Samsung announced three new smartphones: the Galaxy S21, Galaxy S21+, and Galaxy S21 Ultra. The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra is the company’s newest flagship Android phone, with a 6.8-inch display featuring a Quad HD+ resolution (3,200 x 1,440) and a refresh rate of 120Hz. While in years past you had to choose between either resolution or refresh rate, you can finally have both across the entire Galaxy S21 line. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=samsung-galaxy-s21-ultra&captions=true"] That said, this XL-sized handset automatically adjusts its frame rate between 10Hz and 120Hz depending on the type of content you’re viewing. The Galaxy S21 Ultra for example will display at 120Hz for gaming, 60Hz for video, and dip as low as 10Hz while viewing static content like books. The Galaxy S21 Ultra also features a much brighter screen, with a peak brightness of 1,500-nits while also delivering 50% better contrast and a new Eye Comfort Shield feature to reduce eye fatigue. The Samsung Galaxy S21 line is finally able to push high-resolution and refresh rate at the same time thanks to the new Snapdragon 888 processor. This particular handset is fitted with a 5,000mAh battery, as well as at least 12GB RAM and 128GB storage. Users can bump up the specs to 16GB of RAM, plus 256GB or 512GB of internal storage. Around the back, Samsung has completely redesigned the Galaxy S21 line with a slimmer camera bump that more seamlessly blends in with the phone’s metal frame. The number of cameras has increased up to four now, one more than last year. The main camera features a 108MP pro sensor with phase-detect autofocus. It captures extremely high-resolution images with 12bit HDR photos that offer 64 times more rich color data. What’s more, you also get dual (yes, that’s right) 10MP telephoto cameras. Both of the telephoto cameras feature dual-pixel autofocus and are optically image-stabilized, but one offers a zoom of 3x while the other is 10x. Combined they power the Galaxy S21 Ultra’s 100x Space Zoom feature. Lastly, there’s a 12MP ultrawide camera with a 120-degree field of view and dual-pixel autofocus as well. All four cameras are capable of capturing 4K 60fps footage, and users can even switch between all the different lenses while recording. The new 8K Snap also allows users to quickly shoot 8K stills and video with their phones. S-Pen fans will be glad to know it’s finally coming to the Galaxy S21 Ultra, though there’s no internal space to hold the stylus. Instead, you’ll have to buy a special case with a stylus caddy that bumps out the left side of the phone by about a centimeter. The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra is available for preorder now for $1,199 and releases on January 29th. Those that preorder between now and January 28th will also get a $200 Samsung Credit and a free Galaxy SmartTag – Samsung’s Bluetooth locator accessory. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=samsung-galaxy-s21&captions=true"]

Samsung Galaxy S21 and Galaxy S21+

Moving onto Samsung’s more affordable smartphones, the Galaxy S21 and Galaxy S21+ offer up a slightly smaller screen experience with 6.2 and 6.7 inch devices, respectively. Both phones also only feature a Full HD+ resolution (2,400 x 1,080), but you still get a 120Hz experience and the screens are HDR10+ certified too. As for internal hardware, the two handsets are still powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 chipset with 8GB of RAM, plus either 128GB or 256GB of storage. The Galaxy S21 features a 4,000mAh battery while the Galaxy S21+ has slightly more capacity at 4,800mAh. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=samsung-galaxy-s21-plus&captions=true"] The Galaxy S21 and Galaxy S21+ also have one fewer camera than their Ultra brethren and the arrangement is different too. They both have 12MP wide-angle and ultrawide cameras. The 64MP telephoto camera, meanwhile, features phase-detect AF and a 3x OIS optic for 30x Space Zoom. Pricing for the Galaxy S21 starts at $799 and the Galaxy S21+ starts at $999, both phones are available for preorder now and will arrive on January 29th. Preorders made between now and January 28th come with a $100 Samsung Credit for the Galaxy S21 or a $150 Samsung Credit for the Galaxy S21+, as well as a Galaxy SmartTag. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Have a tip for us? Want to discuss a possible story? Please send an email to newstips@ign.com Kevin Lee is IGN's Hardware and Roundups Editor. Follow him on Twitter @baggingspam

