Facebook is reportedly planning to change its name in an effort to reflect its work building the "metaverse," The Verge reports, citing a source familiar with the matter.

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg reportedly plans to announce the name change at the company's Connect conference on October 28, if not sooner. The name change could signal Facebook's intentions to grow further beyond a social media company and into more of a tech conglomerate. With Facebook owning Instagram, WhatsApp, Oculus VR devices, and other brands, the name change will likely organize every group under one umbrella, similar to Google's change to Alphabet in 2015.

Zuckerberg has previously commented on Facebook's intentions to expand into different technology and the metaverse. He told The Verge earlier this year that "we will effectively transition from people seeing us as primarily being a social media company to being a metaverse company.”

The Verge also reports that the name is a closely guarded secret, even among Facebook's senior leadership. One theory is that it will take its name from Facebook's unreleased VR platform, Horizon Worlds, previously known as Facebook Horizons.

Facebook's rebranding could also have an impact on the negative perception of the company as a major source of misinformation. Earlier this month, a whistleblower (and former employee of Facebook) testified that the company prioritized profit over the well-being of its users, and leaked confidential documents related to her allegations.

Some of the whistleblower's most notable claims include that Facebook was aware its product was having a negative impact on people's health, particularly teen mental health. The whistleblower also alleged that Facebook softened its regulations on misinformation after the 2020 election, just before the January 6 riot in Washington D.C., Vox reports.

Even prior to 2021, Facebook was frequently mired in controversy. The infamous Cambridge Analytica scandal showed that Facebook had exposed the data of 87 million accounts to the political consulting firm working for the Trump campaign. A lawsuit was filed in 2018 over the data-mining scandal and more recently today the DC Attorney General announced that Mark Zuckerberg had been added as a defendant in the lawsuit.

Even Facebook's technology has found itself under intense criticism. Facebook formally apologized last month after the platform's AI labeled videos of black men under "primates."

What exactly is the metaverse? It depends on who you ask. The founder of Pokemon Go creator Niantic called it a "dystopian nightmare," but Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney, who received $1 billion earlier this year to help build Epic's own metaverse, believes it will be an asynchronous and persistent virtual universe where every brand, company, independent users, and independent creators can be interconnected. Imagine Ready Player One's Oasis, but where Fortnite and Instagram exist in the same code.

It's definitely complicated, and likely years and years away from becoming a reality thanks to the diverse and unregulated nature of the internet and different tech platforms, to say nothing of convincing major brands to participate in a virtual world. The term "metaverse" has also been used by NFT and cryptocurrency groups to describe their vision of a shared universe where a unique item in one game/app can be used in another. However, the NFT and cryptocurrency community is so rife with scams and dodgy promises that even Steam has seen fit to ban all games with any NFT or cryptocurrency integration. Lucky for them, Sweeney says they're cool with Epic.

Joseph Knoop is a writer/producer/non-fungullible for IGN. Become a part of his meh-taverse on Twitter.

Facebook is reportedly planning to change its name in an effort to reflect its work building the "metaverse," The Verge reports, citing a source familiar with the matter.

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg reportedly plans to announce the name change at the company's Connect conference on October 28, if not sooner. The name change could signal Facebook's intentions to grow further beyond a social media company and into more of a tech conglomerate. With Facebook owning Instagram, WhatsApp, Oculus VR devices, and other brands, the name change will likely organize every group under one umbrella, similar to Google's change to Alphabet in 2015.

Zuckerberg has previously commented on Facebook's intentions to expand into different technology and the metaverse. He told The Verge earlier this year that "we will effectively transition from people seeing us as primarily being a social media company to being a metaverse company.”

The Verge also reports that the name is a closely guarded secret, even among Facebook's senior leadership. One theory is that it will take its name from Facebook's unreleased VR platform, Horizon Worlds, previously known as Facebook Horizons.

Facebook's rebranding could also have an impact on the negative perception of the company as a major source of misinformation. Earlier this month, a whistleblower (and former employee of Facebook) testified that the company prioritized profit over the well-being of its users, and leaked confidential documents related to her allegations.

