Baroness and More G.I. Joe Classified Series Figures Up for Preorder Tomorrow

The G.I. Joe Classified Series, Hasbro's modern 6-inch G.I. Joe collectible figure line, is introducing a new set of figures, including a Cobra Island Baroness with C.O.I.L. action figure and vehicle. Transformers, another Hasbro property is also getting a new figure by way of its Studio Series line: Leadfoot from Transformers: Dark of the Moon. Check out the new Joes and Transformer in the galleries below: [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=gi-joe-classified-target-exclusives&captions=true"] [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=transformers-studio-series-leadfoot-figure&captions=true"] Unlike previous G.I. Joe Classified gems like the Profit Director Destro or the first wave, featuring Snake Eyes, introduced earlier in the year, the newest wave of figures is a Target-exclusive in the US, as well as the Leadfoot Studio Series Transformer. Preorders for the figures go live tomorrow at 9 am ET. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Seth Macy is Executive Editor, IGN Commerce, and rabid '80s kid who just wants to be your friend. Find him on Twitter @sethmacy.  

HBO Begins Casting for Game of Thrones Prequel

HBO has begun the casting process for its Game of Thrones prequel, House of the Dragon. House of the Dragon was ordered straight to series by HBO last October, though word on the series has been quiet since then. Much like the rest of the TV industry, this series likely saw its production scheduling reshaped in light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic but casting has now commenced, according to Entertainment Weekly. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=game-of-thrones-every-major-characters-first-and-last-appearance&captions=true"] House of the Dragon is a prequel set in the universe of HBO's Game of Thrones series, based on George R.R. Martin's Fire & Blood book. Both the book and the HBO series are based on Martin's Game of Thrones book series. The Game of Thrones TV show ended last year and House of the Dragon will be the first venture back into Westeros since that controversial finale. Fire & Blood is a book about the history of House Targaryen and it's set 300 years before Game of Thrones. It covers over 100 years of Targaryen history and sees many a leader rise to fame and fall from grace within it. EW reports its sources say that the famous Dance of Dragons, a civil war between Targaryens, will be a part of the show at some point. It's possible the series could center around Aegon's Conquest, a destructive war that saw Aegon Targaryen usher in the reign of House Targaryen, something frequently referenced in Game of Thrones. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/09/13/game-of-thrones-fire-and-blood-prequel-series-in-development-ign-now"] Ryan Condal, best known for writing the TV series Colony and 2018's Rampage, will serve as the showrunner alongside Miguel Sapochnik, who directed some episodes of Game of Thrones. He will direct the pilot and an unspecified number of episodes afterward. HBO has ordered 10 episodes for the series. It's expected to premiere in 2022. House of Dragons will be the first Game of Thrones prequel series to hit HBO but not the first one announced by the company. An Age of Heroes-focused prequel starring Naomi Watts was set to happen but has since been cancelled. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Wesley LeBlanc is a freelance news writer and guide maker for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @LeBlancWes

Star Wars: Sideshow Goes Big on New Clone Wars Collectibles

Sideshow Collectibles' massive booth displays are always one of the highlights of San Diego Comic-Con. And though there isn't a physical Comic-Con this year, Sideshow is keeping tradition alive by hosting a virtual "Sideshow Con" from July 20-25. In addition to various sales and giveaways, Sideshow is offering a new glimpse at some truly amazing collectibles in the works. From a long-awaited new Silver Surfer statue to the triumphant return of the Star Wars Mythos line, check out the slideshow gallery below to see all the new reveals from Sideshow Con. We'll continue to update the gallery as more announcements are made. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=sideshow-con-all-the-new-marvel-dc-and-star-wars-collectibles-revealed&captions=true"] The Silver Surfer Maquette is easily among the most heavily anticipated Sideshow pieces in a long time, This is Sideshow's first time revisiting that character since the Silver Surfer Comiquette released in 2009. The long-running feud between Marvel and Fox over the X-Men and Fantastic Four properties no doubt played a part in that long drought, but at least Sideshow is making up for lost time now. Sideshow and Hot Toys are clearly focusing a great deal on The Clone Wars and The Mandalorian when it comes to future Star Wars releases. Sideshow recently revived the Mythos line of 1:5 scale statues, and now we've gotten our first glimpse of the new Obi-Wan Kenobi statue. Whereas the previous Obi-Wan Mythos statue and 1:6 scale figure were inspired by his time on Tatooine, this new statue depicts Master Kenobi in his Clone Wars armor. Sideshow is hardly the only company teasing some major new releases during Comic-Con. Recently we've also gotten a glimpse of a massive Marvel Legends Sentinel figure and a hilarious Hot Wheels tribute to an iconic Avengers: Endgame scene. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/07/20/build-supermans-gaming-pc-whats-inside-henry-cavills-beastmode-gaming-rig-ign-news"] Be sure to check out our breakdown of the 24 coolest exclusive collectibles at this year's Comic-Con. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Jesse is a mild-mannered staff writer for IGN. Allow him to lend a machete to your intellectual thicket by following @jschedeen on Twitter.

