Report: Here’s How Netflix Is Testing Their Password Crackdowns So Far
Netflix has been promising to become more strict on password sharing and has begun testing possible methods in different countries, to varying levels of success.
In March, Netflix announced they were going to begin testing features to try and stop password sharing with people outside your household. If sharing occurred, subscribers would be asked to pay extra to add the users to their service package.
While nothing is finalized just yet, Netflix is rolling out tests to see if there could be a possible solution. According to Rest of the World, Netflix has begun testing solutions in Peru, Chile, and Costa Rica by offering add-on prices for people using a subscription, but not living in the same household. Meaning if you're sharing an account, you may be asked to pay a little more.
Subscribers can also call Netflix Customer Service to say that someone is simply using their account in another location, which lets Customer Service hand out a verification code to the user, who can then confirm the code and bypass paying a fee.
According to Rest of World, “Central and South America represent Netflix’s lowest revenue per user, making them particularly vulnerable to changes in pricing.”
Testing these features in countries with fewer subscribers helps Netflix determine what steps to take going forward. So far, consumers have not seen a uniform message from Netflix regarding the testing and account changes, possibly because these are tests and not official policy changes.
Some subscribers have outright canceled their subscription due to the additional fees, while others continue to share their accounts with those outside their households. For some of those still sharing their account, there has been no enforcement. There is also the issue of what “household” means. Some subscribers take it as anyone in your immediate family, but Netflix has always defined it as people who physically live in the same building as you.
These plans will likely be ironed out as testing continues, but for now nothing is official just yet. Netflix increased its prices for a sixth time earlier this year, and that paired with the new charges for account sharing may have led to the streaming giant’s loss of 200k subscribers in April of this year.
Regardless, Netflix remains the home of hit shows like Stranger Things, Squid Game, and Bridgerton.
Casey is a freelance writer for IGN. You can usually find him talking about JRPGs on Twitter at @caseydavidmt.
Elden Ring Randomizer Mod Unleashes Chaos Across the Lands Between
A new randomizer mod for Elden Ring gives PC players the ability to completely change the way the game plays by changing the location of enemies, bosses, and even key items needed to complete the main quest.
Modder Matt Gruen announced the Item and Enemy Randomizer back in April, but in a tweet posted Monday, he confirmed that the mod is now "feature complete." Gruen promises a host of fixes and expanded features for the future, but for now, at least, it appears to be ready for everyone to dive into.
Item and Enemy Randomizer allows players to completely alter the game's overall layout by randomizing the placement of various elements like items and enemies.
Gruen shows this off with a short clip of one of the game's most challenging endgame bosses, Malenia, waltzing around the open fields of Limgrave – Elden Ring's first biome.
Elden Ring Enemy Randomizer is feature-complete for its first release, though it has many more fixes and features to go. You can customize it to create many different kinds of fun runs. Or you could choose to do... this. (late game boss spoilers)Mod page: https://t.co/OVHRntXS7y pic.twitter.com/RNAXJY9nZx
— Matt Gruen (@thefifthmatt) May 30, 2022
By randomizing the locations of so many things, there's an unfathomable amount of replay value to be had and no shortage of overwhelming challenges awaiting anyone brave enough to push the features to the max.
There is even a mode that can require you to collect every Great Rune before allowing you to fight the final boss, though the base game only asks you to secure two runes prior to accessing that climactic showdown.
A 4-player co-op mod is also in development and entered beta last week. In addition to allowing players to invite one extra person into their game, it also allows them to bypass some of the limitations imposed by the original summoning mechanics.
Billy Givens is a freelance writer at IGN.
Elden Ring Randomizer Mod Unleashes Chaos Across the Lands Between
A new randomizer mod for Elden Ring gives PC players the ability to completely change the way the game plays by changing the location of enemies, bosses, and even key items needed to complete the main quest.
Modder Matt Gruen announced the Item and Enemy Randomizer back in April, but in a tweet posted Monday, he confirmed that the mod is now "feature complete." Gruen promises a host of fixes and expanded features for the future, but for now, at least, it appears to be ready for everyone to dive into.
