Ghost of Tsushima’s open-world island offers an expansive, varied landscape, from its wintery north to the Golden Forest to seaside cliffs and more. Balancing forests and more open fields became a key component of Ghost of Tsushima’s design, but the world didn’t always start out that way. Speaking to IGN on an episode of our PlayStation show, Podcast Beyond! Creative Director and Art Director Jason Connell explained how, during its development, Ghost’s titular island featured a lot more forestation. Watch the Podcast Beyond! episode below. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/07/24/ghost-of-tsushima-creative-director-interview-podcast-beyond-episode-658"] “When we had the game built for the first, maybe, two years, it was a lot of forests,” Connell said. “It was a ton of trees and...you always felt like you were in this claustrophobic tunnel. [It was] beautiful, but really deep, forestation, which does a couple of things. “It is very cool, but it makes it hard to know where you are without a compass or a mini map, something giving you that extra information your brain is really needing. What we did was we started opening up fields, and I definitely pulled some Shadow of the Colossus photos out, and [said], 'Fields!' as reference because it just feels so spic when you're going through a massive field.” [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=ghost-of-tsushima-photo-mode-greatest-shots-by-ign-staff&captions=true"] And Ghost of Tsushima’s world strives to have that balance, with some more dense areas, closed off by trees, bamboo thickets, and other vegetation, as well as open fields, which Connell explained played to one of the core design philosophies behind Ghost of Tsushima. “Our content director, Jeff, talks a lot about content density and what is the correct density, Connell said, explaining that it’s the idea of “Thinking about if you were currently doing something, you're going across the world and you run into something, how much further would you have to ride your horse before you might find the next thing? Or, can you see the next thing from where you currently are? How dense is it? “And I really enjoyed that conversation because it let us think about what's the right philosophy for our game. If we want to stand in one place, you just completed something, you should be able to, generally speaking, look around and find one more thing on the horizon, or see the shrine you on top of the mountain.” [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/07/14/ghost-of-tsushima-review"] For more on Sony's latest PS4 exclusive, check out our Ghost of Tsushima review, read about Ghost of Tsushima's launch sales success, and if you're playing be sure to keep track of your progress using our interactive Ghost of Tsushima map. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Jonathon Dornbush is IGN's Senior News Editor, host of Podcast Beyond!, and will judge you if you don't pet the fox in Ghost of Tsushima. Talk to him on Twitter @jmdornbush.

Adventure Time could continue to grow on HBO Max, depending on the success of the Adventure Time: Distant Lands specials. Speaking to IGN during Comic-Con@Home, executive producer Adam Muto was asked what's next, if anything, after the Distant Lands specials have all been released. "It's kind of been opened up by being on HBO Max," he explained, "just because it's a venue that has different concerns than linear series. So there is a possibility that, if these [specials] go well enough, that they might expand it." Watch the Adventure Time: Distant Lands panel below: [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/07/24/adventure-time-distant-lands-official-panel-comic-con-2020"] The Distant Lands specials are four hour-long episodes set in the Adventure Time universe, each following different characters from the original show. They mark the first new Adventure Time shows since the series ended in 2018 with a near-perfect finale. Muto was careful to say that the creation of further Adventure Time shows will be based on more than simply HBO Max wanting more, however: "I think it just depends on a lot of things, like how well these do, and whether there's enough ideas before it feels like we're diminishing returns. Because that's something we're always worried about; you can come back a little too often, and then that was the one time that you should haven't have come back. So you're trying to find the right spot to just say, 'That's good, right there.'" The next Distant Lands special will be Obsidian - centered on Marceline and Princess Bubblegum - followed by Wizard School and Together Again. IGN has an exclusive look at the first official poster for Obsidian, along with information about Glassboy, the new character who will cross paths with Marceline and Princess Bubblegum to kickstart their next adventure. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2018/08/31/how-adventure-time-inspired-a-new-generation-of-animators-writers-and-creators"] [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.

