Monthly Archives: November 2020

Phasmophobia Dev Shows Off Upcoming Prison Level

The nightmares of Phasmophobia aren’t stopping anytime soon. Developer Kinetic Games has shared new screenshots of its upcoming prison level, adding a carceral flair to their co-op ghost hunting game.

Check out the gallery below for a look.

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The three new screenshots show what appears to be an inmate common room with circular tables and an overhead walkway, an outer perimeter with multiple rows of fencing and guard towers, and a row of visitation pods. Kinetic Games says the map’s cell block is currently in-progress.

Phasmophobia players have been clamoring for new content ever since the game spiked in popularity last October. Phasmophobia currently has seven maps haunted by procedural ghosts, the majority of them being suburban or rural family houses. A large asylum map has also been in the mix, but the upcoming prison map will be considered a medium-sized map, Kinetic tweeted.

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Kinetic Games, a one-person operation run by an individual named Dknighter, certainly has their work cut out for them. The developer has had to reconsider their early access plans since the game’s rise to the top of Twitch and YouTube stardom. They say their immediate focus is on fixing bugs, but the developer’s publicly open Trello board lists a considerable number of future goals: Adding a single-player button that doesn’t connect to a server, adding weather effects, adding in more scares, and plenty of quality-of-life changes.

Kinetic Games did not give any indication of when the prison level will be made available. Don’t forget to check out our Phasmophobia wiki for all the ghost hunting tips you need.

[poilib element="accentDivider"] Joseph Knoop is a writer/producer/donut hunter for IGN.

Zombie Deadpool Is the Most Disgustingly Detailed Marvel Figure Ever

Hot Toys never fails to impress with the level of detail the company packs into its 1:6 scale figures. But is there such a thing as a Hot Toys figure with too much detail? The new Marvel Zombies Deadpool figure might just cross that line. Zombie Deadpool is the first in what looks to be a series of Hot Toys figures inspired by the long-running Marvel Zombies comic book franchise. True to the source material, it presents Wade Wilson as a shambling, undead but still very meta superhero. Get a closer look (if you dare) in the slideshow gallery below: [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=zombie-deadpool-is-the-most-disgustingly-detailed-marvel-figure-ever&captions=true"] Like most 1:6 scale figures, Deadpool measures in at 12-inches tall. This release comes with a number of accessories, including various weapons, a comic-inspired display backdrop and Headpool and Squirrelpool figurines. Collectors will basically be halfway to a full-blown Deadpool Corps set after buying this figure. Zombie Deadpool is priced at $270 and is available to pre-order now through Sideshow Collectibles and various other retailers. The figure is expected to be released between October and December of 2021. Hot Toys has certainly produced plenty of movie-inspired Marvel figures over the years (including no fewer than three versions of Ryan Reynolds' Deadpool), but Zombie Deadpool is the company's latest shift toward the comics instead. Recently Hot Toys has also previewed a new line of Venomized figures, including a life-size Venomized Baby Groot toy. Hot Toys also had plenty of figures inspired by Insomniac's Spider-Man games on display at Sideshow Con this summer. In other news, Hot Toys recently revealed an Ahsoka Tano figure inspired by the final season of The Clone Wars. Not to be outdone, Hasbro recently released a new wave of Clone Wars figures exclusive to Walmart. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2016/01/15/this-hot-toys-thanos-is-huge"] Which other Marvel heroes would you like to see get the zombie treatment from Hot Toys? Sound off in the comments below. [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.

