Monthly Archives: September 2020

Xbox Seemingly Now Openly Admitting Xbox Series S Exists Before It’s Announced

Xbox Series S is seemingly now mentioned on publicly available Xbox products, despite not having been officially announced yet. The long-rumoured console - which will apparently take the form of a lower price, lower performance variant of Xbox Series X - has never been officially announced or named by Microsoft, but multiple mentions of the console (and its internal codename, Lockhart) have been found. Now, those buying Microsoft products have found mention of Xbox Series S in their goods - as shown by this Xbox controller, which arrived with a Game Pass voucher that specifically mentions "Xbox Series X | S" (the same console name formatting found on alleged Xbox Series S controller packaging last month): It remains to be seen when Xbox will formally announce the all-but confirmed console, although rumours point to an announcement this month. If the company is now printing public-facing materials with mention of Xbox Series S, that seems increasingly likely. Hopefully, that announcement comes alongside some of the notably missing details about the new range of Xbox consoles, such as release date, price, and Xbox Series X pre-orders. We know that Xbox Series X will be released in November, and an Xbox Series S controller leak seems to point to November 6. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=confirmed-xbox-series-x-games&captions=true"] While Halo Infinite has been delayed to 2021, Xbox is still touting its launch line-up for the new new console(s), with "More than 50 new games planned for this year across generations and optimized for Xbox Series X, including Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, Dirt 5, Gears Tactics, Yakuza: Like a Dragon, Watch Dogs: Legion. With Smart Delivery you only have to buy these games once to play the best versions for your console, across generations." [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.  

Resident Evil Village Will Be Shown During Tokyo Game Show 2020 Online

Capcom has revealed that Resident Evil Village will be shown during Tokyo Game Show 2020 Online, as part of its special publisher broadcast. Revealed on Twitter by the Capcom Dev 1 account, the game will feature during the virtual trade show as part of the Capcom TGS Live 2020 webcast. Broadcast in Japanese with simultaneous English and Chinese interpretation, the live show will feature Street Fighter V Champion Edition on September 26 and Resident Evil Village on September 27. The tweet also acknowledges that Capcom had previously announced that fans would receive an update on the game during August 2020 back when the game was revealed during the PS5 games conference. In other Resident Evil Village news, check out this special developer message from the game's producers to learn more details about the game. If you need a primer on the entire Resident Evil timeline ahead of the game's release, you can check out our article covering the story so far. Resident Evil Village currently has a tentative release date of 2021, and will land on PS5, Xbox Series X and PC via Steam at launch. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Jordan Oloman is a freelance writer for IGN. Follow him on Twitter.

Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War PS4 Beta Release Date Leaked by CoD: WW2

The release date for the Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War PS4 beta appears to have leaked, with early access for PS4 players starting on October 8. As reported by CoD Tracker, details about the Black Ops Cold War beta have been found on the in-game storefronts for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare and Call of Duty: WW2. This post on the Black Ops Cold War subreddit has all the details, noting that "early access to the Open Beta begins on October 8, first on PS4." The leak also confirms that the PS4 version of Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War "plays on PS5 via backwards compatibility when it launches." According to the PS4 Black Ops Cold War reveal trailer, the exclusivity agreement for the beta gives PS4 players access "at least 5 days earlier than any other format," so if this leak is legitimate, it suggests that Xbox and PC players will get the beta on the 13th of September, or perhaps later that week. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/08/27/call-of-duty-black-ops-cold-war-perseus-briefing-cinematic"] According to the listing, those who pre-order any digital edition of the game will get access, and will also receive a Frank Woods operator and assault rifle Weapon Blueprint "for immediate use in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare and Call of Duty: Warzone." We recently learned that Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War will run at 4K 120hz on next-gen consoles. For the lowdown on all of the pre-order bonuses and edition-exclusive content, check out our Black Ops Cold War preorder guide. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Jordan Oloman is a freelance writer for IGN. Follow him on Twitter.

The Astro A20 Gaming Headset is Xbox Series X and PS5 Cross-Compatible

For too long gamers have had to buy multiple gaming headsets if they own more than one gaming console, but the new Astro A20 Gen 2 promises to solve that, being the first headset to work with both the PS5 and Xbox Series X. As with buying any previous Astro gaming headset, you’ll still have to pledge your allegiance to one system by first buying an either green- or blue- tinted wireless gaming headset. However, if you want to use that same headset for the other platform, all you need to do is buy a second wireless dongle designed for your desired console. Not only can you pair the Astro A20 Gen 2 with either console, doing so will unlock system-specific features. When paired with the PS5, the Astro A20 Gen 2 gains an enhanced surround sound mode via the system's Spatial Audio feature. Astro A20 Gen 2 Aside from those platform-specific features, the Astro A20 Gen 2 looks like a solid wireless gaming headset on paper. It is rated for up to 50 feet of wireless range and more than 15 hours of battery life, plus you can recharge it over USB-C. The Astro A20 Gen 2 wireless gaming headset will retail for $119.99, while the Astro A20 Gen 2 USB Transmitter you’ll need to pair to a second console costs just $19.99. The headset and transmitter are slated to arrive this October – both are available for preorder now.

