The latest patch for Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy has been released and, among a number of other changes, it adds ray-tracing for both PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.

As detailed by the development team on Reddit, the ray-tracing patch for Marvel's Guardian's of the Galaxy was released on PlayStation and Xbox consoles on November 17. A subsequent patch will also be coming to PC, however players there will need to wait until November 19 to see the benefits.

The ray-tracing options can be accessed in the game's video settings menu, where the feature can be toggled on and off. The feature comes alongside a number of bug fixes and general improvements, including improved performance for those playing the game on the original PS4, and adjustments to input sensitivity for players who have older Dualshock controllers that have fallen prey to wear and tear.

For those playing on Xbox Series S, there's good news too. The latest changes include an option to uncap the FPS on the console, allowing players to run the game between 30 and 60 FPS. It should however be noted that doing so may lead to a less stable framerate in some areas of the game.

As with the majority of post-launch updates, the latest patch also comes with a number of general bug fixes and performance improvements to the game - a full list of which can be read in the official patch notes over on Reddit should you wish. For more on Marvel's Guardian's of the Galaxy make sure to check out our review of the game where we awarded it an 8/10 calling it "a fun, no-frills single-player campaign full of cosmic comic book flavor." And if you've already played, be sure to check out our ending explained feature.

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

The development team at Relic has revealed its roadmap for Age of Empires 4, detailing plans for the game throughout 2022 and beyond.

As announced in an article on the Xbox blog, Age of Empires developer Relic revealed that the game's next patch is set to come into effect this Winter - and it's likely to be a pretty significant one. The Winter 2021 Update will include over a hundred balance updates as well as some more general performance fixes.

Around the Winter update fans will also see a number of other changes that are being implementing based on player feedback following the game's launch. These include additional options to enable in-game scores, changes to the Chinese Dynasty user interface, and tweaks to the in-game minimap.

Following the launch of the game's Winter update, the next big update confirmed for the game looks set to take place in Spring 2022. During this period, Relic says that it will be launching Age of Empire 4's first set of mod tools, as well as a range of further balance updates and community-requested features including the Patrol move.

In addition to the features above, Spring 2022 will also kick off Ranked Seasons in Age of Empires 4. During the season, players will be able to compete against one another head-to-head in order to climb higher in the rankings. Those taking part in the Ranked game mode will also be able to earn a number of exclusive in-game rewards, which the publisher notes will be assigned based upon performance.

After this point, the roadmap for the game gets a little hazier, with no timeframe currently being offered for future changes. That being said, the Age of Empires team has confirmed that it is actively looking into a number of fan-requested changes to the game that it may look to implement across 2022 and beyond.

For more from Age of Empires 4, make sure to check out this piece detailing the strong start that the game made to life on Steam. Alternatively, if you're still on the fence about playing Age of Empires 4, then make sure to check out our review of the game where we awarded it an 8/10.

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

Warner Bros has officially announced MultiVersus, a Super Smash Bros-like fighter developed by Player First Games that brings together characters from shows like Scooby Doo, Adventure Time, Loony Tunes, and even Game of Thrones. It is set to release in 2022 for consoles and PC, and will be free-to-play.

MultiVersus will support 1v1, 2v2, and 4-player free-for-all matches, set on stages themed around the characters available in the game, including the Batcave, and Jake and Finn's Treefort. An incomplete roster has already been revealed, with more to be announced, and each one will be voiced by their original acting talent. So far the characters include:

• Batman, voiced by Kevin Conroy
• Superman, voiced by George Newbern
• Wonder Woman, voiced by Abby Trott
• Harley Quinn, voiced by Tara Strong
• Shaggy (Scooby-Doo), voiced by Matthew Lillard
• Bugs Bunny (Looney Tunes), voiced by Eric Bauza
• Arya Stark (Game of Thrones), voiced by Maisie Williams
• Jake the Dog (Adventure Time), voiced by John DiMaggio
• Finn the Human (Adventure Time), voiced by Jeremy Shada
• Steven Universe, voiced by Daniel DiVenere
• Garnet (Steven Universe), voiced by Estelle
• Tom and Jerry, voiced by Eric Bauza
• Reindog (an original character for MultiVersus), voiced by Andrew Frankel

Each character has a unique ability set that has been designed to pair dynamically with other characters. Customisation comes via perk loadouts, allowing for some gameplay variety. There are, naturally, also skins for each character to allow for some visual expression, as well as emotes.

As a free-to-play game, MultiVersus will be supported by in-game purchases. Warner Bros. Games has not yet revealed what those purchases will be, but with a season-based format that will be "content-filled", it seems sensible to expect cosmetics at the very least. The trailer also shows what appears to be a battle pass system, seen in the menus on the character details page.

