Electronic Arts has developed an adaptive difficulty system that dynamically adjusts how difficult a game is. But, as also revealed by EA’s patent application, the system does this with an aim to keep players active for longer periods of time. The patent, which was filed in October last year and published at the end of March 2021, describes a system that can perform automatic granular adjustments to a game in order to change the difficulty of the experience. Similar systems have been used by Resident Evil 4 and Left 4 Dead, in which a system monitors player performance and uses the data to inform enemy behaviour. However, EA seems to have an additional, or perhaps even alternative motive beyond just aiding players overcome a game’s difficulty curve. As outlined in the patent’s abstract, the system can “review historical user activity data with respect to one or more video games to generate a game retention prediction model”. This model is then used to predict how long the user is expected to play for. Using this prediction, the dynamic difficulty system can calibrate the challenge to make sure you play for that duration. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2018/04/12/god-of-war-gameplay-breakdown-mastering-the-hardest-difficulty-ps4-2018"] More detail on EA’s intention for the system is provided in the Background section. Here, EA states that “software developers typically desire for their software to engage users for as long as possible.” The company notes that “one of the challenges of game development is to design a game with a difficulty level that is most likely to keep a user engaged for a longer period of time.” This dynamic difficulty adjustment system, it would seem, is EA’s answer to that issue. Difficulty is a hugely important issue in game design, and the concept of adaptive difficulty is an attractive one; every player is different, and has different requirements when it comes to challenge. However, the description within this EA patent is incredibly developer/publisher-focused, rather than the emphasis being on the player. It raises questions about what it will do, for instance, when faced with players who only play infrequently for short durations at a time. Will the difficulty be adjusted to ensure adequate progress is made in that short window, or changed to encourage a user to keep playing longer than their data suggests they normally do? For more from the world of in-development video games tech, take a look at the PlayStation patent that lets spectators mess with players in VR, a recent filing for the ability to add PS trophies to older and emulated games, and EA’s other recent patent to allow players to stream full games before they’ve been downloaded. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt Purslow is IGN's UK News and Entertainment Writer. 

Writer Pornsak Pichetshote has a real knack for exploring the racial and political tensions of the 21st Century through the lens of genre fiction, as we saw in 2018's Infidel. Now Pichetshote is back with The Good Asian, and it's a story that couldn't be more timely in 2021, despite taking place in 1936. The Good Asian pairs Pichetshote with artist Alexandre Tefenkgi (Outpost Zero) for a gritty murder mystery tale set in historic Chinatown. While the book's main protagonist - self-loathing Chinese American detective Edison Hark - is fictional, the book is set against the very real backdrop of the Chinese Exclusion Act immigration ban and the explosion of racial tensions in the Depression-era United States. Given the disturbing headlines in 2021 and the marked rise in hate crimes against Asian Americans, the series is only too relevant. IGN can exclusively debut a preview of The Good Asian #1, which you can read in the slideshow gallery below: [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=the-good-asian-1-exclusive-comic-book-preview&captions=true"] "For me, this book started with wanting to use noir and everything I love about those old pulp detectives and marry it all with this Asian-American history we've forgotten, like the Chinese Exclusion Act," Pichetshote told IGN. "Never in a million years did I expect it to be so sadly timely, but here's hoping we can do what my favorite comics have always done for me—entertain and educate." "This story is an amazing opportunity to explore the noir aesthetic and put my own spin on it," added Tefenkgi. The Good Asian #1 will be published by Image Comics and is slated for release on Wednesday, May 5, 2021, just in time for the start of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. DC is also celebrating that event with DC Festival of Heroes: The Asian Superhero Celebration, an anthology special that will introduce a new hero called Monkey Prince. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2021/04/06/batman-the-long-halloween-part-one-exclusive-official-trailer"] Note: IGN has put together a list of resources for anyone interested in helping the Asian American community in Atlanta and other regions affected by violent crimes. [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.

