Immersion Corporation has filed a lawsuit against Valve over rumble haptic technology found in the Steam Deck and Valve Index, The Verge reports.
The outlet notes that Immersion filed its complaint in the Western District of Washington, citing seven patents dating back to as early as 2002. The company is accusing Valve of infringing its own patents in the company’s hardware devices, the Steam Deck and Valve Index. Though the complaint also cites several video games that use the technology, including Half-Life: Alyx, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, and Star Wars Jedi: Survivor.
Immersion has a history of suing companies it claims have infringed on its rumble tech patents. Both Microsft and Sony have been in legal bouts with Immersion before over the rumble technology, with both companies licensing tech from Immersion’s patent portfolio. Immersion is also suing Meta over the same accusations of patent infringement, with the lawsuit filed nearly a year ago.
Immersion seeks damages, royalties, plus an injunction against Valve “from deploying, operating, maintaining, testing, and using the Accused Handheld Instrumentalities and Accused VR Instrumentalities.”
In our review of the Steam Deck, we noted that although there we some “major caveats,” such as a noisy fan and long loading times, we still recommend the device.
Taylor is a Reporter at IGN. You can follow her on Twitter @TayNixster.
As Microsoft continues in its efforts to acquire Activision Blizzard and multiple regulators make their decisions on the deal, several publishers have now publicly voiced their thoughts on the situation. Among them, Take-Two Interactive, whose CEO voiced support for the acquisition today in conversation with IGN.
When asked for his thoughts on the deal, CEO Strauss Zelnick expressed that Take-Two had supported the deal for some time, saying that it would be a positive for the company’s partner, Microsoft: “What’s good for them is also good for the industry.”
When the CMA’s recent ruling against the deal on the basis that it could cause a potential Microsoft takeover of the cloud gaming market, Zelnick reiterated past comments he had made about the technology, saying that cloud gaming is a distribution method, not a separate business. was brought up. And while new distribution methods such as cloud gaming might expand the gaming market, it’s all still fundamentally a part of the larger gaming market.
“I think it’s important never to confuse a distribution technology with a business model,” Zelnick said. “I would love to believe that streaming our titles would massively expand the marketplace. I’m not sure there’s any reason to believe that.”
Previously, EA CEO Andrew Wilson said that the deal’s completion or termination was “not really material” to his company. Other companies such as Nvidia have already expressed support thanks to Microsoft’s ten-year deals with them for Call of Duty access, though Sony remains vehemently opposed.
Publisher Take-Two Interactive is gearing up for some big years on the horizon, with numerous major releases in the tank for 2024 and beyond. But in the meantime, its plans for the current fiscal year aren’t too shabby either: 16 total game releases are expected, including a “new IP” from a “premier studio.”
In the company’s earnings press release today, Take-Two revealed its plans for three “immersive core offerings” between April of this year and March of 2024. Those games include NBA 2K24 and WWE 2K24, but also include “an eagerly-anticipated new IP from one of our premier studios.”
It’s possible this is something totally unknown and unannounced. But there are some already-revealed possibilities as well. It’s entirely possible this is Ken Levine’s new game, Judas, though a table of releases later in the earnings call says this game is “TBA,” possibly ruling it out. A more likely option is the new “multiplayer character-action game” in the works at 31st Union, on the team led by Sledgehammer Games co-founder Michael Condrey. The studio first spun up in 2019, so a release late this year wouldn’t be totally unheard of for the Silicon Valley-based studio.
We asked Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick about our theory ahead of today’s announcement, and he would neither confirm nor deny this, say that Take-Two tends to leave such announcements to the individual development studios.
Take-Two reported record net bookings today for its past fiscal year, reaching $5.3 billion total. It also teased a few massive years to come in fiscal 2025 and 2026, with projections so large we’re starting to suspect that Grand Theft Auto 6 may finally be ready to show its face as early as next year.
Rebekah Valentine is a senior reporter for IGN. You can find her on Twitter @duckvalentine.
Last time, you decided that petting the dog is better than entering cyberspace. I’m not angry, I’m just disappointed. And you probably don’t even notice me sulking here in cyberspace because you’re so busy tickling some lousy stinkbag with the mind of a toddler. Fine, fine, whatever. This week, it’s all about self-imposed challenges. What’s better: fighting your double, or optional challenges giving rewards upfront?
Sega is considering following in the footsteps of Nintendo, Ubisoft, and other publishers and start charging $70 for future titles.
