I’ve not played Counter- Strike 2 in yonks, but I know a big update when I see one. That’s right: Valve have added some new crates just outside of counter-terrorist spawn, near bombsite A. This means that players can now use these boxes to hop from CT up to catwalk with little fuss, where previously you’d need to use your teammates’ heads as a springboard. What does this mean as a layperson who sort of plays the game sometimes? More than you might think!
Remastered strength.
After a brief delay, the latest UK charts are in and while all of the familiar faces remain at the top, Prime Day sales have shaken things up elsewhere.
The top three are unchanged this time around, with Hogwarts Legacy, EA Sports FC 24 and Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD claiming the podium. The only real surprises in the top ten this week are the inclusion of Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown at ninth thanks to some recent sales — considering it hasn’t even made the top 40 for a while, that’s not bad going — and The Witcher III: Wild Hunt Complete Edition making the jump from 37th to tenth.
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Nintendo games can be pricey, but Switch fans can still find fantastic deals. Throughout the year, there are numerous sales on games, Switch consoles, and accessories that are worth exploring. We’ve gathered the top deals currently available below, including Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown for Switch for $24.99 (50% off), the Timmy & Tommy’s Aloha Edition Nintendo Switch Lite bundle for $159 at Walmart, and more. Check out our favorite deals at the moment below, and for more updates on the latest discounts, follow @IGNDeals on Twitter or Threads.
Announced alongside The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom during June’s Nintendo Direct, the Nintendo Switch Lite: Hyrule Edition handheld console is officially up for preorder. Best Buy is offering preorders for $209.99 with orders shipping out on September 26. That’s $10 more than a stock Switch Lite, but that’s more than justified by the fact that this edition includes a 12 month Switch Online + Expansion Pack membership.
Walmart still has this excellent deal available, which is worth taking advantage of if you’ve been hoping to get your hands on a Switch console. Right now, you can grab a Nintendo Switch Lite (Timmy & Tommy’s Aloha Edition) bundle with Animal Crossing for 20% off, marking it down to $159.
There are quite a few different Switch games on sale at the moment that are worth picking up for your collection. Some of our favorites right now are Super Mario Maker 2 for $39.99, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild for $44.95, Super Mario RPG for $38.95, and Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown, which is 50% off to just $24.99. You can see even more of our favorite Switch game deals below.
More Switch Video Game Deals
The best Switch SD card should be fast, reliable, and as future-proof as possible. That last one is important, especially with the Switch successor on the horizon. Therefore, you’re going to want to opt for the latest in SD card tech, which is a micro SDXC UHS-I U3 A2 V30 memory card. That’s a lot of random letters, so to save you a bit of time we’ve left our top suggestions and deals just above and below for your convenience (like this excellent deal on a Lexar 1TB PLAY microSDXC Memory Card for $73.99). To see even more SD card deals, make sure to check out our roundup of the best SD card deals.
More Switch Micro SD Card Deals
Whether you’re looking for a new controller or a little bag to carry your Switch in, there are quite a few different deals on Nintendo Switch accessories that are worth checking out right now as well. Here, we’ve listed just a few of our favorite discounts at a variety of retailers that are worth picking up right now.
The short answer is that you should buy a Nintendo Switch whenever there’s any kind of sale, regardless of the time of year. Amazon will likely offer the same console bundles on any other sale as it will on Black Friday or Amazon Prime Day, so there’s no real reason to wait if you’re in need of a Nintendo Switch.
That being said, there are sometimes some unique bundles and promotions during Black Friday that you won’t find any other time of the year. They usually includes additional games (like the infamous Mario Kart 8 bundle) or Switch accessories for free, but quantities tend to be limited. As always, do your research into the seller before you make a purchase and keep in mind that the Nintendo Switch 2 is coming out next year.
Where to Buy a Nintendo Switch in 2024
With how expensive gaming is getting in 2024, we’re trying to save you as much money as possible on the games and other tech you actually want to buy. We’ve got great deal roundups available for all major platforms such as PlayStation and Xbox, and keep these updated daily with brand-new offers. If you’re trying to keep costs down while maintaining your favorite hobby, stay tuned for more incredible discounts.
Robert Anderson is a deals expert and Commerce Editor for IGN. You can follow him @robertliam21 on Twitter.
