After a particularly difficult and divisive launch, EA and DICE are releasing a second update for Battlefield 2042 on November 25, followed by a "substantial" third update in early December, and a fourth update sometime before the holidays. The second and third updates aim to address various technical issues and gameplay balancing.

Here's what to expect in Update #2:

• Improved soldier revives, fixing an issue with not being able to revive a teammate when they die close to a wall or object.
• A "respawn protection system" that will address a bug that leaves players in a downed state for too long.
• Re-enabling Battlefield Portal's UAV-1 interaction after adjusting its overpowered state.
• Vehicle balancing for the LCAA Hovercraft and MD540 Nightbird.
• Dispersion reduced across all weapon types excluding shotguns, resulting in more consistent bullet spread.
• Additional "critical" changes to be detailed later.

Update #3 seems significantly larger in scope, and appears to address a common complaint that the transition from the end of a match to being booted back to the matchmaking menu was inconvenient. It also addresses common issues for player progression, rendering, and numerous balancing issues. The list is far too long to lay out here, but highlights include:

• Improvements to the user interface, including weapon attachment management, collection screens, player card screen, end of round summary screen, and adding "new" markers so you can more easily find items.
• "Improved the experience between EOR and the Main Menu"
• Improved the reliability of matchmaking and reduced failed matchmaking
• Introduction of weekly missions that reward cosmetic unlocks
• Fixed multiple issues with water graphics and rendering, plus stuttering and visual flickering issues.
• "Over 150" small changes across all maps
• A more descriptive interaction system that replaces a generic "interact" prompt with something more specific, like "call elevator."
• Reduced spread for weapons when ADS and moving, applied globally.
• Improved accuracy for stationary weapon ADS. Bullet spread is also reduced when you use single fire or burst fire instead of automatic.
• Added a new UI element that highlights teammates who can revive you when they're within 50 meters. Players who ping to signal they intend to revive you are also listed in a new UI element.
• Improved bot behavior for reviving, helicopter piloting, and combat/game mode behaviors.
• Audio mix improvements, including changes to enemies firing at a player.

Update #3 also includes balancing and technical changes for several specialists, gadgets, and melee combat. You can read the full patch notes here.

EA and DICE say they're also tracking issues related to servers and hardware. Chief among these are rare instances of servers not registering hit markers and rare instances of spawning without your intended loadout. On the hardware side, EA and DICE released a mandatory update for Xbox Series X/S players that addressed systems performing a power cycle during gameplay.

If it seems like an incredibly long list of fixes, that's because it is. The updates will hopefully address some of the most common technical and balancing complaints that have plagued Battlefield 2042 since launch, resulting in it becoming one of Steam's worst-reviewed games despite also being one of its most-played.

You can check out IGN's review of Battlefield 2042 for resident FPS wunderkind Stella Chung's opinion on what the new entry brings to the table and what's sorely missing.

Joseph Knoop is a writer/producer/mobile blood bag for IGN.

Amazon Studios is nearing a deal to develop a Mass Effect TV series based on BioWare’s popular sci-fi RPG.

In a report about Amazon’s success with the recent Wheel of Time adaptation, Deadline says Amazon is readying more adaptations for popular franchises, including Mass Effect. The report notes that the deal is nearing, meaning Amazon and EA haven’t fully agreed to the project just yet.

There are no details on the story or whether or not this will be an original story set in the Mass Effect universe or a story related to the video game series.

Mass Effect is a massively popular RPG series created by BioWare. The sprawling sci-fi epic consists of many different alien races and civilizations reckoning with technology left behind by the ancient precursor civilization. The series consists of the core Mass Effect trilogy and a sequel series Mass Effect: Andromeda.

If Amazon makes a Mass Effect TV series, it will be the second video game adaptation in the works at the studio. Amazon previously announced it’s making a Fallout TV show from the creators of Westworld Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy. Bethesda boss Todd Howard revealed in a recent AMA that work on the Fallout TV series is ongoing.

Elsewhere, HBO is adapting The Last of Us for TV while on the film side Sony is readying to release an Uncharted movie starring Tom Holland as Nathan Drake.

While there hasn’t been a new Mass Effect game in years, EA recently released the Mass Effect Legendary Edition which remasters and collects all three Mass Effect games in a single package. And BioWare has been slowly teasing the next Mass Effect game currently in development.

Check out IGN’s review of The Wheel of Time for Amazon’s latest fantasy foray, or check out our coverage on Amazon’s massive Lord of the Rings series.

