Update 02/12/2021: Chivalry 2 will be released on June 8 for PC (via Epic Games Store), PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S. All versions will feature cross-play. Pre-ordering on PC will get you guaranteed access to a Cross-Play Closed Beta event, open from March 26-29. That beta will, of course, run for all consoles, but PC is seemingly the only platform with guaranteed beta access for pre-orders. Pre-orders on all formats will net you a Royal Zweihander sword. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2021/02/12/chivalry-2-developer-diary-beta-announce-and-release-date-video"] [poilib element="accentDivider"] Chivalry 2 has been delayed and will now be released in 2021 on PC (Epic Games Store), Xbox One, Xbox Series X, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 5. Announced by Torn Banner Studios, this delay is "necessary to allow Chivalry 2 to be the greatest game it can be, and one that realizes our vision of a “true sequel” to the original Chivalry: Medieval Warfare." The developer cites COVID-19 as a big factor for the updated timeline, but the extra time will allow them to "incorporate several quality of life improvements and also include what was originally post-launch content, in the release." [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/06/10/chivalry-2-console-and-crossplay-announcement-trailer"] While this will mean that more maps and game features will be playable at launch, horses will still be arriving after launch as they "need a bit more time in the training stables." Chivalry 2 recently completed its sixth round of its Alpha stage, and Torn Banner Studios reassures fans that this delay will not impact the previously-planned Summer beta. There is no specific date given yet, but more information will be coming soon. Chivalry 2 was announced during E3 2019 and looks to bring players into their favorite medieval movie battle scenes. It features first-person melee battles of up to 64 players and will allow players to relive moments that invoke battles like Game of Thrones' Battle of the Bastards. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=chivalry-2-two-new-screenshots&captions=true"] During our IGN Expo earlier this year, we were able to exclusively confirm that Chivalry 2 would be headed to consoles alongside the previously confirmed PC version. Furthermore, they will all feature cross-play with each other. [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.

Update 02/12/2021: Chivalry 2 will be released on June 8 for PC (via Epic Games Store), PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S. All versions will feature cross-play. Pre-ordering on PC will get you guaranteed access to a Cross-Play Closed Beta event, open from March 26-29. That beta will, of course, run for all consoles, but PC is seemingly the only platform with guaranteed beta access for pre-orders. Pre-orders on all formats will net you a Royal Zweihander sword. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2021/02/12/chivalry-2-developer-diary-beta-announce-and-release-date-video"] [poilib element="accentDivider"] Chivalry 2 has been delayed and will now be released in 2021 on PC (Epic Games Store), Xbox One, Xbox Series X, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 5. Announced by Torn Banner Studios, this delay is "necessary to allow Chivalry 2 to be the greatest game it can be, and one that realizes our vision of a “true sequel” to the original Chivalry: Medieval Warfare." The developer cites COVID-19 as a big factor for the updated timeline, but the extra time will allow them to "incorporate several quality of life improvements and also include what was originally post-launch content, in the release." [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/06/10/chivalry-2-console-and-crossplay-announcement-trailer"] While this will mean that more maps and game features will be playable at launch, horses will still be arriving after launch as they "need a bit more time in the training stables." Chivalry 2 recently completed its sixth round of its Alpha stage, and Torn Banner Studios reassures fans that this delay will not impact the previously-planned Summer beta. There is no specific date given yet, but more information will be coming soon. Chivalry 2 was announced during E3 2019 and looks to bring players into their favorite medieval movie battle scenes. It features first-person melee battles of up to 64 players and will allow players to relive moments that invoke battles like Game of Thrones' Battle of the Bastards. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=chivalry-2-two-new-screenshots&captions=true"] During our IGN Expo earlier this year, we were able to exclusively confirm that Chivalry 2 would be headed to consoles alongside the previously confirmed PC version. Furthermore, they will all feature cross-play with each other. [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.

