Category: Video Games

Netflix Confirms a New Cyberpunk Animated Project With CD Projekt Red Is on the Way

During Geeked Week’s live event tonight, Netflix Animation officially announced another collaboration with CD Projekt Red in the Cyberpunk universe… but didn’t confirm what it would be.

The tease, which you can watch below, is brief, only really confirming a “return to Night City.” Otherwise, the streaming platform merely invites fans to “stay tuned.”

While the news is exciting, it isn’t a huge shock. During CD Projekt Red’s latest earnings call last month, the company teased that it’s “definitely” planning more animated projects with Cyberpunk, but was similarly vague.

“We are definitely planning to do more in terms of animation with Cyberpunk so I hope that’s enough as an answer,” joint CEO MichaĹ‚ Nowakowski told investors at the time. “So expect to see more for sure, but that’s as far as I can go right now.”

CD Projekt Red and Netflix first collaborated on Cyberpunk Edgerunners, which debuted in September 2022 to acclaim from fans and critics alike. It even helped fuel more interest back to Cyberpunk 2077, and fans were clamoring for a second season.

Nowakowski’s previous comments revived more hope of that, but it’s worth noting that neither Netflix nor CD Projekt Red have revealed whether this “return to Night City” would be an Edgerunners Season 2. That animated series didn’t exactly leave itself open for a second season, and Netflix Animation could very well tell a different story in the universe that simply takes place in the Cyberpunk setting.

That is, of course, all speculation until we find out more. IGN raved about Cyberpunk Edgerunners in our 9/10 review, writing that it “delivers a satisfying return to Night City that does a better job exploring why Mike Pondsmith’s famous location became so iconic in the first place.”

For more, check out our roundup of everything announced at Geeked Week so far.

Alex Stedman is a Senior News Editor with IGN, overseeing entertainment reporting. When she’s not writing or editing, you can find her reading fantasy novels or playing Dungeons & Dragons.

Netflix Reveals First Trailer for Rebel Moon Video Game Spinoff

Netflix and Zack Snyder have revealed the first trailer for their Rebel Moon video game spinoff, Blood Line: A Rebel Moon Game.

The streaming giant revealed the first look at its exclusive spinoff as part of Netflix Geeked Week 2024 Live, showing off an early look as well as confirmation of the project’s title. Developed by the studio behind Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate, Super Evil Megacorp, Netflix says subscribers can look forward to grouping up with friends to play it for themselves sometime in 2025.

Today’s Geeked Week reveal comes with a few more details about what exactly Blood Line has in store. Netflix describes the Rebel Moon spinoff as an “online co-operative action game” that asks players to step into the shoes of a rebel. Subscribers who play will have the option to select from different classes in order to fight and reclaim their planet from Moterhworld.

Blood Line will exist as part of Snyder’s larger Rebel Moon universe. So far, the story has unfolded as two movies, with the first, Rebel Moon Part 1: A Child of Fire, debuting in December 2023, and the second, The Scargiver, arriving April 2024. However, both films received negative reviews from fans and critics alike upon release. We gave both Part 1 and Part 2 4/10s in our reviews.

Super Evil Megacorp announced its partnership with Netflix to create a Rebel Moon video game in May of last year. We spoke with Snyder shortly after its reveal, and he promised that the developers would create a spinoff that stays faithful to the source material while building on it in fresh ways.

“Even though it’s definitely an add-on to the universe I didn’t expect, it was a cool place where we thought to explore other things that are happening in the Rebel Moon universe,” Snyder said at the time. “And the guys have been great to… I’d say, “Guys, we can’t. We can’t do that.” And then they’d come back, “Well, what about this?” And so we were really, I think able to land on something that was really world building, but also consistent with the world.”

Stay tuned for more information on how Blood Line will build on the Rebel Moon universe when it launches sometime next year. While we wait for updates, you can keep up with everything announced at Netflix Geeked Week 2024 here.

Michael Cripe is a freelance contributor with IGN. He started writing in the industry in 2017 and is best known for his work at outlets such as The Pitch, The Escapist, OnlySP, and Gameranx.

Be sure to give him a follow on Twitter @MikeCripe.

Grab an Xbox Wireless Controller for Only $37 with This Lenovo Deal (Updated With New Price Drop)

Lenovo is currently offering the Microsoft Xbox Series X wireless controller in Carbon Black for only $37.05 shipped. You’ll see $39 on the product page, but there’s a 5% off code “LENOVOFLASHWKD” that will auto-apply in your cart. That’s about 33% off its original $55 MSRP. You won’t find a better price on a brand new official controller at the moment.

