The Xbox Series X ports have been seemingly revealed in a new leak. Photographs of the front and back of the console were posted to NeoGAF and circulated on Twitter. If the item in the images is indeed a genuine Xbox Series X prototype, then it tells us a little more about how we will be using Microsoft’s new gaming powerhouse. Running down the center of the back of the console is a series of seven ports, which act as the receivers for a variety of cables. If you’re unfamiliar with any of the holes and shapes in this little black box, then let us be your guide.

@IdleSloth1984 @blueisviolet @XcloudTimdog pic.twitter.com/qmVlhTTaqi

— Doug - XBOX SERIES X (@Doug_DragoX) January 22, 2020

Which ports are included in the Xbox Series X prototype image leaks?

At the top we have one labelled S/PDIF (Sony/Phillips Digital Interface), which is the port for an optical cable. This is a fairly common interface in the current generation of consoles, and is used for audio. If you use a soundbar, for instance, you may choose to wire it into your Xbox Series X through this port. To the right of the optical port are two USB Type-A ports, labeled with the SS 'SuperSpeed' insignia that indicates they are 3.0 high-speed ports. Another one of these USB ports is located on the front of the console (albeit it not labeled with the SS logo, and thus potentially the slower 2.0 variant), bringing the USB count to 3. These will be used for a wide variety of peripherals, such as controllers, charging cables, and wireless headset receivers. Below the USB ports on the rear of the console is an Ethernet port, which will be used to hardwire the console into a home network. If you’d rather not risk the lag of a wireless wi-fi connection, then using an Ethernet cable directly into your router will be the best option here. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/12/13/xbox-series-x-reactions-and-analysis-unlocked-423"]

What is the mysterious Xbox Series X port in the photos?

To the left of the Ethernet cable is a more curious port; a long, narrow slot with a line drawn next to it and no recognizable insignia. While it may look a bit like a memory card reader, it is more likely to be the slot for a diagnostics report device, as noted by technology website Thurrott. As this is a prototype console, it makes sense that Microsoft would want to hook the Xbox Series X up to another device in order to analyse its performance. It’s impossible to truly clarify if this is indeed the port’s true purpose without an official Microsoft source stepping forward, but it seems possible that this slot will not be present on retail versions of the Xbox Series X. Below this mystery slot is a HDMI port. Importantly, the Xbox Series X features just a single HDMI, which will logically be of the ‘Out’ configuration. The Xbox One features both ‘In’ and ‘Out’ HDMI slots in order to facilitate its ‘All In One’ entertainment features, such as TV pass-through. By scrapping the HDMI In port for the Xbox Series X, it appears that Microsoft is planning to abandon the entertainment hub idea of the Xbox One with its new console. Finally, a small power cable port can be seen to the right of the HDMI port, labelled with a small Xbox logo. It’s unclear yet if the Series X will require a large power brick as part of its power cable, but it seems likely considering the size of the console in this photo; it seems a neat little box with little room for a power supply unit. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=xbox-series-x-reveal-images&captions=true"]

Will the Xbox Series X have an USB C port?

Missing from these ports are any USB C connectors, which were at one point rumored. That leak was debunked by AMD, and the lack of their presence on these images provides a little extra potential credibility to their legitimacy. But do remember: these photographs could very well be fake and offer no real information. Until Microsoft officially reveals photographs of the back of the console, it’s impossible to know how real these photographs are. It could easily be a 3D printed shell created by an enthusiast. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt Purslow is IGN's UK News and Entertainment Writer. You can follow him on Twitter. 

According to its developers, Valve's much-anticipated VR spin-off, Half-Life: Alyx is being polished and bug fixed, and is playable in its entirety – and they really don't think it'll be delayed, no matter what you've heard about the dreaded 'Valve Time'. Speaking in a Reddit AMA, an official account wrote: "With the exception of some tweaks to the absolute final scene, the game is done. Lots of us at Valve, as well as playtesters, have played through the entire game multiple times. "Right now we're primarily polishing and fixing bugs, which is where we'd hope to be at this point in the development cycle. We're confident we'll hit our intended release. (We let the Valve Time happen before we announced the game.)" [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=half-life-alyx-first-screenshots-4k&captions=true"] One user went on to ask if gameplay videos would be released before HL:A's March 2020 launch, to which the team replied: "Yes, it's our plan to release gameplay videos in the leadup to launch. Our intention is to use these to showcase not just gameplay elements, but also VR-specific elements like different movement options." [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/11/21/half-life-alyx-reveal-trailer"] We don't know a great deal about the game beyiond what was shown in the reveal trailer (above). However, we do know that it will be single-player only, that it takes place between Half-Life 1 and 2, and that it's about the length of Half-Life 2. That's been enough to sell a lot of people on the game anyway - Valve's Index VR headset is sold out in every region it's sold in, bar one. You can get up to speed with the story pretty easily right now, as the entire Half-Life Collection is currently free. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Joe Skrebels is IGN's UK Deputy Editor, and the original Valve logo still haunts him a bit. Follow him on Twitter.

