While some games live and die in the year they were released, others continue to thrive long after they first appear. Here we celebrate the games that continue to shine, from metaverse shooters to payload shifters, sprawling RPGs, and more.

Be sure to come back next week when we announce the winners of IGN's Best of 2022 Awards.

Destiny 2: The Witch Queen

It may be hard to believe, but Destiny 2 first welcomed players into its world in 2017. Since then, it has continued to build itself into something unlike anything else on the market and a game that constantly calls its Guardians back to duty. The Witch Queen is the latest call to action, and we said it represents the “best expansion that Destiny has ever received.” Not only does it have an incredibly compelling campaign, but it also provides players with a world-class raid, new abilities, and weapons that shake up the gameplay in a way never seen before in-game. It’s one of those games that just keeps us smiling throughout its many hours of never-ending content, and it's a reminder of why we love games and invest in worlds like Destiny.

Final Fantasy XIV

Another year, another nomination for this critically-acclaimed MMORPG — and for good reason! The end of 2021 brought us the fantastic Endwalker expansion, which came with it a triumphant finale to the game's long-running Hydaelyn vs. Zodiark arc, as well as numerous quality of life fixes that have made the game much more accessible to all - including those wishing to enjoy the story purely on their own. With a brand new adventure just on the horizon, there's no better time than the present to hop into Final Fantasy XIV!

Fortnite

Fortnite continues to be a creative, fun, ever-changing battle royale. The game kicked off 2022 with a brand new map, an epic Spider-Man: No Way Home collab, and a fresh storyline that introduced The Rock, Joel McHale, Rahul Kohli, and Brie Larson as main characters. Fortnite continued to collaborate with brands like Uncharted, Ralph Lauren, and even Wu-Tang Clan. At the end of the last season, Fortnite began covering the entire map in chrome, allowing for a fun traversal mechanic that proves just when you've seen Fortnite do it all, they come up with something completely new.

Genshin Impact

We first embarked upon our journey through the charming open-world of Teyvat in September 2020, in pursuit of our protagonist’s lost sibling, and in search of the secrets behind this magical land and the gods that rule it. Since then, Genshin Impact’s epic story has steadily unfolded through Hoyoverse’s meticulous regular updates, introducing us to extraordinary characters and new challenges to face; Version 3.0, released August 2022, unveiled the vast nation of Sumeru, whose deserts and rainforests contain all manner of secrets. As the adventure expands with each update, the land of Teyvat truly feels dynamic and alive, with limited-time events and special game modes that draw us back in time and again.

Overwatch 2

In 2022 Overwatch underwent its biggest evolution since the hero shooter’s launch over six years ago. It's still the vibrant, often exhilarating objective-based team game that it was, but the change from 6v6 to 5v5, the addition of three new heroes, and an exciting new mode have freshened it up considerably. It’s a much different shooter from when it first released — less of a tactical chess match and made up more of brawling skirmishes — but is crucially still very fun. Questions over its new free-to-play model, the battle pass, and extortionate store fees that come with it are still being regularly raised, but on the battlefield Overwatch 2 feels more satisfying to play than it has at any point over the past couple of years. For that alone, there is reason to be hopeful for its future, as Blizzard aims to reach the highs it once did again.

All IGN Best of Games 2022 Categories

• Best Game of 2022
• Best Action Game of 2022
• Best Action-Adventure Game of 2022
• Best Video Game Music of 2022
• Best Video Game Art of 2022
• Best Console Exclusive of 2022
• Best Ongoing Game of 2022
• Best Performance in a Game in 2022
• Best Puzzle Game of 2022
• Best Racing Game of 2022
• Best RPG Game of 2022
• Best Shooter Game of 2022
• Best Game Story of 2022
• Best Strategy Game of 2022
• Noteworthy Advancement in Game Accessibility in 2022
• Best Gaming Hardware of 2022

In 2019, Payday 2 publisher Starbreeze Studios was on the brink of going under. The studio was facing a lack of cash on-hand to keep the company running, causing leadership to sell off assets to various companies to help save Starbreeze Studios.

Fast-forward to the present day, and Starbreeze Studios is in a much better place, introducing a brand new studio in the UK while continuing work on Payday 3. In an interview with IGN, Starbreeze CEO Tobias Sjögren spoke about the new UK studio, and shared an update on the upcoming sequel.

"[Payday 3]'s coming along really well. I'm super excited about telling more about it, but we can't at this point in time," Sjögren said. "We haven't released any other information [other] than we are actually releasing it in 2023, but we will and it's going to be a lot of fun."

Sjögren also said Starbreeze is searching for a co-publisher for Payday 3. Developer Overkill Software and Starbreeze haven't shared much else about the sequel since it was confirmed to be in development in 2021. We know the game will be set in a "living, enormous representation" of New York City according to game director Erik Wonnevi.

The switch to Unreal Engine could be a big one for Payday 3, as Sjögren noted that the developers, "had a very tricky situation in Payday 2 where we have not been able to keep our console versions of Payday 2 up to pair with the PC version. And of course, an engine like Unreal really gives you that opportunity to focus on making the game rather than the technology."

Starbreeze opens a new UK studio

Meanwhile, Starbreeze's new studio in the UK will work on projects for two newly-acquired IPs. Along with this, Sjögren said Starbreeze is "definitely looking at" the possibility of purchasing more IPs for the company.

The UK studio will be helmed by Cinder Cone co-founders Tancred Dyke-Wells and Lawrence Bishop. The two previously released a game called Skeleton Crew earlier this year, and have experience working on Firewatch, Nintendo Art Academy, Battalion Wars, and more. Sjögren said the UK made sense for Starbreeze because the company was lacking developers from the region.

"And one of the hubs that we were missing was UK. I felt like there's a good opportunity to connect more people from the great, really awesome UK development scene to Starbreeze and I think opening an office there will really help out."

With Payday 3 and other upcoming projects, Starbreeze Studios will continue to focus on live-service platforms for its games. As Sjögren told us, "If we don't deliver more and new content in a swift basis after the release, we definitely have made a big mistake."

Logan Plant is a freelance writer for IGN covering video game and entertainment news. He has over six years of experience in the gaming industry with bylines at IGN, Nintendo Wire, Switch Player Magazine, and Lifewire. Find him on Twitter @LoganJPlant.

There's yet another video-game-to-film adaptation on the way, and this time it's the funky spacefaring duo ToeJam & Earl getting the star treatment.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, '90s retro action series ToeJam & Earl will make its film debut in a project from Amazon Studios, Story Kitchen, and NBA star Stephen Curry's Unanimous Media. As for its script, Hotel Transylvania 4 writers Amos Vernon and Nunzio are on board for the screenplay.

Unanimous Media's Curry and Erick Peyton will produce the ToeJam & Earl film alongside Sonic the Hedgehog's Dan Jevons and Dmitri M. Johnson. In addition to the movie's early talent, The Hollywood Reporter also shared ToeJam & Earl's film synopsis:

"Earth, their legends tell them, is the Paradise where the music that created their culture originated. Unfortunately for our heroes, not only do they wreck their ship, but they find that Earth is . . . well, not the haven they expected. But the music – that part was true. So begins their quest to find as much of that music as they can in the hope of saving their planet, and maybe ours as well."

At least from a brief overview, it sounds like the pieces of what fans may remember from the rogue-like are there — but we'll have to wait and see if the alien pair from creator Greg Johnson share the series' hyper-stylized art and funky beats in the film.

For now, those specifics on how Amazon and its partners will bring ToeJam and Earl to life are thin. However, on Twitter, writer Will Landman (American Gods, Pandora) commented on a different ToeJam & Earl animated show that "didn’t go anywhere" from years ago.

Wild this is finally happening. Years ago now I was developing ToeJam & Earl as an animated show with Greg Johnson and while it didn’t go anywhere I told him then, probably 9 months out from Sonic releasing that once Sonic was a big hit…TJ&E would finally get their adaptation! https://t.co/dZeV4vzG2i

— Will Landman (@WillTheLandMan) December 5, 2022

While Landman's animated series with the ToeJam & Earl creators may not have scored that "sweet streaming monies," they sound a bit hopeful about the future. In a follow-up tweet, Landman added, "Maybe if the movie is successful they’ll let @ToejamGreg and I make the animated show we were kicking around a few years ago."