Item and Enemy Randomizer allows players to completely alter the game's overall layout by randomizing the placement of various elements like items and enemies.
Gruen shows this off with a short clip of one of the game's most challenging endgame bosses, Malenia, waltzing around the open fields of Limgrave – Elden Ring's first biome.
Elden Ring Enemy Randomizer is feature-complete for its first release, though it has many more fixes and features to go. You can customize it to create many different kinds of fun runs. Or you could choose to do... this. (late game boss spoilers)Mod page: https://t.co/OVHRntXS7y pic.twitter.com/RNAXJY9nZx
— Matt Gruen (@thefifthmatt) May 30, 2022
By randomizing the locations of so many things, there's an unfathomable amount of replay value to be had and no shortage of overwhelming challenges awaiting anyone brave enough to push the features to the max.
There is even a mode that can require you to collect every Great Rune before allowing you to fight the final boss, though the base game only asks you to secure two runes prior to accessing that climactic showdown.
A 4-player co-op mod is also in development and entered beta last week. In addition to allowing players to invite one extra person into their game, it also allows them to bypass some of the limitations imposed by the original summoning mechanics.
Billy Givens is a freelance writer at IGN.
You Can Watch All of IGN’s Summer of Gaming on Steam
IGN Summer of Gaming is back starting today and through the month of June. While you can watch all the new announcements right here on IGN, you can also check out our show directly from Steam on our new Summer of Gaming page.
Simply make your way to the Steam IGN Summer of Gaming page and it will host that day’s show, as well as any links to games that appear on the showcase. It’s yet another way to catch all the game announcements and reveals from home.
IGN Summer of Gaming features events like Geoff Keighley's Summer Game Fest and the Xbox and Bethesda Showcase as well as our own IGN Expo with exclusive game reveals, developer interviews, and more.
A full schedule is available on the IGN's Summer of Gaming Steam page, as well as in our full schedule hub here. You can already check out games revealed in the Warhammer Skulls Showcase 2022.
Alongside Steam, you can watch IGN’s Summer of Gaming on the following channels, whether that’s directly on the site, YouTube, Twitch, and more. Check below for more places to check out IGN’s Summer of Gaming Below.
How to Watch Summer of Gaming 2022
Here’s a list of places you can watch IGN’s Summer of Gaming event:
You Can Watch All of IGN’s Summer of Gaming on Steam
IGN Summer of Gaming is back starting today and through the month of June. While you can watch all the new announcements right here on IGN, you can also check out our show directly from Steam on our new Summer of Gaming page.
Simply make your way to the Steam IGN Summer of Gaming page and it will host that day’s show, as well as any links to games that appear on the showcase. It’s yet another way to catch all the game announcements and reveals from home.
IGN Summer of Gaming features events like Geoff Keighley's Summer Game Fest and the Xbox and Bethesda Showcase as well as our own IGN Expo with exclusive game reveals, developer interviews, and more.
A full schedule is available on the IGN's Summer of Gaming Steam page, as well as in our full schedule hub here. You can already check out games revealed in the Warhammer Skulls Showcase 2022.
Alongside Steam, you can watch IGN’s Summer of Gaming on the following channels, whether that’s directly on the site, YouTube, Twitch, and more. Check below for more places to check out IGN’s Summer of Gaming Below.
How to Watch Summer of Gaming 2022
Here’s a list of places you can watch IGN’s Summer of Gaming event:
Chris Hemsworth Reveals Furiosa Began Filming
Chris Hemsworth announced today via Twitter that filming has begun for Furiosa.
Furiosa is a prequel to the hit post-apocalyptic film Mad Max: Fury Road and will follow Imperator Furiosa, a role originated by Charlize Theron but played by Anya Taylor-Joy this time around.
A new journey in the Mad Max saga begins #FURIOSA pic.twitter.com/nhxqRXB73z
— Chris Hemsworth (@chrishemsworth) June 1, 2022
Theron has expressed her excitement for the film but shared she was heartbroken to not be asked back. Last year she told The Hollywood Reporter, “I really love that character, and I’m so grateful that I had a small part in creating her. She will forever be someone I think of and reflect on fondly.”
