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Call of Duty: Black Ops 3's first DLC pack will be available for Xbox 360 players on May 5, Xbox Live director of programming Larry Hryb announced today.
The Awakening DLC pack—which has been playable on PlayStation 4 since February 2, and on Xbox One and PC since March 3—will introduce four new maps for Xbox 360 players. Additionally, a new episode of Black Ops III's zombie story will be released.
Awakening is the first in a set of four maps packs to be released. Call of Duty: Black Ops III's second DLC pack, Eclipse, debuted on PlayStation 4 on April 19. Xbox One and PC players are expected to get the DLC next month—and it may be a while before the expansion comes to Xbox 360.
It looks like Lego Dimensions is getting its very own Supergirl mini-figure.
According to BrickSet, the Supergirl instruction manual appeared on the official Lego website before being pulled moments later.
The Supergirl LEGO Dimension mini-fig.
After nearly 20 years and a plethora of genre-defining titles, Legendary British developer Lionhead closes its doors today for the last time.
Early last month, General Manager at Microsoft Studios Europe, Hanno Lemke, broke the news Lionhead would enter a consultation period to discuss the possibility of closure.
“After much consideration we have decided to cease development on Fable Legends, and are in discussions with employees about the proposed closure of Lionhead Studios in the UK,” said Lemke.
With the consultation period over and no potential buyers in sight, today, Friday, April 29, marks the last day in the history of the esteemed developer.
Bungie aims to fix a bug that's been affecting melee attacks in sci-fi shooter, Destiny, but you won't see results for around a couple of weeks yet.
"Ever thrown a punch – we’re only talking about Destiny here – that seemed to land (you heard it and you felt it) but it didn’t deal any damage?" asks community manager, DeeJ, on this week's Bungie update. "Yeah, us too."
Sandbox engineer Jon Cable explains what's happened, and how the developer intends to put it right.
"When a melee attack seems like it connects, but it doesn’t do any damage, this is usually a networking problem. Most commonly, it occurs when there is an issue communicating your position to the other machines in the game, or if your would-be victim is having a similar problem. I’ve tweaked some networking logic related to player positions during melee attacks which should help address these issues.
The Senate Environment and Communications References Committee report on the future of Australia’s video game development industry was released today and contains several recommendations designed to stimulate the sector.
One of the key proposals is the establishment of a successor to the Australian Interactive Games Fund (AIGF), which was axed by the Abbott Government after just 12 months, much to the bitter disappointment of the Australian games development community.
Last Chance for 20% Bravely Second: End Layer from Amazon
Today is the last day to get Bravely Second, the sequel to new JRPG classic Bravely Default, for 20% off, if you're an Amazon Prime member. If you're not, you can always start a free trial and then cancel it before you're billed.
The award-winning soundtrack to the critically-acclaimed Ori and the Blind Forest is getting a special vinyl release courtesy of LA-based creative company iam8bit.
The special double-LP 180-gram soundtrack will go on sale at iam8bit.com/store at 9AM PDT April 29 (5PM BST, 2AM Saturday April 30 AEST). It will available in two versions: a blue/purple edition and a limited glow-in-the-dark edition. The latter will be restricted to just 500 copies. As usual, a redeemable code for the digital soundtrack will also be included.
Composer Gareth Coker’s Ori and the Blind Forest score has picked up several awards following the game’s release, including a gong for “Outstanding Original Music” at the 2016 D.I.C.E. Awards. It was also the people’s pick for “Best Original Music” in IGN’s Best of 2015 Awards.
Welcome back to IGN's History of Awesome - a year-long look back at all the coolest and most influential games, movies, TV shows, comic books, toys, and tech that have shaped pop culture, and shaped the lives of an entire generation. Up this week is 2007, a huge year for gaming. Assassin's Creed, BioShock, Mass Effect, The Witcher, and Uncharted all made their series debuts in 2007 alone.
Catch up on IGN's History of Awesome:
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On this week's Xbox show, Gears of War 4 unleashes a pricey season pass and an even pricier collector's edition. We evaluate the pluses and minuses of both. We also lament the latest Mirror's Edge Catalyst delay, debate where Call of Duty is heading after its title has apparently leaked. Oh, and, uh...rugby.
Oh, and Unlocked now has its own snazzy new homepage! Bookmark this: go.ign.com/unlocked
Get a White Xbox One $50 Amazon Credit, Quantum Break, and Forza Horizon 2
You're paying the standard price for the white Xbox One Quantum Break bundle, but getting $50 in Amazon credit, and free download of Forza Horizon 2.
Borderlands: The Handsome Collection is Only $21.80 on Xbox One
Uncharted 4 Arrives in Two Weeks. Get Your Copy for $48.
