UK Gangs Stealing PS5s From Delivery Trucks – While They’re Driving

We've reported a few theories about how PS5s have been going missing in the UK, but we never expected to hear that gangs have stolen them from the back of delivery trucks while they're driving. The Times reports that PS5s - as well as TVs, cosmetics, mobile phones and cigarettes - have been stolen from trucks in movement on at least 27 occasions in the UK this year, with the figure apparently rising ahead of the Christmas period. Police have apparently contacted delivery firms about the tactic. The technique, called a "rollover", involves multiple cars boxing in a moving truck, with a thief (wearing a rope) leaving a car travelling behind to climb close, gain access to the back door, and throw the stolen goods back into the car they left, before climbing back in. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/ebay-condemns-ps5-photo-scammers-is-taking-action-against-sellers"] As we reported in our investigation into the UK's missing PS5s, supply chains such as Amazon's have high security for warehouses and delivery drivers are closely monitored to make sure they complete journeys. However, a career criminal told The Times that rollovers have become a popular tactic specifcially because of the comparable lack of security while deliveries are in motion. Police have advised that companies bolster security, or vary their routes. It seems unlikely that this is the sole tactic leading to missing PS5s in the UK - many consoles have been "delivered", only for recipients to find unrelated items in the boxes, and gangs stealing from moving trucks are probably not replacing the boxes they steal. It's part of a wider picture of problems that have made PS5s hard to find at retail price, from pre-order and launch day issues, to scalping organisations using bots, as well as theft. It's been a widespread enough issue that even Saturday Night Live has covered it. In some better news, those in the UK who have had their PS5s mysteriously replaced are seemingly receiving units from Amazon's next batch of stock. [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.  

WandaVision: New Posters Released for Upcoming Marvel Series

Disney+ has released a batch of new posters for Marvel's WandaVision ahead of the series' debut early next year. The images emerged on the show's official Twitter account over the past few days, with each new poster teasing the various eras of sitcoms that the show is said to reference - from the black and white '50s/early '60s era to the groovier '60s/'70s period and the classic '80s/"TGIF" '90s era, right the way up to some of the more contemporary sitcoms like The Office and Modern Family. The posters feature the show's titular heroes, portrayed by Elizabeth Olsen and Paul Bettany, displayed on ever-changing television sets to reflect different eras. The decor in the backdrop of each poster also alters accordingly, but a tear in the wallpaper/wood panelling in each one-sheet remains the same; it reveals what appears to be some television static, suggesting that everything is not as it seems. Check out the posters below: [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=wandavision-new-posters-released-for-upcoming-marvel-series&captions=true"] Set after Avengers: Endgame, the six-episode series will follow the lives of Scarlet Witch and Vision who are living as a married couple in the suburban town of Westview, where they attempt to hide their "ill-defined and unexplored" powers. The show will cycle through homages to multiple eras of classic television, starting with a full black-and-white episode filmed in front of a studio audience. You'll be able to tune in and watch that first episode when the show lands on Disney+ on January 15, 2021. In the meantime, you might want to surf through IGN's other stories about Marvel's new miniseries — we have the latest images and plot details from EW's cover story, a breakdown of all the House of M Easter eggs hidden in the trailer, and a deep dive into the comics that might have inspired the show. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/09/21/marvels-wandavision-official-trailer-1"] [poilib element="accentDivider"] Adele Ankers is a Freelance Entertainment Journalist. You can reach her on Twitter.

