Call of Duty: Warzone Leak Suggests Multiple New Modes, Including a Casual Sandbox

A series of Call of Duty Warzone voice lines have leaked, suggesting the game will introduce new 'Plague', 'Exfiltration' and 'Sandbox' modes – the latter of which might include racing activities. As spotted by PC Gamer, ZestyCODLeaks posted the news on Twitter, with a link to a video containing all of the leaked lines. They point towards a trio of new modes which could be introduced in the future, although no dates have been suggested for when they might arrive. "We can't lose Verdansk, find those damn zombies," reads one of the lines related to a mooted Plague game mode. The narration talks about how "Verdansk is lost" and overrun, and there are multiple mentions of "plague zones," the players should avoid. "Extraction cancelled, nuke inbound for Verdansk," barks the narrator, likely when the mission has failed. The suggestion is that players will have to try and reclaim Verdansk from a zombie horde and then exfiltrate. If they fail, the map will be nuked. There are also voice lines related to a Sandbox mode, with lines talking about "an area of operation" full of activities. The voice lines mention an obstacle course and also talk about helicopters and vehicles completing laps, suggesting a racing minigame will be implemented. One of the more curious voice lines reads "reach the finish without touching the ground," suggesting a 'the floor is lava' style course will be playable. The final mode is referred to as Exfiltration in the leaks, with lines ordering players to secure and then "protect the radio until exfil." The radio has a "signal strength" mechanic, and the lines suggest it is an objective item that other players can carry, as one voice line is "take down the radio carrier." Zombies teasers started popping up in Call of Duty Warzone in early February, with Zombies landing in Verdansk with the launch of Season 2. In other Call of Duty Warzone news, Activision recently said that a 500GB PS4 may no longer be able to fit Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War and Warzone. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/03/23/call-of-duty-warzone-review"] [poilib element="accentDivider"] Jordan Oloman is a freelance writer for IGN. Follow him on Twitter.

Disney+ Live-Action Pinocchio Casts Joseph Gordon-Levitt and More

The live-action Pinocchio remake for Disney+ continues to fill out its cast. Cynthia Erivo will play the role of the Blue Fairy for the film, per The Wrap. Joseph Gordon-Levitt was also announced as the voice of Jiminy Cricket, Pinocchio's wisecracking companion. Other casting news includes Keegan Michael-Key as Honest John, the swindling fox antagonist, and Lorraine Bracco as Sofia the Seagull, a new character that did not appear in Disney's 1940 original animated film. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/12/11/disneys-pinocchio-live-action-remake-official-teaser"] They join a cast led by Tom Hanks as Gepetto and Luke Evans as The Coachman. Benjamin Evan Ainsworth will voice Pinocchio. Director Robert Zemeckis, who worked with Hanks on films like Forrest Gump and Cast Away, is helming the project. Production is set to begin this month and the film will debut on Disney Plus. No release date has been announced yet. Gordon-Levitt is known for his roles in The Dark Knight Rises, Inception and Looper. Last year, he starred in The Trial of the Chicago 7 and Project Power. Erivo starred in Bad Times at the El Royale and Widows. More recently, she was nominated for an Oscar for her performance in 2019's Harriet. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=every-upcoming-disney-live-action-remake&captions=true"] Pinocchio is just one of several live-action remakes that Disney is planning for both theatrical and streaming releases. Emma Stone stars in Cruella, an origin story for the 101 Dalmations villain, which is set to hit theaters on May 28. Other upcoming projects include a follow-up to The Lion King directed by Barry Jenkins and a Beauty and the Beast prequel series. Disney unveiled many live-action reimaginings during the company's Investor Day last December. [poilib element="accentDivider"] J. Kim Murphy is a freelance entertainment writer. (Photo by Rich Fury/Getty Images)

