IGN Benelux News, Tips, Tricks, Ideas

The weekend is here, and there are loads of exciting deals you do not want to miss! This Saturday, new deals on some amazing video games, technology, and devices have appeared, and we've rounded up our picks. The best deals for Saturday, April 27, include Tekken 8, 2024 MacBook Air, One Piece Odyssey, Apple Watch Series 9, and more.

As great as it is to see the 3D Fallout games enjoying another moment in the sun following the popularity of Prime Video’s excellent TV adaptation, the games I most want to direct new fans toward are the classic original Fallout and Fallout 2. Aside from being where it all began, those are the stories that hold many of the answers people coming off of the show are looking for: the origins of Shady Sands, the Brotherhood of Steel, the Enclave, what happens when a vault’s water chip fails, and much more. Their stories, scenarios, and memorable moments have stuck with those of us who played them for decades, and bringing those same experiences to an entirely new audience that’s ravenous for Fallout content seems like a slam dunk.

The next-gen update for Fallout 4 is finally live, bringing Bethesda’s 2015 RPG up to par for modern consoles and PCs. But what exactly does next-gen update mean, especially in 2024?

Ubisoft and Microsoft appear to be tag-teaming a legal crackdown on people who try to pass off fake versions of Minecraft and Assassin's Creed official merchandise as the real thing.

Helldivers 2 players are celebrating a dramatic 11th-hour victory that saw hundreds of thousands of the digital soldiers unite to defend 10 worlds from the undemocratic grip of advancing bug-like Terminids, and soulless Automatons. However, some members of the community have found themselves wondering whether Arrowhead’s game master Joel may have stacked the odds in their favor to stave off defeat.

The European Medieval period has always been an era of fascination, especially in games. This age has inspired some of the best low fantasy romps and strategy games that have endured as classics for generations. With that in mind, we’ve made a list of our own, with samplings throughout the ages that may inspire you to pick up a title or two if you’re in want of something truly, medieval-y, immersive.

Elden Ring fans rejoice, for you can now preorder a limited run, life-size replica of the demigod Malenia’s golden prosthetic right arm, courtesy of a partnership between publisher Bandai Namco, and collectibles distributor PureArts Studio.

Famed game developer Shinji Mikami, known for directing the original Resident Evil and The Evil Within, has revealed why he left his former studio Tango Gameworks despite founding it himself.

Cardy and Matt are here in a rare two-hander this week as they discuss their time with the new action RPG Stellar Blade, the early access version of No Rest for the Wicked, and Netflix dark comedy, Baby Reindeer. Plus, as always there's time to talk about various uses of gravy.

Bethesda's highly anticipated next gen update for Fallout 4 is riddled with issues across PlayStation, Xbox, and PC.

Before we dash-attack into my deals, here's a Vault-Tec sponsored PSA. The free Fallout 4 next-gen updates are rolling out now. Along with a visual spitshine (4K/60 fps for PS5 and XSX consoles) and support for ultra-wide PC screens, they add new weapons, apparel, and workshops to the Commonwealth. Wish I could say there were mad discounts still going for every store version of this game, but it seems to only be a PC affair.

Sonic the Hedgehog is having a great year with plenty to look forward to. The third Sonic movie is coming out in December, Knuckles is getting his own show on Paramount+, and Sonic is sharing the spotlight with Shadow in Sonic x Shadow Generations. In the last few years, the Blue Blur has become such a popular video game character in the multimedia landscape that Sega has produced toys to introduce the next generation of fans to the franchise. Older fans can add those toys and plushies to their collection for the sake of nostalgia or for sharing their love of Sonic with their children.

Escape from Tarkov players are in an uproar over a new $250 upgrade called The Unheard Edition, with many deeming the pack “pay-to-win” and “selfish."

Microsoft's gaming revenue climbed significantly year over year, according to its Q3 earnings report. But the massive jump in takings is deceptive — most of it is just reflective of the addition of Activision Blizzard (and King!).