Ubisoft has decided to remove the black raised fist imagery from Tom Clancy's Elite Squad's intro, as it has been deemed "insensitive and harmful" and appears to connect a fictional terrorist group called Umbra to the Black Lives Matter movement. Ubisoft posted its statement on Twitter, and confirmed it will be removing this "raised fist" imagery from Tom Clancy's Elite Squad in the next title update on Tuesday, September 1 on Android and "as soon as possible on iOS." "Imagery that appeared in the opening video sequence of Tom Clancy's Elite Squad featuring a 'raised fist' was insensitive and harmful in both its inclusion and how it was portrayed," Ubisoft tweet reads. "We have listened to and appreciate the players and the broader community who have pointed it out and we apologize. This 'raised fist' imagery will be removed in the next title update this Tuesday, September 1 on Android and as soon as possible on iOS." In Elite Squad's intro video, the narrator describes Umbra, this fictional terrorist group, as "a new threat has emerged to take advantage of escalating civil unrest." It continues by calling them a "faceless organization that wants to build a new world order." When the narrator says "They claim to promote an egalitarian utopia to gain popular support," the "raised fists" in question come into view. The raised fist has been used for many years as a symbol for revolution, and most recently has been used by those in the Black Lives Matter movement in the fight against police brutality and systemic racism. This controversy is yet another one for Ubisoft, a company that has been dealing with the fallout of the multiple sexual allegations against some of its employees. Ubisoft has committed to "major changes" and is putting systems in place to ensure these issues will not happen again. [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.

Ubisoft has decided to remove the black raised fist imagery from Tom Clancy's Elite Squad's intro, as it has been deemed "insensitive and harmful" and appears to connect a fictional terrorist group called Umbra to the Black Lives Matter movement. Ubisoft posted its statement on Twitter, and confirmed it will be removing this "raised fist" imagery from Tom Clancy's Elite Squad in the next title update on Tuesday, September 1 on Android and "as soon as possible on iOS." "Imagery that appeared in the opening video sequence of Tom Clancy's Elite Squad featuring a 'raised fist' was insensitive and harmful in both its inclusion and how it was portrayed," Ubisoft tweet reads. "We have listened to and appreciate the players and the broader community who have pointed it out and we apologize. This 'raised fist' imagery will be removed in the next title update this Tuesday, September 1 on Android and as soon as possible on iOS." In Elite Squad's intro video, the narrator describes Umbra, this fictional terrorist group, as "a new threat has emerged to take advantage of escalating civil unrest." It continues by calling them a "faceless organization that wants to build a new world order." When the narrator says "They claim to promote an egalitarian utopia to gain popular support," the "raised fists" in question come into view. The raised fist has been used for many years as a symbol for revolution, and most recently has been used by those in the Black Lives Matter movement in the fight against police brutality and systemic racism. This controversy is yet another one for Ubisoft, a company that has been dealing with the fallout of the multiple sexual allegations against some of its employees. Ubisoft has committed to "major changes" and is putting systems in place to ensure these issues will not happen again. [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.

IGN is thrilled to announce that two of its writers were recognized as first-place winners at the L.A. Press Club's 62nd Annual Southern California Journalism Awards. Senior editor/producer Joshua Yehl won first place in the category of Entertainment Commentary (Film/TV) for his December 2019 essay "How I Learned to Grieve and Heal Through Star Wars." Inspired by the release of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker and its inclusion of the franchise's first on-screen, same-sex kiss, Yehl offers a personal account of how that Star Wars milestone helped him process the grief surrounding the death of his friend Drew Leinonen, who was among those killed at the 2016 shooting at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida. Freelance writer Siddhant Adlakha won in the "Criticism of TV" category, selected out of all media platforms (print, radio, TV or online), for his series of reviews of HBO's Watchmen. Adlakha scored the eighth episode of Watchmen a 10, writing "Watchmen’s penultimate episode is a thermodynamic miracle. An expertly crafted piece of television that positions us in past and present simultaneously, while exploring what makes Dr. Manhattan human — and therefore, what makes the rest of us. A story of doomed romance, of sacrifice, and of what it feels like to remember falling in love." Adlakha continues to be an regular contributor to IGN's entertainment coverage, and currently is penning a retrospective series looking back at filmmaker Christopher Nolan's entire feature-length filmography. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=the-blizzard-china-controversy-explained&captions=true"] IGN reporter Matt Kim also earned a nomination in the category of Online: Entertainment News (Music/Performers) for his November 2019 piece "Blizzcon Protesters Share Why They're Fighting For Free Speech at Blizzard's Big Event." Written in the wake of Blizzard's decision to punish Hearthstone player Ng Wai "Blitzchung" Chung following his public support of the Hong Kong protests, the piece explores how many Blizzcon attendees sought to protest Blizzard's decision and raise awareness of the situation in Hong Kong. Bloomberg News' Lucas Shaw took home the top prize in the category for his reporting "Bollywood Rapper Sets Viewer Record YouTube Isn’t Talking About." These are IGN's first wins and first nominations in the L.A. Press Club SoCal Journalism Awards. IGN wishes congratulations to all of the winners of the 2020 SoCal Journalism Awards, which were announced on Saturday, August 29th.

