Grand Theft Auto 6 Among Games Exempt from Video Game Voice Actor Strike

Yesterday, SAG-AFTRA officially announced that it is officially on strike; this time, it is for video game voice actors. As the strike commences, many games currently in development will be affected due to the labor strikes. However, one notable game that will not be affected is Rockstar Games’ upcoming open-world game, which is undoubtedly one of next year’s most highly anticipated titles: Grand Theft Auto 6.

First reported by Kotaku and independently verified by IGN, Grand Theft Auto 6 is exempt from the video game voice actor strike. Take-Two declined IGN’s request for comment.

Additionally, this claim of GTA 6’s exemption from the video game voice actors strike can be verified by heading to the SAG-AFTRA database, which includes a search tool allowing SAG-AFTRA members to search for the struck status of video game projects. Below, you can read the message on SAG-AFTRA’s website regarding GTA VI’s exemption.

“While not struck, this game is produced by a struck company. If you have been engaged under a daily contract for this game, you can show solidarity with your fellow union members by choosing not to sign new contracts on the game. However, you may work the game and will not be disciplined for doing so.”

GTA 6 is exempt from the video game voice actors strike because games already in production before August 25, 2023, including live service games, are covered by the previous contractual agreement between SAG-AFTRA and gaming companies. However, actors may still choose not to work on the game in solidarity with fellow members and cannot be penalized by employers.

Grand Theft Auto 6 was officially revealed in December 2023. Its first trailer became a mega-hit for Rockstar Games, becoming YouTube’s most-viewed video game reveal within 24 hours. Set in the modern-day fictionalized version of Florida, players control Lucia and an unnamed male, who fans theorize is named Jason.

Upon its initial reveal, Rockstar confirmed that GTA 6 would be released in 2025. However, Take-Two Interactive would narrow that release window in May 2024, when CEO Strauss Zelnick told IGN in an interview that the company was “highly confident” that GTA would not be delayed, while also revealing the game would be released in Fall 2025 for PS5 and Xbox Series X/S.

While GTA 6 remains technically unaffected by the strikes, that does not mean the gaming industry will feel the effects of this ongoing labor strike. For more on what the strike means for gamers, check out our FAQ that runs down why the voice actors are on strike and why the union is seeking AI protections in its next contract.

Taylor is a Reporter at IGN. You can follow her on Twitter @TayNixster.

Valorant Out Now on PS5 and Xbox Series X and S

Valorant has launched on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and S in open beta form, Riot has announced.

The free-to-play team-based shooter already enjoys enormous popularity on PC, where it launched first in 2020. But there are some key differences between the PC version and this console port.

On PC, hip-fire is Valorant’s primary shooting mode, and aim-down-sights (ADS) is a secondary, supporting mode. For the console port, Riot created Focus, a new shooting mode that functions much like hip-fire but with reduced sensitivity.

In a post on Xbox Wire, Microsoft said Valorant on console lets players shoot from the hip whenever they need speed in moving both their camera and aim (think: peeking around corners and dodging) but with the ability to utilize Focus mode whenever they need to pull off a precise, calibrated headshot.

“Some of the Agent abilities have been adapted for the new input controls, and various tunings across the board have all contributed to the team’s number one priority: capturing the dynamic pacing and mechanically expressive feel of the original,” Microsoft continued.

Because of this difference, Valorant does not feature crossplay between PC and console (crossplay is available between PS5 and Xbox Series X and S). “This is primarily due to a focus on maintaining the title’s competitive integrity, given the control changes required to bring the game to console,” Microsoft explained.

There is, however, shared cross-progression across PC and console, which means your inventory carries over. So, if you unlock skins on PC or console, they’ll work across the two. Similarly, battle pass progression carries across both versions.

The open beta comes ahead of the full console launch, which on Xbox includes bonuses for Game Pass subscribers. In the open beta and the full launch, Game Pass members unlock every Agent released so far, as well as any new additions on day one.

In addition to console ports, Riot announced in 2021 that it is working on a mobile version of Valorant. Riot promised that the mobile version would provide “the same competitive Valorant experience” currently available on PC. However, news on this version has been scarce since its initial announcement.

