Category: Video Games

A Skate Story demo has me yearning for its knee-shattering flow state

I too desire to eat the moon. In Skate Story, you are made of glass and you will burst into a thousand miniscule shards if you bail. You have signed a four-page contract with the Devil, cursing you with this fragile body yet blessing you with a fearsome skateboard with which to fulfill your quest to digest Earth’s only natural satellite. I’ve only now got hands on a demo shared earlier this year at Tribeca games festival, and I’m reverberating with pleased energy at the dreamlike atmosphere of this demonic kickflip simulator.

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Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League Goes Free via Amazon Prime

Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League is one of three extra games to be offered to Amazon Prime members at no additional cost on Tuesday, July 16 and Wednesday, July 17.

Rocksteady’s controversial DC-themed live-service shooter joins Chivalry 2 and Rise of the Tomb Raider as Epic Games Store games available to download for a limited time: for 48 hours only from July 16 at 12am PT / 3am ET. It’s worth noting Rise of the Tomb Raider: 20 Year Celebration, which is the version offered here, includes the base game and Season Pass content.

But Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League is the headline as it goes free via Prime Gaming half a year after launch and hot on the heels of the delay of Season 2, which adds Mrs. Freeze as a playable character, to the end of July.

Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League was of course panned by critics upon launch and has extremely low player numbers on Steam. Some of the frustration stems from Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League not being another Batman game from Rocksteady, despite being set within the Arkhamverse. The developer’s single-player Arkham series is much-loved by fans, with 2011’s Batman: Arkham City in particular held up as one of the greatest, if not the greatest, superhero video games of all time. Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, on the other hand, is a live service third-person shooter in which Batman is a villain. Soon after the game’s February 2024 release, publisher Warner Bros. admitted the failure of Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League contributed to a $200 million hit to revenue.

Last month, Warner Bros, told IGN that Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League will see out its first year of support, but declined to comment on what happens afterwards.

Prime Day’s Prime Gaming Lead-up titles already include Deceive Inc., Tearstone: Thieves of the Heart, The Invisible Hand, Forager, Card Shark, Heaven Dust 2, Soulstice, Wall World, Hitman Absolution, Call of Juarez: Bound in Blood and Call of Juarez available to claim now, and Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic 2 – The Sith Lords, Alex Kidd in Miracle World DX, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge, and Samurai Bringer, all available to claim starting today, July 11.

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.

Pizza Hero is Vampire Survivors with toppings as upgrades, and it’s free on Steam for a limited time

As a quick glance at my Papa John’s account will tell you, I’ve enough of an addictive personality that I’ve consciously avoided Vampire Survivors and its -likes, in the fear that the carefully balanced professionalisation of my dedicated goblin lifestyle will tip over the edge. As such, I don’t have enough experience to tell you whether the currently free Pizza Hero is an especially interesting or innovative riff on the formula. However, I am simple-minded enough to enjoy the epic bacon 1.5 humour of a sentient pizza slice with a dog for a companion upgrading itself one topping at a time. This action roguelike reeks of concentrated internet like a week old-slice nestled amidst a stack of free AOL disks. But! It’s cute and fun and free, and that’s enough for me.

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Feature: Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown Lands On Switch Today In A Port Two Years In The Making

Smoke me a kipper.

Originally launching nearly five years after Ace Combat: Infinity and four years after the 3DS release Assault Horizon Legacy+, 2019’s Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown was the first game in the mainline series for over a decade and brought the series back to Strangereal, the franchise’s fictionalised Earth stand-in.

Now, five years further on, Bandai Namco is bringing Skies Unknown to Switch in Deluxe Edition form. The Assault Horizon entries on 3DS familiarised Nintendo players with the series’ arcade-style flighter combat, but we’re very happy to see this particular entry land unexpectedly on Switch — and perhaps a little trepidatious about how this port will hold up on the hybrid system.

Read the full article on nintendolife.com

Horror Dev Bloober Team Says It’s Working On A New Project For Nintendo Platforms

Codenamed ‘Project M’.

Polish horror game developer Bloober Team, known for series like Layers of Fear, The Medium and the upcoming release Silent Hill 2, has announced it’s working on a new project for Nintendo platforms.

