Yearly Archives: 2020

The Outer Worlds Dev Adds More Accessibility Options For Font Sizes

The Outer Worlds developer is going a step further for accessibility by adding a font size slider. It will be arriving in the Outer Worlds 1.3 patch. Obsidian Entertainment developer, Nate McDorman, showed the new slider in action on Twitter. McDorman mentioned in his Twitter thread that he chose to "ditch the old font size toggle" and create something new altogether. McDorman says it took three months of work, but you can finally see it in action below. The original font size toggle option was added on November 18, 2019, as part of Patch 1.1.1.0. Obsidian addressed the text size issue after receiving consistent feedback asking to improve it. On top of this, patch 1.3 will replace the previous toggle with a more customizable option instead. This patch also includes other UI and gameplay changes such as ultrawide support, multi-quest map tracking, a sprint toggle, and more. The full patch notes are available on the Obsidian forum. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/10/22/the-outer-worlds-review"] Patch 1.3 will be available across all platforms later this week, according to the patch notes. The Nintendo Switch version will launch later this month with the slider already implemented. If you're waiting for information on more content, the developer confirmed the story DLC in the works back in December 2019. Nothing is known about the planned DLC aside from a release sometime in 2020. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=igns-top-25-xbox-one-games&captions=true"] Whether you're jumping into The Outer Worlds for the first time or not, take a look at our 13 Tips and Tricks For Surviving The Outer Worlds. And if you're a more experienced player, you should check out our 5 character builds for getting ahead. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Jeffrey Lerman is a Freelance News Writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @Snakester95.

Final Fantasy 7 Remake’s Sidequests Will Maintain Quality of Story Missions

Final Fantasy 7 Remake's sidequests will match the quality of the game's main story missions, according to director Tetsuya Nomura in an interview with Famitsu. Set to release next month, Final Fantasy 7 Remake is just the first part of an unknown number of Final Fantasy 7 Remake games. Rather than guiding players through the entire story of the original 1997 game, this remake will only include the Midgar section of the original game. That's only a handful or two of hours in the original, but we know Square Enix and Nomura are working to beef up this section of the game with new explorable areas, additional bosses and side quests. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/03/04/final-fantasy-7-remake-comparison-2015-vs-2020"] Speaking with Famitsu and translated by IGN Japan, Nomura said these side quests will be equal in quality to the main quests of the game. "The sub-quests have been made in exactly the same way as the main story quests," Nomura said. "Initially, the development team also wanted to create a large volume of content, but it was not possible to do all of it, so we are doing as much as we can while maintaining the quality." "So it's as much as you can manage while maintaining quality?" Famitsu asked Nomura. "Yes," Nomura said. "There was even more, but I thought that volume of content would never be finished." [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=final-fantasy-7-remake-over-100-screenshots&captions=true"] Based on Nomura's comments, it would seem that the team had plans for a larger number of side quests but opted to reduce the number of side quests to ensure the ones included matched the quality of the main story missions. Translations online seem to indicate that Nomura is saying the sidequests are as large as the main quests, but our translation from IGN Japan does not indicate that was the intention of what he originally said. The size of the sidequests, in scope or length, does not seem to be what Nomura was discussing with Famitsu but rather, he was speaking to the idea that the development team favored qualitative side quests over a larger quantity of side quests. We'll all find out what these side quests look like, both in quantity and quality, when the game is released next month on April 10. The game will be released exclusively on PS4. If you're waiting to play it elsewhere, you'll have to wait until at least 2021. In the meantime, check out our latest thoughts on the game after a recent hands-on preview and now that a demo is out for the game, check out our guide on how to get the demo's secret ending. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/05/10/final-fantasy-vii-in-7-minutes"] You can control both Cloud and Barrett in the demo and the game but one character you won't be able to control in the game is Red XIII. That's not the only big change from the original. Sephiroth will show his face far sooner in the remake and you can read about how the team behind the game decided to include the One-Winged Angel so soon in the game's story this time around. While you're waiting for the game to be released next month, start making some space on your PS4 now because the game will seemingly be 100 GB. Check out the Final Fantasy 7 Remake opening movie after doing that to put you in your feels. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Wesley LeBlanc is a freelance news writer and guide maker for IGN. You can find him on Twitter @LeBlancWes    

