PS5 players will soon be able to join Discord voice chat directly from their console

In recent years, we’ve partnered with Discord to introduce more ways for players to connect with their friends and communities across Discord and the PS5 console. Since we first introduced Discord voice chat on PS5, players have joined a Discord voice chat on PS5 more than 290 million times to hang out with friends in Discord voice channels while gaming.

Today, we’re pleased to share that we’re starting to roll out the ability for PS5 players to join Discord voice chat directly from the PS5 console, without relying on the Discord PC or mobile apps to initiate the connection.


PS5 players will soon be able to join Discord voice chat directly from their console

How to join Discord voice chat on PS5

To start, select the Discord tab in Game Base within the PS5 Control Center and choose the Discord server or DM group you’d like to join. Then, select your preferred voice channel. This will reveal more details, such as who is already in the channel chatting. You’ll also receive a PS5 console notification when another Discord user calls you, allowing you to join right away.

PS5 UI screenshot showing the option to join a Discord voice chat

This update will make it easier than ever to quickly hop into Discord conversations with other gamers. It will gradually roll out over the coming weeks, starting with players in Japan/Asia, followed by Europe, Australia/New Zealand, and the Middle East, and finally the Americas.

Please note that you will need to update your console to the latest system software, and your accounts for PlayStation Network and Discord must be linked. If you haven’t yet linked accounts, you can learn how to do so here.

Profile Share also begins rolling out next week

Starting next week, we’re also rolling out the ability for you to share your PlayStation Network profile on any messaging or social app. To begin, select “Share Profile” from PlayStation App or the PS5 console to generate a shareable link or QR code. When the recipient opens the link, they’ll have the option to add you as a friend once they’re signed in to PlayStation Network:

three side-by-side images showing the Profile Share functionality on mobile devices

We’re passionate about making it as easy as possible for you to find and connect with new friends and communities, whether you enjoy playing with other friends on PS5 or hopping into crossplay games. Thank you for your ongoing support.

Best Video Game Deals Today (June 2024)

Buying new video games, hardware, and accessories for your preferred console doesn’t need to make a massive dent in your wallet. Deals happen all the time for items like these, so you can save money while investing in your favorite hobby. One of our favorite deals at the moment is this excellent Game Pass deal at Woot, but there are plenty more to check out. Whether you play on PS5, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, or PC, you’ll find the very best deals listed below. And if you’ve taken advantage of lots of these deals, see our roundup on game storage ideas.

TL;DR – Our Favorite Video Game Deals

Best Xbox Game Pass Deal

Xbox Game Pass has been discounted once again, providing another opportunity for users to stack their membership at a discounted rate. Woot (an Amazon company) currently has 1-month Xbox Game Pass Ultimate codes down to $11.79, and 3-month codes for $34.49. These are significant discounts, and monumentally cheaper than compared to paying the default $17.99/month.

Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition (Physical Edition) Preorder

While waiting for Nintendo’s Switch successor, you can enjoy some absolute classics with the Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition. This is a collection of over 150 challenges from 13 different NES games that’s coming exclusively to Switch on July 18, and you can preorder it today. We’ve included links to the physical edition’s preorder below, but if you’re looking for even more information on digital editions, check out our Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition preorder guide.

PlayStation Portal Is Finally Back In Stock

There are some amazing PS5 deals to check out right now, but more importantly, the PlayStation Portal, a surprise hit and Sony’s newest handheld device, is back in stock at Best Buy, Walmart, and Amazon from $199. The stock shortage might finally be over for the PS Portal. See our PlayStation Portal review here for even more info on the handheld PS5 accessory.

Best PC Game Deals

If you’re looking for the latest and greatest deals on PC games, don’t worry, we’ve got you covered there as well. Here, you can find some excellent deals on new releases, like Dragon’s Dogma 2, or upcoming releases like Elden Ring’s Shadow of the Erdtree expansion. You can check out even more of our favorite PC game deals below.

More PC Game Deals:

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Best Physical Game Deals: Prince of Persia is Down to $30

If you’re looking to pick up some physical games for your preferred platform, there are quite a few deals to check out at the moment. One of our favorites is on Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown for PS5, which is down 40% to just $29.98 right now at Amazon. You can see even more of our favorite game deals below.

