EA has announced that it has extended Madden NFL 21's previously announced Dual Entitlement scheme to cover both PlayStation and Xbox machines, up until the release of Madden NFL 22. Buying the game on Xbox One or PS4 will allow you to freely upgrade Madden 21 to its equivalent Xbox Series X or PS5 version when they're released. EA has previously made clear that Madden 21 will "include new features unavailable to the prior generation." This offer will remain ongoing until Madden 22's release next year. EA says that unspecified "offer exceptions apply", and also mankes clear that, currently, physical discs can't be used to gain upgrades on discless consoles - so a PS4 Madden 21 physical copy won't allow you to upgrade on the new PS5 Digital Edition. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=madden-nfl-21-5-new-screenshots&captions=true"] While many Xbox Series X games (including Cyberpunk 2077) will benefit from the similar Xbox Smart Delivery scheme, very few games have made the same commitment for PS4-PS5 upgrades, with Destiny 2 one of the notable exceptions. The game will be released on August 28 for Xbox One, PS4, and PC via Origin and Steam - it will arrive on Google Stadia this winter. No Xbox Series X or PS5 dates have been revealed, although EA says to watch EA Play Live on June 18 for more next-gen news - and you can do that along with us here as part of IGN's Summer of Gaming. Today also saw a new Madden 21 trailer released, and announcements of new modes and mechanics in the game. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/06/16/madden-21-official-reveal-trailer"] [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.

EA has announced that it has extended Madden NFL 21's previously announced Dual Entitlement scheme to cover both PlayStation and Xbox machines, up until the release of Madden NFL 22. Buying the game on Xbox One or PS4 will allow you to freely upgrade Madden 21 to its equivalent Xbox Series X or PS5 version when they're released. EA has previously made clear that Madden 21 will "include new features unavailable to the prior generation." This offer will remain ongoing until Madden 22's release next year. EA says that unspecified "offer exceptions apply", and also mankes clear that, currently, physical discs can't be used to gain upgrades on discless consoles - so a PS4 Madden 21 physical copy won't allow you to upgrade on the new PS5 Digital Edition. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=madden-nfl-21-5-new-screenshots&captions=true"] While many Xbox Series X games (including Cyberpunk 2077) will benefit from the similar Xbox Smart Delivery scheme, very few games have made the same commitment for PS4-PS5 upgrades, with Destiny 2 one of the notable exceptions. The game will be released on August 28 for Xbox One, PS4, and PC via Origin and Steam - it will arrive on Google Stadia this winter. No Xbox Series X or PS5 dates have been revealed, although EA says to watch EA Play Live on June 18 for more next-gen news - and you can do that along with us here as part of IGN's Summer of Gaming. Today also saw a new Madden 21 trailer released, and announcements of new modes and mechanics in the game. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/06/16/madden-21-official-reveal-trailer"] [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.

Netflix's The Umbrella Academy has unveiled an official synopsis and first-look photos for Season 2 of the smash-hit superhero series. The 12 images show the Hargreeves siblings adapting to life in 1960s Dallas after failing to stop the apocalypse in the Season 1 finale. They have met some new faces, including Texan housewife Sissy (Marin Ireland), a divorcee who is eager to rediscover life, Lila (Ritu Arya), "a chameleon" who is as brilliant or as she is insane, and Raymond (Yusuf Gatewood), a natural-born leader and devoted husband who carries himself with confidence. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=umbrella-academy-season-2-12-images&captions=true"] A further image shows a trio of merciless men (Tom Sinclair, Kris Holden-Ried, and Jason Bryden) standing in the shadows, hot on the trail of the time-travelling team. The plot synopsis for the second season reads: "Five warned his family (so, so many times) that using his powers to escape from Vanya's 2019 apocalypse was risky. Well, he was right - the time jump scatters the siblings in time in and around Dallas, Texas. Over a three year period. Starting in 1960. Some, having been stuck in the past for years, have built lives and moved on, certain they're the only ones who survived. Five is the last to land, smack dab in the middle of a nuclear doomsday, which - spoiler alert! - turns out is a result of the group's disruption of the timeline (déjà vu, anyone?). Now the Umbrella Academy must find a way to reunite, figure out what caused doomsday, put a stop to it, and return to the present timeline to stop that other apocalypse. All while being hunted by a trio of ruthless Swedish assassins. But seriously, no pressure or anything." [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/02/20/umbrella-academy-ending-explained-whats-next-for-vanya"] An adaptation of Gerard Way and Gabriel Bá's comic book series of the same name, The Umbrella Academy follows the lives of a dysfunctional family of superheroes. It proved to be a huge hit for Netflix, which reported that 45 million households had watched the show, and quickly ordered a second season. The Umbrella Academy Season 2 will be released on Netflix on July 31, 2020 with 10 hourlong episodes. If you've never watched The Umbrella Academy, you might want to read our explainer on the characters and team, and if you have, then you might need a refresher on Season 1's ending. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/02/20/umbrella-academy-what-happened-to-ben"] [poilib element="accentDivider"] Adele Ankers is a Freelance Entertainment Journalist. You can reach her on Twitter.

