Baldur’s Gate 3 Gameplay Reveal Will Be Live Streamed From PAX East

The first Baldur’s Gate 3 gameplay will be live streamed from PAX East on February 27. Developer Larian is in attendance at PAX East in Boston from February 27 - March 1, and will be debuting the very first gameplay live on stage. The game will be played live by Larian’s founder and creative director, Swen Vincke, along with a “very special guest”. For anyone not in attendance at the show, this gameplay demo will also be live streamed online. Larian promises an in-depth look at Baldur’s Gate 3, covering story, mechanics, and more, with a Q&A panel where questions from those in the audience at the show can be answered by the developer team. The developer also teased what's to come with a cryptic paragraph alluding to players' next adventure on the Sword Coast. "You are burdened with a great power devouring you from within. How far down the path of darkness will you let it take you? The fate of Faerûn is on your party’s shoulders. Will you carry it to salvation, or descend with it to hell?" That final remark may be a reference to Descent Into Avernus, the Dungeons & Dragons tabletop campaign book that acts as a sort of prequel to Baldur's Gate 3. unnamed The clue is accompanied by the above grotesque image, which is presumably linked to the Mind Flayers and the horrific process of ceremorphosis, in which a parasite transforms a host into a tentacled Flayer. The panel takes place at 3:30pm ET / 12:30 PT / 8:30pm UK for both show attendees and live stream views, and further gameplay demos will take place for those at PAX throughout the weekend. Larian claims that there are surprises that “even fans of critically acclaimed Divinity Original Sin 2 wouldn’t expect.” [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/06/06/baldurs-gate-3-announcement-teaser-uncut"] Baldur’s Gate 3 was officially announced last Summer, where it was revealed that the terrifying Mind Flayers would be a key part of the new chapter’s story, as well as familiar elements like the Flaming Fists, and the infamous city of Baldur’s Gate itself. A return visit to the Sword Coast is long overdue, so hopefully we’ll get a better idea about when we can walk through those gates once more soon. If you’ve never played the beloved Dungeons & Dragons RPG series before, here’s everything new players need to know about Baldur’s Gate 3. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt Purslow is IGN's UK News and Entertainment Writer. You can follow him on Twitter

Witcher Season 2: Game of Thrones Actor Reportedly Cast As Nivellen

Warning! This article mentions a storyline from The Witcher novels. To learn more about the proper reading order for Andrzej Sapkowski's Witcher books, click here. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Game of Thrones actor Kristofer Hivju is reportedly set to star as Nivellen in the opening episode of Season 2 of The Witcher. Redanian Intelligence reports that Hivju, who played Tormund Giantsbane on Game of Thrones, has been cast under the mysterious moniker "Nigel", which is believed to be a codename for the cursed character of "Nivellen." [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/12/27/the-witcher-season-1-review"] The outlet claims to have procured a casting sheet, which describes Nigel as "a charismatic, witty and funny man" who is from an "aristocratic family and has been cursed for the crimes he has committed in the past." The details of the character profile appear to match Nivellen's backstory, shared in Andrzej Sapkowski's short story entitled "A Grain of Truth", which sees Geralt of Rivia stumble upon a rundown manor, inhabited by a monstrous, cursed nobleman known as Nivellen. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/12/21/the-witcher-season-1-ending-explained"] If true, Hivju joins an ever-growing cast list for the second season of the fantasy drama, alongside Peaky Blinders actor Paul Bullion who has reportedly been cast as Lambert and Strike Back star Yasen Atour who is apparently set to portray Coën. Elsewhere, Dolittle actress Carmel Laniado recently signed on to play Violet, an all-new character described as "a young girl whose playful and whimsical demeanour is a front for a smarter and more sadistic character." [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=netflixs-the-witcher-cast-vs-video-game-characters&captions=true"] For more on Season 2 of The Witcher, read about the big "mistake" of The Witcher: Season 1 that will be rectified in the upcoming episodes, check out what showrunner Lauren Schmidt Hissrich had to say about the fantasy elements in the next season, and find out why Netflix ultimately decided to adapt the books and not the games. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Adele Ankers is a Freelance Entertainment Journalist. You can reach her on Twitter.