Alienware Aurora R16 RTX 4080 SUPER Gaming PC for $2,299.99 + 34″ QD OLED Gaming Monitor for $499

Do you prefer to play on a dedicated tower? Navigating the options online can be quite the ordeal. Desk space, portability, and price point are often factors in the decision. However, there are some great PC deals that pop up every now and again that are worth jumping on. One of our favorite deals at the moment is on this Alienware Aurora R16 RTX 4080 SUPER Gaming PC, which is available for $2,299.99, but you can also add on a discounted Alienware AW3423DWF 34″ QD OLED gaming monitor for an extra $499, bringing it up to $2798.99 total. To see even more PC deals, check out our roundup of the best gaming PC deals.

More PC Deals:

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Our Favorite Micro SD Cards for Switch and Steam Deck Are On Sale

The best Switch or Steam Deck SD card should be fast, reliable, and as future-proof as possible. That last one is important, as it was recently revealed a Switch successor will be announced within the fiscal year. 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 below for your convenience. To see even more SD card deals, make sure to check out our roundup of the best SD card deals.

More SD Card Deals

Our Favorite Power Bank for Steam Deck is Discounted Right Now

Some excellent power banks are discounted at the moment that are perfectly portable and packing plenty of power to keep you going. In particular, the fantastic Anker Prime Power Bank is down to $88.95. This is a great discount on a reliable power bank that likely won’t last long, so grab it at this price while you can!

Meta Quest 2 (128GB) is Down to $199

Amazon is offering a very nice discount at the moment on the 128GB Meta Quest 2. This is one of the best Meta Quest deals available right now, and well worth considering for anyone interested in VR. Normally, this VR headset retails for $249.99, but you can grab it for $199 right now, which is a great price for such a high-quality headset. We gave it a 9/10 in our review back when it was released, stating that it “improves an already amazing VR headset with better resolution, refresh rate, and a lower price tag.”

Perfect PS5 2TB SSD for $149.99 at Amazon

Right now, Amazon has the WD_Black 2TB SN850X SSD available for just $149.99. Normally priced at $189.99, this 2TB SSD features speeds up to 7,300MB/s to ensure your games load as fast as possible. This model will work with PS5, but you will need to purchase a heatsink to go with it (which you can do here for just $9). To see even more of the best SSD deals, check out our roundup of the best PS5 2TB SSD deals. Otherwise, you can see some more of our favorite picks below.

Steam Deck Internal SSD: Big Discount on the WD_BLACK SSD

If a micro SD card deal isn’t floating your boat for Steam Deck, how about a new internal SSD instead? The WD_BLACK 1TB SN770M M.2 2230 NVMe SSD is currently down to $99.99, which is a nice 23% discount from its $129.99 MSRP.

Score 2 Free Months of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate (New Members Only)

Walmart is now offering two months of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate for free for any current or new Walmart+ members. If you’re not currently a member of Walmart+, the retailer offers a 30-day free trial (which will make you eligible for the Game Pass offer), alongside plans for $12.95 paid monthly, or $98 paid annually.

For those interested in the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate offer, it is worth qualifying that this code will only apply to those who currently don’t have an active Game Pass Ultimate membership, and Walmart stresses that this is for new members only. If you’re on Game Pass Core, it should be fine to apply to your account. Otherwise, if you’re a current Game Pass Ultimate member, the code won’t be applicable. If you do qualify, it’s a pretty simple process if you’re looking to bag the two-month free trial, here’s how:

Steps:

  1. Visit the Walmart+ Offer Page and select ‘Get Offer’ next to the 2 free months of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate listing
  2. On the ‘Offer Page’ you will see a unique promo code, copy this code and keep a record of it
  3. Hit the ‘Redeem Offer’ button on the page to go to the Xbox Site
  4. Sign in to Your Account
  5. Your promo code will autofill — if it does not then paste/type
  6. Redeem your offer and receive your 2 Free Months of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate
  7. Disable auto-renewal afterward to avoid being charged at the end of the trial — this can be located in ‘Services & Subscriptions’ in your Microsoft account. You should also do this for Walmart+ if you used a free trial to access the Game Pass offer

