Star Wars: Squadrons is also celebrating the launch of season 2 of The Mandalorian this week with some free DLC that includes a dashboard decoration of Baby Yoda/The Child. Announced as part of Star Wars' Mando Mondays, The Mandalorian Supply Drop will arrive on October 28 and also includes Razor Crest Gunship and Beskar Ingot Hanging Flair, IG-Series Assassin Droid Dashboard Flair, and Blurrg and Bounty Holograms. The "Mysterious Creature," as Star Wars: Squadrons calls The Child, can only be used by a New Republic starfighter, but both factions will receive one hologram, one decal, one dashboard flair, and one hanging flair, giving players a total of eight new cosmetics to unlock. This welcome move is a bit of a surprising one following EA Motive's previous statements about how, while also saying "never say never," that there are no plans for more content for Star Wars: Squadrons. However, that very well could mean we won't see any substantial, paid DLC in the future, but fans may be surprised with new, free cosmetics like these. The Mandalorian's second season will premiere on October 30 on Disney+, and you can find out when each new episode arrives with our release schedule guide. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/10/26/the-mandalorian-season-1-timeline-recap"] For more on Mando Mondays, check out the Limited Edition Mandalorian Xbox Controller and Hasbro's Mandalorian Retro Collection figures.   [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.

Hasbro has gone all-out for its latest Mando Monday event, revealing a massive lineup of new toys that includes a new Retro Collection wave and the very first unmasked Din Djarin figures. You can get a closer look at all of these upcoming releases in the slideshow gallery below: [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=star-wars-hasbro-reveals-the-mandalorian-retro-collection-figures&captions=true"] The new Star Wars Retro Collection wave is easily the most interesting and unusual announcement. Whereas past Retro Collection waves were basically recreations of the original Kenner Star Wars figures, this wave shows us what might have been if The Mandalorian were getting toys way back in 1977. Weirdly enough, this wave includes multiple characters who have yet to get a Hasbro figure in any other form, including Greef Karga and Kuiil. Also worth noting is that we're seeing the first figures based on the final episodes from Season 1. Both the 6-inch Black Series and the 3.75-inch Vintage Collection lines are getting new Mando figures with alternate, unmasked Din Djarin heads. Hasbro also revealed a Black Series Scoutrooper set that includes both a speeder bike and a kidnapped Baby Yoda and Vintage Collection versions of Moff Gideon (Darksaber included) and The Armorer. Hasbro also released new images of their current Haslab crowdfunded Razor Crest set, which keeps gaining new accessories as new stretch goals are met. We're not surprised to see Hasbro dropping so many big announcements this week. The October 30 premiere date of The Mandalorian: Season 2 is nearly upon us, after all. Season 2 will reportedly introduce several familiar Star Wars characters, including Temuera Morrison reprising his role as Boba Fett and Katee Sackhoff making her live-action debut as Bo-Katan Kryze. Even Ahsoka Tano is reportedly appearing in Season 2, with Rosario Dawson taking over that iconic role in live-action form. Here's a full breakdown of Ahsoka's story leading up to The Mandalorian. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/10/26/the-mandalorian-season-1-timeline-recap"] In other Star Wars collectible news, Hot Toys recently revealed a Clone Wars-inspired Ahsoka Tano figure, while Microsoft is selling a limited edition Mandalorian Xbox controller. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Jesse is a mild-mannered staff writer for IGN. Allow him to lend a machete to your intellectual thicket by following @jschedeen on Twitter.

