Netflix has released Making The Witcher, a behind-the-scenes special exploring the story behind The Witcher's fantasy world of magic and monsters. The Witcher's official Twitter account shared a trailer for the new Netflix original documentary, which offers an exclusive backstage look into the production of the live-action series adaptation, starring Henry Cavill as Geralt of Rivia, the titular monster hunter.

Feast your eyes on the story behind the Continent. Watch Making The Witcher, now on @netflix. pic.twitter.com/80sVbYzigG

— The Witcher (@witchernetflix) August 26, 2020

The video teaser for the 32-minute special features several cast and crew members divulging "the secrets behind the saga," providing fresh insight into the show's casting processes, the choreography of its action sequences, the application of different storytelling perspectives, as well as the show's visual effects and make-up design choices. One clip shares thrilling footage of Cavill and Emma Appleton sparring with swords as part of their 10-day training session to prepare for Geralt and Renfri's climactic fight scene, which features in the very first episode of season one, while other segments offer glimpses at the crafting of the world's monsters and the CGI construction of its landscapes being created "from the ground up." [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/12/23/the-witcher-henry-cavill-breaks-down-geralts-fight-with-renfri"] The Witcher launched on Netflix last year and quickly became the most in-demand TV series in the world across all streaming platforms, even surpassing Disney Plus' Star Wars: The Mandalorian as "the top show" around the globe for one week in December, as 76 million households streamed the first season of the action-packed fantasy-drama. Season 2 of The Witcher started filming in London earlier this year, with a planned release sometime in 2021. However, the shoot was suspended back in March as Netflix paused filming on all of its films and TV shows in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Netflix has since resumed production on the second season of the hit show after being given the "green light" to start filming again. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=every-monster-in-season-1-of-netflixs-the-witcher&captions=true"] [poilib element="accentDivider"] Adele Ankers is a Freelance Entertainment Journalist. You can reach her on Twitter.

Following the news that Halo Infinite will be delayed, unsubstantiated rumors began circulating that Halo Infinite could be delayed as far as 2022 and drop support for the Xbox One altogether. These rumors were shot down by 343 Industries In a tweet response, 343 community manager John Junyszek said that “there are no plans to change our 2021 release or the devices and platforms we’ll be supporting.” Junyszek added, “We’re building Halo Infinite to be the best it can be on each device/platform.” [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/halo-infinite-9-minutes-of-campaign-gameplay"] Halo Infinite was originally announced for the Xbox One with enhancements for the Xbox Series X. In January 2020 Xbox Game Studios boss Matt Booty said that first-party Microsoft game won’t be Series X exclusives for at least a year as part of its strategy to keep the entire Xbox console line viable and open. However, things were thrown in flux when 343 announced that Halo Infinite will be delayed and miss the Xbox Series X launch window. In a statement, the developer said: “The decision to shift our release is the result of multiple factors that have contributed to development challenges, including the ongoing COVID-related impacts affecting us all this year.” There has been some criticism about Halo Infinite ever since a full 9-minute gameplay video was revealed in July. Critics noted that, graphically, Halo Infinite appeared flat and the fidelity of the demo appeared lacking. 343 said in a statement that while the art style for Halo Infinite was intentionally made to evoke a more “classic” look for Halo Infinite, the developer agreed that there is room for improvement when it comes to the level of fidelity. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="legacyId=20098018&captions=true"] “We don’t have firm answers or outcomes to share yet but the team is working as quickly as possible on plans to address some of the feedback around detail, clarity, and overall fidelity,” said 343. “The team is committed and focused on making sure we have a beautiful world for players to explore when we launch.” [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt T.M. Kim is a reporter for IGN.

Be sure to check out all of the gamescom 2020 highlights. Gamescom is an annual video game convention typically held at the Koelnmesse exhibition center in Cologne, Germany. It’s the largest gaming convention in the world, rivaling the likes of E3 and Tokyo Game Show. This year, Gamescom 2020 will be fully virtual and in an effort to bring this digital event to life, it has partnered with IGN to bring you never-before-seen game trailers, live gameplay demos, exclusive developer interviews, and more. Here’s everything you need to know to join us. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/08/27/gamescom-2020"]

Gamescom 2020 Date and Start Time

Gamescom 2020 is a four-day long event, taking place between August 27-30. The event will kick off with Geoff Keighley’s Opening Night Live which starts promptly at 10:30am PT, 1:30pm ET, and 6:30pm BST on Thursday, August 27. If you're tuning in from Australia, that's 3:30am AEST on Friday, August 28.

