Vendrán Las Aves – “The Birds Will Come” – is a brief, quiet, hopeful game about burnout recovery. Summarised as a “slice of life tamagotchi” and available in Spanish and English, it’s a gamejam production from Francisco Riolobos, Chuso Montero and Deconstructeam, the Valencia-based developers behind The Red String Club and The Cosmic Wheel Sisterhood.
It’s free to download from Itch.io, and takes the form of a snowglobe perspective of somebody’s one-room apartment. The person in question has just left their job after a rough spell, and has impulsively bought a guitar. They are also, however, totally exhausted, with barely the willpower to do anything beyond getting out of bed, let alone make music. Your task is to help them through each day and rebuild their morale till they feel able to pluck a few chords.
MultiVersus will shut down when Season 5 ends in May, but the sweeping changes to combat speed that were introduced in a new update have fans enjoying its gameplay now more than ever — and even sparked a #SaveMultiVersus trend on social media.
The community for the Warner Bros. platform fighting game woke up ready to dive into its fifth and final season when it launched yesterday, February 4, at 9am PT. Developer Player First Games had spelled out plans to shutter the project last week, teasing that the update would include DC’s Aquaman and Looney Toons’ Lola Bunny as its last playable characters. What was poised to be a somber sendoff for MultiVersus actually brought on extensive movement changes across the board, resulting in a much faster-paced experience overall. It’s a fundamental adjustment that players have begged Player First to implement for years, and it arrives just as things are coming to an end.
Players first took notice that combat in Multiversus had been sped up after Player First published a Season 5 Combat Changes Preview video on X/Twitter. For those who have played the free-to-play Warner Bros. fighting game in the past, the differences are impossible to ignore, as characters can be seen chaining together combos and moving across the screen faster than ever before. It’s a substantial shift away from the floaty gameplay fans criticized during the MultiVersus beta test in 2022, and it’s even faster than what was seen when it relaunched in May of last year.
Season 5 update patch notes reveal that the increase in combat speed comes as a result of a reduction to hitpause “across most attacks in the game.” It means stringing together combos will be faster than you remember regardless of who your main is, with a handful of specific characters receiving additional adjustments to their speed, too. Morty, LeBron, Iron Giant, Bugs Bunny, Black Adam, and many more feel especially quick thanks to changes that allow them to fast fall when using certain aerial attacks. Garnet, meanwhile, now has stronger ringout potential on the ground and weaker ringout potential in the air to help level out her impact as an already fast character.
MultiVersus Season 5 turns the nearly one-year-old fighting game into something almost completely different, and those diving in already are finding far more to enjoy than just two new characters. The problem is that this… is it. Just as Player First finds its footing with an update that delivers long-awaited gameplay changes, MultiVersus will completely shut down come May 30. Its demise will bring the end of seasonal content drops as well as its removal from digital storefronts as Warner Bros. Games guts online play from the experience entirely, leaving only offline modes for fans to experiment with.
Now, fans are left feeling shocked and powerless as MultiVersus becomes the experience they’ve always dreamed of just in time for it to completely shut down. X user @PJiggles_ commented on the changes, calling MultiVersus “the most interesting bad game in existence,” referring to its beta rollout, 2024 relaunch, and sudden combat speed increase. Professional Super Smash Bros. player and content creator Jason Zimmerman (a.k.a. Mew2King) replied to a Player First post to ask why movement speed was increased now and not earlier.
…but man, if this was how the relaunch started off we could’ve really had something.
“I know everybody’s been playing the blame game when there likely isn’t a single individual or even group who deserves the entirety of the blame,” one Reddit user said, “but man, if this was how the relaunch started off we could’ve really had something. (Apex Legends) is probably one of the worst monetization schemes out there but it lasted so long because it nailed the fundamentals at the start.”
