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The Nintendo Switch Lite Hyrule Edition Is Now Available Exclusively at Best Buy

Apparently it’s not too late for Nintendo to be releasing new Switch editions. The Nintendo Switch Lite: Hyrule Edition has just recently been released with a launch price of $209.99 and you can only get it at Best Buy. That is $10 more than the cost of a standard Switch Lite, justified by the fact that a 12-month Switch Online + Expansion Pack membership – which normally retails for $49 – is bundled with the console.

Nintendo Switch Lite Hyrule Edition (Best Buy Exclusive)

The Switch Lite Hyrule Edition was announced during the June 18 Nintendo Direct alongside the upcoming The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom. We originally saw it available overseas in the UK, but Best Buy has exclusive rights here.

This particular edition is adorned in a gold colorway very similar to the Switch OLED Hyrule Edition. It is a gorgeous metallic finish that looks even better than in the photos. Aside from the tiny Triforce logo, the front of the case is free from any busy embellishments. The rear sports a single large embossed Hyrule Crest. It’s the best-looking Switch Lite so far.

Differences between the Switch Lite, Switch, and Switch OLED

The Switch Lite’s major draw is that it’s $100 less expensive than the Switch and $150 less than the Switch OLED. It’s compatible with most Nintendo Switch games and it runs off the same hardware, so performance is identical.

The three main tradeoffs of the Switch Lite are that: 1) the controllers are not detachable, 2) the console can’t be docked and played on a TV, and 3) the display is smaller (5.5″ vs 6.2″ on Switch and 7″ on Switch OLED).

If you were intending to use the Switch solely as a handheld console, you might be better off just getting the Switch Lite. Even though the controls aren’t detachable, the Switch Lite does support wireless Bluetooth, so you can always purchase another pair of Joy-Cons, a Switch Pro controller, or a compatible third-party wireless Switch controller.

What does the Switch Online membership offer?

For many people, Switch Online is a necessary add-on for a complete Switch experience. You will absolutely need this if you plan on accessing the online portions of your favorite games, like being able to play online against other opponents in Super Smash Bros Ultimate or Splatoon 3, downloading other people’s creations in Minecraft or Super Mario Maker 2, or visiting someone else’s island in Animal Crossing: New Horizons. Other perks include access to the NES, SNES, and Game Boy emulator libraries so you can play classic games like Super Mario Bros. 3, F-Zero, and Donkey Kong Country,exclusive deals and offers at the eShop, cloud saves, access to the mobile app, and more.

You also get the Switch Online Expansion Pack

The Expansion Pack gives you access to more emulator games and free DLCs. Here’s the list:

  • Classic Nintendo 64 games
  • Classic Game Boy Advance games
  • Classic SEGA Genesis games
  • Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Booster Course pass
  • Animal Crossing: New Horizons Happy Home Paradise access
  • Splatoon 2: Octo Expansion access

Eric Song is the IGN commerce manager in charge of finding the best gaming and tech deals every day. When Eric isn’t hunting for deals for other people at work, he’s hunting for deals for himself during his free time.

Starfield: Shattered Space Expansion Global Launch Times Revealed

Bethesda Game Studios has published Shattered Space global launch times for those looking to hop into the first major Starfield expansion on its PC and Xbox Series X | S release date.

The developer clued players into how they can experience the first big DLC drop in a post on its website. It reveals a host of details about what is required to dive into the story content and the new locations it brings with it. Shattered Space will be available on September 30 for $29.99 (or $26.99 with a Game Pass subscription), and you can see its full list of launch times below.

Starfield: Shattered Space global release times for PC and Xbox Series X | S:

  • Los Angeles: 8:00 a.m., September 30
  • Chicago: 10:00 a.m., September 30
  • New York: 11 a.m., September 30
  • Mexico City: 9:00 a.m., September 30
  • São Paulo: 12:00 p.m., September 30
  • London: 4:00 p.m., September 30
  • Paris: 5:00 p.m., September 30
  • Berlin: 5:00 p.m., September 30
  • Riyadh: 6:00 p.m., September 30
  • New Delhi: 8:30 p.m., September 30
  • Hong Kong: 11:00 p.m., September 30
  • Beijing: 11:00 p.m., September 30
  • Tokyo: 12:00 a.m., October 1
  • Sydney: 1 a.m., October 1
  • Auckland 4:00 a.m., October 1

Those who own the Premium or Constellation Editions of Starfield receive Shattered Space at no additional cost. Although the DLC’s starting mission will become available after the base game’s introductory mission, One Small Step, is completed, Bethesda recommends players wait until they reach level 35 “for the best experience.” The developer also boasted about the many changes and tweaks it’s brought to the experience since launch, suggesting that with Shattered Space at the door, there’s never been a better time to jump into Starfield. Some of the additions added since the base game released last year include its Rev-8 vehicle as well as a number of gameplay and visual enhancements.

With that in mind, Bethesda also shared a list of PC requirements for Shattered Space. You can see the developer’s minimum and recommended specs below.

