Octopath Traveler 0 is set to release for PS5, PS4, Switch 2, Switch, Xbox Series X|S, and PC on December 4. Like the previous entries in this turn-based RPG series, it’s made in the visually striking “HD-2D” art style that uses pixelated 2D characters and gorgeous HD environments, with visual effects only possible on modern platforms. The game is available for preorder now in several editions. Read on for details about what comes in each one, how much they cost, where you can preorder, and more.
Note that physical Switch 2 copies include a game-key card, which lets you download and play a digital copy of the game when the card is in your Switch 2 system.
This Square Enix Store-exclusive edition comes with the game itself, plus the following extras:
Digital Deluxe Edition Upgrade Code
Ring of the Flamebringer (JP ring size 21)
Traveler’s Playing Cards
8-Sided Dice of Wealth, Power, and Fame
Orsterra Continent Map Gaming Mat
Arrangements Break & Boost Vol.3 (Music CD)
Art booklet
Octopath Traveler 0 Preorder Bonus
Preorder Octopath Traveler 0, and you’ll receive a set of in-game items called Travel Provisions, which Square Enix describes as “A set of items and skills useful for the start of your journey.”
Healing Grape (M) x5
Inspiriting Plum (M) x5
Revitalizing Jam x2
Icewind Mastery
What Is Octopath Traveler 0?
Octopath Traveler 0 starts with you creating your own character from scratch. The story kicks off with your hometown of Wishvale burning to the ground, and it’s up to you and your companions to rebuild it. This all goes along with the “start from zero” theme of the game.
Combat is turn-based once again, complete with the “Break and Boost” system from previous games. But this time you can control parties of up to eight characters, so battles could be pretty big. There’s also a whole town-building mechanic, in which you have a grid to build houses and buildings on, placing them wherever you’d like. You’ll join up with over 30 different characters along the way.
More Preorder Guides
Chris Reed is a commerce editor and deals expert for IGN. He also runs IGN’s board game and LEGO coverage. You can follow him on Bluesky.
Borderlands 4 has been available to preorder since June, but only for PS5, Xbox, and PC gamers. We knew that the new game would be coming to the Switch 2, but it wasn’t until recently that we finally got a release date. The Switch 2 version of Borderlands 4 is set to arrive on October 3, almost a full month after its console and PC release. And as of today, you can now preorder your copy for $70.
Preorder Borderlands 4 for Nintendo Switch 2
As of right now, it looks like the standard edition of Borderlands 4 is the only version available to preorder on Amazon and GameStop. Both the console and PC currently have Super Deluxe Editions available for preorder that include additional content and fancy packaging. It’s unclear at this time if the Switch 2 will get a physical release of the Super Deluxe Edition as well, but we’ll update this page with any new information as soon as we have it.
That being said, the Super Deluxe edition is available to preorder directly from the Nintendo eShop. So if you want the benefits of that version without the actual physical copy of the game, that’s one way to do it.
Preorder Bonuses
Although this is the standard edition of the game, preordering does come with a few bonuses when you buy from Amazon. Alongside the base game, you’ll also get the Gilded Glory Pack. This features a Vault Hunter skin, a weapon skin, and an Echo-4 drone skin. You can see more details about the pack from the 2K website.
What Is Amazon’s Preorder Price Guarantee?
If you’ve never actually preordered anything from Amazon before, it’s worth noting that if you purchase this art book ahead of the release date, it includes Amazon’s preorder price guarantee. According to Amazon’s own help page, this means that if the price decreases between now and when the item ships, you’ll pay the lowest price. So in this case, if any of these editions of the game get a discount before they actually start shipping then you’ll pay whatever it dropped to rather than the full price.
Although not every preorder gets discounted, physical editions of games especially seem to rarely drop in price compared to other product categories before they actually release. That is especially true for popular Nintendo Switch games, which rarely receive discounts of any kind even after release.
Considering we’re living through a period where it feels like every other game is a remake, remaster, or throwback of some sort, perhaps I should be less surprised that Battlefield 6 feels a lot like Battlefields 3 and 4. They were, of course, the glory years for EA and DICE’s large-scale multiplayer shooter – excellent maps, engaging objective-based modes, spectacular destruction, and the all-important class system. It seems like Battlefield 6 replicates all of that, at least as far as I can tell after having played two hours and change of the new, contemporary-set FPS across a number of maps and modes. That is a good thing, of course, especially since recent Battlefield history has been a bit of a rocky ride. But is this resurrection of past glories actually exciting? In the moment, absolutely. But on a grander scale? That’s a more difficult question.
Those exciting moments are often the result of the well-defined class system, which returns in a comfortingly familiar guise following Battlefield 2042’s missteps with its hero shooter-like Specialists. The Assault class can use their grenade launcher to breach through walls and then turn the startled soldiers who once huddled behind it into swiss cheese. The Engineer is the vital cog in a tank battle, using their acetylene torch to repair friendly armour and keep the cannon fire rolling, even as an entire building collapses around them. The Support is the squad’s literal lifeline, diving onto the objective with bags of spare ammo and soldier-reviving defibrillators at the ready. And finally there’s the Recon, the tactitician who marks enemies for all to see before scoring a hattrick of headshots with a sniper rifle.
There’s nothing revolutionary about these classes, but they are much clearer in their parameters than they have been in the past. You won’t find the team’s dedicated infantry killer fulfilling anti-tank or medic duties, for instance, as the Assault has been forced to do in the likes of Battlefields 4 and 5. But as clean and traditional as these roles are, there is a minor shake-up. Like Battlefield 2042, any class can use any weapon, but now each role has a “signature” specialism designed to encourage you into the specific loadouts of yesteryear. For example, the Recon is able to hold their breath while aiming sniper rifles, making them the clear choice for long-range engagements, while the Engineer benefits from improved hip-fire control when using SMGs. As someone who would score a low-end grade in a sniper exam, this means I can play Recon while swinging around an assault rifle or LMG, which fully opens up the class roster. But I can’t help but wonder why I should brute-force my way into playing Recon when I could find my specialism elsewhere. Isn’t that what class play is all about?
