Xbox boss Phil Spencer has played down the potential of Xbox Game Pass being available on Nintendo and Sony systems, despite the company having previously stated that it was “a long term goal” to bring the service to “all platforms”. Talking to GameStar, Spencer said “The thing about other gaming console platforms is we're not able to bring a full Xbox experience on those platforms.” [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/04/16/microsoft-announces-xbox-game-pass-ultimate"] “In places where we have [brought a full Xbox experience] - like what we're doing now on mobile phones with xCloud coming to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate [and] what we've done with PC - we know when somebody is playing one of our Xbox games there is an expectation that they've got their Xbox Live community, they have their Achievements, Game Pass is an option, the first-party library is completely there.” Spencer said. "The other competitive platforms really aren't interested in having a full Xbox experience on their hardware,” he added. “But for us, we want to be where gamers want to be and that's the path that we're on." This last quote is interesting, as it suggests that Microsoft may already have had discussions with other platform holders to assess interest in providing the “full Xbox experience” on their hardware. Early last year, rumors began to arise suggesting that Xbox Games Pass would be made available on Nintendo Switch, a story made more believable by the fact that Microsoft games such as Minecraft and Hellblade are available on the console. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=igns-top-25-xbox-one-games&captions=true"] A few months later, Xbox head of gaming services Ben Decker told GameReactor that “we would like to see Game Pass on all platforms ultimately and I think that is a long term goal.” But reading into Spencer's latest words, it could be that Microsoft has had talks with other platform holders and ultimately failed to come to an agreement on the kind of experience they could offer Game Pass subscribers. Or perhaps Microsoft has simply decided internally that it does not want to pursue this ambition in quite the all-encompassing manner that had previously suggested. While the multi-platform Xbox dream may be less likely now, we still think Xbox Game Pass on Switch would benefit Microsoft, Nintendo, and players. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt Purslow is IGN's UK News and Entertainment Writer. 

A new report on Ubisoft's history of internal abuse and sexism includes allegations that plans for leading female characters in multiple Assassin's Creed games were scrapped or minimised due to a perception that games won't sell without a strong male lead. In a wide-ranging report by Bloomberg - much of it focused on the company's executives - anonymous Ubisoft employees explain that Assassin's Creed Syndicate, Origins, and Odyssey were all affected prior to release. Syndicate's script reportedly originally gave equal screen time to twin leads Jacob and Evie Frye, but was altered to include more of Jacob. The original plan for Origins was to have lead character Bayek incapacitated or killed early in the game, with his wife Aya becoming the lead character after that event, but this was prevented, with Aya becoming a side character. Odyssey's team originally pushed for that game's Kassandra to be a sole lead character, but was told that wasn't an option, and were forced institute the choice to play as her sibling, Alexios. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/06/26/ubisoft-responds-to-sexual-misconduct-allegations"] Those reporting the changes explained that the orders due to directives by the marketing department or Chief Creative Officer Serge Hascoët - who has since stepped down from his role following multiple reports of sexual misconduct and abuse. Famously, an Assassin's Creed Unity developer once stated that playable female characters in the game weren't included because they were "really a lot of extra production work." The upcoming Assassin's Creed Valhalla includes a lead character called Eivor, who can be both male and female (and whose gender can be swapped at any time). Ubisoft has been rocked by ongoing allegations of a toxic work culture at many of its studios. After CEO Yves Guillemot promised to "personally follow" the reports, multiple executives have stepped down or been placed on leave. However, Bloomberg's report - which is very much worth reading in full - shows the level to which a culture of abuse and toxicity appears to have been ingrained in parts of the company, and the amount of work that needs to be done to help correct that. [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.

