Xbox Seemingly Now Openly Admitting Xbox Series S Exists Before It’s Announced

Xbox Series S is seemingly now mentioned on publicly available Xbox products, despite not having been officially announced yet. The long-rumoured console - which will apparently take the form of a lower price, lower performance variant of Xbox Series X - has never been officially announced or named by Microsoft, but multiple mentions of the console (and its internal codename, Lockhart) have been found. Now, those buying Microsoft products have found mention of Xbox Series S in their goods - as shown by this Xbox controller, which arrived with a Game Pass voucher that specifically mentions "Xbox Series X | S" (the same console name formatting found on alleged Xbox Series S controller packaging last month): It remains to be seen when Xbox will formally announce the all-but confirmed console, although rumours point to an announcement this month. If the company is now printing public-facing materials with mention of Xbox Series S, that seems increasingly likely. Hopefully, that announcement comes alongside some of the notably missing details about the new range of Xbox consoles, such as release date, price, and Xbox Series X pre-orders. We know that Xbox Series X will be released in November, and an Xbox Series S controller leak seems to point to November 6. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=confirmed-xbox-series-x-games&captions=true"] While Halo Infinite has been delayed to 2021, Xbox is still touting its launch line-up for the new new console(s), with "More than 50 new games planned for this year across generations and optimized for Xbox Series X, including Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, Dirt 5, Gears Tactics, Yakuza: Like a Dragon, Watch Dogs: Legion. With Smart Delivery you only have to buy these games once to play the best versions for your console, across generations." [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.  

Resident Evil Village Will Be Shown During Tokyo Game Show 2020 Online

Capcom has revealed that Resident Evil Village will be shown during Tokyo Game Show 2020 Online, as part of its special publisher broadcast. Revealed on Twitter by the Capcom Dev 1 account, the game will feature during the virtual trade show as part of the Capcom TGS Live 2020 webcast. Broadcast in Japanese with simultaneous English and Chinese interpretation, the live show will feature Street Fighter V Champion Edition on September 26 and Resident Evil Village on September 27. The tweet also acknowledges that Capcom had previously announced that fans would receive an update on the game during August 2020 back when the game was revealed during the PS5 games conference. In other Resident Evil Village news, check out this special developer message from the game's producers to learn more details about the game. If you need a primer on the entire Resident Evil timeline ahead of the game's release, you can check out our article covering the story so far. Resident Evil Village currently has a tentative release date of 2021, and will land on PS5, Xbox Series X and PC via Steam at launch. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Jordan Oloman is a freelance writer for IGN. Follow him on Twitter.

Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War PS4 Beta Release Date Leaked by CoD: WW2

The release date for the Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War PS4 beta appears to have leaked, with early access for PS4 players starting on October 8. As reported by CoD Tracker, details about the Black Ops Cold War beta have been found on the in-game storefronts for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare and Call of Duty: WW2. This post on the Black Ops Cold War subreddit has all the details, noting that "early access to the Open Beta begins on October 8, first on PS4." The leak also confirms that the PS4 version of Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War "plays on PS5 via backwards compatibility when it launches." According to the PS4 Black Ops Cold War reveal trailer, the exclusivity agreement for the beta gives PS4 players access "at least 5 days earlier than any other format," so if this leak is legitimate, it suggests that Xbox and PC players will get the beta on the 13th of September, or perhaps later that week. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/08/27/call-of-duty-black-ops-cold-war-perseus-briefing-cinematic"] According to the listing, those who pre-order any digital edition of the game will get access, and will also receive a Frank Woods operator and assault rifle Weapon Blueprint "for immediate use in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare and Call of Duty: Warzone." We recently learned that Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War will run at 4K 120hz on next-gen consoles. For the lowdown on all of the pre-order bonuses and edition-exclusive content, check out our Black Ops Cold War preorder guide. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Jordan Oloman is a freelance writer for IGN. Follow him on Twitter.

