Epic Games has added a new Performance Mode to Fortnite on PC, which reduces the game’s visual quality and memory usage to provide significant performance gains, particularly on lower spec hardware. A prompt will be displayed for users of older hardware to encourage using performance mode. While those with very modern PCs will have no need for the mode, and those with modest rigs can simply scale settings down, this option will allow those with the very minimum specs for Fortnite to run the game at a much more competitive framerate. This will potentially open up the ability to play Fortnite to many more people. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/12/03/fortnite-chapter-2-season-5-zero-point-update-guide"] Epic provided two benchmarks as an example of the gains provided by performance mode. Using an i5-8265U laptop processor with integrated graphics and 8GB RAM, performance mode boosted frame rates from 24fps to 61fps at 720p. On an AMD A10-5745M-powered machine (another laptop CPU) with the mobile HD 8610G graphics chip and 6GB of RAM, performance increased from 18fps to 45fps at 720p. These are impressive improvements from such low-end hardware. In addition, players can now opt out of high-resolution textures, should you wish to improve performance or even just save hard drive space. This is done from the Epic Games Launcher, via the options menu on the Fortnite section in your game library. High-res textures take up 14.48GB of space, so it’s quite a saving if you’re in a pinch or don’t need them. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=master-chief-in-fortnite&captions=true"] Available from December 15, the mode will be available in the Advanced Graphics section of the video settings menu. It can be found under Rendering Mode, which now offers a choice between DirectX 11, DirectX12, and Performance. This new option is an “experimental” mode that is currently in alpha. For more, check out Fortnite’s latest additions in the form of Master Chief, Kratos, and The Mandalorian, all of which have arrived in the wake of the massive Fortnite Galactus event. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt Purslow is IGN's UK News and Entertainment Writer. 

While doing a press tour for Tenet, Christopher Nolan has said that Tom Hardy's portrayal of Bane in The Dark Knight Rises has yet to be "fully appreciated." As reported by IndieWire (via NME), Nolan was speaking to MTV's Happy Sad Confused podcast and discussed how Hardy really delivered "quite a performance." “There’s no safety net for any of these guys and Tom, I mean… what he did with that character has yet to be fully appreciated. It’s an extraordinary performance, and truly amazing,” Nolan said. “The voice, the relationship between just seeing the eyes and the brow. We had all these discussions about the mask and what it would reveal and what it wouldn’t reveal, and one of the things I remember him saying to me, he sort of put his finger up to his temple and his eyebrow and said, ‘Can you give me this to play with? Let people see this.' Sure enough, you see there in the film, this kind of Brando-esque brow, expressing all kinds of just monstrous things. It’s really quite a performance.” [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/10/19/ranking-the-batman-movie-villains"] The reception to Hardy's Bane was mostly positive, but many complained that his muffled dialogue made it hard to truly understand what he was saying. This caused Nolan to adjust some of the sounds mixing to make it a bit clearer, but he would not change the voice completely. Nolan is very set in his ways, and also believes that not being able to hear his movies' dialogue isn't a big deal. This is but a small glimpse into the directorial style of Nolan, the same director who seemingly doesn't allow chairs on his movie sets and changed a character's "sickening" death scene in The Dark Knight rises as it would have given the film a NC-17 rating. Later in the podcast, Nolan defended David Fincher's work in Alien 3, saying "“Everyone always complains that sequels get bigger but we’re the people making sequels get bigger, we do want them bigger. You don’t want them smaller. It’s the ‘Alien 3’ lesson that [David] Fincher learned. You can do it but it’s not going to make anybody happy, even though personally I love that film, a lot more than he does in fact.” [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=ranking-the-batman-movies&captions=true"] These comments were one of the many recently made by Nolan alongside those criticizing HBO Max and WB's decision to shift its 2021 film slate to make its films available on both HBO Max and theaters on the same day. [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.

