The next Bioshock may not be taking place in previous settings Rapture or Columbia, if recent job listings are any indication. Twitter user MauroNL3 pointed out on Twitter that the studio behind the next BioShock game, Cloud Chamber, has several job listings that seem to hint at what the team is looking to do with the next game in the series. The listings ask for experience with Unreal Engine 4 and experience in scripted cinematic sequences, amongst other things. The listings also mention a "new and fantastical world." [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=next-gen-buzzwords-explained&captions=true"] "We want you to help us breathe life into a new and fantastical world," several job listings read. "Together, we will set the stage for a stunning narrative and systems-driven experience." The latter part is par for the course of BioShock but the former is what indicates a shift away from Rapture or Columbia, considering the team is specifically looking for people to breath life into a "new" world. A senior cinematic artist job listing mentions "Wes Anderson-like precision and panache in your camera positioning and movements" and the ability to "create and implement systemic, in-game, scripted cinematic sequences." The listings seem to indicate, as you'd expect, that the game will indeed be a first-person shooter like the BioShocks that came before it. "Develop an FPS combat paradigm that is accessible, satisfying, and allows for a high degree of player expression and experimentation within a highly reactive world," a principal combat designer job listing reads. "Look beyond direct conflict, accommodate various play-styles and design encounters that can be resolved through player ingenuity." [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/05/29/the-first-18-minutes-of-bioshock-remastered-gameplay-on-nintendo-switch"] There are a few other details to gleam from these Cloud Chamber job listings. A senior cinematic animator job listing requires a "good understanding of anatomy and caricature" and "exceptional skill in animating the human bipedal figure, organic forms, quadrupedal, and mechanical objects." While the listings seem to indicate the series won't be returning to Rapture or Columbia, the environment-related job listings don't reveal much else. The listings ask for experience with specific software and programs but don't hint at what kind of environment we can expect in the studio's BioShock game. There is a chance that these job listings are for a separate project, however - while all of the job listings make clear that the company is making a new BioShock game, one entry for a senior world designer is looking for someone to work on an "unannounced AAA first-person action game". It's unclear whether the role has been open since before BioShock 4 was confirmed and its description hasn't been updated accordingly, or if Cloud Chamber is beginning work on another game simultaneously. If this news about the next BioShock game has you wanting to jump back into the series where it began, be sure to use our interactive BioShock map to find every collectible, Big Daddy, Little Sister, and more. Be sure to couple that with our BioShock walkthrough, which will help you ensure that you don't miss a beat during your playthrough. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Wesley LeBlanc is a freelance news writer and guide maker for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @LeBlancWes, where you'll see him talk often about how much he loves the BioShock series.

While very much an RPG, Cyberpunk 2077 is also a first-person shooter. Furthermore, it’s a first-person shooter with melee weapons. And if you’ve ever played anything with swords in first-person, you’ll know video games don’t have the best history with that combination. It’s something developer CD Projekt Red is very much aware of, and still working on getting just right. In an interview with VG247, senior gameplay designer Pawel Kapala explained that the studio is not “100% happy" with where melee combat is right now, but believes that in the months leading up to release the team will make the required improvements. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/08/10/cyberpunk-2077-lifepath-choices-trailer"] “We’re spending a lot of time trying to perfect that, and we basically, we’re not 100 percent happy, mostly with visual feedback on the hits, on the melee,” Kapala said. “So, we’re still working on it.” “It wasn’t an easy task, since we basically come from a pedigree of creating TPP games,” he added. “It was also a big part of our development to actually figure out, how do you do melee in a first-person perspective? We’re working on it.” Kapala also acknowledged that the feel of melee combat wasn’t great in the demo presented to journalists as part of the recent round of Cyberpunk 2077 previews, but notes that it’s “much better than it was”. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=cyberpunk-2077-june-2020-screenshots&captions=true"] First person melee is notoriously difficult, and even accomplished games that use it - such as Dying Light and Arkane’s Dark Messiah and Dishonored games - still don’t always feel quite as natural as swordplay in third-person perspective games. Hopefully weapons like the Mantis Blades will feel satisfying in the launch version of Cyberpunk 2077. For more from CD Projekt Red, check out the latest episode of Night City Wire to learn about Legendary Weapons and Lifepaths. You can also check out the first details of the Cyberpunk anime, coming in 2022. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt Purslow is IGN's UK News and Entertainment Writer. 

