Sony has announced a Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart State of Play broadcast for this Thursday, April 29. Insomniac has also revealed the name of the game's mysterious new female Lombax protagonist – Rivet. The State of Play broadcast will include 15 minutes of new gameplay from the upcoming PS5 exclusive, and begin at 2pm Pacific / 5pm Eastern / 10pm UK (that's April 30 at 7am AEST). We also got a short new cinematic/gameplay trailer to tide us over until Thursday: [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2021/04/26/ratchet-clank-rift-apart-gameplay-trailer"] That trailer properly introduces us to Rivet, the female Lombax teased in previous clips of the game. Insomniac describes Rivet as "a Lombax resistance fighter from another dimension, where organic life is hunted by the evil Emperor Nefarious." It seems we'll be controlling both Ratchet and Rivet in the new dimension as they aim to take down Nefarious (with Clank seemingly joining Rivet for portions of the game). The trailer also shows off the new Nefarious City location, as well as "alternate-dimension twists" on existing Ratchet & Clank locations Sargasso and Torren IV. Sony also showed off more of the contents of the digital deluxe edition of Rift Apart, including five cosmetics that can seemingly be applied to Ratchet or Rivet and shown off in the game's photo mode. The suits are: Android Armor, Rebel Armor, Imperial Armor, Hacker Armor, and Scavenger Armor (images below). If you want to pre-order, we've got a Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart pre-order guide for you. [caption id="attachment_2505183" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart's digital deluce edition bonuses (Source: Sony).[/caption] On top of all that, Insomniac also announced that Mark Mothersbaugh – lead singer of Devo and composer for Thor: Ragnarok, The LEGO Movie, and multiple games (including the Crash Bandicoot and Jak & Daxter series) – has composed the score for Rift Apart. Sony's released snippets of three tracks from the game on its Soundcloud page – click through to listen to 'Rift Apart', 'Ride Through the Omniverse', and 'Ode to Nefarious'. Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart will be released on June 11, and marks one of the early truly PS5-exclusive games. If you're looking for a truly next-gen game to play for that, Returnal arrives this week, and our final preview says it's "still very much a Housemarque game at its core, and that’s what has me wanting to play and indeed die, again and again." They should mark the start of a generation which Sony bos Jim Ryan says will see more PlayStation exclusives than ever before. [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.

