Monthly Archives: August 2021

Star Wars and RockLove Launch New Ahsoka Tano Collection

RockLove Jewelry has revealed its latest Star Wars collaboration, which is none other than new Ahsoka Tano jewelry pieces for the Star Wars X RockLove Ahsoka Tano Collection, which launches today at 9am PST on RockLove.com. The pieces were in collaboration with Founder of Her Universe, Ashley Eckstein, who voices the role of Ahsoka Tano in Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Star Wars Rebels.

IGN spoke with RockLove CEO and Designer, Allison Cimino, about the new reveals, what it was like working with Eckstein again, and if there are any other upcoming Ahsoka Tano pieces she can tease to us.

The new pieces for the Star Wars X RockLove Ahsoka Tano Collection include:

Ahsoka Tano Rebels Ring ($99 USD) - This ring was inspired by the Star Wars Rebels series and is a design of Ahsoka’s iconic montrals. It has the word “SURVIVOR” engraved inside the band. The first 1,700 pieces will include an authenticity card autographed by Ashley Eckstein.

Ahsoka Tano Hoop Earrings ($135 USD) - The earrings were inspired by the Star Wars Rebel series as well, and show Ahsoka’s Lekku hanging in a three-dimensional V-shape, with her montrals going upward. The first 900 pieces will include an authenticity card autographed by Ashley Eckstein.

“Ahsoka’s grey-blue and white montral pattern is both whimsical and sophisticated – any Star Wars fan will immediately recognize it while a casual observer will liken it to a classic animal print,” Cimino said while describing the styles. “This new Rebels Ring is inscribed SURVIVOR, a quote personally chosen by Ashley. The earrings include many levels of homage to the more mature Ahsoka: both montral tips frame the hinged ear wire, the body of the hoop depicts her left and right lekku, and the overall curved V-shape silhouette is reminiscent of the head-tail that goes down her back.”

The newest Ahsoka Tano pieces are the third collaboration between RockLove and Her Universe, with previous years being limited to a specific number of units, and selling out quickly. This year, they decided on some changes.

“Ashley Eckstein and I chose for each 2019 and 2020 series to be capped by quantity, as each piece was created by hand and included an authenticity card autographed by Ashely herself,” Cimino explained. “They sold out immediately, which was so exciting! We would have loved to make more though deeply agreed that we would not rerelease Numbered & Limited-Edition designs. This new 2021 drop will again be Limited Edition (as there are only so many pieces RockLove can handcraft, and Ashley can sign before all our fingers go numb) but with the option to replenish if fans request. However, this time, only the first 1,700 Ahsoka Tano Rebels Ring and the first 900 Ahsoka Tano Hoop Earrings include an authenticity card autographed by Ashley Eckstein!”

The new Ahsoka Tano ring has visual similarities to the original, which launched in 2019 at San Diego Comic-Con and was limited edition to 1,000 units. It was the first collaboration between Cimino and Eckstein. “This was our inaugural year with Star Wars, and I wanted to create something truly unique to honor one of my favorite role models, Ahsoka Tano. Standing at the booth, I burst into tears when we realized the quantity on the RockLove.com website sold out in a mere four minutes,” Cimino said.

“Since then, so many fans have begged for the rerelease of that first ring – the RockLove brand was new, and they hadn’t heard of us yet,” Cimino continued. “The site sold out so quickly, fans couldn’t secure theirs in time. International fans couldn’t be at the Con for a chance to purchase in-person inventory. Ashley and I knew that while we wouldn’t rerelease the original, Ahsoka’s headdress changes in Star Wars: Rebels and her lekku become more intricate. This new Rebels Ring is an homage to an older, wiser Ahsoka Tano and the mentor she has become to us all!”

Along with these two jewelry pieces, Star Wars X RockLove recently released the Ahsoka Tano Lightsaber Earring and Necklace set, which, unlike these enamel pieces, are made of sterling silver and have a minimalist aesthetic. “I’m very excited to be creating more Ahsoka pieces, expanding beyond my meditation on montrals,” Cimino said.

