EA Cancels Black Panther Game, Closes Cliffhanger Games

Electronic Arts is canceling its planned Black Panther game and shutting down developer Cliffhanger Games, IGN has learned.

In an email sent to staff from EA Entertainment president Laura Miele, Miele said that these changes, alongside other recent cancellations and layoffs, are being done to "sharpen our focus and put our creative energy behind the most significant growth opportunities."

In addition to closing Cliffhanger and canceling Black Panther, EA is also laying off some individuals on both its mobile and central teams. When asked for an exact number of individuals impacted, EA declined to comment. IGN understands the total number of affected individuals in this wave is less than the roughly 300 roles cut last month across Respawn and EA's Fan Care teams - but cannot confirm by how much.

"These decisions are hard," Miele wrote. "They affect people we’ve worked with, learned from, and shared real moments with. We’re doing everything we can to support them — including finding opportunities within EA, where we’ve had success helping people land in new roles."

As with past rounds of layoffs, EA is endeavoring to place affected individuals in other roles across the company. The company has made use of this placement program with each round of layoffs in recent years, an effort that remains possible despite the constant team cuts likely due to EA seemingly drastically increasing headcount on other teams at the same time. Per Game File's reporting, EA employed 800 more people as of March of this year than it did the same time in 2024.

To that end, Miele's email continues, the company is focusing on a small handful of franchises going forward: Battlefield, The Sims, Skate, and Apex Legends. Miele also reassures EA will continue to invest in its Iron Man game at Motive and the third Star Wars: Jedi game, as well as it maintain its mobile business despite today's cuts, while Bioware works on the next Mass Effect. Additionally, last year, CEO Andrew Wilson announced the company would be "moving away from development of future licensed IP that we do not believe will be successful in our changing industry."

The email doesn't mention EA Sports, but this is due to Miele running EA Entertainment, while EA Sports is a separate division. IGN understands that the sports division is unaffected by these changes for now.

Notably, Marvel and EA's agreement for Black Panther was part of a three-game deal that included Iron Man and a third, unannounced title. Little has been shown of Black Panther so far since its announcement in 2023, though we know from a job listing it was to be a single-player, action-adventure, open-world game. Black Panther was being developed by the newly-formed, now-closed Cliffhanger Games, which was formed in 2023 with some former developers of Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor and headed up by Kevin Stephens.

These cuts come on the heels of multiple other rounds of layoffs and cancelations at EA over the last few years and especially in 2025. Just last month, EA laid off roughly 300 individuals, including around 100 at Respawn, while canceling an in-development Titanfall game and another incubation project. Earlier this year, EA restructured BioWare, moving some developers to other projects and laying off others. In 2024, there was a massive restructuring at EA that resulted in 670 workers laid off company-wide, including around two dozen workers at Respawn. And in 2023, 50 jobs were cut at BioWare and an unknown number were cut at Codemasters.

Meanwhile, EA recently implemented mandatory return-to-office for all workers, a move that some employees told IGN has left many currently remote workers with concerns about what will happen to their roles long-term.

When asked for comment on the exact number impacted, the reasons for these repeated cuts, or if more cuts are expected in the near future, EA referred IGN back to Miele's email. Marvel has not yet responded to IGN's request for comment.

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.

from IGN Video Games https://ift.tt/g2xoSX0
via IFTTT

Does the New PlayStation VR2 Deal Finally Make It Worth Buying?

The PlayStation VR2 headset has dropped to match its all-time low price thanks to the PlayStation Days of Play sale, so if you've been considering picking one up for yourself, right now would be the time to do so. But the question is: Should you actually buy one in 2025? The PSVR2 originally launched for a whopping $599, but Sony dropped the price down to just $399 back in March. The latest discount brings that price all the way down to only $349 for both the stand-alone headset and the Horizon Call of the Mountain Bundle.

The PlayStation VR2 Headset Is On Sale at Amazon Today

The new $50 discount on the PSVR2 bundle is certainly tempting if you've been wanting to get into VR, but there are a few things to consider before you buy. This is likely the lowest price we'll see on this headset for quite some time and it is the only VR option for PS5 owners. If you want to play Horizon Call of The Mountain, owning a PSVR2 is currently the only way you'll be able to do that. Just last year Sony also released the PSVR2 PC adapter that allows you to connect it to your PC and play VR games there as well.