Hollywood can't seem to stop queuing up video game adaptations lately. On the film side, the alien heroes popularized by their Sega era join the publisher's other franchises like Sonic, Space Channel 5, and Streets of Rage. Television is also in on the wave, with series like The Last of Us debuting soon and a possible Mass Effect show on the way.

Andrea Shearon is a freelance contributor for IGN covering games and entertainment. She's worn several hats over her seven-year career in the games industry, with bylines over at Fanbyte, USA Today's FTW, TheGamer, VG247, and RPG Site. Find her on Twitter (@Maajora) or the Materia Possessions podcast chatting about FFXIV, RPGs, and any series involving giant robots.

Dark Horse is celebrating Dragon Age Day by revealing a new pair of figurines inspired by Dragon Age: Inquisition. Solas and Cassandra are the latest two characters to join the growing lineup of Dragon Age: Inquisition Statuettes.

Check out the slideshow below for an exclusive first look at both figures, as well as the three previously revealed pieces:

Both statuettes were sculpted by Big Shot Toys, with painting and prototyping courtesy of JW Productions. They're designed in the same scale as previous Dragon Age statuettes (like the massive Iron Bull), and both measure 7.5 inches in height.

As with the other Dragon Age: Inquisition Statuettes, Cassandra and Solas are limited to 1000 pieces worldwide. They're each priced at $149.99 and are slated for release between August and October of 2023.

You can preorder both Statuettes from the Dark Horse Direct website.

Dark Horse will also rerelease both of their Dragon Age art books in a box set collection called Dragon Age: The World of Thedas.

In other Dragon Age Day news, Solas is the subject of a new cinematic trailer for Dragon Age: Dreadwolf, the long-awaited sequel to Inquisition. Meanwhile, Netflix released a new trailer for the upcoming animated series Dragon Age: Absolution.

Jesse is a mild-mannered staff writer for IGN. Allow him to lend a machete to your intellectual thicket by following @jschedeen on Twitter.

Since its first console was originally released in Japan in 1994, PlayStation has captured the hearts and minds of millions of gamers around the world. Alongside world-class gameplay and cutting-edge graphics, the stories and the characters that inhabit them have been paramount to its success. However, there have been a lot of characters over the years, and it can be tough to know who is the best of the best. So this is exactly why we asked for your help to decide this matter once and for all.

After thousands and thousands of battles with matchups like Cloud Strife vs. Solid Snake and Nathan Drake vs. Aloy, the greatest PlayStation character, according to you, has been decided. Who took the top spot? Drumroll please...

BOY... what a choice. With an 89.4% win percentage that's worthy of the gods, Kratos has defeated all who stood in his way yet again to claim this coveted Platinum Trophy. The star of God of War Ragnarok and the character who first appeared on PlayStation 2 in 2005 secured victory in 42,088 of his 47,099 battles.

While the chances of Kratos' victory may have been boosted by the recent release of God of War Ragnarok, he is undeniably an iconic character who has gone through some of the greatest character growth we've seen in and out of video games. I mean, we gave both 2018's God of War and this year's God of War Ragnarok a 10/10, and a big reason why was Kratos and Atreus' moving journey outside of the combat and angry screams.

The road to PlayStation glory was a tough one, however, and Uncharted's Nathan Drake put up a good fight and earned second place with a win percentage of 83.2%. Nathan Drake has, in recent years, been one of the most recognizable characters in PlayStation's roster, and his popularity even helped him jump to the big screen.

Speaking of characters worthy of a change of medium, The Last of Us' Joel Miller claimed spot #3 with an 80.8% win percentage, and Ellie wasn't far behind as she finished eighth. While it may be some time until we get another adventure featuring these characters, Joel and Ellie will be brought to life by Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey in HBO's The Last of Us early next year.

Rounding out the top 10 were Metal Gear Solid's Solid Snake, Marvel's Spider-Man's Spider-Man/Peter Parker, Tomb Raider's Lara Croft, Final Fantasy VII's Cloud Strife, The Last of Us' Ellie (as we mentioned), Ratchet & Clank's Ratchet, and Ghost of Tsushima's Jin Sakai.

On the other end of the PlayStation spectrum sit Odin Sphere's Oswald and Gwendolyn, who claimed the bottom two spots. We, at IGN, love Odin Sphere and its remake Odin Sphere: Leifthrasir, but these games are a bit niche when compared to the others.

The Mark of Kri's Rau Utu followed our Odin Sphere friends and, unlike many of the characters on the list, hasn't had a new game or appearance since 2005. The Getaway's Frank Carter placed one ahead of Rau and then, despite her being part of the roster of PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale, Fat Princess followed.

Rounding out the bottom 10 were The Getaway's Mark Hammond, Final Fantasy Tactics' Delita Heiral, Syphon Filter's Lian Xing, UmJammer Lammy's Lammy, and Medal of Honor's Manon Batiste.

Are you wondering where your favorite PlayStation characters landed, like maybe Aloy? (She took spot #13) For all the rankings, you can check out the full list of where all 123 PlayStation characters that competed in the face-off ended up.

For more, check out our rankings of the best PlayStation exclusives, the best PS5 games you can play now, and the greatest PlayStation games of all time.

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

After months of back and forth between employees and management, Just Cause developer Avalanche Studios – not to be confused with Hogwarts Legacy developer Avalanche Software – has published a public apology to its employees for its mishandling of a controversial hire.

The full statement can be read here under the section titled "Our Journey", and includes the following:

There have been times when we’ve had more to learn than we realized, and reflecting on where we’ve been is an important part of our journey forward.

We’re sorry we haven’t gotten things right every time.

During those times, the tireless work of Avalanchers who dedicate their attention and effort to improving the company has been invaluable.

The progress we can celebrate today is thanks to the compassion and convictions of our employees. To all Avalanchers who have spoken up throughout the years, engaged in our DEI efforts, and helped us throughout this journey, we want to say this:

Thank you for your contributions. You have our deepest respect, and we are grateful to you.

While Avalanche didn't go into the specific reasons for adding this apology to its website, IGN has spoken to a number of sources familiar with the situation at the company over the last few weeks, and who have shared more details on how Avalanche got here. According to their accounts, Avalanche's apology comes more than a year after the company hired a high-level individual who had been publicly accused of inappropriate workplace behavior toward female employees at his former company. IGN has verified the public allegations against the employee in question, but is choosing not to identify him here.

But while our sources say this person's hiring was the catalyst of their frustration, their real conflict ultimately became less with the individual in question and more with the company itself. They say that Avalanche management and HR repeatedly avoided engaging with their concerns about the company's hiring processes, dismissed feelings of discomfort from those in the company who had experienced workplace harassment in past jobs, and ignored requests for transparency on how Avalanche planned to keep employees safe going forward.

Now, over a year later, our sources tell us that Avalanche's willingness to acknowledge the matter at all is due to an overwhelming internal pushback against perceived attempts to downplay a situation that made many internally feel unsafe and unheard.

A Rumbling Avalanche

Our sources say the individual in question was hired in 2021 into a project leadership role within Avalanche Studios, a subsidiary of Nordisk Film with offices in Stockholm, New York, Malmö, and Liverpool.

Almost immediately, multiple employees raised concerns with the studio’s leadership and HR over the hire, but sources say those concerns were not acted upon. At one point, employees were allegedly reassured by leaders that they would not have to work directly with this person due to remote work and his status as a contractor – which in itself was considered unusual given his leadership role. However, our sources tell us these promises were later broken in 2022 when he began to work in the office, including holding one-to-one meetings with female employees and attending company events. This person was eventually promoted, prompting another wave of frustration from employees who did not feel their concerns were being heard by management or HR.

The individual eventually resigned in mid-2022, but sources say the lack of transparency around his hiring and the company's unwillingness to acknowledge employee concerns remained a source of agitation within the studio. In October, one employee approached Avalanche leadership on behalf of a group of employees to ask the company to apologize, but no action was taken.