The Uncharted series arrives at a Thief's End on May 10. That's just two weeks away, and if you want a 20% discount on your copy, you can pre-order with Amazon Prime. If you don't have Prime, you can simply start a free trial and cancel it after the game ships. You won't be charged for Prime and you'll get the discount. All versions of the game are eligible:
Next month’s Games with Gold have been revealed.
Here's the list, and when you'll be able to grab your free download:
In our reviews, we gave Defense Grid 2 an 8.0 - praising its smart additions to the addictive original's formula - and Costume Quest 2 a 7.8, saying its "combat and story are both surprisingly good for an RPG that concludes in roughly a half-dozen hours".
Eyes up, Guardian! Tomorrow we'll be jumping head first into Destiny's newly revamped competitive PVP mode, Iron Banner. This is your chance to get a first look at the newest weapons and armor and to join the discussion about Bungie's most significant content update since The Taken King.
You can catch the stream live at 1:00pm PT / 4:00pm ET on this very page at IGN.com, or on IGN's Twitch and YouTube channels. To participate in the discussion, tweet @IGN or @shotbyfinnegan with the hashtag #ignplayslive or jump into the chat on any of the platforms listed and leave your question or comment. We'll be scouring the internet for your responses as I play, so get to it!
With so many new games and movies coming out, it can be hard to keep up. Lucky for you, IGN is here to help with a weekly round-up of the biggest releases each and every week. Check out the latest releases for this week, and be sure to come back next Monday for a new update.
Note: The prices and deals compiled below are accurate at the time we published this story, but all are subject to change.
Massive Board Game Sale at Amazon
I love board games, and this sale is an opportunity for me to browse through dozens and recommend a few. You should do the same! If you see one you love going for a great price, please call it out in the comments. While some of the deepest discounts are on classics like Risk, I encourage you try Coup or Resistance, which are both fast moving, easy to learn games built around bluffing. There's also everything you need to get into the Star Wars X-Wing Miniatures game. Browse the whole sale here.
The Electronic Sports League has banned Team YP, a pro gaming team from Europe.
Team YP's main sponsor is adult website YouPorn, which breaches an ESL policy which prevents teams from being sponsored by organizations which are "widely known for pornographic … or other adult/mature themes and products."
According to VentureBeat, Team YP offered to re-brand several times, however the offers were turned down and YP are no longer allowed to participate at ESL events.
An ESL spokesperson gave the following statement to GamesBeat:
"Advertising pornography is not legal in the markets we operate in, and the vast majority of partners we’re working with have strict ‘no drugs, no alcohol, no pornography’ rules that we’ve contractually taken on board. These aren’t new rules but ones that have been in our rulebooks for a long time. We have spoken to Team YP manager earlier this year, and in that conversation we’ve explained the situation and rules in detail and offered to look for potential alternatives in a bigger group. At the same time, we’re consulting with our legal teams about this. We will inform the team and the management as soon as we have any updates."
PAX East 2016 has begun, and we've been collecting pictures of some of our favorite cosplayers. So far we've seen lots of Final Fantasy, Star Wars, and Fallout, all shown off in different shapes, skill levels and sizes. Check 'em out!
Click right for more images -
We'll be updating this article until PAX ends, so make sure you keep an eye on it for awesome updates.
Alanah Pearce is IGN's Toys and Culture Editor, but she's a cosplayer, too! You can find her cosplays on Facebook, or let her know about an awesome cosplay IGN should feature by contacting her on Twitter @Charalanahzard.
Tekken X Street Fighter isn't officially dead, but it's not coming out anytime soon.
Tekken series producer — and sometimes voice actor — Katsuhiro Harada revealed as much to GameSpot today.
In an interview with the site Harada said the game is "on hold for the moment." Though he didn't specify how long that might last. The producer cited the recent release of Street Fighter V and the upcoming release of Tekken 7 as factors in the decision.
500GB Xbox One With Free Second Controller
Use code FREECONTROLLER to get this Xbox One with a free second controller, plus you'll also get to pick one free game download and the choices are pretty great: Rare Replay, Gears of War Ultimate, Forza 6, or Rise of the Tomb Raider.
PS Plus is on sale again, so if your subscription could use another 12 months, grab it now.
Microsoft has released its latest quarterly earnings report, revealing that revenue from its gaming division has increased, but hardware sales have fallen.
The report states the following statistics:
Microsoft puts the significant increase in Xbox Live revenue down to a growth in subscribers and sales, along with those sales being worth more per transaction (presumably because of the gradual shift to online store purchases).
The Crystal Maze was arguably the greatest game show ever to feature small rooms, mental challenges, jumpsuits, and tinfoil money. Chris even had a chance to take part in a recreation of the show this week.
