CEO Mark Gerhard became co-CEO of BARB as part of the buyout, is working on a different game — a fast-paced FPS called Ascendant which was meant to come out this year.

Last month, IGN reported that BARB had begun a redundancy process following the release of MindsEye. The standard 45-day consultation process kicked off on June 23, which according to UK law is triggered when an employer proposes 100 or more redundancies within a 90-day period. IGN understands Build A Rocket Boy currently has around 300 UK employees, with 200 abroad.

At the time, BARB issued a statement confirming the redundancy process, insisting the cuts will let the studio “focus on delivering ongoing updates and performance optimization for MindsEye, while also ensuring the long-term success of Build A Rocket Boy’s future ambitions.”

Soon after MindsEye launched, BARB said it was “heartbroken” over the issues players had faced with the game, and promised to release a series of patches to fix the significant performance problems, glitches, and AI behavior bugs. Rollout of these patches has begun.

All the while, MindsEye’s troubled launch saw the developer cancel sponsored streams, with reports of players securing refunds, even from the normally stubborn Sony, surfacing online.

On Steam, which does not paint the whole picture of MindsEye’s current popularity, the game hit a peak concurrent player count of 3,302 on launch, but had a 24-hour peak of just 46 players. At the time of this article’s publication, 26 people were playing on Steam, where MindsEye has a ‘mostly negative’ user review rating.

Story-driven action adventure game MindsEye was initially designed to be a part of Everywhere, the ‘Roblox for adults’ creation platform led by former Grand Theft Auto design chief Leslie Benzies. BARB eventually switched to focus on MindsEye, but it has so-far failed to do the business for the company.

Meanwhile, BARB sources told IGN that Benzies finally addressed staff following the release of MindsEye in a brief video call yesterday, July 2. According to two people present who asked not to be named in order to protect their careers, Benzies insisted BARB would bounce back and relaunch MindsEye, blaming the studio and the game’s struggles on internal and external saboteurs, among other things.

The comments rekindle memories of those issued by Mark Gerhard ahead of the release of MindsEye. The co-CEO hit the headlines for claiming there was a “concerted effort” by some to “trash the game and the studio,” suggesting people were being paid or using spam bots to post negative comments. The boss of publisher IO Interactive, which makes the Hitman games, subsequently issued a denial.

BARB sources told IGN that internally, there is a desire for a MindsEye redemption arc that would eventually see it become successful for the studio. But as staff face an anxious wait to discover their fate, there are serious questions over whether BARB will be able to fulfill its post-launch roadmap for content, including the promised multiplayer mode, on time.

Earlier this week, BARB released MindsEye’s third post-release update on console, with a PC release to follow. “We’ve watched hundreds of hours of gameplay footage and reviewed player feedback across multiple channels to prioritize the most pressing issues and improve the experience for all our console players,” the studio said.

Wesley is Director, News at IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.

Sony-Published Helldivers 2 Gets Shock Release Date on Xbox Series X and S

Helldivers 2 is coming to Xbox Series X and S next month in a shock announcement that sees Sony publish a game on PlayStation’s rival consoles.

Arrowhead’s explosive co-op third-person shooter launches on Xbox on August 26, 2025, a livestream confirmed.

Developing…

Wesley is Director, News at IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.

Blizzard Says Warcraft Rumble Won’t Get Any New Content as Microsoft Layoffs Hit Development Team

As the full effect of Microsoft’s devastating round of layoffs becomes clearer, Blizzard has announced that mobile game Warcraft Rumble won’t get any new content, with its developers reporting they have been laid off.

Warcraft Rumble was a high-profile attempt by Blizzard to bring the Warcraft universe into the lucrative mobile space. Development began in 2016, with the game itself releasing in 2023 as a free-to-play tower defense RTS inspired by the likes of Clash of Clans. The PC version launched late last year.

In a blog post, Blizzard admitted Warcraft Rumble “struggled to find its footing relative to our ambition for its long-term success,” and that recent attempts to improve the popularity of the game weren’t enough to sustain development.

