Take-Two Interactive, is currently in talks to acquire Codemasters, the developers behind the Dirt, F1, and Project Cars racing franchises. If the deal goes through, Take-Two will add Codemasters to its roster of developers which includes Rockstar, 2K, Private Division, and more.

In a press release, Take-Two announced their intentions to acquire the entire share capital of Codemasters. According to the press release, the Board of Codemasters intends to recommend to shareholders to accept Take-Two’s offer.

“Take-Two believes that the combination of Take-Two and Codemasters would bring together two world-class interactive entertainment portfolios, with a highly complementary fit between Take-Two's 2K publishing label and Codemasters in the racing genre,” Take-Two stated.

“In addition, Take-Two believes that it can bring benefits to Codemasters' performance by leveraging Take-Two's global distribution network and 2K’s core operating expertise in publishing, including live operations, analytics, product development, and brand and performance marketing.”

[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/10/30/dirt-5-official-launch-trailer"]

Take-Two currently owns several major properties such as Rockstar’s Grand Theft Auto and Red Dead Redemption. They also own 2K, makers of the popular NBA 2K, PGA Tour, and Mafia franchises among others. Take-Two has also made ventures into smaller (or at least less massive) labels like Private Division, which published Obsidian’s The Outer Worlds and the Kerbal Space Program franchise.

Projects currently in development at Take-Two's various outfits include GTA 5 for PS5 and Xbox Series X, as well as a new BioShock game developed by the newly formed Cloud Chamber.

[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/11/06/8-things-to-know-about-dirt-5"]

The deal is still tentative, pending due diligence checking.

Codemasters also recently published the Fast & the Furious Crossroads game.

[poilib element="accentDivider"] Joseph Knoop is a writer/producer for IGN. Rally with him on Twitter.

Take-Two Interactive, is currently in talks to acquire Codemasters, the developers behind the Dirt, F1, and Project Cars racing franchises. If the deal goes through, Take-Two will add Codemasters to its roster of developers which includes Rockstar, 2K, Private Division, and more.

In a press release, Take-Two announced their intentions to acquire the entire share capital of Codemasters. According to the press release, the Board of Codemasters intends to recommend to shareholders to accept Take-Two’s offer.

“Take-Two believes that the combination of Take-Two and Codemasters would bring together two world-class interactive entertainment portfolios, with a highly complementary fit between Take-Two's 2K publishing label and Codemasters in the racing genre,” Take-Two stated.

“In addition, Take-Two believes that it can bring benefits to Codemasters' performance by leveraging Take-Two's global distribution network and 2K’s core operating expertise in publishing, including live operations, analytics, product development, and brand and performance marketing.”

[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/10/30/dirt-5-official-launch-trailer"]

Take-Two currently owns several major properties such as Rockstar’s Grand Theft Auto and Red Dead Redemption. They also own 2K, makers of the popular NBA 2K, PGA Tour, and Mafia franchises among others. Take-Two has also made ventures into smaller (or at least less massive) labels like Private Division, which published Obsidian’s The Outer Worlds and the Kerbal Space Program franchise.

Projects currently in development at Take-Two's various outfits include GTA 5 for PS5 and Xbox Series X, as well as a new BioShock game developed by the newly formed Cloud Chamber.

[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/11/06/8-things-to-know-about-dirt-5"]

The deal is still tentative, pending due diligence checking.

Codemasters also recently published the Fast & the Furious Crossroads game.

[poilib element="accentDivider"] Joseph Knoop is a writer/producer for IGN. Rally with him on Twitter.

Insomniac Games has detailed some of the major accessibility features coming to Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales. The news arrives in the form of a detailed Twitter thread, in which Insomniac ran through a number of important accessibility options including the ability to auto-complete QTEs, change button taps to button holds and remap controls. Players will also be able to enable assist features for the game's chase sequences and increase the auto-aim and dodge window in combat.