We also explain why Stickbold! is so great and so addictive, why The Jungle Book is fantastic, and why allowing people to text in the cinema is an outrageous idea. So watch the video up above or download the audio below or over on iTunes
IGN UK Podcast #328 - Why the Crystal Maze Was A-Mazing
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The second episode of Hitman releases next Tuesday, April 26, and we're back to livestream the game so you can check it out yourself.
IGN UK's best (or at least most enthusiastic) agents, Rory Powers and Gav Murphy will slip back into Agent 47's shoes to play through the second episode, where we'll take you through the fictional Italian coastal town of Sapienza. Expect those clear, blue waters to be crimson by the time we're through.
So bookmark this page and check back at 12PM BST / 4AM PST / 9PM AEST, on Tuesday April 26 to see the game in action.
Destiny's Iron Banner multiplayer event will return next week with a few new tweaks in store.
The temporary playlist will be Clash — a.k.a. Team Deathmatch — and will be open up on April 26 at 10 AM PDT. It will last until the following Monday, but only until 2 AM PDT. that same day.
Designer Jeremiah Pieschl outlined some changes in the Bungie announcement as well. Legendary Engrams will drop less, and the difference is being picked up by Iron Banner-specific gear. The drops can also occur at the end of every match, meaning you won't have to reach rank 2 before the new loot appears.
The studio also revealed that a bug was preventing some players lower than rank 5 from receiving rewards. That has apparently been resolved as of the Destiny April update.
HBO’s standalone streaming service, HBO Now, is now available on Xbox One and Xbox 360. The company also announced Game of Thrones’ season premiere will be free for all Xbox users the day after it premieres, from April 25-28.
For $15 USD per month, the service provides access to HBO’s entire library of television series and movies. This includes classics such as The Sopranos and The Wire, as well as current series like Game of Thrones, Silicon Valley, and Veep -- all of which were renewed earlier today.
If you're currently subscribed to HBO Now, simply download the app on your Xbox One or Xbox 360 and authenticate your account. New users can sign up for a one-month free trial at HBO’s website.
New Low Prices for Game of Thrones
The world returns to Westeros this Sunday, and if your keen to expand your kingdom in the Blu-ray realm, know that both season one and season two of Game of Thrones are currently $20 each. The early seasons of GoT are typically around $30, so this is a nice time to nab them, should you have the desire.
70 motorbike crews have come together to ask Rockstar for more bike-themed DLC in Grand Theft Auto Online.
According to VG247, a petition already has over 3,500 signatures, and a video has been made using the in-game editor to give Rockstar some ideas.
"We've waited two and a half years and our time has come!" Says the video's description. In the video there are complaints over how military, mercenary, urban, and mafia crews have access to new clothes, weapons, and vehicles.
StarFox is proving to be a bit divisive (we gave it a respectable 7.5), but personally, I loved it. If you're a fan of the N64 classic, and you dig fast-paced, twitchy gameplay and compulsively replaying levels to earn medals and best your previous score (and you love the idea of Muppet Star Wars, which is what this game feels like), I think this game is totally worth picking up. Plus, it also includes StarFox Guard, a unique spin on tower defense that I haven't tried yet, but plan to dive into this weekend.
DOWNLOAD UNLOCKED 242 (Audio version)
On this week's Xbox show, the Xbox 1.5 rumors won't go away – particularly in light of the hot-and-heavy PlayStation Neo rumors, so we discuss what a mid-cycle upgrade could look like for Microsoft. But should it even happen? Plus: Quantum Break's last boss frustrates us (no spoilers though!), Batman joins the remaster party that we don't want to be invited to, Red Dead might be returning, and more!
Oh, and Unlocked now has its own snazzy new homepage! Bookmark this: go.ign.com/unlocked
Welcome back to IGN's History of Awesome - a year-long look back at all the coolest and most influential games, movies, TV shows, comic books, toys, and tech that have shaped pop culture, and shaped the lives of an entire generation. Up this week is 2006, the year the PlayStation 3 and the Nintendo Wii launched.
Catch up on IGN's History of Awesome:
Head of Xbox Phil Spencer has announced Microsoft will no longer be making Xbox 360 consoles.
"Xbox 360 means a lot to everyone in Microsoft," wrote Spencer. "And while we’ve had an amazing run, the realities of manufacturing a product over a decade old are starting to creep up on us. Which is why we have made the decision to stop manufacturing new Xbox 360 consoles. We will continue to sell existing inventory of Xbox 360 consoles, with availability varying by country."
Spencer went on to mention existing Xbox 360 hardware will still be supported, you'll still be able to buy 360 games through the online store, and Xbox Live services will remain active. Xbox One owners will still be able to play Xbox 360 games through backwards compatibility.
The final chapter in Telltale Games' The Walking Dead: Michonne miniseries is scheduled to release on all platforms next week, April 26.
