Yearly Archives: 2020
Assassin’s Creed Valhalla Review
Assassin's Creed Valhalla fully embraces the series' heritage. The 12th major Assassin's Creed game shows a keen awareness of the history and gameplay innovations of the saga, and it feels like a love letter to the franchise as a whole. This makes the game a far more rewarding experience for longtime fans, though newcomers can still enjoy Valhalla's combat, emphasis on exploration, and mystery-driven narrative without years of time spent in the Animus.
In Valhalla, you once again play as present-day protagonist Layla Hassan, who's still a bit shaken up after the unfortunate events at the end of Assassin's Creed Odyssey's second DLC, The Fate of Atlantis. Understandably ostracized from her old team, she's now partnered with fellow Assassins Shaun Hastings and Rebecca Crane. The trio find themselves facing the daunting task of needing to save the world, and their only clue as to how is a mysterious message of unknown origin that contains coordinates to a grave. With no other leads, Layla hops into the Animus machine with a DNA sample taken from the skeletal remains, allowing her to relive their life in the distant past. This time she'll be Eivor, a Viking who lived during the ninth century.
The Assassin's Creed games have traditionally struggled with the modern-day storyline that runs alongside the stories that take place in the past, and Valhalla is no different. However, its modern-day plot is the most focused it has been in years. There's a clear and present danger, and a nice setup for the throughline of the game's campaign: the concept of fate.
Continue Reading at GameSpotAssassin’s Creed Valhalla Review
Assassin's Creed Valhalla fully embraces the series' heritage. The 12th major Assassin's Creed game shows a keen awareness of the history and gameplay innovations of the saga, and it feels like a love letter to the franchise as a whole. This makes the game a far more rewarding experience for longtime fans, though newcomers can still enjoy Valhalla's combat, emphasis on exploration, and mystery-driven narrative without years of time spent in the Animus.
In Valhalla, you once again play as present-day protagonist Layla Hassan, who's still a bit shaken up after the unfortunate events at the end of Assassin's Creed Odyssey's second DLC, The Fate of Atlantis. Understandably ostracized from her old team, she's now partnered with fellow Assassins Shaun Hastings and Rebecca Crane. The trio find themselves facing the daunting task of needing to save the world, and their only clue as to how is a mysterious message of unknown origin that contains coordinates to a grave. With no other leads, Layla hops into the Animus machine with a DNA sample taken from the skeletal remains, allowing her to relive their life in the distant past. This time she'll be Eivor, a Viking who lived during the ninth century.
The Assassin's Creed games have traditionally struggled with the modern-day storyline that runs alongside the stories that take place in the past, and Valhalla is no different. However, its modern-day plot is the most focused it has been in years. There's a clear and present danger, and a nice setup for the throughline of the game's campaign: the concept of fate.
Continue Reading at GameSpotXbox Game Pass Teases Star Wars-Related News with Baby Yoda Image
Xbox Games Pass' Twitter account is teasing some upcoming Star Wars-related news with an image of both The Mandalorian and Baby Yoda / The Child.
Xbox Game Pass Tweeted out, alongside the previously mentioned image, "All we're gonna say is that we're not posting The Mandalorian and The Child for no reason."
What could it be hinting at? One possibility is that Disney+, where The Mandalorian exclusively streams, will be added as an Xbox Game Pass perk, or at the very least will include some introductory promotion.
This also could be something related to the news that Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order is sort of coming to Xbox Game Pass, as it is being added to EA Play on November 10, the same day EA Play is being added as a perk for Xbox Game Pass subscribers.
The Mandalorian most recently aired the second episode of its second season on Disney+, and in our review, we said "much like the Season 2 premiere, "The Passenger" balances some of its narrative shortcomings - most notably its standalone storyline and lack of momentum - with some satisfying character beats that give us further insight into Mando's priorities.
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/11/05/xbox-series-x-review"]
Whatever this news ends up being, it looks to add to the celebration of the launch of the Xbox Series X/S on November 10, 2020. You can check our Xbox Series X review and Xbox Series S review to hear our thoughts on Microsoft's next-gen consoles.
[poilib element="accentDivider"]
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.
What could it be hinting at? One possibility is that Disney+, where The Mandalorian exclusively streams, will be added as an Xbox Game Pass perk, or at the very least will include some introductory promotion.
This also could be something related to the news that Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order is sort of coming to Xbox Game Pass, as it is being added to EA Play on November 10, the same day EA Play is being added as a perk for Xbox Game Pass subscribers.
The Mandalorian most recently aired the second episode of its second season on Disney+, and in our review, we said "much like the Season 2 premiere, "The Passenger" balances some of its narrative shortcomings - most notably its standalone storyline and lack of momentum - with some satisfying character beats that give us further insight into Mando's priorities.
