Activision Blizzard has confirmed that Vicarious Visions, the developer behind such titles as Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1+2 and Crash Bandicoot N.Sane Trilogy, is officially merging with Blizzard Entertainment. As reported by GamesIndustry.Biz, the Vicarious Visions team of about 200 people will now be employees of Blizzard and are "fully dedicated to existing Blizzard games and initiatives." This means Vicarious Visions will no longer be creating games as a lead developer. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/09/03/tony-hawks-pro-skater-12-review"] "After collaborating with Vicarious Visions for some time and developing a great relationship, Blizzard realized there was an opportunity for [Vicarious Visions] to provide long-term support," a representative said to GamesIndustry.Biz. However, Activision Blizzard did not reveal what the team has/will be working on going forward. Vicarious Visions studio head Jen Oneal has been promoted to Blizzard executive vice president of development and will be part of Blizzard's leadership team and will report directly to Blizzard president J. Allen Brack. Simon Ebejer, who was the chief operating officer for Vicarious Visions, will take over the studio head role from Oneal. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2017/06/29/crash-bandicoot-n-sane-trilogy-review"] Vicarious Visions was founded in 1990 and was acquired by Activision in 2005. The studio has worked on everything from Guitar Hero, Spider-Man, Tony Hawk, Crash Bandicoot, Destiny, Skylanders, and much more. [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.

As we enter 2021 and the PS5 is officially in the wild (well, sort of), it’s time to take a look at the state of Sony’s first-party studios. The launch of the PS5 brought with it a host of new PlayStation exclusive games, but the stable of PlayStation Studios has plenty more in store.

One quick note — we’re specifically discussing internal, first-party owned studios. So no third-party exclusives or second-party games (think Lucid’s Destruction AllStars for PS5) will be included.

[widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=the-best-ps5-games&captions=true"]

But from recently released like The Last of Us Part 2 and Ghost of Tsushima to impending exclusives like Horizon Forbidden West, let’s take a look at what every PlayStation Studio has in the works.

Bend Studio

[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/04/22/days-gone-the-world-of-days-gone-video"]

Last release: After years of teases, Bend Studio finally released its post-apocalyptic thriller and motorbike simulator Days Gone in 2019. Set in the Pacific Northwest, Bend’s open-world adventures introduced us to Freaker hordes, Boozeman, and Deacon St. John, while also — SPOILERS — possibly tying in a beloved Bend franchise into its world.

Currently working on/next project: Days Gone… still! Bend has actually done a great job of post-launch support for Days Gone, from performance patches to free weekly challenges, and even wackier DLC options like a Death Stranding-themed bike. And it’s even got improved performance on PS5, with framerates up to 60 FPS. The studio has since been recruiting for a new project, but has revealed no details on it just yet.

Guerrilla Games

[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/06/17/horizon-forbidden-west-guerrilla-talks"]

Last release: Horizon Zero Dawn, the 2017 hit that introduced PlayStation 4 owners to a world of fascinating robotic beasts to fight in an intriguing world. Guerrilla released a big expansion to Horizon, The Frozen Wilds, later that year. Since then, the studio also released Horizon on PC as one of the first major PS4 exclusives from a Sony first-party to make the jump to another platform.

Currently working on/next project: Alongside the reveal of the PS5, Horizon Forbidden West was one of the initial big, first-party exclusives announced for the new system. Set tentatively for a release in the second half of 2021, Forbidden West continues Aloy’s journey, introducing new enemies, locations, and mysteries to uncover. No gameplay has been shown, but if Forbidden West is still set for this year, we should hopefully see some soon before it hits PS4 and PS5 later this year.

Insomniac Games

[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/11/06/marvels-spider-man-miles-morales-review"]

Last release: Since becoming a first-party studio early last year, Insomniac has already been one of the more prolific studios in the lineup. Following up on its massive success with 2018’s Marvel’s Spider-Man, Insomniac debuted its sequel Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales on both PS4 and on PS5 as a launch game. Alongside that, the developer also brought Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered to PS5, bringing a next-gen look and feel to the beloved original.

Currently working on/next project: As if that wasn’t enough, Insomniac has one more “launch window” PS5 game in the works - Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart. Rift Apart promises reality-hopping gameplay made possible by the PS5’s SSD, and is easily one of the most anticipated PS5 games in the first half of 2021. And though it’s not officially announced, let’s be real...there’s plenty of post-credit scene teases to indicate a new Spider-Man game is on the way, eventually.