December 2020's Nintendo Switch Online Games are NES' Nightshade and SNES' Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble!, The Ignition Factor, SUPER VALIS IV, and Tuff E Nuff. Announced by Nintendo, all of these games will become available to Nintendo Switch Online subscribers on December 18, 2020, and follow September 2020's games that included Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest and Mario's Super Picross. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/12/15/nintendo-switch-online-december-2020-game-updates"] Nintendo also released a "Classified Information" video that features codes for Donkey Kong Country 3, The Ignition Factor, and Super Valis IV. These codes include bonus rooms, level selects, and more. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/12/15/nintendo-switch-online-december-2020-classified-information"] Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble! was released in 1996 and sees both Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong go missing. It's up to Dixie Kong and Kiddy Kong to find and rescue them. The Ignition Factor was released in 1994 and is an intense firefighting game that has you saving people from towering infernos and flame-filled factories. Super Valis IV has players taking on the role of Lena, the only warrior able enough to wield the Valis sword against the forces of evil in this action platformer. The longer it takes you to beat a level, the harder the bosses at the end will become. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=the-top-25-switch-games-fall-2020-update&captions=true"] Tuff E Nuff is an action game that has four champions seeking to challenge the great tower. Fight your way up to Jade, the self-proclaimed Fighting King. It also features an instant replay feature to allow you to watch the last moments of a fight play out. Nightshade is the only NES game in this bunch of Nintendo Switch Online games, and has players becoming Mark Gray under the guise of Nightshade, who is the last person standing between Sutekh and total control of Metro City. The gameplay is a combination of point-and-click and action. [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 Lord of the Rings Trilogy director Peter Jackson has revealed that his favorite scene from the three films was not written or directed by him. As reported by IndieWire (via The Independent), Jackson was speaking to Stephen Colbert and was asked to pick his favorite scene. While there are many iconic choices, it wasn't Helm's Deep, it wasn't Sam helping Frodo climb Mount Doom, but it was Gollum's monologue where he was having a conversation with himself as Sméagol from The Two Towers. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2014/12/22/ranking-peter-jacksons-lord-of-the-rings-and-hobbit-movies"] “We were shooting ‘Two Towers’ and it was introducing Gollum,” Jackson said. “A key thing with Gollum is that most people know he’s Sméagol and he’s Gollum, it’s like a split. But we hadn’t got a scene where you really got the idea of it…‘This guy is two people.’ So we knew that we needed it but we had no time to shoot it.” Jackson was busy with other parts of production at the time, and had asked his co-writer and co-producer Fran Walsh to create this scene where the two halves of Gollum were interacting with each other. Not only did Walsh write the scene, she also went on to direct it. “Fran wrote a scene where Sam and Frodo are asleep, so they can be just lumps in the bed, we don’t even have to have Elijah [Wood] and Sean [Astin],” Jackson said. “We didn’t have anyone to direct it, so I said to Fran, ‘You wrote it, you should shoot it.’ So she went in for a day and she wrote and directed a scene which has become pretty famous now.” [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=amazons-the-lord-of-the-rings-every-confirmed-actor&captions=true"] Jackson was out helping promote the 4K released of both The Lord of the Rings Trilogy and The Hobbit, both of which we included in our Best Gifts for Movie Lovers for 2020. [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.

While Nintendo Switch owners may still be waiting for Netflix, those who love to watch anime will be happy to know that Funimation will be available to download on Tuesday, December 15. The Funimation App will include hundreds of titles, including My Hero Academia, Attack on Titan Final Season, One Piece, Naruto, Megalobox, Cowboy Bebop, and much more. On December 15, Funimation on Nintendo Switch will be available in the U.S. and Canada, with "plans to expand to the United Kingdom, Ireland, Mexico and more countries in the coming months." [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/11/25/top-10-best-anime-series-of-all-time"] Funimation is the only anime app available on Switch and is only the second Subscription Video on Demand (SVOD) app released following the addition of Hulu. “We will always go where the community wants their anime, and Funimation is 100% committed to listening to and servicing fans on every platform. When Nintendo Switch was a possibility in front of us, we were a resounding ‘absolutely’ with the opportunity to further serve fans,” said Kaliel Roberts, Chief Product Officer at Funimation. “Our teams approached the partnership with a shared goal to create a uniquely engaging app experience built for anime fans. That passionate approach paid off with a compelling and immersive touchpoint that was purpose-built specifically for our audience.” [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=the-best-anime-of-the-decade-2010-2019&captions=true"] For more on anime, check out our list of the Top Best Anime Series of All Time and the best anime of the past decade. [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.

