After many years worth of comments from fans asking “where’s Skate 4?” EA has announced a follow-up to its venerated skateboard sim franchise. But according to EA CEO Andrew Wilson the decision to bring back Skate wasn’t just because of the comment alone, but also because EA sees an opportunity to integrate modern trends like “user-generated content.” During a fireside chat with investors on Monday, Wilson spoke about the surprise Skate announcement during the EA Play Live event last week. He revealed that the announcement broke EA’s Twitter engagement record, showcasing the enthusiasm from fans for a new Skate game. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/06/19/untitled-skate-game-announcement-trailer-ea-play-2020"] “You take a game like Skate, and while skateboarding in and of itself has tremendous appeal to a huge, global audience, there’s another secular trend that’s happening inside our industry around user-generated content, open-world, and interaction,” Wilson said. Wilson shared a story about skateboarder Nyjah Huston who started as a skateboarder but now has a brand that includes fashion and art. “So for many people, you think about skating as a starting point that has appeal, but you start to build in user-generated content, exploration, and community on top of that and that expands the opportunity exponentially.” While the new Skate is still “very early” in development, Wilson’s comments highlight some potential directions for the new Skate title. Players can likely expect customization options and possibly a chance to fill the open-world with user-generated content. EA didn’t release a trailer for the new Skate, instead, EA presented series producers Deran Chung and Chris ‘Cuz’ Parry to announce that development has started. Other announcements from EA Play include in-depth gameplay reveal for Star Wars: Squadrons and a teaser for next-gen games. EA also announced seven games for the Nintendo Switch. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt Kim is a reporter for IGN.

After many years worth of comments from fans asking “where’s Skate 4?” EA has announced a follow-up to its venerated skateboard sim franchise. But according to EA CEO Andrew Wilson the decision to bring back Skate wasn’t just because of the comment alone, but also because EA sees an opportunity to integrate modern trends like “user-generated content.” During a fireside chat with investors on Monday, Wilson spoke about the surprise Skate announcement during the EA Play Live event last week. He revealed that the announcement broke EA’s Twitter engagement record, showcasing the enthusiasm from fans for a new Skate game. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/06/19/untitled-skate-game-announcement-trailer-ea-play-2020"] “You take a game like Skate, and while skateboarding in and of itself has tremendous appeal to a huge, global audience, there’s another secular trend that’s happening inside our industry around user-generated content, open-world, and interaction,” Wilson said. Wilson shared a story about skateboarder Nyjah Huston who started as a skateboarder but now has a brand that includes fashion and art. “So for many people, you think about skating as a starting point that has appeal, but you start to build in user-generated content, exploration, and community on top of that and that expands the opportunity exponentially.” While the new Skate is still “very early” in development, Wilson’s comments highlight some potential directions for the new Skate title. Players can likely expect customization options and possibly a chance to fill the open-world with user-generated content. EA didn’t release a trailer for the new Skate, instead, EA presented series producers Deran Chung and Chris ‘Cuz’ Parry to announce that development has started. Other announcements from EA Play include in-depth gameplay reveal for Star Wars: Squadrons and a teaser for next-gen games. EA also announced seven games for the Nintendo Switch. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt Kim is a reporter for IGN.

Marvel's Avengers aired its War Table stream today, covering everything from the game's story, its heroes and villains, customisation, the difference between single player and multiplayer missions, and more. Many of those details have been revealed previously (although this is our best public look at them yet), but there were a number of announcements in the stream that we hadn't heard before. Here's the 38 we spotted (and a couple of new questions we have): [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/06/24/marvels-avengers-new-story-trailer-modok-reveal"]