The news comes as part of a bloodbath at Microsoft that saw 4%, or just over 9,000 staff, cut from the company. While the majority of those layoffs were outside the gaming business, Xbox studios were hit hard. Rare’s Everwild, for example, was canceled, as was the Perfect Dark reboot. The Initiative was closed.

Elsewhere, Candy Crush maker King suffered significant layoffs, as did Bethesda’s European operations. An unannounced MMO from The Elder Scrolls Online developer, ZeniMax Online Studios, was canceled and its development team cut. Reports indicate Forza developer Turn 10 and various Call of Duty development studios suffered layoffs, too. Microsoft was forced to deny rumors that under fire Xbox boss Phil Spencer is set to retire after the release of the next-gen Xbox.

Alex Apple, client engineer at Blizzard, took to LinkedIn to say they had been laid off “along with the entire Warcraft Rumble team.” Other developers on the game reported similar.

In its blog post, Blizzard said Warcraft Rumble will remain playable but will only receive updates focused on regular, systemic in-game events and bug fixes.

Dear Warcraft Rumble Community,  

We have an important update on the future of Warcraft Rumble. After much deliberation, we’ve arrived at an extremely hard decision. Moving forward, we’ll continue supporting Rumble with updates focused on regular, systemic in-game events and bug fixes, but no new content.  

Warcraft Rumble began development nine years ago as a love letter to Azeroth and launched back in 2023, reflecting input from enthusiastic players around the globe and the effort of a passionate team — some of whom continue to support Rumble or other Blizzard games, and some we’ve had to sadly part ways with. Since launch, Rumble has struggled to find its footing relative to our ambition for its long-term success, and for some time now the team has been listening to player feedback, refocusing in certain areas, and exploring different options. Some of that work showed signs of progress, but ultimately wasn’t enough to put the game on a path to sustainability.  

During this transition, we are focused on supporting our teammates. We’re deeply grateful to everyone at Blizzard and in the community for helping bring Warcraft Rumble to life and embracing the joy that makes this game so special. Your enthusiasm and feedback mean the world to us.

Fans of the game reacted with disappointment to the news, but there is little surprise given how the game has gone over the last two years. Most players are now waving goodbye to Warcraft Rumble and its community, while sending messages of support to the affected developers.

Wesley is Director, News at IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.

Ready or Not Dev Releases Before-and-After Screenshots as It Battles Against ‘Censorship’ Backlash and Steam Review-Bomb Campaign

VOID Interactive has responded to player backlash after it made changes to the PC version of its controversial shooter Ready or Not in order to secure a console release, citing “misconceptions and misinformation” about the amendments.

Yesterday, July 2, we reported that VOID said it had to adjust levels of gore, nudity, violence, and the “mistreatment of children” ahead of the July 15 console release, and rather than “maintaining multiple versions with different assets and mechanics” that would “increase the likelihood of bugs,” some aspects of the PC version have also been revised.

At the time, VOID insisted the changes were “small enough that most people here wouldn’t notice if we didn’t say anything,” but it “wanted to be transparent” with its players. The news has caused Ready or Not’s Steam user review rating to hit “mostly negative” for recent reviews, although overall the review rating remains “very positive.” Most of the negative reviews complain about “censorship.”

Now, in a new statement, VOID set out “full visibility” into what has, and has not, changed, including before-and-after screenshots. It insisted “the effects of gore and violence have not been toned down.”

“We recently shared that Ready or Not’s PC version underwent minor content changes to support stability and align with policies enforced by global platforms and age rating bodies,” the statement began. “These adjustments were made to ensure a smooth global launch across platforms — while fully preserving the game’s tone, themes, and intensity.

“Unfortunately, we’ve seen misconceptions and misinformation circulating around the scope of these changes. We want to ensure our entire community has full visibility into what has — and has not — changed. We’re including before-and-after visuals to show that the game’s tone, atmosphere, and graphical impact remain intact. The effects of gore and violence — key to the game’s immersive realism — have not been toned down.”

