Category: IGN

Auto Added by WPeMatico

Battlefield 2042 Season 7 Will be Its Last as Connected Battlefield Universe Enters Full Production

With the Connected Battlefield Universe’s development now in full swing, EA announced today that Battlefield 2042 Season 7 will officially be its last.

Writing in a blog, Battlefield general manager Byron Beede explained that it’s time for the franchise to “turn from the present to the future.” To that end, he says, EA will continue to support Battlefield 2042 with “in-game challenges, events, modes, and of course, ongoing maintenance,” but will be moving away from a seasonal structure when Season 7 wraps up in June.

“We know this news may be disappointing. However, as we looked at what the future of the series required, it became clear it was time for us to shift our resources and focus to be fully dedicated to what comes next,” Beede said.

In the meantime, EA plans to serve up more content as part of Season 7, which launched back in March. Planned updates include a revamped map based on the Stadium from Hourglass, another LMG, two more in-game events, and another vehicle.

Season 7 marks the end of Battlefield 2042’s comeback trail after its disappointing release back in 2021, which saw fans and critics pan its 128 player matches and its Specialist system among other criticisms. In the years since it has managed to rehabilitate its reputation somewhat, though it still sits at Mixed on Steam.

Vince Zampella, who is the Group GM of both Respawn and Battlefield, previously called the Battlefield Connected Universe an “and” strategy back in 2021, saying that EA would continue to “evolve and grow Battlefield 2042.” But a little more than two-and-a-half years after its original release, it looks like EA is ready to move on.

Motive joins the Connected Battlefield Universe

Looking ahead, EA says that the Connected Battlefield Universe is officially leaving pre-production and adding another studio. Following Ridgeline Games’ closure in the wake of the departure of founder Marcus Lehto, EA revealed that a team at EA Motive led by Roman Campos-Oriola and Phillipe Ducharme will be joining in the game’s development alongside Ripple Effect, DICE, and Criterion.

“[Ducharme and Campos-Oriola] will build a team at Motive to work alongside the Battlefield studios around the world creating what’s next for Battlefield – a universe across both multiplayer and single-player experiences,” Motive GM Patrick Klaus wrote in a separate blog post. “Their proven expertise in storytelling, immersive battles and developing on the Frostbite engine uniquely positions them to help advance the vision for Battlefield, led by Vince Zampella (EVP, Group GM of Respawn and Battlefield) and Byron Beede (SVP, GM Battlefield).”

Ducharme and Campos-Oriola previously led development on the Dead Space remake, which was acclaimed for its excellent visuals and its “carefully balanced innovation and renovation with preservation.” Their new mission will be to “support single-player and multiplayer objectives for Battlefield Universe,” EA says.

Motive’s move to Battlefield isn’t expected to impact development on its untitled Iron Man game, which continues apace. Klaus said that Iron Man made “excellent progress this year, hitting a major internal milestone and laying a robust foundation for the journey ahead.” He added that Iron Man remains an “important priority” for the studio.

Their proven expertise in storytelling, immersive battles and developing on the Frostbite engine uniquely positions them to help advance the vision for Battlefield

EA announced that it working on the Connected Battlefield Universe in 2021 and that it would be “interconnected with shared characters and narrative.” The project remains shrouded in mystery and is still some way off from release, but EA has repeatedly described the project as “ambitious,” which is reflected in the number of teams involved in its development.

EA recently underwent a series of layoffs impacting around 670 workers that included the cancellation of Respawn’s Star Wars FPS and the aforementioned closure of Ridgeline Games. It’s all part of a broader strategy of doubling down on owned franchises, CEO Andrew Wilson says, of which Battlefield is a significant part. Elsewhere, the games industry continues to be heavily impacted by layoffs, including Sony, Xbox, Riot, and other major publishers.

Neither Motive’s Untitled Iron Man game nor the Connected Battlefield Universe have a release date. You can find our list of the biggest games coming in 2024 right here.

Kat Bailey is IGN’s News Director as well as co-host of Nintendo Voice Chat. Have a tip? Send her a DM at @the_katbot.

