What is an Xbox? Microsoft has spent 25 years trying to answer the question, but for fans, the answer is easy: “Xbox” evokes one-eared headsets wired into the memory card slots of massive controllers with breakaway cords. A dashboard with gleaming skeuomorphic blades and avatars adorned in earned accessories. That sound that plays when a hard-earned Achievement finally pops. “Xbox” means heavy-duty hardware. Tactile sensations. Friends connecting for the first time. And that’s before we even get to the games.

It may be that the very idea of an Xbox game is coming to an end. Microsoft has undeniably shifted its tactics, with a new focus on multi-platform releases, handheld Xboxes that are actually miniature Windows computers, and the potential that future Xbox consoles may simply be gaming PCs. So now seems as good a time as any to look back at the entire history of Microsoft’s console journey and rank the best Xbox games, with help from our friends at Outside Xbox, the multimillion-subscriber channel that serves up weekly videos about video games and video game-adjacent things

When we say “the best Xbox games,” we mean the ones that most evoke that weighty sense of “Xboxness.” Some are first-party, most are exclusives, and all of them are indelibly tied to the legacy of and fondness for a platform that’s left a massive mark on gaming. These are the 100 Best Xbox Games of All Time. We'll be updating this list daily with 25 games at 7am PST/10am ET/3pm GMT from Tuesday, 20th January to Friday, 23rd January, until number one is revealed.

100. 1 vs. 100

A large-scale, online multiplayer game show, played in real-time by actual players who could win actual prizes? It was a bold idea, and Microsoft's 1 vs. 100 actually did it. Adapted from the TV show of the same name, players were randomly dropped into one of three pools whenever the show went live: the Crowd, the Mob, and the One, with the One competing against the Mob in trivia rounds where reaction times were just as important an ingredient to victory as the correct answer to the question being asked. Prizes ranged from 80 Microsoft Points ($1) to a free Xbox Live Arcade game, to 10,000 Microsoft Points ($125). 1 vs. 100 was a true social and technical experiment in the world of gaming, and here's the thing: it worked! Sadly, it was canceled after two "seasons" and can't be played now, but it lives on in the memory as one of the best and most innovative Xbox games ever made.

99. Conker: Live and Reloaded

When Microsoft acquired Nintendo's second-party darling Rare for $375 million, the possibilities were endless. One of the first games Xbox got from the British studio was Conker: Live and Reloaded, a remake of N64's Conker's Bad Fur Day that added online multiplayer. And while that competitive play was quite fun, thanks in part to the juxtaposition of over-the-top violence and adorable characters on screen, it was the technological level-up from the N64 original that was truly stunning. The action-platformer was now "fur-shaded," giving the manes of Conker and his buddies a unique "next-gen" new look. Ironically, Live and Reloaded was actually more heavily censored than Bad Fur Day, but both campaign and multiplayer were nevertheless a great way to introduce Rare to its new Xbox player base.

98. Top Spin

Believe it or not, there was a time when EA didn't support Xbox Live. And so Microsoft started building its own sports games that would take advantage of its online service, and of those titles, Top Spin was by far the best. It was a tennis sim featuring a career mode full of real-life pros, but what made Top Spin memorable – in addition to its core gameplay being so pitch-perfect, of course – was its online play. You'd create your character, build them up, and take them online, pitting yourself against other players in ranked matches that, if you won, would move you further up the global rankings. It all worked perfectly (and even tied in XSN, if you remember that little experiment), and made Top Spin the best tennis game the Xbox has ever been served up.

97. Binary Domain

The Xbox 360 was a treasure chest full of those “7 out of 10s” that you just couldn’t put down; those rough-around-the-edges cult classics that kept us more than entertained for a weekend before we moved on to the next. Binary Domain is a perfect example – a third-person shooter from Yakuza developer Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio, this sci-fi story didn’t play too differently from established cover shooters such as Gears of War, but came with its own unique quirks. Direct control of your squadmates was chief among these, with the ability to command them in six different languages via a headset or the Kinect sensor, a fun little gimmick that took advantage of the Xbox’s ultimately doomed experiment with its camera peripheral. Binary Domain may have never fully reached the heights of its lofty ambitions, but it still finds a place in our hearts.

96. Steel Battalion

The original Xbox was a maximalist, brutalist brick of post-Y2K design and Steel Battalion is the purest expression of its commitment to inconvenience. The Capcom-developed mech game is arguably nothing special by itself, but the humongous HOTAS horror with which it came bundled has earned it Xbox immortality. Weighing in at a whopping 17 pounds, boasting three panels, three foot pedals, and industrial-grade divorced dad energy, Steel Battalion is the video game equivalent of “rolling coal:” an excessive, magnificent, indulgent peripheral that cost $200 in 2002 money. Xbox is a burly, hefty console that demands a burly, hefty experience, and Steel Battalion more than fits the bill.

95. Oddworld: Stranger's Wrath

Xbox was a console designed to change the game, and so it made sense that the Oddworld series shifted direction when it arrived on the platform. Munch's Oddysee saw the sidescrolling platformer leap into the third dimension, but it was 2005’s Stranger’s Wrath that really reinvented the series, delivering a bizarre gunslinging action-adventure in which you played a bounty hunter, bringing in targets dead or alive, rather than saving legions of Mudokons. As Stranger, you’re armed with a crossbow and a bandolier of “Live Ammunition”, as in, ammo that’s literally alive. Your chatterbox bullets, each an insect or tiny mammal with unique abilities, turn each hunt into a tactical showdown with more than a fistful of good laughs.

94. Fuzion Frenzy

It's gritty. It's neon. It's Fuzion Frenzy, an undeniable classic for the original Xbox that's still fun today (if you don't stay too long in the Waterfront minigames, that is). This party game gem was one of the few local multiplayer games that just about anyone could play, regardless of their experience with gaming. Simple yet helpful options like practicing a minigame before the real event, bots to fill open spots with varying levels of difficulty, and custom lengths for tournaments made welcoming others to the party even easier. Its wide span of minigames acted as a great introduction to all kinds of genres, too; from racing to rhythm, to strategy, to defense, Fuzion Frenzy has it all – and a sick visual aesthetic to boot.

93. Lost Planet: Extreme Condition

Lost Planet: Extreme Condition is a perfect relic from a time when it seemed like almost every third-party game that delivered a visual showcase on the Xbox 360 struggled to run properly on the PS3. Capcom’s mech-suit shooter played host to some memorable creature design that evoked some of sci-fi fiction's greatest threats, and delivered spectacle that, at the time, was compared to games as well as thought of as Shadow of the Colossus. While its story may have left quite a bit to be desired, its action was well-received, as it took cues from Capcom classics such as Mega Man and Bionic Commando and modernised them to great effect. Lost Planet: Extreme Condition is by no means a classic in its own right, but is a great example of a time when, if you had the choice to play a multiplatform game on any console, it would always be the 360.

92. Banjo-Kazooie Nuts N Bolts

Nuts & Bolts began life as a remake of the original Nintendo 64 Banjo-Kazooie game, before developer Rare made the decision to create a completely new entry in the series for the Xbox 360. An ambitious project that stretched itself far beyond its 3D platforming roots, this 2008 sequel placed an emphasis on building vehicles in a flexible world that could be navigated in many different ways. 15 years before Nintendo experimented with similar ideas in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Rare was arguably ahead of the curve when it came to player freedom in wide open spaces, even if the final product never delivered the sort of game of the year-winning quality that Link’s adventures have. There’s no denying that Nuts & Bolts was divisive at launch, but its legacy only grows stronger over time, and it remains the most recent entry into the Banjo-Kazooie series.

91. Condemned: Criminal Origins

We'd argue that Condemned: Criminal Origins was the most underrated of the Xbox 360's day-one launch games. A first-person horror game with melee combat from the decorated developers at Monolith Productions, it got scarier and scarier the deeper you pushed into its campaign – and yes, we mean it got even more terrifying after the memorable department store mannequin sequence. As an FBI agent you had a toolbox of forensic tools to work with, but it was more what you had to work against that made this experience special – namely, an impeccably bleak atmosphere that heightened the fear that enveloped you as you played. It remains unique amongst horror games even today.

