Indie Pass, a Subscription Service for Indie Games, Launches on PC

Publishing platform indie.io on Monday launched Indie Pass, a subscription service that’s exclusively for indie games. There are more than 70 titles included in the launch catalog in a wide range of genres and from developers all over the world.

The service is intended to help with the discoverability of indie games, which can get lost in the sea of releases that are constantly hitting big digital storefronts. And it’s designed to supply an additional, more consistent revenue stream to smaller developers without locking them behind any kind of platform exclusivity.

Among the launch titles in the service are some games published by indie.io, like Forgotten Seas and SCP: Fragmented Minds, as well as non-indie.io games like Kaya’s Prophecy. You can see the entire catalogue on the Indie Pass website, where you can sort by genre, with selections for Cozy, RPG, Strategy, Horror, Action, Simulation, and Roguelite.

The service is available worldwide and costs $6.99 / €5.99 / £4.99 per month or $55.92 / €47.99 / £39.99 for a yearly subscription. You get unlimited access to all the games available on Indie Pass while your subscription is active, and new games will be added to it regularly, though specifics about how often they’ll be added haven’t been shared. Subscriptions can also be purchased through third-party marketplaces like Inven, with others to be announced in the future.

The process of playing the games available on Indie Pass is pretty straightforward. All you have to do is sign up and download the dedicated launcher, where all games that are part of the service will be available. You can, of course, search for games by title, but there are also lots of filter options to help find games that fit what you’re looking for even if you don’t know about them yet. That includes filters for genres, game features, how long it takes to beat, and supported languages.

For more information, you can visit the Indie Pass website, and for the latest news and updates, you can follow it on Instagram and X/Twitter. If you’re an indie developer or publisher who would like to get your game on the service, you can submit your game for consideration on this page.

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New Metro Sequel Reportedly Set for Reveal at Microsoft Xbox Show This Week, After Major Gameplay Leak Over the Weekend

A brand new Metro game is reportedly set to be revealed this week as part of a so-far unannounced Microsoft Xbox showcase.

NateTheHate, who has a number of accurate leaks, including the correct dates of Nintendo Directs, to their name, took to social media to say the new Metro game is called Metro 2039, and it will be announced as part of a Microsoft show set for April 16. It’s unclear at this stage what type of show Microsoft has up its sleeve, or whether it will also include first-party Xbox game news. There’s also a rumor that Sony plans a State of Play showcase for this week, although that’s unconfirmed for now.

News of a new Metro game shouldn’t come as much of a surprise, given developer 4A Games has talked about working on it in the past. But the name of the game is new, as is significant gameplay footage from a previous version of the game, which leaked over the weekend.

The subterranean survival-horror Metro video game franchise, which is based on Russian writer Dmitry Glukhovsky's post-apocalyptic book series, so far includes Metro 2033, Metro: Last Light, and Metro Exodus. VR game Metro Awakening came out in 2024. Metro Exodus came out in 2019, which means it’s been six years since the last mainline entry in the franchise.

IGN’s Metro Exodus review returned an 8.5/10. We said: “Metro Exodus brings its survival horror to the surface without sacrificing any of the series’ signature tension.”

Wesley is Director, News at IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.

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'I Am a Victim of My Own Success' – Invincible VS Fans Call for Rage Quitting to Be Penalized as Beta Comes to an End

As the Invincible VS beta test winds down, players are hoping publisher Skybound Games and developer Quarter Up do something to fix its “rage quitting” problem.

The fighting game based on the comic book-turned-TV show will soon close the servers that have allowed players to try out a slice of its superhero roster since April 9. With launch still weeks away, those who signed up for the limited test are left to reflect on the battles where they may have beaten their opponents a bit too badly.

Players of varying skill levels flocked to the Invincible VS beta and quickly found that there seemed to be little penalty for those who left matches prematurely. It led to moments where Viltrumites and Guardians alike would be pummeling their foes with a string of combos only to be met with an error that simply said, “opponent disconnected.”

I can’t with these rage quitters
by u/Proud-Firefighter601 in InvincibleVS

"If someone as casual as myself is experiencing this frequently then that's a bit worrisome when you think about how the playerbase will be for this game," one player said. "Safe to say we're going to need an automated penalty system to deter rage quitting in this game for sure."

“My trick for less quits was to start playing with random characters I didn’t really practice with,” another suggested. “That way there’s a feeling out process in the beginning of the fight that makes them less likely to rage quit.”

