PAX has revealed its tentative calendar for conventions set to take place in 2021. This includes PAX East, PAX West, PAX AUS, and PAX Unplugged. In a statement put out on Twitter, the PAX team revealed that events will begin in the latter half of the year. The dates are as follows:

• PAX East: June 3-6, 2021
• PAX West: September 3-6, 2021
• PAX AUS: more information coming soon
• PAX Unplugged: December 10-12, 2021

It’s worth noting that PAX South is not being planned for next year, but is expected to return in 2022. Information for PAX Australia will be revealed in the coming weeks.

With optimism and safety in mind, we're announcing our #PAX 2021 Dates. Read the full statement below: pic.twitter.com/dDMhsJwd7t

— PAX (@pax) December 4, 2020

But, let’s address the elephant in the room: this is all being planned despite COVID-19 (coronavirus) cases spiking globally. PAX says if things don’t improve by next Summer, they will cancel the shows or convert them to a digital experience similar to PAX Online that took place earlier this year after PAX West was cancelled. Currently, these dates are being released early to allow industry guests to plan for the upcoming year, assuming public gatherings are allowed by then. “We care deeply for the health and safety of our amazing attendees and industry partners who have brought PAX to life for 17 years,” said Kyle Marsden-Kish, Director of PAX Events. “We are cautiously optimistic about improvements in the global COVID-19 situation next year, but we are carefully monitoring the situation to make sure PAX only proceeds if deemed safe to do so.” [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=games-to-play-while-stuck-at-home&captions=true"] Most of 2020 has been shaped by the ongoing pandemic with so, so many events being cancelled, postponed, or reimagined. San Diego Comic-Con, one of the largest annual conventions, shifted to an online event earlier this year. Likewise, DC held its first-ever FanDome, a multi-day online experience full of announcements and events. While it may seem outlandish to announce large events at the height of a pandemic, PAX is remaining optimistic that things will get better by next Summer. Now, it’s up to the rest of us to do our part. Wear a mask. Find out how to help, and stay safe, during the coronavirus pandemic. [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.

PAX has revealed its tentative calendar for conventions set to take place in 2021. This includes PAX East, PAX West, PAX AUS, and PAX Unplugged. In a statement put out on Twitter, the PAX team revealed that events will begin in the latter half of the year. The dates are as follows:

• PAX East: June 3-6, 2021
• PAX West: September 3-6, 2021
• PAX AUS: more information coming soon
• PAX Unplugged: December 10-12, 2021

It’s worth noting that PAX South is not being planned for next year, but is expected to return in 2022. Information for PAX Australia will be revealed in the coming weeks.

With optimism and safety in mind, we're announcing our #PAX 2021 Dates. Read the full statement below: pic.twitter.com/dDMhsJwd7t

— PAX (@pax) December 4, 2020

But, let’s address the elephant in the room: this is all being planned despite COVID-19 (coronavirus) cases spiking globally. PAX says if things don’t improve by next Summer, they will cancel the shows or convert them to a digital experience similar to PAX Online that took place earlier this year after PAX West was cancelled. Currently, these dates are being released early to allow industry guests to plan for the upcoming year, assuming public gatherings are allowed by then. “We care deeply for the health and safety of our amazing attendees and industry partners who have brought PAX to life for 17 years,” said Kyle Marsden-Kish, Director of PAX Events. “We are cautiously optimistic about improvements in the global COVID-19 situation next year, but we are carefully monitoring the situation to make sure PAX only proceeds if deemed safe to do so.” [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=games-to-play-while-stuck-at-home&captions=true"] Most of 2020 has been shaped by the ongoing pandemic with so, so many events being cancelled, postponed, or reimagined. San Diego Comic-Con, one of the largest annual conventions, shifted to an online event earlier this year. Likewise, DC held its first-ever FanDome, a multi-day online experience full of announcements and events. While it may seem outlandish to announce large events at the height of a pandemic, PAX is remaining optimistic that things will get better by next Summer. Now, it’s up to the rest of us to do our part. Wear a mask. Find out how to help, and stay safe, during the coronavirus pandemic. [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.

