After several delays, Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Extraction will arrive on January 20, 2022, and the price of the standard edition has been lowered to $39.99 USD.

Ubisoft announced that the PvE shooter spin-off from Rainbow Six Siege will arrive with full cross-play, cross-save, and cross-progression. It will also introduce a cross-play Buddy Pass – every copy of the game comes with two passes to invite other players to play free for 14 days. Any progression made during that time will be transferred to full game if triallists decide to buy the full game.

Alongside the price reduction for the standard edition, the Deluxe edition will now come in at $49.99, and adds three bonus packs. All pre-orders will come with the Orbital Decay Bundle, two costumes and a weapon skin, while players who have played Siege will receive a United Front Bundle, including gearsets that unlock in both Siege and Extraction, and unlocking Extraction's operators within Siege.

Extraction takes Rainbow Six Siege as a basis, but transforms the competitive shooter in a cooperative one, asking swauds of players to fight off a parasitic alien threat. The game has suffered multiple delays, not to mention a change of name from its original title, Quarantine.

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.

When you think of FarmVille, you might have vague, fuzzy memories of an old game you used to play on your Facebook browser back in the day — or maybe you only remember your various family members trying to get you to help them with their farms.

But while the original game might be a fuzzy memory for those who don't game on their phones, its creator, Zynga, has only grown more relevant and powerful since. Not only has it just released FarmVille 3, but it's seen massive success on mobile over the years with games like Words With Friends, CSR Racing, and various other titles. It's made numerous acquisitions in recent years too, picking up developers NaturalMotion, Echtra, Rollic, StarLark, ad monetization platform Chartboost, and now, IGN can reveal, three Turkey-based hypercasual studios: ByteTyper, Creasaur Entertainment, and Zerosum.

And now, Zynga's preparing to take a step out of its mobile empire and venture forth into console gaming.

Its first outpost will be Star Wars: Hunters, a real time arena battler coming to iOS, Android, and Switch early next year sometime. It's a big move for a studio that, for over 14 years, has made a powerful name for itself firmly in the realms of mobile and browser free-to-play games. And to do it, Zynga is putting resources and trust into its acquisitions, such as Hunters developer NaturalMotion and Torchlight developer Echtra, to make it happen.

"Cross platform is a big growth pillar for Zynga," says Zynga president Bernard Kim, speaking to IGN. "So buying Echtra, [whose team have] built amazing games like Diablo and Torchlight [...] You could picture something that could be really exciting that's launching from that team under the Zynga publishing portfolio, and then diversifying us against just mobile alone."

Kim affirms that Star Wars: Hunters is the beginning, but certainly not the end of Zynga's cross-platform ambitions. It has other games in the works, unannounced for now, that Kim can't talk about. But he is able to hint at some of what Zynga wants to do in the space. First, it wants to keep things cross-platform: it’s not developing games solely for consoles. The goal is to remain "mobile-first, "hence all the investment in hypercasual — a genre of simple, easy-to-play, short games that has skyrocketed to success on mobile — multiple new studios, and ad monetization platforms alongside cross-platform investment.

Second, it’s likely sticking with free-to-play. "We have nothing to announce, but [...] our goal is to get as wide an audience base as possible, so free -to -play and mobile are actually key pillars in doing so," Kim says. "I don't think there's going to be a change in that side."

Third, while Hunters is only for Switch and mobile, other console platforms and even PC could potentially be in the cards down the line. It's even looking back to its roots on social platforms, having just announced Disco Loco 3D as a game exclusive to TikTok.

And fourth, while Star Wars: Hunters is obviously involved with a very popular licensed intellectual property, Zynga isn't only planning on doing licensed games as a part of its cross-platform ambitions.

"We have a whole portfolio of games that could perform quite well on a cross platform," he suggests. "We have nothing to announce right now, but you can imagine. We have a leading Star Wars game, a leading driving game in the marketplace on mobile, incredible assets there. We have fantastic Match-3 experiences."

One controversial, hazier element that may fit into all these ambitions is blockchain gaming, complete with NFTs. Zynga recently hired Matt Wolf as its VP of blockchain gaming, indicating a vested interest in the space alongside a number of other gaming companies such as Square Enix, Ubisoft, EA, and others.