Zombie Deadpool Is the Most Disgustingly Detailed Marvel Figure Ever

Hot Toys never fails to impress with the level of detail the company packs into its 1:6 scale figures. But is there such a thing as a Hot Toys figure with too much detail? The new Marvel Zombies Deadpool figure might just cross that line. Zombie Deadpool is the first in what looks to be a series of Hot Toys figures inspired by the long-running Marvel Zombies comic book franchise. True to the source material, it presents Wade Wilson as a shambling, undead but still very meta superhero. Get a closer look (if you dare) in the slideshow gallery below: [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=zombie-deadpool-is-the-most-disgustingly-detailed-marvel-figure-ever&captions=true"] Like most 1:6 scale figures, Deadpool measures in at 12-inches tall. This release comes with a number of accessories, including various weapons, a comic-inspired display backdrop and Headpool and Squirrelpool figurines. Collectors will basically be halfway to a full-blown Deadpool Corps set after buying this figure. Zombie Deadpool is priced at $270 and is available to pre-order now through Sideshow Collectibles and various other retailers. The figure is expected to be released between October and December of 2021. Hot Toys has certainly produced plenty of movie-inspired Marvel figures over the years (including no fewer than three versions of Ryan Reynolds' Deadpool), but Zombie Deadpool is the company's latest shift toward the comics instead. Recently Hot Toys has also previewed a new line of Venomized figures, including a life-size Venomized Baby Groot toy. Hot Toys also had plenty of figures inspired by Insomniac's Spider-Man games on display at Sideshow Con this summer. In other news, Hot Toys recently revealed an Ahsoka Tano figure inspired by the final season of The Clone Wars. Not to be outdone, Hasbro recently released a new wave of Clone Wars figures exclusive to Walmart. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2016/01/15/this-hot-toys-thanos-is-huge"] Which other Marvel heroes would you like to see get the zombie treatment from Hot Toys? Sound off in the comments below. [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.

Xbox-Exclusive CrossfireX Delayed to 2021

The upcoming Xbox exclusive first-person shooter CrossfireX has been delayed to 2021. It was originally slated to launch sometime in 2020. Unsurprisingly, the delay is attributed to the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic as the development team at Smilegate have faced challenges developing remotely, according to a recent tweet. It’s unclear if the delay is specifically due to the multiplayer side of the game facing issues, as the single-player side of the game is being developed by Remedy Entertainment (creators of Control and the Alan Wake franchise). Earlier this year, we had a chance to get hands-on with both the single-player portion of the game as well as the separate free-to-play multiplayer mode. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=crossfirex-multiplayer-screenshots&captions=true"] CrossfireX is the sequel to the 2007 multiplayer shooter Crossfire which is extremely popular in China and South Korea boasting over 1 billion registered players, making it the most-popular game worldwide by player count. Smilegate eventually brought Crossfire to the West in 2009, although it didn’t have as big of an impact as it did in Eastern markets. There’s currently no firm release date or window besides 2021, but we’ll be sure to update you as soon as we hear more. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matthew Adler is a Features, News, Previews, Reviews, and Wikis writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @MatthewAdler and watch him stream on Twitch.

Xbox-Exclusive CrossfireX Delayed to 2021

The upcoming Xbox exclusive first-person shooter CrossfireX has been delayed to 2021. It was originally slated to launch sometime in 2020. Unsurprisingly, the delay is attributed to the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic as the development team at Smilegate have faced challenges developing remotely, according to a recent tweet. It’s unclear if the delay is specifically due to the multiplayer side of the game facing issues, as the single-player side of the game is being developed by Remedy Entertainment (creators of Control and the Alan Wake franchise). Earlier this year, we had a chance to get hands-on with both the single-player portion of the game as well as the separate free-to-play multiplayer mode. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=crossfirex-multiplayer-screenshots&captions=true"] CrossfireX is the sequel to the 2007 multiplayer shooter Crossfire which is extremely popular in China and South Korea boasting over 1 billion registered players, making it the most-popular game worldwide by player count. Smilegate eventually brought Crossfire to the West in 2009, although it didn’t have as big of an impact as it did in Eastern markets. There’s currently no firm release date or window besides 2021, but we’ll be sure to update you as soon as we hear more. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matthew Adler is a Features, News, Previews, Reviews, and Wikis writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @MatthewAdler and watch him stream on Twitch.

