Monthly Archives: November 2020

Dragon Quest XI S Definitive Edition Gets a 10-Hour Demo That Transfers Over to Full Game

Square Enix has released a 10-hour demo for Dragon Quest XI S - Echoes of an Elusive Age - Definitive Edition (say that five times fast) on PS4, Xbox One, and PC. Even better, Square Enix says all your progress will transfer over to the full game if you decide to purchase it.

One might be shocked to hear that a game’s demo can last 10 hours, given that some games last all of six. Considering Dragon Quest XI players can easily rack up 100+ hours before hitting the ending, it’s a little more understandable.

[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/10/24/dragon-quest-xi-s-definitive-edition-story-trailer"]

Square Enix announced the demo in a blog post. You can get the PS4 version here, the Xbox One demo here, or the Steam demo here.

“To be frank, calling this a demo is kind of underselling it,” Square writes. “The download lets you play through the entirety of the opening chapters - a gargantuan chunk of game that could take you around 10 hours, depending on how you play.”

Square Enix also added that players who complete the demo will receive a “little treat” for players who complete the demo, although they’re not revealing what it is.

[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/06/13/dragon-quest-xi-s-definitive-edition-gameplay-full-treehouse-presentation-e3-2019"]

Dragon Quest XI S is an expanded and enhanced version of the original 2017 JRPG, with new story content, new orchestral music, new battle speed options, a Japanese dialogue track, and an expanded crafting system, among other additions.

Dragon Quest XI S is out on December 4.

[poilib element="accentDivider"] Joseph Knoop is a writer/producer for IGN, and he's still in the demo stages of figuring out life.

BloodRayne 1 and 2 are Getting PC Remasters in November 2020

Ziggurat Interactive has announced that enhanced versions of both BloodRayne and BloodRayne 2 will be released on Steam and GOG on November 20, 2020. BloodRayne: Terminal Cuts and BloodRayne 2: Terminal Cuts are enhanced and updated versions of the games that follow the adventures of the red-headed dhampir (Vampire/Human) who must stop a madman bent on using occult relics to bring about a new age of domination for the Third Reich and, in the second game, her siblings who are looking to create a new era of Vampire supremacy. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/11/03/bloodrayne-1-and-2-terminal-cut-teaser-trailer"] These games will receive support for higher display resolutions (up to 4K/3830x2160), upscaled cinematic videos, support for modern gamepads, improved rendering with up to 4x anti-aliasing, support for higher texture resolutions allowing for use of original, uncompressed textures, and more. BloodRayne was first released in 2002 and its sequel - BloodRayne 2 - came out in 2004. The series saw a bit of a revival with 2011's BloodRayne: Betrayal, but this downloadable sidescrolling game for Xbox Live and PSN did not sell well and, as a result, a new 3DS title was indefinitely put on hold. BloodRayne 2 was actually one of the first 13 backward compatible games on Xbox One, but there was no mention as to whether these enhanced ports will make their way to either current or next-gen consoles. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=bloodrayne-1-terminal-cut-and-bloodrayne-2-terminal-cut-screenshots&captions=true"] [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.

BloodRayne 1 and 2 are Getting PC Remasters in November 2020

Ziggurat Interactive has announced that enhanced versions of both BloodRayne and BloodRayne 2 will be released on Steam and GOG on November 20, 2020. BloodRayne: Terminal Cuts and BloodRayne 2: Terminal Cuts are enhanced and updated versions of the games that follow the adventures of the red-headed dhampir (Vampire/Human) who must stop a madman bent on using occult relics to bring about a new age of domination for the Third Reich and, in the second game, her siblings who are looking to create a new era of Vampire supremacy. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/11/03/bloodrayne-1-and-2-terminal-cut-teaser-trailer"] These games will receive support for higher display resolutions (up to 4K/3830x2160), upscaled cinematic videos, support for modern gamepads, improved rendering with up to 4x anti-aliasing, support for higher texture resolutions allowing for use of original, uncompressed textures, and more. BloodRayne was first released in 2002 and its sequel - BloodRayne 2 - came out in 2004. The series saw a bit of a revival with 2011's BloodRayne: Betrayal, but this downloadable sidescrolling game for Xbox Live and PSN did not sell well and, as a result, a new 3DS title was indefinitely put on hold. BloodRayne 2 was actually one of the first 13 backward compatible games on Xbox One, but there was no mention as to whether these enhanced ports will make their way to either current or next-gen consoles. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=bloodrayne-1-terminal-cut-and-bloodrayne-2-terminal-cut-screenshots&captions=true"] [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.

