Skyrim has already received countless editions and upgrades, but this new PC mod will seemingly future proof the game for a good few years. A 16K texture mod uploaded by Nexus Mods user xilamonstrr ensures that players can see every scale and scar on the game's dragons.

While this might seem excessive, the page offers a somewhat reasonable explanation as to why 16k might be a useful addition in a time when most games are still sticking with 1440p. Basically, the dragons in Skyrim are way bigger than any other enemy in the game, meaning their skins are stretched out much more than a normal enemy.

"I would recommend that you think of this as two 8K files next to each other", xilamonstrr said in the post. "With 16K, a dragon wing is 7380 x 4020 pixels, a head is 3320 x 2480 pixels, and the entire rear body and legs is only 6080 x 4580 pixels. If you are fighting a dragon up close and want to see it in 4K resolution, then you need the dragon to be in 16K."

The post also features a handful of screenshots (above) from the updated dragons that do look pretty good, so players with high end PCs may want to consider adding this mod to their collection if they're still roaming around Skyrim more than a decade after it was released.

There isn't an alternative, of course, as the Elder Scrolls VI is likely still years away. Director Todd Howard revealed last year that Bethesda's new space RPG Starfield had taken priority over the Skyrim sequel and this was recently delayed until next year as well.

Image Credit: xilamonstrr on Nexus Mods

Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelancer who occasionally remembers to tweet @thelastdinsdale. He'll talk about The Witcher all day.

OpenAI, the artificial intelligence research organization founded by Elon Musk, has trained an AI to play Minecraft almost as well as humans. It only took about 70,000 hours of binging YouTube videos.

A blog post detailing the feat reveals that researchers used a technique called "Video PreTraining (VPT)" to train a neural network on how to play Minecraft. This involved gathering 2,000 hours of sample dataset from actual humans playing Minecraft to include not just the raw video, but also exact keypresses and mouse movements.

From there, the researchers trained an inverse dynamics model (IDM) to predict the future action being taken at each step in the videos. Finally, the "trained" IDM was shown 70,000 hours of Minecraft YouTube videos. Afterwards, the model was able to copy the behaviors from the videos including chopping down trees to collect logs and turning the logs into an actual crafting table.

That's not all the AI model was capable of doing. It could also perform other complex activities such as swimming, hunting, and eating. The AI could even do "pillar jumping" which involves keeping yourself in the air by repeatedly jumping and placing a block underneath yourself.

The researchers were able to create a "foundation model" based on the data given to the AI and from there fine-tune behaviors or learn new one. The AI was noted to be able to perform early game skills such as building wooden and stone tools, raiding chests, and even build shelters.

The more hours of data that are fed into the foundation model, the more able the AI was. The researchers even used "reinforcement learning" to "reward" the AI for performing especially hard challenges. The reward system was used so effectively, the model was able to successfully craft a diamond pickaxe, a task that requires a long sequence of tasks.

This is a fascinating application of machine learning and shows how gaming can be used to train computers. Perhaps the AI model used may even be incorporated into games themselves to provide a more natural challenge akin to playing against human opponents.

The AI could also improve upon the annoying boss battles in the new Outriders Worldslayer campaign. In many ways, the new expansion for Outriders is just what fans want, but also keeps some of the less well-received aspects of the original game.

David Matthews is a freelance writer specializing in consumer tech and gaming. He also strongly believes that sugar does not go in grits. Follow him on Twitter @packetstealer

Bernie Stolar, the former president of Sega of America and one of the founding members of Sony Computer Entertainment America, has died at the age of 75.

As reported by VentureBeat, Stolar's death was confirmed by his friends, including Jay Randy Gordon.

"I will miss you Bernie – I always appreciated you for pulling me into AdscapeMedia,” Gordon said. “I will toast you in the clubhouse the next time I golf remembering some of your New York expressions like, ‘F’em if they can’t take a joke.'”

At SCEA, Stolar was the first executive vice president and was responsible for helping secure the launch lineup for the original PlayStation. Among others, Stolar helped sign such franchises as Crash Bandicoot, Ridge Racer, Oddworld Inhabitants, Spyro the Dragon, and Battle Arena Toshinden.

While it seemed like he was a big player at Sony, he would exit the job and choose to move over to Sega as there was always a constant fear that he would get fired.

"I loved working for Sony,” Stolar told VentureBeat in 2015. “I really did. But when the opportunity came up to go to Sega and help rebuild the business and come up with new hardware, I was very interested in doing it. I wouldn’t have left Sony if I hadn’t also lived in fear of getting fired along with everyone else, though.”

The move occurred in 1994 after he felt that he was the "last man standing" and he got an offer to become the new president of Sega of America. It didn't take him very long to make an impact at Sega, and one of his first moves was to shift the company's focus away from the Saturn.

"When I got to Sega I immediately said, ‘We have to kill Saturn. We have to stop Saturn and start building the new technology.’ That’s what I did. I brought in a new team of people and cleaned house. There were 300-some-odd employees and I took the company down to 90 employees to start rebuilding,” Stolar said.

He was also one of those in charge of developing and launching the Dreamcast and was the one who led the acquisition of Visual Concepts and helped create 2K Sports. He would stay at the company until 1999 after an "argument with Japan" and joined Mattel.

He would find success at Mattell by selling Barbie video games, and he stayed there until 2005. He then became an adviser and director at Adscape Media and would later sell that company to Google for $23 million.

Many years before Google Stadia, Stolar tried to get Google into the gaming business. However, former CEO Eric Schmidt had no interest in going down that road.

"There was no interest in games at Google at the time,” Stolar said. “I went to the CEO, who was Eric Schmidt, and said, ‘Why don’t we put advertising in all these games and give them away for free online?’ He said, ‘We’re not in the game business.' I said, ‘We’re not going into the game business. We’re not developing games. We’re taking games from publishers and streaming those through our online network.’ He wouldn’t do it. That’s when I knew I should leave the company. I started helping them evangelize, but I knew there was no future for me.”

Following Google, Stolar explored the world of startups and ran such companies as GetFugu, Zoom Platform, the Jordan Freeman Group, and CogniToys.

At the end of VentureBeat's interview in 2015, Stolar joked that "he could be the grandfather for the CEOs he was advising." When asked how long he would continue to work, he said he had no plans on ever pressing on the brakes.

"Put it this way. I’ve spoken to two individuals about this, Sumner Redstone and Rupert Murdoch,” he said. “They’re both in their 80s. They’re both multi-billionaires. They certainly don’t have to work, right? And they’ve both said to me, ‘If you retire, you die.’ I believe that. My father, when he sold his liquor store and stopped working, passed away three months later. I’m not going to stop.”

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.

