CW's Batwoman has cast Krypton's Wallis Day to take over the role of Kate Kane, the original Batwoman for the series that was played by Ruby Rose. Spoilers ahead for the latest episode of Batwoman! [caption id="attachment_248951" align="aligncenter" width="720"] Image Credit: Stuart C. Wilson/Getty Images[/caption] As reported by THR, this casting news was revealed during the latest episode of Batwoman, as Day's Kate Kane was shown bandaged and being held hostage. She was shown alive yet unrecognizable due to the injuries from the plane crash that occurred at the start of season two. It's important to note that Kane is no longer Batwoman, and that Javicia Leslie - the first black actress to play the character in live-action role - will continue to be the series lead as Ryan Wilder. Rose left Batwoman in 2020, and reports stated that her decision may have been due to her dislike of the long working hours demanded by being the lead of a 20-episode season. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2021/01/11/snyder-cut-suicide-squad-gotham-knights-what-to-expect-from-dc-in-2021"] The decision was made initially to not recast the character, but showrunner Caroline Dries had been telegraphing her return and very much had no intention of her story simply disappearing. Furthermore, she wanted her to return to avoid the "bury the gays" TV trope that sees shows killing off gay and lesbian characters. "As a lesbian who's been working as a writer for the past 15 years, I’m well aware of the 'Bury Your Gays' trope and I have no interest in participating in it," said Dries in June, 2020. "That's why it's important to me as the showrunner to clarify any misinformation out there about Kate Kane and recasting Batwoman. Like you, I love Kate Kane — she's the reason I wanted to do the show. We'll never erase her. In fact, her disappearance will be one of the mysteries of season two. I don't want to give away any of our surprises, but to all our devoted fans, please know that LGBTQ+ justice is at the very core of what Batwoman is and we have no intention of abandoning that." The rest of the season looks to explore where Kane has been and how this experience has changed her. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/05/20/ruby-rose-leaving-batwoman-role-to-be-recast"] [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.

CW's Batwoman has cast Krypton's Wallis Day to take over the role of Kate Kane, the original Batwoman for the series that was played by Ruby Rose. Spoilers ahead for the latest episode of Batwoman! [caption id="attachment_248951" align="aligncenter" width="720"] Image Credit: Stuart C. Wilson/Getty Images[/caption] As reported by THR, this casting news was revealed during the latest episode of Batwoman, as Day's Kate Kane was shown bandaged and being held hostage. She was shown alive yet unrecognizable due to the injuries from the plane crash that occurred at the start of season two. It's important to note that Kane is no longer Batwoman, and that Javicia Leslie - the first black actress to play the character in live-action role - will continue to be the series lead as Ryan Wilder. Rose left Batwoman in 2020, and reports stated that her decision may have been due to her dislike of the long working hours demanded by being the lead of a 20-episode season. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2021/01/11/snyder-cut-suicide-squad-gotham-knights-what-to-expect-from-dc-in-2021"] The decision was made initially to not recast the character, but showrunner Caroline Dries had been telegraphing her return and very much had no intention of her story simply disappearing. Furthermore, she wanted her to return to avoid the "bury the gays" TV trope that sees shows killing off gay and lesbian characters. "As a lesbian who's been working as a writer for the past 15 years, I’m well aware of the 'Bury Your Gays' trope and I have no interest in participating in it," said Dries in June, 2020. "That's why it's important to me as the showrunner to clarify any misinformation out there about Kate Kane and recasting Batwoman. Like you, I love Kate Kane — she's the reason I wanted to do the show. We'll never erase her. In fact, her disappearance will be one of the mysteries of season two. I don't want to give away any of our surprises, but to all our devoted fans, please know that LGBTQ+ justice is at the very core of what Batwoman is and we have no intention of abandoning that." The rest of the season looks to explore where Kane has been and how this experience has changed her. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/05/20/ruby-rose-leaving-batwoman-role-to-be-recast"] [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.

