Cheery mom-and-pop computer game business Valve have created a new Steamworks page for their policy about in-game adverts and advertising in general, with a troubleshooter’s list of dos and don’ts for developers.
As Graham pointed out to me just now, Valve’s handling of such things hasn’t really changed over the past few years, but I can’t pass up the opportunity to chew the fat a little about the intriguingly murky, slippery-slope business of turning your virtual world into an ad platform. Also, I had already written this article by the time he pointed that out to me, and I can’t bear to send all my precious words to the abyss.
Grand Theft Auto 6 is set to launch fall 2025 on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and S only, leaving one platform in particular out in the cold: PC.
It’s an omission in keeping with developer Rockstar’s playbook for its previous games, but in 2025 feels outdated. And, given the increasing importance of the PC for a multiplatform game’s success, is GTA 6’s no-show on PC a missed opportunity or even a mistake?
IGN put that question to Take-Two boss Strauss Zelnick ahead of the company’s recent financial results, and in his response he teased GTA 6’s eventual release on PC.
“So with Civ 7 it’s available on console and PC and Switch right away,” Zelnick said of Firaxis’ recently launched Civilization 7. “With regard to others in our lineup, we don’t always go across all platforms simultaneously. Historically, Rockstar has started with some platforms and then historically moved to other platforms.”
Rockstar fans have noted the studio’s historical reluctance to release other past games on PC day-and-date with console, as well as its fraught relationship with the modding community over the years. Still, some had hoped that a game as big as GTA 6 could be a turning point for the studio’s PC gaming attitude.
Big Rockstar titles tend to get to PC eventually, but the question of how long PC gamers will have to wait for what could end up being one of the biggest games ever remains. Given GTA 6’s fall 2025 release window, which Take-Two is still confident in, it seems likely PC players won’t get to play the game until 2026 at the earliest.
But how big of a missed opportunity could skipping PC for GTA 6’s launch be? Zelnick told IGN that the PC version of a multiplatform game can generate 40% of overall sales, or even more with certain games.
That stat came as part of a discussion about the current console generation, which has seen sales of the PS5 and Xbox Series X and S — the two consoles GTA 6 launches on later this year — plummet. While Nintendo has the Switch 2 waiting in the wings, neither Sony nor Microsoft have announced their next-gen consoles. How long before the industry needs the PlayStation 6 and whatever Xbox is next?
Zelnick pointed to the PC platform as growing in importance, even as console sales fall, while publishers wait for Sony and Microsoft’s next moves.
“We have seen PC become a much more and more important part of what used to be a console business, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see that trend continue,” he said. “Of course, there will be a new console generation.”
In any case, according to Zelnick, the release of GTA 6, which is expected to be the biggest entertainment launch of all time, will drive console sales as fans jump into the current generation for the first time in order to play the game.
“When you have a big title in the market and we have many of them coming, historically that has sold consoles,” Zelnick said.
“And I think that will happen this year. I don’t think tariffs are going to be our friend, but I think there will be a meaningful uptick in console sales in calendar 25 because of the release schedule, not just coming from us, but coming from others. So I’m not concerned about that [console sales falling]. I think the trend that you’d want to focus on is this increasing share of the market that is reflected in PC.”
Indeed, many see the PlayStation 5 Pro as a future ‘GTA 6 machine,’ in the hopes it will be the best platform to play the game when it comes out. However, tech experts believe the PS5 Pro probably won’t run GTA 6 at 4K60.
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.
Better get yer cigar chompin’ mouth muscles warmed up. Second world war sabotage ’em up Commandos: Origins now has a release date, and it’s fairly soon. Good news for people who enjoy sniping fascists from across the map while commanding a barrel-armed Irishmen to simultaneously slit a throat. And equally good news for those who lament the loss of Shadow Tactics: Blades Of The Shogun developer Mimimi Games.
If you, like us, have been eagerly waiting for new information on Dragon Quest XII: The Flames of Fate, then you’re just going to have to be patient and wait a bit longer.
However, given that next to nothing has been shared regarding the game since its initial teaser trailer in 2021, it’s understandable if you’re feeling somewhat anxious about its development. Thankfully, in a new livestream (thanks, Automaton), creator Yuji Horii has stated that the development team is “working hard on Dragon Quest XII”.
Dragon Quest 12 is still in development and information will be released “little by little,” series creator Yuji Horii has said.
