CD Projekt Red, the studio behind The Witcher and Cyberpunk 2077, apparently has no intentions of implementing microtransactions in its single-player games.
In an interview with Stockwatch.pl (spotted by PCGamer), CD Projekt Red Chief Financial Officer Piotr Nielubowicz responded to a question about whether the studio would implement microtransactions in future projects.
“We do not see a place for microtransactions in the case of single-player games,” Nielubowicz explained (via Google Translate). “[B]ut we do not rule out that we will use this solution in the future in the case of multiplayer projects.”
While CD Projekt Red is known for its single-player games, the studio is planning to, at the very least, incorporate some multiplayer aspects in some of its future projects. Most notably, the studio is developing a new game set in The Witcher universe, codenamed Sirius. Although project details are slim, CD Projekt Red previously said that it will have both single and multiplayer gameplay.
Nielubowicz’s comments come amid continued fan pushback against paywalls and in-game purchases, a conversation that’s currently focused on Capcom’s most recent single-player game, Dragon’s Dogma 2. Despite its impressive sales performance on Steam, many players have criticized the presence of microtransactions in Dragon’s Dogma 2, specifically because the ones offered make some sections designed to challenge players easier to pass by, and help with things like fast-travel.
Some players, however, have defended Dragon’s Dogma 2’s microtransactions, given that the items you can pay for are also attainable through gameplay. Still, microtransactions in games remain a controversial topic, especially the idea of implementing them in $70 single-player games.
In other CD Projekt Red news, the studio recently revealed that it’s putting the bulk of its resources on the next mainline Witcher game, codenamed Polaris.
Taylor is a Reporter at IGN. You can follow her on Twitter @TayNixster.
ARK: Survival Ascended, the action-adventure game with added domesticated battle dinosaurs, first appeared in Early Access in October 2023, and has been introducing new and returning players to the remade world of ARK: Survival Evolved ever since. Building on the original’s mix of action, crafting, and combat, ARK: Survival Ascended uses the power of Unreal Engine 5, the variety of modding and the utility of cross-platform play to offer an upgraded way to experience the open-world exploration experience.
Now Snail Games is bringing more to the ARK: Survival Experience with the Scorched Earth Expansion Map and Bob’s Tall Tales DLC. Fans who have checked out the ARK: Animated Series on Paramount+ can also enjoy special in-game content based on the spinoff, with animated skins based on the show’s characters.
Bob’s Tall Tales DLC Brings Karl Urban and Auli’i Cravalho
Adding The Boys star Karl Urban to an adventure is never a bad idea, and the new Bob’s Tales DLC is no exception. This premium DLC stars the iconic ARK legend Bob (voiced by Urban) and tells the story of his “incredibly true adventures.”
ARK fans know that in the brutal world of the game, Bobs are the noobs of the universe (the original default character name in ARKs of the past) and despite his boasts, this Bob is no exception. As you find his animated Explorer Notes he’ll relay his tales of triumph to Meeka (voiced by Moana’s Auli’i Cravalho) giving you the chance to hear his story.
The expansion will take you to The Island, Scorched Earth, Aberration, and Extinction to play through three themed stories. The first to go live is Frontier Showdown – a chance to saddle up and stake your claim on the Scorched Earth. Players can build new Western-style structures like a rootin’ tootin’ saloon complete with piano and even hop aboard a chugging steam train to see the badlands in style. The Frontier Showdown story also adds a new dinosaur, the Oasisaur, a protective creature with perks all its own. When you’re near an Oasisaur, you’re shielded from environmental threats and hostile creatures. Sadly, it won’t protect you from other players but its rejuvenating pools can revive fallen pets.
The Frontier Showdown adventure launches on April 1, with more stories – Steampunk Ascent and Wasteland Wars – following in the future to give you the full scope and bombastic nature of Bob’s true adventures across The Island, Scorched Earth, Aberration, and Extinction.
