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New Horus Heresy Book Era of Ruin Gets Warhammer 40,000 Lore Fans Talking With Tantalizing Insight Into the Carrion Emperor and the Golden Throne’s True Nature

A new Horus Heresy book has left Warhammer 40,000 lore fans debating the true nature of the carrion Emperor and the Golden Throne — and the possibility that two classic pieces of early art work may well offer a canon look into the setting.

Era of Ruin (the special edition of which forced Warhammer.com offline when preorders went online) is an anthology of short stories designed to bookend the Horus Heresy, the galaxy-spanning civil war between loyalist and traitor Space Marines that occurred 10,000 years before the current Warhammer 40,000 setting. The Horus Heresy saw the Emperor finally defeat his Chaos-fueled primarch son, Horus Lupercal, and save the Imperium of Man from destruction, but at a terrible cost: the near-death Master of Mankind was interred upon the Golden Throne as a carrion Emperor sustained by the daily sacrifice of thousands of psykers.

The iconic art of the God-Emperor by John Blanche, below, is seared into every Warhammer 40,000 lore fan’s mind. This is how the Emperor looks in the 41st millennium: grim, dark, and barely there at all.

But is this actually how the Emperor looks in the setting? Era of Ruin’s final short story, The Carrion Lord of the Imperium by Aaron Dembski-Bowden, is also its most interesting. It suggests the image of the God-Emperor we see in John Blanche’s art is just that in the setting: an image.

Towards the end of The Carrion Lord of the Imperium, Diocletian Coros, a Prefect of the Legio Custodesan (the Emperor’s ultra powerful and ultra loyal bodyguard), visits the Emperor at some non-specific time seemingly centuries after the end of the Horus Heresy. It’s here things get spicy:

“Through the doors, the secret doors, the one behind those renowned gateways decorated in trappings of glory,” the passage reads. “Past the graven image of the Immortal Emperor: a skull-faced warlock on a mighty throne, eternally alive on the edge of death, imposing in His majesty.

“Through that final door, which opens only to droplets of a tribune’s blood, and whose impenetrable locks take an hour to unseal.”

Let’s stop there for a second. Here, The Carrion Lord of the Imperium suggests the image fans have of the Emperor on the Golden Throne, that image informed by John Blanche’s art, is the “graven image” described in the book. It is an image in real life, and an image in the Warhammer 40,000 setting. It is propaganda. And not even propaganda for humans, who we’re told haven’t been down this far inside the Palace for generations. It is propaganda for us, the audience, and all but the most special of characters within the setting.

Which begs the question: if this image isn’t of the actual Emperor, what does the Emperor actually look like? Let’s continue:

“Inside the innermost sanctum, where the architecture of the walls is uncomfortably organic, strangely spinal. Diocletian approaches the Golden Throne, such as it is, and his kindred — naked but for their cloaks, loincloths, and black helms — move aside in his honour.

“He ascends the steps. Slowly. Not without reverence, but without the abject worship expected by the people of the Imperium. They would be horrified by its absence; but then, everything about this place would horrify them. It’s why they will never be allowed to know of it.

“At long last, Diocletian stands before his king.

“He looks past the hanging wires that resemble intestines, and the clicking, ticking life-support engines, and the preservative mist sprayed in the air in nine-second intervals. He looks past the blood bags and vitae-packets linked intravenously to the thing on the throne, which is just a chair compared to the great and grand artworks: a throne without the capital T that makes it both a curse and the salvation of the species.

“He looks at the revenant husk of something that was somehow once, somehow still is, a man. Something that shouldn’t be alive, and arguably isn’t by any mortal measure. Something tortured by its own impossible continuation — physically starved and psychically bloated on the feast of souls it’s forced to devour every day of its endless and agonising existence.

“Or is it forced? Maybe it craves this. Maybe it hungers.”

There’s more to this final section of the book, but there’s no need to run through it. We have what we need: the Emperor described here is very different to the Emperor in the John Blanche art (“a throne without the capital T”). We hear of Adeptus Custodes wearing black helms guarding the Emperor, “hanging wires that resemble intestines,” blood bags and preservative mist.

Some fans believe this passage describes a very early piece of Warhammer 40,000 art found within the 1987 Rogue Trader rulebook (the 1st Edition of the Warhammer 40,000 core rulebook). It shows the Emperor in a different light, complete with blood bag, mist, wires that resemble intestines, and those Custodes with the black helms.

It’s safe to say Warhammer 40,000 lore fans are loving every word of this short story. Not only does it reference two classic depictions of the Emperor — potentially even dragging them both into the canon — but it’s all very grim-dark in the way 40K should be. If this passage means what fans think it means, Era of Ruin makes a 28-year-old piece of Warhammer 40,000 art not only relevant to the setting in 2025, but part of an explosive revelation about the true nature of the Emperor himself.

