↩ Accueil

Vue normale

Il y a de nouveaux articles disponibles, cliquez pour rafraîchir la page.
Aujourd’hui — 29 novembre 20243.3 🎲 Jeux English

First STALKER 2 Update Released, Fixes Over 650 Issues, Full Patch Notes

29 novembre 2024 à 16:29

As promised, GSC GameWorld has released the first major title update for STALKER 2, and shared its full patch notes. This first update is 13.7GB in size on PC, so let’s see what it brings to the table. Title Update 1.0.1 brings over 650 fixes. Among them are visual, gameplay, AI and quest fixes. So, … Continue reading First STALKER 2 Update Released, Fixes Over 650 Issues, Full Patch Notes

The post First STALKER 2 Update Released, Fixes Over 650 Issues, Full Patch Notes appeared first on DSOGaming.

  •  

Stalker 2’s First Big Patch Has Dropped, and It Makes Over 650 Fixes

29 novembre 2024 à 15:44

GSC Game World has released Stalker 2’s first big post-launch patch across PC and Xbox, making over 650 fixes.

Stalker 2 enjoyed an impressive launch with over one million copies sold, but it suffers from a number of game-breaking bugs. Check out IGN’s Stalker 2 review for more.

Now GSC has released patch 1.0.1, hopefully Stalker 2 players are in for a smoother ride. The update includes fixes for quest blockers, memory leaks, crashes, and minor bugs, GSC said. There are a number of blanace changes, too, which overall make the game easier. Check out the patch notes below.

“Thanks for your passion and support since the release, it is really important to us,” the developer added.

GSC said future updates will make A-Life system bugfixes. Free in-game content is also coming to the game - expect more on that when GSC shares its roadmap later in December.

To help you survive in the Zone, we've got a list of Essential Stalker 2 Tips and Tricks, plus a guide on Things to Do First in Stalker 2 to help you through the early game, and Things Stalker 2 Doesn't Tell You - everything we wish we knew before we started playing. Save time scouring the wasteland with our Artifacts checklist and locations guide, and every Stash location we've found so far.

Stalker 2 suffered a number of understandable delays, most recently in July when the game was due out in September. GSC said at the time that the extra two months would give the developers the chance to fix "unexpected anomalies," aka bugs.

GSC has also been vocal about the challenges the studio faced getting Stalker 2 up to scratch after a mixed reaction to its debut public showing last year. At gamescom 2023, GSC addressed what some had called a “downgrade” sparked by Stalker 2’s then latest gameplay trailer. At the time, GSC told IGN it was still targeting a visual quality and level of polish suggested by Stalker 2’s eye-catching 2021 trailer despite the horrendous conditions suffered by the staff amid the war with Russia.

Stalker 2 update 1.0.1 patch notes:

AI fixes:

  • Fixed groups of NPCs getting stuck and dying near Shelter during active Emission.
  • Fixed issue when Burer could drop any mission items out of the player's hands.
  • Added missing sound effects for Burer’s 'Telekinesis' ability.
  • Fixed issues with NPCs occasionally getting stuck and not reaching the mission location. This might have caused inability to interact with NPC or progress to the next mission stage due to idle behavior of mission NPC.
  • Fixed issues with performance drops/potential out-of-memory crashes in hubs and locations crowded with NPCs during long play sessions.
  • Fixed issue when NPCs would move to A-pose or start flying after death.
  • Fixed issue when NPCs could not track whether a target in cover was covered from shots, which caused them to shoot into cover.

And other, more than 20 different issues with AI.

Optimization fixes:

  • Fixed issue with invisible NPC/Mutants appearing in FOV while the Player is scoping.
  • Fixed fire visual effects that were not rendering at certain camera angles.

Also, we fixed approximately 100 different crashes, including potential memory leaks and EXCEPTION_ACCESS_VIOLATION issues.

Audio & Sound fixes:

  • Fixed issue when combat music was still playing while combat was finished.

And 7 other minor audio & sound bugs.

Balance adjustments:

  • Weapons and armor repair cost is decreased.
  • Significantly increased cost of artifacts (more revenue from selling).
  • Money reward for most missions is increased from 2 to 3 times.
  • Rookie difficulty armor and weapons buffs.
  • Damage from mutants is moderately decreased on Rookie difficulty (more mutant health balance changes in Combat Balance section).
  • Damage to player's weapon is decreased by 23 percent on Rookie difficulty.
  • Armor durability is increased by 12.5 percent.
  • Added silencer attachment for PTM to specific stash on Lesser Zone.
  • Fixed sell prices for Exoskeletons, they are now more expensive to sell.
  • Fixed sell price of upgraded weapons.
  • Rebalanced Hercules consumable: player speed debuff removed; increased the effect parameters (now more weight could be carried by player after consuming).

