Category: Video Games

Astro’s Playroom second update is now available, hiding a new Special Bot in-game

Hi everyone! We hope you are getting ready for a good summer and have enjoyed the last few weeks of gaming news. 

As we gear up for Astro Bot’s launch on September 6, we wanted to let you in on a few surprises we have been reserving for our community.

In Astro Bot, you and Astro go on a mission to rescue the 300 bots crew who got scattered all over the galaxies. Many of the bots making up the crew are cameo characters that have marked the PlayStation history. There are over 150 to collect, each with their own funny animations relating to the game they originally came from.

To add a spice of fun, we’ve been hiding 4 of these Special Bots inside Astro’s Playroom, which came pre-loaded in every PS5 console. By unlocking these 4 hidden characters in Astro’s Playroom, you will be able to take them with you into the new game, Astro Bot, and add them to your starting crew. Are you following so far?

On June 7, we dropped in the first of these 4 Special Bots. Being cheeky robots ourselves, we thought it would be fun to turn this into a treasure hunt riddle and see how long it would take anyone to figure it out. What a big surprise to see it took the community less than 3 hours to clear that riddle. That was quite incredible. If you have missed it, here is a quick rundown of what you have to do.

We hid a secret capsule in the first area of GPU Jungle (Render Forest). To make it appear, you must stand on top of a big plant near the edge of the level, just behind the Bloodborne Hunter Bot. Inside the capsule, another Special Bot (Lady Maria) appears to be trapped and needs rescuing.

On the capsule itself, we included a small hint showing the image of a clock. But what could that mean? Looking carefully around the level nearby, you will find a similar clock symbol carved into one of the trees up above. It takes a few jumps to get there. It is at the back of a tree, the furthest away.

That’s when things get trickier (or so we thought!). Standing on that spot, you have to pause the game by pressing the options button. Instead of the normal pause, that makes a special Astral Clock screen appear. By entering the number 24.11.2015 (or November 24, 2015, the original release date of the Bloodborne DLC featuring Lady Maria), the hands of the clock magically turn and…

The capsule opens, letting our Special Bot free. Well done, let’s celebrate with a trophy!

Once freed, Lady Maria will wait for you in the Mission Room, ready to be transferred to Astro Bot when you are ready.

Just a few days ago, we added a second Special Bot, Selene, from the PS5 title Returnal. Once again, working together, you were able to crack the riddle and free her to make it 2 out of 4.

We hope you enjoy these updates as much as we had fun making them! In addition to these Special Bots, the PlayStation Labo received an update, so we invite you to check it out and add new artefacts to your collection. 

That’s all for now. But the treasure hunt does not end here! We will be back soon with 2 more riddles on the run-up to the release of Astro Bot. And by the looks of it, we might have to make the next ones even harder. 

Thank you all for playing along with us, and we will see you soon!

Team Asobi out.

City Skylines 2 on Console Delayed Indefinitely as Developer Struggles to Hit Stability and Performance Targets

It’s more bad news for Cities Skylines 2, which has now seen its console version delayed indefinitely.

In a note to console players, publisher Paradox said the console version was still not up to scratch and will now miss its planned October 2024 release window, itself a delayed target from earlier this year.

“Unfortunately, we have not yet met the stability and performance targets we set for the console release,” Paradox said. “Without a Release Candidate (RC), we are now unable to meet an October release window.

“While we are making slow but steady progress, there are still unresolved issues impacting the game in ways that harm the player experience we want to deliver. We expect to receive a new RC, which will undergo a thorough review in August. This evaluation will determine whether we can begin the submission process and provide a solid release date, or if further issues need to be addressed.

“We understand this is disappointing, and it’s not what we had hoped for either. However, we are committed to keeping you informed throughout this development process, even if the updates aren’t always what we’d like.

“Thank you for your understanding and support.”

We understand this is disappointing, and it’s not what we had hoped for either.

