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Original Tomb Raider Creators Resisted Calls from Japanese Publisher to Make a 'Manga-Style' Lara Croft

20 janvier 2026 à 13:40

One of the original designers of Tomb Raider's iconic Lara Croft has revealed that Core Design's then-Japanese publisher had asked for the character to be given a "Manga" redesign to "appeal" to Japanese players.

Responding to one fan who had unearthed a comment from him a few years ago, Tomb Raider co-creator and programmer Paul Douglas confirmed there had been a little pressure "quite late in Tomb Raider's development" when publisher Victor Interactive Software "faxed over some of their own designs" over fears the western character design wouldn't "go down well" in Japan.

"Victor wanted us to change in-game Lara to appeal more to a Japanese audience," Douglas revealed on BlueSky. "Huge eyes/head etc. They faxed through examples really late in dev. [Co-creator and designer] Toby Gard really didn't want to alter Lara. As a compromise, all that was changed was the manuals [and] guide. Not sure who did that render or illustrations."

The mysterious rendering Douglas is referring to can be seen in the first image appended to this BlueSky post, republished below:

An example of a "Manga-style" Croft and Jacqueline Natla is also displayed below:

Lara Croft and Jacqueline Natla, manga style. #TR25 pic.twitter.com/ZqmnMzFR8Y

— Paul Douglas (@cnhyv) February 18, 2021

The tweet above originates from a similar thread in 2021 in which Douglas explained: "I think they just assumed altering all the models would only take a few days of work. It was early days of 3D... It started out as a request to change all the in-game and cutscene models. Then just in-game. Then just Lara. Then just Lara's head…"

"This drawing from the Japanese manual is *perhaps* all that remains…" Douglas added.

As for current-day Lara? Tomb Raider: Catalyst — an all-new adventure scheduled for a release sometime in 2027 — is set in the wake of a mythical cataclysm that has unleashed ancient secrets and awakened the mysterious forces that guard them. Before then, though, we're expecting Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis at some point in 2026 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and S, and PC via Steam. Alix Wilton Regan will now play Lara Croft in both with Camilla Luddington, who portrayed Lara Croft in the Survivor Trilogy, issuing a heartfelt goodbye to the character at the end of last year.

Some Tomb Raider fans are bracing themselves for retcons, given the need to fit both Legacy of Atlantis and Catalyst in a new, unified Tomb Raider timeline, as well as the upcoming Amazon TV show. The live-action Tomb Raider Prime Video series, which will star Game of Thrones alum Sophie Turner, will “reinvent the franchise on a massive scale” and interconnect “live-action television series and video games into a unified storytelling universe.”

Image credit: NixieTube / BlueSky.

Vikki Blake is a reporter for IGN, as well as a critic, columnist, and consultant with 15+ years experience working with some of the world's biggest gaming sites and publications. She's also a Guardian, Spartan, Silent Hillian, Legend, and perpetually High Chaos. Find her at BlueSky.

'Art May Still Be Created With the Same Tools That Created the Slop' — Razer CEO Believes Gamers Will Eventually Come Around on Generative AI Use in Development

20 janvier 2026 à 13:21

Razer CEO Min-Liang Tan has weighed in on the discussion surrounding generative AI in game development, claiming that the controversial technology has a place in the industry, but gamers just aren’t aware of the art it will produce yet.

“With the amount of slop out there, we’re going to see some level of art rise to the top, and that kind of art may still be created with the same tools that created the slop,” Tan said in an interview with The Verge.

It comes as Razer continues to implement AI technology into its own hardware, following several new product reveals at CES 2026. Among them is a pair of over-ear headphones and a high-powered workstation PC meant for handling demanding AI workloads. Razer also has an open source AI developer kit aimed at coders and other business customers.

“What we do is focus on what the gamers want, what the game developers want, and we see ourselves as the link in between,” claimed Min. “And we keep both as happy as we can.”

As The Verge pointed out in the interview, a quick glance at the comments section below Razer’s own social media posts hyping up its new products reveals a backlash to its AI-heavy announcements. The replies are littered with users posting anti-AI sentiments and memes asking for Razer to stop using the technology in its products.

The use of generative AI in game development has been one of the hottest topics in the industry over the past few months. Following the reveal of Divinity at the 2025 The Game Awards, developer Larian CEO, Swen Vincke, sparked a backlash when he said the studio was using genAI in various capacities. Larian ended up having to address AI concerns in a reddit AMA in which the studio confirmed a U-turn on some aspects of its use.

Despite pushback on genAI online, the Razer CEO remains hopeful that perception will change, and that soon gamers will see true “art” start to be created with these tools.