Some of the whistleblower's most notable claims include that Facebook was aware its product was having a negative impact on people's health, particularly teen mental health. The whistleblower also alleged that Facebook softened its regulations on misinformation after the 2020 election, just before the January 6 riot in Washington D.C., Vox reports.

Even prior to 2021, Facebook was frequently mired in controversy. The infamous Cambridge Analytica scandal showed that Facebook had exposed the data of 87 million accounts to the political consulting firm working for the Trump campaign. A lawsuit was filed in 2018 over the data-mining scandal and more recently today the DC Attorney General announced that Mark Zuckerberg had been added as a defendant in the lawsuit.

Even Facebook's technology has found itself under intense criticism. Facebook formally apologized last month after the platform's AI labeled videos of black men under "primates."

What exactly is the metaverse? It depends on who you ask. The founder of Pokemon Go creator Niantic called it a "dystopian nightmare," but Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney, who received $1 billion earlier this year to help build Epic's own metaverse, believes it will be an asynchronous and persistent virtual universe where every brand, company, independent users, and independent creators can be interconnected. Imagine Ready Player One's Oasis, but where Fortnite and Instagram exist in the same code.

It's definitely complicated, and likely years and years away from becoming a reality thanks to the diverse and unregulated nature of the internet and different tech platforms, to say nothing of convincing major brands to participate in a virtual world. The term "metaverse" has also been used by NFT and cryptocurrency groups to describe their vision of a shared universe where a unique item in one game/app can be used in another. However, the NFT and cryptocurrency community is so rife with scams and dodgy promises that even Steam has seen fit to ban all games with any NFT or cryptocurrency integration. Lucky for them, Sweeney says they're cool with Epic.

Joseph Knoop is a writer/producer/non-fungullible for IGN. Become a part of his meh-taverse on Twitter.

Respawn has asked Apex Legends players to stop posing – at least, until they can implement a fix next week to stop client crashes linked to Epic poses.

Apex Legends has been plagued by crashes recently, as a result of a new bug caused by animated Epic poses – which are animated poses that play out on the game's menu screens between matches. Developer Respawn has issued a statement about this game-breaking issue, with some stern advice: stop posing.

“We’ve just published this message in-game to help cut down on crashes called by animated poses,” they shared via Twitter. “Tell your friends! A full fix is scheduled for next week.”

We’ve just published this message in-game to help cut down on crashes called by animated poses. Tell your friends!

A full fix is scheduled for next week. pic.twitter.com/mXguAzBvN3

— Respawn (@Respawn) October 15, 2021

The full in-game message reads: “Bug Notice: There’s currently an issue with animated poses which can cause crashes. We advise you to unequip these epic poses while our team works on a fix. Thanks, Legends!”

A similar issue appeared last month, with Respawn issuing the same advice at the time. Epic poses are usually equipped for each character in their customisation options, but Respawn suggests equipping non-animated poses for the time being. At least, until the upcoming fix goes live.

“There's no obvious reason - looking at the code - why epic (animated) banner poses should trigger this more often,” said a Respawn developer going by RobotHavGunz on Reddit, replying to people pointing out the issue. “I never saw this bug in testing, nor did QA, but I know the bug is happening. And I can definitely believe this post - that epic banner poses are triggering this more often, because the bug is with a safeguard to make sure we don't try to run a pose on a character for which it doesn't apply. Maddeningly, it's not 100%... it doesn't happen every time. And, again, we had no reports of this during testing.”

There’s currently no indication of when the hotfix will go live, so it’s best to follow Respawn’s advice and stop posing for now. Although, with a range of new epic poses added in the ongoing Monsters Within event, it’s pretty unfortunate timing.

Ryan Leston is an entertainment journalist and film critic for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter.

No Man's Sky has announced Emergence, a fourth expedition and Halloween update that focuses on the game's horrific sandworms. Also it adds flesh fireworks, because why not?

