If you’ve wanted to give VR gaming a try but the cost of entry has kept you at bay, then you might be interested in the first good Meta Quest deal for 2025. For a limited time, Amazon drops $50 off the Quest 3S 256GB VR headset, now only $349. That’s only $50 more than the base 128GB model and a worthy upgrade for storing more games at a time for untethered play. This straight up instant discount is arguably better than the deals that happened during Black Friday, which all involved digital credit or gift cards tied to specific stores.
To sweeten the pot even more, the package also includes a copy of Batman: Arkham Shadow VR game and a three-month trial of Meta Quest+. In IGN’s 8/10 review, Dan Stapleton wrote that “Batman: Arkham Shadow makes most of the Arkham series’ defining gameplay work respectably well in VR, and its mystery story pays off.”
Meta Quest 3S VR Headset with Batman: Arkham Shadow
The Quest 3S is an improvement over the original Quest 2 in every way and, amazingly, without a price increase. It also adopts many of the same features of the more expensive Quest 3, like the new and improved Touch controllers, the upgraded SnapDragon APU, and support for full color AR passthrough. In IGN’s 9/10 Quest 3S review, Gabriel Moss wrote that “raw processing power, full-color passthrough, and snappy Touch Plus controllers make the Quest 3S a fantastic standalone VR headset that also brings entry-level mixed-reality gaming to the masses for – arguably – the very first time.
What really sets this deal above all other VR deals is that the Meta Quest 3S can be played completely untethered. That means you can play games like Beat Saber or Pistol Whip without having to own a powerful gaming PC or a PlayStation 5 console. Try to find another standalone VR headset at this price and you’ll come up empty.
How Is the Quest 3S Different from the Quest 3?
Even at retail price, the Quest 3S comes in at $200, or 40% cheaper than the $500 Quest 3. Obviously, some compromises were made to get the 3S to its competitive price point. The spec comparisons are listed below:
Quest 3S vs. Quest 3 Similarities
Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 processor
Touch Plus controllers
120Hz refresh rate
Mixed reality passthrough (same cameras, different layout)
Quest 3S vs. Quest 3 Differences
Lower per-eye resolution (1832×1920 vs 2064×2208)
Fresnel lens vs. pancake lens
Lower FOV (96°/90° vs 104°/96°)
Smaller storage capacity (128GB vs 512GB)
Longer battery life (2.5hrs vs 2.2hrs)
In essence, the Quest 3S is nearly the same headset but with downgraded optics. On the plus side, since both headsets use the same processor, running at a lower resolution reduces the load on the APU, which could theoretically improve performance in games and also account for the increased battery life.
For the price, the Quest 3S is unquestionably a better value than the Quest 3, and a better choice for most gamers, especially if the Quest 3 was completely out of your budget in the first place. Compared to the previous generation Quest 2, the decision is even easier.
Eric Song is the IGN commerce manager in charge of finding the best gaming and tech deals every day. When Eric isn’t hunting for deals for other people at work, he’s hunting for deals for himself during his free time.
It’s not every controller review that we have to start with a rundown of the current state of Fortnite, but bear with us, we promise it’s relevant.
The classic looting and shooting that we all know and love is now just a small part of the “Fortnite ecosystem” *squirms*, a hub-world for games that bundle the battle royale in with the survival sim LEGO Fortnite, the racer Rocket Racing, and the Rock Band-esque rhythm game, Fortnite Festival.
Sniper Elite: Resistance is set to release for PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC on January 28 for the deluxe edition, and January 30 for the standard edition. This latest installment of the long-running franchise brings you back to World War II and has you blast Nazis from afar (or close up, depending on how you choose to complete the missions). It’s coming out in two editions and both are now available to preorder. Read on for the details.
The deluxe edition comes with the game itself, plus the following extras:
2 days early access (January 28)
Season pass
Sniper Elite: Resistance Will Be on Xbox Game Pass
If you want a cheaper way to play the game, you’ll also be able to play Sniper Elite: Resistance on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate or PC Game Pass on January 30.
Sniper Elite: Resistance Preorder Bonus
Preorder any version of Sniper Elite: Resistance, and you’ll receive the following preorder bonuses:
Sniper Elite: Resistance is a first-person shooter set in the European theater during WWII. You play as Harry Hawker, an agent of the Special Operations Executive, who’s sent into occupied France to fight alongside the French Resistance to stop the Nazis from using a super-weapon that would help them win the war.
