Category: Video Games

Slender: The Arrival VR arrives on PS VR2 May 13 

Slender: The Arrival VR by developer Blue Isle Studios is the unholy union of a horror phenomenon and an innovative gaming peripheral. Together, they deliver a holistic horror experience to players looking for a game that can shake them to their core. 

On May 13, Slender: The Arrival VR will utilize the platform-defining features and capabilities of PS VR2 to summon the horror icon in its most terrifying incarnation yet — and I’m excited to share what makes this upcoming release the best way to experience our title!


Slender: The Arrival VR arrives on PS VR2 May 13 

Immersed in virtual terror

It’s been over a decade since the release of the original Slender: The Arrival, and the 10th Anniversary Update significantly enhanced the graphics and elevated the overall gameplay experience. Every shadow, every model, and every hair-raising encounter with the mysterious Slender Man was rendered in stunning detail using the latest Unreal Engine 5 technologies. Slender: The Arrival VR remains true to the original game while adapting elements to the full-scale immersion VR.

The PS VR2 is a groundbreaking peripheral, and it allowed us to enhance the strengths of Slender: The Arrival further. Atmospheric, gameplay, and audiovisual stimulation combine to transport the player to another dimension.

A key part of the Slender: The Arrival VR experience is the feedback received when The Slender Man is in your area. The detailed haptic feedback in the PSVR2 Sense controllers won’t be the only way you feel Slender Man’s presence, as the PS VR2 headset vibration feedback makes it seem like he dwells within the player’s own mind.

Oh, and the vibration function isn’t reserved for Slenderman. There are other enemies to fear in Slender: The Arrival VR.

With all these new additions and more, The Slender Man’s presence is more eerie and intimidating than ever before. Knowing that he is nearby is scary enough in flatscreen, but in VR, he can appear anywhere in your field of vision. Sound queues are also more realistic and immediate, adding to the immersion and tangible sense of gnawing dread.

A Slender reimagining

Slender: The Arrival VR features all of the new additions included in the 10th Anniversary update, from the enhanced visuals to the brand-new storyline and characters.

The team has also implemented a range of VR accessibility options so that all players who want to step into the world of Slender: The Arrival VR can do so comfortably. There’s a bespoke interactive menu for VR and multiple comfort settings, including standing/seating modes, snap and continuous movement, and sensitivity sliders.

The Slender Man is a paranormal icon that has long terrified the curious-minded worldwide. It stands tall (really tall, actually) alongside long-established horror mainstays. Similarly, the original Slender: The Arrival remains the official, proven, and definitive adaptation of The Slender Man to the gaming world. 

By expanding and deepening its gameplay with the PS VR2 headset, we’ve provided players with a unique and engaging experience that creates a more intimate connection with the world they explore — something arguably most important… and frightening… in the survival-horror genre that they will get to experience on May 13.

FBC: Firebreak Is the Control Multiplayer FPS I Didn’t Know I Wanted

Control was IGN’s Game of the Year in 2019 – and I was one of the many editors that voted for it – but even I was skeptical when Remedy, a studio known for telling great single-player stories in third-person games, announced it was doing a Control multiplayer game. That project turned out to be FBC: Firebreak, a three-player PvE first-person multiplayer shooter set six years after the events of Control. And in the hands-off demo I saw, it very quickly became clear that my skepticism was completely unwarranted. Firebreak is refreshingly original in an oversaturated space, delightfully weird amidst a sea of same-y military and/or sci-fi online shooters, and perhaps best of all, it doesn’t require a massive commitment like so many of its contemporaries. As game director Mike Kayatta put it, “We’re not about daily check-ins. We’re not interested in monthly grinds. We don’t want to give anybody a second job.” Say it again, Mike, for the people in the back.

