Atari said it will “reintroduce iconic creations, bringing them to new platforms and renewed publishing frameworks.” They’ll all be re-released under Atari’s own publishing label and be available “on new platforms.”
“Millions of players have experienced these worlds over the years, and this will open the door for long-time players to revisit those memories while inviting new audiences to discover them for the first time,” said Deborah Papiernik, Ubisoft’s VP of new business.
“Atari has a rich gaming legacy and deep appreciation for these classic titles, we’re excited to see how they’ll evolve and connect with players in fresh, meaningful ways.”
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.
A group of current and former Microsoft employees have staged a sit-in protest in the office of company president Brad Smith over the use of Azure and generative AI technologies by the Israeli military during their on-going bombardment of Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza.
Good news, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 fans! Clair Obscur is not just the shortened name for developer Sandfall Interactive’s blockbuster RPG — it’s also the name for an entire franchise.
“Clair Obscur is the franchise name. Expedition 33 is one of the stories that we want to tell in this franchise,” director Guillaume Broche told MrMattyPlays (thanks TheGamer).
“Exactly what it will look like and what the concept will be is still too soon to announce, but what is sure is that this is not the end of the Clair Obscur franchise.”
And if that wasn’t quite obvious enough for you, he also specifically talked about his process for when he “writes sequels,” too, leaving us with little doubt that a follow-up game is on the way. Watch this space.
In IGN’s 9/10 review of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, we described it as a “modern RPG classic,” adding: “In so many ways, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 reminded me of numerous classic and contemporary RPGs I love, but developer Sandfall truly understood why those games are special and made the pieces it borrowed its own.”
Sandfall recently published Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 update 1.4.0, adding key features like a Battle Retry option alongside a host of quality-of-life changes, visual improvements, and bug fixes. However, the studio stopped short of detailing exactly what will be in the next Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 update, simply telling fans that “there is more to come in the future.”
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.
Atari and Ubisoft have announced that Atari has acquired the IP rights to five Ubisoft-published games with a view to make them available on new platforms.
The games in question are Cold Fear, I Am Alive, Child of Eden, Grow Home, and Grow Up. Notably, none of these have ever seen a release on Nintendo consoles, but with Atari’s focus on multi-platform titles in recent years, it’s reasonable to assume that some (if not all) may gain new life on the Switch and/or Switch 2.
The furore began with the confirmation that Bloodlines 2 would feature four clans: Brujah; Tremere; Banu Haqim; and Ventrue. While this selection provides four different starting options for how you build your protagonist, it’s a more limited offering compared to the cult classic original Bloodlines, which featured seven clans.
Developer The Chinese Room has added a further two clans to Bloodlines 2 (Lasombra and Toreador), but these are currently only available as part of the Shadows and Silk add-on pack, which costs $21.99 as DLC, or included as part of the $89.99 Premium Edition. The standard edition costs $59.99.
This DLC is available from day one, which has created the impression that the “full” roster has been carved up, with only those paying extra getting the complete launch experience. As you’d expect, fans were quick to express their dissatisfaction.
Then, at gamescom 2025, a representative for publisher Paradox told IGN the decision was a “business” informed choice, prompting further outcry. But a post on Discord suggests a significant change may be coming ahead of launch.
As spotted on ResetEra, Paradox community developer DebbieElla addressed the game’s community with the following message:
“We are listening to your feedback about the Lasombra and Toreador clan access, and we’re making adjustments ahead of launch to reflect this.
“We will share more information about what this means as soon as possible.”
What this means is unknown for now, but the hope of course is that Paradox throws in the two clans for launch at no extra cost. Certainly, that would go some way to calming down the fanbase ahead of the game’s release on October 21. But what would that then mean for those who have already paid for the more expensive Premium Edition?
Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 has suffered a difficult development and a number of high-profile delays, but it is a crucial release for Paradox. The publisher will be keen to give it the best chance possible to succeed, and backtracking on its DLC plans may be the only viable option at this stage. While you wait to find out, check out IGN’s Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 hands-on preview.
Wesley is Director, News at IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.