VOID stressed that missions such as Elephant, Neon Tomb, and the infamous Valley of the Dolls “remain unchanged,” adding it has “always believed in creative freedom and the right to build experiences that push boundaries in the service of immersion and realism. That will not change.”

“At the same time, we operate in a global ecosystem of platform standards, age rating boards, and local legal restrictions,” the studio added. “While we may disagree with how some content is treated, we’ve only made changes where absolutely required, and only to the letter of the regulations — no further. As a hyper-realistic tactical FPS, Ready or Not faces different scrutiny than more stylized or fictional games. That’s a reality of the world we publish in — not a change in our creative vision or values.”

Warning! Potentially distrubing images of Ready or Not follow:

The team then outlined specifically what the “six targeted visual changes” entailed:

  • Twisted Nerve: The girl is now depicted as sleeping instead of convulsing
  • A Lethal Obsession: Nudity involving the ghillie suit suspect has been adjusted
  • Hide and Seek: Female hostages now wear underwear
  • Narcos: Police informant hostage now wears underwear
  • 23 Megabytes a Second: ‘Photo of Minors’ objective model was revised, also to better connect narratively with the later ‘Sinuous Trail’ mission
  • Post-mortem dismemberment has been disabled (note: dismemberment for living characters remains unchanged).

“It’s not about the specifics, it’s a matter of principle,” wrote one respondent in the comments. “Any amount of censorship is too much.” Another said: “great, so you’re saying you’re hearing us, but refusing to listen.” “Yeah, damaging the vision of the game just because of console port?” added someone else. “Get a grip, at least put a slider in the settings. What is this?”

While most of the 1,200+ comments continue to complain about censorship, not all players are aggrieved: “Honestly, not that big of a deal as long as overall map atmosphere stays good,” said another.

VOID Interactive parted ways with publisher Team17 one day after the developer shared it would have a school shooting level. Ready or Not was briefly hauled offline in 2022 after a takedown request was issued due to a trademark dispute. The issue related to a level that depicted a mass shooting at a nightclub called Prysm, which was released on the anniversary of the Pulse nightclub shooting.

Vikki Blake is a reporter for IGN, as well as a critic, columnist, and consultant with 15+ years experience working with some of the world’s biggest gaming sites and publications. She’s also a Guardian, Spartan, Silent Hillian, Legend, and perpetually High Chaos. Find her at BlueSky.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 Hotfix 8.1 Addresses Crashes, Disconnects, and Rewards Problems in Response to Siege Mode Complaints

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 got its hotly anticipated Siege Mode update last week, and while fans are enjoying it, crashes and disconnects have marred the experience.

Siege Mode is Space Marine 2’s take on the classic video game Horde mode. It sees teams of three players fight against increasingly difficult waves of Tyranid and Chaos enemies for exclusive rewards.

Players have responded to Siege Mode and its accompanying Patch 8 well, and Space Marine 2 has seen a surge of players on Steam at least, where player data is public. But connection problems are on occasion ruining the experience, especially when they arrive deep into the waves.

Just yesterday, July 2, the complaints were continuing. “I feel incredibly f***ed,” said an exasperated Justusowesme on the Space Marine subreddit.

“I just spent almost three hours in a Siege round. FINALLY got some good brothers who know what they are doing. Most epic experience I had in a long time. So looking forward to the rewards and feeling of accomplished, finally beating it. BUT NO MID FIGHT LAST ROUND BEFORE EVAC THE SERVERS JUST GIVE UP. NO MONEY, NO EXP, NO SKINS AND NOT EVEN AN SATISFYING END TO THE GLORIOUS FIGHT THAT ME AND MY BROTHERS HAD. I had fun, yes but essentially I just got robbed almost three hours of progress. That feels so incredibly insulting, I can’t man…

“Please anybody in charge I know you’re working already on it, with great haste too probably… BUT STILL, BY THE EMPEROR, WHAT THE WARP.”