How to Watch Gamescom 2020

Since IGN has partnered with Gamescom to bring you this year's virtual event, we'll be streaming on our homepage and across all of our platforms, including Facebook, Twitter, Twitch, and YouTube. Here's the full list of places to watch Gamescom 2020:

• IGN.com (homepage)
• IGN's Facebook Channel
• IGN’s Twitter
• IGN's Twitch Channel
• IGN’s Youtube Channel
• IGN's TikTok
• IGN's iOS App
• IGN's Android App
• IGN's PlayStation 4 App
• IGN's Xbox One App
• Roku
• IGN App for Android TV
• IGN for Amazon Fire TV
• Apple TV
• IGN 1 on Samsung TV Plus
• Pluto TV
• Plex Live TV

What to Expect at Gamescom 2020

While we can't reveal anything too specific, we can tell you about a few of the exciting things planned for Gamescom 2020. Our host Michael Swaim will discuss the daily highlights and more with the Gamescom Daily Show. We also have a very special Awesome Indies showcase planned where we'll spotlight games from smaller studios and speak with the developers behind them. Last but certainly not least, there's the Cosplay contest and Gamescom Best of Show, where awards will be handed to the brightest stars of the show.

Gamescom 2020 Schedule

Friday, August 28

The exclusive game trailer and gameplay reveals continue on Day 2 of IGN Live x Gamescom, running from 7:30am-3:30pm PT, 10:30am-6:30pm ET, 3:30pm-11:30pm BST, and 12:30am-8:30am AEST. Sprinkled in between the reveals is Game Scoop! Live and Up at Noon with Troy Baker, as well as the Gamescom Daily Show which wraps up the day's events. See the full Day 2 schedule below:

7:30am PT

• Goldilock One - Trailer Reveal
• The Dark Pictures Anthology: Little Hope - Gameplay Reveal

8:00am PT

• Game Scoop! LIVE

9:00am PT

• Genshin Impact - Trailer Reveal
• Scarlet Nexus - Gameplay Preview
• EuroPlay Games Lineup Sizzle
• Ponpu - New Gameplay Reveal
• Unannounced Game - Trailer Reveal
• Conarium - Trailer Reveal
• Naser: Son of Man - Trailer Reveal
• Unannounced DLC - Trailer Reveal
• Humankind - New Gameplay Reveal

9:30am PT

• Age of Empires III - Developer Interview
• Little Nightmares II - Gameplay Preview
• Stronghold: Warlords - New Gameplay Reveal
• Morbid: The Seven Acolytes - New Gameplay Reveal

10:00am PT

• Captain Tsubasa: Rise of New Champions - Launch Trailer and New Gameplay
• Transient - Trailer Reveal
• HAAK - Trailer Reveal
• Zelter - Trailer Reveal
• Overloop - Trailer Reveal

10:30am PT

• Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin - New Gameplay Reveal
• The Waylanders - New Game Footage Reveal
• Sea of Thieves - Developer Gameplay Update
• Unexplored 2 - New Gameplay Reveal
• Crash Bandicoot - Developer Interview

11:00am PT

• Street Power Soccer - Trailer Reveal
• Drake Hollow - Trailer Reveal
• Raji: An Ancient Epic - Trailer Reveal
• Drone Swarm - New Gameplay Reveal

11:30am PT

• Ikenfell - New Gameplay Reveal
• WRC 9 - New Gameplay Reveal
• The Medium - Extended Gameplay Reveal
• Alaloth – Champions of the Four Kingdoms - New Gameplay Reveal
• ANNO: Mutationem - New Gameplay Reveal
• Project Haven - New Gameplay Reveal

12:00pm PT

• The Medium - Developer Interview
• Up at Noon with Max and Brian (featuring Troy Baker)
• Tony Hawk Pro Skater Remaster - Developer Interview

