Lord of the Rings TV Series Possibly Coming to Amazon
A television series based on J.R.R. Tolkien's beloved The Lord of the Rings novels could be headed to Amazon.
According to Variety, Warner Bros. TV and the Tolkien estate are in the early stages of negotiations with Amazon Studios to develop the series. Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos is allegedly personally involved in the talks.
It's important to note that a deal has not yet been set, and representatives from Warner Bros. and Amazon refrained from commenting on the reported negotiations.
Warner Bros. TV and the Tolkien estate's decision to begin shopping a series based on The Lord of the Rings has reportedly resulted in quite a bit of competition for the project, with Amazon coming out on top as the frontrunner studio.
Breath of the Wild: Champions Amiibo Functionality Detailed
Nintendo has announced new details regarding the functionality of the upcoming The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild Champions amiibo.
Previously, Nintendo’s September Direct revealed the four upcoming Champions amiibo will each unlock a unique Divine Helm. Now, Nintendo revealed on Twitter today when any of those helms are equipped with Ancient Cuirass and Ancient Greaves — all of which need to be upgraded to level 2 or above — you’ll also trigger an armor set bonus, which increases the attack power of Ancient and Guardian series weapons.
4 Biggest Things Announced at Blizzcon 2017 – IGN Access
This year’s BlizzCon was full exciting announcements, from game expansions to system overhauls. There’s a whole lot to look forward to, but here’s the most exciting news:
While its custom games were already open to anyone, Starcraft 2’s base game is becoming totally free on November 14. That means you’ll soon be able to play through the Wings of Liberty story content and even jump onto the ranked ladder without paying a cent.
You’ll have to buy the Heart of the Swarm and Legacy of the Void expansions separately (though current Wings of Liberty owners will get Heart of the Swarm free), but the base game is by no means small on its own.
Blizzard World Skins Coming to Overwatch
A new batch skins, inspired by the upcoming Blizzard World map, are coming soon to Overwatch.
Blizzard announced the news during its Overwatch - What's Next? panel at BlizzCon 2017. These skins, which you can view below, will be released sometime early next year and can be acquired via base loot boxes. They're also not part of any special event, meaning players can acquire the skins all year round.
Blizzard also announced the Blizzard World map for Overwatch, which pulls inspiration from all of Blizzard's various games. The map, which is a Blizzard-themed amusement park, will go live for Overwatch players next year and will be available on the PTR very soon.
NVC: Does Mario Dream of EA?
Welcooooooome to Nintendo Voice Chat, Episode 380!
The latest addition to IGN, Filip Miucin, joins Zach Ryan, Brian Altano, and Peer Schneider to introduce himself and share his favorite games for all the big Nintendo platforms. Topics this week range from the latest games released for Nintendo Switch -- yes, including Farming Simulator -- to more impressions of Fire Emblem Warriors, Super Mario Odyssey, and Sonic Forces.
As always, you can watch NVC here on IGN and on our YouTube channel (subscribe and hit the bell!) or listen to it on your commute in audio format. If you enjoy the show, share it with other Nintendo fans, make a constructive comment, and give us a thumbs up or leave us a review.
New Details on Overwatch Hero Moira and Blizzard World
Today at BlizzCon 2017, the Overwatch team shared new details about the game's upcoming hero Moira and new map Blizzard World.
As revealed during Blizzard's opening ceremony, Moira is a support healer who can also deliver a significant amount of damage. During an Overwatch-focused panel that followed, Blizzard shared a few details about the character's backstory.
Moira is scientist, but she isn't interested in conquering the world. Instead, Moira is a geneticist who primarily wants to learn more about humans, and doesn't let morals compromise her scientific pursuits. She was recruited to be a member of Blackwatch, but has since allied herself with Talon.
Planet of the Apes: Last Frontier Dated for PS4
The PlayStation 4 version of Planet of the Apes: Last Frontier will be released on November 21 in North America and Europe. Xbox One and PC release dates have not been revealed at this time.
The cinematic adventure will be available digitally for $20 USD / €20 / £16. Developer The Imaginarium also announced a "special pre-order bundle," which includes the soundtrack and five PSN ape avatars.
Last Frontier is a choice-based adventure set between the events of 2014’s Dawn of the Planet of the Apes and this year’s War for the Planet of the Apes. It will take 2-3 hours to complete and feature multiple endings. The PlayStation 4 version will also include PlayLink support, allowing up to four players to impact the story via their smartphones.
Hearthstone’s Kobolds and Catacombs Expansion Detailed
Blizzard has revealed more details about Hearthstone's newest expansion that arrives next month.
Called Kobolds and Catacombs, the expansion was announced earlier today at Blizzcon. A new Hearthstone panel focusing on the update brought additional information, starting with the unveiling of 14 cards seen in the gallery below.
All nine playable classes will get a new upgradeable spell they can slot into their deck, called a Spellstone, providing more unique flavor for each class. Each Spellstone effect and upgrade trigger is different and tailored to a class’s play style, from gaining armor to overloading mana crystals.
Beta Ray Bill Was Dropped From Thor: Ragnarok
Beta Ray Bill almost featured in the latest Thor movie, Thor: Ragnarok.
In an interview with CraveOnline, Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige revealed the character initially had a cameo in the film. However, because his appearance was too quick, Feige didn't think it did justice to Beta Ray Bill. So, he was ultimately cut from the movie entirely.
"There was a Beta Ray Bill, but it was so quick that you would have the same complaints that you have now," Feige said. "He was in it a little bit more and it just didn’t do justice. And the feeling is, if you can’t do it justice, do it later."
Krypton: Braniac Cast in Superman Prequel TV Series
Syfy's upcoming Krypton TV series has cast the villainous Braniac.
Deadline reports Da Vinci's Demons alum Blake Ritson will play one of Superman's biggest villains, the parasitic, hyper-advanced alien android known as Brainiac. This will be a series regular role for Ritson.
Ray Donovan's Paula Malcomson also joins the show as House El matriarch Charys, who helps her son Seg-El survive the dangerous Kandor City, a Kryptonian city filled with oppression. This role has been recast after the show's pilot.
Blake Ritson in Da Vinci's Demons.