Titled "What We Deserve," the finale has titular character Michonne "feeling the weight of choices both recent and long ago."
According to Telltale, your choices "will determine who lives, who dies, and what redemption really means." Telltale also posted screenshots of the upcoming third chapter on its blog.
In addition to screenshots, Telltale also released a 'Your Choices' trailer for the previous episode. If you haven't yet played episode 2, but intend to, you probably won't want to watch the video, as it's filled with spoilers.
Pre-order StartFox Zero and Save $12
StarFox 64 is one of my all-time favorite games, and StarFox Zero is looking like its long (long) awaited sequel. If that's not enough to convince, don't forget about Amazon's Prime discount, which gets you 20% off pre-orders and a new games in its first week of release. If you don't have Prime, you can always start a free trial.
With so many new games and movies coming out, it can be hard to keep up. Lucky for you, IGN is here to help with a weekly round-up of the biggest releases each and every week. Check out the latest releases for this week, and be sure to come back next Monday for a new update.
Note: The prices and deals compiled below are accurate at the time we published this story, but all are subject to change.
Dark Souls III Day One Editions Are Back In Stock and 20% Off
Amazon has more Day One and Collector's Editions back in stock, and if you have Amazon Prime, you can get either at a 20% discount. If you don't have Prime, you can always sign up for a free trial then cancel it before you're billed.
And if you want DS III on PC, Green Man Gaming has it for $50.
YouTube channel Many A True Nerd has repurposed the story of Fallout: New Vegas as a full Choose Your Own Adventure game, played entirely through annotated videos.
As spotted by Kotaku, Obsidian's modern classic has been turned into a huge series of bitesize videos, taking you down the game's critical path with the sidequests used as sometimes fatal diversions.
All you need to do to play is turn on the first video, and make sure you have annotations on:
It's deftly done, paring down the game's near-limitless combinations of choices into a still-sprawling but more manageable story-based game.
Bungie may be up to its old tricks with a Destiny augmented reality game.
Users of Bungie.net have begun receiving cryptic messages from one Absense Vigil, another profile on the service. These include references both overt and subtle to Bungie's shooter.
Since the messages started, Destiny faithful have begun tearing apart the information and images for deeper connections to the game. They've also begun translating Absense Vigil's account information — which is written in Latin — and messaging the profile themselves in hopes of a response.
Much of the investigation is being shared on Reddit. There users are drawing further connections to the Rezyl Azzir profile which Kotaku reported on earlier this week.
Dark Souls III Day One Editions Are Back In Stock and 20% Off
Update: the Collector's Edition is back in stock too, and also eligible for the Prime discount.
Dark Souls III proved to be so popular Amazon was out of copies for a few days. It seems it just got a shipment though, because Day One copies are available again, and if you have Amazon Prime, you'll get it it a 20% discount. If you don't have Amazon Prime, you can start a free trial to get the discount and then cancel before you're billed - it won't kill you (leave that to Dark Souls).
We went into Miitomo with Nintendo-grade grins on our faces, but now we're wishing there was a little more to it. So where does Nintendo go next? We have all the questions and probably one or two answers.
Other than that, we've got a quiz about the weirdest games Joe's played recently, we can't make up our minds about whether zombie games are actually fun and Rory reveals his childhood past as an amateur spy. On his mum and cat.
IGN UK Podcast #327: Miitomo Got Tired Fast, but Only Because We Want More
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The NPD Group has released sales figures for March, and Tom Clancy's The Division was the top-selling game for the month.
Sony's PlayStation 4 was the top selling console for March 2016, with The Division unsurprisingly selling best on PS4.
Two Wii U exclusives debuted on the sales chart, with The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD and Pokken Tournament coming in at third and seventh, respectively. Both titles were also the only console-exclusives on the list.
Hardware sales overall were down a whopping 19 percent in dollar-sales for the month over the same period last year. However, The Division helped to drive software sales up 8% higher during the same period.
According to figures released by the NPD Group today, the PlayStation 4 was once again the best selling console in the United States for the month of March.
In a statement, Sony thanked its fans and partners for continuing the console's sales streak, as well as putting PS4 as "software sales leader for the month of March."
The NPD Group reports PS4 was the top platform for The Division, as well.
"We are truly humbled by the success and look forward to delivering more amazing gaming experiences," Sony said.
The best-selling console for February 2016 was also the PlayStation 4. The PS4 has held the top-sales title every month, with few exceptions, since Sony launched its latest console in 2013.
343 Industries is still rolling out content for Halo 5, so we decided to compile some of the coolest Halo toys and collectibles ever made.
Click right for images, and keep scrolling for full item descriptions:
Grab a Half-Price PC Copy of Fallout 4
If you still haven't emerge from your vault and journeyed into the wasteland, you can grab the tremendous Fallout 4 for only $30 on PC, today only. Console copies aren't part of this sale, but Xbox One and PS4 copies are both around $38. Fallout 4's price averages around $50, so all version are currently a pretty good deal.
