Blizzard Entertainment has just unveiled Hearthstone’s next expansion, Scholomance Academy, and it’s already one of my favourite concepts in terms of flavour to date. After all, what could be a better fit for the whimsical and magical world of Hearthstone than a Hogwarts-style college of magic? And what could be a more Hearthstone-esque twist on World of Warcraft lore than to take a school of necromancy, intimately linked to the Scourge and the Lich King, and founded by Kel’Thuzad, and make it a (mostly) fun-filled place? It checks all the boxes, and Kel’Thuzad as headmaster is the icing on the cake. So far we’ve seen 14 of the 135 new cards, and there are a heap of genuinely exciting designs in the mix. Here are some of the new mechanics and concepts coming in the set.

Dual-Class Cards

Scholomance Academy introduces 40 dual-class cards, and each of these have two specific classes that are able to use them. There are ten class combinations in all, and what makes these exciting is that we get to see what happens when classes are able to build decks that integrate a key mechanic from another class. We find out what happens if Mage can devolve enemy minions, what Shaman can do with ramp, and what it’s like for Mages to pull off Combos and for Rogues to utilise Mage spells. Each class pairing also receives a Legendary professor minion, such as Shan’do Wildclaw (below), which takes advantage of the fact that both Hunter and Druid have beast synergies. [caption id="attachment_2379529" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Crossing the streams.[/caption]

Spellburst

This new keyword is a little like money in the bank. Any minion or spell with Spellburst triggers its effect the next time you cast a spell. Goody Two-Shields’ Divine Shield, for instance, can be re-activated, or you could bide your time waiting to set off Wretched Tutor’s ability. [caption id="attachment_2379532" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Diligent Notetaker has some intriguing combo potential.[/caption] What I love about this mechanic, however, is the counter-play. Unless you trigger the Spellburst on the same turn as you play its associated minion or spell, your opponent knows what’s coming, so can attempt to play around it. We’ve seen a number of other interesting cards, including one from the new “Studies” cycle (below), which are spells that let you Discover a card but then reduce the mana cost of the next card of that type that you play. [caption id="attachment_2379530" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Discover never gets old.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_2379531" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Rattlegore offers incredible value, while Troublemaker is a solid anti-aggro tool.[/caption] Scholomance Academy will be out in early August, and there are a couple of pre-order bundles available now. The Scholomance Academy Mega Bundle is USD $79.99 (AUD $109.95) and includes 80 Scholomance Academy card packs, five additional Scholomance Academy Golden Card Packs, one random Golden Legendary card from the set, the Kel’Thuzad Mage Hero and card back, and a Tavern Pass, which includes four Arena tickets. There’s also the Scholomance Academy Pre-Purchase Bundle, which is USD $49.99 (AUD $66.95), and includes 55 Scholomance Academy card packs, one random Scholomance Academy Golden Legendary Card, and the Kel'Thuzad card back. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/07/14/hearthstone-the-ultimate-value-of-rattlegore"] Anyone who logs into Hearthstone from today (until October 20) will receive two free copies of the epic neutral minion, Transfer Student, which is a two mana 2/2, but “has different effects based on which game board you’re.” Should be fun! [caption id="attachment_2379556" align="aligncenter" width="1266"] On one board this card will be "Reborn," on another “Discover a Dragon.”[/caption] [poilib element="accentDivider"] Cam Shea heads up IGN's Sydney studio and would attend Scholomance Academy in a heartbeat. Check out his behind the scenes look at how Team 5 designed Demon Hunter here, and why not say g'day on Twitter.

Blizzard Entertainment has just unveiled Hearthstone’s next expansion, Scholomance Academy, and it’s already one of my favourite concepts in terms of flavour to date. After all, what could be a better fit for the whimsical and magical world of Hearthstone than a Hogwarts-style college of magic? And what could be a more Hearthstone-esque twist on World of Warcraft lore than to take a school of necromancy, intimately linked to the Scourge and the Lich King, and founded by Kel’Thuzad, and make it a (mostly) fun-filled place? It checks all the boxes, and Kel’Thuzad as headmaster is the icing on the cake. So far we’ve seen 14 of the 135 new cards, and there are a heap of genuinely exciting designs in the mix. Here are some of the new mechanics and concepts coming in the set.