MultiVersus' will support cross play and cross progression across all of its supported platforms: Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PS5, PS4, and PC via Steam. Dedicated server-based rollback netcode will support the online gameplay "for the life of the game" to help reduce lag and disconnects. Guilds and social features will allow you to challenge other groups and climb leaderboards.

Player First Games will be holding playtests, and you can sign up to participate in them at the MultiVersus website.

MultiVersus follows hot on the heels of Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl, another Super Smash Bros-style fighter collecting characters from across numerous universes and shows. Content for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate has now ended following the release of Sora from Kingdom Hearts, and so it's now a battle to claim victory for the title of best currently supported character fighter.

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

Ryo Ga Gotoku Studio is currently working on Yakuza 8 as well as another unannounced game, and intends to "take great care" of the Judgement series.

In a conversation with Famitsu (translated by IGN Japan), Ryo Ga Gotoku studio director, Masayoshi Yokoyama, said “I can’t go into any details about Yakuza 8 yet, but I can reveal it will be a continuation of the story of 7, set a few years later.”

Yokoyama hinted that it will further follow the story of Yakuza: Like a Dragon protagonist Ichiban Kasuga, and confirmed that "the story will be set in the present day for the year the game goes on sale.”

He also spoke about the studio's other projects beyond the mainline Yakuza series. "We will also take great care over the Judgement series," he said, although did not go as far as saying a third game in the series is in development.

“Beyond Judgement, we would love to tackle an all-new game as well, once the pieces are in place," Yokoyama said. "In addition to both Yakuza and Judgement, we are working on other unannounced titles too.”

It should be noted that the translation from Japanese to English is not clear cut in this instance, and so it is unclear how many unannounced titles Ryo Ga Gotoku is working on; it could be a single game or multiple new ones. Based on Yokoyama's statement about a wish to work on "all-new" games but only when the pieces are in place, though, it seems likely the in-production game(s) are from an existing series.

These new projects come in the wake of Yakuza series creator Toshihiro Nagoshi leaving the studio, along with previous studio head, Daisuke Sato.

“Although I do personally feel a little sad to take a new path without Mr Nagoshi and Mr (Daisuke) Sato, the staff have a strong sense of pride in what we are making," said Yokoyama. "The passion within the studio is hotter than ever.”

For more on the games of Ryo Ga Gotoku Studio, check out our reviews of Lost Judgement and Yakuza: Like a Dragon. And to buff up your series knowledge, check out the things you (probably) didn't know about Yakuza.

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

Ryo Ga Gotoku Studio is currently working on Yakuza 8 as well as another unannounced game, and intends to "take great care" of the Judgement series.

In a conversation with Famitsu (translated by IGN Japan), Ryo Ga Gotoku studio director, Masayoshi Yokoyama, said “I can’t go into any details about Yakuza 8 yet, but I can reveal it will be a continuation of the story of 7, set a few years later.”

Yokoyama hinted that it will further follow the story of Yakuza: Like a Dragon protagonist Ichiban Kasuga, and confirmed that "the story will be set in the present day for the year the game goes on sale.”

He also spoke about the studio's other projects beyond the mainline Yakuza series. "We will also take great care over the Judgement series," he said, although did not go as far as saying a third game in the series is in development.

“Beyond Judgement, we would love to tackle an all-new game as well, once the pieces are in place," Yokoyama said. "In addition to both Yakuza and Judgement, we are working on other unannounced titles too.”

It should be noted that the translation from Japanese to English is not clear cut in this instance, and so it is unclear how many unannounced titles Ryo Ga Gotoku is working on; it could be a single game or multiple new ones. Based on Yokoyama's statement about a wish to work on "all-new" games but only when the pieces are in place, though, it seems likely the in-production game(s) are from an existing series.

These new projects come in the wake of Yakuza series creator Toshihiro Nagoshi leaving the studio, along with previous studio head, Daisuke Sato.

“Although I do personally feel a little sad to take a new path without Mr Nagoshi and Mr (Daisuke) Sato, the staff have a strong sense of pride in what we are making," said Yokoyama. "The passion within the studio is hotter than ever.”

For more on the games of Ryo Ga Gotoku Studio, check out our reviews of Lost Judgement and Yakuza: Like a Dragon. And to buff up your series knowledge, check out the things you (probably) didn't know about Yakuza.

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

Just days after launch, 343 is already addressing issues players have with Halo Infinite's Battle Pass. On Twitter, Halo Community Manager John Junyszek said changes are already coming later this week.

For starters, 343 is adding "Play 1 Game" challenges which will reward player simply by playing games. They are also adjusting or removing some weekly challenges based on player feedback, designed to help speed up progress through the Battle Pass.

To address the feedback on Battle Pass progression we will be making targeted tunings to our model later this week.

