Dune: Awakening developers Funcom have revealed in a post-launch Reddit AMA that they’re currently aiming to release a fresh update full of quality of life-related tweaks in early July, as well as adding “new contracts across the board” down the line.
However, if you’re after big new stuff to do, you’ll have to wait for the major updates that’ll be releasing alongside the game’s DLCs.
Yesterday, the new patch 1.01.3 went live for Elden Ring Nightreign. It was a seemingly small patch, centered on bugs and quality-of-life tune-ups. It seemed like most players saw it and went about their day. But then, gradually, some started to notice a new option in their Expeditions menu.
A new Gaping Jaw undertaking, dubbed the “Everdark Sovereign,” was appearing on the Expeditions menu. Soon it became clear that FromSoftware had delivered on its promise to add enhanced bosses to Elden Ring Nightreign this month, and it did so without warning, letting players potentially stumble into the new venture. Watching the community piece this together, in the late hours of the night, was truly fantastic.
As confirmed this morning on Bandai Namco’s site, enhanced versions of current Nightlords—duibbed Everdark Sovereigns—will start appearing in Elden Ring Nightreign over the coming weeks. Each week, a new Sovereign will arrive in Limveld, with Gaping Jaw as the current Sovereign and both Sentient Pest and Darkdrift Knight due to get new, more challenging versions as well.
Everdark Sovereigns are only available while online, and each Sovereign will hang around for a week, then leave and get replaced by another one. You have to have beaten the base, original form of the Nightlord to challenge its Everdark Sovereign form.
Early reports from players indicate that this souped-up Gaping Jaw is, truly, enhanced. Videos of the fights show the empowered Adel zipping aruond the field, creating massive storms, and generally wiping the floor with entire trios of players in short order.
While you can tackle the Everdark Sovereign solo, or with friends and/or strangers, it seems like the new fight is truly adding some challenge, even for those who have been putting a lot of hours into Elden Ring Nightreign. To me, it’s reminiscent of Monster Hunter’s upgraded fights that get added post-launch, like Tempered versions of monsters, that seem meant to add extra challenge as players’ knowledge and power rises exponentially over time.
What’s the reward for felling an Everdark Sovereign? Well, a brand-new shop located in the hub area will let you spend all the Sovereign Sigils you’ll earn from a clear, and even this shop is a pretty exciting update. Alongside offering special Relics and other items, the Sigils allow playes to change the Roundtable Hold’s lighting, acquire the currently available skins, and set shifting earth statuses. The latter has been a major request from the community, and it’s great to see it addressed.
So while the patch notes for 1.01.3 were fairly unassuming at first, players now seem to feel like this is a huge update. The roll-out of enhanced bosses has already brought some new life and challenge back to Nightreign, and the promise of more to come is enticing, as are the new short-term pursuits to chase after.
Bandai Namco is also teasing this as the start of something: “This is only the beginning of the Everdark Sovereign cycle. As the power of the Night ebbs and wanes, the Sovereigns will soon return to the abyss they came from.” We already know Elden Ring Nightreign is due to get full updates down the road, so if this is an early indication of what we can expect, the long-term prospects for FromSoft’s new co-op survival action game seem good.
We’ve got plenty of Nightreign tips and tricks to help you take down all the eight Nightlord Bosses, and if you’re wondering how to unlock the two locked Nightfarer Classes, check out How to Unlock the Revenant and How to Unlock the Duchess, plus How to Change Characters.
Eric is a freelance writer for IGN.
I swear I don’t actually have anything against the Nintendo Switch 2, other than its suspect attempt at Zoom Meetings But Games and some slight jealousy that it got DLSS support before a PC handheld did. Even so, I do feel obliged to warn Steam Deck owners – and, in fact, anyone who has any current portable PC – away from microSD Express cards, support for which is one of the Switch 2’s key storage upgrades.
We’re a little less than a month away from the release of Donkey Kong Bananza, and now it’s getting an adorable amiibo to release alongside it. The brand new amiibo for the game (which you can see here at Best Buy) features Donkey Kong and Pauline, who was recently confirmed to be your trusty sidekick in the game. She’s catching a ride on DK’s back, holding on to his necktie.
This new amiibo is currently listed for $29.99 and is set to release on July 17, which is the same day as Donkey Kong Bananza. If you want the full Donkey Kong setup for launch day, don’t miss out on picking up this amiibo at the link below.