Some additional minor bugfixes.

Combat Balance:

  • Reduced some mission items' weight (including weight of scanners)
  • Slightly rebalanced Bloodsucker’s damage.
  • Decreased Bloodsucker’s strike protection rank (more damage from guns).
  • Reduced Boodsucker’s HP regeneration outside the combat.
  • Controller HP is moderately reduced.
  • Burer HP is moderately reduced.
  • Boar HP is moderately reduced.
  • Flesh HP is moderately reduced.
  • Damage to Boar from headshots changed to 100% of body damage.
  • Damage to Boar from shots to the limbs is increased.
  • Damage to Flesh from shots to the limbs is increased.
  • Significantly increased weapon melee distance.
  • Slightly increased knife melee distance.

Gamepad Input:

  • Increased gamepad dead zones

Characters:

  • Fixed eyes and teeth on NPC models.
  • Some minor fixes of NPC models and animations.

Cutscenes:

  • Added missing footage to TV displays in the final cutscene.
  • Fixed issue with deer animation in the opening cutscene.

And 20 other different bugs in the cutscenes.

Game Settings & Menus:

  • Adjusted unreadable text at the bottom of the Shader Compilation screen.
  • Fixed issue with the 'Nvidia Reflex Low Latency' option not being saved on subsequent boots of the game.

And 10 more minor issues.

Interactable Objects:

  • Fixed physics issues with destructible and movable objects, including those floating in the air.
  • Fixed interaction prompt with glass doors in SIRCAA’s inner yard, which caused a walkthrough blocker.
  • Fixed missing inner doors in the X-11 laboratory elevator.

And more minor bugs.

Main and Side Missions:

Resolved numerous mission blockers and bugs encountered under specific conditions. Key fixes include:

  • Fixed missing interaction with dead Blind dogs in the Nightingale’s Hunt mission.
  • Fixed uncompletable objectives in the Seek, and You Shall Find mission.
  • Fixed multiple issues in the There and Back Again mission, including one where the artifact couldn’t be found.
  • Resolved dialog loop with Zotov during the A Needle in a Haystack mission.
  • Fixed progression blockers in the Answers Come at a Price mission, including issues with bandits after an emission and missing the Heavy Key item.
  • Corrected mission markers for NPC locations in Hot on the Trail mission.
  • Fixed door-related issues in the In Search of a Guide mission and The Side Hustle mission.
  • Fixed issue when cutscene does not start during the Just Like the Good Old Days mission.
  • Fixed issue when Lodochka is missing in Quite's Camp during the Just Like the Good Old Days mission.
  • Fixed an issue during Just Like the Good Old Days when Lodochka acts aggressively after bringing him the Emitter.
  • It is now possible to turn off electricity in the flooded area during the To the Last Drop of Blood mission.
  • Fixed multiple issues in the On the Edge mission, including idle NPCs, stuck doors, and the Monolith attack progression.
  • Fixed progression blockers in the A Minor Incident mission, including issues with Bayun's collar and locked doors.
  • Addressed performance drops and confusing objectives in the In Search of Past Glory mission.
  • Fixed issues in the Visions of Truth mission, including stuck NPCs and blocked progression after dialogs.
  • Resolved stuck cutscenes and blocked progression in the Dangerous Visitors, Gray’s Last Hunt, and The Eternal Shining missions.
  • Corrected spawn behaviors for NPCs and enemies in The Boundary and Escape from the Cage missions.
  • Tweaked missions like Down Below, Budmo!, and A Big Score to resolve stuck NPCs, misaligned markers, and missing dialog options.

And approximately 120 other issues within the main line, side missions, and encounters.

Open World Experience:

  • Fixed stretched or missing limbs on humanoid corpses.
  • Fixed missing fast travel routes, including to the Concrete Plant for Toadstool.
  • Resolved isses with loudspeakers, fast travel, and NPC interactions in various locations, such as the Scientists' Bunker, and Chemical Plant.
  • Adjusted hostile NPC behavior during the Arena missions, including bandits’ tactics and increased ammo for the Tyrant fight.
  • Corrected mission progression in the Black Sheep and The Key to Freedom missions.

And approximately 50 other issues were fixed.

Player Guidance, Gear, and Weapons:

  • Fixed a bug that allows to sell items to the trader for more money that they actually cost.
  • Fixed input blocking issues with the PDA, inventory, and attachments when interacting with artifacts.
  • Corrected flashlight behavior after saving/loading.
  • Resolved issues with grenade type selection, compass marker overlaps, and missing mission markers.
  • Fixed inconsistencies with weapon and armor upgrade effects, including pricing and upgrade reversals.
  • Improved HUD behavior and prolonged the duration of "Point of No Return" hints during Down Below mission.
  • Fixed a bug where player could sell mission items using gamepad.