The Astro A20 Gaming Headset is Xbox Series X and PS5 Cross-Compatible

For too long gamers have had to buy multiple gaming headsets if they own more than one gaming console, but the new Astro A20 Gen 2 promises to solve that, being the first headset to work with both the PS5 and Xbox Series X. As with buying any previous Astro gaming headset, you’ll still have to pledge your allegiance to one system by first buying an either green- or blue- tinted wireless gaming headset. However, if you want to use that same headset for the other platform, all you need to do is buy a second wireless dongle designed for your desired console. Not only can you pair the Astro A20 Gen 2 with either console, doing so will unlock system-specific features. When paired with the PS5, the Astro A20 Gen 2 gains an enhanced surround sound mode via the system's Spatial Audio feature. Astro A20 Gen 2 Aside from those platform-specific features, the Astro A20 Gen 2 looks like a solid wireless gaming headset on paper. It is rated for up to 50 feet of wireless range and more than 15 hours of battery life, plus you can recharge it over USB-C. The Astro A20 Gen 2 wireless gaming headset will retail for $119.99, while the Astro A20 Gen 2 USB Transmitter you’ll need to pair to a second console costs just $19.99. The headset and transmitter are slated to arrive this October – both are available for preorder now.

Bringing your old Astro Gaming headset to the PS5

On top of announcing a new wireless gaming headset, Astro also announced a new HDMI Adapter for anyone looking to port an old Astro gaming headset to the PS5. Now this solution is only necessary if your headset required optical audio in to work, which is the majority of Astro Gaming’s older lineup including the A10, A20 Gen 1, A50, and any headset that connected through the MixAmp Pro TR Gen 3 and Gen 4. The Astro HDMI Adapter itself works as a video pass-through that includes an Optical Audio Out port. Astro also promises this adapter won’t introduce any lag or affect the PS5’s ability to put out a 4K 120Hz gaming experience at all. The Astro HDMI Adapter will also release this October for $39.99. Registered Astro users can submit their serial number and email address to receive a $15 discount on Astro’s website. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Have a tip for us? Want to discuss a possible story? Please send an email to newstips@ign.com. Kevin Lee is IGN's Hardware and Roundups Editor. Follow him on Twitter @baggingspam

A Short Hike Review

Hiking in the digital wilderness of A Short Hike is a reminder of the small joys of stretching your legs out on the trails. Its pixelated habitat is saturated with the familiar sights and sounds of the backcountry in real life--like the bubbling of a sluggish stream through the woods or greeting fellow hikers as they trek along the steep edges of grassy plateaus. As a young canary named Claire, one of the first characters you'll come across is a pint-sized frog at the beach in Hawk Peak Provincial Park, who's clearly struggling with building a sandcastle. Her problem, unfortunately, is that she's heaving a full-sized shovel about, a clunky tool unfit for the refined job of sand sculpting. You can hand her a toy shovel, and over time, see her modest sandcastle gradually expand into a sprawling sand empire--simply a charming, heart-swelling sight.

This is just one of the many minute scenes you'll embrace in A Short Hike, an exploration title about trudging across a park's hilly terrains and muddy routes. It's a game with a simple, singular objective: Trek towards the summit of Hawk Peak Mountain, as that's the only place with any cellphone reception. While this sounds scant, there are plenty of activities you'll need to busy yourself with in order to get to the top. You can collect seashells and sticks along the way, help other hikers out with their problems, or cast your hook into the tranquil rivers in hopes of snagging a rare fish. Doing these tend to net you some rewards, be it in the form of gold feathers--one of the most essential items in the game--or an assortment of tools and accessories. While some of these are purely cosmetic, others unlock more abilities for Claire, like the capacity to sprint, fly further, or bounce high on the island's fantastical plants.

No Caption Provided
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It's tempting to see these as mere side-quests to complete, but that defeats the point of these experiences--the real reward is in enjoying the plain beauty of these mundane moments. That's by no means a narrative flaw; it's these small instances that encapsulate the grandeur of traversing through A Short Hike's large, mountainous landscapes. Interactions with fellow visitors, like following along on an anxious painter's journey to seek inspiration in nature, an elusive endeavour even in this picturesque landscape, usually culminate in heartwarming conclusions. Other encounters also make for quietly humorous anecdotes, much like a private joke you recall sharing with close friends.

