The Sims 4's base game will soon be free to download and play for everyone.

EA and Maxis have announced that The Sims 4 will be free to download for all new players from October 18, 2022. Better yet, that’s across all platforms, including PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.

“EA and Maxis have welcomed millions of The Sims players over the years,” said an official announcement. “With The Sims 4 base game going free, the team is more dedicated than ever to developing new and meaningful experiences for players, and will continue to develop and release packs, Kits and Sims Delivery Express drops into the foreseeable future.”

It sounds as though EA and Maxis have plenty of content lined up for The Sims 4, and that begins with a special-edition stream, Behind The Sims Summit on October 18.

“Players can learn more about what’s in the works during a special-edition stream,” said EA and Maxis. The upcoming stream can be viewed live on The Sims YouTube and Twitch channels at 10 am PDT on October 18.

The Sims 4 was released on September 2, 2014, and has seen 31 million players worldwide since its release. But the game was met with mixed reviews in the early days, with many outlets criticizing a lack of features when compared to The Sims 3. Many, many expansion packs have followed since then.

IGN’s The Sims 4 review gave it 7/10 and said: “The Sims 4 succeeds in being a deep and complex game when it comes to Sim interactions, with lots of entertaining emotional potential. The emotions system and its contextual actions are really strong and added to my investment in my Sims as well as my enjoyment from watching ridiculousness unfold. Plus, excellent building tools make architecture more fun than ever. Overall, it’s a good start to what may eventually be expanded into a great Sims game, but it’s not there yet.”

The Sims 4 going free is likely to inject some more life into the eight-year-old game. Thankfully, existing players won’t miss out, either, as EA and Maxis are giving away the Desert Luxe Kit free to anyone who purchases the game before October 17.

“With the Desert Luxe Kit, Sims can relax in their modern oasis with luxurious indoor and outdoor furniture, inspired by the natural landscape of the Southwestern desert and materials like stone and wood.”

Want to read more about The Sims 4? Check out the hilarious update that aged toddlers into seniors within minutes as well as how The Sims 4 added sexual orientation as a feature.

Ryan Leston is an entertainment journalist and film critic for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter.

It can be tough being a fan of Marvel's Young Avengers franchise. Marvel hasn't published a new Young Avengers comic since 2015, and apart from a handful of Kate Bishop toys, the collectibles front has been pretty barren, too. But there is some good news. Diamond Select Toys is revisiting the 2013-era Young Avengers lineup as part of the long-running Marvel Minimates line.

Head down to the slideshow gallery below for a look at all six figures (seven if you count Pizza Dog!) included in the Young Avengers Deluxe Box Set:

Young Avengers fans will know this set is inspired by the characters and costumes from writer Kieron Gillen and artist Jamie McKelvie series, which debuted as part of the Marvel NOW relaunch in 2013. The box set features most of the characters from that team, including Kate Bishop and her faithful sidekick, America Chavez, Kid Loki, Wiccan, Hulkling and Noh-Varr. Most of the characters are making their debut in the Marvel Minimates line.

Like all Minimates, these figures are roughly two-inches-tall and feature up to 14 points of articulation. The entire set comes packaged in a full-color window box featuring original artwork by Barry Bradfield.

The Marvel Minimates Young Avengers Deluxe Box Set is priced at $49.99 and is slated for release in Spring 2023. Preorders will open on Friday, September 16.

For more on the Young Avengers, check out IGN's full breakdown of the team's history and why they may be making their MCU debut soon.

Jesse is a mild-mannered staff writer for IGN. Allow him to lend a machete to your intellectual thicket by following @jschedeen on Twitter.

It can be tough being a fan of Marvel's Young Avengers franchise. Marvel hasn't published a new Young Avengers comic since 2015, and apart from a handful of Kate Bishop toys, the collectibles front has been pretty barren, too. But there is some good news. Diamond Select Toys is revisiting the 2013-era Young Avengers lineup as part of the long-running Marvel Minimates line.

