Need for Speed: Payback and Vampyr have been announced as PlayStation Plus' free games for October 2020. From Tuesday, October 6 until Monday, November 2, you'll be able to pick up the racing game and Dontnod's RPG vampire-'em-up for free as part of your PS Plus subscription.

Need for Speed: Payback and Vampyr are your PS Plus games for October: https://t.co/kKNMxUDkCL pic.twitter.com/K1Kutlws67

— PlayStation (@PlayStation) September 30, 2020

Need for Speed: Payback is the more underwhelming of the two offerings - in our 5.9 review we called it "a big, competent, and confident arcade racer but it’s really let down by its linear cop chases, its overwrought and insidious upgrade system, its dreadful dialogue, and its superficial action sequences." Vampyr is a step up, however. In a 7/10 review, we called Dontnod's narrative-focused experience "a slow burn of an RPG, taking its time to ramp up its intriguing blend of science and the supernatural in an elaborately gloomy version of London." [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2018/06/04/vampyr-review"] Last month's games, PUBG and Street Fighter 5, will remain available for free to PS Plus members until October 5, so make sure to claim them in time. [poilib element="accentDivider"][poilib element="accentDivider"] Joe Skrebels is IGN's Executive Editor of News. Follow him on Twitter. Have a tip for us? Want to discuss a possible story? Please send an email to newstips@ign.com.  

Need for Speed: Payback and Vampyr have been announced as PlayStation Plus' free games for October 2020. From Tuesday, October 6 until Monday, November 2, you'll be able to pick up the racing game and Dontnod's RPG vampire-'em-up for free as part of your PS Plus subscription.

Need for Speed: Payback and Vampyr are your PS Plus games for October: https://t.co/kKNMxUDkCL pic.twitter.com/K1Kutlws67

— PlayStation (@PlayStation) September 30, 2020

Need for Speed: Payback is the more underwhelming of the two offerings - in our 5.9 review we called it "a big, competent, and confident arcade racer but it’s really let down by its linear cop chases, its overwrought and insidious upgrade system, its dreadful dialogue, and its superficial action sequences." Vampyr is a step up, however. In a 7/10 review, we called Dontnod's narrative-focused experience "a slow burn of an RPG, taking its time to ramp up its intriguing blend of science and the supernatural in an elaborately gloomy version of London." [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2018/06/04/vampyr-review"] Last month's games, PUBG and Street Fighter 5, will remain available for free to PS Plus members until October 5, so make sure to claim them in time. [poilib element="accentDivider"][poilib element="accentDivider"] Joe Skrebels is IGN's Executive Editor of News. Follow him on Twitter. Have a tip for us? Want to discuss a possible story? Please send an email to newstips@ign.com.  

The IGN First for September is Immortals Fenyx Rising, and throughout the month we’ve published a heap of new and exclusive gameplay details, footage, and interviews. It’s the most in-depth look at the game we’ve had so far, and if you’re curious about Ubisoft Quebec’s new mythical open-world, there’s no better place to learn about it than here. Read on to check out all of our IGN First coverage of Immortals Fenyx Rising, which will prepare you ahead of its launch on both current and next-generation consoles, as well as PC, Stadia, and Nintendo Switch, this December.

From Assassin’s Creed Odyssey to Gods & Monsters to Immortals Fenyx Rising

[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/09/15/how-ac-odyssey-became-gods-monsters-and-finally-immortals-fenyx-rising"] Immortals Fenyx Rising is the game formerly known as Gods & Monsters, which Ubisoft first announced at E3 2019. Originally set to be released in February 2020, it was delayed for several months, and in that time it has become Immortals Fenyx Rising. We chatted to game director Scott Phillips to learn more about how the Assassin’s Creed Odyssey team took their love of Greek mythology and turned it into this new game, and why the name changed along the way.