The odd, freeform elements of 2042’s weapon system saw their fair share of criticism, and I agree that tighter restrictions would have been of benefit both there and here in Battlefield 6, especially since there’s real strength in the design of the prescribed specialist gadgets for each class. The Support’s deployable cover is a solid example – it’s great for hiding behind while resurrecting fallen squaddies, provides a safe space for allies to restock on the ammunition bags you can drop, and acts as a surface to mount the LMG that the class specialises in. In short, the components of each kit can harmonise wonderfully, and I think the interesting choice is finding which class kit provides the best melody for your playstyle, rather than adjusting the individual notes within that.
Ultimately the weapons system is a small wrinkle in a very familiar package, and that applies to basically all the new ideas present in Battlefield 6’s demo. A new movement system (ridiculously dubbed the “Kinesthetic Combat System”) promises smoother leaning around corners, bracing against cover to reduce recoil, combat rolls as you land from high jumps, and several other improvements, but I can’t say I found these valuable additions – especially the contextual lean, which rarely seemed to activate. Like the omnidirectional movement in last year’s Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, I wonder how much genuine impact this will have on the experience of regular players. The one addition that I do love is the ability to grab a fallen soldier by the scruff of their neck and drag them to safety before reviving them. It’s a useful ability that everyone has access to (which admittedly does infringe on the Support’s duties, but it’s far from the instant revive of the defibrillator.) More importantly, it’s something that creates a “moment” – there’s few things more heroic than dragging a buddy to cover while machine gun fire kicks up dust around you. If all the small additions add up to something that feels as good as that, then maybe Battlefield 6 will develop a more distinct character in time.
This is a series that needed to find secure footing after a couple of wobbly outings, and it certainly feels like this new iteration is standing on reinforced concrete.
But what about the battlefields themselves? The series has always had to find its own formula when it comes to level geography, simply because the classic three-lane design doesn’t work for 64-player chaos. Thankfully that rule still applies, which means Battlefield still feels unlike any other shooter out there. The flagship Conquest maps retain that almost open-world feel – much more expansive than Call of Duty arenas, with an eye for real-world authenticity. City streets feel like genuine (albeit thankfully evacuated) population centres, and buildings are realistically laid-out with coherent stairwells and floorplans. The designer’s hand can be felt when you realise that there are maps nested within maps, but they leave a good impression. The broad edges of Empire State replicates the wide, tank-friendly streets of New York City, but push further into the centre and there’s rabbit warren-like alleys and a large concrete multi-storey building that’s perfect for claustrophobic, close-quarters fighting.
One or two matches simply isn’t enough time to understand the nuances of a map, and so I can’t say where exactly the few on offer would rank among the all-time greats. But Liberation Peak, set along the slopes of the Pamir Mountains in Tajikistan, provides the ideal amount of wide, rocky terrain for land vs air battles alongside pocketed military bases that give birth to desperate infantry fights, while Siege of Cairo has the dense street networks ideal for luring tanks into RPG ambushes. With no demolition centrepieces there’s nothing that instantly becomes a map’s signature element, but I hope that continued play will reveal carefully-placed details in each street, room, and capture point.
Talking of demolition, Battlefield’s trademark chaos remains very much in-tact. It is somewhat restrained in comparison to the map-shifting “levolution” system that powered Battlefield 6’s most obvious touchstones, but the alternative is much more useful in the minute-to-minute play. Entire building facades crumble away under cannon fire, opening up buildings like sardine cans to reveal the fleshy fiends hiding within. You can breach floors, allowing for Rainbow Six Siege-like downward assaults… or simply blow the support from beneath a pesky sniper. This late into Battlefield’s lifespan it’s hard to be truly excited about all this – this is the series’ schtick and likely always will be now – but it’s nonetheless impressive. As much as it is a technical feat to be boasted about alongside the most photo-realistic graphics in the series’ lifetime, it’s also a foundational tool that makes Battlefield its own distinct beast.
If it seems odd that we’ve reached this far into the preview without mentioning the multiplayer modes – you know, the things you actually play – then it’s only because they almost blend into the background among the explosions and squad roles. The hands-on session provided matches of Conquest, Breakthrough, and Squad Deathmatch, and they’re exactly as Battlefield tradition dictates. Personal preference naturally applies, but at least from my perspective it’s the classic story of the objective-focussed modes reigning supreme and the smaller-scale, kill-everything-in-sight games still feeling like a square peg in Battlefield’s round hole. It’s not that they’re a bad time, it’s just that the “Battlefield Moments” EA likes to shout about seem to only happen when you’re desperately holding down Point C during a close game of Conquest, or pushing tooth-and-nail through the fiercest defence in Breakthrough.
As part of what seems like a project attempting to recapture the glory days of Battlefields 3 and 4, I don’t hold any grudge against these modes feeling like business as usual. This is a series that needed to find secure footing after a couple of wobbly outings, and it certainly feels like this new iteration is standing on reinforced concrete. But I can’t help but feel that those old, faithful objectives could have been freshened up a little, perhaps with unconventional capture point designs or equipment used specifically for objectives. Perhaps new thrills lie in the new Escalation mode, which was unavailable to sample at my hands-on demo, although considering the official description provided to press claims that it “sees two teams fight to capture strategic control points,” I’m not expecting it to add too much extra fizz to the established formula.