Matters came to a head on November 9 when an Avalanche employee posted a message in a work Slack channel saying they were "no longer comfortable with the ethical implications of selling my labor to Avalanche Studios Group." The message, which was reviewed by IGN, specifically tagged Avalanche CEO Pim Holfve and invited employees to email the poster on their personal email for more information on the situation.

This prompted a company-wide email from Holfve later that day, in which Holfve emphasized the company's "zero tolerance" policy, and attested that Avalanche had in fact done a background check on the employee after the issue was raised internally. The background check, he says in the email reviewed by IGN, included the results from a third-party investigation at their previous workplace.

"The person has since left their contracted position with us, but the person chose to do so for project reasons only," the email continues. "Their decision had nothing to do with the accusations from their previous workplace.

"There have been no claims and no suspicion of any misconduct by the person during their time at Avalanche Studios Group." [Emphasis Holfve's]

The email concludes by promising to open an investigation of Avalanche's hiring practices led by a third-party legal company, and encouraging employees to continue raising concerns to HR and Holfve himself via existing internal channels.

On November 14, Avalanche management conducted a town hall meeting for which employees were encouraged to submit questions. Rather than answer them live, the company promised to distribute a Q&A with answers to selected questions several days later. IGN has viewed the Q&A, which sheds light on the nature of many employees' concerns, which our sources also echoed. In particular, employees voiced questions about the lack of scrupulousness in the hiring process that led to this person being brought on in the first place, why the numerous reports of discomfort didn't result in action or even acknowledgment, and the general lack of transparency from management throughout. As one of the questions in Avalanche's vetted Q&A read: "The most common question is why the concerns expressed by Avalanchers were not acted on when they were brought to managers or HR managers, asking, 'why do we not listen to our co-workers' experiences?'"

IGN has also viewed emails from the days that followed the town hall from Holfve and chief human resources officer Signe Svensson. Much of Holfve's email reiterates points from the Q&A and his previous email, but the overall tone is more contrite.

"Yesterday evening, a few Avalanchers reached out to me and Signe to share their experiences from the past year. They shared that they had not felt comfortable, and not felt heard. It saddened me to hear these accounts. No one should have to feel like this about their workplace, least of all at Avalanche.

"I can honestly say that your concerns have not reached me in the past year, and I did not know about them, or I would have acted on this information. For that, I'm really sorry. Had I known those things when yesterday's email was written, I would have apologized right there in the email - of course."

In a second email from Holfve sent a few days later, Holfve notes that his "own understanding of the events has also evolved over the last few days, and new facts have surfaced," adding that he has since learned that "there were concerns raised regarding [the employee's] leadership style going against our values and code of conduct."

"All of this highlights a number of flaws in our processes. For this, we are truly sorry. I said it to everyone on Thursday, and I'm saying it again today: we fucked up."

Holfve also repeats a refrain he'd maintained through past emails of urging employees to use internal channels such as Avalanche's whistleblower system, or by approaching him or the CPO directly. He also urges employees not to speak to media outlets about the situation, saying that "external attention would not expedite things."

Svensson's email announces to employees that Avalanche is contracting with independent DEI investigation group Gender Balance to look into the processes that led to this situation and help the company make changes to avoid it in the future. According to the employee Q&A, Gender Balance's involvement is the direct result of employee feedback. While Avalanche had initially set out to engage a legal firm, employees pushed back, urging the company to work with an organization focused on building good anti-harassment and anti-discrimination practices. The company's diversity, equity, and inclusion committee suggested Gender Balance specifically, with Gender Balance's website claiming it not only investigates harassment reports, but recommends measures "that take more than the legal side into account." The investigation began on November 21.

The Q&A also notes that Microsoft, with whom Avalanche has partnered on upcoming co-op open world game Contraband, was made aware of the situation. "They have not expressed any concerns with how we are handling what's come to light on our end."

IGN has reached out to Xbox for comment, but did not hear back in time for publication.

Change in the Wind

Multiple sources told us that over the course of this conflict, a large number of Avalanche's 500 employees have voiced their displeasure with Avalanche's handling of the situation. Those same sources added that they had each heard from others in the company who were deeply uncomfortable, but did not feel safe speaking out against management.

Update 11/28/2022 10:08 am PT: Avalanche responded to IGN's request for comment just after the publication for this piece. While the company declined to answer our specific questions, the spokesperson pointed us to the statement on the website and reiterated the points in Holfve's emails regarding its background check of the individual in question, as well as its apology for not taking action sooner.

"We’re committed to learning from our mistakes and doing much better in the future," the response reads. "To this end, we are implementing concrete steps to review and improve our processes. This includes a formal investigation that is being led by an external partner to gain clarity on the dynamic of events and identify the flaws in our processes. We’re also ensuring that our values and code of conduct are reflected in our everyday interactions, and engaging in meaningful dialogue with our employees. This is to ensure that we are creating the truly inclusive, sustainable, and welcoming workplace that all Avalanchers deserve."

Original story continues below:

Several people we spoke to expressed frustration that it took this long and this much effort to get Avalanche to take action. One source IGN spoke with again this morning called the public statement "underwhelming", saying they had expected more.

Others told IGN they hoped a public acknowledgment of some kind would serve to set an example for the industry at large. One source, who we briefly spoke with again after the apology was published, said they were feeling optimistic, and hoped this and the other actions taken by the company in recent weeks would ultimately ripple into the culture of other games studios in the region.

"They say a rising tide can lift all boats," they concluded. "This looks like sea change to me."

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

God of War Ragnarok has finally arrived and has brought Kratos, one of PlayStation’s most iconic characters, back into the spotlight. Kratos has undergone quite a journey from where he began in 2005, but is he the greatest character ever to grace the world of PlayStation? To solve this issue once and for all, we need you to help us decide who the best PlayStation character of all time is.

Now, we are talking about any PlayStation character who first appeared in a game exclusive to the platform, not just those from first-party studios, so the fight is going to be a tough one. Do you think Kratos deserves that top spot? Or is your top pick Ellie, Cloud, or Aloy? We’ve selected 123 of the best of the best PlayStation has had to offer over the years to “Face-Off” against each other two at time. Will you choose Sackboy over Astro Bot? Spyro the Dragon over Nathan Drake? The choice is yours…

(And don't forget, you can pass on a Face-Off round if you don't know a character by just hitting "skip" at the bottom of the page.)

Click here to start voting in the PlayStation character Face-Off!

What Is a Face-Off?

Like the name suggests, a Face-Off pits two things against one another and you decide which one is the superior of the two. In this case, you are voting to determine who the best PlayStation character of all time is. It's possible to see certain characters multiple times, so you can keep voting for your favorites to ensure they get ranked higher than the rest. IGN's resident team of PlayStation experts pre-selected 123 characters for you to choose from. These get randomly paired up and each time you pick a winner, it's tracked.

How Is the Winner Determined?

When voting ends on November 29, we tally up the total number of "wins" and "losses" each PlayStation character has, and create a ranked list based on your choices that will be revealed on November 30. The character that won the most matchups will be crowned the "winner," and in the event of a tied number of "wins," the character with the least "losses" will take the top spot. If you continue to keep voting for your favorite character, they'll have a better chance of ranking high on the list. You can vote as many times as you want until the Face-Off closes.

How Do I Know When I’ve Clicked Through Everything?

It's difficult to know when you've seen every PlayStation character included because they are matched randomly and there are so many possible match-ups. Playing until you vote for all your favorites or ensuring that certain characters don't get in the winner's circle are different options you can take with a Face-Off. By deciding the winner throughout all these match-ups, you're ensuring that your picks for the best video game character will have a fighting chance to reach the top of the list.

Which PlayStation Characters Have Been Included?

The list of PlayStation characters has been decided by IGN staff, and we've tried to include the best of the best from the storied history of PlayStation’s past. We’ve also decided to not keep it to just first-party studios, but expand the face-off to any character that first appeared in a PlayStation exclusive game. We’ve come up with 123 characters - good, bad, and in-between - that we believe deserve a chance to fight for the top spot. If we are missing any, do let us know in the comments below!