Japan Studio

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Last release: Sony’s Japan Studio has been quite prolific, either developing or co-developing plenty of games in just the life of PS4 alone. From work on Knack to The Last Guardian to PSVR breakout Astro Bot Rescue Mission to most recently co-developing Everybody’s Golf, Japan Studio has been involved in a lot of major Sony first-party titles, and the ASOBI Team within the studio delivered at the PS5’s launch with Astro’s Playroom. It may have seemed like just a free pack-in, but ASOBI’s ingenuity transformed the bundled PS5 game into an incredible showcase for what the DualSense can do.

Currently working on/next project: We don’t know too much about what the studio has coming up next, but I’d expect it to be nothing short of a varied mix of PS4, PS5, and PSVR games to come. There’s also some uncertainty about what projects may be in the works given that three major Sony Japan devs, Junya Okura, Kazunobu Sato, and Silent Hill/Gravity Rush creator Keiichiro Toyama recently left the studio. But given the acclaim, success, and promise of more to come from Astro, hopefully a larger scale game could be in the works.

London Studio

[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/05/22/blood-truth-launch-trailer"]

Last release: London Studio has contributed both the PS4 release SingStar Celebration and the PSVR title PlayStation VR Worlds to Sony’s current-gen output, and most recently released the pretty great PSVR action-adventure Blood & Truth.

Currently working on/next project: London Studio has continued to support Blood & Truth with post-launch content updates. We don’t know what London Studio is working on afterward, but given the strong reception and Sony’s commitment to PSVR, I’d expect more VR outings from the studio.

Manchester Studio

Unfortunately, Sony shut down its Manchester VR studio before the team could release a game. Originally opened in 2015, the studio is now the third internal Sony studio to be shut down during the PS4’s lifecycle.

Media Molecule

[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/02/13/dreams-review"]

Last release: After introducing the world to LittleBigPlanet on the PS3 in 2008, the infinitely creative Media Molecule gave us Tearaway for the PlayStation Vita (which got a port to the PS4 in 2015) and most recently released Dreams for PS4.

Currently working on/next project: More Dreams! Media Molecule’s creation suite has allowed players’ ingenuity to run wild, and turn out a continuous stream of impressive games, music videos, and short films. Media Moelcule has continued to support Dreams and its community, making it one of the most exciting and creative products in PlayStation’s first-party lineup.

Naughty Dog

[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/08/11/the-last-of-us-part-ii-grounded-update-trailer"]

Last release: During the life of the PS4, Naughty Dog put out a handful of incredible games, including The Last of Us Remastered, Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End, Uncharted: The Lost Legacy, and most recently, The Last of Us Part 2.

Currently working on/next project: After a few delays, The Last of Us Part 2 released to critical and commercial acclaim in mid-2020, and  Naughty Dog has continued to support free post-launch updates. The company has no newly announced projects, but as far as we know, it is quietly plugging way at some form of Factions, The Last of Us' multiplayer mode that was expected to return for Part 2 but didn’t make it in time for release due to the expanding scope of the single player.

Pixelopus

[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/10/08/concrete-genie-review"]

Last release: Concrete Genie, the beautiful action-adventure game that gives players the power of a magical paintbrush. Originally scheduled for a spring 2019 launch, Concrete Genie has been pushed to this fall, but along with that delay came the announcement of a PSVR mode to accompany the main campaign.

Currently working on/next project: We don’t know! Pixelopus is definitely one of Sony’s smallest internal studios, but Concrete Genie showcased big creative ambitions, a knack for some charming art and storytelling, and a unique gameplay idea that still felt like it could hold its own against Sony’s bigger games.

Poylphony

[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/06/11/gran-turismo-7-announcement-and-gameplay-trailer-ps5-reveal-event"]

Last release: The Sony studio Poylphony gave us Gran Turismo Sport last generation, and has been busy providing content updates and patches to the game since its launch in 2017.

Currently working on/next project: Unsurprisingly, the studio continues to work on the acclaimed racing sim franchise, and  Gran Turismo 7 was announced for the PS5 last year. Though it has no exact release date, release a Sony advertisement teasing upcoming PS5 games hinted at a 2021 release. Whether it remains on track is unclear at this time, but it’s no surprise that Sony’s newest console will also be home to one of its longest-running franchises.

San Diego Studio

[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/03/16/mlb-the-show-20-review"]

Last release: San Diego just released MLB: The Show 20, its annual baseball hit.

