Update 03/15/2021: Troy Leavitt has released a video explaining his decision to leave Avalanche Studios and the Hogwarts Legacy project. The video explains that Leavitt has retired from the industry due to health-related family issues, and that controversy over his YouTube channel was a catalyst for retiring now, "but not the cause". The video, which is an edited version of a Zoom presentation given to ex-colleagues at Avalanche, features Leavitt explaining that he had retired in August of 2020, but rejoined the company in October. In early February 2021, "family matters took [a] sharp turn" – seemingly before reports about Leavitt's controversial YouTube output initially emerged. Leavitt says WB applied no pressure to him over the situation, but Leavitt made the decision to re-retire this month. Leavitt labelled press coverage of the controversy as feeling like "cancel culture", thanked those who defended him on YouTube, and announced that he'd like to work in indie development, and will continue work on a fantasy novel series. Leavitt shared a resignation letter, which says, "I leave with only the warmest of feelings towards both the Avalanche team and the WB organization." Later in the video, he said he believes "Avalanche is the right studio to make this game," pointing to its work on licensed IPs, in-house talent, and partnerships. He also said he appreciates the studio's player-centric design team, adding that it's focused on "what's good for the player, without trying to push any other agendas into the game" – a phrase which appears to tacitly reference the ongoing controversy around Harry Potter creator J.K. Rowling's transphobic views. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Hogwarts Legacy lead designer Troy Leavitt has left developer Avalanche Software and quit the project, following controversy around his YouTube channel. Update: Leavitt points out in the video discussed above that he has been Hogwarts Legacy's senior producer since 2019, after beginning the project as lead designer. Leavitt became the centre of controversy two weeks ago, when journalist Liam Robertson pointed out that the designer had previously uploaded a number of videos in the past that, among other subjects, expressed support for the Gamergate movement and downplayed high-profile cases of sexual harassment. Leavitt has now explained on Twitter that he has left Avalanche Software, adding that he has "nothing but good things to say about the game, the dev team, and WB Games." In a follow-up, Leavitt says that he felt "absolutely secure" in his position at Avalanche, but made the choice to resign.

1. I have made the decision to part ways with Avalanche Software. I have nothing but good things to say about the game, the dev team, and WB Games.

2. I will be releasing a YouTube Video about this soon on my channel. — Troy Leavitt (@Troylus_true) March 5, 2021

Neither Avalanche Software, nor WB Games, have commented on Leavitt's departure at time of writing. IGN has contacted both for comment. Hogwarts Legacy – scheduled for release in 2022 – has seen a number of controversies since announcement, primarily centered around J.K. Rowling's transphobic views. Avalanche has previously explained that Rowling is "not directly involved" with Hogwarts Legacy (although she does earn money from WB's use of the IP), and a recent report suggested the game will allow for transgender characters to be created by players. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/09/16/hogwarts-legacy-official-reveal-trailer"] WB Interactive president David Haddad previously refused to criticise Rowling, saying that "she has the right to hold her opinions". We've previously written about how Harry Potter fans are coping with Rowling's views. [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.

The WandaVision season finale, Episode 9, has both mid-credits and post-credits scenes – make sure you don't switch off too early. WandaVision Episodes 7 and 8 were the only episodes of the show to include mid-credits scenes, but the finale marks the first and only time the show has included a second scene after the credits have rolled – something very familiar to Marvel Cinematic Universe fans. As is almost always the case, those credit sequences presage the future of the MCU. If you haven't watched yet, go no further – but if you want to know what was inside, we'll detail that below. Full spoilers follow for Episode 9 of WandaVision! [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/wandavision-director-reveals-secrets-of-scarlet-witchs-origin"] The mid-credits scene centres on Monica Rambeau, who showed off more of her newly-gained powers in the main bulk of the show. After talking to Jimmy Woo and asking after Darcy, Monica's told to head to the Westview theater by an unknown agent. After arriving and seeing no one else, the agent reveals herself to be a Skrull, and explains that "an old friend of [Monica's mother]" would like to meet with Monica – asked where, she points upwards. This clearly references Samuel L. Jackson's Nick Fury, who we last saw in Spider-Man: Far From Home's post-credits scene (where he also used Skrull agents to keep in contact with Peter Parker), aboard what seemed to be a space station. It seems Monica will be joining Fury in some capacity, most likely as part of the Secret Invasion series, in which Fury and Talos (Ben Mendelsohn) are investigating a sect of Skrulls who’ve infiltrated the highest levels of authority in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/after-wandavision-whats-next-for-the-scarlet-witch-ign-now"] The post-credits scene is slightly less easy to interpret. We see that Wanda has moved to a remote cabin in the mountains, seemingly living a simple life alone. However, a final reveal shows what appears to be an astral projection of Scarlet Witch researching the Darkhold (the book of magic Agnes referred to in the finale). As the scene ends, we hear Billy and Tommy begging for help. With Billy and Tommy seemingly vanished, along with Wanda's memory-created version of Vision, at the end of the series, this seems to point to the idea that parts of her sons remain alive somewhere in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Or should that be Multiverse? We know that Scarlet Witch will be a part of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, and the projection of her reading is a callback to scenes in the original Doctor Strange film, in which Stephen Strange learned magic while his body slept. Perhaps Wanda's interest in Strange will be in learning how pass through between realities in search of her children. This could also be a link to the widely-held theory that Mephisto will become a part of the MCU in its latest phase. While the demon lord wasn't revealed to be WandaVision's Big Bad, we have seen what could be a reference to him in the trailer for the Loki series. Given Mephisto has a penchant for collecting souls, perhaps Billy and Tommy have become part of his collection – which would explain why they're begging for help, too. But before we get to any of the above, we still have the good old-fashioned action of The Falcon and Winter Soldier to come, with the series starting on Disney+ on March 19. [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.