Kim doesn't have specifics yet on how these might play into Zynga games, mobile or otherwise, down the line, though he does reassure that they won't be ubiquitous across the entire portfolio. He also acknowledges that they aren't for everyone — but does believe they'll be a "disruptor" in the games industry, though again there were no specifics given about exactly how, or how Zynga would be using them.

"We want to take a secure, inclusive, and eco-friendly approach," he answers in response to questions about the harmful ecological impacts of blockchain technology and concerns about rampant scams. "And that's part of why we want somebody that's experienced in launching new product lines to be part of Zynga. Matt's actually had a consulting firm that was focused specifically on this space to help companies think through that, and then now he's going to do it here at Zynga."

With or without NFTs, Zynga's moves into the console space are coming sooner rather than later. Kim says Zynga is certainly planning on even more acquisitions going forward, including studios outside of the mobile space, like Echtra. And with its their mobile-first approach and embrace of hypercasual, it's not hard to imagine what that could possibly look like. Mobile's audience is massive, even if its games don't often make it into the more traditional gaming mainstream, and the monetization tactics, gameplay styles, and genres that have thrived in that space have often proved tastemakers for what would succeed on console eventually. It's not beyond imagining that our hazy memories of FarmVille on Facebook might one day be modernized in console 4K.

"We are bullish on cross platform gameplay, or we wouldn't be doing it," Kim concludes.

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

Allison Cimino of RockLove Jewelry didn’t intend to become a jewelry designer – let alone one who collaborates with some of the most popular franchises in entertainment and games like Star Wars, Marvel, Disney, and The Elder Scrolls. However, it became a natural fit after she studied abroad in an apprenticeship in Florence, Italy.

“Licensing was not even a glimmer of an idea,” Cimino said. “I thought that boutique jewelry was kind of the way to go and what everybody was doing.”

After working with artists and authors, it was a collaboration Cimino did with Clive Barker, the creator of Hellraiser, that gained the attention of Star Trek. CBS then inquired if RockLove wanted to make a Star Trek collection in 2014, which came with other properties that Cimino was able to create collections for as well.

“That was why I ended up in this niche of historical jewelry with things like Vikings on History channel, Penny Dreadful, and Twin Peaks. It was very much anything that was in history, fantasy, or sci-fi. Then also, the collaborations with the video games, which again was all these awesome relics that could be articulated,” Cimino said.

Cimino uses age-old techniques that involve a very labor-intensive, yet high-quality process for every RockLove Jewelry piece, and is known for the intricate, articulated details she includes on her designs.

Historical Jewelry Methods for Modern Times

“With old-world jewelry techniques, much of jewelry is handcrafted in the first place – I specifically employ the lost wax casting method, which means you perfect this original, and then you use a mold and casting process to make the multiples, and everything is done by hand from, injecting wax to pouring metal, to polish, and finishing it,” Cimino explained.

“And then the nerdy factor that I like to do that many people don't necessarily recognize, but it's just a personal jeweler calling card, is this level of articulation. In Edwardian and Victorian jewelry, there was a lot of what is known as mechanical jewelry. So there were lockets and things that would open or flip, and spin.”

Cimino explained this historical technique diminished once the world began to mass-produce jewelry, so she loves bringing it back in today’s world. “It's more like engineering rather than designing. In a fast-fashion demographic where you could just throw resin shellac paint on it and call it a day, I want premium hard enamel where you're seeing glossy transparency beneath, and it's part of the story."

From tiny, articulated legs that dangle on Star Wars droids, to Doctor Strange and Frozen rings that spin, to a Coco guitar locket where music notes pour out of the necklace for Mama Coco’s favorite song, Cimino finds ways to incorporate articulation whenever she can. “Those little touches tell the story, but are also a nod to hundreds of years of jewelry craftsmanship,” Cimino said.

