343 Industries has announced that Halo Infinite will ship in Fall 2021, and revealed further details on certain aspects of Halo Infinite, including graphics, art, and customization. In August, 343 and Microsoft announced that it has decided to delay Halo Infinite from its holiday 2020 release date to some time in 2021. Halo Infinite was originally supposed to be a launch game for the Xbox Series X but was unable to meet the time frame. Now, Halo Infinite is slotted for sometime in Fall 2021, specifically, which narrows the release window for the next Master Chief adventure. 343 also shared two new screenshots from the Halo Infinite multiplayer. Halo Infinite's multiplayer will also be free-to-play. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=halo-infinite-multiplayer-december-screenshots&captions=true"] Coincidentally, Halo will celebrate its 20th anniversary on November 15, 2021. Something 343 head Bonnie Ross highlighted in a tweet.

So proud of the work this team has accomplished and looking forward to sharing more soon. Fall of 2021...hmm, doesn't someone have an anniversary coming up? https://t.co/gB2ulpkx4J

— Bonnie Ross (@PlutonForEver) December 9, 2020

Graphics and Art Improvement

The most complete look at Halo Infinite was revealed during an Xbox Games Showcase earlier in the summer. However, the demo received blowback after failing to meet expectations, particularly in graphics and art style. 343 addressed these points directly in its new blog post writing, "[T]he reality is that the art and visuals weren't at the bar we hold for Halo - even in a work-in-progress state," said 343's director of art management Neil Harrison. "Much of the feedback we heard from the community aligned with our own views and work we were already committed to doing around things like indirect lighting, material response, foliage and tree rendering, clouds, level-of-detail transitions, and character fidelity," Harrison says. 343 development manager for graphics Ani Shastry also added that "Visual fidelity is a very important goal for Halo Infinite, and the graphics and art teams have been continually aspiring, and working closely with each other, to create the best-looking Halo game ever." The developers even talked about Craig, the infamous Brute whose emotionless face became a meme. "I can confirm that the facial animation on NPCs were not fully implemented in that [summer] build, which resulted iN Craig's incredibly deadpan/lifeless look," says Harrison. "There's been further work done on the material fidelity and more variety added for Brute faces, we're also working to add some hairdos and beards which was something we hadn't gotten to in July. So, whilst we have come to love our dear old Craig, he's certainly undergoing a significant makeover." [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/07/23/halo-infinite-9-minutes-of-campaign-gameplay"]

Spartan Customization

As for online customization, 343 talked about its new "coating" system. Whereas in the past customization was relegated to simple RGBs in primary and secondary channels, the coating system lets players "define color, wear and tear, patterns, and materials on a region-by-region basis" on a spartan or anything in a game whether it's armor, weapons, vehicles, or even fuel barrels. That means weapon skins will be more varied in Halo Infinite, and options to change more parts of a Spartan armor like the helmet, helmet attachment, shoulder pads, and visors are coming. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=halo-infinite-xbox-games-showcase-gameplay-reveal-screenshots&captions=true"] This latest update is the high-level Halo Infinite community update 343 promised back in November. 343 community director Brian Jarrard said at the time that there will not be a reveal at The Game Awards, as some had theorized. Instead, 343 is delivering its update directly to the community. In the meantime development on Halo Infinite continues, but not without some shakeups. 343 brought back Halo veteran Joseph Staten to the Halo Infinite development team, while director Chris Lee has left. The developers also said that there are no plans to delay Halo Infinite back to 2022. Staten, who is now the creative director of Halo Infinite says, "We needed more time to do things right. That included pushing hard in the fall, giving the team time to recharge over the holidays, and then coming back in January to finish the game at a healthy place." Staten also says he completed the campaign for Halo Infinite twice. "I could feel the classic Halo '30 seconds of fun' beating at the heart of Infinite's world. But I had never felt more powerful, more mobile, more in command of a rich set of tactical choices. This was the Halo we imagined back in 2000, finally come to life, after 20 years of technical and creative innovation." [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt T.M. Kim is a reporter for IGN.

