Monthly Archives: August 2020

Hitman Trilogy to Be Playable in VR

The Hitman trilogy, including the upcoming Hitman 3 will be playable in PlayStation VR as announced in today's Sony State of Play. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=hitman-3-vr&captions=true"] Players will become Agent 47 like never before, and assassinate targets, blend in with the environment, and avoid detection all in VR. Furthermore, IO Interactive's World of Assassination will also be playable in VR. According to a new PlayStation Blog, Hitman 3 will be fully playable in VR from start to finish. Furthermore, VR support for every location from all three games will also be coming to the series. Players are able to "import" locations from the previous two Hitman games into Hitman 3, making the whole trilogy playable in one place. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/08/06/hitman-3-psvr-teaser-trailer-state-of-play-2020"] IO Interactive is keeping details close to the chest, but says players will be able to use Agent 47's familiar tactics in VR. From wearing disguises to sneaking up behind targets. All while globetrotting to exotic locations. Players will even have to look at targets "face-to-face" when eliminating them. Check out IGN's Hitman 2 review for our take on 47's last assassination trip. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt T.M. Kim is a reporter for IGN.

Dr. Disrespect Teases Return to Streaming After Twitch Ban

Update: In a tweet, Guy "Dr. Disrespect" Beahm has announced that he will likely return to streaming on Friday via his YouTube channel. His channel is already hosting a live video, though currently, it is only playing a placeholder graphic animation. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Original Story: Guy “Dr. Disrespect” Beahm published a live story on Instagram hinting that he could return to streaming as early as today. In a short live story posted on Beahm’s Instagram account, a fictional news anchor can be heard in the background saying they’ve heard from sources that “Doctor Disrespect may return to streaming as soon as today.” Beahm, who streams video games under the persona Doctor Disrespect, is one of the most popular streamers online. But he was permanently banned from Twitch back in June 2020 for reasons that haven’t been disclosed. Beahm claims that he hasn’t been notified about the reasoning behind his ban, and his split with Twitch remains a mystery. He was previously banned from Twitch once before in 2019 for streaming from the LA Convention Center bathroom, though that ban was only temporary. When asked in an interview with PC Gamer about his sudden ban, Beahm said, “I’m not interested in engaging crazy speculation.” Beahm has indicated his interest in returning to streaming video games, though says he’s not interested in an exclusive contract if he returns. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=every-ign-call-of-duty-review&captions=true"] IGN has reached out to Twitch multiple times, but have only received a standard response from the company, which can be read below:
“As is our process, we take appropriate action when we have evidence that a streamer has acted in violation of our Community Guidelines or Terms of Service. These apply to all streamers regardless of status or prominence in the community.”
Beahm’s Instagram Story didn’t confirm any other details. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt T.M. Kim is a reporter for IGN.

Invincible Animated Series Character Designs Revealed

Invincible fans have gotten their first look at the upcoming animated series, and it's nothing if not faithful to the original comic. As revealed in Free Comic Book Day 2020: Invincible #1, co-creator and original series artist Cory Walker is serving as Lead Character Designer for the Amazon adaptation. Check out Walker's rendition of the main cast below: INVINCIBLE lineup smaller As this preview image reveals, the series is sticking very closely to the look established by Walker and artist Ryan Ottley on the series. For comparison, here's one of Walker's covers for the comic: JAN031280_2._SX1280_QL80_TTD_ The FCBD special also clarifies Robert Kirkman's role on the series. In addition to serving as executive producer, Kirkman wrote both the pilot and the season finale. The special includes more teaser art that isn't being released online, so you'll have to head to your local comic shop to see more. The Invincible animated series is based on the comic co-created by Kirkman and Walker and will debut on Amazon Prime Video. Simon Racioppa (Teen Titans) will serve as showrunner, with Justin and Chris Copeland (Ultimate Spider-Man) serving as supervising directors. Kirkman, Racioppa, David Alpert (The Walking Dead), and Catherine Winder (Star Wars: The Clone Wars) are executive producing. We learned about the main voice cast for the series during Skybound Xpo in July, which includes Steven Yuen as the titular hero, J.K. Simmons as his father Omni-Man and Gillian Jacobs as Atom Eve. As part of Comic-Con@Home, Kirkman revealed that a number of Walking Dead veterans will voice the Justice League-esque super-team the Guardians of the Globe. In other Kirkman TV news, there's finally a release date for the long-delayed Season 10 finale of The Walking Dead. That finale will now air on October 4, alongside the series premiere of The Walking Dead: World Beyond. [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.