90. Castle Crashers

Indie games have grown so ubiquitous that the word itself has become a battleground, but 18 years ago, “indie” largely meant games on Xbox Live Arcade. XBLA was to indie games as Toonami was to anime: an influential pipeline that reshaped distribution and expanded our ideas of what games could be and who was allowed to make them. Headlining the inaugural “Summer of Arcade” in 2008, Castle Crashers was a colorful, chaotic belt-scroller with stylish hand-drawn art straight from Newgrounds, the anarchic animation scene that would later spawn the likes of Smiling Friends. It set a new standard for four-player co-op and helped spark a modern beat ‘em up revival alongside fellow XBLA stalwart Scott Pilgrim: The Game.

89. MechAssault

MechWarrior had long been a sci-fi giant-robot simulation staple on PC. In MechAssault, the BattleTech universe came to console as a faster-paced, gamepad-friendly version of everyone's favorite 31st-century-set franchise, and it translated beautifully. You still got to pilot all of the coolest mechs from the PC series, and you could still target specific areas of your enemies in order to disable them or, in the case of a leg takeout, cause them to fall over and explode. But MechAssault boiled it down to purely the action, taking a lot of the between-mission simulation gameplay out of the equation. The revised formula worked, both in the single-player campaign and in the Xbox Live online multiplayer, where MechAssault quickly established itself as one of the most popular games on Microsoft's then brand-new, broadband-only online gaming service.

88. Peter Jackson's King Kong

A launch game for the Xbox 360, Peter Jackson’s King Kong comes from a time when a huge graphical leap could be noticed from just one glance at a screen. The lush jungle of Skull Island set the stage for a licensed game that stood tall in an era when many fell flat, thanks to its relatively open approach to level design, immersive first-person perspective devoid of cluttered UI, and overall cinematic presentation that reflected the ambitions of The Lord of the Rings’ director’s remake. Sure, it’s not quite as revolutionary to play now, but it is representative of a moment in time when, much like its lead character, Xbox was about to become top of the food chain.

87. Full Spectrum Warrior

Full Spectrum Warrior famously started out not as a for-public-consumption video game, but as a training tool built for the US Army. It's a real-time tactics game, but unlike just about anything that came before or since. Its entire premise revolves around the proper positioning of your squad of soldiers; it's up to you to literally put your men and women in position to not just succeed, but also survive, as one wrong move will see just a few bullets quickly wipe out your squad. Tension is the primary emotion you'll feel throughout Full Spectrum Warrior's campaign, but in the very best and most enjoyable of ways.

86. Dead or Alive 3

At the time of the original Xbox’s arrival in November 2001, it was seen as a necessity for a console to launch with a strong fighting game offering, one of the most popular genres at the turn of the century. In preparation for that, Microsoft moved to obtain exclusivity on Team Ninja’s Dead or Alive series, which had previously appeared on both Sony’s PlayStation and Sega’s Dreamcast. The gamble paid off: Dead or Alive 3 instantly became a huge hit thanks to its lush visuals and slick combat, selling over 1 million copies in its first five months alone. It would go on to become one of the 10 best-selling games on the original Xbox console and help establish the platform’s solid foundations around the world.

85. Perfect Dark Zero

A sequel to Rare’s hit N64 shooter, Perfect Dark Zero began life on the Gamecube before it was ordained as a flagship first-party launch title for Xbox 360 following Microsoft’s acquisition of the studio in 2002. While its development was a frantic sprint to meet the console’s release, the final product is a technical stunner of a stylish spy thriller that dazzled early adopters with glossy visuals and a sprawling multiplayer suite that supported a then-whopping 32 players– the perfect proving ground for a new generation of Xbox Live. Microsoft was clearly strapping the rocket to Joanna Dark as a triple-A franchise candidate, but her series struggled to find a lane among the Master Chiefs and Call of Dutys that dominated the platform. Even so, Perfect Dark Zero endures as an ambitious, feature-rich launch showcase, and after decades of false starts and development hell, it remains the last, best word on an Xbox almost-icon.

84. Panzer Dragoon Orta

Panzer Dragon Orta showed that, even following the very public disaster of the Dreamcast, Sega was a company still willing to take risks and experiment. In this case, it meant rewinding time and returning Panzer Dragoon to its rail shooter roots, following a brief venture into the RPG space with 1998’s Panzer Dragoon Saga. The result was Panzer Dragoon Orta, an Xbox exclusive interpretation of the dragon-riding series that felt both comfortingly old-school and daringly modern. A beautiful, deceivingly complex slice of action, Orta took full advantage of the power of the Xbox to create one of the best examples of the on-rails shooter to date.

83. Rayman Legends

Is 2013’s Rayman Legends the greatest platformers that Nintendo never made? A personality-packed cartoon world, impeccable control system, sublime level design, and an ever-evolving set of mechanics would argue yes, it's certainly in the running, and that’s even before we’ve gotten to the brilliantly bonkers rhythm-based challenge level set to a Mariachi band cover of ‘Eye of the Tiger’. Fun solo but absolutely joyous with three friends in tow, Rayman Legends is couch co-op perfection. Its 120 levels are full of surprises and crafted at such a consistently high standard that no sooner do you think you’ve found your favourite stage than another one has come along to dethrone it. There’s so much giddy gameplay stuffed into Rayman Legends that it even spills over into its loading screens, themselves mad scrambles for a bonus heart during the handful of seconds before each level begins. Beautiful, bountiful, and bouncing with energy, Rayman Legends is as good as 2D platforming gets, and proved a real treat in the dying days of Xbox’s golden 360 era.

82. Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Vegas

Rainbow Six: Vegas isn't just memorable for being a massive jump for the Tom Clancy series into the next-gen on the Xbox 360, but for its perspective shift: as you took cover from gunfire behind one-armed bandits and beside doorways, the camera pulled back from Rainbow Six's typical first-person perspective and brought it into third-person, settling over each Operator's shoulder - a trick that would be later copied by Brothers in Arms and Deus Ex. Meanwhile, Las Vegas proved to be a gorgeous and memorable setting for this bold new entry in the series, giving us glitzy shootouts on casino floors. And multiplayer, already a huge hit on Xbox Live with Rainbow Six 3, blew up again with Vegas, offering an unparalleled tactical, team-based competitive experience online. At the time of release, we called it “the best first-person shooter on the Xbox 360”, and while it may not have held onto that crown later in the console’s lifespan, it still remains a high point for the genre.

81. Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons

A game with perhaps the single saddest press of a button in all of games, Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons set the template for what director Josef Fares would go on to achieve. A story-first puzzle game in which the game’s two playable brothers are controlled by an analog stick each, its smart approach to how you use an Xbox controller made it an instant under-the-radar hit when it landed with timed exclusivity on the 360. Fares would leave developer Starbreeze Studios after Brothers’ release to set up Hazelight and craft some of the best co-op games ever released, and while the likes of It Takes Two and Split Fiction push the bounds of creativity when it comes to gameplay, nothing since has quite packed the narrative punch that this journey of two boys trying to save their dying father does.

80. Titanfall

After a litigious split from Activision, the co-creators of Call of Duty jumped ship to EA and formed Respawn, determined to reinvent the online FPS for Xbox and beat their old game at its own game. 2014’s Titanfall dropped as the disappointing Ghosts left Call of Duty vulnerable, with acrobatic movement and wall-running gunfights that made “boots on the ground” shooters feel instantly archaic. While the MOBA-influenced multiplayer featured farming minions and screen-shaking ultimate mechs summoned from the sky, the lack of a campaign limited Titanfall’s impact, and by the time its multiplatform sequel more than rectified that mistake, it was far too late to conquer CoD.

79. The Outer Worlds 2

Obsidian Entertainment has quietly become one of Microsoft's most important studios, thanks to its consistently strong output ever since its 2018 acquisition. Following recent forays into oversized undergrowth in Grounded and Pentiment’s 17th-century Germany, the Pillars of Eternity developer returned to their roots in 2025 with not one, but two action RPGs. Avowed was great, but it was The Outer Worlds 2 that led the pack and sprinkled some of that Fallout: New Vegas magic onto the foundations of its solid, but not entirely successful predecessor, producing a significantly improved sequel. With trademark humour powering a sci-fi satire full of memorable moments, warring factions, and malleable skills and combat systems, The Outer Worlds 2 is one of Obsidian’s best RPGs to date, and as a result, one of Xbox’s.