IGN is thrilled to announce that two of its writers were recognized as first-place winners at the L.A. Press Club's 62nd Annual Southern California Journalism Awards. Senior editor/producer Joshua Yehl won first place in the category of Entertainment Commentary (Film/TV) for his December 2019 essay "How I Learned to Grieve and Heal Through Star Wars." Inspired by the release of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker and its inclusion of the franchise's first on-screen, same-sex kiss, Yehl offers a personal account of how that Star Wars milestone helped him process the grief surrounding the death of his friend Drew Leinonen, who was among those killed at the 2016 shooting at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida. Freelance writer Siddhant Adlakha won in the "Criticism of TV" category, selected out of all media platforms (print, radio, TV or online), for his series of reviews of HBO's Watchmen. Adlakha scored the eighth episode of Watchmen a 10, writing "Watchmen’s penultimate episode is a thermodynamic miracle. An expertly crafted piece of television that positions us in past and present simultaneously, while exploring what makes Dr. Manhattan human — and therefore, what makes the rest of us. A story of doomed romance, of sacrifice, and of what it feels like to remember falling in love." Adlakha continues to be an regular contributor to IGN's entertainment coverage, and currently is penning a retrospective series looking back at filmmaker Christopher Nolan's entire feature-length filmography. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=the-blizzard-china-controversy-explained&captions=true"] IGN reporter Matt Kim also earned a nomination in the category of Online: Entertainment News (Music/Performers) for his November 2019 piece "Blizzcon Protesters Share Why They're Fighting For Free Speech at Blizzard's Big Event." Written in the wake of Blizzard's decision to punish Hearthstone player Ng Wai "Blitzchung" Chung following his public support of the Hong Kong protests, the piece explores how many Blizzcon attendees sought to protest Blizzard's decision and raise awareness of the situation in Hong Kong. Bloomberg News' Lucas Shaw took home the top prize in the category for his reporting "Bollywood Rapper Sets Viewer Record YouTube Isn’t Talking About." These are IGN's first wins and first nominations in the L.A. Press Club SoCal Journalism Awards. IGN wishes congratulations to all of the winners of the 2020 SoCal Journalism Awards, which were announced on Saturday, August 29th.

From Blade Runner 2049 to Dum and Dumber To to Bill & Ted Face the Music, here are the best-known examples of the longest breaks between a movie and its follow-up.

From Blade Runner 2049 to Dum and Dumber To to Bill & Ted Face the Music, here are the best-known examples of the longest breaks between a movie and its follow-up.

Square Enix and Crystal Dynamics have revealed more details on Marvel's Avengers gear, cosmetics, vendors, marketplace, and the premium Hero Challenge Cards, which will cost $10 for each free, post-launch character. This explainer on Gear and Cosmetics began by reiterating that all future updates - including new characters, story content, missions, and regions - will be available for free for all players. Furthermore, while there will be cosmetic content that will be purchasable with real money, it will be aesthetic-only and will not impact gameplay in any way. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=marvels-avengers-hero-challenge-cards-vendors-and-marketplace&captions=true"]

Marvel Avenger's Hero Challenge Cards and Marketplace

One of the biggest ways to earn a ton of cosmetics is through the Hero Challenge Cards. Each card has 40 tiers of free and premium rewards that are earned by Challenge Points gained from completing daily and weekly challenges. The premium Hero Challenge Card rewards for all six starting heroes - Iron Man, Kamala Khan, Hulk, Thor, Captain America, and Black Widow - will be activated for free for all who own Marvel's Avengers. All post-launch character's premium Hero Challenge Cards, however, will cost $10 (1,000 credits) to activate. Although, if you complete the entire card, you will earn back your 1,000 Credit activation cost and earn over 12,500 Credits worth of content. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/08/10/marvels-avengers-review-in-progress"] This means that post-launch character's like Clint Barton's Hawkeye and Spider-Man - who is PS4 exclusive - will be free for all players, and only extra cosmetics and their premium Hero Challenge Card will cost real-world money. Marvel's Avengers will also feature a Marketplace that will feature "purchasable cosmetics in the form of Outfits, Emotes, Takedowns, and Nameplates." Credits will also be required to purchase these items, and a 500 credit pack will cost you $5.00. Credits will come in packs of 500, 2,000, 5,000, and 10,000, with bonus credits rewarded for the bigger packs. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/08/05/avengers-spider-man-exclusivity-is-good-for-playstation-bad-for-players-opinion"]

