Monthly Archives: March 2021

Everything New to HBO Max for April 2021

To kick things off this month, HBO Max is debuting Mortal Kombat on April 16. This latest adaption of the popular video game franchise features iconic characters like Scorpion (Hiroyuki Sanada), Sub-Zero (Joe Taslim), Raiden (Tadanobu Asano), and more! For more Mortal Kombat, check out how the movie aims to push its R-rating to the limit, without becoming "unreleasable." Check out the new Mortal Kombat trailer below, which reveals a Cole vs. Goro fight: [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2021/03/24/mortal-kombat-movie-official-trailer-2"] On the TV front, HBO Max will be home to a new fantasy series set in Victorian London, called The Nevers. In The Nevers, there's "a supernatural event which gives certain people - mostly women - abnormal abilities, from the wondrous to the disturbing. But no matter their particular “turns,” all who belong to this new underclass are in grave danger. It falls to mysterious, quick-fisted widow Amalia True (Laura Donnelly) and brilliant young inventor Penance Adair (Ann Skelly) to protect and shelter these gifted 'orphans.' To do so, they will have to face the brutal forces determined to annihilate their kind," according to a synopsis from HBO. And if you're in the mood for a new crime drama, Oscar-winner Kate Winslet returns to television in Mare of Easttown on April 18. HBO describes the limited series as "an exploration into the dark side of a close community and an authentic examination of how family and past tragedies can define our present." Check out the slideshow gallery below for the highlights of HBO Max's April offerings, followed by the full list: [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=hbo-max-spotlight-april-2021&captions=true"] [poilib element="accentDivider"]

April 1

  • A Shock To The System, 1990 (HBO)
  • Abandon, 2002 (HBO)
  • Adam's Rib, 1949
  • All Is Lost, 2013 (HBO)
  • Assume the Position with Mr. Wuhl
  • Barbarosa, 1982 (HBO)
  • Black Dynamite, 2009
  • Blindness, 2008 (HBO)
  • The Bodyguard, 1992
  • Boogie Nights, 1997
  • Bringing Up Baby, 1938
  • The Butcher's Wife, 1991 (HBO)
  • Caddyshack, 1980
  • The Collection, 2012 (HBO)
  • The Color Purple, 1985
  • Dante's Peak, 1997 (HBO)
  • Dark Shadows, 2012 (HBO)
  • Dead Silence, 2007 (HBO)
  • Dirty Harry, 1971
  • The Eagle Has Landed, 1977 (HBO)
  • Early Man, 2018 (HBO)
  • Easy Rider, 1969
  • Ella Enchanted, 2004 (HBO)
  • The Evil That Men Do, 1984 (HBO)
  • Eye For An Eye, 1996 (HBO)
  • Fear, 1996 (HBO)
  • genera+ion, Season 1 Part One Finale
  • Ghost Rider, 2007
  • Goodfellas, 1990
  • The Great Pottery Throwdown, Max Original Season 4 Premiere
  • Green Lantern, 2011
  • Hardball, 2001 (HBO)
  • Happy Endings
  • Haywire, 2012 (HBO)
  • In & Out, 1997 (HBO)
  • Kicking & Screaming, 2005 (HBO)
  • King Arthur: Legend Of The Sword, 2017 (HBO)
  • Lassiter, 1984 (HBO)
  • Leatherface Texas Chainsaw Massacre III, 1990 (HBO)
  • Let's Go To Prison, 2006 (HBO)
  • The Longest Yard, 1974 (HBO)
  • Made For Love, Max Original Series Premiere
  • Man Up, 2015 (HBO)
  • The Mask of Zorro, 1998
  • The Man With The Iron Fists, 2012 (Unrated Version) (HBO)
  • Missing In Action 2 - The Beginning, 1985 (HBO)
  • Missing In Action, 1984 (HBO)
  • My Super Ex-Girlfriend, 2006 (HBO)
  • The Nanny
  • The Natural, 1984
  • Now, Voyager, 1942
  • One Day, 2011 (HBO)
  • Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment, 1985 (HBO)
  • Police Academy 3: Back In Training, 1986 (HBO)
  • Police Academy 4: Citizens On Patrol, 1987 (HBO)
  • Police Academy 5: Assignment: Miami Beach, 1988 (HBO)
  • Police Academy 6: City Under Siege, 1989 (HBO)
  • Police Academy: Mission To Moscow, 1994 (HBO)
  • Primal Fear, 1996 (HBO)
  • Reasonable Doubt, 2014 (HBO)
  • Red Dawn, 1984 (HBO)
  • The Return, 2006 (HBO)
  • Risky Business, 1983 (HBO)
  • Roger & Me, 1989
  • Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, 1939
  • Sneakers, 1992 (HBO)
  • Space Jam, 1996
  • Speed 2 Cruise Control, 1997 (HBO)
  • Spellbound, 2003 (HBO)
  • Stuart Little, 1999
  • The Shack, 2017 (HBO)
  • The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning, 2006 (Extended Version) (HBO)
  • Tyler Perry's Madea's Big Happy Family, 2011
  • Wanderlust, 2012 (HBO)
  • The Warriors, 1979 (Director's Cut) (HBO)
  • The Watch, 2012 (HBO)
  • White Noise, 2005 (HBO)
  • The Wild Life, 2016 (HBO)
  • Within, 2016 (HBO)
  • Wolves At The Door, 2017 (HBO)

