Monthly Archives: December 2020

First Look at Godzilla vs. Kong Revealed

Warner Bros. revealed the first footage from and logo for Godzilla vs. Kong at CCXP Worlds on Saturday. The movie, directed by Blair Witch and You're Next helmer Adam Wingard, is the next chapter in Warner Bros. Pictures’ and Legendary Entertainment’s cinematic Monsterverse. The footage, a glimpse of which you can see in the tweet below, gives fans their first look at the return of the massive kaiju introduced in 2019's Godzilla: King of the Monsters and the giant ape from 2017's Kong: Skull Island. The brief footage shows Godzilla and Kong roaring, with the former swimming underwater and the latter with what appears to be the ocean behind him. Warner Bros. has also released a new logo for the film that you can see below: GvK-logoGodzilla vs. Kong is among Warner Bros.' 2021 movies that will be released the same day on HBO Max domestically and in theaters internationally. The film stars Alexander Skarsgård, Millie Bobby Brown, Rebecca Hall, Brian Tyree Henry, Shun Oguri, Eiza González, Jessica Henwick, Julian Dennison, with Kyle Chandler and Demián Bichir. The official plot synopsis for Godzilla vs. Kong follows: "In a time when monsters walk the Earth, humanity’s fight for its future sets Godzilla and Kong on a collision course that will see the two most powerful forces of nature on the planet collide in a spectacular battle for the ages. As Monarch embarks on a perilous mission into uncharted terrain and unearths clues to the Titans’ origins, a human conspiracy threatens to wipe the creatures, both good and bad, from the face of the earth forever." Godzilla vs. Kong is scheduled to open May 21, 2021. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=a-visual-history-of-godzilla&captions=true"]

First Look at Godzilla vs. Kong Revealed

Warner Bros. revealed the first footage from and logo for Godzilla vs. Kong at CCXP Worlds on Saturday. The movie, directed by Blair Witch and You're Next helmer Adam Wingard, is the next chapter in Warner Bros. Pictures’ and Legendary Entertainment’s cinematic Monsterverse. The footage, a glimpse of which you can see in the tweet below, gives fans their first look at the return of the massive kaiju introduced in 2019's Godzilla: King of the Monsters and the giant ape from 2017's Kong: Skull Island. The brief footage shows Godzilla and Kong roaring, with the former swimming underwater and the latter with what appears to be the ocean behind him. Warner Bros. has also released a new logo for the film that you can see below: GvK-logoGodzilla vs. Kong is among Warner Bros.' 2021 movies that will be released the same day on HBO Max domestically and in theaters internationally. The film stars Alexander Skarsgård, Millie Bobby Brown, Rebecca Hall, Brian Tyree Henry, Shun Oguri, Eiza González, Jessica Henwick, Julian Dennison, with Kyle Chandler and Demián Bichir. The official plot synopsis for Godzilla vs. Kong follows: "In a time when monsters walk the Earth, humanity’s fight for its future sets Godzilla and Kong on a collision course that will see the two most powerful forces of nature on the planet collide in a spectacular battle for the ages. As Monarch embarks on a perilous mission into uncharted terrain and unearths clues to the Titans’ origins, a human conspiracy threatens to wipe the creatures, both good and bad, from the face of the earth forever." Godzilla vs. Kong is scheduled to open May 21, 2021. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=a-visual-history-of-godzilla&captions=true"]

The Game Awards Will Have a Special Audio Descriptive Mode for the First Time

The Game Awards 2020 is set for December 10, 2020, and for the first time in its history it will offer a special audio descriptive mode for those who are blind or low vision. The Game Awards' Geoff Keighley took to Twitter to make the announcement, saying "I'm happy to confirm that #TheGameAwards will have a special audio descriptive mode livestream on @YouTubeGaming for the first time. Accessibility matters." For an idea of what this will be like, we can point you to the work Ubisoft has done for such games as Assassin's Creed Valhalla, Far Cry 6, and Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Breakpoint. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/07/01/the-last-of-us-part-2s-accessibility-features-bugsnax-interview-beyond-episode-653"] For audio descriptive videos, a narrator describes what is happening in particular scene, while also ensuring it doesn't interrupt the spoken dialogue happening in the trailer or gameplay. For more, you can check out our look at how you audio transcribe an entire video game to better understand the process that goes into making this important accessibility feature possible. The Game Awards will also feature a category of Innovation in Accessibility. The list includes The Last of Us Part 2, which we said set a new gold standard for accessibility earlier this year. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=the-best-reviewed-games-of-2020&captions=true"] The Game Awards will take place on December 10 at 4pm PT/7pm ET/12am GMT (December 11), with a 30-minute pre-show starting right before that. The Game Awards has already teased we will be getting a new look at Dragon Age 4 and that it will feature such presenters as Gal Gadot, Brie Larson, Reggie Fils-Aime, and Stephen A. Smith. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Have a tip for us? Want to discuss a possible story? Please send an email to newstips@ign.com. Adam Bankhurst is a news writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @AdamBankhurst and on Twitch.

