Monthly Archives: June 2020
Deathloop: New Concept Art Shows Characters, Weapons and Locations
Deathloop got a first gameplay trailer yesterday, and developer Arkane has now released a glut of concept art for the game, featuring characters, weapons and locations from the action-packed immersive sim.
To celebrate its 20th birthday, Arkane previously released a free digital artbook (which you can grab by signing up to its Outsiders fan community). Today, Arkane added a number of Deathloop concept images to that artbook. You can see them all below:
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Aside from new posters of warring lead characters Colt and Julianna, the images give us a look at multiple areas of Blackreef Island, where both are locked in a violence-filled time loop.
We also get a look at the game's '60s dystopian aesthetic, from its architecture, to its spiffy weponry, and even its musical instruments. We also see to get a name for the inhabitants of Blackreef, whose never-ending party revolves around killing Colt over and over again - the Eternalists.
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We got our first real details on Deathloop at the PS5 reveal event - most notably that the game's single-player campaign will see you play as Colt, hunting for a way to break out of the loop, but a multiplayer mode will allow you to take on the role of Julianna and invade other players' games.
The game is a timed exclusive on PS5, and will also be released on PC.
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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.
Star Wars: Squadrons Leaks on Xbox Store Website
Update:
EA has confirmed Star Wars Squadrons will get its first reveal trailer on Monday, June 15 at 8 am PT/11 am ET.
The leaked art for Star Wars: Squadrons shows both an imperial Tie-Fighter pilot and Rebel Pilot, and the two sides engaging in combat.
If this is the rumored Project Maverick that would mean this is one of EA Motive's rumored Star Wars projects. Motive's previous Star Wars experience includes developing the single-player campaign for Star Wars: Battlefront 2.
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EA is set to host its own digital EA Play next week on June 18, which could be an opportunity to fully reveal Star Wars: Squadrons.
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Matt Kim is a reporter for IGN.
[poilib element="accentDivider"] A new Star Wars game titled Star Wars: Squadrons leaked online this morning thanks to an early listing on Microsoft's Xbox website. The new game appears to be a new starfighter game possibly related to the Rogue Squadron series. The store listing featured the tag, "Pilots wanted" further suggesting that Star Wars: Squadrons is a pilot game. Reports say that this is the mysterious Star Wars: Project Maverick that leaked on PSN earlier this year.Pilots Wanted. Tune in for the reveal trailer of #StarWarsSquadrons this Monday, June 15th at 8:00 AM Pacific Time: https://t.co/ULwkIhQy2y pic.twitter.com/L0Z3jC2c3j
— EA Star Wars (@EAStarWars) June 12, 2020
The leaked art for Star Wars: Squadrons shows both an imperial Tie-Fighter pilot and Rebel Pilot, and the two sides engaging in combat.
If this is the rumored Project Maverick that would mean this is one of EA Motive's rumored Star Wars projects. Motive's previous Star Wars experience includes developing the single-player campaign for Star Wars: Battlefront 2.
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EA is set to host its own digital EA Play next week on June 18, which could be an opportunity to fully reveal Star Wars: Squadrons.
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Matt Kim is a reporter for IGN.Spider-Man: Miles Morales Isn’t a Sequel, But a Smaller Standalone Game [Updated]
Update: Insomniac has confirmed that Spider-Man: Miles Morales will be a standalone game. Speaking to Bloomberg News, a developer source clarified that it would not be full sequel, but comparable in scope to other 'expandalones' such as Uncharted: The Lost Legacy.
This update originally stated a Sony spokesperson told Bloomberg that the game would be a smaller standalone. That was incorrect, and we apologise for the error. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Marvel's Spider-man: Miles Morales was taken by many to be a full sequel to Insomniac's first Spider-man game, but it is in fact "an expansion and an enhancement to the previous game." Speaking to The Telegraph (and spotted by VGC), Sony's VP head of European Business, Simon Rutter explained: "I guess you could call it an expansion and an enhancement to the previous game. There’s a substantial Miles Morales component – which is the expansion element – but also within the game as well there’s been major enhancements to the game and the game engine, obviously deploying some of the major PlayStation 5 technology and features.” [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/06/11/spider-man-miles-morales-announcement-trailer-ps5-event"] It remains a little unclear exactly what form this expansion will take. Rutter's language makes it sound as though Marvel's Spider-Man could receive a full remaster on PS5 (as hinted at in early showings of the console to press), with a major new component starring Miles Morales. However, it may be that this is a standalone expansion that builds on the mechanics and engine of the original, in the vein of Uncharted: Lost Legacy or Infamous: First Light. It's also unclear whether this means the Miles Morales content will come to PS4. We've contacted Sony for comment. Spider-Man: Miles Morales was announced at yesterday's PS5 reveal event, which revealed a swathe of next-gen games, not to mention the unconventional design of the PlayStation 5, and its newly-revealed digital edition. Miles Morales was one of two new projects announced by Insomniac yesterday - we also saw Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart revealed. [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.NEWS: Spider-Man Miles Morales is *not* an expansion or enhancement or remaster, despite a Sony executive's comments this morning, a source tells Bloomberg News. Nor is it Spider-Man 2. It is a brand-new, standalone game similar in scope to Uncharted Lost Legacy.
