Monthly Archives: April 2021
Street Fighter Crossover Coming to Power Rangers: Battle for the Grid
Power Rangers: Battle for the Grid is getting a Street Fighter crossover, with Ryu and Chun-Li transformed into the Crimson Hawk Ranger and Blue Phoenix Ranger respectively.
Announced exclusively with IGN, a Street Fighter DLC Pack will come to PC, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and Stadia on May 25, priced at $12.50 USD. The pack will include both fighters, and "exclusive skins to be revealed at a later date." Ryu and Chun-Li will also be sold separately for $5.99 each.
Check out an announcement trailer below:
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2021/04/13/power-rangers-battle-for-the-grid-street-fighter-crossover-trailer"]
Ryu and Chun-Li each become their own Power Ranger in the pack, with their designs originally added to mobile game Power Rangers: Legacy Wars – and they've been added to Battle for the Grid by fan request.
Despite the older designs, they should bring some new ideas to the tag-team fighter. "The entire 2D fighting genre can be traced back to Chun-Li and Ryu (among others) making such a splash in Street Fighter II," says Rose Silvestre from the nWay Community and Marketing team. "Tag fighters in particular owe a spiritual debt to the Capcom - Marvel crossovers of the 90s, X-Men vs. Street Fighter and Marvel vs. Capcom. While Power Rangers in Battle for the Grid take the bulk of their inspiration from other mediums – the shows, movies, and comics – Ryu and Chun-Li have decades of classic fighting game appearances to draw from.
"They fit right in alongside the existing roster and mechanics, but they also work a bit differently, like their Street Fighter and crossover series styles. We thought of it a bit like how Ryu and Ken (and other guest characters, like Terry Bogard) were treated in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate – Ryu and Chun-Li follow some of their own rules where it makes sense to inject that Street Fighter feel. Aside from the sheer fact that they’re basically the king and queen of 2D fighting games, that’s what separates them from the rest of the roster."
A press release description of Ryu's Crimson Hawk Ranger form explains that he "brings to the battle his trademark stoic, reserved poise and a lifetime of Shotokan training. His fluid, almost water-like fighting style is deadly at both range and up close, with his moves executed using classic, genre-defining input commands. Keep opponents on their toes from a distance with classic Hadouken, or punish aggressive play up close with his Tastumaki Senpukyaku or iconic Shoryuken. "
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I asked Silvestre how this unusual collaboration came about in the first place, and it turns out that it was down to an important figure on the Street Fighter side: "[Power Rangers creator] Saban introduced us to Capcom before Power Rangers was acquired by Hasbro. We met with Capcom and it turns out the producer for Street Fighter, Yoshinori Ono, was a big fan of Power Rangers. Capcom suggested that it would be cool if Ryu and Chun-Li wore Power Rangers suits and we said heck yeah."
The designs of the characters themselves were also a collaboration between the teams. "Capcom had originally submitted early concepts, which our team built off of in collaboration with their then Udon Entertainment Comic Book artist," explains Silvestre. "Inspired by these designs, we then worked with Saban to further develop additional designs such as the Ranger Coin which also led to all parties agreeing on an animal theme, Crimson Hawk and Blue Phoenix. As a result, our art team was able to create a unique ranger suit that would exist in both universes."
Developer nWay is also announcing Power Rangers: Battle for the Grid - Super Edition, another May 25 release (with a physical edition to follow in July). It will include the base game, all three current Season Passes of content, the Street Fighter pack, and 4 bonus skins. Those with the base game will be able tl to upgrade to the Super Edition, but no pricing has been announced.
On release we awarded Battle for the Grid a 6.8 review, saying "There are some surprisingly good fighting game mechanics in Power Rangers: Battle for the Grid, but there’s very little meat on that skeleton." The Super Edition should hopefully solve part of that problem.
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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.
Jurassic World: The Exhibition North American Tour Begins in Dallas in June
Round Room Live and Cityneon have announced that the North American tour of Jurassic World: The Exhibition will begin in Dallas, Texas on June 18, 2021 at the Grandscape in The Colony.
Tickets are now on sale for the 20,000-square-foot experience that will allow guests to walk through the iconic "Jurassic World" gates, come face-to-face with life-sized dinosaurs like Tyrannosaurus Rex, Velociraptor, and Brachiosaurus, and explore themed environments like the Hammond Creation Lab.