FBC: Firebreak is a three-player co-op FPS with, if what Remedy is promising comes to pass, no nonsense. You can play for 20 minutes or a few hours if you want to, with Perk unlocks and new combinations amongst characters keeping things fresh for repeat runs. But what the heck are you doing here, back in The Oldest House, with a bevy of bizarre weaponry in your hands? Essentially, you are volunteer first responders in The Oldest House when things go seriously sideways. Your characters are secretaries, rangers, and other “normal” occupations who heed the call of service. The Federal Bureau of Control wouldn’t say you’re expendable, but…you’re expendable.

When you log in to play, you choose a Job (aka a mission) and a Crisis Kit (essentially, your loadout) before setting the Threat Level (difficulty) and Clearance Level, which determines how many zones you’ll be playing through in a run. The zones are separated by containment doors, which will take you to the next stage of the Job. And the Job I saw is called Paper Chase, and it’s set in a fairly mundane office section of the FBC building. The Hiss are spreading, and it’s up to you and your two teammates to work together to beat them back.

Of course, you can get the hell out of there as soon as you can if you like, but if you want to get your hands on currencies that let you upgrade and buy new gear, you have to escape safely with them. And the longer you spend exploring for currency, the harder it is to make it back to HQ in one piece.

Speaking of gear, that’s where FBC: Firebreak starts to set itself apart from other multiplayer shooters. Many of the guns are charmingly unusual, and most have a homebrew feel, like the hand-cranked snowball-launching gun that can put out fires (or your friends who are on fire) and soak the sticky-note monster (uh, more on him in a bit). Or the cobbled-together zapper that, when fitted with the right nozzle, can rain down lightning storms on a room full of bad guys. Or the large wrench that, when a squeaky piggy bank toy is attached, causes a swirl of coins to pelt your opponents. Don’t worry, though; there are still staples like a machinegun and shotgun – the latter of which is the go-to for after you’ve either soaked or zapped one of the sticky-note monsters.

Many of the guns are charmingly unusual, and most have a homebrew feel.

Oh yes, about them: the entire point of this particular Job is to eliminate all of the sticky notes before they overrun the entire brutalist building. Note the number of sticky notes left to destroy in the upper left corner. It will actually go way up as the mission progresses because, by the end of it, you face off against…a gigantic sticky-note monster. Think Sandman from the end of Spider-Man 3, but made out of sticky Post-It notes instead of sand.

But it’s not just about weird weapons. There are also fun in-universe gameplay mechanics, too, like the office supply shelf that refills your ammo, the makeshift turret you build after literally dumping it out of a box onto the floor, the stereo speaker that keeps the Hiss at bay, and the rinse station that washes any aggressive sticky notes off of your face. Unlockable Perks also inject more spice and variety into the gameplay. A couple of examples I saw: a Perk where each missed bullet has a chance to return to your clip, and another that lets you extinguish yourself by jumping up and down. Also, if you get two of the same Perk you get a stronger version of it. If you get three, you can share the Perk’s effect with nearby teammates.

By the way, in case you’re wondering, you don’t have to have three people in order to play. You can play solo or in duos as well. Meanwhile, Remedy is aiming for a lower minimum PC spec than usual, but on the opposite end of the spectrum, FBC will also support DLSS4 with multi-frame generation as well as nVidia Reflex and full ray-tracing. It’ll also be Steam Deck verified, and it’s launching into Xbox and PC Game Pass on day one along with PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium. Finally, there is a post-launch content plan that Remedy isn’t ready to share quite yet, and there will be paid cosmetics, but that’s the extent of the microtransactions.

In fairness, I haven’t actually played FBC: Firebreak yet, so I have to be cautious about my enthusiasm. But so far, it certainly passes the eye test. This is almost certainly not a run-of-the-mill multiplayer shooter, in a very good way. And the fact that it’s a get-in and get-out online game that doesn’t require a massive ongoing time commitment in order to enjoy it is a refreshing throwback to the days when that was the norm.

