Ukraine-based independent games studio Reburn have just announced a new shooter, La Quimera, which I would summarise as Call Of Duty: Advanced Warfare and Cyberpunk 2077 playing kiss-chase in the near-future jungles and neon sprawls of Latin America. It’s got world and narrative writing from Drive director Nicolas Winding Refn, and is playable in single player with three-person co-op support. Here’s a trailer.
Mega or mediocre?
Well folks, another Pokémon Presents has come and gone, and it pretty much delivered exactly what we were expecting.
The biggest draw was obviously Pokémon Legends: Z-A, where we got a good look at some gameplay along with confirmation that Chikorita, Tepig, and Totodile will be the game’s starter Pokémon. Not only that, but Mega Evolutions will feature, battle arenas appear to be larger than ever, and you’ll be meeting one of two possible human allies: Urbain or Taunie.
Read the full article on nintendolife.com
Welcome back to the Midnight Murder Club. Here at Velan Studios, we’ve been toiling away in the shadowy halls of Wormwood Manor, coming up with fresh, new ways for you to hunt your friends in the darkness. We’ve got a new game mode to announce and a new way to get your friends in on the fighting!
Midnight Murder Club is a first-person shooter/party game where you and five friends hunt each other in the pitch-black rooms of the mysterious Wormwood Manor.* Armed with only a revolver and a flashlight, search the shadows for every flicker of light and every bump in the night as you stalk your prey. The tension turns to hilarity as you discover just how tricky it is to navigate and shoot in complete darkness! You sprint toward your friends’ shouting voices echoing through the mansion, only to bump into someone else hiding in a dark corner! Shots ring out, luring the other hunters to your location. Every flash of light is the promise of a deadly firefight.
On top of the existing Free for All, Thief in the Night, Team Deathmatch, and Headhunters modes, we’re excited to introduce a new mode that lets you break the rules like never before! In the new Wildcards game mode, players play cards from their collection that change the rules for everyone in-game in wild new ways. From hijacking the toys that appear in vendors, to giving everyone super speed, to exploding into flames when you die—use these cards to show your wild side. Then, when the dust settles and the match is over you’ll be gifted new cards to add to your collection, giving you even more ways to change the game. In the new Wildcards game mode, it looks like chaos is in the cards!
We know that playing with friends is the best way to play any game and with the Midnight Murder Club Guest Pass Edition, it’s easier than ever. Midnight Murder Club Guest Pass Edition allows your friends to join your game and play for no additional cost!
To put it simply: If one person buys the game, they can invite up to five Guest Pass Edition players to play together for no additional cost in public or private matches, in all current game modes, as much as you want.
We’re really excited about the Guest Pass Edition because Midnight Murder Club is a great party game to play with friends. Now players can simply invite their friends into the club and let the mayhem begin.
To sum it up, we’re adding the new Wildcards game mode and introducing a new way to play with friends with the Guest Pass Edition. That’s a lot of new development work! Because of that, we’re going to need a little more time, so we’re pushing our Early Access launch date to March 13th, 2025. The full version of the game will be available in Early Access for $19.99 (or equivalent in your region), and the Guest Pass Edition will be launching on the same day for no additional cost.
As a member of the Midnight Murder Club, your opinion on the direction the club should go matters! We’re determined to evolve this game with the community as we continue developing through Early Access. We want your opinions and ideas, which will help shape our roadmap (which we’ll be sharing before launch!).
With these major changes and much more to come, we can’t wait to dive back into the darkness and haunt the hallowed halls of the Wormwood Manor with you. Prepare yourselves for Midnight Murder Club coming to Early Access on PS5 and Steam on March 13.
See you in the shadows!
*Account for PlayStation Network and internet connection required. Paid for PlayStation Plus membership (sold separately) required on PS5. PlayStation Plus membership subject to recurring subscription fee taken automatically until cancellation. Age restrictions apply. Full terms: play.st/psplus-usageterms.
We’ve finally gotten a good, long (ish) look at Pokemon Legends: Z-A, the second entry in the Pokemon Legends series and Game Freak’s major Pokemon release for the year (after surprisingly skipping 2024). In a brand new trailer, we got a first look at what it will be like to freely run along the rooftops of Lumiose City, which Pokemon will join us when we do it, and some of the changes to Mega Evolutions and battle mechanics.
This time around, players can choose between Todadile, Tepig, and Chikorita to be their starter monster as they explore Lumiose City with upgraded visuals and a few major gameplay tweaks. Specifically, new mechanics will allow players to hop to the city’s rooftops and see life in the Pokemon world from a new perspective. Gameplay for the Latest Legends title also reveals that we’ll be going back to the more traditional visual style the series has established over the last few years, too.
Pokemon Legends: Z-A was first announced at last year’s Pokemon Presents, and it’s been quiet on the news front ever since. At the time, all we saw was a cinematic trailer revealing it would be set entirely in Lumiose City from Pokemon X and Y, and that it would be coming to Nintendo Switch in 2025. We also saw a tease of a few Pokemon, a futuristic setting, and the Mega Evolution symbol.