Like previous installments, stealth and sniping from afar are key to your success. When you score a kill, you’ll still be treated to a slow-mo X-ray shot of the bullet wreaking havoc on the internal organs of your enemies.
New to the series this time around are Propaganda Missions, which give you a limited amount of time to sneak in and complete tasks. And returning from previous installments is Axis Invasion mode, which lets you invade another player’s campaign as an enemy to take them down. Fun stuff.
Other Preorder Guides
Chris Reed is a commerce editor and deals expert for IGN. He also runs IGN’s board game and LEGO coverage. You can follow him on Bluesky.
Marvel Rivals players are being treated to an unlikely crossover that brings the Advanced Suit 2.0 from Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 into the game as a new skin.
PlayStation announced the news itself in a post on X/Twitter, revealing a first look at how NetEase Games is reimagining the classic video game outfit for its new hero shooter.
This sleek Spider-Man suit made its debut as an original design for Insomniac Games’ Marvel’s Spider-Man, going on to make appearances in all three entries in that series. The main element setting this suit apart from the rest is its now-iconic white spider symbol, with its appearance in Marvel Rivals cementing it as a surprise collaboration with Sony and its console-exclusive superhero game. Expect Spider-Man’s Advanced Suit 2.0 to swing into the in-game store on January 30, the same day Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 comes to PC.
Marvel Rivals launched in December and already offers a smorgasbord of unlockable suits, but this new Spidey suit arrives as an especially unique addition. Along with its ties to the massively popular PlayStation series, the Advanced Suit 2.0 will once again be worn by a Spider-Man who is voiced by Yuri Lowenthal. The actor has played Peter Parker in all three of Insomniac’s Spider-Man games and also happens to have provided his talents for Marvel Rivals’ take on the character. In other words, those who pick up the costume come January 30 should feel right at home as they thwip their way to victory.
NetEase’s decision to bring Spider-Man’s Advanced Suit 2.0 into the fold gives players another piece of content to look forward to among everything that dropped with Season 1: Eternal Night Falls last week. This first season of content added Fantastic Four representatives Mister Fantastic and the Invisible Woman as new playable characters, with The Thing and Human Torch set to join in just a few weeks. Much more is on the way, too, as creative director Guangyun Chen recently promised to launch at least one new hero every month and a half.
Michael Cripe is a freelance contributor with IGN. He started writing in the industry in 2017 and is best known for his work at outlets such as The Pitch, The Escapist, OnlySP, and Gameranx.
Be sure to give him a follow on Twitter @MikeCripe.
Sony has revealed the full line-up of PlayStation Plus Games Catalog additions for January 2025, which includes God of War Ragnarok, Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name, and more.
Announced on the PlayStation Blog, a total of 11 games are joining the library, nine on the PlayStation Plus Extra tier and two on the PlayStation Plus Premium Tier through the Classic Games Catalog. They’re available January 21.
While the beloved PlayStation 5 title God of War Ragnarok joins the library this month, it’s otherwise a tad short on the usual numbers. The additions usually include upwards of a dozen entries, and at least one on PlayStation VR2, but January’s offerings do not.
PlayStation Plus Games Catalog Additions for January 2025
God of War Ragnarok is the beloved sequel to the beloved God of War reboot that arrived in 2022. It continues the story of Kratos and Atreus as they navigate the wild worlds of Norse mythology. “God of War Ragnarok is an almighty achievement and creates a new high that makes many of its peers look mortal by comparison,” IGN said in our 10/10 review.
Perhaps the next biggest game in January 2025 is Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name, a side story of the Yakuza series that sees longtime protagonist Kiryu become a secret agent. “Like a Dragon Gaiden’s combat hits with flash and fury and its story is sharp, but its setting and side activities feel a bit on the stale side,” we said in a 7/10 review.
Another large entry arrives this month in an open world role-playing game called Atlas Fallen, which unleashes its Reign of Sand expansion onto PS Plus. It also earned a 7/10 from IGN. “Atlas Fallen is a solid open-world action RPG with plenty of platforming and large monsters to fight with a co-op buddy, so long as neither of you cares about story or is a stickler for high-quality textures,” we said.
Something quite different arrives in action RPG SD Gundam Battle Alliance, a game where Gundam fans can explore the series’ history by battling through its most iconic scenes. Players can also collect myriad Mobile Suits and characters from throughout the mech battling series.