Starfield: Shattered Space minimum PC specs:

  • OS Windows 10 Version 21H1 (10.0.19043)
  • Processor AMD Ryzen 5
  • Memory 16 GB RAM
  • Graphics AMD Radeon RX 5700, NVIDIA GeForce 1070 Ti
  • DirectX Version 12
  • Storage 125GB Available Space
  • Additional Notes SSD Required

Starfield: Shattered Space recommended PC specs:

  • OS Windows 10/11 with updates
  • Processor AMD Ryzen 5 3660X, Intel i5-10600K
  • Memory 16 GB RAM
  • Graphics AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080
  • DirectX Version 12
  • Network Broadband Internet Connection
  • Storage 125GB Available Space
  • Additional Notes SSD Required

Starfield introduced PC and Xbox players to Bethesda’s new space RPG universe last September. Although we felt it had a few issues holding it back from true greatness, we still enjoyed our time with the sci-fi story it told. In our 7/10 review, we said, “Starfield has a lot of forces working against it, but eventually the allure of its expansive roleplaying quests and respectable combat make its gravitational pull difficult to resist.”

Michael Cripe is a freelance contributor with IGN. He started writing in the industry in 2017 and is best known for his work at outlets such as The Pitch, The Escapist, OnlySP, and Gameranx.

Be sure to give him a follow on Twitter @MikeCripe.

Star Wars Outlaws Unveils Roadmap Leading Up to November Steam Release

Ubisoft has unveiled the roadmap of what’s to come over the next couple of months for Star Wars Outlaws, all leading up to its Steam release and first story pack in November.

The roadmap, which you can see below, reveals that the next title update will come on October 3, focused on bug fixes and improvements. Update 3 will follow on October 24, featuring some quality of life improvements.

But the big day will come a month later on November 21. As was confirmed earlier this week, Star Wars Outlaws will release on Steam on that date, which is the same day of the release of its first story pack. We already knew about that, but Ubisoft also revealed that Update 4 will arrive on November 21 too, featuring combat and stealth improvements as well as free additional contracts.

Ubisoft confirmed the details of the upcoming story pack, Star Wars Outlaws: Wild Card, a few days ago. The DLC will “see Kay and Nix infiltrate a high-stakes Sabacc tournament where they will face off against the legendary Lando Calrissian.”

It’s the latest in what’s been something of a news-filled week for Ubisoft. On Wednesday, the publisher admitted that Outlaws had a “softer than expected launch” in a note to investors, but vowed to roll out updates to draw in more players over the holiday season.

“In response to player feedback, Ubisoft’s development teams are currently fully mobilized to swiftly implement a series of updates to polish and improve the player experience in order to engage a large audience during the holiday season to position Star Wars Outlaws as a strong long-term performer,” Ubisoft wrote at the time.

In the same note to investors, Ubisoft also delayed Assassin’s Creed Shadows to February 2025 and revealed that they’d be returning to Day 1 Steam releases with Shadows, seemingly in response to Outlaws’ launch.

We gave Star Wars Outlaws a 7/10 in our review, with Tristan Ogilvie calling it “a fun intergalactic heist adventure with great exploration, but it’s hindered by simple stealth, repetitive combat, and a few too many bugs at launch.”

Alex Stedman is a Senior News Editor with IGN, overseeing entertainment reporting. When she’s not writing or editing, you can find her reading fantasy novels or playing Dungeons & Dragons.

Final Girl Board Game Buying Guide and Expansions

Between its deep thematic experience and variable gameplay, Final Girl is a single-player board game that stands out from other horror board games. The game’s title comes from the trope of the same name, which refers to the last surviving female character in a horror movie – think Jamie Lee Curtis’ Laurie Strode from Halloween or Sigourney Weaver’s Ellen Ripley from Alien.

In a sort of multiversal twist, Final Girl’s numerous expansions each feature different protagonists – all of whom have their own individual abilities – as well as new monsters and locations. Essentially, each expansion serves as its own unique horror game, paying homage to a classic horror film or story; however, the various expansions can be mixed and matched to pit any girl against any monster in any location.

Featured in this article

Don’t get it twisted and think that Final Girl is merely a novel experience for the hardcore horror fanatic. On the contrary, Final Girl is widely regarded as one of the best solo board games that money can buy. Still, with a wealth of options when it comes to expansions, new players might be scratching their heads, wondering where to start. Well, fear not, as this handy guide offers you everything you need to know about the Final Girl Core Box and the series’ various expansions.

Final Girl – Core Box

IMPORTANT: REQUIRES AT LEAST ONE FEATURE FILM BOX TO PLAY

MSRP: $19.99

  • Age: 14+
  • Players: 1
  • Play Time: 20-60 mins

Final Girl is a single-player horror tabletop series in which players take control of one of the titular final girls to fight pop culture-inspired monsters. Each expansion comes with its own set of unique mechanics and quirks, but players are generally exploring spooky locations, drawing various event cards, playing action cards, chucking dice, saving victims, and widdling down the villain’s health.