In its weekly This Week in Destiny blog post, Bungie announced today it would be reversing one of its most controversial Destiny 2 decisions: the one that "sunset" older weapons by giving them a power limit.

Bethesda unleashed Fallout 4’s next-gen update today and, as feared, it’s broken one of its most important mods.

If you dig retro reptiles, skateboarding, and fast-paced, bite-sized 'runner-style' grinding gameplay... you have weirdly specific interests... and I have a game you'll love; Skator Gator! As luck would have it, we're giving it away as part of IGN Plus.

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.

Crystal Dynamic’s Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition is finally on PC after 10 years of waiting – but there’s a catch.

Aspyr has released Update 2 for Star Wars: Battlefront Classic Collection six weeks after its disastrous launch.

Game developer Fallen Leaf recently partnered with Studios Extraordinaires to develop film and TV adaptations of their 2023 sci-fi shooter-thriller Fort Solis.

We’re only one night's sleep away from the release of Bandai Namco’s new RPG based on the late Dragon Ball creator Akira Toriyama’s underappreciated wasteland series, Sand Land. To celebrate the occasion, the game’s developers have shared a message written by the renowned manga creator before his passing in March.

Blizzard has announced it will not hold its annual BlizzCon event in 2024, but promised the event will return in future years.

Those who have Fallout 4 via PlayStation Plus do not appear to be able to download the next-gen update for free.

Today the Tribeca Festival, which recognizes achievement across various entertainment mediums, announced their games lineup for 2024.

Amid the hit Fallout TV show, all Fallout video games are enjoying a boost in players. Indeed, some people are stepping out into the virtual wasteland for the first time, including into Obsidian’s much-loved 2010 RPG, Fallout New Vegas. But in-keeping with the tone of the Fallout video games, some veterans of the post-apocalyptic Mojave are having dastardly fun with bright-eyed and bushy-tailed newcomers.

The allegedly cut ending of Assassin's Creed Mirage, which was set to make the series' already incredibly complicated meta story even more complex, is probably nothing to worry about according to Ubisoft.

The Fallout TV show has sparked a number of fan theories. There’s speculation about the Snake Oil Salesman’s mysterious serum, for example. Some believe the Brotherhood of Steel’s airship confirms one of two Fallout 4 endings as canon. And let’s not forget the theory that the Fallout TV show’s biggest bombshell may in fact be a misdirection.

Netflix has released a trailer for its upcoming Jennifer Lopez starring sci-fi film Atlas and fans of the Titanfall video game franchise are noticing a lot of similarities between the two.

Capcom has released a new update for its open-world fantasy game Dragon’s Dogma 2 that nerfs the dragonsplague, among other things.

Capcom has announced plans to pay out more money to its shareholders after the breakout success of Dragon’s Dogma 2.

The developer of Garry's Mod has announced it is in the process of removing all Nintendo-related content from Steam Workshop after receiving a takedown request from Nintendo.

Manor Lords brings its in-depth medieval city-building to early access in just two days, so publisher Hooded Horse took the time to explain why it hasn’t announced pricing information yet.

Decades after it took place, the Chornobyl disaster remains so ingrained in the public imagination that it's easy to forget its terrible real-world consequences. But Chornobyl Liquidators, a new immersive sim set to release in June, aims to delve into some of that history in what developer Live Motion Games calls a "commemoration of the disaster and its victims."

Moon Studios CEO Thomas Mahler has taken the time to sing the praises of early access, going as far as to say that FromSoftware’s seminal action RPG, Dark Souls, might have benefited from the communication-driven model if it had been around upon its release.

It’s wonderfully ironic that the biggest breath of fresh air the soulslike genre has received in years comes from an adventure that takes place entirely underwater. Where most dodge-rolling action games are drab, bloody, and edgelordian, Another Crab’s Treasure is bursting with bright colors, cartoonish sea creatures, and silly humor. That extreme departure from serious and spooky vibes makes it standout in an increasingly crowded space, even when it follows the formula extremely closely in every other regard. It suffers from overly simplistic combat, a general lack of challenge, and some bugs and camera wonkiness now and again – but with memorable characters, an extremely enjoyable story, and lots of original ideas, Another Crab’s Treasure had me grinning all throughout my 20-hour tour of the ocean floor.

