Category: Video Games

Pokémon Centre Launches Adorable Soda Plushies Of The Original Starters

I choose you, and you, and you.

The Pokémon Company International has announced that its line of soda pop plushies, once exclusive to Japan, are now launching in the West for the first time.

Designed via a collaboration with Japanese illustrator and graphic designer F*Kaori, the first three plushies are based on the original starter Pokémon: Bulbasaur, Charmander, and Squirtle. Available to order now for £16.99 / $19.99 a pop, each plush measues in at just over 6 inches in height (well, about 5.5 inches for Bulbasaur).

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Here’s every spear I spotted in the new Elden Ring DLC trailer, rated for their predicted plot relevance

We just got a new Elden Ring: Shadow Of The Erdtree story trailer yesterday. As is their druthers, FromSoft have at once made the events it depicts feel of earth-shattering importance while providing basically no concrete information. A lot of people will be putting out gargantuan theory posts right now, rambling on about Miquella, the Crucible, the Golden Order blah blah. This is all a distraction. Anyone with eyes can tell you that the primary movers and shakers of this final chapter in the Lands Between are a secret faction of hitherto secret spear people. You’re likely confused, and that’s understandable. As the foremost authority on ephemeral nonsense in Elden Ring, I’m the only one who has your back here.

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Hunt: Showdown Leaves PS4 and Xbox One Behind With Its Free Next-Gen Update

Hunt: Showdown developer Crytek has announced the end of support for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions of the game as it readies the release of a significant free next-gen upgrade.

Hunt: Showdown is a tense multiplayer first-person shooter in which players work to survive with and against each other as they hunt mythical monsters before reaching an extraction point.

Crytek is treating August 15 as a “significant relaunch” of Hunt: Showdown, which launched first on Steam in Early Access form in February before a release on Xbox in 2019. The full release followed later in 2019, before a launch on PS4 in 2020.

The free PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and S update goes live on August 15, and brings with it a new map, an upgrade to CryEngine version 5.11, performance improvements for the PC and console versions, as well as a new UI/UX design.

After the update goes live on PS5 and Xbox Series X and S, you will no longer be able to play Hunt on the last generation of consoles, Crytek warned. Crytek said player accounts, entitlements, and all DLCs carry forward to the new version for free “when you’re ready to make the hardware transition.”

Crytek said it will reveal details in the months leading up to the next-gen update. Here’s what to expect from the developer:

  • Community surveys, lessons learned, and how this data will affect future events
  • A sneak peek into the new UX/UI design
  • Technological upgrades and performance improvements coming to Hunt via CRYENGINE 5.11 and what that means for players
  • An update on the Fair Play Task Force and the steps being taken to address cheating, exploitive play, and toxic interactions
  • The evolution of Hunter recruitment/ Prestige systems, as well as changes being made to the progression system
  • Overall design vision for game mechanics and the decisions being made around Hunter revival, Health Chunks, restorations, burning downed Hunters, and more

Crytek is also working on first-person shooter sequel Crysis 4, announced in 2022 but without a release window.

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.

Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door Has Apparently Leaked Online

The Switch launch is so close now.

Just a day before its release, Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door for the Switch has apparently been leaked online.

Unfortunately, first-party game leaks like this have been a common occurrence throughout the Switch’s lifecycle, so it’s not exactly a surprise to see it’s happened again. While there are some new things to experience in this remake, story spoilers aren’t as much of a concern here.

Read the full article on nintendolife.com

Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes Team Gearing Up For “Major Switch Patch Announcement”

The JRPG had a lot of performance problems at launch.

The Suikoden spiritual successor Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes has offered up quite an enjoyable RPG experience, but admittedly had some issues at launch on the Nintendo Switch.

Although the teams at Rabbit & Studios and 505 Games have already acknowledged this, there’s apparently something much more “major” in the works. According to the official social media account for this relatively new release, a Switch patch announcement is coming in the next few days.

Read the full article on nintendolife.com

Daily Deals: Super Mario Odyssey, WD_Black 2TB SSD, JBL Flip 6

With so many deals each day, it can be hard to keep up with the best sales. Luckily, we’ve rounded up some of the best deals you can find for Tuesday, May 21. Whether you’re searching for a new accessory for Steam Deck or just looking for a new game to start, we’ve got you covered. The best deals of the day include Super Mario Odyssey, a 2TB WD_Black SSD, Unicorn Overlord, the JBL Flip 6, and more.

Super Mario Odyssey for $39.99

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!