RockLove recently launched its Kyber Crystal Capsule Collection by partnering with, “the finest crystal manufacturer in the world to produce custom-colored crystals in the signature hues of attuned kyber crystals.” Which then match to part of a lightsaber handle that's turned into a necklace.

RockLove has officially confirmed to IGN that Ahsoka Tano will be included in the next set launching for the Kyber Crystal Capsule Collection.

For more on RockLove Jewelry, check out our previous interviews with Cimino for past launches, such as Star Wars at SDCC, Thor, Spider-Man, and Captain America for the Marvel Collection, and most recently RockLove's Doctor Strange Collection.

Jessie Wade is Homepage Manager at IGN. You can chat with her on Twitter about everything Star Wars and RockLove @jessieannwade.

Microsoft’s Windows 11 OS Gets a Release Date

We already knew that Microsoft was planning to release Windows 11 this year. And today, the tech giant announced that the next iteration of Windows will arrive on October 5.

As noted in the press release, on October 5, Windows 11 will launch as a new operating system. The new OS will be available as a free upgrade for eligible Windows 10 PCs, and new Windows-powered devices will ship with the latest OS pre-loaded.

As for the free Windows 11 upgrade, Microsoft announced that it will begin rolling out on October 5, but the process will be "phased and measured with a focus on quality." The company notes that new devices eligible for the upgrade will take priority first, with support for older devices rolling out in the following weeks and months. Microsoft previously said that Windows 10 devices already in use would begin to receive the OS upgrade next year.

If your device is eligible for the Windows 11 upgrade, the Windows Update tool will let you know when your free upgrade is available. If you are unsure whether or not your device meets the required criteria, you can check via Windows Update, through an overview post that details Windows 11's specifications, or if you are a member of the Windows Insider Program, you can check using the PC Health Check app.

If your device is not compatible with Windows 11, don't worry. Microsoft confirmed that it will support Windows 10 until October 14, 2025. The company did not specify whether or not there will be any major updates for Windows 10 before that date.

Microsoft announced Windows 11 in June as part of its "What's Next for Windows" event. As you would expect from a new operating system, Windows 11 will introduce many interesting features. This includes the new OS running and supporting Android apps via the Windows Store. Microsoft is also touting Windows 11 as the best operating system ever for gaming and will include several gaming-focused features, such as Auto HDR and the Xbox Game Pass app built directly into the newest iteration of Windows.

Taylor is the Associate Tech Editor at IGN. You can follow her on Twitter @TayNixster.

DC FanDome Lineup Includes a New Trailer for The Batman

DC FanDome will return this year on October 16. The second-annual virtual event will showcase all the new projects in the works at DC including a new trailer for The Batman, plus looks at Black Adam, The Flash, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, and Shazam! Fury of the Gods.

DC FanDome is a fully virtual event with all the latest news and updates from DC across movies, TV, games, and comics. The first DC FanDome was hosted in 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and featured the first trailers for The Batman and Rocksteady’s Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League.

In a press release, DC has shared what viewers can expect at this year’s FanDome alongside the date for the event.

  • On the film side, there will be new looks at many of last year’s big announcements. The most exciting of the lot is a new trailer for The Batman, which after a few delays, will premiere on March 4, 2022. Plus updates on Black Adam, The Flash, Aquaman 2, and Shazam 2.
  • For TV, Warner Bros. Television has new looks for Batwoman, The Flash, Superman & Lois, and Sweet Tooth along with a farewell tribute to Supergirl which is set to end after six seasons. There are also plans to celebrate DC’s Legends of Tomorrow, Naomi, and Stargirl.
  • Warner Bros. Games will showcase new reveals for Gotham Knights and Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League.
  • DC Comics will focus heavily on Wonder Woman showing three new books: DC Black Label miniseries Wonder Woman Historia, plus a look at Nubia and the Amazons and the original graphic novel Wonderful Women of the World.
  • There are also plans to show more of the Batman/Fortnite comic crossover, Batman: Fear State, the Black Manta miniseries, and the return of Milestone Universe.
  • HBO Max will show off the Suicide Squad spinoff Peacemaker and limited event series DMZ, plus returning shows like Titans and Doom Patrol.
  • Warner Bros. Animation will present Aquaman: King of Atlantis, Young Justice: Phantoms, Batman: Caped Crusader, and a new look at the next season of Harley Quinn.
  • And finally, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment will reveal the first look at the Injustice animated movie and Catwoman: Hunted.