“I would say that the question is, ‘What are we unhappy with?’, Min asked. “When I say we, I mean us as gamers. I think we’re unhappy with generative AI slop, right? Just to put it out there. And that’s something that I’m unhappy with. Like any gamer, when I play a game, I want to be engaged, I wanna be immersed, I wanna be able to be competitive. I don’t want to be served character models with extra fingers and stuff like that, or shoddily written storylines.”

“With the amount of slop out there, we’re going to see some level of art rise to the top, and that kind of art may still be created with the same tools that created the slop, but with great care, with great discernment, to be able to do something truly different,” Min continued. “The difference will come from human ingenuity, not from countless prompt mashing, so to speak.

“If we could get game developers to have the opportunity to create better, to check through typos and things like that, to create better games, I think we all want that. So I think that’s the way that we see it.”

When asked about what games the CEO of the electronics company, whose mantra is “For Gamers. By Gamers,” is playing that meet the bar of “ingenuity and creativity,” Min responded: “Oh, well, I play random stuff. If you’re talking about human ingenuity… I even play some of the Roblox games at this point in time, right?

“One hundred people dropped on an island with a circle that comes through. I mean, while I enjoy the game itself, I also appreciate the mechanics, the thought that has gone into them, and the premise that the designer has figured out. In PUBG, for example, it’s this primal instinct of humans to be the last man standing, so to speak. So it’s things like that that I appreciate, and I think it’s art.”

PUBG is a hugely popular battle royale that was crafted by a small team and led by a modder who created it due to a love of the medium and the desire for a new genre.

While we wait to find out what this art that rises to the top of the AI slop looks like, some companies are banning the use of genAI altogether. Last week, Games Workshop confirmed it had banned the use of generative AI for the production of its designs and content, a decision many Warhammer fans welcomed.

However, Games Workshop’s ban on AI is in contrast to the attitude of some entertainment companies, some of whom have gone all-in on the tech. The CEO of Genvid — the company behind choose-your-own-adventure interactive series Silent Hill Ascension — has claimed "consumers generally do not care" about generative AI, and stated that: "Gen Z loves AI slop."

EA CEO Andrew Wilson has said AI is "the very core of our business," and Square Enix recently implemented mass layoffs and reorganized, saying it needed to be "aggressive in applying AI." Dead Space creator Glen Schofield also recently detailed his plans to “fix” the industry in part via the use of generative AI in game development, and former God of War dev Meghan Morgan Juinio said: "... if we don’t embrace [AI], I think we’re selling ourselves short.”

Photo by Nina Franova/Getty Images for SXSW Sydney.

Simon Cardy is a Senior Editor at IGN who can mainly be found skulking around open world games, indulging in Korean cinema, or despairing at the state of Tottenham Hotspur and the New York Jets. Follow him on Bluesky at @cardy.bsky.social.

Justice League Director Zack Snyder Shares First Photo of Henry Cavill as Superman, Taken 15 Years Ago

20 janvier 2026 à 12:49

Director Zack Snyder has shared the first photo he took of Henry Cavill as Superman, snapped 15 years ago.

Snyder is currently documenting his time spearheading the now defunct DC Extended Universe in a series of Instagram posts, the latest of which shows British actor Cavill in Christopher Reeve’s Superman suit. Cavill wore Reeve’s suit during screen tests for his role in 2013’s Man of Steel, which kickstarted Snyder’s DCEU.

“15 years ago, on this day, I pressed the shutter and met Superman,” Snyder wrote in a post accompanying the picture. “The first photo I ever took of Henry Cavill — moments before he stepped into legend. Shot on my Nikon.”

In recent weeks Snyder released two other early photos of Cavill in Reeve’s suit, showing the look that helped secure the actor’s role as Superman. The first, below, was published alongside the comment: “Henry Cavill. The original Superman suit. This photo. It was undeniable.”

The second, below, accompanied the following from Snyder: “With the last image I shared, and this one we showed WB everyone agreed: Henry Cavill was Superman. That’s where the journey began.”

Cavill went on to reprise his role as Superman in 2016’s Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, 2017’s Justice League (and the subsequent Snyder Cut), and cameo in 2022’s Black Adam. After James Gunn and Peter Safran assumed control of DC Studios and set out to create a rebooted DCU, Cavill announced on social media that he would indeed return as Superman, but had to walk that back after it emerged Gunn wanted a different actor to play the iconic role.

"I like Henry, I think he’s a great guy," Gunn said in 2023. "I think he’s getting d**ked around by a lot of people, including the former regime at this company. But this Superman is not Henry, for a number of reasons."

David Corenswet then came in as Superman and starred in last year’s movie of the same name. Promoting that movie, Gunn recalled a discussion he had with Cavill to tell him that he wouldn’t return as Superman. “It’s terrible,” Gunn said during Josh Horowitz’s Happy Sad Confused. “Believe it or not, the day we were dealing with trying to figure out if we could take the job at DC Studios, […] the day the deal closed, all of a sudden, they were announcing that Henry was back. And I was like, ‘What is going on? We know what the plan is. The plan was to come in and do Superman.’ It was really unfair to him and a total bummer.”