The CW has revealed the first look at Javicia Leslie's Ryan Wilder Batwoman in her very own bat suit. Javicia Leslie was cast as the new Batwoman back in July after previous Batwoman actress Ruby Rose left the series. We then got our first look at Leslie's Batwoman in September, who is playing a new character by the name of Ryan Wilder, but that only offered a glimpse of the character's mask and red hair. The CW has now revealed two new images that show off Ryan Wilder's very own Batwoman suit. You can check those out below. According to The CW, Ryan Wilder will first don Kate Kane's old Batsuit in the beginning of Season 2, but "as Ryan grows into her newfound role as Batwoman, she redesigns her suit." This redesign will be revealed in full in the third episode of Season 2. "Ryan's journey starts from a place of 'What can this Batsuit do for me?' But it's not long before she realizes the power of its symbol and what it can do for everyone else in Gotham City," said executive producer Caroline Dries. "As Ryan embraces everything that makes her special, she adjusts the suit to fit her physically and figuratively. This meant creating a new body design and new cowl that was undeniably a statement that screamed 'powerful.'" Dries said the red wig was something the crew never perfected in Season One of Batwoman, but that wig creator Janice Workman crushed it this time around. She said when she sees the wig now, "it makes (her) feel inspired." Javicia Leslie said it was an honor to collaborate with Dries and costume designer Maya Mani when creating the suit. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2018/09/24/batwoman-explained-how-the-batman-love-interest-became-a-lgbtq-icon"] "I love the fact that Ryan is becoming her own Batwoman — it's her style, her swag, and her moment," Leslie said. "It was an honor to be able to collaborate with Caroline and Maya. I felt it was important that viewers could tell by the silhouette that Batwoman was a Black girl. With the form-fitting suit and beautiful Afro, we definitely nailed it." Leslie will don this new suit when Season Two of Batwoman premieres next January. While waiting for the next season, be sure to check out DC Comics' introduction to the character and then read about how Kate Kane won't be killed off in the second season. Catch up on why Kate Kane actress, Ruby Rose, decided to quit Batwoman after that. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Wesley LeBlanc is a freelance news writer and guide maker for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @LeBlancWes. 

Sony Santa Monica has revealed new details about how God of War (2018) will work on PlayStation 5. In a Tweet, the God of War developer said the PS4 title can run up to 60 frames per second if players choose the "Favor Performance" video option. And, save transfers are supported from PS4, so players don't have to worry about losing their standard or New Game Plus save. Santa Monica Studio also confirmed God of War III Remastered saves will transfer to PlayStation 5.  

Whether you’re picking up the game for the first time or looking to finish that NG+ save, God of War (2018) on the #PS5 will offer:

Up to 60 FPS using the ‘Favor Performance’ video option Save Transfers – start right where you left off on the PS4! — Santa Monica Studio Is Hiring (@SonySantaMonica) October 26, 2020

On PS4, God of War targeted 30 frames per second when it was released, and it also included performance mode options for those playing on PS4 Pro. The Favor Performance mode had a cap of 60 fps on PS4 Pro, but in our God of War review, we said the game didn't consistently hit that target. Sony confirmed last month that almost every PlayStation 4 game will be playable on PS5. However, the ability to transfer save data to the next generation will be up to individual developers. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/09/16/playstation-plus-collection-trailer"] God of War will be a part of the PlayStation Plus Collection, a set of PS4 games that will launch alongside PS5 for all PS Plus subscribers. Other games in the collection include Uncharted 4, Persona 5, Bloodborne, and more. As for the studio's current project, Sony Santa Monica is working on God of War Ragnarok, which was revealed at the September PS5 event with a 2021 release window. For more next-generation preparation, check out our up-to-date PlayStation 5 guide. The PS5 standard and digital editions are currently sold out, but you can keep an eye on our PS5 preorder guide in case new stock becomes available. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=confirmed-playstation-5-games&captions=true"] [poilib element="accentDivider"] Logan Plant is a news writer for IGN, and the Production Assistant for Nintendo Voice Chat, IGN's weekly Nintendo show. You can find him on Twitter at @LoganJPlant.