Super Seducer 3: The Final Seduction, a game where you are said to "learn powerful skills for attracting beautiful women," has been banned from Steam as the platform "does not ship sexually explicit images of real people." Developer Richard La Ruina took to Twitter to share the news, saying Valve will not allow it to be released in any form. Furthermore, the Steam page is gone alongside the "61,700 wish lists." [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=the-best-modern-pc-games-summer-2020-update&captions=true"] La Ruina shared the message he received from The Steam Team, in which Steam said its decision to remove Super Seducer 3 was final. "We have finished reviewing your latest build and we aren't going to be able to ship Super Seducer 3 on Steam. As we have mentioned previously, Steam does not ship sexually explicit images of real people," Steam wrote. "After multiple product resubmissions and product reviews, we feel we are at an impasse and therefore this decision is final. We do not have any additional feedback or details to share beyond what we have provided in previous conversations." La Ruina also explained how Steam rejected both the uncensored & censored (Twitch) versions, never gave any specifics as to what content they didn't like, blocked the Super Seducer 3 demo which was a censored Gym level, and said that "if I got an ESRB-M rating that would not affect their decision." [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/12/17/the-biggest-games-coming-in-2021"] Despite La Ruina's promise to "take a butcher knife to the game and take weeks to make all kinds of edits," Steam still said "we are not going to sell the game or re-review it." This isn't the first time the Super Seducer series has found itself in this situation, as the first game was set to release on PlayStation 4 before Sony decided against it. Super Seducer: How to Talk to Girls and Super Seducer 2: Advanced Seduction Tactics are both still available for purchase on Steam. [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.

Super Seducer 3: The Final Seduction, a game where you are said to "learn powerful skills for attracting beautiful women," has been banned from Steam as the platform "does not ship sexually explicit images of real people." Developer Richard La Ruina took to Twitter to share the news, saying Valve will not allow it to be released in any form. Furthermore, the Steam page is gone alongside the "61,700 wish lists." [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=the-best-modern-pc-games-summer-2020-update&captions=true"] La Ruina shared the message he received from The Steam Team, in which Steam said its decision to remove Super Seducer 3 was final. "We have finished reviewing your latest build and we aren't going to be able to ship Super Seducer 3 on Steam. As we have mentioned previously, Steam does not ship sexually explicit images of real people," Steam wrote. "After multiple product resubmissions and product reviews, we feel we are at an impasse and therefore this decision is final. We do not have any additional feedback or details to share beyond what we have provided in previous conversations." La Ruina also explained how Steam rejected both the uncensored & censored (Twitch) versions, never gave any specifics as to what content they didn't like, blocked the Super Seducer 3 demo which was a censored Gym level, and said that "if I got an ESRB-M rating that would not affect their decision." [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/12/17/the-biggest-games-coming-in-2021"] Despite La Ruina's promise to "take a butcher knife to the game and take weeks to make all kinds of edits," Steam still said "we are not going to sell the game or re-review it." This isn't the first time the Super Seducer series has found itself in this situation, as the first game was set to release on PlayStation 4 before Sony decided against it. Super Seducer: How to Talk to Girls and Super Seducer 2: Advanced Seduction Tactics are both still available for purchase on Steam. [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.

Sony has shared a new Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade trailer that gives an extended look at the visual enhancements and new features made possible by the PS5. While the trailer is very similar to the one shown during the Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade reveal, we get to see more of the improved visuals directly compared to the PS4 version. Also showcased are such additions as better textures and lighting, fog effects, photo mode, faster load times, and more.

Get down here, Merc.

We've got an extended look at the visual enhancements and new features in Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade, coming to PS5 on June 10: https://t.co/zdt8HIwe5j pic.twitter.com/1lv5YxFVTO — PlayStation (@PlayStation) March 21, 2021

There will also be a Graphics Optimization Mode that prioritizes displaying graphics at 4K resolution and a Performance Optimization Mode that prioritizes maintaining a 60fps framerate. A Normal (Classic) difficulty will also be added, and it makes FF7 Remake feel a bit more like the original with battles feeling more turn-based. Another glimpse of Yuffie's new episode is also shown, and gives fans a glimpse of the brand new story that will be part of Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade. The trailer also reiterates that any who own Final Fantasy VII Remake on PS4 (except those who only have the PS Plus version) will be able to upgrade to this improved PS5 version for free. However, the PS5-exclusive Yuffie episode will cost extra for all owners of the original. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2021/02/25/final-fantasy-7-remake-intergrade-reveal-trailer"] Following Intergrade, which will be released on June 10, Final Fantasy 7 Remake's creative director Tetsuya Nomura confirmed that there will be no future DLC and that the team's focus will be on completing the next entry in the FF7 Remake saga. [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.