In our first hands-on preview of Donkey Kong Bananza, IGN’s Logan Plant said, “on Switch 2, Nintendo is finally giving one of gaming’s biggest icons the love he deserves with a brand new, flagship, launch window 3D action-platformer, and if the first 30 minutes we spent with Donkey Kong Bananza are any indication, Mario’s original rival is looking poised to stand tall once again.” If you haven’t yet preordered the game, it’s worth checking out our Donkey Kong Bananza preorder guide to set yourself up with a copy ahead of its release.
If you’re already stocked up on Switch 2 games and are looking for some accessories to add to your Switch 2 setup instead, we’re here to help there, too. In our roundup of the best Nintendo Switch 2 deals, you can see some very nice discounts we’ve come across recently on a variety of items, from carrying cases to screen protectors and so much more. With Amazon Prime Day on the horizon as well, we’ll probably see some more Switch 2 accessory discounts popping up throughout the sale event. Keep your eyes peeled (get it?) when the sale kicks off on July 8.
Hannah Hoolihan is a freelancer who writes with the guides and commerce teams here at IGN.
Rematch, the game about kicking it in the goal from Sifu and Absolver devs Sloclap, have launched today, June 19th. The folks behind it have rung in that occasion by outlining a bunch of their future plans, as well as saying they’re very sorry you can’t currently show off your mouse and keyboard skills by nutmegging some fool who owns one of those ex-boxers.
Don’t worry, though, crossplay and a bunch of other stuff are in the works for future updates to the foot-to-ball thing Nic and James dug the beta of, and that currently sits fourth in Steam’s top sellers list.
That really is updating the world.
Just under a month ago, Level-5 revealed that it would be releasing free DLC for Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time, which has been a huge success for the Japanese developer. The game has sold over 1 million copies across all platforms, and the Switch 2 version in particular is absolutely fantastic.
Now, the developer has shared more details about that upcoming free DLC, Update the World, and it really is updating the world, as Ginormosia will be transforming into a base for a roguelike, open world adventure (thanks, Gematsu!). A date hasn’t been announced, but Level-5 is aiming to bring it to fans “as soon as possible.”
Read the full article on nintendolife.com
This week, Xbox announced it is actively building its next-generation lineup across console, handheld, PC, cloud, and accessories. As part of this, Xbox unveiled that it has entered into a strategic, multi-year partnership with AMD to co-engineer silicon across a portfolio of devices, including future first-party consoles and cloud.
This work is part of Xbox’s commitment to deliver an enduring gaming platform that enables you to play across devices in entirely new ways, with an Xbox experience designed for players – not locked to a single store or tied to one device.
Sarah Bond, President of Xbox, shares how Xbox and AMD are working together to advance the state of the art in gaming silicon across the Xbox ecosystem, including our next-generation Xbox console – and how Windows and Xbox are partnering to ensure Windows is the number one platform for gaming.
Lisa Su, Chair and Chief Executive Officer of AMD, shares how Xbox and AMD are building on two decades of partnership, innovation, and trust. AMD will extend its console work to design full roadmap of gaming-optimized chips combining the power of Ryzen and Radeon for consoles, handhelds, PCs, and cloud.
Stay tuned for more as we continue to bring the next generation of Xbox to life—together.
The post Xbox and AMD: Advancing the Next Generation of Gaming Together appeared first on Xbox Wire.
Fan-favorite rhythm game Beat Saber is ending support for PlayStation consoles.
From here on in, you shouldn’t expect any further updates or music packs if you play on PS4 or PS5, and from January 21, 2026, multiplayer support will also be withdrawn.
“As we look to the future and plan the next big leap for Beat Saber, we have made the decision to no longer release updates for PS4 and PS5 starting in June 2025,” the developer explained in a new FAQ entitled “End of Support for PS4/PS5” (thanks, Eurogamer).
“Our passion for VR remains unwavering. We are excited about the possibilities that lie ahead and what we can bring to Beat Saber fans who have been on this journey with us over the past [seven] years.”
The update stressed that you will still be able to play Beat Saber and have access to all of your previously purchased content, and cross-buy “remains active” between the PS4 and PS5 base game. You can also still buy songs and music packs that were released on or before June 18 — just nothing added to the catalog from today (June 19) onwards.
“We’re grateful for the incredible support you’ve shown us over the years, and we’re excited to share what the future holds for Beat Saber,” the update concluded.
