007 First Light State of Play September 2025: Everything Announced

Sony and developer IO Interactive just brought the 007 First Light State of Play to a close after showing off more than 30 minutes of gameplay for its new James Bond video game.

It was a presentation that mostly unraveled as expected, as IO used the September 2025 State of Play as an opportunity to highlight the early days of James Bond’s time with MI6. Fast-paced car chases, explosive shootouts, and creative gadgets landed among the highlights from the presentation, but it was IO's promise of a March 27, 2026, release date for 007 First Light that emerged as the biggest news. Plus, we finally received confirmation that Dexter: Original Sin star Patrick Gibson is, in fact, the actor chosen to play James Bond in the new video game.

IO originally promised just 30 minutes of 007 First Light gameplay but still made sure to stretch its State of Play slot with more details from its next big project. You can read up on everything announced during today's presentation below.

007 First Light Takes Aim With March 2026 Release Date

007 First Light, IO Interactive's upcoming James Bond game, is set to release March 27, 2026 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X | S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC. https://t.co/vwCLNHI70v pic.twitter.com/AjmnsXOoih

— IGN (@IGN) September 3, 2025

IO capped off its State of Play presentation with a 007 First Light release date of March 27, 2026. It's an update to the previously announced 2026 window that puts the new 007 video game out in a little more than six months. Eager fans can pick it up on PC, Nintendo Switch 2, PS5, and Xbox when its release date arrives.

Patrick Gibson Confirms He Is Playing James Bond in 007 First Light

After much speculation from fans, Dexter: Original Sin actor Patrick Gibson has finally confirmed that he is playing James Bond in IO’s 007 First Light. The star of the next James Bond video game made a surprise appearance during today's State of Play to confirm his role while also sharing details about some of the other faces fans will run into. This includes the news that Lennie James is playing Greenway, Priyanga Burford is playing M, Alastair Mackenzie is playing Q, Kiera Lester is playing Moneypenny, and Noémie Nakai is playing Ms. Roth.

007 First Light Pre-Orders are Available Now

If today's gameplay, release date, and casting information was enough to get you excited about 007 First Light, then you'll be happy to know that you can pre-order your copy now. A steep $299.99 Collector's Edition is among the options players have to choose from, with a standard edition also available for $69.99. Anyone who pre-orders a standard copy before launch arrives will automatically upgrade to the deluxe edition, which includes cosmetics and 24-hour early access (digital only), at no additional cost.

James Bond Will Have to Be Resourceful if He Wants to Catch 009

007 First Light is made by the team behind the Hitman series, and that was made very clear during today’s State of Play. While tailing a suspicious bellhop, James Bond can be seen using his surroundings to sneak past security.

It means players will find themselves climbing up and around buildings, sneaking through flowers, distracting guards with small fires, and more in order to succeed in their mission. Gadgets, including a smoke device and a high-tech watch scanner, can also provide aid during missions, with IO encouraging players to try everything from classic stealth to James Bond's silver tongue when navigating tricky areas.

Getting Behind the Wheel as 007

James Bond is no stranger to a blood-pumping car chase. During today’s State of Play, IO revealed a closer look at how it is aiming to bring some of the franchise’s thrilling vehicle action to 007 First Light. The car chase segment shows that players can control the MI6 recruit to dodge obstacles and launch into cinematic stunts when pursuing a target.

A License to Kill

IO’s Hitman series is known for allowing players to get creative with their kills, but James Bond isn’t always so subtle. While 007’s iconic gadgets can come in handy during stealth sections, players may be granted a license to kill when the jig is up.

Sections highlighted during the September 2025 State of Play bear an unmistakable resemblance to projects like Uncharted or Mission: Impossible, as James Bond can be seen mowing through armies of armed guards by shooting at them and surrounding explosive barrels. Then, as the gunfire dies down, 007 finds himself hopping onto a moving plane before skydiving his way back to solid ground – without a parachute, of course.