Gazing out across my lively medieval burgh in Manor Lords, I see great promise. The detailed buildings, villagers, and landscapes are always pleasant to look upon. The complex, rewarding, if not necessarily precision-balanced economy is entertaining and intuitive to interact with. And the war cries of my homegrown militia, off to bash some bandits, remind me that each bloody clash is costing someone a son or a husband. But for all its potential, Manor Lords is an extremely Early Access-feeling Early Access game at this point. Sometimes, it even seems more like a proof of concept than a finished product.

The 3D platformer Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed is set to release for PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PC, and Nintendo Switch sometime in 2024. The game follows Mickey Mouse through the world of old Disney characters called Wasteland. You’ll meet creatures such as Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, who is Walt Disney’s first creation, and experience different levels—all with the help of your magic brush. Paint creates the setting, while thinner changes the world. It's up for preorder now at all the usual retailers, so read on for the details.

Elite Dangerous developer Frontier has announced a significant change to the near decade-old space sim: the sale of ships for real money.

Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes is riddled with issues on Nintendo Switch but developer Rabbit & Bear has said it's aware of the problems and addressing them as a "maximum priority."

The ongoing success of the Fallout TV show has fuelled renewed interest in the Fallout games ever since it hit Prime Video, and now Bethesda has confirmed just how big an impact it’s made.

Lords of the Fallen developer Hexworks has announced the release of update 1.5, its “final milestone” for the PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X and S soulslike, as publisher CI Games turns its attention to future games in the franchise.

2024 has been a cracking year for tennis fans so far. Reebok brought back its classic Court Victory Pump sneakers, Zendaya got stuck into a saucy bit of mixed doubles on the big screen in Challengers, and now one of the greatest tennis videogame series’ has returned after a 13-year-long hiatus. TopSpin 2K25 delivers an on-court experience that’s every bit as smooth and snappy as it was two console generations ago, and it features licensed superstars and stadiums that now more closely resemble the real thing. It’s a shame, then, that some convoluted career progression systems and the inclusion of virtual currency hold TopSpin 2K25 back from being an outright winner.

PUBG’s original Erangel map is returning with “nostalgic” graphics and old-school balancing for two weeks only, Krafton has announced.

Amazon is offering the Jackery Explorer 100 31,000mAh Power Bank for $99.99 after you clip the $30 off coupon on the product page. This is the largest capacity power bank we've seen that's TSA carry-on eligible. It also uses superior LiFePO4 battery cells, can charge up to 3 devices simultaneously, and boasts up to 100W charging output via USB Type-C.

Amazon is offering an excellent deal on this Arzopa 15" 1080p USB Type-C portable monitor. It's normally $129.99, but Amazon Prime members can get it right now for $60.79 shipped after a 20% off clippable coupon. That's the best price we've ever seen for this particular model, and the lowest price compared to other legit 15" USB Type-C monitors on Amazon. This is a great portable display for your Nintendo Switch, Steam Deck, or ASUS ROG Ally gaming handheld.

Seal: What the Fun is a brand-new multiplayer party royale game that will let up to 20 players compete in a wide array of hilarious and entertaining mini-games to be the last one standing. There is so much fun to be had in Seal: What the Fun and we’re here to break down why this is one party you don’t want to miss.

Even in its early alpha state, my extensive hands-on time with Eternal Strands gave me a lot to be excited about. Whether it’s the Monster Hunter-esque boss fights against giant creatures, the interesting and flexible physics-manipulating magical powers, or the obvious dedication to telling a wholesome story filled with lovable characters, this upcoming indie repeatedly surprised me by being very different from its action-adventure peers. By combining a hodgepodge of some of my favorite elements from different genres into one action-packed package, developer Yellow Brick Games hopes to pull off something wholly unique with its inaugural title. After numerous hours climbing atop fiery dragons and freezing pesky knights in a block of ice, I think Eternal Strands stands a good chance of delivering something really special, and I’ll definitely be keeping a close eye on it.