A major Batman character is undergoing a dark transformation in the upcoming third season of Titans, and now fans have been given their first look at Curran Walters' Red Hood. The official Titans Twitter account posted a pair of Red Hood images showing off the new costume designed by Laura Jean Shannon. As HBO Max's press release notes, this is the first time the Red Hood costume has appeared in any live-action production. Like many costumes in the series, Red Hood's look seems to draw most of its inspiration from both the contemporary Batman comics and the more tactical, armored approach of the Arkham video game series. Along with these new images, HBO Max revealed the first two seasons of Titans will debut on the service on November 1. We previously learned Titans is migrating to HBO Max along with the rest of DC Universe's original series, with DC Universe itself being relaunched as a comics-focused service in January 2021. Walters made his debut as second Robin Jason Todd in Titans: Season 1 before going on to play a bigger role in Season 2 as Dick Grayson's protégé. Unfortunately, after returning to Gotham City at the end of Season 2, it seems the character is doomed to follow the same dark path he has in so many other incarnations of the Batman franchise. Assuming the series follows the comics and various other projects like Batman: Under the Red Hood or Batman: Arkham Knight, we'll probably learn Jason was left for dead by the Joker and returned as a hardened, Batman-hating vigilante. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=when-batman-gets-old-a-fresh-look-at-old-bruce-waynes&captions=true"] Red Hood is just one of several Batman characters being added to Titans: Season 3. The series will also introduce Barbara Gordon and Scarecrow. Barbara will be depicted as Gotham's new police commissioner rather than Batgirl, while Dr. Jonathan Crane will be portrayed as a Hannibal Lecter-esque villain who consults with the GCPD on difficult cases. Titans: Season 3 began production earlier in October 2020, so we're not expecting the series to return on HBO Max until some point in 2021. But if you want a taste of the different ways Jason's story could play out in Season 3, check out IGN's review of Batman: Death in the Family, an interactive animated movie that allows the viewer to determine Jason's fate. Or learn more about Gotham Knights, a new video game that focuses on Red Hood and other members of the Batman family after Bruce Wayne's death. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/10/13/dc-showcase-batman-death-in-the-family-review"] [poilib element="accentDivider"] Jesse is a mild-mannered staff writer for IGN. Allow him to lend a machete to your intellectual thicket by following @jschedeen on Twitter.

After years of resistance from the country, Kazakhstan has embraced Borat's signature phrase, "very nice." Kazakhstan has not been the biggest fan of Sacha Baron Cohen's Borat character, who is from the country and is depicted in an extremely satirical and controversial way. Considering that Cohen's depiction of someone from Kazakhstan is anti-Semitic and vulgar amongst many other less-than-positive traits, it makes sense that country officials have rejected Borat. The country has now embraced the character, however, using one of the most popular Borat catchphrases, "very nice," in official tourism advertising, as reported by AV Club. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/10/01/borat-2-official-trailer"] "In COVID times, when tourism spending is on hold, it was good to see the country mentioned in the media," Kazakhstan tourism board deputy chairman, Kairat Sadvakassov, told The New York Times. "Not in the nicest way, but it's good to be out there." This comes after years of silence from the country in regards to the character. Sadvakassov said that silence was the country's answer to Borat. The tourism chairman said the country decided to "let it die its natural death and not respond" in regards to Cohen's character. That all changed when Dennis Keen and Yermtek Utemissov pitched a new tourism ad slogan: "Kazakhstan. Very nice!" The slogan was approved and four short films highlighting the country's culture and destinations were created, each accompanied by a resounding "very nice." Utemissov said it was the older citizens of the country that made embracing Borat difficult, as younger citizens understood what Cohen was doing with the character. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/10/21/borat-subsequent-moviefilm-review"] "They've got Twitter, they've got Instagram, they've got Reddit, they know English, they know memes," Utemissov said. "They get it. They're inside the media world. We're looking at the same comedians, the same (Jimmy Kimmel) show. Kazakhstan is globalized." AV Club received a statement from Cohen and the actor is relieved that Kazakhstan has finally embraced Borat. "This is a comedy, and the Kazakhstan in the film has nothing to do with the real country," Cohen said in the statement. "I chose Kazakhstan because it was a place that almost nobody in the U.S. knew anything about, which allowed us to create a wild, comedic, fake world. The real Kazakhstan is a beautiful country with a modern, proud society — the opposite of Borat's version." If you haven't yet checked out Cohen's latest foray into the world as Borat, be sure to read why we thought the long-awaited sequel to Borat was great in our Borat Subsequent Moviefilm review. After that, read about how Borat 2 busts Rudy Giuliani in a very compromising scene and then check out this Borat 2 deleted scene that features a White House infiltration. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Wesley LeBlanc is a freelance news writer and guide maker for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @LeBlancWes. 

