At long last, WB Games revealed its upcoming Harry Potter RPG, Hogwarts Legacy. But given the recent controversies around series author J.K. Rowling, WB Games clarified that Rowling has no direct involvement with the magic RPG developed by Avalanche. The basis for Hogwarts Legacy comes from the Harry Potter young adult novels written by J.K. Rowling who has come under fire recently due to beliefs she’s made public that are considered transphobic. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/hogwarts-legacy-official-reveal-trailer"] Rowling’s various comments on gender, as well as plot points in her Cormoran Strike mystery novels that she writes under the pen name Robert Galbraith, have been accused of transphobia and have faced public backlash. Actors from the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts films such as Emma Watson, Daniel Radcliffe, and Eddie Redmayne have come out in support of trans rights, publicly disagreeing with Rowling's comments. Some book stores have also stopped stocking Harry Potter novels in protest. Amid this wider public controversy with the author, some have wondered what her involvement with Hogwarts Legacy is. In the official FAQ page for the RPG published by WB Games, the company confirmed that “J.K. Rowling is not directly involved in the creation of the game,” but adds that “her extraordinary body of writing is the foundation of all projects in the Wizarding World.” WB also confirmed that the story in Hogwarts Legacy is not written by Rowling nor is it an adaptation of any Harry Potter book or film. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=hogwarts-legacy-playstation-5-showcase-screenshots&captions=true"] However, WB declined to comment on whether Rowling will receive royalties from sales of Hogwarts Legacy. And the video game license will have undoubtedly gone through Rowling at some point in the development process. Hogwarts Legacy is the long-rumored Harry Potter RPG developed by Avalanche and published by WB Games under their Portkey Games label. The project had a high-profile leak in 2018, which made the project known, though WB refused to talk about the RPG until its official reveal at this week’s PS5 event. Hogwarts Legacy is not meant to tie into any of the existing Harry Potter novels specifically, but instead is set in the same universe, except during the 1800s – a time period that has not yet been seen in any Harry Potter or Fantastic Beast stories. Players will create characters who enroll in the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and experience what it is like to be student witch or wizard. For more on Hogwarts Legacy, read about everything we knew about the wizarding game when it leaked back in 2018, and where the game could take place in the Harry Potter timeline. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt T.M. Kim is a reporter for IGN.

Orphan Black star Tatiana Maslany has reportedly landed the title role in Marvel's She-Hulk, the upcoming Disney+ streaming series. According to Variety, the Emmy-winning Maslany has been cast as Jennifer Walters, the attorney who, in the Marvel Comics, transforms into She-Hulk. It should be noted that this was not an official announcement from either Marvel or Disney+, who both declined to comment for the trades. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Tatiana Maslany played multiple clones in Orphan Black.[/caption] While she possesses superhuman strength and speed, Jennifer's green behemoth also retains control over her intelligence and emotions, unlike her cousin Bruce Banner (yes, we know there have been exceptions in his case). In addition to Orphan Black, Maslany's credits include HBO's Perry Mason, Destroyer, Woman in Gold, and World Without End. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=she-hulk-through-the-years&captions=true"] The character of Jennifer Walters is expected to also eventually appear in the big-screen MCU. She-Hulk's creative team includes director/exec producer Kat Coiro and writer/showrunner Jessica Gao, who tweeted the following approval of Maslany's casting:

https://t.co/xt7zo1fEX8

— Jessica Gao (@ChairmanGao) September 17, 2020

Learn more about She-Hulk's origin, greatest stories, and more here.

Orphan Black star Tatiana Maslany has reportedly landed the title role in Marvel's She-Hulk, the upcoming Disney+ streaming series. According to Variety, the Emmy-winning Maslany has been cast as Jennifer Walters, the attorney who, in the Marvel Comics, transforms into She-Hulk. It should be noted that this was not an official announcement from either Marvel or Disney+, who both declined to comment for the trades. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Tatiana Maslany played multiple clones in Orphan Black.[/caption] While she possesses superhuman strength and speed, Jennifer's green behemoth also retains control over her intelligence and emotions, unlike her cousin Bruce Banner (yes, we know there have been exceptions in his case). In addition to Orphan Black, Maslany's credits include HBO's Perry Mason, Destroyer, Woman in Gold, and World Without End. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=she-hulk-through-the-years&captions=true"] The character of Jennifer Walters is expected to also eventually appear in the big-screen MCU. She-Hulk's creative team includes director/exec producer Kat Coiro and writer/showrunner Jessica Gao, who tweeted the following approval of Maslany's casting:

https://t.co/xt7zo1fEX8

— Jessica Gao (@ChairmanGao) September 17, 2020

Learn more about She-Hulk's origin, greatest stories, and more here.

