Category: Video Games

Exclusive First Look at 2024 Pokémon World Championships Merch

Ahead of the 2024 Pokémon World Championships this August, we’ve got an exclusive first look at the special plush, deck boxes, and more that will only be available at Worlds. Each year, the Pokémon World Championships are held in a different city, and with it comes a Pokémon Center pop-up with exclusive merch themed after it. This year, the Pokémon World Championships are taking place at the Hawai’i Convention Center in Honolulu, so of course, the product line is tropical, colorful, and beachy.

“This year’s unique items and motifs draw from the vibrant marine life and lush flora of Hawai’i, embodying the spirit and beauty of the islands,” explained Cindy Ruppenthal, senior director of Pokémon Center and e-commerce at The Pokémon Company International. “The pop-up store’s design as well as the Worlds product line reminds fans to make the most of this amazing location—whether they’re lounging on the beach in Waikiki, hiking the Wiliwilinui Ridge Trail, or catching waves on the North Shore.”

Check out a large selection of what will be available at the 2024 Pokémon World Championships in the slideshow above.

Ruppenthal expects a strong demand for the Hawaiian-themed Pokémon ukulele, which appears to be the most exclusive and unique item in the lineup. The ukulele’s MSRP is $59.99 USD. Ruppenthal also expects there to be a demand for other location-inspired products due to the Hawaiian theme, such as the Pokémon Aloha shirt.

Previously, The Pokémon Company International revealed a sneak peek of the Worlds-exclusive Pikachu plush in snorkeling gear and custom Pokémon Aloha shirt in a partnership with Reyn Spooner, a local Hawaiian company known for making top-quality Aloha wear since 1956. Ruppenthal said that makes the collaboration very special.

Everything revealed here will only be available August 14-18 at the Pokémon World Championships Pokémon Center pop up. Even if you have an event badge, you won’t be able to just walk-in—you must make a reservation to visit the 2024 Worlds Pokémon Center Store.

Casey DeFreitas is a deputy editor of guides at IGN. Catch her at the 2024 Pokémon World Championships, or on Twitter @ShinyCaseyD.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows Team Issues Apology to Japanese Fans for Marketing That Has ‘Caused Concern’

The Ubisoft development team working on Assassin’s Creed Shadows has posted a public message to Japanese fans on X/Twitter, which explains the project’s stance on historical authenticity and also apologises for promotional materials that “have caused concern” among the community.

The four-page message, posted in both English and Japanese, explains that Assassin’s Creed Shadows is not intended to be a factual representation of history. Instead, it is described as “a compelling, historical fiction set in Feudal Japan”, and the developers hope that it will “spark curiosity” in players who will then hopefully research the historical period the game is inspired by.

Ubisoft emphasises that Shadows has been made in collaboration with external consultants and historians, but recognises that it has made a mistake. “Despite these sustained efforts, we acknowledge that some elements in our promotional materials have caused concern within the Japanese community. For this, we sincerely apologize.”

While the post offers very limited detail about what Ubisoft is apologising for, it’s likely that the “promotional materials” in question is a piece of concept art that features the flag of a Japanese historical re-enactment group. The flag, which is a modern-day creation and not historical, was used without permission from the Sekigahara Teppo-tai group. While Ubisoft has since apologised for using the flag’s design, it will still be printed in the physical art book featured in the collector’s edition of Assassin’s Creed Shadows.

The new message from the team notes that the game “will keep evolving until launch.”

“Based on the constructive criticism we have received, we will continue our efforts until we put this game into your hands – and beyond,” it explains.

In addition to the apology regarding the marketing materials, the message also discusses Yasuke, one of Shadows’ two protagonists: “While Yasuke is depicted as a samurai in Assassin’s Creed Shadows, we acknowledge that this is a matter of debate and discussion. We have woven this carefully into our narrative and with our other lead character, the Japanese shinobi Naoe, who is equally important in the game, our dual protagonists provide players with different gameplay styles.”

While Yasuke has often been presented as a samurai in popular media, both in Japan and beyond, his depiction in Shadows has given rise to debate regarding the historical truth. Due to limited historical evidence, there is no conclusive proof as to if Yasuke was a samurai, a ‘retainer’, or another role entirely. The argument has lived side by side with criticism over Ubisoft’s decision to feature a Black man as a lead protagonist in a Japan-set Assassin’s Creed game – a backlash that Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot alluded to while condemning “malicious and personal online attacks.”

The message notes that the Assassin’s Creed series has always taken “creative license and incorporated fantasy elements” into its historically-inspired settings. “The representation of Yasuke in our game is an illustration of this. His unique and mysterious life made him an ideal candidate to tell an Assassin’s Creed story with the setting of Feudal Japan as a backdrop.”

Since the series began, all Assassin’s Creed games have featured a disclaimer before the main menu: “Inspired by historical events and characters, this work of fiction was designed, developed, and produced by a multicultural trem of various beliefs, sexual orientations and gender identities.”

Ubisoft’s message to its Japanese community concludes by asking that fans continue to share feedback and thoughts “respectfully”.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows launches November 12, 2024 for those buying the Gold, Ultimate, Deluxe Editions, or Collector’s Editions, while the Standard Edition is available on November 15, 2024. You can learn more about its goals in our extensive interview with the development team, as well as our list of 50 key details.

Matt Purslow is IGN’s Senior Features Editor.

Counter-Strike 2 update plonks new crates on Dust 2, which could be game-changing

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!

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UK Charts: Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD Stands Firm While Sales Shake Things Up

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.

Read the full article on nintendolife.com

Best Nintendo Switch Deals Today (July 2024)

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.

TL;DR – Best Switch Deals

Preorder the the Nintendo Switch Lite Hyrule Edition Console

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.

Score a Nintendo Switch Lite with Animal Crossing for $159

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.

More Nintendo Switch Game Deals

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

Best Switch Micro SD Card 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

Best Nintendo Switch Accessory 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.

When Should You Buy a Nintendo Switch?

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.

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Robert Anderson is a deals expert and Commerce Editor for IGN. You can follow him @robertliam21 on Twitter.

Stretcher Men is a comedy game about carrying a dying man across the hills without dropping him

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.

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Large catfish spotted chasing tiny little man around in Japanese folklore game, is terrifying, wonderful

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.

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Review: The Star Named EOS (Switch) – A Sparkling Puzzler With A Sincere Story

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

Capcom Says It’s Always Considering What’s Next For Mega Man

“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

Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes Receives A New Switch Update, Here Are The Full Patch Notes

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