Team Fortress 2 Community Builds Cheater-Killing Bots

Team Fortress 2’s ongoing battle with cheaters and bots has entered a new stage where there are now bots that will kill other bots. We’ve entered bot war territory. There is now a new type of bot in the Team Fortress 2 scene called “the extermination bot services,” which are scripted to only kill cheaters. They will supposedly only focus on cheating bots and will not bother regular players. Videos of the extermination bot services can be found online. While this evolution in solving Team Fortress 2’s bot problem is a quirky twist, there are lingering issues. Namely, Team Fortress 2 is being overrun by bots, whether they’re cheating aimbots or anti-bot bots. If this escalates, as some players suggest, it could risk flooding Team Fortress 2 with even more bots. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=igns-top-25-modern-pc-games&captions=true"] Team Fortress 2’s cheating woes came to a head earlier this summer when bots began spamming hateful slurs into the game chat. Valve released an update that limits access to the text chat, but that doesn’t solve the aimbots and other bots obstructing Team Fortress 2 matches. It’s unclear if Valve will take a stronger stance against the bot problem plaguing Team Fortress 2. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt T.M. Kim is a reporter for IGN.

LOTR’s Hugo Weaving Has No Interest in Ever Playing Elrond Again

Hugo Weaving wouldn't be caught dead in those pointy ears again. The actor has gone on record stating that he has no desire to play the Elven ruler Elrond again, a character who will appear in Amazon's upcoming Lord of the Rings series. Weaving, who played the Lord of Rivendell in both the Lord of the Rings and Hobbit movies, was asked by Variety if he would be open to reprising the character of Elrond for the Amazon series, which will also feature the familiar characters Galadriel and Sauron. "No way. Absolutely no," Weaving told Variety. The actor was, however, open to playing the villainous Agent Smith again in The Matrix 4 -- which is back in production after the pandemic temporarily shut down filming -- but scheduling conflicts nixed that from happening for him. “Matrix might have happened,” he says. “But Lord of the Rings, no, I would never — I’m not interested in that at all. Look, I loved being in New Zealand with all those great people, and it was like going back to a family but actually, to be honest, I think everyone had more than enough of it.” [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=amazons-the-lord-of-the-rings-every-confirmed-actor&captions=true"] Amazon's Lord of the Rings takes place during Middle-earth's Second Age, a period only briefly seen in the Lord of the Rings movies. In our extensive breakdown of the Second Age, we said the setting "spans a long period of time in between the banishment of Morgoth (the original Dark Lord) and the first defeat of his servant Sauron. The Second Age is defined by key events like the rise and fall of the kingdom of Númenor, the creation of the Rings of Power and the formation of the Last Alliance that temporarily saved the world from Sauron's wrath." The long-lived, half-elven Elrond was the captain and herald of Gil-Galad, the High King of the Ñoldor, during the Second Age. During this time, Elrond fought in the War of the Last Alliance, which saw Men and Elves battling against Sauron. These events were depicted in Jackson's Fellowship of the Ring. [caption id="attachment_2403342" align="alignnone" width="720"]Hugo Weaving as Elrond. Hugo Weaving as Elrond.[/caption] In addition to Morfydd Clark as young GaladrielAmazon's Lord of the Rings series cast includes Robert Aramayo, Owain Arthur, Nazanin Boniadi, Tom Budge, Ismael Cruz Córdova, Ema Horvath, Markella Kavenagh, Joseph Mawle, Tyroe Muhafidin, Sophia Nomvete, Megan Richards, Dylan Smith, Charlie Vickers, and Daniel Weyman. The super-expensive show already has a multi-season commitment from Amazon. Production had begun earlier this year in New Zealand before shutting down due to the coronavirus pandemic. Filming reportedly aims to resume in September. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/08/19/amazons-lord-of-the-rings-the-second-age-explained"]