Currently working on/next project: MLB: The Show 21 is, unsurprisingly, probably on the way next from San Diego Studio. Though a recent  announcement that future MLB: The Show installments could come to non-PlayStation home consoles as early as 2021, there’s been no indication of whether this year’s MLB will actually kick off that trend.

Sony Santa Monica

[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2018/12/26/looking-back-at-god-of-war-almost-a-year-later-with-cory-barlog-beyond-572"]

Last release: God of War, IGN’s Best Game of 2018 and a huge evolution of the long-running Sony franchise.

Currently working on/next project: Unsurprisingly, more God of War. Very little is known about the upcoming sequel, other than a brief teaser trailer and the tagline “Ragnarok is coming.” And while we’re still largely in the dark about Kratos’ continuing adventures through Norse mythology, we do know that it’s planned for a 2021 release. Additionally, the studio is working on an unannounced game according to recent hiring notices from Santa Monica.

Sucker Punch

Last release: Sucker Punch’s long-awaited new franchise, Ghost of Tsushima, debuted as the fastest-selling new IP of the PS4 generation for Sony, and while Sucker Punch has supported its release with patches and PS5 performance updates,  the studio also surprised fans with an unexpected post-launch multiplayer mode. Ghost of Tsushima: Legends surprised and delighted fans with a new take on Ghost’s combat, with up two four players taking on missions, including a Raid, together.

Currently working on/next project: Sucker Punch hasn’t revealed what’s to come after Tsushima and Legends, but given the impressive success and reception of both the single-player and multiplayer components, we wouldn’t be surprised if Jin Sakai returned in the future.

One More Thing

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We don’t have the full details just yet, but another team within Sony’s first-party stable is assembling. While the San Diego-based studio has been the subject of rumors and speculation for years, we’ve gotten one of our best bits of information on them yet just recently. Michael Mumbauer worked as the Head for the unnamed studio until November 2020, and in his Linkedin profile description, we've learned that the studio is “a brand new, all-star, AAA Action/Adventure development team for Playstation. Based in San Diego and utilizing proprietary engine technology, this team was assembled to expand upon existing franchises and craft all new stories for the next generation of gamers.” Older rumors suggested that the new team is working to continue the Uncharted franchise, but as of right now that’s just speculation Sony has yet to confirm.

[poilib element="accentDivider"]

Of course, when we hear more about this studio or any of Sony’s other first-party teams, you can be sure to read and watch about it on IGN. And of course, for everything big happening in the world of PlayStation, be sure to check out our weekly PlayStation show, Beyond!, for more insight.

[poilib element="accentDivider"]

Jonathon Dornbush is IGN's Senior News Editor, host of Podcast Beyond!, and PlayStation lead. Talk to him on Twitter @jmdornbush.

As we enter 2021 and the PS5 is officially in the wild (well, sort of), it’s time to take a look at the state of Sony’s first-party studios. The launch of the PS5 brought with it a host of new PlayStation exclusive games, but the stable of PlayStation Studios has plenty more in store.

One quick note — we’re specifically discussing internal, first-party owned studios. So no third-party exclusives or second-party games (think Lucid’s Destruction AllStars for PS5) will be included.

[widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=the-best-ps5-games&captions=true"]

But from recently released like The Last of Us Part 2 and Ghost of Tsushima to impending exclusives like Horizon Forbidden West, let’s take a look at what every PlayStation Studio has in the works.

Bend Studio

[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/04/22/days-gone-the-world-of-days-gone-video"]

Last release: After years of teases, Bend Studio finally released its post-apocalyptic thriller and motorbike simulator Days Gone in 2019. Set in the Pacific Northwest, Bend’s open-world adventures introduced us to Freaker hordes, Boozeman, and Deacon St. John, while also — SPOILERS — possibly tying in a beloved Bend franchise into its world.

Currently working on/next project: Days Gone… still! Bend has actually done a great job of post-launch support for Days Gone, from performance patches to free weekly challenges, and even wackier DLC options like a Death Stranding-themed bike. And it’s even got improved performance on PS5, with framerates up to 60 FPS. The studio has since been recruiting for a new project, but has revealed no details on it just yet.

