Sequels! More often than not, they’re completely unnecessary, but until we’re at a point where we don’t have to bow to the whims of the free market, studios of all sizes will likely continue to push them out. Right now people like familiarity, there’s a risk in paying for something new. What if the thing you’re buying is a waste of what little money you have? Ah, but a sequel to a thing I already like, more of the thing I know enjoy, that’s the stuff. So it’s quite refreshing to see Dead Cells developer Motion Twin completely ignore that, and put their heart into making something new, a topic the studio spoke about their feelings on in a recent interview.
Let’s get this over with early: Bloodlines 2 probably should not have been called Bloodlines 2. Shared setting and a couple brief, questionable cameos (plus one utterly rubbish bit of cosmetic DLC) aside, there is little tying this game to Troika’s original janky cult hit FPS/RPG hybrid. This is not an RPG with deep mechanics, a wide variety of character builds or dialogue that reacts to mechanical choices. If that is what you need out of a game bearing this most hallowed of names, then you will be disappointed and frustrated.
But if you are willing to lay decades of dreams to rest and approach it purely on its own terms, you might find an entertaining if flawed romp through the World Of Darkness. A brawl-heavy, linear action game punctuated with Telltale-esque reactive dialogue and held together by a surprisingly compelling, century-spanning undead detective mystery.
The third instalment of Frontier Developments’ moreish dinosaur park sim, Jurassic World Evolution 3, is almost here. You’ll get to manage your very own park full of dinosaurs in this much-anticipated park management simulator sequel that yes, really does feature the Megalodon this time. Gulp.
Jurassic World Evolution 3 will be open its doors again for players on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X and S on October 21. As a global release, it’ll unlock simultaneously for all players regardless of where they are in the world — here’s when that will be in your timezone (and unfortunately, no, there’s no way to unlock the game in early access ahead of its street date).
“Just about everything I’ve seen so far of Jurassic World Evolution 3 has me excited to thrill my guests and make my lawyers nervous,” we wrote in IGN’s Jurassic World Evolution 3’s final preview. “From dino breeding to dramatic and different new park locations to extremely robust customization tools, it feels like it truly deserves its spot at the table with Planet Zoo and Planet Coaster now, rather than relying on the, you know, freakin’ dinosaurs to make up for some of what it was missing.”
Jurassic World Evolution 3 Launch Times
Tuesday, October 21, 2025
PDT (San Francisco):
7am
EDT (New York):
10am
BST (London):
3pm
CEST (Paris, Rome, Berlin):
4pm
EEST (Turkey):
5pm
HKT (Hong Kong):
8pm
CST (Beijing):
8pm
JST (Tokyo):
11pm
Wednesday, October 22, 2025
AEST (Sydney):
12am midnight
Vikki Blake is a reporter for IGN, as well as a critic, columnist, and consultant with 15+ years experience working with some of the world’s biggest gaming sites and publications. She’s also a Guardian, Spartan, Silent Hillian, Legend, and perpetually High Chaos. Find her at BlueSky.
“Among the finest action role-playing titles ever crafted, possibly even the finest, and a game that absolutely no RPG fan should miss.”
This quote, from our 2009 review of the 1995 action-RPG, Terranigma, should give you some idea of just how highly we regard the third slice of what’s known as the “Gaia Trilogy” — that’s Illusion of Gaia, Soul Blazer and then this bad boy — all developed by Quintet.
Battle in the Heavens: Ninja Gaiden 4 Makes Gaming History in the Air
Summary
Xbox, Koei Tecmo, and Team Ninja joined forces for a record-breaking stunt in honor of Ninja Gaiden 4.
We flew two helicopters across Miami, one carrying a 26-foot screen, and another transporting a player, dominating Ninja Gaiden 4 while airborne.
The event set a new Guinness World Records title for the largest video game display flown by helicopter.
Learn more below – Ninja Gaiden 4 arrives tomorrow, October 21.
