Yearly Archives: 2020

Halo Fans Think Mega Bloks Toys May Have Spoiled a Halo Infinite Plot Point

A series of Halo Infinite Mega Bloks toys have surfaced, with some fans alleging that the designs may have spoiled one of the upcoming game's plot points. Potential spoilers ahead for Halo Infinite! [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/06/24/halo-infinite-teaser-trailer"] As spotted by user Kittyrules808 on Reddit, one of the images found on the Mega Construx Halo webpage (which, at time of publish, is down for maintenance) shows an enemy from the game with a peculiar helmet on their pauldron: r4oojmbvw9851 The brute-looking character seen above (who could be part of Infinite's recently confirmed antagonist legion, The Banished) seemingly has Jameson Locke's helmet attached to his shoulder there. Locke was a new protagonist in Halo 5: Guardians who was believed to be very much alive before this image surfaced. Eurogamer managed to snap up some of the images before the Mega Bloks site was taken down, and noticed that this brute's name is apparently Hyperious. Other details revealed include a new vehicle called a Skiff and a gigantic Pelican playset, featuring John 117 and The Pilot who brings him back online, who you may remember from the game's E3 trailer last year. It's food for thought for those of you champing at the bit for more Halo news. We'll hear more about Infinite during Microsoft's upcoming July Xbox Series X showcase, where it has been confirmed to appear. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Jordan Oloman is a freelance writer for IGN. Follow him on Twitter.

Halo Fans Think Mega Bloks Toys May Have Spoiled a Halo Infinite Plot Point

A series of Halo Infinite Mega Bloks toys have surfaced, with some fans alleging that the designs may have spoiled one of the upcoming game's plot points. Potential spoilers ahead for Halo Infinite! [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/06/24/halo-infinite-teaser-trailer"] As spotted by user Kittyrules808 on Reddit, one of the images found on the Mega Construx Halo webpage (which, at time of publish, is down for maintenance) shows an enemy from the game with a peculiar helmet on their pauldron: r4oojmbvw9851 The brute-looking character seen above (who could be part of Infinite's recently confirmed antagonist legion, The Banished) seemingly has Jameson Locke's helmet attached to his shoulder there. Locke was a new protagonist in Halo 5: Guardians who was believed to be very much alive before this image surfaced. Eurogamer managed to snap up some of the images before the Mega Bloks site was taken down, and noticed that this brute's name is apparently Hyperious. Other details revealed include a new vehicle called a Skiff and a gigantic Pelican playset, featuring John 117 and The Pilot who brings him back online, who you may remember from the game's E3 trailer last year. It's food for thought for those of you champing at the bit for more Halo news. We'll hear more about Infinite during Microsoft's upcoming July Xbox Series X showcase, where it has been confirmed to appear. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Jordan Oloman is a freelance writer for IGN. Follow him on Twitter.

HBO’s Lovecraft Country: Release Date and Poster Revealed

The premiere date of HBO's Lovecraft Country has been revealed in a creepy new poster for the upcoming supernatural horror series from executive producers Misha Green, Jordan Peele, and J.J. Abrams. HBO has announced that Lovecraft Country will debut on its premium cable network on Sunday, August 16. The series premiere will also be available to stream on HBO Max shortly after airing, with all subsequent episodes in the show's ten-episode run being added to the platform each week. [caption id="attachment_2375056" align="alignnone" width="810"]Image credit: HBO Image credit: HBO[/caption] A poster for Lovecraft Country was unveiled on HBO's Twitter account for the highly anticipated series, which is based on Matt Ruff's bestselling novel of the same name. The grainy one-sheet depicts a lone car on a desolate road that has some rogue tentacles ominously reaching out onto the driver's path. "Be careful what you search for," warns the tagline printed above the chilling image. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/06/05/hbos-lovecraft-country-teaser-trailer"] The subversive horror-drama follows Atticus Freeman (Jonathan Majors) as he joins up with his friend Letitia (Jurnee Smollett) and his Uncle George (Courtney B. Vance) to embark on a road trip across 1950s Jim Crow America in search of his missing father Montrose (Michael Kenneth Williams). Their search-and-rescue turns into a struggle to survive and overcome both the racist terrors of white America and the monstrous creatures that could be ripped from an H.P. Lovecraft paperback. Bill Carraro, Yann Demange, Daniel Sackheim, and David Knoller serve as additional executive producers on the series, which stars an ensemble cast of Jurnee Smollett, Jonathan Majors, Aunjanue Ellis; Abbey Lee, Jada Harris, Wunmi Mosaku, and Michael Kenneth Williams. Recurring guests include Courtney B. Vance, Jamie Chung, Jamie Neumann, Jordan Patrick Smith, and Tony Goldwyn. Lovecraft Country debuts on HBO and HBO Max on August 16, 2020. For more on WarnerMedia's streaming service, read our review roundup of the best and worst HBO Max originals. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Adele Ankers is a Freelance Entertainment Journalist. You can reach her on Twitter.