In response, Space Marine 2 developer Saber Interactive and publisher Focus Entertainment have released the 8.1 hotfix, which is now live on every platform. It fixes various crashes and connectivity issues, as well as a bug preventing the reward for completing 25 waves in Siege Mode to unlock.

The hope is this hotfix stamps out the Siege Mode problems reported by the likes of poor old Justusowesme like a Space Marine stomping on the head of a xenos, but it’s early days yet.

Looking ahead, there’s a lot of exciting content coming to Space Marine 2. While Patch 9 will focus on balance changes only, Patch 10 adds a new Chaos vs Chaos PvP mode, the new Power Axe melee weapon, and the new Techmarine class. Check out all the Space Marine 2 Patch 10 details here.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 8.1 hotfix patch notes:

  • Fixed several crashes
  • Fixed several issues causing disconnects
  • Fixed Siege Mode rewards from wave 25+
  • Lots of small fixes to Siege Mode map geometry
  • Fixed bug that was causing random enemies to get stronger much faster in infinite waves, causing one shot deaths randomly (Note: enemies are still going to get stronger but it will be not random and more consistent)
  • Fixed a bug in Siege Mode that occurred when a player would join a game in progress, the game would not apply difficulty modifiers correctly.
  • Fixed a bug in UI that was causing inability to change colour presets
  • Minor localization fixes

Wesley is Director, News at IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.

I’ve Found Every New Switch 2 Game You Can Buy in July 2025

It’s a brand new month for Nintendo Switch 2 owners, and the first of many where we’ll be breaking down what’s hitting Nintendo’s powerful new hybrid system.

June, quite unsurprisingly, set a high bar, launching the console itself, selling out almost instantly, and delivering a flood of third-party releases, Switch 2 Editions of hits like Tears of the Kingdom, and even a brand-new Mario Kart.

But July isn’t slowing down. From major first-party launches to more surprises, it’s already shaping up to be another strong month for early adopters.

Switch 2 Games in July 2025 – At a Glance

  • Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 Remastered – July 11
  • Donkey Kong Bananza – July 17
  • Super Mario Party Jamboree + Jamboree TV (Switch 2 Edition) – July 24
  • No Sleep for Kaname Date – AI: Escape Code – July 25
  • Wild Hearts S – July 25

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3+4: July 11, 2025

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3+4 is coming to Nintendo Switch 2 on July 11, and is one of the first new major third party releases for the new console. It’s not just Nintendo exclusives anymore, folks.

In our recent preview of the game, IGN’s Nick Maillet had this to say: “In a time where it seems like every game from the early 2000’s is getting a modern facelift, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 is shaping up to be a welcome addition to a year full of excellent remakes and remasters.”

“From its faithful recreation of what made the PS2-era classics so memorable, to its modern quality of life improvements, excellent soundtrack, and overall love letter to the series early days, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 is very much something that should be on your radar if you’re a fan of skateboarding, enjoy action sports games, or just want to play something that’s simple and fun. It might be the easiest kickflip you’ll land this year.”

Pro Skater 3+4 is up for preorder right now, and costs just $49.99 on Switch 2.

Donkey Kong Bananza: July 17, 2025

Donkey Kong Bananza finally swings onto Switch 2 on July 17, marking the first all-new 3D Donkey Kong game since 1999’s Donkey Kong 64.

Nintendo has now confirmed it’s developed by the Super Mario Odyssey team, and that polish shows in everything from the destructible environments to the game’s momentum-driven platforming.

This time around, DK and Pauline team up to run, climb, roll, and, most importantly, dig through a world that’s practically begging to be smashed apart.

The new digging mechanic lets Donkey Kong burrow into the ground or tunnel through cliff faces, uncovering hidden treasure like Banandium Gems and gold, or surf on chunks of debris.

It’s chaotic, tactile, and packed with secrets. For more on how it plays, check out our final Donkey Kong Bananza hands-on preview before release.

Nintendo is also releasing a new Donkey Kong and Pauline amiibo on the same day. Scanning it in-game unlocks Pauline’s Diva Dress early and boosts your chances of finding discs, collectibles that let you replay individual tracks in the game’s music player.