Indeed, the legendary John Blanche has spoken of this before in interviews, revealing his art was never meant to depict the “real” Emperor, rather it was meant to show an image of the Emperor pilgrims who had made their way to Terra would gaze upon as they arrived at what they thought was the God of Mankind’s throne. The “real” Emperor, Blanche believes, is kept in a glass tube behind this facade, connected to all kinds of machinery. And so in turn Warhammer 40,000 fans have been hoodwinked.

Black Library author Dan Abnett, who is behind some of the key Warhammer 40,000 lore and novels, has expressed a similar idea in interviews, and even called into question the existence of a throne room at all.

Whatever Games Workshop’s big plan for the Emperor (some believe he is sort of waking up), what fans can safely say is Era of Ruin offers perhaps the clearest depiction yet of the true nature of the Golden Throne and the carrion Emperor within it. Even better, it brings into the setting classic pieces of early Warhammer 40,000 art, now revived and relevant as Warhammer 40,000 looks even further into the future.

Image credit: Games Workshop.

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.

Mecha Break Review in Progress

Mecha Break speaks to a very specific kind of sicko: the kind of person who plays multiplayer games looking for perfection. Not overall – there’s no such thing as a “perfect” piece of art. But perfect moments? The perfect shot, the clutch dodge, confirming the last kill that wins you the match? They’re out there, in that things come together just the way you need them to. I’ve only gotten to play a couple hours of Mecha Break ahead of launch (which, if you’re reading this, has just happened) so I have a lot more to see, do, and unlock in this robot-themed hero shooter, but I can already say it’s a game that lets you build your own stories.

Over the course of a two-hour preview event (playing on PC) I got to play five matches and try out five of the 15 different mechs available (with the free-to-play model Mecha Break is using several of the ones I tested will need to be unlocked once it goes live, but we had free reign for our preview). One of the things I appreciated most was how much variety there is, both in mechs and match types. Mecha Break has every kind of mech you could want: heavies like the Stego with the ability to plant itself in the ground, sit behind a shield, and launch a massive missile barrage; the Falcon, which transforms into a plane, Starscream-style, making it an ideal choice for folks who like to zoom across the expansive battlefield and rain death from above; and my personal favorite, the Alysnes: a medium-weight, more traditional mech that becomes smaller and more agile after its armor is blown off. Survive long enough in this form and you can reapply your armor, like some kind of mech-flavored Magical Girl. Everyone has different armaments to manage, and I had to tailor my playstyle to the mech I tried. Picking the right one is important, because once you’re locked in and the match starts, you’re stuck with it.

This list catalogues a small amount of what’s available, and since the mode we were playing kept our six-person team from having duplicate mechs, it led to some really great fights. I had a particularly tense rivalry in one game where my Alysnes faced off against another player’s camo-enabled, melee-focused Stellaris. We clashed several times, and they were long, drawn-out duels that tested everything from our overall map awareness and positioning to when we decided to attack. We were building rivalries in real time, and it made for some memorable moments. Some I lost, others I clutched out, but the fights were all exciting.

Some I lost, others I clutched out, but the fights were all exciting.

Other matches showcased that there’s a ton of variety when it comes to modes, even if none of them is anything too far out of the box. We started in a traditional deathmatch (first to eight kills wins), but we also played King of the Hill, another mode where you have to destroy points that appear on the map, one that asked us to capture launch keys and deliver them to a launch facility, and good ol’ fashioned payload escorts. I had fun no matter what the objective was, and I appreciated that Mecha Break let me contribute no matter what I was doing. Even keeping another mech distracted while your team hits the objective (or killing them outright) can swing a game, especially because respawns take a hot second longer than they do in most comparable games. If you can take a piece off the board for a bit, that matters. For example, while piloting a Stego against another player in the same heavy-hitting mech on the opposite team, keeping him out of the fight long enough for us to secure the last objective helped decide that match.

The maps themselves are a smorgasbord of interesting locations. One is a combination mountain range with a valley and a destroyed city. I could set up and snipe at other mechs from the high ground with the Stego, but to get the objectives (and stay in the fights over them) I needed to head down where I was more vulnerable. Another is at a missile launch facility where you can choose between fighting outside with limited cover, or getting up close and personal in the tight corridors of the facility itself. There’s even one set on the moon that includes both open skies and large craters and small canyons just big enough to squeeze through, ideal for dodging enemy fire or moving around out of sight. The real trick there is the pulse storms, which damage your mech unless you take cover.