Doom's open beta starts first thing tomorrow, so we're going to give you more incentive to fight the hell out of everyone.
We're giving away a Doom Thrustmaster Headset and a copy of the game for the main prize - you just need to show us your most brutal kills from the beta. Use those chainsaws and frags!
You can win one of the three prizes below:
First prize: DOOM Thrustmaster headset and copy of the game on a platform of choice
Second prize: DOOM Funko POP! Figurine and copy of the game on a platform of choice
Third prize: Framed art work and copy of the game on a platform of choice
Late last year, Microsoft began retrofitting select Xbox 360 games with backward compatibility on the Xbox One. We’ve hand-picked the 25 best backward compatible Xbox games you can buy and put together a ranked list for your consideration. Your selection committee is: Justin Davis (Executive Editor), Ryan McCaffrey (Executive Editor), Jared Petty (Senior Editor), Miranda Sanchez (Editor), and Mitch Dyer (Editor Emeritus).
Our criteria are as follows:
We’re looking for the best 25 games with a little extra weight for experiences that were especially exceptional on the Xbox 360. How much fun we had with the games is obviously our primary concern, but we also considered elements like staying power, influence, and innovation. This list consists only of games released for backward-compatibility on or before March 28, 2016, our story deadline. You can see a complete list of Xbox backward-compatible games here.
LEGO is expanding its Minecraft universe with LEGO Minecraft: The Village.
The 1,600 piece set includes a "variety of biomes," plus a watchtower, library, blacksmith, butcher, and marketplace. Many of the buildings fold open to revealed detailed interiors.
Based on the expansive sandbox, LEGO's The Village set can rebuilt to create unique, customized creations. Rainforest, snow, and desert biomes offer plenty of options for the four included minifigures—Steve, Alex, zombie, and zombie villager—to enjoy.
There's also a Creeper, enderman, pig, baby pig, iron golem, and two villagers.
Accessories include the Minecraft essentials, like an iron sword, pickaxe, crafting table, water bucket, emerald-ore-style elements, two pumpkin heads, and a chest. LEGO Minecraft: The Village will cost $200 USD when the set hits shelves on June 1.
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On this week's Xbox show, Gears of War 4 boss Rod Fergusson joins us for a 30-minute interview about the new game as well as taking over the franchise. Plus: our thoughts on Quantum Break so far, the ex-GTA developer's lawsuit against Rockstar, Titanfall 2, the rumored effort to save Fable Legends, and more!
Oh, and Unlocked now has its own snazzy new homepage! Bookmark this: go.ign.com/unlocked
For those familiar with the world of Grand Theft Auto Online, microtransactions might not seem like a big part of the experience. But according to documents accompanying a recent lawsuit against Rockstar parent company Take-Two Interactive, those little in-game purchases add up to $500 million in revenue.
According to a GameSpot report citing a statement in the lawsuit, the microtransactions are so lucrative because they have "nearly 100 percent profit margin."
The suit is being brought against Take-Two by former Rockstar North president Leslie Benzies, who claims the company tried to force him out of the company after he returned from sabbatical.
Now that you've had several months to unlock and master Black Ops 3's main weapons, we want to know which ones dominate your loadouts.
The candidates include all primary and secondary guns in regular multiplayer (sorry, Zombies!). Choose wisely:
Bonus:
Now that you've voted for the best weapons, share your favorite loadouts in the comments below!
Kallie Plagge is IGN's Community Manager and a host of IGN Anime Club. Follow her on Twitter @inkydojikko for cute things, FPS adventures, and Pokemon.
Namco game producer Kazutoki Kono wants to know which Ace Combat, Ridge Racer remakes fans want to see.
Kono asked his twitter followers for feedback on the Ace Combat series.
Kono posted two polls looking for feedback. In the first, he asked whether people wanted to see a remake of Ace Combat 2, Ace Combat: Electrosphere, Ace Combat 4: Shattered Skies, or Ace Combat 5: The Unsung War. Early responses show Ace Combat 5 in the lead with 39% of votes, while AC4 trails behind at 29%, AC3 at 25%, and AC2 in last place with 7%.
New data published by market research firm Nielsen suggests that console gamers are reaching for their mobile devices to play games more frequently than they have in the past.
Those gamers, however, aren't exactly spending money on those games. Nielsen found that mobile gaming occupies a third of gamers' weekly gaming time—11 percent on tablets, 22 percent on smartphones—but generates much, much less revenue in comparison. Mobile gaming brings in just 5 percent of gamers' "spend share," with console spending dominating the data.