Marvel's Avengers Story

• We've heard previously that new heroes and playable regions would be provided for free, but today's showcase confirmed that new story sections would be added to the game at no cost after launch.
• In terms of the launch game's story, the showcase revealed a little more about what happens after the disastrous events of A-Day, which ends with San Francisco under quarantine after the release of Terrigen mists, transforming some victims into Inhumans.
• Those victims include Advanced Idea Mechanics (AIM) co-founder George Tarleton.
• At some point, AIM becomes more powerful, seemingly even taking over the Stark Tower premises.
• Tarleton begins changing visually, eventually becoming the supervillain known as MODOK (Mental Organism Designed Only for Killing).
• Using public anger at The Avengers, who were blamed for A-Day, Tarleton begins imprisoning other Inhumans under the guise of finding a cure for the condition.
• In fact, he's harvesting their powers for use in the Adaptoid robot army under his control.
• MODOK's end goal is rid the Earth of superpowered individuals altogether, seemingly including himself.
• Another Terrigen victim, Kamala Khan (Ms. Marvel) seemingly discovers her powers while fighting back against bullies at the Captain America A-Day memorial statue.
• Kamala uncovers evidence of AIM's Inhuman experimentation conspiracy, and how Captain America was purposely locked in the Chimera reactor, causing his seeming death. She takes the information to Bruce Banner, who in turn shows it to Tony Stark.
• At some point, Kamala is captured by Tarleton. She rejects his offer of 'help' for her Inhuman condition, and escapes using her new powers.
• An early Thor story mission, 'Once An Avenger' revolves around Thor's return to the Avengers (after going by the alias Donald Blake) - at this point, he doesn't know who Kamala is.
• The mission seemingly revolves around the damaged Chimera helicarrier being flown out of San Francisco, presumably to its landing site, where it's used as a base of operations for the rest of the game.

Marvel Avengers Combat

• That Thor story mission also revealed a number of Thor's abilities, which are based in part on Jason Aaron’s run on The Mighty Thor series.
• Thor's ultimate ability calls in the Bifrost to deal huge damage, as well as leave residual AoE effects where it strikes.
• In co-op, players can work together to perform Team Finisher moves. Large enemies have a stun meter, which, when depleted, lets two characters perform a unique action.
• Skill trees allow base abiliteis to be modified for different playstyles. For instance, Thor's Tornado Throw ability can be modified to either allow it to create lightning explosions where it strikes, or can be turned into a manual targeting move that hits multiple enemies, but can no longer pin them to walls.
• Skill points earned in all mission types let you unlock new moves, new combos, and new versions of existing moves.
• Skills trees are split into Melee, Ranged, Intrinsic Ability and Intrinsic Overcharge sections.
• Skills can also be augmented by your equipment, which can add various effects, such as special damage types like Plasma or Gamma (which also change how the attacks look).
• You can also inflict status effects, including Shrink, which makes affected enemies weaker (and really cute and little).
• Enemies can also seemingly use status effects - we see what seems to be a freeze effect from a staff-wielding Adaptoid.
• We also see certain enemies using bubble shields, which force you into close combat.
• We briefly see Kamala's embiggening powers being used for platforming as well as fighting.

Marvel's Avengers Hero Customisation

• New looks at hero customisation menus showed brief glimpses at the "dozens" of costumes Crystal Dynamics promises for each hero.
• You can earn cosmetics either by completing missions, decoding patterns (which appear to be this game's take on Destiny's Engrams) or purchasing them.
• 'Iconic' costumes can only be unlocked by completing Iconic mission chains in-game.
• Other customisation options include CoD-like nameplates with comic book art, and emotes (which include Hulk sniffing his armpits).
• Of the suits we're shown, Iron Man has the most notable number, including Original Sin Iron Man, a StarkTech Suit based on the Bleeding Edge Armour, several versions of his improvised Mark 1 armour, what seems to be an unpainted version of his modern suit, and a bizarre, seemingly unfinished version of the suit with a police-like helmet.
• The trailer also confirms that Hulkbuster Iron Man armour will be available at some point.
• Thor can wear his Donald Blake alias casualwear, complete with a "Hello My Name Is D. Blake" sticker.
• At the end of the trailer, we see a line-up of the five core Avengers in what seem to be all-new outfits. They may well be based on Iron Man tech, as we see a glimpse of what seems to be an Arc Reactor on Hulk's waistband.
• Gain reputation with the game's Factions can also offer you new vendors, offering more powerful items, and new challenges to take on.

