The head of product at Google Stadia has left the company. The Information published a report noting that John Justice, VP and Head of Product at Google Stadia, had moved on from Google. This was later confirmed in a statement acquired by 9to5. “We can confirm John is no longer with Google and we wish him well on his next step,” Google told 9to5. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/11/22/google-stadia-review"] Justice was one of the lead faces behind Google Stadia, and previously spoke to IGN during Gamescom 2019 about the future of the platform. It’s another blow for the cloud gaming service which shut down all of its internal game development studios in January of this year. Here’s our piece breaking down reports from Bloomberg and Wired about internal strife at Google Stadia from earlier this year. Despite all of the setbacks, Google still plans to bring “more than 100 games” to the platform in 2021, including Resident Evil Village. In the latest update, a search bar was added to the platform after 500 days without one. Xbox consoles will also be getting an upgraded browser that can stream Google Stadia games in the future. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Jordan Oloman is a freelance writer for IGN. Follow him on Twitter. 

The head of product at Google Stadia has left the company. The Information published a report noting that John Justice, VP and Head of Product at Google Stadia, had moved on from Google. This was later confirmed in a statement acquired by 9to5. “We can confirm John is no longer with Google and we wish him well on his next step,” Google told 9to5. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/11/22/google-stadia-review"] Justice was one of the lead faces behind Google Stadia, and previously spoke to IGN during Gamescom 2019 about the future of the platform. It’s another blow for the cloud gaming service which shut down all of its internal game development studios in January of this year. Here’s our piece breaking down reports from Bloomberg and Wired about internal strife at Google Stadia from earlier this year. Despite all of the setbacks, Google still plans to bring “more than 100 games” to the platform in 2021, including Resident Evil Village. In the latest update, a search bar was added to the platform after 500 days without one. Xbox consoles will also be getting an upgraded browser that can stream Google Stadia games in the future. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Jordan Oloman is a freelance writer for IGN. Follow him on Twitter. 

Disney has finally shared footage of its realistic, retractable lightsaber that will make its debut alongside the Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser hotel/experience at Walt Disney World in 2022. Revealed by Disney Parks as part of Star Wars Day celebrations, this lightsaber, which was teased last month, will be seen by those who take the two-night adventure aboard Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser. While Disney hasn't confirmed these will be available for purchase, it does promise guests will be "the first to see it in action - along with so much more." You can see it in action below: [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2021/05/04/star-wars-galactic-starcruiser-announcement-teaser"] Disney also gave more details on Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser, which will begin with guests entering a special Launch Pod that will offer a virtual view of space as they approach the "massive and magnificent Halcyon starcruiser." When they arrive on the starcruiser, guests will be able to "interact with an eclectic group of characters both familiar and new, possibly including the starcruiser’s strong and charismatic captain, a plucky ship’s mechanic and a galactic superstar who can captivate an entire room with the crook of one jewel-encrusted purple Twi’lek finger." This superstar will be a featured performer at one of the dining experiences known as the Crown of Corellia Dining Room, and you can see concept art for it in the slideshow below. For those unfamiliar, Corellia is the home of both Han Solo and the Millennium Falcon. This dining room will offer breakfast and lunch to passengers before "transitioning each evening into a lavish multi-course menu of both otherworldly and familiar origins." [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=star-wars-galactic-starcruiser-hotel-at-walt-disney-world-concept-art&captions=true"] Guests will also be able to "train in the ancient ways of the lightsaber," learn about the "inner workings of the Halcyon starcruiser," and even take a trip to Batuu (Galaxy's Edge) during their adventure. When Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser opens in 2022, it will transport you to a galaxy far, far away to bring you into "a Star Wars story where your decisions and actions – or even the casual conversations you may have – determine how your personal journey unfolds." As a special, limited-time treat for those able to get to Disney's Hollywood Studios, a model of the Halcyon starcruiser is on display inside Walt Disney Presents. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2017/07/16/disneys-star-wars-hotel-will-be-the-ultimate-role-play-experience-d23-expo-2017"] [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.

Disney has finally shared footage of its realistic, retractable lightsaber that will make its debut alongside the Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser hotel/experience at Walt Disney World in 2022. Revealed by Disney Parks as part of Star Wars Day celebrations, this lightsaber, which was teased last month, will be seen by those who take the two-night adventure aboard Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser. While Disney hasn't confirmed these will be available for purchase, it does promise guests will be "the first to see it in action - along with so much more." You can see it in action below!

