Soapbox: My Most-Played Game Of 2023 Isn’t On Switch, But It Must Be On The Cards

Ready to snap.

Before I get started, the me get this out of the way: the Switch is definitely my most-played console of the year. Between The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Fire Emblem Engage and Pikmin 4 (the less said about Vampire Survivors, the better), the hundreds of hours that I have poured into Nintendo’s hybrid hardware far outweighs my time on any other console over the past nine months. But when it comes to my most-played game, it’s a different story.

You see, despite all of these wonderful offerings from Nintendo this year, the game I have come back to every single day is not on the Switch, but rather on my phone. Just in case the above video hasn’t spoilt it already, I am, of course, talking about Marvel Snap, the digital collectable card game from Second Dinner Studios and Nuverse. The title is weeks away from its one-year anniversary on 18th October and, following a successful launch of the PC version last month, I’m keeping my fingers crossed that a Switch port is on the cards. Surely?

Read the full article on nintendolife.com

Sam Lake Explains The Alan Wake Story So Far – IGN First

It has been 13 years since the original Alan Wake was released as an Xbox 360 exclusive. That’s a long time, and if you’ve not played since then (or even played Alan Wake at all!) then you may want a recap of the story to help prepare you for Alan Wake 2. You could read a plot synopsis, or you could join us for the finale of this month’s IGN First, in which the game’s writer himself – Sam Lake – tells us the entire Alan Wake story so far.

In today’s video, Sam will cover the events of Alan Wake and its two DLC episodes; the standalone expansion Alan Wake’s American Nightmare; and AWE, the Alan Wake crossover expansion for Control. With these games covered, you’ll be more than caught up on the events of Bright Falls and the Cauldron Lake incident.

If you’ve never encountered Alan Wake before but you think the sequel looks interesting, let IGN be your introduction to the haunted world of Bright Falls before you watch Sam Lake tell the bigger picture. Alan Wake is a crime fiction author who heads to the small town of Bright Falls, Washington on vacation with his wife, in hope that time away will cure him of his writer’s block. This idyllic cabin getaway soon turns sour, though, as Alan has nightmares of shadowy figures who try to kill him. Soon nightmares become reality as Alan’s wife goes missing overnight. Not only that, but the figures from Alan’s dreams begin to stalk him in the woods. As he tries to work out what is going on, Alan keeps finding pages of a new, twisted novel that he has no memory of writing… and it seems to know exactly what is happening to him.

Things go from bad to worse as the entire town, from its people to its trucks, are possessed by dark forces intent on killing Alan. And if that wasn’t bad enough, an FBI agent arrives in town with the sole mission of arresting Alan by any means necessary. And so the story unfolds as Alan attempts to dodge the ire of both the possessed townsfolk and a wild FBI agent, all while attempting to free himself from this dark nightmare and find his wife.

For more from Alan Wake 2, check out all of the videos and features from this month’s IGN First:

Matt Purslow is IGN’s UK News and Features Editor.

The Pokémon Trading Card Game Classic Collection is Up for Preorder

The massive Pokémon Trading Card Game Classic Collection is officially up for preorder (see at Walmart). This collection is set to release on November 17, though Walmart has it listed for December 23 at the moment, and will set you back $400. It’s an investment that’s great for fans looking to get their hands on some classic cards in a sleek case, and it includes a wide variety of cards as well. The full collection includes three 60-card decks, a two-player game board, and so much more for Pokémon fans to enjoy. Click the link below to pick up yours.

Preorder The Pokémon Trading Card Game Classic Collection

Per Pokémon’s official website, the full Pokémon Trading Card Game Classic Collection includes:

  • A game board that folds up to store all the items included in Pokémon Trading Card Game Classic.
  • A toolbox for storing stackable damage counters, Poison and Burn markers, and metal orbs.
  • Three Pokémon TCG decks featuring Venusaur, Charizard, and Blastoise, as well as newly printed cards to go along with the classics.
  • Three deck boxes featuring Energy symbols matching the included Pokémon TCG decks.

These decks, and the collection in general, are great for some competitions between friends and family, especially if you want to show off classic characters you know and love. Its sleek case will keep all of your new cards and items safe as well.