DC FanDome premieres on October 16 at 10 am PT/1 pm ET. Check out IGN for all the latest trailers, news, and announcements from the show.

Matt T.M. Kim is IGN's News Editor. You can reach him @lawoftd.

Modder Adds Mario Kart Tracks to Microsoft Flight Simulator

A modder has added seven Mario Kart tracks to Microsoft Flight Simulator.

As spotted by VGC, modder Illogicoma added seven tracks from Mario Kart 8 to Microsoft Flight Simulator, which he then proceeded to showcase on Twitch. The mod begins at Mount Wario before taking players through a range of other tracks including Moo Moo Meadows, Rainbow Road, Mute City, Cloudtop Cruise, Shy Guy Falls, and Bowser's Castle.

On Twitter, Illogicoma explained that he thought adding the tracks to Flight Simulator would be a fun idea. They went on to explain that the "rough" custom mod was built using ripped tracks available on The Models Resource and a Blender addon that allows for the creation of custom 3D assets for Flight Simulator.

During the stream, Illogicoma also opened up on the construction of the track. He said, "Fun fact, I tried to get collision working on this and it did not because the plug-in was the Blender version and I don't think it works." This can be seen a number of times across the showcase where the plane flies through sections of the environment undeterred. Despite a lack of solid objects, the modded tracks do include guidance markers. Added in the form of fly-through rings, these provide checkpoints to help navigate through each of the courses' winding twists and turns.

Whilst some viewers commented that the plane's slow speed looked a little sluggish, there's something to be said for watching the relaxing world of Microsoft Flight Simulator being forcibly inundated with Mario Kart's eclectic courses. Later this year, Flight Simulator is set to release a Top Gun expansion. Whilst it isn't entirely clear exactly what the expansion will entail, we'd certainly love to see Maverick's F14 Tomcat take on the sharp twists of Rainbow Road.

Jared Moore is a freelance writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter.

James Gunn Says One of The Suicide Squad’s Dead Members… Isn’t Dead After All

The Suicide Squad director James Gunn has revealed that one character who many presumed dead actually showed signs of life if you looked close enough.

During a virtual watch party for the movie on Monday night, Gunn took to Twitter to share some behind-the-scenes secrets and tidbits of trivia about The Suicide Squad that fans may have missed on their first viewings of the film. In one tweet, the filmmaker encouraged fans to look out for a very important detail surrounding the supposed death of Nathan Fillion's T.D.K.

"Important to note if you look at the life signals in the Comms hub TDK isn't dead," Gunn tweeted during the watch-along. T.D.K. actor Nathan Fillion retweeted the director's note, adding in his own thoughts. "I noticed that very loudly when I saw this in the theater," he quote-retweeted in response. "Apologies again, for the disturbance."

Early on in the movie, T.D.K., aka The Detachable Kid, is called into action during Task Force X's beachhead assault on Corto Maltese. He detaches his arms, which hover across the beach to slap around the rebel gunmen. Needless to say, his slaps prove ineffective and the armless T.D.K. finds himself riddled with bullets, but that might not be the end for him after all.

At another point during The Suicide Squad watch party, Gunn was asked how many of The Suicide Squad characters will show up in his upcoming Peacemaker series on HBO Max. The director reeled off a list of names, including the most obvious one, John Cena's Peacemaker, together with "Emilia Harcourt, John Economos, and, well, heck maybe one more."

This prompted fans to speculate over which character Gunn may be alluding to in his tweet, with some now citing T.D.K. as a potential candidate for a return. Fillion reteamed with Gunn for The Suicide Squad after appearing in a cameo role in Guardians of the Galaxy as well as starring in Slither and co-starring in Super, all of which were helmed by the director.

