Yoshi’s Crafted World: Late-Game ‘Be Afraid of the Dark’ Stage Revealed

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Our IGN First coverage of Yoshi’s Crafted World continues with another new stage reveal from Nintendo’s upcoming platformer. Here, join us as we make our way through ‘Be Afraid of the Dark’ and its relentless new enemy. And then we play the “flip side” of the stage, trying to speedrun through it while finding all three Poochy puppies!

IGN First is our monthly, purely editorially driven initiative where we take a deeper dive into the games we’re most excited about. We’ll have more stages to reveal and costumes to show off in Yoshi’s Crafted World both next week and all month long, leading up to our review and its release later this month. And if you enjoy the video above, feel free to also check out our first new stage reveal from last week, which showcased the ‘Weighing Acorns’ stage.

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source http://www.ign.com/articles/2019/03/13/yoshis-crafted-world-late-game-be-afraid-of-the-dark-stage-revealed-a-ign-first

Hyper Light Drifter Devs Reveal New Game

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Heart Machine, the developer beyond Hyper Light Drifter, has announced its follow-up game, Solar Ash Kingdom.

IGN can exclusively announce Solar Ash Kingdom, published by Annapurna Interactive, alongside the debut trailer, which you can watch below.

Few other details of Solar Ash Kingdom have been announced, but, as the end of the trailer suggests, the Hyper Light Drifter follow-up will be coming to the Epic Games Store on PC.

Heart Machine’s Alx Preston said the studio is aiming to set Solar Ash Kingdom apart from its predecessor thanks to “a whole new set of incredible tech and key innovations.”

And while Heart Machine has been silent on this follow-up until now, the studio does not intend to stay that way.

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source http://www.ign.com/articles/2019/03/13/solar-ash-kingdom-hyper-light-drifter-devs-reveal-new-game

Why Did a First-Time Game Developer Turn Down 12 Publishers?

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Wlad Marhulets seems to be one of those people who’s just good at everything. He’s traditionally made his living as a composer, writing everything from clarinet concertos to the score for an upcoming VR film about Eminem (I don’t know either). You’d think he’d be happy with the several awards he’s won for that work but, in 2015, he decided to try something new in his spare time, a little creative hobby project. “I downloaded Unity and learned a little bit of coding and 3D modeling”, he tells me over email. “A month later I had a little demo – it was 2-3 minutes of gameplay maybe, it was barely playable.”

What he’d created was the first version of Darq, a horror-soaked puzzle-platformer about a boy who becomes aware that he’s inside his own nightmare, and uses the fluidity of lucid dreaming to get out. After a friend urged him to create a trailer and upload it to the now-defunct Steam Greenlight, it became one of the top 10 most upvoted games on the service (of almost 2,000) within two weeks. Articles were written, social media discussion was had, and Marhulets made the fairly radical decision to turn Darq into his full-time job.

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source http://www.ign.com/articles/2019/03/13/darq-why-did-a-first-time-game-developer-turn-down-12-publishers

Correction: Fortnite Cross-Platform Play Pools Reorganized

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Editor’s note and update: An earlier version of this story inaccurately and falsely explained the latest changes to Fortnite’s cross-platform play feature. The article previously and incorrectly stating cross-play had been restricted on the Nintendo Switch to only be functional with mobile players, which is not in fact the case — the starting pools of cross-platform players is what has been adjusted.

IGN regrets this error and apologizes to our readers for this incorrect information. An updated story follows.

Epic Games revealed in their V8.10 patch notes that the starting pools for Fortnite players engaging in cross-platform play has been adjusted.

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source http://www.ign.com/articles/2019/03/13/fortnite-cross-play-on-switch-no-longer-supported

Xbox One/PS4 Versions Of Monster Hunter-Like Dauntless Has Been Delayed

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Phoenix Labs has announced the console release for Dauntless has been delayed. The developer also released further details for what’s included in the Hunt Pass Season 3–which went live today–for the PC version of this free-to-play action RPG.

Currently only available on PC via Steam, Dauntless was originally being ported to Xbox One and PS4 for release in April 2019, with a versions for Switch and mobile later in the year. The Xbox One and PS4 versions have now been delayed to Summer 2019, with Phoenix Labs stating it is using the “additional time to polish gameplay, stress-test for scale, and complete additional features.” The PC version of Dauntless is also scheduled to migrate from Steam over to the Epic Games Store, a move which has also been delayed to coincide with the release of the game on Xbox One and PS4.

Currently in open beta on PC, Dauntless will officially launch when it releases on Epic Games Store, Xbox One, and PS4. All of your progress from the beta will carry over, regardless of which system you choose. As Phoenix Labs plans on having all Dauntless players’ saved date be tied to an Epic account, the game will support cross-platform play and progression across all systems. Cross-platform support will extend to the Switch and mobile versions of the game as well when they eventually launch.