Nuclear missiles have been spotted in Call of Duty: Warzone's Verdansk map, but despite landing on target the warheads are doing nothing at all to the world. As spotted and captured by ModernWarzone on Twitter (and seen by myself in a recent game of Warzone), nuclear missiles can be seen soaring across the skies. But when they fall and strike the ground, there's no catastrophic explosion or damage inflicted. At least, not yet.

The best size reference you’ll get for the missiles flying over Verdansk pic.twitter.com/UgLYM6Ejtb

— ModernWarzone (@ModernWarzone) April 6, 2021

These missiles tie into the rumoured Warzone nuke event, which fans believe will occur around April 21/22, when the current season of Warzone is due to conclude. Through in-game hints and leaks, fans have concluded that the Verdansk map - which has now been in service for over a year - will be struck by nuclear missiles and transformed into a new landscape that will tie into the 1980s theme of the current mainline Call of Duty game, Black Ops Cold War. These new nuclear missiles, presumably added to the game as a tease (or a little too early), suggest that the explosive event is real and on the horizon. Call of Duty publisher Activision has not officially announced the 'nuke event' or the transition of Warzone from the Modern Warfare-era Verdansk to whatever the next map may be. However, the company's recent DMCA takedown action on a website that covered the leak of the new map suggests that those leaks were legitimate. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2021/02/18/call-of-duty-black-ops-cold-war-warzone-season-two-gameplay-trailer"] Before Verdansk seemingly disappears for good, be sure to check out the map's top 10 roofs. They make great sniper nests, and may be obliterated by nuclear fire in the coming weeks. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt Purslow is IGN's UK News and Entertainment Writer. 

Microsoft has added touch controls to more than 50 cloud-based games on Xbox Game Pass. The news arrived as Microsoft revealed the slate of games coming to the platform in April in a blog on the Xbox website. Xbox Touch Controls debuted in September 2020 alongside the launch of Minecraft Dungeons, but Microsoft is now extending the control scheme to the 50+ cloud-compatible games on Xbox Game Pass. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2021/04/06/gta-5-could-be-free-and-on-your-phone-ign-daily-fix-"] This means that Android device owners can use the Xbox Game Pass app to pay Xbox Cloud Gaming titles without a controller connected to their phone. The games that will benefit from touch controls include Slay the Spire, Sea of Thieves, Spiritfarer, Gears 5, Tell Me Why, Desperados 3, Dead Cells, Donut County, Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age and more. The full list of 54 games that will benefit from Xbox Touch Controls can be seen here. In other Xbox Game Pass news, Microsoft also revealed that GTA V would be coming back to the service this week, after leaving it in May 2020. Other games joining in April include Zombie Army 4: Dead War, MLB The Show 21 and more. The latter is particularly interesting given that MLB The Show 21 was developed by Sony San Diego. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Jordan Oloman is a freelance writer for IGN. Follow him on Twitter.

BioWare has detailed all of the gameplay tweaks coming to Mass Effect: Legendary Edition. In a blog on the game's official website, BioWare has kicked off a weekly series digging into the making of Mass Effect Legendary Edition, with the first article focusing on gameplay tuning and rebalancing. With regards to tuning the combat of the trilogy, BioWare has tweaked how accuracy, aim assist, and aiming down sights works in Mass Effect, to let players "maintain more consistent firepower" and bring it in line with Mass Effect 2 and 3. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2021/02/02/mass-effect-legendary-edition-official-trailer"] Abilities have also been rebalanced, and smaller tweaks have been implemented, such as mapping melee to a button press, and letting players mark inventory items as junk so they can be converted to Omni-gel or sold to merchants. BioWare has reworked some of the first game's boss battles and made it so squad mates can be controlled independently like in the later games. Across the trilogy, entering and exiting cover has been made "more reliable," with additional cover added to some encounters. The Galaxy at War metagame has also been rebalanced and won't be affected by factors that are no longer available such as the companion app or multiplayer. BioWare says that preparing for the climax of Mass Effect 3 will be "more difficult to achieve in the legendary edition" as a result. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2021/02/02/mass-effect-legendary-edition-our-first-impressions"] Many will be pleased to hear that BioWare has also calibrated Mass Effect's Mako controls to make the vehicle less bouncy while adding "faster shield recharging and new thrusters." If a player touches lava in the Mako they will also just take damage over time rather than failing the mission instantly. Beyond actual gameplay, the trilogy will feature a set of wider quality-of-life modernizations including a unified launcher, better character customization options, updated achievements, and integrated weapons and armor DLC content, so players can earn them naturally while they play. The trilogy's audio has also been remixed and enhanced for Legendary Edition. Mass Effect Legendary Edition will launch on PC, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One on May 14 later this year. In other Legendary Edition news, here's why some fans wanted to keep the original Mako.  [poilib element="accentDivider"] Jordan Oloman is a freelance writer for IGN. Follow him on Twitter.