It remains to be seen whether they have reunited again for HBO Max's Peacemaker. The series is set to debut in January 2022, with Danielle Brooks in the cast as Leota Adebayo, with Robert Patrick as Auggie Smith, Chris Conrad as Vigilante/Adrian Chase, and Nhut Le as Judomaster alongside Jennifer Holland's Harcourt and Steve Agee's Economos.

Adele Ankers is a freelance writer for IGN. Follow her on Twitter.

Several Cyberpunk 2077 Modders Hired By CD Projekt For ‘Various Projects’

Several members of the Cyberpunk 2077 modding community have been hired by CD Projekt Red to work on a number of projects related to the game.

As announced in an update on the Cyberpunk 2077 Modding Community Discord Server (and shared on Reddit), modder Hambalkó Bence (who goes by the online alias Traderain) said that they would be joining CD Projekt Red alongside fellow modders Blumster, Nightmarea, and rfuzzo. The modders are set to team up with CDPR under Yigsoft, a development company run by Traderain and Nightmarea.

In the update, Bence spoke further about their new role at CDPR. “We will be working on various projects related to the Cyberpunk 2077 backend and the game’s modding support,” the update said. “We are really excited for this and we really hope we can help to bring Cyberpunk 2077 to the next level."

Since its launch in 2020, Cyberpunk 2077 has undergone a number of changes. The game experienced a turbulent launch on consoles, which came about due to a number of technical issues for PS4 and Xbox One. Following apologies from CDPR after launch, the game was temporarily removed from the PlayStation Store for a period of time, and refunds were issued across a number of platforms.

Since then, a number of patches to Cyberpunk 2077 have been carried out and CDPR said in June that it was finally 'quite satisfied' with the game's stability and performance. With patches for the game continuing to roll out and new features being created by the modding community, it will be interesting to see what impact the new additions from Yigsoft make to Cyberpunk 2077 over the coming months.

If you'd like to know more about the game then make sure to check out our review of Cyberpunk 2077. You can also check out the details on the first cosmetics DLC, and the game's new director.

Jared Moore is a freelance writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter.

The Rocketeer is Returning Thanks to Disney Plus

The Rocketeer will blast onto Disney+ in a new exclusive film titled, The Return of the Rocketeer.

Deadline reports that Disney will revive the 1991 classic film with the help of producers Jessica and David Oyelowo, the latter of whom may also potentially star in the project as well. Oyelowo is best known for playing Martin Luther King Jr. in 2014’s Selma.

The Return of the Rocketeer will be a reboot for the hero where he will be a retired Tuskegee airman that ends up becoming the titular hero.

Ed Ricourt will write the new Rocketeer movie having previously written hits like Now You See Me, as well as on shows like Netflix’s Jessica Jones and Raising Dion.

The 1991 original Rocketeer movie was directed by Captain America: The First Avenger helmer Joe Johnston and was based on a graphic novel about a young pilot who becomes a masked hero that flies around in a jetpack.

Despite underperforming at the box office, The Rocketeer has built itself a cult following thanks to its old-fashioned storytelling style and classic influences. No wonder Marvel tapped Johnston to direct the first Captain America movie, a similarly old-fashioned superhero story

Check out IGN’s Rocketeer review where we praise its throwback style and sensibilities.

Matt T.M. Kim is IGN's News Editor. You can reach him @lawoftd.

The Rocketeer is Returning Thanks to Disney Plus

The Rocketeer will blast onto Disney+ in a new exclusive film titled, The Return of the Rocketeer.

Deadline reports that Disney will revive the 1991 classic film with the help of producers Jessica and David Oyelowo, the latter of whom may also potentially star in the project as well. Oyelowo is best known for playing Martin Luther King Jr. in 2014’s Selma.

The Return of the Rocketeer will be a reboot for the hero where he will be a retired Tuskegee airman that ends up becoming the titular hero.

Ed Ricourt will write the new Rocketeer movie having previously written hits like Now You See Me, as well as on shows like Netflix’s Jessica Jones and Raising Dion.