Doom Eternal and Elder Scrolls Online Confirmed for PS5 and Xbox Series X

Bethesda has announced that Doom Eternal and The Elder Scrolls Online will both be released on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, and those who own either game on PS4 or Xbox One will be able to upgrade to the matching new version for free. While Bethesda did not reveal a date for the next-gen ports of Doom Eternal and The Elder Scrolls Online, or go into further detail into what enhancements they will receive on PS5 and Xbox Series X, it did confirm the news and that more information would be headed our way in "the coming weeks and months." Bethesda also noted that its teams are working hard on ensuring that both games will support backwards compatibility when the new consoles are released, possibly hinting the upgrades won't be quite ready by both console's Holiday 2020 launch window. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/03/24/doom-eternal-final-review"] These were the only two games confirmed to be getting these free upgrades and enhancements for PS5 and Xbox Series X, but Bethesda promises that it is "committed to offer free upgrades for current generation console owners of existing Bethesda titles we bring forward into the next generation of consoles." That was all the info given for this announcement, but Bethesda did reiterate that QuakeCon At Home will be taking place from August 7-9, and that fans should tune in for "information about all the latest Bethesda titles." In our review of Greymoor, the latest The Elder Scrolls Online expansion, we said "If you love gorgeous, nostalgic landscapes above all else, The Elder Scrolls Online's new Greymoor expansion offers a strongly nostalgic return to the northwestern corner of Skyrim. The formulaic story isn't as compelling, but it's at least buoyed by a couple of standout characters." [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=confirmed-xbox-series-x-games&captions=true"] In our review of Doom Eternal, we said "Overall, it’s not surprising that Doom Eternal is excellent in following up Doom (2016), but after playing its 15-or-so-hour campaign it’s delightful to see just how much better Doom has gotten just four years later." [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.

New Streaming Service from ViacomCBS to Launch Internationally in 2021

ViacomCBS has announced plans to launch a global streaming service that will feature a "super-sized" selection of content from several of the company's brands. According to Variety, ViacomCBS CEO Bob Bakish expanded on the company's plans for the platform while speaking on an earnings call on Thursday, as he confirmed that the new premium SVOD service will start its international rollout in Australia, Latin America, and the Nordics early next year, with more international markets to follow. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/11/21/cbs-all-access-review-2019"] In many cases, the new platform will evolve from an existing streaming service. For instance, CBS All Access will be rebranded for the relaunch of the new streamer in Australia, and Paramount+ will be expanded to introduce the new service in Eastern Europe, Latin America, and the Nordics. The new SVOD service is expected to target audiences of all ages with a bespoke library of must-see content and exclusive premieres of Showtime titles, including Halo and American Rust, as well as CBS All Access originals, such as Guilty Party and The Harper House. The platform's catalogue of titles will include movies from Paramount Pictures, together with premieres and box sets from much-loved brands, such as Comedy Central, MTV, Nickelodeon, and Paramount Network, as well as originals from ViacomCBS International Studios in some markets. The fan-favourite shows that will launch in the first three initial markets, to varying degrees of exclusivity, include The Good Wife, The Affair, Californication, Deadwood, Dexter, House of Lies, Nurse Jackie, Oz, and the original Twin Peaks. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/11/20/best-streaming-shows-you-probably-never-heard-of"] ViacomCBS continues to accelerate its "momentum in streaming" after teasing the prospect of a "broad pay" platform earlier this year. However, the company has assured that it still has "more than enough content" to "continue to license product selectively to third parties in international markets." For more on the ever-expanding streaming landscape, head over on over to IGN's State of Streaming hub for an easy-read guide that covers all of your streaming needs, including a deep-dive review of the Disney+ platform, a closer look at NBCUniversal's Peacock platform, and a breakdown of which companies are currently winning the streaming wars. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=the-best-tv-shows-of-the-decade-2010-2019&captions=true"] [poilib element="accentDivider"] Adele Ankers is a Freelance Entertainment Journalist. You can reach her on Twitter.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons’ Sales Reach 22 Million