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

Mental Salvo is an “infinite open world” art game full of procedurally generated surprises

Mental Salvo describes itself as having an “infinite open world” in which you can do so many things, “they’re impossible to list”. Were this a game from a triple-A publisher, I’d be heading down to their compound with some powerful magnets and cannisters of highly concentrated acid to wipe out their ungodly creation before it replaces the fundamental particles of our universe with waypoints. But Mental Salvo is actually the work of new indie imaginini (yes, no capital-I), and is a “top down art adventure with light RPG elements” that is perhaps a bit ZANY but also, refreshingly playful in essentially being about poking a big white screen to see what tumbles out of it.

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Best Xbox Deals Today (June 2024)

Xbox’s summer showcase was a home run, with one of the best presentations of upcoming games on the Xbox ecosystem in quite some time. This included titles like Black Ops 6, Doom: The Dark Ages, Perfect Dark, Fable, Gears of War: E-Day, and plenty more. If these sneak peeks have excited you for the future of Xbox, then we’ve got even more good news to share.

Xbox Game Pass is back on sale for a limited time, with huge discounts on stackable 3-month and 1-month codes for Game Pass Ultimate. That’s not all, as there are also offers on controllers, alongside big price drops on refurbished consoles up for grabs as well. Here are all the best Xbox deals right now.

TL;DR – Our Favorite Xbox Deals

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Best Xbox Game Pass Deal

Xbox Game Pass has been discounted once again, providing another opportunity for users to stack their membership at a discounted rate. Woot (an Amazon company) currently has 1-month Xbox Game Pass Ultimate codes down to $11.79, and 3-month codes for $34.49. These are significant discounts, and monumentally cheaper than compared to paying the default $17.99/month.

Xbox Series X Refurbished for $319.99

If you’re looking for a top deal on an Xbox Series X during the major summer showcase, then this is the best deal you can currently find. Woot is selling a refurbished (Grade A) Xbox Series X for just $319.99. That’s over $120 off the list price for the console, and welll worth considering as an afforable avenue into the Xbox ecosystem. More Xbox deals are expected in the coming weeks during Prime Day, and console sales are becoming more common so keep an eye on @IGNDeals on X (Twitter) for more updates.

Score 2 Free Months of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate (New Members Only)

Walmart is now offering two months of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate for free for any current or new Walmart+ members. If you’re not currently a member of Walmart+, the retailer offers a 30-day free trial (which will make you eligible for the Game Pass offer), alongside plans for $12.95 paid monthly, or $98 paid annually.

For those interested in the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate offer, it is worth qualifying that this code will only apply to those who currently don’t have an active Game Pass Ultimate membership, and Walmart stresses that this is for new members only. If you’re on Game Pass Core, it should be fine to apply to your account. Otherwise, if you’re a current Game Pass Ultimate member, the code won’t be applicable. If you do qualify, it’s a pretty simple process if you’re looking to bag the two-month free trial, here’s how:

Steps:

  1. Visit the Walmart+ Offer Page and select ‘Get Offer’ next to the 2 free months of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate listing
  2. On the ‘Offer Page’ you will see a unique promo code, copy this code and keep a record of it
  3. Hit the ‘Redeem Offer’ button on the page to go to the Xbox Site
  4. Sign in to Your Account
  5. Your promo code will autofill — if it does not then paste/type
  6. Redeem your offer and receive your 2 Free Months of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate
  7. Disable auto-renewal afterward to avoid being charged at the end of the trial — this can be located in ‘Services & Subscriptions’ in your Microsoft account. You should also do this for Walmart+ if you used a free trial to access the Game Pass offer

Select Xbox Controllers For $47.49 (Last Chance)

Looking to pick up an Xbox controller or add some new ones to your gaming setup? Both Target and Amazon have top discounts on Xbox gamepads right now, with the Robot White varient down to $49.99, and the Electric Volt controller down to $47.49 at Target. It’s the last chance you can secure this discount, so secure ASAP to avoid disapointment.