Rage quitters, otherwise known as players who exit a match early because they may or may not be losing, are far from a new concept. Whether it be through delayed queue times or even temporary bans, many multiplayer games, especially the more competitive ones, typically have some sort of system in place to discourage this kind of behavior. Invincible VS, however, doesn’t seem to have any kind of deterrent.

Some players believe matchmaking may help the issue, with the more skilled fighters also reporting that they’ve continuously found themselves stacked in unfair matches leaning in their favor. While others have started suggesting Quarter Up implement penalties of some kind, a few believe something more extravagant, such as a feature similar to the Quitality from Mortal Kombat.

It makes sense that a free beta test would attract players who aren't as familiar with tag-team fighting games like Invincible VS, so many fans have started recommending newcomers at least don't skip the tutorial. Either way, some of the memes that have emerged from the weekend suggest players want something to be done.

“Make a fighting game free and you get a bunch of people who arent prepared for a fighting game,” one Reddit user teased.

"God forbid I have prior fighting game experience, lol," another joked.

before you start labbing or hopping online. play the
by u/WaxedOut87 in InvincibleVS

INVINCIBLE VS DEVS, Implement quitalities ala Mortal Kombat where Cecil drops the orbital laser on rage quitters, and my life is yours.
by u/RawthonBawthon in InvincibleVS

I SEEK A WORTHY OPPONENT
by u/ElliotSmelliot123 in InvincibleVS

I am a victim of my own success…
by u/ElliotSmelliot123 in InvincibleVS

Invincible VS launches for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X | S April 30, 2026. Those who participated in the beta gained access to the Coalition of Planets Omni-Man skin. For more while we wait to see how Quarter Up and Skybound may respond to complaints of rage quitting and other beta feedback, you can learn more about Conquest as a playable character and the two DLC fighters set to arrive this summer.

Michael Cripe is a freelance writer with IGN. He's best known for his work at sites like The Pitch, The Escapist, and OnlySP. Be sure to give him a follow on Bluesky (@mikecripe.bsky.social) and Twitter (@MikeCripe).

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‘It Was Getting Damaged and Broken Apart’ – Pete Hines Says Bethesda Is Part of Something That Is Not ‘Authentic’ or ‘Genuine’

Former Bethesda Softworks marketing lead Pete Hines has opened up about how he saw the Fallout publisher get "damaged and broken apart" before announcing his retirement in 2023.

The now-retired gaming industry veteran touched on why he chose to step away from Bethesda during a wide-ranging interview with Firezide Chat. When reminiscing about his decades-long journey through the release of everything from Doom to The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim, Hines shared his feelings about changes within the company and what ultimately drove him to leave.

Hines had previously stated that it made sense for him to retire around the launch of the long-awaited Starfield and reiterated that point in the new interview. Although moving on meant leaving colleagues like Bethesda’s Todd Howard and Erin Losi, there was more than simple timing influencing his decision.

“I just hit a point of yes, [Bethesda] needs me, and I am powerless to do what I think needs to be done to run this place properly, to protect these people, to maintain what we worked so hard to create, which is an incredibly efficient, well run video game developer and publisher,” he explained.

“And when I was unable to do what I thought my job should involve in continuing to have that place be, you know, if not the most efficient publisher in the game industry, it was way the f**k up there. And when I couldn't protect it, and I saw how it was getting damaged and broken apart and frankly mistreated, abused, whatever word you want to use, I said I am not going to sit here and watch this happen right in front of me.”

Hines continued, saying, “This is not when I wanted it to end or how I wanted it to end.” However, he said attempting to maintain his role at Bethesda took a toll on his mental health, adding that he eventually made the decision to leave sometime in 2022, the year before Starfield launched.

Every time Todd delayed Starfield, I thought, f**k, I'm here another eight months.

“Every time Todd delayed Starfield, I thought, f**k, I'm here another eight months,” he said. “And Todd was the only one who knew. It's another reason I love that man. He showed up for me when I was just at my wit's end and got me through that, and got me out of there in a way that I still retained my sanity.”

Hines refrained from speaking in detail about any individual event, person, or decision that caused him to consider exiting in the first place. The timeline leading to the Hines’ retirement includes Microsoft’s announcement that it intended to acquire Bethesda parent company ZeniMax Media for $7.5 billion in 2020 before completing the acquisition in 2021. Emails revealed in 2023 also saw the former marketing lead express confusion over Microsoft’s decision to make Bethesda titles Xbox exclusive while pushing games like Call of Duty to other platforms.