Ninja Theory, the developer behind Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice, Heavenly Sword, and DmC: Devil May Cry, has announced that it has begun development on a new game that it calls Project: Mara. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/12/13/senuas-saga-hellblade-2-reveal-trailer"] “Project: Mara will be a real-world and grounded representation of mental terror,” said Ninja Theory in a press statement. “Based on real lived experience accounts and in-depth research, the goal is to recreate the horrors of the mind as accurately and realistically as possible. Project: Mara will be an experimental title and a showcase of what could become a new storytelling medium.” It seems Project: Mara will draw upon similar influences to Hellblade, which was based on in-depth research into psychosis. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=the-big-xbox-games-coming-in-2020&captions=true"] In addition to Project: Mara, Ninja Theory is also working on Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 - another game that will likely explore mental trauma - as well as the multiplayer brawler Bleeding Edge. The developer is part of Xbox Game Studios, and so will release as first-party Xbox exclusives on Xbox consoles and PC. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt Purslow is IGN's UK News and Entertainment Writer. You can follow him on Twitter. 

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker debuted one of the most visually distinctive Stormtrooper designs ever in the form of the Sith Trooper, and now you can bring the might of the Final Order home to your collection. We have an exclusive first look at Diamond Select Toys' upcoming Sith Trooper mini-bust. The Sith Trooper mini-bust is a 1:6 scale piece measuring six inches tall. It's designed by Joe Allard and sculpted by Gentle Giant Studios. Gentle Giant has a long history of immortalizing the heroes and villains of the Star Wars universe in mini-bust form, but this will be their first Rise of Skywalker release in this format. Check out the slideshow gallery below for a closer look at the Sith Trooper mini-bust: [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=diamond-select-toys-brings-star-wars-sith-trooper-to-life&captions=true"] The Sith Trooper mini-bust carries an MSRP of $120 and will be released at some point in Fall 2020. Let us know in the comments below if you plan on adding this to your collection. In other Star Wars toy news, the long wait continues for licensed Baby Yoda merchandise. We've seen what Funko has in store for 2020, and Hasbro has its own line of adorable Baby Yoda toys in the works. Unfortunately, Disney has begun cracking down on Etsy users selling unlicensed Baby Yoda products. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/07/20/this-insane-lego-sith-trooper-took-250-hours-to-make"] [poilib element="accentDivider"] Jesse is a mild-mannered staff writer for IGN. Allow him to lend a machete to your intellectual thicket by following @jschedeen on Twitter.

Horizon Zero Dawn developer Guerrilla is looking for a game programmer to work on an “epic open world game”, who would ideally have multiplayer experience. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/11/06/horizon-zero-dawn-2-what-we-want-from-a-horizon-sequel-beyond-episode-616"] At current, Guerrilla has yet to announce what its current project is, but the open world descriptor in this new senior game programmer job listing (via GamesRadar) points towards a potential Horizon Zero Dawn sequel. The listing also notes that the game features “ranged and melee weapons, combat and traversal mechanics”, which are all characteristics applicable to Horizon, or at least a game with similar traits. This all makes the 'plus point' of experience in multiplayer interesting, as the original Horizon was a purely single-player game. While it’s impossible to draw concrete conclusions from this posting, it does point to Guerrilla at least considering a multiplayer component for its next open world game. In short: if this is Horizon 2, then it may feature multiplayer. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=every-ign-playstation-first-party-exclusive-review&captions=true"] Plenty of other Guerrilla job listings have pointed towards a Horizon sequel in development, while other recent reports have pointed to the original Horizon Zero Dawn coming to PC. For a closer look at Sony’s development slate, take a look at every first-party PlayStation developer and what they’re working on. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt Purslow is IGN's UK News and Entertainment Writer. You can follow him on Twitter. 