Star Wars Outlaws Release Date Leaks Online Early — Courtesy of Ubisoft Itself

The Star Wars Outlaws release date has leaked online early — and the source of the leak is Ubisoft itself.

As reported by Gematsu, the description of the Ubisoft Japan YouTube video for the new Star Wars Outlaws trailer set to go live at 9am PT today, April 9, confirms the release date of August 30, 2024 on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X and S.

The YouTube description, now offline along with the video itself, also confirmed a Gold and Ultimate Edition of the game, which comes with a Season Pass and three days of early access. Pre-order bonuses include the Kessel Runner Bonus Pack, which includes cosmetics for the Trailblazer spaceship and speeder.

Star Wars Outlaws is one of Ubisoft’s biggest releases of 2024, and is in development at The Division and Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora developer Massive Entertainment. It’s billed as the first ever open world Star Wars game, and is set between the events of The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. For more, check out everything we know about Star Wars Outlaws.

Today’s trailer is set to reveal more about Star Wars Outlaw’s story, which stars scoundrels Kay Vess and Nix. We learned more about Star Wars Outlaws when speaking with narrative director Navid Khavari, creative director Julian Gerighty, and Lucasfilm senior creative executive Matt Martin last year. During our chat, we found out more about Kay Vess as well as how the project fits into the wider Star Wars universe.

Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.

Two Days After Helldivers 2 Players ‘Eradicated’ the Automatons, the Bots Are Back With a Massive Invasion Fleet

Helldivers 2’s period of relative stability lasted just two days, with developer Arrowhead unleashing the full might of the Automatons upon Super Earth forces.

After some players had hoped for the addition of a third enemy faction to the explosive third-person PS5 and PC co-op shooter, Arrowhead has now released a new Major Order calling on the Helldivers 2 community to hold back the latest Automaton invasion fleet.

On April 7, Helldivers 2 players were told they had completed their mission to completely eradicate the Automaton threat. “You did it, Helldivers,” read an in-game statement. “Operation Swift Disassembly was a success! With the bots eradicated and bugs contained, the galaxy is free once more.”

But this proved to be short-lived, as today, April 9, following the release of patch 01.000.202, “Somehow, the Automatons returned.” “As suspected all along, the previous Bot force was merely a vanguard,” reads a fresh statement. “A massive fleet has now begun an assault of Cyberstan and the surrounding planets. Helldivers, hold back this unprovoked invasion. The fight continues!”

The in-game galaxy map now signals the arrival of this invasion fleet and makes a number of new planets available to play. The Helldivers 2 community now has just three days to succeed in the defence of at least five planets. What happens if the community fails is unknown.

This is the latest twist in Helldivers 2’s ongoing meta narrative, a fascinating push and pull to liberate planets from alien control, all driven by Arrowhead’s Game Master, Joel. But this move was perhaps expected by most players. No-one truly believed Arrowhead would simply pull the Automatons as one of Helldivers 2’s two enemy factions, never to return. The question was how soon the bots would make their comeback, and the answer was: very soon!

If you’re looking for more on Helldivers 2, check out IGN’s feature on the Let Me Solo Her of Helldivers 2, a player who has answered over 100 SOS Beacons as part of a mission to help others.

Helldivers 2 has become one of the surprise hits of 2024 since launching in February, topping the charts on Steam and reportedly selling around three million copies. According to at least one analyst, it’s still growing. Check out IGN’s Helldivers 2 review to find out why it’s going down so well.

Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.

Avatar: The Last Airbender Arrives in Fortnite Today

Avatar: The Last Airbender is the latest franchise to collaborate with ever popular battle royale Fortnite as content based on the beloved animated series arrives in store today, April 9.

Revealed in a post on X/Twitter, below, a handful of main characters from the show will be available in the Fortnite Shop, but interestingly not the last airbender himself. Fortnite leaker Shiina suggested Aang will be included as part of an Event Pass later instead of being immediately purchasable.