Samsung announced three new smartphones: the Galaxy S21, Galaxy S21+, and Galaxy S21 Ultra. The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra is the company’s newest flagship Android phone, with a 6.8-inch display featuring a Quad HD+ resolution (3,200 x 1,440) and a refresh rate of 120Hz. While in years past you had to choose between either resolution or refresh rate, you can finally have both across the entire Galaxy S21 line. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=samsung-galaxy-s21-ultra&captions=true"] That said, this XL-sized handset automatically adjusts its frame rate between 10Hz and 120Hz depending on the type of content you’re viewing. The Galaxy S21 Ultra for example will display at 120Hz for gaming, 60Hz for video, and dip as low as 10Hz while viewing static content like books. The Galaxy S21 Ultra also features a much brighter screen, with a peak brightness of 1,500-nits while also delivering 50% better contrast and a new Eye Comfort Shield feature to reduce eye fatigue. The Samsung Galaxy S21 line is finally able to push high-resolution and refresh rate at the same time thanks to the new Snapdragon 888 processor. This particular handset is fitted with a 5,000mAh battery, as well as at least 12GB RAM and 128GB storage. Users can bump up the specs to 16GB of RAM, plus 256GB or 512GB of internal storage. Around the back, Samsung has completely redesigned the Galaxy S21 line with a slimmer camera bump that more seamlessly blends in with the phone’s metal frame. The number of cameras has increased up to four now, one more than last year. The main camera features a 108MP pro sensor with phase-detect autofocus. It captures extremely high-resolution images with 12bit HDR photos that offer 64 times more rich color data. What’s more, you also get dual (yes, that’s right) 10MP telephoto cameras. Both of the telephoto cameras feature dual-pixel autofocus and are optically image-stabilized, but one offers a zoom of 3x while the other is 10x. Combined they power the Galaxy S21 Ultra’s 100x Space Zoom feature. Lastly, there’s a 12MP ultrawide camera with a 120-degree field of view and dual-pixel autofocus as well. All four cameras are capable of capturing 4K 60fps footage, and users can even switch between all the different lenses while recording. The new 8K Snap also allows users to quickly shoot 8K stills and video with their phones. S-Pen fans will be glad to know it’s finally coming to the Galaxy S21 Ultra, though there’s no internal space to hold the stylus. Instead, you’ll have to buy a special case with a stylus caddy that bumps out the left side of the phone by about a centimeter. The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra is available for preorder now for $1,199 and releases on January 29th. Those that preorder between now and January 28th will also get a $200 Samsung Credit and a free Galaxy SmartTag – Samsung’s Bluetooth locator accessory. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=samsung-galaxy-s21&captions=true"]

Samsung Galaxy S21 and Galaxy S21+

Moving onto Samsung’s more affordable smartphones, the Galaxy S21 and Galaxy S21+ offer up a slightly smaller screen experience with 6.2 and 6.7 inch devices, respectively. Both phones also only feature a Full HD+ resolution (2,400 x 1,080), but you still get a 120Hz experience and the screens are HDR10+ certified too. As for internal hardware, the two handsets are still powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 chipset with 8GB of RAM, plus either 128GB or 256GB of storage. The Galaxy S21 features a 4,000mAh battery while the Galaxy S21+ has slightly more capacity at 4,800mAh. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=samsung-galaxy-s21-plus&captions=true"] The Galaxy S21 and Galaxy S21+ also have one fewer camera than their Ultra brethren and the arrangement is different too. They both have 12MP wide-angle and ultrawide cameras. The 64MP telephoto camera, meanwhile, features phase-detect AF and a 3x OIS optic for 30x Space Zoom. Pricing for the Galaxy S21 starts at $799 and the Galaxy S21+ starts at $999, both phones are available for preorder now and will arrive on January 29th. Preorders made between now and January 28th come with a $100 Samsung Credit for the Galaxy S21 or a $150 Samsung Credit for the Galaxy S21+, as well as a Galaxy SmartTag. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Have a tip for us? Want to discuss a possible story? Please send an email to newstips@ign.com Kevin Lee is IGN's Hardware and Roundups Editor. Follow him on Twitter @baggingspam