The first important thing to note about the Core Box is that it is not playable on its own. To borrow a dated but apt metaphor, think of the Final Girl Core Box as a VHS player and the Feature Film boxes (expansions) as playable tapes.

As every Feature Film box requires the Core Box, however, this is still a part of the first purchase any prospective Final Girl player will want to make. Included in the Core Box are the basic rules as well as the general components required to play any game of Final Girl.

Where players choose to go from here is largely up to personal preference, but I won’t leave you in the dark concerning recommended purchases. The remainder of this guide will mainly cover each expansion currently available in the order they were released. Under each expansion, I will discuss the various features as well as weigh out the pros and cons so you can decide which spooky adventure is right for you.

Expansions (Feature Film Boxes)

Final Girl: Happy Trails Horror

MSRP: $19.99 USD

Components (REQUIRES THE CORE BOX)

  • Final Girl: Laurie & Reiko
  • Monster: Hans – The Butcher
  • Location: Camp Happy Trails

Happy Trails Horror is about as good a place to start as any. In fact, the Feature Films box is actually included with the Core Box in a separate Starter Bundle, which is listed for $39.98. However, it should be noted the bundle doesn’t save you any money compared to buying the two products separately, so there’s no financial incentive to opt for this route.

That said, Hans – The Butcher is a straightforward villain, making this an excellent place to start. Later villains can offer much more of a challenge, even for seasoned players, and may prove too frustrating for newcomers. Happy Trails Horror is the perfect entry point if you’re looking for a classic slasher akin to Friday the 13th.

Final Girl: Haunting of Creech Manor

MSRP: $19.99 USD

Components (REQUIRES THE CORE BOX)

  • Final Girl: Alice & Selena
  • Monster: The Poltergeist
  • Location: Creech Manor

Haunting of Creech Manor is one of the more unique experiences in comparison to other Feature Film boxes. First, The Poltergeist differs from other villains in that it cannot be damaged by the player. Rather, to win, the player needs to save a little girl by the name of Carolyn.

Still, while the novelty of Haunting of Creech Manor makes it stand out, difficulty can be a bit of a mixed bag. Winning or losing can feel more like a stroke of luck rather than requiring any actual skill. If the cards and dice don’t turn in your favor, it might feel like winning a round here is nearly impossible.

The change of pace makes this a must-play for experienced Final Girl fans, but it’s perhaps best saved for a later pickup. That way, players can truly appreciate the unique blend of mechanics that Creech Manor brings to the table.

Final Girl: Slaughter in The Groves

MSRP: $19.99 USD

Components (REQUIRES THE CORE BOX)

  • Final Girl: Adelaide & Barbara
  • Monster: Inkanyamba
  • Location: Sacred Groves

Slaughter in the Groves transports players to Africa for a sight-seeing trip gone wrong where a masked killer is looking for revenge on behalf of their gods. Overall, it is an interesting idea, but it’s one accompanied by a high level of difficulty. Both the villain and the map present a wealth of challenges that can quickly result in frustration, even for veteran players.

Due to its sheer difficulty, Slaughter in the Groves should probably be a later pickup for most fans. However, those who are particularly gluttons for punishment may want to consider moving Inkanyamba and the Sacred Groves up their wish list.

Final Girl: Carnage at the Carnival

MSRP: $19.99 USD

Components (REQUIRES THE CORE BOX)

  • Final Girl: Asami & Charlie
  • Monster: Geppetto – The Puppet Master
  • Location: Carnival of Blood

Perhaps the biggest gripe fans of the series have against Final Girl is that it can sometimes feel a bit swingy. In other words, it may not matter how adept your Final Girl skills are; a couple of bad draws can lose you the game rather quickly. Unfortunately, that con is highlighted in Carnage at the Carnival.

The Carnival of Blood map contains numerous traps that make investigating treacherous. These traps can have damaging effects that make it nearly impossible for players to win the round if encountered at inopportune moments. Carnage at the Carnival mitigates this somewhat by making Asami, one of the included final girls, immune to traps, but that kind of defeats the point of the mechanic altogether.

That said, Gepetto – The Puppet Master, is an interesting villain in the franchise as he contains various puppet minions. Most of the villains in Final Girl fight alone, so this departure makes for an interesting twist. Due to the difficulty of the map, Carnage at the Carnival isn’t an ideal starting point, but Gepetto certainly makes this an intriguing selection for experienced players.

Final Girl: Frightmare on Maple Lane

MSRP: $19.99 USD

Components (REQUIRES THE CORE BOX)

  • Final Girl: Nacy & Sheila
  • Monster: Dr. Fright
  • Location: Maple Lane

Both the Maple Lane location and Dr. Fright offer straightforward, albeit memorable, experiences that make this Feature Film box an excellent choice for beginners. Not to mention, the clear homage to the Nightmare on Elm Street series makes for a compelling and terrifying narrative.

The sleep mechanic, which requires players to fight Dr. Fight in their dreams, is an interesting twist on the Final Girl formula, and it doesn’t add a ton of bloat to the core gameplay, either. For players who already have Happy Trails Horror (or some other Feature Film box) in their collection, Frightmare on Maple Lane is a solid next option to look into.

