Month: September 2020

Animal Crossing: New Horizons‘ fall update finally arrives on September 30, but there’s more new content on the way to the game this season. Nintendo has confirmed that another Animal Crossing update is coming in late November, and it looks like it’ll add two more big seasonal events.

While Nintendo didn’t share any further details about the November update, the announcement was accompanied by images of Franklin the turkey and Jingle the reindeer. The former hosts the series’ Harvest Festival (Thanksgiving) event, while the latter appears during Toy Day (Christmas), so it looks like both holidays are coming as part of the update.

Nintendo hasn’t yet explained how the Harvest Festival or Toy Day events will work in New Horizons, but in the series’ previous installment, Animal Crossing: New Leaf, Franklin would send you around to other villagers to gather ingredients for dishes he’s preparing. Toy Day was even more involved. All December, you would need to speak to villagers and make note of what they’re hoping to receive on Toy Day. Then, on December 24, you would need to dress as Santa and deliver the right presents to each villager.

Continue Reading at GameSpot

Some of the most popular Animal Crossing Amiibo can be hard to find in stock, at least at a reasonable price, but fortunately, the Animal Crossing Amiibo card series is making a comeback. Nintendo announced today that series 1 through 4 of the Animal Crossing Amiibo card series will be available at select retailers this November for just $6 per pack–just in time for the holidays.

The Animal Crossing Amiibo cards come in blind packs of six, and four different “series” are available. You can see the full list of possible characters at Nintendo. You’ll be able to use the Amiibo cards to invite characters to live on your island in Animal Crossing: New Horizons. You can also take photos with them in a photoshoot mode called Photopia. It’s unclear if Nintendo is adding any new in-game bonuses for the re-release of Animal Crossing Amiibo cards.

Nintendo seems to be on a kick this week with bringing back hard-to-find Animal Crossing products. The company recently announced the long sold-out Animal Crossing-edition Switch console will be making its return to select stores, and we’ve already spotted it in stock at GameStop.

Continue Reading at GameSpot

And now for something completely different: Bill Murray is being threatened by ’70s mellow rock band The Doobie Brothers for unlicensed use of their song “Listen to the Music” in an advertisement for his golf shirts.

In a filing unearthed by The Hollywood Reporter, the easygoing band surprisingly bares its fangs–their attorney Peter Paterno chastises Murray, writing: “It seems like the only person who uses our clients’ music without permission more than you do is Donald Trump… We’d almost be OK with it if the shirts weren’t so damn ugly.”

For those who didn’t even realize Bill Murray has a golf-shirt business, you can go over to William Murray Golf’s official website and decide for yourself about the actor’s sartorial tastes. However, to be fair, it should be noted that golf is a sport where wardrobes are typically garish–anyone who has ever caddied for a summer knows this all too well. (The lawsuit also finds Murray joining his Chicago hometown fellow superstar Michael Jordan in being called out for bad taste: In 2012, Jordan, a man who has long lived by his own rules, was banned from La Gorce Country Club in Miami for not abiding by the dress code, and his repeated wearing cargo pants cited as the inciting offense.)

Continue Reading at GameSpot

IGN can exclusively reveal a new Observer: System Redux gameplay video, showing a fascinating glimpse at footage from new quests that have been added to this next-gen update of the 2017 game. The video, narrated by composer and audio director Arkadius Reikowski, shows new gameplay elements from early portions of the Errant Signal and Her Fearful Symmetry quest lines, both of which will be included when the cyberpunk horror game hits PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S on each console’s respective launch date.