78. Keeper

Considering Microsoft’s recent history when it comes to the mishandling of its studios, it feels like somewhat of a miracle that we’re lucky enough to get brilliant little games like Keeper from Double Fine. A short and colourful trip, it takes a humble walking lighthouse and its bird companion on a journey full of puzzles that surprises with each turn and tumble its story and characters take. What starts out seeming so simple steadily reveals its secrets and joys in a hidden gem that feels like the exact sort of experience Game Pass was created for.

77. Jade Empire

BioWare’s oft-forgotten 2005 RPG is the evolutionary link between Knights of the Old Republic and Mass Effect. The Chinese mythology-inspired Jade Empire builds upon the moral choices of KOTOR, but leaves behind its cumbersome D&D-rooted combat in favour of real-time battles that better convey the fluidity of martial arts. With its wonderful companions, engaging romances, and richly detailed original worldbuilding, Jade Empire is very clearly the starting point for BioWare’s glittering 360 era, even if its achievements were quickly eclipsed by Mass Effect and Dragon Age.

76. Gears 5

Where Gears of War 4 reflected many of the themes of its predecessors, Gears 5 shattered the mirror to take the COGs into something bigger. Kait Diaz, JD Fenix, and Del Walker are joined by Marcus Fenix and other familiar faces in a story that expands the Gears of War lore in an exciting way as they are pitted against the Swarm's escalated aggression. New combat additions like Jack's abilities make for great campaign gameplay updates without straying too far from the focus on excellent cover-shooting, and its larger sandbox environments keep things fresh with optional exploration and, of course, more combat challenges. The iconic, gory mess of gunplay is also fantastic in the variety of multiplayer modes and Horde. Developer The Coalition put the cherry on top of this fantastic third-person shooter with the Hivebusters DLC, which features entirely new characters and a story that complements the main campaign. This complete package is easily on the Xbox One's finest games.

Come back tomorrow (Wednesday 21st) for picks 75-51!

Doug Bowser, former president and chief operating officer at Nintendo of America, has joined the board of directors at Hasbro.

Bowser departed Nintendo on December 31, less than a month ago. He had served more than a decade at the company, and six years as Nintendo of America's final boss, following the departure of previous president Reggie Fils-Aimé. Bowser's time at the company was notable as he oversaw the success of Nintendo Switch and then the record-breaking launch of Switch 2, while gamely acknowledging all the jokes about his surname.

Nintendo's former chief will be joined as a newly-installed member of the Hasbro board by Carla Vernón, CEO of The Honest Company.

Xbox Game Pass is set for a big hitter at the end of January: Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2.

This marks the debut of Saber Interactive’s hugely popular third-person action game in a subscription library, and comes one-and-a-half years after its September 2024 release.

For the uninitiated, Space Marine 2 sees you assume the role of Titus, a member of the Ultramarines chapter of Space Marines. He goes up against the monstrous Tyranids in a campaign that can be played with up to two friends. But there are a number of PvE and PvP modes to keep you busy after. Following the success of Space Marine 2, Titus has become something of a poster boy for the Warhammer 40,000 setting, and was even rewarded for his heroic exploits with a promotion in the ongoing tabletop narrative. Space Marine 3 is already confirmed to be in the works, with updates still coming for Space Marine 2.

What else is coming to Game Pass? As revealed by Xbox Wire, Hideo Kojima’s Death Stranding Director’s Cut (Cloud, PC and Xbox Series X|S) hits Game Pass Ultimate, Premium, and PC Game Pass on January 21. Also on that day, RoadCraft (PC) and Ninja Gaiden Ragebound (Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S) join Game Pass Ultimate, Premium, and PC Game Pass.

Moving on to January 27, first-person puzzle game The Talos Principle 2 (PC and Xbox Series X|S) hits Game Pass Ultimate, Premium, and PC Game Pass. A day later, on January 28, Anno: Mutationem (Cloud, PC, and Console) arrives on Game Pass Ultimate, Premium, and PC Game Pass, alongside hybrid rogue-lite Drop Duchy (Cloud, PC, and Console).

MySims: Cozy Bundle (PC) comes to Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass on January 29, the same day Space Marine 2 (Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S) hits Game Pass Ultimate, Premium, and PC Game Pass.

Creeping into early February, we have Indika (Cloud, PC and Xbox Series X|S) on Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass on February 2, and Final Fantasy II (Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S), the remodeled 2D take on the second game in the Final Fantasy series, on Game Pass Ultimate, Premium, and PC Game Pass on February 3.

Xbox Game Pass January 2026 Wave 2 lineup:

• Death Stranding Director’s Cut (Cloud, PC and Xbox Series X|S) – January 21 Game Pass Ultimate, Premium, PC Game Pass
• RoadCraft (PC) – January 21 Game Pass Ultimate, Premium, PC Game Pass
• Ninja Gaiden Ragebound (Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S) – January 21 Game Pass Ultimate, Premium, PC Game Pass
• The Talos Principle 2 (PC and Xbox Series X|S) – January 27 Game Pass Ultimate, Premium, PC Game Pass
• Anno: Mutationem (Cloud, PC, and Console) – January 28 Game Pass Ultimate, Premium, PC Game Pass
• Drop Duchy (Cloud, PC, and Console) – January 28 Game Pass Ultimate, Premium, PC Game Pass
• MySims: Cozy Bundle (PC) – January 29 Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass
• Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine II (Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S) – January 29 Game Pass Ultimate, Premium, PC Game Pass
• Indika (Cloud, PC and Xbox Series X|S) – February 2 Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass
• Final Fantasy II (Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S) – February 3 Game Pass Ultimate, Premium, PC Game Pass

As usual, a number of games leave Xbox Game Pass later this month. You can save up to 20% on your purchase if you buy these games while subscribing.

Leaving Xbox Game Pass on January 31:

• Shady Part of Me (Cloud, PC, and Console)Cataclismo (PC)
• Starbound (Cloud, PC, and Console)
• Lonely Mountains Snow Riders (Cloud, PC, and Console)
• Paw Patrol World (Cloud, PC, and Console)
• Citizen Sleeper 2 Starward Vector (Cloud, PC, and Console)
• Orcs Must Die! Deathtrap (Cloud, PC, and Console)

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.

Former World of Warcraft producer Raymond Bartos has joined Riot Games, giving fans renewed hope that the League of Legends MMO might actually come out.

We found out Riot Games’ highly anticipated MMO project — announced half a decade ago now — would be “reset” back in 2024, after Riot co-founder Marc Merrill let players know that the team had decided to go back to the drawing board “some time ago.” Now, however, Bartos has confirmed his move to Riot, following in the footsteps of fellow Blizzard colleague, Orlando Salvatore.

"I’m incredibly excited to be joining Riot on the MMO team!!!" Bartos wrote on LinkedIn (first reported by MassivelyOP). "I’m deeply grateful for the opportunity to join such an inspiring group of people, and I can’t wait to get started — showing up every day to provide value for Riot gamers and help deliver an MMO experience players truly enjoy.

"And as a fun bonus I’ve been barely able to contain: I’ll be re-queuing with my longtime duo partner, Orlando Salvatore," Bartos added. "Given our track record on World of Warcraft, I have a feeling we’ll be moving fast on day one."

And best of all, Bartos' LinkedIn profile gives us a clear insight into what he's working courtesy of his role descriptor: "senior game producer on the MMO [at] Riot Games."

Concern grew in 2022, when then-executive producer Greg Street warned fans that there is “no guarantee this game will ship.” The lead then went on to announce his departure from Riot in early 2023. Two years ago, when he announced the development reset, Merrill said he understood fans' frustration at the lack of progress on the MMO, but insisted the time spent in the dark would “help provide space for the team to focus on the incredible amount of work ahead of them.”

“Remember, 'no news is good news,' as it means we're hard at work, pouring our hearts and souls into making something that we hope you’ll love," he continued.