The WandaVision season finale, Episode 9, has both mid-credits and post-credits scenes – make sure you don't switch off too early. WandaVision Episodes 7 and 8 were the only episodes of the show to include mid-credits scenes, but the finale marks the first and only time the show has included a second scene after the credits have rolled – something very familiar to Marvel Cinematic Universe fans. Developing...

Paramount Pictures has found a new captain to begin work on its next Star Trek film. Fear the Walking Dead writer and co-executive producer Kalinda Vasquez has been tapped to write a new Star Trek movie for Paramount Pictures, per Deadline. J.J. Abrams' Bad Robot is producing. If the project is greenlit, Vasquez will become the first woman to pen a Star Trek film. At the moment, it's uncertain whether the new project intends to include previously established characters from recent Star Trek movies, such as Chris Pine's Captain Kirk, Zachary Quinto's Spock and Simon Pegg's Scotty. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2016/07/20/jj-abrams-star-trek-series-in-5-minutes"] Vasquez already has experience writing for the Star Trek franchise, having penned multiple episodes across the property's various iterations on Paramount Plus. She also wrote the Star Trek: Discovery episode Terra Firma, Part 2. Apart from Trek, Vasquez is currently writing a Marvel comics run about America Chavez and is also developing an adaptation of George R.R. Martin's novel Roadmarks for HBO. It has been nearly 5 years since the last Star Trek movie was in theaters. Star Trek Beyond released in July 2016 and went on to gross $158 million domestically. It marked a notable drop-off compared to its two predecessors Star Trek and Star Trek Into Darkness, which grossed $257 million and $228.7 million respectively. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=star-trek-discovery-season-3-exclusive-character-images&captions=true"] In the years since, Paramount has made several attempts at bringing Star Trek back to theaters. Quentin Tarantino detailed his and Abrams' idea for an R-rated franchise entry, though he has since distanced himself from the project. Similarly, Fargo creator Noah Hawley was tapped to write and direct a direct sequel to Star Trek Beyond, though that project has since been shuttered. [poilib element="accentDivider"] J. Kim Murphy is a freelance entertainment writer.

Paramount Pictures has found a new captain to begin work on its next Star Trek film. Fear the Walking Dead writer and co-executive producer Kalinda Vasquez has been tapped to write a new Star Trek movie for Paramount Pictures, per Deadline. J.J. Abrams' Bad Robot is producing. If the project is greenlit, Vasquez will become the first woman to pen a Star Trek film. At the moment, it's uncertain whether the new project intends to include previously established characters from recent Star Trek movies, such as Chris Pine's Captain Kirk, Zachary Quinto's Spock and Simon Pegg's Scotty. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2016/07/20/jj-abrams-star-trek-series-in-5-minutes"] Vasquez already has experience writing for the Star Trek franchise, having penned multiple episodes across the property's various iterations on Paramount Plus. She also wrote the Star Trek: Discovery episode Terra Firma, Part 2. Apart from Trek, Vasquez is currently writing a Marvel comics run about America Chavez and is also developing an adaptation of George R.R. Martin's novel Roadmarks for HBO. It has been nearly 5 years since the last Star Trek movie was in theaters. Star Trek Beyond released in July 2016 and went on to gross $158 million domestically. It marked a notable drop-off compared to its two predecessors Star Trek and Star Trek Into Darkness, which grossed $257 million and $228.7 million respectively. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=star-trek-discovery-season-3-exclusive-character-images&captions=true"] In the years since, Paramount has made several attempts at bringing Star Trek back to theaters. Quentin Tarantino detailed his and Abrams' idea for an R-rated franchise entry, though he has since distanced himself from the project. Similarly, Fargo creator Noah Hawley was tapped to write and direct a direct sequel to Star Trek Beyond, though that project has since been shuttered. [poilib element="accentDivider"] J. Kim Murphy is a freelance entertainment writer.

