Square Enix and Crystal Dynamics have revealed new details about the upcoming Marvel’s Avengers beta, including what mission types and characters will be available to play and how progress will be offered. The beta, which takes place throughout August, will contain four heroes: Iron Man, Hulk, Black Widow, and Ms. Marvel. These can all be played in the co-op segments of the beta, but you’ll actually be able to get a taste of Thor and Captain America too as the beta opens on the Golden Gate Bridge prologue mission, as seen at E3 and Gamescom in 2019. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/06/11/marvels-avengers-full-presentation-e3-2019"] Each of the characters has three skill tree pages, but only one will be available to use in the beta. This will give you the opportunity to tailor the character to your preferred playstyle by tweaking abilities and skills. After the 25 minute prologue, you’ll have access to the War Table and will be able to play through two single-player missions. Featuring Hulk and Ms. Marvel, the first sees them travel to the Pacific Northwest in search of the Olympia Archive and JARVIS, while the second relocates them to Russia to “uncover SHIELD secrets hidden deep underground.” One of these missions also includes a boss fight with Abomination. After completing the single-player content, the beta opens up and allows players to tackle a variety of other activities in co-op (or solo with AI if preferred). These are split into three mission types: HARM Rooms, Warzones, and Dropzones. Depending on the activity, these can take between 10 minutes and two hours. HARM Rooms are holographic training arenas similar to X-Men's danger rooms, and are wave-based challenges. The beta features three HARM Rooms, each with escalating difficulty. Complete all three, and you’ll be awarded a special Nameplate that you can use in the full game. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=marvels-avengers-ps5&captions=true"] Warzones are the dungeon-like missions of Marvel’s Avengers, and there are five available to play in the beta. The individual locations and objectives were not revealed as part of the War Table stream, but we do know that you’ll face both robotic and human foes. Warzones also include bunkers that contain loot and collectable comics, and players must solve puzzles to get inside. Finally, the beta will also feature an unspecified amount of Dropzones, which are among the game’s shorter, more focused mission types. Today's stream also revealed that Hawkeye will be a post-launch character, and that the beta will earn you some Fortnite rewards. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/articles/marvels-avengers-hawkeye-dlc-post-launch-character-free"] For more on Marvel's Avengers, check out our hands-on with a Thor and Ms. Marvel mission, the game's unique approaches to character design, and why the team chose M.O.D.O.K as its main villain. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt Purslow is IGN's UK News and Entertainment Writer. 

A PlayStation documentary featuring interviews with Hideo Kojima, Mark Cerny, Shinji Mikami and more has been announced and will debut on September 7. From Bedrooms To Billions: The PlayStation Revolution covers the story of Sony's console career, from the PlayStation's launch in 1995 to the current generation. It will be available from the 7th of September to coincide with the 25th anniversary of the original console later in the month. The documentary will see a physical release on DVD and Bluray and will be available on demand from iTunes, Amazon, Vimeo, and more. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/07/29/from-bedrooms-to-billions-the-playstation-revolution-official-trailer"] A trailer has been released alongside the announcement which offers a glimpse at some of the talking heads attached to the project, including Hideo Kojima, Phil Harrison, Shinji Mikami, Fumito Ueda and more. The documentary was created by filmmakers Anthony and Nicola Caulfield, responsible for the 2014 documentary From Bedrooms to Billions, which told the story of the British video game industry from 1979 onwards. In other PlayStation news, here's every game confirmed for Sony's next-generation console, the PlayStation 5. If you're keen on the PS5 already, check out this page detailing everything we know about PS5 preorders so far. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Jordan Oloman is a freelance writer for IGN. Follow him on Twitter.

