If you are into horror games and still haven’t played Silent Hill 2, now is a great chance to start as the PS5 version of Silent Hill 2 is more than half off at Walmart for Black Friday. As one of several Black Friday video game deals going on right now, the Silent Hill 2 remake was one highly requested by fans, and it did not disappoint. The game makes you uncomfortable but in an effective and thrilling way. In true horror fashion, there’s blackout darkness, suffocating fog, unknown noises, grotesque enemies, and isolation. From our review, Matt Purslow states “The remake is a modern reminder not just of an era where Konami was a master of survival horror, but also the significant power of Silent Hill 2’s unrelenting misery.” So, are you ready to play one of the best horror games of all time?
We’re in the home stretch: Black Friday falls on November 29 this year. All month long, retailers have been rolling out sales, ramping up to massive discounts on Black Friday and through the weekend into Cyber Monday. As mentioned above, there are already fantastic deals on PS5 consoles (including PSVR2), PS5 controllers, and tons more.
Brian Barnett writes reviews, guides, features, & more for IGN, GameSpot, & Kotaku. You can get more than your fair share of him on Bluesky & Backloggd, & enjoy his absurd video game talk show, The Platformers, on Spotify & Apple Podcasts.
Slipways was the best grand strategy game I’d played in years, because it tossed out all the genre’s micromanagement in favour of a strategy puzzle where all your exploiting, expanding, et ceteraing could be squeezed into an hour’s play. That game began as a PICO-8 prototype by designer Jakub Wasilewski before being polished to a fine shine in its full release.
All of which is just lead-in to talking about Solitomb, a solitaire-based dungeon crawler in which you fight demons by building hands of playing cards. It’s currently – heywaitaminute – a pay-what-you-want PICO-8 prototype by designer Jakub Wasilewski where “all money earned goes towards making the bigger version possible.” Like Slipways, it already seems like a frightfully clever piece of design.
This year has been so incredible for fighting game fans, from the return of fan-favorite characters like Guilty Gear’s Dizzy to Tekken 8’s Heihachi Mishima, that you may have forgotten Tekken 8 actually came out at the beginning of this year.
Since launching in January, it’s been beloved by the community, whether it’s players online or the crowds at EVO waiting for their turn to compete. If you haven’t jumped in yet, I heartily recommend it (you’ll see my Jin dressed like Beast Gohan in the lobby, so challenge me to matches any time). Right now several shops are selling physical copies of the game for PS5 and Xbox Series X for just $30. This is a fantastic deal for such a great fighting game you can play and enjoy for years to come.
Get Tekken 8 for $30
More Black Friday Gaming Deals We’ve Found
For more gaming discounts, check out the best PlayStation Black Friday 2024 deals so far. Starting now and ending on December 2 (Cyber Monday) retailers like Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart will offer discounts on PS5 hardware, PSVR2, games, and accessories, including the Fortnite Cobalt Star Bundle, which will launch alongside the new Black Friday promotions.
We’re in the home stretch: Black Friday falls on November 29 this year. All month long, retailers have been rolling out sales, ramping up to massive discounts on Black Friday and through the weekend into Cyber Monday. There are already some fantastic deals available on PS5 consoles (including PSVR2) and PS5 controllers, video games deals for all platforms, AirPods Pro, and tons more.
Brian Barnett writes reviews, guides, features, & more for IGN, GameSpot, & Kotaku. You can get more than your fair share of him onBluesky &Backloggd, & enjoy his absurd video game talk show, The Platformers, onSpotify & Apple Podcasts.
I have one urgent request for Starward Industries, creators of the just-announced “anti-combat” survival RPG Dante’s Ring – don’t use the phrase “ring of fire” in your English marketing materials. I get that you’re going for a cocktail of Divina Commedia and FromSoftware associations, but you have to remember that this is the internet and we’re all desperately crude. I can’t speak for people from other English-language countries, but when I hear somebody talking about their “ring of fire”, I tend to assume they’ve been at the vindaloo.
When Metroid Prime Remastered launched on 9th February 2023, we were utterly convinced that its sequels, Prime 2: Echoes and Prime 3: Corruption, would follow suit sometime after. Now that 2025 is fast approaching, our certainty has waned, yet we remain confident that Nintendo will complete the saga on Switch before Metroid Prime 4: Beyond launches. The question, however, is when.