League of Legends was first released in 2009 and remains one of the world's biggest, most-played games. A multiplayer online battle arena (or MOBA), it was originally inspired by Warcraft 3 custom map Defense of the Ancients, and played a massive role in pioneering and popularizing the MOBA genre. It has gone on to inspire a number of spin-offs, including digital card game Legends of Runeterra, a mobile version of the game called Wild Rift, and a popular TV series: Arcane.

Last month, we reported that Riot was working on a total makeover of League of Legends. Called "League Next," the upcoming overhaul will be an update to the existing League of Legends rather than a standalone game. It's thought the update will fully revamp the game's visual aesthetic, including characters, UI, and arenas and make some adjustments behind the scenes to help make future updates smoother, although it's currently unclear if the changes will impact game mechanics.

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.

Matt Damon has discussed how tough it was filming Christopher Nolan’s next epic, The Odyssey, which he said had a “profound” effect on him.

The Odyssey, written and directed by Nolan and due out July 17, 2026, is based on Homer’s saga, and is described as “a mythic action epic” shot across the world using brand new IMAX film technology. Matt Damon plays Odysseus, the legendary Greek king of Ithaca and the star of the film.

Shots revealed by the debut trailer, below, show Matt Damon walking on sand, trudging through a forest, exploring a cave, desperately trying to sail a boat, and, alongside his soldiers, hiding inside the famous Trojan Horse as it’s dragged from the sea.

In an interview with Netflix to promote new movie The Rip, Damon said he was still “unpacking” the experience of filming The Odyssey, but admitted “it did have a profound effect on me.”

“If I look objectively at what was required to do that job, I think it came at just the right time in my life,” he revealed. “I think I would've been miserable 20 years ago trying to do that job. Because you were uncomfortable every day, but I really enjoyed… like, deeply enjoyed every minute of it.”

“Intellectually I understood that concept of, you're not in control of what happens, but you are in control of how you feel about it,” Damon continued. “It's easier said than done. But to really feel gratitude. And I think because it was tied into not only the joy in being able to have a role that great, with a director that great, with a group of people that great, and a story that great, but in that sense of nostalgia I had for how I started, how I came into the business, the feeling I had when I was shooting School Ties, and Freddie Francis was the cinematographer, and, I was like, this is really happening. Back to, like, the very first feature, like the one line I had in Mystic Pizza, it was like three nights of shooting this dinner table scene, because there was a lot of coverage in the scene. And I just remember being elated for three straight nights. Just completely joyful.

“Doing The Odyssey this last year, it felt like my one chance in my life to make a David Lean movie, that I was making the last big movie on film that I was ever gonna get to make. And it's so funny to think that it really is all in how you look at it. Like, yeah, I was wet and I was cold and I was hungry and I was… yeah, all that happened.

“But there was a guy who works with Chris on a lot of his movies who was a Navy Seal named Duffy. And Duffy said to me towards the end of the film — because those guys… like to become that there is a lot of discomfort you have to experience and tolerate. Almost nobody can do it. A very, very tiny percentage of human beings can even do it — and he said to me towards the end of the movie, ‘You never remember how cold you were. That's not the memory that you have. That's a fleeting feeling and it's gonna pass, and you're gonna be warm again. You're just not warm now. And so get comfortable in the discomfort. Just see it for what it is. It's not forever.’”

Earlier this month, Damon revealed he slimmed down to his high school weight for the role. "I had a beard like yours for like a year," he told Jason and Travis Kelce on a recent episode of their podcast, New Heights. "I was in really good shape. I lost a lot of weight. [Nolan] wanted me lean but strong."

He also noted that a specific change in diet helped him get there. "Just because of this other thing that I did with my doctor, I stopped eating gluten,” Damon explained. “I used to walk around at between 185 and 200, and I did that whole movie at 167. And I haven't been that light since high school. So it was a lot of training and a really strict diet."

The Ocean’s Eleven star also told the hosts how training so intensely for the role felt like playing a season of professional sports. "I imagine what that feels like for you guys, where you're preparing," Damon said to the Kelces. "It's just part of your day, it's part of your job, and you get really routinized about it and kinda build your day around all that stuff."

The Odyssey is expected to perform particularly well following the breakout success of Nolan's Oppenheimer, the Cillian Murphy-led biopic that fuelled one half of the Barbenheimer phenomenon. Oppenheimer earned a staggering $975 million during its theatrical run, and walked away with Best Picture at the Oscars. Following the debut trailer for The Odyssey is out in the wild, age-old debates about “historical accuracy” reemerged.

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.

Concept artwork for Microsoft's upcoming Fable reboot has been shared online, showing what looks to be a large open world.

The images, originally highlighted by MP1st, reportedly originate from an unnamed artist who previously worked on the project at British development studio Playground Games.

More than two dozen images show brooding fantasy landscapes that stretch off into the horizon, dilapidated thatched cottages in pastoral scenes, and familiar-looking towns with spired roofs. Several images also make reference to "Bloodstone" — suggesting we'll see locations from past Fable games return.

Fable | Concept Arthttps://t.co/OuQzqybQut pic.twitter.com/ci23N0n0xW

— Klobrille (@klobrille) January 20, 2026

Overall, the images offer a slightly darker color palette than seen in Lionhead's original Fable trilogy, with moody skies and a rugged world that's reminiscent of Hogwarts Legacy. How big is Fable's new world? That remains to be seen, though perhaps it featuring large open spaces shouldn't be too surprising, since it is being built on the same open world engine that powers Forza Horizon (albeit likely with fewer cars).

Another set of art showcases a dank dungeon-like area, where water pours down through sewer-like tunnels as cages hang above. One particular image sees the hero confront a werewolf-like creature, as bodies hang in chains nearby.

While concept art naturally shows a work-in-progress look at a project, this werewolf encounter has popped up in a previous trailer. The hero figure used throughout the concept art also matches the character seen in trailers released over the last couple of years. The suggestion, then, is this vision of the game likely isn't too far off the finished article — though of course we'll be seeing much more of it later this week to find out for ourselves.

Microsoft's annual Xbox Developer Direct showcase will air this Thursday, January 22 at 10am PT, and include gameplay footage of Playground Games' long-awaited new take on Fable, plus Forza Horizon 6, Game Freak action RPG Beast of Reincarnation, and more. You can watch it live here on IGN or on IGN's YouTube channel.

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

If you're looking for DTI codes, IGN's got you covered! In this article, you'll find a list of all the active and working Dress to Impress codes in January 2026 that you can redeem for free rewards and bonuses in DTI, including outfits and accessories like hats, bags, and jewelry.

Active Dress to Impress Codes (January 2026)

Here are all the active Dress to Impress codes in January 2026 and the free rewards you get for redeeming them:

• CH00P1E_B4CK_AGA1N - Choopie set rework
• 2YEARS - Dress
• 2GETHER - Classic DTI Doll
• RDC2025 - Lanyard and belt accessory
• VANILLAMACE - Headscarf
• PIXIIUWU - Dress
• ANGELT4NKED - Helmet
• 3NCHANTEDD1ZZY - Wand
• ELLA - Skirt
• 1CON1CF4TMA - Sweater dress
• MEGANPLAYSBOOTS - Boots
• CH00P1E_1S_B4CK: Streetwear outfit set
• S3M_0W3N_Y4Y: Axe
• KREEK: Bear hat
• LANA: White shorts, shirt, and legwarmers
• LANABOW: White bow
• BELALASLAY: Black jacket with pink halter top
• LANATUTU: White dress
• IBELLASLAY: Red, green, and blonde hairstyle
• M3RM4ID: Orange mermaid set
• TEKKYOOZ: White handbag
• LABOOTS: Black boots
• ITSJUSTNICHOLAS: Black jacket
• ASHLEYBUNNI: Bunny slippers
• LEAHASHE: Sweatshirt and sweatpants
• KITTYUUHH: Black cat
• C4LLMEHH4LEY: Puffy dress and bear headband
• SUBM15CY: Necklace and eyelashes
• D1ORST4R: Bag and bow

All Expired Dress to Impress Codes

Below, you'll find a list of expired DTI codes that no longer work and can't be redeemed as of January 2026:

