Category: Gaming

Sons of the Forest will officially leave Early Access and launch its v1.0 on February 22, 2024. Furthermore, X-Men and Quantum Break’s Shawn Ashmore will be joining the cast to voice Timmy as the team works to “expand his role in the game and story.”

Sons of the Forest developer Endnight Games shared the news on X/Twitter alongside thanking everyone who played the game in Early Access.

“Hey Everyone, Sons Of The Forest v1.0 will release Feb 22, 2024 with Shawn Ashmore voicing Timmy as we expand his role in the game and story,” Endnight Games wrote. “We thank everyone who has joined us in Early Access and are super excited for what we have in store for v1.0 and beyond.”

For those unfamiliar, Timmy LeBlanc is the son of Eric LeBlanc, the protagonist of The Forest who crashed with his father on the island where the game takes place and was quickly kidnapped. One of the main goals of the original game was to rescue Timmy. Without spoiling anything, Timmy is back in Sons of the Forest and obviously has a bigger part to play.

As for Shawn Ashmore, he is no stranger to video games as he has previously voiced Tim Breaker in Alan Wake 2, Conrad in The Dark Pictures: Man of Medan, and Jack Joyce in Quantum Break. And that’s in addition to him playing Bobby Drake/Iceman in the X-Men franchise, Lamplighter in The Boys, and more.

Sons of the Forest entered Early Access on February 23, 2023, and tasks players with finding a missing billionaire on a remote island that also happens to be home to cannibals and other horrific dangers. This sequel is once again an open-world survival horror simulator and can be played solo or with friends.

In our Sons of the Forest Early Access review, we said it is “already a strong survival crafter sequel that takes all the things The Forest did so well and does them a little bit better.”

“Exploring a huge, beautiful, deadly island through the changing seasons is a treat on its own,” IGN’s Leana Hafer added. “The new base building mechanics could entertain me for days without ever touching the main story. And to top it all off, we have smarter and more unsettling enemy behavior paired with thoughtfully improved combat. It’s already great, and it’s still in Early Access. With some healthy performance optimization and shining up of an impactful but sloppy ending, it could become incredible.”

Have a tip for us? Want to discuss a possible story? Please send an email to newstips@ign.com.

Adam Bankhurst is a news writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @AdamBankhurst and on Twitch.

Sony has announced the PlayStation Plus games for December 2023 are LEGO 2K Drive (PS4 and PS5), Powerwash Simulator (PS4 and PS5), and Sable (PS5).

As revealed on the PlayStation Blog, all three games will be made available at no extra cost to PlayStation Plus subscribers on December 5.

LEGO 2K Drive combines open world racing with extensive customisation as players can build their perfect car piece by piece. Driving around the world of Bricklandia, racers must complete with rivals and overcome the competition to win the coveted Sky Trophy.

In our 8/10 review, IGN said: “LEGO 2K Drive is a wild and whimsical all-ages kart racer with an incredible custom vehicle creation tool that’s just about worth the price of admission alone.”

Powerwash Simulator offers something very different, and is literally and figuratively all about releasing pressure. Players fire up a power washer and blast away every speck of dirt on various levels in surprisingly satisfying gameplay. It even has some wild and wacky collaborations with the likes of Final Fantasy, Back to the Future, and SpongeBob SquarePants.

This one earned a 7/10 from IGN. “Powerwash Simulator’s simple yet therapeutic style of gameplay provides an enjoyable way to chill out across its numerous generously sized levels,” we said.

Finally, Sable is a coming of age tale of discovery through exploration across a strikingly rendered open world desert, as players are encouraged to go on a deeply personal journey across an alien planet. We also gave this one a 7/10, saying: “Sable is a beautiful, minimalist voyage that’s hindered by bugs and bland puzzles.”

These three games will be available at no extra cost until January 1, while last month’s games — Aliens: Fireteam Elite, Mafia 2: Definitive Edition, and Dragon Ball: The Breakers — leave the service on December 4.

Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelance reporter. He’ll talk about The Witcher all day.

Sonic Superstars launched on October 17. Super Mario Bros. Wonder launched three days later, on October 20. Both 2D platformers went up against each other in an old-school video game rumble that rekindled memories of the Sega versus Nintendo playground battles of the 90s. Well, it seems this time around, there was a clear winner.

