Yearly Archives: 2020
Final Fantasy 7 Remake Dynamic PS4 Themes Revealed
Square Enix has revealed the three dynamic Final Fantasy 7 Remake themes coming to PS4s soon.
We've known about the dynamic themes for some time now but before Friday, March 13, we didn't know what the themes looked like beyond just a screenshot. The official Final Fantasy 7 Remake Twitter tweeted out previews of each of the three themes revealing the art associated with each and the music as well.
The first theme will be available April 10th for anyone that downloads the free Final Fantasy 7 Remake demo before May 11. It features our main cast looking out at the horizon just as the sun goes down. You can check it out below.
The second theme shared on Twitter was a dynamic Midgar theme coming to all PS+ users "soon." It features an expansive wide shot of Midgar and a cool shot of Cloud. The game's main battle theme plays too. The third Final Fantasy 7 Remake dynamic PS4 theme prominently features Sephiroth and is a theme available only to those who preorder the game through Amazon in the U.S. or various retailers throughout Europe. You can check out both below.Today we're giving you a closer look at three dynamic #PS4 #FinalFantasy VII Remake themes!
These aren't the only themes available, and we'll be posting more over the coming weeks. First is a free theme available from April 10th if you download the #FF7R demo before May 11th! pic.twitter.com/0LC89hwNRW — FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE (@finalfantasyvii) March 13, 2020
The third theme's tweet says, "Stay tuned for a closer look at some other #FF7R themes in the future," so it would seem we could be seeing even more Final Fantasy 7 Remake dynamic PS4 themes soon. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=final-fantasy-7-remake-over-100-screenshots&captions=true"] In the meantime, if you haven't played the Final Fantasy 7 Remake demo, you should at least download it to get the free theme coming April 10. Check out our walkthrough of the demo's Midgar Mako Reactor section to ensure you find every secret within. We've also got a guide showing you how to get the demo's secret ending. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Wesley LeBlanc is a freelance news writer and guide maker for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @LeBlancWes.We've shown off two dynamic #PS4 themes today and here's a third. This Sephiroth theme is available as a pre-order bonus with https://t.co/ThA10iWA8z in the US, and at various retailers throughout Europe.
Stay tuned for a closer look at some other #FF7R themes in the future. pic.twitter.com/mp48OvNC2c — FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE (@finalfantasyvii) March 13, 2020
Our Doom Eternal Review Is Coming on Tuesday
Brace yourselves: IGN's Doom Eternal review, which is currently being composed by our own Ryan McCaffrey, will land on this very website on Tuesday, March 17 at 7am Pacific time, when the embargle lifts. Well, specifically, it'll be our review of the single-player campaign only, because the new 2v1 Battlemode multiplayer won't be switched on until launch on March 20. So our multiplayer-specific review and our final, overall score will follow a couple of days after that, as an ASAP kind of thing.
We know: the anticipation is killing us, too. In the meantime, you should absolutely check out our vast library of Doom Eternal gameplay video and previews. Will it make the urge to play it immediately easier to bear? Well... no. Probably worse, actually. But it's a good kind of hurt, you know? And if there's anything you want to know about Doom Eternal, leave your questions below – Ryan won't be able to say a peep until Tuesday but after that, it's all fair game (except spoilers).
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Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Tops NPD Charts for February 2020
The Nintendo Switch was the best-selling hardware platform and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare was the best-selling game of February 2020, according to NPD.
Revealed by NPD's VG industry analyst Mat Piscatella, February 2020's spending on video game hardware, software, accessories, and game cards totaled $755 million USD, which is a 29% decline from 2019.
Year-to-date 2020 spending for the same parameters totaled $1.4 billion USD, which is a 28% decline from 2019.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare topped the list of best-selling games, followed by NBA 2K20 and Grand Theft Auto V.
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February 2020's Best-Selling Games
- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare
- NBA 2K20
- Grand Theft Auto V
- Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot
- Tom Clancy's The Division 2
- Mario Kart 8
- Ring Fit Adventure
- Madden NFL 20
- Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
- Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order
- Minecraft
- Luigi's Mansion 3
- Red Dead Redemption II
- The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
- Pokemon Sword
- Just Dance 2020
- FIFA 20
- Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Siege
- Need for Speed: Heat
- New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe
UEFA Champions League Postponed Indefinitely
The UEFA Champions League, professional soccer's most prestigious club tournament, has been postponed indefinitely due to COVID-19 or the novel coronavirus. Its sister tournament, the Europa League, and the UEFA Youth League have also been delayed.