Expeditions are No Man's Sky's event quests, and Emergence is the first with a full narrative attached – stranding players on a barren world and asking them to solve the mystery of a cult that appears to be connected to the Titan Worms infesting planets across the galaxy.

The expedition also acts as a mini-update, adding a number of features to the game, from better particle effects to fully rideable flying sandworms (after you tame and grow them, of course). There are also a number of grosser effects being added, from a jetpack trail that fires worms, and a "Flesh Launcher", that sends up fireworks that "explode in a splatter of slime, plasma and wormlets." Delicious.

Developer Hello Games has released a full list of additions coming in Emergence, which is released today.

No Man's Sky: Emergence Additions

• More Varied Sandworms - The titanic worms throughout the universe have been enhanced with a variety of new biologies and types. These colossal beasts can now be found with a broader selection of more horrifying variants.
• Richer Particle Effects - Particle effects have been improved. Meteors, muzzle flashes, explosions, burrowing fauna dust, billowing smoke and laser impacts have all been revamped and can be seen throughout the game.
• Rideable Sandworms - Players can now tame and grow a tremendous sandworm companion to feed, pet, ride and explore the universe with. These are both terrifying and awesome creatures when fully grown, and incredible to fly.
• Feasting Casque - After discovering the secrets of an ancient Vy’keen cult, explorers can also echo their appearance with this unique, many-toothed grotesque alien.
• Ghastly Trail - The Ghastly Trail customisation applies a unique organic effect to the Jetpack's exhaust nozzles, ejecting gooey fluids and tiny worms during flight.
• Titanic Trophy - This eerie skull, once belonging to a large legless cousin of the titan sandworm, adds a touch of macabre decor to bases.
• Flesh Launcher - Add an organic element to pyrotechnic displays with the Flesh Launcher firework. These unusual fireworks explode in a splatter of slime, plasma and wormlets.

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.

Epic Games Publishing has announced two new studio partners: Spry Fox (Cozy Grove) and Eyes Out (the new studio from Spec Ops: The Line creative director Cory Davis, and Nine Inch Nails guitarist Robin Finck).

Announced today, Epic says that the partnerships should "empower developers of all sizes to take chances and create their most ambitious dreams." It follows Epic's partnerships with Remedy (which recently released Alan Wake Remastered and is rumoured to be working on Alan Wake 2), Inside developer Playdead, and genDESIGN (headed by Ico, Shadow of the Colossus and Last Guardian creator Fumito Ueda).

Spry Fox's new game is described as its biggest ever, a "multiplatform nonviolent persistent multiplayer title". Spry Fox previously made Cozy Grove, a game we described as Animal Crossing with more story, and less capitalism. The announcement came alongside new (and lovely) concept art for the game:

We had previously heard about Eyes Out's first game, described as a single-player, immersive cosmic horror game with an emphasis on environmental storytelling. Epic says that it gave a grant to Eyes Out to create a prototype, and that's been subsequently extended to a full partnership.

Both new games will be built in Epic's Unreal Engine. As with previous partnerships, Epic promises "full creative freedom, complete IP ownership, and favorable financial terms."

Joe Skrebels is IGN's Executive Editor of News. Follow him on Twitter. Have a tip for us? Want to discuss a possible story? Please send an email to newstips@ign.com.

The Suicide Squad director James Gunn has explained why he felt the DC movie's original ending was "too dark" to make the final cut.

Gunn had "carte blanche" to kill off any character he wanted in his R-rated film but there was one character death that he ultimately decided to bury because he felt it would result in an ending that was "too dark." Gunn had originally contemplated killing Daniela Melchior's Ratcatcher 2, however, he opted to change the scene before submitting the final script.

The filmmaker recently outlined the details of how that original ending would have played out. "At the very end of the movie, Ratcatcher 2 had... smuggled in and gotten away with all of that information from Jotunheim, and the rest of the group didn't know about it," Gunn told CinemaBlend. "And [Amanda] Waller blew up her head, after they went back to the prison."