Observer: System Redux will feature three new cases in total, with the third titled It Runs in The Family. Each will introduce new characters whose stories are intertwined with the lives of tenants already known to returning Observer players, and Bloober Team say that these new stories will add “quite a bit of new content” to the game. Check out footage of the new quests below:

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In an interview with IGN Japan ahead of Tokyo Game Show, Bloober Team CEO Piotr Babieno shed extra light on the gameplay demo. Regarding Errant Signal, he explained, “While exploring the building, (protagonist) Dan (Lazarski) catches a cryptic message on his ComPass. The device glitches frantically for a few seconds, displaying just a simple ‘Help us’ and a number. Following this lead means that Dan will get to know the ugly underbelly of Krakow 2048 better than he’d like to. It seems that someone in the slums is occupied with human trafficking…”

Introducing Her Fearful Symmetry, Babieno continued, “Dan stumbles upon an odd-looking set of items strewn together in one hallway. Although their purpose is not clear, they were clearly left there deliberately. Along with the strange symbols scrawled on the floor and wall next to them, they appear to form an altar. Stuck into the contraption, Dan finds an unsettling message. Its author seems to be referring to some mysterious woman, longing for them to be together again. The intensity of his affection seems unhealthy, almost psychotic. Dan follows to check if there’s a woman bothered by a stalker somewhere in the building.”

Babieno also detailed the It Runs in The Family quest. “In the Ripper Doc’s tattoo shop, Dan finds a key to one of the building’s apartments,” he said. “Mail on Doc’s computer suggests that it is a spare key to a certain Stanley Tkaczyk’s home, and that Doc supplies him with illegal substances. What is the connection of this case to other of Doc’s questionable business pursuits? What brought Mr. Tkaczyk to the neighborhood’s notorious tattoo artist?”

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While leaving a few question marks hanging in the air so as not to spoil the mystery, Babieno told us that the new cases allow players to further explore “classic cyberpunk themes such as omnipotent but faulty technology, unfair work conditions and corporate governance over the smallest details of life,” along with “more timeless topics like familial duty, grief, loneliness, sanity, greed and lust, as well as self-consciousness and emancipation.”

In addition to new quests, Observer: System Redux will feature next-gen upgrades such as ray-tracing and improved loading times, which Babieno says will allow the development team at Bloober to realise their vision for a dark cyberpunk future more completely.

Also, the developers paid particular attention to overhauling Janus, the janitor in the original game, and his office. “As the old janitor is our guide to the building and Dan interacts with him quite a lot, we decided to do an entirely new model for the character with a full set of new animations, to make him more realistic and interesting,” said Babieno. “The office was redone to feel more homely, even if a bit creepy. It now feels like a place where someone actually lives and works.”

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Since the original version of Observer was released in 2017, its star Rutger Hauer – who voiced and gave his likeness to protagonist Daniel Lazarski – has unfortunately passed on. We asked Babieno how it felt to rework the game for a new audience in Hauer’s absence, and whether System Redux includes any previously unused footage of Hauer, or shows his work in a new light.

“It was a great privilege to work with Rutger Hauer and also to be able to make one of his last performances shine again,” said Babieno. “Sadly, there wasn’t much unused footage to add to the game, but what we had was enough to give Dan Lazarski a chance to uncover a few new cases.”

Observer: System Redux will be released on November 10 on PC and Xbox Series X/S, and November 12 on PlayStation 5.

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Daniel Robson is Chief Editor of IGN Japan – follow him on Twitter to see if he survives Tokyo Game Show.

This week has been huge for Xbox. The Generation Next team break down the landmark deal with Bethesda and the implications for PS5 exclusives. They also discuss Series X|S pre-orders and are joined by a VERY special guest.

As we move into the new generation, it appears the industry is taking big steps toward creating the eventuality of an all-digital future. Both PlayStation and Xbox are offering lower-priced all-digital consoles–the PS5 Digital Edition for $400 and the Xbox Series S for $300–which may make up an increasing share of their console sales as the generation continues. But a digital future poses a unique challenge for disabled gamers, and one that requires laying the groundwork for solutions now.

The benefit of an all-digital future for Microsoft and Sony is clear. With a discless console, you’re locked into their respective ecosystems and the companies get a cut of your purchases. It’s entirely conceivable that the shift toward all-digital will be partly organic, but also pushed hard by the platform-holders themselves. The lower price points for each appears aimed at incentivizing digital consoles to spur on this vision of the industry’s future.