When The World Ends With You launched on the Nintendo DS in 2007, I was 16 -- only a year older than the game's main protagonist, Neku. And while the real-world Shibuya that was so lovingly modeled in the game was half a world away from me, the stylish cast, themes of growing up and overcoming one's own prejudices and inhibitions, and absolute bop of a soundtrack gripped me utterly. I remember posting on forum threads back in the day speculating as to whether a sequel would be announced at an upcoming E3. And then again the following year. And the year after that. In reality, it took 14 years -- punctuated by mobile and Switch ports -- for The World Ends With You to earn a sequel, NEO: The World Ends With You. I'm now probably closer in age to the enigmatic barista Mr. H than I am to Neku and his friends. And, over the course of this long, long wait I was far from alone in rampant speculation and thirst for a new entry. So, given the positive critical response and commercial success of the original -- not to mention enthusiasm for the ports and fan demand for a sequel -- what took so long? According to NEO's producer, Tomohiko Hirano, plans have been in place for some time (we’ve seen teases of a character we now know to be Tsugumi Matsunae since 2012), and fan reception spurred things along. Ultimately, though, the long wait stemmed from the team needing multiple pieces to fall into place to make their vision come to life. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2021/04/09/neo-the-world-ends-with-you-release-date-announcement-trailer"] "With the original version of the game, from the very beginning we’ve had a lot of fans that have been asking for a sequel to come along," Hirano says in an interview with IGN. "But with the content of the game, it's a little out there. It's a little different from your usual game and with that, we needed to secure an environment where we could really focus on the development of this team. Up until now we really weren't able to secure that kind of environment, but now that we have been able to do so we've been able to proceed." I ask what he means by "securing an environment," and Hirano specifies that the team wanted to create "something totally new" rather than simply do what they had done with The World Ends With You and attach a different plot. And in the interim, new platforms came out, changing the systems and tools they had to work with. Here, series director Tatsuya Kando interjects with a succinct addendum: "We were also busy handling Kingdom Hearts, so we didn't really have time to allocate to this series previously." In the span of those 14 years, Nintendo hardware has moved from a tiny dual-screen handheld with a touchscreen to a device that, while portable and with a number of interesting optional control schemes (thanks Joy-Cons) ultimately defaults to functioning as a regular ol' console with a no-nonsense controller attached. That means that the vast majority of games released on it need to function that way too, including NEO. That's great news for PS4 and PC owners, as it frees the sequel from necessary platform exclusivity. But gone are the days of The World Ends With You's divisive, challenging, and (to me) delightful multitasking touch controls and button patterns across two screens simultaneously. A new battle system had to be devised. Game director Hiroyuki Itou says that the shift was indeed a roadblock for the team, but playing around with the battle scheme fits in with the team's desire to make something completely new. The new battle system he describes to me does seem to echo one critical element of the original game that played out across all platforms it was released for: NEO’s combat is all focused around the main party members' teamwork. Itou says developing the smartphone version of The World Ends With You inspired the route the developers ended up taking. [poilib element="quoteBox" parameters="excerpt=We%20were%20also%20busy%20handling%20Kingdom%20Hearts%2C%20so%20we%20didn't%20really%20have%20time%20to%20allocate%20to%20this%20series%20previously."] "When you look at other titles, when you're playing as a party with multiple members in there, it's usually turn-based where you're switching between characters to control them," Itou describes. "This time around, we implemented a system where you'll be able to control all of your characters simultaneously using the various buttons on the controller." The system he describes brings back The World Ends With You's system of Pins for different attacks, but this time instead of equipping a full set on one character and using different motions on a touch screen to activate each power, you equip Pins to your different party members, which are then assigned to different controller buttons. So in battle, you'll control your entire party at once via their respective Pin buttons, with party members acting out distinct commands like fire or sword attacks simultaneously. Aside from the battle system, another major change Itou describes is to the overworld. In The World Ends With You, progression around Shibuya was tied to progression of the main story, with areas blocked by Reapers who were either impassable or required battles or simple story puzzles to move forward. Though the Reapers' Game remains the focus of the main story, progression and discovery will be more connected to new kinds of puzzles taking place around Shibuya and the surrounding area, encompassing both the main story and sidequests. Itou doesn't elaborate on what these puzzles are just yet, but describes them as distinctly different from what players found in the first game. Speaking of the first game, no worries if you didn't play it -- Itou reassures me that players new to the series can step in comfortably to NEO, even though we've already seen a healthy pile of cameos from returning characters, from the first game's protagonist Neku to former villains Kariya and the math-obsessed Minamimoto. Itou adds that there will be plenty of nods to the first game for those familiar as well. [poilib element="quoteBox" parameters="excerpt=%22We're%20hoping%20we'll%20see%20more%20demand%20from%20the%20players%2C%20which%20would%20serve%20as%20an%20opportunity%20for%20us%20to%20expand%20more%20on%20the%20franchise.%22"] Perhaps most interesting of all for returning players will be to see how the fictional Shibuya has transformed over the course of 14 years. Much of The World Ends With You was modeled directly after actual places in Shibuya City, a major commercial area within Tokyo popular for its youth culture, fashion, and shopping. Hirano tells me he believes that the game's earnest attempt at an accurate recreation of the area, encompassing its food, music, fashion, and culture, was a major factor in what made The World Ends With You so appealing to Western audiences, even resulting in tourists who had never been to Shibuya before traveling to the area, DS systems in hand, to compare TWEWY’s Shibuya with the real one. NEO The World Ends With You will follow this same philosophy of accuracy, Kando adds, while also seeing a "big expansion" to the map fans are familiar with, incorporating nearby Harajuku as well. But the real-world Shibuya hasn't been a static place in those intervening years, and Kando tells me NEO will reflect many of the changes it has experienced over that time. One example he offers is Miyashita Park, which in The World Ends With You is a relatively uneventful area featuring little more than an underpass. In the real world, Miyashita Park has historically been a public park situated in a rare green space in Shibuya. But in 2017, the city kicked off a remodeling project, transforming Miyashita Park into a huge outdoor shopping mall complete with a rooftop park. Kando tells me this transformation will be reflected in the game. It's hard not to harp a bit on the 14-year gap between games in what is now a The World Ends With You series -- after all, most unique experiences don't go that long and then suddenly get a sequel after years of fan requests. But The World Ends With You is coming out of Square Enix, a developer and publisher known for some of the most popular and long-running RPG and RPG-adjacent franchises out there, Final Fantasy and Kingdom Hearts in particular. I ask the team if the hope is that The World Ends With You can eventually become a series like those, especially now that its universe is expanding not only with a sequel, but with an anime adaptation as well. "Yes, that is what we're aspiring for," Hirano responds. "But of course, as mentioned earlier, there was that big gap since the first title came out. So with the new title that's coming out, and also the anniversary version of the game going live, we're hoping we'll see more demand from the players, which would serve as an opportunity for us to expand more on the franchise." I tell him that I hope that comes true, but also that there isn't quite as big a gap between NEO and whatever comes next. The entire team laughs. "That's what we're hoping for as well," Hirano replies. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Rebekah Valentine is a news reporter for IGN. You can find her on Twitter @duckvalentine.