Well, there you go. Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 publisher Paradox look like they might be sticking a stake in their rather unpopular plans to sell two of the game’s vampire clans as paid day-one DLC. I say “might be” because nothing specific’s been committed to yet, beyond some nebulous making of “adjustments ahead of launch” in response to fan feedback on the gating-off of Lasombra and Toreador bloodsuckers.
In case you missed the announcement of these two clans being packed away into the £18.69/€21.99/$21.99 coffin of Bloodlines’ Shadows and Silk DLC pack, it came right as the long-in-the-works RPG got a fresh trailer and what should hopefully be its final release date. The only ways to get the clans were to buy that pack on top of the base game, or splash out £74.99/€89.99/$89.99 for the premium edition.
It sounds like all change for Call of Duty with the release of Black Ops 7, amid pressure from Battlefield 6 and its commitment to “gritty realism.”
Call of Duty’s foray into goofy skins territory is not a new phenomena, although recent releases have certainly amped up the conversation around them. With the likes of Beavis and Butt-Head and American Dad hitting the game this year shortly after weed-obsessed bundles starring Seth Rogen, some fans have said they’ve had enough of what they call the ‘Fortnite-ification’ of their beloved Call of Duty, and have pleaded with publisher Activision to return to its mil-sim roots.
In a recent interview with DBLTAP, Battlefield 6 design director Shashank Uchil doubled down on EA’s commitment to grounded realism, and even pointed to Call of Duty’s infamous Nicki Minaj skin as something Battlefield 6 doesn’t need.
“It has to be grounded,” he said. “That is what BF3 and BF4 was — it was all soldiers, on the ground. It’s going to be like this,” Uchil said, pointing at the key art featuring soldiers in soldier gear looking out over a wartorn New York City.
He added: “I don’t think it needs Nicki Minaj. Let’s keep it real, keep it grounded.”
With Battlefield 6 set to go up against Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 later this year, Activision has now issued a community update that indicates it’s ready to make significant changes to the types of bundles it releases for the game.
But there’s perhaps even more significant news here: Activision confirmed that Operators, Operator Skins, and Weapons from Black Ops 6 will no longer carry forward into Black Ops 7.
This comes as a big surprise to players who had expected content they’d bought for Black Ops 6 to carry forward, as it has done with previous entries, and given Black Ops 7 directly follows last year’s Black Ops 6. Explaining the decision, Activision said Black Ops 7 “needs to feel authentic to Call of Duty and its setting.”
“That is why Black Ops 6 Operator and Weapon content will not carry forward to Black Ops 7. Double XP tokens and GobbleGums will still carry forward, because we recognize your time and progression are important.”
(This change applies only to Black Ops 7. Call of Duty: Warzone is not affected, and all your Black Ops 6 content stays usable there.)
What impact will this have on Black Ops 7? It means that at launch, at least, you won’t see all those goofy skins running around Multiplayer. It sounds like Multiplayer will look like Black Ops 7, at least at the start of things.
Where will Activision go from here? Its community post suggests it’s ready to tone down the goofiness for Black Ops 7’s entire lifecycle, although it’s worth pointing out we don’t have specifics here.
“We know there’s been a lot of conversation recently about the identity of Call of Duty,” Activision said. “Some of you have said we’ve drifted from what made Call of Duty unique in the first place: immersive, intense, visceral and in many ways grounded. That feedback hits home, and we take it seriously. We hear you.
“Throughout development, Treyarch and Raven’s north star has been to deliver a spiritual successor to Black Ops 2 while taking some big swings. You’ll see it across Black Ops 7’s Multiplayer, Zombies, Co-Op Campaign (including Endgame), and even Dead Ops Arcade 4.
“Over the years, we’ve had a variety of games and experiences that fans have enjoyed from the Modern Warfare series to the Black Ops series and beyond. Today, we wanted to share with you some of the ways we’re approaching things with Black Ops 7.”
Activision went on to say that Black Ops 7 bundles and items “will be crafted to fit the Black Ops identity.” “We hear the feedback,” the mega publisher added. “We need to deliver a better balance toward the immersive, core Call of Duty experience.”
