Epic Games and The LEGO Group have announced a new collaboration in which the two companies will work together to create a child-friendly space within the metaverse.

The announcement states that "the two companies will team up to build an immersive, creatively inspiring and engaging digital experience for kids of all ages to enjoy together."

The digital space will be governed by three principles agreed upon by LEGO and Epic Games:

• Protect children’s right to play by making safety and wellbeing a priority.
• Safeguard children’s privacy by putting their best interests first.
• Empower children and adults with tools that give them control over their digital experience.

Concrete detais about what this "digital experience" will be are not yet available, but Epic promises that it will be family-friendly and provide children with tools that will provide "play opportunities in a safe and positive space."

“Kids enjoy playing in digital and physical worlds and move seamlessly between the two," said LEGO CEO Niels B Christiansen in a statement. "We believe there is huge potential for them to develop life-long skills such as creativity, collaboration and communication through digital experiences. But we have a responsibility to make them safe, inspiring and beneficial for all. Just as we’ve protected children’s rights to safe physical play for generations, we are committed to doing the same for digital play. We look forward to working with Epic Games to shape this exciting and playful future.”

While we don't yet know what form this digital experience will take, it is clear that Epic and LEGO are focused on something that will allow children to become creators. The suggestion seems to be that the end product will allow users to both create experiences and then play within them.

By that logic, we could perhaps be looking at something similar to Roblox, the incredibly popular create and play platform. Roblox itself has been heavily criticised for the way it handles its predominantly young audience, and so a safe alternative would likley be a welcome thing, should that be what LEGO and Epic are working on.

For more on what Epic is doing in its own metaverse, take a look at what's happening to Fortnite's Zero Build mode as well the Doctor Strange-themed crossover. As for what Lego is doing in the digital space, take a look at the upcoming LEGO Bricktales.

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

Locke and Key Season 3 was conceived as the show's final chapter, and it has now been confirmed that the supernatural Netflix series will end with the upcoming season.

Deadline revealed a three-season run was deemed the "ideal length" for Locke and Key after "Netflix approached the series' creative team" with such a proposal in the aftermath of the first season. Co-showrunners Carlton Cuse and Meredith Averill have now corroborated that plan, announcing that the door will be closed on the Locke family in the third season.

"Once we began working on the series, we felt three seasons was the ideal length to bring the story of the Locke family and their Keyhouse adventures to a satisfying conclusion," Cuse and Averill said in a statement. "As storytellers, we are grateful that we had the opportunity to tell our version of Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodriguez's incredible story exactly the way we wanted. We're keeping the magical keys, though, for our own personal use."

Joe Hill, Gabriel Rodriquez, and IDW Publishing tried to get their horror comic Locke & Key to the screen for over a decade before Netflix eventually picked it up for a series order, with the first season premiering in February 2020. The series was then renewed for a second season, which premiered in October 2021, and a third season that is expected later this year.

here's your first look at LOCKE & KEY Season 3 pic.twitter.com/cR0xtb5pDh

— Netflix Geeked (@NetflixGeeked) April 6, 2022

Netflix shared the first official photos from the new season to offer fans a glimpse of what's to come in the final eight episodes. The snaps feature plenty of familiar faces, with Darby Stanchfield, Connor Jessup, Emilia Jones, Jackson Robert Scott, Brendan Hines, Sherri Saum, Kevin Durand, and Coby Bird making up the principal cast for the third and last season.

Cuse and Averill are said to be wrapping post-production on season three, which sees them both return as co-showrunners. They are also executive producing the concluding chapter alongside John Weber, Frank Siracusa, Kevin Lafferty, Joe Hill, Ted Adams, Chris Ryall, Lydia Antonini, together with Andy Muschietti, Barbara Muschietti, David Alpert, and Rick Jacobs.

The second season of Locke and Key set the stage for a different kind of follow-up, with IGN's review of Season 2 contemplating a "Voyage of the Dawn Treader-like Season 3," noting that the sophomore season had started off "darker and more focused than its predecessor, with more horror imagery and a terrifying villain, while still finding time for a poignant story."

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

Locke and Key Season 3 was conceived as the show's final chapter, and it has now been confirmed that the supernatural Netflix series will end with the upcoming season.

Deadline revealed a three-season run was deemed the "ideal length" for Locke and Key after "Netflix approached the series' creative team" with such a proposal in the aftermath of the first season. Co-showrunners Carlton Cuse and Meredith Averill have now corroborated that plan, announcing that the door will be closed on the Locke family in the third season.

"Once we began working on the series, we felt three seasons was the ideal length to bring the story of the Locke family and their Keyhouse adventures to a satisfying conclusion," Cuse and Averill said in a statement. "As storytellers, we are grateful that we had the opportunity to tell our version of Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodriguez's incredible story exactly the way we wanted. We're keeping the magical keys, though, for our own personal use."

