Sony has confirmed that PS5 launch-day sales will be online-only this year, meaning there will be no physical units available for purchase in-stores on its launch day of November 12, 2020. Revealed on PlayStation.Blog, Sony has made this decision "in the interest of keeping our gamers, retailers, and staff safe amidst COVID-19," and confirmed that "all day-of launch sales will be conducted through the online stores of our retail partners." [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/10/27/astros-playroom-ps5-preview-dualsense-is-a-fun-evolution"] This means that no PS5 units will be available in-store for purchase on launch day, so Sony asks that people "please don’t plan on camping out or lining up at your local retailer on launch day in hopes of finding a PS5 console for purchase." Those who have already pre-ordered a PS5 will be able to pick-up their new console, but those who have yet to secure a pre-order will unfortunately be out of luck on launch day if they were hoping to find one in-stores. For those who are able to pick up a PS5 on launch day thanks to a pre-order, and for those who secure one in the days after, there are a ton of great games to look forward to, including Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales, Demon's Souls, Sackboy: A Big Adventure, Assassin's Creed Valhalla, and much more. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=confirmed-playstation-5-games&captions=true"] For more on PlayStation 5, check out our PS5 unboxing video and our hands-on impressions of the DualSense and Astro's Playroom. [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.

Xbox Series S' 512GB SSD allows for 364GB of usable space for storage of games, apps, captures, and more. IGN can confirm that 148GB is reserved for the console's operating system and essential system files. While not unexpected, it does lead to questions about exactly how many games players will be able to store on their new console, especially with file sizes ballooning in recent years. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=confirmed-xbox-series-x-games&captions=true"] We found out earlier this year that the Xbox Series X uses 198GB of its 1TB drive for the same files. On Xbox Series X, that's 19.8% of storage space used before players can touch it, while Series S sees just under 29% of storage space reserved. Hopes will be pinned on Microsoft's promises that Xbox Velocity Architecture will reduce game sizes, and that Xbox Series S games will also apparently come in around 30% smaller than on Xbox Series X, but it feels likely that, like last generation, game sizes will grow over time, which could cause problems for Series S users over time. An (expensive) solution will be the official Seagate 1TB expansion drive, which adds 920GB of usable space to the Series X and S. USB 3.1 external hard drives can also be used to store games, but stored games won't receive the benefits of Xbox Velocity Architecture, which improves load times and performance. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/xbox-series-xs-official-next-gen-walkthrough"] We've reviewed both new Xbox consoles today. We awarded Xbox Series X an 8/10 review, calling it "a quiet, compact, laser-targeted games machine that should make 4K/60fps gaming the wonderful new norm, but it currently lacks must-play games." Series S got a 7/10 review, saying it "could shine as a second console, but it's hard to recommend as your primary gaming platform due to its 1440p resolution and claustrophobic storage capacity." The Xbox Series X and S are coming on November 10. Xbox Series X retails at $499 USD / £449 / $749 AUD, while Xbox Series S comes in at $299 USD / £249.99 / $499 AUD. Xbox Series X and S are currently sold out ahead of launch but, with more units promised, keep an eye on our Xbox Series preorders page - and if you want to know everything about the consoles before you nab one, we have our Xbox Series X and S guide. You can check out the tech specs, features, and comparisons for Xbox Series S, which swaps power for size and price, on our wiki. [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.    

Star Wars: Squadrons developer EA Motive has confirmed that, while it is working on "something pretty special," it is not a new Star Wars project EA Motive took to Twitter to put a stop to some speculation that its next game would in-fact take place, much like Star Wars: Squadrons, in that galaxy far, far away. "Due to human error (hey, it happens!) we've seen a lot of speculation," EA Motive wrote. "While we're not working on a new Star Wars project, we are working on something pretty special. Follow us here or check back for more info on what we're up to!" [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/10/01/star-wars-squadrons-single-player-review"] IGN recently spoke to EA Motive, and general manager Patrick Klaus confirmed that there are several projects in the works at the studio, but gave no specific details as to what they might be. When asked if it would be original IP or based on franchises like Star Wars, Klaus did say the new projects were a bit of both, but didn't commit to saying Star Wars was going to be a focus again. Star Wars: Squadrons was released last month and, in our single player review, we said it "tells an entertaining story, while its flight controls hit a sweet spot between accessibility and nuance – and it’s made even better by VR and HOTAS support." [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=every-playable-star-wars-squadrons-ship&captions=true"] In our Star Wars: Squadrons multiplayer review, we said "The thrill of Star Wars: Squadrons’ 5v5 dogfights is a treat, so it’s a shame there isn’t more here to sustain it in terms of modes, maps, or progression." Unlike many games these days, EA Motive has no plans for any substantial additional content for Star Wars: Squadrons. While it recently released some The Mandalorian-themed DLC, it would seemingly appear that we won't be seeing any expansions or the sort, although never say never. For more on Star Wars: Squadrons, check out our best tips and tricks to become an ace starship pilot, our favorite loadouts, and how Star Wars: Squadrons captures the spirit of classic Star Wars flight games. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/10/09/how-star-wars-squadrons-captures-the-spirit-of-classic-star-wars-flight-games"] [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.

