The feature lets you seamlessly switch between multiple games without exorbitant loading screens or startup times. With Quick Resume, you can play one game, pause that one to pick up your progress in a completely different game, and repeat without any hiccups. The trailer, embedded below, shows someone switching between Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, Minecraft Dungeons, Skate 3, Black, and back to Jedi Fallen Order with only a few seconds of delay between each swap.
Microsoft detailed the Quick Resume feature earlier this month in a comparison video that showed off the load times between the Xbox Series S and the Xbox One S. Thanks to the system’s increased power and new features like Quick Resume, load times on the Series S are as low as 12 seconds for a game like Obsidian’s The Outer Worlds. The Xbox One S took 53 seconds to load the same content.
From the infamous $600 price tag on the PlayStation 3 60 GB launch model, to the Xbox One with Kinect, home consoles can cost a pretty penny. Now that we finally know the launch prices for the Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, and PlayStation 5, we’ve gone back to take a look at some of the most expensive home gaming consoles ever released.
We’ve ranked the top ten by adjusting their launch prices to 2020 value using an online inflation calculator. Believe it or not, some have almost doubled in value since their original launch.
Sony CEO Jim Ryan has said there will be more PS5 units available at launch than there were for the release of PS4 in 2013.
Speaking to The Washington Post, Ryan said there would be more PlayStation 5 units available on release than last-gen. While he offers no concrete number, the Post points out that a million PS4s were sold on day one alone, and 2.1 million were sold in the first two weeks, which should offer some idea of the numbers involved.
Ryan also explained that the ongoing pandemic had made that seem uncertain at one point: “For quite some time, in the early part of covid, that picture was far from clear. Just as the supply things was unclear, would there be any market? Would anyone be allowed to go outside? Would any shops be open? This has been a year like no other. But all of that just reinforced our resolve, and the path we determined at the start of the year was absolutely the right one.”
There’s been much discussion in recent months as to how Sony was being hit by the knock-on effects of factory closures and supply chain issues. Most recently, reports emerged that PS4 had cut production by 4 million units – reports Sony swiftly denied, saying the number had not changed.
PS5 preorders have now opened, after we got confirmed pricings of US$499 / £449 / AU$750 for the full edition, and US$399 / £359 / AU$600 for the digital edition. The console will arrive on November 12 in the US, Japan, Canada, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand and South Korea and November 19 in all other territories.
Here’s where you can preorder the PS5 from a number of major retailers:
Joe Skrebels is IGN’s Executive Editor of News. Follow him on Twitter. Have a tip for us? Want to discuss a possible story? Please send an email to [email protected].
In the ancient Greek myth of Sisyphus, a poor soul is doomed to forever push a boulder uphill without rest. Each time he’d push it up, it would roll back down again and he’d have to start anew. But what if that Herculean climb uphill was actually awesome combat against a randomized variety of enemies as you fight your way out of Hell, with a wide range of godly powers that grow and combine in interesting ways as you progress? And what if, instead of going back to zero, you got a little stronger each time with some help from a colorful cast of allies and enemies who remember each of your attempts? That’s Hades’ premise, and the Greek mythology-themed rogue-lite that developer Supergiant has built around it makes going to Hell a joy.
The journey of Zagreus, son of Hades, through the labyrinthine Underworld toward the freedom of the mortal realm unfolds from an isometric perspective as you take on hordes of colorfully animated undead that fill the screen with danger in every randomly ordered room you pass through. Fortunately, Zag is a skilled warrior capable of wielding six different weapons, each with four different variants. Each of these Infernal Arms is geared to complement a certain playstyle. Want to get in the thick of it and wreck some demons? Then consider the straightforward Stygian Blade. Prefer to peck at foes from a safe distance? Then channel your inner Artemis and use the bow. Later you’ll unlock a bashing shield, a spear, and more, and each plays significantly differently, creating one of many layers of replayability for Hades.
Regardless of your weapon of choice, Zag can use a dash to dart out of trouble or to get into a more advantageous position. And let me tell you — few things in life are as satisfying as a successful last-second dodge that sets you up for stabbing an enemy in the back for bonus damage.