When Battlefield 6’s open betas go live across a couple of weekends in August, I expect there will be a lot of fans who will be relieved to find a package that largely seems focussed on returning Battlefield to its peak years. And I can’t deny that the modern combat aesthetic, equipment, and classes speak to me in a way that the series’ near-future and pseudo-historical guns never could. I had a good time. More than a decade after Battlefields 3 and 4, though, it doesn’t fill me with the same sense of adrenaline it once did. But nostalgia’s still a hell of a drug, and maybe that’s just what the medic ordered.
Do you have any questions about Battlefield 6? Tell us what you want to know in the comments, and we’ll do a follow-up soon to bring you as many answers as we can.
Bandai Namco will finally roll up another mainline Katamari game with Once Upon a Katamari when it launches for PC via Steam, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X and S on its October 24, 2025, release date.
News about the first fresh Katamari game in 14 years arrived during today’s July 2025 Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase. It came with a full-on gameplay trailer, below, revealing the return of The King of All Cosmos and plenty of that classic Katamari, ball-rolling gameplay fans have come to love the series for. You can see it all — and catch some new music — in the Once Upon a Katamari gameplay trailer below.
As if there was ever any concern, players can expect Once Upon a Katamari to let them roll up the universe yet again when it launches this fall. It’ll be more than a carbon copy of the games it follows, though, with Bandai Namco announcing a planet-sized amount of new features to enjoy.
Included in the lineup of additions of customization options for the Prince and 68 available Cousins, as well as multiplayer support for up to four players. It’s chaos that will be backed by an all-new soundtrack to listen to as players roll throughout history and rebuild the sky.
“The King of All Cosmos and his family accidentally destroyed the Earth, the moon, and countless stars floating in the universe,” an official description from Nintendo says. “Travel through the Jurassic Period, Ice Age, historic Japan, and other eras to roll up objects with your trusty katamari and rebuild the starry sky. With all-new stages, a new soundtrack, character customization, a new four-player multiplayer mode that lets players compete online or battle CPU rivals offline and more, the quirky Katamari Damacy series returns when Once Upon A Katamari launches on Nintendo Switch October 24.”
Once Upon a Katamari on Switch will be up for pre-order through the Nintendo eShop later today. Those with save data from Katamari Damacy REROLL or We Love Katamari REROLL+ Royal Reverie will also be able to unlock a special playable Young King at launch. A proper Nintendo Switch 2 version has yet to be announced.
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).
At Gen Con 2025, Disney Lorcana celebrated its two-year anniversary in a big way by revealing A Goofy Movie and Iconic Mickey and Minnie cards headed to the Fabled expansion, details on Whispers in the Well, Winterspell, and Toy Story cards, and even a brand-new set of Disney Lorcana puzzles.
There’s a lot to look forward to in the ever-expanding world of Disney Lorcana, and you can check out all the latest news and cards below!
Fabled’s Iconic Mickey and Minnie Cards Are the Stars of This Expansion Alongside A Goofy Movie
Fabled is set to be released at local card shops on August 25 and everywhere else on September 5, and one of the biggest new additions it brings to Disney Lorcana is Iconic cards. These are even rarer than Enchanted and feature full alternate artwork, unique foil pattern, and foil hot-stamped text and stats. Kicking off this new rarity will be Minnie Mouse – Sweetheart Princess and Mickey Mouse – Brave Little Prince.
These cards not only look great, but they also complete a picture when placed together. Furthermore, Minnie’s Royal Favor adds Support to any Mickey Mouse cards, meaning their love for each other will also help you in-game!
Another new rarity being added with Fabled will be Epic, which are rarer than Legendary but more common than Enchanted, and one of these new cards will be A Goofy Movie’s Stand Out. A Goofy Movie’s arrival in Lorcana was long-requested, and Stand Out will celebrate this moment alongside Powerline – World’s Greatest Rock Star and I2I.
Dumbo is also getting some love in the new Fabled set, as Dumbo – The Flying Elephant, and Timothy T. Mouse – Flight Instructor will be just two of the card players that will be able to seek out.
There will also be a handful of promo cards to look out for in Fabled, including Alice – Accidentally Adrift (Buy a Box Promo), Cursed Merfolk – Usula’s Handiwork (Weekly Play Promo), Sisu – Daring Visitor (Weekly Play Promo), Strength of Raging Fire (Weekly Play Promo), and The Queen – Conceited Ruler (Pre-Release Promo).
Lastly, Maleficent in her dragon form will be featured as Fabled’s Set Championship, meaning there will be cards and play mats available to those who can win at tournaments held throughout the year.
The Collection Starter Set and Elsa Gift Box Are Made for Collectors and Newcomers
For those looking for even more ways to celebrate their love of Disney Lorcana or jump in for the first time, the Collection Starter Set and Elsa Gift Box will be worth a look when they launch on October 3, 2025.
The Collection Starter Set will cost $29.99 and will include a 4-pocket card portfolio featuring Mickey Mouse – Brave Little Tailor artwork, which had previously only been used at Disney Lorcana Challenge. There will also be a “Glimmer Foil” Tinker Bell – Giant Fairy promo card, four Fabled booster packs, and a Collector’s Guide.
The Elsa Gift Box, on the other hand, will also cost $29.99, and it will come with five Booster packs, one “Glimmer Foil” Elsa – The Fifth Spirit promo card, one storage box, and three punch-out card dividers.
Whispers in the Well Will Feature Zootopia’s Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde
Whispers in the Well is the next set after Fabled and will have its pre-release on November 7 and official release on November 14. For Disney Lorcana lore hunters, this set will introduce Whispers, which are partially-formed Glimmers that we’ll encounter in the “depths of the Great illuminary.” To find these Whispers, certain detective Glimmers like Mickey Mouse, Judy Hopps, and Nick Wilde will need to lend their expertise to the cause.