Each map felt distinct and forced me to approach situations in different ways depending on where I was and what mech I was piloting. A Stego’s long-ranged firepower is amazing in open space, but its slow speed makes it a liability in areas with less elbow room. The Alysnes’s versatility, on the other hand, means it’s right at home in both but never hits quite as hard as a Stego in the right conditions. You’ll probably just make use of its melee weapon less when you’re fighting across open ground.

Naturally, two hours isn’t nearly enough to wrap up a review of a game like this, so I have a lot left to see in Mecha Break: I want to get a feel for more of the mechs and the other modes, and see what progression feels like. But so far it’s made a good first impression. I’ve come away liking the little moments, and the stories I’ve already been a part of in a short session. Now we just have to figure out if Mecha Break has the juice to keep telling them for the long haul. If you’re jumping in to play at launch, let us know if anything cool has happened to you thus far.

How to Watch Once Human’s Annual Version 2.0: Dreamveil Special Program

Postapocalyptic open-world survival game Once Human is launching its Annual Version 2.0: Dreamveil, and developer Starry Studio is hosting a special program to mark the occasion. There will be a celebration of all the game has achieved so far, as well as news and updates about what’s coming in the future. IGN will carry a livestream of the full program, so here’s all the details for how you can watch and what to expect as part of the show.

Once Human Special Program Date, Time, and How to Watch

If you’re in the United States, the program will be streaming at night. It’ll begin on Wednesday, July 2 at 9 p.m. Pacific, which means it’ll be at midnight that night in the Eastern time zone. You can watch it live on any of these IGN channels:

IGN.com (our homepage)

IGN’s Facebook

IGN’s Twitter

IGN’s Twitch

IGN’s YouTube

If you can’t stay up late to watch it live, don’t worry. We’ll save the show in its entirety on our YouTube page, so it’ll be waiting for you the next morning.

What to Expect from the Once Human Special Program

This being the game’s annual version, there’s sure to be a look back at the past year and what’s happened in the Once Human universe since release. That includes the game’s four scenarios so far: the PVE-focused Manibus and The Way of Winter, and the PVP-focused Evolution’s Call and Prismverse’s Clash. It also includes the game’s mobile version that was released in April. There have been rumblings of a console version also being in the works, but nothing official has been confirmed so far. Could that be part of this show?

There have been trailers and dev logs that have given some sense of new content that’s on the horizon, but the special program will go into more detail. We know a nightmare-themed scenario called Endless Dream is already in Early Access, but if you haven’t played it for yourself, expect a deep dive into the new story and deviants you’ll face and new content and locations being added.

We also know a new class system is being introduced with three classes available: Chef, Gardener, and Beastmaster. Expect a breakdown of each of the classes and what makes them unique. There also will be announcements of new events, in-game rewards, and other updates to celebrate the new annual version. Plus, the developers are likely to reveal a roadmap of future content. If you haven’t played Once Human yet and want to give it a try before seeing the updates, you can play it for free right now on PC and mobile.

Today’s Best Deals: Assassin’s Creed Shadows, Coke Zero, M3GAN 2.0 and More

Some deals just hit right, and today’s picks are genuinely worth a look. Assassin’s Creed: Shadows is down to $49.99 in its Limited Edition, M3GAN 2.0’s steelbook bundle is up for pre-order, and the WOWBOX drawer organizers are just $15.99 for a 32-piece set. Add in a reliable Coke Zero 12-pack deal and a surprisingly good rechargeable neck fan for $13.49, and it’s shaping up to be a smart day to grab a few things you’ll actually use.

TL;DR: Deals For Today

There’s more, too. The Silmarillion deluxe illustrated edition is back in stock for under $83, and some early Prime Day offers are already rolling out. Audible Premium Plus is just $0.99 for three months, Kindle Unlimited is free if you’ve got Prime, and young adults can still claim six months of Amazon Prime at no cost. If you’ve been holding off, these are the kinds of practical, high-value deals that make it worth jumping in early.

Coke Zero Sugar 12 Pack

Even if you change your mind and don’t want to subscribe and save, you can still get this great deal on Coke Zero when you purchase. It’s Coke with zero sugar, and there’s 12 cans that you can drink out of and recycle (thumbs up).

Assassin’s Creed: Shadows Limited Edition (PS5)

Assassin’s Creed Shadows finally delivers the long-awaited leap into feudal Japan, and it doesn’t waste the opportunity. This Amazon-exclusive Limited Edition includes the full game plus the Sekiryu Character Pack, and it’s now down to $49.99—29% off the original $69.99 price. You’ll switch between Naoe, a nimble shinobi, and Yasuke, a powerhouse samurai, across a moody and expansive Sengoku-era Japan. We praised the game’s dynamic environments, more focused pacing, and demanding combat. It doesn’t reinvent the series, but it smartly trims the bloat while offering rich stealth and action-driven storytelling. At this price, it’s a sharp buy for any AC fan.

