Late on Monday afternoon, a Mass Effect: Legendary Edition code arrived in my email inbox. As of this writing, that's about 65 hours ago – which would be roughly enough time to hurriedly play through two of its three large-scale RPGs if you did literally nothing else. I decided not to do that, because by now my only opinion on their quality would be that they are not as good as sleeping, eating, or seeing my family once in a while. Put another way, I haven't had enough time with them yet to write anything close to a review. My early impressions based on the first 10 or so hours haven't revealed much about the updated original Mass Effect that you haven't seen or heard previously: it looks much better than it did 14 years ago and the writing and voice performances are still wonderful but the human facial animations (and running) don't compare to modern motion capture tech; combat holds up pretty well even though it's not as smooth as the latter games (switching weapon mods on the fly is still a pain); the Mako is still bouncy but not ridiculously bouncy. I've had a few minor bugs but nothing too disruptive yet. Here's 21 minutes of footage to give you an idea: [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/mass-effect-legendary-edition-the-first-21-minutes-of-gameplay-4k-60fps"] Off the cuff, I can say that revisiting the story after 14 years has been great – I'd forgotten how quickly things get going, the original crew is introduced, and we're off on a hunt for the secrets of the Protheans and the Reapers. But there's still a long journey ahead and it's not meant to be played in one long forced march, so it's going to take a while before I can get my head around all of it for a review. (Whether or not that'll take the form of a full playthrough of all three games and their DLC or some abridged version of that I still don't know, but I'll make sure to be very clear on what I did and didn't play in my final review.) So, wish me luck, and I'll see you on the other side. In the meantime, we've got a ton of Mass Effect content to shoot directly into your veins/eyeballs (your preference), including a rundown of the gameplay changes made in the Legendary Editions, a recap of the entire Mass Effect story so far, and our reviews of every prior BioWare game to date. We're also working on a full performance review video from IGN Graphics Wizard Destin Legarie to do a deep-dive into all the improvements EA has made to the trilogy, so keep an eye out for that! [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=every-ign-bioware-game-review&captions=true"] [poilib element="poll" parameters="id=7a68469c-2ece-424b-be61-0cb42482ba5e"]

Koei Tecmo has found a good deal of success of late with its licensed Dynasty Warriors spinoffs, ranging from Dragon Quest to The Legend of Zelda. More are undoubtedly coming, but what next? Koei Tecmo's president has a couple ideas. Speaking with TheGamer, Koei Tecmo President Hisashi Koinuma talked about the games he would personally love to see as a subject for a Warriors (also known as "musou") game. "Mario and Star Wars are two great series that come to mind. Unfortunately, we haven't had the opportunity to collaborate with these IP yet." Koinuma didn't elaborate on why he picked those franchises in particular, but with a little imagination, it's not hard to envision a Mario Warriors or Star Wars Jedi Warriors. Both franchise feature all the ingredients of a great musou game: distinctive settings, huge casts, and interesting settings. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/11/18/hyrule-warriors-age-of-calamity-review"] Koei Tecmo's most recent foray was Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity, which we called a welcome trip back to the world of Breath of Wild. While it missed some characterization opportunity, it was still a blast from start to finish, our review said. Koei Tecmo has developed a strong relationship with Nintendo in general. Aside from Warriors versions of Fire Emblem and Zelda, it played a large part in the development of Fire Emblem: Three Houses. As for Star Wars, the opportunity exists now that Disney is looking to partner with other developers outside of EA. It's all too easy to imagine slicing through hordes of Battle Droids and Stormtroopers as Luke Skywalker or Mace Windu. For now, Koei Tecmo is focused on the more traditional side of the Warriors series. Its next release is Samurai Warriors 5, which is due out on PC, Xbox One, PS4, and Nintendo Switch next month.