Gunn explained this was due to some within the studio trying to “force” their vision of the DCU, which, he insisted, was “never part of the equation.”

“That was really unfortunate,” Gunn continued. “So Peter and I [thought] the right thing to do was to sit down with [Cavill] and talk to him. And we sat down and we talked to him. He was an absolute gentleman, a great guy about it. He said, ‘The only thing I ask is that I’m able to reveal it myself as opposed to it coming from you guys.'”

Gunn then said he had talked to Cavill about playing another role in the DCU, and didn’t believe it would be too confusing for audiences. “I would love to put Henry in something,” he said.

Wesley is Director, News at IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.

Marathon's 'Stacked' Voice Cast Includes Baldur's Gate 3 and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Star Jennifer English, and Many Other Familiar Names

20 janvier 2026 à 12:08

Destiny developer Bungie has finally confirmed the previously leaked launch date for Marathon, which is indeed March 5, 2026, and followed up the news with a rundown of who we can expect to hear in the English voice cast.

The bumper cast includes many, many familiar voices, such as Jennifer English (who won Best Performance at 2025's The Game Awards for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, and has had notable roles in Elden Ring and Baldur's Gate 3, in which she plays Shadowheart), Ben Starr (Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Hades II, Final Fantasy 16), Roger Clark (Red Dead Redemption 2), and Neil Newbon (Baldur's Gate 3's Astarion, Resident Evil 3 Remake). As one commenter responded: "That's… stacked lol."

Here's the full list, along with an idea of where you may have heard their voices before:

  • Jennifer English (Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Elden Ring, Baldur's Gate 3)
  • Ben Starr (Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Hades II, Final Fantasy 14)
  • Roger Clark (Red Dead Redemption 2)
  • Elias Toufexis (Deux: Ex: Human Revolution)
  • Nika Futterman (Destiny, Doom Eternal, Starcraft)
  • Erica Lindbeck (Fortnite, God of War Ragnarok)
  • Reina Guthrie (Squid Game)
  • Elliot Knight (Call of Duty series)
  • JB Tadena (Call of Duty: Vanguard)
  • Morla Gorrondona (Destiny 2: The Final Shape)
  • Donnla Hughes
  • Darin De Paul (Overwatch 2, Doom Eternal)
  • Lee Shorten (Ghost of Yotei, Rise of the Ronin)
  • Dave Fennoy (The Walking Dead, The Wolf Among Us)
  • Tracy Wiles (Baldur's Gate 3, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33)
  • Fred Tatasciore (Marvel Rivals, Destiny 2)
  • Krizia Bajos (The Outer Worlds 2, Mafia: The Old Country)
  • Samantha Beart (Baldur's Gate 3, Demon's Souls)
  • Beau Bridgland (Exoprimal)
  • Ry Chase (Destiny: Rising, Marvel's Spider-Man 2)
  • Keston John (Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, The Outer Worlds 2)
  • Sohm Kapila (Dune: Awakening, Hogwarts Legacy)
  • Rich Keeble (Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Total War: Warhammer III)
  • Piotr Michael (Star Trek: Resurgence, Black Ops Cold War, Doom Eternal)
  • Brent Mukai (Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, Ghost of Yotei)
  • Neil Newbon (Baldur's Gate 3, Resident Evil 3 Remake)
  • Ariana Nicole George (Genshin Impact, Dynasty Warriors: Origins)
  • Emily O'Brien (League of Legends, Final Fantasy 14: A Realm Reborn, Starfield)
  • Jason Spisak (Doom Eternal, Fortnite, Anthem)
  • Craig Lee Thomas (Octopath Traveler 0, DC: Dark Legion)
  • Oliver Vaquer (Dune: Awakening, Death Stranding)
  • Erin Yvette (Oxenfree, The Wolf Among Us, Firewatch)
  • Scott Whyte (Marvel Rivals, Halo Infinite, Avowed).

What we don't know yet is what characters the actors will portray, of course, but with the list essentially in alphabetical order besides front-runners English, Starr, Clark, Toufexis, Futterman, Lindbeck, Guthrie, Knight, Tadena, Gorrondona, Hughes, De Paul, Shorten, Fennoy, Wiles, and Tatasciore, that may suggest those particular actors will be portraying the characters we'll get to know best when playing Marathon.

Following various delays, Marathon's launch is now less than two months away — and pre-orders are open now. The pressure is on for Marathon to succeed amid Destiny 2’s high-profile struggles and Marathon's troubled development. At the end of last year, parent company Sony said Bungie had failed to meet its sales and user engagement targets, resulting in a $200 million impairment charge, and Bungie found itself battling yet more accusations of plagiarism back in May after an artist accused the studio of lifting aspects of her artwork for Marathon.