Update: The price has dropped from $39 to $37.05

Xbox Wireless Controller for $37.05

This Xbox Core wireless controller is identical to the one that’s bundled with the Xbox Series X and S consoles right down to the Carbon Black color. Features include textured grips, hybrid D-pad, button mapping with the Xbox app, a 3.5mm audio jack that works with any wired headset, and a Share button to upload screenshots and video.

The Xbox Core controller also features both Xbox wireless and Bluetooth connectivity. That means you can use it for your PC or mobile device as long as it supports Bluetooth. In fact, the Core controller is considered one of the best PC controllers you can get, especially if you limit yourself to this price point. If your PC doesn’t have Bluetooth, then you can connect your controller via a USB Type-C cable or with the Xbox wireless adapter.

Check out the best Xbox deals today for more discounts on Xbox accessories.

Aussies: Win an Exclusive EA Sports FC™ 25 Experience

In anticipation of the release of EA Sports FC™ 25 on September 27, Uber One is teaming up with EA Sports FC to kick off the Uber One EA SPORTS FC™ Underdog Academy, an exclusive training experience where budding EA SPORTS FC players who are Uber One members will have a chance to hone their in-game skills.

Not only will you be coached by an elite EA SPORTS FC player, but you’ll also get to compete in epic 1v1 showdowns, with the player who comes out on top taking home a mega gaming prize pack.

Six major prize winners will score:

  • An invitation to the Uber One EA Sports FC™ 25 Underdog Academy Experience 1-on-1 coaching from an EA Sports FC™ pro
  • EA Sports FC™ 25 Standard Edition
  • An elite gaming controller and high-end gaming headset
  • Return flights to Sydney from nearest capital city in Australia (if the winner lives outside NSW)
  • One night accommodation in Sydney and transfer to/from the event
  • Finally, the grand prize winner of the Uber One EA Sports FC™ 25 Underdog Academy Experience will take home all of the above as well as a 4K UHD TV and high-end soundbar.

We’ve also got a whopping 75 copies of the game to give out as runner-up prizes!

For your chance to win, all you need to do is join Uber One if you are not already a member and answer this question:

In 25 words or less, tell us why you need a personal EA Sports FC™ 25 coach.*

Got a good answer? Want to go from underdog to EA SPORTS FC™ 25 top dog? Click here to submit it and you could win!

*T&Cs – See full program terms and conditions [here] (t.uber.com/EAAUTC).

Store these system requirements in your head compartment before Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 takes off

Me, I’m a simple sort. All I want from my flight simulators is an unerringly accurate recreation of dozens of aircraft, a perfect physics model that includes the spectacle of relevant weather events, and a complete, photorealistic and 1:1 scale depiction of the entire planet earth.

You, you might be one of those fancy types, you might want to be able to get a job in your flight simulator, like crop duster or fire waterer. That’s what Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 is adding to the package when it launches in November. We now know its system requirements.

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Two Point Museum will open its doors to visitors in March 2025

If I took my kid to a dinosaur museum and the gift shop and hallways were full of Sonic merchandise, I think I’d be kind of confused. I think that makes the inclusion of such items as pre-order bonuses for Two Point Museum – alongside Knuckles staff costumes and Sonic-themed interactive exhibits – a pretty strong extra incentive not to pre-order.

But hey, at least the next management game in the growing 2.universe now has a release date: March 4th, 2025.

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Xbox Ambassadors Program Will Soon Shutter After More Than 13 Years

Microsoft has announced that it will soon phase out its Xbox Ambassadors program after 13 years of operations.

The company announced the news on its website today, saying that it will wind down the branch of its community efforts starting today. The Xbox Ambassador website will then shut down October 15, giving all current members of the service until then to claim any leftover codes and rewards.

Microsoft says Xbox Ambassadors “represent what a healthy gaming community is all about: Inclusivity, safety, and fun.” Participants accepted into the program to represent the Xbox umbrella by supporting the gamers under it, with the company’s goal being to use these knowledgeable players to maintain positivity among all its fans. Xbox Ambassadors are not employees but were required to meet a number of requirements in order join, including having at least 1,500 Gamerscore and being at least 17 years old. Standout members were rewarded with physical and digital goodies as well as editorial spotlights and sweepstakes opportunities.

Microsoft says it has “learned so much from this passionate group” but is choosing to shutter the program because of how the Xbox brand has evolved through the last decade. Seasonal Ambassador Quests will be phased out today, with the company promising to offer additional updates on how it plans to “expand” its Rewards with Xbox and Xbox Research offerings “soon.” The statement adds that players will soon have a “new, more global way to share feedback directly with” the company, teasing that select fans will have fresh ways to explore early access for new games and features.

“…we believe that now is the right moment to bring the learnings and values of the Ambassador community into all of our player engagement programs.”