The 1991 original Rocketeer movie was directed by Captain America: The First Avenger helmer Joe Johnston and was based on a graphic novel about a young pilot who becomes a masked hero that flies around in a jetpack.

Despite underperforming at the box office, The Rocketeer has built itself a cult following thanks to its old-fashioned storytelling style and classic influences. No wonder Marvel tapped Johnston to direct the first Captain America movie, a similarly old-fashioned superhero story

Check out IGN’s Rocketeer review where we praise its throwback style and sensibilities.

Matt T.M. Kim is IGN's News Editor. You can reach him @lawoftd.

Peacock’s Vampire Academy Reveals Cast and Fresh Details

Peacock has revealed the 10 series regulars for its upcoming Vampire Academy show. It also revealed new details about the series based on the young adult novels of the same name written by Richelle Mead.

Vampire Academy is centered on exactly what the name implies, an academy for fledgling vampires, and it will be filled with romance, friendship, death, sex, scandal, drama, and more.

"St. Vladimir's Academy isn't just any boarding school — It's a hidden place where vampire royals are educated and half-human teens train to protect them from the savage 'Strigoi' vampires who would like to see them destroyed," Peacock's description for the series reads. "In a world of privilege and glamour, two young women's friendship transcends their strikingly different classes as they prepare to complete their education and enter royal vampire society."

The description continues and says Vampire Academy combines the "elegance of aristocratic romance" with the "supernatural thrills" found in the vampire genre.

Alongside these new Vampire Academy details, Peacock also revealed 10 of the series regulars:

  • Sisi Stringer (Mortal Kombat) has been cast to play Rose Hathaway, a vampire-human hybrid known as a Dhampir, who is fiery, outspoken, the strongest fighter in her class, and always ready to jump into action.

  • Daniela Nieves (Sex Appeal, Five Points) will play Lissa Dragomir, a Royal Moroi vampire who is the heir apparent to Princess Vasilisa Dragomire and a carefree, kind-hearted, princess uninterested in the politics of her family's royal court.

  • Kieron Moore (Masters of the Air, Sex Education) has been cast to play Dimitri Belikov, the model of a Dhampir guardian who is lethal, disciplined, discreet, and committed to his role as a bodyguard to the ruling Moroi vampires.

  • Andre Dae Kim (Degrassi, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds) will play Christian Ozera, a Royal Moroi vampire who is intelligent, thoughtful, and a pariah of the academy as a result of his parent's unforgivable societal sins.
  • J. August Richards (Angel, Generation) has been cast to play Victor Dashkov, a noble Moroi vampire with a heart of gold who is a well-regarded advisor, loyalist, and political strategist to the Moroi dignitaries.

  • Anita-Joy Uwajeh (West End's Cyrano de Bergerac, King Lear) will play Tatiana Vogel, a Moroi vampire and political underdog plotting to slowly take the royal court by storm.
  • Mia McKenna-Bruce (West End's Billy Elliot The Musical, The Dumping Ground) has been cast to play Mia Karp, a St. Vladimir's Academy student who is witty, cutting, ruthless, and someone who's not a member of royalty with big plans to eventually become someone in the royal court.
  • Rhian Blundell (Torchwood: Believe, Doctor Who: The Dread of Night) will play Meredith, a smart Dhampir who's described as a keen observer, excellent strategist, and valuable asset.

  • Jonetta Kaiser (Tales, Breakwater) has been cast to play Sonya Karp, a quiet, careful, and odd Moroi vampire who sits on the fringe of society void of any royal blood.

  • Andrew Liner (Grown-ish) will play Mason Ashford, a charming, loyal, and popular guardian-in-training who is Rose's main competition to become the best guardian out there.

Peacock also revealed that Julie Plec, the director of The Vampire Diaries, The Originals, and Legacies, will serve as the showrunner for the first season of Vampire Academy, and she'll write and direct some episodes too. Marguerite MacIntyre will executive produce the series alongside Plec, Emily Cummins, Don Murphy, Susan Montford, Deepak Nayar, and Jillian DeFrehn.