Sony has shared a new Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade trailer that gives an extended look at the visual enhancements and new features made possible by the PS5. While the trailer is very similar to the one shown during the Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade reveal, we get to see more of the improved visuals directly compared to the PS4 version. Also showcased are such additions as better textures and lighting, fog effects, photo mode, faster load times, and more.

Get down here, Merc.

We've got an extended look at the visual enhancements and new features in Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade, coming to PS5 on June 10: https://t.co/zdt8HIwe5j pic.twitter.com/1lv5YxFVTO — PlayStation (@PlayStation) March 21, 2021

There will also be a Graphics Optimization Mode that prioritizes displaying graphics at 4K resolution and a Performance Optimization Mode that prioritizes maintaining a 60fps framerate. A Normal (Classic) difficulty will also be added, and it makes FF7 Remake feel a bit more like the original with battles feeling more turn-based. Another glimpse of Yuffie's new episode is also shown, and gives fans a glimpse of the brand new story that will be part of Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade. The trailer also reiterates that any who own Final Fantasy VII Remake on PS4 (except those who only have the PS Plus version) will be able to upgrade to this improved PS5 version for free. However, the PS5-exclusive Yuffie episode will cost extra for all owners of the original. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2021/02/25/final-fantasy-7-remake-intergrade-reveal-trailer"] Following Intergrade, which will be released on June 10, Final Fantasy 7 Remake's creative director Tetsuya Nomura confirmed that there will be no future DLC and that the team's focus will be on completing the next entry in the FF7 Remake saga. [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.

The winners of the SXSW Gaming Awards have been announced, with Hades and Deep Rock Galactic leading proceedings with two awards apiece. In partnership with IGN, SXSW presented its Gaming Awards trophies to category winners in a ceremony held on Saturday, March 20. Hades emerged as one of the frontrunners at the event, winning the prestigious Video Game of the Year award as well as an Excellence in Game Design accolade, which takes into consideration the best overall design concept, gameplay mechanics, and execution. Sci-fi co-op FPS Deep Rock Galactic also scored big at this year's ceremony, taking home awards in both categories in which it was nominated, which means that it picked up trophies for Indie Game of the Year and Excellence in Multiplayer. Both categories featured tough competition, with 9 other titles competing for the Indie Game of the Year accolade, including the likes of Bugsnax and Risk of Rain 2. With 43 nominees across 12 categories, there were plenty of other winners announced at the event. Awards were presented to The Search for Planet X, Half-Life: Alyx, The Last of Us Part II, Ori and the Will of the Wisps, Ghost of Tsushima, DOOM Eternal, Microsoft Flight Simulator, and Dreams, which won the Matthew Crump Cultural Innovation award for its community focused creativity tools. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/09/17/hades-review"] The full list of winners from the SXSW 2021 Gaming Awards follows:

Video Game of the Year

Awarded to the game that exemplifies overall excellence and creates a distinct gaming experience across all platforms and genres.

• Hades (Supergiant Games) — WINNER
• Ghost of Tsushima (Sucker Punch Productions  / Sony Interactive Entertainment)
• The Last of Us Part II (Naughty Dog / Sony Interactive Entertainment)
• Ori and the Will of the Wisps (Moon Studios / Xbox Game Studios)
• DOOM Eternal (id Software / Bethesda Softworks)

Indie Game of the Year

Awarded to the indie game that exemplifies overall excellence and creates a distinct gaming experience across all platforms and genres.