New Witcher 3 Switch Update Adds PC Cross-Save Function

The Witcher 3 on Switch is being updated with the ability to cross-save with PC, via Steam or GOG. This comes as part of the latest patch which also adds new graphics options to the game’s settings menu.

News of PC cross-save for The ‘Switcher’ originally surfaced on Reddit, but CD Projekt RED confirmed to IGN that the functionality is being included in the next patch, due to roll out imminently. The patch includes “touch control support, save file integration with GOG/Steam, more text languages in selected regions and more graphical options. On top of that there are performance optimizations and bugfixes.”

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The PC cross-save function will allow players to download PC saves to the Switch version, allowing them to continue playing when they’re on the move/prefer to use the Switch. This is done through either a GOG or Steam log-in. Divinity: Original Sin 2 on Switch also features this functionality, and the feature was well received.

As for the graphics options, the Reddit leak suggests these will allow players to toggle on or off features such as motion blur, bloom, depth of field, and light shafts. While The Witcher 3 on Switch is never going to look as good as its PC or PS4/Xbox One cousins, these options will certainly help players choose their own graphics balance. Reducing blur should certainly help make the image sharper, hopefully eliminating the almost ‘vaseline’ like haze that the Switch version has by default.

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We loved The Witcher 3 on Switch in our review, noting that even with the concessions to get it on Nintendo’s lower-powered console, it’s still one of the best games of the generation. If you’re planning on jumping in for the first time, or are revisiting the Northern Kingdoms for another journey, take a look at the Witcher 3 side quests you really shouldn’t miss.

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Matt Purslow is IGN's UK News and Entertainment Writer. You can follow him on Twitter

The Official IGN Store Is Live Right Now

If you're looking for some of the coolest graphic tees around, or you want to show your love for IGN shows like Game Scoop!, Podcast Beyond, and more, have we got some great news for you: the IGN Store is live right now. Yes, you read that correctly: we now have an official apparel store stocked to the brim with tons of great designs from stuff you actually care about, like The Mandalorian, Nintendo, Harry Potter, and more. So, so many more. The best part is there's even more to come, but you can get in on the ground floor right now by visiting the official IGN Store and having a look around.

The Official IGN Store

Shirts [poilib element="accentDivider"] Looking for a shirt from your favorite IGN show like Game Scoop? We got you. How about Podcast Beyond? Yeah, we've got those too. What about NVC or Podcast Unlocked? OK, those aren't actually ready yet, but we have an awesome selection of IGN logo shirts you can check out while you wait. Plus there are tons more officially licensed designs to let you show off your pop-culture fandom. We've got even more licenses and designs coming in the future, so you might as well just bookmark the page and keep checking back once you've bought a few shirts. [poilib element="accentDivider"]  

Co-op Aliens Game Cancelled After Disney-Fox Merger

A co-op Aliens game in pre-production was cancelled after Disney acquired 20th Century Fox. 3D Realms vice president Frederik Schreiber (via VG247) posted about the game on Twitter in response to a tweet from Cliff Bleszinski where he also revealed his former studio Boss Key Productions was potentially going to make an Aliens game. Schreiber reveals the game was to be titled Aliens: Hadley's Hope and would take place on a planet with numerous Alien Queens which could only be defeated after a few successful rounds of PvE against her protectors. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/01/30/alien-blackout-review"] It boasted the use of teamwork and tactics where colonists and marines would fight together to defeat the Aliens and complete other objectives, like egg hunts, to unlock extra lore and loot. Last year marked the 40th anniversary for the Alien franchise, which the studio marked by partnering with amateur filmmakers for six original short films. 2019 also brought us the mobile game Alien: Blackout and the Alien: Isolation digital series, which expanded on the 2014 game. [poilib element="accentDivider"]Hope Corrigan is an Australian freelance writer for IGN. You can follow her on Twitter and Instagram.