April 2

  • On the Spectrum

April 3

  • Ted, 2012 (Unrated Version) (HBO)

April 4

  • Q: Into The Storm, Documentary Series Finale (HBO)

April 5

  • Hard, Season 2 Finale (HBO)

April 6

  • Genndy Tartokovksy's Primal, Season 1B

April 7

  • Exterminate All The Brutes, Documentary Series Premiere (HBO)
  • South Side, Season 1

April 9

  • Intemperie (Aka Out In The Open), 2019 (HBO)
  • The Other Two, Season 1
  • A Tiny Audience, Season 2 Finale (HBO)

April 10

  • The New Mutants, 2020 (HBO)

April 11

  • The Nevers, Drama Series Premiere (HBO)

April 13

  • Our Towns, Documentary Premiere (HBO)

April 15

  • Infinity Train, Max Original Season 4 Premiere

April 16

  • Mortal Kombat, Warner Bros. Film Premiere, 2021

April 17

  • The Dark Knight Rises, 2012 (HBO)

April 18

  • Mare of Easttown, Limited Series Premiere (HBO)

April 20

  • Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel (HBO)

April 22

  • 1,2,3 All Eyes On Me, 2020 (HBO)
  • First Ladies, 2020
  • Princess Cut, 2020 (HBO)
  • Rizo, 2020 (HBO)

April 23

  • A Black Lady Sketch Show, Season 2 Premiere (HBO)
  • El Robo Del Siglo (Aka Heist Of The Century) (HBO)

April 24

  • Dreamgirls, 2006 (HBO)

April 26

  • The Artist, 2011

April 29

  • Looney Tunes Cartoons, Season 1D
[poilib element="accentDivider"] David Griffin still watches DuckTales in his pajamas with a cereal bowl in hand. He's also the TV Editor for IGN. Say hi on Twitter.

