Call of Duty 2020 Seemingly Being Teased in Call of Duty: Warzone

Call of Duty 2020 is seemingly being teased in Call of Duty: Warzone, as players are reporting a brief glitch/scrambled message appearing in-game that says, "know your history." As reported by DualShockers, players, including @NutterButterAF and Dr_ Diappoint, have encountered this message that also contains a Russian phrase that translates to "doomed to repeat it." Call of Duty Warzone Know your history 0-23 screenshot Call of Duty Warzone Know your history 0-24 screenshot This brief tease can apparently appear at any point in a Warzone match, and it only lasts about 3 seconds. While there is no indication as to whether there will be more hints of Call of Duty 2020 in Warzone, Activision did send a locked crate to members of the press, saying it should not be opened until August 10 at 9am ET/12pm ET/5pm ET. This would suggest we will learn more about this mysterious Call of Duty next week. In late July, a logo on a Doritos bag promotion may have leaked that the title for Call of Duty 2020 will be Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/08/04/call-of-duty-modern-warfare-warzone-official-season-five-trailer"] Last week, Treyarch and Raven confirmed they are the developers on this new game, and that its campaign and multiplayer are currently being tested internally. As for the future of Call of Duty: Warzone, Activision's president Rob Kotich stated that there will be a "very tight integration" between Warzone and this year's upcoming Call of Duty game. [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.

Watch Jared Leto’s Suicide Squad Transformation Into the Joker

Here at IGN we occasionally like to showcase something from geekdom's rich history -- a pop-culture Time Capsule, if you will, that gives us a peek in to the past, perhaps providing a new appreciation for previous projects. If you'd like, please check out the past few Time Capsules: [poilib element="accentDivider"] Suicide Squad is all over the news these days, whether it's the announcement of the new Suicide Squad Rocksteady game, the official logo reveal for the upcoming James Gunn movie (and the upcoming news that's bound to come from DC FanDome), or the renewed interest in an "Ayer Cut" of the 2016 movie, which would feature a ton of Joker footage that got left on the cutting room floor. Or as Joker calls it... the floor. To appropriately celebrate this swirling torrent of Squad-ittude, this week's Time Capsule is a decadent and "damaged" behind-the-scenes look at Oscar winner Jared Leto's transformation into Joker - from the shaving down of his bohemian mane (talk about one bad hair day) to the paring down of the trademark purple suit into a purple trench coat. Plus, you'll get a closer look at the Clown Prince's bejeweled weaponry, metal teeth, and tattoos, like the switchblade-stabbing-a-bat and the skull with the jester hat and the giant one in Comic Sans that reads "POBODY'S NERFECT." Check it out! [youtube clip_id="GDSR2rIN6cI"] Recently, Suicide Squad director David Ayer confirmed an online fan theory regarding the mysterious women in red who appear (to be dead) in the background of some of Joker's flashbacks. Of course, this idea could be something that becomes more evident if we ever get an Ayer Cut with all of Leto's footage set back in its proper place. There's also a helicopter scene where Joker actually pushes Harley out and the part where Joker talks Common's character into taking his own life. And the scene where Joker got away because the Batmobile lost its wheel. In Harley news, both seasons of the Harley Quinn animated series are now on HBO Max. Be sure to read IGN's Harley Quinn: Season 1 review and Harley Quinn Season 2 premiere review. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=batman-villains-who-deserve-movies&captions=true"]

Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson Adds Black Adam Sneak Peek to DC FanDome Teaser

After the full guest list for DC FanDome was released -- revealing creators and cast members from Matt Reeves' The Batman, Patty Jenkins' Wonder Woman 1984, Zack Snyder's Cut of Justice League, James Gunn's The Suicide Squad, Black Adam and more -- Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson posted his own version of the FanDome video. One that featured a quick look at a certain "Man in Black." Check out Johnson's personalized FanDome guest list... It goes by super-quick, of course, but after the lightning bolt rips through the screen, there's a piece of (what looks to be) motion concept art for Black Adam. It shows Johnson, all in silhouette, standing in the ruins of a temple. "THEY NEEDED A HERO. INSTEAD THEY GOT ME," Johnson wrote in his tweet, in anticipation of what he called a celebration of the "DC Multiverse." Recently, it was announced that Noah Centineo had joined Johnson's Shazam spinoff as the DC hero, Atom Smasher. Never to be outdone, Ryan Reynolds unleashed what he called the "Reynolds Cut" of Green Lantern, which used some "judicious cuts" to pare the 2011 movie to 27 seconds (including a shot of the Justice League). [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=every-actor-and-character-confirmed-for-dcs-the-suicide-squad&captions=true"] [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt Fowler is a writer for IGN and a member of the Television Critics Association. Follow him on Twitter at @TheMattFowler and Facebook at Facebook.com/MattBFowler.