• GLINDA
• ELPHABA
• B3APL4YS_D0L1E
• Your unique Twitch Cyberpunk Wings code
• LNY2025
• HAPPYNEWYEAR
• Your unique Easter 2025 Easter Bunny Set code
• UMOYAE
• FASHION
• BADDIE4LIFE
• Your unique April Fools' Day 2025 Flamethrower code
• M0T0PRINCESSWAV
• CUPIDSCLOUD
• SWEETHEART (was only redeemable between February 15 and February 16, 2025 at 8AM PT)
• YEAROFTHESNAKE
• NY2025
• WINTERUPDATE (was only redeemable between 8 AM - 11 AM PT on Saturday, 14 December!)
• 4BILLION
• CHOOPIE10K
• THEGAMES
• EYELASHES
• REWARD4CLASS1C

Roblox Gift Ideas

How to Redeem Dress to Impress Codes

Follow the steps below to redeem Dress to Impress codes and claim free rewards in DTI:

1. Open the Dress to Impress Roblox Experience.
2. Click on the handbag icon on the left-hand side to open the DTI Codes menu.
3. Enter your code in the "Type here..." field.
4. Check for any spelling mistakes or errors.
5. Click the checkmark icon to redeem the code.

Why Isn't My Dress to Impress Code Working?

If the code you're trying to redeem in DTI isn't working, it's likely because of one of two reasons:

• The Dress to Impress code is expired
• There's a spelling mistake in the code

When inputting a DTI code in Roblox, make sure it's spelled correctly (for example, a capital I isn't a lowercase l, 0 and not O, and vice versa) and that there are no spaces before or after the code. We'd recommend copying and pasting codes straight from our article to ensure they're correct as we've tested and verified that the codes on this page are working ourselves.

If your DTI code still isn't working after checking for typos, it's more than likely expired and can no longer be redeemed in Dress to Impress.

How to Get More DTI Codes

To get more Dress to Impress codes, the best way is to join the official DTI Discord server. While we check for new codes daily, the quickest way to know about new Dress to Impress codes is to follow the Roblox experience's official Discord server where updates are posted in real time.

You can also check the Dress to Impress X account and the official DTI Roblox Group page.

Are There Any Upcoming DTI Codes?

We currently don't know of any upcoming DTI codes now that the two-year anniversary codes have been released. We'll update this article once we find out more information on new Dress to Impress codes.

What is Dress to Impress in Roblox?

Dress to Impress is a popular dress-up Roblox Experience available on PC, console, and iOS and Android mobile devices. In it, you put on your best outfit to complete a specific theme and walk the runway in a bid to earn votes from other players and become a top model. As you gain votes, you gain ranks and can access more clothing and accessories, so make sure you're truly dressed to impress! Also, for toy lovers and collectors, you can now pre-order a mystery pack of 2 Dress to Impress minifigures right now for $30 at Walmart.

One of the original designers of Tomb Raider's iconic Lara Croft has revealed that Core Design's then-Japanese publisher had asked for the character to be given a "Manga" redesign to "appeal" to Japanese players.

Responding to one fan who had unearthed a comment from him a few years ago, Tomb Raider co-creator and programmer Paul Douglas confirmed there had been a little pressure "quite late in Tomb Raider's development" when publisher Victor Interactive Software "faxed over some of their own designs" over fears the western character design wouldn't "go down well" in Japan.

"Victor wanted us to change in-game Lara to appeal more to a Japanese audience," Douglas revealed on BlueSky. "Huge eyes/head etc. They faxed through examples really late in dev. [Co-creator and designer] Toby Gard really didn't want to alter Lara. As a compromise, all that was changed was the manuals [and] guide. Not sure who did that render or illustrations."

The mysterious rendering Douglas is referring to can be seen in the first image appended to this BlueSky post, republished below:

Razer CEO Min-Liang Tan has weighed in on the discussion surrounding generative AI in game development, claiming that the controversial technology has a place in the industry, but gamers just aren’t aware of the art it will produce yet.

“With the amount of slop out there, we’re going to see some level of art rise to the top, and that kind of art may still be created with the same tools that created the slop,” Tan said in an interview with The Verge.

It comes as Razer continues to implement AI technology into its own hardware, following several new product reveals at CES 2026. Among them is a pair of over-ear headphones and a high-powered workstation PC meant for handling demanding AI workloads. Razer also has an open source AI developer kit aimed at coders and other business customers.

“What we do is focus on what the gamers want, what the game developers want, and we see ourselves as the link in between,” claimed Min. “And we keep both as happy as we can.”

Director Zack Snyder has shared the first photo he took of Henry Cavill as Superman, snapped 15 years ago.

Snyder is currently documenting his time spearheading the now defunct DC Extended Universe in a series of Instagram posts, the latest of which shows British actor Cavill in Christopher Reeve’s Superman suit. Cavill wore Reeve’s suit during screen tests for his role in 2013’s Man of Steel, which kickstarted Snyder’s DCEU.

“15 years ago, on this day, I pressed the shutter and met Superman,” Snyder wrote in a post accompanying the picture. “The first photo I ever took of Henry Cavill — moments before he stepped into legend. Shot on my Nikon.”

In recent weeks Snyder released two other early photos of Cavill in Reeve’s suit, showing the look that helped secure the actor’s role as Superman. The first, below, was published alongside the comment: “Henry Cavill. The original Superman suit. This photo. It was undeniable.”

The second, below, accompanied the following from Snyder: “With the last image I shared, and this one we showed WB everyone agreed: Henry Cavill was Superman. That’s where the journey began.”

Cavill went on to reprise his role as Superman in 2016’s Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, 2017’s Justice League (and the subsequent Snyder Cut), and cameo in 2022’s Black Adam. After James Gunn and Peter Safran assumed control of DC Studios and set out to create a rebooted DCU, Cavill announced on social media that he would indeed return as Superman, but had to walk that back after it emerged Gunn wanted a different actor to play the iconic role.

"I like Henry, I think he’s a great guy," Gunn said in 2023. "I think he’s getting d**ked around by a lot of people, including the former regime at this company. But this Superman is not Henry, for a number of reasons."

David Corenswet then came in as Superman and starred in last year’s movie of the same name. Promoting that movie, Gunn recalled a discussion he had with Cavill to tell him that he wouldn’t return as Superman. “It’s terrible,” Gunn said during Josh Horowitz’s Happy Sad Confused. “Believe it or not, the day we were dealing with trying to figure out if we could take the job at DC Studios, […] the day the deal closed, all of a sudden, they were announcing that Henry was back. And I was like, ‘What is going on? We know what the plan is. The plan was to come in and do Superman.’ It was really unfair to him and a total bummer.”

Gunn explained this was due to some within the studio trying to “force” their vision of the DCU, which, he insisted, was “never part of the equation.”

“That was really unfortunate,” Gunn continued. “So Peter and I [thought] the right thing to do was to sit down with [Cavill] and talk to him. And we sat down and we talked to him. He was an absolute gentleman, a great guy about it. He said, ‘The only thing I ask is that I’m able to reveal it myself as opposed to it coming from you guys.'”

Gunn then said he had talked to Cavill about playing another role in the DCU, and didn’t believe it would be too confusing for audiences. “I would love to put Henry in something,” he said.

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.

Destiny developer Bungie has finally confirmed the previously leaked launch date for Marathon, which is indeed March 5, 2026, and followed up the news with a rundown of who we can expect to hear in the English voice cast.

The bumper cast includes many, many familiar voices, such as Jennifer English (who won Best Performance at 2025's The Game Awards for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, and has had notable roles in Elden Ring and Baldur's Gate 3, in which she plays Shadowheart), Ben Starr (Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Hades II, Final Fantasy 16), Roger Clark (Red Dead Redemption 2), and Neil Newbon (Baldur's Gate 3's Astarion, Resident Evil 3 Remake). As one commenter responded: "That's… stacked lol."