Disney has dropped a new trailer for Season 7 of Star Wars: The Clone Wars, which returns for one final season exclusively on Disney+ this February. The trailer comes accompanied by a new key art poster, featuring Annakin, Obi-Wan, Ahsoka Tano, and Darth Maul, as well as a collection of Clone Troopers. The logo predominantly declares that this is the final season, and is accompanied by the February 21 release date. Like The Mandalorian, the episodes are streaming “beginning Friday, February 21”, indicating a week-by-week rollout rather than a Netflix-style full season drop. The Clone Wars will be made up of twelve new episodes, exploring the events leading up to Revenge of the Sith. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=every-upcoming-star-wars-movie&captions=true"] If you’re looking to catch up on The Clone Wars, check out our correct episode order guide, as well as our look at the connection between the show and The Mandalorian. And if you’re worried about fan-favourite character Ahsoka’s fate, don’t worry: Dave Filoni has a few words for you. [poilib element="commerceCta" json="%7B%22image%22%3A%7B%22url%22%3A%22https%3A%2F%2Fassets1.ignimgs.com%2F2019%2F11%2F12%2FDinset1573564084880.png%22%2C%22styleUrl%22%3A%22https%3A%2F%2Fassets1.ignimgs.com%2F2019%2F11%2F12%2FDinset1573564084880_%7Bsize%7D.png%22%2C%22id%22%3A%225dcaaeb9e4b065e1d37b4336%22%7D%2C%22url%22%3A%22https%3A%2F%2Fr.zdbb.net%2Fu%2Fbcpz%22%2C%22title%22%3A%22Disney%2B%2C%20Hulu%2C%20ESPN%2B%20Bundle%22%2C%22store%22%3A%22Disney%2B%22%2C%22additionalInfo%22%3A%22%22%2C%22ourPick%22%3Afalse%7D"]

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[poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt Purslow is IGN's UK News and Entertainment Writer. You can follow him on Twitter. 

Terry Jones, a founding member of the Monty Python comedy troupe, has died at the age of 77, his agent confirmed to the BBC. "We are deeply saddened to have to announce the passing of beloved husband and father, Terry Jones," his family said in a statement. "Terry passed away on the evening of 21 January 2020 at the age of 77 with his wife Anna Soderstrom by his side after a long, extremely brave but always good-humoured battle with a rare form of dementia, FTD. "Over the past few days his wife, children, extended family and many close friends have been constantly with Terry as he gently slipped away at his home in north London. We have all lost a kind, funny, warm, creative and truly loving man whose uncompromising individuality, relentless intellect and extraordinary humour has given pleasure to countless millions across six decades." [caption id="attachment_2291067" align="alignnone" width="1197"] John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Graham Chapman, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, and Michael Palin in Monty Python and the Holy Grail.[/caption] "His work with Monty Python, his books, films, television programmes, poems and other work will live on forever, a fitting legacy to a true polymath. "We, his wife Anna, children Bill, Sally, Siri and extended family would like to thank Terry's wonderful medical professionals and carers for making the past few years not only bearable but often joyful. "We hope that this disease will one day be eradicated entirely. We ask that our privacy be respected at this sensitive time and give thanks that we lived in the presence of an extraordinarily talented, playful and happy man living a truly authentic life, in his words 'Lovingly frosted with glucose.'"

A Look Back at the Life of Terry Jones

Born in Colwyn Bay, on the north coast of Wales, in 1942, Jones moved to Surrey, England as a child. He went on to study for an English degree at Oxford University, where he met his long-term writing partner and friend, Michael Palin, in the institution's comedy troupe The Oxford Revue. Following graduation, the two went on to write and perform in several TV shows, including Twice a Fortnight, Do Not Adjust Your Set, and The Frost Report, alongside a number of other up-and-coming British comedians.

The Monty Python Years

In 1969, Jones formed Monty Python's Flying Circus with Palin, John Cleese, Eric Idle, Graham Chapman, and Terry Gilliam, aka "The Pythons." The mould-breaking sketch show, which ran until 1974, helped to revolutionize British comedy and inspire a generation of artists. The troupe's elevated status provided them with the perfect platform to transition onto the big screen. Jones made his directorial debut with Monty Python and the Holy Grail, which he co-directed with Gilliam. He later directed some of the Pythons' best-loved works, including Life of Brian and The Meaning of Life. In 2016, Jones received a Lifetime Achievement special award at the BAFTA Cymru Awards for his outstanding contribution to television and film.

A Tribute to Terry Jones

Fellow Monty Python founding member, John Cleese, expressed his condolences on social media, tweeting, "Just heard about Terry J. It feels strange that a man of so many talents and such endless enthusiasm, should have faded so gently away... Of his many achievements, for me the greatest gift he gave us all was his direction of 'Life of Brian'. Perfection. "Two down, four to go." [poilib element="accentDivider"] Adele Ankers is a Freelance Entertainment Journalist. You can reach her on Twitter.

A set of photographs uploaded online show off what is purportedly a prototype Xbox Series X. If real, this is the first time we have seen the console in anything other than official marketing materials. The photos, which were uploaded to NeoGAF and then circulated on Twitter, show the front and back of an Xbox One Series X. The backplate of the console features the text ‘Prototype - Not For Sale’, as well as a serial number and placeholder next for the product name.