Best Xbox Game Deals

This time in mid June is an excellent time to pick up video games, as there are a variety of Summer sales that coincide with Summer of Gaming going on for both digital and physical titles. At the moment, you can score some incredible deals on a wide variety of physical games, including 50% off Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown and Assassin’s Creed Mirage. More importantly, with Gears 6 rumored to be making an appearance at Xbox’s Showcase on Sunday, you can get a whopping 61% off Gears 5 right now at Best Buy!

More Xbox Video Game Deals:

50% Off the Xbox Series S Toaster & Xbox Series X Mini Fridge

It looks like a fridge, and it kinda is a fridge (mini), and it’s also down to $39.94 at Walmart. Plus, c’mon, who doesn’t want the Xbox Series S toaster for their kitchen as well? Not only is it a fun addition to have in your home, but this is a discount you definitely don’t want to miss out on, either! It’s currently marked down over 50% at Walmart to just $42, which is an excellent deal. What better time to pick it up?

Best Xbox Expansion Card SSD Deals

Amazon is offering the officially licensed Seagate 1TB Expansion Card for Xbox Series consoles with a nice little discount. Right now it’s $149.99, a minor price drop from its original $160 MSRP. This is one of the best SSDs for the Xbox, which isn’t surprising since your options are pretty limited. There’s also the 2TB version for $249.99 and the 8TB Seagate Starfield Special Edition Game Drive for $189.90.

Get 10% Off the Official Xbox Wireless Headset & More Headset Deals

Does your family complain when you stay up playing loud shooters late into the night? They’ll stop complaining if you pick up an Xbox headset that lets no one but you hear the delightful explosions you cause on the screen. Right now, you can get 10% off the Official Xbox Wireless Headset and you can also save 20% on the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless Gaming Headset at Amazon. To see even more gaming headsets on sale, visit our roundup of the best gaming headset deals.

What is Xbox’s Recent Controversy?

The recent discomfored surrounding Xbox can be isolated to a recent round of brutal layoffs. Microsoft is closing a number of Bethesda studios, including Redfall maker Arkane Austin, Hi-Fi Rush and The Evil Within developer Tango Gameworks, and more in devastating cuts at Bethesda. Alpha Dog Games, maker of mobile game Mighty Doom, will also close. Roundhouse Studios will be absorbed by The Elder Scrolls Online developer ZeniMax Online Studios. Microsoft, currently valued at over $3 trillion, did not say how many staff will lose their jobs, but significant layoffs are inevitable.

Microsoft’s announcement of the cuts at Bethesda come over three months after the company announced plans to cut 1,900 staff from its video game workforce, and amid a boom time for Bethesda’s Fallout series following the breakout hit Prime Video TV show.

Is Call of Duty Black Ops 6 Coming to Xbox Game Pass?

Microsoft has confirmed the arrival of Call of Duty Black Ops 6 day-one on Xbox Game Pass. Microsoft made the announcement alongside the release of a live-action reveal trailer called ‘The Truth Lies’. In it we see world leaders including Bill Clinton, Margaret Thatcher, George H. W. Bush, Colin Powell, and Saddam Hussein, delivering cryptic speeches. Black Ops 6 will be set during the events of the Gulf War during the early ’90s.

Is Call of Duty Black Ops 6 300GB?

Activision has also clarified that Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 won’t actually require a 300 GB download despite previous messaging. Players began to panic about the size of this year’s Call of Duty after noticing its Xbox store page yesterday.

At the time, the page listed that the game would require a 309.85 GB download for those hoping to hop into the post-Cold War first-person shooter when it launches this fall. That’ll put a pretty big dent in the hard drive of most PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X | S consoles, so players were, understandably, very concerned.

When Should I Buy an Xbox?

In general, it is advisable to keep an eye out for sales and restocks throughout the year, as availability has improved since the initial launch of the console. Unlike the Nintendo Switch, there is no specific recommendation to wait for a sale regardless of the time of year. Instead, it’s a good idea to monitor various retailers and online platforms for restock announcements and promotional offers.

However, certain events like Black Friday or other holiday seasons may bring about unique bundles, discounts, or promotional deals specifically for the Xbox Series X. These bundles may include additional games, accessories, or exclusive limited editions. While quantities for such promotions might be limited, they can provide an opportunity to get more value for your purchase. See our guide to Xbox Series X prices for more info.

