Monthly Archives: June 2020

IGN Expo Day 3: Everything Announced and Revealed

IGN Expo Day 3 is over and out, and we've offered up another swathe of reveals, trailers, gameplay videos and interviews. If you missed any of the show, make sure to check out the list below for everything we showed off. There's much more coming from IGN's Summer of Gaming throughout June – here's the Summer of Gaming full schedule. All month, we're supporting some incredibly important causes – the World Health Organisation and The Bail Project – if you are able, help us support them too at donate.ign.com. What did you think about IGN Expo Day 3? What was your favorite thing announced during the show? Let us know with a Yap below! [poilib element="accentDivider"]

Guilty Gear Strive - Character Reveal

[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/06/12/guilty-gear-strive-ramlethal-reveal-trailer"] Ramlethal Valentine is joining the Guilty Gear line-up for the second time - get a first look at her in action.

CastleStorm 2 - Release Date and Demo Announced

[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/06/12/castlestorm-2-exclusive-launch-announcement-trailer"] The original medieval mash-up game is adding even more genres to its bizarre melting pot of ideas, and it arrives on Xbox One, PS4, Nintendo Switch and PC on July 31. A demo is out on Epic Games Store now.

Warhammer 40,000: Mechanicus - Console Edition Details

[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/06/12/warhammer-40k-mechanicus-exclusive-console-gameplay-and-developer-walkthrough"] This grimdark tactical RPG is on its way to consoles, but its developers want you to know that this is more than a simple port. Check out the video above to find out what they've been making.

Skater XL - Exclusive Nintendo Switch Gameplay

[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/06/12/12-minutes-of-skater-xl-gameplay-running-on-nintendo-switch"] Get a look at the upcoming hardcore skateboarding sim in its most portable form, along with a talk with the people that made it.

Hardspace: Shipbreaker - Exclusive Gameplay

[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/06/12/hardspace-shipbreaker-exclusive-gecko-gameplay-and-developer-commentary"] This sci-fi salvaging game gets more fascinating with every look at it - this time, check out a new ship type, the Gecko, and how you'll slice it apart, piece by piece for cash.

Total War: Troy - Exclusive Gameplay Interview

[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/06/12/total-war-troy-lets-you-play-the-trojan-war"] Total War is heading all the way back to the Bronze Age for the first time, and will be taking inspiration from Homer's Iliad and Odyssey - we got gameplay and details on how the game will mesh history with myth.

13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim - Western Release Date

[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/06/12/13-sentinels-aegis-rim-summer-of-gaming-trailer"] Atlus has announced that this Persona-meets-Starcraft mash-up from Vanillaware is finally on its way to PS4 on September 8.

Phantasy Star Online 2 - Update Trailer Reveal

[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/phantasy-star-online-2-exclusive-episode-4-update-announcement-trailer-summer-of-gaming"] Get a fresh look at Sega's newly localised MMO, and its next update.

Lucifer Within Us - Exclusive Trailer

[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/06/12/lucifer-within-us-summer-of-gaming-trailer"] This narrative game is something like Ace Attorney meets The Exorcist, seeing you purge digital daemons while exploring non-linear mysteries. It's out later this year - take a look.

Ranch Simulator - Exclusive Gameplay Trailer

[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/06/12/ranch-simulator-summer-of-gaming-trailer"] Get a look at this homestead-building, chicken-cooping, bear-hunting rural life sim before it heads to Early Access next year.

Everspace 2 - Exclusive Trailer and Gameplay

[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/06/12/everspace-2-10-minutes-of-deep-space-exploration-and-combat-gameplay"] Everspace's sequel sees it grow from a roguelike space combat game into a full open world space RPG, and we've got new looks at planetary combat and a chat with Rockfish CEO Michael Schade to check out.

Blue Fire - Exclusive Preview

[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/06/12/blue-fire-preview-impressions"] This action-platformer translates the vibe of games like Hollow Knight into 3D, placing your tiny warrior against enormous threats and traversal challenges.