Dual-Class Cards

Scholomance Academy introduces 40 dual-class cards, and each of these have two specific classes that are able to use them. There are ten class combinations in all, and what makes these exciting is that we get to see what happens when classes are able to build decks that integrate a key mechanic from another class. We find out what happens if Mage can devolve enemy minions, what Shaman can do with ramp, and what it’s like for Mages to pull off Combos and for Rogues to utilise Mage spells. Each class pairing also receives a Legendary professor minion, such as Shan’do Wildclaw (below), which takes advantage of the fact that both Hunter and Druid have beast synergies. [caption id="attachment_2379529" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Crossing the streams.[/caption]

Spellburst

This new keyword is a little like money in the bank. Any minion or spell with Spellburst triggers its effect the next time you cast a spell. Goody Two-Shields’ Divine Shield, for instance, can be re-activated, or you could bide your time waiting to set off Wretched Tutor’s ability. [caption id="attachment_2379532" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Diligent Notetaker has some intriguing combo potential.[/caption] What I love about this mechanic, however, is the counter-play. Unless you trigger the Spellburst on the same turn as you play its associated minion or spell, your opponent knows what’s coming, so can attempt to play around it. We’ve seen a number of other interesting cards, including one from the new “Studies” cycle (below), which are spells that let you Discover a card but then reduce the mana cost of the next card of that type that you play. [caption id="attachment_2379530" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Discover never gets old.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_2379531" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Rattlegore offers incredible value, while Troublemaker is a solid anti-aggro tool.[/caption] Scholomance Academy will be out in early August, and there are a couple of pre-order bundles available now. The Scholomance Academy Mega Bundle is USD $79.99 (AUD $109.95) and includes 80 Scholomance Academy card packs, five additional Scholomance Academy Golden Card Packs, one random Golden Legendary card from the set, the Kel’Thuzad Mage Hero and card back, and a Tavern Pass, which includes four Arena tickets. There’s also the Scholomance Academy Pre-Purchase Bundle, which is USD $49.99 (AUD $66.95), and includes 55 Scholomance Academy card packs, one random Scholomance Academy Golden Legendary Card, and the Kel'Thuzad card back. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/07/14/hearthstone-the-ultimate-value-of-rattlegore"] Anyone who logs into Hearthstone from today (until October 20) will receive two free copies of the epic neutral minion, Transfer Student, which is a two mana 2/2, but “has different effects based on which game board you’re.” Should be fun! [caption id="attachment_2379556" align="aligncenter" width="1266"] On one board this card will be "Reborn," on another “Discover a Dragon.”[/caption] [poilib element="accentDivider"] Cam Shea heads up IGN's Sydney studio and would attend Scholomance Academy in a heartbeat. Check out his behind the scenes look at how Team 5 designed Demon Hunter here, and why not say g'day on Twitter.

Google hosted a brand-new Stadia Connect today and revealed 15 new games coming to the digital streaming platform, including five exclusives. You can check below for a full list of announcements including day one releases like Orcs Must Die! 3. [poilib element="accentDivider"]

Newly Announced Games

Outcasters (Only on Stadia) - Developers Splash Damage returns with a competitive online multiplayer game set in a vinyl world. Orcs Must Die! 3 (Only on Stadia; Playable in Stadia Pro today) - One of the first exclusive announcements for Stadia, Orcs Must Die! 3 is a playable today for Stadia Pro users for free. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=orcs-must-die-3-screenshots&captions=true"] Super Bomberman R Online (First on Stadia; Fall 2020) - A new online Bomberman games coming first to STadia. Designed for multiplayer Bomberman gameplay including a new Battle Royale mode for up to 64-players. One Hand Clapping (Early Access on Stadia today) - A 2D puzzle platformer where you sing into your headset to solve musical puzzles. NBA 2K21 (Fall 2020) - The next NBA 2K game is also coming to Stadia. Expect a triple-A basketball sim but on a new platform. Dead by Daylight (Cross-play with all platforms, cross-progression with Switch and PC) - The asymmetrical horror PvP game where one player takes the role of a killer hunting down the other four survivors. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/05/26/dead-by-daylight-silent-hill-reveal-trailer"] PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds Season 8 - The next season of PUBG is coming to Stadia on July 30. New areas, new tools, and a new Survivor Pass will be available at launch. Hitman 1, Hitman 2 (September 1) and Hitman 3 (January 2021) - The Hitman trilogy is coming to Stadia with the first two games coming in September, and the newly announced Hitman 3 arriving next year. Become Agent 47 as he becomes other people and fulfill your assassination contracts. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/06/11/hitman-iii-announcement-trailer"] Serious Sam 4 (Stadia and PC only at launch; August 2020) - The newly announced Serious Sam 4 is coming first to Stadia and PC at launch this August. Outriders (Google Stadia in 2021) - Not to be confused with Outcasters, Outriders is a new co-op RPG shooter from Square Enix set in a dark, sci-fi world. WWE 2K Battlegrounds (September 18) - There's no WWE 2K game this year, instead 2K is releasing Battlegrounds, a more arcade-y take on the WWE. PGA Tour 2K21 (August 21) - The realistic golf sim supports a new PGA Tour Career mode and online multiplayer. Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice (Fall 2020) - From Software's dark-fantasy samurai game. Expect high levels of difficulty and uncompromising game design. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/02/07/sekiro-shadows-die-twice-story-trailer"] Hello Neighbor (September 20) and Hello Neighbor: Hide & Seek (Holiday 2020) - The viral hit about committing a little breaking and entering. The prequel, Hide and Seek will be playable in Stadia Pro at launch. Google also announced that developers Harmonix, Uppercut Games, and Supermassive Games are working on projects for the platform. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt T.M. Kim is a reporter for IGN.  