HBO’s Lovecraft Country: Release Date and Poster Revealed

The premiere date of HBO's Lovecraft Country has been revealed in a creepy new poster for the upcoming supernatural horror series from executive producers Misha Green, Jordan Peele, and J.J. Abrams. HBO has announced that Lovecraft Country will debut on its premium cable network on Sunday, August 16. The series premiere will also be available to stream on HBO Max shortly after airing, with all subsequent episodes in the show's ten-episode run being added to the platform each week. [caption id="attachment_2375056" align="alignnone" width="810"]Image credit: HBO Image credit: HBO[/caption] A poster for Lovecraft Country was unveiled on HBO's Twitter account for the highly anticipated series, which is based on Matt Ruff's bestselling novel of the same name. The grainy one-sheet depicts a lone car on a desolate road that has some rogue tentacles ominously reaching out onto the driver's path. "Be careful what you search for," warns the tagline printed above the chilling image. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/06/05/hbos-lovecraft-country-teaser-trailer"] The subversive horror-drama follows Atticus Freeman (Jonathan Majors) as he joins up with his friend Letitia (Jurnee Smollett) and his Uncle George (Courtney B. Vance) to embark on a road trip across 1950s Jim Crow America in search of his missing father Montrose (Michael Kenneth Williams). Their search-and-rescue turns into a struggle to survive and overcome both the racist terrors of white America and the monstrous creatures that could be ripped from an H.P. Lovecraft paperback. Bill Carraro, Yann Demange, Daniel Sackheim, and David Knoller serve as additional executive producers on the series, which stars an ensemble cast of Jurnee Smollett, Jonathan Majors, Aunjanue Ellis; Abbey Lee, Jada Harris, Wunmi Mosaku, and Michael Kenneth Williams. Recurring guests include Courtney B. Vance, Jamie Chung, Jamie Neumann, Jordan Patrick Smith, and Tony Goldwyn. Lovecraft Country debuts on HBO and HBO Max on August 16, 2020. For more on WarnerMedia's streaming service, read our review roundup of the best and worst HBO Max originals. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Adele Ankers is a Freelance Entertainment Journalist. You can reach her on Twitter.

Microsoft Renews Fable Trademark Amid Sequel Rumours

Microsoft has applied to renew its Fable trademark as rumours of a sequel to Lionhead's RPG franchise continue to swirl. You can check out the trademark application here, which was filed on June 26. It's standard practice for businesses to renew trademarks for IPs that they own, but within the current context, it's an interesting move – especially when you notice the Intent to Use tag, which is marked as 'Yes', despite the Current Use tag being marked as 'No', suggesting that Microsoft has future plans for the franchise. The Fable rumour mill has been spinning for years at this point, and there's plenty of information to dig in to. Earlier this week, Microsoft downplayed the significance of a placeholder Fable Twitter account, despite it seemingly having been registered in March of this year by a user with a Microsoft email address. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2018/01/22/fable-creator-peter-molyneux-on-what-he-wants-from-a-new-fable-game"] Back in November 2017, we reported that Playground Games was hiring talent for a new game, listed as an "open world action-RPG." In fact, the developer opened an entirely new studio earlier that year to create Project 2, a game that will not feature any racing, distancing it from the Forza series the developer is known for. Then, in 2018, Playground Games Creative Director Ralph Fulton told Daily Star Online that the Xbox One X will be the "lead platform" for the studio's next game, just days after a Eurogamer report surfaced, suggesting that a new Fable game was in development at Playground. If you're interested in what Fable creator Peter Molyneux is looking for in a new entry from the franchise, check out our interview from early 2018. Phew, OK, we're all caught up on the rumours. All eyes are now on Microsoft's July first-party event for Xbox Series X - so watch this space for more Fable news, we'll be sure to keep you posted. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Jordan Oloman is a freelance writer for IGN who wants to see proper morphing Hero Weapons. Follow him on Twitter.

Microsoft Renews Fable Trademark Amid Sequel Rumours

Microsoft has applied to renew its Fable trademark as rumours of a sequel to Lionhead's RPG franchise continue to swirl. You can check out the trademark application here, which was filed on June 26. It's standard practice for businesses to renew trademarks for IPs that they own, but within the current context, it's an interesting move – especially when you notice the Intent to Use tag, which is marked as 'Yes', despite the Current Use tag being marked as 'No', suggesting that Microsoft has future plans for the franchise. The Fable rumour mill has been spinning for years at this point, and there's plenty of information to dig in to. Earlier this week, Microsoft downplayed the significance of a placeholder Fable Twitter account, despite it seemingly having been registered in March of this year by a user with a Microsoft email address. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2018/01/22/fable-creator-peter-molyneux-on-what-he-wants-from-a-new-fable-game"] Back in November 2017, we reported that Playground Games was hiring talent for a new game, listed as an "open world action-RPG." In fact, the developer opened an entirely new studio earlier that year to create Project 2, a game that will not feature any racing, distancing it from the Forza series the developer is known for. Then, in 2018, Playground Games Creative Director Ralph Fulton told Daily Star Online that the Xbox One X will be the "lead platform" for the studio's next game, just days after a Eurogamer report surfaced, suggesting that a new Fable game was in development at Playground. If you're interested in what Fable creator Peter Molyneux is looking for in a new entry from the franchise, check out our interview from early 2018. Phew, OK, we're all caught up on the rumours. All eyes are now on Microsoft's July first-party event for Xbox Series X - so watch this space for more Fable news, we'll be sure to keep you posted. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Jordan Oloman is a freelance writer for IGN who wants to see proper morphing Hero Weapons. Follow him on Twitter.