We were given a look at a few of the Zootopia cards that will be part of Whispers in the Well, including Judy Hopps – Uncovering Clues, Nick WIlde – Persistent Investigator, and Putting It All Together. The Deck and Booster Pack art was also revealed, and they feature such characters as Daisy, Demona, Gaston, Simba, Megara, Judy Hopps, and Robin Hood.
Winterspell Promises ‘Flurries of Fun’ With Stitch, Angel, and More
In Q1 2026, Disney Lorcana will be releasing Winterspell, a new expansion that promises “Flurries of Fun.” We don’t know too much about this set yet, but the art you can see above features Stitch and Angel, and they appear to be in a tropical setting that is covered in snow!
Toy Story to Arrive in Disney Lorcana in Q2 2026
As one final surprise, the team at Disney Lorcana revealed Toy Story characters will be joining the TCG in Q2 2026. The only info we have is from a piece of artwork that features both Woody and Buzz on a seemingly alien planet. More details will be shared in the future.
Disney Lorcana Puzzles From Ravensburger Feature Original Art from the TCG
Disney Lorcana is venturing into the world of puzzles as it will be presenting six 1,000-piece puzzles from Ravensburger – one for each Ink color, that will feature original art from the TCG and each will even come with a Disney Mickey Mouse – True Friend promo card. These puzzles will cost $29.99 each in the US and Canada and will be released on September 1, 2025.
You can check out the Amber, Emerald, Ruby, and Sapphire puzzles in the slideshow above, and there are still two – Amethyst and Steel – that have yet to be revealed. Furthermore, those last two will be exclusive to Disney in its stores and online.
As PopCap announces a “definitive” new version of its beloved original Plants vs Zombies, the studio has reflected on the evolution of its garden tower defense franchise — and revealed why now is the right time for it to go back to the series’ PC and console roots, after a pair of sequels focused on smartphones.
Speaking to IGN, PopCap studio general manager Nick Reinhart said the freshly-announced Plants vs Zombies: Replanted was an opportunity to “reestablish” what fans loved about the series, while making it accessible on modern consoles, with polished-up 4K graphics.
Plants vs Zombies: Replanted will arrive on October 23, 2025 priced at $19.99, for PC (via EA app, Epic Games Store and Steam) and on consoles for Nintendo Switch, Switch 2, PlayStation 4, PS5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S.
New features include local co-op and PVP options, two additional game modes (a roguelike permadeath offering named Rest in Peace, and Cloudy Day mode, which ups the difficulty by limiting sunlight), plus an art gallery showing previously-unreleased concepts.
Describing the package as “the definitive PvZ remaster,” executive producer Jake Neri said it was PopCap’s way to “preserve the magic of the original while also giving it a freshness that allows it to live for another 20-odd years.”
“We’ve heard for quite a while now that that people would love a remaster of this game,” Neri continued, when asked why Replanted was surfacing now. “Timing is important.”
“PopCap just celebrated [PvZ’s] Sweet 16, which may seem like a little bit of a strange one but, at PopCap, we are strange,” added Reinhart. “It certainly has been swirling around sort of for a little bit, as we’ve been talking about getting things pulled together.”
“My official answer here is that I don’t have anything to say about PvZ 3 at the moment,” Reinhart said when asked for an update on the MIA threequel’s status. For 2025, at least, the franchise’s focus appears to be Replanted — though there are “no plans” for Replanted to also launch on smartphones, something that would leave the runway clear for PvZ to return there at some point.
“Is it a reset?” Reinhart said, when asked if Replanted’s launch was the franchise resetting to its origins, after various spin-offs and sequels. “I think that’s an interesting way to sort of frame the question. What I would say is that I think it’s more of a reacknowledgement of what our roots are, and what sort of games we should be thinking about and what we should be making.”
“Has the brand ever gone away? No,” Reinhart continued. “A reset, to me, almost implies ‘well, it’s been dead on the vine,’ and we’re, like, trying to bring it back or something like that. I don’t think it’s there. I do think that it’s an opportunity for us to reestablish that this is a brand that people love, that there are still a lot of Neighborville stories that we can and should tell, and that we have to author that, to some extent, with our fan base in mind, and that we have to be able to acknowledge what we’ve done there.”
Naturally, PopCap has arrived on its decision to relaunch the original Plants vs Zombies after seeing the reaction to its more recent games in the series. 2013’s smartphone-only Plants vs Zombies 2 was popular and long-lasting, though included touchscreen power-ups and microtransactions that grated with some players. More recent years have seen the franchise’s console focus transform into a 3D shooter, via the Garden Warfare spin-off franchise — though for now, 2019 entry Battle for Neighborville appears to be the last.
Even PopCap itself, previously a prolific creator of bizarre but compulsive game ideas (Feeding Frenzy! Zuma! Bookworm!) has consolidated its focus in recent years. Bejeweled Stars will be a decade old next year, while Peggle 2 is 12 years old already, with no sign of a third entry on the horizon.
“I would say that the passion of the community is an important thing that has to be galvanized and recognized,” Reinhart said, discussing why PopCap has gone back to PvZ’s roots now. “So much of what inspires our design decisions is, how we make sure that we are keeping something that is familiar, that doesn’t entirely break the compact we have made with the player base, but that we can also then begin to iterate and move it forward as well.”
“This game has given us an opportunity to go and dive in and try to figure out exactly what it is that people love about PvZ,” Neri added. “And there’s a lot of learning that we’ve done about the zaniness of the IP and how it appeals to people in that way, and that helps guide us and help us be true to what the the expectation is.”
This desire to keep within fan expectations helped informed PopCap’s choice of new modes for Replanted, Neri continued, as while the developer had plenty of ideas and could have gone in “all different directions,” Replanted’s team instead aimed for what they thought fans would actually want.