Inside the Vaults of Tartaros

[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/09/17/inside-immortals-fenyx-risings-vaults-of-tartaros-ign-first"] The world of Immortals Fenyx Rising is littered with puzzles. Many of these are hidden beneath the surface of the land, in pockets of the Greek underworld known as the Vaults of Tartaros. We spoke to associate game director Julien Galloudec to learn about how the team was influenced by Zelda, World of Goo, and Portal while making these puzzle dungeons.

A Tour of the Golden Isle

[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/09/21/immortals-fenyx-rising-a-tour-of-the-golden-isle-ign-first"] The world of Immortals is known as the Golden Isle, and is split into seven regions, each dedicated to one of the gods of the Greek pantheon. Game director Scott Phillips and art director Thierry Dansereau gave us some insight into how the team designed and built these areas, and what players can expect to do in them, as part of a tour of the Golden Isle.

Meet Zeus and Prometheus

[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/09/23/immortals-fenyx-rising-meet-zeus-and-prometheus-ign-first"] While Fenyx is Immortals’ main character, they’re not the one who’ll be doing the most talking in the game. That honour belongs to Zeus and Prometheus, a bickering odd couple who commentate your gameplay like godly shoutcasters. We spoke to narrative director Jeffrey Yohalemto learn more about the game’s narrators, and how they bring comedy to the story.

The Mythological Creatures of Immortals Fenyx Rising

[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/09/25/the-mythological-creatures-of-immortals-fenyx-rising-ign-first"] Fenyx's enemies are all pulled from the ancient Greek myths. You can expect to see plenty of harpies, gorgons, and minotaurs on your travels around the Golden Isle. To learn more, we spoke to game director Scott Phillips and art director Thierry Dansereau about how the creatures were adapted from the myths, and what kind of gameplay challenges they pose players.

Exclusive Hands-On Preview

[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/09/28/immortals-fenyx-rising-2nd-hands-on-preview-ign-first"] When Immortals Fenyx Rising was re-revealed with its new name at Ubisoft Forward, we were able to bring you a hands-on preview of The Forgelands region of its open world. But, as part of IGN First, we’ve also been able to play an exclusive section of the game that no other press outlet has been able to try. You can learn about what we played in the Aphrodite zone of the Golden Isle in our exclusive hands-on preview. [poilib element="accentDivider"]

The IGN First for September is Immortals Fenyx Rising, and throughout the month we’ve published a heap of new and exclusive gameplay details, footage, and interviews. It’s the most in-depth look at the game we’ve had so far, and if you’re curious about Ubisoft Quebec’s new mythical open-world, there’s no better place to learn about it than here. Read on to check out all of our IGN First coverage of Immortals Fenyx Rising, which will prepare you ahead of its launch on both current and next-generation consoles, as well as PC, Stadia, and Nintendo Switch, this December.

From Assassin’s Creed Odyssey to Gods & Monsters to Immortals Fenyx Rising

[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/09/15/how-ac-odyssey-became-gods-monsters-and-finally-immortals-fenyx-rising"] Immortals Fenyx Rising is the game formerly known as Gods & Monsters, which Ubisoft first announced at E3 2019. Originally set to be released in February 2020, it was delayed for several months, and in that time it has become Immortals Fenyx Rising. We chatted to game director Scott Phillips to learn more about how the Assassin’s Creed Odyssey team took their love of Greek mythology and turned it into this new game, and why the name changed along the way.

Inside the Vaults of Tartaros

[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/09/17/inside-immortals-fenyx-risings-vaults-of-tartaros-ign-first"] The world of Immortals Fenyx Rising is littered with puzzles. Many of these are hidden beneath the surface of the land, in pockets of the Greek underworld known as the Vaults of Tartaros. We spoke to associate game director Julien Galloudec to learn about how the team was influenced by Zelda, World of Goo, and Portal while making these puzzle dungeons.

A Tour of the Golden Isle

[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/09/21/immortals-fenyx-rising-a-tour-of-the-golden-isle-ign-first"] The world of Immortals is known as the Golden Isle, and is split into seven regions, each dedicated to one of the gods of the Greek pantheon. Game director Scott Phillips and art director Thierry Dansereau gave us some insight into how the team designed and built these areas, and what players can expect to do in them, as part of a tour of the Golden Isle.

