2K has announced a brand new XCOM game. Titled XCOM: Chimera Squad, this brand-new standalone title is set five years after the events of XCOM 2. XCOM: Chimera Squad features an all-new story set in the XCOM universe. Although it is set five years after the events of XCOM 2, Firaxis says Chimera Squad is “neither a sequel nor expansion.” [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/04/14/xcom-chimera-squad-game-reveal-trailer"] Here’s a synopsis of the plot according to a press release sent by 2K.

“Set five years after the events of XCOM 2, humans, hybrids and aliens are now working together to forge a civilization of cooperation and co-existence. However, not all of Earth’s inhabitants support the interspecies alliance. City 31, a model of peace in a post-invasion world, is opposed by mysterious groups whose agendas threaten to shatter this delicate interspecies alliance. Chimera Squad, an elite force of human, hybrid, and alien agents, must work together to destroy the underground threats driving the city towards chaos.”

[widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=xcom-chimera-squad-screenshots&captions=true"] Some of the new features in Chimera Squad include unique Alien and Human agents with distinct personalities and abilities, including species-specific attacks. There’s also a new Breach Mode that adds a new combat phase focused on coordinating assaults across different entry points. XCOM: Chimera Squad will release digitally on PC via Steam on April 24. For a limited time, the introductory price for Chimera Squad will be set at $9.99 before it increases to $19.99 on May 1. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/04/14/xcom-chimera-squad-gameplay-overview-trailer"] Check out IGN’s review of XCOM 2  and the expansion, War of the Chosen, here for more coverage on the popular turn-based tactics game. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt Kim is a reporter for IGN.

2K has announced a brand new XCOM game. Titled XCOM: Chimera Squad, this brand-new standalone title is set five years after the events of XCOM 2. XCOM: Chimera Squad features an all-new story set in the XCOM universe. Although it is set five years after the events of XCOM 2, Firaxis says Chimera Squad is “neither a sequel nor expansion.” [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/04/14/xcom-chimera-squad-game-reveal-trailer"] Here’s a synopsis of the plot according to a press release sent by 2K.

“Set five years after the events of XCOM 2, humans, hybrids and aliens are now working together to forge a civilization of cooperation and co-existence. However, not all of Earth’s inhabitants support the interspecies alliance. City 31, a model of peace in a post-invasion world, is opposed by mysterious groups whose agendas threaten to shatter this delicate interspecies alliance. Chimera Squad, an elite force of human, hybrid, and alien agents, must work together to destroy the underground threats driving the city towards chaos.”

[widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=xcom-chimera-squad-screenshots&captions=true"] Some of the new features in Chimera Squad include unique Alien and Human agents with distinct personalities and abilities, including species-specific attacks. There’s also a new Breach Mode that adds a new combat phase focused on coordinating assaults across different entry points. XCOM: Chimera Squad will release digitally on PC via Steam on April 24. For a limited time, the introductory price for Chimera Squad will be set at $9.99 before it increases to $19.99 on May 1. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/04/14/xcom-chimera-squad-gameplay-overview-trailer"] Check out IGN’s review of XCOM 2  and the expansion, War of the Chosen, here for more coverage on the popular turn-based tactics game. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt Kim is a reporter for IGN.

The upcoming Pokemon TCG expansion Rebel Clash features numerous pocket monsters from Sword and Shield making their way to the card game for the first time. IGN is excited to offer the first look at seven new cards from the set, and they just so happen to be some of the weirder, some might even say disturbing, Pokemon from Gen 8. Take a look at the cards by flipping through the slideshow below or keep scrolling for the article. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=7-new-pokemon-cards-from-rebel-clash&captions=true"]

Galarian Mr. Mime and Galarian Mr. Rime

  First up is Galarian Mr. Mime and its evolution, Galarian Mr. Rime. As if the regular, almost-but-not-quite human Mr. Mime wasn’t unsettling enough, its Galarian form is a brand new type of nightmare fuel -- one that dances! Galarian Mr. Rime would be somewhat charming if we were at least sure where its face was. Is it on the head or the tummy? It’s the kind of question that will haunt us til our final days. All that said, Galarian Mr. Rime has the useful “Screen Cleaner” ability that protects your Pokemon from the effects of your opponent’s attacks. At the moment there aren’t many potent effects that would warrant automatically running a 1-1 line, but this card will always be there should the metagame ever call for it.