The character creator and photo mode have been revealed for PS5 launch title Demon's Souls, and it will allow players to customize their appearance with up to 16 million permutations. As revealed on PlayStation.Blog, the team behind Demon's Souls has added many more options to create your character than were featured in the PS3 original and is ensuring that there is "satisfying variety possible for those who wish to tinker with every slider." [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=demons-souls-ps5-character-creator-screenshots&captions=true"] Considering that Demon's Souls also has both seamlessly integrated synchronous and asynchronous multiplayer elements, it was important for the team to give players the power to craft the avatar they wished to show off. With the total number of synchronous online players in an instance being increased to six, this was even more of a priority so players could truly stand out. With all these options to customize your character, it would be a shame to not be able to show it off, and Sony and Bluepoint Games have added a photo mode to Demon's Souls on PS5 to help do just that. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=demons-souls-ps5-photo-mode-screenshots&captions=true"] Players will be able to hide and show weapons and helmets, remove their character from a scene for a striking landscape shot, strike a pose or change expressions for the "ultimate selfie," and change camera settings like zoom, film grain, and even blur out their friends. Outside of Photo Mode, players will be able to utilize the filters to change how the game looks, including "one designed to tune brightness, contrast and color levels to closely resemble those of the original PS3 game, for those who may prefer that classic look." Demon's Souls will be released alongside the PlayStation 5 on November 12, 2020, and brings the 2009 PS3 title forward to a new generation. For more, check out how Bluepoint is remaking this classic and read about the over 180 Guide Videos located in the PS5's UI that may help players survive this brutal world. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/10/29/demons-souls-ps5-gameplay-trailer"] [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.

The PS5 apparently won't support a native 1440p resolution, according to IGN Italy, which says it received official confirmation from Sony Europe on Wednesday. This is bad news for PlayStation fans with 1440p gaming monitors, as it means the PS5 will not play ball with the intended resolution for the set, likely upscaling from 1080p to compensate. We've contacted Sony for comment. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/10/27/ps5-console-unboxing"] The PlayStation 5 can output a maximum of 8K resolution, and 4K at 120 FPS via HDMI 2.1-compliant TVs. It'll be fine at 1080p resolution too, but the in-between resolution used by many PC gamers seemingly won't be supported by the new console at launch. Earlier in the week we learned that PS4 exclusive Days Gone will run at up to 60 FPS on PS5 with Dynamic 4K. The DualSense controller will also seemingly feature a removable faceplate that could be swapped out with custom designs. The PS5 launches on November 12 & November 19 worldwide. Preorders for the PlayStation 5 are currently sold out, but if more go up they'll be in our PS5 preorder guide right away. For everything you need to know about PlayStation 5, check out our PS5 guide. Here's a guide to all the best PlayStation holiday gifts for 2020. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Jordan Oloman is a freelance writer for IGN. Follow him on Twitter.