Jason Bateman Stepping Behind the Camera for ‘Superworld’

Jason Bateman, who recently produced and starred in HBO's The Outsider, while also receiving Emmy nominations for both The Outsider and Netflix's Ozark, has lined up his next project. THR reports that Bateman, who previously won an Emmy for directing an episode of Ozark, will direct a big screen adaptation of Superworld - a recently released novel by Gus Krieger. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=best-superhero-directors-cuts-you-can-stream-now&captions=true"] Released exclusively as an Audible audiobook, Superworld is set in 2038 and takes place on an Earth populated entirely by superpowered beings except for one man named Iggy Lohman. Iggy’s plight is not helped by the fact that his father, General Lancelot Lohman of the defense agency PEERLESS, is one of the most powerful men on the planet. Suddenly, Iggy finds himself in the crosshairs of Erle P. Van Owen, a megalomaniacal corporate overlord with the astonishing ability to neutralize any superpower. Superworld is described as having a similar tone to that of Pixar's The Incredibles. Mark Perez (Game Night) is writing the screenplay. If you're an Ozark fan, check out IGN's review of Ozark: Season 3, along with this deeper dive into Season 3's ending. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/08/07/dc-fandome-2020-talent-announcement"] [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt Fowler is a writer for IGN and a member of the Television Critics Association. Follow him on Twitter at @TheMattFowler and Facebook at Facebook.com/MattBFowler.

Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout Review – Jelly Bean Gladiators

Battle royales have only been around for a handful of years, and for the most part they've strictly stuck within the same genre of games. Whether you're playing Warzone, Fortnite, or Apex Legends, you're always shooting a gun and running from an encroaching circle, with the differences kicking up in the small variations to their established formulas. Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout, an extremely colorful and whimsical battle royale, is a great example of the genre growing outside of its roots. It's a far more approachable take on the multiplayer format, with simple controls and a variety of mini-games giving this competitive game show as much charm as they do tension.

Playing as one of 60 multi-colored, jelly bean-shaped contestants, you compete in a joyous and comical race to be crowned the winner of Fall Guys' 15-minute matches. Each one is broken up by various mini-games, with handfuls of players eliminated after each one. These games all take on a variety of themes, from straight-forward obstacle course races to frantic team games where you're hoarding as many eggs as you can into a basket. The mini-games make good use of Fall Guys' easy-to-understand control scheme, which lets you jump, dive, and grab with ease. Combined with the adorably clumsy movement animations, charming game show presentation, and suitably electric (and fantastic) soundtrack, Fall Guys will quickly catch your attention both visually and aurally.

The pickup and play nature of Fall Guys is one of its strongest aspects, along with its quick and entertaining games. It's never unclear when you need to jump over a gap or navigate through the hordes of contestants trying to reach the finish line before you. It's the type of game you can play in groups by passing the controller, with no need for a deep understanding of multiple mechanics to enjoy it. Its approachability lets anyone have fun with it, while its stages bring out glimmers of strategy for seasoned players to take advantage of.

Continue Reading at GameSpot

Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout Review – Jelly Bean Gladiators

Battle royales have only been around for a handful of years, and for the most part they've strictly stuck within the same genre of games. Whether you're playing Warzone, Fortnite, or Apex Legends, you're always shooting a gun and running from an encroaching circle, with the differences kicking up in the small variations to their established formulas. Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout, an extremely colorful and whimsical battle royale, is a great example of the genre growing outside of its roots. It's a far more approachable take on the multiplayer format, with simple controls and a variety of mini-games giving this competitive game show as much charm as they do tension.