And approximately 50 minor “anomalies”.

Voiceover and Facial Animations:

  • Restored missing facial animations for Sava in the Hot on the Trail mission and Mugwort in The Eternal Shining mission.
  • Fixed missing voice lines during the Let No One Leave Unsatisfied mission.
  • Corrected radio call effects so NPC voices properly reflect distance during communication.

And a couple more things are fixed.

World:

  • Fixed flickering textures in various locations, including the Sphere, Military Base and Chemical Plant.
  • Resolved movement issues, including getting stuck in certain locations during missions like Once More Unto the Breach and A Tough Awakening.
  • Corrected artifact spawn points in some areas.
  • Fixed NPC behavior during encounters.
  • Adjusted voice volume during storm weather for improved audio balance.

And approximately 50 more bugs.

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.

  •  

IGN UK Podcast 776: Breaking Down the Top 20 PlayStation Games

Par : Simon Cardy
29 novembre 2024 à 15:30

Cardy and Matt have finally convinced Wes to return to the IGN UK Podcast and are here to talk about the top 20 entries of IGN's recent 100 Best PlayStation Games of All Time list. Come for the explanations behind the picks, stay for Wes' fury at Tekken 3 not being number one. Before that, though, we've got quick reviews of new movies in the shape of Wicked, and POPE THRILLER, Conclave.

Remember to send us your thoughts about all the new games, TV shows, and films you're enjoying or looking forward to: ign_ukfeedback@ign.com.

IGN UK Podcast 776: Breaking Down the Top 20 PlayStation Games

  •  

Best Buy Is Giving Away a $75 Gift Card When You Buy a Galaxy Black Xbox Series X for Black Friday

29 novembre 2024 à 15:28

Black Friday is finally here and deals are dropping left and right, especially some excellent gaming discounts and bundles. If you're looking to add a little extra cash to your wallet, Best Buy's offering a free $75 gift card when you purchase the new 2TB Galaxy Black Xbox Series X console for $599.99.

You could put this extra money towards some new games - and there are some fantastic discounts available right now - another Xbox Wireless controller, or you can even jump the gaming ship entirely and spend it on one of Best Buy's many other Black Friday deals instead. The choice is all yours.

This Xbox Series X console is a worthy investment if you're an Xbox user with a growing library. This is mainly due to its 2TB SSD, which gives you double the storage capacity of the standard Series X. It also has a fresh new design, boasting a starry pattern of silver and green specs that lives up to its galactic name. This design also spreads over to the D-pad of the included controller which also features a vibrant green back.

If you're looking for even more Xbox Black Friday deals, there are plenty of deals available right now, from games to accessories to consoles. Some of our highlights include a discount on Metaphor: ReFantazio, a sweet deal on the WD C50 1TB Expansion Card, and "No Xbox Required" streaming bundles that have gotten big discounts at Amazon.

If you want to look outside of the Xbox ecosystem, there's even more discounts to enjoy right now. In our roundup of the best Black Friday video game deals, you can see our top 10 picks from the sale event so far. And if you want an even broader look at some of the best deals overall this year, check out our breakdown of the best Black Friday deals for 2024.

More Xbox Black Friday Deals

Hannah Hoolihan is a freelance writer who works with the Guides and Commerce teams here at IGN.

  •  

Walmart's Black Friday 2024 Sale Is Now Live

Par : Chris Reed
29 novembre 2024 à 15:20

It's been a long time coming in this deals season, but Black Friday 2024 is finally here. Walmart's Black Friday deals kicked off earlier this week, but many of the best deals "sold out." Those deals are back today. I don't expect the doorbusters to last long this second time around, so if a deal seems too good to be true, grab it up. If it sells out again, there's no guarantee they'll be back in stock later at these Black Friday prices (though it's possible they'll restock on Cyber Monday). You can shop the full sale here, or read on to see our picks for the best deals in Walmart's Black Friday sale 2024.

TL;DR: The Best Walmart Black Friday Deals We've Found So Far

No time to scroll? These are the cream of the crop, the best of the best. Grab 'em before they sell out, because they might go at any time.

iBUYPOWER Gaming Desktop for $699

If you're looking for a budget-priced (aka console-priced) entry into PC gaming, this is the deal for you. Eric Song, our PC deals expert, writes: "This iBuyPower Slate Mesh gaming PC features a liquid-cooled Intel Core i5-13600KF CPU, RTX 4060 GPU, 16GB of RAM, and a 1TB SSD. The RTX 4060 is a great budget card for 1080p gaming. You could also run games at 1440p with relaxed graphic settings, but at that point I'd recommend upgrading to an RTX 4060 Ti or higher. The RTX 4060 supports DLSS 3.0, which also gives you a nice performance boost for games that can support it."