Days Gone on PS5 Will Run at Up to 60 FPS with Dynamic 4K

Bend Studio has revealed that PlayStation exclusive Days Gone will run on PS5 at up to 60 FPS with Dynamic 4K. Bend Studio announced the news on Twitter and also confirmed that save transfers will be in place from PS4 to PS5. Days Gone follows 2018's God of War as a PS4 game that will support up to 60 FPS on the PS5, and is another game on the list of PlayStation Plus Classics that are getting these upgrades. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/04/25/days-gone-review"] In our review of Days Gone, which was released in 2019, we said it "feels bloated, like a movie that goes on for an hour longer than it needs to or should’ve. It’s messy and confused, but peppered with genuinely thrilling encounters with rampaging hordes of zombies and occasionally breathless firefights. There’s a good game in here somewhere, but it’s buried in a meandering storyline, repetitive missions, and just too much obligatory stuff to do without an eye on the smaller details that could have given it much more character." Even though it only earned a 6.5/10 from IGN, we do believe there is a ton of potential and included it on our list of nine sequels that would make PS5 a force to recon with. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=confirmed-playstation-5-games&captions=true"] Another PS4 game - The Last of Us Remastered - has seen its loadtimes on PS4 shortened by over 70% in certain areas, and while its PS5 improvements haven't been confirmed, news like this for Days Gone are seemingly teasing that playing older games will be a much better experience on PS5. [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.

Days Gone on PS5 Will Run at Up to 60 FPS with Dynamic 4K

Bend Studio has revealed that PlayStation exclusive Days Gone will run on PS5 at up to 60 FPS with Dynamic 4K. Bend Studio announced the news on Twitter and also confirmed that save transfers will be in place from PS4 to PS5. Days Gone follows 2018's God of War as a PS4 game that will support up to 60 FPS on the PS5, and is another game on the list of PlayStation Plus Classics that are getting these upgrades. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/04/25/days-gone-review"] In our review of Days Gone, which was released in 2019, we said it "feels bloated, like a movie that goes on for an hour longer than it needs to or should’ve. It’s messy and confused, but peppered with genuinely thrilling encounters with rampaging hordes of zombies and occasionally breathless firefights. There’s a good game in here somewhere, but it’s buried in a meandering storyline, repetitive missions, and just too much obligatory stuff to do without an eye on the smaller details that could have given it much more character." Even though it only earned a 6.5/10 from IGN, we do believe there is a ton of potential and included it on our list of nine sequels that would make PS5 a force to recon with. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=confirmed-playstation-5-games&captions=true"] Another PS4 game - The Last of Us Remastered - has seen its loadtimes on PS4 shortened by over 70% in certain areas, and while its PS5 improvements haven't been confirmed, news like this for Days Gone are seemingly teasing that playing older games will be a much better experience on PS5. [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 Witcher Season 2 Swaps to Studio Filming After England Lockdown

Henry Cavill has confirmed that he is heading back down South to continue filming The Witcher Season 2 in the studio after it was announced that England would enter a second national lockdown this week. Taking to Instagram, Cavill, who plays Geralt of Rivia on the hit Netflix show, announced that he was leaving The Witcher Season 2's on-location shoot in the North of England to return to the studio for additional filming, as England prepares to enter a new month-long lockdown on Thursday in response to a recent surge in coronavirus (COVID-19) cases. "England returns to Lockdown on Thursday so it is time for me to depart Yorkshire and The extraordinary North, and head back down South to continue shooting in the studio," Cavill wrote in his post. "Thank you for hosting all of us on season 2 of The Witcher. Hopefully I shall return to your hills, dales and fells soon. Stay strong and stay safe, my friends." [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/01/16/the-witcher-why-season-2-wont-premiere-until-2021-ign-now"] Season 2 of The Witcher started filming in London earlier this year, with a planned release sometime in 2021. However, the shoot was suspended back in March as Netflix paused filming on all of its films and TV shows in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Netflix resumed production on the second season of the Henry Cavill-led show in August after being given the "green light" to start filming again. The Witcher Season 2 is still currently set for 2021, with Season 3 expected to be announced at a later date. Netflix is also working on The Witcher: Blood Origin, a six-part spin-off prequel series set 1,200 years before Geralt walked the lands of the Northern Kingdoms, and The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf, an anime feature film that will be centred around Geralt's close friend and mentor, Vesemir. If you want to explore the extraordinary world of The Witcher in the meantime, check out Netflix's behind-the-scenes specials Making The Witcher and A Look Inside the Episodes or check out our slideshow below for Season 2 photos of Cavill's Geralt of Rivia in all-new armour, Anya Chalotra's bound and bloodied Yennefer, and Freya Allan's Ciri who looks ready to start training at Kaer Morhen. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=netflixs-the-witcher-season-2-photos&captions=true"] [poilib element="accentDivider"] Adele Ankers is a Freelance Entertainment Journalist. You can reach her on Twitter.