Jordan Vogt-Roberts’ long in the works Metal Gear Solid movie is pushing forward and Oscar Isaac is reportedly attached to star as Solid Snake. According to Deadline Isaac, a popular fan choice for the role is slated to play Solid Snake in Vogt-Roberts' (Kong: Skull Island) live-action adaptation of the 1998 Konami video game. A script has been written by Derek Connoly, with Avi Arad producing. Vogt-Roberts has been working on a Metal Gear Solid adaptation since at least 2017, and a script has been in production since then as well. But with Isaac attached, it appears that Sony Pictures is finally making moves to get production on the long-awaited live-action film started. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/03/03/oscar-isaac-wants-to-play-snake-in-a-metal-gear-solid-movie/loops?q=eyJsb29wVGl0bGUiOiIiLCJzdGFydFBvc2l0aW9uIjowLCJlbmRQb3NpdGlvbiI6MC4xMjY4ODA2NTIxNzM5MTMwMywic3RpY2tlckdyaWRJZHMiOlt7InBvcyI6MCwiaW1hZ2VJZCI6IiJ9LHsicG9zIjoxLCJpbWFnZUlkIjoiIn0seyJwb3MiOjIsImltYWdlSWQiOiIifSx7InBvcyI6MywiaW1hZ2VJZCI6IiJ9LHsicG9zIjo0LCJpbWFnZUlkIjoiIn0seyJwb3MiOjUsImltYWdlSWQiOiIifV0sInZpZGVvSWQiOiIzMzBiNWU1OTUzZjE2NTIzZjA4YzUxMjEzMmIyOWYxMCIsImNyZWF0b3IiOiJJR05NYXR0ayIsImlzQnJhbmRpbmdFeGNsdWRlZCI6dHJ1ZX0="] Isaac is best known for his role as Poe Dameron in the Star Wars series, but also in critical hits like Ex Machina and Inside Llewyn Davis. He will play Duke Leto Atreides in the upcoming Dune film. In fact, it was during an IGN interview for Netflix's Triple Frontier that Isaac stated his desire to take on the role of Solid Snake. "Metal Gear Solid, that's the one," Isaac said at the time. "I'm throwing my hat in for that one." Following the interview, Vogt-Roberts commissioned artist Boss Logic to mock up what a potential Isaac as Snake would look like, and you can see the results for yourself below.

THIS-MUSING-IS-NOT-NEWS-PSA:

To everyone asking how I feel about Oscar Isaac saying he wants to be Solid Snake. The full process required to cast an icon hasn’t even started, but.. Ask @Bosslogic where the idea for his brilliant mock up came from. The ball’s in Oscar’s court. pic.twitter.com/DKM1gw0Oc2 — Jordan Vogt-Roberts (@VogtRoberts) March 4, 2019

Metal Gear Solid is a 1998 PlayStation game, and the first 3D entry for the stealth-action series created by Hideo Kojima. Metal Gear Solid is set on a remote nuclear weapons facility that Snake must infiltrate to disarm a powerful weapon known as the Metal Gear. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2017/07/23/jordan-vogt-roberts-fights-for-a-perfect-metal-gear-movie-ign-access"] No release date or production start date has been revealed for the Metal Gear Solid movie. In other Sony video game movie news, filming has wrapped on the other long-in-the-works Uncharted movie starring Tom Holland as Nathan Drake. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt T.M. Kim is a reporter for IGN.

Jordan Vogt-Roberts’ long in the works Metal Gear Solid movie is pushing forward and Oscar Isaac is reportedly attached to star as Solid Snake. According to Deadline Isaac, a popular fan choice for the role is slated to play Solid Snake in Vogt-Roberts' (Kong: Skull Island) live-action adaptation of the 1998 Konami video game. A script has been written by Derek Connoly, with Avi Arad producing. Vogt-Roberts has been working on a Metal Gear Solid adaptation since at least 2017, and a script has been in production since then as well. But with Isaac attached, it appears that Sony Pictures is finally making moves to get production on the long-awaited live-action film started. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/03/03/oscar-isaac-wants-to-play-snake-in-a-metal-gear-solid-movie/loops?q=eyJsb29wVGl0bGUiOiIiLCJzdGFydFBvc2l0aW9uIjowLCJlbmRQb3NpdGlvbiI6MC4xMjY4ODA2NTIxNzM5MTMwMywic3RpY2tlckdyaWRJZHMiOlt7InBvcyI6MCwiaW1hZ2VJZCI6IiJ9LHsicG9zIjoxLCJpbWFnZUlkIjoiIn0seyJwb3MiOjIsImltYWdlSWQiOiIifSx7InBvcyI6MywiaW1hZ2VJZCI6IiJ9LHsicG9zIjo0LCJpbWFnZUlkIjoiIn0seyJwb3MiOjUsImltYWdlSWQiOiIifV0sInZpZGVvSWQiOiIzMzBiNWU1OTUzZjE2NTIzZjA4YzUxMjEzMmIyOWYxMCIsImNyZWF0b3IiOiJJR05NYXR0ayIsImlzQnJhbmRpbmdFeGNsdWRlZCI6dHJ1ZX0="] Isaac is best known for his role as Poe Dameron in the Star Wars series, but also in critical hits like Ex Machina and Inside Llewyn Davis. He will play Duke Leto Atreides in the upcoming Dune film. In fact, it was during an IGN interview for Netflix's Triple Frontier that Isaac stated his desire to take on the role of Solid Snake. "Metal Gear Solid, that's the one," Isaac said at the time. "I'm throwing my hat in for that one." Following the interview, Vogt-Roberts commissioned artist Boss Logic to mock up what a potential Isaac as Snake would look like, and you can see the results for yourself below.