1:00pm PT

• Per Aspera - Trailer Reveal
• Sherlock Holmes: Chapter One - Trailer Reveal
• Wonhon: A Vengeful Spirit - Trailer Reveal
• In Sound Mind - New Gameplay Reveal
• Weaving Tides - New Gameplay Reveal
• Spacebase Startopia - New Gameplay Reveal
• Dirt5 - Trailer Reveal
• KeyWe - New Gameplay Reveal

1:30pm PT

• Gatewalkers - New Gameplay Reveal
• Humble Games - 2021 Lineup Trailer
• The Wild at Heart - New Gameplay Reveal
• Project Wingman - Trailer Reveal
• Unannounced Game - Trailer Reveal
• Unannounced Game - Trailer Reveal
• Prodeus - New Gameplay Reveal

2:00pm PT

• Gamescom Daily Show
• Just Die Already - Trailer Reveal

Saturday, August 29

The Awesome Indies Show along with more trailers and reveals debuting exclusively on IGN fill up Day 3 of IGN Live X Gamescom. The show runs from 8am-3:30pm PT, 11am-6:30pm ET, 4pm-11:30pm BST, and 1am-8:30am AEST. The day ends with the Daily Show which looks back on everything we revealed. Check out the full Day 3 schedule below:

7:30am PT

• Gestalt: Steam & Cinder - New Gameplay Reveal
• Hello Neighbor 2 - New Gameplay Reveal
• Haven - New Gameplay Reveal

8:00am PT

• Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown - Gameplay Trailer Reveal and Producer interview
• Medieval Dynasty - Trailer Reveal
• Scourgebringer - Trailer Reveal
• Blazing Sails - Trailer Reveal
• Potion Party - Trailer Reveal

8:30am PT

• Remothered: Broken Porcelain - Trailer Reveal
• Iron Harvest - Trailer Reveal
• Minute of Islands - Trailer Reveal
• Core - Trailer Reveal
• Demon Turf - New Gameplay Reveal
• Kings Bounty II - New Gameplay Reveal

9:00am PT

• Toodee and Topdee - New Gameplay Reveal
• Blankos Block Party - New Gameplay Reveal
• Gonner2 - New Gameplay Reveal
• Proto Corgi - New Gameplay Reveal
• Cyber Hook - New Gameplay Reveal

9:30am PT

• Dark Fracture - New Gameplay Reveal
• Grindstone - Nintendo Switch Gameplay Reveal
• Chained Echoes - New Gameplay Reveal
• Indie Arena Booth - Lineup Trailer
• Minecraft Dungeons - New Gameplay Reveal

10:00am PT

• Awesome Indies Show
• Unannounced Game - Trailer Reveal
• The Last Spell - New Gameplay Reveal
• Skul: The Hero Slayer - Version 1.0 Gameplay Reveal
• Spinch - Trailer Reveal
• Gone Viral - Trailer Reveal
• Paradise Lost - Trailer Reveal
• Ariel_Knight's Never Yield - Trailer Reveal
• Terror Squid - Trailer Reveal

10:30am PT

• Adventures of Chris - New Gameplay Reveal
• Out of Place - New Gameplay Reveal
• Blade Assault - Trailer Reveal
• Exo One - Trailer Reveal
• Space Crew - Trailer Reveal
• Tamarin - Trailer Reveal
• Unannounced Game - Gameplay Reveal
• Endling - Gameplay Reveal

11:00am PT

• Riftbreaker - Trailer and New Gameplay Reveal
• Gamedec - Trailer Reveal
• Unannounced Game - Trailer Reveal
• GRIME - Trailer Reveal
• Ghostrunner - Trailer and New Gameplay Reveal

11:30am PT

• Wonder Boy – Asha in Monster World - Trailer and Gameplay Reveal
• Aeon Drive - Trailer Reveal
• A Juggler's Tale - New Gameplay Reveal
• ID@Xbox - Lineup Trailer
• Ostranauts - Trailer Reveal
• Away: The Survival Series - Gameplay Reveal