"At which point, Harley tries to talk Bloodsport -- Bloodsport's freaking out, because he's connected to this person, like a daughter. And he's freaking out, and Harley is actually being sort of kind, in a weird way, trying to talk Bloodsport into just letting it go," Gunn continued, recounting The Suicide Squad's scrapped sequence.

"Bloodsport ends up shooting Waller in the heart with a combustible bullet and threatening to blow her up. It was sort of complicated, but it was something like that. He didn't shoot her in the heart. He shot her right below the heart with one of the exploding bullets, which we see Peacemaker using earlier in the movie. And so now she has to do what he says."

Melchior's character is arguably the heart and soul of The Suicide Squad, the least violent and most compassionate of the outcasts populating Task Force X. In the film's actual ending, Ratcatcher II — and her beloved rat Sebastian — survive the devastation of Corto Maltese and have a chance at a new life thanks to Bloodsport's climactic blackmailing of Waller.

The alternate ending presented a much darker version of events. "It was really just too dark," Gunn concluded. "It didn't really tell the story that I wanted to tell, which is much more about the characters' different journeys, emotionally. And for me, really, the ending with Bloodsport petting the rat... that, to me, was the perfect ending for the movie."

IGN's review of The Suicide Squad scored the supervillain blockbuster a 9/10, saying: "James Gunn absolutely kills it with The Suicide Squad. The film is a bloody, chaotic ride from start to finish that finally does justice to Task Force X. It's endlessly shocking and funny, and its showcase of F-list DC villains is nothing short of brilliant."

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

More than 20 Activision Blizzard employees have been fired since harassment allegations first came to light, according to Frances Townsend, Activision Blizzard's executive vice president for corporate affairs. In addition, more than 20 others have faced "other types of disciplinary action."

Activision Blizzard's announcements came as part of a larger update in which Townsend outlined the publisher's response to the various allegations that have dogged the company since the summer. They include adding three more positions to the company's Ethics and Compliance team, with 19 more planned for the future. Activision Blizzard also says its will "triple" its investment into training resources.

It is not clear if Activision Blizzard's list includes prominent Blizzard veterans Luis Barriga, Jesse McCree, and Jonathan LeCraft, who were dismissed from the company in August.

Townsend's message was emailed to employees and also posted on Activision Blizzard's corporate website. It was released on the same day that Activision Blizzard asked courts to briefly halt proceedings around the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing [DFEH]'s lawsuit following allegations that the agency had violated ethics rules. Activision Blizzard is also seeking to have the case moved to a court that specializes in complex litigation, potentially stalling or even killing the case. Activision Blizzard previously announced a settlement with the U.S. Equal Opportunity Commission for $18 million.

Townsend herself hasn't been immune to criticism over the course of the case. In August, she stepped down as the sponsor of the ABK Women's Network after issuing a statement saying the allegations surrounding the company were "distorted" and "false."

Allegations of sexual harassment, discrimination, and abuse of women and other marginalized groups have surrounded the company since the lawsuit first made headlines back in July. The ensuing walkout forced Activision Blizzard to reckon with a pattern of bad behavior spanning more than a decade, with former president J. Allen Brack among those forced to step down as a result.

Activision Blizzard has since promised to address its toxic internal culture while providing payouts for affected employees. In the meantime, Blizzard in particular continues to suffer a notable talent drain. You can read our full timeline of the Activision Blizzard lawsuit here.

Kat Bailey is a Senior News Editor at IGN

Game Pass subscriptions have slowed in the fiscal year 2021 according to new documents released by Microsoft.

In a new financial statement, Microsoft revealed that Xbox Game Pass subscriptions rose by 37.5% falling short of its internal target of 47.8%. In contrast, last year Microsoft over-performed on its targets to grow Xbox Game Pass, increasing subscriptions by nearly 86% over a goal of 71%.