That being said, Sony isn't really investing much into first-party VR games anymore. And with the price drop back in March and the release of the PC adapter, it definitely seems like PS5 owners aren't going to be seeing a slew of new and exciting VR games any time soon.

What We Said in Our Review

We had the chance to go hands-on with the PSVR 2 headset when it first came out. Here's a quick synopsis of what we thought:

"The PlayStation VR2 may seem pricey, given that it costs $150 more than the base PS5 Digital Edition console you’ll need to use it. Even so, it’s such a quantum leap over the original PSVR in terms of ease of use, visual quality, and immersion that any PlayStation owner who loves VR should upgrade as soon as possible. Its 4K HDR OLED screen and excellently tactile Sense controllers are the most obvious improvement, but plentiful quality-of-life changes and the raw horsepower of the PS5 set a new standard for how VR games should play and feel on console. The downside is that, like any new platform, its thin launch lineup makes its lack of backward compatibility with original PSVR games a significant problem, but one that will only improve as Sony and other developers roll out new games that take advantage of the PSVR2’s unique features."

Is It Worth Buying a PSVR 2 in 2025?

Now that the PSVR 2 is cheaper than the standard Meta Quest 3 and has PC compatibility, it's worth considering if you're looking to get into VR. Since it is really the only VR option for PlayStation, this price definitely makes it worth it if you have both a PS5 and a PC that can handle VR games. You do have to purchase the PC adapter if you want to access your SteamVR library, but connecting to PC is a fairly simple process overall.

If you don't own a PS5 and are just looking for a decent VR headset for PC, the PSVR 2 probably isn't worth your money. The Meta Quest 3S is still cheaper and doesn't require any sort of extra adapter to start playing games. Since the PSVR 2 isn't a standalone VR headset, you'd also be better off going with the Quest 3 if you don't have either a PS5 or a PC to connect to.

from IGN Video Games https://ift.tt/xShFyAY
via IFTTT

N64 Game CRT Filter and Rewind Locked Behind Nintendo Switch 2: 'Truly, This Is the Power of Next Gen Hardware'

Nintendo has confirmed that Nintendo 64 games available via the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscription are getting three new features, but two of them are exclusive to the Switch 2.

The three new features coming to Nintendo 64 games are customizable controls, rewind, and a CRT screen filter.

However, only the view/change controls feature is available on the Switch, with all three available on the Switch 2 from the console’s launch on June 5.

Switch users are already bemoaning the fact the CRT screen filter and rewind features are exclusive to Switch 2. “The power of Switch 2,” one post on Nintendo’s video showing off the features reads. “Being able to apply a CRT filter. Truly, this is the power of next gen hardware.” “Weird how a simple filter is locked behind Switch 2,” added another.

CRT Screen Filter only for the Switch 2?

Rewind only for the Switch 2?

Nintendo, why are you doing this? pic.twitter.com/LzOwbz0LUO

— Yorch Torch Games (@YorchTorchGames) May 28, 2025

Nintendo used Super Mario 64 and Mario Golf to demonstrate the Rewind feature, which lets you rewind gameplay to try again. Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards was used to show off how the CRT Filter can be used to recreate the look of a CRT television. And Star Fox 64 was used to show off the new View/Change controls feature.

Nintendo Switch 2 launches on June 5, and Nintendo has this week updated the Nintendo Switch to bring the Nintendo Switch Online app in-line with the version that will be available on the next-gen console. Overnight, IGN reported on one person who appeared to obtain a Switch 2 console early, despite Nintendo's best efforts. But unfortunately for leak-enjoyers, not only is it unusable without a day-one patch, but the video was copyright struck almost immediately.

So far, we've played Mario Kart World on Nintendo Switch 2, and more recently we've gotten all sorts of new bits of info like free performance upgrades for Switch 1 games, variable refresh rate support stipulations, and more details about GameChat, which will require your phone number for verification in order to work. Though pre-orders flew off the digital shelves when they dropped last month, Nintendo of America president Doug Bowser reassures that Nintendo will have enough systems to meet demand through the holidays.