New Nintendo Switch With Larger Screen, 4K Output In the Works

Nintendo is allegedly set to reveal a new model of the Nintendo Switch with a bigger Samsung OLED display later this year that will be able to output 4K ultra-high definition graphics when in docked mode. As reported by Bloomberg, Nintendo is planning to unveil this new model in hopes that the "larger touchscreen can prop up demand in time for the holidays." Samsung Display Co. will start mass production of 7-inch, 720p-resolution OLED panels as early as June 2021 with an "initial monthly target of under a million units." These displays would then be sent to assemblers in July. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2021/02/02/how-nintendo-is-winning-next-gen-with-a-last-gen-console"] For reference, the current Nintendo Switch model features a 6.2-inch, 720p-resolution screen. This new screen would look as if you extended the current Switch's screen that replaced most of the black bezel around it. “The OLED panel will consume less battery, offer higher contrast and possibly faster response time when compared to the Switch’s current liquid-crystal display,” said Yoshio Tamura, co-founder of display consultancy DSCC. The report also claims that Nintendo has decided to go with rigid OLED panels for this new model, a "cheaper but less flexible alternative to the type commonly used for high-end smartphones." [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=the-top-25-switch-games-fall-2020-update&captions=true"] This deal will benefit Samsung Display as the market prices for the rigid OLED panels were falling due to excess supply. This will also hopefully benefit Nintendo as this partnership will help them in a time where semiconductor shortages are causing delayed for PS5s, Xbox Series X consoles, and graphics cards. This rumored "Switch Pro," as some have called it, has been in high demand from fans for some time. Nintendo has been tight-lipped about any new model, and Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa recently said they will not be announcing a new model "anytime soon." IGN asked several industry analysts about their predictions on when and if we'd see a new Switch in 2021 or beyond, and the responses are range from no Switch pro this year to one possible coming before the year ends. Many also believe that Nintendo has no reason to rush out a Switch Pro as the console is still selling incredibly well. Its lifetime sales recently passed 79.87 million - which passes the Nintendo 3DS - and its been the best-selling console for nearly two years. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2021/01/21/is-a-switch-pro-coming-in-2021-nvc-544"] Nintendo recently held its first Nintendo Direct since September 4, 2019, and it showcased some of the biggest games coming to the Switch in 2021 and beyond. It appears they just may have some other secrets up their sleeves. [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.

Guilty Gear Strive Delayed Until June

Guilty Gear Strive has been delayed until June 11, pushing it two months further back from its previous April 9 date.

ArcSystemWorks made the announcement Wednesday evening, citing feedback from the fighting game’s recent open beta test. ArcSystemWorks says they will use the extra two months to focus on improving online lobbies and server stability.

[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2021/02/21/guilty-gear-strive-i-no-gameplay-reveal-trailer"]

“We believe it best to use the extra time to improve the game’s quality and provide a better experience to all our players. Thank you for your patience and understanding,” ArcSystemWorks said.

Guilty Gear Strive, ArcSystem’s eagerly anticipated next installment in the popular anime-style fighting game series, has already received a relatively positive reception from the fighting game community. FGC members like Justin Wong and Jiyuna have praised the open beta’s netcode, saying it’s allowed for matches with international opponents with little to no lag.

One of the more common criticisms out of Strive’s beta was the game’s lobby system, a confusing social space wherein players must first find other players, whip out a sword signaling their willingness to fight, and then essentially hope the other player doesn’t back out. In short, many players saw it as more obtuse than even what’s come before in previous ArcSystems games, like Dragon Ball FighterZ.

[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2021/02/15/guilty-gear-strive-high-level-gameplay-of-every-beta-character"] Guilty Gear Strive was also previously impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, pushing it out of a 2020 release date. If you’re eager for more 2D/3D fighting goodness, here’s 25 minutes of high-level gameplay from the Strive beta. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Joseph Knoop is a writer/producer for IGN, and his heart is still blazing.

Zack Snyder’s Justice League: All 6 Chapter Titles Revealed

A little over 2 weeks ahead of its release, all 6 chapter titles of Zack Snyder's Justice League have been revealed. With a runtime that will clock in over twice as long as 2017's theatrical version of the project, Snyder has detailed how he specifically structured the lengthy project as six chapters. The film's official Twitter account announced each chapter title through a Twitter thread on Wednesday. Snyder had revealed the titles of the first two parts while speaking at IGN's Fan Fest in February. Spoilers ahead for all of the chapter titles of Zack Snyder's Justice League. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2021/02/27/justice-league-inside-the-snyder-cut-with-zack-snyder-ign-fan-fest-2021"] Here are the titles of each chapter.
  • Part 1: "Don't Count On It, Batman"
  • Part 2: "The Age of Heroes"
  • Part 3: "Beloved Mother, Beloved Son"
  • Part 4: "Change Machine"
  • Part 5: "All the King's Horses"
  • Part 6: "Something Darker
While some titles are more vague than others, this news gives fans some hints of what to expect from the film's narrative. Though Zack Snyder's Justice League is organized as individual chapters, it has been produced as a single, cohesive film. The streamer confirmed that the running time of the movie will be 4 hours and 2 minutes. It will feature two-and-a-half hours of unseen footage and won't include footage from Joss Whedon's reshoots for the theatrical version of the film. Zack Snyder's Justice League has seemingly gone through different structures during its production. The director originally revealed the project as a four-part series at DC Fandome last August. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=zack-snyders-justice-league-all-6-chapter-titles&captions=true"] Snyder offered a deep dive into the project during IGN's Fan Fest last month, including announcements of a team-up between Ben Affleck's Batman and Joe Manganiello's Deathstroke and a more fleshed-out arc for Batman. For more details about Zack Snyder's Justice League, read a breakdown of IGN's Fan Fest interview with the director. Zack Snyder's Justice League will premiere on HBO Max on March 18. [poilib element="accentDivider"] J. Kim Murphy is a freelance entertainment writer.