12:00pm PT

• Mafia: Definitive Edition - Gameplay Preview
• Ary and the Secret of Seasons - New Gameplay Reveal
• F.I.S.T.: Forged In Shadow Torch - New Gameplay Reveal

12:30pm PT

• GigaBash - New Gameplay Reveal
• The Signifier - New Gameplay Reveal
• Roboquest - New Gameplay Reveal
• Wargaming - Developer Interview
• Vigor - Trailer Reveal

1:00pm PT

• Rune II - Trailer Reveal
• As Far As The Eye - Trailer Reveal
• Hundred Days – Winemaking Simulator - Trailer Reveal
• HoverGrease - Trailer Reveal
• Death of Rose - New Gameplay Reveal
• DARQ - New Gameplay Reveal
• Hotshot Racing - New Gameplay Reveal

1:30pm PT

• Borderlands 3: Psycho Krieg and the Fantastic Fustercluck - New Gameplay Reveal
• Speed Limit - New Gameplay Reveal
• Doom Eternal: The Ancient Gods - Developer Commentary

2:00pm PT

• Gamescom Daily Show
• Warriors: Rise to Glory - Trailer Reveal
• Hypercharge: Unboxed - New Gameplay Reveal
• DustoffZ - New Gameplay Reveal

Sunday, August 30

We have our last few gameplay reveals and an impressive showing of Cosplay planned for Day 4 of IGN Live X Gamescom, running from 7:30am - 1:00pm PT, 10:30am-4:30pm ET, 3:30pm-9:30pm BST, and 12:30am-6:30am AEST. Our main event: the Best of Awards Show completes the day. See the full Day 4 schedule below:

7:30am PT

• Unto the End - New Gameplay Reveal
• 8-Bit Adventures 2 - New Gameplay Reveal
• Konrad's Kittens - New Gameplay Reveal

8:00am PT - 1:00pm PT 

• The Outer Worlds: Peril on Gorgon - New Gameplay Reveal
• Cosplay Contest at the gamescom: Best of Show
• Gamescom Best Of Awards Show

Previous Days

Thursday, August 27

Opening Night Live kicks off Day 1 of IGN Live X Gamescom and leads us into a day filled with exclusive game trailers and gameplay reveals debuting exclusively with IGN. The show will run from 10:30am - 4pm PT. Check out the full Day 1 schedule below:

10:30am PT

• Opening Night Live with Geoff Keighley

1:30pm PT

• Unannounced Game - Trailer Reveal
• Unannounced Game - Trailer Reveal
• Project Cars 3 - Trailer Reveal
• Observer: System Redux - Trailer Reveal
• Unannounced Game - Trailer and Gameplay Reveal
• Retro Machina - New Gameplay Reveal

2:00pm PT

• Godfall - New Gameplay Reveal
• Captain Tsubasa: Rise of New Champions - Trailer Reveal
• Unannounced Game - Trailer Reveal
• Solasta: Crown of the Magister - Trailer Reveal
• EVERSPACE 2 - Trailer and New Gameplay Reveal

2:30pm PT

• Next-Gen Console Watch LIVE
• Pumpkin Jack - New Gameplay Reveal
• Werewolf: The Apocalypse - Earthblood Trailer Reveal
• Dual Universe - Trailer Reveal
• Unannounced Game - Trailer Reveal
• Jump Force Deluxe Edition - Trailer Reveal

3:00pm PT

• Humble Games - 2020 Lineup Trailer
• Dual Universe - New Gameplay Reveal
• Monster Truck Championship - Trailer Reveal
• Speed Limit - Trailer Reveal
• X4: Foundations - Trailer Reveal
• Giants Uprising - Trailer Reveal

3:30pm PT

• Tinkertown - New Gameplay Reveal
• Giants Uprising - New Gameplay Reveal
• X4: Foundations - New Gameplay Reveal
• News, Games, Plus More LIVE

