While explaining how graphics drivers work, it seems that Nvidia couldn't help taking a jab at AMD in the process.

In a new video (and accompanying blog post) intended to explain Nvidia's arduous process of creating it's "Game Ready" drivers, Nvidia Senior Product Manager Sean Pelletier detailed how graphics drivers work and why it's important to ensure the right drivers are available when new games release.

Towards the end, Pelletier noted Nvidia doesn't release beta drivers because of how "integral the driver is to the overall experience." He likened the drivers to video games, saying that fully released games are "held to a higher standard" than the beta version of the same game. He seems to be inferring that Nvidia's Game Ready drivers, which are typically released on the same day as a game's launch, are superior to beta drivers that AMD may put out.

From the blog post:

Only once all this work is completed do we launch the driver via GeForce.com and GeForce Experience. And because the Game Ready Driver Program and our promise of quality relies on all of this work, we don’t release sub-par beta drivers with minimal testing, let alone multiple conflicting beta drivers forked from different development branches that support different games and products, which confuse customers.

Of course, astute PC gamers already know that despite Nvidia's in-depth testing and verification process, the company still deals with occasional driver problems. Sometimes, Nvidia has to release an updated driver to fix problems that the original driver caused.

Despite the jab at AMD, the video itself is well-made and does a good job outling the process of driver creation from beginning to end. The Game Ready program was started in 2014 as a way to optimize drivers by interacting directly with game development teams.

Nvidia also bragged about every single Game Ready driver being Windows Hardware Quality Labs (WHQL) certified. That said, WHQL certifcation is certainly appreciated but focuses more on Windows functionality rather than specific games.

Finally, releasing "beta" drivers isn't necessarily a bad thing. By definition, a beta is a trial of software or any product by a third party during the final stages of development. It allows people outside of the development to put fresh eyes on the product and may lead to finding bugs that were otherwise undiscovered by the development team.

Of course, being a video about drivers, Nvidia has also released its latest 512.59 Game Ready drivers which contains optimizations for Dune: Spice Wars. It also includes ray tracing support for the Chernobylite survival game and adds DLSS support to JX3 Online and Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodhunt.

David Matthews is a freelance writer specializing in consumer tech and gaming. He also strongly believes that sugar does not go in grits. Follow him on Twitter @shortblktechie

Telltale's The Walking Dead was originally pitched as a Left 4 Dead spin-off game, before the team took the idea to Walking Dead creator Robert Kirkman.

In a documentary celebrating the game's tenth anniversary, as spotted by Eurogamer, the game's original developers revealed they were at first in talks with Valve about a Left 4 Dead narrative-led spin-off.

A simple prototype was made but the plans fell through, and only later did Telltale approach The Walking Dead's creator Robert Kirkman about setting a game in his universe.

"The very first Walking Dead prototype, which actually was for a different zombie thing that ended up turning into the Walking Dead, the first conversation was actually with Valve," said season design and direction lead Jake Rodkin. "It was about: what if we did a narrative side-story in the universe of Left 4 Dead?"

The protype was a completely text-based game that presented options for the player to choose, instead of seeing them actually play out in the game world as in the final version of The Walking Dead. The gameplay saw players attempting to 'spin plates' by looking after a number of characters simultaneously, with bad or late decisions causing thwir narratives to go wrong.

"Thematically that's a lot closer to what The Walking Dead was about than Left 4 Dead, or even a lot of other zombie franchises, so it ended up being a really good fit," Rodkin added.

"I'm really glad that didn't work out!", Robert Kirman added about the Left 4 Dead idea.

Telltale's The Walking Dead Season One became a huge critical and commercial success and essentially inspired an entire generation of games at the studio.

In our 9/10 review of Season One, IGN simply said: "The Walking Dead: The Game demands to be experienced."

Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelancer who occasionally remembers to tweet @thelastdinsdale. He'll talk about The Witcher all day.

Saudi Arabian censors want Disney to cut LGBTQ references from Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, but so far, the studio has refused.

Speaking to Agence France-Presse (via The Guardian) Saudi Arabia’s general supervisor of cinema classification Nawaf Alsabhan explained that they’ve requested the removal of “barely 12 seconds” when new superhero America Chavez (played by Xochitl Gomez) refers to her “two moms”.

“It’s just her talking about her moms, because she has two moms,” explained Alsabhan. “And being in the Middle East, it’s very tough to pass something like this.”