PS5 Console Deals

The PS5 bundles are the best console deal at Walmart this year by far. This is Sony's official PS5 console deal for Black Friday, and it's the lowest price we've ever seen on a PS5 or PSVR 2. Speaking of, Sony may have abandonded the PSVR 2, but at least it costs less than the console itself now.

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom for $30

Physical copies are back in stock after being sold out most of the week. So you now have a chioce of whether to go physical or digital for The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, and either way it's $30. That's by far the lowest price this has ever been. Grab it if you want it, before it's gone.

More Switch Games for $30

I've been writing about Nintendo deals for many years now, long enough to know first-party Switch games almost never drop to the $30 mark. When they do, it's absolutely the time to pick up any games you've had your eye on. Many of the best games of this console generation are on the list. There are some great third-party game deals as well. Hogwarts Legacy, for instance, is a fantastic action-RPG that lets you explore the Wizarding school and its environs (and it runs surprisingly well on Switch).

PS5 and Xbox Game Deals

If you're looking for Black Friday video game deals, Walmart has some serious doorbusters, with prices lower than we've seen anywhere else, sometimes by a lot. For instance, the Silent Hill 2 remake just came out with a $70 MSRP, and it's already down to $30. That just doesn't happen. Same price for Spider-Man 2 for PS5 and Hogwarts Legacy for Switch, great deals all.

Video Game Controller and Accessory Deals

There are some great big discounts on video game accessories in this sale, and that includes PS5 DualSense controllers, Switch Pro Controller, and Joy-Cons. For more, check out all the Walmart video game deals.

55" Hisense R6 4K TV for $178

The best doorbuster TV deal at Walmart this year is this 55" smart TV from Hisense. It's not a top-of-the-line TV for gaming, but it's fine as a budget TV, and the price is certainly right.

More TV Deals

There's literally no better time to buy a TV than on Black Friday. So far, the main TVs that are on sale in Walmart's Black Friday sale are budget sets that are great for secondary TVs. You can put them in your guest rooms, basement, or wherever else you don't need top-of-the-line features – for that, see our picks for the best smart TVs.

LEGO Deals

We've all noticed LEGO sets getting more expensive, though apparently that's due to "more pieces" and "complicated builds." Either way, Black Friday is always a great time to find LEGO sets on sale, and Walmart is not disappointing in that department. Some of our favorite Marvel and Disney-themed sets are included in the discounts.

Board Game Deals

Walmart doesn't have a ton of board games on sale, but lots of ultra-popular ones are. We're talking strategy board games like Catan. We're talking mega-hits like Ticket to Ride (check out our Ticket to Ride buying guide if you're a fan). We're talking classic family board games like Scrabble and Guess Who? They're all super reasonably priced, so pick up whatever ones you want before they sell out or the sale ends.

Up to $500 Gift Card with Select Phones

Black Friday is also a great time to pick up a new phone. New models generally come out in the fall, and right now Walmart is offering free gift cards in huge dollar amounts (up to $500) with purchase of select iPhone and Android models, including the Samsung Galaxy S24.

Kitchen and Home Deals

If you could use some new items for your kitchen or home, you'll find plenty of all-time low prices on that sort of thing. The Gourmia air fryer is a great pickup for yourself or as a gift, as is that cordless vacuum cleaner. And honestly, whomst among us couldn't use a new set of Rubbermaid food storage containers? I know I'm buying those.

Seasonal Decor Deals

Have you decorated for Christmas yet? Decked the halls with a Bluey Christmas plush, perhaps? A bunch of artificial trees and outdoor yard decorations are on sale right now at Walmart, so you might as well pick some up while they're discounted, amiright?

Gaming PCs and Work Computer Deals

If you could use a new Windows machine, whether for gaming, studying, or work, you can save a heap of cash right now. Walmart has a nice selection of PCs on sale, from powerful gaming rigs to office-appropriate laptops.

Headsets and Earbud Deals

Walmart has dropped prices on a strong selection of headphones and earbuds for Black Friday 2024, including an Apple Black Friday deal on AirPods. For the higher end in terms of quality, you can score a great deal on a PS5 Pulse 3D Wireless Headset, or Beats Studio3, which offer active noise cancelling. If you're on a tighter budget, you can pick up headphones or earbuds from JLab for super cheap.

