Category: Video Games

Fortnite Will Return to iOS, But Only in Europe

Almost four years after being removed from the App Store, Epic Games has announced it is bringing back the iOS version of Fortnite, but this will only be available for countries in the European Union (EU).

A new post on the official Fortnite X/Twitter account reveals that the popular free-to-play battle royale will be released on iOS via the Epic Games Store. This will be made possible for two reasons: Apple announced today that it has updated its App Store policies to appease EU regulators. Most notably, iPhone users in that region can download apps from third-party app stores under the revised EU app store policy. Apple partly revised these app store policies thanks to the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA).

Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney previously mentioned in his post today that his company plans to launch the Epic Games Store on Android and iOS with the company’s ultimate goal to become the “#1 multi-platform software store, on the foundation of payment competition, 0%-12% fees, and exclusive games like Fortnite.”

Fortnite was removed from the App Store and Google Play in August 2020 after Apple Epic rolled out a direct-pay system into the game. Epic then pursued legal action against both Apple and Google with varying outcomes. Prior to Fortnite being re-launched on iOS, those who wanted to play it on a smartphone or tablet had to stream the game on either Xbox Cloud Gaming or Nvidia GeForce Now.

Of course, those not in the European Union will still be limited to this until further notice. But with Apple also changing its app store policies to make it easier for game streaming services like Microsoft and Nvidia’s products, perhaps one or both of these companies will soon launch a native iOS app in other countries, similar to what the Google Play Store offers.

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

Dwarf Fortress’s Adventure mode getting tutorials and more direction in the sandbox

Adventure mode was one of my favourite things about Dwarf Fortress, mainly because it made the infamously complex management game more approachable by letting you play it like a more traditional roguelike. I’m excited, therefore, that Adventure mode is coming soon to the Steam version of the game, and excited even more so that it’s aiming to make it even more accessible.

A new update on development which outlines exactly how the new premium version of Adventure mode differs from the original, including its plan for tutorials to guide new players.

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Xbox Insider Release Notes – Delta (2402.240122-2000)

Hey Xbox Insiders! We have a new Xbox Update Preview releasing to the Delta ring today.

It’s important we note that some updates made in these preview OS builds include background improvements that ensure a quality and stable build for Xbox consoles. We will continue to post these release notes, even when the noticeable changes to the UI are minimal or behind the scenes, so you’re aware when updates are coming to your device.

Details can be found below!

Xbox Insider Release Notes

System Update Details:

  • OS Version: XB_FLT_2402ZN25398.3443.240122-2000
  • Available: 4 p.m. PT – January 25, 2024
  • Mandatory: 3 a.m. PT – January 26, 2024

New Features and Experiences

We have exciting news! Delta users can expect something new coming to their Xbox Update Preview.

Settings – Access Restrictions

We have updated the Access restrictions page in Settings by moving the existing options under a new menu for Access restrictions options. Additionally, we have added new options to allow use of the Edge web browser, setting Home console, and to delete profiles on sign out. To view these new options, navigate to Settings > System > Access restrictions.

Fixes Included

Thanks to all the great feedback Xbox Insiders provide and the hard work of Xbox engineers, we are happy to announce the following fixes have been implemented with this build:

Installation

  • Various fixes to further improve unexpected issues when installing or updating games and apps.

System

Known Issues

While known issues may have been listed in previous Xbox Insider Release Notes, they are not being ignored! However, it may take Xbox engineers more time to find a solution. If you experience any of these issues, we ask that you please follow any guidance provided and file feedback with Report a Problem.

Audio

  • We have received reports of users experiencing intermittent issues with audio across the dashboard, games, and apps. If you have experienced issues, be sure you have the latest firmware updates for your TV and other equipment. If you’re unsure, you may need to contact the manufacturer for assistance.
    • Note: If you continue to experience issues after applying the latest firmware updates, please submit feedback via Report a Problem immediately with the “Reproduce with advanced diagnostics” option, then select the category “Console experiences” and “Console Audio Output Issues”. Be sure to include as much information as possible:
      • When did the issue start?
      • Did you lose audio just in the game/app or system audio as well?
      • Does changing the audio format resolve the issue? If yes, what was the format before and after?
      • Does rebooting resolve the issue?
      • What does your setup include? Equipment, layout, etc.
      • And any additional information you can provide to reproduce the problem.

Networking

  • We are investigating reports of an issue where the console may not connect to their network as expected on boot. If you experience this, be sure to report the issue via Report a Problem as soon as you’re able.

As always, be sure to use Report a problem to keep us informed of any issues you encounter. We may not be able to respond to everyone, but the data we’ll gather is crucial to finding a resolution.

What Happens to Your Feedback

If you’re an Xbox Insider looking for support, please visit the community subreddit. Official Xbox staff, moderators, and fellow Xbox Insiders are there to help with your concerns.