Ryan McCaffrey is IGN’s executive editor of previews and host of both IGN’s weekly Xbox show, Podcast Unlocked, as well as our monthly(-ish) interview show, IGN Unfiltered. He’s a North Jersey guy, so it’s “Taylor ham,” not “pork roll.” Debate it with him on Twitter at @DMC_Ryan.

Mount & Blade 2: Bannerlord’s first bit of DLC is all about taking the lads out on a not-so-nice boat trip

Mount & Blade 2: Bannerlord, is coming up to three years now, but at the Future Games Show this evening, all these years on, developer TaleWorlds Entertainment announced that the strategy action game will be getting its first bit of DLC, War Sails. If you can’t gather from the name, featured image above, and trailer below, the DLC is all about boats; sailing ’em, fighting with ’em, trading with ’em, you name it, these boats can do it (within reason).

Read more

Post-Apocalyptic Platformer Resetna Makes 14 Updates in One Month

It’s a post-apocalyptic, action adventure platformer, and now ReSetna has made 14 updates in just one month after responding to fan feedback. Indie developer Today’s Games calls it a “game reworked by players” and is dedicated to continuing working with its community.

The latest update, the Ruby Armor Upgrade, includes an overhaul of the combat system, better player controls, and a strong focus on the way battles will feel. Players facing the final boss will get a new cut scene, the game’s environments have had a renovation, and the UI has been tweaked to provide clarity for players. Oh, and there’s that gorgeous red armor set too.

Combat improvements

  • All weapons are improved, more responsive and enjoyable: animations and combos have been re-made and optimized for player’s experience
  • Axe combo now has fast responsive chain of attacks, Sabre’s attacks are now much more enjoyable and responsive with its parry-counterattack and in-air attacks,
  • Naginata has also been reworked to feel more impactful and heavier
  • Lesser projectiles from most basic enemies are now reflectable – the player is now able to avoid annoying ranged attacks, reflect them and still do a strong parry-counterattack while doing tha

ReSetna launched on January 30 on Steam and Nintendo Switch, and its titular robotic hero, ReSetna, has been woken from dormancy by Apex AI to track down the origin of a mysterious signal that is driving robots insane. Luckily there’s back up from a drone companion called IXA who can help out by hacking enemies and providing medical aid.

Rachel Weber is IGN’s Managing Editor.

Frosthaven is getting a digital follow-up to Gloomhaven, and you can play it this month

Frosthaven – the sequel to Cephalofair’s knock-a-horse-out massive board game – is getting a digital version from Julian Gollop’s Snapshot Games. You can sign up here to its closed beta kicking off March 27th, and it’s coming to Steam early access later this year.

Like predecessor Gloomhaven, Frosthaven is a tactical RPG where you’ll resolve story events and encounters between dungeon delving, retiring old characters and unlocking new classes as you progress. New to Frosthaven is a fleshed-out management game that has you build up and protect an outpost, while dealing with harsh seasons and invaders.

Read more

InZOI’s free character creator demo is out now, just make sure you’re ready to do some work to get access to it

InZOI kind of looks like an exercise in pushing the uncanny valley to me, something I’d wholeheartedly respect if that were definitely the intention behind the game, but I have a hunch that it really is just meant to be The Sims, but if it looked like real life. Whether that’s enough to win over Sims lovers or not, I’m not sure, its early access release isn’t until next week so we’ll all know more then. However! You do now have the opportunity to try and test the limits of its character creator, as like a few games have done in recent years, its Create a Zoi feature is available to download as its own thing… if you’re happy to do a bit of homework.

Read more

Random: Did You Know About These Hidden Animations In Pokémon Stadium?

A Mimic miracle.

If you’re anything like us, you probably spent a fair amount of time soaking up the 3D vibes of Pokémon Stadium in the early 2000s. This was the franchise’s first foray into the third dimension and, at the time, it was mind-blowing. Charizard? With depth? Is this the future? But no matter how long we played, some features remained hidden to us. That is, until today.