BAFTA Games Awards 2021: All the Winners

The winners of the BAFTA Games Awards have been announced, and Hades took home the prize for the best game of 2020. In addition to Best Game, Hades also won BAFTAs for Artistic Achievement, Best Game, Game Design, Narrative, and Performer in a Supporting Role for Logan Cunningham. Cunningham played six roles in the game, including Lord Hades, Poseidon, and Achilles. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/12/21/hades-igns-2020-game-of-the-year"] The Last of Us Part 2, which earned 13 nominations, won BAFTAs for Animation and Performer in a Leading Role for Laura Bailey. Bailey played Abby and this BAFTA was her first win. Animal Crossing: New Horizons won Game Beyond Entertainment and Multiplayer, while Sackboy: A Big Adventure won British Game and Family. The full list of winners for the BAFTA Games Awards 2021 are as follows;
  • Best Game - Hades
  • British Game - Sackboy: A Big Adventure
  • Animation - The Last of Us Part 2
  • Artistic Achievement - Hades
  • Audio Achievement - Ghost of Tsushima
  • Debut Game - Carrion
  • Evolving Game - Sea of Thieves
  • Family Game - Sackboy: A Big Adventure
  • Game Beyond Entertainment - Animal Crossing: New Horizons
  • Game Design - Hades
  • Multiplayer Game - Animal Crossing: New Horizons
  • Music - Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales
  • Narrative - Hades
  • Original Property - Kentucky Route Zero: TV Edition
  • Performer in a Leading Role - Laura Bailey as Abby in The Last of Us Part 2
  • Performer in a Supporting Role - Logan Cunningham as Hades, Achilles, Poseidon, Asterius, Charon, and the Storyteller in Hades
  • EE Game of the Year (Voted by the Public) - The Last of Us Part 2
[widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=the-best-and-worst-reviewed-games-of-2020&captions=true"] You can check out the full list of nominees for the BAFTA Games Awards 2021 here! This Best Game BAFTA is just another feather in the cap for Hades, a game that not only won IGN's Game of the Year for 2020, but also did the same in the SXSW Gaming Awards 2021 and the Gayming Awards 2021. [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.

BAFTA Games Awards 2021: All the Winners

The winners of the BAFTA Games Awards have been announced, and Hades took home the prize for the best game of 2020. In addition to Best Game, Hades also won BAFTAs for Artistic Achievement, Best Game, Game Design, Narrative, and Performer in a Supporting Role for Logan Cunningham. Cunningham played six roles in the game, including Lord Hades, Poseidon, and Achilles. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/12/21/hades-igns-2020-game-of-the-year"] The Last of Us Part 2, which earned 13 nominations, won BAFTAs for Animation and Performer in a Leading Role for Laura Bailey. Bailey played Abby and this BAFTA was her first win. Animal Crossing: New Horizons won Game Beyond Entertainment and Multiplayer, while Sackboy: A Big Adventure won British Game and Family. The full list of winners for the BAFTA Games Awards 2021 are as follows;
  • Best Game - Hades
  • British Game - Sackboy: A Big Adventure
  • Animation - The Last of Us Part 2
  • Artistic Achievement - Hades
  • Audio Achievement - Ghost of Tsushima
  • Debut Game - Carrion
  • Evolving Game - Sea of Thieves
  • Family Game - Sackboy: A Big Adventure
  • Game Beyond Entertainment - Animal Crossing: New Horizons
  • Game Design - Hades
  • Multiplayer Game - Animal Crossing: New Horizons
  • Music - Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales
  • Narrative - Hades
  • Original Property - Kentucky Route Zero: TV Edition
  • Performer in a Leading Role - Laura Bailey as Abby in The Last of Us Part 2
  • Performer in a Supporting Role - Logan Cunningham as Hades, Achilles, Poseidon, Asterius, Charon, and the Storyteller in Hades
  • EE Game of the Year (Voted by the Public) - The Last of Us Part 2
[widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=the-best-and-worst-reviewed-games-of-2020&captions=true"] You can check out the full list of nominees for the BAFTA Games Awards 2021 here! This Best Game BAFTA is just another feather in the cap for Hades, a game that not only won IGN's Game of the Year for 2020, but also did the same in the SXSW Gaming Awards 2021 and the Gayming Awards 2021. [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.