Call of Duty: Warzone got a new(ish) map last week, but many of its players are calling for the return of one of the battle royale's oldest features – the original Gulag. The Gulag Showers map was Warzone's original 1v1 map (used to give players a second chance to return to a round after being killed), and there's now a growing movement of players asking for it to be reinstated. On Reddit, multiple popular posts have popped up the r/Warzone and r/CODWarzone communities in the last few days, reminiscing about the Showers map, and garnering hundreds of comments asking for it to be brought back to the game. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/call-of-duty-black-ops-cold-war-and-warzone-season-three-gameplay-trailer"] Those posts have spawned a lot of discussion around what people miss about the Showers map. Mash1003 wrote, "Best thing about it was that it was symmetrical, no matter which side you spawned on it was the same. [...] Original gulag was fair." iNOyThCagedBirdSings agreed: "The slight changes between multiple gulags while maintaining equal footing for both spawns and simple layouts? God I miss it." Others prefer the more in-universe approach of the Showers map: "It’s not even a gulag anymore it’s just a multiplayer map 1v1," wrote kmac868. "Make it a GULAG again if you’re going to call it a gulag." Many of the requests for Showers to return have emerged in the days since the new Verdansk '84 map was released and, with it, a brand new Gulag layout, based on Black Ops 2's Standoff map – it's also the first Gulag map to come with multiple floors. It's been a controversial addition. "It’s horrible, wrote Tortfeasor55. "It’s a maze made for campers. Half of my gulags we can’t even find each other." Many have pointed to how dark the new Gulag map is, which is causing some players particular trouble. Vyduh wrote: "It’s really hard to see people with colorblind mode on, am losing 99% of my gulags." [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/call-of-duty-warzone-7-minutes-of-verdansk-84-gameplay-with-commentary"] By far the most common complaint, however, seems to be the increasingly complex layouts in a mode designed for a quick one-on-one that could see you returned to the main game – as warofthechosen puts it, "I'm [tired] of these over complicated gulags." Of course, any addition to a competitive game – which could make otherwise seasoned players struggle to find their footing initially – will come with a certain amount of unease. Other players have relished the more complex tactics a 'busier' map offers. "New gulag is by far the best," wrote TragicMeerkat, "different elevations and in an L shape 3 routes to take on ground level or go up and over through the house. More choices more chances to win I have won and lost so many different ways." [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2021/04/22/call-of-duty-warzone-verdansk-84-trailer"] Some have called for a Gulag map rotation, to allow for new ideas alongside the established maps. "They should randomly cycle each of the 3 gulags every time you're in there," wrote ColtsNetsSharks. Some would prefer a more ambitious approach to the recent uses of existing Call of Duty maps as Gulags, with aizok suggesting, "Honestly i like current gulags but i wish they would rotate between games like have small parts of every fan fave [multiplayer] map and put them in." No matter the fan response, it seems unlikely right now that the original Gulag map will return, after associate creative director Amos Hodge said the original Verdansk map will never be used again in Warzone. Gulag Showers could well be seen as a part of that original map set-up and, with Raven seemingly prioritising new ideas, Showers might be deemed surplus to requirements too. [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.