NHL 21 will launch in October, and won't offer next-gen versions of the game - although it will be compatible on Xbox Series X and PS5. A blog post from the development team on the official EA NHL page notes that the game will launch in October instead of the usual September due to "extraordinary circumstances" most likely related to the impact of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. "We’ve had to make major adjustments in developing the game from home," the statement reads. "This transition has been very successful and we’re happy to say that the game is on track and feature-complete against our original vision, we just need a few extra weeks to do the polish, fine-tuning and bug fixing." [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/09/13/nhl-20-review"] NHL 21 will launch on current-gen consoles in October, but a next-gen version for PS5 or Xbox Series X won't arrive later down the line, although the game will be playable on said consoles via forward compatibility. "For NHL 21, we made the decision to focus on adding innovation and new features rather than the resource-heavy task of porting the game to new console technology," the quote reads. "We are fully focused on launching NHL 21 on the Xbox One and PS4 and look forward to the opportunities the next-gen systems will bring in the future." The development team also revealed that we'll be getting a "first look" at NHL 21 in late August, in order to showcase the new features coming to the game this year. To thank players for their support, the team have also provided some complementary HUT packs in the NHL 20 store and WOC bags which players will be able to find in their in-game inventory. We reviewed NHL 20 in September of last year, scoring it a 7.9 and praising its reworked shooting mechanics. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Jordan Oloman is a freelance writer for IGN. Follow him on Twitter.

Final Fantasy 7 Remake Part 2 has entered full development, and game director Tetsuya Nomura wants to deliver the game "as soon as possible." The news arrives thanks to a 15-page interview from an upcoming issue of Japanese games magazine Famitsu, details of which were posted to the Ryokutya blog and later translated by Twitter user Aitaikimochi.

Interesting bits from a 15 page interview on FF7R that's released in tomorrow's Famitsu:

-The next installment is already in full development -They couldn't go further with the Madam M massage scene otherwise ratings would go up -Roche was supposed to have a battle in Ch. 14 pic.twitter.com/UbQ8xQpYq4 — ☆オードリーAudrey☆ (@aitaikimochi) July 21, 2020

According to the blog source, full development has started for the second part of Final Fantasy 7 Remake, following the first part's release in April of 2020. Aitakimochi pulled another interesting quote from the same interview, which details Nomura's intentions for the second part's release. "We know that everyone wants the next instalment quickly. We would also like to deliver it as soon as possible. Since we were also able to see the line of quality from the first instalment, we hope to make the next instalment even better in quality that can make for an even better experience," the quote reads. "We would to get it out as soon as possible, so please wait for it. I think we can clearly convey the direction when we officially announce the next instalment." Perhaps more interestingly, executive producer Yoshinori Kitase also explained that "The new story of Final Fantasy 7 has only just begun." That contrasts a little with Kitase's previous comments, when he said the original game's story wasn't being drastically changed. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/04/06/final-fantasy-7-remake-review"] So hopefully we'll see Final Fantasy 7 Remake Part 2's reveal in the near future. We reported back in early July that the game's development was "affected by COVID-19," and was subsequently being worked on from home. We gave the first part of Final Fantasy 7 Remake an 8 back in April, noting that it "breathes exciting new life into a classic." [poilib element="accentDivider"] Jordan Oloman is a freelance writer for IGN. Follow him on Twitter.

Zack Snyder has explained that the Justice League: Snyder Cut is separate from the current DC Extended Universe (DCEU) continuity, joking that it actually takes place in the "Snyderverse." In an interview with Beyond the Trailer, Snyder confirmed that his version of Justice League exists outside of the DCEU timeline, as it "satisfies" the narrative structure that runs through 2013's Man of Steel and 2016's Batman v Superman. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/snyder-cut-of-justice-league-is-actually-coming-to-hbo-max-ign-now"] "Frankly, the DC cinematic universe has branched like a tree and blossomed and grown in amazing and great ways," Snyder said. "But for me, where [Justice League] falls, I believe that it really starts to represent its own path. It's kind of separate now from the DC cinematic universe continuity, it's divergent in that way, and I think that's a good thing." Snyder went on to praise the power of DC for working with multiverse concepts, which allow filmmakers to use their own individual voices to take characters and run them through a set narrative. He added, "I've heard someone say, 'Oh, you're entering the Snyderverse now.' And frankly, this notion that, what you will see in Justice League, Batman v Superman and in Man of Steel, there's continuity across those three movies because I made them; that's my main focus is to satisfy that narrative structure [and] continue that story." [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=every-dceu-movie-review-score&captions=true"] After years of campaigning for his version of the film to be released, the Man of Steel filmmaker recently confirmed that the Snyder Cut - or at least a Snyder Cut - would be coming to HBO Max in 2021, and it might take the form of a four-hour movie, or even a TV-like run of episodes. For more on the Snyder Cut of Justice League, check out our deep dive into the legendary project's history, watch the first Darkseid clip, and find out about some of the visual changes that the movie will have from Justice League's theatrical release. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Adele Ankers is a Freelance Entertainment Journalist. You can reach her on Twitter.