Last June Marathon was delayed into 2026 as Bungie worked to respond to feedback from playtests. Things went dark until Marathon re-emerged in October, when Bungie announced the extraction shooter was ready for a limited, invite-only playtest for players in North America and Europe across PS5, Xbox Series X and S, and Steam.

Vikki Blake is a reporter for IGN, as well as a critic, columnist, and consultant with 15+ years experience working with some of the world's biggest gaming sites and publications. She's also a Guardian, Spartan, Silent Hillian, Legend, and perpetually High Chaos. Find her at BlueSky.

Starfield got a new Akila-like town with lots of quests and enemies

20 janvier 2026 à 12:26

Modder ‘vmroche’ has released a new mod that adds new free content to Bethesda’s latest space RPG, Starfield. This is a must for everyone who still plays Starfield. So, let’s take a closer look at it. The Lakin-Ik Mod adds a Western/Akila-type town located in Zeta Ophiuchi I. This town comes with lots of quests … Continue reading Starfield got a new Akila-like town with lots of quests and enemies

The post Starfield got a new Akila-like town with lots of quests and enemies appeared first on DSOGaming.

Divinity Announcement Sparks 'Incredible' Baldur's Gate 3 and Divinity: Original Sin 2 Sales, Larian Boss Says

20 janvier 2026 à 11:54

Last month’s announcement of Divinity has sparked a significant increase in sales of Baldur’s Gate 3 and Divinity: Original Sin 2, developer Larian has said.

Divinity, announced at The Game Awards in December with a much-discussed trailer, is the next role-playing game from Larian following the enormous success of its 2023 Dungeons & Dragons-themed role-playing game. And it’s Baldur’s Gate 3 that has shown remarkable staying power, particularly on Steam where it is still seeing peak concurrent player numbers above 100,000 despite being two-and-a-half years old.

2017's Divinity: Original Sin 2, meanwhile, has also seen an uptick in players following the Divinity announcement, with peak concurrents in the tens of thousands rather than thousands in the weeks since. (If you're wondering what Divinity is, check out IGN's handy explainer.)

According to Larian boss Swen Vincke, it’s not just that people who already own Baldur’s Gate 3 or Divinity: Original Sin 2 are returning to the game. People are buying both games in significant numbers and jumping in for the first time.

“Sales for both BG3 and D:OS2 have been incredible since the announcement of Divinity,” Vincke said. “D:OS2 really surprised us by having its best month since release in 2017. Wish I’d removed the squirrel in time :)”

Typically, multiplayer live service games are expected to retain a large playerbase over the course of years, with revenue generated by the sale of in-game items such as battle passes, cosmetics, and DLC add-ons. Indeed, Steam’s top 10 most-played games are packed with live service games such as Counter-Strike 2, Dota 2, and PUBG.

But there are some single-player games that buck this trend. Bethesda’s single-player RPGs such as Skyrim and Fallout are usually there or thereabouts in terms of Steam popularity. CD Projekt’s The Witcher 3 and Cyberpunk 2077 remain hugely popular even now, years after launch. And Baldur’s Gate 3 is perhaps top of the single-player tree, with renewed interest in all things Larian following the Divinity reveal fueling it further.

Speaking of Divinity, Larian recently held a reddit AMA to answer questions from fans. Here’s everything we learned about Divinity from it.

Wesley is Director, News at IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.

'I Have Some Unfinished Business There' — Luke Cage Star Mike Colter Teases 'Conversations' Around Return

20 janvier 2026 à 11:25

Mike Colter has given a promising update on the likelihood he'll return as Marvel's unbreakable Harlem hero Luke Cage.

Speaking on Shawn Stockman's On That Note podcast, Colter was asked if there was any chance fans might see him back in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, eight years on from Netflix's controversial cancellation of its Luke Cage series and other popular superhero shows.

Without committing to anything concrete, Colter said that "conversations" had indeed taken place about him coming back as Cage and that the results of these chats could "come into fruition faster than we think."

"Listen, I will say this, I've had conversations... and I'll leave it at that," Colter said.

"I've had conversations," he continued, "which before, I was... 'no.' Because when it wrapped... y'know I loved playing Luke Cage but I love acting and doing different things. So I just was like, 'I'll do something else.' I love the fans and I love that world. And it's been years now. So now, I'm doing other projects, but now I think to myself 'I have some unfinished business there.'

"I talked to Cheo [Hodari Coker] about it, he was the creator and showrunner [on Netflix's Luke Cage series], and now I've reached the point where I'm like, 'I have some unfinished business' and I think Daredevil's back so, c'mon... Jessica's back."