Final Girl: Into the Void

MSRP: $19.99 USD

Components (REQUIRES THE CORE BOX)

  • Final Girl: Ellen & Jenette
  • Monster: The Evomorph
  • Location: The USS Konrad

This Alien-inspired Feature Film box is a fan-favorite due to its spaceship locale and its continuously evolving villain, The Evomorph. Unfortunately, what makes this entry so great is also what makes it a non-ideal starting point, a bevy of extra rules.

Those who really want to sit down and experience Into the Void (and you totally should, at some point) will first have to get familiar with the new ruleset introduced with The Evomorph and The USS Konrad. However, those who take the extra time to study up before playing will be treated to arguably one of the best boxes in the Final Girl series.

Final Girl: Panic at Station 2891

MSRP: $19.99 USD

Components (REQUIRES THE CORE BOX)

  • Final Girl: Kate & Uki
  • Monster: The Organism
  • Location: Station 2891

In this Feature Film box heavily inspired by The Thing, players are tasked with testing patients to determine whether or not The Organism has assimilated them. This expansion differs from other Feature Film boxes in that each game begins without a monster. After the testing phase, however, there can be up to three baddies in one game at a given time.

The map itself is also rather unique because it features a hypothermia element due to the arctic setting. Not to mention, the distinct helicopter mechanic requires a bit of strategy that is not present in other box sets. As only three people can escape at one time via helicopter, players need to think through the most efficient way to save the many victims of Station 2891. Again, this is an excellent entry, but perhaps not the right one to start with due to all the added mechanics.

Final Girl: A Knock at the Door

MSRP: $19.99 USD

Components (REQUIRES THE CORE BOX)

  • Final Girl: Ava & Ginny
  • Monster: The Intruders
  • Location: Wingard Cottage

A Knock at the Door is a home invasion expansion inspired by The Strangers. As with the film series, there are three different intruders, each of whom can act as the main antagonist at any given moment. Because of that, tension in A Knock at the Door remains high throughout. There never quite feels like there is a moment when you’re totally safe.

Constant tension coupled with an interesting crafting mechanic for potential weapon-building makes each playthrough potentially quite different. A box with only a single villain to focus on, like Happy Trails Horror or Frightmare on Maple Lane, might be a better place to start. Still, A Knock at the Cabin makes its case for being an excellent entry point thanks to its exceptionally strong theme and ample replayability.

Final Girl: Once Upon a Full Moon

MSRP: $19.99 USD

Components (REQUIRES THE CORE BOX)

  • Final Girl: Gretel & Red
  • Monster: The Big Bad Wolf
  • Location: The Storybook Woods

Despite being a later entry in the franchise, Once Upon a Full Moon is another recommended starting point for newcomers. The fairytale feel of this Feature Film box is universally understandable, even for those who haven’t seen their share of horror movies.

Not to mention, there aren’t a ton of extra rules to learn, either. Essentially, it serves as the Happy Trails Horror of the franchise’s second wave of releases. It’s just a straightforward good time that should quickly get new players to the table and up to speed.

Final Girl: Madness in the Dark

MSRP: $19.99 USD

Components (REQUIRES THE CORE BOX)

  • Final Girl: Heather & Veronica
  • Monster: The Ratchet Lady
  • Location: Wolfe Asylum

The swingy-ness of the Final Girl franchise reveals itself yet again with Madness in the Dark. Perhaps more than most entries in the series, this Feature Film box can either be defeated or bring a player to their knees in a relatively short period of time, largely depending on the luck of the draw. Still, Madness in the Dark contains some interesting ideas that make a visit to this creepy asylum worth the trip.

In particular, the floors of Wolfe Asylum are littered with collectible pills. These pills can be taken for a bonus effect or stacked together for more powerful abilities. However, this mechanic’s potential side effects turn Madness in the Dark into a bit of a test-your-luck game. Whether you become an overpowered monster killer or simply go mad might just determine the outcome of your playthrough.

Final Girl: The North Pole Nightmare

MSRP: $29.99 USD

Components (REQUIRES THE CORE BOX)

  • Final Girl: Cindy & Mrs. Claus
  • Monster: Krampus
  • Location: Santa’s Village

In a special holiday edition of sorts, The North Pole Nightmare pits final girls Cindy the Elf and Mrs. Claus against Krampus. The unique aspect of The North Pole Nightmare (other than its theme) is the present mechanic, which can either help or hurt you, depending on whether or not these gifts come from Santa or Krampus.

The North Pole Nightmare is a solid addition to any collection, especially if you’re the type of person looking for a horror-filled adventure around the holidays. Not to mention, saving the day as Mrs. Claus is just some campy fun. However, like any holiday special, The North Pole Nightmare is probably best enjoyed by those who already have some experience with the series, as its twists and turns are likely to be more greatly appreciated by existing fans.

Mini Expansions

In addition to the various Feature Film boxes currently available, there are a handful of smaller vignettes worth considering that offer new villains and final girls. However, as these expansions don’t include locations, they must be paired with the Core Box and one of the Feature Film boxes.

