Category: Video Games

Microsoft Announces Xbox Game Pass January 2025 Wave 2 Lineup

Microsoft has announced the Xbox Game Pass January 2025 Wave 2 lineup of titles.

The announcement on Xbox Wire comes ahead of Microsoft’s Xbox Developer Direct on January 23, where fans will get to see a number of day one Game Pass games, including Doom: The Dark Ages, South of Midnight, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, and a mystery fourth reveal.

January 2025 Wave 2 kicks off today, January 21, with Lonely Mountains: Snow Riders (Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S), a day one release on Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass. “Crash over and over until you master the mountain in the snowy follow up to Lonely Mountains: Downhill,” reads the official blurb. “Now supporting up to eight players via cross platform multiplayer – work your way down the slopes as a group sharing a small number of checkpoints, or risk it all in a breakneck race to the base!”

Tomorrow, January 22, sees the addition of Flock (Console) to Game Pass Standard. “Flock is a multiplayer co-op game about the joy of flight and collecting adorable flying creatures with your friends. Soar through beautiful landscapes, seeking out rare and elusive creatures to add to your flock.”

Also on January 22, Gigantic: Rampage Edition (Cloud, Console, and PC) hits Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass, and Game Pass Standard. “Gigantic: Rampage Edition is a premium and definitive release of the original 5v5 MOBA hero shooter that provides a dynamic and exciting team-based multiplayer experience for fans of both genres. Choose from a diverse roster of unique heroes, each with a set of upgradeable abilities, and team up with four other players to control objectives and take down the opposing team’s mighty Guardian, all while protecting your own.”

January 22 is a busy day for Game Pass, as Capcom’s Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess (Console) launches into Game Pass Standard. “A unique Japanese-inspired, single player Kagura action strategy game. It takes place on a mountain covered by defilement. During the day, purify the villages and prepare yourself for sundown. During the night, protect the Maiden against the hordes of the Seethe. Repeat the day and night cycle until you cleanse the mountain of defilement and return peace to the land.”

Sticking with January 22, Magical Delicacy (Console) comes to Game Pass Standard, as does Tchia (Xbox Series X|S), and The Case of the Golden Idol (Console). January 22 is rounded out by Starbound (Cloud and Console), which arrives on Game Pass Ultimate and Game Pass Standard having already launched on PC Game Pass.

Eternal Strands (Cloud, Console, and PC) hits Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass on January 28 as a day one launch. “Eternal Strands is the debut fantasy title from Yellow Brick Games, a new independent studio founded by industry veterans from franchises including Dragon Age, Mass Effect, Watch Dogs, and Assassin’s Creed. Fight epic, towering creatures while blending magical abilities with an arsenal of powerful weapons to keep the world from crumbling in this third-person, action-adventure game.”

Also on January 28 as a day one launch, Orcs Must Die! Deathtrap (Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S) hits Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass. “Orcs Must Die! Deathtrap is an action-packed, third-person shooter and trap defense game. Evolve as an orc-slaying War Mage through rogue-lite choices and obliterate, eviscerate, and incinerate massive hordes with up to four players.”

Moving on to January 29, Shady Part of Me (Cloud, Console, and PC) releases in Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass, and Game Pass Standard. “Shady Part of Me sends you on an emotional and dream-like journey, with breathtaking artistic direction and the enthralling voice of Hannah Murray from Game of Thrones and Skins. As a little girl and her shadow, overcome emotional struggles through surreal dreamscapes across a touching narrative filled with twists and surprises. Both must learn, cooperate, and evolve to progress in a poetic journey.

Here’s a big one: Sniper Elite: Resistance (Cloud, Console, and PC) launches into Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass as a day one release on January 30. “Offering unparalleled sniping mechanics, stealth and tactical third-person combat, Sniper Elite: Resistance turns the attention of the award-winning series towards a hidden war, far from the front lines, deep within the heart of occupied France. Bring a friend – the full campaign can be experienced in co-op.”

Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector (Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S) is another day one Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass release, this time on January 31. “The highly anticipated sequel to one of 2022’s most acclaimed RPGs, Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector is a dice-driven RPG in a human and heartfelt sci-fi world. You are an escaped android, with a malfunctioning body, a price on your head and no memory of your past. Get a ship, find a crew, and take on contracts while you navigate across the Starward Belt.”