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

Amazon Studios is nearing a deal to develop a Mass Effect TV series based on BioWare’s popular sci-fi RPG.

In a report about Amazon’s success with the recent Wheel of Time adaptation, Deadline says Amazon is readying more adaptations for popular franchises, including Mass Effect. The report notes that the deal is nearing, meaning Amazon and EA haven’t fully agreed to the project just yet.

There are no details on the story or whether or not this will be an original story set in the Mass Effect universe or a story related to the video game series.

Mass Effect is a massively popular RPG series created by BioWare. The sprawling sci-fi epic consists of many different alien races and civilizations reckoning with technology left behind by the ancient precursor civilization. The series consists of the core Mass Effect trilogy and a sequel series Mass Effect: Andromeda.

If Amazon makes a Mass Effect TV series, it will be the second video game adaptation in the works at the studio. Amazon previously announced it’s making a Fallout TV show from the creators of Westworld Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy. Bethesda boss Todd Howard revealed in a recent AMA that work on the Fallout TV series is ongoing.

Elsewhere, HBO is adapting The Last of Us for TV while on the film side Sony is readying to release an Uncharted movie starring Tom Holland as Nathan Drake.

While there hasn’t been a new Mass Effect game in years, EA recently released the Mass Effect Legendary Edition which remasters and collects all three Mass Effect games in a single package. And BioWare has been slowly teasing the next Mass Effect game currently in development.

Check out IGN’s review of The Wheel of Time for Amazon’s latest fantasy foray, or check out our coverage on Amazon’s massive Lord of the Rings series.

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

One of Tom Holland's most defining traits as the current Spider-Man is his connection to the late Tony Stark, who became something akin to a second father figure or mentor to the younger Peter Parker. Actor Andrew Garfield, who played Spider-Man/Peter Parker in the earlier Amazing Spider-Man films in 2012 and 2014, thinks his version of the character wouldn't get along so well with the iconic billionaire/superhero.

In a new video by GQ (via SlashFilm), Garfield answered questions from fans on the internet about his past roles, including his tenure as Spider-Man. When asked how the MCU Iron Man would treat Garfield's Spider-Man, the actor was pretty firm that the pair wouldn't get along.

"I definitely think Andrew Garfield's Spider-Man would be pretty suspect of MCU Iron Man," Garfield said. "I think he would be a little turned off by the excess, the billionaire, trillionaire status of Iron Man. I think it would rub my version of Spider-Man the wrong way. But maybe there could be some influence there. Maybe my Peter Parker could wake Tony Stark up to his own egoic drives a little bit."

Garfield's take on Spider-Man was definitely a little darker than Tom Holland's, and maybe about as dark as Tobey Maguire's, grappling with a conspiracy involving his dead parents, the death of Gwen Stacy's police captain father, and later the death of Emma Stone's Gwen Stacy. In any case, Garfield is on the record that Maguire is his favorite Spider-Man.

Rumors and fan theories have been swirling for weeks about Garfield potentially appearing in Spider-Man: No Way Home, which has confirmed the return of Alfred Molina's Doc Ock, the Green Goblin, and even The Amazing Spider-Man's Electro, played by Jamie Foxx, and Lizard. The latest trailer raised plenty of questions about how previous Spider-Man entries could play a role in the multiverse plot elements introduced in Spider-Man: Far From Home and Disney Plus' Loki series.

Marvel is staying silent on whether Garfield will appear in No Way Home, and the actor himself has reiterated several times that the rumors are "hilarious" and saying that a cameo from him “is not something I’m aware of.” Whether this is the truth or just careful obfuscation by a spoiler-sensitive Marvel/Disney remains to be seen.

Meanwhile, Garfield is plenty busy recently starring in Lin Manuel Miranda's new musical film Tick, Tick...Boom! as Jonathon Larson, creator of Broadway's Rent.

Joseph Knoop is a writer/producer/web-shooter for IGN.

Microsoft has revealed its list of upcoming Games With Gold titles for December. The lineup includes The Escapists 2, Tropico 5: Penultimate Edition, Orcs Must Die! and Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet.

The Escapists 2 is developed by Mouldy Toof Studios and published by Team17 and builds upon its predecessor as you once again enter the life of an inmate motivated to escape from behind bars. Unlike the original Escapists, the sequel allows you to team up with a number of friends in multiplayer as you attempt to plot and break out of some of the toughest prisons in the world.