The MCU may have found its Moon Knight. Variety reports Oscar Isaac is in talks to star in the upcoming Disney+ series. If the deal is completed, this would make Isaac one of several actors who have appeared in both Fox's X-Men cinematic universe and the MCU. Isaac previously played the titular villain in 2016's X-Men: Apocalypse. He also has previous Disney franchise experience playing Poe Dameron in the Star Wars sequel trilogy. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=marvel-cinematic-universe-every-upcoming-movie-and-tv-show&captions=true"] Marvel first announced the Moon Knight series at D23 in August 2019. In November 2019 we learned The Umbrella Academy's Jeremy Slater will serve as showrunner on the Marvel adaptation. Marvel's Kevin Feige previously indicated Moon Knight and fellow Disney+ series She-Hulk and Ms. Marvel would all wrap production by the end of 2020, though the COVID-19 pandemic seems to have delayed that timetable. Moon Knight is often described as Marvel's answer to Batman. But while he's a wealthy playboy who uses his resources to fight crime, Marc Spector is unique in that he struggles with dissociative identity disorder and his dysfunctional connection to the Egyptian god Khonshu. We're expecting both of those elements to p[lay a big role in the series, with Isaac's character struggling to maintain his grip on sanity and serve Khonshu's bidding by protecting "those who travel by night." You can check out IGN's Moon Knight Explained feature for more on this dark but quirky Marvel hero. Breaking... 

NASA revealed a new discovery about the Moon that confirms water has been found on the sunlit surface. The discovery was found using infrared instruments from the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA). As released in a live conference Monday morning, NASA revealed the news saying the discovery brings the idea forth that water may be distributed across various areas of the surface of the Moon, rather than solely in the shadowed, cold areas. "We had indications that H2O – the familiar water we know – might be present on the sunlit side of the Moon," Paul Hertz, director of the Astrophysics Division in the Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington said. "Now we know it is there. This discovery challenges our understanding of the lunar surface and raises intriguing questions about resources relevant for deep space exploration." [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=nasa-black-hole-gallery&captions=true"]

NASA x Moon: Scientists Talk Discovery

Casey Honniball, the lead author on the study who published the results from her graduate thesis work at the University of Hawaii at Mānoa in Honolulu, said, “Without a thick atmosphere, water on the sunlit lunar surface should just be lost to space, yet somehow we’re seeing it. Something is generating the water, and something must be trapping it there.” SOFIA detected water molecules in the Clavius Crater (one of the largest visible craters) located in the southern hemisphere of the Moon. Observations prior to this found a form of hydrogen, but specifics between water and a chemical relative, hydroxyl, were not able to be distinguished. The authors of the published paper suggest the majority of water found is likely stored within volcanic glass or bind between small glass beads, sheltering it from the harsh lunar surface. In terms of how much water was discovered, NASA said the equal amount to approximately one 12-ounce bottle of water was found – which are stuck in a cubic meter of soil on the surface. They compared the findings further to the Sahara desert, saying the desert has 100 times the amount of water then what was discovered on the Moon. However, even though the amount seems small, scientists are wondering how water is created and could withstand the harsh surface of the Moon – in which, further observations are necessary. The researchers are not sure the accessibility of the water, but this was the first time SOFIA was used in a study on the Moon. Naseem Rangwala, SOFIA’s project scientist at NASA's Ames Research Center in California's Silicon Valley said, "It’s incredible that this discovery came out of what was essentially a test, and now that we know we can do this, we’re planning more flights to do more observations."