Shadow Labyrinth: July 18, 2025

In case you’ve got a hankering for some kind of twisted Pan-Man Metroidvania, Shadow Labyrinth could be great option to play on the go on the Switch 2, starting on July 18. It’ll run at 4K 60 FPS with a free Switch 2 Edition download from day one of release.

IGN’s Andrew McMahon recently got to play Shadow Labyrinth at PAX East, and had this to say: “Whether it is the fluidity of Puck’s grappling hook and wall traversal combined with Swordsman No.”

“8’s raw power and durability, or the fact that Pac-Man can turn into a mech that shoots lasers out of its mouth, everything about this Metroidvania is absurdly fun. The game features something for everyone here, as the platforming, combat, and puzzles each stand out on their own as enjoyable experiences.”

“I implore you to suspend your disbelief about how this bizarre concept can even work, and at least give Shadow Labyrinth a try when it is released, as this insane creative bet by Bandai looks like it might actually pay off.”

Super Mario Party Jamboree – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Jamboree TV: July 24, 2025

Super Mario Party Jamboree – Switch 2 Edition + Jamboree TV drops exclusively on Nintendo Switch 2 on July 24. This expanded version includes everything from the original Super Mario Party Jamboree on Switch, plus the brand-new Jamboree TV expansion, a flashy game show mode hosted by Toad that leans even harder into chaotic party-game energy.

This is also another example of Nintendo’s new pricing strategy for Switch 2. While most first-party games on the original Switch launched at $59.99, Switch 2 titles are climbing higher.

Super Mario Party Jamboree – Switch 2 Edition will retail for $79.99, matching the price of Mario Kart World and Tears of the Kingdom – Switch 2 Edition, though not every game is hitting that ceiling.

This version includes the original game, an HD upgrade with smoother performance, and the new expansion content. If you already own Jamboree on the original Switch, you can skip the full re-buy and grab the Switch 2 Edition Upgrade Pack separately for $19.99 via the Nintendo eShop or participating retailers.

No Sleep for Kaname Date – From AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES: July 25, 2025

Step into the mind of Kaname Date, a special agent with an AI partner living in his cybernetic left eye, as you race to uncover the truth behind a missing internet idol.

No Sleep for Kaname Date throws you into a surreal mystery where Iris, a popular streamer, has been trapped inside a bizarre, high-stakes escape game, and the only way to find her is to interrogate suspects, dive into dreams, and decode the secrets buried deep in the subconscious.

Expect psychological twists, dream logic puzzles, and plenty of stylish weirdness when the game launches for Nintendo Switch 2 on July 25.

Wild Hearts S: July 25, 2025

Wild Hearts S is back with a vengeance on Switch 2, bringing its beast-slaying action to a new generation. Set in a fantasy world inspired by feudal Japan, this enhanced edition lets players wield ancient tech to track and take down colossal nature-infused monsters.

Hunt solo or team up with up to three friends in seamless co-op as you craft weapons, build your own hunting grounds, and face off against towering threats in a world where nature fights back—hard. It’s fast, frantic, and completely untamed.

Plenty More New Switch 2 Games Are on the Way

That’s all for July on Nintendo Switch 2. Next up, we can look forward to Madden NFL 25, Drag x Drive, Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar in August, alongside even more big releases later in the year like Borderlands 4 in September, Pokemon Legends: Z-A in October, and hopefully a confirmed release date for Metroid Prime 4: Beyond sooner rather than later.

Robert Anderson is a deals expert and Senior Commerce Editor, for IGN. You can follow him @robertliam21 on Twitter/X or Bluesky.

Unannounced MMO From The Elder Scrolls Online Dev Canceled, Veteran Studio Head Steps Down Amid Microsoft Layoffs

Matt Firor, boss of The Elder Scrolls Online developer ZeniMax Online Studios, has stepped down amid the cancellation of the studio’s unannounced MMO.

Sources close to the project told IGN that this MMO was a brand new IP unrelated to both Fallout and The Elder Scrolls, and that it had a sizeable team behind it. This team is now cut as part of the layoffs hitting Microsoft today.