When posting to the subreddit, please look through the most recent posts to see if your issue has already been posted or addressed. We always recommend adding to existing threads with the same issue before posting a new one. This helps us support you the best we can! Also, don’t forget to use “Report a Problem” before posting – the information shared in both places helps us understand your issue better.

Thank you to every Xbox Insider in the subreddit today and welcome to the community if you’re just joining us! We love that it has become such a friendly and community-driven hub of conversation and support.

For more information regarding the Xbox Insider Program follow us on Twitter. Keep an eye on future Xbox Insider Release Notes for more information regarding your Xbox Update Preview ring!

The post Xbox Insider Release Notes – Delta (2402.240122-2000) appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Ruiner Developer Reikon Games Reportedly Lays Off 80% of the Company

Ruiner developer Reikon Games has reportedly laid off 60 to 70 people, or roughly 80% of its workforce, according to Kotaku.

Kotaku’s report is backed up by a handful of social media reports from former Reikon developers saying they had lost their jobs this week. IGN has reached out to Reikon Games for comment.

Reikon Games was previously responsible for the isometric shooter Ruiner, which received generally positive reviews upon its 2017 launch. In 2021, the studio began teasing its next project dubbed Codename: Final Form, which was planned to be published under Plaion (owned by Embracer Group)’s Prime Matter label.

Reikon’s layoffs come on the same day as a mass layoff of 1900 from Microsoft’s games division, which itself is happening in the midst of an ongoing maelstrom of industry layoffs. An estimated 10,000 developers were impacted last year, and already in the first month of 2024 Kotaku’s ongoing tracker estimates nearly 6000 developers have been let go. In recent interviews, some industry leaders suggested that the situation will remain dire for months to come.

Rebekah Valentine is a senior reporter for IGN. Got a story tip? Send it to rvalentine@ign.com.

Blizzard have cancelled their in-development survival game alongside today’s layoffs

Back in 2022, Blizzard announced that they were working on a survival game set in an “all-new universe”. Not much more was known about the game except that the studio were actively ramping up recruitment, seemingly after having been working on the project since 2017.

This survival game has now been cancelled alongside today’s news of sweeping layoffs across Blizzard and other divisions of new owner Microsoft.

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Preorder Nintendo’s New Pastel Pink Joy-Cons for Princess Peach: Showtime

In celebration of Princess Peach: Showtime, Nintendo recently announced that they’re releasing a set of pastel pink Joy-Cons that will be available alongside the game on March 22. If you’re someone who’s dying to get your hands on them, we have good news, preorders are officially open at retailers like Amazon and Best Buy for $79.99.

These will only be available for a limited time, so make sure to get your preorders in quick. Check them out on Best Buy and GameStop’s websites below.

Preorder the Pastel Pink Joy-Cons for Princess Peach: Showtime

If you’re looking to get your hands on the game itself, don’t worry, we’ve got you covered there, too. In our Princess Peach: Showtime preorder guide, we’ve listed links to where you can preorder the game (in both physical and digital formats) at a variety of retailers for $59.99. And if you want to see more of this game before you preorder it, check out the latest trailer for it which shows off her latest transformations into Ninja Peach and Cowgirl Peach.

Alongside new Nintendo games that are worth keeping on your radar, there are plenty of Nintendo-related deals to check out right now as well. In our roundup of the best Nintendo deals today, we’ve gathered together a variety of discounts, from games to SD cards. When it comes to the former, you can even save on some of last year’s biggest releases, like the physical version of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom which is discounted right now at Walmart. If you want to see what deals are available for other consoles, we also have roundups for PS5 deals, Xbox deals, and general video game deals.

Hannah Hoolihan is a freelance writer who works with the Guides and Commerce teams here at IGN.

Uh oh, Balatro might be the deckbuilder to end all deckbuilders

When I sat down at my desk after lunch today, I thought, I’m just going to give this demo for Balatro a tiny go, just to get my head round its poker-based roguelike deckbuilding. Cut to several hours later and I’ve had to forcibly shut the game down and wrench myself away from it just to write this post, because listen, you need to go and play Balatro’s demo right now, because hot damn this is the good stuff if you’re into roguelike deckbuilders. I also say this as someone who’s never played or understood a game of poker in her life, because let’s face it, regular poker is quite boring. Balatro, on the other hand, is poker that’s turbo-charged with magic Joker cards, tarot card multipliers, and blind conditions that make a successful hand increasingly tricky to pull off. And it’s coming out in full real soon, too.

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Soapbox: After Years Of Lengthy RPG Tutorials, Golden Sun Feels Fresher Than Ever

You could say it’s an Adept.

Soapbox features enable our individual writers and contributors to voice their opinions on hot topics and random stuff they’ve been chewing over. Today, Alana reflects on playing Golden Sun in 2024, and how it allows players to figure things out for themselves rather than relying on tutorials. Warning — minor early game spoilers ahead…

Golden Sun is good – really good. That’s not surprising at all to most people, but to me, someone who played it back when it first launched 23 years ago and bounced off of it, it’s a bit of a relief.

Read the full article on nintendolife.com