[poilib element=”quoteBox” parameters=”excerpt=Almost%20inevitably%2C%20the%20forces%20of%20Hades%20will%20overwhelm%20you.”]The final mechanic in Zag’s moveset is the cast: a skill-shot based projectile that fires a red jewel into an enemy for a quick burst of damage. The jewel embeds itself into a target, disqualifying you from firing another cast until you kill the enemy and retrieve your ammunition, so shooting it at the biggest, meanest enemy in the room isn’t always the best idea. As with each one of Zag’s moves, using it well involves a delicate balance between risk and reward.
Almost inevitably, though, the forces of Hades will overwhelm you eventually, and every death sends Zag back home to start over from scratch, save for persistent currencies and progress in relationships with the wonderful cast of characters who inhabit the Underworld, from lord Hades himself all the way down. So you’re going to be spending a lot of time getting to know everyone — and it’s time very well spent.
Zag is a rebellious heartthrob trying to find his place in the world between Hades and Mount Olympus. His sympathetic coming-of-age story brought me in, but I fell in love with his tongue-in-cheek musings on the world around him and snarky back-and-forth with the disembodied voice of the Narrator.
[poilib element=”quoteBox” parameters=”excerpt=Each%20personality%20feels%20like%20an%20authentic%20reinterpretation%20of%20a%20classic%20Greek%20myth%2C%20and%20they%E2%80%99re%20all%20a%20joy%20to%20behold.”]But the heart and soul of Hades, outside of its combat, lies in Zag’s interaction with various deities and mythic figures from Greek myth, like Achilles, Orpheus, and more. It turns out that adding a dash of dating simulator mechanics to a rogue-lite was the secret sauce in making good use of a large cast of interesting characters. Each personality feels like an authentic reinterpretation of a classic Greek myth, and they’re all a joy to behold. For instance, instead of painting Sisyphus as a tragic character, he’s an optimist who you encounter on a break while the gods aren’t watching. Even his boulder (affectionately known as Bouldy) sports a carved smile that reacts in silence upon interaction. Investing in Zag’s relationships with each character paves the way for interesting backstory reveals, world-building, new sidequests, or even items to assist on your future escape attempts.
Not only are conversations and side stories actively engaging — attempting to reunite Achilles with his life-long partner, Patroclus, or Orpheus with his long-lost muse Euridice, are genuinely moving and hearken back to the kind of melodrama the ancient Greeks were so good at — there are also gameplay benefits! Advancing these relationships far enough grants you persistent keepsakes and companions, which are both invaluable tools in aiding Zag’s quest to run away from home. Of course, not all keepsakes are as useful as others; given the choice between the Lucky Tooth that grants you an additional chance at life if you’re killed or Olympic keepsakes that increase your chance at better drops, I’m going with a second life every time.
Something that’s truly special and unusual about Hades is that Supergiant Games uses these persistent relationships to travel the difficult path of marrying story to gameplay, and in doing so elevates the simple loop of Zag’s escape into something more than the sum of its parts. Within the world of most rogue-lites, a failed run is not typically seen as part of the story (with apologies to Rogue Legacy). But in Hades, a death leads to Zag returning home to mockery (usually from Papa Hades). This transforms something as fundamental as death from a video game-y failure state into in-game world building. Characters remember your triumphs and failures with a staggering amount of incidental dialogue that made me feel like I was constantly chipping away at new content within Zagreus’ story even when I failed. After a while I no longer feared death, I embraced it as an opportunity to learn and revist friends back in the House of Hades to see if they have something new to say.
[poilib element=”quoteBox” parameters=”excerpt=I%20no%20longer%20feared%20death%2C%20I%20embraced%20it%20as%20an%20opportunity%20to%20learn%20and%20revist%20friends%20back%20in%20the%20House%20of%20Hades.”]Losing the fear of death is important, because you’re going to do a lot of dying. I didn’t manage a successful escape until attempt 31 (which I hear is roughly the average…I hope). Fortunately, while things with the citizens of the Underworld might be complicated, Zag’s aunts, uncles, and cousins up on Olympus are eager to assist his rebellion thanks in equal part to genuine familial care and wanting to rub Lord Hades’ nose in it if you eventually succeed. Their aid comes in the form of boons (run-specific tokens from the gods that grant Zag godly power-ups) that modify to Zag’s abilities, making every run feel new and unique. Some are smaller, min-max stat-worthy benefits that often feel like a daily vitamin — you’re not sure you notice the difference they make as you play, but they stack up over time and make all the behind-the-scenes numbers larger in your favor, so it’s probably a good thing.