Nickelodeon has partnered with iHeartRadio to release two brand-new podcasts based on the worlds of Avatar: The Last Airbender and SpongeBob SquarePants. The network announced it is expanding its slate and branching out with a pair of podcasts that will supplement two of its most popular animated series, Avatar: The Last Airbender and SpongeBob SquarePants. The company also revealed that additional podcasts featuring beloved Nickelodeon titles are currently in development and will be announced in the coming months. [caption id="attachment_2513167" align="alignnone" width="2400"] Image credit: Nickelodeon[/caption] Avatar: Braving the Elements, the first of the two new podcasts, will consist of 40 episodes altogether and will debut on June 22. Fans of the franchise will be able to join hosts Janet Varney (the voice of Korra) and Dante Basco (the voice of Prince Zuko) each week as they re-watch every episode of Avatar: The Last Airbender and break down key themes, notable battles, and behind-the-scenes trivia. "It's very rare to get to work on something that is so deeply rewarding, rich, and ongoing as the Avatar-verse," Varney said of the project. "I am so excited to be doing this new podcast with my wonderful friend Dante Basco where we're going to be talking about all things Avatar-verse, starting with S1 of The Last Airbender, episode 1. We can't wait to have everybody listen. It's going to be a really fun ride." "For years, Avatar has been such a significant part of my career," Basco added, speaking about his podcast transition. "It's so special to go back and relive our stories and memories from this project as Janet and I explore the universe together. I'm looking forward to fans joining me on this journey as we uncover things we might have missed the first time around." [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/08/19/original-avatar-the-last-airbender-pilot-episode-was-way-different-ign-now-"] The second of the two podcasts, SpongeBob BingePants, will also feature 40 episodes, hosted by super-fans Frankie Grande (Henry Danger) and Hector Navarro (Geek & Sundry). It will dive down to Bikini Bottom for a recap of every SpongeBob SquarePants episode, with hilarious conversations, and never-before-heard secrets about everyone's favorite sea sponge. It's expected to premiere later this year. "Like millions of fans around the world, I grew up with SpongeBob SquarePants and it didn't take me long to realize he was *THE* cartoon icon of our time," Navarro said. "It was an honor to get to host the Nick Animation Podcast and now I am beyond thrilled I get to co-host this amazing show all about revisiting Bikini Bottom, from the very beginning! ARE YA READY, KIDS???" "I think if there was another being on this earth who loves life as loudly and unapologetically as I do, it would have to be SpongeBob SquarePants and so it is a great honor that I am co-hosting this podcast," Grande added, speaking of the announcement. "I promise to make SpongeBob proud by bringing all the giggles, rainbows, joy, and love I can to this exciting project. I'M READY!" [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=the-25-best-adult-cartoon-tv-series&captions=true"] SpongeBob launched on July 17, 1999, and according to Nickelodeon, has remained the number-one kids animated series on TV for the last 17 years. SpongeBob has famously expanded beyond TV into multiple theatrical releases, consumer products, a Broadway musical, and even made a (painfully brief) appearance at 2019's Super Bowl halftime show. Since then, Nickelodeon has announced various SpongeBob spin-offs such as Kamp Koral, a prequel series that premiered on Paramount+ on March 4, and The Patrick Star Show, which will center around Bikini Bottom's shirtless invertebrate, beginning this summer. Plus, there's a musical-oriented Squidward project by Netflix on the way, following the streamer's multi-year output deal with the network. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Adele Ankers is a Freelance Entertainment Journalist. You can reach her on Twitter.

Millie Bobby Brown and Henry Cavill are returning for another Enola Holmes Netflix film, Variety reports.

Brown will reprise her role as the teenage detective, the younger sister of Henry Cavill’s Sherlock. If you dug the original, director Harry Bradbeer (Fleabag) and writer Jack Thorne are also returning for the film, which is based on the Nancy Springer book series which ran from 2006 to 2010.

[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2021/02/26/10-best-sherlock-holmes-portrayals"]

“I can’t wait to collaborate again with my ‘Enola Holmes’ family,” Brown said in a statement. “Enola holds a special place in my heart -- she’s strong, fearless, intelligent, and brave. I look forward to fans seeing how her journey continues!.

The 17-year-old Brown produced the first Enola Holmes film, and is producing the sequel alongside her sister Paige Brown with their PCMA Productions company.

[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2021/05/01/new-to-netflix-for-may-2021"]

IGN gave the original Enola Holmes a six out of 10, calling it a “sprightly but slight YA adventure” that should please younger viewers.

Netflix has previously stated that 76 million “households” watched Enola Holmes.

If you’re curious where Enola and Sherlock’s next adventure might go, check out our theories on how Enola Holmes sets up a sequel with multiple plot threads.

[poilib element="accentDivider"] Joseph Knoop is a writer/producer/Baker Street Irregular for IGN.

HBO Max has announced that Friends: The Reunion will premiere on its service on May 27, the same day the full series will be available to stream. All the original stars are set to return including Jennifer Aniston, Courtney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry, and David Schwimmer. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=everything-coming-to-hbo-max&captions=true"] In addition, the Friends reunion has roped in a ton of guests like BTS, Lady Gaga, David Beckham, Justin Bieber, James Corden, Cindy Crawford, Cara Delevigne, Elliot Gould, Kit Harrington, Larry Hankin, Mindy Kaling, Thomas Lennon, Christina Pickles, Tom Selleck, James Michael Tyler, Maggie Wheeler, Reese Witherspoon, and Malala Yousafzai. All the original Friends stars will serve as executive producers and the reunion will be directed by producer Ben Winston.