• Bugsnax (Young Horses)
• Cloudpunk (Ion Lands)
• Raji: An Ancient Epic (Nodding Heads Games / Super.com)
• Ikenfell (Happy Ray Games / Humble Games)
• Monster Sanctuary (Moi Rai Games / Team17)
• Crown Trick (NExT Studios / Team17)
• Deep Rock Galactic (Ghost Ship Games / Coffee Stain Publishing) — WINNER
• The Last Campfire (Hello Games)
• Huntdown (Easy Trigger Games / Coffee Stain Publishing)
• Risk of Rain 2 (Hopoo Games / Gearbox Publishing)

Tabletop Game of the Year

Awarded to the game that exemplifies overall excellence and ingenuity of any tabletop game in any genre.

• Oceans (North Star Games)
• Fort (Leder Games)
• Calico (Flatout Games)
• The Crew: The Quest for Planet Nine (KOSMOS)
• The Search for Planet X (Renegade Game Studios / Foxtrot Games) — WINNER

VR Game of the Year

Awarded to the VR game that exemplifies overall excellence in gameplay and design across any VR platform.

• The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners (Skydance Interactive)
• Half-Life: Alyx (Valve) — WINNER
• Star Wars: Squadrons (Motive Studios / Electronic Arts)
• Medal of Honor: Above and Beyond (Respawn Entertainment / Electronic Arts)
• Down the Rabbit Hole (Cortopia Studios / Beyond Frames Entertainment)

Excellence in Narrative

Awarded to the game with the best storyline and dialogue.

• Hades (Supergiant Games)
• Ghost of Tsushima (Sucker Punch Productions  / Sony Interactive Entertainment)
• The Last of Us Part II (Naughty Dog / Sony Interactive Entertainment) — WINNER
• Immortals Fenyx Rising (Ubisoft Quebec / Ubisoft)
• Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales (Insomniac Games /  Sony Interactive Entertainment)

Excellence in Game Design

Awarded to the game with the best overall design concept, gameplay mechanics, and best execution.

• Hades (Supergiant Games) — WINNER
• Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time (Toys for Bob / Activision)
• Desperados III (Mimimi Games / THQ Nordic)
• Watch Dogs: Legion (Ubisoft Toronto / Ubisoft)
• Ori and the Will of the Wisps (Moon Studios / Xbox Game Studios)

[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/05/13/the-first-12-minutes-of-deep-rock-galactic-pc-gameplay"]

Matthew Crump Cultural Innovation Award

Awarded to the game that best challenges the "norm" of everyday gaming and offers a culturally innovative view of a game world, character, or gameplay.

• If Found… (Dreamfeel / Annapurna Interactive)
• The Last of Us Part II (Naughty Dog / Sony Interactive Entertainment)
• Dreams (Media Molecule / Sony Interactive Entertainment) — WINNER
• Astro's Playroom (Team ASOBI! / Sony Interactive Entertainment)
• Tell Me Why (DONTNOD Entertainment / Xbox Game Studios)

Excellence in Score

Awarded to the game that best exemplifies artistic excellence in musical score and how it progresses the narrative of the game.

• Cyberpunk 2077 (CD Projekt Red / CD Projekt)
• DOOM Eternal (id Software / Bethesda Softworks)
• Ori and the Will of the Wisps (Moon Studios / Xbox Game Studios) — WINNER
• Final Fantasy VII Remake (SQUARE ENIX)
• Trials of Mana (Xeen / SQUARE ENIX)

Excellence in Multiplayer

Awarded to the game with the best player-to-player interaction experience.

• Star Wars: Squadrons (Motive Studios / Electronic Arts)
• VALORANT (Riot Games)
• Huntdown (Easy Trigger Games / Coffee Stain Publishing)
• Deep Rock Galactic (Ghost Ship Games / Coffee Stain Publishing) — WINNER
• Risk of Rain 2 (Hopoo Games, Gearbox Publishing)

Excellence in Animation, Art, & Visual Achievement

Awarded to the game with the most well-designed and stunning visuals, including animation effects and graphics.

• Assassin's Creed Valhalla (Ubisoft Montreal / Ubisoft)
• Ghost of Tsushima (Sucker Punch Productions  / Sony Interactive Entertainment) — WINNER
• Cloudpunk (Ion Lands)
• Ori and the Will of the Wisps (Moon Studios / Xbox Game Studios)
• Final Fantasy VII Remake (SQUARE ENIX)

Excellence in Audio Design

Awarded to the game with the most outstanding and impactful sound effects.