The Game Awards Will Have a Special Audio Descriptive Mode for the First Time

The Game Awards 2020 is set for December 10, 2020, and for the first time in its history it will offer a special audio descriptive mode for those who are blind or low vision. The Game Awards' Geoff Keighley took to Twitter to make the announcement, saying "I'm happy to confirm that #TheGameAwards will have a special audio descriptive mode livestream on @YouTubeGaming for the first time. Accessibility matters." For an idea of what this will be like, we can point you to the work Ubisoft has done for such games as Assassin's Creed Valhalla, Far Cry 6, and Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Breakpoint. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/07/01/the-last-of-us-part-2s-accessibility-features-bugsnax-interview-beyond-episode-653"] For audio descriptive videos, a narrator describes what is happening in particular scene, while also ensuring it doesn't interrupt the spoken dialogue happening in the trailer or gameplay. For more, you can check out our look at how you audio transcribe an entire video game to better understand the process that goes into making this important accessibility feature possible. The Game Awards will also feature a category of Innovation in Accessibility. The list includes The Last of Us Part 2, which we said set a new gold standard for accessibility earlier this year. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=the-best-reviewed-games-of-2020&captions=true"] The Game Awards will take place on December 10 at 4pm PT/7pm ET/12am GMT (December 11), with a 30-minute pre-show starting right before that. The Game Awards has already teased we will be getting a new look at Dragon Age 4 and that it will feature such presenters as Gal Gadot, Brie Larson, Reggie Fils-Aime, and Stephen A. Smith. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Have a tip for us? Want to discuss a possible story? Please send an email to newstips@ign.com. Adam Bankhurst is a news writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @AdamBankhurst and on Twitch.

The Mandalorian: Chain Code Message from Episode 6 Has Been Translated

Warning: Spoilers for the sixth episode of The Mandalorian: Season 2 follow... [poilib element="accentDivider"] In the most recent episode of The Mandalorian, titled "The Tragedy," Pedro Pascal's Din Djarin found two new allies, in the form of Temuera Morrison's Boba Fett and Ming-Na Wen's Fennec Shand. After losing both Grogu (and the Razor Crest) to Imperial forces, Djarin is shown a bit of chain code from Boba Fett's armor. Fett shows Djarin the code to prove to Djarin that his father, Jango Fett, was a foundling, just like Djarin, who was worthy of his armor. That's not all that was listed in the code however and a Reddit user has translated the scattered remains to make out a few interesting names:

  • Foundling
  • Took Into
  • The Year The
  • Concord Dawn
  • Mentor Jast
  • Father Fett
  • Boba Fett

Concord Dawn is Jango Fett's home planet. After that is an intriguing morsel that, previously, was non-canon, from Star Wars Legends (aka the Expanded Universe). Mentor Jast most likely refers to Jango's adopted father, Jaster Mereel. Obviously, this inclusion of non-canon elements might be just an Easter egg for fans of the former Expanded Universe but it's still worth noting how the chain moves directly from Father Fett to Boba Fett, and that Boba Fett's origins are, basically, left out. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/12/05/the-mandalorian-season-2-how-this-iconic-character-is-finally-redeemed"] Is it because, being a clone of Jango who Jango treated as his own son, Boba Fett has no traditional planet of origin or it is because lengths were taken to conceal Boba Fett's clone status, and the fact that he comes from the aquatic planet Kamino and the cloning facilities there? Regardless, Jaster Mereel, who rescued an orphaned Jango Fett in the Jango Fett: Open Seasons comic series, now seems to be full canon. It's unlikely we'll see him on the series (unless it's a flashback) but The Mandalorian has now used Legends lore to confirm the Fett family as true Mandalorians. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=every-actor-and-character-in-the-mandalorian&captions=true"]