Xbox Series X or Xbox Series S?

Choosing between the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S ultimately depends on your gaming preferences, budget, and specific requirements. Let’s compare the two consoles to help you make an informed decision:

1. Performance: The Xbox Series X is the more powerful option, offering native 4K gaming, higher graphical fidelity, and faster loading times. It has more advanced hardware, including a larger storage capacity. On the other hand, the Xbox Series S targets a lower price point and offers a less powerful performance, targeting 1440p resolution gaming and upscaling to 4K.

2. Price: The Xbox Series S is more affordable compared to the Xbox Series X. If budget is a significant factor for you, the Xbox Series S provides a cost-effective option while still delivering a next-generation gaming experience. For example, the Series S can play Starfield at 1440p 30fps (vs 4K 30fps on Series X).

3. Storage: The Xbox Series X comes with a larger internal storage capacity, allowing you to store more games directly on the console. The Xbox Series S, however, has a smaller storage capacity, which means you may need to manage your game library more actively or rely on external storage solutions.

4. Disc Drive: The Xbox Series X includes a disc drive, enabling you to play physical game discs and enjoy a wider range of media options, including Blu-ray and DVD playback. The Xbox Series S, in contrast, is a digital-only console, meaning you can only play games downloaded from the digital store.

5. Graphics and Performance: While both consoles support ray tracing, the Xbox Series X provides a more immersive and visually impressive experience due to its superior hardware capabilities. If you prioritize cutting-edge graphics and want the best performance available, the Xbox Series X is the preferable choice.

Consider your gaming preferences, budget, and whether you prioritize top-of-the-line performance or cost-effectiveness. If you have a 4K TV, want the most powerful console, and are willing to invest more, the Xbox Series X is the recommended option. If you have a lower budget, a 1080p or 1440p TV, and don’t mind sacrificing some performance, the Xbox Series S offers excellent value for money.

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 Switch 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.

Poll: So, Will You Be Getting Monster Hunter Stories For Switch?

Capcom’s 3DS title returns this week.

Capcom’s 3DS title Monster Hunter Stories returns this week as a new remastered release for the Nintendo Switch.

It’s now fully voiced and comes with a Museum mode, allowing players to view over 200 pieces of concept art and listen to additional BGM. The game’s existing updates are also included, making this a slightly more complete version than the original release. Although it’s worth noting the Zelda DLC isn’t included in this new package.

Read the full article on nintendolife.com

Star Wars: Hunters Review

What matters most to any given shooter can vary wildly. Sometimes it’s the hardcore tactical play of games like Hell Let Loose, or the careful competitive balance in options like Counter-Strike. Other times it’s the rich world and lovable characters that help Overwatch shine. For Star Wars: Hunters, the main focus seems to be on having some quick, lighthearted fun in the Star Wars universe. This free-to-play hero shooter from developer Zynga is an enjoyable way to pass the time with friends, but a subpar competitive scene and uninspired progression rewards leave it too shallow to hold my interest for the long haul.

Star Wars: Hunters doesn’t have the over-the-top destructibility of The Finals, nor the high speed parkour of Apex Legends – it’s a much more conventional hero shooter in the vein of Team Fortress 2, where two teams of bespoke characters (in this case called Hunters) participate in pure player-versus-player shootouts. The most notable way it sets itself apart from other shooters is its Star Wars coat of paint, which it puts to good use. Classic Star Wars music is equal parts nostalgic and exciting, while familiar locations like an Ewok Village or Imperial Starship do a great job of placing the action a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, especially when the blaster bolts start flying and the Wookies start howling.

It feels like the philosophy behind the character designs and writing was “just have fun with it.” For example, one of my favorite heroes is Utooni, who is literally just two Jawa’s in a trenchcoat. Another is J-3DI, a droid simulating the combat style of a Jedi by wielding a lightsaber and using a grappling hook to faux force pull enemies closer. Even the play-by-play announcers contribute to that lighthearted Star Wars vibe – one hilarious bit of commentary talks about the action being sponsored by a new TV series on remembering Alderaan, but makes sure to remind any comedians watching at home that it is always too soon for Alderean jokes.