When it comes to Minecraft, at some point you'll likely ask yourself "what on earth do I build?" Perhaps you’ve booted up Minecraft and created a new world after being away from the game for a while. Or, maybe you're feeling bored right now, and that happens too! In the end, the equivalent of writer's block slaps you in the face, and you need some creative ideas for your next Minecraft build. (Need to start with a guide first? We have you covered with the Minecraft Building guide).

Never fear, as we’ve compiled a shortlist of the best things to dedicate your time and build talent to with these fun Minecraft build ideas:

15 Top Minecraft Building Ideas

1. House

Tried and true, a house is a necessity for almost every Minecraft player. We’ve all started with the hole in the dirt, or the tiny wooden box for the first couple of nights. But rather than settle for a bland, flat box for a home, why not strive to create something that reflects you and your passions? If you want to replicate a house from your favorite media, then you can use pictures for reference.

If you want to do something wholly unique, throw out conventional structures and do something weird, cute, quirky, or cool. With Minecraft being the ultimate creativity tool, don’t limit yourself to the bare essentials of survival within four walls.

2. Castle

Castles can be a grand spectacle if done right and can be relatively easy to put together if you plan out the design ahead of time. Begin by laying out the floorplan, as well as the perimeter wall that will surround your castle. Maybe add in a moat and drawbridge for an extra sense of flair.

Consider which angle of fantasy you are aiming for, and that will dictate the blocks you use, color schemes, and decoration aesthetics. As with any Minecraft build, the more forethought you give to a build, the better it will turn out, and the more likely you will be to follow through and have the determination to complete it.

3. Boat

A good accompaniment to a castle, or as a standalone build depending on the scale, constructing a seaworthy vessel can be a challenging but fulfilling experience. Due to the limitations of Minecraft, a boat has less functionality than other structures, however, if you’re wanting to have a home base that isn’t just a box, building a boat as your HQ can reinvigorate your playthrough.

4. City

The ultimate test of perseverance and determination, but also the challenge that offers the biggest dopamine hit as the project starts coming together; the city build. Sure, you don't have to create something this legendary right away, but for collaborative Minecraft builds that are quite legendary, we had to throw in this GoT city for inspiration.

The further you push the scale and detail, the harder it will be, so compartmentalize. Don’t worry about furnishing the insides of each and every building as you go; you can put a sign down or make a mental note of what you’d like each building to be.

5. Animal Farm

Another build you are likely to do naturally if you’re playing in Survival; there are various ways to create an animal farm. The most common way is to lure a pair of the same animal to a spot near your home and pen them in. Rinse and repeat for various different mobs, and you’ll have an infinite supply of meat, eggs, wool, milk, etc.

If you’re wanting to take your animal farming to the next level, you can produce intricate systems, involving Redstone or not, that can automatically farm animal resources for you. This will of course almost always require you to lure the animals in the first place, but if you’re a particularly busy bee you can ensure valuable materials are continually being gathered even when you’re off exploring.

6. Treehouse

Treehouses are a wonderful way of spicing up your Minecraft lifestyle. Whilst you can incorporate any tree in any biome into your home, the obvious best choice here is a Jungle biome, simply due to the height (and therefore real estate) you can produce without too much obstruction or limitation.

Whether you’re going for an inconspicuous shack or an interconnected series of huts, there are many Treehouse ideas to get you started on your new life high in the sky.

7. Bridge

A seemingly trivial affair, right? Just place some blocks over a bit of water. Why not make it more exciting though? If your surrounding builds have a particular theme, why not style the bridge to fit in with that aesthetic you're going for?

Another option is to start a project based on a real-world bridge, be it Golden Gate or London Bridge, there are countless options that you can choose your design from. These types of builds can be particularly effective when attached to City builds, or for people who are fans of LEGO Architecture. What’s better than having both a physical and digital model of a famous landmark?

8. Garden

An often-overlooked element that can be incorporated into each and every house you build, the garden in Minecraft is an accentuating feature that can really enhance the aesthetics of your home. It also acts as an excellent reason for you to collect the various plants and flowers you encounter, as well as saplings for trees you’ve found in various biomes should the size of your garden permit them.

You can take this idea one step further by making a humongous garden to walk through, acting as a flower show or park for you (and any multiplayer friends) to enjoy and relax within. Also see: Where to Find Flowers in Minecraft.

9. Fountain

Another easy addition that can enhance other elements of your builds, throw down some fancy stone and dig a small hole - but no swimming! If you’re wanting to go big, design a small statue to sit atop the fountain, maybe even incorporate some Redstone to make your water flow intermittently through spouts to make it as realistic as possible.

If you want an easier approach to having a showpiece atop your new fountain, you can use an Armor Stand with some shiny armor (and pose it if you’re in Bedrock Edition).

10. Library

A build that is particularly easy to assemble if you’re in Creative is a Library, as it can be as big or small as you wish. All you need is an outer shell of a building, shaped and designed however you wish, and an absurd number of Bookshelf blocks!

Whilst you may not consider it at first, like many other projects, you can model the library you build off of a property that is near and dear to you - your local library. Alternatively, if you want to make the jump into fiction, consider building the dusty library of Hogwarts, Belle’s library from Beauty and the Beast, or the Jedi Archives if you’re wanting to stretch your creative abilities. (Who remembers the Uncensored Library Minecraft map from 2020?)

11. Landmarks

An awe-inspiring yet also functional build idea, you can choose an open area to build a monument, be it from fiction or nonfiction. Attempt to recreate the Statue of Liberty, Big Ben, the Space Needle, Mount Rushmore… the list goes on.

If a real-world landmark doesn’t whet your appetite, why not build a statue of your favorite superhero? Large-scale builds like this not only result in impressive art pieces, but they can double up as literal landmarks so that you can more easily navigate your Minecraft world if you don’t have other tools at your disposal. (Also see: 11 Incredible Skyrim-Inspired Minecraft builds, top Mario Minecraft builds and these amazing Harry Potter Minecraft builds). Besides, it would be pretty difficult to lose your house if a gigantic Eye of Sauron loomed over it.

12. Evil Lair

Why not let out your more conspicuous side and give in to the theoretical dark side? If any of the previous entries haven’t been to your liking when it comes to creating your forever home, aim for something villainous. The juxtaposition with Minecraft’s mostly bright and blissful nature provides a refreshing nature to your gameplay, and by default demands a different approach to the building process. Do you create secret passageways hidden by paintings? Tripwires and secret traps to catch those entering your base unaware? The sky is the limit when it comes to your dastardly schemes.

You can choose to base yourself in the Nether if you wish, or you can bring some of the Nether to you and construct a dark fortress or underground lair that intimidates any and all who come near it (even if you’re playing in Single player).