Playing as one of 60 multi-colored, jelly bean-shaped contestants, you compete in a joyous and comical race to be crowned the winner of Fall Guys' 15-minute matches. Each one is broken up by various mini-games, with handfuls of players eliminated after each one. These games all take on a variety of themes, from straight-forward obstacle course races to frantic team games where you're hoarding as many eggs as you can into a basket. The mini-games make good use of Fall Guys' easy-to-understand control scheme, which lets you jump, dive, and grab with ease. Combined with the adorably clumsy movement animations, charming game show presentation, and suitably electric (and fantastic) soundtrack, Fall Guys will quickly catch your attention both visually and aurally.

The pickup and play nature of Fall Guys is one of its strongest aspects, along with its quick and entertaining games. It's never unclear when you need to jump over a gap or navigate through the hordes of contestants trying to reach the finish line before you. It's the type of game you can play in groups by passing the controller, with no need for a deep understanding of multiple mechanics to enjoy it. Its approachability lets anyone have fun with it, while its stages bring out glimmers of strategy for seasoned players to take advantage of.

Continue Reading at GameSpot

Shang-Chi and The Mandarin Were Almost in Avengers Instead of Thanos

A new book by an executive once involved with Marvel Studios claims that, in an effort to appeal to Chinese markets and investors, Marvel almost introduced Shang-Chi and the Mandarin in a post-credits scene in 2012's The Avengers, nearly a decade before either character would eventually enter the MCU. China was an emerging theatrical market a decade ago and Hollywood was hot to get its product into its theaters. But in order to do so, accommodations would need to be made by the studios in order to appeal to Chinese audiences and to appease the state agencies that promote Chinese interests on screen and can also censor theatrical content. As revealed by former Chinese-based DMG Entertainment Motion Picture Group president Chris Fenton in his new book titled Feeding the Dragon, Marvel Studios' then-Chief Operating Officer Tim Connors had been working with DMG at the time on helping get Marvel films into Chinese theaters and win over the powers-that-be. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=every-plot-thread-the-mcu-abandoned&captions=true"] Fenton recalled in his book that Connors, who currently serves as Senior Vice President at Blizzard, had some "good news" about a way DMG could help tailor Marvel's The Avengers for Chinese audiences, at DMG's expense. "Assuming we pony up more money, [Marvel] did offer [DMG] the opportunity to create a teaser at the end of Avengers for the China market," Fenton claimed. "That would give us a chance to tease a potential character, either The Mandarin or Shang-Chi. It's our decision as to which." Shang-Chi was considered the more appropriate choice seeing as how he's a "good guy." The Mandarin, of course, is Iron Man's archenemy. As Fenton wrote in Feeding the Dragon (via Bleeding Cool):

"The development team in Beijing felt Shang-Chi was the safer role to promote since he was a 'good guy' and a hero, while The Mandarin was clearly a nemesis to Iron Man. Strictly thinking about how the 'Ministry of Propaganda,' which reports directly to the Politburo, would view it, you always wanted the Chinese character to be a good guy or a hero, not a villain. Remember to them, China is good, and the West is bad. The Politburo wanted white-knight messaging. The country was spreading its wings globally, and it wanted to be viewed as a friend to the world, not an agitator or adversary encroaching on long-established borders through an Imperialistic strategy."