Party Down, the cult comedy about a group of caterers with dreams of stardom working in Hollywood is set to return as a limited-series revival at Starz. According to a press release, Starz announced it is “reviving the party” with a six-part limited series Party Down revival. There is no mention yet, however, on whether the original cast will return for the revival. Though chances seem likely. Party Down stars a crew of caterers who host parties as they wait for their big break in show business. The cast includes Adam Scott as a washed-up commercial actor, Lizzy Caplan as a struggling stand-up comic, Martin Starr as a wannabe sci-fi screenwriter, Ryan Hansen as an actor and model, Jane Lynch who is a former actress, Megan Mullally as a showbiz mom, and Ken Marino as their boss at the catering company. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=12-cancelled-tv-shows-wed-love-to-see-revived&captions=true"] Funny enough the cast has gone to have bigger roles following their stint on Party Down, with regular roles in shows like Parks and Recreation, Silicon Valley, Glee, Masters of Sex, and more. Party Down creator Rob Thomas (who also created shows like Veronica Mars and iZombie) said in a statement that the cast and producers of Party Down have been looking for a way to work together again ever since a retrospective for the show was hosted by Vulture in 2019. Thomas is set to return for the Party Down revival along with showrunner John Enbom, and producers Paul Rudd and Dan Etheridge. Party Down is the latest sitcom set for a modern revival. Other shows like Saved by the Bell have already been revived, while others have been announced. Most recently a planned Frasier revival series in the works at Paramount+. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt T.M. Kim is a News Editor at IGN.

Party Down, the cult comedy about a group of caterers with dreams of stardom working in Hollywood is set to return as a limited-series revival at Starz. According to a press release, Starz announced it is “reviving the party” with a six-part limited series Party Down revival. There is no mention yet, however, on whether the original cast will return for the revival. Though chances seem likely. Party Down stars a crew of caterers who host parties as they wait for their big break in show business. The cast includes Adam Scott as a washed-up commercial actor, Lizzy Caplan as a struggling stand-up comic, Martin Starr as a wannabe sci-fi screenwriter, Ryan Hansen as an actor and model, Jane Lynch who is a former actress, Megan Mullally as a showbiz mom, and Ken Marino as their boss at the catering company. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=12-cancelled-tv-shows-wed-love-to-see-revived&captions=true"] Funny enough the cast has gone to have bigger roles following their stint on Party Down, with regular roles in shows like Parks and Recreation, Silicon Valley, Glee, Masters of Sex, and more. Party Down creator Rob Thomas (who also created shows like Veronica Mars and iZombie) said in a statement that the cast and producers of Party Down have been looking for a way to work together again ever since a retrospective for the show was hosted by Vulture in 2019. Thomas is set to return for the Party Down revival along with showrunner John Enbom, and producers Paul Rudd and Dan Etheridge. Party Down is the latest sitcom set for a modern revival. Other shows like Saved by the Bell have already been revived, while others have been announced. Most recently a planned Frasier revival series in the works at Paramount+. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt T.M. Kim is a News Editor at IGN.