— Jason Schreier (@jasonschreier) June 12, 2020
PS5: Sony Boss Explains the Console’s Design
PlayStation 5's unconventional design was created to look good as part of a living area in a home, says Sony Interactive Entertainment president, Jim Ryan.
The curved, two-tone look of the console has become a point of debate since the PS5 design reveal yesterday. Speaking to the BBC, Ryan said: "The PlayStation sits in the living area of most homes, and we kind of felt it would be nice to provide a design that would really grace most living areas. That's what we've tried to do. And, you know, we think we've been successful in that."
The idea, seemingly, is to create a console that looks as much like furniture, or an ornament as it does a piece of standard consumer electronics. Speaking separately to CNET, Ryan said that the design was purposely "bold and daring", and that the company wanted something forward facing and future facing, something for the 2020s." He also made clear that the white-and-black console is its launch design, seemingly ruling out other colour choices.
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Ryan reconfirmed to the BBC that the only physical difference between the 'regular' PS5 and the new Digital Edition is the lack of a disc drive, and reiterated that there would be no news on a price for the console (or if there would be a difference in price bwteen the two models).
He did, however, make clear that the two different models were designed as a way to offer better choice for buyers: "Many of our consumers are purchasing solely digitally these days. We thought that we would do what we typically try and do, and just offer choice."
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The PS5 console reveal was shown off alongside a suite of new accessories designed to complement the base unit. And, of course, we got our first look at over two dozen PS5 games during the show.
The hosts of our PS5 podcast, Beyond! were wowed by the presentation.
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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.
Gods and Monsters Gameplay Leaks Due To Google Stadia Bug
An in-development build of Ubisoft's Gods & Monsters seemingly leaked on to Google Stadia last night, with players posting a series of gameplay clips to Reddit.
We were first brought to this leak's attention by user TheMoonsaults, who posted a clip of Gods and Monsters gameplay to the Google Stadia subreddit. It looks like the game appeared under the codename Orpheus for a limited time on the Google Stadia app, before quickly being taken down.
This didn't stop some fortunate players from playing and capturing footage first, some of which you can check out in the embedded tweet below. Of course, bear in mind that this early build clearly was never meant to be shown to the public - a lot of the footage features placeholder assets, and its menus look grafted wholesale from Ubisoft's other Grecian open-world game, Assassin's Creed Odyssey.
The game appears to feature a stamina bar for climbing which is very similar to the one used in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. We can also hear legendary poet Homer narrating the experience in this clip, describing a character called Fenyx who could be the protagonist of Gods and Monsters. One of the contracts shown in this clip is offering a reward for taking on The Erinyes, deities of vengeance from Greek myth. We also get a glimpse at a placeholder for Hermes, who talks about bringing other gods to the 'Hall Of the Gods' where many of these clips are set. Previously, we had only seen a cinematic trailer for Gods and Monsters, though this could change quickly as we approach the Ubisoft Forward conference, which is set to air on July 12th. In other Ubisoft news, the studio has confirmed that it plans to release five AAA games between Late 2021 and early 2021. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Jordan Oloman is a freelance writer for IGN. Follow him on Twitter.Gods and Monsters gameplay footage leaked through #GoogleStadia pic.twitter.com/VXG8igc1uV
— Ayofamz_21 (@ayofamz) June 11, 2020
Gods and Monsters Gameplay Leaks Due To Google Stadia Bug
An in-development build of Ubisoft's Gods & Monsters seemingly leaked on to Google Stadia last night, with players posting a series of gameplay clips to Reddit.
We were first brought to this leak's attention by user TheMoonsaults, who posted a clip of Gods and Monsters gameplay to the Google Stadia subreddit. It looks like the game appeared under the codename Orpheus for a limited time on the Google Stadia app, before quickly being taken down.