“We sent it to the distributor, and the distributor sent it to Disney, and Disney has told us they are not willing,” he revealed.

The upcoming Doctor Strange sequel was previously reported to have been banned in the country, as well as in Kuwait. But Asabhan disputed these reports.

“It will never be banned,” he said. “There’s no reason to ban the film. It’s a simple edit... So far, they have refused. But we haven’t closed the door. We’re still trying.”

Advanced ticket sales have been halted in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Qatar, but are currently still available in the United Arab Emirates.

Although Saudia Arabia has not outright banned the film, it looks as though Doctor Strange 2 could fall foul of the censors in the same way The Eternals did – Disney’s refusal to edit gay references out of the recent Marvel movie meant it was not shown in Saudi Arabia and other Arab countries.

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness stars Benedict Cumberbatch as Doctor Strange, alongside Elizabeth Olsen as Scarlet Witch. They’re joined by Chiwetel Ejiofor, Benedict Wong, Rachel McAdams, and Xochitl Gomez.

Sam Raimi directed the movie from a script by Michael Waldron, based on characters created by comic book legends, Steve Ditko, and Stan Lee.

Ryan Leston is an entertainment journalist and film critic for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter.

Valve has released a hefty update for the Steam Deck that adds a lock screen, window switching, and more.

The changes were revealed in the latest patch notes, but Valve also released a deep-dive into the more significant features, first showing off the new lock screen (below).

The optional feature lets users set a PIN when the Steam Deck wakes or boots up, or when logging in or switching to Desktop mode.

Window switching can now be used on any software that already supports the feature and essentially brings up a handy quick select menu that lets users move swiftly between their games and apps.

Valve also updated the achievements page to make it load faster and easier to navigate, and added the option to compare your achievements with those of friends or global stats.

The last main feature highlighted in the deep-dive is the addition of localised keyboards. Valve has added keyboards for 21 languages and layouts, and multiple layouts can be enabled at the same time through the globe button (similar to Android and iOS).

The new additions don't include keyboards for Chinese, Japanese, or Korean, but Valve said it was working on those and they'll appear in the future.

It's the first major update for a while, but the Steam Deck has already seem some other big additions since launch including the addition of Windows compatibility and Xbox Game Pass support.

In our 7/10 review, IGN said: "When Steam Deck lives up to its promises, it's sublime, but when it falls short, it falls hard."

The full patch notes can be seen below:

Client Update:

• Added Lock Screen feature
  • Lock screen is specific to device, and can be set to show up on wake, boot, login, and/or when switching to Desktop mode
  • PIN can be entered using the touchscreen or controls
• Added localized keyboards for 21 languages and layouts
  • Multiple keyboards can be enabled in Settings > Keyboard > Active Keyboards
  • Use the new globe key on the keyboard to cycle between active keyboards
• Added support for multiple windows within one application or game.
  • Press Steam to view active windows and select which window you would like to view
  • Useful for web browsers or games with launchers
• Updated Achievements page design, making it faster to load and easier to navigate
• New achievements drop down allows players to quickly compare stats against any friend who also plays
• Add Friend and Pending Requests have been combined into a single new page for better handling of friend requests
• Added logic to detect and notify user when a microSD card doesn't match advertised storage size and specifications, instead of attempting to format (for a very long time)
• Fixed issue where Steam and (...) button couldn't be used with Remote Play when streaming games from PC
• More performance improvements for players with very large game libraries

OS Update:

• Added messaging when a charger that doesn't meet the minimum bar is plugged in
• Added uncapped framerate setting in Quick Access menu > Performance
• Added Half-Rate Shading experimental option to Quick Access menu > Performance, forcing 2x2 Variable Rate Shading into existing games for power savings
• Added fTPM support, enabling Windows 11 installation
• Added button combo: hold "..." + "Volume Down" to reset PD contract in the cases where Steam Deck gets stuck due to an incompatible Type-C device
• Updated power LED to dim a few seconds after power supply connection events for better experience in dark environments
• Improved compatibility for a number of Type-C docks and PSUs
• Improved battery life in idle or very low usage scenarios
• Improved stability
• Fixed issues where the touchscreen does not work after some boots
• Fixed compatibility with some SD cards specifically when used as boot devices.
• Fixed extra haptic click when pressing on trackpads
• Fixed ACPI error spew in the kernel

Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelancer who occasionally remembers to tweet @thelastdinsdale. He'll talk about The Witcher all day.