To celebrate the launch of Ninja Gaiden 4, we took the fight sky-high — literally. Imagine this: two helicopters slicing through the Miami night sky, one carrying a 26-foot wide screen (200+ sq ft in size), the other with Team Ninja Community Manager, Emmanuel “Master” Rodriguez, and diamond-certified recording artist Swae Lee.
The result? A jaw-dropping, first-of-its-kind spectacle that fused gaming, technology, and pure adrenaline. The event also set a new Guinness World Records title for the largest video game display flown by helicopter.
As the city lights shimmered below, Yakumo of the Raven ninja clan leapt into the night, battling enemies across an enormous screen suspended in the sky. Every slash, every grapple, every heart-pounding moment of combat came alive against the backdrop of snippets of an exclusive new record from Swae Lee entitled ‘Flammable’.
The inspiration behind this stunt comes straight from Ninja Gaiden 4’s in-game lore. The denizens of Tokyo have escaped the toxic floodwaters by building skyward. The skyscraper district towers above the ruined city below, a breathtaking vertical landscape that mirrors the high-flying action we brought to life.
Technology played a starring role in making this dream a reality. Using advanced sports broadcasting tech, we streamed live gameplay from Emmanuel’s helicopter to the massive screen – built by pioneering aerial media company, Heli-D – in the other.
Timing, precision, and nerves of steel were everything — a misstep would have grounded the Raven. But as Yakumo fought and triumphed across the illuminated sky, it was clear that the risk was worth it.
This is more than a launch; it’s a celebration of everything Ninja Gaiden 4 stands for — precision, skill, and pushing limits. From the game’s lore-rich skyscrapers to the Miami skyline we soared across, we’ve redefined what it means to experience a video game live.
In the dead of night, the ninja truly awakened — and for those lucky enough to witness it, the sky has never looked more alive.
Ninja Gaiden 4 arrives tomorrow, October 21 for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, ROG Xbox Ally handhelds, Xbox Cloud, Xbox Play Anywhere – also available on Steam and PlayStation 5. Play it day one with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.
The Deluxe Edition includes future gameplay content “The Two Masters”, along with additional character skins, weapon skins, and in-game items. Pre-order either the Standard Edition or the Deluxe Edition to get the Dark Dragon Descendent Yakumo skin at launch.
More on Swae Lee
Swae Lee first saw mainstream recognition as the younger and melodic half of southern hip-hop duo Rae Sremmurd. Swae has made a name for himself outside of his duo work, showcasing himself as a force to be reckoned with both within and beyond the hip-hop world. Tracks such as French Montana’s diamond-certified ‘Unforgettable’ highlight his singing chops, while his impressive list of writing credits includes Beyoncé’s ‘Formation’.
Swae’s melodic repertoire, however, is not relegated exclusively to the R&B and hip-hop sphere as his crooning can also take on ballad form and mesh into a more electronic background as well—a complex Gemini in many ways. His impact on the music industry is also underscored by his record-breaking achievements, including the historic success of the Grammy-nominated track, ‘Sunflower’, which became the first-ever song to be certified 2x Diamond by the RIAA and holds one of the biggest streaming records in history. In addition to ‘Sunflower’, Swae’s contributions to hits like Travis Scott’s ‘Sicko Mode’ have also earned diamond certifications, further cementing his place as a dominant force in modern music.
Pre-order now to receive the Dark Dragon Descendant Yakumo Skin at launch
The definitive ninja hack & slash franchise returns with NINJA GAIDEN 4! Embark on a cutting-edge adventure where legacy meets innovation in this high-octane blend of style and no-holds-barred combat.
Return of the Legend
Experience a return to the intense, high-speed combat that established NINJA GAIDEN as a premier action game series. Prepare for a legacy reborn with captivating style for a new generation of players.