Gotta Catch 'em All

To celebrate Pokémon’s 25th anniversary, RockLove has revealed their latest collection is a new Pokémon collaboration. RockLove’s current Pokémon collections are primarily made up of three-dimensional, fan-favorite characters, and the new line is meant to complement what fans might already have in their collection. The new pieces are focused less on characters and more on custom crystals, with the iconic Poké Ball as a minimalist focal point.

The new Pokémon collection includes: Crystal Poke Ball Dangle Earrings ($115 USD), Crystal Poke Ball Necklace ($99 USD), Crystal Poke Ball Ring ($99 USD), and Crystal Poke Ball Stud Earrings ($85 USD).

“It's even kind of telling a reinterpreted story,” Cimino said. “Maybe this is the poké ball catching that character. Maybe this is the poké ball the character normally lives in. It's open to interpretation, but it's not just the iconography – it's the way that the poké ball and the Pokemon interact and it gets clear in that storytelling.”

Working With Marvel and Disney

After years of showing the high-quality, authentic designs Cimino can create, RockLove is now able to work with basically any franchise they’re interested in – but it doesn’t happen overnight and generally takes at least a year from start to finish.

When working with studios, including Disney Animation, Pixar, or Marvel, Cimino is often the only person on the team who the studios will share access to props ahead of the release, and she then creates a piece out of a small glimpse into the show or movie – such as with WandaVision – which is why RockLove collections are expanded upon later as more episodes or films premiere.

“That's always very limited because they don't want to spoil the magic. And even the people that are working on the magic, only see a small section of the big picture,” Cimino said.

“Something awesome in a Loki episode will inspire me and I did not know about it before,” Cimino explained. “So now, I’m sketching my proposal and we’re starting the sculpting and the whole process. But, I'm inspired the same moment everybody else is inspired, watching the episode as it drops on Disney Plus. So in those instances, that's why there will be a release of something, maybe six months later, because I got really excited about something new.”

One of the continually expanded upon collections is RockLove’s Star Wars lines, which has a mix of favorite characters and props from the original trilogy, the sequel trilogy, a special Ahsoka Tano collection, a more recent Kyber Crystal collection featuring characters’ lightsabers (with more releasing in 2022), and The Mandalorian.

Cimino created The Meditating Child Necklace after watching The Mandalorian episode along with everyone else when it was released on Disney+. “That's exactly where I watched the episode where he's meditating on the rock and I was just, internally squee-ing that I needed to make it as a piece of jewelry or my life could not go on. And so, six months later, The Meditating Child comes out and it just completes my creative life cycle,” Cimino said.

RockLove on Inclusivity in the Industry

“The term 'RockLove' comes from the music and kind of the circus industry, in which two people, two artists that respect and are inspired by each other, create new art together,” Cimino explained. “So maybe you're a dancer and a musician or an artist that's painting and another kind of figural performer or storyteller. And you are, your Rock Loves, you unite and inspire to create something even better together, with your artistic prowess. So that was RockLove.”

RockLove’s outlook is that jewelry is for all different body types without constraints on specific bodies or genders. “It's just about what's your style,” Cimino said. It doesn't matter what your body size is or your, or your gender identity, because if you feel like you can rock it, we just wanna make sure that we're making sizes that can fit as many people as possible.”

In terms of working as a woman in the industry, Cimino said she’s proud of how involved women are in the licensing industry. “One of the things that I'm really excited and proud of is that the licensing industry is very female involved. Now that doesn't necessarily mean they are the CEOs, owners, and presidents, but the management right up to VP level people in the consumer products industry – the majority of them that I work with are women.”

“Even the video game consumer products side, which is a doubled-down male-dominated industry. There are some really creative, amazing, organized, capable women in this category of business. I definitely want to continue to be a part of that and mentor other women in this industry so that licensing can stand above as a safe space for creative capable women in business,” Cimino said.

RockLove has been collaborating with Hasbro and Wizards of the Coast for the Magic: The Gathering X RockLove line, which Cimino confirms will have new pieces added to the collection in the new year. Additionally, she revealed to IGN that the Dungeons & Dragons license has been added and the team has been creating a significant quantity of Dungeons & Dragons X RockLove designs that will debut in 2022.