Accessibility is something that is very important to Insomniac Games, @PlayStation & @MarvelGames. Below is a list of some of the major accessibility features you can expect to see come November 12th in #MilesMoralesPS5 & #MilesMoralesPS4. pic.twitter.com/O94sAGG1Le

— Insomniac Games (@insomniacgames) November 6, 2020

The game's cameras can also be inverted, and set to follow Miles as he swings through New York. There are plenty of subtitle options too, allowing you to adjust the size, colour and background of the text. You can also turn on an option to narrate subtitled American Sign Language. With contrast and visibility options to boot, it's a considerable package of accessibility options for the game, which should allow more users to play the game when it drops next week. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/11/06/the-first-22-minutes-of-spider-man-miles-morales-on-ps5"] Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales launches on November 12 for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5. You can check out our review of the game here - we scored it a 9, calling it a "fantastic follow-up" to 2018's Marvel's Spider-Man. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Jordan Oloman is a freelance writer for IGN. Follow him on Twitter.

Insomniac Games has detailed some of the major accessibility features coming to Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales. The news arrives in the form of a detailed Twitter thread, in which Insomniac ran through a number of important accessibility options including the ability to auto-complete QTEs, change button taps to button holds and remap controls. Players will also be able to enable assist features for the game's chase sequences and increase the auto-aim and dodge window in combat.

Accessibility is something that is very important to Insomniac Games, @PlayStation & @MarvelGames. Below is a list of some of the major accessibility features you can expect to see come November 12th in #MilesMoralesPS5 & #MilesMoralesPS4. pic.twitter.com/O94sAGG1Le

— Insomniac Games (@insomniacgames) November 6, 2020

The game's cameras can also be inverted, and set to follow Miles as he swings through New York. There are plenty of subtitle options too, allowing you to adjust the size, colour and background of the text. You can also turn on an option to narrate subtitled American Sign Language. With contrast and visibility options to boot, it's a considerable package of accessibility options for the game, which should allow more users to play the game when it drops next week. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/11/06/the-first-22-minutes-of-spider-man-miles-morales-on-ps5"] Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales launches on November 12 for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5. You can check out our review of the game here - we scored it a 9, calling it a "fantastic follow-up" to 2018's Marvel's Spider-Man. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Jordan Oloman is a freelance writer for IGN. Follow him on Twitter.

The Medium has been delayed to January 28, 2021, due to COVID-19 and, most likely, Cyberpunk 2077's new release date. The game was originally due to be released on Xbox Series X, S and PC on December 10. Announced on Twitter, the delay is down to COVID-19 related production issues and "the current schedule of other titles on the market". That presumably means Cyberpunk 2077, which was itself delayed to December 10. It's not the first game to push back release due to CD Projekt Red's RPG - we've seen Everspace 2 and the Path of Exile end-game expansion shift dates explicitly because of Cyberpunk before this.

We have important message to share with you#TheMedium #Blooberteam #XboxSeriesX #XboxSeriesS #PCgame #STEAMgame pic.twitter.com/XbpQUOyJj3

— The Medium Game (@TheMediumGame) November 6, 2020

It's a blow for Xbox Series, for which The Medium was one of its leading launch window titles - although it may well sell a little better when outside of Cyberpunk's considerable shadow. The statement from developer Bloober Team explains, "It wasn't an easy choice to make, but one made due to the COVID-19 situation in Poland, as well as the current schedule of other games on the market. Bloober Team remains committed to delivering our biggest, most ambitious, fear-inducing experience to date. The additional development time will allow us to add further polish, ensuring we deliver our innovative, genre-pushing vision of interactive psychological horror." [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/the-medium-voice-actor-troy-baker-talks-up-this-moody-mystery-game"] [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 Medium has been delayed to January 28, 2021, due to COVID-19 and, most likely, Cyberpunk 2077's new release date. The game was originally due to be released on Xbox Series X, S and PC on December 10. Announced on Twitter, the delay is down to COVID-19 related production issues and "the current schedule of other titles on the market". That presumably means Cyberpunk 2077, which was itself delayed to December 10. It's not the first game to push back release due to CD Projekt Red's RPG - we've seen Everspace 2 and the Path of Exile end-game expansion shift dates explicitly because of Cyberpunk before this.