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Fans of Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous will also be happy to know that they will be able to interact with baby dinosaurs like Bumpy from the Netflix original series.
Tickets for those 16 and older will cost $29.50, while kids 3-15 will be charged $19.50 each. Children two years and younger are free with an accompanying parent.
Jurassic World: The Exhibition has seen nearly three million visitors since its first stop in Melbourne, Australia in 2016. The Exhibition would go on to open its gates in Chicago, Philadelphia, Paris, Madrid, Seoul, Chengdu, and Guangzhou.
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2018/06/11/the-jurassic-park-saga-in-5-minutes-ish-2018-update"]
This experience is produced in conjunction with Universal Parks & Resorts, and is just one of the big ways in 2021 the theme park is celebrating Jurassic World. Later this spring, Universal Orlando's Islands of Adventures will open its Jurassic World VelociCoaster that will let guests "feel the rush of the hunt as they race alongside these nimble predators, twisting and soaring above the land and water."
Jurassic World: The Exhibition will hopefully help some in the wait for Jurassic World: Dominion in 2022 that is set to be the "culmination" of all six Jurassic movies.
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2018/06/23/jurassic-world-3-where-does-the-franchise-go-from-here"]
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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.
Jurassic World: The Exhibition North American Tour Begins in Dallas in June
Round Room Live and Cityneon have announced that the North American tour of Jurassic World: The Exhibition will begin in Dallas, Texas on June 18, 2021 at the Grandscape in The Colony.
Tickets are now on sale for the 20,000-square-foot experience that will allow guests to walk through the iconic "Jurassic World" gates, come face-to-face with life-sized dinosaurs like Tyrannosaurus Rex, Velociraptor, and Brachiosaurus, and explore themed environments like the Hammond Creation Lab.
[widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=jurassic-world-the-exhibition-images&captions=true"]
Fans of Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous will also be happy to know that they will be able to interact with baby dinosaurs like Bumpy from the Netflix original series.
Tickets for those 16 and older will cost $29.50, while kids 3-15 will be charged $19.50 each. Children two years and younger are free with an accompanying parent.
Jurassic World: The Exhibition has seen nearly three million visitors since its first stop in Melbourne, Australia in 2016. The Exhibition would go on to open its gates in Chicago, Philadelphia, Paris, Madrid, Seoul, Chengdu, and Guangzhou.
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2018/06/11/the-jurassic-park-saga-in-5-minutes-ish-2018-update"]
This experience is produced in conjunction with Universal Parks & Resorts, and is just one of the big ways in 2021 the theme park is celebrating Jurassic World. Later this spring, Universal Orlando's Islands of Adventures will open its Jurassic World VelociCoaster that will let guests "feel the rush of the hunt as they race alongside these nimble predators, twisting and soaring above the land and water."
Jurassic World: The Exhibition will hopefully help some in the wait for Jurassic World: Dominion in 2022 that is set to be the "culmination" of all six Jurassic movies.
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2018/06/23/jurassic-world-3-where-does-the-franchise-go-from-here"]
[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.
Playpulse ONE Is an Exercise Bike, Gaming Console, and Entertainment System
The Playpulse One is an all-in-one exercise bike, video game console, and entertainment system that aims to make working out much more fun.
The Playpulse One is similar to a Peloton bike, as it is an indoor exercise bike with a screen that allows for video content to accompany and motivate you in your mission to workout and get healthier.
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2021/04/13/meet-playpulse-one"]
Not only does the Playpulse One feature a high precision pedal sensor, handlebars with game controllers, and a heart-rate sensor, it also has a 24" multitouch computer/screen with a dedicated graphics card that is able to run 3D games with online multiplayer.
The bike will ship with four games made with Unity 3D, as well as access to streaming services like Netflix, Amazon, YouTube, and more. Streaming content can also be integrated with a "gamification" mode that will have the screen go blurry or dark if you not maintaining the exercise intensity you've set.