In contrast, Tropico 5 offers a very different gameplay experience in a construction and management simulator beginning in the early colonial period and spanning four different eras to move beyond the 21st century. The Penultimate Edition available through Games With Gold also comes with the Tropico 5's Hostile Takeover and The Big Cheese add-ons included.

Orcs Must Die! and Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet were originally launched on the Xbox 360 and are available this month through Backward Compatibility. Orcs Must Die! puts the player in the shoes of a powerful mage in a bid to defend twenty-four fortresses from a mob of beastly enemies through tower defense gameplay.

In Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet, players are tasked with exploring a bizarre world from the comfort of their flying saucer where gameplay revolves around battling outlandish creatures and solving puzzles. IGN reviewed Insanely Twister Shadow Planet upon release awarding it an 8/10 and stating that the game "leaves you wanting more."

The Escapists 2 will be available throughout the entire month of December while Tropico 5 will be free between December 16 and January 15. Meanwhile, Orcs Must Die! and Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet will share the Christmas period. The former is set to be available between December 1 and December 15, with Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet available from December 16 to the end of the month.

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

Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl are, largely, very faithful remakes of the original Pokémon Diamond and Pearl. But one somewhat-hidden bit of additional content might very well be teasing some lore for Pokémon Legends: Arceus.

If you recall the Canalave Library from the original games, it's full of books that relate to the myths and legends of the Sinnoh region. There are a number of tales referencing legendary Pokémon like Arceus, Uxie, Mesprit, Azelf, Giratina, Palkia, Dialga, and others. There are even a few strange stories that seem to confirm people, at least at one point, ate Pokémon, and another that implies Pokémon were once indistinguishable from humans.

For the most part, all of these texts are recreated in their original translations again in Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, aside from one line in the "Sinnoh Myth" tale that appears to have been adjusted for clarity. However, there's an entirely new tale hidden on the second floor of the library that wasn't there in the original games.

Entitled "The Sea's Legend," the flavor text states that the book "was only recently discovered and its ancient letters were decoded." It reads as follows:

Once upon a time in the East Sea, there was a Pokémon known as the prince. A brave human asked Pokémon living in the sea to let them see the prince. Mantyke, Buizel, and a Quilfish with huge spikes acknowledged the human's bravery and joined them. Together, they set off in a boat over the sunset-streaked sea, sailing through the ocean gate stretched over the waves. News of this reached the ears of the prince, who went to meet the brave little party at the Seaside Hollow.

The story ends abruptly there, but it's entirely possible that this strange story — which does not appear to link to anything specific in Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl — is teasing something about Pokémon Legends: Arceus. For one, there's no known location in the Pokémon games thus far called the Seaside Hollow, nor does it seem to correspond to anything currently in Brilliant Diamond or Shining Pearl.

As for the "prince," it's possible this could refer to Manaphy, who in the film Pokémon Ranger and the Temple of the Sea is known as the "prince of the sea." The plot of the film involves the heroes returning a Manaphy egg to a Sea Temple, where an item called the Sea Crown is kept. Typically, anime plots don't cross over much into the main games (Pokémon Yellow aside) but this could at least hint at who this mysterious "prince" might be. While Manaphy does appear in Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, it's only as a Mystery Gift and without any plot tied to it or secret locations.

It's also worth noting that the review embargo for Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl explicitly forbade mentioning any of the contents of the books in the Canalave Library. Given that this is the only significant change to the books from the originals, it seems that this new book was at least an important enough addition or spoiler that Game Freak wanted to keep under wraps ahead of release.

We won't know exactly what this refers to until Pokémon Legends: Arceus drops next year on January 28, though we've already heard a number of tidbits about its new "noble" Pokémon, its Monster Hunter-like world, and some creepy looking "found footage" style teases. In the meantime, Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl are still worthy remakes for their faithful recreation of Sinnoh and a time when Pokémon was a bit more challenging.

Rebekah Valentine is a news reporter for IGN. You can find her on Twitter @duckvalentine.

A former IT security analyst at Sony PlayStation has filed a lawsuit against the company on Monday, alleging gender discrimination and wrongful termination after speaking up "about discrimination against females" at the company.

Bloomberg reports that the former IT security analyst, named Emma Majo, is seeking to expand her lawsuit into a class action on behalf of women who've worked at Sony PlayStation in recent years.

The lawsuit charges that Sony "tolerates and cultivates a work environment that discriminates against female employees, including female employees and those who identify as female."

Majo also says that Sony discriminates against females and female-identifying employees in terms of compensation, promotions, and "subjects them to a work culture predominated by men." Majo similarly alleges that she was passed over for multiple promotions, was ignored by her manager, and that her employment was terminated after she submitted a gender bias complaint to Sony.