While Super Mario Bros. Wonder broke sales records, becoming the fastest-selling Mario game of all time with 4.3 million copies sold in just two weeks, Sonic Superstars sales failed to meet Sega’s expectations. Or, as Sega boss Haruki Satomi put it in a recent financial report, Sonic Superstars had a “slightly weaker start than we had anticipated”.

Why? In an investor-focused Q&A, Satomi admitted other games had a “significant” impact. Satomi didn’t name names, but it’s clear Super Mario Bros. Wonder played a part. Perhaps unsurprisingly, Nintendo Switch owners preferred Super Mario Bros. Wonder on their console, and on other platforms, Sonic Superstars failed to generate the interest Sega had hoped for. It’s worth noting that Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 launched on PlayStation 5 on 20 October, also just a few days after Sonic came out, and sold millions of copies. And there will have been plenty of people still busy playing through games that came out not long before Sonic, such as Assassin’s Creed Mirage, Cyberpunk 2077 DLC Phantom Liberty, Starfield, EA Sports FC 24, and Mortal Kombat 1.

Here’s the question Sega was asked: “What do you see as the reason for the lower-than-expected start of Sonic Superstars?”

And here’s the answer: “We believe that the impact of other companies’ major title released at the same time is significant, but we plan to expand the promotion towards the holiday season, especially in overseas market. Both the Metacritic score and user score are higher than Sonic Frontiers, and we would like to continue to sell firmly.”

Satomi fleshed the idea out a little bit in another statement. “I would like to explain a little about the initiatives of our mainstay IPs,” he said. “As for Sonic, we have released Sonic Superstars and Sonic Origins Plus. Sonic Superstars was released in October, which is a slightly weaker start than we had anticipated, but in reality, when Sonic IP sells the most is mainly November to December, and more than 90% of this title’s marketing cost will be spent in the Thanksgiving and holiday season from November onwards.

“Although in the financial results announced today, we are forecasting this title’s sales slightly weaker with the view of the status of start mentioned above, we plan to continue our marketing efforts to sell on the same level as Sonic Frontiers. Also, we are planning to release the third movie within the next year.”

The third Sonic movie may prove key to the video game’s success. Nintendo has said in recent financial reports that the blockbuster success of The Super Mario Bros. Movie boosted sales of all things Mario, including Super Mario Bros. Wonder. Perhaps excitement around Sonic the Hedgehog 3, due out December 2024, will have a similar knock-on effect.

Until then, Sega has work to do to convince fans to pick up Sonic Superstars. IGN’s Sonic Superstars review returned a 7/10. “Sonic Superstars has a mix of both interesting and ill-advised new ideas, making it an enjoyable Sonic game but not exactly a Super one,” we said.

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.

Beyond Good & Evil 20th Anniversary Edition has appeared again, this time on Microsoft’s Xbox store.

The unannounced game appeared on the Xbox store overnight with a raft of screenshots before Microsoft pulled the listing offline.

The internet noticed and splurged the details online, of course, including Wario64 on X/Twitter (below). According to the listing, the Anniversary Edition has 4K resolution and 60 frames per second performance, with “improved graphics, controls, and audio, along with brand-new autosave and cross-save features”. Apparently there’s a new speedrun mode, too, and updated achievements.

Here’s the official blurb:

Swoop into the marvelous world of Hillys as action-reporter Jade to investigate the mysterious DomZ alien attacks alongside colorful characters, like her adoptive uncle Pey’j or the valiant Double H.

Embark on this epic adventure in up to 4K, 60 fps with improved graphics, controls, and audio, along with brand-new autosave and cross-save features.

Enjoy exclusive new rewards as you explore the planet and discover more about Jade’s past in a new treasure hunt throughout Hillys.

Put your skills to the test thanks to the new speedrun mode and updated achievements, and learn more about the game’s development and secrets in the anniversary gallery!

Armed with her daï-jo and faithful camera, Jade’s adventure will get you to freely explore Hillys, combat creatures large and small, infiltrate dangerous areas, solve enigmatic puzzles, play addictive mini-games, race the best hovercraft pilots, and take pictures of the whole experience.