“We’re very thoughtful about how much innovation we bring into it,” Reinhart agreed, “and not just trying to alienate the core overall experience for players… As we look to the future, we’re looking at the brand more holistically and saying, what else is there? And what would it mean for us to reinvestigate some of that? There are no formal plans for right now, but it’s something we are spending a lot of time looking at. But for this year, for the current stanza of where PopCap is, it is back at tower defense, and we’re excited about that.”
“We’ve done a ton of exploration around what people loved about all the different versions of PvZ and trying to bring it back into this version,” Neri added. “As we go forward, I definitely hope that Replanted will be an anchor for for us, that people can look to and understand — because the original PvZ still lives in people’s hearts and minds.”
So what of the future? Does a return to the more grounded original Plants vs Zombies in Replanted offer a clue as to where the franchise could go next? Or could it spark the re-release of other PopCap classics?
“We’ve absolutely been having conversations about — if this is fruitful, if this meets the fans expectations… is this a template?” Reinhart said. “I think there’s a lot of enthusiasm about that. Now, whether or not there are actually plans ongoing yet, we can’t say that, but I would say we’re very interested to see how this goes and what it would maybe mean for other properties to sort of maybe follow a similar route.
“PvZ is incredibly enduring,” Reinhart concluded, “and being able to bring that to a new audience, to reawaken people’s nostalgia and their feelings about it as well, especially in a time where I think the world could use a little bit of joy and wackiness, it just feels like the right time for that.”
Tom Phillips is IGN’s News Editor. You can reach Tom at tom_phillips@ign.com or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social
Can I reminisce for a second, gang? Is that cool? Almost four years ago, I reviewed Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Hinokami Chronicles for IGN. It was my first IGN review. Now, with exactly 25 more IGN reviews under my belt, I’m back to review its sequel. Time flies, and a lot has changed in the last four years, including within this series. The Hinokami Chronicles 2 is a bigger, better version of its predecessor that adds new ways to play while maintaining what worked and tweaking what didn’t, even if it’s not exactly out here discovering new forms of demon slaying.
Let’s start from the beginning. If you’re unfamiliar with Demon Slayer from its manga or anime, it follows Tanjiro and Nezuko Kamado after demons murder their family and transform Nezuko into a demon herself. Determined to avenge their family, the two set out to slay demons and figure out a way to make Nezuko human again. The original Hinokami Chronicles went through the end of the Mugen Train Arc, and The Hinokami Chronicles 2 picks up from there. There’s some effort to play catch up if you missed the original game, with a bit of narration from Tanjiro in the Story Mode explaining what’s going on and who characters like Inosuke and Zenitsu are, but for the most part The Hinokami Chronicles 2 kind of expects you to have a familiarity with what’s going on. This is a sequel, after all.
If you don’t, you can hop into Path of the Demon Slayer, which allows you to replay a truncated version of the original story. And when I say “truncated,” I mean it, as it’s comprised of just six one-on-one fights. That’s it. It was still a useful way for me to refresh on the story so far, but none of the big, flashy fights against the massive bosses from the original game are here, and even some of the smaller fights are missing. Worse, the ones that are here are based on the playable, versus mode versions of the bosses you fought, which means they’re essentially just glorified Vs CPU matches. Don’t get me wrong; I am grateful The Path of the Demon Slayer is here at all, but it feels like there should have been more to it. As it is, you can knock the whole thing out in maybe half an hour.
For most folks, I imagine the appeal will be Story Mode, which allows you to play through the Entertainment District, Swordsmith Village, and Hashira Training Arcs. The story compelled me less than last time, though I remained interested even if it is a little goofy. Characters (especially the usually-cowardly-but-brave-when-it-counts Zenitsu) yell a lot, but it’s usually pretty funny in context, and Tanjiro is a goody-goody’s goody-goody, but at least his heart’s in the right place. This is a CyberConnect2 joint, so everything is absolutely beautifully animated and just about every sequence looks remarkable. There are a lot of cutscenes in the Story Mode, so maybe make some popcorn, but things are generally well-presented. Do characters talk too much and have too much internal monologue about how they can’t believe the other guy is doing some crazy stuff? Yup. Lots of yelling? Yup. Still fairly interesting anyway? Yup. It’s an anime game, y’all. Just, you know… don’t take a shot every time someone yells about something. You’ll be dead before the Entertainment District Arc is over.
This is a CyberConnect2 joint, so everything is absolutely beautifully animated and just about every sequence looks remarkable.
Between cutscenes, you’ll walk around and explore the world, talk to other characters, find items, and hunt down demons or clues to their whereabouts using Tanjiro’s incredible nose, Zenitsu’s super hearing, Inosuke’s spatial awareness, and so on. All of these essentially boil down to the Demon Slayer version of Detective Vision. Turn it on, follow the path, profit. As you explore, you’ll also be able to collect Memory Fragments, which are short movies that combine voiceovers and stills from the anime series, and Kimetsu Points, which can be used to unlock rewards like characters, system voices, alternate costumes, quotes, stamps, various art and decorations to customize your profile, and songs from the soundtrack, a lot of which you’ll also find scattered around the environments. I’m particularly fond of finding some momento that causes characters to pause and remember times past; it makes the world feel more lived in, and is a good reminder of how we got here.
I complained about all the walking around in my review of the original game, but I’m feeling it a bit more here for three reasons: first, the areas are smaller and more “big area where you run around and find stuff” rather than “travel this exceptionally linear path.” Secondly, you can run this time around, at least when you’re outside. Thank God, y’all. Thirdly, there’s side quests now, which break things up nicely, whether that means helping a shy servant confess his love to one of the women he serves or joining forces with a Hashira to take down a demon. These are fun, and they add variety. Plus, you usually get one of the aforementioned rewards. There’s even some amusing minigames, like Demon Slayer’s version of Guitar Hero, too!
