Microsoft CFO Tim Stuart has said the company expects shortages of Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S to continue through the first quarter of 2021. Speaking at the Jefferies Interactive Entertainment Virtual Conference (transcribed by Seeking Alpha), Stuart was asked about resupplying after Xbox Series pre-orders sold out, and explained that demand is huge right now, adding, "frankly, gaming is just exploding". The upshot appears to be that supply won't be able to truly meet demand for some time yet. "I think we'll continue to see supply shortages as we head into the post-holiday quarter, so Microsoft's Q3, calendar Q1 [the period ending March 31, 2021]", said Stuart. "And then when we get to [Microsoft's Q4, April-June 2021], all of our supply chain continuing to go full speed heading into kind of the pre-summer months." [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=confirmed-xbox-series-x-games&captions=true"] Stuart expects to see supply begin meeting demand during that April-June period. "We'll have supply cranking over the next, what, 4, 5, 6 months. And that's when I expect to see really that demand profile start to be met, which will be really, really great." Stuart says he expects to see "real velocity kick up" once both Series X and S consoles are widely available to all. It's clearly been a good launch for Xbox, with Series X and S seeing the largest launch in Xbox history, and the company has promised that more consoles are being made available as soon as possible. If you're still looking for a new Xbox, here's where to buy the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S when they come back online. If you're one of the people with a new Xbox console, here are 7 things to do first with your Xbox Series X. Be sure to check out all of IGN's Xbox Series X guides when setting up your new console. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/xbox-series-x-4-things-we-love-and-3-things-we-dont"] [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.

HBO Max will start rolling out on Amazon Fire devices on November 17, less than six months after the initial launch of the WarnerMedia streaming service. Starting from tomorrow, those that have access to Amazon Fire TV streaming devices, Fire TV Edition smart TVs, and Fire tablets will be able to load the HBO Max app onto their devices. From there, HBO subscribers will then be able to start streaming HBO Max's on-demand vast library of movies and shows, hailing from iconic brands of HBO, Warner Bros., DC, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, and much more. For the rollout, current HBO subscribers through Amazon's Prime Video Channels will be able to log into the HBO Max app with their Amazon credentials at no additional cost. The HBO app will automatically update on Fire TV and Fire tablets to become the HBO Max app, and customers will be able to log in using their existing HBO credentials. New customers can also subscribe to HBO Max in the app. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/05/21/justice-league-the-snyder-cut-official-hbo-max-announcement"] This news comes after many months of negotiations between WarnerMedia and their parent company AT&T with Amazon and Roku, two of the major hardware companies for streaming. While Amazon has been successful in reaching an agreement, there hasn't been any indication of Roku establishing a similar distribution deal with HBO Max at this point in time. "We are very excited that Amazon customers will now be able to enjoy the best-in-class content that lives within HBO Max," said Tony Goncalves, WarnerMedia's Head of Sales & Distribution. "Our continued goal is to make HBO Max and its unparalleled content available to customers across all the devices they love. Fire TV is a favorite among customers and we look forward to working with the Amazon team to engage and grow our existing subscriber base by showcasing all that HBO Max has to offer." "We've worked closely with HBO for many years to bring their great content to Fire TV and to make it easier to discover and enjoy with features like search integration, Alexa and personalized recommendations," added Marc Whitten, Vice President of Amazon Entertainment Devices & Services. "We are excited to continue that partnership with the launch of HBO Max to bring even more incredible content to customers on Fire TV." The HBO Max app is fully integrated with Amazon's compatible Alexa-enabled devices, meaning that customers can navigate the platform's library of content using Alexa voice commands. HBO Max content is also integrated into the universal search on Fire TV, so that content will appear in general searches such as "Alexa, find dramas." Customers can also ask Alexa to start watching specific movies and shows. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=the-dark-knight-trilogy-and-more-dc-movies-and-series-missing-on-hbo-max&captions=true"] If you're not sure where to start, IGN has a complete rundown of everything that was available on HBO Max at launch, with notable highlights including the entire Studio Ghibli collection, all eight Harry Potter films, and a curation of timeless Turner Classic Movies like Gone With the Wind, and Once Upon a Time in the West. Plus, Zack Snyder's Justice League is heading to the service next year. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Adele Ankers is a Freelance Entertainment Journalist. You can reach her on Twitter.

Ubisoft has announced that Assassin’s Creed Valhalla on PC will be updated with achievements, noting that a previous statement from the company saying that achievements were intentionally omitted is “inaccurate”.

