ViacomCBS has announced plans to launch a global streaming service that will feature a "super-sized" selection of content from several of the company's brands. According to Variety, ViacomCBS CEO Bob Bakish expanded on the company's plans for the platform while speaking on an earnings call on Thursday, as he confirmed that the new premium SVOD service will start its international rollout in Australia, Latin America, and the Nordics early next year, with more international markets to follow. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/11/21/cbs-all-access-review-2019"] In many cases, the new platform will evolve from an existing streaming service. For instance, CBS All Access will be rebranded for the relaunch of the new streamer in Australia, and Paramount+ will be expanded to introduce the new service in Eastern Europe, Latin America, and the Nordics. The new SVOD service is expected to target audiences of all ages with a bespoke library of must-see content and exclusive premieres of Showtime titles, including Halo and American Rust, as well as CBS All Access originals, such as Guilty Party and The Harper House. The platform's catalogue of titles will include movies from Paramount Pictures, together with premieres and box sets from much-loved brands, such as Comedy Central, MTV, Nickelodeon, and Paramount Network, as well as originals from ViacomCBS International Studios in some markets. The fan-favourite shows that will launch in the first three initial markets, to varying degrees of exclusivity, include The Good Wife, The Affair, Californication, Deadwood, Dexter, House of Lies, Nurse Jackie, Oz, and the original Twin Peaks. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/11/20/best-streaming-shows-you-probably-never-heard-of"] ViacomCBS continues to accelerate its "momentum in streaming" after teasing the prospect of a "broad pay" platform earlier this year. However, the company has assured that it still has "more than enough content" to "continue to license product selectively to third parties in international markets." For more on the ever-expanding streaming landscape, head over on over to IGN's State of Streaming hub for an easy-read guide that covers all of your streaming needs, including a deep-dive review of the Disney+ platform, a closer look at NBCUniversal's Peacock platform, and a breakdown of which companies are currently winning the streaming wars. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=the-best-tv-shows-of-the-decade-2010-2019&captions=true"] [poilib element="accentDivider"] Adele Ankers is a Freelance Entertainment Journalist. You can reach her on Twitter.

Nintendo's 1st quarter results for its fiscal year ending March 2021 have revealed some impressive details, including that Animal Crossing: New Horizons has sold over 22 million copies, that the Switch has sold over 61 million units, and that Nintendo's net profits year-on-year have grown by over 500%. Animal Crossing: New Horizons, at 22.4 million units sold, has become the second-best selling Nintendo Switch game behind Mario Kart 8 Deluxe's 26.74 million. It has surpassed both Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, which have sold 19.99 million and 18.60 million units, respectively. Animal Crossing: New Horizons was so popular from April to June 2020 that it was played on over 50% of all Nintendo Switch systems sold during that period, on the first day of purchase. Furthermore, Animal Crossing: New Horizons accounted for over 40% of overall sell-through for Nintendo titles in Japan, the US, and Europe for that same time. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=top-25-nintendo-switch-games&captions=true"] Speaking of software, Nintendo also had two new million-sellers released this quarter with Xenoblade Chronicles Definitive Edition and Clubhouse Games: 51 Worldwide Classics selling 1.32 million units and 1.03 million units, respectively. Ring Fit Adventure, which had a product shortage issue from beginning in March, has sold over 4 million copies globally. This was reflected in July 2020's NPD report that saw Ring Fit Adventure jump from #835 to #7 on the best-selling list for the month as stock increased. Another interesting note is that digital sales accounted for 55.6% of total software sales on Nintendo's dedicated video game platforms. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/07/02/best-games-of-2020-so-far"] The success of the Switch's software was mirrored by the console itself, which has now sold 61.44 million units, putting it only slightly behind the NES' 61.91 million units sold. In this quarter, 3.05 million Nintendo Switch systems were sold and 2.62 Nintendo Switch Lite systems were sold. This totals to 5.68 million Switch consoles sold in that time frame, which is a 166% increase year-on-year. Good news for those still looking to purchase a Switch, Nintendo has confirmed that, although the COVID-19 pandemic has caused a lack of supply of Nintendo Switch consoles, the situation has "almost recovered." [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=nintendos-major-franchise-output&captions=true"] Lastly, Nintendo's mobile and IP-related income reach 13.2 billion yen (~$125.16 million USD), which is a 32.7% increase year-on-year. All of these highlights tell the story of Nintendo's net profit reaching 106.4 billion yen (~$1.008 billion USD), a 576.2% increase year-on-year from FY20/Q1's 16.6 billion yen (~$157.37 million USD). As for what the future holds for Nintendo, we don't know too much of its plans besides some undated games, including The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2 and Metroid Prime 4, and the recently announced Pikmin 3 Deluxe, which will be released on October 30, 2020. [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.