If Activision truly leaves goofy skins behind, then it’s leaving a lot of money on the table. The company wouldn’t release Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle and Nicki Minaj skins if they didn’t make loads of money. Perhaps, with the release of Battlefield 6, Activision felt it had reached a tipping point, and it needed to take drastic action to respond.
Whatever the case, reaction is a mix of shock, excitement, and frustration. There’s shock that Activision actually canceled carry forward for Black Ops 7, excitement about getting back to Call of Duty’s roots, but for some a frustration that the time and in many cases money spent earning cosmetic items in recent months die with Black Ops 6.
There’s also a spot of scepticism from some within the Call of Duty community, who suspect Activision may hold the line for Black Ops 7’s first few months of life, but eventually retreat into goofy skin territory once again.
Activision ended its community update by promising more information on all aspects of Black Ops 7 soon. Battlefield 6 comes out October 10, with Black Ops 7 following in November. It’s going to be really interesting to see how this all shakes out.
Wesley is Director, News at IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.
PlayStation Store welcomes an all-new promotion, starting August 27. For a limited time*, Ready, Set, Play will offer a vast selection of games, including blockbuster franchises, acclaimed indies and standalone greats, at discount. The question then is, where do you start?
We’re here to help you with the answer. Browse a selection of games on offer below, then when the promotion goes live, head to PlayStation Store to discover your regional discount.
A Fisherman’s Tale 2
A Plague Tale: Innocence
Abyss Odyssey: Extended Dream Edition
AC Mirage + Valhalla Bundle
Actraiser Renaissance
Ad Infinitum – Nightmare Edition
AEW: Fight Forever – Ultimate Edition
After the Fall
After the Fall (PSVR2 standard edition)
Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition Premium Edition
Age of Mythology: Retold
Alan Wake 2 Deluxe Edition
Alba: A Wildlife Adventure
Alien: Isolation – The Collection
Aliens: Dark Descent
Alone in the Dark – Digital Deluxe Edition
AO Tennis 2
Arizona Sunshine® Remake
Arkane Collection PS5
Assassin’s Creed III Remastered
Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag
Assassin’s Creed Odyssey – Deluxe Edition
Assassin’s Creed Odyssey – Gold Edition
Assassin’s Creed Origins – Deluxe Edition
Assassin’s Creed Origins – Season Pass
Astria Ascending
Atomic Heart – Premium Edition
Atomic Heart – Standard Edition
Attractio
Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora Deluxe Edition
Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora Gold Edition
Away: Journey to the Unexpected
Balatro
Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden
Barbie Project Friendship™
Batman: Arkham VR
Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare – Digital Pro Edition (Day Zero)
Call of Duty: Black Ops 4
Call of Duty: Black Ops III – Zombies Chronicles Edition
Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare – Digital Deluxe Edition
Call of Duty: WWII – Digital Deluxe
Call of Duty®: Modern Warfare®
Capcom Collab Pack
Captain Tsubasa: Rise of New Champions – Deluxe Edition
Car Mechanic Simulator 2021 DLC MegaPack
Caravan Sandwitch
Cassiodora
Children of Morta
Children of Zodiarcs
Chroma Squad
Chronos: Before the Ashes
Cobra Kai 2: Dojos Rising – Nemesis Edition
College Football 26 Deluxe Edition
Commandos 2 & Commandos 3 – Bundle Digital
Commandos: Origins – Deluxe Edition
CONSCRIPT
CRISIS CORE –FINAL FANTASY VII– REUNION DIGITAL DELUXE EDITION
Cult of the Lamb
Cyberpunk 2077
CYGNI: All Guns Blazing
Dead Island 2 Main Game
Dead Rising 4: Frank’s Big Package
Dead Space
Death Stranding Director’s Cut
DEATHLOOP (GAME)
Deliver At All Costs
Demon’s Souls
Destiny 2: Year of Prophecy Edition
Destroy All Humans!