Black Widow, Furious 9 Reportedly Won’t Be Delayed Due to Coronavirus

In light of UA and MGM's decision to delay the release of the James Bond film No Time to Die from April to November, the question is whether other studios will follow suit and postpone their upcoming movies due to the spreading coronavirus. According to a new report, the short-term answer appears to be no. "Currently, Disney is adamant that they’re not moving the May 1 release date of Black Widow, and Universal is officially not changing their May 22 release for F9," Deadline reports. [ignvideo width=610 height=374 url=https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/02/03/marvels-black-widow-big-game-spot] IGN reached out to all the major studios to inquire about whether they were planning on shifting their release dates but none of them had responded as of time of publish. Deadline claims there had been rumors among distributors that Disney would shift the release of Black Widow to the November 6 slot currently occupied by another Marvel title, The Eternals, and then push the latter film to 2021. But, according to Deadline, "Disney is telling its exhibition partners that they’re staying the course with their current release slate." [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=20-worst-opening-weekends-at-the-us-domestic-box-office&captions=true"] Likewise, Warner Bros. is reportedly not moving the release dates for Scoob! (May 15) or Wonder Woman 1984 (June 5) nor is Paramount postponing the May 22 opening of SpongeBob: Sponge on the Run. Of course, no one knows how widespread or threatening COVID-19 will be by November, but until then the film industry will continue to observe the situation and hope audiences still head to theaters.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons Fans Get Creative Before Launch

Ahead of Animal Crossing: New Horizons March 20 launch, fans are making some incredibly cute art and creation tools and sharing them with the equally excited community. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/02/20/animal-crossing-new-horizons-direct-2202020"]

Animal Crossing Villager Creator

One of the most popular fan-made creation tools was an Animal Crossing villager maker from Kyoosh. Several fans used this tool to make themselves in the cute and simple style Animal Crossing is known for, sharing their creations on social media. Unfortunately, this character maker was quickly taken down, though Kyoosh is looking for another site to host it again. Screen Shot 2020-03-05 at 11.10.52 AMScreen Shot 2020-03-05 at 11.12.08 AMScreen Shot 2020-03-05 at 11.12.50 AMScreen Shot 2020-03-05 at 11.15.21 AMScreen Shot 2020-03-05 at 11.17.20 AMScreen Shot 2020-03-05 at 12.10.37 PMScreen Shot 2020-03-05 at 12.29.47 PM

Animal Crossing Dodo Airlines, Countdown Clocks

Animal Crossing fans have found several creative outlets while biding their time for New Horizons, one of the most jolly of which is dodoairlines.com. This site, created and designed by CelesMehZoulianne, u/ItalianLurker, and u/TORtur3, allows fans to create a boarding pass, passport, and greeting card in preparation of their impending trip to a deserted island. Screen Shot 2020-03-05 at 12.25.47 PMdodoairlines.comISLA One of the most common fan-creations made in anticipation of New Horizons are countdown clocks. As of today, there are still 15 days until it's released, but some fans are accounting for every SECOND until they can get their hands on the next Animal Crossing. One of the most entertaining countdown clocks is ACNH Countdown, which is simple, effective, and has music you will want to dance to for the next two weeks. Screen Shot 2020-03-05 at 12.45.05 PM

Everything Animal Crossing: New Horizons

These are hardly the first instances of creative output from the Animal Crossing community leading up to New Horizons' release. Last month, Animal Crossing and DOOM Eternal fans bonded over their shared March 20 release date, creating some hilarious and heartwarming fan art meshing the two disparate franchises together. Several fans also had a blast at Nintendo's hyper-popular New Horizons PAX East booth. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=pax-east-nintendo-animal-crossing-booth&captions=true"] For more on Animal Crossing: New Horizons, check out its character customization details, its Amiibo compatibility and functionality, and you don't want to miss every villager we've seen so far. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Colin Stevens is IGN's video game social coordinator, and he can not WAIT to be relaxed as heck on his deserted island. Follow him on Twitter.