When you’re not walking around, you’ll be throwing down with one demon or another. Like the first game, the fights are pretty sick, whether you’re fighting another member of the cast or engaging in one of the more elaborate fights against characters you’d never see in a versus match, like a giant demon fishman or a demon made of sashes or a 3 on 1 brawl. Even ones that you’ll fight multiple times, like Daki and Gyutaro, are compelling because you’ll use different characters each time, or fight under unique conditions, like having one of your characters be poisoned or using an alternate version than you’re used to. The boss fights are flashy and engaging throughout The Hinokami Chronicles 2, and easily the highlight of the story mode.
Locking Swords with Demons
When it comes to the actual battle system, this sequel doesn’t make a ton of changes. Attacks are on one button and specials another. You can vary things up by pushing the stick in a direction while pressing one of those buttons to either perform different specials or one of three unique combos: one that launches, one that keeps foes on the ground, and one that knocks them down.
Each fighter can also throw, dash (particularly useful to follow up a launcher for an air combo), perform an Ultimate Art, use heavy attacks, and activate two special power ups: Boost and Surge. Boost powers up your attacks and adds an extra combo route, while Surge gives your character unlimited meter for a short time. The controls are simple, but there’s a lot of depth to this combat if you’re into that, and I enjoyed learning how to build combos with each character, figuring out advanced techniques like Quick Dodge so I could keep my attacks from becoming predictable and keep my combo gauge going a bit longer, and identifying the best way to parry certain characters.
I’ll also sing the praises of the few changes CyberConnect 2 has implemented. First, heavy attacks are no longer bound to forward plus the attack button. Instead, you’ll hold guard and press attack. No more accidental regular attacks when you want a heavy strike to lay on the hurt. Secondly, while the combo gauge is still here (and still, I think, a smart addition for a game like this), I haven’t noticed characters falling out of combos if you run out of gauge during multihit attacks like the original game. These are both very, very good changes.
While you’ll sometimes fight solo in Story Mode, The Hinokami Chronicles 2 is meant to be a tag game. In two-on-two battles, you can call in your tag partner for an assist that utilizes one of their special moves for half of your assist gauge, or spend all of it to have them save you from a mid-combo beatdown. You can also fully swap between your characters provided you have the gauge for it, and since health is shared between them, you’ll never have to fly solo, even when things are looking bad for the home team. In a new twist, some characters are so strong they don’t get assists at all, like Nezuko in her Advanced Demon Form, while others, like Hinatsuru, Makio, and Suma, come as a pre-built tag team. Certain teams even have unique Dual Ultimate Arts, which incentivizes you to pair characters like Tanjiro and Nezuko, who already have a bond in The Lore.
As before, the real strength of this system is movement and positioning. Finding the sweet spot between being far enough away from an attack to dodge it and close enough to punish when you do is as compelling as landing that huge combo, especially when you cash out with a particularly flashy Ultimate Art.
The best Story Mode bosses force you to learn their patterns, pick your spots, and execute when you find your moment.
The best Story Mode bosses force you to learn their patterns, pick your spots, and execute when you find your moment. Last time, I complained that bosses could knock you back at will, even when you’re laying the smacketh down, and that their Boost Modes are so powerful that you’ll spend a lot of time playing defense once they activate them. Both are still true, and while they can be annoying, it doesn’t feel quite as bad this time. Maybe I’m used to it, or maybe the dance feels more natural. For whatever reason, I’m less bothered. And when you finish that fight and transition into a flashy quick-time event called the Final Clash to cap off the brawl? Still cinema. And like last time, it’s nice that you can replay the encounters without doing the map sections that accompany them once you’ve beaten them.
But Wait, There’s More!
Once you’re done with the Story Mode, you still have some options as a solo player. The most interesting one is probably Hashira Training, a roguelike where you guide your team down a board, choosing fights with unique win conditions (switch a character, win with X amount of health remaining, and so on) or rewards and healing items. Your health won’t regenerate between fights unless you choose to head to a square that offers it, but you’ll get boosts that can buff you up for the next fight. Your goal? Make it to the Hashira you’re training with, and take them down. It’s a simple mode, but an engaging one, and just like Story Mode, it’s a good way to earn new goodies for the Archive and up your Character Mastery, which… also earns you new stuff for the Archive. There’s a ton of stuff to unlock here, so if that’s your bag, The Hinokami Chronicles 2 has the juice to keep you here for the long haul.
If there’s one thing I don’t like about Story Mode and Hashira Training, it’s the addition of gear. Why does everything need to be an RPG? I’ll never know, but here we are. You can equip up to three pieces of gear in three slots. Each has its own slot requirement and does different things, like boost your attack or recover your health if certain conditions are met in combat. It’s… fine, I guess? I just don’t see the point and wish it wasn’t here, because it’s just another menu I have to mess with when I want to be fighting in my fighting game.
Thankfully, you can turn gear off in versus mode, though it’s there if you want it. As expected, there is online and local versus, as well as a practice mode to help you get to grips with how every character works and an endurance mode for testing your skills against enemy after relentless enemy. The original Hinokami Chronicles was hamstrung by its relatively small roster – only 18 characters at launch, several of which were just Academy versions of characters you already had, with jokey Ultimate Arts. The Hinokami Chronicles 2 has more than 40, greatly upping the multiplayer value and offering far more variety. It’s a huge win. I wasn’t able to test out the online play pre-release this time, but given that I had stable matches cross-country in the original, I’m not overly concerned, and the moment-to-moment gameplay is just as compelling.