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/11/05/xbox-series-x-review"]
Whatever this news ends up being, it looks to add to the celebration of the launch of the Xbox Series X/S on November 10, 2020. You can check our Xbox Series X review and Xbox Series S review to hear our thoughts on Microsoft's next-gen consoles.
[poilib element="accentDivider"]
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.Xbox Game Pass Teases Star Wars-Related News with Baby Yoda Image
Xbox Games Pass' Twitter account is teasing some upcoming Star Wars-related news with an image of both The Mandalorian and Baby Yoda / The Child.
Xbox Game Pass Tweeted out, alongside the previously mentioned image, "All we're gonna say is that we're not posting The Mandalorian and The Child for no reason."
What could it be hinting at? One possibility is that Disney+, where The Mandalorian exclusively streams, will be added as an Xbox Game Pass perk, or at the very least will include some introductory promotion.
This also could be something related to the news that Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order is sort of coming to Xbox Game Pass, as it is being added to EA Play on November 10, the same day EA Play is being added as a perk for Xbox Game Pass subscribers.
The Mandalorian most recently aired the second episode of its second season on Disney+, and in our review, we said "much like the Season 2 premiere, "The Passenger" balances some of its narrative shortcomings - most notably its standalone storyline and lack of momentum - with some satisfying character beats that give us further insight into Mando's priorities.
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/11/05/xbox-series-x-review"]
Whatever this news ends up being, it looks to add to the celebration of the launch of the Xbox Series X/S on November 10, 2020. You can check our Xbox Series X review and Xbox Series S review to hear our thoughts on Microsoft's next-gen consoles.
[poilib element="accentDivider"]
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.
What could it be hinting at? One possibility is that Disney+, where The Mandalorian exclusively streams, will be added as an Xbox Game Pass perk, or at the very least will include some introductory promotion.
This also could be something related to the news that Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order is sort of coming to Xbox Game Pass, as it is being added to EA Play on November 10, the same day EA Play is being added as a perk for Xbox Game Pass subscribers.
The Mandalorian most recently aired the second episode of its second season on Disney+, and in our review, we said "much like the Season 2 premiere, "The Passenger" balances some of its narrative shortcomings - most notably its standalone storyline and lack of momentum - with some satisfying character beats that give us further insight into Mando's priorities.
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/11/05/xbox-series-x-review"]
Whatever this news ends up being, it looks to add to the celebration of the launch of the Xbox Series X/S on November 10, 2020. You can check our Xbox Series X review and Xbox Series S review to hear our thoughts on Microsoft's next-gen consoles.
[poilib element="accentDivider"]
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.Next Battlefield Game Confirmed for ‘Holiday 2021′
After previously confirming that the next Battlefield game would be released in 2021, EA has revealed it is set to arrive in "Holiday 2021" and it is said to "deliver on a true next-gen vision for the franchise."
Speaking during EA's November 2020 earnings call, CEO Andrew Wilson stated that "DICE is creating our next Battlefield game with never before seen scale. The technical advancements of the new consoles are allowing the team to deliver a true next-gen vision for the franchise. We have hands-on testing underway internally, and the team's been getting very positive feedback on the game as we've begun to engage our community. The next Battlefield is set to launch in holiday 2021, we're excited to share a lot more about the game in the spring."
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/06/18/dragon-age-and-battlefield-tech-teaser-ea-play-2020"]
"We have rallied that entire studio around the development of Battlefield, specifically. We've given them an extra year of development," Wilson said later in the call. "You'll remember to ensure that they can, in fact, build a true next-gen vision around that game. DICE is one of the most talented studios on the planet, and we've been able to add leadership from our EA SPORTS business and David Rutter, who understands both live services and the rigor of development."
EA revealed that a new Battlefield was set to be released in 2021, but this news narrows down the release window and, as it currently stands, means that the COVID-19 pandemic hasn't impacted its development enough to push it to 2022.
A next-gen tech demo for Battlefield was shown at EA Play Live 2020 and gave a glimpse of what players can expect when this new game launches next year.
[widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=every-ign-battlefield-review&captions=true"]
Battlefield V was released in 2018, and in our review, we said "Like a fresh recruit, Battlefield V was clearly deployed into action without adequate preparation. And a variety of bugs, underdeveloped features, and placeholder menu screens remind you of that at nearly every turn. However, there’s a great deal of raw potential here that could, with time and luck, be forged into one of the series’ best."
[poilib element="accentDivider"]
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.
Next Battlefield Game Confirmed for ‘Holiday 2021′
After previously confirming that the next Battlefield game would be released in 2021, EA has revealed it is set to arrive in "Holiday 2021" and it is said to "deliver on a true next-gen vision for the franchise."