[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/09/29/assassins-creed-valhalla-story-trailer"]

Currently, the Ubisoft Connect PC launcher page for Assassin’s Creed Valhalla is missing the section for achievements. When the situation was made the topic of a Ubisoft forums thread, a Ubisoft support staff member responded stating: “Achievements are not not available for this title on PC, and this is an intended change.” They went on to explain that instead of achievements, Ubisoft Connect would offer expanded challenges.

But in an update to that forum post, Ubisoft has stated that the “response above was inaccurate”.

"We are aware that achievements are not available for Assassin's Creed Valhalla players on PC - this was unintended,” says the response. “We are actively working to enable achievements and will keep you updated when more information is available."

[widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=every-ign-assassins-creed-review&captions=true"]

Ubisoft has yet to clarify when achievements will be added to the PC version of Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, but at least players now know that they will arrive sometime in the (hopefully near) future.

For more on Ubisoft’s latest viking romp, check out our pick of Assassin’s Creed Valhalla’s essential skills, how its main location is more real than the writers originally thought, and our full review.

[poilib element="accentDivider"]

Matt Purslow is IGN's UK News and Entertainment Writer. 

An Oxford University study has suggested that playing games could be good for your mental health. As reported by The Guardian, academics from the UK university used gameplay data from Animal Crossing: New Horizons and Plants vs. Zombies: Battle for Neighborville in the study, using psychological questionnaires to find that more playtime led to a greater sense of "wellbeing" in players. This is one of the first instances of researchers using real playtime data rather than asking subjects to report their own hours. "This is about bringing games into the fold of psychology research that’s not a dumpster fire," lead researcher  Andrew Przybylski explained. The study showed that you're a "much happier human being" if you play four hours a day of Animal Crossing, but the team doesn't want to give games a "carte blanche pass" as a result. "I’m very confident that if the research goes on, we will learn about the things that we think of as toxic in games, and we will have evidence for those things as well" [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2018/10/12/hellblade-senuas-sacrifice-dev-creates-mental-health-scholarship"] Przybylski thinks that if researchers continue to take advantage of gameplay data collected by a wider range of publishers and developers instead of using self-reported hours, they will be able to understand more about our relationship with the hobby. "You have really respected, important bodies, like the World Health Organization and the NHS, allocating attention and resources to something that there’s literally no good data on, Przybylski says. "And it’s shocking to me, the reputational risk that everyone’s taking, given the stakes. For them to turn around and be like, ‘hey, this thing that 95% of teenagers do? Yeah, that’s addictive, no, we don’t have any data,’ that makes no sense." In other news, England's top mental health nurse recently asked for game publishers to restrict microtransactions as they may push kids into gambling habits. Last year, the UK's NHS opened its first treatment clinic for video game addiction. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Jordan Oloman is a freelance writer for IGN. Follow him on Twitter.

New RTS expansion SpellForce 3: Fallen God contains a reference to a TimeSplitters 2 Remake but, sadly, publisher THQ Nordic says it's just a joke for now. YouTube user Beyond posted a video showing a French version of the game, in which an in-game merchant sells a TimeSplitters 2 Remake item. The item's description (when translated from French) reads: "It’s finally coming! The iconic shooter, which has stood the test of time to join the era of modern games." It led to a certain amount of excitement, given that we know THQ Nordic sister company Koch Media has plans for TimeSplitters. Sadly, in this case, it's nothing but a joke. A THQ Nordic spokesperson told IGN: "The intention behind those easter eggs was pure fun. When Koch Media and Deep Silver are ready to talk about TimeSplitters, they will make sure to get heard.” We've contacted Koch Media for its own take on the situation. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2018/09/12/7-underrated-gamecube-games-we-want-on-switch-up-at-noon"] That plural on "easter eggs" is notable – the game also includes items for BioMutant and Gothic that imply those long-awaited games have been cancelled, which THQ Nordic also says is untrue. TimeSplitters 2 remains a much-loved FPS, and one we'd love to see on Switch. Since Koch bought the rights to the game, as well as Dambuster Studios (which was previously TimeSplitters creator Free Radical), we've heard very little about its next incarnation, although we know series creator Steve Ellis was brought on to "plot the course" of the franchise, and that the company's been working on ideas for its future. [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.