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CBS All Access has finally revealed a premiere date for its upcoming limited series adaptation of Stephen King's The Stand. The first episode will debut on the streaming service on Thursday, December 17. New episodes of The Stand will continue to air weekly every Thursday, with the series spanning nine episodes in total (including a brand new finale storyline written by King himself). [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=every-stephen-king-remake-so-far&captions=true"] CBS had been teasing a 2020 debut for a while now, though with no recent updates some fans might have been growing concerned the series would be delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. But according to showrunner/executive producer Benjamin Cavell, that only makes a 2020 release all the more important. “During the two years we spent making THE STAND, we all felt the responsibility of adapting what may be the most beloved work of one of the world’s most beloved storytellers, but none of us could have imagined that Stephen King’s 40-year-old masterpiece about a global pandemic would come to be so eerily relevant,” said Cavell in a press release. “We’re honored to tell this sprawling, epic story, including a new coda that Stephen King has wanted to add for decades. We’re so proud of this show and its attempt to find meaning and hope in the most uncertain of times. We can’t wait to share it with the world.” The Stand stars Whoopi Goldberg as Mother Abigail and Alexander Skarsgård as Randall Flagg. After a superflu nicknamed Captain Trips wipes out 98% of humanity, the survivors rally around either Abigail or Flagg as a titanic battle between good and evil looms. The series' cast also includes James Marsden as Stu Redman, Odessa Young as Frannie Goldsmith, Jovan Adepo as Larry Underwood, Amber Heard as Nadine Cross, Owen Teague as Harold Lauder, Henry Zaga as Nick Andros, Brad William Henke as Tom Cullen, Irene Bedard as Ray Bretner, Nat Wolff as Lloyd Henreid, Eion Bailey as Weizak, Heather Graham as Rita Blakemoor, Katherine McNamara as Julie Lawry, Fiona Dourif as Ratwoman, Natalie Martinez as Dayna Jurgens, Hamish Linklater as Dr. Jim Ellis, Daniel Sunjata as Cobb and Greg Kinnear as Glen Bateman. New Mutants helmer Josh Boone serves as an executive producer and directed the series premiere and finale episodes, and Taylor Elmore is serving as showrunner alongside Cavell. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/10/25/doctor-sleep-director-is-working-with-stephen-king-on-further-adaptations"] Vanity Fair debuted the first batch of images from The Stand in May. "He's so charming and he's so handsome, and so powerful—I mean genuinely powerful, able to perform these sort of miracles where he could levitate himself and he has these actual powers," Elmore said of Skarsgård's character. "And yet he needs this adulation and this kind of worship from these people whom he's summoned to him." Back in April, Marsden revealed his pandemic binge list to IGN, and The Stand was one of his picks. For more Stephen King goodness, find out all the novels you need to read (including The Stand) to fully appreciate the Dark Tower saga. [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.

Kate McKinnon's Joe Exotic-Carole Baskin show has been ordered to series by NBCUniversal. A new report indicates the show will be based on Wondery's "Joe Exotic" podcast and will star Saturday Night Live's Kate McKinnon in the role of Carole Baskin, according to The Hollywood Reporter. If the names Joe Exotic and Carole Baskin sound unfamiliar, you might have somehow missed out on the Tiger King craze that infiltrated social media and Netflix audiences everywhere earlier this year. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=best-true-crime-shows-and-movies-to-watch-online&captions=true"] The limited series will focus on the true story of the rivalry between Carole Baskin, Joe "Exotic" Schreibvogel, and their two big cat businesses. Their dispute is centered around Baskin's belief that Schreibvogel is in the big cat game for profits to be gained from breeding. Baskin views her big cat business as a sanctuary and it's these two differences in thought that have led to this now infamous rivalry. That rivalry was made popular by Netflix's Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem, and Madness series that aired back in March. Long story short, Schreibvogel and Baskin despise each other and this NBCUniversal limited series will see McKinnon's Baskin display that rivalry on-screen with whoever is eventually cast as Schreibvogel. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/03/31/netflixs-tiger-king-murder-mayhem-and-madness-season-1-review"] Shameless writer Etan Frankel will write the series and produce it alongside McKinnon. Wondery's Aaron Hart, Hernan Lopez, and Marshal Lewy will serve as producers for the series as well. The series will be available on NBC, USA Network and NBC's streaming service, Peacock. This series isn't the only Tiger King series in the works. Nicolas Cage was recently cast as Joe Exotic in a scripted Tiger King show for CBS. If there's ever a movie to come of this story, celebrities like Dax Shepard and Edward Norton have already fan-casted themselves as the titular character. If Joe Exotic's story wasn't enough, Netflix is already working on a new Tiger King project centered around the Siegfried & Roy show. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Wesley Leblanc is a freelance news writer and guide maker for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @LeBlancWes.