Meet Zeus and Prometheus

[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/09/23/immortals-fenyx-rising-meet-zeus-and-prometheus-ign-first"] While Fenyx is Immortals’ main character, they’re not the one who’ll be doing the most talking in the game. That honour belongs to Zeus and Prometheus, a bickering odd couple who commentate your gameplay like godly shoutcasters. We spoke to narrative director Jeffrey Yohalemto learn more about the game’s narrators, and how they bring comedy to the story.

The Mythological Creatures of Immortals Fenyx Rising

[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/09/25/the-mythological-creatures-of-immortals-fenyx-rising-ign-first"] Fenyx's enemies are all pulled from the ancient Greek myths. You can expect to see plenty of harpies, gorgons, and minotaurs on your travels around the Golden Isle. To learn more, we spoke to game director Scott Phillips and art director Thierry Dansereau about how the creatures were adapted from the myths, and what kind of gameplay challenges they pose players.

Exclusive Hands-On Preview

[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/09/28/immortals-fenyx-rising-2nd-hands-on-preview-ign-first"] When Immortals Fenyx Rising was re-revealed with its new name at Ubisoft Forward, we were able to bring you a hands-on preview of The Forgelands region of its open world. But, as part of IGN First, we’ve also been able to play an exclusive section of the game that no other press outlet has been able to try. You can learn about what we played in the Aphrodite zone of the Golden Isle in our exclusive hands-on preview. [poilib element="accentDivider"]

Strobophagia: Rave Horror, the psychedelic horror game that invites you to wade through gyrating, neon-soaked masked ravers in an eery forest while trying to survive the murderous occult practices of its organizers, is launching into steam on October 28 – just in time for the annual Halloween horror binge. You can get an exclusive first-look at the madness Sweden-based developer Green Tile Digital has planned in a new trailer above, featuring a huge selection of original EDM sounds that looks to blend an authentic rave experience with the terror of being hunted in an isolated, fluorescent hellscape while trying to solve twisted puzzles with nothing but a smartphone and survival instincts. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=strobophagia-rave-horror-gallery&captions=true"] “The team at Green Tile Digital has been eating, sleeping, and breathing rave culture ever since we began work on Strobophagia,” says Ben Clarke, CEO. “We can’t wait for horror and EDM fans to put on a pair of headphones and immerse themselves in the kaleidoscope of horrors we’ve prepared for them. We guarantee the Headless Rave Festival will be a party to die for.” In preparation for the party, you can follow Strobophagia: Rave Horror on Steam, and dip your toe in the horror-rave culture with a free demo right now. [poilib element="accentDivider"]

Brandin Tyrrel is a Senior Editor at IGN. You can find him on Unlocked, or chat over on Twitter at @BrandinTyrrel.

 

Strobophagia: Rave Horror, the psychedelic horror game that invites you to wade through gyrating, neon-soaked masked ravers in an eery forest while trying to survive the murderous occult practices of its organizers, is launching into steam on October 28 – just in time for the annual Halloween horror binge. You can get an exclusive first-look at the madness Sweden-based developer Green Tile Digital has planned in a new trailer above, featuring a huge selection of original EDM sounds that looks to blend an authentic rave experience with the terror of being hunted in an isolated, fluorescent hellscape while trying to solve twisted puzzles with nothing but a smartphone and survival instincts. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=strobophagia-rave-horror-gallery&captions=true"] “The team at Green Tile Digital has been eating, sleeping, and breathing rave culture ever since we began work on Strobophagia,” says Ben Clarke, CEO. “We can’t wait for horror and EDM fans to put on a pair of headphones and immerse themselves in the kaleidoscope of horrors we’ve prepared for them. We guarantee the Headless Rave Festival will be a party to die for.” In preparation for the party, you can follow Strobophagia: Rave Horror on Steam, and dip your toe in the horror-rave culture with a free demo right now. [poilib element="accentDivider"]

Brandin Tyrrel is a Senior Editor at IGN. You can find him on Unlocked, or chat over on Twitter at @BrandinTyrrel.