Logic Quits Rap to Stream on Twitch Exclusively

Logic has signed a deal to stream exclusively on Twitch. Sir Robert Bryson Hall II, the rapper known as Logic and in some cases, Bobby Boy and Young Sinatra, has announced in an interview with The Verge that he has signed a deal with Twitch just days after announcing his retirement from rap. Logic has been streaming on Twitch for a couple of years and in that time, has amassed over 65,000 followers and more than 1.5 million views. Twitch is seemingly banking on those numbers to go up. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2018/10/26/twitch-wants-streamers-to-sing-more-to-their-audience"] "I'm blessed enough to have millions of fans and followers," he said. "So it is a great partnership. I'm going to bring new eyes to their service, they're going to bring new money to my bank account, and — I'm just kidding." Jokes aside, they are bringing new money to his bank account in the form of seven-figures he said. This deal comes just days after Logic announced his retirement from rap. You can check out the announcement below. While it's easy to perceive Logic as a celebrity jumping into one of the most popular video game streaming platforms in the world, fans of him likely already know that he's a self-proclaimed nerd. His 2016 release, Bobby Tarantino, features a song called "Super Mario World" that sounds similar to the tunes of the game of the same name. That same song features a shoutout to Naughty Dog's Uncharted 4. Logic believes Twitch to be a tool to connect fans of his music to his love of gaming. "I think it's a powerful platform that allows me to connect with my fans in the best way possible," he said. "This is the place where if you want to interact with me, you're going to do it here. I'm not going to be on Twitch, having political debates. I'm going to be on Twitch, helping people smile after they've had a day of protesting or political debates, unwind and laugh and smile." He said his music is there if you're looking for his views of the world, something seemingly off-limit on his Twitch channel. His first stream as a new partner of Twitch will happen on July 21 at 5 p.m. PT/8 p.m. ET. Logic will be premiering his new and supposed final album, No Pressure, there before it debuts elsewhere on July 24. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Wesley LeBlanc is a freelance news writer and guide maker for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @LeBlancWes.

Of Course You Can Get the Bugsnax Theme Song on Vinyl Now

After becoming a surprise hit during Sony's PS5 reveal event, the Bugsnax theme song — "ooOoo! Talkin' 'bout Bugsnax" — will be released on vinyl later this year. Performed by the British indie pop group Kero Kero Bonito, "It's Bugsnax!" comes on a custom seven-inch vinyl record in a strawberry-scented scratch-n-sniff jacket. Preorders cost $12 USD on iam8bit, with shipments going out in Q4 2020. [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="573"] Bugsnax on vinyl. (Image: iam8bit)[/caption] The earworm of a theme song debuted alongside Bugsnax during the PS5 event in June. Developed by Young Horses (Octodad), Bugsnax takes players to Snaktooth Island, home to bug-snack hybrid creatures, like the googly-eyed strawberry seen on the album art above. The game itself is a first-person adventure in which you study the behaviors of various Bugsnax, according to Young Horses president Philip Tibitoski. The developer has yet to show off gameplay, though Kevin Geisler, a programmer on Bugsnax, lists Ape Escape, Viva Piñata, Pokemon Snap, and Dark Cloud among its inspirations. Bugsnax will be released on PS5, PS4, and PC this holiday. Head to IGN's PS5 wiki for the full list of confirmed games coming to Sony's next-gen system. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/06/11/bugsnax-announcement-trailer-ps5-reveal-event"] [poilib element="accentDivider"] Jordan is a freelance writer for IGN.

Of Course You Can Get the Bugsnax Theme Song on Vinyl Now

After becoming a surprise hit during Sony's PS5 reveal event, the Bugsnax theme song — "ooOoo! Talkin' 'bout Bugsnax" — will be released on vinyl later this year. Performed by the British indie pop group Kero Kero Bonito, "It's Bugsnax!" comes on a custom seven-inch vinyl record in a strawberry-scented scratch-n-sniff jacket. Preorders cost $12 USD on iam8bit, with shipments going out in Q4 2020. [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="573"] Bugsnax on vinyl. (Image: iam8bit)[/caption] The earworm of a theme song debuted alongside Bugsnax during the PS5 event in June. Developed by Young Horses (Octodad), Bugsnax takes players to Snaktooth Island, home to bug-snack hybrid creatures, like the googly-eyed strawberry seen on the album art above. The game itself is a first-person adventure in which you study the behaviors of various Bugsnax, according to Young Horses president Philip Tibitoski. The developer has yet to show off gameplay, though Kevin Geisler, a programmer on Bugsnax, lists Ape Escape, Viva Piñata, Pokemon Snap, and Dark Cloud among its inspirations. Bugsnax will be released on PS5, PS4, and PC this holiday. Head to IGN's PS5 wiki for the full list of confirmed games coming to Sony's next-gen system. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/06/11/bugsnax-announcement-trailer-ps5-reveal-event"] [poilib element="accentDivider"] Jordan is a freelance writer for IGN.