Interscope Records Launches Custom Juice WRLD Fortnite Island and Juice WRLD-inspired Xbox Design Lab Controllers
Darell BookerCorporate Affairs Specialist, Xbox
Summary
On November 30, a custom Juice WRLD-themed Fortnite Island, “Juice WRLD: The Party Never Ends” launches, featuring unreleased music, iconic tracks, and Xbox Lounges.
Xbox will release two Juice WRLD-inspired Xbox Design Lab controllers.
Xbox will also host a live Fortnite tournament during the final Juice WRLD Day at Chicago’s United Center.
In celebration of the upcoming release of The Party Never Ends, Juice WRLD’s highly anticipated final, posthumous album dropping on November 29, Xbox is partnering with Interscope, Grade A, and Life Free 999 to launch a custom in-game Island – “Juice WRLD: The Party Never Ends” – inspired by the artist. Fans can dive into this unique experience starting November 30, 2024. Please note: this is not sponsored, endorsed, or administered by Epic Games, Inc.
This Island features an epic tower-climbing race set amid stunning landscapes of lush mountains, serene lakes, and open fields. Along the way, players will be able to chill at Xbox Lounges, where they’ll hear a snippet of an unreleased Juice WRLD track alongside fan-favorite hits like “Lucid Dreams,” “Wishing Well,” and “Robbery.” Juice-related imagery and collectibles are woven throughout the experience, ensuring fans feel truly immersed in his world.
Xbox will also launch Juice WRLD-inspired Xbox Design Lab controllers, available to order starting today. These custom designs honor Juice WRLD’s bold style and love for gaming, giving fans a unique way to incorporate his influence into their gaming setups. You can order them here.
The celebration doesn’t stop there—on November 30, Xbox will host a live, in-person Fortnite tournament during the fourth annual and final Juice WRLD Day at Chicago’s United Center. Local students will compete in the custom Island finale, adding excitement to a day filled with an exclusive listening experience, surprise performances, and more. It’s a tribute fans won’t want to miss!
Learn to work together in a hilarious co-op adventure, think tactically to survive and outsmart the perfect organism, then discover and tame new species with the PlayStation Plus Monthly Games for December. It Takes Two, Aliens: Dark Descent and Temtem launch December 3 for PlayStation Plus members1.
But before we take a closer look at each game in turn, we want to share some PlayStation Plus activities taking place this December as part of the wider PlayStation 30th anniversary celebrations (which you may have had a glimpse of earlier this year). Activities include Tournaments, free Online Multiplayer Weekend, PlayStation Plus Premium Game Trial, an early look at Classic Games and more. You can find out more information further into this post.
Now, back to the games!
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It Takes Two | PS4, PS5
It Takes Two is a genre-bending platform adventure created purely for co-op. Choose from couch or online co-op with split-screen play, invite a friend to join for free with Friend’s Pass2 and work together across a huge variety of gleefully disruptive gameplay challenges. Play as the clashing couple Cody and May, two humans turned into dolls by a magic spell. Together, trapped in a fantastical world where the unpredictable hides around every corner, they are reluctantly challenged with saving their fractured relationship. Master unique and connected character abilities in every new level. Help each other across an abundance of unexpected obstacles and laugh-out-loud moments. Kick gangster squirrels’ furry tails, pilot a pair of underpants, DJ a buzzing night club, and bobsleigh through a magical snow globe. Embrace a heartfelt and hilarious story, where narrative and gameplay are interwoven in a uniquely metaphorical experience.
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Aliens: Dark Descent | PS4, PS5
Battle to keep your squad alive against the deadliest foe mankind has ever faced. Aliens: Dark Descent is a real-time combat strategy game where you’ll command a squad of hardened colonial marines to stop a terrifying Xenomorph outbreak on Moon Lethe. Lead your soldiers against iconic Xenomorphs, rogue operatives from the insatiable Weyland-Yutani Corporation and a host of horrifying creatures new to the Alien franchise. Infiltrate large open levels and annihilate enemies with your squad, dispatching orders strategically and intuitively. Tread carefully, as your foes will adapt their tactics to your actions while hunting you down because death is permanent.