Image via Gamasutra
According to a post on its official site, Star Wars Battlefront is getting a whole bunch of new content in the months to come. Most notably, two new characters are being added to the game—Lando Calrissian and bounty hunter Dengar.
The second digital expansion pack, Star Wars Battlefront Bespin, will release in June for all season pass holders. Four new maps will take players "in and around Cloud City." More blasters, new Star Cards, and a new game mode are also included.
Lando will join Star Wars Battlefront!
Slice 20% off the Price of Dark Souls III
Update: if you want Dark Souls III on PC, Green Man Gaming has it at a $10 discount. And if you're interested in the deluxe version, use code IGN20 to save 20%.
Get ready to hurt us plenty. Doom's open beta goes live this weekend, and we're going to be livestreaming it so you can play along with us.
IGN's Rory Powers and Joe Skrebels will be descending into Hell to take on other beta players. In the old-school spirit, we'll aim to frag as many people as possible but undoubtedly, will quickly be gibbed. Just like the good old days!
So bookmark this page and check back at 12PM BST / 4AM PT / 9PM AEST, on Friday 15th April to see the game in action.
You can find more details on Doom's open beta here.
Slice 20% off the Price of Dark Souls III
If you have Amazon Prime, you can snag Dark Souls III at a $12 discount. Unfortunately, PS4 copies are out of stock, so you'll have to wait to get your discounted copy (the Xbox One version is still available though). However, Best Buy still has PS4 copies, and if you have Gamer's Club Unlocked you'll get the same discount.
Microsoft's annual E3 press conference will take place this year on Monday, June 13 at 9:30am PT / 12:30pm ET / 5:30pm GMT, a Microsoft representative informs IGN.
Not a lot has been revealed about what Microsoft's E3 press conference has in store, but we're hoping for some release dates for projected holiday titles like Halo Wars 2, ReCore, and Crackdown 3, along with more details on a Crackdown 3 beta. Check out our list of games confirmed to appear at E3 2016 for more information.
E3 opens its doors this year on June 14 and runs through June 16 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. Other press conferences confirmed for E3 2016 include EA and Bethesda. Head to our E3 wiki page for more details on E3 2016 press conference times and how to watch them.
With so many new games and movies coming out, it can be hard to keep up. Lucky for you, IGN is here to help with a weekly round-up of the biggest releases each and every week. Check out the latest releases for this week, and be sure to come back next Monday for a new update.
Note: The prices and deals compiled below are accurate at the time we published this story, but all are subject to change.
Ratchet and Clank on PS4 Is Amazing. Get It for 20% Off, or With a $15 Gift Card
Whether you've never played Ratchet and Clank before, of your an old fan of the series, you'll love this PS4 remake. We just gave it a 9 out of 10, and if you have Amazon Prime, you can get it for just $32. If you don't have Prime and don't want to start a free trial, you can snag it from Dell with a $15 gift card.
Bungie and Sony have revealed the exclusive Destiny content coming to PlayStation 3 and 4 in the upcoming April update.
First up we have the Zen Meteor exotic sniper rifle. The Dynamite perk grants explosive rounds and the With a Laser Beam perk means the extra round from Dynamite will cause an even bigger explosion. You'll be able to get one by decrypting exotic or legendary Engrams, or via other sources of Year-Two Exotics.
You'll also be able to get a PS exclusive Sparrow: Velumbra, which is obtained by completing the mission Fight Fire with Fire, or through another exclusive quest, Essence of Darkness.
As for armor, there are new sets for each class, all obtained by decrypting sublime Engrams. Warlocks get Barkhan Dune I, Hunters get Long Tomorrow 9G, and Titans get Jovian Guard armor.
Halo and Destiny composer Marty O'Donnell shares incredible stories from his many years at Bungie during this epic two-hour interview, including a canceled game called 'Gypsum', how Halo 2 was originally supposed to end, meeting Paul McCartney, and much more!
If you'd rather listen than watch, here's an audio-only download link.
Here are a couple of clips, first about the canceled 'Gypsum' project:
And here's O'Donnell explaining Halo 2's original ending:
Catch up on every episode of IGN Unfiltered here.
Grab This Sound Bar and Speaker Set and Ditch Your TV's Crummy Speakers
The speakers in your TV? Sorry, but they're not good, and they're pointed at the wall behind your TV, not your face. The solution? External speakers, like this Vizio sound bar set with satellite speakers and subwoofer. I have this set, sans speakers, and I love it. I'm no longer turning the TV's volume up to hear dialogue, then frantically turning it back down when something explodes or music plays.
This set is typically $450, and previously the lowest price I've ever seen it go for was $30, but right now it's only $300. This is a perfect entry-level system to your TV room into a home theater.
SiriusXM and IGN are teaming up for a brand new eSports show, IGN Esports Today, appearing on SiriusXM Bleacher Report Radio channel every weekday from 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm Eastern, 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm Pacific.