Final Girl: Terror From Above

MSRP: $9.99

Components (REQUIRES THE CORE BOX AND ANY ONE FEATURE FILM BOX)

  • Final Girl: Melanie
  • Monster: Birds

Again, smaller vignettes like Terror From Above and Terror From the Grave require the core box and a feature film box to be playable. Both vignettes, however, introduce a new protagonist and monster that can be taken to any in-game location. For example, the monsters of Maple Lane and Creech Manor can be swapped out with the killer birds included with Terror From Above. I’m not sure what killer birds would be doing on a space station, but you can definitely play that scenario out if you want to, as well.

Final Girl: Terror From the Grave

MSRP: $9.99

Components (REQUIRES THE CORE BOX AND ANY ONE FEATURE FILM BOX)

  • Final Girl: Patsy
  • Monster: Zombies

An encompassing horror franchise like Final Girl just wouldn’t feel complete without zombies. While zombies have yet to receive their own standalone Feature Film box, this vignette allows the iconic horror monster to go to any location featured in previous expansions. Want to fight zombies in space or at the carnival? Well, now you can.

Final Girl Extras

Even beyond the various Feature Film boxes and smaller vignettes, there are several items available with the Final Girl branding that you might be curious about. For example, there are miniatures of the many protagonists and monsters, promotional final girls, additional scenario booklets, and even storage boxes for collectors.

Bottom Line

With decades of iconic movie and pop culture monsters to take inspiration from, there is seemingly no end in sight for the Final Girl franchise. In fact, publisher Van Ryder Games has already completed a successful Kickstarter campaign for the latest slate of Feature Film boxes and is looking to make them available for purchase soon.

For those looking to get into the series, Happy Trails Horror, Frightmare on Maple Lane, and Once Upon a Full Moon are all great Feature Film sets to purchase first, along with the Core Box. However, if one horror homage, in particular, calls to you, there’s no reason you can’t start with any of the Feature Film boxes; it just may require learning a few more rules and some additional setup time.

Luckily, for those who think Final Girl might just become their next obsession/collection, many of the titles listed above can be found for well under MSRP at retailers like Amazon. If you need help staying on top of those always-changing deals, bookmark our board games deals page to score some serious discounts. If you’re still looking for more spookiness for your weekly game nights, feel free to look through our picks for the best horror board games.

Bobby Anhalt is a contributing freelancer for IGN covering board games and LEGOs. He has more than 8 years of experience writing about the gaming industry with bylines at Game Rant, Screen Rant, TheXboxHub, and Ranker. You can follow him on Twitter.

Call of Duty Warzone Fans Up in Arms Over Playlist Consolidation Ahead of Black Ops 6 Launch

Activision has been accused of “butchering” the playlists available for battle royale Warzone after developer Raven Software announced a consolidation ahead of the release of Black Ops 6.

Warzone typically rotates different modes, squad sizes, and even maps every week, much to the annoyance of some fans who just want to play the battle royale in their favorite way, or with a specific number of friends.

With Black Ops 6’s release just a few weeks away, Raven announced it’s making “preparations” for the future of Warzone. As part of that, has consolidated the current playlist selection into the following:

• Battle Royale Solos & Quads

• Resurgence Duos & Quads

Plunder, Bootcamp, and active Limited-Time Modes will remain available, and Trios will continue to be available via Ranked Play, with the current season ending on Thursday, October 17.

However, it’s what Warzone has lost, rather than what it now has, that has sparked a backlash from fans, with Duos and Trios no longer available in Battle Royale mode, and Solos and Trios unavailable in Resurgence.

This means that from now until at least the launch of Black Ops 6 on October 25, Urikztsan (the current Battle Royale map) only supports Solos, Quads, and Plunder Quads, and Resurgence has a Duos and Quads map rotation, with Trios available in Ranked Play only via Rebirth Island (by far the smallest map in the game).

It’s fair to say this announcement has sparked a backlash from Warzone’s hardcore community. “This might be one of the worst decisions I’ve ever seen,” said YouTuber Westie. “You’re essentially sunsetting core branches of your game and giving no real explanation at the time the change is being made.

“Some added context/information would be wonderful.”

Here’s some more reaction:

Raven has yet to offer an explanation for its decision, but some are speculating it has to do with a need to maintain fast-filling lobbies amid a perceived shrinking playerbase. Players are also wondering why Raven namechecked the release of Black Ops 6 in its announcement — Warzone is set to incorporate the upcoming shooter’s mechanics, weapons, and gear into the game, but there’s no explanation for why this would require a playlist consolidation.

For now, Warzone players have no choice but to play with this new, consolidated playlist offering, or, as some are threatening, quit until their favorite ways to play return.

Last month, Activision announced that Warzone is bringing back the map that started it all, Verdansk, in spring 2025. Verdansk is the most beloved map in Warzone’s four-year history, and it returns to the battle royale complete with iconic points of interest such as Stadium, the Train Station, and Superstore. Fans are now hoping their favorite playlists will be available in time for Verdansk’s release.