Zynga has announced that it is opening a brand-new game development studio based out of its Austin, Texas office to work on a "premiere mobile game set in the Star Wars universe." This new studio will be led by industry veterans Jeff Hickman and Matthew Hemby, and its primary focus will be partnering with NaturalMotion, a Zynga-subsidiary, to develop this new mobile title. It is also looking to hire 25 new employees to help bring this vision to life for such positions as Lead Engineer, Design Director, and Lead Level Designer. “As a longtime Austinite, I know firsthand the immense level of talent and creativity that resides in this beautiful city,” said Jeff Hickman, Senior Vice President, Games. “We believe that the Austin talent market is highly compatible with our mission of bringing AAA console visuals and deep, compelling gameplay to mobile platforms." [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=every-ign-star-wars-game-review&captions=true"] While EA may still hold an exclusive licensing agreement with Disney to "develop and publish new Star Wars titles for a core gaming audience," Disney does still retain "certain rights to develop new titles within the mobile, social, tablet and online game categories." That doesn't mean that EA hasn't dipped its hand into the mobile market, however, as Star Wars: Galaxy of Heroes is one of the most popular Star Wars games on iOS and Android and is still supported to this day. While we wait for the reveal of where this new game will take us in that galaxy far, far away, be sure to check out our review of the latest Star Wars game to be released - Star Wars: Squadrons. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/10/01/star-wars-squadrons-single-player-review"] [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.

Capcom has provided an update on the ransomware attack it suffered earlier this month, saying that sales and financial information has been compromised, and that 350,000 pieces of personal information may also have been stolen. Rumours have begun to spread about information for unannounced games being included in the stolen data. In an update on its investors website, the company says that an investigation is ongoing, but explained that, as of November 16, it could confirm that sales reports, financial information, and nine employees' personal information had been compromised. Less certain is personal information for customers and business partners, as logs appear to have been lost during the attack. Capcom says up to 350,000 records for addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, birthdates and more may have been compromised, but explained that none of the potentially stolen data includes credit card information. You can see the full list of compromised and potentially compromised data at the bottom of this story. Capcom says it's begin contacting anyone whose personal information has been confirmed as compromised, and says anyone who wants to inquire about their own information should contact their region's Capcom customer support service. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=every-ign-resident-evil-game-review-ever&captions=true"] The statement comes amid new rumours about the contents of that hack. Stemming from a now-locked 4Chan post, some claiming access to the stolen files have said that, among sales and financial data, the hack includes details of titles scheduled for the coming fiscal year, including PC ports for the upcoming Monster Hunter Rise and Monster Hunter Stories 2, an Oculus VR version of Resident Evil 4, unannounced games with codenames, and more. IGN has not been able to verify any of these rumours as of yet. We've contacted Capcom for comment on both the hack itself, and the rumours, but received no reply at time of writing. Capcom's full list of compromised and potentiall compromised data follows:

1. Information verified to have been compromised i. Personal information: 9 items Personal information of former employees: 5 items (Name & signature: 2 items; name & address: 1 item; passport information: 2 items) Personal information of employees: 4 items (Name and HR information: 3 items; name & signature: 1 item) ii. Other information Sales reports Financial information 2. Potentially compromised data i. Personal information (customers, business partners, etc.): maximum of approx. 350,000 items Japan: Customer service video game support help desk information (approx.134,000 items) Names, addresses, phone numbers, email addresses North America: Capcom Store member information (approx. 14,000 items) Names, birthdates, email addresses North America: Esports operations website members (approx. 4,000 items) Names, email addresses, gender information List of shareholders (approx. 40,000 items) Names, addresses, shareholder numbers, amount of shareholdings Former employees' (including family) information (approx. 28,000 people); applicants' information (approx. 125,000 people) Names, birthdates, addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, photos, etc. ii. Personal information (employees and related parties) Human resources information (approx. 14,000 people) iii. Confidential corporate information Sales data, business partner information, sales documents, development documents, etc. None of the at-risk data contains credit card information. All online transactions etc. are handled by a third-party service provider, and as such Capcom does not maintain any such information internally. Because the overall number of potentially compromised data cannot specifically be ascertained due to issues including some logs having been lost as a result of the attack, Capcom has listed the maximum number of items it has determined to potentially have been affected at the present time.

[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.