Continue Reading at GameSpot

A Short Hike Review

Hiking in the digital wilderness of A Short Hike is a reminder of the small joys of stretching your legs out on the trails. Its pixelated habitat is saturated with the familiar sights and sounds of the backcountry in real life--like the bubbling of a sluggish stream through the woods or greeting fellow hikers as they trek along the steep edges of grassy plateaus. As a young canary named Claire, one of the first characters you'll come across is a pint-sized frog at the beach in Hawk Peak Provincial Park, who's clearly struggling with building a sandcastle. Her problem, unfortunately, is that she's heaving a full-sized shovel about, a clunky tool unfit for the refined job of sand sculpting. You can hand her a toy shovel, and over time, see her modest sandcastle gradually expand into a sprawling sand empire--simply a charming, heart-swelling sight.

This is just one of the many minute scenes you'll embrace in A Short Hike, an exploration title about trudging across a park's hilly terrains and muddy routes. It's a game with a simple, singular objective: Trek towards the summit of Hawk Peak Mountain, as that's the only place with any cellphone reception. While this sounds scant, there are plenty of activities you'll need to busy yourself with in order to get to the top. You can collect seashells and sticks along the way, help other hikers out with their problems, or cast your hook into the tranquil rivers in hopes of snagging a rare fish. Doing these tend to net you some rewards, be it in the form of gold feathers--one of the most essential items in the game--or an assortment of tools and accessories. While some of these are purely cosmetic, others unlock more abilities for Claire, like the capacity to sprint, fly further, or bounce high on the island's fantastical plants.

No Caption Provided
Gallery image 1Gallery image 2Gallery image 3Gallery image 4Gallery image 5Gallery image 6Gallery image 7Gallery image 8Gallery image 9Gallery image 10

It's tempting to see these as mere side-quests to complete, but that defeats the point of these experiences--the real reward is in enjoying the plain beauty of these mundane moments. That's by no means a narrative flaw; it's these small instances that encapsulate the grandeur of traversing through A Short Hike's large, mountainous landscapes. Interactions with fellow visitors, like following along on an anxious painter's journey to seek inspiration in nature, an elusive endeavour even in this picturesque landscape, usually culminate in heartwarming conclusions. Other encounters also make for quietly humorous anecdotes, much like a private joke you recall sharing with close friends.

Continue Reading at GameSpot

Fortnite vs. Apple: Parody Ad Disappoints Original Director, Ridley Scott

When Epic Games launched its legal action against Apple over alleged ‘anticompetitive’ behavior in the App Store, the developers of Fortnite created a shot-for-shot remake of the famous “1984” Apple Super Bowl commercial directed by Ridley Scott. IGN spoke with Scott about Epic’s homage in a recent interview and while Scott feels the Fortnite ad was well produced, he believes the message should have been about a more powerful topic. IGN asked Scott, director of critically acclaimed films like Alien, Gladiator, and Black Hawk Down, if he has seen the Epic remake of his famous Apple “1984” commercial. “I sure have and I wrote to them because on the one hand I can be fully complimented by the fact they copied [my commercial] shot for shot,” Scott says. “But pity the message is so ordinary when they could have been talking about democracy or more powerful things… And they didn’t use it.” Scott added, “I think the animation was terrific, the idea was terrific, the message was ‘ehh’.” [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/08/13/fortnite-1984-apple-parody-video-short"] “1984” is the name of Ridley Scott’s famous Apple commercial which aired nationally during Super Bowl 18. The commercial was based on the novel Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell and was meant to convey Apple as a rebel against an oppressive regime believed to be IBM. After Epic bypassed App Store rules by implementing its own payment system on the Fortnite iOS app, Apple removed Fortnite from iOS devices. After this, Epic announced a lawsuit against Apple over anticompetitive practices and started its #FreeFortnite social media campaign. As part of this campaign, Epic released its version of Scott’s “1984” commercial, only this time Apple is the oppressive regime, and Fortnite is the rebel. There's even an in-game Fortnite event about the dispute with Apple. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=games-that-came-back-from-the-brink-of-disaster&captions=true"] Apple has countered Epic’s lawsuit, claiming the company broke the App Store rules and has threatened to revoke Epic’s developer account, which will jeopardize not only Fortnite but any iOS game running on the Unreal Engine. Companies like Microsoft have come to Epic’s defense, claiming that revoking access to Unreal Engine will harm more companies and developers than just Epic. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt T.M. Kim is a reporter for IGN.

