Category: IGN

I’m deep into my Switch 2 review, and with Mario Kart World and Welcome Tour being the only two first-party exclusives, a big part of that process has been looking back at the upgrades existing games got. We’ve already taken a look at Breath of the Wild, but I spent the weekend revisiting the stunning sequel I reviewed back in 2023. And not only does The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom still hold up as a game I can’t wait to lose a few dozen more hours in, the updates and additions made to the Switch 2 Edition make it feel like this is the way it was always meant to be played.

Before we dive to the depths below, lets look back at what I said about Tears of the Kingdom in my initial review:

That’s just as true today as it was then, and I wouldn’t second guess the 10 I slapped on it in 2023 for a second. Tears of the Kingdom may not have been the completely table-flipping revelation its predecessor was, but the way it expanded both that formula and the world was truly staggering. There’s a ridiculous amount of stuff here, and almost none of it is less than amazing. But what about the changes in the Switch 2 Edition specifically?

HDR is an absolute game changer in the Depths

Perhaps the most jaw-dropping thing that is part of this update is the Switch 2’s ability to take advantage of HDR displays. The increased framerate and resolution are nice enough on their own, but exploring the dark of the Depths with the benefit of HDR is, forgive the pun, a night-and-day difference. Uncharted areas are still pitch black until illuminated, so it’s not like exploration there has been made entirely trivial, but areas with low light are suddenly so much clearer than they used to be. It takes out some of the frustration of stumbling around in the dark without removing the tension.

Tears of the Kingdom doesn’t lag anywhere anymore

Alongside those visual improvements comes improved performance. Tears of the Kingdom was never terrible in this regard, but it did slow down or start to hitch in busy moments from time to time on Switch, and that’s completely gone on Switch 2. Similarly, diving from the sky straight into the Depths could occasionally pause for a quick second to let the world load, but I never once saw that happen on Switch 2.

Building is finally buttery smooth as well, as using your Zonai abilities was another one of the moments you could potentially see things start to chug. Once again, that’s all slick and clean here. These aren’t the most monumental of improvements for an update upgrade that does cost money (if you don’t have the Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pass), but they make Tears of the Kingdom feel like it has finally reached its final form – and they are helpful enough that I am seriously considering playing a lot more of this game than I initially thought I would have when I decided to revisit it.

Load times are super fast now

Speaking of performance, a special shoutout should go to the load times specifically. They are now ridiculously fast. The loading screen has always had this little animation where your icon blips out on the map, which then scrolls over to your new location, and then you finally blip back in. The Switch 2 Edition load times are so fast you barely even have time to watch the icon vanish before you are back into the action. It rocks.

It shares a lot of its biggest updates with Breath of the Wild

Both Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom were able to benefit from the Switch 2’s beefed-up hardware to make these technical upgrades, but the two games also share a lot of new integration with the Nintendo phone app. The addition of audio logs that you can find at certain locations and listen to on your phone is a neat touch, as is being able to store and share items in a way that is effectively a massive increase to your inventory size.

Tears gets one unique ability, though: you can save your builds as QR codes and then share them between friends so you can quickly reconstruct each other’s stuff. That’s a cool idea, but I was a little disappointed that it lacks any sort of built-in sharing or discovery tools to go with it. If you want to see what other people have made, you pretty much have to seek codes out on forums or social media, and I think more likely I just won’t get much use out of this function at all as a result.

Now is the time to actually beat Tears of the Kingdom

Finally, while not specifically relevant to the updated version of this game, a quick PSA/desperate plea from me: please beat Tears of the Kingdom if you haven’t already! The ending is so good. If you beat Breath of the Wild, its okay ending might make you think there’s similarly not much to see here – but the end of Tears is genuinely incredible. The final fight is possibly my favorite in any Zelda game, and the places its story goes are as unexpected as they are awesome. With all these improvements, there’s never been a better time to discover what you missed if you didn’t see it to the end two years ago.

That’s my quick look at The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom’s Switch 2 Edition, though I’m certainly excited to see more of it after what I played this past weekend. Once again, this really does feel like the way this game was always meant to be played, and I’m thrilled by the idea of a new generation discovering it for the first time. It’s sure to keep you more than busy until I’m back with my final Switch 2 review in the next week or so.

Wizard of Legend 2 is an indie Roguelike from Dead Mage, the studio behind Children of Morta, published by Humble Games. You play as a Wizard attempting the trials to become Wizard of Legend. Gather your Arcana, grab a relic, and wear your medallion of choice as you brave the challenges ahead.