The most obvious place for Colter to return would be in a future episode of Daredevil: Born Again. Fellow Netflix-era star Charlie Cox has already filmed the second season of his Disney+ revival series — which will notably also see the return of Krysten Ritter as Jessica Jones, another alumna of Marvel's Netflix era.

Indeed, Colter began his turn as Cage on Netflix's Jessica Jones series, appearing as a regular character during its first season before starring in two seasons of his own show. Colter also appeared in Netflix crossover miniseries The Defenders, which saw him team up with characters from Daredevil, Jessica Jones, and Iron Fist.

Fans have remained keen to see what Cage is up to now, and with Jessica Jones returning in Daredevil Season 2, there are hopes that Mike Colter's character will be given a similar return in Disney's already-greenlit third season that will be filmed this year.

"I'd say we're in a better position to come into fruition faster than we think, so we'll see," Colter teased. "I was giving no one hope before, I am giving hope at least."

IGN previously spoke with Daredevil: Born Again writer Jesse Wigutow on how the series is now embracing its star's Netflix-era roots, after an initial attempt at keeping the show separate. "I feel like some of that worked well, and some of it didn't," Wigutow said. "There were expectations that weren't necessarily being met, and there was a pointed effort and a left turn — to not necessarily return to Netflix, but honor the Netflix origin of the show. It is meant to be more aligned with the Netflix show now."

Image credit: Paras Griffin/Getty Images.

Tom Phillips is IGN's News Editor. You can reach Tom at tom_phillips@ign.com or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social

CD Projekt Hits Paid Cyberpunk 2077 VR Mod With DMCA Strike After Creator Refused Request to Make It Free for Everyone

20 janvier 2026 à 11:06

CD Projekt has confirmed it issued a DMCA strike on a paid Cyberpunk 2077 VR mod, after its creator refused to make it free for everyone upon the studio’s request.

The R.E.A.L. VR mod for Cyberpunk 2077 was created by Luke Ross, who, according to a 2022 report by The Verge, makes $20,000 a month modding PC games to run in VR headsets. His mods are locked behind a Patreon, which sparked CD Projekt’s concern.

In a tweet, Jan Rosner, VP, Business Development at CD Projekt Red, said the company issued the DMCA strike because Cyberpunk VR was a paid mod, which violates its fan content guidelines.

“We never allow monetization of our IP without our direct permission and/or an agreement in place,” Rosner said. “We were in touch with Luke last week and informed him that he needs to make it free for everyone (with optional donations) or remove it.

“We are big fans of mods to our games — some of the work out there has been nothing short of amazing, including Luke’s mod for Cyberpunk 2077. We’d be happy to see it return as a free release. However, making a profit from our IP, in any form, always requires permission from CD Projekt Red.”

Ross responded to Rosner’s tweet to take issue with his work being characterized as fan content. Rather, Ross insisted, it is independent software and thus does not infringe on CD Projekt’s IP rights.

“I'm sorry but I don't believe you are within your rights in demanding that my software needs to be free,” Ross said. “It is not ‘derivative work’ or ‘fan content’: it supports a large number of games which were built upon different engines, and it contains absolutely zero code or assets from your IP. Saying that it infringes your IP rights is equivalent to maintaining for example that RivaTuner violates game publishers' copyrights because it intercepts the images the game is drawing on screen and it processes them in order to overlay its statistics.”

Ross went on to say he wants to find a “win-win solution,” and suggested CD Projekt make his Cyberpunk VR mod official, “or at least sanctioned by your company.” He added: “I think the current state of affairs is not the best way to resolve this misunderstanding.”

As it stands, Ross has left his Cyberpunk VR mod behind (in a post on Patreon, Ross said, “So long, and thanks for all the fish,”), and he has pulled support for the game. Ross’ tweet here has sparked a debate about the legal implications of his mod, a point he expanded on in a post on Patreon:

“As usual they stretch the concept of ‘derivative work’ until it's paper-thin, as though a system that allows visualizing 40+ games in fully immersive 3D VR was somehow built making use of their intellectual property,” he said. “And as usual they give absolutely zero f***s about how playing their game in VR made people happy, and they cannot just be grateful about the extra copies of the title they sold because of that — without ever having to pour money into producing an official conversion (no, they're not planning to release their own VR port, in case you were wondering).

“The bottom line is all that matters, and gamers be damned.

“Am I a little bitter about all of this? Yeah, you bet I am. Especially in the same week when Meta pulls the plug on three major VR studios. Especially after four years during which I (together with other modders) spent so much time keeping our mods alive in spite of CDPR's constant breaking updates. Especially when they never even knew or cared during all this time that the VR conversion was there, and are only knee-jerk reacting now because somebody reported to them that it existed and it was not free.”