Adding to the mystery, the lawsuit claims that Majo received a letter stating that a certain department of Sony was being eliminated, and thus Majo's employment was being terminated, but Majo was not a member of that department.

The lawsuit was filed with California's Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH), which submitted a similar lawsuit against Activion-Blizzard earlier this year.

Representatives from PlayStation did not immediately respond to IGN's request for a comment on the lawsuit.

The lawsuit joins the growing list of gender discrimination controversies and legal battles facing video game companies big and small, including Activision-Blizzard and its longtime CEO Bobby Kotick, Riot Games, and indie studios like Gone Home developer Fullbright.

You can read the full lawsuit here.

Joseph Knoop is a reporter/producer for IGN.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is no stranger to gobbling up major Hollywood talent for its growing cast of heroes, and Keanu Reeves certainly seems willing to join the MCU in the future, according to new comments from the star of The Matrix and John Wick series.

"It would be an honor [to join the MCU]," Reeves told Esquire in a new interview. "There's some really amazing directors, and visionaries, and they're doing something no one's ever really done. It's special in that sense in terms of the scale, the ambition, the production. So it'd be cool to be a part of that."

It's not just speculative chit-chat, either. Back in 2019, as Reeves was enjoying a second renaissance with the release of John Wick 3: Parabellum, Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige said that Marvel had been talking to Reeves "for almost every film we make."

“I don’t know when, if, or ever he’ll join the MCU, but we very much want to figure out the right way to do it," Feige said. Feige reportedly drew a comparison between Reeves and Jake Gyllenhaal, who was approached for several Marvel roles before ultimately signing on to play Mysterio in the second Tom Holland Spider-Man film.

In the meantime, you can catch Keanu Reeves in the upcoming DC League of Super Pets, where he plays a currently unknown role. You can check out the brand new trailer above.

You can also check out which Hollywood actors will be joining Reeves in John Wick: Chapter 4.

Joseph Knoop is a writer/producer/super pet for IGN.

Paramount Plus' live-action Halo TV Series has continued to fill out its cast, with several more stars reporting for duty alongside Pablo Schreiber's Master Chief.

Halo: The Series will focus on the 26th-century war between the United Nations Space Command (UNSC) and the alien forces of the Covenant. Production on the series began in Budapest in 2019 but the COVID-19 pandemic caused disruptions. Cameras started rolling again in late 2020, with the series now scheduled to release on Paramount+ in 2022.

Otto Bathurst is onboard to direct and produce the live-action series, bringing many of the game's beloved characters to life. Kyle Killen and Steven Kane are both credited as showrunners on the first season's nine episode order, however, neither will be continuing with the show if it happens to be picked up for a second season.

Keep reading for a rundown of who's appearing in the Halo TV series — and don't forget to bookmark the page, as we'll be updating this article with all-new casting announcements.

Pablo Schreiber as Master Chief

Pablo Schreiber has boarded the Halo TV series to portray lead male protagonist Master Chief, aka Earth's most advanced warrior in the 26th century and the only hope of salvation for a civilization pushed to the brink of destruction by the Covenant — an unstoppable alliance of alien worlds committed to the destruction of humanity.

Schreiber is best known for his roles on The Wire, American Gods, and Orange Is the New Black, proving he's capable of wearing many hats when it comes to his character portrayals, and now he will be sporting the iconic helmet from the Halo video game franchise. The first image of Schreiber's Chief is said to have shown him wearing authentic-looking armor.

Danny Sapani as Jacob Keyes

Another series mainstay was found in Danny Sapani who signed on to play Captain Jacob Keyes in the upcoming adaptation. His character is described as being a dedicated military man, a war hero and a caring father, though he finds that working alongside his daughter and his ex-wife can usually be a cause of conflict rather than comfort.

Olive Gray as Miranda Keyes

Meanwhile, Olive Gray was cast to play Jacob's daughter Dr. Miranda Keyes, with the friction between the pair set to be explored in the new series. Miranda is a brilliant UNSC Commander who is dedicated to understanding the technology, language and culture of the Covenant, but she'll have to learn to navigate the politics of the UNSC to get what she wants.

Charlie Murphy as Makee

Peaky Blinders actress Charlie Murphy also joined the cast as a brand new character named Makee. Makee is an orphaned human raised by the Covenant to hate her own people. She is said to be a different character from the video games' Mahkee, who made her debut in Halo 5: Guardians and is the first female Sangheili person in the series.