Described as a “euphoric music video dream about being awesome, riding motorcycles, skateboarding, dance battling, shooting lasers, wielding swords, and breaking hearts at 200 miles per hour,” Sayonara Wild Hearts is a unique amongst this lists and video games overall. “Sayonara Wild Hearts’ music and art combine for a stirring, unique experience,” IGN said in our 7/10 review.
Anno: Mutationem, meanwhile, is a side scrolling adventure game where players take on the roll of Ann as she fights through a neon metropolis. It earned an 8/10 from IGN. “Punchy, side scrolling combat and a richly realized, anime-inspired world make Anno: Mutationem a blast, but the script is a bit rusty,” we said.
Adding more variety to January 2025’s PlayStation Plus line-up is Orcs Must Die 3, a tower defence game about slaying lots of orcs. “Orcs Must Die 3 is very familiar to players of the second game but still a fun and goofy action/tower-defense challenge,” IGN said in our 7/10 review.
Citizen Sleeper arrives next. “Role-playing in the ruins of interplanetary capitalism, Citizen Sleeper puts you in the life of an escaped worker, washed up on a lawless station at the edge of an interstellar society. Explore the station, choose your friends, escape your past and change your future,” its synopsis reads.
This next game will teach you when to hold ’em, when to fold ’em, when to walk away, and when to run. Poker Club “offers players more ways to play than ever before with a full house of Texas hold’em online tournament modes and ring-games,” its synopsis reads.
Not ready to let Xbox get away with releasing an Indiana Jones game of its own, Indiana Jones and the Staff of Kings arrives on the PS Plus Games Catalog in January. This 2009 adventure game originally released on PlayStation 2 earned a “mediocre” rating in IGN’s review.
Finally, the classic platforming and puzzle solving fantasy game Medievil 2 comes to the Classic Games Catalog this month. “In this sequel to Medievil, you control Sir Daniel Fortesque, the undead knight, as he makes his way around the world’s foggiest city, London,” the synopsis reads. “Your arsenal ranges from swords to muskets, and if you defeat enough enemies on each level, you’ll unlock its Chalice of Souls and be rewarded with special items.”
Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelance reporter. He’ll talk about The Witcher all day.
Co-founder of id Software and one of the minds behind the seminal FPS Doom, John Romero, has honoured a legendary Square programmer on social media, calling him an “inspiration”.
Sharing his thoughts in the wake of Japanese broadcaster NHK’s interview with Nasir Gebelli, who lead programmer on the Final Fantasy games on NES and SNES action RPG Secret of Mana, Romero says “Without Nasir, there is no DOOM.” High, high praise indeed.
Celebrate the New Year With UFC 5 Joining the Play List and EA Sports Week
Charlie FortescueDirector, Global Corporate Communications, EA
EA Sports UFC 5
Get ready to unleash your fury as EA SportsUFC 5 is now on the Play List for all EA Play members (conditions, limitations and exclusions apply – see here for details). Members can now step into the Octagon with their favorite MMA players for the most definitive MMA experience with authentic gameplay and graphics maximized for modern consoles. Alongside unlimited access to EA SPORTS UFC 5, EA Play members can score the Bruce Lee Bundle and play as Alter Egos of the father of MMA. The bundle is available to all members at no additional cost from January 14 through February 11.
Powered by the Frostbite Engine, EA Sports UFC 5 features the all-new Real Impact System, which elevates the stakes, technique, drama and excitement; players can feel every strike and deliver highlight-reel finishes bringing the intensity and strategy of a fight to life. The game’s advanced visuals and enriched gameplay, coupled with features like Cinematic K.O. Replays, Doctor’s Checks and Stoppages, Seamless Submissions and more, create an unparalleled MMA interactive experience, making EA Sports UFC 5 as real as it gets.
EA Sports Week
This month, the fight continues outside of the Octagon as Game Pass Ultimate subscribers can punch into EA Sports Week with a special, 90% off discount for UFC 5 Super Deluxe Edition! Members can celebrate EA Sports Week with friends as everyone will be able to access the EA Sports game collection, earn discounts on EA Sports games, get a Free Play weekend January 16-19, 2025 for all sports titles, and more. The celebration starts with the EA SportsFC 25’s ‘Team of the Year’ two-week activation and the addition of EA Sports UFC 5 to the Play List.