We have important message to share with you#TheMedium #Blooberteam #XboxSeriesX #XboxSeriesS #PCgame #STEAMgame pic.twitter.com/XbpQUOyJj3

— The Medium Game (@TheMediumGame) November 6, 2020

It's a blow for Xbox Series, for which The Medium was one of its leading launch window titles - although it may well sell a little better when outside of Cyberpunk's considerable shadow. The statement from developer Bloober Team explains, "It wasn't an easy choice to make, but one made due to the COVID-19 situation in Poland, as well as the current schedule of other games on the market. Bloober Team remains committed to delivering our biggest, most ambitious, fear-inducing experience to date. The additional development time will allow us to add further polish, ensuring we deliver our innovative, genre-pushing vision of interactive psychological horror." [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/the-medium-voice-actor-troy-baker-talks-up-this-moody-mystery-game"] [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.  

Details on Johnny Depp's departure from Fantastic Beasts 3 are emerging days after the actor broke the news on his Instagram account. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Johnny Depp filmed just one scene for Fantastic Beasts 3 before Warner Bros. asked him to resign. But due to his contract -- which is a "pay or play" deal -- Depp will still make his full eight-figure salary on the movie despite his single scene's worth of work. As THR explains, a "pay or play" contract "requires that he be fully compensated whether or not the film is made and even if it is recast. As is common with stars of his level, there was no morality clause in his contract, even though it was amended with each new installment. Technically, Depp was not fired by Warner Bros. but asked to resign. It is unclear what recourse it would have had if the star refused." Our original report from November 6 follows. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=actors-who-were-replaced-during-production&captions=true"] [poilib element="accentDivider"] Johnny Depp, who has played Grindelwald in the first two Fantastic Beasts films has officially resigned from his role for any future installments, following ongoing abuse allegations between he and actress Amber Heard and a recent libel case Depp had against The Sun newspaper. Warner Bros. has announced the role of Grindelwald will be recast. The announcement came from Depp himself in a personal letter on Instagram, where he said, "I have been asked to resign by Warner Bros. from my role as Grindelwald in Fantastic Beasts and I have respected and agreed to that request." The entire post can be read below: As reported by CNN, Judge Andrew Nicol who ruled against Depp's libel case, said the newspaper's claims had been shown to be "substantially true." Warner Bros. released a statement shortly after Depp's public announcement saying: "Johnny Depp will depart the Fantastic Beasts franchise. We thank Johnny for his work on the films to date. Fantastic Beasts 3 is currently in production, and the role of Gellert Grindelwald will be recast. The film will debut in theaters worldwide in the summer of 2022." The statement confirms that Fantastic Beasts 3 has been delayed from November 12, 2021 and is now set to release in summer 2022. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2017/11/28/fantastic-beasts-2-director-yates-defends-keeping-johnny-depp-as-grindelwald"] The emotional and physical abuse allegations from Heard surfaced in 2017, in which, director David Yates and creator of Fantastic Beasts, J.K. Rowling, defended Depp. Rowling voiced her support for keeping Depp in the role for the second installment of the franchise, Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald, in a blog post on her website where she said, "Around the time of filming his cameo in the first movie, stories had appeared in the press that deeply concerned me and everyone most closely involved in the franchise." She continued, "Based on our understanding of the circumstances, the filmmakers and I are not only comfortable sticking with our original casting, but genuinely happy to have Johnny playing a major character in the movies." Rowling herself and the Harry Potter franchise as a whole has seen significant backlash for months in response to Rowling's consistent transphobic remarks on social media. The controversy grows with Rowling as actors from the franchises including Emma Watson, Daniel Radcliffe, and Eddie Redmayne, among others have condemned her remarks on gender identity and trans women. Warner Bros. has been further drawn into the discussion in relation to the recently announced Hogwarts Legacy game, for their lack of transparency on whether or not Rowling will receive royalties, as they confirmed the author is, "not directly involved" with the creation of the game itself, but have not been clear on the former. W.B. Interactive president David Haddad said last month on the topic, "I might not agree with her stance on a range of topics, but I can agree that she has the right to hold her opinions." Boycott discussions of the game have circulated heavily on social media, along with those having concern for the developers. [poilib element="accentDivider"]