While more games and experiences are in development in addition to Playpulse's plan to create an open API for third-party developers, the four launch games are as follows;
- Pedaltanks - Capture the flag and win the war in this epic multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) game. Pick your own tank, each with different stats and abilities. Then start to pedal and use the strength of your tank to cooperate with your teammates and beat the opposing team!
- Bumpercars - What do you get when you put Bumper Cars in space? An epic arcade game. Bump your way to victory by knocking opponents off the tracks. Watch out though, your opponent get smarter every minute and are constantly finding new ways to attack. How long can you outsmart them?
- Heat Street - Navigate colorful worlds, wisely use power ups to gain tactical advantage, and find the best shortcuts to beat the opponents. Keep your cool though, if you push your vehicle too hard it might just overheat and you`re out of the race. Each vehicle has unique statistics and power ups suited for its personality.
- Helios - A roguelite runner. Explore new worlds with Helios, your trusted spaceship. Collect valuable resources and upgrades as you pilot your ship across planets. Find the best paths and watch out for obstacles as you work your way through the different segments of your planetary exploration. Sure, Helios is a rugged ship, but there’s a limit to the beating it can take. Hit too many obstacles and you’ll have to start over.
Playpulse ONE Is an Exercise Bike, Gaming Console, and Entertainment System
The Playpulse One is an all-in-one exercise bike, video game console, and entertainment system that aims to make working out much more fun.
The Playpulse One is similar to a Peloton bike, as it is an indoor exercise bike with a screen that allows for video content to accompany and motivate you in your mission to workout and get healthier.
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2021/04/13/meet-playpulse-one"]
Not only does the Playpulse One feature a high precision pedal sensor, handlebars with game controllers, and a heart-rate sensor, it also has a 24" multitouch computer/screen with a dedicated graphics card that is able to run 3D games with online multiplayer.
The bike will ship with four games made with Unity 3D, as well as access to streaming services like Netflix, Amazon, YouTube, and more. Streaming content can also be integrated with a "gamification" mode that will have the screen go blurry or dark if you not maintaining the exercise intensity you've set.
While more games and experiences are in development in addition to Playpulse's plan to create an open API for third-party developers, the four launch games are as follows;
- Pedaltanks - Capture the flag and win the war in this epic multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) game. Pick your own tank, each with different stats and abilities. Then start to pedal and use the strength of your tank to cooperate with your teammates and beat the opposing team!
- Bumpercars - What do you get when you put Bumper Cars in space? An epic arcade game. Bump your way to victory by knocking opponents off the tracks. Watch out though, your opponent get smarter every minute and are constantly finding new ways to attack. How long can you outsmart them?
- Heat Street - Navigate colorful worlds, wisely use power ups to gain tactical advantage, and find the best shortcuts to beat the opponents. Keep your cool though, if you push your vehicle too hard it might just overheat and you`re out of the race. Each vehicle has unique statistics and power ups suited for its personality.
- Helios - A roguelite runner. Explore new worlds with Helios, your trusted spaceship. Collect valuable resources and upgrades as you pilot your ship across planets. Find the best paths and watch out for obstacles as you work your way through the different segments of your planetary exploration. Sure, Helios is a rugged ship, but there’s a limit to the beating it can take. Hit too many obstacles and you’ll have to start over.
Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade’s Yuffie DLC Title, New Details Revealed
Alongside revealing new details, Square Enix has announced that Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade for PS5's new Yuffie-focused episode will be called Final Fantasy 7 Remake EPISODE INTERmission.
Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade is an enhanced and expanded version of 2020's remake of the classic PS1 title for PS5, and this new PS5-exclusive episode will see Yuffie attempting to steal the Shinra Electric Power Company's most powerful materia.
Yuffie is a member of Wutai's elite corps of ninja operatives, and she has a unique play style that allows her to throw her iconic massive throwing star at enemies. She is also able to attack using long-range ninjutsu that can be imbued with the elemental powers of fire, ice, lightning, or wind.
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2021/02/25/final-fantasy-7-remake-intergrade-reveal-trailer"]
Yuffie also has an ability called Banishment, which can be charged with Elemental Ninjutsu, that will do more damage based on how much ATB was spent before it, and another called Windstorm that will create a damaging gust of wind that damages nearby enemies and launches them towards her.