Oculus Studios and Apex Legends creator Respawn won an Oscar during the 2021 Academy Awards, after co-producing a short documentary included in Medal of Honor: Above and Beyond. The World War II documentary Colette won the Best Documentary (Short Subject) award at the 93rd Oscars. Colette was directed by Anthony Giacchino and co-produced by Oculus Studios and Respawn Entertainment, with the film released as part of the Gallery mode of Respawn’s 2020 virtual reality title Medal of Honor: Above and Beyond. Respawn addressed the news on Twitter, with the company saying it was “humbled and honored” by the win. If you don’t own a virtual reality headset or Above and Beyond, you can watch it for free on The Guardian’s website after the newspaper helped distribute the film more widely. It's the first Oscar for Respawn, Oculus, or The Guardian.

We're over the moon about Colette's Best Documentary (Short Subject) #Oscars win tonight! From Vince, Peter, and all of us at Respawn, we are humbled and honored. Thank you.

And if you haven't seen the film, you can watch it for free here: https://t.co/CxwNGWMOXv — Respawn (@Respawn) April 26, 2021

Colette tells the story of Colette Marin-Catherine, a former member of the French Resistance, who returns (with history student Lucie Fouble) to Germany for the first time since World War 2, including visiting the Mittelbau-Dora concentration camp where her brother was murdered. Colette herself turned 92 on the day the documentary won its Oscar. In his acceptance speech, Anthony Giacchino said “I would just like to thank, of course, Colette and Lucie. I want to thank our amazing E.P., Peter Hirschmann, at Electronic Arts, everyone at Electronic Arts and Respawn, and Oculus." You can check out our review of Medal of Honor: Above and Beyond here. We scored the game a 6 out of 10, calling it an “average-at-best” VR shooter. In other Respawn news, it was recently revealed that the studio is in the early stages of building a new franchise from scratch. We also learned last week that a new Apex Legends hero is coming on May 4, and the character is a Titanfall pilot’s daughter. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/12/11/medal-of-honor-above-and-beyond-review"] [poilib element="accentDivider"] Jordan Oloman is a freelance writer for IGN. Follow him on Twitter.

Sir Anthony Hopkins paid tribute to the late Chadwick Boseman in his post-Oscars acceptance speech. Hopkins, who won the Best Actor Oscar at the 93rd Academy Awards for his starring role in The Father, posted a short video on Instagram on Monday morning to acknowledge his win and share his heartfelt gratitude for the honor. The actor expressed his surprise over his second Oscar win, which comes nearly 30 years after his first in 1992, for his chilling portrayal of Hannibal Lecter in The Silence of the Lambs. In the video, Hopkins also paid tribute to his fellow best actor nominee, the late Chadwick Boseman, who had been widely expected to be named the winner of the Best Actor category for his performance in the Netflix movie Ma Rainey's Black Bottom. "Here I am in my homeland in Wales," Hopkins began. "At 83 years of age, I did not expect to get this award, I really didn't. I'm very grateful to the Academy." "I want to pay tribute to Chadwick Boseman, who was taken from us far too early," he added. "And again, thank you all very much. I really did not expect this, so I feel very privileged and honored. Thank you." [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=anthony-hopkins-best-movies&captions=true"] The Oscars Best Actor presentation came at the very end of the night's proceedings, making it the final award of the night, in place of the more traditional Best Picture announcement that would typically close the show. The Father star triumphed over Chadwick Boseman, Riz Ahmed, Gary Oldman, and Steven Yeun to win the category at the 93rd Academy Awards. At 83 years of age, Hopkins became the oldest person to ever win an Oscar for acting after scoring the statuette for his role in The Father, playing an aging patriarch grappling with dementia. He also became the oldest recipient of the Leading Actor award at the BAFTAs this year, having been nominated alongside Chadwick Boseman, Riz Ahmed, Mads Mikkelsen, Tahar Rahim, and Adarsh Gourav. The Father was awarded a 10 in IGN's review of the drama, which is based on the 2012 play Le Père. We commended first-time director Florian Zeller for crafting "a devastating masterwork" that "features career-best work from all involved, including Hopkins, as a man trying desperately to cling to his old life, and Olivia Colman as his daughter, who cares for him at great personal cost." [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2021/03/31/the-father-official-trailer"] For more coverage of the 93rd Academy Awards, check out the full list of Oscars winners and then find out how Chloé Zhao made history with her Best Director Oscar win for Nomadland this year. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Adele Ankers is a Freelance Entertainment Journalist. You can reach her on Twitter.