Pink Panther Reboot in the Works With Sonic the Hedgehog Director

MGM is looking to reboot the Pink Panther franchise once more. The Hollywood Reporter writes the studio is tapping Sonic the Hedgehog director Jeff Fowler and Bad Boys for Life co-writer Chris Bremner to reinvent the property. With any new Pink Panther project, the obvious question is usually "Which version?". Is the movie about the hilariously inept Inspector Clouseau and his search for the titular missing gem, or is it about the literal pink-colored panther who's appeared in the franchise's various cartoon spinoffs? In this case, MGM's answer seems to be "Why not both?" [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=every-delayed-movie-due-to-coronavirus-so-far&captions=true"] According to THR, the reboot will revolve around a detective character (whether Clouseau or a new creation is unclear) who undergoes a traumatic event and begins hallucinating a cartoonish pink panther sidekick. From the sound of things, the reboot might be the closest we ever get to a Calvin and Hobbes movie. Pink Panther will be produced through Dan Lin and Jonathan Eirich's production company Rideback. Walter Mirisch, who executive produced the original 1963 film, will also executive produce the reboot alongside Rideback's Ryan Halprin. Mirisch's son Lawrence will produce the film alongside none other than cinematic legend Julie Andrews (who, as THR notes, was married to original Pink Panther director/co-writer Blake Edwards). The original Pink Panther film series spanned 10 films between 1963 and 1993, many of which star the late Peter Sellers as Inspector Jacques Clouseau. The series was rebooted in 2006's The Pink Panther, with Steve Martin taking over the Clouseau role. Martin returned in 2009's The Pink Panther 2. The cartoon Pink Panther character has also appeared in more than a hundred theatrical shorts and several animated series. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/02/13/sonic-the-hedgehog-review"] Fowler is also set to direct the recently greenlit Sonic the Hedgehog 2, though neither that sequel nor the Pink Panther reboot currently have a release window. Sonic proved to be one of the few box office success of 2020, a year marked mostly by major delays and studios pivoting to SVOD releases. Are you excited at the prospect of a new Pink Panther movie? Let us know in the comments below. [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.

Snyder Cut: Joe Manganiello Reveals Deathstroke’s New Look

Apparently Steppenwolf and Joker aren't the only DCEU villains getting a makeover in the Snyder Cut of Justice League. Actor Joe Manganiello tweeted out a black and white image of his Deathstroke, revealing a very different hairstyle for the one-eyed assassin. Manganiello posted the new image on Twitter as part of a fundraising drive for The Autumn Snyder Tribute Fund. Check out Slade Wilson's new look below: EnM8rBgVQAA_xid As you can see, Slade is rocking a mohawk in this version of Justice League. His hair also appears to be a more comic-accurate shade of white, as opposed to the graying look seen in the theatrical version of Justice League. If you need a refresher, here's how Manganiello appeared in his brief Justice League cameo: deathstroke-JL-Joe-Manganiello As best as we can tell from the new image, Deathstoke's costume looks to be the same as before, drawing inspiration mostly from Slade's iconic look in the 2013 video game Batman: Arkham Origins. Back in October we learned Manganiello is participating in reshoots for the Snyder Cut of Justice League. These reshoots are also adding Jared Leto's Joker to the mix, and Snyder recently teased the Clown Prince of Crime is also getting an updated and more "road-weary" look. It doesn't appears as though either character will play a heavy role in the Snyder Cut, however, as the director revealed the reshoots will only add "about four minutes or five minutes of additional photography for the entire movie." In total, Snyder teases his version of Justice League will feature about 150 minutes of footage not seen in the theatrical version. The Snyder Cut will be released as a four-part limited series exclusively on HBO Max in 2021. Prior to that, Wonder Woman 1984 will arrive on HBO Max on December 25, 2020, the same day it opens in domestic theaters. What do you think of Slade Wilson's new look? Let us know in the comments below. [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.

Cyberpunk 2077 Night City Wire: Johnny Silverhand, Music, and Animation Details Revealed

The fifth episode of Night City Wire, the official livestream for Cyberpunk 2077, has revealed new details on Keanu Reeves’ Johnny Silverhand character, as well as provided behind-the-scenes looks at how the game’s 90’s-inspired soundtrack was created, and how the hundreds of characters are animated.

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Johnny Silverhand is a key character from the tabletop Cyberpunk game, and CD Projekt Red considers him a “co-protagonist” of the video game. Played by Keanu Reeves, he is both a rockstar and ex-military, has his own specific agenda in the game, and players will find that many quests are to further his ambitions rather than their own.