Be ready to dive into a trailblazing blend of action gameplay and thrilling emotional cutscenes!

This game leverages Smart Delivery allowing access to both the Xbox One title and the Xbox Series X and S title.

Ubisoft’s Beyond Good & Evil first launched on November 11, 2003, so we’ve skipped past the actual 20th anniversary. Still, it’s likely an announcement and launch is imminent. IGN has asked Ubisoft for comment.

In August, the Electronic Software Ratings Board (ESRB) rated Beyond Good & Evil: 20th Anniversary Edition for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and PC, so a release is expected across all platforms.

Beyond Good & Evil 2 was officially announced in 2017 and has been in the works in varying states of capacity ever since. It’s unclear when or if this game will see the light of day as updates from Ubisoft have been non-existent, and it’s reportedly still in pre-production even after more than six years of development.

In IGN’s 9/10 Beyond Good & Evil review, we said: “While it’s over a bit before you’d want it to be, Beyond Good & Evil tells its story with amazing pizzazz and polish. Even better, it’s a story well worth telling.”

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.

Capcom just brought its latest Dragon’s Dogma 2 Showcase to a close, but it still made sure to show off towering new enemies like Talos, a new vocation in the form of the Trickster, and more immersive RPG gameplay.

It was a short presentation that had its show stolen almost immediately when Capcom began to introduce fearsome foes like Talos, a giant statue capable of destroying its surrounding environment. It appears players can take Talos out by climbing around its body and striking weak points Shadow of the Colossus-style.

Talos is proof that Dragon’s Dogma 2 is bringing a gigantic scale to the series, but that’s not the only thing that’s new. While the world may appear similar to the original adventure, Producer Yoshiaki Hirabayashi says the sequel’s story takes place in “a parallel world.” As the Arisen, players will find themselves caught between the struggle of two kingdoms: Vermund and Battahl.

Meanwhile, Dragon’s Dogma 2 Director Hideaki Itsuno introduced us to one of the many quests we’ll encounter. This specific excursion follows the player character as they work with and befriend Elven siblings.

This section of the showcase was used to show off the Elven settlement known as the Sacred Arbor. Here, the Arisen might encounter NPCs that speak their own language that requires translation to understand. If the player has a Pawn nearby who understands Elvish, they will be able to automatically translate it.

“These Specializations that Pawns can acquire will make each of them more unique,” Itsuno said, “and hopefully more enjoyable to journey with.”

Dragon’s Dogma 2 release date revealed

Other new features highlighted in the Dragon’s Dogma 2 Showcase include first looks at a more robust character creator and the new Trickster Vocation. The latter allows players to fight with foggy illusions while providing buffs for Pawns. Itsuno says that this style of combat was made for those who prefer to do their fighting from the sidelines.

Finally, Capcom confirmed that Dragon’s Dogma 2 launches for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X | S on March 22, 2024. Of course, we already knew that thanks to a leak from earlier today.

Preorders open today, and there are a few options and goodies for buyers to choose from. In addition to the Standard Edition, players will have the option to pick up a Deluxe version of Dragon’s Dogma 2 that bundles the base game with 1500 Rift Crystals, the Dragon’s Dogma Music & Sound Collection, an Explorer’s Camping Kit, and six other useful items.

Those who preorder the standard edition will be granted access to the Superior Weapons set, which includes some shiny tools for the four starting Vocations. Preorders for the Deluxe Edition, meanwhile, come with the Standard bonuses as well as the Ring of Assurance.

For more on Dragon’s Dogma 2, be sure to check out our hands-on preview, where we came away saying, “If there’s one comfort that I can have as a fan of Dragon’s Dogma, it’s that Dragon’s Dogma 2 will offer up more of what I loved about that first game, and that many of those minor elements have been improved upon.”

Michael Cripe is a freelance contributor with IGN. He started writing in the industry in 2017 and is best known for his work at outlets such as The Pitch, The Escapist, OnlySP, and Gameranx.

Be sure to give him a follow on Twitter @MikeCripe.