My only real complaint regarding modes is the lack of a decent tutorial. Yeah, there’s text-based tips and tricks, but what’s here in the Story Mode is sparse and doesn’t hit on the more advanced stuff. On some level, I get it. This is a sequel. You’re kind of expected to know how things work. But when the text-based tutorials tell me what parrying is without telling me how to do it, that’s kind of an issue, right? Good teaching tools are a must in a fighting game, even an arena fighter, and The Hinokami Chronicles 2 doesn’t really have any. It’s a shame.
Hideo Kojima may be the creator of the seminal stealth series, Metal Gear, but that doesn’t mean he’ll play Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater — the remake of Metal Gear Solid 3.
In an interview with Ssense, when asked if he would be playing Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater when it releases later this summer, he laughed and replied: “No, I won’t.”
Asked why he chose to develop a sequel for Death Stranding rather than pursue a new project, Kojima told the interviewer, “it’s my IP,” and acknowledged his decision to expand into other media like film and anime came from his “business side.” It’s also why he developed his stealth series Metal Gear into a franchise.
“Even during [my days at] Konami, I was thinking about the business side as well. That’s one of the reasons I continued Metal Gear. But this time I have a whole studio and staff behind me, so I had more responsibility.”
More recently, Metal Gear Solid publisher Konami is back with a bang, and to prove it, it hosted a livestream showcase on June 12 called Konami Press Start Live. The half-hour-long livestream featured game updates and appearances from Konami developers and producers, introducing us to the “creative minds behind some of Konami’s most iconic franchises,” as well as giving us an extended look at Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater, Silent Hill f, and more. Here’s everything that was announced at Konami Press Start Live June 2025.
“But just speaking for myself, personally, I’d like nothing better than to work with Mr. Kojima and the rest of the team again,” Okamura said. “If that could happen, that would be the dream.
“But people have moved on to new things and new commitments, and that’s just our current reality. We can’t just take it for granted that everyone would work with us again, or let ourselves be completely dependent on them.”
Photo by Phillip Faraone/Getty Images for Kojima Productions.
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.
It is one of the great unsolved mysteries of the Warhammer 40,000 universe — at least, it was. Via a new codex, Games Workshop has finally revealed the true nature of the much-debated Terminus Decree — and some Warhammer 40,000 lore fans really wish it hadn’t.
The Terminus Decree, for the uninitiated, is the final order issued to the Grey Knights, perhaps the most mysterious chapter of Space Marines in the setting, before the Emperor was placed within the Golden Throne following his mortal wounding by the Warmaster Horus at the end of the Horus Heresy.
(For more on the Emperor’s current… situation, check out this article here.)
The idea is that only the Supreme Grand Master of the Grey Knights can open The Terminus Decree and discover what, exactly, this final order entails. Essentially, it’s a ‘break glass in case of emergency’ Pandora’s box — and Warhammer 40,000 fans have wondered what was inside for years.
Now, with the release of the new Grey Knights codex (a book packed with background lore, pictures of miniatures for use on the tabletop game, and fresh rules to play around with), Games Workshop has for the first time revealed what The Terminus Decree actually involves.
Warning! Spoilers for Warhammer 40,000 lore follow:
A single passage in the new Grey Knights codex has lit up Warhammer 40,000 lore fans, as it reveals the ultimate duty of the Grey Knights is to either kill or re-entomb the Emperor within the Golden Throne, should he ever attempt to leave, be reborn, or ascend to godhood. This is The Terminus Decree: an ultra-secret doomsday device, a contingency box left by the Emperor himself that would have the Grey Knights force him back onto the Golden throne, should he ever recover and dare to leave it.
New Grey Knights Codex “explains” The Terminus Decree …what? WHAT!? HOW! WHEN!? H O W!? pic.twitter.com/87h9wjeQPB
Interestingly, the passage reveals The Terminus Decree offers no guidance for how the Grey Knights should do this, if they ever have to, and that they might have to cut through the Adeptus Custodes to do it. The Custodes are the Emperor’s super powerful bodyguard — even more powerful than the Space Marines — so good luck with that!
This is a huge amount for any Warhammer 40,000 lore fan to take in. It is a major revelation, one that puts an end to years of debate at this point. Whether you take it as the Emperor being smart because he knew that if he were ever to return it simply wouldn’t be him but something else entirely (this development would potentially tap into ongoing The Dark King plotline), or Games Workshop planting seeds for something big they’re building towards (Chief Custodian Constantin Valdor looms large over the setting, and it does seem like the Emperor is… stirring), the inescapable truth is now we know, whether we like it or not.
And that’s a big issue for some Warhammer 40,000 lore fans, who have since expressed their frustration that Games Workshop has explained this mystery at all. Warhammer 40,000 is packed full of unexplained mysteries, hanging plot threads, and tantalizing puzzles that it may never get around to explaining. Take, for example, the mystery of the II and XI, the Forgotten and the Purged, the two lost primarchs and their two lost legions. Games Workshop has danced around revealing this part of Warhammer 40,000 lore for years, and many hope the truth is never revealed. Speculation is, after all, part of the fun. There is much to be said for leaving things to the imagination.
And that was the case with The Terminus Decree, until now. So what gives? Why reveal it now? Why take the speculation and imagination away from fans on this lore point in particular? There is much vehement reaction from the community. Here’s a snippet:
“I don’t really like this,” redditor aposi said. “It both spoils the mystery and changes the concept from a weapon of last resort in a doomsday scenario (which is cool to speculate about) to just trying to restore the status quo in the event one of those cool speculative things happens.”
There has never been a case where GW filled in lore that was better than just leaving it up the the players imagination.
But this is by far the most atrocious example. Not even close.
— Shadow of a Doubt (@Shadow_ofaDoubt) July 30, 2025
“Dislike… outright annoyed by it,” added Drxero1xero. “Huge mystery, leave it unknown or make a novel or three out of it… Nope throw it away in text box in a codex.
