Monthly Archives: September 2017

Rocket League Update Adds New Arena, Items, and More

Rocket League’s upcoming content update, the Autumn Update, is scheduled for September 28.

The update will introduce the following:

- One new “Seasonal” Arena, called “Farmstead”. The Arena was aesthetically inspired by a farm, with wheat fields, crops, and a barn surrounding the playing field. It’s also set in Autumn, meaning there’s a lot of red, orange, and yellow.

- Standard versions of the Wasteland and Starbase Arc Arenas, for "consistency in eSports."

- An option to have transparent goalposts. If this setting is turned on, goalposts turn transparent based on where the player, and the camera, are located. This aims to prevent any obstruction of view, particularly for players who are inside the goal without having scored.

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Gearbox: Next Duke Nukem Needs a ‘New Design Paradigm’

The key to getting the next Duke Nukem game right doesn't start with story, but rather an innovative design that brings something new to video games, according to Gearbox president Randy Pitchford.

"The solution for the next Duke game isn't just about story," Pitchford said on the latest episode of our monthly interview show IGN Unfiltered. "We can all dream up a story," he added, acknowledging that "playing with that is going to be a necessity" for any Duke game with a narrative. However, Pitchford believes the "true answer" for the next Duke game is that "there has to be something from a design point of view first."

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Jumping Into Character Customization in Code Vein

Like any good RPG, Code Vein has extensive customization options that will change the physical appearance of your character. In the video above, Bandai Namco Studios talks us through the various tweaks you can make to your own personal anime-esque vampire avatar across race, gender, body type, and ‘face paint’. Note that you can’t change your age, however; vampires are of course, meant to be young and beautiful.

For more on this month's IGN First, check out our making of video, our in-depth write up of how Code Vein is more than just anime Dark Souls, the benefits of bloodsucking in Code Vein, and our time with its first 17 minutes.

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Nintendo Switch Online App Updated

Nintendo has released an update for the Nintendo Switch Online app, allowing users to continue to use voice chat on their phone when the device is in sleep mode.

As outlined on Nintendo's online support site, update version 1.1.0 also allows voice chat to continue to function when other apps are opened, except for apps that use the microphone or have audio output. For Android users, the update also improves Bluetooth support.

It's also worth noting that those using the power-saving feature on Android 6.0 or later may experience an interruption in voice chat functionality when the device goes into sleep mode. To solve this issue, users will have to deactivate the battery optimization option in the phone's settings.

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IT’s Skarsgard on First Time He Saw Himself as Pennywise

Actor Bill Skarsgard himself may have been kept  hidden during the promotional campaign for Stephen King's IT, but now the man who plays Pennywise has revealed the process of how he helped bring the otherworldly villain to life on the big screen.

You might think that with such a visually arresting character as Pennywise the Dancing Clown, an actor might build their performance from the outside in, but in Skarsgard's case it was more the opposite since the final look of Pennywise still hadn't been determined at the time he was landing the highly coveted role.

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Superman: Mr. Oz’s Identity Is Revealed

Action Comics #987 has answered one of the biggest mysteries of DC Rebirth.

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Warning: this article contains spoilers for Action Comics #987!

The identity of the enigmatic Mr. Oz has easily been one of the biggest overarching mysteries in the DCU lately. It's a mystery that predates DC Rebirth itself, with Mr. Oz originally appearing in Geoff Johns and John Romita Jr.'s Superman run in 2014. But this character has truly risen to the forefront over the past year, secretly spying on heroes like Superman and kidnapping everyone from Red Robin to Doomsday as part of his larger plan.

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For Honor Adds a New Tribute Mode

For Honor is getting a new mode called 'Tribute' in a future free update.

Tribute is a 4 vs 4 multiplayer objective game mode that tasks players to capture three Offerings around the map and bring them back to one of their team's three Shrines. Each Shrine grants a different Blessing once an Offering has been made:

  • Vindicator Blessing: Gives your whole team a boost to attack, as well as a speed boost when carrying an Offering and faster interaction when stealing an Offering.
  • Guardian Blessing: Gives your whole team a small regenerating shield, as well as slowing enemy interaction when they try to steal your team’s Offering.
  • Oracle Blessing: Increases the awareness of your whole team. This includes showing, both in-world and on the radar, the location of an Offering carrier and the whole enemy team.
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Which Avenger Will Join the Guardians of the Galaxy?

Marvel Comics is teasing an upcoming roster change for in All-New Guardians of the Galaxy. The team will soon be joined by a former Avenger as the series gears up for the Marvel Legacy relaunch.

Marvel isn't revealing which hero is joining the team in October's All-New Guardians of the Galaxy #12, but this cover shows several potential candidates - Deadpool, Doctor Strange, Cable and Man-Thing:

Art by Rod Reis. (Marvel Comics) Art by Rod Reis. (Marvel Comics)

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What to Expect From the September 13 Nintendo Direct

Nintendo is hosting a brand new Nintendo Direct on September 13 at 3 p.m. PT/6 p.m. ET/11 p.m. UK (or 8 a.m. Thursday, September 14 AEST), shining a spotlight on what’s to come for the Nintendo Switch and 3DS.

Other than mention that Super Mario Odyssey will be a highlight of the Direct, Nintendo has said little else about what to expect during the 45-minute broadcast. Still, there’s plenty to speculate on what may be shown for both of Nintendo’s systems.

Nintendo has started to play fast and loose with its titling, so the technically last “Nintendo Direct” occurred on April 12. But since then, there have been directs highlighting ARMS, Splatoon 2, and Pokemon, as well as a Nindies Showcase last month and, of course, Nintendo’s E3 spotlight.

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