The third season of Dauntless Hunt Pass, titled Overgrowth, is now live. Listening to the community, Phoenix Labs has decreased the number of Title rewards you can unlock while increasing the number of Transmog rewards. You’ll earn 500 platinum for completing all levels of the pass, with an additional Elite track costing 1,000 platinum. The new season also brings several aesthetic changes to Dauntless. The snow has completely melted and spring has begun, with moss and vines covering buildings and giant green leaves hanging from the trees and other tall vegetation. Season 3 adds a new weather effect too–rain–as well as new items to find and plenty of collectibles to unlock. Overgrowth will continue until April 16. Complete details about the new season can be found on Dauntless’ website.

Similar to Monster Hunter, Dauntless takes place in a fantasy setting where you hunt down massive creatures in order to collect loot and craft new weapons and gear. Hunts can be lengthy affairs, taking anywhere from a few minutes to nearly half an hour. Like Monster Hunter World, Dauntless can be tackled completely solo or in a team of up to four people.

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/xbox-oneps4-versions-of-monster-hunter-like-dauntl/1100-6465555/

Dead Cells Update “Rise Of The Giants” Release Date Announced

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Dead Cells has been receiving a steady stream of updates, adding features like custom runs and overhauling major systems based on player feedback. Developer Motion Twin has now announced its first big free expansion, Rise of the Giants, will arrive on PC on March 28. Console release dates haven’t been announced.

The major addition is an entirely new area to explore. To access the new area, you’ll have to have bested the tough-as-nails action game at least once. That will grant you access to the Cavern, a new area with new traps and enemies, lava pools, and a new boss.

The DLC adds a lot more besides the new area, though. It will include a new skinning system with 50 outfits, giving you more loot to collect from blueprints dropped by enemies and bosses. It also adds three new skills, including a flying pet and a scroll that reveals a current map. It also brings 10 more weapons, like the Giant Killer, Boi Axe, and Thunder Shield. The Prisoner’s Quarters will include a new Specialist Shop where you can buy Hunter’s Grenades, along with skins and a new map. Finally, it will add a hidden level, with a completely new ending for those who can defeat the hidden boss.

Though the update hasn’t hit yet, Motion Twin has already released the patch notes so you can read and prepare yourself. Dead Cells was named one of our best games of 2018.

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/dead-cells-update-rise-of-the-giants-release-date-/1100-6465554/

New Black Ops 4 St. Patrick’s Day Update Is Now Live On PS4

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Activision has announced a two week-long St. Patrick’s Day-themed celebration for Call of Duty: Black Ops 4. The event is already live for PS4 and will continue until March 26. Activision hasn’t yet announced dates for Xbox One or PC, other than to say–in a blog post–that information would be coming soon.

The new event, called Shamrock & Awe–which returns from Call of Duty: WWII–adds new content to Blackout, Zombies, and Multiplayer mode in Black Ops 4, as well as St. Patrick’s Day-themed goodies in the Black Market. Also, simply logging into Black Ops 4 during the event will unlock the “Precious” gesture and a new animated calling card for free.

In Blackout, the battle royale has undergone a few green-colored updates. All smoke–whether from grenades or supply drops–is now colored green, as are the eyes of the zombies scattered throughout the map. The foliage on the map has entered spring, with flowers blooming and brown leaves becoming green again. Hidden caches of bronze pots have been hidden throughout Blackout’s map as well. And if you’re looking for something to hunt other than enemy players and zombies, following the noisy jingle of dancing Leprechauns will allow you to track the little imps down. Finding and destroying them before your enemies do will reward you with “a wide variety of goodies.”

Shamrock & Awe makes less severe changes in Zombies and Multiplayer. For the former, you can now find and use the Homunculus transformation, and certain zombies now have a “distinctly different hue around their sunken eyeballs.” Defeating these zombies offers a mysterious reward. In Multiplayer, Fracture has returned with a new name, Stockpile, and enemies now drop shamrocks–as opposed to dog tags–that need to be collected in order to win.

If you’re looking for even more St. Patrick’s Day goodies, you can head to the Black Market and buy the Shamrock Bundle. The limited-time bundle includes ten item crates, the “Glorious Day” gesture, St. Patrick’s Day-themed warpaint, and the “Luck of the Irish” jump pack–which gives you a new wingsuit to use.

Black Ops 4 is available for Xbox One, PS4, and PC. As stated before, Shamrock & Awe is currently only live on PS4, but the celebration is coming to other systems eventually.

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/new-black-ops-4-st-patricks-day-update-is-now-live/1100-6465552/

Pokemon Go’s First Legendary Lunch Hour Event Is Today

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Niantic is holding a new type of event in Pokemon Go today. The inaugural Legendary Lunch Hour kicks off at 12 PM local time and runs for one hour, during which time there will be an increased number of Raid Battles occurring in the game.

Niantic calls the Legendary Lunch Hour event an “experiment” to give more players a chance to participate in the game during work or school hours. The developer is inviting feedback from fans to further fine tune the event and make it one that players “can enjoy every week.”