Last October, Bloomberg reported that Valorant had 28 million monthly players, with 70% of the player-base belonging to Gen Z.

In our review of Valorant, IGN wrote: “Valorant is a clever tactical hero shooter that’s plenty deep and a lot of fun to master.”

Taylor is a Reporter at IGN. You can follow her on Twitter @TayNixster.

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.

Poll: Do You Prefer Fire Emblem: Three Houses Or Engage?

Fight fire with fire.

Believe it or not, today marks five years since Fire Emblem: Three Houses launched on Switch. We’d imagine that most of you SRPG fans out there have polished it off by this point — we’d go even further to wager that you have likely done the same for its successor, Fire Emblem Engage, which is now a little over a year old.

Despite existing in the same series, anyone who has played the two latest titles will have noticed the staggering differences between them. Three Houses (the first home console release for the franchise in over a decade, let’s not forget) took things in a bold new direction, with a game that was just as tied to its social sim appeal as it was to the tactical battles. The turn-based shenanigans were all still present and correct — bar the removal of the iconic Weapon Triangle — but the moments between were packed with OTT drama, romance and slice-of-life activities to make the whole experience feel that bit different. Brilliant, but different.

Read the full article on nintendolife.com

Valorant’s Xbox Series X|S Open Beta Begins Today – Here’s Why It’s No Simple Port

Valorant Hero Image

Valorant’s Xbox Series X|S Open Beta Begins Today – Here’s Why It’s No Simple Port

Valorant enters Open Beta on Xbox… today! It comes ahead of a full console launch that brings some major bonuses for Game Pass members. Having been lucky enough to have had a chance to play it at Riot’s Los Angeles studio, it’s clear that this is no simple port –  the team has meticulously retooled this modern classic team shooter for Xbox.

For those unfamiliar, Valorant follows in the genre footsteps of competitive shooters like the legendary PC title Counter-Strike. Unlike that game’s military-themed setting, however, Valorant is set on a futuristic version of Earth, where players pick from a variety of Agents rooted in a specific culture, location and visual style. Beyond their weaponry, each is equipped with a distinct set of tactical skills that can be used for things like gathering intel, reinforcing areas, scouting enemy positions, breaking through defenses, and dominating territories in various ways.

It offers a deft mix of dynamic action and tactical considerations, driven by kinetic gunplay and the creative use of unique player abilities. All of this adds up to a highly skill-based but also highly strategic shooter, which has kept the      Valorant community vibrant – and the game ever-evolving – since its PC debut in 2020.

Riot is sparing no effort in bringing the title to Xbox. Primarily, that comes through reproducing the finely-tuned balance that’s made the PC title such a hit – the team went through many iterations of translating the original mouse-and-keyboard controls to gamepad input. Perhaps the landmark new feature in this regard is what’s being called Focus mode.

On PC, Hip-Fire is the primary shooting mode, and Aim-Down-Sights is a secondary, supporting mode; the team experimented with multiple adaptations and gamepad sensitivities to try to accurately reproduce this on console, but never found a combination they were completely happy with. Hip-Fire didn’t feel the same, and the player didn’t have the same range of possibilities; the result was an overall dampened level of player expressiveness.

Enter Focus, a new shooting mode that functions much like Hip-Fire, but with reduced sensitivity. This lets players shoot from the hip whenever they need speed in moving both their camera and aim (think: peeking around corners and dodging) but with the ability to utilize Focus mode whenever they need to pull off a precise, calibrated headshot. Some of the Agent abilities have been adapted for the new input controls, and various tunings across the board have all contributed to the team’s number one priority: capturing the dynamic pacing and mechanically expressive feel of the original.

It’s worth noting that while there will be cross-play across consoles, cross-play will not be available between PC and console player matches; this is primarily due to a focus on maintaining the title’s competitive integrity, given the control changes required to bring the game to console. There will, however, be shared cross-progression across PC and console, meaning that your inventory will carry over—if you unlock skins on PC or on console, they’ll work across the two. Battle Pass, likewise, will maintain progress on both versions.

