After two years slumbering in the coffin of early access, vampire survival game V Rising is lifting off the lid and rising into a full 1.0 release. Having previously been announced with a somewhat vague Q2 launch window, we now know exactly when V Rising’s 1.0 release date will be: May 8th.
Steam Early Access hit V Rising launches fully on PC on May 8 and on PlayStation 5 later in 2024. IGN revealed the release date in a cinematic trailer from developer Stunlock Studios, which shows off the gothic action role-playing game’s vampire leads as they take on a new evil.
V Rising begins with the player as a fully-customizable vampire waking up after a century-spanning sleep, very weak and in need of blood. But what begins as a survival action game in the vein of Diablo soon turns into a fully open world adventure with base-building, co-op, and versus multiplayer.
It immediately got off to a hot start with more than 150,000 concurrent players within its first week, and only being available in Early Access didn’t slow its popularity in the long run either. V Rising managed to sell upwards of 1.5 million copies just a year after launch.
V Rising’s PS5 port was announced during the January 2024 PlayStation State of Play but, beyond the Steam version, no other platforms or storefronts have been announced.
In our 7/10 Early Access review, IGN said: “While its time-consuming crafting aspects can take the bite out of the vampire fantasy, V Rising really does rise to the occasion with its excellent boss design and respectable ARPG combat.”
For more, check out our full V Rising Guide as well as all of the biggest video game releases for March 2024 and beyond.
Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelance reporter. He’ll talk about The Witcher all day.
Not content with being one of the best single-player experiences of 2023, Sea of Stars is readying the modern-classic RPG to become one of this year’s most delightful multiplayer games. Developers Sabotage Studio have revealed that three-player co-op is on the way, letting you adventure through the entire campaign with a party of pals.
Bellwright, an open-world survival game set in a medieval realm ruled by a brutal ruler, will hit
Steam Early Access in the beginning months of 2024, challenging players to claim the throne
and forge a better kingdom for all. Bellwright offers co-op support and features town building,
intense combat, an extensive villager recruiting system, a wrongfully accused murder and so
much more.
Many open-world survival games are built around you and your friends discovering their secrets.
With Bellwright, the developers aim to give the story much more of a spotlight as you soon find
yourself framed for the accidental death of the prince and punished with the death sentence.
Forced to live undercover, you must protect yourself from hidden attacks from unexpected places.
Was it bad luck that you became a suspect or is there more to the story? To clear your name
and uncover the truth, you have to become the Bellwright and lead a rebellion against your
homeland’s oppressive Sovereign, delving into your family’s true history and unraveling the dark
mystery surrounding the prince’s murder.
Leading a rebellion isn’t easy, but it certainly can be fun if you prove yourself a worthy leader.
The world of Bellwright in the low Medieval times, is a harsh, but not impossible world to live in.
Learn to survive, and build a home for yourself and those who are deeply loyal to you.
To do so, you’ll need to gather resources, hunt, build, and craft to foster a bustling settlement
that can withstand not only the Crown and its Royal Army, but bandits, nature, and more. Don’t
worry though, as you won’t have to do this alone. Bellwright is all about liberating and freeing
oppressed people and recruiting them to your cause. However, people won’t just come running
to your side. You’ll have to build enough Renown by constructing buildings, completing quests,
and taking down enemies to prove yourself to others.
Once you recruit a villager, they will come with their own individual abilities, strengths, and
weaknesses and can be given tasks like constructing a building or gathering food and other
resources. They can also be placed into a squad in your army. Want to create a cadre of
archers to keep you safe from a distance? Go right ahead. Want a group of shield bearers that
can clear you a path to take down the heart of an enemy encampment? You can do that too.
Lastly, each villager can have a profession like Worker, Soldier, or Guard. Familiarize yourself
with the villagers and identify any professions that may be lacking to best utilize their skills in
your town. Build up the perfect team to protect your home and then go out and take down the
Crown.
Don’t get too content with just your settlement, however, as that won’t be enough to clear your
name and help the kingdom. Along your journey, you’ll need to handle threats both large and
small in different regions to claim them for your own. These victories will earn you “Insurgency
Points” and new resources that will allow you to learn advanced technologies to grow your
home and strengthen your forces.
Some of these outposts and towns will remain functional after you conquer and liberate them
from the Crown, however their responsibility will now fall under you. You’ll need to build,
manage, and upgrade these outposts and towns with recruits, ensuring their resources are
plentiful so they’ll be ready when called upon for battle.