Cyberpunk 2077 developer CD Projekt Red has issued a statement regarding reports of a seizure-inducing sequence being included in the upcoming role-playing game.

Thank you for bringing this up,” CD Projekt Red wrote, quote-tweeting Game Informer’s original report about the instances in games that could potentially induce seizures. “We’re working on adding a separate warning in the game, aside from the one that exists in the EULA. Regarding a more permanent solution, [the development] team is currently exploring that and will be implementing it as soon as possible.”

In an email to IGN, a representative for CD Projekt Red also said that the company has reached out to Game Informer editor Liana Ruppert, the writer of the original report, and will be working towards a solution.

The representative stated that CDPR is working to add a separate warning splash screen in the game to add to the warning in their EULA.

“We know gamers often skip that, so we tried to get ahead of this by having a more digestible version of the document,” the representative said. “We will also issue a special post on social media warning people about the potential trigger in the game (the braindance device). As for a more permanent solution, [CD Projekt Red] is now exploring that and we will deploy it as soon as we can.”

CDPR’s representative included an image illustrating the additional warning the company is including in their EULA.

“‘Nother warning here, an’ it’s an important one, too!” the text reads. “If you or someone you live with suffers from an epileptic condition, talk to your doctor before jackin’ into Cyberpunk 2077.”

Game Informer originally reported on Monday that Cyberpunk 2077’s Braindance sequences (a sort of storytelling tool wherein players interface with recordings of a person’s memories) contained a series of red and white flashing LED lights that deeply resembled the actual process by which doctors trigger seizures in patients.

Game Informer’s Ruppert reported that as a result of this sequence, they experienced a grand mal seizure. According to the Mayo Clinic, a grand mal seizure can cause a loss of consciousness and violent muscle contractions, and is usually caused by epilepsy. Game Informer's report also mentioned several other instances where glitching or lighting effects in Night City dance clubs could potentially cause seizures or epilepsy complications as well. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/12/07/cyberpunk-2077-review"]

The inclusion of the seizure-inducing effect, seemingly making it past quality assurance and certification measures, sparked anger and disbelief from the video game community late Monday. According to Eurogamer, the UK charity organization Epilespy Action has called for an urgent update to Cyberpunk 2077, noting the seizure-inducing feature could harm players with epilepsy.

“These features are unsafe and should have been avoided to make the game more accessible,” Epilepsy Action stated. “With huge demand and excitement building for its release, it may pose a serious risk to people with photosensitive epilepsy. The developers CD Projekt RED should consider how they can update the game to make it safer. A disclaimer warning at the beginning isn't enough. 87 people are diagnosed with epilepsy every day, and their first seizure can often come out of nowhere. Many people living with epilepsy can strive for many years to gain seizure control and it is devastating to have a breakthrough seizure. Seizures can cause injury and impact on things like driving, employment and education. In the worst cases, they can be fatal. For further information, visit epilepsy.org.uk/info/photosensitive-epilepsy."

[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/12/08/cyberpunk-2077-official-launch-trailer"]

Cyberpunk 2077 will be released on December 10.

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

Cyberpunk 2077 developer CD Projekt Red has issued a statement regarding reports of a seizure-inducing sequence being included in the upcoming role-playing game.

Thank you for bringing this up,” CD Projekt Red wrote, quote-tweeting Game Informer’s original report about the instances in games that could potentially induce seizures. “We’re working on adding a separate warning in the game, aside from the one that exists in the EULA. Regarding a more permanent solution, [the development] team is currently exploring that and will be implementing it as soon as possible.”

In an email to IGN, a representative for CD Projekt Red also said that the company has reached out to Game Informer editor Liana Ruppert, the writer of the original report, and will be working towards a solution.

The representative stated that CDPR is working to add a separate warning splash screen in the game to add to the warning in their EULA.