During a financial earnings call held towards the end of April (the translated transcript of which was spotted by VGC yesterday), Sega Sammy CEO Haruki Satomi and CFO Koichi Fukuzawa alluded to the idea of increasing the price of Sega’s upcoming titles when asked why the unit sales price is set higher than usual for the upcoming fiscal year.
“In the global marketplace, AAA game titles for console have been sold at $59.99 for many years, but titles sold at $69.99 have appeared in the last year,” they said. “We would like to review the prices of titles that we believe are commensurate with price increases, while also keeping an eye on market conditions.”
Sega has since released a statement saying that while there are plans to charge $10 more for upcoming games than it has been for the last decade, nothing has been set in stone.
“We are currently considering increasing the prices of some titles, but no concrete decisions have been made at this stage,” the company said.
Ironically, Sega charged $70 for the Digital Deluxe Edition of Sonic Frontiers, but that’s standard practice for games with bonus content for collectors and enthusiasts. The Standard Edition of the game cost $60. The next Sonic game, whatever it may be, might cost you 10 more Rings.
Cristina Alexander is a freelance writer for IGN. She has contributed her work to various publications, including Digital Trends, TheGamer, Twinfinite, Mega Visions, and The Escapist. To paraphrase Calvin Harris, she wears her love for Sonic the Hedgehog on her sleeve like a big deal. Follow her on Twitter @SonicPrincess15.
You might remember Deneos’ adorable Save Me Mr Tako! from a few years back. The definitive edition on Switch is now celebrating its two-year anniversary (how time flies) and the developer has today revealed that there is more to come from the Tako saga as it provided a first look at Tako no Himitsu: Ocean of Secrets.
This game will see you playing as a group of six heroes who set out on a journey to defeat the shadow monsters that have plagued the land. In the process, truths will be exposed, shining a light on some tough themes in the characters’ lives up until this point. Deneos has cited a number of inspirations for this one including Eastward, CrossCode and Undertale, and has even gone as far as to say that the game is “like if Golden Sun met Illusion of Gaia” — no pressure then, eh?
From the moment Nintendo revealed The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom’s building mechanics, we knew things were going to get wild. And now, just a handful of days after the sequel’s release, people are already unleashing their creativity in ways that make my vehicles look like preschool building blocks. But hey, that’s what the internet’s for!
Here are some of the craziest, funniest, and cruelest creations Tears of the Kingdom players have come up with so far. Whether they inspire an idea for what you want to build, or just make you wonder, “How the heck did they do that?”, you’ll want to check these out.
Spoiler warning: This article contains videos of enemies, locations, and game mechanics you may not have discovered for yourself in Tears of the Kingdom’s enormous land of Hyrule. If you want to stumble across everything for yourself, turn back now!
Link Goes Full Gundam
It was only a matter of time until someone used all of Tears of the Kingdom’s Zonai technology to create a fully-functioning mech, and TikTok user SoulBanana did just that. The gameplay shows Link using Ascend to reach the pilot controls of a giant mech, before laying waste to a number of Bokoblin camps. This mech is complete with a shield to protect Link from enemies, and two fully decked-out laser arms.
The same player also created a flying mech based around a Zonai wing. This lets Link take to the skies above Hyrule, obliterating flying enemies with laser beams. How people have figured all this stuff out in just a few days is beyond me.
Another creative Tears of the Kingdom player created a satellite laser cannon that does all the dirty work for Link while the hero just stands by and watches. In the video below, you can see Link activate the contraption, causing it to immediately take off into the sky and start annihilating a Flame Gleeok. It’s only a matter of seconds before the Gleeok is defeated by this Death Star-like creation.
These next few creations aren’t quite as complicated as the epic robots seen above, but they’re still a lot of fun to look at. First, a video on TikTok from @videogametrailers_ shows Link using Ascend to hop into a makeshift Trojan Horse. The video is captioned, “Ganondorf won’t know what hit him”, as Link rides inside the horse and eventually slams into a wall.
Wait… I thought Advance Wars was the Nintendo game with the tanks. Well, Twitter user @idonum has changed Hylian warfare for good with the introduction of the battle tank, which they use to rampage through an enemy base and rip through a Hinox’s health bar. This tank may just be a bunch of wooden planks glued together, but it actually seems to be pretty durable. It’s also pretty tough for enemies to get anywhere near it, as it’s constantly shooting cannonballs from the front.
Twitter user @Liz_Caingcoy used Tears of the Kingdom’s building tools to recreate a 20th century oil engine. The video shows this engine being used in a handful of practical ways, like defeating enemies or roasting a fish over a campfire.