Appletun and Flapple

  For those who’ve always wanted to know what would happen to an apple or a whole apple pie if they were enchanted by a wizard to become dragons, now we know. Flapple and Appletun are two Pokemon that would be kind of cute if they didn’t make us so hungry. The good news is that both of these delicious looking Pokemon make for pretty decent cards. Crunchy and flavorful as its baked pie crust may be, Appletun’s “Delicious Aroma” ability is a free gust effect on a coin flip. Aggressive decks will favor the new Boss’ Orders card, but Appletun may be at home in more slow-paced decks that are looking to stall out the game by repeatedly stranding a Pokemon in the active position. But if you like your crisp, tasty apples on the fly, then maybe Flapple is the one for you. Its “Apple Drop” ability has the potential to become the basis of a combo deck where the goal is to continually loop Flapples from the field, into the deck, and back out again in order to set up knockouts with perfect math. It’s not something that seems viable at the moment, given the current card Standard card pool, but this is definitely a card to reconsider with the release of future sets.

Malamar V and VMAX

  Malamar has become a bit of a meme in the Pokemon TCG, but Malamar VMAX is all business. Its Max Jammer attack deals a strong 180 damage (perfect for two-shotting opposing VMAXes) and the effect allows you to take the most important card in your opponent’s hand and put it on the bottom of their deck. Pair this effect with other hand disruption cards like Marnie, Reset Stamp, or Chip-Chip Ice Axe to make sure your opponent draws dead while you have free reign to knock out the rest of their Pokemon. Of course, that’s easier said than done. With the release of Professor’s Research and Quick Ball, it’s easier than ever to topdeck your way into cards that will refill your depleted hand, so it’ll be hard to make a hand-lock stick. Max Jammer’s three energy cost makes it quite slow compared to other decks in the format, so that may be what stops Malamar VMAX from reaching great heights in the competitive scene, although cards like Bede and Counter Gain are options to help speed things up. It’s worth mentioning that Dragapult VMAX is the most-hyped card in Rebel Clash, and it just happens to be weak to Darkness, so Malamar VMAX may be worth considering if you’re looking to counter the metagame.

Boltund V

We’ve saved the best for last. The other cards have potential, but Boltund V is just downright great. Instead of going YOLO trying for a Turn 1 Full Blitz with Pikachu & Zekrom GX, Lightning decks can fall back on the more dependable Boltund V thanks to its Electrify attack that, for one Lightning energy, can accelerate two Lightning from the deck onto your Benched Pokemon. But Boltund V is more than just a way to accelerate energy. It can make for a decent attacker in a pinch thanks to its Bolt Storm attack that does 10 damage and then 30 more for each Lightning energy on your side of the field. Lightning decks are all about flooding the board with energy, so it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Boltund V used as a backup attacker or even as the star of its very own deck. Suffice to say, Boltund V is a very, very good boy. Do you have thoughts on these new cards coming in Rebel Clash? Or have you not thought about the Pokemon TCG since you got a 1st Edition Charizard all those years ago? Let us know down in the comments. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Joshua is Senior Features Editor at IGN. If Pokemon, Green Lantern, or Game of Thrones are frequently used words in your vocabulary, you’ll want to follow him on Twitter @JoshuaYehl and IGN.

The upcoming Pokemon TCG expansion Rebel Clash features numerous pocket monsters from Sword and Shield making their way to the card game for the first time. IGN is excited to offer the first look at seven new cards from the set, and they just so happen to be some of the weirder, some might even say disturbing, Pokemon from Gen 8. Take a look at the cards by flipping through the slideshow below or keep scrolling for the article. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=7-new-pokemon-cards-from-rebel-clash&captions=true"]

Galarian Mr. Mime and Galarian Mr. Rime

  First up is Galarian Mr. Mime and its evolution, Galarian Mr. Rime. As if the regular, almost-but-not-quite human Mr. Mime wasn’t unsettling enough, its Galarian form is a brand new type of nightmare fuel -- one that dances! Galarian Mr. Rime would be somewhat charming if we were at least sure where its face was. Is it on the head or the tummy? It’s the kind of question that will haunt us til our final days. All that said, Galarian Mr. Rime has the useful “Screen Cleaner” ability that protects your Pokemon from the effects of your opponent’s attacks. At the moment there aren’t many potent effects that would warrant automatically running a 1-1 line, but this card will always be there should the metagame ever call for it.