“We know gamers often skip that, so we tried to get ahead of this by having a more digestible version of the document,” the representative said. “We will also issue a special post on social media warning people about the potential trigger in the game (the braindance device). As for a more permanent solution, [CD Projekt Red] is now exploring that and we will deploy it as soon as we can.”

CDPR’s representative included an image illustrating the additional warning the company is including in their EULA.

“‘Nother warning here, an’ it’s an important one, too!” the text reads. “If you or someone you live with suffers from an epileptic condition, talk to your doctor before jackin’ into Cyberpunk 2077.”

Game Informer originally reported on Monday that Cyberpunk 2077’s Braindance sequences (a sort of storytelling tool wherein players interface with recordings of a person’s memories) contained a series of red and white flashing LED lights that deeply resembled the actual process by which doctors trigger seizures in patients.

Game Informer’s Ruppert reported that as a result of this sequence, they experienced a grand mal seizure. According to the Mayo Clinic, a grand mal seizure can cause a loss of consciousness and violent muscle contractions, and is usually caused by epilepsy. Game Informer's report also mentioned several other instances where glitching or lighting effects in Night City dance clubs could potentially cause seizures or epilepsy complications as well. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/12/07/cyberpunk-2077-review"]

The inclusion of the seizure-inducing effect, seemingly making it past quality assurance and certification measures, sparked anger and disbelief from the video game community late Monday. According to Eurogamer, the UK charity organization Epilespy Action has called for an urgent update to Cyberpunk 2077, noting the seizure-inducing feature could harm players with epilepsy.

“These features are unsafe and should have been avoided to make the game more accessible,” Epilepsy Action stated. “With huge demand and excitement building for its release, it may pose a serious risk to people with photosensitive epilepsy. The developers CD Projekt RED should consider how they can update the game to make it safer. A disclaimer warning at the beginning isn't enough. 87 people are diagnosed with epilepsy every day, and their first seizure can often come out of nowhere. Many people living with epilepsy can strive for many years to gain seizure control and it is devastating to have a breakthrough seizure. Seizures can cause injury and impact on things like driving, employment and education. In the worst cases, they can be fatal. For further information, visit epilepsy.org.uk/info/photosensitive-epilepsy."

[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/12/08/cyberpunk-2077-official-launch-trailer"]

Cyberpunk 2077 will be released on December 10.

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

Apple is adding a new member to its AirPods headphone line, and it's by far the most expensive model yet. The newly announced AirPods Max is an over-ear headphone that costs $549. The AirPods Max includes a number of features found on the AirPods Pro, including noise cancellation, transparency mode and spatial audio. Apple is also promising "high-fidelity sound" and adaptive EQ functionality that tweaks the Max's sound settings based on the user's environment. The AirPods Max is built around Apple's H1 chip, a 10-core processor designed with computational audio in mind, with each earcup featuring its own, independent chip. Each earcup also features a 40mm dynamic driver that Apple claims can "maintain total harmonic distortion of less than 1 percent across the entire audible range, even at maximum volume." Interestingly, rather than emphasizing touch-based controls like most high-end wireless headphones, Apple is including a Digital Crown button similar to the one seen on the latest Apple Watch Series 6, one which controls the volume and allows users to skip tracks, play/pause, answer phone calls and activate the Siri voice assistant. The headphones will also automatically play or pause when the user rotates either earcup. Apple claims a 20-hour battery life for the AirPods Max, and the included Smart Case accessory will automatically put the headphone in low-power mode to preserve battery life. While the headphone will be compatible with all Bluetooth-capable devices, like other AirPods models it features added functionality on Apple devices, such as audio sharing and the ability to automatically switch between devices. “AirPods are the most popular headphones in the world, beloved for their effortless setup, incredible sound quality, and iconic design. With AirPods Max, we are bringing that magical AirPods experience to a stunning over-ear design with high-fidelity audio,” said Greg Joswiak, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing, in the company's press release. “The custom acoustic design, combined with powerful H1 chips, and advanced software enable AirPods Max to use computational audio to wirelessly deliver the ultimate personal listening experience.” The AirPods Max are available to pre-order now in one of six colors and will begin shipping on December 15. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=apple-airpods-max-over-ear-headphones-images&captions=true"] Both the AirPods and AirPods Pro made IGN's list of the best wireless earbuds. It remains to be seen if the AirPods Max will be able to stake a claim in our list of the best over-ear headphones. With a price tag significantly higher than other flagship wireless headphones like the Sony WH-1000XM4 and the Razer Opus, it may come down to whether Apple lives up to its promises of a high-fidelity audio experience. If the sound quality of the Max rivals wired, expensive over-ear favorites like the Sennheiser HD800S, then $550 may actually turn out to be a bargain. The AirPods Max announcement comes shortly after Apple revealed a new lineup of MacBooks and Mac Minis built around its proprietary M1 processor. Will you be forking over $549 for the AirPods Max? 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.