Epic Hack and Slash Combat, Evolved
NINJA GAIDEN 4 fuses Team NINJA’s tempered combat philosophy with the stylish, dynamic action gameplay of PlatinumGames. Engage in visually stunning combat that rewards precision and strategy. Use Bloodbind Ninjutsu to transform your weapons and unleash devastation upon your enemies, alongside legacy techniques like the Izuna Drop and Flying Swallow. The legendary Ryu Hayabusa also returns with a revamped yet familiar set of tools to master. With a customizable player experience, NINJA GAIDEN 4 will push action game veterans to their limits while allowing newcomers to enjoy a heart-pounding adventure full of twists and turns.
An Ancient Enemy Returns
An endless rain of miasma hangs over a near-future Tokyo in the wake of an ancient enemy’s resurrection. The fate of the city lies in the hands of young ninja prodigy, Yakumo. Fighting his way through cybernetic ninja soldiers and otherworldly creatures, Yakumo must reconcile a destiny he shares with the legendary Ryu Hayabusa himself and free Tokyo from the ancient curse that brought the city to its knees.
Pre-order now to receive the Dark Dragon Descendant Yakumo Skin at launch
Experience a return to the intense, high-octane action of NINJA GAIDEN with the Deluxe Edition! The Deluxe Edition includes:
• NINJA GAIDEN 4 base game
• Future Gameplay Content “The Two Masters”*
• Traditional Dark Blue and Legendary Black Falcon Ryu Skins
• Blade of the Archfiend Ryu Weapon Skin
• Divine Chimera and Raven Master Yakumo Skins
• Divine Chimera Yakumo Weapon Set
• 50,000 Bonus NinjaCoin
• Additional In-Game Items such as Life Elixirs, Incense of Rebirth, Kongou Iron Brew, and more!
The definitive ninja hack & slash franchise returns with NINJA GAIDEN 4! Embark on a cutting-edge adventure where legacy meets innovation in this high-octane blend of style and no-holds-barred combat.
RETURN OF THE LEGEND
Experience a return to the intense, high-speed combat that established NINJA GAIDEN as a premier action game series. Prepare for a legacy reborn with captivating style for a new generation of players.
EPIC HACK AND SLASH COMBAT, EVOLVED
NINJA GAIDEN 4 fuses Team NINJA’s tempered combat philosophy with the stylish, dynamic action gameplay of PlatinumGames. Engage in visually stunning combat that rewards precision and strategy. Use Bloodbind Ninjutsu to transform your weapons and unleash devastation upon your enemies, alongside legacy techniques like the Izuna Drop and Flying Swallow. The legendary Ryu Hayabusa also returns with a revamped yet familiar set of tools to master. With a customizable player experience, NINJA GAIDEN 4 will push action game veterans to their limits while allowing newcomers to enjoy a heart-pounding adventure full of twists and turns.
AN ANCIENT ENEMY RETURNS
An endless rain of miasma hangs over a near-future Tokyo in the wake of an ancient enemy’s resurrection. The fate of the city lies in the hands of young ninja prodigy, Yakumo. Fighting his way through cybernetic ninja soldiers and otherworldly creatures, Yakumo must reconcile a destiny he shares with the legendary Ryu Hayabusa himself and free Tokyo from the ancient curse that brought the city to its knees.
*For release date when announced, see https://www.xbox.com/games/ninja-gaiden-4.
Escape from Duckov is an unlikely hit on Steam after half a million sales and big concurrents over the weekend.
The parody of extraction shooter Escape from Tarkov is riding high with 173,394 peak concurrent players on Valve’s platform. That’s enough to make it the sixth most-played game on Steam right now. Only Delta force, Battlefield 6, PUBG, Dota 2, and Counter-Strike 2 are more popular right now.
Escape from Duckov is a PVE top-down looter-shooter game in which you scavenge for resources, build your hideout, and upgrade your gear. “Start from nothing and rise to the top,” reads the official blurb. “Outwit hostile ducks, survive, or make it out alive.”