Smartwatch Deals

While the latest and greatest smartwatches didn't make the cut this year, Walmart is cutting prices on older models by up to 50%. Not bad at all. If you can live with a piece of wrist tech that just has the basic features (which is enough for most users) you can score a great deal on an Apple Watch SE, Samsung Galaxy Watch 4, and more.

Toy Deals

Toys! Surely someone on your gift list this year is a child (if not a child at heart), which means you'll need to pick up some toys. If you don't know what to get them, look at our picks above, which include ride-on cars, a Miniverse collection, and the cutest plush Pikachu you've ever seen. If you want even more choices, check out all the toy deals in the sale.

Apple AirPods Pro 2 with USB-C for $154

Black Friday at its best is all about getting the lowest prices of the year on must-have products. This deal absolutely qualifies. The price has never been this low, and these noise-canceling earbuds are absolutely fantastic. I have a pair, and I couldn't live without them. I wear them on runs, while mowing the lawn, while doing the dishes – pretty much anytime I'd otherwise be alone with my thoughts, I'm piping audiobooks or podcasts into my ears. Maybe that says something about me 🤔. If you have an iPhone or other Apple device to use them with, I wholeheartedly recommend them. For an added bonus, pick up a MagSafe charger (on sale for $29) to charge them wirelessly.

Batteries, Portable Chargers, and More Tech Deals

The previous deals only scratch the surface of the tech deals available in Walmart's Black Friday sale. Above, we've highlighted some miscellaneous deals that are probably of interest. For more, see all the tech deals in Walmart's sale.

More Game Console Deals

PS5 console deals aside, Walmart doesn't have the juice. If you want a Switch bundle, Target or Amazon are your best bets for that, because Walmart is selling the same bundles for $25 more than other retailers for some reason. However, if you really like shopping at Walmart and you're interested in a video game console, be it a Nintendo Switch, or Xbox Series X|S, you can save at least some cash.

Walmart+ Black Friday Deal

One of the best deals period in Walmart’s Black Friday sale is a 50% discount on a 12-month Walmart+ membership. The membership normally costs $98, but right now you can get it for $49. A membership gets you free shipping from the website with no minimum order and free delivery on $35+ orders from stores (groceries and anything else your local Walmart sells). It also includes a subscription to Paramount+, discounts at Burger King, savings on fuel at select gas stations, and more.

Walmart Cyber Monday Deals

Walmart will be hosting a Cyber Monday sale online starting on Sunday, December 1. Sure, that's a day early, but the Black Friday deals started in mid-November, so it's not all that surprising.

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 Bluesky and Threads.

  •  

Amazon Has the Best Deal on a Razer Blade 16 Gaming Laptop for Black Friday

Par : Eric Song
29 novembre 2024 à 15:20

I've stumbled upon the best gaming laptop deal for Black Friday. Right now, Amazon is offering a powerful Razer Blade 16 RTX 4080 gaming laptop for $2,499.99. That would normally be a pretty good deal for any brand of laptop equipped with a 4080 GPU, but a Razer branded laptop would usually cost cost you $3,000 or more. In his Razer Blade 16 review, Mark Snapp wrote that "The Razer Blade 16 is as elegant as a Core i9 and RTX 4090 are likely to get in a laptop, but the high price and few shortcomings work against it." It's a good thing we have Black Friday to deal with that.

Razer Blade 16 RTX 4080 Gaming Laptop

The Razer Blade 16 features a gorgeous 16" 4K (3840x2160) Mini-LED IPS display, Intel Core i9-13950HX CPU, GeForce RTX 4080 GPU, 32GB of RAM, and 1TB SSD. The 13th gen Intel Core i9-13950HX Raptor Lake CPU is among Intel's most powerful mobile gaming chips. It boasts a max turbo clock of 5.5GHz with 24 cores, 32 threads, and 36MB cache. This CPU performs nearly as well as Intel Core i9 desktops and is a perfect complement to the mobile RTX 4080 GPU. Although a generous amount of RAM and SSD are included, both are upgradeable so that you can add more.

The mobile RTX 4080 is a powerful GPU; compared to desktop variants, it's nearly as powerful as an RTX 3080 / RTX 4070. The RTX 4080 in the Razer Blade 16 has a TGP rating of 175W, which means it will perform at the top of the heap compared to other RTX 4080 laptops. It can run games at 4K, but the display has another trick up its sleeve.

The display is quite special with a 4K resolution and Mini-LED panel, but there's actually one more neat feature. This is a "dual-mode" display, meaning you can switch to either a 4K 120Hz mode or 1080p FHD 240Hz mode. The 4K mode is great for everday usage when you're not really taxing the GPU. The 1080p mode is ideal for playing games, since the GPU won't need to work as hard and the laptop will be quieter, it will be less hot, and it will run longer on the battery.