The same player also shared their creation of a functioning paddleboat Link was using to sail around the ocean on the edge of Hyrule. It looks pretty funny in motion, as four giant wooden planks power the boat, making a big splash along the way. The paddle boat is a great way to get out on the water for some fishing, or for just taking in that ocean breeze. And yes, the gameplay video is set to the soundtrack of The Wind Waker, which is very fitting.
An enormous wheel? Sure, why not. This video has Link tearing through Hyrule on a huge, spinning wheel. He can even ride it through rivers, making it a great choice for covering all types of ground quickly. Link gets into a sticky situation when he gets caught in a tree while a Hinox chases him, forcing him to abandon the contraption.
If you’ve been on social media since Friday, you’ve probably seen some variation of this next creation… Probably a NSFW version, if we’re being honest. This video posted to Reddit shows a giant stick figure made out of wood. He’s got arms, legs, and a face, and is gliding around Hyrule essentially on roller skates. Practical for moment-to-moment gameplay? Maybe not. But it’s absolutely hilarious.
Just a Guy Delivering Timber
Link needs to find Zelda and save Hyrule in Tears of the Kingdom, but some players are ditching those responsibilities in favor of a more peaceful life. On Twitter, @lhcarpenter shared a new career path for Link as a truck driver, saying Link has “a load of timber that needs to be in Butte, Montana by the 18th, or i’m out of a job”. That’s Hyrule slice of life taken to a whole new level.
zelda? upheaval? ganondorf? not my problem. i’ve got a load of timber that needs to be in Butte, Montana by the 18th, or i’m out of a job #TearsOfTheKingdompic.twitter.com/U5wXANUxqs
These next two creations are a touch on the brutal side. Posted to Reddit by user nintenglo, this first creation shows Link trapping a Bokoblin in a wooden cage, and then proceeding to torch the Bokoblin with Zonai Flame Emitters. Ouch.
Koroks Roasting On an Open Fire
People have been doing awful, terrible things to Tears of the Kingdom’s Koroks thanks to Link’s new Ultrahand power. One such example of this is roasting an entire group of Koroks over an open flame, as they all helplessly panic. Why would you make Link act this way?
After a couple brutal creations, we’ll end on something a bit more wholesome. When popular Twitter account @CanYouPetTheDog revealed that you can’t pet the various dogs in Tears of the Kingdom, Good Vibes Gaming’s Jon Cartwright took matters into his own hands. On Twitter, you can check out a picture of Link’s dog-petting machine, which has a Bokoblin Arm outstretched to give the pup the pats it deserves.
You know the most exciting part about all of this? The fact that Tears of the Kingdom is less than a week old. Breath of the Wild stunts and trick shots kept getting better and better throughout the years, and the same is certainly going to happen here. I can’t even imagine what kinds of vehicles, weapons, and contraptions players far more creative than I will be building a week, a month, or a year from now.
While we can’t help you become an expert Tears of the Kingdom engineering wizard, there’s a ton of things we can do for you. Be sure to take a look at our Tears of the Kingdom Walkthrough and Guide about making your way through Hyrule. In fact, you can start here:
Logan Plant is a freelance writer for IGN covering video game and entertainment news. He has over seven years of experience in the gaming industry with bylines at IGN, Nintendo Wire, Switch Player Magazine, and Lifewire. Find him on Twitter @LoganJPlant.
While we’ll have to wait until July 5 to learn all the details of this surprise announcement, Behaviour Interactive has revealed that the actual Nicolas Cage is coming to Dead by Daylight.
Dead by Daylight’s Twitter confirmed the news, saying, “It’s the performance of a lifetime. Dead by Daylight: Nicolas Cage. Coming to a realm near you. Learn more on July 5th.”
The accompanying video gives us our first look at the actor in the game, and it appears this will be a similar case to The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent where Cage is actually playing himself and not another new character in Dead by Daylight’s universe.
“There is nothing more powerful than imagination,” Nic Cage says in the trailer. “It can shape the fabric of reality… transforming everything you think you may know.”
Behaviour stated we’d learn more about Nicolas Cage, who very well may end up being a new Survivor, on July 5, but there’s a chance he may show up at Dead by Daylight’s 7th Anniversary Stream on May 23 as well.
Indeed, Nintendo of America’s President, Doug Bowser, took to Twitter to thank fans for their unwavering support, but in doing so managed to make a rather amusing mistake in the process. Whether a result of autocorrect being a little too strict at the time or a genuine mistake from Mr. Bowser himself, his tweet mentioned ‘Hyland’ instead of ‘Hyrule’. Check it out:
The Call of Duty Endowment (C.O.D.E.) helps unemployed / underemployed veterans find high-quality careers.