You see, today we stumbled across this informative YouTube Short from D0UBLESLAP, which promised to show us “secret animations” from our beloved Pokémon Stadium — and that it did.

Read the full article on nintendolife.com

How Developers Have Embraced Xbox Play Anywhere for Their Games

How Developers Have Embraced Xbox Play Anywhere for Their Games

Xbox Play Anywhere Feature Hero Image

As we touched on earlier this week, there are now over 1,000 developers utilizing Xbox Play Anywhere (XPA) for their games, bringing their amazing experiences to players across a variety of devices they own.

If you’ve never heard of XPA before, let us give you a refresher: when you buy a digital game that supports XPA through the Xbox Store or the Windows Store, it’s available to play on your Xbox console, Windows 10/11 PC, and supported handheld gaming devices at no additional cost. Even better, your progression comes with you across all platforms.

While the benefits of XPA for players are clear, we wanted to show you how developers have embraced this feature for their games. At this year’s annual ID@Xbox Showcase event at GDC, we chatted with the teams behind upcoming XPA games Clair Obsur: Expedition 33, Detective Dotson, and Towerborne to learn more about what influenced their decision to implement this feature and what benefits it may hold for their gaming communities.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Screenshot
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

“I mean, I think for us it’s all about discovery,” says Detective Dotson Director Sharlin Shodhan. “Making a game is hard enough, but selling a game in 2025 is super hard. This just gives us all the surfaces that Xbox and Microsoft have as a common access point to sell our game.”

In chatting more with Shodhan, he cites that being able to connect with players across multiple platforms is a key benefit in supporting Xbox Play Anywhere. Having all types of players access their game, and know that it can be played on multiple owned devices, is important for them because it widens the surface where people can access it — and thus share it.

The upcoming Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, launching day one with Game Pass on April 24, will also support Xbox Play Anywhere at launch. Again, allowing a variety of gaming communities on different platforms to come together thanks to XPA was seen as a tremendous benefit, especially for a new studio.

“Forming new friendships with players who are discovering our game is really the most we can hope for,” explains Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Producer and Studio Co-founder François Meurisse. “Having players able to play our game on different devices they already have at home is ideal. This helps them discover the game and feel a link with the universe, to the characters, and maybe even follow-up [for] future games [we make].”

Detective Dotson Screenshot
Detective Dotson

Other teams I talked to had Xbox Play Anywhere on their mind from the get-go. In talking with Towerborne Game Director Daniel McLaren, whose game is focused heavily on co-op, implementing XPA was necessary so anyone could join their community, whether they’re on PC or Xbox.

“We have built a game structured around playing together. From couch co-op to online co-op, or even just sitting by yourself with someone next to you telling you how to play. We needed to implement Xbox Play Anywhere so that anyone could join our community, whether they’re on PC or Xbox,” says McLaren. “No matter how you access your Xbox, be it through Game Pass or direct purchase, it was important for us to make sure we had the maximum number of players able to sit down anywhere, anytime, and just be able to play together.”

And it’s not just about utilizing XPA to connect with their gaming communities. As players themselves, these developers are also huge fans of what it means to play games they own with their friends and family, then taking that learned experience to implement into their games. In chatting more with McLaren, having XPA as an option to play across platforms is a huge benefit both personally and professionally.

“Well, the fact that I don’t have to segregate my audience  [is what I like most about the Xbox Play Anywhere feature]. When trying to build an online game, It [would be]’s absurd that I can’t sit down at my PC on some games and play with my buddy, who is not a PC person at all, who only has an Xbox console, it just boggles my mind. So, being able to do this… I don’t understand why everybody wouldn’t do it,” McLaren says.

Towerborne Screenshot
Towerborne

Shodhan also looks at it from a player perspective. “This is how it should be: If I own a game and several devices, the developer will want me to play their game on as many devices as possible without paying each time or having to go through different store procedures. So, I think that’s the ideal player experience, and that’s why I’m happy to support this for our players and make it a great experience.”

