F1 series game director Lee Mather has explained balancing F1 2020’s new My Team mode has been a significant challenge, although finalising the game in the middle of the global COVID-19 crisis has been largely seamless. F1 2020’s My Team mode will cast players as a modern-day Jack Brabham – not just a team owner and manager, but key driver as well. Mather believes the nature of driving for your own team, plus seeing a teammate out on track that you hired personally, adds a brand new dynamic to F1 2020’s racing. You’re not fighting for glory for Austrian energy drink companies or Canadian investment consortiums; you’re doing it for your own team. [ignvideo width=610 height=374 url=https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/05/12/f1-2020-first-gameplay-trailer] My Team will let players become the 11th team on the grid and build a brand new organisation from the ground up. For the first time players will be able to create team colours and a unique badge, sign a power unit from the current engine suppliers, find a major sponsor, select and customise a livery, design race suits, and hire a second driver “For us, the sheer challenge of balancing a game mode such as My Team – there’s so many moving pieces,” says Mather. “There’s so many things that the player’s going to manage.” “Obviously, we want to make sure they’re all enjoyable to engage with, but also that the AI do them as well. We can’t just have a player who’s upgrading their team, developing their driver, upgrading their facilities – the team’s have to do that too. “Formula One’s always been a big game and basically My Team is almost a game again; it’s absolutely enormous.” [poilib element="quoteBox" parameters="excerpt=Formula%20One%E2%80%99s%20always%20been%20a%20big%20game%20and%20basically%20My%20Team%20is%20almost%20a%20game%20again%3B%20it%E2%80%99s%20absolutely%20enormous."]Mather explains that F1 2020 has a fully-fledged driver market, an in-game economy where drivers have values, team budgets, and several other financial factors to consider. “There’s a lot of moving pieces, a lot of things to balance, [but] with regard to how we’ve worked since the lockdown it’s actually been incredibly seamless,” says Mather. “I think, at the most, we probably lost one or two days while equipment was ferried between studios and to different locations but, aside from that, it’s actually gone really well.” “I think probably the nicest thing is it’s shown – and I know this is an easy thing to say – just how insanely professional the team is and how versed they are in dealing with an annual franchise. I think without that experience, and also the skill of the newer members of the team, we would’ve been in a very different place. Not everybody who’s got games coming out in a similar window to us have maybe been able to mobilise quite as effectively.” Cryptically, Mather concedes there was something else “incredibly challenging” about building F1 2020 but won’t reveal it for now. “[U]nfortunately I can’t talk about it just yet; we’re holding it back for a couple of weeks,” he says. “There’s still something that was really interesting for us to work on and that will be discussed in detail very soon.” Check out the video below for an overview of some of the new features for F1 2020, including My Team, casual mode, and local split-screen. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/05/13/f1-2020-preview"] [poilib element="accentDivider"] Luke is Games Editor at IGN's Sydney office. You can find him on Twitter sporadically @MrLukeReilly.

While we wait for the release of Matt Reeves' The Batman in October 2021, the film's leading man, Robert Pattinson, says self-isolation during the novel coronavirus pandemic isn't exactly helping with his workout regime. According to a recent interview with GQ Magazine, Pattison informed the outlet that when it comes to his physical fitness preparation for The Batman, "I’m just barely doing anything." In contrast, Pattinson said his co-star Zoë Kravitz is exercising five days a week to prepare for her role as Selina Kyle (aka Catwoman). Pattinson jokingly went on to tell GQ that back in his Twilight days, "the one time they told me to take my shirt off, I think they told me to put it back on again." [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=ranking-the-batman-movies&captions=true"] When Pattinson was asked why he wanted to play the role of the Caped Crusader in the first place, the British-born actor explained that even though George Clooney, Christian Bale, and Ben Affleck have their particular takes on the iconic character, Pattinson believes that there is still more ground to cover. "And then I was thinking, it’s fun when more and more ground has been covered," Pattinson told GQ. "Like, where is the gap? You’ve seen this sort of lighter version, you’ve seen a kind of jaded version, a kind of more animalistic version. And the puzzle of it becomes quite satisfying, to think: Where’s my opening? And also, do I have anything inside me which would work if I could do it? And then also, it’s a legacy part, right? I like that. There’s so few things in life where people passionately care about it before it’s even happened. You can almost feel that pushback of anticipation, and so it kind of energizes you a little bit. It’s different from when you’re doing a part and there’s a possibility that no one will even see it. Right? In some ways it’s, I don’t know… It makes you a little kind of spicy." For more on Batman, check out Andy Serkis talking about The Batman being darker than previous films in the franchise, why it's time for a new live-action Robin movie, and find out what the reboot can learn from Batman & Robin. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/04/20/big-changes-for-the-batman-and-other-dc-movies-ign-now"] [poilib element="accentDivider"] David Griffin still watches DuckTales in his pajamas with a cereal bowl in hand. He's also the TV Editor for IGN. Say hi on Twitter.