It's been 17 years, but your Friends are back. Stream the #FriendsReunion on May 27 only on HBO Max pic.twitter.com/NmuXLIx6En

— HBO Max (@hbomax) May 13, 2021

Speaking with Entertainment Weekly, Kudrow says there are “different facets” to the reunion with little segments, but the reunion will also be largely unscripted. Friends is an American sitcom about six friends who live in New York City. The series premiered in 1994 and ran for 10, incredibly popular seasons. The whole series was previously available on Netflix where it was reportedly the second most popular show on the service. But starting in May Friends will be fully available on HBO Max. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt T.M. Kim is IGN's News Editor.

Amazon Prime Video has released a clip from its new anthology series, Solos, featuring Oscar-winner Helen Mirren. Solos will debut on the streamer on Friday, May 21. IGN can exclusively reveal the clip in the video below, or at the top of the page: [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2021/05/13/solos-exclusive-official-clip-2021-helen-mirren"] "The seven-part anthology series explores the strange, beautiful, heartbreaking, hilarious, wondrous truths of what it means to be human. The series spans our present and future and illuminates that even during our most isolated moments we are all connected through the human experience. These character-driven stories contend that even during our most seemingly isolated moments, in the most disparate of circumstances, we are all connected through the human experience," according to a logline from Amazon. Mirren will star in an episode titled "Peg," which sees her character hurled through space on a mysterious trip to the far reaches of the universe. "Peg" is written by series creator David Weil (Hunters, The Twilight Zone) and directed by Fifty Shades of Grey's Sam Taylor-Johnson. Mirren is joined by a talented ensemble of actors, including Anne Hathaway, Uzo Aduba, Nicole Beharie, Anthony Mackie, Dan Stevens, and Constance Wu. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=amazon-prime-video-spotlight-may-2021&captions=true"] What did you think of the clip? Let us know in the comments. And be sure to check out Solos when it premieres on Amazon Prime Video on Friday, May 21, 2021. [poilib element="accentDivider"] David Griffin still watches DuckTales in his pajamas with a cereal bowl in hand. He's also the TV Editor for IGN. Say hi on Twitter.

Despite the closure of its internal game development studio, the departure of its head of product, and an ongoing dearth of big, new games, Google says that Stadia is doing fine, actually. In an interview with GamesIndustry.biz, developer marketing lead Nate Ahearn said that Google Stadia is "alive and well." [Note: Ahearn is a former IGN editor.] Ahearn cited "over 100 new games launching on Stadia in 2021," growth of its Stadia Makers program, and publisher partnerships as indicators of the service's health. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/11/22/google-stadia-review"] The Stadia spokesperson offered little in the way of comment on a series of departures at the company that have included Stadia head of product John Justice and Stadia Games lead Jade Raymond, who left when Google shut down its internal Stadia game studios earlier this year to form a new studio, Haven, which is working on a new IP for PlayStation. Six Google Stadia staff have since left to join her. Google Stadia launched in late 2019 to criticism of its catalog, its lack of basic features, and pricing model, which required users to pay full price for games on top of a subscription fee for its Stadia Pro service. We re-reviewed Google Stadia in October of last year, noting that while the service had begun to add some of the features it had promised at launch, it was still missing much of its more game-changing promised components, like Crowd Play and State Share (though these have since become available for a handful of games). Though much better than it was at launch, its catalog is "still a ghost town" as well. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Rebekah Valentine is a news reporter for IGN. You can find her on Twitter @duckvalentine. This article was amended after publication to note that some of Stadia's previously-missing features are now available on a limited number of games.

This week in GTA Online, claim triple rewards in several modes, double rewards in Business Battles and Special Vehicle Work, and freebies for players over Rank 100.