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Temtem | PS5
Every kid dreams about becoming a Temtem tamer; exploring the six islands of the Airborne Archipelago, discovering new species, and making good friends along the way. Now it’s your turn to embark on an epic adventure and make those dreams come true. Catch new Temtem on Omninesia’s floating islands, battle other tamers on the sandy beaches of Deniz or trade with your friends in Tucma’s ash-covered fields. Defeat the ever-annoying Clan Belsoto and end its plot to rule over the Archipelago, beat all eight DojoLeaders, and become the ultimate Temtem tamer.
All three games will be available to PlayStation Plus members on December 3 until January 6.
1Availability of Classics, Game Trials and Game Catalog varies over time, region/country, and plan. See https://www.playstation.com/Plus for details and updates on PS Plus offerings. PlayStation Plus is an ongoing subscription subject to a recurring subscription fee taken automatically (at the then-current PS Store price) at the frequency you choose at purchase until cancellation. Terms apply: play.st/psplus-usageterms.
PlayStation Plus members have until December 2 to add Hot Wheels Unleashed 2 – Turbocharged, Ghostwire: Tokyo and Death Note Killer Within to their game libraries.
PlayStation 30th Anniversary celebrations
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PlayStation Plus Premium Game Trial
PlayStation Plus Premium members can enjoy a game trial of thrilling sci-fi action-adventure Warhammer 40K Space Marine 2 when it joins the service on December 3. But that’s not the only PlayStation Plus Premium news we have to share1…
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PlayStation Plus Premium Classics for December
Today we’re happy to share the first reveal of a trio of PlayStation classic titles joining PlayStation Plus Premium’s lineup in December, all of which help celebrate PlayStation’s 30th anniversary. Starting December 10, members will be able to complete the PS2 Sly trilogy with the release of Sly 2: Band of Thieves and Sly 3: Honor Among Thieves and also enjoy Naughty Dog’s PS2 adventure Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy. We’ll have more news on the full PlayStation Plus Game Catalog and Premium lineups1, later.
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Free online multiplayer weekend | December 6-8
To keep celebrating the fantastic online games and communities on PlayStation, we’re hosting an extended free online multiplayer weekend on Dec 6 – 8. During those days, you can enjoy online multiplayer for games you own without having a PlayStation Plus membership, on PS5 and PS4 consoles3.
3Available for PS5 and PS4 games with online mode. Internet connection and account for PlayStation Network required.
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esports Tournament | December 6-8
During the same weekend, we’ll host a series of PS5 esports tournaments, featuring titles like EA Sports FC 25, NBA 2K25, Tekken 8, Mortal Kombat 1, Madden NFL 25, College Football 25, UFC 5, MLB The Show 24 and Guilty Gear Strive. If you own any of these games and qualify, you can compete on December 6-8 to win avatars and other game-specific prizes. Players on PS5 can sign up via the Game Hub or the in-game PlayStation Tournaments button. Keep an eye on compete.playstation.com for all the upcoming tournament details.
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Sweepstakes | December 10 – 23
To celebrate PlayStation’s 30th anniversary, we’re giving away a 30-month PlayStation Plus Premium membership to 30 winners in each participating country!
We’ll be honoring the legendary games in our Classics Catalogue for this 30th anniversary-themed sweepstakes starting December 10 to 23. To enter, purchase any PlayStation Plus Premium/Deluxe membership and play any game from the Classics Catalog. If you’re already a PlayStation Plus Premium/Deluxe member, just dive into any game from the Classics Catalog to qualify.
The participating countries are Austria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Taiwan, Singapore, Korea, Malaysia.
To celebrate 30 years of PlayStation, PlayStation Plus members get 30% off 100 top movies on Sony Pictures Core starting December 3through December 94. Explore a collection of fan-favorite films like Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, Uncharted, Gran Turismo: Based on a True Story and Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire5.
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Sony Pictures Core Movie Credit Promo | December 10 – January 106
Purchase any 12-month PlayStation Plus membership and get movie credit(s) to use on the Sony Pictures Core app. Dive into epic blockbusters like Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, Venom, Venom: Let There Be Carnage, and more7—your next movie marathon starts here8!