On top of this new release, if you’re in the Halloween spirit with October right around the corner, you can also pick up Pokémon’s Trick or Trade Booster Bundle right now at various retailers for $20. This bundle is a great option to give out to trick-or-treaters on Halloween night if you want some variety with the candy, containing 50 mini-packs with 3 cards each.

Hannah Hoolihan is a freelance writer who works with the Guides and Commerce teams here at IGN.

Cyberpunk 2077’s 2.01 update gives new meaning to the phrase “performance drop”

CD Projekt have detailed Cyberpunk 2077 2.01, the game’s first patch following update 2.0, which implemented a top-to-bottom reset of the once-ailing but at present, rather triumphant sci-fi RPG. According to the provisional changelog, the latest update encompasses general performance improvements and minor fixes plus a fatal bug which sees V falling through an elevator floor to their death when the performance falls too low. Now that’s what I call a plunging frame-rate.

Read more

First Look at Call of Duty’s Doom Shotgun and Chainsaw, Diablo’s Lilith and Inarius, and More

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 and Warzone are getting a raft of licensed bundles over the course of Season 6, and now the update is out in the wild, players have dug up gameplay clips showing off how they look.

Courtesy of Twitter user @BoomstickButch, we have an early look at gameplay showing off various operators and weapons. The highlight here has to be the Doom Tracer Pack, due October 9. This adds the Super Shotgun from id Software’s famous series to Call of Duty as well as its chainsaw. Both weapons are reminiscent of classic pixel Doom graphics and get bloodier as you get more eliminations. Here’s how they look:

Elsewhere, we have a first look at the Lilith and Inarius operators, parachuted into Call of Duty from Blizzard’s Diablo 4. The Lilith operator bundle, due out October 15, includes the Daughter of Hatred Finishing Move. The Inarius operator bundle, out October 26, has the Inarius Impaling Finishing Move.

We’ve also got a look at Ash Williams from Evil Dead 2:

Here’s Alucard from Hellsing:

We’ve even got a look at the Sardaukar operator skin from the as yet unannounced Dune Part Two: Sardaukar Pack.

And let’s not forget Skeletor from Masters of the Universe.

And the rest:

Activision has clearly gone big with the crossovers for Modern Warfare 2’s final season ahead of the launch of Modern Warfare 3, and for this Halloween’s seasonal update. Let’s not forget Spawn is joining the fray, too.

The Haunting marks the conclusion of Modern Warfare 2’s final season, which increases the Prestige Rank cap from 21 to 25, with a new maximum level of 1,250. The Modern Warfare 3 beta kicks off October 6 on PlayStation consoles, with crossplay across all platforms from October 12.

Modern Warfare 3 campaign early access begins November 2, with the full launch set for November 10. The content you earn in Modern Warfare 2 will carry forward to the Modern Warfare 3, which means you can take your weapons and Operators with you to the new game.

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.

Review: Gloomhaven – A Cumbersome But Deep (And Hard-As-Nails) TTRPG Adaptation

No safe haven here.

As anyone who plays board games (or with friends who like board games) can attest, an involved, TTRPG-style board game can be cumbersome. From in-depth rules and systems, it takes a while to get into Gloomhaven and introducing new players to its dense combat can make multiplayer challenging. But also like a dense board game, Gloomhaven rewards you when you put in the work to learn its rules and systems. Its deep card-based tactics gameplay shines in its many modes.

Gloomhaven blends hexagonal, grid-based tactical gameplay with a truly unique card-based battling system that’s deeply challenging, but also very rewarding once you manage to get a hold of all its moving parts. Its in-depth tutorial is largely okay at teaching you what you need to know, though not very quickly.

Read the full article on nintendolife.com

Next Week on Xbox: New Games for October 2 to 6

Welcome to Next Week on Xbox! In this weekly feature we cover all the games coming soon to Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows, and Game Pass! Get more details on these upcoming games below and click their profiles for further info (release dates subject to change). Let’s jump in!


Xbox Live

Builder Simulator

Frozen Way

Builder Simulator – October 2

The perfect game for those who want to build a house from the ground up, one brick at a time. On easy, the game will guide and teach you by showing you full instruction, but on hard you will get no help, having to rely on your builder skills and make everything yourself.