For more on past RockLove collections, check out our interview with Cimino for the Star Wars at SDCC collaboration, RockLove's Doctor Strange Collection, and the recent Ahsoka Tano Star Wars line. If you're excited for more Pokémon, check out everything we know about the upcoming Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl game.

Jessie Wade is Homepage Manager at IGN and adores Star Wars, Marvel, and Pokemon. You can chat with her on Twitter @jessieannwade.

As Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy launches, Rockstar has confirmed that it has removed some cheats from the game due to technical reasons, although it's not yet clear which ones.

During the lead-up to the launch of GTA: The Trilogy, social media has been abuzz with fans discussing and sharing their favourite cheat codes from across the original games. However, for its remasters, Rockstar told USA Today that some of those cheats haven't been brought over to the latest release due to technical reasons.

“We actually had to remove a couple for technical reasons, certain things that didn’t play well in the Unreal base,” producer Rich Rosado explained. “But that’s actually where I’ll leave it. There’s some fun with discovery. I’m not saying plus or minus, but I’d rather not just go right on the nose before the release of the game and go straight to the end credits.”

Despite confirming that some of the game's cheats had been removed between iterations, Rosaldo alludes to the possibility that the game may include a number of new cheats for players to discover. While cheats certainly add a new layer of chaos and fun to the mix across the GTA series, it should be noted that (according to GameRant) using them may lock players out of a number of trophies and achievements.

In other related news, Rockstar recently released its full song list for the collection of remasters. Across the three games, the publisher has confirmed that each of the original 29 radio stations as seen in the original versions will be returning. While a number of tracks such as Michael Jackson's Billie Jean won't be coming back due to expired licensing deals, fans will be able to enjoy a range of nostalgic hits through high-quality audio (16bit 44hrz) and in 5.1 Surround Sound.

For more on Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy, make sure to check out this article showing how the game looks when running on Nintendo Switch.

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

Ubisoft has announced that Vaas: Insanity, the first of Far Cry 6's roguelike premium expansions will arrive on Tuesday, November 16.

According to a press release the DLC – which sees actor Michael Mando return to play the iconic villain role – will be available for players to download on November 16 and can be purchased as part of the game's Season Pass.

Unlike Far Cry 6's main story, Vaas: Insanity will lean into the roguelike genre through its "die and retry" gameplay when it releases later this month. "Starting with nothing more than a pistol to defend themselves," the studio explains, "players will need to find new weapons and unlock power-ups to become stronger and progress deeper into the depths of Vaas’ psyche."

Ubisoft says that fans will get a "unique opportunity to better understand Vaas' past, personal demons, and motivations," through a blend of "intense action and storytelling."

While Vaas: Insanity is due out on November 16, it will act as the first of three episodic adventures - with each focusing on a different Far Cry villain. As previously reported by IGN last month, the two remaining adventures will centre around Far Cry 4's Pagan Min and Far Cry 5's Joseph Seed when they launch in January and March 2022 respectively.

Fans looking to delve into Far Cry 6's upcoming Season Pass content can do so across a range of different platforms. Upon its release next week, the additional DLC will be available on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and Stadia - as well as on PC through the Ubisoft Store and Epic Games Store.

In other related Far Cry 6 news, Ubisoft recently took the decision to pull a mission from the game in which players worked alongside Hollywood actor Danny Trejo. According to the studio, the mission - "Dani & Danny vs Everybody" was added to the game by mistake while still being a work-in-progress. While some fans noted that they had already completed the mission before it was pulled, the studio says that it will return to Far Cry 6 in the future.

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

Bethesda's The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is now a decade old and still going strong. Now fans have a new way to showcase their love for this fantasy RPG thanks to a stunning set of bookends from Dark Horse Direct.

IGN can exclusively offer a first look at Dark Horse's Dragon Skull Bookend, featuring a painstaking sculpted recreation of one of the beasts from the game. Check it out below:

This impressive piece was sculpted by Joe Menna and brought to life by the designers at J.W. Productions. The bookend measures 9 inches tall by 7 inches wide and 5.4 inches deep. While designed to prop up books, this piece also functions perfectly well as a freestanding statue in your collection.