The secret Isu language found in Assassin's Creed Valhalla has been deciphered by fans of the series. Assassin's Creed fan community Access The Animus released a video on January 13 (as reported by Eurogamer) detailing the fascinating process behind translating the secret texts, which has led them to decipher symbols found in the collector's edition of the game. There are a number of tablets you can find while playing as Eivor that display this language, and they can be cross-referenced with partially translated files found on Layla's computer in the modern portion of the game to be decrypted in full. Access the Animus used corresponding words, in-game translations and a complex understanding of grammar and historical language construction to figure out what had been written. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/11/09/assassins-creed-valhalla-review"] Using the in-game translations from Antony Henry, Access the Animus was able to apply what they had learned to the collector's edition of the game, which features Isu text on the packaging. So far they've found the words "Hidden Inside" on the Soundtrack CD, and "This Lake" in the CD bed of the game's case. They also arranged the collector's edition art prints which revealed another Isu word, "Now". Assassin's Creed Valhalla's Narrative Director Darby McDevitt praised the community on Twitter shortly after the release of the video. "Access the Animus, I never doubted you. The Isu language has been cracked," his tweet reads. The Access the Animus team mention at the end of the video that there are still many more tablets and texts to decipher, with more secrets to uncover beyond the progress they have made so far.

Access the Animus, I never doubted you.

The Isu language has been cracked!https://t.co/PiHj3FBA40 — Darby McDevitt (@DarbyMcDevitt) January 13, 2021

If you're unfamiliar with Assassin's Creed lore, the Isu, or "Those Who Came Before" are a species of precursor beings responsible for creating humans and the powerful Pieces of Eden that appear throughout the franchise. Here's our review of Assassin's Creed Valhalla, which we scored an 8, noting its "massive, beautiful open-world". [poilib element="accentDivider"] Jordan Oloman is a freelance writer for IGN. Follow him on Twitter.

The secret Isu language found in Assassin's Creed Valhalla has been deciphered by fans of the series. Assassin's Creed fan community Access The Animus released a video on January 13 (as reported by Eurogamer) detailing the fascinating process behind translating the secret texts, which has led them to decipher symbols found in the collector's edition of the game. There are a number of tablets you can find while playing as Eivor that display this language, and they can be cross-referenced with partially translated files found on Layla's computer in the modern portion of the game to be decrypted in full. Access the Animus used corresponding words, in-game translations and a complex understanding of grammar and historical language construction to figure out what had been written. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/11/09/assassins-creed-valhalla-review"] Using the in-game translations from Antony Henry, Access the Animus was able to apply what they had learned to the collector's edition of the game, which features Isu text on the packaging. So far they've found the words "Hidden Inside" on the Soundtrack CD, and "This Lake" in the CD bed of the game's case. They also arranged the collector's edition art prints which revealed another Isu word, "Now". Assassin's Creed Valhalla's Narrative Director Darby McDevitt praised the community on Twitter shortly after the release of the video. "Access the Animus, I never doubted you. The Isu language has been cracked," his tweet reads. The Access the Animus team mention at the end of the video that there are still many more tablets and texts to decipher, with more secrets to uncover beyond the progress they have made so far.

Access the Animus, I never doubted you.

The Isu language has been cracked!https://t.co/PiHj3FBA40 — Darby McDevitt (@DarbyMcDevitt) January 13, 2021

If you're unfamiliar with Assassin's Creed lore, the Isu, or "Those Who Came Before" are a species of precursor beings responsible for creating humans and the powerful Pieces of Eden that appear throughout the franchise. Here's our review of Assassin's Creed Valhalla, which we scored an 8, noting its "massive, beautiful open-world". [poilib element="accentDivider"] Jordan Oloman is a freelance writer for IGN. Follow him on Twitter.

