It’s another exciting week for fighting game fans with the anticipated arrival of the Capcom Fighting Collection 2.
This latest collection packs eight titles into one package – with games like Power Stone and Project Justice finally making a return. We’ve already shared our review here on Nintendo Life and the good news it’s another fun dose of top-class arcade action.
Following a similar decision with Assassin’s Creed Shadows.
It’s been some time since Ubisoft provided an update about the Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time ‘Remake’ project, but we’ve officially got one in the company’s latest earnings call.
Although the plan is to now provide unannounced major IPs additional development time to improve the overall quality of each experience after a similar delay helped Assassin’s Creed Shadows – it seems the long-awaited Sands of Time remake could be on the horizon.
Following rumours late last year Mortal Kombat 1 could be winding down its support sooner rather than later, NetherRealm and WB Games have this week announced the arrival of the Mortal Kombat 1: Definitive Edition.
This version of the game, which is available for $59.99 USD (or your regional equivalent), is said to offer the “most extensive Mortal Kombat 1 experience” including not only the base game and more recent Khaos Reigns story expansion but also both Kombat Packs (including all of the DLC fighters so far).
Introducing the Designed for Xbox Floral Collection 2025
Pamela WangSenior Program Manager, Xbox
The new Designed for Xbox collection has arrived. Introducing the Floral Collection, designed for players who seek accessories that blend beauty with performance. Each piece in this collection is adorned with unique intricate floral patterns, bringing a touch of elegance to your game time.
Night Blossom: PowerA Advantage Plus Wired Controller
Take your game and style to new limits with the officially licensed PowerA Advantage Plus Wired Controller for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and Windows 10/11, featuring the stunning Night Blossom design. With our patented Quick-Twist Thumbsticks, you can easily adjust the thumbsticks to three different height settings with a simple twist. Enjoy a smoother, pro-level feel thanks to Hall Effect Modules that utilize contact-free magnetic sensors in the thumbsticks to help with precision and longevity. Plus, two Mappable Advanced Gaming Buttons, Dual Rumble Motors, and more. Available today for $42.99 USD ERP.
Key Features
Quick-Twist Thumbsticks.
Hall Effect Modules.
Dual Rumble Motors.
Immersive Impulse Triggers.
Headset Compatible with 3.5mm headphone jack.
Extra-long 10ft. USB-C Cable.
PowerA Gamer HQ App – Adjust audio, triggers, rumble, dead zones, and more on your controller with this free app for Xbox and Windows.
Flora: Audeze Maxwell Headset
Game in style with the Audeze Maxwell Flora Limited Edition headset, featuring award-winning planar magnetic technology for immersive audio, low-latency wireless, and 80-hour battery life to outperform and outlast your competition. Available today for $339.99 USD ERP.
Key Features
Award-winning Audeze 90mm Planar Magnetic Drivers.
Ultra-Low Latency Wireless with 3x range of traditional 2.4Ghz.
80hr+ battery life with fast charge in 20 minutes.
Class-leading high-resolution audio up to 24-bit/96kHz.
Filter noise reduction technology for clear communications.
Expand your Xbox game collection by adding up to 1TB of space (actual user capacity may be less depending on operating environment) with the official Xbox-licensed WD_Black C50 Storage Expansion Card Floral Fusion. Built with a super-speed NVMe SSD core, the WD_Black C50 Storage Expansion Card for Xbox leverages Xbox Velocity Architecture to deliver extremely fast, low-latency performance that emulates the console’s internal SSDs. Enjoy a seamless gaming experience and switch instantly between multiple games with Quick Resume. Available later in May, please see retailer for pricing.
Key Features
Play effortlessly with full Xbox integration and enjoy gaming experiences that adhere fully to Microsoft’s quality standards.
With 1TB of storage, you have plenty of room to grow your game library.
Superseed NVMe Core revolutionizes your gaming experience with reduced wait times, fast responses, and full immersion.
Xbox Velocity Architecture unlocks the full potential of the WD_Black C50 Storage Expansion Card for Xbox, allowing it to achieve blazing-fast performance and seamless, high-speed access to your favorite games.
The storage expansion card seamlessly integrates with your console’s Quick Resume, enabling instant transition between multiple suspended games — so you can pick up exactly where you left off without delay.
Enjoy the fresh Floral Fusion design to get you in the summer gaming mood.
Spring Breeze: GameSir T7 Pro Floral Wired Controller
Embrace elegance and comfort with the GameSir T7 Pro Floral controller, featuring a stunning floral-patterned matte shell. Its semi-transparent design and dynamic RGB lighting create a mesmerizing visual experience. Shine with the T7 Pro Floral and elevate your gaming setup. The Game Sir T7 Pro Floral Wired Controller is available for pre-order today for $49.99 USD ERP.