The issue with all-digital consoles was flagged on Twitter by accessibility advocate and consultant Steve Saylor, aka the Blind Gamer. Saylor works with Can I Play That, an online resource for disabled gamers to find accessibility options in games. Saylor noted that disabled gamers often rely on trading in physical games to act as a stopgap, almost-refund policy if they come to realize a game isn’t well-suited to them. The concern is caused by a combination of generally poor pre-release information on accessibility options from publishers and the lack of refund policies on many digital storefronts.

Continue Reading at GameSpot

Following a much-publicized, lengthy controversy over representation, whitewashing, and stereotyping sparked by comedian Hari Kondabolu’s 2017 documentary The Problem With Apu, The Simpsons’ 32nd Season kicks off this Sunday with some course corrections enacted: Variety is reporting that in the season premiere, Carl Carlson will be voiced by Alex Désert (Better Things, Better Call Saul) instead of Hank Azaria.

Désert will be taking over the role of Homer’s co-worker and Lenny Leonard’s best friend at the nuclear power plant–although it’s not yet clear whether he will be permanently replacing Azaria and/or other characters as well. Reportedly, Dr. Julius Hibbert–another Black character who under a recent decision by producers would require recasting characters of color to have corresponding voice actors–appears in the episode, but does not speak.

Continue Reading at GameSpot

Xbox Game Pass is genuinely the next best thing since sliced bread. If you pack it with Live Gold and everything else for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, you’ve got the best thing since the wheel. We’re serious (kinda).

The game subscription platform is damn good though. With its enormous library of games, there’s no doubt that it can blow away even the most cynical of gamers. Ultimate is also the place to be with access to Xbox Live Gold, Game Pass on consoles and PC, alongside Cloud Gaming on your portable devices, and the brand new EA Play deal coming this holiday season during the Seriex X launch. It doesn’t even stop there. You might have heard about the recent Microsoft aquaisttion of Zenimax and Bethesda for $7.5 billion.

That’s right, Doom Eternal has already been confirmed to be heading to Game Pass, alongside a few other future Bethesda Game Studios titles like Starfield and The Elder Scrolls 6 in the coming years. This also means that Obsidian and Bethesda are now sister studios, so Fallout New Vegas 2 is actually a possibility again. If you’re on Xbox, you’re going to want to be on Game Pass as well. While you’re here, you should probably also check out all the other brilliant deals on video games at the moment, alongside new deals on Xbox consoles, and deals on Xbox games.

Best Xbox Game Pass and Live Gold Deals at Amazon

Amazon can be a rather good place to hunt for Xbox Game Pass and Live Gold deals at the moment, with one of our facouitres in recent history being the 3-Month + 3-Month Game Pass Ultimaite deal for $29.99. It’s one of the best deals ever on Game Pass, if you exclude the $1 entry deal for the first month. But, there will be plenty of other Game Pass deals popping up on Amazon at some stage, so keep an eye out for when we provide some updates.

If you’re looking for more things Xbox from Amazon, remember to check out the best Xbox deals at Amazon article right here on IGN.

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Best Xbox Game Pass and Live Gold Deals at Best Buy

Just like Amazon, Best Buy can be a great place to track down some new deals on Xbox Game Pass and Xbox Live Gold, or both with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. You should also remember that external hard drives are also a big deal when it comes to Xbox, since most games are so big these days. Not only that, but with Xbox Game Pass providing you access to so many incredible titles, it can be hard to fit them all in one place. Plus, with the new Seagate SSD costing $219.99 at the Microsoft store or Best Buy, you may want to use a Hard Drive to store all your games as a cheaper alternative, and then simply move them onto the Xbox Series X/S SSD when you want to play.

Remember, we’ve also got an article detailing every single one of the best Xbox deals at Best Buy right now, including new accessory deals on external drives, games, consoles, controllers, and more.

