Rocket League is going free-to-play soon and as part of this new initiative, Psyonix is no longer making PlayStation Plus or a Nintendo Switch Online subscription mandatory for online play. In a new community update detailing the upcoming changes coming to Rocket League when it goes free-to-play, Psyonix confirmed that PS4 and Nintendo Switch owners will not need a monthly or yearly subscription to play online. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2018/08/31/rocket-league-rocket-pass-trailer"] This exemption does not appear to extend to Xbox Live Gold, meaning Xbox One players will still need a subscription to the console’s digital services to play Rocket League online. Psyonix announced the move to free-to-play earlier this year. As the developer readies Rocket League to make that transition, there will be additional changes to how online content will work. For example, Rocket League seasons will be more streamlined and the Rocket Pass, Competitive Seasons, and upcoming Tournaments will all share the same schedule. That means when the Competitive Season ends, so will the Rocket Pass and Tournaments mode. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2018/08/31/rocket-league-rocket-pass-trailer"] There will also be a new, highest competitive rank called Supersonic Legend. The current highest rank, Grand Champion, will be split into three Ranks, just like the others, and players will likely find that their Rank will drift upwards when the new season begins because of the influx of new players joining at the start of free-to-play. No word yet on when Rocket League will officially go free-to-play other than it is happening “soon.” Check out IGN’s Rocket League review for our take on the competitive auto-soccer. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt T.M. Kim is a reporter for IGN.

Rocket League is going free-to-play soon and as part of this new initiative, Psyonix is no longer making PlayStation Plus or a Nintendo Switch Online subscription mandatory for online play. In a new community update detailing the upcoming changes coming to Rocket League when it goes free-to-play, Psyonix confirmed that PS4 and Nintendo Switch owners will not need a monthly or yearly subscription to play online. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2018/08/31/rocket-league-rocket-pass-trailer"] This exemption does not appear to extend to Xbox Live Gold, meaning Xbox One players will still need a subscription to the console’s digital services to play Rocket League online. Psyonix announced the move to free-to-play earlier this year. As the developer readies Rocket League to make that transition, there will be additional changes to how online content will work. For example, Rocket League seasons will be more streamlined and the Rocket Pass, Competitive Seasons, and upcoming Tournaments will all share the same schedule. That means when the Competitive Season ends, so will the Rocket Pass and Tournaments mode. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2018/08/31/rocket-league-rocket-pass-trailer"] There will also be a new, highest competitive rank called Supersonic Legend. The current highest rank, Grand Champion, will be split into three Ranks, just like the others, and players will likely find that their Rank will drift upwards when the new season begins because of the influx of new players joining at the start of free-to-play. No word yet on when Rocket League will officially go free-to-play other than it is happening “soon.” Check out IGN’s Rocket League review for our take on the competitive auto-soccer. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt T.M. Kim is a reporter for IGN.

BEYOND! On this week's episode of Podcast Beyond!, host Jonathon Dornbush is joined by Max Scoville and Janet Garcia to catch up on all the big gaming news of the last couple weeks, including Sony's plans to acquire more studios and have more frequent exclusives going into the PS5. Plus, Astro Bot and Crash stop by to derail the show. Watch the new episode below. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/09/02/sonys-ps5-plans-more-frequent-exclusives-beyond-episode-664"] [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=every-playstation-exclusive-from-sonys-ps5-event&captions=true"]

• Direct Download

• YouTube

•  Apple Podcasts/iTunes

• Spotify

• Stitcher

• PlayerFM

• Podbay

• TuneIn

• Podbean

• Feedburner

Podcast Beyond! is live every Wednesday. For more on PS5, check out the PS5 full specs list, why we're excited about PS5's 3D audio focus, and an analysis of what teraflops really mean for the PS5 and Xbox Series X. [poilib element="poll" parameters="id=69b78282-68da-4fe6-a96e-c96b5f31d8c5"] [poilib element="accentDivider"] Jonathon Dornbush is IGN's Senior News Editor, host of Podcast Beyond!, and PlayStation lead. Talk to him on Twitter @jmdornbush.

BEYOND! On this week's episode of Podcast Beyond!, host Jonathon Dornbush is joined by Max Scoville and Janet Garcia to catch up on all the big gaming news of the last couple weeks, including Sony's plans to acquire more studios and have more frequent exclusives going into the PS5. Plus, Astro Bot and Crash stop by to derail the show. Watch the new episode below. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/09/02/sonys-ps5-plans-more-frequent-exclusives-beyond-episode-664"] [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=every-playstation-exclusive-from-sonys-ps5-event&captions=true"]

• Direct Download

• YouTube

•  Apple Podcasts/iTunes

• Spotify

• Stitcher

• PlayerFM

• Podbay

• TuneIn

• Podbean

• Feedburner

Podcast Beyond! is live every Wednesday. For more on PS5, check out the PS5 full specs list, why we're excited about PS5's 3D audio focus, and an analysis of what teraflops really mean for the PS5 and Xbox Series X. [poilib element="poll" parameters="id=69b78282-68da-4fe6-a96e-c96b5f31d8c5"] [poilib element="accentDivider"] Jonathon Dornbush is IGN's Senior News Editor, host of Podcast Beyond!, and PlayStation lead. Talk to him on Twitter @jmdornbush.