“GW are little by little sucking the fun out of warhammer’s settings, flat and colorless… no mystery, all little bites of lore…”
GW is lost, they’re just going to explain everything and take the mystery out of things aren’t they?
“I feel like this not only completely undermines the whole mystery, but it doesn’t even work. At all,” said TheVoidDragon.
“The cool thing about the lore was not quite knowing what it was, what it would do, or what it was even about. The mystery and speculation on what it could be was what made it intriguing for so many years. To now just outright define it takes all that way completely, it’s just plainly stated exactly what it is as if it doesn’t matter.”
Leaving mysteries is essential to the mystique of 40k. If a mystery must be revealed, it must be a magnificent piece of writing. In this case, they marble brained one of the most foreboding and cool things the grey knights had. FFS GW
The next obvious question is, will The Terminus Decree come into effect any time soon? Will we see, perhaps in a novel, another codex, or a blog post, the Grey Knights actually fight the Custodes because the Emperor has somehow revived himself? Or is this just an odd spike of activity in Warhammer 40,000 lore that causes a kerfuffle now, but won’t lead to anything for years to come?
Like the Warp itself, Games Workshop sometimes feels unknowable.
The God-Emperor, by John Blanche. 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.
The Land of Shu is full of dangers, and Wuchang: Fallen Feathers doesn’t always explain its mechanics. We’ve teamed up with the experts at Maxroll to bring you a beginner’s guide, builds to crush the game’s hardest bosses, additional resources and mechanical overviews, and much more.
Beginner’s Guide
Get started with Maxroll’s Beginner’s Guide. Combat in Wuchang: Fallen Feathers is different from a lot of other Soulslikes, as your main resource Skyborn Might revolves around getting “perfect dodges” called Shimmers (think Sekiro but with hitting B instead of LB). You can then spend Skyborn Might to empower your weapon skills, or instantly execute a charged heavy attack. This is particularly useful because you can use charged heavy attacks to stagger foes, opening them up to a powerful Obliterate attack. Maxroll’s Beginner’s Guide also covers topics like leveling up using the Impetus Repository system, how the game’s unique Madness system works, and the various character progression systems including Temperance, Benedictions, Disciplines and more. Then, learn how to traverse the land of Shu, find hidden secrets and interact with Wuchang’s riddle doors.
Progression Systems
During Chapter 1 – Worship’s Rise, you’re introduced to several progression systems. Each system makes Wuchang a little stronger and by combining them you’re able to make some truly powerful builds that cut through the game’s hardest bosses with ease.
Weapons are the core of any build, the game offers five different weapon classes; Longsword, Spear, One-Handed Sword, Dual Blades, and Axe. Each weapon has a unique move set and a pool of customizable Disciplines. In addition, each weapon within a class has its own unique weapon skill.
Check out Maxroll’s Weapon guide to learn more about your options, or browse all of the available Weapons.
Weapons have unique skills, some of which can trivialize bosses. These Weapon Skills are powerful and can be further enhanced by expending Skyborn Might.
Each weapon offers several Disciplines, custom moves that can be used with L2/LT. Learn the best with Maxroll’s Discipline guide or browse all of them in the database.
Benedictions are gem-like enhancements socketed into your weapon. You can use one Oath type Benediction, one Wisdom and one Memory. Learn the best with Maxroll’s Benediction and Benediction Sets guide or browse the database to see all Benedictions and Benediction Sets.
Weapons are enhanced through the Impetus Repository, the unique level-up system in Wuchang: Fallen Feathers. Learn more with Maxroll’s Impetus Repository guide, or browse all of the Impetus Repository skills in the database.
Temperance provides a powerful in-combat buff to Wuchang. She can insert various needles into her acupoints to change the element of the buff, or add unique effects. Learn more with Maxroll’s Temperance and Needle guide or browse the list of Bone and Stone needles.
Weapons aren’t the only item(s) you can equip in Wuchang: Fallen Feathers. In addition, you have access to a variety of Armor Sets each of which has a unique appearance and provides slightly different stats. You can also use Jade Pendants that provide small bonuses, use consumable items (some of which are refilled when you rest at a Shrine), and equip powerful spells capable of unleashing devastation on bosses.
Learn more about Armor and Pendants with Maxroll’s dedicated guide, or browse the database to peruse all of the Armor and Jade Pendant options available.
Spend Skyborn Might to cast powerful spells, learn the best with Maxroll’s Magic and Spellcasting guide. Or simply browse through all of the Magic, Feathering and Utility spells.
Burning Questions
In addition to explaining the game’s mechanics and progression systems, here’s a short list of guides from Maxroll that answer some burning questions like “how do I beat Commander Honglan” or where to find the most powerful defensive spell in the game!
Each of the game’s five weapons has a unique playstyle. The Longsword is a balanced weapon that acts as a middle ground. Spears have great reach and excellent Disciplines, but have a weaker charged heavy attack animation. One-Handed Swords have long animations and low damage but provide Spell Damage, enabling a dedicated caster archetype. The Dual Blades reward all out aggression as you clash through enemy attacks and heal yourself. Axes hit hard, staggering foes and stopping them in their tracks, but they also tend to be slower and have higher stamina costs.
Use Maxroll’s Wuchang: Fallen Feathers database to learn more about all of the items in the game. This includes Weapon scaling at different upgrade levels, defensive stats on armor and spell scaling. You can also learn about the materials you need to upgrade your Weapons, Manna Flask and more. You can use the search feature to find exactly what you want or browse different categories to learn about your options. If you want more details, click through to an item’s page.
More to Come
That’s it for now, Maxroll is hard at work adding a Spear build, along with more resources. Check out their Wuchang: Fallen Feathers page for more.