Unto the End - Exclusive Gameplay

[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/06/12/unto-the-end-8-minutes-of-gameplay"] This side-scrolling action-platformer is as aiming to be as emotional as it is violent, centring on a father fighting his way to his child, but having to read and counter every sword-swipe of the angry obstacles in his way. [poilib element="accentDivider"] 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.

Tenet Release Date Delayed, Inception to Re-Release on July 17 Instead

Warner Bros. announced Friday that it has postponed the release of Christopher Nolan's thriller Tenet from July 17 to July 31. The studio will re-release Nolan's Inception on July 17 instead to honor the film's 10th anniversary, with an extended sneak peek at Tenet attached to it. “We’re especially thrilled, in this complex and rapidly changing environment, to be bringing Christopher Nolan’s Tenet, a global tentpole of jaw-dropping size, scope and scale, to theaters around the world on July 31,” said Toby Emmerich, chairman of Warner Bros. Pictures Group, in a statement. “It’s been longer than any of us could’ve imagined since we’ve seen a movie on the big screen, and to acknowledge Chris’ fans as we count down to Tenet's opening day, we are also excited to offer his masterpiece Inception in theaters for its 10th anniversary on July 17.” [ignvideo width=610 height=374 url=https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/05/22/tenet-official-trailer-2] Warners' statement also included this curious line: "Moviegoers will also be treated to an exclusive sneak peek of select films on Warner Bros.’ upcoming slate." Is it possible this sneak peek could include footage from The Batman? That DC reboot, which stars Tenet's Robert Pattinson as the Dark Knight, was a quarter of the way through production before it was shut down due to the coronavirus pandemic. Other upcoming Warners film titles the sneak peek could highlight include Wonder Woman 1984 and Dune, or maybe even The Suicide Squad. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=every-delayed-movie-due-to-coronavirus-so-far&captions=true"] Tenet's release date change wasn't entirely unexpected given not only the ongoing pandemic and slow reopening of cinemas but also because Tenet's latest trailer didn't include a release date as trailers customarily do. Tenet director Christopher Nolan has made no secret of his advocacy for the theatrical experience -- particularly IMAX and 70mm, both of which formats Tenet will be presented in -- so a pivot to a digital debut for the movie was never really in the cards. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=tenet-images&captions=true"] Warners had until early-to-mid June to make the final call on whether Tenet could stick to its original July 17 date or move to a later date. Any later and it would have been difficult for the studio to stage the sort of marketing campaign such a big theatrical release requires. As Deadline reported in May, "Warner Bros needs at least 80% of the world’s theaters to be open, including New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco (which rep 25% of a pic’s opening weekend), in order to keep Tenet on its original release date. If such signs don’t appear positive in the next three weeks or sooner, Tenet moves. In order to make bank on a $200M production, Warners needs the globe’s exhibition infrastructure intact." For more on Tenet, discover why Christopher Nolan broke his big tradition for the film, find out why Nolan decided to blow up a real 747 rather than use visual effects, and learn what John David Washington said about the plot.

