Monthly Archives: January 2021

Riot and Bungie File Lawsuit Against Cheatmaking Company

Riot and Bungie have joined forces to file a lawsuit against a cheat-making company alleged to have produced software hacks for Valorant and Destiny 2. As reported by Polygon, Riot and Bungie's lawyers filed a complaint against 'GatorCheats' in the Central District of California court on January 8th. You can read the full lawsuit here on Scribd. "The success of Plaintiff's Games depends on them being enjoyable and fair for all players, and plaintiffs spend an enormous amount of time and money to ensure this is the case," the lawsuit reads. "Defendants' sale and distribution of the cheating software has caused Plaintiffs to suffer irreparable damage to their goodwill and reputation and to lose millions of dollars in revenue." Elsewhere in the lawsuit, it mentions that the Destiny 2 GatorCheats were apparently taken down from the "public-facing" pages of the GatorCheats website, but that Bungie and Riot still believe that GatorCheats still offer a version of the cheats for sale in private. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/06/05/valorant-review"] The game developers are seeking damages for the harm done by the sale of the cheating software, which, among other hacks, allows players to engage an 'aimbot' and forego the need to be accurate with their gunshots. Riot issued a statement to Polygon, saying that "cheating undermines a game's competitive integrity and erodes community trust. Riot is wholly committed to upholding these values for its players, so when we become aware of a cheat maker, you bet we’re going to go after them.” In other Valorant news, a new agent called Yoru was recently revealed, who can turn invisible and send out fake footsteps to confuse enemies. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Jordan Oloman is a freelance writer for IGN. Follow him on Twitter.

Riot and Bungie File Lawsuit Against Cheatmaking Company

Riot and Bungie have joined forces to file a lawsuit against a cheat-making company alleged to have produced software hacks for Valorant and Destiny 2. As reported by Polygon, Riot and Bungie's lawyers filed a complaint against 'GatorCheats' in the Central District of California court on January 8th. You can read the full lawsuit here on Scribd. "The success of Plaintiff's Games depends on them being enjoyable and fair for all players, and plaintiffs spend an enormous amount of time and money to ensure this is the case," the lawsuit reads. "Defendants' sale and distribution of the cheating software has caused Plaintiffs to suffer irreparable damage to their goodwill and reputation and to lose millions of dollars in revenue." Elsewhere in the lawsuit, it mentions that the Destiny 2 GatorCheats were apparently taken down from the "public-facing" pages of the GatorCheats website, but that Bungie and Riot still believe that GatorCheats still offer a version of the cheats for sale in private. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/06/05/valorant-review"] The game developers are seeking damages for the harm done by the sale of the cheating software, which, among other hacks, allows players to engage an 'aimbot' and forego the need to be accurate with their gunshots. Riot issued a statement to Polygon, saying that "cheating undermines a game's competitive integrity and erodes community trust. Riot is wholly committed to upholding these values for its players, so when we become aware of a cheat maker, you bet we’re going to go after them.” In other Valorant news, a new agent called Yoru was recently revealed, who can turn invisible and send out fake footsteps to confuse enemies. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Jordan Oloman is a freelance writer for IGN. Follow him on Twitter.