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Best Xbox Game Pass and Live Gold Deals at Dell

Dell is actually one of the best retailers when it comes to digital Xbox game deals, so it’s no surprise when the retailer can occasionally pack some of the very best deals on the Xbox subscription services. Not only that, but Dell has plenty of other amazing Xbox deals to check out, including some of the very best selection of Xbox accessories.

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Best Xbox Game Pass and Live Gold Deals at GameStop

GameStop can be a delight when it comes to Xbox Game Pass deals, and the nostalgia factor can play into it as well. This is despite the fact that GameStop is known for its preowned services, and digital gaming is known to be a serious plight on its overall business model. But, still the retailer has gotten with the times to some extent, and there is the occasional Game Pass and Live Gold deal available online. If you’re looking for a few more deals from GameStip, if its your retailer of choice, then don’t forget to check out our full Xbox deals at GameStop article.

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Best Xbox Game Pass and Live Gold Deals at Microsoft

Xbox deals from its very maker. Microsoft does love to indulge itself sometimes, so often enough some of the absolute best Xbox deals you can find will be on its own website. This includes deals on subscription services like Xbox Game Pass and Live Gold. Remember, if you find a decent deal on both Live Gold and Ultimate, try to apply them at the same time to bump your membership time up for a fraction of the overall cost.

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Best Xbox Game Pass and Live Gold Deals at Walmart

Walmart is big, bold, and likes to try and grab your attention with great deals. Pretty much like Xbox and Game Pass overall. Walmart might not be the most renowned retailer when it comes to Game Pass offers, but they can come along very occasionally. But, you might want a little bit of a larger breakdown when it comes to the retail giant, so go check out all the best Xbox deals at Walmart at the moment as well.

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It’s big, it’s bold, and everyone has heard of it. Xbox. But also Walmart. Walmart is a incredibly good option when it comes to all the different kind of games, consoles, accessories, and more. Even more so when it comes to Xbox, as Walmart tends to have a healthy supply of Xbox gaming products available online. Not only that, but the retailer is also big on bringing out the Xbox deals, and you can even find discounts on the highly recommended Xbox Game Pass if you look at the right time.

If you’re looking for more gaming deals, you should also check out our page on the best Amazon Xbox deals, alongside other retailers like Best Buy and GameStop. If you want deals on absolutely everything from all retailers, then head on over to the best Xbox deals.

Best Walmart Xbox Accessory Deals

There are more than enough Xbox accessories to choose from online right now, and there’s a slew of good reasons to pick some of these up if you can. Right now some of the most popular Xbox accessory deals include the addition of a controller, alongside headsets, and most importantly, external drives.

External hard drives are a big deal when it comes to Xbox, since most games are so big these days. Not only that, but with Xbox Game Pass providing you access to so many incredible titles, it can be hard to fit them all in one place. Plus, with the new Seagate SSD costing $219.99 at the Microsoft store or Best Buy, you may want to use a Hard Drive to store all your games as a cheaper alternative, and then simply move them onto the Xbox Series X/S SSD when you want to play.

When Walmart is rocking some of these accessory deals we’ve been so gracefully mentioning, then you’ll see them just below here. If there not around, keep checking back for more updates. Or, if you’re looking for a few more accessory deals, make sure to also check out the best Xbox deals at Dell.

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Best Walmart Xbox Game Deals

Game deals are all the more important once you’ve got your console and you’re actually looking for something to play. Thankfully, Xbox is being very kind with its backwards compantibity stance and smart delivery for next gen consoles.

So, buy those Xbox One games as much as you like from Walmart, as they will definitely be working on the Xbox Series X. Not only that, but you can also purchase games like Assassin’s Creed Valhalla or Cyberpunk 2077, and still get a free next-gen graphical upgrade. Outstanding.

There are plenty of more Xbox game deals available at other retailers as well, check out our complete Xbox game deals roundup to find even more.