Other than that, for the last year, fans have been piecing together guesses on what the game might entail based on that trailer and Pokemon Legends: Arceus, which introduced new Pokemon capturing mechanics to the franchise and an open zone format that resonated well with players, even if certain elements of the game felt drab and incomplete, especially in the back half. With no Pokemon game released last year, it seems like Game Freak may have gotten an extra year to really give Legends Z-A the polish that Arceus and Pokemon Scarlet and Violet simply didn’t receive. Let’s hope it pays off.
Developing…
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).
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Fancy a gaming PC deal that makes sense? HP is slashing $800 off its flagship HP Omen 45L RTX 4080 Gaming PC, bringing it down to $2,199.99 from a painful $2,999.99. That’s a hefty discount, which includes a $100 off coupon code: SURPRISEPC100. If you’ve been waiting for a proper gaming rig without selling a kidney, this might be it.
If you play Pokémon Go even semi-regularly, you already know that PokéCoins are basically essential. Whether you’re raiding, grinding XP, or hoarding Incense like a dragon hoards gold, you’re going to need a steady supply of these things. And while you could buy them directly through the game, that would be a rookie mistake because Best Buy has a way better deal right now.
For $42.50, you can get a $50 Pokémon Go gift card, which gives you 7,000 PokéCoins instead of the usual 6,700 $50 would get you in-app. That’s an extra 300 coins for free, and you’re saving $7.50 on top of that. More PokéCoins, less money spent.
Now, if you’re sitting on 7,000 PokéCoins, you might be wondering what to spend them on. Should you hoard them for future boxes? Blow them all on Remote Raid Passes? Maybe finally invest in that Pokémon Storage upgrade so you don’t have to suffer through constant “Your Pokémon Box is full” notifications? Decisions, decisions.
To make things easy, here’s a breakdown of what 7,000 PokéCoins can get you in Pokémon GO right now:
Pokémon Go Shop Boxes
| Explorer Box | 5,250 | 20x Super Incubator, 30x Egg Incubator | 39% off |
| Voyager Box | 6,500 | 100x Lucky Eggs, 50x Star Pieces | 50% off |
| Starter Box | 100 | 10x Pinap Berry, 1x Lucky Egg, 30x Poké Ball | – |
| Beginner Box | 150 | 15x Poké Ball, 5x Great Ball, 1x Lucky Egg, 1x Super Incubator | One-time only |
Pokémon GO Individual Items
| Remote Raid Pass (x3) | 525 | Join Raid Battles remotely |
| Premium Battle Pass (x3) | 250 | Raid or get premium Go Battle League rewards |
| Super Incubator | 200 | Hatches eggs 33% faster |
| Egg Incubator | 150 | Hatches eggs (3 uses) |
| Lure Module (x8) | 680 | Attracts more Pokémon to a PokéStop |
| Incense (x8) | 250 | Lures wild Pokémon to your location |
| Item Bag Upgrade | 200 | Increases storage by 50 |
| Pokémon Storage Upgrade | 200 | Increases max Pokémon capacity by 50 |
Pokémon GO Upgrades
| Item Bag | 200 | Increases max item storage by 50 |
| Pokémon Storage | 200 | Increases max Pokémon capacity by 50 |
| Postcard Pages | 100 | Increases max saved Postcards by 50 |
| Team Medallion | 1,000 | Lets you change teams (once per year) |
If I had 7,000 PokéCoins burning a hole in my trainer bag, I’d probably go straight for the Voyager Box at 6,500 coins. It’s a ridiculous deal with 100 Lucky Eggs and 50 Star Pieces at 50% off, meaning I’d be set on XP boosts and Stardust bonuses for months.
If raiding is more your thing, stacking up on Remote Raid Passes (525 coins for three) is a solid move if you want to farm Legendaries without leaving your couch. And for anyone who’s perpetually running out of space (guilty), throwing a couple of Pokémon Storage and Item Bag upgrades into the mix would make life way easier.
If you’re grabbing this PokéCoin deal, you might as well snag some free Pokémon while you’re at it. Right now, Pokémon GO is offering a triple code reward that gives you Tornadus, Thundurus, and Landorus at no cost. To claim them, log in to your Pokémon GO account on the Pokémon GO Live website and enter the following codes:
Christian Wait is a contributing freelancer for IGN covering everything collectable and deals. Christian has over 7 years of experience in the Gaming and Tech industry with bylines at Mashable and Pocket-Tactics. Christian also makes hand-painted collectibles for Saber Miniatures. Christian is also the author of “Pokemon Ultimate Unofficial Gaming Guide by GamesWarrior”. Find Christian on X @ChrisReggieWait.
A new Eternal Strands update has made various adjustments to the fantasy action-RPG‘s movement and so, restarted the inexhaustible debate as to what manner of jank is ‘good’ jank.
“It was a bit hurtful”.