THIS-MUSING-IS-NOT-NEWS-PSA:

To everyone asking how I feel about Oscar Isaac saying he wants to be Solid Snake. The full process required to cast an icon hasn’t even started, but.. Ask @Bosslogic where the idea for his brilliant mock up came from. The ball’s in Oscar’s court. pic.twitter.com/DKM1gw0Oc2 — Jordan Vogt-Roberts (@VogtRoberts) March 4, 2019

Metal Gear Solid is a 1998 PlayStation game, and the first 3D entry for the stealth-action series created by Hideo Kojima. Metal Gear Solid is set on a remote nuclear weapons facility that Snake must infiltrate to disarm a powerful weapon known as the Metal Gear. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2017/07/23/jordan-vogt-roberts-fights-for-a-perfect-metal-gear-movie-ign-access"] No release date or production start date has been revealed for the Metal Gear Solid movie. In other Sony video game movie news, filming has wrapped on the other long-in-the-works Uncharted movie starring Tom Holland as Nathan Drake. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt T.M. Kim is a reporter for IGN.

Treyarch has revealed everything that's coming to Season One of Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War when the update drops on December 16. The Season One update, which includes the integration of Cold War content into free-to-play battle royale Call of Duty: Warzone, was originally set to drop on December 10, but the date has been shifted to December 16 to give the team "a few more days to finalize everything." Treyarch says Season One is the largest free content drop in Black Ops history and it includes new multiplayer maps, new modes and playlists, new Zombies modes, season challenges, a seasonal prestige system, and more. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=every-operator-in-call-of-duty-black-ops-cold-war&captions=true"] This update will bring fan-favorite 6v6 modes and playlists to the game, as well as the return of 2v2 Gunfight with four new maps. It will also bring additional multiplayer maps into the fold, like Raid, which is a map set in a sprawling mansion within the hills of Hollywood originally from Call of Duty: Black Ops II. A new Fireteam map will be added as well. Free-to-acquire weapons for the Gunsmith table will be added to the game alongside new Zombies modes, some new Season Challenges, and a full cross-title launch of the Seasonal Prestige System, which features 1000 Season Levels to progress through. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/11/17/call-of-duty-black-ops-cold-war-multiplayer-review"] On the Warzone side of things, Treyarch is preparing to drop players into a brand new map. "Battle Royale is set to go beyond Verdansk: prepare to drop into a new Warzone map and mode at launch," the blog post reads. "Warzone's arsenal gets even bigger with over 30 Black Ops Cold War base weapons, as well as Blueprint variants. Also, make sure you're ready to face down fellow prisoners of Warzone in a new Gulag experience." To tide players over waiting for the update, starting December 12 through the launch of Season One, Treyarch will enable Double XP and Double Weapon XP in Cold War. Two free bundles — "Field Research" and "Certified" — will be available as well during that time and all you need to do is login once in order to claim them. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=every-ign-call-of-duty-review&captions=true"] In between now and the start of Season One, Treyarch will be updating Cold War with some quality-of-life improvements on December 8 and then the game will receive another update on December 15 to officially prep players for Season One. Warzone will receive its Cold War Season One update on December 16, at which point, the season will launch simultaneously across both Cold War and Warzone. Read our thoughts on the latest iteration of the franchise's multiplayer in our Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War multiplayer review and then check out the official IGN Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War wiki guide to prepare for Season One.  There, we have essential tips and tricks for multiplayer, including tips and tricks for every multiplayer map and tips and tricks for all multiplayer game modes. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Wesley LeBlanc is a freelance news writer and guide maker for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @LeBlancWes. 