In the meantime, however, fans can buy skins of water bender Katara, earth bender Toph, and fire bender Zuko, with the trio joining the titular character from Avatar: The Legend of Korra, who arrived on April 2.

Publisher Epic Games is yet to share what the skin packs for these new characters include, as only a short trailer was released alongside the announcement post. It recreates the scene from the opening of Avatar: The Last Airbender, as Katara approaches an iceberg containing Aang and his flying bison Appa before it and the trailer explode into snippets of fighting from the three new characters.

Collaborations like this are now part of the norm for Fortnite, which has also seen crossovers with Alan Wake, Eminem, Family Guy, LEGO, Metal Gear Solid, Lady Gaga, and so much more — and that’s all in the last six months.

Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelance reporter. He’ll talk about The Witcher all day.

Helldivers 2 Patch 01.000.202 Addresses General Game Stability and Crashes — but Players Are Wondering What Secrets It Holds

Helldivers 2 developer Arrowhead has released update 01.000.202 and via the patch notes confirmed it addresses general game stability and crashes. But as the Helldivers 2 community anxiously awaits what’s next for the game following the apparent eradication of the Automatons, players are wondering what secrets the update may hold.

Let’s start with what we know. Update 01.000.202 tweaks stats user interface for weapons to take into account any explosive damage done by them. According to Arrowhead,this is to give weapons that do damage with explosive projectiles a more fair representation in the UI. Most notably affected is the PLAS-1 Scorcher, the developer added.

Then there’s a long list of crash fixes, which are certainly welcome. Arrowhead also updated its ‘known issues’ list to add scopes on some weapons, such as the the Anti-Materiel Rifle, that are slightly misaligned, and the area around Automaton Detector Tower that makes blue stratagems such as the hellbomb bounce and be repelled when trying to call them down close to the tower. Of course, with the Automatons dealt with, it’s not possible to play on Automaton planets. They’ll be back, sure enough. Meanwhile, there is no mention of the ‘rogue Item’ currently in the game that Arrowhead has warned players off buying.

It’s a simple enough patch on the face of it, but Helldivers 2 players are now conditions to suspect Arrowhead of sneaking in unannounced changes and additions. After all, the developer added new Automaton enemies without telling players so that they could discover them for themselves. And with the Automatons dealt with, players are now wondering if it’s finally time for the heavily rumored arrival of the Illuminate faction.

If you’re looking for more on Helldivers 2, check out IGN’s feature on the Let Me Solo Her of Helldivers 2, a player who has answered over 100 SOS Beacons as part of a mission to help others.

Helldivers 2 has become one of the surprise hits of 2024 since launching in February, topping the charts on Steam and reportedly selling around three million copies. According to at least one analyst, it’s still growing. Check out IGN’s Helldivers 2 review to find out why it’s going down so well.

Helldivers 2 update 01.000.202 patch notes:

Overview
This update includes

  • Stability fixes

Gameplay

  • We have updated the stats UI for weapons to take into account any explosive damage done by them. This is to give weapons that do damage with explosive projectiles a more fair representation in the UI. Most notably affected is the PLAS-1 Scorcher.

Fixes
Crash fixes

  • Fixed some crashes that occurred when deploying to mission.
  • Fixed some crashes that occurred during extraction and right after it.
  • Fixed crashes that could occur if the squad deployed a large amount of support weapons.
  • Fixed various crashes that could occur during gameplay.
  • Fixed a crash that could occur when using heat based weapons.
  • Fixed crashes which could occur if a player died while using the jetpack.
  • Fixed crash which could occur when large volumes of enemies were present.
  • Fixed crash which could occur when the player picked up a snowball.
  • Fixed crash which could occur when completing an objective.

Other Fixes

  • Fixed hang that could occur while navigating the social menu.
  • Picking up Medals and Super Credits will no longer lock the player in place.

Known Issues

These are issues that were either introduced by this patch and are being worked on, or are from a previous version and have not yet been fixed. This list is not exhaustive, and we are continuing to identify issues and create fixes. These are organized by feedback, reports, severity, etc.

