Microsoft and Bethesda Will Host A Joint Conference At E3

Microsoft and Bethesda will host a joint E3 conference this year. The news was revealed In an interview with Le Figaro, where Xbox Game Studios head Matt Booty said the two companies will share the spotlight during E3 2021 following Microsoft's landmark $7.5 Billion acquisition of ZeniMax. "Microsoft and Bethesda will host a joint conference this summer to introduce players to their upcoming projects," the article reads. On Twitter, the author Chloé Woitier noted the conference would be coming "in a few weeks," most likely during E3 2021, which takes place from June 12-15. Elsewhere in Woitier's Twitter thread, they note Microsoft's strategy is to "leave studios their creative freedom" post-acquisition. As for future acquisitions, Booty reportedly said "I can't share anything," but Woitier added that "it did not smell of a firm and definitive no". For more details on everything to expect at this year's E3, check out our E3 2021 hub, which details all the confirmed game publishers and games at the conference. In other news, Microsoft has said that "some" Bethesda games will be Xbox/PC exclusives going forward. Starfield was reportedly confirmed to be an Xbox and PC exclusive earlier this week. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Jordan Oloman is a freelance writer for IGN. Follow him on Twitter.

Microsoft and Bethesda Will Host A Joint Conference At E3

Microsoft and Bethesda will host a joint E3 conference this year. The news was revealed In an interview with Le Figaro, where Xbox Game Studios head Matt Booty said the two companies will share the spotlight during E3 2021 following Microsoft's landmark $7.5 Billion acquisition of ZeniMax. "Microsoft and Bethesda will host a joint conference this summer to introduce players to their upcoming projects," the article reads. On Twitter, the author Chloé Woitier noted the conference would be coming "in a few weeks," most likely during E3 2021, which takes place from June 12-15. Elsewhere in Woitier's Twitter thread, they note Microsoft's strategy is to "leave studios their creative freedom" post-acquisition. As for future acquisitions, Booty reportedly said "I can't share anything," but Woitier added that "it did not smell of a firm and definitive no". For more details on everything to expect at this year's E3, check out our E3 2021 hub, which details all the confirmed game publishers and games at the conference. In other news, Microsoft has said that "some" Bethesda games will be Xbox/PC exclusives going forward. Starfield was reportedly confirmed to be an Xbox and PC exclusive earlier this week. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Jordan Oloman is a freelance writer for IGN. Follow him on Twitter.

Sonic the Hedgehog 2: The Movie – Plot Synopsis Leaks, Includes Knuckles

A plot synopsis for Sonic the Hedgehog 2: The Movie has surfaced online, and it reveals Knuckles' involvement in the movie. Twitter user Ninja_Risu uncovered a copyright filing from Paramount Pictures and Sega for Sonic the Hedgehog 2, which reveals a plot synopsis for the upcoming movie. It should be noted, however, that this information hasn't been officially released yet, which means there's a possibility that the narrative might have changed at some point during the sequel's development. Potential spoilers follow. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2021/02/10/sonic-the-hedgehog-2-title-announcement"] "After settling in Green Hills, Sonic is ready for more freedom, and Tom and Maddie agree to leave him home while they go on vacation," the plot summary reads. "But, no sooner are they gone, when Dr. Robotnik comes back, this time with a new partner, Knuckles, in search for an emerald that has the power to both build and destroy civilizations. Sonic teams up with his own sidekick, Tails, and together they embark on a journey to find the emerald before it falls into the wrong hands." Tails has been Sonic's ride-or-die buddy since the early days of the franchise, and it sounds like that partnership is only set to continue in the Sonic movie sequel. The leaked synopsis paves the way for an action-packed adventure that will see the dynamic duo trying to foil the plans of Dr. Robotnik and his new partner Knuckles, another franchise stalwart. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/02/12/jim-carrey-on-the-evolution-of-dr-robotnik-and-a-sonic-sequel"] Famously, Robotnik, originally named Dr. Eggman in Japan (but localized to Dr. Robotnik for America), is egg-shaped. His body type is quite different from that of his live-action counterpart, played by Jim Carrey, but that could all change in the sequel. Carrey previously teased that he had "many many ideas" about how the look of the rotund mad scientist might evolve in the next film.