Razer Blade laptops are well known for their impeccable build quality. The chassis is built from a single piece of aluminum. It measures only 0.86" thin and weighs in at 5.4 pounds, which is very reasonable for an 16" gaming laptop. In order to get away with a thin form factor, Razer uses its own proprietary cooling design which incorporates a vacuum sealed, liquid filled, copper vapor chamber to effectively whisk away the heat. Much like Apple MacBook Pros, a lot of engineering goes into a Razer Blade laptop, which is why they usually cost much more than other brands.

More Black Friday Gaming Laptop Deals

Eric Song is the IGN commerce manager in charge of finding the best gaming and tech deals every day. When Eric isn't hunting for deals for other people at work, he's hunting for deals for himself during his free time.

  •  

Fortnite Chapter 6 Adds a Roaming Godzilla and Much More

29 novembre 2024 à 15:18

Fortnite developer Epic Games has pulled back the curtain on the Chapter 6 update, confirming the arrival of Godzilla.

Chapter 6, which kicks off on December 1, sees Godzilla terrorize the new Japan-themed map. The Fortnite Chapter 6 Season 1: Hunters trailer, below, shows a number of other, smaller Japan-inspired bosses as well as new weapons available to players, such as samurai swords. Also confirmed is the arrival of Big Hero 6's Baymax.

Earlier this month, Epic Games announced changes to the Fortnite Battle Pass model that will see its standard pass getting a price increase for the first time. Fortnite has long offered its standard pass for 950 V-Bucks, but starting December 1, the price will increase by 50, bringing the total asking number to 1,000 V-Bucks.

The real-world cost of V-Bucks will remain unchanged (you can pick up 1,000 V-Bucks on the Epic Games Store for $8.99 right now), and you’ll still be able to earn chunks of V-Bucks by reaching certain Battle Pass levels. Meanwhile, the price of the 25 Battle Pass Reward Bundle is going down from 1,850 to 1,800.

These changes arrive ahead of the highly anticipated launch of Fortnite OG: Chapter 1 – Season 1 on December 6.

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.

  •  

Paramount+ Announces Black Friday Streaming Deals: Showtime Bundle for Just $2.99

29 novembre 2024 à 15:12

Paramount+ has been quietly making its way into the ranks of the best streaming services. I admit, even I underestimated this one at first. Over time, however, the Paramount+ library has grown into one I consider well worth its price, and I signed up before the Black Friday sales. Right now, you can try any Paramount+ streaming plan for just $2.99/month for two months. Out of all the Black Friday streaming deals available, Paramount+ is also one of the only services to offer discounts on its ad-free plan.

If you choose to subscribe, you can watch the first Gladiator movie before catching Ridley Scott's new sequel in theaters (Gladiator II will end up on Paramount+, too). And it's not just about the classics: Paramount+ is home to all-new Paramount releases, including Transformers One and Top Gun: Maverick. It's also one of the better services for live sports streaming.

First 2 Months of Paramount+ Essential OR Paramount+ with Showtime for $2.99/Month

Paramount is offering both of its major streaming plans, Paramount+ Essential and Paramount+ with Showtime, at the same Black Friday price: Two months for $2.99 each (about $6 total). Both plans offer the same Paramount+ library of over 40,000 TV episodes and movies, and both come with NFL on CBS and UEFA Champions League Live.

A big difference between these plans is Paramount+ Essential has ads and Paramount+ with Showtime doesn't (except for live TV). Beyond ads, the Paramount+ with Showtime plan is technically a streaming bundle that's pretty clear about what it includes: The Paramount+ streaming library (with all the mentioned benefits) PLUS access to Showtime, which offers the likes of a full Dexter rewatch or new seasons of Yellowjackets. The Showtime plan also includes full access to your local CBS station (the Essential plan limits you to just the sports streams).

Perhaps one of the more important issues of the modern streaming era: Both plans let you stream on up to three devices at the same time.

Which Paramount Streaming Plan Is a Better Deal?

Paramount+ Essential, as the ad-supported streaming plan, typically costs $7.99/month (so around $16 for two months), while Paramount+ with Showtime typically costs $12.99/month (around $26 for two months). With these deals, you're save a whopping $20 with the ad-free plan, compared to $10 in savings with Paramount+ Essential.

There are a couple of reasons to consider the Essential plan even with less savings: If you're anything like me, you might be worried about forgetting to cancel the more expensive subscription before it goes back to regular price. Or, you might just be interested in catching the next couple of months of the NFL season without worrying about all the extras.