Here's the full list, along with an idea of where you may have heard their voices before:

• Jennifer English (Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Elden Ring, Baldur's Gate 3)
• Ben Starr (Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Hades II, Final Fantasy 14)
• Roger Clark (Red Dead Redemption 2)
• Elias Toufexis (Deux: Ex: Human Revolution)
• Nika Futterman (Destiny, Doom Eternal, Starcraft)
• Erica Lindbeck (Fortnite, God of War Ragnarok)
• Reina Guthrie (Squid Game)
• Elliot Knight (Call of Duty series)
• JB Tadena (Call of Duty: Vanguard)
• Morla Gorrondona (Destiny 2: The Final Shape)
• Donnla Hughes
• Darin De Paul (Overwatch 2, Doom Eternal)
• Lee Shorten (Ghost of Yotei, Rise of the Ronin)
• Dave Fennoy (The Walking Dead, The Wolf Among Us)
• Tracy Wiles (Baldur's Gate 3, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33)
• Fred Tatasciore (Marvel Rivals, Destiny 2)
• Krizia Bajos (The Outer Worlds 2, Mafia: The Old Country)
• Samantha Beart (Baldur's Gate 3, Demon's Souls)
• Beau Bridgland (Exoprimal)
• Ry Chase (Destiny: Rising, Marvel's Spider-Man 2)
• Keston John (Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, The Outer Worlds 2)
• Sohm Kapila (Dune: Awakening, Hogwarts Legacy)
• Rich Keeble (Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Total War: Warhammer III)
• Piotr Michael (Star Trek: Resurgence, Black Ops Cold War, Doom Eternal)
• Brent Mukai (Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, Ghost of Yotei)
• Neil Newbon (Baldur's Gate 3, Resident Evil 3 Remake)
• Ariana Nicole George (Genshin Impact, Dynasty Warriors: Origins)
• Emily O'Brien (League of Legends, Final Fantasy 14: A Realm Reborn, Starfield)
• Jason Spisak (Doom Eternal, Fortnite, Anthem)
• Craig Lee Thomas (Octopath Traveler 0, DC: Dark Legion)
• Oliver Vaquer (Dune: Awakening, Death Stranding)
• Erin Yvette (Oxenfree, The Wolf Among Us, Firewatch)
• Scott Whyte (Marvel Rivals, Halo Infinite, Avowed).

What we don't know yet is what characters the actors will portray, of course, but with the list essentially in alphabetical order besides front-runners English, Starr, Clark, Toufexis, Futterman, Lindbeck, Guthrie, Knight, Tadena, Gorrondona, Hughes, De Paul, Shorten, Fennoy, Wiles, and Tatasciore, that may suggest those particular actors will be portraying the characters we'll get to know best when playing Marathon.

Following various delays, Marathon's launch is now less than two months away — and pre-orders are open now. The pressure is on for Marathon to succeed amid Destiny 2’s high-profile struggles and Marathon's troubled development. At the end of last year, parent company Sony said Bungie had failed to meet its sales and user engagement targets, resulting in a $200 million impairment charge, and Bungie found itself battling yet more accusations of plagiarism back in May after an artist accused the studio of lifting aspects of her artwork for Marathon.

Last June Marathon was delayed into 2026 as Bungie worked to respond to feedback from playtests. Things went dark until Marathon re-emerged in October, when Bungie announced the extraction shooter was ready for a limited, invite-only playtest for players in North America and Europe across PS5, Xbox Series X and S, and 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.

Last month’s announcement of Divinity has sparked a significant increase in sales of Baldur’s Gate 3 and Divinity: Original Sin 2, developer Larian has said.

Divinity, announced at The Game Awards in December with a much-discussed trailer, is the next role-playing game from Larian following the enormous success of its 2023 Dungeons & Dragons-themed role-playing game. And it’s Baldur’s Gate 3 that has shown remarkable staying power, particularly on Steam where it is still seeing peak concurrent player numbers above 100,000 despite being two-and-a-half years old.

2017's Divinity: Original Sin 2, meanwhile, has also seen an uptick in players following the Divinity announcement, with peak concurrents in the tens of thousands rather than thousands in the weeks since. (If you're wondering what Divinity is, check out IGN's handy explainer.)

According to Larian boss Swen Vincke, it’s not just that people who already own Baldur’s Gate 3 or Divinity: Original Sin 2 are returning to the game. People are buying both games in significant numbers and jumping in for the first time.

“Sales for both BG3 and D:OS2 have been incredible since the announcement of Divinity,” Vincke said. “D:OS2 really surprised us by having its best month since release in 2017. Wish I’d removed the squirrel in time :)”

Typically, multiplayer live service games are expected to retain a large playerbase over the course of years, with revenue generated by the sale of in-game items such as battle passes, cosmetics, and DLC add-ons. Indeed, Steam’s top 10 most-played games are packed with live service games such as Counter-Strike 2, Dota 2, and PUBG.

But there are some single-player games that buck this trend. Bethesda’s single-player RPGs such as Skyrim and Fallout are usually there or thereabouts in terms of Steam popularity. CD Projekt’s The Witcher 3 and Cyberpunk 2077 remain hugely popular even now, years after launch. And Baldur’s Gate 3 is perhaps top of the single-player tree, with renewed interest in all things Larian following the Divinity reveal fueling it further.

Speaking of Divinity, Larian recently held a reddit AMA to answer questions from fans. Here’s everything we learned about Divinity from it.

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.

Mike Colter has given a promising update on the likelihood he'll return as Marvel's unbreakable Harlem hero Luke Cage.

Speaking on Shawn Stockman's On That Note podcast, Colter was asked if there was any chance fans might see him back in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, eight years on from Netflix's controversial cancellation of its Luke Cage series and other popular superhero shows.

Without committing to anything concrete, Colter said that "conversations" had indeed taken place about him coming back as Cage and that the results of these chats could "come into fruition faster than we think."

CD Projekt has confirmed it issued a DMCA strike on a paid Cyberpunk 2077 VR mod, after its creator refused to make it free for everyone upon the studio’s request.

The R.E.A.L. VR mod for Cyberpunk 2077 was created by Luke Ross, who, according to a 2022 report by The Verge, makes $20,000 a month modding PC games to run in VR headsets. His mods are locked behind a Patreon, which sparked CD Projekt’s concern.

In a tweet, Jan Rosner, VP, Business Development at CD Projekt Red, said the company issued the DMCA strike because Cyberpunk VR was a paid mod, which violates its fan content guidelines.

“We never allow monetization of our IP without our direct permission and/or an agreement in place,” Rosner said. “We were in touch with Luke last week and informed him that he needs to make it free for everyone (with optional donations) or remove it.

“We are big fans of mods to our games — some of the work out there has been nothing short of amazing, including Luke’s mod for Cyberpunk 2077. We’d be happy to see it return as a free release. However, making a profit from our IP, in any form, always requires permission from CD Projekt Red.”

Ross responded to Rosner’s tweet to take issue with his work being characterized as fan content. Rather, Ross insisted, it is independent software and thus does not infringe on CD Projekt’s IP rights.

“I'm sorry but I don't believe you are within your rights in demanding that my software needs to be free,” Ross said. “It is not ‘derivative work’ or ‘fan content’: it supports a large number of games which were built upon different engines, and it contains absolutely zero code or assets from your IP. Saying that it infringes your IP rights is equivalent to maintaining for example that RivaTuner violates game publishers' copyrights because it intercepts the images the game is drawing on screen and it processes them in order to overlay its statistics.”

Ross went on to say he wants to find a “win-win solution,” and suggested CD Projekt make his Cyberpunk VR mod official, “or at least sanctioned by your company.” He added: “I think the current state of affairs is not the best way to resolve this misunderstanding.”

As it stands, Ross has left his Cyberpunk VR mod behind (in a post on Patreon, Ross said, “So long, and thanks for all the fish,”), and he has pulled support for the game. Ross’ tweet here has sparked a debate about the legal implications of his mod, a point he expanded on in a post on Patreon:

“As usual they stretch the concept of ‘derivative work’ until it's paper-thin, as though a system that allows visualizing 40+ games in fully immersive 3D VR was somehow built making use of their intellectual property,” he said. “And as usual they give absolutely zero f***s about how playing their game in VR made people happy, and they cannot just be grateful about the extra copies of the title they sold because of that — without ever having to pour money into producing an official conversion (no, they're not planning to release their own VR port, in case you were wondering).