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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Marvel Rivals Season 4 Trailer Reveals PS4 Release Date as NetEase Teases New Heroes Daredevil and Angela

NetEase Games has released the first trailer for Marvel Rivals Season 4: Heart of the Dragon, revealing a first official look at two new heroes, Daredevil and Angela, as well as a release date for the new PlayStation 4 (PS4) port.

The minute-and-a-half cinematic video sees Matt Murdock go head-to-head against the winged Asgardian while confirming rumors that the popular comic book hero shooter would soon come to PS4. It also comes with a release date of September 12, 2025, meaning at least some of the new content featured in today’s trailer is only a little more than a week from its official launch.

“The Timestream Entanglement has drawn the Seven Capitals together, forming the Heart of Heaven,” an official description from NetEase says. “After Knull’s fall, Hela is imprisoned in the An'Hay-Zhidi, where Dizang—Devil of the Eighth City—dares her to atone for her sins. But Angela will not forgive her betrayal. She arrives in the Heart of Heaven demanding Hela be handed over, yet its guardian refuses to surrender someone under his protection. Justice will be served and a debt will be paid.

“But while they fight, an even greater danger stirs. Doctor Doom seeks to steal the Chronal Chi of the slumbering dragon Shou-Lao, threatening to unravel the fate of the Heavens themselves.”

A PS4 version of Marvel Rivals has been rumored for a while, so it didn’t take long for players to start poking fun at what a last-gen version of the chaotic multiplayer game might look like. NetEase has yet to reveal Marvel Rivals PS4 gameplay, but with Season 4’s release date just days away, it won’t be much longer before we have a better look.

NetEase testing Marvel Rivals on PS4 for the first time:
byu/AllFatherMedia93 inmarvelrivals

As for Daredevil and Angela, NetEase refrained from including any gameplay for its new heroes in today’s reveal trailer. It’s also unclear which hero classes each will fall into, though we wouldn’t be surprised to see Angela as a Vanguard and Daredevil as a Duelist.

Marvel Rivals Season 4 is nearly upon us, which means Season 3 will soon be winding down. The third season of NetEase’s hero shooter introduced new heroes Blade and Jean Grey/Phoenix while also bringing along a selection of Symbiote-themed skins as its story continues.

We’ll have to wait to see exactly when and how everything included in Season 4 will arrive, so in the meantime, be sure to check out how the cast of The Fantastic Four: First Steps reacted to Invisible Woman’s infamous Malice skin. You can also read about how NetEase used Season 3.5 to deal with some of the more toxic members of its community.

Be sure to stay up-to-date with all the latest from IGN by clicking here and setting IGN as a preferred source in Google.

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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Perfect Dark Was Nearly Saved by Take-Two, But the Deal Fell Through

The Initiative, the studio behind Perfect Dark, was shuttered earlier this year in a mass Microsoft layoffs, with its project apparently canceled. However, Perfect Dark apparently remained in development at Crystal Dynamics until just last week, while leadership from both studios struggled to find new funding from a surprising source: Take-Two.

In a report from Bloomberg, which IGN can corroborate from its own sources, it is revealed that Perfect Dark was not "fully abandoned" when The Initiative shuttered earlier this year. Leadership from both Crystal and The Initiative spent the following two months looking for a new publisher and funding source. While multiple parties expressed interest, the most likely candidate turned out to be Take-Two interactive. However, the two groups couldn't come to an agreement, at least in part due to disagreements over long-term ownership of the property.

As a result, the deal fell through, resulting in last week's layoffs at Crystal Dynamics as all hope of the project being reinstated vanished.

Crystal Dynamics originally signed onto Perfect Dark as co-developer after the project struggled to get off the ground with its first co-dev, Certain Affinity. Crystal was acquired by Embracer Group in 2022, and Perfect Dark was canceled in July after failing to appear at the Xbox Games Showcase the prior month.

Rebekah Valentine is a senior reporter for IGN. You can find her posting on BlueSky @duckvalentine.bsky.social. Got a story tip? Send it to rvalentine@ign.com.

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Infinity Nikki Codes (September 2025)

Last updated September 2, 2025: Added three new Infinity Nikki codes!