It’s painful, especially as players gather not only to mourn the game’s demise but to celebrate such a drastic leap in quality. Reddit user Desperate_Method4032 said the Season 5 update fixed “every issue I had with the game,” explaining that things like touched-up shield animations helped turn MultiVersus into an experience that looks and feels far more polished. Although the gameplay shakeup follows confirmation of shutdown plans, they said the “potential” has them hoping Warner Bros. could reverse course.
“I’m not naïve,” Desperate_Method4032 said. “Just a fan with tons of love for the characters showcased in this game. But is it so wrong to have just LITTLE bit of hope that the game will make a comeback? There’s just far too much potential to let things end like this. Not when the game finally feels like it found its footing.”
Sooooo
You announced the game was shutting down but then fixed the thing that made players quit
Unfortunately, while some are expecting the worst and hoping for the best, Player First and Warner Bros. show no sign of backing down from their plan to cease service this summer. MultiVersus game director Tony Huynh took to X earlier this week to share a few closing thoughts while addressing long-unanswered player questions and concerns. Warner Bros. also disabled real-money transactions as of January 31, leaving players unable to purchase content without using previously earned in-game currency. The Season 5 premium battle pass has been made free for all players as one final gift.
MultiVersus will go dark, for good this time, at 9 am PT on May 30. While Warner Bros. has already initiated its shutdown plans, players are finding some joy by creating and sharing memes. It’s a bittersweet moment for the fighting game community as they relish a game that finally lives up to their expectations just before it meets its end.
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 recently released its latest financial update for the third quarter of FY2025 and, as most of us had probably expected, numbers are down across the board as the Switch lumbers towards its ninth year on the market.
Had Nintendo released such figures several years ago – in which operating profit was down a staggering 46.7% – you’d imagine that investors would begin to panic and Nintendo’s share price would experience a bit of a tumble (just look at EA’s recent downturn to see evidence of this).
As you’d expect, EA is eyeing the Nintendo Switch 2 as a platform for its games. In a recent financial call, CEO Andrew Wilson was asked directly about Nintendo’s next-gen console, and he replied to suggest the company has plans to release many of its games there.
Wilson singled out EA’s money-spinning sports franchises, Madden and FC, as potentially finding “real energy” on Nintendo Switch 2, and also pointed to The Sims as a game that could do well on the console.
“Anytime a new console comes into the marketplace that’s of a benefit to us, it gives us the ability to access and acquire new players,” Wilson said. “Typically, we’ve had franchises perform very well on Nintendo platforms. Certainly our expectation is that products like FC and Madden and others might find real energy on the platform as they have done in the past.
“When you think about something like The Sims and the My Sims cozy bundle, which performed well ahead of our expectations, 50% of all players were new to EA. That represents a great opportunity for us.
“So again, nothing in our models at this juncture, but our expectation is that anytime a great new console comes in the marketplace that gives us access to new players and new communities, that we have the IP that will benefit from that.”
While it comes as little surprise to hear the likes of Madden and FC will be released on Nintendo Switch 2, fans will be wondering what version of those games they can expect on the console. Historically, EA has released what it calls “legacy” versions of FIFA on Nintendo Switch, but in recent years it has aimed for feature parity for the rebranded FC franchise. Given the Switch 2 will be a more powerful console than its predecessor, perhaps FC 26, say, will be closer to the FC 26 on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC.
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.
Hoo-eee! The sequel to the rootinest-tootinest gassiest-guzzlingiest racecar rasslin’ game is launching into early access in March this year. Wreckfest 2 is the follow-up to smashing racer Wreckfest, which came out in 2018 but which I only discovered last year while listing our best racing games. My friends, it got on the list. Developers Bugbear say they have “overhauled its physics engine to deliver the most intense crashes, deeper component damage, and absolute vehicular mayhem.” We can see a little bit of that in a new trailer below, which also gives us an exact early access release date.
The decision followed EA’s announcement that Dragon Age: The Veilguard had underperformed on its expectations for the long-awaited action RPG. EA said Dragon Age “engaged” 1.5 million players during its recent financial quarter, which was down nearly 50% from the company’s projections.