The Witcher Season 2 Swaps to Studio Filming After England Lockdown

Henry Cavill has confirmed that he is heading back down South to continue filming The Witcher Season 2 in the studio after it was announced that England would enter a second national lockdown this week. Taking to Instagram, Cavill, who plays Geralt of Rivia on the hit Netflix show, announced that he was leaving The Witcher Season 2's on-location shoot in the North of England to return to the studio for additional filming, as England prepares to enter a new month-long lockdown on Thursday in response to a recent surge in coronavirus (COVID-19) cases. "England returns to Lockdown on Thursday so it is time for me to depart Yorkshire and The extraordinary North, and head back down South to continue shooting in the studio," Cavill wrote in his post. "Thank you for hosting all of us on season 2 of The Witcher. Hopefully I shall return to your hills, dales and fells soon. Stay strong and stay safe, my friends." [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/01/16/the-witcher-why-season-2-wont-premiere-until-2021-ign-now"] Season 2 of The Witcher started filming in London earlier this year, with a planned release sometime in 2021. However, the shoot was suspended back in March as Netflix paused filming on all of its films and TV shows in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Netflix resumed production on the second season of the Henry Cavill-led show in August after being given the "green light" to start filming again. The Witcher Season 2 is still currently set for 2021, with Season 3 expected to be announced at a later date. Netflix is also working on The Witcher: Blood Origin, a six-part spin-off prequel series set 1,200 years before Geralt walked the lands of the Northern Kingdoms, and The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf, an anime feature film that will be centred around Geralt's close friend and mentor, Vesemir. If you want to explore the extraordinary world of The Witcher in the meantime, check out Netflix's behind-the-scenes specials Making The Witcher and A Look Inside the Episodes or check out our slideshow below for Season 2 photos of Cavill's Geralt of Rivia in all-new armour, Anya Chalotra's bound and bloodied Yennefer, and Freya Allan's Ciri who looks ready to start training at Kaer Morhen. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=netflixs-the-witcher-season-2-photos&captions=true"] [poilib element="accentDivider"] Adele Ankers is a Freelance Entertainment Journalist. You can reach her on Twitter.

The Source Code for Hacking Game Watch Dogs: Legion Has Seemingly Been Hacked

A game all about hacking - Watch Dogs: Legion - has seen its source code seemingly hacked in a real-world event that assuredly makes it one of the more ironic stories of 2020. As reported by ZDNet, a ransomware gang by the name of Egregor, in October 2020, claimed to have obtained access to the internal networks of both Ubisoft and Crytek and stole data. Unfortunately for Ubisoft, DSOGaming has said that Egregor appears to have possession of the source code of Watch Dogs: Legion and it has since leaked it online at a size of around 560 GB. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/10/28/watch-dogs-legion-review"] DSOGaming notes that this could lead to enabling mods for Watch Dogs: Legion and cracking the game's anti-piracy measures. Crytek appeared to have been hit even harder, as documents from the company's game development division have allegedly been obtained and contain "resources and information about the development process of games like Arena of Fate and Warface, but also Crytek's old Gface social gaming network." It is yet unclear how Egregor gained access to these networks, but groups like this tend to steal data, encrypt it, and then hold it ransom and force these companies to pay a exorbitant fee to prevent them from leaking the files. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=biggest-video-game-leaks-of-2019&captions=true"] Both Ubisoft and Crytek have yet to announce anything publicly, possibly hinting that these intrusions by Egregor have not impacted any consumer-facing aspects of their businesses. In our review of Watch Dogs: Legion, which was released on October 29, 2020, we said its "bold use of roguelike mechanics in an open-world action game pays off in interesting ways, making this visit to near-future London feel more varied than the previous two 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.