On a special second episode this week of IGN's PlayStation show, Podcast Beyond!, host Jonathon Dornbush is joined by Max Scoville and Brian Altano to discuss Sony's latest State of Play presentations. Watch the new episode below. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/08/07/state-of-play-reactions-beyond-episode-661"] The cast goes into the PS4, PS5, and PSVR game reveals, what worked, what didn't, and what the future of State of Play can look like. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=every-playstation-exclusive-from-sonys-ps5-event&captions=true"]

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Podcast Beyond! is live every Wednesday. For more on PS5, check out the PS5 full specs list, why we're excited about PS5's 3D audio focus, and an analysis of what teraflops really mean for the PS5 and Xbox Series X. [poilib element="poll" parameters="id=c94f0dcc-4d4a-4e40-9e22-ffb30f8c30aa"] [poilib element="accentDivider"] Jonathon Dornbush is IGN's Senior News Editor, host of Podcast Beyond!, and PlayStation lead. Talk to him on Twitter @jmdornbush.

The purported developers behind Aeon Must Die, a new beat’em up game that was shown off during the Sony State of Play livestream, have gone public with accusations against their CEO for gross mismanagement and IP theft. The publisher, Focus Home Interactive, has also released a statement on the matter. Shortly after Aeon Must Die premiered during the State of Play livestream, reports began circulating that the newly announced title was “stolen” from developers at Limestone Games. A second Aeon trailer appeared on YouTube from a private user with the description: “This trailer was created with abuse, manipulation, theft.” [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/08/06/aeon-must-die-story-trailer-state-of-play-2020"] Among the allegations from the developers that IGN has reviewed include “unbearable work conditions with endless crunch,” legal threats, a failure to establish a dialogue between employees and management, and IP theft. There was also a link to a Dropbox folder meant for media detailing a full list of allegations from the developers against the CEO, Yaroslv Lyssenko. The developers also allege that they’ve notified the publisher, Focus Home Interactive, but claim that the publisher did not help them. In a statement published on Twitter, Focus Home Interactive says that “These grievances are directed at Limestone, their employer. As the publisher of this video game, Focus is carefully looking into these allegations and will draw the necessary conclusions if they are proved to be well-founded, and then take appropriate measures.”

Our statement regarding Limestone Games and Aeon Must Die!. pic.twitter.com/75ldhtp27T

— Focus Home Interactive (@FocusHome) August 7, 2020

Since the allegations have gone public, Limestone’s official website includes a link to a new company Twitter account that only has a single link to the same Dropbox folder containing the allegations of abuse. Focus Home says no further comment will be shared until the publisher as a “clearer and complete view on this matter.” [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt T.M. Kim is a reporter for IGN.

Facebook has released a limited version of its dedicated gaming app on iOS. Due to Apple's App Store guidelines, users will be limited to engaging with livestreams — the mini-game functionality has been cut from the iOS version. In a series of tweets, Facebook explained how "months of submissions and repeated rejections by Apple" led them to "remove instant games entirely from the standalone app." "Citing App Store guideline 4.7, Apple rejected the app claiming the primary purpose of the Facebook Gaming app is to play games," the company wrote. "It’s not. ~95% of app activity on Android is from watching livestreams. We shared this stat with Apple, but no luck." Facebook appealed Apple's decision, a process Apple introduced for app developers earlier this year, but "did not receive a response." Rather than pursue additional appeals, Facebook says it decided to launch the app Friday as is "for livestreamers and fans." "We’ll keep building a games platform," it wrote. "Playing games will always be part of Facebook Gaming whether Apple allows it in a standalone app or not." [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/06/13/hands-on-with-microsofts-xcloud-streaming-service-and-halo-5-e3-2019"] Facebook's public frustration with Apple's policies comes shortly after Microsoft revealed it's facing similar trouble with bringing Project xCloud to iOS. "Unfortunately, we do not have a path to bring our vision of cloud gaming with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate to gamers on iOS via the Apple App Store," Microsoft said earlier this week after ending xCloud's iOS public preview. "Apple stands alone as the only general purpose platform to deny consumers from cloud gaming and game subscription services like Xbox Game Pass," the company added. "And it consistently treats gaming apps differently, applying more lenient rules to non-gaming apps even when they include interactive content." Despite the roadblock, Microsoft says it's "committed to finding a path to bring cloud gaming with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate to the iOS platform." Apple defended its decision in a statement to Business Insider, citing the trust and safety of its customers. It added, "Our customers enjoy great apps and games from millions of developers, and gaming services can absolutely launch on the App Store as long as they follow the same set of guidelines applicable to all developers, including submitting games individually for review, and appearing in charts and search." "Submitting games individually for review" appears to be where Apple finds issue with apps such as Project xCloud and Facebook Gaming, as each game included in Microsoft and Facebook's respective services aren't being individually submitted. To this point, Microsoft noted all xCloud games "are rated for content by independent industry ratings bodies such as the ESRB and regional equivalents." [poilib element="accentDivider"] Jordan is a freelance writer for IGN.