LOTR’s Hugo Weaving Has No Interest in Ever Playing Elrond Again

Hugo Weaving wouldn't be caught dead in those pointy ears again. The actor has gone on record stating that he has no desire to play the Elven ruler Elrond again, a character who will appear in Amazon's upcoming Lord of the Rings series. Weaving, who played the Lord of Rivendell in both the Lord of the Rings and Hobbit movies, was asked by Variety if he would be open to reprising the character of Elrond for the Amazon series, which will also feature the familiar characters Galadriel and Sauron. "No way. Absolutely no," Weaving told Variety. The actor was, however, open to playing the villainous Agent Smith again in The Matrix 4 -- which is back in production after the pandemic temporarily shut down filming -- but scheduling conflicts nixed that from happening for him. “Matrix might have happened,” he says. “But Lord of the Rings, no, I would never — I’m not interested in that at all. Look, I loved being in New Zealand with all those great people, and it was like going back to a family but actually, to be honest, I think everyone had more than enough of it.” [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=amazons-the-lord-of-the-rings-every-confirmed-actor&captions=true"] Amazon's Lord of the Rings takes place during Middle-earth's Second Age, a period only briefly seen in the Lord of the Rings movies. In our extensive breakdown of the Second Age, we said the setting "spans a long period of time in between the banishment of Morgoth (the original Dark Lord) and the first defeat of his servant Sauron. The Second Age is defined by key events like the rise and fall of the kingdom of Númenor, the creation of the Rings of Power and the formation of the Last Alliance that temporarily saved the world from Sauron's wrath." The long-lived, half-elven Elrond was the captain and herald of Gil-Galad, the High King of the Ñoldor, during the Second Age. During this time, Elrond fought in the War of the Last Alliance, which saw Men and Elves battling against Sauron. These events were depicted in Jackson's Fellowship of the Ring. In addition to Morfydd Clark as young GaladrielAmazon's Lord of the Rings series cast includes Robert Aramayo, Owain Arthur, Nazanin Boniadi, Tom Budge, Ismael Cruz Córdova, Ema Horvath, Markella Kavenagh, Joseph Mawle, Tyroe Muhafidin, Sophia Nomvete, Megan Richards, Dylan Smith, Charlie Vickers, and Daniel Weyman. The super-expensive show already has a multi-season commitment from Amazon. Production had begun earlier this year in New Zealand before shutting down due to the coronavirus pandemic. Filming reportedly aims to resume in September. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/08/19/amazons-lord-of-the-rings-the-second-age-explained"]

No, The Batman Has Not Resumed Filming Without Robert Pattinson

UPDATE 2: Contrary to British media reports, The Batman has not resumed production without its star, Robert Pattinson. Although The Daily Mail claimed the Warners/DC film had begun shooting again, working around the recently diagnosed Pattinson, Variety reports that "people on the film team who were in contact with Pattinson are quarantining. The production is still doing contact tracing. It is unlikely that shooting will re-commence until the roughly two-week quarantine period ends." Set construction and prop work continues on The Batman at Warner Bros. Studios in Leavesden. The studio has so far not commented on Pattinson's health, only saying that an unspecified crew member tested positive for the coronavirus and that they have temporarily stopped production on The Batman. UPDATE: The Batman crew member who was diagnosed with coronavirus is reportedly none other than the star himself, Robert Pattinson. According to Vanity Fair, Robert Pattinson "tested positive for the coronavirus, causing filming of The Batman to be halted just days after the superhero drama resumed work at studios outside of London. Warner Bros. would not comment on any individual worker's health." And while the studio wouldn't comment on Pattinson or any other crew member's health, WarnerMedia boss Ann Sarnoff told Deadline: "We’re still in the middle of investigating what is the situation. We’re pausing temporarily for now until we have more information, but we have all the protocols set up to do contact tracing and hopefully get back up into production very soon." IGN also reached out to the studio for comment. Our original report follows. [poilib element="accentDivider"] The Batman has shut down production -- again -- due to the coronavirus pandemic. Warner Bros. announced the temporary work stoppage in a press statement revealing that a crew member had tested positive: "A member of The Batman production has tested positive for Covid-19, and is isolating in accordance with established protocols.  Filming is temporarily paused." [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/08/23/the-batman-trailer-breakdown-riddler-penguin-catwoman-and-no-more-lies-explained"] The Batman first shut down production in England last March when industry-wide shutdowns began due to the spread of the deadly COVID-19 virus. Director Matt Reeves disclosed that filming on The Batman was only about 25% complete at the time of the March stoppage. Since then, The Batman made a huge splash at August's DC FanDome, revealing the movie's intense first trailer that left us wondering about its mysterious villain and the whereabouts of the Joker, while also clarifying when it's set. Here's how you can help, and stay safe, during the coronavirus pandemic. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=the-batman-official-trailer-1-stills&captions=true"]