Yerin Ha as Quan Ah

Newcomer Yerin Ha will also be portraying an original character in the Halo universe, as she steps forward to play Quan Ah, a shrewd, audacious 16-year-old from the Outer Colonies who meets Master Chief at a fateful time for them both. The budding actress celebrated her breakthrough role on the series in a Facebook post that announced the casting news.

Jen Taylor as Cortana

Jen Taylor, the voice of Cortana in the mainline Halo games, will reprise her role as the "smart" AI for the upcoming TV series. Taylor was enlisted to replace actress Natascha McElhone after she was forced to bow out of the role due to scheduling difficulties caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, though McElhone will remain onboard as Cortana's creator.

Cortana made her appearance in the original Halo as the AI for Master Chief, with Taylor voicing the beloved character in Halo: Combat Evolved and its sequels, Halo 2, Halo 3, Halo 4, and Halo 5: Guardians. She also makes a brief appearance in the prequel Halo: Reach, as well as voicing Microsoft's virtual assistant of the same name on Windows devices.

Natascha McElhone as Catherine Halsey

Californication star Natascha McElhone will continue in the role of Dr. Catherine Halsey, a key scientific adviser of the Office of Naval Intelligence who is highly respected for her work as the brilliant, conflicted and inscrutable creator of the Spartan supersoldiers and Cortana, the most advanced AI in human history, and potentially the key to the survival of the human race.

Bokeem Woodbine as Soren-066

After receiving critical acclaim for his role in the second season of the FX series Fargo, Bokeem Woodbine will take on a new role playing Soren-066 in the Halo series. He will embody the morally complex privateer at the fringes of human civilization whose fate will bring him into conflict with his former military masters and his old friend, the Master Chief.

Shabana Azmi as Admiral Margaret Parangosky

Veteran actress Shabana Azmi will portray Admiral Margaret Parangosky, the head of the UNSC's Office of Naval Intelligence. According to her character's Halopedia page, Parangosky is known to be very powerful and deadly. In fact, Dr. Halsey is the only person who has ever crossed her and lived, which may make for an interesting on-screen dynamic.

Bentley Kalu, Natasha Culzac and Kate Kennedy as three new Spartan characters

The forthcoming TV adaptation is also set to introduce three new characters to the Halo universe. Bentley Kalu, best known for his roles in Avengers: Age of Ultron and American Assassin, will play Spartan Vannak-134, a cybernetically augmented supersoldier conscripted at childhood who serves as the defacto deputy to the Master Chief.

Natasha Culzac, who landed a guest role playing Toruviel on Netflix's The Witcher, will take her place in the Spartan gang. She will portray Riz-028, a focused, professional and deadly, cybernetically enhanced killing machine, while Catastrophe's Kate Kennedy takes on the role of Spartan Kai-125, an all-new courageous, curious and deadly Spartan supersoldier.

Keep checking back here for all the latest casting updates for the Halo TV series.

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

Remember that "big remake" PlayStation was reportedly going to announce around this coming Christmas? Good news, JRPG fans: it might be beloved Square Enix classic Chrono Cross.

According Xbox Era's Nick Baker on a recent podcast, the reported "big remake" mentioned by folk singer Éabha McMahon on an Irish radio station back in October is indeed a remaster of the sequel/spin-off to Chrono Trigger from the original PlayStation era, and what's more, Baker's sources tell him that it will be "multi-platform" as opposed to PlayStation exclusive.

Notably, a Chrono Cross Remaster was also among the numerous titles listed in Nvidia's GeForce Now game leak back in September. Though that list has thus far been hit-or-miss as to accuracy and Nvidia has claimed the titles were "speculative," some of the games in that leak have turned out to be real, like the GTA Trilogy Remaster.

Chrono Cross itself is a beloved classic that IGN adored when it first released way back in 2000, though it's gotten mixed reception due to the strange space it occupies as a sort of alternative universe spin-off of Chrono Trigger rather than a direct sequel. Unlike its predecessor, though, Chrono Cross hasn't received any love via ports or new content on other platforms, meaning the only legitimate way to play it anymore is to own an original PlayStation or PS2 and have a physical copy of the game.

And while there have been plenty of whispers over the years of a Chrono sequel, none have yet emerged. For now, if you want to enjoy something like the Chrono games, you'll have to turn to projects made by some of the same team members, such as mobile games Another Eden or Fantasian.

Rebekah Valentine is a news reporter for IGN. You can find her on Twitter @duckvalentine.