Getting Started in Wizard of Legend 2

To help you get started, take a look at Maxroll’s Wizard of Legend 2 beginner’s guide. The guide explains the different starting loadouts (don’t worry, you eventually unlock all the spells anyway) and you’ll learn all about the game’s combat system; how to navigate the trials, use your Arcana to defeat foes and unleash powerful ultimate spells!

As you make your way through the game, you’ll meet a variety of NPCs along the way. Some of them are vendors within the Trials, whereas others provide access to metaprogression systems in the main hub. In addition to these friendly NPCs, there are several formidable bosses to challenge, including powerful creatures and wizards who have mastered their element of choice.

Wizard of Legend 2 Metaprogression Systems

The metaprogression systems in Wizard of Legend 2 include Medallions, Runes, Arcana, and Relics, each of which contributes to your character’s power. You gain more Arcanas and Relics during the run, but can only select Medallions and runes before starting out. Check out Maxroll’s Metaprogression systems guide or learn more about individual topics with their deep dives below:

• Medallions Guide
• Runes and Difficulty Guide
• Relic Guide
• Arcana Guide
• Chaos Arcana Guide

Wizard of Legend 2 Events, NPCs, and More

You’ll encounter a variety of events within the trial. This can include defeating challenging foes or helping a fellow Wizard. Complete events to earn a variety of rewards, including Relics, Arcana, Arcana Enhancements, or a boost to maximum health. In particular, keep an eye out for purple portals, as they often have lucrative rewards. Learn more with Maxroll’s Events Guide.

There’s a wide variety of NPCs and Vendors to interact with in Wizard of Legend 2. Several are found in the game’s main hub; interact with them to unlock Runes, Medallions, starting Relics, and Arcanas.

There are also vendors within the trials who sell you Arcanas, Relics, and Arcana Enhancements. Save up your gold to purchase something and give yourself an edge in combat — learn more with Maxroll’s NPCs and Vendors guide.

You’ll also need to know about Afflictions, status effects that deal additional damage to enemies or provide beneficial crowd control effects: check out Maxroll’s Afflictions Guide for more information.

Wizard of Legend 2 Boss Guides

During the Trials, you’ll face off against a series of wizards who have all mastered a different element. If you can defeat them, you’ll earn a powerful Forgotten Variant for your Arcana. Check out these boss guides from Maxroll:

• Frost Queen Anahita
• Earth Lord Terrus
• Thunder Ace Voltran
• Flame Empress Mitra
• Wind Sovereign Flo

Wizard of Legend 2 Zone Bosses

Each zone in Wizard of Legend 2 culminates in a battle against a powerful boss, and the final stage ends in a fight against Hieronymus himself. Learn the boss’s patterns, or check out tips and tricks to defeat them with Maxroll’s boss guides.

• Jungle – Akram & Bahadur
• Desert – Jabara
• Castle – King & Queen
• Final Zone – Wizard of Legend Hieronymus

Wizard of Legend 2 Database

Maxroll’s Wizard of Legend 2 Database has information on all of the Arcanas, Relics, Runes, and Medallions. You can browse Arcana by type and learn about the Forgotten Variants available for each spell. Relics are broken down by category; we recommend you keep an eye out for Legendary Relics, which are made by obtaining all of the Relics from a set.

Written by IGN staff with help from Maxroll.

IGN’s Dune: Awakening map is here! Our interactive map tracks essential locations across Arrakis, including Main Quests and Contracts, Enemy Camps and Enemy Outposts, and Trainer locations.

Dune: Awakening Interactive Map

Dune: Awakening won’t release on console until some point in 2026, developer Funcom has said.

The survival MMO launched as planned on PC on June 10, and it had been hoped the console version would release not far behind. But it sounds like fans will have a bit longer of a wait than expected.

Funcom failed to expand on why the survival MMO had been delayed on console, only writing in a press release that while the game “will be coming” to PlayStation and Xbox, that release is expected “sometime in 2026.”

The team was able, however, to confirm that the Dune: Awakening Season Pass is now live, offering the Wildlife of Arrakis DLC which boasts four in-game statues celebrating some of the planet’s most “tenacious” creatures: the sandworm, chiroptera, kulon, and Muad’Dib.