Netflix's The Umbrella Academy has unveiled an official synopsis and first-look photos for Season 2 of the smash-hit superhero series. The 12 images show the Hargreeves siblings adapting to life in 1960s Dallas after failing to stop the apocalypse in the Season 1 finale. They have met some new faces, including Texan housewife Sissy (Marin Ireland), a divorcee who is eager to rediscover life, Lila (Ritu Arya), "a chameleon" who is as brilliant or as she is insane, and Raymond (Yusuf Gatewood), a natural-born leader and devoted husband who carries himself with confidence. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=umbrella-academy-season-2-12-images&captions=true"] A further image shows a trio of merciless men (Tom Sinclair, Kris Holden-Ried, and Jason Bryden) standing in the shadows, hot on the trail of the time-travelling team. The plot synopsis for the second season reads: "Five warned his family (so, so many times) that using his powers to escape from Vanya's 2019 apocalypse was risky. Well, he was right - the time jump scatters the siblings in time in and around Dallas, Texas. Over a three year period. Starting in 1960. Some, having been stuck in the past for years, have built lives and moved on, certain they're the only ones who survived. Five is the last to land, smack dab in the middle of a nuclear doomsday, which - spoiler alert! - turns out is a result of the group's disruption of the timeline (déjà vu, anyone?). Now the Umbrella Academy must find a way to reunite, figure out what caused doomsday, put a stop to it, and return to the present timeline to stop that other apocalypse. All while being hunted by a trio of ruthless Swedish assassins. But seriously, no pressure or anything." [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/02/20/umbrella-academy-ending-explained-whats-next-for-vanya"] An adaptation of Gerard Way and Gabriel Bá's comic book series of the same name, The Umbrella Academy follows the lives of a dysfunctional family of superheroes. It proved to be a huge hit for Netflix, which reported that 45 million households had watched the show, and quickly ordered a second season. The Umbrella Academy Season 2 will be released on Netflix on July 31, 2020 with 10 hourlong episodes. If you've never watched The Umbrella Academy, you might want to read our explainer on the characters and team, and if you have, then you might need a refresher on Season 1's ending. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/02/20/umbrella-academy-what-happened-to-ben"] [poilib element="accentDivider"] Adele Ankers is a Freelance Entertainment Journalist. You can reach her on Twitter.

The Pokemon Company has announced that it will be hosting a "Pokemon Presents" news broadcast tomorrow, June 17, that will, at the very least, reveal more details on Pokemon Sword and Shield's Expansion Pass. The first part of that DLC, the Isle of Armor, will also be released tomorrow. This Pokemon Presents show will take place tomorrow, June 17, at 6am PT/9am ET/2pm BST and, according to Pokemon Japan's Twitter account, it will last for about 11 minutes and will provide more information on the Pokemon Sword and Shield Expansion Pass. The Pokemon Company International's Twitter is a bit more vague, simply saying "We have Pokemon News. You want Pokemon News." [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/06/03/pokemon-sword-and-shield-isle-of-armor-and-crown-tundra-expansion-pass-trailer"] As previously mentioned, this presentation coincides with the release date of the first part of Pokemon Sword and Shield's Expansion Pass, The Isle of Armor. The Crown Tundra, the second part of the Expansion Pass, is set to release in Fall 2020 and could be a focus for tomorrow's Pokemon Presents. We recently were able to see a hands-off demo of more than 30 minutes of Pokemon Sword and Shield's Isle of Armor DLC and discovered that it features level scaling and can be accessed as soon as trainers reach the first Wild Area. Pokemon Sword and Shield were released in November 2019 and, in our review, we said "Pokemon Sword and Shield are the best games in the series, streamlining its most tedious traditions without losing any of the charm." [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=pokemon-sword-and-shield-isle-of-armor-screenshots&captions=true"] While we may just get info on the Expansion Pass contents, there is also a slight possibility we may hear news of a new entry, possibly a new Let's Go game, or even the fabled Pokemon Sleep. [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.