5Access requires a PlayStation 5 or PlayStation 4 console, and a SONY PICTURES CORE account subject to SONY PICTURES CORE Terms of Service. Availability of movie/TV content varies over time, region, format, and plan. Must be age 18+. Movie credit, if available, may be applied instead of discount
6Offer valid between December 10, 2024 to January 10, 2025. Offer available only where no other discount applies. Cannot combine or stack offers. Number of movie credits varies based on plan and membership status. Offer only available when purchased on PS5, Web browser and Mobile (PS App). PS Plus is subject to a recurring subscription fee taken automatically until cancellation. Terms apply: play.st/psplus-usageterms. Separate download of the Sony Pictures Core App is required to redeem Movie Credits. Must be 18+ to register for a Sony Pictures Core account. Movie Credits must be claimed and redeemed in App by January 10, 2026. Sony Pictures Core terms apply:https://www.sonypicturescore.com/termsofservice
Baldur’s Gate 3 developer Larian has detailed the game’s last major patch — and it’s a big one.
Patch 8, due out in 2025, adds crossplay, photo mode, and 12 new subclasses to the hugely successful role-playing game. In a blog post, Larian said Patch 8 is the game’s last major update, with the developer moving on to brand new games away from the Dungeons & Dragons universe.
However, Larian promised to continue to support Baldur’s Gate 3 modders, with “big updates still to come,” including more functionality “to let you tell your own stories.”
The addition of crossplay means Baldur’s Gate 3 multiplayer will soon feature full cross-platform progression. Once the update is live you’ll be able to invite your friends to join your crossplay lobby directly, regardless of platform and find available multiplayer lobbies with friends on other systems using the Larian Network.
Meanwhile, Patch 8 adds one new subclass for each of the existing Bard, Barbarian, Cleric, Druid, Paladin, Fighter, Monk, Ranger, Rogue, Sorcerer, Warlock, and Wizard classes in the game. Larian said to expect new abilities, animations, VFX, summons and cantrips, and unique voiced dialogue lines for the Oathbreaker Knight with written reactivity for Oathbreakers, along with “a touch of homebrewing” on certain actions to enhance your role-playing experience.
Baldur’s Gate 3 Patch 8 new subclasses:
Bard – College of Glamour As a College of Glamour Bard, you’ll find you have the power to heal friends and command enemies in equal measure. Cast Mantle of Inspiration to bestow your allies with 5 temporary hit points. And should an enemy attack while it is cast, they’ll find themselves Charmed. Play your hand correctly and you’ll be able to use this to your advantage with Mantle of Majesty. Target Charmed enemies and you can command them to flee, move closer, freeze, drop to the ground, or drop their weapon.
Barbarian – Path of Giants
Opt for the Path of Giants, and your newfound giant strength will make it easier for you to yeet friend and foe alike. Forget chugging potions to pump those muscles, these Barbarians benefit from the Giant’s Rage passive that grants both strength and size – allowing you to deal additional damage with Throw attacks. Pockets weighing you down? Not for you and your increased carry capacity!
Cleric – Death Domain
As a cleric of death, you’ll find a few dark new tricks up your sleeves – from spells that specialise in necrotic damage to three new necromancy cantrips. This includes Toll The Dead, a cantrip that causes 1~8 damage when your cleric rings the bell of impending doom – a number that scales if your target has already been damaged. We’ve also added the homebrewed ability to explode nearby corpses, damaging enemies.
Druid – Circle of Stars
These Druids look to the stars for answers, accessing powers beyond those offered through the classic wildshapes. Taking on one of three Starry Forms for their power – the constellations of the Archer, Chalice, and Dragon. Each one favours a different play style and strategy – the Archer dealing radiant damage with astral arrows, the life-giving Chalice restoring hitpoints to you and others nearby, and the wise Dragon, allowing you to deal damage with an added bonus to constitution rolls. The Starry Forms offer not just a celestial aesthetic, but practical, powerful options to enhance your role as a healer, fighter, or strategist.