Nintendo has announced Pac-Man 99, a 99-player online Pac-Man battle royale game that is exclusive to Nintendo Switch Online members, and it's available tomorrow, April 7, at 6am PT/9am ET/2pm BST. Much like Tetris 99 and Super Mario Bros. 35 before it, Pac-Man 99 is another new, multiplayer-focused take on one of the most iconic games.

PAC-MAN™ is back in a new 99-PAC-MAN battle royale! PAC-MAN™ 99 goes live 4/7 at 6 PM PST, exclusively for #NintendoSwitchOnline members! #PACMAN99

https://t.co/mnzEYXJnBl pic.twitter.com/1qOsEEvbHD — Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) April 7, 2021

Speaking of Mario, Pac-Man 99 arrives just a few days after the infamous "Day Mario Dies," a.k.a. the day Nintendo made Super Mario Bros. 35 unplayable and stopped selling Super Mario 3D All-Stars on the eShop. Pac-Man 99 features traditional Pac-Man gameplay with the added pressure of outlasting 98 other players. Ghosts are still present, as are Power Pellets, and eating one will send Ghosts to attack other players at Jammer Pac-Man. Bumping into one of the Jammers will slow you down and make it easier for a Ghost to catch up to you and end your run. The key to victory in Pac-Man 99 is taking advantage of the Sleeping Ghosts. By chomping them, you will create a "Ghost Train" that will provide an all-you-can-eat buffet when you eat a Power Pellet. This allows your to overwhelm your opponents. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=pac-man-99-screenshots&captions=true"] There are also four power-ups - Stronger, Speed, Standard, and Train - and four targeting options - Knockout, Hunter, Counter, and Random. Pac-Man 99 also includes additional paid content that unlocks classic Pac-Man modes and NAMCO themes based on Xevious, Galaga, Dig Dug, and more. [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.

Nintendo has announced Pac-Man 99, a 99-player online Pac-Man battle royale game that is exclusive to Nintendo Switch Online members, and it's available tomorrow, April 7, at 6am PT/9am ET/2pm BST. Much like Tetris 99 and Super Mario Bros. 35 before it, Pac-Man 99 is another new, multiplayer-focused take on one of the most iconic games.

PAC-MAN™ is back in a new 99-PAC-MAN battle royale! PAC-MAN™ 99 goes live 4/7 at 6 PM PST, exclusively for #NintendoSwitchOnline members! #PACMAN99

https://t.co/mnzEYXJnBl pic.twitter.com/1qOsEEvbHD — Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) April 7, 2021