Zombies can be found in movies, on TV, and in games, but so far, not anywhere in the real world. The CDC has a tips guide to help you prepare should that ever change, though. That might read like a joke or satire, but the CDC — the real-life, federally-funded Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — legitimately has a guide for surviving a zombie apocalypse. It features some pretty handy tips too that seem useful not just for a zombie takeover, but a hurricane or a global pandemic...you know, like the one we're in. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=best-zombie-games-of-all-time&captions=true"] "So what do you need to do before zombies...or hurricanes or pandemics for example, actually happen?" the CDC's Preparedness 101: Zombie Apocalypse guide reads. "First of all, you should have an emergency kit in your house. This includes things like water, food, and other supplies to get you through the first couple of days before you can locate a zombie-free refugee camp." According to the CDC, one gallon of water per person, per day, is sufficient and that as far as food goes, you should stock up on non-perishable items that can last while. The guide also recommends stocking up on prescription and non-prescription medications as well as things like knives, tape, battery-powered radios, and flashlights. Although hygiene is likely to be the last thing on anyone's mind during a zombie apocalypse — we've all seen how dirty Daryl Dixon gets on The Walking Dead — the CDC's zombie survival guide says to stock up on household bleach, soap, towels, and other sanitation and hygiene-related products. Assuming the world doesn't come to an end by way of zombies, you're going to want a copy of all your important documents too, like your driver's license and passport. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2021/02/25/army-of-the-dead-official-teaser"] "Although you're a goner if a zombie bites you, you can use [first aid supplies] to treat basic cuts and lacerations that you might get during a tornado or hurricane," the guide reads. "Once you've made your emergency kit, you should sit down with your family and come up with an emergency plan. This includes where you would go and who you would call if zombies started appearing outside your door step." Something tells us if zombies appear on your doorstep and that's the first you've seen of them, things aren't going to go well. As far as where to go, if Zack Snyder's upcoming zombie movie, Army of the Dead, is any indication, stay as far away from Las Vegas as possible. The CDC says a good emergency plan includes awareness of the other possible types of emergencies that could happen (although, if a tornado happens near you during a zombie apocalypse, you've just got bad luck), picking out a place to regroup should a zombie horde split your family up, identifying emergency contacts, and planning an evacuation route. We recommend a nice, rural farmhouse, like Rick and his crew found back in Season 2 of The Walking Dead, although be cautious of zombified family members hidden on the property. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/12/17/back-4-blood-hands-on-preview-the-spiritual-successor-to-left-4-dead"] "If zombies did start roaming the streets, CDC would conduct an investigation much like any other disease outbreak," the guide reads. "CDC would provide technical assistance to cities, states, or international partners dealing with a zombie infestation. This assistance might include consolation, lab testing and analysis, patient management and care, tracking of contacts, and infection control." If video games, movies, and TV have prepared the world for anything, it's a zombie apocalypse. Check out IGN's list of the top 19 zombie video games and then check out this list of the 10 zombie movies you need to watch, especially if you're looking for things not to do during a zombie apocalypse. Be sure to read IGN's top 10 Walking Dead episodes after that. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Wesley LeBlanc is a freelance news writer and guide maker for IGN who has zero faith in himself to survive beyond maybe a day or two in a zombie apocalypse. You can follow him on Twitter @LeBlancWes. 

Zombies can be found in movies, on TV, and in games, but so far, not anywhere in the real world. The CDC has a tips guide to help you prepare should that ever change, though. That might read like a joke or satire, but the CDC — the real-life, federally-funded Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — legitimately has a guide for surviving a zombie apocalypse. It features some pretty handy tips too that seem useful not just for a zombie takeover, but a hurricane or a global pandemic...you know, like the one we're in. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=best-zombie-games-of-all-time&captions=true"] "So what do you need to do before zombies...or hurricanes or pandemics for example, actually happen?" the CDC's Preparedness 101: Zombie Apocalypse guide reads. "First of all, you should have an emergency kit in your house. This includes things like water, food, and other supplies to get you through the first couple of days before you can locate a zombie-free refugee camp." According to the CDC, one gallon of water per person, per day, is sufficient and that as far as food goes, you should stock up on non-perishable items that can last while. The guide also recommends stocking up on prescription and non-prescription medications as well as things like knives, tape, battery-powered radios, and flashlights. Although hygiene is likely to be the last thing on anyone's mind during a zombie apocalypse — we've all seen how dirty Daryl Dixon gets on The Walking Dead — the CDC's zombie survival guide says to stock up on household bleach, soap, towels, and other sanitation and hygiene-related products. Assuming the world doesn't come to an end by way of zombies, you're going to want a copy of all your important documents too, like your driver's license and passport. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2021/02/25/army-of-the-dead-official-teaser"] "Although you're a goner if a zombie bites you, you can use [first aid supplies] to treat basic cuts and lacerations that you might get during a tornado or hurricane," the guide reads. "Once you've made your emergency kit, you should sit down with your family and come up with an emergency plan. This includes where you would go and who you would call if zombies started appearing outside your door step." Something tells us if zombies appear on your doorstep and that's the first you've seen of them, things aren't going to go well. As far as where to go, if Zack Snyder's upcoming zombie movie, Army of the Dead, is any indication, stay as far away from Las Vegas as possible. The CDC says a good emergency plan includes awareness of the other possible types of emergencies that could happen (although, if a tornado happens near you during a zombie apocalypse, you've just got bad luck), picking out a place to regroup should a zombie horde split your family up, identifying emergency contacts, and planning an evacuation route. We recommend a nice, rural farmhouse, like Rick and his crew found back in Season 2 of The Walking Dead, although be cautious of zombified family members hidden on the property. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/12/17/back-4-blood-hands-on-preview-the-spiritual-successor-to-left-4-dead"] "If zombies did start roaming the streets, CDC would conduct an investigation much like any other disease outbreak," the guide reads. "CDC would provide technical assistance to cities, states, or international partners dealing with a zombie infestation. This assistance might include consolation, lab testing and analysis, patient management and care, tracking of contacts, and infection control." If video games, movies, and TV have prepared the world for anything, it's a zombie apocalypse. Check out IGN's list of the top 19 zombie video games and then check out this list of the 10 zombie movies you need to watch, especially if you're looking for things not to do during a zombie apocalypse. Be sure to read IGN's top 10 Walking Dead episodes after that. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Wesley LeBlanc is a freelance news writer and guide maker for IGN who has zero faith in himself to survive beyond maybe a day or two in a zombie apocalypse. You can follow him on Twitter @LeBlancWes. 