Walmart+ Black Friday Deal Includes Paramount+ Membership

Paramount's streaming deal isn't your only way to save on a new subscription this sales season. A 12-month Paramount+ subscription is also included in a Walmart+ membership, which happens to be discounted 50% off as part of Walmart’s Black Friday sale.

More Black Friday Streaming Deals

Will Streaming Deals Be Better on Cyber Monday?

We might see more streaming deals announced throughout the weekend, but this is definitely the best deal you'll get for Paramount+, specifically. The two-month deal is a great chance to try out a new streaming service and see if the library keeps you around. Otherwise, if you're still shopping around, one of the best streaming deals continues to be the new Disney+/Hulu/Max bundle. There are also some fantastic deals available on Kindle Unlimited, Audible, and all things Apple.

  •  

Sony May Find It Hard to Buy All of FromSoftware Parent Company Kadokawa, Financial Report Claims

29 novembre 2024 à 14:58

As Sony’s pursuit of Kadokawa rumbles on, financial experts have said the PlayStation maker may find it hard to buy the entirety of FromSoftware’s parent company.

Japan’s Toyo Keizai (via Automaton) reported that Sony may be put off the deal due to the cost of having to acquire all of Kadokawa, rather than the parts it’s actually interested in.

Kadokawa is reportedly only interested in doing a deal with Sony if it buys the entire company. Sony, however, is reportedly only interested in “extracting” assets related to anime and video games, which presumably includes the developer of Elden Ring.

Buying all of Kadokawa would cost 640 billion yen (approx $4.3 billion), according to expert estimates. Sony’s cash for buyouts is apparently tight at the moment due to investments made elsewhere. As a point of comparison, Sony bought Destiny developer Bungie for $3.7 billion back in 2022. The studio has since suffered multiple rounds of layoffs and project cancelations.

There’s also the apparent prospect of a bidding war that would cause Kadokawa’s sale price to soar beyond Sony’s limit. The alternative is for Sony to buy 50% of Kadokawa and turn it into a subsidiary it doesn’t wholly own.

Kadokawa’s business extends into areas that fit into Sony’s broader entertainment offering, which includes anime, manga, TV, and film. Kadokawa is a prolific publisher of anime, and Sony already owns anime streamers Crunchyroll and Funimation. As well as FromSoftware, Kadokawa owns Danganronpa developer Spike Chunsoft, Octopath Traveler developer Acquire, and RPG Maker and Pixel Game Maker developer Gotcha Gotcha Games. Kadokawa is the majority owner of FromSoftware, with around 70% of the company. Sony already owns around 14% of the developer, with Tencent owning around 16%.

Piers Harding-Rolls, Research Director at Ampere Analysis, told IGN that news of a potential deal isn’t that surprising. "Sony’s interest in Kadokawa’s games publisher FromSoftware was made more concrete in 2022 when it acquired a roughly 14% share of the company following up on its long-time collaboration with the company," Harding-Rolls said.

"At the time, Sony mentioned a broader interest in cross-media development of anime and games IP to support its other media businesses. So, in that sense any deal for the parent company Kadokawa, which also operates extensively in manga and anime, is a natural extension of this earlier deal. These other areas align nicely with Sony’s anime businesses.

"The market conditions for acquisitions have changed dramatically over the last two years but Sony will always be looking for opportunities that can fuel its growth and that bolster its IP portfolio, and that represent value. There may also be a defensive element to this move. FromSoftware is an important partner for Sony’s games business, and it will not want a competitor taking control of Kadokawa and potentially disrupting that relationship. It helps that Kadokawa is also active in areas which are a strong fit with Sony’s wider business."

For Sony, its gaming business has already suffered significant layoffs this year and the closure of multiple studios, including Concord developer Firewalk. In February, it announced a round of layoffs affecting 900 staff, or about 8% of its global PlayStation workforce. The layoffs impacted a number of PlayStation studios, including Insomniac, Naughty Dog, Guerrilla, and Firesprite, but PlayStation's London studio was hit hardest with a notice of closure.

Photo by Yui Mok/PA Images via Getty Images.

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.

  •  

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Is $30 at Walmart Today

Par : Noah Hunter
29 novembre 2024 à 14:51

It's official, Nintendo is having a great Black Friday this year. Tears of the Kingdom is the only Nintendo Switch game released by Nintendo to retail for $69.99, but it's gotten a fantastic Black Friday discount this year. After being out of stock, it's back on sale to just $30 at Walmart. This is the lowest we've seen the game yet, and the deal applies to both physical and digital copies of the game.

In the event it sells out, Target has the game down to $39.99 right now as well, which, while it isn't as good, is still a tremendous offer.