M3GAN 2.0 – Limited Edition Steelbook (4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray + Digital)

M3GAN 2.0 dials up the chaos and trades in some of the original’s horror flair for a louder sci-fi action vibe. The Limited Edition Steelbook packs in 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, and Digital formats for $37.99, with a pre-order guarantee that locks in the best price. While we noted the sequel stumbles trying to balance satire and spectacle, M3GAN still steals the spotlight with her savage wit and unpredictable presence. It may not reinvent the killer robot genre, but if you’re in for stylish carnage and sharp-edged commentary, this edition delivers plenty of polished personality for the price.

WOWBOX 32 PCS Clear Plastic Drawer Organizer Set

For $15.99, this 32-piece WOWBOX drawer organizer set is an easy win for cutting clutter across any room. You get four sizes of clear black bins, perfect for separating everything from office supplies to cosmetics and kitchen tools. The plastic is sturdy enough to handle daily use without cracking, and the stackable design lets you double your storage without taking up more space.

Tunise Rechargeable Portable Neck Fan

It’s a fan that you don’t have to hold because it sits comfortably around your neck. This is such a cool and handy product for under $15, especially if you’re like me and get warm at the thought of some sunshine.

The Silmarillion Deluxe Illustrated by the Author

I can’t describe how much I need this work of art. This edition of the Silmarillion arrives in a deluxe stamped clothbound hardcover edition housed in a custom slipcase and lavishly illustrated with over 50 color pieces by J.R.R. Tolkien himself. This collector’s version presents the complete text in two-color print and includes exclusive extras like two fold-out maps of Beleriand, a booklet on the making of The Silmarillion by Christopher Tolkien, and a collectible art card. From the crafting of the Silmarils and Morgoth’s theft, to the fall of Númenor and the forging of the Rings of Power, this volume captures the vast mythological backdrop of The Lord of the Rings. Beautifully quarterbound with foil-stamped black cloth boards, silver-edged pages, and a ribbon marker, it’s a definitive edition for Tolkien devotees.

Amazon Prime Day Is Coming

We’re all over Prime Days 2025, and some deals are going live now. For more information about the event and an inside scoop on hot deals and top tips, check out our Prime Day hub.

6 Months Free Amazon Prime For Young Adults

This one is a no-brainer. If your 18-24, snap up this 6-months free deal for Amazon Prime. It includes the free and fast delivery Amazon is known for alongside unlimited streaming, free delivery on GrubHub+, free Prime games every month and loads more.

3 Months for $0.99 Audible Deal

Audible’s doing that 99c a month deal again for Premium Plus, and it’s a steal. Amazon Prime Members get three months free, so make sure to check for an active subscription before looking for this deal. You get three audiobooks to keep, full access to the big library, and it works even if you’ve had a sub before as long as it’s not active now. I just logged in, saw the banner, and grabbed it. Sunrise on the Reaping is already in my library, and I’m eyeing that massive new Sanderson one next. Less than three bucks for all that? Easy win.

3 Months Free Kindle Unlimited

I’ve never really stuck with audiobooks before, but this Kindle Unlimited deal finally got me into them properly. Right now you can get three months free if you’ve got Prime, and it works on your phone or tablet, not just a Kindle. I gave it a go, downloaded a couple of books, and now I’ve actually started finishing them while I’m out walking or doing stuff around the house. It’s made getting through my backlog way easier and I didn’t have to pay a thing to try it. If you’ve been on the fence, this is a solid excuse to dive in.

Pokémon TCG Price Comparison

Some of the pricing here by Amazon is insane, but there’s some deals to be had when comparing these products to TCG Player. For example, Prismatic Evolutions Super-Premium Collection is a massive 56% below market value, so go with Amazon on that one. On the other end of the scale, TCG Player has Cynthia’s Garchomp ex Premium Collection at a massive 48% below Amazon’s current price, which is very close to MSRP. I’ve compared all the prices in the carousel above, but another pro tip is clicking through to eBay to see if there’s any new bargains to be had.

This Weeks Pokémon Card Crashers and Climbers

I’ve been keeping a close eye on the Pokémon TCG market this month, and we’re seeing two very different stories unfold. On one side, Surging Sparks cards are going through a steep correction.

On the other hand, Crown Zenith cards are showing early signs of what could be a long-term value surge. The bottom line? If you’re a collector or investor, now is the time to buy into both.