Colossal Order’s troubled city-builder sequel launched in October 2023 on PC via Steam and immediately ran into a number of issues. But Cities: Skylines 2’s problems began before its launch even arrived. Colossal Order had warned players the game would release with performance issues a week before it came out. In IGN’s Cities: Skylines 2 review, which returned a 6/10, we said: “Cities: Skylines 2 is an ambitious sequel that might have bitten off more than it can chew – be prepared to do a lot of terraforming if you don’t want your metropolis to look like a nightmare.”

Colossal Order CEO Mariina Hallikainen later admitted the lack of modding support was the developer’s “biggest regret.” Then, in April, Paradox was forced to offer refunds for the latest DLC, with Hallikainen and Mattias Lilja, deputy CEO of publisher Paradox, admitting the heavily criticized Beach Properties DLC was rushed out in a bid to improve sentiment around the disastrous launch of Cities Skylines 2. At the time of this article’s publication, more people are playing the first Cities Skylines game than its sequel on Steam.

As for the console release, the plan was to release it in the spring of 2024 after missing last year’s launch, but it was was delayed to October. There is no new release window. Back in April, Colossal Order and Paradox insisted that the team working on the console release operates separately from the PC development team, “so it will be progressing without splitting our focus or time.”

Missing October 2024 means Cities Skylines 2 will now launch on console over a year after it came out on PC, which was clearly not in Paradox or Colossal Order’s original plan. Meanwhile, both companies are battling a disgruntled player base by releasing updates aimed at improving the core PC version.

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.

This weekend I grew a fungus daughter in eerie narrative RPG Mushroom Musume, which has a demo

I don’t plan on having kids, but in the event that I change my mind, commissioning a forest Witch to grow one from a mushroom seems a lot easier than the usual human procreative process, though possibly just as abundant in screaming. I’ve been playing the demo for “cute-creepy” RPG and life sim Mushroom Musume, in which you – an unnamed “Recluse” – cultivate and play as a series of mushroom daughters. My current mushroom daughter is called Alia. She’s a Common Turquoise Truffle. She’s got a small pig acquaintance, who so far hasn’t tried to devour her, and a cute fuzzy hat, which she stole from outside a church – precise impact on character development still TBC.

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Fallout London Release Appears Soon as Dev Declares ‘the End Is in Sight’

Expansion-sized Fallout 4 mod Fallout London appears to be nearing release after developer Team FOLON declared “the end is in sight” as it awaits final quality assurance tests.

In a post on X/Twitter, Team FOLON sought to clear up speculation by confirming it had sent “several builds” to CD Projekt Red-owned Steam competitor GOG and is awaiting the “final green light.”

“Once they’ve completed the process of double checking that Fallout: London and its installer work on all supported machines, we should be good to go,” Team FOLON said. “Yes, we have our own installer, and downgrader too.

“It is in all of our interests that this final QA process is carried out in full, and we are very thankful that GOG is assisting. While it may seem like not a lot is going on, we can assure you that the heads of the department have been working non-stop behind the scenes during this time to make the release build as good as it can be. The end is in sight.”

Fallout: London was previously due to arrive on April 23, 2024 but actual Fallout developer Bethesda announced a surprise update for Fallout 4, which the mod developer feared would impact its release.

“We’ve just been tweaking and testing non-stop in order to get things as stable as we can for you all in time for that release,” said Team FOLON project lead Dean Carter at the time. “But with the new update dropping just 48 hours later, the past four years of our work stand to just simply break.”

The end is in sight.

Carter later lamented how Bethesda, which has made clear it’s aware of Fallout: London, failed to inform Team FOLON of its plans. “That has, for lack of a better term, sort of screwed us over, somewhat,” Carter said.

Fallout London is one of the most high-profile mods in development and will let players explore a post-apocalyptic version of the English capital. Players will engage with everything from “stuffy parliamentary aristocrats to a resurrection of the Knights of the Round Table to an uncompromising cult of revolutionaries.” It even stars Baldur’s Gate 3’s Astarion actor Neil Newbon.