In terms of content, Valorant on Xbox maintains 1:1 continuity with everything the PC title has accrued since launch: all maps, weapons, modes and characters are included (and, with a Game Pass membership, you unlock every Agent released so far, as well as any new additions on day one). The game has received countless updates and tweaks since its debut, and all of this polish will therefore be available in the day one build on Xbox.

Jumping in on Xbox Series X, Valorant feels immediately familiar and playable with Xbox controller input. In the game’s standard mode (dubbed “Unrated”), two teams compete in a points-based 5v5 format, taking turns attacking and defending positions across six  maps. As in Counter-Strike, players can buy guns, armor, and abilities at the start of each round, and careful strategy in this phase is essential for achieving the most effective loadouts possible.

The game’s punchy, colorful visuals feel at home on big living room TV screens, and everything runs at a silky-smooth framerate. Most importantly, the game feels great with the Xbox controller, from running and gunning to scoring a clutch headshot in Focus mode.

As with Counter-Strike, Valorant’s seemingly simple mechanics and structure belie an extremely deep, strategic experience. While it’s an easy game to pick up for anyone with experience playing first-person shooters, there’s a lot beneath the surface: learning all of the 24 current characters’ abilities and eccentricities, the 15 unique maps, and achieving both the muscle memory and strategic exploits required to win entail a level of dedication that has certainly helped give the game its long tail.

Indeed, Valorant’s console release speaks to Riot’s hope that this long tail will keep extending itself. “We’re getting to the starting line as we like to say,” says executive producer Andy Ho. “This is a game that we don’t have an end date in mind for. We want to invest in it on an infinite horizon, so that players feel like their investment into the game is always going to be worth it.”

Valorant begins its Xbox Series X|S Open Beta today. In Open Beta and the full launch version, Game Pass members will unlock all Agents.

The post Valorant’s Xbox Series X|S Open Beta Begins Today – Here’s Why It’s No Simple Port appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Share of the Week – Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn

Last week, we asked you journey to the world of Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn and share epic moments using #PSshare #PSBlog. Here are this week’s highlights:

secondcapture shares a detailed look at the back of Nor Vanek, including her tattoos, hair, and gun holster

m_nt_13 shares Nor Vanek leaping upward, leaving behind a trail of purple sparks

spec_arc shares Nor Vanek standing in a cave, ax drawn

GioWayne86 shares an image looking up at Nor Vanek in a red outfit, ax drawn and in focus

Horizon_VP shares Nor Vanek standing in a stone archway that frames a fortress in the distance

VivaceVivianV shares Enki the fox standing to the right of a glowing red obelisk

Search #PSshare #PSBlog on Twitter or Instagram to see more entries to this week’s theme. Want to be featured in the next Share of the Week?

THEME: Games within Games
SUBMIT BY: 11:59 PM PT on July 31, 2024

Next week, we turn the spotlight on games within a video game. From sports to cards, or challenges to races, share your favorite characters taking part in an in-game game using #PSshare #PSBlog for a chance to be featured.

Final update to Morrowind-like RPG Dread Delusion adds a big nautilus with a town built inside its shell

In a recent interview, the director of The Elder Scrolls Online said that if you made Morrowind today, it would struggle to find an audience. “If you play that right now,” he said, “there is no compass, no map, literally the quests are like ‘go to the third tree on the right and walk 50 paces west’… And if you did that now, no one would play it. Very few people would play it.” Well sir, have you heard of a little open world RPG called Dread Delusion? It’s pretty good. And what’s more, it has just added a whole new area with – let me see – a giant floating squid creature with an entire town of citizens living inside its shell.

Read more

The 7th Continent Board Game Buying Guide and Expansions

The 7th Continent, a game that emerged from a wildly successful Kickstarter campaign, has not only met but exceeded the high expectations initially set for it. It’s an immersive game that draws inspiration from choose-your-own-adventure novels, video games, as well as legendary authors Jules Verne and H.P. Lovecraft. It’s not just one of the best cooperative board games but also an exhilarating solo experience that has earned its place among the medium’s finest.