Grand Theft Auto V voice actor Steven Ogg has said developer Rockstar Games originally planned to make a story expansion focused on Trevor, though it was seemingly canceled as a result of GTA Online becoming so popular.

Over four months after Fortnite Festival was released, Harmonix and Epic Games announced that the rhythm game now supports Rock Band 4 plastic guitar controllers.

Former Epic Games Chief Creative Officer Donald Mustard has explained why Fortnite was never able to add a Nintendo representative like Samus Aran as a playable character.

No Rest for the Wicked developer Moon Studios has released the biggest update yet for its action role-playing game as it battles to improve its ‘mixed’ user review rating on Steam.

Epic Games has updated Fortnite to let players block certain emotes it said were used in “confrontational ways.”

The release date for Genshin Impact maker HoYoverse’s upcoming urban role-playing game, Zenless Zone Zero, might have leaked before its official announcement. The action RPG’s soft “coming soon in 2024” placeholder text may actually mean this summer.

IGN is proud to once again partner with ID@Xbox to exclusively present the next ID@Xbox Showcase, which promises to feature some of the most exciting upcoming indie games from around the world, including Vampire Survivors, Dungeons of Hinterberg, 33 Immortals, Lost Records Bloom & Rage, and more.

An executive of Electronic Arts Japan has criticised the Japanese video game ratings board for allowing upcoming action game Stellar Blade to be released uncensored while EA's own Dead Space was banned in the country.

Developer Starbreeze Entertainment is finally adding an important feature to Payday 3: Quickplay.

In its early access state, No Rest of the Wicked is already full of surprises. Mostly those are great, like how one moment I found myself marveling at its slow and precise combat (all but unprecedented in the action RPG genre) and the next I found myself decorating my home like I was in an M-rated Animal Crossing. On the other side, although it’s certainly to be expected from a game that’s clearly labeled as unfinished, there were also some not-so-fun surprises, like various technical issues, a loot and inventory management system that needs some serious tweaking, and some levels that can be a headache to navigate from an isometric perspective. There’s nothing there that feels unsolvable, though, and all of those problems are eclipsed by just how exciting and special this genre-blending pioneer felt throughout my 30+ hours with the content that’s already available.

Mortal Kombat 1 players have discovered a secret Brutality for all characters that developer NetherRealm appears to have stealth-dropped into the game.

2014’s The Crew was the first project for developer Ivory Tower, which was founded in Lyon, France, in 2007 and later acquired by Ubisoft in late 2015. While it may have been the debut game for the studio, a number of Ivory Tower’s staff formerly hailed from Lyon’s Eden Games (including Ivory Tower’s three founders) and had previous experience on the first three instalments of the V-Rally series, the PlayStation version of Need for Speed: Porsche Unleashed, and the trendsetting Test Drive Unlimited. As such, there was a good deal of optimism around The Crew.

Metaphor: ReFantazio, the new RPG by the team behind Persona 5 among other RPGs, officially has a release date. In a special showcase streamed Monday, Atlus revealed that Metaphor will be out October 11, putting it squarely in the holidays.

We finally have the first full trailer for Tales of the Shire: A The Lord of the Rings Game, an upcoming single-player life simulation set in the Middle-earth universe inspired by the books of J.R.R. Tolkien.

Team Folon’s Dean Carter, project lead on the highly anticipated mod Fallout London, has opened up about how Bethesda’s upcoming Fallout 4 update impacted the studio, saying the team felt “blindsided” by the move.

With Sunday here, the weekend is almost over—but there are so many great deals to check out before it ends. We've rounded up some of the best deals you can find this weekend, with everything games and technology included. The best deals for Sunday, April 21, include the Arctis Nova Pro Wireless Headset, HORI Split Pad Compact, Granblue Fantasy: Relink, Super Mario RPG, Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1, Persona 3 Reload, and more.

An Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim speedrunner has reached level 80 and killed the infamous Ebony Warrior in under 12 minutes, setting a new world record in the process.