Smash Bros, Splatoon and Other Fan Communities Clash With Nintendo

Over the last weekend, multiple fan communities have vocally criticised Nintendo's approach to cancelling events and serving cease-and-desist orders. The cancellation of an official Splatoon tournament livestream, and the blocking of sale for unofficial, charity-focused Joy-Con designs have become the latest flashpoints in the company's increasingly fractious relationship with sections of its own fans. To understand this weekend's reactions, we need to go back to last month, when Nintendo served a cease-and-desist to the Smash Bros. Melee 'Big House' tournament – one of the biggest events on the Smash Bros. competitive scene's calendar. The cease-and-desist – which centred around the tournament's use of the unofficial Slippi mod to make the game playable online – caused Big House to cancel the event outright. In a statement to Polygon, Nintendo explained that the tournament "requires use of illegally copied versions of the game in conjunction with a mod called “Slippi” during their online event. Nintendo therefore contacted the tournament organizers to ask them to stop. They refused, leaving Nintendo no choice but to step in to protect its intellectual property and brands. Nintendo cannot condone or allow piracy of its intellectual property." The wider Smash Bros. community took issue with the decision, particularly as Big House had been forced to cancel its in-person events due to the COVID-19 pandemic, making the online solution the only safe way to play out the event. Since that decision, the #freemelee hashtag has been widely used on Twitter and other social media services to protest Nintendo's decision. Cut to this weekend, and the Splatoon 2 North America Open. The official event was due to get a livestream, but the broadcast was cancelled the day before the show was due to go out. On the tournament's official Discord server, an admin explained that the decision was due to "unexpected executional challenges". However, rumours quickly spread regarding the fact that multiple teams competing in the tournament had been entered with names that directly referenced #freemelee, and that this may have resulted in Nintendo pulling the broadcast. Nintendo has not yet released a public statement - IGN's contacted the company for comment. The rumours quickly gained traction, with both #freemelee and #freesplatoon beginning to trend on Twitter, alongside a tidal wave of memes targeting Nintendo's perceived anti-consumer practices. That negative sentiment has brought to light another of Nintendo's recent cease-and-desists. Custom controller designer CptnAlex had created Joy-Con shells themed to commemorate popular YouTuber Etika, who died by suicide last year (with proceeds going to the JED Foundation, a suicide prevention charity). However, the designer was served a cease-and-desist in September, seemingly due to his use of the trademarked term "JoyCon" as part of the design. The story has now been picked up across Reddit and Twitter, causing further criticisms of Nintendo's approach to fan creations and events. In another unfortunate twist for Nintendo, a fan-run Splatoon 2 tournament, The Squid House was subsequently organised, and took donations towards its prize pool. As organisers EndGameTV point out, those donations led to a $25,000 pool, with another $3,000 given to charity - making it reportedly the largest ever prize given for a Splatoon tournament, official or unofficial. This weekend marks the latest in a very long line of fraught interactions between Nintendo and fan communities built around its games and products. Smash Bros. has been a particularly long-standing issue, with tournaments, mod use, and Nintendo's stand-offish nature towards its own fighting game community all provoking criticism. [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.

Call of Duty Franchise Has Earned $3 Billion Over the Last 12 Months

Following the launch of Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War, Activision has revealed that the Call of Duty franchise's net bookings have surpassed $3 billion in the last 12 months alone. Net bookings, according to Activision, are "an operating metric that is defined as the net amount of products and services sold digitally or sold-in physically in the period, and includes license fees, merchandise, and publisher incentives, among others, and is equal to net revenues excluding the impact from deferrals." [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/11/17/call-of-duty-black-ops-cold-war-multiplayer-review"] In 2020, Call of Duty's net bookings saw an increase of 80% year-over-year, with units sold through also increasing by 40%. Furthermore, Activision revealed that over 200 million people have played a game in the Call of Duty franchise in 2020. On console and PC, Call of Duty has seen its biggest player count in recorded history for the franchise, and November 2020 was the biggest November ever in terms for monthly players and hours played. Call of Duty: Warzone, which is free-to-play, was a big factor in these numbers and has seen a player count of over 85 million since its launch on March 10, 2020. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=every-ign-call-of-duty-review&captions=true"] Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War has a ton of support on the way, and Season One is set to be released on December 16. This update will include the integration of Black Ops Cold War content into Warzone, and includes new maps, modes, challenges, and 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.

Call of Duty Franchise Has Earned $3 Billion Over the Last 12 Months

Following the launch of Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War, Activision has revealed that the Call of Duty franchise's net bookings have surpassed $3 billion in the last 12 months alone. Net bookings, according to Activision, are "an operating metric that is defined as the net amount of products and services sold digitally or sold-in physically in the period, and includes license fees, merchandise, and publisher incentives, among others, and is equal to net revenues excluding the impact from deferrals." [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/11/17/call-of-duty-black-ops-cold-war-multiplayer-review"] In 2020, Call of Duty's net bookings saw an increase of 80% year-over-year, with units sold through also increasing by 40%. Furthermore, Activision revealed that over 200 million people have played a game in the Call of Duty franchise in 2020. On console and PC, Call of Duty has seen its biggest player count in recorded history for the franchise, and November 2020 was the biggest November ever in terms for monthly players and hours played. Call of Duty: Warzone, which is free-to-play, was a big factor in these numbers and has seen a player count of over 85 million since its launch on March 10, 2020. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=every-ign-call-of-duty-review&captions=true"] Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War has a ton of support on the way, and Season One is set to be released on December 16. This update will include the integration of Black Ops Cold War content into Warzone, and includes new maps, modes, challenges, and 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.