Nintendo has announced that New Nintendo Pokemon Snap will be released on Nintendo Switch on April 30, 2021. New Pokemon Snap will take place in the Lental region and will take players on an Pokemon-filled adventure through jungles, deserts, and more. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2021/01/14/new-pokemon-snap-release-date-trailer"] In New Pokemon Snap, players will take on the role of a budding Pokemon photographer and will work with the Lental region expert known as Professor Mirror, and his assistant Rita, on an ecological survey to photograph Pokemon in nature. You will also be traveling in ann auto-driving vehicle known as the NEO-ONE to allow you to focus on getting the best shots. Players will be able to interact with Pokemon by throwing Fluffruit to catch their attention or watch them eat, and can use the fruit to help draw them out of variety of situations. Professor Mirror will evaluate your photos and your score will be based on "the subjects’ poses, how large they appear, how directly they’re facing the camera and where they fall in frame." [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=new-pokemon-snap-fresh-screenshots-and-art&captions=true"] As more photos are taken and more research is completed, Pokemon may even start to look and behave in new ways. Capturing these and more will help fill out your Photodex. Furthermore, some Pokemon and vegetation will appear to have a special glow. This is known as the Illumina Phenomenon and it will be up to you to figure out exactly what is causing it. New Pokemon Snap is the first new entry in the Pokemon photography game since the original N64 game in 1999. For more, check out our New Pokemon Snap preorder guide and our initial reactions to the game's announcement last year on our Nintendo podcast NVC. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/06/17/new-pokemon-snap-official-switch-trailer"] [poilib element="accentDivider"] Have a tip for us? Want to discuss a possible story? Please send an email to newstips@ign.com. Adam Bankhurst is a news writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @AdamBankhurst and on Twitch.

Nintendo has explained that Bowser's Fury - the new standalone adventure coming with the Switch release of Super Mario 3D World - will be a free-roaming experience that is "short but action-packed". The new Bowser's Fury website describes the story of the expansion: "Mario is sent to Lake Lapcat, where everything is cat-themed—and Bowser has gone berserk! Team up with Bowser Jr. to help his dad chill out in this short but action-packed standalone adventure." The website also confirms the adventure is free-roaming. You'll be travelling around Lake Lapcat in search of Cat Shines - which will let you unlock the new Giga Bell Power-Up - and reignite lighthouses to clear darkened areas. That sounds a little closer in approach to Super Mario Odyssey than 3D World's more curated courses. On Twitter, Nintendo added that Bowser's Fury can be selected from the Super Mario 3D World title screen - it's not an endgame level, or unlocked by playing the Wii U re-release. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2021/01/13/super-mario-3d-world-bowsers-fury-overview-trailer"] The new website also confirms how amiibo will work in the expansion. Using a Bowser amiibo will cause the new Fury Bowser to appear in game, and a Bowser Jr. amiibo will unleash "a powerful shockwave to knockout nearby enemies and blocks". Other amiibo will also cause effects - one of which will seemingly be to turn into a gold Cat Mario statue, as seen in yesterday's Overview Trailer (above). We've learned a fair bit about Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury in the last few days, including the addition of a photo mode, and how Fury Bowser will be a timed world event in the new adventure. Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury will arrive for Switch on February 12, and you can preorder it right now. We awarded the Wii U version of Super Mario 3D World a 9.6/10 in our review, saying it's "marvelous, and its constant variety and fantastic light-hearted co-op play proves that Nintendo still knows exactly how to tweak the Mario formula in fun ways." [poilib element="accentDivider"] Joe Skrebels is IGN's Executive Editor of News. Follow him on Twitter. Have a tip for us? Want to discuss a possible story? Please send an email to newstips@ign.com.

Falcon and the Winter Soldier star Anthony Mackie has revealed that Marvel once considered casting someone other than Chris Evans to play old man Steve Rogers in Avengers: Endgame. During an appearance on The Jess Cagle Show, Mackie briefly touched on whether or not Falcon would be taking up Captain America's shield in the future, which made him reflect on the original casting of Cap; in particular, the older version of the character who featured in the closing moments of Endgame. He revealed that, at one time, there had been talks of casting someone else to portray the aged hero. "They actually wanted to cast an old dude to play Chris Evans," Mackie revealed. "So they brought in like three actors. They're like, none of these, like, this isn't how Chris will look when he's old. Like, he's gonna [look] he's like George Clooney. He's going to be 95 and still like handsome, you know? So, they brought in a makeup team and prosthetics and makeup and made them into an old man. And how good of an actor Chris is, it actually worked. He pulled it off with his voice and everything. He did a great job." [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/04/26/avengers-endgame-ending-explained"] Endgame directors Joe and Anthony Russo wrapped up Steve's MCU journey on a very definitive note, with Steve travelling back in time to return the Infinity Stones to their original places and then choosing to remain in the past to finally take up the dance that he promised Hayley Atwell's Peggy Carter in Captain America: The First Avenger. However, when he returns to the rest of our heroes, he is an old man. The Russos used a combination of facial prosthetics and CGI to transform Chris Evans into a senior citizen because they wanted to achieve the "perfect" look to make sure that they didn't "undermine the emotional intention of the scene" between old man Steve and Sam Wilson aka Falcon. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=15-actors-who-almost-played-avengers&captions=true"] Mackie is reprising his role as Falcon in the upcoming Disney+ original series The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, opposite Sebastian Stan, who plays Bucky Barnes. The six-episode series is set to debut on Disney+ on March 19, as part of an ambitious new lineup of TV series' designed to be more closely integrated with Marvel's movies. For more about the studio's future slate of projects and releases, read our breakdown of the biggest and most noteworthy developments in the MCU, on Disney+ and in Marvel's comics this year. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Adele Ankers is a Freelance Entertainment Journalist. You can reach her on Twitter.