In an official statement, UEFA explained that all matches scheduled to take place this weekend have been postponed, and quarter final draws for both the Champions and Europa Leagues had also been called off for the time being, effectively suspending the tournaments until further notice.
The Champions League is currently in the knockout round of 16, with at least four matches in their respective second legs left to be played: Manchester City vs. Real Madrid, Juventus vs. Lyon, Barcelona vs. Napoli, and Bayern Munich vs. Chelsea.
Other professional sports leagues that have been delayed due to COVID-19 include the National Basketball Association (NBA), Major League Baseball (MLB), and the National Hockey League (NHL).
On the movie front, Fast 9's theatrical release has been delayed almost a year, A Quiet Place 2 is delayed indefinitely with no new release date announced, and the James Bond film No Time to Die will now be released in November 2020. For more information on COVID-19, here's an explainer on how the virus could affect the entire film industry, according to experts.
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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.
Real-Life NBA Team to Continue Suspended Season Inside NBA 2K
Real-life NBA team Phoenix Suns will continue to play the current season that has been suspended due to the COVID-19 virus… in the NBA 2K video game.
In a post on Twitter, Phoenix Suns revealed that they plan to continue to play the Suns season games in the popular basketball video game, and fans can watch them live on Twitch.
“Saturday’s game will be moved to tomorrow,” says the tweet. “Join us live on Twitch as we take on the Dallas Mavericks!” The tweet doesn’t make it clear who will be hosting the stream and if they will be playing against AI or online against the actual Mavericks. However, the Phoenix Suns’ Devin Booker is a known Twitch streamer, who was actually streaming Call of Duty: Warzone at the moment he discovered that the NBA season had been suspended, so it’s possible that he’ll be involved. NBA commissioner Adam Silver placed the league on a minimum 30-day hiatus on February 12. With the Suns playing their scheduled games for the rest of the season in NBA 2K, there will be at least some action for basketball fans, even if the results are technically meaningless for the season. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/09/09/nba-2k20-review"] For more on how COVID-19 is affecting the world, you can read our stories on the MCU’s Shang-Chi production being paused, Universal Studios and Disney parks closing, New Mutants being delayed, and many video games events being cancelled. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt Purslow is IGN's UK News and Entertainment Writer. You can follow him on Twitter.The season isn’t over yet...
We will continue to play the Suns season games on @NBA2K! Saturday’s game will be moved to tomorrow. Join us live on @Twitch as we take on the @dallasmavs! pic.twitter.com/745QIuvCMc — Phoenix Suns (@Suns) March 13, 2020
Marvel’s Shang-Chi Pauses First-Unit Production as Director Self-Isolates
First-unit production for Marvel’s Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings has been suspended as director Destin Daniel Cretton self-isolates pending the results of a test for the coronavirus COVID-19, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Cretton has apparently self-isolated under a doctor’s recommendation. The film is currently shooting in Australia.
According to The Hollywood Reporter’s sources first-unit production will be temporarily halted “in an abundance of caution” but second unit and off production “will continue as normal.” Cretton’s results will be available next week.
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Shang-Chi is the second Australian-based film production affected by a COVID-19-related delay this week, with work on Baz Luhrmann’s upcoming Elvis biopic also stalled after Tom Hanks tested positive for the virus.
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, starring Simu Liu as Shang-Chi, Tony Leung as the real Mandarin, and Awkwafina is scheduled to hit cinemas in February 2021. Head here for everything you need to know about Marvel’s Master of Kung Fu.
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Luke is Games Editor at IGN's Sydney office. You can find him on Twitter every few days @MrLukeReilly.
Nioh 2 Review – Another Walk Among the Tombstones
Nioh 2 is not to be trifled with. Building on the original's tough-as-nails reputation, Team Ninja's second samurai action-RPG brings back the original's penchant for punishing and highly nuanced combat. The sequel hones the original's distinctive take on the Souls-like without completely reinventing itself. The result is a long, tough slog that will push even the most challenge-hungry players to their breaking points as they fight for every inch of ground and become master samurai.