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.

Space Marine 2 Patch 3.0 Made a Seemingly Innocuous Change to the Game’s Ending — and Now Warhammer 40,000 Lore Fans Are Losing Their Minds

A seemingly innocuous change made to Space Marine 2 as part of this week’s big Patch 3.0 has got Warhammer 40,000 lore fans excited about potentially huge implications for the game’s story and the wider setting itself.

Warning! Huge spoilers for Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 follow:

Space Marine 2 patch 3.0, released yesterday, September 26, made a long list of welcome changes to the game, but one line in particular buried within the patch notes suggests the Emperor himself played a key role in the story all along.

Pre-patch, during the climax of Space Marine 2, we see a cutscene in which protagonist Lieutenant Titus almost dies while destroying a Chaos artifact. He then hears a voice that says: “Rise, son of Guilliman.”

According to the game’s subtitles, that line — again, pre-patch — was attributed to Marneus Calgar, Chapter Master of the Ultramarines. Fans took it as an odd thing for Calgar to say to Titus, given he also is a son of Roboute Guilliman, the primarch from which all Ultramarines are based.

Now, onto patch 3.0. Here’s the change in question:

  • Fixed an unidentified voice at the end of the story that was assigned to the wrong character.

Assigned to the wrong character, you say? So, who is the right character? The same cutscene now attributes the line to [Voice], which is ambiguous, but Warhammer 40,000 lore fans have a clear idea who this voice belongs to: the Emperor himself.

If true, this has big implications for Space Marine 2’s story, the nature of Titus’ abilities not just in this game but the first, and any role he might play in the ongoing narrative. But given Titus is now part of the Warhammer 40,000 canon (he has his own model you can play on Games Workshop’s tabletop game and the company has even released an official lore video delving into Titus’ backstory on Warhammer TV), fans are taking this as further evidence of the Emperor’s resurgence across the galaxy.

For the uninitiated, the Emperor of Mankind is the reigning monarch of the Imperium of Man whose slowly decaying body has sat immobile within the Golden Throne of Terra for over 10,000 years. But that hasn’t stopped the Emperor, the most powerful psyker to have ever existed, from seemingly stepping in every now and then to help humanity out in its darkest hours.

At this point in the ongoing (and slow moving!) Warhammer 40,000 storyline, there is growing evidence to suggest the Emperor is finally stirring, with some convinced his return proper is coming sooner rather than later. Indeed, in Warhammer 40,000 novel Godblight, the Emperor uses Guilliman as a vessel to burn down the Garden of Nurgle from within the Warp, miraculously reviving his son in the process.

Warhammer 40,000 fans now believe the Emperor is doing something similar with Titus. Titus’ unexplained immunity to the corrupting influence of Chaos during the Space Marine games may have been the Emperor’s doing all along. Indeed Titus’ ability to interact with the Chaos artifact and destroy it might be because he is blessed by the Emperor. As the ending of Space Marine 2 makes clear, the Inquisition’s suspicion of Titus and his abilities continues despite his heroics. But perhaps in the inevitable Space Marine 3 we’ll see the truth of the Emperor’s involvement, and Titus finally clear of the Inquisition’s attention.

For now, Space Marine 2 and Warhammer 40,000 lore fans are simply enjoying the debate this change has sparked, and have pointed to a tease by creative director Oliver Hollis-Leick about whether the line of dialogue in question does indeed come from the Emperor. Here’s his response:

“That is open to individual interpretation. It could be in Titus’s mind, could be Calgar, or it could be the Emperor (though GW might disagree on that). I know who I meant it to be when I wrote it but I’ll keep that to myself ;)”

IGN recently interviewed Saber chief creative officer Tim Willits about the boost he expects the PS5 Pro will give the game, and how the breakout success of Space Marine 2 has “changed everything” for the studio.

Meanwhile, Warhammer 40,000 superfan Henry Cavill has been playing Space Marine 2 and delivered his verdict, and we also have details on what fans can expect from Space Marine 2’s seasonal post-launch content model. Season 2 runs from October until the end of 2024, and includes a new Operations map, a new enemy, a harder difficulty level, a new weapon, and various other improvements.

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.

The Day Before Devs Seemingly Resurface and They’re Asking for Your Money Again

Remember The Day Before, the once-hyped game that had such a disastrous early access launch that the Singapore-based studio that developed it, Fntastic, announced its closure just days later? Well, Fntastic appears to be back, and they’re asking for a second chance — and your money.

In yet another bizarre development to what was already a strange saga, the X/Twitter account for Fntastic resurfaced today, announcing a Kickstarter campaign and asking for “your help again to bring Fntastic back.” The post links to a website which claims to lay out the details for Fntastic’s next moves.

If your first thought is that this whole thing could be a hoax, you’d be forgiven — and frankly, it very well could be. But if it is, it’s a pretty elaborate troll, as the website is extensive. It includes an FAQ, a PDF detailing its “recovery plan,” contact info, a merch page, and more. It also links to a Discord server which has mods claiming to be Fntastic devs and a bevy of confused onlookers.