There are 13 playable characters at launch, with a good mix of unique personalities and abilities across them. Imara Vex, for instance, is a classic Star Wars bounty hunter with skills that focus on mobility and firepower, while Grozz is a massive club-wielding Wookie that lacks range but has an enormous amount of health. That variety of weapons and powers is effective at making each character unique in how they play, which also makes it exciting to swap between them and learn their differences.

Hunters manages to be fun by still having nuance where it counts.

Matches, on the other hand, are pretty simple and straightforward, though still enjoyable overall. There are four game types, including a simple team deathmatch option called Squad Battle and a basic point-capture mode called Power Control, and they will all be very familiar to anyone who has played a PvP shooter before. Matches are short, roughly five minutes each, which makes sense since Hunters is only currently available on Nintendo Switch and mobile devices – but that also means they rarely have room for a lot of back and forth swings or come from behind drama. You can still be strategic and do things like hide healers behind tankier units, but there simply isn’t a lot of time for counter-strategies to play out. This is speed checkers, not chess.

That may sound overly simplistic, but Hunters manages to be a lot of fun by still having nuance where it counts. Each character generally falls into a Tank, Damage, or Support archetype – they are more effective when used in their assigned roles, but anyone can start blasting (or smashing) and knock out some opponents. That strikes a great middle ground of being balanced enough that skilled play will win most fights, but loose enough with abilities and supers that anyone can rack up kills in quick bursts of chaos.

Playing enough casual matches will eventually unlock a Ranked playlist. This features all the same maps and game modes, but with a sweatier emphasis on winning, as the results now determine whether you move up or down the rankings from Bronzium to Kyber tiers). Unfortunately, this tends to funnel competitive teams toward some specific team compositions, as tightly grouped, tank-heavy squads currently dominate the battlefield. Sentinel in particular, with his shield, heavy repeater, and ability to knock enemies off of their feet, is almost mandatory, for example. Having to choose between the joy of wielding a lightsaber and having a realistic shot at beating a good team is a shame.

At least either option is more fun with a full squad of buddies – I just wish the Social menu, where you find friends and create teams, wasn’t locked until you’ve completed three tutorial matches and eight real games after that. “Sorry this is proving to be a pain” is an unfortunate thing to have to say when you are trying to play some quick rounds with a friend who is just starting out. It’s an unfortunate barrier, because once you can play with friends, it is a joy to do so. I appreciate how simple it is to form squads (you know, once it lets you at all), and it’s a hilarious good time to shout at your tank friend to stand still so you can shoot him full of health-restoring needles during a chaotic battle.

Once you unlock half the roster, getting the rest slows to a painful crawl.

Because Hunters is free-to-play, as is often the case, it has a mix of free and premium currencies that dictate a lot of the progress you’ll make towards unlockables and vanity items. New characters are unlocked using Crystals, which are earned in small amounts after each match, but you can (of course) expedite the process by buying them outright for real money. In the early going, new Hunters become available at a reasonable clip, but it does slow down with each one you purchase. By the time you unlock half the roster, it slows to a painful crawl. I understand the value of giving players something to strive toward, but at a certain point it starts to feel more coercive than aspirational, which is a problem.

Meanwhile, Credits are used on cosmetic items and are exclusively free, earned by playing matches and completing additional challenges. I appreciate the way your list of challenges is constantly being pecked away at in the background, giving me some added incentive to mix up who I played as since many of them focus on dealing damage with specific characters. But it’s too bad there are so few things you can actually buy with Credits. It’s normal to see dozens of items for sale on the front page of the shop, with only a few that can be purchased with Credits as opposed to Crystals, which makes them a bit pointless in practice.

In terms of XP, it comes in two forms. First, there’s Fame, which applies to specific Hunters. Like Credits, playing matches and checking off challenges adds Fame to a specific character, and every level up brings with it a reward. Some are purely cosmetic, like weapon skins and stickers. Others upgrade skills in small but meaningful ways: When Diago the Sharpshooter hits Fame level 2, for example, the damage to his proximity mines increases. The amount is small enough to not make higher level characters outright overpowered, but still substantial enough that leveling up feels exciting. It’s a good mix, and having a path for each Hunter to climb feels like a solid overall goal to work on for the short term, but the unremarkable weapons skins and stickers aren’t nearly as interesting.

