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Xbox recently took the wraps off Playground Games' Fable reboot at the Xbox Games Showcase, revealing a fun and whimsical take on the classic franchise. The trailer was well-received, but some observers criticized its lack of gameplay. Peter Molyneux, who helped design the original Fable and has more recently been dabbling in NFTs, agrees. "Like you, I would have loved to see more gameplay, but I loved when the hero threw the fireball. I loved the sensation of the impact. I thought it was truly promising. So yes, my expectations are high," Molyneux told GameReactor in a recent interview. He went on to praise the IT Crowd's Richard Ayoade as a "perfect choice" for the game, and that "making him be obsessed with vegetables was very Fable-like." The original Fable was an early hit for Xbox thanks in part to Molyneux's big promises of a constantly-evolving world; one where players could plant an acorn and watch it grown into a mighty oak tre...

Beware the Diablo 4 Treasure Goblin Which Cannot Attack but Is Killing Hardcore Characters Anyway

The Treasure Goblin is not meant to instill fear in the hearts and minds of Diablo 4 players. It is, after all, an enemy that spits out loot and cannot attack. And yet, players across Sanctuary have a newfound fear of the unassuming demon after it killed a raft of high-level Hardcore characters. Let’s start with Diablo 4 player Killthuzad. Icy-Veins reported this Hardcore character unexpectedly died to a Treasure Goblin while running a tier 37 Nightmare Dungeon. Stunned into silence, Killthuzad has no option but to return to the character creation screen. They eventually get up from their gaming chair and put their head in their hands. What happened here? Killthuzad had the Death Pulse affix enabled. This means "killing a monster releases a deadly lightning pulse after a short delay". Watch the clip carefully and you’ll see the Death Pulse emit from the dead Treasure Goblin, killing the character in one hit. Let’s not forget, in Diablo 4, when a Hardcore character dies...

Xbox Game Pass Not 'Value Destructive' Like PlayStation Claims Football Manager Boss Says

The studio head of Football Manager developer Sports Interactive has said PlayStation's claim that Xbox Game Pass is "value destructive" is not true. The United States' Federal Trade Commission spent the last week battling Microsoft in court over Xbox's acquisition of Activision Blizzard, during which PlayStation boss Jim Ryan said publishers do not like Game Pass . Sports Interactive head Miles Jacobson refuted this to Eurogamer , however, saying Game Pass has been a positive experience for Football Manager. "Different studios will have different data, because different games work well in different situations." "Every studio is going to have different opinions on this," Jacobson said. "Different studios will have different data, because different games work well in different situations. For us, it's nothing but positive on all three platforms. "The simple fact is Game Pass and Apple Arcade have brought new people to the f...

Baldurs Gate 3 Standard Playthrough Takes 75 to 100 Hours Larian Says

Wondering if you’ll be able to squeeze in a playthrough of Baldur’s Gate 3 before Starfield comes out? Be warned: one run takes on average 75 to 100 hours, developer Larian has said. Baldur’s Gate 3 is a sprawling open-ended role-playing game from the makers of the Divinity: Original Sin series. Larian announced it had brought the PC version release date forward a month , from August 31 to August 3, in order to avoid a clash with the likes of Bethesda’s upcoming behemoth Starfield in early September. The PlayStation 5 version, meanwhile, is delayed slightly to September 6, and the Xbox Series X and S versions are without a release window ( more on Baldur’s Gate 3’s Xbox hold-up here ). Speaking to IGN, Larian boss Swen Vincke said the developer is seeing a standard playthrough of Baldur’s Gate 3 take 75 to 100 hours. However, players who want to “do everything” should expect to double that figure. “Between 75 and 100 hours, that's what we're seeing,” Vincke said. “That...

IGN UK Podcast 703: The Best of 2023 So Far

We've officially made it halfway through 2023. Congrats to everybody. To celebrate, Cardy, Mat, and Wes are here to share their favourite games, films, and TV shows from the year so far. But that isn't all, they then look ahead to the rest of 2023 to what they're most excited for. Want to let us know which games you’re most excited for later this year, or just want to tell us the weirdest thing you've had as a pizza topping? Drop us an email: ign_ukfeedback@ign.com . IGN UK Podcast 703: The Best of 2023 So Far IGN UK Podcast 702: The Good and Bad of Final Fantasy 16 IGN UK Podcast 701: Starfield, RoboCop & Friar Tuck IGN UK Podcast 700: Geoff's Big Night IGN UK Podcast 699: Diablo 4: Chilli Heatwave IGN UK Podcast 698: Snake N' Wake source https://www.ign.com/articles/ign-uk-podcast-703-the-best-of-2023-so-far

Say Goodbye to the Iconic Gulf War Game Boy

Gulf War veterans have lost another comrade today, especially veterans who were gamers. The Nintendo Store in New York City has retired the iconic Game Boy that survived an explosion during the war. Tanooki Joe , the Twitter user behind the account @VideoGameArt&Tidbits , which delivers high-resolution video game and retro gaming memorabilia, took to the social media platform and said the externally damaged Game Boy was officially retired from Nintendo NY after its exhibit was absent for some time. They said that during a recent visit to the store, an employee confirmed it was because it had been returned to Nintendo of America's headquarters in Washington State. "The Gulf War Game Boy has officially been retired from @NintendoNYC," they said. "After not seeing it on display for a while, I asked one of the workers about it. He told me it was returned to Nintendo’s headquarters in Redmond, Washington." The Gulf War Game Boy has officially been retired f...