Nintendo's 1st quarter results for its fiscal year ending March 2021 have revealed some impressive details, including that Animal Crossing: New Horizons has sold over 22 million copies, that the Switch has sold over 61 million units, and that Nintendo's net profits year-on-year have grown by over 500%. Animal Crossing: New Horizons, at 22.4 million units sold, has become the second-best selling Nintendo Switch game behind Mario Kart 8 Deluxe's 26.74 million. It has surpassed both Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, which have sold 19.99 million and 18.60 million units, respectively. Animal Crossing: New Horizons was so popular from April to June 2020 that it was played on over 50% of all Nintendo Switch systems sold during that period, on the first day of purchase. Furthermore, Animal Crossing: New Horizons accounted for over 40% of overall sell-through for Nintendo titles in Japan, the US, and Europe for that same time. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=top-25-nintendo-switch-games&captions=true"] Speaking of software, Nintendo also had two new million-sellers released this quarter with Xenoblade Chronicles Definitive Edition and Clubhouse Games: 51 Worldwide Classics selling 1.32 million units and 1.03 million units, respectively. Ring Fit Adventure, which had a product shortage issue from beginning in March, has sold over 4 million copies globally. This was reflected in July 2020's NPD report that saw Ring Fit Adventure jump from #835 to #7 on the best-selling list for the month as stock increased. Another interesting note is that digital sales accounted for 55.6% of total software sales on Nintendo's dedicated video game platforms. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/07/02/best-games-of-2020-so-far"] The success of the Switch's software was mirrored by the console itself, which has now sold 61.44 million units, putting it only slightly behind the NES' 61.91 million units sold. In this quarter, 3.05 million Nintendo Switch systems were sold and 2.62 Nintendo Switch Lite systems were sold. This totals to 5.68 million Switch consoles sold in that time frame, which is a 166% increase year-on-year. Good news for those still looking to purchase a Switch, Nintendo has confirmed that, although the COVID-19 pandemic has caused a lack of supply of Nintendo Switch consoles, the situation has "almost recovered." [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=nintendos-major-franchise-output&captions=true"] Lastly, Nintendo's mobile and IP-related income reach 13.2 billion yen (~$125.16 million USD), which is a 32.7% increase year-on-year. All of these highlights tell the story of Nintendo's net profit reaching 106.4 billion yen (~$1.008 billion USD), a 576.2% increase year-on-year from FY20/Q1's 16.6 billion yen (~$157.37 million USD). As for what the future holds for Nintendo, we don't know too much of its plans besides some undated games, including The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2 and Metroid Prime 4, and the recently announced Pikmin 3 Deluxe, which will be released on October 30, 2020. [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.

Mysterious Fortnite Item Suggests a Tenet Event Has Begun

A mysterious orange carry case and an odd, triangular device mounted on top of it has been found in Fortnite, prompting speculation that an in-game marketing event for Christopher Nolan’s Tenet has begun. The item can be found at Steamy Stacks, in the Unit 4 building. Head inside and you can faintly hear some music. Break through the ground beneath the unit’s staircase, and then break through the back wall in this underground room, and you’ll find the orange case and mysterious device here. That case looks very similar to the one carried by John David Washington at the 01:35 mark in a trailer for Tenet released last December. The music is also very similar - if not identical - to the music in that same trailer, and so may be a taste of the film’s Ludwig Göransson score. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/12/19/tenet-official-trailer"] Fortnite has already established its link with Christopher Nolan; the Tenet trailer was shown as part of a Fortnite event, and three Nolan movies were shown in full on the game’s map. Events in the game typically roll out slowly over a number of weeks, so it’s sensible to expect this tease to build up to a more substantial Tenet experience. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt Purslow is IGN's UK News and Entertainment Writer.