In an interview earlier this week, Bloober referenced a title called ‘Project M‘ which has a budget “significantly smaller” than its usual projects and is being developed “in cooperation with the world’s best game creators for Nintendo platforms”. Here’s a translation (via ResetEra):

Read the full article on nintendolife.com

Nintendo Is Teasing an Unsettling New Horror Game With a Creepy Smiling Man

Nintendo really woke up this morning and chose chaos by dropping a deeply upsetting short teaser for what seems to be a new horror game. We’re not sure of the title just yet, but it might be called Emio, or possibly Smiling Man.

What the heck was that? Nintendo fans are baffled. There are almost no details as to what this “Emio” thing is. Apart from the trailer, the only other info we have is that Nintendo tweeted about it across its U.S., Europe, and Japanese accounts this morning with the hashtag #WhoIsEmio?. There’s an official Nintendo website, too, which just features the creepy dude standing there and occasionally, briefly, changing his expression. And we’ve confirmed that the kanji in the background of all these teases reads “laughing man” or “smiling man.”

So why is everyone so worked up about this? It’s not necessarily that there’s anything abnormal about teasing a work of horror like this. Plenty of films and games have played up horror elements by being deliberately vague and sudden in their reveals. But Nintendo is, uh, not exactly known for that kind of thing! It’s just out of character for them to surprise drop a trailer for what seems to be an M-rated horror game on a random Wednesday morning with no other context.

We don’t even know who’s making Emio. People are speculating that based on the fact that it has an official Nintendo website, this may be a first-party game, which would be even more out of character for Nintendo. That said, a number of individuals have pointed out on social media that noted horror developer Bloober Team announced just two days ago it was working on something called “Project M,” which is apparently coming to Nintendo platforms and is expected to be announced this year. Could this be Project M? Or something else entirely?

Whatever the case, we’ll have to wait to find out, but the prospect of a new horror game made by Nintendo, of all companies, is an exciting one to imagine. Until then, we’ll have to make do with Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD.

Rebekah Valentine is a senior reporter for IGN. Got a story tip? Send it to rvalentine@ign.com.

NBA 2K25 Scores September Release Date And A Trio Of Cover Athletes

Tip off this September.

In perhaps the least surprising news of the month, 2K has announced that NBA 2K25 is heading for Switch *gasp*. In September *double gasp*. With a confusingly large number of physical and digital editions *blacks out*.

Set to come our way on 6th September, NBA 2K25 will be graced by a trio of athletes depending on which edition you pick up. The Boston Celtics leading man Jason Tatum takes centre stage on the Standard Edition, Las Vegas Aces’ A’ja Wilson is on the WNBA Edition and dunk champ Vince Carter gets golden on the Hall of Fame Edition.

Read the full article on nintendolife.com

Discover New Games, Events, Content and More in the New Season of Free-to-Play on Xbox

Discover New Games, Events, Content and More in the New Season of Free-to-Play on Xbox

  • Lisa Brumfield, Xbox Sr. Partner Marketing Manager

Summary

  • Curated limited-time collection of free-to-play games with seasonal content
  • Special free-to-play Game Pass Ultimate Perks
  • Key titles include XDefiant, Call of Duty: Warzone, The First Descendent & Stumble Guys

Dive into a full two weeks of our summer free-to-play celebrations running until July 22, including new game releases such as The First Descendent.

Whether you want to battle royale with your friends, explore distant galaxies, or unleash your creativity, there’s a free-to-play game that suits your mood and style on your Xbox. 

We’ve curated a collection specifically for our Xbox audience, showcasing free-to-play games with new content, events and adventures for the summer season. 

Here are a few:

XDefiant

XDefiant Key Art

A first-person online arena shooter where you compete in fast-paced clashes. With cross-play available at launch, you will be able to play with friends on a variety of platforms.

Three new maps are coming to XDefiant in Season 1. The new Clubhouse map is available now, with its own dedicated Playlist so you can get familiar with it quickly. Inspired by the R6 map of the same name, Clubhouse features a familiar indoor layout with expanded outdoor areas that will be new territory for even the most seasoned R6 players. Later in the season, two more new maps – Daytona and Rockefeller – will launch as well.

Call of Duty: Warzone

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III Screenshot

Free for everyone. Drop in, armor up, loot for rewards and battle your way to the top.

