A new report claims the much-rumoured Xbox Series S (or Xbox Lockhart) will be revealed in August, after it was originally scheduled for an E3 announcement. According to Eurogamer's sources, Microsoft had originally pegged June as its announcement month for the alleged lower priced, lower powered version of the Xbox Series X, using an E3 showcase as a space to explain the console while showing it playing the same next-gen games as the more powerful console. The site now reports that Series S will get its own reveal - presumably in an Inside Xbox-like showcase - in August. That supports a previous Venturebeat report. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/06/10/xbox-lockhart-seems-real-but-is-it-out-this-year-unlocked-447"] Some reports have suggested that the Series S reveal was originally planned to remain in June - to fit in as part of the monthly updates branded by Microsoft as Xbox 20/20 - before being pushed back. However, Eurogamer says its sources indicate that this month's series of technical updates on elements like Smart Delivery was always the plan for June. The next confirmed major beat for Xbox 20/20 is a July showcase of first-party games. Xbox Series S increasingly looks to be a reality, with the original rumours now supported by the discovery of Windows OS code that references its Lockhart codename. [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.

By the end of the original The Last of Us, developer Naughty Dog asks players, as Joel, to commit morally challenging acts that, whether you agree they’re the right thing to do, you at least understand where the character is coming from. For The Last of Us Part 2, Naughty Dog aimed to achieve a similar sense of empathy through playing on a larger scale on the sequel. Massive spoilers for The Last of Us Part 2 follow. If you haven’t finished playing, turn back now! [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/06/12/the-last-of-us-part-2-review"] [poilib element="accentDivider"] Speaking to IGN ahead of The Last of Us Part 2’s release, director Neil Druckmann explained the philosophy the team took with the original game, and how it led to Part 2’s key goals. “You don't necessarily agree with what [Joel’s] doing, but we saw that the majority of people understood what he's doing and now they're role-playing as him,” Druckmann said. “'I might not do this but I understand why Joel would. So I'm going to see the world through his eyes.’ There's something unique about the empathy that is created in video games, it's wholly unique. “Can we build a whole experience around this concept,” Druckmann said, explaining what he and the team ventured out to do with Part 2. “Can we make you hate someone to such a degree that you want to hurt them in really horrible ways for what they've done to you? And then all of a sudden make you play as them and, the challenge was, can we get you to empathize?” [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=the-last-of-us-part-2-review-screenshots&captions=true"] Of course, Part 2 includes the dramatic gameplay shift of its second half, putting players in control of Abby, first introduced early in the sequel as someone successfully hunting Joel to kill him. The second half, both in the present and in flashbacks, explores Abby’s life and motivations, which Druckmann explained allowed them to dive into the themes of revenge from multiple perspectives. “I don't know if you're going to like [Abby] necessarily. We hope you do, but can we really get you to understand them? And that's where the second half of the game [goes], you're playing as someone that goes on their own journey of redemption. You get to see revenge from two sides,” he said. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/how-long-is-the-last-of-us-part-2"] And moreso than just exploring revenge, which is what most of The Last of Us Part 2’s early marketing focused on, Druckmann explained how the dual perspectives allowed them to explore the flip side of that — forgiveness. “It's a game about empathy and forgiveness and getting past grief and seeing other people for the more complex human beings they are. That's what got us excited about making this,” Druckmann said. Stay tuned to IGN for more from Druckmann on the sequel, and if you haven't already be sure to check out IGN's The last of Us Part 2 review. For more on the Naughty Dog sequel, read our dive into The Last of Us Part 2's accessibility features, how much The Last of Us Part 2 sold in its debut weekend, and why the sequel probably won't get DLC. And if you're playing, be sure to check out IGN's comprehensive The Last of Us Part 2 guide for help with collectibles, Trophies, and more. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Jonathon Dornbush is IGN's Senior News Editor, Host of Podcast Beyond!, and can't stop hearing Pearl Jam in his head now. Talk to him on Twitter @jmdornbush.