Marvel Comics Shifts to New Distributor in Industry-Rattling Move

Less than a year after DC Comics' shocked the industry by cutting ties with Diamond Comics Distributors, Marvel Comics is making a similar transition. Marvel announced plans to shift its direct market distribution to Penguin Random House as part of "a multi-year partnership." Starting on October 1, Penguin Random House will begin distributing Marvel's monthly comics and graphic novels to comic shops. Hachette Book Group will continue to handle distribution to the bookstore market. “Marvel’s entire history is built on telling great stories. And as we’ve seen for decades, those stories go hand in hand with equipping the comic shops who share them. Marvel and Penguin Random House stand by that vision, and we are excited to build and expand those opportunities for our talent, retailers, and fans,” said Marvel Entertainment President Dan Buckley in a press release. “Comics are the core of the Marvel Universe, and we are confident this new partnership will continue to grow and evolve this resilient industry. We look forward to advancing our capabilities with PRHPS to serve our fans and the Direct Market. We thank Diamond for their many years of support and partnership as we continue our relationship with them in other areas.” prhps_marvel_web_v2_0 IGN reached out to Marvel, and the company confirms there are no immediate changes expected in terms of cover prices or Marvel's digital comics distribution. Marvel is also sticking to the traditional Wednesday release schedule for new comics. There is one significant difference where retailers are concerned, however. Whereas DC cut ties with Diamond completely in 2020, Marvel is still giving store owners the option to order comics through Diamond. However, in those cases Diamond will now act as a wholesaler rather than a distributor. That's a potential ray of light for Diamond, a company that held a near-monopoly on direct market distribution until DC's split in 2020. Diamond had been Marvel's exclusive direct market distributor since 1997, following Marvel's failed attempt at self-distribution via Heroes World. Like many companies, Diamond has struggled to deal with the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The company was forced to suspend distribution for several weeks in March 2020 and postpone Free Comic Book Day 2020. Marvel's transition toward Penguin Random House may raise new concerns about Diamond's long-term future, echoing those raised by former DC president Diane Nelson in 2020. In response to a Facebook post from retailer Brian Hibbs, Nelson wrote, "I can say purely as a private individual that Diamond has, for a long time, been unwilling or unable to modernize and support and grow the biz as needed for a healthy direct channel. And may not even be solvent. It would be imprudent for any publisher to not have a distribution contingency plan." [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=the-best-comics-of-the-decade-2010-2019&captions=true"] However, Diamond's chairman, president and CEO Steve Geppi downplayed the potential impact of this change in a statement. "The change Marvel announced today represents a behind-the-scenes shift in how Diamond interacts with Marvel for certain products, but does not impact our ability to supply our customers with Marvel comics, trades, and graphic novels," Geppi wrote. "I expect the discount terms under which our retail partners order these Marvel products to change, and Diamond will communicate that information to our customers well in advance of any adjustments. While there are still details of this new arrangement to work through, my leadership team and I are committed to making this supply change as operationally seamless as possible for our retail partners and we look forward to our continued distribution of Marvel products." Whatever long-term impact Marvel's move may have on the industry, one thing is clear. Diamond is far from the only game in town in 2021. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2021/01/04/what-to-expect-from-marvel-in-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.