As with other successful board games, The 7th Continent has seen several expansions that further iterate upon the core gameplay and add more harrowing scenarios. Given the number of releases over the years, however, it might be difficult to decide which packages to consider and in which order. That’s why we have crafted this handy buying guide that will walk you through the various releases and what each offers. Luckily, starting isn’t too difficult as there is really only one place to begin, the base game.

The Base Game

The 7th Continent

MSRP: $69.00 USD

  • Age: 14+
  • Players: 1-4
  • Play Time: 5-1000 mins

The 7th Continent is a heavily thematic board game that immerses players in the story of explorers returning to the newly discovered titular land. Together, they must remove a curse placed upon them during their last expedition. The continent, still largely uncharted, remains treacherous and mysterious, unfolding before players as they explore. The game doesn’t give players much direction when it comes to lifting the curse. Instead, players are dropped into a dangerous world, asked to explore, and must deal with various perils as they appear. This enveloping narrative, combined with the game’s unique mechanics, creates a challenging and captivating experience.

Mechanically speaking, The 7th Continent is a narrative-driven card game with an expanding board of tiles that are placed when players meet various requirements. Like other explorative survival board games, it features crafting, combat, and even RPG elements. However, it’s The 7th Continent’s unique mechanics that set it apart from other titles in the genre, making it an unforgettable experience. For example, the card deck players draw from to resolve actions and add to their respective hands also serves as their life force. Once players work their way through the deck, they risk pulling a curse card, ending the game and resulting in a loss. Also, you might notice that campaigns can run quite long; luckily, however, The 7th Continent includes a handy save feature that allows players to pause, pack up the contents, and pick up the story at a later time. Still, due to its length, it might be difficult to get the same group of players together, but you can also take The 7th Continent at your own pace as a single-player campaign, considering it is one of the best solo board games currently available.

The various curses in the box make up the scenarios, and there are four alone in the base game—each of which takes players hours to complete. Multiple curses can be combined in the same campaign to add even more variability to the base game. With plenty of random events baked in, the Core Box offers plenty of replayability on its own, but players looking to revisit the mystifying world on multiple occasions may want to check out one of The 7th Continent’s several expansions.

Main Expansions

The 7th Continent: The Crystal’s Song & Game Modes Expansion

MSRP: $12.00 USD

Components (REQUIRES THE BASE GAME)

  • 1 New Curse
  • 3 New Game Modes
  • 1 Divider
  • 40 New Cards

While The Voracious Goddess curse in the Core Box was initially the recommended starting point for new players, The Crystal’s Song curse in this expansion has since become the ideal first scenario thanks to its brief and tutorial-esque introduction to The 7th Continent’s mechanics. In fact, publisher Serious Poulp bundles The Crystal’s Song and the Core Box together as a starter pack. Additionally, the expansion includes an easier Prodigy Mode, an advanced Immortal Mode, and a tense Traitor Mode that gives players secret objectives. Not only is this the first expansion most players should pick up, but it’s actually a recommended purchase alongside the base game if possible.

The 7th Continent: The Icy Maze Expansion

MSRP: $20.00 USD

Components (REQUIRES THE BASE GAME)

  • 1 New Curse
  • 96 New Cards

The 7th Continent Website actually recommends playing The Icy Maze before The Bloody Hunt – the last curse in the Core Box, which requires an in-depth knowledge of the map and mechanics. It’s certainly not a requirement to play The Icy Maze before finishing the base game, or at all, even, but if you feel that cutting your teeth on the more advanced Bloody Hunt is trying your patience, just know it’s designed too. The Icy Maze places an emphasis on movement, eventually giving players a greater understanding of the various corners of the continent.

The 7th Continent: The Forbidden Sanctuary Expansion

MSRP: $20.00 USD

Components (REQUIRES THE BASE GAME)

  • 1 New Curse
  • 96 New Cards

The Forbidden Sanctuary is the next recommended curse from the makers of The 7th Continent. This curse takes players to a mysterious temple riddled with booby traps. Learning the secrets hidden inside can be treacherous, but it’s necessary to lift the curse. Like the other expansions listed here, The Forbidden Sanctuary is designed to fit right into the Core Box and requires the base game.