Xbox vs. FTC Trial: 7 Big Things Weve Learned So Far Unlocked 601

With the Microsoft vs. FTC trial concluding, with a verdict expected next week, we discuss and analyze seven big things we've learned so far, from the fate of Bethesda game exclusivity to the other publishers Microsoft considered buying and more! Plus: our own investigative report into the state of The Initiative and the Perfect Dark reboot. Subscribe on any of your favorite podcast feeds, to our YouTube channel , or grab an MP3 of this week's episode . For more awesome content, check out my recent interview with Todd Howard, who discussed the realization of his vision for Starfield after eight years, how Red Dead Redemption 2 was something of an inspiration, what his future holds, and more! For more next-gen coverage, make sure to check out our Xbox Series X review , our Xbox Series S review , and our PS5 review . 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) intervi...

Wild Card Football Announced as Arcade Madden Alternative With Colin Kaepernick on the Cover

Saber Interactive is working on a football-themed take on its popular NBA Playground series, with former NFL player and social activist Colin Kaepernick taking center stage on the game's cover. Like NBA Playgrounds, Wild Card Football will include hundreds of real-life football players, including T.J. Watt, Jalen Hurts, Amon-Ra St. Brown, and more. But while it features real NFL players, it's not an NFL game, meaning you won't be able to play as the Kansas City Chiefs or the Minnesota Vikings. Instead, you can create your own customized seven-on-seven team with players "reimagined Playgrounds-style." The gameplay is reminiscent of arcade classics like NFL Blitz, with special Wild Cards granting powers like super strength and invisibility. It will include season play, local multiplayer, and online multiplayer with full crossplay. 'It shifts the power dynamic' Kaepernick, though, is one of the game's surprise inclusions. While he appeared in recent...

Annapurna Interactive Is Developing a Blade Runner Game

During today's Annapurna Interactive showcase, the publisher announced that it's no longer just a publisher. It's developing its first in-house game, based on the Blade Runner franchise, entitled Blade Runner 2033: Labyrinth. Though we saw a brief teaser trailer today, we don't have too many specific details about what Blade Runner 2033 will entail. We know it takes place in (surprise!) 2033 in a dystopian LA after the Blackout, wedged firmly between the original Blade Runner and the sequel, Blade Runner 2049. We don't know any details about genre or gameplay, but it will supposedly have a strong focus on narrative. And development is being led by Chelsea Hash, who formerly worked on both Solar Ash and What Remains of Edith Finch. Speaking to Hash ahead of the news, she tells me that it was Annapurna that approched Alcon to get the rights for Blade Runner, saying that the team has a "deep love" for the franchise. "When I found out about the opp...

These Tears of the Kingdom Collectables Are Finally Back in Stock in the UK

Game of the Year contender The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is already being regarded as one of the best games of all time, and will surely be considered in that conversation for a long time to come. If you've been loving the game but missed out on securing the following collectable items in recent weeks, we've got some good news. Both the Tears of the Kingdom Switch Pro Controller, and the game's official Collector's Edition Guidebook are now back in stock in the UK for RRP. No need to keep a keen eye on eBay for these items. The Pro Controller can be picked up for £64.99 right with free next-day delivery if you're a Prime Member, and the Collector's Edition Guidebook is available for just £29.99 as well. The paperback edition is also available to order , but delivery is delayed as it's temporarily out of stock. Tears of the Kingdom's success this year isn't a secret as Nintendo announced the Breath of the Wild sequel sold 10 millio...

Final Fantasy 16 Ending Explained

Warning: full spoilers follow for the events of Final Fantasy 16. As you’d expect of a game in this series, the final hours of Final Fantasy 16 go to some wild places. This is a game that features massive monsters beating the heck out of each other, after all, and so naturally the finale had to go super size. If you’ve completed the game and want a detailed breakdown of what it all means, or don’t plan on playing it and want to skip straight to the end, then you’re in the right place. We’re about to reveal everything that happens in the last few hours of Final Fantasy 16, so prepare yourself for the biggest spoilers. Ultima’s Plan Long ago, the god Ultima and his kin created magic. It allowed them to flourish, but it also came at a price: the world-destroying Blight. The gods were powerless to stop it, and so sixteen survivors fled to a new world: Valisthea. But the Blight followed them to this new land, and so the gods realised there was only one option: to build a whole new wor...