13. Aquarium

Be it large or small, an aquarium always manages to become a huge draw of attention, bringing people from far and wide to see exotic fish and marine creatures. With the ever-expanding list of water-dwelling mobs in Minecraft, there hasn’t been a better time than now to work on constructing an aquarium of your own.

From a small fish tank inside your home to a major building in and of itself, the options are limitless. As you enter more endgame content and can explore underwater areas more comfortably, you’ll have more and more opportunities to meet (and subsequently catch) different fish that you can then add as your latest exhibit on display.

14. Museum

A particularly fun project if you’re aiming to RP a lot in your world, a museum can not only act as a storage facility, but also a trip down memory lane. Your first enchanted pickaxe that’s this close to breaking, your first diamond, the remains of a beloved animal lost all too soon; these gems can all live here.

With materials like the more recently added Bone blocks, you can also recreate fossils and skeletons to put on display, and precious pieces of artwork to admire.

15. Pixel Art

Sticking with the idea of art pieces on display, something that is entirely plausible for each and every Minecraft player, regardless of skill level, is pixel art. The blocky pixel-based art style of default Minecraft lends itself excellently to projects like this. Be it your favorite anime character, a shot from a beloved film, or the spiciest of memes, the only limit is your imagination.

In Summary:

We hope you enjoyed these top Minecraft building ideas to help get your creative juices flowing. From simple, essential builds to fun artsy builds; from Survival to Creative, there's something for every Minecraft fan on this list.

What to Make First in Minecraft

Whilst all of these build ideas are wonderful, should you be playing in Survival, you’ll still need some of the essentials to ensure that you can survive long enough to see these magnificent ideas come to life. Here is our shortlist for the most important things to build first in your new world:

• Crafting Table
• Tools
• Shelter
• Enchantment Table

What are some of your favorite things to build in Minecraft? Let us know in the comments.

Samuel Heaney is a freelance writer with expertise in gaming guides and all things Minecraft. You can follow him on Twitter.

Minecraft is an infinite sandbox in which you can create just about anything you want. As far as video games go, it's more than exciting: it's downright arresting. Put all of your creative powers to good use erecting a huge building, survive the night by staving off monsters, or fly around the world to check out what others have built. There's nothing quite like it.

So if you've been looking for a way to bring a little of that blocky magic into the real world, good news! There are plenty of fun figures, models, and playsets based on the Minecraft world that you can ditch the controller for. Unsure which ones are worth spending your hard-earned cash on? Below, we've highlighted the best Minecraft toys for kids and adults alike.

TL;DR – These are the Best Minecraft Toys

• Minecraft Transforming Diamond Sword/Pickaxe
• LEGO Minecraft The Abandoned Mine Playset
• Minecraft Paint Your Own Figurines Arts and Crafts Set
• NERF Minecraft Pillager's Crossbow
• Minecraft Transforming Turtle Hideout
• Minecraft Survival Pack
• NERF MicroShots Minecraft Ghast Mini Blaster
• Minecraft Enchanted Bow with Potion-Tip Arrow
• LEGO Minecraft The First Adventure Playset
• UNO Minecraft Card Game

Minecraft Transforming Diamond Sword/Pickaxe

This diamond sword/pickaxe replica looks just like the real thing, straight out of Minecraft. It’s perfect for swinging around and imagining it’s slicing through creepy spiders or skeleton archers who dare enter your humble abode. And if imaginative play isn’t on the menu, it makes for a great addition to any Minecraft fan’s collection.

LEGO Minecraft The Abandoned Mine Playset

What awaits below in that spooky abandoned mine? Find out with this detailed playset, which comes with everything you need to go spelunking. If you’re lucky, you’ll find diamond or obsidian down there. If you’re unlucky, you might just hit lava. The fun is all about never knowing what you’ll find when you go digging in Minecraft.

Minecraft Paint Your Own Figurines Arts and Crafts Set

Minecraft is all about creating anything you can imagine. This arts and crafts set lets you design your own figure. Paint it any color you’d like, draw your favorite prints, and transform it into the creature of your liking. Then use it with all of your Minecraft playsets to create a blocky new world in the real one, one that you can sculpt with your hands.

NERF Minecraft Pillager's Crossbow

Using a crossbow in Minecraft feels cool, and it’s one of the most interesting weapons in the game. Bring your own home and “practice” with it with this detailed NERF model. And if you round up a friend with another NERF gun, you can hold a few “fights” that won’t be unlike what you might see in-game.

Minecraft Transforming Turtle Hideout

Is it a turtle? Or is it a hideout? This Minecraft transforming playset is a large turtle on the outside, but it’s a different world entirely within. It comes with everything you need to go on your own Minecraft adventures outside of the game, complete with a place to stay when the sun goes down and the baddies come out.

Minecraft Survival Pack

When it comes to surviving in Minecraft, you need a few important things: a workbench, a bed, a weapon, and a chest to keep all of your belongings. The Minecraft Survival Pack comes with a Steve figure, raring to go, and everything he needs to get started in-game and in the real world.

NERF MicroShots Minecraft Ghast Mini Blaster

The Ghast in Minecraft are quite creepy. They become even creepier when turned into “weapons” you can use in play fights. Fire off rubber NERF darts with this Ghast-shaped blaster that you can also add to your selection of Minecraft-inspired NERF toys.

Minecraft Enchanted Bow with Potion-Tip Arrow

Creating your first bow in Minecraft is something of a rite of passage. A potion-tip arrow makes it especially important. Get your own and bring it into the real world with this enchanted bow replica, which would look great in your hands during a Minecraft LARP or on your wall as a conversation piece.

LEGO Minecraft The First Adventure Playset

Everyone remembers the first time they set out on an adventure in Minecraft. This playset captures that feeling perfectly, complete with evil skeletons that won’t let you build in peace. It’s got everything you need to pretend you’re a Minecraft neophyte, starting from the very beginning again.

UNO Minecraft Card Game

Who doesn’t love a game of classic UNO? This version is branded with your favorite Minecraft designs, so you can meld two great worlds together: the realms of video games and board games.

Sucker Punch is looking to hire some new talent to work on what appears to be an open-world game with action and stealth elements.

The studio's career page features listings for a variety of roles, including technical combat and senior combat designers, as well as an encounter designer. What makes the combat designer listings stand out are their requirements; the senior combat designer listing in particular asks "Do you delight in knowing the details of attack or parry timing and count frames?", which brings to mind sword combat.

In addition, the roles ask that applicants have played previous Sucker Punch games, suggesting that they need to be familiar with the studio's games and understand their core mechanics. This could point to the studio's next project being a follow-up rather than a new IP.

Meanwhile, one of the listed responsibilities for the encounter designer is "Deliver interesting and varied encounters in an open-world game, with a particular focus on melee combat and stealth." Whatever the studio's next game is, it looks like it will incorporate open-world, melee, and stealth mechanics.