I’m picking up what I can from both sets. The current dip in Sparks is a glimmer of hope for long-suffering 2024-2025 collectors. And Crown Zenith is a train I want to be on before it leaves the station.

Pokémon TCG Classic

The Sam’s Club Pokémon TCG Classic deal is back, and it’s massively undercutting other big box retailers and the secondary market. Just for comparrison, the top four cards from this set, Charizard, Blastoise, Venusaur and Mewtwo, are worth the same price as this discounted offer. This deal is well worth it and should be snapped up as soon as possible.

Mega Evolution Pokémon Cards Are Climbing

I can’t believe the X Y era of Pokémon cards came out 12 years ago, but it was an amazing era for the TCG introducing the Mega Evolution mechanic. Mega’s will be returning later this year with the start of the Mega Evolutions era and the end of Scarlet and Violet, so snapping up these top Mega cards before prices go even higher is a wise move. We know how it’ll play out, no one will be able to grab the new sets at launch, then the nostalgia will kick in and these cards will skyrocket. Just the Charizards and Rayquazzas alone are worth a look.

Magic: The Gathering Price Comparison

MTG doesn’t seem to be struggling to keep up with demand despite it being one of the biggest trading card games on earth, but that doesn’t stop big box retailers getting cheeky when they notice a peak in demand. Like with Pokémon TCG, i’ve gone through the majority of MTG stock on Amazon and compared their pricing to market values on TCG Player. The Theros Beyond Death booster made me spit out my tea. Amazon is listing a single booster for $378.08, but these can be picked up any day of the week for $5.59 on TCG Player. Go figure. Another big difference is Marvel’s Spider-Man – Play Booster Box. Amazon has their preorder price guarantee on this, but it’s still 17% cheaper to preorder on TCG Player.

This Weeks MTG Crashers and Climbers

As we covered in our recent synergies feature, Harmonic Prodigy gives double Wizard triggers – nice! That means it’s gone up by 118.70% in the past month (246.76% in three) – not so nice!

That’s good for those that own the card, not so good for those who are looking to pick it up standalone. Still, market is still just $12.75 right now, so it could be a lot worse.

Moving away from Vivi, Tifa’s getting some love from Bristly Bill, Spine Sower. This Outlaws of Thunder Junction card can help power up our martial artist heroine, but at a cost of almost $40 now.

Another nifty synergy that’s climbing is Perch Protection. This Instant has climbed from a dollar to almost $6, since it handily ties into Chocobo decks.

WAOAW Sleep Mask w/ 3D Eye Cups & Adjustable Strap (Black)

If you’re sensitive to light while sleeping, this 3D contoured eye mask from WAOAW might be worth trying. It’s designed with deeper eye cavities so there’s no pressure on your lids, and the wide, adjustable strap helps it stay put without pulling at your hair. The material is soft and breathable, and it comes with earplugs and a travel pouch, which makes it a handy option for travel or quick naps.

Christian Wait is a contributing freelancer for IGN covering everything collectable and deals. Christian has over 7 years of experience in the Gaming and Tech industry with bylines at Mashable and Pocket-Tactics. Christian also makes hand-painted collectibles for Saber Miniatures. Christian is also the author of “Pokemon Ultimate Unofficial Gaming Guide by GamesWarrior”. Find Christian on X @ChrisReggieWait.

Marvel Rivals Season 3 Trailer Finally Introduces Blade and Jean Grey as Symbiote King Knull Wreaks Havoc

NetEase Games has finally pulled back the curtain on Marvel Rivals Season 3: The Abyss Awakens with a trailer, below, that features major comic book characters like the symbiote king, Knull, as well as Blade and Jean Grey.

The minute-and-a-half-long cinematic trailer was published today, revealing a first look at the upcoming season’s theme, its new playable characters, and even a few symbiote-themed skins. The Season 3 release date is set for July 11, though it remains unclear how some of the content shown in today’s video will roll out.

Where Season 2: Hellfire Gala introduced new Heroes, Ultron and Emma Frost, Season 3: The Abyss Awakens looks like it will finally allow players to control Blade and Jean Grey/The Phoenix. The former is an especially important addition, as Marvel Rivals fans have speculated about when the Daywalker would be added to the roster since teases began during the vampire-themed Season 1. Jean Grey’s inclusion, meanwhile, comes with the surprise that she’ll be able to harness the power of The Phoenix for her telekinetic abilities.

Knull will serve as the big bad this time around, with the Marvel Rivals Season 2 trailer teasing that he’ll be teaming up with Hela to take power.