What happens when you combine the cutest hero in the Marvel Universe with one of Spider-Man's worst enemies? You get the Venomized Baby Groot figure from Hot Toys, of course. Hot Toys has just revealed the newest addition to its ever-growing lineup of Marvel figures, and it's safe to say this is one of their most unusual releases ever. Inspired by the animated series Spider-Man: Maximum Venom, this life-size figure depicts Groot bonding with the Venom symbiote and becoming a fearsome yet still adorable little monster. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=this-venomized-baby-groot-figure-is-adorably-deadly&captions=true"] Venomized Baby Groot measures in at 25 cm (or about 9.8 inches) tall and includes several interchangeable pieces allowing collectors to switch between a fully Venomized Groot or a half-and-half approach. The figure also includes a trio of Venus fly trap accessories and a dynamic display base. Venomized Baby Groot isn't available for pre-order just yet, but it's slated for release in late 2021 or early 2022. Hot Toys has plenty other Spider-Man figures in the pipeline over the next couple years, inspired by both the PS4 game and the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Several of those figures were on display at SideshowCon in July. It remains to be seen if the company will announce other Venomized Marvel figures to accompany Baby Groot. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2015/07/24/unboxing-rocket-and-groot-figures-from-hot-toys"] In other big Hot Toys news, the company is finally releasing an Ahsoka Tano figure as part of its new Star Wars: The Clone Wars line. Not to be outdone, Hasbro is releasing its own Clone Wars-inspired Ahsoka figure as part of a Walmart-exclusive wave of Star Wars: The Black Series figures. [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.

What happens when you combine the cutest hero in the Marvel Universe with one of Spider-Man's worst enemies? You get the Venomized Baby Groot figure from Hot Toys, of course. Hot Toys has just revealed the newest addition to its ever-growing lineup of Marvel figures, and it's safe to say this is one of their most unusual releases ever. Inspired by the animated series Spider-Man: Maximum Venom, this life-size figure depicts Groot bonding with the Venom symbiote and becoming a fearsome yet still adorable little monster. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=this-venomized-baby-groot-figure-is-adorably-deadly&captions=true"] Venomized Baby Groot measures in at 25 cm (or about 9.8 inches) tall and includes several interchangeable pieces allowing collectors to switch between a fully Venomized Groot or a half-and-half approach. The figure also includes a trio of Venus fly trap accessories and a dynamic display base. Venomized Baby Groot isn't available for pre-order just yet, but it's slated for release in late 2021 or early 2022. Hot Toys has plenty other Spider-Man figures in the pipeline over the next couple years, inspired by both the PS4 game and the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Several of those figures were on display at SideshowCon in July. It remains to be seen if the company will announce other Venomized Marvel figures to accompany Baby Groot. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2015/07/24/unboxing-rocket-and-groot-figures-from-hot-toys"] In other big Hot Toys news, the company is finally releasing an Ahsoka Tano figure as part of its new Star Wars: The Clone Wars line. Not to be outdone, Hasbro is releasing its own Clone Wars-inspired Ahsoka figure as part of a Walmart-exclusive wave of Star Wars: The Black Series figures. [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.

With most theaters still closed and movies delayed due to Covid-19, there is a growing list of films that have opted for digital release. The live-action adaptation of Mulan is joining that list, and it will soon be available to stream on Disney Plus starting on September 4. However, Disney Plus subscribers won’t automatically get access to Mulan at launch, and this detail along with some other fine print has added a bit of confusion around its premiere. Here’s everything you need to know to watch Disney’s Mulan, including where you can watch it and when it will be available for free. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/mulan-loyal-brave-and-true-clip"]

Where Can I Watch Mulan 2020?

Currently, the only place you can stream Mulan is on Disney Plus. However, it will also be available for purchase on select platforms such as Google Play, the Apple App Store, and Roku. Other platforms have not yet been confirmed. Regardless of where you choose to watch Mulan, the price of entry will be $29.99/£19.99/$34.99 (AUD) in addition to $6.99/£5.99/$8.99 (AUD) — or the cost of a monthly Disney Plus subscription. The Disney Plus site states that as long as you have a Disney Plus subscription, you will continue to have access to Mulan and can watch it as many times as you like. Disney Plus is supported in several regions across the world, including Canada, the UK, Australia, New Zealand, India, and Japan (among many others). Some regions that don’t support Disney Plus, like China, will be getting a theatrical release. Here’s the list of places you can watch Mulan (links will be added once the pages are live):

• Disney Plus
• Google Play Films
• Apple App Store
• Roku

[widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=disneys-mulan-official-photos-from-the-live-action-remake&captions=true"]

What is Premiere Access on Disney Plus?