Three more DLCs are scheduled over the next year or so — expect one in Q4 2025, Q1 2026, and another in Q2 2026 — with free updates peppered between those bringing “new content, features, and enhancements.” Funcom also strengthened its commitment to “no subscription fees or microtransactions.”

We’re still in the process of reviewing Dune: Awakening. While there’s no score at yet, and we’re still a little unimpressed by the gunplay, our reviewer wrote: “After more than 35 hours I still feel like I’m fairly early into my Dune: Awakening adventure, and still have new zones to visit, haven’t gotten very far into the main story, and have only had a few encounters with PvP. There’s a ton for me to do, so look for an update sometime this week as I work my way through to the endgame.”

Did you know that you can (sort of) ride sandworms in Dune: Awakening after all? It turns out that if you’re super patient and don’t mind a little screen-tearing or clipping through assets, it can be done if you’ve the right equipment. Here’s how.

To help you survive on Arrakis, we’ve got Dune: Awakening resource guides that’ll help you find iron, steel, aluminium, and more. If you’re just getting started, check out all the Dune: Awakening classes you can choose from, and keep an eye on our in-progress Dune: Awakening walkthrough for a step-by-step guide to the story.

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.

Nintendo has announced Splatoon Raiders, a brand-new Splatoon spin-off exclusive to the Switch 2. The surprise reveal was made with a trailer that was released first on the Nintendo Today! app.

Hey, everyone—you might have seen this in the Nintendo Today! app, but we thought you might want to hear it straight from the squid’s beak: SRL has prepared a little trailer for you. Take a look! pic.twitter.com/sOEaHor5yX

— Splatoon North America (@SplatoonNA) June 10, 2025

Splatoon Raiders is the first ever Splatoon spin-off game. Nintendo failed to announce a release window, but said to keep an eye out for more information in the future.

Splatoon Raiders revolves around a mechanic adventuring with the Deep Cut trio to the mysterious Spirhalite Islands. This new protagonist for Splatoon Raiders is described as an “expert mechanic with a mysterious background.”

The new protagonist for #SplatoonRaiders is an expert mechanic with a mysterious background. That ink tank and walking robot look rather intriguing, wouldn’t you say? pic.twitter.com/XeP9t75JAW

— Splatoon North America (@SplatoonNA) June 10, 2025

We’ve identified a variety of interesting findings, including a floating ship-like structure that serves as the mechanic’s base and an island with a unique atmosphere. We’ll keep investigating! #SplatoonRaiders pic.twitter.com/huFy5BlF4Z

— Splatoon North America (@SplatoonNA) June 10, 2025

Meanwhile, a significant free update for Splatoon 3 is also coming, due out on June 12. Splatoon 3 ver 10.0.0 includes 30 new weapon kits from the Barazushi and Emberz brands (the Splatlands Collection), the return of the Urchin Underpass stage from the original Splatoon game on Wii U, and performance and visual improvements for Switch 2. Nintendo said Switch 2 players will notice more detailed visuals, and the game will appear smoother in certain locations such as Splatsville and the Grand Festival Grounds. Switch 1 and Switch 2 Splatoon 3 players will still be able to play together.

Plus, all weapon Freshness caps will be raised and players can earn new in-game Badges, Nintendo said. A new stat will be added for Anarchy Battle (Series) called Series Weapon Power. It will track a player’s effectiveness per weapon based on their win/loss ratio in battles – and will then match them with players of a similar power. This makes it possible for players to try new weapons without being disadvantaged and push the limits their favorite weapons.

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.

With seemingly excellent timing following the launch of the Switch 2, the steelbook edition dual pack of Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet is now back in stock at My Nintendo Store for £99.99 physically.

As the name implies, this not only comes with both Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet, but with a special gold-themed steelbook adorned with Legendaries Koraidon and Miraidon, with dual cartridge slots, so you can store both games together.

Lies of P developer Neowiz did indeed drop DLC Overture during Summer Game Fest, introducing new locations, new enemies and bosses, new characters, weapons, and the very controversial decision to add in two easier difficulty options. And now, those options are getting easier again as the team preps for “difficulty reduction.”

As a “Soulslike” game, Lies of P can be punishingly difficult, especially for inexperienced players perhaps attracted by Lies of P’s dark story and setting. Director Jiwon Choi had previously said the team didn’t think Soulslike games should have difficulty options and it shipped without any, but has since had a change of heart, saying: “We wanted to make sure a wider audience of players could play the game.”