Speaking during EA's November 2020 earnings call, CEO Andrew Wilson stated that "DICE is creating our next Battlefield game with never before seen scale. The technical advancements of the new consoles are allowing the team to deliver a true next-gen vision for the franchise. We have hands-on testing underway internally, and the team's been getting very positive feedback on the game as we've begun to engage our community. The next Battlefield is set to launch in holiday 2021, we're excited to share a lot more about the game in the spring."
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/06/18/dragon-age-and-battlefield-tech-teaser-ea-play-2020"]
"We have rallied that entire studio around the development of Battlefield, specifically. We've given them an extra year of development," Wilson said later in the call. "You'll remember to ensure that they can, in fact, build a true next-gen vision around that game. DICE is one of the most talented studios on the planet, and we've been able to add leadership from our EA SPORTS business and David Rutter, who understands both live services and the rigor of development."
EA revealed that a new Battlefield was set to be released in 2021, but this news narrows down the release window and, as it currently stands, means that the COVID-19 pandemic hasn't impacted its development enough to push it to 2022.
A next-gen tech demo for Battlefield was shown at EA Play Live 2020 and gave a glimpse of what players can expect when this new game launches next year.
[widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=every-ign-battlefield-review&captions=true"]
Battlefield V was released in 2018, and in our review, we said "Like a fresh recruit, Battlefield V was clearly deployed into action without adequate preparation. And a variety of bugs, underdeveloped features, and placeholder menu screens remind you of that at nearly every turn. However, there’s a great deal of raw potential here that could, with time and luck, be forged into one of the series’ best."
[poilib element="accentDivider"]
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.
Jurassic World: Dominion Wraps Unprecedented 18-Month Pandemic-Era Production
The third film in the Jurassic World series, and the sixth Jurassic Park film overall, Jurassic World: Dominion, wrapped its shoot on Saturday morning at Pinewood Studios after originally beginning pre-production 18 months ago.
Having started production in the world prior to the coronavirus pandemic, Jurassic World: Dominion's production is being noted as an unprecedented feat after, per Deadline, "40,000 COVID tests, millions of dollars spent on protocols," and the cast and key crew isolating "in a bubble for months."
Director Colin Trevorrow remarked, regarding the wrap, that "there are a lot of emotions."
“I’m not sure I can put it into words,” Trevorrow added. “It has been remarkable. Our crew and our cast has been so resilient. All producers have worked around the clock to make it the best it can be. It has been inspiring.”
Dominion, as the first major studio film to go back into production after the pandemic shut everything down, is notable for using a private medical facility called Your Doctor to "manage the entire production’s medical requirements" along with a "policed ‘Greenzone’ for the shooting cast and crew and all workers were temperature-tested every day" and "two walk-through temperature testing stations."
[widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=the-best-deaths-in-the-jurassic-park-movies&captions=true"]
It's said the studio spent $6 to 8 million on all the COVID safety protocols, including smaller amenities such as information signs, hand sanitizer stations, and extra sinks.
"I’ve never been as immersed in a filmmaking process,” Trevorrow continued. “Because of the protocols, the actors didn’t go far from set. The distance was stripped away. There were things that happened on this movie that I’d hope to be able to continue on future productions.”
"This movie is about the need to co-exist and survive together. If this pandemic has taught us anything it’s that we need the different generations to protect each other. It was the right movie to be making at this moment.”
Jurassic World: Dominion, which unites the casts of the Jurassic World and Jurassic Park films -- including Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, Omar Sy, Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum, and Sam Neill -- is scheduled for a June 10, 2022 release.
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/04/20/jurassic-world-may-feature-dinosaurs-in-the-snow-for-the-first-time"]
[poilib element="accentDivider"]
Matt Fowler is a writer for IGN and a member of the Television Critics Association. Follow him on Twitter at @TheMattFowler and Facebook at Facebook.com/MattBFowler.
Jurassic World: Dominion Wraps Unprecedented 18-Month Pandemic-Era Production
The third film in the Jurassic World series, and the sixth Jurassic Park film overall, Jurassic World: Dominion, wrapped its shoot on Saturday morning at Pinewood Studios after originally beginning pre-production 18 months ago.
Having started production in the world prior to the coronavirus pandemic, Jurassic World: Dominion's production is being noted as an unprecedented feat after, per Deadline, "40,000 COVID tests, millions of dollars spent on protocols," and the cast and key crew isolating "in a bubble for months."
Director Colin Trevorrow remarked, regarding the wrap, that "there are a lot of emotions."
“I’m not sure I can put it into words,” Trevorrow added. “It has been remarkable. Our crew and our cast has been so resilient. All producers have worked around the clock to make it the best it can be. It has been inspiring.”
Dominion, as the first major studio film to go back into production after the pandemic shut everything down, is notable for using a private medical facility called Your Doctor to "manage the entire production’s medical requirements" along with a "policed ‘Greenzone’ for the shooting cast and crew and all workers were temperature-tested every day" and "two walk-through temperature testing stations."
[widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=the-best-deaths-in-the-jurassic-park-movies&captions=true"]
It's said the studio spent $6 to 8 million on all the COVID safety protocols, including smaller amenities such as information signs, hand sanitizer stations, and extra sinks.
"I’ve never been as immersed in a filmmaking process,” Trevorrow continued. “Because of the protocols, the actors didn’t go far from set. The distance was stripped away. There were things that happened on this movie that I’d hope to be able to continue on future productions.”
"This movie is about the need to co-exist and survive together. If this pandemic has taught us anything it’s that we need the different generations to protect each other. It was the right movie to be making at this moment.”
Jurassic World: Dominion, which unites the casts of the Jurassic World and Jurassic Park films -- including Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, Omar Sy, Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum, and Sam Neill -- is scheduled for a June 10, 2022 release.
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/04/20/jurassic-world-may-feature-dinosaurs-in-the-snow-for-the-first-time"]
[poilib element="accentDivider"]
Matt Fowler is a writer for IGN and a member of the Television Critics Association. Follow him on Twitter at @TheMattFowler and Facebook at Facebook.com/MattBFowler.
Jeopardy Host Alex Trebek Has Died
Beloved game show host Alex Trebek, who's hosted Jeopardy! since 1984, has passed away.
A spokesperson for Jeopardy! tweeted out "Jeopardy is saddened to share that Alex Trebek passed away peacefully at home early this morning, surrounded by family and friends."
Trebek died on Sunday morning at age 80 after a long battle with stage 4 pancreatic cancer. Trebek announced his cancer diagnosis to the world back in March 2019. Since then, Trebek continued to host Jeopardy! while undergoing chemotherapy. Knowing that the survival rate for pancreatic cancer in its second year was just 7 percent, Trebek carried on, determined to fight the disease. From just a few days ago, here's a moment that nicely demonstrates Trebek's reach and influence...Jeopardy! is saddened to share that Alex Trebek passed away peacefully at home early this morning, surrounded by family and friends. Thank you, Alex. pic.twitter.com/Yk2a90CHIM
— Jeopardy! (@Jeopardy) November 8, 2020
Trebek's final Jeopardy! episode will air on Christmas Day. Before landing on Jeopardy!, where he'd find his way into iconic quizmaster status, Trebek hosted game shows such as The Wizard of Odds, Double Dare, and High Rollers. Trebek also became somewhat of an SNL staple for several years when Will Ferrell portrayed him in a recurring Jeopardy! sketch that featured Trebek having to suffer the outrageous idiocy of celebrity contestants like Sean Connery, Burt Reynolds, and more. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt Fowler is a writer for IGN and a member of the Television Critics Association. Follow him on Twitter at @TheMattFowler and Facebook at Facebook.com/MattBFowler.There may not be a better clip than this one that sums up Alex Trebek’s impact pic.twitter.com/QnMjwOYyK9
— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) November 8, 2020
Jeopardy Host Alex Trebek Has Died
Beloved game show host Alex Trebek, who's hosted Jeopardy! since 1984, has passed away.
A spokesperson for Jeopardy! tweeted out "Jeopardy is saddened to share that Alex Trebek passed away peacefully at home early this morning, surrounded by family and friends."
Trebek died on Sunday morning at age 80 after a long battle with stage 4 pancreatic cancer. Trebek announced his cancer diagnosis to the world back in March 2019. Since then, Trebek continued to host Jeopardy! while undergoing chemotherapy. Knowing that the survival rate for pancreatic cancer in its second year was just 7 percent, Trebek carried on, determined to fight the disease. From just a few days ago, here's a moment that nicely demonstrates Trebek's reach and influence...Jeopardy! is saddened to share that Alex Trebek passed away peacefully at home early this morning, surrounded by family and friends. Thank you, Alex. pic.twitter.com/Yk2a90CHIM
— Jeopardy! (@Jeopardy) November 8, 2020
Trebek's final Jeopardy! episode will air on Christmas Day. Before landing on Jeopardy!, where he'd find his way into iconic quizmaster status, Trebek hosted game shows such as The Wizard of Odds, Double Dare, and High Rollers. Trebek also became somewhat of an SNL staple for several years when Will Ferrell portrayed him in a recurring Jeopardy! sketch that featured Trebek having to suffer the outrageous idiocy of celebrity contestants like Sean Connery, Burt Reynolds, and more. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt Fowler is a writer for IGN and a member of the Television Critics Association. Follow him on Twitter at @TheMattFowler and Facebook at Facebook.com/MattBFowler.There may not be a better clip than this one that sums up Alex Trebek’s impact pic.twitter.com/QnMjwOYyK9
— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) November 8, 2020