Cosmetics and Vendors

Cosmetic items come in four different varieties - Outfits, Emotes, Takedowns, and Nameplates - and many can be earned, crafted, or purchased from vendors. Vendors are narrative-based store operators who set up shop around Marvel's Avengers game world. They will sell Cosmetics, Gear, and Rare Resources in exchange for Units and common Resources. Speaking of Resources, these can be found in-game and will allow you to upgrade your gear. Patterns can also be earned through play and can be used at Fabrication Machines to create an Outfit or Nameplate. Lastly, Units are Marvel's Avengers "soft-currency", which means it is in-game digital currency that has no real-world value and can be found in strongboxes or as rewards for increasing your Faction Level. Gear Vendors will sell you character-specific Gear and Resources in exchange for Fragments, which can be earned by collecting and dismantling Gear. Gear choices will rotate daily and weekly. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/08/24/marvels-avengers-launch-trailer"] Cosmetic Vendors will take Units from the player in exchange for Outfits, Emotes, and Nameplates. Legendary Outfits will rotate weekly, while Nameplates, Emotes, and Epic & Rare Outfits rotate daily. Marvel's Avengers will be released on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC, and Google Stadia on September 4, 2020. PS5 and Xbox Series X versions will also be released later this year. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=marvels-avengers-character-combat-breakdown&captions=true"] [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.

Square Enix and Crystal Dynamics have revealed more details on Marvel's Avengers gear, cosmetics, vendors, marketplace, and the premium Hero Challenge Cards, which will cost $10 for each free, post-launch character. This explainer on Gear and Cosmetics began by reiterating that all future updates - including new characters, story content, missions, and regions - will be available for free for all players. Furthermore, while there will be cosmetic content that will be purchasable with real money, it will be aesthetic-only and will not impact gameplay in any way. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=marvels-avengers-hero-challenge-cards-vendors-and-marketplace&captions=true"]

Marvel Avenger's Hero Challenge Cards and Marketplace

One of the biggest ways to earn a ton of cosmetics is through the Hero Challenge Cards. Each card has 40 tiers of free and premium rewards that are earned by Challenge Points gained from completing daily and weekly challenges. The premium Hero Challenge Card rewards for all six starting heroes - Iron Man, Kamala Khan, Hulk, Thor, Captain America, and Black Widow - will be activated for free for all who own Marvel's Avengers. All post-launch character's premium Hero Challenge Cards, however, will cost $10 (1,000 credits) to activate. Although, if you complete the entire card, you will earn back your 1,000 Credit activation cost and earn over 12,500 Credits worth of content. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/08/10/marvels-avengers-review-in-progress"] This means that post-launch character's like Clint Barton's Hawkeye and Spider-Man - who is PS4 exclusive - will be free for all players, and only extra cosmetics and their premium Hero Challenge Card will cost real-world money. Marvel's Avengers will also feature a Marketplace that will feature "purchasable cosmetics in the form of Outfits, Emotes, Takedowns, and Nameplates." Credits will also be required to purchase these items, and a 500 credit pack will cost you $5.00. Credits will come in packs of 500, 2,000, 5,000, and 10,000, with bonus credits rewarded for the bigger packs. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/08/05/avengers-spider-man-exclusivity-is-good-for-playstation-bad-for-players-opinion"]

Cosmetics and Vendors

Cosmetic items come in four different varieties - Outfits, Emotes, Takedowns, and Nameplates - and many can be earned, crafted, or purchased from vendors. Vendors are narrative-based store operators who set up shop around Marvel's Avengers game world. They will sell Cosmetics, Gear, and Rare Resources in exchange for Units and common Resources. Speaking of Resources, these can be found in-game and will allow you to upgrade your gear. Patterns can also be earned through play and can be used at Fabrication Machines to create an Outfit or Nameplate. Lastly, Units are Marvel's Avengers "soft-currency", which means it is in-game digital currency that has no real-world value and can be found in strongboxes or as rewards for increasing your Faction Level. Gear Vendors will sell you character-specific Gear and Resources in exchange for Fragments, which can be earned by collecting and dismantling Gear. Gear choices will rotate daily and weekly. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/08/24/marvels-avengers-launch-trailer"] Cosmetic Vendors will take Units from the player in exchange for Outfits, Emotes, and Nameplates. Legendary Outfits will rotate weekly, while Nameplates, Emotes, and Epic & Rare Outfits rotate daily. Marvel's Avengers will be released on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC, and Google Stadia on September 4, 2020. PS5 and Xbox Series X versions will also be released later this year. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=marvels-avengers-character-combat-breakdown&captions=true"] [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.