Breaking Down TLoU 2’s Accessibility Features

On this week's episode of IGN's weekly PlayStation show, Podcast Beyond!, host Jonathon Dornbush is joined by Steve Saylor, along with Lucy O'Brien and Janet Garcia, to discuss The Last of Us Part 2! We break down some of the accessibility features and strides TLoU 2 takes in pushing gaming accessibility forward, as well as thoughts on PlayStation Plus' 10th anniversary and more. Plus, Phil Tibitoski and Kevin Zuhn of developer Young Horses join us to discuss Bugsnax, in case you needed another excuse to have its earworm of a theme song stuff in your head. Phil and Kevin dive into some gameplay and world details, inspirations, and ideal Bugsnax pun names (that have been revealed so far). Download or listen to the show on these platforms: [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=playstation-5-console-dualsense-and-accessories&captions=true"] 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=5e30320c-7b56-4ab8-8333-469a99e933e9"] [poilib element="accentDivider"] Jonathon Dornbush is IGN's Senior News Editor, host of Podcast Beyond!, and PlayStation lead. Talk to him on Twitter @jmdornbush.

Breaking Down TLoU 2’s Accessibility Features

On this week's episode of IGN's weekly PlayStation show, Podcast Beyond!, host Jonathon Dornbush is joined by Steve Saylor, along with Lucy O'Brien and Janet Garcia, to discuss The Last of Us Part 2! We break down some of the accessibility features and strides TLoU 2 takes in pushing gaming accessibility forward, as well as thoughts on PlayStation Plus' 10th anniversary and more. Plus, Phil Tibitoski and Kevin Zuhn of developer Young Horses join us to discuss Bugsnax, in case you needed another excuse to have its earworm of a theme song stuff in your head. Phil and Kevin dive into some gameplay and world details, inspirations, and ideal Bugsnax pun names (that have been revealed so far). Download or listen to the show on these platforms: [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=playstation-5-console-dualsense-and-accessories&captions=true"] 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=5e30320c-7b56-4ab8-8333-469a99e933e9"] [poilib element="accentDivider"] Jonathon Dornbush is IGN's Senior News Editor, host of Podcast Beyond!, and PlayStation lead. Talk to him on Twitter @jmdornbush.

The MCU Aims to Get Back to Work With Shang-Chi

Marvel Studios reportedly aims to restart production at Fox Studios in Australia on Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings by the end of this month. Deadline's Aussie source claims Marvel is taking "careful steps" to return to set. "The cast and crew of Shang-Chi who travel to Australia will be quarantined upon arrival per the country’s guidance," Deadline reports. "Accommodations for those in quarantine are identified by the government." [ignvideo width=610 height=374 url=https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/07/26/marvels-shang-chi-movie-explained] Shang-Chi halted first unit filming in March after director Destin Daniel Cretton self-isolated over concerns he had contracted the coronavirus; his test came back negative. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings was to have opened Feb. 12, 2021 but has now been pushed to May 7, 2021 in a recent overhaul that saw many MCU Phase 4 movies swapping release dates. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=marvel-phase-4-official-lineup&captions=true"] A slew of film and TV projects -- including Jurassic World: Dominion and The Witcher -- hope to resume production soon after shutting down in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but it all depends on local governments. In the US, many states are currently seeing a huge spike in new cases which is slowing Hollywood's plan to resume production. Worldwide, film and TV productions shooting in countries who have flattened the curve or seen fewer increased infections are more likely to move ahead.

Student Arrested for Allegedly Making Bomb Threats to Konami

A 16-year-old suspect has been arrested by Tokyo police for allegedly making a bomb threat to Konami’s Japan headquarters. As reported by Yomiuri (and covered by Kotaku) the high school suspect made multiple threats to bomb Konami’s headquarters between June 16 - 18. The threats were made in the user reviews section for the PES mobile game in an online app store. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=32-pes-2020-screenshots&captions=true"] According to the reports, the suspect allegedly wrote “I’m going to blow up Konami’s headquarters” and “I’m going to kill the people who work at Konami,” in their reviews. Following his arrest, the suspect admitted to making the bomb threats, claiming he was “pissed” at the company over a bug in the PES mobile game that resulted in him losing. Konami is a Japanese video game company best known for franchises like Metal Gear Solid, Pro Evolution Soccer, and Silent Hill. The latter recently had a crossover with the online horror game Dead by Daylight. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt Kim is a reporter for IGN.