Marvel Comics Shifts to New Distributor in Industry-Rattling Move

Less than a year after DC Comics' shocked the industry by cutting ties with Diamond Comics Distributors, Marvel Comics is making a similar transition. Marvel announced plans to shift its direct market distribution to Penguin Random House as part of "a multi-year partnership." Starting on October 1, Penguin Random House will begin distributing Marvel's monthly comics and graphic novels to comic shops. Hachette Book Group will continue to handle distribution to the bookstore market. “Marvel’s entire history is built on telling great stories. And as we’ve seen for decades, those stories go hand in hand with equipping the comic shops who share them. Marvel and Penguin Random House stand by that vision, and we are excited to build and expand those opportunities for our talent, retailers, and fans,” said Marvel Entertainment President Dan Buckley in a press release. “Comics are the core of the Marvel Universe, and we are confident this new partnership will continue to grow and evolve this resilient industry. We look forward to advancing our capabilities with PRHPS to serve our fans and the Direct Market. We thank Diamond for their many years of support and partnership as we continue our relationship with them in other areas.” prhps_marvel_web_v2_0 IGN reached out to Marvel, and the company confirms there are no immediate changes expected in terms of cover prices or Marvel's digital comics distribution. Marvel is also sticking to the traditional Wednesday release schedule for new comics. There is one significant difference where retailers are concerned, however. Whereas DC cut ties with Diamond completely in 2020, Marvel is still giving store owners the option to order comics through Diamond. However, in those cases Diamond will now act as a wholesaler rather than a distributor. That's a potential ray of light for Diamond, a company that held a near-monopoly on direct market distribution until DC's split in 2020. Diamond had been Marvel's exclusive direct market distributor since 1997, following Marvel's failed attempt at self-distribution via Heroes World. Like many companies, Diamond has struggled to deal with the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The company was forced to suspend distribution for several weeks in March 2020 and postpone Free Comic Book Day 2020. Marvel's transition toward Penguin Random House may raise new concerns about Diamond's long-term future, echoing those raised by former DC president Diane Nelson in 2020. In response to a Facebook post from retailer Brian Hibbs, Nelson wrote, "I can say purely as a private individual that Diamond has, for a long time, been unwilling or unable to modernize and support and grow the biz as needed for a healthy direct channel. And may not even be solvent. It would be imprudent for any publisher to not have a distribution contingency plan." [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=the-best-comics-of-the-decade-2010-2019&captions=true"] However, Diamond's chairman, president and CEO Steve Geppi downplayed the potential impact of this change in a statement. "The change Marvel announced today represents a behind-the-scenes shift in how Diamond interacts with Marvel for certain products, but does not impact our ability to supply our customers with Marvel comics, trades, and graphic novels," Geppi wrote. "I expect the discount terms under which our retail partners order these Marvel products to change, and Diamond will communicate that information to our customers well in advance of any adjustments. While there are still details of this new arrangement to work through, my leadership team and I are committed to making this supply change as operationally seamless as possible for our retail partners and we look forward to our continued distribution of Marvel products." Whatever long-term impact Marvel's move may have on the industry, one thing is clear. Diamond is far from the only game in town in 2021. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2021/01/04/what-to-expect-from-marvel-in-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.

Jessica Walter, Known for Arrested Development and Archer, Dies

Jessica Walter, the award-winning actress known for iconic roles such as Lucille Bluth on Arrested Development, Malory Archer in Archer, has died. Walter was 80. Deadline reports that Walter died in her sleep last night at her home in New York City. Walter was a mainstay on television in both live-action roles and voice acting. She earned an Emmy award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie for her titular role in Amy Prentiss and has been a mainstay on television for decades. Likely her most well-known performance was for Lucille Bluth in Arrested Development, the matriarch of a rich, squabbling, Southern California family. Walter’s portrayal earned her an Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress as well as a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination for Best Ensemble. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=arrested-development-season-5-part-2-photos&captions=true"] In the hit animated FX series Archer, Walter voiced Malory Archer the mother of the main character and head of a private espionage agency. Other voice roles include Fran Sinclair in Dinosaurs and Granny Goodness in Harley Quinn. Her iconic lines from Arrested Development and Archer live on online as part of the broader world of pop culture. Condolences online, including from her former cast members are appearing on social media and elsewhere. Walter is survived by her daughter Brooke Bowman and grandson Micah Heymann. In a statement to Deadline, Bowman says, “It is with a heavy heart that I confirm the passing of my beloved mom Jessica. A working actor for over six decades, her greatest pleasure was bringing joy to others through her storytelling both on screen and off. While her legacy will live on through her body of work, she will also be remembered by many for her wit, class and overall joie de vivre.” [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt T.M. Kim is IGN's News Editor. (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images)