Here’s What It’s Like to Get Married on Pandora

Anyone can get married at a beach, church, or winery, but how many of your friends have tied the knot on an alien planet? (Okay, fine, at a recreation of an alien planet, but a very lifelike one.) Disney has offered custom weddings and honeymoons at its various theme parks and resorts for years, and thanks to its unscripted docuseries, Disney's Fairy Tale Weddings (currently streaming on Disney+), viewers can now peek behind the curtain to find out what it takes to have a wedding in the Valley of Mo’ara on Pandora, the alien planet introduced in James Cameron's Avatar, which has been brought to life at Disney's Animal Kingdom in Florida. For an exclusive look at Patrice and Dontrell's wedding in Pandora from this week's episode of Disney's Fairy Tale Weddings, premiering on Disney+ on March 6, watch the video below or at the top of the page: [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/03/05/disneys-fairy-tale-weddings-exclusive-avatar-episode-clip"] While the gorgeous venue at Pandora does look like a nice spot to get hitched, we really wanted to know if Star Wars Galaxy's Edge is up for grabs. In order to learn about all things related to Disney weddings, IGN spoke to  Korri McFann, Marketing Director of Disney's Fairy Tale Weddings, to see what dreams can come true. "We do offer ways to celebrate Star Wars theming throughout your wedding however, at this time, Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge is not an available venue, McFann told IGN. "But who knows what the future may hold." Some iconic locations that are currently available include the Tower of Terror courtyard at Disney World's Hollywood Studios, the Tree of Life at Animal Kingdom, locations in many of the countries around Epcot, the iconic railroad train station at Magic Kingdom, and the courtyards in front of the castles at Disneyland and Magic Kindgom. McFann told us that the Disney weddings team has you covered every step of the way "from your engagement ring, to the first phone call with your wedding planner, picking out your wedding dress, to your wedding day, your honeymoon, and your return visits to Disney destinations." IGN can also exclusively reveal some first-look photos of the Pandoran wedding in the gallery below: [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=disneys-fairy-tale-weddings-a-pandoran-wedding-gallery&captions=true"] "This wedding was truly a special way to celebrate in a beautiful land inspired by the power and the majesty of nature," McFann said. "For this wedding, we incorporated exotic floral down the aisle and simple wooden benches to complement the beautiful surroundings at Disney's Animal Kingdom." One of the important things to consider if a Disney wedding sounds like your cup of tea (in addition to the price tag, of course - event minimum costs can range from $5,000 up to $50,000) is that your ceremony will either take place early in the morning before the parks officially open or late at night after the parks close, which are the only times the venues are free of tourists who might stumble in and ruin your photo op. "But, as you can see from the Pandora setting, having your guests rise a little earlier for a sunrise wedding is worth the effort," McFann noted, saying couples can follow @DisneyWeddings on social media to keep up with the latest news and announcements. "A Pandoran Wedding" featuring Patrice and Dontrell premieres on Disney+ on Friday, March 6, 2020. [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.

Disney’s Mulan Tracking for 2020’s Biggest Domestic Opening Yet

Disney's Mulan is projected to have a domestic debut of $85 million, according to early tracking. If The Hollywood Reporter's tracking is correct, Mulan will beat every other opening in 2020 so far with Bad Boys for Life, the biggest 2020 opening as of now, poised to drop to second place at $68.4 million. To put into perspective what an $85 million opening for Mulan looks like, Disney's last remake of one of their animated classics, 2019's The Lion King, brought in $185 million during its opening weekend. The Lion King soared above last year's live-action Aladdin, which opened to $91 million, and tracking shows Mulan to be just under Aladdin. $85 million is nothing to scoff at though. Aladdin eventually surpassed $1 billion at the box office. $85 million would still place Mulan into the upper echelons of domestic openings for Disney's live-action remakes. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=disneys-mulan-official-photos-from-the-live-action-remake&captions=true"] It's important to note, though, that Mulan is doing a lot more than simply recreating the original 1998 animated film, which is why audiences won't see Mulan's dragon sidekick Mushu or her famous haircut in the new movie. Moviegoers also shouldn't expect this Mulan to randomly break into song, although the score will callback to those classic tunes from the original film. It's also a PG-13 film, unlike its G-rated animated counterpart. It's easy to see why with the stunts and action exhibited in recent trailers and featurettes. Mulan is set to open March 27 and is directed by Niko Caro (Whale Rider, The Zookeeper's Wife). The titular hero is played by Chinese actress Liu Yifei, also known as Crystal Liu. Last year, the actress found herself at the center of a controversy after making a statement of support for Hong Kong's police amidst protests. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/07/08/disneys-mulan-trailer-side-by-side-comparison-2020-vs-1998"] You can catch up on all things Mulan by checking out a sneak peek trailer from this year's Super Bowl and by looking at some recent character posters. We've also got some official photos from the movie to tide you over until you see it in theaters later this month. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Wesley LeBlanc is a freelance news writer and guide maker for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @LeBlancWes.