Moon Water Findings and Human Space Exploration

"There's a classic problem in rocket science that we're not going to be able to solve any time soon: bringing supplies to space is really expensive," Aaron White, astrophysicist at University of San Francisco told IGN. "For every extra pound of water or food you put on a rocket's payload, you've got to add more fuel to lift it off the ground. That fuel has its own weight though, so you've got to add fuel to lift that fuel off the ground. Then that fuel has weight.... it's an exponential problem." "If we're able to gather essentials from space, rather than haul them up, that could hugely reduce the cost of space travel," White explained. "Drinking water is the first obvious one, but there's also a lot of potential if you break down water to its base components. The H and the O in H2O, hydrogen and oxygen, are highly reactive when separated and could be used to make rocket fuel right on the moon's surface. And of course if you're a fan of breathing, extra oxygen on hand is always a plus." [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=cosmos-possible-worlds-gallery&captions=true"] In terms of future space exploration as a whole, White weighed in on possibilities, saying long distance space travel would become much more economically attainable. "There's been an idea for a while of using the moon as a pitstop for more distant missions, to Mars and possibly beyond. Bringing only the bare necessities as you leave Earth and picking up your supplies there would make it far easier and cheaper to get astronauts off the ground."

Future Moon Research for Space

Follow-up studies for SOFIA and the Moon include looking at other sunlit locations during various lunar phases. The scientists are hoping to find out how water is created, stored, and transported in the different places on the lunar surface. Plans to create a water resource map of the Moon is also on the docket for NASA's future missions to assist with human space exploration. "Water is a valuable resource, for both scientific purposes and for use by our explorers," Jacob Bleacher, chief exploration scientist for NASA’s Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate said. "If we can use the resources at the Moon, then we can carry less water and more equipment to help enable new scientific discoveries." "We've known that the moon has had water for a while now, but it wasn't clear how much there was," White said. "We knew there was frozen ice at the poles, and sometimes down in the bottoms of craters. There's been suspicion that water could be more abundant there (since the Moon is made of the same building blocks as the Earth, and we're lousy with the stuff), this finding shows there could be a lot more water available then we thought previously." NASA will send the first woman to the Moon in 2024, along with the next man, through their Artemis program. They are expecting to send humans to Mars in the 2030s, and they feel the further exploration that is done on the Moon will assist with more understanding of the solar system overall. The research was published in Nature Astronomy and can be read in its entirety. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Jessie Wade is Homepage Editor at IGN and is fascinated with the Moon, black holes + anything in this floating world we call space. Follow her on Twitter @jessieannwade.