And of course, during each run you also build your relationships with the Gods of Olympus by offering them tokens of appreciation in the form of nectar and ambrosia that you collect, which also grant you access to their own collection of keepsakes and up the chances of receiving rare, epic, and heroic variants of their boons with progressively better stats.
Those familiar with Greek myth are already aware of the fickle nature of the gods.Every now and then, treks through Hades present Zag with a Trial of the Gods, a chamber that allows you to select one of two different deities to commune with. Poseidon may be your bestie early on in your quest, but choose Dionysus over him in a later Trial and he won’t hesitate to make your life a living hell in this particular chamber. Your reward, should you survive, is possessing two different boons at once as opposed to the typical one.
Sometimes the gods play nice together. Say, for example, you have the Curse of Agony from Ares, a boon that allows you to inflict doom status (which inflicts an additional burst of damage after a brief period of time) on an enemy with normal attacks. But if, upon clearing another chamber you find Athena’s Divine Dash (which upgrades your dash move to deflect incoming attacks) a rare duo boon will activate, combining the strengths of both into one convenient package. In this case it creates Merciful End, which inflicts any enemy hit with a deflected attack with doom status. These combinations of powers are wonderful surprises.
[poilib element=”quoteBox” parameters=”excerpt=And%20let%20me%20tell%20you%2C%20that%20rabbit%20hole%20runs%20deep.”]And let me tell you, that rabbit hole runs deep. There are a ton of different boons and combinations to earn, and you’ll still be seeing new ones after dozens of runs. Like any good roguelike, Hades forces you to make difficult decisions that either complement your current build or throw caution to the wind and attempt a riskier build that could pay off four chambers down the line…if you survive long enough and luck into the boon you’re hoping for.
All of that feeds into Hades’ impressive replayability. Once again, I’m blown away by the staggering amount of content within Hades. While you may face the same bosses over and over again, they too will adapt to your increase in power level. Whether it be in the form of Street Fighter-style assists from siblings, sprouting new heads, or fancy new armor, repeated encounters with bosses felt fresh because of these clever modifications to how they fight. It makes sense within the fiction as well, considering the bosses remember their past failures and successes against you. Each fight is like a rematch between rivals rather than a repeat.
Like me, after a couple of successful escapes you may find yourself thinking, “How can I make subsequent attempts harder?” Enter the Pacts of Punishment, a challenge board that allows you to activate a number of modifiers to make Hades even more challenging. Toggling one on adds allows you to earn new rewards, making every playthrough fresh and exciting. You’re constantly given incentive to shake up your playstyle, whether it be through rewarding you with a currency buff for using weapons you don’t normally use, or completing objectives within a scroll known as the “Fated List of Minor Prophecies.” (Get it? The optional objectives known as prophecies will eventually come true, it’s just a matter of time.)
[poilib element=”quoteBox” parameters=”excerpt=You’re%20constantly%20given%20incentive%20to%20shake%20up%20your%20playstyle.”]I rolled credits on Hades at approximately 48 hours and I’m still met with new storylines, challenges, and side stories to tackle — and a peak at the achievement list teases an epilogue I’ve yet to discover how to unlock.
There is a lot going today. The new NVIDIA GeForce 30 series video cards are available starting this morning. The best deal of the bunch is the RTX 3080, which offers more power than the RTX 2080 Ti at almost half the price. The problem is, almost every single video card sold out instantly. Fortunately, pre-configured gaming PCs equipped with these new video cards are still available. PS5 preorders also kicked off late last night. Plenty have already been sold, but I’m pretty confident that more preorder opportunities will be available today.
______________________________ Eric Song is IGN’s deal curator and spends roughly 1/4 of his income on stuff he posts. Check out his latest Daily Deals Article and subscribe to his IGN Deals Newsletter.
If you’ve been lucky enough to secure yourself a PS5 preorder, then sit back, relax, and check out all the really cool gear you can get to go alongside it. PlayStation is going all out with the PS5 gear, you can currently preorder the brand new DualSense Wireless Controller, alongside a slew of other gleaming white accessories.
One of the most popular items to pick up at the moment is the PS5 DualSense Controller Dock, allowing you to set up two separate controllers to charge. This is closely followed by the new Pulse 3D Audio headset, perfect for any gamers looking for a complete overhaul or upgrade when unpacking your new console.