Various issues involving friend invites and cross-play:

  • Player name may show up blank on the other player’s friend list.
  • Friend Request cannot be accepted when the requesting player changed their username before the request was accepted.
  • Cross-platform friend invites might not show up in the Friend Requests tab.
  • Players cannot unfriend players befriended via friend code.
  • Players cannot unblock players that were not in their Friends list beforehand.
  • Damage-over-time effects may only apply when dealt by the host.
  • Players may experience delays in Medals and Super Credits payouts.
  • Enemies that bleed out do not progress Personal Orders and Eradicate missions.
  • Certain weapons like the Sickle cannot shoot through foliage.
  • Scopes on some weapons such as the Anti-Materiel Rifle are slightly misaligned.
  • Arc weapons sometimes behave inconsistently and sometimes misfire.
  • Spear’s targeting is inconsistent, making it hard to lock-on to larger enemies.
  • Stratagem beam might attach itself to an enemy but it will deploy to its original location.
  • Explosions do not break your limbs (except for when you fly into a rock).
  • Area around Automaton Detector Tower makes blue stratagems such as the hellbomb bounce and be repelled when trying to call them down close to the tower.
  • Planet liberation reaches 100% at the end of every Defend mission.

Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.

Helldivers 2 Dev Warns Players Not to Buy ‘Rogue Item’ in Most Lore Friendly Way Possible

There’s what looks like a bug (not that kind!) in Helldivers 2 that has left some players scratching their heads — and the developer of the game is certainly having fun with it.

Players noticed the unannounced addition of the ‘Catalogue Expansion’ ship module for the bridge. According to its description, this adds “new stratagem permits” to the ship management terminal for purchase. But the description for its upgrade effect is lifted from the ship module viewed prior, rather than its own distinct descriptor.

Developer Arrowhead then leaned into the Helldivers 2 narrative to warn players not to buy the ship module with a statement written as if it were coming from the game’s fictional Super Earth government:

“ALERT: ROGUE ITEM DETECTED,” the statement published to the Helldivers Discord begins. “The Ministry of Truth has confirmation that a rogue item called the ‘catalog expansion’ is temporarily visible in the Ship Management menu and, in accordance with regulations, we instruct all Helldivers to avoid this rogue item until further notice. The Ministry of Truth cannot confirm the reliability or safety of this item, nor can they confirm its origin.”

Of course, that statement sparked something of a frenzy, with players jumping into the game to buy the ship module just to see what all the fuss was about (it doesn’t appear to do anything). But while it seems clear that this ship module relates to a bug of some kind, some players were left confused. “Leaning into the game’s narrative here is actually really confusing me,” said redditor Reasonabledwarf. “Are they telling us to not buy it, or not buy it wink?”

Others believe the statement is Arrowhead leaning into the game’s narrative to admit there are new stratagems and ship modules coming to Helldivers 2. New stratagems are expected at some point, of course — Arrowhead has released a handful since the game’s explosive launch in February. “Its description in-game is having me believe that this is their way of ‘announcing’ that there are new stratagems on the way,” offered xXzeregaXx. “They are basically telling us ‘oops’ that shouldn’t be there, don’t buy it right now. It’s not ready to be released,” added OmegaXesis. “But this is also hinting that new stratagems and ship upgrades are probably on their way.”

The Helldivers 2 community is currently in ‘what happens next?’ mode after the successful eradication of the Automatons. As players wait with baited breath for Game Master Joel’s next move in Helldivers 2’s ongoing Galactic War, players are descending upon the poor Terminids. Helldivers 2’s next Premium Warbond, called Democratic Detonation, launches April 11. Perhaps we’ll know more then.

If you’re looking for more on Helldivers 2, check out IGN’s feature on the Let Me Solo Her of Helldivers 2, a player who has answered over 100 SOS Beacons as part of a mission to help others.

Helldivers 2 has become one of the surprise hits of 2024 since launching in February, topping the charts on Steam and reportedly selling around three million copies. According to at least one analyst, it’s still growing. Check out IGN’s Helldivers 2 review to find out why it’s going down so well.

Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.