“Players are finding more value in engaging with us in other ways that allow them to live our community values of making Xbox a place where everyone can have fun—including programs like Fanfest, Xbox Insider Program, and Rewards with Xbox,” today’s statement says. “Thanks to the work of this group, the chance for players to experience the joy of gaming is more global and inclusive than ever—and we believe that now is the right moment to bring the learnings and values of the Ambassador community into all of our player engagement programs.”

To help ease Xbox Ambassadors into a new era of Xbox, expect to see weekly sweepstakes for those looking to spend their tickets before the closure arrives mid-October. Ambassador badges will also be updated with “a special legacy design,” and those who remain active for this final season will receive “a special thank you” that will be detailed in the rewards page.

The phasing out of the Xbox Ambassadors program arrives amid a tumultuous year for Microsoft Gaming. The company, along with many others in the gaming industry, has been hit with wave after wave of layoffs. In January, Xbox cut 1,900 staff, with more shifting announced in May with the closure of studios Arkane Austin and Tango Gameworks. Another 650 staff were lost just last week.

Michael Cripe is a freelance contributor with IGN. He started writing in the industry in 2017 and is best known for his work at outlets such as The Pitch, The Escapist, OnlySP, and Gameranx.

Be sure to give him a follow on Twitter @MikeCripe.

GTA 5 Loses Steam Deck Verification as Rockstar Claims Valve’s Handheld Does Not Support Anti-Cheating Tech

You may have noticed that Grand Theft Auto V is no longer verified on Steam Deck. That’s seemingly because of the BattlEye new anti-cheat software for GTA Online, which rolled out earlier this week.

As Rockstar explains in its official FAQ, BattlEye is a kernel level anti-cheat intended to address some of the cheating problems in GTA Online. A side effect of this new software is that it apparently breaks GTA’s compatibility with Steam Deck, which Rockstar blames on Valve.

“Steam Deck does not support BattlEye for GTA Online. You will be able to play GTA V Story Mode but unable to play GTA Online,” Rockstar writes. “GTA V and GTA Online are not officially supported on Steam Deck and all technical support questions should be directed to Valve’s Steam Deck support content and community.”

What’s interesting is that Steam Deck does actually seem to support BattlEye. As The Verge pointed out, Valve has previously said that enabling BattlEye support on Steam Deck is seemingly a matter of reaching out and asking for them to effectively flip a switch.

One way or another, it’s a loss for both Valve and fans of the Steam Deck, as GTA V has consistently been one of the platform’s most popular games. We called it one of the 10 best games on the Steam Deck, eclipsed only by Elden Ring, writing, “In many ways, the sandbox world of violence and crime it offers is well suited for on-the-go gaming. It’s easy to lose yourself in the many distractions Los Santos offers, and passing time on a real city bus while you hijack a GTA city bus is a rare level of portable-gaming inception.”

IGN has reached out to Valve and Rockstar for additional comment.

In the meantime, you’ll still be able to enjoy GTA V’s story on Steam Deck, which definitely still holds up even more than a decade later. You just won’t be able to pull off portable heists online. Alas.

Kat Bailey is IGN’s News Director as well as co-host of Nintendo Voice Chat. Have a tip? Send her a DM at @the_katbot.

Tetsuya Nomura Reveals Why He Likes to Make Final Fantasy’s Villains So Wild and Unconventional

Famed Square Enix developer Tetsuya Nomura is known for his wild villains, from Sephiroth to Genesis, most of whom are clad in leather trenchcoats and have way, way too many belts.

Speaking to Young Jump and translated by Automaton, Nomura, who was most recently creative director on Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth but has worked in lead roles on myriad Square Enix projects, said a friend in high school expressed frustration at playing as an unattractive protagonist and this shaped his perspective for creating characters going forward.

“When I was in high school, a classmate was playing a game where the main character wasn’t good looking,” he explained. “They said, ‘Why do I have to be ugly in the game world too?’ Which really left a strong impression on me.”

Nomura therefore designed the characters for the likes of Final Fantasy 7, Final Fantasy 10, and Kingdom Hearts to be especially cool and interesting looking, though admitted he doesn’t go all out with player characters because it makes them too hard to relate to.

“If you go out of your way to make them unconventional, you will end up with a character who is too distinct and hard to empathize with,” Nomura said. His wildest ideas therefore go into antagonists like Sephiroth, when players are expected to dislike them.

The Final Fantasy series is full of over the top characters, of course, with even the more reserved ones, by Nomura’s standards, still standing out amongst the crowd. Final Fantasy 7 protagonist Cloud, for example, has giant spiky blonde hair and a six foot long sword on his back.

Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth is the latest game in the long running franchise, though the PC version of Final Fantasy 16 released just earlier this week. Both games have caused a change in strategy at Square Enix, however, as they each underperformed and sparked a shift to multiplatform releases instead of focusing primarily on PlayStation.

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