Hosted by IGN’s Kevin Knocke, IGN Esports Today will provide live analysis and up to the minute news about the biggest competitions in League of Legends, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, Hearthstone, Street Fighter V, Call of Duty and more. Listeners can call in live to participate in the show, ask their favorite eSports players and personalities questions, and even ask our guest experts how to improve their competitive gaming skill.
IGN Esports Today will have the biggest names in the eSports industry and entertainment celebrities with a passion for eSports on every day for deep discussions about the biggest stories.
Nathan Drake's final adventure is just around the corner, but we've played some of it early. Alex gives us a rundown of why it's worth looking forward to even if you think you know the Uncharted formula pretty well by now.
And besides that, we've run down our greatest gaming achievements and try our hand at some aural magic. Yes, a podcast first is happening right here.
IGN UK Podcast #326: Uncharted 4 Is the Send-Off Drake Deserves
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On Tuesday April 12th at 10am you can join our Destiny experts as they traverse all of the new content coming to the world of the Destiny in the April update. First they'll begin by tackling the new Blighted Chalice strike where they'll take on the new Taken thread Malok and make their way through hordes of enemies until they find their target. Next they'll tackle the revamped Winters Run strike that has been invaded by a Taken version of the Archon priest that must be stopped. How has the classic strike changed? You'll have to watch to find out.
Rounding out the event they'll head into the Prison of Elders where the strongest level 42 foes now live and will be waiting to take on our group of guardians.
Today Only, This 49-inch LG HDTV Is At An All-Time Low Price
This 1080p, 120Hz TV is typically $700, and before today, $600 was the lowest price Amazon had ever sold it for. Today only, it's $500, and it has a 4 1/2 stat user review average. If you're looking for a TV around this size, definitely consider this deal.
Half Price Copies of Rainbow Six Siege
With the release of Dark Souls 3 soon upon us, we want to prepare you for a competition which will make your time with the game even more worthwhile.
We're giving two winners either a Dark Souls 3 skinned PS4 or Xbox One, with a themed controller, DS3 Season Pass, and a Funko Dark Souls POP Red Knight Figure. But you're really going to have to work for them.
What? You didn't think we were going to make an easy Dark Souls competition, did you?
To win, you'll need to claim 100% of the game's Achievements/Trophies. Not only this, you need to be the first one to do it. There will be two winners for this competition - if you get the Platinum Trophy first on your PlayStation 4, you'll win the themed PlayStation 4 bundle. If you claim all 1000 Gamerscore first on your Xbox, you'll win the Xbox One bundle.
DOWNLOAD UNLOCKED 240 (Audio version)
On this week's Xbox show, we discuss Gears of War 4's just-announced release date and what it means for the rest of the holiday 2016 Xbox lineup. Plus: Xbox 1.5, Mass Effect 4, Doom beta thoughts, Bethesda's public E3 presence, Final Fantasy XV demo reactions, and more!
Oh, and Unlocked now has its own snazzy new homepage! Bookmark this: go.ign.com/unlocked
DOWNLOAD UNLOCKED 240 (Audio version)
The Dark Souls III Collectors Edition Is Back in Stock, and 20% with Amazon Prime
Dark Souls III is out in one week, and we just gave it a 9.5. Now, Amazon has dredged up more PS4 Dark Souls III Collector's Editions, and one can be yours for 20% off with Amazon Prime. Discount will be shown as you check out (before you pay). If you want the Xbox One CE, Best Buy has it in stock, and you'll need Gamer's Club Unlocked for a discount there.
Mojang has added 27 new skins to various editions of Minecraft to celebrate the conclusion of Minecraft: Story Mode's first season.
They're all free for the first week on iOS, Xbox, PlayStation, PC, and Mac. However, it isn't possible to give them away free to PlayStation players in Japan or to Android users, so the smallest amount possible is being charged on those platforms.
The Minecraft: Story Mode skin pack.
Isaac Cabrera, or 'Tom Braider', is a cosplayer from Arizona who has a very unique take on Lara Croft.
Cabrera's design is a gender-bend version of Lara Croft's costume in 2013's 'Tomb Raider'. The costume took a few months to put together - Cabrera told IGN, "I couldn't decide how I wanted to embody the spirit of my favorite character of all time. I wanted to do her justice."
Cabrera's attention to detail is apparent in these awesome photos - click right to see more:
The photographers featured are Tyler Preece and Robert Meares, who can both be found on Facebook.
And finally, we've come to the end. 64 teams entered our Super Team Tournament 2016, but in the end, only one remained: The Z Fighters. The heroes of Dragon Ball Z took down Marvel's X-Men in the final round of our tournament, earning their rightful place as 2016's Super Team Tournament Champions.