In a recent interview with VGC, Mario + Rabbids director Davide Soliani recalled the moment when the team received word from Ubisoft regarding the sales performance of 2022’s Sparks of Hope.
In short, the game didn’t meet Ubisoft’s internal expectations, with CEO Yves Guillemot even mentioning that Ubisoft should have waited for the Switch 2. But given the passion from its development team and the positive critical reception from players, Soliani and the rest of the staff felt somewhat demoralised by the announcement.
Read the full article on nintendolife.com
Trainers know the struggle with Pokémon TCG right now. A new set drops, you wait maybe 30 minutes too long to buy it, and suddenly every scalper on eBay is selling it for double MSRP with no remorse. But this week?
Things are different. Best Buy, Amazon, and Walmart have restocked some of the most in-demand Pokémon TCG sets at retail price. No fighting over the last box at Costco, no sketchy third-party Amazon sellers charging a premium, just pure, untainted Pokémon goodness straight from the source.
One of the big catches here is Pokémon TCG 151 Booster Bundle, which comes with six booster packs from the Scarlet and Violet 151 set. I’m dying to fill my binder with some of the best cards from 151, like the gorgeous Special Illustration Rare Charizard or Venusaur ex, an absolute tank and playable. It’s been one of the hardest sets to find sealed at MSRP, and I don’t expect it to stay in stock long.
Another solid investment right now is Shrouded Fable. The Elite Trainer Box and Booster bundle are in stock at the time of writing and are both set to climb in value before the year is out. It’s overlooked by the community right now, but with it being a mini set much like 151, it’s a good idea to snap Shrouded Fable packs and boxes up now whilst it’s still available.
This set includes six booster packs from the Scarlet and Violet 151 expansion. Chasing the highly sought-after Special Illustration Rare Charizard ex or the beautifully illustrated Venusaur ex? This is one of the best ways to crack packs without breaking the bank. At the time of writing this is in stock, but this has been going in and out at Target for the past couple of weeks. Keep trying, they’re updating stock at random times.
This 2024 edition chest includes six Pokémon TCG booster packs, two foil cards featuring Scream Tail and Iron Valiant, and a couple of Pokémon coins. The extra bonus? It has four sticker sheets and a mini portfolio. Stock is going in and out right now, so keep checking back. The boosters inside are:
Get 7,000 PokéCoins at a discount. This card saves you $7.50 over in-app purchases and lets you stock up on premium items like Incense, Lure Modules, and Poké Balls without paying full price.
This collection features a promo Bloodmoon Ursaluna ex, two foil cards of Hoothoot and Noctowl, and four booster packs, including two from Surging Sparks. With Stellar Crown packs also included, this box is a great way to grab exclusive promos while adding to your collection.
This is the best artwork i’ve seen on a Pokémon TCG ETB, that goes for the 65 sleeves and card dividers too. The big sell here is Nine Shrouded Fable booster packs, but also comes with a lovely Noctowl Promo card, themes dice, status counters and a pack of energy cards for your bulk pile.
Each tin includes one foil promo card of either Kyogre ex, Xerneas ex, or Dialga ex, along with five booster packs. The boosters are two Surging Sparks, one Stellar Crown, one Temporal Forces, and one Obsidian Flames, giving you a solid spread of packs to open.
This bundle includes six Scarlet and Violet Shrouded Fable expansion booster packs. This is your best option if you want a more affordable way to hunt down chase cards from the set without committing to an ETB.
Beyond the TCG, there’s a bunch of Pokémon merch and accessories on sale. The Mega Pokémon Building Toys sets featuring Emolga, Bulbasaur, and Geodude are discounted and make for solid display pieces or gifts for younger fans. Into Pokémon GO? A $50 digital gift card for 7,000 PokéCoins is available for $42.50, which is a better deal than buying in-app.
This set includes 194 pieces and two poseable Pokémon figures, Emolga and Bulbasaur. With a crank mechanism that adds motion, it’s a fun build for Pokémon fans of all ages.
A 343-piece Geodude model with a built-in punching motion. Standing five inches tall, it’s perfect for collectors or anyone who wants a rock-type Pokémon throwing hands on their shelf.
Christian Wait is a contributing freelancer for IGN covering everything collectable and deals. Christian has over 7 years of experience in the Gaming and Tech industry with bylines at Mashable and Pocket-Tactics. Christian also makes hand-painted collectibles for Saber Miniatures. Christian is also the author of “Pokemon Ultimate Unofficial Gaming Guide by GamesWarrior”. Find Christian on X @ChrisReggieWait.
Late last week, former Striking Distance concept art director Jesse Lee took to LinkedIn to reminisce on their time at the The Callisto Protocol studio. “Thinking back to the very beginning of Striking Distance Studios, to today – nearly six years later. Most of the devs were laid off, and it is hard to sum it all up right now,” wrote Lee.
The layoffs were confirmed this week in a statement from parent company Krafton to PC Gamer, which you can find below. Apologies for spoiling anyone’s game of official statement bingo but, yes, it contains the word “agile”.
