Ryan Maccaffrey

Developer 1M Bits Horde and Meta Publishing (who also published Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous) are announcing Nested Lands, a new medieval-set, "brutally challenging" multiplayer survival RPG in which the world has been ravaged by a plague. Check out the first trailer above and the first screenshots in the gallery below.

It's been a torturous week for Microsoft, but we aren't quite at the weekend yet. New reporting suggests that longtime employees and even some of the brand's founders agree that things have shifted so dramatically at Xbox since the bad old days that, effectively: «It's no longer Xbox, but Microsoft Gaming.»

Sony has unveiled the PlayStation Plus games for May 2024, revealing four name games active PlayStation Plus subscribers can redeem as one of their many perks for being a member.

Funko Inc. and developer 10:10 Games have announced that 20(!) franchises will be a part of their upcoming Funko Pop-based co-op action game Funko Fusion. They also announced a release date for PC and consoles: September 13. Check out the new gameplay trailer above and a half-dozen screenshots showing off some of the crossover IPs in the gallery below.

Squirrel with a Gun has been in the public consciousness for a while, but the unique shooter is peaking at the right time. Its release window has been announced for this Fall (for PC, Xbox, and PlayStation), and the quirky Unreal Engine 5 game has been capturing the hearts and minds of the IGN audience.

You asked for a PC version of Arena Breakout, the popular mobile military multiplayer tactical first-person shooter, and here it is. Say hello to Arena Breakout: Infinite, which will be getting a closed beta next month. Check out the announcement trailer above and the first batch of PC screenshots in the gallery below.

Publisher tinybuild has announced Duckside, a new persistent-world survival game for PC where you play as a duck. And no, this is not a joke despite it being April 1. Check out the announcement trailer above and the first screenshots in the gallery below.

At long last, the curtains have been drawn back on Judas, the first game from BioShock creator Ken Levine's outfit, Ghost Story Games. Courtesy of IGN, we've got our best look yet at the game, how its intriguing «narrative LEGOs» design philosophy works in play, and, of course, a familiar, chaotic form of powered combat we've been missing desperately. Bringing Geoff Keighley along for the ride, IGN sat down for a massive interview with Levine, which is where the fount of information sprang from.

Judas, the game in development at Ken Levine's Ghost Story Games, just had a huge amount of details revealed by the man himself. Levine was featured in a fresh 75-minute interview with IGN's Ryan McCaffrey and Geoff Keighley, who had just played four or five hours of the game.

Ghost Story Games’ Judas, the next title directed by Ken Levine of Bioshock fame, is due for an update. Announced at The Game Awards 2022 and slated for launch by March 2025, it saw a new trailer last month highlighting its story and setting. Fortunately, it seems new details are coming very soon.

Asymmetrical multiplayer action game Killer Klowns from Outer Space: The Game is set to hit PC, PlayStation, and Xbox on June 4. As it's playable at PAX East this weekend, IllFonic was kind enough to send over a look at and brief description of some of the weapons and tricks for the Klowns. Note that the tricks unlock over time during a match.

Whether you're playing Killer Klowns from Outer Space: The Game at PAX East this weekend or looking forward to playing it when it's released for PlayStation, Xbox, and PC on June 4, the developers at IllFonic were kind enough to send along a gameplay overview along with some tips to help you emerge victorious, whether you're playing as the Killer Klowns or battling against them. Without further adieu, we'll let the IllFonic team take it from here...

If you're looking to dust off that original Xbox and play Halo 2 but wish you could hop on the servers like you did in the late 2000s, well, now you can, thanks to a group of devoted fans.

One Btn Bosses is a clever boss rush game for PC from developer Midnight Munchies that gives you exactly what the name promises: bosses that can be fought and defeated with just one button. But you're going to have to be smart about it. Check out the announcement trailer above and the first screenshots in the gallery below.

It seems that Cyberpunk 2077 might not be the only gorgeous Polish-developed sci-fi game set in the future for much longer, as fellow Poland-based developer Critical Hit Games has announced Nobody Wants to Die, a new detective noir adventure set in New York City in the year 2329. It's due out in 2024 for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S.

We got to sit down with South Park co-creator Matt Stone and South Park: Snow Day! writer Jameel Saleem to play South Park: Snow Day!, the new 3D four-player roguelike that's coming out for PC and consoles on March 26 for $29.99.

Developer Mighty Koi Studio announces The Night Wanderer, a new sci-fi/fantasy soulslike with RPG elements based on the Polish book series "Lord of the Ice Garden" by Jarosław Grzędowicz.

Kingmakers was announced just a little over two weeks ago, but all of IGN’s audience metric data suggests that it might soon follow Palworld and Helldivers 2 as a huge breakout sensation.