January Rewards
If you thought that was it, you’re mistaken! The gifting continues this month for EA Play members as the new year brings new heart pumping action with all the great rewards, including:
Apex Legends Feelin’ lucky? Weapon Charm – Now to February 3
Battlefield 2042 Winter Series – Now to January 28
EA Sports F1 245000 XP Boost – Now to January 31
Madden NFL 25 MUT Pack – Now to January 31
EA Sports FC 25 Black FC Mask & Clubs Coins – Now to January 30
EA Sports FC 25Football Ultimate Team Draft Token– Now to February 14
EA Sports NHL 25WOC Battle Pass XP Modifier Tokens – Now to January 30
EA Sports NHL 253000 CHEL Coins – Now to January 30
Visit the EA Play page for more details, and to stay up to date on the latest from EA Play, follow EA Play on, Instagram, or X. Please see EA.com/EA-Play/Terms for terms and conditions.
Explore the mythical snowy landscapes in God of War Ragnarök, Osaka’s vibrant underworld in Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name, the vast, sandy expanses of Atlas Fallen: Reign Of Sand, and the futuristic mech-sized battlefields of SD Gundam Battle Alliance. These games and more form January’s PlayStation Plus Game Catalog lineup* and will be available to play from January 21.
Two timeless classics are also joining PlayStation Plus Premium: PS2 adventure epic adventure Indiana Jones and the Staff of Kings and PS2’s spooky Medievil II.
Finally, in case you missed it, PlayStation Portal released a system update that allows PlayStation Plus Premium members to test Cloud Streaming (Beta) for select PS5 games on Game Catalog. Learn more here.
PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium | Game Catalog
Download the image
God of War Ragnarök | PS4, PS5
From Santa Monica Studio comes the sequel to the critically acclaimed God of War (2018). Embark on an epic and heartfelt journey as Kratos and Atreus struggle with holding on and letting go. Fimbulwinter is well underway. Kratos and Atreus must journey to each of the Nine Realms in search of answers as Asgardian forces prepare for a prophesied battle that will end the world. Along the way they will explore stunning, mythical landscapes, and face fearsome enemies in the form of Norse gods and monsters. As the threat of Ragnarök grows ever closer, Kratos and Atreus must choose between their own safety and the safety of the realms.
Download the image
Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name | PS4, PS5
Once a legendary yakuza, Kazuma Kiryu faked his own death and abandoned his name for the sake of protecting his family. Now, he is thrust into conflict by a mysterious figure attempting to drive him out of hiding. Under the codename ‘Joryu’, Kiryu embarks on a gripping action narrative with bone-shattering combat in vibrant locations filled with exciting characters and activities.
Download the image
Atlas Fallen: Reign Of Sand | PS5
In this action RPG, master the sands and explore a unique fantasy land teeming with secrets and dangers alone or in online two-player co-op, as you hunt colossal legendary creatures in spectacular combat. Reign of Sand is the ultimate version of Atlas Fallen: an expanded world, new enemies and challenges, revamped progression, new quests, reworked voice acting, additional difficulty mode and ‘New Game+’ modes!
Download the image
SD Gundam Battle Alliance | PS4, PS5
Mobile Suits and characters from across Mobile Suit Gundam history take center stage in this all-new action RPG. The story takes place in G: Universe, a world where Gundam canon twists and turns in ways no one can predict. To correct this world’s distorted history, you lead a 3-unit squadron consisting of Mobile Suits and pilots from across Gundam history – a true Battle Alliance. Experience Gundam history’s most famous scenes as you develop new Mobile Suits to add to your arsenal. In multiplayer, you can play through the game with up to 2 other players in a 3-person team. Enjoy this new SD Gundam action RPG solo, or with friends.
Download the image
Sayonara Wild Hearts | PS4
Sayonara Wild Hearts is a dreamy arcade game about riding motorcycles, skateboarding, dance battling, shooting lasers, wielding swords, and breaking hearts at 200 mph. As the heart of a young woman breaks, the balance of the universe is disturbed. A diamond butterfly appears in her dreams and leads her through a highway in the sky, where she finds her other self: the masked biker called The Fool. Journey through a custom-written pop soundtrack, chase scores, and set out to find the harmony of the universe, hidden away in the hearts of Little Death and her star-crossed allies: Dancing Devils, Howling Moons, Stereo Lovers and Hermit 64. Let’s Pop!