Jurassic World 3: Colin Trevorrow Reveals Precious Baby Dinosaur

Jurassic World 3 director Colin Trevorrow has shared a new photo of one of the pint-sized prehistoric stars set to appear in the next instalment of the dinosaur franchise. The filmmaker took to Twitter on Monday to give fans a fresh look at a highly detailed dino that is "ready" to leave its small footprints all over the Jurassic World reboot trilogy. Trevorrow credited John Nolan Studios for the animatronic baby dinosaur, which he teased in an earlier post showing the tiny titan in motion prior to its finished paint job. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2018/06/23/jurassic-world-3-where-does-the-franchise-go-from-here"] While no further details were given, the dinosaur bears a striking resemblance to the baby Nasutoceratops that stomped onto the scene in 2019's Battle at Big Rock, a short film that was created to help to bridge the story between Fallen Kingdom and its sequel. Trevorrow, who is co-writing the upcoming trilogy-capper with Emily Carmichael, previously confirmed that the third movie is set to go back to basics with dinosaurs, as he revealed that they would be ditching the hybrid dinosaurs that the first two Jurassic World films heavily relied upon. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=the-best-deaths-in-the-jurassic-park-movies&captions=true"] Jurassic World 3 will be released in theaters on June 11, 2021. For more, check out Jeff Goldblum's and Sam Neill's reactions to returning to the franchise, and find out which two characters from the reboot trilogy's first film are returning to join the original franchise stars. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Adele Ankers is a Freelance Entertainment Journalist. You can reach her on Twitter.

Venom 2: Tom Hardy Shares Photo of Woody Harrelson’s Cletus Kasady

UPDATE: It appears Tom Hardy has since deleted the image of Woody Harrelson as Cletus Kasady in Venom 2 from his Instagram account. Our original story follows. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Venom 2 star Tom Hardy has shared a photo of Woody Harrelson as serial killer Cletus Kasady in the upcoming, potentially R-rated, Venom sequel. The actor took to Instagram on Monday to offer fans a first glimpse at his villainous co-star, dressed to fluoresce, wearing brightly-coloured threads and a solid skull-like necklace. The character's comics-accurate red hair also appears to have had a tidy chop since Venom's mid-credits scene. Hardy captioned the behind-the-scenes snap with two simple words: "Hello Cletus." Fans were introduced to Harrelson's Carnage alter-ego in Venom's mid-credits scene, as Eddie Brock visited San Quentin State Prison to speak to the locked-up killer. With his intense gaze locked on Eddie, Cletus vowed that there would be "carnage" when he escapes the penitentiary. [ignvideo width=610 height=374 url=https://www.ign.com/videos/2018/08/16/carnage-explained-who-is-the-psychopathic-symbiote-and-foe-of-venom] According to reports, Shriek is set to join forces with the deranged inmate once he breaks free, with Naomie Harris in talks to play the supervillainess, who is a frequent ally and lover of Carnage in the comics, and one of the main antagonists of the popular "Maximum Carnage" crossover storyline. Venom 2 will also see Tom Hardy and Michelle Williams reprise their roles as Eddie Brock and Anne Weying, respectively. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=venom-easter-eggs-cameos-and-references&captions=true"] For more on Venom 2, find out everything you need to know about the Marvel villain Shriek, read Michelle Williams' plea for added She-venom screen time, and discover what director Andy Serkis had to say about the future of the franchise. Alternatively, check out our wishlist of everything we want in Venom 2. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Adele Ankers is a Freelance Entertainment Journalist. You can reach her on Twitter.

Harrison Ford: ‘I Don’t Know What a Force Ghost Is’

Hollywood icon Harrison Ford is close to becoming as famous for his comically flippant responses to questions about his famous movie roles as he is for the roles themselves. Though, to be fair, the Star Wars star has been answering the same, or similar, questions for forty years. While talking to USA Today for his new film Call of the Wild, Ford was asked about his pivotal cameo in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, answering that "it was a useful addition to the story and the continuing development of Adam Driver's character. He also added "and the chance to do another scene with Adam was great." Then, when asked if the vision Kylo Ren saw of Han was a Force Ghost, Ford came back with "A Force ghost? I don’t know what a Force ghost is." Then, in a quieter voice, Ford said "Don’t tell anyone. I’m not talking loud enough for your recorder. I have no f***ing idea what a Force ghost is. And I don’t care." [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=every-dead-star-wars-movie-character&captions=true"] So there you have it. Never ask Harrison Ford to weigh in on Star Wars fan debates. On second thought, scratch that. Always ask Harrison Ford to weigh in on Star Wars fan debates. Ford recently spoke to IGN about the upcoming Indiana Jones 5, which starts production in April, stating that fans will see part of Indy's history resolved, along with some new developments in his life. Also, check out what The Last Jedi and Knives Out director Rian Johnson thought of Episode IX, The Rise of Skywalker. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/12/20/how-rise-of-skywalker-honors-the-jedi-of-the-past"] [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt Fowler is a writer for IGN and a member of the Television Critics Association. Follow him on Twitter at @TheMattFowler and Facebook at Facebook.com/MattBFowler.