• Bugsnax (Young Horses)
• Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1+2 (Vicarious Visions / Activision)
• Star Wars: Squadrons (Motive Studios / Electronic Arts)
• Observer: System Redux (Bloober Team)
• DOOM Eternal (id Software / Bethesda Softworks) — WINNER

Excellence in Technical Achievement

Awarded to the game that pushed the capabilities of technology and programming furthest or most effectively.

• Genshin Impact (miHoYo)
• Ghost of Tsushima (Sucker Punch Productions  / Sony Interactive Entertainment)
• Dreams (Media Molecule / Sony Interactive Entertainment)
• Astro's Playroom (Team ASOBI! / Sony Interactive Entertainment)
• Microsoft Flight Simulator (Asobo Studio / Xbox Game Studios) — WINNER

[widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=the-best-and-worst-reviewed-games-of-2020&captions=true"] If you'd like to know more about SXSW's Video Game of the Year, check out IGN's review of Hades, praising the game for being a "one-of-a-kind rogue-lite that does a brilliant job of marrying its fast-paced action with its persistent, progressing story through a vividly reimagined Greek mythological underworld," which ultimately delivers an experience that you "never want to end." [poilib element="accentDivider"] Adele Ankers is a Freelance Entertainment Journalist. You can reach her on Twitter.

The winners of the SXSW Gaming Awards have been announced, with Hades and Deep Rock Galactic leading proceedings with two awards apiece. In partnership with IGN, SXSW presented its Gaming Awards trophies to category winners in a ceremony held on Saturday, March 20. Hades emerged as one of the frontrunners at the event, winning the prestigious Video Game of the Year award as well as an Excellence in Game Design accolade, which takes into consideration the best overall design concept, gameplay mechanics, and execution. Sci-fi co-op FPS Deep Rock Galactic also scored big at this year's ceremony, taking home awards in both categories in which it was nominated, which means that it picked up trophies for Indie Game of the Year and Excellence in Multiplayer. Both categories featured tough competition, with 9 other titles competing for the Indie Game of the Year accolade, including the likes of Bugsnax and Risk of Rain 2. With 43 nominees across 12 categories, there were plenty of other winners announced at the event. Awards were presented to The Search for Planet X, Half-Life: Alyx, The Last of Us Part II, Ori and the Will of the Wisps, Ghost of Tsushima, DOOM Eternal, Microsoft Flight Simulator, and Dreams, which won the Matthew Crump Cultural Innovation award for its community focused creativity tools. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/09/17/hades-review"] The full list of winners from the SXSW 2021 Gaming Awards follows:

Video Game of the Year

Awarded to the game that exemplifies overall excellence and creates a distinct gaming experience across all platforms and genres.

• Hades (Supergiant Games) — WINNER
• Ghost of Tsushima (Sucker Punch Productions  / Sony Interactive Entertainment)
• The Last of Us Part II (Naughty Dog / Sony Interactive Entertainment)
• Ori and the Will of the Wisps (Moon Studios / Xbox Game Studios)
• DOOM Eternal (id Software / Bethesda Softworks)

Indie Game of the Year

Awarded to the indie game that exemplifies overall excellence and creates a distinct gaming experience across all platforms and genres.

• Bugsnax (Young Horses)
• Cloudpunk (Ion Lands)
• Raji: An Ancient Epic (Nodding Heads Games / Super.com)
• Ikenfell (Happy Ray Games / Humble Games)
• Monster Sanctuary (Moi Rai Games / Team17)
• Crown Trick (NExT Studios / Team17)
• Deep Rock Galactic (Ghost Ship Games / Coffee Stain Publishing) — WINNER
• The Last Campfire (Hello Games)
• Huntdown (Easy Trigger Games / Coffee Stain Publishing)
• Risk of Rain 2 (Hopoo Games / Gearbox Publishing)

Tabletop Game of the Year

Awarded to the game that exemplifies overall excellence and ingenuity of any tabletop game in any genre.