Star Wars: #GalacticStarcruiser at @WaltDisneyWorld Resort will take you to a galaxy far, far away starting in 2022 for an all-immersive, vacation experience What exactly does “all-immersive” mean? Well, here’s a little hint… https://t.co/mitmfBRW8t #MayThe4thBeWithYou pic.twitter.com/Wo11937V4b

— Disney Parks (@DisneyParks) May 4, 2021

Disney also gave more details on Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser, which will begin with guests entering a special Launch Pod that will offer a virtual view of space as they approach the "massive and magnificent Halcyon starcruiser." When they arrive on the starcruiser, guests will be able to "interact with an eclectic group of characters both familiar and new, possibly including the starcruiser’s strong and charismatic captain, a plucky ship’s mechanic and a galactic superstar who can captivate an entire room with the crook of one jewel-encrusted purple Twi’lek finger." This superstar will be a featured performer at one of the dining experiences known as the Crown of Corellia Dining Room, and you can see concept art for it in the slideshow below. For those unfamiliar, Corellia is the home of both Han Solo and the Millennium Falcon. This dining room will offer breakfast and lunch to passengers before "transitioning each evening into a lavish multi-course menu of both otherworldly and familiar origins." [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=star-wars-galactic-starcruiser-hotel-at-walt-disney-world-concept-art&captions=true"] Guests will also be able to "train in the ancient ways of the lightsaber," learn about the "inner workings of the Halcyon starcruiser," and even take a trip to Batuu (Galaxy's Edge) during their adventure. When Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser opens in 2022, it will transport you to a galaxy far, far away to bring you into "a Star Wars story where your decisions and actions – or even the casual conversations you may have – determine how your personal journey unfolds." As a special, limited-time treat for those able to get to Disney's Hollywood Studios, a model of the Halcyon starcruiser is on display inside Walt Disney Presents. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2017/07/16/disneys-star-wars-hotel-will-be-the-ultimate-role-play-experience-d23-expo-2017"] [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 filed a patent for a system that would allow frustrated gamers to receive support from expert players. The patent, filed last week, is described as a system that allows for "connecting a player to expert help in real-time during game play of a gaming application,". Sony cites the reasons for this as increased videogame complexity that adds extra challenge for players. According to Patent Scope, the patent exists due to the possibility that “a user may reach a point in a video game that is seemingly impossible to navigate through or solve”, resulting in the player “quitting the game because the user can find no way to advance”. Essentially, the system would allow for an expert player to assist the struggling player and support them through challenging sections of a videogame. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/12/01/sony-made-ps5-activity-cards-in-response-to-single-player-problems-ign-news"] For some players, a system like this could potentially be quicker and more appealing than pulling out their phone and searching for a walkthrough or video guide. When triggered, the system would select from a pool of “experts” and find one that is available to help the struggling player. A system like this could also help to support players with disabilities that might find either the layout or functionality of a game particularly challenging. The use of the word expert in this patent appears slightly nebulous, however, as the patent suggests that “any player can register as an expert after at least playing a portion of the corresponding gaming application”. In other words, they don’t have to have beaten the game at the time of registering. However, in another scenario the patent suggests that “a player can only register as an expert after reaching a qualification standard”. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2021/04/16/ps5s-first-major-update-wasnt-enough-next-gen-console-watch"] The concept sounds similar to Sony’s Game Help system that works with the Activity Cards for PS5, which allow you to view videos of how to complete certain game activities. This system, however, would use a real-world person on the end of the line, helping players through the section they were struggling with in real time, and even taking over control of the gameplay if required. It is also reminiscent of Nintendo’s Tip Line from the 1980s, which connected confused gamers with Nintendo experts that could support them to complete games. Sony has also previously patented a system that could make boss fights easier for those that are frustrated by limited progress and difficulty spikes. It’s worth pointing out that large companies trademark these sorts of systems regularly, so it’s entirely possible that this might never emerge into reality. But given Sony’s recent approach and focus on making games accessible, there may be more to this than meets the eye. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Liam Wiseman is a freelance news writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @liamthewiseman