Mario Kart Tour Finally Adds Landscape Mode

Mario Kart Tour is finally getting a landscape mode. Nintendo's mobile games have been met with financial success but that doesn't stop them from receiving their share of criticism. Since the launch of Mario Kart Tour, players have been wondering why a landscape mode doesn't exist and in turn, asking for one to be implemented. Just two months shy of its original launch day, the game is finally getting a landscape mode. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/09/26/mario-kart-tour-charges-you-money-to-play-as-mario"] "Here's a sneak peek at some of the content that's planned for the next #MarioKartTour update," a tweet from the official Mario Kart Tour account reads. "Players will have the option of racing in either the existing portrait mode or the new landscape mode!" You can check out the new viewing mode in action below. As you can see, the landscape mode will come with a unique control layout to make it feel right at home when playing horizontally. The original vertical portrait mode will still exist for players not looking to switch up the game's controls. Landscape mode will come with the game's next update which is scheduled to hit Android and iOS devices on July 21. For more Mario Kart Tour, read about how the game's last big update brought multiplayer to the game. We updated our thoughts on the game after that update and you can read about that in our Mario Kart Tour review. Despite the apparent financial success of Nintendo's mobile games, it hasn't been enough for the company which is why it's reportedly moving away from the mobile market. If you're jumping into Mario Kart Tour for the first time, be sure to check out the official IGN Mario Kart Tour Wiki Guide. It's filled with how-to guides, things the game doesn't tell you, a guide to all of its challenges and so much more. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Wesley LeBlanc is a freelance news writer and guide maker for IGN. He wrote the Mario Kart Tour guide! You can follow him on Twitter @LeBlancWes

Mario Kart Tour Finally Adds Landscape Mode

Mario Kart Tour is finally getting a landscape mode. Nintendo's mobile games have been met with financial success but that doesn't stop them from receiving their share of criticism. Since the launch of Mario Kart Tour, players have been wondering why a landscape mode doesn't exist and in turn, asking for one to be implemented. Just two months shy of its original launch day, the game is finally getting a landscape mode. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/09/26/mario-kart-tour-charges-you-money-to-play-as-mario"] "Here's a sneak peek at some of the content that's planned for the next #MarioKartTour update," a tweet from the official Mario Kart Tour account reads. "Players will have the option of racing in either the existing portrait mode or the new landscape mode!" You can check out the new viewing mode in action below. As you can see, the landscape mode will come with a unique control layout to make it feel right at home when playing horizontally. The original vertical portrait mode will still exist for players not looking to switch up the game's controls. Landscape mode will come with the game's next update which is scheduled to hit Android and iOS devices on July 21. For more Mario Kart Tour, read about how the game's last big update brought multiplayer to the game. We updated our thoughts on the game after that update and you can read about that in our Mario Kart Tour review. Despite the apparent financial success of Nintendo's mobile games, it hasn't been enough for the company which is why it's reportedly moving away from the mobile market. If you're jumping into Mario Kart Tour for the first time, be sure to check out the official IGN Mario Kart Tour Wiki Guide. It's filled with how-to guides, things the game doesn't tell you, a guide to all of its challenges and so much more. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Wesley LeBlanc is a freelance news writer and guide maker for IGN. He wrote the Mario Kart Tour guide! You can follow him on Twitter @LeBlancWes

Spider-Man: Miles Morales Features Optional 4K/60FPS Performance Mode

Insomniac Games has announced that Spider-Man: Miles Morales will have an optional "Performance Mode," enabling 4K resolution and 60 frames per second. With 4K/60fps coming as an “optional” mode, it seems sensible to presume that some graphical sacrifices will be made from the ‘standard mode’ in order to enable this boosted performance. With next-gen placing emphasis on resource-intensive tech like Ray Tracing, it may be that Performance Mode turns those graphical effects off to free up power and divert that into frame rate. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/06/11/spider-man-miles-morales-announcement-trailer-ps5-event"] IGN has reached out to PlayStation for comment and will update this story should they respond. Spider-Man: Miles Morales was revealed as part of the PS5 event stream, and is a standalone new game that follows on from PS4’s Spider-Man. It sees Miles Morales becoming Spider-Man as a street war kicks off, and will include new Marvel villains and a new set of powers unique to Miles. [poilib element="accentDivider"]

Spider-Man: Miles Morales Features Optional 4K/60FPS Performance Mode

Insomniac Games has announced that Spider-Man: Miles Morales will have an optional "Performance Mode," enabling 4K resolution and 60 frames per second. With 4K/60fps coming as an “optional” mode, it seems sensible to presume that some graphical sacrifices will be made from the ‘standard mode’ in order to enable this boosted performance. With next-gen placing emphasis on resource-intensive tech like Ray Tracing, it may be that Performance Mode turns those graphical effects off to free up power and divert that into frame rate. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/06/11/spider-man-miles-morales-announcement-trailer-ps5-event"] IGN has reached out to PlayStation for comment and will update this story should they respond. Spider-Man: Miles Morales was revealed as part of the PS5 event stream, and is a standalone new game that follows on from PS4’s Spider-Man. It sees Miles Morales becoming Spider-Man as a street war kicks off, and will include new Marvel villains and a new set of powers unique to Miles. [poilib element="accentDivider"]