Warframe Confirmed for PS5 and Xbox Series X

Developer Digital Extremes' Warframe is coming to PS5 and Xbox Series X, according to an annual results announcement from parent company Leyou. Hong Kong-based digital holdings company Leyou has a number of video game developer subsidiaries, with one of them being Digital Extremes. Leyou recently released its annual results for last year and in it, detailed all kinds of information including revenue, gross profit, and more. It also subtly revealed that Warframe will be coming to next-generation consoles. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=warframe-empyrean-now-available-screenshots&captions=true"] "On the other hand, the Group was preparing to expand Warframe to more platforms, such as the next-generation consoles and other devices, to hedge the risk of contracting new users on consoles," the results announcement read. "The Group is confident that Warframe will enter into a new stage of development, after overcoming these temporary setbacks." These "temporary setbacks" Leyou is referring to are likely the game's 12.2% year-on-year decline in revenue. Leyou contributes this decline to three things. The first is attention diverted away from Warframe after other "reputable game studios and publishing companies" launched "large-scale AAA games with themes and gameplay" similar to that of Warframe, according to the results announcement. Leyou said the second reason is the decline in current-generation consoles as the next generation of consoles near closer to release. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/10/11/ps5-next-gen-buzzwords-explained"] "With the next-generation consoles to be released by the end of 2020, sales of current models have been declining, which contributed to a reduced number of new console players." The final reason for a decline in revenue, according to Leyou, is the size and scale of development work on Warframe's Empyrean milestone content update. Leyou said "update cadence" was temporarily affected as less new game content was released while Digital Extremes focused on the Empyrean update. Leyou believes Warframe will overcome these setbacks with the release of next-generation consoles like PS5 and Xbox Series X. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/12/19/xbox-series-x-price-how-much-could-the-next-xbox-cost"] We know some things about these next-generation consoles – you can check out a comparison chart between the PS5 and Xbox Series X specs here – but we don't know other things like price or exact release dates. One thing we do know now is that Warframe will be available at some point on these consoles. When, though, is unknown at this time as Leyou did not mention a timeframe for the game's next-generation release. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Wesley LeBlanc is a freelance news writer and guide maker for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @LeBlancWes.

PS5: No Delay Because of COVID-19, Says Sony

A Sony spokesperson has said the COVID-19 outbreak should cause no impact on the launch date of PlayStation 5. Speaking to Bloomberg, the spokesperson said the company 'doesn’t see any notable impact' on the unspecified holiday 2020 release date set for PS5. We had already heard a Sony-retained PR agency make a similar statement, but this is the first time someone at Sony itself has made a comment. That sentiment has been echoed by GameStop CEO George Sherman, who earlier said that there has been 'no indication' of delays to either PS5 or Xbox Series X at this point. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/ps5-xbox-series-x-no-delay-concerns-yet-next-gen-console-watch"] IGN's Jonathon Dornbush recently spoke to six video game industry analysts who, despite caveats that we are dealing with unprecedented circumstances, came to a consensus that it's unlikely that next-gen consoles will be delayed. However, production shutdowns could still lead to reduced numbers of consoles being produced in time for launch, meaning shortages in the months after release. Sony has apparently been hurt in other ways by the outbreak, however. Coronavirus-related shutdowns of production facilities in China, Malaysia, and the UK has meant that Sony has had to revise earlier profit estimates, potentially even forcing it to delay an April earnings report. We'll likely hear a little more information when that earnings report does arrive, but we've already learned a lot more about PS5 in the last few weeks. We've seen the full PS5 specs, found out it will indeed run almost all 4,000 PS4 games in backwards compatibility mode, and learned that its install times should be much shorter than PS4. You can see how the two consoles stack up so far in our PS5 vs Xbox Series X comparison chart. For a list of recommendations on how best to help, and stay safe, during the Coronavirus pandemic, please read our resource guide. [poilib element="accentDivider"]