A mysterious orange carry case and an odd, triangular device mounted on top of it has been found in Fortnite, prompting speculation that an in-game marketing event for Christopher Nolan’s Tenet has begun.

The hell is this pic.twitter.com/56kIOaJHan

— Rapture (@RaptureIsCool) August 6, 2020

The item can be found at Steamy Stacks, in the Unit 4 building. Head inside and you can faintly hear some music. Break through the ground beneath the unit’s staircase, and then break through the back wall in this underground room, and you’ll find the orange case and mysterious device here. That case looks very similar to the one carried by John David Washington at the 01:35 mark in a trailer for Tenet released last December. The music is also very similar - if not identical - to the music in that same trailer, and so may be a taste of the film’s Ludwig Göransson score. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/12/19/tenet-official-trailer"] Fortnite has already established its link with Christopher Nolan; the Tenet trailer was shown as part of a Fortnite event, and three Nolan movies were shown in full on the game’s map. Events in the game typically roll out slowly over a number of weeks, so it’s sensible to expect this tease to build up to a more substantial Tenet experience. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt Purslow is IGN's UK News and Entertainment Writer.

Netflix's VP of Product, Todd Yellin, has revealed that the streaming service almost selected the sound of a goat for its iconic sonic logo that debuted back in 2015. Speaking on a recent episode of the Twenty Thousand Hertz podcast, Yellin discussed the yearlong process of creating the signature "ta-dum" sound that plays ahead of the company's original series' and films, explaining how the sound designers came very close to adding a totally different, quirkier noise to the end of the ident.

New episode!

#100 | Ta-Dum! It’s Netflix. The never-before-told story behind the most recognizable sonic logo in the world. Plus, their second sonic logo by @HansZimmer that you may have never heard. → https://t.co/etz2omw29Z pic.twitter.com/ohXSgKHHVU — Twenty Thousand Hertz (@20korg) August 5, 2020

"If we were going to do that call-and-response, that creating tension and then resolving it really quickly, I liked the sound of the goat," Yellin admitted on the podcast. "It was funny. I thought it was quirky. It was our version of [MGM's] Leo the Lion. So for a while, we were stuck on that goat sound." The goat never actually made it out of the pen but it was on the shortlist of sounds compiled by Yellin and Oscar-winning sound editor Lon Bender, who ended up creating a more cinematic noise after exploring countless versions, iterations and first impressions of the sonic Netflix logo. "It's a combination of music and of the sound effects of these knocks, which are my wedding ring, which I’m wearing, knocking on the side of a cabinet in our bedroom," Bender said. "In order to add different qualities to it, I sweetened it with other things, which is normal for us in the film-sound industry." [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/08/01/new-to-netflix-for-august-2020"] The Netflix "ta-dum" quickly became one of the most iconic sonic logos of our generation. The ident prefaces all of the streaming giant's original content, which they spend enormous amounts of money on in a bid to stay ahead of competitors in the crowded streaming landscape. In fact, it was projected that Netflix would be spending $17.3 billion on new content in 2020, up from $15.3 billion last year. To get a better sense of what Netflix is getting in exchange for its expenditure, check out everything that is new to Netflix this month to fill up your watchlist, take a look at our rundown of the biggest shows coming to streaming in the second half of the year, and discover more about the very best original movies on the streaming service to listen to that classic "ta-dum" sound again. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=the-best-netflix-original-movies-and-tv-shows&captions=true"] [poilib element="accentDivider"] Adele Ankers is a Freelance Entertainment Journalist. You can reach her on Twitter.

Microsoft has said that it has “no plans” to bring an end to its Xbox Live Gold service, despite having discontinued 12 month subscription options. In a statement sent to The Verge, Microsoft said: “We have no plans to discontinue Xbox Live Gold at this time. It is an important part of gaming on Xbox today, and will continue to be in the future.” [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/08/01/halo-infinite-multiplayer-will-be-free-to-play-ign-daily-fix"] Xbox Live Gold refers specifically to the paid subscription service that provides access to online multiplayer, as well as monthly free games, on Xbox consoles. The recent discontinuation of 12 month Gold subscriptions, as well as the announcement that Halo Infinite will feature a free-to-play multiplayer suite, fueled speculation that paid-for Xbox multiplayer was soon to be discontinued. However, Microsoft’s statement suggests the Xbox Live Gold service will continue. The same statement also states that “There are no changes being made to the experience of the service or Xbox Live Gold,” which means we shouldn’t expect Microsoft to pivot Gold into a slightly different service. It would be easy to speculate that perhaps free-to-play multiplayer may not require a Gold subscription, but that seems to not be the current case. All that we can say at the moment is that Xbox Live Gold will continue, but paid for via monthly or 3-month payment plans. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=confirmed-xbox-series-x-games&captions=true"] With that in mind, it looks like PC players will be able to take advantage of free Halo Infinite multiplayer, as a Gold subscription is not required for Microsoft’s PC games. Xbox players, meanwhile, will likely need a Gold subscription to play a few rounds of Slayer. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt Purslow is IGN's UK News and Entertainment Writer. 