“The bottom line is all that matters, and gamers be damned.

“Am I a little bitter about all of this? Yeah, you bet I am. Especially in the same week when Meta pulls the plug on three major VR studios. Especially after four years during which I (together with other modders) spent so much time keeping our mods alive in spite of CDPR's constant breaking updates. Especially when they never even knew or cared during all this time that the VR conversion was there, and are only knee-jerk reacting now because somebody reported to them that it existed and it was not free.”

This is not the first time Ross has been hit by a DMCA strike. In July 2022, Rockstar Games parent company Take-Two issued a DMCA notice against Ross for his GTA 5 and Red Dead Redemption 2 VR mods, among others. He made a similar argument against the decision back then, insisting "none of my modifications are built using software belonging to Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc, and the modifications are not intended to replace their games, nor are they a means of exploiting Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc's proprietary IP or assets."

Cyberpunk is just one of a number of games for which Ross has released VR mods, and he sounds undeterred by CD Projekt’s action here. Ross already has VR mods for the likes of Sony’s Days Gone, FromSoftware’s Elden Ring, and Ubisoft’s Far Cry 5 games. Now he’s turning his attention to Larian’s Baldur’s Gate 3.

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.

Free-to-play dark fantasy action RPG Dark December from developer Needs Games has officially launched on PC, Android, and iOS with crossplay and cross-progression. It marks a return to the world of Undecember, this time with more streamlined gameplay built around three core character classes.

If you’re not already familiar with the series or need a little refresher, Undecember was a quarter-view hack-and-slash game with no classes. It introduced a world created by 12 beings who shared their powers and brought peace and prosperity to the land. In time, they came to be worshipped as gods. But then a 13th being arose, who introduced evil to the world and corrupted mankind.

Dark December brings you back to that world, but many years before the events of Undecember and in an alternate timeline. The camera can now be moved freely, and it also marks a departure from the complex progression systems of its predecessor, instead focusing on timing, skill use, and streamlined growth in three character classes: Berserker, Raven, and Morgana. The system is designed to be more approachable, so players new to the series can feel comfortable jumping into this prequel without missing anything.

Berserker is your classic melee-based physical attacker that uses a two-handed greatsword to unleash powerful strikes. It has very high HP and defense, so it’s meant to rush headlong into enemy hordes and take out large groups with its heavy strikes. Their unique ability sends them into a berserk state, which speeds up their attacks and makes them capable of dishing out big damage very quickly.

Raven is an archer class that can use multiple different arrow types to take advantage of enemy weaknesses. It’s quick and agile, so it’s designed to constantly stay on the move while keeping enemies at arms’ length and picking them off with precise strikes. Where Berserker is meant to soak up damage, Raven is meant to avoid it altogether.

That leaves Morgana, a spellcasting class that wields a staff and can summon spirits. It uses the staff to unleash poison and fire spells, while summons are infused with elemental energy and can be used for a variety of things. Some deal damage matching its elemental type, while others apply debuffs. So Morgana is all about strategy and versatility, combining their abilities to deliver steady, continuous damage.

As you’d expect, each of these classes unlock unique skills as they level up, and these can be further powered up through skill upgrades and the Support Rune system. Each skill has two Support Rune slots, where you can equip Support Runes that provide all kinds of different bonuses. Each skill also has its own type and attribute, and Support Runes can only be equipped in slots that are compatible with that type and attribute.

Offensive runes provide bonuses like increasing damage, crit rate, or expanding AoE range. Defensive runes can do things like shielding you or reducing damage. And utility runes can enhance status effects, reduce cooldowns, or increase skill usage count. These are just a few examples of each type, there are plenty more options to choose from. And you can freely swap out Support Runes at any time, giving you the chance to test out lots of different builds or change things up strategically for particular fights or situations.

While progression has been simplified and combat has been streamlined, that doesn’t mean it’s easy. It’s not about memorizing one ability loop you can simply use over and over to decimate everything. You need to learn what works in what situations, adapt to new things being thrown at you, and use your abilities at the right time.

The central narrative of Dark December will take you through several different locations, and a waypoint system allows you to teleport between those areas quickly as well as return to a central hub area. There are also other gameplay modes you can play if you want to take a break from the main story.

The Abyss of Chaos is a dungeon that allows you to choose what region it’s based on, which alters its level and the rewards you can get from it. It also houses a randomly occurring event called the Realm of Chaos, which spawns powerful bosses that drop rare materials and resources.

The Hall of Oblivion is a challenge mode where you can choose the difficulty level and fight bosses from around the world. And Dimensional Rift: Veles is a defense mode where you and up to three other players can team up to see how long you can survive against neverending waves of enemies.

The monetization system is mostly focused on cosmetic items such as costumes and wings, and the game is designed so players who choose not to spend money are not at a disadvantage. Some stat-increasing items are also available through alternative routes, such as crafting or obtaining them directly through gameplay. This approach is intended to let players who prefer not to spend still enjoy the game without feeling pressured to pay.

Dark December is available to download now on PC, Android, and iOS. To keep up with the latest news and info, you can follow the game on Discord, YouTube, or TikTok.

I spend an unhealthy amount of time playing games so you do not have to gamble your weekend on something mid. This week’s deals list is stacked with games I have finished, bounced off, and in a few cases lost entire evenings to by accident. If you are short on time or money, these are the cuts worth making.

Contents

• Retro
• Nintendo
• Xbox
• PlayStation
• PC
• PC Gear
• LEGO

This Day in Gaming 🎂

In retro news, I'm celebrating the 15th birthday of LittleBigPlanet 2, a sacktacular PS3 classic that elevated 2.5D platforming and user-generated content to new heights. At the shallow end of this pool you had a wonderful, co-optional story campaign for up to four floaty sackpersons. Waiting beyond that, however, was a black hole Create mode whose enhanced logic and Move support delivered mind-boggling community-built gems.

My mates and I sunk way too many hours into the hilaribad physics of Super LBP Fighter II Turbo and the professional indie level Sealed Fate. Truly, LBP2 was a golden age of UGC where innovators (and not shameless copiers and half-arsed memers) were king. It pains me to think that those creations died with server shutdown.

Aussie birthdays for notable games.

- NHL 2K6 (PS2,XB) 2006. eBay

- LittleBigPlanet 2 (PS3) 2011. eBay

- Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective (DS) 2011. eBay

- Back to the Future: The Game (PS3) 2011. eBay

Nice Savings for Nintendo Switch

• Just Dance 2026 Ed. (-68%) - A$44 Ubisoft keeps these annual refreshes tight, and this one is still the easiest way to turn your lounge room into chaos without learning a control scheme.
• Sonic Frontiers (-45%) - A$55.10 Sega finally let Sonic stretch his legs. Open zones feel odd at first, then click hard once the speed tech sinks in.
• Bayonetta 3 (-38%) - A$49.20 Platinum at full throttle. Messy, maximalist, and completely committed to the bit in a way few studios still are.
• Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope (-39%) - A$49 Smart tactics with jokes that mostly land. The Rabbids calm down, the systems deepen, and the soundtrack goes harder than expected.
• Dredge Del. (-60%) - A$15.10 Fishing, but haunted. The slow reveal of its story is the hook, and the expansions round it out nicely.

Or gift a Nintendo eShop Card.

Back to top

Exciting Bargains for Xbox

• Dead Space (-57%) - A$47.70 A remake that understands restraint. Familiar scares hit differently thanks to new audio tricks and smarter enemy pacing.
• Cyberpunk 2077 Ult. (-41%) - A$70.60 This is the version CD Projekt meant to ship. Dense quests, sharp writing, and Night City finally feels alive.
• Star Wars Jedi: Survivor (-62%) - A$41.80 Bigger and bolder than Fallen Order, with custom stances that reward experimentation if you stick with it.
• Sonic Frontiers (-76%) - A$24.40 At this price, its rough edges are easy to forgive. There is a genuinely good Sonic game buried in here.
• Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 + 2 (-55%) - A$31.60 Still immaculate. Muscle memory comes back instantly, and the soundtrack does half the emotional lifting.