This didn't stop some fortunate players from playing and capturing footage first, some of which you can check out in the embedded tweet below. Of course, bear in mind that this early build clearly was never meant to be shown to the public - a lot of the footage features placeholder assets, and its menus look grafted wholesale from Ubisoft's other Grecian open-world game, Assassin's Creed Odyssey.
The game appears to feature a stamina bar for climbing which is very similar to the one used in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. We can also hear legendary poet Homer narrating the experience in this clip, describing a character called Fenyx who could be the protagonist of Gods and Monsters. One of the contracts shown in this clip is offering a reward for taking on The Erinyes, deities of vengeance from Greek myth. We also get a glimpse at a placeholder for Hermes, who talks about bringing other gods to the 'Hall Of the Gods' where many of these clips are set. Previously, we had only seen a cinematic trailer for Gods and Monsters, though this could change quickly as we approach the Ubisoft Forward conference, which is set to air on July 12th. In other Ubisoft news, the studio has confirmed that it plans to release five AAA games between Late 2021 and early 2021. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Jordan Oloman is a freelance writer for IGN. Follow him on Twitter.Gods and Monsters gameplay footage leaked through #GoogleStadia pic.twitter.com/VXG8igc1uV
— Ayofamz_21 (@ayofamz) June 11, 2020
Spider-Man: Miles Morales Isn’t a Sequel, It’s an Expansion
Marvel's Spider-man: Miles Morales was taken by many to be a full sequel to Insomniac's first Spider-man game, but it is in fact "an expansion and an enhancement to the previous game."
Speaking to The Telegraph (and spotted by VGC), Sony's VP head of European Business, Simon Rutter explained: "I guess you could call it an expansion and an enhancement to the previous game. There’s a substantial Miles Morales component – which is the expansion element – but also within the game as well there’s been major enhancements to the game and the game engine, obviously deploying some of the major PlayStation 5 technology and features.”
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/06/12/ps5-games-reveal-event-wowed-us-beyond-episode-649"]
It remains a little unclear exactly what form this expansion will take. Rutter's language makes it sound as though Marvel's Spider-Man could receive a full remaster on PS5 (as hinted at in early showings of the console to press), with a major new component starring Miles Morales. However, it may be that this is a standalone expansion that builds on the mechanics and engine of the original, in the vein of Uncharted: Lost Legacy or Infamous: First Light.
It's also unclear whether this means the Miles Morales content will come to PS4. We've contacted Sony for comment.
Spider-Man: Miles Morales was announced at yesterday's PS5 reveal event, which revealed a swathe of next-gen games, not to mention the unconventional design of the PlayStation 5, and its newly-revealed digital edition. Miles Morales was one of two new projects announced by Insomniac yesterday - we also saw Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart revealed.
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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.
Riot Games Fires Executive Who Blamed George Floyd For His Own Death [Update]
Update:
Riot Games has told IGN that it has parted ways with Ron Johnson, the executive who posted a Facebook message that placed blame on George Floyd for his own death.
In a statement, the League of Legends developer confirmed that "Ron Johnson is no longer employed at Riot Games." The company also reiterated its support for the Black community and highlighted the initiatives it announced to help Black and marginalized game developers. Read Riot's full statement below:
In a statement to Vice, Riot games says, “We’ve been made aware of the social media post and have launched an investigation. We’ll say firmly that the sentiment in that image is abhorrent, against our values, and directly counter to our belief that addressing systemic racism requires immediate social change, which we detailed in the commitments we made Friday. While we don’t discuss the details of our investigations or their outcomes, we’re following our disciplinary process closely and have placed him on leave pending its conclusion.”
Riot Games announced that following the nationwide protests after the death of George Floyd, that it would commit $1 million in initial contributions to The Innocence Project and the ACLU. The company also announced it would contribute $10 million towards investing in startup programs for black and underrepresented game developers. Riot previously came under fire after a report chronicled a culture of sexism that let to a $10 million gender discrimination settlement in 2019.
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Matt Kim is a reporter for IGN.