“In the wake of the Timestream Entanglement, Knull stirs deep within Klyntar’s core, stretching his shadowed hands across the cosmos,” an official description for Marvel Rivals Season 3 says. “Power promised by the dark symbiote god beckons the awakening of a new queen. The Phoenix arrives from across the stars to erase Klyntar before the darkness can rise again! However, she’ll require unlikely aid from a warrior of two worlds who lives to fight against the tide of night. As the god of the symbiotes and the Phoenix Force collide, will you burn with the light of creation or embrace the darkness?”

Eagle-eyed Marvel Rivals players will also notice what is most likely a collection of new skins set to arrive at some point during Season 3. There is, of course, Hela’s symbiote skin, which Knull gives her early on in the footage, but it’s toward the end that we get a closer look at a few more. Wolverine can be seen sporting a Phoenix Force skin of his own, with Blade and Magik both sporting fiery outfits as well. It’s Jeff the Landshark symbiote skin that has most fans really freaking out, though.

Marvel Rivals Season 3: The Abyss Awakens will introduce at least two new playable Heroes, but it also marks the beginning of a new chapter for the popular Marvel hero shooter experience. Starting July 11, NetEase will begin rolling out new content at a much quicker pace following pressure it received on social media. While past seasons have been approximately three months long, Season 3 will see that schedule change to two-month-long seasons. That means major updates will drop much faster than before without sacrificing any content, as NetEase hopes to keep fans engaged.

The studio has done its best to address fan feedback since launching late last year. Some examples include a major rework for Strategists that followed after Support players went on strike. While we wait to find out which roles Blade and Jean Grey will fall into, we know fans can still look forward to a closer look at some other upcoming skins when Marvel drops this year’s Swimsuit Special come July 9.

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).

Red Dead Online Fans React With Surprise and Delight as Rockstar Releases New Missions, Sparking Even More Speculation About Red Dead Redemption 2

Red Dead Online is showing signs of life after Rockstar added new missions to the game, and as you’d expect fans are once again speculating that a next-gen update for Red Dead Redemption 2 is in the works.

Most fans had come to terms with the idea that Rockstar had moved on from Read Dead Online back in 2022, but the developer has unexpectedly released the new Strange Tales of the West update, which includes four new missions and a tease of more to come.

The new trailer, below, is the first Rockstar has released for Red Dead Online since 2021.

Here’s the official blurb:

Author Theodore Levin can’t believe the rumors and missives he’s been receiving from the four corners of the American frontier. He’s working on an anthology of these unexplained and weird phenomena and he needs your help investigating the wildest claims that cross his desk.

Strange Tales of the West will require steely resolve and courage in the face of the odd, twisted, and downright supernatural. Embark upon these four new Telegram Missions by picking up Mr. Levin’s letter at any Post Office or from your Camp’s Lockbox, then opening it via your Satchel or launching Telegram Missions from your Player Menu.

The four new missions are Strange Tales of The Plague, Strange Tales of Modern Science, Strange Tales of The Bayou, and Strange Tales of The Wilderness. As reported by @videotechuk_ on X / Twitter, the update adds a new zombie infected mode, the first mission of which takes place in Armadillo.

Fans are still digesting the news, with posts across social media and subreddits showing the level of excitement.

HOLY SHIT ITS REAL
byu/Apprehensive-Cry4399 inRedDeadOnline

Everyone after the news
byu/Master100017 inRedDeadOnline

But what does this mean for Red Dead Online and parent game Red Dead Redemption 2? Given the zombie nature of the update, some are wondering if Rockstar has prepared an Undead Nightmare-style expansion for Red Dead Redemption 2. That would come as a huge shock given the studio’s all-hands-on-deck focus on next year’s Grand Theft Auto VI, but perhaps more likely is a next-gen port.

In May, GameReactor reported that a Nintendo Switch 2 version of Rockstar’s Wild West romp was on the way, along with a “next-gen upgrade patch” that would improve the game for current-gen systems (PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and S). Both could be released later in 2025, according to the site.

Fans have long called for an updated version of Red Dead Redemption 2, which is considered a masterpiece. IGN’s Red Dead Redemption 2 review returned a 10/10. We said: “Red Dead Redemption 2 is a game of rare quality; a meticulously polished open-world ode to the outlaw era.”

For now, Red Dead Online fans are enjoying digging into Strange Tales of the West, which is officially described as Vol.1. This suggests another content drop is coming. Whatever the future holds, it seems Red Dead Online is back from the dead.

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.

Microsoft Announces Xbox Game Pass July 2025 Wave 1 Lineup

Microsoft has announced Wave 1 of the Xbox Game Pass July 2025 lineup, which includes Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4, the return of High On Life, and more.