Click here to start voting in the best PlayStation character Face-Off!

For more, check out our rankings of the best PlayStation exclusives, the best PS5 games you can play now, and the greatest PlayStation games of all time.

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

Nioh developer Team Ninja has responded to rumours that it's planning to reboot the Dead or Alive and Ninja Gaiden franchises, indicating that we probably won't see a revival anytime soon.

Speaking to VGC, Team Ninja's creative director Tom Lee said that, despite showing both franchises at a conference under the heading "Reboot of popular series", the studio has nothing to announce regarding new entries.

"Dead or Alive and Ninja Gaiden are both long-standing pillar franchises for Team Ninja. These celebrated titles are synonymous with our studio history and reputation," said Lee.

"It goes without saying that, when speaking about the development of our past and future projects, both of these important titles cannot be left without mention. However, there are no details or information to share on either of these franchises at this present time.

"Like many of our dedicated fans, we share the enthusiasm for the return of these beloved titles. And we will be sure to provide a proper update, if and when that day arrives."

Reboot rumours began after South Korean media outlet Ruliweb reported that Team Ninja president Fumihiko Yasuda showed both franchises at the G-Star conference in Busan. A slideshow image (above) appeared to indicate the developer was looking to reboot its "popular series", with Dead or Alive and Ninja Gaiden being used as examples.

While it's perhaps most recently known for the Nioh franchise and upcoming Souls-like Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty, Team Ninja did release Dead or Alive 6 in 2019, perhaps making a reboot somewhat unusual.

Ninja Gaiden, on the other hand, may be a more fitting target. Arguably most popular as a trilogy of NES games, the franchise was rebooted previously in 2004 but, outside of countless spin-offs, has once again fallen dormant.

Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelancer and acting UK news editor. He'll talk about The Witcher all day.

Sonic the Hedgehog co-creator Yuji Naka has reportedly been arrested for suspected insider trading for an investment made while working at Square Enix.

As reported by Japanese outlet FNN and translated by GI.biz, Naka was arrested by the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office alongside two other former Square Enix employees.

Naka allegedly bought 10,000 shares in developer Aiming, at a value of around $20,000, ahead of it announcing the Dragon Quest Tact mobile game in partnership with Square Enix. The other employees arrested, Taisuke Sasaki and Fumiaki Suzuki, allegedly purchased a combined total of 162,000 shares at a value of around $337,250.

Insider trading is the buying and selling of stocks with confidential or non-public information, usually with the intention to make money, and is illegal in Japan.

The trio are therefore reportedly suspected of investing in Aiming before the Dragon Quest game was announced, expecting the collaboration with Square Enix to drive up the value of the company. It's currently unclear if Naka or the other employees have sold their shares.

Naka is arguably most known for co-creating Sonic the Hedgehog and leading Sega's Sonic Team, but was also lead programmer on other games including Nights into Dreams, Phantasy Star Online, and more. He eventually joined Square Enix but left in June 2021, not long after the release of his latest game Balan Wonderland.

Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelancer. He'll talk about The Witcher all day.

A new Legacy of Kain game is looking likely after Embracer Group received 100,000 responses to its recent survey asking fans if they wanted more from the franchise.

In its second quarter financial results, Embracer Group said it was overwhelmed with the number of responses to the survey it released in October and responded plainly: "We hear you loudly and clearly".

Phil Rogers, CEO of Embracer's 12th operative group that encompasses Legacy of Kain creator Crystal Dynamics and Eidos Interactive, said: "We wanted to gain a community perspective on what players are looking for should we revisit the land of Nosgoth and, of course, our iconic IP Legacy of Kain."

He continued: "In the post we've found that surveys typically get between [1,000] and 3,000 responses, but when we asked folk about Legacy of Kain we received over 100,000 responses, and 73,000 gamers completed it entirely.

"We saw the news of our survey shared across social and press platforms and really felt this was a great way to reignite this passionate fan community with this legendary PC console game series. Rest assured, we hear you loudly and clearly and will continue to update you on the 'What if?' possibilities ahead for Legacy of Kain in the future."

Embracer Group had made clear its plans previously to explore its developers' back catalogues, announcing in May that it sees "great potential" in making sequels, remakes, remasters, and spin-offs from dormant franchises. Legacy of Kain certainly fits the bill, with 2003's Legacy of Kain: Defiance being the most recent entry in the franchise.

Legacy of Kain is a series of action-adventure games focusing on vampires living in the grim fantasy world of Nosgoth. They were notable for their high quality writing and puzzle solving alongside action, winning many fans along the way. Uncharted creator Amy Hennig directed several of the games in her time at Crystal Dynamics.

Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelancer. He'll talk about The Witcher all day.

Activision Blizzard has announced that several of its game franchises including Overwatch, Diablo, World of Warcraft, and more will be unplayable in China as of January 23, 2023.

The Blizzard side of its business was unable to reach a new deal with Chinese tech company NetEase, who publishes the games in China, meaning its agreement will expire on the aforementioned date.

World of Warcraft, Hearthstone, Warcraft III: Reforged, Overwatch 2, the StarCraft series, Diablo III, and Heroes of the Storm will all be unplayable. Diablo: Immortal, Blizzard's controversial mobile game, is published under a separate agreement and is therefore unaffected at the moment.

Activision Blizzard is already looking into alternative ways to bring its games to China but it's unclear if and when this may happen.

"We’re immensely grateful for the passion our Chinese community has shown throughout the nearly 20 years we’ve been bringing our games to China through NetEase and other partners," said Blizzard president Mike Ybarra "Their enthusiasm and creativity inspire us, and we are looking for alternatives to bring our games back to players in the future."

As reported by Reuters, NetEase promised to serve its players "until the last minute" and keep their data and assets well protected. Upcoming expansions including World of Warcraft: Dragonflight, Hearthstone: March of the Lich King, and Overwatch 2 Season 2 will all continue to be released, but new sales of the discontinued games will be suspended in the coming days.

Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelancer. He'll talk about The Witcher all day.

Our Xbox crew mourns the passing of legendary longtime Batman voice actor Kevin Conroy, discussing how his presence and performance in the Batman: Arkham games helped elevate not just those games but the entire superhero game genre. Plus: our impressions of this week's new Xbox-exclusive releases Somerville and Pentiment, CD Projekt Red shares notable news on both Cyberpunk 2077 and The Witcher 3's next-gen update, and more!

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 our interview with Todd Howard, who answered all of our Starfield questions after the big reveal at the Xbox Showcase:

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) interview show, IGN Unfiltered. He's a North Jersey guy, so it's "Taylor ham," not "pork roll." Debate it with him on Twitter at @DMC_Ryan.

God of War: Ragnarok has plenty of fun references to PlayStation history, but now fans have discovered a conversation that calls back to PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale — the crossover fighting game released for the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita.

Warning: Light spoilers for God of War: Ragnarok below!

Like God of War 2018 before it, Ragnarok features plenty of tall tales from Kratos and Atreus' talking head companion, Mimir. One of those stories makes fun references to PlayStation All-Stars. First reported and transcribed by Press Start, Mimir directly asks Kratos about his participation in the crossover fighter, but Kratos is hesitant to talk about it.

Mimir: I’d also heard that you once fought in a tournament.

Kratos: I fought in many contests.

Mimir: But this particular one, I heard you did battle with beasts, scoundrels, princesses, the undead, automatons and… history’s greatest musician. That’s not… that’s not true, is it?

Kratos: I would not speak of this.

Mimir: Fair enough, brother.

Press Start also confirmed with Ragnarok's game director that this is indeed a direct reference to PlayStation All-Stars. It's wonderful to see that Mimir has heard that PaRappa the Rapper is the greatest musician throughout all of history.

PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale first launched in 2012. The game featured Smash Bros.-like battles between some of the most iconic characters on PlayStation at the time, including Kratos, Nathan Drake, Ratchet and Clank, Jak and Daxter, and more. The game never got a sequel, leading us here at IGN to create our own dream roster for a potential PlayStation All-Stars 2.