Paladin – Oath of the Crown
You’ve been sworn to uphold the principles of law. Stay true to your oath and you’ll be rewarded with the power to aid your allies and disrupt your foes. Guide your companions in battle with Righteous Clarity, taunt enemies with strategic interrupts, and keep your party standing strong with Divine Allegiance, absorbing their damage while restoring their health.
Fighter – Arcane Archer
Mastering the dual arts of magic and marksmanship, the Arcane Archer subclass offers unique skills on top of new shooting animations. Banish foes to the Feywild, removing them from the battlefield for a turn, or unleash Psychic damage that forces enemies to make a Wisdom saving throw or be blinded until the start of their next turn.
Monk – Drunken Master
Putting the brew in homebrew, as the Drunken Master, you have the ability to consume alcohol straight from your inventory, as well as drink from bottles you see around the Sword Coast, in order to recover Ki. By sharing the bottle with your enemies using Intoxicating Strike, you’ll generate a buff towards your Armour Class and your Chance to hit Drunk targets. Drunk enemies are also susceptible to the Drunken Masters’ other abilities, like Sobering Realisation – which sobers up drunk targets, dealing physical and Psychic damage.
Ranger – Swarmkeeper
The Swarmkeeper subclass provides Rangers with three kinds of deadly swarms to assist them in combat. The Cloud of Jellyfish deals extra lightning damage – potentially shocking your enemy. The Flurry of Moths deals Psychic damage, giving you the potential to Blind your enemy. The Legion of Bees deals piercing damage and forces the enemy to make a strength-saving throw or be knocked back 15ft. Each swarm also has the ability to provide you with teleportation capabilities!
Rogue – Swashbuckler
This Rogue subclass introduces a range of new actions fit for the piratical life. Play dirty by tossing sand at enemies to Blind them. Flick your weapon at a target to Disarm them. Or use your new Fancy Footwork passive while meleeing your enemy to ensure they can’t make opportunity attacks against you for the rest of your turn.
Sorcerer – Shadow Magic
As a Shadow Magic Sorcerer, you deal in a form of magic that makes you deadliest in darkness. This subclass gives its sorcerer Superior Darkvision, as well as the ability to Shadow Walk between places of dim light or darkness. It also lets you call forth the perfectly homebrewed Hound of Ill Omen to harass your foes, and use Strength of the Grave to prevent you from being downed – ideal for those attempting Honour Mode runs.
Warlock – Hexblade
Hexblade Warlocks make a pact with an entity from the Shadowfell that manifests in the form of magical weapons. Curse your enemies and force their souls to do your bidding. Slay any enemy that isn’t generally an element of nature, construct, giant blob, or already dead, and you’ll be able to raise their spirit from their corpse for ten turns. This new summon can deal necrotic damage and will rip away a chunk of your enemy’s soul to provide your Hexblade Warlock with healing.
Wizard – Bladesinging
The Bladesinging subclass merges swordplay with wizardry. Expect new spellcasting animations when casting spells with your weapon, a new Bladesong ability to grant you supernatural speed, agility, and focus, plus gives you a bonus to any Constitution saving throw you make.
And here’s the rest coming with Patch 8:
Photo Mode
Finally, you can stop using pictures of fish you’ve caught on your dating profile and start snapping photos with your Hound of Ill Omen. Photo Mode is coming to Baldur’s Gate 3 in Patch 8!
Baldur’s Gate 3’s Photo Mode is a little like a photo booth that lets you set up pretty much any shot you’d like. This new feature introduces a whole slew of options to let you customise and edit your in-game photography, with various levels of freedom depending on whether you’re using it while adventuring, or during combat, dialogue, and cinematic scenes.
Camera Settings
Toggleable from the HUD, located near the minimap, or by using the hotkey binding (F9 on PC, and by pressing both analog sticks at the same time on console), you’ll get to choose which character you want to take centre stage, determine their best side, and adjust the camera position to suit.
As long as they’re in your party while you’re adventuring, you’ll be able to line up your scene perfectly – including summons and those in a Wild Shape! For all budding virtual photographers, you can also turn on the camera reticle and composition grid to make sure you’re lining up the perfect shot.