The Pokemon Company has announced that it will be hosting a "Pokemon Presents" news broadcast tomorrow, June 17, that will, at the very least, reveal more details on Pokemon Sword and Shield's Expansion Pass. The first part of that DLC, the Isle of Armor, will also be released tomorrow. This Pokemon Presents show will take place tomorrow, June 17, at 6am PT/9am ET/2pm BST and, according to Pokemon Japan's Twitter account, it will last for about 11 minutes and will provide more information on the Pokemon Sword and Shield Expansion Pass. The Pokemon Company International's Twitter is a bit more vague, simply saying "We have Pokemon News. You want Pokemon News." [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/06/03/pokemon-sword-and-shield-isle-of-armor-and-crown-tundra-expansion-pass-trailer"] As previously mentioned, this presentation coincides with the release date of the first part of Pokemon Sword and Shield's Expansion Pass, The Isle of Armor. The Crown Tundra, the second part of the Expansion Pass, is set to release in Fall 2020 and could be a focus for tomorrow's Pokemon Presents. We recently were able to see a hands-off demo of more than 30 minutes of Pokemon Sword and Shield's Isle of Armor DLC and discovered that it features level scaling and can be accessed as soon as trainers reach the first Wild Area. Pokemon Sword and Shield were released in November 2019 and, in our review, we said "Pokemon Sword and Shield are the best games in the series, streamlining its most tedious traditions without losing any of the charm." [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=pokemon-sword-and-shield-isle-of-armor-screenshots&captions=true"] While we may just get info on the Expansion Pass contents, there is also a slight possibility we may hear news of a new entry, possibly a new Let's Go game, or even the fabled Pokemon Sleep. [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.

Itch.io's 1,700-game Bundle for Racial Justice and Equality raised over $8.1 million USD during its 10 days of availability. Nearly 815,000 people purchased the bundle, which required a minimum donation of $5. The money raised will be split evenly between the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund and Community Bail Fund, according to itch.io. The bundle included 1,704 games, including Night in the Woods and Celeste, valued at over $9,300. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/06/04/gta-online-and-red-dead-online-will-temporarily-close-to-honor-george-floyd-ign-news"] "We live in a time of racial injustice, inequality, and police brutality against black people," reads an excerpt from the bundle's webpage. "We hope that everyone takes a stand in any way that they can. We’ve partnered with creators from all across our platform to support organizations that are working directly with those affected." Several game developers and publishers have been active in their support of the Black Lives Matter movement. Activision and 2K have used their games to raise awareness, while dozens have made significant donations to organizations fighting for racial justice. IGN stands in solidarity with the black community, and condemns racism. We encourage those reading to donate to the NAACP Legal Defense Fund and support the fight for racial justice. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Jordan is a freelance writer for IGN.

Itch.io's 1,700-game Bundle for Racial Justice and Equality raised over $8.1 million USD during its 10 days of availability. Nearly 815,000 people purchased the bundle, which required a minimum donation of $5. The money raised will be split evenly between the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund and Community Bail Fund, according to itch.io. The bundle included 1,704 games, including Night in the Woods and Celeste, valued at over $9,300. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/06/04/gta-online-and-red-dead-online-will-temporarily-close-to-honor-george-floyd-ign-news"] "We live in a time of racial injustice, inequality, and police brutality against black people," reads an excerpt from the bundle's webpage. "We hope that everyone takes a stand in any way that they can. We’ve partnered with creators from all across our platform to support organizations that are working directly with those affected." Several game developers and publishers have been active in their support of the Black Lives Matter movement. Activision and 2K have used their games to raise awareness, while dozens have made significant donations to organizations fighting for racial justice. IGN stands in solidarity with the black community, and condemns racism. We encourage those reading to donate to the NAACP Legal Defense Fund and support the fight for racial justice. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Jordan is a freelance writer for IGN.