World of Tanks Console has begun a SummerSlam tie-in with WWE, including adding free tanks inspired by The Undertaker, Becky Lynch, Andre the Giant, Sgt. Slaughter and 'Stone Cold' Steve Austin. As part of the game's 5.0 update, it's adding a WWE themed season pass, which runs from today until September 21. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=world-of-tanks-console-wwe-tanks-screenshots&captions=true"] Aside from the wrestler-themed tanks, the game will also add a WWE-themed garage, Superstar introductions for vehicles, and crew chests that include the five wrestlers above, with Roman Reigns, “Macho Man” Randy Savage, “Rowdy” Roddy Piper, Ric Flair and Shawn Michaels coming in August. The 5.0 update also adds cross-play between PS4 and Xbox One, which Wargaming hopes will increase matchmaking times. The real-time strategy inspired Commander Mode also returns. [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.

The Nagasaki Prefecture and Tsushima Island tourism associations have partnered with Sucker Punch's Ghost of Tsushima. The Tsushima City x Ghost of Tsushima website includes a brief history of Tsushima Island and its major landmarks, many of which appear in the game. As well as grounding Tsushima's location in relation to Japan, the helpful site offers some historical context for the Mongol invasions of Japan and the Komoda Beach event, which occurs during Ghost of Tsushima's prologue. There's also a fun section which contextualizes real-life landmarks from Tsushima Island, some of which also appear in-game. The website copy rounds off with a brief primer on Tsushima's culinary culture and the activities you can expect to take part in if you do plan a visit. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/05/14/ghost-of-tsushima-gameplay-exploring-tsushima"] One section contains a quote from Sucker Punch's development team about its in-game depiction of Tsushima Island. "In GHOST OF TSUSHIMA, the world of the game takes inspiration from the actual island of Tsushima and is therefore not a blueprint of the locale but rather portrays elements taken from reality. The ambitious challenge in store for us was how much of this realistic setting should be incorporated into the game, and what kind of story we want to tell," the statement reads. Our review of Ghost of Tsushima went live last week - we scored the game a 9, calling it an "excellent action game" with a "gorgeous" open world. In other Sucker Punch news, check out this leaked vertical slice of a cancelled IP codenamed Prophecy. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Jordan Oloman is a freelance writer for IGN. Follow him on Twitter.

Extensive gameplay from a cancelled project worked on by Ghost of Tsushima developer Sucker Punch has leaked online, and is codenamed Prophecy. The leak first appeared on 4Chan and appears to stem from the portfolio of a Sucker Punch character artist, uncovered via Ghost of Tsushima's credits. The employee's portfolio has since been taken down, but not before fans managed to rehost a 10-minute vertical slice of a game called Prophecy, which can be viewed here. Just bear in mind that it will most likely be taken down in the near future. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/05/14/ghost-of-tsushima-gameplay-exploring-tsushima"] The footage combines cinematics with gameplay and looks fairly far along in development. It follows the protagonist, Abel Tvorah, something of an outlaw whose home city has been overrun by a masked enclave - they tear down a statue of its beloved king. The protagonist is looking for a secret chamber underneath the statue but is thrown into an exciting chase sequence after being branded a thief. The combat looks similar to Ghost of Tsushima, and you can see how some of the game's systems such as smoke bombs and crawling under buildings were tinkered to fit Sucker Punch's eventual release. The setting is totally different though, offering a steampunk vision of a medieval city. The protagonist eventually falls into a house after being tagged with an arrow and meets a shady side character, before Prophecy shows off what looks to be its defining graphical feature - a special powder used by the protagonist to burn through metal armour and iron grates. The demo ends with Abel donning the armour of the city's captors, reflecting on how he needs to find the chamber before they do. As well as the video, you can also check out some renders of the game's main protagonist and enemies, posted to ResetEra by user Oozer. According to Oozer, the game's files suggest the main character was called Abel, and the name and data tied to the vertical slice file suggest it was made (or first hosted) around five years ago, in 2015 or 2016. As we reported last week, Ghost of Tsushima could have been a game about Pirates, Rob Roy or the Three Musketeers - the development team toyed with a number of ideas before settling on the Mongol invasion of Tsushima. Perhaps Prophecy was one of them? [poilib element="accentDivider"] Jordan Oloman is a freelance writer for IGN. Follow him on Twitter.