Speaking of Mario, Pac-Man 99 arrives just a few days after the infamous "Day Mario Dies," a.k.a. the day Nintendo made Super Mario Bros. 35 unplayable and stopped selling Super Mario 3D All-Stars on the eShop. Pac-Man 99 features traditional Pac-Man gameplay with the added pressure of outlasting 98 other players. Ghosts are still present, as are Power Pellets, and eating one will send Ghosts to attack other players at Jammer Pac-Man. Bumping into one of the Jammers will slow you down and make it easier for a Ghost to catch up to you and end your run. The key to victory in Pac-Man 99 is taking advantage of the Sleeping Ghosts. By chomping them, you will create a "Ghost Train" that will provide an all-you-can-eat buffet when you eat a Power Pellet. This allows your to overwhelm your opponents. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=pac-man-99-screenshots&captions=true"] There are also four power-ups - Stronger, Speed, Standard, and Train - and four targeting options - Knockout, Hunter, Counter, and Random. Pac-Man 99 also includes additional paid content that unlocks classic Pac-Man modes and NAMCO themes based on Xevious, Galaga, Dig Dug, and more. [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 Creed series will move forward without Rocky Balboa. Sylvester Stallone will not appear in Creed III, the next entry in the Michael B. Jordan-starring Rocky spin-off series. Stallone's rep confirmed his absence in the next movie to The Hollywood Reporter. No additional explanation for the actor's departure from the series was given. This will mark the first movie in the Creed series in which Stallone does not appear. Stallone earned an Academy Award nomination in 2015 for Best Supporting Actor for his reprisal of the role of Rocky Balboa in the Ryan Coogler-directed Creed. He was also nominated in Best Actor for originating the role in 1976's Rocky, 39 years earlier. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2018/11/07/the-rocky-creed-saga-in-7-minutes"] Though this marks the first official announcement of Stallone's departure from the series, the actor made a statement that he was retiring the character back in 2018. Around the release of Creed II, Stallone said goodbye to Balboa through a video posted on Instagram. "I just want to thank everyone around the whole wide World for taking the Rocky family into their hearts for over 40 years," Stallone wrote in the caption. "It’s been my Ultimate privilege to have been able to create and play this meaningful character." [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=2021-movies-preview&captions=true"] Stallone has portrayed Rocky in eight movies: Rocky I, II, III, IV, and V, Rocky Balboa, as well as Creed I and II. He also directed four of the six Rocky movies and served as writer or co-writer on all the Rocky films and Creed II. Meanwhile, Michael B. Jordan will reprise his role as Adonis "Donnie" Johnson Creed in Creed III. Jordan is helming the project, which will mark his directorial debut. Tessa Thompson is also set to return for the sequel. In our review of Creed II, IGN gave the film a 6, saying that it "[evoked] what's come before, with undeniably diminished results." [poilib element="accentDivider"] J. Kim Murphy is a freelance entertainment writer. (Photo by John Lamparski/Getty Images)

The Creed series will move forward without Rocky Balboa. Sylvester Stallone will not appear in Creed III, the next entry in the Michael B. Jordan-starring Rocky spin-off series. Stallone's rep confirmed his absence in the next movie to The Hollywood Reporter. No additional explanation for the actor's departure from the series was given. This will mark the first movie in the Creed series in which Stallone does not appear. Stallone earned an Academy Award nomination in 2015 for Best Supporting Actor for his reprisal of the role of Rocky Balboa in the Ryan Coogler-directed Creed. He was also nominated in Best Actor for originating the role in 1976's Rocky, 39 years earlier. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2018/11/07/the-rocky-creed-saga-in-7-minutes"] Though this marks the first official announcement of Stallone's departure from the series, the actor made a statement that he was retiring the character back in 2018. Around the release of Creed II, Stallone said goodbye to Balboa through a video posted on Instagram. "I just want to thank everyone around the whole wide World for taking the Rocky family into their hearts for over 40 years," Stallone wrote in the caption. "It’s been my Ultimate privilege to have been able to create and play this meaningful character." [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=2021-movies-preview&captions=true"] Stallone has portrayed Rocky in eight movies: Rocky I, II, III, IV, and V, Rocky Balboa, as well as Creed I and II. He also directed four of the six Rocky movies and served as writer or co-writer on all the Rocky films and Creed II. Meanwhile, Michael B. Jordan will reprise his role as Adonis "Donnie" Johnson Creed in Creed III. Johnson is helming the project, which will mark his directorial debut. Tessa Thompson is also set to return for the sequel. In our review of Creed II, IGN gave the film a 6, saying that it "[evoked] what's come before, with undeniably diminished results." [poilib element="accentDivider"] J. Kim Murphy is a freelance entertainment writer. (Photo by John Lamparski/Getty Images)