Sonic the Hedgehog 2: The Movie is scheduled for release on April 8, 2022 — this date was originally announced only a few scant months into the COVID-19 pandemic, but the movie's official title announcement came with a reconfirmation of that release date. If you want to know more about Sonic 2 before then, check out our breakdown of the first film's ending and how it sets up a sequel.

[poilib element="accentDivider"] Adele Ankers is a Freelance Entertainment Journalist. You can reach her on Twitter.

Sonic the Hedgehog 2: The Movie – Plot Synopsis Leaks, Includes Knuckles

A plot synopsis for Sonic the Hedgehog 2: The Movie has surfaced online, and it reveals Knuckles' involvement in the movie. Twitter user Ninja_Risu uncovered a copyright filing from Paramount Pictures and Sega for Sonic the Hedgehog 2, which reveals a plot synopsis for the upcoming movie. It should be noted, however, that this information hasn't been officially released yet, which means there's a possibility that the narrative might have changed at some point during the sequel's development. Potential spoilers follow. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2021/02/10/sonic-the-hedgehog-2-title-announcement"] "After settling in Green Hills, Sonic is ready for more freedom, and Tom and Maddie agree to leave him home while they go on vacation," the plot summary reads. "But, no sooner are they gone, when Dr. Robotnik comes back, this time with a new partner, Knuckles, in search for an emerald that has the power to both build and destroy civilizations. Sonic teams up with his own sidekick, Tails, and together they embark on a journey to find the emerald before it falls into the wrong hands." Tails has been Sonic's ride-or-die buddy since the early days of the franchise, and it sounds like that partnership is only set to continue in the Sonic movie sequel. The leaked synopsis paves the way for an action-packed adventure that will see the dynamic duo trying to foil the plans of Dr. Robotnik and his new partner Knuckles, another franchise stalwart. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/02/12/jim-carrey-on-the-evolution-of-dr-robotnik-and-a-sonic-sequel"] Famously, Robotnik, originally named Dr. Eggman in Japan (but localized to Dr. Robotnik for America), is egg-shaped. His body type is quite different from that of his live-action counterpart, played by Jim Carrey, but that could all change in the sequel. Carrey previously teased that he had "many many ideas" about how the look of the rotund mad scientist might evolve in the next film.

Sonic the Hedgehog 2: The Movie is scheduled for release on April 8, 2022 — this date was originally announced only a few scant months into the COVID-19 pandemic, but the movie's official title announcement came with a reconfirmation of that release date. If you want to know more about Sonic 2 before then, check out our breakdown of the first film's ending and how it sets up a sequel.

[poilib element="accentDivider"] Adele Ankers is a Freelance Entertainment Journalist. You can reach her on Twitter.

Days Gone Review – Farewell, Oregon

Editor's Note: In May 2021, Sony ported Days Gone to PC. In addition to compiling two years' worth of updates since the 2019 game's initial launch, the Windows version offers opportunities for enhanced graphics and performance with more powerful gaming PCs. Mike Epstein delivers his impressions on the game's technical improvements and how they may change your experience playing the PC version of Days Gone. GameSpot's original review for Days Gone, first published in April 2019, is below in full and the assessment for the PC version is integrated at the end. This review contains minor spoilers about mission structure and overall story direction. There are no spoilers for major narrative moments.

Around 10 hours into Days Gone, you're thrown into a hunting tutorial apropos of nothing. The over-the-top libertarian character takes you out with a rifle and shows you how to track a deer, although you've already had a tracking tutorial. You're then tasked with getting more meat for you and your buddy because your supply is running low, something you never have to do again. You also don't cook or eat; you can only donate meat to camps around the map to earn a negligible amount of trust and money with them. After a little while, even stopping to get meat off wolves that attacked you doesn't seem worth it.

Like many things in Days Gone, hunting exists just to be there, an idea that is picked up and then abandoned at random. Unlike hunting, some of those ideas are even good in the moment. But most aspects of Days Gone lack purpose. Its many narrative threads flirt with being meaningful and interesting but never quite commit, with characters whose actions and motivations don't make sense. Riding a souped-up motorcycle through the world and taking out zombie nests and hordes is satisfying in the way that completing open-world checklists often is, but by the end, you're left to wonder what the point of it all was.