For those attempting the Overture DLC on the “intended” difficulty, Legendary Stalker, however, things seem tougher than ever. There have been so many comments — both for and against the DLC’s difficulty spike — that the Lies of P subreddit has had to merge them all into a “megathread” to stop the community from being overwhelmed by complaints.

Some comments and reviews on Steam echo this, with one writing: “I’m at level 300 and should not be getting 2-shot from basic enemies. It doesn’t help that the enemy grouping is designed for you to have to deal with multiple at once. This wouldn’t be a problem if even one of those enemies doesn’t take out half your health with one hit.”

Now, courtesy of a new Lies of P Director’s Letter, it seems the difficulty will be tweaked once again.

“We’re reviewing all of [the player feedback] carefully and are already looking into when to implement some of your suggestions,” Choi said, as spotted by Eurogamer. “Among all the feedback, we are paying the closest attention to the combat experience.

“We identified areas that did not turn out quite as we intended. Therefore, we are reviewing various adjustments, including difficulty reduction. However, combat is one of the most fundamental experiences in Lies of P, so any modifications or changes require meticulous work and thorough testing.” It’s perhaps because of that “fundamental” issue that Neowiz has not given an indication of when the game will be patched.

We had a good time with Lies of P, awarding it 8/10, and Overture itself also secured a 8/10. “Even if it’s clearly dancing on the same old strings, Lies of P: Overture is an excellent expansion that adds a whole lot more to a game that was already great,” we wrote.

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.

While sandworm-riding is usually the first thing we want to try, and then fail at, in Dune: Awakening, it turns out that if you’re super patient and don’t mind a little screen-tearing or clipping through assets, it can be done.

No, it isn’t an official feature that can be unlocked — although developer Funcom did apparently consider it for a while before discarding the idea — but it turns out that if you have lightning-quick reflexes and study the sandworms’ behaviors and attack patterns like they’re an Elden Ring boss, you can climb aboard.

Redditor SgtDolphin has now shared not one but two videos of him riding the worm, using a combination of skills and equipment like the super-sprint Bindu Sprint ability, the Full Suspensor Belt, and Emperor’s Wings to help move quickly and better control his player in the air (thanks, PC Gamer). Once you’re on, no, you can’t control the worm any more than you can stop yourself flying off it from time to time, but Dolphin shows it can be done.

“It’s very glitchy at times especially on the sand that’s being displaced,” SgtDolphin explained in the comments. “Many deaths from the worm to get these rides, it’s a pretty dangerous sport!”

We’re still in the process of reviewing Dune: Awakening. While there’s no score at yet, and we’re still a little unimpressed by the gunplay, our reviewer wrote: “After more than 35 hours I still feel like I’m fairly early into my Dune: Awakening adventure, and still have new zones to visit, haven’t gotten very far into the main story, and have only had a few encounters with PvP. There’s a ton for me to do, so look for an update sometime this week as I work my way through to the endgame.”

If you’re wondering what players are making of Dune: Awakening so far, the survival multiplayer game has already set a concurrent player peak on Steam of over 117,000 players. For more, check out details on the MMO’s business model and post-launch plans.

To help you survive on Arrakis, we’ve got Dune: Awakening resource guides that’ll help you find iron, steel, aluminium, and more. If you’re just getting started, check out all the Dune: Awakening classes you can choose from, and keep an eye on our in-progress Dune: Awakening walkthrough for a step-by-step guide to the story.

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.

The Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) has reached a “tentative agreement” on the interactive media contract, potentially bringing to an end almost a year of industrial action across the video game industry.

The SAG-AFTRA video game strike was instigated back in July 2024 after the union and the major game companies — Activision, Blindlight, Disney Character Voices, Electronic Arts, Epic Games, Formosa Interactive, Insomniac Games, Take 2 Productions, and WB Games — that sit on the board failed to agree on AI provisions. Over 98% of members subsequently voted to strike.

While at first it was difficult to tell exactly how the strike would affect our games, there were visible impacts across the industry; players reported that a number of ongoing games such as Destiny 2 and World of Warcraft appeared to leave some NPCs unvoiced in otherwise voiced scenes, likely due to the strike. Then, late last year, SAG-AFTRA struck League of Legends after Riot allegedly tried to subvert the strike by canceling a game in response, and Activision confirmed Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 characters were recast after players expressed concern about new voices.