Twenty-five years after its original debut, the seminal anime movie Ghost in the Shell is finally being released in 4K Ultra HD. Check out the trailer for the new Lionsgate release embedded below or in the video player above: [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/07/29/ghost-in-the-shell-25th-anniversary-edition-official-trailer"] Directed by Mamoru Oshii and based on the original manga series by Shirow Masamune, Ghost in the Shell is set in a futuristic, post-cyberpunk version of Japan. The movie follows cybernetic police officer Major Motoko Kusanagi (Atsuko Tanaka) and her second-in-command Batou (Akio Otsuka) as they track a cyber-terrorist known as The Puppet Master. Along the way, the Major is forced to come to terms with her mysterious past and the nature of existence in a world where the line between the physical and digital worlds is blurred. This new release includes both 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray discs, along with a 4K digital copy of the film. The 4K Ultra HD version supports both Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos, which should ensure this release is the new gold standard in terms of visual and audio fidelity. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=ghost-in-the-shell-4k-ultra-hd-box-art&captions=true"] In addition to a commentary track from English translation writer Mary Claypool and writer/producer Eric Calderon, Batou's English voice actor Richard Epcar and animation historian Charles Solomon, this Ghost in the Shell set will include two new bonus features - “Accessing Section 9: 25 Years into the Future” and “Landscapes & Dreamscapes: The Art and Architecture of Ghost in the Shell.” Lionsgate will release the Ghost in the Shell 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack on Tuesday, September 8, at an MSRP of $22.99. You can pre-order the set on Amazon and various other retailers. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=the-best-anime-series-on-netflix-right-now&captions=true"] Ghost in the Shell was adapted into live-action in the 2017 movie starring Scarlett Johansson. In IGN's review of the live-action remake, we said, "Rupert Sanders' film is respectful and successful as an adaptation that strives to capture the same intellectual conversation about identity, ownership and consent that are presented in the source material." Be sure to also check out our breakdown of all the live-action anime remakes currently in development, including Netflix's Cowboy Bebop and One Piece series. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Jesse is a mild-mannered staff writer for IGN. Allow him to lend a machete to your intellectual thicket by following @jschedeen on Twitter.

Netflix has announced the premiere date and released first-look images for Ryan Murphy's upcoming thriller series, Ratched, which was created by Evan Romansky, a recent film-school grad who wrote the script on spec. The streaming giant has confirmed that Nurse Ratched will be ready to see you soon, so start scheduling your appointments with Netflix, as the eight-episode series officially premieres on September 18. Ratched serves as a prequel series to One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest and tells the origin story of the nefarious nurse Mildred Ratched who arrives in Northern California in 1947, seeking employment at a leading psychiatric hospital where new and unsettling experiments have begun on the human mind. The first batch of images, pictured in our gallery below, capture Ratched's early journey towards becoming a nurse before turning into a full-fledged monster. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=ratched-12-first-look-images&captions=true"] Per the official synopsis, Mildred sets out on a clandestine mission to present herself as "the perfect image of what a dedicated nurse should be, but the wheels are always turning and as she begins to infiltrate the mental health care system and those within it, Mildred's stylish exterior belies a growing darkness that has long been smoldering within, revealing that true monsters are made, not born." The series stars Sarah Paulson as Ratched, Cynthia Nixon as Gwendolyn Briggs, Judy Davis as Nurse Betsy Bucket, Sharon Stone as Lenore Osgood, Jon Jon Briones as Dr. Richard Hanover, Finn Wittrock as Edmund Tolleson, Charlie Carver as Huck, Alice Englert as Dolly, Amanda Plummer as Louise, Corey Stoll as Charles Wainwright, Sophie Okonedo as Charlotte, and Vincent D'Onofrio as Gov. Wilburn. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=the-best-horror-tv-shows-on-netflix-right-now&captions=true"] The suspenseful new drama series is executive produced by Ryan Murphy, as part of his five-year mega-deal with the streaming giant, together with Ian Brennan, Sarah Paulson, Alexis Martin Woodall, Aleen Keshishian, Jacob Epstein, Jennifer Salt, Margaret Riley, Michael Douglas, Robert Mitas and Tim Minear. Ratched officially arrives on Netflix on Friday, September 18. For more on the exciting new series' that are heading to the small screen this year, check out our rundown of the biggest shows coming to streaming in the second half of 2020. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Adele Ankers is a Freelance Entertainment Journalist. You can reach her on Twitter.

Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice will be getting a new update on October 29, 2020, that will add a boss rush, new outfits, and a Remnants system that will allow players to send messages to help others on their journey. As revealed on the Activision Games Blog, the first part of this update is the Reflections and Gauntlets of Strength, which can be accessed through the Sculptor's Idols. The Reflections of Strength allows for players to take on any previously defeated boss. The Gauntlets of Strength, on the other hand, has you facing off against Sekiro's bosses in consecutive battles. If the Wolf (player character) were to die at any point, he would have to start from the beginning. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/12/24/your-top-5-games-of-the-year-2019-power-ranking"] The Sculptor's Idols will also allow the Wolf to change into three new outfits, including Tengu and Old Ashina Shinobi. Two of these outfits can be unlocked via Gauntlets, while the third is unlocked by beating the game once. It should be noted that all outfits are purely cosmetic in nature. Lastly, Remnants are recordings of player's actions for up to 30 seconds at a time. After a player records one of these Remnants, it can be uploaded along with a message to help others making their way through Sekiro. If a community member watches and rates a Remnant, the owner of it will have have their HP recover for free. This will be especially helpful for those Sekiro players who are playing for the first time on Google Stadia, which will be released on the streaming service on October 29, 2020 as well. Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice was released in 2019 and, in our review, we said "Sekiro evolves From Software’s formula into a stylish stealth-action adventure that, naturally, emphasizes precision and skill in its combat. It walks the line between deliberate and patient stealth and breakneck melee combat against threats both earthly and otherworldly." [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.