If you're looking for Infinity Nikki codes, IGN has you covered! In this article, you'll find a list of active and working Infinity Nikki codes that you can redeem for free rewards and bonuses in September 2025, including Diamonds and Energy Crystals.

All of the Infinity Nikki codes below have been tested as working at the time of submission but could stop working at any time, unless stated specifically.

Active Infinity Nikki Codes (September 2025)

Below, you'll find all the active and working Infinity Nikki codes in September 2025, the free rewards you get for redeeming them, and their expiry date (if known):

• MUSICSTARTDC - 80x Shiny Bubbles, 30k Bling (NEW!)
• MUSICSTARTRE- 80x Threads of Purity, 30k Bling (NEW!)
• MUSICSTARTFB - 80x Shiny Bubbles, 30k Bling (NEW!)
• AAuCMJNkncK - 30x Shiny Bubbles, 20k Bling
• AAuNhUQTe4x - 30x Shiny Bubbles, 20k Bling
• AAuQJvuBPtD - 30x Shiny Bubbles, 20k Bling
• AAuTM8RDjBw - 30x Shiny Bubbles, 20k Bling
• AAu57q8TCMv - 30x Shiny Bubbles, 20k Bling
• AAur6fFtj4M - 30x Shiny Bubbles, 20k Bling
• AAuHwT2mSq9 - 30x Shiny Bubbles, 20k Bling
• YINYUANGIFTFB - 50x Shiny Bubbles, 30k Bling
• YINYUANGIFTRE - 50x Threads of Purity, 30k Bling
• YINYUANGIFTDC - 50x Shiny Bubbles, 30k Bling
• Danqing@0729 - 100x Diamonds, 50x Threads of Purity, 20k Bling
• NikkisInkWorld - 100x Diamonds, 100x Shiny Bubbles, 100x Threads of Purity
• Loong&Cat - 100x Diamonds, 50x Shiny Bubbles, 30k Bling
• PaintYourHome - 10x Revelation Crystals
• nikkisbestcompanion - 200x Diamonds, 20k Bling (expires 26th July, 2026)
• AAtd8pDaT2R - 30x Shining Particles, 20k Bling
• AAtN5FVDm79 - 30x Shining Particles, 20k Bling
• AAtRvB9XQQ7 - 30x Shining Particles, 20k Bling
• AAtpPmU3CF3 - 30x Shining Particles, 20k Bling
• AAt8K6CuDbJ - 30x Shining Particles, 20k Bling
• AAtQwCnn9jA - 30x Shining Particles, 20k Bling
• AAtUBt9Exv6 - 30x Shining Particles, 20k Bling
• AAt7FyrEjKf - 30x Shining Particles, 20k Bling
• AAtcPfsTjQr - 30x Shining Particles, 20k Bling
• AAtSf8sXpVY - 30x Shining Particles, 20k Bling
• AAtKetPRnTn - 30x Shining Particles, 20k Bling
• AAtPPkkq6Yu - 30x Shining Particles, 20k Bling
• AAt5nxUnWNq - 30x Shining Particles, 20k Bling
• AAtx2EjAxtd - 30x Shining Particles, 20k Bling
• AAtFmU6JYcu - 30x Shining Particles, 20k Bling
• AAtv2XJEPD2 - 30x Shining Particles, 20k Bling
• TOGETHERTOTHESTARS - 10x Resonite Crystals, 100x Diamonds, 28.8k Blings, 200x Shiny Bubbles, 200x Threads of Purity
• 1.2VERDISCORD - 50x Shiny Bubbles, 15k Bling
• 1.2VERREDDIT - 50x Shiny Bubbles, 15k Bling
• 1.2VERGLOBALGROUP - 50x Shiny Bubbles, 15k Bling
• ハイキングDISCORD - 50x Shiny Bubbles, 15k Bling
• PEARFECTGUIDES - 10x Shining Particles, 15k Bling
• NIKKIXWEBTOON - 50x Shiny Bubbles, 15k Bling
• ニキプレゼント1205 - 50x Shiny Bubbles, 15k Bling
• おめでとう - 50x Threads of Purity, 15k Bling
• リリース - 10x Shining Particles, 15k Bling
• インフィニティニキ - 15x Shiny Bubbles, 15k Bling
• 無限暖暖公測開啟 - 50x Shiny Bubbles, 15k Bling
• 無限暖暖公測FB社團限定 - 10x Shining Particles, 15k Bling
• インフィニキDISCORD - 50x Threads of Purity, 15k Bling
• INGIFT1205 - 50x Threads of Purity, 15k Bling
• GROUPSTYLIST - 50x Threads of Purity, 15k Bling (expires December 5, 2025)
• REDDITSTYLIST - 50x Shiny Bubbles, 15k Bling (expires December 5, 2025)
• DISCORDSTYLIST - 10x Shining Particles, 15k Bling (expires December 5, 2025)