The Scorched Earth Expansion Map Takes Players to an Unforgiving Desert Waiting to be Conquered
The Scorched Earth Expansion Map is free for all ARK: Survival Ascended players, and will go live on April 1, 2024. The searing sands it brings with it are no joke though, challenging players with an unforgiving land prone to sandstorms and new beasts to conquer. Prepare to meet the Fasolasuchus, a crocodile lookalike from the Late Triassic that can swim through sand like it’s taking a break in a hotel pool and can launch a surprise attack from beneath the dunes. Tame it though and you’ll get a powerful desert steed to help you survive the death worms and dangerous landscapes of the Scorched Earth.
ARK: The Animated Series on Paramount+ brings its colorful characters to ARK: Survival Ascended.
ARK: The Animated Series is available right now on Paramount+ in the US and Canada and will arrive in all other Paramount+ international markets starting Friday, April 19. Telling the story of 21st-century paleontologist Helena Walker (Madeleine Madden) who finds herself suddenly in a land of prehistoric beasts, it features the talents of Michelle Yeoh, Gerard Butler, David Tennant, Madeleine Madden, Jeffrey Wright, Elliot Page, Karl Urban, Devery Jacobs,
To mark the occasion special animated costumes for the characters Helena, Bob, Dodo, and Scary the Parasaur can be unlocked in ARK: Survival Ascended by hunting down special Dear Jane notes. New notes, and new unlockable costumes, will be added in the coming weeks.
You can play ARK: Survival Ascended right now on PC, Xbox Series X/S, and PS5 in Early Access. Jump in and you’ll find adventure, survival and combat, as well as user generated mods (even on console) and a world created with the help of Unreal Engine 5. Studio Wildcard recreated and redesigned its artwork and worlds from ARK: Survival Evolved and UE5 allows ARK: Survival Ascended to take advantage of high-end graphics, next-gen lighting tech that lets light realistically bounce off surfaces, advanced mesh streaming Nanite system that gives unbelievable detail to everything from your player to that terrifying giant lizard that’s about to eat your whole party, and so much more.
Final Fantasy 14’s crossover with Final Fantasy 16, as teased last year, arrives tomorrow. The crossover between the MMO and latest single-player entry in the RPG series has the usual selection of goodies up for grabs, including a very cute minion, a not-so-cute (but still kind of cute) mount, some Clive-cleavage armour and more.
Once more unto the breach. It’s time for you to voice your thoughts and tell us about the best eShop games released in March 2024 — the ones we missed, at least.
March may have marked the Switch’s 7th birthday, but it’s otherwise been a bit of a calmer affair on the hybrid console. Popular indie tactical RPG Rainbow Moon finally landed on the eShop; the water-logged apocalypse became part of our lives with Highwater; Devolver Digital taught us about Cricket Through the Ages; and Indie World’s own Death Trick: Double Blind had you solve a murder mystery at the circus.
Hello, PlayStation Stars members – this April, get ready for an array of Campaigns. From post-apocalyptic adventures to virtual reality titles and relaxing cozy games, we’ve got a diverse lineup. Explore intriguing puzzle games, unlock Digital Collectibles, and experience new challenges. Let’s dive into the details.
Campaign: PlayStation Plus Game Catalog: Apocalypse Edition | Reward: 50 Points Available April 1
There are hundreds of games in the PlayStation Plus Game Catalog for Extra and Premium/Deluxe members. For this month, experience picks that are all about the post-apocalyptic vibe. Play any one of the games below to earn 50 Points.
Days Gone [PS4]
Death Stranding [PS4 & PS5]
Doom Eternal [PS4 & PS5]
NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139… [PS4 & PS5]
Campaign: PlayStation Plus Game Catalog: Must-play this Month | Reward: 50 Points Available April 2
Check out this month’s selection of games from the PlayStation Plus Game Catalog. Play any one of them to earn 50 Points.
Immortals of Aveum [PS5]
Minecraft Legends [PS4 & PS5]
Skul: The Hero Slayer [PS4]
Campaign: PlayStation VR2 | Game Drop | Reward: 50 Points Available April 11
The PlayStation VR2 game library continues to grow. Buy any one of the games below and earn 50 Points.
Legendary Tales [PS5]
Pavlov [PS5]
Arizona Sunshine 2 [PS5]
Beat the Beats VR [PS5]
Campaign: PlayStation & You: PS4 | Digital Collectible: PlayStation 4 Console – Silver Available April 15
Let’s travel back in time to 2017. Available only for registered PlayStation 4 console – Silver owners. Play any PS4 or PS5 game and unlock your limited edition PlayStation 4 Console – Silver Digital Collectible.