According to Bloomberg reporter Jason Schreier, BioWare staff believe it was a miracle Dragon Age: The Veilguard released a complete game “after EA forced live-service into it, then reversed course.”
Now, speaking in an investor-focused financial call, Wilson suggested its role-playing games need to have “shared-world features and deeper engagement alongside high-quality narratives.”
“In order to break out beyond the core audience, games need to directly connect to the evolving demands of players who increasingly seek shared-world features and deeper engagement alongside high-quality narratives in this beloved category,” Wilson said in prepared remarks.
“Dragon Age had a high-quality launch and was well-reviewed by critics and those who played. However, it did not resonate with a broad enough audience in this highly competitive market.”
Reading between the lines, Wilson is suggesting that if Dragon Age: The Veilguard had “shared-world features” and “deeper engagement,” it might have sold more copies. But it’s hard to understand that position when you consider EA backed BioWare’s major reset of Dragon Age. As IGN has reported, this reboot saw Dragon Age shift from the skeleton of a multiplayer game with repeatable quests, a tech base, and the outline of a story, to a full-blown single-player RPG.
Fans are already saying EA has learnt the wrong lessons from Dragon Age: The Veilguard, and are pointing to the enormous success of single-player only RPGs that have been released recently, including Larian’s all-conquering Baldur’s Gate 3. Either way, it seems Dragon Age is now dead, at least for the foreseeable future. But what does this all mean for Mass Effect 5?
“Historically, blockbuster storytelling has been the primary way our industry bought beloved IP to players,” Canfield said. “The game’s financial performance highlights the evolving industry landscape and reinforces the importance of our actions to reallocate resources towards our most significant and highest potential opportunities.”
It’s worth noting that single-player only games make up a tiny portion of EA’s overall revenue. The bulk of the company’s cash comes from live service (74% in the last 12 months). Ultimate Team is doing the heavy lifting here, but there are live service contributions from everything from Apex Legends to The Sims. The upcoming Skate is a live service, and the next Battlefield will inevitably be treated as such, too.
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.
I don’t end up covering as many classic point and click adventures as I’d like on RPS. That’s a real shame, because every time I play a good one, I’m reminded how much magic the genre still has. Developer Blyts (Kelvin And The Infamous Machine) was kind enough to send me over a key for Slender Threads, which is out this Friday. My opinion as a complete non-expert on the genre? Yep, this one’s absolutely worth a look.
Nintendo has released its first update for the battle royale Switch Online racer F-Zero 99. This bumps the game up to Version 1.5.6 and comes with a whole host of fixes and improvements. Here’s the full rundown, courtesy of Nintendo’s support page:
Latest update: Ver. 1.5.6 (Released February 4, 2025)
Hunters! 2025 is here, and the time to hunt in Monster Hunter Wilds is fast approaching. We are excited to share the latest trailer, as well as additional information on the second open beta test (OBT2).
First, let’s unpack all the reveals from the latest trailer.
Meet a wandering Wudwud at the newly revealed locale: the Iceshard Cliffs
The hunter and the Expedition Team arrive at a new locale, the Iceshard Cliffs. As the story unfolds, you’ll venture into this icy landscape and encounter a variety of monsters that reside in it. The Iceshard Cliffs is a locale where snowy blizzards blow.
The Iceshard Cliffs is a locale where snowy blizzards blow.
Icy fog drifts in the air, forming a unique area where you can see collapsed debris and something fluttering in the freezing winds overhead.
Hunters exploring during a blizzard. Beat the cold and stay in top condition by warming up with a hot drink.
The Iceshard Cliffs are home to endemic life that have adapted to its harsh conditions for survival.
An ordinary Wudwud who has wandered far from home
Rove
Rove, the quirky Wudwud you will meet in the Iceshard Cliffs.
Monsters inhabiting the Iceshard Cliffs
Hirabami – Leviathan
A species of leviathan that inhabits the Iceshard Cliffs. It has sharp claws on its tail and uses a wind-catching membrane on its neck that allows it to float.