Xbox FTC Trial Day 4: Bobby Kotick and Jim Ryan Agree on One Thing Neither of Them Like Game Pass

Another busy court day in the books, with the FTC v. Microsoft trial set to conclude tomorrow. It was a surprisingly quiet day compared to some of the previous ones, with Microsoft head Satya Nadella giving relatively mild testimony, Activision CEO Bobby Kotick calmly parrying his FTC inquisitors, and a lot more economist talk. We also got to see, briefly, Nadella and Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley bond over a mutual love for Candy Crush. Delightful. Exclusivity For Me, But Not For Thee Console exclusivity has been a part of how video game releases work effectively since video games came into existence. But to hear Xbox and friends tell it over the last few days, everyone in the industry just hates the idea. Figures like Microsoft head Satya Nadella and Activision CEO Bobby Kotick today made exclusivity seem less like a feature and more like a bug, ruining their ability to do business on certain platforms and reach larger markets of people. Nadella, for instance, mentioned that he...

How to Use a VPN to Connect to Diablo 4

Blizzard tech support has recently suggested players utilize a VPN if they're ever experiencing issues while connecting to Battle.net or Diablo 4 servers. This comes after Blizzard spent considerable time fighting a distributed denial of service (DDoS) attack that recently rendered Diablo 4 unplayable for hours . If you're interested in using a VPN with Diablo 4, then we're here to guide you through the relevant steps as well. Then, in the future, you could be well-prepared enough to tackle any server issues or potential DDoS attacks that may arise during your gaming sessions, ensuring uninterrupted gameplay as much as possible. Quick Navigation: How to Connect to Diablo 4 With a VPN Is Diablo 4 Down? - Current Server Status How To Fix Diablo 4 Connection Problems IGN's Top VPN Pick For Gaming Diablo 4 stands out from other action role-playing games (ARPGs) with its unique approach to server selection. Unlike some other ARPGs, Diablo 4 doesn't restrict pl...

AEW: Fight Forever Review

In the 1980s, 16-time world champion Ric Flair popularized the expression, “To be The Man, you gotta beat The Man.” In professional wrestling games, “The Man” has been the WWE 2K franchise, existing completely unchallenged for the better part of a decade. Newcomer AEW Fight Forever’s challenge does not change the balance of power, but its audacity to try by leaning into arcadey design ideas from yesteryear and embracing a pick-up-and-play philosophy should be praised. It’s the noticeable lack of genre-standard features, an underwhelming single-player campaign, and a smattering of mechanical bugaboos that take the legs out from under it. This fighter isn’t ready for the main event just yet. In the style department, Fight Forever comes out swinging with cartoony character models and energetic animations. Most of the 52 available competitors have well-rendered caricatures, with Kenny Omega and Jon Moxley’s among my favorites. Even the ones that seem off, like an air fryer-shaped Chris ...

PlayStation Plus Essential July Games Line-up Leaked

July’s PlayStation Plus Essential games line-up has leaked online by way of the regularly reliable Dealabs user billbil-kun. According to billbil-kun, July’s line-up includes Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War, Alan Wake Remastered, and Endling: Extinction Is Forever and will go live July 2. Call of Duty Black Ops Cold War is the 2020 first-person shooter developed primarily by Treyarch and Raven. IGN’s review returned a 7/10 , saying “Cold War's quiet times are more memorable than the loud ones, even if the story’s ambition outweighs its execution”. The timing of Call of Duty Black Ops Cold War’s inclusion in PlayStation Plus is interesting given the focus on Call of Duty’s exclusivity amid the FTC’s ongoing battle to block Microsoft from buying Activision Blizzard . Alan Wake Remastered is of course the latest version of Remedy’s much-loved thriller. In IGN’s 7/10 review, we called it “a fairly inessential upgrade for existing fans, but this moody mystery is still well wor...

Ghouls n Ghosts and 3 Other Sega Genesis Games Join Nintendo Switch Online

Nintendo has added four classic Sega Genesis games to the Nintendo Switch Online library including Ghouls ‘n Ghosts and The Revenge of Shinobi. Announced in a tweet (below), these games are joined by Crusader of Centy and Landstalker and are available now for anyone who owns Nintendo Switch Online and its Expansion Pack . Ghouls 'N Ghosts is Capcom's side scrolling sequel to Ghosts 'n Goblins, while The Revenge of Shinobi is a hack and slash action game from Sega itself. Four classic SEGA Genesis games have just been made available for #NintendoSwitchOnline + Expansion Pack members! ☑️ Ghouls ‘n Ghosts ☑️ Crusader of Centy ☑️ Landstalker ☑️ The Revenge of Shinobi pic.twitter.com/Kwr1pybnNY — Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) June 28, 2023 Crusader of Centy is an action adventure game from Nextech and, sticking to the theme, Landstalker is another action adventure game, this time from Climax Entertainment. Subscribing to Nintendo Switch Online and its Exp...

Fresh Red Dead Redemption Rating Sparks Remaster Rumours