Get the Gang Back Together With Dying Light 2’s Payday 2 Crossover

Villedor is a lawless land used to looting here and there, but The City has never seen a heist of this magnitude. Dallas and the crew are ready to show Aiden and his fellow citizens how it’s done. That’s right, Payday 2 is the second crossover of Dying Light 2 Stay Human’s Summer of Horrors, an event which promises new content, goals, updates and a lot more! So get ready to prepare your plan of action, put on your mask and grab some loot. But don’t forget, once you put it on, there’s no turning back…

“What’s up? You itchin’ for a new heist?”

Payday is a series which needs no introduction. Created by Overkill, Payday: The Heist took the world by storm when it released in 2011 and the sequel, Payday 2, just took it to a whole new level. With over a decade of support and updates, Overkill have certainly given a lot back to their community. Payday 2 is all about camaraderie as a single heister is only going to end up in custody. From casing banks and jewelry stores to prison breakouts and everything in between, Payday 2 sees four criminals get their hands on some well-earned loot (as well as their adrenaline fix), all while some banging tracks play during the chaos.

“Great work, my friends! Great work!”

Just like Starbreeze and Overkill, we want to keep the content coming with new updates, events and a whole lot more to reward our devoted communities. And speaking of community, both games are well-known for their memeability and if there’s something we know about our own community is that they love memes. As we are doing, Payday 2 has partnered with IPs to see a fair few notable characters join the gang: John Wick, Jacket from Hotline Miami and Ethan and Hila from h3h3Productions, to name but a few. Now, let’s move onto what players can expect this week!

“Honestly, I think this place is haunted or something.”

During the Payday 2 crossover event, Pilgrims will be tasked with looting a new commodity that’s well known to Dallas and the crew: Red Diamonds. These valuable items can be looted from Infected Robbers who will be found mainly in Forsaken Stores and Dark Hollows or players can hunt down Thieving Bolters, who are guaranteed to be holding some diamonds. Pilgrims, we mean heisters, will be handsomely rewarded for taking on such tasks with such items as Nightrunner Safety Pack, the Money Bundle weapon and Dallas’ own stars and stripes mask. To quote the Mastermind himself when masking up: “Time to break a little bad.”

As Payday 2 is all about camaraderie between the gang, we’ve also set up a goal for the community to come together to complete. For collecting over 11,000,000 Red Diamonds, players will be rewarded with 25 Pilgrim Tokens that can be used at the Pilgrim Outpost. These unique diamonds will be lootable throughout Villedor until 4PM CEST on September 21st. And to get you in the mood, Hoxton has prepared a little motivational speech for you: “Alright fellas, let’s do this. Mask up, wan…” Yeah, Hoxton, they get it.

“Put your game face on, buddies.”

Additionally, we’ve prepared a special bundle so you can look the part. Featuring the aforementioned Money Bundle weapon, you’ll also get your hands on the Payday Gang Outfit so you can blend in when sizing up a prospective target, the Payday Paraglider (perfect for a quick getaway, whether it’s with loot or without) and The Change weapon charm. The Money Bundle weapon stuns your foes and drops them to the ground, perfect if they disobey your call to “Get down on the ground!”, while The Change is more than just a reminder of the reason you’re doing all this: it will help reinforce your weapon, meaning it’ll withstand more hits. For more information about the Payday 2 crossover event, head to the Outpost, Pilgrims.

“Overkill – enough said. See you at the safe house.”

We are sure that our Pilgrims will be excited with the news of our latest crossover. Remember: As in Payday 2, just make sure when looting that you aren’t too greedy and get yourself killed. So, head to the Forsaken Stores and Dark Hollows. Encounter those Infected Robbers and loot their bodies. Now, there’s just one more thing to say: Keep those helmets flying, Pilgrims!

Dying Light 2 Stay Human is available for purchase on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One.

Xbox Live

Dying Light 2 Stay Human

Techland


986


$59.99

$29.99

Upgrade your experience with Smart Delivery. Buy the game once to both play it on Xbox One and get its optimized version for Xbox Series X | S

It’s been 20 years since the events of the original game. The virus won, and humanity is slowly dying. You play as Aiden Caldwell, a wandering Pilgrim who delivers goods, brings news, and connects the few remaining survivor settlements in barren lands devastated by the zombie virus. However, your true goal is to find your little sister Mia, who you left behind as a kid to escape Dr. Waltz’s torturous experiments. Haunted by the past, you eventually make the decision to confront it when you learn that Mia may still be alive in Villedor — the last city standing on Earth.