Bringing your old Astro Gaming headset to the PS5

On top of announcing a new wireless gaming headset, Astro also announced a new HDMI Adapter for anyone looking to port an old Astro gaming headset to the PS5. Now this solution is only necessary if your headset required optical audio in to work, which is the majority of Astro Gaming’s older lineup including the A10, A20 Gen 1, A50, and any headset that connected through the MixAmp Pro TR Gen 3 and Gen 4. The Astro HDMI Adapter itself works as a video pass-through that includes an Optical Audio Out port. Astro also promises this adapter won’t introduce any lag or affect the PS5’s ability to put out a 4K 120Hz gaming experience at all. The Astro HDMI Adapter will also release this October for $39.99. Registered Astro users can submit their serial number and email address to receive a $15 discount on Astro’s website. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Have a tip for us? Want to discuss a possible story? Please send an email to newstips@ign.com. Kevin Lee is IGN's Hardware and Roundups Editor. Follow him on Twitter @baggingspam

A Short Hike Review

Hiking in the digital wilderness of A Short Hike is a reminder of the small joys of stretching your legs out on the trails. Its pixelated habitat is saturated with the familiar sights and sounds of the backcountry in real life--like the bubbling of a sluggish stream through the woods or greeting fellow hikers as they trek along the steep edges of grassy plateaus. As a young canary named Claire, one of the first characters you'll come across is a pint-sized frog at the beach in Hawk Peak Provincial Park, who's clearly struggling with building a sandcastle. Her problem, unfortunately, is that she's heaving a full-sized shovel about, a clunky tool unfit for the refined job of sand sculpting. You can hand her a toy shovel, and over time, see her modest sandcastle gradually expand into a sprawling sand empire--simply a charming, heart-swelling sight.

This is just one of the many minute scenes you'll embrace in A Short Hike, an exploration title about trudging across a park's hilly terrains and muddy routes. It's a game with a simple, singular objective: Trek towards the summit of Hawk Peak Mountain, as that's the only place with any cellphone reception. While this sounds scant, there are plenty of activities you'll need to busy yourself with in order to get to the top. You can collect seashells and sticks along the way, help other hikers out with their problems, or cast your hook into the tranquil rivers in hopes of snagging a rare fish. Doing these tend to net you some rewards, be it in the form of gold feathers--one of the most essential items in the game--or an assortment of tools and accessories. While some of these are purely cosmetic, others unlock more abilities for Claire, like the capacity to sprint, fly further, or bounce high on the island's fantastical plants.

No Caption Provided
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It's tempting to see these as mere side-quests to complete, but that defeats the point of these experiences--the real reward is in enjoying the plain beauty of these mundane moments. That's by no means a narrative flaw; it's these small instances that encapsulate the grandeur of traversing through A Short Hike's large, mountainous landscapes. Interactions with fellow visitors, like following along on an anxious painter's journey to seek inspiration in nature, an elusive endeavour even in this picturesque landscape, usually culminate in heartwarming conclusions. Other encounters also make for quietly humorous anecdotes, much like a private joke you recall sharing with close friends.

Continue Reading at GameSpot

A Short Hike Review

Hiking in the digital wilderness of A Short Hike is a reminder of the small joys of stretching your legs out on the trails. Its pixelated habitat is saturated with the familiar sights and sounds of the backcountry in real life--like the bubbling of a sluggish stream through the woods or greeting fellow hikers as they trek along the steep edges of grassy plateaus. As a young canary named Claire, one of the first characters you'll come across is a pint-sized frog at the beach in Hawk Peak Provincial Park, who's clearly struggling with building a sandcastle. Her problem, unfortunately, is that she's heaving a full-sized shovel about, a clunky tool unfit for the refined job of sand sculpting. You can hand her a toy shovel, and over time, see her modest sandcastle gradually expand into a sprawling sand empire--simply a charming, heart-swelling sight.

This is just one of the many minute scenes you'll embrace in A Short Hike, an exploration title about trudging across a park's hilly terrains and muddy routes. It's a game with a simple, singular objective: Trek towards the summit of Hawk Peak Mountain, as that's the only place with any cellphone reception. While this sounds scant, there are plenty of activities you'll need to busy yourself with in order to get to the top. You can collect seashells and sticks along the way, help other hikers out with their problems, or cast your hook into the tranquil rivers in hopes of snagging a rare fish. Doing these tend to net you some rewards, be it in the form of gold feathers--one of the most essential items in the game--or an assortment of tools and accessories. While some of these are purely cosmetic, others unlock more abilities for Claire, like the capacity to sprint, fly further, or bounce high on the island's fantastical plants.

No Caption Provided
Gallery image 1Gallery image 2Gallery image 3Gallery image 4Gallery image 5Gallery image 6Gallery image 7Gallery image 8Gallery image 9Gallery image 10

It's tempting to see these as mere side-quests to complete, but that defeats the point of these experiences--the real reward is in enjoying the plain beauty of these mundane moments. That's by no means a narrative flaw; it's these small instances that encapsulate the grandeur of traversing through A Short Hike's large, mountainous landscapes. Interactions with fellow visitors, like following along on an anxious painter's journey to seek inspiration in nature, an elusive endeavour even in this picturesque landscape, usually culminate in heartwarming conclusions. Other encounters also make for quietly humorous anecdotes, much like a private joke you recall sharing with close friends.

Continue Reading at GameSpot