Expired Infinity Nikki Codes

The Infinity Nikki codes listed below have expired and are no longer working as of September 2025:

• INFINITYNIKKISteam
• BUBBLESEASON
• Handinhand
• NewVersionDC
• Sidebyside
• DREAM&REBIRTH
• SEAOFSTARS
• RevelrySeasonRe
• RevelrySeasonGroup
• AAraFDtTbck
• AArKE3Hppfp
• AArUevbyVqr
• PlayfulSeason0613RE
• PlayfulSeason0613FB
• PlayfulSeason0613DC
• AAp9Q8KWF8b
• AApyBTE8RY9
• AAp4BHuBhmC
• AAp7DKNerwR
• AApt6d2sv89
• AApnynNUpc7
• AApE9cuaMxM
• AApP4EqVj2a
• AApHBskxdEh
• AApscJCWy6w
• AApAAnFjMpK
• AApCapPmYvp
• AApNj9MT2Uy
• AApUBFedaQy
• InfinityNikki429
• AApUB2cpQ6h
• BUBBLESEASON0429
• POCKETMONEYFORNIKKI
• NIKKISFAVORITERICEDUMPLING
• NOSTRANGELINKS
• WARMSPRINGBONUS
• RevelrySeasonDC
• GIRLPOWER25
• 100THDAYCELEBRATION
• MAYEVERYGIRLHAPPINESS
• Newstoryawaits
• Newyearbliss
• NIKKIFIREWORKS
• NIKKIEXCURSIONTIME
• NIKKINEWBLOOM2025
• HEARTFELTGIFTS
• NIKKIBEWITHYOU
• NIKKIRELEASE
• dreamweavernikki
• NIKKI20241022
• infinitynikki1205
• BDAYSURPRISE
• GIFTFROMMOMO
• GIFTTONIKKI
• nikkihappybirthday2024
• NIKKITHEBEST
• QUACKQUACK
• AAbNxRNMmSm
• AAbQjjYKwbH
• AAb7xf6hWuS
• AAbtWkna3V7
• AAbaEyDU4EX
• AAbMNJX8hxF
• AAb5S3RSK8M
• AAbUfWnYUtd
• AAbUa8e2U3a
• AAbtk9jmpnV

How to Redeem Infinity Nikki Codes

To redeem Infinity Nikki codes, follow the steps below:

1. Unlock your Pear-Pal during the Chapter 1: Wishes Without Wings - Land of Wishes main quest. It's about 20 minutes into your Infinity Nikki adventure.
2. Open the Pear-Pal menu by pressing ESC on PC (or the Menu button when using an Xbox controller on PC), the Menu button on PlayStation, or by tapping the Pear-Pal icon in the top-left corner on mobile.
3. Click on the gear icon to open the Settings menu.
4. Scroll over to the Other tab.
5. You’ll see a “Redeem Code” option here. Click on “Apply” and a Redeem Rewards pop-up menu will appear.
6. Input your code into the “Enter the redeem code” field and tap “Apply.”
7. If successful, a pop-up will appear showing your free rewards.

Why Isn't My Infinity Nikki Code Working?