Download the image
ANNO: Mutationem | PS4, PS5
Welcome to the neon-covered, 2D-meets-3D Cyberpunk world of ANNO: Mutationem. In this Action-Adventure game with RPG elements, you become Ann: a highly-skilled combat-trained lone wolf on a personal mission in a giant Metropolis, full of sinister mega-corporations, mysterious fringe groups and creatures more bizarre than words can express.
Download the image
Orcs Must Die 3 | PS4, PS5
Orcs Must Die! 3 ushers orc-slaying mayhem to a previously unimaginable scale. Solo or with a friend by your side, arm yourself with a massive arsenal of traps and weapons. Slice, burn, toss and zap hordes of repugnant orcs in this long-awaited successor to the award-winning series. It’s everything fans loved about the first two games and more. More orcs, more traps, more weapons, more upgrades and even better looking. It’s cranked up to at least eleven.
Download the image
Citizen Sleeper | PS4, PS5
You are a sleeper, a digitised human consciousness in an artificial body, owned by a corporation that wants you back. Inspired by Tabletop Roleplaying games, Citizen Sleeper uses Dice, Clocks and Drives to create a player-led experience, where you choose your path in a rich and responsive world. Thrust amongst the unfamiliar and colourful inhabitants of the Eye, you need to build friendships, earn your keep, and navigate the factions of this strange metropolis, if you hope to survive to see the next cycle.
Download the image
Poker Club | PS4
Welcome to Poker Club. Live the life of a poker pro in the most immersive poker simulation ever seen, with Ultra HD 4K visuals and breath-taking ray tracing. Join a community of online players on their way to the top and track your progress in more than 10 Texas Hold’em tournament modes including freezeouts, shootouts, super-turbos, bounties and more. Whether you’re a seasoned poker pro or brand new to the table, perfect your play style for the chance to win big.
PlayStation Plus Premium
Download the image
Indiana Jones and the Staff of Kings | PS4, PS5
Indiana Jones and the Staff of Kings, originally released in 2009 on PlayStation 2, takes you on a perilous, around-the-world quest for the staff of Moses. This classic third-person action adventure has been enhanced with up-rendering, rewind, quick save, and custom video filters. Grab your whip and get ready for a thrilling journey in true Indiana Jones tradition.
Download the image
Medievil II | PS4, PS5
The sequel to MediEvil released on the original PlayStation in 2000. In this new and improved version, featuring up-rendering, rewind, quick save, and custom video filters, you’ll have to challenge the powers of darkness and untold magic as Sir Daniel Fortesque returns from the grave to thwart an evil sorcerer’s plans. Arm yourself with a mighty arsenal of weapons, including swords, daggers, crossbows, hammers, and even the occasional chicken drumstick. Solve fiendish puzzles and riddles, face ghoulish enemies that will strike fear into the bravest of souls, all of it set to a spine-tingling soundtrack.
*PlayStation Plus Game Catalog and PlayStation Plus Premium/Deluxe lineups may differ by region. Please check PlayStation Store on release day.
Baldur’s Gate 3 players have now downloaded more than 100 million mods since developer Larian Studios released its official modding toolkit with Patch 7.
Baldur’s Gate 3 crossed the 50 million mods mark in October so it’s taken just another two and a half months to reach this new milestone. Patch 7 and official mod support arrived in September, meaning an average of around 25 million mods have been downloaded each month.
Larian is only counting mods created with this tool too, meaning traditional mods (that have been available since the game arrived in July 2023) aren’t counted towards the 100 million number. The actual number is therefore much higher.
In our 10/10 review of the base Baldur’s Gate 3, IGN said: “With crunchy, tactical RPG combat, a memorable story with complex characters, highly polished cinematic presentation, and a world that always rewards exploration and creativity, Baldur’s Gate 3 is the new high-water mark for CRPGs.”
Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelance reporter. He’ll talk about The Witcher all day.
My feelings about Forest Reigns are equal parts enthusiasm and disappointment, inflation and deflation, straight off the back of the announcement trailer. On the one hand, as a fan of weird forests, which is to say all forests, I’m keen on the prospect of an FPS set in a post-apocalyptic Paris that has been overrun by sentient, pissed-off trees. It’s from a team led by a former S.T.A.L.K.E.R. developer, too, and those S.T.A.L.K.E.R. alumni certainly know how to post a good apocalypse. On the other hand, the announcement video suggests a game in which you will mostly treat the frenzied flora as a source of “emergent” cover and terrain traps. Have a look.
Draft Token– Now to February 14
