Category: IGN

Harry Potter spinoff game Hogwarts Legacy managed to sell an astounding 22 million copies in 2023.

Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment president David Haddad confirmed the numbers when speaking with Variety. While the project did have the benefit of coming from an established IP, these are still impressive numbers. Warner Bros. Games adds that around 2 million copies were sold during the December holiday season alone.

Hadded went on to call it “the best-selling game of the year in the entire industry worldwide”: “That’s a position that typically is held by one of these incumbent’s sequel games and we’re so proud that we’ve been able to break into the top ranks,” he added.

Circana analyst Mat Piscatella analyst talked to IGN about the possibility of Hogwarts Legacy being 2023’s top game back in December, saying it was “certainly possible.” Should it truly come out on top (we still don’t know the final 2023 numbers for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3), it’ll mark the first time since 2009 that a Call of Duty or Rockstar game has not topped a yearly chart.

Warner Bros. added that Hogwarts Legacy has conjured up 707 million hours played as players sought after repeat playthroughs with different Houses. Additionally, would-be wizards have poured 819 million potions, plucked 1.3 billion plants, saved 593 million beasts, and beaten just less than 5 billion evil wizards.

Hogwarts Legacy launched for most platforms on February 10, too, meaning it had most of 2023 to score these numbers. It also came to Nintendo Switch in November.

We didn’t need to know about Warner Bros. Games’ success to suspect that the team might be brewing plans for more Harry Potter adventures, but Hadded still made sure to tease more projects. This includes a much-talked-about Quidditch experience, as well as “a series of other things” set in that universe.

“We don’t have any particular announcements on exactly how and when [the Quidditch game] is going to come to the market, but we are working to get it designed in a way just to delight fans,” Haddad said.

Hogwarts Legacy also charted well on PC, with Steam reporting the title as one of its most-played games of 2023. The Harry Potter video game was one of IGN’s best-reviewed games of the year. At launch, we said, “Its open-world adventure captures all the excitement and wonder of the Wizarding World with its memorable new characters, challenging and nuanced combat, and a wonderfully executed Hogwarts student fantasy that kept me glued to my controller for dozens of hours.”

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.

The highly anticipated Sins of the Flesh update for Cult of the Lamb hits PlayStation 4 and 5, Xbox Series X and S, Nintendo Switch, and PC, on January 16.

Developer Massive Monster revealed the release date alongside the contents of Sins of the Flesh, which includes the culmination of a long-running fan campaign for what was dubbed the “sex update”.

Things don’t get explicit as in the likes of Balder’s Gate 3, however, which was described as “big budget horny” by a developer, but takes more of a Pokémon approach. “When two Followers love each other very much, they might find an egg,” Massive Monster said. “Nurture the egg for it to hatch, then care for the offspring until they’re ready to pledge allegiance to your Cult.”

Sins of the Flesh also adds a new progression system which promises “more depth and complexity”. “By following the sinful path, your followers will delight in gluttonous rituals, vain buildings and wrathful doctrines. Invite your most loyal Followers to the inner circle of Disciples, a revamped levelling system of Follower progression.”

Shiny poop, baneful brooms, and bigger, better buildings should also improve things for players. “Shiny poops have special effects, like yielding fruitful crops and adding experience to your broom,” Massive Monster said.

“Levelling up your broom will make chores faster and more effective. To improve automation, there’s also a new tier for the Janitor Station and the Storage Structures so your Followers will take better care of themselves.” The Blunderbuss weapon, which fires big damage in the short range or snipes enemies from afar when charged, will also be added.

Massive Monster has joked about adding a “sex update” to Cult of the Lamb for a long time, and after overwhelming interest from fans, finally said it would do it if 300,000 people followed its X/Twitter account. Fans hit this number and then some immediately, of course, leading to the inclusion in Sins of the Flesh.

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

We knew Horizon Forbidden West: Complete Edition was coming to PC sometime this year. And today, Nvidia announced that it will support DLSS 3 when the game is released.

Released last year, DLSS is the third generation of Nvidia’s Deep Learning Super Sampling technology that can increase frame rates for supported PC games. The caveat, however, is that DLSS 3 is exclusive to the RTX 40 series of GPUs, including the just-announced RTX 40 Super series.