The Dragon Skull Bookend is priced at $99.99 and will be sold individually through the Dark Horse Direct website. However, Dark Horse is offering a $15 discount for fans who purchase two (which is handy if you actually plan on using these collectibles for their intended purpose). The bookend is limited to 2000 units worldwide, and preorders are expected to ship between September and November of 2022.

In other Skyrim news, the long-awaited Skyrim Anniversary Edition is now available on PC and consoles. The remaster is priced at $49.99, with Skyrim Legendary Edition owners able to upgrade for $19.99. Skyrim Anniversary Edition is set to include a host of new and existing Creation Club content for the game, from Morrowind armor, to quests involving Oblivion gates, new dungeons, and more.

Meanwhile, Bethesda's Todd Howard recently appeared on IGN Unfiltered, where he revealed Starfield is a "now or never scenario" for the company, even if that meant putting The Elder Scrolls 6 on the backburner.

Jesse is a mild-mannered staff writer for IGN. Allow him to lend a machete to your intellectual thicket by following @jschedeen on Twitter.

Eternals screenwriters Ryan and Kaz Firpo have addressed one of the movie's biggest fan theories regarding the possibility of Galactus showing up in the MCU.

In an interview with The Direct, Firpo considered how the latest Marvel blockbuster sheds light on the past, present and future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, particularly the threats the new group of superheroes may end up facing, having already been forced out of the shadows to rally against mankind's most ancient enemy, the Deviants.

"Galactus is an amazing, amazing character, and villain," Firpo said, commenting on the theories about the potential arrival of the classic Marvel villain in the MCU. "We are, you know, obviously setting the stage for intergalactic, cosmic, megalith confrontations, especially when you kill a space god—and then the space god comes and kidnaps you and plans to judge Earth, I think the door is very much open for world-eating villains."

Firpo also spoke about the movie's mid-credits and post-credits sequences, confirming that conversations are happening about the characters they're introducing and what it might mean for the MCU's future. He contemplated how Galactus could appear in a follow-up to the Chloé Zhao film, even though it's been suggested that an Eternals sequel isn't a "must-have."

"Galactus is one of those iconic figures of the Marvel Universe that we're excited to see," Firpo explained. "But sometimes I think you leave yourself open, you leave these doors open, and who knows what's happening in number two. Maybe you're too busy saving a Celestial from Galactus that you end up incurring his [wrath]… anything's possible."

Eternals had a solid box office debut, with an opening weekend of $71 million, though it's also the lowest-rated MCU movie with a Rotten Tomatoes rating of just 47%, which may go some way in influencing the decision to pick up a sequel. Firpo claimed that they hadn't yet mapped out a second film, but noted that "if audiences want to see it, we're excited to explore it."

While a sequel may or may not be on the cards in the future, Eternals actor Kit Harington has already expressed his desire for his character, Dane Whitman (also known as Black Knight in the comics), to have "a longer trajectory" in the MCU, even though he recognizes that he's portraying "the human character of the story" rather than one of the film's titular immortals.

Check out our explainer of Eternals post-credits scene to dig deeper into Black Knight's comic book background and how that could inform his MCU future.

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

Sony has reportedly cut production plans for the PlayStation 5 by around one million consoles due to component shortages and logistic constraints. And with less consoles being produced, it could be harder to buy one.

A report from Bloomberg cites sources familiar with Sony’s operations. Those sources claim that Sony was originally targeting more than 16 million PS5s to have been produced in the year ending March 2022, but that figure has been cut down to about 15 million.

As noted in the report, Sony’s Chief Financial Officer, Hiroki Totoki, recently told investors that logistical issues and parts shortages have grown more severe. PS5 sales in the quarter ended September 2021 were weaker than expected, and since July sales of the console have fallen behind the pace set by its predecessor, the PlayStation 4.

The ongoing global chip shortage has not done any favours for the PS5 and many other electronic devices, and the continuing effects of the COVID pandemic has made supply unpredictable. Bloomberg’s sources note that PS5 assembly partners are in daily contact with component suppliers to try and confirm that shipments will arrive on schedule, but clearly Sony has decided that the current situation means it cannot fulfill its original aims of over 16 million constructed consoles.