A glance at comedy medieval medic sim Stretcher Men might have you believe it is a co-op game about co-ordination and teamwork. Not so! It’s a singleplayer game in which you control not one but both carriers of a stretcher. You have to ferry a sick man over the hilly countryside, past muddy lake banks and over snowy mountains, all without dropping him on the ground. I can only imagine it controls a bit like Brothers: A Tale Of Two Sons, but with added ragdoll jollity. We’ll know next week, when it releases on Steam.
One of the most memorable moments of Metro Exodus comes from a standoff with a giant catfish, who you have to avoid for a while (along with the cultists who worship it) before going “fishing” using an entire human corpse as bait. I didn’t expect to see any rival catfish appearing in games after that, but now that I think about it – why not? They’re a naturally freaky animal, perfect video game antagonists. And the developers of upcoming Japanese folklore ’em up Otoshi No Shima seem to understand this, having created a monstrous creature with a gaping mouth that follows the player at every turn. Come see.
Starry-eyed.
Photos capture a moment in time with full objectivity. They can defy our version of events, and settle ‘that’s not how it happened’ arguments. In these cases, you could say fitting a photo into one’s memory becomes a…puzzle.
For this review’s sake, please think about that metaphor, because it’s the premise of The Star Named EOS. Silver Lining Studio and PLAYISM have delivered a puzzler built into an emotional narrative. And, like a photo, this game is just a brief snapshot, yet it manages to tell an in-depth story.
Read the full article on nintendolife.com
“Mega Man is one of our highly-valued IPs”.
Mega Man has received a lot of collections in recent years, but there hasn’t actually been a new mainline entry in the series since the release of Mega Man 11 in 2018. It seems there is no need to worry though, as Capcom has once again reassured fans that this classic series is still a big part of its plans going forward.
During its 45th General Shareholders meeting, Capcom mentioned how Mega Man is still one of the company’s most “highly-valued IPs” and it’s always “considering how to create games for it on an ongoing basis” (thanks, Rockman Corner).
Read the full article on nintendolife.com
More improvements to frame rate and stability.
The RPG Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes wasn’t in the best state when it first arrived on the Switch but the team behind the game has slowly improved the experience over time. Following a patch earlier this month, the “DAY60 Patch” has now been rolled out for all platforms including the Switch.
This patch improves the functionality and stability of the game on the Switch and bumps this particular build up to Version 1.0.7:
Read the full article on nintendolife.com
Hello, everyone. I’m Sky, the lead designer from Perfect World Games’ Hotta Studio. It’s hard to believe that Tower of Fantasy launched on PlayStation nearly a year ago. We are immensely grateful for your support and love for the game.
To celebrate this significant milestone, we are thrilled to announce the upcoming Version 4.2 update, packed with exciting new content. And, of course, we have special anniversary rewards! By participating in in-game events, you can earn up to 299 draws, 1,000 Dark Crystals, free vehicles, Shirli’s Haute Couture, and more. We can’t wait for you to join in the festivities.
Summer is here, and we’ve got exclusive summer events just for you, set to launch soon.
Cheers! Summer Dance Off!: Join the yacht party where DJ Miss Anka will keep the energy high with her electrifying music. Stay long enough, and you’ll be treated to random gifts as a special guest!
Fruit Attack: The scorching sun has driven the fruits mad, and they’ve started diving into the sea, terrifying the nearby beachgoers! Head to the beach, hunt down these crazy fruits, and save the day while collecting refreshing fruit slices.
A Song of Water: Engage in a thrilling survival battle, dodging water balloons and showcasing your strategic skills.
Aesperia Volleyball Match: Get ready for intense volleyball matches that will rival the blazing sun and crashing waves.
We’ve also prepared plenty of event rewards. Authorizers can earn the Rocktooth Shark Vehicle, accessories, name cards, and more by participating in these events.
In the previous plot, Authorizers encountered the phantom thief group, Wednesday. In Version 4.2, you’ll dive deeper into Nola’s story.
Nicknamed Fang, Nola has swiftly dismantled various underground gangs in Aesperia, causing surrounding forces to be on high alert. Her sharp judgment has been crucial to the success of the “Wednesday” Phantom Thief group, establishing her as the undisputed boss. However, she has a significant void in her life—besides her name, Nola, she has no previous memories. Finding out about her past has been her primary pursuit.