Treyarch has revealed everything that's coming to Season One of Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War when the update drops on December 16. The Season One update, which includes the integration of Cold War content into free-to-play battle royale Call of Duty: Warzone, was originally set to drop on December 10, but the date has been shifted to December 16 to give the team "a few more days to finalize everything." Treyarch says Season One is the largest free content drop in Black Ops history and it includes new multiplayer maps, new modes and playlists, new Zombies modes, season challenges, a seasonal prestige system, and more. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=every-operator-in-call-of-duty-black-ops-cold-war&captions=true"] This update will bring fan-favorite 6v6 modes and playlists to the game, as well as the return of 2v2 Gunfight with four new maps. It will also bring additional multiplayer maps into the fold, like Raid, which is a map set in a sprawling mansion within the hills of Hollywood originally from Call of Duty: Black Ops II. A new Fireteam map will be added as well. Free-to-acquire weapons for the Gunsmith table will be added to the game alongside new Zombies modes, some new Season Challenges, and a full cross-title launch of the Seasonal Prestige System, which features 1000 Season Levels to progress through. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/11/17/call-of-duty-black-ops-cold-war-multiplayer-review"] On the Warzone side of things, Treyarch is preparing to drop players into a brand new map. "Battle Royale is set to go beyond Verdansk: prepare to drop into a new Warzone map and mode at launch," the blog post reads. "Warzone's arsenal gets even bigger with over 30 Black Ops Cold War base weapons, as well as Blueprint variants. Also, make sure you're ready to face down fellow prisoners of Warzone in a new Gulag experience." To tide players over waiting for the update, starting December 12 through the launch of Season One, Treyarch will enable Double XP and Double Weapon XP in Cold War. Two free bundles — "Field Research" and "Certified" — will be available as well during that time and all you need to do is login once in order to claim them. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=every-ign-call-of-duty-review&captions=true"] In between now and the start of Season One, Treyarch will be updating Cold War with some quality-of-life improvements on December 8 and then the game will receive another update on December 15 to officially prep players for Season One. Warzone will receive its Cold War Season One update on December 16, at which point, the season will launch simultaneously across both Cold War and Warzone. Read our thoughts on the latest iteration of the franchise's multiplayer in our Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War multiplayer review and then check out the official IGN Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War wiki guide to prepare for Season One.  There, we have essential tips and tricks for multiplayer, including tips and tricks for every multiplayer map and tips and tricks for all multiplayer game modes. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Wesley LeBlanc is a freelance news writer and guide maker for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @LeBlancWes. 

After making its debut at the annual event, Dragon Age 4 is set to make a return to The Game Awards in 2020. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/08/27/dragon-age-4-behind-the-scenes-teaser"] With the awards showcase set for next week, EA has teased that the untitled Dragon Age sequel will make some sort of appearance at the show, hosted and produced by Geoff Keighley. The announcement, in honor of Dragon Age Day, came in a press release sent to IGN. In addition, the release highlighted four new short stories, written by BioWare's narrative team, which have been created to help paint a picture for the future of Dragon Age, and provide "some insight" into the upcoming reveal. Keighley also confirmed the appearace on Twitter.

Don't miss a special look at the next DRAGON AGE from @bioware during #TheGameAwards next Thursday. pic.twitter.com/zPKHWroH7i

— Geoff Keighley (@geoffkeighley) December 4, 2020

The stories, published on Dragon Age Day, are accompanied by brand new artwork. They are The Next One, by Bryanna Battye; Ruins of Reality, by John Dombrow; The Wake, by Mary Kirby; and Minrathous Shadows, by Sheryl Chee. What exactly will be shown is unclear, but it does appear that clues may be found within the words of these new stories. EA debuted the first Dragon Age 4 teaser at The Game Awards 2018, and most recently offered a behind-the-scenes look during Gamescom 2020. Hopefully further details about the story it intends to tell will arrive with this reveal. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=43-new-images-from-dragon-age-4&captions=true"] The tease comes shortly after BioWare announced some key staffing changings, as studio GM Casey Hudson and Dragon Age executive producer Mark Darrah announced they are leaving BioWare, with Christian Dailey taking on Darrah's executive producer role. [poilib element="accentDivider"]

After making its debut at the annual event, Dragon Age 4 is set to make a return to The Game Awards in 2020. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/08/27/dragon-age-4-behind-the-scenes-teaser"] With the awards showcase set for next week, EA has teased that the untitled Dragon Age sequel will make some sort of appearance at the show, hosted and produced by Geoff Keighley. The announcement, in honor of Dragon Age Day, came in a press release sent to IGN. In addition, the release highlighted four new short stories, written by BioWare's narrative team, which have been created to help paint a picture for the future of Dragon Age, and provide "some insight" into the upcoming reveal. Keighley also confirmed the appearace on Twitter.