Gotham Knights: Heroes’ Different Combat Styles Explained

WB Games Montréal has explained a little more about the different combat styles of its four heroes, Red Hood, Nightwing, Robin, and Batgirl. In a previous interview with IGN, creative director Patrick Redding made clear that all four characters would use melee and ranged weaponry, as well as special abilities. In a new interview summarised by the PlayStation Blog, Redding explained how, despite the similar set-up, the four characters would fight differently. "Red Hood is a brutal brawler with a focus on gunplay. Nightwing’s acrobatics lead to a more exaggerated style of fighting, while the current Robin favours stealth and is a dab hand at using status effects to disrupt enemies. And Batgirl? 'She combines a laser-focused, targeted and efficient melee fighter approach with a lot of resilience and the ability to weaponize her environment using hacking,' says Redding." [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/7-minutes-of-batman-gotham-knights-gameplay"] While we knew that each character would utilise different weapons, this is our first hint at how the characters' innate strengths will be used in moment-to-moment gameplay. Speaking of those weapons, we've also learned that the neon indicators we saw on each one are actually gameplay-related, rather than simply colour-coded for aesthetic reasons. “It’s a very important platform for us to deliver game information," explained Redding. "Some of those visual effects tell you what damage type you have equipped on your weapons. So it’s a way for the player to receive signs of feedback… that lets them know what protection they have, what they’re going to use against their enemies, both in terms of ranged and melee attacks.” Redding has previously told IGN that players can choose to play as a single hero for the entire campaign, or switch between them by heading to the Belfry headquarters location - different playstyles and status effect-related gear makes clearer the benefit of switching characters, given that some may offer different approaches to specific challenges along the way. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=gotham-knights-6-screenshots&captions=true"]

We've learned a lot about Gotham Knights since it was announced at DC Fandome, from why it's killed off Batman, how it's set in a different universe, and why it definitely isn't a game-as-service.

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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.

Gotham Knights: Heroes’ Different Combat Styles Explained

WB Games Montréal has explained a little more about the different combat styles of its four heroes, Red Hood, Nightwing, Robin, and Batgirl. In a previous interview with IGN, creative director Patrick Redding made clear that all four characters would use melee and ranged weaponry, as well as special abilities. In a new interview summarised by the PlayStation Blog, Redding explained how, despite the similar set-up, the four characters would fight differently. "Red Hood is a brutal brawler with a focus on gunplay. Nightwing’s acrobatics lead to a more exaggerated style of fighting, while the current Robin favours stealth and is a dab hand at using status effects to disrupt enemies. And Batgirl? 'She combines a laser-focused, targeted and efficient melee fighter approach with a lot of resilience and the ability to weaponize her environment using hacking,' says Redding." [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/7-minutes-of-batman-gotham-knights-gameplay"] While we knew that each character would utilise different weapons, this is our first hint at how the characters' innate strengths will be used in moment-to-moment gameplay. Speaking of those weapons, we've also learned that the neon indicators we saw on each one are actually gameplay-related, rather than simply colour-coded for aesthetic reasons. “It’s a very important platform for us to deliver game information," explained Redding. "Some of those visual effects tell you what damage type you have equipped on your weapons. So it’s a way for the player to receive signs of feedback… that lets them know what protection they have, what they’re going to use against their enemies, both in terms of ranged and melee attacks.” Redding has previously told IGN that players can choose to play as a single hero for the entire campaign, or switch between them by heading to the Belfry headquarters location - different playstyles and status effect-related gear makes clearer the benefit of switching characters, given that some may offer different approaches to specific challenges along the way. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=gotham-knights-6-screenshots&captions=true"]

We've learned a lot about Gotham Knights since it was announced at DC Fandome, from why it's killed off Batman, how it's set in a different universe, and why it definitely isn't a game-as-service.