• Oceans (North Star Games)
• Fort (Leder Games)
• Calico (Flatout Games)
• The Crew: The Quest for Planet Nine (KOSMOS)
• The Search for Planet X (Renegade Game Studios / Foxtrot Games) — WINNER

VR Game of the Year

Awarded to the VR game that exemplifies overall excellence in gameplay and design across any VR platform.

• The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners (Skydance Interactive)
• Half-Life: Alyx (Valve) — WINNER
• Star Wars: Squadrons (Motive Studios / Electronic Arts)
• Medal of Honor: Above and Beyond (Respawn Entertainment / Electronic Arts)
• Down the Rabbit Hole (Cortopia Studios / Beyond Frames Entertainment)

Excellence in Narrative

Awarded to the game with the best storyline and dialogue.

• Hades (Supergiant Games)
• Ghost of Tsushima (Sucker Punch Productions  / Sony Interactive Entertainment)
• The Last of Us Part II (Naughty Dog / Sony Interactive Entertainment) — WINNER
• Immortals Fenyx Rising (Ubisoft Quebec / Ubisoft)
• Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales (Insomniac Games /  Sony Interactive Entertainment)

Excellence in Game Design

Awarded to the game with the best overall design concept, gameplay mechanics, and best execution.

• Hades (Supergiant Games) — WINNER
• Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time (Toys for Bob / Activision)
• Desperados III (Mimimi Games / THQ Nordic)
• Watch Dogs: Legion (Ubisoft Toronto / Ubisoft)
• Ori and the Will of the Wisps (Moon Studios / Xbox Game Studios)

[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/05/13/the-first-12-minutes-of-deep-rock-galactic-pc-gameplay"]

Matthew Crump Cultural Innovation Award

Awarded to the game that best challenges the "norm" of everyday gaming and offers a culturally innovative view of a game world, character, or gameplay.

• If Found… (Dreamfeel / Annapurna Interactive)
• The Last of Us Part II (Naughty Dog / Sony Interactive Entertainment)
• Dreams (Media Molecule / Sony Interactive Entertainment) — WINNER
• Astro's Playroom (Team ASOBI! / Sony Interactive Entertainment)
• Tell Me Why (DONTNOD Entertainment / Xbox Game Studios)

Excellence in Score

Awarded to the game that best exemplifies artistic excellence in musical score and how it progresses the narrative of the game.

• Cyberpunk 2077 (CD Projekt Red / CD Projekt)
• DOOM Eternal (id Software / Bethesda Softworks)
• Ori and the Will of the Wisps (Moon Studios / Xbox Game Studios) — WINNER
• Final Fantasy VII Remake (SQUARE ENIX)
• Trials of Mana (Xeen / SQUARE ENIX)

Excellence in Multiplayer

Awarded to the game with the best player-to-player interaction experience.

• Star Wars: Squadrons (Motive Studios / Electronic Arts)
• VALORANT (Riot Games)
• Huntdown (Easy Trigger Games / Coffee Stain Publishing)
• Deep Rock Galactic (Ghost Ship Games / Coffee Stain Publishing) — WINNER
• Risk of Rain 2 (Hopoo Games, Gearbox Publishing)

Excellence in Animation, Art, & Visual Achievement

Awarded to the game with the most well-designed and stunning visuals, including animation effects and graphics.

• Assassin's Creed Valhalla (Ubisoft Montreal / Ubisoft)
• Ghost of Tsushima (Sucker Punch Productions  / Sony Interactive Entertainment) — WINNER
• Cloudpunk (Ion Lands)
• Ori and the Will of the Wisps (Moon Studios / Xbox Game Studios)
• Final Fantasy VII Remake (SQUARE ENIX)

Excellence in Audio Design

Awarded to the game with the most outstanding and impactful sound effects.

• Bugsnax (Young Horses)
• Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1+2 (Vicarious Visions / Activision)
• Star Wars: Squadrons (Motive Studios / Electronic Arts)
• Observer: System Redux (Bloober Team)
• DOOM Eternal (id Software / Bethesda Softworks) — WINNER

Excellence in Technical Achievement

Awarded to the game that pushed the capabilities of technology and programming furthest or most effectively.