While Zack Snyder's Justice League will be making its debut on HBO Max in 2021, Snyder himself thinks it might get a R-rated theatrical release - complete with "an F-bomb-dropping Batman." As reported by EW, Snyder began discussing how he is sure that his cut of the Justice League would get an R-rating if it were to make its way to theaters. "Here's one piece of information nobody knows: The movie is insane and so epic and is probably rated R — that's one thing I think will happen, that it will be an R-rated version, for sure," Snyder told EW. "We haven't heard from the MPAA, but that's my gut." [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/08/22/justice-league-the-snyder-cut-trailer"] When asked why it would receive a R-rating, Snyder explained that one of the biggest reasons was due to the previously mentioned F-bomb by the Dark Knight himself and more. "There's one scene where Batman drops an F-bomb. Cyborg is not too happy with what's going on with his life before he meets the Justice League, and he tends to speak his mind. And Steppenwolf is pretty much just hacking people in half. So [the rating would be due to] violence and profanity, probably both." As for making the theatrical release a reality, Snyder had previously said that it is his preference to also have a "big-screen rollout" for Justice League, and that steps are being taken to make that happen, although no decision has been made one way or the other. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=justice-league-snyder-cut-trailer-screenshots&captions=true"] "I'm a huge fan and a big supporter of the cinematic experience, and we're already talking about Justice League playing theatrically at the same time it's coming to HBO Max," Snyder says. "So weirdly, it's the reverse [of the trend]." This trend he was speaking of is Warner Bros.' decision to release every one of its 2021 films on HBO Max the same time they are released in theaters. Snyder also discussed his feeling on the move, as Christopher Nolan and Denis Villeneuve did before him. "It felt like a pretty bold move and that maybe the implication wasn't 100 percent thought out," he says. "I feel like there's a lot of people panicking during COVID. I hope that, in the end, that's what this was — some sort of knee-jerk to COVID and not some sort of greater move to disrupt the theatrical experience. I thought we were kind of already getting very close to the ideal theatrical window where you still had marketing material out there and you hadn't forgotten about the film by the time it came out on DVD or streaming. I thought we were starting to hone in on that sweet spot, but this kind of throws a monkey wrench in the works." [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/justice-league-the-snyder-cut-trailer-breakdown"] [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.

Assassin's Creed Valhalla's Title Update 1.1.0 will arrive tomorrow, December 15, and includes fixes for a lot of quest bugs and improves performance of the game on all platforms. As revealed on Ubisoft.com, Title Update 1.1.0 will fix over 30 Quest, World Event, and Side Activity issues, many that would prevent players from proceeding due to glitches and problems. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/11/16/is-assassins-creed-valhalla-the-best-in-the-franchise-the-review-crew-ep-1"] Many of the issues being fixed are related to characters not appearing in the right places, allies not helping Eivor opening doors at certain points, bosses getting stuck underground or not progressing to their next phase, certain weapons not being able to perform heavy attacks, and so much more. In addition, Title Update 1.1.0 tweaks NPC power level behavior, addresses some specific actions that would cause freezes, fixed graphics and clipping issues, and, perhaps most importantly, will make sure NPCs will cut wheat instead of the air when farming. In addition to bug fixes, this new update will bring support for both the Settlement expansion and the Yule Festival. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=every-ign-assassins-creed-review&captions=true"] Assassin's Creed Valhalla was released alongside Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 and, in our review, we said "is a big, bold, and ridiculously beautiful entry to the series that finally delivers on the much-requested era of the Viking and the messy, political melting pot of England’s Dark Ages." For more, check out the 12 best weapons to use, our best tips and tricks, and the 6 best abilities to use. Additionally, you can see the full list of Quests, World Events, and Side Activities that are getting fixes in Title Update 1.1.0 below;