This week in Red Dead Online, create your own Permanent Posse for free, get Moonshiner and Collector bonuses, and more.

Another familiar face from Star Wars: The Clone Wars will be making the jump to live-action in the upcoming second season of The Mandalorian. Slash Film reports Katee Sackhoff will reprise the role of Mandalorian warrior Bo-Katan Kryze in Season 2. Sackhoff voiced Bo-Katan in The Clone Wars and the followup series Star Wars Rebels, but this will be her first time playing the character in live-action. This comes on the heels of news that ex-Jedi Ahsoka Tano is also making her live-action debut in Season 2, where she's reportedly being played by Rosario Dawson (Marvel's Daredevil). No doubt the two characters' stories will intertwine in The Mandalorian. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=the-mandalorian-concept-art&captions=true"] Slash Film's sources indicate Sackhoff already filmed her scenes in February. We previously learned production on The Mandalorian Season 2 wrapped in March and post-production work has been carrying on remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic. Warning: The following paragraph contains spoilers for The Mandalorian Season 1 and Star Wars Rebels: [poilib element="accentDivider"] Bo-Katan's presence in The Mandalorian is especially intriguing given the way Season 1 ended. Giancarlo Esposito's character Moff Gideon is shown wielding the Darksaber, an ancient blade granting the wielder the honor of ruling Mandalore. Chronologically, the Darksaber was last seen in the final season of Star Wars Rebels, as Sabrine Wren passed the Darksaber onto Bo-Katan. Presumably, Season 2 will reveal how Bo-Katan lost the Darksaber to Gideon. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Bo-Katan and Ahsoka aren't the only two Star Wars icons appearing in Season 2. Temuera Morrison has reportedly been tapped to play iconic bounty hunter Boba Fett, having previously played Jango Fett in Episode II and voiced Boba Fett in later versions of the original trilogy movies. Michael Biehn (Terminator) has also been cast in an undisclosed role. Here's our explainer on how Boba Fett might've survived to appear in The Mandalorian. The Mandalorian Season 2 is slated to debut on Disney + in October 2020. The lineup of directors for Season 2 includes Peyton Reed (Ant-Man and the Wasp) and Robert Rodriguez (Planet Terror). Meanwhile, pre-production work on Season 3 has already begun. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/12/27/why-the-mandalorian-works-better-than-the-movies-opinion"] For even more on The Mandalorian, find out how Ahsoka may fit into Season 2's story and see why Mark Hamill is praising the series for going "back to basics." [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.