• Genshin Impact (miHoYo)
• Ghost of Tsushima (Sucker Punch Productions  / Sony Interactive Entertainment)
• Dreams (Media Molecule / Sony Interactive Entertainment)
• Astro's Playroom (Team ASOBI! / Sony Interactive Entertainment)
• Microsoft Flight Simulator (Asobo Studio / Xbox Game Studios) — WINNER

[widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=the-best-and-worst-reviewed-games-of-2020&captions=true"] If you'd like to know more about SXSW's Video Game of the Year, check out IGN's review of Hades, praising the game for being a "one-of-a-kind rogue-lite that does a brilliant job of marrying its fast-paced action with its persistent, progressing story through a vividly reimagined Greek mythological underworld," which ultimately delivers an experience that you "never want to end." [poilib element="accentDivider"] Adele Ankers is a Freelance Entertainment Journalist. You can reach her on Twitter.

The new Resident Evil movie officially titled Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City, will be more focused on horror than the last Resident Evil film franchise according to the director Johannes Roberts who says one of the main locations in his film will be “creepy as f*ck.” Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City is a brand-new origin movie that will adapt both the first and second Resident Evil games. This new big-screen adaptation is a completely new film franchise unrelated to the massively successful franchise from Paul W.S. Anderson. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2021/03/21/resident-evil-movie-title-revealed-more-with-director-johannes-roberts"] To kick off this new Resident Evil cinematic world, horror movie director Johannes Roberts was tapped to deliver a scarier movie adaptation. “The big thing for this movie is tone. The thing I loved about the games is they were just scary as hell and that is very much what I wanted to, “says Roberts. “That atmosphere — it’s rain, it’s constantly dark, it’s creepy. Raccoon City is kind of this rotten character in the movie and that sort of atmosphere in the games I wanted to put in [the film].” Roberts says his “filmic inspiration” for Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City was John Carpenter, but not the movies you might think. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=resident-evil-origin-movie-cast-comparison&captions=true"] “I’m a huge John Carpenter fan and I really took to that. The way he tells these claustrophobic siege movies and I took movies like Assault on Precinct 13 and The Fog and these disparate group of characters coming together under siege, and I took that as my filmic inspiration.” Roberts says the movies will take place in both Raccoon City and the police station, as well as the Spencer Mansion. “We have two very separate locations but we split people off into their worlds. One is more of a siege movie style with the police station, and then you have the mansion which is creepy as f*ck.” Check out IGN’s full Resident Evil interview from SXSW for more from Roberts and Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt T.M. Kim is IGN's News Editor.

The new Resident Evil movie officially titled Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City, will be more focused on horror than the last Resident Evil film franchise according to the director Johannes Roberts who says one of the main locations in his film will be “creepy as f*ck.” Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City is a brand-new origin movie that will adapt both the first and second Resident Evil games. This new big-screen adaptation is a completely new film franchise unrelated to the massively successful franchise from Paul W.S. Anderson. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2021/03/21/resident-evil-movie-title-revealed-more-with-director-johannes-roberts"] To kick off this new Resident Evil cinematic world, horror movie director Johannes Roberts was tapped to deliver a scarier movie adaptation. “The big thing for this movie is tone. The thing I loved about the games is they were just scary as hell and that is very much what I wanted to, “says Roberts. “That atmosphere — it’s rain, it’s constantly dark, it’s creepy. Raccoon City is kind of this rotten character in the movie and that sort of atmosphere in the games I wanted to put in [the film].” Roberts says his “filmic inspiration” for Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City was John Carpenter, but not the movies you might think. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=resident-evil-origin-movie-cast-comparison&captions=true"] “I’m a huge John Carpenter fan and I really took to that. The way he tells these claustrophobic siege movies and I took movies like Assault on Precinct 13 and The Fog and these disparate group of characters coming together under siege, and I took that as my filmic inspiration.” Roberts says the movies will take place in both Raccoon City and the police station, as well as the Spencer Mansion. “We have two very separate locations but we split people off into their worlds. One is more of a siege movie style with the police station, and then you have the mansion which is creepy as f*ck.” Check out IGN’s full Resident Evil interview from SXSW for more from Roberts and Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt T.M. Kim is IGN's News Editor.