Netflix has released the opening scene from The Umbrella Academy Season 2 ahead of Friday's premiere. The streaming giant shared the "explosive surprise" scene on Wednesday, giving fans a chance to preview the opening moments of episode one, which will officially drop into everyone's timelines (and Netflix watch lists) on July 31.

We have an explosive surprise for you Watch the opening scene of The Umbrella Academy season 2 before the rest drops into your timeline on Friday. pic.twitter.com/m4ntwXcbGx

— Umbrella Academy (@UmbrellaAcad) July 29, 2020

The clip opens with Five descending from a swirling time vortex and emerging from an alleyway in downtown Dallas to discover that he has seemingly landed in an alternate timeline for November 25, 1963, where the streets are commandeered by Soviet troops and battle tanks. He spots a newspaper amongst the rubble, with a headline that reads: "Soviets Attack U.S., JFK Declares War on Reds." Without hesitation, Five's siblings step into the ensuing chaos and unleash their superpowers in a series of action-packed sequences detonated by the backing track of Frank Sinatra's "My Way." Hazel interrupts the chain reaction of explosions, bullets, and bangs as he zaps onto the scene to rescue Five from the impending nuclear apocalypse and give him a chance to save his family. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/07/27/the-umbrella-academy-s2-7-big-questions-we-have"] An adaptation of Gerard Way and Gabriel Bá's comic book series of the same name, The Umbrella Academy follows the lives of a dysfunctional family of superheroes. It proved to be a huge hit for Netflix, which reported that 45 million households had watched the show, and quickly ordered a second season. We awarded the first season an 8.5 review, calling it "hilariously twisted, subversively stylish, and surprisingly poignant." We named it as one of the best new TV series of 2019, and one of the best comic book series - plus, it was IGN People's Choice Winner in both of those categories. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=umbrella-academy-season-2-30-images&captions=true"] The Umbrella Academy Season 2 will be released on Netflix on July 31 with 10 hourlong episodes. If you have never watched The Umbrella Academy before, then you might want to read our explainer about the characters and team, and if you have, then you might need a refresher on Season 1's ending. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Adele Ankers is a Freelance Entertainment Journalist. You can reach her on Twitter.

Cloud Gardens has been announced for Steam Early Access, and its creator describes it as a "chill game about using plants to overgrow post-industrial wasteland dioramas". To me, it looks like a game where you play as Mother Nature in The Last of Us. Created by Kingdom: New Lands developer Noio, the core game takes place across tiny stetches of ground, across which the player needs to spread nature across as much of the environment as possible. However, to earn the energy to grow those plants, they first need to 'decorate' the area with the scuzzed-up, broken down remnants of industrial civilisation. The result is a series of tiny, beautified slices of urban decay that look like voxel-ised versions of the landscapes in The Last of Us' overgrown apocalypse. I think it looks wonderful, and you can check out a trailer below: [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/07/29/cloud-gardens-trailer"] The concept reminds me of my favourite element of last year's Concrete Genie, which saw you tasked with covering the walls of a grim, post-recession town with living paintings. You could just paint a boring line of flowers on there and be done with it, but I never did, because it was so much more satisfying and relaxing to spend the time creating mini-masterpieces across the game world. I imagine I'll have the same impulse here, prettying up my creations well after the game tells me I can move on. For those less interested in the 'campaign' aspect, however, there will be a full sandbox mode with no goals, where players can create for the sake of creation (and lovely screenshots). The game will come to Early Access later this year, and will stay in that state for around 3 months, allowing Noio to to modify the core loop using player feedback. "This might be an extensive rework, or a tuning modification," continues the Steam description. "We will fix bugs and polish the UI. As we work on those things, we also continue work on the remaining chapters that we did not include in the EA launch, and will release that along with the updates." You can wishlist the game now. We have Noio's breakout game, Kingdom, a 7.7 review, calling it "a gorgeous and addictive test of city management". [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 Outer Worlds publisher Private Division has announced that it's signed agreements to publish new games by Moon Studios (Ori & the Blind Forest), Roll7 (OlliOlli) and League of Geeks (Armello). Details about the games are scant: Moon Studios' game will be a "a compelling action RPG", League of Geeks will be announcing a new IP, and Roll7 will be taking "the next jump forward in their mission to create awesome, flow state games." Don't expect to be playing any of these games too soon, however – none of the studios have formally announced the projects, and the first of them won't arrive until parent company Take-Two's fiscal year 2022. All the new games are in early development, and announcements about each project will come "in the future". No specific platforms have been announced at this time. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/03/10/ori-and-the-will-of-the-wisps-review"] “Developing the Ori series over the last decade has been a fantastic experience for our team, and we’re thrilled to now be aiming our sights even higher with a new action RPG,” said Moon co-founders Thomas Mahler and Gennadiy Korol in a press release. “We attribute our success to the ‘iterative polish’ process we use at Moon Studios, and we’re continuing that style of development to create a new game that rises above anything we’ve created thus far.” Private Division was created by Take-Two as a publishing label for independent developers. So far, it's published The Outer Worlds, Ancestors: The Humankind Odyssey, and Disintegration, as well as republishing Kerbal Space Program. [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.