Apple is adding a new member to its AirPods headphone line, and it's by far the most expensive model yet. The newly announced AirPods Max is an over-ear headphone that costs $549. The AirPods Max includes a number of features found on the AirPods Pro, including noise cancellation, transparency mode and spatial audio. Apple is also promising "high-fidelity sound" and adaptive EQ functionality that tweaks the Max's sound settings based on the user's environment. The AirPods Max is built around Apple's H1 chip, a 10-core processor designed with computational audio in mind, with each earcup featuring its own, independent chip. Each earcup also features a 40mm dynamic driver that Apple claims can "maintain total harmonic distortion of less than 1 percent across the entire audible range, even at maximum volume." Interestingly, rather than emphasizing touch-based controls like most high-end wireless headphones, Apple is including a Digital Crown button similar to the one seen on the latest Apple Watch Series 6, one which controls the volume and allows users to skip tracks, play/pause, answer phone calls and activate the Siri voice assistant. The headphones will also automatically play or pause when the user rotates either earcup. Apple claims a 20-hour battery life for the AirPods Max, and the included Smart Case accessory will automatically put the headphone in low-power mode to preserve battery life. While the headphone will be compatible with all Bluetooth-capable devices, like other AirPods models it features added functionality on Apple devices, such as audio sharing and the ability to automatically switch between devices. “AirPods are the most popular headphones in the world, beloved for their effortless setup, incredible sound quality, and iconic design. With AirPods Max, we are bringing that magical AirPods experience to a stunning over-ear design with high-fidelity audio,” said Greg Joswiak, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing, in the company's press release. “The custom acoustic design, combined with powerful H1 chips, and advanced software enable AirPods Max to use computational audio to wirelessly deliver the ultimate personal listening experience.” The AirPods Max are available to pre-order now in one of six colors and will begin shipping on December 15. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=apple-airpods-max-over-ear-headphones-images&captions=true"] Both the AirPods and AirPods Pro made IGN's list of the best wireless earbuds. It remains to be seen if the AirPods Max will be able to stake a claim in our list of the best over-ear headphones. With a price tag significantly higher than other flagship wireless headphones like the Sony WH-1000XM4 and the Razer Opus, it may come down to whether Apple lives up to its promises of a high-fidelity audio experience. If the sound quality of the Max rivals wired, expensive over-ear favorites like the Sennheiser HD800S, then $550 may actually turn out to be a bargain. The AirPods Max announcement comes shortly after Apple revealed a new lineup of MacBooks and Mac Minis built around its proprietary M1 processor. Will you be forking over $549 for the AirPods Max? 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.

Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, the remake of the beloved action game, has been delayed.

A tweet from the official Ubisoft UK Twitter account announced the remake, which was originally revealed in early September and scheduled for release on January 21, 2021, has now been delayed to March 18, 2021.

Ubisoft’s reasoning for delaying the Prince of Persia remake is a common one: COVID-19 and the many complications that a year like 2020 has presented.