While not many details were given, Sony officially announced the next Venom and Ghostbusters films at CinemaCon 2022.

No release dates were given, but they were confirmed in a sizzle reel from Sony that also shared a few seconds of footage from Kraven the Hunter.

Venom 3 will continue the story from Venom: Let There Be Carnage, while the new Ghostbusters movie will follow the events of Ghostbusters: Afterlife.

The third Venom was confirmed by producer Amy Pascal in late 2021, saying, "we are in the planning stages right now, but what we are focused on is getting everybody to come and see No Way Home.” This marks the first official reveal from Sony.

The world of Ghostbusters is quickly expanding as, in addition to this new film, fans have Ghostbuster VR and the 4v1 asymmetrical multiplayer game Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed to look forward to.

Sony also shared other big news at CinemaCon, including the title of the third Spider-Verse film and the annoucement of the Spider-Man spin-off El Muerto.

Have a tip for us? Want to discuss a possible story? Please send an email to newstips@ign.com.

Adam Bankhurst is a news writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @AdamBankhurst and on Twitch.

Alongside revealing that Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse will have 240 characters, six universes, and the largest crew for an animated film, Sony has revealed that the third Spider-Verse film will be called Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse.

The news was shared at CinemaCon, where the first 15 minutes of Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse was shown.

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse will be released in theaters on June 2, 2023, and Beyond the Spider-Verse will arrive on March 29, 2024.

The sequel to Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse was originally set to be released in theaters on October 7, 2022, but it was just delayed a few days ago.

Now, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse will be released just a month before Madame Web hits theaters on July 7, 2023. That film, starring Dakota Johnson, is another Spider-Man spin-off that will tell the origin story of a clairvoyant with psychic abilities that allow her to see within the spider world itself.

Sony also announced the sequels to Venom: Let There Be Carnage and Ghostbusters: Afterlife and another expansion of its Spider-Man universe in El Muerto, which will star Bad Bunny as Marvel's first live-action Latino lead.

Have a tip for us? Want to discuss a possible story? Please send an email to newstips@ign.com.

Adam Bankhurst is a news writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @AdamBankhurst and on Twitch.

Sony has announced El Muerto, a Spider-Man spin-off film that will star Bad Bunny as Marvel's first live-action Latino lead.

Introduced by Sony Motion Picture Group president Sanford Panitch at CinemaCon, El Muerto will be released in theaters on January 12, 2024.

Bad Bunny is the stage name for Benito Antonio Martinez Ocasio, a Puerto Rican musician, producer, actor, and professional wrestler. Bad Bunny was Spotify's most-streamed artist in both 2020 with 8.3 billion streams and 2021 with 9.1 billion streams.

As for acting credits, he's appeared in F9: The Fast Saga as Lookout, Narcos: Mexico as Arturo "Kitty" Páez, and more.

In the comics, El Muerto is a super-powered wrestler who has had their mask and abilities passed down through the generations. To become worthy, new wrestlers would need to prove themselves against El Dorado. Juan-Carlos Estrada Sanchez was one of these chosen descendents, but he was unable to fight El Dorado when his father Marcus Estrada presented him. As a result, Marcus sacrificed himself to save his son.

Following the tragic death, El Dorado would give Juan-Carlos ten years to become stronger to face him again and earn the right to become El Muerto.

Those who know the story of Spider-Man will know his journey takes him to the world of wrestling, and this is where these two characters first meet.

Alongside El Muerto, Sony also revealed the title of the third Spider-Verse film and officially announced the sequels to Venom: Let There Be Carnage and Ghostbusters: Afterlife.

Have a tip for us? Want to discuss a possible story? Please send an email to newstips@ign.com.

Adam Bankhurst is a news writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @AdamBankhurst and on Twitch.

Illumination's Super Mario Bros. movie is officially being delayed. It's the latest movie to be pushed to 2023 as Hollywood continues to suffer the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and other issues.

Super Mario Bros. creator Shigeru Miyamoto delivered the news via Nintendo's official Twitter account that the film adaptation starring Chris Pratt will be coming out next year.

"This is Miyamoto. After consulting with Chris-san, my partner at Illumination on the Super Mario Bros. film, we decided to move the global release to Spring 2023–April 28 in Japan and April 7 in North America," Miyamoto wrote. "My deepest apologies but I promise it will be well worth the wait."