AEW Console Game Will Feature Campaign, Multiplayer, and Create-a-Wrestler

The AEW console game will feature campaign, multiplayer, create-a-wrestler, and "various other unusual modes", but won't include a GM mode, according to executive vice president of All Elite Wrestling Kenny Omega - who also revealed that he joined AEW on the condition that he'd be a part of its gaming division, and talked through the game's retro influences. In an interview with IGN Japan, Omega explained that a lot of the details are still under discussion, but that the console game will include a campaign mode in addition to multiplayer. He said that the General Manager mode will not be in the console game, instead remaining unique to the mobile title AEW Elite GM. “I can say right now that we’re not sure of how many wrestlers will be available upon release, but one thing I can say is that the number of wrestlers in the AEW is growing all the time, and the roster of wrestlers in the game will reflect that,” he said. “There will be a campaign, and various other unusual modes, and you will be able to edit your own wrestler, too.” He said that while the team are aiming for a 2021 release, this is not set in stone, as the quality of the game will come before release date commitments. “I don't want to rush it, so I don't want to make a promise [about the release date],” he said. “I want the release version to be good.” [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/all-elite-wrestling-the-game-official-teaser"] In just two years since its January 2019 inception, All Elite Wrestling (AEW) has become a powerhouse in the world of wrestling. A few months ago, top wrestler Kenny Omega announced the establishment of AEW Games, revealing that an as-yet untitled console game is being produced by Japanese developer Yuke’s. Omega handpicked the developer, with veteran wrestling game producer Hideyuki “Geta” Iwashita as an advisor. Omega's clearly invested in the game, and wrestling games in general - even saying that he originally joined AEW as a wrestler on the condition that he would also be involved with its gaming division. He told us that he was influenced by the wrestling games he loved in the 1990s and early 2000s, and this influence will shape the direction of the new games. “In America, there are a lot of fans [of professional wrestling] who want a game like [2000 N64 game] WWF No Mercy or [PlayStation/N64 series] Virtual Pro Wrestling, and I hope that we can create something that feels like that, but something a little more speedy, something that allows for today’s style, which is a little different than it was 20 years ago. Things are faster and more dynamic now.” In particular, he said that he is keen to revisit those games’ mechanics for countering, modernising them to work in a more satisfying way. “I want to give the player a little more control over when he can reverse moves, instead of it being completely random,” Omega said. “No Mercy and Virtual Pro Wrestling had a ‘counter’ button, but you never knew if you would counter or not, and there was no indication of if you could or if you would. It would just sometimes happen. So I’ve been thinking about if there is some sort of merit to giving the player more control over when you can counter, and would it be more fun that way. Or maybe we will create a counter system. None of this is final yet though.” [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=the-top-10-wrestling-video-games-of-all-time&captions=true"] He also heaped praise on PlayStation 2 series King of Colosseum, and said that he is considering implementing that game’s liberating use of finishing moves. “One thing that I loved about King of Colosseum is that you had the ability to use a finisher right away. And in wrestling, sometimes that happens,” he said. “First there needs to be momentum, and the ability to build a special. We’re still experimenting, so who knows what’s going to happen.” Omega explained that these old-school touches will help to keep his console game from directly competing with other modern franchises. Indeed, an early teaser trailer (above) shown during the AEW Games 1.0 Special Event in November revealed that the game favours a cartoonish graphics style rather than photoreal fighters, which appears to be part of Omega’s strategy. Indeed, he explained that the reason he chose to work with Iwashita was because of the developer’s strong innovation on older games such as Virtual Pro Wrestling and WWF No Mercy. He had been discussing the idea of working with Iwashita since even before the formation of the AEW promotion. Yuke’s, meanwhile, was the original developer of the WWE 2K series, which was recently taken over by Visual Concepts. “My plan is not to compete with WWE and that style of games,” he told us. “Those games try to re-create the look of a WWE wrestling match as you’d see it on TV, and their system is to use mo-cap for capturing the moves. I always felt that the way that Geta had created his systems, even though it wasn’t with real people in mo-cap, it was more accurate.” [poilib element="accentDivider"] Shuka Yamada is a freelance writer for IGN Japan; she also wrestles for Gatoh Move Pro Wrestling under the name Lulu Pencil. Follow her on Twitter for all that good stuff.

AEW Console Game Will Feature Campaign, Multiplayer, and Create-a-Wrestler, But No GM Mode