Lens Settings
Determined the angle and sorted the positioning? You’ll be able to jump over to the Lens Settings where you can play around with the Field of View, Exposure, Depth of Field, and Focus.
Scene Settings
NPC ruining your shot? Toggle off either Playing, Party, NPC or Enemy characters.
Now you’re ready for your close-up! Or, if you’re feeling creative, set the scene for a full-on Faerûn musical – choose a set facial expression, plus a range of over 40 static and animated poses, each with multiple variations to help give you the perfect layout.
Post Processing Effects
While you won’t be able to adjust your party or play around with lens and camera settings during cinematic scenes and dialogues, you’ll be able to colour-grade your shot and experiment with contrast, saturation, highlights, brightness and vignette.
Frames
Add flair to your scene with a range of different frames and letterboxing to nail those cinematic shots.
Stickers
Choose from over 300 stickers and add up to 30 to your scene, including emojis, icons, blood splatters, textures, objects and items, and of course, cat ears.
In your hands soon, you’ll be able to take role-play to the next level with unique combinations of poses, stickers, and frames. We can’t wait to see what absolute nightmare fuel you come up with.
Larian plans a Patch 8 stress test on Xbox and PlayStation, as well as PC in early January. “The goal is to go beyond our internal testing and help us catch things before they can become an issue once a patch has been released,” Larian explained.
“Along with all of the newness coming in Patch 8, we’ll also be integrating a large selection of bug fixes and polishing up cinematics, including ensuring Shadowheart’s hair dye no longer washes away when she takes a dip with her romantic partner. We’ll be sharing more on what’s been fixed in a future update!”
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.
System requirements are on the rise, and a glut of recent PC facepunchers has left some of the RPS treehouse wondering if it’s time for a graphics card upgrade. Being a helpful colleague and a handsome friend, I dutifully informed them that the highly capable Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 Super is currently getting the Black Friday price cut treatment, with Zotac’s Twin Edge model dropping especially low in both the UK and US. Still, dear readers, if you feel like punishing us for that comment system switch, you could always head over to Amazon and buy up all the stock yourself.
$590 is a decent deal for a model that’s spent most of the past few months at $610, but us Brits are getting the better bargain here – even if it’s not for the OC version. £500 means a hefty £49 slasheroo, the deepest discount this card has seen yet, and you’ll also get a key for Indiana Jones and the Great Circle to play when it releases on December 9th.
IGN can exclusively reveal that Dark Sector, the 2008 third-person shooter from Warframe developer Digital Extremes, is now free on Steam for the next 72 hours in celebration of the upcoming free Warframe: 1999 expansion that is set to be released in December 2024.
Aside from a small number of regions like Japan, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa, Steam users can head over to Dark Sector’s Steam page and download the game right now and skip its current $9.99 price tag.
For those unfamiliar, Dark Sector places you in the shoes of Hayden Tenno, a covert operative who must invade the fictional Eastern European city of Lasria that hides a very dangerous Cold War secret. During his mission, he gets infected with a Technocyte Virus that turns him into a killing machine with powers and a deadly glaive that he must use to save everything.
In our Dark Sector review, we said, “Dark Sector’s fun. Hearing guards scream for help just before they take a glaive to the face, marching around in this Metal Gear-looking Jackal tank while rocketing bad guys into the air and wielding a pimped-out shotgun make the experience something any action fan can get behind. However, when the really similar levels and waves of opponents get too repetitive towards the end of the game, Dark Sector’s weak storyline might not be enough to carry the more fickle fan to the finish line. It’s fun, but it’s not perfect.”
As for how Dark Sector is connected to Warframe: 1999, the expansion will take players to the year before Y2K and a retro European-style city of Höllvania to become Arthur Nightingale. This is obviously a far cry from the space setting Warframe fans are used to, but it should be an exciting one.
Speaking to VG247, creative director Rebecca Ford shared that Dark Sector was definitely an inspiration for this expansion and the team looked to the game for its tone and a city that felt European.
Have a tip for us? Want to discuss a possible story? Please send an email to newstips@ign.com.
Adam Bankhurst is a writer for IGN. You can follow him on X/Twitter @AdamBankhurst and on TikTok.