Marvel's Avengers Characters

• Speaking of Factions, they include the Inhuman Alliance, and members of SHIELD, including Nick Fury, Dum Dum Dugan, Alisandra Morales, and Sidney “Gaffer” Levine.
• SHIELD's Chastity McBryde is also the in-game cosmetics vendor.
• Jarvis, Maria Hill, Hank Pym are all mission givers in the game.
• We saw a variety of unnamed Inhumans in the course of the showcase including those with powers of replication, electrical and flame generation.
• Non-supervillain enemies include a variety of robotic threats, including hand-to-hand melee, staff, and dual blades for melee, as well as rifle toting humanoids, and various mechs.

...And a Couple of Things We Don't Know

• Crystal Dynamics makes clear that George Tarleton - who becomes MODOK - is a victim of the Terrigen mist poisoning, seemingly kickstarting his villainous plans. Does that imply that there's a separate supervillain behind the A-Day attack, or was Tarleton caught in the crossfire of his own scheme?
• The showcase ends by saying that the AIM story and the Avengers reassembling are just the beginning of the story. Is that a reference to future content updates for the game, or is there more to this story than we know so far?

The War Table stream is a part of our Summer of Gaming showcase - and if you've come straight here from the show, you should stay tuned, because we're following it up with another day of exclusive announcements. All month, we're supporting some incredibly important causes – the World Health Organisation and The Bail Project – if you are able, help us support them too at donate.ign.com. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Joe Skrebels is IGN's Executive Editor of News. Follow him on Twitter. Have a tip for us? Want to discuss a possible story? Please send an email to newstips@ign.com.

This week in RDO, claim double Role XP for Bounty Hunter and Moonshiner missions and events, and much more.

This week in RDO, claim double Role XP for Bounty Hunter and Moonshiner missions and events, and much more.

IGN is celebrating Pride Month with a very special Queerantine fundraising live stream. We’ll be featuring gameplay by queer gamers, spotlighting games with queer themes made by queer developers, and showcasing the talents of queer nerds on the web. You can tune into the livestream on Friday, June 26 from 12 pm - 4 pm PST/3 pm - 7 pm EST/8 pm - 12 am BST. Most importantly, we’ll be raising awareness and funds for The LGBTQ Freedom Fund. According to their mission statement, "Each day, tens of thousands of LGBTQ people are held in jail or immigration detention because they cannot afford bail. The LGBTQ Freedom Fund pays bail to secure the freedom of LGBTQ people across the country. Because of whom they love, a tangle of discrimination and poverty puts LGBTQ people behind bars. The impact is disproportionately felt by transgender, brown, and black people." These people need our help -- and your help -- so please give what you can and help spread the word about this amazing, life-saving organization fighting to secure their release and safety. You can donate by clicking the link during our stream or going right to The LGBTQ Freedom Fund website.

Where to Watch IGN's Queerantine Pride Stream

Here's where you can tune in to watch the fundraising live stream across IGN's channels.  

• IGN's Twitch Channel (this is the best place to chat with us!)
• IGN.com (homepage)
• IGN's Facebook Channel
• IGN’s Twitter
• IGN’s Youtube Channel
• IGN's TikTok
• IGN's iOS App
• IGN's Android App
• IGN's PlayStation 4 App
• IGN's Xbox One App
• Roku
• IGN App for Android TV
• IGN for Amazon Fire TV
• Apple TV
• IGN 1 on Samsung TV Plus

IGN's Queerantine Pride Stream Guests

The guests we have lined up are fellow members of the LGBTQ+ community and will be playing various games and showing off their spectacular talents. Here is a list of every guest we have scheduled for IGN's Queerantine Pride Live Stream:  

• iamBrandon playing Resident Evil 3
• Unsighted gameplay demo from Studio Pixel Punk
• Interview: Kdin Jenzen from Rooster Teeth’s Inside Gaming
• LuxieGames playing Animal Crossing
• Speed drawing with Tessalyn
• Bodypainting with Afkayt
• Drag makeup tutorial by drag queen gamer Deere
• Ring of Pain gameplay demo from Twice Different
• Bryonato playing Titanfall 2

[poilib element="accentDivider"] Joshua is Senior Features Editor at IGN. If Pokemon, Green Lantern, or Game of Thrones are frequently used words in your vocabulary, you’ll want to follow him on Twitter @JoshuaYehl and IGN.