You quickly find yourself in a settlement torn by conflict. You’ll need to engage in creative and gory combat, so hone your skills to defeat hordes of zombies and make allies. Roam the city, free run across Villedor’s buildings and rooftops in search of loot in remote areas, and be wary of the night. With every sunset, monsters take control of the streets.

A WORLD AFTER THE APOCALYPSE
Fifteen years ago, humanity was devastated by the Fall — a catastrophic event that would change the world forever. With the Harran virus spreading around the globe, people quickly found out that all hope for tomorrow is lost. By 2036, only a few settlements remain, and humanity is slowly dying, making way for the new species out there — a horde of relentless zombies.

DAY’S FOR THE LIVING, NIGHT’S FOR THE DEAD
Welcome to Villedor, one of the last bastions of humanity. During the day, survivors still try to have a life here and find a false sense of normalcy. Relationships are formed, dreams are dreamed, and life carries on. On the surface, everything seems… fine. Until sunset, that is. With the last ray of light dying out, other, more dreadful, dwellers of The City crawl out of their gloomy interiors, taking over the streets. If you are not vigilant and stay out too long in the dark, you may never return.

YOU HAVE TO MOVE TO SURVIVE
Not all fights can be won. Sometimes it’s best to run and, thankfully, you have the skills for it. Parkour lets you escape when odds are not in your favor. Jump from rooftop to rooftop, swing across the cityscape, ride ziplines, and much more. Whatever you do, experience a unique sense of freedom as you free run across Villedor’s buildings and rooftops in search of loot or while running away from the dangers of the night.

GET BRUTAL AND BE CREATIVE ABOUT IT
In a world as dangerous as this one, only the strongest survive. Whether you prefer to smash, slice or dismember those who stand in your way, you have to be creative about it to make it through. And who says you need weapons? Utilize the entirety of your parkour moveset to get the jump on your enemies. Learn the ways of combat and parkour to feel the crunch of skulls and slices of flesh as you swing weapons or use your moves to fend off any forms of danger. And let’s not forget that Villedor has weapons that put the most advanced post-apocalyptic armories to shame.

FOUR PILGRIMS ARE BETTER THAN ONE
Surviving in Villedor is easier with friends. Team up with up to 3 other players and increase your chances out there. Unravel the story together, take on Pilgrim Outpost challenges, or simply wreak havoc on the city streets.

Related:
Behind the Scenes of Starfield
Chants of Sennaar Is a Puzzle Game About Decoding Five Separate Fictional Languages
Starfield Starters: Space Combat 101

The Armored Core 6 Official Game Guide is Up for Preorder

For those who have been stepping into the mechs in FromSoftware’s latest game, Armored Core VI, you can now preorder the official game guide for it (titled the Pilot’s Manual) over at Amazon. It’s made by Future Press, who also did the spectacular Elden Ring strategy guides, and is expected to be released this year on November 30. What’s even better, though, is that it’s even on sale at the moment. Right now, you can preorder it for $33.58 instead of its usual price of $44.99 (saving you 25%). You can check out the deal in full at the link below.

Preorder the Armored Core VI Pilot’s Manual (Official Game Guide)

According to Future Press, this guide is a 432-page hardback collector’s edition “that will bring rookie pilots up to speed while teaching even series veterans some new tricks.” It contains information on combat training, assembly, walkthroughs for each mission, information on how to approach enemies, and even bonus content, which includes “a dedicated 50-page S Rank guide featuring unique route maps and assembly recommendations.”

We gave Armored Core 6 an 8/10 in our review, stating that it “doesn’t look to reinvent the bipedal legs of the mech action genre, but it does update, refine, and polish them to an aggressive shine.” We also found that it’s “a welcome return of a classic mecha series.”

If you’re looking to pick up more game guides for your collection, you can also save on both the Standard and Collector’s Edition of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom strategy guides right now. Considering how massive that game is, it’s a smart idea to pick up these guides now while they’re discounted before they go back up in price. Plus, the Collector’s Edition has a gorgeous design that’s worth showing off.