Campaign: Tales of Kenzera: ZAU | A Once Black Sky | Digital Collectible: Impundulu
Play Tales of Kenzera: ZAU, earn the “A Once Black Sky” trophy, and unlock your Digital Collectible.
Campaign: Wind Down with PlayStation | Digital Collectible: Hop, Sleep, and a Jump Available April 17
It’s cozy game time. Come relax with us by starting any one of the games below to unlock your Digital Collectible.
Song of Nunu: A League of Legends Story [PS4 & PS5]
Disney Dreamlight Valley [PS4 & PS5]
I Am Setsuna [PS4]
Lemon Cake [PS5]
Campaign: Brain Games II | Digital Collectible: Synaptic Feedback II Available April 18
Set off for adventure in these puzzle games that allow you to explore mysterious locales while putting your puzzle skills to the test. Play any one of the games below to unlock the next mysterious Digital Collectible piece.
The Gardens Between [PS4 & PS5]
I Am Dead [PS4 & PS5]
Life of Delta [PS5]
Head to PlayStation App to see all PlayStation Stars Campaigns throughout the month. Not a PlayStation Stars member yet? Learn more about PlayStation Stars and join for free here.
XDefiant, the free-to-play arena-shooter – a la Apex Legends, Overwatch 2, Valorant or the multiplayer team-based game of your choice – built around classes and factions from across the Ubisoft universe games from Splinter Cell and Far Cry to Ghost Recon and Watch Dogs, has been delayed. Originally outlined for a launch before the end of March – you’ll note that we’re now in April – the upcoming FPS will apparently now decide a release date after an upcoming stress test for its servers.
In response to a wave of fans lobbying for a Waffle House-themed stage in Tekken 8, the game’s director Katsuhiro Harada finally broke the silence and addressed the high demand for this unique stage.
Over the weekend, Harada responded to a request one fan made in his replies about adding a stage based on Waffle House to the latest installment in Bandai Namco’s fighting game series. In a rare instance, Harada responded and asked why so many people keep asking him to add this seemingly unrelated breakfast restaurant to the game.
Ok, I will only ask once about this request. Why do some communities send me requests for “Waffle House”?
Please be sure to explain the basis for the request, including the original story, history and background.
Many fans flocked to the replies to explain why they would love to see a Waffle House stage in Tekken 8. For those unfamiliar with Waffle House, it’s a chain of Southern diners with nearly 2,000 locations in over 20 states, most of which are located in the South and Midwest.
In its nearly 70 years of operation, Waffle House has become a cultural icon for a few reasons, two most notable ones being it is an open-all-night eating spot (even during emergencies) and because it has become the centerpiece of a lot of memes, most of them surrounding the fact that people have posted photos and videos of fights breaking out at various locations. Even SNL made a skit based on the meme.
hell naw if the waffle house employee Perfect Parries your projectile pack it up lmfao pic.twitter.com/1m7Y30DiJ1
After the large volume of responses he received explaining the memes, Harada followed up on his question by thanking fans for explaining “why” they wanted it so much. But as you might have expected, he said that making the stage would not be easy because Waffle House is a registered trademark and he would need permission from the owner of the rights to Waffle House to make the stage.
Thanks for the explanation guys. And I understand that many people are requesting it. However, I think you are missing one important point. The restaurant has both the trademark and the rights to the restaurant, so if the restaurant chain’s headquarters refuses to accept my… https://t.co/tnvss5w09j
Nevertheless, fans of Waffle House and/or the Waffle House memes have some hope that, just maybe, they will get a Tekken 8 stage based on the eatery.
For more on what’s actually in Tekken 8 right now, check out our Tekken 8 review and all the details on Eddy Gordo, its first DLC fighter that’s arriving today, April 1, for Year 1 Pass holders.
Image Credit: Christian Petersen / Getty Images
Taylor is a Reporter at IGN. You can follow her on Twitter @TayNixster.