And finally, creeping into early February, Far Cry New Dawn (Cloud, Console, and PC) hits Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass, and Game Pass Standard on February 4. “Dive into a transformed, vibrant, post-apocalyptic Hope County, Montana, 17 years after a global nuclear catastrophe. Lead the fight against the Highwaymen as they seek to take over the last remaining resources.”

Xbox Game Pass January 2025 Wave 2 lineup:

Xbox Game Pass games leaving on January 31, 2025:

As usual, a number of games are set to leave Game Pass as new titles flood the subscription service.

  • Anuchard (Cloud, Console, and PC)
  • Broforce Forever (Cloud, Console, and PC)
  • Darkest Dungeon (Cloud, Console, and PC)
  • Death’s Door (Cloud, Console, and PC)
  • Maquette (Cloud, Console, and PC)
  • Serious Sam: Siberian Mayhem (Cloud, Console, and PC)

Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.

Nintendo Joins ‘Fuji TV’ Commercial Boycott Following Sex Scandal

One of many companies pulling ads.

Nintendo is pulling commercials from airing on the Japanese station Fuji Television (Fuji TV) following an ongoing sex scandal centred around Masahiro Nakai, one of the station’s biggest hosts.

As reported by Nikkei (thanks, Automaton), in December 2024, a 90 million yen ($569,000) out-of-court settlement followed reports alleging that Nakai — also a former member of the hugely popular boy band SMAP — had sexually assaulted an unnamed woman in 2023 at a company-arranged dinner.

Read the full article on nintendolife.com

Re(a)d Between The Lines with the New Pulse Cipher Special Edition Controller

Re(a)d Between The Lines with the New Pulse Cipher Special Edition Controller

  • Brianna LowderMarketing Manager, Xbox Accessories

Pulse Cipher Controller Hero Image

Introducing the newest iteration of the Cipher series, Xbox Wireless Controller – Pulse Cipher Special Edition! Like its predecessors, Sky Cipher and Ghost Cipher, Pulse Cipher provides players with a nostalgic transparent look infused with a futuristic twist. Despite being third in the series, this controller is special in its own right.

Players can catch a glimpse of the silver midframe through the red transparent top case to reveal the mysteries found within. This vibrant design and colorway make a bold statement where modern gaming meets enduring nostalgia.

Energize your play with the Pulse Cipher controller and all its features, including red, diamond-shaped rubberized grips, dark red accents across the bumpers, buttons, and two-toned thumbsticks, a metallic hybrid D-pad, and matching metallic triggers. You can easily swap button input profiles through the Xbox Accessory Hub, where you can also preview any of the screenshots or videos you take using the dedicated Share button found in the middle of the controller.

For an enhanced gaming experience, wirelessly connect this new special edition controller to your favorite gaming devices, whether it be Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One consoles, PC, iOS, or Android devices (see xbox.com/controller-compatibility for more details; use with controller compatible games). Pulse Cipher also features a 3.5mm audio jack and a battery life of up to 40 hours (varies with usage and other factors).  

Pulse Cipher Image showing front and back

The Xbox Wireless Controller Special Edition – Pulse Cipher is available today for pre-order in select Xbox markets worldwide for $74.99 USD ERP. Visit Xbox.com or your local retailer, including Microsoft Store, for more information.

The post Re(a)d Between The Lines with the New Pulse Cipher Special Edition Controller appeared first on Xbox Wire.

World of Warships: Legends introduces new quick guide, The Codex

Mastering a game is always a challenge, and when you have to deal with over 500 different ships with unique commanders, guns, and armor schemes, things can get out of hand real quickly. That’s where our new feature comes in: The Codex. Available on both PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5, this all-encompassing in-game encyclopedia brings everything you need to know about World of Warships: Legends right to your fingertips.

The Codex is your one-stop resource for everything a new player needs to know about our game. Think of the Codex as your personal encyclopedia, filled with important information that will prepare you for the high-stakes combat of the seven seas. No more need for piecing together fragmented advice from forums and other sources. Now, all the essentials are just a few button presses away, neatly organized, searchable, and designed to make your sailing smooth, or as smooth as it can be during naval combat.

When designing the Codex, we kept in mind that it needs to be easy to use. It’s filled with all the right keywords, icons, and colors to make navigation a breeze. Plus, we’ve added some visual flair to keep the reading experience exciting. With well-chosen fonts and beautiful artwork, diving into ship stats or game mechanics isn’t just informative-it’s fun.