This is not the first time Ross has been hit by a DMCA strike. In July 2022, Rockstar Games parent company Take-Two issued a DMCA notice against Ross for his GTA 5 and Red Dead Redemption 2 VR mods, among others. He made a similar argument against the decision back then, insisting "none of my modifications are built using software belonging to Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc, and the modifications are not intended to replace their games, nor are they a means of exploiting Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc's proprietary IP or assets."

Cyberpunk is just one of a number of games for which Ross has released VR mods, and he sounds undeterred by CD Projekt’s action here. Ross already has VR mods for the likes of Sony’s Days Gone, FromSoftware’s Elden Ring, and Ubisoft’s Far Cry 5 games. Now he’s turning his attention to Larian’s Baldur’s Gate 3.

Wesley is Director, News at IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.

Unofficial GoldenEye 007 Remaster PC Port Is Finally Happening

20 janvier 2026 à 10:30

Now here is something cool. It appears that modders are currently working on an unofficial native PC port of the canceled GoldenEye 007 Remaster. This unofficial port will let you experience this canceled game on PC. For those who did not know, back in 2008, Nintendo, Activision, and Microsoft agreed to remaster the classic Nintendo … Continue reading Unofficial GoldenEye 007 Remaster PC Port Is Finally Happening

The post Unofficial GoldenEye 007 Remaster PC Port Is Finally Happening appeared first on DSOGaming.

Action RPG Dark December Launches on PC and Mobile

20 janvier 2026 à 03:00

Free-to-play dark fantasy action RPG Dark December from developer Needs Games has officially launched on PC, Android, and iOS with crossplay and cross-progression. It marks a return to the world of Undecember, this time with more streamlined gameplay built around three core character classes.

If you’re not already familiar with the series or need a little refresher, Undecember was a quarter-view hack-and-slash game with no classes. It introduced a world created by 12 beings who shared their powers and brought peace and prosperity to the land. In time, they came to be worshipped as gods. But then a 13th being arose, who introduced evil to the world and corrupted mankind.

Dark December brings you back to that world, but many years before the events of Undecember and in an alternate timeline. The camera can now be moved freely, and it also marks a departure from the complex progression systems of its predecessor, instead focusing on timing, skill use, and streamlined growth in three character classes: Berserker, Raven, and Morgana. The system is designed to be more approachable, so players new to the series can feel comfortable jumping into this prequel without missing anything.

Berserker is your classic melee-based physical attacker that uses a two-handed greatsword to unleash powerful strikes. It has very high HP and defense, so it’s meant to rush headlong into enemy hordes and take out large groups with its heavy strikes. Their unique ability sends them into a berserk state, which speeds up their attacks and makes them capable of dishing out big damage very quickly.

Raven is an archer class that can use multiple different arrow types to take advantage of enemy weaknesses. It’s quick and agile, so it’s designed to constantly stay on the move while keeping enemies at arms’ length and picking them off with precise strikes. Where Berserker is meant to soak up damage, Raven is meant to avoid it altogether.

That leaves Morgana, a spellcasting class that wields a staff and can summon spirits. It uses the staff to unleash poison and fire spells, while summons are infused with elemental energy and can be used for a variety of things. Some deal damage matching its elemental type, while others apply debuffs. So Morgana is all about strategy and versatility, combining their abilities to deliver steady, continuous damage.

As you’d expect, each of these classes unlock unique skills as they level up, and these can be further powered up through skill upgrades and the Support Rune system. Each skill has two Support Rune slots, where you can equip Support Runes that provide all kinds of different bonuses. Each skill also has its own type and attribute, and Support Runes can only be equipped in slots that are compatible with that type and attribute.

Offensive runes provide bonuses like increasing damage, crit rate, or expanding AoE range. Defensive runes can do things like shielding you or reducing damage. And utility runes can enhance status effects, reduce cooldowns, or increase skill usage count. These are just a few examples of each type, there are plenty more options to choose from. And you can freely swap out Support Runes at any time, giving you the chance to test out lots of different builds or change things up strategically for particular fights or situations.

While progression has been simplified and combat has been streamlined, that doesn’t mean it’s easy. It’s not about memorizing one ability loop you can simply use over and over to decimate everything. You need to learn what works in what situations, adapt to new things being thrown at you, and use your abilities at the right time.

The central narrative of Dark December will take you through several different locations, and a waypoint system allows you to teleport between those areas quickly as well as return to a central hub area. There are also other gameplay modes you can play if you want to take a break from the main story.

The Abyss of Chaos is a dungeon that allows you to choose what region it’s based on, which alters its level and the rewards you can get from it. It also houses a randomly occurring event called the Realm of Chaos, which spawns powerful bosses that drop rare materials and resources.

The Hall of Oblivion is a challenge mode where you can choose the difficulty level and fight bosses from around the world. And Dimensional Rift: Veles is a defense mode where you and up to three other players can team up to see how long you can survive against neverending waves of enemies.