Rockstar has announced the upcoming August 11 update for GTA Online, called the "Los Santos Summer Special."

Hulu has revealed the release date for its revival of beloved 1990s cartoon Animaniacs. The antics begin on November 20. It’s been 22 years since the final, 99th episode of Animaniacs, but 2020 sees the return of the popular show. “Hulu, Amblin Television and Warner Bros. Animation are proud to unveil a brand-new version of the iconic family-friendly cartoon series for the whole family, as the Warner siblings, Yakko and Wakko, and the Warner sister Dot, have a great time wreaking havoc and mayhem in the lives of everyone they meet,” said Hulu in a statement. Yakko, Wakko, and Dot are not the only characters returning for the revival, though. The show wouldn’t be complete without Pinky and the Brain, two lab mice on a quest to take over the world. They’ll be scheming in all 13 of the new episodes. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=the-25-best-adult-cartoon-tv-series&captions=true"] As with the original run, Steven Spielberg returns as executive producer of the series. And the 13 Animaniacs episodes being released in November are just the start; Hulu has confirmed that the show will return for a second 13-episode season in 2021. The revival itself reportedly came about because of a surge of popularity for Animaniacs on Netflix. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt Purslow is IGN's UK News and Entertainment Writer. 

Square Enix and Crystal Dynamics have announced that Marvel's Avengers' PS4 pre-order Beta is available now, hours before it was scheduled to become playable. Marvel's Avengers posted the pleasant surprise on Twitter, saying it's because "We <3 you." The beta was scheduled to be released around 9pm today, August 7, in your local time zone, but it appears all was ready to go a bit early, allowing PS4 players to try out Iron Man, Captain America, Black Widow, Ms. Marvel, Hulk, and Thor. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/08/05/marvels-avengers-final-preview"] Marvel's Avengers' Beta includes four hero missions from the game's campaign, three HARM Room challenges, four War Zones, and 5 Drop Zones. The Hero Missions will take players through the previously shown A-Day event and a bit of its aftermath, all while switching between the heroes that will be featured in the main game. HARM Room are more-or-less wave-based arena challenges that contain 10 waves. War Zones are big open-ended missions with multiple objectives, and Drop Zones are quicker single-objective missions. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=marvels-avengers-character-combat-breakdown&captions=true"] These Drop Zones and War Zones are where you will be able to team up with up to three friends in online multiplayer, however, there can only be one of each hero on a team. We've had a chance to try out Marvel's Avengers Beta, and we said it "has a long way to go. The story and characters are interesting, and I actually can’t wait to see it through. The campaign missions in this beta seemed varied enough, and hopefully, that keeps up. And while live-service games often come with the adage of “it’s not how they launch, it's what they become,” I’m worried that there’s currently very little that would keep my interest to play past the campaign." For more on Marvel's Avengers, check out our comprehensive Beta guide, the best tips and tricks to master the each section, how to get into the Beta, which will open up to more players in the next couple weeks, and how Spider-Man became an exclusive character on PS4. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/08/05/avengers-spider-man-exclusivity-is-good-for-playstation-bad-for-players-opinion"]

Bethesda and id Software has announced a single-player campaign expansion for Doom Eternal as part of QuakeCon at Home.

Introducing the upcoming campaign expansion DOOM Eternal - The Ancient Gods, Part One Full trailer reveal at @gamescom Opening Night Live on August 27. pic.twitter.com/sdFQzGmJ6F

— DOOM (@DOOM) August 7, 2020

A full reveal will come as part of Geoff Keighley's Opening Night Live at Gamescom 2020 on August 27, but the id Software team did reveal that the expansion will be called The Ancient Gods. The story will be split into parts, and we'll see some of Part One at ONL. The story of The Ancients Gods will revolve around an imbalance of power in heaven, and how the Doom Slayer fits into that problem. Presumably by ripping and tearing demons... In addition to the single-player expansion, id Software is also working on updates for the multiplayer side of things, with a ranked competitive mode and other additions. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/03/24/doom-eternal-final-review"] For more from Doom Eternal, check out the news that it'll get a free next-gen upgrade for the new consoles, and read our full review of the game. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt Purslow is IGN's UK News and Entertainment Writer.  