While Sucker Punch hasn't announced anything yet, Ghost of Tsushima ticks all three of those boxes, so it's possible that a sequel is in the works right now. If the potential combat designers need to have played previous Sucker Punch titles, then having played Ghost of Tsushima is definitely helpful.

Another franchise that could fit the bill is Sly Cooper. The games are platformers with light stealth elements, though. The last entry was 2013's Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time, so perhaps Sucker Punch could revisit the series by introducing an open world with improved combat and steal mechanics.

Of course, there's always the possibility that Sucker Punch is also working on a new IP, as Sony is heavily investing in them.

George Yang is a freelance writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @yinyangfooey

A new mod has placed The Last of Us' Joel and Ellie into the world of 2018's God of War on PC, and the results are spectacular.

As reported by Eurogamer, YouTuber OmegaFantasy has not only swapped out the models of God of War's Kratos and Atreus for The Last of Us' Joel and Ellie, but they have also replaced Kratos' Leviathan Axe with a modified pipe more suited for Joel and have turned the Draugrs into Clickers.

The Last of Us meets God of War!
Full video including a David vs Joel fight: https://t.co/aqzg1QdInC pic.twitter.com/1fHKhBhzbY

— Speclizer (@Speclizer_) June 17, 2022

Additionally, they have changed The Stranger from the beginning of the game to The Last of Us' David, giving the epic fight in the opening moments of the game a whole new meaning.

Fans are able to download the mod for themselves via OmegaFantasy's Patreon and they can watch the game in action on their YouTube channel. If you want to watch the mod with lines from The Last of Us put in, you can check out Speclizer's video that edits in The Last of Us dialogue.

If The Last of Us isn't for you, OmegaFantasy has also added in other famous characters, including The Simpsons: Hit and Run's Homer, Bart, and Ned.

All of these mods are making the wait for God of War: Ragnarok just a little bit easier. Fortunately, a recent report has revealed we don't have much longer to wait as Sony is said to be planning on releasing the much-anticipated sequel in November 2022.

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.

It’s Pride Month, and what better way to celebrate than to shout out our favorite LGBTQ characters in video games. These are characters who have spoken to us through meaningful LGTBTQ representation and are also complex, fascinating, hilarious, or otherwise cool as hell. Be sure to let us know who your favorite LGBTQ video game characters are in the comments below!

1. Ellie - The Last of Us

Ellie has proven to be an extraordinarily complex character over the course of The Last of Us, Left Behind, and The Last of Us Part 2. She’s resilient, ruthless, kind, protective, vulnerable, vengeful, and ultimately capable of great change. Her first love Riley was taken from her while she survived, and she carried that guilt with her for years. By the time Part 2 wraps, she had fallen in love again, this time with Dina, started a family… and left that family. We last left her on an emotional cliffhanger, where it’s uncertain if she’ll be able to find herself once again. - Colin Stevens

2. Lev - The Last of Us Part 2

Lev is maybe the most beloved character from The Last of Us Part 2 despite having less screen time than many of his counterparts. He becomes the game’s moral center, temporarily stopping the cycle of violence from continuing and acting as a saving grace for Abby on her journey to redemption. He’s compassionate and intelligent, and brave, especially in the face of scrutiny from his community after he came out as trans. Lev’s a character we’d love to see further explored in future games. - Colin Stevens

3. Alex Chen - Life is Strange: True Colors

Alex Chen is the latest protagonist in the Life is Strange franchise. Witty, hardened, and independent, Alex is a deeply endearing character, and there are many ways her journey could progress, depending on your choices. And while Alex is not the first protagonist to have the option to romance either a male or female romantic partner (or none at all), it genuinely feels like there’s no right or wrong choice in the latest Life is Strange, a major boon for a series that has always prioritized player choice. - Taylor Lyles

4. Steph Gingrich - The Life is Strange Series

Despite the fact she's a side character in the Life is Strange series, Steph Gingrich gets some suitably interesting backstory, particularly in Ture Colors, where she not only plays a more prominent role in the main story but has her own prequel DLC that centers on her first year living in Haven Springs. While Steph's queerness was confirmed in her first appearance in Life is Strange: Before the Storm, we certainly learn more about her by the end of True Colors and the DLC. It's a part of her identity - but so is the fact she's a loyal friend, a music lover, and, of course, a tabletop enthusiast. - Taylor Lyles

5. Parvati - The Outer Worlds

The Outer Worlds could have been a game that was simply “Fallout in space” but ended up being so much more, and a big reason for this is the companions you meet along the way. Parvati is one of these, an engineer working at the Saltuna Cannery on Edgewater who asks the player character if she can join you off-world for adventure. After meeting Junlei, another engineer on the Groundbreaker, Parvati opens up to you about her feelings and her past relationships. She tells you that she’s been in other relationships in the past, but that everyone always felt she was “cold” and left her because she had no interest in physical relationships. It’s one of the most heartfelt and honest depictions of an asexual character in a video game ever (so far), and the questlines to get Parvati to open up and trust you and Junlei enough to pursue a relationship is extremely rewarding. - Chelsea Miller

6. Tiny Tina - The Borderlands Series

It’s hard not to fall completely in love with Tiny Tina when you first meet her in Borderlands 2. The 13-year-old explosions expert who tragically lost her parents at a young age is feisty, witty, and extremely capable…if not still a little wild. She’s also, according to her writer Anthony Burch, a lesbian. While relationships and queer-coded adult characters are great and important, it’s refreshing to have a kid who exists outside of any kind of relationship and is just allowed to exist on the LGBTQ spectrum. Tiny Tina is confident in who she is and while she has pretty heavy emotional moments in the series (looking at you Assault on Dragonkeep), she never questions her own identity. In Borderlands 3, as a fully grown adult, we see and hear her more explicitly talk about relationships (both emotional and physical) with others - pretty sure an orgy is mentioned at one point! - but it’s the kid, sure of her own identity, that sticks with you. - Chelsea Miller

7. Krem - Dragon Age: Inquisition

In a cozy corner of Skyhold’s tavern, a handsome young soldier quietly sips out of his stein between quick glances at the bard, Maryden. This is the Iron Bull’s Chargers second-in-command, Cremisius Aclassi “Krem”, and he was the first transgender character introduced in a Bioware game. Gender identity is a big part of Krem’s origin story and how he came to be involved with the Iron Bull, and subsequently, the Inquisition. Krem was raised in Tevinter as a girl but quickly realized at a young age that he was different from the girls he knew. After Krem’s father lost his tailor business, Krem joined the army. His secret was discovered after many years of successfully presenting as male and the Tevinter tribune attacked him after he attempted to flee. During the battle, the Iron Bull came to Krem’s defense and famously lost his eye in the attack. Afterward, the Iron Bull offered Krem a position with the mercenary group “The Bull’s Chargers” and eventually rose to second-in-command. Krem is a skilled warrior and excellent commander, and his determination to be his authentic self never wavers throughout his entire journey. Krem is confident in who he is and risked everything to fight to help others. - Amanda Flagg