[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.

How to Watch the September Ubisoft Forward

Ubisoft is holding their upcoming press conference, Ubisoft Forward, in September and we have all the info you need to know to tune in. The publisher has already announced some games they will be showing off new details for, including, Watch Dogs: Legion, Hyper Scape, and the recently re-named game, Immortals Fenyx Rising (previously known as Gods & Monsters).

Ubisoft Forward September 2020 Date and Start Time

Ubisoft Forward's September livestream will take place on Thursday, September 10. There will be a pre-show beginning at 11:00am PT, and the main show will kick off at 12:00pm PT, 3:00pm ET, 8:00pm BST. If you're joining in from Australia, the livestream will start at 5:00am AEST on Friday, September 11. ubisofttimes

How to Watch Ubisoft Forward in September 2020

We'll be streaming this event on our homepage and across all of our platforms, including Facebook, Twitter, Twitch, and YouTube. Here's the full list of places to watch Ubisoft Forward. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=watch-dogs-legion-screenshots&captions=true"]

What to Expect from the Upcoming Ubisoft Forward

Ubisoft didn't reveal too much in their blog post on the event, but they did say there will be a Brawlhalla matchup featuring the developers from Blue Mammoth, along with the Ubisoft News team. The teams of The Division 2, For Honor, Ghost Recon Breakpoint, and Roller Champions will also have updates they will share at the 11am PT pre-show start time. For the main show, Ubisoft revealed that updates will be shared for Rainbow Six Siege, Watch Dogs: Legion, Hyper Scape, as well as Immortals Fenyx Rising. Other "yet-to-be revealed surprises" are also in the lineup, along with deep dives for two unreleased games after the main show. Viewers can receive in-game rewards and items if they log into their Ubisoft account during the livestream. [poilib element="accentDivider"]

How to Watch the September Ubisoft Forward

Ubisoft is holding their upcoming press conference, Ubisoft Forward, this week. We have all the info you need to know to tune in, including when it starts and where you can watch it. The publisher already announced some games they will be showing off new details for, including Watch Dogs: Legion, Hyper Scape, and the recently re-named game, Immortals Fenyx Rising (previously known as Gods & Monsters).

Ubisoft Forward September 2020 Date and Start Time

Ubisoft Forward's September livestream will take place on Thursday, September 10. It starts with a pre-show at 11am PT/ 2pm ET/ 7pm BST, and the main show kicks off at 12pm PT/ 3pm ET/ 8pm BST. If you're joining in from Australia, the event is on Friday, September 11, and the pre-show will start at 4am AEST and follow up with the livestream at 5am AEST. ubisofttimes

How to Watch Ubisoft Forward (September 2020)

We'll be streaming this event on our homepage and across all of our platforms, including Facebook, Twitter, Twitch, and YouTube. Here's the full list of places to watch Ubisoft Forward. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=watch-dogs-legion-screenshots&captions=true"]