Other directors include Billie Woodruff, Luis Prieto, Jesse Warn, Erica Dunton, and Geoff Shotz. A release date for Vampire Academy has not yet been revealed.

Wesley LeBlanc is a freelance news writer and guide maker for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @LeBlancWes.

Peacock’s Vampire Academy Reveals Cast and Fresh Details

Peacock has revealed the 10 series regulars for its upcoming Vampire Academy show. It also revealed new details about the series based on the young adult novels of the same name written by Richelle Mead.

Vampire Academy is centered on exactly what the name implies, an academy for fledgling vampires, and it will be filled with romance, friendship, death, sex, scandal, drama, and more.

"St. Vladimir's Academy isn't just any boarding school — It's a hidden place where vampire royals are educated and half-human teens train to protect them from the savage 'Strigoi' vampires who would like to see them destroyed," Peacock's description for the series reads. "In a world of privilege and glamour, two young women's friendship transcends their strikingly different classes as they prepare to complete their education and enter royal vampire society."

The description continues and says Vampire Academy combines the "elegance of aristocratic romance" with the "supernatural thrills" found in the vampire genre.

Alongside these new Vampire Academy details, Peacock also revealed 10 of the series regulars:

  • Sisi Stringer (Mortal Kombat) has been cast to play Rose Hathaway, a vampire-human hybrid known as a Dhampir, who is fiery, outspoken, the strongest fighter in her class, and always ready to jump into action.

  • Daniela Nieves (Sex Appeal, Five Points) will play Lissa Dragomir, a Royal Moroi vampire who is the heir apparent to Princess Vasilisa Dragomire and a carefree, kind-hearted, princess uninterested in the politics of her family's royal court.

  • Kieron Moore (Masters of the Air, Sex Education) has been cast to play Dimitri Belikov, the model of a Dhampir guardian who is lethal, disciplined, discreet, and committed to his role as a bodyguard to the ruling Moroi vampires.

  • Andre Dae Kim (Degrassi, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds) will play Christian Ozera, a Royal Moroi vampire who is intelligent, thoughtful, and a pariah of the academy as a result of his parent's unforgivable societal sins.
  • J. August Richards (Angel, Generation) has been cast to play Victor Dashkov, a noble Moroi vampire with a heart of gold who is a well-regarded advisor, loyalist, and political strategist to the Moroi dignitaries.

  • Anita-Joy Uwajeh (West End's Cyrano de Bergerac, King Lear) will play Tatiana Vogel, a Moroi vampire and political underdog plotting to slowly take the royal court by storm.
  • Mia McKenna-Bruce (West End's Billy Elliot The Musical, The Dumping Ground) has been cast to play Mia Karp, a St. Vladimir's Academy student who is witty, cutting, ruthless, and someone who's not a member of royalty with big plans to eventually become someone in the royal court.
  • Rhian Blundell (Torchwood: Believe, Doctor Who: The Dread of Night) will play Meredith, a smart Dhampir who's described as a keen observer, excellent strategist, and valuable asset.

  • Jonetta Kaiser (Tales, Breakwater) has been cast to play Sonya Karp, a quiet, careful, and odd Moroi vampire who sits on the fringe of society void of any royal blood.

  • Andrew Liner (Grown-ish) will play Mason Ashford, a charming, loyal, and popular guardian-in-training who is Rose's main competition to become the best guardian out there.

Peacock also revealed that Julie Plec, the director of The Vampire Diaries, The Originals, and Legacies, will serve as the showrunner for the first season of Vampire Academy, and she'll write and direct some episodes too. Marguerite MacIntyre will executive produce the series alongside Plec, Emily Cummins, Don Murphy, Susan Montford, Deepak Nayar, and Jillian DeFrehn.

Other directors include Billie Woodruff, Luis Prieto, Jesse Warn, Erica Dunton, and Geoff Shotz. A release date for Vampire Academy has not yet been revealed.

Wesley LeBlanc is a freelance news writer and guide maker for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @LeBlancWes.