As reported by Automaton, Horii said the development team at Square Enix is “working hard” on Dragon Quest 12, while on a livestream with his radio show group KosoKoso Hōsō Kyoku.
Fans had expressed concern that Dragon Quest 12 might have been canceled amid restructuring at Square Enix and a lack up updates, but Horii’s latest comments appear to confirm the game is still in the works.
Dragon Quest 12 was announced as part of the series’ 35th anniversary celebration and will be the first mainline entry since 2017’s Dragon Quest 11: Echoes of an Elusive Age.
Since then, Square Enix has said Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake exceeded sales expectations after selling 2 million copies.
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.
The RPS review of Firaxis’ grand strategyCivilisation 7 is currently in progress. We didn’t get early code, and our usual method of sidestepping this issue by rapidly entering the numbers and letters spelled out by our extensive collection of longhorn beetles bore no fruit. Rest assured: it’s coming. Sin reviewed it for EuroVega though, awarding it two out of a possible five beetles. While she found it largely dull, she did mention that “its UI has enough potential to make some of my complaints feel patchable”. Firaxis seem to agree, putting out a statement last Friday following feedback from the game’s advanced access period.
Would you like the good or the bad news first? Obviously I can’t actually respond to that, so I’ll just do the bad news first and if you chose differently you can always tip your monitor upside down, hang from the ceiling, or just work your way up the article from the bottom: tributary horror demake Bloodborne PSX is no more. As reported by The Verge (thanks PC Gamer), LW Media’s Lilith Walther has received a copyright takedown notice from firm MarkScan on behalf of Sony Interactive, accusing Bloodborne PSX of ‘digital piracy’. The game was previously available on Itch for three years without issue.
This follows a recent DMCA takedown of a YouTube video promoting Bloodborne PSX, as chronicled by noted good modsman Lance McDonald below. As McDonald mentions, MarkScan were also responsible for another recent strike against his own 60fps Bloodborne mod, which had been available without issue since 2021.
Football fans spent months preparing for Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl LIX halftime show, but no one was expecting to see the artist take another dig at Drake with a stadium-sized PlayStation Easter Egg.
Most of the rapper’s set went off as expected. While the crowd cheered to spins on hits from records like DAMN and GNX, appearances from stars like Samuel Jackson and SZA helped take the show to new heights. Of course, there were plenty of references to Lamar’s infamous 2024 beef with Drake, too, but what audiences didn’t expect was how the Super Bowl performer chose to finally close the door on the former Degrassi star. As the lights went down, the words “Game Over” could be seen illuminated on the side of the stadium, while the stage was revealed to feature PlayStation’s iconic cross, circle, triangle, and square symbols.
Lamar’s Super Bowl halftime show was always going to be seen as a victory lap when it came to his beef with Drake, but bringing Sony into the fight to finally close that chapter in grand fashion felt especially brutal. Although it’s not quite clear why the To Pimp a Butterfly artist chose to seemingly channel PlayStation for the end of his year-long fight, music and gaming fans have taken to social media to share their appreciation for the dig nonetheless. At the very least, Lamar’s already great performance might be better on rewatch once you realize the stage is one big video game reference.
Kendrick Lamar brought out the PlayStation symbols and said “Game Over” 😭https://t.co/MfkDEJ1F9G
Serena Williams, Samuel Jackson, PlayStation references, the GNX, the whole stadium yelling “AMINORR” ugh the dancers in red, white & blue, SZA?! Thank you Kendrick. The revolution will be televised. pic.twitter.com/cKazFowRIC
With Lamar’s show now finally putting the beef to bed, it’s hard not to look at the weekend as one of PlayStation’s biggest (and strangest) ever. Aside from its surprise spot in the Super Bowl halftime show, the gaming company found itself making headlines on Friday and Saturday morning when gamers were locked out of accessing PSN for an extended period of time. The unscheduled event saw fans unable to play any online titles for around a full day, resulting in one of the longest periods of downtime since the infamous outage of 2011. PlayStation was eventually able to bring PSN back online later yesterday and has stated it will be gifting PlayStation Plus users an additional five days onto their subscriptions.
Meanwhile, the Super Bowl still has time to go, and that means more trailers and commercials for some of the biggest movies and TV shows of 2025. Highlights so far include teasers for Jurassic World Rebirth, Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning, and Thunderbolts*. For everything included in this year’s Big Game, you can see our commercial roundup here.