The AEW console game will feature campaign, multiplayer, create-a-wrestler, and "various other unusual modes", but won't include a GM mode, according to executive vice president of All Elite Wrestling Kenny Omega - who also revealed that he joined AEW on the condition that he'd be a part of its gaming division, and talked through the game's retro influences. In an interview with IGN Japan, Omega explained that a lot of the details are still under discussion, but that the console game will include a campaign mode in addition to multiplayer. He said that the General Manager mode will not be in the console game, instead remaining unique to the mobile title AEW Elite GM. “I can say right now that we’re not sure of how many wrestlers will be available upon release, but one thing I can say is that the number of wrestlers in the AEW is growing all the time, and the roster of wrestlers in the game will reflect that,” he said. “There will be a campaign, and various other unusual modes, and you will be able to edit your own wrestler, too.” He said that while the team are aiming for a 2021 release, this is not set in stone, as the quality of the game will come before release date commitments. “I don't want to rush it, so I don't want to make a promise [about the release date],” he said. “I want the release version to be good.” [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/all-elite-wrestling-the-game-official-teaser"] In just two years since its January 2019 inception, All Elite Wrestling (AEW) has become a powerhouse in the world of wrestling. A few months ago, top wrestler Kenny Omega announced the establishment of AEW Games, revealing that an as-yet untitled console game is being produced by Japanese developer Yuke’s. Omega handpicked the developer, with veteran wrestling game producer Hideyuki “Geta” Iwashita as an advisor. Omega's clearly invested in the game, and wrestling games in general - even saying that he originally joined AEW as a wrestler on the condition that he would also be involved with its gaming division. He told us that he was influenced by the wrestling games he loved in the 1990s and early 2000s, and this influence will shape the direction of the new games. “In America, there are a lot of fans [of professional wrestling] who want a game like [2000 N64 game] WWF No Mercy or [PlayStation/N64 series] Virtual Pro Wrestling, and I hope that we can create something that feels like that, but something a little more speedy, something that allows for today’s style, which is a little different than it was 20 years ago. Things are faster and more dynamic now.” In particular, he said that he is keen to revisit those games’ mechanics for countering, modernising them to work in a more satisfying way. “I want to give the player a little more control over when he can reverse moves, instead of it being completely random,” Omega said. “No Mercy and Virtual Pro Wrestling had a ‘counter’ button, but you never knew if you would counter or not, and there was no indication of if you could or if you would. It would just sometimes happen. So I’ve been thinking about if there is some sort of merit to giving the player more control over when you can counter, and would it be more fun that way. Or maybe we will create a counter system. None of this is final yet though.” [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=the-top-10-wrestling-video-games-of-all-time&captions=true"] He also heaped praise on PlayStation 2 series King of Colosseum, and said that he is considering implementing that game’s liberating use of finishing moves. “One thing that I loved about King of Colosseum is that you had the ability to use a finisher right away. And in wrestling, sometimes that happens,” he said. “First there needs to be momentum, and the ability to build a special. We’re still experimenting, so who knows what’s going to happen.” Omega explained that these old-school touches will help to keep his console game from directly competing with other modern franchises. Indeed, an early teaser trailer (above) shown during the AEW Games 1.0 Special Event in November revealed that the game favours a cartoonish graphics style rather than photoreal fighters, which appears to be part of Omega’s strategy. Indeed, he explained that the reason he chose to work with Iwashita was because of the developer’s strong innovation on older games such as Virtual Pro Wrestling and WWF No Mercy. He had been discussing the idea of working with Iwashita since even before the formation of the AEW promotion. Yuke’s, meanwhile, was the original developer of the WWE 2K series, which was recently taken over by Visual Concepts. “My plan is not to compete with WWE and that style of games,” he told us. “Those games try to re-create the look of a WWE wrestling match as you’d see it on TV, and their system is to use mo-cap for capturing the moves. I always felt that the way that Geta had created his systems, even though it wasn’t with real people in mo-cap, it was more accurate.” [poilib element="accentDivider"] Shuka Yamada is a freelance writer for IGN Japan; she also wrestles for Gatoh Move Pro Wrestling under the name Lulu Pencil. Follow her on Twitter for all that good stuff.

Fast 9: Vin Diesel on Bringing Back Han and Going Into Space

Vin Diesel has discussed some of the rumors and revelations surrounding Fast 9, including the reason for Han's return and the possibility of the franchise going to space. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Diesel explained why Han is being brought back from the "dead" for the next installment in the globe-trotting, billion-dollar franchise after the character was seemingly killed off in Fast and Furious: Tokyo Drift. He explained the importance of his return, referring to Han as an "integral character" in the franchise. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/01/31/f9-fast-furious-9-official-trailer-1"] "If you remember, he's kind of responsible for the away years of Dom Toretto," Diesel said, speaking about the connection between his character and Sung Kang's character in the movies. "He's the one doing jobs with him in Mexico, he's the only one who knows where Dom is, and in many ways is the bridge for Dom when Dom comes back in Tokyo Drift." Han was a part of Fast 6 as the film was set before Tokyo Drift. That story revealed that Han was killed by Jason Statham's Deckard Shaw, who was seen looking pretty cosy at Dom's barbecue at the end of Fast 8. Many fans disliked that Shaw had become close with the crew considering his role in Han's death, but Diesel revealed that Fast 9 will revisit a familiar theme, which might help to set the record straight. "So there's something very special and magical about the Han character," Diesel elaborated further, addressing Han's return. "When you see the movie you'll feel it, but I believe at the core it's another testament to, not only don't turn your back on family, but don't give up on family. Without giving away the plot, that's the theme: don't give up on family." [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=f9-character-posters&captions=true"] It's unknown at this stage whether the family will be reuniting on the ground or in outer space, as several of the movie's stars have previously alluded to the possibility of the F9 crew being catapulted into the cosmos. Diesel didn't confirm or deny those reports, though he did describe director Justin Lin as an innovative filmmaker. "No spoilers over here," he said, staying tight-lipped on the subject. "I will say that Justin is one of those think-outside-of-the-box directors. I'd put nothing past him and he will thoroughly play with whatever is plausible to incorporate into the story." Had the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic not struck, we would already know whether or not F9 goes to space as the movie was originally set to release on May 22 of last year. However, it was delayed to May 2021 as a result of the pandemic. F9 isn't the only Fast and Furious delay in the wake of the pandemic as Fast & Furious Crossroads was delayed as well. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Adele Ankers is a Freelance Entertainment Journalist. You can reach her on Twitter.