Preorder PS5 Controllers and Accessories at Best Buy
Best Buy is one of the current retailers you can check out when it comes to picking up the latest and great PlayStation 5 accessories, whether that’s an additional controller for $69.99, or the HD Camera for $59.99. All accessories are currently ready to preorder, so make sure to stock up, and have the very best launch experience come November 12.
Preorder PS5 DualSense Controllers and More at GameStop
GameStop is also packing plenty of PS5 accessories at the moment, with all the most popular items ready and waiting to dance into your basket. With the accessories shipping alongside the PS5 in November, it’s not a bad idea to pick up a few extras before launch, especially with the lingering worry of limited stock across the board. We hope that isn’t the case, but it might be better to be safe than sorry.
Amazon did have all of the new PS5 accessories in stock, but currently every but the new DualSense controller is out of stock. We’ll update below if anything changes.
Those are the best retailers to pick up PS5 controllers and accessories right now, but your search for the best PS5 deals shouldn’t end there. If you’re still seeking your one and only PS5 preorder opportunity, keep an eye on our PS5 preorder page. While if you’ve already sorted a preorder (congrats), then it might be time to actually buy some games for the new console.
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Robert Anderson is a Commerce Writer for IGN. You can follow him @robertliam21
Ori and the Will of the Wisps is getting a surprise launch on Nintendo Switch today.
Announced as part of the Nintendo Direct Mini held today, Ori and the Will of the Wisps – sequel to the beloved Ori and the Blind Forest – will be available today on Switch, just months after its debut on Xbox.
A physical collector’s edition, put together by iam8bit, will soon be available, which will contain both Ori games, packaged together with a stained glass art piece, field guide, sketchbook, art card set, and enamel pin in a transforming, glow-in-the-dark display box. The collection also comes with digital downloads for both soundtracks.
It should be noted that iam8bit will be offering this collector’s edition for all platforms Ori is available on – Switch, Xbox One, and PC.
When it released on Xbox One and PC in May, our Ori and the Will of the Wisps review praised the game, noting that developer Moon Studios had built on the previous game to create a heartfelt follow-up. If you’re playing on Switch today, be sure to check out our Ori and the Will of the Wisps walkthrough in case you get stuck.
Nintendo has presented a brand new Nintendo Direct Mini: Partner Showcase that featured such games as Monster Hunter Rise and Monster Hunter Stories 2: Rings of Ruin.
You can find a breakdown of each announcement below, as well as the full Nintendo Direct Mini: Partner Showcase you can watch for yourself!
Monster Hunter Rise was announced, and it will be released on Switch on March 26, 2021. It features a grappling hook system (Wirebugs! that let’s you swing around like Spider-Man, and such monsters as Aknosom, Tetranadon, Great Izuchi, and Magnamalo were shown.
Furthermore, it will feature a large, seamless map that you can explore and with a new dog-like companion/mount called a Palamute.
Capcom has also confirmed that there will be “compatibility” of some kind with Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin.
Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin Arrives on Switch Next Summer
Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin will arrive on Nintendo Switch in Summer 2021. As the descendant of a legendary monster rider known as Red, your story will start with the investigation of mass disappearance of Rathalos from their natural habitats.
Capcom has also confirmed that there will be “compatibility” of some kind with Monster Hunter Rise.
Monster Hunter Direct Revealed More Info on Monster Hunter Rise and Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin
Following the Nintendo Direct Mini: Partner Showcase, a Monster Hunter Direct was held that revealed more info on Monster Hunter Rise and Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin, including that there will be amiibo for Palamute, Magnamalo, and Palico.
Ori and the Will of the Wisps Heads to Nintendo Switch Later Today
Fitness Boxing 2: Rhythm & Exercise Will Punch Its Way to Switch This December
The sequel to Fitness Boxing will have players punching with their Joy-Con controllers on December 4, 2020. Pick one of nine instructors, customize your outfits, play with a friend, and much more.
Disgaea 6: Defiance of Destiny Come to Nintendo Switch Exclusively in Summer 2021
Play as the boastful zombie, Zed, in this new Disgaea adventure that will arrive exclusively on the Nintendo Switch in 2021. Furthermore, Disgaea 5 Complete will be available to try in a special Game Trial event for Nintendo Switch Online members from September 23-29.