April Fools’ Day has arrived once more and has brought with it some hilarious video game jokes and pranks, some of which we wish actually came true!
There are SO many that get revealed by companies around the world and it can be hard to keep track of them, so you can check out all the best ones below to ensure you don’t miss a thing! We’ll also be updating this article throughout the day as more are found, so be sure to keep checking back!
Let us know which prank is your favorite below!
Exclusive: Virtual Boy Pro Revealed! All the Details on Nintendo’s Wildest System Yet
To kick off the April Fools’ Day festivities, IGN was proud to exclusively reveal the Virtual Boy Pro! In what may be Nintendo’s wildest system yet, the Virtual Boy Pro is a VR-headset style device that docks into the Nintendo Switch System.
Much like the Apple Vision Pro, it looks to be focused mostly on augmented reality experiences with a Nintendo twist. In the trailer you can see above, you can catch a glimpse of gameplay from Link’s Korok Catcher, Super Mario Home Run, Animal Crossing: Moving Day, Luigi’s Mansion 4, and Mario Kart: Open Road.
Pokemon Is Holding an Epic Pokemon Sleep Tournament to End all Tournaments
Pokemon tournaments can be some of the most epic in all the world, but you’ve never seen anything like the Pokemon Sleep Champion Tournament 2024. Players from around the globe will compete in an eight hour and 30 minute tournament to prove they can sleep better than anyone else.
The Razer Cthulhu Is a Gaming Chair with 8 A.I. Arms Ready to Do Your Bidding
Introducing the Razer Cthulhu—the ultimate gaming chair. Never have to leave your chair again as eight independent robotic arms cater to your every need. Learn more: https://t.co/1xKJJMAccspic.twitter.com/bPigz6Hhqx
If you ever wished you were Doc Ock, Razer has the next best thing with its new gaming chair called the Razer Cthulhu. This chair features 8 A.I. arms that “cater to your every need,” including feeding you, brushing your teeth, shaving, and much more to ensure your can put all your focus into gaming.
In fact, the announce trailer takes a bit of a dark turn as the chair may never let you leave your gaming session, which may be ok for some people?
The best part? The A.I. arms are ” outfitted with a Razer Skynapse Chip and trained with over 1,337 TB. We can assure a 96.9%* chance of the tentacles always listening to you!” That sounds nothing like Skynet, no not at all!
Palworld’s More Than Just Pals Is the Dating Sim You’ve Been Waiting For
#Palworld Dating Sim💕 “Pal♡world! ~More Than Just Pals~”
Will you remain friends or fall in love? Or dismantle and eat them…🍴
Palworld’s big new update will be a dating sim where you’ll be able to fall in love with some adorable Pals, a student named Zoe, and even the black marketeer! And no, this isn’t creepy at all!
“Will you remain friends or fall in love? Or dismantle and eat them… Pals take off their clothes?! An adult version will also be released!”
Like we said, not creepy at all!
Capcom Is Getting Into the Helicopter Business After All Their Successes in the Resident Evil Series
— 【公式】バイオハザード / RESIDENT EVIL PORTAL Official (@REBHPortal) March 31, 2024
Capcom has revealed it is taking a bold step forward into the helicopter business. Which, you know, makes a lot of sense after all the… um… successes it has had with helicopters in the Resident Evil series! There’s no chance any of these will go down in a spectacular, explosive fashion!
March led the way in exploring new places, cultures, and franchises. From road trips and long hikes to turn-of-the-century inventions and futuristic tech, which excursion was your top pick?
How does it work? At the end of every month, PlayStation.Blog will open a poll where you can vote for the best new game released that month. After the polls close we will tally your votes, and announce the winner on our social channels and PlayStation.Blog. PlayStation Store will also showcase some top Players’ Choice winners throughout the year.
What is the voting criteria? That’s up to you! If you were only able to recommend one new release to a friend that month, which would it be? Note: re-released games don’t qualify, while remakes are reserved for ambitious, larger-scale rebuilds such as Resident Evil 4 (2023) and Final Fantasy VII Remake.
How are nominees decided? The PlayStation.Blog and PlayStation Store editorial teams will gather a list of that month’s most noteworthy releases and use it to seed the poll. Write-in votes will be accepted.