Head down to the slideshow gallery below for a look at all six figures (seven if you count Pizza Dog!) included in the Young Avengers Deluxe Box Set:

Young Avengers fans will know this set is inspired by the characters and costumes from writer Kieron Gillen and artist Jamie McKelvie series, which debuted as part of the Marvel NOW relaunch in 2013. The box set features most of the characters from that team, including Kate Bishop and her faithful sidekick, America Chavez, Kid Loki, Wiccan, Hulkling and Noh-Varr. Most of the characters are making their debut in the Marvel Minimates line.

Like all Minimates, these figures are roughly two-inches-tall and feature up to 14 points of articulation. The entire set comes packaged in a full-color window box featuring original artwork by Barry Bradfield.

The Marvel Minimates Young Avengers Deluxe Box Set is priced at $49.99 and is slated for release in Spring 2023. Preorders will open on Friday, September 16.

For more on the Young Avengers, check out IGN's full breakdown of the team's history and why they may be making their MCU debut soon.

Jesse is a mild-mannered staff writer for IGN. Allow him to lend a machete to your intellectual thicket by following @jschedeen on Twitter.

USA Network and Syfy have released the official trailer for Season 2 of Chucky, which will premiere just in time for the Halloween season on Wednesday, October 5.

Here's how the network describes Chucky's sophomore season: "After his diabolical plan to invade America’s children’s hospitals was foiled in season one, Chucky now seeks revenge on those he holds responsible: surviving teens Jake (Zackary Arthur), Devon (Björgvin Arnarson) and Lexy (Alyvia Alyn Lind), along with his ex Tiffany, now his sworn enemy. Meanwhile, can 'Jevon' make it as a couple in the face of adversity at their new Catholic school, not to mention a brand-new onslaught of terror from the demon doll?"

IGN can exclusively debut the new trailer for Chucky Season 2 in the video below or at the top of the page:

Chucky is produced by UCP, a division of Universal Studio Group, and executive produced by Don Mancini, Nick Antosca, Alex Hedlund, David Kirschner, and Jeff Renfroe.

IGN can also exclusively debut a brand new poster for Chucky Season 2, with the titular doll sitting atop his throne in the image below:

What did you think of the trailer? Let us know in the comments. And for more on the world of entertainment, check out our reviews of Cyberpunk: Edgerunners Season 1, Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, and Cobra Kai Season 5.

USA Network and Syfy have released the official trailer for Season 2 of Chucky, which will premiere just in time for the Halloween season on Wednesday, October 5.

Here's how the network describes Chucky's sophomore season: "After his diabolical plan to invade America’s children’s hospitals was foiled in season one, Chucky now seeks revenge on those he holds responsible: surviving teens Jake (Zackary Arthur), Devon (Björgvin Arnarson) and Lexy (Alyvia Alyn Lind), along with his ex Tiffany, now his sworn enemy. Meanwhile, can 'Jevon' make it as a couple in the face of adversity at their new Catholic school, not to mention a brand-new onslaught of terror from the demon doll?"

IGN can exclusively debut the new trailer for Chucky Season 2 in the video below or at the top of the page:

Chucky is produced by UCP, a division of Universal Studio Group, and executive produced by Don Mancini, Nick Antosca, Alex Hedlund, David Kirschner, and Jeff Renfroe.

IGN can also exclusively debut a brand new poster for Chucky Season 2, with the titular doll sitting atop his throne in the image below:

What did you think of the trailer? Let us know in the comments. And for more on the world of entertainment, check out our reviews of Cyberpunk: Edgerunners Season 1, Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, and Cobra Kai Season 5.

GoldenEye is finally coming back to consoles. But that good news has been quickly overshadowed thanks to its upcoming launch being anything other than simple. There are two versions of the re-release, with different versions for Nintendo Switch and Xbox, and neither of them are the much-anticipated remaster that leaked last year. It’s a weirdly convoluted situation.

As part of the recent Nintendo Direct, N64 classic shooter GoldenEye was announced for Nintendo Switch Online. As with other games in the Online collection, this is an emulated version of the N64 original, not a remake or remaster. It does, however, have one new feature: online multiplayer.