“Yeah, that was the worst f**king part,” Hines continued in the Firezide Chat interview. “It was to join a place that I genuinely was a fan of and people there I genuinely held in high regard and esteem, and then to get there and see how it actually worked.

And truthfully, I still think Bethesda is just part of something that is not authentic and is not genuine.

“To talk is something, right? But I'm very much about what is the follow up to that? Do you mean what you say? Or are you just saying s**t that sounds good and then as soon as you leave this room that's completely forgotten?”

He admitted that Bethesda may not have always been able to do what it said it was going to do. However, he feels it at least always tried, adding, "We are going to do what we say and say what we do and be genuine and be authentic."

“And truthfully, I still think Bethesda is just part of something that is not authentic and is not genuine," he continued. "And that shouldn't be a surprise to you.”

Hines has been vocal about changes at Bethesda in the years since his retirement. In September 2025, he remembered the early days of his 24-year run at the game publisher, arguing that it’s “not the same” anymore. The same interview saw him discussing how it came up with the name of 2017’s Prey, the launch of Fallout 76, and why subscription services like Game Pass need developers to survive.

Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images.

Michael Cripe is a freelance writer with IGN. He's best known for his work at sites like The Pitch, The Escapist, and OnlySP. Be sure to give him a follow on Bluesky (@mikecripe.bsky.social) and Twitter (@MikeCripe).

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Physint Reportedly Casting for Villain Role Described as 'Mads Mikkelsen in Hannibal But With Flair'

Kojima Productions is reportedly on the hunt for its next big villain after recently beginning the casting process for Physint.

MP1st shared details about what Hideo Kojima has in mind for his next tactical espionage action game, which is allegedly being worked on under the codename “Shimmer,” in a report published today. While most official information about the project remains under wraps, the site states motion capture company Pivot Motion, which aided on 2025’s Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, and casting director Mari Ueda are searching to fill several new roles with plans to shoot in June 2026.

The most interesting of the parts touched on in the report involves a villain character with a German accent. This same character is expected to have a slim complexion and a quiet personality, with other details describing them as “intense” but “confident in a psychotic sort of way.” One last description for the character says they are expected to be like “Madds Mikkelsen in Hannibal but with flair.”

It all sounds very Kojima, especially considering the Metal Gear Solid game developer previously worked with Mikkelsen for the original Death Stranding. Meanwhile, other details from the alleged casting call include a mother holding a baby, five teenagers, and two male individuals. Each role is said to revolve around some sort of bus hijacking incident, though details about how it may all tie together were not shared.

The man behind Metal Gear Solid teased in December 2025 that 2026 would see the team begin “casting actors, scanning, and performance capture shoots.” The first phase of that process allegedly began recently, though it’s worth noting that at least some major roles were filled months ago.

When Kojima revealed the first poster for Physint in September 2025, he also announced that Charlee Fraser, Don Lee, and Minami Hamabe had already signed on in some form. It also came with a sneak peek at what Hamabe will look like in-game, but additional details about every character in the new tactical espionage action game and its story are being kept tightly under lock and key for now.

With Death Stranding 2 having launched less than one year ago and Kojima Productions’ next game, OD, still very much without a release date, there’s no telling when Physint will sneak its way into players’ hands. While we wait to see what may come of the alleged casting calls, you can see how Kojima Productions chose to announce Physint. You can also catch up on everything announced during the studio's 10-year anniversary broadcast last year.

Michael Cripe is a freelance writer with IGN. He's best known for his work at sites like The Pitch, The Escapist, and OnlySP. Be sure to give him a follow on Bluesky (@mikecripe.bsky.social) and Twitter (@MikeCripe).

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Nintendo Officially Launches New Limited-Time Switch 2 Bundle Deal With Super Mario Galaxy 1+2

Nintendo’s latest promotional push for the Switch 2 has officially arrived, and on the surface, it’s a straightforward deal: from April 12 through May 9, you can save $20 when purchasing the console alongside Super Mario Galaxy 1 + 2 as part of a new bundle offering.

At $500 total, that $20 discount might seem fairly modest, but the broader context of the gaming landscape makes this brand-new offer far more significant than it initially seems.

• See at Amazon
• See at Best Buy
• See at Walmart
• See at Target

For starters, it's immediately obvious that with The Super Mario Galaxy Movie currently dominating the box office, Nintendo is seemingly moving aggressively to convert cinematic hype into hardware installs (as you can see with the combined imagery used for the announcement).