IGN is pleased to exclusively reveal the poster art for the next installment of Adventure Time: Distant Lands. The upcoming second hour-long special, titled Obsidian, features Princess Bubblegum and Marceline the Vampire Queen, both of whom can be seen in the art below. Adventure Time: Distant Lands - Obsidian will see Princess Bubblegum and Marceline head out on a mission to the Glass Kingdom to prevent a catastrophe. There they’ll meet Glassboy, who will be voiced by Michaela Dietz (perhaps best known as Steven Universe’s Amethyst), who moderated the show's Comic-Con@Home panel, which was featured as part of IGN's Comic-Con@Home livestream. The panel only reveals a few key details about Glassboy, who is a new character for Obsidian, but we can exclusively reveal the official character description: "Glassboy is a young bookworm living in the pristine Glass Kingdom. Taunted by his fellow Glass People for the sizable crack in his head, he seeks a remedy to his condition and ends up accidentally waking an ancient enemy. To save the day, Glassboy seeks out the hero who once defeated the monster, the legendary Marceline the Vampire Queen." In the panel, executive Producer Adam Muto describes Glassboy as being like Adventure Time’s protagonist Finn, but “amped up.” Dietz notes that during recording sessions, she was told to increase the amount of “fanboy” energy in her delivery. Glassboy is somewhat of an analogue for Finn in this adventure, and is the instigator for Bubblegum and Marceline’s journey. Watch the Adventure Time: Distant Lands panel below: [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/07/24/adventure-time-distant-lands-official-panel-comic-con-2020"] Adventure Time: Distant Lands is a four-part series of hour-long specials on HBO Max. The first episode, BMO, aired in June, and Obsidian is due to release sometime this year. The final two episodes will focus on Peppermint Butler and Finn and Jake. For more of our animated favorites, check out our rankings of the 25 best adult cartoon TV shows and check out our Comic-Con 2020 panel schedule. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt Purslow is IGN's UK News and Entertainment Writer. 

Following rumors that Halo Infinite's multiplayer would not be ready by its launch in Holiday 2020, 343 Industries has spoken up and said that is not true. Brian Jarrard, Halo's community director at 343 Industries, took to Twitter to clear up any confusion that Halo Infinite's multiplayer was delayed, saying "nothing to see here folks, this is not true." This rumor followed the gameplay reveal of Halo Infinite's campaign during the Xbox Games Showcase. 343 did not show any multiplayer and said that reveal would be coming at a later date, which is when the rumors began. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/07/23/halo-infinite-9-minutes-of-campaign-gameplay"] Halo Infinite's reveal gave fans of the series that began in 2001 a look at the future of Halo and Master Chief, showcasing the games open world that will encourage exploration. Halo Infinite, according to studio head Chris Lee and associate creative director Paul Crocker, will also be a great starting point for new fans. While Halo lore knowledge will be rewarded, this new entry ditches the numbering scheme and is more of a "spiritual reboot." Furthermore, Halo Infinite is meant to be the start of a "platform for the future" for Halo games. This means there most likely won't be a Halo Infinite 2/Halo 7 of sorts for quite some time, and that Halo Infinite is "the start of the next ten years for Halo." That doesn't mean it will be a live service game, but there will be new story experiences told through this new game. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=halo-infinite-xbox-games-showcase-gameplay-reveal-screenshots&captions=true"] For more on Halo Infinite, be sure to check out more details on its story and villain, how the most recent demo was a work-in-progress build running on a PC as powerful as the Xbox Series X, and how Halo Infinite's planned public beta testing may not end up happening. [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 who really hopes 343 brings back the Hunt The Truth podcast for Halo Infinite. You can follow him on Twitter @AdamBankhurst and on Twitch.

Snowcastle Games has announced Earthlock 2, an open-world RPG sequel to the cult-classic turn-based RPG original. It will be released on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, PC, PS4, and Xbox One in 2022. If you're not familiar with the original Earthlock, Snowcastle CEO and co-founder Bendik Stang says that "Earthlock 2 takes place in the same world, but will be a completely different experience compared to the first Earthlock, which was a turn-based RPG. Earthlock 2 will have real time combat, and without revealing too much, fans and newcomers alike can expect a dynamic and unique experience providing the player with meaningful choices that will allow them to leave their mark on the world. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/07/24/earthlock-2-reveal-trailer-ps5-xbox-series-x-pc-ps4-xbox-one"] "For those who haven't seen Earthlock before, the game takes place on the planet Umbra which has stopped spinning. This means half of the world is perpetually scorched in sunlight, while the other half is completely shrouded in darkness. Along the center where the two zones meet, is another area that gets the best of both worlds." Earthlock 2 will use Unreal Engine, which is new to the series. "We were using Unity for Earthlock 1, and for the team it was a massive decision to leave the eight years invested in that engine behind," Stang explained. "It took the team quite some time to get up to speed with the new engine but no one on the team now regrets that decision." Furthermore, he said, "Earthlock 2 is a much more ambitious project than Earthlock 1, and we want to make use of the next generation consoles as best we can." [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=earthlock-2-announcement-screenshots&captions=true"] Check out the announcement trailer above, and for more on Earthlock 2 in the coming months, stay tuned to IGN. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Ryan McCaffrey is IGN’s Executive Editor of Previews. Follow him on Twitter at @DMC_Ryan, catch him on Unlocked, and drop-ship him Taylor Ham sandwiches from New Jersey whenever possible.