Devil May Cry 4 Special Edition
Devil May Cry HD Collection
Diablo® IV Vessel of Hatred Deluxe Edition
Digital Deluxe Edition
DiRT Rally 2.0: Game of the Year Edition
Disciples: Liberation Digital Deluxe Edition
Dishonored 2
Dishonored®: Death of the Outsider™ – Deluxe Bundle
Dissidia Final Fantasy NT – Digital Deluxe Edition
Dissidia Final Fantasy NT – Season Pass
DmC: Devil May Cry – Definitive Edition
DMC5SE – Complete In-game Unlock Bundle
Downward
Dragon Age: Inquisition Deluxe Edition
Dragon Ball FighterZ – FighterZ Pass
Dragon Ball FighterZ (PS4 product)
Dragon Ball Xenoverse
Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 (NEW Full Game PRODUCT)
Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot – Season Pass
Dragonage: The Veilguard – Standard Edition
Dragon’s Dogma 2_DeluxeEdition
Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen
DreamWorks Dragons: Legends of The Nine Realms
DREDGE
DREDGE: Expansion Bundle
Duke Nukem 3D: 20th Anniversary World Tour
Dummy Title
Dungeon Rushers
Dungeons 4
Dying Light – Essentials Edition
Elypse
Exoprimal Survival Pass Premium Tier Bundle
Expeditions – Supreme Edition
Expeditions: A MudRunner Game
F1 25
Fabledom
Fade to Silence
Fallout 4 – Season Pass Bundle Re-Launch
Fallout 4: Game of the Year Edition
Fallout 76
Far Cry 3: Classic Edition
Far Cry 4
Far Cry 5 – Season Pass
Far Cry New Dawn – Ultimate Edition
Far Cry® 6 – Game of the Year Edition
FAR CRY®6 Standard Edition
Final Fantasy VII Remake
FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE & REBIRTH Twin Pack
FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE INTERGRADE
Fist of the North Star: Lost Paradise
For Honor – Year 8 Standard Edition
Forspoken Digital Deluxe Edition
Fort Solis
FREEDOM WARS Remastered
Funko Fusion – Mega Man Pack Bundle
Gangs of Sherwood
Garden Life: A Cozy Simulator
Genesis Alpha One Deluxe Edition
Get Even
Ghost of a Tale
Ghostrunner
Ghostrunner 2
Ghostrunner 2 Brutal Edition
Ghostrunner PS5
Ghosts ‘n Goblins Resurrection
God of War III Remastered
Godfall Ultimate Edition
Gord – Deluxe Edition
Gotham Knights
Grand Theft Auto V: Premium Edition
Gravel – Special Edition
GRID Legends (PS4)
GRID Legends (PS5)
Gris
GTA Online + Single Player Unlock PS5
GTA Trilogy PS4 & PS5 Digital Bundle
Handball 17
Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA Future Tone – Season Pass
Hellsweeper VR – Deluxe Edition
HITMAN World of Assassination – Upgrade Pack
Homefront: The Revolution – Expansion Pass
Hotel Renovator – Five Star Edition
Hotel: A Resort Simulator
House Builder
House Builder Overtime
Humankind Heritage Deluxe Edition
Hunt: Showdown 1896 – Starter Edition
Hunt: Showdown 1986 – Premium Edition
Hunting Simulator 2 Elite Edition
I Am Setsuna
Ice Age: Scrat’s Nutty Adventure
Immortals of Aveum – Deluxe Edition
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle
inFAMOUS First Light
Infinity Strash: DRAGON QUEST The Adventure of Dai
Infinity Strash: DRAGON QUEST The Adventure of Dai – Digital Deluxe Upgrade
Injustice: Gods Among Us – Ultimate Edition
Inscryption
Instant Sports Winter Games
Insurgency: Sandstorm
Insurgency: Sandstorm – Gold Edition
Insurgency: Sandstorm – Year 1 Pass
It Takes Two PS4™ & PS5™
Jeopardy!