Final Fantasy 7 Remake EPISODE INTERmission will also feature additional characters like the previously revealed Sonon, Zhijie - a "Wutain who acts as the point of contact between the new Wutaian government and Avalanche HQ - and other members of Avalanche HQ like Nayo, Billy Bob, and Polk.
Weiss, the "sadistic ruler of Shinra's top-secret underground research centre Deepground," will also be part of the story.
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2021/02/25/final-fantasy-7-remake-ps5-version-trailer"]
Square also shared the English voice cast behind these new characters, and they include;
- Yuffie Kisaragi - Suzie Yeung
- Sonon Kusakabe - Aleks Le
- Weiss - Daman Mills
- Zhijie - Griffin Puatu
- Nayo - Ashley Boettcher
- Billy Bob - David Goldstein
- Polk - Daniel Amerman
Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade’s Yuffie DLC Title, New Details Revealed
Update (4/14/21) - Square Enix has revealed a few more details on Final Fantasy 7 Remake EPISODE INTERmission, the DLC for FF7R Intergrade that is focused on Yuffie Kisaragi.
Alongside sharing 20 images from EPISODE INTERmission, Square Enix also revealed details on the characters that will be featured in this PS5-exclusive DLC, and you can read about each one in the slideshow below.
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Original story follows.
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Alongside revealing new details, Square Enix has announced that Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade for PS5's new Yuffie-focused episode will be called Final Fantasy 7 Remake EPISODE INTERmission.
Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade is an enhanced and expanded version of 2020's remake of the classic PS1 title for PS5, and this new PS5-exclusive episode will see Yuffie attempting to steal the Shinra Electric Power Company's most powerful materia.
Yuffie is a member of Wutai's elite corps of ninja operatives, and she has a unique play style that allows her to throw her iconic massive throwing star at enemies. She is also able to attack using long-range ninjutsu that can be imbued with the elemental powers of fire, ice, lightning, or wind.
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2021/02/25/final-fantasy-7-remake-intergrade-reveal-trailer"]
Yuffie also has an ability called Banishment, which can be charged with Elemental Ninjutsu, that will do more damage based on how much ATB was spent before it, and another called Windstorm that will create a damaging gust of wind that damages nearby enemies and launches them towards her.
Final Fantasy 7 Remake EPISODE INTERmission will also feature additional characters like the previously revealed Sonon, Zhijie - a "Wutain who acts as the point of contact between the new Wutaian government and Avalanche HQ - and other members of Avalanche HQ like Nayo, Billy Bob, and Polk.
Weiss, the "sadistic ruler of Shinra's top-secret underground research centre Deepground," will also be part of the story.
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2021/02/25/final-fantasy-7-remake-ps5-version-trailer"]
Square also shared the English voice cast behind these new characters, and they include;
- Yuffie Kisaragi - Suzie Yeung
- Sonon Kusakabe - Aleks Le
- Weiss - Daman Mills
- Zhijie - Griffin Puatu
- Nayo - Ashley Boettcher
- Billy Bob - David Goldstein
- Polk - Daniel Amerman
Some Classic Ubisoft Games Will Lose Multiplayer Later This Year
A dozen classic Ubisoft games will lose multiplayer functionality and online services later this year.
Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Vegas, Rainbow Six Vegas 2, Rainbow Six Lockdown, and Ghost Recon Future Soldier will lose multiplayer and online support across all platforms on an unspecified date this year. On June 1, eight games including Assassin's Creed 2, Far Cry 2, and Splinter Cell Conviction, will see online support shut down on PC specifically.
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/04/27/14-games-that-seemingly-vanished"]
"We are constantly assessing what's needed to deliver the best possible online services for Ubisoft's customers," the Ubisoft Forums post about the company's master multiplayer-shutdown list reads. "Shutting the services for some older games with smaller online audiences is a necessary part of this process, since it allows our IT and service staff to better focus on delivering great online experiences to the vast majority of customers who are playing newer, more popular titles."
The entire list of PC games losing online functionality on June 1 is Assassin's Creed 2, Prince of Persia: Forgotten Sands, Far Cry 2, Anno 1404, Might & Magic - Clash of Heroes, Splinter Cell Conviction, The Settlers 7, and Might & Magic X - Legacy. Not all of these games have multiplayer modes, but will be affected in some way by Ubisoft removing online support.