Guerrilla Games

[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/06/17/horizon-forbidden-west-guerrilla-talks"]

Last release: Horizon Zero Dawn, the 2017 hit that introduced PlayStation 4 owners to a world of fascinating robotic beasts to fight in an intriguing world. Guerrilla released a big expansion to Horizon, The Frozen Wilds, later that year. Since then, the studio also released Horizon on PC as one of the first major PS4 exclusives from a Sony first-party to make the jump to another platform.

Currently working on/next project: Alongside the reveal of the PS5, Horizon Forbidden West was one of the initial big, first-party exclusives announced for the new system. Set tentatively for a release in the second half of 2021, Forbidden West continues Aloy’s journey, introducing new enemies, locations, and mysteries to uncover. No gameplay has been shown, but if Forbidden West is still set for this year, we should hopefully see some soon before it hits PS4 and PS5 later this year.

Insomniac Games

[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/11/06/marvels-spider-man-miles-morales-review"]

Last release: Since becoming a first-party studio early last year, Insomniac has already been one of the more prolific studios in the lineup. Following up on its massive success with 2018’s Marvel’s Spider-Man, Insomniac debuted its sequel Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales on both PS4 and on PS5 as a launch game. Alongside that, the developer also brought Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered to PS5, bringing a next-gen look and feel to the beloved original.

Currently working on/next project: As if that wasn’t enough, Insomniac has one more “launch window” PS5 game in the works - Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart. Rift Apart promises reality-hopping gameplay made possible by the PS5’s SSD, and is easily one of the most anticipated PS5 games in the first half of 2021. And though it’s not officially announced, let’s be real...there’s plenty of post-credit scene teases to indicate a new Spider-Man game is on the way, eventually.

Japan Studio

[widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=64-playstation-game-easter-eggs-in-astros-playroom&captions=true"]

Last release: Sony’s Japan Studio has been quite prolific, either developing or co-developing plenty of games in just the life of PS4 alone. From work on Knack to The Last Guardian to PSVR breakout Astro Bot Rescue Mission to most recently co-developing Everybody’s Golf, Japan Studio has been involved in a lot of major Sony first-party titles, and the ASOBI Team within the studio delivered at the PS5’s launch with Astro’s Playroom. It may have seemed like just a free pack-in, but ASOBI’s ingenuity transformed the bundled PS5 game into an incredible showcase for what the DualSense can do.

Currently working on/next project: We don’t know too much about what the studio has coming up next, but I’d expect it to be nothing short of a varied mix of PS4, PS5, and PSVR games to come. There’s also some uncertainty about what projects may be in the works given that three major Sony Japan devs, Junya Okura, Kazunobu Sato, and Silent Hill/Gravity Rush creator Keiichiro Toyama recently left the studio. But given the acclaim, success, and promise of more to come from Astro, hopefully a larger scale game could be in the works.

London Studio

[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/05/22/blood-truth-launch-trailer"]

Last release: London Studio has contributed both the PS4 release SingStar Celebration and the PSVR title PlayStation VR Worlds to Sony’s current-gen output, and most recently released the pretty great PSVR action-adventure Blood & Truth.

Currently working on/next project: London Studio has continued to support Blood & Truth with post-launch content updates. We don’t know what London Studio is working on afterward, but given the strong reception and Sony’s commitment to PSVR, I’d expect more VR outings from the studio.

Manchester Studio

Unfortunately, Sony shut down its Manchester VR studio before the team could release a game. Originally opened in 2015, the studio is now the third internal Sony studio to be shut down during the PS4’s lifecycle.

Media Molecule

[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/02/13/dreams-review"]

Last release: After introducing the world to LittleBigPlanet on the PS3 in 2008, the infinitely creative Media Molecule gave us Tearaway for the PlayStation Vita (which got a port to the PS4 in 2015) and most recently released Dreams for PS4.

Currently working on/next project: More Dreams! Media Molecule’s creation suite has allowed players’ ingenuity to run wild, and turn out a continuous stream of impressive games, music videos, and short films. Media Moelcule has continued to support Dreams and its community, making it one of the most exciting and creative products in PlayStation’s first-party lineup.

Naughty Dog

[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/08/11/the-last-of-us-part-ii-grounded-update-trailer"]

Last release: During the life of the PS4, Naughty Dog put out a handful of incredible games, including The Last of Us Remastered, Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End, Uncharted: The Lost Legacy, and most recently, The Last of Us Part 2.