Zombies can be fun to mow down, but they also run the risk of being one of the least interesting monster enemy types around: a slow, lumbering, decaying husk that’s better off buried than occupying our attention. If nothing else, The Walking Dead: Destinies, based off the otherwise fantastic early seasons of the TV show, succeeds in embodying all their worst qualities. In its ugly, shuffling attempts to stand tall even while looking like rotting husk of a game from the Xbox 360 days, Destinies deserves neither your attention nor access to your wallet – and we would be better off if this boring mess had stayed buried in the past, from which it seems to have exhumed its broken mechanics. While it earns a small amount of credit for at least attempting to play with plots that diverge from the TV show, little else is done to elevate it above the muck of banal design, awful character models, and the laughable sense that this is barely a rough draft of a game.

Longtime fans of the TV show are clearly the target audience here, since the characters poorly mimic the visual likenesses of their real performers. But aside from trying to strike a chord through recognisability, Destinies presumes you know the entire melody as you’re unceremoniously thrown into the shoes of Rick Grimes after he wakes up in the hospital alone.

It is here – right at the beginning of what became eight to nine painful hours – that everything falls apart.

The hospital is, naturally, filled with zombies and Rick must find his way out with some basic mechanics like pushing, sneaking, and healing that we’ve seen in essentially every third-person post-apocalyptic horror game ever, but worse. Zombies are, of course, mindless by design, but these are some of the most incompetent enemies you will encounter in any video game. Aside from there only being about three zombie models, they also get stuck in walls, glitch through the ceiling, collide with each other, and pose about as much threat as a wet sock on a carpet: annoying and unsightly, but otherwise forgettable.

Destinies is ugly as sin, with hideous character models, terrible lighting, and homely environments that themselves are re-used multiple times. I have been playing plenty of games out of my backlog from the Xbox 360 days on my Series X lately, and I can tell you this current-gen game looks worse than the nearly 20-year-old GTA IV.

The texture resolution reminds me of bad webcams we all endured during early COVID-19 Zoom calls. At the very least, the frame rate seemed consistent at 60fps on PS5, when it wasn’t crashing or failing to display its so-called cutscenes. I also hit several game-breaking bugs, one of which required a full restart. Also, during a boss fight, my character refused to interact with the enemy to initiate a cutscene. Not to mention sound and music would vanish for no reason, until I restarted.

Speaking of, the cutscenes themselves are consistent with those cheap-looking placeholder types we’ve seen in games like Redfall and Rise of Kong (which Destinies publisher GameMill was also behind). Characters are displayed in static poses while their voice actors deliver lines, giving you the opportunity to see their terrible designs in full glory. They are clearly meant to vaguely resemble their TV counterparts, but they look like what you’d get if you asked me to draw them from memory.

Strangely enough, the voice performances are actually not atrocious, but the actors didn’t have much to work with. For example, they all have one-liners when taking down enemies or fighting them off – “My blood’s boiling!” “Get off me!” and so on – all of which repeat endlessly. In the context of a dangerous world of constant terror, hearing weird action movie one-liners from both an ex-cop and a 70-year-old farmer was jarring.

Destinies doesn’t even retell the show’s story well. For example, early on when Rick’s son Carl is shot, it is never explained who shot him, and no one seems to know or care. At all. In fact, Otis, the culprit in the show, never even appears in Destinies. Instead, the survivors simply grab the boy and run off to the Greene farm story arc that infamously slowed the series’ pace down.

The only thing Destinies has going for it is being able to play with the titular dynamic: the fates of its characters. There are many occasions where you must make a binary decision that leads to the death or abandonment of a survivor. If you know the show, it is of course enjoyable to make the decision that runs against the established plot. Most notably, you can basically recast the main character, choosing who wins the fight between Rick and Shane after they spend some time on the farm, letting Shane can take over as husband and father to Rick’s family. That’s a pretty dramatic, fundamental change!

It’s clear the developers had some love for the show, given the work put in to portraying Shane as we’ve never seen him. His hair and beard grow out, he forms relationships with characters he never met, and so on. Another good example of an impactful decision involves changing who becomes the final boss’s right-hand man, flowing from a decision you make in the first few hours. But, unfortunately, this is only interesting conceptually, since it still fails miserably in execution, and naturally most decisions do little to affect the actual plot.