Bethesda development chief Todd Howard has confirmed Fallout 5 will arrive after the Elder Scrolls 6, which is still years away itself, but it continues to update MMO Fallout 76.

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

Moody cyberpunk “Tech-Noir Tactics” All Walls Must Fall is now free to keep on Steam

Time hopping in Berlin usually means queuing several hours for a club, only to magically find yourself either right back at the end of the line, or else waking up on the U-Bahn three days later with tinnitus and currywurst spilled down your Acronym jacket. Not so in cyberpunk tactics game All Walls Must Fall. Here time travel means dodging bullets, reversing flubbed hacking, and replaying that conversation you had with the bouncer that got you booted to the curb. “A bloody good time-troubling tactical shooter,” decreed Adam Smith (RPS in Peace) in his review. Well, now it’s a bloody free time-troubling tactical shooter. Take that, Monday!

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‘River Tails: Stronger Together’ Is A New Co-Op Adventure About Feline And Fish Friendship

Out now!

After a new co-op adventure to while away the summer evenings? River Tails: Stronger Together might have you covered.

This two-player platformer landed on the Switch eShop last week and it looks really rather sweet. Developed by Kid Onion Studio, River Tails will see you playing as either Furple the kitten or Finn the fish, navigating land and river in the hopes of saving the former’s family.

Read the full article on nintendolife.com

Rogue Company Dev Pulls All Dr Disrespect Content, Offers Rogue Buck Refunds Rather Than Real Money

Hi-Rez Studios has pulled all Dr Disrespect content from Rogue Company after the streamer was alleged to have sent sexually explicit messages to a minor.

Guy Beahm, better known as Dr Disrespect, was banned from Twitch in 2020 without explanation. Last month, following a number of reports, Beahm admitted he exchanged messages in 2017 with a minor via Twitch’s now-defunct Whispers feature that “sometimes leaned too much in the direction of being inappropriate.” Subsequent reports alleged the minor had informed Beahm they were underage, and Beahm continued to send “sexually graphic” messages to them regardless.

Twitch and Beahm have not responded to IGN’s request for comment.

Partners and sponsors like Turtle Beach, 2K, and the San Francisco 49ers subsequently cut ties with the streamer. Midnight Society, the game studio Beahm co-founded, also terminated its relationship with him, and monetization on his YouTube channel was suspended. Now, another video game Beahm was affiliated with has taken steps to distance itself from the streamer.

Beahm had partnered with Rogue Company publisher Hi-Rez Studios, which is also behind Smite and Paladins, to design his own level and even a $20 character skin sold in the free-to-play third-person tactical action shooter. That premium content is no longer in the game.

A statement published to the official Rogue Company X/Twitter account has signaled the change: “Hey Rogue Company, we have disabled Dr Disrespect content previously available on game. We will provide full Rogue Buck refunds to any impacted account this week.”

In recent years interest in Rogue Company has dropped off significantly. After a Steam peak concurrent player count of 12,189 set three years ago, Rogue Company now averages just a few hundred players on Steam’s platform, with 236 concurrent players at the time of this article’s publication. Indeed, Rogue Company hasn’t seen a major update since 2023, indicating a deprioritization from Hi-Rez Studios amid the upcoming launch of Smite 2.

It’s fair to say that the decision to offer Rogue Buck refunds as opposed to real-money refunds for the Dr Disrespect content has sparked a backlash from paying customers who would rather their money back than a virtual currency they deem to be practically useless. Some have taken to Rogue Company’s Steam user reviews, which are down to ‘mixed’ for recent reviews, to complain about the situation.

“Where’s my $40? I have no need for Rogue Bucks when you guys haven’t updated the game in over a year,” said one person. “How about since we paid with real money you provide real money refunds?” said another.

Meanwhile, Beahm hasn’t issued a comment since his last stream, in which he played Elden Ring DLC Shadow of the Erdtree, almost two weeks ago.

Image credit reddit / rescobar1997.

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.