“As a player and a Game Pass member, I really enjoyed the experience,” says Meurisse. “I haven’t got a Steam Deck yet but being able to play games on my iPad (with Xbox Cloud Gaming) while in bed is fantastic. The bigger screen of the iPad, combined with a controller, makes for an enjoyable gaming experience.”

Xbox Play Anywhere offers incredible convenience to players and a strong benefit to developers in fostering a cross-platform community for their games. And only having to purchase a game once to play it on both Xbox and PC is a huge perk for playing on Xbox, wherever you are. When you’re a developer, at the end of the day, you just want more people to play your game — XPA is here to help make that happen.

The post How Developers Have Embraced Xbox Play Anywhere for Their Games appeared first on Xbox Wire.

God of War Ragnarok 20th Anniversary Update 06.02 Patch Notes Detail Dark Odyssey Collection Contents

God of War Ragnarök update version 06.02 patch notes are here to help celebrate the franchise’s 20th anniversary with details about everything included in the Dark Odyssey Collection.

Santa Monica Studio unveiled the full patch notes today. They come with a breakdown of everything included in the celebratory update, including the Dark Odyssey cosmetics for Kratos, Atreus, and Freya, as well as an updated look for all of the God of War’s godly weaponry. It’s a solid bundle of content available now at no extra charge.

In addition to all of the Norse-themed goodies included in this latest God of War Ragnarök update, players can now enjoy a special customization option. Found as the “Edit Appearance” feature, the option allows players to pick and choose their favorite looks without sacrificing each specific armor’s abilities and skills. For those who have yet to see Kratos fight off Thor and Odin or even if you’re going back for another stab, now is the best time to hop into the sequel regardless of if you’re on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, or PC.

While the Dark Odyssey Collection fills Kratos’ pockets with an armory of cosmetic options that should make series veterans smile, it’s not quite what some had hoped to see from Santa Monica Studio for the franchise’s 20th-anniversary festivities.

When the update was announced last week, some fans called for modern remasters of titles like God of War, God of War 2, and God of War 3. However, no plans for reimaginings like this have been announced, and there’s not been much of a sign that they will eventually be revealed — at least not yet.

Still, these along with some of the other bonuses in store, such as new merch and vinyl releases, promise that Sony is more than willing to keep God of War fans entertained for years to come. As you download the God of War Ragnarök 20th Anniversary Update for yourself, you can read about why we think the series needs to reinvent itself for its next outing.

You can see the full patch notes below.

God of War Ragnarök Update 06.02 Patch Notes:

[Game Version 06.02]

As a gift to everyone who owns God of War Ragnarök, the Dark Odyssey collection is now available in-game at no additional cost!

Inspired by the working name of God of War (2005) and the skin that originally appeared in God of War II as a reward for beating the game on God Mode difficulty, we have brought back the black and gold theme for the anniversary.

Dark Odyssey Collection

Dark Odyssey Armor & Appearance for Kratos

  • Dark Odyssey Kratos Appearance
  • Dark Odyssey Armor Set for Kratos (Dark Odyssey Breastplate, Dark Odyssey Bracers, Dark Odyssey Belt)

Dark Odyssey Companion Armor

  • Dark Odyssey Vestment for Atreus
  • Dark Odyssey Witch Frock for Freya

Dark Odyssey Weapon Appearances & Attachments*

  • Dark Odyssey Leviathan Axe [Appearance] & Dark Odyssey Knob [Attachment]
  • Dark Odyssey Blades of Chaos [Appearance] & Dark Odyssey Handles [Attachment]
  • Dark Odyssey Draupnir Spear [Appearance] & Dark Odyssey Hind [Attachment]

Dark Odyssey Shield Appearances & Rönd

  • Dark Odyssey Guardian Shield [Appearance]
  • Dark Odyssey Dauntless Shield [Appearance]
  • Dark Odyssey Stone Wall Shield [Appearance]
  • Dark Odyssey Shatter Start Shield [Appearance]
  • Dark Odyssey Onslaught Shield [Appearance]
  • Dark Odyssey Spartan Aspis Shield [Appearance]
  • Dark Odyssey Rönd

*Please note, the weapon appearances are made for the fully upgraded version of each weapon and will only be available for use upon reaching that upgrade.