Jessica Walter, Known for Arrested Development and Archer, Dies

Jessica Walter, the award-winning actress known for iconic roles such as Lucille Bluth on Arrested Development, Malory Archer in Archer, has died. Walter was 80. Deadline reports that Walter died in her sleep last night at her home in New York City. Walter was a mainstay on television in both live-action roles and voice acting. She earned an Emmy award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie for her titular role in Amy Prentiss and has been a mainstay on television for decades. Likely her most well-known performance was for Lucille Bluth in Arrested Development, the matriarch of a rich, squabbling, Southern California family. Walter’s portrayal earned her an Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress as well as a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination for Best Ensemble. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=arrested-development-season-5-part-2-photos&captions=true"] In the hit animated FX series Archer, Walter voiced Malory Archer the mother of the main character and head of a private espionage agency. Other voice roles include Fran Sinclair in Dinosaurs and Granny Goodness in Harley Quinn. Her iconic lines from Arrested Development and Archer live on online as part of the broader world of pop culture. Condolences online, including from her former cast members are appearing on social media and elsewhere. Walter is survived by her daughter Brooke Bowman and grandson Micah Heymann. In a statement to Deadline, Bowman says, “It is with a heavy heart that I confirm the passing of my beloved mom Jessica. A working actor for over six decades, her greatest pleasure was bringing joy to others through her storytelling both on screen and off. While her legacy will live on through her body of work, she will also be remembered by many for her wit, class and overall joie de vivre.” [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt T.M. Kim is IGN's News Editor. (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images)

How to Watch the /twitchgaming Showcase: ID@Xbox Stream This Week

Microsoft and Twitch are teaming up for the first ID@Xbox and Twitch Gaming event. Officially named /twitchgaming Showcase: ID@Xbox, the stream is set to feature over 100 games from independent developers based all over the world. Alongside featuring new game announcements from developers like DrinkBox Studios and new trailers for 25 existing games like Second Extinction, there will also be news of games coming to Xbox Game Pass. IGN is carrying the stream and as usual, this watch guide will provide you with everything you need to know to watch the show, including when it starts, a list of places you can watch it with us, and what you can expect to see at the show. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2021/03/26/idxbox-twitchgaming-showcase-livestream"]

/twitchgaming Showcase: ID@Xbox Date and Start Time

The first-ever Twitch Gaming and ID@Xbox event will take place on March 26, 2021. The stream is scheduled to start at 9am PT/12pm ET/4pm GMT.

How to Watch the /twitchgaming Showcase: ID@Xbox Stream

IGN plans to carry the Twitch Gaming and ID@Xbox showcase stream, which means we'll have it available on a variety of platforms. Here’s the full list of places you can watch the Xbox event with us:

What to Expect From the /twitchgaming Showcase: ID@Xbox Stream

Fans can expect to see more than 100 games featured in this first collaboration between Twitch Gaming and ID@Xbox, and there will be new game announcements from developers and publishers like DrinkBox Studios, Curve Digital, Devolver Digital, Dear Villagers, and others. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2021/03/26/stalker-2-dev-diary"] The showcase will also include new trailers and gameplay for more than 25 games, including:
  • Second Extinction
  • The Ascent
  • The Wild at Heart
  • Voidtrain
  • Exo One
  • An update on S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2
  • And many more!
Announcements about independent titles coming to Xbox and Xbox Game Pass will also be revealed. Community-favorite Twitch streamers such as StoryModeBae, ThatGrlTrish, Steve Saylor, Kate Stark, Stallion, Danotage, and possibly more will be hosting during the /twitchgaming Showcase: ID@Xbox event, and they will also be conducting interviews with developers, taking on fan questions, and possibly even dropping game codes. [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.

How to Watch the /twitchgaming Showcase: ID@Xbox Stream This Week

Microsoft and Twitch are teaming up for the first ID@Xbox and Twitch Gaming event. Officially named /twitchgaming Showcase: ID@Xbox, the stream is set to feature over 100 games from independent developers based all over the world. Alongside featuring new game announcements from developers like DrinkBox Studios and new trailers for 25 existing games like Second Extinction, there will also be news of games coming to Xbox Game Pass. IGN is carrying the stream and as usual, this watch guide will provide you with everything you need to know to watch the show, including when it starts, a list of places you can watch it with us, and what you can expect to see at the show. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2021/03/26/idxbox-twitchgaming-showcase-livestream"]

/twitchgaming Showcase: ID@Xbox Date and Start Time

The first-ever Twitch Gaming and ID@Xbox event will take place on March 26, 2021. The stream is scheduled to start at 9am PT/12pm ET/4pm GMT.

