Yearly Archives: 2018
Google Launches Pixel 3, Slate, and Home Hub
Be sure to visit IGN Tech for all the latest comprehensive hands-on reviews and best-of roundups.
Like clockwork, Google introduces new hardware goodies each Fall, and this year it unveiled new Pixel phones, a new kind of tablet, and a new member of the Google Home family. Here’s what you need to know about the new devices.
The Google Pixel 3 and 3 XL Get Bigger Screens, Better Cameras
Google’s own Pixel phones may not be the most popular Android devices on the market, but they are some of the best, and the third generation Pixel delivers some small but interesting changes to the lineup. While the form factor of the Pixel 3 and 3 XL is similar to their predecessors, both have bigger screens, thanks to smaller bezels on the Pixel 3 and a full-screen-with-notch design on the Pixel 3 XL. They come in three colors, though they’re less interesting than last year’s: just white, black, and a pale pink. Pricing for the Pixel 3 starts at $799, and the XL starts at $899.
Fortnite to Receive Special Physical Deep Freeze Bundle Next Month
Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and Epic Games have announced that a special retail version of Fortnite, the Deep Freeze Bundle, will be headed to stores next month.
The Fortnite: Deep Freeze Bundle will be available for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One on November 13, 2018, for $29.99 USD.
Included in this bundle will be the free-to-play game, Frostbite Outfit, Cold Front Glider, Chill-Axe Pickaxe, Freezing Point Back Bling, and 1,000 V-Bucks.
Pokemon From Diamond and Pearl Headed to Pokemon GO Soon
Pokémon from the Sinnoh region, where Pokémon Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum took place, will be headed to Pokémon GO in the near future.
The official Pokémon website announced that these Generation 4 Pokémon, including Turtwig, Chimchar, and Piplup, will added to the game along with certain improvements that are "designed to promote an improved overall experience."
Some of the changes that will arrive with the Gen 4 Pokémon are as follows;
Batwoman: First Look at Ruby Rose as the Arrowverse Crossover’s New Hero
The CW has given us our first look at Ruby Rose as Kate Kane, AKA Batwoman.
The promo image sees Rose in her full Batwoman outfit, designed by Academy Award-winning costume designer Colleen Atwood ( Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, Tomb Raider, Arrow, The Flash).
Batwoman will be introduced in The CW's Arrowverse crossover between The Flash, Arrow and Supergirl, which begins filming Tuesday, October 9 in Vancouver. The crossover will kick off with a special episode of The Flash on December 9, 8:00 pm ET. The CW has also announced that Superman (Tyler Hoechlin) will appear in all three episodes, alongside Lois Lane.
Rick and Morty Creator Justin Roiland Unboxes Vinyl Edition of Soundtrack
Cartoon Network has given IGN an exclusive look at Rick and Morty Creator Justin Roiland unboxing the standard edition of the official Rick and Morty vinyl soundtrack. Watch the unboxing video below.
The double LP vinyl, which was released on September 28 along with the CD and digital versions of the soundtrack, features music from the show’s composer Ryan Elder and songs from Chaos Chaos, Blonde Redhead and more.
The Deluxe Edition features a 'Portal' colored vinyl, a custom poster, a patch, a sticker, a bonus 7” single and an LED box with a plexiglass window cover that shows a glowing design when lit. More information on both versions of the album can be found here.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 Requires 50GB Day One Patch
The Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 physical release requires a roughly 50GB patch on day one to be playable, although the new Blackout mode works after roughly 30% of the update is downloaded.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 is just around the corner, but a new support post has revealed both PS4 and Xbox One user will be met with the enormous download before they can play anything.
In a post to the Activision Support Page, Treyarch revealed that the patch is necessary to play Multiplayer, Zombies, and Specialist Headquarters on Xbox One and PS4. As a silver lining, series first Blackout Battle Royale mode will be playable at roughly 30% completion (around 16-20GB). The installation process should be simple enough on Xbox One, but due to the slightly more roundabout way that the PS4 copies data, you’ll need to jump through a few hoops.
Venom Was Originally a Woman Who Blamed Her Miscarriage on Spider-Man
As all superhero lovers know by now, Venom is the product of the scorned alien symbiote bonding with disgraced reporter Eddie Brock over their mutual hatred for Spider-Man. But did you also know that the original vision for the human side of Venom wasn’t Eddie, but a woman who blamed her tragic losses on Spider-Man?
Though this true origin story isn’t a secret to Venom fans, it recently resurfaced when Venom creator David Michelinie told the story for audiences at Connecticut's TerrifiCon and was recorded for the John Suintress-hosted comics podcast Word Balloon.
Michelinie’s initial pitch for Venom’s human host was quite different from what eventually became canon. Originally, Venom was going to be a woman who was pregnant and going into labor, so her husband went outside to flag down a cab. But the cab driver was distracted by a nearby battle between Spider-Man and a supervillain, causing the driver to accidentally hit and kill the husband, and the woman had a miscarriage and fell into a coma. Upon waking and realizing what happened to her family, the woman blamed the loss of her husband and baby on Spider-Man. Her hatred for Spider-Man drew the symbiote to her, and so they bonded to become Venom and seek revenge on the web-slinger.
Borderlands 2 VR Announced for PlayStation VR
Borderlands 2 VR has officially been announced for PlayStation VR and will be released on Dec. 14, 2018.
Announced by 2K Games and Gearbox Software, Borderlands 2 VR brings various changes to the original Borderlands 2 in order to better tailor it to virtual reality. Accordingly, this is a single-player only game, and though that means co-op play from the original won’t be back, it allows Gearbox to include the new BAMF (Bad Ass Mega Fun) Time system that slows down time temporarily to let players set up their next attack.
Gearbox has confirmed that Borderlands 2 VR is both PlayStation Move and DualShock 4 compatible. Menus have been redesigned to better fit VR and operate by physically pointing, clicking, dragging and dropping objects in the menu, at least while using a Move controller.
Sony Is Officially Working on a Next-Gen Console
They won't call it PlayStation 5 right now, but Sony has finally confirmed that, yes, it has another console on the way.
Speaking to the Financial Times, Sony CEO Kenichiro Yoshida said “At this point, what I can say is it’s necessary to have a next-generation hardware”. Yoshida wouldn't commit to a name, or explain what form that hardware would take.
It's not an enormous surprise that Sony would have begun development on a new console – not least because multiple games have already been announced for next-gen consoles. However, Sony openly admitting that it is working on hardware has led some to conclude that a formal announcement could be closer than expected.
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