Xbox Live

Trepang2 – Pre-Order

Team17

$29.99

Trepang2 – October 2
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

Play as an escaped soldier, who has no memories of their past life, but is infused with supernatural abilities. Revenge is on your mind, and you’ll stop at nothing to get what you want. Deliver devastating punches, sneak around in the shadows, wield explosive weapons, and give the bad guys a taste of their own medicine.


High On Life: High On Knife

Squanch Games, Inc.

High on Knife (High on Life DLC) – October 3

It’s been two years since the Bounty Hunter defeated the G3 cartel. Now Knifey needs help tracking down a mysterious package from his homeworld. Will they get mixed up with a friendly giant, a pinball gun, poaching rings, and a terrifying intergalactic shipping company? Yeah. Sure.


Xbox Live

The Lamplighters League

Paradox Interactive

$49.99

The Lamplighters League – October 3
Game Pass / Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

Available on day one with Game Pass! Recruit a team of misfits and scoundrels with unique abilities and unforgettable personalities and chase the Banished Court to the ends of the earth in a mix of real-time infiltration, turn-based tactical combat, and a character-driven story of adventure and intrigue in The Lamplighters League! If you play your cards right, you might just save the world. Playable on Cloud, Console, and PC.


Xbox Live

Synergia – NextGen Edition

Top Hat Studios, Inc.

Synergia – NextGen Edition – October 3
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

A neon-lit dystopian cityscape becomes the stage for thrilling adventure and deep yuri romance in this cyberpunk-themed visual novel. The complex personalities and experiences of more than 20 characters are interwoven across multiple paths and possible endings. Your choices matter, not only to you, but to all those with whom you struggle to connect. This is a 4K remaster featuring the Sunrise expansion plus bonus content!


Xbox Live

Warhammer 40,000: Darktide

Fatshark


6

PC Game Pass

Warhammer 40,000: Darktide (Xbox Series X|S) – October 4

Take back the city of Tertium from hordes of bloodthirsty foes in this intense and brutal action shooter. Warhammer 40,000: Darktide is the new co-op focused experience from the award-winning team behind the Vermintide series. As Tertium falls, Rejects Will Rise.


Xbox Live

MeteoHeroes Saving Planet Earth

Meridiem Games S.L.

MeteoHeroes Saving Planet Earth! – October 4
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

Get ready for a fun-filled action platform game in which you must find the hidden items that will help you clean up every city and get the MeteoHeroes’ back to their home – while keeping out of reach of the many enemies that want to stop you. It’s fabulous fun for children of all ages – and, of course, features all the characters from the popular TV series MeteoHeroes!


Xbox Live

Anthology of Fear

Ultimate Games

Anthology of Fear – October 4

After months of investigations, no one has been able to locate your brother. When all hope for help is lost, you take matters into your own hands. Solve the mystery of your brother’s disappearance while making your way through unsettling liminal locations. Be careful though, as your way through the nightmare will be paved with danger.


Xbox Live

Dinobreak

Dead Drop Studios LLC

Dinobreak – October 4
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

Band together with survivors across the city to uncover the origins of a dinosaur onslaught and find a path to safety. Dinobreak looks, sounds, and plays like a ’90s-era survival horror game. Cheesy acting, extreme gore, exhilarating action, and resource management await as you fight through hordes of dinosaurs to escape.


Xbox Live

Treachery in Beatdown City: Ultra Remix

NuChallenger

Xbox One X Enhanced

Treachery in Beatdown City: Ultra Remix – October 4
Xbox One X Enhanced

Explore an angry city, meet the worst people, and beat ’em up with style! Pick your fighter, freeze time, build custom combos, and knock out your enemies, all to save the president.


Xbox Live

Blossom Tales II: The Minotaur Prince

Playtonic Friends

Blossom Tales II: The Minotaur Prince – October 4
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

Grandpa’s latest tale takes you on a journey through haunted forests, pirate shores, and other mysterious lands across a vast open world! Charming towns, terrible enemies, tricky puzzles, and powerful weapons await you. Enjoy a “story within a story” as your player character’s Grandpa narrates exciting moments throughout Lily’s incredible adventure. Will you help Lily defeat the Minotaur King and save her brother?