Anya Taylor-Joy from The New Mutants will be taking over the role in this origin story. Director George Miller said Taylor-Joy’s performance in Last Night in Soho helped secure her spot on the role as a young Furiosa, and that her audition included performing the iconic "I'm Mad As Hell" speech from Sidney Lumet's 1976 film Network.
Hemsworth will step into the villain role opposite Taylor-Joy. This is much different for the usual charming action hero types he typically portrays. Miller initially saw Hemsworth as a courtesy but quickly fell in love with the idea of him playing “the lead baddie.”
Furiosa was originally meant to be released in 2023, but was delayed to May 24, 2024. The film’s plot is still tightly under wraps. Despite that, Miller has teased that the film’s structure will be quite different from Mad Max: Fury Road.
Mad Max: Fury Road won IGN’s Best Movie of 2015. In our review we said, ”It’s the overriding sense of the film’s uniqueness, its striving to be something more than just another action movie, that is most impressive.”
You can look forward to seeing Hemsworth in the upcoming film, Thor: Love and Thunder which is out this summer on July 8, 2022.
Casey is a freelance writer for IGN. You can usually find him talking about JRPGs on Twitter at @caseydavidmt.
Chris Hemsworth Reveals Furiosa Began Filming
Chris Hemsworth announced today via Twitter that filming has begun for Furiosa.
Furiosa is a prequel to the hit post-apocalyptic film Mad Max: Fury Road and will follow Imperator Furiosa, a role originated by Charlize Theron but played by Anya Taylor-Joy this time around.
A new journey in the Mad Max saga begins #FURIOSA pic.twitter.com/nhxqRXB73z
— Chris Hemsworth (@chrishemsworth) June 1, 2022
Theron has expressed her excitement for the film but shared she was heartbroken to not be asked back. Last year she told The Hollywood Reporter, “I really love that character, and I’m so grateful that I had a small part in creating her. She will forever be someone I think of and reflect on fondly.”
Anya Taylor-Joy from The New Mutants will be taking over the role in this origin story. Director George Miller said Taylor-Joy’s performance in Last Night in Soho helped secure her spot on the role as a young Furiosa, and that her audition included performing the iconic "I'm Mad As Hell" speech from Sidney Lumet's 1976 film Network.
Hemsworth will step into the villain role opposite Taylor-Joy. This is much different for the usual charming action hero types he typically portrays. Miller initially saw Hemsworth as a courtesy but quickly fell in love with the idea of him playing “the lead baddie.”
Furiosa was originally meant to be released in 2023, but was delayed to May 24, 2024. The film’s plot is still tightly under wraps. Despite that, Miller has teased that the film’s structure will be quite different from Mad Max: Fury Road.
Mad Max: Fury Road won IGN’s Best Movie of 2015. In our review we said, ”It’s the overriding sense of the film’s uniqueness, its striving to be something more than just another action movie, that is most impressive.”
You can look forward to seeing Hemsworth in the upcoming film, Thor: Love and Thunder which is out this summer on July 8, 2022.
Casey is a freelance writer for IGN. You can usually find him talking about JRPGs on Twitter at @caseydavidmt.
PlayStation Plus Games for June 2022 Announced
Sony has revealed the PlayStation Plus games for May 2022 are God of War, Naruto to Boruto: Shinobi Striker, and Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl.
Revealed on the PlayStation Blog, all three games will be made available at no extra cost to all PlayStation Plus subscribers on June 7.
God of War is the 2018 reboot of one of PlayStation's signature franchises that took the world by storm with its story-focused, third-person action. Follow Kratos as he deals with his troubled past and complicated future as he tries to raise a son while being attacked by half the gods and monsters of Norse mythology.
In our 10/10 review, IGN said: "God of War’s outstanding characters, world, and combat come together to form an unforgettable adventure."
Naruto to Boruto: Shinobi Striker is an online multiplayer game where teams of four ninjas compete against each other, bending the timeline of the Naruto anime and its follow-up Boruto to include a ton of fan-favourite characters.