[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/09/10/prince-of-persia-sands-of-time-remake-official-reveal-trailer"]

“We are excited to put this game in your hands, as we retell the story of the Prince and Farah in a reimagined 11th century Persia,” Ubisoft wrote, thanking fans for their patience. “However, 2020 has been a year like no other. Today we wanted to let you know that we are taking additional time to work on the game….We believe this is the right call to ensure we deliver a game you will enjoy.”

Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time Remake will cost $39.99 and be available on PS4, Xbox One, and PC via Epic Games Store, the Ubisoft store on Windows, and UPlay+. There will be no PS5 or Xbox Series X version of the game, but it will be playable on next-gen console via backward compatibility.

[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/09/10/prince-of-persia-sands-of-time-remake-what-we-know-so-far"]

The Remake is being developed by Ubisoft Pune and Ubisoft Mumbai, and is using the same Anvil engine that powers the Assassin’s Creed games. Voice actor Yuri Lowenthal is returning as the Prince. You can read our interview with Ubisoft Pune's Game Director Pierre-Sylvain Gires, where he explains how and why Ubisoft is remaking the 2003 classic.

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

Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, the remake of the beloved action game, has been delayed.

A tweet from the official Ubisoft UK Twitter account announced the remake, which was originally revealed in early September and scheduled for release on January 21, 2021, has now been delayed to March 18, 2021.

Ubisoft’s reasoning for delaying the Prince of Persia remake is a common one: COVID-19 and the many complications that a year like 2020 has presented.

[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/09/10/prince-of-persia-sands-of-time-remake-official-reveal-trailer"]

“We are excited to put this game in your hands, as we retell the story of the Prince and Farah in a reimagined 11th century Persia,” Ubisoft wrote, thanking fans for their patience. “However, 2020 has been a year like no other. Today we wanted to let you know that we are taking additional time to work on the game….We believe this is the right call to ensure we deliver a game you will enjoy.”

Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time Remake will cost $39.99 and be available on PS4, Xbox One, and PC via Epic Games Store, the Ubisoft store on Windows, and UPlay+. There will be no PS5 or Xbox Series X version of the game, but it will be playable on next-gen console via backward compatibility.

[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/09/10/prince-of-persia-sands-of-time-remake-what-we-know-so-far"]

The Remake is being developed by Ubisoft Pune and Ubisoft Mumbai, and is using the same Anvil engine that powers the Assassin’s Creed games. Voice actor Yuri Lowenthal is returning as the Prince. You can read our interview with Ubisoft Pune's Game Director Pierre-Sylvain Gires, where he explains how and why Ubisoft is remaking the 2003 classic.

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

Update (12/8/20) - Andrew Garfield, Tobey Maguire, and Kirsten Dunst will reportedly reprise their former Spider-Man movie roles, according to Collider. The Hollywood Reporter originally broke the news that Alfred Molina will return to his role as Doctor Otto Octavius, aka Doctor Octopus, in Spider-Man 3 starring Tom Holland, but Collider added in their report that "Kirsten Dunst will return as MJ" and that "Andrew Garfield will be back." Collider also said that Maguire will be back as well if Sony and Marvel can close that deal. Maguire played Peter Parker and Spider-Man in 2002's Spider-Man, 2004's Spider-Man 2, which featured Molina as Otto Octavius, and 2007's Spider-Man 3. Garfield played Peter Parker and Spider-Man in 2012's The Amazing Spider-Man and in 2014's The Amazing Spider-Man 2. Dunst played MJ in all three of the Maguire Spider-Man movies. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Alfred Molina is reportedly set to return as Doctor Otto Octavius, aka Doctor Octopus in Spider-Man 3 starring Tom Holland. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Molina will once again play the villain Doctor Octopus in the upcoming Marvel Spider-Man movie. He previously played the character in the 2004 Sam Raimi movie Spider-Man 2 during Toby Maguire’s tenure as Spider-Man. Molina was reportedly spotted on the set of Spider-Man 3, which is currently filming. Star Tom Holland published photos of himself as Spider-Man on the set of the upcoming movie. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=marvel-phases-1-3-the-mcus-infinity-saga-ranked&captions=true"] Molina is the second actor from a previous Spider-Man franchise to reprise their role for Spider-Man 3. Jaimie Foxx is returning as Electro, however, Foxx played his character not in Maguire’s run as Spider-Man, but during Andrew Garfield’s in The Amazing Spider-Man franchise. With Molina appearing, three different Spider-Man runs, from Maguire's to Holland's, will appear in the upcoming Spider-Man movie. This has fueled speculation that the third movie will feature some kind of multiverse storyline, especially since Benedict Cumberbatch's Doctor Strange will also appear in the film. Strange's next solo movie also happens to be titled "The Multiverse of Madness." [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2005/07/26/spider-man-2-movie-trailer-spider-man-2-trailer"] There's been no other word on other characters from past Spider-Man movies appearing in the Tom Holland sequel, though Foxx, in a now-deleted Instagram post, suggested three Spider-Men may appear in the film. For more on the next Spider-Man movie, check out IGN's guide to the Marvel Cinematic Universe Phase 4. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt T.M. Kim is a reporter for IGN.