What’s more, the website even includes details and links to a new multiplayer co-op game, Escape Factory. A free demo is currently available via its Steam page, and a Kickstarter page is looking to raise $15,535 to bring the game to fruition. As of press time, the campaign has raised $139 from three backers. The YouTube account for Fntastic, which was scrubbed shortly before The Day Before’s launch, also posted a trailer for Escape Factory.

According to the FAQ section of the website, if Escape Factory does not reach its Kickstarter goal, the studio won’t be able to return.

If the whole thing seems a little tone-deaf after the disaster that was The Day Before, the website claiming to be Fntastic at least acknowledges that it might have some trouble regaining consumers’ trust. The website says they “deeply apologize to everyone for The Day Before and take full responsibility for what happened.”

“After the closure, we reflected on our past mistakes and initiated significant internal changes to drive radical improvement,” the site’s FAQ page reads. “We’ve discontinued the practice of involving external volunteers and are now fully committed to a more professional approach. Honesty, transparency, and community engagement have become our top priorities.”

In terms of who is apparently on the current team, the website admits that it’s “smaller, but it still consists of the same people who created all of our previous games.” Interestingly, the website makes no mention of Fntastic founders Eduard Gotovtsev and Aisen Gotovtsev, not even in its “About Us” section that chronicles the studio’s history.

“Honesty, transparency, and community engagement have become our top priorities.”

The website adds that Fntastic has lost all legal rights to both The Day Before and Propnight, another game developed by the studio before its closure, and elaborates further on some of the things it’s learned from The Day Before debacle.

“Over time, we’ve analyzed the factors that led to The Day Before’s unsuccessful launch,” the website reads. “These included overly ambitious goals on a low indie budget, a team without AAA tech experience, and embellished marketing, which we deeply regret.”

The X/Twitter account for Fntastic has been replying to concerned onlookers ever since the first announcement, as many are, understandably, a little hesitant to trust the studio (if this even is the studio).

Fntastic had a tumultous development cycle for The Day Before leading up to its tumultuous launch. The first trailer debuted back in 2021, gaining traction for what looked to be an exciting post-apocalyptic open world MMO. Hype gave way to skepticism, however, amid controversy over the studio’s use of unpaid volunteers, various delays, a trademark dispute, and a fan revolt that accused the whole thing of being a scam.

It all led up to The Day Before’s early access launch in December 2023, and once fans were able to finally get their hands on the game, the response was so overwhelmingly negative (even IGN gave it a rare 1/10) that the servers shut down just over a month later. Refunds were distributed to all who purchased The Day Before, with Fntastic telling one player, “This was our first big experience. Sh*t happens.”

Still, the website saying it’s Fntastic is adamant that the team has learned from its mistakes, stating that its core principles are now “honesty, transparency, and professionalism.”

IGN has reached out to Eduard Gotovtsev and Aisen Gotovtsev, as well as a previous email address for Fntastic, for clarification on the legitimacy of the website, and has not heard back yet. We’ll update this story if and when we do.

Alex Stedman is a Senior News Editor with IGN, overseeing entertainment reporting. When she’s not writing or editing, you can find her reading fantasy novels or playing Dungeons & Dragons.

The WD Black SN850X 2TB PS5 SSD with Heatsink Is on Sale Today at Amazon

Amazon is taking 30% off the popular 2TB WD Black SN850X PCIe Gen4 M.2 NVMe solid state drive (SSD) with pre-installed heatsink, now only $139.99 shipped. The WD Black SN850X is one of the fastest PCIe 4.0 SSDs on the market; it works equally well as additional storage for your PlayStation 5 console or as a blazing fast boot drive for your gaming rig. This is one of the best M.2 SSDs for 2024. (The SN850P is mentioned in the roundup, but the SN850X is the exact same SSD only without the official PS5 certification.)

2TB WD Black SN850X PS5 SSD with Heatsink

The SN850X is the latest generation of WD’s flagship Black series M.2 SSDs. In terms of performance, it’s considered a top-tier SSD with sustained read speeds of up to 7,300MBps, write speeds of 6,600MBps, random read speeds of up to 1,200K IOPS, and write speeds of 1,100IOPS. It’s faster than the previous generation SN850 thanks to newer flash chips (BiCS5 vs BiCS4) and an updated firmware.

If you plan to install this in your gaming PC, WD includes Game Mode 2.0 utility software that’s designed to tune the SSD for better performance during gaming sessions. Unless you have an unlimited budget, 2TB is the size I would recommend for a boot solid state drive; for most people, this is plenty of space for your OS and apps, and the price is still reasonable.

The SN850X also makes for an excellent SSD for your PlayStation 5 console. This is the same SSD as the officially licensed SN850P. It fulfills all of Sony’s requirements, including M.2 2280 form factor, minimum 5,500MB/s speed, and PCI-E Gen4x4 interface. Even better, this model comes equipped with a slim aluminum heatsink already preinstalled. It’s guaranteed to fit in both the PS5 and PS5 Slim consoles. The SSD comes with a five-year warranty. By the time your warranty runs out, you might have already moved onto the PS6.