Season 4 is available until July 24th. A mysterious DNA Bomb is found at the Popov Power, leaving players to uncover the truth of its purpose. Head to the AO to get to the center of the mystery and obtain DNA samples from fallen foes. Show who you are at your core as you alter your playstyles thanks to new features that showcase Call of Duty at its absolute best — all while dropping into a plethora of Call of Duty: Warzone Maps, shifting between Urzikstan, Rebirth Island, Fortune’s Keep and more.

MultiVersus 

Characters from Looney Tunes, DC Universe, and more are colliding in epic, over-the-top battles! Whether you’re seeking the intensity of 1v1, the frenzy of a 4-player mayhem, or a team-up for strategic 2v2 battles, MultiVersus has got you covered. And as the roster expands, so does the spectacle — with new personalities and play styles turning up the heat in every battle.  

Destiny 2

Dive into the world of Destiny 2 to explore the mysteries of the solar system and experience incredible first-person shooter combat. Unlock powerful elemental abilities and collect unique gear to customize your Guardian’s look and playstyle. Enjoy Destiny 2’s cinematic story, challenging co-op missions, and a variety of PvP modes alone or with friends. Download for free today and write your legend in the stars.

And now available: The Final Shape. In Destiny 2’s latest expansion, embark on a perilous journey into the heart of the Traveler, rally the Vanguard, and end the War of Light and Darkness.

Explore Free-to-Play Perks

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Perks* include bonus loot, skins, and more to enhance your gameplay experience. Members can claim exclusive Perks for a variety of games! Snapshot below:

The First Descendant – New game release!

The First Descendant is a free-to-play third-person co-op action RPG looter shooter with high-quality graphics powered by Unreal Engine 5. Featuring a wide variety of characters with unique concepts and combat styles, massive boss battles, four player co-op, a variety of weapons, and more.

Jump in now and claim an exclusive launch edition bundle: Elevate your weapon with a stunning weapon skin and customize your Descendants with vibrant paints and a stylish back accessory!

Warframe  

Enhance Arsenal with valuable amenities like an Orokin Reactor and Orokin Catalyst, 3 Day Affinity and Credit Boosters, and more. Plus, bolster your look with the impressive Excalibur Immortal Skin!

Stumble Guys 

Get your robot dance moves ready! Claim the Cyborg Bundle and receive the Cyborg Legendary Skin, The Robot Victory Animation, 250 Gems and 50 Stumble Tokens!

Ready for endless fun? Xbox Free-To-Play Frenzy is your chance to discover a special collection of games, curated just for Xbox.  Grab your controller, press play, and get lost in the adventures on Xbox.

*Perks offers vary by region and game. Check the Perks gallery on your Xbox console or the Xbox app for details.

The post Discover New Games, Events, Content and More in the New Season of Free-to-Play on Xbox appeared first on Xbox Wire.

San Diego Comic-Con 2024 Panel Schedule: The Boys, Transformers One, and More

San Diego Comic-Con is back in full force this year (and so is IGN’s livestream), taking place from July 25-28, and we’re just starting to get a good idea of the movies, TV shows, and games that will be holding panels this year.

Headlining the early announcements are movies like Transformers One and TV series like The Boys, The Lord of the Rings: Rings of Power, Rick and Morty: The Anime, Dexter: Original Sin, various Star Trek shows, and more. And although it hasn’t been officially announced yet, Marvel Studios is expected to return with another jam-packed Hall H panel, which has been held on the Saturday evenings in past years.

This year’s convention should be a return to form after SDCC 2023 was heavily impacted by the writers’ and actors’ strikes, making it difficult for most big stars to appear and promote their upcoming projects. 2022’s convention saw panels for Marvel, DC, HBO, Prime Video, and much, much more.

Keep in mind that official announcements have only started to roll out, so there’s still plenty that will be revealed in the coming days. We’ll update this article as they come in with panel times and official description, but in the meantime, here’s everything we know so far:

Thursday

10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. – Avatar: Braving the Elements – Live! with Janet Varney & Dante Basco: Jump into the amazing world of Avatar with Janet Varney (the voice of “Korra”) and Dante Basco (the voice of “Prince Zuko”), co-hosts of Nickelodeon’s award-winning, official companion podcast – Avatar: Braving the Elements. Join us as we revisit some of the most iconic scenes from the animated series with special guests: Greg Baldwin (voice of “Uncle Iroh”), Michaela Jill Murphy (voice of the original “Toph”), and Cara O’Neil (Dark Horse Comics). We’ll also talk about the latest and greatest happenings in the Avatarverse and put our super-fan trivia skills to the test – you won’t want to miss this chance to join friends, benders, and non-benders alike to geek out about All. Things. Avatar! (Room: 6BCF)