Brazilian soccer star Neymar Jr, when he arrives on April 27, will be the first professional athlete to become playable in Fortnite. Neymar Jr, who is currently a forward for Paris Saint-Germain F.C. and the Brazil National Football Team, will be available as part of a special Quest line for all who own the Chapter 2 Season 6 Battle Pass.

He can be contained no more!

Starting April 27, Battle Pass owners can earn the @neymarjr Outfit and other items from his Set. Read about what's happening in @FNCreate and compete in the Neymar Jr Cup where you can win a custom-designed soccer boot https://t.co/pnDCYwkgpk pic.twitter.com/FkiH0Emfdo — Fortnite (@FortniteGame) April 25, 2021

Completing these quests will unlock Neymar's outfit, the Soccer Ball Emote Toy, the Matador Loading Screen, the Joia Trophy Back Bling, the Jaguar Strike Pickaxe, and the Shhh. Emote. This Shhh. Emote is special because it will awaken one of his primal forms that more-or-less turns Neymar Jr into a power ranger-esque super hero. More items can be unlocked by completing all of these Quests, including the I'm Ready! Spray, Stealth Shot Emoticon, Hang Loose Celebration Emote, Aerial Acrobat Glider, and the Exhibition Style of the Neymar Jr Outfit, Jaguar Strike Pickaxe, and Aerial Acrobat Glider. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=fortnite-neymar-jr-outfit-and-unlockables&captions=true"] There will also be a special Paris-themed Welcome Hub in Fortnite Creative to explore, a "Go Crazy Arena" playlist, a Neymar Jr Cup that will allow players to win a custom-designed soccer boot, and much more. As previously mentioned, while Fortnite has offered an Emote honoring Pele and outfits inspired by some of the biggest Soccer clubs in the world and the NFL, this is the first time a professional athelete has been created as a playable outfit in the game. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2021/01/19/fortnite-pel-air-punch-emote-trailer"] [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.

Mortal Kombat secured the top spot in the weekend domestic box office by earning $22.5 million and narrowly defeating Demon Slayer the Movie: Mugen Train's impressive $19.5 million debut. As reported by Box Office Mojo, Mortal Kombat also saw the second-highest opening-weekend debut since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic and now sits behind Godzilla vs. Kong's $31 million opening weekend. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2021/04/22/mortal-kombat-movie-review"] However, Mortal Kombat and Demon Slayer both surpassed Godzilla vs. Kong this weekend in North America, helping secure "the biggest overall theatrical session since the coronavirus pandemic began." Mortal Kombat earned another $27.6 million overseas, bringing its worldwide total to $50.1 million. Demon Slayer, which has already become Japan's highest-grossing movie of all time, has accumulated $388.2 million internationally, making its worldwide total to $407.7 million. Godzilla vs. Kong, in its fourth weekend, brought in $4.2 million and has earned over $400 million worldwide. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2021/04/18/demon-slayer-the-movie-mugen-train-review"] Bob Odenkirk's Nobody came in fourth place with $1.9 million in its fifth weekend, making its total worldwide gross $38.2 million. Raya and the Last Dragon took fifth place with $1.7 million in its eight weekend, pushing its worldwide tally to $111.9 million USD. In our Mortal Kombat review, we said, "it may not be a flawless victory but the new Mortal Kombat movie is a fun time for fans of the game franchise." In our Demon Slayer the Movie: Mugen Train review, we said, "Ufotable’s jaw-dropping visuals alone make Demon Slayer the Movie: Mugen Train well worth a watch, even if the film stumbles a bit at the climax. Those who enjoyed the TV series will no doubt enjoy the film as it is a solid continuation of the show’s main story and will no doubt be a major moment that shapes the next step in our heroes’ lives." [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=best-reviewed-movies-of-2021&captions=true"] [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.