Key Features
Hall Effect sticks & triggers.
2 Back buttons.
Trigger Locks.
Dynamic lighting on stick ring and ABXY buttons.
Wired to Xbox or PC connection.
Elevate Your Gaming Experience
Enjoy beauty & performance with the Designed for Xbox Floral Collection. You can purchase your favorite accessory, or collect them all, at Best Buy online
Electronic Arts has announced to employees that it will be ending its remote working policies permanently, and implementing a full return to office.
In an email sent to employees today viewed by IGN, CEO Andrew Wilson said that in-person work results in “a kinetic energy that fuels creativity, innovation, and connection, often resulting in unexpected breakthroughs that lead to incredible experiences for our players.” He then went on to broadly outline that “hybrid work” would now be defined as a “minimum of three days a week in your local office,” and that “offsite local roles” would be gradually phased out.
In a follow-up email from EA Entertainment president, Laura Miele, also viewed by IGN, she clarified further details, describing the company as moving from “a decentralized approach to a globally consistent, enterprise-wide work model”:
These changes will not take effect immediately. Employees should continue working as directed by your Business Unit until further notice, regardless of where you live.
Work model transitions will come with a minimum 12-week notice period before any changes are implemented. The timing will vary by location and will be communicated locally with plenty of notice.
Hybrid work will mean working from your local office at least three days per week–this aligns with what’s outlined in Andrew’s EA Action.
We are introducing a new 30-mile/48-km radius around EA locations.
What this means:
Employees who live within 30-miles/48-km of an EA location will transition to a Hybrid work model.
Employees who live outside the 30-mile/48-km radius will be considered remote unless their role is designated as On Site or Hybrid.
We will also sunset the Offsite Local work model. Depending on your location, this transition may take 3 to 24 months.
Any work model exception and future Remote hires will require a CEO Direct’s /my approval.
Several sources within EA speaking to IGN anonymously said that employees were upset and confused, with some employees sharing hours-long commutes they were now being expected to make, or expressing concerns regarding childcare or personal medical conditions that had benefited from remote work. Others, classified as remote and outside the 30-mile range, expressed concern for what would happen to their roles if they were unwilling or unable to move closer to an office long-term. Two sources explained to IGN that per the breakdown sent by Miele, existing remote workers would have their “exemptions” to return to office “sunset” sometime in the next 3 to 24 months.
While remote work has long been prevalent in the video game industry, it became exceptionally popular during and after the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, when stay-at-home mandates forced most AAA companies to adapt remote work as a long-term solution. In the years since, more and more companies have hired more and more remote workers, and existing near-office workers have reported moving to cheaper cities away from offices, under the impression that remote work was permanent.
However, other major video game companies have recently been calling workers back to office, resulting in frustration and, at times, employee turnover as workers were forced to choose between expensive or challenging relocation and their jobs. Companies such as Rockstar Games, Ubisoft, and ActivisionBlizzard have all faced criticism from within and without as a result of these policies. However, the return to office mandates have appeared to move apace, with more companies such as EA opting to require an in-office model once again.
Rebekah Valentine is a senior reporter for IGN. You can find her posting on BlueSky @duckvalentine.bsky.social. Got a story tip? Send it to rvalentine@ign.com.
You can now do your best Link impression with a playable ocarina from Deekec. The 12-hole handmade ceramic flute looks exactly how it does in the Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time and comes with a songbook with 20 iconic songs from the game, like the Song of Time and Song of Storms. It’s on sale for $17.99 (10% off) at Amazon right now and is part of a Lightning Deal, meaning only a limited number of these are available at this price.
Grab a Playable Ocarina and Legend of Zelda Songbook
Aside from the ocarina itself and the songbook, you also get a neck strap, a protective bag for storage, and a nice ceramic display stand that looks incredible on any collector’s shelf. The songbook includes songs from the entirety of the Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time’s iconic library of music and comes with easy to understand instructions for first-time ocarina players, as well as real sheet music for more experienced musicians. There’s also a quick visual guide on how to hold the ocarina properly before playing.
The Pokémon Company has revealed that the Pokémon Fossil Museum, a travelling exhibit of Pokémon skeletons and fossils for pudding paleontologists, will be leaving Japan for the first time in 2026.
The first exhibit to debut outside of Japan will be at Chicago’s Field Museum in Illinois, and is due to open on 22nd May 2026. That gives you a full year to start saving up to visit.
Space pilots on Xbox are taking flight into Wrath of the Ancients, the final expansion for Everspace 2! Here are a few non-spoiler things to know before getting started.