There are Bandit encampments littered around the map that will also pose a huge threat if
ignored. These camps can either be easy, medium, or hard, and each has a Radius of Threat
that you can see on the map. This red area is one where bandits can attack your villagers
gathering resources, attack your settlements, or guard valuable resource nodes. So, if you want
to build something in one of these areas or have an outpost nearby, make sure to clear out the
camp first!
Take caution though, as the bandits will get increasingly more angry as you take out their
camps, causing the Raid Threat meter to rise. Once the meter is full, the bandits will launch an
onslaught on your settlements, killing villagers, stealing resources, and damaging buildings if
your defenses aren’t up to par.
Once you are confident in your forces or ready to risk it all for the ultimate glory, you can leave
the comforts of your home and take to the battlefield to secure a victory for the ages. Combat in
Bellwright is described as directional combat, meaning you can choose where your attacks will
land on an enemy. With a sword and shield in hand (or other weapons like axes and bows!), you can charge head-first into battle, feeling the weight of every swing and defending yourself against every strike.
You won’t have battle alone as you can bring squads of your villagers with you. While you are
taking down foes left and right, as the powerful leader you are, you can also direct your squads
to follow you into the fray, charge and lead a path, move to a specific spot, or attack a group of
enemies while you focus on another.
While Bellwright can be played entirely solo, it also allows you to bring in a few friends! Build
and fight together because, as it’s always said, it’s more fun with friends!
Bellwright is coming soon to Steam Early Access and will contionusly update as it approaches its launch. For more, wishlist Bellwright on Steam or check out Bellwright’s Discord. Creators interested in covering the game prior to its Early Access release can contact bellwright@noiz.gg
In some respects, Helldivers 2 did come as a bit of surprise. Not a huge amount of marketing, no betas, and review codes didn’t go out until it basically launched. Before it landed on my PC, there was a small part of me that thought it was going to be a rocky ride with severe performance issues or the like. Nope! It’s easily slid into one of my favourite games of the year without question, and presumably, for the hundreds of thousands of others who’ve also opted into preserving democracy.
But there seems to be this sentiment that Helldivers 2’s roaring success has come as a shock, so much of a shock that top execs and investors are doing YouTube thumbnail faces in boardrooms with mini-nuke explosions erupting from their heads. Should its success come as that much of a surprise, though? No, probably not.
Mark your calendars.
Get ready folks, because Summer Game Fest is once again upon us, and we’ve now got a date for the opening live showcase.
Not deviating too much from last year, the big event will commence on 7th June, 2024 live from the YouTube Theatre in Los Angeles at 2pm PT / 5pm ET / 9pm GMT / 7am AET (8th June). Public tickets for the in-person event will become available via Ticketmaster on 7th May, 2024, but the event will, of course, be livestreamed worldwide.
Read the full article on nintendolife.com
Basketball skills, horror chills, supernatural-infused superheroic thrills and more are on display and available to enjoy as part of March’s Game Catalog lineup for PlayStation Plus. Hit the court with NBA 2K24, escape a zombie-infested Racoon City in Resident Evil 3 or team up to take on the darker side of the Marvel Universe in Midnight Suns. These new releases on Game Catalog are rounded out with even more games, all available to play from Tuesday March 19.
Let’s take a closer look at each game in turn.
NBA 2K24 Kobe Bryant Edition | PS4, PS5
Play as your favorite NBA and WNBA teams in NBA 2K24, with fully up-to-date rosters and legendary historic teams. Showcase your deep arsenal of moves, with revamped interior defense and dribble combo controls for more rewarding and responsive skill-based gameplay. Grab your squad and enjoy pure, authentic hoops action across a variety of modes, including limitless personalized MyPlayer options in MyCareer. Collect an impressive array of legends and build your perfect line-up in MyTeam and more.
Marvel’s Midnight Suns | PS4, PS5
Fight alongside seasoned superheroes and supernatural warriors in this exciting tactical RPG. Marvel’s Midnight Suns is a new tactical RPG set in the darker side of the Marvel Universe. Team up – and live among – the Midnight Suns, as you battle against demonic forces of the underworld to stop Lilith, Mother of Demons from resurrecting her master Chthon. Pushed to the brink, The Avengers team up with the Midnight Suns – Ghost Rider, Magik, Blade and Nico Minoru – to desperately revive the Hunter, a legendary hero and forsaken child to Lilith. In the face of fallen allies and the fate of the world at stake, it will be up to you to rise up against the darkness!