After literally years of buildup, Batman: Three Jokers has finally begun. This new limited series promises to fundamentally alter the dynamic between Batman and his greatest nemesis as it explores the fallout of the revelation that there are actually three different Jokers tormenting Gotham City. But the biggest surprises in issue #1 don't involve Joker himself, but rather the former Robin Jason Todd. Read on to learn what this opening chapter reveals about the Joker mystery and Jason Todd's surprising role in the story, but beware of full spoilers ahead for Batman: Three Jokers #1! [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=batman-faces-the-deadly-mystery-of-the-three-jokers&captions=true"]

The Three Jokers: What We Know So Far

It was way back in 2015's Justice League: The Darkseid War that Batman first learned the truth about Joker. After temporarily bonding with Metron's Mobius Chair and gaining cosmic omniscience, Batman attempted to solve the one mystery he's never been able to crack. What is the Joker's true identity? To his surprise, the chair couldn't answer that question, because there are actually three Jokers. That mystery continued into the pages of DC Universe Rebirth #1, as Batman began to piece together the evidence that he's actually been battling three Jokers all this time. Unfortunately, that investigation got put on the back burner in favor of Batman and Flash's hunt for the elusive Doctor Manhattan. In the four years since, no DC books have really picked up the loose end that is the three Jokers. Until now, anyway. [caption id="attachment_2398311" align="aligncenter" width="932"] Art by Jason Fabok. (Image Credit: DC)[/caption] The first issue establishes the personalities and group dynamics of these three different Jokers. There's "The Criminal," the original, more sinister Joker featured in early Golden Age stories like 1940's Batman #1, and the one who considers himself the ringleader of the trio. There's "The Clown," the campier Joker of DC's Silver Age Batman comics and the one responsible for killing Jason Todd in 1988's Batman: A Death in the Family. And finally, there's "The Comedian," the modern incarnation of Joker and the one who shot Barbara Gordon in 1988's Batman: The Killing Joke. While the series has yet to definitively reveal how these Jokers came to be and who they might have been originally, there are hints regarding their ultimate plan. The Clown reveals his desire to "make a better Joker," with all three Jokers kidnapping criminals from halfway houses across the city and dosing them with Joker toxin. The implication is that there may be even more than three Jokers. Joker himself may be bigger than any one person - more of a self-replicating and self-improving virus that infects newer and more terrible hosts. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/08/23/the-batman-trailer-dc-fandome-official-footage"]

Jason Todd's Darkest Secret

Three Jokers is ultimately a story about surviving trauma. Batman, Red Hood, and Batgirl are positioned as the main three protagonists because each carries the physical and emotional scars of their encounters with the Jokers. The opening sequence lingers on the many scars covering Bruce Wayne's battered and battle-worn body, many of which came from one Joker or another. We also see the scar on Barbara's back, a terrible reminder of her ordeal in The Killing Joke. And while Jason has physically healed from his near-death experience, the psychological scars remain as fresh as ever. Having caught on to the fact that there are three Jokers, Jason is all the more determined to finally end the Clown Prince of Crime's reign of terror. [caption id="attachment_2398312" align="aligncenter" width="1352"] Art by Jason Fabok. (Image Credit: DC)[/caption] In the climax of issue #1, Batgirl and Red Hood guard a captive Clown while Batman leaves to hunt down the Comedian. The Clown taunts Jason with memories of their fateful encounter before finally revealing Jason's darkest and most humiliating secret - he begged for his life while Joker was beating him to death with a crowbar. He even offered to switch allegiances and become Joker's Robin instead. The Clown also reveals he intended for Jason to survive that attack, knowing it would only cause more pain for both Batman and Robin down the road.