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

Hardspace: Shipbreaker and the joy of doing a boring spacejob perfectly

Space will neither save nor free us. Like Starfield, it will not be glamorous or exciting. As billionaire jebends plot to establish their own corporate fiefdoms amongst the stars, our descendents’ potential spacelives are looking as miserable as collecting 5 spacewolf livers. But I find some hope in spaceship salvage sim Hardspace: Shipbreaker, both in the overt plot about unionisation and in the small satisfaction of doing a job well. Head down, shut up, and focus on dismantling this spaceship carefully and efficiently. It’s an attitude that won’t save the world but can get you through one more day, and sometimes that’s enough.

Read more

Starfield Players Using Character Creation to Recreate Famous Faces

Starfield players are a creative bunch, and when they’re not filling spaceships full of potatoes or building New Atlantis in Lego, they’re using the robust character creator to recreate a bunch of famous faces.

These include Willem Dafoe, David Bowie, somehow more than one character from Shrek, and many more, with players taking to social media to share their creations. You can view them all in the slideshow below.

“You know, I’m something of an industrialist myself,” reads a post from strider390 on Reddit, who posted a screenshot of his Industrialist Willem Dafoe-looking character while referencing the classic Spider-Man meme. SoullessVoid created Starman himself, David Bowie, while CheesyWales made one of the creators of Starfield: Bethesda’s development chief Todd Howard.

Pulling characters from films and TV shows is also incredibly popular. Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul’s Mike Ehrmantraut comes from Eroynss alongside the caption: “Put your ship away Waltuh.” The Soprano’s Tony Soprano also makes an appearance thanks to fohfu, who titled their post: “Woke up this morning, got some gabagool.”

A somewhat terrifying looking Shrek was created by Bimbocsavar, while the ogre’s nemesis Lord Farquaad comes courtesy of OleiferousOwl, who aptly names their creation “Lord Starquad”.

Pee-wee’s Big Adventure’s Large Marge was created by tylo, House’s Gregory House was created by pitersios, Amos Burton from The Expanse was created by bingbongjimmerjammer, and Don Ramón from El Chavo del Ocho was created by HeySoloSoyYo.

Players also recreated some famous space crafts using the game’s expansive ship creator, including some from Star Wars, Star Trek, and more. There are also some in-built Easter Eggs, including at least two to Starfield’s most famous line.

Starfield is off to a hot start, technically topping sales charts even before it officially launched. When its release date finally came around on September 6, however, Xbox boss Phil Spencer revealed more than one million people were playing Starfield concurrently.

Plenty of wild and wacky stories are emerging too, such as Bethesda killing off all the poor labradors in Starfield’s universe and players desperately trying to recreate the game on PlayStation.

In our 7/10 review, IGN said: “Starfield has a lot of forces working against it, but eventually the allure of its expansive roleplaying quests and respectable combat make its gravitational pull difficult to resist.”

Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelance reporter. He’ll talk about The Witcher all day.

Letter From The Editor #12: a note about spam and the modern reality of writing about big video games

Hello folks. How was Baldur’s Gate 3 August for you? Ready for Starfield September? I hope you are, because lemme tell you, it’s coming all right. In truth, I was surprised (and somewhat saddened) by some of the comments we received around our Baldur’s Gate 3 coverage. If you missed them, they were mostly in the vein of saying our increased volume of BG3-related posts felt like “spam”, harking back to when we (and the internet at large) all went similarly bananas over Elden Ring last year. I know it can sometimes seem like writing about these games – particularly on RPS – feels like we’re somehow neglecting everything else going on in PC gaming. But the truth is a little more complicated than that, so I wanted to take some time to talk a bit about this in this month’s Letter From The Editor, because there are a number of reasons why this happens – and will probably continue to happen more generally as websites fight for survival.

Read more

Nintendo’s Shigeru Miyamoto Issues Heartfelt Thanks to Former Voice of Mario, Charles Martinet

Nintendo development legend Shigeru Miyamoto has issued a video message thanking the former voice of Mario Charles Martinet.

Last month, Nintendo announced that Martinet, the original voice actor of Mario who has played the character since 1996, is “stepping back from recording character voices for our games” and will now serve as a “Mario Ambassador”. Nintendo later confirmed Martinet does not voice Mario in upcoming Switch exclusive Super Mario Bros. Wonder.

In the special video message issued today, September 7, Miyamoto recalled when Martinet made his debut as the voice of Mario in 1996’s seminal 3D platformer, Super Mario 64, his penchant for calling the Nintendo legend “papa!”, as well as the many trips the pair had taken together promoting Mario and Nintendo across the globe.

Miyamoto said he was “deeply grateful” for Martinet’s work bringing Nintendo characters to life for nearly 30 years. “Charles-san, thank you very much,” Miyamoto said.