What to Expect from the Upcoming Ubisoft Forward

Ubisoft didn't reveal too much in their blog post on the event, but they did say there will be a Brawlhalla matchup featuring the developers from Blue Mammoth, along with the Ubisoft News team. The teams of The Division 2, For Honor, Ghost Recon Breakpoint, and Roller Champions will also have updates they will share at the 11am PT pre-show start time. For the main show, Ubisoft revealed that updates will be shared for Rainbow Six Siege, Watch Dogs: Legion, Hyper Scape, as well as Immortals Fenyx Rising. Other "yet-to-be revealed surprises" are also in the lineup, along with deep dives for two unreleased games after the main show. We already know Beyond Good and Evil 2 isn't coming out this year, and in July 2020, it was reported that Ubisoft was rebooting Skull and Bones. Last year, Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot talked about a potential return of Splinter Cell but "on different devices". With that in mind, it's unclear what we'll see but there are plenty of possibilities. Viewers who tune in to the show can receive in-game rewards and items if they log into their Ubisoft account during the livestream. These rewards include 3 XP Boost Tickets for For Honor, a Refract Baton for Hyper Scape, a Year 5 Events Charm for Rainbow Six Siege, and a Ubisoft Forward mask for Watch Dogs Legion. At the first Ubisoft Forward event, the publisher announced Far Cry 6 and gave it a February 2021 release window. Assassin's Creed Valhalla was confirmed for a November 17 release date but that has since changed to line up with the launch of the Xbox Series X and Series S. Crossplay for Brawlhalla and a handful of updates coming to Ubisoft games were announced, as well as a look at some Watch Dogs Legion gameplay. [poilib element="accentDivider"]

Chadwick Boseman: A Tribute for a King Now Streaming on Disney+

The ABC News special Chadwick Boseman: A Tribute for a King – A Special Edition of 20/20 is now available to stream on Disney+. The official Disney+ Twitter account just announced the new addition to its library, which can be found under the "extras" section of Marvel Studios' Black Panther movie. Originally airing on ABC on August 30, the 40-minute special, hosted by Robin Roberts, celebrates Chadwick Boseman's life, legacy, career, and the cultural imprint he made on and off-screen. It features tributes from celebrities, political figures, and fans across the world, as well as special words from those who starred alongside him and knew Boseman best while also shining a light on the medical condition that he privately battled. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=7-milestones-for-black-superheroes-on-screen&captions=true"] The world mourned when it was announced last week that Boseman had died at the age of 43 following a private four-year battle with colon cancer. As well as playing King T'Challa in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Boseman will be remembered for several other iconic roles throughout his illustrious acting career, having played real-life figures such as Jackie Robinson in 42, James Brown in Get on Up, and Thurgood Marshall in Marshall. Those who worked with Boseman, including the community of the MCU, have been sharing their heartfelt condolences and fond memories of the late actor on social media. Black Panther director Ryan Coogler penned a touching tribute to the stalwart star of his movie, saying that he "had the warmest laugh in the world, and eyes that [saw] much beyond his years, but could still sparkle like a child seeing something for the first time." [poilib element="accentDivider"] Adele Ankers is a Freelance Entertainment Journalist. You can reach her on Twitter.

Chadwick Boseman: A Tribute for a King Now Streaming on Disney+

The ABC News special Chadwick Boseman: A Tribute for a King – A Special Edition of 20/20 is now available to stream on Disney+. The official Disney+ Twitter account just announced the new addition to its library, which can be found under the "extras" section of Marvel Studios' Black Panther movie. Originally airing on ABC on August 30, the 40-minute special, hosted by Robin Roberts, celebrates Chadwick Boseman's life, legacy, career, and the cultural imprint he made on and off-screen. It features tributes from celebrities, political figures, and fans across the world, as well as special words from those who starred alongside him and knew Boseman best while also shining a light on the medical condition that he privately battled. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=7-milestones-for-black-superheroes-on-screen&captions=true"] The world mourned when it was announced last week that Boseman had died at the age of 43 following a private four-year battle with colon cancer. As well as playing King T'Challa in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Boseman will be remembered for several other iconic roles throughout his illustrious acting career, having played real-life figures such as Jackie Robinson in 42, James Brown in Get on Up, and Thurgood Marshall in Marshall. Those who worked with Boseman, including the community of the MCU, have been sharing their heartfelt condolences and fond memories of the late actor on social media. Black Panther director Ryan Coogler penned a touching tribute to the stalwart star of his movie, saying that he "had the warmest laugh in the world, and eyes that [saw] much beyond his years, but could still sparkle like a child seeing something for the first time." [poilib element="accentDivider"] Adele Ankers is a Freelance Entertainment Journalist. You can reach her on Twitter.