Microsoft is promising a smoother experience for pre-ordering the Xbox Series X and Series S than the PS5, and today Microsoft laid-out exactly when and where one can pre-order the next-gen Xbox consoles. According to reports, pre-orders for the Xbox Series X and S will begin at 8 am PT/11 am ET on September 22 at various retailers. Online retailers like Amazon, Target, Walmart, Best Buy, Costco, Sam's Club, Gamestop, Newegg, and the Army and Airforce Exchange Service will all carry digital pre-orders for both Xbox systems. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=confirmed-xbox-series-x-games&captions=true"] Microsoft's time and date pre-order announcement is a stark contrast to the PS5 pre-order process when Sony announced pre-orders would go up today on September 17, but instead, pre-orders went live across different retailers at different times and chaos ensued. PS5 stock fluctuated at different retailers, and some sites crashed or were unable to meet demand. Meanwhile other customers discovered their PS5 pre-orders at specific retailers were canceled. Although Microsoft is laying out pre-order plans early, we'll have to wait until the actual pre-order date to see if everything goes as smoothly as planned. The Xbox Series X will retail for $499, while the digital-only Series S will retail at $299. Keep an eye on our Xbox Series X pre-order page for the latest, up-to-date pre-order info. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt T.M. Kim is a reporter for IGN.  

Microsoft is promising a smoother experience for pre-ordering the Xbox Series X and Series S than the PS5, and today Microsoft laid-out exactly when and where one can pre-order the next-gen Xbox consoles. According to reports, pre-orders for the Xbox Series X and S will begin at 8 am PT/11 am ET on September 22 at various retailers. Online retailers like Amazon, Target, Walmart, Best Buy, Costco, Sam's Club, Gamestop, Newegg, and the Army and Airforce Exchange Service will all carry digital pre-orders for both Xbox systems. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=confirmed-xbox-series-x-games&captions=true"] Microsoft's time and date pre-order announcement is a stark contrast to the PS5 pre-order process when Sony announced pre-orders would go up today on September 17, but instead, pre-orders went live across different retailers at different times and chaos ensued. PS5 stock fluctuated at different retailers, and some sites crashed or were unable to meet demand. Meanwhile other customers discovered their PS5 pre-orders at specific retailers were canceled. Although Microsoft is laying out pre-order plans early, we'll have to wait until the actual pre-order date to see if everything goes as smoothly as planned. The Xbox Series X will retail for $499, while the digital-only Series S will retail at $299. Keep an eye on our Xbox Series X pre-order page for the latest, up-to-date pre-order info. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt T.M. Kim is a reporter for IGN.  

V1 Interactive announced that it will remove the multiplayer component from its hybrid-FPS Disintegration on November 17. The decision comes three months after Disintegration’s launch. Disintegration is a first-person shooter with real-time strategy elements. The game is played in the first-person and you can navigate the map using a flying “gravcycle” and shoot at enemy players. At the same time, you’ll need to send orders to your ground troops to accomplish objectives or take down other enemies. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/06/11/the-first-23-minutes-of-disintegration"] It’s a twist on the FPS formula and V1 Interactive was founded by Halo co-creator Marcus Lehto, but it doesn’t appear to have gained traction.

“From both the development team at V1 Interactive and publishing group at Private Division, we stand by the creative risks taken to launch such a unique, genre-bending game,” V1 said in a statement. “We believe the video game industry needs constant innovation, and we will continue to take risks, follow creative visions, and support new ideas,” V1 added.

IGN’s Disintegration review noted the uniqueness of the hybrid-FPS gameplay, but it falls “pretty flat after a while.” [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt T.M. Kim is a reporter for IGN.

V1 Interactive announced that it will remove the multiplayer component from its hybrid-FPS Disintegration on November 17. The decision comes three months after Disintegration’s launch. Disintegration is a first-person shooter with real-time strategy elements. The game is played in the first-person and you can navigate the map using a flying “gravcycle” and shoot at enemy players. At the same time, you’ll need to send orders to your ground troops to accomplish objectives or take down other enemies. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/06/11/the-first-23-minutes-of-disintegration"] It’s a twist on the FPS formula and V1 Interactive was founded by Halo co-creator Marcus Lehto, but it doesn’t appear to have gained traction.

“From both the development team at V1 Interactive and publishing group at Private Division, we stand by the creative risks taken to launch such a unique, genre-bending game,” V1 said in a statement. “We believe the video game industry needs constant innovation, and we will continue to take risks, follow creative visions, and support new ideas,” V1 added.

IGN’s Disintegration review noted the uniqueness of the hybrid-FPS gameplay, but it falls “pretty flat after a while.” [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt T.M. Kim is a reporter for IGN.