The Last of Us TV Show Will Replace the Film Adaptation

The Last of Us HBO TV series will replace the proposed movie adaptation, according to a source familiar with Sony’s plans for the popular Naughty Dog video game. IGN has learned from sources at Sony Pictures that the newly announced HBO TV adaptation of The Last of Us will replace the film adaptation that Sony previously announced back in 2014. At the time, Sony announced that Neil Druckmann would write and produce the film adaptation under Sony’s Screen Gems’ movie label. Sam Raimi was also attached to produce the film. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=igns-top-25-playstation-4-games&captions=true"] By 2015, Durckmann said that a second draft of the movie script was written and that actors had read for roles in the film. But by 2016, movement on the film stalled and there were no further updates on the project. Instead, it seems Sony has decided to move forward with a television adaptation in its place. Druckmann is still attached to write and produce the series, but this time with Chernobyl creator Craig Mazin. The project has also moved under the PlayStation Productions label which was created in 2019 specifically to create adaptations of popular PlayStation video games. Other video game adaptations currently being produced at PlayStation Productions include the Uncharted movie starring Tom Holland as a young Nathan Drake. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/09/24/the-last-of-us-2-release-date-trailer"] The Last of Us HBO series doesn’t have a release date yet, and in a tweet announcing the TV news, Druckmann said that first, they need to release a video game. A reference to The Last of Us Part 2 which is the long-awaited sequel scheduled to be released this year. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt Kim is a reporter for IGN. You can reach him on Twitter.

First Valorant Playable Character Revealed

Riot has revealed the first character from its competitive FPS Valorant. Phoenix is an agent from Britain who can use fire-based abilities to get the edge on enemy players. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/03/05/valorant-phoenix-agent-reveal"] Valorant’s playable characters are known as Agents, and Phoenix is the first one to get a proper introduction. The short video Riot has put out shows him using a couple of abilities that involve controlling fire. The first is a fireball summoned with a click of his fingers that can be bounced around corners. While the video does not explicitly explain what each ability does, it appears to work akin to a flash bang, as the ability’s victim appears to have a stun-like visual before Phoenix scores an easy headshot on them. It appears that the ability can be used twice in a round, as it has two charges on the HUD. The HUD also shows a further three abilities with a single charge each, one of which Phoenix uses to summon a wall of fire that’s impossible to see through. This allows him to cut a lane of the map off, use a fireball to help take on two enemies, and then eliminate someone approaching from the other angle as the firewall extinguishes. The other two abilities are not used in the video, but the icons suggest one may be another form of the fireball ability (perhaps one that deals damage instead) and another ability that seems as if it could heal. With Phoenix borrowing his name from the legendary bird that rises from the ashes after death, could this be a resurrect skill? [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=riot-games-fps-valorant&captions=true"] Abilities in Valorant work differently to other hero shooters, in that they are ‘bought’ at the start of each round with currency earned from kills and objective wins, rather than a permanent part of an Agent’s kit. If anything like Counter-Strike’s economy elements, certain abilities will be very expensive and require a certain amount of success in a match to afford. For more on Valorant, check out our hands-on preview of Riot’s potentially huge FPS. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt Purslow is IGN's UK News and Entertainment Writer. You can follow him on Twitter

The Last of Us TV Show Coming to HBO, Written by Neil Druckmann and Craig Mazin

The Last of Us director Neil Druckmann will team up with Chernobyl creator Craig Mazin on a television adaptation of The Last of Us for HBO. According to THR, Druckmann will be involved in the creation of the HBO The Last of Us series. This is a rarity for video game adaptations as the game creators aren’t usually directly involved with the adaptation process of their games. Druckmann and Mazin will write and adapt. Naughty Dog president Evan Wells will serve as executive producer alongside Carolyn Strauss. Sony Pictures Television and PlayStation Productions will co-produce the series for the cable network. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=igns-top-25-playstation-4-games&captions=true"] Mazin is best known for creating 2019's award-winning series Chernobyl about the nuclear disaster in Ukraine. Mazin is reportedly a fan of video games and has called Druckmann "without question the finest storyteller working in the video game medium, and The Last of Us is his magnum opus." "Getting a chance to adapt this breathtaking work of art has been a dream of mine for years, and I'm so honored to do it in partnership with Neil." [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/09/24/the-last-of-us-2-release-date-trailer"] Drukmann also commented on the project saying, "From the first time I sat down to talk with Craig I was equally blown away by his approach to narrative and his love and deep understanding of The Last of Us. With Chernobyl, Craig and HBO created a tense, harrowing, emotional masterpiece. I couldn't think of better partners to bring the story of The Last of Us to life as a television show." Druckmann confirmed the news in a Tweet. The Last of Us was released first on PlayStation 3 in 2013, with a PlayStation 4 remaster following soon after. Naughty Dog is currently developing The Last of Us Part 2 for the PlayStation 4, which is set to release later this year. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/05/06/chernobyl-official-trailer-2019-stellan-skarsgard-jared-harris-emily-watson"] IGN is reaching out to HBO to learn further details about the project. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt Kim is a reporter for IGN. You can reach him on Twitter.