Tenet Release Date Delayed, Inception to Re-Release on July 17 Instead

Warner Bros. announced Friday that it has postponed the release of Christopher Nolan's thriller Tenet from July 17 to July 31. The studio will re-release Nolan's Inception on July 17 instead to honor the film's 10th anniversary, with an extended sneak peek at Tenet attached to it. “We’re especially thrilled, in this complex and rapidly changing environment, to be bringing Christopher Nolan’s Tenet, a global tentpole of jaw-dropping size, scope and scale, to theaters around the world on July 31,” said Toby Emmerich, chairman of Warner Bros. Pictures Group, in a statement. “It’s been longer than any of us could’ve imagined since we’ve seen a movie on the big screen, and to acknowledge Chris’ fans as we count down to Tenet's opening day, we are also excited to offer his masterpiece Inception in theaters for its 10th anniversary on July 17.” [ignvideo width=610 height=374 url=https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/05/22/tenet-official-trailer-2] Warners' statement also included this curious line: "Moviegoers will also be treated to an exclusive sneak peek of select films on Warner Bros.’ upcoming slate." Is it possible this sneak peek could include footage from The Batman? That DC reboot, which stars Tenet's Robert Pattinson as the Dark Knight, was a quarter of the way through production before it was shut down due to the coronavirus pandemic. Other upcoming Warners film titles the sneak peek could highlight include Wonder Woman 1984 and Dune, or maybe even The Suicide Squad. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=every-delayed-movie-due-to-coronavirus-so-far&captions=true"] Tenet's release date change wasn't entirely unexpected given not only the ongoing pandemic and slow reopening of cinemas but also because Tenet's latest trailer didn't include a release date as trailers customarily do. Tenet director Christopher Nolan has made no secret of his advocacy for the theatrical experience -- particularly IMAX and 70mm, both of which formats Tenet will be presented in -- so a pivot to a digital debut for the movie was never really in the cards. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=tenet-images&captions=true"] Warners had until early-to-mid June to make the final call on whether Tenet could stick to its original July 17 date or move to a later date. Any later and it would have been difficult for the studio to stage the sort of marketing campaign such a big theatrical release requires. As Deadline reported in May, "Warner Bros needs at least 80% of the world’s theaters to be open, including New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco (which rep 25% of a pic’s opening weekend), in order to keep Tenet on its original release date. If such signs don’t appear positive in the next three weeks or sooner, Tenet moves. In order to make bank on a $200M production, Warners needs the globe’s exhibition infrastructure intact." For more on Tenet, discover why Christopher Nolan broke his big tradition for the film, find out why Nolan decided to blow up a real 747 rather than use visual effects, and learn what John David Washington said about the plot.

13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim Gets a September Release Date in the West