G4, the video games-focused TV network, has teased a possible return in some form in 2021.

A teaser video that debuted during Comic-Con@Home on IGN Live alluded to the network’s return. The teaser included a number of references to the running jokes from the network’s shows, including the Golden Mullet Award, Sessler’s Soapbox and Rot Gut. It ends on a game of Pong (the game played at both the beginning and end of the network’s lifespan), before being interrupted by the appearance of the G4 logo, the date 2021, and a tagline, “We never stopped playing”.

[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/07/24/g4-2021-return-teaser"]

What that actually means isn’t fully clear at this point. The original G4 network ceased broadcasting in 2014 - it could be that the network itself will return, it could be an online channel, or it may be taking a different form altogether.

The G4TV Twitter account has seemingly reactivated, simply to post the trailer. Ex-host Adam Sessler has called it a "curious turn of events," while former X-Play host Morgan Webb joked "I'm just impressed someone remembered the password to the twitter."

Attack of the Show host Olivia Munn referenced her time on the show in response to the tease, as did fellow AotS host Kevin Pereira, who wrote:

int main() {

    // WTFBBQOMGGKTHXBYE

    printf("Hello, World!"); 

    return 2021;

}

Other former hosts like Alison Haislip also commented on the return, saying "(Also, there are legitimate tears in my eyes hearing those 3 notes right at the end...)," which Tiffany Smith responded in solidarity with to the teaser, while Jessica Chobot teased "WHAT DOES IT MEAN!?

G4 opened in 2002, and went on to broadcast shows such as X-Play, G4tv.com, and Attack of the Show! The network helped launch the careers of Geoff Keighley, Olivia Munn and other notable figures in gaming coverage.

Check out our full Comic-Con 2020 panel schedule for all the panels, interviews, and previews you can expect during IGN's Comic-Con@Home livestream.

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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.

Key members of the develoment team behind cult classic RPG series Suikoden have announced a Kickstarter for a spiritual successor, Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes. Eiyuden Chronicle will take the form of a JRPG with a 2.5D visual style, 100 heroes to recruit (all rendered in pixel-art form), and a 'fortress building system' underpinning the story. As you might expect, it's drawing heavily on the style that won Suikoden its fans in the first place, but with a few modern twists. Battles will be turn-based with parties of six characters, and boss battles will see the camera angle shift based on the environment - which you can see in a short teaser below: [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/07/24/eiyuden-chronicle-hundred-heroes-gameplay-teaser"] Eiyuden Chronicle's story will be written by Suikoden 1 and 2 writer Yoshitaka Murayama, with character design, system design, and direction all handled by other ex-Suikoden team members. Developers from the likes of Castlevania, Wild Arms and Tales series are also part of the team. The collective of developers have joined under a new studio banner, Rabbit & Bear. The Kickstarter begins on July 27, and runs until August 28, and is looking for $500,000 USD in funding for a PC release, with a stretch goal for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and Switch versions. Ahead of the Kickstarter, the Eiyuden Chronicle website has character profiles and more information. You can check out early screenshots and illustrations below: [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=eiyuden-chronicle-hundred-heroes-16-images&captions=true"] If you're not familiar with Suikoden, it might be worth checking out our article on why Suikoden 2 is the best game you've never played. [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.