Resident Evil 3 | PS4, PS5
Relive the horrifying downfall of Raccoon City in a stunning reimagining of the 1999 survival horror classic. In the nightmarish hours leading up to and following the events of Resident Evil 2, only you can help surviving S.T.A.R.S. officer Jill Valentine escape a city beset by a gruesome viral outbreak. But zombies aren’t the only threat out for your blood. The towering, near-indestructible bioweapon, Nemesis T-Type, is also on the hunt. This brutal monstrosity uses an arsenal of high-powered weaponry to relentlessly pursue you across Raccoon City, meaning nowhere is truly safe.
LEGO DC Supervillains | PS4
It’s good to be bad… Embark on an all-new DC/LEGO adventure by becoming the best villain the universe has seen. Players will create and play as an all-new super-villain throughout the game, unleashing mischievous antics and wreaking havoc in an action-packed story. Set in an open world experience within the DC universe, the Justice League has disappeared, leaving Earth’s protection to their counterparts, who have proclaimed themselves as the ‘Justice Syndicate’. It’s up to you and a crazy group of misfits to uncover the intentions of Earth’s new, strange, wannabe superheroes. Joined by renowned DC Super-Villains: The Joker, Harley Quinn, and countless others from the Injustice League, players will set out on an epic adventure.
Mystic Pillars: Remastered | PS5
Mystic Pillars is a unique blend of intriguing puzzles and an immersive storyline set in Ancient India. The game is a reimagination of the Indian traditional board game – “Ali Guli Mane” or the internationally known variant “Mancala”. Play as a mysterious traveller whose journey across the world lands you in the Kingdom of Zampi. Resolve the drought plaguing the once-prosperous Kingdom of Zampi by solving puzzles and destroying the magical pillars blocking the water. This remastered version presents the hand-drawn artwork in vivid 4K, and offers an improved UI and cutscene art. The game is greatly influenced and inspired by Hampi – a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and Indian culture. Mystic Pillars is available in 21 languages and showcases lesser-known languages like Telugu, Kannada, Tamil, Catalan, etc. Experience the story with voiceovers in Kannada – an Indian language, or English.
Blood Bowl 3 | PS4, PS5
The iconic death sport returns with the new video game of fantasy football faithfully using the latest board game rules and new content. Crush your way to the top and leave your opponents in the graveyard, taking control of a team from 12 factions, each with its own unique characteristics. Create players; customize their appearance, emblems and armor; recruit cheerleaders and your coach; then compete in the fiercest competitions in the Old World. Enjoy a single player campaign or compete against other players online.
Super Neptunia RPG | PS4
This side-scrolling action RPG is set in a meta-world where gorgeous 2D rules supreme, leaving you to team up with three other goddesses to fight back in the name of 3D. Leap between platforms, explore dungeons and take on foes in turn-based battles. Change up your attack style by switching the leader of your four-strong party, then strengthen your Goddesses by utilizing Skills and Abilities that can be unlocked with weapons, armor, or accessories.
Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot* | PS5
Relive the story of Goku and other Z Fighters in this action RPG based on the successful anime and manga series. Explore the new areas and adventures as you advance through the story and form powerful bonds with other heroes from the Dragon Ball Z universe.
*The PS4 version of Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot is already available on PlayStation Plus Game Catalog.
Jak and Daxter The Lost Frontier | PS4, PS5
Jak and Daxter are back in an adventure that picks up the action where the previous trilogy left off. Whether battling Sky Pirates in a customizable aircraft or blasting Aeropans with the punishing Gunstaff, their journey will take them beyond the edge of the Brink – and into a war bigger than they could have imagined. Originally released for PSP, this enhanced version includes up-rendering, rewind, quick save, and custom video filters.
Cool Boarders | PS4, PS5
Experience the PS1 snowboarding racer, enhanced to include up-rendering, rewind, quick save, and custom video filters. Carve, shred and catch air down five alpine tracks, choosing from 10 hardcore snowboards, each with its own unique attributes and design. Battle yourself for better runs using Ghost Data.
Gods Eater Burst | PS4, PS5
Aragami, unknown life-forms, have suddenly appeared. These predators eat and destroy everything in their path, including the homes of humans who are left helpless. In this dire situation, the biochemical organization, Fenrir, has succeeded in developing a bioweapon created from Aragami cells. This weapon is known as God Arc and is used by special warriors referred to as God Eaters. On the verge of extinction, humanity has now found the only means to fight back against the Aragami. Form teams of up to 4 players and cooperate to fight against the Aragami in this high-speed hunting action game.
