According to one of the game's writers, the Mass Effect 2 character Jack was originally written as pansexual, but her romance options were apparently changed late in development to only allow for a heterosexual romance, seemingly because of critical response to the first game's sex scenes, and a Fox News panel on Mass Effect. In an interview with The Gamer, Jack's lead writer, Brian Kindegran, said that the character was "essentially pansexual for most of the development of that romance." There are references in Mass Effect 2's dialogue to Jack's interest in men and women, which is why many fans have since wondered why Jack was only romanceable by a male Commander Shepard. Explaining the reasoning behind the change, Kindegran pointed to criticism from media outlets in the US: "Mass Effect had been pretty heavily and really unfairly criticized in the US by Fox News," Kindegran told The Gamer, referring to a 2007 panel about the use of sex scenes in the first game." [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2011/03/30/mass-effect-2-arrival-video-review"] "The development team of Mass Effect 2 was a pretty progressive, open-minded team, but I think there was a concern at pretty high levels that if Mass Effect, which only had one gay relationship, Liara - which on paper was technically not a gay relationship because she was from a mono-gendered species - I think there was a concern that if that had drawn fire, that Mass Effect 2 had to be a little bit careful.” Kindegran didn't agree with the change, but told The Gamer that it was done in an attempt to "minimize the amount of critique that would be directed towards the community by outlets like Fox News again." "It wasn’t like some anti-gay person high up on the Mass Effect 2 team saying, ‘we’re not going to have that’.” Instead, it had to do with the firestorm of controversy that Mass Effect had received back in 2007," Kindegran added. Changes to Jack's romance options apparently came late in the game's development due to the controversy, when the development team were told to "focus the relationships on a more traditional kind of vector." In other Mass Effect news, check out this concept art for the next Mass Effect game, which featured in the book 'Bioware: Stories and Secrets from 25 Years of Game Development. You'll be able to return to the original Mass Effect Trilogy in the upcoming Legendary Edition, which you can preorder now, ahead of its rumoured March 12 release date. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Jordan Oloman is a freelance writer for IGN. Follow him on Twitter.

According to one of the game's writers, the Mass Effect 2 character Jack was originally written as pansexual, but her romance options were apparently changed late in development to only allow for a heterosexual romance, seemingly because of critical response to the first game's sex scenes, and a Fox News panel on Mass Effect. In an interview with The Gamer, Jack's lead writer, Brian Kindegran, said that the character was "essentially pansexual for most of the development of that romance." There are references in Mass Effect 2's dialogue to Jack's interest in men and women, which is why many fans have since wondered why Jack was only romanceable by a male Commander Shepard. Explaining the reasoning behind the change, Kindegran pointed to criticism from media outlets in the US: "Mass Effect had been pretty heavily and really unfairly criticized in the US by Fox News," Kindegran told The Gamer, referring to a 2007 panel about the use of sex scenes in the first game." [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2011/03/30/mass-effect-2-arrival-video-review"] "The development team of Mass Effect 2 was a pretty progressive, open-minded team, but I think there was a concern at pretty high levels that if Mass Effect, which only had one gay relationship, Liara - which on paper was technically not a gay relationship because she was from a mono-gendered species - I think there was a concern that if that had drawn fire, that Mass Effect 2 had to be a little bit careful.” Kindegran didn't agree with the change, but told The Gamer that it was done in an attempt to "minimize the amount of critique that would be directed towards the community by outlets like Fox News again." "It wasn’t like some anti-gay person high up on the Mass Effect 2 team saying, ‘we’re not going to have that’.” Instead, it had to do with the firestorm of controversy that Mass Effect had received back in 2007," Kindegran added. Changes to Jack's romance options apparently came late in the game's development due to the controversy, when the development team were told to "focus the relationships on a more traditional kind of vector." In other Mass Effect news, check out this concept art for the next Mass Effect game, which featured in the book 'Bioware: Stories and Secrets from 25 Years of Game Development. You'll be able to return to the original Mass Effect Trilogy in the upcoming Legendary Edition, which you can preorder now, ahead of its rumoured March 12 release date. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Jordan Oloman is a freelance writer for IGN. Follow him on Twitter.

Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige has indicated that connections to the multiverse will appear in the MCU "before and after" Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. During a recent interview with Rotten Tomatoes TV, Feige dropped a few hints about the studio's plans to further explore the multiverse concept. He seemingly confirmed that the multiverse would go on to serve as a reemerging theme in the MCU timeline after the events of the upcoming Doctor Strange sequel, which is scheduled to hit theaters on March 25, 2022. "The title of the next Doctor Strange movie is Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, so that is our biggest clue that that movie will embrace the Multiverse and the madness therein, very directly," Feige teased, without going into specifics. "There are, as we always like to do, connections before and after that, which will remain to be seen and discovered." [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/08/14/what-is-doctor-strange-2s-multiverse-of-madness"] Feige noted that Doctor Strange 2 will tackle the concept of the multiverse in the "most direct way," though he also didn't disregard its presence elsewhere in the MCU. While details remain scarce at this stage, it has already been confirmed that the sequel to the Benedict Cumberbatch-starring blockbuster will have ties to WandaVision and also Spider-Man 3. Marvel's WandaVision is currently streaming on Disney+, with new episodes being released Fridays at midnight PT/3am ET, while Spider-Man 3 is set to swing into theaters on December 17, 2021. Both of these titles are set to be released "before" Doctor Strange 2, with a packed slate scheduled to come "after" Strange's next adventure. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=marvel-cinematic-universe-every-upcoming-movie-and-tv-show&captions=true"] It was previously reported that Doctor Strange will appear in Spider-Man 3, which is shaping up to be quite a star-studded event, with Jamie Foxx back as Electro from The Amazing Spider-Man 2, Alfred Molina reportedly returning as Doctor Octopus, and rumours that Andrew Garfield and Tobey Maguire will reprise their roles as Peter Parker/Spider-Man, and Kirsten Dunst will return as Mary-Jane. Spider-Man 3's casting line-up, confirmed or otherwise, seems to be hinting at a live-action Spiderverse/multiverse crossover of epic proportions, which could possibly be intertwined with later events in the MCU, particularly the Multiverse of Madness. For more on the Doctor Strange sequel and its multiverse concept, read our theories about which characters and worlds may appear. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Adele Ankers is a Freelance Entertainment Journalist. You can reach her on Twitter.

Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige has indicated that connections to the multiverse will appear in the MCU "before and after" Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. During a recent interview with Rotten Tomatoes TV, Feige dropped a few hints about the studio's plans to further explore the multiverse concept. He seemingly confirmed that the multiverse would go on to serve as a reemerging theme in the MCU timeline after the events of the upcoming Doctor Strange sequel, which is scheduled to hit theaters on March 25, 2022. "The title of the next Doctor Strange movie is Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, so that is our biggest clue that that movie will embrace the Multiverse and the madness therein, very directly," Feige teased, without going into specifics. "There are, as we always like to do, connections before and after that, which will remain to be seen and discovered." [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/08/14/what-is-doctor-strange-2s-multiverse-of-madness"] Feige noted that Doctor Strange 2 will tackle the concept of the multiverse in the "most direct way," though he also didn't disregard its presence elsewhere in the MCU. While details remain scarce at this stage, it has already been confirmed that the sequel to the Benedict Cumberbatch-starring blockbuster will have ties to WandaVision and also Spider-Man 3. Marvel's WandaVision is currently streaming on Disney+, with new episodes being released Fridays at midnight PT/3am ET, while Spider-Man 3 is set to swing into theaters on December 17, 2021. Both of these titles are set to be released "before" Doctor Strange 2, with a packed slate scheduled to come "after" Strange's next adventure. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=marvel-cinematic-universe-every-upcoming-movie-and-tv-show&captions=true"] It was previously reported that Doctor Strange will appear in Spider-Man 3, which is shaping up to be quite a star-studded event, with Jamie Foxx back as Electro from The Amazing Spider-Man 2, Alfred Molina reportedly returning as Doctor Octopus, and rumours that Andrew Garfield and Tobey Maguire will reprise their roles as Peter Parker/Spider-Man, and Kirsten Dunst will return as Mary-Jane. Spider-Man 3's casting line-up, confirmed or otherwise, seems to be hinting at a live-action Spiderverse/multiverse crossover of epic proportions, which could possibly be intertwined with later events in the MCU, particularly the Multiverse of Madness. For more on the Doctor Strange sequel and its multiverse concept, read our theories about which characters and worlds may appear. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Adele Ankers is a Freelance Entertainment Journalist. You can reach her on Twitter.