Horizon Forbidden West’s PC port is one of a growing number of PC games that will or already support DLSS 3. Additional games announced to soon be getting DLSS 3 support include Diablo IV and Tekken 8. Other games already supporting the tech include Fortnite, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty, and Alan Wake 2.

In our review of Horizon Forbidden West, we said: “Horizon: Forbidden West continues Aloy’s story as she moves west to a far-future America to brave a majestic, but dangerous frontier where she’ll face awe-inspiring machines and mysterious new threats.”

Horizon Forbidden West getting DLSS 3 support is one of Nvidia’s CES 2024 keynote announcements. Additional news from the event includes the aforementioned RTX 40 Super series GPUs announcement and a beta release date for the RTX Remix tool.

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

Larian Studios’ next game is sure to be one of the most anticipated ever following the breakout hit of Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game Baldur’s Gate 3. What that game is remains to be seen, but Larian boss Swen Vincke has indicated he’s already worked out its Act 1 narrative.

In a series of tweets, Vincke said that after four months of writing work, he’d “finally figured out what Act 1 on this thing I’ve been working on needs to be.” “Quote me when it’s revealed to see how much of today’s draft survives,” he added. “I suspect a lot.”

There’s not a lot to go on here, of course. And, indeed, it may not go anywhere. But given Vincke mentions Act 1, we can assume what’s next will probably be an RPG in the Larian style, which are games broken up into three distinct acts. I suppose it could always be a three-act dating sim. I mean, that’s basically what Baldur’s Gate 3 is, right?

Vincke went on to say he has yet to share Act 1 with anyone, so he may end up scrapping the lot if no-one likes it. “But I think I really like this one,” he said.

Then, a few inevitable qualifiers: “Also, it’s not what you think and this is not a teaser for an announcement. Just am genuinely excited about where this is going and wanted to share some of my excitement. It’ll be quite some time before we talk about this.”

This isn’t the first time Vincke has teased Larian’s next game. In November 2023, Vincke spoke in vague terms about the studio’s next project. “I wish I could tell you about our next big game but this is really encouraging us to ensure it pushes many boundaries,” Vincke teased in response to Baldur’s Gate 3’s many The Game Awards nominations. “I’m very excited about it.”

In July 2023, ahead of Baldur’s Gate 3’s explosive launch, Vincke told IGN a sequel to Larian’s own Divinity: Original Sin series is on the cards too, although fans shouldn’t hold their breath.

“It’s our own universe we built, so we’re definitely gonna get back there at some point,” Vincke said. “We will get back there at some point. We’ll first finish [Baldur’s Gate 3], and then take a break, because we will need to refresh ourselves creatively also. You’re seeing 400 developers putting their heart and souls into this. You’re getting the best of them and their craft into this game. And so I can tell you, it’s quite a thing.”

If Divinity isn’t next, perhaps a brand new game set in a completely different universe? Larian has created fantasy RPGs for some time now. Could it branch out into science fiction? Or a modern day setting? Or maybe even try a new genre?

Meanwhile, Larian has yet to announce any Baldur’s Gate 3 expansions or DLCs. Given how well the game has done, you’d expect something expanding upon its world and characters would do well indeed.

For now, Baldur’s Gate 3 remains one of the hottest games in the world, and is still among the most-played games on Steam. In IGN’s review of Baldur’s Gate 3, which returned a 10/10, we said: “With crunchy, tactical RPG combat, a memorable story with complex characters, highly polished cinematic presentation, and a world that always rewards exploration and creativity, Baldur’s Gate 3 is the new high-water mark for CRPGs.”

For more, check out IGN’s comprehensive Baldur’s Gate 3 walkthrough.

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.

Xbox hit Hi-Fi Rush is heavily rumored to be set for rival console the Nintendo Switch in 2024, sparking a vociferous debate about Microsoft’s exclusives strategy.

Insider “Nate the Hate”, who has a good track record when it comes to video game announcements, teased that a critically acclaimed Xbox exclusive is set to launch on a competing console platform.

Resetera user lolilolailo, who also has a good track record for video game announcements, then appeared to confirm Tango Gameworks’ Hi-Fi Rush is coming to Switch.