Project Cars 3 Review – Into The Horizon

Project Cars 3 really stretches the definition of a sequel. It bears no resemblance to previous Project Cars games, tossing aside the franchise's traditional tough-as-nails racing for a more approachable formula that a wider range of players can enjoy. The result is a racing game that leans heavily into territory that should be familiar to Forza players, meaning you can enjoy its racing without extensive knowledge of the inner workings of each car you drive. But it's also a racing game that struggles to bring together all of its new elements cohesively.

Core to Project Cars 3's transformation is its overhauled handling system. You'll have more than enough downforce in the front to bend around each corner with the right amount of car, only briefly having to counter-steer to prevent the back from whipping out from underneath you. It makes racing faster and more action-packed, and it's exhilarating when you're chaining together one perfect corner after the other.

The suite of assists lets you cater the experience to your needs in a granular way. There are standard difficulties to choose from, but each option--including stability assists, traction control, and ABS brakes--can be tweaked independently to deliver the right amount of challenge. Having more options to tune Project Cars 3 to your preferred playstyle is a welcome addition to the series, opening it up to more players than before. There's still just a hint of simulation constantly present that reminds you to still take care of how you approach each turn, which is aided by markers on the racing line pointing out each braking zone and apex. Having markers instead of a dynamic racing line keeps some of the thrill intact when tackling a track for the first time, challenging you to come to grips with its best lines and limits. It's exhilarating to perfect a track after mastering each corner, even if Project Cars 3 sometimes rewards some messy sectors when it shouldn't.

Continue Reading at GameSpot

Project Cars 3 Review – Into The Horizon

Project Cars 3 really stretches the definition of a sequel. It bears no resemblance to previous Project Cars games, tossing aside the franchise's traditional tough-as-nails racing for a more approachable formula that a wider range of players can enjoy. The result is a racing game that leans heavily into territory that should be familiar to Forza players, meaning you can enjoy its racing without extensive knowledge of the inner workings of each car you drive. But it's also a racing game that struggles to bring together all of its new elements cohesively.

Core to Project Cars 3's transformation is its overhauled handling system. You'll have more than enough downforce in the front to bend around each corner with the right amount of car, only briefly having to counter-steer to prevent the back from whipping out from underneath you. It makes racing faster and more action-packed, and it's exhilarating when you're chaining together one perfect corner after the other.

The suite of assists lets you cater the experience to your needs in a granular way. There are standard difficulties to choose from, but each option--including stability assists, traction control, and ABS brakes--can be tweaked independently to deliver the right amount of challenge. Having more options to tune Project Cars 3 to your preferred playstyle is a welcome addition to the series, opening it up to more players than before. There's still just a hint of simulation constantly present that reminds you to still take care of how you approach each turn, which is aided by markers on the racing line pointing out each braking zone and apex. Having markers instead of a dynamic racing line keeps some of the thrill intact when tackling a track for the first time, challenging you to come to grips with its best lines and limits. It's exhilarating to perfect a track after mastering each corner, even if Project Cars 3 sometimes rewards some messy sectors when it shouldn't.

Continue Reading at GameSpot

Will Smith and Fresh Prince Cast to Reunite for HBO Max Special

HBO Max will reunite Will Smith and the cast of the classic sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air for a special in honor of the show's 30th anniversary. Smith's Westbrook Media company is producing the special. Joining Smith will be cast members Tatyana Ali, Karyn Parsons, Joseph Marcell, Daphne Maxwell Reid, and Alfonso Ribeiro, as well as the series' recurring guest and Smith's hip hop partner DJ Jazzy Jeff. HBO Max says the special will also include special guest appearances, music, and dancing. fresh-princeThe special will be recorded on September 10, the 30th anniversary of when Fresh Prince first debuted on NBC. The series ran until 1996. This reunion special isn't the only way Will Smith is revisiting the show that launched his acting career that put him on the path to superstardom. Smith is also exec producing a dramatic series reboot of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. HBO Max is the exclusive SVOD home of the full series library in the US. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=everything-coming-to-hbo-max&captions=true"]