Rare has announced that Sea of Thieves Season One will begin next week - bringing new content and a battle pass.

Rare has announced that Sea of Thieves Season One will begin next week - bringing new content and a battle pass.

CD Projekt Red concept art has revealed what Cyberpunk 2077's Johnny Silverhand character may have looked like, prior to Keanu Reeves taking on the role. As spotted by AltChar, concepts found on CD Projekt Red Senior Concept Artist and Coordinator Lea Leonowicz' ArtStation profile provide a glimpse at Johnny Silverhand without Keanu Reeves' likeness. [caption id="attachment_2464136" align="alignnone" width="3426"] 'Cyberpunk 2077 Johnny Silverhand Concept Art', posted with permission of Lea Leonowicz.[/caption] This version of Silverhand looks a little younger than the Johnny we see in the game, lacking the facial hair and featuring a more toned physique. The character still has his trademark cybernetic arm, and many of the outfits shown are very similar, including Silverhand's shiny pants, red sunglasses and Samurai tanktop. One piece from the 'First Sketches' concept art is a little bit more glam rock than the rest, showing a vision of Johnny wearing a bandana and an oversized jumper. One cool detail that didn't make the final game was a spiked bracelet around the wrist of Silverhand's robot arm. Very Brutal Legend. [caption id="attachment_2464137" align="alignnone" width="1417"] 'Johnny Silverhand scene Cyberpunk 2077', posted with permission of Lea Leonowicz.[/caption] There's also another piece of concept art of Silverhand within a scene, using dual pistols to defend himself in a gunfight. It's a good look at the creative process behind the character, and potentially, a vision of what Silverhand could have looked like if CD Projekt Red chose not to hire Keanu Reeves for the role. In other Cyberpunk 2077 news, here's our performance review of the game as of the 1.06 patch. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/cyberpunk-2077s-current-state-before-patch-11-patch-106-performance-review"] [poilib element="accentDivider"] Jordan Oloman is a freelance writer for IGN. Follow him on Twitter.

CD Projekt Red concept art has revealed what Cyberpunk 2077's Johnny Silverhand character may have looked like, prior to Keanu Reeves taking on the role. As spotted by AltChar, concepts found on CD Projekt Red Senior Concept Artist and Coordinator Lea Leonowicz' ArtStation profile provide a glimpse at Johnny Silverhand without Keanu Reeves' likeness. [caption id="attachment_2464136" align="alignnone" width="3426"] 'Cyberpunk 2077 Johnny Silverhand Concept Art', posted with permission of Lea Leonowicz.[/caption] This version of Silverhand looks a little younger than the Johnny we see in the game, lacking the facial hair and featuring a more toned physique. The character still has his trademark cybernetic arm, and many of the outfits shown are very similar, including Silverhand's shiny pants, red sunglasses and Samurai tanktop. One piece from the 'First Sketches' concept art is a little bit more glam rock than the rest, showing a vision of Johnny wearing a bandana and an oversized jumper. One cool detail that didn't make the final game was a spiked bracelet around the wrist of Silverhand's robot arm. Very Brutal Legend. [caption id="attachment_2464137" align="alignnone" width="1417"] 'Johnny Silverhand scene Cyberpunk 2077', posted with permission of Lea Leonowicz.[/caption] There's also another piece of concept art of Silverhand within a scene, using dual pistols to defend himself in a gunfight. It's a good look at the creative process behind the character, and potentially, a vision of what Silverhand could have looked like if CD Projekt Red chose not to hire Keanu Reeves for the role. In other Cyberpunk 2077 news, here's our performance review of the game as of the 1.06 patch. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/cyberpunk-2077s-current-state-before-patch-11-patch-106-performance-review"] [poilib element="accentDivider"] Jordan Oloman is a freelance writer for IGN. Follow him on Twitter.