Currently working on/next project: After a few delays, The Last of Us Part 2 released to critical and commercial acclaim in mid-2020, and  Naughty Dog has continued to support free post-launch updates. The company has no newly announced projects, but as far as we know, it is quietly plugging way at some form of Factions, The Last of Us' multiplayer mode that was expected to return for Part 2 but didn’t make it in time for release due to the expanding scope of the single player.

Pixelopus

[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/10/08/concrete-genie-review"]

Last release: Concrete Genie, the beautiful action-adventure game that gives players the power of a magical paintbrush. Originally scheduled for a spring 2019 launch, Concrete Genie has been pushed to this fall, but along with that delay came the announcement of a PSVR mode to accompany the main campaign.

Currently working on/next project: We don’t know! Pixelopus is definitely one of Sony’s smallest internal studios, but Concrete Genie showcased big creative ambitions, a knack for some charming art and storytelling, and a unique gameplay idea that still felt like it could hold its own against Sony’s bigger games.

Poylphony

[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/06/11/gran-turismo-7-announcement-and-gameplay-trailer-ps5-reveal-event"]

Last release: The Sony studio Poylphony gave us Gran Turismo Sport last generation, and has been busy providing content updates and patches to the game since its launch in 2017.

Currently working on/next project: Unsurprisingly, the studio continues to work on the acclaimed racing sim franchise, and  Gran Turismo 7 was announced for the PS5 last year. Though it has no exact release date, release a Sony advertisement teasing upcoming PS5 games hinted at a 2021 release. Whether it remains on track is unclear at this time, but it’s no surprise that Sony’s newest console will also be home to one of its longest-running franchises.

San Diego Studio

[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/03/16/mlb-the-show-20-review"]

Last release: San Diego just released MLB: The Show 20, its annual baseball hit.

Currently working on/next project: MLB: The Show 21 is, unsurprisingly, probably on the way next from San Diego Studio. Though a recent  announcement that future MLB: The Show installments could come to non-PlayStation home consoles as early as 2021, there’s been no indication of whether this year’s MLB will actually kick off that trend.

Sony Santa Monica

[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2018/12/26/looking-back-at-god-of-war-almost-a-year-later-with-cory-barlog-beyond-572"]

Last release: God of War, IGN’s Best Game of 2018 and a huge evolution of the long-running Sony franchise.

Currently working on/next project: Unsurprisingly, more God of War. Very little is known about the upcoming sequel, other than a brief teaser trailer and the tagline “Ragnarok is coming.” And while we’re still largely in the dark about Kratos’ continuing adventures through Norse mythology, we do know that it’s planned for a 2021 release. Additionally, the studio is working on an unannounced game according to recent hiring notices from Santa Monica.

Sucker Punch

Last release: Sucker Punch’s long-awaited new franchise, Ghost of Tsushima, debuted as the fastest-selling new IP of the PS4 generation for Sony, and while Sucker Punch has supported its release with patches and PS5 performance updates,  the studio also surprised fans with an unexpected post-launch multiplayer mode. Ghost of Tsushima: Legends surprised and delighted fans with a new take on Ghost’s combat, with up two four players taking on missions, including a Raid, together.

Currently working on/next project: Sucker Punch hasn’t revealed what’s to come after Tsushima and Legends, but given the impressive success and reception of both the single-player and multiplayer components, we wouldn’t be surprised if Jin Sakai returned in the future.

One More Thing

[widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=the-best-playstation-exclusives-of-2020&captions=true"]

We don’t have the full details just yet, but another team within Sony’s first-party stable is assembling. While the San Diego-based studio has been the subject of rumors and speculation for years, we’ve gotten one of our best bits of information on them yet just recently. Michael Mumbauer worked as the Head for the unnamed studio until November 2020, and in his Linkedin profile description, we've learned that the studio is “a brand new, all-star, AAA Action/Adventure development team for Playstation. Based in San Diego and utilizing proprietary engine technology, this team was assembled to expand upon existing franchises and craft all new stories for the next generation of gamers.” Older rumors suggested that the new team is working to continue the Uncharted franchise, but as of right now that’s just speculation Sony has yet to confirm.

[poilib element="accentDivider"]

Of course, when we hear more about this studio or any of Sony’s other first-party teams, you can be sure to read and watch about it on IGN. And of course, for everything big happening in the world of PlayStation, be sure to check out our weekly PlayStation show, Beyond!, for more insight.

[poilib element="accentDivider"]

Jonathon Dornbush is IGN's Senior News Editor, host of Podcast Beyond!, and PlayStation lead. Talk to him on Twitter @jmdornbush.