Xbox One

• Mass Effect Leg. Ed. (-67%) - A$32.90 Three all time RPGs, cleaned up just enough. If you missed Shepard the first time, this is the definitive run.
• Dead Island 2 (-43%) - A$39.70 Goofy, gory, and more confident than expected. It knows exactly what kind of dumb fun it wants to be.
• Dishonored 2 (-77%) - A$9.10 One of the best immersive sims ever made. Every level is a puzzle box if you are patient.

Or just invest in an Xbox Card.

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Pure Scores for PlayStation

• Lies of P (-49%) - A$43.50 A Soulslike with personality. Weapon mixing encourages creativity instead of punishing curiosity.
• The Witcher 3 Comp. (-44%) - A$43.60 Still an absurd amount of content. The PS5 upgrade makes an old favourite feel fresh again.
• Returnal (-48%) - A$65 Tough, stylish, and hypnotic. The haptics do real work here, not just novelty buzz.
• Diablo IV (-41%) - A$64.40 Blizzard found its footing post launch. Seasonal updates make this much more compelling now.
• Metaphor: ReFantazio (-50%) - A$57.40 Lavish, weird, and unapologetically Atlus. It trusts players to keep up, which I appreciate.

PS4

• Persona 5 Royal (-51%) - A$48.50 Stylish, long, and still one of the best turn based RPGs of the last decade.
• The Yakuza Rem. Col. (-42%) - A$31.90 Three games of melodrama, street fights, and surprisingly heartfelt side stories.
• Minecraft Legends Del. (-34%) - A$46.20 An odd spin off, but charming if you want something lighter than survival mode.
• Overcooked! All You Can Eat (-75%) - A$13.70 Still the fastest way to stress test friendships. Utter chaos in the best way.

Or purchase a PS Store Card.

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Purchase Cheap for PC

• Dragon's Dogma 2 (-64%) - A$38.60 Systems driven RPG nonsense in the best sense. It refuses to explain itself and I love it for that.
• Dead Island 2 (-78%) - A$16.40 Smooth combat and great gore tech. Perfect podcast game.
• Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch Rem. (-81%) - A$14.20 Studio Ghibli vibes with old school JRPG grind. Comfort food gaming.
• Hogwarts Legacy (-86%) - A$12.50 Setting hard carries this, but exploring Hogwarts never stops being fun.
• Monster Hunter Rise (-83%) - A$10.40 Fast hunts, great mobility, and a friendly on ramp for newcomers.

Or just get a Steam Wallet Card

Legit LEGO Deals

• Ninjago Temple Bounty Ship (-34%) - A$199 Huge build, loads of interior detail, and a display piece that actually looks impressive.
• Ducati Panigale V4 S (-33%) - A$199.90 One of LEGO Technic’s best bikes. The engineering here is genuinely clever.
• City EV Supercar (-33%) - A$10 Cheap, cheerful, and a good desk fidget build.
• Minecraft The Ghast Balloon (-28%) - A$79 Big, silly, and instantly recognisable. Kids love it, adults secretly do too.

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Best Buy just dropped the price of the 4-pack Govee 1,200-Lumen RGBWW A19 Wi-Fi Smart LED Light Bulbs to just $42.99 with free delivery. This set normally retails for $65 and Best Buy easily has the lowest price everywhere: Govee has it for $59 and Amazon has a 2-pack for $40. This is Govee's highest end and brightest A19 light bulb.

4-Pack Govee 1,200-Lumen RGB LED Light Bulbs for $42.99

Best Buy has restocked its inventory of open box Asus ROG Strix Scar gaming laptops equipped with the GeForce RTX 5090 mobile GPU. Here's a chance to get Asus' highest-end and most powerful laptop of 2025 for just 3,257.99 for an "excellent condition" unit. If you were to get it new, it would cost $4,500. Mind you these are pre-owned, but they are Geek Squad verified and sometimes still have all or some of their original warranty.

Note that Open Box availability depends on your location.

Asus ROG Strix Scar 18 RTX 5090 Gaming Laptop for $3,258

Open Box - Excellent Condition

For a limited time Woot is offering an incredibly low price on a pair of factory reconditioned Beats Studio Pro wireless noise canceling headphones. It's currently on sale for just $94.99 and includes a 1 year Amazon warranty. Amazon Prime members get free shipping, otherwise add on $5. The same headphone costs $200 new on Amazon.

Beats Studio Pro Headphones for $94.99

Factory Reconditioned with 1 Year Amazon Warranty

A jump starter is an essential part of car's emergency kit and you don't need to pay a premium for a cordless model that gets the job done reliably. While you're at it, why not get one with additional functionality. For a limited time, Amazon is offering the Wolfbox 4000A Cordless Jump Starter, which doubles as a 24,000mAh 65W USB power bank, for $64.99 with free shipping after you apply 50% off coupon code "T8WLUR5G". You don't need to be an Amazon Prime member to get this deal. Wolfbox is a well-known brand and its products are higher quality than other similarly priced jump starters.

Wolfbox Cordless Jump Starter and 24,000mAh Power Bank

You don't see many 20,000mAh power banks priced under $20, but there is one deal available that just popped up today. Amazon has dropped the price of the CUKTECH 20,000mAh 45W Power Bank for $16.31 after you apply a 20% off coupon code "CUKTECH20". Better yet, you don't need to be an Amazon Prime member to get in on this deal.

The 45W power output makes it an ideal power bank for your Apple iPhone 17, Nintendo Switch, Switch 2, or Steam Deck handheld gaming PC, and the bigger 20,000mAh capacity is perfect for longer airplane flights or when you're away from an outlet for an extended period of time.

CUKTECH 20,000mAh 45W Power Bank for $16.31

If you’ve been putting off making your purchases during Best Buy’s Winter Sale, today is the last day to score some hefty savings on tons of video games and gear. We’re also in the final hours of Amazon’s three for $33 4K UHD movie sale, so be sure to hop on these deals while they’re still live. Of course, there are plenty of other savings to be had, from a major discount on the Beats Studio Pro Noise Canceling Headphones to a deal on a stunning hardcover book on Miyazaki’s animation. The deals are plentiful today. Take a look at all my favorites below:

TL;DR: Today’s Top Deals

3 for $33 4K Movie Sale

Video Game Deals During Best Buy Winter Sale

Today is the final day of Best Buy’s Winter Sale, so you can expect the prices to rise tomorrow on a bunch of the video games and accessories that are currently marked down. While there are plenty of discounts worth considering, a few deals stand out as being better than others. One of our favorite action games of 2025, Ninja Gaiden 4 is $30 off, or you can score Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds for just $45. We gave it an impressive 9/10 in our review. That’s just a sampling of the many titles seeing some significant price drops during the sale.

Save 28% on The Worlds of Hayao Miyazaki Hardcover Book

Beats Studio Pro Noise Canceling Headphones for only $95

The Blue Yeti USB Mic Is Only $83

Save 71% on WWE 2K26 for Switch 2

The Viral Ninja SLUSHi Is Under $200

Save 23% on Magic: The Gathering Avatar: The Last Airbender Beginner Box

Get a 100W GaN USB-C Charger for Only $15

eBay has dropped the price of several LG Evo C5 4K OLED TVs to the lowest prices of the year after you apply 20% off coupon code "FAVEFINDS20". These deals are actually better than the ones from Amazon, Best Buy, or Amazon that I saw during Black Friday. LG is the best selling OLED TV brand globally and the C-series is the most popular model. Electronic Express has 200,000 99.6% feedback. BrandsMart USA has 30,000 99.2% feedback. Both are authorized LG resellers.

LG Evo C5 4K OLED TVs on Sale at eBay

Switch 2 owners, if there's one upgrade you'll absolutely need, it's additional storage. The Switch 2 only has 256GB of onboard storage, and chances are you'll run out of space down the road. Fortunately, Amazon just lowered the price of the 512GB Samsung P9 MicroSD Express card, which will triple your available storage, to just $79.99. This is currently the least expensive 512GB MicroSD Express card we can find right now. We reviewed this model and highly recommend it.

512GB Samsung P9 MicroSD Express Memory Card

Nintendo Switch 2 compatible