Beginning the New Story and Sidequests
Everspace 2: Wrath of the Ancients adds a variety of new post-game quest lines and multiple sidequests, but don’t worry, nothing is missable. New sidequests added in Wrath of the Ancients will unlock as players discover new areas and achieve certain levels.
Get started on the new expansion main questline by returning to Homebase to begin, A Different Ending, a storyline that will set you on course to meet with an old friend on your way to the Aethon star system.
Take Flight in The Wraith
While progressing through Wrath of the Ancients, you’ll temporarily acquire the Wraith, an alien armed blockade runner, modified for a human pilot. This ship is a high-risk, high reward fighter for players who like blending a wide range of abilities with up close and personal combat.
The Wraith’s ultimate attack and abilities introduce a unique playstyle for Everspace 2 pilots focused on gaining temporary stats by destroying enemies quickly.
“Spectral Form” transforms the Wraith into a semi-corporeal state which causes hull to decay—the less hull you have, the more damage the Wraith will unleash. When your hull reaches zero, Spectral Form ends and your ship is restored to full health, ready to strike again. In addition to a significant damage boost, being in Spectral Form replaces devices with new special abilities that will help clever pilots turn the tides of battle.
Gear Up!
Exploring new sectors of space is dangerous work. Skills will only take you so far—best to gear up your ship to survive! Wrath of the Ancients offers multiple new ways to strengthen a spacefight’s loadout. In addition to a variety of exciting new weapons incorporating alien technology, pilots will discover some awesome new legendary items.
Warden’s Embrace is a new unique Mine Launcher that Deploys a shield wall that blocks enemy fire, but allows your shots to pass. The shield will move forward depending on the charge duration and damage all enemies who pass through it.
True Shepherd is a special Sensor that boosts ally ship strength. Allies deal increased damage and whenever one of them destroys an enemy, you gain a stack of “Shepherd’s Resolve” for a few seconds, making your next few critical hits restore part of your hull, armor, and shield.
The Schrader is a nod to a well-loved former community manager. This special Mine Launcher fires a slow-moving mine that emits a shockwave every time it is hit by weapon fire.
Ascendant tier items are a new type of gear that have the potential to surpass stat values of similar Starforged and Legendary weapons, armor, and modules. Unlike regular gear, the rank of Ascendant items can be upgraded and receives a random attribute bonus on reaching the maximum rank.
Upgrading Ascendant items is done at Ancient Altars, special places found in Okkar systems. These altars allow pilots to exchange resources to unlock combat challenges for improved items. The higher the target rank, the higher the challenge will be.
Craft, Craft, Craft
With new resources and blueprints to collect, Wrath of the Ancients goes even deeper into crafting. Pilots will be able upgrade gear using sixteen new Okkar Catalysts that add powerful positive and negative modifiers to weapons, creating an even greater variety of builds.
Here’s a quick look at a few of the new Okkar Catalysts you’ll be able to craft.
Piercing Shot
Positive – Gains 50% shield and armor piercing.
Negative – Can no longer deal critical hits.
Safety Delimiter
Positive – Gains 30% increased fire rate while weapon energy is below 50%.
Negative – Becomes damaged when weapon energy reaches zero while firing.
Alpha Strike
Positive – Deals 50% increased damage the first time it damages a target.
Negative – Deals 50% reduced damage on successive hits.
Dual Detonator
Positive – Explodes twice at the impact location with a 0.5s delay.
Negative – Has a 10% chance to be a dud and not explode at all.
Reserve Power
Positive – Unlimited weapon and boost energy while ULT energy is below 10%.
Negative – 20% reduced handling while ULT is fully recharged and ready.
Exploring New Star Systems
Wrath of the Ancients adds four new star systems to the explorable regions of Cluster 34. These star systems each have their own look, and are packed with deadly enemies to challenge, new puzzle types to solve, and powerful loot to discover. Unlocking each new region is easy, just follow the main questline.
Atheon – Visited briefly during a quest towards the end of Everspace 2, this system is filled with radiation fields and warship hulks drifting in the dark. Now, you’ll be able to return and seek a payday while navigating hazards left from the Colonial War. Longtime fans will be especially thrilled to see the continuation of a beloved quest line around an AI gone rogue.
Khaït Dominion – This system is the closest Okkar rim system to the Colonial border and also your first step on a pilgrimage deep into the heart of this alien culture. In addition to all kinds of space locations, you’ll also visit desert and swamp planets which are dotted with ancient structures and mysterious ruins.
Rhak Homeworlds – This system is the beating heart of this sector of modern Okkar civilization. Much of their population lives on gigantic orbital stations and sprawling mega-structures covering the planets below. This region is rich in rare resources, a perfect place to harvest new materials to craft equipment.