Nioh 2 publisher Koei Tecmo and developer Team Ninja have detailed the PC-specific features in the upcoming Nioh 2 Complete Edition, which will be released on February 5. PC players (Nioh 2 Complete Edition will be available on Steam) can expect support for 4K resolution, ultra-widescreen, HDR, 144hz (including the option for locked 60fps or 120fps), customizable key bindings, and gamepads. You can see them in action in the trailer above, and check out a bunch of screenshots in the gallery below. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=nioh-2-complete-edition-pc-screenshots&captions=true"] Those who buy Nioh 2 Complete Edition in its first three weeks of release will also receive the bonus pieces of armor “Sohaya Deserter Garb” and “Ornate Gold Armor.” Check those armor sets out below: [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=nioh-2-complete-edition-bonus-armor&captions=true"] IGN gave the original release of Nioh 2 an "amazing" review last March. Nioh 2 Complete Edition includes all of the original content, plus all three DLC expansions and multiplayer modes. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Ryan McCaffrey is IGN’s Executive Editor of Previews. Follow him on Twitter at @DMC_Ryan, catch him on Unlocked, and drop-ship him Taylor Ham sandwiches from New Jersey whenever possible.

Universal Studios Japan has indefinitely delayed the opening of Super Nintendo World after Osaka Prefecture declared a state of emergency due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Following the news that Ubisoft Massive — the studio behind The Division series — will be developing an open-world Star Wars game with Lucasfilm Games, the company has updated several job listings for its Star Wars Project, with hints on what to expect from it. Ubisoft Massive’s job recruitment page was updated following this morning’s big Star Wars news. The page now lists several jobs in various departments in gameplay, art, production, animation, and more. While details on Massive’s upcoming Star Wars game remains sparse — only announcing that it is a story-driven, open-world adventure — the job listings indicate some areas of focus the developers are looking into.

[widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=every-ign-star-wars-game-review&captions=true"]

For example, in Massive’s listing for Senior Progression Game Designer, the studio is looking for applicants with “Absolute passion for playing and making games, especially RPG and Action-Adventure games” as well as “proven experience working with progression systems and balancing[.]” Massive's previous series, The Division, is a shooter-RPG with live service elements, loot, and RPG-style progression. Could these elements appear in Massive's Star Wars game? There's at least a role for progression experts at the studio. A listing for Senior Writer is looking for applicants that are skilled in “Researching and writing narrative elements to anchor a reality-based narrative within an existing IP,” which we now know is Star Wars. [caption id="attachment_2461214" align="alignnone" width="862"] Source: Massive. Captured by IGN.[/caption] The “reality-based” narrative element does seem to hint at the tone Massive is shooting for in regards to its Star Wars project, though without concrete details these job listings are only surface-level. Earlier today, the newly formed Lucasfilm Games and Ubisoft Massive announced the two are working on a new Star Wars game. Other than the announcement that it will run on Massive’s Snowdrop engine, details are sparse on the canon Star Wars game. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2021/01/13/open-world-star-wars-game-in-the-works-at-ubisoft-ign-news"] In 2013, EA and Disney announced a multi-year licensing agreement that gave EA exclusive rights to publish Star Wars games developed by its internal teams. But Lucasfilm Games will approach things differently, working with developer partners on core games. Games aren’t limited to just Star Wars, either. MachineGames and Bethesda’s Todd Howard are working on an Indiana Jones game under the same Lucasfilm Games umbrella. Read our in-depth dive on how Star Wars games will change and evolve now that EA is no longer its exclusive publisher. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt T.M. Kim is a reporter for IGN. You can reach him on Twitter @lawoftd.