Developer Strange Scaffold’s third-person neo-noir shooter, El Paso, Elsewhere, is heading to the big screen, per Deadline.

Warning: spoilers for the Fallout TV show follow.

EA has made Star Wars Jedi: Survivor part of the EA Play subscription in some PlayStation regions.

Fallout 4 sales have skyrocketed in Europe in the past week, rising over 7,500%. Steam player charts also recently hit more than 160,000 people over a weekend, almost ten years after the game was initially released. The Fallout TV Show on Amazon Prime Video has massively influenced the resurgence of the game, with fans of the show now flocking to play Bethesda's 2015 entry to the franchise.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt's official mod support is now available in early access and alongside its arrival came a subtle challenge to kiss the Crones of Crookback Bog from one CD Projekt Red developer.

Welcome to another smashing week of smart purchasing decisions on the games worth owning. Today is very much all about the first discount I've seen for the venerable Meta Quest 3 512GB. Speaking personally, 70 bucks off and free shipping (via a disposable "First" membership) were enough to tip me into a purchase. Be sure to look out for some future Best Quest 3 Games to Get article from me in the near future!

Amid the success of the Fallout TV show, Fallout video games are enjoying a resurgence in popularity. The player boost is so significant that even NexusMods is struggling to cope.

Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes is a classic rags to riches tale, only about an entire army. I didn’t know what my team would end up looking like when I started recruiting dozens of unique characters – however, as more fighters joined my cause, from a two-faced healer with a brutish side to a magical girl with a hero complex, this unpredictable journey started to take shape. The scale of the story grew with every chapter, folding in more countries and people that would eventually turn my ragtag team into a proper battalion. That sizable cast and loads of side content can add fluff to the campaign, with half-baked elements like encounters that rely on RNG to drag things down a bit. But for anyone willing to hold out long enough, Hundred Heroes’ slow burn eventually lights into an impressive fire.

Stardew Valley’s 1.6.4 update is now live on PC, bringing with it an impressively long list of bug fixes, quality of life improvements, and fresh content, along with the mysterious removal of two ‘inappropriate names’ from the game’s random name generator.

Cardy, Mat, and Emma are here to share their picks for some of the best games you can finish in 5 hours or less this week. A mix of well-known indies and hidden gems, maybe you'll find something new to play this weekend. Before that, though, there's time for some more thoughts about Alex Garland's Civil War and flower-puzzle game Botany Manor. Plus, a nail-biter of an Endless Search.

Saturday is here, and that means the weekend has officially kicked off! We've rounded up some of the best deals you can find this weekend, with everything games and technology included. The best deals for Saturday, April 20, include the Arctis Nova Pro Wireless Headset, Granblue Fantasy: Relink, Super Mario RPG, Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1, and more.

Now that’s what I call a bug hunt! It took Helldivers 2 players less than 24 hours to complete its latest Major Order: to kill two billion Terminids.

Warning: The below story contains FULL SPOILERS for Fallout Season 1, which is now streaming on Prime Video.

Last week, Square Enix revealed the benchmark trailer for Final Fantasy 14’s upcoming expansion, Dawntrail. While Dawntrail’s showcase of new in-game areas, enemies, and combat garnered positive feedback online, the lifeless eyes of its character creator left a lot to be desired, fans said. In response to the negative feedback, Director Naoki Yoshida has promised a graphical update that will fix its character creator’s soulless eyes.

Horizon Forbidden West is one of the best-looking games on consoles, period – a statement that now extends to PC thanks to this port from Nixxes, the Sony-owned studio responsible for the recent PC ports of PlayStation games like Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales and Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart. While this is a cross-generation game, the PS5 is where it pushes the fidelity needle most, so that’s what we’ll be using for the main console comparison. Compared to the PS5, this PC port loses none of the quality and, depending on the machine, can even exceed it. It also comes with one big and welcome improvement – Nixxes has added real-time render options via a transparent menu, a genius touch that aids PC market’s desire to fiddle, offering immediate and, most importantly, visual changes to the games rendering.