The survivors move through different camp areas in their grand road trip, such as the previously mentioned farm and later a prison. These become hub areas where you do three things: start the next main and side missions, resolve a meaningless conflict between two characters, and “talk” to other survivors. And by talk, I mean each person will say one arbitrary, generic line whenever you go back to the hub area, offering no reflection on the events happening around them. For example, Rick’s wife Lori will tell the man who blew her husband’s brains out about how she enjoys making pancakes for the family on Sundays.

Each main mission usually sees you playing as a different survivor. Often this makes little sense, since you’re generally by yourself or playing as the worst person for the task at hand. For example, a few hours into Destinies, Lori gives birth in the prison – but a few minutes later you’re playing as her to recover items from a nearby department store. There were many other survivors who did not just endure a birth in a zombie apocalypse who could have gone, but sure, let’s send the new mother. No explanation is given. Another time, a 70-year-old farmer is sent – alone – to recover an assault rifle and ammo in the basement of the prison. You’re never told why someone who actually handles weapons – like a younger, more agile police officer, for instance – could not have gone instead, or at least accompanied the old farmer.

Destinies attempts to shake up the scenarios in its main quests, but they all come down to either getting to a specific part of the map or collecting items. Very rarely will two characters be together, assisting one another – which was a central focus of the entire show and its spinoffs. There was an opportunity to have one character make decisions that a second character would have to endure the consequences of, but Destinies does nothing with this.

In fact, it’s just not very good at consequences in general. The central and titular dynamic of Destinies is watching your choices define the lives of these survivors, but it doesn’t function well enough to maintain the illusion. More than once, I saw characters I had killed – deliberately or inadvertently – appear during cutscenes. Rick’s son, who died from a gunshot in my playthrough, was running from the farm in a static cutscene; Rick himself, who I had Shane kill, appeared for a solid few seconds battling the horde in the final fight. This may be a universe where the dead return from the grave, but I don’t think Destinies is doing it right.

Each survivor has various unique skills that can be upgraded by acquiring skill points, either through completing tasks or… finding radios, for some reason? For example, the pizza delivery guy can upgrade his sneaking movement speed to avoid conflict with zombies, or Rick’s revolver can do more damage. The skill tree is a massive eyesore, and ultimately meaningless – in the first two hours, I had already maxed it out for everyone.

Best Zombie Games of All Time

Even fully upgraded, combat in Destinies is some of the worst you will experience, and feels as though it might’ve been lifted from shovelware of previous console generations. There is no kickback or feel to guns or melee weapons. Shooting is floaty and unresponsive, with terrible auto-lock that has you targeting enemies nowhere near you. Every character has the exact same set of moves, whether they are a fit hunter or a new mom. Characters can use a kind of super move when they’ve built enough “adrenaline”, which restores health and kills enemies instantly, but that also feels pointless when you’re fighting zombies that are so slow and die in two hits.

You do eventually begin to encounter tougher human enemies, but their armor and agility just means they are more irritating and take longer to kill. Oddly, they are also introduced out of nowhere and not spoken of at all. They first appear during Shane’s only flashback sequence to when he was trying to rescue Rick from the hospital – who are they? What do they want? Why are they attacking Shane? Sorry, you’ll never know if you haven’t watched the TV series. Shane himself never reacts to it.

There’s no shortage of great deals during this year’s Cyber Monday sales, and for a limited time you can pick up dozens of great Nintendo Switch games at a steep discount. Keep in mind, though, the part about being “limited,” as we’re already seeing some items, like at Walmart’s Cyber Monday sale, already starting to sell out, so act fast if there’s a game you’ve been waiting on!

Walmart Cyber Monday Nintendo Switch Game Deals

Walmart has added a handful of new games to its Cyber Monday sale, including deals on The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Pokemon Scarlet, Fire Emblem Engage, and more.

Nintendo Switch Cyber Monday Game Deals at Best Buy

Some Cyber Monday Best Buy deals are still in full effect, and include some steep discounts on Nintendo Switch games, accessories, and more.