Dan Aykroyd has suggested that Ghostbusters: Afterlife sets up a new generation that could potentially lead to more supernatural sequels in the future. Speaking to Entertainment Weekly, Aykroyd praised Afterlife director Jason Reitman, the son of original Ghostbusters director Ivan Reitman, for his care in "passing the DNA of the first two movies directly to the new generation" by introducing a fresh team of paranormal investigators to continue the legacy. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/12/09/ghostbusters-afterlife-official-trailer"] "It's just a lot of fun to see these terrific young actors slinging the old Cadillac around and having the equipment in their hands," Aykroyd admitted. "The story that develops from that is scary and funny and heartfelt and also funny. And it feeds into the possibility of more follow-ups with this group and with others who want to join." While Ghostbusters: Afterlife largely focuses on handing the proton packs over to a new generation of 'busters, several members of the original cast are also said to be reprising their roles. In fact, Aykroyd said that the OGBs made sure that Harold Ramis, who died in 2014, was well represented in the new film. "To have that formation without that man standing right there on the line with us was a pretty serious adjustment," Aykroyd recalled of shooting without his former co-star. "He will be very well represented in the new film, I can tell you that. He's very honorably represented." [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=ghostbusters-afterlife-trailer-breakdown&captions=true"] Filmmaker Jason Reitman said that the forthcoming film will tie directly into the original movie from 1984. The new characters are a family made up of Carrie Coon, Finn Wolfhard and Mckenna Grace. The mother inherits a farm from a father she didn't know. However, the family soon discovers that this farm, which is tucked away in a small Oklahoma town, is littered with world-saving, ghostbusting equipment. Ghostbusters: Afterlife was originally set to haunt theaters on July 10, 2020, but the threequel has been pushed back to March 5, 2021, in light of the industry-wide shutdown due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Adele Ankers is a Freelance Entertainment Journalist. You can reach her on Twitter.

The Super Nintendo World theme park's opening has been indefinitely delayed in Japan. Universal Studios Japan is planning to postpone the opening of its upcoming Nintendo-theme land in Osaka as a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, according to NHK World-Japan. The theme park, which is heavily based on Nintendo's Mario franchise, is nearly complete. This includes not just construction of the land, but themed rides and restaurants as well. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=super-nintendo-world-press-conference-images&captions=true"] The park was originally set to open in July but because of COVID-19, the park's opening has been delayed indefinitely, likely to give Universal Studios time to review the pandemic landscape and determine a safer opening date. Because construction on the land is near complete, it's unlikely this delay was made in order to give the company more time to work on the park itself. Because of the popularity of Nintendo, Mario, and the idea of a new land opening within Universal Studios Japan, the company is expecting an increased number of visitors to the park. This poses an even larger threat to the safety of guests in the midst of a pandemic. As such, Universal Studios Japan said it is unsure of when the new Nintendo-themed land will open. The rest of Universal Studios Japan opened on June 8 to guests from the local Kansai area. It also limited guest numbers by half of its standard capacity. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2017/06/08/super-nintendo-world-japan-teaser-trailer"] It may not be open, but there are still plenty of ways to get a glimpse of the park. Check out this new image that shows multiple areas of the land. After looking at that, read about how the Super Nintendo World theme park might expand beyond Mario in the future. The eastern US version of this Nintendo-themed land is coming to the new Epic Universe theme park planned for Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida. Here are some ways to help and stay safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Wesley LeBlanc is a freelance news writer and guide maker for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @LeBlancWes.

Ubisoft is reportedly raring up to tease a new FPS Battle Royale game called Hyper Scape. The information arrives thanks to a thread from esports insider, Slasher, who has learned from sources that Ubisoft is reportedly prepared to tease the game later on Monday. According to Slasher's sources, the game was code-named Prisma Dimensions but will run with the title Hyper Scape, and is being developed by Ubisoft Montreal.

Sources: today Ubisoft will tease a new game code-named "Prisma Dimensions", which is actually a new AAA multiplayer fast-paced FPS Battle Royale from Ubisoft Montreal (R6, AC) named Hyper Scape pic.twitter.com/2hza3P7rz1

— Rod "4475 SR & Immortal peak" Breslau (@Slasher) June 29, 2020

An image shown in the thread appears to offer our first glimpse of the game and its apparent "futuristic virtual world." The game will apparently be free to play for both PC and consoles, with crossplay functionality. The thread also notes that the game is set to enter a closed beta period next week, with a full launch planned on July 12. As detailed in the thread, Hyper Scape has reportedly been built in partnership with Twitch and one of the game's features allows Twitch chat to, "directly impact the game live with game-changing events." Ubisoft's digital summer showcase, Ubisoft Forward, is set to air next Sunday, July 12. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Jordan Oloman is a freelance writer for IGN. Follow him on Twitter.