Second Extinction, the dinosaur-shredding first-person shooter that was first unveiled at the May Xbox Series X event, will be released first into Steam Early Access in September. The development team at Systemic Reaction also unveiled War Effort, a new global meta-game that puts a community-centric twist on the game's three-player cooperative action. “The War Effort reflects the changes in the ongoing fight against the dinosaurs and ensures you’ll always have to stay on your toes. It’s a highly interactive, community-driven environment for players to fight in, letting us create new content that evolves over time,” said Second Extinction product owner Julianne Harty. “The War Effort is an integral part of how we’ll introduce new dinosaurs, missions, and more as a live service experience, and it’s a feature we’re excited to fully flesh out throughout early access.” As you can see in the trailer above, War Effort tallies the stats of player matches and uses them to alter the threat level for future matches, meaning you'll take on various challenging levels of dinosaurs. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=second-extinction-war-effort-screenshots&captions=true"] The development team explained how War Effort works in more detail: "Essentially, the activity of the dinosaurs is constantly monitored and each area gets a Threat Rating - 1 being the smallest, 3 being the highest. These dinosaurs are pretty relentless. If you go squash ‘em down in one area until the threat level drops, they’re going to move to another area and subsequently that threat level rises. It’s like whack-a-mole with claws and gibs." Furthermore, they added, "This Threat Level adjusts each week, and that is one of the things we’ll be looking into as part of Early Access.For us Early Access is not just about what the community does, it’s about how they do it. How are they coping with certain scenarios? What needs tuning? What do they want tuning? It’s also an opportunity for us to find other ways to kill dinosaurs in other modes outside of missions, like a horde mode, and see what people like. It’s a collaborative process and that is why we chose this route." But what exactly do these threat levels mean? "The Threat Level will affect the area’s difficulty first and foremost," the team said. "If you can shoot straight - unlike me - a Threat Level 1 is probably solo-able; a Threat Level 3 would be only recommended for experienced 3-player teams. That’s where co-op comes into its own - you’re going to need that extra ammo pack from a friend (or random) and you’ll definitely need the odd revive unless you want to roleplay Jeff Goldblum’s final act in Jurassic Park. For higher level areas, this will also impact the difficulty of the enemies you encounter, as well as the activities you can perform.  And of course, any areas under the Emergence Event will also change the flavour of the dinos, the environment, the rewards, and even your item effectiveness. It’s important to give players a reason to venture into the depths of our dinosaur hell, so the toughest dinosaurs drop the rarest parts. In turn this dino-loot is exchanged for coveted upgrades." [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/06/10/11-minutes-of-second-extinctions-evil-mutant-dinosaurs"] Second Extinction is also in development for Xbox One and Xbox Series X. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Ryan McCaffrey is IGN’s Executive Editor of Previews. Follow him on Twitter at @DMC_Ryan, catch him on Unlocked, and drop-ship him Taylor Ham sandwiches from New Jersey whenever possible.

Dirt 5 has been delayed by a week, and will now launch on October 16. Codemasters revealed the news on Twitter via the official Dirt account, noting that the game will launch on October 16, 2020 for PC, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, a week later than its original planned release date of October 9. The tweet notes that those who purchase the Amplified Edition of the game will be able to access Dirt 5 from October 13, receiving three days of early access gameplay.

News: #DIRT5 will now launch on Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and PC on October 16, with three days’ early access (Oct 13) for Amplified Edition players.