Appletun and Flapple

  For those who’ve always wanted to know what would happen to an apple or a whole apple pie if they were enchanted by a wizard to become dragons, now we know. Flapple and Appletun are two Pokemon that would be kind of cute if they didn’t make us so hungry. The good news is that both of these delicious looking Pokemon make for pretty decent cards. Crunchy and flavorful as its baked pie crust may be, Appletun’s “Delicious Aroma” ability is a free gust effect on a coin flip. Aggressive decks will favor the new Boss’ Orders card, but Appletun may be at home in more slow-paced decks that are looking to stall out the game by repeatedly stranding a Pokemon in the active position. But if you like your crisp, tasty apples on the fly, then maybe Flapple is the one for you. Its “Apple Drop” ability has the potential to become the basis of a combo deck where the goal is to continually loop Flapples from the field, into the deck, and back out again in order to set up knockouts with perfect math. It’s not something that seems viable at the moment, given the current card Standard card pool, but this is definitely a card to reconsider with the release of future sets.

Malamar V and VMAX

  Malamar has become a bit of a meme in the Pokemon TCG, but Malamar VMAX is all business. Its Max Jammer attack deals a strong 180 damage (perfect for two-shotting opposing VMAXes) and the effect allows you to take the most important card in your opponent’s hand and put it on the bottom of their deck. Pair this effect with other hand disruption cards like Marnie, Reset Stamp, or Chip-Chip Ice Axe to make sure your opponent draws dead while you have free reign to knock out the rest of their Pokemon. Of course, that’s easier said than done. With the release of Professor’s Research and Quick Ball, it’s easier than ever to topdeck your way into cards that will refill your depleted hand, so it’ll be hard to make a hand-lock stick. Max Jammer’s three energy cost makes it quite slow compared to other decks in the format, so that may be what stops Malamar VMAX from reaching great heights in the competitive scene, although cards like Bede and Counter Gain are options to help speed things up. It’s worth mentioning that Dragapult VMAX is the most-hyped card in Rebel Clash, and it just happens to be weak to Darkness, so Malamar VMAX may be worth considering if you’re looking to counter the metagame.

Boltund V

We’ve saved the best for last. The other cards have potential, but Boltund V is just downright great. Instead of going YOLO trying for a Turn 1 Full Blitz with Pikachu & Zekrom GX, Lightning decks can fall back on the more dependable Boltund V thanks to its Electrify attack that, for one Lightning energy, can accelerate two Lightning from the deck onto your Benched Pokemon. But Boltund V is more than just a way to accelerate energy. It can make for a decent attacker in a pinch thanks to its Bolt Storm attack that does 10 damage and then 30 more for each Lightning energy on your side of the field. Lightning decks are all about flooding the board with energy, so it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Boltund V used as a backup attacker or even as the star of its very own deck. Suffice to say, Boltund V is a very, very good boy. Do you have thoughts on these new cards coming in Rebel Clash? Or have you not thought about the Pokemon TCG since you got a 1st Edition Charizard all those years ago? Let us know down in the comments. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Joshua is Senior Features Editor at IGN. If Pokemon, Green Lantern, or Game of Thrones are frequently used words in your vocabulary, you’ll want to follow him on Twitter @JoshuaYehl and IGN.

A rumored datamine alludes to a 'Pokemon Pink', which may have been planned as a companion piece to the 1998's Pikachu-focused Gen 1 spin-off, Pokemon Yellow. The news arrives thanks to Pokemon Historian Dr. Lava, based on information posted in an archived thread on 4chan. Dr. Lava, who has documented a number of Pokemon leaks and datamines, called the information "almost certainly legit". On ResetEra, you can see a screenshot of the alleged leaked source code, with the header referencing a Pink and a Yellow version of the game. It's thought that the information arrives from the same person or group that leaked the Spaceworld demo ROM (a prototype of Pokemon Gold and Silver) and a series of beta Pocket Monsters that were circulated back in 2018. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2016/11/18/pokemon-1998-vs-pokemon-2016"] The Pokemon community has surmised that a Pokemon Pink would likely have featured Clefairy or Jigglypuff in the spotlight instead of Pikachu - Clefairy having been mooted as a potential mascot for the series before Pikachu's popularity, and Jigglypuff becoming popular due to the Pokemon anime. Twitter user SnorlaxMonster noted in a reply to the original tweet that a Japan-Only Game Boy Camera frame once featured Pikachu and Clefairy standing side by side, but this was changed into a Wario Land design for the European release of the peripheral. How intriguing! In other Pokemon news, The Pokemon Company recently announced that players who disconnect from ranked matches in Pokemon Sword and Shield may be permanently banned. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/11/13/pokemon-sword-and-pokemon-shield-review"] [poilib element="accentDivider"] Jordan Oloman is a freelance writer for IGN who still can't get the theme from Clefairy Says out of his brain. Hit him over the head with a proverbial rubber mallet on Twitter.