The Umbrella Academy Season 2 is coming in just over a month, and a new poster is offering us a few hints at what's to come. The poster (below), shows the seven members of the Academy, each sporting a pair of sunglasses, with each reflection offering a clue at Season 2's contents. From the looks of it, we'll be getting more looks back at the Academy's childhoods, as well as protests, a declaration of war, and more. The show will return to Netflix on July 31, and we've already seen a set of character posters and first-look images. Here's everything we know about Season 2 ahead of its release. An adaptation of Gerard Way and Gabriel Bá's comic book series ofthe same name, The Umbrella Academy follows the lives of a dysfunctional family of superheroes. It proved a huge hit for Netflix, which reported that 45 million households had watched the show, and quickly ordered a second season. We awarded the first season an 8.5 review, calling it "hilariously twisted, subversively stylish, and surprisingly poignant". We named it as one of the best new TV series of 2019, and one of the best comic book series - it was named the IGN's People's Choice in both categories. [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.

Edgar Wright has spoken about the possibility of revisiting Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World as an anime project, saying there are "plans" to expand the franchise, though nothing is official yet. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Wright revealed that he had been involved in ongoing talks with Scott Pilgrim comic creator Bryan Lee O'Malley and the film's executive producer Jared LeBoff about revisiting the material in "an animation way," as opposed to following up with a direct sequel to the 2010 film. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2018/11/17/director-styles-movie-lists-cinefix"] "There's some plans — and there's nothing official yet — but there are some plans to revisit the material in an animation way," Wright admitted in the retrospective piece. "We've been talking with Bryan and with Jared for a while [about]: What if we did something with the books in anime form? It's being discussed as we speak." In the same interview, O'Malley expressed his interest in returning to the world of Scott Pilgrim, saying that he would "like to revisit the characters [in comic form] and see what they're up to." In fact, he said that he had already sketched an alternate version of Scott with "a huge beard" early in the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=top-25-best-anime-series-of-all-time&captions=true"] Whichever format this new project could potentially take, it is highly unlikely to be developed as a direct big-screen follow-up to the Michael Cera-starring film adaptation, as Cera himself admitted that "when a movie doesn't really explode at the box office, it's hard for anybody to get behind a sequel." Critics and fans of the Scott Pilgrim graphic novel series raved about the film adaptation after its release, but that adulation didn't translate to high box office returns. On an estimated budget of $60 million, Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World took in a paltry $47.7 million worldwide. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Adele Ankers is a Freelance Entertainment Journalist. You can reach her on Twitter.

Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment's rumored Harry Potter RPG is reportedly set to be released in late 2021 on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, according to a report by Bloomberg. Although, the developers are said to be "rattled" by such issues as the COVID-19 pandemic, J.K. Rowling's recent controversial comments, and the possible sale of the Warner Bros. video game publishing business. This Harry Potter RPG has been long-rumored but never officially announced. While there was a supposed gameplay leak in 2018, Warner Bros. has yet to confirm this much-anticipated title to the world at large. The project is said to let players become wizards in an open world that takes place at Hogwarts and its nearby locations. Two anonymous sources close to the project have revealed to Bloomberg that the project is "very real" and that it is in development by Disney Infinity studio Avalanche Software in Salt Lake City, Utah. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2018/10/05/our-leaked-harry-potter-rpg-theories-beyond-highlight"] The sources have confirmed the leak from 2018 was authentic, but many of the rumors that have come after are false. It was also said that, despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the possible sale of the Warner Bros. video game publishing business, and "fierce backlash against the franchise's creator," the game still remains on track for its release next year. There is anxiety at the studio, however, especially due to the aforementioned comments by J.K. Rowling that are widely viewed as transphobic. According to one person, the studio's management has still not addressed the controversial words by Rowling. Many spoke out against Rowling's comments, including those who have worked close with her and starred in Harry Potter and the Fantastic Beasts franchises – Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Eddie Redmayne. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2018/11/24/best-25-harry-potter-characters"] Rowling is still very involved in most things Harry Potter, although one of the sources said that she has, "very little direct involvement" in this project. Felicia Grady, the managing editor of the popular Harry Potter fan site MuggleNet wrote an e-mail to Bloomberg stating that this controversy is, "likely to diminish some of the anticipation of the game." "Based on what I’ve seen from fans, I do believe that Rowling’s comments have had some effect on the level of excitement they have for the Harry Potter RPG or other upcoming content,” Grady wrote. “We’ve seen comments from fans who no longer wish to support Rowling or the brand financially." [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=the-harry-potter-universes-most-fantastic-beasts&captions=true"] The possible sale of the Warner Bros. video game publishing business is also of big concern because, according to Bloomberg Intelligence analyst Matthew Kanterman, expensive projects can be the, "most at risk of cancellation in the event of a sale," especially one that has been in development for so long. These issues have caused WB to shift its plans regarding the reveal of the project, which was originally going to appear during E3 2020. The new plan, according to those familiar with such things, is to unveil the new Batman game in August at the DC FanDome and then focus on the Harry Potter RPG at a later date. These plans, however, were made prior to Rowling's comments. [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.

Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot has promised to "personally follow" each of the recent reports of sexual misconduct at the company, while two of its vice-presidents, among others, have allegedly been placed on leave as a result of the reports. In a letter to staff obtained by Business Insider, Guillemot writes that he has been "profoundly affected" by the multiple reports of sexual impropriety and abuse emerging from Ubisoft. "These actions are in total contradiction with our values ​​and with what I want for Ubisoft", Guillemot's letter continues. "The company we hold dear must offer a welcoming and respectful environment, allowing everyone to flourish. I will not accept anything less." Guillemot said the company was setting up a multidisciplinary working group (with an external partner) in order to "come up with better solutions and tools to detect, report and resolve any incident or serious problem without delay and in an impartial manner." [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/06/24/assassinss-creed-valhalla-creative-director-is-stepping-down-amid-cheating-allegations"] Separately, Bloomberg reports that vice-presidents Tommy François and Maxime Béland, as well as several other employees, have been placed on administrative leave as allegations of misconduct from multiple sources are investigated. Bloomberg reports that many Ubisoft employees have expressed skepticism over whether appropriate action will be taken, with some pointing out that some of these allegations are not new, and have been reported to HR in the past without result. Assassin's Creed: Valhalla creative director Ashraf Ismail has already stepped down from his role on the project after he was accused of engaging in extramarital affairs. It's unclear what his status as an Ubisoft employee is at this time. [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.

Sony has announced that NBA 2K20, Rise of the Tomb Raider: 20 Year Celebration, and Erica will be July 2020's PlayStation Plus free games. In addition, today, June 29, is the 10 year anniversary of the launch of PlayStation Plus. Announced on PlayStation.Blog, all three of these games will be available from July 7 - August 3. As for how Sony is celebrating 10 years of PlayStation Plus, it will be offering a free PS4 theme for a limited time, and a free online multiplayer weekend that will start on July 4 at 12:01am - July 5 at 11:59pm in your local timezone. PlayStation also shared a look back graphic of PS Plus through the years. Some interesting facts shown are that Wipeout HD was one of the first games given to PS Plus Members, June 2012 saw the introduction of monthly games, over 1,000 games have been offered through the service globally, and there are over 41.5 million users as of March 31, 2020. It also revealed that the Top 5 Monthly Games Redeemed from PS Plus Globally are Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, Sonic Forces, Shadow of the Colossus, Call of Duty: Black Ops III, and Destiny 2. The Top 5 Online Multiplayer Games Played by PS Plus Members Globally are Grand Theft Auto V, Rainbow Six Siege, Call of Duty: Black Ops III, Destiny, and Call of Duty: Black Ops IV. In our review of NBA 2K20, we said "NBA 2K continues its tradition of upping already tremendous gameplay, emulating the real-life sport in ways that didn’t seem possible just years ago." [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/09/09/nba-2k20-review"] In our review of Rise of the Tomb Raider: 20 Year Celebration, we said "Rise of the Tomb Raider hasn’t lost its luster a year after its initial release. Bundled together with all of the content released so far, Lara’s already-packed adventure is now even bigger." [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2016/10/10/rise-of-the-tomb-raider-20-year-celebration-review"] Erica is a "feature-length cinematic experience" that follows Erica, a "brave young lady plagues with nightmare's of your father's murder." When traumatic events are brought back to light via new clues, you must figure out the "shocking truth behind this devastating tragedy. This news follows PlayStation Plus' June 2020 lineup that included both Call of Duty: World War II and Star Wars Battlefront 2. [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 who wishes PlayStation Plus a happy 10th birthday. You can follow him on Twitter @AdamBankhurst and on Twitch.