Following its launch on October 16, Team Soda’s game sold an additional 500,000 copies over the weekend. Its Steam user review rating is sitting pretty at ‘Overwhelmingly Positive.’ “At this moment, the entire dev team is quacking with joy and flapping our wings in excitement!” reads a statement.
Escape from Tarkov, meanwhile, hits Steam on November 15. It will be interesting to see if it beats Escape from Duckov’s concurrent player peak on the platform. A console version is in the works.
Wesley is Director, News at IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.
The first draft of the script for the movie adaptation of Sleeping Dogs is “done.”
That’s according to Marvel star Simu Liu, who revealed over the weekend that the script for the film was complete, albeit carefully redacting some details from the screenshot. He marked the news by sharing a photo of his own sleeping dog.
in honour of our sleeping dogs script draft being done, here’s my sleepy dog 👍 pic.twitter.com/l1KsFNDj5V
When a commenter responded to the good news and asked if the actor and producer had “worked things out” with the game’s publisher and IP-holder Square Enix, Liu said: “They’re absolutely great, it’s the studios that don’t seem to understand how important this IP is BUT we will get them there.”
If you were hoping for more, I’m afraid Liu shared little else, but it should be good news nonetheless given the adaptation has been languishing in development hell for at least eight years.
As IGN has reported, Story Kitchen is leading the Sleeping Dogs live action feature film project, with Simu Liu, who plays Shang-Chi in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, producing and set to play the lead role of Wei Shen. Story Kitchen has form when it comes to video game adaptations, having worked on everything from the Sonic the Hedgehog films to Netflix’s animated Tomb Raider series.
Sleeping Dogs was first released in 2012 on PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC and tells the story of detective Wei Shen as he infiltrates one of Hong Kong’s notorious Triad crime syndicates. While it failed to meet publisher Square Enix’s lofty sales expectations, it is much-loved by fans and sequel hopes have followed it ever since. We thought Sleeping Dogs was great, writing in IGN’s Sleeping Dogs: Definitive Edition review: “Sleeping Dogs: Definitive Edition doesn’t mess much with what made the original game so great. And that’s a good thing.” It returned an 8.5.
A sequel was canceled in late 2013 just before it entered production, and its original developer, United Front Games, shut down three years later.
Vikki Blake is a reporter for IGN, as well as a critic, columnist, and consultant with 15+ years experience working with some of the world’s biggest gaming sites and publications. She’s also a Guardian, Spartan, Silent Hillian, Legend, and perpetually High Chaos. Find her at BlueSky.
GT-Abe gateway drug The Simpsons Hit & Run‘s status a thing people my age remember from their childhoods has earned it a strong modding community, and the latest export to come out of it is a Futurama total conversion designed to mirror an official expansion. It’s predictably called Futurama: Hit & Run and has a demo out now.
For free, of course, so attempts to deploy the ‘shut up and take my money’ meme here are thoroughly misplaced. If you’ve already said it while reading that first paragraph, please submit to death by snu-snu. No wait, that makes it sound like I’m going to be the one doing the-
Skyblivion might have bagged more headlines, but it’s far from the only ambitious modding project being worked on for a Bethesda game with the goal of putting a fresh spin on a classic. Fallout 4: Project Arroyo arguably has an even tougher task, with its team aiming to reimagine the turn-based and isometric Fallout 2 through Fallout 4’s 3D action lens.
In a fresh interview with YouTuber AVV Gaming that also sheds light on how the team are hoping to incorporate aspects of an original Fallout remake mod that was mothballed last year, Project Arroyo lead Damion Daponte has discussed how they’ve approached the difficult task of deciding how much to tweak as they reinterpret the 90s RPG.
Nintendo Sound Clock: Alarmo has received a small software update; it’s first since March 2025.
When we say small, we really mean it. There are only two notes for this one, the latter of which provides that which we all desire in our Nintendo products: stability. Good ol’ fashioned stability. Gotta love it.