Joe Hill, Gabriel Rodriquez, and IDW Publishing tried to get their horror comic Locke & Key to the screen for over a decade before Netflix eventually picked it up for a series order, with the first season premiering in February 2020. The series was then renewed for a second season, which premiered in October 2021, and a third season that is expected later this year.

here's your first look at LOCKE & KEY Season 3 pic.twitter.com/cR0xtb5pDh

— Netflix Geeked (@NetflixGeeked) April 6, 2022

Netflix shared the first official photos from the new season to offer fans a glimpse of what's to come in the final eight episodes. The snaps feature plenty of familiar faces, with Darby Stanchfield, Connor Jessup, Emilia Jones, Jackson Robert Scott, Brendan Hines, Sherri Saum, Kevin Durand, and Coby Bird making up the principal cast for the third and last season.

Cuse and Averill are said to be wrapping post-production on season three, which sees them both return as co-showrunners. They are also executive producing the concluding chapter alongside John Weber, Frank Siracusa, Kevin Lafferty, Joe Hill, Ted Adams, Chris Ryall, Lydia Antonini, together with Andy Muschietti, Barbara Muschietti, David Alpert, and Rick Jacobs.

The second season of Locke and Key set the stage for a different kind of follow-up, with IGN's review of Season 2 contemplating a "Voyage of the Dawn Treader-like Season 3," noting that the sophomore season had started off "darker and more focused than its predecessor, with more horror imagery and a terrifying villain, while still finding time for a poignant story."

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

Dozens of changes have been made to Gran Turismo 7 in its first post-launch patch.

The version 1.11 update seeks to steer the game back on track following a shaky launch that saw developer Polyphony Digital reduce the number of rewards players could earn.

The patch addresses this directly by letting players earn more rewards in the latter half of the World Circuit, for clearing circuits in Gold or Bronze results, and in Lobbies and Daily races. Polyphony Digital has also "adjusted" the rewards for Arcade and Custom races and raised the maximum cap for earned in-game credits to 100 million.

Three new tracks - Le Mans, Sardegna, and Tokyo Expressway - have also been added to the World Circuit alongside several new one hour endurance races that have a high pay-out.

The patch brings several other minor changes (that can be found in the official notes) but it remains to be seen if this update will satisfy disgruntled players. Fans were most upset about a previous update that rebalanced rewards. The change made shortly after launch meant players essentially had to play more for the same rewards or pay up to $40 for a single car.

Gran Turismo 7 was also unplayable for a day as servers went down following the update, forcing even the "always online" single player to become inaccessible.

Polyphony Digital apologised in March by giving players one million free credits and promising this update in early April.

Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelancer who occasionally remembers to tweet @thelastdinsdale. He'll talk about The Witcher all day.

Dozens of changes have been made to Gran Turismo 7 in its first post-launch patch.

The version 1.11 update seeks to steer the game back on track following a shaky launch that saw developer Polyphony Digital reduce the number of rewards players could earn.

The patch addresses this directly by letting players earn more rewards in the latter half of the World Circuit, for clearing circuits in Gold or Bronze results, and in Lobbies and Daily races. Polyphony Digital has also "adjusted" the rewards for Arcade and Custom races and raised the maximum cap for earned in-game credits to 100 million.

Three new tracks - Le Mans, Sardegna, and Tokyo Expressway - have also been added to the World Circuit alongside several new one hour endurance races that have a high pay-out.

The patch brings several other minor changes (that can be found in the official notes) but it remains to be seen if this update will satisfy disgruntled players. Fans were most upset about a previous update that rebalanced rewards. The change made shortly after launch meant players essentially had to play more for the same rewards or pay up to $40 for a single car.

Gran Turismo 7 was also unplayable for a day as servers went down following the update, forcing even the "always online" single player to become inaccessible.

Polyphony Digital apologised in March by giving players one million free credits and promising this update in early April.

Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelancer who occasionally remembers to tweet @thelastdinsdale. He'll talk about The Witcher all day.

Mario Golf will become the 14th Nintendo 64 game available on Switch when it arrives on April 15.

When it arrives players will be able to download Mario Golf as part of the Switch Online Expansion Pack, which costs $49.99 and is the only way to play N64 games on the console.

Get into the swing! ⛳

Tee off with Mario and friends when Mario Golf comes to #NintendoSwitch for #NintendoSwitchOnline + Expansion Pack members on 4/15. #Nintendo64 pic.twitter.com/bB4ujaj59F

— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) April 7, 2022

While now a long-running series, the N64 version of Mario Golf marked the Mushroom Kingdom crew's first time hitting the links and features 18 playable characters and six championship courses.