The Mandalorian: Chain Code Message from Episode 6 Has Been Translated

Warning: Spoilers for the sixth episode of The Mandalorian: Season 2 follow... [poilib element="accentDivider"] In the most recent episode of The Mandalorian, titled "The Tragedy," Pedro Pascal's Din Djarin found two new allies, in the form of Temuera Morrison's Boba Fett and Ming-Na Wen's Fennec Shand. After losing both Grogu (and the Razor Crest) to Imperial forces, Djarin is shown a bit of chain code from Boba Fett's armor. Fett shows Djarin the code to prove to Djarin that his father, Jango Fett, was a foundling, just like Djarin, who was worthy of his armor. That's not all that was listed in the code however and a Reddit user has translated the scattered remains to make out a few interesting names:

  • Foundling
  • Took Into
  • The Year The
  • Concord Dawn
  • Mentor Jast
  • Father Fett
  • Boba Fett

Concord Dawn is Jango Fett's home planet. After that is an intriguing morsel that, previously, was non-canon, from Star Wars Legends (aka the Expanded Universe). Mentor Jast most likely refers to Jango's adopted father, Jaster Mereel. Obviously, this inclusion of non-canon elements might be just an Easter egg for fans of the former Expanded Universe but it's still worth noting how the chain moves directly from Father Fett to Boba Fett, and that Boba Fett's origins are, basically, left out. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/12/05/the-mandalorian-season-2-how-this-iconic-character-is-finally-redeemed"] Is it because, being a clone of Jango who Jango treated as his own son, Boba Fett has no traditional planet of origin or it is because lengths were taken to conceal Boba Fett's clone status, and the fact that he comes from the aquatic planet Kamino and the cloning facilities there? You have to wonder if this will come up with all the Stormtrooper helmets being busted open on the show these days. Djarin may soon find out that every Imperial grunt looks like Boba Fett under the hood. Regardless, Jaster Mereel, who rescued an orphaned Jango Fett in the Jango Fett: Open Seasons comic series, now seems to be full canon. It's unlikely we'll see him on the series (unless it's a flashback) but The Mandalorian has now used Legends lore to confirm the Fett family as true Mandalorians. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=every-actor-and-character-in-the-mandalorian&captions=true"]

PS5 Shortages Addressed in Saturday Night Live’s Parody of Eminem’s Stan

Saturday Night Live and Eminem have parodied Eminem's Stan to comically address the PS5 shortages across the globe. Saturday Night Live's Pete Davidson starred in this parody as Stu, an obsessive fan who frequently writes to Santa Claus in hopes he can help him secure a PS5 for Christmas. As with the Stan, which was released in 2000 as the third single from Eminem's The Marshal Mathers LP, the song gets a bit dark as his quest for a PS5 continues to fail. Kate McKinnon appears as Dido, who was also featured in Stan, and Bowen Yang portrays Sir Elton John. Eminem and And John performed the song together at the 43rd Annual Grammy Awards. Eminem himself makes a cameo at the end of the skit, saying "that's crazy, a PS5? I didn't even ask for one. I guess Shady must have been a good boy this year. Sorry Stu, you f***** up." [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=the-best-ps5-games&captions=true"] While Sony has announced that the PS5 was its biggest console launch ever, demand for the latest console has also been "unprecedented." Sony promises more PS5 inventory will be coming to retailers before the end of the year, but it will most likely remain one of the most difficult items to get this holiday season. If you are still looking for a PS5 for yourself or a loved one, be sure to follow IGN Deals on Twitter and check out our guide that features the latest info on how and where to purchase a PS5. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Have a tip for us? Want to discuss a possible story? Please send an email to newstips@ign.com. Adam Bankhurst is a news writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @AdamBankhurst and on Twitch.