To start, we'll be adding "Play 1 Game" challenges to help make sure you consistently progress through the Battle Pass by playing matches the way you want.

— John Junyszek (@Unyshek) November 18, 2021

The developers are also doubling the duration of double XP boosts from 30 minutes to an hour, after complaints that the boosts weren't very valuable, especially when playing Infinite's big team battle matches that can last upwards of 20 minutes. Junyszek adds that this is just the first set of changes, and the game will continue to evolve based on player feedback.

Halo Infinite's Battle Pass rewards players with cosmetic items, a system popularized in games like Fortnite and Call of Duty. However, in Halo, the main issues players have is that XP is only rewarded by completing very specific daily and weekly challenges in the game, rather than accumulating simply by playing matches.

Just hours after Halo Infinite's multiplayer went live, fans were already complaining about the progression system. Fans took to Reddit and Twitter to call the Battle Pass a "slog" and an "unenjoyable grind." Yesterday, Halo Community Director Brian Jarrard said the team was already evaluating Battle Pass progression, taking user data and player feedback into account.

Thank you to everyone who has jumped into the #HaloInfintie beta so far! FYI the team is looking at Battle Pass progression and gathering data from yesterday's sessions and we'll share updates as we have them. Please continue to share feedback and raise flags as you see them. 1/3

— Brian Jarrard (@ske7ch) November 16, 2021

While these changes are already coming this week, Junyszek says it does mean the developers need to reset player's Challenges, including progress towards Weekly Challenges. So, they're granting all players that log in between November 23 and 30 this week's Ultimate Reward, the Sigil Mark VII Visor.

Spartans will have plenty of time to make it through Halo Infinite's first season, as the Battle Pass will run until May 2, 2022, which is much longer than the three month period 343 originally announced.

Besides qualms with the game's progression mechanics, Halo Infinite is already seeing a lot of success, with over a quarter of a million concurrent players during its opening 24 hours. If you want to get in on the action, check out how to access Halo Infinite's multiplayer beta.

Logan Plant is a freelance writer for IGN. You can find him on Twitter @LoganJPlant.

Just days after launch, 343 is already addressing issues players have with Halo Infinite's Battle Pass. On Twitter, Halo Community Manager John Junyszek said changes are already coming later this week.

For starters, 343 is adding "Play 1 Game" challenges which will reward player simply by playing games. They are also adjusting or removing some weekly challenges based on player feedback, designed to help speed up progress through the Battle Pass.

To address the feedback on Battle Pass progression we will be making targeted tunings to our model later this week.

To start, we'll be adding "Play 1 Game" challenges to help make sure you consistently progress through the Battle Pass by playing matches the way you want.

— John Junyszek (@Unyshek) November 18, 2021

The developers are also doubling the duration of double XP boosts from 30 minutes to an hour, after complaints that the boosts weren't very valuable, especially when playing Infinite's big team battle matches that can last upwards of 20 minutes. Junyszek adds that this is just the first set of changes, and the game will continue to evolve based on player feedback.

Halo Infinite's Battle Pass rewards players with cosmetic items, a system popularized in games like Fortnite and Call of Duty. However, in Halo, the main issues players have is that XP is only rewarded by completing very specific daily and weekly challenges in the game, rather than accumulating simply by playing matches.

Just hours after Halo Infinite's multiplayer went live, fans were already complaining about the progression system. Fans took to Reddit and Twitter to call the Battle Pass a "slog" and an "unenjoyable grind." Yesterday, Halo Community Director Brian Jarrard said the team was already evaluating Battle Pass progression, taking user data and player feedback into account.

Thank you to everyone who has jumped into the #HaloInfintie beta so far! FYI the team is looking at Battle Pass progression and gathering data from yesterday's sessions and we'll share updates as we have them. Please continue to share feedback and raise flags as you see them. 1/3

— Brian Jarrard (@ske7ch) November 16, 2021

While these changes are already coming this week, Junyszek says it does mean the developers need to reset player's Challenges, including progress towards Weekly Challenges. So, they're granting all players that log in between November 23 and 30 this week's Ultimate Reward, the Sigil Mark VII Visor.

Spartans will have plenty of time to make it through Halo Infinite's first season, as the Battle Pass will run until May 2, 2022, which is much longer than the three month period 343 originally announced.

Besides qualms with the game's progression mechanics, Halo Infinite is already seeing a lot of success, with over a quarter of a million concurrent players during its opening 24 hours. If you want to get in on the action, check out how to access Halo Infinite's multiplayer beta.

Logan Plant is a freelance writer for IGN. You can find him on Twitter @LoganJPlant.

Xbox lead Phil Spencer wants to see a larger focus on game preservation in the video game industry. Speaking to Axios, Spencer said he hopes the industry turns to emulation as a preservation solution.