As revealed in a post on Xbox Wire, out today, July 1, is Little Nightmares 2 (Cloud, Console, and PC) across Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass, and Game Pass Standard, and the return of Rise of the Tomb Raider (Cloud, Console, and PC), also across Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass, and Game Pass Standard.

Tomorrow, July 2, Legend of Mana (Console) and Trials of Mana (Console) enter Game Pass Standard. On July 3, Ultimate Chicken Horse (Cloud, Console, and PC) hits Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass, and Game Pass Standard.

Cool cyberpunk action RPG The Ascent (Cloud, Console, and PC) returns to Game Pass on July 8 via Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass, and Game Pass Standard. A day later, on July 9, Minami Lane (Cloud, Console, and PC) enters Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass.

Here’s the big one: on July 11 Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 (Cloud, Console, and PC) launches day one on Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass. Members can get up to three days early access starting July 8, including the Doom Slayer and The Revenant playable skaters, with the Deluxe Edition Upgrade.

Moving on to July 15 and we have the return of High On Life (Cloud, Console, and PC) to Game Pass via Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass, and Game Pass Standard. The comedy first-person shooter was a smash hit on Game Pass back in 2022, and a sequel is on the way.

Xbox Game Pass Wave 1 July 2025 lineup:

  • Legend of Mana (Console) – July 2
    Now with Game Pass Standard
  • Trials of Mana (Console) – July 2
    Now with Game Pass Standard
  • Ultimate Chicken Horse (Cloud, Console, and PC) – July 3
    Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass, Game Pass Standard
  • The Ascent (Cloud, Console, and PC) – July 8
    Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass, Game Pass Standard
  • Minami Lane (Cloud, Console, and PC) – July 9
    Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass
  • Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 (Cloud, Console, and PC) – July 11
    Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass
  • High On Life (Cloud, Console, and PC) – July 15
    Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass, Game Pass Standard

And finally, Retro Classics has a new batch of games for subscribers. This is Microsoft’s collaboration with Antstream Arcade to bring Activision games from the 80s and 90s to Game Pass members.

  • Cosmic Commuter
  • Heart of China
  • Skiing
  • Solar Storm
  • Subterranea

As always, a number of games are set to leave Game Pass this month. Members can get a 20% discount to keep the games in their library.

Games leaving Xbox Game Pass on July 15:

  • Flock (Cloud, Console, and PC)
  • Mafia Definitive Edition (Cloud, Console, and PC)
  • Magical Delicacy (Cloud, Console, and PC)
  • Tchia (Cloud, Console, and PC)
  • The Callisto Protocol (Cloud, Console, and PC)
  • The Case of the Golden Idol (Cloud, Console, and PC)

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.

Donkey Kong Bananza Developer Finally Confirmed by Nintendo, Sparking Questions Over When Switch 2’s 3D Mario Will Arrive

Nintendo has finally confirmed the development team behind Donkey Kong Bananza — and as many fans had suspected, the upcoming Switch 2 blockbuster is being made by the team who previously worked on Super Mario Odyssey.

In a presentation attended by IGN ahead of a new Donkey Kong Bananza hands-on preview, Nintendo said that the same staff who worked on Odyssey also developed this new DK title.

The confirmation comes after Nintendo previously held off from stating which of its teams were behind the game, even after Bananza was playable publicly at the Switch 2’s global launch tour.

Still, the news will likely come as no surprise. Fans had suspected Odyssey’s talented developers were likely working on DK’s impressive-looking turn in the spotlight, and had pointed to various links between the two titles — not least their shared focus on the character Pauline — as clues to their creators.

Odyssey, released for Switch in October 2017, was helmed by Super Mario 3D World director Kenta Motokura, and produced by both Super Mario Galaxy director Yoshiaki Koizumi and Super Mario Galaxy 2 director Koichi Hayashida.

Nintendo did not state specifically whether all or only some of the Odyssey team were back for Donkey Kong Bananza — and fans will likely be keen to know about Koizumi’s involvement here in particular.

A key figure involved in the creation and promotion of the original Nintendo Switch, Koizumi was surprisingly absent from the announcement of Switch 2. A Nintendo veteran with more than three decades of experience at the company, Koizumi began his career as an illustrator, before rising through the ranks to serve as director on the GameCube’s flagship platformer Super Mario Sunshine. Koizumi has continued to work as a key figure on every subsequent 3D Mario game, including as director of Super Mario Galaxy, and then producer for Galaxy 2, 3D Land, 3D World and Odyssey.