In recognition of Military Appreciation Month, the C.O.D.E. Valkyrie Pack is now available and 100% of all net proceeds go directly to the Endowment to help military veterans.
Activision and Infinity Ward answer our questions about the Call of Duty Endowment, how you can support this program, plus a couple of noteworthy features included in the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II and Warzone 2.0 Season 03 Reloaded update.
I normally don’t discuss my military service, but in the mid-2000’s I deployed to the Middle East, like so many others had before me. After landing in country at the international airport, I sat there on the hot and dusty tarmac with dozens of other service members, waiting for transportation to the base to begin my one-year tour of duty. I continually scanned my surroundings, not knowing what to expect from this place. One thing was for certain, I was a stranger in a strange land. Amidst all the hustle and bustle consistent with any airport, I heard these two service members talking. They looked to be in their early twenties, one had just arrived in theater and the other was preparing to leave. It was obvious they were friends, catching up in the minutes they had until they were once again separated. One commented on this being his third tour in two years, the other said this would also be his third. And then their conversation changed to happier thoughts. The one asked the other about the latest video game releases back home since he had been away for so long, and what the other had been playing. The other responded, “Call of Duty”.
I’ll never forget this moment, these two young kids sitting in the middle of a warzone having already completed a couple tours, and they’re bonding and laughing and sharing stories about Call of Duty. There was something encouraging about this moment that put me at peace, like everything was going to be okay. I didn’t know them or whatever happened to them, but my hope is they both made it home okay and are once again playing Call of Duty together.
Call of Duty has always been an important video game series for me, and not just because they are amazing games with these epic single player campaigns and insanely fun multiplayer modes, but perhaps just as importantly because of their efforts to support military veterans transitioning to the civilian world by helping them find employment opportunities through the Call of Duty Endowmentprogram.
Since 2009, the nonprofit Call of Duty Endowment has helped more than 118,000 veterans find meaningful careers after their military service (that’s a group of vets more than half the size of the US Marine Corps). The Endowment seeks to help U.S. and U.K. veterans find high-quality careers by supporting groups that prepare them for the job market and by raising awareness of the extraordinary value veterans bring to the workplace. For more information about the Call of Duty Endowment, please visit www.callofdutyendowment.org
Dan Goldenberg, Executive Director for the Call of Duty Endowment, discussed the program with us, including how it has helped service members since its inception and this year’s activities during Military Appreciation Month. My first question was why this program and why this approach.
“Every veteran needs a job when they return from service. The data shows that if a veteran finds high-quality employment upon re-entry into civilian life, the other challenges they face become much more surmountable,” explains Goldenberg. “A good job means a roof, the ability to raise children in a healthy environment, access to healthcare, social interaction, and, perhaps most importantly, purpose.”
The Call of Duty Endowment ensures success by monitoring results through rigorous quality controls and periodic performance reviews. “We have developed a great, scalable model for finding and funding the highest performing nonprofits that place vets in jobs,” states Goldenberg.“Our model, launched in 2013, is called the Seal of Distinction. In short, it helps us find the needles in the haystack and turn them into spears.”
Military Appreciation Month and C.O.D.E.
Every year, Activision Blizzard and the Call of Duty Endowment support Military Appreciation Month through various activations providing gamers the opportunity to proactively support the endowment. Earlier this month, they hosted the Loot for Good campaign culminating in a substantial donation to C.O.D.E.
“Each Military Appreciation Month, the Endowment launches an in-game activation to engage the community in our work. We have been blown away by the response – last year we launched the first-ever in-game charity run – Call of Duty Veterans. This year, we launched Loot for Good and the response from our community was incredible,” says Goldenberg. “The Loot for Good campaign was the first of its kind charity extraction challenge and was a way for players to extract in-game loot and be credited with a real-world cash contribution. We raised $1,000,000, which will help fund the placement of more than 1,600 veterans into high-quality jobs.”
One of the other ways Activision Blizzard offers gamers the opportunity to support this program is through the purchase of special C.O.D.E. packs. This year’s pack is a bit different than previous packs, and Goldenberg discusses how and why.
“This month, we are launching the Call of Duty Endowment Valkyrie Pack, which has the Endowment’s first-ever female operator skin. These content packs have proven highly successful with our community, raising more than $27 million for veteran employment to-date while also raising awareness about the cause,” explains Goldenberg. “We also try to embed the cause with the content. This latest pack highlights female veterans and the major contributions they make every day in our armed forces.”
The Call of Duty Endowment was created after I left the military so I couldn’t use the services it provides, but since then I have reviewed the program so I could assist friends and fellow service members as they prepare to leave the military, and there are some great resources available. I asked Goldenberg if he had any advice for transitioning service members looking for employment.