And the Codex isn’t just for new players. We decided to go a bit overboard (pun intended). Working closely with our community and experienced players, we’ve included more advanced tactics, commander setups, and ship builds for those looking to min-max.

Want to know which is the ideal commander for your favorite ship class? Look no further than the Codex. Players have grinded the game for thousands of hours trying out different setups, and we’ve compiled their findings into easy-to-understand articles. The Codex offers player-tested strategies to make you the MVP of the battle. We are also making sure that the content is always fresh so you are never stuck with outdated information.

But wait, there’s more! Not only does the Codex teach you about specific commanders and ship types, but it also dives into the game’s mechanics. Naval combat and the physics behind it can get quite complicated, and figuring it out in the heat of battle is almost never a good idea. That’s where the Codex shines.

We’ve simplified complicated concepts such as ricochets, shell mechanics, and angling in our articles to give you an edge in battle. For example, ever wondered how to make the most out of the biggest battleship of World War 2 Yamato and her iconic guns? The Codex will explain how you can target the enemy for maximum damage output.

But we won’t stop there. One of the great things about the Codex is that it’s going to be updated continuously as the game grows. New ships, commanders and mechanics are constantly being worked on by our team here in Wargaming. Making sure this tool stays relevant for the years to come is a priority. Whether you’re a new player who is just getting started, or an experienced captain checking out something new or looking back at some details, there will always be something to discover through the Codex.

So, what are you waiting for? The Codex is ready and waiting to turn you from a fledging sailor into a studied academic! Take the plunge and dive deep into the world of naval warfare, and let the Codex be your teacher and guide. The ocean is a dangerous place, and you need to be prepared, especially when it’s full of Battleships, Cruisers, Destroyers, and formidable Aircraft Carriers! Think you can handle them? Download the game to join our vast fleet of players today and turn the tide.

We’re Only a Few Weeks Into 2025 and Already There’s a New GTA 6 Trailer 2 Release Date Theory

2025 is only a few weeks old, and yet we’ve already seen so much. The announcement of a new Nintendo console. The death and resurrection of TikTok. And now, a new Grand Theft Auto VI Trailer 2 release date theory.

This one (believe it or not there are more than a few GTA 6 theories doing the rounds) was sparked into life by another seemingly innocuous GTA Online promo tweet by Rockstar Games. “Claim a free Vapid Dominator GT muscle car and more with GTA+,” the tweet reads. “Members also earn bonuses on Priority FIB Files and Terrorbyte Client Missions, save with Arcade Property discounts, and much more.”

What information-starved GTA fans were most interested in, however, was the accompanying image, which includes a shot of a metal shipping container with a series of numbers printed on its side. One number is singled out with a slightly enlarged font and a rectangle around it: 2.

That’s all it took for eagle-eyed obsessives to set off on yet another GTA 6 theory brainstorm. The 2 must be a reference to GTA 6 Trailer 2, right? But what if you add up all the other numbers? Does that mean anything?

X/Twitter account @GTA6Plus did the math and came up with the number 30. “They made sure to include the numbers in the post,” GTA6Plus insisted. “They have to mean something.” January 30, 2025 for the GTA 6 Trailer 2 reveal?

There’s more to this theory. It turns out the release dates for both Red Dead Redemption 2 and Grand Theft Auto V were announced on a Thursday. January 30, 2025 is a Thursday. Coincidence?

Fans have also pointed out that Rockstar parent company Take-Two is set to release its next set of financial results on February 6, so a release date announcement as part of a new trailer beforehand might make sense.

We’ve been here before, of course. Multiple times. Rockstar released GTA 6 Trailer 1 to record-breaking viewership in December 2023, but it hasn’t released a single asset in the 13 months since. The year-long wait for more information has fueled increasingly bizarre conspiracy theories about when Rockstar will release GTA 6 Trailer 2. These have included counting the holes in Lucia’s cell door net, the bullet holes in the car from Trailer 1, and even analyzing registration plates. But chief among the conspiracy theories is GTA 6’s ongoing moon watch, which was, remarkably, proven to have accurately predicted the date Rockstar announced when it would release GTA 6 Trailer 1 last December, but debunked as a hint at the release date for Trailer 2.