Despite the title, Nioh 2 is a prequel, revealing the secret history of a decades-long period of war in medieval Japan. As the silent, customizable hero Hide, you fight to uncover the secret nature of "spirit stones," which grant supernatural power, and defeat hordes of Yokai across the country. The plot, which you mostly hear through cutscenes and exposition between missions, has an interesting historical bent, but it is really just glue to hold the levels together. Historically relevant names like Nobunaga and Tokugawa play into the saga, but whatever flavor they add in the moment fades the second you take control and it's time to start killing demons.
But that's okay. Nioh 2's story gives just enough context for you to follow along and make you feel like you're making progress without getting in the way of the gameplay. Nioh 2's definitive feature is its challenge. With core mechanics refined from the bones of Dark Souls, Nioh 2 boils down to a series of battles and duels in all kinds of situations. These battles demand intense precision: Not only are your attacks and skills limited by a stamina meter--called Ki--but any extra attack or mistimed movement will leave you exposed, often to an attack that will cost you a substantial amount of health. Like other Souls-like games, there is a painful pleasure in mastering whatever opponents the game throws your way.
Continue Reading at GameSpotNioh 2 Review – Get Good And Die Trying
Nioh 2 is not to be trifled with. Building on the original's tough-as-nails reputation, Team Ninja's second samurai action-RPG brings back the original's penchant for punishing and highly nuanced combat. The sequel hones the original's distinctive take on the Souls-like without completely reinventing itself. The result is a long, tough slog that will push even the most challenge-hungry players to their breaking points as they fight for every inch of ground and become master samurai.
Despite the title, Nioh 2 is a prequel, revealing the secret history of a decades-long period of war in medieval Japan. As the silent, customizable hero Hide, you fight to uncover the secret nature of "spirit stones," which grant supernatural power, and defeat hordes of Yokai across the country. The plot, which you mostly hear through cutscenes and exposition between missions, has an interesting historical bent, but it is really just glue to hold the levels together. Historically relevant names like Nobunaga and Tokugawa play into the saga, but whatever flavor they add in the moment fades the second you take control and it's time to start killing demons.
But that's okay. Nioh 2's story gives just enough context for you to follow along and make you feel like you're making progress without getting in the way of the gameplay. Nioh 2's definitive feature is its challenge. With core mechanics refined from the bones of Dark Souls, Nioh 2 boils down to a series of battles and duels in all kinds of situations. These battles demand intense precision: Not only are your attacks and skills limited by a stamina meter--called Ki--but any extra attack or mistimed movement will leave you exposed, often to an attack that will cost you a substantial amount of health. Like other Souls-like games, there is a painful pleasure in mastering whatever opponents the game throws your way.
Continue Reading at GameSpotWalt Disney World Resort to Close Due to Coronavirus Concerns
Disney has announced that the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida, and Disneyland Paris will be closing due to concerns over the COVID-19 (Coronavirus).
Announced by ABC News, Walt Disney World and Disneyland Paris will close at the end of the business day on Sunday, March 15, through the end of the month.
The official statement is as follows:
"In an abundance of caution and in the best interest of our guests and employees, we are proceeding with the closure of our theme parks at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida and Disneyland Paris Resort, beginning at the close of business on Sunday, March 15, through the end of the month."
"Disney Cruise Line will suspend all new departures beginning Saturday, March 14, through the end of the month."
"The Walt Disney Company will pay its cast members during the closure period."
"The hotels at both Walt Disney World and Disneyland Paris will remain open until further notice. The retail and dining complexes, Disney Springs at Walt Disney World and Disney Village at Disneyland Paris, will remain open."
"Domestic Walt Disney Company employees who are able to work from home are being asked to do so, including those at The Walt Disney Studios, Walt Disney Television, ESPN, Direct-to-Consumer, and Parks, Experiences and Products."
"We will continue to stay in close contact with appropriate officials and health experts."
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This news follows Disney's earlier announcement that Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure would be closed at least from March 14 through the end of the month.
This will be the ninth time Walt Disney World has closed and the first time since September 3, 2019, (except for Epcot and Disney Springs) that was due to Hurricane Dorian.
Disney had already closed both Hong Kong Disneyland and Tokyo Disneyland over the COVID-19 pandemic. Shanghai Disney Resort closed a month ago, but is now open with new policies in place for guests like wearing a mask and showing their health via a QR code system when entering dining areas.
IGN spoke with a number of medical experts to learn how movie delays may help stop the spread of COVID-19. Events like E3 2020 and SXSW that bring large amounts of people together have closed as well.