Nola wields a unique weapon called Rumble, which has an Altered Damage attribute and combines a motorcycle and a greatsword. In non-combat situations, Rumble can change its elemental type, allowing Nola to choose from five different attributes, offering great versatility in team compositions. Additionally, in the open world, using the dodge skill Sonic Skyrider, Nola can instantly kill non-boss monsters after a certain time, greatly facilitating exploration.
Nola’s Haute Couture Swimsuit, Windswept Coast, will debut on August 20. Her long hair flows in the sea breeze, and the sheer fabric on her body flutters in the wind, making it seem as though she is dancing with the sea waves.
Anka’s swimsuit, Whimsy Fruit Punch Night, and the Authorizer’s swimsuit, Summer Special, will also be available starting from August 6, adding an extra touch of summer coolness to Astra Coast.
After the version update, Authorizers can enter a specific room via the Dorm option in the simulacrum interface, immersing themselves deeply in her daily life. By actively participating in the Dorm gameplay and the accompanying Splendid Residence activities, Authorizers can use rewards to accelerate unlocking Dorm features, ensuring intimate and unforgettable moments with the simulacrum.
The Aesperia Central District map is coming soon. This area embodies administrative, commercial, and residential functions. Aesperia’s largest commercial hub, Sylvia Business Street, the vibrant Azure Coast with its abundant water activities and tourists, and the renowned company Schuder Electronics famed throughout Aida, are all located here, awaiting your visit. More importantly, it boasts the tower-shaped energy-guiding device, Tower of Fantasy, which has brought a bright future to Aesperia. Let’s explore the heart of this sci-fi metropolis together!
After the August 6 update, the main storyline Behind the Neon Lights will officially launch! Interactive devices will be available across the entire map, and the new world boss, Ground Controller, is ready to challenge the Authorizer.
We’ve prepared a variety of free rewards as well! By participating in in-game events, you can earn up to 299 draws, 1,000 Dark Crystals, and even Nemesis Haute Couture Shirli and weapon appearance White Dwarf, Jetpack Skin Neon Mech Wings, Head Accessory Tata’s Ultimate Support Blue Dolphin Sunglasses, and more. We are looking forward to your participation.
Tower of Fantasy version 4.2 will bring even more exciting content. We look forward to meeting you in the new version and exploring a brand new world of adventure together.
Before the award-winning RPGs or live-action show, there was The Witcher book series. Andrzej Sapkowski’s original story of Geralt of Rivia was heavily inspired by Slavic mythology as well as classic fantasy series like Lord of the Rings. Whether you already enjoyed Netflix or CD Projekt’s The Witcher adaptations or are just looking for a great book series, this wild world is worth diving into.
Andrzej Sapkowski has technically published four short story collections and six Witcher books since he started writing the series back in the mid-’80s. Geralt of Rivia’s first appearance in print was in a short story called Wiedzmín — “The Witcher” — published in the fantasy magazine Fantastyka in 1985. It quickly became a hit, leading to countless more short stories that were published as a collection called Wiedzmin in 1990. This collection is now out of print and every story it contains except one — “The Road to No Return” — was included in 1993’s The Last Wish.
So, after getting those details out of the way, here are the two short story collections and six books we recommend (in order) on our The Witcher Reading Guide:
The Last Wish is your starting point in The Witcher, which is important to note because it was published a year after 1992’s Sword of Destiny. The Last Wish takes almost every single story from Wiedzmín and adds more, all of which feature events that occur before the previously published Sword of Destiny. It’s basically a prequel collection written to prep you for Sword of Destiny, the second collection of short stories that continue to expand on Geralt’s adventures and first introduces the character of Ciri. If you’re solely interested in covering what’s featured early on in the TV series, The Last Wish and Sword of Destiny short story collections should be fine. However, if you want to know the ins and outs of the world and ensure that you’re a true Witcher connoisseur, you’ll want to dive deeper into the saga below.