Unreal Engine-powered first-person action-RPG VOIN is being created by one solo developer named Nikita Sozidar. It's a fast-paced, retro-themed dark fantasy melee combat game that might remind you a bit of Raven Software's classic Hexen (albeit with much faster movement). It's in development for PC, with a public playtest beginning on March 8. Check it out on Steam if you're interested.

Nexon has announced Vindictus: Defying Fate, a new high-speed fantasy action-RPG inspired by Celtic mythology that, yes, shares a universe with Nexon's own 2010 MMORPG, Vindictus. It is in development for PC, with a console release planned for sometime after the PC release.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Arcade: Wrath of the Mutants, the 2017 arcade game by Raw Thrills based on the 2012 Nickelodeon TV series, is coming to all home consoles (read: Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, PS5, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam) on April 23. It'll be priced at $29.99.

A single developer has been hard at work on the now-officially-announced Primal Planet, a pixel-art Metroidvania that tasks you, a caveman, with protecting your family from dinosaurs...but also aliens. It's in development for PC, and it's playable in single-player as well as two-player local co-op.

Hi-Fi Rush and Pentiment are the first two Xbox games to launch on rival consoles, according to The Verge.

Xbox will reveal its vision for the future in a special edition of the Official Xbox Podcast set to release on Thursday, February 15 at 12pm PT.

Meet Highwater, a new adventure game featuring a turn-based puzzle combat system set in a flooded region outside of the dry land of Alphaville where the wealthy have literally walled themselves in. You'll make friends, laugh a little, and ultimately try to escape to Mars as life on Earth becomes increasingly unsustainable. Highwater is in development at Demagog Studio and publisher Rogue Games for PC, PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch.

Developer MGP Studios and publisher Red Deer.Games have announced that Project Downfall, their upcoming retro-themed cyberpunk first-person shooter, will be released on Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S on February 2. Watch the release date trailer above, and check out screenshots in the gallery below.

Developer PlayFusion, comprised of a number of ex-Jagex and ex-RuneScape developers, has announced Ascendant Infinity, a new Unreal Engine 5-powered squad-based tactical multiplayer first-person 3v3v3v3 shooter in which the "BioPunk"-aesthetic landscapes change mid-match. It's in development for PC, and due to be available on both Steam and the Epic Games Store. The announcement trailer is a hilarious send-up of 1980's sitcom opening credits sequences. You can (and should!) watch that above, while the first batch of screenshots are available in the gallery below.

South Park's New Kid (aka you!) is back in South Park: Snow Day!, the new PvE game from South Park Digital Studios and THQ Nordic that allows you to play with bots or up to three friends in co-op to take on your rivals after a blizzard has canceled school. The latest trailer (watch it above) confirms Snow Day's release date: March 26, 2024 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and PC. The price for the standard version is $29.99. A Digital Deluxe Edition will be available for $49.99.

Mehuman Games and Toplitz Productions have announced Vampire Dynasty, the latest and boldest entry in the Dynasty series. It features open-world exploration, four-player co-op play, castle building, vampiric powers, and "a wide variety of possible main story endings." Check out the announcement trailer above and the first screenshots below.

Developer Maple Leaf and Leap Studio and publisher 663 Games have announced Realm of Ink, and upcoming roguelite with a beautiful Chinese ink painting art style that's in development for PC and consoles and due out in Q1 2024.

Overseer Games announces Kaiserpunk, a city-building grand strategy game set in an alternate history where World War I never ended. Flex your military might or economically cripple your foes in order to win. Kaiserpunk is in development for PC.

Dead by Daylight's latest chapter update brings Chucky, the doll-turned-serial-killer star of the Child's Play slasher-movie franchise, into the world of the popular asymmetrical multiplayer game as a Killer. He will be available on November 28.

Startup developer Inevitable Studios has announced Always in Mind, which the development team describes as a "narrative-based action platformer in which players must escape their own mind using extraordinary powers gained from living out family stories from the past." It's in the works for PC, and a Kickstarter will be launching soon.

We did the podcast live this week immediately following Xbox's Partner Preview livestream, and we spent the entire episode being pleasantly surprised by both the things Microsoft promised would be there (like Alan Wake 2, Ark: Survival Ascended, and Dungeons of Hinterberg), and the things that were surprises (like Metal Gear solid Delta, Still Wakes the Deep, and The Finals). Plus, we give some constructive criticism on Xbox's latest presentation format.

Microsoft's acquisition of Activision-Blizzard is finally done, and so we can finally stop talking about it! Or, well, at least we can stop talking about the annoying will-they-or-won't-they regulatory side of it. Now it's time to talk about the games! We discuss Activision-Blizzard games in the back catalog that we'd like to see lightly refreshed for the Xbox Series X|S (similar to the recent Quake 2 remaster), before taking turns talking about which of their IPs we'd like to see Microsoft bring back as a brand-new game. Plus: Starfield tops the sales charts, Bethesda's "Uncle Pete" Hines says goodbye, and more!