8. Tyler Ronan - Tell Me Why

Tyler Ronan broke many barriers when Tell Me Why was announced back in 2019. Before writing a trans lead character in the game, Tell Me Why developer Don't Nod consulted with expert groups such as GLAAD to ensure that Tyler's representation was not only respectful but also authentic. It's an important note as the game approaches a lot of sensitive topics, primarily regarding Tyler's identity, which plays a key part in the story. - Taylor Lyles

9. Bill and Frank - The Last of Us

We love Bill & Frank's relationship in The Last of Us. It's unexpected, and sad, but feels extremely authentic. We don't know their backstory. Were they together before? Were they driven together by the cruel world they were forced to live in? Either way, love is love and they had each other. And maybe Frank had to try to run away on his own in the end – and maybe that letter was kind of shitty. But ultimately, something special was there. –Jackie Jing

10. Gregg - Night in the Woods

We really like Gregg because he's this small rebellious trash animal who, despite being a troublemaker and a punk, cares about his friends and his relationship with his boyfriend so much that he's constantly afraid of messing up. He’s so well-written and real, but so is the entire cast of wonderful characters in Night in the Woods. It’s cool to see a character in a game who’s just a normal dude with normal problems and not someone who's trying to save the universe. Also, crimes. –Eric Sapp

11. Vivian - Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door

Vivian from Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door has an odd history. She's a canonically transgender character in every translation of the game... except for English. She refers to her and her siren sisters as "the three shadow sisters,” a moment her cruel oldest sister uses to insultingly misgender her. That moment is made stronger in the Italian translation, where Vivian fires back about being proud of her transition. Disappointingly, it’s changed entirely in the English translation, and Vivian is just presented as a cisgender woman, a decision apparently driven by age rating concerns. It’s a crappy decision, and just a shame as Vivian stood as one of the few transgender characters in games (let alone a Nintendo game) where her gender identity wasn't the crux of her character. Once she escapes her family to fight with Mario, she's just Vivian. –Tom Marks

12. Dorian - Dragon Age Inquisition

If the carefully groomed mustache of Dorian Pavus didn’t catch your attention at first, his quick-witted and sassy banter is sure to charm you. A proud mage from Tevinter, Dorian is the first male party member to be romanced exclusively by a male protagonist in the Dragon Age series. Dorian is extremely intelligent and has a sharp memory, and as your friendship with Dorian develops (as either male or female Inquisitor) you learn that his sexuality is a point of contention between him and his family. You even have the option to support Dorian in a heart-wrenching confrontation with his father, Halward. If you choose not to romance Dorian or you are a female inquisitor, you discover through party banter that the Iron Bull and Dorian have engaged in a wild and consensual sexual relationship (much to our delight). Dorian is proud of who he is, both as a gay man and as a Tevinter mage. Posh and never unfashionable, Dorian is always ready with a cheeky comeback and maybe a touch of blood magic. - Amanda Flagg

13. Judy Alvarez - Cyberpunk 2077

The Judy versus Panam debate is one that will outlive us all, but for this list, we have to emphasize just how wonderful Judy Alvarez is in Cyberpunk 2077. Judy’s a quick-witted braindance technician you meet early on, and the more you learn about her, the more you want to know about her. Romanceable by only a female V, Judy is integral to Cyberpunk 2077’s early main storyline, and while she’s usually at odds with the choices that V and Evelyn Parkers make – it’s always a joy to receive that phone call from her explaining her actions and asking V to come and spend time with her. Judy is the lost, lovable character that one just can’t help but adore, and has become one of the most recognizable and relatable characters to stem from Cyberpunk 2077.

14. Fuse - Apex Legends

Walter Fitzroy Jr., better known as Fuse, is an Explosives enthusiast and brings loads of mayhem into Apex Legends. Fuse may only have seven toes, one eye, and only one of the arms he was born with, but that adds to his charm and doesn't stop him from exuding joy. He's charismatic, scrappy, and all about having a good time with friends and making things explode. Fuse is a favorite of fans who prefer beginning and ending fights with a bang. When a game of Apex Legend is nearing its end, and there is minimal to no cover for protection, Fuse is someone you want in your squad.

You may be wondering why Fuse is on this list. Developers at Respawn confirmed that the first line in Fuse's lore, "Ladies man, man's man, and all-around manly man." means he is indeed Pansexual. Apex Legends has never shied away from including members of the LGBTQ+ community, and Fuse is just one of the many other confirmed LGBT legends. - Jada Griffin

15. Zagreus - Hades

As much as Hades is a game about trying to fight your way out of the underworld, it’s also a game about relationships. Be that familial or romantic, the conversations you have as Zagreus are just as important as the giant monsters you kill, and his slick but genuinely caring demeanor carries you through them all. While you’re given the opportunity to romance both the Fury Megaera and Death-incarnate Thanatos, the way Zag’s relationship to every character in the game regardless of situation or societal standing is something truly special to watch. Hades reset the bar for stories in roguelike games, and Zagreus is a massive part of why. - Tom Marks

16. Madeline - Celeste

The story of Celeste is an unexpectedly candid one. It may look like a cute pixelated platformer on the surface, but it quickly reveals itself to be far more than that, and the struggle of its main character Madeline is the beating crystal heart at the center of it. Madeline’s journey as she resists and then tries to make peace with the parts of herself that frighten her is truly touching – whether you read that conflict as her more explicit struggle with depression and anxiety or the journey of transitioning that Celeste’s creator discussed in length later on. Madeline is clever, charmingly stubborn, kind-hearted, and painfully relatable, and her story is a standout part of a game that would be absolutely fantastic already on its own. - Tom Marks

17. Undyne - Undertale

Undertale’s Undyne is an incredibly over-the-top character who suplexes boulders and loves anime, and can either be an extremely tough boss, or a great friend. So much of her charm comes from seeing multiple facets of her personality depending on your actions – kill some monsters, and you’ll come to know her as a fairly intimidating warrior, but if you take on a more genocidal approach, she becomes the hero of the game to foil your villainous intent. It's only when you go for a pacifist route that you become privy to what's hiding under her tough-as-nails exterior… a tough-as-nails interior that wants her friends and loved ones to be their very best self – even if it involves dunking them in a trash can. We should all aspire to get on her level. –Brendan Graber

Those are our favorites - what are yours? Let us know in the comments, and for everything else Pride in gaming, stick with IGN.