Sony has filed a patent for a system that would allow frustrated gamers to receive support from expert players. The patent, filed last week, is described as a system that allows for "connecting a player to expert help in real-time during game play of a gaming application,". Sony cites the reasons for this as increased videogame complexity that adds extra challenge for players. According to Patent Scope, the patent exists due to the possibility that “a user may reach a point in a video game that is seemingly impossible to navigate through or solve”, resulting in the player “quitting the game because the user can find no way to advance”. Essentially, the system would allow for an expert player to assist the struggling player and support them through challenging sections of a videogame. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/12/01/sony-made-ps5-activity-cards-in-response-to-single-player-problems-ign-news"] For some players, a system like this could potentially be quicker and more appealing than pulling out their phone and searching for a walkthrough or video guide. When triggered, the system would select from a pool of “experts” and find one that is available to help the struggling player. A system like this could also help to support players with disabilities that might find either the layout or functionality of a game particularly challenging. The use of the word expert in this patent appears slightly nebulous, however, as the patent suggests that “any player can register as an expert after at least playing a portion of the corresponding gaming application”. In other words, they don’t have to have beaten the game at the time of registering. However, in another scenario the patent suggests that “a player can only register as an expert after reaching a qualification standard”. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2021/04/16/ps5s-first-major-update-wasnt-enough-next-gen-console-watch"] The concept sounds similar to Sony’s Game Help system that works with the Activity Cards for PS5, which allow you to view videos of how to complete certain game activities. This system, however, would use a real-world person on the end of the line, helping players through the section they were struggling with in real time, and even taking over control of the gameplay if required. It is also reminiscent of Nintendo’s Tip Line from the 1980s, which connected confused gamers with Nintendo experts that could support them to complete games. Sony has also previously patented a system that could make boss fights easier for those that are frustrated by limited progress and difficulty spikes. It’s worth pointing out that large companies trademark these sorts of systems regularly, so it’s entirely possible that this might never emerge into reality. But given Sony’s recent approach and focus on making games accessible, there may be more to this than meets the eye. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Liam Wiseman is a freelance news writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @liamthewiseman

Court documents released as part of the currently ongoing Apple v Epic Games trial have revealed that Epic paid $146 million to secure Borderlands 3 as an Epic Games Store Exclusive on PC for a timed exclusive window of six months.

Also notable: Epic paid Take-Two $146 million in advances for PC Borderlands 3 exclusivity ($115 million for the game + marketing + one-off fee) and recouped the minimum guarantee part ($80mil) in just the first 2 weeks. pic.twitter.com/3YThZuy5pJ

— Simon Carless (@simoncarless) May 4, 2021

As noted by GameDiscoverCo's Simon Carless on Twitter, Epic paid Borderlands 3's publisher, Take-Two Interactive, $115 million for exclusive rights to distribute the PC version of the game for six months. This included a "minimum guarantee" of $80 million to cover costs, as well as a marketing commitment of $15 million and $20 million to cover non-recoupable fees. Additionally, Epic also paid Take-Two $11m for the Borderlands Handsome Collection and $20million for Civilization 6, which were all added together to make a "Fully Loaded Borderlands 3 Deal" priced at $146 million. As shown in the tweet, Epic recouped the cost of its minimum guarantee payment in just two weeks, and managed a net revenue of $9.2m from sales. During that period, 1.56 million people came to the Epic Games Store to play Borderlands 3, 53% of which were new to the platform. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/08/14/borderlands-3-the-borderlands-are-yours-trailer"] Both Epic and developer Gearbox faced plenty of criticism following the announcement of Borderlands 3 being exclusive to Epic Games Store on PC. The game would, of course, come to Steam in March 2020, but that half-year window was enough to bring many new users to the Epic Games Store. For more news arriving from the Apple v Epic case, take a look at our story on Sony making Epic pay for Fortnite cross-platform support, and how much Epic has spent on free games for its store. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt Purslow is IGN's UK News and Entertainment Writer. 

Court documents released as part of the currently ongoing Apple v Epic Games trial have revealed that Epic paid $146 million to secure Borderlands 3 as an Epic Games Store Exclusive on PC for a timed exclusive window of six months.