Fast 9: Vin Diesel on Bringing Back Han and Going Into Space

Vin Diesel has discussed some of the rumors and revelations surrounding Fast 9, including the reason for Han's return and the possibility of the franchise going to space. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Diesel explained why Han is being brought back from the "dead" for the next installment in the globe-trotting, billion-dollar franchise after the character was seemingly killed off in Fast and Furious: Tokyo Drift. He explained the importance of his return, referring to Han as an "integral character" in the franchise. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/01/31/f9-fast-furious-9-official-trailer-1"] "If you remember, he's kind of responsible for the away years of Dom Toretto," Diesel said, speaking about the connection between his character and Sung Kang's character in the movies. "He's the one doing jobs with him in Mexico, he's the only one who knows where Dom is, and in many ways is the bridge for Dom when Dom comes back in Tokyo Drift." Han was a part of Fast 6 as the film was set before Tokyo Drift. That story revealed that Han was killed by Jason Statham's Deckard Shaw, who was seen looking pretty cosy at Dom's barbecue at the end of Fast 8. Many fans disliked that Shaw had become close with the crew considering his role in Han's death, but Diesel revealed that Fast 9 will revisit a familiar theme, which might help to set the record straight. "So there's something very special and magical about the Han character," Diesel elaborated further, addressing Han's return. "When you see the movie you'll feel it, but I believe at the core it's another testament to, not only don't turn your back on family, but don't give up on family. Without giving away the plot, that's the theme: don't give up on family." [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=f9-character-posters&captions=true"] It's unknown at this stage whether the family will be reuniting on the ground or in outer space, as several of the movie's stars have previously alluded to the possibility of the F9 crew being catapulted into the cosmos. Diesel didn't confirm or deny those reports, though he did describe director Justin Lin as an innovative filmmaker. "No spoilers over here," he said, staying tight-lipped on the subject. "I will say that Justin is one of those think-outside-of-the-box directors. I'd put nothing past him and he will thoroughly play with whatever is plausible to incorporate into the story." Had the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic not struck, we would already know whether or not F9 goes to space as the movie was originally set to release on May 22 of last year. However, it was delayed to May 2021 as a result of the pandemic. F9 isn't the only Fast and Furious delay in the wake of the pandemic as Fast & Furious Crossroads was delayed as well. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Adele Ankers is a Freelance Entertainment Journalist. You can reach her on Twitter.

Morbius: Sony Postpones Marvel Movie Release Again

Morbius, which stars Jared Leto, has been delayed once more from March 19, 2021 to October 8, 2021 by Sony. As reported by Variety, Morbius is one of the many films that have been impacted by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and fans will need to wait a bit longer to see Leto as Dr. Michael Morbius, a biochehemist who battled Spider-Man in Marvel Comics that accidentally becomes a monster while trying to create a cure for his rare blood disease. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/04/16/morbius-jared-letos-marvel-movie-explained"] Morbius is directed by Daniel Espinosa and written by Matt Sazama and Burk Sharpless, and the film is part of Sony's Spider-Man Marvel movie universe that will also include Venom: Let There Be Carnage, which is currently scheduled to be released on June 25, 2021. Morbius' first trailer was released in January 2021 and it revealed a surprising connection to the universe of Tom Holland's Spider-Man with Michael Keaton making an appearance, presumably reprising his role as Adrian Toomes, a.k.a. Vulture. For more on Morbius, check out our explainer on this particular Spider-Man spin-off character, whether or not Morbius is actually a vampire, and every other Spider-Man movie spin-off currently in development. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=2021-movies-preview&captions=true"] [poilib element="accentDivider"] Have a tip for us? Want to discuss a possible story? Please send an email to newstips@ign.com. Adam Bankhurst is a news writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @AdamBankhurst and on Twitch.