PS5 Shortages Addressed in Saturday Night Live’s Parody of Eminem’s Stan

Saturday Night Live and Eminem have parodied Eminem's Stan to comically address the PS5 shortages across the globe. Saturday Night Live's Pete Davidson starred in this parody as Stu, an obsessive fan who frequently writes to Santa Claus in hopes he can help him secure a PS5 for Christmas. As with the Stan, which was released in 2000 as the third single from Eminem's The Marshal Mathers LP, the song gets a bit dark as his quest for a PS5 continues to fail. Kate McKinnon appears as Dido, who was also featured in Stan, and Bowen Yang portrays Sir Elton John. Eminem and And John performed the song together at the 43rd Annual Grammy Awards. Eminem himself makes a cameo at the end of the skit, saying "that's crazy, a PS5? I didn't even ask for one. I guess Shady must have been a good boy this year. Sorry Stu, you f***** up." [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=the-best-ps5-games&captions=true"] While Sony has announced that the PS5 was its biggest console launch ever, demand for the latest console has also been "unprecedented." Sony promises more PS5 inventory will be coming to retailers before the end of the year, but it will most likely remain one of the most difficult items to get this holiday season. If you are still looking for a PS5 for yourself or a loved one, be sure to follow IGN Deals on Twitter and check out our guide that features the latest info on how and where to purchase a PS5. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Have a tip for us? Want to discuss a possible story? Please send an email to newstips@ign.com. Adam Bankhurst is a news writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @AdamBankhurst and on Twitch.

State of Decay 2’s Xbox Series X/S Optimizations Are Now Available

State of Decay 2's latest update brings optimizations for both the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S, including "lightning-quick load times, improved world and shadow detail, and a responsive 60 frames-per-second presentation at up to 4K resolution." Announced on Xbox Wire, this update also adds a new Lethal difficulty that developer Undead Labs has "tuned right to the edge of impossible." Open-world resources are much scarcer, enemies hit much harder, and the blood plague is even deadlier. Plague hearts are also growing everywhere, and destroying one no longer offer safety from other nearby zombie hordes. Additionally, the special "freak" zombies have been swapped for their blood plague variants. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2018/05/17/state-of-decay-2-review"] Lethal Difficulty also brings with it new achievements for a total of 100 Gamerscore, and aspects of this new difficulty can be mixed and matched with Custom Difficulty so players can create their perfect apocalyptic scenario. State of Decay 2 will also get the Stay Frosty Pack which adds over a dozen winter-themed items that can be earned through in-game challenges or discovered in the open world. This pack includes winter-camouflage weapons and outfits and the ability to use the new Maintenance Bench facility mod to minimize weapon breakage while in the field. The Stay Frosty Pack, like all State of Decay 2 bounty packs, is available free of charge but is only available for a limited time. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=the-best-xbox-one-games-fall-2020-update&captions=true"] State of Decay 2's Xbox Series X/S optimizations join other first-party Microsoft games that take advantage of the next-gen systems like Gears 5, Halo: The Master Chief Collection, and Sea of Thieves. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Have a tip for us? Want to discuss a possible story? Please send an email to newstips@ign.com. Adam Bankhurst is a news writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @AdamBankhurst and on Twitch.

State of Decay 2’s Xbox Series X/S Optimizations Are Now Available

State of Decay 2's latest update brings optimizations for both the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S, including "lightning-quick load times, improved world and shadow detail, and a responsive 60 frames-per-second presentation at up to 4K resolution." Announced on Xbox Wire, this update also adds a new Lethal difficulty that developer Undead Labs has "tuned right to the edge of impossible." Open-world resources are much scarcer, enemies hit much harder, and the blood plague is even deadlier. Plague hearts are also growing everywhere, and destroying one no longer offer safety from other nearby zombie hordes. Additionally, the special "freak" zombies have been swapped for their blood plague variants. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2018/05/17/state-of-decay-2-review"] Lethal Difficulty also brings with it new achievements for a total of 100 Gamerscore, and aspects of this new difficulty can be mixed and matched with Custom Difficulty so players can create their perfect apocalyptic scenario. State of Decay 2 will also get the Stay Frosty Pack which adds over a dozen winter-themed items that can be earned through in-game challenges or discovered in the open world. This pack includes winter-camouflage weapons and outfits and the ability to use the new Maintenance Bench facility mod to minimize weapon breakage while in the field. The Stay Frosty Pack, like all State of Decay 2 bounty packs, is available free of charge but is only available for a limited time. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=the-best-xbox-one-games-fall-2020-update&captions=true"] State of Decay 2's Xbox Series X/S optimizations join other first-party Microsoft games that take advantage of the next-gen systems like Gears 5, Halo: The Master Chief Collection, and Sea of Thieves. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Have a tip for us? Want to discuss a possible story? Please send an email to newstips@ign.com. Adam Bankhurst is a news writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @AdamBankhurst and on Twitch.