The reference within Ragnarok is just a small part of the charm and detail the game has to offer. We awarded Ragnarok a 10 in our review, saying "it’s a complete work of art from top to bottom." Ragnarok is also leading the way for The Game Awards 2022 with ten nominations.

Logan Plant is a freelance writer for IGN covering video game and entertainment news. He has over six years of experience in the gaming industry with bylines at IGN, Nintendo Wire, Switch Player Magazine, and Lifewire. Find him on Twitter @LoganJPlant.

The superhero world was dealt a terrible blow with the news that actor Kevin Conroy has passed away at age 66. It’s no exaggeration to say Conroy defined the voice of Batman for several generations of fans, from his original work on groundbreaking Batman: The Animated Series to follow-up shows like Batman Beyond and Justice League to the critically acclaimed Arkham games.

Bat-fans can and will debate on which actor best portrayed the character in live-action, but the simple truth is that Conroy was Batman, every bit as much as Christopher Reeve embodied Superman. With only the power of his voice, Conroy gave us the most nuanced and fully realized version of the Caped Crusader ever to appear outside the comics. This is how Conroy’s made humanity the most important tool in Batman’s crimefighting arsenal.

Batman’s Compassion for His Villains

One of the true hallmarks of Conroy’s Batman performance was his talent for drawing such a distinct line between his Bruce Wayne and Batman voices. Watching Batman: The Animated Series, it’s easy to see how even Bruce’s friends like Lucius Fox and Commissioner Gordon could remain blissfully unaware of his nighttime antics.

There’s a scene in the episode “Heart of Steel Part 1” that captures this perfectly. As Batman is doing his thing in the Batcave, Alfred fields a call from Lucius and Conroy’s voice immediately shoots up an octave and loses all its gruff edge as he mentally puts on a different mask.

But the real beauty of Conroy’s performance is that it was never simply about playing Bruce Wayne or Batman. They weren’t two people occupying the same body, but merely different shades of a person still struggling to make sense of a senseless tragedy decades after the fact. There are many moments over the course of the series where echoes of Bruce bleed into Batman’s voice, especially when dealing with his enemies.

“Heart of Ice” is an early example of this. That episode is arguably the very best in the series, and notable for fundamentally transforming Mister Freeze from a crook with a high-tech gimmick to a profoundly tragic figure. Obviously, Freeze’s voice actor Michael Ansara is doing the heaviest lifting in that episode, but Conroy also plays a vital part in helping redefine the Batman/Freeze dynamic. Bruce shows a deep pity for Victor Fries and his wife Nora. Even after ultimately defeating Freeze with the power of chicken soup, Batman doesn’t revel in his hardwon victory, but only reveals his disgust toward corrupt GothCorp CEO Ferris Boyle and the lives he destroyed.

So many episodes over the course of the series hinge on those deep, empathic connections between Batman and his foes. “Two Face Part II” ends with the iconic shot of Bruce flipping Harvey Dent’s disfigured coin into the fountain, a reminder of the friendship that was destroyed. In “Perchance to Dream,” Batman rages at the Mad Hatter after experiencing a dream world where his parents still lived, only to realize his nemesis was willing to give him paradise if it meant leaving Tetch free to pursue his dreams.

Conroy’s Batman is defined by his relationships with these twisted misfits, and the fact that he shows such compassion for them no matter how many death traps and psychological gauntlets he endures. Even the Joker is no exception. 2011’s Batman: Arkham City ends on a haunting note, as Joker finally overplays his hand and succumbs to his terminal illness. Batman seems to wrestle with the question of whether to save his foe or let Gotham finally be free of the Joker, but ultimately reveals he couldn’t condemn someone even as twisted as Joker to death.

It’s Joker who ultimately seals his own fate when he accidentally destroys Batman’s antidote. Once again, Batman takes no pride in saving his city or finally being rid of his archenemy, but simply mourns the fact that he couldn’t save a man far beyond salvation. Conroy’s performance gives life to the turmoil of emotions quietly bubbling beneath the cape and cowl.

Batman’s Battles With Age

Conroy’s Batman legacy would have been secure even if the actor never voiced the character again after Batman: The Animated Series. But thankfully, Conroy continued to voice Batman pretty regularly over the course of 30 years. Therein lies another advantage with his Batman performance. He had the opportunity to age and grow old alongside Batman in a way we’ve never really seen from the various live-action versions.

Obviously, that was the entire premise behind Batman Beyond, a BTAS sequel set decades into the future. Conroy’s versatility is on full display in every single episode. In Beyond, the combination of age, failure and regret have caused Batman and Bruce Wayne to blur together to form one aging, antisocial and embittered man. The series premiere even gives this futuristic Bruce Wayne a brief but compelling origin story, showing the final night on the job where everything went wrong.

Conroy quickly came to embody this aged, reclusive Bruce Wayne every bit as much as he did the youthful, compassionate hero of BTAS. In Beyond, Conroys voice carries a far more gravelly timbre. This Bruce is impatient and short-tempered - a man still coming to terms with the fact that he can’t be the one patrolling the streets every night. There’s so much about the thoughts, feelings and motivations of this Bruce Wayne that never has to be explicitly stated in the scripts. Conroy’s grave voice tells the full story.

But there have been other Batman stories that allowed Conroy to tackle a more subtle version of the “Batman confronts his mortality” trope. 2015’s Arkham Knight is probably the best example. While it doesn’t become apparent until well into the game, Arkham Knight chronicles Bruce’s last and most important mission as Batman. His body and mind are rapidly breaking down thanks to his ordeals in the previous two games. There’s an increasingly desperate edge to Conroy’s performance as Batman races against the clock. And in the game’s dramatic climax, Batman battles for his very soul as a flood of Scarecrow’s Fear Toxin opens the door for Joker to take over his mind. Arkham Knight allows Conroy to portray Batman at both his lowest ebb and at his most triumphant.

[sidebar - DC’s Arkham Knight prequel comic is worth checking out for more context about Bruce’s mindset during this period and his compulsion to leave a lasting mark on Gotham while he still has time left.]

Conroy is every bit as skilled at playing an elderly, embittered Batman as he is a Batman in his prime. That’s what paved the way for him to finally make the jump to live-action in 2019’s Arrowverse crossover Crisis on Infinite Earths. Conroy appears in the second episode as a Kingdom Come-inspired version of Bruce whose broken body is held together by an exoskeleton. This Bruce is as battered psychologically as he is physically. If the elderly Bruce of Batman Beyond finds some measure of redemption through his partnership with Terry McGinnis, this Bruce has become consumed by darkness and hate. It’s a chilling performance precisely because Conroy is playing such a different version of his most iconic role.

Conroy’s Batman Origin Story

Conroy always treated his Batman role with a sense of gravitas, recognizing that he was a temporary steward of a role that brings with it many hopes and expectations and responsibilities. BTAS Podcast host Justin Michael related an anecdote about Conroy’s appearance on the show. While many veteran BTAS actors would record faux-commercials for the podcast while in character, Conroy politely declined. To him, the idea of Batman shilling products for corporate America, even in jest - went against everything the character stands for.

To understand why Conroy had such a protective attachment to the Batman role, one need only turn to his autobiographical comic “Finding Batman,” which debuted in the anthology special DC Pride 2022. Working with artist J. Bone, Conroy gives readers a brief but powerful glimpse into his personal life and the struggles that shaped him on his road to becoming Batman. Conroy reflects on the difficulties of growing up as a gay man in a heavily conservative and religious community. He reveals the struggle he faced in trying to care for a mentally ill brother while also pursuing an acting career, and in watching so many friends and colleagues pass away in the ‘80s during the height of the AIDS crisis. Even his professional accomplishments became overshadowed by the homophobia rampant in Hollywood at the time.

But despite the heavy subject matter, “Finding Batman” is ultimately a story of hope. It ends with Conroy auditioning for Batman: The Animated Series and tapping into the deep well of pain and loss within. He finds a kindred spirit in Bruce Wayne, a character also forced to spend his life wearing a mask and hiding his true self from the world. Conroy’s pain becomes Bruce’s pain, and that’s where his Batman springs to life.