In our latest trailer, a mysterious large monster is seen attacking a group of Hirabami.
Nerscylla – Temnoceran
Nerscylla, a Temnoceran, makes its comeback to the Monster Hunter series. It defeats its prey with a single blow from its distinctive horn.
It appears that Nerscylla is trying to restrain and prey on Gypceros…
During the final scene of the trailer, the ominous Gore Magala launches a surprise attack on Fabius and members of the Expedition Team.
What kind of threat will the fearsome Gore Magala pose in Monster Hunter Wilds? Face off with fan-favorite monster in the full game and find out for yourself!
Unfold the story of Arkveld, the White Wraith
In the latest trailer, more of the mysterious nature of the flagship monster, Arkveld, is revealed. Uncover its true nature and the motives behind its actions as you make your way through the rich and compelling story of Monster Hunter Wilds.
What is the true nature of Arkveld, which skillfully attacks with its unique chain-like appendages extending from its wings?
A battle between Arkveld and Rey Dau, the apex predator of the Windward Plains.
The flagship monster Arkveld appears in the second open beta test (OBT2)
The second open beta test will be held during the following two sessions below.
Date and time (Pacific Time)
Thursday, February 6th 2025 7:00pm – Sunday, February 9th, 2025 6:59 pm
Thursday, February 13th, 2025 7:00 pm – Sunday, February 16th, 2025 6:59 pm
Pre-load for the second Open Beta Test begins on February 5, 2025 (Wednesday) at 7:00pm.
Both sessions will feature identical content, so we hope you join the hunt when you can!
OBT2 includes the same content as the OBT held last November: Character Creation, Story Trial, and a Doshagma Hunt.
After slaying Doshaguma, hunters can continue to enjoy other hunts that await you in the Windward Plains.
In OBT2, hunters can face off against Gypceros: a poisonous Bird Wyvern that is well-known in the series for its intelligent and unique behavior. We hope you enjoy taking on this returning monster in OBT2!
OBT2 marks your first chance to take on Arkveld, the flagship monster of Monster Hunter Wilds. Arkveld appears in a more difficult advanced quest specially tweaked for OBT2. We encourage skilled and confident hunters to take on this difficult challenge.
The Training Area is now available in OBT2, and can be accessed from the base camp. Hone your skills with various weapons as you get ready for the hunts ahead.
Keep in mind that OBT2 does not reflect the full slate of adjustments and tweaks to weapon actions and balancing, that will be featured in the full release of the game.
In OBT2, hunters can create a Private Lobby that cannot be found through searching, perfect for when you hunt with a specific small group. In addition, Online Single Player mode is also available, allowing you to play solo without joining a lobby. While in this mode, you can also temporarily play multiplayer by using an SOS Flare.
Whether you were unable to join the first OBT, or are looking to take on the additional monsters added, we hope you enjoy OBT2!
OBT2 is available to all players with a PS5 and a PlayStation Network account, regardless of whether you have a subscription to PlayStation Plus.
All who play OBT2 will receive a Felyne pendant to decorate your weapon or Seikret, as well as a Bonus Item pack in the full game. If you’ve already played the first Open Beta Test, you’re already set to receive these rewards at launch.
For PlayStation 5 Pro players, be aware that while OBT2 is playable on PS5 Pro, it is not officially supported with PS5 Pro Enhanced features. The full version of Monster Hunter Wilds will support PS5 Pro via a day 1 patch.
Carry over your created characters from both Open Beta Tests to the full version of Monster Hunter Wilds! Note however that some character edit recipe values will have slight differences in the full version.
Monster Hunter Wilds is nearly here! Thank you to all our hunters for your support. We can’t wait to see you in the Forbidden Lands when the game launches on February 28.
Pre-loading the game
If you’ve pre-ordered Monster Hunter Wilds at PlayStation Store, you’ll be able to pre-load the game 48 hours ahead of release, ensuring you can spend less time downloading and more time hunting!