Sonic the Hedgehog Producer Wants the Films to Become ‘Avengers-Level Events’

Paramount wants its live-action Sonic the Hedgehog movies to become “Avengers-level” cinematic events that bring together some of the franchise’s biggest characters.

Franchise and series executive producer Toby Ascher spoke about how Paramount is looking at Sonic and his friends through a wider lens during an interview with Paste Magazine. He says that the goal is for shows like Paramount+’s upcoming spinoff series Knuckles is to look at “supporting characters in depth and really build them out in cool ways.” Movies, meanwhile, will focus on a larger cast of characters and more epic narratives.

“We got really excited about the idea of expanding our characters in our world into television, specifically, because it gives us a platform to really do character studies,” he said. “We knew that, with Shadow coming into Sonic 3 and some of the bigger things that we want to do, the Sonic franchise on the movie side is going to be these Avengers-level events. They’re going to be these big, exciting stories that have a lot of different characters.”

Ascher reminds fans that when Sonic the Hedgehog 3 comes to theaters later this year, it will introduce one of the franchise’s most important characters: Shadow the Hedgehog. He’s the Vegeta to Sonic’s Goku and has proven to be a formidable foe in the past, but the series has plenty more to pull from that we have yet to see. One character fans have begged for since the live-action movies began is Metal Sonic, and with dozens of other games, shows, and even comics to pull from, there’s no telling how Paramount will proceed.

Knuckles will star in his own show when it premieres later this month on April 26, and we’ve already seen that it does use the opportunity to introduce even more characters. No other spinoff shows have been announced yet, but the door does seem to be open for more. Ascher says they started with Knuckles because Idris Elba’s comedic take on the character was strong enough to support a show.

“We thought we could translate that into a full series,” he explained. “I think it’s by far the funniest version we’ve had in any of the Sonic movies so far. It leans into weird comedy partially because of Adam Pally and because of what Idris brings in a really great way.”

It looks like Paramount is committed to making the mainline films feels huge. In addition to Sonic the Hedgehog 3 introducing Shadow, the film will callback to the ultimate lifeform’s first appearance by including Sonic Adventure 2’s main theme, Live and Learn. It’ll also play into that character’s background by including one of his most important friends, Maria Robotnik. We have yet to actually see the film for ourselves, but with its release date set for December 20, 2024, we hopefully won’t have to wait too long to at least see a more substantial trailer.

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

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

Save 33% Off Unicorn Overlord for PS5, Xbox Series X, and Nintendo Switch

Today Amazon has dropped the price of the recently released Unicorn Overload game. You can pick it up your choice of the PS5, Xbox Series X, or Nintendo Switch edition for only $39.99. That’s a hefty 33% off its original MSRP and the best price we’ve seen since its release.

Save 33% Off Unicorn Overlord

PS5, Xbox Series X, and Nintendo Switch

Unicorn Overlord is an outstanding fantasy tactical strategy game from Atlus and Vanillaware. If you like games such as Final Fantasy Tactics or Fire Emblem, you’re in for a real treat. We gave Unicorn Overload an “Amazing” 9/10 and you can read up on our Unicorn Overload review to see why this is one of the best console strategy games in recent history. Here’s reviewer Eric Zalewski’s final verdict.

“Reflecting on the incredibly diverse and remarkably creative world I explored across my 45-hour journey, any issues I had with Unicorn Overlord ended up feeling like nothing more than nitpicks. The tactical combat system is unique and complex while also being easy to understand, expertly blending mechanics from many of its peers with smart new additions of its own. The interesting terrain across the continent of Fevrith makes every fight feel unique, with some of the best map gimmicks I’ve seen in any strategy RPG. Because the campaign is told through the eyes of a diverse and creative cast, its trope-filled fantasy story is elevated in a way that a more traditional storytelling style wouldn’t manage. The shorter, more personal stories work wonderfully to support a loop of exploration and liberation that had me begging to see one more tale told, one more town rebuilt, and one more battle fought.”