Odyssey remains Nintendo’s most recent 3D Mario effort, with no suggestion as yet on when the company plans to launch another. Confirmation that Odyssey team members have been busy building Bananza will inevitably spark questions over whether a new 3D Mario game for Switch 2 is also being developed in parallel, or is still further off than some had expected. A closer look at Bananza’s staff list and their roles, once the game launches, may provide further clues.

For now, it’s simply interesting to note that Nintendo’s blockbuster Mario team have built a Donkey Kong game for Switch 2’s launch year — a slot that’s often reserved for Mario platformers.

As for Bananza’s links to Odyssey, the Switch platformer notably reintroduced Pauline as a major Mario character for the first time in years, and cast her as the music-loving mayor of New Donk City who performs the game’s toe-tapping Jump Up Super Star! track.

In Bananza, a younger version of Pauline acts as DK’s sidekick, and uses her growing singing prowess as a power-up. Nintendo previously took the rare step of confirming the age of this younger Pauline, and some fans have suggested that Bananza is now being lined up as an Odyssey prequel — and potentially even a precursor to the original Mario arcade game, where Pauline had to be rescued from DK’s clutches.

Donkey Kong Bananza launches on July 17, 2025 as this summer’s key Switch 2 title from Nintendo, before the arrival Metroid Prime 4: Beyond and Pokémon Legends Z-A later this year.

Tom Phillips is IGN’s News Editor. You can reach Tom at tom_phillips@ign.com or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social

Borderlands 4 Makes a Joke Out of Claptrap Hate With Audio Slider That Lets You Mute Him Completely

Borderlands 4 includes a slider that lets you decrease the volume of — or mute entirely — your beloved (or love-to-hate) companion, Claptrap.

The robot companion has been in the Borderlands franchise since it began way back in 2009, and you can even play as him in 2014’s Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel. He essentially acts as your guide and mascot, and can make you laugh/cringe in equal measure. For some, however, he can be annoying, which is likely why the developers at Gearbox have introduced a setting to let you lower the volume of his voice or simply mute him completely.

“I wrote some lines just for this feature and it includes maybe the dumbest most niche reference to a certain terrible accent in a certain classic immersive sim,” teased Borderlands 4 narrative director, Sam Winkler, in a social media post responding to streamer and 2K partner, Chadly, who revealed there’s an audio slider dedicated to Claptrap’s voice.

When a fan suggested Gearbox shouldn’t have “caved to Claptrap haters,” he added: “I pitched that you should be able to put him from 0% to 200% but I think the government said no.”

Borderlands 4 is a looter shooter packed with billions of weapons, outrageous enemies, and intense co-op action where you’ll break free from a dangerous hidden planet as one of four new Vault Hunters.

We had a good time with what we’ve played so far, writing in IGN’s Borderlands 4 preview: “After several hours dipping my toes into what is sure to be a massive looter shooter, I’m much more optimistic about Borderlands 4’s odds of recapturing my affections after years apart.”

And in case Randy Pitchford’s controversial tweets had you thinking otherwise, publisher 2K Games has confirmed Borderlands 4 will cost $70, not $80, after all. Preorders are now live.

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.

New Ghost Recon Game Will Shortly Move Into Internal Alpha Testing, Says New Report

The next mainline Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon game is moving into internal alpha testing in the coming months.

That’s according to Insider Gaming, which claimed the shooter, codenamed ‘Over’ internally, will commence alpha testing in the Fall (Q3). With testing thought to take around 12 months, IG estimated Ghost Recon may release Fall 2026.

News of a new Ghost Recon broke around the time the developer/publisher confirmed it was ceasing all new development on 2019’s Ghost Recon Breakpoint. It has reportedly been in development at Ubisoft since then, although at the time, it was clear the series was undergoing a full reset, which would necessitate a lengthy development cycle.

In a statement to IGN, an Ubisoft representative said: “We do not comment on rumour or speculation.”

IGN’s Ghost Recon Breakpoint review returned a 6/10. We wrote: “Breakpoint offers initial fun following Ubisoft’s open-world structure as gospel, but a lack of variety and conflicting pieces leave it devoid of personality.”

Earlier this year, Ubisoft created a subsidiary company based on its Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry, and Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six brands, with a €1.16 billion (approx. $1.25 billion) investment from Chinese megacorp Tencent.

The news came hot on the heels of the launch of Assassin’s Creed Shadows, which just passed the 3 million player mark. Ubisoft suffered a number of high-profile flops, layoffs, studio closures, and game cancellations in the run up to Assassin’s Creed Shadows’ release, and there was enormous pressure on it to succeed after the company’s share price hit an historic low.

In 2022, Ubisoft canceled development on Ghost Recon Frontline a year after it was announced. It was meant to be a free-to-play battle royale spin-off with 102-players, but never saw the light of day.

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.