Originally released for PSP, this enhanced version includes up-rendering, rewind, quick save, and custom video filters.
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy | PS4
Become Phoenix Wright and experience the thrill of battle as you fight to save your innocent clients in a court of law in the classic courtroom adventure series. Play all 14 episodes, spanning the first three games, in one gorgeous collection. Solve the intriguing mysteries behind each case and witness the final truth for yourself.
JoJos Bizarre Adventure AllStar Battle R
Charismatic heroes, a striking art style, and unforgettable catch phrases return in another installment of JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure. Based on the All Star Battle system released in 2014, JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: All Star Battle R reinvigorates the gameplay experience with adjustments to the fighting tempo and the addition of hit stops and jump dashes. With new audio recordings from the animated series’ Part 6 voice actors, the full atmosphere of the internationally beloved anime is realized. Both fans of the original All Star Battle and newcomers will be able to enjoy the experience.
We are happy to announce that, starting April 1st, My Hero Academia Season 1 will be available on Sony Pictures Core to PlayStation Plus Premium/Deluxe members. Additionally, we are pleased to share that select series from Crunchyroll will be available to PlayStation Plus Premium/Deluxe via Sony Pictures Core in the following additional regions starting March 13th: Mexico, Spain, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy and France. PlayStation Plus Premium/Deluxe members have access to a curated catalog of 100 movies to watch on demand from Sony Pictures Core and curated content from Crunchyroll will be included.**
*PlayStation Plus Game Catalog lineup may differ in certain regions. Please check the PlayStation Store on launch day for your region’s lineup.
**My Hero Academia is not currently available on Sony Pictures Core in Spain or Japan. Access requires a Sony Pictures Core app account, subject to Sony Pictures Core Terms of Service. Must be age 18+. Availability of content varies over time, region/country, format and plan. PlayStation Plus is subject to a recurring subscription fee taken automatically until cancellation. Terms apply: https://www.playstation.com/legal/ps-plus-usage-terms/
CCP Games have shared a few more details about Project Awakening, a new game or at least, “experience” set in the Eve Online universe, which is getting a closed playtest from 21st May 2024. Project Awakening is a single-shard affair – that is, one in which all players inhabit the same world, rather than being split up across servers or instances. It’s “built upon the principles of freedom, consequence, and mastery within a living universe”, and “represents the next step in CCP Games’ journey to create virtual worlds more meaningful than real life”, which, you know, wind your neck in.
When it comes to picking up new games, hardware, or accessories for your Xbox, it feels good when you can find those items at a discounted price. Here, we’ll keep you updated on all of the latest deals for Xbox, from games to controllers and so much more. Below, you can find a wide range of items on sale, including some console bundles that are still available and controllers.
Newegg is offering a nice little deal at the moment on Xbox Game Pass Core. By using the code SSDQAA48 at checkout, you can save $11 on a 12-month membership, bringing the price down from $59.99 to $48.99. You’ll want to act fast, though, as this deal ends tonight!
In need of another Xbox controller? Well, you’re in luck, as there are a few discounted right now. The new Dream Vapor controller (which released in February this year) even has a slight discount of 17% at the moment. In my opinion, you can never have too many controllers. You never know when someone will pop on by and want to play Overcooked or It Takes Two, or any local multiplayer game.
More Xbox Controller Deals:
There are several Xbox games on sale right now that are worth adding to your collection. One of our favorite deals at the moment is on Star Wars Jedi: Survivor Standard Edition, which you can get for 50% off at Best Buy with a price of $34.99! If you haven’t played this one yet, it’s absolutely worth getting at this price. To see even more Xbox game deals, check out the links below. And if you’re curious to see what digital games are on sale, head to the Xbox store’s deal page.
Amazon:
Best Buy:
There are a few console bundles on sale at the moment that are worth taking advantage of. One of our favorite deals leftover from the Black Friday/Cyber Monday season is on the Diablo IV Xbox Series X bundle, which you can get for $458.82 at Walmart. You can also get a Series X discounted at Target for $449.99.
Buying new items for your Xbox doesn’t have to make a massive dent in your wallet, either. Here, we’ll feature a variety of excellent games, accessories, and hardware that are available at more affordable prices regularly or are the just option available when gaming on Xbox.