According to Raven Software co-founder Brian Raffel, the studio is extremely excited to be leading development of its own Call of Duty campaign after doing essential support work for the franchise for so many years. IGN's Ryan McCaffrey sat down with Raffel to discuss Raven Software's storied history in the latest episode of IGN Unfiltered (the full episode drops tomorrow), along with discussions on Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War, Star Wars Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast, Hexen, Heretic, Soldier of Fortune, and more. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/09/16/call-of-duty-black-ops-cold-war-gameplay-trailer"] When asked what it was like leading their own project after spending years as a support studio for the Call of Duty juggernaut franchise, Raffel said, "It's been really great. We have worked for quite a few years on the Call of Duty franchise. We've loved the franchise... so when we got this opportunity, we were super pumped about it." "We've done a lot of work on different campaigns over the years, but this one is... directed by [Raven's Creative Director] Dan [Vondrak] and our team... It's an exciting time in the timeline, and one that we felt was ripe for opportunities for some of the things we wanted to do." [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=call-of-duty-black-ops-cold-war-campaign-screenshots&captions=true"] Raffel then pointed out that COD: Black Ops Cold War is the direct sequel to the first game Raven ever teamed with Treyarch to work on, which is a notable landmark for the studio, in and of itself. When asked about the most notable thing about the Black Ops franchise, Raffel said "it's very clever to us... the 'dark stories that people didn't hear...' That's always the most interesting for all of us... 'What's going on behind the scenes?' That's always been an intriguing part for us." While Raven is responsible for creating some truly excellent games since its inception, such as all-time great Star Wars Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast, Raven's last original title was Singularity, which was critically well-received, but didn't sell well for several reasons. When asked if fans could expect more Raven-led projects in the future, Raffel said, "We certainly hope so. I believe this will be successful... I feel like... I can't talk about future work, but... there are always opportunities for us, so keep an eye out." [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/09/09/call-of-duty-black-ops-cold-war-multiplayer-hands-on-preview"] For more interviews with the best, brightest, most fascinating minds in the games industry, check out be sure to check out every episode of IGN Unfiltered, which includes talks with The Game Awards creator Geoff Keighley, Master Chief co-creator Marcus Lehto, 343's Bonnie Ross, Valve's Robin Walker & Chris Remo, Respawn's Stig Asmussen, and so many more.

[poilib element="accentDivider"]

Brian Barnett writes wiki guides, deals posts, features, and much more for IGN. You can get your fix of Brian's antics on Twitter and Instagram (@Ribnax).

Xbox Head Phil Spencer is not actively planning the future for Bethesda, because Microsoft's acquisition of ZeniMax Media is not yet complete. In an interview with Gamereactor, Spencer said he expects the acquisition to be finalized by early next year. "First of all, I would like to say that we haven't acquired ZeniMax," Spencer said. "We have announced our intention to acquire ZeniMax. It is going through regulatory approval and we don't see any issues there." [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/10/23/xboxs-bethesda-exclusivity-stance-evolves-next-gen-console-watch"] Spencer said it would be illegal for him to sit down with Bethesda Director Todd Howard and ZeniMax Media CEO Robert Altman to make future plans until Microsoft officially acquires ZeniMax. Long-term, Spencer said he wants ZeniMax's studios, including Bethesda, Arkane, id Software, MachineGames, and more, to create the best games they've ever made, aided by the support of Microsoft. In September, Microsoft announced plans to buy ZeniMax Media for $7.5 billion. With the acquisition, franchises including The Elder Scrolls, Fallout, Wolfenstein, Doom, Dishonored, and Starfield will join Xbox's first-party portfolio. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/09/21/xboxbethesda-deal-what-it-means-for-ps5-ign-daily-fix"] Microsoft said it plans to honor the previous agreements Bethesda made with Sony to release Deathloop and Ghostwire: Tokyo as PlayStation 5 exclusives. As far as exclusivity for future titles from Bethesda and other ZeniMax studios, we've heard Microsoft will make decisions on a case-by-case basis. Again, until the acquisition is complete, Spencer says he isn't mapping out future plans for Bethesda games. "I get a lot of questions right now: 'is this game exclusive? Is this game exclusive?'" Spencer said. "And right now, that is not my job in regards to ZeniMax. My job is not to sit down and go through their portfolio and dictate what happens." [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=confirmed-xbox-series-x-games&captions=true"] In a previous interview about console exclusivity, Spencer said, "We want more people to be able to play games, not fewer people to be able to go play games." We'll have to wait and see what Microsoft's release strategy will be after the acquisition is finalized. For more, you can read the five biggest takeaways from Xbox's Bethesda acquisition, or check out our Xbox Series X guide. And, if you're still trying to secure an Xbox Series X or S before next month's launch, keep an eye on our Xbox preorder page for up-to-date retail links. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Logan Plant is a news writer for IGN, and the Production Assistant for Nintendo Voice Chat, IGN's weekly Nintendo show. You can find him on Twitter at @LoganJPlant.