11:45 p.m. – Transformers One (per Deadline): Stars Chris Hemsworth, Brian Tyree Henry, and Keegan-Michael Key, director Josh Cooley, and producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura will show off some exclusive footage and more. (Hall H)

1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. – Celebrating 25 Years of Nickelodeon’s SpongeBob SquarePants: What’s funnier than 24? 25! Nickelodeon is celebrating SpongeBob SquarePants’ landmark 25th anniversary with a panel that will take fans down to Bikini Bottom and beyond for a special look at its iconic origins, including a live cast table read of “Help Wanted, exclusive content, and the nautical nonsense to come. Join the legendary voice cast Tom Kenny (SpongeBob), Bill Fagerbakke (Patrick), Carolyn Lawrence (Sandy), Rodger Bumpass (Squidward), Clancy Brown (Mr. Krabs), and Mr. Lawrence (Plankton), along with executive producers Marc Ceccarelli and Vincent Waller and special guests as they celebrate one of the most popular characters and beloved animated series of all time. It’s going to be the Best Day Ever! Moderator: Good Burgers’ Ed (Kel Mitchell). (Hall H)

1:45 p.m. – 2:45 p.m. – First Look at Peacock’s Horror-Thriller Series Teacup: Join executive producers James Wan and Ian McCulloch and stars Yvonne Strahovski, Scott Speedman, and Chaske Spencer for an exclusive sneak peek at Peacock and Atomic Monster’s upcoming original horror series Teacup – a terrifying tale following a disparate group of people in rural Georgia who must come together in the face of a mysterious threat in order to survive. (Ballroom 20)

2:15 p.m. – 3:15 p.m. – Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles – Cowabunga! From the studios that brought audiences the Mutant Mayhem film, the all-new Paramount+ original series Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles explores the adventures of everyone’s favorite pizza-loving heroes as they emerge from the sewers and onto the streets of NYC. Join the voices of Leo, Raph, Donnie, Mikey and special guests, as well as series producers, for an exclusive panel featuring never-before-seen content moderated by host, writer, podcaster and stand-up comedian Claire Lim. (Room: 6BCF)

3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. – Behind-the-Action of Peacock’s Gladiator Epic Those About to Die: Dive into the Roman Empire’s explosive intersection of sports, politics, and dynasties as featured in Those About To Die with an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the making of the Peacock series alongside executive producer/director Roland Emmerich and stars Iwan Rheon, Sara Martins, Moe Hashim, Jojo Macari, and Dimitri Leonidas. (Ballroom 20)

Friday

10:00 a.m. – The Boys: Join showrunner and executive producer Eric Kripke and the series’ stars for a post-season finale celebration. Hear from the cast and creator about the head-exploding, jaw-dropping fourth season, along with behind-the-scenes secrets, favorite moments, and thrilling surprises. Based on The New York Times best-selling comic by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson, The Boys is a fun and irreverent take on what happens when superheroes, who are as popular as celebrities, abuse their superpowers rather than use them for good. It’s the powerless against the super-powerful as The Boys embark on a heroic quest to expose the truth about The Seven. (Hall H)

11:00 a.m. – Adult Swim’s Common Side Effects Series First Look: Come experience the side effects of an incredible panel discussion about Adult Swim’s highly anticipated new series. “Common Side Effects.” From executive producers Mike Judge and Greg Daniels, and creators Joe Bennett and Steve Hely, this comedic thriller follows two former high school lab partners who take on big pharma and government agencies as they try to bring a medicine that cures everything to the whole world. Co-creator Steve Hely and writer/director Sean Buckelew will join the series voice cast including Martha Kelly, Emily Pendergast, Joseph Lee Anderson and Dave King to discuss the new series. (Indigo Ballroom)

11:05 a.m. – The Lord of the Rings: Rings of Power: Join the series’ showrunners and cast as they give an inside look into the highly anticipated second season, premiering August 29, 2024 on Prime Video. Get ready to experience stunning visuals, thrilling surprises, and unique insight into the darkness that has returned to threaten all of Middle-earth this season. (Hall H)