Genshin Impact's 1.3 Update has been officially detailed ahead of its February 3, 2021 release date and will allow players to celebrate the Lantern Rite in Liyue Harbor, win a free four-star Liyue character, and earn over 1,600 Primogems. As revealed on PlayStation.Blog, the Lantern Rite is the biggest festival in Liyue's calendar and is packed with festivities that all culminate in a "spectacular ceremony on the first full moon of the year that sees every household release specially made Xiao Lanterns into the night sky." These lanterns, according to Liyue locals, deliver their wishes to the heavens and guide the lost souls of fallen heroes back home. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2021/01/22/genshin-impact-version-13-all-that-glitters-trailer"] The Traveler (you) and Paimon have been called upon to help prepare for event, which is divided into three stages. Each stage comes with a series of requests that will help the locals prepare for the Lantern Rite. By completing these requests, players can raise the Festive Fever level and unlock even more quests and stories. During the Lantern Rite, the brightly lit streets of Liyue will be filled with festival-exclusive games, snacks, activities, and more. One such game is the Theater Mechanicus - a tower defense strategy game that can be played solo or with friends. Travelers with an Adventure Rank of at least 20 will also be able to participate in "Vishaps and Where to Find Them" to hunt down dangerous Geovishaps in exchange for rewards. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=genshin-impact-13-update-liyues-lantern-rite&captions=true"] A daily login event will also take place that will let players earn 10 free Intertwined Fate, and players can participate in an event challenge for the chance to win the previously mentioned four-star Liyue character of their choice. [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.

Genshin Impact's 1.3 Update has been officially detailed ahead of its February 3, 2021 release date and will allow players to celebrate the Lantern Rite in Liyue Harbor, win a free four-star Liyue character, and earn over 1,600 Primogems. As revealed on PlayStation.Blog, the Lantern Rite is the biggest festival in Liyue's calendar and is packed with festivities that all culminate in a "spectacular ceremony on the first full moon of the year that sees every household release specially made Xiao Lanterns into the night sky." These lanterns, according to Liyue locals, deliver their wishes to the heavens and guide the lost souls of fallen heroes back home. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2021/01/22/genshin-impact-version-13-all-that-glitters-trailer"] The Traveler (you) and Paimon have been called upon to help prepare for event, which is divided into three stages. Each stage comes with a series of requests that will help the locals prepare for the Lantern Rite. By completing these requests, players can raise the Festive Fever level and unlock even more quests and stories. During the Lantern Rite, the brightly lit streets of Liyue will be filled with festival-exclusive games, snacks, activities, and more. One such game is the Theater Mechanicus - a tower defense strategy game that can be played solo or with friends. Travelers with an Adventure Rank of at least 20 will also be able to participate in "Vishaps and Where to Find Them" to hunt down dangerous Geovishaps in exchange for rewards. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=genshin-impact-13-update-liyues-lantern-rite&captions=true"] A daily login event will also take place that will let players earn 10 free Intertwined Fate, and players can participate in an event challenge for the chance to win the previously mentioned four-star Liyue character of their choice. [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.

Google has threatened to remove its search engine from Australia, and Facebook has said it will remove its news from the feeds for all Australians, if a code that will force digital platforms to negotiate payments to news companies is passed. As reported by The Guardian, this would mean that the 19 million Australians who use Google each month would no longer be able to do so and the 17 million Australians who use Facebook each month would not longer be able to see or post news on their feeds. The legislation that has been proposed is currently in front of the parliament and would force these digital platforms to negotiate with news companies for a suitable payment for using their content. It also mentions that an arbiter would be put in place to "ultimately decide the payment amount if no agreement can be reached." Google delivered the ultimatum to the Australian government on Friday, January 22, saying this news code is "untenable" and would set a "dangerous precedent" for paying for links. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/04/29/google-stadia-review-2020-update"] “The principle of unrestricted linking between websites is fundamental to search and coupled with the unmanageable financial and operational risk if this version of the code were to become law, it would give us no real choice but to stop making Google Search available in Australia. Withdrawing our services from Australia is the last thing that Google want to have happen, especially when there is another way forward,” Google's Australian managing director Mel Silva said. Silva mentioned that Google is willing to make this situation "workable" if certain changes were made to the code, and that Google "was keen to enter into agreements with media companies to pay for content, pointing out around 450 deals have been made with media companies around the world." Australia's Prime Minister Scott Morrison responded to this statement by Google by firmly saying the government will not respond to threats. “Let me be clear. Australia makes our rules for things you can do in Australia. That’s done in our parliament. It’s done by our government. And that’s how things work here in Australia and people who want to work with that, in Australia, you’re very welcome. But we don’t respond to threats.” Morrison said. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=all-2021-games-with-confirmed-release-dates&captions=true"] Facebook, on the other hand, mentioned that news articles make up under 5% of what the average user sees on their feeds, and that "no commercial benefit was gained by Facebook on its users posting fake news." Facebook has proposed that digital platforms like Facebook be given six months' grace to negotiate deals with these news companies directly before "being hit with the 'big stick' of the mandatory code." Australia’s competition watchdog, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, developed this particular code. Itts chair, Rod Sims, has said that "what was being lost in the debate was the code was not simply a requirement for Google and Facebook to pay per click for news articles." “Discussions we are aware of have focused on paying upfront lump-sum amounts, not per click,” Sims said. "What this code does is it gives the possibility of arbitration, which I suspect won’t be used that often, but that possibility evens up the bargaining process. This is really the only way we can get commercial deals.” [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.