PlayStation Plus Is on a Hot Streak

On this week's episode of IGN's PlayStation show, Podcast Beyond!, host Jonathon Dornbush is joined by Brian Altano and Tom Marks to dive into the new PlayStation Plus lineup, including brand-new puzzle game Maquette, Final Fantasy 7 Remake, Remnant: From the Ashes, and Farpoint. The cast discusses PS Plus' latest hot streak, and how PlayStation Plus' games lineups have been faring overall in recent months since the PS5 launched. Plus, we discuss the latest Elden Ring leaks and the hype around the next FromSoft game, and much more! Watch the new episode above! [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=the-best-ps5-games&captions=true"] Podcast Beyond! is live every Wednesday. For more on PS5, check out our PS5 console review and our PS5 wiki guide for tips on how to best use your system. And for more Beyond, be sure to watch the first episode of our Bloodborne let's play! [poilib element="poll" parameters="id=6dd2b926-8863-4080-99b2-d08eb61f67f6"] [poilib element="accentDivider"] Jonathon Dornbush is IGN's Senior News Editor, host of Podcast Beyond!, and PlayStation lead. Talk to him on Twitter @jmdornbush.

Open-World Third-Person Dungeons and Dragons RPG In Development

Hidden Path Entertainment, the studio that worked with Valve to develop Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, is working on a "AAA, third-person, open-world fantasy RPG that will be taking place inside the Dungeons & Dragons franchise." Hidden Path shared the news on Twitter by calling out for potential Graphics Programmers, Lead Graphics Programmers, Senior Technical Artists, and Writers to apply to join the team and work on this project. By looking at the job descriptions, it appears as though this Dungeons & Dragons project will be built in Unreal Engine 4. Hidden Path is also looking for those experienced in console technology (hinting at a release beyond PC), a writer who has narrative branching skills and experience with ensemble casts, and more. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/10/02/why-is-dd-so-popular-again"] In 2019, Wizards of the Coast president Chris Socks revealed that "seven or eight" games are planning for the popular role-playing franchise over the next few years, and this appears to be another one of those alongside the previously announced Dark Alliance action-RPG. There is also a Dungeons & Dragons film in the works at Paramount that will star Hugh Grant, Sophia Lillis, Chris Pine, Michelle Rodgriguez, Justice Smith, and Rege-Jean Page. If all this sounds exciting but you have no idea how to actually play Dungeons & Dragons, be sure to check out our guide of everything you need to play D&D from the comfort of your own home. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/12/13/dark-alliance-official-reveal-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.

The Simpsons Renewed: Fox Orders Seasons 33 and 34

There may come a point where new episodes of The Simpsons are no longer airing on Fox, but it definitely won't be within the next few years. The network has just ordered two more seasons of the long, long-running animated sitcom. This renewal ensures the series will remain on the air until at least 2023, bringing the total episode count to 757. The Simpsons currently holds the record for the longest-running primetime scripted series, surpassing the previous record set decades earlier by Gunsmoke. This renewal comes just weeks before the series celebrates another big milestone. Episode 700, titled "Manger Things," will premiere on Fox on Sunday, March 21. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=the-top-30-simpsons-episodes&captions=true"] “It’s a sincere pleasure to announce the Season 33 and 34 pick-ups for THE SIMPSONS. We keep hoping that, eventually, they’ll get it right,” said Fox Entertainment CEO Charlie Collier in a press release. “Profound respect for and congratulations to Matt, Jim, Al and the many other wonderful partners working really hard to finally elevate ‘The Tracey Ullman Show.’ As they say, ‘practice makes perfect.’” "Woo Hoo! With any luck the show will soon be older than I am,” added Homer Simpson himself. That's no exaggeration. Homer has been depicted as a perpetual 38-year-old throughout the series' lifespan, meaning The Simpsons is now a few years and another renewal or two away from being older than its own main character. While life in Springfield has remained largely the same over the past few decades, there have been some significant changes behind the scenes in recent years. In light of concerns raised Hari Kondabolu's 2017 documentary The Problem With Apu, Fox announced its commitment to ending the practice of having white actors voicing non-white characters. Recent casting changes include Alex Désert taking over the role of Carl Carlson and Kevin Michael Richardson taking over the role Dr. Julius Hibbert. Two more seasons also means plenty more opportunities for The Simpsons to eerily predict the future. Check out this video from last year's Comic-Con@Home event to see the show's producers reflect on that strange trend: [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/simpsons-producers-on-how-the-show-continues-to-predict-the-future"] [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.