Continue Reading at GameSpot

Days Gone Review – Farewell, Oregon

Editor's Note: In May 2021, Sony ported Days Gone to PC. In addition to compiling two years' worth of updates since the 2019 game's initial launch, the Windows version offers opportunities for enhanced graphics and performance with more powerful gaming PCs. Mike Epstein delivers his impressions on the game's technical improvements and how they may change your experience playing the PC version of Days Gone. GameSpot's original review for Days Gone, first published in April 2019, is below in full and the assessment for the PC version is integrated at the end. This review contains minor spoilers about mission structure and overall story direction. There are no spoilers for major narrative moments.

Around 10 hours into Days Gone, you're thrown into a hunting tutorial apropos of nothing. The over-the-top libertarian character takes you out with a rifle and shows you how to track a deer, although you've already had a tracking tutorial. You're then tasked with getting more meat for you and your buddy because your supply is running low, something you never have to do again. You also don't cook or eat; you can only donate meat to camps around the map to earn a negligible amount of trust and money with them. After a little while, even stopping to get meat off wolves that attacked you doesn't seem worth it.

Like many things in Days Gone, hunting exists just to be there, an idea that is picked up and then abandoned at random. Unlike hunting, some of those ideas are even good in the moment. But most aspects of Days Gone lack purpose. Its many narrative threads flirt with being meaningful and interesting but never quite commit, with characters whose actions and motivations don't make sense. Riding a souped-up motorcycle through the world and taking out zombie nests and hordes is satisfying in the way that completing open-world checklists often is, but by the end, you're left to wonder what the point of it all was.

Continue Reading at GameSpot

Days Gone Review – Farewell, Oregon

Editor's Note: In May 2021, Sony ported Days Gone to PC. In addition to compiling two years' worth of updates since the 2019 game's initial launch, the Windows version offers opportunities for enhanced graphics and performance with more powerful gaming PCs. Mike Epstein delivers his impressions on the game's technical improvements and how they may change your experience playing the PC version of Days Gone. GameSpot's original review for Days Gone is below in full and the assessment for the PC version is integrated at the end. This review contains minor spoilers about mission structure and overall story direction. There are no spoilers for major narrative moments.

Around 10 hours into Days Gone, you're thrown into a hunting tutorial apropos of nothing. The over-the-top libertarian character takes you out with a rifle and shows you how to track a deer, although you've already had a tracking tutorial. You're then tasked with getting more meat for you and your buddy because your supply is running low, something you never have to do again. You also don't cook or eat; you can only donate meat to camps around the map to earn a negligible amount of trust and money with them. After a little while, even stopping to get meat off wolves that attacked you doesn't seem worth it.

Like many things in Days Gone, hunting exists just to be there, an idea that is picked up and then abandoned at random. Unlike hunting, some of those ideas are even good in the moment. But most aspects of Days Gone lack purpose. Its many narrative threads flirt with being meaningful and interesting but never quite commit, with characters whose actions and motivations don't make sense. Riding a souped-up motorcycle through the world and taking out zombie nests and hordes is satisfying in the way that completing open-world checklists often is, but by the end, you're left to wonder what the point of it all was.

Continue Reading at GameSpot

Monster Hunter Event Announced for Next Week

A digital Monster Hunter event is coming on May 26, which (among other things) should introduce a new ending for Monster Hunter Rise. The May 2021 Monster Hunter Digital Event will cover Monster Hunter Rise and Monster Hunter Stories 2, and will begin at 7am Pacific / 10am Eastern / 3pm UK (that's May 27 at midnight AEST). The show will be broadcast live on Twitch and, according to a tweet from the Monster Hunter account, the event will cover Update Ver 3.0 of Monster Hunter Rise and provide "the latest news" about Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin, which is set to launch for Nintendo Switch on July 9 later this year. In a follow-up tweet, Capcom also revealed that the Version 3.0 update for Monster Hunter Rise is "approximately 1.4 GB" so that players can free up Nintendo Switch storage space ahead of time. Capcom has previously said that Rise would get "an additional story chapter taking place after the ending" in May – which should hopefully address players' complaints that the current ending seems unfinished. The version 3.0 update should also add 'several' new monsters, which we can expect to be introduced in the event. Here's what comes in every edition of Monster Hunter Stories 2 so you can decide what edition of the game to pick up. We scored Monster Hunter Rise an 8 in our review, calling it a "thrilling step forward in the series' evolution toward the new normal World so boldly introduced". [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/monster-hunter-rise-latest-update-angers-fans-with-paywall-ign-news"] [poilib element="accentDivider"] Jordan Oloman is a freelance writer for IGN. Follow him on Twitter.