Over the weekend, Charles Martinet discussed his new role as “Mario Ambassador” for Nintendo, saying: “I don’t know what that is yet.”

Speaking during a Q&A panel at GalaxyCon Austin 2023, Martinet said: “I am now a Mario Ambassador. I don’t know what that is yet. I’m not retired as it were, but I’m an ambassador. As we step forward into the future, I will learn, we’ll all learn exactly what that is.”

In the video message, Miyamoto said Martinet will continue to travel the world promoting Mario at events, performing Nintendo voices for fans, and signing autographs.

As for who’s replacing Martinet as the voice of Mario, Nintendo has yet to say. In a recent interview with IGN, Nintendo of America boss Doug Bowser said the company will leave it to the credits of Super Mario Bros. Wonder.

“I think people have recognized this when they see Super Mario Bros. Wonder, they’ll hear a different voice and we’ll let that play out and that’ll be within the credits, and people will learn who the new person is at that point in time, but we don’t plan to make any announcement in advance of that,” Bowser said.

Also in the video message, Miyamoto reveals more than Mario’s voice has changed for Super Mario Bros. Wonder. “The voices of some Mario characters have become new,” Miyamoto said, “so please check them out.” Martinet voiced a number of Mario characters, including Luigi, Wario, and Waluigi.

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.

Affogato review: Persona goes on a coffee date with tower assault dungeon crawling

Sometimes, a game sits at such a cross section of my interests that it almost feels made specifically for me. In the case of Affogato, it’s three of my favourite types of games mashed together: it’s Coffee Talk by way of Persona by way of any card-based tower defence game – only here it’s sort of “reverse tower defence”, as the game’s Steam page is keen to point out. It’s your own card units that are the ones moving along pre-defined tracks wreaking havoc on stationary enemies, not the other way around. Maybe tower assault would be a better term, but that’s by the by. Served with a dollop of anime froth on the top, Affogato should be my exact cuppa joe. But despite its intriguing ingredients, I wouldn’t say it’s been wholly successful in slooshing them all together.

Read more

Nintendo Download: 7th September (North America)

Fae Farm! MythForce! Gunbrella!

The latest Nintendo Download update for North America has arrived, and it’s bringing new games galore to the eShop in your region. As always, be sure to drop a vote in our poll and comment down below with your potential picks for the week. Enjoy!

Switch eShop – Highlights

Fae Farm (Phoenix Labs, 8th Sep, $59.99) – Your magical home awaits! With up to three friends*, craft, cultivate and decorate to grow your shared homestead – and use spells to explore the enchanted island of Azoria! You’ll forge new bonds with residents, discover fae magic and trek across mysterious realms. As the seasons change, you’ll use all you’ve learned and discovered together to restore the world around you. Magic awaits in Fae Farm, launching as a console exclusive for Nintendo Switch on Sept. 8. – Read our Fae Farm review

Read the full article on nintendolife.com

Free Play Days – Madden NFL 24, Control, and Crime Boss: Rockay City

September is here and with it, the gridiron, gangs, and a corruptive presence for you to tackle. Madden NFL 24, Control, and Crime Boss: Rockay City are available this weekend for Xbox Live Gold and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members to play from Thursday, September 7 at 12:01 a.m. PDT until Sunday, September 10 at 11:59 p.m. PDT. 

Starting September 14, Xbox Live Gold members will automatically become Game Pass Core members. Game Pass Core will give players access to our advanced multiplayer network, a select collection of over 25 games to play with friends around the world, and exclusive member deals! Read more about Game Pass Core at Xbox Wire.


How to Start Playing


Find and install the games on each of the individual game details page on Xbox.com. Clicking through will send you to the Microsoft Store, where you must be signed in to see the option to install with your Xbox Live Gold or Xbox Game Pass Ultimate membership. To download on console, click on the Subscriptions tab in the Xbox Store and enter the Gold member area to locate the Free Play Days collection on your Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S.


Keep the Fun Going


Purchase the game and other editions at a limited time discount and continue playing while keeping your Gamerscore and earned achievements during the event! Please note that discounts and percentages may vary by title and region.


Xbox Live

Madden NFL 24: NFL+ Edition Xbox Series X|S & Xbox One

Electronic Arts


466


$99.99

$89.99

Play Madden NFL 24 for free during Xbox Free Play Days from September 7-10. Then maximize your football experience with the Madden NFL 24: NFL+ Edition that includes 3 months of NFL+ Premium and 3 monthly MUT packs (1 per month from September-November).