Conroy writes, “It seemed to roar from thirty years of frustration, confusion, denial, love yearning… Yearning for what? An anchor, a harbor, a sense of safety, a sense of identity. Yes, I can relate. Yes, this is terrain I know well. I felt Batman rising from deep within.”

That’s what made Conroy the voice of Batman. He brought a lifetime of hardship and adversity to the table and harnessed it. Not to create a dark terror of the night, but to build a Batman shaped by pain and defined by compassion for his friends and enemies alike. Conroy’s Batman is the most human Caped Crusader of them all, and for that reason he’ll probably always be the standard by which all other Batmen are judged.

Jesse is a mild-mannered staff writer for IGN. Allow him to lend a machete to your intellectual thicket by following @jschedeen on Twitter.

Your Chromebook is capable of so much more than its reputation would have you believe. While it’s true that the Chromebook needs an internet connection for some of its best features, you can use it to game even when you’re offline.

It’s not a laptop computer when it comes to processing power, but a Chromebook can easily keep up with some of the most popular games of the year. Take full advantage of that good Chromebook you bought with these picks for the best Chromebook games to play right now.

Stardew Valley

Stardew Valley is the iconic indie farming simulator chock full of nostalgic imagery and relaxing tasks to complete. While you might get stressed about mining enough ore before you fall asleep at 2 a.m., Stardew Valley is clearly designed for low-pressure gaming. That said, once you start your farm, you’ll probably be checking your Chromebook incessantly to advance the game, which downloads right onto your Chromebook so you can play offline.

Among Us

When you have an internet connection, Among Us is easily one of the best picks for gaming on your Chromebook. Try to figure out who the impostor is (or evade the crewmembers who suspect you as the impostor) as you work to repair your escape vehicle — a ruined spaceship — with your teammates. It’s collaborative, engaging, and super fast-paced.

Terraria

Terraria is a fascinating and inventive game that marries the creativity and buildable nature of games like Minecraft with the puzzles and nostalgia of dungeon crawlers and platformers. In a world where everything is destroyable — and many of those components join together to create various weapons — you’ll quickly find yourself bopping your head to the techno beat and enjoying some immersive gameplay.

Alto’s Odyssey

Alto’s Odyssey shines on a touchscreen Chromebook, especially if you have a two-in-one. Flip your Chromebook into tablet mode and dive into this stunning downhill runner. As you ski down the hill, you’ll come across endless obstacles that might cause your demise, or might rocket you into a long jump past the pretty sunset.

Spelunky

Spelunky changed the game for platformers when it was released almost a decade ago, and it’s still well worth playing on your Chromebook (right in your browser, at that!). This platformer set in a dank dungeon has a slew of randomized levels where you need to loot as much as you can before moving onto the next level. You’ll find yourself playing the original over and over and over, but you’ll have to use your gaming console or PC to play Spelunky 2.

Fallout Shelter

Keep your apocalyptic crew alive in this looping simulation game inspired by the challenges you come across in Fallout. In this (much smaller) game, you’ll assign dwellers to keep your bunker running as new dwellers and enemies present threats to survival. You could play Fallout Shelter forever, but it’ll be a while before your bunker lasts long enough to thrive.

Asphalt 9: Legends

You’ll be seriously impressed with your Chromebook when you see how well it handles Asphalt 9: Legends, a racing game fit with tons of vehicles made by the car manufacturers you drool over in the real world — Lamborghini, Ferrari, Porsche. Take the wheel in this realistic racing game that shines on touchscreen Chromebooks.

Hearthstone

If you’re looking for a digital card game to always have open on your Chromebook, Hearthstone is perhaps the best one out there. This game is massively popular because of its expansive world built out using beautiful cards and complicated turns. Hearthstone is sort of like Magic: The Gathering, both in the gameplay and in the hordes of obsessive players that know everything about the fantasy world it’s set in. Did we mention it’s free to play?

Oxenfree

Oxenfree mixes the alluring mystery of a time travel platformer with the crushing heartbreak of grief and how it feels to be a teenager. Set on an island with all sorts of odd time-space activity going on, this game logs your decisions to determine what happens next. Or what happened before. Or what’s happening in an alternate reality.

Roblox

After years of Chromebook users struggling to play Roblox on their devices, this game is finally available on the Play Store. Roblox is possibly the most popular user-generated game out there, with kids younger than you designing beautiful worlds to explore for hours. You can interact with other players, too, as well as nearly everything in the game environment.

Injustice 2

Embody your favorite superheroes in Injustice 2, the massive multiplayer fighting game set in the DC universe. Play as one of tens of classic characters including Batman, Catwoman, Harley Quinn, and Wonder Woman, or choose from the selection of new characters like Black Canary, Doctor Fate, or Poison Ivy. Don’t forget to pick up the costumes littered all around this game to customize your character.

Genshin Impact

Genshin Impact is one of the best mobile games you can play right now. With an expansive open world, consistent updates, and enjoyable combat-filled gameplay, it's definitely worth downloading on your Chromebook. That being said, not all Chromebooks are able to run this game, so make sure you take a look at the list of devices that are able to run Android apps.

Zoë Hannah is a freelance video games, mental health, and e-commerce journalist. You can find her reviews, essays, and reporting in publications like WIRED, IGN, Insider, and more. When she's not writing, you can find her curled up with a spooky video game or an immersive novel. Find her on Twitter @zoehhannah or browse her clips at zoehhannah.com.

Whether you use your iPad as a portable workhorse or as a creative tool, you aren’t taking full advantage of your tablet until you start gaming on it.

With a beautiful, expansive screen and a huge selection of games available in the App Store, there’s never a shortage of new titles to try on your iPad. These games are best on the iPad because they shine on the Liquid Retina screen, they creatively employ the mobility of the device, or simply because they’re downright great games.

Remember the early iPad days, when a quick game of Temple Run or slicing kiwis in Fruit Ninja was enough to forget about life's dramas? Let’s go back there, friends, with some of the best games to play on your iPad and iPad Pro.

Genshin Impact

Make space on your iPad because this iconic game is both impossible to ignore and extremely space-intensive. But it’s well worth the 20 GB of storage needed for Genshin Impact because the cult open-world RPG will likely become your favorite iPad game. You’ll hardly ever run out of new things to explore in Genshin Impact, like the rowdy carousel of manga-style characters or the beautiful world filled with inventive enemies. The best part? It’s completely free to play, and players report that you don’t have to spend anything to enjoy the best the game has to offer.

Stardew Valley

If you want to relax and grow food while juggling the normal anxieties of normal life — dating, fulfilling the wishes of your late grandfather, running a farm, making sure you pet your chickens every day — Stardew Valley is the game for you. The tap controls work great on iPad, with the added bonus of a bigger screen so you can peek at all the cute details in this iconic indie game.

Among Us

It’s like Mafia, but online. What’s not to love? Among Us made us feel like we were among anyone but ourselves during the height of the pandemic. It’s maintained its popularity in the months since because of its fast-paced, social environment that sort of makes you feel like you’re playing a game with all the big kids in the neighborhood after dark.

Minecraft

We're probably supposed to put something about your children loving their Minecraft creations more than they love you, but we won’t do that, because you already know. But the question is, have you tried Minecraft? This game is beloved not just by little ones — it’s actually an incredibly advanced open world survival game that you can explore literally forever. The colors are practically made to be enjoyed on a big, beautiful screen, and you’ll enjoy using the touch controls on your iPad if you don’t have a PC to play this with. Alternatively, hooking up a Bluetooth mouse and keyboard to your iPad may make your Minecraft experience even better.

Alto’s Odyssey

It’s essentially a crime to play Alto’s Odyssey on a screen smaller than your iPad screen, even if you’re working with an iPad Mini. This endless downhill platformer has been at the top of every mobile game chart since its release in 2018, and it’s possibly the prettiest game on the App Store today. With a calming color palette and a slew of engaging levels that both excite you and chill you out, you won’t want to put your iPad down once you start skiing in Alto’s Odyssey.