Half-Life: Alyx’s First Modding Meme Has Arrived

Half-Life: Alyx's first modding meme has arrived, with players swapping out the game's opening scene with absurd videos (and it's pretty easy to do yourself). Multiple users have been posting the results to Reddit, with the r/HalfLife subreddit increasingly covered in altered versions of a conference call between Alyx Vance and her father Eli. Users are able to replace the in-game video files to display a different video on the TV screens in Alyx's greenhouse, swapping the file out for a range of videos from the internet's past and present. Here's one featuring a viral video from comedian Casey Frey, and another utilising the endless font of memes that is the Super Mario Brothers Super Show. [caption id="attachment_2326893" align="alignnone" width="1280"]An opening call replacement video in Half-Life: Alyx. An opening call replacement video in Half-Life: Alyx.[/caption] If you want to experiment with this yourself, you need to head to a specific folder in Half-Life: Alyx's files. Consider this a warning: this folder contains all of the cutscenes from Half-Life: Alyx, and at least one video title could be considered a spoiler. Probably best to finish the game first, before you begin messing with it. If you're still interested, head to SteamApps/Common/Half-Life Alyx/Game/HLVR/Panorama/Videos and find the file 'intro_world_heist.webm'. Now make a copy of that file so you don't lose it and drag a WebM video file of your choosing into the folder. Then all you have to do is rename the file to intro_world_heist.webm and you're good to go. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/03/23/the-first-17-minutes-of-half-life-alyx"] The game has been inspiring lots of creativity under quarantine, with one teacher delivering a maths lesson using in-game markers and window panes. For more on Half-Life: Alyx, check out our 10/10 review of the game, which we think "sets a new bar for VR." [poilib element="accentDivider"] Jordan Oloman is a freelance writer for IGN. Follow him on Twitter.

‘No Indication’ of PS5 or Xbox Series X Delays, Says GameStop CEO

GameStop CEO George Sherman says there is currently "no indication of any impact on the product launch or delivery date" of either PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X. In an earnings conference call, Sherman discussed the current effects of the COVID-19 outbreak on the games retailer. While explaining that the "situation remains fluid", he specifically brought up the potential effects on next-gen consoles: "As for the impact on the new supply chain and manufacturing for the new consoles," Sherman explained, "we will continue to work with the console makers as the launch approaches, but as of now, we have no indication of any impact on the product launch or delivery date, which is expected in time for holiday 2020." [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=developers-share-what-most-excites-them-about-next-gen-tech&captions=true"] In fact, Sherman says the impact of the virus on its stock in general has been relatively low: "In the near term, we continue to monitor inventory levels for specific categories that might be impacted by shipping or delivery delays, but as of now, any impact has been minimal." It's not clear exactly how much insider information that Sherman is working with here, but it's likely the CEO is in close contact with the console manufacturers. Before previous console launches, GameStop executives have explained that they "know more than we can share", and were privy to unannounced information such as the Nintendo Switch (then codenamed NX) using physical media, despite widespread rumours that it would be digital-only. It must also be pointed out that it's beneficial for Sherman and GameStop to reassure investors that next-gen consoles - likely to be among their best-selling items this year - will arrive on schedule. Sherman's statement tallies somewhat with a Sony-retained PR agency, which explained that PS5 had not yet been delayed. However, with the effects of the coronavirus outbreak changing daily, these kinds of statements can't be taken as guarantees that no delays will be implemented. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=next-gen-buzzwords-explained&captions=true"] It's been a troubling few weeks for GameStop, but despite closing European stores and converting US stores into curbside pickup-only locations, Sherman says there has been, "an increase in store and online traffic over the past few weeks." While that's good news in the short term, Sherman also announced that it would permanently close 300 more GameStop outlets in the next fiscal year. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Joe Skrebels is IGN's Executive Editor of News, and he finds it wild looking back at old NX pieces he wrote. Follow him on Twitter.