The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) has pushed its 2021 Film Awards ceremony to April 11, exactly two weeks before the Oscars, which will now be held on April 25 in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Along with this announcement, BAFTA outlined some temporary changes to the eligibility requirements for the upcoming 2021 edition of the annual Film Awards, in recognition of the closure of UK cinemas, and subsequent studio delays in theatrical release calendars.

We are announcing temporary changes to our film eligibility rules for the 2021 #EEBAFTAs in response to the COVID-19 global pandemic which resulted in UK cinemas closing on 20 March. Next year’s Film Awards will now be held on Sunday 11 April. https://t.co/oOKkyf9b5e

— BAFTA (@BAFTA) June 16, 2020

The new rules establish that any titles that were on theatrical release when cinemas closed and therefore had their theatrical release curtailed, will be eligible regardless of the number of qualifying screenings that they had during that period. Furthermore, titles whose confirmed theatrical release date would have fallen during the global cinema shutdown will be eligible for entry if their release shifted to an approved commercial VOD platform since several studios offered titles to consumers on-demand. A complete list of the temporary changes for the 2021 ceremony, can be found here. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/03/16/universal-to-distribute-new-releases-on-demand-amid-coronavirus"] BAFTA confirmed that these adjustments have been implemented to "ensure that titles which had an intended theatrical release are not penalised due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on cinemas." Marc Samuelson, Chair of the Film Committee, said in a statement: "We have pushed back by two months to give all films the best possible chance to be released and considered properly. As cinemas gradually re-open we know that the major releases will dominate screens. Relaxing the scale of theatrical release required, including releases on VOD in some cases, and pushing back the date of the Awards should help the smaller, independent, documentary, foreign language and particularly the British films to be seen in good time for EE British Academy Film Awards in 2021." [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=every-delayed-movie-due-to-coronavirus-so-far&captions=true"] This announcement comes shortly after the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences officially confirmed that the 93rd Academy Awards had been postponed two months, shifting from February 28, 2021, to April 25, 2021. To relive the current year's awards season, check out our complete list of 2020 Oscar Winners and BAFTA Film Award Winners. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Adele Ankers is a Freelance Entertainment Journalist. You can reach her on Twitter.

The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) has pushed its 2021 Film Awards ceremony to April 11, exactly two weeks before the Oscars, which will now be held on April 25 in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Along with this announcement, BAFTA outlined some temporary changes to the eligibility requirements for the upcoming 2021 edition of the annual Film Awards, in recognition of the closure of UK cinemas, and subsequent studio delays in theatrical release calendars.

We are announcing temporary changes to our film eligibility rules for the 2021 #EEBAFTAs in response to the COVID-19 global pandemic which resulted in UK cinemas closing on 20 March. Next year’s Film Awards will now be held on Sunday 11 April. https://t.co/oOKkyf9b5e

— BAFTA (@BAFTA) June 16, 2020

The new rules establish that any titles that were on theatrical release when cinemas closed and therefore had their theatrical release curtailed, will be eligible regardless of the number of qualifying screenings that they had during that period. Furthermore, titles whose confirmed theatrical release date would have fallen during the global cinema shutdown will be eligible for entry if their release shifted to an approved commercial VOD platform since several studios offered titles to consumers on-demand. A complete list of the temporary changes for the 2021 ceremony, can be found here. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/03/16/universal-to-distribute-new-releases-on-demand-amid-coronavirus"] BAFTA confirmed that these adjustments have been implemented to "ensure that titles which had an intended theatrical release are not penalised due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on cinemas." Marc Samuelson, Chair of the Film Committee, said in a statement: "We have pushed back by two months to give all films the best possible chance to be released and considered properly. As cinemas gradually re-open we know that the major releases will dominate screens. Relaxing the scale of theatrical release required, including releases on VOD in some cases, and pushing back the date of the Awards should help the smaller, independent, documentary, foreign language and particularly the British films to be seen in good time for EE British Academy Film Awards in 2021." [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=every-delayed-movie-due-to-coronavirus-so-far&captions=true"] This announcement comes shortly after the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences officially confirmed that the 93rd Academy Awards had been postponed two months, shifting from February 28, 2021, to April 25, 2021. To relive the current year's awards season, check out our complete list of 2020 Oscar Winners and BAFTA Film Award Winners. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Adele Ankers is a Freelance Entertainment Journalist. You can reach her on Twitter.