Civilization VI

If turn-based strategy games are your bag, Civ VI is perhaps the best one you’ll find on iPad. This game is free to play, but it won’t belong before you’re dropping real cash so you can play past the first 60 turns. Keep your civilization alive and prospering for as long as possible as you stand up to the trials of a growing society — deities determined to make life on Earth harder, for instance.

Monument Valley

Even though Monument Valley was released all the way back in 2014, it still stands the test of time even eight years later. This isometric puzzle platformer is befuddling, addictive, and filled with visuals that’ll make you so glad you splurged on that Liquid Retina screen. I can’t promise that this one will be relaxing, since the levels are increasingly challenging and visually confounding, but I can promise that it’ll be the first thing you open on your iPad every time for at least a few weeks after you buy it.

The Gardens Between

Similar to Monument Valley, The Gardens Between uses isometry to create puzzles that will light up parts of your brain you haven’t used in eons. This nostalgic puzzle game tells the story of two childhood friends forced apart when one moves away. It plays off of backyard imagination and a kid’s conception of time to stretch core memories into fascinating puzzles that can only be solved when you let time move forward. Yes, it will make you cry.

Dot’s Home

If you want to learn something while you play a unique and fascinating game with adorable animation, check out Dot’s Home. This game uses real-life experiences of Black Americans who have been (and still are) disenfranchised through housing discrimination to fill out a heartwrenching story of a time-traveling activist. As Dot discovers the tough decisions her family has made to ensure adequate housing over the decades, she’s exposed to the (based on reality) ways her parents and grandparents were taken advantage of by landlords, developers, and gentrifiers.

Oxenfree

Speaking of time travel, Oxenfree is one of the best time travel games out there today and it really shines on iPad. Touch controls are best for this game since you move around the platformer by clicking where you want to go. I loved playing Oxenfree, which follows a mourning teen as she visits her late brother’s favorite spooky island with a group of friends, on my Nintendo Switch, but touch controls would’ve made the experience even better. Plus, you can keep diving into the time warp over and over again until you’ve experienced all the outcomes of this heartbreaking game.

Donut County

Donut County is satisfying, addictive to no end, and extremely cute. What more could you ask for from an iPad game? With extra space to appreciate all the details in this puzzle-ish game, the iPad takes Donut County from cutesy download to fascinating feat of programming. Drag your hole in the ground around to absorb the items around you, making your hole bigger and more destructive with each item you take.

Dungeons of Dreadrock

Dive into Dungeons of Dreadrock, a nostalgic dungeon crawler that takes place beneath a snowy mountain filled with enemies and puzzles. This 16-bit game evokes old Zelda games, both in aesthetics and in how masterfully difficult the puzzles are. With 100 relatively short levels to pass, Dungeons of Dreadrock is perfect for gaming on your iPad.

Zoë Hannah is a freelance video games, mental health, and e-commerce journalist. You can find her reviews, essays, and reporting in publications like WIRED, IGN, Insider, and more. When she's not writing, you can find her curled up with a spooky video game or an immersive novel. Find her on Twitter @zoehhannah or browse her clips at zoehhannah.com.

Nintendo has shared another look at the future of indie games on Nintendo Switch thanks to today's Indie World Showcase. In this roughly 25-minute presentation, Nintendo shared updates on previously released titles, a couple of exciting ports, and some brand new surprises.

From Sports Story — the Golf Story sequel first announced way back in 2019 — finally getting a release month, to indie darling Inscryption making its way to Nintendo Switch, here's everything that happened during today's Indie World Showcase.

Sports Story Comes to Nintendo Switch in December

The long-awaited sequel to 2017's Golf Story is finally hitting Nintendo Switch next month. Sports Story is about a lot more than golf, and even about more than sports. The wacky trailer showed off golf, tennis, soccer, BMX, volleyball, and cricket. But when you're not competing, you'll be exploring dungeons, hanging out at the mall, or solving mysteries.

Rogue Legacy 2 Is Available on Nintendo Switch Today

Esteemed roguelite Rogue Legacy 2 is coming to the Switch eShop later today. The Switch version includes the Fabled Heroes update, which includes dozens of new sub-classes and items.

Rogue Legacy 2 launched earlier this year, and we called the game amazing in our review, saying, "Rogue Legacy 2 is a transformative sequel that essentially rebuilds the extraordinarily influential 2013 original into a modern roguelite that stands nearly shoulder to shoulder with the best of the genre."

Pepper Grinder Is a New Action-Adventure From Devolver Digital

Treasure hunter Pepper has been shipwrecked and robbed, forcing her to use her trusty grill to take back what's hers. This gorgeous pixel-art action-adventure features super fast action with fluid drill combat. Along the way, you'll collect treasure and other riches and use them to upgrade Pepper or unlock more paths on the world map.

Pepper Grinder is coming to Nintendo Switch in 2023.

Have a Nice Death: Roguelike Starring the Grim Reaper Hits Switch Next Year

This roguelike impressed us last year ahead of its PC release, and now Have a Nice Death is coming to Nintendo Switch. The game stars the grim reaper himself, with a corporate twist. Death is an overworked CEO who has to restore the work-death balance at his company by fighting his own subordinates. It has crazy fast hack-and-slash combat with combos and spell and weapons upgrades.

Have a Nice Death is coming to Nintendo Switch on March 22, 2023.

Explore the French Countryside in Dordogne

From French indie studio Un Je Ne Sais Quoi, Dordogne is an immersive narrative experience starring Mimi: A Woman who returns to her late grandmother's home where she used to spend every summer. You'll play as Mimi in the past and present, as you uncover family secrets and explore the French countryside.

Dordogne is coming to Switch in Spring 2023.

A Space for the Unbound Is About Young Love in Rural Indonesia

This slice-of-life adventure game is set in the late 1990s in rural Indonesia. A Space for the Unbound tells the relationship of a boy and a girl with supernatural powers, who are forced into action when a mysterious power threatens their towns existence. The gameplay largely recolces around exploring the town and meeting the townsfolk to uncover secrets about the town and each other.

A Space for the Unbound is coming to Nintendo Switch on January 19, 2023.

Once Upon a Jester Brings Improv Theater to Nintendo Switch

Once Upon a Jester attempts to infuse the world of improvisational theater into a video game. It stars best friends Jester and Sok, who have hatched a scheme to steal a Royal Diamond. To do so, they must be admitted to the Royal Theatrical Spectacle. This takes them to a bizarre kingdom where anything can happen, and no two performances within the game are the same.

Once Upon a Jester will be available on Switch later today.

Desta: The Memories Between Features Dodgeball In Your Dreams

From the creators of Monument Valley, Desta: The Memories Between takes the isometric viewpoint of its well-known mobile game and adds elements of dodgeball. In this game, players compete in a metaphorical ball game during their dreams, where perfect throws and trick shots can change the course of the narrative. With a heavy focus on story and conversations, the game also features a full voice cast.

Desta: The Memories Between comes to Switch in early 2023.

Goodbye World Is About the Struggles to Develop a Video Game

Goodbye World is about as meta as it gets, as it's a video game about two friends trying to find the perfect idea for their next video game. While following the characters' day-to-day struggles, you'll also play a retro-inspired puzzle platformer on a handheld that resembles a Game Boy.

Goodbye World is coming to Nintendo Switch later this month.

Aka Takes Players on a Journey to Find Inner Peace

Aka puts players in the shoes of retired warrior Aka, who is seeking inner peace on an isolated island paradise. In this cozy open world game, you can take care of a garden, build a shelter, feed baby dragons, or lie on top of a giant capybara. Aka can also set out on quests to meet characters, and face the ghosts of their past.

Aka is coming to Nintendo Switch on December 15.

Blanc Is a Textless Co-op Adventure Starring a Fawn and a Wolf Cub

Also featured in May 2022's Indie World Showcase, Blanc is a textless co-op adventure starring a fawn and a wolf cub. Two players must coordinate and use their individual abilities to navigate the snowy landscape. The game features both online and local co-op.

Blanc is coming to Nintendo Switch on February 14, 2023.