For many players, this feels very much like the final nail in the coffin for PlayStation’s VR aspirations, as Beat Saber is still one of PlayStation’s biggest VR titles. Fans seem split between laying the blame with Sony and the lack of support its given to its VR headset, and Meta “wanting their game to be the best on Quest.”
“Absolutely baffling decision,” said one player on the subreddit. “Beat Saber still regularly tops the sales charts on PSVR1 and 2, I think dropping support for PSVR1 is understandable but not supporting PSVR2 feels like an absolutely insane move given how popular the game is on that platform.”
“This is a massively stupid f***ing decision,” added another. “I can’t overstate how mad I am about this.”
Despite its impressive technical specs, the PSVR2 seemingly lost momentum following its release in 2023. In June last year, Android Central reported that Sony made “deep cuts to funding for VR,” with only two first-party PSVR2 games allegedly in development. Sony eventually gave PSVR2 a new lease on life by adding PC VR support, but mentions of the device have been few and far between since. PSVR2 recently dropped to match its all-time low price thanks to the PlayStation Days of Play sale.
“The PlayStation VR2 may seem pricey, given that it costs $150 more than the base PS5 Digital Edition console you’ll need to use it,” we wrote when we reviewed the PSVR2 on release. “Even so, it’s such a quantum leap over the original PSVR in terms of ease of use, visual quality, and immersion that any PlayStation owner who loves VR should upgrade as soon as possible.
“Its 4K HDR OLED screen and excellently tactile Sense controllers are the most obvious improvement, but plentiful quality-of-life changes and the raw horsepower of the PS5 set a new standard for how VR games should play and feel on console. The downside is that, like any new platform, its thin launch lineup makes its lack of backward compatibility with original PSVR games a significant problem, but one that will only improve as Sony and other developers roll out new games that take advantage of the PSVR2’s unique features.”
Vikki Blake is a reporter for IGN, as well as a critic, columnist, and consultant with 15+ years experience working with some of the world’s biggest gaming sites and publications. She’s also a Guardian, Spartan, Silent Hillian, Legend, and perpetually High Chaos. Find her at BlueSky.
Ara: History Untold is a game I briefly gave a go last year, back when Civ 7 was still a game we were all yet to play and have a vast slew of different opinions about. I thought the little I played was alright, but didn’t stick with it that long, slipping back into the pair of comfy slippers that were Civ 6.
Now, though, Ara’s just gotten a big update, and it looks like it should solve some of the issues that folks flagged with the base game.
Gears of War: Reloaded‘s upcoming beta weekend will now last a little longer and include more content as developer The Coalition responds to feedback from players.
“We heard you,” the team said on social media. “More maps. More modes. More time.”
As a result, this weekend’s upcoming multiplayer beta has been extended — so the beta now runs from Friday June 20 at 12pm PDT to Sunday June 22 at 9pm PDT — and Execution has now joined the mode pool alongside King of the Hill on Gridlock, Raven Down (Courtyard and War Machine), and Canals. You’ll also be able to play Team Deathmatch on the same maps via social matchmaking, with Gold Rush also in the pool.
That won’t quite quell the issues some players had about server stability but to be honest, that’s precisely what beta tests are for, right? Better to experience that instability now than when the game launches in a few weeks’ time.
Last month Microsoft announced Gears of War: Reloaded, a remaster of the original 2006 game, will launch on August 26 on PC, Xbox, and yes, even PlayStation. The shiny new version will come with improved visuals and audio, crossplay, and cross-progression, and all the DLC from the Gears of War: Ultimate Edition.
As a little treat for the Gears of War faithful, Gears of War: Reloaded will be a free upgrade for any players who purchased the digital version of Gears of War: Ultimate Edition before the announcement. If you’re one of the special ones, expect a code via a DM from Xbox ahead of the release.
“As we approach the 20th anniversary of Gears of War in 2026, we’re reflecting on what this franchise means. It’s about the stories we’ve told, the friendships we’ve built, and the unforgettable moments we’ve shared together. With Gears of War: Reloaded, we’re opening that door to more players than ever,” Mike Crump, studio head at The Coalition, said at the time.
Vikki Blake is a reporter for IGN, as well as a critic, columnist, and consultant with 15+ years experience working with some of the world’s biggest gaming sites and publications. She’s also a Guardian, Spartan, Silent Hillian, Legend, and perpetually High Chaos. Find her at BlueSky.