The monetization system is mostly focused on cosmetic items such as costumes and wings, and the game is designed so players who choose not to spend money are not at a disadvantage. Some stat-increasing items are also available through alternative routes, such as crafting or obtaining them directly through gameplay. This approach is intended to let players who prefer not to spend still enjoy the game without feeling pressured to pay.

Dark December is available to download now on PC, Android, and iOS. To keep up with the latest news and info, you can follow the game on Discord, YouTube, or TikTok.

AU Deals: Big RPGs, Smart Indies, And Discounts Worth Paying Attention To

20 janvier 2026 à 02:09

I spend an unhealthy amount of time playing games so you do not have to gamble your weekend on something mid. This week’s deals list is stacked with games I have finished, bounced off, and in a few cases lost entire evenings to by accident. If you are short on time or money, these are the cuts worth making.

Contents

This Day in Gaming 🎂

In retro news, I'm celebrating the 15th birthday of LittleBigPlanet 2, a sacktacular PS3 classic that elevated 2.5D platforming and user-generated content to new heights. At the shallow end of this pool you had a wonderful, co-optional story campaign for up to four floaty sackpersons. Waiting beyond that, however, was a black hole Create mode whose enhanced logic and Move support delivered mind-boggling community-built gems.

My mates and I sunk way too many hours into the hilaribad physics of Super LBP Fighter II Turbo and the professional indie level Sealed Fate. Truly, LBP2 was a golden age of UGC where innovators (and not shameless copiers and half-arsed memers) were king. It pains me to think that those creations died with server shutdown.

Aussie birthdays for notable games.

- NHL 2K6 (PS2,XB) 2006. eBay

- LittleBigPlanet 2 (PS3) 2011. eBay

- Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective (DS) 2011. eBay

- Back to the Future: The Game (PS3) 2011. eBay

Nice Savings for Nintendo Switch

  • Just Dance 2026 Ed. (-68%) - A$44 Ubisoft keeps these annual refreshes tight, and this one is still the easiest way to turn your lounge room into chaos without learning a control scheme.
  • Sonic Frontiers (-45%) - A$55.10 Sega finally let Sonic stretch his legs. Open zones feel odd at first, then click hard once the speed tech sinks in.
  • Bayonetta 3 (-38%) - A$49.20 Platinum at full throttle. Messy, maximalist, and completely committed to the bit in a way few studios still are.
  • Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope (-39%) - A$49 Smart tactics with jokes that mostly land. The Rabbids calm down, the systems deepen, and the soundtrack goes harder than expected.
  • Dredge Del. (-60%) - A$15.10 Fishing, but haunted. The slow reveal of its story is the hook, and the expansions round it out nicely.

Or gift a Nintendo eShop Card.

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Exciting Bargains for Xbox

  • Dead Space (-57%) - A$47.70 A remake that understands restraint. Familiar scares hit differently thanks to new audio tricks and smarter enemy pacing.
  • Cyberpunk 2077 Ult. (-41%) - A$70.60 This is the version CD Projekt meant to ship. Dense quests, sharp writing, and Night City finally feels alive.
  • Star Wars Jedi: Survivor (-62%) - A$41.80 Bigger and bolder than Fallen Order, with custom stances that reward experimentation if you stick with it.
  • Sonic Frontiers (-76%) - A$24.40 At this price, its rough edges are easy to forgive. There is a genuinely good Sonic game buried in here.
  • Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 + 2 (-55%) - A$31.60 Still immaculate. Muscle memory comes back instantly, and the soundtrack does half the emotional lifting.

Xbox One

  • Mass Effect Leg. Ed. (-67%) - A$32.90 Three all time RPGs, cleaned up just enough. If you missed Shepard the first time, this is the definitive run.
  • Dead Island 2 (-43%) - A$39.70 Goofy, gory, and more confident than expected. It knows exactly what kind of dumb fun it wants to be.
  • Dishonored 2 (-77%) - A$9.10 One of the best immersive sims ever made. Every level is a puzzle box if you are patient.

Or just invest in an Xbox Card.

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Pure Scores for PlayStation

  • Lies of P (-49%) - A$43.50 A Soulslike with personality. Weapon mixing encourages creativity instead of punishing curiosity.
  • The Witcher 3 Comp. (-44%) - A$43.60 Still an absurd amount of content. The PS5 upgrade makes an old favourite feel fresh again.
  • Returnal (-48%) - A$65 Tough, stylish, and hypnotic. The haptics do real work here, not just novelty buzz.
  • Diablo IV (-41%) - A$64.40 Blizzard found its footing post launch. Seasonal updates make this much more compelling now.
  • Metaphor: ReFantazio (-50%) - A$57.40 Lavish, weird, and unapologetically Atlus. It trusts players to keep up, which I appreciate.