Jumanji: Wild Adventures
Just Cause 3: XXL Edition
Just Cause 4: Reloaded
KCD 2 Main Game
Kill The Bad Guy
Kingdom Come: Deliverance – DLC Collection
Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 + 2.5 Remix
KINGDOM HEARTS Melody of Memory
Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning
Knack 2
KOF XV Ultimate Edition
L.A. Noire
Legendary Fishing
LEGO 2K Drive
LEGO DC Super-Villains
LEGO DC Super-Villains – Season Pass
LEGO Marvel Super Heroes
LEGO Marvel Super Heroes 2
LEGO Marvel Super Heroes 2 – Season Pass
LEGO Star Wars: The Force Awakens Deluxe Edition
LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga – Galactic Edition
LEGO The Incredibles
LEGO® 2K Drive Standard Cross-Gen Edition
Lethis – Path of Progress
Life is Strange: Double Exposure
Life is Strange: Double Exposure – Ultimate Edition
Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth PS4&PS5
Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth – Ultimate Edition
Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii Deluxe Edition
Lords of Exile
Lost Eidolons – Standard
Mafia Trilogy Bundle
Mafia: Definitive Edition
Mahjong
Marvel’s Midnight Suns for PS4™
Marvel’s Spider-Man – The City That Never Sleeps
Mass Effect™ Legendary Edition
Medieval Dynasty
Mega Man Legacy Collection
Mega Man Legacy Collection 2
Mega Man X Legacy Collection
Mega Man X Legacy Collection 2
Mega Man Zero/ZX Legacy Collection
Megaman Battle Network Legacy Collection (Main Game Digital Bundle)
Merchant of the Skies
Metal Wolf Chaos XD
Metro 2033 Redux
Metro Awakening
Metro Awakening + Arizona Sunshine® 2
Metro Exodus: Gold Edition
Metro Saga Bundle
Metro: Last Light Redux
Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor – Game of the Year Edition
Middle-earth: Shadow of War – Definitive Edition
Mindcop
Minit
Miraculous: Rise of the Sphinx
Momonga Pinball Adventures
Monopoly 2024
Monster Energy Supercross: The Official Video Game 2
Monster Energy Supercross: The Official Video Game 2 – Special Edition
Monster High™ Skulltimate Secrets™
Monster Jam Steel Titans
Monster of the Deep: Final Fantasy XV
Monster Truck Championship Rebel Hunter Edition
Mortal Kombat 1
Mortal Kombat 1: Definitive Edition Upgrade
Mortal Kombat 11
Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate Add-On Bundle
MotoGP 17
Motorcycle Club
Moving Out
Moving Out + Moving Out 2 Bundle
MudRunner – American Wilds Edition
MXGP 2020 – The Official Motocross Videogame
My Fantastic Ranch: Unicorn & Dragons
My Friend Peppa Pig
My Hero One’s Justice
MY LITTLE PONY: A Maretime Bay Adventure
Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 2
Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 3 Full Burst
Naruto to Boruto: Shinobi Striker – Deluxe Edition
Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm
NBK Dungeon Master
Need for Speed Unbound (PS5)
Need for Speed™ Hot Pursuit Remastered
Neon Abyss
NeuroVoider
New Tales from the Borderlands
NFS Unbound – Complete Edition
Ni no Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom
Ni no Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom – Season Pass
Nick Jr. Party Adventure
Nickelodeon Kart Racers 3: Slime Speedway (BASE GAME)
Werewolf: The Apocalypse – Earthblood Champion of Gaia
Wild Hearts Karakuri Edition Bundle
Wildshade: Unicorn Champions
Wolfenstein: Resistance Bundle
Wolfenstein: Youngblood – Deluxe Edition
Worms Rumble PS4 & PS5
WRC 2023 (PS5)
WRC 9 FIA World Rally Championship PS4
WRC 9 FIA World Rally Championship PS5
WRC Generations – The FIA WRC Official Game
Yakuza Complete Collection
Yakuza: Like a Dragon Legendary Hero Edition
Yakuza: Like a Dragon Legendary Hero Edition PS4 & PS5
Yakuza: Like a Dragon PS4 & PS5
Zombie Army Trilogy
Zone of the Enders: The 2nd Runner – Mars
*Ready Set Play promotion is live on PlayStation Store from Wednesday, August 27 at 00:00 AM PDT/BST/JST and finishes Wednesday September 10 at 11:59 PM PDT/BST/JST.
Look, I’m in the UK, so I’m not entirely sure what Labor Day is all about. I do know it’s on September 1 (cheers, Google) but the key thing to know is that PC gamers can save a bunch of money through deals like those offered by iBuyPower already.