Don't miss a special look at the next DRAGON AGE from @bioware during #TheGameAwards next Thursday. pic.twitter.com/zPKHWroH7i

— Geoff Keighley (@geoffkeighley) December 4, 2020

The stories, published on Dragon Age Day, are accompanied by brand new artwork. They are The Next One, by Bryanna Battye; Ruins of Reality, by John Dombrow; The Wake, by Mary Kirby; and Minrathous Shadows, by Sheryl Chee. What exactly will be shown is unclear, but it does appear that clues may be found within the words of these new stories. EA debuted the first Dragon Age 4 teaser at The Game Awards 2018, and most recently offered a behind-the-scenes look during Gamescom 2020. Hopefully further details about the story it intends to tell will arrive with this reveal. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=43-new-images-from-dragon-age-4&captions=true"] The tease comes shortly after BioWare announced some key staffing changings, as studio GM Casey Hudson and Dragon Age executive producer Mark Darrah announced they are leaving BioWare, with Christian Dailey taking on Darrah's executive producer role. [poilib element="accentDivider"]

Sony Interactive Entertainment CEO, Jim Ryan, has insisted that a recent report that suggested PlayStation has “sidelined” Japanese developers and markets is “inaccurate”. Talking with Edge magazine issue #353, Ryan said: “The Sony stance is that the Japanese market remains incredibly important to us. We have not been as excited about the engagement of the Japanese game development community as we are now for many years.” [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=confirmed-playstation-5-games&captions=true"] The stance is in opposition to a report from Bloomberg, published in early November. The report stated that PlayStation staff in Japan suggested Sony’s home country had been sidelined in promotional planning for PS5, and that Japanese development support teams had been reduced by as much as a third. But Ryan’s stance is that PS5 continues to strengthen PlayStation’s relationship with Japan. “In our two launch shows – which featured a reasonable amount of games, but not a huge number of games – there were eight Japanese-developed titles there, many of which are the subject of collaboration and partnership between PlayStation and the Japanese publishing community,” he said. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/12/04/ps5-series-x-problems-scammers-scalpers-and-bots-next-gen-console-watch"] Ryan also noted that the PS5 was released in Japan on the same day as it was in the US, unlike the PS4 which was released almost a whole three months after the November 2013 US and EU launch. “So I read that stuff,” said Ryan, referring to reports like the Bloomberg one, “A lot of that commentary is inaccurate, and Japan – as our second largest market and as Sony’s homeland – continues to be really important to us.” While Japan continues to be important to Sony, it hasn’t stopped them changing some traditions. The PS5 makes X the default select button in Japan for the first time, where previously it has always been Circle. Several veteran developers from Sony Japan have also left to set up their own studio. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt Purslow is IGN's UK News and Entertainment Writer. 

Sony Interactive Entertainment CEO, Jim Ryan, has insisted that a recent report that suggested PlayStation has “sidelined” Japanese developers and markets is “inaccurate”. Talking with Edge magazine issue #353, Ryan said: “The Sony stance is that the Japanese market remains incredibly important to us. We have not been as excited about the engagement of the Japanese game development community as we are now for many years.” [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=confirmed-playstation-5-games&captions=true"] The stance is in opposition to a report from Bloomberg, published in early November. The report stated that PlayStation staff in Japan suggested Sony’s home country had been sidelined in promotional planning for PS5, and that Japanese development support teams had been reduced by as much as a third. But Ryan’s stance is that PS5 continues to strengthen PlayStation’s relationship with Japan. “In our two launch shows – which featured a reasonable amount of games, but not a huge number of games – there were eight Japanese-developed titles there, many of which are the subject of collaboration and partnership between PlayStation and the Japanese publishing community,” he said. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/12/04/ps5-series-x-problems-scammers-scalpers-and-bots-next-gen-console-watch"] Ryan also noted that the PS5 was released in Japan on the same day as it was in the US, unlike the PS4 which was released almost a whole three months after the November 2013 US and EU launch. “So I read that stuff,” said Ryan, referring to reports like the Bloomberg one, “A lot of that commentary is inaccurate, and Japan – as our second largest market and as Sony’s homeland – continues to be really important to us.” While Japan continues to be important to Sony, it hasn’t stopped them changing some traditions. The PS5 makes X the default select button in Japan for the first time, where previously it has always been Circle. Several veteran developers from Sony Japan have also left to set up their own studio. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt Purslow is IGN's UK News and Entertainment Writer.