Also notable: Epic paid Take-Two $146 million in advances for PC Borderlands 3 exclusivity ($115 million for the game + marketing + one-off fee) and recouped the minimum guarantee part ($80mil) in just the first 2 weeks. pic.twitter.com/3YThZuy5pJ

— Simon Carless (@simoncarless) May 4, 2021

As noted by GameDiscoverCo's Simon Carless on Twitter, Epic paid Borderlands 3's publisher, Take-Two Interactive, $115 million for exclusive rights to distribute the PC version of the game for six months. This included a "minimum guarantee" of $80 million to cover costs, as well as a marketing commitment of $15 million and $20 million to cover non-recoupable fees. Additionally, Epic also paid Take-Two $11m for the Borderlands Handsome Collection and $20million for Civilization 6, which were all added together to make a "Fully Loaded Borderlands 3 Deal" priced at $146 million. As shown in the tweet, Epic recouped the cost of its minimum guarantee payment in just two weeks, and managed a net revenue of $9.2m from sales. During that period, 1.56 million people came to the Epic Games Store to play Borderlands 3, 53% of which were new to the platform. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/08/14/borderlands-3-the-borderlands-are-yours-trailer"] Both Epic and developer Gearbox faced plenty of criticism following the announcement of Borderlands 3 being exclusive to Epic Games Store on PC. The game would, of course, come to Steam in March 2020, but that half-year window was enough to bring many new users to the Epic Games Store. For more news arriving from the Apple v Epic case, take a look at our story on Sony making Epic pay for Fortnite cross-platform support, and how much Epic has spent on free games for its store. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt Purslow is IGN's UK News and Entertainment Writer. 

It looks like Sony has registered a trademark for the previously Xbox-exclusive shooter Sunset Overdrive. Spotted by Nibel on Twitter, the trademark was registered at the US Patent and Trademark Office in late April. It doesn't confirm anything, but it is interesting given that Sunset Overdrive was initially exclusive to Xbox One upon its release in 2014. The game then came to PC in 2018 before Sony acquired Insomniac as a first-party PlayStation studio in 2019.

It appears that Sony has registered a trademark for Sunset Overdrivehttps://t.co/sUlKPPxfwT

(Insomniac owns the IP but the original game has been on XBO/Windows only so far) pic.twitter.com/CoPI4cAAwQ — Nibel (@Nibellion) May 4, 2021

This means Sony can lay claim to the game and are clearly interested in maintaining its patent, but whether they intend to actually do anything with the property is anyone's guess. Interestingly enough, Sunset Overdrive Director Drew Murray recently rejoined Insomniac Games after a stint at Microsoft's 'AAAA' Perfect Dark studio The Initiative. You can check out our review of Sunset Overdrive here. We scored it a 9, calling it "fun, frantic and fantastic." It also made our list of the best open-worlds in video games. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2018/11/15/sunset-overdrive-windows-10-pc-launch-trailer"] [poilib element="accentDivider"] Jordan Oloman is a freelance writer for IGN. Follow him on Twitter.

It looks like Sony has registered a trademark for the previously Xbox-exclusive shooter Sunset Overdrive. Spotted by Nibel on Twitter, the trademark was registered at the US Patent and Trademark Office in late April. It doesn't confirm anything, but it is interesting given that Sunset Overdrive was initially exclusive to Xbox One upon its release in 2014. The game then came to PC in 2018 before Sony acquired Insomniac as a first-party PlayStation studio in 2019.

It appears that Sony has registered a trademark for Sunset Overdrivehttps://t.co/sUlKPPxfwT

(Insomniac owns the IP but the original game has been on XBO/Windows only so far) pic.twitter.com/CoPI4cAAwQ — Nibel (@Nibellion) May 4, 2021

This means Sony can lay claim to the game and are clearly interested in maintaining its patent, but whether they intend to actually do anything with the property is anyone's guess. Interestingly enough, Sunset Overdrive Director Drew Murray recently rejoined Insomniac Games after a stint at Microsoft's 'AAAA' Perfect Dark studio The Initiative. You can check out our review of Sunset Overdrive here. We scored it a 9, calling it "fun, frantic and fantastic." It also made our list of the best open-worlds in video games. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2018/11/15/sunset-overdrive-windows-10-pc-launch-trailer"] [poilib element="accentDivider"] Jordan Oloman is a freelance writer for IGN. Follow him on Twitter.