Ed Gein Graphic Novel Explores the True History of the Notorious Serial Killer

It's safe to say the world has become fascinated by the sad, twisted saga of Ed Gein, one of the most notorious serial murderers in American history. Gein's crimes shocked and mesmerized many in the 1950's, and Gein himself has served as inspiration for many twisted killers in the movies, from Psycho's Norman Bates to The Texas Chainsaw Massacre's Leatherface. With their upcoming graphic novel Did You Hear What Eddie Gein Done?, creators Eric Powell and Harold Schechter aim to cut through the myths and reveal the true history of a true American villain. Did You Hear What Eddie Gein Done? is a 200-page black and white graphic novel. The book is billed as a "fact-based" biography of Gein, one that focuses a great deal of attention on his unhappy childhood and family life and how they shaped his psyche. The book also explores the collective shock surrounding the case and the realization that serial killers can seem like ordinary, law-abiding citizens. [caption id="attachment_2481599" align="aligncenter" width="1879"]Image Credit: Albatross Funnybooks Image Credit: Albatross Funnybooks[/caption] Powell is best known as the creator of the long-running Dark Horse series The Goon, and has also worked on titles like Action Comics, Swamp Thing and Star Wars: Tales. Schechter is a true crime writer who has penned nonfiction books like Deviant and The Serial Killer Files. “Obviously Ed Gein’s story has been fictionalized many times in the movies,” said Schechter in a press release. “In no visual medium, however, have the bizarre inner workings of his mind been explored and portrayed. The graphic novel is the perfect medium to conduct such an exploration. DID YOU HEAR WHAT EDDIE GEIN DONE? will not only bring the factual details of Gein’s crimes to vivid, compelling life but draw the reader into the phantasmagoric realm of his uniquely deranged psyche.” “The case of Ed Gein is terrible, tragic and fascinating.” said Powell. “This story is not just about Gein and his crimes, but also how a society tried to deal with the shocking facts of these crimes and the idea that the quiet neighbor next door could be a real life bogeyman. The after effect it had on our culture, especially pop-culture, cannot be overstated.” Did You Hear What Eddie Gein Done? is slated for release in comic shops on July 14, 2021 and in bookstores on July 27. Powell and Schechter have also launched a crowdfunding drive on Kickstarter, which features exclusive softcover and hardcover editions of the book as well as extras like art prints at higher pledge tiers. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=10-real-serial-killers-featured-in-mindhunter-season-2&captions=true"] In other recent comic book news, Hellboy creator Mike Mignola is the subject of a new documentary called Mike Mignola: Drawing Monsters, and Batman is returning to the world of Fortnite in the form of the comic book series Batman/Fortnite: Zero Point. [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.

Diablo 2: Resurrected Will Have Two Alphas – One Single Player, One Multiplayer

Diablo 2: Resurrected is set to be released later in 2021, but players who can't wait to jump back in to the remake of the classic Blizzard title will get a chance to participate in both a single-player alpha and a multiplayer stress test before then. Speaking to PCGamesN, Diablo 2: Resurrected lead producer Chris Lena explained how the rollouts of these alphas will all lead up to the game's release. "We’re going to start with a single-player technical alpha, and then we’ll have a second technical alpha after that, which is kind of multiplayer and stress testing,” Lena said while also confirming that they will obviously arrive before launch. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2021/02/19/diablo-2-resurrected-reveal-trailer"] Sign-ups for Diablo 2: Resurrected's alpha tests are happening now and its free to enter. Testers will be chosen randomly, and its important to note that pre-purchasing the game does not gain you access to the alpha. Diablo 2: Resurrected was announced at BlizzCon 2021 and will be released in 2021 on PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch. It will not be a remake, but a remaster, as the team wanted to ensure players will be getting "the game" they remember from the year 2000. However, It will have a modern 3D layer on top of everything with particle-based rendering, dynamic lighting, and, where appropriate, upgraded visuals and sound. It will also run at 4K 60fps on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X. There will also be cross-progression on "any platforms that choose to enable it." [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2021/02/19/diablo-4-rogue-cinematic-trailer"] Diablo 2: Resurrection was revealed alongside another look at Diablo 4, World of Warcraft - The Burning Crusade: Classic, a bunch of new Overwatch 2 details, and much more. [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.