“Our research shows that veterans who reach out for professional help with resume writing and interview preparation are 2-3 times more likely to land high-quality employment. Veterans should reach out for this help and should never pay for these types of services,” says Goldenberg. “Getting help translating military experience into civilian hiring language is critical to getting hired. The best place to find world-class support is at our website.”
For more information about this program, check out this week’s Official Xbox Podcast with Major Nelson interviewing Dan Goldenberg, Executive Director, Call of Duty Endowment.
In addition to the new Call of Duty Endowment Valkyrie Pack launching on May 17, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II and Call of Duty: Warzone 2.0 recently launched Season 03 Reloaded on May 10. The latest season includes a new raid and mission; new 6v6 map; new modes, equipment, and ranked play for Warzone 2.0; and much more! Stephanie Snowden, Director of Communications at Infinity Ward, provided us with more details about a few of the features from Season 03 Reloaded.
Step Into the Shoes of the Basketball MVP – Kevin Durant
We’ve witnessed some spectacular operators added to Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II and Call of Duty: Warzone 2.0, but perhaps never one as unique as basketball MVP Kevin Durant. “Kevin is a huge Call of Duty fan, which made scanning and designing his operator and items a ton of fun for us at Infinity Ward,” says Snowden. “While making the operator as realistic as possible is always a priority, it was important for us to be sure the feel of the items matched KD’s swagger both on and off the court. We can’t wait to see players easy money sniping.”
New 6v6 Multiplayer Map – Alboran Hatchery
Maps are one of the most talked about features, especially anytime we are near a new season. There are always lengthy discussions online about fan-favorite maps from previous Call of Duty games and speculation about what map might be added with each new season. But in Season 03 Reloaded, we already know this new map is Alboran Hatchery.
“Alboran Hatchery is set in Galicia, Spain, which was a featured locale in the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II campaign in the Recon By Fire mission. The map can be broken down in 4 overall sections: Fishery Warehouse, Containers, Main Entrance, and Storage Building,” explains Snowden. “Prepare for close-quarters action in the Warehouse, while rooftops may offer a vertical advantage. Containers can provide key defensive cover for your team in 6v6 modes.”
For more details about Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II and Call of Duty: Warzone 2.0 Season 03 Reloaded, check out the official site and follow @CallofDuty on Twitter.
As a veteran, I’d personally like to thank Activision Blizzard for their tremendous efforts with the Call of Duty Endowment. It’s worth noting the company funds all operating costs for this program and has donated over $38M to the endowment, with 100% of all player contributions going straight to providing employment support to veterans with the goal of finding them high-quality jobs that fully leverage their experience, character, skills, and education. Read more about the program here.
Call of Duty®: Modern Warfare® II drops players into an unprecedented global conflict that features the return of the iconic Operators of Task Force 141.
Infinity Ward brings fans state-of-the-art gameplay, with all-new gun handling, advanced AI system, a new Gunsmith and a suite of other gameplay and graphical innovations that elevate the franchise to new heights.
Modern Warfare® II launches with a globe-trotting single-player campaign, immersive Multiplayer combat and an evolved Special Ops game mode featuring tactical co-op gameplay.
You also get access to Call of Duty®: Warzone™ 2.0, the all-new Battle Royale experience.
For more information, please visit www.callofduty.com.
Welcome to Warzone™ 2.0, the massive free-to-play combat arena which now features the brand-new map, Al Mazrah.
Turn the Heat Up
Join forces with your friends and jump into a sprawling battleground in the metropolitan area and rural outskirts within the Republic of Adal.
Loot For Rewards
Discover supply boxes and complete contracts to build your arsenal and gain a tactical advantage.
Introducing DMZ Mode
Drop into the all-new sandbox objective-based mode to choose your own experience within the warzone and collecting gear to keep in your Call of Duty®: Warzone™ 2.0 inventory.
Purchase the Call of Duty®: Modern Warfare® II Vault Edition and get the Red Team 141 Operator Pack, FJX Cinder Weapon Vault*, 10 hours of 2XP, 10 hours of Weapons 2XP, Battle Pass and 50 Tier Skips** – also usable in Warzone™ 2.0.
An Xbox Live Gold subscription is not required to play the Warzone™ 2.0 game mode. All other online modes still require Xbox Live Gold.
*Weapon Vault design limited to Weapon Vault contents at launch.
**Battle Pass redemption applies to one season of Modern Warfare® II Battle Pass only.
For more information, please visit www.callofduty.com.