CDPR considered many approaches for bringing Silverhand to life before it cast Keanu Reeves in the role, including rock band frontmen. Interestingly, it even considered bringing a rock star back from the dead in animated form for the role, although the stream stopped short of revealing exactly who that star was.

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Keanu Reeves is not the only famous voice in the game; Cyberpunk 2077’s soundtrack has numerous real bands on it, making up some of its 150 custom tracks. Featured artists include Run The Jewels, Grimes, Nina Kraviz, Gazelle Twin, and Rat Boy. CDPR wanted to bring some 90s influences to the soundtrack since the cyberpunk genre has traditionally been so heavily 80s influenced. You’ll be able to get a taste for the soundtrack by listening to a new six-track EP that has just been released on streaming services.

Talking of music, if you’re a streamer then Cyberpunk 2077 features a mode that disables any copyrighted music tracks so you won’t get DMCA’d. This can be toggled on or off in the menu on all versions, but the console versions can auto-detect when you’re streaming and automatically activate the mode. The copyrighted tracks will be replaced with something suitable for streaming.

This episode of Night City Wire also provided a quick insight into the procedural animation system behind the facial performances. Due to the hundreds of NPCs and the 10 languages Cyberpunk 2077 will be available in, facial animations are handled by a software called JALI rather than facial capture. The results seem rather impressive.

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Finally, the standard edition of Cyberpunk 2077 will come with some digital bonuses: an art book, the official score, and a comic. There are also in-game items that can be redeemed by linking your game to your GOG account, including the Wolf School jacket that features the wolf head insignia from The Witcher.

For more, you can read our latest Cyberpunk 2077 preview right now, which provides brand new insights from 16 hours with the game.

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Matt Purslow is IGN's UK News and Entertainment Writer. 

Nintendo Says Game Piracy Is a ‘Worsening Problem’

Nintendo says game piracy is a "serious, worsening international problem" in its latest lawsuit against a Nintendo Switch hack seller. Nintendo of America has filed a lawsuit against Amazon seller, Le Hoang Minh, for circumventing Nintendo's copyright protections by selling an RCM Loader that essentially hacks into the Nintendo Switch to jailbreak it, as reported by Polygon. This gives users the ability to easily pirate games. This lawsuit, which was filed Wednesday, is just the latest in a line of many from the company against hack sellers. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2018/07/23/nintendo-issues-lawsuits-to-multiple-emulator-sites"] "Plaintiff Nintendo of America Inc. brings this action against Defendant Le Hoang Minh, d/b/a Winmart for circumvention of a technological protection measure that controls access to a copyrighted work and trafficking in devices intended to circumvent technological protection measures," a court document reads. Nintendo calls video game piracy a "serious, worsening international problem" in the court filings and details how RCM Loaders bypass its security systems on the Switch. The company is asking for courts to stop Minh from selling the RCM Loaders and for $2500 in damages for each infringement. Nintendo sent a DMCA notice to Minh, but they filed a counterclaim and because of that, Amazon was required to re-list Minh's RCM Loader until Nintendo filed an infringement lawsuit, which the company then did. It's presumed that Minh is selling RCM Loaders that use Team Xecuter software to bypass Nintendo's security as the software associated with the RCM Loaders in question is SX OS, which is a Team Xecuter software. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2018/09/27/nintendo-wins-lawsuit-against-fake-mario-go-kart-company"] Team Xecuter members, Gary Bowser and Max Louarn, were arrested this year and charged with 11 felony counts in relation to trafficking in illegal hardware and software like SX OS, according to The Verge. The specific listing from Minh that Nintendo is suing over is no longer present on Amazon, but RCM Loaders still appear on the site. This lawsuit is yet another in Nintendo's long line of lawsuits fighting against illegal uses of its software and hardware. It issued lawsuits to multiple emulator sites in 2018 and won $12 million from them later that year. It recently sued a TikTok influencer for infringing upon Nintendo copyright for attempting to trademark her Pokemon-inspired username and for using Pokemon in her merch. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Wesley LeBlanc is a freelance news writer and guide maker for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @LeBlancWes