Nintendo has added new games to the N64 library roughly once a month, with March seeing F-Zero X added to the service while in February it was The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask.

The full range of N64 titles currently available on Switch is: Banjo-Kazooie, Dr. Mario 64, F-Zero X, Mario Kart 64, Mario Tennis, Paper Mario, Sin & Punishment, Star Fox 64, Super Mario 64, The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, Win Back: Covert Operations, and Yoshi’s Story.

The Switch Online Expansion Pass also grants access to SEGA Genesis games alongside DLC for Nintendo games including Animal Crossing: New Horizons' Happy Home Paradise and more recently Mario Kart 8 Deluxe's Booster Course Pass.

The extra content doubles the number of tracks available in the game, with the first two cups - Golden Dash and Lucky Cat - being released in March.

In our 8/10 review of the 1999 game, IGN said: "Mario Golf is a great combination of wacky fun and superb golf simulation."

Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelancer who occasionally remembers to tweet @thelastdinsdale. He'll talk about The Witcher all day.

Mario Golf will become the 14th Nintendo 64 game available on Switch when it arrives on April 15.

When it arrives players will be able to download Mario Golf as part of the Switch Online Expansion Pack, which costs $49.99 and is the only way to play N64 games on the console.

Get into the swing! ⛳

Tee off with Mario and friends when Mario Golf comes to #NintendoSwitch for #NintendoSwitchOnline + Expansion Pack members on 4/15. #Nintendo64 pic.twitter.com/bB4ujaj59F

— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) April 7, 2022

While now a long-running series, the N64 version of Mario Golf marked the Mushroom Kingdom crew's first time hitting the links and features 18 playable characters and six championship courses.

Nintendo has added new games to the N64 library roughly once a month, with March seeing F-Zero X added to the service while in February it was The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask.

The full range of N64 titles currently available on Switch is: Banjo-Kazooie, Dr. Mario 64, F-Zero X, Mario Kart 64, Mario Tennis, Paper Mario, Sin & Punishment, Star Fox 64, Super Mario 64, The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, Win Back: Covert Operations, and Yoshi’s Story.

The Switch Online Expansion Pass also grants access to SEGA Genesis games alongside DLC for Nintendo games including Animal Crossing: New Horizons' Happy Home Paradise and more recently Mario Kart 8 Deluxe's Booster Course Pass.

The extra content doubles the number of tracks available in the game, with the first two cups - Golden Dash and Lucky Cat - being released in March.

In our 8/10 review of the 1999 game, IGN said: "Mario Golf is a great combination of wacky fun and superb golf simulation."

Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelancer who occasionally remembers to tweet @thelastdinsdale. He'll talk about The Witcher all day.

LEGO has unveiled a massive replica of the McLaren Formula 1 race car ahead of this weekend’s Australian Grand Prix. Designed in partnership with McLaren Racing, the life-sized LEGO McLaren is even capable of accommodating a real F1 driver, with eight-time Grand Prix winner Daniel Ricciardo pictured behind the (LEGO) wheel.

Assembled by a team led by LEGO Masters Australia judge Ryan ‘Brickman’ McNaught, the colossal build contains 288,315 bricks and reportedly took more than 1893 hours to piece together. The enormous LEGO McLaren also includes a number of mechanical features, such as moving pistons for its engine, a locking differential, and steering activated from the cockpit.

The one-of-a-kind build (which will be showcased at the Versor Tech Hub located near gate 10 for those attending the Australian GP) may not be something you can house in a bookcase, but LEGO has just released a more sensibly-scaled version of the McLaren F1 race car. The new LEGO Technic McLaren F1 is currently sold out due to popularity but is still available on backorder.

This isn’t the first time LEGO has built a life-sized car from its iconic plastic bricks; back in 2018 the company put together a full-sized replica of a Bugatti Chiron. The giant LEGO Chiron featured over 1 million LEGO pieces, weighed over one-and-a-half tons, and even moved thanks to over two thousand LEGO Power Functions motors. Not enough? Check out this LEGO Batmobile. Unfortunately it seems like we may have missed out on seeing a full-sized LEGO Time Machine to coincide with the newly-released 1,872-piece Back to the Future set.

If LEGO blocks rock your socks, be sure to check out our review of LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga.

Luke is Games Editor at IGN's Sydney office. You can chat to him on Twitter @MrLukeReilly.

LEGO has unveiled a massive replica of the McLaren Formula 1 race car ahead of this weekend’s Australian Grand Prix. Designed in partnership with McLaren Racing, the life-sized LEGO McLaren is even capable of accommodating a real F1 driver, with eight-time Grand Prix winner Daniel Ricciardo pictured behind the (LEGO) wheel.