12:00 p.m. – Adult Swim’s “Rick And Morty: The Anime” Series First Look: Go further into the multiverse of Rick and Morty with the new series “Rick and Morty: The Anime” as it lands at San Diego Comic-Con. Writer/director Takashi Sano, producers Joseph Chou and Takenari Maeda, and Adult Swim’s head of action and anime Jason DeMarco will share details about the intergalactic adventure and show you the inner workings of the new series on Adult Swim. (Indigo Ballroom)

1:00 p.m. – Adapting Fan Favorites: A Conversation with Prime Video’s Adult Animation Creators: Join executive producers Robert Kirkman (Invincible), Vivienne Medrano (Hazbin Hotel), Travis Willingham (The Legend of Vox Machina), and Kyle Hunter (Sausage Party: Foodtopia) as they discuss adapting some of the most popular comic books, crowdfunded gems, films, and more into successful television series, give sneak peeks into upcoming seasons, and share exclusive news from each of their respective series. (Indigo Ballroom)

2:30 p.m. – Like a Dragon: Yakuza: Join series lead Ryoma Takeuchi, producers, and a surprise A-list star from the cast, as they share an exclusive first look and delve into the creation of this adaptation based on SEGA’s iconic game loved by fans globally. Fans will walk away with an exclusive souvenir from the panel. (5AB)

5:45 p.m. – 6:45 p.m. – Dexter: Original Sin: Dexter: Original Sin cast, showrunner and executive producers discuss the upcoming prequel to the fan-favorite series Dexter. Join showrunner and executive producer Clyde Phillips, executive producer Scott Reynolds and cast members Christian Slater (Harry Morgan), Patrick Gibson (Dexter Morgan) and Molly Brown (Debra Morgan) as they share what to expect from the new series and unveil a few exciting surprises. Moderated by Dexter: Original Sin special guest star, Sarah Michelle Gellar. (Ballroom 20)

Saturday

10:00 am – My Adventures with Superman Screening Presentation and Panel: Join executive producers Jake Wyatt, Josie Campbell, Brendan Clogher, and voice cast members Jack Quaid, Alice Lee, Ishmel Sahid, and Kiana Madeira as they answer your burning questions from season two. Plus get the early scoop on all the action, comedy, and romance that awaits Clark, Lois, and Jimmy in season three. Airing on Adult Swim, “My Adventures with Superman” is produced by Warner Bros. Animation. (Indigo Ballroom)

1:45 p.m. -3:15 p.m. – Star Trek: The fan-favorite STAR TREK universe panel returns to San Diego Comic-Con, featuring exclusive back-to-back conversations with cast and producers from Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, Star Trek: Lower Decks, Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, a Hall H welcome to new cast members from Star Trek: Section 31, plus reveals and surprises you won’t want to miss! Moderated by award-winning filmmaker, director and executive producer Justin Simien. (Hall H)

2:45 p.m. – Batman: Caped Crusader: Join executive producer Matt Reeves and cast members Hamish Linklater, Jamie Chung, and Minnie Driver for the world-premiere screening of the upcoming and highly anticipated series followed by a moderated Q&A where they will discuss their characters and tease key storylines in the upcoming season. From Warner Bros. Animation, Bad Robot Productions, 6th & Idaho, and based on DC characters, the series is a reimagining of the Batman mythology through the visionary lens of executive producers J.J. Abrams, Matt Reeves, and Bruce Timm. Batman: Caped Crusader executive producers also include Ed Brubaker, James Tucker, Daniel Pipski, Rachel Rusch Rich, and Sam Register. (6BCF)

6:45 p.m. – From: MGM+’s FROM unravels the mystery of a nightmarish town that traps all those who enter. As the unwilling residents fight to keep a sense of normalcy and search for a way out, they must also survive the threats of the surrounding forest – including the terrifying creatures that come out when the sun goes down. Join executive producers Jeff Pinkner, Jack Bender, John Griffin and the stars of the series Harold Perrineau, Elizabeth Saunders, Catalina Sandino Moreno, Eion Bailey, and David Alpay for a sneak peek at the new questions and threats that await the townsfolk in Season 3. (Indigo Ballroom)

Thumbnail credit: Daniel Knighton/Getty Images

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.