A T-shirt worn by a Bethesda employee seemingly confirms a series of Starfield leaks that made their way onto the internet this year. As spotted by user Rynderend on Reddit, Bethesda Game Studios managing director Ashley Cheng was seen sporting a Starfield development team shirt in a Develop: Brighton award ceremony live stream, during which Bethesda boss Todd Howard accepted the Develop Star Award. [caption id="attachment_2434265" align="alignnone" width="1436"] Bethesda's Ashley Cheng, with patch design enhanced.[/caption] A patch-like design on Cheng's shoulder depicts a planet's surface and the stars above – and has been seen in Starfield leaks over the past few months. It can be seen most clearly on the astronaut's suit in September's Imgur dump of images purporting to be from an early build of the game. Many were sceptical about the legitimacy of the leaks at first, but this connection draws a clear link to Bethesda's upcoming title. When these leaks circulated it was suggested by the leaker that the game was targeting a 2021 launch, and a final image leaked on Twitter showing a moonbase settlement. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2018/06/11/starfield-teaser-trailer-e3-2018"] All of the leaks seen so far show astronauts standing outside of space stations of varying materials and architecture. The player character appears to have a health and stamina bar and a firearm, and there's some kind of survival mechanics node in the bottom left of the UI, with a CO2 and O2 meter, as well as a potential gravity indicator. It may be that you can build these settlements while managing your various needs in space to survive in Starfield. Bethesda revealed Starfield way back in 2018 and we've learned precious little about the game since. Earlier this year we found out that Starfield had received a "major engine rewrite" for next-gen consoles, which Todd Howard recently said was the largest update ever made to Bethesda's Creation Engine. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Jordan Oloman is a freelance writer for IGN. Follow him on Twitter.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons continues to see huge sales and, with 26.04 million copies sold, could well topple Mario Kart 8 Deluxe as the Nintendo Switch's best-selling game before too long. In Nintendo's latest financial results, the company announced that New Horizons had sold over 14 million copies in the first half of the Japanese financial year, keeping it above the likes of Super Mario Odyssey, Pokemon Sword & Shield, Zelda: Breath of the Wild, and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate in the software best-sellers chart. It's a total sales figure only beaten by Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, which sold over 4 million copies in the same period, putting it at 28.99 million copies. In August, there was over 4 million copies' difference between the two games – with only 3 million copies now separating the top two, it seems Animal Crossing is continuing to outpace the leader. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/03/16/animal-crossing-new-horizons-review"] With the holiday season approaching (a traditionally strong period for hardware, systems' best-selling games, and bundles), it may be that Animal Crossing overtakes the racing game sooner rather than later. It's not a sure thing, of course – many first-time Switch buyers will pick up Mario Kart, meaning it could receive a boost that keeps it ahead of Animal Crossing. What is for sure is that New Horizons is comfortably the most successful Animal Crossing game of all time – Animal Crossing: New Leaf managed 12.82 million sales on 3DS, Wild World sold 11.75 million on DS, and City Folk sold 3.38 million on Wii. In no small part due to New Horizons, Switch software sales for the same period rose 71% year-on-year, and Switch hardware sales grew by 80.9% year-on-year. [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.

DJI introduced the original Mavic Mini as its smallest drone yet and while it was light enough to fly under the FAA’s radar, it felt a little lacking without 4K video. Well now DJI has announced the  Mini 2, a lightweight drone that’s just as small and featherweight, but with the added ability to shoot 4K video and RAW images. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=dji-mini-2&captions=true"] Equipped with a higher resolution 1/2.3-inch sensor, the DJI  Mini 2 is capable of recording 4K footage at 30 fps and 12MP photos in RAW format. This is a big improvement over the original Mavic Mini that was only able to shoot videos at up to a 2.7K resolution at 30 fps and only JPG photos. [widget path="global/page/imagecomparison" parameters="comparisons=%7B%22comparisons%22%3A%5B%7B%22caption%22%3A%22RAW%20Processing%20Comparison%22%2C%22images%22%3A%5B%7B%22id%22%3A%225fa349ede4b0aae7482494ed%22%2C%22label%22%3A%22Unedited%20RAW%22%7D%2C%7B%22id%22%3A%225fa34a3ae4b0aae7482494ee%22%2C%22label%22%3A%22Edited%20RAW%22%7D%5D%7D%5D%7D"] RAW format coming to the Mini 2 is another big boon for aerial photographers who want to fine tune their images in Photoshop, Lightroom, and Capture One. Just take a look at the details we were able to recover from processing a RAW image in the comparison above. Additionally, if you shoot video at 1080p you’ll be able to crop in digitally by up to four times, or two times for “loseless” magnification. What’s more, the drone still weighs only 249 grams, making it so small and light that you don’t even need to register it with the FAA. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=dji-mini-2-image-samples&captions=true"] The Mini 2 also features upgraded motors that provide up to 31 minutes of flight time – a minute longer than last year’s model – and it can withstand winds up to 24mph. More impressively, the range of the Mini 2 has been extended from 4km (2.49 miles) to 10km 6.21 miles thanks to the company’s new OcuSync 2.0 transmission technology. The only thing that feels lacking about the drone is it only features forward- and bottom-facing proximity sensors. The DJI Mini 2 is available now and it comes at a starting price of $449 for the standard package, which includes a DJI  Mini 2, remote controller, and one battery. The $559 Fly More Combo includes a few more accessories including a charging hub, carrying case, remote controller, and three batteries, [poilib element="accentDivider"] Kevin Lee is IGN's Hardware and Roundups Editor. Follow him on Twitter @baggingspam