If the Infinity Nikki code that you're trying to redeem isn't working, it's likely due to one of the following reasons:

• There's a typo in the code.
• The Infinity Nikki code is expired.

When inputting a code into Infinity Nikki, make sure there are no typos (Os instead of zeroes, capital Is instead of lowercase Ls, etc.) and that there are no accidental spaces before or after the code. If your Infinity Nikki code still doesn't work, it's probably expired and can no longer be redeemed. You'll get a message informing you that the code is wrong if it's expired.

How to Get More Infinity Nikki Codes

The best way to get more Infinity Nikki codes is to join the official Infinity Nikki Discord server. Once you're in, head to the #self-assign-roles channel and opt-in for the Redeem Code role. You'll receive a notification when a new code is released so you can receive your free rewards ASAP!

Alternatively, bookmark this Infinity Nikki Codes article, as we update it each time a new code comes out. The Discord server has missed a couple of codes posted to other channels, so we'd recommend checking our article every so often.

What is Infinity Nikki?

Developed by Infold Games, Infinity Nikki is a cozy, open-world RPG. You play as Nikki, as she's whisked away to the world of Miraland, a place where people make Wishes with the help of Stylists. You'll find and create a plethora of outfits and accessories, take on quests, and gather many types of collectibles with the help of Momo, Nikki's adorable feline companion. As you play, you earn Diamonds, which can be spent on Revelation and Resonite Crystals, which are used to pull on the limited time and permanent outfit banners for 5-star and 4-star clothing.

For Infinity Nikki game help, check out our guides below:

• Tips and Tricks
• Things to Do First
• Infinity Nikki Resonance Banner Schedule and History
• Infinity Nikki Interactive Map

Meg Koepp is a Guides Editor on the IGN Guides team, with a focus on trends. When she's not working, you can find her playing an RPG or spending time with her corgi.

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NBA 2K26 Global Release Times Confirmed

NBA 2K26 is almost here. Bragging rights are on the line in MyCAREER, MyTEAM, MyNBA, The W, and Play Now as you showcase your moves with "hyper realism," challenging your friends, or rivals in NBA 2K26’s competitive modes.

While most people will be able to play from this coming Friday, September 5, those who bought the Superstar or Leave No Doubt editions secured early access that let them hit the court a week early from August 29.

We think NBA 2K26 is shaping up well, writing in IGN's NBA 2K26 review-in-progress: "Despite my problems with its offline-only modes, the fundamental gameplay tweaks show plenty of promise in what I’ve played on my first day with it. I’m especially excited to see how it looks in MyCareer with its new-and-improved storyline, as well as in the potentially wonky online gameplay of MyTeam."

NBA 2K26 global release times — early access:

Friday, August 29, 2025

PDT (Los Angeles):

• 9am

EDT (New York):

• 12pm

BST (London):

• 5pm

CEST (Paris, Rome, Berlin):

• 6pm

Saturday, August 30, 2025

HKT (Hong Kong, Singapore, Taipei):

• 12am midnight

JST (Tokyo):

• 1am

AEST (Sydney):

• 2am

NBA 2K26 global release times — standard access:

Friday, September 5, 2025

PDT (Los Angeles):

• 9pm

Saturday, September 6, 2025:

EDT (New York):

• 12am midnight

BST (London):

• 12am midnight (5am on Steam)

HKT (Hong Kong, Singapore, Taipei):

• 12am midnight

CEST (Paris, Rome, Berlin):

• 12am midnight

JST (Tokyo):

• 12am midnight (1am on Steam)

AEST (Sydney):

• 12am midnight (2am on Steam)

Vikki Blake is a reporter for IGN, as well as a critic, columnist, and consultant with 15+ years experience working with some of the world's biggest gaming sites and publications. She's also a Guardian, Spartan, Silent Hillian, Legend, and perpetually High Chaos. Find her at BlueSky.

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Dances With Wolves, Die Hard With a Vengeance Star Graham Greene Dies Aged 73

Oscar-nominated Canadian actor Graham Greene has died aged 73.