Google has threatened to remove its search engine from Australia, and Facebook has said it will remove its news from the feeds for all Australians, if a code that will force digital platforms to negotiate payments to news companies is passed. As reported by The Guardian, this would mean that the 19 million Australians who use Google each month would no longer be able to do so and the 17 million Australians who use Facebook each month would not longer be able to see or post news on their feeds. The legislation that has been proposed is currently in front of the parliament and would force these digital platforms to negotiate with news companies for a suitable payment for using their content. It also mentions that an arbiter would be put in place to "ultimately decide the payment amount if no agreement can be reached." Google delivered the ultimatum to the Australian government on Friday, January 22, saying this news code is "untenable" and would set a "dangerous precedent" for paying for links. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/04/29/google-stadia-review-2020-update"] “The principle of unrestricted linking between websites is fundamental to search and coupled with the unmanageable financial and operational risk if this version of the code were to become law, it would give us no real choice but to stop making Google Search available in Australia. Withdrawing our services from Australia is the last thing that Google want to have happen, especially when there is another way forward,” Google's Australian managing director Mel Silva said. Silva mentioned that Google is willing to make this situation "workable" if certain changes were made to the code, and that Google "was keen to enter into agreements with media companies to pay for content, pointing out around 450 deals have been made with media companies around the world." Australia's Prime Minister Scott Morrison responded to this statement by Google by firmly saying the government will not respond to threats. “Let me be clear. Australia makes our rules for things you can do in Australia. That’s done in our parliament. It’s done by our government. And that’s how things work here in Australia and people who want to work with that, in Australia, you’re very welcome. But we don’t respond to threats.” Morrison said. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=all-2021-games-with-confirmed-release-dates&captions=true"] Facebook, on the other hand, mentioned that news articles make up under 5% of what the average user sees on their feeds, and that "no commercial benefit was gained by Facebook on its users posting fake news." Facebook has proposed that digital platforms like Facebook be given six months' grace to negotiate deals with these news companies directly before "being hit with the 'big stick' of the mandatory code." Australia’s competition watchdog, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, developed this particular code. Itts chair, Rod Sims, has said that "what was being lost in the debate was the code was not simply a requirement for Google and Facebook to pay per click for news articles." “Discussions we are aware of have focused on paying upfront lump-sum amounts, not per click,” Sims said. "What this code does is it gives the possibility of arbitration, which I suspect won’t be used that often, but that possibility evens up the bargaining process. This is really the only way we can get commercial deals.” [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.