A western version of Odin Sphere and Dragon’s Crown developer Vanillaware’s adventure/real-time-strategy epic, 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim is coming to PS4 on September 8. Fans of director George Kamitani had been eagerly anticipating a Western release, which was finally announced by publisher Atlus today as part of today's IGN Expo event. When the game released in Japan in November 2019, it was met with critical acclaim, including a 9.5 review from IGN Japan. You can check out a new trailer later in the story. For those who haven't kept up with 13 Sentinels, we spoke with Atlus ahead of the announcement: “The game’s main setting is Japan, 1985. Giant, mysterious colossi called kaiju suddenly appear, wreaking havoc across the country,” Vanillaware producer Akiyasu Yamamoto explains. “Thirteen high-school students, the main protagonists of our story, must defend their city from these destroyers by piloting giant mechs called Sentinels. The game is a sci-fi adventure (with elements of tower defense games and other strategy subgenres) where players investigate, talk, and fight to solve the deeper mysteries lurking beneath the individual stories." Vanillaware is a developer best known for its stunning 2D art, which is as gorgeous as ever in 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim. However, a more story-focused adventure game set in Japan is a refreshing concept for the studio, and Yamamoto calls it a new challenge in the long-running collaboration between Atlus and Vanillaware. It wasn’t a challenge taken lightly either, since it took the studio no less than six years to complete development. Yamamoto recalls the project dates back to a New Year card Vanillaware sent out to industry friends in January 2013, which revealed the first concept art well before the game was officially announced two years later. More than seven years after that original tease, Western fans will finally get their hands on Kamitani’s latest creation. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/06/12/13-sentinels-aegis-rim-summer-of-gaming-trailer"] While having a uniquely Japanese setting, Yamamoto mentions that Vanillaware was heavily inspired by Western drama series, splitting its storytelling among its 13 lead characters. “Each episode of the characters’ story mode can be played in about 10-15 minute segments. Countless new mysteries emerge within each episode, and new information is constantly discovered and updated in the battle and glossary modes, so you continue to live your everyday life with a sustained feeling of always getting that little bit closer to the truth.” While high-school life is definitely the game’s main focus, the style that story's told in radically changes depending on the episode. This is where the 13 main characters come in – while they all go to the same school, their different backgrounds and characteristics allow for different types of storytelling. “For instance, Yuki Takamiya’s story plays out like a Sherlock-Holmes style detective mystery, where you and your assistant are following the trail of a student gone missing,” says Yamamoto. “However, when you switch to Ei Sekigahara, the story takes on the feel of a sci-fi thriller, with life-threatening stakes and intense suspense. Meanwhile, Iori Fuyusaka’s story feels like playing as the heroine of a classic 1980s shoujo manga, with a focus on romance and self-discovery. This variation in storytelling styles is an aspect of the game I really hope our Western players can enjoy.” The Western version of 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim will be fully voiced in English, with the option to switch back to the original Japanese audio. Subtitles include English, French, Italian, German and Spanish. While games with a Japanese setting are sometimes adjusted to appeal to a Western audience, the localized version of 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim remains unapologetically Japanese. If you enjoyed Japanese high-school life in the Persona series as much as we did, that can only be a good thing. [ignvideo url="13-sentinels-aegis-rim-6-screenshots"] The biggest difference in setting between the Persona series is the era, as 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim mostly takes place in the 1980s. While nostalgia towards the ’80s is very much present in the West as well, and video games like Crossing Souls have depicted the unique retro atmosphere of those times, 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim takes you back to Japan’s slightly different version of that time period. For players in the West, this should result in a setting that is partly recognizable, partly refreshing. “While we did aim to evoke a certain nostalgia that would hopefully resonate with people who actually lived during that time, we’ve also seen that even Japanese players who never experienced this period could still get a sense of what it was like to live in that era, and immerse themselves in that world as a form of empathic fantasy,” says Yamamoto. “For Western players, the perspective will probably be even more foreign, so I’d love for them to experience the game both as an exploration of a different culture, and as a trip into a wholly new and fantastical world altogether.” That being said, there are plenty of references towards Western movies and culture as well, and recognizing all sorts of different homages is part of 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim’s appeal. Uncommonly for a Japanese game, battles play out as real-time strategy. Kamitani is a huge Starcraft fan, and wanted to create a simplified tower-defense game that could be enjoyed casually along with story-focused adventure parts. The concept for 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim’s battle system was to refine and improve on GrimGrimoire, the 2007 real-time-strategy game Vanillaware co-developed with Nippon Ichi Software. There's much, much more to see from today's IGN Expo, and we're running the Summer of Gaming throughout June – here's the Summer of Gaming full schedule. All month, we're supporting some incredibly important causes – the World Health Organisation and The Bail Project – if you are able, help us support them too at donate.ign.com. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Shin Imai is Deputy Chief Editor at IGN Japan, and Esra Krabbe is an editor there. Follow them on Twitter if your language skills are up to it!

13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim Gets a September Release Date in the West