You can see this excellent Tears of the Kingdom deal at the link below. We'll endeavor to update you if retailers like Best Buy, Amazon, and Target also match the offer.

Tears of the Kingdom Is Also $39.99 at Target

Like we said, if you're in need of a backup, Tears of the Kingdom is $39.99 at Target for Black Friday. It is one of the best games on Nintendo Switch, and the sequel to Breath of the Wild brings new areas to explore in the clouds and depths below the surface, offering what feels like a brand-new take on Hyrule.

It begins one year after Breath of the Wild. One day, while exploring under Hyrule Castle, Princess Zelda and Link discover a mummy that comes alive, shattering the Master Sword and wounding Link. When he awakens, Link finds himself on the Great Sky Island, one of the many floating islands in the sky. Here, the many mysteries of the ancient Zonai tribe are revealed.

What We Said in Our Review

In our 10/10 review, we said Tears of the Kingdom "is an unfathomable follow-up to one of the greatest games ever made, somehow improving upon it in nearly every way – be that with simple quality-of-life improvements, a genuinely exciting story, or wildly creative new building mechanics that make you rethink what is possible.

"It both revamps old ground and introduces vast new areas so immense it somehow makes me wonder if Breath of the Wild was actually all that big, with an almost alarming number of tasks to complete, mysteries to discover, and delightful distractions to keep you from ever reaching that place you naively thought you were headed. Nintendo has followed up a triumph with a triumph, expanding and evolving a world that already felt full beyond expectation and raising the bar ever higher into the clouds."

More Black Friday Game Deals We've Found So Far

While Black Friday deals have been rolling out for weeks now, today marks the official start of the sale event. To see some more of our favorite available deals right now, have a look at our breakdown of the best Black Friday 2024 deals.

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

This article includes contributions from Noah Hunter.

  •  

This Starfield Mod attempts to convert the Shattered Space DLC into a fully-fledged Star Wars story

29 novembre 2024 à 14:34

In August 2024, we shared the best Star Wars mod for Starfield. That mod attempted to make the base game feel like a Star Wars game. And today, we present you with a mod that attempts to convert the Shattered Space DLC into a fully-fledged Star Wars story. Right now, the mod replaces all of … Continue reading This Starfield Mod attempts to convert the Shattered Space DLC into a fully-fledged Star Wars story

The post This Starfield Mod attempts to convert the Shattered Space DLC into a fully-fledged Star Wars story appeared first on DSOGaming.

  •  

Tencent Plans to Release Light of Motiram, Which Some Say Is a 'Rip-Off' of Sony’s Horizon Games, on PS5

29 novembre 2024 à 14:31

Tencent has announced plans to release its controversial open-world survival crafting game Light of Motiram on PS5 as well as mobile and PC.

As reported by Gematsu, Tencent announced the PS5 version on PlayStation‘s Chinese social network accounts on Weibo and Bilibili.

Light of Motiram, from Shanghai-based Tencent subsidiary Polaris Quest, is a free-to-play survival game “where nature meets machine.” Screenshots and gameplay videos reveal a visual style remarkably similar to Guerrilla Games’ Horizon Zero Dawn and Forbidden West, complete with robot beasts in a post-apocalyptic setting. IGN has asked Tencent and Sony for comment.

Today, Tencent revealed a new seven-minute video showing more of Light of Motiram’s gameplay. After an intro that rekindles memories of Destiny’s famous Ghost ‘wake up, Guardian’ opening, we see gameplay that looks heavily inspired by the likes of Capcom’s Monster Hunter and Pocketpair’s Palworld, which itself was accused of “ripping off” Pokémon.

Light of Motiram lets players befriend and raise various ‘mechanimals’ alone or with friends. You need to set up a base camp and ride tamed mechanimals as mounts, getting them to help with logging, farming, and crafting. Mechanimals can serve as ground, air, and water mounts, help in combat, and assist with resource gathering.

Tencent said Light of Motiram has hundreds of realistic survival gameplay mechanics. “Trees need to be carefully cut down else they deliver a swift death, a shelter has to be ventilated before lighting a fire so as not to choke, and lightning may strike (more than a few times) if you’re caught wearing metal in a storm,” the company said. “These realistic details can be used to players’ advantage, as for example lightning damage can electrocute fishes and make the process of fishing much easier and faster.”

While this sort of multiplayer survival gameplay is not featured in the Horizon games, the look and feel of Light of Motiram’s characters, monsters, and world are undeniably similar. Guerrilla is of course working on a multiplayer, live service Horizon game - Light of Motiram may be treading on its toes somewhat, although we’ll have to wait for a reveal to find out.

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.

  •  
❌
❌