Assembled by a team led by LEGO Masters Australia judge Ryan ‘Brickman’ McNaught, the colossal build contains 288,315 bricks and reportedly took more than 1893 hours to piece together. The enormous LEGO McLaren also includes a number of mechanical features, such as moving pistons for its engine, a locking differential, and steering activated from the cockpit.

The one-of-a-kind build (which will be showcased at the Versor Tech Hub located near gate 10 for those attending the Australian GP) may not be something you can house in a bookcase, but LEGO has just released a more sensibly-scaled version of the McLaren F1 race car. The new LEGO Technic McLaren F1 is currently sold out due to popularity but is still available on backorder.

This isn’t the first time LEGO has built a life-sized car from its iconic plastic bricks; back in 2018 the company put together a full-sized replica of a Bugatti Chiron. The giant LEGO Chiron featured over 1 million LEGO pieces, weighed over one-and-a-half tons, and even moved thanks to over two thousand LEGO Power Functions motors. Not enough? Check out this LEGO Batmobile. Unfortunately it seems like we may have missed out on seeing a full-sized LEGO Time Machine to coincide with the newly-released 1,872-piece Back to the Future set.

If LEGO blocks rock your socks, be sure to check out our review of LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga.

Luke is Games Editor at IGN's Sydney office. You can chat to him on Twitter @MrLukeReilly.

Before video game movies proved to audiences and critics that they could be good, a Deus Ex movie was in the works at CBS Films. The movie was eventually canceled, but thanks to USA Today's recent interview with Prime Universe Productions' Scott Kinney, some of the script of that canceled project has come to light, giving fans a taste of the project that never came to be.

In the early 2010s, Scott Derrickson and C. Robert Cargill were working on a script for a film adaptation of Deus Ex: Human Revolution, the third game in the series that launched in 2011. In 2014, IGN interviewed Derrickson about the project, where we learned the film was to focus on "deepening" Adam Jensen as a character while maintaining "all the action and fun of the game".

Derrickson was set to direct the project before jumping ship to go work on Doctor Strange. After his departure, the movie was quietly canceled.

For those unfamiliar with the source material, Deus Ex: Human Revolution is an action RPG developed by Eidos Montreal, the studio that most recently worked on Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy. The game takes place in the year 2027, and follows Adam Jensen, a security specialist who undergoes body augmentation after a life-threatening accident. This leads to Jensen becoming a killing machine, setting the events of his story in motion. The plot focuses on the social divide between people wealthy enough to afford augmentations, and the normal humans that make up the lower class.

Below, you can read an excerpt from the script of the moment Jensen awakens to find out his body has been augmented:

"INT. CLEAN ROOM – SARIF TECH FACILITY – TIME UNKNOWN

Jensen, eyes closed, lies in a bed, sheet [sic] covering his body. He looks normal enough, save a hexagon carved into the left side of his forehead, and two metal crescents flanking his eyes.

Jensen’s eyes SNAP open. He sits up, quick, confused and disoriented. As he does, the sheet falls away to reveal his legs and torso. He looks like a man, and more. His chest and arms are covered in titanium-infused sheets grafted to his natural skin. His arms are entirely cybernetic, as are his hands which are now black and shiny.

He looks around, and when he does, his world is one of sensory overload — colors too bright, sounds too loud, like his mind is some kind of perverse echo chamber.

JENSEN’S CYBERNETICALLY ENHANCED POV:

He’s in a large lab filled with medical and scientific machines, and devoid of life. Megan’s necklace rests on a small table, and everything is in ultra high definition — no shadow can hide you from him. He blinks and a tactical grid manifests over his POV. Microprocessors record everything he’s seeing, as every item is identified as a possible weapon and/or threat. All in less time than it takes you to blink.

Jensen stands, abruptly. He’s naked. Seen from the back, we note that his spinal column has been replaced with an alloy frame that attaches to all four limbs, and that the lower half of each leg has been replaced with cybernetics."

The parts of the revealed script also go over Jensen's initial aversion to augmentation, conversations with his girlfriend, Dr. Megan Reed, and an attack at the Sarif building. After Jensen awakes, the story follows the game's plot fairly closely, as Sarif's corruption is exposed, the augmented lose their minds, and the heroes put an end to it.

The action scenes described aren't afraid to be violent, with the report saying mechanical parts are liberally torn from augmented characters' bodies. However, we've also learned the movie was not intended to be rated R. You can read all of the included excerpts from the script in the full report.

While the Deus Ex franchise may never hit the big screen, you can check out every upcoming video game movie and show, including Sonic the Hedgehog 2, which launches in theaters this weekend.

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