This is Miyamoto. After consulting with Chris-san, my partner at Illumination on the Super Mario Bros. film, we decided to move the global release to Spring 2023–April 28 in Japan and April 7 in North America. My deepest apologies but I promise it will be well worth the wait.

— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) April 26, 2022

Illumination's Super Mario Bros. movie was originally set to be released on December 21. It joins movies like John Wick 4, which have also been delayed to next year.

Word of the new Super Mario Bros. movie first emerged in 2018, when Nintendo officially partnered with Illumination, the studio behind the popular Minions series, to produce the film. When it does release, the Super Mario Bros. movie will feature an all-star cast including Pratt, Jack Black as Bowser, Seth Rogen as Donkey Kong, and many other familiar names.

While you wait, you can check out our list of 40 upcoming video game movie and TV adaptations, or maybe just check out the recently restored anime from 1986.

Kat Bailey is a Senior News Editor at IGN as well as co-host of Nintendo Voice Chat. Have a tip? Send her a DM at @the_katbot.

The much-anticipated support for variable refresh rate (VRR) is coming to the PS5 this week.

Variable refresh rate syncs the refresh rate of the display to the game's output. This helps get rid of screen tearing and frame pacing issues that can happen if the game runs at a lower or higher frame rate than the display. The increased smoothness can also decrease input lag which essentially allows quicker reactions when you press a button on the controller.

Until now, VRR was only supported on Microsoft's Xbox Series S and X consoles.

Sony's SVP Hideaki Nishino announced the update in a PlayStation Blog post. People with HDMI 2.1 VRR-compatible TVs and monitors will be able to take advantage of the feature.

Sony says that VRR will be supported on previously-released games via a patch and future games will include support at launch. VRR can also be applied to games that don't officially support it which could improve video quality. You can always turn it off if you experience any visual problems.

To start, the following games will receive VRR patches:

• Astro’s Playroom
• Call of Duty: Vanguard
• Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War
• Destiny 2
• Devil May Cry 5 Special Edition
• DIRT 5
• Godfall
• Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered
• Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales
• Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart
• Resident Evil Village
• Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands
• Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege
• Tribes of Midgard

The company didn't specify exactly what day the update will land, but did advise keeping your PS5 connected to the internet. This is a much welcome update to the PS5, that puts it more in line with the competition from Xbox.

PS5 owners also more news to celebrate, especially if they're a fan of PS1 games. A number of Syphon Filter games recently passed certification in South Korea which could mean they'll likely be included in the all-new PlayStation Plus Premium tier. The ugraded PlayStation Plus is due to launch on June 13, 2022 in the Americas.

David Matthews is a freelance writer specializing in consumer tech and gaming. He also strongly believes that sugar does not go in grits. Follow him on Twitter @shortblktechie

The much-anticipated support for variable refresh rate (VRR) is coming to the PS5 this week.

Variable refresh rate syncs the refresh rate of the display to the game's output. This helps get rid of screen tearing and frame pacing issues that can happen if the game runs at a lower or higher frame rate than the display. The increased smoothness can also decrease input lag which essentially allows quicker reactions when you press a button on the controller.

Until now, VRR was only supported on Microsoft's Xbox Series S and X consoles.

Sony's SVP Hideaki Nishino announced the update in a PlayStation Blog post. People with HDMI 2.1 VRR-compatible TVs and monitors will be able to take advantage of the feature.

Sony says that VRR will be supported on previously-released games via a patch and future games will include support at launch. VRR can also be applied to games that don't officially support it which could improve video quality. You can always turn it off if you experience any visual problems.

To start, the following games will receive VRR patches:

• Astro’s Playroom
• Call of Duty: Vanguard
• Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War
• Destiny 2
• Devil May Cry 5 Special Edition
• DIRT 5
• Godfall
• Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered
• Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales
• Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart
• Resident Evil Village
• Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands
• Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege
• Tribes of Midgard

The company didn't specify exactly what day the update will land, but did advise keeping your PS5 connected to the internet. This is a much welcome update to the PS5, that puts it more in line with the competition from Xbox.

PS5 owners also more news to celebrate, especially if they're a fan of PS1 games. A number of Syphon Filter games recently passed certification in South Korea which could mean they'll likely be included in the all-new PlayStation Plus Premium tier. The ugraded PlayStation Plus is due to launch on June 13, 2022 in the Americas.

David Matthews is a freelance writer specializing in consumer tech and gaming. He also strongly believes that sugar does not go in grits. Follow him on Twitter @shortblktechie