The G.I. Joe Classified Series, Hasbro's modern 6-inch G.I. Joe collectible figure line, is introducing a new set of figures, including a Cobra Island Baroness with C.O.I.L. action figure and vehicle. Transformers, another Hasbro property is also getting a new figure by way of its Studio Series line: Leadfoot from Transformers: Dark of the Moon. Check out the new Joes and Transformer in the galleries below: [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=gi-joe-classified-target-exclusives&captions=true"] [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=transformers-studio-series-leadfoot-figure&captions=true"] Unlike previous G.I. Joe Classified gems like the Profit Director Destro or the first wave, featuring Snake Eyes, introduced earlier in the year, the newest wave of figures is a Target-exclusive in the US, as well as the Leadfoot Studio Series Transformer. Preorders for the figures go live tomorrow at 9 am ET.

• Cobra Island Baroness - $39.99 (Target Exclusive)
• Road Block - $19.99 (Target Exclusive)
• Cobra Trooper - $19.99 (Target Exclusive)
• Beach Head - $19.99 (Target Exclusive)
• Transformers Studio Series Leadfoot - $19.99 (Target Exclusive)

[poilib element="accentDivider"] Seth Macy is Executive Editor, IGN Commerce, and rabid '80s kid who just wants to be your friend. Find him on Twitter @sethmacy.  

HBO has begun the casting process for its Game of Thrones prequel, House of the Dragon. House of the Dragon was ordered straight to series by HBO last October, though word on the series has been quiet since then. Much like the rest of the TV industry, this series likely saw its production scheduling reshaped in light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic but casting has now commenced, according to Entertainment Weekly. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=game-of-thrones-every-major-characters-first-and-last-appearance&captions=true"] House of the Dragon is a prequel set in the universe of HBO's Game of Thrones series, based on George R.R. Martin's Fire & Blood book. Both the book and the HBO series are based on Martin's Game of Thrones book series. The Game of Thrones TV show ended last year and House of the Dragon will be the first venture back into Westeros since that controversial finale. Fire & Blood is a book about the history of House Targaryen and it's set 300 years before Game of Thrones. It covers over 100 years of Targaryen history and sees many a leader rise to fame and fall from grace within it. EW reports its sources say that the famous Dance of Dragons, a civil war between Targaryens, will be a part of the show at some point. It's possible the series could center around Aegon's Conquest, a destructive war that saw Aegon Targaryen usher in the reign of House Targaryen, something frequently referenced in Game of Thrones. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/09/13/game-of-thrones-fire-and-blood-prequel-series-in-development-ign-now"] Ryan Condal, best known for writing the TV series Colony and 2018's Rampage, will serve as the showrunner alongside Miguel Sapochnik, who directed some episodes of Game of Thrones. He will direct the pilot and an unspecified number of episodes afterward. HBO has ordered 10 episodes for the series. It's expected to premiere in 2022. House of Dragons will be the first Game of Thrones prequel series to hit HBO but not the first one announced by the company. An Age of Heroes-focused prequel starring Naomi Watts was set to happen but has since been cancelled. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Wesley LeBlanc is a freelance news writer and guide maker for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @LeBlancWes.