Fantastic Beasts 3 Actor Says It Will Have ‘Epic Battles’

Fantastic Beasts 3 actor Dan Fogler has given the latest scoop on the upcoming third instalment of the Harry Potter spin-off franchise amid recent filming delays, saying fans should expect to see some "epic battle scenes." In an interview with Syfy Wire, Fogler, who plays No-Maj Jacob Kowalski in the film series, praised the character development in the forthcoming chapter, which he says is building towards a "massive war" in the wizarding world. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/04/29/fantastic-beasts-3-will-release-in-2021"] "I can say I read the script and the character development is really lovely and it's very similar to the feel of the first movie, which I think is great," Fogler revealed to the outlet. "It's leading toward this massive war with the backdrop of World War II, so you can just imagine epic battle scenes are coming." Interestingly, the first film in the series, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, takes place in 1926, while the second entry, Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald, is set in 1927, which means there could be a significant time-jump at some point in the planned five-film series to eventually cover the 1939-1945 period of World War II. For now, though, Fogler said that the cast and crew are waiting for the right moment to resume production. "I guess when everybody else starts back up," he said. "When the mechanism starts to move again and everybody starts to get back to work, that's when we'll get back to work. Hopefully, sooner than later." [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=every-delayed-movie-due-to-coronavirus-so-far&captions=true"] Fantastic Beasts 3 joins a growing list of movie and TV productions affected by COVID-19, including Universal's Fast 9, which will now be released in April 2021, almost a year later than originally planned, MGM's No Time to Die, which will now be released in November 2020, and Paramount's A Quiet Place: Part II, which currently does not have a new release date set. For a list of recommendations on how best to help, and stay safe, during the Coronavirus pandemic, please read our resource guide. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Adele Ankers is a Freelance Entertainment Journalist. You can reach her on Twitter.

Doom Eternal Has a Scrapped Pistol Weapon – Here’s How to Use It

Doom Eternal, unlike its 2016 predecessor, does not have a pistol. At least, not in the final version of the game. Id Software did create a fully-functioning handgun for Doom Eternal, and it’s actually buried in the game’s files. If you’re on PC, you can even access it and add it to your arsenal. As highlighted on Twitter by Dave Oshry, a senior director at developer RocketWerkz, by using the Cheat Engine software, you can access Doom Eternal’s developer console and use a command to enable the cut pistol. It’s a snazzy looking weapon, too, with a cool equip animation and either single-shot or burst-fire modes. If you want to try the weapon for yourself, you’ll need to download and install Cheat Engine, and also grab the associated file for Doom Eternal. Then boot up Doom Eternal, TAB out to your desktop and load up Doom Eternal file, which will automatically open Cheat Engine. Then click the ‘Select Process to Open’ button below the ‘File’ menu, find and select Doom Eternal, and accept the next pop-up window. Now, if you look in the bottom pane of Cheat Engine you’ll see a line of text written in purple, ending ‘release-pc-hotfix2’. Click the box to the left of it to open the sub-menu, and click to cross the boxes next to both the console command and noclip commands entries below. You can then TAB back into your game. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/01/24/doom-eternal-why-gore-makes-combat-smarter"] When in-game, tap the Tilde button (the one below Esc and above TAB on your keyboard) to open the developer console. Type into the console 'give weapon/player/pistol' and tap Enter. This will spawn the pistol in the hand of the Doom Slayer. For more Doom Eternal, check out our final glowing review of both the campaign and multiplayer mode, our guide to killing the hardest enemy, and why speed is vital for combating the denizens of Hell. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt Purslow is IGN's UK News and Entertainment Writer. You can follow him on Twitter