Discord is celebrating its 6th anniversary today. To mark the occasion the company invited the press to get a sneak preview of its upcoming feature, Stage Discovery; a tool that, on the surface, appears to move Discord towards becoming a true social media service. Discord is no longer just a gamer chat app. According to the company, 78% of active users say they use Discord for non-gaming activities. This could potentially be why Discord reportedly ended negotiations to be acquired by Microsoft, though the company wouldn’t discuss any rumors about those talks with IGN. “I can’t really speak to the rumors around Microsoft, but what I can tell you is we’re focused on creating belonging for everyone and we’re focused on the next online generation and what they want to see in the world,” says Cherry Park Discord’s director of product marketing. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2021/03/09/microsoft-bethesda-heres-to-the-journey-official-announcement-trailer"] But it’s clear from what we saw that Discord is looking beyond just games and is eyeing to make a play at other social media services like YouTube and TikTok. Whereas YouTube and TikTok deal primarily in video, you could say Discord deals in community. And Stage Discovery will be able to connect users with even more communities they might like. This feature builds on the recently launched Stage Channels feature Discord launched earlier this year. A typical Discord experience might be a couple of friends in the same voice channel talking about their hobbies, but Stage Channels let members of a community host a panel, or stage show, or presentation, in front of a virtual audience. Audience members can enter a Stage Channel and be able to listen to the hosts, but not interrupt or partake in the conversation unless otherwise allowed to do so. If someone enters a Stage Channel and finds that they like the hosts or the discussion, then they’ll have the option to join that Discord community. And if new communities are Discord’s primary offering to users — in the same way that funny videos are content for YouTube and TikTok — then Stage Discovery is a way to connect users with more channels that, hopefully, they want to be a part of. And Discord has taken a page out of other social media app’s playbooks to do so. “Stage Discovery does use an algorithm that will recommend to you events that are live that you might be interested in,” says Park. But where algorithms in services like TikTok require users to scroll through video after video, Discord hopes that Stage Discovery will connect users to new communities and maybe even new hobbies pretty directly without any unnecessary searching. “There’s a key difference, though, in how we use our algorithm,” says Park. “The point of the algorithm is to get you to discover new passion points and new communities where you can feel belonging. So our goal is to not have you endlessly sit there through a feed that goes on forever.” Stage Discovery isn’t specifically a feature geared towards gamers and Park says Discord’s emphasis on connecting users to new communities is backed up by internal research and focus testing. That isn’t to say Discord is abandoning games altogether. Discord founder Jason Citron repeatedly emphasized Discord’s gaming roots and DNA during his speech, and Discord recently announced that PlayStation acquired a minority stake in the company with the intention of the two brands working together. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2021/05/03/sony-buys-minority-stake-in-discord"] Park hinted that one of the things Discord has heard from users who use the platform for gaming is that there are still “barriers” that prevent them from playing with anyone, regardless of what platform they’re on. But if that’s meant to be a hint as to what Discord could work on with PlayStation Park wouldn’t say. “Again I can’t speak to specifically what we’re doing with PlayStation or other consoles. But we’re really excited to work with PlayStation moving forward and explore what it could mean around making it easier for gamers to find belonging on Discord.” In the meantime, Discord’s next big feature is geared towards connecting existing users with new communities. And hey, they have a redesign too. But we’ll have to wait a bit longer to see what Discord’s PlayStation partnership could look like. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt T.M. Kim is IGN's News Editor.

Monster Hunter World continues its reign as Capcom's biggest ever game, having passed 17 million sales worldwide. As part of its highlights from the latest financial year, Capcom has revealed that Monster Hunter has passed 17 million sales across all formats, while sequel Monster Hunter Rise approaches 5 million itself, on Nintendo Switch alone. Since launching in January 2018, Monster Hunter World has continued to be a success for Capcom, no doubt in part to regular sales on both digital and physical storefronts, and the release of large expansion Monster Hunter World: Iceborne. Iceborne brought a new area for players to explore, alongside more massive monsters for them to hunt. And the strategy seems to have worked, with the game reaching 17.1 million units sold by the end of the latest fiscal year. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2018/01/25/monster-hunter-world-review"] Monster Hunter World was a breath of fresh air for the franchise. It was the first title to bring Monster Hunter into the mainstream in the West, was available on multiple consoles, and rejuvenated the franchise with a (slightly) more accessible control scheme for newcomers, alongside quality of life improvements that made it more appealing to those unfamiliar with the franchise. It was also noted in the report that Monster Hunter Rise has sold over 4.8 million units since launching in March, suggesting that the franchise continues to do well, even when launching exclusively on one platform like the Nintendo Switch. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2018/02/05/monster-hunter-world-official-accolades-trailer"] It’s incredible to see the Monster Hunter franchise thriving, especially considering that it was a relatively niche franchise in the West until World launched. However, it is unlikely that the Monster Hunter movie had anything to do with these sales successes, with it being critically panned – IGN scored it a 3/10 in our review. Capcom seems to be on a roll at the moment, with the company posting its fourth successive record-breaking year, and Resident Evil Village shipping over 3 million units globally. There's also more Monster Hunter goodness to come, with Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin launching in July. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Liam Wiseman is a Freelance News Writer at IGN. You can follow him @liamthewiseman