Solve Plant-Based Puzzles and Tend to a Garden in Botany Manor

Botany Manor is all about gardening. You play as Arabelle Green, a retired botanist who lives in a 19th century historical manor. By solving plant-based puzzles, you'll preserve a collection of forgotten flora and take care of the manor's garden. Players will need to inspect the manor to find clues, newspaper clippings, and more to help grow your own gardening skills.

Botany Manor is coming to Nintendo Switch in 2023.

Cook Delicious South Indian Dishes in Venba

Venba is a wholesome narrative cooking game set in the 1980s, where an Indian family recently immigrated to Canada. You play as the mother of the family, who is looking to reconnect with her heritage by cooking a variety of South Indian dishes. Branching conversations tell a story of love and loss, and the game's soundtrack is inspired by Indian musicals.

Venba is coming to Nintendo Switch in Spring 2023.

Oni: Road to be the Mightiest Oni Is a 3D Action-Adventure

Oni: Road to be the Mightiest Oni is a 3D action-adventure game with an art style somewhat reminiscent of Dragon Quest. You play as a vengeful demon warrior who joins forces with a spirit to fight ancient demons. Both characters are controlled simultaneously using a single Joy-Con controller. But you'll need to be careful, as some demon enemies are invincible, and your only choice will be to run.

Oni: Road to be the Mightiest Oni comes to Nintendo Switch on March 9, 2023.

Organize Everyday Objects in A Little to the Left, Out Today

If you love organizing your household objects to look as neat as possible, A Little to the Left is the game for you. There are over 75 puzzles to solve, where you organize household objects into satisfying arrangements. Many of the puzzles have multiple solutions. And, there's a cat who will interrupt your organization sessions, which I can tell you from personal experience, is extremely realistic.

A Little to the Left is available on Nintendo Switch today.

Coffee Talk Episode 2 Has Even More Quirky Characters to Meet

Coffee Talk Episode 2: Hibiscus & Butterfly is a sequel to the 2020 indie game Coffee Talk. As a barista of a late-night coffee shop, you meet quirky characters ranging from an opera singing banshee to an orc who develops video games. You'll listen to their stories while figuring out the perfect cup of joe for each customer, all set to a chill, lo-fi soundtrack.

Coffee Talk Episode 2 comes to Nintendo Switch in Spring 2023.

Nintendo Indie World Showcase Featured a Sizzle Reel of Upcoming Games, Including Inscryption

Nintendo also shared a sizzle reel of indie games coming to Nintendo Switch. Here's a list of the games that were featured:

• WrestleQuest, May 2023
• Wobbledogs Console Edition, November 17
• Storyteller, March 23
• World of Horror, Summer 2023
• Curse of the Sea Rats, early 2023
• Inscryption, December 1

Logan Plant is a freelance writer for IGN covering video game and entertainment news. He has over six years of experience in the gaming industry with bylines at IGN, Nintendo Wire, Switch Player Magazine, and Lifewire. Find him on Twitter @LoganJPlant.

Publisher Take-Two Interactive has announced another milestone for Grand Theft Auto V with 170 million units sold, while Red Dead Redemption has hit the 70 million mark.

During Take-Two’s quarterly earnings call, the company’s investor presentation revealed sales numbers for both series. As a franchise, Grand Theft Auto has sold more than 385 million units, with 170 million of those attributed to GTA 5.

As pointed out by @DomsPlaying on Twitter, that’s a smaller jump from the “nearly 170 million” mentioned in Take-Two’s last earnings report. In that same report, GTA 5 sold around 5 million copies in a single quarter. Speaking to GamesIndustry.biz, Take-Two executive VP of finance Hannah Sage noted the company only updates GTA 5’s sales in increments of 5 million.

As for Red Dead Redemption, sales are up by another 2 million units since the publisher’s last earnings call. The franchise, which includes both Red Dead Redemption 1 and 2, has sold 70 million units worldwide.

Back in August, Take-Two had an optimistic outlook on its mobile future after the Zynga acquisition. However, Barrons highlights that the financial forecast took a dip, with cuts for the fiscal year outlook attributed to a weakened global economy and reduced mobile spending.

Regardless, both Rockstar Games’ series have crushed industry records for years now. GTA 5 made $1 billion in retail sales faster than any other entertainment release in history, a feat it achieved in only three days. And despite being a decade old, the developer is still pushing out next-gen patches for its open-world heists.

Andrea Shearon is a freelance contributor for IGN covering games and entertainment. She's worn several hats over her seven-year career in the games industry, with bylines over at Fanbyte, USA Today's FTW, TheGamer, VG247, and RPG Site. Find her on Twitter (@Maajora) or the Materia Possessions podcast chatting about FFXIV, RPGs, and any series involving giant robots.

Sony and Insomniac have announced they're adding five Ratchet & Clank games to PlayStation Plus Premium as part of the series’ 20th anniversary celebration, as well as adding new cosmetics to Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart.

The Ratchet & Clank series already has a handful of games on PlayStation Plus Premium, such as the PlayStation 3 games A Crack in Time and Into the Nexus. Now, the PS3 remasters of original PlayStation 2 games, as well as Tools of Destruction, will also be joining the subscription service on November 15. The new additions include:

• Ratchet & Clank
• Ratchet & Clank: Going Commando
• Ratchet & Clank: Up Your Arsenal
• Ratchet & Clank: Deadlocked
• Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction

Alongside the PlayStation Plus Premium games, Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart is receiving an update as part of the anniversary celebration, which includes five new armor sets for Ratchet and Rivet based on different games in the series' history.

The Ratchet & Clank franchise is one of PlayStation’s longest-running, having begun on the PlayStation 2 after Insomniac shifted away from the original Spyro the Dragon series. Following this, the series was a mainstay of the PlayStation 3 generation with the Future subseries. The PlayStation 4 only had one game, a remake of the original game that launched alongside a theatrical film.

Outside of Ratchet & Clank, Insomniac is working on its Spider-Man series, with Spider-Man 2 set to launch on PS5 next year.

Kenneth Shepard is a writer covering games, entertainment, and queerness all around the internet. Find him on Twitter at @shepardcdr, and listen to his biweekly video game retrospective podcast Normandy FM, which is currently covering Cyberpunk 2077.

Square Enix has officially announced Symbiogenesis, a new NFT collectible art project that’s coming in Spring 2023 alongside a free browser service.

"Symbiogenesis is brand-new entertainment content set in a self-contained world where a wide cast of characters symbiosis, all of which can be collected as digital art; an interactive story and a dedicated community," Square Enix says in a statement. "The art can be used for social media profile pictures (PFP) and as a character in a story that takes place in an alternate world where the player can ’untangle’ a mystery by completing missions that revolve around questions of the monopolization and distribution of resources. With each strategic move players make, more of the story unfolds."

NFT Collectible Art Project
SYMBIOGENESIS
Untangle the Story
Spring 2023#SYMBIOGENESIS #symgeNFT #NFT #NFTProjects pic.twitter.com/Kk1JvMdQx4

— SYMBIOGENESIS (@symbiogenesisPR) November 3, 2022

Not much else is known about this Web3 project, but last month, Square Enix trademarked Symbiogenesis in Japan. It was rumored to be some sort of Parasite Eve revival due to the word Symbiogenesis meaning a process where two separate organisms combine to create one. Notably, this process is the basis for Parasite Eve’s story.

Those who were hoping for a new Parasite Eve game will undoubtedly be disappointed. Square Enix already mentioned it was interested in dabbling in blockchain games. Square Enix president Yosuke Matsuda ushered in 2022 with a New Year’s letter explaining how the metaverse would be an upcoming hot topic within the games industry and for the company. And then earlier this year, the company also sold a Cloud Strife figure that doubled as an NFT.

The last Parasite Eve game was The 3rd Birthday, which was released in 2011 for the PlayStation Portable.

George Yang is a freelance writer for IGN. He's been writing about the industry since 2019 and has worked with other publications such as Insider, Kotaku, NPR, and Variety.

When not writing about video games, George is playing video games. What a surprise! You can follow him on Twitter @Yinyangfooey