Lastly, there’s the Arena Pass, a straightforward battle pass that rewards Credits, Crystals, and cosmetic items. Unfortunately, the rewards just aren’t very appealing. Turning my gun a different color isn’t exciting, and the amount of Crystals you get are too little to make a dent in the costs to expedite unlocking new characters. Annoyingly, most levels won’t even get you anything unless you pay around $10 USD for the All-Access pass. This is also how you unlock Aran Tal, a damage focused Mandalorian Hunter that is exclusive to All-Access pass holders. It’s another area where Star Wars: Hunters straddles the line between persuasive and problematic monetization.

At least it’s not a terribly complicated progression economy, but it can sometimes feel like it thanks to a really rough interface between matches. The home screen is jarringly overloaded, with far too many windows, tabs, and submenus. Claiming rewards for progress can happen in several different places, often in menus within menus within menus. It’s especially tough because the UI only subtly highlights whatever you have selected, which can make it hard to see what you’re actually about to click.

PlayStation Plus Game Catalog Additions for June 2024 Revealed

Sony has announced the new PlayStation Plus additions for June 2024, revealing the list of new games for Extra and Premium subscribers to enjoy starting next week.

As promised in a PlayStation.Blog post, the titles, which include highlights like Monster Hunter Rise, Crusader Kings 3, and a selection of Lego games, will be available on June 18. It’s a group of offerings that range from new releases to older PlayStation classics, totaling in 14 new games for the PlayStation Plus catalog.

Options for subscribers also include sports titles like Football Manager 2024 as well as PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 versions of 2006’s PSP spinoff, Daxter. You can see the full list of titles below:

PlayStation Plus Games Catalog Additions for June 2024

  • Monster Hunter Rise | PS4, PS5
  • Football Manager 2024 | PS5
  • Crusader Kings 3 | PS5
  • Monster Energy Supercross – The Official Videogame 6 | PS4, PS5
  • After Us | PS5
  • Anno 1800 | PS5
  • Police Simulator: Patrol Officers | PS4, PS5
  • Far Cry 4 | PS4
  • LEGO The Hobbit | PS4
  • LEGO The Incredibles | PS4

PlayStation Plus PS VR2 Games Catalog Additions for June 2024

  • Kayak VR: Mirage | PS VR 2

PlayStation Plus Classic Games Catalog Additions for June 2024

  • LEGO Star Wars 2: The Original Trilogy | PS4, PS5
  • Ghosthunter | PS4, PS5
  • Daxter | PS4, PS5

Monster Hunter Rise is Capcom’s most recent entry in its massively popular action RPG franchise. It originally launched for Nintendo Switch in 2021 but eventually came to PlayStation and Xbox consoles in 2023. We gave it an 8/10 in our review, and with Monster Hunter Wilds on the horizon, now is the perfect time to jump into the series.

Football Manager 2024 is Sega’s 2023 installment in its sports management series. For more, you can watch its announcement trailer here.

In our 10/10 review of Crusader Kings 3, we said, “Crusader King 3 takes the throne as the new king of historical strategy by expanding on and deepening the best parts of what made its predecessor memorable and unique.”

Monster Energy Supercross – The Official Videogame 6 is Milestone’s 2023 take on the adrenaline-pumping motocross series. We listed it as one of the biggest video game releases in March of last year. For more you can watch its announcement trailer here.

We called After Us “mediocre,” giving it a 5/10 in our review. At the time, we said, “After Us has a wordless story that doesn’t effectively communicate its environmentalist themes and platforming that frustrates with unreliable controls, but it does look fantastic.”

Anno 1800 is Ubisoft’s 2019 city-building strategy sim set during the Industrial Revolution. We gave it an 8.1/10 in our review, saying, “Anno 1800 returns to the roots of the real-time colony-builder series and delivers intimidatingly complex gameplay that’s as marvelous as it is beautiful.”

Police Simulator: Patrol Officers launched in 2022 and comes from developer Aesir Interactive and publisher Astragon Entertainment. For more you can watch its reveal trailer here.