Reviews for the first 2D Super Mario game in over a decade, Super Mario Bros. Wonder, have just dropped a few days before the game's launch and, unsurprisingly, they seem to be incredibly positive.

Two independent game developers have announced Don't Scream, their new Unreal Engine 5-powered, found-camcorder-footage horror game set in the early '90s that leans into an incredibly unique hook: you have to literally stay quiet while playing it. So yes, a microphone will be required to play. Check out the gameplay reveal trailer above and the first screenshots in the gallery below.

Some Forza Motorsport vs. Gran Turismo 7 talk kicks off the show before we talk about Halo Infinite's new Season 5 content, discuss how Xbox Game Pass looks set to level up in 2024 with the addition of Activision-Blizzard games, lament the recent layoffs at Telltale, and more.

Teardown, the first-person, voxel-based heist game that might fairly be described as the delightfully bizarre lovechild of Burnout 3's Crash Mode, Minecraft, and Thief, is on its way to PS5 and Xbox Series X|S on November 15. Check out the release date trailer below, and our all-new exclusive eight-minute PS5 gameplay footage above.

We open this week's busy episode of Unlocked by discussing two big new games we just played a bunch of: Cyberpunk 2077 Phantom Liberty and Alan Wake 2. After that we discuss Phil Spencer's wish to bring back MechAssault and have a fantasy draft for which Xbox developer should make it -- along with our own picks (complete with preferred developers) for other dormant Xbox franchises we'd like to see return. Plus: we get lost wondering how the heck we're going to play all of the games in this historically busy stretch of major game releases that we're in right now, and more!

Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader, the upcoming cRPG set in the Warhammer 40,000 universe developed by Owlcat Games, now has a release date, as revealed in the new trailer that you can watch above. That date is December 7, 2023. The trailer also reveals that the game is being released on more than just PC and Mac: it'll also hit the PS5 and Xbox Series X|S that same day.

The First Descendant is an upcoming next-gen looter shooter, built using Unreal Engine 5, for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S. Nexon has just introduced Sharen Julicia, a half-woman, half-machine hero that's going to deal some serious damage up close. Check out her gameplay reveal trailer above.

After a quick update on how our Starfield adventures are going, we discuss Phil Spencer and the Xbox leadership team’s big decision to bend the Series X/S parity rules to get Baldur’s Gate 3 on Xbox, Destin’s big interview with Phil Spencer — including whether or not Microsoft will produce a mid-gen refresh for the Series X — the sad closure of Volition, and more!

This is the episode you've been waiting for: Starfield. We brought in our Starfield reviewer, Dan Stapleton, to have a spoiler-free discussion about what we think of the most anticipated Xbox game of the year. We talk about what we like, what we don't, and how it ranks alongside Fallout and The Elder Scrolls.

Ukrainian development studio Dreamate has announced New Arc Line, a fantasy steampunk CRPG due out in 2024 for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S. Check out the reveal trailer above and the first screenshots in the gallery below.

Gamescom is underway, and this week's episode is dedicated to a recap and analysis of everything from the Opening Night Live showcase -- from the beauty of Alan Wake 2, Black Myth: Wukong, and Lords of the Fallen to our disgust at the knucklehead stage-crashers who are going to ruin access these events for fans. Plus: We can tell you that we're playing Starfield, and though we can't share any opinions on it yet, we let you know when you can read IGN's review.

Startup game development house Eon Rush Studios has announced its first game, which shares the name of the studio: Eon Rush. It's a co-op action RPG in which players "will battle across different eras of science-fiction and fantasy." It's in development for PC (via Steam).

GameMill Entertainment and AMC have announced a new game in The Walking Dead universe called The Walking Dead: Destinies. It's a third-person, narrative-driven action-adventure game in which your choices can reshape the story of seasons 1-4 of the hit TV show. It's in development for all major platforms (PC via Steam, PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch).

Big-time Xbox exclusive FPS STALKER 2 has a rumored release date that's coming up soon...but do we believe it? We discuss the rumor. Plus: we engage in a lengthy discussion about Xbox's new eight-strike behavior-enforcement system for Xbox Live, go over the great Xbox Game Pass lineup leading up to Starfield's release, and more!

Remnant II has sold more than one million units across all platforms in its first week, so Stella, Kahlief, and Destin discuss how Remnant II has improved from its original game formula and how unique the gameplay loop is. Plus: Baldur’s Gate 3 won’t be releasing on Xbox for quite some time, your Xbox controller will be easier to repair on your own, and we have the full list of games joining and leaving Xbox Game Pass for August.

Though Microsoft's acquisition of Activision-Blizzard has cleared its biggest hurdle (the FTC), the deal isn't quite done yet. And all parties involved have given themselves more time to finalize the deal. We discuss that, plus Sony finally signing its 10-year Call of Duty deal with Microsoft, the death of Xbox Live Gold and its somewhat confusing replacement in the form of Xbox Game Pass Core, and more!