Edit Appearance for Weapon and Shield Attachments

With the addition of the new Dark Odyssey weapon attachments and shield rönd in the patch, we have added the ability to use the ‘Edit Appearance’ feature on those components of Kratos’ arsenal.

You’ll be able to pick whatever visual suits your look with the functionality you want for your build!

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).

PlayStation Fans Left Disappointed After Flight Simulator 2025 Store Page Labeled ‘Copycat Shovelware’

Fans quick to celebrate the reveal of a Microsoft Flight Simulator PlayStation Store page were left let down after it was discovered that the actual product is little more than “copycat shovelware.”

Xbox and PlayStation fans gathered to discuss a potential port for the popular flight simulation game after Reddit user CreativeRaspberry314 shared Trophy information related to a potential PS4 and PS5 version earlier today. It would be exciting – if not somewhat unsurprising – to see Microsoft bring more Xbox titles to PlayStation fans, but the spotted store page isn’t officially related to Microsoft Flight Simulator in any way, shape, or form.

“Sadly, this is just a copycat shovelware game,” one Reddit user added. “Straight up shovelware,” another added. “Actually mental tbh, the picture is a straight up rip-off. If it was MSFS, it’d have the same achievements as the Xbox/Steam versions.”

Instead, the Flight Simulator 2025 on PlayStation is being published by a company named Grizzly Games Limited. As spotted by Eurogamer, the company shares a name with Thronefall developer Grizzly Games but is also completely unrelated to that entity. While that team is responsible for other titles like Superflight and Islanders, the Grizzly Games Limited website reveals a catalog of what appear to be mobile games featuring glossy, AI-generated materials. The art for its Flight Simulator 2025 project also appears to be generated by AI judging by some of its muddy plane parts and strange designs.

The Thronefall team, meanwhile, provided a statement to Eurogamer related to the discovery of Flight Simulator 2025 on PlayStation and Grizzly Games Limited. Grizzly Games says it is not associated with the company, adding that it is using “both our name and logo illegally.”

“Furthermore they seem to incorporate the absolute opposite of our values, of what we stand for and what we’re trying to give to the gaming community,” Grizzly Games continued. “Unfortunately our legal resources are limited as a two-person indie team, but honestly I’d love to see this kind of stuff being stopped, especially since it’s not only happening to us but lots of indie devs that just lack the legal power.”

Can shovelware just be banned from the store please?

As of this story’s publication, the Flight Simulator 2025 page remains live on the PlayStation Store. It describes an experience that “sets a new standard in aviation simulation, combining ultra-realistic flight dynamics with breathtaking visuals.” No gameplay for the project has been revealed.

“Can shovelware just be banned from the store please? It’s packed to the brim with it and makes browsing an absolute chore,” another Reddit user added. “I don’t remember it being this bad in prior generations.”

PlayStation took a stand against what many refer to as “spam” titles in 2022. At the time, it was believed the move was made to fight back against easy-to-Platinum games, or titles that exist almost solely for the purpose of increasing players’ Platinum Trophy count. However, many shovelware titles still exist on the PlayStation Store and other digital storefronts today.

We brought a magnifying glass up to the issue last month to take a closer look at how shovelware titles impact both gamers and developers. We spoke to multiple developers to learn more about not only how these games find their way onto digital storefronts but PlayStation, Nintendo, Xbox, and Valve’s vetting process.

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).