What this means is that Microsoft’s Xbox Game Pass subscriptions have slowed this past year, and it’s likely a combination of factors. One of the key promises of Xbox Game Pass is that first-party titles will be available on the service day and date. So far in 2021, first-party titles have been relegated mostly to Age of Empires remasters, Microsoft Flight Simulator, and Psychonauts 2.

New first-party titles like Age of Empires 4 and Halo Infinite are still months away and will deliver on Game Pass’ promise of major first-party day and date releases.

And Xbox Game Pass remains a key focus for Microsoft overall. Growing the service is a key performance metric for Microsoft executives, meaning hitting desired growth goals will result in bonuses for members of Microsoft’s leadership team. As Axios reports, Game Pass growth is the only pure gaming metric in the executive payment plan, highlighting its importance.

As Microsoft’s first-party offerings ramp up, it will likely affect Xbox Game Pass’ subscription numbers.

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

Squid Game is the fall's biggest surprise hit, and it's paying major dividends for Netflix. In its third-quarter financial results, the streaming giant reported reaching 214 million subscribers worldwide as its revenue grew 16% year-over-year to $7.5 billion.

Netflix added 4.4 million paid subscribers in that period, which is in large part attributed to the success of Squid Game. According to Netflix, a "mind-boggling" 142 million households have watched the popular Korean drama, which debuted back in September. Now Netflix's "biggest TV show ever," Squid Game is the platform's number one show in 94 countries, and is reportedly worth $900 million to the streaming giant.

Outside of Squid Game, Netflix highlighted Money Heist and Sex Education, which attracted 69 million and 55 million households respectively.

Netflix's success with Squid Game contrasts with the recent controversy over its Dave Chappelle special, which led to internal protests from transgender employees and the dismissal of at least one organizer. Chapelle's special was accused of being harmful and transphobic, leading to criticism from figures such as comedian Hannah Gadsby.

Looking ahead to the rest of the year, Netflix can look forward to the release of The Witcher Season 2, the follow-up to one of the breakout hits of 2019. It's set to premiere on December 17. Netflix also recently acquired the Roald Dahl Story Company, potentially paving the way for shows and movies based around James and the Giant Peach, Matilda, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and other popular shows.

In the meantime, Netflix says that it's changing how it's reporting viewership data, shifting from total households to hours viewed.

"There is some difference in rankings, as you see below, but we think engagement as measured by hours viewed is a slightly better indicator of the overall success of our titles and member satisfaction," Netflix wrote in its letter to shareholders. "It also matches how outside services measure TV viewing and gives proper credit to rewatching. In addition, we will start to release title metrics more regularly outside of our earnings report so our members and the industry can better measure success in the streaming world."

For more info on what to expect in the world entertainment, check out IGN's Fall TV 2021 Streaming Preview, where we highlight all the biggest shows for the rest of the year.

Kat Bailey is a Senior News Editor at IGN

Marcus Lehto, the co-creator of Halo and the founder of Disintegration studio V1 Interactive, has announced that he has joined EA as a game director.

Hey everyone, I’m very excited to announce that I’ve joined @EA as a Game Director, building a new studio in the Seattle area working on first-person games. I can’t wait to share more about what we’re creating! pic.twitter.com/GnfVFNLSaW

— Marcus Lehto (@game_fabricator) October 19, 2021

Announcing the role on Twitter, Lehto revealed that he is building a new studio in the Seattle area. This new studio will work on "first person games", although it's not clear if these will be original games or new entries in existing EA series (so start your Titanfall 3 prayers now).

"I can't wait to share more about what we're creating!" Lehto concluded.

Lehto is best known for being Bungie's Creative Art Director, a position he held from 1997 to 2012. Having worked on the original Halo: Combat Evolved, he's responsible for the creation of Master Chief. He went on to work on all of Bungie's Halo games. In more recent times, Lehto was the founder of V1 Interactive, which created RTS/FPS hybrid Disintegration. The game sadly proved unpopular and critically unsuccessful, and V1 Interactive eventually shut down. Hopefully he'll have better luck at EA.

Matt Purslow is IGN's UK News and Entertainment Writer.