Google hosted a brand-new Stadia Connect today and revealed 15 new games coming to the digital streaming platform, including five exclusives. You can check below for a full list of announcements including day one releases like Orcs Must Die! 3. [poilib element="accentDivider"]

Newly Announced Games

Outcasters (Only on Stadia) - Developers Splash Damage returns with a competitive online multiplayer game set in a vinyl world. Orcs Must Die! 3 (Only on Stadia; Playable in Stadia Pro today) - One of the first exclusive announcements for Stadia, Orcs Must Die! 3 is a playable today for Stadia Pro users for free. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=orcs-must-die-3-screenshots&captions=true"] Super Bomberman R Online (First on Stadia; Fall 2020) - A new online Bomberman games coming first to STadia. Designed for multiplayer Bomberman gameplay including a new Battle Royale mode for up to 64-players. One Hand Clapping (Early Access on Stadia today) - A 2D puzzle platformer where you sing into your headset to solve musical puzzles. NBA 2K21 (Fall 2020) - The next NBA 2K game is also coming to Stadia. Expect a triple-A basketball sim but on a new platform. Dead by Daylight (Cross-play with all platforms, cross-progression with Switch and PC) - The asymmetrical horror PvP game where one player takes the role of a killer hunting down the other four survivors. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/05/26/dead-by-daylight-silent-hill-reveal-trailer"] PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds Season 8 - The next season of PUBG is coming to Stadia on July 30. New areas, new tools, and a new Survivor Pass will be available at launch. Hitman 1, Hitman 2 (September 1) and Hitman 3 (January 2021) - The Hitman trilogy is coming to Stadia with the first two games coming in September, and the newly announced Hitman 3 arriving next year. Become Agent 47 as he becomes other people and fulfill your assassination contracts. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/06/11/hitman-iii-announcement-trailer"] Serious Sam 4 (Stadia and PC only at launch; August 2020) - The newly announced Serious Sam 4 is coming first to Stadia and PC at launch this August. Outriders (Holiday 2020) - Not to be confused with Outcasters, Outriders is a new co-op RPG shooter from Square Enix set in a dark, sci-fi world. WWE 2K Battlegrounds (September 18) - There's no WWE 2K game this year, instead 2K is releasing Battlegrounds, a more arcade-y take on the WWE. PGA Tour 2K21 (August 21) - The realistic golf sim supports a new PGA Tour Career mode and online multiplayer. Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice (Fall 2020) - From Software's dark-fantasy samurai game. Expect high levels of difficulty and uncompromising game design. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/02/07/sekiro-shadows-die-twice-story-trailer"] Hello Neighbor (September 20) and Hello Neighbor: Hide & Seek (Holiday 2020) - The viral hit about committing a little breaking and entering. The prequel, Hide and Seek will be playable in Stadia Pro at launch. Google also announced that developers Harmonix, Uppercut Games, and Supermassive Games are working on projects for the platform. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt T.M. Kim is a reporter for IGN.  

This week, players can claim special rewards for participating in Legendary Bounty Missions, and much more.

This week, players can claim special rewards for participating in Legendary Bounty Missions, and much more.

Twitch says campaign rally videos violated the site's code of conduct, and have been removed.

Twitch says campaign rally videos violated the site's code of conduct, and have been removed.

Xbox Series X's Velocity Architecture design should make for smaller game downloads, fewer loading bottlenecks and theoretically allows for the console to achieve performance beyond what's expected of its raw hardware. In a post on Xbox Newswire, Xbox Series X Director of Program Management Jason Ronald explained how the Velocity Architecture solutions work alongside the console's processor to offer huge improvements over current-gen technology, and even over what could origianlly have been expected of the base Series X components. As Ronald puts it: "If our custom designed processor is at the heart of the Xbox Series X, the Xbox Velocity Architecture is the soul." Check out our exclusive interview with Jason Ronald about Velocity Architecture below: [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/07/14/microsoft-explains-the-xbox-series-xs-high-speed-secret-sauce"] Ronald points to four hardware and software innovations that make up Velocity Architecture as a whole:

• Custom NVME SSD: The Series X SSD allows for 40 times the I/O throughput (essentially the amount of data transfer the console allows every second) of Xbox One, but has been designed not to drop in performance below a certain level. Essentially, developers can design their games without having to work around data transfer constraints (by, for instance, introducing the "loading tunnels" we've seen in open world games this generation).
• Hardware Accelerated Decompression: Series X uses both an industry standard LZ decompressor, and a proprietary algorithm designed specifically for decompressing game texture data (typically the largest portion of over all game size). The result should be that storage size and download times per game are reduced.
• DirectStorage API: This new addition to the DirectX family of APIs gives developers control over how they want to assign and prioritize I/O tasks in their game. According to Ronald, this should virtually eliminate loading times, and make fast travel systems actually fast.
• Sampler Feedback Streaming: Games regularly use different qualities of texture depending on how far you are from them (you'll often notice that and open world game's trees are low-quality from a distance, and high quality up close, for instance). No matter how much of those textures are shown, current-gen games will need to load the entire texture in the background. SFS allows textures to be loaded in portions, meaning the I/O load is reduced, and can be used elsewhere to create more detail-packed worlds.

[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/07/14/xbox-series-x-velocity-architecture-trailer"] These four elements combined should, according to Ronald, allow the Series X to go beyond what's expected of its own hardware components, even enabling "entirely new scenarios never before considered possible in gaming." "The Xbox Velocity Architecture fundamentally rethinks how a developer can take advantage of the hardware provided by the Xbox Series X", continues Ronald. "From entirely new rendering techniques to the virtual elimination of loading times, to larger, more dynamic living worlds where, as a gamer, you can choose how you want to explore, we can’t be more excited by the early results we are already seeing." This explainer is the latest in a series of articles about the console's technical additions, including Smart Delivery, and its Optimized for Series X badging. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Joe Skrebels is IGN's Executive Editor of News. Follow him on Twitter. Have a tip for us? Want to discuss a possible story? Please send an email to newstips@ign.com.

Xbox Series X's Velocity Architecture design should make for smaller game downloads, fewer loading bottlenecks and theoretically allows for the console to achieve performance beyond what's expected of its raw hardware. In a post on Xbox Newswire, Xbox Series X Director of Program Management Jason Ronald explained how the Velocity Architecture solutions work alongside the console's processor to offer huge improvements over current-gen technology, and even over what could origianlly have been expected of the base Series X components. As Ronald puts it: "If our custom designed processor is at the heart of the Xbox Series X, the Xbox Velocity Architecture is the soul." Check out our exclusive interview with Jason Ronald about Velocity Architecture below: [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/07/14/microsoft-explains-the-xbox-series-xs-high-speed-secret-sauce"] Ronald points to four hardware and software innovations that make up Velocity Architecture as a whole:

• Custom NVME SSD: The Series X SSD allows for 40 times the I/O throughput (essentially the amount of data transfer the console allows every second) of Xbox One, but has been designed not to drop in performance below a certain level. Essentially, developers can design their games without having to work around data transfer constraints (by, for instance, introducing the "loading tunnels" we've seen in open world games this generation).
• Hardware Accelerated Decompression: Series X uses both an industry standard LZ decompressor, and a proprietary algorithm designed specifically for decompressing game texture data (typically the largest portion of over all game size). The result should be that storage size and download times per game are reduced.
• DirectStorage API: This new addition to the DirectX family of APIs gives developers control over how they want to assign and prioritize I/O tasks in their game. According to Ronald, this should virtually eliminate loading times, and make fast travel systems actually fast.
• Sampler Feedback Streaming: Games regularly use different qualities of texture depending on how far you are from them (you'll often notice that and open world game's trees are low-quality from a distance, and high quality up close, for instance). No matter how much of those textures are shown, current-gen games will need to load the entire texture in the background. SFS allows textures to be loaded in portions, meaning the I/O load is reduced, and can be used elsewhere to create more detail-packed worlds.

[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/07/14/xbox-series-x-velocity-architecture-trailer"] These four elements combined should, according to Ronald, allow the Series X to go beyond what's expected of its own hardware components, even enabling "entirely new scenarios never before considered possible in gaming." "The Xbox Velocity Architecture fundamentally rethinks how a developer can take advantage of the hardware provided by the Xbox Series X", continues Ronald. "From entirely new rendering techniques to the virtual elimination of loading times, to larger, more dynamic living worlds where, as a gamer, you can choose how you want to explore, we can’t be more excited by the early results we are already seeing." This explainer is the latest in a series of articles about the console's technical additions, including Smart Delivery, and its Optimized for Series X badging. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Joe Skrebels is IGN's Executive Editor of News. Follow him on Twitter. Have a tip for us? Want to discuss a possible story? Please send an email to newstips@ign.com.