Xbox Live

Control

505 Games


406


$29.99

$7.49
Xbox One X Enhanced

Take on the role of Jesse Faden as you investigate a corruptive presence that has invaded the Federal Bureau of Control. Do you have what it takes to regain control? Time to find out in this award winning third-person action adventure from the team at Remedy Entertainment and 505 Games. What’s more, enjoy 75% off for a limited time.


Xbox Live

Crime Boss: Rockay City

505 Games


202


$39.99

$27.99

Hey buddy, grab your weapon, put on your cowboy boots, and walk into Rockay City like a boss! Take on the role of Travis Baker (Michael Madsen) who has his sights set on becoming the new King of Rockay City. Choose your crew based on their skills and expertise and execute daring missions with the hopes of walking away with the cash, the turf and, ultimately, the crown. For a limited time, Crime Boss: Rockay City is 30% off!


Don’t miss out on this exciting Free Play Days for Xbox Live Gold and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate member! Learn more about Free Play Days here and stay tuned to Xbox Wire to find out about future Free Play Days and all the latest Xbox gaming news. 

Related:
Free Play Days – Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege, LEGO 2K Drive, and Dead by Daylight
Free Play Days – Naruto to Boruto Shinobi Striker, Destiny 2: The Witch Queen, Warhammer: Vermintide 2, and Need for Speed Unbound
Free Play Days – The Knight Witch, Forza Horizon 5, Let’s Build a Zoo, and Blasphemous

These Are The Best Board Game Deals Right Now (September 2023)

When it comes to game night, it’s always a great idea to have a variety of board games around for people to choose from. Unfortunately, building that collection of games can oftentimes cost you more than you’d expect. Have no fear, though, as we’re here to help you out with a variety of deals on board games that are worth picking up. This doesn’t just cater to events like Amazon Prime Day or Black Friday, either. We try to find deals on the best board games all throughout the year, so you can buy your favorites without breaking the bank.

TL;DR – The Best Board Game Deals

Below, you can find a selection of the best board game deals at the moment. Amazon Prime Day may be done and over with for the year, but there are still plenty of sales worth taking advantage of.

The Best Board Game Deals

Board Games: Budget to Best

For when board games aren’t on sale, it’s nice to know you still have options that don’t cost you tons of money. Here, we’ll point you in the direction of more affordable options that are still worth the investment for your next game night.

When Is the Best Time to Find Board Game Deals?

Board games go on sale at sites like Amazon, Target, Walmart, and even GameStop fairly regularly — you can generally find special discounts every month or two. In addition, they absolutely get big discounts during major sale events like Amazon’s Prime Day and Black Friday.

While Prime Day is primarily an Amazon shopping holiday, other retailers always put on competing sales events at the same time. Those are great times to look for board game deals.

As for Black Friday, it’s not just a one-day event: you can often find deals on board games the whole week of Black Friday, as well as on Cyber Monday and throughout that whole following week. Keep in mind that stock runs out (particularly at Amazon), so if you see a good price on a board game you want during one of these major sale events, grab it before it’s gone.

How to Know if it’s Really a Good Board Game Deal

At online board game retailers like Amazon and Walmart, prices are always in flux, to say the least. Many of the board games in the board game section will be discounted to some degree from their MSRP. But there are a few ways to know when a board game is on sale for a notable discount.

For one, you can check Amazon’s daily deals page, where you’ll occasionally find an actual sale on various board games. Sometimes these are from one company, sometimes they’re on the whole category of board games. Target also periodically runs sales on board games, so check their deal page, too.

If you’re looking at a board game and are wondering if the sale price is good, copy the URL and paste it into the search field at camelcamelcamel. That’s an Amazon price tracker that shows you price history. Better yet, it works for any item, not just board games.

Finally, you can follow IGN Deals on Twitter, where we’ll always tweet any notable board game deals we come across.

How Do You Know if a Board Game Is Any Good?

IGN reviews board games fairly regularly, so you can always search to see if we’ve reviewed a game you’re considering picking up. Other websites do, too. We also have a whole lot of board game roundups, ranging from the best classic board games and the best cooperative board games to the best horror board games.

Outside of IGN, the best board game resource around (for my money) is Board Game Geek. It maintains a database of every board and card game you’d want to know about, with all kinds of news, stats, and user reviews all gathered together in one place.