Cardy, Joe, and Alex are here to talk about some of their favourite announcements and reveals from this year’s Xbox and Bethesda Games Showcase. We’ve got your Starfields, your Redfalls, your Kojimas. We’ve got the lot. Also, a slightly deeper dive into how A Plague Tale: Requiem is shaping up and the unfortunate tale of two underwhelming blockbuster films in the shape of Jurassic World: Dominion and Lightyear. Fear not though, there’s a banging round of the Endless Search and some impromptu cake chat.

Want to get in touch to talk about digging graves? Cakes? Or maybe Elden Ring? Feel free to send us an email at ign_ukfeedback@ign.com.

IGN UK Podcast #649: Phil's Big Night Out 2022

• IGN UK Podcast #648: Geoff's Big Night Out 2022
• IGN UK Podcast #647: Some Great New Star Wars? Stranger Things Have Happened
• IGN UK Podcast #646: Gollum, Sméagol & Irene
• IGN UK Podcast #645: Chip 'n Dale 'n Cardy 'n Joe
• IGN UK Podcast #644: Top Gun: Chaos Gate - Daemonhunters

Capcom has officially announced Dragon's Dogma 2, a sequel to the studio's 2012 action RPG.

Hideaki Itsuno, the director of the original Dragon's Dogma, announced the sequel at the end of the 10 Years of Dragon's Dogma livestream today. Besides learning that it the new game is being developed on the RE Engine, we received no further information about the game besides a logo on a shirt worn by Itsuno.

Dragon's Dogma was directed by Capcom's Hideaki Itsuno, best known for his work on Devil May Cry. Dragon's Dogma's focus on real-time combat in a dark medieval fantasy world intrigued fans, but it was the deep action system, AI-controlled allies, and deep RPG roots that earned it a lot of fans. Even when the series failed financially.

While fans' hope for a proper sequel was dim, Capcom's high-profile data leak, which indicated Dragon's Dogma 2 in the works, led to a new optimism.

There was also hope after Netflix chose to bring a Dragon's Dogma anime to its subscribers in 2020. In our Dragon's Dogma anime review, we said, "the action and visuals are fantastic, but the meandering plot doesn’t match the scope and grandeur of the show."

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.

Naughty Dog has unveiled an incredible new model for The Last of Us Part 1's version of key character Tess.

Shared in a tweet (below), the developer put the original, PlayStation 3 character (played by Annie Wersching) side-by-side with the upcoming PlayStation 5 remake's version, and the difference is pretty astounding. While the clip is only a few seconds long, several rewatches are probably required to take in every difference between the two versions, from the intense facial animations to the details on Tess's shirt and backpack – and even her height.

Naughty Dog co-president and The Last of Us creative director Neil Druckmann added his own commentary to the clip. "Annie Wersching' destroyed us with her performance as Tess," he tweeted. "Love that we get to better show off her acting chops with Part 1."

Tess' glow up ✨@Wersching

9 years ago vs. September 2, 2022 -- #TheLastofUs Part I pic.twitter.com/jDoT9bMmL1

— Naughty Dog (@Naughty_Dog) June 14, 2022

A remake of The Last of Us has been rumored for a while but Naughty Dog finally confirmed the PS5 version (alongside its official rebrand as Part 1) at Summer Game Fest last week. The developer also released a short trailer for the remake, which was "rebuilt from the ground up", ahead of its release date of September 2. A PC version is also confirmed to be on the way.

In our 10/10 review of the original, IGN said: "The Last of Us seamlessly intertwines satisfying, choice-based gameplay with a stellar narrative. It never slows down, it never lets up, and frankly, it never disappoints. It’s PlayStation 3’s best exclusive, and the entire experience, from start to finish, is remarkable."

Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelancer who occasionally remembers to tweet @thelastdinsdale. He'll talk about The Witcher all day.

Lollipop Chainsaw is seemingly making a return, following an announcement on Twitter from the game's executive producer.

As spotted by Siliconera, Yoshimi Yasuda said simply: "Lollipop Chainsaw is back by Dragami Games. Please look forward to it." The veteran developer was previously CEO of Kadokawa Games (who published the original in 2012) but left to start Dragami Games in May 2022.

Yasuda didn't share further details on the nature of the game - whether it's a sequel, remake, remaster, reimagining or anything else - but it would be the first chance for players to try the franchise in more than a decade. The original doesn't exist outside of Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 hardware, as it lacks a PC version and isn't available through any form of backwards compatibility.

Lollipop Chainsaw はドラガミゲームスで復活させます。楽しみに待っていてください…!!!

Lollipop Chainsaw is back by Dragami Games. Please look forward to it.#ロリポップチェーンソー
#DragamiGames pic.twitter.com/RlcLrxMkKK

— 安田善巳 (@yasudaD5) June 14, 2022

Lollipop Chainsaw is a hack and slash action game in which high school cheerleader Juliet Starling must fight through hoards of zombies using the game's titular chainsaw (and with her boyfriend's severed, still-living head attached to her belt). The game was a collaboartion between No More Heroes' Suda51 and James Gunn, who'd go on to direct Guardians of the Galaxy and The Suicide Squad.

The game picked up a cult following but in our 5/10 review, IGN said: "Lollipop Chainsaw doesn’t even attempt to differentiate itself from the genre, and most of what it does try new in the realm of its characters and writing ultimately ends up taking away from an incredible-on-paper action game."

Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelancer who occasionally remembers to tweet @thelastdinsdale. He'll talk about The Witcher all day.

May was a slow, slow, slow month for video games. So slow, Skyrim was one of the top 20 games in the US by dollar sales.

According to The NPD Group's monthly report, game sales were at their lowest for a single month since February 2020, down 19% year-over-year to $3.7 billion. It's a significant milestone after the surge of spending gaming saw during pandemic-related lockdowns. Why is it happening now? One major reason: no massive new games.

Elden Ring was the best-selling game of May, after taking the No.2 spot in April to LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga, and it remains the best-selling game this year. LEGO Star Wars dropped to No.2 this month, followed by Nintendo Switch Sports - though it's always possible Nintendo first-party games sell better than depicted since Nintendo doesn't share digital sales data with The NPD Group.

At No.4 was the only new game release in May to breach the top 50 best sellers for May: Evil Dead: The Game. With only one new game in the top 50 and even blockbusters like Elden Ring starting to slow down, that left room for The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, of all things, to rank No.20 in its first appearance in the top 20 since November 2017, with Steam accounting for nearly half of its May sales. Welcome back, Dragonborn.

While hardware sales were doing their best to help, it's not like May is a massive month for people trying to buy an Xbox, PlayStation, or Switch. Overall hardware sales dropped 11% year-over-year to $216 million, with the Switch selling the most in both unit and dollar sales for the month.