In a similar situation is Valve, who recently announced that it has had to delay the release of the Steam Deck portable PC due to global supply chain issues.

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

The Game Awards 2021 ceremony will announce a "double digit" number of new games, says creator and host Geoff "The Game Awards" Keighley.

In an extensive interview with former Kotaku and Polygon co-founder Brian Crecente, shared on Epic Games' site, Keighley detailed what to expect from the show, which airs globally on December 9 from the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles at 8 PM ET.

Keighley shared that he expects the show to feature 40 to 50 games this year, "some way or another," including games that are expected to release in 2022 and 2023. Keighley noted that the show will be split about evenly between awards and game-related announcements and premieres. The Game Awards will also feature trailers for things that aren't games, including television shows or movies inspired by games.

That could point to a potential teaser trailer for one of the many video game adaptations currently in production in Hollywood such as Uncharted, The Last of Us for HBO, or something else entirely.

The Game Awards 2021 will also include a live orchestra performance and celebrity guest appearances. We can only hope for more Muppets since Keighley had a guest appearance in Muppets Haunted Mansion.

Despite the familiar setup, the show will still employ various COVID safety protocols. Audience capacity will be cut in half, be invite-only, vaccination will be required, and attendees will be required to wear masks.

The Game Awards has historically seen immense jumps in viewership numbers each year. Just last year, even as the event transitioned to a digital-only stream amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, The Game Awards jumped from 43 million to about 83 million viewers. Keighley was careful to keep expectations modest for this year.

“You know, maybe if we hit 100 million that would be something, but yeah, I mean, we're obviously not going to be doubling every year,” Keighley said. “That's not sustainable. But honestly, we don't really think that much about the numbers. We just make the best show we can.”

What Keighley is interested in exploring is how the hyped-up concept of a "metaverse" will impact how viewers watch the show. Rather than a simple livestream on their TV, Keighley imagines they might one day tune in via Fortnite.

"So it's early days with that stuff, but I do think in five years more people will watch our show or participate in our show from within a kind of real-time 3D environment than just watching a traditional video feed," Keighley said.

What about the increasingly divisive concept of NFTs, you may ask? "We're not doing any NFT stuff," Keighley said.

(Photo by Greg Doherty/Getty Images)

Joseph Knoop is a writer/producer for IGN.

Henry Cavill says he would love the opportunity to play Superman again in the future.

Speaking with THR, Cavill said there's more opportunity for him to grow with the Superman character saying, “There is still a lot of storytelling for me to do as a Superman, and I would absolutely love the opportunity."

At the end of 2013's Man of Steel, Superman kills Zod, the last remaining member of his species. Cavill says he wants more chances to explore Superman's growth after that decision.

"That’s the choice he made in that moment, and he’ll never do that again," Cavill said. "There’s an opportunity for growth after that, to explore the psyche of Superman as a deep, seemingly invulnerable god-like being but with real feeling on the inside. As I always say, ‘The cape is still in the closet.'”

Cavill has played Clark Kent/Superman in Man of Steel, Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice, and both cuts of the Justice League movie, but there are currently no announced plans for him to reprise the role. However, there have been reports claiming Cavill was in talks to return as Superman in a future DC movie starring a different character.

Right now, the Man of Steel is part of Superman & Lois on the CW, and Michael B. Jordan is working on a Val-Zod project for HBO Max. Cavill says his desire to return to the role doesn't mean he's not on board with the other Superman projects in development.

“It’s exciting — Superman’s far more than skin color,” Cavill said. “Superman is an ideal. Superman’s an extraordinary thing that lives within our hearts. Why not have multiple Supermen going on? Joaquin Phoenix did a wonderful Joker movie; so what if it’s not tied to the rest of [the franchise]?"

While his future as Superman remains unclear, Cavill is the star of The Witcher Season 2, which is set to premiere on Netflix next month. For more on the plan for the DC Universe, check out every upcoming DC movie and TV show.

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