Ghost of Tsushima is set to be released on PS4 on July 17, and developer Sucker Punch will be showing off the game in a Sony State of Play this week. PlayStation has announced the first State of Play of 2020 will air on Thursday, May 14 at 1 pm PT/4 pm ET dedicated entirely to Ghost of Tsushima, the PS4 exclusive from the Infamous and Sly Cooper developers. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/ghost-of-tsushima-story-trailer"] According to the PlayStation Blog, the State of Play is still being finalized, but clocks in around 18 minutes long at the moment. But, to set expectations, Sony confirms this State of Play won't feature any PS5 news or updates — instead, it's entirely focused on the upcoming open-world adventure. Ghost of Tsushima recently had its release date pushed from June to July after Sony delayed The Last of Us Part 2 and Marvel's Iron Man VR. While Ghost is set to be released in just a couple months, we've only gotten a few scant looks at the game recently. The story trailer above was our most recent look, while an in-depth trailer at 2019's The Game Awards offered us a new look at Ghost of Tsushima's gory gameplay. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="legacyId=20076638&captions=true"] Ghost of Tsushima is, as of now, the last currently scheduled major first-party exclusive set for PS4 ahead of the PS5's planned holiday 2020 release. Stay tuned to IGN for coverage of the Ghost of Tsushima State of Play, and be sure to tune into IGN's weekly PlayStation show, Podcast Beyond! for all the latest on the world of PS4, PS5, and PSVR. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Disclosure: Andrew Goldfarb, former IGN employee, is currently working at Ghost of Tsushima developer Sucker Punch. Jonathon Dornbush is IGN's Senior News Editor and host of IGN's weekly PlayStation show Podcast Beyond! Talk to him on Twitter @jmdornbush.

Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 and 2 is a remake compilation of the first two games in the acclaimed skateboarding series, and the first screenshots showcase developer Vicarious Visions' impressive work on modernizing the originals. Check out the gallery below for our first look at the Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 and 2 remakes, which VV studio head Jen Oneal spoke to IGN about ahead of the announcement. The gallery includes comparisons provided by Activision of locations in the original games to the same spots in the remake. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=tony-hawks-pro-skater-1-and-2-reveal-screenshots&captions=true"] Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 and 2 will be released for PS4, Xbox One, and PC via the Epic Game Store on September 4, 2020, with preorders offering fans early access to a demo of the iconic Warehouse level. Of course, the announcement of Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 and 2 also came with a reveal trailer, and a first look at gameplay, which you can see in our conversation breaking down all the first gameplay details below. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/05/12/tony-hawks-pro-skater-1-and-2-remake-gameplay-details"] Stay tuned to IGN for more on THPS 1 and 2. [poilib element="poll" parameters="id=97140c9d-47ff-415a-94e4-2c5eb2c11481"] [poilib element="accentDivider"]

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater is back, as Activision has announced Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 and 2, a compilation remake of the first two THPS games developed by Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy studio Vicarious Visions, which has a long history with the series. THPS 1 and 2 will be released for PS4, Xbox One, and PC via the Epic Game Store on September 4, 2020, with preorders offering fans early access to a demo of the iconic Warehouse level. The game is a remake compiling the first two games in the beloved THPS franchise, including all levels (even the secret ones), and IGN spoke with Vicarious Visions studio head Jen Oneal to learn more about what’s new and returning to THPS 1 and 2. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/05/12/tony-hawks-pro-skater-1-and-2-remaster-announcement-trailer"]

THPS 1 and 2 Gameplay

Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 and 2 will introduce some new moves not featured in the original games, like reverts, but VV hopes the muscle memory of the originals kicks in while playing. And that will in part be because VV employed the original handling code from THPS 1 devs Neversoft. “We started with Neversoft's original handling code. We started with that as a foundation and then layered on what we needed to do to modernize it,” Oneal said in an interview with IGN. “The other thing that we looked at was the geometry because we wanted to match inch by inch the geometry so that those lines feel exactly the same that they were before,” she continued. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=tony-hawks-pro-skater-1-and-2-reveal-screenshots&captions=true"] One of those big, modernized changes is, of course, thinking about playing these games with control sticks. Oneal confirmed players could opt between classic and modern control schemes, but that the core of the controls players will remember is intact. “We didn't want to change anything because the reality is your muscle memory sets in and you're automatically hitting the buttons the way you remember it. But the one thing that we did have to put a little extra attention on, because back then it didn't exist were the analog sticks,” she said. In addition to gameplay tweaks to make the skateboarding itself more modern, THPS 1 and 2 will mark the return of all the hallmark missions — collecting SKATE letters, secret tapes, etc. — from the original games, while also introducing some new challenges. “We've added more challenges to each of the levels that you can accomplish, some that are per skater for example,” Oneal explained.