THANK YOU for all your support and excitement so far – we still have so much more to show you… https://t.co/RjSfJr7LTs pic.twitter.com/Dz4FaWhboZ — DIRT (@dirtgame) August 11, 2020

"Thank you for all your support and excitement so far," the tweet reads. "We still have so much more to show you." Replying to the tweet announcing the delay, Codemasters reconfirmed that a next-gen version of Dirt 5 will land on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X later this year. Players who have already purchased Dirt 5 on PlayStation 4 or Xbox One will receive a free upgrade. In other Dirt 5 news, the voice cast for the game's career mode will be led by Troy Baker and Nolan North. You can check out the official features trailer for Dirt 5 here to learn more about what to expect when it launches later this year. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Jordan Oloman is a freelance writer for IGN. Follow him on Twitter.

DC Comics and DC Universe employees are said to have been heavily impacted by WarnerMedia's recent restructuring, with several high-profile layoffs taking place at both divisions. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the comic book powerhouse experienced a major shake-up on Monday, as sources claimed that "roughly one-third of DC's editorial ranks" faced losing their positions, with editor-in-chief Bob Harris said to be amongst those that have exited as part of the corporate realignment. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2018/09/14/dc-universe-review-is-the-subscription-service-worth-the-price"] Other employees that have reportedly been affected by the companywide layoffs include senior VP of publishing strategy and support services Hank Kanalz, VP of marketing and creative services Jonah Weiland, VP global publishing initiatives and digital strategy Bobbie Chase, senior story editor Brian Cunningham, and executive editor Mark Doyle, who oversaw the rollout of DC's Black Label graphic novels. Amid the streamlining, Jim Lee remains DC Chief Creative Officer. DC Universe, the subscription service dedicated entirely to DC content, is also said to have been impacted by the company's restructuring efforts, with the "majority of staff" reportedly being laid off in a move that insiders claim was "widely expected as WarnerMedia shifts its focus to new streaming service HBO Max," with some DC Universe shows already having made the move over to the HBO Max streaming platform. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=dc-extended-universe-every-upcoming-movie&captions=true"] This news comes less than two weeks before DC FanDome, an "immersive virtual fan experience" that is expected to deliver new announcements and trailers for a variety of upcoming DC movies, TV series, comics, and video games. Virtual panels will feature interviews from the cast and creators of many current and upcoming DC projects, including Wonder Woman 1984, The Batman, The Suicide Squad, Black Adam, and the recently confirmed Snyder Cut of Justice League. The DC-themed online convention is scheduled to begin at 10 am PT on Saturday, August 22. The event will then run for 24 hours and is open to DC fans all over the world. The DC FanDome site will even offer multiple language options, including Brazilian Portuguese, Chinese, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean and Spanish. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Adele Ankers is a Freelance Entertainment Journalist. You can reach her on Twitter.