This kinder, gentler depiction of China and Chinese characters was a reaction to what Fenton characterizes as "American hubris, and often ignorance," in Hollywood's depiction of the country and its people as antagonists. "Hollywood didn't want to waste the part of a hero on a Chinese actor. But a villain role? No big deal," according to Fenton. "And simply putting Chinese people in a film was mistakenly thought of as the guaranteed price for admission to China's lucrative market. So, studios did it." Ultimately, there was no China-only post-credits scene created for The Avengers, with audiences everywhere seeing both the introduction of Thanos and the shawarma restaurant scene. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2016/05/21/iron-man-3-the-movie-that-never-was-ign-keepin-it-reel"] The Mandarin would later appear in Iron Man 3, but the character was turned into a ruse, with it being revealed -- SPOILERS -- that the terrorist was actually a frontman for the film's actual villain. "The Mandarin" turned out to actually be British stage actor Trevor Slattery (played by Sir Ben Kingsley). The "real" Mandarin was eventually revealed to exist in the Marvel One-Shot short titled All Hail the King, a move which director Shane Black deemed Marvel's apology for Iron Man 3's Mandarin twist. DMG Entertainment served as a production partner with Marvel on Iron Man 3, although their attempt to become an official co-production partner in China didn't pan out. Two versions of Iron Man 3 were produced, one for U.S. and international release and one version specifically tailored to China. The Chinese version featured four minutes of additional footage (not directed by Iron Man 3 helmer Shane Black) that did not go over well with Chinese audiences, with Chinese bloggers and critics calling out the jarring nature and shameless product placement of this localized additional footage. As reported back in 2013, the Chinese version of Iron Man 3 includes "scenes revolving around characters Dr. Wu (played by Wang Xueqi) and his unnamed assistant (played by Fan Bingbing), neither of whom apparently play a particularly necessary role in the movie. There was also the bizarre addition of two advertisements at the top of the film: one for a Yili milk drink that poses the question, 'What does Iron Man rely on to revitalize his energy?' -- Spoilers! It's Yili milk -- and another for a Chinese tractor and crane manufacturer." [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/07/28/why-the-mandarin-could-be-shang-chis-father"] Both the real Mandarin and Shang-Chi make their official MCU debuts in 2021's Marvel's Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. Simu Liu plays the titular Master of Kung Fu, while Tony Leung portrays the Mandarin. In the end, Marvel Studios did find box office success in China. The Avengers was the No. 1 movie of 2012 in China, and nearly every subsequent MCU film has grossed well over $100 million at the Chinese box office since.

Skully Review – Feet Of Clay

It's hard to make a platformer stand out in 2020. Skully, a 3D platformer about a reanimated rolling skull imbued with magic clay that can create and control mud golems, can't shake the baggage of its genre's history. Though it has some distinctive details--like a surprisingly cute, bouncing skull-ball for a protagonist--Skully's mild platforming, item collecting, and puzzle-solving often elicits the feeling that you're just going through the motions. While it isn't without charm or challenge, there isn't enough of it to make a profound impression.

Skully the bouncing skull-ball is actually an elemental avatar created by the earth deity of an isolated island. In his natural form, Skully is a small, quick ball that can roll and hop across forest streams, wind-swept mountains, and lava-filled caves. There's a satisfying kinetic feeling to rolling down a path and picking up speed, which makes gracefully jumping through platforming challenges feel good.

Skully isn't always rolling, though. He also has the power to use pools of mud to create humanoid golems that trade speed for additional abilities. Each of the three golem forms has two skills, most of which are used in very specific ways to get past obstacles Skully can't. For example, the big golem has a punch that can be used to break through walls and a steam attack that can temporarily dispel some enemies.

Continue Reading at GameSpot

Skully Review – Feet Of Clay

It's hard to make a platformer stand out in 2020. Skully, a 3D platformer about a reanimated rolling skull imbued with magic clay that can create and control mud golems, can't shake the baggage of its genre's history. Though it has some distinctive details--like a surprisingly cute, bouncing skull-ball for a protagonist--Skully's mild platforming, item collecting, and puzzle-solving often elicits the feeling that you're just going through the motions. While it isn't without charm or challenge, there isn't enough of it to make a profound impression.

Skully the bouncing skull-ball is actually an elemental avatar created by the earth deity of an isolated island. In his natural form, Skully is a small, quick ball that can roll and hop across forest streams, wind-swept mountains, and lava-filled caves. There's a satisfying kinetic feeling to rolling down a path and picking up speed, which makes gracefully jumping through platforming challenges feel good.

Skully isn't always rolling, though. He also has the power to use pools of mud to create humanoid golems that trade speed for additional abilities. Each of the three golem forms has two skills, most of which are used in very specific ways to get past obstacles Skully can't. For example, the big golem has a punch that can be used to break through walls and a steam attack that can temporarily dispel some enemies.

Continue Reading at GameSpot

PlayStation’s Spider-Man & Marvel’s Avengers

Welcome back to Game Scoop!, IGN's weekly video game podcast. This week we're discussing Marvel's Avengers Spider-Man exclusivity on PlayStation, Pikmin 3 Deluxe, Nintendo's incredible year, PS5 and Xbox Series X release dates, and more. Watch the video above or hit the link below to your favorite podcast service. Listen on: Apple Podcasts YouTube Spotify Stitcher