Greene secured an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his role as Lakota medicine man Kicking Bird in Kevin Costner's 1990 epic western, Dances With Wolves.

But he starred in scores of films and TV shows in a career spanning 45 years, including 1992’s Thunderheart, 1994’s Maverick opposite Mel Gibson, and 1995’s Die Hard with a Vengeance, where he played Detective Joe Lambert opposite Bruce Willis and Samuel L. Jackson.

Other notable roles include Arlen Bitterbuck, a Native American man on death row in prison, in 1999’s The Green Mile, and Harry Clearwater in 2009’s The Twilight Saga: New Moon. More recently, Greene played Old Smoke in the second season episode of Sylvester Stallone’s Paramount+ show Tulsa King, and Skully in Marvel Cinematic Universe miniseries Echo.

Greene has a notable video game credit: Rains Fall in Rockstar’s 2018 western masterpiece Red Dead Redemption 2. Greene provided voice and motion capture for the character. In a 2018 interview with Vulture, Rockstar co-founder Dan Houser called Greene's work in the seemingly small role "brilliant," saying that his Native American chief character was "losing his rights as an independent king, and he’s a gentle soul in that violent world."

One of his final roles was on FX’s American comedy-drama television series Reservation Dogs, which follows the exploits of four Indigenous teenagers in rural Oklahoma. Greene will posthumously star in upcoming movie, Ice Fall starring Joel Kinnaman.

"It is with deep sadness we announce the peaceful passing of award-winning legendary Canadian actor Graham Greene," his manager Gerry Jordan said in a statement to CBC News, which reported he died of natural causes on Monday in Stratford, Ontario. Greene was also a member of the Order of Canada.

“He was a great man of morals, ethics and character and will be eternally missed,” Greene’s agent Michael Greene told THR. “You are finally free. Susan Smith [the actor’s longtime agent, who died in 2013] is meeting you at the gates of heaven." Greene is survived by his wife, Hilary Blackmore, and his daughter Lilly Lazare-Greene.

Photo by Shawn Goldberg/Getty Images.

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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PlayStation State of Play Announced Featuring 30 Minutes of Hitman Developer's James Bond Game 007 First Light

Sony has announced a PlayStation State of Play broadcast for this week, featuring a deep dive into James Bond game 007 First Light from Hitman maker IO Interactive.

The broadcast is set to air this Wednesday, September 3 at 11am Pacific, 2pm Eastern, or 7pm UK time via PlayStation's YouTube and Twitch channels.

"In this upcoming State of Play, tune in for over 30 minutes of gameplay featuring a playthrough of Bond’s first mission as an MI6 recruit," Sony wrote of its upcoming presentation. "The action includes everything from high-speed car chases to on-foot stealth sequences and shootouts. Stay tuned after the playthrough for insights from IO Interactive on the intense espionage gameplay."

State of Play presents a 007 First Light deep dive on September 3

Get ready for over 30 minutes of new gameplay. Full details: https://t.co/vcWphVZqkk pic.twitter.com/WoXmQNYAo6

— PlayStation (@PlayStation) September 1, 2025

PlayStation made no mention of any other game set to be showcased in the upcoming State of Play, so it's worth lowering your expectations for more from the upcoming Ghost of Yōtei, or anything else from Sony's first-party studios.

While the Hitman series is "definitely not done," IO Interactive is now aiming to develop a new trilogy of Bond games featuring a fresh-faced take on the iconic character. First Light is the first chapter of this story, and will showcase an origin tale for an all-new original Bond incarnation unrelated to any specific book or film incarnation.

Previously, IO Interactive CEO Hakan Abrak explained how the studio would be keeping costs managable over the course of the Bond trilogy by building on each game in sequence, without unecessary expense — such as by not producing multiple new toilets.

A previous look at the game, during a PlayStation State of Play broadcast back in June, left fans certain that Dexter: New Blood star Patrick Gibson was the behind the new Bond. Here's hoping IO Interactive finally gets around to acknowledging that this week, and maybe also a final release date for the game.