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.

from IGN Video Games https://ift.tt/pbB7vL0
via IFTTT

TinyBuild Connect 2025: Everything Announced

Indie publisher tinyBuild had their second annual tinyBuild Connect showcase today. IGN streamed the Connect live, and the showcase was packed with reveals of new games and release date announcements. Best of all, you can try almost all of the new games shown today via a playtest or demo — either now, or very soon. If you weren’t able to watch it live or just want a rundown of everything that was shown, we’ve got you covered. Here’s everything we saw during the show:

Ferocious Is a Survival FPS with Dinosaurs You Can Team Up With

The showcase opened with a brand-new look at Ferocious, where dinosaurs, mercs, and mechs clash in a lush but lethal survival FPS. The trailer teased the ability to tame apex predators and flip the food chain in your favor. The Steam playtest is live now, so it’s time to find out if you can survive the island’s deadly welcome.

New Sand Trailer Shows More Desert FPS Action

New footage rolled out featuring hulking, customizable “Trampler” walkers stomping across sun-scorched dunes, frantic PvP action, and a confirmation that the extraction shooter will be coming to consoles later this year. A fresh playtest is also on the horizon, so get your squad together and see if you’ve got what it takes to rule the sands.

Trainfort Is a Co-op Survival Game with Guns and Steam Engines

The world-premiere trailer introduced Trainfort, a co-op survival crafting game where roving dwarf nomads build and drive a steam-powered fortress across a procedurally generated wasteland. The developers are promising that a tactile first-person hand-control system will make every action from chopping trees to assembling your mobile base feel grounded and physical. The playtest for Trainfort also went live right after the show.

Hozy Is a Cozy Living Spaces Restoration Game

Hozy invites players to restore a forgotten neighborhood, one cozy room at a time. Revealed for the first time during the showcase, the debut trailer showed players scrubbing grime, slapping on fresh coats of pastel paint, and dialing in lighting to turn derelict rooms into homey sanctuaries. Hozy also dropped a public Steam playtest right after the show, so you can already get a taste for its fixer-upper gameplay.

All Will Fall Lets You Build a City That Can Collapse at Any Time

Physics-based construction meets post-apocalyptic survival in this vertical city builder where every ramshackle tower can topple like Jenga. The team confirmed an open beta for Steam Next Fest on June 9, giving players a chance to stack homes sky-high — or watch them spectacularly crumble. All Will Fall has a demo available on Steam right now.

Roguelite Kingdom Builder The King Is Watching Launches This July

CarbotAnimations’ tongue-in-cheek trailer revealed a July release window for this unique strategy title, where peasants only work under your royal gaze. Each run tasks you with juggling production, training armies, and adapting to unpredictable events. The playable demo is still available on Steam for those eager to test their royal authority.

Of Ash and Steel Shows Off Its Gothic-Coded Fantasy Open World

A sweeping world overview trailer showcased sun-bleached fortresses, misty marshlands, and brutal third-person combat that rewards stance-switching finesse. Playtest sign-ups went live alongside the trailer, inviting would-be island wanderers to chart their own, marker-free adventures.

Streets of Rogue 2 Gets a New Gameplay Trailer Where Everything Goes Wrong

A new trailer proved that everything can go wrong at any moment with this anything-goes sandbox, capping the segment with a confirmation that it hits Steam Early Access in 2025. From hijacking tractors to accident-prone heists, chaos is king in Streets of Rogue 2, and you can check out its demo on Steam right now.

Voin Unveils Its Next Major Update Called “Permafrost”

A new, action-packed devlog unveiled the upcoming “Permafrost” update, promising new frosted realms to carve through and fresh gear to master in this hack-and-slash created by a solo developer. Judging by the slicing, dashing footage, the chill won’t slow the carnage one bit. You can grab Voin with a limited-time discount during tinyBuild’s publisher sale on Steam.