If you’re looking for more SSD storage upgrade options for your PS5 console, check out our best PS5 SSD deals of 2023. There are even less expensive options if you’re not married to any brand.

Eric Song is the IGN commerce manager in charge of finding the best gaming and tech deals every day. When Eric isn’t hunting for deals for other people at work, he’s hunting for deals for himself during his free time.

Obsidian Devs Have Floated the Idea of a Pillars of Eternity Tactics Game

While Obsidian Entertainment continues to work on Avowed ahead of its launch next year, studio design director Josh Sawyer has revealed that some members of the team have expressed interest in creating a Pillars of Eternity tactics game.

The director behind projects like Pentiment, Fallout: New Vegas, and Pillars of Eternity 2: Deadfire spoke about the studio’s desires behind the scenes during an interview with Limit Break Network. When asked about Obsidian’s interest in creating more stories set in Eora, he mentioned that a more tactical experience is one idea that at least a few members of the team have brought to the table.

“There have been a number of people, actually, at the studio who have floated the idea of a Pillars tactics game,” Sawyer teased. “Tactics games are very interesting to me, and they occupy a really interesting space in the marketplace because the audience for them is not huge, typically, but very passionate.”

It’s an admission that may have some Pillars of Eternity fans frothing at the mouth, but this doesn’t mean a tactical experience set in that universe is in the works. Sawyer touches on why it might be difficult to pull a game like this together, explaining that, while big-name series like Fire Emblem have managed to draw attention for decades, it’s tough for many tactics games to reach that same level of success. Still, he says there are “a lot of people at the studio” who would like to see a Pillars of Eternity tactics game come to be.

“So, who knows? Maybe someday.

“It’s something that a number of people have talked about and thought about,” Sawyer continues. “It’s a hard one to make a case for. Like, how big should it be? What should the size of the team be? Every once in a while, we’ll bring it up and be like, ‘Oh, we could, maybe. I don’t know. We could, maybe…’ I will say, not just for myself, but there are a lot of people at the studio who have pitched their own versions of a Pillars tactics game. So, who knows? Maybe someday.”

Whether a Pillars of Eternity tactics game will come to be remains to be seen. In the meantime, Obsidian is still hard at work on its Xbox and PC fantasy RPG, Avowed. Set in the Pillars universe, the studio has told fans to expect an experience that falls more in line with something like its past game, The Outer Worlds, than The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim. Following a delay, Avowed is now set to launch February 18, 2025.

While we know Obsidian plans to eventually release The Outer Worlds 2, its other plans for the future remain a mystery. Last year, studio CEO Feargus Urquhart teased he would like to make at least one more Fallout game before he retires, though no such project has been announced by Obsidian yet. While a potential Pillars of Eternity 3 has also not be confirmed, Sawyer did say last year that he would make a third game so long as his team got a Baldur’s Gate 3-sized budget.

Michael Cripe is a freelance contributor with IGN. He started writing in the industry in 2017 and is best known for his work at outlets such as The Pitch, The Escapist, OnlySP, and Gameranx.

Be sure to give him a follow on Twitter @MikeCripe.

EA Will Be Sunsetting The Simpsons: Tapped Out After 12 Years

EA is tapping out of The Simpsons: Tapped Out.

The company confirmed that it has made the “difficult decision” to sunset its free-to-play mobile game in a Facebook post today after more than a decade online. The Simpsons: Tapped Out will be removed from app stores on October 31, 2024, and while it’ll continue to be playable for the rest of the year, servers will be shut down on January 24, 2025. In-app purchases have already been disabled.

“The decision to end our twelve-year journey is an emotional one,” EA wrote in its Facebook post today. “Together with our partners at The Simpsons™ and The Walt Disney company, we have delighted in bringing this game to you, the fans, and seeing how you’ve each built your own beloved versions of Springfield. It has been a remarkable journey, and we are grateful that we’ve been able to deliver 308 updates, 831 characters and including today’s final farewell 1,463 questlines.”

The Simpsons: Tapped Out launched for iOS in 2012, followed by Android in 2013, and allowed players to build their own version of Springfield. It proved wildly popular at certain points, and EA said in 2014 that it had generated more than $130 million life-to-date in digital net revenue. Its seasonal and holiday-themed updates proved especially beloved by fans.

Tapped Out also, however, received blowback as part of larger criticism surrounding the freemium game model. It was seemingly lampooned in a 2014 episode of South Park titled “Freemium Isn’t Free,” which found several characters hooked on an app that looked a lot like The Simpsons: Tapped Out.

The news also highlights something of a dearth of Simpsons video games over the past decade. Tapped Out was the most recent, preceeded by The Simpsons Game in 2007 and Hit & Run in 2003. The developers of the latter commented last year on why that beloved game never got a sequel, despite fan demand.

Alex Stedman is a Senior News Editor with IGN, overseeing entertainment reporting. When she’s not writing or editing, you can find her reading fantasy novels or playing Dungeons & Dragons.