As of now, 007 First Light is set to arrive sometime in 2026, for Nintendo Switch 2, PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S. Stand by for more.

Tom Phillips is IGN's News Editor. You can reach Tom at tom_phillips@ign.com or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social

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Battlefield 6's Battle Royale Footage Has Leaked — Here's What It Shows Us

A nine-minute slice of Battlefield 6's battle royale mode has leaked online.

Despite presumably signing NDAs, participants in Battlefield's closed beta environment, Battlefield Labs, are continuing to share snippets of their experiences. This particular video from Misako_Mikato_01 on bilibili not only gives a good look at what to expect from the mode, but also reveals a couple of gameplay mechanics we didn't previously know about, too.

As highlighted on the Gaming Leaks and Rumours subreddit, Misako_Mikato's video confirms players can swim, go underwater, and shoot from within the water, reveals the ladder gadget apparently has two modes — one as a ramp, another as a ladder — and there's a "massive map."

The video kicks off from when the player picks their loadout and departs the jumpship, landing in a built-up area on the shore. We see them swimming and later pulling out a sledgehammer to knock down what appears to be a public bathroom in real-time. Apparently the ruckus gets unwanted attention, though, although they seemingly sacrifice themselves to go back into the sky, this time moving in-land and visiting a fancy, if ransacked, villa. Cue the sledgehammer again.

Commenters seem quite impressed by the video.

"I know many Warzone players that will be happy to finally have a serious [battle royale] alternative," said one viewer. "This could, potentially, pull in a large amount of players. If they stay depends on how good it will be." Another added: "If this Battle Royale retains the destruction from the base game, it has the chance to be the most dynamic [battle royale] of all time. That destruction will make every game feel different."

Battlefield 6's playtests have proven to be leaky indeed, though developer DICE has said it gathered "loads of feedback from the very active testers selected." Unlike Battlefield 2042's lukewarm reception, fans seem pretty pleased with what they've seen so far, and for some time EA wasn't even trying to take their leaked opinions down. So far, we've seen evidence of a new drag mechanic and the ability to cling on to vehicles, as well as improved in-game movement, 3D maps, improved destruction, quality of life improvements, and the start of a battle royale match.

We're having a great time with what we've played so far, writing in our Battlefield 6 review-in-progress: "Right now, even in beta form, Battlefield 6 might be the most fun shooter I’ve played this year."

Don't forget that from now until October 7 — Battlefield 6's launch day — EA has a "wave of content" planned for Battlefield 2042, including a free new pass "celebrating the legacy of Battlefield," new hardware, and a reimagining of the fan favorite Iwo Jima map. As you progress through the 'Road to Battlefield 6' pass, you can expect 50 exclusive cross-rewards, including 20 for Battlefield 6 that will be ready for you on launch day, on which you can also expect big changes to player movement, maps, modes, and player counts.

Vikki Blake is a reporter for IGN, as well as a critic, columnist, and consultant with 15+ years experience working with some of the world's biggest gaming sites and publications. She's also a Guardian, Spartan, Silent Hillian, Legend, and perpetually High Chaos. Find her at BlueSky.

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Sony's Live-Service Ambitions Take Another Blow As Fairgames' Creative Director Leaves Haven Studios Mid-Development

The fate of PlayStation's upcoming live-service game Fairgames is once again under scrutiny as its creative director, Daniel Drapeau, has confirmed he has left Haven Studios to join Warner Bros. Games Montreal.

It's the second high-profile exit of the summer, with studio founder Jade Raymond also exiting back in May, several weeks after an external playtest reportedly met a lukewarm response.

"As of this week, I joined WB Games Montreal Inc. as creative director," Drapeau announced in a LinkedIn post. "I can't wait to start this wonderful adventure with all the great people here at the studio. I also want to particularly thank Yves Lachance, Logan A. Lesage, and Bryan Theberge for their trust and support throughout the process. Now, let's do this!"