With Toy Fair 2021 postponed, Funko is looking to fill the void with a weeklong virtual event dubbed Funko Fair 2021. IGN can exclusively reveal one of the new Funko POP lines being announced at Funko Fair, one celebrating the 30th anniversary of Deadpool. This new POP Marvel: Deadpool 30th Anniversary line features the Merc With a Mouth in a variety of goofy poses and costumes, including everything from Barista Deadpool to Construction Worker Deadpool to T-Rex Deadpool. Get a closer look at this new POP wave in the slideshow gallery below: [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=marvel-pop-deadpool-30th-anniversary-figures&captions=true"] In total, there are six new Deadpool figures included in the 30th Anniversary wave. Funko is also prepping a new wave of Mystery Minis, featuring smaller takes on these unusual designs along with several extra costume choices. These Deadpool figures are available to preorder through Walmart, along with the rest of the new Funko Fair 2021 reveals. As the name of the series suggests, Funko is celebrating the 30th anniversary of Deadpool's first appearance back in 1991's New Mutants #98. Co-creator Rob Liefeld recently voiced some strong opinions about Marvel's handling (or lack thereof) of Deadpool in the MCU. Fortunately, all signs point to Deadpool 3 being a go at Marvel Studios. An R-rated Deadpool 3 is reportedly in development, with Ryan Reynolds set to return as Wade Wilson. According to Deadline, Bob's Burgers writers Wendy Molyneux and Lizzie Molyneux-Loeglin are currently working on the screenplay. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/07/23/unboxing-funko-sdcc-2020-exclusives]" Stay tuned for more announcements coming out of Funko Fair 2021. [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.

With Toy Fair 2021 postponed, Funko is looking to fill the void with a weeklong virtual event dubbed Funko Fair 2021. IGN can exclusively reveal one of the new Funko POP lines being announced at Funko Fair, one celebrating the 30th anniversary of Deadpool. This new POP Marvel: Deadpool 30th Anniversary line features the Merc With a Mouth in a variety of goofy poses and costumes, including everything from Barista Deadpool to Construction Worker Deadpool to T-Rex Deadpool. Get a closer look at this new POP wave in the slideshow gallery below: [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=marvel-pop-deadpool-30th-anniversary-figures&captions=true"] In total, there are six new Deadpool figures included in the 30th Anniversary wave. Funko is also prepping a new wave of Mystery Minis, featuring smaller takes on these unusual designs along with several extra costume choices. These Deadpool figures are available to preorder through Walmart, along with the rest of the new Funko Fair 2021 reveals. As the name of the series suggests, Funko is celebrating the 30th anniversary of Deadpool's first appearance back in 1991's New Mutants #98. Co-creator Rob Liefeld recently voiced some strong opinions about Marvel's handling (or lack thereof) of Deadpool in the MCU. Fortunately, all signs point to Deadpool 3 being a go at Marvel Studios. An R-rated Deadpool 3 is reportedly in development, with Ryan Reynolds set to return as Wade Wilson. According to Deadline, Bob's Burgers writers Wendy Molyneux and Lizzie Molyneux-Loeglin are currently working on the screenplay. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/07/23/unboxing-funko-sdcc-2020-exclusives]" Stay tuned for more announcements coming out of Funko Fair 2021. [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.

Disney has announced that the Bob's Burgers movie, The King's Man, and Ron's Gone Wrong have all been delayed. Bob's Burgers has been taken off its April 9, 2021 date and currently has no new release date. The King's Man has moved from March 12, 2021 to August 20, 2021, and Ron's Gone Wrong has moved from April 23, 2021 to October 22, 2021. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/the-kings-man-official-trailer-3"] Alongside the delays, The Night House, The Eyes of Tammy Faye, Antlers, and Nightmare Alley have all been given dates in 2021. The full list of updates includes:

• THE KING’S MAN (20th) previously dated on 3/12/21 moves to 8/20/21
• BOB’S BURGERS (20th) previously dated on 4/9/21 is now Unset
• RON’S GONE WRONG (20th) previously dated on 4/23/21 moves to 10/22/21
• THE NIGHT HOUSE (Searchlight) is now dated on 7/16/21
• THE EYES OF TAMMY FAYE (Searchlight) is now dated on 9/24/21 (Limited)
• ANTLERS (Searchlight) is now dated on 10/29/21
• NIGHTMARE ALLEY (Searchlight) is the updated title of UNTITLED 20TH CENTURY (20th) dated on 12/3/21 (Limited)

The Bob's Burgers film was originally announced in 2017 for a 2020 release, and will be a feature film take of the Emmy-winning animated series that follows the Belcher family - Bob, Linda, Tina, Gene, and Louise - as they run their hamburger restaurant. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=the-25-best-adult-cartoon-tv-series&captions=true"] The King's Man, which will be the third Kingsman film, is actually a prequel that looks to reveal the origins of the very first independent intelligence agency and follow the story of one man racing against time to stop a collection of history's worst tyrants and criminal masterminds as they "plot a war to wipe out millions." These films join an ever-growing list of movies that have been delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and otherwise, including No Time To Die, the Uncharted movie, Ghostbusters: Afterlife, and more. [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.