The 7th Continent: The Veins of the Earth Expansion

MSRP: $25.00 USD

Components (REQUIRES THE BASE GAME)

  • 1 New Curse
  • 149 New Cards
  • Barge Standee
  • 4 Dividers

The Veins of the Earth expansion gives players a look at what lurks below the continent. Underground waterways span the entire continent, which players will discover as they float along on their barge. The added layer to this mysterious land is accompanied by its own set of perils for explorers to stumble across. Initially, The Veins of the Earth was bundled with A Prison of Clouds, Forgotten Passages, and The Crystal’s Song in a collector’s expansion box available through Kickstarter. All of these, except for The Crystal’s Song, can still be purchased in the What Goes Up, Must Come Down bundle – a nod to the title of the original expansion title.

The 7th Continent: A Prison of Clouds Expansion

MSRP: $25.00 USD

Components (REQUIRES THE BASE GAME)

  • 1 New Curse
  • 169 New Cards
  • Hot Air Baloon Standee
  • 4 Dividers

While The Veins of the Earth explored the underground passages of the continent, A Prison of Clouds has players taking to the skies in a hot air balloon. The two expansions together serve to expand the map vertically, and A Prison of Clouds even allows players to land on the continent whenever they choose and explore on foot. In fact, it’s a necessary excursion as you will certainly face strong headwinds and intense hunger along your journey that will require you to trek on foot for a bit.

The 7th Continent: Forgotten Passages Expansion

MSRP: $20.00 USD

Components (REQUIRES THE BASE GAME)

  • 3 New Explorers
  • 115 New Cards
  • 3 Character Standees

While Forgotten Passages doesn’t include any new curses against which players can test their skills and luck, the expansion does include plenty of new cards and three new explorers with various abilities. Joining the cast are the skilled hunter Anjika, American aviator Amelia Earhart, and English Gentleman Phileas Fogg, along with his valet Jean Passerpartout. Not to mention, new alternate terrain cards change up the map enough to keep players on their toes.

The 7th Continent: Facing the Elements Expansion

MSRP: $20.00 USD

Components (REQUIRES THE BASE GAME)

  • 40 New Cards
  • 5 Cardboard Figures
  • 5 Plastic Stands

As if curses and traps weren’t enough, Facing the Elements adds various acts of nature to the world of The 7th Continent. These random events can throw a wrench in your excursion entirely, or they can perhaps aid you in your exploration. Again, there’s no new curse here, but these wild card events can help keep things interesting and add even more depth to an already content-rich game.

The 7th Continent: Fear the Devourers Expansion

MSRP: $20.00 USD

Components (REQUIRES THE BASE GAME)

  • 30 New Cards
  • 7 Rock Worm Standees

Fear the Devourers adds the fearsome Rockworm to The 7th Continent. These random exploration cards fold right into the base game and can pose quite a challenge. If not immediately dealt with, these creatures will remain a persistent threat. Players who want a bit of extra challenge added to the base game without a ton of extra rules should check out Fear the Devourers.

The 7th Continent: The Flying Roots Expansion

MSRP: $20.00 USD

Components (REQUIRES THE BASE GAME)

  • 40 New Cards
  • 6 Flying Roots Standees

Like Fear the Devourers, The Flying Roots adds another interesting element to the base game. Unlike the Rockworms, however, it’s initially unclear what the flying roots’ intentions actually are. While these plants aren’t necessarily nefarious, their presence can serve as quite a hindrance. This new mysterious addition is perhaps a bit deeper and has more in store for players who choose to investigate them further.

Mini-Expansions

The 7th Continent: Path of Repentance Expansion

MSRP: $10.00 USD

Components (REQUIRES THE BASE GAME)

  • 30 New Cards

Path of Repentance is a small but meaningful expansion that further deepens the thematic experience of The 7th Continent. This mini-expansion builds upon the sleep mechanic from the base game but goes the extra mile to illustrate just how mentally distraught the crew is over the looming curse. To speak too much about the Path of Repentance would spoil the experience, but just know that, especially at $10, this mini-expansion is well worth the price of admission.