Balan Wonderworld Brings a Wondrous Adventure to Switch Next Year
Embark on a wonderous adventure in this new game from legendary creators Yuji Naka & Naoto Ohshima! Don over 80 costumes and wield a variety of abilities across 12 dreamlike stages. #BalanWonderworld makes its grand entrance on #NintendoSwitch, March 26, 2021. @balanwworldpic.twitter.com/WcKRpXka3w
Balan Wonderworld will be released on Nintendo Switch on March 26, 2021 and has you equipping over 80 costumes and wielding a variety of abilities across 12 dreamlike stages.
Rune Factory 5 Will Be Released on Switch in 2021
Build a new life amidst a grand adventure in the heartwarming RPG, #RuneFactory 5! Protect your town as a peacekeeping ranger, harvest crops, go fishing, and find romance! Your new life in a fantasy world begins in 2021. pic.twitter.com/5ProQ8UTaL
Protect your town as a peacekeeping ranger, harvest crops, go fishing, fall in love, and so much more when Rune Factory 5 is released on Nintendo Switch in 2021.
The Long Dark is an exploration-survival game that has players embarking on a journey through a frozen wilderness in the aftermath of a geomagnetic disaster… and it’s available today!
Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin has been announced for Nintendo Switch by Capcom as part of today’s Nintendo Direct Mini Partner Showcase.
The cel-shaded story-led RPG releases Summer 2021, and casts you as a monster rider rather than a hunter. As the descendant of a legendary monster rider known as Red, your story will start with the investigation of mass disappearance of Rathalos from their natural habitats.
It’s promised that you’ll be able to ride and forge bonds with a variety of well-known Monster Hunter beasts. From the trailer, we know that the Rathalos and Anjanath will be among them.
In addition to Wings of Ruin being a story-led RPG in the Monster Hunter universe, Capcom has also said that there will be ‘compatability’ with the upcoming Monster Hunter Rise on Switch. It’s not yet clear what that connectivity will be.
The previous game in the series was well received by us; our Monster Hunter Stories review praised the 3DS game as being a spin-off that does the series proud. It did away with the RPG grind and used a novel turn-based battle system for a true JRPG experience.
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Matt Purslow is IGN’s UK News and Entertainment Writer.
Capcom has announced Monster Hunter Rise for Nintendo Switch. It will arrive on March 26, 2021.
The game resembles a traditional Monster Hunter, but with far more freedom of movement, and the Rise title is meant to communicate the idea of verticality, which will be a major part of the game. Players will be able to use new Wirebugs, which act as a grappling hook. The Wirebug can be used in combat too, to allow for more versatile, fast-paced combat.
Areas in the game will be seamless, open locations, as in Monster Hunter World. Your base will be Kamura Village, which will be filled with characters to meet, who will form the basis of the story.
Rise also includes a new dog-like companion character called a Palamute, that can be ridden through the environments, and will aid you in combat. Palicos also return and act as support characters. In single player, players can bring two companions (in any combination of Palamutes and Palicos), and in multiplayer players bring one.
Monster Hunter Rise features a number of new monsters, including fire-breathing bird Aknosom, inflating amphibian Tetranadon, the wolf-like bird wyvern Great Izuchi, and what seems to be the game’s headline monster, the Chinese dragon-like Magnamalo. Arzuros will also return from previous games, with many more returing and new monsters to be announced. As in Monster Hunter World, monsters can encounter and fight each other without the player’s input.
The game will come in standard and deluxe editions. The deluxe edition features the base game and a bundle of DLC including armour, gestures, and cosmetics. Pre-order bonuses will be offered, adding some (tremendously cute) layered armour sets for Palamutes and Palicos, as well as a talisman item to help novices in the early game. Pre-orders for the download version of the game will open today. Three new Amiibo will also be released, of Palamute, Palico and Magnamalo.
The game appears to feature more English language voice acting than previous installments in the series. It’s just one of two new Monster Hunter games announced today, along with Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin – both games will be compatible with one another in some form, although Capcom hasn’t yet said exactly how.
Joe Skrebels is IGN’s Executive Editor of News. Follow him on Twitter. Have a tip for us? Want to discuss a possible story? Please send an email to [email protected].