WD_BLACK 2TB SSD for $139.99

Currently, Amazon has the WD_Black 2TB SN850X SSD available for just $139.99. 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 PlayStation 5, but you will need to purchase an SSD heatsink separately.

Unicorn Overlord for $39.99

Unicorn Overlord is available at Amazon for only $39.99. This title was developed by Vanillaware, most recently known for 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim. Over 60 unique characters are available to choose from within Unicorn Overlord, where you command armies in tactical battle. We gave the game a 9/10 in our review, stating, “Unicorn Overlord is a visual delight that’s brimming with creativity, and an absolute must-play for any fan of strategy RPGs.”

JBL Flip 6 Bluetooth Speaker for $99.99

Target has the JBL Flip 6 on sale this week for only $99. If you’re looking for a fantastic speaker to use throughout the Summer, this is the one for you. The JBL Flip 6 is completely waterproof, which means it is perfect for the beach or pool. With exceptional sound quality and a heavy focus on bass, the Flip 6 will deliver a quality listening experience no matter where you are.

Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1 for $19.99

If you’ve been holding off on the first Metal Gear Solid collection, now is the time to pick it up. Target has the Nintendo Switch version of Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1 for just $19.99 with Target Circle. You can score this deal for a limited time, so be sure to pick it up before it’s gone.

Save on Sony WH-1000MX Series Headphones

Both the Sony WH-1000MX4 and WH-1000MX5 headphones are available on sale. These are two of the best over-ear headphones on the market, especially in the noise-canceling area. Eight microphones are utilized to ensure you have the best listening experience possible. You can instantly silence all of your surroundings with the press of a button, or choose to listen to close sounds like voices, horns honking, etc. Overall, you can’t go wrong with either of these headphones.

Persona 5 Royal on Switch for $24.99

Persona 5 is one of the most important RPGs of the last ten years for a variety of reasons. It brought millions of new fans into the scene with its exciting combat, gripping story, and interesting characters. Persona 5 Royal is the ultimate version of P5, and it’s now playable portably with Nintendo Switch! This deal was also available at Target but has since sold out. With Persona 6 still a ways out, now is the time to experience this installment. Be sure to pick this one up before it is sold out.

Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door Remake Restores Character’s Trans Identity

Warning: Slight spoilers for Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door follow.

The Nintendo Switch remake of Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door marks the first time Vivian has been written as a transgender woman in English versions of the game.

At the start of the adventure, Vivian is one of The Thousand-Year Door’s villains, working alongside her sisters Marilyn and Beldam to track down and defeat Mario. But due to incessant bullying from Beldam, Vivian eventually leaves her sisters to join Mario’s party.

In the original Japanese version of The Thousand-Year Door, Vivian was written as a transgender woman, but that element of Vivian’s identity was removed in the English localization, where instead of bullying Vivian about her gender, Beldam called her ugly.

Now, when Vivian is traveling with Mario in Chapter 4’s Twilight Town, it’s revealed that her original backstory is intact: “Truth is, it took me a while to realize I was their sister… not their brother,” Vivian tells Mario. “Now their usual bullying feels heavier.”

The new localization smartly tones down much of Beldam’s bullying from the GameCube original’s script. In the 2004 Japanese version, Vivian is consistently misgendered by Beldam, Goombella’s tattle, and her in-game character description, but the remake is much more affirming of Vivian’s gender, as Beldam’s comments are less direct and all other characters and text refer to Vivian as a woman.

Goombella’s tattle now says, “The youngest of the Three Shadows. She’s so cute, she’s able to infatuate anyone”, while her character bio says, “Vivian was one of the Three Shadows but has now chosen to leave her two sisters behind.”

We called the Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door remake amazing in our review, saying, “There’s a reason The Thousand-Year Door has been considered one of the greatest Nintendo games for the last 20 years, and this brilliant remake ensures it will maintain that reputation for at least a thousand more.”

Logan Plant is IGN’s Database Manager, Playlist Editor, occasional news writer, and frequent Super Ninfriendo on Nintendo Voice Chat. Find him on Twitter @LoganJPlant.

Round Up: The Reviews Are In For Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door

Does this paper make the cut?

After literally years of begging from Nintendo fans, what many consider to be the very best Paper Mario entry has finally been remade and is about to launch on Nintendo Switch.

But despite how lauded Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door has been in the past, does it still hold up in 2024? Well, if you ask us, we’d say ‘too bloomin’ right, mate’, but if you want a bit more detail about what we think of the game, then be sure to check out our full review via the link below.

Read the full article on nintendolife.com