Update (12/8/20) - Andrew Garfield, Tobey Maguire, and Kirsten Dunst will reportedly reprise their former Spider-Man movie roles, according to Collider. The Hollywood Reporter originally broke the news that Alfred Molina will return to his role as Doctor Otto Octavius, aka Doctor Octopus, in Spider-Man 3 starring Tom Holland, but Collider added in their report that "Kirsten Dunst will return as MJ" and that "Andrew Garfield will be back." Collider also said that Maguire will be back as well if Sony and Marvel can close that deal. Maguire played Peter Parker and Spider-Man in 2002's Spider-Man, 2004's Spider-Man 2, which featured Molina as Otto Octavius, and 2007's Spider-Man 3. Garfield played Peter Parker and Spider-Man in 2012's The Amazing Spider-Man and in 2014's The Amazing Spider-Man 2. Dunst played MJ in all three of the Maguire Spider-Man movies. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Alfred Molina is reportedly set to return as Doctor Otto Octavius, aka Doctor Octopus in Spider-Man 3 starring Tom Holland. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Molina will once again play the villain Doctor Octopus in the upcoming Marvel Spider-Man movie. He previously played the character in the 2004 Sam Raimi movie Spider-Man 2 during Toby Maguire’s tenure as Spider-Man. Molina was reportedly spotted on the set of Spider-Man 3, which is currently filming. Star Tom Holland published photos of himself as Spider-Man on the set of the upcoming movie. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=marvel-phases-1-3-the-mcus-infinity-saga-ranked&captions=true"] Molina is the second actor from a previous Spider-Man franchise to reprise their role for Spider-Man 3. Jaimie Foxx is returning as Electro, however, Foxx played his character not in Maguire’s run as Spider-Man, but during Andrew Garfield’s in The Amazing Spider-Man franchise. With Molina appearing, three different Spider-Man runs, from Maguire's to Holland's, will appear in the upcoming Spider-Man movie. This has fueled speculation that the third movie will feature some kind of multiverse storyline, especially since Benedict Cumberbatch's Doctor Strange will also appear in the film. Strange's next solo movie also happens to be titled "The Multiverse of Madness." [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2005/07/26/spider-man-2-movie-trailer-spider-man-2-trailer"] There's been no other word on other characters from past Spider-Man movies appearing in the Tom Holland sequel, though Foxx, in a now-deleted Instagram post, suggested three Spider-Men may appear in the film. For more on the next Spider-Man movie, check out IGN's guide to the Marvel Cinematic Universe Phase 4. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt T.M. Kim is a reporter for IGN.

This week in Red Dead Online, hunt the new Legendary Bounty for Carmela “La Muñeca” Montez, score special Bounty Hunter discounts, and much more.