SpeedRunners 2 Unveils a 64-Player Tournament Mode and Cutthroat Racing Gameplay

The cult-classic competitive platformer is turbo-charging into the new era. The latest trailer confirmed a massive 64-player tournament mode and showed more cutthroat racing gameplay across some new maps. A Steam playtest will launch this summer, and sign-ups are open now. SpeedRunners 2: King of Speed will launch on PC in 2025, with the console release to follow in 2026.

Duckside Brings Hat-Wearing, Gun-Wielding Duck Extravaganza to Consoles This August

The new trailer dove onto the screen, confirming that Duckside lands on consoles this August and showing off full-flight PvP mayhem, complete with crafting, base building, hat-wearing ducks, and of course, quack-tical base raids. The game is on sale with a limited-time discount on Steam.

Drill Core 1.0 Releases July 17, Nintendo Switch Version Coming Later This Year

Become a true Corporate Mining manager in this strategy roguelite builder game. Whether you prioritize profits or workers' safety is up to you! The devs locked in a 1.0 launch for July 17 and surprised Switch owners with a port arriving later this year, but you can hop into the Early Access right now, as Drill Core is currently on sale on Steam.

Hello Neighbor 3 Drops a New Playable Prototype

Hello Neighbor franchise creator Nikita Kolesnikov popped up in a devlog to give a first look at the eerie living sandbox town of Raven Brooks, where every NPC has its own agenda. Prototype 2 shadow-dropped during the show, so the curious (or the brave) can sneak in and test the new systems right now.

Medieval Shooter/RTS Hybrid Kingmakers Sets Early Access Release Date for October 8

Medieval England never looked so doomed: a frenetic new trailer for the shooter/RTS hybrid finally showed off four-player co-op, with assault rifles mowing through armored knights before revealing an October 8 Early Access launch on Steam and Epic Games Store. Time-travel paradoxes be damned — Kingmakers is ready to bring an attack chopper to a sword fight.

from IGN Video Games https://ift.tt/Nayv49V
via IFTTT

Minecraft Gets a Free Map of Iconic Underground Tokyo Location, Thanks to Japanese Government

The Japanese government has released a Minecraft map of the world’s largest underground flood prevention facility. Not only is it free to download, but it lets you explore one of the Tokyo area’s lesser-known iconic locations from the comfort of your home.

The Metropolitan Area Outer Underground Discharge Channel, known as G-Cans for short, is a real-life disaster prevention facility. It is best-known for its “pressure adjustment water tank” — a huge cavernous space with 59 massive pillars. A truly epic looking, boss battle-worthy location, it is G-Can’s most iconic sight, and even has the nickname “underground temple” (chika shinden) in Japan. With bags of atmosphere, it also gets used as a location for music videos, Japanese TV dramas (like Kamen Rider) and movies.

In dry seasons, it is possible to tour G-Cans in real life, but thanks to the Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT), you can now explore this atmospheric facility in Minecraft too. The ministry have released a video on their official YouTube which briefly summarizes the purpose of G-Cans and shows what it looks like in the blocky world of Minecraft.

Minecraft’s free G-Cans map doesn’t just include the facility though — there is also an overground area featuring rivers, homes, and neighborhoods, giving the player a sense of how G-Cans protects people and places in real life. You can also go into the control room and try draining flood water into the shafts to see how it works for yourself.

MLIT’s recreation of G-Cans in Minecraft is designed to educate people about the facility and how it prevents disasters. Exploring it, even in Minecraft, also gives the player a sense of how absolutely huge G-Cans is. In real life, G-Cans' concrete tunnels run for over 6km under Saitama Prefecture, part of the Greater Tokyo Area. Its five shafts capture water from flood-prone rivers during Japan’s rainy season (June) and typhoon season (usually around September), before gradually releasing it into the much bigger Edogawa River and Tokyo Bay. Completed in 2006 after over a decade of construction, G-Cans has played a huge role in combating flooding in the area ever since.

MLIT’s G-Can’s Minecraft map can be downloaded for free from the official website of the Edogawa River Office, which manages the facility. At least Version 1.21.1 of Minecraft Bedrock Edition or Version 1.21.0 of Minecraft Education Edition are required.