The Batman has resumed filming following its star, Robert Pattinson, completing his quarantine after allegedly being diagnosed with COVID-19. As reported by THR, a WB spokesperson announced the news that "following a hiatus for COVID-19 quarantine precautions, filming has now resumed on The Batman in the U.K." The Batman shut down its production on September 3, with Warner Bros. confirming that a member of the production had contracted coronavirus. While it was never explicitly said, THR's sources had said Pattinson was the "specific individual who had tested positive." [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/08/23/the-batman-trailer-dc-fandome-official-footage"] This was another shut down for the production of The Batman which suffered its first back in March when industry-wide shutdowns began due to the spread of the pandemic. Around that time, The Batman director Matt Reeves revealed that filming was about 25% complete at around the arrival of the first stoppage. The Batman received its first trailer at DC FanDome, and it showed a younger Batman working to take down a masked serial killer and a deal with vast conspiracy linking some of the most powerful families in Gotham. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=the-batman-official-trailer-1-stills&captions=true"] While some believe this masked foe could be The Riddler, we've examined the evidence and try to determine if there is more than meets the eye to this story. The Batman is scheduled to be released in theaters on October 1, 2021. For more, be sure to check out everything we know about this new take on Batman, where the Joker could be in this reboot, and how the riddle in the first trailer may have already been solved. [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 Batman has resumed filming following its star, Robert Pattinson, completing his quarantine after allegedly being diagnosed with COVID-19. As reported by THR, a WB spokesperson announced the news that "following a hiatus for COVID-19 quarantine precautions, filming has now resumed on The Batman in the U.K." The Batman shut down its production on September 3, with Warner Bros. confirming that a member of the production had contracted coronavirus. While it was never explicitly said, THR's sources had said Pattinson was the "specific individual who had tested positive." [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/08/23/the-batman-trailer-dc-fandome-official-footage"] This was another shut down for the production of The Batman which suffered its first back in March when industry-wide shutdowns began due to the spread of the pandemic. Around that time, The Batman director Matt Reeves revealed that filming was about 25% complete at around the arrival of the first stoppage. The Batman received its first trailer at DC FanDome, and it showed a younger Batman working to take down a masked serial killer and a deal with vast conspiracy linking some of the most powerful families in Gotham. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=the-batman-official-trailer-1-stills&captions=true"] While some believe this masked foe could be The Riddler, we've examined the evidence and try to determine if there is more than meets the eye to this story. The Batman is scheduled to be released in theaters on October 1, 2021. For more, be sure to check out everything we know about this new take on Batman, where the Joker could be in this reboot, and how the riddle in the first trailer may have already been solved. [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.

AMC and Twitch have announced TWDUniverse, a new Twitch channel offering original content, watchalongs and interactive experiences set around The Walking Dead Universe. The new channel will premiere this Sunday, September 20 with a launch party stream, followed by a Walking Dead catch-up, where "hosts will lead fans through select episodes of The Walking Dead season 10 and Fear The Walking Dead season 5, with real-time reactions as they watch and interact with the community, leading up to the much-anticipated premiere of episode 1016 on October 4." Going forward, the channel will aim to air 12 hours of original content a week, including Watchalongs during episode premieres. Hosts include Clarke Wolfe, Ronnetta Renay and Dylan Gabriel Guerra. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/09/17/the-walking-dead-universe-official-trailer"] “As the storytelling and characters that span ’The Walking Dead’ Universe continue to grow, so do the innovative ways we reach and engage with fans – both old and new – across social media and popular new platforms like Twitch,” said David Beck, executive vice president and head of programming strategy and business operations, AMC Networks. “Sunday nights on Twitch are audience-first and fan-centric, and we are thrilled at this opportunity to build something new for passionate fans of ‘The Walking Dead’ Universe, giving them a new community to celebrate the Universe, channel their enthusiasm and express their fandom.” You can check out an initial show line-up below: Launch Party Launches Sunday, September 20 For its first stream, TWDUniverse will kick off with a Launch Party featuring hosts Clarke, Ronnetta and Dylan as they welcome fans into the TWDUniverse community to learn, play and discuss among the most authoritative voices on the franchise, as well as kick off a season 10 interactive marathon of The Walking Dead. The Walking Dead Catch Up Launches Sunday, September 20 The hosts will lead fans through select episodes of The Walking Dead season 10 and Fear The Walking Dead season 5, with real-time reactions as they watch and interact with the community, leading up to the much-anticipated premiere of episode 1016 on October 4. Re-Watching Dead Launches Thursday, September 24 A weekly deep dive discussion show focusing on spoiler-filled exploration into past episodes of The Walking Dead -- exploring both on-screen and behind-the-scenes stories. Fans will get to re-live the first time they saw the show through interactive discussion of the story and dig deeper behind the scenes via interviews, behind-the-scenes moments, and interactive segments and games where they are part of the show. World Beyond Celebration (name pending) Launches Sunday, September 27 A variety show celebration of World Beyond composed of quick segments diving into cast interviews, BTS discussion, or fun and games with the audience. Framed around the idea of “youth,” many of the stitching comes from exploring what younger versions of Walking Dead characters would be like. Plus, it gives us a chance to get to know our hosts and guests better as they share stories from their high school years, as well. TWD Sundays Launches Sunday, October 4 with 4 hours of continuous streaming content each week: 7:30pm Eastern: Recapping Dead Pre-Show – Hosts dive into recaps of the previous week’s episode, explore theories and give their best predictions and speculations before the new episode premieres on television. 9:00pm Eastern: Live Watch Party – During the episode, TWDUniverse will keep streaming on Twitch to create a live second screen experience for new episodes in The Walking Dead Universe with behind-the-scenes info pop-ups, interactions from the community and live host reactions. 11:00pm Wastern: After Show – Following the premiere of Talking Dead, fans can continue the discussion in a more informal, interactive space on Twitch, taking a deeper dive into the new episodes. [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.