Overwatch, WoW Characters Join Heroes of the Storm
Blizzard has announced the newest playable characters coming to Heroes of the Storm during its BlizzCon 2017 keynote.
Overwatch's Hanzo and World of Warcraft's Alexstrasza the Life Binder have joined HotS. Alexstrasza is a durable Ranged Support, while Hanzo is an Assassin who can deal plenty of damage from long range. Check out the reveal trailer below:
Blizzard also revealed the Dragons of the Nexus event coming to the game, which will earn players a log-in reward, the Stained Glass Alexstrasza or Hanzo Portrait, between Nov. 14 and Dec. 12. The event features the quest the Dragons of the Nexus, which can be completed in Versus AI, Quick Match, Ranked, and Unranked modes.
StarCraft II Goes Free to Play
At BlizzCon today, Blizzard announced that StarCraft II is going free to play.
Starting November 14, the full Wings of Liberty campaign will be free for everyone. Meanwhile, those who have already purchased Wings of Liberty will get Heart of the Swarm free of charge.
This free-to-play version will provide full access to the ranked ladder and free access to every co-op commander up to level 5.
StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty launched back in 2010, followed by expansions including 2013’s Heart of the Swarm and 2015’s Legacy of the Void. Last year, Blizzard released nine new downloadable missions known as Nova Covert Ops.
Guess Which Jedi Survived Revenge of the Sith?
Star Wars: Darth Vader #7 just added another name to the official list of Jedi who survived the events of Revenge of the Sith. And this one should be instantly recognizable to fans of the Prequels.
Warning: this article contains spoilers for Star Wars: Darth Vader #7!
Having established how Vader defeated Jedi Master Kirak Infil'a and constructed his red lightsaber, the series is now turning its attention to Vader's efforts to take control of the Inquistorius and mold them into the deadly warriors seen in Star Wars Rebels. As the Grand Inquisitor reveals in this issue, Emperor Palpatine has given him a list of Jedi who likely survived Order 66. And the highest priority target on that list is none other than Jocasta Nu, the Jedi librarian introduced in Attack of the Clones.
Alias Grace is the Perfect Binge After The Handmaid’s Tale
Renowned author Margaret Atwood is in high demand these days, especially after the successful adaption of The Handmaid’s Tale earned an impressive eight Primetime Emmys for Hulu. Alias Grace is the latest Atwood series based off one of her books, and it's looking to make an impact of its own when the entire season drops on Netflix on Friday, November 3. Make sure to check out IGN's spoiler-free review.
At first glance, these two series look nothing alike. Alias Grace is a historical account of a young Irish immigrant to Canada who is convicted of murder, while The Handmaid’s Tale is set in a dystopian society where women have lost all their freedom and are forced to act as breeders for the upper class. When we sat down for a conversation with lead actress Sarah Gadon (Dracula Untold) about her portrayal of Grace Marks, she believes the shows are deeply connected.
COD: WW2 Mission Makes You Watch Other Players Open Loot Boxes
Call of Duty: WW2's social space Headquarters features a mission that can only be completed by watching other players open loot boxes that fall from the skies onto the beaches of Normandy.
Watch the video above to see the mission, called Loot Spectator, play out in Headquarters. The quest is one of various daily missions Headquarters tasks players with finishing — in this case, completing Loot Spectator requires watching three players open the game's loot boxes.
This mission is, of course, not required to complete any campaign or part of Call of Duty: WW2, but is included among the game's various multiplayer Orders, which can be completed for Social Score points and XP boosts. Loot Spectator currently earns players 25 Social Score points.
EA Reveals UFC 3, Coming February
EA has today unveiled EA SPORTS UFC 3, which will be available worldwide on February 2, 2018 for Xbox One and PS4.
UFC 3 will feature a new fighter animation system with over 5,000 new animations captured and rebuilt from the ground up. According to EA the new tech brings “uninterrupted fighter movement” to the game, meaning fluid footwork and seamless combinations. Strikes can now also be combined with slips and lunges so that every move can be performed while in motion, and position and stance now has an even greater effect on the impact of every strike.
EA also promises the UFC’s biggest stars will now “move and feel exactly as they do in real life”, with their fighting tendencies replicated within this new tech.
Check Out This Life-Sized Gears 4 Gold Lancer
The Gears of War series' most iconic weapon is getting life-sized, gold replica.
Not only does it have "authentic lights and sounds," it includes a Gold Lancer skin for Gears of War 4. Oh, and a detachable flashlight, too. It's the only way to get the DLC in-game.
The $169 gold lancer comes with a Gears 4 gear pack to unlock "skins, emblems, bounty challenges, and Horde abilities," as well as weapons.
The Gold Lancer isn't just simple replica to toss on the shelf and gaze at longingly. The ammo cartridge is on a hinged release, so it can be removed, an articulated chainsaw handle "that slides back and forth" to activate chainsaw bayonet sound effects, and LED lights to add to its authentic look.
Gigantic Dev Motiga, Torchlight Dev Runic Closed Down
UPDATE: Perfect World has confirmed the closure of Motiga as well as Runic, the studio behind Torchlight and Hob.
A Perfect World representative provided the following statement to IGN:
“Following the news that Motiga has reduced the staff of its studio, Perfect World Entertainment can confirm that as the publisher of Gigantic, the game will continue to be available on our platforms. A core team of developers remains at Motiga, who will work with us to support the game and its players, including moving full steam ahead with the upcoming November update and future content. We cannot thank everyone enough for their contributions in making Gigantic the outstanding experience it is today.
Xenoblade Chronicles 2 Gets Nintendo Direct Next Week
In anticipation for the release of Xenoblade Chronicles 2 next month, a Nintendo Direct will be held on November 7 to provide new details about Monolith Soft's upcoming RPG.
According to Nintendo's announcement, the Xenoblade Chronicles 2-focused Direct will broadcast live this coming Tuesday at 6am PT/9am ET/1pm UK (Wednesday, November 8 at 12am AET).
While you wait for next week's Direct, be sure to check out IGN's interview with Monolith Soft studio head Tetsuya Takahashi to find out why Xenoblade Chronicles 2 isn't merely a simple sequel.
IGN UK Podcast #407: Rush Hour on the Paris Express
Joe and Dale went to Paris Games Week. Gav extols the virtues of the original Murder on the Orient Express. The Mona Lisa continues to get pelters.
There are other things too. Please consider that last sentence a TEASE. Plus, KEYWORD COUNTDOWN.
IGN UK Podcast #407: Rush Hour on the Paris Express
(right click to save)
Subscribe to IGN's Podcast Series
And don't forget you can check out all the previous episodes on iTunes. And why not subscribe while you're there? Couldn't hurt, could it?