The Death of a Joker

This taunting proves too much for Jason, who finally snaps and unloads his gun on the Clown. Batgirl tries to deflect the gun with a Batarang, but she misses. Red Hood finally succeeds in doing what Batman could never quite bring himself to do, shooting Joker through the head. Jason is satisfied that there's one less Joker around to terrorize Gotham, while Barbara is disgusted with him for losing control. But as he leaves, Jason taunts Barbara with the reminder that she usually never misses her Batarang throws. Did she subconsciously allow Joker to die? [caption id="attachment_2398313" align="aligncenter" width="1349"] Art by Jason Fabok. (Image Credit: DC)[/caption] We'll have to wait until issue #2 to learn what the remaining two Jokers have planned and how Batman will react to Red Hood's act of murder. But if this opening chapter is anything to go by, there may be plenty more Jokers to replace the one Jason just killed. In other Batman news, we just got our first taste of Matt Reeves' The Batman thanks to DC FanDome. We know Paul Dano's Riddler has a big part to play, but he may not be the killer featured in the trailer. Also at FanDome, we got an early look at a new Batman limited series from 12 Years a Slave screenwriter John Ridley and Batman Universe artist Nick Derington. And the classic graphic novel Batman: The Long Halloween will be adapted into a two-part animated movie in 2021. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/08/22/gotham-knights-playable-characters-story-combat-and-dead-batman-explained"] [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.

After literally years of buildup, Batman: Three Jokers has finally begun. This new limited series promises to fundamentally alter the dynamic between Batman and his greatest nemesis as it explores the fallout of the revelation that there are actually three different Jokers tormenting Gotham City. But the biggest surprises in issue #1 don't involve Joker himself, but rather the former Robin Jason Todd. Read on to learn what this opening chapter reveals about the Joker mystery and Jason Todd's surprising role in the story, but beware of full spoilers ahead for Batman: Three Jokers #1! [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=batman-faces-the-deadly-mystery-of-the-three-jokers&captions=true"]

The Three Jokers: What We Know So Far

It was way back in 2015's Justice League: The Darkseid War that Batman first learned the truth about Joker. After temporarily bonding with Metron's Mobius Chair and gaining cosmic omniscience, Batman attempted to solve the one mystery he's never been able to crack. What is the Joker's true identity? To his surprise, the chair couldn't answer that question, because there are actually three Jokers. That mystery continued into the pages of DC Universe Rebirth #1, as Batman began to piece together the evidence that he's actually been battling three Jokers all this time. Unfortunately, that investigation got put on the back burner in favor of Batman and Flash's hunt for the elusive Doctor Manhattan. In the four years since, no DC books have really picked up the loose end that is the three Jokers. Until now, anyway. [caption id="attachment_2398311" align="aligncenter" width="932"] Art by Jason Fabok. (Image Credit: DC)[/caption] The first issue establishes the personalities and group dynamics of these three different Jokers. There's "The Criminal," the original, more sinister Joker featured in early Golden Age stories like 1940's Batman #1, and the one who considers himself the ringleader of the trio. There's "The Clown," the campier Joker of DC's Silver Age Batman comics and the one responsible for killing Jason Todd in 1988's Batman: A Death in the Family. And finally, there's "The Comedian," the modern incarnation of Joker and the one who shot Barbara Gordon in 1988's Batman: The Killing Joke. While the series has yet to definitively reveal how these Jokers came to be and who they might have been originally, there are hints regarding their ultimate plan. The Clown reveals his desire to "make a better Joker," with all three Jokers kidnapping criminals from halfway houses across the city and dosing them with Joker toxin. The implication is that there may be even more than three Jokers. Joker himself may be bigger than any one person - more of a self-replicating and self-improving virus that infects newer and more terrible hosts. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/08/23/the-batman-trailer-dc-fandome-official-footage"]