Monster Hunter Event Announced for Next Week

A digital Monster Hunter event is coming on May 26, which (among other things) should introduce a new ending for Monster Hunter Rise. The May 2021 Monster Hunter Digital Event will cover Monster Hunter Rise and Monster Hunter Stories 2, and will begin at 7am Pacific / 10am Eastern / 3pm UK (that's May 27 at midnight AEST). The show will be broadcast live on Twitch and, according to a tweet from the Monster Hunter account, the event will cover Update Ver 3.0 of Monster Hunter Rise and provide "the latest news" about Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin, which is set to launch for Nintendo Switch on July 9 later this year. In a follow-up tweet, Capcom also revealed that the Version 3.0 update for Monster Hunter Rise is "approximately 1.4 GB" so that players can free up Nintendo Switch storage space ahead of time. Capcom has previously said that Rise would get "an additional story chapter taking place after the ending" in May – which should hopefully address players' complaints that the current ending seems unfinished. The version 3.0 update should also add 'several' new monsters, which we can expect to be introduced in the event. Here's what comes in every edition of Monster Hunter Stories 2 so you can decide what edition of the game to pick up. We scored Monster Hunter Rise an 8 in our review, calling it a "thrilling step forward in the series' evolution toward the new normal World so boldly introduced". [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/monster-hunter-rise-latest-update-angers-fans-with-paywall-ign-news"] [poilib element="accentDivider"] Jordan Oloman is a freelance writer for IGN. Follow him on Twitter.

Green Lantern: Jeremy Irvine May Play Alan Scott in HBO Max Series

Jeremy Irvine is reportedly in talks to play superhero Alan Scott in HBO Max's Green Lantern series. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Irvine, who led the Bourne TV spinoff Treadstone, is currently being eyed for the role of Alan Scott, the original Green Lantern. If officially cast, he would star alongside Finn Wittrock's Guy Gardner, who is just one of "multitudes of Lanterns" appearing in the HBO Max series being developed by Warner Bros. in association with Berlanti Productions. The original Green Lantern to wield the ring on Earth, Alan Scott made his debut in 1940 in All-American Comics #16. The railroad engineer miraculously escaped a train wreck by grasping a strange, glowing lantern. He was then instructed by the spirit inside to create a ring, and with the incredible powers it granted him, he became the first Green Lantern. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=green-lantern-whos-who-in-the-hbo-max-show&captions=true"] Even among a group as diverse as the Green Lanterns, Scott stands out as a unique part of their ranks. His bright costume was a delightful arrangement of green, red, purple, and yellow, complete with a mask and flowing cape. Despite his status, he wasn't actually a formal member of the Green Lantern Corps and stayed decidedly Earthbound in his early adventures. Irvine is in talks to play the character, who, true to more recent comic storylines, will be a gay man. Irvine made his feature film debut in 2011 starring in Steven Spielberg's War Horse. In the years that followed, he was cast in such films as The Railway Man, Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again, and Billionaire Boys Club. He also recently portrayed John Randolph Bentley in the Jason Bourne offshoot Treadstone. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/10/30/green-lantern-tv-show-coming-to-hbo-max-ign-now"] Green Lantern's first season will consist of 10 one-hour episodes, which will reinvent the classic DC property through "a story spanning decades and galaxies, beginning on Earth in 1941 with the very first Green Lantern." The series is co-written and executive produced by Greg Berlanti, Seth Grahame-Smith, and Marc Guggenheim, with Grahame-Smith serving as showrunner. For more from the world of DC, check out all of the new DC movies and TV shows in 2021 and beyond. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Adele Ankers is a Freelance Entertainment Journalist. You can reach her on Twitter.