DJI introduced the original Mavic Mini as its smallest drone yet and while it was light enough to fly under the FAA’s radar, it felt a little lacking without 4K video. Well now DJI has announced the Mavic Mini 2, a lightweight drone that’s just as small and featherweight, but with the added ability to shoot 4K video and RAW images. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=dji-mavic-mini-2&captions=true"] Equipped with a higher resolution 1/2.3-inch sensor, the DJI Mavic Mini 2 is capable of recording 4K footage at 30 fps and 12MP photos in RAW format. This is a big improvement over the original Mavic Mini that was only able to shoot videos at up to a 2.7K resolution at 30 fps and only JPG photos. [widget path="global/page/imagecomparison" parameters="comparisons=%7B%22comparisons%22%3A%5B%7B%22caption%22%3A%22RAW%20Processing%20Comparison%22%2C%22images%22%3A%5B%7B%22id%22%3A%225fa349ede4b0aae7482494ed%22%2C%22label%22%3A%22Unedited%20RAW%22%7D%2C%7B%22id%22%3A%225fa34a3ae4b0aae7482494ee%22%2C%22label%22%3A%22Edited%20RAW%22%7D%5D%7D%5D%7D"] RAW format coming to the Mini 2 is another big boon for aerial photographers who want to fine tune their images in Photoshop, Lightroom, and Capture One. Just take a look at the details we were able to recover from processing a RAW image in the comparison above. Additionally, if you shoot video at 1080p you’ll be able to crop in digitally by up to four times, or two times for “loseless” magnification. What’s more, the drone still weighs only 249 grams, making it so small and light that you don’t even need to register it with the FAA. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=dji-mavic-mini-2-image-samples&captions=true"] The Mini 2 also features upgraded motors that provide up to 31 minutes of flight time – a minute longer than last year’s model – and it can withstand winds up to 24mph. More impressively, the range of the Mini 2 has been extended from 4km (2.49 miles) to 10km 6.21 miles thanks to the company’s new OcuSync 2.0 transmission technology. The only thing that feels lacking about the drone is it only features forward- and bottom-facing proximity sensors. The DJI Mini 2 is available now and it comes at a starting price of $449 for the standard package, which includes a DJI Mavic Mini 2, remote controller, and one battery. The $559 Fly More Combo includes a few more accessories including a charging hub, carrying case, remote controller, and three batteries, [poilib element="accentDivider"] Kevin Lee is IGN's Hardware and Roundups Editor. Follow him on Twitter @baggingspam

Sega has announced a share transfer of its arcade business to Japanese company Genda, which will see Sega sell off its historic Japanese arcade business. Sega Sammy, the parent company that owns Sega and other affiliated businesses, announced that it has agreed to sell 85.1% of its shares in Sega Entertainment, the group’s arcade and amusement center business in Japan. The deal does not impact its video game divisions at all. Sega Sammy announced that its arcade business has been severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and that usage of its arcade facilities “declined remarkably” and resulted in “a significant loss” for its Q1 fiscal year. Sega Sammy’s board of directors agreed to transfer a majority share of its arcade business to Genda. The full impact of Sega’s departure from the physical arcade business will be revealed when the company shares its quarterly earnings to investors later this week. But Sega says the changes will be recorded as “extraordinary losses” for the company. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/10/21/arcade-dreams-forgotten-classics-sega-gun-fight"] Sega, like many Japanese video game companies, has arms in a variety of businesses outside of game development. Sega’s history in the arcade business is legendary and departing the business will mark the end of a decades-spanning era for the company. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt T.M. Kim is a reporter for IGN.