The top 20 games by dollar sales for the month of May are as follows:

1. Elden Ring
2. LEGO: Star Wars: The Skywalker saga
3. Nintendo Switch Sports
4. Evil Dead: The Game
5. MLB: The Show 22
6. Kirby and the Forgotten Land
7. Call of Duty: Vanguard
8. Mario Kart 8
9. Gran Turismo 7
10. Pokemon Legends: Arceus
11. Minecraft
12. Horizon 2: Forbidden West
13. Animal Crossing: New Horizons
14. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
15. Call of Duty: Black Ops: Cold War
16. FIFA 22
17. Mario Party Superstars
18. Pokemon: Brilliant Diamond/Shining Pearl
19. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (2019)
20. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

Rebekah Valentine is a news reporter for IGN. You can find her on Twitter @duckvalentine.

Sony accidentally listed Tekken 2 for $9,999 on the PlayStation Store as it switched over to its new PlayStation Plus tiers.

Several Twitter users brought the mistake to the attention of the wider gaming community and its price was swiftly changed, though even the game director of Tekken got in on the joke.

"What a marvelous price Sony," Katsuhiro Harada tweeted not just once, but twice, putting a little extra emphasis on his second post (below).

WHAT A MARVELOUS PRICE SONYYYYYYYY https://t.co/pRgjEY8gla

— Katsuhiro Harada (@Harada_TEKKEN) June 14, 2022

The mistake was made on June 13, the same day as Sony's revamped PlayStation Plus was released in North America and classic games like Tekken 2 were added to the store. Somewhat ironically, Tekken 2 is actually only available as part of the new PlayStation Plus Premium tier and cannot be bought as a standalone game on PS4 and PS5.

Considering the new service includes more than 700 games, it's understandable that a couple of errors may have slipped through, even if this was a particularly startling one. We also saw Mr. Driller listed for $9,999.

Tekken 2 was first released in 1995 and is therefore part of the Classic Games Catalogue that comes with the most expensive Premium tier at $119.99 a year. Users paying this amount will also gain access to a plethora of PS4 and PS5 games and limited-time trials for recent releases such as Horizon: Forbidden West.

The Extra tier (at $99.99 a year) includes just the PS4 and PS5 titles on top of the usual PlayStation Plus benefits and its Essential tier (at $59.99 a year) is practically the same as the old service.

The new tiers are now available in most regions but Europe, Australia, and New Zealand are the last to receive them on June 23.

Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelancer who occasionally remembers to tweet @thelastdinsdale. He'll talk about The Witcher all day.

Capcom said during its summer showcase today that a video celebrating Dragon's Dogma's 10th anniversary is coming this week. There wasn't, however, an announcement of Dragon's Dogma 2, as many fans had been hoping for.

The 10th anniversary celebration video will be posted this Thursday at 3 p.m. PT.

Well met, Arisen!
Announced at the #CapcomShowcase, prepare for the “10 Years of Dragon’s Dogma” digital event!
📅 June 16
🕒 3:00 PM PDT / 11:00 PM BST
▶️ https://t.co/phLL8sAs5D
▶️ https://t.co/PChm1hMs8G pic.twitter.com/gXLw6AwONi

— Dragon's Dogma (@DragonsDogma) June 13, 2022

IGN sources told us that Dragon's Dogma 2 had been in development back in 2020, after a huge leak appeared to unveil many of Capcom's unannounced projects. While games are regularly cancelled while in development, many are hopeful that creator Hideaki Itsuno (best known for his work on Devil May Cry) will return to his bizarre open world RPG world.

2022 marks Dragon's Dogma's 10th anniversary, and has become a cult favourite. At release, we awarded the game a 7.5/10 review, saying, "if you can persist, there’s a lot to love here, and some great ideas that make you want to give it a chance." We spoke to Itsuno in 2019 about the cult appeal of the game, where he said, “We consider Dragon's Dogma to be an important franchise... But there's nothing more I can say right now.”

Alex Stedman is the Entertainment Reviews Editor at IGN.

Nintendo Switch owners have been asking for Switch ports of the beloved Persona series for years; a request that only intensified after Persona 5 Strikers came to the platform. However, even after PC and Xbox ports of three Persona titles were announced today, the series still isn’t headed to Nintendo's hybrid console.

The fabled Switch port of Persona 5 has been rumored for years, sparking hope among the community. There was even a Best Buy listing for a Persona 5 Switch release back in 2019, but it still hasn't come to fruition. After Persona 5 protagonist Joker arrived as a DLC fighter in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, an Atlus representative even told fans to "never ever give up on hope" and to "keep fighting" for a Switch port, hinting at a possible future release.

And now, there's a new wrinkle in the story. At today’s Xbox and Bethesda Games Showcase, Atlus announced that Persona 5 Royal, Persona 4 Golden, and Persona 3 Portable are coming to Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC, with no Switch port in sight. Now, fans are torn on if this means a future release on Switch is possible, or if these games have skipped the platform entirely.

The fact that Persona 5, the most requested game to come out for Nintendo Switch, is coming to Xbox first, a platform that has been known to avoid RPGs like the plague, is the funniest thing in the world. https://t.co/jEYRNDjfF2

— the one obsessed with the robot lady from sgt frog (@RukoTheWonder) June 12, 2022

Bro… Persona series now available for every platform except Switch, you know they gon be mad.. 😭 but admittedly it is weird that Switch got skipped for these titles.

— The Night Sky Prince (@NightSkyPrince_) June 12, 2022

Some fans even began campaigning for Atlus to release ports, taking to the hashtag #BreakFreePersona to express their dismay.

Listen your fans, we want too Persona 5 Royal, Persona 4 Golden, and Persona 3 Portable on #NintendoSwitch!#BreakFreePersona pic.twitter.com/t4uCc5mNHM

— goomba (@king_goomba) June 12, 2022

And, some hopeful fans noted that the series’ arrival to Xbox might signal that a Switch port is in the near future, as the series is finally breaking away from (mostly) PlayStation exclusivity.

I'm still pretty confident that at least Persona 3 and 4 are going to hit PlayStation and Switch as well, but if by chance they never do, all I can say is that is such an Atlus move haha.

— Stealth (@Stealth40k) June 12, 2022

The upcoming Persona ports will roll out over the next year, starting with the Persona 5 Royal port on October 21, 2022. We gave the title a 10 in our review, praising its thorough expansions to the original Persona 5.

Beyond the Persona ports, today's Xbox and Bethesda Games Showcase was filled with other notable announcements, including Starfield gameplay, an Xbox partnership with Hideo Kojima, and a new trailer for the long-awaited Hollow Knight: Silksong.