Details on Johnny Depp's departure from Fantastic Beasts 3 are emerging days after the actor broke the news on his Instagram account. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Johnny Depp filmed just one scene for Fantastic Beasts 3 before Warner Bros. asked him to resign. But due to his contract -- which is a "pay or play" deal -- Depp will still make his full eight-figure salary on the movie despite his single scene's worth of work. As THR explains, a "pay or play" contract "requires that he be fully compensated whether or not the film is made and even if it is recast. As is common with stars of his level, there was no morality clause in his contract, even though it was amended with each new installment. Technically, Depp was not fired by Warner Bros. but asked to resign. It is unclear what recourse it would have had if the star refused." Our original report from November 6 follows. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=actors-who-were-replaced-during-production&captions=true"] [poilib element="accentDivider"] Johnny Depp, who has played Grindelwald in the first two Fantastic Beasts films has officially resigned from his role for any future installments, following ongoing abuse allegations between he and actress Amber Heard and a recent libel case Depp had against The Sun newspaper. Warner Bros. has announced the role of Grindelwald will be recast. The announcement came from Depp himself in a personal letter on Instagram, where he said, "I have been asked to resign by Warner Bros. from my role as Grindelwald in Fantastic Beasts and I have respected and agreed to that request." The entire post can be read below: As reported by CNN, Judge Andrew Nicol who ruled against Depp's libel case, said the newspaper's claims had been shown to be "substantially true." Warner Bros. released a statement shortly after Depp's public announcement saying: "Johnny Depp will depart the Fantastic Beasts franchise. We thank Johnny for his work on the films to date. Fantastic Beasts 3 is currently in production, and the role of Gellert Grindelwald will be recast. The film will debut in theaters worldwide in the summer of 2022." The statement confirms that Fantastic Beasts 3 has been delayed from November 12, 2021 and is now set to release in summer 2022. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2017/11/28/fantastic-beasts-2-director-yates-defends-keeping-johnny-depp-as-grindelwald"] The emotional and physical abuse allegations from Heard surfaced in 2017, in which, director David Yates and creator of Fantastic Beasts, J.K. Rowling, defended Depp. Rowling voiced her support for keeping Depp in the role for the second installment of the franchise, Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald, in a blog post on her website where she said, "Around the time of filming his cameo in the first movie, stories had appeared in the press that deeply concerned me and everyone most closely involved in the franchise." She continued, "Based on our understanding of the circumstances, the filmmakers and I are not only comfortable sticking with our original casting, but genuinely happy to have Johnny playing a major character in the movies." Rowling herself and the Harry Potter franchise as a whole has seen significant backlash for months in response to Rowling's consistent transphobic remarks on social media. The controversy grows with Rowling as actors from the franchises including Emma Watson, Daniel Radcliffe, and Eddie Redmayne, among others have condemned her remarks on gender identity and trans women. Warner Bros. has been further drawn into the discussion in relation to the recently announced Hogwarts Legacy game, for their lack of transparency on whether or not Rowling will receive royalties, as they confirmed the author is, "not directly involved" with the creation of the game itself, but have not been clear on the former. W.B. Interactive president David Haddad said last month on the topic, "I might not agree with her stance on a range of topics, but I can agree that she has the right to hold her opinions." Boycott discussions of the game have circulated heavily on social media, along with those having concern for the developers. [poilib element="accentDivider"]