Verity Townsend is a Japan-based freelance writer who previously served as editor, contributor and translator for the game news site Automaton West. She has also written about Japanese culture and movies for various publications.

from IGN Video Games https://ift.tt/9ToV0IR
via IFTTT

Davy x Jones Announced for PC

Blacktail developer Parasight has announced Davy x Jones, a new first-person action-adventure game for PC and consoles where you play as infamous pirate Davy Jones. The catch? You're headless, and you'll wield that severed skull – along with plenty of weapons – as you seek your revenge against Blackbeard.

Yes, you've been betrayed, robbed, and beheaded, but when you awaken in a pirate hell, you'll make your way through with your sword, gun, and sharp severed wit. Loot treasure across "nine islands floating on an infinite sea of clouds" while also piloting Abby, your half-ship, half-whale that serves as your base, artillery, and ally. And yes, you can absolutely fire devastating cannons at your opponents.

“If you've ever dreamed of swashbuckling through the afterlife with your own severed head cracking wise beside you—this is your game,” said Parasight CEO Bartosz Kapron. Wishlist Davy x Jones on Steam if you're interested.

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.

from IGN Video Games https://ift.tt/x3pN5Gl
via IFTTT

Dragon Quest 1 & 2 HD-2D Remake Gets A Release Date, Pre-Order Bonuses, And a Collector's Edition — Here's What You Need to Know

Dragon Quest 1 & 2 HD-2D Remake will release on October 30, 2025, on PC (via Steam and Microsoft Store), PS5, Switch, and Xbox Series X/S. Square Enix has just confirmed the RPG is also coming to Nintendo Switch 2, too.

We've also had an update on what, exactly, players can get if they pre-order the game in advance, as well as details of an all-new Collector's Edition.

Dragon Quest 1 & 2 HD-2D Remake Pre-Order Bonus

• Elevating Shoes x 1
• Seed of Agility x 3
• Seed of Magic x 3
• Seed of Defence x 3
• Seed of Life x 3

Players with existing save data for Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake and using the same account will get the following bonus in-game items in Dragon Quest 1 & 2 HD-2D Remake:

• The Marvellous Makeover Kit contains:
  • Dragon Quest I: One dog suit
  • Dragon Quest II: One cat suit

The cat suit’s design will change depending on which character it is equipped to.

Square Enix stresses that all these items can also be obtained by playing the game — pre-orderers merely get them early.

Dragon Quest 1 & 2 HD-2D Remake Collector's Edition

We've just discovered that a collector's edition of Dragon Quest 1 & 2 HD-2D Remake is also on the way. Square Enix says quantities are "limited," so if you're keen, better hop on over to the Square Enix Store sooner rather than later.

The set includes a physical edition of the game, a set of character and monster acrylic blocks, the Outstanding Outfit Kit, and two exclusive digital wallpapers. You'll also secure the pre-order bonuses outlined above, too.

A collector's edition of #DragonQuest I & II HD-2D Remake is now available for pre-order exclusively on the Square Enix store! Quantities are limited.

The set includes:
⚔️ A physical copy of the game
⚔️ A set of character and monster acrylic blocks
⚔️ The Outstanding Outfit Kit… pic.twitter.com/2Zu8fKxUe7

— DRAGON QUEST (@DragonQuest) May 27, 2025

Dragon Quest I and II HD-2D Remake is a from-the-ground-up remake of the first two games in a series that all but defines the classic JRPG as a genre. While the Final Fantasy series has gone to great lengths to reinvent itself with each new installment, Dragon Quest has stayed much more true to its original aim. These are straightforward RPGs in which you guide a hero or heroes from town to town, solving problems as you go, while progressing through an overarching narrative.

"In a way, Dragon Quest’s, let’s say 'classic' storyline and trope-ish setting is easier to appreciate today than maybe a decade ago," we wrote in IGN's Dragon Quest 1 & 2 HD-2D Remake preview. "Nowadays, with graphics as advanced as they are and storylines trying to compete with the biggest movies and TV shows, Dragon Quest is a reminder that some stories are timeless for a reason."

Square Enix dropped an update for Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake last week, improving boat travel speed, critical hit rates and abilities, and introducing a new shortcut button that lets you map spells and abilities to specific buttons.

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.

from IGN Video Games https://ift.tt/AsNjSQ4
via IFTTT