Captain Marvel's Brie Larson has once again confirmed that she would love to play the bounty hunter Samus Aran in a Metroid movie. Brie Larson appeared on Gary Whitta's Animal Talking talk show, and his producer Adam Nickerson asked Larson why he's hearing so much "Brie-Samus talk?" Whitta chimed in and said "They all want you to play Samus, Brie. They all want you to be in a Metroid movie." Larson took the question in stride and discussed how much she would love the opportunity to play the iconic Nintendo character.

“I would love that so much," Larson said. "So, I was Samus for Halloween two years ago… It was literally a $20 costume I bought off of Amazon, it was like nothing. I was so excited about it, and so I posted a picture of it on Instagram of me and the costume and it turned into this thing of people being like “woah!” She was always my character that I played in Super Smash Bros. and I just loved her. So that whole thing started and I’ve definitely not put a squash to that story and I definitely want to make that movie, I definitely want to participate in that. So, Nintendo, once again, I would love to do it!"

[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/01/23/captain-marvel-2-finds-screenwriter-from-wandavision-series"] This whole Brie Larson-Samus Aran talk began, as she mentioned above, when she dressed up as Zero Suit Samus for Halloween in 2018. Back then, she responded to a tweet that asked if this image was the closest we would get to actually seeing a Metroid movie with her in it, saying "I hope not. I want to make that movie." There was once more hope for a Metroid movie, as John Woo was attached to direct a film based on the Nintendo property back in 2004. IGN spoke to a former producer of this potential film back in 2012, and they discussed what happened to the project that never made it to theaters. While we may not be getting a Metroid movie quite yet, Larson will be returning as Captain Marvel in the sequel that is set to be released in theaters in 2022. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=marvel-phases-1-3-the-mcus-infinity-saga-ranked&captions=true"] Additionally, we are still waiting on more news for Metroid Prime 4 for Nintendo Switch, which restarted its development in early 2019. [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.

Taika Waititi is almost finished with his Thor: Love and Thunder script. Waititi recently sat down with BBC News for a virtual interview where he and BBC's Alex Stanger spoke on a number of topics, including the next Thor movie. The director couldn't reveal much, but he did tell Stanger that he's almost finished with the script, and he gave insight into the direction the story will take. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=thor-love-and-thunder-6-characters-christian-bale-could-play&captions=true"] "I think it's going really good," he said when asked about Love and Thunder's writing process. "We've been writing the script off and on for over a year and...actually, this week, doing another pass on it." Waititi continued and said the script is, "so insane" and "also very romantic." He said he's very into romances now and just wants to make a romance movie. Considering it's an MCU movie, Love and Thunder will likely feature plenty of action alongside the romance Waititi is referring to. As for why the injection of romance into the script, he said he's never made a romance and wants to tackle that. "I want to make something that I've never done or never cared for," Waititi said, referring to a romance narrative. "I would like to attack something like that." [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/07/26/thor-love-and-thunder-jane-foster-as-thor-explained"] That's all the director could say about the movie, but just before dropping these details he briefly touched on Star Wars. It was announced a couple of months ago that Waititi is making a Star Wars movie and all he could say about it during the BBC interview was "we're writing." Thor: Love and Thunder was originally slated for 2021 but has since been bumped back a number of times. It now has a release date of Feb. 11, 2022. If you're clamoring for more Love and Thunder, read our breakdown of the hints Waititi has dropped about the movie so far and then read about Christian Bale's role in the movie. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Wesley LeBlanc is a freelance news writer and guide maker for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @LeBlancWes. 

Red Dead Online is set to receive a “massive” update next week that adds a new Frontier Pursuit as well as “tons” of community-requested features. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/09/05/red-dead-online-frontier-pursuits-trailer"] The update will land on Tuesday, July 28. The Frontier Pursuit has yet to be detailed, but Rockstar promises that it’s an all-new role focused on naturalism. In addition, the update adds a new Outlaw Pass, a variety of community requested features and fixes, as well as a vague promise of more to discover in the months to come. The update comes in the wake of in-game protests by players upset by the lack of updates for Red Dead Online. Earlier this week players gathered en-mass dressed as clowns to signal their disappointment in the amount of content support for the game offered by Rockstar. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=every-ign-rockstar-game-review-ever&captions=true"] As well as Red Dead Online, Rockstar is promising a summer update for GTA Online, too, as well as the game’s largest ever update coming later in the year that will take Heists to a new location. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt Purslow is IGN's UK News and Entertainment Writer.