A western version of Odin Sphere and Dragon’s Crown developer Vanillaware’s adventure/real-time-strategy epic, 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim is coming to PS4 on September 8. Fans of director George Kamitani had been eagerly anticipating a Western release, which was finally announced by publisher Atlus today as part of today's IGN Expo event. When the game released in Japan in November 2019, it was met with critical acclaim, including a 9.5 review from IGN Japan. You can check out a new trailer later in the story. For those who haven't kept up with 13 Sentinels, we spoke with Atlus ahead of the announcement: “The game’s main setting is Japan, 1985. Giant, mysterious colossi called kaiju suddenly appear, wreaking havoc across the country,” Vanillaware producer Akiyasu Yamamoto explains. “Thirteen high-school students, the main protagonists of our story, must defend their city from these destroyers by piloting giant mechs called Sentinels. The game is a sci-fi adventure (with elements of tower defense games and other strategy subgenres) where players investigate, talk, and fight to solve the deeper mysteries lurking beneath the individual stories." Vanillaware is a developer best known for its stunning 2D art, which is as gorgeous as ever in 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim. However, a more story-focused adventure game set in Japan is a refreshing concept for the studio, and Yamamoto calls it a new challenge in the long-running collaboration between Atlus and Vanillaware. It wasn’t a challenge taken lightly either, since it took the studio no less than six years to complete development. Yamamoto recalls the project dates back to a New Year card Vanillaware sent out to industry friends in January 2013, which revealed the first concept art well before the game was officially announced two years later. More than seven years after that original tease, Western fans will finally get their hands on Kamitani’s latest creation. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/06/12/13-sentinels-aegis-rim-summer-of-gaming-trailer"] While having a uniquely Japanese setting, Yamamoto mentions that Vanillaware was heavily inspired by Western drama series, splitting its storytelling among its 13 lead characters. “Each episode of the characters’ story mode can be played in about 10-15 minute segments. Countless new mysteries emerge within each episode, and new information is constantly discovered and updated in the battle and glossary modes, so you continue to live your everyday life with a sustained feeling of always getting that little bit closer to the truth.” While high-school life is definitely the game’s main focus, the style that story's told in radically changes depending on the episode. This is where the 13 main characters come in – while they all go to the same school, their different backgrounds and characteristics allow for different types of storytelling. “For instance, Yuki Takamiya’s story plays out like a Sherlock-Holmes style detective mystery, where you and your assistant are following the trail of a student gone missing,” says Yamamoto. “However, when you switch to Ei Sekigahara, the story takes on the feel of a sci-fi thriller, with life-threatening stakes and intense suspense. Meanwhile, Iori Fuyusaka’s story feels like playing as the heroine of a classic 1980s shoujo manga, with a focus on romance and self-discovery. This variation in storytelling styles is an aspect of the game I really hope our Western players can enjoy.” The Western version of 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim will be fully voiced in English, with the option to switch back to the original Japanese audio. Subtitles include English, French, Italian, German and Spanish. While games with a Japanese setting are sometimes adjusted to appeal to a Western audience, the localized version of 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim remains unapologetically Japanese. If you enjoyed Japanese high-school life in the Persona series as much as we did, that can only be a good thing. [ignvideo url="13-sentinels-aegis-rim-6-screenshots"] The biggest difference in setting between the Persona series is the era, as 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim mostly takes place in the 1980s. While nostalgia towards the ’80s is very much present in the West as well, and video games like Crossing Souls have depicted the unique retro atmosphere of those times, 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim takes you back to Japan’s slightly different version of that time period. For players in the West, this should result in a setting that is partly recognizable, partly refreshing. “While we did aim to evoke a certain nostalgia that would hopefully resonate with people who actually lived during that time, we’ve also seen that even Japanese players who never experienced this period could still get a sense of what it was like to live in that era, and immerse themselves in that world as a form of empathic fantasy,” says Yamamoto. “For Western players, the perspective will probably be even more foreign, so I’d love for them to experience the game both as an exploration of a different culture, and as a trip into a wholly new and fantastical world altogether.” That being said, there are plenty of references towards Western movies and culture as well, and recognizing all sorts of different homages is part of 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim’s appeal. Uncommonly for a Japanese game, battles play out as real-time strategy. Kamitani is a huge Starcraft fan, and wanted to create a simplified tower-defense game that could be enjoyed casually along with story-focused adventure parts. The concept for 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim’s battle system was to refine and improve on GrimGrimoire, the 2007 real-time-strategy game Vanillaware co-developed with Nippon Ichi Software. There's much, much more to see from today's IGN Expo, and we're running the Summer of Gaming throughout June – here's the Summer of Gaming full schedule. All month, we're supporting some incredibly important causes – the World Health Organisation and The Bail Project – if you are able, help us support them too at donate.ign.com. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Shin Imai is Deputy Chief Editor at IGN Japan, and Esra Krabbe is an editor there. Follow them on Twitter if your language skills are up to it!