“Ron Johnson is no longer employed at Riot Games. The sentiment expressed in the image in question is abhorrent and runs directly counter to our values and our belief that addressing systemic racism requires immediate societal change, something that we’re committed to working toward. As we shared last week, Riot is taking thoughtful and deliberate action to help combat racism and injustice in the communities where we work and live. To start, we’re committing $1 million to areas where we know we can make an impact, including justice reform, long-term solutions to address racial bias, and support for local Black-owned businesses. We’re also striving to change the face of our industry and create opportunities, including by investing $10 million in founders underrepresented in the games industry and helping create a future pipeline of underrepresented talent for the gaming and tech world. We know there is much work to be done, and we vow to do our part.”[poilib element="accentDivider"] Riot Games has announced it is investigating an executive at the company who published a Facebook post that appears to have placed blame on George Floyd for his own death. Ron Johnson, the Global Head of Consumer Products at Riot Games, shared a post on their personal Facebook account about George Floyd which said that “The media and the left have made George Floyd into a martyr. But who was he really?” The post then lists Floyd’s criminal record. Johnson added, “This is no reason to condone his killing by the officer at all, which still needs to be investigated as a potential crime. It is a learning opportunity for people (and your kids) to teach that this type of criminal lifestyle never results in good things happening to you or those around you.”
In a statement to Vice, Riot games says, “We’ve been made aware of the social media post and have launched an investigation. We’ll say firmly that the sentiment in that image is abhorrent, against our values, and directly counter to our belief that addressing systemic racism requires immediate social change, which we detailed in the commitments we made Friday. While we don’t discuss the details of our investigations or their outcomes, we’re following our disciplinary process closely and have placed him on leave pending its conclusion.”
Riot Games announced that following the nationwide protests after the death of George Floyd, that it would commit $1 million in initial contributions to The Innocence Project and the ACLU. The company also announced it would contribute $10 million towards investing in startup programs for black and underrepresented game developers. Riot previously came under fire after a report chronicled a culture of sexism that let to a $10 million gender discrimination settlement in 2019.
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Matt Kim is a reporter for IGN.The Last Of Us Part 2 Review (No Spoilers)
Editor's note: Due to embargo restrictions around spoilers, parts of this review are intentionally vague. We've done our best to explain certain parts of the game and our critique without discussing any story spoilers; however, if you want to understand the full context of some of our analysis here, we'll have another review up when The Last of Us Part II is officially out that discusses the story in greater detail and further explains our thoughts. This review will have the same score and will just serve as a deeper, more detailed analysis for those who want to read more.
At the beginning of The Last of Us Part II, you get a glimpse of Ellie's life in idyllic Jackson, Wyoming. If it weren't for the walls surrounding the town, you could almost forget that the world is crawling with infectious monsters that would kill everyone in sight; its main road, blanketed in snow, is a charming row of old buildings with decks for sidewalks, more Old West town than post-apocalypse settlement. Its residents grow food, care for horses, tend bars, and even have dances and movie nights. Four years after Joel saved (kidnapped?) Ellie from the Firefly hospital, this is the life he wanted for her.
The Last of Us Part II grapples with Joel's decision not through Joel, but through Ellie. This life is clearly not enough for her; she's distant and brooding, obviously conflicted about something. She's changed a lot. And when everything falls apart and she sets out in search of vengeance, you see her pain in its rawest, most brutal form. It's a devastating, gruesome story of revenge in which the purpose of violence gets muddied by its intensity. But as a character study, The Last of Us Part II is beautiful and haunting, and I found myself completely overwhelmed by the emotional weight of it.
Continue Reading at GameSpotThe Last Of Us Part II Review (Spoiler-Free)
Editor's note: Due to embargo restrictions around spoilers, parts of this review are intentionally vague. We've done our best to explain certain parts of the game and our critique without discussing any story spoilers; however, if you want to understand the full context of some of our analysis here, we'll have another review up when The Last of Us Part II is officially out that discusses the story in greater detail and further explains our thoughts. This review will have the same score and will just serve as a deeper, more detailed analysis for those who want to read more.
At the beginning of The Last of Us Part II, you get a glimpse of Ellie's life in idyllic Jackson, Wyoming. If it weren't for the walls surrounding the town, you could almost forget that the world is crawling with infectious monsters that would kill everyone in sight; its main road, blanketed in snow, is a charming row of old buildings with decks for sidewalks, more Old West town than post-apocalypse settlement. Its residents grow food, care for horses, tend bars, and even have dances and movie nights. Four years after Joel saved (kidnapped?) Ellie from the Firefly hospital, this is the life he wanted for her.
The Last of Us Part II grapples with Joel's decision not through Joel, but through Ellie. This life is clearly not enough for her; she's distant and brooding, obviously conflicted about something. She's changed a lot. And when everything falls apart and she sets out in search of vengeance, you see her pain in its rawest, most brutal form. It's a devastating, gruesome story of revenge in which the purpose of violence gets muddied by its intensity. But as a character study, The Last of Us Part II is beautiful and haunting, and I found myself completely overwhelmed by the emotional weight of it.
Continue Reading at GameSpot