Crazy? One former developer at Rockstar recently expressed his delight at the many wild conspiracy theories surrounding GTA 6, insisting staff at the studio will be enjoying watching the community go off the deep end.

It is remarkable that Rockstar has gone a year without following up GTA 6 Trailer 1 with any new information at all. With GTA 6’s fall 2025 release window on PS5 and Xbox Series X and S still on the cards, according to Take-Two, you’d expect Rockstar to pipe up sooner rather than later.

While you wait to find out, IGN has much more on GTA 6 to check out, including an ex-Rockstar dev who says the studio probably won’t be able to decide whether GTA 6 is delayed until May 2025, the boss of Take-Two’s coy response on whether GTA 6 is coming to PC, and the expert opinion on whether the PS5 Pro will run GTA 6 at 60 frames per second.

Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.

My most anticipated indie of 2025 quietly updated its demo build while I was off eating lunch

Or months ago, maybe. I don’t know and I have no time to check, because I’m playing the Steam demo for The King Is Watching. I wrote about it last year, but that was an older demo build. Things were different then, but the core of this minimalist city builder strategy remains: you’ll need to actively train your kingly eyes on your feckless underlings if you want them to do any work. Don’t watch the wheat fields, no food. Don’t watch the barracks, no knights. You’ll need those knights to defend from attacks too. Do you see how it all connects?! Do you?! Please, do your research. Here’s a trailer to help:

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Pokémon TCG Pocket Player Crosses 50,000 Cards After Spending More Than $100 a Day for 3 Months

A dedicated Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket player has spent the maximum amount of money — around $104 a day using the most cost efficient methods — for the near 12 weeks since launch and finally crossed the 50,000 cards threshold.

As reported by Automaton, Japanese YouTuber Hajimesyacho shared the previously unseen milestone of collecting 50,000 cards on X/Twitter. Pokémon TCG Pocket shares these with players at intervals such as 100 cards, 1,000 cards, and so on, but the 50,000 marker wasn’t heard of given how much spending it requires.

Not even the player who spent $1,500 collecting the entire first set is anywhere close to this milestone, as Hajimesyacho said he has spent the maximum amount of money possible each day since Pokémon TCG Pocket’s October 30 release.

While the digital TCG technically doesn’t limit the spending of real world money, it does limit the spending of its premium currency: Poké Gold. Players can spend $1,000 on Pokémon TCG Pocket every day but only spend a maximum of 720 Poké Gold on booster packs and Wonder Picks and so on.

The most cost efficient standard method of purchasing Poké Gold (outside of rare sales or promotions) is to buy 690 for $99.99. Using the maximum 720 Poké Gold therefore works out at spending just over $104 a day.

Opening packs is the best way to turn this Poké Gold into the highest number of cards possible, with six Poké Gold unlocking one pack containing five cards. Hajimesyacho has therefore opened towards 10,000 packs of Pokémon TCG Pocket booster packs after seemingly spending $8,736.

He hasn’t yet uploaded a video on the endeavour or even said if he plans to, nor did Hajimesyacho show off his specific collection of cards. He likely has multiple copies of the rarest pieces though, such as the Gold (Crown rarity) and immersive art cards.

Instances such as this are perhaps exceptional but Pokémon TCG Pocket is still pulling in a lot of money for developer Creatures Inc. and The Pokémon Company as it is estimated to have earned $200 million in its first month.

The game follows the standard mobile and free-to-play game model, flooding players with rewards in the first few days before soon drying up, with spending real-world money the only real way to re-experience that early thrill outside of the occasional set drop like Mythical Island.

Completing Genetic Apex, for example, the first set of cards which totals 226 officially but also contains 60 rare alternate art cards, will take players not spending money around two years according to one estimate.

Fans’ complaints over this difficulty were exacerbated when Creatures Inc. outlined its highly anticipated trading feature too, which caused such an uproar that it had to release a follow-up response.

Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelance reporter. He’ll talk about The Witcher all day.

Sledding Game is a chill “hangout game” like Webfishing, but with penguins that ragdoll downhill

The relaxing fish catchin’ and scratchcard gamblin’ of Webfishing proved itself deeply attractive to anyone looking for an easygoing escape. So it makes sense at least one other developer is looking to apply the same lo-fi principles to their own “hangout game”. The simply titled Sledding Game looks like a chill afternoon of standing around on mountains with your mates and going for a big slide downhill every now and again. It’s still early in development, as you can tell from the trailer below. But you’ll be able to embody penguins, frogs, and polar bears as they drink hot cocoa in log cabins and ragdoll into one another willy-nilly. Other cute animals are to be confirmed, but I am putting my money on an dopey-faced ermine.