Take a look at the full bracket below to see how the entire tournament played out.
Embrace the Dark Side. The Black Series Kylo Ren Figure Is On Sale
Update: The Captain Phasma figure has fallen to its lowest price.
Amazon just got a new delivery from Starkiller Base: It has Kylo Ren figures, as well as some flame and stormtroopers, available at proper prices. These Black Series figures are meant to be affordable enough for the average collector, but posable and detailed enough that they'll look great on your shelf. However, Star Wars being Star Wars, they're frequently sold out or marked up into the stratosphere. Currently, Kylo Ren is $15, the lowest price I've ever seen for him (you're lucky to find him at $18). Browse all the Black Series figures here (anything under $20 is a good buy).
At GDC 2016, I had a chance to sit down and talk with Steve Golson, one of the original designers of Ms. Pac-Man. Between his presentation and our subsequent interview and Let's Play, Steve shared a few wonderful and obscure facts about the creation of this arcade classic, including these seven things you may never have heard.
During the early days of arcades, operators were always looking for a new angle to separate patrons from their quarters. As players' skills at a particular game improved, that game became less profitable. Some owners turned to third-party speedup kits, special hardware modifications that changed popular arcade games, making them more challenging.
A group of MIT students operating arcade machines out of their dormitories decided there was money to be made in this new industry, and in 1981 they created a kit to modify the popular Atari game Missile Command. The students formed a new company called GCC, the General Computer Corporation, to market their enhancement kits. Their first product, Super Missile Attack, was extremely successful. Their follow-up was an ambitious enhancement hack of Pac-Man they called Crazy Otto.
The Great Sword of Artorias in the Dark Souls universe seems way too large and unwieldy to possibly ever work in reality. But that's where the show Man at Arms: Reforged comes in.
Bandai Namco sponsored an episode of the Awe Me YouTube series in which Baltimore Knight and Sword recreate the grotesque and gorgeous sword from the Dark Souls franchise. You can check out the Man at Arms: Reforged installment below.
Now this isn't the first time Man at Arms: Reforged has brought a famous video game weapon from the digital world to real life. Previously, for example, the team hammered out the Master Sword and Hylian Shield from The Legend of Zelda franchise.
Embrace the Dark Side. The Black Series Kylo Ren Figure Is On Sale
Amazon just got a new delivery from Starkiller Base: It has Kylo Ren figures, as well as some flame and stormtroopers, available at proper prices. These Black Series figures are meant to be affordable enough for the average collector, but posable and detailed enough that they'll look great on your shelf. However, Star Wars being Star Wars, they're frequently sold out or marked up into the stratosphere. Currently, Kylo Ren is $15, the lowest price I've ever seen for him (you're lucky to find him at $18). Browse all the Black Series figures here (anything under $20 is a good buy).
Last week, the Super Team Tournament 2016 featured four epic teams duking it out, and holy moly was it a battle. At the end of the day, the fan-favorite Z Fighters upset last year's winner, The Justice League. On the other side of the bracket, Marvel bested DC, as The X-Men bested The Green Lantern Corps.
And so we've come to the end: Z Fighters vs. The X-Men. Time to cast your vote!
Take a look at bracket as it stands today, and be sure to cast your votes for this round before 5:00 AM PT this Tuesday, April 5th:
With so many new games and movies coming out, it can be hard to keep up. Lucky for you, IGN is here to help with a weekly round-up of the biggest releases each and every week. Check out the latest releases for this week, and be sure to come back next Monday for a new update.
Note: The prices and deals compiled below are accurate at the time we published this story, but all are subject to change.
$10 off is as good a discount as I ever see these days, so even if you're PS Plus isn't running out, consider adding a year to your subscription while you can get it at this price.
I see years of Xbox Live go for $35 somewhat regularly, so if you have time you can hold out, but if your subscription is about to run out, you'd might as well save $20 on your next year of Live.
How do you solve a problem like Chris Tilly? In response to an listener email, Rory and Joe set out to suggest the best games to play with someone who doesn't play them anymore, and Chris was our sounding board. Will we get him to play our some of our favourite ever games? Probably not.
Aside from that, we've got an impromptu Batman quiz, a music album hidden inside a video game, and Hans Zimmer's greatest hits, including one we're pretty sure you'd never have guessed. Oh, and we rename the podcast "Baby Presidents" for reasons we never really get into. Sorry about that.
IGN UK Podcast #325: The Best Games to Play With Non-Gamers
American ratings board, the ESRB, has posted more details of an as yet unannounced BioShock compilation coming to PC, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.
The ERSB listing (via gematsu.com) describes BioShock: The Collection as "a collection of three first-person shooters in which players assume the role of characters uncovering the mysteries behind the dystopian societies of Rapture and Columbia" and makes references to the game's mature themes.