Photo by David Buono/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images.
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).
Nintendo has today added the soundtrack of Camelot’s Game Boy Advance title Golden Sun to the Nintendo Music app.
This latest addition to the Switch Online music service includes a total of 54 tracks and has a runtime of 1 hour and 56 minutes. You’ll be able to listen to songs like the main theme, battle theme, Mercury Lighthouse, the dungeon theme, and much more.
The weekend is officially here, and we’ve rounded up the best deals you can find! Discover the best deals for Saturday, February 8, below:
Fantasian Neo Dimension for $39.99
Fantasian Neo Dimension is on sale for the first time since launch! Both the PS5 and Switch versions are available for $39.99, and this is one of the best turn-based RPGs you can buy right now. With a story by Hironobu Sakaguchi and music by Nobuo Uematsu, this is one experience any RPG fan does not want to miss.
Donkey Kong Country Returns HD for $44.99
Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is the latest first party game for Nintendo Switch, and you can already save $15 off at Woot. If you enjoyed Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze, Returns HD is another excellent entry you are sure to have fun with. There are many different worlds to traverse through, with a variety of collectibles and items to discover.
Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven for $39.99
Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven is arguably the best entry point into the SaGa series at this time. Acting as a full 3D remake of the 1993 release, this game features English and Japanese voiceovers, rearranged music, retooled gameplay, and more. If you’re still unsure about Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven, you can check out the free demo across all platforms!
Apple AirPods 4 for $99.99
Amazon has the Apple AirPods 4 on sale for $99.99 today. These earbuds feature Spatial Audio, up to five hours of listening time per charge, and so much more. Apple AirPods 5 likely won’t be out for a good bit, so now is the perfect time to pick up a pair of new AirPods if your old ones are giving out.
Nvidia Shield 4K Android TV for $179.99
Amazon has the Nvidia Shield 4k Android TV on sale for $129.99 today. This is still one of the best media streamers out there, especially with all its features. In our 8/10 review, we wrote, “For its speedy performance, AI upscaling, well-designed remote, and lower price, the Nvidia Shield TV is one of the best media streamers you can buy. Its ability to stream games makes it even more attractive for gamers with GeForce-based rigs.”
Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster Collection for $39.99
The Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster Collection has hit a new all-time low at Woot, priced at just $39.99. The first six Final Fantasy titles paved the way for the series as we see it today. Many fans still regard both Final Fantasy IV and Final Fantasy VI as some of the best that Final Fantasy has to offer, with gripping narratives and engaging gameplay. This package includes all six Final Fantasy Pixel Remasters, which feature updated graphics, soundtracks, font, and more.
Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble for $19.99
Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble is the return to form many Monkey Ball fans have waited years for. You’ve got over 200 courses, tons of guest characters, and all sorts of modes—what’s not to love? In our 8/10 review, we wrote, “Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble is a brilliant return to form. Monkey Ball has finally found its way home again with a set of 200 fantastic courses that range from delightfully charming to devilishly challenging, backed up by tight mechanics and predictable physics that put me in total control of my monkey’s fate.”
Super Mario Party Jamboree for $44.99
Mario Party is the quintessential party game for players of all ages. Whenever you’ve got a gathering of people, there’s never a question if Mario Party is going to be a fun activity or not. Super Mario Party Jamboree, the latest entry in the genre, is the best the series has been on Nintendo Switch, with seven different boards and over 100 minigames to explore. At $44.99, this is a great deal on one of the best games for Nintendo Switch.
Sonic X Shadow Generations for $29.99
Sonic X Shadow Generations for PS5 is $20 off at Woot right now. This package includes a remastered version of Sonic Generations and a brand-new campaign focused on Shadow. Both 2D and 3D levels are included, making for the ultimate package for any Sonic fan.
Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics for $29.83
You can score Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics for only $29.83 today at Amazon. This collection packs in seven different titles, including the beloved Marvel vs. Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes. At last, you can play these classic titles on modern platforms.
Sea of Stars for $24.99
Finally, you can grab Sea of Stars on Nintendo Switch for $24.99 at Amazon. In our 8/10 review, we wrote, “Sea of Stars is an excellent tribute RPG that channels the best parts of its ‘90s-era forebears. It’s not wholly original, but there are enough twists in its story to keep it interesting after the combat loses its luster.”