A rumored datamine alludes to a 'Pokemon Pink', which may have been planned as a companion piece to the 1998's Pikachu-focused Gen 1 spin-off, Pokemon Yellow. The news arrives thanks to Pokemon Historian Dr. Lava, based on information posted in an archived thread on 4chan. Dr. Lava, who has documented a number of Pokemon leaks and datamines, called the information "almost certainly legit". On ResetEra, you can see a screenshot of the alleged leaked source code, with the header referencing a Pink and a Yellow version of the game. It's thought that the information arrives from the same person or group that leaked the Spaceworld demo ROM (a prototype of Pokemon Gold and Silver) and a series of beta Pocket Monsters that were circulated back in 2018. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2016/11/18/pokemon-1998-vs-pokemon-2016"] The Pokemon community has surmised that a Pokemon Pink would likely have featured Clefairy or Jigglypuff in the spotlight instead of Pikachu - Clefairy having been mooted as a potential mascot for the series before Pikachu's popularity, and Jigglypuff becoming popular due to the Pokemon anime. Twitter user SnorlaxMonster noted in a reply to the original tweet that a Japan-Only Game Boy Camera frame once featured Pikachu and Clefairy standing side by side, but this was changed into a Wario Land design for the European release of the peripheral. How intriguing! In other Pokemon news, The Pokemon Company recently announced that players who disconnect from ranked matches in Pokemon Sword and Shield may be permanently banned. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/11/13/pokemon-sword-and-pokemon-shield-review"] [poilib element="accentDivider"] Jordan Oloman is a freelance writer for IGN who still can't get the theme from Clefairy Says out of his brain. Hit him over the head with a proverbial rubber mallet on Twitter.

Horror gem P.T. has been remade in several guises over the years, but none quite like this one from developer Ryan Trawick, which recreates the experience as a HyperCard game for Mac. The result is a creepy, stylised back-and-white chiller. As noted by Warp Door, the game is available to download and play for free from Trawick’s itch.io page. Hyper P.T. faithfully recreates the P.T. house and loop structure, albeit rendered in monochrome line drawings. Trawick explains that “some stuff is stripped back, some stuff is added; you'll just have to play to find out.” Hyper P.T. was made during the Merveilles HyperJam, during which dozens of small games were made using HyperCard, an old development tool for Macintosh computers that used hyperlinks (yes, those hyperlinks) to thread together elements to create games. Myst was one such game, and Hyper P.T. definitely shares some DNA with Myst in the manner in which you explore the house. Low-fi horror games are pretty popular, with the most recent cult hit being World of Horror. Like Hyper P.T. that too was made using an unconventional tool: Microsoft Paint. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/01/04/heres-how-to-beat-the-pt-remake-unreal-pt"] P.T. has had several remakes over the years, including a full VR remake created in Unreal engine, and a demake that imagines P.T. as a PS1 game. For more on how it became such a cult hit, see our story on how P.T. redefined urban legends for the 21st century. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt Purslow is IGN's UK News and Entertainment Writer. You can follow him on Twitter. 

Horror gem P.T. has been remade in several guises over the years, but none quite like this one from developer Ryan Trawick, which recreates the experience as a HyperCard game for Mac. The result is a creepy, stylised back-and-white chiller. As noted by Warp Door, the game is available to download and play for free from Trawick’s itch.io page. Hyper P.T. faithfully recreates the P.T. house and loop structure, albeit rendered in monochrome line drawings. Trawick explains that “some stuff is stripped back, some stuff is added; you'll just have to play to find out.” Hyper P.T. was made during the Merveilles HyperJam, during which dozens of small games were made using HyperCard, an old development tool for Macintosh computers that used hyperlinks (yes, those hyperlinks) to thread together elements to create games. Myst was one such game, and Hyper P.T. definitely shares some DNA with Myst in the manner in which you explore the house. Low-fi horror games are pretty popular, with the most recent cult hit being World of Horror. Like Hyper P.T. that too was made using an unconventional tool: Microsoft Paint. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/01/04/heres-how-to-beat-the-pt-remake-unreal-pt"] P.T. has had several remakes over the years, including a full VR remake created in Unreal engine, and a demake that imagines P.T. as a PS1 game. For more on how it became such a cult hit, see our story on how P.T. redefined urban legends for the 21st century. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt Purslow is IGN's UK News and Entertainment Writer. You can follow him on Twitter. 