• Addressed an issue in A Sword-Shower in Anecastre where Aelfgar didn't move to the assault location.
• Addressed an issue where players cannot complete Honor's Hubris.
  • Note: This fix will spawn Ljufvina again, reset her position, and restart the quest.
• Addressed an issue that caused Tarben to follow Eivor everywhere when The Baker's Plaint wasn't completed. Your watch has ended, Tarben.
• Addressed an issue where Fast Travel wouldn't be available under certain conditions when returning to England after completing the Hordafylke arc.
• Addressed an issue where Allies would not help Eivor opening doors at the Isle of Ely Monastery. Team work makes the dream work!
• Addressed an issue with the Settlement Anomaly's light beams that prevented players from completing the anomaly.
• Addressed an issue in Well-Traveled where the objective would not update under certain circumstances.
• Addressed an issue where Fenrir could get stuck underground.
• Addressed an issue where Eivor would sometimes be levitating during Assault outros. No more Wingardium Leviosa for this one.
• Addressed an issue in Defensive Measures where Jotuns would be able to pass through the shield after the Bring the Invaders into the Shield objective was completed. You shall not pass!
• Addressed an issue in Brewing Rebellion where the cutscene wouldn't trigger when the door was opened by an NPC by accident.
• Addressed an issue in The False Ealdormancy that prevented players from completing it under certain conditions. This Hunwald ain’t loyal...
• Addressed an issue in Kingdom’s End where Guthrum doesn't leave the Hamptun Blockade area after releasing the prisoners or could randomly become inactive.
• Addressed an issue in A Sword-Shower in Anecastre that prevented players from completing the quest.
• Addressed an issue in The Goddess of Birth that prevented players from completing the event.
• Addressed an issue in Glory Regained where players could become stuck on the platform with the horn.
• Addressed an issue in View Above All where the quest objective would sometimes not update after closing the gates.
• Addressed an issue in A Rivalry for the Ages where players couldn't complete the quest under certain circumstances.
• Addressed an issue in The Boar with the Golden Nose where players couldn't complete a world event due to Lady Trotters not spawning.
• Addressed an issue in Defensive Measures where players would die when returning to Asgard.
• Addressed an issue in Cruel Destiny that prevented players from proceeding to the second phase of the boss fight. Quest name checks out.
• Addressed an issue in Madness of the Stones that prevented players from proceeding with the quest.
• Addressed an issue in Bleeding the Leech that prevented players from completing the quest.
• Addressed an issue where Petra would run into the opposite direction of the Elk. See this, Petra?
• Addressed an issue where players could sometimes not get back into the room with the Norns.
• Addressed an issue in Giants of Fimbulwinter where Eivor could get stuck inside the quest area.
• Addressed an issue in Smashing the Compass that prevented players from completing the quest.
• Addressed an issue in War Weary where players couldn't re-enter the church under certain circumstances.
• Addressed an issue in War of the Collectors where the world event wouldn't be completed under certain circumstances.
• Addressed an issue in The Big Finish where the quest objective wouldn't update further.
• Addressed an issue that prevented players from entering Skyrmir's Mitten in The Lost Cauldron.
• Addressed an issue in Firing the Arrow where the quest objective would sometimes not update.
• Addressed an issue where some players couldn't progress the game anymore upon reaching England after Title Update 1.0.4.
• Addressed an issue with the SteinnBjorn encounter.

[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.

Warner Bros. has announced new release dates for the Mortal Kombat movie and the new Tom & Jerry movie. Mortal Kombat will open Wednesday, April 16, 2021, in theaters and, in the U.S.-only, on HBO Max the same day. Warner Bros. also released a brand new poster and logo for the movie on Monday in a press release. Meanwhile, Tom & Jerry moves up a week to February 26. It's likely a response to Disney's news this past week that their new animated movie, Raya and the Last Dragon, is set for March 5, which would've put it up against Tom & Jerry. [caption id="attachment_2452684" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] A new logo and poster for the upcoming live-action Mortal Kombat movie.[/caption] Warner Bros. announced that its entire 2021 movie slate will debut in theaters and on HBO Max. In the weeks since, Christopher Nolan and Denis Villeneuve have publicly criticized the move in their own separate statements. Villeneuve directed one of the movies that will be going to HBO Max, Dune, and he wrote a statement in Variety to voice his displeasure. "My team and I devoted more than three years of our lives to make [Dune] a unique big screen experience," Villeneuve said. "Our movie’s image and sound were meticulously designed to be seen in theaters. I’m speaking on my own behalf, though I stand in solidarity with the sixteen other filmmakers who now face the same fate." Villeneuve also said that he was not aware of WarnerMedia's decision ahead of time. Not only did he find out in the news, but he saw images from Dune being used to promote the announcement. One of the producers of the Mortal Kombat movie also said as recently as November that they wouldn't even release a Mortal Kombat trailer until more movie theaters open. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=meet-the-cast-of-the-mortal-kombat-reboot-movie&captions=true"] Until the new Mortal Kombat movie comes out, check out the bizarre history of Mortal Kombat TV and movie adaptations and the full cast for the new Mortal Kombat movie, and for more on HBO Max's big news regarding their upcoming movies, read up on the pros and cons to WB's streaming and theaters decision. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/11/17/tom-jerry-official-trailer"] [poilib element="accentDivider"] Petey Oneto is a freelance writer for IGN.