Update 03/04/2021: Nickelodeon has officially greenlit SpongeBob Squarepants spin-off, The Patrick Star Show, and it will begin to air this summer. A first image has been released. The show will be a sitcom based on a younger Patrick Star, living at home with his family and hosting a talk show from his bedroom. You can see a first image of young Patrick and his family below: [caption id="attachment_2482163" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Source: Nickelodeon.[/caption] Bill Fagerbakke returns to voice Patrick, with Nickelodeon intoducing a number of new characters and cast members in a press release: "Tom Wilson (SpongeBob SquarePants, Back to the Future) as Cecil Star, Patrick's fun-loving, happy-go-lucky dad who always puts his family first; Cree Summer (A Different World, Inspector Gadget) as Bunny Star, Patrick's loving, sea star mom who is a kooky oddball; Jill Talley (SpongeBob SquarePants) as Squidina Star, Patrick's eight-year-old little sister who sees herself as Patrick's executive producer for his imaginary TV show; and Dana Snyder (The Penguins of Madagascar, Chowder) as GrandPat Star, Patrick's genius grandpat, the most intelligent member of the Star family. Summer also voices Grandma Tentacles, Squidward's grandma. "Additional cast members include veteran actors Tom Kenny (SpongeBob SquarePants), Rodger Bumpass (Squidward Tentacles), Carolyn Lawrence (Sandy Cheeks), Clancy Brown (Mr. Krabs), Mr. Lawrence (Plankton)." The Patrick Star show will be the second SpongeBob spin-off series, with Kamp Koral: SpongeBob’s Under Years airing on Paramount+ for the first time today. [poilib element="accentDivider"] SpongeBob Squarepants' best friend is on his way to getting his own spinoff series called The Patrick Star Show, which will see the pink starfish become the host of his own late-night talk show. According to Deadline, Nickelodeon is in the process of finalizing deals for a 13-episode order of The Patrick Star Show, a new animated series coming from the same creative team as the original SpongeBob Squarepants show. [ignvideo width=610 height=374 url=http://www.ign.com/videos/2015/09/25/ign-uk-podcast-299-the-best-90s-tv-shows-to-watch-growing-up] The new series will reportedly center around Patrick and his family, with Bikini Bottom's shirtless invertebrate heading straight for stardom as the presenter of his own late-night talk show, which will apparently be in a similar vein as The Larry Sanders Show and Comedy Bang! Bang! SpongeBob veteran Bill Fagerbakke will continue to voice the main character, but will be joined by "a largely new cast voicing new characters, with SpongeBob cast members expected to make occasional appearances, reprising their roles." No further details were shared about the other cast members that have signed up to dive into the underwater universe, even though the series' voice actors have reportedly already started to record their lines for the project behind the scenes. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=the-25-best-adult-cartoon-tv-series&captions=true"] The Patrick Star Show joins a growing slate of SpongeBob Squarepants spinoffs, including Nickelodeon's Kamp Koral prequel series, which is set to follow the adventures of a 10-year-old SpongeBob during his summer at sleepaway camp. Kamp Koral is scheduled to debut later this year, so while you're waiting for this new series, be sure to check out IGN's list of favourite SpongeBob SquarePants episodes over the past 20 years. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Adele Ankers is a Freelance Entertainment Journalist. You can reach her on Twitter.

Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2 has been delayed to 2021. The news was revealed by the official Bloodlines 2 Twitter account, which posted a statement saying that Paradox Interactive and Hardsuit Labs have delayed Bloodlines 2 in order to "deliver the best game possible," and a "worthy successor to the original Bloodlines game." "Due to the quality bar and ambitions we have set for ourselves, we have made the difficult decision that we need more time," the statement reads. "This means that our goal to release in 2020 is no longer possible. Moving launch is one of the changes we are making to ensure the best player experience possible."

Today we have an important announcement in regards to the release date of Bloodlines 2. pic.twitter.com/M3xR5qOOpN

— Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2 (@VtM_Bloodlines) August 11, 2020

The tweet also notes that we should hear more information about launch timing "and other organizational changes" in the coming months, but a new release date is not set in stone right now. "We understand this will be a disappointment to many of you, but we also appreciate how our ambition is echoed through many parts of the community," the statement ends. Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2 was previously delayed beyond its initial Q1 2020 launch window back in October of 2019. It will now launch at an indeterminate point in 2021 for PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X. You can check out our preview of the game from E3 2019 here. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Jordan Oloman is a freelance writer for IGN. Follow him on Twitter.

With Star Wars Celebration 2020 cancelled, we launched our very own Star Wars Week where to celebrate all things from that galaxy far, far away. From retrospectives that explore Star Wars lore and history to Face-Offs between beloved characters and beyond, we've got a full week of features, videos, slideshows, and more to honor this beloved franchise. Below is a roundup of all the content we published for Star Wars Week. Make sure to let us know in the comments what your favorites are.