Nintendo Switch Cyber Monday Game Deals at Amazon

Amazon’s Cyber Monday sale has some standout sales on Nintendo Switch games this year including the lowest price we’ve seen on Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope, and a nice discount on the recently released Sonic Superstars.

Nintendo Switch Cyber Monday Game Deals at GameStop

There are still some great deals for the GameStop Cyber Monday sale this year, including up to 50% off dozens of games, including some standout Nintendo Switch titles such as Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD, Bravely Default II, and more. Plus, if you order online and pickup in store, you’ll get an additional $5 off your order. This additional savings can be used multiple times, so if you’re planning to pick up multiple games, it’s a great idea to order each one separately to receive the discount.

Nintendo Switch Cyber Monday Digital Game Deals on the Nintendo eShop

If you prefer the convenience of digital games, there are dozens of great Cyber Monday eShop deals happening right now including sales on Nintendo first party games, Capcom games, Warner Bros. games, and more. You can take advantage of these sales through 12/3 at 11:59 PM PT.

Where to Buy Nintendo Switch Games on Cyber Monday

Just about every retailer has Cyber Monday deals on Nintendo Switch games this year, including sales on popular games like Super Mario Odyssey, Fire Emblem Engage, The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening, Octopath Traveler II, and many more, available both in store and online. Of course, you’ll find deals at all of the big box retailers like Best Buy, GameStop, Walmart, and Target, but there are also great deals to be had over at Amazon and on the Nintendo Store.

The Nintendo eShop is a great option if you prefer the convenience of digital games, as you don’t have to worry about swapping cartridges or potentially losing them. Not only can you find dozens of great games on sale this year during the Nintendo Cyber Monday eShop sale, but you can even double dip on these deals by purchasing Nintendo eShop gift cards from other retailers, which also happen to be on sale this year for Cyber Monday. It’s like a deal within a deal — dealception.

Be sure to check out our full roundup of Nintendo Switch Cyber Monday deals for savings on consoles, accessories, Nintendo Switch Online memberships, and more.

Matthew Adler is a Commerce, Features, Guides, News, Previews, and Reviews writer for IGN. You can follow him on the site formerly known as Twitter @MatthewAdler and watch him stream on Twitch.

While we love PS5 games, they can be a little on the expensive side at times. As games continue to push the boundaries of what is possible on a console, prices are starting to align with these advancements, leading to the introduction of $70 launch games. Thankfully, these prices don’t last forever if you have a bit of patience. So now PS5 Cyber Monday deals are here to help with a few top discounts – but this is also your last chance to save with most deals ending after today.

We’ve had our eye on the best Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals for a while, but now as this is your last chance to secure a discount, it’s time to stick down our metaphorical flag and declare: these deals are good. We’ve found Cyber Monday deals from a variety of retailers for the very best games like Final Fantasy 16, Star Wars Jedi Survivor, Diablo 4, and more. But, watch out, as the countdown to the end of the Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales is now on, and these deals will be gone by the end of the day on November 27.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Cyber Monday Deals

Yes, we gave Modern Warfare 3’s campaign a 4/10 (and its multiplayer a 6/10). No, that doesn’t mean this specific IGN writer (hi!) is going to tell you not to buy this game — you can make your own minds up. But, if you are interested, the latest Call of Duty entry is $27 off in the Cyber Monday sale, which is easily the highest discount it’s seen so far.

Final Fantasy 16 Cyber Monday Deals

You can pick up 2023’s entry into the Final Fantasy saga for just $34.99, that’s a fantastic 50% off right now. If you’ve yet to play this game, then you should move fast to snap it up. We gave it a 9/10 back in June when it first came out – stating: “Featuring fast, reflex-driven, action-heavy combat, Final Fantasy 16 is certainly a departure from what fans may expect out of a Final Fantasy game, but its excellent story, characters, and world-building are right up there with the best the series has to offer, and the innovative Active Time Lore feature should set a new standard for how lengthy, story-heavy games keep players invested in its world.”

Sonic Superstars Cyber Monday Deals

The latest game in the long line Sonic titles is Sonic Superstars, and while this latest entry isn’t getting the same attention as last years break from the formula Sonic Frontiers, it’s still one of the top selling games on Amazon right now during the Cyber Monday sales. We gave Sonic Superstars a 7/10 in our review – stating: “Sonic Superstars has a mix of both interesting and ill-advised new ideas, making it an enjoyable Sonic game but not exactly a Super one.”