The Legendary Lunch Hour isn’t the only event happening in Pokemon Go this week. Beginning March 15, the Legendary Pokemon Rayquaza will return for a special Raid Weekend, giving players their first chance to capture it in nearly a year. The Raid Weekend kicks off at 1 PM PT / 4 PM ET and runs until the same time on Monday, March 18.

The following week, Niantic will hold this month’s Pokemon Go Community Day. The event takes place on Saturday, March 23, and features increased spawns of Treecko, one of the three starter Pokemon from Ruby and Sapphire. Players will also be able to hatch Eggs at a quarter of their usual distance during the event.

Earlier this month, a new Legendary–Dialga–made its debut in Pokemon Go. The Temporal Pokemon will appear in Raid Battles until March 28. Niantic also recently introduced the long-awaited Smeargle to the game alongside Pokemon Go’s new AR photo mode.

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/pokemon-gos-first-legendary-lunch-hour-event-is-to/1100-6465551/

One Piece World Seeker Review

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I love One Piece. I love its world, its characters, and its sense of humor, all of which are wonderfully realized in One Piece World Seeker. As an original and interactive One Piece adventure, World Seeker actually delivers a respectable story with interesting new characters, written by Eiichiro Oda himself. Of course, in order to get to that story you have to first play One Piece World Seeker, which is about 20 hours of boring, repetitive, and at times downright infuriating open*world gameplay.

World Seeker drops you into the red vest, blue shorts, and flipflops of Monkey D. Luffy as he and the rest of the Straw Hat Pirates arrive on Prison Island in search of treasure. As it turns out, the treasure was a lie, and the crew now find themselves split up and stranded on the island as a nefarious plot starts to unfold in the shadows, with the island’s warden, Isaac, at the center.

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source http://www.ign.com/articles/2019/03/13/one-piece-world-seeker-review

The Division 2 Release Date & Server Launch Times

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Much like BioWare’s Anthem, Ubisoft’s new loot-focused shooter, The Division 2, will release at different times depending on which version of the game you pre-order. Although its release date is officially set for March 15, you can actually play several days earlier, and if you go through Uplay, you can get access to the game at different times too. Provided you meet the requirements, you may have had access for several days now, as the game is live around the world for many. Read on for the full breakdown of unlock times.

If you pre-order the standard version of The Division 2, the game will be available worldwide for Xbox One and PS4 on Friday, March 15 at 12 AM local time–therefore Australia and New Zealand get access first and North and South America are last. With Uplay on PC, The Division 2 will be playable on Thursday, March 14 at 10 PM PT, which is March 15 at 1 AM ET. The Uplay playable time is 11 PM in the UK on March 14 and 12 AM in Australia on March 15. So only in certain regions does Uplay give you early access. A breakdown of the times is listed below.

The Division 2 Standard Edition Start Times

  • Xbox One and PS4
    • March 15 at 12 AM local time
  • Uplay/PC
    • March 14 at 10 PM PT
    • March 15 at 1 AM ET
    • March 14 at 11 PM UK
    • March 14 at 12 AM AU

No Caption Provided

If you pre-order the Gold or Ultimate Edition of The Division 2, you can already begin playing. Worldwide, these two editions launched Tuesday, March 12 at 12 AM local time when you pre-order the Xbox One or PS4 versions, which once again gives certain countries earlier access than others. Through Uplay, The Division 2 Gold and Ultimate Editions are playable March 11 at 10 PM PT, March 12 at 1 AM ET, March 11 at 11 PM in the UK, and March 12 at 12 AM in Australia. A breakdown of the times is listed below.

The Division 2 Gold And Ultimate Edition Start Times

  • Xbox One and PS4
    • March 12 at 12 AM local time
  • Uplay/PC
    • March 11 at 10 PM PT
    • March 12 at 1 AM ET
    • March 11 at 11 PM UK
    • March 12 at 12 AM AU

No Caption Provided

Despite the game releasing in certain countries much earlier than others, the servers for The Division 2 didn’t go live until March 12 at 12 AM local time. So even though the game launches in certain countries on March 11–like the Gold and Ultimate Editions in the UK–you weren’t able to play it until midnight that night. If you want a specific time for your region, you can find all the listed times on The Division 2’s website.

The Division 2 is available for Xbox One, PS4, and PC. Originally planned for Steam, the PC version of the game will now be launching through the Epic Games Store.

While we don’t yet have a full review, you can read our Division 2 early review impressions based on an early portion of what’s shaping up to be a very large game. In it, Edmond Tran writes, “‘Encouraging’ is generally how I feel about The Division 2 at this point in time. It’s got a fantastic sense of place and progression, and the combat scenarios and skills continue to be interesting. There’s a lot of love, especially among the minor improvements–the small design decisions that make the act of finding and equipping loot so snappy and convenient, or the smart integration of per-mission multiplayer matchmaking that even lets you call upon other players in the middle of a mission. I haven’t personally hit any server issues or major bugs, just some humorous oddities, like a floating iPad entertaining two excited children.”

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/the-division-2-release-date-and-server-launch-time/1100-6465452/