Warhammer 40,000: Mechanicus Console Version Will Feature New Missions and More

Warhammer 40,000: Mechanicus will include new missions, bosses and characters when it's released for consoles on July 17. Revealed as part of today's IGN Expo event, Kasedo Games and Bulwark Studios revealed that the console editions will feature: "brand new, never-before-seen bosses and characters, some of which are available at the end of seven special hidden missions found in the new console edition." You can watch an exclusive developer presentation about the console version below: [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/06/12/warhammer-40k-mechanicus-exclusive-console-gameplay-and-developer-walkthrough"] The console release of the game will also include the Heretek DLC and the content available in the previously released Omnissiah edition, which bundles a DLC weapon, the digital soundtrack, an art book and a specially written short story. Released for PC in 2018, Warhammer 40,000: Mechanicus is a tactical RPG centred on the Imperium's most technologically advanced force, The Adeptus Mechanicus, as it attempts to wipe out threats from undiscovered Necrons, and heretics in its own ranks. There's much, much more to see from today's IGN Expo, and we're running the Summer of Gaming throughout June – here's the Summer of Gaming full schedule. All month, we're supporting some incredibly important causes – the World Health Organisation and The Bail Project – if you are able, help us support them too at donate.ign.com. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Joe Skrebels is IGN's Executive Editor of News. Follow him on Twitter.

Warhammer 40,000: Mechanicus Console Version Will Feature New Missions and More

Warhammer 40,000: Mechanicus will include new missions, bosses and characters when it's released for consoles on July 17. Revealed as part of today's IGN Expo event, Kasedo Games and Bulwark Studios revealed that the console editions will feature: "brand new, never-before-seen bosses and characters, some of which are available at the end of seven special hidden missions found in the new console edition." You can watch an exclusive developer presentation about the console version below: [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/06/12/warhammer-40k-mechanicus-exclusive-console-gameplay-and-developer-walkthrough"] The console release of the game will also include the Heretek DLC and the content available in the previously released Omnissiah edition, which bundles a DLC weapon, the digital soundtrack, an art book and a specially written short story. Released for PC in 2018, Warhammer 40,000: Mechanicus is a tactical RPG centred on the Imperium's most technologically advanced force, The Adeptus Mechanicus, as it attempts to wipe out threats from undiscovered Necrons, and heretics in its own ranks. There's much, much more to see from today's IGN Expo, and we're running the Summer of Gaming throughout June – here's the Summer of Gaming full schedule. All month, we're supporting some incredibly important causes – the World Health Organisation and The Bail Project – if you are able, help us support them too at donate.ign.com. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Joe Skrebels is IGN's Executive Editor of News. Follow him on Twitter.

HBO GO Is Getting Axed to Simplify HBO Max Transition

When WarnerMedia's new streaming service launched in the US back in May, our HBO Max review praised the "impressive library of beloved shows and movies." But there were also some glaring missteps in HBO Max's launch, including a lack of 4K HDR support, confusion over how to sign up for HBO Max and the difference between HBO Max, HBO Go, and HBO Now. If you're still confused about the last point, the streamer is attempting to make life a bit easier in the coming months. According to a WarnerMedia spokesperson, the HBO Go app will be removed on July 31, 2020, while the HBO Now app will be simply renamed "HBO." [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/05/30/hbo-max-streaming-service-review"] In an official statement from WarnerMedia, the company outlines why it's decided to make these changes:

"Now that HBO Max has launched and is widely distributed, we can implement some significant changes to our app offering in the U.S. As part of that plan, we will be sunsetting our HBO Go service in the U.S. We intend to remove the HBO Go app from primary platforms as of July 31, 2020. Most customers who have traditionally used HBO Go to stream HBO programming are now able to do so via HBO Max, which offers access to all of HBO together with so much more. Additionally, the HBO Now app and desktop experience will be rebranded to HBO. Existing HBO Now subscribers will have access to HBO through the rebranded HBO app on platforms where it remains available and through play.hbo.com. HBO Max provides not only the robust offering of HBO but also a vast WarnerMedia library and acquired content and originals through a modern product."