The 7th Continent: Comfort Creatures Expansion

MSRP: $10.00 USD

Components (REQUIRES THE BASE GAME)

  • 30 New Cards

Comfort Creatures inserts a bit more randomness and fun into the 7th Continent experience. This mini-expansion adds an egg that will hatch into a mysterious creature if cared for. Hatch and raise the newborn beast to potentially gain a powerful companion to aid you on your journeys across the strange land.

Bottom Line

The 7th Continent is an excellent cooperative board game for small groups and a great solo experience as well. The base game is required for all expansions, many of which add new curses that can either replace or supplement the base scenarios. Other expansions add new players, foes, and mechanics. The Crystal’s Song is a great purchase alongside the base game, as it helps onboard new players with its streamlined tutorial scenario.

For even more great tabletop recommendations, see our picks for the best board games to play right now. Our list of the best dungeon crawler board games is another great resource for those looking to pick up some more great solo and cooperative titles.

Bobby Anhalt is a contributing freelancer for IGN covering board games and LEGOs. He has more than 8 years of experience writing about the gaming industry with bylines at Game Rant, Screen Rant, TheXboxHub, and Ranker. You can follow him on Twitter.

Final Fantasy & Persona Voice Actors Are Making A Game Where You Can Date Everything

And it’s called… Date Everything!

Team17 and Sassy Chap Games have announced a brand new video game that will let you date 100 different objects. Yes, we said objects, that’s not a typo.

Date Everything is coming to all platforms, including Switch, “soon”. Described as a sandbox dating simulator, your character is given a pair of magical glasses that makes their entire house come alive — which somehow leads you to fall in love with household items like a computer, a basket, and obviously pets.

Read the full article on nintendolife.com

Remnant 2’s Third and Final DLC, The Dark Horizon, Revealed

Remnant 2‘s third and final DLC is called The Dark Horizon, developer Gunfire Games has announced.

The announcement was made a year after the successful launch of the co-op shooter sequel, dubbed ‘Dark Souls with guns’, alongside a release window of September 2024.

“Players will return to the necropolis world of N’Erud only to discover that a bizarre phenomenon has taken hold,” Gunfire teased.

The September 2024 release window for The Dark Horizon amounts to a delay of sorts, given Gunfire had committed to releasing all three DLCs in Remnant 2’s first year.

“We’ve made the difficult decision to move back the release of our third DLC, so that we have more time to deliver you the best possible experience that you deserve,” Gunfire explained.

“Our goal is for The Dark Horizon to be the most expansive DLC for Remnant 2. Not only have we packed this DLC full of even more of the Remnant greatness you’ve come to expect, we’re also hard at work on a brand-new game mode that will be free for everyone that we’ll reveal soon along with a new progression system.

“While we’re not happy about delaying this DLC release – one you’ve been itching to jump into already – we feel very lucky to see your ongoing support and loyalty to the Remnant franchise. The past year has been nothing short of amazing, and we’re glad that Remnant 2 and its DLCs have brought you as much joy as it has brought us creating this world for you. That said, we’re not quite done yet, more news about The Dark Horizon DLC will come soon!

“Thank you once again for your continued support and for being an essential part of the Remnant family. We are excited for what the future holds and look forward to sharing more adventures with you.”

Remnant 2 launched in July 2023 to significant praise from players and critics alike, and sold more than one million copies in its first week across Xbox Series X and S, PlayStation 5, and PC. It went on to take down Diablo 4 as July’s best-selling game in the U.S. By the end of September 2023, it had sold over two million units.

IGN’s 9/10 review called Remnant 2 “a triumphant sequel that doesn’t just reimagine the soulslike genre as a co-op looter-shooter, but absolutely nails that concept in nearly every way.”

With Remnant 2 DLC wrapping up soon, thoughts inevitably turn to Gunfire’s next game and the possibility of Remnant 3.

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.