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Best Walmart Xbox Console Deals

Consoles can be a little few and far between at the moment online, so if you see a cheap Xbox One going and you aren’t too interested in trying out the Series X, go for it. The One S is still around, but price reductions aren’t very common at the moment, but we might see a few changes in the coming months.

It could be a while before we see any deals on the Series X and Series S, but check back often to see if there have been any surprising developments at Walmart.

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Best Walmart Xbox Game Pass and Live Gold Deals

Xbox Game Pass can still blow even the most cynical of gamers away. With the recent EA Play deal, alongside the massive acquisition of Zenimax and Bethesda, Game Pass is looking like the place to be for Xbox gamers. Doom Eternal has already been confirmed to be heading to Game Pass, alongside a few other Bethesda Game Studios titles like Starfield and The Elder Scrolls 6. Walmart does tend to pack a few Game Pass deals every so often, but if there aren’t any right now, maybe check out the best Xbox Game Pass deals article right here on IGN.

Not only that, but you’ve also got the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Cloud Gaming access to try out whenever you like. We recommended using a new Razer Kishi controller for your Android phone, and check out a 5G unlimited cell plan if you can.

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That’s all we’ve got here at the moment folks, but don’t forget to also consider all the best deals on Nintendo Switch at Walmart, and the best deals on PlayStation at Walmart.

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GameStop is one of the most world renowned stores to buy video games, consoles, accessories, and everything else under the sun from. Whether you’re a fan, or not, of their trade-in system, the retailer can pack a fair few impressive deals when it comes to Xbox.

With Xbox constantly expanding its range of products as well, including the new Xbox Series X and Series S consoles, there are plenty of new deals to check out all the time. Whether you’re looking to pick up a new controller, the latest game, or a brand new console, GameStop can be a very good place to start. If it’s your retailer of choice, then we can save you a little bit of time, as we’ve got all the very best GameStop Xbox deals right here. If you’re looking for some more variety in retailer deals, you should also consider checking out our round-up on the best Xbox deals.

Best GameStop Xbox Accessory Deals

From controllers to hard drives, headsets to charging kits, you can’t go wrong with a few Xbox accessory deals. This is especially true considering how expensive items like controllers or external drives can get these days, with the standard Xbox controller costing at least $59.99 when not on sale. If you do see one ready and available to buy with a discount, avoid hesitation and grab it as soon as possible, as stock won’t last long.

If you’re looking to track down some more accessory deals, we highly recommend also checking out some awesome Xbox deals at Best Buy right now, who can be packed to the rafters with the top discounts on accessories.

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Best GameStop Xbox Game Deals

If you haven’t already checked out GameStop’s selection of preowned games, the retailer does also like to discount Xbox games that are new as well. Whether you’re looking to pick up one of the best games of the generation like The Witcher 3, or you’re trying to relive an old classic like The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion, then look no further. These are just examples by the way, GameStop deals can change frequently and we update this page just as often.

You can find more than just Xbox deals at GameStop, however, so make sure to head on over to the best PlayStation deals at GameStop right now.

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Best GameStop Xbox Console Deals

Xbox consoles can be a little bit hard to come by at the moment, especially the Xbox One X. So if you spot one, and even spot one on sale, make sure to pick it up. The new Xbox Series X/S are also launching 2020, but we might not expect to see deals on those for a long while, at least while the demand is so high at full price. If you see any discounts, however, grab it while its hot.

If you’re looking for something a little more portable, then check out the very best Nintendo Switch deals at GameStop as well.

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Best GameStop Xbox Game Pass and Live Gold Deals

Xbox Game Pass is still arguable the best deal in gaming at the moment, especially with all the new add-ons the service is getting right now. With EA Play launching with the service later in the year, alongside the recent aquisition of Bethesda, Game Pass is only going to get better and better as time goes on.

Dell is also a great website when it comes to digital purchases and deals, so make sure to have a look at the best Dell Xbox deals for all things Game Pass.

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