“My hope (and I think I have to present it that way as of now) is as an industry we'd work on legal emulation that allowed modern hardware to run any (within reason) older executable allowing someone to play any game,” Spencer wrote.

Right now, the three major platforms have very different approaches to making old games accessible. PlayStation 5 has backwards compatibility with PS4 games, as well as some games from older systems accessible through the PS Now streaming service. Nintendo Switch players can access NES, SNES, N64, and Sega Genesis games through the Nintendo Switch Online subscription service, but there is currently no way to purchase them permanently on Switch.

Xbox, on the other hand, has made a huge push for backwards compatibility over the last few years. Just this week, Xbox added over 70 games to its backwards compatibility program on modern Xbox consoles. Between Nintendo, Sony, and Microsoft, Xbox is currently the only ecosystem to support multiple generations of physical backwards compatibility. Spencer says consistent access to games should be the goal for the entire industry.

“I think in the end, if we said, ‘Hey, anybody should be able to buy any game, or own any game and continue to play,' that seems like a great North Star for us as an industry,” Spencer wrote.

Spencer has spoken out about a number of topics this week, including NFTs in gaming and the sustainability of Xbox Game Pass.

It's been a huge week for Xbox. After celebrating the 20th anniversary of the original Xbox, Microsoft released Halo Infinite's multiplayer over three weeks early. This comes hot off the success of Forza Horizon 5, which is Xbox Game Studios' biggest launch ever.

Logan Plant is a freelance writer for IGN. You can find him on Twitter @LoganJPlant.

Xbox lead Phil Spencer wants to see a larger focus on game preservation in the video game industry. Speaking to Axios, Spencer said he hopes the industry turns to emulation as a preservation solution.

“My hope (and I think I have to present it that way as of now) is as an industry we'd work on legal emulation that allowed modern hardware to run any (within reason) older executable allowing someone to play any game,” Spencer wrote.

Right now, the three major platforms have very different approaches to making old games accessible. PlayStation 5 has backwards compatibility with PS4 games, as well as some games from older systems accessible through the PS Now streaming service. Nintendo Switch players can access NES, SNES, N64, and Sega Genesis games through the Nintendo Switch Online subscription service, but there is currently no way to purchase them permanently on Switch.

Xbox, on the other hand, has made a huge push for backwards compatibility over the last few years. Just this week, Xbox added over 70 games to its backwards compatibility program on modern Xbox consoles. Between Nintendo, Sony, and Microsoft, Xbox is currently the only ecosystem to support multiple generations of physical backwards compatibility. Spencer says consistent access to games should be the goal for the entire industry.

“I think in the end, if we said, ‘Hey, anybody should be able to buy any game, or own any game and continue to play,' that seems like a great North Star for us as an industry,” Spencer wrote.

Spencer has spoken out about a number of topics this week, including NFTs in gaming and the sustainability of Xbox Game Pass.

It's been a huge week for Xbox. After celebrating the 20th anniversary of the original Xbox, Microsoft released Halo Infinite's multiplayer over three weeks early. This comes hot off the success of Forza Horizon 5, which is Xbox Game Studios' biggest launch ever.

Logan Plant is a freelance writer for IGN. You can find him on Twitter @LoganJPlant.

The American remake of the South Korean zombie movie Train to Busan will reportedly be called Last Train to New York, which reveals some ideas on how the American producers plan on localizing the hit zombie film.

Tucked away in a story about an upcoming reboot of the 1992 Steven Seagal action vehicle Under Siege, Deadline revealed that Indonesian director Timo Tjahjanto will direct the Train to Busan remake called Last Train to New York.

While there were no other details about the remake, the new name at least gives us a destination. And knowing it’s a remake, we’re able to paint an outline of the plot ourselves.

In the original Train to Busan, the film starred a father and daughter pair traveling to Busan from Seoul by train. Unfortunately, a zombie outbreak traps the two and their fellow passengers on a one-way train ride to hell as they’re forced to fend off zombies within the confines of a high-speed rail.

Depending on how closely the American remake follows this plot, Last Train to New York will seemingly change the destination to New York City. Since it takes about three hours to get from Seoul to Busan by train a similar route in the United States means our heroes could be traveling from Washington D.C. or Boston, which takes four hours.

Or who knows, the producers could pick anywhere else and pretend the United States has a high-speed rail system.

Tjanjanto is a talented action and horror director behind films like The Night Comes for Us and May the Devil Take You, making him a good pick for a Train to Busan remake. However, the original is also great in its own right and IGN ranked it 11 in our top 31 Modern Horror Movies.

Check out IGN’s review of the Train to Busan sequel, Peninsula, a lesser follow-up to the tight and more terrifying predecessor.

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