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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 official statement is as follows:
"In an abundance of caution and in the best interest of our guests and employees, we are proceeding with the closure of our theme parks at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida and Disneyland Paris Resort, beginning at the close of business on Sunday, March 15, through the end of the month."
"Disney Cruise Line will suspend all new departures beginning Saturday, March 14, through the end of the month."
"The Walt Disney Company will pay its cast members during the closure period."
"The hotels at both Walt Disney World and Disneyland Paris will remain open until further notice. The retail and dining complexes, Disney Springs at Walt Disney World and Disney Village at Disneyland Paris, will remain open."
"Domestic Walt Disney Company employees who are able to work from home are being asked to do so, including those at The Walt Disney Studios, Walt Disney Television, ESPN, Direct-to-Consumer, and Parks, Experiences and Products."
"We will continue to stay in close contact with appropriate officials and health experts."
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This news follows Disney's earlier announcement that Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure would be closed at least from March 14 through the end of the month.
This will be the ninth time Walt Disney World has closed and the first time since September 3, 2019, (except for Epcot and Disney Springs) that was due to Hurricane Dorian.
Disney had already closed both Hong Kong Disneyland and Tokyo Disneyland over the COVID-19 pandemic. Shanghai Disney Resort closed a month ago, but is now open with new policies in place for guests like wearing a mask and showing their health via a QR code system when entering dining areas.
IGN spoke with a number of medical experts to learn how movie delays may help stop the spread of COVID-19. Events like E3 2020 and SXSW that bring large amounts of people together have closed as well.
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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.Universal Orlando Targets Early June Reopening
UPDATE 2: Universal Orlando is reportedly aiming to reopen for business June 5.
The Hollywood Reporter says plans for the targeted reopening have been filed with the city government.
"Universal Studios will open June 1 just for employees as a dry run of sorts and then on June 3, some invited guests would visit. Then the park would open to the public on June 5, officials said," according to THR. "The CityWalk district within the Florida resort reopened earlier this month with strict new measures in place such as a mask and temperature check requirement."
There's no word yet on when Universal Studios Hollywood will reopen.
UPDATE: Universal announced Thursday that they have extended the closure of Universal Orlando Resort and Universal Studios Hollywood, including the theme parks and Universal CityWalk at both destinations, at least through May 31 due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The company also announced that some staff will have their reduced to 80% while other employees will be furloughed as Universal continues to monitor the ongoing crisis.
Our original report from March 24 follows.
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The company also announced that they will be asking some employees to take a 20% pay cut while furloughing others as they continue to monitor developments in the ongoing crisis.
Universal Orlando Resort and Universal Studios Hollywood will remain closed beyond the original March 28 reopening date that Universal announced March 12.
"We are extending the closure of Universal Orlando Resort and Universal Studios Hollywood through April 19 as we continue to respond to current conditions and make the health and safety of team members and guests our top priority," Universal said in a statement posted Tuesday.
"This includes our theme parks and Universal CityWalk at both destinations. The Universal Orlando Resort hotels have also temporarily suspended operations. We will continue to monitor the situation and make adjustments as needed, based on guidance from health agencies and government officials."
Our original report follows.
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Universal has shut down operations at the Universal Studios theme park, with current plans to reopen as of March 28 at this time.
Variety reports that in response to and in order to help contain the spread of novel coronavirus COVID-19, Universal will be closed starting March 14.
“The health and safety of our team members and guests is always our top priority,” Universal Studios spokesperson told Variety. “Out of an abundance of caution and in response to the guidance provided by the California Department of Public Health, Universal Studios Hollywood will temporarily close beginning Saturday, March 14. The theme park anticipates reopening on March 28 as we continue to monitor the situation."
Universal CityWalk, however, will remain open.
Universal joins Disneyland and Disney California Adventure in closing in response to efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19. Those two parks, however, are closed indefinitely as of this time. News of Disney World's closure has yet to be announced, and that park is operating normally as of press time.
The film world has also seen several changes due to efforts to contain COVID-19. Universal Pictures earlier announced nearly a year's delay for the release date of Fast 9. And Disney has delayed the releases of Mulan, as well as pushed the release dates for New Mutants and Antlers.
IGN spoke with a number of medical experts to learn how movie delays may help stop the spread of COVID-19. Events like E3 2020 and SXSW that bring large amounts of people together have closed as well.