In a memo to staff verified by IGN, Jill Braff, head of studio for Bethesda and ZeniMax, named Joseph Burba as Firor’s replacement as the new studio director for ZOS.

Dear Team,

Building on Matt’s note below, I first want to take a moment to acknowledge the changes happening today across Microsoft Gaming, including Bethesda/ZeniMax. Saying goodbye to talented colleagues and friends is painful. These individuals have contributed meaningfully to our studios, our games, and our culture. I want to thank them for the contributions they have made that shaped our journey as a team and as a company.

Today is a day to support one another. Please know we are working closely with impacted employees to ensure they are treated with respect and have our full support during these difficult times. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact your manager or HR support team.

I also want to share today that Matt Firor has decided to step down from his role as the head of ZeniMax Online Studios, effective July 14. I want to offer heartfelt thanks to Matt for his incredible leadership of ZOS over the last 18 years. As a driving force behind the success of The Elder Scrolls Online, Matt has grown the game into one of the most enduring and beloved MMOs in the industry.

I’m pleased to announce that Joseph (“Jo”) Burba will be taking over for Matt Firor as the new Studio Director for ZOS. With over 20 years in the industry, his extensive experience in live service multiplayer titles, and a strong background in various roles across ZOS the past thirteen years, Jo is well-prepared to lead the team into its next chapter.

Matt, Jo, and I will work together to finalize our transition plan – more to come soon. In the meantime, please join me in wishing Matt all the best and congratulating Jo on his new role.

Thank you to all of you for your dedication to Bethesda/ZeniMax, our community, and to each other.

Jill

The reference to Matt’s note here is the prior memo Matt Booty, head of Xbox Game Studios, sent to Microsoft gaming staff today confirming the cancelation of Rare’s Everwild and the Perfect Dark reboot, as well as the closure of Xbox studio The Initiative. Booty also mentioned the cancelation of “several unannounced projects” – the ZOS MMO was one of them.

IGN has reviewed Booty’s memo and published it in full, below:

Following Phil’s note, I want to share more about the changes to the Studios business units.
We have made the decision to stop development of Perfect Dark and Everwild as well as wind down several unannounced projects across our portfolio. As part of this, we are closing one of our studios, The Initiative. These decisions, along with other changes across our teams, reflect a broader effort to adjust priorities and focus resources to set up our teams for greater success within a changing industry landscape. We did not make these choices lightly, as each project and team represent years of effort, imagination, and commitment.

Our overall portfolio strategy is unchanged: build games that excite our players, continue to grow our biggest franchises, and create new stories, worlds, and characters. We have more than 40 projects in active development, continued momentum on titles shipping this fall, and a strong slate headed into 2026.

For those directly affected, we are working closely with HR and studio leadership to provide support, including severance, career transition assistance, and where possible, opportunities to explore roles on other teams.

To everyone across our studios: thank you. Your creativity and resilience continue to define who we are. I believe in the strength of our teams and the direction we’re taking on the path ahead.

– Matt

Microsoft has made a huge number of cuts to its gaming business since acquiring Activision Blizzard for $69 billion. It laid off 1,900 staff in January 2024, then made further cuts just a few months later when it closed Redfall developer Arkane Austin and Hi-Fi Rush developer Tango Gameworks. In September 2024, Microsoft cut a further 650 staff from its gaming business. And in May this year, Microsoft cut an eye-watering 6,000 staff, or 3% of its entire workforce. Today’s round of layoffs is the fourth to hit Microsoft’s gaming business in 18 months.

Speaking to IGN in June 2024, Xbox boss Phil Spencer said: “I have to run a sustainable business inside the company and grow, and that means sometimes I have to make hard decisions that frankly are not decisions I love, but decisions that somebody needs to go make.”

The cuts come hot on the heels of Microsoft’s confirmation that it plans to release next-gen Xbox consoles, and has a strong presence at video game show gamescom.

Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images..

Wesley is Director, News at IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.