You can now play The Witcher 3’s cut boat races thanks to modders

Have I ever bellowed breathlessly about how much I appreciate modders? If I’ve done it a thousand times, it still isn’t enough. Today’s saintly file tinkerers are MerseyRockoff and glassfish77, who’ve restored a series of boat racing quests in open world RPG The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt and made them available in a mod for your sailing pleasure. Cheers, PC Gamer!

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Bloodborne Complete Guide Anniversary Edition Preorders Get a Massive Discount at Amazon

Good news, From Software fans: Future Press is set to release Bloodborne Complete Guide: 25th Anniversary Edition on September 30. You can preorder it now at Amazon for $35.44, or £49.99 in the UK. This officially licensed guide is a hefty tome, ringing in at 736 full-color pages. It gets into the nitty gritty, covering the main game of Bloodborne, plus The Old Hunters expansion. It also has lots of behind-the-scenes info we’ll dive into below.

Preorder Bloodborne Complete Guide 25th Anniversary Edition

The Bloodborne Complete Guide has all the resources you need to get the very most out of the game. It reveals all the secrets and hidden areas for you to fully explore Yarnham. It’s an excellent resource for all the items, weapons, and characters found in the game. It also dives deep into the game’s lore, much of which you might have missed in previous play-throughs.

Plus, it contains a good deal of bonus material. There’s a new, exclusive interview with Bloodborne creator Hidetaka Miyazaki. It includes a 20-page concept artwork gallery, and a dedicated Lore Index to help you tell your Vilebloods from your Scourge Beasts.

If you’re doing the math to figure out just how long ago Bloodborne came out (it was released in 2015 as a PS4 exclusive), you’re not losing your mind. The 25th anniversary in the book’s title is how long Future Press has been printing books.

Our critic gave Bloodborne a 9.1 in the review, and the game was a runner up for IGN’s Game of the Year 2015.

This isn’t Future Press’s first rodeo giving such thorough coverage to From Software’s games. The publisher released the beautiful Official Strategy Guides for Elden Ring (Vol.1 & Vol. 2), which are currently down to $44.99 at Amazon. It also released an incredibly popular Dark Souls Trilogy guide.

Chris Reed is a commerce editor and deals expert for IGN. He also runs IGN’s board game and LEGO coverage. You can follow him on Threads.

Daily Deals: Tekken 8, Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, Pikmin 4, and More

The weekend is here, and new deals have arrived alongside it! This weekend, you can find discounts on new games, accessories, hardware, and more. The best deals for Sunday, July 7, include Tekken 8, Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, Dragon’s Dogma 2, iPad Air, Persona 3 Reload, Neon Genesis Evangelion, Logitech G PRO Mechanical Gaming Keyboard, and more.

Tekken 8 for $34.99

We’ve got a new all-time low for Tekken 8, with 50% off right now at Amazon. Tekken 8 is the latest major fighting game to be released for the current generation of consoles. Over 32 characters are already playable, far surpassing titles like Street Fighter 6 or Mortal Kombat 1. The online modes far surpass their predecessors, with good netcode and many different ways to play.

Pikmin 4 for $34.99

This week at Target, you can save on Pikmin 4, with copies available for just $34.99. As the latest title in the Pikmin series, Pikmin 4 brings loads of new features for fans, new and old alike, to discover. In our 9/10 review, we stated, “Pikmin 4 adds variety to the series’ traditional gameplay by offering options other than the grab-and-throw formula of the past, and brings an extra helping of top-tier levels after the credits roll.”

Dragon’s Dogma 2 for $55.99

For the first time since release, Dragon’s Dogma 2 is available on sale. You can save $14 off Capcom’s latest RPG for a limited time at Amazon. We gave the game an 8/10 in our review, stating, “It is a retelling and reimplementation of all of those wonderful ideas from the 2012 cult-classic, including an awesome dynamic world and some of the best combat in the genre that integrates a subtle but amazingly complex physics system.”

Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth for $29.99

Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth is the latest title in the long-running RPG series. Right now, you can save $40 off this title, which marks the lowest we’ve seen it thus far. Kiryu Kazama returns following the events of Yakuza: Like a Dragon, uniting with Ichiban Kasuga in a wild adventure you won’t forget anytime soon. This is a great deal you shouldn’t pass up on, though newcomers should aim to play the previous titles in the series before jumping in.

Persona 3 Reload for $29.99

Persona 3 Reload is already one of the biggest 2024 releases so far. The remake brings in new gameplay features, new voice actors, and an impressive slew of technology, including ray tracing. It’s on sale right now at Amazon for $29.99, which marks a new all time low for the title. If you’ve never experienced the story of Persona 3, this is the definitive way to do so.

Apple iPad Air (5th Gen) for $399.99

Currently, Best Buy has the 5th Generation Apple iPad Air on sale for $399.99. This device features a 10.9-inch Liquid Retina Display, 64GB of storage, Wi-Fi 6 capabilities, a 12MP camera on both the front and back of the iPad, and more. This is all powered by an M1 Chip, which is still a powerful chip despite its age. You can choose from five different colors, from Blue to Starlight to even Purple.

Neon Genesis Evangelion Complete Blu-ray for $30.66

It’s no secret that Neon Genesis Evangelion is one of the most beloved anime of all time. The series has inspired countless creators across every industry imaginable, and it still holds strong today with its storytelling, themes, and messages. You can score this Blu-ray for just $30.66, which includes the complete 26 episode TV series, the Evangelion: Death (True)2 recap movie, and The End of Evangelion film.

Logitech G PRO Mechanical Gaming Keyboard for $59.99

This Logitech G PRO Mechanical Gaming Keyboard is perfect if you’re in need of a new keyboard. As a TKL model, this keyboard does not feature a numpad, so the design is smaller than that of a traditional model. The GX Blue Click switches provide a tactile response with ratings for professional performance and durability – this keyboard will last a long time.

Super Mario Odyssey for $34.99

Super Mario Odyssey is still one of the best games available on Nintendo Switch. From the stunning Kingdoms to the numerous new gameplay elements, this is a title any Switch owner should have in their collection. Odyssey is best known for its Capture mechanic, which allows Mario to use Cappy and take over different enemies and objects in the environment. This title doesn’t go on sale too often, so pick up a physical copy at a discount this week!

Ryzen 9 5900X for $279

The Ryzen 9 5900X is one of the most powerful processors that you can buy on the market right now. With 12 cores and 24 threads, you can expect top of the line performance in any game, regardless of the demand. Its top speed of 4.8 GHz is excellent for any device. The 5900X features AM4 support, so almost all modern AMD motherboards will support this chip.

Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1 for $24.55

For only $24.55, you can own the first three Metal Gear Solid titles on Nintendo Switch. This package also includes Metal Gear and Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake. Prior to the Master Collection, there was no method to play the Metal Gear Solid titles on most modern consoles, but you can now experience Hideo Kojima’s series from the very beginning on the go.

The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD for $39.99

The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD is the long-awaited remaster of the classic Wii game. Set at the beginning of the Zelda timeline, Skyward Sword takes Link to the skies as he traverses across the world to save his childhood friend Zelda. You’ll uncover the Master Sword was created as part of this journey, among other things. For $39.99, this is an excellent title to add to your Switch collection.

Octopath Traveler II for $24.99

Octopath Traveler II was one of the standout RPGs of 2023. Featuring eight different characters, this HD-2D release depicts an expansive story told from the perspectives of these characters. Each traveler has unique abilities, making for a new and exciting experience with each story. This is one RPG you do not want to miss, especially for this price. You can get a free PS5 upgrade, too.

Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz HD for $9.99

If you picked up Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble last week, you might be close to finished with the main levels if you’ve played quite a bit. For more Monkey Ball fun, this sweet discount on Banana Blitz HD is a great option! Over 100 levels are available to play through, with ten different multiplayer games you can start up with your friends. Join AiAi and the others and score at the top of the leaderboards!