 

George R.R. Martin has revealed his least favourite Game of Thrones scene from all eight seasons of the HBO series. Entertainment Weekly reports that Martin shared his disappointment of the King Robert hunting scene in the upcoming book Fire Cannot Kill a Dragon, a definitive oral history of the blockbuster series that draws on the author's many long days and nights spent on production sets all over the world in order to bring the HBO adaptation to the small screen. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/06/23/george-r-r-martin-gives-an-update-on-the-winds-of-winter"] "Where we really fell down in terms of budget was my least favorite scene in the entire show, in all eight seasons: King Robert goes hunting," Martin explains in the book. "Four guys walking on foot through the woods carrying spears and Robert is giving Renly s***. In the books, Robert goes off hunting, we get word he was gored by a boar, and they bring him back and he dies. So I never did [a hunting scene]. "But I knew what a royal hunting party was like. There would have been a hundred guys. There would have been pavilions. There would have been huntsmen. There would have been dogs. There would have been horns blowing — that's how a king goes hunting! He wouldn't have just been walking through the woods with three of his friends holding spears hoping to meet a boar." Game of Thrones originally cost around $6 million per episode in its first season but ballooned to $15 million per episode for its final season. Martin seemed to blame the budget in season one for not being able to bring the scene to life in the way that he would have imagined, as he admitted that they "couldn't afford horses or dogs or pavilions" in those earlier years. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=game-of-thrones-which-dead-tv-characters-are-still-alive-in-winds-of-winter&captions=true"] This revelation comes shortly after Game of Thrones showrunners David Benioff and DB Weiss opened up about their reasons for leaving Lady Stoneheart out of the series, with both of them admitting that their decision to cut the fan-favourite character from the show had been partly influenced by their insider knowledge of Martin's pre-planned storylines. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Adele Ankers is a Freelance Entertainment Journalist. You can reach her on Twitter.

George R.R. Martin has revealed his least favourite Game of Thrones scene from all eight seasons of the HBO series. Entertainment Weekly reports that Martin shared his disappointment of the King Robert hunting scene in the upcoming book Fire Cannot Kill a Dragon, a definitive oral history of the blockbuster series that draws on the author's many long days and nights spent on production sets all over the world in order to bring the HBO adaptation to the small screen. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/06/23/george-r-r-martin-gives-an-update-on-the-winds-of-winter"] "Where we really fell down in terms of budget was my least favorite scene in the entire show, in all eight seasons: King Robert goes hunting," Martin explains in the book. "Four guys walking on foot through the woods carrying spears and Robert is giving Renly s***. In the books, Robert goes off hunting, we get word he was gored by a boar, and they bring him back and he dies. So I never did [a hunting scene]. "But I knew what a royal hunting party was like. There would have been a hundred guys. There would have been pavilions. There would have been huntsmen. There would have been dogs. There would have been horns blowing — that's how a king goes hunting! He wouldn't have just been walking through the woods with three of his friends holding spears hoping to meet a boar." Game of Thrones originally cost around $6 million per episode in its first season but ballooned to $15 million per episode for its final season. Martin seemed to blame the budget in season one for not being able to bring the scene to life in the way that he would have imagined, as he admitted that they "couldn't afford horses or dogs or pavilions" in those earlier years. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=game-of-thrones-which-dead-tv-characters-are-still-alive-in-winds-of-winter&captions=true"] This revelation comes shortly after Game of Thrones showrunners David Benioff and DB Weiss opened up about their reasons for leaving Lady Stoneheart out of the series, with both of them admitting that their decision to cut the fan-favourite character from the show had been partly influenced by their insider knowledge of Martin's pre-planned storylines. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Adele Ankers is a Freelance Entertainment Journalist. You can reach her on Twitter.

Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson has announced the main cast members for his upcoming NBC comedy series Young Rock. Johnson shared the casting news in a series of Instagram posts on Wednesday, revealing the actors that have been selected to portray younger versions of himself and his family members on the NBC sitcom, which he says is based around his "wild and unpredictable childhood and formative years growing up." Three actors have been cast to portray Johnson throughout the various stages of his life. Adrian Groulx has been given the role of 10-year-old "little Dewey" Johnson (a nickname given to Johnson by his Godparents) while Bradley Constant has been tapped to play a 15-year-old version of The Rock. Finally, Marco Polo star Uli Latukefu has been cast to play Johnson at 20 years old when he was playing football on a scholarship at the University of Miami. In addition to those casting choices, Johnson announced that Stacey Leilua will be playing his mother, Ata Johnson (AKA "Mama Rock"), while Joseph Lee Anderson will take on the role of the star's late father, Rocky Johnson (AKA "the OG original Rock"). Ana Tuisila rounds out the cast in the "highly entertaining" role of Johnson's grandmother, Lia Maivia. Johnson noted that the first episode will be dedicated to his late father, who passed away earlier this year. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=dwayne-the-rock-johnsons-10-best-movies&captions=true"] According to Variety, the series will chart Johnson's childhood "from growing up in a strong and resilient family, to being surrounded by the wild characters of his professional wrestling family, to playing football at the University of Miami. It will explore the rollercoaster that has shaped Johnson into the man he is today and the larger-than-life characters he's met along the way." Production is now officially underway on the previously-announced series, which is being executive produced by Nahnatchka Khan, Dwayne Johnson, Jeff Chiang, Dany Garcia, Hiram Garcia, Brian Gewirtz and Jennifer Carreras. Young Rock is expected to debut on NBC sometime in 2021, so stay tuned to IGN for all of the latest updates and announcements. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Adele Ankers is a Freelance Entertainment Journalist. You can reach her on Twitter.

Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson has announced the main cast members for his upcoming NBC comedy series Young Rock. Johnson shared the casting news in a series of Instagram posts on Wednesday, revealing the actors that have been selected to portray younger versions of himself and his family members on the NBC sitcom, which he says is based around his "wild and unpredictable childhood and formative years growing up." Three actors have been cast to portray Johnson throughout the various stages of his life. Adrian Groulx has been given the role of 10-year-old "little Dewey" Johnson (a nickname given to Johnson by his Godparents) while Bradley Constant has been tapped to play a 15-year-old version of The Rock. Finally, Marco Polo star Uli Latukefu has been cast to play Johnson at 20 years old when he was playing football on a scholarship at the University of Miami. In addition to those casting choices, Johnson announced that Stacey Leilua will be playing his mother, Ata Johnson (AKA "Mama Rock"), while Joseph Lee Anderson will take on the role of the star's late father, Rocky Johnson (AKA "the OG original Rock"). Ana Tuisila rounds out the cast in the "highly entertaining" role of Johnson's grandmother, Lia Maivia. Johnson noted that the first episode will be dedicated to his late father, who passed away earlier this year. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=dwayne-the-rock-johnsons-10-best-movies&captions=true"] According to Variety, the series will chart Johnson's childhood "from growing up in a strong and resilient family, to being surrounded by the wild characters of his professional wrestling family, to playing football at the University of Miami. It will explore the rollercoaster that has shaped Johnson into the man he is today and the larger-than-life characters he's met along the way." Production is now officially underway on the previously-announced series, which is being executive produced by Nahnatchka Khan, Dwayne Johnson, Jeff Chiang, Dany Garcia, Hiram Garcia, Brian Gewirtz and Jennifer Carreras. Young Rock is expected to debut on NBC sometime in 2021, so stay tuned to IGN for all of the latest updates and announcements. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Adele Ankers is a Freelance Entertainment Journalist. You can reach her on Twitter.