Diablo 4 Cyber Monday Deals

One of the best games of the year, Diablo 4, is down to just $54 this Black Friday. It’s not a huge discount, but it’s still a significant one. If you haven’t had the chance to pay the incredible ARPG just yet, well this is the perfect opportunity. We gave the game a 9/10 in our review – stating: “Diablo 4 is a stunning sequel with near-perfect endgame and progression design that makes it absolutely excruciating to put down.”

Metal Gear Solid – Master Collection Vol. 1 Cyber Monday Deals

Cyber Monday Deal

Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol.1 (PS5)

See on Amazon

Here’s one where you get to go: ‘It should’ve been that price in the first place!’ — Well, we’ll let you have your fun. The Metal Gear Solid Master Collection Cyber Monday deal isn’t something to write home about, but it’s the best way to play the classic games on modern consoles right now, and it does come with a lot of content. So, at $39.99, you’re getting a reasonable deal here. It’s not getting any cheaper, either, so this is the best offer you’re going to get.

Star Wars Jedi Survivor Cyber Monday Deals

Walmart is currently the king of Black Friday discounts, as it also has Star Wars Jedi Survivor for just $34. If you haven’t had the chance to pick up Cal’s latest adventure, this is a great opportunity to do so. We gave the game a 9/10 in our review.

Mortal Kombat 1 Cyber Monday Deals

If you prefer your fighting games to feature significantly more blood and gore, then Mortal Kombat 1 is the one for you. It features fast-paced fighting, plus significantly more murder than you’ll find in the likes of Street Fighter 6. It didn’t come out long ago, but it’s already on sale for just $58. See our 8/10 review for all the reasons why it’s worth your time.

Street Fighter 6 Cyber Monday Deals

What can we say, Capcom has been releasing some absolute gems lately, and the Black Friday deals are good as well. Just like its Capcom brother RE4, Street Fighter 6 is down to $44 at Walmart. We gave the game an amazing 9/10 in our review – stating: “Street Fighter 6 is the most feature-rich a Street Fighter has ever been at launch, but even beyond that, it’s roster of 18 characters is excellent, the new mechanics revitalize the one-on-one fighting formula, and it absolutely nails all of the little things that make for a stellar fighting game.”

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

Xbox Cyber Monday deals are dwindling, and time and some of the best deals are running out. Our favorites at the moment include the Xbox Series S – Starter Bundle (including three months of Xbox Game Pass) for just $249 at Walmart. Additionally, the Xbox Series X is still on sale at Amazon for $449. But, that’s not all, so make sure you take some time to dig into the rest of the deals we’ve found for you just below. Rival console PlayStation’s Cyber Monday deals are pretty fantastic as well, so there’s never been a better time to be a gamer looking for a deal.

TL:DR – Best Xbox Cyber Monday Deals

Shortcuts

Cyber Monday: Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S Deals

The Xbox Series X is still $50 off its regular price, and this is likely your last chance to score a deal this year.

Cyber Monday Deal

Xbox Series S Starter Bundle

Includes 3 Months of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.

See on Walmart

There’s never been a better time to jump into current-gen gaming, and if you’re in the market for a new Xbox Series console, you can save a bundle on new console… bundles… at Walmart and other retailers! One of the very top offers is the Xbox Series S Black Friday deal which includes the console and even packs in three months of Game Pass Ultimate at no extra cost — which is an additional $50 in savings as well. This is our favorite deal in the sale for Xbox.

For those after an Xbox Series X Black Friday deal, you also won’t be disapointed. Walmart is coming up with the goods and has the Xbox Series X Diablo 4 bundle for just $439 right now. There’s also the Diablo 4 + Modern Warfare 3 bundle for $489 — another example of some serious savings to be had this Black Friday.

Cyber Monday: Xbox Game Deals

While the Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales have technically ended, there are still more incredible deals on games to pick up for Xbox consoles. Some of our favorites includes Assassin’s Creed Mirage for $39.96, Star Wars Jedi Survivor for $35, and Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1 for $39.99. Plus, there’s so many other great discounts to considering so don’t miss out and check out out all the best Xbox Cyber Monday deals we’ve found for you just here.