Another Mando Monday has arrived, which means Hasbro is offering a sneak peek at some upcoming Star Wars figures inspired by the current season of The Mandalorian. That includes a brand new figure depicting Clone Wars fan-favorite Bo-Katan Kryze based on her very first live-action appearance. Check out the slideshow gallery below to get a closer look at Bo-Katan, along with a new lineup of Baby Yoda merch and some long-awaited rereleases in the Star Wars: The Black Series Archive line: [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=the-mandalorians-bo-katan-kryze-gets-the-action-figure-she-deserves&captions=true"] Not counting Din Djarin and Grogu, Bo-Katan is the first Black Series figure inspired directly by The Mandalorian: Season 2. The new figure features a very accurate likeness of actress Katee Sackhoff, who finally made her live-action debut in the role after voicing Bo-Katan in Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Star Wars Rebels. If you're so inclined, the figure also comes with an alternate, helmeted head. With Hasbro recently revealing new Ahsoka Tano toys inspired by both The Clone Wars and Rebels, we can only assume a Mandalorian version modeled after actress Rosario Dawson is high on Hasbro's priority list for 2021. Along with this new reveal, Hasbro is also teasing the next four additions to its Black Series Archive line. These figures are re-releases of older, harder to find Black Series toys. This particular wave looks to be targeting the army builders in the collecting world, as it includes three Rogue One troopers (the Deathtrooper, the Shoretrooper and the Hovertank Driver) as well as a Tusken Raider. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/12/04/the-mandalorian-season-2-why-ahsoka-tano-is-hunting-grand-admiral-thrawn"] Finally, and not at all surprisingly, Hasbro will be releasing new baby Yoda toys in the months ahead. This week the company is teasing a second series of Bounty Collection figurines, which feature cutesy, two-inch version of Grogu in various adorable poses, and a new plushy that can be folded inside out to form a hover pram. Hasbro's previous Mando Monday reveals have included a life-size Din Djarin helmet and a line of retro figures inspired by the classic Kenner toys of old. [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.

Wonder Woman 1984 and Star Trek's Chris Pine is in talks to star in Paramount and eOne's Dungeons & Dragons feature film. As reported by THR, Spider-Man: Homecoming's Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley are set to direct the feature that is based on the popular role-playing game owned by Wizards of the Coast. Goldstein and Daley also wrote the latest version of the script that was based off a previous draft by Michael Gilio. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/02/19/chris-pratt-and-tom-holland-want-to-start-an-avengers-cast-dungeons-and-dragons-party"] No plot details were given for this new Dungeons & Dragon movie, but it will be the first feature film based on the property since Jeremy Irons' starred in New Line's adaptation in 2000. The film rights for Dungeons & Dragons have been at the center of legal battles for many years, and a 2015 settlement appeared to make it possible for Warner Bros. to take control. Ansel Elgort was in early talks to star. Things have changed since Paramount struck a production and distribution deal with Hasbro, who is the owner of Wizards of the coast, and this news gives a bit more clarity as to their plans. Former Marvel Studios executive Jeremy Latcham is onboard as producer for eOne, and it is scheduled to be released in theaters on May 27, 2022 following delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=every-delayed-movie-due-to-coronavirus-so-far&captions=true"] In our review of 2000's Dungeons & Dragons, we said "if making a movie is akin to running a marathon, then Dungeons & Dragons is like an infant trying to crawl. This film truly gives the already legendary Battlefield Earth legitimate competition as the worst, most inept big-budget movie released by a major studio in recent memory. Though it doesn't have Battlefield Earth's extra camp factors (the Scientology connection, Travolta), it may well actually be even worse. Quite an achievement." [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.