DC FanDome, the online 24 hour event for everything DC comics, is happening on August 22. Today, DC has revealed many of the guests who will be taking part, and the list is humongous. It’s pretty much everyone you could imagine from all areas of DC. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/08/07/dc-fandome-2020-talent-announcement"] The above video features dozens of names, and also includes the caveat of “and many more”, so it’s not even the full list. But among the names are big hitters including Matt Reeves and Robert Pattinson, meaning it looks like we’ll be getting news on The Batman. Zack Snyder is also in attendance, so news on his Justice League cut could also be part of the proceedings. As for other DC talent, expect big stars like Gal Gadot, Chris Pine, and Kristen Wig from Wonder Woman 1984 to be there, along with director Patty Jenkins. Dwayne Johnson is also coming along for the ride, so Black Adam news may be on the cards. James Gunn and Viola Davis are also confirmed, so hopefully that means an update on The Suicide Squad will happen, too. Andy and Barbara Muschietti are also there, presumably to chat with Ezra Miller about the Flash movie. And, of course, it wouldn’t be complete without Harley Quinn herself, Margot Robbie. From the world of DC television, the likes of Kaley Cuoco, Lake Bell, and Alan Tudyk are in attendance from the Harley Quinn show, as well as cast from Greg Berlanti’s Arrowverse shows, including fan favourites Caity Lotz and Grant Gustin. WB Games are also going to be showing off Rocksteady’s Suicide Squad video game, and both Troy Baker and Nolan North are also turning up. Perhaps they have roles in Rocksteady’s latest? And, of course, you can also expect big names from the medium that started it all: the comics themselves. Expect comic superstars Jim Lee, Brian Michael Bendis, Grant Morrison, G. Willow Wilson, Mark Waid, Matthew Wilson, Scott Snyder, and more. Beyond the talent themselves is the list of hosts, presenters, and special guests, which - as before - comes with a “and many more!” caveat. But announced so far are Aisha Tyler, Aline Diniz, Andrea Delogu, Chella Man, Clara Amfo, D-Nice, Damian Molla, Dominik Porschen, Erico Borgo, Estelle, Gaby Cam, Gael Monfils, Geoff Keighley, Gino Quillamor, H.E.R., Jayden Rodrigues, Karama, Lilico, Nyambi Nyambi, Sam Wright, Terry Ltam, Tyrone Edwards, Venus Williams, and Will Arnett. DC FanDome is a 24 hour fan event happening online on August 22. In the absence of a big DC presence as part of ComicCon@Home this year, it seems like this will be the place for any big DC news in 2020. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt Purslow is IGN's UK News and Entertainment Writer. 

Director Christopher Nolan has suggested that Tenet probably has fewer visual effects than a typical romantic comedy. Collider reports that Nolan, who is renowned for his preference of using practical effects over CGI, revealed in an interview with ICG Magazine that his commitment to shooting Tenet largely in-camera resulted in a substantially low VFX shot count. "The visual side of the film is huge in scale, but our VFX shot count is probably lower than most romantic comedies," Nolan told the publication. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/05/22/tenet-official-trailer-2"] In fact, Tenet editor Jennifer Lame estimates that Nolan's big-budget action movie probably has "fewer than 300" VFX shots in its final cut. This figure is low even by Nolan's standards, as Collider notes that it would place Tenet behind Batman Begins (620 VFX shots), Inception (500 VFX shots) and The Dark Knight Rises (450 VFX shots). "Visual effects supervisor Andrew Jackson was responsible for coming up with our safety net," Nolan explained further. "We wanted it all in-camera, but if it couldn't be done, what choices are there in post-production? I like to say Andrew kind of bid himself out of a job because he helped us achieve such an enormous amount practically." Alongside editor Jennifer Lame and visual effects supervisor Andrew Jackson, Nolan's behind-the-scenes creative team on Tenet comprises of production designer Nathan Crowley, costume designer Jeffrey Kurland, and director of photography Hoyte van Hoytema, who made his Nolan debut with Interstellar in 2014 and went on to earn an Oscar nomination for his cinematography work on Dunkirk. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/07/02/a-brief-history-of-time-in-christopher-nolan-movies"] After using extensive practical effects to create the dogfighting sequences on Dunkirk, Nolan opted to push visual effects aside and blow up a real 747 jumbo jet on Tenet, claiming that it was actually "more efficient to buy a real plane of the real size, and perform this sequence for real in-camera, rather than build miniatures or go the CG route." Tenet will be released in 70 international territories including Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Korea, Russia, and the United Kingdom on August 26, and then Canada on August 27 before making ways to select North American theaters on September 3, while it will release in China on September 4, following several delays due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=every-delayed-movie-due-to-coronavirus-so-far&captions=true"] [poilib element="accentDivider"] Adele Ankers is a Freelance Entertainment Journalist. You can reach her on Twitter.