At pretty much the same time, Rare - the Microsoft-owned studio who created the original version of GoldenEye - announced on Twitter that a GoldenEye re-release will also be coming to Xbox via Game Pass, and made available free to owners of the Rare Replay collection. However, the studio’s description of the game made it instantly clear that the Switch and Xbox versions are not the same. The Xbox version “includes achievements, 4K resolution and a smoother framerate – even in split-screen local multiplayer.” No mention at all was made of online multiplayer.

Later, official Bond website 007.com confirmed that online multiplayer is exclusive to the Switch version. It also noted that the Xbox version is different to the Switch release, calling it a “4K remaster” rather than a re-release.

25 years after its original release, experience GoldenEye 007 faithfully recreated for Xbox consoles. Includes achievements, 4K resolution and a smoother framerate – even in split-screen local multiplayer! Coming soon to @XboxGamePass. pic.twitter.com/kpBlJKqFR9

— Rare Ltd. (@RareLtd) September 13, 2022

However, this remaster of GoldenEye is not the remaster that has been pretty much an open secret among the games industry for years. During the Xbox 360 era, Rare created a full remaster of GoldenEye with updated graphics and a function that allowed players to instantly switch between the original and updated visuals, much like the Halo 1 and 2 remasters.

This version eventually leaked onto the internet in 2021. Following the leak, members of the development team revealed that work on the GoldenEye remaster had been pretty much finished and the game was all but ready to be released, but Nintendo stepped in and canceled it. Allegedly, Nintendo did not like the idea of an N64 game releasing on a Microsoft console.

Over the past year, a number of leaks revealed Xbox achievements for GoldenEye. This may have given some people hope that Rare’s full remaster was finally on the way. News of the game being in limbo due to the Ukraine war would only have fuelled that hope. But instead the version that will be released is just a high-definition version of the original Nintendo 64 version. You’re getting the same 1990s graphics, just cleaned up. The updated visuals remaster, it seems, is (officially) for Rare’s eyes only.

So that's two versions of GoldenEye: one with online multiplayer on a console frequently used on the go, and another without it on a platform known for its world-leading online infrastructure. And neither are the much-wanted Rare remaster from the Xbox 360 era. Given the long trouble with re-releasing GoldenEye (due to licensing disputes on multiple fronts), perhaps we should be celebrating the fact we're getting it all – but this feels like a strange kind of celebration.

Matt Purslow is IGN's UK News and Features Editor.

GoldenEye is finally coming back to consoles. But that good news has been quickly overshadowed thanks to its upcoming launch being anything other than simple. There are two versions of the re-release, with different versions for Nintendo Switch and Xbox, and neither of them are the much-anticipated remaster that leaked last year. It’s a weirdly convoluted situation.

As part of the recent Nintendo Direct, N64 classic shooter GoldenEye was announced for Nintendo Switch Online. As with other games in the Online collection, this is an emulated version of the N64 original, not a remake or remaster. It does, however, have one new feature: online multiplayer.

At pretty much the same time, Rare - the Microsoft-owned studio who created the original version of GoldenEye - announced on Twitter that a GoldenEye re-release will also be coming to Xbox via Game Pass, and made available free to owners of the Rare Replay collection. However, the studio’s description of the game made it instantly clear that the Switch and Xbox versions are not the same. The Xbox version “includes achievements, 4K resolution and a smoother framerate – even in split-screen local multiplayer.” No mention at all was made of online multiplayer.

Later, official Bond website 007.com confirmed that online multiplayer is exclusive to the Switch version. It also noted that the Xbox version is different to the Switch release, calling it a “4K remaster” rather than a re-release.

25 years after its original release, experience GoldenEye 007 faithfully recreated for Xbox consoles. Includes achievements, 4K resolution and a smoother framerate – even in split-screen local multiplayer! Coming soon to @XboxGamePass. pic.twitter.com/kpBlJKqFR9

— Rare Ltd. (@RareLtd) September 13, 2022

However, this remaster of GoldenEye is not the remaster that has been pretty much an open secret among the games industry for years. During the Xbox 360 era, Rare created a full remaster of GoldenEye with updated graphics and a function that allowed players to instantly switch between the original and updated visuals, much like the Halo 1 and 2 remasters.