WarnerMedia did not give any update on the future availability of HBO Max on Roku or Amazon's Fire devices, since the company has still not made deals with those companies to allow them to integrate HBO Max into their existing offerings. For more on the streamer, here's why you can't watch HBO Max on a Roku or Amazon Fire Stick streaming device, our reviews of the best and worst HBO Max original shows, and a list of the major DC movies and TV shows missing from the HBO Max library. Watch the trailer for HBO Max's upcoming Doom Patrol Season 2 debut below: [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/06/11/doom-patrol-season-2-trailer"] [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=the-dark-knight-trilogy-and-more-dc-movies-and-series-missing-on-hbo-max&captions=true"] [poilib element="accentDivider"] David Griffin still watches DuckTales in his pajamas with a cereal bowl in hand. He's also the TV Editor for IGN. Say hi on Twitter.

HBO GO Is Getting Axed to Simplify HBO Max Transition

When WarnerMedia's new streaming service launched in the US back in May, our HBO Max review praised the "impressive library of beloved shows and movies." But there were also some glaring missteps in HBO Max's launch, including a lack of 4K HDR support, confusion over how to sign up for HBO Max and the difference between HBO Max, HBO Go, and HBO Now. If you're still confused about the last point, the streamer is attempting to make life a bit easier in the coming months. According to a WarnerMedia spokesperson, the HBO Go app will be removed on July 31, 2020, while the HBO Now app will be simply renamed "HBO." [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/05/30/hbo-max-streaming-service-review"] In an official statement from WarnerMedia, the company outlines why it's decided to make these changes:

"Now that HBO Max has launched and is widely distributed, we can implement some significant changes to our app offering in the U.S. As part of that plan, we will be sunsetting our HBO Go service in the U.S. We intend to remove the HBO Go app from primary platforms as of July 31, 2020. Most customers who have traditionally used HBO Go to stream HBO programming are now able to do so via HBO Max, which offers access to all of HBO together with so much more. Additionally, the HBO Now app and desktop experience will be rebranded to HBO. Existing HBO Now subscribers will have access to HBO through the rebranded HBO app on platforms where it remains available and through play.hbo.com. HBO Max provides not only the robust offering of HBO but also a vast WarnerMedia library and acquired content and originals through a modern product."

WarnerMedia did not give any update on the future availability of HBO Max on Roku or Amazon's Fire devices, since the company has still not made deals with those companies to allow them to integrate HBO Max into their existing offerings. For more on the streamer, here's why you can't watch HBO Max on a Roku or Amazon Fire Stick streaming device, our reviews of the best and worst HBO Max original shows, and a list of the major DC movies and TV shows missing from the HBO Max library. Watch the trailer for HBO Max's upcoming Doom Patrol Season 2 debut below: [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/06/11/doom-patrol-season-2-trailer"] [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=the-dark-knight-trilogy-and-more-dc-movies-and-series-missing-on-hbo-max&captions=true"] [poilib element="accentDivider"] David Griffin still watches DuckTales in his pajamas with a cereal bowl in hand. He's also the TV Editor for IGN. Say hi on Twitter.

CastleStorm 2 Gets July Release Date, Demo Out Today

CastleStorm 2 will be released on July 31 for Nintendo Switch, PS4, Xbox One and PC via Epic Games Store. A free Epic Games Store demo is available today, until June 30. Announced exclusively at today's IGN Expo, the game follow the original's mixture of tower defense, castle destruction and hack 'n' slash elements, but adds a new real-time and turn-based strategy element, built around conquering a kingdom. Check out a Monty Python-flavoured trailer below: [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/06/12/castlestorm-2-exclusive-launch-announcement-trailer"] Choosing from good and evil factions and taking over a procedurally generated map piece by piece, the game also features two story-driven campaigns set within its skewed, cartoony take on a medieval world at war. There's much, much more to see from today's IGN Expo, and we're running the Summer of Gaming throughout June – here's the Summer of Gaming full schedule. All month, we're supporting some incredibly important causes – the World Health Organisation and The Bail Project – if you are able, help us support them too at donate.ign.com. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=castlestorm-2-11-screenshots&captions=true"] [poilib element="accentDivider"] Joe Skrebels is IGN's Executive Editor of News. Follow him on Twitter.