Jason Todd's Darkest Secret

Three Jokers is ultimately a story about surviving trauma. Batman, Red Hood, and Batgirl are positioned as the main three protagonists because each carries the physical and emotional scars of their encounters with the Jokers. The opening sequence lingers on the many scars covering Bruce Wayne's battered and battle-worn body, many of which came from one Joker or another. We also see the scar on Barbara's back, a terrible reminder of her ordeal in The Killing Joke. And while Jason has physically healed from his near-death experience, the psychological scars remain as fresh as ever. Having caught on to the fact that there are three Jokers, Jason is all the more determined to finally end the Clown Prince of Crime's reign of terror. [caption id="attachment_2398312" align="aligncenter" width="1352"] Art by Jason Fabok. (Image Credit: DC)[/caption] In the climax of issue #1, Batgirl and Red Hood guard a captive Clown while Batman leaves to hunt down the Comedian. The Clown taunts Jason with memories of their fateful encounter before finally revealing Jason's darkest and most humiliating secret - he begged for his life while Joker was beating him to death with a crowbar. He even offered to switch allegiances and become Joker's Robin instead. The Clown also reveals he intended for Jason to survive that attack, knowing it would only cause more pain for both Batman and Robin down the road.

The Death of a Joker

This taunting proves too much for Jason, who finally snaps and unloads his gun on the Clown. Batgirl tries to deflect the gun with a Batarang, but she misses. Red Hood finally succeeds in doing what Batman could never quite bring himself to do, shooting Joker through the head. Jason is satisfied that there's one less Joker around to terrorize Gotham, while Barbara is disgusted with him for losing control. But as he leaves, Jason taunts Barbara with the reminder that she usually never misses her Batarang throws. Did she subconsciously allow Joker to die? [caption id="attachment_2398313" align="aligncenter" width="1349"] Art by Jason Fabok. (Image Credit: DC)[/caption] We'll have to wait until issue #2 to learn what the remaining two Jokers have planned and how Batman will react to Red Hood's act of murder. But if this opening chapter is anything to go by, there may be plenty more Jokers to replace the one Jason just killed. In other Batman news, we just got our first taste of Matt Reeves' The Batman thanks to DC FanDome. We know Paul Dano's Riddler has a big part to play, but he may not be the killer featured in the trailer. Also at FanDome, we got an early look at a new Batman limited series from 12 Years a Slave screenwriter John Ridley and Batman Universe artist Nick Derington. And the classic graphic novel Batman: The Long Halloween will be adapted into a two-part animated movie in 2021. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/08/22/gotham-knights-playable-characters-story-combat-and-dead-batman-explained"] [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.

Hunt the Legendary Banded Gator, claim a wide array of rewards for connecting your account to Prime Gaming, and more this week in Red Dead Online.

Hunt the Legendary Banded Gator, claim a wide array of rewards for connecting your account to Prime Gaming, and more this week in Red Dead Online.

The Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War reveal seems like it's going to happen within Warzone after a mysterious tweet from the official Call of Duty Twitter popped up today. After months and months of speculation regarding this year's Call of Duty, Activision finally announced officially that 2020's would be Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War. Since that announcement last week, the company has been slowly teasing its full reveal coming Aug. 26. The Call of Duty Twitter account tweeted out a mysterious video on Aug. 25 that appears to hint that the full reveal is happening in Warzone.

Active contract ██████. ████ ████ ██ ██ Verdansk. ██ ████ ██ Aug 26. 10:30am PT. pic.twitter.com/z8SMZQnVlo

— Call of Duty (@CallofDuty) August 25, 2020

As you can see in the tweet above, it seems like the reveal will happen within Warzone at 10:30 a.m. PT tomorrow. There's more to it though as it appears players will need to grab a contract of some kind during a match of Warzone to witness the reveal. The tweet says "Active contract" and "Verdansk." Warzone players know that Verdansk is the setting for which Warzone matches take place and that active contracts are a big part of the battle royale's gameplay. Even the video displays a contract icon like you'd find in Warzone. Nothing official has been revealed beyond the tweet above but if we had to guess, considering completing contracts in Warzone earns players in-game cash and rewards, we could see the Cold War reveal as the reward for completing whatever contract the tweet is referring to. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/08/19/call-of-duty-black-ops-cold-war-teaser-trailer"] We'll all learn more tomorrow when the full reveal happens but in the meantime, be sure to read up on recent reports that indicate this game is a direct sequel to Black Ops 1. Be sure to check out the Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War cover art after that. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Wesley LeBlanc is a freelance news writer and guide maker for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @LeBlancWes.