See More Xbox Video Game Deals Here

Best Xbox Game Pass Deals for Cyber Monday

We all heard about the Xbox Game Pass price hike that Microsoft implemented recently. A month of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate now costs $16.99, a hefty fee. But, if you weren’t aware, you can actually still circumvent this change by buying Game Pass codes from retailers like Amazon who haven’t yet increased their prices to reflect the change. Paying $44.99 isn’t a huge discount versus the $50.97 Microsoft charges, but it’s not nothing. Also, it’s very possible the price drops lower at some point during Black Friday.

Cyber Monday: Xbox Accessory Deals

Black Friday Deal

WD_BLACK C50 1TB Expansion Card SSD for Xbox Series X|S

See on Amazon

Games are huge these days, so if you’re running low on storage on your Xbox Series X or S, you’re far from alone. Xbox expansion cards are essentially NVME SSDs encased in a specialized Xbox-compatible shell. Unlike the more complex PS5 SSD installation process, which involves opening up the PS5 to access the SSD slot, the Seagate expansion card simply plugs into its dedicated port on the back of the Xbox. With this deal, you can add 1TB of storage that acts just like regular internal storage, for cheaper than normal.

Xbox Black Friday and Cyber Monday Timeline: Now Live

Starting November 17 – Mostly Ended

• Save up to 50% on digital games
• Save up to 65 % on select games from Xbox Game Studios
• Save up to 67% on select PC digital games

Starting November 18 – Mostly Ended

• Save on select Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S consoles
• Save on select Xbox Wireless Controllers

Starting November 23: – Still Available

• Get free engraving on the Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 created with Xbox Design Lab

Ending November 27:

• All deals are live until 11:59 PM PT

Where to Find Xbox Deals on Black Friday

When it comes to hunting for Xbox deals on Black Friday, you have a multitude of options. Retailers like Amazon, Best Buy, and similar stores are sure to offer enticing discounts on Xbox games and accessories. If you prefer digital titles, the Xbox Store will have its share of deals too. Look out for upcoming sales from Best Buy, Walmart, and Amazon to score the best deals. Here’s a guide on where to buy Xbox Series X and S consoles.

Xbox Black Friday Shopping Tips

Before you dive into the Black Friday shopping frenzy, keep these Black Friday shopping tips in mind:

1. Plan Your Spending: Set a budget and stick to it. Only buy games or accessories you genuinely intend to use.
2. Create a Wishlist: Make a list of the items you want to buy and stick to it to avoid impulsive purchases.
3. Compare Prices: Double-check deals at different retailers to ensure you’re getting the best price.
4. Act Swiftly: Exceptional deals may sell out quickly, so don’t hesitate to grab them.
5. Don’t Worry If You Miss Out: If you miss a deal, it might come back on Cyber Monday or during the next Prime Day.

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

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.

“We are excited to escort the Dynasty series on a dark and sinister path,” said Michał Ciastoń, CEO of Mehuman Games and Lead Designer on Vampire Dynasty. “We embrace the challenge to deliver a gaming experience that both veteran Dynasty players as well as fans of dark fantasy and horror games can equally enjoy. We have always been fans of both the occult and sinister as well as of sandbox games. We cannot wait to show you more of what we achieved by merging both of these worlds.”

Mehuman will use Unreal Engine 5 to bring the fictional Sangavia to life. You’ll play solo or in up to four-player co-op. The developer says, “As a surviving victim of a vampire attack, you will not only have to learn to utilize your newfound abilities but also find a place in a society where vampires are at the top of the food chain.”

Vampire Dynasty is expected to launch into Early Access in late 2024. Wishlist it if you’re interested.

Ryan McCaffrey is IGN’s executive editor of previews and host of both IGN’s weekly Xbox show, Podcast Unlocked, as well as our monthly(-ish) interview show, IGN Unfiltered. He’s a North Jersey guy, so it’s “Taylor ham,” not “pork roll.” Debate it with him on Twitter at @DMC_Ryan.