According to Ubisoft, the multiplayer online services for the titles listed above will be shut down, as will in-game news and player stats. Games with Ubisoft Connect enabled will lose that functionality as well. Players will not be able to earn Ubisoft Connect Units any longer, either, and Ubisoft Connect Actions will be disabled too. Rewards will be still be unlockable, but you will not receive anything for unlocking them.
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"The ULC (unlockable content) will be disabled, meaning you will no longer be able to unlock them," the post reads. "On PC, even if you have redeemed them, the ULC will no longer be available. On consoles, the ULC will be available until you decide to reset your saved game files. Players having in-game currency should use it within the 60 days period. There won't be any refund on unused in-game currency."
You can check out the full list of all the Ubisoft games that have lost multiplayer online services here. For more about Ubisoft, read about how Ubisoft Connect is a next-gen Uplay with cross-progression and digital rewards and then check out this story about how Ubisoft is moving away from reliance on AAA releases.
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Wesley LeBlanc is a freelance news writer and guide maker for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @LeBlancWes.
Some Classic Ubisoft Games Will Lose Multiplayer Later This Year
A dozen classic Ubisoft games will lose multiplayer functionality and online services later this year.
Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Vegas, Rainbow Six Vegas 2, Rainbow Six Lockdown, and Ghost Recon Future Soldier will lose multiplayer and online support across all platforms on an unspecified date this year. On June 1, eight games including Assassin's Creed 2, Far Cry 2, and Splinter Cell Conviction, will see online support shut down on PC specifically.
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/04/27/14-games-that-seemingly-vanished"]
"We are constantly assessing what's needed to deliver the best possible online services for Ubisoft's customers," the Ubisoft Forums post about the company's master multiplayer-shutdown list reads. "Shutting the services for some older games with smaller online audiences is a necessary part of this process, since it allows our IT and service staff to better focus on delivering great online experiences to the vast majority of customers who are playing newer, more popular titles."
The entire list of PC games losing online functionality on June 1 is Assassin's Creed 2, Prince of Persia: Forgotten Sands, Far Cry 2, Anno 1404, Might & Magic - Clash of Heroes, Splinter Cell Conviction, The Settlers 7, and Might & Magic X - Legacy. Not all of these games have multiplayer modes, but will be affected in some way by Ubisoft removing online support.
According to Ubisoft, the multiplayer online services for the titles listed above will be shut down, as will in-game news and player stats. Games with Ubisoft Connect enabled will lose that functionality as well. Players will not be able to earn Ubisoft Connect Units any longer, either, and Ubisoft Connect Actions will be disabled too. Rewards will be still be unlockable, but you will not receive anything for unlocking them.
[widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=every-ign-assassins-creed-review&captions=true"]
"The ULC (unlockable content) will be disabled, meaning you will no longer be able to unlock them," the post reads. "On PC, even if you have redeemed them, the ULC will no longer be available. On consoles, the ULC will be available until you decide to reset your saved game files. Players having in-game currency should use it within the 60 days period. There won't be any refund on unused in-game currency."
You can check out the full list of all the Ubisoft games that have lost multiplayer online services here. For more about Ubisoft, read about how Ubisoft Connect is a next-gen Uplay with cross-progression and digital rewards and then check out this story about how Ubisoft is moving away from reliance on AAA releases.
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Wesley LeBlanc is a freelance news writer and guide maker for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @LeBlancWes.
Nintendo Switch Lite Gets a New Blue Edition
Nintendo has announced a new blue edition of Nintendo Switch Lite, which will launch in Europe on May 7, and the US on May 21.
Available for $199.99 (other regions' pricing not available at time of writing), the colour appears to be a permanent addition to the Switch Lite line-up, rather than a special or limited edition.
Check out the new colour in the gallery below:
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The blue edition will be available alongside the coral, yellow, turquoise and gray editions that are already available, and special editions like the Pokemon Sword and Shield Switch Lite.
The new edition will launch alongside the Switch port of Miitopia, which adapts the 3DS RPG for the new system.
We awarded the Switch Lite an 8.3 review, calling the handheld-only system "a different take on a console I already love, offering an alternative that’s better in some ways and worse in others."
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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.