Microsoft has ended Project xCloud's iOS public preview today, August 5, and the limited way it tested the game streaming service on Apple devices, and the fact that it won't be available on those devices for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate users at launch, has put in question what the future holds for Project xCloud and iOS. As reported by The Verge, Microsoft's goal of having Project xCloud launch on iOS alongside Android has had some bumps in the road, mostly due to Microsoft having to "comply with App Store policies." These policies made it so those there could only be 10,000 testers trying out Project xCloud on iOS, and those accepted could only play Halo: The Master Chief Collection. This is in stark contrast to the public preview on Android that featured a wide variety of games to try for free. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/06/13/hands-on-with-microsofts-xcloud-streaming-service-and-halo-5-e3-2019"] In a statement to The Verge, Microsoft confirmed the news, and stated how their focus for the September 15 launch of Project xCloud for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers will be providing the best experience possible on Android phones and tablets. “Our Project xCloud preview TestFlight period has ended on iOS and we are focused on delivering cloud gaming as part of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate to Android customers beginning September 15,” says a Microsoft spokesperson in a statement to The Verge. “It’s our ambition to scale cloud gaming through Xbox Game Pass available on all devices.” Apple has very strict limits on "remote desktop clients," meaning that "apps are only allowed to connect to a user-owned host device or game console owned by the user. Both the host device and client must be connected on a local network, too." [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=confirmed-xbox-series-x-games&captions=true"] There could be a potential workaround with in-app purchases, but this remote desktop client rule could be the big roadblock. While Microsoft hasn't confirmed that this policy is the specific problem with launching on iOS, it is important to note that both Google Stadia and NVIDIA GeForce Now also do not allow for game streaming on iPhones or iPads. Valve's Steam Link app, which is currently is on iOS, took almost a year to be approved by Apple. On the Google Play Store, Microsoft will not have in-app purchases, but it has partnered with Samsung to offer a special version of the Xbox Game Pass app that will "allow Xbox players to redeem tokens and make in-app purchases like buying skins or DLC items in the Xbox Store." [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/07/23/halo-infinite-9-minutes-of-campaign-gameplay"] So, the future of Project xCloud and iOS devices is in question, but considering there are more than 1.4 billion active Apple devices in the world, finding a way to make this work would be a great benefit to so many. If you do have an Android device,your public preview will last until September 11 and Microsoft did reveal some of the 100 confirmed Xbox games that will officially launch with Project xCloud on September 15. Additionally, it also revealed mobile accessories that will help make your experience a great one. [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.

Marvel Studios has reportedly chosen Nia DaCosta to direct Captain Marvel 2. DaCosta's next film is Candyman, Universal's return to the horror franchise, which is currently slated to open theatrically on October 16. "Although the studio met with several individuals, DaCosta seemed to have the edge for some time even as she and others met with Marvel chief Kevin Feige over the weekend," according to Deadline. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/candyman-official-trailer"] Brie Larson will reprise her role as the star-faring superhero Carol Danvers in Captain Marvel 2, which was scripted by WandaVision's Megan McDonnell. The original 2019 film, directed by Anne Bowden and Ryan Fleck, introduced audiences to the kid version of Monica Rambeau. In the Marvel Comics, Monica Rambeau adopted a number of superhero guises through the years, including that of Captain Marvel. Actress Teyonah Parris plays the adult Monica Rambeau in the Disney+ series WandaVision, and she's expected to also be a part of Captain Marvel 2. Parris also stars in DaCosta's Candyman. While Captain Marvel 2 is aiming for a July 8, 2022 release, it should be noted that Marvel's entire Phase 4 release slate has already been overhauled a few times due to production delays caused by the coronavirus pandemic. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=marvel-phase-4-official-lineup&captions=true"]

On this week's episode of IGN's PlayStation show, Podcast Beyond!, host Jonathon Dornbush is joined by Brian Altano, Max Scoville, and Lucy O'Brien to discuss the biggest PS4 and PS5 news around, even as we question whether we'll finally learn about the PS5 price and release date this month. Watch the new episode below! [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/08/05/will-ps5s-big-questions-be-answered-this-month-fall-guys-interview-beyond-episode-660"] Plus, the cast dives into what they're playing, the big PlayStation updates for Marvel's Avengers, and Jonathon interviews some of the team behind Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout, which is now available for PlayStation Plus subscribers! [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=5e30320c-7b56-4ab8-8333-469a99e933e9"] [poilib element="accentDivider"] Jonathon Dornbush is IGN's Senior News Editor, host of Podcast Beyond!, and PlayStation lead. Talk to him on Twitter @jmdornbush.