Amelia Zollner is a freelance writer at IGN. Find them on Twitter: @ameliazollner.

Persona 3 Portable, Persona 4 Golden, and Persona 5 Royal are all headed to Xbox Series X|S and PC. Microsoft revealed the ports during today's Xbox + Bethesda Showcase, which were previously only available on PlayStation platforms and PC. They will also be available on Xbox Game Pass.

Persona 3 is the most notable of the ports, as its availability has been limited over the years. Originally released way back in 2006, Persona 3 helped to popularize the series in America by introducing many of the conceits that fueled Persona 4 and 5, such as its daily calendar. It was last released on PlayStation Portable as Persona 3 Portable, marking the first and only time that the sub-series has made it possible to play as a female main character.

You never saw it coming!

Persona 5 Royal, Persona 4 Golden, and Persona 3 Portable are coming to Xbox Game Pass, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and Windows PC!

Persona 5 Royal releases October 21, 2021! #P25th pic.twitter.com/XMHsX26yrG

— Official ATLUS West (@Atlus_West) June 12, 2022

As for Persona 4 and Persona 5, both are widely available on other platforms, but this is the first time that they are headed to Xbox. Persona 4 Golden was released on PC back in 2020, where it became a surprise hit.

All three games focus on a band of misfit Japanese teenagers who battle demons while also dealing with the trials of romance, exams, and personal romance. They are known for their standout art and soundtracks, which have helped to rocket them to fame among American audiences. The series as a whole whole has topped 15 million units.

Persona 5 Royal will be out October 21, with the release dates for Persona 3 Portable and Persona 4 Golden currently unconfirmed. In the meantime, check out all the rest of our coverage of the Xbox Showcase as the Summer of Gaming continues.

Kat Bailey is a Senior News Editor at IGN as well as co-host of Nintendo Voice Chat. Have a tip? Send her a DM at @the_katbot.

After delving into dungeon crawling and narrative adventures, Minecraft is getting another unexpected spin-off - this time becoming an action strategy game. The new game is coming in 2023.

Revealed at today's Xbox-Bethesda showcase, Minecraft Legends is an action strategy game that combines real-time strategy elements into the world of Minecraft.

In a brief gameplay video, a character on a horse is seen leading an army of minions into battle with the ability to command the legion in real-time.

As one of the world's biggest ever games, Minecraft needs little introduction. It success has led to multiple spin-offs, from Telltale's Minecraft: Story Mode – a narrative adventure starring Patton Oswalt – to Minecraft Dungeons, a Diablo-like dungeon crawler we said was a little shallow, but "so damn charming, and so fun, it's hard to fault it for going the safe route."

Matt T.M. Kim is IGN's News Editor. You can reach him @lawoftd.

After a number of rumors, the next project from Obsidian's Josh Sawyer has finally been revealed: it is indeed called Pentiment, and it's a narrative crime story of sorts set in 16th century Bavaria and styled like a medieval manuscript.

While we got a look at a visually fascinating trailer at Xbox's showcase today, IGN spoke with Sawyer ahead of the announcement about what exactly Pentiment is. As Sawyer explains it, Pentiment follows a medieval artist named Andreas Maler, an educated journeyman who's near to becoming a master artist. While visiting an abbey to make an illuminated manuscript, a monk who is also Andreas' friend and mentor is accused of a murder he claims he didn't commit. Since no one else steps in to solve the case, Andreas dedicates himself to finding the real killer.

Sawyer tells us that key to Pentiment is that it never explicitly tells you who the murderer really is. Andreas will have to decide who he thinks committed the murder, or at least who he thinks should be punished for it even if it isn't the actual murderer. And those decisions will ripple out through the rest of Pentiment, which covers a span of around 25 years and multiple crimes and murders that Andreas keeps getting caught up in.

Though there are mysteries at its heart, Sawyer is adamant that Pentiment isn't explicitly a detective game, because it doesn't contain typical detective mechanics. He says it's more of a narrative adventure with mystery and murder elements, and as per his past work, lots of player choice.

"There will be familiar elements in terms of choice and background development and consequence for people who like our RPGs," he says. "But it really, at its heart, is a narrative adventure story."

And he's also adverse to the comparison with another narrative detective story, Disco Elysium.

"We never set out to make a game that's like Disco Elysium," Sawyer says. "Structurally, it is much more similar to a game like Night In The Woods or Mutazione. I think our dialogue is pretty good, but it simply is not structured and developed the way that Disco is. Obviously, the viewpoint is very different. But the whole focus of the game is just not the same. So yeah, please don't hold us to that standard."

We spoke to Josh Sawyer at length about the development of Pentiment, and you can find our interview here. And he's not the only person at Obsidian we spoke to. We also chatted with Adam Brenneke about Grounded as it approaches its full 1.0 launch, and we spoke to studio head Feargus Urquhart about Obsidian's relationship with Xbox and the future of Obsidian -- stay tuned for our interview in the coming days.

Rebekah Valentine is a news reporter for IGN. You can find her on Twitter @duckvalentine.

Square Enix is hosting Final Fantasy 7 stream next week in celebration of the game's 25th anniversary – and many fans will be hoping to see a glimpse of Final Fantasy 7 Remake: Part 2.

Streaming on the publisher's YouTube and Twitch channels, the stream will take place on June 16 at 3pm Pacific / 6pm Eastern / 11pm UK (so June 17 at 9am AEDT).

It's unclear what Square Enix will announce during the ten minute stream but it promised fans "a first look at all the information surrounding the 25th anniversary of Final Fantasy 7".

While fans' may be hoping for some news regarding the long-awaited Remake: Part 2, it's worth noting that Square Enix has several ongoing spin-offs of the classic PlayStation RPG, and could just be announcing new information regarding those. Final Fantasy VII Remake director Tetsuya Nomura said last month that Square Enix would be announcing "various things" during an anniversary event but, again, didn't go into further details.

Other Final Fantasy 7 games include The First Soldier and upcoming mobile RPG Final Fantasy VII: Ever Crisis, but the announcements could be totally non-game related, more akin to the recent clothing line reveal. There are also further spin-offs planned, with Nomura saying in January that "there will be even more new Final Fantasy 7 projects that started up after the remake coming in the future too. The team see this 25th anniversary as a waypoint on our journey with Final Fantasy 7, and will continue pressing ahead to even greater things.”

Remake: Part 2 was confirmed to be in full development in July 2020 but Square Enix has otherwise kept quiet on the sequel. In our 8/10 review of Part 1, IGN said: "Final Fantasy 7 Remake’s dull filler and convoluted additions can cause it to stumble, but it still breathes exciting new life into a classic while standing as a great RPG all its own."

Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelancer who occasionally remembers to tweet @thelastdinsdale. He'll talk about The Witcher all day.