Premiere Access is essentially a one-time payment on top of the Disney Plus subscription to get access to Mulan.

When Can I Watch Mulan For Free?

If you don’t wish to spend more money on top of a subscription, Mulan will be available to all Disney Plus subscribers starting on December 4. For those without Disney Plus, it's technically not free since you still need to have a subscription to watch it, and unfortunately, a free trial offered directly from Disney Plus is currently not available. There are money-saving alternatives to consider, like Verizon's offer that includes 1 year of Disney Plus free with an unlimited data plan or the Hulu/Disney Plus/ESPN bundle for $12.99 (both in the US). You can also get six months free of Disney Plus when signing up with O2 in the UK, but all of these options still require you to spend money. Disney Plus also supports four different devices under each account (and they can all stream at the same time), so if you have a family member or good friend who is willing to share, that's an option too. [poilib element="accentDivider"]

Ultrabooks and mainstream laptops are about to get way more powerful now that Intel is introducing its 11th Generation Tiger Lake processors. The headlining feature of these chips is the new integrated Iris Xe Graphics. They're designed specifically to challenge the Vega graphics on AMD's Ryzen 4 mobile processors. To demonstrate this Intel showed how an (unnamed) Intel 11th Gen processor was able to run Gears Tactics and Grid at almost twice the frame rate as AMD's 4800U processor. [caption id="attachment_2402244" align="aligncenter" width="720"] Intel vs AMD running Gears Tactics[/caption] Intel 11th Generation processors are built on a 10nm architecture like the company's previous Ice Lake CPUs, but Team Blue has also introduced a new SuperFin design that promises to deliver higher speeds at lower power levels. On the flipside, Intel said some of its new processors will reach up to 4.0GHz boost clocks, which is impressive for the thin and light class laptops. Overall Intel is promising a 20% improvement in CPU performance and two times the graphical performance. Aside from the boost in processing and graphical power, Intel's Tiger Lake processors also add support for Thunderbolt 4 and Wi-Fi 6 connectivity, and PCIe Gen 4 support for SSDs. Intel also rebranded its Project Athena certification to a new Evo branding. Every laptop with this Evo badge promises to deliver more than nine hours of real-life usage, Wi-Fi 6 and Thunderbolt 4 connectivity, and generally a high-quality experience overall. Intel's 11th Generation processors are already being integrated into a variety of laptops that will be releasing this fall. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=intel-11th-generation-laptops&captions=true"] [poilib element="accentDivider"] Have a tip for us? Want to discuss a possible story? Please send an email to newstips@ign.com Kevin Lee is IGN's Hardware and Roundups Editor. Follow him on Twitter @baggingspam

Ultrabooks and mainstream laptops are about to get way more powerful now that Intel is introducing its 11th Generation Tiger Lake processors. The headlining feature of these chips is the new integrated Iris Xe Graphics. They're designed specifically to challenge the Vega graphics on AMD's Ryzen 4 mobile processors. To demonstrate this Intel showed how an (unnamed) Intel 11th Gen processor was able to run Gears Tactics and Grid at almost twice the frame rate as AMD's 4800U processor. [caption id="attachment_2402244" align="aligncenter" width="720"] Intel vs AMD running Gears Tactics[/caption] Intel 11th Generation processors are built on a 10nm architecture like the company's previous Ice Lake CPUs, but Team Blue has also introduced a new SuperFin design that promises to deliver higher speeds at lower power levels. On the flipside, Intel said some of its new processors will reach up to 4.0GHz boost clocks, which is impressive for the thin and light class laptops. Overall Intel is promising a 20% improvement in CPU performance and two times the graphical performance. Aside from the boost in processing and graphical power, Intel's Tiger Lake processors also add support for Thunderbolt 4 and Wi-Fi 6 connectivity, and PCIe Gen 4 support for SSDs. Intel also rebranded its Project Athena certification to a new Evo branding. Every laptop with this Evo badge promises to deliver more than nine hours of real-life usage, Wi-Fi 6 and Thunderbolt 4 connectivity, and generally a high-quality experience overall. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=intel-11th-generation-laptops&captions=true"] Intel's 11th Generation processors are already being integrated into a variety of laptops that will be releasing this fall. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Have a tip for us? Want to discuss a possible story? Please send an email to newstips@ign.com Kevin Lee is IGN's Hardware and Roundups Editor. Follow him on Twitter @baggingspam