Rockstar has announced that Grand Theft Auto 5 and Red Dead Redemption 2, as well as numerous other older games from the developer, will be backwards compatible on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S consoles. The PS4 and Xbox One versions of GTA 5 and RDR 2 will be playable on the new next-gen consoles. Progress can be carried across, either through the use of cloud saves or manual transfer via USB storage or LAN/wi-fi transfer, for campaign save games. Progress in the Online components of GTA and RDR will be carried across via your Rockstar Social Club profile, provided you sign in with the same PSN/Xbox Live account you used previously. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/06/11/grand-theft-auto-5-enhanced-edition-trailer-ps5-reveal-event"] In addition to GTA 5 and RDR 2, the most recent version of L.A. Noire (as well as the VR Case Files on PS4) will also be backwards compatible on next-gen. Also detailed by Rockstar are the developer’s other games that will be available through backwards compatibility. On Xbox, these 360 and original Xbox games will be playable: Bully: Scholarship Edition, GTA 4, GTA: Episodes from Liberty City, GTA: San Andreas, Midnight Club: Los Angeles, Red Dead Redemption, Rockstar Games Presents Table Tennis. As for PS5, these games available from the PS Store will carry over to PS5: Bully, GTA 3, GTA: San Andreas, GTA: Vice City, Manhunt, Max Payne, Red Dead Revolver, The Warriors. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2018/11/27/the-first-17-minutes-of-red-dead-online-gameplay"] Rockstar has yet to announce any form of free next-gen update for these games, and so while they will likely be enhanced due to the power of the next-gen consoles, none of these games will be optimized or upgraded for PS5 or Xbox Series X right now. We do know that there will be GTA 5: Enhanced Edition for next-gen, although it's unclear if this is a paid-for re-release or a free update. There will be a standalone version of GTA Online released for PS5 in 2021, though. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt Purslow is IGN's UK News and Entertainment Writer.

Rockstar has announced that Grand Theft Auto 5 and Red Dead Redemption 2, as well as numerous other older games from the developer, will be backwards compatible on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S consoles. The PS4 and Xbox One versions of GTA 5 and RDR 2 will be playable on the new next-gen consoles. Progress can be carried across, either through the use of cloud saves or manual transfer via USB storage or LAN/wi-fi transfer, for campaign save games. Progress in the Online components of GTA and RDR will be carried across via your Rockstar Social Club profile, provided you sign in with the same PSN/Xbox Live account you used previously. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/06/11/grand-theft-auto-5-enhanced-edition-trailer-ps5-reveal-event"] In addition to GTA 5 and RDR 2, the most recent version of L.A. Noire (as well as the VR Case Files on PS4) will also be backwards compatible on next-gen. Also detailed by Rockstar are the developer’s other games that will be available through backwards compatibility. On Xbox, these 360 and original Xbox games will be playable: Bully: Scholarship Edition, GTA 4, GTA: Episodes from Liberty City, GTA: San Andreas, Midnight Club: Los Angeles, Red Dead Redemption, Rockstar Games Presents Table Tennis. As for PS5, these games available from the PS Store will carry over to PS5: Bully, GTA 3, GTA: San Andreas, GTA: Vice City, Manhunt, Max Payne, Red Dead Revolver, The Warriors. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2018/11/27/the-first-17-minutes-of-red-dead-online-gameplay"] Rockstar has yet to announce any form of free next-gen update for these games, and so while they will likely be enhanced due to the power of the next-gen consoles, none of these games will be optimized or upgraded for PS5 or Xbox Series X right now. We do know that there will be GTA 5: Enhanced Edition for next-gen, although it's unclear if this is a paid-for re-release or a free update. There will be a standalone version of GTA Online released for PS5 in 2021, though. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt Purslow is IGN's UK News and Entertainment Writer.