New Starfield ‘DLC-Sized’ Mod Lets You Create Entire Colonies, Build Mechs, and More

If you’re looking for ways to expand Starfield’s replayability, a new “DLC-sized” mod is now available, allowing players to build their own colony, create mechs, and more.

Over on Nexus Mods yesterday, modder TankGirl444 uploaded their latest project, TGs Galactic Colonies Expanse. The creator describes it as a “new DLC-sized mod” for Bethesda’s 2023 space action RPG. The description touts that those who download it will be able to “land on any world and build [their] own empire!”

TankGirl444 explains that the mod took them a month to craft and that it expands on their previous mods that were aimed at improving and expanding player home and building in Starfield. More importantly, it greatly expands the Outpost mechanic, allowing players a more streamlined way to mine materials without having to create different outposts.

The mod’s description also explains that it includes “fully constructed buildings that are prefabricated and buildable.” This includes biodomes, which allow players to plant a small piece of green on desolate and barren wasteland planets.

Interestingly, this mod introduces a farming system where players can farm, craft, and sell fruits and veggies. It even allows you to have your own livestock. Alongside an expansive farming system, the mod features a new workbench called the colony food printer, which adds new food items and recipes.

Yet, the thing I found most intriguing is how this new mod brings functional mechs into Starfield, as seen in the image below. Those who played Starfield or are familiar with the events before the game, mainly The Colony War, will know that mechs have a place in Starfield lore.

Ahead of the game’s release, Bethesda revealed that mechs were in the game, but you could not use them as they were banned after the conclusion of the Colony War. This mod brings back the mechs, letting you craft and use them as a defense for your outposts. It also reveals new turrets and weapons you can craft to defend your virtual property.

Starfield has been out for roughly six months now, and alongside TGs Galactic Colonies Expanse, there are a slew of other quality-of-life mods that help enhance the gameplay experience. Among them are one that improves the frustrating inventory UI, another that provides a map of New Atlantis so you don’t get lost while exploring the massive city, and another that lets you seamlessly travel through space.

While there are many modders adding quality-of-life improvements to Starfield, Bethesda Game Studios is also introducing some changes via patches. The most recent update, Starfield Update 1.10.31, removes an annoying penalty players can receive when playing the lockpicking minigame.

Blogroll Credit: TankGirl444 / Nexus Mods

Taylor is a Reporter at IGN. You can follow her on Twitter @TayNixster.

Pick Up a 512GB Nintendo Switch Memory Card for Only $25.99 on Amazon

Amazon has discounted the SanDisk Ultra 512GB Micro SDXC Card down to $25.99. This is an excellent price for a 512GB Micro SDXC card from a well-known and respected brand. It’s fully compatible with the Nintendo Switch, Steam Deck, and ASUS ROG Ally portable handhelds. It also comes with a SD adapter for devices that only take full-sized SD cards. SanDisk Micro SDXC cards are far and away our most recommended memory cards for the Nintendo Switch console.

512GB SanDisk Ultra Micro SDXC Card for $25.99

If you’ve started compiling a collection of digital games, you probably already know just how limited the Switch’s base storage capacity. The Switch and Switch OLED consoles have 32GB and 64GB of internal storage, respectively, with some of it reserved for the OS. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom uses up 16GB and Breath of the Wild about 13.5GB. If bought digitally, those two games alone would take up all of your internal storage on the OG Switch console. There’s only one expansion slot in the Switch console so you want to make sure you get the biggest card you can afford.

The SanDisk Ultra Micro SDXC card is compatible with virtually any device that accepts the Micro SDXC card standard. That includes the Nintendo Switch, Steam Deck, and the ASUS ROG Ally. It boasts a U1 A1 rating with read speeds of up to 150MB/s. This is the perfect card for the Switch because the Switch console cannot take advantage of higher speeds (its card reader is limited to U1 A1). However, if you want to get a Micro SDXC card for your smartphone, GoPro, DSLR, or any other device that can benefit from faster speeds, you might want to check some other excellent Micro SDXC cards that having a U3 A2 rating.

Check out all of the best Nintendo Switch deals for sales on other games and accessories.