Some details have been revealed about the new project coming from the creators of Limbo and Inside. Playdead's currently untitled project will be a "3rd-person science fiction adventure set in a remote corner of the universe," according to the job listings page on the studio's website. Within the Technical Director listing the 'Who We Are' section is slightly altered, adding that the game is being "built for multiple platforms on Unreal Engine." The openings also mention Playdead's company culture, noting that the studio's approach to development "does not include crunching towards arbitrary deadlines." Some new art from the game has also been found in the listings, which you can see in the gallery below. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=playdeads-next-game-9-pieces-of-art&captions=true"] It also notes that the game will be published by Epic Games, which we've known since March of 2020, when it was revealed that the publisher would be responsible for publishing the next games from gen Design (The Last Guardian), Playdead and Remedy Entertainment via its Epic Games Publishing division. The game was first teased back in March 2018, via postcards given out at the Game Developer's Conference. We still don't have a name or a release window for the game, but as the studio gears up for development, we'll be sure to let you know if we hear anything more. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2016/06/28/inside-review"] [poilib element="accentDivider"] Jordan Oloman is a freelance writer for IGN. Follow him on Twitter.

Nintendo is the subject of yet another class-action lawsuit over its Switch console's ongoing Joy-Con drift issues, this time in Canada. It means Nintendo is now facing down potential legal trouble in Canada, the US, and across Europe. Québec-based law firm Lambert Avocat filed an application to bring a class action suit against Nintendo on January 15, seeking to "obtain a compensation for all Québec consumers who bought the Nintendo Switch™ and Nintendo Switch™ Lite gaming systems, as well as Joy-Con™ and Nintendo Switch Pro controllers." The firm says that drift - which sees Joy-Cons registering analog stick movement, even if they're not being touched - represents "an important, serious and hidden defect" that was not properly revealed by Nintendo. Lambert Avocat is now asking Québec residents to register as part of the suit on its website. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/05/11/joy-con-drift-is-still-a-huge-problem-3-years-later"] The issue of Joy-Con drift has been rearing its head since the Switch's release in 2017 – last year, we called it a disaster for the Nintendo. It's become a widespread enough issue that Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa formally apologised for the problem. This latest class action suit is just one of a slew of potential issues for the company surrounding the defect. Nintendo is facing down at least four drift cases in the US, with class action suits in Illinois, California, and two in Washington. Two of those suits are now in arbitration, with a judge in the earlier Washington case refusing Nintendo's request to dismiss it. In Europe, Nintendo is being sued by a French consumer organisation because of potential planned obsolescence, compounded by Nintendo's ongoing repairs of Joy-Cons while not providing a more permanent fix. That was followed by a joint investigation by 9 organisations based in the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Greece, Norway, Italy, Portugal, Slovenia, Slovakia. The findings of that investigation could lead to further action. At a smaller scale, in the UK, a single customer recently took Nintendo to small claims court and won back the cost of their defective Joy-Cons, and their legal fees. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=a-history-of-nintendo-hardware-1977-to-now&captions=true"] Nintendo of America president Doug Bowser recently said that Nintendo is 'focusing' on existing Switch models, rather than the much-rumoured Switch Pro model. Bowser addressed Joy-Con drift in that discussion, but made no promises about a more permanent solution to the ongoing issue, saying, "We’re always looking at what is being sent in and for what reasons, and understanding that better. And without going into any details, it always gives us an opportunity to make improvements as we go forward." While not 100% effective, we have a guide on how to fix Joy-Con drift in some situations, as well as a list of known Switch and Joy-Con problems that could help you diagnose problems. [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.