More Xbox Budget to Best Picks
Does your family complain when you stay up playing loud shooters late into the night? They’ll stop complaining if you pick up an Xbox headset that lets no one but you hear the delightful explosions you cause on the screen. Right now, you can get 10% off the Official Xbox Wireless Headset, bringing the price down to $89.99 from $99.99. You can also save 20% on the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless Gaming Headset by using the promo code ‘GET20’ at checkout. To see even more gaming headsets on sale, visit our roundup of the best gaming headset deals.
More Xbox Headset Deals:
By securing 3-months of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate for $44.99, you can actually avoid the Game Pass price hike. We recommend securing your current subscription for as long as possible. You can stack up to a maximum of 36 months of Game Pass, meaning you have the option to accumulate 3-month subscriptions up to 12 times.
Admittedly, this approach might put a strain on your wallet, totaling $539.88 if you purchase the 3-month package from the link above. However, when you compare it to the new cost of Game Pass Ultimate for 36 months at $16.99 per month, amounting to $611.64, you’ll realize you’re saving $71.76 on your subscription for the next three years. Otherwise, secure your membership for at least a year to lock in at least some savings overall.
In general, it is advisable to keep an eye out for sales and restocks throughout the year, as availability has improved since the initial launch of the console. Unlike the Nintendo Switch, there is no specific recommendation to wait for a sale regardless of the time of year. Instead, it’s a good idea to monitor various retailers and online platforms for restock announcements and promotional offers.
However, certain events like Black Friday or other holiday seasons may bring about unique bundles, discounts, or promotional deals specifically for the Xbox Series X. These bundles may include additional games, accessories, or exclusive limited editions. While quantities for such promotions might be limited, they can provide an opportunity to get more value for your purchase. See our guide to Xbox Series X prices for more info.
Choosing between the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S ultimately depends on your gaming preferences, budget, and specific requirements. Let’s compare the two consoles to help you make an informed decision:
1. Performance: The Xbox Series X is the more powerful option, offering native 4K gaming, higher graphical fidelity, and faster loading times. It has more advanced hardware, including a larger storage capacity. On the other hand, the Xbox Series S targets a lower price point and offers a less powerful performance, targeting 1440p resolution gaming and upscaling to 4K.
2. Price: The Xbox Series S is more affordable compared to the Xbox Series X. If budget is a significant factor for you, the Xbox Series S provides a cost-effective option while still delivering a next-generation gaming experience. For example, the Series S can play Starfield at 1440p 30fps (vs 4K 30fps on Series X).
3. Storage: The Xbox Series X comes with a larger internal storage capacity, allowing you to store more games directly on the console. The Xbox Series S, however, has a smaller storage capacity, which means you may need to manage your game library more actively or rely on external storage solutions.
4. Disc Drive: The Xbox Series X includes a disc drive, enabling you to play physical game discs and enjoy a wider range of media options, including Blu-ray and DVD playback. The Xbox Series S, in contrast, is a digital-only console, meaning you can only play games downloaded from the digital store.
5. Graphics and Performance: While both consoles support ray tracing, the Xbox Series X provides a more immersive and visually impressive experience due to its superior hardware capabilities. If you prioritize cutting-edge graphics and want the best performance available, the Xbox Series X is the preferable choice.
Consider your gaming preferences, budget, and whether you prioritize top-of-the-line performance or cost-effectiveness. If you have a 4K TV, want the most powerful console, and are willing to invest more, the Xbox Series X is the recommended option. If you have a lower budget, a 1080p or 1440p TV, and don’t mind sacrificing some performance, the Xbox Series S offers excellent value for money.
With how expensive gaming is getting in 2024, we’re trying to save you as much money as possible on the games and other tech you actually want to buy. We’ve got great deal roundups available for all major platforms such as Switch and Xbox, and keep these updated daily with brand new offers. If you’re trying to keep costs down while maintaining your favorite hobby, stay tuned for more incredible discounts.
Robert Anderson is a deals expert and Commerce Editor for IGN. You can follow him @robertliam21 on Twitter.
One of my favourite ‘jokes’to do is parody Raymond Chandler, i.e. I shout “She had legs all the way up to her thighs!” and then laugh at myself. Chandlers’s trademark “blonde to make a bishop kick a hole in a stained-glass window” kind of zingers are very hard to do well, so it’s better to say you’re doing Philip Marlow badly on purpose. The trailer for Nobody Wants To Die seems like it’s self-seriousness is actually self-awareness. I mean, I kind of refuse to believe that hard-boiled future crime detective James Karra saying “I’m in the business of secrets… But it’s more of an addiction… And I like ’em straight… No chaser…” while sipping from a glass of amber liquor isn’t indulging in some amount of winking and nudging.