Far Cry 4 followed up Ubisoft’s trend-setting Far Cry 3 with an action-adventure story set in the snowy open world of Kyrat. It had a lot to live up to, but we still managed to give it an 8.5/10 in our review back in 2014. At the time, we said, “Far Cry 4 has weak characters, but its campaign, co-op, and competitive multiplayer feature incredibly fun freedom.”

LEGO The Hobbit is TT Games’ 2014 fantasy brick-building spinoff and takes players into a more family friendly version of Bilbo Baggins’ journey through Middle-earth. We called it a “fun and charming extension” of The Hobbit films in our 7.4/10 review.

Like its Hobbit-centered counterpart, LEGO The Incredibles follows Disney and Pixar’s family-focused superhero film. The TT Games release launched in 2018, and you can learn more about how it brought the film into the world of LEGO video games by watching its launch trailer here.

Kayak VR: Mirage gives PS VR 2 owners unique outdoor environments to race and explore through. Its free roam mode also gives players the option to soak in all of the locations it has to offer at their own pace.

LEGO Star Wars 2: The Original Trilogy follows up TT Games’ original LEGO Star Wars game with stories set during LucasFilm’s original sci-fi trilogy. It’s even more of the tongue-in-cheek LEGO comedy the series is known for, which is why we gave it a 7.8/10 in our review. Its addition to the catalog brings up-rendering, a rewind feature, quick saves, and custom video filter support.

Ghosthunter originally released for the PlayStation 2 and follows the Detroit Police Department’s Officer Lazarus Jones after he’s called to investigate an abandoned school. This supernatural third-person shooter adventure now comes with up-rendering, rewind, quick-saves, and custom video filters.

Daxter stars the same ottsel fans know and love from the Jak and Daxter series. We gave it a 9/10 in our original review, but you can revisit the PSP classic with new enhancements like up-rendering, rewind, quick saves, and custom video filters.

Late last month, Sony unveiled its list of PlayStation Plus Essential titles for June 2024. Those games – SpongeBob SquarePants: The Cosmic Shake, AEW Fight Forever, and Streets of Rage 4 – are available until the end of the month.

For more information on some of the other titles available on PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium, you can check out the games added in May here, and the games added in April here.

Michael Cripe is a freelance contributor with IGN. He started writing in the industry in 2017 and is best known for his work at outlets such as The Pitch, The Escapist, OnlySP, and Gameranx.

Be sure to give him a follow on Twitter @MikeCripe.

The PlayStation 5 Slim Spider-Man 2 Console Bundle Is Back on Sale at Walmart

Walmart is currently offering a PlayStation 5 Slim Disc Edition Console bundled with the Spider-Man 2 game for only $449 shipped. This was the same deal we saw back during Black Friday, but it’s currently unavailable everywhere else. Some merchants have the PS5 console for $450, but doesn’t include the game.

PS5 Slim Spider-Man 2 Disc Edition Console for $449

The PS5 Slim was release in November 2023. Compared to the original PlayStation 5 console, it’s 30% smaller in volume and 18% lighter. The design is a bit different too; the console is now clad in four separate cover panels, the two top halves are glossy white and the bottom halves are matte like the original. The specs under the hood are identical. Like the original PS5, the PS5 Slim can be upgraded with an M.2 SSD. A horizontal stand is included. You’d have to buy a vertical stand separately, however you might not need it because the PS5 Slim can stand on its own.

The best thing about this new PS5 Slim bundle is that you get a copy of the Spider-Man 2 game for free. This is an excellent PS5 exclusive and we gave it an 8/10 in our review.

Looking for more deals on accessorie sand games? Check out the best PS5 deals today.

Dead Cells Designer Reveals Beat ‘Em Up ‘Tenjutsu’, And We Really Hope It Comes To Switch

Gnarly!

Publisher Devolver Digital and developer Deadnight Games have revealed Tenjustu, a stylish roguelike beat ’em up from Dead Cells designer Sébastien Benard.

We don’t have a release date for this one just yet and it hasn’t even been confirmed for the Switch at the time of writing, but good lord, it looks so good that we simply have to highlight it. The trailer showcases some lovely anime cutscenes followed by blistering beat ’em up gameplay bolstered by gorgeous pixel art visuals.

Read the full article on nintendolife.com