As well as his in-game character Johnny Silverhand, Keanu Reeves the actor is also canon in the Cyberpunk 2077 universe. CD Projekt Red Senior Quest Designer Patrick Mills revealed the "lore-friendly" news on Twitter. Mills is referring to a lyric in the new Run the Jewels song 'No Save Point' created specifically for Cyberpunk 2077. In it, Killer Mike raps "That's righteous, huh? Slapping palm, holding a pump - Keanu Reeves, cyber arm under my sleeve." Given that Run the Jewels are appearing as in-universe group Yankee and the Brave, the reference has to be in tune with the game's lore. So how can Keanu Reeves exist in the same timeline as Johnny Silverhand?

The KR lyric is lore friendly. It's an in universe cultural reference to KR, a little known Collapse-era actor who bore and uncanny resemblance to Johnny Silverhand, and in the years following Johnny's disappearance, was frequently mistaken for JS. https://t.co/AxpPvlww97

— Patrick K. Mills (@PKernaghan) November 14, 2020

Mills' explanation is that Keanu Reeves was actually a "little-known Collapse-era actor who bore an uncanny resemblance to Johnny Silverhand." Mills says that Reeves was mistaken for Johnny Silverhand following the Rockerboy's disappearance. What this means is that Johnny Silverhand and Keanu Reeves both exist in the Cyberpunk universe. It's all a bit confusing, but it's a neat nod and a good workaround for the potentially troublesome lyric. Speaking of Keanu, we're due to learn more about Johnny Silverhand in this week's Night City Wire episode. In other Cyberpunk 2077 news, CD Projekt Red recently reconfirmed the game's new December 10 release date after rumours of another delay began to swirl. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/cyberpunk-2077-welcome-to-the-diner-trailer"] [poilib element="accentDivider"] Jordan Oloman is a freelance writer for IGN. Follow him on Twitter.

For those who were able to secure a PS5 at launch and have been playing Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War, there is a chance you may have been playing the PS4 version by accident. As reported by Eurogamer, this issue appears to be affecting certain people who have purchased and downloaded either the Cross-Gen bundle or the Ultimate Edition of Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War, which both include the PS4 and PS5 version of the latest Call of Duty. When you purchase either of these versions from the PlayStation Store, you are able to choose which parts of Black Ops Cold War you wish to download - i.e. Zombies, Multiplayer, Campaign. However, if you choose download all, you will download both the PS4 and PS5 version of the game, and it appears to default to the PS4 version for some playing on PS5. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/11/13/call-of-duty-black-ops-cold-war-campaign-review"] Activision Support has responded to this issue, and has revealed the necessary steps to ensure you are playing the correct version;

1. Highlight the game tile on the Dashboard
2. Scroll down and highlight "Play"
3. Select the 3 dots and open the menu
4. Select “PS5 | Full | Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War”
5. Launch and enjoy!

Eurogamer also notes that there are some instances of people deleting the PS4 version and it causing a download queue bug that prevents the ability to download the PS5 version if it isn't already installed. Reports mention that a factory reset will fix this issue, but hopefully a patch will be on the way shortly. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=every-ign-call-of-duty-review&captions=true"] For more on Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War, you can check out our review of the campaign and our review in progress of both its Multiplayer and Zombies mode. [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 reception to the launch of the remake of XIII has been negative, and its publisher and developer have released a joint statement to apologize and promise that a fix is on the way. The XIII remake's developer PlayMagic and publisher Microids began by saying that "players expectations have not been met by the launch version and we hear loud and clear the legitimate criticism and disappointment." As it stands, XIII's remake has an "Overwhelmingly Negative" rating of 9% on Steam and a 44 on Metacritic, with many noting the numerous technical issues. Additionally, as Twitter user @tomrkobayashi notes, another issue fans have with the game are how the game "removed the comic book style [of the original] and went for something that looks like Fortnite." Microids and PlayMagic also admit that "the pandemic has impacted the game's production on many levels." The team had hoped to have a Day One patch ready to fix all the issues, but the update is "taking more time than expected." PlayMagic is "working hard to solve all the game's issues," and the first update "will be pushed shortly to fix the most urgent issues regarding the controls, frame rate, collisions, rendering and sound." Microids also confirms that it is working on a detailed road map that will highlight the "upcoming free additions to the game content like new levels, weapons, skins and modes for the local multiplayer." [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/11/10/xiii-launch-trailer"] In our review of the original XIII, which was released in 2003 on PC, PS2, Xbox, and GameCube, we said "the character models are quite awesome, but apparently not nearly as much work was done on stylizing the environment as well. XIII has a great story-driven sheen, but at it's core, it's weighed down by some occasional bewildering flaws, in addition to the lackluster weapons and simple combat we usually see in lesser productions." [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.