Once you’ve read The Last Wish and Sword of Destiny, you’re ready to move on to the saga. This saga comprises of five novels, all of which tell the stories of Geralt, Ciri, Yennefer, Triss, Dandelion, and other characters you may recognize from the games. These books also introduce a range of characters that don’t appear in CD Projekt Red’s adaptations, most of whom are great. The Witcher saga focuses largely on the relationship between Geralt and Ciri. This is where the bulk of Geralt’s stories unfold, and makes up the main constituent of The Witcher universe at large — at least in terms of Sapkowski’s conception of it. Here are the five novels in order:
The first book in the saga, Blood of Elves, introduces Nilfgaardian Emperor Emhyr var Emreis’ pursuit of Ciri, Geralt’s adopted daughter, in order to marry her and attain power over Cintra, the land that is hers by birthright. In an effort to thwart Emhyr’s plans, the Northern monarchs meet and decide to assassinate Ciri, but Geralt of Rivia watches over her in Kaer Morhen, the remote keep inhabited by Wolf School witchers. Meanwhile, a mysterious sorcerer is also trying to locate Ciri.
The Time of Contempt picks up where the previous novel finishes. The Northern Kings are still conspiring with one another in an effort to lure Nilfgaard into war, while Ciri is due to be enrolled at Aretuza in order to study magic. Ciri comes into contact with some of the most powerful sorceresses on The Continent. As war becomes inevitable, she finds herself on the run with a bandit group known simply as The Rats.
Geralt spends time in Brokilon forest recovering from events in the previous book, which is where he and Dandelion encounter an elven archer named Milva, who decides to join their group. People who have played the games will be glad to know that the dwarf Zoltan Chivay temporarily joins Geralt’s ragtag group too, as well as the vampire Regis. A Nilfgaardian knight named Cahir also tags along because he feels indebted to Ciri. Geralt officially receives his “of Rivia” title after an epic battle while Ciri begins to feel at home with The Rats.
Ciri is gravely injured after an encounter with Nilfgaardian bounty hunter Leo Bonhart, who was hired by the coroner Stefan Skellen to kill her. A kind old man nurses her back to health while Geralt’s party continues their search for Ciri and Geralt renounces his status as a witcher. The Lodge of Sorceresses attempt to gain control of a country called Kovir while Triss Merigold seeks information on Yennefer of Vengerberg. (Known as The Tower of Swallows in the U.S.)
Ciri encounters Arthurian knight Sir Galahad who believes she is the eponymous lady of the lake. The story cuts to a dream in which Geralt overhears Skellen and sets out to rescue Yennefer from a faraway castle. Ciri, meanwhile, tells Galahad about her time in the elven world of Aen Elle, home of the Wild Hunt. She begins to jump between worlds in order to escape them, but Eredin Breacc Glas persistently chases her, as she heads towards a final meeting with her surrogate parents Geralt and Yennefer.
Now we’re up to seven out of eight books. The last text is also a novel, but it’s a bit difficult to place and depends on personal preference…
If you’re somebody who likes to know everything that happens as it happens, then you might want to read Season of Storms immediately after The Last Wish. Originally published in 2013 — 14 years after Sapkowski wrapped the saga — Season of Storms contains stories that take place between the stories in The Last Wish, which aren’t necessarily in strict proximity to one another. However, because it’s written after the saga was completed, Season of Storms contains slight hints about what’s to come, if not outright spoilers. If you’re dying to read the series in strictly chronological terms, it could be worth reading it right after The Last Wish. If you’re the type of person who worries about spoilers, though, save it for the end and enjoy it as a retrospective piece.
The Witcher book saga starts roughly 10 years before the games, with most of the books’ plotlines wrapped up by the time the first Witcher game starts. So, for those curious, playing the games first does mean you get some of the book series spoiled. That said, both the books and the video games are fantastic (we specifically called The Witcher 3 “Amazing” in our review), so whichever one you start with shouldn’t affect your overall enjoyment.
Between the books, video game franchise, and TV series, there’s a lot going on in the world of The Witcher. And if you assumed that just because it’s been 10 years since Season of Storms there would be no more Witcher books, you’d be wrong. In 2023, Sapkowski announced a new book in The Witcher series, releasing in early 2025 after an initial publication in Poland.
Meanwhile, Netflix’s live-action The Witcher is chugging toward it’s fourth season, which will be the first with Liam Hemsworth as Geralt of Rivia. The streaming giant is also developing a new animated film called The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep.
Of course, the big question is when we’ll get another Witcher game. While CD Projekt has spent the past couple of years pretty focused on Cyberpunk 2077, they recently announced that the “bulk of its effort” is now going toward The Witcher 4 (codenamed “Polaris”). We don’t have a release date yet, but The Witcher 3’s active community is making the wait a little bit easier.