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Sony Pulled GTA 6 Parody Game Grand Taking Ages From the PlayStation Store — but It’s Now Cleared for Release on Steam

The people behind the controversial Grand Theft Auto 6 parody game Grand Taking Ages are back with a Steam page after Sony pulled it from the PlayStation Store.

Grand Taking Ages is, according to its creators, a parody management simulator where players run a game development studio.

Last month, despite using what looked like AI-generated art to satirize the ongoing wait for Rockstar’s GTA 6, the inclusion of a list of unlikely gameplay features, as well as fake awards from video game websites, Grand Taking Ages VI appeared on the PlayStation Store with a May 2025 release date. Users were even able to wishlist the game on PlayStation.

Inevitably, Sony pulled Grand Taking Ages VI from the PlayStation Store, but now it’s back on Steam after what its creators said were key adjustments made to convince Valve of the project’s validity.

Developer Violarte told IGN that Grand Taking Ages had been through a “thorough” review process, and was now approved for publishing on Steam. On the Steam page are a brand new trailer and updated screenshots, all leaning on the parody angle its developer is using as justification for the project.

So what’s changed? As well as ditching the “VI” in the game title, Violarte changed the game’s logo, descriptions, and overall presentation “to clearly differentiate Grand Taking Ages from the original inspiration, GTA 6, and to emphasize its unique direction.” Gone is the art that looked a lot like Rockstar’s iconic GTA imagery, in its place art that looks a bit like Rockstar’s iconic GTA imagery.

But Grand Taking Ages is still riddled with generative AI. As per Steam’s AI rules, Violarte disclosed on the Grand Taking Ages Steam page that it used “AI services” for voice overs — and a cursory glance at the trailer will demonstrate how well this worked out.

And here’s the new description on the Grand Taking Ages Steam page:

Coming Soon Since Forever! Start your game dev journey in mom’s garage! Battle angry fans, dodge ruthless journalists, and perfect the art of “creative” deadlines. Survive on pizza and energy drinks while building your dream studio into… a slightly better garage!

Violarte said it took a different approach with Valve to get the game on Steam than it did with Sony to get the game on the PlayStation Store. “We approached Steam differently by engaging with their team about the concept of our game before officially submitting it,” a representative told IGN. “This allowed us to get their perspective early on, ensuring alignment with their guidelines.”

The company pointed to other projects such as Grand Theft Hamlet, a documentary about two out of work actors who attempt to put on a production of Hamlet inside GTA Online, as evidence that parodies of GTA should be protected from takedowns. “These examples showcase how parody can celebrate and entertain within existing genres while remaining creative and engaging,” Violarte said.

Violarte now wants Grand Taking Ages back on the PlayStation Store. “We genuinely believe that, with the recent updates, Grand Taking Ages is now ready to be relisted on the PlayStation Store,” it said. To that end, Violarte said it had sent a request to Sony that points out that the changes it’s made to the game have convinced Valve to approve it for release on Steam. “We strongly believe that there will be no issues with Sony this time, given the adjustments we’ve implemented,” Violarte said.

Grand Taking Ages VI’s appearance on the PlayStation Store called Sony’s curation process into question, but Valve’s open-door policy on Steam is well-documented. The likes of Steam, the various app stores, and even the Nintendo eShop are packed with slop, and increasingly generative-AI is being used to make it.

GTA 6, meanwhile, launches on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and S in the fall of 2025.

Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.

In creepy real-time strategy game Calyx you battle a huge mass of alien plants

Steam are throwing a Real-Time Strategy Fest this week, encompassing discounts and demos, and people who like clicking on Orc-emitting huts are eating well. Of the new strategy game demos I’ve spotted so far, the one that interests me most is Calyx, in which you are at war with a mass of alien vegetation, which expands toward your base in a blossoming, suffocating avalanche of green moss and purple tendril. It seems a bit raw at the level of controls and performance, but the concept is very promising: basically, imagine if Creeper World 4 were a bit more like Ground Control. Here’s a trailer.

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