IGN is celebrating Pride Month with a very special Queerantine fundraising live stream. We’ll be featuring gameplay by queer gamers, spotlighting games with queer themes made by queer developers, and showcasing the talents of queer nerds on the web. You can tune into the livestream on Friday, June 26 from 12 pm - 4 pm PST/3 pm - 7 pm EST/8 pm - 12 am BST. Most importantly, we’ll be raising awareness and funds for The LGBTQ Freedom Fund. According to their mission statement, "Each day, tens of thousands of LGBTQ people are held in jail or immigration detention because they cannot afford bail. The LGBTQ Freedom Fund pays bail to secure the freedom of LGBTQ people across the country. Because of whom they love, a tangle of discrimination and poverty puts LGBTQ people behind bars. The impact is disproportionately felt by transgender, brown, and black people." These people need our help -- and your help -- so please give what you can and help spread the word about this amazing, life-saving organization fighting to secure their release and safety. You can donate by clicking the link during our stream or going right to The LGBTQ Freedom Fund website.

Where to Watch IGN's Queerantine Pride Stream

Here's where you can tune in to watch the fundraising live stream across IGN's channels.  

• IGN's Twitch Channel (this is the best place to chat with us!)
• IGN.com (homepage)
• IGN's Facebook Channel
• IGN’s Twitter
• IGN’s Youtube Channel
• IGN's TikTok
• IGN's iOS App
• IGN's Android App
• IGN's PlayStation 4 App
• IGN's Xbox One App
• Roku
• IGN App for Android TV
• IGN for Amazon Fire TV
• Apple TV
• IGN 1 on Samsung TV Plus

IGN's Queerantine Pride Stream Guests

The guests we have lined up are fellow members of the LGBTQ+ community and will be playing various games and showing off their spectacular talents. Here is a list of every guest we have scheduled for IGN's Queerantine Pride Live Stream:  

• iamBrandon playing Resident Evil 3
• Unsighted gameplay demo from Studio Pixel Punk
• Interview: Kdin Jenzen from Rooster Teeth’s Inside Gaming
• LuxieGames playing Animal Crossing
• Speed drawing with Tessalyn
• Bodypainting with Afkayt
• Drag makeup tutorial by drag queen gamer Deere
• Ring of Pain gameplay demo from Twice Different
• Bryonato playing Titanfall 2

[poilib element="accentDivider"] Joshua is Senior Features Editor at IGN. If Pokemon, Green Lantern, or Game of Thrones are frequently used words in your vocabulary, you’ll want to follow him on Twitter @JoshuaYehl and IGN.

Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 and 2 will be getting a Warehouse Demo starting on August 14, 2020, and the full game will feature new skaters that were not part of the originals. Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 and 2 will be released on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC on September 4, 2020, and those who pre-order the game digitally will get access to the demo on August 14, although the date is "subject to change." As for the new skaters, THPS 1 and 2 will include, in addition to those found in the originals, Nyjah Huston, Leo Baker, Leticia Bufoni, Aori Nishimura, Lizzie Armanto, Shane O'Neill, Riley Hawk, and Tyshawn Jones. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/06/23/tony-hawks-pro-skater-1-and-2-new-skaters-announcement-trailer"] “Modern-day skateboarding originated from a generation of skaters who grew up playing the original Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater games,” said Michelle Bresaw, Vice President of Product Management and Marketing at Activision. “The world-class pro skaters we’re adding to this remaster took the tricks and combos from the videogame and made them possible in real life. We’re proud that the remaster will represent the skate culture landscape today with a diverse roster of skaters that will appeal to any gamer.” Some of these skaters have appeared in other Tony Hawk games, but this will be the first time they will "ollie and kickflip in the first two games from the franchise." Futhermore, these skaters will bring with them their own signature tricks. Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 and 2 is being developed by Vicarious Visions and brings these classic games to 2020 with HD graphics, all the original levels, skaters, tricks, and modes, new tricks and secrets and online multiplayer, Create-A-Park and Create-A-Skater, and many of the iconic songs from the first two Tony Hawk games. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=tony-hawks-pro-skate-1-and-2-new-skaters-screenshots&captions=true"] For more on Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 and 2, check out the full soundtrack and our IGN Icons feature on Tony Hawk himself. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Have a tip for us? Want to discuss a possible story? Please send an email to newstips@ign.com. Adam Bankhurst is a news writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @AdamBankhurst and on Twitch.

Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 and 2 will be getting a Warehouse Demo starting on August 14, 2020, and the full game will feature new skaters that were not part of the originals. Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 and 2 will be released on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC on September 4, 2020, and those who pre-order the game digitally will get access to the demo on August 14, although the date is "subject to change." As for the new skaters, THPS 1 and 2 will include, in addition to those found in the originals, Nyjah Huston, Leo Baker, Leticia Bufoni, Aori Nishimura, Lizzie Armanto, Shane O'Neill, Riley Hawk, and Tyshawn Jones. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/06/23/tony-hawks-pro-skater-1-and-2-new-skaters-announcement-trailer"] “Modern-day skateboarding originated from a generation of skaters who grew up playing the original Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater games,” said Michelle Bresaw, Vice President of Product Management and Marketing at Activision. “The world-class pro skaters we’re adding to this remaster took the tricks and combos from the videogame and made them possible in real life. We’re proud that the remaster will represent the skate culture landscape today with a diverse roster of skaters that will appeal to any gamer.” Some of these skaters have appeared in other Tony Hawk games, but this will be the first time they will "ollie and kickflip in the first two games from the franchise." Futhermore, these skaters will bring with them their own signature tricks. Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 and 2 is being developed by Vicarious Visions and brings these classic games to 2020 with HD graphics, all the original levels, skaters, tricks, and modes, new tricks and secrets and online multiplayer, Create-A-Park and Create-A-Skater, and many of the iconic songs from the first two Tony Hawk games. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=tony-hawks-pro-skate-1-and-2-new-skaters-screenshots&captions=true"] For more on Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 and 2, check out the full soundtrack and our IGN Icons feature on Tony Hawk himself. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Have a tip for us? Want to discuss a possible story? Please send an email to newstips@ign.com. Adam Bankhurst is a news writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @AdamBankhurst and on Twitch.

George RR Martin has shared a fresh update on how things are coming along with writing The Winds of Winter, the sixth instalment of his fantasy series A Song of Ice and Fire, from which the hit HBO drama Game of Thrones spawned. The legendary author posted a new blog entry, titled "Writing, Reading, Writing," on Tuesday, assuring fans that he has been staying healthy amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, but has been consumed with writing ever since his last update. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/03/18/george-rr-martin-says-hes-healthy-isolated-and-getting-plenty-of-writing-done"] "I have to confess, after half a year of pandemic, quarantine, and social distancing, I am showing signs of cabin fever... half of which is quite literal in my case. Yes, I am in an actual cabin in the mountains. No, I have no fever. Yay! For the present at least, I am healthy... for an out-of-shape guy of 71, at least... and doing all I can to stay that way," Martin wrote in his candid post. He added: "If nothing else, the enforced isolation has helped me write. I am spending long hours every day on The Winds of Winter, and making steady progress. I finished a new chapter yesterday, another one three days ago, another one the previous week. But no, this does not mean that the book will be finished tomorrow or published next week. It's going to be a huge book, and I still have a long way to go." Martin addressed his cancelled trip to Wellington for CoNZealand, the 78th World Science Fiction Convention, saying he was "heartbroken" that the event had been forced to go virtual this year. However, he also noted that "a long interruption" might have cost him "all the momentum" that he has built up, so he will visit next year when he hopes "both COVID-19 and The Winds of Winter will be done." [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=game-of-thrones-every-major-characters-first-and-last-appearance&captions=true"] As a further teaser, Martin said that he has been "visiting with Cersei, Asha, Tyrion, Ser Barristan, and Areo Hotah" while writing, and will be "dropping back into Braavos" next week, "with occasional side trips to other places in the pages of a great book." Despite admitting to having good days and bad days on the novel, Martin appears to be sticking to his prior promise that he will not develop scripts for the Game of Thrones prequel series, House of the Dragon, until he finishes writing The Winds of Winter. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Adele Ankers is a Freelance Entertainment Journalist. You can reach her on Twitter.