Update 03/08/2021: Crystal Dynamics has has clarified how XP progression will change in Marvel's Avengers, accepting that it had caused confusion in its first announcement of the move. On Reddit, the official developer account for the game wrote, "We did not change XP to increase grind for grind’s sake. Our initial blog was not comprehensive enough to convey what we were doing and why....so we caused confusion,…we get it." In the clarification, the developer explains that the progression curve will now mean that players level up faster than before at low levels, and take longer than before at higher levels – it estimates later levels will take 2-4 missions for each level, rather than once or more per mission as can happen in the current version. More powerful enemies will also  offer additional XP, further incentivising fighting them. In all, Crystal Dynamics expects that reaching maximum level with heroes will take around 3-5 hours longer than before the changes. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=marvels-avengers-screenshots&captions=true"] While it's certainly a clearer picture of the changes, fans on Reddit broadly remain unconvinced by the changes' usefulness to the game. The top-rated reply to the post comes from antca87, who puts it simply: "This is a terrible move. Leveling up was never the issue. The lack of content was." Last week, we wrote about how the move represents Avengers fixing the wrong problems. "In a year’s time," reads the piece, "I want to look back and see the success it's become. For that to happen though, there needs to be better communication with fans, and a genuine back and forth regarding the issues fans have with the game. Of all the complaints I’ve seen about Marvel’s Avengers, none were about how surprisingly quick leveling up your heroes can be, but almost all have been about the dearth of fun to be had once you’ve done that." The XP changes come alongside next-gen versions of the console game, and the addition of Hawkeye content. Besides the promise of PlayStation exclusive Spider-Man content, long-delayed endgame missions, and Black Panther content, very little is known about the future of the game beyond that. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Leveling up your heroes in Marvel’s Avengers will take longer after Crystal Dynamics announced it will be changing the way XP progression will work. On March 18 the newest DLC character Hawkeye is set to be released alongside the next-gen versions of Marvel’s Avengers. But Crystal Dynamics is also changing up some key progression mechanics along with how random cosmetic drops will work. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/marvels-avengers-next-gen-capabilities-trailer"] In a new developer’s blog, the Marvel’s Avengers team shared that the current XP progression curve “isn’t really a curve at all.” Whereas most RPGs increase the amount of XP required to level up as players get stronger, Marvel’s Avengers’ XP system is linear and static. “This has led to pacing issues, such as skill points currently being rewarded too fast, which may be confusing and overwhelming to newer players,” says Crystal Dynamics in the blog.

To fix this, Marvel’s Avengers will begin increasing the amount of XP required to level up starting at around level 25. The required XP will increase the closer players get to level 50, which is the current max level. Crystal Dynamics says players looking to max their characters quickly can try and grind before March 18, when the update is set to go live.

As for cosmetics, Marvel’s Avengers is getting rid of random cosmetics entirely. Starting today, random cosmetic item drops will be temporarily removed and they’ll re-appear later in the cosmetic vendor and can be purchased through Units. On the r/PlayAvengers subreddit, players are somewhat divided on the XP rework. Some argue that characters don’t even begin to feel good to play until level 50 and that adding more grind to progression isn’t a solution. Others say this change will only impact new players and that easing them into characters through a longer progression will breed more familiarity with the game’s systems. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=every-ign-marvel-superhero-game-review&captions=true"] Crystal Dynamics has shared some of the changes coming to the native next-gen version of Marvel’s Avengers on PS5, including native 4K resolution or 60FPS checkerboard 4K (in performance mode) as well as improved load times, higher-resolution textures, and more. Check out the full next-gen details here. You can also find out everything about Operation Hawkeye - Future Imperfect here, or check out IGN’s Avengers review here. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt T.M. Kim is IGN's News Editor.