The news follows a rocky time for the game's development, and incorrect industry speculation surrounding its future. Last month, analyst Michael Pachter wrongly claimed the game had been canceled, though was later forced to walk back his statement and admit he had "no info on the game at all."

Neither Haven nor Sony have commented publicly on Drapeau's departure.

Regardless, the news will hardly restore confidence in PlayStation's embattled live service ambitions. Sony announced plans in February 2022 to launch more than 10 live service games by March 2026, later saying the push would bring games of different genres to different audiences. It spent big on studio buyouts as part of the drive, bringing in Destiny developer Bungie, the now shuttered Firewalk Studios, and, of course, Haven Studios.

Firewalk, you'll remember, was the studio behind Concord, one of the biggest disasters in PlayStation history. Just a couple of weeks after it launched to eye-wateringly low player numbers, Sony decided to kill the game entirely and shortly thereafter shut down its development studio.

The Concord flop came after Sony had already canceled Naughty Dog’s The Last of Us multiplayer game. And earlier this year, Sony reportedly canceled two unannounced live-service games, one a God of War title in development at Bluepoint, the other in the works at Days Gone developer Bend.

On the flip side, Arrowhead’s Helldivers 2 has been a breakout hit, and became the fastest-selling PlayStation Studios game of all time with 12 million copies sold in just 12 weeks.

Fairgames — stylized as Fairgame$ — is described as "a competitive modern heist game where you team up to break into exotic locations and steal the cargo." The twist is that you not only need to outsmart guards and security systems, but you also need to compete against other teams, too. There's no word yet on when it'll launch.

Vikki Blake is a reporter for IGN, as well as a critic, columnist, and consultant with 15+ years experience working with some of the world's biggest gaming sites and publications. She's also a Guardian, Spartan, Silent Hillian, Legend, and perpetually High Chaos. Find her at BlueSky.

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Hollow Knight: Silksong's Price and Global Launch Timing Have Been Revealed

Hollow Knight: Silksong will retail for just $19.99.

While there's been a lot of rumors over the last few days — including a $20 price on Gamestop (since removed) that was later corroborated by noted leaker Billbil-kun — developer Team Cherry has now confirmed it, revealing the game will retail for $19.99 in the U.S., €19.99 in Europe, and ¥2300 in Japan.

It's an eye-catching price, not least because many publishers are quietly testing more and more expensive games. Xbox recently priced the highly-anticipated The Outer Worlds 2 for $80 — the first of its games to break the typical $70 ceiling — but after a furious backlash, ended up dropping the pre-order price to $70 "in line with current market conditions."

That's not all, either. The team also revealed exactly when we'll get to play it, too: 7am PT, 10am ET, 4pm CEST, and 11pm JST.

Team Cherry finally revealed a release date for the long-awaited Hollow Knight: Silksong at gamescom: September 4, 2025. We learned the news via a nearly two-minute new trailer dropped by Team Cherry, which showed a ton of new footage from the game. We see Hornet exploring, loads of new insectoid NPCs, dreary graveyards, swamps, a bustling city, new enemies, new bosses, an Ori-style escape sequence, and more. It'll be available on PC, Switch, Switch 2, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series.

At the same time, we learned the original game has managed to top 15 million copies sold, a rare feat indeed for an independent game. And perhaps not coincidentally, Hollow Knight, eight years post-release, has repeatedly hit all-time high concurrent player counts on Steam (per SteamDB) over the last two weeks, topping 70K just this past weekend.

Hollow Knight: Silksong is currently the most wishlisted game on Steam, but is it actually fun to play? We tried out two levels from the Hollow Knight Silksong demo at gamescom 2025, Moss Grotto and Deep Docks. One was easy one, and one was very challenging, but does it live up to the hype? Find out in our Hollow Knight: Silksong preview from the show floor.

Vikki Blake is a reporter for IGN, as well as a critic, columnist, and consultant with 15+ years experience working with some of the world's biggest gaming sites and publications. She's also a Guardian, Spartan, Silent Hillian, Legend, and perpetually High Chaos. Find her at BlueSky.

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