Last but not least, Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl brings another collection of characters together in a colourful fighting game that pits Spongebob Squarepants against Avatar's Korra and Nigel Thornberry.
In our 7/10 review, IGN said: "Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl is definitely more than just Nickelodeon Smash Bros., but you'll need to be willing to overlook some pretty substantial flaws to find the surprisingly nuanced fighter underneath the surface."
These three new games will be available for free until July 4, while last month's games - which include FIFA 22 (PS5 & PS4), Tribes of Midgard (PS5 & PS4), and Curse of the Dead Gods (PS4) - will be available until June 6.
Sony has begun rolling out its new PlayStation Plus tiers across the world with the service coming to the U.S. on June 13 and Europe on June 23.
The lowest-cost Essential tier is practically the same as the current PlayStation Plus service while its middle and highest tiers feature extra benefits including a ton of games from throughout PlayStation's history.
Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelancer who occasionally remembers to tweet @thelastdinsdale. He'll talk about The Witcher all day.
Fruits Basket Prequel Movie Arrives in Theaters This Summer
After seeing a limited theatrical release in Japan, the Fruits Basket prequel film, titled Fruits Basket -prelude-, is finally making its way over to theaters in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom this summer.
After the Japanese premiere of Fruits Basket -prelude- in February, both subbed and dubbed versions of the film will open in select theaters in the United States and Canada on June 25, 28, and 29. Tickets go on sale June 3.
The film will then see a theatrical release in the United Kingdom on July 20 where only the dubbed version will be available. Tickets for the UK release will go on sale June 24.
According to the film’s press release, Fruits Basket -prelude- “officially concludes” high school student Tohru Honda’s story, taking viewers back to before she joined forces with the cursed Soma family and focusing on the life of Tohru’s parents, Kyoto and Katsuya Honda, before they died.
The official synopsis of the film reads:
Directed by the series’ director Yoshihide Ibata and with a screenplay written by fellow Fruits Basket veteran Taku Kishimoto, the film is animated by TMS Entertainment and 8PAN, which also animated the 2019 series. The 88-minute long film will be distributed by Crunchyroll.
The Fruits Basket franchise has been running since the manga began in 1998 — the most recent addition to the beloved series was the final season of the 2019 anime reboot, which hit streaming services last year. We named the 2019 revival of Fruits Basket one of the best anime series of the year.
Amelia Zollner is a freelance writer at IGN. Find them on Twitter: @ameliazollner.
Discord Finally Adds Text Chat Support in Voice Channels
Discord announced today that it is finally adding text chats to voice channels. Meaning you no longer have to worry about making sure your text message is sent to the wrong text channel on your Discord server while on a voice call.
The new feature is similar to text chats available on video communication services, such as Google Meet or Zoom. Previously, if you were on a Discord voice chat and wanted to send a message, you had to go out of your way to either message the one or multiple people on Discord DMs, create an entirely new text channel, or share the message in a text channel on a Discord server. In some cases, you probably used an entirely different messaging app like Twitter or WhatsApp to send the message.
As you can see in the gif below, a new Chat bubble icon will appear when you enter a Voice channel, which opens the text chat. Every time someone sends a chat message in the Voice channel, a little preview will pop up at the top right-hand corner of the app itself. Discord even told us that messages sent in a Voice chat channel will still be there even after the call ends.
A new category in the Voice Chat permissions will also be introduced, allowing you to moderate what users can do in the voice channel chat, such as enabling permissions to attach files, embed links, and add reactions.
Discord notes the press release that each Voice channel will have its own text chat; those in that specific Voice channel will have the option to send text messages, such as sending a link to a funny YouTube video or someone who had to mute their mic for whatever reason can still communicate with others on the call.
Discord said Voice channel chat is free for all users, and rollout for the feature will begin today, further noting that by June 29th, all servers, including Community servers, will have access to Voice channel chat.
Taylor is the Associate Tech Editor at IGN. You can follow her on Twitter @TayNixster.