This version eventually leaked onto the internet in 2021. Following the leak, members of the development team revealed that work on the GoldenEye remaster had been pretty much finished and the game was all but ready to be released, but Nintendo stepped in and canceled it. Allegedly, Nintendo did not like the idea of an N64 game releasing on a Microsoft console.

Over the past year, a number of leaks revealed Xbox achievements for GoldenEye. This may have given some people hope that Rare’s full remaster was finally on the way. News of the game being in limbo due to the Ukraine war would only have fuelled that hope. But instead the version that will be released is just a high-definition version of the original Nintendo 64 version. You’re getting the same 1990s graphics, just cleaned up. The updated visuals remaster, it seems, is (officially) for Rare’s eyes only.

So that's two versions of GoldenEye: one with online multiplayer on a console frequently used on the go, and another without it on a platform known for its world-leading online infrastructure. And neither are the much-wanted Rare remaster from the Xbox 360 era. Given the long trouble with re-releasing GoldenEye (due to licensing disputes on multiple fronts), perhaps we should be celebrating the fact we're getting it all – but this feels like a strange kind of celebration.

Matt Purslow is IGN's UK News and Features Editor.

Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp is still on its way, according to Nintendo.

The upcoming Nintendo Switch remake of the first two Advance Wars games was due out on April 8, 2022, but was delayed due to the ongoing war in Ukraine.

Now, despite a lack of release date, Nintendo has assured fans that the remake is still on the cards.

“The release has been delayed,” a Nintendo rep told Stephen Totilo of Axios. “We will announce the new date once it has been determined.”

I asked Nintendo if Advance Wars 1 + 2 has been cancelled, given the lack of news about it since it was delayed due to the invasion of Ukraine.

Nintendo rep's reply: "The release has been delayed. We will announce the new date once it has been determined."

— Stephen Totilo (@stephentotilo) September 13, 2022

Advance Wars was first released in 2001 for the Game Boy Advance. A military-themed strategy game, it tells the fictional story of two neighboring nations (Orange Star and Blue Moon) who are in conflict.

The gameplay focuses on building up military units to gain control of a map against either an AI or player-controlled enemy units. Advance Wars Re-Boot Camp will feature up to 4-player online play, as well as local co-op.

Although it has nothing to do with Russia and Ukraine, it could be considered a bit too close to home. Advance Wars does not depict any real-life conflicts, nor does it depict battle in a realistic fashion, but it was deemed inappropriate to release the game during a time of real-world conflict.

“In light of recent world events, we have made the decision to delay Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp, which was originally scheduled to release on Nintendo Switch on 08/04," Nintendo wrote at the time. “Please stay tuned for updates on a new release date.”

The popular turn-based strategy remake is thought to be complete and ready to release. While fans were hopeful that Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp would get an official release date at the recent Nintendo Direct, it was unfortunately omitted.

The game was originally set for release on December 3, 2021, but was delayed because the game “needed a little more time for fine-tuning”.

Want to read more about Advance Wars? Check out a glimpse of Advance Wars 1+2 Re-Boot Camp in action as well as a deep dive into its gameplay.

Ryan Leston is an entertainment journalist and film critic for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter.

Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp is still on its way, according to Nintendo.

The upcoming Nintendo Switch remake of the first two Advance Wars games was due out on April 8, 2022, but was delayed due to the ongoing war in Ukraine.

Now, despite a lack of release date, Nintendo has assured fans that the remake is still on the cards.

“The release has been delayed,” a Nintendo rep told Stephen Totilo of Axios. “We will announce the new date once it has been determined.”

I asked Nintendo if Advance Wars 1 + 2 has been cancelled, given the lack of news about it since it was delayed due to the invasion of Ukraine.

Nintendo rep's reply: "The release has been delayed. We will announce the new date once it has been determined."

— Stephen Totilo (@stephentotilo) September 13, 2022

Advance Wars was first released in 2001 for the Game Boy Advance. A military-themed strategy game, it tells the fictional story of two neighboring nations (Orange Star and Blue Moon) who are in conflict.

The gameplay focuses on building up military units to gain control of a map against either an AI or player-controlled enemy units. Advance Wars Re-Boot Camp will feature up to 4-player online play, as well as local co-op.