Persona 5 Royal Will Change Homophobic Scenes For Western Release

Atlus has confirmed that certain scenes in Persona 5, which were considered homophobic and offensive by many fans, will be updated and altered in the Western release of Persona 5 Royal.

Speaking to IGN during a Persona 5 Royal preview event, Atlus Communications Manager Ari Advincula explained that dialogue in certain scenes – specifically ones involving Ryuji and two effeminate male characters – would be changed so that those men were no longer shown in a “negative light.”

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“We actually were able to go through some of the lines that players may not have received as well, look at that feedback, and then [update it] for the current generation,” Advincula said, explaining that they’ve changed both the first scene in which you meet these characters as well as the notorious beach scene they are featured in later on.

The dialogue in these scenes has been widely criticized since Persona 5’s Western launch for a variety of reasons. Many fans consider the depiction of these characters to be offensively stereotypical, presenting the most prominent homosexual characters in Persona 5 as extremely sexually aggressive (toward a minor, no less) and intentionally ridiculous with intent of making their “weirdness” the joke – made worse by the fact that your protagonist provides similarly insensitive responses to their actions.

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While Atlus didn’t share exactly how these scenes would be updated in response to these complaints, Advincula said asking if they would be addressed was one of the first things she did when joining the team. “That's really important to me, and I think it's really important to the community as well.”

Advincula also explained that their localization team has an “internal content review team” she described as “very on the pulse about what’s right and what to do.” She explained Royal was “a chance to make it right.”

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That said, reports around Royal’s Japanese release late last year seemed to indicate these conversations were generally unaltered in Japanese, and we still don’t know exactly what the updates for the Western release will look like.

Atlus also told us that fans shouldn’t give up hope for a Persona 5 port on Switch, asking them to keep telling them they wanted it or they would never be able to make it. Persona 5 Royal is out in the West on March 31.

[poilib element="accentDivider"] Tom Marks is IGN's Deputy Reviews Editor and resident pie maker. You can follow him on Twitter.

‘Keep Fighting’ For Persona 5 on Switch, Atlus Says

Persona 5 still hasn’t been announced for the Nintendo Switch, but publisher Atlus says it doesn’t want fans to give up hope just yet.

Rumors have swirled around a potential Persona 5 Switch port for a long time, with a bogus Best Buy listing even popping up in 2019, but that momentum has slowed considerably. So IGN asked Atlus Communications Manager Ari Advincula if it was finally time for fans to give up on hope for a potential port during a Persona 5 Royal preview event earlier this month, to which she responded “I am a strong believer in ‘never ever give up on hope’.”

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The fervor for a port was spurred on by protagonist Joker coming to Super Smash Bros. Ultimate early last year, but ended up being squelched somewhat when the teased P5S turned out to be Persona 5 Scramble, an entirely new game (and essentially a full-on sequel) coming to Switch. But Advincula says fans making their voices heard is the only way it’ll happen.

“You want what you want,” she explained, “and if you don't let us know it we’re never going to be able to make it.” Advincula said Atlus is listening and does see the desire for Persona 5 on Switch, saying “it’s important to always voice your opinion.”

Advincula encouraged fans to “keep telling us what you want,” saying she was fighting for it internally as well. However, it’s important to point out that she also said she’s obviously “not the decision-maker” in a situation like this despite being an “internal champion” for it, so this shouldn’t be taken as an indication of what is happening or could happen down the line.

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Still, Atlus has made it clear it is listening to the Persona community and taking feedback seriously, notably also revealing that it will change a handful of scenes in Persona 5 Royal fans previously condemned for being homophobic for its Western release on March 31.

[poilib element="accentDivider"] Tom Marks is IGN's Deputy Reviews Editor and resident pie maker. You can follow him on Twitter.