Robert Kirkman’s Invincible Adds Mahershala Ali, Jon Hamm, and More

During Amazon Prime Video's panel at CCXP Worlds, the streamer announced several additions to the voice cast for Robert Kirkman's Invincible, which is set to debut as an eight-episode, hour-long animated series in 2021. The names revealed were Oscar-winner Mahershala Ali as Titan, Emmy-winner Jon Hamm as Steve, Clancy Brown as Damien Darkblood, Nicole Byer as Vanessa & Fiona, Jeffrey Donovan as Machine Head, Jonathan Groff as Rick Sheridan, Djimon Hounsou as Martian Emperor, and Ezra Miller as D.A. Sinclair. They will join a voice cast which already includes J.K. Simmons, Steven Yeun, Sandra Oh, Seth Rogen, Gillian Jacobs, Andrew Rannells, Zazie Beetz, Mark Hamill, Zachary Quinto, Khary Payton, Walton Goggins, Jason Mantzoukas, Mae Whitman, Chris Diamantopoulos, Melise, and Kevin Michael Richardson. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/10/08/invincible-official-teaser-trailer-2021-steven-yeun-jk-simmons"] An adult animated superhero show, Invincible revolves around seventeen-year-old Mark Grayson (Yeun), who’s just like every other guy his age — except that his father is the most powerful superhero on the planet, Omni-Man (Simmons). Simon Racioppa (Teen Titans) is serving as showrunner, with Justin and Chris Copeland (Ultimate Spider-Man) as supervising directors. Kirkman, Racioppa, David Alpert (The Walking Dead), and Catherine Winder (Star Wars: The Clone Wars) are executive producing. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/11/25/why-invincible-could-follow-the-boys-as-tvs-next-superhero-obsession"] Looking get caught up on the Kirkman comic series that Invincible is based on? Check out this Invincible explainer to learn all about Mark Grayson's NSFW superhero journey. You can also take a look at all the Invincible character designs for the new show from original comic series artist Cory Walker. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=how-invincible-became-a-modern-superhero-icon&captions=true"]

Robert Kirkman’s Invincible Adds Mahershala Ali, Jon Hamm, and More

During Amazon Prime Video's panel at CCXP Worlds, the streamer announced several additions to the voice cast for Robert Kirkman's Invincible, which is set to debut as an eight-episode, hour-long animated series in 2021. The names revealed were Oscar-winner Mahershala Ali as Titan, Emmy-winner Jon Hamm as Steve, Clancy Brown as Damien Darkblood, Nicole Byer as Vanessa & Fiona, Jeffrey Donovan as Machine Head, Jonathan Groff as Rick Sheridan, Djimon Hounsou as Martian Emperor, and Ezra Miller as D.A. Sinclair. They will join a voice cast which already includes J.K. Simmons, Steven Yeun, Sandra Oh, Seth Rogen, Gillian Jacobs, Andrew Rannells, Zazie Beetz, Mark Hamill, Zachary Quinto, Khary Payton, Walton Goggins, Jason Mantzoukas, Mae Whitman, Chris Diamantopoulos, Melise, and Kevin Michael Richardson. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/10/08/invincible-official-teaser-trailer-2021-steven-yeun-jk-simmons"] An adult animated superhero show, Invincible revolves around seventeen-year-old Mark Grayson (Yeun), who’s just like every other guy his age — except that his father is the most powerful superhero on the planet, Omni-Man (Simmons). Simon Racioppa (Teen Titans) is serving as showrunner, with Justin and Chris Copeland (Ultimate Spider-Man) as supervising directors. Kirkman, Racioppa, David Alpert (The Walking Dead), and Catherine Winder (Star Wars: The Clone Wars) are executive producing. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/11/25/why-invincible-could-follow-the-boys-as-tvs-next-superhero-obsession"] Looking get caught up on the Kirkman comic series that Invincible is based on? Check out this Invincible explainer to learn all about Mark Grayson's NSFW superhero journey. You can also take a look at all the Invincible character designs for the new show from original comic series artist Cory Walker. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=how-invincible-became-a-modern-superhero-icon&captions=true"]

First Look at Godzilla vs. Kong Revealed

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

First Look at Godzilla vs. Kong Revealed

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

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

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