PS4

  • Persona 5 Royal (-51%) - A$48.50 Stylish, long, and still one of the best turn based RPGs of the last decade.
  • The Yakuza Rem. Col. (-42%) - A$31.90 Three games of melodrama, street fights, and surprisingly heartfelt side stories.
  • Minecraft Legends Del. (-34%) - A$46.20 An odd spin off, but charming if you want something lighter than survival mode.
  • Overcooked! All You Can Eat (-75%) - A$13.70 Still the fastest way to stress test friendships. Utter chaos in the best way.

Or purchase a PS Store Card.

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Purchase Cheap for PC

  • Dragon's Dogma 2 (-64%) - A$38.60 Systems driven RPG nonsense in the best sense. It refuses to explain itself and I love it for that.
  • Dead Island 2 (-78%) - A$16.40 Smooth combat and great gore tech. Perfect podcast game.
  • Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch Rem. (-81%) - A$14.20 Studio Ghibli vibes with old school JRPG grind. Comfort food gaming.
  • Hogwarts Legacy (-86%) - A$12.50 Setting hard carries this, but exploring Hogwarts never stops being fun.
  • Monster Hunter Rise (-83%) - A$10.40 Fast hunts, great mobility, and a friendly on ramp for newcomers.

Or just get a Steam Wallet Card

Legit LEGO Deals

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Adam Mathew is a passionate connoisseur, a lifelong game critic, and an Aussie deals wrangler who genuinely wants to hook you up with stuff that's worth playing (but also cheap). He plays practically everything, sometimes on YouTube.

The Govee 1,200-Lumen RGBWW A19 Wi-Fi Smart LED Light Bulb Drops to $43 for a 4-Pack

20 janvier 2026 à 01:35

Best Buy just dropped the price of the 4-pack Govee 1,200-Lumen RGBWW A19 Wi-Fi Smart LED Light Bulbs to just $42.99 with free delivery. This set normally retails for $65 and Best Buy easily has the lowest price everywhere: Govee has it for $59 and Amazon has a 2-pack for $40. This is Govee's highest end and brightest A19 light bulb.

4-Pack Govee 1,200-Lumen RGB LED Light Bulbs for $42.99

These particular light bulbs are Govee's brightest RGB bulbs at 1,200 lumens and have a higher output than most other color changing LED bulbs, which are more commonly found in 800 lumen and 1,000 lumen intensities. They're equipped with RGBWW LEDs, which have dedicated warm white LEDs that do an excellent job of replicating the 2.7K-3K color temperature of incandescent bulbs. The bulbs sync to your Govee app over Bluetooth and 2.4GHz WiFi. If you are already invested in the Govee ecosystem, these should be your de facto choice if you need a brighter bulb.

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.

Best Buy Has Open Box Asus ROG Strix Scar RTX 5090 Gaming Laptop for $3,258

19 janvier 2026 à 23:35

Best Buy has restocked its inventory of open box Asus ROG Strix Scar gaming laptops equipped with the GeForce RTX 5090 mobile GPU. Here's a chance to get Asus' highest-end and most powerful laptop of 2025 for just 3,257.99 for an "excellent condition" unit. If you were to get it new, it would cost $4,500. Mind you these are pre-owned, but they are Geek Squad verified and sometimes still have all or some of their original warranty.

Note that Open Box availability depends on your location.

Asus ROG Strix Scar 18 RTX 5090 Gaming Laptop for $3,258

Open Box - Excellent Condition

The Asus ROG Strix Scar 18 features a gorgeous 18" 2.5K 240Hz Nebula HDR (Mini-LED) display, Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX processor, GeForce RTX 5090 GPU, 32GB of DDR5-5200MHz RAM, and a 2TB NVMe SSD. The top lid boasts solid aluminum construction, but the base is made of plastic to keep the weight down (7.7 pounds for an 18" gaming laptop is pretty decent) and reduce heat transfer to the keyboard and palm area so that your hands don't get toasty while gaming.

The Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX is a top performing CPU

The Scar is equipped with the Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX Arrow Lake-HX processor, which boasts a max turbo frequency of 5.4GHz with a whopping 24 cores and 40MB total L2 cache. According to Passmark, this is second most powerful Intel mobile CPU available right now and goes head to head with AMD's Ryzen 9 9955HX.

The GeForce RTX 5090 is without doubt the fastest mobile GPU you can get

The Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 is the most powerful mobile graphics card on the market, performing about 15% better than the RTX 5080. It also has considerably more VRAM (24GB vs 16GB), which can come in handy when playing games at higher resolutions (like on an attached 4K monitor) or if you're planning to use this as a mobile creator or AI workstation. Everyone is also probably aware by now that current generation VRAM is in extremely high demand, so getting 24GB of GDDR7 in a $3K laptop sounds like a great "deal" at the moment.

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.

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