@IdleSloth1984 @blueisviolet @XcloudTimdog pic.twitter.com/qmVlhTTaqi

— Doug - XBOX SERIES X (@Doug_DragoX) January 22, 2020

It’s unclear how legitimate these images are; in the recent past upcoming consoles have been faked through 3D printing, and so this could be simply a mock up. But, should they be real, the images do give us an insight into the physical capabilities of the Xbox Series X. The ports on the back of the console demonstrate a fairly typical arrangement, including a single HDMI Out (the HDMI In that characterized the Xbox One is notably missing), an Ethernet port, optical port, and two USB Type-A ports. The only odd port on the console is a long, rectangular slot with no description printed on the case. Thurrott reports that this is used diagnostic reports and won't be present on the final console, but we won’t know the validity of this claim until official images of the final console are seen. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/01/10/xbox-wont-have-series-x-exclusives-for-at-least-a-year-ign-daily-fix"] This isn't the first time we've seen images unofficial images of the Xbox Series X, although those previous images were debunked. Our next major look at the console, and potentially the time these images will be confirmed or debunked, will likely be part of Microsoft's Xbox E3 2020 conference. That conference is also likely to show us the next batch of Xbox exclusive games, which will be available on both Xbox One and Xbox Series X. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt Purslow is IGN's UK News and Entertainment Writer. You can follow him on Twitter. 

Bong Joon-ho has opened up about the reason why he is turning Parasite into an HBO limited series, explaining there are "so many stories" to be told "in between the sequences" of his breakout Korean-language thriller. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, the director, who recently landed six Oscar nominations for Parasite, including Best Picture, spoke about his prospective TV adaptation with producer-director Adam McKay, saying they ultimately plan to create "a high-quality, expanded film." [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/12/20/igns-best-movie-of-2019"] "With cinema, you're limited to a two-hour running time," he said. "But there were so many stories that I thought of that could happen in between the sequences you see in the film, and some background stories for each character. I really wanted to explore those ideas freely with a five- or six-hour film." Joon-ho went on to explain how he envisions the project taking shape, making reference to the release of Ingmar Bergman's Fanny and Alexander, he said, "there's a theatrical version and there's a TV version. So with the TV series for Parasite, I think we'll be able to create a high-quality, expanded film." [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=oscars-2020-igns-reviews-of-the-best-picture-nominees&captions=true"] Parasite was the 2019 winner of the Palme d'Or, the top prize at Cannes Film Festival. It also recently picked up a Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture in the Foreign Language category and a SAG Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture, making history as the first foreign-language film to take home this trophy. In our review of Parasite, we commended Joon-ho for crafting "a stellar dark comedy about class warfare", saying he is "a virtuoso director at the very top of his game." IGN also named it the best movie of 2019 and one of the best movies of the past decade. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Adele Ankers is a Freelance Entertainment Journalist. You can reach her on Twitter.

A collection of Mortal Kombat remasters that Warner Bros. reportedly pulled the plug on back in early 2019 appears to have been resurrected, based on a new rating spotted in the Pan European Game Information (PEGI) database. Mortal Kombat Kollection Online, for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC, and Nintendo Switch, has been rated PEGI 18 due to “frequent strong violence.” The entry can still be found in the PEGI rating database at the time of writing. The explanatory text provided alongside the new PEGI rating describes Mortal Kombat Kollection Online as “the original Mortal Kombat trilogy that MK fans always wanted” and makes reference to “[u]pgraded art, gameplay, and online features.” [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=every-ign-mortal-kombat-game-review&captions=true"] In April 2019 it was reported that Blind Squirrel Games (BioShock: The Collection, Forklift Simulator 2019) had been preparing to work on a remastered collection of the first three Mortal Kombat games following a successful pitch to Mortal Kombat co-creator Ed Boon, but Warner Bros. quickly opted not to have Blind Squirrel Games continue on the project. WB reportedly claimed it could not “trust development of such an important project to a team without any completed game titles.” The PEGI scheme covers the bulk of Europe and the UK (and Israel) in a similar fashion to North America’s Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB). There’s certainly plenty going on in the Mortal Kombat realm at the moment, with Joker joining the Mortal Kombat 11 roster next week, production on the upcoming live-action film reboot wrapping last month, and the recent announcement of the new animated movie Mortal Kombat Legends: Scorpion’s Revenge. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/04/22/mortal-kombat-11-review"] [poilib element="accentDivider"] Luke is Games Editor at IGN's Sydney office. You can find him on Twitter every few days @MrLukeReilly.