Multiplayer and Customization

THPS will support competitive online play, but the remake will also feature split screen multiplayer for those who want to play with friends locally. And THPS 1 and 2’s online functionality will also extend to the return of the Create-a-Park and Create-a-Skater modes. Players will be able to share their creations online, and VV is hoping to give players a wide array of options to build their dream skate parks. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/05/12/tony-hawks-pro-skater-1-and-2-remake-gameplay-details"] “Create-a-Park is more robust than ever. It's a deep set of tools for creating your ultimate skate park. And it's not just a huge library of ramps, rails and boxes, you name it. On top of that, you're able to do some deformation,” Oneal explained. “So you're able to take some of the pieces and shape them in different ways and make your ultimate ultimate skate amusement park, if you will.” That level of customization should give players plenty of freedom in designing their dream parks, and Oneal said she and the team are excited to see how players recreate their own real-world skateparks and design completely original ones.

Soundtrack

Since its inception, the Tony Hawk Pro Skater franchise has been married to its soundtracks, with locations and skaters as key to its identity as the songs that supported them. Oneal is happy to confirm that while not every song is back, given the trickiness of music licensing, the vast majority of these two soundtracks return, including fan-favorite tracks. “Most of the songs made it into the game. There's only a small handful that we just couldn't get the licensing rights for. It's a pretty full soundtrack and you'll get to hear your favorites, like “Guerrilla Radio” is in there, “Superman,” which is kind of like the anthem of THPS, is in there,” she said.

Remake or Remaster?

But while the songs remain the same, the look certainly does not. Vicarious Visions, which was largely responsible for the impressive THPS handheld games, has done a lot of ground-up work into the look of the games, as evidenced by the impressive first screenshots and gameplay. “...We wanted to match inch by inch the geometry [of the levels] so that those lines feel exactly the same that they were before. So that was our starting point. But all the assets, everything on top of [Neversoft’s handling code] is all original stuff,” Oneal said of the work the developers have done on the updated versions. “We went for a photo-real quality,” Oneal explained of the new look. “We're using scanned material from getting the skaters to come back in and get scanned, photogrammetry references for textures and assets within the environment. So it all looks just luscious and beautiful. Let's make it feel like you're in a skate video. Let's make it feel like you're in Thrasher magazine taking these really awesome shots. [widget path="global/page/imagecomparison" parameters="comparisons=%7B%22comparisons%22%3A%5B%7B%22caption%22%3A%22THPS%20Remake%20Vs.%20Original%22%2C%22images%22%3A%5B%7B%22id%22%3A%225ebac591e4b0113dce779142%22%2C%22label%22%3A%22THPS%201%20Original%22%7D%2C%7B%22id%22%3A%225ebac599e4b0113dce779145%22%2C%22label%22%3A%22THPS%201%20and%202%20Remake%22%7D%5D%7D%5D%7D"] [poilib element="accentDivider"] While we haven’t been able to go hands-on with Tony Hawk Pro Skater 1 and 2 just yet, Vicarious Visions aims to retain what made the franchise so beloved at its start, while bringing it forth to a modern setting and, perhaps, trying to curb a bit of the bad taste Tony Hawk Pro Skater 5 left. And given Vicarious Visions’ pedigree with the series, having worked on a number of the handheld entries in the series, and the current team there having ties to the franchise, it’s clear the team wants to do right by THPS. “ For all of us, it's like revisiting a really important part of our past,” Oneal said, noting she worked at Activision at the time of the original release, while members of the VV team had previously worked at Neversoft or the THPS series as a whole. “21 years has gone by and we get to revisit something that is so meaningful to our careers. We're so grateful to have this opportunity.” Stay tuned to IGN for more on Tony Hawk Pro Skater 1 and 2. [poilib element="poll" parameters="id=97140c9d-47ff-415a-94e4-2c5eb2c11481"] [poilib element="accentDivider"] Jonathon Dornbush is IGN's Senior News Editor, host of Podcast Beyond!, and a Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 stan. Talk to him on Twitter @jmdornbush.