The first images from Denis Villeneuve's adaptation of Dune have begun to appear, and new photos from the set show off Oscar Isaac and the whole of House Atreides' key players, as well as Zendaya as Chani. [caption id="attachment_2336576" align="alignnone" width="1620"] Timothée Chalamet and Rebecca Fergusson as Paul Atreides and Lady Jessica Atreides in Dune. (Photo credit: WB/Vanity Fair)[/caption] Following the first image of Timothée Chalamet as Paul Atreides, new photos from Vanity Fair show further detailed shots of Chalamet and his on-screen mother, Rebecca Fergusson (Lady Jessica Atreides) dressed in the books' iconic stillsuits; survival suits designed to help survive the brutal conditions on Arrakis', the desert world of Frank Herbert's 1965 sci-fi novel Dune. [caption id="attachment_2336579" align="alignnone" width="1280"] The House Atreides, including Timithée Chalamet as Paul Atreides, Stephen Mckinley Henderson as Thufir Hawat, Oscar Isaac as Duke Leto Atreides, Rebecca Ferguson as Lady Jessica Atreides, Josh Brolin as Gurney Halleck and Jason Momoa as Duncan Idaho (Photo credit: WB/Vanity Fair)[/caption] Further images show the head members of House Atreides, the house designated to mine the world of Arrakis for 'spice' - the universe's most precious material - including its leader, Duke Leto Atreides, played by Oscar Isaac. Among his senior members are Josh Brolin's Gurney Halleck and Jason Momoa's Duncan Idaho, two of the house's swordmasters. [caption id="attachment_2336580" align="alignnone" width="1028"] Zendaya as Chani (Photo credit: WB/Vanity Fair)[/caption] Also revealed is the first image of Zendaya as Chani, one of Arrakis' Fremen people. Her eyes are notably bright blue, a trait of those who live on planets rich in spice. The Vanity Fair article features several more images, including Javier Bardem as Stilgar, leader of the Fremen, and both Oscar Isaac and Josh Brolin dressed in their war armour. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=dune-movie-every-actor-in-the-sci-fi-reboot&captions=true"] For more on Dune, check out our explainer which breaks down the franchise and what to expect from the new movie. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt Purslow is IGN's UK News and Entertainment Writer. You can follow him on Twitter.

The first images from Denis Villeneuve's adaptation of Dune have begun to appear, and new photos from the set show off Oscar Isaac and the whole of House Atreides' key players, as well as Zendaya as Chani. [caption id="attachment_2336576" align="alignnone" width="1620"] Timothée Chalamet and Rebecca Fergusson as Paul Atreides and Lady Jessica Atreides in Dune. (Photo credit: WB/Vanity Fair)[/caption] Following the first image of Timothée Chalamet as Paul Atreides, new photos from Vanity Fair show further detailed shots of Chalamet and his on-screen mother, Rebecca Fergusson (Lady Jessica Atreides) dressed in the books' iconic stillsuits; survival suits designed to help survive the brutal conditions on Arrakis', the desert world of Frank Herbert's 1965 sci-fi novel Dune. [caption id="attachment_2336579" align="alignnone" width="1280"] The House Atreides, including Timithée Chalamet as Paul Atreides, Stephen Mckinley Henderson as Thufir Hawat, Oscar Isaac as Duke Leto Atreides, Rebecca Ferguson as Lady Jessica Atreides, Josh Brolin as Gurney Halleck and Jason Mamoa as Duncan Idaho (Photo credit: WB/Vanity Fair)[/caption] Further images show the head members of House Atreides, the house designated to mine the world of Arrakis for 'spice' - the universe's most precious material - including its leader, Duke Leto Atreides, played by Oscar Isaac. Among his senior members are Josh Brolin's Gurney Halleck and Jason Mamoa's Duncan Idaho, two of the house's swordmasters. [caption id="attachment_2336580" align="alignnone" width="1028"] Zendaya as Chani (Photo credit: WB/Vanity Fair)[/caption] Also revealed is the first image of Zendaya as Chani, one of Arrakis' Fremen people. Her eyes are notably bright blue, a trait of those who live on planets rich in spice. The Vanity Fair article features several more images, including Javier Bardem as Stilgar, leader of the Fremen, and both Oscar Isaac and Josh Brolin dressed in their war armour. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=dune-movie-every-actor-in-the-sci-fi-reboot&captions=true"] For more on Dune, check out our explainer which breaks down the franchise and what to expect from the new movie. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt Purslow is IGN's UK News and Entertainment Writer. You can follow him on Twitter.