Netflix: The ‘Ta-Dum’ Sound Ident Almost Included a Bleating Goat

Netflix's VP of Product, Todd Yellin, has revealed that the streaming service almost selected the sound of a goat for its iconic sonic logo that debuted back in 2015. Speaking on a recent episode of the Twenty Thousand Hertz podcast, Yellin discussed the yearlong process of creating the signature "ta-dum" sound that plays ahead of the company's original series' and films, explaining how the sound designers came very close to adding a totally different, quirkier noise to the end of the ident. "If we were going to do that call-and-response, that creating tension and then resolving it really quickly, I liked the sound of the goat," Yellin admitted on the podcast. "It was funny. I thought it was quirky. It was our version of [MGM's] Leo the Lion. So for a while, we were stuck on that goat sound." The goat never actually made it out of the pen but it was on the shortlist of sounds compiled by Yellin and Oscar-winning sound editor Lon Bender, who ended up creating a more cinematic noise after exploring countless versions, iterations and first impressions of the sonic Netflix logo. "It's a combination of music and of the sound effects of these knocks, which are my wedding ring, which I’m wearing, knocking on the side of a cabinet in our bedroom," Bender said. "In order to add different qualities to it, I sweetened it with other things, which is normal for us in the film-sound industry." [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/08/01/new-to-netflix-for-august-2020"] The Netflix "ta-dum" quickly became one of the most iconic sonic logos of our generation. The ident prefaces all of the streaming giant's original content, which they spend enormous amounts of money on in a bid to stay ahead of competitors in the crowded streaming landscape. In fact, it was projected that Netflix would be spending $17.3 billion on new content in 2020, up from $15.3 billion last year. To get a better sense of what Netflix is getting in exchange for its expenditure, check out everything that is new to Netflix this month to fill up your watchlist, take a look at our rundown of the biggest shows coming to streaming in the second half of the year, and discover more about the very best original movies on the streaming service to listen to that classic "ta-dum" sound again. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=the-best-netflix-original-movies-and-tv-shows&captions=true"] [poilib element="accentDivider"] Adele Ankers is a Freelance Entertainment Journalist. You can reach her on Twitter.

Microsoft Has ‘No Plans’ to End Xbox Live Gold Service

Microsoft has said that it has “no plans” to bring an end to its Xbox Live Gold service, despite having discontinued 12 month subscription options. In a statement sent to The Verge, Microsoft said: “We have no plans to discontinue Xbox Live Gold at this time. It is an important part of gaming on Xbox today, and will continue to be in the future.” [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/08/01/halo-infinite-multiplayer-will-be-free-to-play-ign-daily-fix"] Xbox Live Gold refers specifically to the paid subscription service that provides access to online multiplayer, as well as monthly free games, on Xbox consoles. The recent discontinuation of 12 month Gold subscriptions, as well as the announcement that Halo Infinite will feature a free-to-play multiplayer suite, fueled speculation that paid-for Xbox multiplayer was soon to be discontinued. However, Microsoft’s statement suggests the Xbox Live Gold service will continue. The same statement also states that “There are no changes being made to the experience of the service or Xbox Live Gold,” which means we shouldn’t expect Microsoft to pivot Gold into a slightly different service. It would be easy to speculate that perhaps free-to-play multiplayer may not require a Gold subscription, but that seems to not be the current case. All that we can say at the moment is that Xbox Live Gold will continue, but paid for via monthly or 3-month payment plans. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=confirmed-xbox-series-x-games&captions=true"] With that in mind, it looks like PC players will be able to take advantage of free Halo Infinite multiplayer, as a Gold subscription is not required for Microsoft’s PC games. Xbox players, meanwhile, will likely need a Gold subscription to play a few rounds of Slayer. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt Purslow is IGN's UK News and Entertainment Writer. 

Littlewood Review – Big Heart

My wife calls them "chore games." Day-to-day life simulations such as Stardew Valley, Graveyard Keeper, and Animal Crossing: New Horizons celebrate the mundanity of routine, assigning you daily lists of menial tasks to perform and rewarding you for completing them with another day and another to-do list. Littlewood is most certainly another one of these chore games. Rather than weighing it down, Littlewood's daily grind is leavened by a lean, focused approach to its various labors, the swift turnover of its day-night cycle, and a dash of mystery that elevates its charming setting.

Peace has spread across the land of Solemn in the aftermath of the defeat of a dark wizard. Leading the victorious band of adventurers was a great hero who, in classic video game protagonist tradition, is now suffering from amnesia. He or she cannot remember a single thing about the battle, the triumph, or life beforehand. Nonetheless, at the urging of the friends you apparently fought alongside, you are granted the tiny village of Littlewood and tasked with managing its recovery in a post-war world.

Continue Reading at GameSpot