Moreover, reports of Nintendo scaling back Switch 2 manufacturing following a softer-than-expected holiday season suggest the company is looking for a reliable nudge to move more consoles and re-energize the platform's momentum after its successful launch in 2025.

This isn't the first bundle offering Nintendo has dabbled with, either, with the proven playbook already utilized on Mario Kart World and Pokémon Legends Z-A bundles from last year.

But perhaps the most compelling argument for jumping on this deal isn't the savings themselves, but the protection against future costs.

Sony’s recent decision to hike PlayStation 5 prices has sent shockwaves through the industry, rattling a lot of potential buyers and serving as a stark reminder that hardware prices just aren't as reliable as they used to be.

Most recently, Nintendo even announced a new pricing model for Switch 2 games. They were quick to clarify that physical editions aren’t getting more expensive, just that the digital versions are getting cheaper.

But, I still wouldn't be surprised if the constant changes makes you a bit nervous, especially when new releases like Elden Ring continue to wrack up an $80 price tag.

Par for the course, Nintendo has already upped prices for various OG Switch products in the U.S. since last year, and while it hasn't officially announced a price increase for the Switch 2, we have been warned that price changes for the Switch 2, video games, and the Nintendo Switch Online membership may be coming down the line soon.

So while saving $20 on Super Mario Galaxy 1 + 2 isn’t massive on its own, the wider context makes it a bit more compelling. If you’re already considering a Switch 2, there’s a decent argument for getting in now rather than waiting around for a better deal that may never come, or worse, getting caught out by a price hike later.

The new Switch 2 and Super Mario Galaxy 1+2 bundle is available now, and can be purchased from retailers like Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart, and Target, as both physical and digitial editions for the included game.

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Robert Anderson is IGN's Senior Commerce Editor and resident deals expert on games, collectibles, trading card games, and more. You can follow him @robertliam21 on Bluesky.

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The Best Deals Today: Resident Evil Generation Pack, M5 MacBook Air, Marathon DualSense, and More

A new weekend has arrived, and today, you can save big on the Resident Evil Generation Pack, M5 MacBook Air, Super Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2, and more. Check out our top picks for Saturday, April 11, below.

Resident Evil Generation Pack Still Available

The Resident Evil Generation Pack is still available at Amazon for $89.99, and this is one deal you do not want to miss. This collection packs in Resident Evil VII, Resident Evil Village, and Resident Evil Requiem all for $89.99, which means you are essentially paying $10 for both VII and Village. Capcom has removed this deal as of March 31 digitally, and it's only a matter of time before it's gone physically, too.

M5 MacBook Air for $949

You can score an M5 MacBook Air for $949 today, saving you 14% off the usual price. This 13-inch model includes 16GB RAM, 512GB of SSD storage, and more. If you're on the hunt for a new laptop, look no further than this M5 MacBook Air.

Marathon DualSense for $71.82

You can score the limited edition Marathon DualSense controller for $71.82 on Amazon today. This controller features unique designs inspired by the game and its iconography. Normally priced at $84.99, this deal saves you 15%, which is perfect for anyone in need of a new controller.

Super Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2 for $54.99

Super Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2 released for Nintendo Switch last Fall, and today, you can score this double pack for $54.99 at Woot! These two adventures are some of Mario's greatest, making this a must-own game for any Switch owner. Plus, there's a free update for Nintendo Switch 2 that enables 4K support.

Sony WH-1000XM5 Headphones for $249.99

Amazon has the incredible Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones on sale today for $249.99. In our 9/10 review, we wrote, "The Sony WH-1000XM5 is hands down the best sounding and most impressive noise-canceling headphones around. They demand a high premium but the cost of audio excellence is well worth it with this pair of headphones."

Xenoblade Chronicles 2 for $44.99

Xenoblade Chronicles 2 is one of the best RPGs available on the Nintendo Switch. While the game's resolution on Switch 2 was initially quite disappointing, the recent Handheld Mode Boost feature has allowed XC2 to look better than ever before. Featuring a rich combat system, a gripping narrative, an expansive world, and beloved characters that are still talked about to this day, you cannot go wrong with jumping into this incredible game.

Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter for $49.99

Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter is the very first entry in the beloved Trails series, and this remake from last year brought new life into the original game. Considering 2nd Chapter is set to release later this year, this is a great time to pick up 1st Chapter if you've never had a chance to check it out.

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