Nomadland director Chloe Zhao has officially made history as she has become the second woman and the first woman of color to win Best Director at the Oscars. This year was also the first time that two women were nominated for Best Director, as Zhao shared the ballot with Promising Young Woman's Emerald Fennell. [caption id="attachment_2504982" align="aligncenter" width="720"] Image Credit: Chris Pizzello-Pool/Getty Images[/caption] Since the first Oscars in 1929, there have only been seven women nominated for best director, including Lina Wertmüller for Seven Beauties, Jane Campion for The Piano, Sofia Coppola for Lost in Translation, and Kathryn Bigelow for Hurt Locker. Bigelow was the first woman to win the award in 2010. 2021 is also the first time that two Asian directors were nominated in the same year, as Lee Isaac Chung was also recognized for his work on Minari. In our review of Nomadland, we said that it "is a radiant celebration of humanity and community. Chloé Zhao takes the seeds of real stories and nurtures them with location settings, real people, and a non-judgmental eye at a misunderstood American subculture. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/09/09/nomadland-official-trailer-1"] [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.

Resident Evil Village's latest demo includes a pretty great reference to one of the most iconic characters in Resident Evil 4. Slight Spoilers for Resident Evil Village Ahead! As reported by GameSpot, the Village Demo of Resident Evil Village that will be available for all platforms on May 1 allows you to interact with a weapons merchant known as Duke. As you shop through his wares, he jokingly says, "What're ya buying? - Haha, just something an old friend of mine used to say." [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2021/04/25/resident-evil-village-14-minutes-of-the-castle-demo-gameplay-full-playthrough"] This old friend, unless it really just is a simple nod, is undoubtedly Resident Evil 4's merchant. YouTuber KendoGunSop captured this moment and included footage of the merchant from Resident Evil 4, showing the connection. As we noted in our preview of Resident Evil Village, this new entry borrows a lot of ideas from RE 4, including its location. RE 4 took place in Spain, and while RE Village's story will take players to Eastern Europe, that seems close enough for these merchants to have formed up a profitable friendship. Could this just be a fun nod to Resident Evil 4, which itself is getting a new VR port on Oculus Quest 2, or a hint to a deeper connection between the two games? [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2021/04/19/resident-evil-village-5-hour-ps5-hands-on-preview-ign-first"] We won't have long to wait, as Resident Evil Village will be released on PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PC, and Stadia on May 7, 2021. [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.

Dark Horse Comics is again expanding on the Cyberpunk 2077 universe with a new tie-in comic. Dubbed Cyberpunk 2077: You Have My Word, this new limited series explores what happens when a new urban development project encroaches on Valentinos gang territory. Cyberpunk 2077: You Have My Word is written by Bartosz Sztybor, who serves as narrative designer and writer for developer CD Projekt Red. The series is drawn by Jesus Hervas, with colors by Giulia Brusco. Check out an exclusive preview of the first issue in the slideshow gallery below: [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=cyberpunk-2077-you-have-my-word-1-preview&captions=true"] Here's Dark Horse's official description for the new series:

A new urban development proposal is being pushed through city council--a flagrant infraction on those safeguarded by the Valentinos gang. They enlist the service of three cyberpunks to discreetly and strategically terminate the project, but their subject is more than an ordinary target.

Sztybor is also writing The Witcher: Witch's Lament, a new comic book spinoff of the Witcher games debuting in May 2021. This is the latest in a growing lineup of Cyberpunk 2077-themed collaborations between Dark Horse and CD Projekt Red. Dark Horse previously published a comic called Cyberpunk 2077: Trauma Team, as well as an art print featuring the pop star character Lizzy Wizzy and an art book called The World of Cyberpunk 2077. In other Cyberpunk 2077 news, the game recently received its latest patch, which fixes some of the new bugs caused by the version 1.2 patch. Modders have been busy tinkering with the game, including activating unused quests and adding the wall running feature back into the game. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/cyberpunk-2077-wall-running-returns-through-mod"] [poilib element="accentDivider"] Jesse is a mild-mannered staff writer for IGN. Allow him to lend a machete to your intellectual thicket by following @jschedeen on Twitter.