Xbox Live

Diorama Dungeoncrawl – Master of the Living Castle

Eastasiasoft Limited

Diorama Dungeoncrawl – Master of the Living Castle – October 4
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

Inspired by 16-bit action games, Diorama Dungeoncrawl brings old-school challenge and style to low-poly 3D set pieces! Battle monsters and avoid traps in your quest to claim the heart of the Living Castle. Explore shrouded forests, mysterious halls, towers, and dungeons to face off against the powerful Necromancer who commands the forces of darkness.


Xbox Live

Assassin’s Creed® Mirage

UBISOFT


16

$49.99

Assassin’s Creed Mirage – October 5
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

Experience the story of Basim, a cunning street thief seeking answers and justice as he navigates the bustling streets of ninth-century Baghdad. Through a mysterious, ancient organization known as the Hidden Ones, he will become a deadly Master Assassin and change his fate in ways he never could have imagined.


Xbox Live

Bang-On Balls: Chronicles

Untold Tales

Bang-On Balls: Chronicles – October 5

A quirky, content-packed, destructible open-world sandbox adventure with combat, platforming, character customization, and collect-a-thon scavenger hunt experience. Play solo, two-player split screen, or online co-op for up to four players.


Xbox Live

Forza Motorsport Premium Edition

Xbox Game Studios

$99.99

Forza Motorsport Premium Edition – October 5 (Early Access)
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

Build your racer from a choice of over 500 real-world cars including modern race cars and more than 100 cars new to Forza Motorsport. Make every lap count across 20 living environments with fan-favorite locations and multiple track layouts to master, each featuring live on-track scoring, fully dynamic time-of-day with weather and unique driving conditions that ensure no two laps ever look or play the same.  The Forza Motorsport Premium Edition includes the full game with 5 days early access, the Race Day Car Pack, Car Pass, VIP Membership, and Welcome Pack. 


Xbox Live

Knight vs Giant: The Broken Excalibur

PQube

Knight vs Giant: The Broken Excalibur – October 5
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

In this fantasy action rogue lite, you’ll play as King Arthur, and utilize the Broken Excalibur to channel the unique powers of your fallen Knights as you battle through hordes of dire foes and face off against challenging giant bosses. Explore vibrant, procedurally generated dungeons, receive blessings, and customize your skills. Rescue the kingdom’s loyal citizens and call upon their unique talents to restore your seat at Castle Camelot to glory!


Xbox Live

No Son Of Mine

Feardemic

No Son of Mine – October 5
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

He’s intelligent, unpredictable, deadly, and cruel. Explore, fight, hide, and find the truth before he finds you. Pay attention to your surroundings and don’t panic. You will be hunted. You will be terrorized. Can you survive?


Xbox Live

Aquarium Land

QubicGames S.A.

Aquarium Land – October 6

Go fish in the sea, swim, catch species like goldfish, starfish, koi fish and add them to your fish tank to expand your aquarium shop! Discover amazing places filled with a wide variety of beautiful animals.


Xbox Live
Xbox Play Anywhere

Mummy Pinball

Super PowerUP Games


$2.99

$2.54

Mummy Pinball – October 6
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

Get ready for Mummy Pinball, overcome all the challenges, and break the curse of the Egyptian gods in this exciting Pinball machine. Discover all the secrets inside the pyramid, and find the tomb of the pharaoh, complete all the missions, and become number one in the world or the best among your Friends, posting your high score on the online leaderboards.


Xbox Live

NHL® 24 Standard Edition Xbox Series X|S

Electronic Arts


$69.99

$62.99

NHL 24 – October 6
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

EA Sports NHL 24 brings authentic on-ice action to life! Experience the rush and fatigue of a high-pressure game with the Exhaust Engine, change the momentum with Physics-Based Contact as you break the glass and send players into the bench with big body checks, and get unparalleled player command with the new Vision Passing System and Total Control Skill Moves. The NHL 24 X-Factor Edition includes 3 days of early access, allowing you to start playing on October 3.


Xbox Live

Pirates on Target

Ratalaika Games S.L.

Pirates on Target – October 6
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

Use your geometric and logic skills to fire cannons at pirate ships and sink them to the bottom of the sea. In each level you’ll need to move the blocks strategically and change the trajectory of the cannonballs until they reach the target. The concept is simple yet challenging, and the difficulty gradually increases over dozens of levels.