Marvel's Iron Man VR has a new release date and will now arrive on PlayStation 4/PSVR on July 3, 2020. No further details were given alongside the announcement on PlayStation's Twitter, but SIE does promise we will be getting "more news in the coming weeks!" [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/04/02/iron-man-vr-hands-on-impressions"] Iron Man VR was delayed alongside The Last of Us Part 2, which also has a new release date of June 19, 2020. Iron Man VR and The Last of Us Part 2 were both delayed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic that was impacting studios around the globe and "preventing [Sony] from providing the launch experience our players deserve." We got our hands and eyes on Iron Man VR last year and came away excited for more. We said "Arkham VR definitely had its gameplay limitations, but it nailed that sensation of putting you into the shoes, and mask, of a hero, and my short time with Iron Man VR gave me a similar feeling. And with as robust of a gameplay system as appears to be in place, I’m excited to explore the skies and life of Tony Stark in the full game...and maybe not fly myself into so many rock walls next time around. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=2020-platform-exclusives&captions=true"] Furthermore, we learned that Iron Man VR will be more than a simple flight and laser shooting simulator and will actually tell an original Tony Star story. Iron Man VR is one of the many platform exclusives in 2020 that also include Ghost of Tsushima, Halo Infinite, and many more. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/10/04/iron-man-vr-story-trailer"] [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.

Denis Villeneuve's take on Dune is shaping up to be on of our most anticipated upcoming movies, thanks in part to a series of glimpses at its star cast. We've put together a gallery of every official image so far (below) - the newest being a shot of Josh Brolin's Gurney Halleck and Timothée Chalamet's Paul Atreides clinging to the back of what may be a Carryall. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=dune-movie-images&captions=true"] Villeneuve has made it clear that this movie will be the first of two, because Frank Herbert's seminal sci-fi novel is "too complex" to fit into a single feature film. For more on Villeneuve's first Dune movie, take a look at a series of set photos featuring the cast in their costumes, find out about the disgusting yet practical function of their sci-fi suits, and then read our explainer to learn more about the franchise and what to expect from the upcoming adaptation. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Joe Skrebels is IGN's Executive Editor of News. Follow him on Twitter.

Arnold Schwarzenegger is coming to Predator: Hunting Grounds as DLC later this month. Announced today on PlayStation.Blog, this paid DLC arrives on May 26 and will see Schwarzenegger's Dutch character from the original 1987 Predator movie added to the game. Considering Predator: Hunting Grounds is a game based on the universe of that movie, Dutch joining in on the hunt only makes sense. You can check out what Dutch will look like in the game below. "Yes, Arnold Schwarzenegger has reprised one of my favorite roles from childhood for this game," IllFonic Chief Creative Officer Jared Gerritzen said. "We got to spend a day in sunny California recording with Arnold." As indicated by Gerritzen, Schwarzenegger himself returned to the role to voice lines for Dutch. In order to introduce Dutch into the game, IllFonic will add cassettes to the game for players to earn that allows them to "learn where Dutch has been all these years and hear his story in his own words through a series of voice tapes that you earn as you level up." When the DLC is released on May 26, players will get access to the Dutch character and the QR5 "Hammerhead" Rifle, as well as Dutch's knife. The rifle and knife will be made available to all players, free of charge, later in June. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/04/28/predator-hunting-grounds-review"] The Dutch DLC pack is the first of at least four paid DLCs with the second coming in June, the third coming in July and the fourth in August. The blog post does not mention a price for this DLC. You can read our review of Predator: Hunting Grounds right here, and then read about how we think the game sets the stage for a Terminator game. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=big-ps4-ps5-games-coming-in-2020&captions=true"] [poilib element="accentDivider"] Wesley LeBlanc is a freelance news writer and guide maker for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @LeBlancWes.