A (Brief) History of Star Wars Games

We take a look back at the history of Star Wars games, from the early Atari days to the iconic adventures of the late '90s and into the modern era of Fallen Order and the upcoming Squadrons.

Return of the Jedi Watch From Home Theater With Rahul Kohli and Sam Witwer

For this week’s WFH Theater we watched Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi, and joining us for this digital event were special guests Rahul Kohli and Sam Witwer, a returning duo with a passion for Star Wars that (almost) rivals our own. Check out many of the interesting tidbits to come out of the session, including how Sam Witwer perfected Darth Maul's voice, or watch the full Return of the Jedi WFHT episode.

How the Star Wars Expanded Universe Was Born

Learn how books like Heir to the Empire and comics like Dark Empire helped keep the flame of Star Wars burning after the release of Return of the Jedi -- an era when no new movies were on the horizon. Novelist Timothy Zahn and comic book writer Tom Veitch fill IGN in on how the Star Wars Expanded Universe was created.

9 Infamous Star Wars Rip-Offs

In the wake of Star Wars’ global success in 1977, filmmakers around the world -- from low-budget schlockmeisters to the most powerful Hollywood studios -- tried to cash in on the commercial craze launched by George Lucas. Many of these knock-offs were truly pitiable attempts but there were a few that have achieved a cult (and, in some cases, even mainstream) status of their own. Here are the most infamous Star Wars rip-offs of all time. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=star-wars-rip-offs&captions=true"]

KOTOR 3: Why It Should Happen Now

KOTOR fans are used to heartbreak...but they're still here. This is why now is the time for Knights of the Old Republic 3. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/kotor-3-why-it-should-happen-now"]

LEGO Star Wars Holiday Special Coming to Disney+ in November

Lucasfilm has announced that a LEGO Star Wars holiday special is set to make its way to Disney+ later this year. But will Life Day figure into it...?

Why Some Mandalorians Can Remove Their Helmets While Others Can't

There's a weird discrepancy we have to clear up: Mandalorians like Din Djarin never remove their helmets, while others like Bo Katan Kryze and Sabine Wren seem to do it all the time? So what's the difference? Let's sort this out! [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/star-wars-canon-fodder-why-some-mandalorians-can-remove-their-helmets-while-others-cant"]

The History of Star Wars on TV, From the Holiday Special to Disney Plus

As we wait for The Mandalorian: Season 2, the Bad Batch animated series and other major new Star Wars projects, we explored the colorful and sometimes less than glamorous history of the Star Wars franchise in television, from The Star Wars Holiday Special to the many animated series and beyond. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/08/12/the-history-of-star-wars-on-tv-from-the-holiday-special-to-disney-plus"]

Action Analysis: Empire Strikes Back's Asteroid Chase

The asteroid chase in Empire is more than just another action scene. The sequence sets the stakes for nothing less than the entire Rebellion, with Han Solo, Princess Leia, Chewie and Threepio becoming more than just cool characters fighting with the Rebellion. Watch our Action Analysis of Empire Strikes Back's asteroid chase to learn how, through its action and character interplay, the scene transposes the stakes for the entire fight against the Empire onto the personal stakes of the crew of the Millennium Falcon. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/action-analysis-empire-strikes-backs-asteroid-chase"]

Is Obi-Wan Kenobi the Greatest Jedi of All Time?

There is lots of evidence to suggest Obi-Wan Kenobi is the greatest Jedi of all time but is he really? We take a look at his many duels and battles over the years and examine the ways he learned from them. From Maul to Ventress to Count Dooku and back again, Kenobi takes something away from every one of his engagements. And if you happen to cross him alone in the deserts of Tatooine? We suggest you don't mess with him! [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/obi-wan-kenobi-the-greatest-jedi-of-all-time"]

The Ultimate Star Wars Force User Face-Off

When it comes to the Force in Star Wars, there are some characters who have a better handle on it than others. Our Star Wars Ultimate Force User Face-Off pits characters from all across the galaxy and we’re leaving it up to you to decide who should come out on top. Note: This Face-Off has now ended but you can click through for the results.