CD Projekt Red Donates Almost $1 Million to Fight Coronavirus

The studio behind The Witcher 3 and Cyberpunk 2077 is donating nearly $1 Million to help fight the Coronavirus pandemic. The news arrives thanks to a LinkedIn post from CD Projekt Red's co-founder, Marcin Iwinski. Iwinski revealed that the studio will be donating "a sum of 4 million PLN [approximately $970,000 USD] to combat the spread of COVID-19 in Poland." [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/05/24/7-cyberpunk-games-to-play-before-cyberpunk-2077"] The four million was split between the board of directors and shareholders and the company itself, with each party donating 2 million PLN. "We'd like to thank all the brave souls who fight for our well being every day and hope these funds help in your effort to rid us of the virus," Iwinski's statement reads. The studio is collaborating with a Polish NGO, Fundacja Wielka Orkiestra Świątecznej Pomocy, to fundraise for medical equipment and support healthcare workers fighting the virus in CD Projekt Red's home country. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/03/25/how-coronavirus-is-affecting-nintendo"] This follows recent news that Nintendo has donated 10,000 respirator masks to American healthcare workers in Washington to help fight the virus. In other CD Projekt Red news, the studio recently revealed an incredible figurine from Pure Arts that represents Cyberpunk 2077's female protagonist. We also learned earlier in March that CD Projekt Red's next game after Cyberpunk 2077 will be a game set in the Witcher universe, yet details about how it will take shape are yet to be revealed. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Jordan Oloman is a freelance writer for IGN. Follow him on Twitter.

GameStop Set To Close 300 More Stores This Year

GameStop is set to permanently close 300 more stores in the coming year. The news arrived in an earnings call conducted by the company, which shed light on GameStop's financial situation. It was revealed that the company "plans to meet or exceed" the number of closures that occurred in the previous fiscal year, which saw 321 shops close their doors. The retailer currently has 5,500 operational stores across the US. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/03/07/how-gamestop-plans-to-save-itself"] In the earnings call, the company touched on the huge financial uncertainty caused by the ongoing pandemic, but noted that the COVID-19 crisis has led to a 2% increase in sales in recent months. GameStop turned a profit in the fourth quarter and saw a decrease in its net loss for the full fiscal year, from $673 million to $470.9 million this year. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/09/16/leaked-gamestop-store-redesign"] The earnings call also mentioned GameInformer, GameStop's media outlet that suffered layoffs in 2019. GameStop plans to build value in the brand through "interactive digital media," but the retailer didn't go into any further detail about their plans. In other GameSpot news, the company decided to close its stores in accordance with CDC guidelines after coming under fire for deeming its outlets as "essential" business and keeping the doors open during the COVID-19 pandemic. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Jordan Oloman is a freelance writer for IGN. Follow him on Twitter.

Courteney Cox Is Binge-Watching All of Friends While Self-Isolating

Courteney Cox, who played Monica Geller on the popular sitcom Friends, told Jimmy Kimmel that she's watching the entire series while self-isolating. Cox admitted to Kimmel that she doesn't actually remember that many details from the show, so now is the perfect time to watch the series. "People love the show so much, I decided to binge-watch Friends," Cox said. "I just started season one, it's really good." [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/03/26/new-to-netflix-for-april-2020"] The actress added that she bought the show to stream on Amazon Prime Video, since it's no longer available on Netflix. Cox also said that the Friends reunion special, where all six main cast members are supposed to reunite and reminisce about the show, was scheduled to film earlier this week, but has been put on hold due to the COVID-19 outbreak. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=everything-coming-to-hbo-max&captions=true"] The Friends reunion was confirmed by HBO last month, and was set to be available on HBO Max in May. It's unclear if the filming delay will change the release date of the special. If you also want to watch Friends while self-isolating, check out IGN's list of the top ten Friends episodes. IGN is encouraging safety and positivity for all of our readers during this pandemic. Read our tips on how to help, and stay safe, during the COVID-19 pandemic. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Logan Plant is a news writer for IGN, and the Production Assistant for Nintendo Voice Chat, IGN's weekly Nintendo show. You can find him on Twitter at @LoganJPlant.