Xbox Live

Project Blue

8 Bit Legit

$9.99

Project Blue – October 6

Hidden in the outskirts of the Dezone, a secret bio-weapons lab is conducting unspeakable experiments on the homeless youth of that concrete wasteland. The most promising test subject, Project Blue, manages to break free. Now it’s up to you to help Blue escape from Theta Lab. Put your skill, wits, and reflexes to the test as you jump, swim, and blast your way through four massive areas in this exciting new action platformer.


Xbox Live

Sunshine Manor

Hound Picked Games

Sunshine Manor – October 6
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

Ada is a reluctant adventurer who accepts the challenge to spend a night in the infamous haunted Sunshine Manor and encounters ghosts, demons, and other blood-soaked horrors along with quirky characters, unique challenges and a cute but eerie atmosphere. Enjoy stunning hand-drawn pixel art graphics and an 80s-inspired soundtrack that combine perfectly to create a hauntingly thrilling experience in this a spine-chilling retro horror adventure.


Xbox Live

SWORD ART ONLINE Last Recollection Pre-Order

Bandai Namco Entertainment America Inc.

$59.99

Sword Art Online: Last Recollection – October 6
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

Based on “Sword Art Online’s” War of Underworld anime arc, a new story unfolds with tough challenges that await our beloved hero, Kirito, and his new friends. Players will unmask the Dark Knight and find out if Kirito and the crew will survive the relentless battling against the forces of the Dark Territory!


Xbox Live

Torn Away

OverGamez

$12.99

Torn Away – October 6

Torn Away is an interactive story with a unique blend of adventure games, side-scrollers, and cinematic first-person levels Experience the tragedy of World War II through the eyes of a child and survive without losing your humanity in this war-torn world, where only the strongest prevail.   


Xbox Live

Zumania

Megame Studio

Zumania – October 6
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

Funny and colorful family puzzle game. Embark on an incredible adventure across magical worlds with a magical ballista. Explore the mysteries of ancient worlds and get all the exotic bonuses that will help you solve the puzzles.


The post Next Week on Xbox: New Games for October 2 to 6 appeared first on Xbox Wire.

PlayStation Stars campaigns and digital collectibles for October 2023

October is here, and with it comes new PlayStation Stars campaigns. Get ready to uncover new challenges, earn some rewards, and refresh your digital collectible display case.

Let’s jump right into some of the offerings in October.

Genshin Impact 4.1 update

Starting October 1

Version 4.1 has arrived! Dive in and explore the update which features new characters, enemies, and events. To celebrate, we will release special campaigns throughout the month of October. Complete these campaigns to earn one of the collectibles shown below.

Alan Wake 2 | The darkness is coming

Available October 27

Get ready to confront your deepest fears head-on because the highly anticipated Alan Wake 2 is finally here! Play the game and earn an Angel Lamp digital collectible.

PS Plus Game Catalog: Must-play this Month

Available October 3 

There are hundreds of games in the PlayStation Plus Game Catalog for Extra and Premium/Deluxe members. The catalog is regularly refreshed, so we’re highlighting monthly gems to play. When you play any one game in this campaign, you’ll earn 50 points.

For this month, play any of the titles below, perfect for October.

  • Friday the 13th
  • Inscryption
  • Doom Eternal
  • Resident Evil 7: Biohazard
  • The Evil Within
  • Days Gone

Hard Game Club Campaign: Monster Hunter Rise

Available October 5

Hard Game Club tackles some of the most difficult games on PlayStation.

This month, your challenge is to conquer Monster Hunter Rise by earning the Tempestuous Triumph Scroll trophy. Achieve this feat, and the exclusive Hard Game Club Balloon digital collectible is yours.

PlayStation VR2 Showtime Campaign

Available October 12

If you have a PS VR2, this campaign is for you. Start the campaign in PS App, and then play any one of these PS VR2 titles to earn 50 points.

  • Hellsweeper VR 
  • Demeo
  • Crossfire: Sierra Squad
  • What the Bat?

Hard Game Club: Elden Ring

Available October 26

Elden Ring fans, here’s your second chance. Defeat Godrick the Grafted to earn the Shardbearer Godrick trophy and unlock the exclusive Elden Ring Hard Game Club digital collectible.

Stay tuned to PlayStation App for all the latest updates. Not a PlayStation Stars member yet? Learn more about PlayStation Stars and join here.