Space pilots on Xbox are taking flight into Wrath of the Ancients, the final expansion for Everspace 2! Here are a few non-spoiler things to know before getting started.
?????? – The forbidden system. No human has yet to visit this area of space and lived to tell the story. They say this region of space holds the most ancient of the Okkar worlds.
Wrath of the Ancients is out now on Xbox and Microsoft Store. New to the series? Grab the Galactic Editionand get the full adventure—including every DLC—in one killer bundle.
The Ancients have awakened! Their wrath has laid waste to human settlements in Cluster 34, destabilizing factions in power and stranding survivors.
Among the Okkar, a growing number argue that if the Ancients reject Humankind, so should they. With the uneasy peace threatened, venture into the Okkar Homeworlds to discover the truth behind the threat… before war reignites the DMZ.
EVERSPACE 2: Wrath of the Ancients offers space pilots an all-new adventure set after the events of EVERSPACE 2, as well as new mid-game side quests exploring the Okkar civilization and homeworlds. Take flight to battle against Ancient and alien enemies while tracking down the source of these threats to Colonial space.
This full-sized expansion is packed with new star systems to explore, allies to meet, and powerful new weapons to destroy enemy ships. The massive main story campaign will take pilots through four new star systems, each packed with locations filled with secrets and side missions to uncover.
Distant star systems bring new threats—battle challenging enemies and bosses in a never-been-seen before Okkar Ship. The new Wraith Okkar fighter uses rare technology to consume fragments of defeated enemies to activate special abilities. This high-risk, high-reward ship is deadly in the hands of a skilled pilot.
EVERSPACE 2: Wrath of the Ancients features:
– Adventure through an exciting post-game storyline expanding the EVERSPACE universe
– Journey through several new major side quests exploring Okkar civilization and their homeworlds, accessible from midway through the main campaign
– Take flight in the new flyable Wraith Okkar ship
– Meet an expanded cast of new and returning characters
– Challenge new enemy types and bosses
– Explore four new and expanded existing star systems including the Okkar homeworlds
– Discover dozens of new locations filled with secrets and new puzzle types
– Power up your ships with new weapons and gear
– Break limits with new upgradable Okkar equipment
– Collect rare resources and crafting blueprints
– Space out to an expanded soundtrack adding new exploration, travel, and battle music
Sony has announced the PlayStation Plus Game Catalog additions for May 2025, unveiling a list of titles that includes newcomers such as Sand Land, S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Legends of the Zone Trilogy, Battlefield 5, and more.
The full lineup of titles coming to its gaming subscription service was revealed in a PlayStation.Blog post today. It’s a collection of six games for PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium subscribers that will all drop come May 20, delivering a variety of experiences for fans of different genres and eras of gaming.
Those starting at the Extra tier can take advantage of a whopping nine new titles coming to the Game Catalog for May 2025. Headlining the list of PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 games is Sand Land, an action RPG adaptation of the Akira Toriyama manga of the same name.
Other PS4 and PS5 highlights include Five Nights at Freddy’s: Help Wanted – Full Time Edition and the three-in-one S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Legends of the Zone Trilogy. An enhanced version of the latter was announced for PS5 (as well as PC and Xbox Series X | S) just this morning and is also set to arrive May 20. Developer GSC Game World says those who own the original trilogy release on console will receive the Enhanced Edition for free, though it’s unclear if this same offer is extended to those who play on PlayStation Plus.
PlayStation Plus Premium members, meanwhile, get one new classic title in the form of Battle Engine Aquila. Available on PS4 and PS5, this sci-fi action game puts players in the cockpit of a mobile war vehicle that can fight off enemies from both the air and on the ground. You can see the full list of May 2025 PlayStation Plus Game Catalog titles below.
PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium Game Catalog Additions – May 2025
While we wait to dive into this month’s PlayStation Plus additions, you can read up on which games joined the Essential tier’s monthly games for May 2025. You can also see Sony’s list of April 2025 Game Catalog additions here.
Michael Cripe is a freelance contributor with IGN. He’s best known for his work at sites like The Pitch, The Escapist, and OnlySP. Be sure to give him a follow on Bluesky (@mikecripe.bsky.social) and Twitter (@MikeCripe).
The Nintendo Today! app has continued its never-ending stream of Switch 2 information drops with a closer look at the new Pro Controller’s fresh rear buttons, specifically, how easy it is to set them up.
In a new app segment titled ‘How to Use the GL and GR Buttons’, Nintendo explains that mapping an input to one of these bonus buttons all comes down to a simple press of the HOME Button. Just like on Switch 1, holding the HOME Button will open the Quick Settings on Switch 2, where you will be able to assign commands for GL and GR.