Star Wars Saga Timeline in Chronological Order

Now that the Skywalker Saga is finally complete, we've updated our Star Wars movies timeline. It includes The Phantom Menace, Attack of the Clones, Revenge of the Sith, Solo, Rogue One, A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back, Return of the Jedi, The Force Awakens, The Last Jedi, and The Rise of Skywalker in complete chronological order. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/08/10/the-star-wars-saga-timeline-in-chronological-order-through-rise-of-skywalker"] We hope you've enjoyed our Star Wars celebration! [poilib element="accentDivider"]

The Trophy list for The Last of Us Part 2 has been updated and now includes two new trophies referencing additional difficulty settings: Grounded and Permadeath. The Last of Us Part 2 appears to be adding two additional settings in the near future based on these two new trophies. Permadeath, or permanent death, is pretty self-explanatory meaning players will likely only have one life throughout the whole game. Permadeath modes for other titles typically mean players must start again from the beginning if they die a single time. [caption id="attachment_239108" align="alignnone" width="3840"] Screenshot by IGN.[/caption] Meanwhile Grounded is a reference to a mode from the first Last of Us title that was released post-launch. Grounded was an ultra-high difficulty mode that tripled enemy damage, removed the HUD and “listen” ability, and pretty much stripped the world of supplies. Grounded and Permadeath appear to be hardcore features for players who might enjoy an added bit of challenge. The inclusion of these two trophies suggests Grounded and Permadeath will be added to The Last of Us 2 at some point, though it’s unclear exactly when. On top of multiple difficulty settings, The Last of Us 2 features various accessibility settings, so much so that there are too many to list. But some highlights include Enhanced Listen MOde, Skip Puzzle options, various subtitle options, and combat adjustments. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=the-last-of-us-part-2-review-screenshots&captions=true"] Check out IGN’s The Last of Us 2 review for more coverage. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt T.M. Kim is a reporter for IGN.

Update: According to Noah, the new timer for August 14 is just the "first step" towards the Call of Duty 2020 reveal. Meaning whatever premieres at 12 pm ET on Friday will just be yet another puzzle piece building towards the larger reveal.

I just heard directly from Activision.

What we solved today was just the FIRST step of the Call of Duty 2020 reveal.

What comes out on Friday at 12 EST is just the next part.

We go again. pic.twitter.com/KBvu2sPoaR

— NoahJ456 (@NoahJ456) August 10, 2020

[poilib element="accentDivider"] Original Story: IGN received a mysterious crate from Activision that seems to be tied to a new Call of Duty. The crate, which contains a slideshow projector and slides are part of an Alternate Reality game that leads to a website announcing another teaser for a new Call of Duty at 12 pm EST on Friday, August 14, 2020. Last week, Activision sent various members of the press crates with instructions not to open them until Monday, August 10, 2020. However, even after opening the crates there was still a mystery needing to be solved. Check out IGN’s gallery below for the contents of the mysterious Call of Duty crate. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=call-of-duty-mystery-box&captions=true"] Streamer @NoahJ456 appears to be the first person to solve the mysterious ARG with the help of his community. The answer to the puzzle sent treasure hunters to the website pawntakespawn.com/tv where a mysterious timer is set for 12 o’clock. A further look into the source code suggests a reveal is set for Friday, with some kind of video premiere. The teaser is likely for a new Call of Duty game that Activision has confirmed during its quarterly investor calls. The title is developed by Treyarch and Raven Software. The new Call of Duty will integrate the popular free-to-play Warzone mode, but other than that no other details have been revealed. Check back with IGN this Friday where we’ll hopefully have coverage of the next Call of Duty. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt T.M. Kim is a reporter for IGN.