Windows Central then reported that Microsoft “has been exploring bringing some of its back catalog to other platforms, although some of the details remain vague and unconfirmed.” IGN has asked Microsoft for comment.

The reports have sparked a debate online about Microsoft’s Xbox exclusive strategy, with some fans bemoaning the idea of an Xbox exclusive launching on a rival console such as the Nintendo Switch or the PlayStation 5. Others have expressed excitement that a game such as Hi-Fi Rush could get a second wind and millions more players, potentially helping to build the case for a sequel.

The rumours come just two months after Xbox CFO Tim Stuart said Microsoft wants to bring first-party games to “every screen that can play games,” including rival consoles.

“It’s a bit of a change of strategy,” Stuart said at the Wells Fargo TMT Summit in November. “Not announcing anything broadly here, but our mission is to bring our first-party experiences [and] our subscription services to every screen that can play games. That means smart TVs, that means mobile devices, that means what we would have thought of as competitors in the past like PlayStation and Nintendo.”

Stuart’s comments were reported as confirmation of Microsoft’s intention to bring Game Pass to rival consoles, but Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer subsequently denied such a plan.

Still, that leaves the door open for Microsoft to launch more of its first-party games on rival consoles. Hi-Fi Rush launched on January 25, 2023. Could it set a precedent for Xbox games to expand to other platforms a year after release?

It’s worth noting Microsoft does already publish its games on non-Xbox platforms. Minecraft is of course available on pretty much every platform going. Bethesda games The Elder Scrolls Online and Fallout 76 are both published and updated on PlayStation. Double Fine’s Psychonauts 2 came out in August 2021 for PlayStation 4, Windows, Xbox One and Xbox Series X and S.

It’s also worth noting that Microsoft has a long list of exclusive games due out this year and beyond, including the likes of Obsidian’s Avowed, Ninja Theory’s Hellblade 2, and Playground’s Fable. There’s no suggestion that these exclusives will launch on PlayStation as well as Xbox.

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.

It’s the first weekend of 2024, and there are some exciting deals that have gone live now that the holiday season has ended. From video games to PC components, there is no shortage of deals you don’t want to miss out on. The best deals for Sunday, January 7, include Persona 5 Tactica, the EVGA X17 Gaming Mouse, Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen), Super Mario RPG, a 2TB Crucial SSD, Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children Complete, and more.

Lowest Price Yet for Persona 5 Tactica

Amazon has Persona 5 Tactica listed for $34.99, which is an even better deal than Black Friday. This action-packed adventure takes the Phantom Thieves into a new adventure with tactical combat. If you enjoyed Persona 5 Royal or Persona 5 Strikers, P5 Tactica should be a game on your radar. Erina, a character new to the series, is a great addition to an already amazing cast of characters.

$17.99 for the EVGA X17 Gaming Mouse

This gaming mouse from EVGA is a solid pickup if you’re looking for a new mouse and don’t need any fancy features. The X17 includes 10 buttons you can program as you see fit, in addition to a sensor capable of up to 16,000DPI. You can save five different profiles on the mouse, which comes in handy as you alternate between games and tasks. Lastly, there’s even the option to add or remove weight from the mouse to best fit your desired experience.

Apple AirPods Pro with USB Type-C for $189.99

Amazon has dropped the price of the 2nd gen Apple AirPods Pro truly wireless noise cancelling earbuds with the universal USB Type-C connector by $60, now only $189. With this current gen AirPods Pro, Apple has replaced the proprietary Lightning port with the more universal USB Type-C. For people who want to bring along a single charging cable for all of their mobile devices, this is a godsend.

Super Mario RPG for $47.69

The recently released remake of Super Mario RPG is 20% off at Walmart right now. If you’ve yet to either play the original or check out the remake, this is the perfect time to do so. Composer Yoko Shimimura returned to compose the remake’s original soundtrack, and each boss and environment has been expertly recrafted for the Nintendo Switch. It’s the perfect Mario title to check out if you’ve already beaten Super Mario Bros. Wonder!

Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 for $95.99

Target recently dropped the price of the professional-grade Xbox Series X Elite Series 2 Core Wireless Controller in Red/Black to $95.99. It’s less expensive than the Black/White and Blue/Black variants. This controller wasn’t discounted at all during Black Friday and Cyber Monday and would make for an awesome holiday gift for any Xbox gamer who appreciates precision control and customizability.

Note that Target RedCard members get an extra 5% discount. Signing up is free.

2TB PS5 Compatible SSD for $128

You can never have enough storage for a console like the PlayStation 5. File sizes have only grown with each passing year, and each of the biggest titles of the year usually requires 100GB on the low end. This Crucial T-500 2TB SSD includes a heatsink, so it’s ready to slot into your PS5 with no other installation required. If you don’t have an SSD yet, this is a great deal to take a look at.

Mass Effect Legendary Edition for $11.99

This collection of titles is well worth your money for $11.99. Mass Effect Legendary Edition includes the first three Mass Effect titles and all DLC associated with each. The games are all remastered in 4K, each running at high frame rates. The first Mass Effect title specifically received loads of enhancements and updates to improve the visual and gameplay experience. You can’t go wrong with picking this one up.

2021 Apple iPad 10.2″ 64GB for $249

Amazon is offering a brand new 2021 Apple iPad 10.2″ Wi-Fi 64GB tablet for only $249. This iPad normally retails for $329, so you’re saving about 25%. This is the lowest price we’ve seen for what is already the most affordable iPad you can get. These are brand new and include a 1 year Apple warranty. You’ll get 64GB of storage with this model and Touch ID features for login.

Save $70 Off 1TB of Additional Xbox Series X|S Storage

Best Buy currently has the Seagate 1TB Expansion Card for Xbox Series X|S listed for $149.99. If you’re currently just utilizing the console’s internal storage, this is a great deal to look at. Additional storage will allow you to download more games without having to free up space. It’s a great addition to your console and will benefit you in the long run. The WD – Black 1TB SSD Card for Xbox is also priced at $149.99, so take your pick of either brand.

Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children Complete 4K Blu-ray for $18.90

With Final Fantasy VII Rebirth just a month and a half away, there has never been a better time to watch Advent Children. This 4K Remaster of the Complete edition packs in multiple bonus features, in addition to the revised cuts and over 25 minutes of added content throughout the movie. It’s likely that Advent Children could be very important to the story of Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, especially with Square Enix electing to bring the movie back to theaters just days before the game’s release.

43% Off The Last of Us Part I

This is the lowest we’ve seen The Last of Us Part I in quite some time. The PS5 title doesn’t go below $40 usually, so you’re saving a few extra dollars with this purchase. If you recently watched The Last of Us on HBO and are looking to experience the game it’s based on, this is the best way to do so. The remake of the 2013 title brings loads of gameplay and visual improvements to make it worth your while.

Thermaltake Toughpower GF A3 850W

If you’re in the market for a new power supply, look no further than the Thermaltake GF A3 850W. This Gold Certified PSU is fully compatible with ATX 3.0 Standards and is PCIe Gen 5.0 ready. Additionally, it is fully modular, so you’ll only need to use the necessary cables for your specific build. Almost any of the new 4000 series cards will work effortlessly with this 850W PSU.

$800 Off One of LG’s Best 2022 TVs

Best Buy has the 77″ LG G2 Gallery Series 4K OLED TV on sale for $2,474.99. It’s one of the best TVs that LG put out in 2022, which makes this a fantastic deal for a high quality 4K OLED TV. Utilizing the Gen5 AI Processor 4K, you’ll get the best color and picture quality from your LG TV. It will automatically adjust both the picture and sound depending on the content you are watching. Additionally, this TV has 4 HDMI 2.1 ports, making it a perfect for the PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X.

Crisis Core -Final Fantasy VII- Reunion for $29.99

A remaster of the PSP title with the same name, Crisis Core -Final Fantasy VII- Reunion tells the story of Zack Fair and his journey. The game is set years before the events of Final Fantasy VII and is imperative to expanding upon the overall story. Now is a great time to pick up Crisis Core if you haven’t had the chance to play it yet, especially as Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is set to release in February.

Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora – Limited Edition for $49.99

Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora has hit $49.99 on Amazon, matching a previous low. With the limited edition of the game, you’ll get a unique weapon and an exclusive character gear set to adjust your appearance. You’ll get to experience a full open world with Frontiers of Pandora, exploring and fighting enemies with plenty of Na’vi weapons at your disposal.

It’s the first weekend of 2024, and there are some exciting deals that have gone live now that the holiday season has ended. From video games to PC components, there is no shortage of deals you don’t want to miss out on. The best deals for Saturday, January 6, include Super Mario RPG, a 2TB Crucial SSD, Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children Complete, and more.

Super Mario RPG for $47.69

The recently released remake of Super Mario RPG is 20% off at Walmart right now. If you’ve yet to either play the original or check out the remake, this is the perfect time to do so. Composer Yoko Shimimura returned to compose the remake’s original soundtrack, and each boss and environment has been expertly recrafted for the Nintendo Switch. It’s the perfect Mario title to check out if you’ve already beaten Super Mario Bros. Wonder!

2TB PS5 Compatible SSD for $124.99

You can never have enough storage for a console like the PlayStation 5. File sizes have only grown with each passing year, and each of the biggest titles of the year usually requires 100GB on the low end. This Crucial T-500 2TB SSD includes a heatsink, so it’s ready to slot into your PS5 with no other installation required. If you don’t have an SSD yet, this is a great deal to take a look at.

Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children Complete 4K Blu-ray for $18.90

With Final Fantasy VII Rebirth just a month and a half away, there has never been a better time to watch Advent Children. This 4K Remaster of the Complete edition packs in multiple bonus features, in addition to the revised cuts and over 25 minutes of added content throughout the movie. It’s likely that Advent Children could be very important to the story of Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, especially with Square Enix electing to bring the movie back to theaters just days before the game’s release.

Thermaltake Toughpower GF A3 850W

If you’re in the market for a new power supply, look no further than the Thermaltake GF A3 850W. This Gold Certified PSU is fully compatible with ATX 3.0 Standards and is PCIe Gen 5.0 ready. Additionally, it is fully modular, so you’ll only need to use the necessary cables for your specific build. Almost any of the new 4000 series cards will work effortlessly with this 850W PSU.

$800 Off One of LG’s Best 2022 TVs

Best Buy has the 77″ LG G2 Gallery Series 4K OLED TV on sale for $2,474.99. It’s one of the best TVs that LG put out in 2022, which makes this a fantastic deal for a high quality 4K OLED TV. Utilizing the Gen5 AI Processor 4K, you’ll get the best color and picture quality from your LG TV. It will automatically adjust both the picture and sound depending on the content you are watching. Additionally, this TV has 4 HDMI 2.1 ports, making it a perfect for the PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X.

Save 20% Off This LEGO Icons Atari 2600 Set

Right now, Amazon has the LEGO Icons Atari 2600 set on sale for $191.99. That’s 20% off the listing price of $239.99! This set includes loads of nostalgia and retro fun, with a to-size Atari 2600 console and its iconic controller. Additionally, Asteroids, Adventure, and Centipede cartridges are included to be built, with game scenes representing the three games as well. Overall, this is a great set to pick up if you love Atari or are looking for a rush of nostalgia for video games.

LEGO DC Super-Villains for $14.99

LEGO DC Super-Villains is a title that went under the radar for many. The collaboration between DC Comics and WB Games sees you take control of some of DC’s biggest villains and wreak havoc across multiple cities. A new group of suspicious heroes has appeared, and it’s up to the villains to uncover their true intentions. This deal is for the Nintendo Switch version of the game, which runs consistently in docked and handheld modes.

Apple AirPods Pro with USB Type-C for $189.99

There’s no better holiday gift than a new pair of AirPods. Amazon has dropped the price of the 2nd gen Apple AirPods Pro truly wireless noise cancelling earbuds with the universal USB Type-C connector by $50, now only $199.99. Best of all, it can be delivered to you before Christmas, December 25 without paying any additional shipping fee. With this current gen AirPods Pro, Apple has replaced the proprietary Lightning port with the more universal USB Type-C. For people who want to bring along a single charging cable for all of their mobile devices, this is a godsend.