Although it has nothing to do with Russia and Ukraine, it could be considered a bit too close to home. Advance Wars does not depict any real-life conflicts, nor does it depict battle in a realistic fashion, but it was deemed inappropriate to release the game during a time of real-world conflict.

“In light of recent world events, we have made the decision to delay Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp, which was originally scheduled to release on Nintendo Switch on 08/04," Nintendo wrote at the time. “Please stay tuned for updates on a new release date.”

The popular turn-based strategy remake is thought to be complete and ready to release. While fans were hopeful that Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp would get an official release date at the recent Nintendo Direct, it was unfortunately omitted.

The game was originally set for release on December 3, 2021, but was delayed because the game “needed a little more time for fine-tuning”.

Want to read more about Advance Wars? Check out a glimpse of Advance Wars 1+2 Re-Boot Camp in action as well as a deep dive into its gameplay.

Ryan Leston is an entertainment journalist and film critic for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter.

The newest title in the Atelier series, Atelier Ryza 3: Alchemist of the End & the Secret Key, was announced yesterday, and we've now learned new story and gameplay details.

Arriving on February 24, 2023, Atelier Ryza 3 picks up where 2019’s Atelier Ryza: Ever Darkness & the Secret Hideout and 2020’s Atelier Ryza 2: Lost Legends & the Secret Fairy left off, making it the latest title in the Secret series. These games were the first in the Atelier series to maintain the same protagonist and are some of the most popular in the series, with over 1.3 million total copies sold worldwide. These games feature Ryza and her friends going on a great adventure to discover the secrets of the island where they were born after an encounter with alchemy.

This newest game takes place about a year after the events of Atelier Ryza 2. Ryza and friends are sent on a new adventure after the sudden appearance of a strange group of islands just off the coast of their home of Kurken Island. It’s discovered that this mysterious Mainland Kark is having a harmful effect on Kurken Island, leading Ryza and the rest to head there and investigate, only to discover a strange and massive gate. When they approach it to learn more, Ryza hears a mysterious voice in her head that tries to lead her to the “Code of the Universe.” In search of a way to save their island, the characters set off on a grand journey involving keys and the roots of alchemy.

Regarding the subtitle The Alchemist of the End, producer Junzo Hosoi told IGN Japan, “In Atelier Ryza 3, we wanted to depict the end of Ryza's youth, along with exploring fundamental questions such as why alchemy is used in this world, and what Ryza wants from her life as an alchemist. As Ryza grows, we wanted the story to give her an important mission to dedicate herself to.”

Four characters have so far been revealed: Ryza, Klaudia, Tao and Lent. In addition to Ryza’s friends that fans will be familiar with, characters that showed up in the previous game, as well as new characters who are vital to the story will also be making an appearance. Eleven party members, one of the largest rosters ever seen in the series, will be available, and a wide cast of characters will be collected in this grand gathering for the series.

Improvements have also been made on the visual front, especially when it comes to the quality of character graphics and expressions, which are now rich and lively. This should allow players to get even more enjoyment out of their adventure with the game’s charming characters.

There are also major changes when it comes to the game’s systems. Until now, the series has allowed players to explore a number of fields on a single world map. This game, though, has four areas to investigate. Each of these areas contains a single large field, and it seems that exploration on them is possible without any loading time.

Finally, the core system of this game are the keys that can be created in various situations. There are many different types of keys, and players can use them in a host of different situations, whether that’s exploration, synthesis or battle. Different key types and rarities can be created from landmarks and enemies and are used when unlocking treasure chests and barriers, enhancing character abilities, or creating powerful items.

These keys even unlock the core of the game’s story. We'll just have to wait to find out more about where they’ll lead Ryza and friends.

Atelier Ryza 3 will also be making an appearance at Tokyo Game Show 2022. Not only will fans be able to try out a demo at the event, a TGS Atelier Series 25th Anniversary Livestream will be broadcast at 7pm JST (3am Pacific / 6am Eastern / 11am UK) on September 16.

Hiroaki Mabuchi is a freelance writer for IGN Japan. This article was translated by Ko Ransom.