How to Watch the /twitchgaming Showcase: ID@Xbox Stream

IGN plans to carry the Twitch Gaming and ID@Xbox showcase stream, which means we'll have it available on a variety of platforms. Here’s the full list of places you can watch the Xbox event with us:

What to Expect From the /twitchgaming Showcase: ID@Xbox Stream

Fans can expect to see more than 100 games featured in this first collaboration between Twitch Gaming and ID@Xbox, and there will be new game announcements from developers and publishers like DrinkBox Studios, Curve Digital, Devolver Digital, Dear Villagers, and others. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2021/03/26/stalker-2-dev-diary"] The showcase will also include new trailers and gameplay for more than 25 games, including:
  • Second Extinction
  • The Ascent
  • The Wild at Heart
  • Voidtrain
  • Exo One
  • An update on S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2
  • And many more!
Announcements about independent titles coming to Xbox and Xbox Game Pass will also be revealed. Community-favorite Twitch streamers such as StoryModeBae, ThatGrlTrish, Steve Saylor, Kate Stark, Stallion, Danotage, and possibly more will be hosting during the /twitchgaming Showcase: ID@Xbox event, and they will also be conducting interviews with developers, taking on fan questions, and possibly even dropping game codes. [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.

New Edition of The Lord of the Rings Includes JRR Tolkien’s Illustrations

A new edition of The Lord of the Rings will feature 30 sketches and illustrations created by JRR Tolkien not seen in previous editions of the book. This new release will be the first time that an edition of the Lord of the Rings will feature this art since 1954. And even then, when Tolkien originally included the art with the book's first-ever publication, it only featured two of his illustrations, as reported by The Guardian. Those two illustrations — the Doors of Durin and the Inscription on Balin's Tomb — will be included in this new HarperCollins edition alongside 30 other sketches, illustrations, and maps. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/08/19/amazons-lord-of-the-rings-the-second-age-explained"] "Like many young readers, I was enthralled by his charming and evocative illustrations that accompanied The Hobbit," HarperCollins deputy publishing director, Chris Smith, said. "These paintings, particularly the now-iconic image that appears on its cover, have become as beloved as the story they accompany. Yet the author himself was characteristically modest, dismissive of the obvious and rare artistic talent he possessed despite having had no formal training." Smith said this modesty meant that little of Tolkien's art was ever seen. Tolkien created 30 pieces of art for The Lord of the Rings, but was crushed by comments from one critic that described the images as showing "no reflection of his literary talent and imagination." Tolkien seemingly took the criticism personally and agreed with the critic, according to The Guardian. Despite claiming he was too busy for illustrate The Lord of the Rings, Tolkien found himself doing just that, creating maps of Middle Earth, sketches of Orthanc, and more. Those pieces of art have been collected before, namely in Christopher Tolkien's Pictures by JRR Tolkien and Wayne G Hammond and Christina Scull's JRR Tolkien: Artist and Illustrator, as The Guardian points out, but Tolkien's own art hasn't been featured in an edition of The Lord of the Rings since the first publication back in 1954. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/08/24/the-lord-of-the-rings-gollum-teaser-trailer"] The Tolkien estate has given HarperCollins the rights to publish a new edition of The Lord of the Rings that features the illustrations Tolkien always intended to accompany certain parts of the book. It will be released on October 19 and you can preorder the book now. For more Lord of the Rings, check out this new 4K UHD boxset of the Peter Jackson trilogy and then read these new plot details for Amazon's upcoming Lord of the Rings series. Be sure to read about the upcoming video game centered on Gollum after that. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Wesley LeBlanc is a freelance news writer and guide maker for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @LeBlancWes