Phil Spencer has said that news on backwards compatibility for Xbox Series X should be coming in August, sparking speculation that the previously-rumoured August Xbox event (and possible Xbox Series S reveal) event is legitimate. Speaking on iJustine's Same Brain podcast, Spencer discussed the work of the backwards compatibility team on Xbox Series X, and praised their work on optimizing older games for the next-gen console. He then added: "I'm encouraged to be able to talk more about it - should be August. I think August we'll have more to say on that." While Spencer is specifically referring to backwards compatibility news, many have connected the August timing to previous rumours about an Xbox event set to take place during the same month. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/04/01/interview-head-of-xbox-phil-spencer-unlocked-437"] Those rumours point to the formal announcement of Xbox Series S (or Xbox Lockhart), a lower-priced, lower performance version of the Series X. It's not too much of a speculative leap to imagine that the backwards compatibility news could apply to how older games will perform on the new console model. Earlier this week, we saw an image of a supposed white Xbox Series X controller surface, which added to the Lockhart buzz. If true, it would mark the second major Xbox event in two months, following the Xbox Games Showcase - we thought some of that show worked, and some didn't, so hopefully Xbox will be reacting to those concerns in any future events. [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.

Games Workshop, the company behind the Warhammer tabletop miniature games and lore universes, has stated in its latest annual report that it aims for AAA Warhammer video games to be launched in the future, and is signing new development licences every few months. The report explains that “Our goal is AAA video games. We have signed multiple licences and we continue to negotiate many more, we will update you once they are announced. At the time of writing, we have 73 licences and are signing new ones every 2-3 months.” [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/07/23/warhammer-40k-darktide-announcement-trailer"] Warhammer video games are not in short supply, but Games Workshop’s goal of AAA games suggests that it is looking beyond what we’ve seen from the licence in recent years. Take one look at the Warhammer search results on Steam, and you’ll find that the many of the games based in the universes have mixed reviews, come from small studios, and look a little on the low-budget side. The Warhammer community in general is constantly wishing that big-budget titles in the guise of games like Warhammer 40,000 Dawn of War and Space Marine - both developed by Relic in the 2000s - would be negotiated by Games Workshop. With Games Workshop entering into licence deals with new developers every 2-3 months, it appears that we may be getting multiple high-budget Warhammer video games in the future. There are currently a small selection of Warhammer licenced video games that we know are in active development. The Xbox Series X Games Showcase revealed Warhammer 40,000 Darktide, and recently Planet Coaster developer Frontier announced that it is creating an RTS in the Warhammer: Age of Sigmar setting. Then there are three games coming from Focus Interactive; two Warhammer 40,000 games from Streum On Studio and Saber Interactive, and an Age of Sigmar title from Gasket Games. Based on the histories of these studios, it seems sensible to assume that at least Frontier is working on a AAA game, while Darktide from Fatshark will certainly be closer to AAA than many other Warhammer games. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2017/09/25/the-first-19-minutes-of-total-war-warhammer-2"] The Warhammer universes - broadly split into two areas, the fantasy Age of Sigmar and the sci-fi Warhammer 40,000 - have become increasingly popular over the last few years, with the 2019/2020 financial year being Games Workshop’s best in its entire history. The expansive settings cover everything from dungeon crawling adventures to space battles to all-out planetary wars, and so are ripe for a multitude of video game genres. Hopefully we’ll see AAA games in the settings within the next few years. For some recent AAA Warhammer, check out our review of Total War: Warhammer 2. Or if you’re happy to play something with a more modest budget, why not try Warhammer 40,000: Mechanicus. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt Purslow is IGN's UK News and Entertainment Writer.